#confession: i did not manage to pull either him or lilia :(

[egophiliac]

i was scrolling back a bit and i saw the post where you said you couldnt wait to find out who got to pie malleus. what was your reaction when riddle came into the screen, i need to know

I was VERY MUCH hoping that there would be a moment in which it was unclear if Riddle would be able to hit Mal in the face. oh well, can't have everything!

every interaction between these two has the energy of a couple of socially awkward dignitaries stuck making conversation at some very important political function, and it's great. (also my favorite thing was Malleus showing off and being like "of course I'd survive on my own on a deserted island with no problem. you see, I read a single book about it once." to probably the one person who would in fact be like "ah, a book. yes that makes sense.")

(what the odds Lilia gave him a novelization of a Gilligan's Island episode and Malleus is going to be very disappointed at the lack of coconut radios)

[bluerosewritings]

Caught in Your Throat 2 | Malleus x Reader

[Originally uploaded to ‘The Hearts Mirror’ on Wattpad]

—

Once you'd confirmed you had Hanahaki Disease, everything just went downhill. Suddenly, it seemed like everywhere you went, Malleus was there with a smile and a short wave that would cause the pain in your chest to tighten and your throat to burn. At first, you thought you could deal with it. The downhill was slow - sure, the pain flared up whenever you saw Malleus, but that was it, right?

Wrong. The pain didn't just flare up, it grew. Larger and larger every day. When you coughed, more and more thorns came out. The small pricks nicked the insides of your cheeks and your lips. Deuce and Ace began to worry you were getting physically bullied. Cater looked at you with knowing eyes but didn't say anything.

As time went on, the coughing fits became more and more frequent; you'd often have to excuse yourself from your friends or ask to leave class and go running to a teacher's bathroom (Crowley had given you special permission, saying he couldn't allow any girl to have to use the boy's bathroom - which you were grateful for now more than ever) to lean over a toilet and pray everything got into the bowl. If even the tiniest bit of blood got on the seat, you spat and rubbed at it desperately, almost once cracking it.

You begun distancing yourself from Malleus. It broke you but it was the only way to stop the growth of whatever had planted itself inside of you. Ironically enough, the larger the pain, the more your feelings for him grew. Or maybe it was the other way around? You tried not to think about it. You hated having to explain away your tear-stained face.

The separation was a bad one. It seemed whenever you tried to avoid him, one of the other members of Diasomnia would pop up out of nowhere and start talking to you about him. Lilia dropping down from the ceiling to share a memory of Malleus as an infant; Silver waking up from a nap to talk about Malleus' latest gargoyle find; Sebek deciding to cut to the chase and demanding to know why you were avoiding his young master. You disguised your coughs as laughs.

One night you'd had enough. You had gotten to the point where you were throwing up thorns instead of coughing them out. On your return from the Ramshackle bathroom, you'd looked out of one of the common room windows and seen Malleus looking forlorn towards your room. Something started burning inside of you; anger, regret, fear, you didn't know what. You just knew you'd had enough. He didn't love you, so why was he doing this? Why was he plaguing you with his existence? Why didn't he realise the pain you were in?

"Go away!" You yelled, "I don't want you anywhere near me!"

You weren't sure when you got outside. It didn't really matter much to you right now - being so close to Malleus and watching his face switch from relief to surprise and confusion to hurt was causing the thing inside of your chest to tighten.

"(y/n)...?" Malleus tried to come closer. "What's wrong? What did I-"

"Just go! Get away from my dorm!" You screamed. "Don't come back!"

"(y/n)-"

"LEAVE!"

Not even waiting for a response, you bolted it back to Ramshackle and locked the door behind you.

—

"You wanted to see me, headmaster?" Your voice came out croaky. Whether it was from the thorns or last night's screaming and crying, you couldn't tell.

"Ah, (y/n)! Thank you for joining us!" Us? "I'd like to introduce you to a guest who'll be staying with you for the next week - meet Miss Neyn Ratte."

You froze. Turning your head, you saw a girl who looked around your age with jet black hair, dark blue eyes porcelain skin and the signature pointy ears of a fae. She gave a small smile.

Lady Ratte. The girl Malleus loved.

—

"Sorry to spring all this on you - I thought the headmaster would've told you sooner!" Neyn laughed, placing down her bags. "Thanks for not being too upset. You're just as kind as Malleus said!"

"Mmm." You didn't know what to say.

"I'm so glad I get to room with another girl - oh, do you want to have a sleepover? It would certainly calm my nerves! Father despairs of me sometimes for how much of a night owl I am; though, from the sounds of it, you are too, aren't you? You and Malleus talk well into the night, that's what I've heard!"

Malleus, Malleus. Most nobles called him Lord Draconia or Lord Malleus at least. She didn't need to use honourifics.

"Sorry," you shook your head, "not tonight. I'm... not feeling so good."

It wasn't a lie. You could feel the thorns clawing their way up your throat.

"Oh dear, do you have a fever? Should I take you to the infirmary?" Neyn held a hand to your forehead before you could move back. "You don't feel hot... I can make you soup?"

