#color me pleasantly surprised when i saw that it was updated within the past month

[akirakirxaa]

Me: Hmmm, I want to play Stardew Valley but I'm hyperfixating on Emet-Selch FFXIV.

Modders: Emet-Selch Custom Romanceable NPC

[sethrine-writes]

I Will Fight This War For You (Hold On), Ch. 2

Pairing:  Connor x  Female Reader

Words:  5442

Chapter Warning:  Fluff, Jealous Connor, Worried Connor, Serious Tones

Story Summary: “Our choices define us. Don’t let them tear you in two.”

Your investigation into the string of deaths of both humans and androids takes a drastic turn when a victim is purposely left alive. The killer’s intent is the same, to prove a point you have yet to figure out. The change, however, is the power of choice.

Stress and exhaustion lead you astray as you and Connor are both thrust into a war between the mind and the heart. You can only hope everyone involved makes it out alive.

IMPORTANT A/N:   This is a repost from my previous blog of a DBH fic I started over a year ago in response to a challenge a friend of mine posted up, at the time. I’ve also gone through and edited/cleaned up each chapter for a better reading experience! I’ll be posting a chapter or two every day until I’ve posted all current chapters, and then I’ll be updating with a brand new chapter for the first time in nearly a year!

Inspired by the song Torn In Two by Breaking Benjamin.

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Chapter 2 - A Tide of War and Broken Dreams

The park was lovely during the early evening hours, the sun barely on its ending trek toward the horizon, ready to cast the baby blue sky in brilliant colors. Rays of sunlight bounced off patches of undisturbed snow in such a way that it twinkled gently as you swayed on your feet, shivering ever so slightly.

The cold was embracing, honestly, and it had you feeling lively despite your current exhaustion. You had even taken a handful of snow earlier and pressed it to your face, the shock of the action waking you like nothing else.

Connor, however, had been unamused by your jittery antics and continued to be a worry-wart as you shrugged off another shiver. Between him and Hank, it was a wonder you hadn’t developed an ulcer on their behalf.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather stay in the car until they arrive? The temperature is twenty-four degrees and will continue dropping-”

“I’m fine, Connor,” you assured for the third time since coming to a stop at the park bridge, huffing out a laugh at his worried expression.

He'd begun fussing over you when you had woken up from a brief nap after last night's shift and had continued to do so nearly all day, much to your amused chagrin.

As expected, you had helped Hank with his paperwork and finished a few files of your own before heading home sometime around three that morning. Once back at your cozy abode, you'd taken to reviewing the interrogation video regarding Anthony. You sat for hours trying to pick apart what he had said, using the small nuances of his voice as well as his movements to help you better understand what he was trying to tell you right before he left the room.

“Our choices define us. Don’t let them tear you in two.”

Sleep had been hard to come by during the past few weeks, but after last night’s turn in the case, you were lucky your body allowed you a brief two hours of uninterrupted sleep over your at-home desk before you were back into the case files with restless energy. The crick in your neck hadn’t been pleasant, though Connor had done an excellent job at massaging out most of the pain, despite his initial plan to most likely put you back to sleep with the soothing pressure.

“I believe it would be best to seek someplace warmer,” Connor urged, his words coming out in a rush, almost as if he were trying to hold back from saying anything more. “You’ve been stressed lately, which has drastically compromised your immune system's ability to-"

“Connor, sweetheart, I'm fine,” you insisted with a groan, effectively cutting off his rambling by turning toward him and giving an exasperated smile. “Look, I’m all bundled up in my big coat, and a scarf, and I’ve got a nice, hot cup of honey lemon tea warming my hands, since you so vehemently urged me to lay off the coffee.”

You emphasized your words by holding up the paper container from the coffee shop you had stopped at before setting out to the park, giving the half-empty container a little shake. Connor looked sheepish, but still had the audacity to sigh heavily, the action completely unnecessary and only meant to showcase his slight frustration through action. You rolled your eyes at the theatrics, but smiled all the same.

“If it makes you feel any better, we’ll be in a nice, warm space as soon as we meet up with the others,” you placated, moving closer to place your head against his chest while wrapping your free arm around his back.

Connor returned your embrace rather quickly by pulling you even closer, snugly fitting you against him. He was warm and comforting through the thick layers of clothing separating you, and you realized a moment too late that he had planned your snuggles from the start, knowing you would want to comfort him after he became huffy over your own exasperation, and had purposely increased his core body temperature to warm you.

Having an analytical boyfriend who learned your every quirk had its ups and downs. In that moment, it had to be somewhere in the middle, seeing that you were both irked and endeared by the thought behind such a clever play of events.

“You are insufferable, sometimes,” you groaned, leaning into him more heavily. Connor only chuckled, knowing he had been caught.

“I think you enjoy it,” he said.

“Oh, no, you caught me,” you mumbled against his coat in a mock surprised tone, earning you a quick peck to the top of your head and, undoubtedly, a gentle smile.

Time seemed to slow as you relaxed fully into Connor's embrace, the warmth of his hug and the slow, smooth motion of his hand rubbing at your back lulling you with its comfort. Your eyes had slipped closed without your knowledge within seconds, and the cup of tea in your hand would have surely fallen, had your arm not been curled just so between you and Connor.

For a minute, you were blissfully falling into a fitting sleep against your clever boyfriend.

“Look at you two lovebirds!”

Startled, you pulled away from Connor and turned quickly, nearly dropping your tea with the sudden movement. Connor placed a steadying hand between your shoulders as your eyes focused fully on the small group approaching, a grin spreading across your face.

