#don’t ask me what’s going on with the two orb things

[aboutcustardcreams]

Wake up call

Agathario x reader

Another scene I'm deeply in love with is Agatha and Rio's fight happening in the first episode. So, here it is what would happen with r joining it.

Rio leaned closer to Agatha with a lopsided grin, “I’ve missed you,” she purred, tracing her former lover’s jawline with the curved blade in her hand. 

Agatha’s chest rose and fell, an expression of pure hatred flashed upon her blue eyes, mingled with a hint of something else, mabe fear. “I hate you.”

Rio lolled her head back and laughed bitterly, “course, you do.” 

The day you and Agatha vowed to never see her face anymore, her heart shattered until nothing was left of it. But she was Lady Death, meaning that no matter what you wanted, someday your paths would cross again and that’s what kept her going. 

You had just parked in the driveway, when an explosion coming from inside the house alerted you. On your way back from the grocery store, your memories came back one by one, and you almost hit a pedestrian or two at the realization that you and Agatha had been trapped under a spell for about three years. And now that you were ‘awake’, you were pretty sure she was too. You quickly got out of the car and stepped inside, silently praying that Agatha was okay. 

Last person you thought you’d see was Rio. 

“Drop the dagger now,” your voice came out sharp and dangerous. 

Both witches snapped their heads towards you. Your eyes locked with Agatha’s first. She breathed a sigh of relief at your sight, her blue orbs filled with all sorts of thoughts. 

“Hello, mi nena,” Rio quipped, tone softening at the sight of you. “Glad you’re awake too. Agatha and I were just.. catching up, right?”

You took a step closer, keeping your eyes on Rio. “I see– rude of you to start without me,” there was a hint of sarcasm in your voice, that both witches grasped. “Now, don’t make me repeat myself, you know I hate it.” 

“Uhm, I don’t know.” Instead of listening to you, Rio pushed the blade deeper against Agatha. The witch struggled to keep the blade at distance, trembling while doing so. 

Your hands turned into fists, a gust of wind rose up around you. Objects started levitating, the chandelier in the lounge room swayed and Agatha’s lips curled upwards, happy to realize your powers were still part of you. 

The vibrancy of your magic brought back all sorts of memories of the time you three spent together. “Looks like our sweet girl over there is in control of her powers. How does it feel, Agatha?” Rio asked in a mocking tone. “Don’t you resent her like you resent me?” 

The purple witch was quick to shake her head, scoffing to herself at the same time. 

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” 

When she looked at you, she saw one of the most incredible witches she ever had the pleasure to meet.

“You’re nothing like her.”

Rio let out a whiny sound, “why does she get special treatment and I don’t, huh?”

In the meantime, your irises turned the same color of your magic, a bright hue of silver and enveloped your entire body as well. 

“She did everything she could, while you–” she winced when the tip of the dagger pressed further against her skin. “What, huh? What are you blaming me for? I’m the natural order of all the things baby, and you know it. You always knew it!” 

When she pushed the blade further closer to her skin,  Agatha’s grip on Rio’s wrists loosened and the dagger scraped her. While Rio grinned at the sight of Agatha’s blood flowing so deliciously from her collarbone to her chestline, you levitated from the floor and your palms opened wide, exploding with your magic. 

“You’re nothing!” 

Rio let out a strangled yelp, as her body was thrown on the other side of the corridor. Agatha let out a sigh of relief, mouthing a fragile thank you in your direction as you rushed towards her. You didn’t say anything at first and simply hugged her, your heart thumping in your chest at incredible speed. 

“Are you hurt?” 

She shook her head, but you knew better. While that small cut wasn’t anything serious, you knew the pain in her heart was greater. You pressed your lips together, giving her a skeptical look. With a flick of your finger, you healed the wound on her skin,  and for some reason, it made Agatha feel even worse, but she didn’t say anything to you. 

Rio pulled herself up, stretching both arms and legs, “Ahw, did she make it better?” 

Agatha growled, fingers wiggling as if she could actually summon magic. 

You immediately stood in front of her, “don’t come any closer,” you warned her. 

The Green Witch hummed and her brows knitted in a frown, “where did I see this scene before?”

You swallowed thickly at the painful memories she was able to bring back with such ease. You had so many questions going on inside your head, the most important would probably be, why? Why the betrayal, why the lies, why the pain? 

“Cut the crap, Rio,” Agatha snapped, worrying about your sudden discomfort, “what do you want?”

She fake pouted at her angry tone, “you used to be much nicer to me,” with the tip of the blade, she moved a strand of hair from her face. And when you scoffed, a dark shadow passed through her eyes, “I’m just missing the old days. I want you back– in a way or another, meaning that if I have to kill you both, I will,” she added the last part with a strange look in her eyes. Almost hysterical. You only had a couple of seconds to react. Rio’s dagger flew in your direction, missing you and Agatha by a nose, as you shoved her to the side, shielding her with your body. 

Agatha grunted at the sound of Rio’s giggles, “I’m gonna kill her.” 

You rolled your eyes in annoyance, “it’s not possible, unfortunately.” 

Propping yourself up, you helped Agatha do the same. 

While doing so, you spotted the dagger behind you. You pointed at it to Agatha with a nod of your head. She was closer to the weapon so she lunged forward to grab it. Rio ignored her and focused on you. She gave you little time to anticipate her move and with a yelp she sprung forward, fuelled by her magic. Before you knew it, her fingers tightened around your neck and squeezed. 

Her head lolled to the side, and watched you with a mixture of nostalgia and admiration, “naughty, naughty–”

“Let her go!” Before Agatha could even make an attempt to stab Lady Death on the shoulder, Rio sent her flying in the lounge room, her back hitting a cabinet that after the impact, crashed on top of her.  

Your eyes snapped open, as you squirmed but to no avail, “Agatha!” 

“Do you remember pain, my love?”

“I never stopped feeling it since the day you betrayed us.”

You still resented her for the things she did. And you probably would for the rest of your life. Her face dimmed and her lips pursed into a grimace; the grip around your neck loosened, but she didn’t let go. Was that disappointment settling in her chest? 

“You’re so clueless about the things I did for you.” 

Tears pricked at your eyes, but despite them a choked chuckle slipped from your lips. She did nothing for you, nor for Agatha and even less for Nicky. She only took, betrayed your trust and hurt you in the most inexplicable way. 

“All you did was make things worse.”

Rio snarled at your accusation,“you knew that messing with the Fates wasn’t without consequences!” 

Your answer came out in a faint, yet determined whisper, “you were the one to send them my way.” 

In the meantime, Agatha straightened herself out, wincing at the pain in her arms, as shreds of glass cut through her skin. She scanned the surroundings  in search of something, anything that could be used against Rio. While her eyes landed on a wooden tray, Rio blasted you against the wall behind you with full demoniac force, her voice distorted as well, sounding deeper and animalistic, “I had no other choice!”

Agatha mentally screamed at the chunks of plaster coming down at you. 

You whimpered, feeling Rio’s body towering over yours, “sorry, did it tickle too much?” 

Despite the dizziness, you found the sassiness to roll your shoulders, “No.” With the corner of your eye, you spotted Agatha coming your way, holding something in her hands. Realizing what it was made you almost chuckle. “But I bet this will.” 

Before Rio could ask you what you meant, the purple witch hit the back of her head with an angry growl and a deadly stare in the eye.  

“Dark Mother, I’m so sick of her,” she muttered, glancing back at you. 

You chuckled briefly, before erupting into a fit of coughs. Your throat felt on fire because of Rio. You were pretty sure it was bruising already for how much she squeezed. Agatha kneeled in front of you, her fingers hovering over your neck, but barely touching it, for fear of causing you extra pain,  “I’m sorry about–” 

“Don’t. The ‘s’ word isn’t allowed,” you chided her softly. She nibbled the inside of her cheek, blinking back the tears from her eyes. She hated feeling powerless, even more now considering you could really use some of her purple as backup.

Noticing the veil of sadness in her eyes, you tried to cheer her up, giving her a playful nudge, “what you did was rather hot by the way.” 

She snorted out a laugh, “are you turned on, love?” 

A playful smirk tugged at your lips, “maybe.”

She pulled you closer, tugging at the fabric of your blouse. Her forehead adhered against yours and you closed your eyes for a moment, allowing yourself to inhale her sweet. Her hand ran from your collarbone up to your chin, her thumb gently grazed your bottom lip, pushing it down and making you smile. When you reopened your eyes, you took her hand in yours, and intertwined your fingers together in the attempt to brush aside all the worries you spotted in her eyes. 

Rio let out a frustrated growl, “Good job, Agatha. I’m impressed. A little higher and that would have really hurt.” 

On instinct, you tried to move Agatha behind you, but she resisted, making you frown. 

“Ugh!” Rio swept her tongue over her lips, “the way she would throw herself in Hell for you really warms my heart.” 

You said nothing because it was true. You would do the craziest things for her, just like you did for Nicky. 

Agatha smacked her lips, almost laughing in her face. “Please, you don’t have a heart.” 

Rio locked eyes with her, and for a moment you spotted a veil of hurt in her brown orbs. “Yes, I do,” she argued, before dropping her voice into a softer murmur, “it’s black and it beats for both of you.”

Agatha said nothing, while you couldn’t bring yourself to be quiet after that colossal lie, “you’re pathetic.”

Her gaze narrowed towards you; a flash of fury dimmed her features. “Madness turned you into a real brat. Perhaps you fancy another ride?” 

You swallowed thickly and turned stiff. Those words stung painfully, there was no point in hiding it. You hated how easily she could bring back the memories of your trauma, making you feel as if you were reviving it all over again. 

A single tear slipped from your eye, but you were quick to wipe it. Agatha’s hand found yours and squeezed; she felt your magic tickling her skin, it was mirroring your emotions and she knew it would burst soon. 

“You’re a monster,” Agatha’s voice came out in hiss. 

Then it happened. You let go of Agatha’s hand and tackled Rio on the floor. Her back hit the ground with force, and despite that, she laughed. You pinned her wrists above her head, digging your fingernails into her skin, wishing to hurt, to tear the skin apart, and make her feel even an ounce of the pain you endured because of her. 

Agatha’s eyes widened both in shock and surprise at your outburst. 

“My, my, aren’t you sexy when you’re mad?”

You smacked her across the face. Hard. 

“Woah, okay girl–”, she conceded, calling a truce, “tell me what you want.” 

“I want you to get the fuck out of my life.” 

Rio lifted her chin up, a dark chuckle escaped her lips, “All roads lead to me, mi nena. Whether you like it or not, you’ll die. Why can’t we speed up the process?” 

“You’re not allowed to kill us,” your voice dropped in an icy growl. 

“I second that,” Agatha quipped. 

Rio scoffed amusedly, “are you sure about that?” Before you could respond with another sassy remark, she headbutted you straight on the nose. You fell to the side, letting go of Rio’s wrists and allowing her to flee from your grasp. You groaned and cursed under your breath, when she kicked your side with the boot of her shoe. Agatha took you in her arms, as quickly as she could, then started crawling backwards with you firmly pressed against her chest, “you okay?” 

“Fine,” you croaked out, in annoyance. 

By the look on your bloody face, she realized you’d very well use a break. 

But Rio seemed to have other ideas, the knife was back in her hand as she approached you. 

“Wait, just wait a damn second–” Agatha held out a hand towards the Green Witch, while the other remained wrapped around your underarms. 

Rio hummed and traced the tip of the blade with her fingertips. 

“This isn’t what you want. Plus, I don’t have any powers so it’s not exactly a fair fight, is it?” She gave a nervous chuckle, hoping her words would buy you some time to recover. “Don’t you want us at our best?” 

Rio grinned, with a devilish light in her eyes, “Horizontal, in  a grave?”

“Not exactly,” she muttered, “I mean, in full control of our powers. Just let me get my purple back, let her recover and if you really want to– come back and find us.”

Your breath hitched, it was hard to breathe properly with the blood clogging your nostrils. You summoned your magic, and despite being a tad weaker, you knew it could heal you if given proper time. 

“Why don’t you take mine?” Rio’s suggestion made your stomach lurch. 

“That’s cute,” Agatha mused. “But you know that would kill me.”

“Then what about hers?” 

It didn’t seem like a terrible idea to you. But Agatha’s answer was categorical, “No.” 

You looked up at her, noticing the hesitation in her features. Maybe fear too. Truth was, she didn’t trust herself to do such a thing, not to you. You knew she found immense pleasure in sucking away powers from witches, she knew it was wrong, and for years the only reason why she did that was to keep Nicky alive. That’s the reason why you helped her do it. As a mother you could back up from your responsibilities and as a witch, you learned the hard way that in order to survive you had to do all sorts of things. 

