#but they were so overbearing and stifling

[nereidprinc3ss]

andromeda | (dybmn? bonus)

a bonus vignette from spencer's POV. we find out how he really feels about reader. takes place the day before the argument at the bar.

note: this is not part six! takes place between parts four and five.

series masterlist

18+ warnings/tags: fem!reader, semi-graphic descriptions of sexual fantasies, some angst, you're not actually present, mention of alcohol, very vague discussions of murdery stuff bc he's supposed to be working, sassy spencer makes an appearance a/n: for all my angels who said they wanted a snippet of spencer's POV! i'm sorry if i'm overdoing it with this story or clogging the spencer tags, i'm just having a lot of fun! i hope you enjoy or that this may be clears some things up for you, pls lmk your thoughts:) ily!!!

Spencer is incessantly drumming the particle board table underneath his fingers.

The polymer veneer is one of his least favorite textures—he hates the grain of it and if he were to accidentally scratch the table with his nails he knows it would make the hair on the back of his neck stand up. 

But of all the things he’s worried about, that ranks very low on the list. 

He’s got a lot of mental tabs open all the time—and the tabs, he can deal with. It’s when he starts trying to operate with multiple windows that he begins to struggle. His brain, while it is a very fine tuned sort of computer, only has one monitor. Unfortunately, no human (except for the ones who’ve had their brain hemispheres surgically split) is immune to the inevitable pitfalls of multitasking. By dividing his mental energy between you and his job, he’s really fucking up his job. But he also thinks he really fucked up with you on that phone call the other night and for being as logical as he is he can’t seem to make that feel unimportant—even though he’s disgusted with himself for it because there are literally people dying. 

Someone knocks on the open conference room door—he looks up, skimming his lips over his fist. 

“What’s up?” he says too quickly upon seeing Emily’s mildly concerned face peering in on him. 

Her mouth bridges into a sort of nonchalant frown and her brows kick up. 

“Just… checking in. Haven’t heard from you all morning.”

“Yeah, the, uh—the geo-profile. I’m still… I’m still working it out.”

It’s not like he’s ever been phenomenal with his syntax in a social sense, but Spencer is certainly aware he’s doing even worse than usual right now. 

“Okay. Uh… is there anything in particular stumping you, or…?”

“Nope. Just not enough information. But I’m—I’m going to keep trying.”

“Alright. Got your phone handy?”

It’s an odd question—of course he has his phone handy. He’s been doing this job longer than Emily has. How else would he communicate with the rest of the team? He bristles. 

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I?”

Emily shakes her head. She’s always been particularly good at reading his moods.

“You’re not under attack, Reid. I was just asking.”

Just as he’s about to say, why would you assume I’m not prepared for my job, he manages to swerve away and stifle the words with his fist. Instead he looks back down at his copy of the map and nods. In reality, he truly isn’t prepared for his job today. The reason he has his phone so close, fully charged and at top volume is because he’s worried he’ll miss a call from you. 

Emily says something else, and he hums in response, and then she’s gone. 

He shouldn’t be reading into your reticence this much. It’s not like you just sit by the phone all day, eagerly awaiting a call or text from him (like he does you). You have a life. You’re busy. And even if you are intentionally dodging his texts, he can’t entirely fault you for it. Spencer knows he’s clingy. He knows he’s overbearing. It’s part of why he panicked the other night and told you the whole humiliating story about Elle. Because he can’t ever just be cool and he felt the need to explain himself. 

But the problem was, and is, that he doesn’t know how much longer he can go without saying those three words that fucked him over all those years ago.

So he’d danced around them. Applied them to someone else to try and avoid outright professing his all-consuming love for you over the phone. However you feel, Spencer has to assume he feels more. Spencer always has to assume he feels more because he usually does and it’s gotten him into trouble before. And now he’s pretty sure he was exactly right, as often is the case, because you didn’t tell him he was mistaken and you’d clammed up and you haven’t talked to him since and he’s not supposed to be reading into it this much. 

Three victims killed and dumped within a 6 mile radius of the first victim plus one victim killed and dumped 23.8 miles away. That doesn’t make any fucking sense. Fuck this guy. 

Spencer decides the problem is that he needs more caffeine. 

Or possibly, if he were a different kind of man—copious amounts of alcohol. 

So he stows his phone in a pocket and asks the first person he sees where the coffee machine is. 

“Looks like you found it earlier,” the woman says, glancing pointedly down at his mostly empty mug. A playful smirk tugs at pinkish-brownish lips. She’s pretty, he realizes distantly. But he registers it the same way he’d take note of the model of a car, or the species of a bird, or the kind of shoes someone is wearing. It doesn’t actually interest him. It’s just part of processing his environment. “I can show you to it?”

He doesn’t have the heart or energy to explain that someone else brought him his cup earlier and he’s not flirting with her. 

“If you could just point me in the right direction…?”

She laughs, short and dry, before she’s pointing down a hall. 

“Kitchenette down there and to the left.”

“Thanks,” he mutters, already walking away without sparing her a second glance. 

She’s the kind of woman he would have paid a lot more attention to before you came along. Not that he’d ever sleep with someone on the job (not since he was 25, anyway), but if he’d met her under any other circumstances he probably would have cared more about the way her pupils dilated and her eyes had widened slightly and she’d adjusted her posture and all the other small things people do when they’re attracted to someone else. 30 year old Spencer might have slept with her. 27 year old Spencer definitely would have slept with her. Current Spencer obsessively pines for a woman who is already his girlfriend and whom he has yet to sleep with at all far too much to think about other women like that. 

But god, does he think about you like that. 

His feet carry him down the dim, carpeted hallway but really it took barely a nudge and he’s thinking about you like that. At work. As he’s pouring himself coffee. 

Spencer is confident in the fact that if anyone were to look at him right now, they’d never guess he’s running clips of you in his mind like a dirty supercut. Because he’s just pouring coffee. That’s one good thing about having all those tabs open all the time. He can toggle between them quickly. He has enough going on in the background that people look at him and all they can tell is that he’s thinking hard about lots of things. Some of them just happen to be the way you look when you’re naked on his bed, skin shining and glazed eyes sleepy, parted lips higher in color than usual and catching your breath. Some of them happen to be your hair brushing his stomach before he gathers it back for you. Some of them happen to be the way your thighs feel on either side of his face, or how you stretch around his fingers, or how you might feel when you stretch around his—

He hisses as hot coffee overflows from the mug and burns his hand. 

Maybe he’s not as calm and collected as he thought. 

But on top of all the other things he’s dealing with, having been so close to actually sleeping with you the other night is really fucking with his head. Even if he tells himself he wouldn't have done it, he knows himself better than that. He's too familiar with the effect you have on his judgement.

“Found it okay?” 

Spencer looks down, surprised to see the woman from earlier sitting at her desk and watching him as he quickly passes by on his way back to the conference room. Her legs are crossed. She’s wearing a pencil skirt and a flouncy sort of blouse which seems impractical for working in an FBI field office. Maybe she notices his eye catching on her figure and misguidedly swivels her chair to give him a better look. But all he’s noticing is that it doesn’t look like yours. Now he’s picturing the curve of your hip dripping in silk after that first night at Rossi’s. How your waist and your stomach feel when he slides his hands over you. This woman—she might as well not even be here for all he’s actually seeing her. 

“Yeah. Thanks again.”

Then he’s gone. Very briefly he acknowledges that he should feel sorry for so obviously brushing her off, but he doesn’t care even close to enough. He sets the coffee down on the table and rounds to the board where one of several maps is taped. On autopilot he draws lines between dump sites because one of the background tabs had deduced, while he was busy watching you like porn, that the distance between dump sites form the beginnings of the constellation Orion with some mathematical precision that’s too exacting to be coincidental. Orion’s Belt plus the most recent victim. Betelgeuse. 

There are ten formally named stars that make up Orion. He marks all of them, but circles the transposed coordinates of Bellatrix, Saiph, Rigel and Meissa as the next most likely dump sites. Most probably it will be Orion’s head. They’re all in wooded areas. He calls Garcia. Garcia will call Emily, wherever she is. If the unsub sticks to pattern, which they always do, they have until midnight. It’s trite, really. Predictable, like people always are. Far too quickly he drinks half the cup of scalding coffee and retraces his steps through the office to find the bathroom. 

It’s empty. The fluorescent lights hum. Spencer washes his hands with cold water and presses still wet fingers to his eyes. You’re waiting for him behind the black of his lids.

At first you would whine, and he would kiss you and you’d moan into his mouth and say his name when he opened you up as far as you would go. The air would be thick and warm with sex and vanilla perfume. Afterwards he’d take care of you and buy new sheets for his bed in your favorite color even if they didn’t match the walls and there would be nothing you’d want for that he couldn’t give to you ever again. 

But. 

That’s all contingent. 

No matter how often he fantasizes about it, no matter in how much detail, and regardless of how often those details change wildly, one thing always stays the same. 

The shape of your lips, swollen from kissing, bending around five or six vowels and only two consonants (it seems odd that there are only two consonants in I love you), sometimes before you start, sometimes in the middle or right at the peak—but always there, always moving in slow motion—and always silent.

In real life, they’d be aloud. It’s why his fantasies aren’t good enough. It’s why he can’t stop fantasizing about it. That’s the only part that really matters to him. The rest varies. 

Not because having sex with you doesn’t matter—it matters so much he almost shatters his molars whenever he starts picturing it around other people. But because Spencer can’t have sex with you until you love him. 

And he worries that you can’t love him until you have sex with him. 

The last time he thought that about a person, it didn’t turn out well.

Maybe there is some magic number. Some amount of times you need to have sex with someone before they’ll love you back. 

If there is, he knows for a fact it’s more than 32.

And he also knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he cannot have loveless sex with you thirty three times while he waits to find out. 

Not again. 

But he's going to hold out as long as he possibly can until you say it because he so badly wants you to love him back. He'll let the weight of every ignored text, every reminder that you don't feel that way about him, hang from his shoulders until he collapses. And then he'll probably try to get back up.

Recycled paper towels scratch against his skin. He dries his face and hands and throws them crumpled into the trash can. 

Outside the restroom, he pulls out his phone. For safety reasons and paranoia disguised as professionalism, you’re not his lock screen. It’s a photo of the Andromeda Galaxy. Whatever distance lies between you and Spencer, it could always be greater. No matter where you are in the world, you will always be the same 2.537 million light years away from Andromeda that he is. 

It makes Orion feel much closer. You, too. 

He sends you a text—the third message in a row. 

The distance between blue bubbles feels like light years. 

I’ll be home tomorrow. I miss you. 

[redfoxwritesstuff]

CW: Smut, blood, knots, ruts Rating: Adult Summary: Alastor and his Doe have weathered the passing of the seasons, though he has failed to define their relationship and she's been too afraid to ask. Now, Alastor's Rut is upon him and it's time for her to return the favor. Follow up to Antler Play

“Alastor?” you called out as you stepped into your shared bedroom, fluffy doe tail flicking in worry.

Alastor had failed to join you for pastries over coffee. It was terribly unlike him and you feared you had done something to upset him. The relationship between you two was something strange. You shared a room, slept in his presence and yet you still were not totally sure what you were to the buck. 

He had been acting strange the last few weeks, scenting you when none were around. The musk of him clung to you, as if you needed any additional way for him to show his claim over you. 

Yet, you didn’t know what that claim was or what it meant for your heart. 

The door slammed shut behind you. Fear jumped through your system, forcing a squeak from your throat as you turned, looking at the door shrouded in shadows. They were too dark, too deep for the amount of dim light that was in the room. 

He was in here, somewhere. You knew that. You could smell him. The crackle of his power danced over your skin. 

“Cher,” his voice came from the radio sitting on the fireplace mantle, the speakers lighting up the way his smile did when he was more radio demon than deer as he spoke. “Remember how I helped you?”

“Alastor?” You turned, heart pounding in your chest as you looked for him. 

“I’m here,” his voice came directly over your shoulder as his arm wound around your waist, lifting you from your feet. 

His presence was overbearing as he carried you toward the bed, only to set your feet down on the carpet. Facing him, you couldn’t stifle the gasp. 

The antlers atop his head were heavy, wide and branched. Dark shadows clung to them, dripping from the tines. Bitter musk was thick in the air, making your mouth water even outside of your season. 

You were a sexual being, in life and in death. While you learned your seasons made you made with desire, you were not immune to it outside of that time like Alastor seemed to be. 

Trembling legs took you a few steps back from the advancing buck, eyes black as coal swallowed bright red radio dials that looked back at you. 

It all made sense. The last few months, Alastor had been more affectionate. He scented you more. He hovered more. He watched over you more. You thought something had changed between you. Perhaps he loved you, but.. he had entered his season.

His libido was awakening as his body prepared itself for his rut. He was a buck, but the way he looked at you made it feel very much like he was a wolf, ready to devour you. 

“Do you remember how I helped you last year?” Static was loud in your ears, but at least this time the words came from the man you had fallen in love with.

“Yes,” you whispered, heart pounding so heard in your chest that you were sure he could hear it. 

“Will you return the favor?” Alastor’s bright red eyes ran slowly down your body, taking in each curve as he did so in a way he never had before.

“y-yes,” excitement ran through you, shooting down your spine as the large buck reached out for you. 

“My doe,” his voice rumbled through the static, coming from all around you as he wrapped his arms around you.

Your feet dangled for a moment before you threw them around his waist. As he walked as if nothing out of the ordinary at all, shadows and tentacles ripped at your clothes. Stitching on the seams gave way. The fabric ripped- clothes fell from you in tatters.

Your body reacted instantly to the feel of him, to the feel of the static running over bare skin. The rich smell of forest and buck was all you could smell. Fire ignited in you, growing hotter with each deep lungful of him you pulled in. 

Everything was happening so fast. As Alastor laid you on the bed, you realized he was naked. Never had you seen him bare and yet his clothes melted into the shadows without you even noticing. The bulbus head of his cock pressed into your waiting opening as he climbed over you, pushing your legs up and apart. 

“You’re already ready for me,” Alastor said, though his voice came from all around as he thrust forward, length parting your walls in one smoothe stroke. 

He throbbed inside you as his hips met yours. Or perhaps it was your wet cunt that was throbbing? You were not sure anymore as you arched into him. Gruff groans reverberated through his chest as he pulled from you, only to slam back into your wet cunt. 

“Fuck,” you moan as his cock nudges your cervix, hot thick length spreading your core easily. 

Each thrust came hot on the heels of another. Alastor set a brutal, violent pace as he reached down, grabbing your legs in his large hands. He pulled your thighs up, higher and higher, as he thrust into you. As your knees sank, so close to framing your breasts, Alastor groaned again. 

Red radio dial eyes never left you as he thrust, hard and powerful, into your tight cunt, spread so open for him. Tentacles grabbed your legs, freeing his hands to hold your waist, pulling your core down to meet his hips in each painful blow. 

It hurt to be taken by the Radio Demon but the pain felt so good, you couldn’t help the moans, prayers made up only of his name dropping from your lips. He shifted back, pulling your body down the bed a few inches just as the top of your head grazed the headboard. 

He had fucked you up the bed. Reaching up, you braced yourself against the headboard. Alastor’s long arms made it easy for him to reach up, doing the same. The wood cracked as he used it for leverage, allowing him to thrust into you harder still. 

“Fuck,” you moaned, fingers tangling in the bedsheets as he fucked into you again and again. 

His grip on you was painful as he shifted, angling your hips and forcing your back into an arch. The blunt head of his cock pressed against your stomach, pushing out slightly with each thrust. 

Desperate for anything, you dug your nails into his arms. You clung to where his skin shifted from the black stains of blood spilled that he could never wash away to the soft tan of his skin and the light covering of fur over it. 

Sharp claws dug into your thighs. His hips slammed into yours, harder and harder, making you burn inside. You could feel every delicious impact, pulling breathless moans from your lips.

The pebbled buds of your nipples ran against the soft fur of his chest as he fucked into you, trying to reach as deeply as possible with each and very thrust. 

“I’m going to fuck you so good you’ll feel my cock in your pretty little cunt forever Dear” Alastor growled out, voice coming from the radio speakers as well as the man over you, “and after we’re done, I’m going to fuck you again, and again, until you can’t take anymore, just to make sure you’re so full of my cum, nothing else will fit”

“Alastor,” you whined, voice airy as you struggled against the force of his cock pounding through your insides, driving you closer and closer to your orgasm. Heat built inside you, being pulled forth by the pheromones wafting off of him. 

“You’re going to feel my cum inside you as you sit for breakfast around all of those pathetic sinners. You’re going to smell of me. Everyone’s going to know you are mine.” Alastor snarled through his promises, claws sinking so deep into your thighs that you could feel the trickle of blood running up your legs. 

“When I’m done with you,” his voice flipped, coming from him and the speaker, changing nearly every other syllable. “you’re going to suck me clean before I fuck you again”

His hands tangled in your hair, pulling your head back as he continued to fuck into you. He couldn’t decide if he wanted our neck under his teeth or if he wanted your eyes on him as he forced you to cum on his cock. Did he want to taste you or see you as he marked you his?

“What?” You gasped out, losing track of where you ended and Alastor began. 

“All you’ll be able to do is think of the way my cock fills you,” he promised, dark words pushing you closer to the edge. “The taste of my seed on your tongue. The sound of my voice in your ears. The feeling of my teeth in your neck. My hands on your skin. My claws gripping your hips.” 

“Please, Alastor,” you begged for him, not knowing how to ask for what you needed. Never had you imagined him saying such things to you. 

“Thoughts of me will devour your mind,” he swore and you were so sure he was right, “until you return to me, begging me to take you again.” 

“Oh, fuck!” you cried out as his tongue ran over your neck. 

“You will dream of me. When you touch your pretty little cunt, you’ll wish it was my hands. You’ll wish it was my cock. I will ruin you.” 

You drug his face to yours, needing his kiss. It was the first kiss shared between you. What sweetness there was in it quickly dissolved into the fiery passion of mating. Sucking on his tongue desperately, you moaned and whined, needing him in all your holes. 

You wanted nothing more than his full possession as you submit, your body pliant just for him as he continued his lust filled rambles, “You’re going to cum so much for me aren’t you pet, gonna drag my cum deep inside you while your little cunt begs for my seed”

Leaning forward, his lips found your neck. Folding over you, each thrust had more power yet. You wrapped your arms around him. The strong muscles of his lean back flexed and bunched under your touch. Your orgasm washed over you with sudden, drowning waves of pleasure. Accompanying your sudden orgasm was the grunting bleats coming from your lover. 

His cock swelled inside you, pushing deeper and deeper with each thrust. The tip nestled against your cervix. Tears ran down your face as your opening was pushed wider with each thrust into you. 

Teeth sank into your neck, grounding him in the coppery taste of your blood and you in the searing pain ripping through your body. It distracted you from the pain in your opening as his cock swelled; the base growing larger and larger as he rutted it inside you. 

“Mine,” he growled as his body stilled, cock locked inside you as he shot rope after rope of hot cum into your fluttering cunt, painting your cervix with it. “Mine,” he rutted against you, hips rocking as he tried to push his cock deeper.

He stilled, lips placing soft kisses on bloodstained skin. Tall ears were pulled back, displaying the heavy antlers that clattered against the wall on occasion. Soft bleats filled your ears as your cunt continued to strain around his cock. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered into your skin, “I seem to be stuck.” 

“W-what?” you gasped as he tried to pull his cock from you and failed, his base far too swollen to slip out of your hole. 

Soft caresses smoothed your naked skin as he waited, peppering kisses along the bloodstained skin. He wrapped you up in his arms, dragging you to his chest as he rolled onto his side. 

“Mine,” he rumbled, rubbing the side of his head against the top of your head, ensuring he pushed more of the musky scent of him onto you.

“What does that mean?” you whispered, unsure if Alastor was in any condition to answer you truthfully. 

“My doe,” he said, running his hand down your back as his still hard cock, trapped inside of you with the large bulbous knot twitched inside you. “No other bucks will touch you.” 

“While we’re in season?” you braved asking, hoping that his rut was enough like your season to allow for a moment of clarity post orgasm. 

“Forever,” Alastor said, again scenting you. He ran his hooves up and down your shin, spreading the toes and smearing more of his scent onto you. 

“Mine,” Alastor said as he held you close.

“Mine.” 

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[sgt-tombstone]

When Johnny asked Simon to come home with him on leave, he had never expected… this.

Johnny’s flat in Glasgow was a tiny thing, barely large enough to fit one, much less two massive soldiers. They made it work well enough, as long as neither of them minded being constantly wrapped up in each other, always within reach, and neither of them did. Their last mission had gone to hell in a heartbeat, and the 141 were lucky to be alive; Price had sent them all home on mandated medical leave, and Simon and Johnny were taking full advantage of the time off base to reacquaint themselves with each other being present and tangible and alive.

That didn’t change the fact, though, that his flat was only slightly larger than a postage stamp, which was fine for a few days, but he had sensed Simon getting antsy, feeling caged in, and had suggested visiting his parents for a couple of days, if only to get out of the house. It wouldn’t be any less oppressive—the MacTavish family was massive and overbearing on the best of days—but it would offer some reprieve from the near-constant contact and the stifling city.

Which was how Johnny found himself staring down at his lieutenant, his partner, curled up on his back on his parents’ couch, fast asleep, a green dinosaur stuffed animal clutched against his chest.

It didn’t look particularly comfortable; Simon was too tall, his legs too long, to be able to stretch out completely, so his knees were hiked up, his socked feet flat against the cushioned armrest. His neck was at an odd angle, resulting in his chin nearly touching his own shoulder, his unmasked cheek squished slightly where it was pressed against the leather. And the stuffed animal…

Johnny had bought it as a gift for one of his nephews, a toddling bairn who had struggled with nightmares, and the shopkeep who sold it to him had assured him that the little beads in the dinosaur’s tummy would provide enough weight to be a comfort without being dangerous. Evidently, his nephew had taken one look at Simon Riley and decided that the scarred soldier needed it more than he did.

Both of Simon’s arms were wrapped around the soft toy, squishing it against his chest, rising and falling with every slow, deep breath. He looked at peace in a way that Johnny hadn’t seen him look in a long time. They had spent the day surrounded by fussing family members and babbling children, their attentions split between warm homemade meals and whatever trinkets had caught the toddlers’ interest. Johnny would’ve felt bad; he was long used to his family’s antics, had grown up surrounded by siblings and cousins and extended relatives. But Simon had taken to it like a duck to water, effortlessly shifting focus from one person to another, treating each with equal sincerity and devotion, the same way he did in the field. It had been a delight to watch, especially when his mam and sisters had taken advantage of Simon’s distraction to shoot Johnny knowing glances.

“Gonna stand there all night, sergeant?”

Johnny startled, not enough to move, but enough to send his heart rate skyrocketing. He recovered quickly though, too well trained to do anything else. Simon hadn’t moved, hadn’t even opened his eyes, and it would’ve unnerved him if he hadn’t spent the last two years cementing himself as a permanent fixture in Simon’s life and, therefore, becoming incredibly used to his partner’s uncanny sense of perception. Even, apparently, while asleep.

“Just wonderin’ if Gaz’d ever believe me if I told him, sir.”

“Take a picture,” Simon grumbled, his voice deep with sleep. “It’ll last longer.”

Johnny snorted a quiet laugh, already imagining the look on his fellow sergeant’s face. He didn’t pull his phone out, though, just like Simon knew he wouldn’t. These moments were for the two of them alone, raw and bare and soft.

“Let’s go to bed, love,” he whispered, reaching out to run his hand through Simon’s hair. It was tangled from the grasping of tiny, fisted fingers throughout the day (Johnny’s nephews had never seen blond hair before and, as such, had been absolutely enraptured by Simon’s head of golden hair), and he didn’t mention the way Simon pushed into his hand, seeking touch and warmth like a cat. He also didn’t mention the way Simon continued to hug the stuffed animal to his chest as he unfurled his long legs, stretching slightly, his knees popping, before drawing himself up to his usual towering height. His eyes were half-lidded with sleep, soft in a way he rarely allowed himself to be, the green dinosaur tucked safely in his arms as he followed Johnny upstairs.