Simon was ahead of the pack, his bright blue gaze joyful as he rushed forward and pulled you into a hug. From over his shoulder, you could see North grinning at you, with Josh and Markus just slightly behind, talking to themselves as they approached.

The joyous laughter that escaped you couldn’t be stopped.

“Simon! It's so good to see you,” you exclaimed, pulling away to better look at him. He had a wide smile set in place, eyes crinkling at the corners as he looked over your features with extreme fondness.

You could remember a time when he had been leery of you, as had North, and yet here they were, almost more eager to greet you as you were them.

Connor had introduced you to Markus, who then introduced you to everyone else, shortly after the revolution, and though it was a bit of a rocky start, you couldn’t dream of a better group of individuals to call your friends.

Simon had been on the cautious side, afraid to trust, and you couldn’t blame him. Now, he was perhaps your closest friend, always smiling openly and sharing his thoughts with you without hesitation, and it warmed your heart to know that he trusted you so deeply.

“I’m happy to see you, too. It's been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Couple months, at the most,” you replied, “but who's counting?”

Simon gave a short chuckle, his hand sliding to your free one and giving it a gentle squeeze. You returned the gesture, watching his smile widen with the action. For a moment, he seemed content to just stand there, holding your hand without a care in the world.

He startled when North appeared beside him suddenly, placing a hand to his shoulder to gain his attention. She eyed him in amusement as he looked a bit flustered, his gaze darting back to you and briefly over your shoulder.

He stepped aside quickly, smiling to you once more, albeit a bit more forced, allowing North to move in and wrap you up in her arms. You returned the embrace without much more thought on the strange interaction, humming pleasantly.

She had been the hardest of the group to befriend, at first not wanting to even so much as be in the same room as you. With Markus' gentle persistence in properly getting to know you, however, North came to learn that you could be trusted, that you held no malice for android kind and only ever wanted to help and aid in their cause.

From there, a tentative friendship formed, and it grew with each passing day.

“Missed you guys so much,” you mumbled against her shoulder before pulling away with a huff of breath. She smiled genuinely at you, in turn.

“Can't believe we've been gone for so long,” she said, pulling away with a groan. “You wouldn’t believe the shit we’ve had to sit through. Feels good to be back home for a little while.”

“Remind us never to go so long without seeing that smiling face of yours, again,” Josh intervened teasingly, swooping in for a hug of his own and a peck to your cheek, his attention turning immediately to Connor afterward to continue his greetings.

You grinned at the affectionate attention, recalling how easily Josh had taken to getting to know you. He always saw the good in others and believed in giving people the benefit of the doubt, which led to many a friendly conversation between you both. It was only natural that you would grow closer in such a short time, and the easy way he acted with you was proof enough.

You finally turned to face the last of the group who stood before you, patiently awaiting his moment for pleasantries.

“Markus,” you called out warmly, watching his smile widen at your greeting. A gloved hand immediately came out before him, expecting a handshake, though your pause had him chuckling. You quirked your brow at him, amused, and watched as he changed tactics and held out both arms to you. You rushed forward and embraced him as you did the others, humming delightedly against his shoulder.

“No handshakes, only hugs,” you mumbled, pulling away to give Markus a good once-over. He was dressed warmly in a long coat, gloves made of soft leather, and though you knew that androids couldn’t quite feel the cold as humans could, the look was cozy and appealing.

Goodness, but you had missed him.

“Business meetings have already trained me to greet with a handshake,” Markus said by way of explanation. “You know I meant nothing by it.”

“Of course,” you grinned, unable to keep your giddy happiness at bay. “God, I’m so glad you’re back.”

“As am I. I've missed you, just as much as the others have,” he said, hands coming up to cup your cheeks. His smile dropped then, expression a bit curious as his eyes roved over your features. “How have you been?”

“Alright,” you answered with a sigh, reaching up to pat at one of his hands to lessen any worries he might have had.

Markus was always very good at picking up on things, and it didn’t help that your exhaustion was probably more obvious than you wanted to admit

“This case has been an utter nightmare. Haven’t been sleeping as well as I could, but go figure, right?”

Markus hummed at your answer, eyes roving over your features curiously. He had always been like that as long as you’d known him, curious and eager to learn, always wanting to be better, do better, in hopes of being half the man his father figure had set him out to be.

You knew, without a doubt, Carl would have been so proud of everything he had done and what he would continue to accomplish.

“Perhaps you'll rest easier tonight,” Markus said softly, hands leaving your cheeks. You hadn’t realized how warm the leather had been against your cold skin, almost instantly missing the touch.

You watched as Markus' gaze moved and lingered behind you, his expression becoming a bit more serious. You turned to the side, finding that Connor was approaching with an equally serious look upon his face. He gave a short nod after a lingering silence.

“Hello, Markus.”

“Connor. You look well,” Markus replied, earning a small lilt of a smile. Connor then reached forward and clasped arms with Markus, a mutual greeting they had with each other, before pulling away with a more genuine grin. Any perceivable tension all but vanished between them, leaving behind a much friendlier atmosphere.

“How have negotiations been?” Connor asked.

“As well as can be expected. Our rights are within our grasp, though lacking several signatures to finalize the documents. A permanent Bill will be enacted by the end of this week, and a list of laws, including any unjust action toward androids, will follow soon after its signing.”

“Good to know,” Connor commented. “I know how difficult it must have been, but the laws couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.”