You shook your head. "N-No. I just need to sleep. Night."

You took off to your bedroom without letting her reply. After locking the door, you fell forward onto your bed.

You wanted to hate her, you really did, it was just... she was so nice. You were expecting someone with the usual stay-back, confident fae aura but Neyn was the complete opposite. She was kind, talkative, accepting... Just the kind of person Malleus would like. No wonder he did.

Picking up your phone off the side, you opened your messages to Cater. He'd forwarded the number of the surgeon who'd gotten rid of his sister's Hanahaki plant a few weeks back. Maybe... maybe you should...?

You put your phone down. Another night.

—

Neyn was almost always at your side during her stay. During her stay - which apparently was to look around NRC for her younger brother - she borrowed your uniform and linked arms with you going to and from class. She was constantly asking you questions, too - your favourite class, favourite food, favourite colour, home life, your type, everything.

You barely got a minute's rest from her. The only time she wasn't was either when you escaped to the toilet... or when she was with Malleus.

You swore the two of them were looking at you right now. Pushing your lunch around your plate, you tried not to turn around and find the eyes you felt peering at your back. You laughed with Deuce at whatever Ace said.

At least it was her last day. You'd overheard her on the phone last night to Malleus - something about tonight. Maybe a confession?

It didn't matter anymore. You'd come to terms that Malleus didn't love you. The number for the doctor was saved in your phone and you were planning to call them when Neyn was gone. No point in putting yourself through pain any further.

"I need to go to the toilet." You say, thorns crawling their way up your throat.

—

One of the ghosts floated into the Ramshackle common room, a parcel in his hands. Neyn trailed off her story as you took it from him, a small smile on her lips.

"What's that?" She asked.

The parcel was small. Inside of it was a bunch of green tissue paper, which you pushed aside until you saw what was inside. Your heart stopped.

A bracelet. A bracelet made of black thorns, with small crystal roses that were your favourite colour dotted around on it. Your hands were shaking as you held it. The fake pricks burned against your skin.

"Oh, that's so pretty!" Neyn exclaimed, unaware of your shift in mood. "Try it on, try it on! Look - there's a note attached, too! 'To (y/n)'-"

"Is this a joke?"

"...sorry?" Neyn asked, putting down the note.

"Is this a joke?" You glared at her. "I was ready to let him go - and now... this! How long have you known?"

"Known... what?"

You dropped the bracelet back into the box. "You know what I mean! Have you told him? I don't want him to think he has to be with me! He loves you - not me! Isn't that enough? Do you have to taunt me like this?"

Tears were welling up in your eyes and your chest was getting tight. You got up and turned away but Neyn grabbed your wrist.

"(y/n), what are you talking about?" She asked, "do you mean Malleus? He doesn't love me, he loves-"

"Let go! I don't want to hear it!" You pulled your wrist away. The pain in your chest was getting unbearable. "I don't care who it is! Because- because it isn't-"

You couldn't hold it in anymore. The coughing fit came, instantly, so painful it brought you to your knees. Unable to catch them in time, long lengths of thorns hit the floor. Neyn stepped back, eyes wide.

By the time the coughing fit was over, Neyn was gone along with the parcel. You got up, tears streaming down your face. You were glad Grim had gone to Heartslabyul with Ace - having the ghosts fret over you was bad enough.

Pushing past the spectres, you locked yourself in your room again. The tears wouldn't stop falling and you didn't try to hide them.

So Neyn knew. Even if she hadn't before, she definitely knew now. Where did she go? To Malleus? Why did she take the bracelet?

You shook your head. Picking up your phone, you scrolled down to the doctor's number. No point in delaying it any further.

Just as the phone began to ring, someone knocked. Not at the dorm door but at your window.

Against your better judgement, you drew back your curtains. Barely staying within the window frame was Malleus.

Before you can close the curtains, the window evaporated into tiny green lights that danced around your room. Not letting you step away either, Malleus lent down and wrapped his arms around you, tight, one hand round your waist and one on the back of your head, stroking your hair.

"I'm so sorry, (y/n)." He whispered.

You weren't able to answer. Your mind was too preoccupied trying to fight back both a coughing fit and tears. Unfortunately, tears were managing to find a way down your face.

Once he noticed, the dark fae lifted you up gently and pulled you outside the room. The hold was similar to the time he'd lifted you up to touch his horns. The memory made the tears come out faster - you desperately tried to wipe them away, hiccuping which allowed some of the thorns to escape from your lips.

The position let you have a good view of Malleus' face. Even though your vision was blurry from the tears, you could see the regret and pain on his face. A gloved hand reached out to you and stroked your cheek. At first you stiffened against his touch, then allowed yourself to lean your head into his hand. The  need to cry slowly disappeared.

"I'm sorry." You told him once the tears stopped.

Malleus' face creased in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I... I'm making you feel guilty," you said, "but please don't. I-I should've known better than to fall for you - known you would've wanted someone like Neyn instead. So, please, don't worry about me. C-Cater gave me a doctor's number, so I can deal with it, so..."