There was something about your magic that scared Agatha. You were the only necromancer witch she ever crossed paths with, so she wasn’t sure she would be able to pull away from you, once she got a taste of your forbidden  magic.

Rio pursed her lips in a grimace, “you’re such a coward.”

“She isn’t,” you argued back. 

When Rio finally put the dagger down, both you and Agatha frowned in confusion. “Show me, then. Blast her. Help her restore her purple.” 

“We aren’t doing this, Rio,” Agatha insisted rather adamantly. 

“I’d think about it before making a decision, my love,” Rio leaned closer, her voice soft and eerily calm. “You see, I'm not the only one that wishes you dead. I’d expect guests at sundown.”

You frowned at her words, “who do you mean?”  

Rio’s eyes flashed with excitement. “The worst of them. The Salem Seven.” 

For a moment both you and Agatha fell quiet. You felt Agatha turn still behind you, and your heart ached for her. You turned to face her, as the grip around your middle loosened. 

“Hey, I’m here, Agatha,” your voice came out both firm and tender. “It’s going to be alright”

Rio laughed softly at that. She shoved your shoulder in a playful way, “I have a feeling we will meet again, very soon.”

She paused where once it stood the front door, “Hasta luego,” she waved her fingers before stepping out of the house. 

You considered Rio’s words, and as much as you wished to find another solution, there wasn’t really another way to restore Agatha’s powers, especially not in such a short time. 

“Maybe–”

“Don’t,” she cut you off, sharply. 

You raised your hands defensively, “Fine, sorry. But I think we should at least think about it.”

When she didn’t respond, you decided to give her a moment. Pushing yourself up, your eyes darted to the mess around you. There were pieces of furniture pretty much everywhere, shreds of glass, plates and cutlery and even sections of ripped wallpaper, along with chunks of plasters, “this is not how I imagined to spend this Friday…” you hoped your little joke would put a smile on Agatha’s face, but she remained motionless. 

Agatha started to regret having woken up by Wanda’s spell. Now not only was she awake, but she had no power, the Salem Seven and Rio wanted her dead, her house was falling to pieces, and on top of that, you were in potential danger because of her. The only reason why she survived the loss of Nicky was because of you. But if she lost you too…

She clenched her eyes and took a deep breath, refusing to dwell in such thoughts. 

“Uhm, Agatha?” You were wrong to think nothing else could surprise you that day. 

She made a hum sound, finally getting on her feet, face turned towards you. 

“Why is there a gagged boy in our wardrobe?”

[nanamistiee]

loverboy. // megumi fushiguro x reader

ooh, lover boy! what're you doing tonight? ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ megumi fushiguro x reader ☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙ ━━━ ( ⋆｡°✩ tw: n/a) ━ (wc: 1,015 ) ━ ( song inspo ✩°｡⋆) ━━━

what kind of woman is your type?

ever since todo had posed the question, megumi hasn’t been able to get it out of his mind. at the time, he’d spewed some nonsense -- not having a particular type -- mostly because he’d believed the question was completely out of place and nonsensical; which, in his defense, it was. the other male was less than pleased with his answer, even going as far as to call him boring. yet, megumi couldn’t help but wonder if he’d even answered truthfully.

“gumi,” your voice finally breaks the silence between you two. he’d been so lost in thought he’d nearly forgotten you were a foot away from him, staring intently as you sipped away at your matcha latte. “you’re so quiet today,” you frown, fiddling around with your straw. has he upset you? 

he matches your frown almost instantaneously. “i don’t think i’m being any more quiet than usual,” he tries his hardest to coolly retort, an impulsive hand rushing toward you to ruffle your hair in a desperate attempt to act like nothing’s wrong. no, his mind totally isn’t waging an entire war right now. no, he’s not at all debating on, perhaps, one of the most crucial decisions of his life.

whether or not to dare risk ruining your friendship. 

──────────────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ────────────────

“you make me sick,” maki’s voice, a disgusted groan, breaks his concentration entirely. as he whips his head toward the green haired girl, he realizes something. he’d been staring at you this entire time. you were several feet away, talking to panda. yet, the black haired boy is absolutely mesmerized. the way your eyes light up and sparkle every time someone makes you laugh… the way every time you flash your pearly white teeth seems to make his heart flutter. there’s something about you that he’s absolutely addicted to, but megumi fushiguro swears he’d never tell a soul about any of this. no, you two are friends. what if you didn’t like him back? what if he tells you how he feels and you never want to speak to him ever again? consumed by his thoughts, he fails to realize you and panda are waltzing right up to them. 

he clears his mind with a visible shake of his head, tilting his head and looking at maki with his best ‘i don’t know what you’re talking about’ look. was he really that obvious? he makes a mental note to stop trying to stare at you less, yet this feels like an impossible task.

“just ask her out already, loverboy,” maki sticks out her tongue. he doesn’t even have to look at her to know she’s got a shit-eating grin plastered on her face.

“ooh, ask who out?” you question, clasping your hands together as you sit down next to your best boyfriend. he heard your voice. your voice. you just sat next to him. 

he swears he nearly jumps out of his skin upon realizing you’d just walked into a conversation about you. could he play it off? act stupid? what kind of lie could he tell to get out of explaining that maki was teasing him about you? were they talking about another girl from another school? no -- something about even pretending to like another girl feels wrong. 

“‘gumi’ likes a girl, but he’s too much of a pussy to ask her out,” maki snickers. it seems she’s even poking fun at your nickname for him, and he silently prays that you don’t notice this. “as a fantastic and the best friend anyone could ever ask for, i’ve been trying to encourage him.” her sarcasm is nearly enough to make his skin crawl. she’s deadpanning and making it so obvious it hurts. 

“do we know who this girl is?” you ask. maybe he’s making things up -- imaging things to make himself feel better -- but he swears your eyes dull and shift from the beautiful, sparkling orbs they always were. “we do not!” maki clicks her tongue, and megumi can finally breathe a sigh of relief. or so he thinks. “say… what’s your type anyway?” she segways the conversation almost cruelly, staring you dead in your eyes.

you seem to take a moment. firstly, to inhale a sharp breath. then, you take a second to think, furrowing your brows together in a moment of deep thought. a few beats pass and you finally exhale your sigh, and megumi swears you three have been sitting in silence for eternity. “tall,” you start, and he swears his stomach is tying itself into knots. “reserved… smart -- gotta be smart,” you chuckle and grin. “maybe even a little stoic. like i can never tell what’s going on in his head, but i always at least hope he’s thinking about me somewhere in there.”

in his state of sheer panic, he nearly misses the obvious blush dusting your cheeks. maki could’ve smacked him right in the back of his head and he still would’ve missed it. yet, somehow, you still have more to say. “someone who’s always thinking about other people… protective, i guess. someone mature and who always takes things seriously, even if other people think he’s a pain in the ass for it.” he can’t help but feel a bit guilty about giving such a lame answer to todo now, especially when you’ve had plenty to say. megumi opens his mouth to speak, yet he’s not even sure what he’s supposed to say to that. he prays deep down you’re talking about him, but it’s not exactly like he can voice that out loud--

“oh my god!” maki groans, throwing her head back. “you two are absolutely disgusting!” “you know she’s talking about you, right?” she hisses aloud, giving megumi, perhaps, the dirtiest look she could ever muster. “it’s actually so painful to watch you two dance around each other!” with her opinions growing quite vocal, maki stands up and crosses her arms. “do i have to do it for you? or are you two gonna talk about your disgusting and obvious feelings for each other?”

[fastandcarlos]

Yeah, Life Is Pretty Good! : ̗̀➛ Carlos Sainz

summary: in which carlos finds himself daydreaming wondering how he managed to achieve such a perfect life

“Have you even been listening to a word that I’ve been saying?” 

The raise in volume of your voice had Carlos’ eyes snapping over in your direction, his eyes going wide. Your head shook, the guilt on his expression clear as he glanced back down at your son who he held tightly in his arms. 

“You weren’t were you?” You sighed, folding your arms in front of his chest. “I swear I might as well talk to myself sometimes with you, what’s been going on with you these days?” 

“Sorry,” Carlos sighed, “what was it that you were saying?” 

You dismissed Carlos as you left your son’s nursery, heading downstairs to get on with some work that you had to do. Carlos felt terrible as he watched you go, having tried his best to listen, but unable to quite concentrate enough. 

“That’s your fault,” Carlos scolded your son, “I can’t help but sit and watch you and that means I don’t hear your mummy.” 

Over the past three weeks since your son arrived, Carlos had felt new emotions that he’d never experienced before. He was overwhelmed, happy, a little bit tired, but above all else, he was so in love. 

Getting used to the newborn stage was exciting for him, each day he was finding out new things about your son, discovering new details or picking up on little habits. He was completely infatuated with his new status as dad, he couldn’t get enough of the massive learning curve. 

“Your mum just doesn’t understand, does she?” Carlos asked your son, “how can anyone not just be completely obsessed with you before anything else?” 

The bright eyes of your son stared up at Carlos, completely unaware of what he was saying. Carlos didn’t seem to mind too much, just getting your son familiar with the sound of his voice was the most important thing to him, knowing they’d have plenty of time for proper conversations in the future. 

You were sure it was the Spanish in him, but whenever Carlos spoke, your son listened. He was fascinated by Carlos’ voice, those little accents and flair that he had already had your son intrigued by him. 

You could already tell they were going to be quite the double act. 

You didn’t seem to mind though, watching Carlos in awe. He’d made no secret of the fact that he wanted to start a family, but even he couldn’t prepare himself for how incredible it would be. Above all else, he couldn’t quite believe just how lucky he got to have the two of you. 

“What do you do to me?” Carlos asked, standing your son up against his thighs. “You don’t even feel guilty for making me an emotional wreck, do you?” 

As he studied your son, Carlos could see himself in him perfectly, he had his eyes, without a shadow of a doubt, knowing he was going to a heartbreaker with those piercing orbs when he was a little bit older. 

Carlos couldn’t wait to teach him so much more about life, all the things his dad taught him, and although he wouldn’t admit it to you, he definitely couldn’t wait to show him all about race cars in the future too. 

He wasn’t quite sure how long the two of them were sat in the nursery for, disturbed by the door opening and you peering through, smiling softly at the scene that you saw unfolding in front of you. 

It was only as you walked in you noticed how Carlos’ bottom lip was stuck out, his eyes slightly bigger than usual, two habits of his you always recognised a sign for when he was feeling a little bit emotional. 

“What’s he done to you?” You laughed, taking a seat beside Carlos. 

Carlos’ head shook as he laid your son back down in his hold, using his now free hand to quickly wipe underneath his eyes and get rid of any tears that might’ve been threatening to spill for him before reaching across and taking a hold of your hand. 

You weren’t letting Carlos get away with things that easily though as you continued to stare at him, silently pushing him to open up to you and let you know what had suddenly got him feeling a little bit teary eyed. 

“Don’t,” Carlos chuckled, feeling you watching over him. “You’re going to laugh at me if I tell you what it is that I’ve been thinking about.” 

“You won’t know unless you tell me?” 

“It’s silly,” Carlos told you, but still you sat in anticipation. “I was just thinking about how amazing life is right now, with you, and of course this one.” 

“That’s not silly in the slightest,” you smiled, shuffling closer towards Carlos. “I think that’s a pretty natural thing to think and feel considering what we’ve just been through.” 

“I never expected life to be this good,” Carlos admitted, finding himself getting a little bit flustered once again. 

Carlos’ feelings were only matched by you, it was an overwhelming experience to say the least. The most amazing thing for you was watching Carlos as a dad, you knew that he was going to be good, but even Carlos surprised you with just how good he was. 

“I’m so proud to say that this is our team,” Carlos smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “It feels like we’re pretty untouchable when it’s the three of us together.” 

Your head nodded in agreement with him, “we always said having a baby would be what completes us, and I think we were absolutely right.” 

“There’s always room for one more,” Carlos replied, watching as your eyes went wide, quickly shaking your head to swat away any ideas that Carlos had. 

You’d only just had one, let alone start thinking about another. Maybe one day you could have those conversations with Carlos again, but for now you, and your body, were more than happy just making the most of having one baby safely with you both. 

“It makes me sad to know that he’s going to grow up,” Carlos spoke, changing the subject. “I wish he could stay this small and adorable forever.” 

Already the two of you were noticing changes, before your very eyes it already felt like your son was growing up at a rapid rate, and he’d only been with you for a couple of weeks. 

“He’s always going to be adorable,” you laughed, “he’s got our genes after all.” 

“That’s true,” Carlos chuckled, his eyes flickering between the two of you. “He’s going to get all the ladies when he’s older, I can already see it.” 

You dreaded to think how you would cope in the future, watching your son grow up, the terrible twos, the tantrums, and the teenage years too. But for now you were both on cloud nine, hoping that you could stay in your bubble for as long as you possibly could. 