“So I've heard,” Markus replied, eyes growing hard. “You mentioned things were suddenly more complicated with your investigation.”

“Moreso than we initially thought, unfortunately.”

“Alright, then. Perhaps we should continue this discussion somewhere more private, and preferably much warmer for you?”

Markus' gaze fell to you at his query, and you immediately perked at the notion.

“That sounds fantastic, actually,” you answered, pausing at the affronted look Connor gave you. “What?”

“At least you take someone's advice,” he said, his tone playful despite the disbelieving face he was pulling. You rolled your eyes yet again, reaching for Connor and linking your arm with his. Behind you, Josh was making some sort of comment, most likely one at your expense, before being effectively cut off by a jab of Simon's elbow into his side.

“There's a public library nearby,” Markus spoke up. “We can talk there.”

---

The upper section of the library had its own lounge area, the perfect, quiet place to discuss things with your company without others interfering. It helped that the staff was very cooperative, ensuring that the upper floor remained off-limits until you were all ready to leave.

The group took to their own areas of comfort; Markus and Connor stood across from the lounge you, North, and Simon sat upon, while Josh leaned against the back of a chair to your left. You had even taken off your coat and scarf, placing them within the empty chair at your right.

Everyone was focused as you and Connor relayed information pertaining to your current investigation, vital info they were privy to only because of the person of interest and the victims involved in the cases.

“So the suspect is an android,” Markus stated, having processed the majority of what you and Connor had explained. “You're sure of this?”

“Anthony seemed genuine when describing his attacker,” you responded in affirmation. “We had previously profiled him as human, but Anthony was very clear to establish the suspect was an android."

“This is very unprecedented,” Markus murmured, brows furrowing in confusion. “It would make more sense if your suspect was human, but an android attacking other androids in such a manner…I can’t deny there have been a few problems with our transition into society, but nothing this extreme.”

“Problems? Have there been android-on-android attacks?” you questioned, shocked.

Surely the DPD would have picked up on some of the crimes, and even if you hadn’t been assigned to them, surely there would have been talk about androids going at each other, especially among the more intolerant officers.

“Nothing that led to any physical violence,” North spoke up from beside you, which affirmed your lack of knowledge on the matter. “Just verbal attacks on differing opinions, some minor backlash between those wanting to lash out at humans and those understanding that it will take time and careful effort to normalize our lives.”

You supposed it made sense. Not all androids would be up for a peaceful resolution, especially after the way a good majority of them had been treated by those humans they were made to obey. North, especially, had once been on track with violence, as she had believed there was no other way to reason with humans. Still, most seemed to side with Markus and the careful, civil approach he was taking to ensure all androids had all the rights of a human being.

“Ever since our peaceful victory,” Markus continued, “we’ve maintained a close network between many of our people to ensure safety. We all have a common goal, and we have, thus far, continued on the path of civility so that we may all live amongst each other comfortably in the foreseeable future."

“Well, someone obviously didn’t get the memo,” you deadpanned, throwing back the last of your lukewarm tea before tossing the paper cup into a nearby trashcan with a mild grimace.

“Hold on, wouldn’t we have heard something from one of our informants?” Josh questioned in disbelief. “I mean, it feels like someone would have noticed something off, especially to this magnitude.”

“Not necessarily,” Connor answered. “If we believe our suspect to be an android, it's highly possible he's someone within our circle. He would be harder to detect when under the trust of the very man who led the revolution, and it would be much easier to keep a low profile.”

“Is it possible that there’s more than one person behind everything?” Simon asked, throwing out an idea.

“Unlikely,” Connor shut down quickly. “No previous evidence hints at more than one suspect, and with Anthony's testimony taken into account, there is nothing else to suggest multiple offenders.”

Ideas and concerns continued to bounce around the group, valid points being brought up only to get squashed by conflicting evidence to the contrary. It was a confusing mess, just as it had been from the start, and it felt like the case was, once again, coming to a dead end.

You sighed through your nose, closing your eyes as you tried to piece together what you already knew in the vain hope of figuring out something that would help.

The suspect was currently being considered an android that was kidnapping both humans and androids. From the first two cases, there were two victims each, where the victims knew each other in some manner. The third case added an extra victim, human, but the setup was the same: one victim was tortured with small injections of blue blood while the others were made to watch.

The motive was still unclear, but to you, it felt like the suspect was sending a message. The first two cases might have been just practice rounds, and the third was possibly the suspect adjusting the variables, perfecting his method by adding something the other two cases didn’t have.

“A choice,” you whispered, eyes opening in mild confusion. Anthony's parting words to you began to play in your head yet again with the small revelation.

“Our choices define us. Don’t let them tear you in two.”

“Hey, are you alright?”

You turned at the sound of your name and the gentle touch of a hand upon your knee, finding Simon looking at you in worry. You hadn’t realized you were being so quiet and pensive as everyone else dove into the discussion. Even now, North was bringing up some sort of misunderstanding between an android and human she had overheard, the topic clearly having redirected itself in some way, as both Josh and Markus corrected some of her exaggerated details.

“Yeah…yeah, I'm good,” you answered quietly, not wanting to interrupt the others.

Simon's light grip on your knee tightened, a gentle prodding for you to talk to him. You sighed again, smile weary as you placed your hand over his and took hold of his fingers. Your friends sure were good at figuring you out, and Simon...you could tell Simon anything.

“I'm exhausted,” you murmured sincerely, reaching up with your free hand and rubbing at your dry, aching eyes. “This whole investigation has me so anxious to solve it. I can’t sleep, not for very long, at least, without the details running circles in my head. I'm constantly queasy, and my head aches, but I just want to catch this guy before more people get hurt.”