In a week, they will be back on base, back to their tactical gear and their sidearms and their razor-sharp focus. They will be shipped out to some foreign soil, either sweltering heat or numbing cold, either dry deserts or soaking rainforests, and blood will be spilled, probably their own, definitely their enemy’s. They will once again be hardened soldiers, products of war, and there will be no room for such softness. Which was why Johnny reveled in the way Simon curled around him now, in a bed two sizes too small for two muscular men, a warm blanket blocking out the worst of the Scottish chill, a green weighted dinosaur stuffed animal clutched in two massive arms against an equally massive chest.

He tucked his nose against the nape of his partner’s neck, one arm thrown over Simon’s hip, and drifted off to the quiet sound of breathing, of comfort, of peace.

[blackbleedingrose]

Long Lost Morningstar - Part One

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Pairing(s): Lucifer x daughter! reader x Lilith

Genre: Fluff/Angst

Warnings: Forced child abandonment

Notes: This is my first Hazbin mini fic. This will be a mini series, so there will be a part two but it may take a little while as I tend to get busy with work and school - so please, bare with me.

Words: 880

"No! No! Please!"

It's no surprise Lucifer and Lilith fooled around a bit during their days in the Garden of Eden.

What was surprising was the moment Lilith discovered she was pregnant.

Despite the shock and slight fear of being new parents, Lucifer and Lilith were overjoyed at the news.

When they found out the baby was going to be a girl, the two cried in pure happiness.

Lucifer became adamant, and a little overbearing, about doing everything for Lilith not wanting her to overwork herself or the baby. This did annoy Lilith (being the independent woman she was), but she knew he just wanted to make sure she and the baby were safe.

When Lilith went into labor, Lucifer went into full panic mode (imagine that one scene from The Office)

Lucifer: *freaking out* "OMG! IT'S HAPPENING! DON'T PANIC, HONEY!

Lilith: *calmly packing the hospital bags*

Lucifer may have passed out during the delivery when his curiosity got the best of him and decided to see what was going on down there (I imagine seraphim's or angels born in Heaven aren't born the natural way and instead created through magic).

Lucifer woke up from the sounds of crying and when he came to he saw a tiny body being carried by one of the nurses.

After rejoining Lilith's side (and making sure she was okay while profusely apologizing for passing out) they waited for the nurses to clean up the baby.

The moment the two saw one of the nurses bring over a pink bundle, their hearts filled with unbridled love and joy.

She was so small and had tuffs of blonde hair. She had Lucifer's red cheek circle's and Lilith's eyes.

Lucifer's eyes welled up with tears as he lovingly gazed down at the tiny person in his lover's arms. "She's perfect, Lily".

Lilith agreed with happy tears as she laid a gentle kiss on their daughter's head.

The two named her (Y/N) - (Y/N) Morningstar.

(Y/N) was a lively baby who adopted her father's bubbly and curious personality, as well as his love for ducks.

Her first toy was a duck plushie Lucifer had made himself.

However, despite having everything they could want in the Garden, Heaven, and now their new baby - they wanted something more.

They wanted to share free will with humanity in hopes that Heaven would finally see Lucifer's ideas and change their suffocating rules so (Y/N) could live in a world that wouldn't stifle any of her future dreams.

This lead them to tempt Eve with the apple, causing the unfortunate chain of events that lead to Lucifer and Lilith's trial.

The two were found guilty of bringing evil into humanity and as punishment they would be sent down into Hell.

However, before they sent the family into eternal damnation Heaven decided (Y/N) was innocent as she was only a baby who knew not what her parents had done.

Being a child of a seraphim and one of humanities first human's, they saw potential in her for Heaven's future - so they decided (Y/N) would stay in Heaven while Lucifer and Lilith would go down to Hell.

"Take the child," Sera ordered one of the court angels. "No! No! Please!" Lucifer and Lilith begged with tears falling down their faces as they held (Y/N) closer to them. The court angels forced the wailing (Y/N) out of her crying parents arms.

That was the last time Lucifer and Lilith saw their daugther before being banished to Hell for all eternity.

To keep (Y/N) from discovering her true lineage, Heaven decided that Lucifer's twin brother, Michael, would claim to be her father and raise her as a role model seraphim - one that follows Heaven's rules.

As (Y/N) grew up it became increasingly obvious how much she took after her parents. She had Lucifer's curious and cheerful nature, and Lilith's eyes, long blonde hair, and grace - both her parents beauty present in her features. The perfect combination of the two.

She especially adopted Lucifer's six large wings, only they had a pink under surface and gold tips.

To bypass any questions of her mother, Michael told her that he had created her from stardust with both his and Lilith's likeness - only using Lilith as a reference for a female.

Michael made sure her curious nature didn't go as far as Lucifer's, keeping her busy with her education and where he can keep an eye on her.

To keep her in check he told her about Lucifer and Lilith, but that they were her uncle and aunt who had lost their way and fallen from grace.

When she entered into adulthood, Heaven decided it was time for her to bear more serious responsibilities.

That's how (Y/N) Morningstar Demiurgos became one of Heaven's trial record keepers/recorders (she sometimes sits in trials and writes what's being said for the records).

It was mainly because Michael wanted to her to have a busy office job and away from exploring and getting too curious (he hoped being in trials would satisfy her curiosity, but made sure to keep her from asking too many questions).

And for awhile everything was perfect and in Heaven's favor. . .

. . .Until a certain Princess of Hell came to Heaven with a dream.

[munson-blurbs]

hii 🫶🏻 i've had this idea of the reader and eddie being at a halloween party and her drink getting spiked (roofied or wtv) and like eddie comes to the rescue and takes care of her - enemies to slight lovers pls!! have a good day/night :))

Hi! I changed it a bit so that her drink was spiked with extra booze, but I kept it enemies-to-lovers!

Warnings: underage drinking (everyone is over 18 but under 21), reader's drink gets spiked, drunkenness, brief mention of Eddie dealing, Billy Hargrove needs his own warning tbh, enemies-to-lovers, idiots in love

WC: 2.5k

Thank you so much to @corroded-hellfire @lofaewrites and @manda-panda-monium for their help! Y'all made this fic much stronger, and I am indebted to you.

--

A brief, incomplete list of activities you enjoy: grabbing coffee with a few friends, walks down by Lover’s Lake powered by whatever cassette you’ve jammed into your WalkMan, reading a good book and curling up in the sunlight streaming through your bedroom window.

A brief, incomplete list of activities you despise: Steve Harrington’s house parties.

The bass from the stereo has the entire downstairs shaking, and you wince as you pass by it and make your way to Nancy. She’s the reason why you’ve started coming to these stupid things, and although Steve isn’t as big of a tool as you’d previously thought, it doesn’t make other people more tolerable.

“You having a good time?” Nancy asks now, bouncing along with the music. Her eyes are hazy with booze; her half-filled cup of the jungle juice concoction is clearly far from her first of the evening.

You shrug, hitching your bag close to your shoulder as a beast of a man in a letterman jacket pushes his way through the crowd. “Not really.”

“Cool, awesome!” Nancy chirps, senses compromised by the constant flow of alcohol and the blasting music. 

Steve has his arm around her waist, pressing chaste kisses to her neck. He looks up at you for just a second and frowns. “Where’s your drink?”

You jingle the car keys you’ve had clenched in your fist the whole night, ready to make a getaway as early as you can. “Designated driver. Unless you want José Cuervo behind the wheel tonight,” you raise your brows as you motion to your friend.

Steve shakes his head. “Nance is gonna stay here with me tonight,” he tells you, taking Nancy’s cup from her hand and placing it in yours. “She’s had enough, anyway. So, uh, go crazy.”

Go crazy. It’s tempting to dull the roar of the dozen or so conversations worming their way into your consciousness. And no doubt it’ll be easier to slap a fake smile on your face and even join one of them. But you still have to get home somehow, and the thought of asking either of your overbearing parents for a ride home from a party has your stomach in knots, especially considering you’d told them you were going to the library and sleeping at the Wheeler’s. 

Instead of going crazy, you toss the couple a frustrated eye roll, but they’re both too enmeshed in their puppy love for each other to catch it. Home. You just need to get home, snug in your own bed, away from–

“Hey, Goody Two-Shoes!” Billy Hargrove flings his muscular arm around your shoulder, pulling you into him despite your clear lack of interest. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s bad etiquette to bring down the party vibe?”

 “Get offa me,” you grumble, but his strength easily overpowers yours. 

“What you need,” he continues, stifling a beer-scented belch, “is to fuckin’ loosen up.” He punctuates his statement by placing one beefy hand on each of your shoulders, shaking you back and forth. He stumbles a bit in his drunken state, and you seize the opportunity to step away from him.

The entire encounter makes the drink in your hand even more tempting, and you throw it back without another thought. Your throat burns with the sting of alcohol, and you wince reflexively. Jeez, if this is what Nancy’s been drinking all night, no wonder she’s wasted, you think, grateful that you only had half of the cup.

Eddie Munson arrives when the party is in full swing, lunch box of illicit substances gripped tight in his hands. He hates spending time with these jockstraps outside of school, but parties are a great way to make some extra cash, and rich douchebags like King Steve practically throw the money at him, too drunk and lazy to actually count it out.

He sees you out of the corner of his eye, swaying to the music alongside Billy Hargrove. You’re leaning into him, with his hand around your waist pulling you into him. You laugh loudly, though it doesn’t appear that Billy’s said anything.

What a weird pair, Eddie muses, comparing your usual type-A, pain-in-the-ass, teacher’s pet personality with Billy’s thoughtlessness and indifference. He watches as Billy nonchalantly refills your drink and grabs your backside.

When Billy notices Eddie, he props you against the counter and murmurs something before staggering over to buy something. “What do you have tonight, Munson?”

“The usual,” Eddie replies casually, placing the tin box on the kitchen table and flipping it open. “So, uh, looks like Goody-Two Shoes is having a good time.”

Billy chuckles, twirling a toothpick across his lips. It’s a menacing laugh, and Eddie doesn’t care for the sound of it. “Yeah, she needed a little help, but I took care of it.”

He really doesn’t like that. “What do you mean?”

“Slipped a little extra in her drink when she wasn’t looking,” Billy whispers, flashing Eddie a now-empty mini bottle of tequila. “Shit was pretty strong to begin with, but she’s definitely feeling it now.”

“You spiked her drink?” Eddie’s mouth goes dry, and he snaps the lunch box shut. When Billy just laughs again, Eddie shoves him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Billy holds his hands up in defense. “Hey, man, you can’t blame a guy for doing what he has to do to get laid. Especially when it’s someone as uptight as her.”

Rage pounds in Eddie’s ears, and he barely hears anything after that. He marches towards you, fists clenched. You weren’t his favorite person, and he wasn’t yours–not after what happened in health last year–but he’d be damned if he let you get taken advantage of.

“Hey,” he says softly, tapping your shoulder to grab your attention. “Let me get you home.”

You sloppily shake your head, jungle juice sloshing over the side of the cup. “‘M fine.”

“No, you’re not.” He’s insistent, tone much harsher than his usual carelessness. “You’re absolutely plastered, and I’m taking you home.” He extends his hand, and you reluctantly take it, letting him lead you to his van. Your feet are bricks beneath you, and you giggle involuntarily as you trip over them.

“Munson, what the fuck?” Billy calls out, charging over. His own stride isn’t much more graceful than yours; the Keg Stand Champion having reclaimed his title earlier in the evening. “Get your own girl.” He reaches for your bicep to tug you away, but Eddie’s faster, which only makes the jock’s eyes stonier. “Fucking freak!” he calls out, quickly downing another plastic cup of beer.

Your eyelids begin to close, and slurred words leave your lips. “Whas’ goin’ on? Why’s Billy shhh-so mad?”

Eddie ignores your question, not wanting to slow down and risk Billy catching up to you. Once he’s safely got you in the passenger seat, he starts the ignition and glances at where you’re leaning against the window. “Where to?”

“Home.”

“Right, and, uh…where might that be?”

You shrug, body heavier with sleep by the second. “Dunno.”

“Like an address, or a general direction…anything?” Eddie drums his ringed fingers against the steering wheel. He sighs and throws the van in reverse when you shake your head. “All right, looks like you’re staying at mine.”

He keeps his eyes on the road, stealing a peek at you every minute or so. You’re sleeping, soft snores punctuating the otherwise silent ride. He winces as he goes over a bump and puts his arm out to prevent you from falling against the dashboard. 

Twenty minutes later—it would have been fifteen, but he drove slowly to prevent jostling you too much—he’s pulling up to his trailer. “Welcome to Casa Munson.” He opens his door with a dramatic grunt and shuffles around to your side. “C’mon, let’s get you inside.” If any of the neighbors see him, they’ll assume the worst, but it’s either that or have you sleep in the van. 

The last thing you remember is mumbling about needing a bed and Eddie leading you to his with an offhand comment about not knowing where the stains are from. When you wake the next morning, a jackhammer has replaced your brain and your throat is filled with bile. 

“Ugh, fuck,” you groan, pulling your sheet up over your eyes to shield them from the sun. Except this isn’t the baby pink set your mom bought you from Wal-Mart. These sheets are white and smell like cigarettes, weed, and drugstore cologne. The realization that this isn’t your room has you jolting up in bed despite your body’s protests. “What the hell?”

“Good morning to you, too,” a voice grumbles from below. You look down to see Eddie Munson laying on the floor, a towel rolled below his head in a makeshift pillow. A throw blanket covers from his shoulders to just above his ankles, leaving his sweat sock-clad feet exposed. “There’s some water and pretzels next to you, and I can grab Advil if you need.”

You nod, squeezing your eyelids together at the pain the slight head movement causes. “Yes, please.” He returns with the medicine, and you eagerly swallow it with a gulp of water. A quick assessment assures you that your clothes are still on, but you still have to ask, “did we…”

“Nope. No way. Not even a little.” He takes a seat next to you, offering the pretzel canister. Though your stomach is churning, you need something to absorb the medicine, so you take a handful and carefully munch on them. “But you had quite the offer last night.”

“Wha—?”

“Hargrove spiked your drink to get you in bed,” he explains. His mop of curls is disheveled from tossing and turning, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “And, uh, not to sleep.”

“Yeah, I gathered that,” you mutter. A fresh wave of nausea washes over you, and it’s not from the hangover. Your memories are muddled, but you can vaguely piece the night together: Nancy and Steve, the unfinished drink, Billy’s arm around you… “We left before he could do anything, right?”

Eddie nods, stealing the plastic water bottle from your grasp and taking a swig. He swishes it around his mouth before answering. “Got you outta there before he could even cop a feel.”

You grimace at his brazen response. “Well, um, thanks. You didn’t have to do that.” You start to stand up, fumbling for your keys in your bag when you remember. “Fuck, my car’s still at Steve’s.”

“I can take you,” Eddie offers, grabbing the jeans he’d haphazardly flung over his desk chair. 

“Nah, s’okay. I can walk.”

“Seriously?” He throws his hands in the air, utterly exasperated with you. “You’d rather walk three miles back to Harrington’s—hungover as shit…looking like that,” he gestures vaguely at your smeared makeup and bloodshot eyes, “than take a ride from me?”

You remain quiet, so he proceeds with his rant. 

“Y’know, when you ditched me last year, I figured you weren’t, like, into me or whatever. But, Christ, what did I do to make you hate my guts?”

Your brow furrows in confusion. “I ditched you?” The thunderous headache makes it difficult to wrack your brain for the memory, but you definitely would recall ditching Eddie Munson. “I never did that.”

“Last April,” he begins, tone clipped and direct, “the night we were supposed to finish our health project—”

“You ditched me.”

He shakes his head. “Uh, no. I invited you to see my band play and then we would finish the project after—which you agreed to—and then you never showed.”

“No, you told me, and I quote, ‘Corroded Coffin has a gig at The Hideout at 8, and we can put the poster together after we play.”

“Exactly!”

“Exactly what?” It hurts to roll your eyes, but you do it anyway just to emphasize the absurdity of the situation. “That wasn’t an invitation; that was just you telling me what time the show starts.”

“What time it starts,” he says slowly, as though explaining it to a child. “If I just wanted to meet up for the project, I would’ve told you what time it ends.” His eyes narrow. “Do you really think I spent all that time doing research with you just to flake when we got to do the creative part?”

The missing pieces shift into the puzzle. You’d been thrown off when Eddie had failed to show that night; you’d genuinely thought the two of you had forged some kind of friendship during your evenings at the Hawkins Library. But when midnight had rolled around, you’d given up altogether, gathered your notes, and made the poster alone. 

“I…I didn’t know…” you muse, mouth drier than it was before you’d drank water. “I thought you forgot, or didn’t care…” You press a tooth into your bottom lip and gnaw at the chapped skin. “Trust me, I never would’ve ditched the guy I—”

You’d tried to cut yourself off before Eddie catches what you’d inadvertently implied, but it’s too late. “The guy you…” he gently goads. When you don’t answer, he sits on the bed next to you and knocks his knee against yours. “Would it help if I told you that you’re the girl I…” He tilts his head and peers at you through his deep brown eyes.

“Me?!” There’s no way he’s serious; you brace yourself for the ‘gotcha’ or some other punchline he’ll inevitably toss your way.

To your surprise, there is none. “What can I say?” he shrugs. “I’m a total sucker for a goody-two shoes.” He stands up again, crossing his arms over his chest and pacing back and forth in the tiny room. “So, since I’m the guy that you…and you’re the girl that I…can I interest you in some of the finest hangover food this town has to offer?”

“Can I brush my teeth first?” You grimace at the tang of last night’s tequila that sticks to your molars. “Unless you also happen to be into girls with wicked morning breath.”

He chuckles, a true and hearty laugh, and it’s one of the most beautiful sounds you’ve ever heard. “Spare toothbrush is in the top drawer,” he says, pointing towards the bathroom. 

Once minty freshness has replaced stale booze, you wash the remnants of your makeup off of your face. You look a bit better; tired and hungover, but better.

Eddie’s dressed in ripped jeans and a faded concert tee, keys clenched in his palm. “Ready?” he asks, leaning against the bedroom doorway.

“Mhm.” You feel his hand ghost the small of your back as he leads you towards the front door, sending shivers of excitement down your spine.

“Hey, by the way?” 

When you turn around, his lips are on yours. It’s soft and sweet, just a bit more than a peck, but you can tell it took every ounce of courage for him to do it. You both take a small step back, swapping shy grins.  

“Eddie?”

“Yeah?”

You take his empty hand and lace your fingers with his. “Does Corroded Coffin still play at the Hideout?”

“Every Tuesday at 8.”

“I’ll be there.”

--

[crushpunky]

rafe cameron x girlfriend!reader thoughts !!!

met during the events of season three, and grew closer following ward’s death. y/n really inspired him to be a better person and see the best in himself.

at the beginning of their relationship, rafe was very hesitant to show any type of vulnerability or emotion, worried he would come off as “weak” or “overbearing” and scare y/n off. slowly but surely, y/n showed him that he doesn’t have to hide and can express himself however he needs to when he’s with her.

rafe’s love languages are definitely physical touch and gift giving… and he loves to shower y/n in both

y/n’s love languages are definitely quality time and words of affirmation. she loves spending time with rafe doing anything or nothing, as long as they’re together she’s fine with that.

y/n wasn’t nervous about introducing rafe to her family. she loved him so much and was well aware of his own familial issues, but she also knew her family would care for him as much as she did.

on the other hand, she was very nervous about introducing rafe to her cat, kit kat:

“why are you sweating so much? do you need some water?” rafe asked as they pulled into y/n’s driveway. “no, it’s fine. i’m fine.” y/n trailed off. “you’re acting weird, baby," rafe reached across the console, taking y/n’s hand. “i’ve already met your parents, and they’re wonderful people. i don’t—” “no i’m just nervous about you meeting kit kat.” y/n mumbled, avoiding the small smirk that crept on rafe’s lips. “the cat?” rafe stifled a laugh. “don’t laugh, cameron! this is very serious!” y/n groaned, running a hand through her hair nervously. “what if he doesn’t like you, then what?” “you’ll just have to get rid of it i guess.” rafe said with a shrug, causing y/n to gasp. “that is not funny, rafe. and don’t call him ‘it’.” y/n scowled.

while kit kat did in fact like rafe, rafe held some sort of one-sided beef with the small, fluffy gray cat. he was fine with cats, but what he didn’t appreciate was how the cat always stole y/n’s attention…

rafe picks her up every saturday at exactly 9 am (even though he despises getting up anytime before noon on the weekend) to get coffee and stop at her favorite flower shop. the look of “surprise” on her face when he gets her a bouquet always makes his heart melt. because of this, he always made sure the vase in y/n’s windowsill was always filled with fresh flowers.

when rafe made it to 100 days clean, y/n woke him up with a cake she had spent the whole night making and a new lingerie set she had seen him eyeing the last time the two of them went shopping on the mainland. he wasn’t used to this sort of celebration or attention on his accomplishments, but needless to say he was very happy with the surprise.

y/n pushed rafe to reconcile with his sisters, encouraging him to make an effort to apologize to them and tell them about how much he’s changed from this violent, drug addicted young man he used to be.

for christmas, y/n convinced rafe to wear matching sweaters with her to their friends’ christmas get together. never in his life would rafe cameron ever thought to find himself doing something as cheesy as that, but with y/n, it just felt natural. not even topper and kelce’s teasing could shake his commitment to seeing y/n smile at their identical sweaters:

“no fucking way.” topper scoffed. “what’s your problem, thornton?” rafe quirked an eyebrow, wrapping an arm around y/n’s torso. “dude you are so pussy-whipped.” kelce shook his head, taking a sip from his mug. “yeah, yeah, i love my girlfriend, what’s so fuckin wrong about that? hm?” rafe pulled y/n in to kiss the top of her head. “you should see kit kat’s sweater too.” y/n said, going to pull out her phone. “woah, woah, woah. you did not tell me we were matching with the cat—”

rafe was so head over heels for y/n it was crazy. he found himself thinking about her all the time, picturing a future for the two of them together. he had never thought about having a family before, after knowing how fucked up his own was, but with y/n he wanted that. he wanted everything, as long as it was with her.

[reminiscingtonight]

Secrets

Leah Williamson x Wälti!Reader

Word Count: 1.6k

A/NL Pretty sure I wrote this crack!fic a couple weeks back. Totally forgot about it until today

[WOSO Masterlist]

You’ve been in London for close to a month now.

At first you came with the intent to surprise some family, but one day exploring the city turned into two, and two into three, and before you knew it, you had gone an entire week without telling anyone where you were.

It’s not done with malicious intent, but the longer you keep your location a secret, the more shit you know you’re going to be in. Being the youngest in the family, your sister’s nothing if not overbearing. You know she often means well, but sometimes she can be a bit much. 

What settled your decision to not tell her however, well that had to do with the gorgeous blonde you met on your second day here. Her accent and adorable smile made you swoon the minute you met her. You had quite literally fallen for her, having tripped over the blonde woman’s legs when trying to locate a hidden cafe in the city. She offered to buy you a drink in apology and the rest is history. 

Being the overprotective person she is, you know your sister would definitely throw a fit if she found out about your move and new romantic partner.

In the end you’re sort of forced to inform your sister of your presence in her city. 

It all starts with an accidental run-in with an Australian you’re all too familiar with.

You’re so focused trying to read the map on your phone that you aren’t really paying attention to your surroundings. That leads into you running straight into and bouncing off a body as you turn a corner on the street.

Groaning, you open your eyes to see a half concerned, half amused face staring right back at you. “Fancy running into you here of all places. What are you doing in London, (Y/N)?”

You take her offered hand with an embarrassed mutter of thanks. “Just seeing the sights, you know, the usual stuff.”

Caitlin quirks an eyebrow at that, not quite believing you. “Lia never mentioned anything about you visiting.”

