#but the image appeared in my head and it wouldn’t leave me alone until I made it haha

[that-ghosts-art]

I put entirely too much effort into this xD

[enchantedflameandflower]

Billy Butcher fic! 18+ H/C

He came out of her room soon after with damp hair, looking ridiculously handsome. She pressed a mug into his hands as he leaned against the counter.

“I need another address, love,” he rumbled after a long sip while she was shuffling through some mail. “You want a shag before or after?” he asked, dimple showing. 

Tag List: @2dead2function @secretdreamlandmentality @nosebeers @vavafaure1994

This takes place between 6 and 7 of Season 3! I really really hope you enjoy! Lots of hurt/comfort here!

Chapter 1

previous chapter (Chapter 35)

~*~*~

Part 36

In only one moment the peaceful, lovely quiet of Addison’s dark bedroom was ripped apart at the seams. 

She was wrenched from her dreams by a loud, pained shout and the bed shaking beneath her as if the building were crumbling down. But she’d gone to sleep hours ago very much alone. Though she’d been in a deep sleep, her eyes flew open and she shot up in bed. What in the hell - 

“Billy,” she breathed his name with relief finally realizing.

But when the fuck had he come in? Somehow he hadn’t woken her when he did and now he was asleep next to her - still asleep despite his outburst, the sheet tangled around his body, his face contorted in pain.

“Billy,” Addison said again, louder, reaching out to shake him. 

His dark eyes popped open, wild and fearful, and he grabbed her wrist, twisting it away from him as if he was about to pin her to the bed. If she wasn’t a supe, maybe he might’ve hurt her, but she was and she knew not to resist, not to startle him more. “It’s me, Billy. It’s just me. Just a bad dream.”

The confusion in his eyes started to clear as he finally focused on her face and she watched as his gaze flicked over each of her features in turn, as if checking to make sure it was really her, checking to make sure she was real. She couldn’t miss the relief and then affection in his eyes.

“You’re here. You stayed,” he husked. “You’re here.”

He let go of her wrist and she shifted on the bed to sit facing him, tucking her legs underneath her and tiredly falling back against the pillows. “Of course I’m here,” she answered. “It’s my bed.”

Butcher managed to look a little chagrined at that and he pushed himself up to sit propped against the wall. 

He looked weary and exhausted to the bone. Even despite everything, her heart swelled for him. “Nightmare?” she asked.

A hollow empty look came to his eyes then for a moment before he managed to tamp it down again. “Not sure. Just…I were alone.”

The pain in his expression hit her hard. She couldn’t pretend he didn’t mean everything to her. She wanted to reach out to him but she waited, trying to resist until he listened to her. “Maybe you should stop pushing people away then.”

Billy frowned, his forehead creasing. “Do ya want me to leave…”

Even if she was still a little irritated and caught off guard by his sudden appearance, when she really thought about it, there was not one single part of her that wanted him to leave. He needed her right now. 

Addison shook her head. “No,” she answered, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper. “I’m here. I’m not going to disappear.” She couldn’t.

Billy rubbed a hand over his face, scrubbing away the images in his mind maybe, then smoothed his fingers over his beard. 

Tired, Addison shifted, stretching her legs out and nestling down again into the pillows. She curled up on her side to watch him in the dark. She hadn’t forgotten she had told him before it was over but she knew it wasn’t what she really wanted and she wouldn’t abandon him. Maybe it wasn’t what he really wanted either. When he came to her like this, seeking her out, it only reminded her how much she loved him. 

“Why did you come?” she finally asked, curiosity winning out against exhaustion.

For a few moments he was silent and she almost said his name but then he spoke. “In the neighborhood,” he answered brusquely. “Too tired to trek all the way to - to where we’re staying.”

“I didn’t think I’d see you for a while.”

He was quiet for a few long minutes. “Did ya hear what…” he trailed off but she knew what he meant.

“It would've been impossible to miss. I saw Annie’s livestream as soon as I woke up. Then I logged into work and read the reports myself as they came in.”

Butcher didn’t say anything else and she was sure he was waiting for a lecture but she just didn’t have the energy right now. Leaning back, she tilted her head to look up at him. “Are you okay?” The expression on his face was a mixture of anger and pain and frustration and defeat. It was hard to tell in the dark, but his eyes started to look glassy and her heart squeezed in her chest. He wasn’t okay.

“We had him, Addi. We had him and I failed. I thought -”

Addison let out a breath. “If you had succeeded, you would be dead too.” It was the one thought she had kept pushed away while she had pieced together what happened by herself, but he was all but confirming it and the idea of him being gone forever…

He stilled and she could see he was looking up at the ceiling. “Nahhh…I weren’t that close to Homelander, really… If Soldier Boy had…”

Addison huffed, her frustration rising. “Right,” she interrupted. “You survived the first of those…blasts…there, and you’re telling me you ‘had him’ so I assume there was going to be a second blast? While you were holding Homelander? And that wouldn’t kill you? Even on that temp V shit.”

“Ehh…” he sort of shrugged. “I think Soldier Boy were holding him actually…memory’s a bit foggy.”

“Billy, when I find out you’re lying to me…I’m going to be really pissed off again.”

“Don’t you mean ‘if’?” His mouth quirked.

“No.”

“So that means you ain’t angry now, though.”

Addison closed her eyes, already too tired again. “I don’t know what I am. What happened was horrible and if you had died…”

He shook his head once. “Yeah it were a right fuck up all around. We didn’t know fuckin’ Herogasm would be goin’ on…”

“Billy…”

“That wasn’t the plan -“ He stopped and he didn’t say anything else. He didn’t argue, but he didn’t finish. “M.M. won’t ever forgive me for this one.”

“What happened with M.M.?” Addison asked, alarmed. 

“He tried to go off against Soldier Boy. I stopped him.”

“But that’s suicide,” Addison exclaimed. “His daughter…”

Billy shook his head. “He didn’t care.”

Addison didn’t know what to say; she reached out to squeeze his hand. 

Finally he turned his head to look at her and the pain in his eyes was devastating. “It’s only a matter of time before Homelander kills everyone. And I couldn’t live with myself if I hadn’t tried everything to stop him.”

When she didn’t answer, Billy reached over to brush her hair back behind her shoulder, stroking it once before pulling away again. 

“I can fuck off…” he offered.

Addison shook her head firmly. He was right. He was right about Homelander, even if he had his own reasons too. And not now. He couldn’t leave now that he was here, and he was alive, and he had survived another day. She couldn’t let him leave, not when he looked like a single strand of straw might break him.

She shook her head once more. It was too late, she loved him and she didn’t want him to go. She still had a glimmer of hope, and she couldn’t help him if she made him leave. “You need to rest.”

He laid down, facing her in the dark and all she wanted was to help him. If there was anything she could do, she would. She knew he never let anyone else see this, see how much he hurt and she couldn’t add to it.

Billy reached for her, and she went into his arms without hesitation as he nestled her tightly against his bare chest. His strong arms wove tightly around her body and he buried his face in her hair against the curve of her neck. 

It was only a matter of minutes before she was peacefully sleeping again now that he was safe beside her, heart beating slow and steady, almost in sync with the heartbeat of the little life inside of her. 

*~*~*~*

The next morning Billy was still asleep next to her when Addison woke. For awhile she laid there, reveling in the simpleness of it, savoring the peace. 

Eventually she got up and made some coffee and a few minutes later she heard him starting the shower.

He came out of her room soon after with damp hair, looking ridiculously handsome. Addison pressed a mug into his hands as he leaned against the counter.

“I need another address, love,” he rumbled after a long sip while she was shuffling through some mail. “You want a shag before or after?” he asked, dimple showing. 

Addison lifted her brow with a little snort of amusement. “I’ll take a rain check. Who do you want now?”

“Mindstorm.”

Addison jerked her head up to look at him, giving a short laugh. “Good fucking luck. I can tell you right now that no one’s got Mindstorm. He’s been off grid for years. No one knows where he is. Not even us.”

“Could you at least try?” he bit out.

“Excuse you.”

“Sorry,” Butcher sighed. “Listen, I need this to work.”

“We don’t have him Billy.” Addi shook her head, shrugging. “I’ll run it, but I already know for a fact we’ve got nothing credible on that guy. I know these files top to bottom.”

Butcher glowered and Addison sighed as she went to sit at her laptop. 

She tapped the screen, then let her fingers fly over the keyboard until reports were scrolling by just as fast.

“Twenty-seven possible addresses from the past 40 years, Billy,” she said as the computer chimed. “It’s pointless.”

“Fine then.”

Addison took a breath then fixed him with a steely expression. “Mindstorm is bad news, Billy. He really fucks people up. I don’t think you should go after him. He’s hiding, just leave him be.”

“I gave me word.”

“This is not a good plan,” she added, with a little more force, but it didn’t matter. 

Billy turned away. “Shoulda figured you’d be on their side,” he grumbled under his breath as he sat down at her kitchen table to tug his boots on. 

“Don’t be stupid. I’m on your side, but there is a middle ground here, you know? You’re all so angry with each other you can’t even think straight. If you could actually calm down and work together it might already be over.”

“They won’t listen to anything logical.”

Addison tilted her head. “Because that’s one of your strengths.”

He grumbled again without looking up. “I’m taking any chance I get. I have to.”

Maybe it made her a horrible person but she understood. She knew what Homelander was capable of. It was unthinkable and getting closer every day. She knew what it meant to him. “I know.”

Billy stood up and crossed the room, stopping to kiss the crown of her head before he left but she stopped him, grabbing his forearm. 

“Billy.” She looked up at him, waiting for him to meet her eyes. “I love you. You don’t have to keep doing this to yourself.” 

“You keep me goin’ love.” He stroked his hand over her hair.

Addison lifted a brow sardonically. “I give you the strength to continue on your never-ending homicidal, suicidal war path? Oh, great.”

His answering smirk while he slid his dark sunglasses on was nothing short of pure, devious mischief but it still made her stomach flip all the same. 

She was fucking crazy for loving him, but it was far too late now.

*~*~*~*~*

Part 37

Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know what you think! Requests are open!

[honeybeefae]

pls do the sexting prompt (nsfw obv) but i cant pick which bat boy bc i wanna read it for them all so u pick :)

Also this is such a fun idea i cant wait to read them all!!

Passing Notes (Bat Boys x Reader)

BINGO: Sexting

(Okay so obviously we don’t have a phone but we can do it the old-fashioned way ;). I figured I’d do each bat boy since I couldn’t choose either so take your pick or take the lot! Also, Azriel’s took a different turn for sexting but I hope you guys like it? I didn’t want to repeat the same prompt that I did for Cass! Enjoy!)

WARNINGS: Smut

RHYSAND

You were in the library with at least three different books scattered across the table. It was late and you knew your mate was waiting for you in bed but you needed to get this done. You were so close to finding the answers you were looking for in regard to some myth, it was within your grasp so you were going to stay up until it was solved.

A small note appeared in front of you, right as you went to mark something with your pen and you smiled and shook your head.

How cruel to leave your mate alone and cold.

He was such an Illyrian baby. You almost didn’t reply, not wanting to entertain his theatrics, but you couldn’t resist teasing him. 

If you are that desperate for company I’m sure Cassian wouldn’t mind joining you.

It vanished into thin air and you went back to your book, your eyes narrowing as you began scribbling until the note appeared once more. What had you started?

Cassian wouldn’t be keen on the company I wish from you, darling.

You bit down on your bottom lip and crossed your legs. He was in one of those moods and you knew you soon would be as well. The two of you had a very hard time keeping your hands to yourself and when you were working like this, your mate made it his personal mission to distract you in the best way possible.

Your pen hesitated over the paper as you wondered if you wanted to get into this with him but when you saw the image he sent down the bond of his cock in his hands, you folded quickly. 

It looks like you’ve got things taken care of on your end, my Lord. What exactly would my purpose be?

A rush of heat went down to your sex as you shifted in your seat, unable to focus on what was in front of you. He took longer than normal to respond and you couldn’t help but imagine why. At this rate, you would be running to your bedroom before he could even finish his sentence.

I want to make sure you’re taken care of, Y/N. I know that ache inside you is growing, I can feel it. Let me ease it for you.

The sound of your chair scrapping backward was loud as you allowed your hands to wander underneath your pants, finding the wetness of your cunt as you slowly rubbed yourself. Two could play at this game.

It was tricky to write with one hand occupied but you managed, proud of your work as you sent the paper back as well as a sly picture of where your fingers currently were to him.

How would you ease it? I can picture many, many different ways but my favorite is with your head buried between my legs and your cock in my mouth.

Rhysand gave a harsh tug on the bond and you giggled breathlessly, knowing it was a warning to behave. You responded by sending him another image but this time it was of you riding him from earlier, your entire body on fire from how desperately you needed him. 

A soft breeze swept over you as you opened your hazy eyes to find your mate looming over you, his cock standing proudly while his jaw was tight. You smirked, crooking your finger to beckon him forward. He immediately fell to his knees and lifted your legs over his shoulders, kissing the inside of your thigh as you ran a hand through his dark locks. 

“Wicked woman.” He purred, giving you a smoldering look before diving head-first into your cunt. You gasped and arched into him, your tasks long forgotten as you welcomed the distraction.  

===========================================

CASSIAN

“Does everyone understand what we are going to be doing?” Feyre asked while standing at the head of the table, making eye contact with the entire group. They all nodded and you were doing your best to keep up but your mate was making it increasingly hard to do.

Cassian sat beside you, his aura oozing with nonchalance as he slipped a small piece of paper to you. You frowned, trying not to roll your eyes as you opened it underneath the table like you were in school.

I know what I am going to be doing ;)

You coughed to cover up your snort, shooting him a playful glare before shaking your head. Feyre glanced at the two of you but Elain asked something that thankfully got her attention off of you. 

The pen in your hand flew swiftly across the page as you wrote your response, sliding it back over to him and folding your hands in your lap.

I know where you’ll be sleeping if you do not pay attention to our High Lady, General.

He shifted in his seat, a small smirk on his lips as he wrote something down. You sighed, realizing your mistake in playing into his antics while he slid it back over to you again.

How can I pay attention when all I can think about is your hair in my hand, you gripping our headboard, and your cunt gripping my cock?

A small whine was building in the back of your throat as he turned the heat all the way to a ten. You crossed your legs and bit down on your bottom lip, the meeting losing some of its importance as you contemplated a response.

Your pussy was starting to develop a heartbeat as you reread his words over and over in your mind. He was watching you, one of his hands covering his mouth to hide his grin as he got you hook, line, and sinker. You were screwed. 

Fuck you.

It wasn’t a clever comeback but he had pulled out an ace when you least expected it. He always had this effect on you, to make you speechless and melt like butter in his hands. The voices of your friends started to get fuzzy as you moved in your chair, biting back a moan at the friction. 

No, princess, that’s your job. 

His reply was instant and your cheeks grew hot from both frustration and lust. You didn’t want to reply to him, hoping that by ignoring the situation you could regain control, but Cassian was one step ahead of you.

One of his hands ‘innocently’ fell to your thigh, the tablecloth hiding his dark intentions as he immediately traveled up to your panties. There was already a wet spot forming and you took a huge gulp of your wine when he thrust a thick finger into you.

It was nice but not what you wanted, your sex aching to be filled with his cock. You raised your hips slightly, trying to get him to either go deeper or add more, but he kept that teasing pace. His finger curled and found your g-spot easily, rubbing it while biting his lip as your hand gripped his arm tightly. 

“Y/N!” Feyre shouted, breaking you from your spell as you shot straight up and winced. All eyes were on the two of you, knowing looks and smirks from some while Azriel and Nesta looked annoyed. “Look, I know the mating bond is new-”

“I’m so sorry, Feyre, and everyone,” You blurted out, squealing when Cassian picked you up and threw you over his shoulder.

“You are so right, Feyre. I think we might go fix that situation right now so we don’t cause any more distractions. We’ll catch up tomorrow.” He called, winking at Rhys who gave him a knowing look and eye roll. 

“That’s not-” She tried to argue but the two of you were already outside and in the air, his arms tight around you as you giggled loudly. You were both going to be in trouble tomorrow but for tonight you were going to enjoy each other.

===========================================

AZRIEL

The dress Mor had lent you was a scarlet red with a plunging neckline and a slit so high you were nervous that you were going to end up flashing someone. It was something you wouldn’t normally wear but with your mission at the Court of Nightmares, you had to dress the part.

You were currently seducing one of the higher court members, his ego so easily inflated that you were a little bored with how easy it was. All he wanted to do was brag about himself, his wealth, and his ties. He wasn’t particularly interesting but he was harboring a book in his room that your friends were stealing as you speak.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you here before. I saw you were visiting with our High Lord. Are you a friend of his?” He asked you, his hand grazing the back of your waist.

A small shrug and some made-up story were enough for his prying to be sated, though the same couldn’t be said for his wandering hands. You masked your frown, trying to cover it with a yawn until you felt something slither around your ankle.

It was cool and firm, caressing your skin as it traveled upward while you looked down in confusion and alarm. You didn’t connect the dots until your eyes found your mate, Azriel, standing in the corner with an evil glint in his eyes.

Of course. He was jealous.

As if on cue you felt him reach out through the bond, tugging on it with frustration that had you placing a hand over your chest in surprise. The man in front of you raised an eyebrow, his lips curled over the rim of his glass.

“Are you alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost.” 

“I'm fine,” You replied, sending a warning look to your mate when the man took a sip of his drink. “Just a chest pain, nothing more.”

“Well, as I was saying, my father,” The man continued on as he had been all night, not noticing you bite down on your lip as those shadows slid further up your thigh until they were teasing the outside of your underwear.

Your body flinched from the contact as you tried to control your facial reactions. Azriel was risking the whole mission with this stunt but fuck it felt good.

“Are you even listening to me?” His voice was curt as you tuned back into whatever he was blabbering about. “You know there are plenty of other females-”

“No, no, I'm so sorry.” You rushed to soothe him, grasping his upper arm just as the shadows squeezed through the fabric of your panties to rub your clit. “I think the wine might be disagreeing with me is all, I feel flushed.”

He surveyed you, taking in your heated cheeks and glazed eyes before a dark look graced his face. His nostrils flared and you realized with great horror and embarrassment that he could smell you. And he thought he was the reason.

“If you were so desperate, young lady, all you had to do was ask. I can smell you.” He whispered into your ear, suddenly too close for comfort as Azriel continued playing with your body like a violin. “Shall we go back to my room?”

Before he could even lay a finger on you your mate appeared behind you, his stature menacing as he shot daggers at the man. You subconsciously moved closer to Azriel, your body practically vibrating as you swallowed a needy whimper as he picked up the speed on your clit.

“Is there a problem here?” Azriel asked lowly, dangerously, which actually had the man taking a step back. “I couldn’t help but notice how close the two of you were getting.”

“Is that a problem for you, Illyrian?” The man sneered, going to grab your arm to pull you into him. “Your owner needs to put his leash back on you.”

A thick silence followed his comments as Azriel stepped toe to toe with him, his wings flared in a show of dominance before Rhysand stepped in to cool down the situation. He looked at you for answers but your mate started pulling you through the crowd and out the doors the minute his High Lord took over. 

“Azriel, Azriel!” You whisper-shout, having to basically run to keep up with his strides. “You just ruined the whole point of tonight! I had it under control and I don’t even know if they’ve had time to-”

You gasped when he suddenly turned down a dark hallway and shoved you against the wall, a large hand over your mouth as he rutted into you. His cock was straining against his pants and when you whined underneath him, it flexed in need. 

“You didn’t have it under control. You let that man touch you, to think that he was the reason you’re soaking wet under that dress.” Azriel snarled, his lips inches from yours. “I’ll be damned if I let any other man think they have claim to you. And I’m going to show you what happens when you forget that.”

[flovvrish]

WHEN YOU’RE DRUNK

PAIRINGS: alhaitham x reader, scaramouche x reader, cyno x reader

WARNINGS: drinking, slightly suggestive (cyno)

A/N : This’ll be my first time writing Cyno at all, but I hope I do him justice! Please enjoy!

ALHAITHAM :

Oh he’s definitely laughing at your miserable state.

Face hidden behind his hand and muffled laughter.

He’s been trying to find ways to make you slip up that perfect image you’ve made for yourself, and there you were, out and about in your drunken stupor, swaying from side to side with every step you took.

Such a pitiful sight.

Who knew it would have taken something so simple to make you so air-headed and giddy.

It was all fun and games for the first thirty minutes, watching you from afar as you made a complete fool of yourself.

He’d almost say you were charming.

Almost.

Until some no-good miscreant decided to start hitting on you.

How shameless they were, approaching you in such a manner despite obviously being drunk, hence incapable of making any comprehensible statements, let alone any valid decisions for yourself.

You spoke to them for some time, entertaining their foolish thoughts.

During this time, Alhaitham made his way through the crowd before physically making his way between you two, his eyes giving off a dangerous warning.

“They’re with me.”

He took your hand into his before dragging you someplace safe, effectively separating you from any other dangers that may pose a threat.

He wouldn’t leave your side until he was sure you were either sound asleep, or fully sober.

He’d leave before you realized any of this was real however. He’ll just let you believe that his aid in all this was a figment of your drunken imagination.

SCARAMOUCHE :

Your drinking buddy for sure.

In fact, he’s probably the one who invited you out drinking in the first place.

Despite his youthful appearance, you knew of his past, along with the burdens he’s carried since the beginning of his existence.

He’d spill all of his troubles onto you, while you helped yourself to a generous amount of alcohol. Nodding and slipping in a couple of loose comments from time to time.

By the time he was done talking you’d be half way to the point of no return.

You’d be a giggling mess, pointing out the smallest things that got you laughing even more.

Such as that loose strand of hair.

That one that ruined his otherwise well-kept appearance.

You’d lean forward, tucking it behind his ear where it belonged, an unusually soft expression making way onto your otherwise flushed features.

He’d feel lost in your eyes, the mere action stopping the entire world in its tracks.

If only it could stay like this for eternity.

Just the two of you.

EXTRA

Oh you’d definitely end up passed out over him afterward.

He’ll awkwardly adjust you against his side, an arm wrapped around your shoulder as he planned your route home.

Of course, he would be the one taking you back.

“You’re always so much trouble … “

CYNO :

People often mistaken him for your nanny, with the way he’d silently eye you from a considerable distance.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust you. Oh no, he trusted you with the world …

It was everyone else he was weary of.

Being the General Mahamatra, Cyno has seen his fair share of parties gone terribly wrong.

Whether it be of an accidental case of alcohol poisoning, friends who’d gotten a tad too comfortable with each other, or a deliberate attempt at murder, he wasn’t willing to take his chances.

Not with you.

You were one of the few within Sumeru that he felt he had to protect. Your genuine kindness and willingness to help others was hard to come by in this day and age.

You truly were a diamond in the rough.

Once he decided you were no longer conscious of your actions, the male slowly made his way towards you, slipping that extra cup safely out of your grasp.

“That’s enough for tonight.”

You’d pout, a childish whine escaping your lips as you’d attempt to fight your way out of the strong arms wrapping themselves around you.

Soon, you would be hoisted over his shoulder like a potato sack.

As you would shamefully be dragged away by your acquaintance, you’d overhear the suggestive comments made by your drinking buddies.

Some of them would woot, giving you words of encouragement.

Though at the moment you were too dazed to understand exactly what they were hinting at, Cyno would focus his gaze forward, forever denying of the red hue creeping over his face.

[onyourhyuck]

Obvious. | L.DH

— Prologue: “Isn’t it obvious to you that I like you?”

— Summary: You and Haechan are friends from Kindergarten and he really likes to tease you.

— Genre: Childhood friends trope. Wholesome romance content. Donghyuck shows his love through teasing. Hard to get y/n trope.

— Notes: Part 2 anyone?

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“Yah Lee Haechan.”

You made your way over to the taller boy standing on the road about to cross over however you happen to be in the same area now since you’re alone, you didn’t quite feel like becoming a loner just yet. You call over the boy who wore a white simple shirt and had his pair of glasses on making him look outwardly smart and hugely attractive but it didn’t cross your mind until he spoke back raising his eyebrows around when he saw you.

He really wasn’t expecting to see you today.

Unlike any other encounter this one was no different from any other meeting you had with the boy all your life. A giggle leaves his lips and a decently long sharp smile appears on his pleasant face. “Heyyyy y/n…nnynynnnn.” He said causing your name to sound longer syllables with his tongue, you know he did this to purposely make you feel like the centre of attention. You hated his teasing the most. “What are you doing?” He would ask you.

You sigh out loud. “Say my name properly!” You terror back softly at least a singular name pronounced right would be so much better you’re praying for it unlike the boy who enjoys seeing a little torment on your face. “I’m here to ask what you are doing.” You say back.