Simon gave a small hum of sympathy, his hand twisting in yours until he was able to smooth his thumb along your knuckles. The motion was grounding, calming, something he had taken to doing during times you were in distress. The action never failed to ease your racing thoughts.

“It must be hard to have all these details on your conscience,” he said, “but you need rest. It's not safe to be so tired, especially in your line of work.”

“I know,” you admitted, words grumbling in your frustration. “I just…I wish I could piece all this stuff together and figure out why this guy is doing this. Everything’s just a big mess right now in my head.”

“Maybe you could try bouncing ideas off me? I know we’ve technically been doing that already with everyone else, but…maybe it would help having just one person to talk to, instead of five talking over you.”

You looked up at Simon, his gaze still showing concern, but just as equally, there was an eagerness there to help in anyway he could. Smiling, you leaned toward him and bumped your shoulders together in a friendly manner.

“Yeah, okay. Can’t hurt to try, I guess.”

Simon smiled gently, fingers squeezing yours before his thumb continued the slow, methodical movement across your knuckles once more.

“Okay, tell me all the details again.”

---

Across the way, Connor watched you. His eyes roamed over the scene before him as if he was looking over evidence for analysis. He lingered on your hand clasped in Simon's own, how he touched your skin with gentle, unending strokes. You were speaking quietly with him, leaned in close, body relaxed and comfortable within the other's presence.

He realized quickly that what he felt at that moment was jealousy. Connor knew that, when it came to Simon in particular, he felt jealous because of your easy relationship with the other android. He hated that he could feel such a way over someone you both considered a friend, but it was there, an ugly beast of an emotion that clawed at him from deep within, stuttering his thirium pump and twisting his inner mechanisms with vicious intent.

Connor had only felt such a way a handful of times, flashes of heated envy over something that was so trivial in every sense of the word. Honestly, it seemed petty to be jealous over a friendship that brought you ease, a friendship that you had truly felt most comfortable in.

But he could not help the way his emotions were swayed when it came to you.

He didn’t like the way Simon sent almost longing gazes in your direction, as if hoping you would notice his stare as more than friendly. He didn’t like that Simon touched you so freely, and you did nothing to deter him. He especially didn’t like how close the other android was to you at that moment, talking with you in a way that seemed much too intimate, a sight that sent his inner processors whirring with a deep seated feeling. Frustration? Maybe anger?

The L.E.D. at his temple was blipping a constant red as his mind reeled into dangerous territory.

Stop.

Simon needed to stop. He needed to stop right now-

“How long has it been, Connor? Seven months?”

Connor blinked once, twice, the clench of his jaw releasing as he registered Markus' voice from beside him. He was asking a question, a question he was easily able to pick up on.

He blinked a third time, tilting his head ever-so-slightly, though keeping his eyes on you. The red at his temple flickered to yellow, retaining the color for the time being.

“Almost eight,” he answered, voice sounding a bit rougher, the barest hint of interference stuttering his words.

He hadn’t realized how absolutely wrecked he was becoming until his thoughts were interrupted. Seething sounded adequate, but he didn’t believe he was that angry…didn’t want to admit it.

“Eight months,” Markus repeated quietly, his echoed words sounding reverently amazed in the best way. “It doesn’t seem like it's been that long, does it? Then again, it feels like forever, being with the right person.”

Markus turned to look at Connor, mismatched eyes narrowing in a serious manner as his brow furrowed.

“You’re lucky to have each other in this time of change. It's easy to see how much you care for her, how much she cares for you. As long as that feeling is there, nothing will tear you apart, not even what your eyes assume is there right before you.”

“I…”

Connor hesitated, his own brow furrowing, doubting. His gaze on you faltered, eyes closing momentarily with self-doubt. He grimaced.

“Have you told her, yet?”

Connor's eyes opened once more, his head slowly turning toward Markus. For a brief moment, Connor’s façade crumbled away, his brief expression conveying the underlying issue behind everything he was feeling. Markus' own eyes widened a fraction, understanding what Connor was saying without speaking a word.

“You're afraid.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Connor harked defensively, looking away from Markus and hiding behind another spark of what he would call anger and definitely not embarrassment. He felt stupid for letting such emotions get the best of him, for letting such things as self-doubt and jealousy completely ravage his systems and lead his thoughts down dangerous paths of action he did not want to take.

Breaking Simon's fingers was not only uncouth and absolutely not a good thing, but it would also upset you greatly. Connor would be upsetting himself if he so much as humored the sudden, brash thought longer than the blip of a second it took to think it, and yet it was still a thought he had come to.

What was wrong with him? Was jealousy always such a potent feeling?

“Simon is a good friend,” Markus went on, ignoring Connor's outburst in favor of continuing his talk with Connor.

“I know that,” Connor conceded.

“Then you must also be aware that she and Simon have a special bond in their friendship, one that was earned mutually through trust and understanding. The best of friends, those two. They can tell each other anything without fear of judgement or worry that their secrets will be spread.”

“I'm…aware.”

“And it scares you to know she can be so free and open with someone else, can rely so heavily on someone else. Your fear holds you back, doesn’t it?”

“I…I don’t want it to,” Connor admitted softly, his voice sounding small as the root of the issue was carefully prodded and plied open by Markus' doing. He looked to you again, watching your tired expression light up at something Simon had said.