You give her something between a grimace and nervous smile. “Uh, that might be because she doesn’t… well she doesn’t actually know I’m here.”

“What?” Caitlin looks shocked, a bit confused at the news. “Why haven’t you-- you’re not in any trouble, are you?”

“Wha-- no! No, of course not. I’m fine.” You brush off her concern with a wave of your hand. Caitlin’s never as stifling as your sister, but still, sometimes the Australian can give your sister a run for her money. It’s endearing sometimes, how much Caitlin cares for your wellbeing as well, but right now her care is the last thing you want.

“Any chance we can keep this run-in between ourselves?”

“Well that might be a bit hard.” Caitlin’s eyes slightly moving over your shoulder has you whipping your head around.

She’s still a ways away, but you can recognize that head of brown hair and familiar gait from anywhere. Lia freezes mid-step when she catches sight of your face, fully intent on making her way to her girlfriend’s side before she sees you.

Her head tilts in a silent question and you whisper out a curse under your breath. 

Caitlin throws an arm around your shoulder, all but pulling you with her.

“(Y/N)! What a lovely surprise.” It’s a statement, but as confused as she is, Lia’s words end up sounding a bit like a question. 

She looks between you and Caitlin, who now has a bit of a sheepish look on her face. You should’ve known better than to ask the Australian to lie to your sister. 

“Or… not?”

“Can I have a hug before you go all ‘big sister’ on me?”

Lia rolls her eyes in amusement but does as you ask, opening her arms for a hug. You’re barreling straight into her the second she does so. 

“Missed you,” you whisper, snuggling against your sister. Sometimes it’s hard being so far away from Lia. The two of you were as close as can be, well as close as two siblings living in different countries can be. Before Lia had set out for Germany and then England, it was rare to find one of you without the other tagging along. You were always quite clingy as a child, often traveling to wherever Lia was playing despite not being interested in football in any shape or form. 

“Missed you too,” she chuckles. 

When the two of you break apart, Lia only needs to take one look at you to know exactly why Caitlin is looking so sheepish. 

“Alright. How long have you been in town?”

Lia could always read you like a book. You sigh, knowing better than to lie to her. “Like… a month. But remember I’m your favorite sister and you love me so you can’t be too mad.” Your words are paired with an innocent smile, eyelashes batting in hopes of convincing Lia not to be too mad at you. 

Lia simply raises an eyebrow at you in response. “What’s her name?”

You blink, mouth dropping open. “I-- What?”

Your sister rolls her eyes, hints of a smile on her lips. “The only reason you’d be this squirrelly with telling me where you’ve been can only be because of a girl. So what’s her name?”

Your lips pinch shut, a pout starting to form. Sometimes it’s not fun having a sister who knows you so well. “I’m not telling you that.”

“Are you serious?”

“She’s a footballer, so maybe you know her. I don’t want to risk you scaring her away.”

“Not all footballers know each other,” Lia snorts. 

Brave words to live by.

Three days later Lia has finally worn down your defenses. With the promise to behave herself, you acquiesce to setting up a double date dinner for you, your girlfriend, and Lia and Caitlin.

You’re wracked with nerves the entire day before dinner. Your girlfriend apologetically informed you in the morning that she had practice and then meetings right up until dinner so you were left all on your lonesome with Lia who is more than happy to torture you the second she returned home from her own practice.

Caitlin drops the two of you off at the front of the restaurant, letting you guys get in some sibling time while she goes to find parking. Having received the [I’m here! ❤️] text from your girlfriend told you that you only had mere seconds of peace before Lia will be all up in your business. 

It seems you’re a little too generous with the amount of peace you thought you’d have, seeing as Lia’s almost instantly pointing at every girl you walk past when you walk into the restaurant. You simply shove her in response, eyes scanning the room for the girl who’s captured your heart.

You’re breathing out a huge sigh of relief when you spot the familiar ponytail near the back of the restaurant. 

“No, not her,” you sigh, dragging Lia away from a girl near the front that she’s five seconds away from pouncing on. 

“So. This is the girl I’ve been telling you about.”

Your girlfriend looks up at the sound of your voice. She sends you a loving smile, but it’s quick to freeze on her face when she notices who’s standing next to you.

Lia has also stiffened at the sight of the blonde sitting in the booth. 

A range of expressions pass through your sister’s face, confusion, shock, exasperation. Eventually she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I stand corrected, she is definitely a footballer I know.”

Your mouth drops open at the revelation. Before you have a chance to say anything Lia’s sliding into the booth, across from where your girlfriend is still sitting frozen.

“Leah,” she snorts in acknowledgement, fixing the blonde with an amused look. 

“You guys know each other?” you gape, finally managing to force some words out. 

“Well your girlfriend happens to be my work wife so yes, I’d say we know each other.”

“Work wife?!” you sputter.

At the same exact time Leah finally snaps back into action. She nudges you harshly, hissing your name in surprise. “Your sister is Wally?! You didn’t think to mention that I play on the same team as you sister?”

You shrug. “Well how was I to know?”

Lia rolls her eyes, an amused smile on her face. “(Y/N) here’s a little too soccer illiterate. Don’t take it personally that she didn’t realize we both play for Arsenal.”

“You play for Arsenal?” you frown, a bit confused now. Of course you know your girlfriend is a gunner, but your sister? 

“Good lord I’m dating an adorable idiot,” Leah groans at the same time Lia kicks at your ankles. 

Yelping, you curl into Leah’s side.

“You cannot be serious. How do you not know that I play for Arsenal? I’ve been here since 2018.”

“Stop it. I think it’s more pertinent for us to discuss the fact that my girlfriend is your work wife,” you huff, arms crossing in jealousy.

Leah’s arms tighten around you as she presses a kiss against the side of your head. “Don’t be jealous,” she chuckles. “There’s only one Wälti I’m attracted to and she just so happens to be sitting right next to me.”

If Lia rolls her eyes any harder they might fall out of her head. 

Thankfully she doesn’t have a chance to make any quips at your expense. Your favorite Australian, ever the late arriver she is, slides into the booth next to Lia.

Upon sitting down, Caitlin instantly clocks Lia’s exasperated expression, your peeved one, and Leah’s embarrassed one.

She blinks slowly, carefully thinking through her words. “What did I miss?”

---

“… Also, not that I mind, but why is Leah here?”

[merlincmgirl]

Domination - Howzer x FReader - NSFW

Summary: You have been teasing him all day, he decides that you're not going to get your own way this time.

Characters: Howzer, some of his men, Eleni, Hera, Cham

Pairing: Howzer x F!Reader

Word Count: 10, 766

Warnings: PinV sex, fingering, dom Howzer, bratting, teasing, very brief spanking, dirty talk, sub space, aftercare

Authour's Note: He's just so pretty, and I just know that he can take a firm hand when needed.

The heat was stifling as the sun beat down on you as you trailed through the markets on Ryloth. It was your first day off in a while and you were browsing the stalls, unsure what you were looking for but you knew something would catch your eye eventually. It did feel strange, your job as a civilian co-ordinator with the GAR, and then the Empire, kept you extremely busy. Especially during the political unrest that was hanging over Ryloth like a potential storm.

From everyone you spoke to, they didn’t understand the continuing presence of the troopers now that the war had ended. They had fought so hard for their independence against the Separatists, and all they wanted was to be able to rule themselves without the presence of clones and outside forces. Cham and Eleni was trying to persuade the Twi’leks to stand down and live in the peace that was hard won. Personally, you didn’t see it ending well, the Empire had been ushered in with the fall of the Jedi and the Republic and everything seemed to have changed overnight. The Empire felt more overbearing and hostile, and if it wasn’t for your friends, your loved ones, you would have left Ryloth and the Empire months ago.

A sharp pain cut through your dark thoughts and you looked down to see one of Hera’s elbows had landed in your stomach as she was racing away from something or someone. You had just enough time to steady her as she stumbled.

“Ohh! Sorry, Ma’am!” Hera apologised, righting herself and throwing a look behind her shoulder.

“Hera! Be more careful” you chided, a small smile on your face as you saw how nervous she looked. “It’s a bit early for you to be getting into trouble, isn’t it?” you remarked, raising an eyebrow at her as you returned to browsing the jewellery on the stall in front of you.

“Trouble? Why would you think that?” Hera frowned, but still tried to side step around you.

Rolling your eyes, you brought her in front of you and shook your head. “Because you look like a tooka that’s about to have a bath. Who did you annoy this time?” you asked, moving just slightly so your body hid hers. If anyone was to come looking for her, then they’d see only you. Glancing at her, you realised she was too easily recognisable and browsed the jackets and shawls that lined the other stall.

“I didn’t do anything! It was Chopper!” Hera complained, crossing her arms in front of her body. It definitely didn’t make her appear as tough as she thought. Especially with her cute little pout.

“What’s that droid done now?” you chuckled, selecting a dark blue shawl and wrapping it around her shoulders. Handing over the money to the blue Twi’lek man running the stall, you helped secure it around her. “Now, that should help you in your escape. But you never told me who’s after you” you reminded pointedly, wrapping an arm around the young girl’s shoulders and leading her to a stall selling a number of holobooks.

“Well, we were just trying to have a bit of fun” Hera huffed, thinking back to the prank that she had pulled.

Unable to help the smile that spread across your face, you wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into your side. “Hera, Chopper’s version of fun is not the same as most people’s” you reminded her, walking through the market with her tucked close to you. Hearing Hera’s giggle, you couldn’t help but feel lighter in her presence. She had such a unique perspective of life that it helped kindle a flicker of hope that everything would work out just as it was meant to be in the end.

“HERA!” a sharp voice cut through the market, and you turned around to see Captain Howzer and a squad of clone troopers heading your way. A number of them was covered in oil, and you could already see how one – Riko if you remembered correctly – was drenched in the stuff from nearly head to toe. So that was what Chopper had done. Probably in an attempt to help Hera get away from whatever mischief she had been causing.

“Ah, Captain, how lovely it is to see you again!” you greeted, stepping in front of her and pushing the young Twi’lek behind you. Hera giggled at seeing the mess and twisted her hands into the jacket.

Howzer and his squad came to a stop and even if you couldn’t see his face, you just knew he would be frowning. “Y/N” he greeted before turning his gaze down and looking at Hera who was hiding behind you. “Hera, we’ve been looking for you” Howzer stated, crossing his arms over his chest and staring her down.

“Hera? She’s been helping me at the market all morning” you frowned, turning to look between the two of them.

“All morning, huh?” he drawled, deep voice sending a pleasant warmth through you. It conjured up memories of that morning, both of you wrapped in blankets. Howzer pressing soft kisses along your shoulders as he chased the sunlight that danced across your skin. “Nice try, I caught her myself setting up the elevator doors to dump pink glitter on whoever walked out” Howzer informed you and you couldn’t help but smile slightly. Girl was clever, if you remembered correctly, Senator Taa’s quarters were on his rounds this morning. She’d probably been trying to get him.

“Pink glitter? That doesn’t sound like Hera” you scoffed, shaking your head and stepping closer to him. Looking behind him at the squad, you noticed a few did indeed have some specks of glitter dotted around their armour.

“Where would I even get that from?” Hera added, rubbing the back of her neck and trying to appear convincing.

“Over there, perhaps?” Dunk suggested, pointed over to a stall that sold crafts supplies, as well as a number of different dyes. The trooper in question had an oil stain splashed across his chest plate, but seemed to have missed the full force of Chopper’s hit.

You all turned to look at the stall and you sighed heavily. “Children! Am I right, Captain? I’m sure Hera didn’t mean to play a prank like that. It’s her way to express herself and explore boundaries” you shrugged, motioning for Hera to run for it when she could.

Howzer removed his helmet, resting it on his hip as he frowned down at you. “Dumping a load of pink glitter on Senator Taa’s head is not expressing herself and exploring boundaries, Y/N. She shouldn’t be sneaking into government facilities to set up pranks. If Taa had found out, Cham and Eleni wouldn’t hear the end of it. There’s only so much I can do to protect her when things like this happen” Howzer reminded, brow furrowing and a look of worry passed his face. He liked the Syndulla family, they had been nothing but kind, noble and loyal since he had joined them fighting for Ryloth during the occupation. He didn’t want them to be caught up in this unrest that was building.

“Captain, you worry too much. I’m sure it’s not the worst thing Taa has been covered in” you grimaced, before turning your attention to his troopers. “Besides, looks like they got hit by something other than glitter” you pointed out, admiring the chaos that Hera and Chopper had created.

“Where is your friend?” Howzer grunted, turning to Hera just as she was about to slip away from the conversation.

“I don’t know, he said that he had to help mother with some of her work” Hera shrugged, lips tilting down into a confused frown.

“What on earth could that droid have done now, Captain?” you wondered, nudging him with your elbow to bring his attention away from the girl.

“He shot oil at us when we stopped them both. Got us all good while Hera managed to escape. We were hoping to catch the pair of them” Riko explained, looking down at himself at all the oil that was covering him.

You smiled up at Howzer, playful intent in your eyes and you knew he recognised it because his jaw clenched slightly.

“Looks to me like Chopper covered you in all that oil, Riko. I don’t think I can see any of that lovely blue at all. Maybe you need to get all that armour off and hit the showers” you suggested, looking up and down the clone trooper. Even with his helmet on, you saw how embarrassed he was at your attention. He looked around at his fellow troopers and his fingers twitched on his blaster before he seemed to straighten himself up.

“Thank you ma’am, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing when we finish the patrol” Riko confirmed, nodding his head to you.

Trying to hide the smirk on your face, you turned back to Captain Howzer, a surprised look on your face. He wasn’t going to fall for it, the amusement underlying your expression was enough to give you away. You were toying with him and enjoying it.

“I’m sure Captain Howzer wouldn’t mind you cleaning up. My place isn’t too far away from here, if you’d prefer, instead of traipsing to the barracks. I’m sure the Captain could spare you for 10 minutes while you showered, couldn’t you Captain?” you asked, smiling serenely at the scarred clone who only huffed.

“No” he replied shortly, making your insides twist in victory at the small slip of composure he normally held when you talked in front of his men. “Thank you for the kind offer ma’am, but we really must be going. It seems Hera has managed to slip away whilst we were talking” Howzer said stiffly, looking behind you where Hera had been a few minutes ago.

Chuckling lightly, you shrugged your shoulders and winked at his troopers.

“Well, she’s a smart girl, she must have seized the opportunity.”

“No doubt.”

“Enjoy the rest of your patrol, Captain!” you called after him, as he shoved his helmet onto his head and lead his men past you. A few sent glances your way and you couldn’t help but wave at them in return. You knew that Howzer would catch the move and get even more annoyed with you.

----------TBB-HOWZER-TBB----------

The night was cool on the arid planet as Howzer walked the corridors to the small gathering that the Syndullas had arranged. This would be his last post of the day before he returned to the barracks with the rest of his men. Or if his cyare was willing, return to her loving arms.

Although he wondered if she would still be in a teasing mood. All day whenever their paths crossed, she would flirt with him, bat her pretty eyelashes at his men, making more than a few stumble or stutter in response. A couple had even returned the flirting good naturedly before giving her a nod and returning to their own responsibilities.

Shaking his head, he couldn’t help the chuckle that worked it’s way up his throat. She had been nothing but full of mischief recently. He knew it was a coping mechanism, a way to deal with the increasing tension on Ryloth. It was all in good fun and it wasn’t anything serious. If anything he loved to see her smile, hear her laugh as she met his eyes and saw the reaction she wanted.

“Ah, Captain! I didn’t think you would be joining us” Eleni greeted, a glass of something in her hand. She wore a pleasant and genuine smile when she saw him. “Would you like a drink?” she offered, nodding over to the drinks table to the side of the room.

“Thanks, but I’m on duty ma’am” Howzer nodded, smiling politely at his friend.

“Ah, you would leave us to the dreary boasts of Senator Taa then?” Eleni teased, raising a perfect eyebrow at him, a smile playing on her lips.

“You do it so much better than me, Eleni. I wasn’t made for politics” Howzer reminded, looking around him at the many, many people schmoozing up to Taa and his people. He felt much more comfortable on a battlefield than attending one of these parties, where political games were played between false compliments and thinly veiled threats.

“That may be so, but it doesn’t make it any more enjoyable. We will speak soon, Captain. I must go rescue Cham, he’s giving me his signal” Eleni chuckled, bidding him farewell before heading over to Cham.

Howzer secured his helmet onto his head and took his position around the perimeter of the room. From where he stood, he had a good line of sight on the door and most of the room. He just hoped that whatever support the Syndullas could drum up for the peaceful unification of their planet, they would do so without many more of these things.

Checking in with his men, glad to hear that they reported the all clear, he settled in for a long night.

That was until he spotted a beautiful woman talking to Cham and Eleni over by the exit to the balcony. He almost swallowed his tongue at seeing the dress his cyare was wearing. It was a lovely red dress, clinging to all the places that she loved the most. A split up the side showed a flash of her thigh and the cut was just enough to show a slight hint of the swell of her breasts. He could feel his codpiece become a lot tighter as he watched his cyare laugh at something that Cham said. She was absolutely beautiful and mesmerising.

“You’re looking beautiful tonight, my dear. Any special reason?” Eleni asked, watching as your eyes kept drifting over to the position where the Captain was on watch. She knew about your relationship, had been the one encouraging it even but she knew that the pair of you must be kept a secret from the Empire. You made a wonderful couple, and she was pleased that both of her friends had found some happiness during this time.

“Apart from your wonderful party? No reason” you chuckled, picking at the delicious fruits that was on offer.

“Has your Captain figured out your plan for this evening?” she wondered, smiling politely at Taa as he passed.

“I think he’s got some idea of what’s going on” you smirked, glancing over your shoulder at him. Even though his bucket was facing forward, you could feel the warm, heavy gaze of Howzer on you. Sliding your hand down your side, you carefully flicked your skirt, flashing him a bit more of your leg in a seemingly innocent move to readjust your clothes.

From your spot next to Eleni, you could see Howzer straighten up and his hands twitch into a fist before they calmed. You couldn’t help but giggle, enjoying teasing your trooper and watching him squirm, trying to keep a straight face in front of his men.

“I’m going to work the room, I’ll see you later” you murmured, sending her a wink before sliding over to the other side of the room. You noticed a shiny standing just opposite where Howzer was standing. Perfect for him to get a good view of the show you hoped to put on for him.

“Oh, hello there! I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Y/N, I’m a civilian co-ordinator here on Ryloth. What’s your name?” you greeted, smiling warmly at the young trooper in front of you.

“Uh… CT-9818, ma’am” the shiny stumbled over his words, surprised to even be approached, never mind addressed. He wondered why a nat-born, a nat-born woman at that, would even be talking to him.

You couldn’t help but scrunch up your nose at that, shaking your head at the way that these men weren’t even treated like normal human beings. Running a hand through your hair, you tried to put a softer smile on your face. “That’s not much of a name, trooper. I’m not one of these nat-borns who believe all you are is a number. What do your brothers call you?” you said, hoping he didn’t think you were prying. You really was genuinely interested in meeting the new trooper.

“It’s erm… Mince… ma’am. My brothers call me Mince” the trooper admitted, and you nodded encouragingly.

“It’s nice to meet you Mince. Were you transferred to Captain Howzer’s unit? Or have you just been hiding?” you inquired, raising an eyebrow teasingly at him. Looking back, you could see Howzer’s bucket tilt towards you.

“Course not, ma’am. I was er… transferred after the creation of the Empire. We were one of the last squads off Kamino” he hurried to explain, straightening up at hearing the teasing voices of his vod come through his internal comm.

He really was a brand new shiny then, straight from Kamino by the sounds of it. Had he been there during the fall of Kamino City? Was he evacuated before the devastation that saw the troopers lose their home? Although you knew that Kamino wasn’t home to many of the vode. It was a place of heartbreak, torture and nightmares for many clones. But it was where they were decanted, where they grew up with their brothers and formed the bond of vode an.

“I was only joking, I’m sure Captain Howzer feels that you are a credit to his unit” you assured, resting a hand on his shoulder. “How are you enjoying Ryloth, Mince?” you asked him politely, tilting your head as you listened to him talk. Every so often you would shift slightly, sticking your hip out and angling your leg so that the folds of your dress draped over your thigh.

On one occasion, you burst out into laughter as Mince told you a story of how his vod, Lapse had been on patrol before he was pounced on by an overly affectionate blurrg. Resting a hand on his chest, you shook your head as you tried to control your giggles. “I can just imagine his face! Next time I see him, I’m not letting him live this down. I hope he offered to buy the blurrg dinner” you chuckled, trying to lower your voice as several people looked over at you both.

Taking the opportunity, you looked towards your Captain, sending him a wink you knew he would catch. Noticing how he puffed out his chest and purposefully looked away, you tried to hold in the snort of amusement at his obvious move. You had gotten to him. Crossing your arms over your chest, pushing your breasts up slightly, you heard a thud from Howzer’s direction but didn’t turn around to look. Already in your mind, you could picture your Captain losing his parade’s rest and falling back against the wall behind him.

“Looks like Mince has bitten off more than he can chew, right Captain?” came the voice through his bucket. He glanced across the room to where Mince was positioned, spotting you standing close to him and talking to him quietly. He could see the mischief that was filling your eyes as you looked up and caught sight of him. Damn you! He knew you were making it hard for him on purpose. What he wouldn’t give just to sweep you into his arms, be the one you spoke to all night, be allowed to whisper all the sweet words he had to keep to himself into your skin as he worked his way down your body.

“Do you think someone should go rescue him?” Soni murmured in awe, watching the way your dress fell around you.

Howzer clenched his jaw.

“Why would he need rescuing?” Blaze scoffed, amused at how his younger brother was becoming flustered from talking to the pretty civilian officer that worked as a go between for the Empire and the Twi’leks resistance.

His eye twitched.

“From the Captain or her?” Suture, his medic, drawled. And if Howzer could, he’d shoot the medic a glare that would put him in the medbay. But he was wise enough to know not to piss off the medics, and that Suture was more than likely entertained at having to watch him sweat while his cyare was teasing him.

“Kriff, Mince! Your heart is going so fast I’d think you were running drills!” Drax chuckled, hearing the returning splutter from Mince. Thankfully it wasn’t picked up by his voice recorder!

Now that was an idea! Send his men to run drills every time they so much as looked in your direction. Especially while you were wearing something like this. He could just imagine how his brothers were enjoying the sight of seeing his cyare outside of uniform.

When you turned to send him a wink, he let out a small growl that was thankfully not picked up by his bucket. His little tease. You were enjoying this, he realised. A lot. Too much even, if that mischievous spark in your eye was any indication. He loved seeing you like this, so full of joy and happiness. He felt himself twitch behind his codpiece at your actions. Kriff, how could you make him hard so quickly, just by flashing that teasing look and a bit of leg. A beautiful, leg at that. He could remember how they felt wrapped around his waist this morning. He couldn’t wait until he could drag you back into bed.

Kriff!

He was so done for. What did Hera like to say to him? That was it! Head over heels in love with his pretty little civvie. She was right. As usual. He did love her, more than anything. And that was why he wasn’t reacting. She wanted to tease him, wind him up into a tight ball of tension and lust before he finally reacted. Well, that was the exact opposite of what he was going to do. His pretty little civvie couldn’t always get what she wanted.

“-zer? Captain Howzer?” a familiar voice called from his side.

He blinked, swiftly turning around to find Cham and Eleni addressing him. He gave them a formal salute before nodding at them respectfully.

“Is everything alright, Captain? You seemed a little distracted” Eleni inquired slyly, raising an eyebrow at him.

Once again Howzer was thankful for his bucket, it hid the blush that was rapidly growing on his face. “Yes ma’am, I was… er listening… to the, er, check ins?” he replied, wanting to kick himself at how unsure he sounded.

Cham shot a pointed look at his wife and smiled. “Forgive us for disturbing you then, Captain. We were just inquiring about how you are this evening? Enjoying the party?” Cham asked, struggling to hide his amusement at the enamoured Captain. He hadn’t missed the looks between the two, it reminded him of Eleni and himself.