"(y/n)." Malleus lowered you down to his eye level. "I don't love Neyn."

"W-Whoever it is," you continued, "I don't want to get in the way of your happiness, Tsunotaro. You're important to me, and I couldn't forgive myself if I-"

"(y/n)," Malleus cut you off, "the person I love is you."

"...Huh?" Was all you could say.

"I'm sorry I made you think otherwise." Malleus said. "I'm sorry I made you go through so much pain because of it. But you're the one I love, (y/n), truly."

"But, Neyn... why did she..."

"Lilia said it would be good to get another female opinion on how to confess," Malleus explained, "so I asked Neyn, and she said it would be better if she knew you better, so we arranged for her to visit NRC. But if I had known how much pain it would cause you, I swear I never would have allowed it."

"Tsunotaro, you didn't know," you shook your head, "it's not your fault."

"It is. I should have noticed sooner, as soon as I noticed your coughing. I'm so-"

You placed your hand over his mouth. Giving him a small smile, you said, "I told you not to feel guilty, didn't I?"

"I suppose you did."

The dark fae placed you gently on the ground. He grabbed your hands and squeezed them tightly, face surprisingly serious.

"I mean it, however. I do not love Neyn, or another person you are unaware of. (y/n), you are the one I love, truly."

Tears threatened to spill from your eyes again. You weren't sure what for - because of the calm, or happiness, or relief - but it didn't matter. They didn't stop your smile.

"I love you too, Tsunotaro."

Malleus smiled, relief evident on his face. In one swift movement, his hand was on the back of your head and you closed your eyes as your lips met his. The kiss tasted bittersweet, of months upon months of hidden feelings and anxiety mixed with relief and emotions finally being set free. It only lasted a second or two, but you came away dizzy.

You opened your mouth to say something when pain flared up in your chest. If Malleus hadn't been able to catch you in time you would have fallen over. Clutching onto his jacket, the two of you slid to the floor. You began coughing, worse than any of the times before, making your head light. Malleus was saying something as he almost cradled you in his arms. You couldn't make it out over the ringing in your ears.

Something was coming up your throat. It was just the thorns, there was something else, something smoother and something softer. Then out it all came, all in a rush - blood-speckled thorns, brown roots and a single large blood-red rose last. Once they were out, you hacked a couple more times before the feeling of needing to subsided. Blood trickled down your cut lips but that was the last thing on your mind.

Malleus waved his hand across your face, all injuries from the thorns gone in an instant. "(y/n)?"

You placed a hand to your chest. "Does it hurt there as well? (y/n)?"

It was gone. The need to cough, all the pain from the past few months, gone in an instant. Malleus... Malleus really did love you.

You turned to him and tackled him into a hug. The force caused the two of you to fall backwards, you laying on top of his chest. Laughter bubbled out of you. At first Malleus was confused but your joy was infectious and soon he was hugging you just as tightly, laughing along.

Malleus moved you up to his face level, smiling at you with eyes full of affection. You lowered your head down and caught his lips, this kiss the sweetest thing you ever tasted and you were going to make it last as long as you could.

[havenesa-sera-fina]

Hidden Marks [5: Drunk Confession]

Summary: Wrapping his own arms around her shoulders, Namjoon pulled her in, resting his head on the crown of her head, his heart beating steadily, which Sera heard and smiled to herself. Even with his odd lengthy limbs, they fit together perfectly, "Sera, I'm falling in love with you, that I want to convince you not to go, but I trust you. I just want you to be happy, to never cry over us again. I can't promise you that if you choose to stay with us, everything will be rainbows and sunshine, but I promise you that we won't give up on you, on this relationship. We're not perfect like everyone thinks we are, we're not the perfect bunch of soulmates, we have problems as a group and individuals, secrets that we all keep, burdens that we try to carry on our own. Though we all have each other, to fall back on when things get brought, and that includes you now. We're soulmates, so if anything happens, don't be scared to tell us.

(Poly BTS/OT7 x Reader/OC)

College Au / Soulmate Au

Disclaimer: Bts isn't my or any real life people (obviously.) Any other characters are my though. This is my story so do not republish this anywhere or I will report.

There maybe some triggers, but I will address them within the chapters.

Sources: Wattpad

Word count: 2466

"Canada ain't real and that's the tea sis." I pronounced randomly, walking side by side with Baekhyun through the fairground. Cotton candy in one hand, and beer in another.

It was a Saturday, so the fairground was packed with people, but it didn't stop us and our crazy antics. We've been here for only an hour, and we've moved onto our third cup of beer. Considering the fair was close to the college, there were a ton of uni students, all with the same idea to just get drunk tonight.

I invited Kimie to join us, after an awkward discussion of, 'if I was alright or not.' It ended up with me apologizing and Kimie just saying she was glad that I'm alright. She ended up declining as she was tired from the week that was filled with nothing best tests for her.