He felt helpless when there was nothing to feel helpless about. You were with him, happy with him; at least, he believed you were. You hadn’t expressed anything contrary to that belief, nothing that outwardly expressed any dissatisfaction within your relationship or a want for something he could not readily provide.

Then why was he so…so scared to lose you?

“Simon is infatuated with her,” Connor muttered, the words almost leaving a bitter taste on his tongue, an odd sensation he would have to dissect later. “He shows all the signs of interest. They would…work well together.”

“In another life, maybe so,” Markus agreed, not dissuading Connor's observation. “But she chose you, Connor. She sees something in you that no one else has. She adores you; Simon knows that. He would never hurt either of you in that way. Just like you and me, he only wants what is best for her.”

“I know,” Connor repeated quietly, and Markus smiled.

Markus was worried for a moment, but talking Connor through his feelings seemed to help the detective. He wasn’t nearly as tense as before, and though Markus could tell his friend was still suffering through a combination of emotions, he had peace of mind knowing he had helped Connor better understand the situation presented to him. Even his L.E.D. was flickering between yellow and blue, his thoughts still muddled, but calming quickly.

“You should tell her,” Markus spoke, clasping a hand to Connor's shoulder with the suggestion. He met Connor's gaze, smile quirking the corner of his lips at the hesitant nod his friend gave him.

Markus pulled away just as North took notice that something was amiss, though he gave a slow, single nod to assure her all was well. She looked relieved, though as her eyes looked behind him to Connor, she frowned in confusion.

“Connor?”

---

You looked up from Simon as North called out to your boyfriend, eyes looking to her, then Connor, who was blinking rapidly as his temple held a steady stream of yellow. You recognized the action as an incoming call and jumped up immediately, moving toward him with an anxious flutter in your gut.

Just as you reached him, he regained focus, deep brown eyes looking to you in surprise as he called out your name quietly.

“What do we got?” you asked, watching his face contort into mild concern before smoothing out into a neutral expression. Vaguely, you felt as if you missed something, but you ignored the feeling in favor of Connor's following words.

“Another murder, same set-up as last time, though the officers on-call are only confirming one dead, and nothing more.”

“Shit,” you muttered disdainfully, looking to Markus and the group with an apologetic expression.

“We understand,” Markus spoke calmly, “I'm sorry we couldn’t be of more help to the investigation.”

“Just being able to talk to you guys was enough for me,” you said, pulling him into a hug he was all too prepared to reciprocate. You moved around the room and did the same with the others, aware of Markus and Connor talking behind you.

“Please, keep us updated on the investigation. If there's anything more we can do to help, anything, you know how to reach me.”

“Of course, Markus.”

You pulled away from your final embrace with Simon, turning toward Connor and pausing. He looked hesitant, almost troubled, his brows furrowed and the slightest frown against his lips. You noticed the flicker at his temple, noting the color was still yellow, cautious and inquisitive.

“Connor, what's wrong?”

His eyes instantly snapped to you, the L.E.D. flickering once more before becoming a steady blue. His expression relaxed somewhat as he reached for your hand, your fingers intertwining with his without hesitation.

“Nothing, sorry. We should get going.”

You nodded carefully, confused by his suddenly odd demeanor. Again, the feeling of having missed something was rearing in the back of your mind, but there were more pressing matters at stake. If Connor didn’t want to talk about it now, that was fine. You knew he would eventually come to you for whatever was troubling him.

You gave his hand a gentle squeeze as you pulled away briefly to grab your coat and scarf, bundling up cozily and taking his hand once more. You tugged gently as you started up a quick pace toward the stairs, giving Markus and the others a final wave as you made your exit.

“Connor, wait!”

Connor stopped abruptly at the exclamation, forcing you to come to a halt in front of him. You both turned to find Simon had rounded the lounge, seeming surprised by his own outburst. He looked almost indecisive about continuing his train of thought, eyes closing as he took a steadying breath.

“Please…make sure she gets some sort of sleep later. You and I both know how stubborn she can be, but I figured, maybe, you could be just a bit more stubborn, this time.”

The room was quiet. Connor and Simon stared at each other, and though you couldn’t see Connor's expression, the interaction made you nervous in a way you couldn’t explain. Then, Connor gave a small sigh, the action alone breaking the strange, heavy tension with ease.

“I will.”

Simon smiled at the promise, and you were sure it was a promise, unspoken but there. It was Connor's turn to lead you away, as you remained momentarily frozen in your place, unsure of what exactly had just transpired before you.

“What are you guys up to, huh? Doing some sort of secret-android-mind-reading? Conspiring against me?”

Connor chuckled, actually chuckled at your faux put-upon questions, turning to look at you with a smile as soon as you both made it down the stairs. It was a complete 180 turn from his previous mood, and it had you nearly reeling at the change.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” he answered, and you believed him.

For whatever crazy reason, that last-second exchange had put him at ease. You would have to thank Simon next time you had the chance to talk to him.

[invisibleanonymousmonsters]

Howlin’ For You (1/?)

Description: When Y/N gets an unreal deal on her first home, she wonders why her neighbor scared away all the other buyers. Despite being cautious, she doesn’t fully understand what gave Bucky Barnes such a bad name. 

Pairing: AU - Biker!Bucky x Fem/Reader

Word Count: 3,553

I’m obsessed with Biker!Bucky. This is my first attempt at an AU. So I’m pretty excited. 

The realtor watched Y/N carefully, trying to gage every facial expression and hum she made.