“So, life is good then?” You jokingly asked Carlos. 

“Yeah, life is pretty good!” 

˗ˏˋ 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ! ´ˎ˗

[auragasmics]

LICK ME LIKE A LOLLIPOP!

𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 cw: 1.8k, drabble format, teasing, cunnilingus

Guilty…oh it’s so guilty but you can’t help it.

It’s your favorite movie on the living room television but you really can’t help it.

There, in the corner of your eye is a scene so innocent but a sight so sinful of Toji eating a lollipop. He’s so mindless with it, it’s almost so cute. But what wrings that adorable sense of joy into a dry, thirsty reality is the way his lips lock around the pink bulb, focusing all his attention down to a point.

Or maybe it’s the way your ear tunes into the delightful hums he sings whenever his mouth fills with the sweet confections, all to be washed away by a single ‘gulp’.

Your thighs have never been folded so tightly and your hands have never braced the black decorative pillow until tonight—a movie night at home, per Toji’s suggestion.

How could he sit there—a man such as he suckling on that confections knob of sugar without a care.

“Um…Toji, I thought you didn’t like sugary candy?”

Before paying you a glance, he pried the pink lollipop from his jaw, leaving nothing but the glimmering wisps of spit to drip from his lips.

“I grabbed it from the bank today and forgot it was in my pocket. Used to love them when I was younger. Why…you want some?”

“No, I don’t think sharing lollipops are—”

“Aww, why not? You can just pretend it’s my d—”

“Okay! T-Thank you, Toji. I’ll have a taste then,” you sigh, leaning towards his beckoning side.

His chiseled arm laced around your shoulder, his hand bracing along its curve. The tips of his fingers softly traced along your pried jaw. His own sights bounced between the unfolding scene of your big, fluttering doe eyes calling out to meet his gaze and the sinking of the sweetened orb finally resting along the flat of your tongue.

A wicked grin cracked along Toji’s lips, hiding his pleased whims against the curve of your ear.

“That’s my good girl. You look so pretty using your tongue fr’ me.”

“Toji!” The squealing shout bringing his grin to a full-hearted smile. Toji could simply react, his arms encircling you in an embrace and his cheek smothered against your own.

“Oh I’m sorry Princess, just got a flashback in my head. I’ll behave like I promised.”

Shamefully, you nodded to his words as you gave into his warmth.

“Mm…my turn!” Toji chimed as he pinched the lollipop stick between two fingers.

Your eyes watched as he tugged the candy from your lips and back into his own, the tip of his tongue swirling about the polished sweet.

Seconds turned into minutes and those very minutes turned into the passing scenes of the movie on the screen. Toji earned your attention far quicker than the film, a fact that he could no longer ignore.

“Alright, you’ve been watching me more than the movie—and it’s your favorite…what’s up, Dollface?” Toji finally interjected. Toji’s full attention was placed onto you, that damned lollipop standing within his thick digits.

Widened eyes and a parting gap filled your lips as you stumbled upon some words to fill the silence.

“I…don’t know…what to say…I just…want some.”

“If you wanted some more, you could’ve asked. Here—”

You caught Toji’s wrist as he returned the lollipop to your lips, the sticky bulb pecking against your lips.

“I don’t want that right now. I just…since when did you eat candy like that?”

The arch in his brow spoke more for Toji than what his fumbling words could. He returned the lollipop back into the wrapper sitting on the glass coffee table, folding what’s left between the colorful wax paper. With his attention clear, Toji brought his full visage to you with a newly placed smirk.

“Huh? I’m just…I see what’s goin’ on here.”

“Hm? What’s going on—”

Before you could even finish your words, Toji was already ways ahead of you. With just a blink of an eye, he had your back pressed and arching against the arm of his couch and your chest smothered along the thick hull of his own.

It was one thing to be beneath Toji at his own whim, but bearing the heft of the accompanying stare was nothing short of stupefying. It comes without a call for regard, but yet you can’t help but forfeit your attention to him and him alone.

All his fascinations about you—the wants and desires crowd about the darkening blue hues of his eyes and consume his whole being. He’s even eager enough to close the distance that much more, pitting the very thumps of his heart to fade along your enveloped chest.

All that stains the thick air is the staggering breaths clogging the lungs of you and Toji alike, growing until his confidence reaches the peak to finally speak.

“You don’t have a problem with me eating this candy—hell, you don’t even care about any of that. You’ve got that look in your eye that I love.”

“And what look might that be?”

And of course, you didn’t need Toji to tell you—you already knew. It’s that look when stubbornness and determination form the thinnest of silver lines, careful not to cross each other’s boundaries. When your eyes peer up to meet his own, your pupils grow to encapsulate to contain all that tension down to a single point.

The look of desire.

And of course Toji knows that look all too well—he fell for it the very night you met and put a ring on your finger under a year later. It’s because the second you pass those eyes his way, he can’t help but give in to you.

“The look of you wanting something. Y’know what I like to say—Whatever my pretty girl wants, she gets. So…what do you want, Princess?”

The weathered palm of his hands brace at your waist, the pads rubbing at the supple skin as he makes a path to slot himself between your thighs.

Toji’s glare flickered, the tips of his fingers drifting along the lacy triangle front of your panties as your voice lovely warbles out some facade.

“Hm? You know I hate mumbling, Sweetheart. But I think I heard you want some attention, right?”

“That’s not what I said.”

Toji shot a stifling glare back towards you, “So then what did you say?”

A silence fell over you as you searched for the unnecessary words. Nothing more had to be said at this point, except for the couch’s springs aching out as it bared the shifting weight of your lifted hips for Toji’s subtle tug at your intertwined pair of black shorts and blush pink panties. Your eyes followed his movements, the slow pull of clothing down your legs and to being tossed out into the dark oblivion of the living room.

Toji’s cheek sank along your thigh as he waited for a response, his hands taking hold of the supple plush to trap you in his hold. “Exactly, you don’t need to say or think of anything, Princess. Just let me take care of you, ‘kay?”

The soft curve of Toji’s pout is the gentlest of sensations to pool at your navel and pull the mellowest of gasps from your lips. Just a kiss, a luscious one that’s carefully met by the timid bud of your clit.

But he’s only this kind with you for a single minute. And in that single minute, he’s peppering those sweet kisses everywhere as nothing as a courtesy—an introduction, really. The moment sixty seconds pass, his courteous nature sheds away.

Why, once Toji makes the mistake of absorbing the poor, pink bulb between his lips…he’s a man lost to lust. He can’t help but to induce a suckling tug along your clit, relishing the swelling throbs to strum within his mouth. Just to spite you, Toji lets the bundle of nerves greet the frigid air for a second as he takes a moment to observe the mess he’s made of you.

The tips of his fingers wander from the crease of your thigh to graze at the sopping slit of your pussy, begging for attention.

“Mm, n-no hands, Toji. Just keep doin that, please?” You broke out carefully.

He shot you a glare, a particular one at that—a leering gaze, one riddle with spite.

“I gotcha, no hands tonight.”

His words didn’t settle the worry brewing at your core. He’s agreed but knowing Toji, your terms would work out in his favor.

Yet, your thoughts ran dry the moment Toji pressed his cheek back along your inner thigh. Just by the swirl of his tongue, he’s pulled you back down into ecstasy with a breathy moan.

His tongue’s been waiting all the same to taste you, making no haste to delve between your folds at last. As eager as Toji is, he’s sure to catch every drop of your essence, allowing your honeyed pussy to meld into his senses.

When he’s ready to start all over, he lets his jaw come to a slow close as he drags the flat of his tongue from your hole back up to the puffy hood. He’s even keeping his eyes glued above, ensuring that you’re watching just how lazily he reels your twitching clit back into his care.

“Fuck…I wanna touch you s’ bad,” Toji whimpers out as he pulls away for a breath. The pads of his thumb drag along the puffy lips of your pussy, his touching lingering just beside the glossy bulb. “But if my lady says no hands…”

“N-No, you can use your hands now, Toji…please,” you whine, flashing a weak yet coaxing smile towards him.

Yet your pleas fall on deaf ears as Toji returns to his ministrations. He really had no intention of touching you—just like you instructed. It didn’t help that his eyes remained pinned with yours, those blue hues mocking your growing misery. But you truly couldn’t take it, that knot in your belly reaching desperate heights.

In the corner of his eye, Toji’s catching the rarest of phenomenons: your legs trembling in his care. It’s something he knows you try to control out of some temperance, but tonight must be his lucky night.

“If you keep moving like that, I can’t focus on you, Pretty,” he hums, pulling away from your folds with a lewd ‘pop’.

“Then I guess you’ll have to touch me, right?”

“But it’s more fun if I don’t. I mean, this is what you wanted. Got all jealous ‘nd needy over a piece of candy and now you can’t take it…tsk-tsk-tsk, that’s not like you, Baby,” his words marked by a greedy grin.

All that could chime from your blubbering lips were whimpers, the ones that made Toji smile the most. Your hands came to brace the fabric of the couch’s armrest as Toji drove back between your legs, his grip on your thighs stilling your restlessness.

And that’s all Toji did, just lick you like a lollipop.

[dekariosclan]

How do you think an early romance/ pre relationship Gale would handle a weary-but-stubborn-Tav during the adventure? Like if Tav was overworked from trying to take care of everyone and lead the party and/or got sick?

Between this and the last caretaking ask my heart is full, my crops are watered etc, etc. 💜💜 Thank you Anon!

First off, unlike the last scenario, this is more serious than ‘just a cold.’ So I believe Gale would act accordingly, and be more serious about it himself (though he will still occasionally make puns/quips! That’s how he is. Remember, even when a romanced Resist!Durge has their full murderous struggle with him, he’s handling it calmly while saying things like: “Sweet that you care enough to murder me. Mind if you don’t?”)

Second, this is pre-relationship. The familiarity and ease of small intimacies like feeling Tav’s forehead, or sternly ordering them to bed, would not be appropriate yet. There’s also the tension Gale would feel about overstepping boundaries and, Gods forbid, making Tav angry at him and/or want to distance themselves, just when they were starting to get close. Since you mentioned ‘early romance’ we’ll assume that this scenario occurs after the Weave scene. And yes, even though Tav beamed the fact that they want to kiss/hold hands with Gale directly into his brain, he still needs reassurance that Tav likes him as much as he likes Tav.

So, whereas other companions would see Tav’s exhaustion and be blunt about their advice—for example, Karlach pointing at Tav’s tent and yelling “SOLDIER, you need to get YOUR ASS. TO BED. NOW.” Gale would be gently, sweetly cautious—especially when he saw how stubbornly Tav refused.

He might approach Tav sitting by the fire that evening, long after everyone else had turned in, each having given up on telling Tav they don’t need to keep watch. Gale would hold his tongue and refrain from commenting on how obvious it was that Tav was struggling to stay awake, and instead gently inquire if he might join them. And when Tav suspiciously asked if he, too, was going to tell them to go bed, Gale’s reply would be a hearty, “No, no, certainly not! I merely wished to discuss some battle tactics with you. May I?”

Tav’s tired nod would be all Gale needed. “Excellent!” He’d settle in next to Tav—close, but not too close, not touching shoulders, no matter how much he would have liked to—and pull out some ancient-looking tome. “This book is a favourite of mine—it’s bound to impress you. If it doesn’t, well then—I only have my shelf to blame,” He’d chuckle, before adding: “I’ve selected several passages on strategy that I’d like to read to you and get your thoughts on.” Then he’d scratch his chin, thoughtfully. “They are rather lengthy, so I was hoping I could, ah, make our accommodations a bit more comfortable?”

Again, Tav would tiredly acquiesce, and then Gale would be conjuring a plush two-seater for them to share, and wisely not say a peep when he saw how Tav leaned back into the cushions, eyes shutting for just a moment…

“Now then,” Gale would say, his silken voice taking on a softer, soothing tone. “Let us begin…”

It wouldn’t take long, of course. Halfway through the first passage he’d glance over to see Tav’s eyes closed more often than not, their breathing becoming steady and relaxed. Then he’d smile to himself and return to reading, satisfied his plan was working—

—only to be jolted by the sudden, soft weight of a sleeping Tav sliding into his side, their head naturally coming to a rest on his shoulder. He’d glance down at them, deep in peaceful slumber, snuggled into him as if they belonged there, and his heart would throb painfully for a second, the sensation traveling through his chest where the orb was embedded…

Of course, he would complete his plan of getting Tav comfortably settled before quietly making his way back to his own tent. That was what he’d set out to do, he’d remind himself, as he tilted his head until it rested on Tav’s, and by the Gods he intended to do it, he’d think, as inhaled Tav’s scent, closing his eyes and nuzzling the top of their head…

…in just a moment.

[playboysaleen]

Kalopisa.

Kalopisa: (n.) The delusion of things being more beautiful than they really are. 