Somewhere in the week, I did end up calling the hospital to get more medicine, after embarrassingly explained what had happened. They offered therapy for me, but I declined as I knew therapy wouldn't help me. Because I already knew the types of questions and suggestions they were gonna tell me.

I haven't talked to Lilia yet and managed to just straight up ignore her boyfriends, which wasn't hard. We had no classes together and pretty sure we were all majoring in different things.

So it was just Baekhyun and me, and I was fine with that.

"Are you drunk already darling?" Baekhyun snorted, chugging down the rest of his beer and disposing of the cup in a nearby trash can, "We literally visited Canada for our high school senior trip dumb ass."

"It's all a ruse and Russia created Canada to watch over the US."

At that, we both giggled like little girls, feeling buzzed from the alcohol and the night just started, "Nothing in this world is real!" I yelled out, garnering a few weird looks from the older people at the fair, "it's all figments of our imagination!"

He bumped shoulders with me slightly, "Shut up you drunk."

Baekhyun was always a mean drunk.

It didn't take long for the hours to go by, with Baekhyun and I got a beer and more beer along with food, getting on rides and luckily not throwing up. There were attempts to play some carnival games, but that just ended up with me throwing a ball at him.

"What the hell you bitch!" Baekhyun yelled after I somehow threw the ball at him instead of in front of me at the plates, "my beer!" Sadly the impact caused him to drop his beer.

The vendors were staring at the two college students with amusement, not upset by the ruckus they were causing.

"Shut up you pink starburst," I yelled back, only to giggle. I was more than buzzed and tipsy, and this was always the best feeling as I bid the cute vendor guy goodbye, before dragging Baekhyun away, "I'll buy you more."

We were walking a little out of line, leaning against each other for support as we laughed over the most random things, our drunk mind thinking a blue cotton candy was worthy of laughing our ass off.

So drunk that we ended up bumping into someone.

A numbing feeling came over me, but I ignored it, the alcohol did its job to hide the feelings I didn't want to confront.

I met the most enchanting gray eyes I've ever seen, and couldn't help but giggle as I felt Baekhyun lean more of his weight against me, causing me to stumble, "Funny seeing you here Taetae!" My voice slurred slightly, as I raised my half-drunk beer up to him, "want to get fucked up with us?"

Taehyung stared amusingly at Sera, how some pieces of her light brown hair stuck to her face due to sweat. A pair of beautiful amber eyes stared at him, finally looked at him, even if it was through a drunken haze as a playful smirk played at her lips. His heart never pounded this painfully, but his eyes flickered to where Baekhyun was all but wrapped around her side and he wanted to tear them apart.

"How much did you drink exactly Noona?" He asked, voice dipped slightly when he said Noona, his eyes never leaving Sera's as she didn't bother to look away either, "you're never this friendly."

"Don't be silly! We're so much closer than you think," she then pushed the beer into his hands, along with an uneaten churro she bought few moments before they bumped into each other, "You should get drunk with us, Hyunnies beginning to get boring."

"Shut up you bitch!"

Sera didn't take offense to Baekhyun, as she slightly detached herself from him and looked back up at Taehyung, who stared on with slight fascination. He liked the way her cheeks flushed slightly, and wanted her to just keep staring at him, "You sure you ain't drunk already?"

"Not even buzzed! Where's Lilia anyway, why ain't you with her?"

Truth be told, Lilia and his six soulmates were somewhere in this fairground. They had all went together, but he and Lilia still weren't in talking terms, and not being able to stand the tense atmosphere, he excused himself from the group. Jungkook offered to accompany him, but he stated he wanted to be alone, before walking off.

"Let's not worry about her," he mumbled, before mentally saying fuck it, and chugging down the rest of Sera's beer, "lets gets fucked up tonight."

Both Baekhyun and Sera cheered at his words, as the pink-haired boy quickly went to get more beer.

Sera, the alcohol influencing her, instantly attached herself to Taehyung's side, "Taetae let's go on the Ferris wheel okay? Hyunnie and I haven't been on there yet."

Taehyung wasn't use to this, wasn't use to her being so friendly and close to him.

Sera had always been so cold and distant towards him and his other her soulmates, barely even muttering a word when any of them were near, let alone invite him or the others to get wasted with her. To have her so close, to feel her breathing as she wrapped her arms around one of his, a drunken smile on her lips. She was a drunken beauty, despite always, in general, being beautiful in his eyes, especially now she didn't have a blank expression on her face, and was now staring at him with so much.

It caused something to stir within him.

Even in his head was telling him that this wasn't right, that he had his soulmates and his girlfriend somewhere in this fairground. That he should push her away and go back to his group, but his soul was telling him to stay. That this was where he belonged.

"Yeah," he breathed in, just basking in her presence because he knew, once Sera was sober again, she would never look at him the way she is now, "anything you want."

Baekhyun came back, and seemed unfazed by the clingy Sera, and pushed a beer into each of their hands, and took the churro from Taehyung, "Hurry up dude, you got catching up to do."