But on the inside, Y/N had fallen head over heels with the house. It was cozy and cute. There hadn’t been any other home that had as much natural lighting. The last owner had completely updated the whole place, but kept the vintage charm and character. It was sitting on a huge plot of land. But most importantly, it had a front porch that Y/N had always dreamed of owning.

“Okay. What’s the catch?” Y/N finally broke her silence.

The realtor seemed to be waiting for this moment, but still attempted to look confused.

Y/N narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. “This place has been completely redone, yet kept with its original charm. There is more land than I know what to do with. It’s basically my dream home. So why is the asking price so low?”

The realtor apparently knew she couldn’t get anything past Y/N. So she took in a deep breath. “I’ve had a lot of trouble selling this house. The owner had to lower the asking price after years of failing to sell.” She took in a deep breath and then walked to a window at the front of the home. She gestured toward the only house within a mile or two. It sat right across the street. “It’s the neighbors.”

Y/N observed the house as if she was trying to figure out the problem on her own.

“What’s the deal? Drug dealer? Whore house? Meth lab?” That was all she could think of that would deter someone from living in this perfect home.

“I forget that you’re new to this town. Mr. Barnes keeps interesting company. Most of the town is terrified of him and his gang.”

“What’s wrong with his friends?” Y/N shrugged.

“Not friends. Gang. I meant that word literally. Rumor has it he’s the head of the biker gang. People call them the Howling Commandos.”

Y/N couldn’t help but laugh. “Biker gang!? Like Marlon Brando in ‘The Wild One’ biker gang?!” This couldn’t be real.

“Laugh all you want, sweetheart. But that biker gang is the reason I can’t sell this damn house.”

The realtor’s stressed demeanor and slight annoyance finally made Y/N take her seriously.

“So what? There’s been shootings or stabbings in the area?”

“Oh god no!” The realtor gasped.

“Okay… so noise complaints?”

“You’ll hear their motorcycles coming and going every once in awhile. But the last owner of this house never called the cops on them once. In fact, she said that Mr. Barnes was nothing but polite and nice to her in all the years she lived here.”

Y/N squinted. “Then I don’t get what the big deal is…?”

“It’s a small and conservative town, Ms. Y/L/N. People hear rumors and project their judgement on anyone that doesn’t fit into their silly mold.”

Y/N nodded slowly and continued to stare at the house. “I’ll take it.”

“What?” The realtor’s jaw dropped.

“I said I’ll take it.” Y/N repeated. She knew this house was a steal. But more importantly, she knew how ignorant people could be towards someone that was even slightly different. It even felt a little too familiar to the reasoning for move in the first place.

She made her offer and signed all the necessary paperwork and a few days later the realtor was practically dancing as she handed the keys over to Y/N.

A couple weeks later, Y/N had moved all her stuff in and immediately started nesting. Cleaning and decorating were completely underrated activities. No matter how long or hard it took to finish the tasks, one could always see how much progress they’d made.

Y/N was cleaning the front porch when she stared at her front door. The brown door was nice, but it didn’t feel like her. She used to always say she hated the suburban trend of having no colors in their homes. Everything was beige in every single house from her childhood. She’d made a vow that she’d use as many bright colors as she wanted when she finally got to buy her own home.

Y/N looked at the door and a color just popped into her head. With a smile, Y/N practically skipped to her car to go to the hardware store.

It was when she was in paint covered overalls, on her hands and knees, sandpapering the door when she got her first glimpse of her neighbor.

As soon as she heard the roar of a motor, her head snapped up.

However, he zoomed into the driveway and straight to his detached garage at the back of his property so quickly that she didn’t catch his face. But she couldn’t miss his broad shoulders. Even though he was wearing a hefty leather jacket, she assumed it was sitting on top of a muscular body. She also noted his shaggy hair was that pulled into a small bun on his neck.

Y/N then glanced down at her outfit and was somewhat relieved he hadn’t seemed to notice her either. She was wearing baggy overalls and just a bralette underneath. Her sister called them her construction overalls with a tone of disapproval. Y/N just ignored her.

Y/N took one last glance at her neighbor’s house in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. But he was either hiding in his garage or slipped in a back door of his house. She shrugged and continued painting her front door. When she was finally done, she took a step back and stared at it with pride.

The brown door was now a hot pink.

“Becky what the hell is the matter with you?” Y/N yelled into her cellphone.

“Come on, Y/N. Don’t be so ridiculous. It’s just a date.” Her sister responded on the phone.

“Yes, a date that I didn’t say yes to! I don’t know this guy…” Y/N groaned.

“Well that’s kind of the whole point of a blind date. Mom and I think he’s perfect for you.”

“Oh that’s just great. Now you and mom are plotting my life together. That’s just fucking perfect, Becky.” Y/N pinched the bridge of her nose, desperately trying to think of a way to get out of this. “Listen, I still have so much unpacking to do and decorating. I don’t have time to go on a date. Nor do I want to.”

“It’s too late for that. I gave him your number and new address. He’s going to pick you up tonight at 7 o’clock.”

“What! Becky! You can’t just give my address to strangers. Are you insane?!” Y/N shrieked. “Give me his number. I’m calling to cancel.”

“Nope. Not happening.” Becky was unfazed by Y/N’s reaction. “And he’s not a stranger. He’s the son of a woman in mom’s book club.”

“I literally hate you so much right now. I want you to know that.” Y/N’s voice turned into a hiss. She didn’t bother waiting for a response before hanging up on her sister.