And just like that Haechan got his sole enjoyment on purposely upsetting you by mispronouncing your name or even singing it to your ears to cause you to cringe so hard you could explode, Haechan smirks.

“Huh….? Why? Am I a servant…?” He said doting out bullet points at you. He never obeys to you, he never listens to what you tell him to do, you should know better all these years knowing he wouldn’t stop annoying you.

He smirks though feeling slightly nicer to you today, who knows why. “But fineeeee. I’m just standin’ here doin nothing really! What about you?”

You glare clearly not in the exact scenario you wish to be let’s be honest, it’s not like you had a choice but to come here, you wouldn’t want to be alone. Any company is good company, but you’re starting to think maybe you were better off being alone considering Haechan’s way with you right now. “I’m unfortunately here because of my friend left to go home so now I’m bored and stuck with you.”

Curse your friend for bailing out and leaving to go home early considering you were planning a day out however it leaves you being stranded and alone now with no one but your kindergarten follower from your childhood that you so solely blame yourself on getting involved with.

Seeing how bummed and disappointed you are with his company he couldn’t help but find enjoyment in this and therefore he carries on your business and life with a passionate high pitch teasing tone put on your face.

“Awhhhhhh… How dare they leave you here with me…They must not like you that much.” He would begin to say fake pouting to make you feel even more miserable about how you ended up stuck with a guy like him again. “Well …How long till they come back?”

You murmur. “Not sure but it’s okay.” You can deal with it it’s not going to be the end of the world forever with or without your friend. You sat down on the curb floor humming as he watches you keenly at the corner of his eyes, a trailing memory in your brain starts to relive in front of your eyes like a flashback. You smile now reimagining the memory. “Remember how we used to go to the park and play hide and seek all the time?”

It was a slow pacing walk down the memory lane as you brought back endless after images on his brain now that Haechan goes to remember instantly what you were speaking about.

“Hehe Yeah it was really fun.” He says with a smile. “Who says we can’t play it now?”

Your head twists around, was he suggesting what you were thinking or was it just you getting ahead of yourself? “Should we go to the park?” You grin as he nods at you. “Let’s go.” You reply back.

You were both in for the idea suddenly to go on a spontaneous trip down to a childhood engraved park that holds many memories to the both of you, who doesn’t like to reinvent themselves back to the past? Haechan and you were both as keen on the idea as the other was. It wasn’t just you as little more excited than the other. You were both equally in for the idea. Haechan says smiling walking crossing the road alongside you suddenly you see him running.

‘Why is he running?’ You said finding it awfully sudden.

“Let’s go then, I’m going to beat youu….” The boy ahead of you running with a head start smiles watching you linger behind and now you were pumping through competitiveness in the air surrounding you like a large bubble.

If there’s one thing you know about your relationship with Haechan is that you are both so competitive it could lead to deaths of people round you. It sounds like an exaggeration, maybe it is but it seems and feels like it could lead to callus damage.

You stare starting to run up after the boy in the white loose shirt and short sleeves and those black sweatpants casually hugging his legs so nicely. “No you won’t beat me!” You shout determined.

Haechan laughs. “I will I will!”

He was chasing after you when you manage to overtake him as he took a minute to see you fly past him with your speed but just as much he had a plan to defeat and overthrown you he was wasting for the moment you start to get tired and when you did you felt your speed simmering down like a boiling pan on the stove. Now you were overtaken by Haechan who runs past you with full speed, he was waiting for you to slow down that’s all.

“Hey!” You shout in disbelief running after him once more, so much for the effort you put in your first run to use all your power.

“C’monnnn… Can’t you run faster?” You hear him laugh. “I’m gonna win for sure.” He says full of confidence now and you were somehow doubting your winning position now.

“I won’t let you win!” You told him again catching up behind the boy finally but whenever you were closer to him he speeds up rushing away from your grasp. “You’re not gonna catch me!” He shouts.

He won’t let you, Haechan’s determined to see you lose and he loves winning more than anything. “FASTER Y/N OR IS THAT ALL YOUR SHORT LEGS CAN GO?” He would point at your indifference between his long legs and your shorter once running the speed you could go max to.

You want to tell him not everyone is blessed with long model legs and not everyone is ninety percent legs like he is but you hold your tongue and thoughts, you restrain yourself from thinking that.

‘Oh my god he’s so freaking fast what the heck?’

When looking behind the long length distance between you and him he slows down letting you catch up to him halfway as he was holding his gentle soft laugh at you, he finally escapes it out when you slowly pull over and pant holding your knees. God who knew running could take such a strain? And who knew Haechan was a literal track star in disguise? When he slows down to let you meet him at the halfway point you look up panting and he questions your expression that screams to him you are exhausted already.

“Are you tired already?…”

“No-no I’m not. Geez how did you get so fast.” You softly pant. “Oh look the park is right there though!” You say with a wide smile.

Ahead of your sight as your gazed following the familiar park from your memories looked the same still to this day. It has a blue slide, red swings and a jungle climbing set for children that would climb for days and hours simply to find competition.

Haechan chuckles. “Hehe…you’re already puffed out.” You ignore his words but you were honestly puffed out to the point you feel like you ran a marathon.

“We’re here now you’re going down. Just you wait…” He says warning you.

However you start running first ahead taking the first lead to him leaving Haechan to be left behind you as you’re running towards the blue slide to touch it to claim that you won first by being there. “WELL IM NOT LETTING YOU WIN THIS SO.” you exclaim but Haechan exclaims even louder to match your tone of competitiveness.

“OH YEAH! TRY AND CATCH UP THEN.” He runs after you. He won’t go easy on you, he never will be going easy on you because he knows how much of a sore loser you can be.

You laugh a little finding this sort of entertaining to see him behind you struggling now. “Come on then slow poke!”

He runs faster catching through. “HEY. I’m not a slow poke!” He hurls. “Don’t you dare call me one!”

“Slow-poke-slow-poke…. Hhehe” you made your way into the park watching the slide with determination behind your widen eyes so hard focusing on touching it midway with your hand nearly on it.

“I’m not a slow poke! So rude.”

Haechan sighs, running into the park after you. The nickname you given him was proven to be irritating but then again you’re teasing him and usually it’s his job to be teasing you!

“Stoop! Just you wait…”

But even if you were there first Haechan was racing through the course catching up to you at immense speed and you turn around expecting him to be far away but no he was right behind you almost.

You exclaim. “AH HOW ARE YOU SO FAST?”

He smirks right at you finding your reaction to be gravely amusing to the core it’s exactly what he needs to see from you that and your defeated expression saying how wrong you are for even challenging him at this.

It’s like you should know better of all people you know him the longest but you’re still talking your shit like you’re better, he thinks you must enjoy losing at this point so much.

“What’s the matter? You tired…?” He said smirking ear to ear devilishly striking you from behind. “Why don’t you give up? You know imma beat you anyway at this.”

“I’ll never let you do that, you know this.” You stubbornly jog away to the slide when he was blocking your entrance trying to tackle you away from touching the blue slide that’s going to settle your victory. “I will touch that slide and prove I am the winner to you!”

“You sure? I think you need to slow down before you get hurt if I’m being honest.” Haechan’s lips tut at you finding your really big need to defeat to be adorable at trying but he was convinced it was pointless to hopelessly dream because he will end up crushing that same dream.

He laughs. “But fine. I’ll catch up to you anyways.” No matter he didn’t complain seeing you head straight ahead thinking you will secure your win now you’re panting at this point heavily as your hands reach for it.

But the minute your hands were meant to be on that slide touching it to bring you victorious the boy flung you on the side pushing you out the way like you’re a piece of feather compare to him and he touches the slide with a winning smirk knowing he won and you have lost now thanks to not being quicker than him. You heard him celebrate aloud.

“Haha! I touched it first Y/n.” He slants crossing the arms proudly and seeing you standing there with your eyes widen and a very angry expression.

And you know what that means when you’re angry you go and throw a large tantrum he knows and remembers it all so well. “Hey! Lee Donghyuck you’re a cheater!” You fell on the ground as your legs feel like complete jelly. You put all that hard working effort and you’re pouting in disbelief at the boy. He pulled out a dirty trick to win because he knew he doesn’t stand a chance with your stubbornness now.

With your shock face Donghyuck laughs, heck you even pulled out his full name card he couldn’t believe it you must be very angry, no, bewildered and even enraged by his dirty actions right now.

“I knew you’d react like that.” He laughs once more. “You’re too easy… anyway, I win!”

You focus your eyes into a tight glare at the boy standing back up dusting yourself from the ground as your legs regain their strength once again.

“You’re a jerk you know that? Ugh. Remind me to never race you again.” You state throughly your teeth chattering together because you really wanna bite that smirk off his face, he was finding this not only a successful but also your failure and despair was the result he enjoys the most.

“What…? What’s wrong? Don’t be such a bad sport. I won fair and square!” He laughs defending his honour now. “I’m not a jerk, I just like winning.” You hear him say again.

‘A jerk who likes winning. Same thing.’ You thought.

“Don’t laugh at me.” You turn around going to the swings and take a seat on them for a while. “Ugh whatever— you cheated still. It doesn’t change the fact you cheated to win.”

“How is that cheating?” He enquires playfully following you with his eyes where you go and sat on the swing with your hateful gaze that is touring him apart. Sometimes he loves the way you look at him like he was nothing but the least person in the world you’d rather spend your time with. He knows you can’t stay away from him though.

He asks you crossing his arms across the chest. “The rules are that anyone could do anything to beat the other. That’s what makes the game FUN.”

You bluntly reply rolling your eyes. “Says who?”

The boy quickly laughs retorting as if it wasn’t obvious who it was. “Me. I’m the one who won. Deal with it.” He really thinks you should suck it up already. “I always win at this game. You better not think of challenging me again.”

“God I hate when you have the last word.” You complain under your breath, you wrap your palms on the side of the chains attacking the swing to the pilar and you start to swing.

He smirks watching you. “You’re giving up?” He then laughs and then follows you to the other swing next to yours that you’re on using. “It’s okay. You’re such a sore loser, but you’re cute so I forgive you.”

You swing gently finally catching on one word. “Hm? You think I’m cute?”

Now you’re both swinging on your representatives swings next to one another in synch motion, both very calm and gentle pushes on the swing enough to lift your head slowly off the ground and back down to touch the ground.

“Yeah. You have a problem with that?” He would voice with his lovely melodic tone. The cherishing eyes observing you when you’re not looking the same way take photographic memory of you. “Maybe I’m cute too? What do you think?” Haechan suddenly would ask for your input.

You couldn’t help but wonder why he was asking you so suddenly what you think of him, but you try to think hard about it. What do you think of him anyways?

“You’re…nevermind.” You look away smiling. “I won’t tell you what I think.”

The boy was far too curious to know what’s going inside that head of yours so he keeps digging in wanting to find out what you’re not telling him enough to hide it.

“Why are you so flustered?… is there something you want to say?” He smiles. “Go on. be honest. I won’t bite…”

You were quick to reject and he saw your eyes waver in multiple lines. “No it’s embarrassing I rather not.” Instead he hears you gently laugh right after. “I’m not flustered… you couldn’t make me flustered even if you were the last man on earth.”

You say it with your chest knowing you couldn’t possible be flustered by your childhood kindergarten friend there wasn’t a single moment where your heart was beating around him and if it was the case you don’t know what you’d be able to do. You don’t like him like that, you’re sure of it. It’s Lee Haechan you’re speaking with so there’s no reason for you to be flustered or even shy at any point in this conversation.

The eyebrows on the boy’s face raise up finding it extremely hard to believe at the same time he was wondering why you’re so against it. “Oh really…? So you mean I’m not handsome enough to make you flustered?” He chuckles, he doesn’t know if you’re speaking truth or speaking lies.

“Yeah you couldn’t make my heart race no matter what.”

He chuckles once more. “Oh yeah? Want me to prove you wrong?” Suddenly you saw your swing stop and Haechan leans in, and kisses your cheek shortly. “Did I make your heart race now?”

You were to your core left flanking on your hope wondering what had just happened but the minute you replay his lips on your skin making contact, your cheek still remembers his heart shape lips on them.

You blink over to him growing red on face. “W-What was that for Haechan…?”

‘Goddamit I’m fumbling my words.’

“That’s my way of making everyone flustered. It always works.” He says laughing at your expression that could melt even the coldest person on this earth, your reactions were his favourite thing to witness in the world.

He asks again. “Now… did I make your heart race?”

“No you didn’t.” You firmly affirm but it’s more like you were lying to yourself in a way you couldn’t very much believe what was happening.

You look away trying to calm your super fast heart right now and you were literally lying through your teeth, he knew, you were like a transparent see through sugar paper.

Your voice comes out rather disappointing. “You kiss other girl’s too? You must be a player Hyuck.”

Of course he was popular with women its the freaking Lee Haechan. You feel stupid knowing your heart was very much effected by this whole scene you weren’t enjoying it. Maybe you were but you’re in strong denial about it.

“I kiss every girl I want.” Haechan replies to you but begins to chuckle softly. “But you’re special… I wanna kiss you the most.”

He starts leaning in once more leaving you frozen on the swing staying still as his lips touch yours kissing you again. But this time it’s not on the cheek.

“Was that enough to make your heart flutter, baby?”

You had so many questions you wanted to have answers for ‘what do you mean in special—‘ but you couldn’t help but lose all your train of thoughts when the kiss reconnects on your lips now. Your first ever kiss was with him and you couldn’t believe your eyes how soft his mouth feels and how good it actually felt to be kissed like you’re loved and cherished. You almost forgot it was him kissing you because it had so much love in that kiss he gave.

Haechan pulls away leaving barely much space between your lips but enough to take a good look at your face that he finds himself staring at like you’re a piece of portrait hung up in an art museum gallery. You were brought back into the reality.

“Hey… look this isn’t funny if this is a joke…” you bring your fingers up touching your lips he has kissed. “Hyuck why’d you kiss me— that… was my first kiss.”

He interrogates you softly wanting the answer he’s been looking for all along. “Did it make your heart race?” Haechan starts to softly chuckle then smiles again. “It was your first? Well… then I did you a favour.”

“Ugh I’m not going to answer you…” You mutter shyly. “I feel very warm…”

Haechan found you rambling under your mouth to be adorable and very much endearing because he could hear you very well crystal clear actually.

He chuckles. “Are you blushing? Wonder why.” He smiles then lays his hand on yours. “You are so cute when you blush my dear Y/n.”

“Don’t call me cute— I can’t believe you kissed me.” Your face puffs out especially your cheeks huffing out in the same motion.

You then later trail carefully whispering to yourself finding yourself ranting about it. “It made my heart race a little.” You mutter quietly hoping he doesn’t hear you.

He smirks watching you speak to yourself as he was nearing you again. “What’d ya say? Your heart rate picked up a bit?” He knew exactly how to push your buttons and get anything out of you as if you were wrapped round his finger. “Well I did a good job then.” Haechan proudly interjects.

Chuckling once more at you his hand slips up by your waist pulling you now closer to his swing where he sat and you follow along the silhouette casting around your surroundings.

He keeps his arms on your waist close by. “Say… If I were to kiss you again… Would it make you as flushed as now?”

Your body was second guessing you leaning closer looking down where the sudden arms from the boy moving on your waist down below. “I- I don’t know, you’re confusing me here.” The sudden change of their shifting positions and Haechan acting much more relaxed but cling to your body confuses you deeply leaving a stranded feeling in your chest. Your eyes couldn’t leave his lips either staring them down.

Haechan loves the little details your eyes do flickering between the way his hands were on your waist silhouette ghosting over there and the way they switch to look at his lips.

‘You’re so obvious.’ Haechan said to himself letting his thoughts run deep.

“So… You want me to kiss you again?” He smiles, and leans in again, waiting for your answer.

“Maybe…I do…” Your voice comes out as soft as a windy breeze in middle of July leaving him guessing your next exhale.

He smiles loving the answer it’s exactly what he wants to hear from you, what he needed to hear from you. The fully consent to do that. Haechan smiles. Then, he kisses you again on the lips but longer this time and gently bites on your bottom lip.

Even thought this was as bare and raw experience from you you’re here following your instincts what feels right to do in the right moment sharing with the boy you kiss him back this time and exhale a very gentle soft noise by the bite lip he’s done to your soft lips that feel true sky clouds, closing your eyes.

He pulls away just enough from the kiss, locking his eyes onto yours. He smiles softly whispering against your mouth. “Wow…”

Staring at you with now what seems like a soft gaze you’ve never seen him do before. It was like he was another person you’ve not known at all your life. “You’re really good for someone who just had their first kiss…”

A chuckle couldn’t be helped, the boy had to slip one out finding this a pleasant surprise.

You did what felt right by following your heart. Somehow your body knew what to do when kissing the boy back. You murmur a soft ‘Shut up’ feeling a blush growing between your ears and cheeks. “You seem way more experienced… with the kissing.”

Haechan smiles. “Heh you think so? I did it with enough girls to be an expert at it.”

“Hmph… I’m sure you had plenty of girls lining up for you per usual.” Soft eye roll as you cross your arms together around the chest.

“Hehe do you wanna line up too?” He dotes out pointing at you with playfully seeking eyes that’s chasing you round the meadows in imagination. He was laughing within the moment but then he gets serious for a moment. “— But the only one I want to kiss all day is None other than you Y/n.” He smiles at you, then kisses you on the lips again slowly. He holds your waist, as he gently pulls you closer.

‘My poor heart can’t talk anymore of your kisses, Hyuck, I’m afraid…’ you thought.

“Nope I won’t line up for you.” You stage firmly but then suddenly stop. “Why do you want to kiss me?” You seemingly turn around looking at him kissing you and pulling your body even closer than it was before.

Haechan couldn’t help but think it’s the time you start getting the point across of his feelings for you. He wouldn’t be here kissing you for no reason, he isn’t here speaking to you for no reason putting time and effort with you.

He threads like a sewing machine across your skin. “I like you Y/n.”

“Isn’t it obvious to you that I like you?” He smiles.

He looks at you as he spoke for a moment firmly, then he kisses you on the lips. This time much more passionately. Leaving you to get lost into the kiss that was much more different sounding to your ears and lips that’s attaching to his own.

You should be over the butterflies. Your heart shouldn’t be beating this much for someone you knew all your life changing their emotions suddenly by the change of timing course because of his confession touching your feelings. You get lost in the sharing passion kiss between your faces moving in synch like you were one.

You never expected to have fallen so much, for someone you knew all your life.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

@onyourhyuck please refer from translating and copyrighting my work thank youu! Reblog this fic and follow me for more it helps a girl out <3.

[bitterfates]

FFXIV WRITE 2023; PROMPT 23 // 24: SUIT

The corset, while flattering to her figure, was laced so tightly that it made it more difficult to breathe than she was used to. The bonnet sat on her head in a way that rubbed against her feline ears uncomfortably, lace chafing the tips. The various bits of silver jewelry and other accessories that had been heaped on her were more ostentatious than what she’d pick out herself, but at least weren’t as heavy as the fabric of the dress. 

Speaking of the dress: it was stunning, and perfectly on-theme for the ball she had been coerced into attending. Like all the rest of the main pieces of this outfit, it was dyed the deepest black possible, with hints of white shown through as accents, like in the lace of her stockings and armlets. Even far away, it was the type of attire that one could tell was expensive by eyeing the texture alone.

Zizi felt…certainly beautiful, yes, but like one of the costly dolls that lined premier toy shops’ shelves; fragile and delicate and enchanting. It was a look so unlike her normal wear that when she viewed herself in the dressing room’s floor-length mirror, she hardly recognized herself, especially with her professionally-applied makeup and the way her hair had been styled and primped.

She took a moment to observe her whole appearance, slowly turning both left and right to see more details. She wondered if she should be grateful to receive a gift like this from her high-grade benefactor; if this was just him spoiling her, or if this was meant to be some sort of message for other purposes. 

As soon as that thought passed over her, she abruptly turned to face him, expression deliberately bland. Zizi knew this particular man’s personality well enough to know she must choose her next words precisely. “Your tastes are exquisite as ever, Ajin, but I fear I do not do justice to the image in your mind you must have. Are these clothes really suitable for me?”

He had been waiting for her to say something; she could tell by the way the corners of his mouth curled upward, dark-furred ears lazily flicking the same way. She hadn’t taken a good look at what he had chosen to wear until then, just now noticing that he had on a matching waistcoat and pants in exact fabrics and dye choice as her dress. Ah, she had realized far too late. This is another one of his power plays.

“Do you doubt me, pet? Or do you just have so little pride in yourself as to not believe you deserve nice things?” The Viera’s voice was a suave drawl as he stood up from the chair he’d been reclining in and began languidly approaching her, eyes sparkling with dark promises while he eyed her up and down. “I want both of my radiant gems to shine brighter than any star in the heavens, so I spared no expense. Everyone will know to whom you belong.” 

When he was within an arm’s reach of her, Ajin encircled his arms around her waist in an embrace, compelling her to rest her body back against his own. With a huff of irritation at the possessive words, she crossed her arms and gently turned her head to the side to not mess up her hair. He responded with a breathy laugh and squeezed her tighter, against which she put up no struggle to be released. 

(It was always a dangerous game to play with him; whether he would allow this little bit of defiance or anything but positive emotions and affirmations from her depended on his mood, and it seemed he was in an accommodating one tonight. While he had never been physically violent with her, she had learned well the lesson of how there were actions that could be taken against her that wouldn’t leave a tangible mark behind.)

He spoke again in a low, ominous whisper that had her ears tingling from the closeness and the tone. “Are you not pleased? You will be one of the most desired people in the room, coveted for your elegance alone. Many will attempt to garner a crumb of attention from you, but you will not so much as glance at any I do not approve of. You are mine, and you will not be tarnished by the likes of these beasts.”

A small motion indicating she wished to turn around was all it took for him to loosen his hold on her, allowing her to face him properly and lean up to chastely press a kiss on his cheek. Zizi could never be likened to his so-called soulmate, but she could be the other gentling influence he needed at his most domineering times too. She was strong enough for that much, at least.

“We are both yours,” Zizi responded calmly, sage green eyes locking with silver-blue. “No one will come between us. Haven’t we already promised our loyalty?”

Indeed, she continued privately to herself. Haven’t I thrown away all common sense and dignity for you? You have fashioned us into figures so wicked our own families would swear us strangers now. Are there any others better suited for you than me and him?

[otomefoxystar]

Finding the Light - Chapter 12

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Pairing Mistuhide X OC ( Evelyn)

TW: descriptions of being kidnapped

Everyone looked at Evelyn with worry, but they were all excited to see her nonetheless. She hugged each of them, but they were all gentle when they hugged her back. No one commented on her appearance, which was a nice reprieve. She was sure they were all questioning what happened and why she was so thin.

As soon as Nobunaga entered the room, everyone quieted down. “My lucky charm is back!” Nobunaga announced. She walked over to him, and he gathered her in his arms. “You’re too skinny. Has Mitsuhide been feeding you?” It was a nice reprieve until now. Of course, Nobunaga would say something. He always spoke his mind no matter who it would insult. “He’s been feeding me and taking really good care of me.”  Nobunaga’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why are you so nervous?” She cleared her throat. “It took a lot for me to come.” He looked her up and down, and she knew he wouldn’t let up. “You aren’t going to let me go until I tell you everything, are you?” A smile spread across his face. “Nope, so please do tell, why all the mystery? What’s going on with you?” 

Ieyasu cleared his throat. “Lord Nobunaga, maybe give her time to get settled.” Nobunaga chuckled. “She knows how I am. She should’ve expected that I would want answers.” Looking away from Ieyasu, she was met with crimson eyes surging with concern. “I can’t,” Nobunaga drew her into his strong arms. “You’re not sick; something happened, didn’t it?.” He squeezed her tighter. “I’ll tell you, just not here.” He pulled away and put his hand on her back.  “Okay” 

Nobunaga cleared his throat, and everyone’s attention turned to him. “Let’s start.” Evelyn sat in between Ieyasu and Masamune, and Ieyasu patted her head, then whispered in her ear, “You’re doing well.” She sighed, trying to relax. 

Nobunaga took his seat in facing them. “There’s a group of rebels terrorizing the townspeople. Masamune found where their camp is. We must go in there and persuade them to leave by any means necessary.” Nobunaga looked at Evelyn. “I think you should stay behind this time, Evelyn.” She gulped at the thought of being alone and clutched at the sleeves of her Kimono. Ieyasu grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly.

A knot formed in her stomach, making her feel sick.  “We’ll have dinner together, and in the morning, we’ll leave,” Nobunaga announced before he stood. Everyone stood along with him, and Nobunaga glanced over at Evelyn with a look of unease. “Mitsuhide, Hideyoshi, I need you two in the tenshu,” Nobunaga said as his eyes left her. Mitsuhide looked over to Evelyn and gave her a smile and a nod before he left her behind as he followed Nobunaga obediently along with Hideyoshi. Ieyasu turned to her. “Come get me if you need anything, okay?” She nodded, “I will,” and she exited the room with everyone else.