“Oh, yes sir. It’s riveting” Howzer drawled, relaxing a little in their company. They were hardly going to report him for complaining about guard duty for an intolerable Senator and his entourage.

“Another hour to go, Captain, and then we’ll be free. Hopefully Hera will be in bed by the time we return home. She was disappointed that she wouldn’t be attending tonight” Eleni chuckled, leaning into Cham and rolling her eyes.

“Couldn’t prank anyone else?” Howzer snorted, shaking his head at the young Twi’lek. It was a joy to have Hera around, she was always making things interesting for him and keeping him on his toes. It helped that she seemed to always drag his cyare in tow.

“Not tonight, no” Cham sighed, although there was amusement and mischief in his eyes. “We can’t apologise enough for this morning Captain. Her and Chopper have been appropriately punished. Did your squad manage to get the glitter and oil off?” Cham wondered, glancing at the few troopers surrounding the perimeters.

“Just about, although Riko wasn’t too pleased to find glitter in his air filters. He keeps puffing out glitter every so often” Howzer admitted, lips pulling into an amused smile that, although hidden by his bucket, was clear in his voice.

Eleni and Cham couldn’t hide their laughter, already imagining the clone troopers colourful curses when that happened. She was the daughter of rebels for a reason.

Their conversation was interrupted when you walked towards them, a wide smile on your face seeing them all together and happy. But you were beginning to feel tired and all you wanted was for your trooper to hold you in his arms.

“Cham, Eleni, I’m really sorry but I might head home-” you called to them, noticing how Howzer was closer to you than your friends. Having an idea on how to get you both out of this, you surveyed the ground in front of you. It was just the right material. Making sure you looked slightly dazed, you allowed the toe of your heel to catch on the floor and you stumbled. As expected, Howzer quickly stepped forward to catch you, arms wrapping around your waist and holding you to him. You would have been able to feel his warm breath fanning across your face if his helmet was off.

“Ohh! I’m so sorry Captain!” you hurried to apologise, feeling how one hand kept an arm around your waist to keep you steady, the other holding your hand and squeezing it.

“It’s fine, are you okay?” he frowned, scanning your form to see if you were injured in anyway.

“My dear, are you alright?” Eleni asked at the same time, a teasing look in her eye as she looked you over. She hadn’t missed the flush in your cheeks as Howzer pressed you against his armoured body.

“I’ll be fine, thank you, I’m just not feeling too good at the moment. I’m going to try and have an early night” you told them, still not stepping out of Howzer’s hold. You would let him play the role of the caring knight in shiny armour if it meant you could have him touch you in public.

Cham nodded, resting a hand on your shoulder. “Of course! You’re looking a little flushed, my friend” Cham noted, feigning concern. He had spotted the devious look that spread across your face as you walked over, he had seen it many times on Hera’s face to know a ploy was afoot when he saw it.

Turning to the Captain, who was still holding you close, he clapped him on the shoulder. “Captain, would you be able to escort our friend home?” Cham requested, looking at him hopefully.

“Err… I’m still on duty” Howzer reminded, looking between you and the resistance fighters. Why did he feel like he was being lured into a trap? Had you planned this whole night out with Cham and Eleni? Were they your accomplices? He shouldn’t even be surprised.

“Please Captain, I’m sure your squad can manage until the end of the party” Eleni pleaded, gripping onto your hand. When Howzer looked back at his men, obviously reporting the issue with them, she sent you a wink and you had to smother the smile that was trying to break across your face.

“Oh no, I couldn’t do that. I’m sure Captain Howzer is needed here more than I need him” you protested, shaking your head. You felt his hand tighten on your hip, and could feel his warning look even through his helmet. Perhaps that one had been less than subtle.

“No, you need him more. I insist! I would hate for anything to happen to you on your walk back” Eleni nodded, rubbing your arm soothingly. You would have to compliment her on her acting skills. If anyone was looking in, they would be convinced that she held genuine concern for you.

“Would you walk me home, Captain?” you asked him quietly, biting your lip and looking at him hopefully.

“Of course. It would be my pleasure” he rumbled, allowing you to say your goodbyes while he passed command to his second. Blaze would be able to handle the rest of the posting until the shift finished. If anything happened, Blaze would comm him.

As you left the room where the gathering was being held, you straightened up and leaned into him more. It felt good to have this moment alone with him. Your time together was sporadic, depending on his work shifts and yours, and whether he could sneak out of the barracks to your room.

“I think we’re alone now, Captain. Take it off.”

Howzer couldn’t help but roll his eyes, but quickly gave in, taking off his bucket and attaching it to his belt. “Better?” he asked you, watching as your eyes roamed his face, a blush working it’s way across your cheeks.

You couldn’t help it, just the sight of his beautiful face was enough for you to feel warm. The way he looked at you, big brown eyes full of love and adoration had your stomach doing somersaults. His scarred chin and cheek just added to his ruggish look. “Much better” you breathed, seeing his features soften slightly at your answer.

Instead of answering, he offered you his arm to continue escorting you back home.

“Thank you for walking me home, Captain” you smiled, hooking your arm with his. “I think I enjoyed too much wine tonight” you told him, leaning into his warmth. Even with his armour on, you admired the strength of his muscle underneath your hand.

“You certainly seemed to be having fun” he commented, enjoying the way your hand fit into the crook of his elbow. One of the few spots in which he could feel you through the gap in the plastoid. “How are you feeling now?” he asked, checking you over once more in case you really were feeling ill. He was confident you had been teasing him, but it was better to check.

“I’m okay, just these stupid shoes. They’re beginning to pinch” you winced, eager to kick them off.

“I might be able to help with that” he murmured, lip quirking into a smirk before he shoved you into a secluded turn off the corridor you were walking down.

“Howzer!” you gasped, steadying yourself against the wall. You listened to see if anyone had seen him, hearing nothing, you scowled at your trooper. “A bit of warning would have been nice” you reminded, raising an eyebrow.

“It pays not to give your enemy forewarning” Howzer replied, before dropping to his knees right in front of you. His knee plates clattered against the metal vents on the floor and he carefully took off his gloves, tucking them into his belt. Looking up at you with darkened eyes, he couldn’t help but let out a little groan. You looked beautiful.

“I… uh… I didn’t think we were enemies” you breathed, thoughts becoming a little harder to hold onto as he slowly pulled away your skirt, revealing the shape of your legs to him. You loved when he took his gloves off slowly, already imagining the feel of his calloused hands running across your skin. He pressed a gentle kiss to the side of your knee before placing another slightly higher.

“We aren’t. This dress you’re wearing however, is keeping me from what I really want” he groaned, sliding his hands up your thighs, reaching the line of your underwear. Teasingly, he ran his fingers under the hem, threatening to pull them down.

“Howzer… people… they co-could see” you panted, running your hand through his hair and tugging him closer to you. His huffed breath fluttered against your core and you wanted him to stop teasing you and finally give in.

“Didn’t think you’d mind, cyare. After the way you’ve been behaving all day, thought you’d like them to see how good you look like this” he drawled, grazing his teeth across the meat of your thighs.

“Only teasing baby” you huffed, rocking forward into him but he just pulled away.

“I’m not going to fuck you here” Howzer told you, making your heart sink in disappointment. You really wanted to feel him, enjoy the result of your teasing. But it seemed the Captain had other plans. “Besides, we need to get these off you cyar’ika. Get you feeling comfy” he smirked, pulling your shoes off you and attaching them to his belt.

Unable to help it, you gaped at him, not even aware that he had been fiddling with your shoes enough to loosen them off your feet. Sneaky little womp rat!

“Come on, get moving” he instructed, pushing himself back up onto his feet.

You pouted, unable to help it as you tilted your head up to his. “Not even a kiss?” you whined, trying to entice him to give in.

“You want a kiss, mesh’la?” he whispered, stepping closer to you until your back was pressed against the wall once more. His armour was cool against you, the feeling seeping through your dress and making you gasp. Feeling a bit dizzy at him, you nodded.

“Alright I’ll give you a kiss” he growled, hand coming up to grip your jaw in a tight hold before he pressed his lips against yours. The kiss was rough, catching you off guard and Howzer used it to his advantage as his tongue swept into your mouth, running along your own. As you moaned against him, hips coming up to buck against his, he pulled away. The kiss over just as quickly as it began.

Your breaths came out in pants as you blinked up at him in shock, thoughts getting hazy. “Now get moving” he instructed, tugging you forward and landing a hard smack on your ass as you passed him.

You yelped, heat rushing through you at that. It seemed that you had pushed your Captain too far with your teasing and he was preparing to do his own. Rubbing your ass cheek, you led the way back to your apartment, glad that nobody was in the corridors. You didn’t think you would be able to hide the blush spread over your face and the slight dazed look.

Just as soon as you had shut the door behind you, Howzer was pressing you back against the metal door, his armour sending a chill racing down your spine as your nipples hardened beneath the material of your dress. You liked the way he pinned you against the door, dark eyes focused on yours.

“You’ve done enough teasing for one day, so you’re going to listen for once, cyare” he told you firmly, one hand sliding up your neck to grip it. It wasn’t a particularly tight hold, just enough to ensure that you were paying attention to him. “You’re going to get rid of this gorgeous dress and everything underneath, mesh’la, and I want you to sit on the chair facing me. Then you’re going to spread your pretty legs open so I can see just how wet you are” he instructed, leaving no room for any protest. All you could do was nod at his words. He smiled, leaning down to press a chaste kiss to your lips before turning and heading into your living room.

Sagging against the door, you let out a sigh, feeling how arousal was already pooling into your underwear. Fuck, he was so hot, your plan to push his control to the edge had worked. If your teasing had caused all this… well, it certainly wasn’t going to put you off from doing it again.

Knowing you couldn’t keep him waiting long, you slid the dress slowly from your shoulders, letting it pool down onto your hips before letting it drop to the floor. Howzer had wanted you naked before you sat on display for him, and you weren’t going to disobey him now. Following after him, you reached up to undo your chest band, leaving it on until you were in his sight again.

Howzer had taken off his armour, placing it in it’s spot in your apartment. At the moment, he was dressed in just the bottom half of his blacks. Already you could see the bulge that was pressed against the tight material.

Unable to help it, you couldn’t stop your eyes running over his broad, tanned, thick body. There was a scattering of paler scars along his neck and shoulder, similar to the one on his cheek and chin. You already knew the path of them by heart, after stroking each one and pressing soft kisses to the scarred tissue. He kept himself in peak physical condition, his training from Kamino still drilled into him, even after the war was over. The way his bronzed skin stretched over his sculpted muscles had you almost drooling over how gorgeous and handsome your Captain was.

“As much as I like you staring at me, mesh’la. I want to see you more” his deep voice cut through your thoughts.

Blushing slightly at how distracted you were, you released your hold on the chest band, letting it drop to the floor in front of you. A hitch in Howzer’s breath beside you had you grinning, enjoying the way he loved looking at your body. Running your hands over your breasts, groaning at the relief of being out of the chest band, you knew he would be feeling his blacks become more and more restricting.

As you headed over to your chair, the caf table in between yours and his, you hooked your fingers into the hem of your panties. Turning around, you bent over, giving him a show as you slid them over your ass and down your thighs, letting them fall to the floor and exposing your soaked core to his eyes already. A muffled curse from him had you smirking, before turning back around and sitting down in the chair he had told you to. Raising an eyebrow at him, you waited to see what he would do.

“Thought I told you to spread your pretty legs for me. If you can’t listen to simple instructions, tonight isn’t going to turn out very well for you” he warned, voice controlled and level as he kept his heavy gaze on you. Although you could see his jaw tightening at your little display. He wasn’t as unaffected as he appeared to be.

“Sorry Captain” you demurred, biting your lip and knowing you were teasing him even further.

Running your hands up from your knees and over your thighs, you slowly spread your legs, revealing your glistening core to him. The way his gaze felt had you wanting to close your eyes and whimper, the intense stare making you feel like he wanted to devour you. You wouldn’t mind, you wanted to feel him lose control with you and just take what he wanted.

“Feet on the table, spread them wider” he ordered, dark chocolate brown eyes darkening even further at the way the low lights in the room caught the slick that was pooling at your entrance.

Perching the soles of your feet on the table’s edge, you gasped as you spread your legs even wider, giving your Captain a better look at how much he was affecting you. You already wanted to reach down, press a desperate brush of fingers against your slit but you refrained, Howzer hadn’t told you to do anything else. And you didn’t want him punishing you by keeping you on the edge, over and over again. No, it was in your best interests to do exactly what Howzer said.

“Good girl, you can behave” he smirked, watching as your thighs quivered at his words. “Look how pretty you look, cyar’ika. Did you get this wet just from talking to my brother?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at you challengingly.

Biting your lip to hold in the sound that was dying to come out, you shook your head.

“No? Who got you this wet then? Who made this pussy leak so much?” he drawled, leaning forward now, elbow on his knees to get a closer look at you.

Unable to help it, you preened at the knowledge that he was just as desperate to be close to you as you were for him. If he hadn’t had instructed you to stay there, you’d be the one dragging him over the table and attaching your lips to his.

A rap of his knuckles against the wood brought your attention back to him. “I asked you a question, sweetheart. Do I need to repeat myself?” he asked, jaw tightening as he ran his eyes up over your heaving chest and to your swollen bottom lip trapped in between your teeth. When you released it from your grasp, he had to catch the groan he wanted to let out at how pink and swollen it was. He could just imagine those lips around his cock as you took him in his mouth.

“No Captain, I’m sorry. You’re the only one who makes me this wet” you breathed, trying to spread your legs even further for his eyes.

Howzer hummed, pleased with your answer but still not giving you the orders that you so desperately wanted. It was maddening to be so exposed and not touch yourself or have him touch you. He noticed your hands clenching tightly on the arms of the chair, fingers curled so tight your knuckles were white. Howzer wanted nothing more than to touch you, but he couldn’t forget he had been half hard for most of the day just because of your teasing.

“You’ve been teasing me all day sweetheart. Why is that?” he wondered, running his eyes up your shapely legs and towards your leaking centre. He could just imagine you spread out, his head between your legs devouring your glistening cunt, it was making it harder and harder to focus.

“Wanted you to snap… make you lose control and… and touch me. Please Captain” you groaned, hips rocking enticingly to hopefully spur him on. If he wouldn’t do anything, then you’d have to take matters into your own hands.

Chuckling at how mischievous his cyare was, he shook his head at you. “How’s that working out for you, mesh’la?” he teased, sending you a lazy smirk that had your breath catching in your throat. Fuck he was so handsome like this. All happiness and desire was clear to see in his eyes, the stress and worries of the Empire laid down for once.

“Howzer!” you whined, brattiness coming out before you could stop it.

“That’s not how you address me, cyar’ika” he frowned, voice losing the teasing tone and full of authority once more. It was the one he used when speaking to shinies who were still trying to find their place in the squad.

“Please Captain, I need you to touch me” you moaned, biting your lip and hoping he’d give in to you. The strain in his blacks was already noticeable from where you were spread out for him. There was no way that he would be able to last much longer without touching you, or you touching him. Kriff! All you wanted to do was palm his hardened length underneath those blacks, feel him throb in your hand as you mouthed around him. The thought had your legs quivering and your cunt clenching as more arousal slipped out of you.

Of course, Howzer’s keen eyes caught it, and the dirty chuckle he let out didn’t help the feeling of heat bursting through you. “Oh no, sweetheart, you forgot our rules didn’t you? The ones which make sure we’re safe and able to keep having these moments. Wouldn’t want anyone telling Rampart or Taa about us, would we?” he chided gently, sliding his hands up his thighs just to relieve some of the tension that was curling in the pit of his stomach. “So this is a punishment. I’m not going to touch you until I’m ready to” he told you, delighting at the way your mouth parted on a small gasp of surprise.

He couldn’t be serious, could he? Howzer always touched you when you were alone together, even if it was just the brush of a hand against the small of your back as he moved past you, or the soft squeeze of your shoulder as he went to make dinner. His touch was something you always enjoyed and looked forward to, even outside of your bedroom.

“Your little clit looks so desperate for attention, cyar’ika. I can see how much it needs to be touched. Why don’t you use your pretty little fingers and give it what it wants?” he suggested, fingers twitching at his own words. He wanted to be the one to rub your bud, but he couldn’t. Not yet. He still had to punish you for your teasing.

Sighing, you finally brushed the pads of your fingers against your clit, the light touch sending sparks up your spine. Unable to help the little moan of relief, you collected your slick and used it to play with your clit, rubbing it in little circles that had your eyes slipping shut. After so long teasing him, you had become just as worked up as the Captain. It felt so good to finally be able to relieve some of the pressure that had been building.

Howzer couldn’t take his eyes off you. You looked so perfect, so breath taking in this moment that he never wanted to forget the sight of you like this. Your thighs tightening in pleasure as you worked your swollen bud of nerves, breasts heaving with every laboured breath and your eyes shut, lust and desire written all over your face.

The cool night air fluttered against your skin, causing goosebumps to spring up. It was such a contrast to how you were feeling, it felt like you were overheating, as though Howzer’s simple words and heavy gaze was lighting a fire inside of you. One of your hands reached up, ready to tease and pull at your pebbled nipples but you hastily stopped, remembering that your Captain hadn’t given you any instructions on touching yourself there.

“Go ahead, cyar’ika, I want you to touch those cute little nipples. Wish I could run my tongue over them and tease them until you ache” he ordered, groaning at the thought of taking the buds into his mouth and lathing them with attention from his warm mouth and talented fingers.

“You can! Please, I want you to” you encouraged, rolling your hips against the fingers against your clit. The other hand slid up your torso until you could pinch and squeeze at your breast before pulling at your nipple. It sent a zap of pleasure down to your core, more arousal coating your fingers to aid in your touch.

It felt like you were dripping and leaking onto the chair beneath you from how wet you were. And he still refused to touch you. Gritting your teeth at the slow building pleasure that was forming in your core, you couldn’t help but want more. More of Howzer, more of his talented calloused fingers pushing you over the edge.

“Mesh’la” he breathed, feeling desire wash over him as he watched you follow his instruction and drive yourself closer and closer to the edge but have no way of reaching your release. “Use your fingers, want to see them inside of you cyare” he told you, voice strained as he drunk in the sight of you. His cock was throbbing in his blacks, and he ached to relieve the pressure just slightly. Cupping himself through his blacks, he let out a small groan that seemed to set alight the tease that was buried inside of you.

“That’s it Captain, I could make you feel so good” you grinned, watching as he palmed himself through his trousers. Sliding a finger inside of your dripping core had your eyes sliding shut for a second before you pushed them back open.

The sight of Howzer touching himself, desperate for some relief from the pressure building underneath them was something you didn’t want to miss at all. He looked so beautiful, eyes half lidded in pleasure as his head was tilted up just slightly. The gorgeous full lips of his was hanging open slightly, small panting breaths escaping as he lost a part of that control he prided himself over.

Gulping at the feeling of a second finger sliding into you, you couldn’t wait to feel him inside of you, to taste him on your tongue, to feel his strong body pressed against you. “Oh, I could taste you, have my mouth around your cock instead, bet it would feel better than your hands. OH!” you cried, crooking your fingers to press against the spongy patch in your walls, fire spreading across your body as you worked yourself closer and closer to the edge.

Howzer groaned loudly, biting his own lip to stop him from just pulling you onto his cock. You had a way of making him lose control of himself, and hearing your soft cries and teasing words were making it harder and harder to focus. Just the thought of your warm mouth surrounding his length, swallowing him down to the hilt had him near the edge of his own relief, but he refused to cum without making you cum first.

“You’re in no position to tease, cyar’ika. You’ll get there when I allow it. Keep touching yourself, slowly” he ordered, wrestling with his control at your words.

As you pinched your nipple sharply, and slowly pushed another finger in, you could feel your orgasm building and building, getting so close you could almost touch it. “Fuck! Sir, I’m so close!” you whined, rolling your hips against the fingers that were inside of you and arching your chest up into the air, desperate for him to touch you and help finish you off.

“See it’s so much better when you listen to me and follow the rules, isn’t it?” he growled out.

“Yes! Yes it is! Kriff, Captain, please!” you gasped, feeling your stomach tighten and warmth flood through you as you hurriedly slid your hand from your breast down to rub at your clit.

Just as soon as your fingers lightly brushed your bundle of nerves, a vice like grip circled your wrists and pulled them both away from your needy body. Gasping, your eyes met his amused ones as you felt furious at him for denying you your own release. He had snapped forward to stop you just as soon as he noticed you were about to go over the edge.

“HOWZER!” you spat out, unable to believe he would stop you when you were so close.

“I don’t think so, cyare. You’ve been teasing me all day, flirting with my men and wearing that pretty dress. You’re not getting off that easily” he shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips as he saw a pout forming on yours.

“Evidently!” you grumbled, noticing he still hadn’t let go of your wrists.

Chuckling at your indignation, he leant further across the table separating you and pulled your hand up to him. “Hmm, you smell so good. I know you taste it too” he murmured, before wrapping his lips around the fingers that had been inside of you. His talented tongue gently collected the slick on your fingers as he sucked them into his mouth. His eyes fluttered closed as the taste of you burst across his tongue. This! This was what he had been thinking of all day. The unique taste of you on his tongue and the way you sounded lost in your own lust.

Whimpering at the feeling of him sucking your own arousal from your fingers, you ran your hand up and down his arm, feeling the heat radiating from him. When your Captain grazed the pads of your fingers with his teeth, you couldn’t help but curl your fingers around his own and hold on tight to him.

“Hmm, you taste wonderful, mesh’la. But I really, really want to be inside of you” he murmured, leaning forward to press kisses along your jaw and down your neck. Sucking slightly on the spot beneath your ear, you couldn’t help but give in. You’d forgive him for stopping you earlier if he was going to make up for it. “Can I? Can I feel you wrapped around my cock?” he asked, grazing the darkening skin with his teeth before moving on to add another further down.

“Since when have I said no?” you breathed, tilting your head slightly so he could have more room.

“Never hurts to ask” he smiled, lips curling against your throat. He chuckled lightly at your nod of consent before pulling you onto your feet. Wrapping an arm around your waist, he held you against him as he teasingly pressed his lips against yours, lightly running his tongue over yours before pulling away. He looked around him for something before grabbing the blanket off the back of the couch and spreading it over the table.

“Lie down” he instructed, reaching for a pillow to support your head against the hard surface. It wasn’t the most comfortable of places, but it seemed that he didn’t want to move any further than he had to.

Pulling back to look at you, he couldn’t help but look at you in awe. “You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe how lucky I am that you want me” he breathed, almost shaking his head in disbelief.

“I’m the lucky one, trooper! Now are you going to come here so I can show you how lucky I am? Or do I have to come get you myself?” you teased, smiling up at him. His cheeks heated up at your words and he couldn’t help but think you looked stunning with the happiness that radiated from your smile.

“Brat” he huffed, quickly unfastening his trousers and pushing them down his thick thighs. Smirking at your stare as his thick cock sprung up against him, he kicked them off and turned back to you. He was already leaking pre-cum and he took a hold of his cock, spreading it up and down before pressing his body into yours. He felt the way your nipples brushed against the spattering of dark hair on his chest, how your skin had started to glisten with a thin sheet of sweat as you had worked yourself up. Pushing your thighs wider apart to accommodate his hips, he could feel just how wet you were as he brushed his cock between your folds.

You couldn’t help but whine at the feel of him rubbing between your soaked lips. The orgasm that had lessened off was building once more just at the feel of him pressing his body into yours. His body was all sharp angles and hard muscles compared to your soft curves, and it was just intoxicating having him like this. You ran your fingers through his dark hair, before tugging him up from where he was sucking marks on your shoulders to kiss him. The taste of you was still on his tongue and a groan escaped you at the taste of you both mixing together.

Pulling away, he kissed down to your chest, finally taking one of your pebbled nipples into his mouth and lathing it with attention, just like he had wanted to. He greedily ran his tongue over your nub, sucking harshly and making you cry out, pulling once more at his hair. However he didn’t stop, continuing to tease and suck bruises onto your mounds while his other hand pinched and pulled at it’s twin.