Lucky for her, she’d already unpacked the throw pillows for the couch. Immediately she threw her phone to the other side of the couch and picked up a pillow to scream into. After she let out most of her anger, she looked at the clock. It was already 5, which meant that she had two hours to get ready for this date.

It had only been a month since Y/N had moved further away from her family. Yet it didn’t deter them from trying to control her life. The day she got her first home, she felt a sense of relief… like she hadn’t taken a breath in years. But that freedom was clearly already being attacked.

Y/N begrudgingly showered, picked out an outfit, and groomed herself. The sick feeling in her gut got worse and worse as it came closer to 7. She had to stop herself from audibly groaning when the doorbell rang.

Y/N opened the door to find a tall and handsome man waiting for her. He seemed somewhat relieved and maybe even a little impressed when he finally saw the woman he’d agreed to go on a date with.

“You must be Will.” Y/N immediately put on her charm. Even if she didn’t want to go on this date, she could at least make it interesting. Flirting was a game to her. One that she was almost too good at. It ended up confusing a lot of men and having them mistake her outgoingness for attraction and interest.

They immediately started with the awkward introductions and shared a laugh about their mothers being too aggressively involved in their dating lives. When Y/N walked out, she noticed the man’s fancy sports car. In fact, the effort not to roll her eyes at it stopped her from realizing that her neighbor was walking to his mailbox at the edge of his driveway.

A few hours later, Y/N was being dropped off back home. She couldn’t lie, Will was sweet and a gentleman. But he came with a life that Y/N was trying to get away from. She felt bad already knowing that there wasn’t going to be a second date. She felt even worse when it seemed that Will was under the impression that there definitely would be.

She’d given him a hug goodnight and thanked him for paying for dinner, even though she genuinely offered to pay her half a dozen times.

As soon as she heard his car disappear, Y/N let out a sigh of relief. She ripped off the dress. Even though she thought it was cute, it felt so restrictive. Taking it off gave her a weird sense of freedom.

Y/N looked around at her house. She’d done a lot of work, but there was still so much more to be done. She needed to get out of the house, grab some air…air that wasn’t intruded by a strange man her family set up.

Since Y/N had her fair share of wine on the date, she decided going for a walk was the only responsible option. She changed into cutoff shorts and ratty t-shirt before grabbing a small purse and locking the door behind her.

She hadn’t been able to explore the area yet. That’s why she was pleasantly surprised to find a grungy bar hidden in the trees a mile or so up from her house. It looked divey and a little rough around the edges. But it seemed so refreshing compared to the stiff and boring date she’d just been forced to go on.

“Fuck it.” Y/N muttered to herself before she walked to the entrance.

There were a dozen muscle cars and a bunch of motorcycles parked outside. Y/N couldn’t help but admire them before pulling the door open.

Y/N looked around and immediately knew she was going to stick out… even with the shorts and band t-shirt she was wearing. She just looked too clean and innocent. There was more ink than skin in the place. It practically smelled of leather and whiskey. The music was nothing that would ever be played on the radio. But Y/N loved it.

By some luck, there was a single stool open at the corner of the long bar. She made her way there and ordered a whiskey on the rocks.

“You’re new.” The female bartender said with a smile that completely contrasted the aesthetic of the bar she worked in.

Y/N laughed lightly. “Yeah, I just moved here actually.”

“How about that. I’m Wanda.”

Her friendliness brought a smile to her face. “I’m Y/N.”

“Nice to meet you. What can I get you?”

“Can I just get a whiskey on the rocks?”

Wanda nodded and winked, moving to the other side of the bar to make the drink.

Y/N was able to enjoy a drink alone for about a half hour. Wanda would come over whenever she was free and asked her a question or two. She seemed to like having a girl to talk to. All the other women at the bar seemed to be with a group or with their significant others.

However, Y/N’s peace was ruined when a guy moved to her side. He acted like he needed to order a drink, but he was unnecessarily close to her.

Y/N wasn’t stupid; she knew this move all too well.

“How ya doing?” He looked down at her after he placed his order.

“Fine.” She responded without looking at him or sounding the least bit interested.

He didn’t pick up on it. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Y/N finished her drink dramatically for effect. “Nope. I’m good.”

“Come on. You look like you could use some company.” Then he caressed her waist and slid down to her ass.

Y/N slapped his hand away and shot up from her bar stool. It flew of its legs and made a loud bang when it hit the floor.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” Y/N hissed as she finally looked at her harasser. He had dark eyes that made her feel empty. He also looked way to old to be hitting on her. But there was a danger about him that made her suddenly concerned for her safety.

“Rumlow! Back off!” Wanda came rushing over.

“Is there a problem here?” Someone asked from behind Y/N. The voice was deep and grainy, filled with masculinity.

She turned slightly without completely turning her back on the guy who was apparently called Rumlow. She saw a tall man with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes that were currently glaring at Rumlow. On either side of him were two other men that were just as broad and intimidating. One had light blonde hair and eyes that could compete with the other one. The third man had dark skin and a face that said he had a gentleness he was constantly trying to hide.

The whole bar had gone silent, watching the scene unfold. This was not the attention Y/N wanted or needed right now.

“I was just trying to buy the lady a drink.” Rumlow shrugged.

“Really? Because it looked like you were groping her.” Wanda snapped from behind the bar.

Rumlow scoffed. “Oh, give me a break.”

Y/N was in fight or flight mode now. So she grabbed her wallet from her purse, grabbed $20 and slammed it on the bar. She gave Wanda a thankful and apologetic look. Without looking at the group of men that had interrupted, she hurriedly brushed past them. Y/N prayed no one would follow her, especially Rumlow.