Grinning slightly, just for this night, Taehyung would be selfish and indulge himself. Because while his head was screaming at him that this was all wrong, he never felt so sure with Sera holding onto him.

*****

"Fucking shit I'm gonna throw up," Taehyung frowned, leaning against a tree as he gulped down the rest of his water, "What time is it," he grumbled.

"Like 3 am," Baekhyun replied, patting the other man back in slight comfort.

They passed the stage of being stupid drunks, to being sober drunks. Not saying stupid shit and stumbling on their words, but still marking poor life decisions and most likely will not remember the type of drunk. The best type of drunk stage to just have a deep and philosophical discussion. Make confessions, because it'll be a miracle if any of them remembers what transpired.

Groaning, I looked down at the two boys on the ground, making myself comfy on top of the jungle gym I managed to climb. The cool air somewhat calming down the heat I felt as I gazed at Taehyung. Despite his need to throw up, I couldn't help but find him enchanting, especially underneath the moonlight.

The fair had closed three hours ago, and the three of us had jumped all over the place. To a bar for more drinks, a convenience store, onto college campus where we ran away quickly when we saw a security guard. Which we wouldn't have even gotten in trouble because we were students, but we're stupid drunks. Then we ended up at Baekhyun's apartment to get his car keys, but we were smart enough and just raided his kitchen, and now we found ourselves at a park in whom no gods nowhere. My phone luckily still at 20% as Baekhyun's at 80% because he was smart enough to charge it at the convenience store as we ate to our heart's content.

"You comfy over there cutie?" Taehyung called out, gray eyes meeting with clashing amber ones, a hint of amusement in them as he began to walk towards the jungle gym as well.

"You can't come up here if you're going to throw up!" I laughed, watching as he stumbled his way up the stairs, Baekhyun following him. My mark burning slightly, but not in an unpleasant way, as the alcohol in my system telling me everything was fine. My reasoning long gone as I accepted Taehyung company for tonight or morning or whatever.

"Jesus, we're going to get alcohol poisoning," Baekhyun groaned, as the two boys finally reached the top, where Sera was and seated themselves, "Where even are we?"

"Some park."

"No shit Sherlock."

"Taetae! Hyunnie's being mean! He's always a mean bitchy drunk."

The man in the middle only laughed, sounding like bells and causing my cheeks to flush, "come here cutie, I'll protect yah," he held out his hands and made grabbing motions towards me.

My heart skipped a beat with how adorably handsome he looked. Somewhere in the haze of the alcohol, my mind was telling me to stop, that I would regret this later, but my soul was telling me that I belonged in his arms.

So I listened to my soul and all but lunged into his arms. Instantly they wrapped around me securely, and while he reeked of alcohol, there was still a faint cinnamon smell to him as I buried my face into his chest. He was so warm compared to the chilly air night, and I didn't ever want to move away from here.

"I'm gonna gag," Baekhyun spoke somewhere in the background, before pulling out his phone and snapping a picture of the two. For later uses as in to blackmail Sera with whenever he wanted free food and possibly gossip with Kimie. Like he'll ever go behind Sera's back and expose her secret.

He was a mean drunk, but not a bastard of a drunk.

"I should," I mumbled, finding some reason within myself, and began to push myself away from Taehyung. While it felt so right and comforting to be in his arms, I knew it was wrong, "Lilia's my friend..."

Something in Taehyung panicked as he felt Sera pull away from him, causing him to tighten his grip and pull her back. Burying his nose in her soft hair, he breathed in her blueberry scented hair wash, "Lilia isn't my soulmate," he spoke, voice husky and deep, "Plus, all she's been doing is talking shit about you all week, I don't think she sees you as a friend anymore."

I should be bothered by his words, tell him he was wrong and try to defend my friendship.

However, I knew a long time ago we stopped becoming friends. We stopped being friends when I made the decision to keep my soulmates a secret from her. Maybe we stopped being friends a long time ago.

"She hates me because I killed her soulmate," I spoke bluntly, not being able to control my mouth and thoughts, "It's my fault why he's dead. That's why she took my own soulmates from me."

"Who's your soulmate cutie," his lips were close to my ear, as I felt his warm breath against my cheeks. It caused the most delightful shiver to run down my back, as my marks burn, not in pain, but in such an addicting feeling.

His hands went to my shoulders, before slowly trailing down my arm. So dangerously close to the very thing I kept hidden all these years. To the very thing I was so tired of hiding, "Won't you tell me, sweet Sera," his little nickname caused another shiver, "I always knew my little girlfriend was keeping secrets from us and I never liked it. Like she was trying to paint a different image of herself, that's far from reality."

The way he addressed Lilia as his girlfriend, I didn't like that at all as it caused me to feel a slight bitterness and jealousy. I should be Taehyung's girlfriend, not Lilia. I was his soulmate for crying out loud, I was all of their soulmates.

"You gave up on me," I mumbled, but I knew he heard, "If you just waited for one more year, you could have had all your seven soulmates."

"Is it really too late to find my other one? When she's so...so close."