Parings: Victoria Neuman x Supe!Reader (GN) (Slight AU)

Chapter One - Chapter Two

Summary: You never had the best life. Being abducted at a young age, being raised in the most wanted mafia as a weapon, hell- becoming the most feared in the gang. But…Truth is, you only wanted freedom. Being able to wake up and not have to wonder if you were going to see the sunset again. What happens when your wish partially comes true and you are offered your freedom but at what cost? Oh, you’ll see. 

Warnings: Death, Swearing, and supes dawg.

Word Count: 2.5k (Shits not proof read.)

Slight AU.  Slight German and Italian dialect. Reader does have a french accent. 

I just had to write about my girl I cant get her out of my head and im swooning over every little thing i see on all my timelines. AND the audacity for her to pop up in my dream just confirmed it for me to write this. my other fic Metanoia just helped me come up with a good plot for this one. I hope you all enjoy and bare with me on this one. RIP my shawty bae.

___________________________________

“Boss is waiting for you in his office.” 

You fluttered your eyes open, adjusting from the bright lamp that lit the small room you laid in. Swinging your feet over the small cot, you leaned over placing your elbows on your knees. What the fuck does he want now? Another family shredded to bits? Another Cocaine bust? Yawning, you rubbed the remaining blood that was stained on your arms- you just wanted to sleep ‘forever’. You stood on your feet sending the buff man a nod walking out your room into the hallway as he followed you. 

“Boss is very happy man with what you done last night.” He spoke as the both of you made way through the corridors into the ‘cafeteria’. Sending your hellos with a nod to the men cleaning weapons a man stood up waving the two of you down. 

“Danill, did you give boss the news?” Alexi asked. Rolling your eyes, Dani grumbled out something to the man which sent him planting his feet yelling out, 

“Das kann doch nicht dein Ernst sein!” (You can’t be serious) Danill placed a hand against your chest stopping your walk to the private hall. He sent you a look which you nodded turning on your heels walking to the man. Everyone went quiet and the only thing that could be heard was the echo of your combat boots against the concrete floor. Sending the man a tight lipped smile, your hand gripped his jaw staring deep into his orbs. 

“Why don’t you sit back down and clean those guns you depend on huh?” You whispered looking between both his eyes. You could smell the fear coursing through his veins, his body began to squirm under your stare, he sent you a nod as you let him go.

“Get back to fucking work.” You grumbled out which he cowered away back to his table with the rest of his workers. You started back walking to the door that was guarded by two men, Dani sent them a nod causing them to move out the way. Walking down the long hall, you turned to Dani hearing his heartbeat speed up. 

“Something is not right.” He whispered, the door coming in view. Grabbing the door handle, the hairs on your arms rose. Looking back at Dani, heat engulfed you as you were blown back into the wall. You laid under a pile of rubble, alarms blaring all around you- everyone was on their feet. Gunshots were heard and the smell of blood was loud. 

“FBSA!” Someone yelled out. Using the strength you have left, you moved the pillar that was laid on top of you, moving it across the hall. Groaning at the pain now subsiding, you limped to the bosses room looking out the window to see nothing but war.  

“Alptraum.” You turned to see Danill leaning against the doorframe. He sent you a light nod holding his lower abdomen. Blood swarmed your nostrils when your eyes widen, 

“Go, this is your time.” You saw blood spilling from his lips as he spoke. All you could do is nod, his body dropped against the floor when you grabbed the iron bars from the window swiftly yanking it off. Sitting on the windowpane with one foot out, you heard footsteps and comms from Americans. You huffed taking one last look at Danill’s lifeless body dropping out the window onto the moist grass. You sprinted the scene as fast and discreetly as possible. 

After running a few miles, your head was filled on what to do- better yet who to call. Placing your hood on top of your head to shield what you could for your identity. A view of a diner was seen a few yards down from your position. Huffing, you adjusted your hood walking down to the front doors, looks were thrown your way with the blood, debris and injuries that were visible. Leaning against the bar, you sent a look towards the man taking orders from the couple just a few chairs down. 

“You look like you got in a fight with the Seven.”  A young boy joked out in front of you. Eyeing his work attire, you grabbed a fist full of his shirt pulling him centimeters from your face. 

“I will send your head directly to the Seven if you press that button.” You whispered, both your eyes and his slowly moved down over the register where his finger hovered over the red button. You stared back when he looked up flashing him a wide smile. The color drained from his face when he saw the large fangs poking out your gums. 

“Give me your phone….now.” You gritted out, he nodded, removing his hand from the button grabbing the phone from his pocket, placing the device on the table. You grabbed the device shoving it into your pocket letting go of the boys uniform. You gave him one more smile backing out the diner to the side of the building. You fumbled the phone out of your pocket dialing the only number you could remember. The line rang until you heard the voice you didn't think would bring a small smile out of you. 

“de quoi avez-vous besoin?” (What do you need?) He mumbled out. Clanging and banging was heard in the background, this man never catches a break. 

“Cela fait longtemps Frenchie.” (It’s been a while Frenchie.)  You spoke looking around, a loud bang was heard then silence. 

“Cauchemar.” 

You chuckled nodding, 

“The one and only.” You breathed out, making your way across the street. He laughed softly through the phone when you heard hurried footsteps. 

“Where are you kid?” You looked around, giving him the street sign and diner name. An engine roared and tires screeching was heard from the phone, you hummed leaning against the wall feeling the adrenaline fade. 

“Please hurry.” You begged when the weight of the phone was too overbearing to hold causing it to drop onto the ground. Your legs bucked as you slid down the wall sitting onto the ground. You could hear Frenchie on the phone asking if you were okay. You hummed letting the black dots swarm your vision. 

≈☆≈

“Oui, who the fuck is laying on your therapy couch M.M?” A voice was heard awaking you from your slumber. You lifted your head eyeing the man speaking, Frenchie stood from his stepping in front of the man with his hands up. M.M handed you a water bottle in which you kindly accepted, grabbing the top of the bottle you struggled to open due to the shaking in your hands. 

A hand was placed on top of yours when you turned to face a woman sending you a small smile. She carefully took the bottle from your hands, opening it with ease. Damn PTSD. 

      “You brought a stray from the street so Kimiko can have herself a friend?” the man spoke out pointing your way, you rolled your eyes sending Kimiko a look. 

She started moving her hands, tilting your head trying to grasp what was going on. Frenchie appeared behind her, sending her a smile while you heard M.M and the other man walk out. 

  “Forgive Butcher, he is ah… “ he started but Kimiko (you're assuming) signed and you snorted. 

                  “an asshole?” you whispered. Kimiko nodded happily, patting Frenchies' arms. Frenchie smiled nodding, pointing your way. 

“Now you got your rest, what happened?” Frenchie whispered taking a seat next to you. You placed your head in your hands groaning softly. 

“FBSA infiltrated the underground.” You answered still in your same position. The underground was your home for as long as you could remember. Everything was ‘perfect’ in your eyes. Well, they clothed you. Put food in your stomach and gave you everything you needed to feel at home but everything comes with a price right? You’ve grown used to walking back to your room (A literal cell but with shit load of space and air conditioning.) soaked in blood. Your thrist was quenched, but more lives were added to your book that you took. The cries still echoed in the back of your mind but after your first real interaction it all became numb. Walking into some italian home during a night of a full thunderstorm after slaughtering and draining the entire malitia that had the entire area guarded. You could remember the cries of a woman who cradled her dead child with the other staring at you with pleading eyes. The man had a gun to the childs head speaking non-sense but everything turned dark when the triggered was pulled and you were too late. You were ordered to kill all but it left a foul taste in your mouth when you turned away from the mans body that the blood began to soak the very exspensive carpet to see the mother staring back at you. She begged you to kill her. You could remember her cries, 

“Prendi la mia vita!” (Take my life!)

“Lasciami stare con i miei figli.” (Let me be with my children.)

You lost it that night. You watched the sun peak from the horizon as the storm clouds evaporated from the sky till Danill was at your door again escorting you to the boss for your next body to kill… and drain. 

“Merda…well you are safe now.” Frenchie spoke giving your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. You sent him a nod burying your head into his chest. Frenchie was like a big brother when he was doing his time with the underground. From him teaching you how to disassemble firearms when you were in your early teenage years to watching you shove a partial AK-47 into a mans throat that had the intent on ending Frenchies life. 

“I heard all of the things going on,” You spoke standing up walking to his desk grabbing the handgun examining the faded stickers. You chuckled softly waving the firearm his way, he snorted shaking his head, “I hope this still has the powers you used to tell me about.” 

Frenchie huffed out a laughter signing something to Kimiko which she smiled softly your way, you sent her a bashful nod. The door opened revealing a very stressed Hugie and- 

“Huh, I did not know you worked for the Seven Frenchie, c'est super” (that’s great) you mumbled out sending a glare towards the woman in her normal attire. Hugies eyes widen jogging your way, 

“Long time no see huh.” Hugie laughed out bringing you into a hug, you accepted but once you seen the womans stare you slightly released. 

“I used to buy some tech from his store.” You mumbled at Frenchies fatherly stare. Hugie used to be the only friend you could talk to outside the underground. Your daily runs to the store for more techware for the guys lead to you leaning against the front desk laughing at his horrible dad jokes. Hugies expression soon changed once he connected the dots, 

“You’re a supe…” He whispered. You nodded patting his back, turning to the woman sending her a glare, 

“But it is funny how you hated them and here you are banging one.” Frenchie chuckled but quickly wrapped his arms around you when the girl infront of you took a step forward. 

“Alright, what’s your fucking problem?” The woman seethed trying to lock her gaze behind a panicking Hugie. You sent her a tight lipped smile, 

“Oh, I did not know THE starlight had a mouth on her.” You joked but coughed when Frenchie sent a warning finger into your side. He sent you a look which you stood straight nodding. What? You could go all day getting under this little twinklers skin but Frenchie was family and you did not want to make his friends your enemies. You raised your hands, surrendering. 

“Okay, désolé.” (sorry) you mumbled taking a step away from Frenchie sending Annie a nod and an extending hand. “No more. I can not make enemies with Frenchies little family.” You spoke out sincerely to which she shook your hand not without getting in a very tight squeeze. 

“So, what brings you here?” Hugie spoke out, you looked over to Frenchie as he answered for you and decided to give your whole life story too. You wandered around the office building sending them a nod or a tight lipped smile every now and then till you heard Frenchie slip up a little more than what needed to be said, 

“Enough Frenchie, I think they have all the background they need on me.” You argued, Frenchies mouth shut when Hugie, Annie and Kimikos eyes were on you. You hated the stares but with the new information they knew…who knows. 

“You guys got a new plan to take down Homelander is what I am hearing.” A voice was heard from the door when all eyes turned. Your vision blurred and the overbearing feeling of anger bubbled in your chest. 

“Neuman. What a surprise.” Frenchie mumbled out dropping onto his chair rolling his eyes. You darted towards the woman bumping Kimikos shoulder in the process of her trying to stop you. Placing a hand around the womans neck you shoved her against the wall, everyone went into panic mode. 

“You…killed Malina.” You gritted out pushing your hand deeper into her neck when you noticed her face turning purple. Her eyes turned white but a sinister smiled painted yours when you leaned closer placing your lips near her ear. 

“Your little powers do not work on me mon amour,” You whispered, her eyes were now back to normal filled with fear when your eyes ran over her face, “I am a blood drainer, not a blood storer.” You removed your hand from her neck watching her slide down the wall but kept her eyes locked onto yours. Taking a few steps back, you stared at her in disgust when she stood to her feet pointing your way. 

“I do not recall such name.” She argued, you rolled your eyes dismissing her ability to rile you up. You shook your head, walking to the couch taking a seat next to a surprised Kimiko. 

“I am not going to waste my time with a murderer.” you mumbled out and right on que Butcher and M.M walked in. Everyone was in complete shock at what just happened, Butcher looked around the room looking for some sort of answer. 

“Looks like you all got your tongues scraped out, no offense Kimiko.” He sent a smile to the girl who glared his way. 

“Vicky just tried to blow Frenchies friends head and well, she can’t.” Hughie spoke, M.M and Butcher turned to you with wide eyes. 

“Well, what do we have here.” Butcher sang out making his way towards where you were now seated at the windowpane. You flashed him your fangs which he stopped smiling.

“A bloody vampire.” 

“I am called many things.” You started looking out at the window watching the waterdroplets paint the glass. “Cauchemar, Koshmar, Alptraum, der Teufel, other names that make this gift I have a sickness but I will stop at nothing to kill Homelander.” You finished turning your way to the people watching you. Everyone held a different look but you couldn’t stop your eyes locking on to the one person you wanted to drain every last drop of blood stored within them. 

Victoria Neuman.