Evelyn reminisced about living there. She walked the gardens and chatted with Masamune and Mitsunari. The worry was written on their faces the whole time she was with them. Mitsunari had excused himself so he could start planning for their mission. Masamune wanted to make dessert for dinner; he invited her to bake with him, but she turned him down. She wanted to be alone; she didn’t want to see him look at her with worry.

She found herself in her room, and as she looked around, she remembered the night Mitsuhuide discovered something was wrong. He sat with her and wouldn’t leave until she ate. The very next day, he dragged her to his manor.

She was in such a low state, the trauma of what happened still so fresh. Images climbed into her mind, images she would rather forget. A large, warm hand covered her mouth. A firm chest pressed against her back as they held her arms behind her, making it impossible for her to escape. He dragged her behind the building into the alleyway. A moment later, she was blindfolded. Her heart rate quickened, and her chest felt tight. She had to distract herself and get out of that room. Tears trickled down her face as she walked the halls briskly to seek out Ieyasu and quickly wiped them away.

She found him in the infirmary sorting through his herbs. “Ieyasu.” He placed a jar down, looked toward her, and raised his eyebrows, noticing her puffy eyes. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked. “Being here brings back the worst memories. I just need a distraction.”

Ieyasu grimaced at her explanation; he wished she didn’t have to suffer. “Come in; you can help me alphabetize these herbs. She nodded and took a jar off the shelf, then placed a different jar in its place. “I’m going to tell everyone tonight at dinner what happened to me.” She said as she worked.

Ieyasu moved another jar and looked over to her. “You don’t have to.” She was quiet for a moment before glancing at Ieyasu. “I need to. Nobunaga’s going to leave me here alone. I don’t know if I can handle that.” Ieyasu turned to face her. “And you’re hoping he’ll take pity on you and let you come?” Ieyasu narrowed his eyes, “Are you really afraid of being alone? Or are you afraid of being without Mitsuhide?” He asked curtly.

“Both?” She wasn’t entirely sure of the answer herself. Ieyasu sighed, “You’ll have to learn to be on your own eventually.” She knew that. She had been thinking that the moment Nobunaga told her she had to stay. “I know and don’t know how I will do that.” Ieyasu sighed, “You just do.” She glared at him. “You want me to be alone when I can’t even sleep through the night? When I can’t stop crying when unwanted thoughts enter my mind reminding me of what happened, of how pathetic I am?” Ieyasu saw the tears fill her eyes, took the jar out of her hand, and placed it back on the shelf. He pulled her into his arms. “I forget sometimes what happened to you. I’m sorry if I was hard on you.” She hugged him back, placing her hands on his back. The rest of the afternoon passed, with Evelyn helping Ieyasu sort his medical supplies. 

A dark curtain was cast over the sky, indicating night had fallen, and Ieyasu walked with Evelyn to the dining hall. Mitsuhide walked in just as she was sitting down. He smiled and sat beside her. She saw how tired he looked and looked at Hideyoshi, who looked just as exhausted. Nobunaga must’ve been going hard on them both.

After their meal and as the alcohol flowed, Nobunaga motioned to her, “Fireball, come here.” Nobunaga said. She walked up to Nobunaga and sat next to him. “My lucky charm” He drapped his arm over her shoulders. He looked at her. “You have this sad aura around you. I haven’t even seen you smile.” She looked down. “I smile…Sometimes.” Masamune looked over to her. “Lass, you smile about everything; you had such a drive for life. Now, you just seem miserable. What has Mitsuhide done to you?” He hoped his little joke would make her smile. Instead, she glanced towards Mitsuhide, who was teasing Hideyoshi and Ieyasu, rolled his eyes at their antics. She looked back to Masamune, “He hasn’t done anything, I’m more concerned about what I’ve done to him.” Masamune grimaced. “That’s not what I meant.” She sighed. “I know Masamune, and I appreciate you trying.”

She couldn’t stand how they were all looking at her. She was going to tell them tonight anyway. No time was better than now. “I’ll tell you all what happened.” Nobunaga moved his arm to wrap his hand around hers. He knew she was nervous; somehow, Nobunaga always picked up on these things. 

Their attention was on her, and it was so silent that the leaves blowing in the wind were heard. “I went shopping one evening, I’ve done it thousands of times, and nothing was different. Everything was fine until it wasn’t. My mouth was covered, and I was dragged towards an alley where I was blindfolded. Then I was carried to some sort of room or building I don’t really know.

” Tears formed in her eyes as she saw all their expressions. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “My wrists were tied, and I couldn’t break free; I was blindfolded the whole time. Then they, I only know it was multiple men because of their voices. They…” Tears escaped her eyes, cascading down her cheeks. She wiped them away, and Nobunaga squeezed her hand. “They attacked me multiple times.” She wasn’t going to tell them how she was attacked, but she knew they all knew, but they all remained silent, even with the horror written on each of their faces. Even Mitsuhide and Ieyasu looked pained. Then she realized she had never told Mitsuhide how it happened and hadn’t told Ieyasu anything. 

She told Mitsuhide more personal details but never told him this part of the story. “They kept me till the morning; as they let me go, they told me, ‘Go back to your masters like the broken dog you are.’” The tears ran freely now, uncontrollable. Nobunaga shifted and took her in his arms, cocooning her safely into his chest as he rubbed her back soothingly. She cried, and everyone looked at them, stunned. Hideyoshi gave Mitsuhide a concerned look. Mitsuhide closed his eyes and nodded, showing Hideyoshi he knew what happened to her.

Finally, her tears dried, and she lifted her head from Nobunaga’s chest. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. “He shook his head. “No, don’t apologize, cry if you need to cry. No one’s judging you.”  She wiped all her tears away and nodded as she pressed her lips together. “I’m going to go to take a bath and get some sleep.” Nobunaga nodded, “Sleep well,” She mustered a small smile. “I’ll try.” As soon as she left the room, Nobunaga adjusted his Kimono and ran his fingers through his hair.

Nobunaga turned to Mitsuhide, “How was she when all this first happened? You’ve been alone with her for months.” He sighed, “I’ll admit it was touch and go there for a while. I had to move her into my room because I didn’t trust that she wouldn’t hurt herself. She would hardly eat; it’s just been in the last month or so that she’s been eating a healthy amount. She’s finally putting on some weight. The nightmares haven’t stopped. She wakes up screaming. She’s made a lot of progress, though I’m teaching her self-defense. She’s shown interest in sewing again.” Nobunaga nodded. Not all is lost. It comes in small strides.

“This was not only an attack on her. This was an attack on us; they used her to get to us.” Nobunaga said, and Mitsunari cleared his throat. “If I may?” Nobunaga motioned for him to continue. “Do you think that perhaps the rebels did this to her?” Nobunaga gave him a hard nod. “I was thinking the same thing. We need to strike them down.”

Hideyoshi sighed. “I couldn’t agree more, but how will we know who did it? She heard their voices. Only she will know who did it.” Nobunaga raised an eyebrow, “Fair point, but can she handle it?” Mitsuhide cleared his throat. “She’s stronger than you think; she can handle it. It’ll be hard, but she can handle it.” Nobunaga took a drink of his sake. “Good. Then she comes. I’ll tell her in the morning.” Mitsuhide stood up. “I’ll tell her I was going to see her anyways; somebody needs to be there when she wakes up from her nightmares.” Masamune had his arms crossed, and he looked up at Mitsuhide. “You got your hands full with that lass, don’t you? Good luck.”  

“Are you taking care of yourself too, Mitsuhide?” Hideyoshi asked with concern. Mitsuhide smiled. “Of course, I couldn’t very well take care of her if I wasn’t at my best.” He stood up and sauntered off to her room. 

[going-dead]

Not Quite Human

My Holiday truce gift @wingedflight

Read on A03: here

I used the main prompt of Grey ghost identity reveal, with a bit of the outsider POV of danny being strange mixed in there.

Valerie did her best to suppress a scowl as she tracked Paulina in the mirror as the other girl walked into the bathroom. Her hopes of Paulina just having to use the bathroom or fix her appearance were quickly dashed as she saddled up next to Valerie. Maybe she could just pretend she didn’t notice her. She kept her gaze down and turned off the sink before turning towards the door to leave. It was the end of the day, she wouldn’t have a chance to stop Valerie again at least until Monday.

“Don’t leave just yet Val.” Paulina instructed. She didn’t even give Valerie the dignity of looking at her as she talked. Instead, she kept her eyes to her reflection, adjusting her hair. 

Valerie stopped mid-step, it was better to just get whatever she wanted to talk about over with. Otherwise, it would become a common occurrence until she complied. “Don’t call me Val, only my friends get to do that. What do you want Paulina, I thought you couldn’t be seen with a ‘loser’ like me?”

“That’s why we’re in the bathroom, it doesn’t count. And I’m here to talk to you as your friend.” Paulina’s reflection smiled. “You need to drop the Fenton creep.”

That caused Valerie to turn fully towards Paulina. “Excuse me? What gives you any right to judge who I hang out around? Let alone talk about him like that.”

“I heard your dad might be getting his job back.” Her eyes flicked towards Valerie.

“What?” It was the first time Valerie was hearing anything about that. She doubted her dad would keep something like that from her.

“Well, my dad heard it and he told me at least. But if he does end up getting that job back you need to start regrouping your image sooner than later if you want back into our group. Which leads us back to you dropping the creep.” Paulina explained.

Valerie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What makes you think I even want to be friends with you after you all threw me out like last year's fashion line? And Danny’s not a creep. Unlike you, he doesn’t pretend to be nice.”

Paulina laughed. “I know they say love is blind but, really? Wow. You can’t say you don’t see it. He’s just…wrong. Our town is routinely attacked by ghosts and somehow he is the one who acts the least like an actual person.”

Valerie didn't grace her with an answer. She finished drying her hands and stormed out the bathroom. She walked down the halls before stopping and taking a deep breath before rounding the corner where Danny and his friends would be waiting. The three of them were standing around Danny’s locker as he put his textbooks away. They had yet to notice her as she approached them.

“No I literally can’t find any lead on the group trying to do it. At this point I’m going to have to scour the Realms and hope I stumble across them. All I know is that she’s like volcanic related or something.” Danny slammed his locker.

“Guess you have your weekend plans then, need any help?” Tucker asked.

Danny shook his head. “No. Me and Val already have weekend plans, and I am not cancelling them again. It can wait two days.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Valerie asked as she leaned against Danny’s back. He always ran so cold, she once joked corpses were warmer than he was. She only told the joke once however, it put him in a weird mood the rest of the day. But it was a familiar comfort, especially after the conversation she had with Paulina. 

Danny jumped, apparently just realizing she was there. “Oh, hey Val. Nothing, important.”

“Aw come on, Sam?” ValIerie asked turning to Sam.

Sam just shook her head with a sigh. “There’s a new Doomed event starting this weekend. The main boss is hidden though so players have to find it.” 

“Oh I see.” Valerie didn’t know the first thing about those video games to be honest. Danny had tried multiple times to show her but she felt like she understood even less than when the explanation started. But he enjoyed them so she’d listen to him talk about them even if she didn’t understand a single thing about them. But she appreciated him putting off what seemed like a big thing in the game to spend time with her.

“We are still on for this weekend though, right?” Danny asked with wide eyes aimed towards Valerie. 

She couldn’t say no to those eyes even if she wanted to. Not that she wanted to of course. They’d been trying to plan spending a weekend together for months now. It didn’t help that she kept having to make excuses to go and take care of a ghost attack. But she was determined for this weekend to work out. She’d even let go of her grudge, temporarily of course, and let the ghost boy deal with any ghosts that appeared. 

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Valerie told him giving him a quick kiss.

“Way to rub it in our single faces.” Tucker pouted.

“Speak for yourself, I don’t want to see it in general. Teenage hormones, bleh.” Sam shook her head.

“Not all of can be ethereal romanticless goths Sam. Some of us are human.” Tucker elbowed her.

“Well at least one of us is, and you should try it sometimes it’s neat.” Sam smiled.

“Haha very funny you two.” Danny deadpanned. “See you tomorrow Val!”

“Why don’t I walk you home?” Valerie offered.

“Are you sure? It’s pretty icy out and you live pretty far away to walk.”

Valerie waved him off. “I have work. I’d rather walk you home safely than just sit in the break room until my shift starts.” Not to mention she’d also be patrolling late due to not doing it at all that coming weekend. 

“My hero, walking me home.” Danny placed a hand to his chest as the two of them made their way outside.

“You know it.” Valerie shivered as a blast of cold air hit her.

As they walked Danny kept having to slow down to give Valerie time to catch up. She had no clue how he was walking at a normal pace without slipping on the ice, if she didn’t know any better she would say it was like he was gliding across the ice as he walked. 

Now that she thought about it more Danny’s motor skills seemed to fluctuate quite a bit. At times, he’d trip over his own feet and was being banned from the science lab for the third time that month. Other times, he moved so fluidly, like when he was weaving in and out of the crowded halls, that she’d swear it was somehow choreographed. She was reading too much into things. That talk with Paulina was messing with her head. No way was she letting some stupid comments effect this weekend.

Thankfully the rest of the day went by quietly. She went straight from her shift at the Nasty Burger, to patrol, then straight home. She only caught glimpses of the ghost boy, seemed like he finally wisened up and learned to stay away from her. About time. 

“Dad, I’m home!” She called out into the apartment as she kicked her shoes off. 

“Oh, good! How was work?” Her dad poked his head out of his bedroom.

Valerie shrugged. “It was work. People feeling entitled as if they’re getting food from a five-star restaurant and not a crapy fast food joint.”

Her dad made his way to the living room and took a seat on the couch, he patted the spot next to him. “On the topic of work, there’s something I would like to tell you.” Valerie hesitantly sat down next to him. Last time he had to talk to her about work was when he had to tell her he was demoted and they’d have to move out of their house. “What’s going on? I can pick up more hours at work if I need to.”

Her dad shook his head. “No that’s not needed. Not mention you work so much as is.”

That made her feel guilty, a lot of the hours he thought she was working was just a cover for ghost hunting. “Then what did you want to talk about?” “Well, the head of the security team and I have been working on this for a while now and we were able to finally pitch it to the boss. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for sure because I didn’t want to get your hopes up just to disappoint you. But Axion Labs has now officially partnered up with Fenton Works to create security systems, effective against both humans and ghosts. Which includes me getting my old job back, as well as an increase of pay from what I was being paid before. But you can’t tell anyone yet, it hasn’t been announced yet.” He explained.

So Paulina was right after all. It was good news, great news even but Valerie couldn’t help but frown. She should have known better than to doubt Paulina in that regard. She had always somehow known things before anyone else, and tended to be correct in her assumptions in what was going on around the school. That didn’t mean she was right about Danny though. She probably just thought it made her look bad by proximity because she used to be friends with Valerie, or something. 

“Is everything alright?” Her dad asked. 

Valerie realized she forgot to respond to him and had just been sitting in silence. “No! I mean yes! Everything’s fine, that’s great news dad!”

“You should be able to quit that job of yours.” He smiled.

“Oh, I’m not sure. I think it’s a good way for me to… practice responsibility. I wouldn’t want to quit just yet.” Valerie didn’t want to lose her cover for ghost hunting. Even if it did mean she had to continue working at the Nasty Burger. 

“That’s good to hear that you think so. It’s late though, so I won't hold you from sleep any longer. Goodnight, I love you.” He hugged her.

“I love you too dad.” She hugged him back before heading to her room. 

“Your coffee.” Danny handed her a cup of coffee that had steam coming out of the lid. He slid the seat opposing her own. They were starting off their weekend together with a coffee date. It was a nice cozy coffee shop that had just opened up a week ago. Or well it re-opened a week ago after the building was demolished in a ghost attack a few months back. 

“I still can’t understand how you can drink ice coffee in this weather.” Valerie shook her head.

“It’s good, freezing temperature be damned. Plus we’re inside, the weather is outside.” Danny pointed out as he took a drink of his coffee.

“I suppose so-Ah hot!” Valerie quickly put her own cup down and put a hand to her mouth. She was pretty sure she’d just burned her tongue. 

“Here let me see.” Danny grabbed her coffee and took a small sip .of it before shrugging and handing it back. “Feels fine to me.”

Valerie looked at the offending drink with caution before taking it back and hesitantly taking a sip of it. “It’s cooled down? How?”

“Like you said it’s cold out. Probably just cooled it down a bit.” 

Valerie had trouble believing that. Especially from the person who had just pointed out that the weather was not affecting them inside the shop. But it wasn’t like she had any other logical explanation. “Yeah, probably…”

Danny didn’t seem to notice her uncertainty. No matter how much she loved him, she could admit he could be oblivious at times. It was one of the things that made him endearing. It made her glad he didn’t take after his parents when it came to ghost hunting. With his lack of athleticism and obliviousness he would end up a ghost himself. But he had her, so he’d never have to worry about things like that.

“Are you doing okay by the way Danny? You’ve seemed pretty tired lately.” She would have brought it up sooner, but she was so busy herself with school, work, and ghost hunting, that she would have sounded pretty hypocritical if she had said it when her eye bags matched his. Thankfully she got enough sleep the night prior.

“Don’t worry about it, just haven't been getting enough sleep lately.” Danny smiled.

“Oh? Why not? Anything I can help with?” She swore if it was Dash causing him problems again she’d throw the jock into next week.

Danny honestly looked like he was considering it before shaking his head. “Just a research project.”

“I don’t remember anything being assigned?” If she missed another big project she was doomed. Hopefully she had enough time to pull something together.

“No, nothing for school. Just a personal one so to speak. I’ve just come to a dead end at the moment.”

“That sounds fun, what’s it about?”

“Ghost cults.”

“Oh. Well if you can think of anyway I can help let me know, yeah?” 

“Of course.” 

Danny grabbed them both a second cup of coffee to go before they left. He even took a sip of hers to make sure this one was cool enough to drink. As they stepped outside Valarie was glad the coffee was cooled down enough as the cold hit her face. 

They were heading to Danny’s house next to binge-watch a bunch of cheesy rom-com’s. Though getting there seemed like it was going to be a problem. The road and sidewalk on the quickest route to his house were blocked by a bunch of rubble scattered around. It was clear by the splatters of ectoplasm on the rubble that it was from a ghost attack. 

She didn’t remember the road blockage when she walked Danny home the day prior so it had to have happened after that. She also didn’t remember fighting a ghost in this part of the city so it must have been one of Phantom’s fights.

Not surprising with how much property damage there was. “Why didn’t you say the road was blocked?”

“I totally forgot.” Danny facepalmed.

“You walked to the coffee shop this way didn’t you?” Valerie didn’t see how he could have missed it.

“Walked this way? Yeah, totally, I was just distracted I guess. We can just climb over it, it’s fine. You shouldn’t be out in the cold longer than needed and back tracking will add another fifteen minutes outside.” Danny had already started heading towards the rubble strewn street.

“Danny wait up, that’s so unsafe for you! Especially with the ice.” Valerie called after him. He was determined apparently and didn’t listen to her warning, meaning she had no choice but to follow. 

Climbing around rubble wasn’t easy on a good day, let alone when it was covered in ice and snow. By the time they reached the other side Valerie was out of breath. Danny surely would need to stop to take a moment to catch his breath if Valerie was having so much trouble. She looked over at him only to find him looking perfectly fine. The rise and fall of his chest was basically unnoticeable. 

In fact, it was completely unnoticeable, almost as if he wasn’t breathing. She couldn’t even see his breath fog in the cold. Which was impossible, if the trek made Valerie short of breath Danny should have been struggling at least a bit. 

Danny seemed to notice her staring. “What?”

Valerie took one more breath before speaking. “How are you not out of breath?”

Then Danny took a deep breath, as if he was remembering he was supposed to be breathing. “I’ve been doing cardio with my mom.”

Valerie decided to drop it. The rest of the walk and day was uneventful. It was dark by the time Valerie declared she should get going home. 

“We’re still planning on tomorrow too right?” Danny asked.

“Of course we are. You better not try to get out of it.” Valerie joked, jabbing his chest.

Danny opened his front door with a laugh as they stepped out into the cold together. “Never. I’ll meet you at your apartment.” Danny went to turn back into the house before pausing. “Oh, and tell your dad congrats on the promotion for me.”

 “How’d you know about that?” Valerie stopped. She had only learned about it the night prior, and even if Paulina was spreading the information around, Danny’s social circle would have been the last to find out from her. 

“Axion is partnering with my parents.” Danny reminded her, pointing up at the giant glowing Fenton Works sign. 

“Oh yeah.” Valerie felt bad. It felt like ever since that conversation with Paulina she kept doubting things about Danny. She shouldn't let Paulina’s words get into her head, but the seed of doubt was certainly planted. And a lot of the things Danny did that day only watered it more. There was no actual reason for her to doubt Danny. “See you tomorrow, love you!”

“Love you too!” Danny waved her off. Valerie knew she must have been seeing things at that point. Because she could have sworn his eyes were reflecting in the dark of the night, almost glowing. 

She was just out of it today, tomorrow everything would go back to normal. But in the meantime she needed to do at least a short patrol before heading back home. She hadn’t heard of a ghost attack all day or so far into the night and it was strange. Not even just a smaller ghost.

Her good mood from her date was quickly soured as Phantom appeared in her sights just minutes after she started patrolling. Even worse he seemed to be in a good mood. “I thought we agreed to patrol separate areas.”

Phantom looked down at the ground below them before looking back up at her. “Oh hey? But yeah,this is the area I patrol?”

Valerie wouldn’t call it a truce what they had. More of a tentative agreement not to attack each other as long as they left each other alone. It started around the time she and Danny had started dating, it did end up giving her more time for school and other things. Which was the only reason she agreed to it. He was unfortunately right though. They were currently above the area they agreed he’d have patrol in. Why he wanted to be so close to Fenton Works was anyone's guess, maybe because that was where the ghost portal was. “So it is. I was just passing through.”

Phantom shrugged like he didn’t care. “No problem, as long as you don’t shoot me.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

He held his hands up in surrender. “Wasn’t a suggestion. You seem to be in a worse mood than normal around me, something happen?”

“Nothing you’d understand. Or that I’d even want to tell you.” She didn’t need to talk to a ghost of all things about her dating worries.

“Well if I don’t understand it I’d be the perfect person to tell it to.” He had a point. Sadly enough. She couldn’t talk to Danny about it, and the closest other people she could call friends were Sam and Tucker and they were Danny’s friends first and foremost. “Just relationship problems. But I’m pretty sure I’m just overexaggerating things.”

If Valerie didn’t know any better she would have said Phantom looked worried. “Oh? What sort of problems?”

Valerie shook her head. Maybe she was just losing it, all the things about Danny probably had a perfectly rational explanation but she was too far gone to think of any. She couldn’t even think of an irrational explanation was the problem. Nothing seemed to add up. 

How could he struggle in gym class just the day prior and then climb over a bunch of rubble with no issue. Not even with no issue but seemingly not needing to breathe? How could he practically glide across ice as he walked, not even looking down to make sure he didn’t slip. How was he able to somehow cool down her coffee enough to make it drinkable when only seconds prior it burnt her. Was there anything else she just failed to notice? What about his cold skin, and his discomfort every time she brought it up. His constantly fluctuating agility. What about the fact she could have sworn he had bruises but the next day they were gone. 

Every time she brought anything up he seemed to just brush it off. Surely it couldn’t be all in her head.  But what else could it even be?

“Red? Valerie? Hey, you okay? Val!” Phantom was yelling at her.

She snapped out of her thoughts. “What did you just call me?

“Red?”

“No, after that?” ‘Valerie?” Phantom looked her up and down. “Do you want me to fly you home? Are you getting enough sleep, you seem out of it.”

“Well whose fault is that? I have a life and job outside of ghost hunting you know. Not that you’d know about that.” Valerie frowned.

Phantom blinked, opened his mouth before shutting it again. “You won’t have to worry about the job soon enough though at least. With your dad’s new job and all.”

Valerie’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know about that?”

“Shi-I mean I overheard it, while I was leaving the Ghost Zone.” Phantom nodded abruptly. “Well I better get going, see ya later.”

“I hope not.” Valerie grumbled. He was right about one thing though, she probably just needed some sleep. She’d give in this time and head home. 

Unfortunately the morning didn’t bring peace of mind. In fact, it did the opposite. Danny never showed up to pick her up from her apartment. She had waited two hours past the time he said he’d be there before deciding to figure up what was going on herself. He wasn’t even responding to her texts. 

She was going to get answers. For everything. Before she was just planning on just letting it be, but he didn’t even have the courtesy to text her to let her know he wasn’t going to show up. 