“Kriff! You feel so good, don’t stop!” you begged, closing your eyes and losing yourself to the sensation that he was building inside of you.

However just as soon as the words left your mouth, Howzer was pulling away, smug look already plastered on his face. It was all you could do not to curse at him.

“Not nice to tease, is it mesh’la?” he reminded, pressing a kiss to your chin. You could hear the amusement in his voice, never mind seeing it in his beautiful honey brown eyes.

“I’m sorry, now fuck me!” you demanded, bucking your hips up to his. It sent a burst of pleasure as his cock brushed against your clit.

It was soon over as Howzer landed a sharp swat to the outside of your thigh. “Ah! You lost your manners as well, mesh’la? That’s not how we ask for something we want” he growled, voice hardening and scowling down at you.

Realising that he wouldn’t move unless you gave in, you sighed heavily. “I’m sorry, please fuck me sir. I need to feel you inside of me” you pleaded, sliding your hands down his chest and resting them on his hips, squeezing just slightly to encourage him to move.

“Hmm, that’s better. You do have manners after all” he hummed, reaching in between you to slot his cock at your entrance. He didn’t push in, waiting until you let out another moan before slowly pushing his cock inside of you.

A gasp escaped you, unable to stop it as he continued to press into your soaking core, opening you up for his cock and sinking into your tight heat. He didn’t stop until he was buried inside of you, your walls clenching around him as you got used to the feel of him once more.

“Kriff, you’re so tight. Even with your fingers opening you up. Maybe I should have done it myself” he groaned, head falling to your collarbone as he waited for you to adjust to him.

You hummed, trailing your fingers through his curls and pressing a kiss to his temple. “Don’t matter, just fuck me now” you murmured into his bronze skin.

“With pleasure, cyare” he grinned, landing a soft kiss to your shoulder before dragging his cock out against your walls. It left you gasping at the feel of him before your breath was pushed back out again as he slammed inside of you.

He set a fast pace, teasing you by slowly pulling out and then slamming back into you. You knew he was paying you back for all the teasing you had done to him all day, but you would do it all over again if it meant that this was where you landed up every time. You cried out his name as his thrust sent your body higher up the table, your head nearly falling off the side as he fucked you.

Your nails dug into his back and shoulders, leaving crescent shaped marks that would remind him of tonight. He worked his hand into your hair, tugging sharply and swallowing your moan with his lips as he continues to pound his cock into you.

“Harder, please Captain!” you begged, the sting of pain from your scalp shooting to between your legs. He was all around you, every one of your senses filled by him as you writhed beneath him.

“Harder mesh’la? Alright then” he drawled, his voice making you clench around the hard length inside of you. Somehow he pressed you down more into the table, his hips relentlessly slamming into you as he held you even closer to him. Every part of you was touching as he grunted into your ear, loving the cries and moans that he pushed out of you.

Squeezing your legs tighter around his hips, you tugged him as close as you possibly could, body arching into his chest as you felt your core tighten and tighten.

“Fuck, please can I come? Please let me cum now” you gasped, words muffled as you pressed your face into his neck. Thank the Force for his superior hearing because you had a feeling you would combust if he didn’t.

“Think you deserve it? After everything?” he teased, tugging at your hair and squeezing the thighs that was wrapped round him.

“I’ve been good… did everything AH!… that you said” you whined, rolling your hips against his.

“You have, my good girl. So perfect for me” he praised, shifting his hips slightly to hit that spot that had you seeing stars. He hissed at the feeling of your nails digging even more into his skin, but it was marks that he would wear with pride. “Cum, cyare. Let me feel you shake around me” he demanded, slamming once more into you and targetting that special place that had you crying out his name, walls clenching around him as your release washed over you.

Howzer cursed at the feeling of you tightening so much around him that he could barely move, hips stuttering out one, two, three more thrusts before he painted your walls white. He collapsed against your front as your thighs quivered around him, both of you exhausted after your shared relief.

It took what felt like a few minutes for you to come back to yourself, but you didn't want to move, content to just stay in the warmth that Howzer provided for you. Your head felt all fuzzy and warm, happy to be surrounded by his love and care that nothing else mattered. You drew small patterns up and down his back as he gently pushed your hair back away from your face, letting out small soothing sounds that you couldn’t comprehend but they felt nice all the same.

Finally, as the cool night air began to register with you and you could feel his softening cock slip out of you, you grimaced and shivered against his. “Come on mesh’la, we can’t stay here. Let’s move this somewhere else” he murmured, scooping you up in his arms.

Pouting at being disturbed, you clung tighter onto him, wrapping your arms around his neck and burying your face there. Taking a deep breath, you couldn’t help but relax at the soothing scent of him. You felt the soft material of the couch under your back as he lay you down.

“Hmm, my good girl, wait right here” he muttered, pressing a kiss to the crown of your head. Settling you better on your couch, he cupped your cheek before getting up. “Gonna get something to clean us up with” he soothed, hearing the small whine you let out at being away from his warmth.

Within moments, he returned with a bottle of water, a few snacks on a plate and some wipes to clean up the mess you had both made. “Going to clean you up now, sweetheart. I’ll be quick” he assured, spreading your legs and gently guiding the wipes over your sensitive core. He made sure he cleaned up his seed that was beginning to leak out of you before throwing them to one side.

Next, he encouraged you to sit up and lean against his chest, hands rubbing soothingly up and down your sides. “Drink this for me” he instructed, kissing your cheek as he unfastened the bottle and held it up to your lips. He wouldn't let you take hold of it, preferring to do it himself.

Sighing, you snuggled back into him, eyes beginning to slide shut but his chest shook at his small chuckle. You did look so cute as you fought sleep, but he wasn’t done with you yet.

“I know, we’re nearly finished and then we can go cuddle in bed. Need you to eat something for me, love. It’d make me real happy to see that” he whispered, encouraging you to take a few bites out of your favourite snack for him. “That’s a good girl” he mumbled, when you had enough and was curling into his lap even more.

You felt so safe and protected being in his arms, being surrounded by him, and distantly you recognised you were in that wonderful calm head space that allowed you to give up control and just be. Howzer would look after you, he loved you and would make sure that everything was okay.

“Come on mesh’la, lets get you into bed” he smiled softly, burying his face into your hair for a moment more. Once more he picked you up, positioning you just right in his arms so that he could shut everything off and lock the door for the night.

Your head had barely touched your pillow before you felt sleep claiming you. In those few moments before your relinquished consciousness, you heard Howzer whisper how much he loved you into the back of your neck.

[chloeangelic]

Reflection of the Moon,

Ch 6 - Eyes on me

Joel Miller x f!reader

Series masterlist

Series summary: An affair and resulting pregnancy with Joel in post-outbreak Jackson forces you both to reflect on what it means to forgive.

Chapter summary: You and Joel settle into your new roles and your new routine.

Warnings: Smut, age gap (reader is 28, Joel is 52), ass play, fingering, pregnant sex, creampie, fluff, extreme domestic vibes.

Word count: 4.5k Rating: 18+ AO3

A/N: This isn't very long, but it's my favorite chapter so far. I love when Joel is hot and overbearing and I love their dynamic.

All Joel seems to do is work; work to contribute to the community in Jackson, work to make his house a safe place for a baby, and work for your forgiveness, for your love, for you to let him be a present father, a good partner, even a husband if you let him propose to you. He made you promise to let him take care of you, feed you, keep you company, walk you places - overbearing already, not even a new father yet, but you wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The thought of you having a lack of anything makes him incredibly stressed, incredibly worried and incredibly distracted when he’s out on patrol. He desperately needs to know that you have  every little thing you need, whether it’s a safe home or a snack in your bag or a sweater to wear or someone to keep you warm at night. The same routine every morning you leave his house, your lunch, your books, socks, sweater, keys, and you’re coming over for dinner, okay? Come straight here when school’s out and if you ain’t here by five, I’ll come lookin’ for you. 

And when you arrive at his house fifteen minutes late, saying you ran into Abby and Owen and got to chatting; the roll of his eyes, his head shaking, ”Out of control little lady, always got me worried about you”. You roll your eyes at him back, muttering helicopter husband, smoothing your hand down his shoulder while you look at the food he has cooking on the stove. His hand comes up to grab your jaw, tilting your face up to look at him with innocent eyes, batting your eyelashes and stifling a giggle. If you were a good girl and did as you were told, I wouldn’t have to be overbearing, would I now? 

“It’s more fun when you chase me around,” you say, twisting and turning in his grip so you lean your back into his chest, and his hand falls to your stomach, rubbing his palm over your steadily growing bump and running his nose up and down the side of your neck, oh, I bet. You grab the spatula to free up his other hand, and stir around the pan a little, chuckling to yourself, “Imagine how hard your life will be when there’s two of me running around you gotta keep track of.” Don’t remind me, you hear him mutter into your skin, followed by a huff of a laugh. 

Then, after a moment, “You know I’m gonna be the happiest man in the world, right?”, he whispers, and you can hear a little hint of a sniffle as he buries his face in your hair.

“Jesus, don’t tell me you’re fucking crying again, Joel,” you say, trying to sound surprised, annoyed, anything but painfully familiar with how much of a sap this man truly is.

You try to turn around to face him, but his strong arms have snuck under yours and wrapped around your belly, his face dug into the crook of your neck now, not letting you turn around, leaving you to no option but to stand there for a while, running your fingers through his hair, letting your nails drag through his beard on the way down as he kisses your jaw. 

-

Despite having your class schedule written out and hanging on his fridge, Joel somehow manages to interrupt another few classes to drop off your lunch, his inability to remember when your lunch break is, now resulting in your students asking for Mr. Joel quite frequently, and being overjoyed when he comes in the door once again. You wave him in, reaching your hand out and tapping your fingers together like a crab, gimme gimme, gesturing at the lunchbox in his hand.  

He seemed shy, very shy, the first two times he came in, but he seems to have softened over the last little while, opening up more and more, unable to hide his smile when the kids remember his name. You figure you might as well take a breather, and open the box on your desk to see a stack of pancakes, a little container of syrup, and a set of cutlery neatly wrapped up in a little cloth.

“How about-” you start to say as you drizzle the syrup, not paying your students or Joel any mind at all, smacking the tips of your fingers when you’re done pouring, “You all ask Joel anything you want, and I’ll sit here and eat my lunch." 

And so you sit there, listening to their questions and his stories, enjoying your pancakes and looking up at this man, this beautiful and caring and responsible man, who is so good with children and teenagers, so attentive and patient and interested in everything they have to say. It makes your heart flutter and twist around itself, your baby refusing to stay still while you try to eat.

The girls in the front row, gossipy little chicks, giggle and look at you, then at Joel, then back at you, mocking you a little for how longingly you look at him. You don’t care, you could spend your entire day looking at him and listening to him talk, let his voice and his laugh fill your ears over and over. Your heart is about to burst when he tells a dad joke, a really shitty one, finally welcoming the role so warmly, excited about being a father again. 

It comes especially close to bursting when he walks you home and those same little students from the interrupted classes come up and tug at his jacket, wanting to tell him a joke, or a little story, about them or the class or their family, talking to him as if he were their uncle.

He crouches down and entertains them as you stand and watch, hear him laugh as they say, “My dad thinks you're scary but I think you're very nice, Mr Joel.” Despite his size, despite his grumpy demeanor, most of the time, and his ability to be downright terrifying, he is so, so gentle with them, speaking in a voice you’ve never heard from him, one that makes your insides melt, verging on cooing as he speaks the youngest ones. 

“Why are you such a dad?”, you ask as you walk away from the school, your hand locked in his, keeping you warm.

He shrugs, a careful smile tugging at the corner of his lips, “It’s all I know how to be." 

-

Jesus, he mutters as steps inside, looking at himself in the mirror and running his fingers through his hair. “You mind givin’ me haircut?”. he asks, “I got scissors in the bathroom somewhere.” 

You rummage around in the bathroom and listen to him starting dinner downstairs, moving to his bedroom when you’ve ransacked the medicine cabinet and cupboards to no avail. Your rummaging efforts move onto the dresser, carefully sliding a large drawer open to see a stack of baby books, parenting books, probably thirty years old, twenty at best. You pick them up one by one, flipping through to discover his bookmarks near the end of all four of them. 

Your eyes flutter closed and you take a few deep breaths, trying to keep the tears at bay as they press up against your waterline. He’s not leaving, he’s not leaving, he’s not leaving. You think it over and over, whisper it to yourself so you don’t forget. He’s here, and he’s not leaving, and he’s going to be there for you just like he said he would. He loves you and he loves your baby and he’s not leaving. 

Realizing you have to get these books out of your field of vision before you start sobbing, you carefully stack them where they were and move onto the next drawer, finding the scissors immediately. As you walk down the stairs and see Joel in the kitchen, you fight the urge to throw yourself at him and tell him that you accidentally snooped and found the books, that you’re so relieved and happy you want to cry, that you love him so much and you forgive him and you don’t want to be away from him for as much as a day ever again. 

So you snip the scissors a few times as you enter the room and point them towards a chair, motion for him to sit down and position yourself between his legs. You feel his hands sweeping up the back of your leggings as you comb through his hair, sliding up and along your curves and coming to rest on the sides of your bump, his thumbs tracing over his own flannel shirt that you’re wearing. You straighten out one section at a time and carefully cut it, letting it go to make sure it falls into a perfect arrangement. 

You can see his eyes on you the entire time you're combing through his brown and silver curls, trimming them one by one and wrapping them around your fingers to lay them down. Neither of you say anything, the scratch of the scissors the only sound in the room as you furrow your brow in concentration and his eyes soften as he looks at you, the mother of his baby, the love of his life. 

There’s no way of telling how much time is going by as you meticulously make your way through all of those thick, beautiful curls, but you hear Ellie’s door open and close, then open and close again through the window before you’re done. Thank you, mama he murmurs, and you don’t get the chance to say anything before he gets a little kick to this hand in response. You can’t help but giggle and close your eyes, flustered by your baby always giving you away when you try to play it cool with their father. 

“You know I’ll do anything for you, right, angel?”, he asks with a serious expression as you put the scissors down. I do, you smile, your voice barely a whisper as you twist your fingers through his hair. “I’ll give you anything you need, anything you want, you just have to tell me,” he says as his hands find your hips, pulling you down into his lap and resting on your lower back.

You look at each other for a while, nuzzling your noses together, touching each other's hair, shoulders, and hands in silence before he asks, “Will you move in with me?”

“You want me to?”, you ask in a lousy attempt at being sneaky, feeling your heart flutter at his proposal.

“I know things aren’t a hundred percent between us and I don't want you to feel like I’m pressurin’ you to forgive me, I just- I want to at least try to be a family, us three, and Ellie," he threads his fingers through yours and squeezes your palms, pulling you closer, “We can share my bedroom, or you can even get your own, I- I just need you to live with me so I know you're safe, so I can feed you, so I’m there when the baby comes.” 

You look at the little wrinkles forming around his eyes as he smiles, and you avert your eyes in an attempt not to giggle. “And I know you're lazy with your meals on weekends,” he says with a chuckle, playing with your hair, “Just wanna make sure you’re okay.” He carefully wraps his hand around your jaw, looks into your eyes and gives you a kiss, not letting go as you part.

“Will you?”, he asks, sounding on the verge of concern, “Please?”.

You nod as you snake your arms around him, whispering your answer into his ear, of course I will, I’d love to, and feeling him squeeze you gently in response. 

-

You find yourself awake in the middle of the night, the moon shining outside the window and the house completely quiet. You shift around a little and try to get back to sleep, sticking your foot under Joel’s wide back as you lay on your side, hoping that the warmth of his skin will soothe you to sleep, but minutes go by and you feel awake as ever, prompting you to carefully whisper,

 Joel? Are you awake? 

Yeah, you hear from his side of the bed, before he shifts around, finding you under the duvet and pulling you into him, wrapping your leg around his hip and resting your head on his bicep. “Couldn’t sleep?”, he asks softly, brushing the hair away from your face and neck, and you shake your head in response. “Me neither,” he says, putting his arm around your back.

You lay there for a few minutes, looking at each other, scratching his beard with your nails and giving a few soft kisses to the underside of his jaw. His eyes are heavy with sleep but his attention is on you, and you can tell he won’t allow himself to sleep again until you’re peacefully knocked out in his embrace. 

“What animal would you be in another life?”, you whisper, twirling one of his freshly cut, bouncy curls around your finger while he brushes your spine with his fingertips, tracing all the way up, then all the way down, over the curve of your ass and along the back of your thigh.

“Maybe a pistol shrimp,” he responds after a moment of reflection. A ridiculous answer from a ridiculous man.

“What the fuck?”, you mutter, trying to keep it down even though you’re the only two people in the house, “Why would you want that? Seems like a terribly meaningless existence." The room is relatively dark, but the moonlight shining through the window illuminates him enough for you to see the unamused expression on his face.

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with being a shrimp,” he clicks his tongue disapprovingly, “What’s the matter with you? Don't judge.” He tickles your side and pulls you closer, wrapping his arm around your waist and tucking your belly into the softness of his stomach, your baby seemingly still asleep despite the sound and touch of their father usually eliciting a barrage of kicks. 

“How do you think they feel, huh?”, he whispers into your ear, chuckling a little under his breath as the words leave his mouth, “Knowing some lady out there is wonderin’ why anyone would wanna be a shrimp?”

Weirdo, you roll your eyes and he rolls his back, mockingly.

“What would you be?”, he asks.

You take a moment to think, “I don't know… Maybe a raccoon, they're pretty cute.”

He nods a little, “You act like a raccoon.”

“Ah,” you gasp, trying to sound insulted but knowing he’s probably right.

“What?”, he gently takes your hand and squeezes it, rubbing his thumb into your palm, “Grabby little hands all over my fridge and cupboards, can barely keep snacks in there, they always get stolen somehow.” He raises his eyebrows at you, waiting for you to defend your not-so-subtle thievery. 

“It could be Ellie,” you finally say, blinking and biting the tip of your tongue, trying to give him the most innocent eyes you can.

“She's an honest thief, unlike you,” he scolds with false severity, looking at you with piercing eyes.

“Respect my hustle, god damn it,” you whisper through your teeth, “I'm pregnant and constantly hungry, do you have any idea what that’s like?” Your baby starts kicking at that, and Joel laughs, calmly and deeply in his chest, kissing and chuckling against your hairline as he feels the little kicks to the the skin of his stomach. “Someone agrees with me” he says and starts rubbing your belly.

“Mama’s a real thief, isn't she?”, he murmurs, looking down between you and caressing the side of your bump. “Steals my snacks, steals my heart, steals all my time. But I’ll give her anything”, he looks up at you as he slides his hand over your asscheek and squeezes, “Anything she needs, I’ll give to her. Cause she’s my world, I’m not sure if she knows that.”

You maintain a shared gaze for a while, his hand still following the tiny kicks and his smile never leaving his face. You’re so in love with him, so lost in the feel of his warmth surrounding you, keeping you safe. 

You run your hand over his thick shoulder, down his arm, feeling his muscles bulging out and the soft veins running on top of them. He’s so warm, like your own personal furnace, and his face is so soft, the wrinkle between his eyebrows merely a crease now, but the little lines by his eyes are more apparent than ever from how much he’s smiling. You card your fingers through his hair, seeing how his eyes flutter shut at your touch, before he opens them again and you can see the fire in them all of a sudden. “What do you need, mama?”, he asks with his lips on your neck, leaving wet kisses up and down your skin.

“Just you, always you,” you purr as your hand traces up his arm to wrap around the back of his neck. 

“I’m here, angel,” he whispers and rubs his nose against yours, “You gonna have my baby?”

Mhmm, you nod, keeping your face close to his. That’s right, he says under his breath, “You're so beautiful, I love seeing you like this.”

The hand on your belly finds the back of your head, his thumb reaching under your jaw to tilt your face up and back, letting him kiss you, letting him lick into your mouth deeper and deeper as you roll your hips along his thigh. He pulls you closer by your hips, and his hand moves down to the front of your panties, gently tracing along your seam, a little whimper coming from your throat, desperately pleading for him to touch you properly. 

The sound clearly amuses him and he pulls down the front of the fabric just enough to slip his hand in and find your clit, starting to gently rub. “Feels good?”, he whispers as you dig your face into his neck, murmuring, very, as he finds the right spot and moves in slow little circles. He noses your hairline and your cheek as he dips into your opening, slides a single finger in, all the way to the knuckle, just to hear you whimper again when he retracts it, and uses your wetness to slide the pad of his finger around your clit, refusing to speed up despite your hips bucking and your moans getting more desperate. 

“Calm down, baby, just relax,” he whispers, “Focus on your breathing. You’ll come, don’t gotta worry, just enjoy it.”

You take a deep breath and stop squirming, hear his voice in your ear, good girl, and just feel him gently rub you as your clit swells with arousal, getting more sensitive every time he gathers more slick and continues to stimulate you slowly.

“You’re gettin’ close, though, huh, baby?”, he murmurs, and you nod carefully, your eyes closed and your leg laying over his hip completely limp. It feels like every nerve in your entire torso is being stimulated, little waves of pleasure emanating from where he’s touching you, until you slowly reach your peak and your orgasm washes over your entire body, muscles tensing tightly then going slack and loose. Atta girl. 

You pull back from the dark, warm space of his neck as he gently works his fingers inside you, and you kiss him softly, biting his bottom lip a little. “Will you fuck me now? Please?”, you plead, batting your lashes at him, “I did as you told me to, didn’t I?”

He chuckles a little as he slides your panties off and carefully opens your legs, removes his own boxers and places your leg back over his hip, teasing the head of his cock along your slit, lifting his head enough to watch your hips wind up against him. 

“Eyes on me, angel, eyes on me,” he whispers as he wraps his hand around your jaw and angles it up, forcing you to look at him while he slides deep into you, hitting the very end of your pussy, watching your brows knitting and your mouth hanging open. He has you in a complete trance, his eyes dark as ever, somehow still visible in the low light of his bedroom, and you can’t look away as your gaze is lost in his.

You’ve never felt closer to him than you do now, completely wrapped up in him and filled by him, his overwhelmingly big and muscular body setting the pace, his thick cock rocking into you. You love being at his mercy, being soft for him and letting him touch and lick and rub and fuck any part of you he wants. He knows your body like the back of his hand, knows just when he's hitting the right spot, when you're getting close, and when you need him to murmur filthy little words of encouragement to make you come. 

Just like that, he praises as he grinds into you, angling his body so his pelvis rubs your clit. Your little nub has been aching and throbbing for attention again already, fucking hormones and the mere presence of this painfully gorgeous man, finally getting relief as you feel the pressure from his groin pulling at your skin and exposing the most sensitive part of you to him. His thick hair tickles your outer lips and the constant friction on your clit gets you closer with little whimpers of his name. He keeps grinding, holding your jaw and looking into your eyes until your pussy flutters around him and you start squirming, hearing the rumble in his chest while you come on him. Such a good girl for me, huh? he whispers, and you moan, long and drawn out and guttural, his name somewhere in the mix but barely coherent. 

You muster up the energy to say what’s been on your mind since you woke up, what you’ve been meaning to tell him for a while now, since it dawned on you that he isn’t leaving, that he isn’t scared anymore, that all he wants is to be with you and be exactly what you and your baby need. There they are, right on the tip of your tongue, the words he’s been waiting to hear, falling from your lips while you take him deep inside you, suck him in and squeeze around him, I forgive you. I forgive you, Joel. He watches you as you ride the waves, his face softening as he cranes his neck down to whisper I love you so much, my angel, I’ll always love you, for the rest of my life and forever, I love you while you shake and tremble and dig your nails into his back. You murmur a weak I love you too before you turn into putty under him. 

“Can- can you fuck me deeper?”, you ask in the form of an exasperated whisper.