[perlelune]

no body, no crime | Coriolanus Snow | vi.

Your childhood friend returns from his exile in district 12, but he's not the sweet, quiet boy you once knew anymore.

Warnings: NON-CON, Plinth!Reader, Gaslighting, Drugging, Murder, Forced Marriage, Forced Pregnancy, Loss of Virginity, Somnophilia

This is a dark story. Heed warnings before reading under the cut.

𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

An eternity seems to fly by as you wait for Coriolanus to do what you’re too terrified to do on your own. During the agonizing minutes, you picture William’s face. The confusion, the hurt. Tears skip down your cheeks as you curl over the blankets, knees against your chest.

Hopefully your reckless actions haven’t ruined what you two have. Maybe one day, you’ll even jest about it, the pre-wedding jitters that caused you to hide for a week.

It’s the meager hope you cling onto as the soft tap on the door draws you from your thoughts.

Coriolanus nudges the door open, a silver tray between his hands. A matching porcelain kettle and cup sit on the tray.

The mattress sinks as he sits on the edge of the bed, placing the steaming teapot at your bedside. Your gaze drags over the colorful roses painted on the porcelain set. 

Tearful eyes rising to his face, you ask “H-How did it go?”

His long fingers drape over your cheek, wiping your tears as he smiles down at you. “Everything’s alright.” His deep soothing voice brings you comfort as it rolls over you. “Things will work out the way they’re supposed to, just like I promised you.” He collects the tea cup from the tray. The steam rising from it caresses your face.

“It’s my own personal blend of chamomile, peppermint and lavender, for your nerves.”

“I don’t need that.”

Concern sways in Coryo’s blue orbs, his thumb collecting another stray tear.

“You had an emotional day. It’ll help you sleep, trust me.”

You don’t reply, laying the side of your face against the pillow. Do you even deserve to sleep soundly after causing the people in your life so much unnecessary distress?

Maybe this is what you deserve, unending nights wrestling with your own mind while you drown in a river of your own tears. After all, if you hadn’t overindulged in alcohol that night, you wouldn’t be here. You still remember the way Coryo described it. Were you truly that desperate to bury Sejanus’ memory, to forget?

Coriolanus strokes the crown of your head.

“I just want you to get one good night of rest. You need it. Do you really want to spend the entire night torturing yourself when you’ve done nothing wrong?”

For a while, silence hangs between the two of you, Coriolanus letting you weep as he patiently cups your face. The aromatic scents of the herbs he mixed in the tea tickle your nose. You have to admit, it smells heavenly. Like peace. The thing you’re craving most at this very moment. For your thoughts and emotions to fall silent, allowing you to drift into a dreamless slumber.

So you surrender.

You sit up and graciously accept the cup Coryo offers you. As soon as the first few drops of the warm liquid coat your tongue, a heady, pleasant feeling swaddles your mind. It makes your body feel heavy, pleasant warm tingles swirling over your flesh.

“I’m starting to feel…”

Coryo’s beaming face starts blurring in your line of sight. Your grip on the cup weakens. He assists you in holding it, tipping the rim against your lips so you gulp another sip.

“Drink more. All of it.” You heed his instruction. The drowsiness grows tenfold. Your lids sag. Your body slumps over the pillows. You feel the soft brush of Coriolanus’s lips on your forehead. “Sweet dreams, princess.”

You awake from the best sleep you’ve had in literal weeks, a wide smile stretching over your lips as you unfurl from the sheets.

Unlike the nights before, you didn’t wake up in the middle of the night, screaming, crying or tossing and turning in bed.

You pivot to the sun rays spilling from between the curtains. You bask in the rejuvenating warmth kissing your skin. For a while, you stay like that, in awe that your mind isn’t crowded with anxious thoughts. Instead, you’re calm, rested, your head light as feathers. Even your grief is a faint noise when it’s usually so loud, its uproarious presence twisting your heart first thing most mornings. 

It’s a newfound serenity you haven’t known in many weeks.

Even the bone-deep ache sitting in your limbs cannot cast a pale on the day. As you step in the rose-scented bath that’s been drawn for you, the soreness lingers. You grimace a little.

Perhaps you slept so heavily, your entire body is tense from it.

But as you lie back and let the hot water work its magic, the pain starts to fade. You let the strange sensation melt away, smiling once more.

You enjoy your bath. A bright, wonderful day awaits you.

When you’re done, you put on one of your favorite day dresses and hop down the stairs.

You find the entire Snow clan having breakfast in the dining room.

Coriolanus peeks from above the morning paper, his face brightening as his gaze flicks over you.

As you approach the empty chair near Grandma’am, Coriolanus rises and pulls it for you.

“Good morning,” you chime while plopping into your seat.

Tigris beams at you. “Good morning. I see someone’s feeling better.”

You tuck your hands into your lap as a maid places a scrumptious plate of eggs and meat in front of you. Your stomach growls at the sight and you pick up your fork, excited to dig into the food. You haven’t had a proper meal since you left Ma and Dad’s house.

Although, even that is a fuzzy memory, as you can’t remember the last time all of you sat down and had a proper breakfast as a family since Janus passed away.

It’s been too hard.

Shoving the fork into your mouth, you acquiesce, “Much better.” You hum as the flavors melt on your tongue.

The corner of Coriolanus’s lip quirk as he observes you. He returns to his seat and bends forward.

“I take it you’ve had a restful night, princess?”

“Yes, and I have you to thank for that. I don’t know what’s in that tea exactly but it works wonders.”

“I’ve had the opportunity to experiment with many natural remedies while working under Dr Gaul.” A glint dances in his blue eyes. “Some plants have the most…fascinating benefits.”

“I think I’ll take some with me home, if you don’t mind. Not just for me but Ma has struggled with sleep ever since…”

Your voice dwindles as an abrupt wave of sadness passes over you.

Tigris grabs your hand and squeezes it across the table.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

Coriolanus nods in agreement. “She’s right. Take it one day at a time, princess.”

You ponder what he just said. You are feeling markedly better today, but you loathe thinking about your mom and dad alone.

You swallow a wide lungful.

“Maybe I should go back home tomorrow.”

Coriolanus’ gaze narrows, his smile vanishing momentarily before sliding back into place.

“This early? Shouldn’t you rest a bit more first? It’s clear that you need it.” He studies you for a long time. “You can’t be here for others when you aren’t healed yourself.” You shudder. Sometimes the blond seems to possess the uncanny ability to peer right inside your head. He reaches over the table to place his hand over yours. “Don’t rush it. Like I told you before, our home is your home.”

You don’t find it in yourself to argue, Coriolanus’ gentle yet firm grip on your hand and his smile chasing away your doubts.

“O-Okay.”

Satisfaction glimmers in his gaze at your response.

As Coryo advises, you remain with his family a little while longer. Everyday, he finds gentle words to convince you to extend your stay. It doesn’t take much for you to believe him as you trust him fully, his caring demeanor reminding you of your brother. If Coryo thinks you need a bit more time, he must be right. He only wants what’s best for you.

So a few days turn into a week, which eventually becomes two weeks. Surprisingly, you and the Snows’ daily routines twine with ease. In the morning, you have breakfast together in the dining room. Then you tend to the roses with Grandma’am while she hums songs to herself, an endearing habit you’ve grown quite fond of.

And you usually spend the rest of the day with Tigris, chatting or playing board games, or on your own, reading most of the time. Coriolanus’ library is massive enough to rival the one you have at home. You never run out of things to do in the gigantic penthouse, even sometimes cleaning and cooking to pass the time, efforts Coriolanus never fails to praise you for.

Whenever he returns home to a spotless house or one of your delicious meals, his blue eyes light up with happiness.

And of course, at night, Coryo talks to you in your bed while you dutifully drink your tea, regaling you with stories about his apprenticeship and the University. Most of the time, you never get to learn how they end because you fall asleep.

Thanks to Coriolanus’ herbal mixture, your sleeping schedule is back to relative normalcy. The only downsides are the tea’s peculiar side effects, as near everyday you wake up sore and aching. But the slight inconvenience is minor compared to the benefits you’ve experienced.

All is good and well until one day glimpses of lost memories flash in your brain.

You’re starting to remember the night of Clemensia’s party.

It first happens as you’re gardening with Grandma’am. You’re watering one of the rose bushes when something rushes back to you, something so vivid the watering can in your hand clatters to the ground.

You stumble back, your breaths quickening. Placing a hand between your shoulder blades, Grandma’am helps you find your way to a nearby bench. You collapse atop the bench, your mind whirling.

Her wrinkled features crease in concern.

“Are you alright, sweet girl? Should we call a doctor?”

“I’m fine, grandma’am. Just got dizzy for a bit.”

You smile, hating that you just lied to the older woman. You’re not fine. You’re starting to remember things, things that don’t match up, make no sense.

Terrible things.

I knew you’d feel just perfect around me.

Chills bounce across your spine. Your fingers tighten around the edge of the bench as your breath flows back to your lungs.

You come to a decision. 

You need to talk to Coriolanus. 

Your brows squeeze together in frustration as the balding man checks your pulse and shines a light in your eyes again. It’s the third time tonight. Coriolanus insisted upon it.

“I told you there was no need for a physician, Coryo.”

“Grandma’am said you almost passed out,” the blonde retaliates.

You heave out a deep exhale as you glance at Tigris and Grandma’am standing nervously by the wall. They’re wearing the same concerned expression. 

You wished Grandma’am hadn’t made such a big deal of your little moment in the garden. You feel fine…well, physically at least.

You flash a feeble smile at Coriolanus.

“I didn’t…it was just a dizzy spell. Nothing honestly.”

Brows knitting, he turns to the bespectacled older man at his side.

“Doctor?”

As the man nearly approaches you again, you shoot him a warning glare. You refuse to be poked and prodded once more. Lifting his hands, the man falls back.

He adjusts the stethoscope around his neck.

“I see nothing wrong,” he says. Your shoulders sag in relief. ��Still, I’d recommend that your wife takes it easy, sir.”

His words make every hair on your skin stand on end.

“I’m not his wife,” you snap.

Coriolanus’ jaw ticks. 

He turns to the others and instructs, “Everyone, leave us alone.”

There’s a flicker of hesitation on Tigris’ face. She lingers at your doorstep after Grandma’am and the doctor take their leave.

“Are you really sure that you’re okay?” she asks.

You purse your lips. “I’d feel better if everyone stopped fussing over me.”

She nods before leaving as well.

As soon as the door to your bedroom closes, Coriolanus sinks to one knee in front of you. He takes your hands in his, his thumbs brushing circles into your skin.

His cobalt eyes are wide and worried.

“Is something wrong?”

Your stomach knots. “Coriolanus…”

“Yes?”

You draw your hands back, placing them on your lap. His gaze tracks the tiny motion and he squints. 

“That night…” You lick your lips, nerves flaring as your fingers bounce. Just these two words have Coriolanus’ attention on you sharpen in a way that turns your blood to ice. Still you gather your courage and continue, “Did I say no at any point, tried to…stop it? Did…Did you, Coryo?”

The moment your doubts are uttered aloud, you loathe yourself. It’s an awful thing to even suggest. But you can't shake the feeling that there is something Coriolanus isn’t telling you. 

And maybe you always felt that way, like something isn’t quite right, but you craved so badly to have a piece of your brother near that you ignored the glaring signs. 

Shock paints Coriolanus’ handsome face.

“What? I already told you everything that happened, that I was drunk, we both were.”

You peer at Coriolanus. It hurts. So goddamn much. A knife twisting in your chest, again and again. Especially that look of utter betrayal on his face. You don’t want to casually toss those kinds of accusations at your friend. 

But your mind…

It’s bursting at the seams, moments you’re beginning to recall seeping through the cracks. You can’t ignore that. Not the sick echo of Coriolanus’ lustful tone. Not the terrifying glint swaying in his blue eyes. Not the way he panted and grunted above you as you told him to stop. Or at least you think you told him?

You’re not even sure. You’re torn. Coriolanus wouldn’t do that…right? Someone you trust. Someone Sejanus trusted…with you.

Tears swell in your eyes, threatening to break past the confine of your lashes.

Anger flashes in Coriolanus’ eyes. “Really?” he scoffs, bolting to his feet. “You don’t trust me?”

He blurs in your tear-stained vision, distorting to hazy colors you don’t recognize anymore.

“Coryo…” you sob.

He hunkers in front of you again. The anger vanishes, making space for disappointment and sadness.

He cradles your face, his tone softening.

“I would never hurt you,” he mumbles. “How could you even imply…after everything I’ve done for you.”

A shaky breath flutters through your lips. You search Coriolanus’ face, hoping to find something. A truth, an emotion, a lie. Anything, really. Any proof that you’re not crazy, that your mind isn’t just spinning wild stories out of thin air.