She quickened her pace when she heard the door open again and heavy footsteps trailing behind her.

“You okay?” They asked with a surprising gentleness. It wasn’t patronizing, but sincere.

“I’m fine.” She answered without stopping.

“Need a ride?” They asked again.

“No. I’m walking.” She retorted and then swore internally when she realized the vulnerable information she just shared.

“It’s over two miles to your house.” They pointed out.

That made Y/N stop in terror. She turned around to find it was the same guy with the blue eyes. “How the fuck do you know where I live?” Her hand was already reaching into her purse, trying to find her phone so she could call 911.

The man smirked at her attitude. “I’m your neighbor.”

For some reason, that made Y/N relax. She still had never got a good look at him during the month she’d been living here. It would explain why she hadn’t recognized him. But looking at the man now, she noted that his hair was in that low bun again.

“I’m Bucky.” He stepped forward slowly, like he didn’t want to scare her, and offered his hand to her

She looked at his hand for too long. “Ugh. Hi. Sorry. I’m Y/N.”

His grip was strong and confident.

“How did you know I was your neighbor?” She asked softly.

“I’ve seen you doing work around the house.” He shrugged casually. “I like the pink door, by the way.” He smirked as her eyes widened from the compliment.

She looked down at her feet and laughed. “Yeah. It’s a little weird. But I’ve always dreamed of having a pink door on a house.” Then she realized she really didn’t want to be in this conversation. She didn’t even know why she just told him that personal detail about herself. “It was nice to finally meet you, Bucky. But it’s been kind of a long night. I’m gonna head out.” Her excuse was casual, like she hadn’t almost started a brawl in a bar from a dude’s inappropriate behavior.

“Let me give you a ride.” Bucky took a step forward.

“I’m seriously fine. I can take care of myself.”

“Look, this area can get a little rough sometimes. Especially this late at night. If you don’t want to get on a motorcycle, that’s fine. I’ll walk you home. Or at least let me call your boyfriend.” He held up his hands in surrender, like he was scared any sudden movement would spook her.

Y/N couldn’t help but laugh darkly. “Yeah good luck calling a boyfriend.”

Bucky’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Do you want me to ask Wanda to drive you home?”

“No.” Y/N said quickly. She had already caused enough problems and didn’t want to be an inconvenience. Wanda needed to make money off tips and good service. She wasn’t about to get in the way of that.

Before Bucky could say anything else, the bar door burst open. One of Bucky’s friends was throwing a beat up Rumlow to the ground. His lip was split and his nose was bleeding.

“Learn some damn manners, Brock. Next time you harass a pretty girl, I’ll let Bucky handle you. I took it easy on you.” The man scolded Rumlow.

“Yeah, yeah. Go fuck yourself, Wilson.” Rumlow spit blood on the dirt in front of him.

Y/N looked horrified and realized this place was much more dangerous that her naive mind realized. Using the distraction to her advantage, she quickly walked away and hurried into the shadows.

The road didn’t have any streetlights, which only added to Y/N’s tension. She almost broke out into a run when she heard the sound of a motorcycle approaching behind her.

Bucky skidded his bike to a halt as soon as he was parallel to her. “Get on.”

“Christ. You’re really not going to let me walk home alone, are you?” Y/N groaned.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re stubborn?” He shot back.

“Just about everyone I’ve ever known.” She couldn’t help but smile mischievously. But she’d given up on fighting him. If he really planned on killing her, at least she’d go out with a bang. Plus, it wouldn’t take the police long to figure out what happened to her. Girl moves in across the street from the leader of a biker gang… pretty straightforward.

Bucky smiled at his small success. He was about to tell her how to get on, but Y/N was already swinging her leg over the back of his bike like a natural.

“Hold on.” He instructed.

She gripped his shoulders, instead of his waist.

As soon as Bucky was speeding down the tree covered road, Y/N was glad she’d taken him up on his offer. She was so lost in thought on her walk earlier that she completely underestimated the time it would’ve taken her to get back home.

But before she knew it, Bucky was pulling into her driveway. He turned off the bike and helped her off.

“Thank you. For the ride…and…and for stepping in back at the bar.” Y/N looked at the ground.

To her surprise, Bucky chuckled. “Looked like you had it handled.”

She slowly nodded. “Right. Well… goodnight, Bucky.”

“Hey Y/N?” Bucky called as she reached the stairs to her porch.

She turned around.

“Don’t be a stranger. Let me know if you ever need anything. Okay?” His voice was firm and genuine.

Y/N just nodded, but knew she would never take him up on the offer.

When she was in the safety of her house and saw Bucky ride away, assumingely back to the bar, Y/N took in a deep breath. Her first interaction with her neighbor left her utterly confused. Clearly he ran with a rough crowd, she thought as the vision of Rumlow beaten and bloodied repeated in her head.

But Bucky also seemed genuinely cornered about her safety. The chivalrous intentions contradicted with the biker gang aesthetic. He had to be a criminal of some sort, right? No one was in a gang without breaking laws at some point.

Y/N didn’t trust him. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t deeply intrigued by him.

She went to bed and couldn’t stop thinking about how much she enjoyed being close to his warm body as they sped through the darkness.

Part Two

So let me know if ya’ll are interested int this continuing. To be honest, been discouraged recently with the last of response on the past few one-shots/drabbles. There’s really no point in fanfic if it feels like no one is reading or enjoying all the time and effort I put in.