“You always want me deeper, don’t you?”, he’s so amused. He pulls you close, splaying his large hand over the small of your back, caressing your skin with his thumb. You giggle, mhmmm, and he pulls out of you, then uses both hands to gently flip you over onto your hands and knees, running his palms along the length of your back, stuffing a pillow under you to make sure you’re comfortable, and pressing kisses all the way down your spine.  

He slides back into you, smooths his hands across the globes of your ass while you adjust to the angle, and waits to hear you moan into the pillow before he speeds up, starting to pull your hips back onto him while he slams into you. He pauses for a second, spits a glob of saliva down onto your asshole and rubs it in with his thumb before slowly pressing his finger into you, hearing you groan in pleasure as he pushes it further in. The stretch and pressure makes your clit ache and your walls clench around him, whining for him to go faster, faster, please, while you bring your hand to yourself and start rubbing. 

“Fuck, baby, so tight,” he groans, “Rub that little clit for me, lemme feel you come around my cock." You try to moan in agreement, an incoherent mess at this point as you touch yourself with a shaky hand, feeling his cock hit just the right spot over and over and over, making you arch your back to take him deeper, as deep as he wants. My beautiful, good girl, so pretty he coos, pushing his thumb a little deeper, and you’re close, speeding up your movements until you come with a violent, full-body jerk, your asshole fluttering around his finger, and collapse onto your chest, legs only held up by Joel’s arm around your hips, folding you in half. 

“Can’t get over how beautiful you are,” he murmurs, “The moment I saw you I thought you were the prettiest little thing I’d ever seen.” He squeezes the flesh of your ass with both hands, bending down to kiss between your shoulder blades while he sits back on his heels and pulls you into his lap, snaking an arm across your front to lift you up a little and wrap his hand around your throat while he fucks up into you slowly. You grab his thighs and lean your head back onto his shoulder, closing your eyes and enjoying how deep he is inside you, right where you crave him. 

“You feel so good, baby, so good,” he whispers, grunting and groaning as he slides his hand down your belly, coming down to right above your mound and pushing into your bump. You move together, feeling the energy circulating between you as you tilt your head sideways and catch his lips in yours, panting into each other while he pistons into you. “You’re gonna make me come, my love,” he murmurs into your mouth, and you squeeze as much as you can around him while he gives you a final thrust, and his warm, smooth load fills you while his cock throbs and pulsates deep in you, his accompanying growl creating goosebumps all over your body. 

-

“Are- are we together for real now?”, you ask with a hint of a laugh, “Can I call you my boyfriend?”

Joel scowls at you, smiling as she rolls his eyes. “I'm insulted if you haven't already,” he says, and you snort in response.

“What?” he asks, looking at your lips and back up at your eyes.

“I kinda already did… To my nosy students,” you admit, no louder than a whisper.

“Of course you did,” he mutters as he starts wrapping the duvet around you, “I’ll go make breakfast, just stay here till I come get you, okay, angel?”

I have ditched my taglists, due to the majority of tags not working, and have created a notifications blog instead. Follow Angelic Notifs and turn your notifications on if you want my new fics served directly to you!

[theyapper0]

PART THREE OF "DISHONORED GUESTS"

Charlie's??? Super confused? But she goes with it, albeit a bit thrown off by the sudden subject change, “Uh… no. ‘Still just Angel”

Emily: Angel? There's an angel in Hell!? 

Charlie's like, oh no, LOL! I'm talking about Angel DUST, a really good friend of mine and our first patron at the hotel!!!! Angel Dust is just a performing name! You get it? Angel Dust? 

Emily does not get it.

Charlie: One of the things he's trying to work on is getting clean and Angel Dust started using that name a long time ago. It's a another word for-

Adam: Uh! Charlie! Umm… Emily, don't worry about that! 

Adam leans into Charlie and says how Sera doesn't like having Emily hear that kinda stuff

Charlie’s TOTALLY confused now, she just sorta stares at him like??

Emily sighs, more than used to this, and is like, “Okay….”

Charlie looks at Emily and then at Adam like, “Great! ‘Glad we got that outta the way! Okay, see you at the Trial, Adam!!! ^^”

Adam: Oh! Uh… Alright, you two..!

When they’re a little further away, Charlie asks Emily if she’d like to hear about Angel Dust and other stories from Hell. Not in like an evil way but in like a friendly way :)

Emily’s a grown woman and Charlie doesn’t understand why she would need permission from her sister to hear certain things, obviously he knows that Sera is sorta overbearing because she cares for Emily but at the same time, she knows it’s also stifling Emily a LOT

Emily OF COURSE agrees like OMG FOR REAL?? YES!!!!!!

Adam stared at them as they left.

He knew what was happening.

(Why doesn’t he ever act?)

Cut. The Sun is beginning to set, the Trial will be in a couple hours. 

Vaggie is walking around the Heavenly cathedral, looking for Sera. 

She needed to leave. She HAD to leave, if she doesn't, Lute will tell not just everyone, but CHARLIE, that she's a….

Vaggie knew that if she were to ask Sera that she wished to leave, the Seraphim would be MORE than happy to conjure up a portal back to Hell no questions asked. 

Charlie didn't TRULY need Vaggie here for the Trial, she only thought she did. If Vaggie were to leave, sure, Charlie would be sad, but she'll get so distracted from preparing for the Trial that she'll forget that her girlfriend had even come with her in the first place!! 

Charlie comes up from behind her, “Sera? Why're you looking for her?” 

Vaggie: AAHAATTOOoooo ask her… where you were! HAHAHA! I just knew you were having such a good time with Emily and I wanted to make sure you were okay!!!! 

Charlie's like you could've called me :( and Vaggie apologizes

Charlie: It's fine, no worries! I'm just glad you ended up coming out for some air! Speaking of, man, even the air feels better to breathe in! 

Vaggie tells her that it was because there was no air pollution in Heaven  

Charlie: How do they even power their factories? Magic? 

Vaggie: Probably

Charlie smiles at her and kisses her, “I missed you, Emily showed me all these amazing places! Did you know the parks here aren't constantly on fire? Or filled with garbage!!!

Vaggie: That probably helps with the lack of a pollution problem here 

Charlie laughs and tells her that she totally has a point. 

Charlie: Oh wait!! I got you something!! A little thank you for coming with me today!! I know you don't really dig Heaven but you came anyway… for me. I just want you to know how much it means to me. 

Charlie gives Vaggie a golden, handheld blade sharpener.

Vaggie is completely awestruck and she stares at it as Charlie speaks, “Me and Emily got stickers and we were gonna put them all over but we figured that since it's YOURS, you should get to pick where you want them… or if you want them on it in the first place!”

Vaggie looks at the handle, on the butt of it is a sticker. 

Charlie: Ok so I might've realized that AFTER I already put one on…

Vaggie smiles with a light laugh, she hugs Charlie, “Charlie, I love it. Thank you so much, babe”

Charlie: You don't need to thank me, Vaggie!! I love you”

They kiss (⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥

Charlie: We still have a few hours till the Trial, I'm gonna go over all our points! Feel free to join me whenever!! 

Vaggie stays where she stood, watching as Charlie turns around to walk away

Lute’s words- her threats, are clawing at the inside of her brain. If Vaggie showed up to that Trial, if she saw Lute, everything would be revealed…

Vaggie needed to leave. 

Vaggie: Wait, Charlie..!

Charlie turns around, “Hm? Yeah, Vaggie?”

Vaggie: I…

Vaggie: Do you really need me here for this..? I mean, you’re basically the one who thought of all our arguments for this Trial, I don't want to… hold you back”

Charlie: Vaggie… Everything we have, we built from the ground up TOGETHER. You're just as an integral part in this as I am, we're a team. 

Charlie: I couldn't think of anyone else I'd rather have here with me than you- I WOULDN'T WANT anyone else with me here than you

Vaggie stared up at her. 

Shit….

How could she leave now? Not after such a confession like that. 

Charlie didn't NEED Vaggie here, she really didn't. Honestly, either one of them could have gone here to fight in this Trial and all would be fine, they both knew their material. 

But Charlie WANTED Vaggie to be here… with her. 

Vaggie: I uh….

Vaggie: I guess we can go over everything together…

Cut. Charlie and Vaggie are outside the grand doors of the Courtroom. 

Charlie is FREAKING OUT!!!! The Trial's just MINUTES from starting!!!! FUUUUUCK!!!!!!! 

Vaggie reassures her that everything's gonna be fine and to not stress so much 

While Vaggie's telling her this, she eyes Lute approaching them in the corner of her eye

Vaggie: How about you go set up and get organized inside, you'll feel better once you start doing something. I'm just gonna head to the bathroom real quick

Charlie's like, “Can I come?? 🥺”

Vaggie: Charlie…

Charlie: Okay, okay! You're right, I'm gonna go

They give each other a quick kiss before Charlie runs inside

As Charlie leaves, Lute finally reaches Vaggie. 

Lute: You're still here. 

Vaggie: Don't you have Adam to follow? 

Lute: I've extended my grace towards you because of our past, old protégé.

Lute: But you've completely disregarded that

Vaggie ignores Lute, trying to walk away and down the hall. 

Lute grabs her shoulder, “It would do you good to listen to the people above you”

Lute: I thought I taught you well… 

Lute: But I'll make sure you learn. 

Vaggie jerks her shoulder away, “Don't touch me!”

They tussle for a bit and eventually Lute roughly grabs hold of Vaggie's arm and shoves her into the Courtroom.

They both enter the Courtroom and it's quiet, there's only a couple murmurings here and there. 

Vaggie goes to Charlie and Lute to Adam.

Charlie and Emily are talking to each other. Adam was watching them from afar but then was completely thrown off once he saw Lute enter with Vaggie

This is the first time Adam is seeing Vaggie today and UMM???? WHAT?! SHE’S ALIVE?!?!?!?!!?!?

(In this rewrite/AU/thing, everyone thought Vaggie died by Lute once she was banished from Hell)

Adam looks at Lute and there’s no time to explain anything.

Sera: The Trial will now commence!

Sera: We are here to determine whether or not a mortal soul in Hell can be redeemed into the heavenly realm via means of this “Hazbin Hotel”

Sera: All mortal souls, in order to grant passage into eternal bliss, must follow the Ten Commandments. If they do not, they are sentenced to the fiery wrath of damnation.

Charlie speaks up, “Yes but a mortal’s life isn’t over when they die- so to speak!”

“They're still conscious and aware of their actions and consequences even IN the afterlife! If they are just as lucid as they were when they were alive, that means their principals and morals are continuously subject to change just like anyone else!”

Charlie: I believe our Hazbin Hotel has the potential to reform Sinners! 

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Hate you so much.

Room Service

No warnings. Please leave some feedback if you like this tasty helping of Mr. Pine.

Your phone jitters as you use your hip to close the cab door. You would be annoyed that the driver wasn’t there to do it himself but the days of men opening doors or helping you with your bags are far behind. You roll your suit case across the pavement as you push your thumb across the screen. As you do, your purse falls off the rolling bag and hits the ground. 

You hold back a growl as you focus on the call, “yes, sir, I’ve just arrived at the hotel. The delay was not long at all.” 

You cradle the phone with your shoulder and cheek and bend awkwardly to pick up your purse. Oof, not a good idea. Your knee throbs in protest. 

“Not to worry. I only wanted to be sure you were sorted. The conference will be tomorrow and you’ll need a good night’s sleep,” he insists. 

You could sigh in agitation. Mr. Pine isn’t the worse boss you’ve had, and you have many to compare to. He is the most considerate but it does grow overbearing. You’re older than him. You can well handle yourself as much as you handle his business. 

“Oh, trust me, it’s my priority too.” You assure him as you stand and refrain from grunting at the pang behind your shoulder. 

“Well, don’t waste any more time. Make sure you are well-rested,” he insists. “And again, thank you for coming all this way.” 

“My job, sir.” 

You hang up and regain your balance. You drag your bag up to the hotel doors as your handbag slides to the crook of your elbow, and you grip your phone tight as the automatic doors open before you. At least they see you. 

You cross the lobby to the desk and try to shrug away your agitation. You’re not the girl who could drink off jetlag in the hotel bar anymore. You need a hot bath, or maybe even some ice. 

“Hello, checking in,” you slide your phone into your purse and trade it for your passport, “here you are. Thank you.” 

“Yes, ma’am,” the front desk clerk takes your ID and types on her slender keyboard. “Ah, yes, your suite is ready. I’ve held a key for you.” 

You hesitate at that statement. Yes, that is a hotel works. They have a key ready. Don’t. She is doing her job, well, mind you. You accept the keycards and your passport. 

“Oh, and ma’am, happy birthday,” she smiles brightly. Travelers must adore that look. 

You hesitate then look at your handful. Of course. She read your birthdate. You try to smile. “Thank you. That’s... lovely. Have a good evening. I hope no one gives you trouble. I was once in the same place as you.” 

“Thank you,” she chimes. “Enjoy your stay.” 

You make your way up to the suite swiftly. You don’t tarry in the hallway as you stifle a yawn. A glass of wine, no more, or you’ll be assured an even bigger headache than the altitude already blessed you with. 

You approach the door with the number that matches your key and as you swipe, the door opens from within. Oh, no. Of course, it was too easy. She gave you the wrong--  

“Mr. Pine?” You utter in shock. “Apologies, I must’ve been given--” 

“None needed. Surprise. Happy Birthday,” he sweeps his arm back and holds the door open as he angles parallel to the wall. You peer past him into the room. You see a bottle of wine and tall box. 

“Happy Birthday?” You echo. “How...” 

“I wouldn’t forget,” he grins. 

Right. Always a bouquet on your desk but this year, you don’t have a desk for that. You try not to let your disappointment show. You were entirely prepared to be alone. Looking forward to it even. 

“This is wonderful, Mr. Pine. Unexpected to say the least,” you say. 

“Please. I must admit, I love surprises and I’ve been waiting,” he intones as he beckons you in. 

You enter and your bag bounces against your heel painfully. You withhold a sneer. The whole world is working against you. Or maybe you just can’t keep up. 

“Do you know that there is more than one special occasion?” Pine asks as he reaches around you to grab the handle of your suitcase. 

“The conference is tomorrow...” 

“You’re amusing. Business-minded as ever. No, it has been ten years.” 

“Ten...” 

“Since you began. Do you recall?” He smirks. It feels taunting even though you know it isn’t. 

“Right, time does go by,” you say. Yes, then he was the young upstart who happened to be your boss. It hasn’t changed all that much. A few more lines around his eyes but age does look better on him. 

“What kind of boss would I be if we didn’t celebrate?” He leaves your bag by the wall, “come, I’ve got sparkling wine and...” he goes to the box and lifts it, unveiling three tiers, “cake.” 

“A lot of cake,” you remark. One bite will go straight to the cottage cheese in your thighs. 

“Leftovers. We have a whole week, yes?” 

Don’t remind me, you think dryly. 

“I don’t usually have dessert on an empty stomach,” you say. 

“Well, we have wine to wash it down,” he takes the bottle again and pops the cork. You suck back a sigh. He’s so nice it makes you want to throttle him. He’s your boss, sweetie. Reel it in. 

“Thank you,” you watch him pour a glass as you set down your purse. 

“I was uncertain of what you prefer but white is always refreshing,” he offers you the glass. 

You take it and hold it in front of you. He fills one for himself as you watch. He raises it to give cheers. You humour him and peek at the bed. How you wish you could fall into it face first. 

You taste the fizzy wine. It’s more expensive than the stuff you get. Another birthday, ten years at the same job, you feel the years flowing with the alcohol. 

“It’s to your tastes?” He wonders. 

“I never complain for free wine. Especially after a long flight,” you scoff. 

“Please, don’t let me infringe upon your relaxation,” he says. 

“I’m fine,” you assure him. “I’m more worried about you. You have a presentation.” 

“I could give it in my sleep,” he waves you off. 

“Right. Well...” you pace around and sip. 

“May I confess something?” He asks. 

You stop and face him again. “Should I fear termination? I think I’ve aged out of the job market.” 

He laughs, “no, quite the opposite. I value you, you’re a wonderful assistant but you are too fine an asset to keep to myself as such. I require a night manager.” 

“Night manager... but you--” 

“Have acquired the hotel in my name. Salom has moved on. He does bore easily.” 

“Night manager,” you ponder the cake and wine. 

“You will have time to consider of course. This all is... not to convince you. It is a genuine gesture of appreciation.” 

You nod and finish the glass. “Excuse me.” 

You set the stemmed glass down and peer around. You strut to the bathroom and close yourself in. You’ve been holding it since the plane. You take your time, trying to clear your mind. Manager... that means dealing with people. More people. But it’s a promotion. And money. 

You wash your hands slowly and stare at your reflection. You’re not getting any younger, you might at least get richer. You shut off the tap and dry your hands. Another glance as you furrowing your brow at the mirror. 

These conferences are full of gross men in their overpriced suits who can’t keep their hands to themselves. They come to flirt with the pretty front desk clerks more than they come to listen to each other bawk about numbers. It is left to the crones like you to do the real work. 

You shake your head and emerge. At first, the room appears empty. You hesitate and look around, only to gasp and slip out of your left heel as it catches on the edge of the rug. You stare in shock at the sight draped across the hotel bed. 

Mr. Pine in not much at all. A small, immodest pair of white boxers. His long and formidable figure is corded with tight muscles and his eyes glimmer with trouble. You tilt your head. Speechless.  

“Mr. Pine.” 

“I think we are past formalities,” he purrs as he leans his head in his hand, his other trailing down his body as if to emphasize its perfection. “It is your night, darling. I am yours as well.” 

[lunarw0rks]

Hi!!! I just wanna start by saying I love your writing so much. I always look forward to seeing what you share next!

Can I request a little something about reader who grew up never really having their birthday celebrated/they always downplay it. Then here comes Soap who loves nothing more than to celebrate his loves ones and reader is touched and basically almost sobs at how he genuinely enjoys making their day special🥺

This is totally not a self-indulgent ask whatsoever. If you can get to this, that'd be sweet but if not that's ok too! Have a great day💗

warning(s); sfw, fluff, hurt/comfort, pining? but still platonic by the end, military!reader, gn!reader, no use of y/n word count: 1.6k // not proofread

TRADITIONS | SOAP MACTAVISH

birthday celebrations were never on your radar, and especially not after choosing such a rugged career.

there often wasn't time for streamers and light conversation; it was anything but those things. throughout your childhood, there weren't momentous parties or cheery wishes thrown your way. it was... not much of a celebration at all.

after you grew out of your innocence, the sting of it disappeared over time. or you learned to ignore it. either way, you never expected parties, gifts, or anything alike.

it was better this way; you'd repeat to yourself.

yet, when passing a park and seeing a child's entire kin gathered to celebrate the milestone—you have that same cramp in your chest as if you hadn't aged at all.

today was akin to any other; exhausting. long hours of PT and drills, paired with new material to study, courtesy of Price. the busier the better, though, because it was less chance of your captain mentioning the big day, even in passing.

thankfully, he hadn't, nor did the rest of them.

it was the peaceful hours before official lights out, when every soldier retreated to their quarters and occupied themselves with something, or simply slept early. you sat down on the thin cot with a beat sigh, unzipping your tight boots and setting them aside—procrastinating shining them by morning.

through all the uncertainty, there's one thing you're sure of—a steamy shower. the hot beads of water cleanse you of the dirt and grime of today and its meaning.

you figure that once you get into bed and tomorrow rolls around, it'll be another birthday stifled and forgotten.

one moment, you're sitting on the edge and applying lotion to your dry and cracked hands, and next, you're startled by a knock at the door. you gazed at the digital clock on your nightstand;

10:38 PM

at this hour, what could it possibly be? with this task force, you'd been conditioned to expect anything, at any time—and that did not inspire confidence at the moment.

"it's open," you replied reluctantly, not wanting to get the doorknob greasy with lotion remnants. with a few struggling grunts, the door finally opened and closed.

his hairstyle, as recognizable as ever. "there ya are." he said with enthusiasm, in the likeness of an over-excited detective that solved a tough case.

"c'mere for a minute," he curled his fingers. despite his cheeky smile, you indulge his request. slipping off the edge, you approach him and supply only a perplexed look.

you were quickly running out of guesses, "Mactavish, what is—"

an explosion; tiny fragments falling like ash all around your body. some landed in your hair, others on your shoulders, and most on the leaden cement floor of the barracks.

you opened your eyes after they squinted from the startle. you grabbed the dainty rain, looking down and seeing rainbow confetti pieces. soap's palm was open, and he was actively chuckling at your shocked expression.

"hello, you in there? happy birthday?" he says, as a question, because you haven't had much of a reaction. to him, it probably looked like you hated the surprise.

a rush of emotions pumped through you; disbelief, gloom, and overbearing all—consolation.

warmth spread over your chest and cheeks, and you're suddenly overcome with all the feelings at once. you fumbled through a sentence, "oh, you didn't have to— really, Soap, it's... wait, how did you do the...?"

"—the confetti?" soap sneers, as if he'd been waiting for you to mention his party trick. "trick o' the palm, i can't tell ye more; it's classified."

for a few moments, you stare at one another. his beam is genuine, but yours is unsure and borderline awkward. when you're literally smacked in the face with surprise, everything feels unrefined and alien. especially birthdays.

"don't be daft, had to help you celebrate. besides, you didn't say anythin' today." lightly, he smacked your shoulder, knocking the silence from your throat.

"I just don't see the point, I guess," you reply, and soften your expression to make it known that you still appreciate the kind gesture. following, you shook off some of the confetti from your shoulders as if ridding your body of the festivities.

soap furrows his brows with genuine confusion, "in what? confetti or my presence?"

"in birthdays." you assert, a stark contrast to his playful nature. "never really celebrated one before."

his shock was authentic and obvious, pulled together with slightly agape lips, "you can't be serious— never?" you nodded, sticking to your story, because it wasn't a story at all. it was your truth. "don't you want gifts? all the attention? what about the cake?"

"it's not from a lack of trying, MacTavish. you can't exactly... want something you've never had." you scoff, looking the eager sergeant up and down.

he does the same, and his heart sinks when he senses no lies. you really aren't lying, and you really are this indifferent about your own birthday.

to him, it's completely unheard of. birthdays were some of his core memories, his own and his family back home. how could you have been deprived of that for so long, and be so... collected?

"doesn't matter where you came from, or why; you deserve a celebration."

his merriment wasn't posed as a question anymore, and you didn't want it to be either. part of you—so deep down you hadn't felt it right away—wanted to be celebrated on your special day.

all of it caught up with you at once, and without any strength to conceal it, tears brimming at the corners of your eyes. a glimpse of your damaged and long-deprived inner child, presented through a grown soldier's body.

he brought you closer, a supportive hand on the nape of your neck as you clung to him tightly. "thank you." you muttered, chin resting on his shoulder.

"aye, but it's nothing." soap pulled you back, forcing you to stare at him head on. a thumb reached up and wiped the salty tears, then smoothed over your cheek. "y'know what, I know what we've got t' do." he breathes, voice dropping to a whisper, as if concealing his idea from the world.

your face scrunched in confusion. "we?"

as if ignoring your question, he kept rambling, "you have holiday coming up. request time off, and i'll take you all the way home with me."

"all the way home?" you queried, unsure of what kind of holiday to be picture. with him, it could be anything under the blazing sun.

he slowed down his speech and affirmed, "all the way home." it dawned on you what he meant, but nothing sour arose from that idea.

"Nana, she'll put on one hell of a party for you, trust me." finally, his rambles had calmed, awaiting your reaction. it was near impossible to refuse his puppyish demeanor, the one he shifted into when he wanted something the most.

"cake?" you questioned, surprising him with almost no argument. the nonchalance had to look uncanny, considering your cheeks were still stained with streams.

he grinned with satisfaction. "aye, 'course there's cake. can't forget the streamers, and best of all—the MacTavish rugrats, and brood, in one place."

well, now that sounded more like a nightmare; your mind filled with the image of a hundred little mohawks reaping havoc on your birthday party. but in the middle of the chaos would be you and soap; the only mildly convincing part of this scheme.