"Shut up, you don't deserve me anymore. You gave up on waiting and began dating my best friend!" I raised my voice slightly and heard Baekhyun whine slightly in the background, "do you know how much it hurts to see all you guys together?"

Baekhyun, who knew he should shut Sera up, stop this discussion and pull the two away. However, he couldn't bring himself to, as he accepted being the third wheel as he went on his phone.

After all, all three have a better chance of getting alcohol poisoning then remembering anything that happened tonight.

Grumbling to himself, he scrolled through his contacts and clicked on a name: Nam fucking annoying Joon.

He didn't have a personal hatred towards Namjoon or any of the seven soulmates but didn't like them at the same time. They were the reasons why his friend was always in constant pain.

He grumbled slightly, then types away on the keyboard:

Hey it's Baekhyun. Come pick up your drunk boyfriend. We're at the park near the high school that's like ten miles away from the college. I'll send you our location.

Instantly he got a reply, to which he only rolled his eyes:

Why is he with you?

Ask him yourself. 

[darylandbethfanforever9]

Downfall Of Us All: Chapter 9

Downfall Of Us All

Chapter 9 

AN: Things are going to get dark from now on, if anyone has triggers feel free to skip to the next part. Thank you to @jtargaryen18​, who helped me write this story and I credit her with co - writing this story with me.

Warnings: Kidnapping, Breeding, 

The police officers were in the front of the car and they were on their way. Tony was trying not to think worst case scenario. Something was off. Happy wasn't dead. He'd get to the bottom of it. Where the hell was Pepper? "Today is your first day at the compound?" he asked Lilia, When she nodded, he asked, "What do you do?" "AI engineering," she said with some confidence. That got his attention. "So, you're the new addition to the AI team? Huh."

"Yes, I have two engineering degrees and two medical degrees, I graduated from MIT." Liliya know explained quietly, Tony nodded as they reached the police station and were shown to the morgue. Where the hell was Pepper? He looked at the morgue attendant who gently pulled the sheet away, revealing the battered and beaten face of Happy. He felt like someone had punched him, he felt sick. Happy was really dead. "It's him, it's Happy. How did this happen?" Tony asked quickly, he wanted to know exactly what had happened to his friend. "That's what we're trying to find out, Mr Stark. We'll keep in touch with you and try contacting Miss Potts." Olivia reassured gently, Tony nodded numbly at her words. Lilia gently led him away and was relieved to see that a car had parked up to pick them up. Tony gave Steve and Natasha a grateful smile, as the four of them drove back to the compound in silence.

"Do you think Tony's ok, Bucky?" Sophie asked quietly, she was sweating from the training session and was trying to block Bucky's punches. Bucky sighed quietly, truthfully, he didn't think Tony was coping very well with the fact that one of his few friends had been murdered. He wondered where Pepper was? Sighing, he shook his head and gave Sophie a sad smile. "I don't think so, doll. Tony's gone through a lot this year, he saw Peter disintegrate in front of him, and then Pepper didn't want kids with him. It's been a rough year for him," Bucky said quietly, and swallowed. "And in 2016, he found out HYDRA used me to kill his parents in 1991. That's how your father got injected with the super-soldier serum, HYDRA wanted more Winter Soldiers." He explained grimly and sighed. "I've hurt so many people, Sophie. I don't know if I'll ever be able to make amends to atone for what I've done, but I want to." He said firmly, Sophie smiled. "I think you've already making amends, Bucky. You're considered a hero, and you've saved lives," Sophie reassured, as she looked at the uneven bars. She'd always loved this piece of equipment and had many female gymnastic heroes for this apparatus. "Are you going to show off your routine, that won you a gold World Medal, Soph?" Grace asked excited, proud of her sister. Sophie laughed and nodded.

Hopping up on the lower bar, Sophie mounted the bars, spinning then kipping up the top bar. A pirouette gave her momentum and then it was all flowing from there. Sophie went along from one move to the next, the entire routine as much a part of her as breathing. From Jaeger and then to Pak Salto, keeping her legs straight, keeping her toes pointed. Oblivious to the small crowd that had gathered to watch, she got ready for the big moves at the end. Adding an extra twist to the end of her dismount, she managed the landing without stepping out, caught off guard by the applause at the end. Bucky hadn't been able to take his eyes off her. Between dancing with her last night, to watching her twirl above him, he was fascinated with her. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she'd looked but had no idea what to say and the moment was lost when Clint, who stood behind Grace, winked at Sophie. "Hot stuff, but could you take down a man with those moves?" he challenged her. What he actually did was get the attention of both sisters, Grace giving him a playful shove back. "Let's find out," she told him. Sophie followed them back to the mat and Bucky grinned, watching Clint face the prospect of going against both of them. "Not what I was looking for, but okay," he joked. Then he looked to Bucky across the mat. "Help a fellow out?" Bucky shook his head, folding his arms across his chest and watching the two women begin to circle the archer. Clint winked at Grace. "You'll take it easy on me, right?" "When did I agree to that?" Grace told him, fighting a smile. Sophie came at him first and Bucky was proud to see her using moves he'd shown her. Grace followed suit until the sisters were circling him, making him really work for it as she fought off one and then the other. He blocked punches, he took Sophie's legs out from under her. It was Grace who caught him off guard, catching him with an elbow to throw him off balance. Sophie went in with Natasha's scissor takedown and Clint was flat on his back on the floor. "Damn," he called, staring up at them in a daze. "You're fast learners, I'll give you that." "I'll say," Natasha told them, no one having noticed when she entered the gym. "Sophie that was perfect." Sophie turned to smile over her shoulder at the spy, pleased that she'd nailed it that time. "How's Tony?" Bucky asked Steve as he approached. Steve shook his head. "Happy's gone and then he got more bad news on the way back from the morgue." "What happened?" Bucky asked concerned.