Nothing comes up. Coriolanus’ face is a perfect mask of genuine concern and sincerity, right down to his glistening gaze. Doubts even begin to creep inside you beneath his intense stare. 

But the longer you look into his eyes, the more unnerved you grow. 

Something is off. No one can convince you otherwise. Not anymore.

Goosebumps erupt all over your skin.

“I-I think I need to go home now, Coriolanus.”

You don’t want to be here anymore, in this house you don’t know, with this man…you’re beginning to realize you don’t know either.

You want to be back home, your real home. You crave the safety of your own bed, of Ma’s warm embrace, of the familiar walls of your childhood home.

Instead of acknowledging what you just said, Coriolanus flashes you a bright grin.

“We can discuss it tomorrow.”

A sinking feeling spreads through you. You frown.

“But Coryo-”

He leans to place a tender kiss on your forehead and you freeze. Every cell in your body longs to flinch away from him but gut-gripping fear keeps you in your spot.

“Tomorrow, princess,” he whispers. He fondles your cheek. You can’t tamp down your shudder. Coriolanus’ brow pinches as he gets to his feet. “It’s getting late. You should go to bed.”

Coriolanus heads for the door. 

“Sweet dreams,” he coos, smiling. But it doesn’t reach his eyes. 

When the door slams shut, a sound you never heard before echoes from outside. The sound of a key slotting and turning inside a lock. The kind of sound suggesting you’re now trapped in the room.

Your gut sinks.

You find yourself wondering; will tomorrow ever come?

[cursingtoji]

HI BABES I LOVED WHAT YOU WROTE FOR AKI 😭 I was hoping to request another but it’s fine if u don’t wanna do two pieces from the same person! But if you do I’d love see how you write 42 and 44 with Toji 🫣

𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓮𝔁

& ❛ Are you sure you want this? ❜ ┊ fem!reader x soft dom!toji, unprotected, raw, p in the v without c, creampie, kinda stablished relationship, sucking fingers, praising, prone bone, domestic┊ The Clichés ™

“Oh my, to what do I own the pleasure?” you become aware of the finger messing with your clit before you open your eyes, you arch your back meeting the erect clothed cock behind you.

“Huh?” his nuzzles your neck. The room was silent, you know it’s morning already, your curtains are still closed but sunshine peeks from the bottom and top giving the room enough light for Toji to get turned on by the simple sight of you sleeping next to him.

“I haven’t woken up with you by my side for weeks now, baby” you caress his arm and mewl at the slow circle movements he has on your clit, his other arm comes up and wiggles his away under your head until you’re pretty much using his shoulder as your pillow and he’s sneaking his hand into the collar of your t-shirt to feel your soft mound “Is this your day off?” you ask closing your eyes and becoming relaxed in his hold.

Toji nods slowly, “The next days should be easier too” he looks down at you with his gorgeous green orbs and starts to grind on your ass, “gotta get you used to awaking up with me again.”

“If I knew today was you day off… I would’ve made something special” you murmur between sighs of pleasure.

“Oh yeah?” his raspy voice against your ear gives you goosebumps, “Like what?”

“Mm I would’ve changed the sheets to that silk one you like…” your hand rub his bicep, “would’ve bought bacon to make you for breakfast” you turn your head slightly to kiss his jaw.

“What else?” he kisses the side of your mouth and you peck his lips in return.

“Maybe worn a more sexy camisole” he laughs tugging your old ass sleeping shirt from Disneyland, the princess print on it had faded a long time ago, toji called her ‘cursed spirit’ since her face was pretty much gone.

“You’re sexy no matter what” he presses the morning wood against you harder, the fabric of his boxers already had a patch of precum “But yeah this thing is ugly as fuck” he pushes your shirt up, hiding the print and exposing your tits to the cold bedroom.

“Also I would’ve bought more condoms” you whisper and Toji backs away a few inches to look you straight in the face.

“We’re out of condoms?” he asks in disbelief.

“I told you at least three times to get some on your way back!”

“Princess, I barely have the strength to shower when I get home, I ain’t stopping at a fucking drugstore. You should’ve gotten it” he attempts to retrieve his hand from you but you grab it back.

“Toji~” you whine looking up at him “You know…” you reach back to rub your palm against his bulge, breasts still out and nipples hard “We could go without them” his eyebrows rise at your suggestion, even his dick twitch against your hand.

“Y’wanna go raw?” he confirms.

“I mean… you’ll have to pull out—“

He snorts “Please” your hand is taken from his bulge so he can shove his underwear down and put yours to side squeezing his dick between your thighs “If I’m fucking you raw I’m coming inside” his length rubs your puffy lips, you look down to see his tip peaking from the front of your underwear as he thrusts slowly, finding comfort between your warm thighs and wet cunt.

“Are you sure about this?” you murmur carefully but yelp as he pinches one of your nipples.

“You tell me, doll, sure you ready to have my cum filling you up? ‘Cause I don’t think I will stop after the first time” he angles his hip to hit your clit with every shallow thrust of his hips.

“I’m o-okay with that” you arch your back more, pushing your breasts into his palm as he closes it around one.

Toji pushes in slowly, having played with your clit before you woken up made you pretty wet already, he drops his head to your neck stopping once he’s halfway in, your gummy walls around his cock are enough to make him cum on the spot but that’s would be too soon.

“Toji~” you whine his name wiggling your hips before he grabs it hard.

“Stay still, doll, gimme a second” his hot breath fans over your sweet spot, you cry his name again and he leaves the comfort of your tits to push two fingers in your mouth, which you take gladly sucking and swirling your tongue around, “Yer killing me” he confesses bringing you closer to him and pushing the rest of his length in.

So far you had only used condoms with each other, so the burning sensation of his dick stretching you out with no lube except your own arousal was enough for you to get lost in the sensation, Toji was no stranger to the feeling, but feeling it with you was a new aphrodisiac to him, so warm and so wet…

He pops his fingers off your mouth, turning your head to the side so he can have a taste of you while bringing the wet digits down to your clit. You moan on his lips, pushing your panties all the way down so he can have more space to touch you.

“So… full” he drinks your sounds pressing your little nub and holding it there to tease you into try to wiggle out of the stimulation.

it’s unusual for Toji to take his time like this, of course he never leaves you unsatisfied even if he has to fuck you through his own orgasm at an animalistic pace. But this morning he’s too pussy drunk to go at his normal pace, now he just wants to nibble at your ear whispering how good you feel and how gorgeous you are while having your pussy gripping him hard when he’s pulling out.

“Relax, kid, I’m not going anywhere” he lets go of your clit to hook his hand on the back of your knees raising your leg to hold it over his own, you look down and can’t stop the curse leaving your lips when you see his thick glossy cock parting you, “Take this out, will you?” he tugs at your shirt and you giggle while discarding the item.

Toji pulls out and softly pushes your hips so you’re laying on your stomach, “That’s it, good girl” he praises finding his way back inside you. With this new position his entire body weight is on top of you, he tries put some weight on his arm to not crush you.

The older man kisses your shoulder blades while moving his hips and flexing his glutes to fuck his swollen cock back into your needy hole. The air is hot and smells of sex, you can practically feel Toji’s navel against your asscheeks. With his whole torso pressing you into the mattress it’s difficult for you to touch him and he senses that, lacing your fingers with his and giving your palm a comforting squeeze.

He keeps pounding, even though he’s going light, the bed still hits the wall, a squeaking sound echoing through the dark room.

“Toji, I’m close” you press you face into the pillow, your walls have a tight hold on him.

“Doll, how am I supposed to use a condom again after getting a taste of this?” he punctuates with his hand cupping your cunt after his palm creep in between your body and mattress, feeling how it stretches to take him into your warm cave.

“Toji” you warn.

“Cum for me, doll, lemme feel you” he spreads your cheeks, cock hitting even deeper as your toes dig into the mattress. Toji squeezes your ass hard enough to leave a mark “That’s right, fuck—“ he groans with his face on your hair, his thrusts become sloppy and before you realize he’s also climaxing. Hot stripes of cum fill your insides to the point you feel like orgasming again, “Fuck… me” he lets out a breathy moan, his hand is still laced with yours, you bring it closer to your face kissing his veins while coming down from your high.

Toji groans when he pulls out, delicately rolling you over as he sits on his knees taking both your legs and spreading them to shamelessly stare at your oozing hole.

“Toji, that’s too—“ you try to close your legs but his grip is firm.

“Relax, just admiring my artwork” his eyes are glued to your pussy, he scoops the cum running down and pushes back in.

“Baby, too much~” he watches your toes curl in the air.

“Too much? I told I wasn’t stopping after the first time” he kisses your ankle, dark hooded eyes devouring his small flustered girlfriend.

“Can we at least get breakfast first?” you propose.

“Of course” he looks around the bed looking for the red fabric of your underwear and taking it, leading your feet in and delicately moving until it covers you, he gives your pussy light taps “Keep it in for me, will you?”

“I can’t, gotta pee” his dark eyes turn playful.

“And you waited until I put your panties back to tell me that?” he pushes your legs off him as he looks for his own clothes.

“Can you gimme my shirt?” you point to the ‘cursed spirit’ shirt on the floor.

“No” he takes it and makes a ball, throwing at the dirty laundry basket across the room.

“Toji! I like that shirt” you whine sitting up covering your chest with your arm.

“Shut it, brat” he opens a drawer, taking a band shirt of his and throwing at you. You bite down on a smile, noticing it was one of his personal favourite shirts.

[gamergirl929]

Bumpin' And Grindin' (Ashley Sanchez x Reader)

You knew your teammates had something planned for your 25th birthday, and that something lead to you being blindfolded and tied to a chair, but who dropped down into your lap was someone you didn't expect, and that someone was Ashley Sanchez.

What happened next was something you didn't count on, the mid-fielder becoming aware of the appendage between your legs, something you'd done literally anything and everything to hide.

Now that your secret was out, how would that change the relationship between the two of you?

Disclaimer: This fic contains smut, specifically g!p smut, feel free to skip it if it's not your thing, anyway, I hope you enjoy, let me know what you think! ❤️❤️❤️

You knew your teammates had something planned, it was your 25th birthday after all, and according to them, it was a big deal.  

And apparently, the plan led you to being sat in a chair in the middle of the room, blindfolded with your hands tied behind your back.  

“Seriously guys, what are you doing?” You ask as you attempt to move, quickly realizing you were trapped considering your hands were tied behind the chair.  

Why you’d agreed to allow your teammates to do this, you didn’t know.  

“Come on.” You grunt, jerking against your restraints.  

“Seriously what’s-- 

You fall silent as a sensual beat fills the room, the women around you beginning to cheer.  

“What’s going on?” You growl, your eyes widening behind your blindfold when you hear someone coming your way.  

“Just lean back and relax." You hear Emily Sonnett snicker and your brows furrow.  

A second later your breath catches in your throat when your waist is straddled, your hands clenching into fists as whoever it is grinds down into your lap.  

The women around you cheer as the person, a woman you suspect, rolls her hips before moving to her feet, the woman rubbing her ass against the front of your pants.  

“Goddamn it.” You sigh, your hips arching slightly, thankfully unseen by those around you.  

They drop back down into your lap, a soft moan leaving your lips, the hips of the person in your lap stuttering momentarily.  

It’s only after that stutter that you realize you’re growing hard, the woman’s core grinding down against the protrusion in your pants.  

She swivels her hips, and you whimper, the owner of those hips' breath hitching.  

You grimace when the blindfold is removed, revealing a pair of brown orbs belonging to Ashley Sanchez, her lips parted as she breathes heavily.  

“Hey! You’re supposed to keep that on!” Trinity chastises her friend, completely unaware of what’s currently going on between the two of you, your member resting against the woman’s core.  

Her cheeks flush as she shifts, your breath hitching when she brushes against your hard cock.  

“I-I-I don’t feel so good.” You stammer, leaping to your feet when Ashley is out of your lap and you've jerked your hands free.

You glance over your shoulder at the blonde who’s staring at the appendage between your legs, the woman, thankfully, being the only one who notices before you sprint away.  

“Jesus, I didn’t think your dancing was THAT bad.” Trinity snorts as she slips an arm around Ashley, the woman staring at the door you’d disappeared behind.  

"What was that about?” Kelley asks, turning to the former Washington Spirit player who shakes her head.  

“I don’t know.”  

In reality, she DID know, it was because there was something between your legs that she hadn’t expected to feel, and something you must’ve been hoping she didn't feel either.

************************************************************************You weren’t sure how long you ran, but eventually, your hotel room door is slamming shut behind you, your heart racing.  

She wasn't supposed to find out, no one was, but now here you were, your biggest secret revealed to the one woman you’d rather not know it.  

You hadn’t been with the USWNT long, which meant you in no way trusted anyone with the fact that you were intersex, several of your teammates from the NWSL knew, but no one on the USWNT knew and you had hoped to keep it that way.  