It took a few good minutes of rapping on the door of Fenton Works for someone to answer, and it wasn’t the person she was looking for. “Hi Valerie, did you need something?” Jazz Fenton asked.

“I need your brother. He didn’t show up for our date, and didn’t even bother to text. Where is he?” Valerie crossed her arms.

Jazzed looked around with a sigh. “Have you tried Tucker’s?”

“No, I assumed he’d be at his house first.”

Jazz just shrugged. “I don’t know where he is either.” “Thanks anyway.” Valerie turned around and headed towards Tucker’s house.

“No clue where he is, is he at his house?” Tucker said.

“No he’s not, that’s why I’m here!” Valerie felt her eye twitch.

“Sam’s maybe?” Tucker offered but Valerie was already walking away towards Sam’s house.

Valerie didn’t have anything against Sam, but she couldn’t help but feel like she had something against Valerie. A feeling that was reaffirmed when she was facing Sam in her doorway.

“Have you seen Danny anywhere today?” Valerie asked.

Sam shook her head. “Nope. Have you looked at Tucker’s or his house?”

“Clearly I looked there first, and yes I checked Tucker’s!” Valerie threw up her arms. 

“Don’t know what to tell you then.” Sam went to close the door, but Valerie put her foot in front of it before she could.

“Do you have something against me?” 

“No, not really.”

“Really because it feels like you do. Are you jealous or something?” Valerie challenged.

Sam laughed before stopping. “Oh you’re serious. No, I’m not jealous of you dating him. I couldn’t care less who he chooses to date. As long as they aren’t hurting him.”

“I’m not hurting him, why would I want to do that?” Hurting him was the last thing she’d ever want to do. 

“Look, I told you I don’t know where he is. If he doesn’t want to be found he won’t be found. He’s good at disappearing.” Sam laughed like she said something funny. 

It took everything within Valerie not to storm off and walk away normally. If no one was going to tell her where Danny was, she’d find him herself. She was very glad the Fenton’s gave her a boo-merang last time she showed interest in their work. It was still faulty, for some reason locking onto Danny more often than ghosts. But that was exactly what she wanted now. 

Getting into her ghost hunting gear she took to the sky following where the boo-merang lead. She was more and more unsure as she went, it took her over the forest outside of Amity. Why would Danny be all the way out here? Especially in the middle of winter. 

Her anger quickly morphed into fear however as she saw giant plumes of smoke floating into the air in the middle of the forest. Right where the boo-merange was heading. She dove into the newly made clearing. There was ash everywhere, she was glad her helmet had a filtering system otherwise she doubted she’d have been able to breath with how thick the smog was. It didn’t help much with the heat, however. 

 “You seem sorta hotheaded, why don’t you cool off?” She heard before two ghosts flew past. Phantom and a ghost she hadn’t encountered before.

The ghost looked pretty feminine, her clothes seemed to be made of pure smoke, and her skin looked like cracked rock. Where there should have been hair on her head there was flowing magma. Or was it lava? She didn’t pay enough attention in science class to remember.

Whatever it was and whoever the ghost was she was clearly dangerous just by the amount of damage done to the surrounding forest. If the attack was in the city the damage would be unfeasible. 

She watched as the two ghosts fought for a minute, not even sure how she’d attack without staying far enough away not to get burnt. She had a feeling her ecto-guns would only do so much. It didn’t help her peace of mind that Danny was still nowhere to be seen. Not only that but Phantom seemed to be treating this fight like it was a game. Cracking jokes and one-liners as he fought the flaming ghost with a smile. Staying just of reach of the other ghosts attacks, ducking away just in time to avoid a giant ball of fire or a swipe of her arms. Almost like he was taunting her. 

Valerie had landed fully at that point. More focused on finding where ever Danny could be than the fight that Phantom, for the most part, seemed to have handled. No matter how much the idea of leaving a fight to him was, getting Danny out of here was more important. It didn’t help that she kept on having to dodge projectiles from the volcanic ghost that missed Phantom. In a strange twist of fate it wasn’t the ghost herself that caught Valerie off guard but a tree that the flames surrounding the area must have cause to fall. She heard a loud creaking sound and looked up just in time to see a tree coming towards her, but not enough time to dodge out of the way.

She must have lost consciousness for a second because the next thing she knew was that she was pinned to the ground her head screaming at her in pain. Or maybe that was her screaming in pain, because it brought on the attention of the two ghosts causing them to both pause and look at her. 

She couldn’t hear it, but Phantom mouthed something that almost looked like her name. She watched helplessly as the other ghost started to make her way towards her. 

Was this really how she died? In the middle of the forest where no one would know to look. She hoped Phantom had enough humanity left to at least let her dad know what happened to her. 

Though looking at him, Phantom had a look on his face Valerie had never seen on him before. Pure rage. 

Which didn’t make sense. Valerie would admit she had done and said some awful things to the ghost boy, and seen even worse done. But nothing that made that look of rage appear on his face. It didn’t make sense that he was mad, let alone mad over her of all people getting hurt. 

The ghost didn’t get the chance to reach Valarie before Phantom slammed into her causing both of them to crash into the ground. Still within sight of Valerie. 

Valerie had fought and seen Phantom fight many times. He always tended to fight differently than other ghosts. But now he seemed human in the way he was attacking. No ecto-blasts or the occasional ice attack in sight. It was all just punches and kicks, he wasn’t even flying anymore as he fought. None of his jokes to be found.

Calling it a fight was almost too generous. What was occurring before Valerie had arrived was a fight. An at least somewhat equal trading of blows. Or even just an attempt of countering. Phantom didn’t give the other ghost a chance one punch after the other over and over not giving her any time to recover before the next hit. It was the last thing Valerie saw before she lost consciousness once more.

As she came to there was a face hovering over her own. Blue eyes and dark messy black hair, with the remnants of the flames behind it almost seemed like he was glowing. “Danny?”

Danny choked out a laugh, or maybe he just inhaled too much smoke. It was more of a laugh of shock. “Yeah, it’s me Val.”

“Wha’are you doing here? Not safe.” Her head hurt. She was no longer pinned down by the tree, apparently. She brought her hand up to her head to be met with Danny’s own hand. She tried to push it away. “Your hand’s cold. Really cold.”

Danny if anything pressed his hand more firmly to her temple. “Yeah, you hit your head pretty bad there. I’m just trying to make it feel a bit better before we get you to a hospital.  Sorry for missing our date by the way.” 

“It’s fine.” Valerie squinted at him, something about him seemed off but she couldn’t place what it was. She reached up towards his face, it was covered in ash. She tried to brush it away but it sort of just smeared, his hair had some in it too, harder to notice since his hair was dark too. She moved her hand to the top of his head and ruffled his hair to get some of it out. 

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“You’re dirty.” Valerie pointed out still trying to brush the soot out. Weirdly enough his hair seemed to be getting lighter. She grabbed at a smaller section of hair and brushed it off with her fingers. Much to Danny’s protests of her needing to stay still. 

Except, it wasn’t Danny. She was right his hair was getting lighter. He didn’t look like he was glowing, he was glowing. Looking at his clothes revealed a black and white jumpsuit, still recognizable despite being covered in ash. 

Valerie jerked away from Danny’s, or was it Phantom’s, touch. Trying to scramble away from him as best as she could with her injuries. “Val, you need to stay still.” Phantom, Danny, stressed.

“Don’t call that!” Valerie felt dizzy. “I don’t- I don’t understand. Who-what-are you?”

“Fine, I won't call you that. I promise I’ll explain everything. But first we need to get you to the hospital, you’re concussed at best.” He said, reaching towards her. 

She just noticed his hand was glowing blue, frost emanating off of it. “What were you doing to me? Were you trying to kill me?” 

“What? No!” He shook his hand like he was trying to shoo the frost away, his eyes faded into Phantom’s green color. “Like I said, you hit your head, and probably were overheated. I was trying to cool you down and ice your head.”

“How can I trust you? I don’t even know who you are.”

“Because if you don’t, you won’t make it back to Amity by yourself and I’m not going to be the one to break the news to your dad.”

He was right she didn’t have a choice no matter how she felt about it. She let him pick her up and only panicked slightly when they took to the air. True to his word once he was sure she was in a hospital room safely he left her alone after the hospital staff notified her dad as to where she was.

She had time to think in the hospital, too much time to think with too many questions. Danny had ended up texting her the explanation, whether it was because he knew she would want answers sooner than later or because he was too scared to do it in person she wasn’t sure. But she deleted the text after she read through it a second time, no matter how she felt about him after all of this she wouldn’t put him in danger of someone else finding out on accident because of her.  

She did text him back that she understood what he was telling her, but she would need time to think things over. Think everything over. One of the people she arguably hated the most turned out to be loved the most outside of family. It was a concept that took adjusting to, to say the least 

At least it saved her from a total freak out for a different reason. All the weirder things she had started to notice about Danny made a lot more sense now. Her internal conundrum wasn’t helped by the fact that he was clearly trying to help her a lot of the time she noticed the ‘strange’ behaviors. She had at least until she was discharged to figure out her thoughts at least.

Once she was released from the hospital, and a bit longer after that she met up with Phantom, or well Danny in his ghost form she supposed, while he was doing a patrol. He kept looking down at her ecto-gun like she was going to pull it on him at any moment. Which was a fair worry she supposed, even if it made her sad to think about.

“I’m not going to shoot you Danny. We’re here to talk right?” Valerie asked.

Danny nodded. “Yeah, we are. If that’s what you want to do that is.”

“I’m the one who asked to meet up.” Valerie reminded him. “I have a few questions before we start talking about the big things.” Danny motioned for her to go on. “Who was that ghost in the forest?”

“Oh, that’s actually an easy question. Cool. It was Vesuvia, Ancient of volcanos, apparently. Some doomsday cultists or something along those lines summoned her here to kick-start the apocalypse. I thought they were ghosts not humans so I was looking in all the wrong spots until it was too late and you got hurt.” Danny frowned. Clearly he was upset about her injuries still despite her being fully healed. 

“What happened to the cultists then? Do they go to ghost court or since they’re humans is there like a GIW unit for that?” 

Danny snorted. “Ha, no. They died. Burnt to ash, not even bones left. If they do end up as ghosts in the Infinite Realms they’ll probably answer to the Observents but I doubt they will.”

“...Oh.” Valerie supposed his nonchalant attitude towards death made sense. He was a ghost and interacted with other dead people on a constant basis. But it was, unnerving. 

“Is that all you wanted to ask about?” Danny asked.

Valerie nodded her head. It wasn’t, but after that answer she was okay with waiting. “I wanted to let you know, that I won’t tell anyone your secret. I also am not planning on breaking up.” She held a finger up at Danny’s hopeful look. “But that doesn’t mean things aren’t going to be different from now on. This is going to take me a while to fully get my head around and after finding out something this big it’s going to take a while for things to feel normal again. I’m not even sure if things will work out between us in the end, but I am willing to try if you are.”

“Of course I am!” Danny all but shouted. “I mean, yes I understand. I’m also willing to try and make it work.” Valerie smiled. “I’m glad. Do you know what this means though?”

Danny tilted his head to the side, something so very Danny Fenton, it was weird to see on Danny Phantom. “What?”

“We can actually patrol together from now on.” Valerie laughed. Danny lit up after she said that. “First one to defeat five ghosts wins!” She called out before taking off.

“Oh you’re on!” He called after her.

Things certainly would be different. But Valerie didn’t think that was a bad thing.

[lizzie-is-here]

like the dawn

part xii- the bed, the mirror, the couch

“show me the most damaged parts of your soul, and i will show you how it still shines like gold” - nikita gill

summary: you give steve and bucky the letters, and receive something much better in return

wordcount: 3.8k

warnings: cussing, light angst, trauma, but yay fluff, brief mentions of racism and homophobia, me completely giving up on writing a realistic court scene

a/n: i’m so sorry this took so long 😭 i’ve been busy af but i’m excited to get further into this. also if anyone sent me requests they’ve been mega screwed up so i’m so sorry if i haven’t responded, you can send them again if u want. they literally appear for like two seconds and then disappear and it’s very confusing. anyway as always hope u enjoy and love u all! 🤍🥺

taglist: @whelvedfeelingsstuff @sebsgirl71479 @rebloggingmyrecs @babyblublossom @local-mr-frog @thenyxsky @capsiclesdoll @moonlightreader649 @saranghaey @almosttoopizza @itsivymusic

previous part | series masterlist | next part

Dear Bucky,

You wouldn’t believe how much of a mess we are without you. I haven’t slept and it’s been three days since the train and I still can’t get the image of you falling out of my head. Steve looked away. A part of me wishes I had. I can’t close my eyes without seeing one of my best friends die a cold death.

I’ve tried to write, but my pen can never make it very far before I burn the paper. Hopefully, this one makes it past that stage.

The rest of the Commandos are grieving as well, but they’ve really been the driving force to keep the mission going. We’ve been interrogating Zola for information; I’m guessing he’ll cave any day.

Enough of avoiding the subject. I’ve loved you and Steve since the day I met you on the playground. And I never stopped. Not even now.

It scared me for a long time how far I would go for you two, but losing you scared me more. I would rather kill hundreds than see you slip away inches from my hand. You always said I wasn’t much of a killer, but in the past days… I’ll admit in this letter to you that I’ve dreamt of watching the life leave Arnim Zola’s eyes as I plant an arrow through his chest.

The news won’t mention that you were drafted, or that you had a family, or that you wanted to go into the sciences. I can’t go home to Rebecca and your ma when I can’t bring you with me.

But, God, I loved you. With every atom in my body and every second of my time. And it keeps me going when Steve and I want to break down. Because there’s something in me that says I’ll see you again. As foolish as that hope is, I’ll cling to it until it comes true.

———————————————————————

Dear Steve,

You’re a hero. Just like you wanted to be.

They’ve given you articles and a museum and National Honors, and they’ll remember you until the Sun explodes and glows half as bright as you did.

I hope you’re giving Bucky a hard time. For my sake as well as yours. At least you two are together. Just like I wrote to him, I have to tell you what I wish I’d said.

I’ve loved you two for forever. And now that you’re both gone I don’t know what I’m going to do. Because before I loved you like this, I loved you as my best friends. I could accept never getting married, and never holding your hands like I wanted to. As long as we stuck together.

But being alone is like a void has taken your place. I still wake up and have a moment where I get excited to see you and tell you about the strangest dream I had, and the second I realize you’re not there my world stills.

You were golden. And you always shone brighter than me and Buck. You were golden before you were Captain America and after and now. I wish we could’ve kept you a secret, but you were made to inspire. And I loved you for that and despite that.

I’m the only one left now. I guess, in a way, I’m the end of the line. But it’s coming to an end, and I can’t wait to see you.

———————————————————————

Bucky and Steve set the letters down as you stare at them expectantly. It’s late at night now, and you’re feeling much better than a few hours ago, but the nervousness is still creeping in as you watch their expressions.

“...So?” you ask quietly. This is the hard part. Not knowing if this is good or bad, but either way, it’ll change everything.

Bucky opens his mouth, but chokes back a sniffle before he can form the words. Similarly, Steve steps forward, and wordlessly pulls you into a hug from where you sit on the bed. You lean into him, almost holding your breath as you wait for them to respond.

The former sits next to you, resting his chin on the top of your head.

“I know we’re, what? Sixty, seventy years late? But any chance you still feel that way?” he asks. You nod.

Steve picks up from there. “And what would happen if we said we also feel the same way?”

Your breath hitches and you freeze entirely. When you meet their gazes with a questioning look in your eyes, they nod.

“Doll?” Bucky taps your back. “You alright?”

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear that.” With some watery laughs, the three of you collapse on the bed, maneuvering into a pile of limbs and wings.

Propping yourself up on your stomach in between them, you flush bright red as Steve begins to lean in. He pauses, inches away as Bucky wraps an arm over you and onto him.

“Can I?” the blond asks. Instead of answering, you close the gap. He smiles into the kiss, pulling away and blushing. “I…” He takes a deep inhale. “I love you, too.”

“Wasn’t that your first kiss, Stevie?” Bucky teases. He rolls his eyes, shoving him lightly in the face. “Well, come here.”

The two stretch past you to kiss, and as forbidden as it would’ve been considered all that time ago, now, it just seems right. When they part, Bucky turns to you, pulling you in with a shaky exhale of “Love you”.

It feels like the stars aligned just for you three. They peek through the clouds as the moon casts a silvery glow on your skin.

“Where do we go from here?” Steve asks.

You hum, giddy beyond belief. “Does it matter? I don’t know, and I honestly don’t know if I care.” You all laugh, burrowing under the blankets and curling in closer than you’d ever dare before.

“As far as I’m concerned, we deserve whatever we want after all that shit,” Bucky mumbles, peppering kisses on the top of your head. Following suit, Steve takes your hand in his, rubbing small circles in your palm. The touch makes your eyes flutter shut, wings twitching as sleep becomes all the more alluring.

“I second that,” you manage, blinking hazily without a care in the world. “I think we’ve earned a break.” Even with everything that happened with HYDRA, all of the harm you caused, you were willing to lay down your troubles for one night of peace.

Steve huffs lightly. “Yeah, like we’re gonna get that. That deal Tony made today? With… Ross.” He says the name with burning contempt. “Was that you two got out in exchange for the trials starting this week.”

After a moment of consideration, Bucky moves on to running his hands through your feathers. “We’ll work through it. However we do it, we’ll do it together.”

A small smile, before you whisper that phrase.

“‘Til the end of the line.”

Two voices whisper it back.

———————————————————————

You wake up from the most restful sleep you’ve ever had as the sun peeks through the curtains.

Did last night actually happen? You glance up to where Steve’s slowly blinking awake. He lazily leans forward to plant a kiss on your forehead, and you chuckle lightly.

“You have the dumbest grin on your face right now,” he whispers. You only grin bigger.

“Wasn’t sure if I dreamt last night,” you say. “It was nice to get some confirmation.”

From the other side of you, Bucky mumbles. “I’d be glad to give you more confirmation.” Rolling your eyes, you oblige, kissing him as well before yanking the blankets up again.

“I don’t mean to jump the gun, but what do we tell the team?” the blond asks, scooting closer than should be possible.

You frown. “Well, is… this… seen as okay?” Queer relationships were more than unacceptable in the 40s, even more so polyamorous ones. Not to mention interracial relationships were condemned as well. This was breaking all of the rules in the book. Damn the book, for all you cared.

“Pretty much. There’s still assholes, but…” Steve trails off, before lighting up. “I forgot to tell you, shit.”

Bucky reaches over, taking his hand with a knowing grin. “Yeah?”

“They legalized gay marriage a little while back,” he hums. You let out a shaky sigh. Seventy years. It took seventy years, but you’ll take it.

You squint as the sun angles into your eyes. Instead of words, you tuck your head into his chest to hide from the light.

“How ‘bout we keep this our secret for now,” Bucky suggests. “We can tell them later, but… I won’t lie and say I’m not enjoying keeping you two to myself.”

You giggle, a light, unfamiliar sound from you, and eye the ex-Sergeant.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you sound a bit jealous, Barnes.” He shrugs. The sound of shuffling footsteps in the hallway reminds you that, eventually, you have to leave the safe space of Steve’s room.

The three of you begin to roll from the bed, and you extend your wings as you stretch in the morning light. When you turn around, Steve’s watching with a content look on his face. You raise a brow.

“What’re you looking at?” you quip. He doesn’t stop staring.

“Nothing. Just glad I can finally tell you how pretty you look.” You blush bright red and run a hand on the back of your neck.

“Feeling sappy?” you ask. He shrugs.

Tugging on a shirt, he throws you a charming smile. Damn him. “Only for you two, ange [angel].”

“I heard that,” Bucky’s voice calls from the bathroom.

“You’re not the only one who can pull the bilingual pet names, jerk,” Steve calls back. You laugh at the exchange, stepping into a low-back tank top.

“Alright, play nice,” you chide. “Let’s go downstairs before they start getting worried.”

Making your way to the kitchen ends up going far too fast, and you reluctantly part hands as you greet the team.

Nat and Wanda are the only ones who notice that something's up. They exchange a glance, but say nothing as the three of you cast lovesick stares at one another.

“Ah, the Three Musketeers finally got out of bed?” Tony asks. He grins, pointing to the counter. “Scott made waffles.”

“They’re surprisingly good,” Clint confirms, causing the Ant-Man to frown.

Tony pauses. “The trial starts today. This afternoon.”

You, Steve, and Bucky glance at each other.

“Isn’t that sooner than we expected?” the blond asks.

Stark sighs, massaging his temples. “Yes, but Ross isn’t wasting any time. We gotta go with the deal.”

You nod.

“My lawyers are the best in the country, but this isn’t gonna be easy.” The billionaire seems almost worried for you. “Just… you’re gonna have to talk about what happened.”

“In HYDRA.”

Your mind is more than happy to provide dozens of memories. Experiments and needles, cold cells, and even colder food. Agents grabbing at you and dragging you away from Bucky, or the Winter Soldier, to be more accurate.

The deaths you caused. The innocent civilians that were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It didn’t matter to you who you killed. Just that you stayed an anonymous killer.

“(Y/N).” You hum, not really acknowledging the call of your name.

What would you have done if all of you had survived? You probably would’ve lived a happy life, eventually confessed to your boys, and died with the biggest secret of your lives buried where the historians would never find it.

But Steve wouldn’t have the permanent worry line etched between his brows, Bucky wouldn’t have the countless scars surrounding his metal arm, and you…

Your wings feel heavier than usual. So do your hands.

“(Y/N)!” When you snap back to the present, the lights are unusually bright.

“Shit,” you mumble, reeling in your powers before you explode a bulb. “Sorry, fuck, I’m sorry.”

Your boys are next to you in a heartbeat. “You’re alright, we just need to ease into… thinking about it,” Bucky mutters. “It’ll provide the evidence we need, though.”

Steve nods. “This is our best chance to get the public back on our side after the whole deal in Germany, too.”

It was no secret that the public opinion on the Avengers had been tainted after their little “Civil War”, as the press called it. Some sided with Steve, others with Tony, and some just thought the whole mess was stupid.

The genius claps. “Well, let’s suit up.”

———————————————————————

Suiting up ended up meaning pulling on a custom-tailored dress shirt, blazer, and pants. When you questioned where the clothes came from, Steve confessed that he’d told Tony about your preference for pants.

Not that you were complaining. The suit fit perfectly, and the gold buttons were a nice touch. Bucky tugged on gloves, successfully concealing his metal arm. But there was nothing to hide your wings.

You frown in the mirror. They loom, like some dark reminder of what you’d done. They’d be the focus of the public. You know they will be.

Carefully running your hand along one wing, you pick at the tips of the feather.

Bucky steps into view in the mirror, turning you away from it and extending a hand, before jerking it back. You take his left hand anyway, giving it a light squeeze that he can’t really feel but means the world to him despite that.

“You ready?” he asks. You shrug.

“Not like we’ve got any other options.” He hums. “I’m done running.”

Steve finishes tying his tie and joins you two, checking his new watch with a heavy sigh. “We’ve got ten minutes until we go.” He takes your hands. “Will you guys be okay?”

You nod. You’ll make it through alright. Even if it sucks.

“I wish there was a way to hide my wings,” you whisper, reluctant to even admit it.

They both shake their heads, and Bucky leans into you. “They’re gorgeous, doll. Remind me of that one bird we saw downtown the other day.”

You pause, considering the statement. “James, did you just compare me to a pigeon?”

“A very pretty pigeon,” he adds, eyes closed contentedly.

Steve chuckles. “The prettiest.”

After a while, you part, hurrying down to the garage and stepping into the most high-tech bus you’ve ever seen. It’s spacious enough that your wings don’t hit anyone in the face as you climb in, and the tinted windows provide some privacy.

Everyone’s dressed to the nines, even Peter, who’s just going as a representative of his secret identity. Yet despite the pressed shirts and gold jewelry, no one’s very talkative.

It’s a quiet and nervous bus ride into Manhatten, but the silence is broken by Tony as the bus slows to a stop in front of the courthouse.

“Alright, folks. Remember: no talking to the press, no shit-talking. Let my team do their job and get us out of this mess with our heads,” he says, checking a screen projected from his watch. “Go break some eggs.”

You, Steve, and Bucky step out first, and the paparazzi roar to life. People push against the barrier gates and police holding them back, some screaming obscenities and others casting pitying looks as you pass.

But you keep your head level, taking Steve’s hand as Bucky does the same, and ascend the steps into the building.

A woman is waiting as the team filters in and guides you down winding hallways to a set of grand doors. The men guarding the entrance open them for you, revealing the largest courtroom you’ve ever laid eyes on.

She leads you to a bench at the front with the lower panel of the back taken out to accommodate your wings. There, you, Bucky, Steve, and Tony sit. The rest of the group sits behind you. The latter’s lawyers arrive soon after, taking their places and speaking in hushed tones.