"Pepper sent him divorce papers, his lawyers are dealing with it but it's hitting him hard." Steve said quietly, everyone froze at his words as Tony entered with a dark haired young woman that had red highlights in her hair. "Everyone, this is Lilia Dumitrescu who will be with the AI team and will be working with Jemma, and Helen Cho." Tony announced smoothly, but everyone could tell he was near breaking point. Clint stepped forward to console him, but he quickly left to go in the direction of the lab. Everyone watched him go in silence, before Lilia spoke up quietly. "He's been quiet since we've come back from the morgue, he's only spoken twice.," Lilia explained quietly, her grey eyes concerned. "I'll go check on him, see if he's alright." Clint said quietly, nodding in thanks to the young woman who nodded at him.

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While Clint went to talk to Tony, Sophie and Grace with the help of the team decided to cheer Tony up. So, they decided to make him a cake. "Jarvis, what are Tony's favourite cake flavours?" Grace asked, and Sophie had wanted to do something for Tony in thanks for him saving their shop. If Tony hadn't bought their shop, then they would have lost their mother's business. It would have devastated them, if that had come to pass. "Mr Stark enjoys a tiramisu, and his mother's chocolate cake with a salted caramel frosting. Miss Drăgoi," Jarvis said kindly, Grace nodded as she and Sophie began baking the cake. "Is that chocolate cake?" Bucky asked hopefully, Sophie laughed while Grace smiled at the dark haired young man that was making Sophie like her old self. "Yes, a chocolate cake with salted caramel filling. We wanted to do a cake for all of you, and Tony." Sophie explained softly, when they saw Grace coming out looking sad. "Clint, Peter and Steve are with Tony. He's not doing great, Pepper's signed the divorce papers, and apparently she wants the Malibu house," Grace said quietly. Peter looked sad at hearing this, while Sophie and Bucky exchanged a grim look of understanding. Lilia looked saddened at what was happening to Tony and looked at Natasha who looked troubled.

Clint and Steve were both carefully helping Tony out of the room, after he confessed that he'd been tempted to have a drink. His shoulders slumped, and he sighed. "I can't stop being Iron Man, I can't. It's who I am, and I lost Pepper because she didn't understand." Tony said finally, tired and exhausted. He missed Happy.

"What happened to Happy?" Clint asked, still trying to catch up with everything. Peter tucked away his phone. Tony glanced up from there he slumped in the chair. "I don't know. At the moment, I don't know. I don't even know where Pepper is." "When's the last time you saw her?" Steve asked quietly. "When she slapped me across the face yesterday in front of most of you," Tony told him. Then his expression perked up. "I tried to call, and she didn't answer but considering that she'd divorcing me, I didn't think too much of that." Clint and Steve exchanged a concerned look. "Then she didn't show up at the office this morning," Tony rambled on. "Wait…" Pulling out his phone, he combed through the screens frantically. When he stopped, his eyes widened. "Happy was her driver last night when she left. Nothing new there. No one has heard from either of them since," Tony told them. "Happy is…" "Right." Steve glanced at Clint. "Where was she going?" "I don't know." And he looked sad he didn't know, calling Pepper's assistant. "Hey, Carmen, it's Tony. Where's Pepper?" Tony's face drained of colour and he stood. "When's the last time you heard from her? Hey, it's okay. We're going to find her, Carmen. She's been so upset with me being a total idiot that she's probably tucked in somewhere to recover from it. Okay? I'll be in touch soon. Thank you." "Shit, her assistant hasn't seen her since before she was here," Tony told Steve. Steve nodded, springing into action. "Tony, why don't you stay put in case she shows up or tries to make contact. We'll see what we can find." "Steve, she's okay, isn't she?" Tony sounded uncharacteristically scared. "We'll find her," Steve assured him, leading Clint and Peter from the lab. Bruce was heading towards them. "Bruce, Pepper's missing. Can you stay here and keep an eye on Tony?" Bruce's eyes widened in alarm. "I thought they were getting divorced?" "That's also true but right now, we don't know where she is." "Maybe she's just… upset?" Bruce offered. "Hope so," Steve said, leading Clint and Peter back to the living area of the compound. They found Bucky, Sophie, and Grace in the kitchen, working away on something. Nat sprawled over the sofa in the living room, watching television. "Nat," Steve called. Rising from the couch, she made her way into the kitchen to meet them. "What's up?" "Pepper fought with Tony in front of last night, here at the compound," Steve began. "She went out to the car, Happy was driving. Happy's body has been located. No one, including Pepper's assistant, has heard from her since." "Nat, take Bucky and Sophie and find out everything you can about where and how Happy was found," Steve directed. "Comb the car for any detail on Pepper's whereabouts." Nat nodded, Bucky patted Sophie on the shoulder, tipping his head towards the oven. "It's almost done, she told him. We can finish it later." "Clint, you and Grace go check out Pepper's office, her apartment, everything. See if you can find any trace of her." Clint nodded. "Get ready," he told Grace. "What about me, Cap?" Peter asked, looking eager to help. "You're with me," Steve informed him. "Let's go." "Right," Peter said. "I'm with you. Okay." Dashing around the counter, he hugged Sophie then Grace. "Be careful guys." Sophie and Grace exchanged a glance. They were heading on their first Avenger mission.