Unfortunately for you, that was no longer the case, because Ashley Sanchez knew.  

You bury your face in your hands, hoping that the blonde hadn’t decided to tell those around her about what she felt when she was straddling you.  

You can feel tears slipping down your cheeks as every worst-case scenario runs through your mind.  

What if you were kicked off the team?  

What if Ashley told someone?  

What if the media found out? 

You were trembling, outlandish scenarios playing in your mind until a sudden knock pulls you out of your thoughts, your feet moving of their own accord, carrying you towards the door before you tug it open.  

You knew opening the door without looking at who it was, was a mistake, especially since Ashley Sanchez was standing before you, the woman’s brown orbs locking with your Y/E/C’s.  

“Can I come in?” She asks, her voice barely above a whisper, the nervousness in it making you pause.  

You shuffle from foot to foot for a moment before stepping to the side and waving her in, the woman slowly shuffling inside.  

You swallow hard, your back turned towards the woman as you look through the open door, tempted to sprint from the room and disappear into the night.  

You knew you couldn’t do that, not to your team, and not to the woman sitting on the bed behind you, so with much reluctance, you push the door shut and turn towards her.  

Her brown orbs are downcast, staring at her intertwined fingers as she wiggles in her place at the end of the bed.  

“H-Hey.” You stutter, slipping your hands into your pockets, unwilling to look her in the eye.  

She clears her throat, which leads you to picking up your gaze the woman patting the bed beside her.  

Reluctantly, you make your way towards her, staring down at your feet for a moment before you decide to sit down.  

You continue staring downwards, your gaze locked on your feet as the bed shifts beside you.  

Your breath hitches when a tan hand settles on top of yours, which are intertwined and resting in your lap.  

She gives your hands a squeeze.  

“It doesn’t change anything.” She whispers and your throat bobs as you turn towards her, tears in your Y/E/C orbs.  

“It changes EVERYTHING Ash!” You sniffle, pulling your hand away from hers as you move to your feet.  

“No, it doesn’t Y/N.” She says as she too moves to her feet, the blonde approaching you, your back to her as you rest your forehead against the wall.  

“It doesn’t change anything between us, I still feel the same way I did about you before I found out.” She says, her hand resting on your upper back.  

“You and I both know you’ll never be able to look at me the same way again.” You sniffle, tears slipping down your cheeks.  

“I’ll look at you the same way as I've always looked at you.” She whispers, grabbing your wrist and turning you around until your Y/E/C orbs meet hers.  

Your breath hitches in your throat when she cups your cheeks, pushing herself up on her tiptoes so her forehead can rest against your own.  

“Nothing could ever stop me from looking at you the same way I always have.” She whispers, caressing your tanned skin, your eyes fluttering shut.  

A tear streams down your cheek but it doesn’t go far before it’s swiped away by the mid-fielder's thumb. 

You shake your head, attempting to steady your breathing. 

“What if everyone finds out...?” You ask, the blonde shaking her head.  

“They won’t, and if they do, it’ll be when you’re ready.” She smiles softly and you swallow hard.  

Silence envelopes the two of you before you find your voice.  

“What did you mean?” You ask, nervously, the woman’s brown orbs widening.  

“About what?” She asks, her voice soft, barely intelligible. 

“How is it that you look at me...?” You ask, your watery Y/E/C orbs darting from her lips to her brown orbs and back.  

She takes a deep breath, the woman’s eyes fluttering shut before she leans in, your eyes nearly bulging from your skull when her lips meet yours.  

You stay stock still, your lips unmoving as her lips move against yours, the blonde pulling back abruptly.  

“I’m so sorry, I thought...”  

She gasps softly when you lean in, your lips meeting hers again, though this time, you’re kissing back.  

She sighs into the kiss, her fingers tangling in your hair as your lips meet again and again.  

It doesn’t take long for the kisses to grow heated, your tongue slithering into the mid-fielder's open mouth, the blonde moaning.  

You knew you were getting hard, but you didn’t care, the woman’s kisses intoxicating.  

Her breath hitches when you lift her into the air and pin her against a nearby wall, her legs wrapping around your middle.  

Ashley’s hands slide up the back of your shirt, her fingers prodding into your back as you kiss hungrily.  

She lets out a squeak when you carry her to the bed before placing her gently on its surface and climbing on top of her, reconnecting your lips.  

You kiss wildly, moaning into each other's mouths as your tongues tangle, teasing each other.  

You stiffen when Ashley’s hips roll, brushing the erect member between your legs, a groan crawling up your throat.  

You roll off the blonde in embarrassment, shuffling backwards putting distance between yourself and the woman.  

“I-I’m sorry...” You stutter, unable to look at the mid-fielder who slowly shakes her head, crawling up the bed towards you.  

“You have nothing to be sorry about.”  She smiles, your eyes widening as she starts to shift.  

“Ash...?” You watch as the woman slips behind you, her back meeting the headboard before she pulls you back between her spread legs.  

“It’s a part of you, Y/N...” She whispers in your ear, gently kissing your jawline.  

"And I really, REALLY care about you.” She says her throat bobbing as she eyes you hungrily.  

“Every single part of you.” She says softly, kissing your jawline, smiling against the curve of your jaw when you lean back into her.  

Ashley licks her lips, her heart hammering in her chest as she gathers the courage to make the next move. 

“Including this.” She says, your brows knitting in confusion, that is until her hand settles on the front of your pants, covering your hard member.  

“Ash....?” You sigh, whimpering when the woman’s hand shifts, rubbing you gently.  

“Y-You don’t have to.” You say, moaning when she puts a bit more pressure behind her touch.  

“I’m the reason you’re hard.” She whispers in your ear, giving your ear lobe a gentle nip.  

“Now let me take care of you.” She purrs, your Y/E/C orbs watching intently as she palms you through your pants.  

She gauges your reaction as her hand starts moving, rubbing the hard appendage between your legs.  

You whimper, the sound making Ashley moan in response, a sound that makes you whine.  

“Fuck.” You say as her strokes increase in speed, your heels digging into the bed as your hips arch upward.  

“Like that?” Ashley asks and you groan, your brows furrowed, your bottom lip trapped between your teeth.  

“Just like that.” You groan, Ashley’s breath hitching when you grasp her thigh.  

The base of your cock begins to pulse, a telltale sign to you that you were already close.  

“Mmmm.” You whine, Ashley kissing your neck as you begin to shiver.  

“Are you going to come?” She asks and you nod rapidly, the blonde watching as you stiffen, a groan tearing its way up your throat as you shudder.  

Ashley watches as the front of the sweats you were wearing darken, your release filling your bottoms as she continues to rub you, aiding you through your orgasm.  

“F-F-Fuck.” You croak, twitching as you come down from your high.  

Ashley hums, kissing your neck over and over again as you pant heavily, a satisfied smirk stretching across your face.  

“God.” You say, turning in Ashley’s hold before your lips tenderly meet hers.  

Her arms hanging loosely around your neck as you kiss languidly, the blonde smiling against your lips.  

Eventually, you reluctantly part, your forehead resting against hers.  

“I-I just wanted you to know...” You start, swallowing hard.  

“I REALLY, really care about you too.” You confess, the woman smiling as she surges in, gently kissing your lips.  

“Does that mean I get to touch you more often?” She whispers and you chuckle, the woman hugging you to her chest.  

“Ye-Yeah, it does, as long as you want to.” You say and she giggles.  

“Oh, trust me, I want to.” She says and you hum, kissing her lips again. 

“D-Do I get to touch you...?” You ask and she smiles.  

“Yeah, but tonight was about you.” She says, kissing your forehead, your cheeks flushing.  

“Are you sure?” You ask, the blonde nodding, nonetheless, she whines when you roll out of bed.  

“Hey, one of us has come in their pants, and it’s not you.” You jest, wandering to the bathroom before coming back a few minutes later in a crisp pair of boxers and clean pajama pants. 

You immediately take your place back between Ashley’s legs, the woman hugging you to her chest, your face buried in the crook of her neck.  

The room falls silent for a moment before Ashley giggles. 

“I’m really glad our idiot friends talked me into giving you a lap dance.” She confesses and you chuckle, your words slurring as you whisper.  

“Me too.” You hum, snuggling closer.  

It isn’t long after that, that Ashley realizes you’re asleep, the woman smiling as she turns her head, kissing your forehead.  

She simply watches you sleep for a moment, her heart skipping a beat when she realizes the feelings she had for you were returned.  

She leans back in, kissing your forehead again, smiling lovingly as you smile in your sleep.  

“Happy Birthday, Y/N.” She slurs softly before she too falls asleep, for once, thankful for her teammate's ridiculous and crazy antics, antics that eventually led you to where you were now, a year older and the arms of the girl you were hopelessly in love with wrapped around you.

[sinfulpanda16]

Smile for me Pretty Baby

Bakugou x fem reader

Bakugou is not one to comfort others if they're sad. It's a waste of his time but when it's his pretty baby, mans would do anything and everything to see you smile.

You don’t know when you’ve reached this point. You’re lying in bed with your blanket wrapped around you, holding one of your stuffed (f/a) plush while your other stuffed animals are around you and tears in your eyes.

You don’t like existing.

You think to yourself life is great, you go to a good school, you have awesome friends, a nice family, and a boyfriend that loves you. So why are you feeling like this? There should be no reason for you to be sad. 

Right?

Maybe existing would be nice if you were the you of your dreams.

You sniff and before you know it you start to cry again.

“Oi Shitty hair!" Bakugou calls for the redhead.

Kirishima turns around “Baku-” before Kirishima can finish Bakugou interrupts him. “Where the hell is Y/N?”

Kirishima thinks for a second "Y/N? I think she's in her dorm room. I haven't seen her all day." and neither has Bakugou which is why he's asked that stupid nerd Deku and all the other extras of Class 1-A for you. It's not like you to stay in your dorm room all day. You're usually hanging out with the rest of the class. The others have also noticed your absence which is concerning. What the hell could be going on with you?

"Tch. Yeah, fine or whatever" Bakugou states and wastes no time heading towards your room.

Bakugou slams your door open. You sit up in shock and turn to look at your door. You've gone comfortable with letting your boyfriend come into your room without notice. You didn't mind except for today when you're not feeling good and not in the mood for his sarcasm. You make direct eye contact with him. His red orbs... they're wide. Bakugou is shocked to see you in such a state.

"Oi! What hell is up with you!?" he asks in a distressed tone.

You frown "If you came to be angry with me then turn around and close my damn door. I don't have time for this." you say with a shaky voice. The tears running down your cheeks and dropping onto your covers. Bakugou has never seen this side of you, when did his beautiful girlfriend talk with a tone like his.

He walks in your room and closes the door behind him. He's not sure what to do, he doesn't know why you're acting this way but he does know he hates the fact that you do not want to see him. He looks at you "Look. I'm not here to bother you. I'm... sorry." he looks away and curses under his breath when he apologizes but continues to talk. "I haven't seen you all day. What's wrong?" What else is he supposed to say? He's never gone out his way to comfort anyone, this is his first time ok.

You wipe your tears away. You really don't want to be a burden with your emotions, so you say, "I don't know". Bakugou grows irritated. This is difficult for him, but he doesn't care. He's going to help you feel better if it's the last thing he does.

He walks over to your bed and sits down next to you. You turn away from him. You're embarrassed, you didn't want him to see you like this. Which is why you could've sworn you locked the door. A hand reaches for your cheek, and you turn around to look at Bakugou. The two of you hold eye contact for a few seconds until he finally asks, "Pretty baby what's wrong?" with his worried eyes. In the five months you two have dated he's never called you by any pet names. He's always said they're for losers and not for him, the future number one hero.

Pretty Baby. You like it.

You sigh "I feel like life would be better if I was just better. I feel like me being better is impossible. I feel like I could never truly be happy because me being better isn't possible" You sniff and wipe your nose with your blanket. Bakugou helps wipe your tears with his thumb and lets you continue. "I just... maybe I am just not meant to ever be what I want to be. Maybe I was born to be my trashass self. Maybe I was just never meant to exist. Maybe life would've been better if I had never existed."

What the fuck did he just hear. Did those words seriously just come out of your pretty mouth. You never existing to begin with, that would kill Bakugou. YOU being in HIS life was the best thing that has ever happened to him. The thought of you not existing makes him so mad. So sad. Why is baby having these thoughts? You're probably one of the best people there are. It's why all of Class-1A love you. It's why he loves you so much he often thinks you deserve to be someone better than him. You deserve to be with one of the best people like yourself.