They come over to you all, asking questions that they note down your answers to, comparing them to their files, and thanking you for your cooperation. They hurry away just as quickly when Ross and his ensemble arrive, taking their own seats.

Then follows the judge, jury, and dozens of men and women carrying cameras and notepads. Cameras flash and you can’t help but wonder what’s so interesting that they need 50 identical pictures of.

Once the judge announces the court to be in session, everything begins to fly by. They ask you to swear your honesty and you do, ignoring the clicks and flashes coming from behind you.

You don’t understand much of the terminology the lawyers toss around, or why Ross keeps insisting on calling people to the stand. Whoever they are, you’re really hoping they weren’t a previous target of HYDRA.

A part of you knows they won’t be any of your targets. You killed all of them without fail. No mistakes, no witnesses.

You sit patiently, trying your best not to look nervous as your heart sinks with every nod Ross receives. Eventually, a break comes, and Tony’s team gives you an overview of what’s happening now.

This was the first of a handful of trials. The next one, two days from now, will require for you and Bucky to testify separately about your time in HYDRA.

They say they need detail. And complete transparency.

Both of you agree. Even if it sends waves of nausea through your body.

After the break, the judge announces that the trial will proceed on the set date and dismisses you all. You pass Ross as the team leaves, and he casts a dirty look at you.

You say nothing, just move on.

The crowd has grown since you got here, and are now trying even harder to pass the barriers. One man with an American flag attempts to jump the gate, but is stopped before he can get too close.

Nonetheless, you flinch away as he screams and spits, wings twitching nervously. Your voice is caught in your throat. You couldn’t respond to the journalists even if you wanted to.

You squeeze back on the bus, ignoring the shouting that grows louder just outside. They all want answers to invasive, prying questions that you honestly can’t answer. You don’t know what kind of funding HYDRA received, or what economic declines you were responsible for.

All you know is who you hurt and how you did it. Nothing else mattered to you when you were like that.

Taking Bucky’s hand without anyone else noticing, you lean your head on Steve’s shoulder as you close your eyes. You don’t want to sleep, no. Just take a moment and block out everything else.

Your boys follow suit. Bucky leans against you and Steve rests his head on top of yours. Not the most comfortable position, but definitely the most comforting.

Meanwhile, Nat nudges Wanda. While, sure, your closeness could just be platonic, she knows better. The way your wings have finally relaxed and slumped over the low back of the seat, How Barnes is finally letting some of that tension out of his shoulders.

“Are you picking up anything?” She waves a finger at the three of you. The younger girl shakes her head.

“No,” she whispers, tilting her head. “But they seem more… content. Not dancing around each other.”

The redhead gives her signature “you’re not wrong” head nod before grinning. “You think they finally told each other?”

Wanda’s small grin tells it all. “The other night, their thoughts were all over the place.” No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t avoid hearing some louder thoughts. “Then they went calm, and it was just… happy,” she sighs wistfully.

“You know, if you just talk to Vision-” She cuts off the assassin, shushing her as the android remains oblivious.

You don’t notice the girls either, simply nodding off until the bus finally pulls into the compound. As the three of you emerge from the bus, you glance at the time. 7:26. Not nearly late enough to make poor excuses to run off to bed. AKA, you won’t be getting alone time soon enough.

Especially when Peter starts begging for a team movie night. And who are you to deny him? He seems so excited to organize it, sending certain groups to fetch pillows, make food, or pick some movie options.

Once sufficient snacks and blankets are acquired, you sprawl onto a loveseat stomach-first, tossing your feet and legs across Steve’s lap as Bucky takes the floor between you.

One of your wings droops, grazing the floor, while the other folds atop your back to avoid getting squished by the cushions.

Your boys begin to preen the stray feathers, careful not to pinch the skin as they work.

The movie starts, something that Peter calls Star Wars and immediately begins rambling about. You try to pay attention, you really do, but Bucky hits a specific spot on your wings and suddenly you’re zoning out and growing more tired by the second.

You figure the constant fatigue that follows you is a side effect of years of sleep followed by weeks of work. Not that you consider that now.

Your mind is basically putty as your boys work, the movie playing along in the background as you hum to approve or veto where they scratch.

Some high-pitched beeps come from the movie, and you try to focus on the small robot-thing that spins around. Your attention slips far too easily, though, right back to the way Steve’s moved on to scratching the spot in between your wings and is slowly working his way to the small of your back.

You hum, satisfied.

“Oh, so you let them mess with your wings?” Sam jokes, throwing popcorn at Bucky, who smacks it away mid-air.

He huffs. “You’d probably yank out a feather on accident, idiot.”

The man rolls his eyes with a smile. “I know they’re extra sensitive, but they look soft as hell.”

Sitting up a bit and stretching, you shrug. Extending one wing out, you gesture to it.

“You can feel it, just don’t make it a regular thing,” you smile. Sam grins, joking nature cooling as he achieves his goal. To push your comfort zone just the slightest. Sometimes you forget just how smart he is.

He still gawks when his hand makes contact with the downy feathers, flopping back on the couch in disbelief.

“Not fair,” he mutters. “You’ve got a goddamn portable blanket.”

Peter shushes him, groaning about how he’s gonna miss his favorite part of the movie. You all oblige, quieting down as you return to your spot.

Steve leans to whisper in your ear. “You did good.”

“What?”

“A month ago, you wouldn’t even have thought about letting anyone near your wings. Now?” He tilts his head pointedly. “Plus, Buck’s getting more comfortable not hiding his metal arm.” At the nickname, Bucky looks up to you two and joins you on the cramped loveseat.

“I’m just saying, I’m proud of you two.”

The praise melts you. And as the movie continues and popcorn gets thrown, you can’t help but be proud of yourself, too.

[frizzle-tales]

“I told you to not drink so much.” A voice of concern echoed in the darkness. “You know how lightweight you are, Aiko.” The young woman sighed, placing an arm around her friend’s waist to support her. “Your dad will kill you if he sees you like this, you should stay at my place.”

Aiko giggled as she leaned against her.

“Thank you, bestie!” She exclaimed happily.

It was already eleven p.m, and they were on their way back home from a late night party at one of the many clubs Seoul had to offer. They didn't usually go out partying that often; their parents complained that this wouldn’t be good for their image and reputation, but tonight they decided to ignore them as they figured that no one could tell them what to do when on a holiday abroad. And frankly, it was nice to spread their wings and let loose for once.

The two friends walked slowly through the streets of Seoul – Aiko managing to keep her balance – until they were just a street away from their hotel. It was located in an upmarket neighborhood, a five-star establishment with all the luxuries money can buy, including a fully stocked bar and restaurant.

“Are we almost at the hotel?” Aiko stopped, holding onto her head. “I feel so dizzy.” Her head felt like it was about to explode.

Before Yume could tell her friend that they were less than a minute away, a vehicle stopped dead in it’s tracks right next to them. A second after the van stopped, the door slid open and a group of men jumped out of the car, surrounding them immediately.

Yume instinctively grabbed Aiko, and tried to run, but was blocked by two of the men, and just as she tried to run another direction, she was blocked once again. By this time, panic started setting in.

"Stop it!" Yume yelled desperately. "We're tourists! We don't have anything!" She explained in an attempt to have the thiefs leave them alone. "Please!”

There was no response from the thieves except for one of them Aiko’s arm and snatching her away from Yume.

"Help!" Aiko cried out, struggling against the man's grip. "Stop! Let me go!"

Then, a cloth pushed against Yume’s mouth as an arm appeared from behind her and held her in headlock.

"Let's go." One of the men said.

Both girls struggled, trying to break free from their grasps, but it seemed futile. Both friends were thrown into the van before the men jumped in and sped off.

—

Yume had drifted off to a deep sleep, only stirring when the sound of a shriek caused her eyes to flutter open.

“Let me go, please! Please!” The voice pleaded.

That wasn’t Aiko. Who was that?

Yume groaned as she sat up, feeling groggy.

Why was it so dark? She felt around with her hands, her fingertips touching a cold metal wall. What was going on here? Why did she wake up like this? Was she still dreaming?

Her mind felt foggy, as if it was unable to process the situation she was currently in. Where was she? How long has she been asleep?

She looked around, taking in her surroundings with a daze. The walls were made of metal, and based on how cold the surface underneath her felt she assumed the floors are as well, giving the entire place a cold, sterile feel. There was no window, there was no light, nothing.

“Oh my god!” One of the other voices sobbed.

“Does no one have a phone with them?”

“Of course not! They took everything from me!”

“We are going to die…”

What was going on here? She felt around her pockets for her phone but realizes that the kidnappers had also taken all her personal belongings. She was completely helpless, like all the other women.

A shrill deafening sound pierced through their ears as part of the room opened up, allowing some light to shine through and illuminate the room.

"Get these fucking whores inside," a gruff male voice ordered. "And quick!" He pointed at the terrified girls, who now stood in front of him.

Yume stared in horror at the men standing in front of them. If she had to describe them in one word, it would be scary. All of them wore black jackets and trousers. Black gloves covered their hands, hiding any distinguishing features beneath them. Their faces were hidden under ski masks, which added to the fear.

They had guns in hand, and their eyes were fixed on the group of girls.

“No, no, please—“ One of the girls resisted as they were pulled out.

"Shut your mouth bitch!" A man growled, punching her across the face.

The girl fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

When it came to the other girls, they meekly stepped out of the container, Yume followed along, neither of them wanting to experience the same thing the harmed girl had to go through.

"In," the man repeated.

The girls complied, entering the large room lined with steel bars. They were led to a corner where they were forced to kneel, their hands tied.

What the fuck was going on? Yume’s gaze lingered on the men; trying to make any sense of the words that rolled off their lips, or their body language, all she knew at this point was that she was fucked.

Aiko, she hasn’t seen her best friend. Where was she? Yume looked around her, trying to catch a glimpse of her best friend but instead she was met with terrified and tearful faces.

“You, come here.” The man pointed at one of the women who sat amongst the crowd.

“Please…” The woman whispered, making her way to them and then stopping right in front of them. “I’m pregnant, I swear to God, I won’t tell anyone about what happened here I—“

“You’re pregnant?!” Snapped one of the men.

“Reusable or disposable?” The other asked.

“We could probably sell the child when it’s here. Minseo said he was going to experiment with the profit margin of babies in the market either way. After that, disposable.”

“Good.” The man nodded his approval.

“No, please!” The woman pleaded.

Despite not understanding what exactly was going on, Yume knew that seeing the woman be dragged off screaming, that wherever she was going wasn’t a good place.

One by one the girls seemed to be divided in two groups; and Yume could tell the slight difference. The girls that fell into one group seemed to be handled a tad more gentle than the girls in group two.

At first she didn’t understand why but she started to see a pattern; the more attractive women were nearly instantly approved for one group.

“You.” One of the men pointed at her.

Yume hesitantly moved towards him, avoiding the thug’s strong glare as she looked down at her feet.

"Come here, little foreigner," he mocked, shoving her towards the other man, who guided her out of the place.

Should she be happy that she was gone from that place, or worried? The woman was pushed into another room, this one looking slightly better than the depressing one she was just in; there were a few desks, beds, medical equipment here and there, and the mood seemed less tense than earlier.

The man pointed at the other girls sitting on the floor and Yume joined them, not sure if she should attempt to start a conversation with them or not.

“Next.” A man called out, at which one of the girls stood and went to sit on the bed. To Yume’s shock, it appeared as if the man was going through a medical check up routine with the girl before she was guided out of the room.

They were treated like objects; going through these rooms and operations as if they were being filmed for ‘how is it made’.

After Yume passed for the health check (she assumed) she was brought to another room, a room that seemed out of place with its studio lights, rack of clothes, and two girls; one on a laptop and one holding a make up brush.

She clicked her fingers and pointed at the stool, which Yume sat on, and after some lipgloss and a coat of mascara, the bright flashes blinded her temporary before she was removed from the room. But not without a glimpse at the laptop one of the girls were working on.

A quick glimpse confirmed biggest fear.

She was creating profiles with photos and information about the women present tonight on what seemed to be an auction site.

In a row, the women were led to a large room with mats on the floor, and Yume promptly obtained hers, laying down on it and curling up.

What had she gotten herself into?

**

Yume’s footsteps felt heavier with every step she took towards the next unknown destination. The voices of the aggressive men and the sobs and sniffles drowned out as reality faced her; she got herself in a horrible situation.

This was kidnapping. This wasn’t a dream; she needed to get out of this, but how?

This time, it was Yume’s turn to have her eyes fill with water as she came to the realization that things would end soon, and that this was a direct consequence of the small act of rebellion against her parents.

“Based on my calculations, sir, this has been the most profitable month of the last six months. Look, at the bids coming, I think showing people real time info about the goods has really boosted sales.” The eager worker grinned, trying to impress the other. “These are the girls just coming in, 40% of them were reusables.” The man pointed out.

Yume was close to bursting into tears as she started to understand the gravity of the situation, but just as she was about to hang her head low, a familiar voice sounded from the distance caught her attention, and she looked up, her breathing increasing as her heart pounded furiously against her chest.

“Namjoon…” Her eyes widened in disbelief, not quite putting the puzzle pieces together just yet.

The charming man her parents spoke so highly of.

“Namjoon!” She tried again. “Namjoon!” Once more.

With raised eyebrow, one of the workers grabbed her by the arm. “The fuck is wrong with you?” He said through gritted teeth. “How dare you address him like that, do you want to die or something? Why you little disrespectful…” The man pulled his hand back, ready to strike.

— 🗝️

⚠️ human tr@fficking themes

“It was such a pleasure meeting you, miss Ari.” Namjoon grinned towards the young woman in a velvety wine dress. His piercing stare watched as she avoided his, counting speckles on the concrete instead.

She folded so quickly. How pathetic.

Yet … she would’ve been perfect for his clients. How disappointing.

“You certainly found a gem, Jungkook. She compliments you well.” He continued, this time directed towards a comrade; the country’s notorious gangster. Top of his field for years running.

An excellent connection to have on his side.

“I’ll get in contact if I hear anything about your rat situation.” Just then, his car pulled up beside them. Black, sleek. City lights reflected off the paint’s shine. Followed by theirs right on time.

Namjoon got inside, undoing his suit jacket with a sigh. The night still wasn’t over.

“Back to the hotel, sir?”

“Seoul. The warehouse.” He corrected, pulling the phone from his pocket. “I want to be there no later than midnight.” If his driver kept his foot on the gas, they should even be able to make it 6 minutes before the next shipment drop off.

—

Truthfully, he thought his request sounded perfectly clear.

No later than midnight.

Not a minute later, and certainly not 4 minutes, 37, going on 38, seconds later.

When they finally came to a park, his driver circled around the car, opening the door for him.

Wordlessly, Namjoon stepped out. He straightened out his suit, but before he walked away, he paused towards the shorter man. “Do you like your job, Hwang?”

“Yes, sir.” The man nodded with a smile.

“Then if you want to keep it, don’t arrive us late again.” The smile from the driver’s face dropped. Although, a signature dimpled grin formed on the mayors. He gave him a pat on the shoulder before finally walking away.

Namjoon walked into the building, one of his more financial based staff glueing to his side. He nodded along, that is until something in particular stood out to him. “What was that?” He stopped mid step, ripping his gaze away from the new shipment of women. “Only 40%? What the hell happened?”

Slowly, colour drained from the employee’s face. He, in fact, did not impress. “Uh, w-well—” He cleared his throat. “Some girls did try a to revolt..”

Namjoon took a deep breath in. Why were people testing his patience so much tonight —

Namjoon! Namjoon!

That voice.. He hasn’t heard much of it, but it was oddly familiar.

After a quick scan, it didn’t take long to find the source of the pleading cry.

“Excuse me.” Namjoon caught the man’s arm before his fist could collide with a thing. And at the sight of his boss, the man dropped his grip on Yume.

“Tell me, what were you doing?” He gestured toward the woman, not fully acknowledging her presence. While his employee looked, he secretly beckoned another one over with a nudge of his head.

“She was being disrespectful, sir, so I —”

“I think you need help relearning our rules surrounding reuseables, hm?” His employee hardly had the time to register before he was hit in the back of the head, being dragged off.

Now, with the distraction gone, Namjoon’s attention turned to the frightened young woman.

A wonderful twist of events.

A diamond who stumbled into his grasp.

“How did you wind up here?” He spoke to her, switching to her native tongue. Despite the his softer tone of voice, so sympathy laced through his tone. He mostly was curious; how did she fall into his lap?

Machida’s youngest daughter. His middle child.

He helped her off the cold cement ground, listening to every word she said with a nod. “You must be so frightened and confused.” He murmured, but made no move to undo the ties around her wrist. Instead, he beckoned a second man over.

“Everything will become clear soon enough, miss Yume.” He tilted her chin up before side to side, inspecting her face for any bruises or cuts. “.. Don’t fight, just relax. It will be a lot less painful that way.”

Then like nothing, he switched back to Korean. “Sedate her.” He instructed to the man.

Namjoon stepped back and watched as one arm wrapped around her to keep her still while the other plunged a needle into her neck. The syringe slowly pushing down until it was empty.

“An unexpected gem.” He muttered to himself in Korean, a smirk growing on his lips.

Maybe Jeon Jungkook wasn’t the only one fortunate enough to find one.

Although, just what was he going to do with her?

“Take her to one of the rooms upstairs. Make sure no one goes in or out.” At Namjoon’s instruction, the man nodded, tossing the girl’s body over his shoulder.

Just what was he going to do with her?

[hummingbird-of-light]

Against All Odds

Part 319

McCoy

McCoy tried to distract himself as best he could until dinner, but his nightmares remained present in his head. Khan’s hand on Scotty’s face, Jocelyn’s on his own. He knew that would never happen, yet the images wouldn’t leave him alone.

He was grateful when it was time for dinner, though by the end of it he wished he had asked Dr. Boyce instead of Spock. Spock was a good friend, but not necessarily the best for getting his mind away from the dreams still haunting him. Though, he was grateful to Spock for not asking why he was having dinner separate from everyone else.

There were more things McCoy wanted to discuss with his father, but he would wait for another day. He had said he would call Scotty again after dinner and let him know about Father’s reaction.

He was incredibly grateful to see Scotty’s smile and hear his reassurances as they talked. His heart and mind were always calmed by his love.

“Uhm… I’ve… told my mother about what happened.”

McCoy blinked.

“How come?” he asked.

“She always knows when something’s on my mind,” Scotty said. He looked hesitant. “It came out about that Jocelyn before I could stop myself. I’m sorry Len.”

McCoy saw the remorse in his boyfriend’s eyes.

“She was worried something was wrong with yer father when I said it was private.”

“I…” McCoy knew Francine cared about him like one of her son’s. His cheeks began to burn again though.

“Umm, Mum said she knows how you’re feeling,” Scotty continued. “And if ye’d ever like to talk about it, she’s willing to listen.”

“What?” McCoy’s eyes focused on Scotty harder. “How would she…”

“She had something similar happen when she was a lass.” Scotty’s voice was soft, but McCoy saw the anger in his eyes. His own anger rose in defense of Francine. And yet a fellow feeling rose as well. Francine had gotten past it, she was a wonderful, strong woman. McCoy knew then everything would be alright.

“Tell her she already helped,” he nearly whispered. Scotty nodded and a faint smile began on his face.

McCoy’s chest ached with how much he wanted to kiss that smile at that moment. His hand traced across it on the screen.

“Spock told me something over dinner,” McCoy said to change the topic. Spock had not said much over dinner at all, but had shared something.

“Yes love?”

“The day the Darnell’s leave, he and his parents are leaving for a short trip to Vulcan. They’re going to visit his grandmother and…”

McCoy paused. Briefly he wondered if Scotty had heard this from Jim. But Jim and Spock both seemed to be quite private about their relationship. Maybe the mental bond they appeared to have made it easier to be together while apart. McCoy didn’t know.

“…and I think they’re seeing T’Pring’s family.”

“Oh.” Scotty’s brows raised in interest.

“Jim hasn’t said anything?”

Scotty shook his head.

“Spock’s birthday is next week,” McCoy said. “He told me once that Amanda had said nothing would change at least until he came of age.”

“Oh. I hope everything works out for the best for all of them; Spock and Jim and the lass.”

“I hope so too,” McCoy agreed. He really did. Jim was a great friend and Spock had become a much closer friend. He would hate for either of them to be hurt, though he wouldn’t want T’Pring to be hurt by all of it either. What a silly thing to do to children, betroth them at such a young age and hope they would just be together when they grew up.

Maybe it worked on Vulcan where those kids could grow together but when separated like Spock’s family, wasn’t that just asking too much? McCoy felt a wave of gratitude towards his parents who seemed to be on his side in finding who he loved on his own.

“Hey, I didn’t ask why you called earlier. We got sidetracked by…,” McCoy swallowed. He didn’t want to say her name and bring it up again.

“Oh right!” Scotty grinned.

Part 320

Scotty

He couldn’t help the grin that washed over his face. They had been sad and concerned for long enough and were in desperate need of good news.

Scotty lowered his voice to make sure that his mother wouldn’t hear anything. After all, it was a surprise.

“Granddad and I visited our neighbor today. Her dog is pregnant and… Granddad wants to adopt one of the puppies for Mum’s birthday!”

Leonard’s face brightened up too.

“Really? That’s great! I didn’t know Francine was a dog-type though.”

Scotty chuckled.

“Oh, she loves dogs. She always wanted to have one but Granddad didn’t up until now.”

They chatted a while about the breed and when Francine’s big day would be there, when suddenly there was a knock on Leonard’s door.

The prince’s eyes darted over to the door and he narrowed them.

“I’ll… call you back.”

Scotty felt his heart drop. He really hoped it wasn’t that Jocelyn.

“Aye, I’ll be waiting.”

With that the boys ended the call. Scotty let out a deep sigh and stared at the ceiling.

Who could it be? Who would bother Leonard at that time of the day?

Maybe it was the King. Maybe he had thought about everything and wanted to tell Leonard that the Darnell’s would leave? Or it was Mrs. Darnell who wanted to apologize for her daughter? Or Eleanor… or Leah…

So many options.

Scotty just hoped it was a good one.

His eyes drifted back to the PADD and the message he had been reading. He found the sentence where he had left off.

*So Kati will leave the musicians for some time. I thought that maybe I could take her place and play the flute? I mean… I was banned from all sports clubs anyway and maybe music will help me stay calm.*

It seemed to be a good idea. Music had helped many people with their emotions. He typed in his response.

*Just ask the teachers. I’m sure they can tell you if it’s a good idea.*

He sent the message and was surprised when the reply came almost instantly.

*But what about you? Are you okay with me joining after… everything?*

Scotty sighed. Why had he seen that coming? It always seemed like Khan wanted - no, needed - his approval for every decision he made.

*I’m fine with it, don’t worry. As long as it helps you.*

Scotty sent the answer and then put his PADD aside. He didn’t want to read any more messages.

His mind drifted back to Leonard. And he frowned.

The dream his love had told him about…

Khan and Scotty had been in the music room.

What would Leonard think if he got to know about Khan actually joining the music class?

Scotty had to tell him. He knew. Maybe he should have said ‘no’ to Khan? Maybe the Augment shouldn’t join?

The Scotsman quickly shook his head.

That was nonsense. Leonard would understand that none of this had a meaning. His nightmare had been just that - a nightmare. It wasn’t real. And it would never happen.

Scotty was lost in thoughts when his PADD bleeped. Leonard was calling him back!

The boy quickly grabbed the device and answered the call. He was happy to see Leonard’s face.

“Hey mo gràdh. Who was it?”

[lukamoonvibe]

Chapter Twelve: And They Called Her Fate

Summary: 

Medalling with time has a consequence, the consequence of his choice is to be a slave to it until Fate decides he's no fun anymore or he escapes...but does he really want to escape anymore? It's been so long, what would even be the point of going back anymore? Would anyone still remember him? Probably not. No one escapes Fate and lives to tell the tale. Not even a traveller of time.

Fandoms: Crewniverse, Crewfu/Morning Lobby, Chaos Crew/Derp Crew

Characters: Anthony | ChilledChaos, Max Gamble | APlatypuss, Steven | ZeRoyalViking , Taylor | TayderTot, Zach | CheesyBlueNips, Lucas | KYRSP33DY, Apollo Willems | Dumdog, Albi | SideArms4Reason, Skadj, Steven Suptic, 5up, Madi | Kruzadar, Shelby Grace | Shubble [Updated as I add more]

Rating: Mature

Chapter Index

Sirens screeched somewhere close by; his eyes shot open, looking around alert. He was met with a familiar purple dullness, not far an inky orb levitated a few feet off the ground. He rushed towards it just in time to see the ship crash into the surface of a planet he couldn’t name before the feed fizzled out.