"We'll be careful Peter, you take care of yourself and Steve." Sophie said reassuringly, Peter nodded and left with Steve while she said goodbye to Grace and Clint. She hoped Pepper was alright.

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Clint and Grace drove to Pepper's apartment and parked outside the expensive building. Grace would guess that this condo apartment costed at least, millions of dollars. She and Sophie could never afford to live here, even if their business did pick up wealthy customers. They walked up to Pepper's floor, and saw the penthouse was untouched aside from the bedroom. There were clothes on the bed, but something felt off. "This feels staged, I don't know why but it feels fake." Grace said quietly, Clint nodded in agreement as they looked around and found a letter. It was addressed to Tony, and it was in Pepper's neat handwriting. Grace read it, while Clint searched around for any hint of where she could have gone. 'Dear Tony, Our marriage hasn't been working ever since you said that you wanted children, and I'm not ready for that commitment. Plus, I don't think it's fair having children while you're with the Avengers, it's too dangerous. I'm going away for a few months, to get my head cleared until the divorce is finalised. I hope you have a good life, Tony. Love, Pepper.' "We'll give this to Tony and the others, let's go check out her office." Clint said quietly, Grace nodded and they both left the penthouse silently. Grace couldn't help but get a sense that something terrible was about to happen. They drove to Pepper's office which was in Stark Tower and were shown to her office. Nothing was out of place, but Clint saw that someone had recently used the computer recently. The last log in, had been 11:30 PM and that had been to book a reservation at a hotel in England, called the Lanesborough Hotel. She'd bought one plane ticket with first class, and he sent this information to Tony who sighed quietly. "I'll tell the police what we know, thanks Clint and Grace." He said quietly, and hung up. "Poor Tony, he must be heartbroken," Grace said sadly, her blue eyes sympathetic as they left the building and got in the car. "Yeah, he really loved her. This doesn't make any sense, why would Pepper leave Happy and go to another car?" Clint said thoughtfully, as they drove back to the base.

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Bucky, Natasha and Sophie were searching the black limo that Happy had been found in and found nothing so far. Sophie couldn't help but feel like something was missing. She'd been searching under the car seat, when she used one of the gloves to pick up a Stark iPhone. It was still charged, but there were at least fifteen voice messages. She cautiously pressed the button, and her blood ran cold at the voice speaking. It was a Sokovian accent. "Hail HYDRA and the Red Skull!" The voice declared, before five gunshots echoed, and she heard someone slump to the ground before the voicemail cut off. She walked to where Bucky and Natasha had been searching and held out the phone to them. Bucky saw she was trembling, and her voice was a whisper. "I think it was HYDRA who killed Happy, Nat and Bucky."

Natasha's eyes narrowed, stretching out a gloved hand for the phone and slid it into an evidence bag. "Let's get this back to the compound and review everything on it." Bucky shook his head. "So, they killed Happy because Pepper was their target. Are they going to hold her for ransom? What is it they're after?" Natasha's gaze cut to Sophie and back. "You think they want us? Grace and myself?" "Fuck," Bucky muttered. "Maybe," Natasha told them as they finished sweeping the car. "You were hidden well here in the city and your parents knew that. I know it's hard to learn everything they kept from you all these years, but they had a reason for hiding things. If you didn't know, you wouldn't go looking." Sophie nodded. That felt right. Their mother, in particular, had been so overprotective of her girls. "Just help me do something," Sophie asked them both. "Help me protect Grace. After learning what she went through, I'm just afraid… what if they want her back? Bucky wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she welcomed the comforting weight of it. "We're not going to let them take Grace. Or you. Try not to worry, doll." Natasha smirked, turning back to dive into the car. When she didn't come back out quickly, Sophie and Bucky exchanged a glance. "Did you find something else?" Sophie asked. Nat rose from where she'd been digging beneath the driver's seat, holding up an empty syringe. Pulling out another evidence bag, she tucked it away. "Come on," Nat told them. "Let's get back."

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