"i can't expect your whole family to gather and plan a party for someone they've never met. let alone m—"

"well, actually, that's the kicker," he interjected, unveiling a new layer to his little birthday scheme. one he could've been planning for god knows how long. "Nan is having a get-together around that time, it won't be a fuss f' her."

you would be nearly stunned if it weren't for a few pressing questions. what he'd said early hit you like a ton of bricks, and now it was full-on suspicion. "wait a minute, johnny. how did you know i had holiday time?"

it all seemed too much of a coincidence. and that's because, it wasn't.

for a man trained to endure the worst kinds of torture, he cracked under the pressure almost instantly.

"may have... done some digging in Cap's office. that's how i figured out your birthday." he figured it better to rip off the bandaid preemptively than have deflected now and have you throwing him out the airplane window.

you gasped slightly, "christ, is privacy illegal in this place? actually, that probably is illegal, MacTavish, i could have you—"

"—are ye goin' with me or not?" soap interrupted.

it wasn't like you said no. just like it wasn't the first time he'd mentioned you to his family. but that was a skeleton to uncover on another day, and hopefully not during the plane ride.

you outstretched a hand, "if you're paying? a deal is a deal."

"see? wasn't so hard. besides, i know i'm hard to deny." he ran an arrogant hand through his hair, instead of shaking your hand proper.

instead of complaining, you knew just how to press his buttons. "come to think of it, johnny." you tilted your head, reading to have the last laugh.

"you have any embarrassing juvenile stories? or better yet, does Nana have any baby pictures i might like to see?" you continued, watching his haughtiness fizzle instantly.

he took a few steps back, cheeks rosy, "you know what— in two hours that birthday of yours will be over, and you know what happens then? first dibs on my knuckles, soldier."

that tells you the answer was yes.

on second thought, this was going to be a very fun excursion.

˗ˏˋ divider cred. - cafekitsune ˎˊ˗

[king-bumis-armpit]

Separation Anxiety

Written for Maiko Week 2024 - Separation

Summary: Mai takes Izumi to her family’s reunion, and Zuko stays home. It's a horrible time for both of them.

Author’s Note: I really thought I was going to stick to the prompt this time, but then the first part sort of got away from me. And I really had to hold back because my inner Kataang was about to unleash. I was about to write a whole mini-fic about them inside of this one, but I exercised restraint. I did not however exercise restraint on my thoughts about Mai’s upbringing. As a result, this is way longer than I intended. Oh well… I hope you enjoy! :)

TW: Anxiety about being parents and misogyny from Mai’s family members. I made Michi kind of awful. But there’s a happy ending, I promise!

WC: 4,276

Zuko took a deep breath and stared at his large empty bed. It had been a long while since he had to sleep alone. He sat down slowly, as if the bed might vanish at the last second before he made contact. He leaned back and tried to get comfortable, but he ended up tossing and turning until his memories overtook him.

— — 

When he and Mai were newlyweds, they agreed never to spend more than a week apart at a time. Sometimes the obligations of royalty made this vow difficult to keep, but they had managed. In fact, Zuko had been in Yu Dao when Mai found out that she was pregnant. They had been trying for some time, so Mai was ecstatic when she told him. 

Her excitement was contagious, but anxiety quickly infected him as well. He couldn’t stop thinking about what could have happened to her while he was away. What if she had fallen ill? Or what if an Ozai loyalist cell re-emerged and attacked her? Thankfully, most of the organized movements had died down after Azula had willingly turned herself in. But that was another consideration, what if Azula tried to get revenge on Mai while he was gone? He knew that Mai was more than capable of protecting herself, and normally that was enough to allay his fears, but the new worry for their child fractured his restraint. 

Zuko doubled Mai’s guard and silently promised himself to stay by her side for the rest of her pregnancy. He knew that his actions would probably annoy his wife, but surprisingly she was not the first to complain.

“Zuko, she’s pregnant, not helpless,” his mother chided him. She had cornered him in one of the hallways about a week after his return from Yu Dao. “There are always going to be circumstances beyond your control, but Mai is fully competent to go about her daily life without a small army. You need to give her space to breathe. Give your baby space to grow.”

Zuko relented and recalled the extra guards he had assigned, but then he added a pair of covert guards to keep watch without being stifling. For her part, Mai found the incident somewhat amusing. 

As they ate dinner together, she commented on the change: “Yesterday, I had a whole coterie. Today all I get are a few extra shadows.”

Zuko sighed. “Mom told me I was being overbearing. But I’m worried about you. What if something happens? You’re my whole world Mai.”

Mai turned red. “I’m impressed that anything you say can still make me blush after you impregnated me, but here we are.” Zuko chuckled, and Mai continued, “Normally I wouldn’t be cool with extra guards out of nowhere. I’m your wife and your equal, so I would like to be included in the conversation the next time you think about changing up my security detail.” 

She gave him a pointed look, and Zuko took her hand. “I’m sorry. I should have asked you first. We can ditch the elite guards if you want.

Mai’s eyes softened and she brought his hand to her cheek. “No, it’s okay. I’m not angry this time, I just want you to talk to me about things like this in the future.” She kissed his palm and set their hands on the table.

Zuko smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I didn’t want to upset you. I’ve never seen you so happy. And I’m happy too! I’m just…”

“Zuko, I’m scared too. I really want this baby to come out healthy. I’ve been carrying this list of foods I can’t have anymore, and I read it at least five times before I eat anything,” she admitted sheepishly. Mai produced said scroll from one of her dart holsters of all places. Zuko felt himself fall even more in love. The whole thing was just so Mai.

After that conversation, the pair discussed their concerns much more openly. In the worst moments, they both feared that they would take on the worst qualities of their parents. Zuko started to feel phantom pains in his scar that hadn’t plagued him since he was a teenager. They made pact after pact to hold each other accountable and to love the baby no matter what and to keep them safe. 

But even talking about their fears in the open helped to lift the burden. The anxiety didn’t dissipate, but it became easier to bear. Zuko loved talking to Mai’s bump when she began to show. Mai teased him for being silly, but he knew she secretly loved it. They redecorated the palace nursery to be less austere and more inviting. And Aang and Katara often visited with their son Bumi. 

When Mai went into labor, Katara helped her through the whole process until Princess Izumi had safely arrived. Aang was on babysitting duty. Not for Bumi, who Aang considered to be his full time sidekick, but for Zuko, who could only watch his wife’s agony for so long until he needed a dad to dad pep talk. 

Thankfully, Zuko managed to collect himself in time to meet his baby girl in her first moments. Mai had suggested the name Izumi, and Zuko immediately knew that it was right when he saw her tiny red face. She captivated his heart from her first breath and– after a brief embrace from Mai– Zuko was the first person to truly hold her. When the nurses took her for her health check, Zuko almost refused. Looking at her perfect little face, he realized that he could never become his father. He swore to himself on that day to always be by her side when she needed him.

— — 

Zuko gave up on trying to sleep and began to pace in his room. Without Mai, his bed was too cold and too big. Michi, his mother in-law, had insisted that she and Izumi attend her family reunion. Zuko had been invited, but his advisors had already scheduled the large annual conference of the provincial governors for the same weekend. He didn’t want to sabotage Mai’s opportunity to see her family, but he had desperately wanted her to stay.

And little Izumi was only four. Would she be sad when he wasn’t there to wake up with her at sunrise as he had been for the past four years? Since his job and his nature as fire-bender necessitated early mornings, when Izzy was a baby they decided that Mai would be in charge of bed time and night-time feedings and Zuko would take over in the wee hours of the morning. This arrangement worked surprisingly well, and continued long after Izzy started eating solid food. Zuko loved that he always had a few hours with his daughter. In the early days, he had a crib installed in his office so he could get a start on the his work after she fell back asleep. Now she was big enough to run through his forms with him. Zuko didn’t want to put any pressure on her to be bender or not, so he would alternate between Firebending forms and other martial arts. Would she practice them without him? She didn’t have any of them committed to memory but she would often try to show off to Mai with gusto. He smiled at the thought.

But he quickly frowned again, knowing he wouldn’t be there to see. “Ugh!” he grabbed his hair and berated himself: “Don’t be such a coward! You’ve slept on the road with nothing but a stolen ostrich horse. You can handle two nights with them.”

He walked over to Mai’s vanity and sat. He picked up a book that she recently finished reading and thumbed through the pages. Then, he picked up her jar of perfume and sprayed it experimentally. He inhaled her signature scent and sighed. 

Truthfully, he was worried about her well-being away from him too. He wasn’t arrogant enough to assume that she couldn’t go-on without his presence for a few measly days, but he knew how her mother and grandparents could be. Even when she was little, he recalled how Michi would nitpick at her posture or her expression or her word choice. He was ashamed that it took him so long to realize just how conditional her parental affection was. 

In retrospect, it made sense why she loved her uncle just as much as he loved his. When he first met the Warden of the Boiling Rock, he didn’t quite see the appeal. The man was terrifying and brutish and he had a nasty power-complex. But it all fit into place when he saw them together at the wedding. Michi had been chiding Mai for getting her wedding slippers dusty during their first dance, and Zuko was about to ask her to leave. He couldn’t believe that she chose that moment to undercut her daughter, but the Warden stepped in. “Oh knock it off! This is her palace, not a prison yard. How about you go get a drink while I dance with my niece.” And just like that, Mai’s super traditional and stuck-up uncle led her in the camelephant strut. They were both a bit clumsy, especially Mai since her robes were constantly in the way, but their rare and radiant smiles made the moment perfect.

Aunt Mura was another advocate for Mai, but her support was more quiet and diplomatic. A hand on the shoulder here, and words of encouragement there. Mura was so much more gentle and less acerbic than Michi, that it was easy to forget that she had been raised with the same unfair expectations. She approached her sister with more empathy than Zuko was willing to extend.

Zuko hoped that the pair of them would keep Michi in line. Unfortunately, from his limited contact he knew that Mai’s grandparents might also pose a problem. He had a sudden and unpleasant vision of Mai’s grandmother and Michi making comments about Izumi’s behavior. He gritted his teeth. He knew Mai wouldn’t stand for it, but it set him on edge. 

Mai had really come into her own as a Fire Lady. She was always very calm in a crisis, but she spoke passionately about the issues that moved her. She would let her excitement show when her projects came to fruition. She learned how to be vulnerable in order to build trust with their citizens.

His biggest fear was that she would return, and, after their separation, some of that precious progress would be undone. And that Izumi’s light would shine a little dimmer in turn.

He stood from the vanity and shook his head, as if he could dislodge the poisonous thoughts. Normally when something caused him to worry, he would talk about it with his wife. Now he was at a loss. Maybe a nice walk in the cool night air would clear his mind. He could visit Druk in the stables. He muttered to himself as he made his way, “She’s an adult. She doesn’t need you breathing down her neck.” 

— — 

Mai was on the verge of tears. She needed Zuko desperately. 

They had left early that morning in an airship for the Southern region of the Fire Nation where her grandparents lived, and Mai was cautiously optimistic. Since she woke up so early, Izzy slept for the two hours of travel time to the house. It was a lovely opportunity to talk to Tom-Tom, who– at the age of 17– was often busy with school these days.

But everything changed when they landed. Her grandparents greeted her formally, but more warmly than they ever had. And she soon discovered why: this was her first visit to their hometown as the Fire Lady. When she entered their home, she was dismayed to find a throne and a receiving line! Thankfully, Tom-Tom offered to watch Izumi and get her some food, while Mai was forced to meet the Mayor and all of her grandparents' friends. After an hour of accepting well-wishes, backhanded compliments, and personal requests, he uncle arrived. He walked up to her confidently and insisted that she and Izumi take tea with him and Mura. Apparently being the Warden of the Boiling Rock gave him the authority to terminate her indentured servitude.

Tea was a brief affair. However she re-entered the gaggle of distant relatives and vaguely important people with her uncle on her arm, and Tom-Tom again stepped in to watch Izumi as she played with the other children. Mai loved her little brother to bits, but this experience made her appreciate him all the more. She was thirteen when he was born, so she felt fiercely protective of him when he was little. And he was thirteen when Izzy was born, and she could see him return all of that love and shower it on her. The thought made her emotional. 

Dinner came late, well past Izumi’s normal bedtime, but it was a blessedly private affair. Her grandparents; her mother, aunt, and uncle; and herself, Tom-Tom, and Izumi. Oh, and the Mayor, but he spent a significant portion of the night wooing Aunt Mura so he was easy enough to tune out. Uncle showed Izzy magic tricks with his napkin, and Mai smiled. She had nearly forgotten how he used to do the same for her. He would have been a good father if he hadn’t chosen such a demanding profession. She regretted that she had only seen him a handful of times since her wedding.

Mai’s grandparents kept her in conversation. To her surprise, they praised Zuko and his reforms highly. At first she was pleased, but then her mood began to sour. 

“I don’t know how you pulled a match like that. You were always so sullen as a girl,” her grandfather remarked.

Mai felt her mother’s keen stare and tried to laugh it off. “Well… he always said he liked how I hated the world.”

Her grandfather frowned and she worried she misspoke, but her grandmother interjected, “Oh happiness is overrated. True contentment comes with status. You did well to act in a manner pleasing to him.”

Mai felt her stomach turn. She never acted differently for Zuko. He challenged her preconceived notions sometimes and helped her see different points of view, but she didn’t blindly follow him like an animal. Was that how she appeared? Izumi wasn’t hearing this was she? She looked at her daughter, but, no, Uncle was telling her a story about a prison riot. Somehow, that was probably a healthier message for her impressionable child.

Michi joined the conversation, “Oh mother, it’s all thanks to you! I took your advice and got her into the palace early. Her friendship with Princess Azula was most beneficial. She was the natural choice to be Zuko’s consort.”

Mai felt suddenly nauseous. Her friendship with Azula was strained in a lot of ways, but it was built on a genuine foundation. They had both loved sparring as girls, along with Ty Lee of course. They would sneak from the stuffy functions her mother dragged her to. Michi couldn’t take credit for any of that, and she certainly couldn't take credit for her love with Zuko.

Mai gripped the edge of the table, prepared to tell her off. “Actually!” she began confidently, and all of the eyes in the room turned toward her. Apparently her Uncle had finished his story and Mura had politely rebuffed the Mayor. But it was the full and undivided attention of her grandparents that got to her. She remembered why silence and falsity were her friends. Mai quickly thought of an excuse for her outburst. “Zuko wanted me to tell you how sorry he is that he couldn’t make it. He sends his love.” 

“Darling, told us that before.” her grandmother replied. “He is the Fire Lord, you should not expect him to attend your family affairs.”

Mai wilted. “Of course, grandmother. But he asked me to tell you, so I wanted to relay his words.”

Her grandfather smiled, “Yes, a good wife echoes her husband.” 

Mai snuck another look at Izumi, praying that she was not listening. Luck seemed to be on her side, as the little princess was absorbed and– covered in– the noodles on her plate. 

Mai got them out of there as quickly as she deemed socially acceptable  and washed the noodles off of her little girl.. She cursed herself for her cowardice. She was the Fire Lady! She could have left whenever she damn well pleased, but she turned into a child the second she entered that house. 

To make matters worse, as soon as she and Izumi entered their chambers the little girl began having a meltdown.

It started innocently enough: “Where’s dada?”

Mai pursed her lips. She had tried explaining to Izumi before they left that daddy couldn’t come with them this time, but the thought was unimaginable to her. They had always traveled as a family, and she had never had to sleep without a goodnight kiss from daddy before Mai began the bedtime routine.

Mai tried again to explain, “I’m sorry turtleduck, but he’s not here right now. He had to stay at the palace and run the country. We’ll see him in two more sleeps.”

Izumi teared up. “Not here?”

Mai held her, “No. He’s not here, but he’s safe and so are we. You’ll see him soon.”

Then the wailing began in earnest and it did not stop for what felt like hours but was probably minutes. Mai tried to be soothing, but firm. For better or worse, she couldn’t capitulate to her daughter’s request this time. No airships or secure transports were running at this hour. And Zuko would probably spontaneously combust if she rented an animal and attempted the overnight journey alone. 

Mai felt the tears prick in her eyes too. Since her parents were so strict, she had no gauge for how to react to this situation. Was she being too indulgent by letting her daughter cry? How could she stop it? What could she say to make her happy again? All at once, the floodgates of self-loathing had opened. She was the co-ruler of a country, why did she let her grandparents walk all over her in front of her daughter? And how could she foist Izumi on to her baby brother all day? It was his family reunion too. 

She needed Zuko. He would calm Izzy down. Spirits, he would calm her down. 

There was a knock at the door. Shit! Their rooms were in the farthest part of the manor to give the Fire Lady privacy, but someone had obviously overheard and complained. There would be rumors all over the town about how bad of a parent she was. Or it was her guards checking in. The poor guys probably wanted to make sure she was okay. She tucked Izumi behind her, and palmed a knife– just to be safe– and opened the door.

For a second, she thought her brain was deceiving her into seeing what she wanted to see.

“DADA!” Izumi screamed happily.

She ran around Mai and jumped into his arms. “Hello turtleduck.” He laughed and kissed her head as he made his way into the room. “I hope I’m not intruding on girl time.” He smiled at Mai.

She took a deep breath to try to compose herself and smiled back at her husband. “Of course, not. Our princess was just demanding your presence.” 

“Oh!” Zuko seemed genuinely surprised. “Well then, I’m glad I arrived just in time.” He tucked Izumi into her bed, across the room from Mai’s– and now Zuko’s– larger one. She must have been exhausted from her early travels, because, as soon as she knew that both of her parents were in the room, she fell asleep. Mai marveled at her instant calm.

Zuko stroked her hair a few times and then turned his attention to his wife. He walked over to her and delicately pulled her into an embrace. “I’m such a loser,” he whispered, face buried in her neck, and it felt so out-of-the-blue that she nearly snorted.

“What on earth are you talking about? I need more information to know if I disagree,” she retorted.

“Hey!” he protested quietly, and pinched her arm, but she could feel his smile on her skin. His breath tickled as he spoke: “I couldn’t handle one night away from you both. Let alone two.”

Mai caressed his cheek, and guided his face so they were looking into each other's eyes. “Then I must be a loser too because I was about to cry before you got here. Izumi was sobbing because she missed you so much and my family–” she stopped abruptly.

Zuko took hold of her hands and she could feel the fire in his eyes. “What did they say?”

Mai slumped her shoulders and allowed herself to lean against him. “It’s not important.” That dreaded touch of apathy colored her voice, but then, but a glimmer of broke through. “It’s really not important because you’re here now.”

Zuko wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately. He finally pulled away, “At least give me a list of names.”

Mai chuckled quietly, she didn’t want to wake their daughter. “The usual suspects.”

That told Zuko all he needed to know. The pair went about their nightly routines, before climbing into bed. Zuko longed to kiss her more, and fill her with reassurance, but he was prevented by the presence of their daughter. He settled for wrapping his arms tightly around Mai and burying his face in her hair.

But suddenly she broke away and sat up. Zuko pouted up at her.

“Wait! Wait a minute! How did you get here?” she looked at him in awe. 

He smiled cheekily. “You know I’ve been practicing flying with Druk.”

Mai crossed her arms. “You did not fly him all the way here from the Caldera! His previous flights were twenty minutes at most. My poor baby is probably exhausted.”

Zuko laughed. Druk may have been bonded to him by the sacred fire, but the dragon was bonded to Mai by something else. The two were so protective of each other that it was almost comical. 

“Oh don’t worry,” Zuko reassured her, and pulled her back into his arms. “Your big old baby loved it, and your family’s servants gave him the best room in their stables.”

Mai huffed. “Okay, but if he’s sore tomorrow, then I’m using you as a pin cushion.”

“It would be my greatest honor.”

Mai rolled her eyes, but she snuggled in closer.

— — 

The next day, Mai checked on Druk first thing. To her own surprise, she was the first member of her immediate family awake. She left Zuko a note. (Her notes always began, “I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’m leaving,” even if she was just taking the five-minute trip to her favorite fire flakes stand. It had become an inside joke between them.) 

Druk truly was in a great mood. Mai’s family ordered the finest cuts from the butcher as a special treat. If there was one thing she could count on her grandparents to do, it was suck up to royalty.

She stopped by the kitchens and put in a special request, and then she made her way to the airship service. By the time she arrived back at the house, breakfast had begun. She slowly took her seat, allowing her mother's glare to linger.

“Young lady,” he grandfather began. “It is bad form to arrive late to a meal. “Especially when royalty is present.”

Mai pretended to be chastened. “Oh, I’m so sorry grandfather. But I wanted to put on a surprise for my dearest husband.” She strongly emphasized the word. “As you and Grandmother were saying, such a visitation to my family is quite beneath him actually.” Zuko whipped his head to his in-laws. Mai could tell he was seething, but this was her moment to reclaim power. She knew he would follow her lead, and so she continued, “As such, I thought it would be a lovely surprise if we all took a trip to the nearby southern beaches.”

Mai’s grandmother scoffed. “Those aren’t nearby. You’d have to take an airship to get there.”

Mai nodded, “Yes and I chartered one. Unfortunately, it’s quite small. They only had ten open seats.”

Mai’s mother tried to cut the tension. “Oh well… That’s still enough for all of us, and we can even bring the Mayor. Perhaps the day can be salvaged, but you really should have asked your grandparents before doing this.” 

Michi didn’t want to look bad in front of her parents, and Mai almost regretted what she was about to do. She replied: “You’re not taking into account the guards. We’ll need four to be safe I would say. I’m so very sorry. I assumed that grandfather and grandmother would be too weary to travel so far, so I didn’t list them on the tickets. And Uncle and Auntie have so few opportunities to see Izumi. I hope you understand, Mother.”

Michi flushed red, but she wouldn’t dare have a dramatic and drawn out argument with Mai so publicly. The Warden chuckled to himself, “Now this is an escape plan I can get behind.”

Zuko looked at his wife with a newfound admiration. He knew there would come a time when they were separated again, but he did not want to dwell on it. In this moment, they were together. And they were stronger because of it.

[bugaboo25]

I Will Forever Love You Chapter 2

Okay, I'm gonna do it! There's more info on the masterpost about how this is gonna look, but I am gonna post the rest of this! Just bear with me if there's a lot of time between updates!

Masterpost Prev Next

Anways, onto chapter 2:

Danny groaned as he flung himself onto the table. Which, ew, the Nasty Burger employees obviously hadn’t taken the time to wipe down the table in days, as was told by the way his hoodie was sticking to a dark stain that sat next to him. He could feel Tucker shifting next to him, obviously wanting to ask, but Danny wanted to wallow in his own self pity for just a few more moments, thank you very much. Alas, he was promptly pulled away from his thoughts as Tucker nudged his side with his elbow. Danny turned his head, allowing his eyes to scan over Tucker quickly and efficiently. He was taller now, taller than Danny’s own 5’9”, and his beret had been discarded for a beanie that allowed his new dreadlocks to cascade down over his neck. His eyes told of his desire to speak, so the 16-year-old pulled himself into a seated position.

            “So,” Tucker began, his eyes shifting to ensure there were no ears on them. “What did CW want?” Ah, so that was the reason that Tucker drew Danny from his pits of despair. He was going to tell his friends; he just wanted a minute to wrap his head around the news before letting them know. Danny’s eyes drifted over to Sam, and the goth’s raised brow and clenched jaw told of her concern, even though she was trying to seem appropriately interested and not overbearing like she had in the past. He allowed himself a second to appreciate her half-shaved head once again, thinking back to the way Pamela had screeched just two days ago when he dropped Sam off at home after a devilishly fun evening at the mall.

            Danny groaned once again, double checking the restaurant for prying ears before hunching forward and speaking in a hushed tone. “I’m apparently gonna be crowned Ghost King once I turn eighteen.” Danny had to stifle a grin at the loud gurgling noises that came from his friends, the memory of him making a similar noise when he first met Jazz playing in his mind’s eye.