“Shelby…” a strained scream came from his mouth as he stared blankly at the orb.

No matter how many times he’d watched it happen, how long he’d been doing this, it was always like a part of himself was torn away. This time wasn’t exactly the same, this time, he felt cold, like something had washed over him. I hope Ze is okay back there…I hope his kids weren’t on that ship…the ship. She wouldn’t show me…unless…but why would she give 5up hope like that? She wouldn’t be so cruel as to give him his family back and rip it away right? 

“Sometimes, even I don’t get to know their futures.” her voice echoed in the empty space.

He let go of the orb, looking around, “What do you mean? You control the timelines. You chop and change them at will. You pull me in and out of them like it doesn’t matter. How can you not know what happens?”

“I was not born of the power to alter timelines, only watch, maintain if you will. You should know this, Anthony…you know my name, after all.”

He shook his head, “This doesn’t make any sense. I was the first traveller in centuries as for what they told me, but if you’re here, that was a lie.” 

She laughed, the ground below him tremored softly, almost unbalancing him, “You are. I am not a hopper; I’m an observer. I control this plane of existence barely. I watch over the timelines, only intervening if completely necessary, but I hold no power as to which ones die and which survive. I was merely brought here as an anchor for a young watcher who was learning the ropes.”

The orb in front of him lit up once again, showing the image of a boy with wings protruding from what appeared to be his back cowering in a corner. 

“He ran from his destiny, so they locked him up. I came here to save you all, the things they showed me…they promised.”

The feeling was bittersweet, “You can’t keep running from what your fate holds, it will swallow you whole,” he looked away from the orb, catching a glimpse of his door. 

Fate stayed quiet, seeming to have retreated back to her place, leaving him alone with his thoughts again. Maybe, I wasn’t meant to end up with them, maybe that’s what I’m being shown. It does no good dwelling on dreams and feelings, sometimes you forget to just live. I wonder if Tay is okay, she’s all alone now…we left her alone…this wasn’t supposed to happen. She wasn’t supposed to be there alone. Why didn’t I listen to her? She had to watch me go. She had to help Speedy come here. Now she’s got no one. 

We’re all alone now.

[zhongliologist]

Breeding Kink | Dragon!Zhongli

Pairing: Zhongli x fem!reader

Genre: SMUTTTT!! 

Words: 4.6k

A/N: So uh yeah, this was mainly inspired by hcs from @genshin-spice​!! thank you for the ideas sjkdha as well as the asks I have received! I decided to combine them into one fic bc im lazy i hope u like it jkasdha

Warning: THIS IS AN 18+ FIC, SO MINORS OUT THERE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. 

*

It was in the dead of the night.

Zhongli breathed in; eyes dilated.

His study was quiet—yet all he could hear was his heart beat pounding violently against his chest and the sound of skin rubbing against skin.

He couldn’t take it.

In Zhongli’s mind was an image of you in positions you have never been before. He could see you on the bed as he pins you down, ass high up as he gripped on your waist until bruises form. He could see sheathing himself completely into you, reeling at the erotic sounds which escaped your lips as he roughly thrusts in and out.

The grip of his hand tightened, moving up and down his enlarged shaft. Zhongli grunted as he felt his digits grind on a particularly sensitive spot. It would’ve been better if it was your mouth instead of his hands.

“YN….! Nghh…!”

Ignoring his locks thrown askew by his movements, Zhongli continued to see you in his mind’s eyes. Precious, beautiful; more than any stone or gem in the world. He’ll spread you out, pleasuring you and worshipping your body with his tongue. In every turn, he would leave his marks, proving that you were his and his only.

“Ahh…darling…I just…want to…!”

He growled, speeding up the movement of his wrist. He could feel himself grow even bigger as scales begin to form on his skin, as his nails turn sharper.

Zhongli wanted you. He wanted to pound into wildly until you keen and clamp around him; until you become a staggering mess of moans and drool. You will be quivering as your orgasm washes over you, yet he wouldn’t stop. This wasn’t the time to stop.

“Ughh….haa…! YN….! YN…! I’m close—!”

He’ll push even deeper, harder; making sure the tip of his cock reaches your womb. And that’s when he’ll release his warm seed into you, filling you up until his cum is dripping from your hole, until you were spent on the bed and still shaking from the intensity.

That’s not enough, Zhongli could sense something growl in him. Not enough.

You will be screaming with oversensitivity as he pushes inside you once more, his dick still hard as he keeps on going. You will be muttering his name ceaselessly as he fills you up, cumming inside you over and over again until you get pregnant with his child.

Yes.

The image of you on the bed, exhausted from his relentless pounding as cum leaks from your hole, surely pregnant with his child burned vividly inside his imagination. It sent an overwhelming surge of pleasure towards his cock; urging him to climax.

“Nnnh—!”

In one move, Zhongli orgasmed, his cum spurting to his stomach and clothes as he breathed in heavily. He tried to calm himself down yet the image of him cumming inside you was still so fresh that his excitement wouldn’t subside.

“…what is…this…?”

It seemed like his libido has peaked dramatically in the past few weeks. Normally, he could withstand not having any sexual activity for some time, especially when you were out of town, but for some reason, all he could think about right now was fucking you senseless.

He touched the scales on his arm. It also hasn’t escaped his notice how he would often show some of his draconic features in the midst of it all. There was only one thing that he could think of.

“Could it be…”

Wait. He hasn’t been in heat for more than a thousand years, and for it to appear right now is mind boggling to the say the least. But he could no longer see this at any other angle. It must have been triggered by your presence, in some way or another. The beast in him knew how he was madly in love with you, how he had taken you as his mate, and now it wants nothing but for you to bear him offspring.

Zhongli sighed. This is a matter that should be discussed first with you. Yet his heat is upon him and if it comes to it, he had to protect you even from himself. Zhongli sighed again heavily and gazed at the wedding ring on his left finger.  

“It seems the need arises to arrange necessary measures.

*

“Please explain to me, in some way or another,” you started. “…why I cannot see my own husband in my own house.”

With brows furrowed and arms on your hips, you glared at the offending ‘guards’ loitering around outside the bedroom as they looked at you with a panicked expressions. There were a few familiar faces like QiQi, who was busy staring at nothing and Xiangling, who simply came to visit to deliver freshly cooked dishes from Wanmin Restaurant.

“Dr. Baizhu!” you called out when you were only met with silence.

Giving you a worried look, the doctor tried to calm the situation but to no avail.

“Look, YN…” the doctor hesitated. “Mr. Zhongli is under…certain conditions which makes it dangerous for you to go anywhere near him.”

You blinked, mouth frowning as you tried to make sense of what he was trying to tell you. “And what would that be?”

Travelling around Teyvat for quite some time, you had only returned to Liyue and to your husband (of a year and a quarter) today; and to be denied access to somehow greet and touch the person you had missed so dearly only irked your frustration. You were determined that the first thing you do when you return was to run straight into his arms, kiss him hard and talk to him about an important matter in both your lives, but it seemed like the odds weren’t in your favor.

“Well,” Dr. Baizhu struggled to reply, as he was under the implicit instruction not to reveal the exact details. “All I can say is that it’s a condition where Mr. Zhongli wouldn’t be able to act properly around you. But please don’t worry, it’s not contagious and it’ll be over in a week or so.”

If anything, the vagueness only alarmed you. What illness could possibly make him lose control like that? Zhongli, as you knew him, was always someone who regarded himself with propriety and dignity. If this condition can weaken him like that, you were all the more worried.

“I…If that’s the case, then I really need to see him,” you insisted, now concern etched into your eyes. “I can’t just leave him alone like this.”

Stand firm, Dr. Baizhu. My wife is especially stubborn—he had been warned a few days before, dismissing it as something a husband would normally say about his wife, but now that he was face to face with that stubbornness he had been warned with, it seemed like he had underestimate you.

“YN…I…” he breathed in as he placed a consoling hand on your shoulders. “I would not recommend seeing Mr. Zhongli at this point—”

“Just a peek wouldn’t hurt, right?” you interrupted. “I just want to see him.”

The doctor gazed down at you with an apologetic look, fully understanding why you were desperate in your request. You haven’t seen him for quite some time, and to find him sick and unable to see him when you finally returned—he could understand. He really does. That’s why, in the end, the doctor relented. He’ll face the consequences later on.

“Alright,” Dr. Baizhu sighed. “Just a peek and nothing more, got it?”

Upon hearing his words, your face brightened up in a flash. “Thank you, doctor!”

As he led you to the door of the master’s bedroom, you followed silently behind; watching as Dr. Baizhu unlocked the door from the outside—why would they need to lock it anyway, you thought—and pushed the door slightly ajar.

You pursed your lips.

In a breath, you knocked the doctor aside and went in as quickly as you could; shutting the door behind you as he protested from the outside. Apologies, Dr. Baizhu…!

Swiftly recovering from the sudden action, you noticed that it was dark inside; the windows shut and heavy curtains blocking any stray sunshine. The only source of light was the single glowing lantern at the far end of the room which only illuminated half of your face and offered a simple silhouette of your husband sitting on the bed.

You breathed in a sigh of relief.

“Right. I don’t really have much time, and I already duped Dr. Baizhu, so I’ll make this quick. I just want you to know that I’m back, and while I do have something I want to talk about with you, I’ll wait till this gets sorted out. So if you need anything, I’m right here—”

You halted; ears trained at the low growl you just noticed.

“…Zhongli…?” you asked, apprehension rising as you took a step forward.

“Why are you here?”

He finally spoke, yet instead of the sweet deep hum of his voice, this one was a lot harsher.

“What…?”  you asked, surprised at his words. “I-I just wanted to see you…”

“You’re not allowed here,” Zhongli continued as he rose from the bed, his frame seemingly much taller that usual yet the darkness had hindered you from telling clearly. “It seems Dr. Baizhu has failed to stop you.”

Brows furrowed, you spoke with a waver in your voice. “Zhongli, what’s wrong…?”

In a bat of an eye, he was in front of you, pining you against the door with his lithe form. His clutches were firm but gentle enough not to hurt you as you felt him look closely at you. Daring your eyes to open, finally, finally, you could see him.

His usual warm amber orbs were now glowing golden, his pupils turned into slits. You could see scales on his skin and horns on his head as he grasped your wrists with his clawed hands. You would’ve screamed if you weren’t too surprised. Astonishment was an understatement of how you felt at that exact moment.

“Do you now see what is wrong?” he snarled at you, his eyes narrowing.

Taking in a gulp, you tried to calm yourself. This is still Zhongli, just different. You were used to the unusual things happening around him because of his status as an ex-archon, but this just takes the cake.

“Wha—why are you half….half dragon?!” you exclaimed.

He could feel him make a disgruntled noise as his grip on you tightened. “That is of no importance. You have to leave before I lose my sense of control.”

You glared at him, finally realizing that he was still the husband you knew; probably just a bit frustrated.

“No. Tell me exactly what’s happening Zhongli. It is my responsibility as your wife to take care of you, and I can’t possibly leave you like this without knowing the full extent of the problem.”

Zhongli clicked his tongue and closed his eyes, exasperated at your mulish behavior. Why can’t you just follow obediently? He was really weak against you; even more so at that exact moment.

You can’t hold his cheeks with your hands pinned but you at least tried to console the obvious turmoil inside of him. “I’m right here, love. It’s alright…you can tell me.”

In an instant, Zhongli conceded, melting at your presence as he nuzzled himself on your neck, his breath tickling your skin. He always loved your scent; amplified by his draconic instincts, it was even more intoxicating.

“As a dragon, I am in heat,” he whispered just below your ear as you felt him smirk. “Are you still willing to help me out?”

Heat…?!

You immediately flushed at the implication of his words. Sex was no stranger in your relationship even before you became husband and wife, but for some reason, at the suggestion of Zhongli being in heat, you became bashful like a giddy schoolgirl.

“I-I…! Of course!” you replied despite the tumble in your voice. “I’m your wife, it’s only natural that we satisfy each other’s…er…sexual needs…”

Zhongli made a low chuckle as he allowed his lips to graze your skin.

“Have you understood what being in heat truly entails?” he replied, unable to contain the intensity in his voice. “This is not simply an act of making love. I will fuck you. And I will fuck hard, YN. Do you understand?”

It was incredible how his mere words were enough to make your legs shake and your lips quiver. His effect on you has always been like this, but for some reason, in his half dragon form, it had only became more powerful.

“Z-Zhongli…I—”

“This will be different from everything we did so far,” he interrupted you. “I will be rough and relentless. I will bite you and mark you that you are mine and mine only. I will not stop even if you tell me to. I will keep on pounding into you until your womb is full of my seed, and even then, I will not stop. I will breed into you until you become pregnant with my child. Do you truly understand?”

You bit your lip. His words were swirling in your head like a thick soup of lustful thoughts; pushing you into arousal. If he was meaning to scare you, then it had surely backfired.

“I do,” you replied, as he pulled away from you to look into your eyes. “And I want you to do all those things to me.”

For a moment, Zhongli stared at you; speechless and totally caught off guard by your reply. It seems like he hadn’t expected you to agree at all. You were supposed to be frightened, freaked out by his monster-like appearance, but here you are taking up the challenge as if it was nothing.

He grunted as soon as he realized you weren’t backing off. He knew who he had married.

“There is no guarantee that I can control myself later on, YN,” he cautioned you one more time. “I have no wish to hurt you, my love.”

You smiled at him, loosening his grip on your wrists and gently caressing his face. “I know, and I trust you.”

With a sigh, Zhongli stood up straight and scooped you from your place. Carrying you on his arms, he then dropped you unceremoniously on the bed with an ungraceful plop. He gazed at you from above; the power of his eyes never waning.

Because of how dark it was, you have never noticed that he was naked all over. But with the light shining just to the side, you could see his dragon features much more clearly now—dark scales scattered all over his skin, golden horns on his head, sharp claws for hands and feet, as well a tail which was moving back and forth. Shifting your eyes downward, you promptly bit your lip.

You begin to feel apprehensive. It was natural that his dick is much bigger than his human form, but could that even fit inside you? Would you even survive after being fucked with that?

“Zhongli…um….just a moment—"

“You have been warned, YN,” Zhongli finally said as he crawled above you, never breaking eye contact. “I will no longer hold myself back.”

Pining both your wrists above your head, Zhongli cupped your cheeks and captured your lips in a harsh yet searing kiss. His tongue was immediately against yours, exploring your mouth and licking your lips which he had missed for so many months.

He had your breath knocked out of you immediately, as you struggled to keep up with the rapidly electrifying pace he had set. His hands were all over your body as he kept his lips close to yours as if he was trying to devour you. Zhongli wasn’t kidding when he told you he was going to be rough.

Like a rabid beast, he quickly made work of your clothes; ripping them open with his sharp claws as he jumped from your lips to your neck—his favorite place to mark you. He knew every sensitive pulse to suck and nip at; tongue and lips meandering at every dip and rise of the muscles on your neck. Soon enough, he had left it with dark splotches of color on his wake, keening at his handiwork as if it had satisfied the animal in him.

In the sea of silken sheets and two bodies intertwined, you arched to his touch, loving how his mouth descended to your breast, flicking his tongue at your pert nipple. You could feel waves upon waves of arousal as he assaulted you lavishly with his mouth and lips—making sure he worships every inch of your body.

“Z-Zhongli…!”

You could feel his horns touch your skin, his tail twirling around your leg to spread them open; ready for him when he crosses that bridge. It didn’t help how he kept on tracing your skin with the blunt side of his claws, fascinated at how your flesh dipped; at how he was only one push behind before he draws out blood. But you were becoming increasingly sensitive the more he kept on marking your whole body and it only served to add a distinct kind of pleasure from his mouth and tongue.

He was right, this was different from everything you had done so far. This was feral, animalistic and unrestrained. All his past gentle touches were gone, only to be replaced but such an intensity that kept you panting.

“I suppose it is time to get you ready for me.”

Releasing your wrists so he can spread you open, Zhongli gazed up at you as he tore off your underwear, tossing the offending fabric to some corner of the room. You both could see how drenched you were, with him smirking at you as he dipped. And just like he said, he didn’t hold himself back.

In an instant, his tongue was around your clit; sucking and licking at the sensitive nub. You arched on the bed, your hands on his horns as you tried to hide your lustful cries. He growled at you from below, the vibrations eliciting a novel sensation which only made you even more aroused.

“Zhong…li…p-please! Wait—”

You were rapidly getting lightheaded from the sheer pleasure of his tongue, your body shaking as he swiped up your cunt, saving every drop of your juices leaking out. He kept your legs open with his strong claws, making you unable to do anything but submit to his ministrations.

Since he couldn’t insert his digits in you, he pushed his tongue into your hole; the wriggling sensation making your eyes turn. It was incredible how he felt; face buried in your cunt as he kept on licking you like a starved man.

“Oh god….! Please…please! Zhongli! I’m close…! I—”

With toes curled, you shut your eyes tight as your mouth flew open for a loud moan. Each pulse of your orgasm engulfing you with pleasure as Zhongli went on without stopping; electricity running underneath your skin.

Just like that, Zhongli pulled away and straddled you between his legs. His burning feral eyes looking down on you as he pumped his cock right before your face. You knew what he was planning to do.

“Open your mouth.”

Unable to deny him despite how lightheaded you are, you opened your lips and slowly took him in, accommodating his large girth and trying not to choke. It wasn’t like this was your first time but you were sucking off a monster of a cock, and your mouth can only fit so much of it.

Twirling your tongue around the tip, you did the best that you could. You knew where he was most sensitive in and kept attacking those places with your tongue. Licking up his shaft and sucking on a prominent vein, you slowly began to enter a lull of arousal—all you could think of was sucking him off, loving how he grinds himself inside your mouth with a guttural groan.

With his claws gripping your head, Zhongli pushed even harder, making you deepthroat him and gagging at how forceful it was. He kept on fucking your mouth, his large dick hitting the back of your throat at every thrust. It seemed painful and it was, as tears streamed down your cheeks, but you were also getting off of it, your cunt once again drenched.

You loved how full your mouth was of him, how the pain and the pleasure melded together into an incomprehensible yet hedonistic sensation. He was rough but you loved it.

Suddenly however, Zhongli pulled out from your mouth, his cock bobbing on his toned stomach. He gazed down at you who seemed to have woken up from a trance with watery eyes and pre-cum stained face.

“That’s enough. I think you’re ready.”

Dazed, you could only watch as he returned to his previous position; rubbing his cock on your drenched cunt. Every time he touches your clit, you groaned in delight—your writhing figure only served to push him further into carnality.

Without any warning, he sheathed his dick inside of you in one sharp thrust as you cried out so loudly from the sudden stimulation. He was so thick and you were so full of him in an instant; your cunt quivering from almost cumming.

“Z-Zhong…li…! Nnngh!”

The image of you underneath him—back arched and face in pure ecstasy—Zhongli could no longer stop himself. You were clenching around him so tightly; the warmth of your folds urging him to fuck you senseless.

And he did. Pulling almost all the way out, Zhongli then pounded back into roughly; grunting at how you felt so good around him. He continued to thrust into you, setting up a rough and harsh pace as he chased his own high.

“You take me in so well, YN,” he whispered as he bent down, your leg hanging on his shoulders. “Hang in there, love.”

All you could feel was him inside you, grazing on your most sensitive spots; turning you delirious with pleasure. He was so big, stretching you to your limits and it felt so good as he kept with his unrelenting thrusts; your cries fueling him to push harder.

His lips were on yours once again; determined to have them swollen with his intense kisses. He had long been waiting for this—every night where he had only had his hand to relieve him; he would think of you in this exact position. But now that he could finally be one with you, he couldn’t help revel in the absolute bliss of your embrace.

With his mouth, he continued where he left off on your breasts; giving the pert nipples more attention with a little bite. You could only scream at the sudden stimulation as it paired perfectly well with his every violent thrust; once again nearing you to the brink of climax.

“Z-Zhongli….Zhongli…! Aah…please…I can’t! It’s…too much!”

“No…” he growled at you, his claws now on your hips, easily manhandling you as he kept on pounding again and again. “I won’t stop.”

Skin slapping against skin was heard all over the room other than your hoarse whimpers and his deep groans. Limbs trembling at the overstimulation, you could only grasp on the sheets as Zhongli pleasured himself inside of you.

You were close…so close to climax that it only took one harsh thrust for you to come undone; screaming and clenching around him like a vice grip.

In his eyes, you were so beautiful, so erotic as he watched your orgasm wash over you like a tidal wave. He can’t help but think of how you would look like filled up with his seed, how he would breed into you until you bear him children.

Zhongli immediately felt you tighten up; groaning as he also felt his own orgasm upon him. As the both of you connected glances, he pushed himself further into you, his pace becoming more erratic.

“Nghh…! Take my seed…YN…!”

He moaned as he shoved deep inside of you, his thick cock filling you up with his warm seed. You convulsed once again, loving the way he was cumming inside of you, your eyes seeing nothing but stars.

Breathing in an out, you tried to calm your wildly beating heart as he pulled out. You sighed at the sudden emptiness, already missing how he felt inside you. Trying to find his eyes, you were able to exchange glances as you laid on the bed, breathless.

 However, he only returned your fucked out expression with a smirk, which only became more devilish with the slits in his eyes.  He could see his cum beginning to leak out from your hole; the image like a drug in his system, sending him into overdrive.

“Did you think we’re already done?” he asked as he turned you around, your ass high up on the air. “That would hardly get you pregnant, my love.”

With those words, he plunged his still hard dick back inside of you who was keening at the sudden stretch.

“…mnn…Zhongli…!” you cried. “I…I’m still sensitive!”

He only chuckled at your protests. Leaning down, he took a bite of your shoulder, and then began to look on the indentations he left.

“Did you conveniently forget the fact that I am a dragon in heat?” he asked, leaving another set of love bites on your shoulder blades. “I will stop at nothing until you are filled to the brim with my seed.”

“…Z-Zhongli…wait…!”

Your husband once again moved roughly, his lips now busy with decorating your back with his marks. Tonight, you will be full of him—his scent, his marks, his seed—you belong to him and no one else.

For the rest of the night, he did exactly what he promised. Zhongli kept on fucking you over and over, and cumming inside you every single time. He seemed to have endless stamina, and kept on going for hours on end. The both of you tried every position possible—from you riding him to him fucking you on his lap—there was no respite.

It was when you heard the roosters crow and the bright singing of the birds that Zhongli finally stopped. Buried on stained sheets and throes of pillows, he finally collapsed beside you who was still trembling from your last orgasm—how many times was it? You had already lost count.

“Have you calmed down now?” you asked, still breathless as you felt him creep a hand around your waist to pull you into a tight snuggle.

Your husband hummed. “Yes. For now, that is.

“So there’s more?”

He kissed the nape of your neck now adorned by his bitemarks. “I did precisely tell you that I am in heat, darling. Heats do not last for a night.”

You sighed at his reply and then turned to place a chaste kiss on his lips. “I’ll be ready then.”

With your words, Zhongli only chuckled, nuzzling against you. “It is still beyond me how you easily agreed. There is no doubt that you will be with child after this.”

A smile crept on your lips.

“Well, actually…that was what I was hoping to talk to you about,” you replied as you covered his arm with yours. “I was going to say I’ll be resigning from adventuring, and focus on finding work here in Liyue so that we can stay close like this.”

“Oh…” was all he could say as everything fell into its rightful places.

“It turned out quite better than expected, didn’t it?” you told him with a grin.

“It did,” Zhongli replied. “Now get some rest, we’ll continue once you wake up.”

[starshipsofstarlord]

Conference Room

Pairing | Bucky Barnes x reader

Summary | Bucky gets a surprise when he realises that things that were looked down upon, and people were often disgusted by in his day and age, are wanted in this one.

Warnings | includes smut, blowjob, cum facial, Bucky being an insecure bb, swearing

Requested ✖️

Quick link to my masterlist, if you’re interested in reading more of my crap 😬

Everyone filed out of the meeting room, one by one disappearing into the maze of the compound. Bucky watched you with tender eyes, slowly following behind, as you headed for the door.

But instead of passing though the threshold, so that you could make your way on route to the kitchen, in order for you prepare yourself a well deserved drink after sitting through the small conference, you closed the door, and pushed down the latch.

The action itself made Bucky stop in his footsteps, and fix you with a confused expression. He wasn’t sure why you had locked the two of you in here. Only moments ago you had been on a group call with Fury, and now that he had signed off, all of you had been free to leave.

But that freedom that all the else had fled feebly towards, served a much different price to that for which you specifically had in mind for him. “Sergeant Barnes, I think the two of us need to have a little talk; our ears only.”

Bucky gulped, remaining upon the spot that he was stood in. He racked his mind for reasons that you would want to do this here, and not in one of your bedrooms. It would only make things more difficult for when he left the scene, heartbroken by you cutting him off, and finally pushing him away.

It was inevitable that it would happen somewhen; but it was too early. Things were finally running smoothly, he felt content and happy, and as though he were making a good difference to the world, which is all he ever wanted. However, it appeared that all of that was about to come tumbling down at his feet, in the same very moment.

The two of you hadn’t been dating too long, just short of three months. And during that time, the pair of you had never once gotten obscenely intimate. So in your case, as he viewed it, you really had nothing to lose. But he couldn’t pin point as to why you were dressed in a sly smile, and creeping ever so steadily towards him as though you had a surprise.

“Doll.” He spoke softly, thinking that it would be the last time he had the opportunity to describe you with that pet name. From the way that he addressed you, your expression quickly became more innocent and happy.

As you got closer to him, you wrapped your arms around his middle, leaning forwards and pressing a kiss upon his material covered chest. “Baby.” You greeted him, moving to his lips next, and pressing a fluid peck upon them.

“What are you doing?” He unsurely asked, his voice cracking in the meanwhile, and his face scrunching up into a confused frown. Your hands rubbed down his chest, and plucked the band of his trousers, over again in a repeated motion.

Sucking your lip into your mouth, you looked up into his sky blue eyes, reading them for any signs of him being affected by your actions. Rather than feeling aroused, it seemed to make him confused, which was not at all your intention.

“You seemed tense Buck.” Your hands raked their way back up to his shoulders, soothing any apparent tightness that were held within his muscles. “I thought maybe... I could help loosen you up.” Fluttering your eyelashes at him, Bucky lightly groaned, rubbing his lips together as he mulled over what the pair of you could possibly get up to in this room.

His hands went down to the button of your jeans, but lightly, you slapped his hands away, doing the same to him, and undoing them. As your fingers toyed with the zip that helped the denim be adjustable to his size, your other palmed him through the blue material. “This is about you James. I want to make you feel good.”

Again, he swallowed his own saliva, he paid the utmost attention to your every movement, completely compelled with how you tossed your hair to the side by simply moving your head. “You want me to suck your cock, I promise I’m good at it.” A giggle erupted from your mouth, and Bucky clasped your chin in the feather light grip of his vibranium hand.

He pulled your lips to his, warming them up before slipping his tongue inside. It had been a long time, though he hated to admit it, since he had done anything even slightly sexual, and a part of him was afraid that he wouldn’t last long.

But the other was excited, back in the forties , blowjobs weren’t often digressed. The idea had always appealed to hun, however no dame had ever wished to dirty their knees before him, and take his sufficient length down their throat. It pained him a little, knowing that like most people he had encountered through his life, that they would take from him, but never return it with an ounce of kindness.

He’d perceive it as a dream come true, the woman that owned his entire heart, independently wanting to pleasure him in such ways that were looked down upon in his day. “Are you sure?” He pulled away, desperate for some clarity on the matter.

“Yes, of course I am.” You smiled, drawing him in for another locked lip session. After a minute or two of tasting his tongue, you trailed your direction down, running down his chin, and then his neck, until you completely dropped to your knees, rutting your hand against his growing cock.

Right then, from that image alone, Bucky swore that he would die. That innocent expression that was entailed upon your face had him mentally cursing, and he couldn’t help but groan to himself in a relaxed manner as you pulled his jeans down to his ankles, leaving only his boxers as the final barrier.

Lightly, you pressed a kiss to where you guessed his tip to be through the cotton, gently running your tongue down the shaft, and lower down to where his balls were stationed. “Y/n, please stop teasing.”

“Tell me Bucky.” Your fingertips cascaded up and down his v line, warming him up to what was to come(pun intended). “Have you ever been sucked off before?” His heart rate picked up, as he furrowed his eyebrows.

“How did you- that punk!” He said in reference to Steve, realising that he must have let the detail slip to you. But he couldn’t be made really, if the captain hadn’t digressed his secret to you, then he may have waited longer to experience the enthralling and dirty, as it had been known to be, engagement.

Without any pressure, you pressed your teeth upon his cock, dragging his attention back towards you. “Now that is no way to talk about your dear friend, I’d say he did you a favour.” He was getting ready to grumble in his Bucky manner, but was hit with your gasp as you suddenly pulled his boxers down, his dick slapping upwards, having your entire focus.

Reaching forward with a hand, you wrapped it around the mid section of his shaft, your palm hardly fitting around his girth. “It’s so big.” You gaped at the sight, moving your hand up and down to gouge a reaction out of the super soldier above you. His head leant back, his eyes screwing shut as he realised just how sensitive he was. He felt like a virgin all over again.

An obscene and loud moan was pulled from his mouth as you ran your tongue up his shaft, humming at the taste of his intimate skin. With the encouragement of his lie noises, you directed his tip towards your lips, rubbing it upon the cushioned flesh, before sinking him halfway in your mouth.

“Holy fuck!” He exclaimed, reaching down and on instinct entangling his metal hand in your loose hair. As though you were doing nothing, you innocently looked up at him with wide doe eyes., although he could feel you hollowing your cheeks around him, as you began to bob your head.

Only then did he realise how experienced you must have been within this department, for he noticed how you didn’t struggle nor gag the slightest around him, and it appeared that you were enjoying it as much as he was.

One of your hands planted itself on the thickness of his thigh as your other found homage with fondling his balls. His chest rapidly moved as he felt every slither of your tongue around him, and as you pulled slightly back, you began dipping it in the line of his slit.

“Baby, slow down, or I’m going to cum.” With his words heard, you took him out of your mouth, wrapping your hand around his saliva soaked rod, and began pumping him rapidly. For a moment, he swore his head was going to explode as he saw you stick your tongue out, awaiting his load that was soon to be delicious.

“Cum Buck. Want you to cum for me.” It was impossible for him to hold back any longer, and thus, his seed flew over the expanse of your tongue, whilst the rest spurted over one side of your face. “Hmm.” You mumbled, swallowing that of it that you caught, and scooping a swipe into your mouth.

“I swear to god that I’m in love with you.” He spoke breathily as you stood up, both of your faces flushed from the activity. He pulled you in for a few pecks, to which you could do nothing more than stare into his oceanic pools.

“Well that’s encouraging.” You laughed, reaching down and tucking his softening cock back into his boxers and jeans, giving it a loving pat before pulling away. “I love you too Bucky Barnes; always.”

“The conference room though, really?” He asked with a bemused laugh, causing you to shrug. “You’ve got to walk out of here now.” He said, motioning to the mess on your face.

“That is something that I didn’t think of.” You responded, your eyes darting a around the room, until your eyes landed on the box of tissues that Tony had brought in at the start of the meeting. Thank Thor for his cold! “Grab me some paper towels from the corner would you babe?”

He sent you a pleased, and you’d say very satisfied smile, before stepping back, and heading in the direction of the desk, picking a few sheets out of the cube, and walking back to help you clean up. He felt like he at least owed you that much.

[just-jordie-things]

Insecurities - Richie Tozier

word count: 4319 warnings: swearing summary: Richie’s greatest fear is not being good enough for her- and It knows to use that against him ___

Richie Tozier loved his girlfriend.  He idolized her, he prioritized her, and every day that he was with her felt like a miracle.  She was his favorite person, the light of his life, and he was so goddamn in love with her that it consumed his entire being.

Thing was, (y/n) was out of his league, and his friends and peers reminded him of it, every, fucking, day.  Either with a joke about how he landed a girl like that, or a comment about how she’ll find someone better too.  His friends weren’t purposefully being assholes, and they never knew how deep their words could cut into Richie.  But he’d never told them how insecure he really was.

(y/n) never thought anything of it.  She loved Richie and that’s all that mattered.  He made her happier than she ever could have imagined herself being in this town.  In this dreary place she lived, he managed to be a ray of spontaneity and sun that she was grateful for every day.  She longed to tell him how much she loved him, she’d never gathered the courage to say it before, but always felt the words burning in her throat. She knew her friends were teasing, and never second guessed them or Richie’s feelings about it.  

That is, until Neibolt. ___

“This, is a bad fucking idea” Richie had muttered into her ear when they’d walked onto the property.

She wasn’t sure if it was out of annoyance for wasting a day that they could have spent at the arcade, or out of his own fear for trekking into the obviously haunted house.

If it was fear, she knew he wouldn’t say anything about it.  So instead, she grabbed his hand and gave him a smile.

“But it’ll make for a great story!” She’d declared.

(She has a tendency to reprimand him on his idiotic ideas, and he always argued that he would have a good story to tell later.  So when she repeated his words back to him, he glared a bit)

(y/n) winked, before giggling because Richie always made a funny face when she winked at him.  After dating her for a year or so, he has never gotten used to the sight of her winking at him.

But then again, a part of him was still in disbelief that she was his girlfriend and she was winking at him.

He tugged her closer to his side by her hand as they walked into the house.

“Oh, gross” Eddie winced, and continued to complain the further they walked into the hall.

The clubs’ steps gradually slowed.

“What the fuck?” Richie hissed, eyes narrowing while he looked around.  “This is a fucking crackhouse-“

He stopped abruptly when there was a loud creaking, and the whole group froze in place.  They went silent, ears on alert for the next haunting sound.

Richie’s hand tightened around (y/n’s), making sure that she was secure at his side.  She looked up at him, brows furrowed a bit, clearly conflicted about Bill’s plan.

Another creak sounded, and her eyes shot towards the sound, just in time to see a door slowly swinging open.  To their surprise, no one, or nothing, appeared in the doorway.  It only revealed an empty room.

When Mike took a few tentative steps towards it, (y/n’s) feet also began to move, as if on instinct, her brain told her not to let her friend investigate alone.

“(y/n)” Richie called for her in a hushed voice as she pulled her hand out of his hold.

She glanced back at him as if to say ‘I’m alright’, and then moved swiftly on the tips of her toes up to Mike.  They shared a look, before nodding their heads, and walking into the room.

As she examined the old run-down bedroom, she felt her heartbeat steady, as did her breathing.  The floorboards were worn and creaky, and the walls had indescribable stains on them, but there was nothing more to it.

“It’s just old” Mike said, a similar expression of relief on his face.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” (y/n) looked back out to their friends to assure them that they were safe.  “It was nothing-“

Before the word could even leave her mouth, the door creaked again, and slammed shut before anyone could move.

“(y/n)!” Richie was the first to leap to action, but by the time he’d gotten to the door, it was already locked.  And no matter how much he yanked and pulled on the rusty knob, it would not budge.

She was pounding her fists against the other side of it, and from the sounds of it, he was pretty sure Mike was trying to kick the door down from the other side.

“(y/n)! (y/n) it’s gonna be fine! I’m gonna get you out!” RIchie hollered, enlisting in the help of Bill and Beverly in trying to kick open the door.

But even as everyone was kicking, it was no use.  The door would rattle in it’s frame, and not crack even a little bit.

“It’s It!” Beverly declared, trying to get the boys to halt in their frantic kicking before they hurt themselves.  “Guys- Richie- we won’t be able to break it open, it’s like- cursed, or something”

He didn’t want to give up that fast, he wanted to keep kicking this door until his shoes were worn through and his feet were bruised, until (y/n) was free.

“It’s alright!” (y/n) called from the room.  “Mike found a part of the wall that’s caved in, we’re gonna try to break through it to the other side of the hall, okay?”

“W-we’ll meet you o-over there” Bill said, already heading around the corner of the hallway with Stan.  Even though it was clear she’d only been informing one person.

“Richie,” She spoke again.  “Go on, I’ll be fine, Mike’s here with me, I’ll see you in a couple minutes, okay?”

She was trying so hard to keep her voice brave, but he could hear it begin to crack, even through the door.

“I’m not fucking leaving you-”

“Richie, go, I don’t want you standing alone out there,” (y/n) ordered.  “I gotta go help Mike with the wall, see you in a minute”

He could barely hear her footsteps take off, and then leaned forward to press his ear against the wood, hoping to hear them breaking through with ease.  But now he couldn’t hear a thing.

Richie spun around, about to alert Eddie and Ben how oddly enough he couldn’t hear their friends tearing through a wall.

But Eddie and Ben weren’t there.

“Guys?” Richie hollered, breaking into a jog in hopes to catch them around the corner, where Mike and (y/n) were supposed to meet everyone.

But no one was there either.

“Hello!? Guys!? Where’d you go!?”

He began to yell a bit louder now, rushing around anywhere he could in search of his friends, but he hadn’t found, or even heard anyone.  How had they abandoned him so fast? Didn’t they notice?

“Richie?” A scratchy but familiar voice called from behind him.

He turned on his heel and was instantly relieved at the sight of (y/n).

“Oh, thank fucking god” He breathed out heavily, taking swift steps towards her.

She, however, took a sharp step backwards.

“Don’t come any closer” She snapped, and Richie froze on the spot.

“W-what-?”

“Stay the fuck back!” She screeched now, so loud that the harsh words echoed down the halls.  They seemed to ring in Richie’s ears for a lifetime.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” He asked worriedly.  But he did as she asked, and didn’t move any closer to her.  “Did something happen-?”

“Jesus Richie fuck off!” She snarled now, and if that wasn’t shocking enough, she stormed up to him, and shoved him against his chest with both hands, mustering all the force she could.

Richie stumbled until he tripped over his feet and fell to the ground.  He couldn’t believe she was strong enough to push him to the ground like that.  (y/n) wasn’t frail by any means, but she shouldn’t have been able to knock him down with such ease.

“Blabber and hover- blabber and hover with you!” She was yelling down at him now, and Richie pushed himself up on shaky arms.

This was incredibly unlike her-

“You can never just leave me the hell alone! Can you!?” She went on, voice booming unnaturally with each bark.  “Always on my ass, always crowding me!”

If he wasn’t so afraid, he would have noticed how with every word, her teeth turned more ragged, and sharper.

“Do you think I enjoy it? Being stuck with you? It’s a goddamn burden! I can’t stand to be around you- I fucking hate you Richie Tozier!”

“Y-you’re not- this isn’t-” He could barely speak his throat was burning so bad from holding back tears.

This couldn’t be (y/n)... (y/n) would never…

“What, I’m not real?” The word came out in a vicious snarl, and suddenly she warped into another figure.

He wasn’t sure if this one was worse.

“You piece of shit!” Henry Bowers barked.  “Haven’t I told you to stay the fuck out of this town!?”

Richie lunged himself backwards, trying to crawl away from this horrible nightmare as fast as possible.  But the more he tried to scurry away, the worse the image in front of him became.

“You’re a freak!” (y/n) screamed in his face again.  “You’re a loser, Richie.  You think anyone would want to be with you?”

He couldn’t breathe- the tears- the panic- it all welled up inside of him and he knew he was going to explode soon.

“This isn’t real, you’re not real, you’re not her”

“Aren’t I though?” Her voice dropped to a haunting whisper, and she leaned in close to him.  “Aren’t I!?” She screamed.

Richie closed his eyes, shaking his head rapidly and hoping that when he opened them again, she’d be gone, and he’d wake up in his bedroom.  This was just one terrible fucking nightmare, it’ll be over soon-

“The real (y/n) doesn’t have the guts to fucking tell you” She snarled, reminding him of his reality.

“Stop it!” Richie yelled, unable to hold back his tears any longer.

“She’s never been able to speak up and say-”

“Go away!” He begged, voice cracking in desperation.

“She knows she’s too good for you, and let’s face it fuckface, I am too good for you”

He didn’t have it in him to beg It to leave him alone, as he broke down sobbing into his hands, enduring the cuel wrath.

“She hates you, for dragging her down, for hanging off of her like a dog,” Her tone slowly warped into something more squeaky, and masculine, until she wasn’t exactly the image of (y/n) anymore.  “Ohhh… she haaates you Richie”

When he dared to look, he was met with the gruesome sight of a circus clown.  A rather large circus clown.

“But you can stay, Richie, you can float with us!”

“No- no…. no no no!”

He covered his face again as he pleaded and wept uncontrollably.  He wished that It would just get it over with, because he couldn’t take this torture anymore.

“Richie!” A voice screamed.  Not the scream that he’d heard just moments ago, but a worried shriek.

Even still, he kept his hands planted safely over his eyes.  It couldn’t get in his face if he couldn’t see the form it had taken.

“Richie- Richie,” The voice panted again, this time soft, and close to his ear.  “Hey, it’s me” She murmured.

Gentle hands grasped onto his wrists, and pulled on his arms until he revealed his face.

He was met with the concerned eyes of his girlfriend, her brow so furrowed there were lines on her forehead, and a pout on her lips that he’d never seen there before.

“Babe,” She whispered so soft he was certain that he’d imagined that too.  “What happened?”

He flinched when she reached for him, and the action shattered her heart to pieces, but she tried her best not to show it.  Tentatively, she reached her hand out to place against his cheek, pulling her sleeve over her palm to wipe away the flow of tears.

“You’re- are you-”

“I’m real,” She nodded, beginning to realize what had happened.  “It’s me, promise”

His eyes wandered her features unsurely, and she sighed.

“Do you want me to prove it?” She murmured, and began to speak before he could even nod his head.  “On our first date, you called me sweet cheeks, and then got so embarrassed about it that you tripped and dropped your ice cream” There was a weak smile on her lips at the memory, hoping that it would be enough to calm Richie down.

He let out a shaky whimper, before surging forward and wrapping his arms around her torso.  He held her so tightly that she had to control her breaths, but it was alright because he believed her and things were going to be okay.

“It’s alright,” She cooed into his ear as he cried into the crook of her neck.  “I know, it’s awful”

One of his hands cradled the back of her head, fingers tangled in her hair.  The other was fisting the material of her jacket.  He couldn’t speak, he was crying so hard, ut it was enough to know that she was here right now.

(y/n) rubbed his back in soothing circles as she held him for a few moments longer, until she knew it was time to go, and pulled away.

“Come on, we gotta get out of here,” She whispered, wiping his opposite cheek tenderly.  “Eddie broke his arm” She told him as she helped him to his feet, and intertwined their fingers as they raced out of Neibolt.

The others, besides Eddie, were standing in the front yard.

Eddie was being shoved into his mother’s car, while Mrs K was scolding their friends.

“I knew my boy shouldn’t be playing with the likes of you all,” She rambled, snarling at Beverly in particular.  “This is all your fault.  All your fault! I hope your proud of yourselves for maiming my boy!”

She stormed off to her car, and Eddie could barely wave out the window before she’d driven off.

“I know where It is,” Bill spoke after a beat passed.  “And n-next time we’ll come p-prepared”

Richie’s eyes widened before glaring at the boy, finding it ridiculous that he thought it was a good idea to not only come back, but to come back and retaliate.

“No next time, Bill!” Stan begged, shaking his head.

“We have to,” Beverly said.  “Ben, you said so yourself, It comes back every twenty-seven years-”

“Fine! I’ll be forty and far away from here!” He answered.

With his words, a layer of tension settled over the group.

“I’m sorry you couldn’t save Georgie,” Richie grumbled, pulling away from (y/n) to head to his bike.  “But you can still save yourself” He finished, brushing past Bill’s shoulder.

“N-no,” Bill stammered, pushing Richie back by the shoulder.  “T-take it back!”

“Face the truth, Bill! You’re chasing a lie-!”

He couldn’t even finish before Bill pushed harder, and swing a fist against Richie’s cheek.

“Bill!” (y/n) screeched, leaping forward to break them up before something could happen.

She grabbed Richie by the elbow before he could land a punch, and yanked him back while Mike grabbed a secure hold on Bill.

“Face it! We’re losers! That’s it!” Richie snarled.

He shrugged (y/n’s) hold off of him, and her eyes shot to his, broken, and hurt.

“I’m going home.  I don’t want to get fucking killed too” He muttered, and when he stormed off to his bike, Bill didn’t stop him this time.

“R-Richie?” (y/n) called brokenly, stumbling forward on wobbly legs, but it didn’t matter, he was already zooming down the street as fast as he could.

Before she could crumpe to the ground, Beverly grabbed a hold of her, hugging her against her side comfortingly.

It was silent as everyone dispersed, barely giving each other a second glance as they rode off.

Beverly hugged (y/n) tight before she got on the back of Bill’s bike.  Murmuring a soft, ‘see you later’ that (y/n) wasn’t quite convinced of.

She didn’t have the energy in her to bike home, but the only other option was to sit outside Neibolt, alone, and the sun was beginning to set, so she gathered what little strength she had left in her to slowly make her way home. ___

When she came home past dinner, covered in muck and bruises, her parents barely batted an eye.  Even as she let out a soft cry with every step up the stairs, it was like they tuned her out completely.

It had thrown her around like a ragdoll after she tried to defend Eddie.  As brave as she’d tried to be, she’d been terrified, shaking straight down to the bone as she forced herself to stand in front of him.

The demonic clown had simply swing an arm, and sent her tumbling across the ground.

It took a long shower to get all the dirt scraped off her skin.  But even as it was washed down the drain, the memories of this afternoon would haunt her for life.

Maybe Bill was right.  Maybe It needed to be stopped now, before he could just keep coming back and traumatizing a new generation of children every thirty or so years.  But even if she really wanted to kill the creature, she wouldn’t even know where to begin.  And her brain was already swarmed with a worse thought,

Was Richie done with me?

She sniffled a bit at the idea, but wiped her eyes before they could be filled with tears.

No, he was just angry, and scared, he would never… he wouldn’t just leave like that… would he?

A few knocks on her window made her jolt up in bed, nerves spreading throughout her body like electricity.  She instantly thought that It had found her, and was back to finish what he’d started.

But as she rushed to turn on the lamp sitting on her bedside table, her muscles relaxed to see it was only Richie, waiting rather impatiently for her to unlock her window.

She threw the covers off of her, and moved as quickly as she could to let him in.

As soon as she pushed the window upwards, he was crawling in, oddly silent.

“Hey,” She murmured, not wanting to alert her parents downstairs that her boyfriend had snuck in.

He’d done so a million times before, and they’ve never gotten caught, but today was a rather awful day and she didn’t want to have one more thing ruined.

“Are you feeling be-”

“We need to talk” Richie mumbled, effectively cutting her off with the upsetting words.

“O-Okay…” (y/n) answered, trying not to jump to conclusions.  “What… about..?” She asked slowly.

“I think-” He started to speak quickly, but just couldn’t seem to finish the sentence.

He couldn’t even look her in the eyes.

“We- we should- we need to break up”

It was like her heart plummeted right out of her body, sending every nerve to go numb.  She had to have heard him wrong- this wasn’t like Richie- maybe this wasn’t even the real-

“I- I want to break up” He added in an even quieter voice.  She caught the crack in his words, and she shook her head in confusion.

“What?” She could barely manage to say the one word.

“I know you heard me,” Richie sighed, eyes finally flickering up to hers.  “Come on (y/n) don’t make this any more difficult than it-”

“You’re the one being difficult!” She whisper-hissed, eyes widening a bit in frustration.  “What are you doing? Wh- why are you-”

“Come on,” Richie whispered.  “Don’t do that-”

“Give me one reason why we should break up” (y/n) crossed her arms.  She wasn’t going to let him walk away that easy.  Something was up, and she was going to get to the bottom of it.

“We’re not a good fit, alright?” He answered, volume raising a bit above his previous murmur.  “We don’t work, and I was a fucking idiot to think that we would”

“Richie…” (y/n) sighed in disbelief.

“You wanted an answer-”

“Where is this coming from?” She asked with a shake of her head.  “I know you don’t really want to break up-”

“Well we have to!” He yelled, and they were both silent for a minute, trying to see if her parents had heard him.

When there was no response from downstairs, she snapped back at him.

“Why?” She stressed the word, desperate for him to just fess up whatever it was that was bothering him.

“Why? Do you even have to ask, (y/n)?” Richie asked.

Her eyebrows knitted together as he spoke in such a harsh tone.  Richie never talked to her like that.

“Look at me, (y/n)! I mean, come on, it was only a fucking matter of time before you got bored and realized how much of your time you’ve wasted on me!”

If she’d thought him trying to break up was horrible, this was even worse.

“Oh, Rich-”

“I’m a loser, (y/n), don’t you see that? Don’t you see how terrible for you I am?”

He was breaking her heart with every word.

“Haven’t you heard them? What people say? What our own friends say?” He asks her, but she doesn’t answer, because she can’t.  “I am dragging you down with every second of being with you”

“N-no-” She can’t hardly choke out the word, but Richie vents on anyways.

“Might as well just end things now, before one of us gets hurt”

He turns around, as if to head back out her window, but (y/n’s) faster.  She wedges herself in between his body, shutting and locking the window before he could just walk away.

“No, s-stop running away,” She cried, and when she looks up at him, she realizes that he can’t look at her because he’s crying too.  “Richie,” She whimpers, shaky hands reaching up to cup his face, making him look down at her.  “That’s not true, none of that is true-”

“It is” He replies, brokenly.

She shakes her head, and steps closer to him.