            “Danny what-“

            “When did you-“

            “Guys, guys, quiet down, people are staring!” Danny bit out, though his words held no venom. He knew they hadn’t meant to speak so loudly, and he also knew they wouldn’t be on the lookout for any attention they might gain. They had no League training, and Danny never wanted them to. He couldn’t keep them out of his life as Phantom, but he would never stoop so low as to introduce them to the world of al Ghul’s. He couldn’t, not when the only one in that damn place that ever cared about him was… Instead of lingering on that thought, Danny allowed himself to take on an easy smile as he continued forward. “It’s not a big deal. CW said I’ll have to go the Realms like, once every week or two after the coronation is over with.” Sam and Tucker noticeably loosened as the knowledge that their third wasn’t going to be disappearing into the Infinite Realms forever.

            The trio’s order number was called from the front of the room, and Sam slid out of the booth to go and grab it. When she got back, she handed out their food, and Danny stared down at his vegetarian sandwich. He had decided to make the switch a few months ago, his dreams plaguing him with ghost animals coming back for their vengeance. He had tried to ignore them, but the second that Vlad had sent a ghost cow his way, his desire to eat meat had disappeared. Sam had cheered when he told them of his decision. Tucker had just huffed in annoyance and refused to eat lunch with them for two days.

            “Dude,” Tucker whispered as he leaned into Danny’s side. “Breathe.” And suddenly Danny was inhaling an ungodly amount of oxygen as he realized he had been staring at his food, unbreathing, for the past five minutes. He would never admit it to anyone, but he often forgot, his body no longer required him to breathe more than once every hour. In fact, he still remembered the time Jazz had woken him up in the middle of the night due to his lack of breathing and the fact that his heart had only pumped once in 15 minutes. She had been crying when his eyes flew open, and they had had an hour-long discussion about how important it was to at least act like he was inhaling oxygen when around others. Still, he had to kick the thought about how the lack of breathing would make him even more hard to notice sneaking up on someone to dispose of them out of his mind multiple times.

            Honestly, with how often he failed at the task, it was a surprise Jack and Maddie hadn’t noticed. Though, it shouldn’t be, considering they hardly ever paid attention to the presence of their children. Danny ate his sandwich and enjoyed the comfortable silence that sat between the three friends, his hair cascading into his line of vision. Danny wanted to cut it, but the fact of the matter was, the more effort he put into being a greasy, grimy gremlin, the less likely the League was to find him out. He checked his phone, and, seeing that it was nearing 6:30, the time Jazz was set to get home for her trip back to Amity, said his goodbyes for the night to Sam and Tuck. His eyes slid over the window, and for one heart stopping second, he thought it was Damian with the way the lights reflected green in his eyes. But then his eyes caught sight of the scar on his left temple, and the illusion was broken. He huffed to himself, then willed his shoulders to relax. God, how he missed his brother.

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            Jazz pulled up to the Fenton household with a sigh on her lips. She hated being in the same house as her parents, but she hated leaving Danny alone even more. He had practically pushed her out the door the day she moved to Gotham for college, but she knew he hadn’t wanted her to put her life on hold for him. Still, she wished that she had the money to be able to take guardianship of her brother until he turned 18. If their parents ever found out about him… well, it wouldn’t be a pretty sight, that was sure. She may have thought they would understand after she first found out, but it had been so long, and their hatred for Phantom had only grown in the last two years…

            Jazz clapped her hands together. No point in worrying about what could happen, Danny had set so many backup plans in place that she had had to spend an entire 48 hours memorizing them. She just needed to focus on her main goal: get Danny to talk about his life before the Fenton’s. He had kept everything to himself for the past seven years, but this time, his Gotcha Day would be spent healing from past trauma – she hoped. Frankly, she would be lucky if Danny said two words about his past, he hadn’t said since the day she had convinced her parents to adopt.

            Jazz pulled down the sun visor and slid open the mirror, schooling her expression into one of pure will. “You can do this, Jasmine Fenton. You’ve spent the last two months in Gotham University studying psychology, and some 16-year-old boy will not-“

“Whatcha doin’?” Jazz’s pep talk was interrupted as she let out a totally normal, definitely cool and collected, screech. Danny started cackling, his torso sticking out of the floor of Jazz’s car.

“Danny! You can’t just pop into existence right in front of people who are having a private moment!” Jazz was chastising him, but Danny couldn’t help the giggles that continued to escape his mouth. Jazz huffed, threw open her car door, grabbed her bags, and started marching toward the front door. Danny was trailing behind her, but she didn’t care. She had forgotten just how unnerving it was when Danny appeared out of thin air, having empty space and then without warning he was just there. It reminded her of when he had first been adopted, of how he would suddenly appear and then disappear without so much as breathing loud enough to be heard. It was different now, though, as he no longer needed to put effort into softening the sounds escaping her body. Not for the first time, Jazz let herself wonder what type of homelife Danny had had before appearing in Amity.

She had only been able to come up with one plausible theory, and that was that Danny’s parents had been incredibly abusive. He must have had to learn to be as quiet as a mouse to remain out of his parents’ fighting, protecting himself from the vile side of humanity before he should have known how horrible people could be. That kind of history would be exactly the type to make someone refuse to speak about their childhood, so Jazz had allowed Danny to remain silent when it came to her questions. He didn’t have to give any answers he wasn’t prepared to, not until the traumatic memories started to cause real damage to his psyche. She was drawn out of her musings by Danny jabbing her side with his pointer finger, and when she turned a disapproving stare at him, he began rubbing the back of his neck.

“What’s up?” At the question, Danny’s hand dropped down so he could cross his arms over the ghost symbol on his hoodie. Honestly, Jazz wasn’t sure his coping mechanisms of ‘joke about my own death while simultaneously ignoring the fact that I died’ were completely healthy, but the clothing articles seemed to help keep him out of a depressive state, so she wouldn’t say anything.

“I was just saying that Mom and Dad were all hyped up this morning about something, so be prepared for anything.” Danny’s eyes took on that shine they usually did when he was talking about their parents, but she had never been able to place it. It was a mix between fondness and disdain, and what that meant for the adults in their life, she’d rather not know.

“Don’t worry little brother, I’m always prepared when it comes to Mom and Dad.” Jazz started opening the door, and then promptly froze in place as she saw the two adults running around the house like their lives depended on it.

“Don’t forget to grab the Peeler, dear! We need to make sure we take as much as we possibly can!” Mom was yelling at Dad as he descended the stairs to the lab, and a booming “Okay!” reverberated off the metal walls of the stairwell.

“Mom?” Jazz stepped forward hesitantly, not quite prepared for the sight of bags full of clothes and machinery alike. “What’s going on?”

“Jazz! It’s so lovely to see you! But why are you here? Didn’t we tell you we’re going to Gotham?” Mom looked at Jazz with a quizzical look, and finding anything remotely resembling care in the purple-tinted blue eyes was almost impossible. Jazz had to once again start the mantra of “they love us, it’s just… hard to see” in her own mind.

“No, you didn’t tell me you’re going to Gotham. Tomorrow is Danny’s Gotcha Day! I’ve been planning on coming back for months!” Jazz was tempted to let herself lose her temper, but she knew that it wouldn’t lead to anything productive. Instead, she settled for looking for any recognition of the one day that they got to celebrate Danny, since he claimed to not know when his birthday was.

“Danny’s Gotcha Day? That can’t be, that’s not until October 13th, right? It can’t be October already.” Mom was speaking as if she was stating a fact, but there was a slight frown on her lips as she checked the date on her phone. Jazz let her eyes shift over to Danny’s form, but he looked almost bored of the conversation. “Oh dear!” Mom was talking again, and Jazz decided that if Danny was okay, then she would be, too. “I’m sorry sweetie, we must have lost track of time down in the lab. You know how it is.” Mom’s voice was almost caring. “We were gonna tell you tonight, as a surprise! We’re going to Gotham for a week, Dad and I have a convention coming up that we just absolutely can’t miss. We’re leaving tomorrow, so go pack your bags!”

“Okay, thanks.” Danny shot off up the stairs, and Jazz followed after him. She needed to make sure he actually was okay; their mom had just admitted to forgetting about his stand-in birthday. Jazz knocked lightly on his bedroom door before slowly pushing it open.

“Are you okay?” Jazz sat down on Danny’s bed, shoving the bunched-up comforter out of her way while nudging a pair of jeans sprawled on the floor. She looked towards her brother and took in his appearance. His messy hair was hanging in his face, and his 5’9” stature was hunched over as he shoveled clothes into a duffle bag. He was throwing items like his chargers, toothbrush, and laptop into his backpack, and she hoped that he would try to do the online assignments that were sure to be filling his email by now.

            “Yeah?” Danny sent her a puzzled look, and not for the first time did she realize that Danny obviously didn’t know what it meant to be a priority to your parents. Jazz’s brow furrowed, but she saw the way Danny was pulling into himself, so she settled for subtlety.

            Jazz stood from the bed and gave Danny a long hug. “I’ll be in my room if you want to talk.” Then she was closing the door to Danny’s room and slipping into her own, the one she had lived in for 18 years, and the feelings of loneliness that hadn’t plagued her in two months crept back under her skin.

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

            Danny continued to shuffle items into their respectful bags, no longer caring if they were messy. Well, that’s not to say he didn’t care, it just didn’t bother him as much as it did when he first decided to take on the persona of a slobby teen. All details would be taken into account when it came to the League. Once he finished zipping up the duffel, he turned to his backpack. He crossed his legs, and for the first time in months, he allowed himself to remember. He thought of green eyes, of heartbroken screams and explosions, and he thought of a presence by his side, watching every blind spot he would ever have. Danny clenched his fists, as he remembered the day just over a year ago. He had just confirmed that his powers were fully under his control, and as soon as he had been alone, he had zipped away. He had gone invisible and intangible long before he reached Nanda Parbat, not daring to risk being seen. He had flown around the entirety of the League’s base, searching for Damian. Alas, even his quarters had been cleared. Danny left, knowing his brother was no longer there, either dead or escaped. He was determined to find out which.

            Danny’s eyes opened, and he stuck his hand into the floorboard beneath his bed. He pulled out the wakizashi, eyes tracing every detail. He didn’t need to take the time to memorize it, as it was as familiar to him as it had ever been. For a brief moment, he considered taking it with him; but there was no way he would find Damian in Gotham of all places. Jazz would have noticed his lookalike by now. Besides, Danny didn’t believe in chance.

            He slid the wakizashi into his bag anyway.

[liminal-space-lesbian]

Mommy Issues

Pairing: Enid Sinclair x Wednesday Addams

Summary: Wednesday rants about her mother being overbearing, and Enid can't stand to listen to it for another moment. After all, Enid would give anything for a mother who loved her.

Warnings: Mommy issues, jealousy, angst, panic attack maybe??

Words: 1,395

This was also inspired by pixels.on.a.screen on insta btw (go thank them by liking their art)

Enid could never understand how Wednesday would get so irritatated with her mother. The ravenette would always complain about Morticia being "overbearing" or in her words, " stifling of her morbid creativity". Enid watched during parent's day when Wednesday shied away from her mothers touch, the way Wednesday glared as Morticia asked how school was going. She felt her heart clench in her chest when Wednesday rolled her eyes as Morticia said she was proud of Wednesday for winning the Poe Cup.

Enid avoided Wednesday for a bit after parents day, just because she was so upset. She couldn't decide if she was sad or angry, and she settled on the fact she was mostly jealous. She couldn't fathom how Wednesday could take such a thing as a mothers love for granted. Enid would give anything for her mother to simply accept her, let alone love her.

So now, as she sat on her bed gritting her teeth and clawing a pillow to shreds between her claws as Wednesday complained she couldn't help but feel that same burn of envy.

"I don't understand why she has to contact me via crystal ball every weekend. She doesn't need to know everything about my time here at Nevermore. The whole point of going to this stone and cobwebbed prison of a school was to get away from my family for a while." Wednesday ranted in a sharp tone as she covered her crystal ball with the maroon colored cloth. She let out a huff as she turned to her typewriter and put a new page in angrily.

"I mean, you'd think she was worried I'd disappear on her or something. She knows I'm more than capable of taking care of myself, at this point her weekly checkups are getting insulting." Wednesday continued, her tone biting and cold. Enid couldn't keep silent anymore, her jaw aching from how hard she was clenching it.

"Well at least your mom cares, Wednesday!" She shouted before she could stop herself, causing Wednesday to turn to her in surprise, before a heavy glare settled on Wednesday's brow.

"Caring and overbearing go hand in hand." The shorter girl deadpanned in an unimpressed tone and Enid felt that green monster tearing at her chest.

"How can you say that?" Enid nearly cried, her voice cracking as she stood up and strode over to the tape line separating their respective halves of the room. "I would give anything to have a mother that cared enough to even ask how I was doing!" Enid's chest heaved as she felt a familiar burn in her sinuses, the pillow between her hands shedding fluff all over the floor now.

"At least your mom loves you!"

The silence in the room was deafening. And there it was, the tears streaming down her face as she uselessly wiped them away. Sad hiccups escaped her lips as she tried to bite back her sobs. Wednesday simply stared at her with an unreadable look on her face. Her eyes were widened slightly in surprise, and Enid thought she could see a hint of uncertainty in her gaze.

"I would do anything to have a mom like yours." Enid sobs helplessly, wiping her tears angrily. She could hear her mothers voice in her head already. 'Why do you cry over everything? Enid, you're too sensitive. You need to toughen up.'

"My mom doesn't even know the names of my friends! She doesn't even care if I have any friends! She's- she's so obsessed with this idea of me being perfect that she doesn't even care about me!" Enid sobs uselessly, her knees feeling weak as her chest heaves. She can't understand it. It's not fair. How come her mother doesn't love her, even though she tries so hard, and Wednesday's mom is so unconditional in her love that even when Wednesday is an absolute prick to her, she still tells her she loves her anyways.

"Enid..." Wednesday's voice is so gentle that it simply makes Enid sob harder. She feels Wednesday's hands on her own more than she can see them, since the tears have blurred her vision. Wednesday gently takes the torn pillow from her grasp and replaces it with her own hands, soft and cool against Enid's skin. Wednesday is always cold, and it's a bit unnerving how much she feels like a walking corpse. In this moment however, it is incredibly grounding.

"Enid, take deep breaths, okay?" Wednesday murmurs gently, and Enid realizes she had been hyperventilating. Enid sobs and gasps for breath, shaking her head. She couldn't catch her breath. She felt like she'd never stop crying.

"Here, breathe with me." The ravenette offered, guiding Enid's hand to rest on her chest, right over her steadily beating heart. She began taking slow deep breaths, encouraging Enid to follow her lead. It took a while, but Wednesday was ever patient with her, and soon her gasping sobs subsided into sad little hiccups.

"There go you." Wednesday whispers as she gently wipes the tears from Enid's face. Enid meets her gaze and nearly bursts into tears again at how Wednesday looks at her. Her brown eyes are so incredibly soft and sad as she gazes at Enid, her eyebrows furrowed in concern. Her bottom lip juts out ever so slightly in a pout as she brushes Enid's hair out of her face.

"Good job." The shorter girl says softly, placing a kiss on Enid's forehead before gently guiding her back to her bed. She sits Enid down and carefully positions herself leaning back against Enid's many colorful pillows. She then opens her arms and Enid instantly collapses into her girlfriends arms, burrowing into the inevitable comfort she offers.

"I'm sorry my complaining was upsetting you, I didn't know..." Wednesday says quietly, sounding contemplative as she rubs Enid's back. "I didn't really think of it like that. My mother gets on my nerves sometimes but I didn't even consider how it is to have a mother that doesn't care at all. I'm... sorry for being insensitive with my rants around you. I'll... try to be better next time." Wednesday speaks slowly, as if she is choosing her words carefully. Enid melts, tears welling in her eyes again at Wednesday's gentleness with her.

"It's okay... It's not your fault. You should feel comfortable enough to talk to me about those types of things. I just get so jealous sometimes. It's not fair that my mother doesn't love me. I don't know why, or where I went wrong... I try so hard." Enid blubbers, her voice getting choked up as more tears stream down her face. Wednesday's hand on her back presses her closer into her body.

"Enid, I need you to listen to me very carefully." Wednesday says in a tight voice, a tone Enid has rarely heard from her. The blond shifts so her chin is resting on Wednesday's chest so she can look up at her face questioningly.

"Don't you ever- for even a single moment- wonder if there is something wrong with you. Your mother being unable to love you properly has nothing to do with you, it is simply her own unresolved issues and poor parenting tactics. You are perfect cara mia, don't you ever think anything other than that." Wednesday's voice wavers with emotion as she stares down at Enid with so much intensity it makes goosebumps rise on her skin.

Wednesday reaches up and wipes away Enid's fresh wave of tears, her hands warming the longer they linger on the werewolves flushed skin. Enid scoots up higher so she can press a kiss to Wednesday's lips before tucking her head into her neck, sniffling as Wednesday hugs her tightly.

"Thank you." Enid murmurs, feeling so overwhelmed with love that she wants to squirm. She's never known a love as intense or as unconditional as Wednesday's, and she's forever grateful for it. As she curls into the ravenette more, growing tired from the intensity of her crying session she smiles.

Sure Enid may not have her mother, but she knows she will always have Wednesday. The pain and the emptiness where maternal love should be will always linger, but for the first time it feels like she can cope with it. So long as she has Wednesday by her side.

"I love you, Wednesday."

"I love you too, Enid"

a/n Enid's mommy issues need to be explored more tbh

[jermer10]

Hello👋 i dont know if you can but, can you do a drabble of yandere Sniper [tf2] stalking and kidnapping the reader[gender neutral]? And that he keeps them locked up in his camper van?

And uhhh, if you can the reader loves him right back?👉👈

If you cant do the stockholm syndrome thing, i get it. But at least do yandere Sniper please.

TF2 yandere sniper drabbles

suggestive, gn reader | this prompt was so fun!! tysm for the ask :)

tw: stalking, kidnapping, obsession, depictions of wounds and blood, drugging, abusive relationship, reader falling in love with yandere

drabbles under the cut :P

- you were aware of his existence a long time before meeting him, and whilst you had dealt with creeps and weirdos before, this guy was....different... - waking up during the night and feeling a presence in the room, yet finding no one once the lights were turned on; catching a glimpse of someone from the corner of your eye, and turning around to see nothing - for the longest time you had felt insane! "you're just paranoid!" you'd hear from friends and family - and then you had your first encounter with him at your local cafe whilst in the lineup ordering your coffee - okay, well, you weren't certain that it was him, but the way his bluish-grey eyes bore into yours with such an obsessive, aching, needy want caused you to put two and two together - and much to your dismay, he had realized that you knew - you brushed past him, hoping he wouldn't follow you, hoping that you could make it home in time to pack a bag or two so you could stay with a friend for the night - but you only made it half way down the street before being pulled into an alleyway and feeling the sharp jab of a needle in your shoulder

- you must have fought for several minutes before finally passing out, because upon waking there were bruises and scuff marks littering your skin - the second thing you noticed once you gained consciousness was the leg of camper van pull-out table you were tied to - if you had the strength, you would have kicked the table upwards and slid your ducktaped wrists off of the leg, yet your drowsiness and the numbness of your legs told you that trying to escape would be futile - for a second you considered screaming out - someone, anyone must be able to hear you, you couldn’t have gone too far out of town - you hear the stifled laugh of a man from the other side of the van - you turned sharply to look at the man, when an overbearing wave of nausea and dizziness rushed over you. “fuck!” you hissed, squeezing your eyes shut - the man chuckled, and from what courage you could muster, you glanced up at him. he was….handsome? - ‘fucking gross y/n! don’t think that about this guy! he KIDNAPPED YOU!’ the reality of the situation had finally set in - “who are you?! where am i?! please, please just let me go and I wont tell anyone about this! I’ll give you whatever you want! please don’t kill me!” you had started to sob - through the blurry tears you saw him get up and walk closer to you, his brown boots clacking against the floor rung in your head like gun shots - “shut up. I took ya because you’re the thing I want. I’ve been followin’ you for a while and I know you know about it. I got tired of waitin’, so I made myself known, that’s all.” his face was serious, his voice condescending, as if it were obvious - you felt hopeless, pathetic, and manic. you started to scream, cry, thrash around pathetically whilst he stood over you. he lit a cigarette and blew some smoke down at you - “we are a looooong way away from any people darl’, so it would be easier for both of us if you played nice” the man spat, and walked towards the exit of the camper van, grabbing a sniper rifle out of a locked compartment in the wall - “if you’re not here when i get back, i will kill you, y/n.” and with that, he left.

- months had gone by, and eventually you had grown placid, sitting under that table on your makeshift bed day in, day out while the man you had eventually grown to know as Mundy monitored you, fed you, bathed you, and clothed you - you had gained his trust, therefore he decided it would be best to remove your constraints - while he was at work you would rummage through his belongings to find out more about him; what hobbies he had, where he was from, his likes and dislikes - you found a photo of his parents and casually asked him about them one day. he was taken aback by your curiosity, yet he told you stories about his childhood and you shared some of your own - you couldn’t even hate him anymore, you had actually grown fond of the man in your time spent with him, but there was no fucking way he could know that. you still wanted to escape from this sicko and return to your old life - but what even was your old life? your 9 to 5 job, coming home to an empty house every day, the constant feeling of being watched with no one to believe you - suddenly your situation seemed a lot better than what you were previously stuck with - that night you had awoken, startled by a wounded and bloody Mundy stumbling through the camper van doors. “holy shit, are you okay?” you hated how it came out so earnestly - luckily for you, the concern had seemingly gone unnoticed as he had sat himself on the floor next to you, peering into your eyes for some kind of permission with a guilt and bashfulness you hadn’t seen from him thus far - you didn’t know what to do or say, so you nodded slightly, and on cue he pressed himself into your side, burying his face in the crook of your neck - he smelt like cigarettes, dirt, and gore - you didn’t ask, and he didn’t tell, but you knew he had a hard day at work. no matter what his job was, you knew all too well the feeling of coming home after a shitty shift and sobbing into your pillows. you often wonder if Mundy ever saw that side of you, sides you hadn’t shown anyone - you held each other in this awkward side hug for what felt like both hours and seconds, you honestly didn’t want to let go, but he was still bleeding out and you had been dirtied - “wanna shower?” you asked chastely. it felt uncomfortable asking your captor for something so….sweet? he glanced at you, attempting to hide the shock in his face - “yeah, okay.” he mumbled, slowly letting go of your warmth and standing up shakily, you followed in suit and head into the cramped bathroom

- by this point you had already been naked around Mundy, he refused to let you shower by yourself and most days you had been so exhausted you had looked forward to him washing you - but you had never caught a glimpse of what was under his work uniform or the red plaid pyjama slacks and white t-shirt he wore around the van, and a small part of you was nervous, but a huge part of you anticipated the reveal - you stripped yourself and climbed into the tub, chin resting on your knees, hugging your legs, and staring up at the tall, lanky man - a red tinge glossed his dirty face, clearly this was a vulnerable spot for him, and you couldn’t help but respond with your own red cheeks in turn - “….are you jumping in or what…?” you couldn’t look at him, the only sound louder than the thumping of your heart in your chest was the water spilling from the tap filling the tub - “ah- yeah just uh, gimme a second,” he murmured, removing his jacket and unbuttoning his top - his chest and back were scarred, some old, some new. you felt a pang of sadness. the irony of this situation was not lost on you, feeling more remorseful over hating this man than he does for kidnapping you, but you couldn’t help it. he was so raw, so genuine - he had stripped bare, and climbed into the tub facing away from you, handing you a bar of soap, you absentmindedly washed his back, it felt all too natural to you, maybe it was the steam of the shower, maybe it was the exhaustion that came from sleeping on the cold, hard floor of the camper every night with nothing but a blanket and pillow to keep you comfortable, but something about being here now, with Mundy, felt so right - “I think I’m in love with you,” you spoke softly, so softly you were sure he couldn't even hear the whisper, and before you could react, Mundy turned and pulled you into a rough kiss. you melted into it, running your soapy hands through his auburn hair. eyebrows furrowed and face burning, he pulled away - “wanna sleep in my bed tonight?"