“It lied to you,” She tells him.  “I know It probably told you some terrible, nasty things,”

Richie squeezes his eyes shut, and the next thing he knows, he’s falling to his knees.  But (y/n) follows, kneeling down with him and shuffling even closer.

“But babe,” She murmured, “It was lying, it was all a trick”

She could feel his tears slipping down his cheeks and over her fingers.

“I just- I don’t want to drag you down-”

“Drag me down?” She repeats in a whisper, thumbs stroking away his tears once more.  “Richie,” His eyes open when she says his name, soft and sweet-like.

She pushes his glasses up on top of his mess of curls so she can swipe away the tears under his eyes.

“You do nothing but lift me up,” She tells him.  “You’re my ray of sunshine in this terrible fucking town,” An anxious and uncertain smile trembles on her lips.  “And all those things you’re so worried about, I love about you,”

There’s a pause as her eyes flicker between his, before gently placing his glasses back on his nose.

“I’m in love with you,” She murmurs.  “I love you so much,” She repeats in a sigh, just in case he didn’t hear her the first time.  “So much”

A short breath of a laugh escapes him, and a small smile begins to tug on his lips as he looks at her.  He knows she means it, he can feel it, he can see it in her eyes that she’s being genuine.

He takes her hands from his face, setting them gently in her lap before cupping her face in his own hands.

“I love you too” He tells her, and before he can lean in, she’s shooting forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting her lips on his firmly.

It’s unlike any other kisses they’ve shared.  It’s desperate, and careful, and loving, and conveyed every last drop of fear that they’d had in losing each other.  She’s kissing him so passionately that her chest is heaving, but she can’t bear to pull away now.

Richie holds her in his lap, and she’s wrapped up in his arms so securely that she’s sure, and she hopes, she’ll never be able to get out of them.

When her lips are swollen and her lungs are burning for oxygen, she finally leaned back slightly, but only by a few centimeters.

“You can’t leave me,” She tells him through heavy breaths.  Her eyes are still closed, but he’s staring intently at her anyways.  “I need you too much- don’t leave me”

He nods in agreement, caressing her cheek affectionately.

“Okay,” He hums, and kisses her lips chastely.  “I won’t… I won’t”

She falls forward, and embraces him tightly.

Richie’s arms wind around her lower back again, and they sit for a long time like this, catching their breath and holding onto one another firmly, so that neither can leave.

“We have to go back” Richie says after a long time.

“I know” She murmurs against his neck.

“We have to kill that fucking clown” He says, voice dropping it’s gentle tone, turning hard, and final.

“I know” She repeats, the same vengeful tone in her own voice.

Nothing was ever going to come between them again, that was for sure.

___

taglist: @thegr8kush​

xoxo ~ jordie 

[seijorhi]

Inexorable ♕

My birthday present for my beloved wife @iwaasfairy​ and my contribution to her birthday bash collab you can find here. I love you, you’re incredible and I hope you like this i even wrote smut for you smh

Iwaizumi Hajime x female reader

tw: dub-con, stalking, unhealthy relationships, very questionable decision making, smut, nsfw, um... implied murder?

He’s sitting on the steps outside your apartment when you get home from work, a lit cigarette dangling between long fingers. He brings it to his lips, the bright cherry red tip glowing as he takes a nice, slow drag and you scurry on past.

Not a word passes between the two of you, but olive eyes follow you up the stairs regardless, just like always. His name is Iwaizumi – Iwa – but you only know that because you’ve heard his friends yelling it down the hallway. In the three months since you’ve moved in, you haven’t so much as introduced yourself to the guy, but like most strangers crammed into the same shitty place there’s some kind of a routine between the two of you.

Why he religiously chooses this time of night to take his smoke break is beyond you, but like clockwork you’ll arrive home, having walked back from the bus stop and Iwaizumi’ll be there waiting for you, cigarette in hand.

Well, not waiting, just… there. Black leather jacket with a hoodie underneath, there’s a cut above his eyebrow tonight that he hasn’t bothered to clean, a purpling bruise colouring his jaw. Whatever dealings Iwaizumi’s tangled up in, you don’t like to think about too much, but you know it can’t be anything good. His friends dress like him, all have the same ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibe. You’ve seen their scrapes and bruises too – the weapons that stick out from the waistband of their pants – though you’re always quick to avert your eyes when they catch you staring.

You’ve heard them snickering about it when you hastily dart past, all but slamming your front door shut. 

And it’s not that you’re scared of him. There are people who play at being dangerous, and ones who are. Iwaizumi doesn’t strike you as somebody who enjoys playing, and while you don’t doubt for a second that he is dangerous, he isn’t to you. He wouldn’t go out of his way to hurt or scare you – you’re not even a blip on his radar – but what Iwaizumi is, at least as far as you’re concerned, the reason your step quickens and you can’t bear to meet his eyes, is intimidating.

Tall and broad shouldered, with those piercing green eyes. You’ve only seen him smile once, though it was more a quirking of his lips than anything else – usually he just stares, his expression halfway between impassive boredom and a scowl. 

No, Iwaizumi doesn’t scare you nearly as much as the bouquet of flowers you find sitting on your doorstep, a handwritten note tucked in between the roses.

—

The calls come next. You block one number and he rings from another, followed by endless texts. Cute little messages you suppose are meant to brighten up your day. 

Hi baby, love the skirt you’re wearing today. You know blue’s my favourite on you, always look so damn pretty. It’s like you’re trying to drive me crazy haha

Morning babe, I was thinking about you last night. You remember that trip we always said we were gonna take in the summer down to the lake? I can’t wait to bring you there.

Why won’t you answer my calls? I just wanna talk to you, hear your voice again. Let me make things right. I love you.

Don’t you miss me? I miss you. So, so much… You look beautiful today, by the way.

Baby, I love you, but you really shouldn’t be staying out so late with your coworkers for drinks. I just want you to be safe.

They’re not all soft and sweet though. Sometimes he just sends you pictures, and those creep you out most of all.

You change your number, and it doesn’t make a difference.

—

It’s hard for you to try and convince yourself that you’re imagining the prickling sensation on the back of your neck as you go about your day. You know he’s watching you – the messages and the voicemails just drive that home, but what else are you supposed to do?

You can’t just pack up and run again, and what good is a restraining order when you have no proof he’s violating it – and by the time you do, it probably won’t help you.

Kazuma’s always had patience, but only up to a point.

The final nail comes the day you arrive home to find one of Iwa’s friends heading out from his apartment – the tallest, with the curly dark hair. Barely spares you a glance until he seems to think better of it.

“Didn’t realise you had a boyfriend, sweetheart.”

He says it so casually, but the words make you falter, a sinking feeling in your stomach. “What do you mean?”

And for a moment, he looks half surprised that you’ve bothered to reply – so far you’ve done nothing but pretend to ignore him and Iwa and every last one of their friends. But the mirth slips from his expression quickly enough once he gets a good look at yours, “Blonde guy with a shitty dye job, tall-ish. Saw him leaving your apartment an hour ago.” 

But to walk out of your apartment, he had to have first gotten into it.

“Guessing he wasn’t your boyfriend then,” he says, eyeing you with an odd look. But you don’t respond and after a short pause, he simply shrugs and continues on his way. 

You couldn’t care less.

Kazuma was in your apartment.

Leaving flowers at your doorstep is one thing, but now he has a key. 

And it feels like there’s somebody else moving your body as you stumble towards your apartment, your hand shaking so badly that you fumble and drop your own keys twice before you finally manage to slide them home and push your way inside.

It’s waiting for you inside your bedroom, sitting atop your pillow; a pretty blue box wrapped with white ribbon.

Your phone flashes to life a minute later; an incoming message from an unknown number. 

Did you like your present, baby?? I hope you don’t mind, I kinda borrowed a little something too… 

With your heart in your throat you watch those three bouncing dots as the image comes through. 

A pair of red lace panties – yours – scrunched up in his fist, wrapped around his–

Your stomach heaves, and you barely make it to the bathroom in time before you’re hurling your guts up.

—

You’ve always had an impulsive side, and more often than not it’s landed you into trouble.

So you force yourself to calm down and think before you do anything rash. You head to the police station the very next morning to file a report, fresh off a sleepless night. The officer seems sympathetic, but you know before she even opens her mouth that there’s nothing they can do.

There’s no proof of a crime committed; nothing was taken (nothing you can prove, at any rate) and because your door wasn’t tampered with and the windows weren’t smashed, there’s no evidence of a break in. She suggests changing your locks and going to stay with some friends or family for a few days and you don’t know whether you want to laugh or burst into tears.

And instead of going back to work, you call in sick.

Iwaizumi isn’t sitting on the front steps when you get back home, and why would he be? You’re not supposed to be home for another few hours – so instead you head to his apartment door and mustering every last ounce of courage you possess, you raise your fist and knock.

Silence greets you. 

You wait for a moment, a heartbeat, not daring to breathe, but there’s no answer. Which, really, shouldn’t be that surprising considering it’s mid-morning on a Tuesday, but you can’t help the crushing sense of disappointment that washes over you. The thought of trudging back to your apartment to sit and stew alone for the next few hours while you wait for him to come back makes your skin crawl. You can’t just sit still and twiddle your thumbs, not when–

Abruptly, the door in front of you swings open, and you find yourself face to face with a glaring Iwaizumi. His expression falters, momentary surprise flickering across his eyes at the sight of you standing in his doorway.

This time you don’t avert your eyes. Your heart’s pounding, your hands clammy and trembling by your side, but this is the only choice you have left. And so as a single eyebrow cocks and Iwa falls into a lean against the doorframe – the only invitation you’re gonna get – you steel your nerves, take a deep breath, and speak.

“I-I need a gun.”

To his credit, Iwaizumi doesn’t snort. “You planning on shooting somebody, princess?”

They’re the first words he’s ever spoken to you, and they make your cheeks burn, your stomach twisting into a knot. It’s not a dismissal, but there’s a tinge of amusement colouring his tone and you can’t help but wilt a little under the weight of his gaze. 

Better sense would tell you to turn around, walk back to your apartment and curse your own idiocy for entertaining this stupid idea to begin with But Iwaizumi’s staring at you like he’s expecting an answer and all you can think about is the fear that gripped your heart last night, how you couldn’t bear to turn the light off, half terrified that at any moment Kazuma would come back – and this time he wouldn’t be satisfied with just some panties.

You can’t live like this, and you can’t just pack up your life and wait for the same thing to happen in the next place, and the one after that. Kazuma won’t stop, you know that. 

“I…” you chew on your bottom lip, dropping your gaze so that you’re staring at his chest instead of those piercing green eyes. “I don’t, I-I’m not–”

“A killer?” he interjects, and you almost flinch at his bluntness“Yeah, no shit.”

Taking another breath in through your nose, you force yourself to meet his gaze, even as your nails bite into the palm of your hand and your heart skips a beat. “I just want…” but you can’t even bear to say the words aloud, not without your voice shaking like a leaf. “It’s for protection. I don’t know who else to go to. Please,” you beg.

Iwa exhales heavily, a crinkle appearing between his brows as he frowns, “This got anything to do with the blonde asshole that’s been sniffing ‘round your place?”

Your bewilderment must show, because he snorts, finally stepping back to let you inside. “Mattsun told me,” he says, answering your unspoken question. 

The unmistakably hard edge to his words takes you a little by surprise, but you nod anyway, gingerly taking a seat on the couch when he jerks his chin at it. “Oh, uh, yeah. He’s my ex, kinda. We… didn’t end well.”

It’s the understatement of the century, but you somehow doubt a man like Iwaizumi gives two shits about your past relationship with a stalker. Your fingers play with the hem of your skirt as the imposing man settles down beside you. “So does this mean you’ll get me a gun?” you ask. “I can pay you, if that’s what you’re worried about. I have some money–”

Iwa scoffs, cutting you off. “If you think I’m letting you anywhere near a loaded gun, pretty girl, you’re dumber than I gave you credit for.”

You reel back as if he’s slapped you. But Iwaizumi’s staring at you with that steely expression and blood rushes to your cheeks. Why are you surprised? Did you actually think he was going to help you – a veritable stranger – just because you have some sob story? Why even bother letting you in if he was just gonna make you feel like an idiot? And for a moment you forget the gnawing terror that’s kept you up all night, letting yourself become awash with indignation. You have no control over the hurt noise that leaves your throat, but the ‘Fuck you’ that follows; that one’s intentional.

You don’t have time to regret the insult as you jump to your feet; his hand shoots out to wrap around your wrist, jerking you to a halt the moment you try it. 

“I didn’t say you could go,” he tells you, and you can’t fight the shiver that rolls down your spine at the unmistakably commanding tone. “Sit.”

Wordlessly, you comply.

“Look at me.”

Again, there’s that harsh undercurrent in his voice that tells you he’s not asking, and you lift your gaze with a tense swallow. Iwa still hasn’t released your wrist, the warmth of his calloused palm searing against your skin. 

He doesn’t speak for a moment, olive eyes studying your face intently as you force yourself to sit still under the appraisal. “I said that I wasn’t going to give you a gun, not that I wasn’t going to help.”

Your eyebrows draw together in confusion, “What–”

“I’ll take care of it,” he snaps, cutting you off once again. And as you inhale sharply, you realise that it’s not anger you see burning in those pretty eyes, but sheer, unrelenting fury, an icy rage that you don’t understand, that terrifies you as much as it enthrals.

Because you feel like it’s on purpose. Like he’s finally letting you get a glimpse of what silently seethes beneath that impassive mask of his. Are you scared now, sweetheart?

“H-how much?” you ask breathlessly, eyes wide and heart pounding. 

“I don’t want your money,” he says quietly, his voice low and husky. And just in case there was any confusion as to what he does want, his other hand comes up to your face, a broad thumb tracing along your bottom lip as he cups your cheek.

Iwaizumi leans in slowly, as if he’s giving you time to shove him away and tell him that you’re not that kind of girl. Part of you – the part that’s terrified, frozen stiff and regretting the very moment you decided to step into his apartment and cross that line – wants to. Even now, as those hooded olive eyes drink you in, his warm breath ghosting across your skin leaving goosebumps in its wake, you’re afraid that it’s too late for that. You’ve opened a door that should never have been opened and there’s been a fundamental shift between you and him. There’s no going back for either one of you.

And the other part of you revels in it.

“Don’t kill him,” you murmur the second before his lips meet yours. “Not unless you have to.” You don’t even know if he heard you, and as Iwa deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding against yours you find that you don’t care. You lose yourself to Iwaizumi as he leans closer, gently pushing you to lie back on the couch.

He isn’t satisfied with just your lips for long, planting hot, open mouthed kisses along your jaw and down the column of your throat, sucking on the sensitive flesh. His teeth nip at your collarbone as he busies himself unbuttoning your shirt, but your gasp sounds more like a needy whine than a plea for him to stop. 

He laughs a little at that, his chest rumbling against your stomach, but he makes no moves to slow down. Instead he turns his attention to your bra, his hands far less gentle with the delicate lace than he was with your shirt, and then his mouth is on your tits, licking, sucking, biting. Tomorrow, your skin will be littered with pretty red and purple marks, and judging from the single minded focus glinting in his eyes as he stares up at you, that’s exactly his intention. Iwa drags the flat of his tongue along the swell of your breast, circling it around your nipple before he sucks it into the wet warmth of his mouth, and the whimpering moan you give him in response is a thing of beauty. 

“Good girl,” he croons. “Such pretty, perfect tits.”

Your back arches when he cups the other in his hand, and you cry out when he roughly tugs the sensitive bud. He waits until the sting fades and you relax, sagging back against the cushions with relief before he does it again, harder this time. The sharp, searing pain ripples through you, your breath seizing in your chest as you try in vain to writhe away from his touch, but it’s followed by a flood of pleasure so strong it almost makes you dizzy. The fleeting kiss Iwa bestows on the supple flesh a moment later could almost be taken as an apology – if not from the satisfied smirk curling at his lips. He has no desire to be gentle with you, not today or any other day. That’s not who he is. 

Large hands ease down your side, reaching for the hem of your skirt. Iwa doesn’t bother trying to pull it off of you, merely flips it up, exposing your soft thighs and the delicate panties lying underneath. 

In an attempt to be helpful, you lift your hips to allow him to drag the lacy scrap of fabric down your legs and discard it, but Iwaizumi seems perfectly content with leaving them where they are. Even so, it takes you by surprise when his mouth descends on your cunt, the wet, pink muscle laving along the seat of your panties. You shiver in response, one hand instinctively reaching out to tangle in those spiky brunette locks, but if you’re about to tell him to stop teasing, the words are robbed from you when Iwa pushes the fabric aside and buries his face in the heat of your pussy.

His nose nudges at your clit and you jerk at the first lap at your folds, already shamefully wet for him. There’s no rhythm or rhyme to the way he eats you out, letting a long, thick finger slide into your cunt while he suckles and licks at your clit, but you can’t deny that it’s working. Your thighs tremble and quake beneath his hands, every second of his attention dragging you closer to unravelling entirely. And you’re awash with pleas, little whimpers and moans as he chuckles, the low vibrations making your fingers tighten in his hair as another burst of pleasure flutters through you. Your hips rise and fall against his face, desperate for more when he finally slides his tongue inside of your heat, eager to taste your cunt properly. You want more, you’re desperate and aching for it; but Iwaizumi’s grip tighten bruisingly against your thigh in warning. 

You’re at his mercy, and he’s in absolutely no hurry.

The first time you cum, it takes you by surprise. It feels like an endless build-up, Iwa’s tongue lapping at your pussy like it’s heaven sent, his mouth working diligently to drive you insane. Every touch feels unbearably good, from the long, slow strokes to the way he drags the tip of his tongue along your clit. Your toes are curling, your tits heaving with the desperate breaths you choke down, and all of a sudden his mouth latches onto your clitoris and he sucks hard at the swollen nub. You almost black out right there and then, stars bursting behind closed lids as pleasure wreaks havoc over your body. But as good as that feels, it’s not until you open your eyes and catch sight of the hunger blazing in Iwaizumi’s eyes that you tip over the edge, cumming into his waiting mouth with an earth shattering moan. 

At some point he must have let you go to rid himself of his own clothes, and your panties, but you’re boneless, basking in the afterglow as he shifts you once more, lifting one of your thighs up to hook your leg over his shoulder as he settles back onto the couch.

You just watch through hazy eyes as Iwaizumi gives his thick cock, already hard and flushed an angry red, a few cursory pumps. And his eyes are fixed on yours as he leans down, guiding the tip to your sopping cunt. 

“Fuck, you have no idea how long I’ve been dreaming of this, princess,” he grunts out. 

Warning bells sound in your head once more, your gut clenching uneasily, but any protests you might have voiced fall by the wayside as he slowly presses into you. It’s the girth, more than anything else, that takes you by surprise. It hurts, stretching out your poor, oversensitive cunt as his cock fills you up, inch by agonising inch. 

Iwa hisses from between clenched teeth and your eyes squeeze shut, trying to breathe through the pain. It won’t last long, you know that, and until it does you just have to grin and bear it.

You can feel it twitching inside of you, every ridge and vein, the way your slick walls hug his cock. His thumb strokes along your hip, soothing you as your face screws up and another whimper slips out. You think you hear him say something, praise maybe, or encouragement, but all you can focus on is the way his cock throbs inside your pussy when he finally bottoms out and stills.

And for a moment, he doesn’t move. A small kindness, letting you become adjusted to his size before he fucks you the way he’s dying to. 

“Look at me,” he says, and while his tone isn’t as sharp this time, it’s no less of an order.

Your eyes flutter open as Iwaizumi turns his head just a fraction without breaking eye contact, pressing a soft kiss against your calf. His eyes are glazed with feverish lust, pupils blown wide, almost swallowing up that thin ring of olive green entirely, and you wonder whether you should feel afraid right now.

You don’t have the words to describe it, the distant unease that seeps through you as you stare into the eyes of a man who’s clearly not in control anymore. If you screamed right now, tried to fight back or stop him, would it make a difference? 

Do you actually want to?

“You’re mine,” he growls out, drawing his hips back and slamming them forward ruthlessly as you choke on a scream. 

He’s relentless, hissing out curses as he fucks you like a rag doll, filling your wet, tight little cunt again and again and again. It’s all you can do to fist at the edge of the cushion, one hand wrapping around his back, your nails raking down his skin, drawing blood in their wake.

And Iwa doesn’t care, tossing his head back as he pounds his cock into your needy cunt, his balls slapping against your ass with every thrust. “Iwa,” you plead between gasping breaths, clinging to his broad frame. You don’t even know what you’re begging for, not as he grabs you by the hips and lifts you up, hauling you closer so he can fuck you deeper. And you can feel his cockhead rutting against your cervix with every vicious thrust, the painful stretch of your cunt as you’re forced to take his fat cock. It hurts, it does, but holy fuck you can’t focus on that when his fingers slip between your legs and he starts to rub at your puffy, oversensitive clit.

You’re whining, mewling, hips shifting as you rock against him, desperate for more friction. “Please, Iwa,” you moan.

The sound of it, the lewd slaps of skin against skin, the wet squelching as he drives his cock home again with an unforgiving pace would be enough to make you burn with embarrassment, but you don’t care because you’re quickly losing yourself to mindless pleasure. Every stroke fills you completely, it’s hot and thick and the drag of his cock against your plush walls, the way it kisses that sweet perfect spot with every thrust is driving you to insanity.

“Fuck!” you cry, clenching tightly around his length as you hurtle over the edge for a second time. You’re gushing, convulsing, back arched up off the couch, lips parted and–

Iwaizumi stops with a growl and you barely have time to process it before he’s flipping you onto your front, yanking your ass up into the air and hammering his cock back into your swollen, abused little pussy. It’s a bruising pace he sets as he chases after his own end, your name falling from his lips in harsh, breathless grunts. 

It doesn’t take long for his thrusts to become sloppy, your cunt sucking him in and pulsing around his cock. And you don’t have the mental capacity to beg him to pull out, not as his muscular chest collapses against your back, his arms wrapping around your waist and he pumps you full of his seed.

Neither one of you move straight away, both fighting to catch your breath and calm down in the afterglow of your orgasms. Your eyes flutter shut as he presses soft, sweet kisses to the back of your neck, your shoulders, anywhere he can reach. It’s an intimacy that doesn’t belong here, but you find yourself arching into it, a small, tired smile curling at your lips as Iwaizumi lavishes you with affection. 

And you can only whine softly when he finally pulls his cock out and stands, lifting your boneless form up into his arms, chuckling quietly when you bury your head into his chest. Your head’s empty, your thoughts a jumbled mess as he carries you into his bedroom, depositing you carefully onto the bed. 

Iwaizumi leaves you there like that, and when he returns a few minutes later he’s dressed again. He doesn’t smile, but there’s something oddly content about his expression as he stops by the doorway and takes in the sight of you; naked and thoroughly fucked out, curled up amongst his covers. 

“Iwa?” you ask sleepily, stretching your aching body to make yourself more comfortable as you nestle further into the soft mattress.

He doesn’t answer you as he strides in, but you watch through half lidded eyes as his expression hardens. Stopping by the bedside, Iwaizumi reaches for you. You think he’s going to cup your cheek again, maybe run his fingers through your hair, but instead his hand slides between your thighs, gathering up some of the cum that’s seeped from your pussy with his fingers and slowly pushing it back inside of you, humming when you whine and shift under him.

“I’m leaving for a bit,” he tells you, your gut clenching as you remember why you’re in this position in the first place. “You don’t leave this apartment until I get back. You don’t answer the door, you don’t tell anyone you’re here, you don’t leave this bed unless you have a goddamn good reason. Understand?”

Weakly, you nod.

“Such a good girl for me,” he breathes, and this time when he leans over he does kiss you, sweeping your hair back from your face before his warm lips meet your cheek. He lingers there for a beat longer than necessary before pulling away with a sigh.

And as the door swings shut, the sound of the lock clicking into place behind him, you begin to question whether you’ve made a mistake. You don’t doubt for a second that Iwa will follow through with his promise. Whether it’s tonight or tomorrow or a week from now, he’ll find Kazuma; him and his friends, and they’ll make sure he stays away. And until they do, you won’t leave this apartment.

There’s a sinking feeling in your stomach that despite your pleas, Iwaizumi’ll kill him. 

Not because that’s the only way for this to end, though you realise that that’s always been a possibility, but because of what you glimpsed in his eyes today. Stupidly, you’d thought you had Iwa pegged. But there’s something that lurks beneath that facade, something more dangerous than you could’ve possibly imagined and the moment you opened the door to Iwaizumi it sunk its teeth into you and now you’re not sure if it’ll ever let you go.

And as you lie back in Iwaizumi’s bed, covered in the marks he left behind you wonder whether you’ve merely traded one monster for another. Perhaps it was inevitable. Inexorable.