You continue shedding tears and Bakugou says your name. "Y/N". You look at him and he seems genuinely hurt by what you said about yourself. With his free hand he grabs your other cheek and begins to talk with a tint of anger in his voice "I don't know who the fuck told you, you need to be better or what the fuck made you feel that you need to be but trust me when I say, you are one of the best people in this world." What? He looks deep in your (e/c) eyes "A world without you sounds like hell. Don't you realize, you're a bit of the reason why this world is so nice. It's because of people like you. You, to me, are already the better version you want to be."

You are speechless. Bakugou has never acted like this before. It's a completely different side of him. A few more tears fall but not for the reason they were falling before. You love him. God you love him so much. He wipes your tears away for you and says, "I love you, Y/N". Thats the first time he's said it without seeming annoyed of having to. You're so speechless you don't even realize it.

"Smile for me pretty baby." He speaks.

There it is again. You smile and giggle as well, to which Bakugou responds with a smirk. He did it. He was able to comfort you.

You lose him in his thoughts when you say "Since when did you become such a softie?"

"Shut up! You think I actually like doing this?!" Yes, he does.

You kiss him and he kisses you back and when you pull away you thank him. Your boyfriend helped you get rid of those thoughts and that feeling for good.

You like existing.

And your Katsuki is a reason why.

[thewritetofreespeech]

Gale x Tav

words: 811

rating: G

summary: basically there are too many things about Gale being 'the perfect husband' and having 'the perfect marriage with him', but even the best couples have bad days and fight.

----------------------------------🟣---------------------------------------

It’s been hours. And the two of you still hadn’t talked.

You pull the covers tighter around your body. Surely a pseudo comforting mechanism to make up for the phantom cold you were feeling. It was an emotional chill, not physical. This might be the first night in a long while that you might go to bed alone, and it’s certainly the first night in a while you aren’t going exactly willingly.

You and Gale had a huge fight. You can’t even remember what started it exactly. It was something small. Simple. Yet it seemed neither one of you were willing to get over your mole hill and now there was a chasm between your two mountains.

Playing the fight over in your mind, you were trying to figure out where you went wrong….

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m being ridiculous!” You snap back at Gale. “Ridiculous. Yes. I’m being ridiculous because I asked you to help out in your own house.”

“And I said I would get to it later!” Gale snapped back. He rubbed his temples with his hand across his eyes. “Gods above, would it kill you to have a little patience from time to time??”

“Perhaps. If we had it your way we’d still be on that beach by the nautiloid for how long your ‘laters’ take.”

Your husband glared at you. “Insulting my character. My, what a fine fall we’ve made for decorum in this house.”

“I’m not insulting your character, Gale. But what about you! You just called me ridiculous and that’s not insulting my character?!”

“It’s not insulting your character if it’s true! And you’re being ridiculous!”

It had all gone downhill from there. More insults. More backbiting. You both said things you didn’t mean, like you saying you should have stayed in the Gate if this was how things were going to be and Gale wishing he still had his orb because it seemed the only way to get out of this conversation.

He had taken off not long after that with an ��I’m done” and stalked off to some remote, quite corner of the tower to cool off. You hadn’t seen him since.

Now that the fight was over, and night was closing in, you wished you could talk to apologize. But you didn't want to be the one to go to him. You didn't want to 'lose'. Which you knew was toxic and childish, but you couldn't help the way you felt.

So, that never happened and for the first night in a long while that you go to bed alone. Quiet tears on your pillow.

The next morning you wake up. Face puffy. Eyes red. No real sleep to call your own, so you went downstairs to get coffee.

You find Gale already there. His own cup in his hand. Looking equally disheveled and un-well rested. But, and most importantly, another cup across the counter in front of him. It’s steam wafting up from the mug so you knew it was fresh. Cautiously, you move to the counter and take it. “Are we still fighting?”

“Do you want to keep fighting?” Gale asked back. Not trying to instigate the fight again, but gauge your commitment to continue it.

“No. I don’t.” You sip your coffee carefully. Even though you’re fighting, it was still perfect. “Where did you sleep?”

“In my study.” There is an ornate couch in there. Leather. Expensive. More of an art piece than a comfortable piece of furniture. His lack of sleep may just be from trying to sleep on that rather than the tossing & turning you did last night. “I didn’t think you’d want me.”

“You could have come to bed.”

You probably wouldn’t have talked, and it would still be ‘cold’, but it was still his bed too. “I don’t like it when we fight.”

“It’s not my ideal way to spend an evening either, my love.” Though he said it his ‘my love’ doesn’t have the same warmth in it it normally does. “Look…I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“I’m sorry too.” You apologize back. “I didn’t mean to….”

“We both said things we didn’t mean.”

The two of you sip your respective coffees. Not really sure where to go from here. Yes, you apologized. The fight was over. But apologies weren’t like the incantations Gale threw around all the time. They weren’t actually magic words to make all the hurt you felt a moment ago go away.

“Do you want a hug?”

He didn't say anything, but Gale sat down his coffee and came around the counter to you. You both wrap your arms around each other, but it’s awkward. Stiff. There is love between you in the hug, but that chasm you built last night was making it harder to each one another. It would fill. You both would mend. But for now it was just going to be a little uncomfortable around the house.

The two of you separate and go back to your coffees. Sticking to safe topics like what you would like for breakfast. Hopefully you couldn’t disagree to harshly on that.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

candy girl 1

Warnings: this fic will include elements, some dark, such as cheating, age gap, noncon/dubcon, and other untagged triggers. Please take this into account before proceeding. It is up to curate your online consumption safely.

Summary: as you're about to take the next step with your boyfriend, doubts begin to arise. (short!plus!reader)

Characters: Thor (boyfriend's dad/silverfox)

Author’s Note: Please feel free to leave some feedback, reblog, and jump into my asks. I’m always happy to discuss with you and riff on idea. As always, you are cherished and adored! Stay safe, be kind, and treat yourself. <3

You steer onto the cul-de-sac, the savoury smell of teryaki and honey garlic cloying at your stomach. A loud growl erupts from inside you as you come in sight of your destination. The suburban beacon stands two-storeys above ground and its white washed window frames seem to watch your approach with wide eyes. The home, even if it’s not your own, is welcoming. 

You pull in beside the white picket fence and park right behind the large slate grey BMW. It’s both gargantuan and sparkling compared to your beat up Fiat. Your steed isn’t a noble one but it gets the job done. Literally. 

The summer night hums with the call of the crickets and the drone of pool filters from the sprawling HOA-mandated yards. You get out and open the back seat, pulling out the stacked boxes that radiate with the mouth-watering aromas. You even managed to get Karl to give you a free tray of garlic knots before you clocked out. 

As you balance the wide load, teetering slightly at the awkwardness, you use your hip to shut the car door. You eye the vehicle in front of yours. You didn’t think he’d be there, at least that’s what Magni said. You suppose you can’t complain, it isn’t your house. 

A figure sits on the porch, as if waiting for you. At first, you think it’s your boyfriend but the build is slightly too broad to be him. The sheen of the light beside the front door also reveals a head of silvering blonde waves and not Magni’s shanky red hair. His father sits with his phone cradled over his lap, a metallic noise sounding from the speakers. 

You come up the front walk between the floating orbs cast by the solar lanterns implanted in the earth. Your soles scuff as you near the steps and Mr. Odinson lowers his phone as he looks up. You put on a smile though you don’t think he’ll see it. 

“It’s just me,” you announce as you hit the step with your toe and stumble. “Oof!” 

He’s quick to stand and rush over but you steady yourself and clammer up the steps in a graceful recovery. You giggle at yourself and even out the boxes to keep the pizza from getting to messed up. He stops nearby, looming over you as he blocks out the porch light. 

“Y’okay, little one?” He asks in his way. 

You laugh again, “all good! Clumsy old me.” 

“Mm,” he hums and gives an emphatic sniff, “I suppose you didn’t bring all that for me.” 

“There’s more than enough to go around,” you assure him. 

“Ah, well in that case, my son is in the garage,” he points, “I will gladly make sure the food gets to the kitchen unscathed.” 

You tilt your head at him and scoff, “don’t worry, I didn’t count the chicken wings or anything.” 

He chuckles and takes the boxes from you, “allow me,” he insists, “far too much for you to be carrying all this around.” 

“It’s my job, Mr. Odinson,” you shrug, “anyway, I’ll go find, Mag.” 

“Tell him to put his things away before he comes in,” he warns and backs up, easily carrying the full load of food in one hand, turning to pull the screen door open with his other. 

You hop back down the porch and along the walk, coming back down the driveway to the garage. You knock on the wide door as you hear raging metal music crashing from within. You like some of it, but a few songs just make your head hurt. 

The door reacts as the motor above whirs and reels it up. You bend to peek under and wave at Magni. He sits on a low rolling stool, his hands darkened with oil, and his motorbike half torn apart. Again. 

“Wow, what’s all this?” You ask as you dip under the door. 

“Eh, stupid thing got a rock in it, then I was thinking about modifying it... got a bit carried away.” 

He grabs a rag from his pocket as he stands and wipes his fingers. He’s about as tall as his father, though he’s lanky where the elder Odinson is bullish. You suppose he might fill out with age, not that you’re complaining. You have more than enough cushion for both of you. 

“Your dad took the pizza,” you say. 

“Ah, yeah, he was supposed to be out of town,” he grumbles. “Been lecturing half the night about this thing.”  

He gestures to the bike as he nears and bends to kiss you. You tilt your head up to meet him and get a bit more tongue than you expect. He grabs your ass as he pulls you against him and you gasp, pushing on his stomach. 

“You’re getting grease on my pants,” you part and tut at him. It’s only your uniform but you have two pair of work pants and one them is ripped. 

“Blends right in,” he gives you another tap. 

“Ugh, I was gonna do laundry on the weekend.” 

“Whatever,” he shrugs and continues to twist his finger into the dirty rag. “Too bad dad stayed,” he grumbles, “if he wasn’t here...” 

Heat razes your neck and you sway in place, digging your toe into the ground as you look away. You know what he was expecting and you tried to tell him you weren’t sure yet but he just doesn’t get it. You’re almost grateful you don’t have to repeat yourself. As much as you like him, it’s just too much too soon. 

“Mm, yeah,” you come forward and gather up the loose wrenches and bolts, putting them into the open box, “shouldn’t leave this all a mess.” 

“Eh, I’ll just be working on it again tomorrow,” he sniffs. 

You ignore his protest and continue to clean up after him. If you mention his dad, you don’t think it will motivate him. They can be volatile at times. Stubborn to say the least. It surprises you to see the discord between them. With a life like this, how could anyone be unhappy?  

You close up the tool box and roll it against the wall. Magni hits the button for the door and it rolls back down. You follow him to the interior door and climb the steps up into the main house. You leave your shoes on the mat as he keeps his on. 

Mr. Odinson pulls out plates as you enter the kitchen. He huffs as Magni tramps through and goes to the sink, flipping it on with two fingers and leaving grease on the silver. 

“Shoes on?” His father grumbles. 

“Forgot,” Magni utters. 

“Mm, wipe the faucet off when you’re done. You’re getting oil all over.” 

“Yeah, dad, I’ll do it,” Magni sneers. 

You gulp awkwardly as Mr. Odinson offers you a plate. 

“Gotta wash up too,” you wiggle your fingers at him, showing the dirt from the tools. 

“Ah, more work after work, I see,” he muses dryly. 

You smile and shrug and go to the sink as Magni shuts it off. You turn it back on and take your time lathering up your hands. You rinse off and make sure to wipe the smear on the silver too. As you turn around, Magni is loading up his plate with food. 

You wait patiently by Mr. Odinson as he hands you a plate. 

“Geez, save some for the rest of us, kid,” he chortles. 

“There’s lots,” Magni dismisses flippantly and walks away. 

“Eat at the table,” his dad calls after him. 

Mr. Odinson lets you go first. He makes you feel tiny as he patiently awaits his turn. You take more knots than you should but only a single slice of triple cheese. 

“I see you go the cinnamon bites...” he intones, “did you remember they’re my favourite?” 

“Oh, mine too!” You chime, “I didn’t but I’ll try to next time.” 

“Next time,” he echoes, “don’t make promises you can’t keep.” 

You ignore the cryptic comment and grab a dipping sauce, “enjoy, Mr. Odinson.” 

“Mm, looks delicious,” he winks and his eyes linger on you before they drift over to the boxes. “Mmm, I prefer thighs but these wings smell amazing.” 

You turn and give the wall a strange look. He’s a funny guy, sometimes you have no idea what he’s talking about. You head off to join Magni in the dining room. He bends over his phone and quickly swipes with his pinky, bringing up his wallpaper. 

“I’m starving,” you sit down, “work was so hectic.” 

He growls into a chicken wing as he eats ravenously. You feel a similar hunger but you don’t want to be rude. It’s funny, growing up in a place like this, and he can be so... sloppy.  

Mr. Odinson walks in and drops a stack of napkins at the center of the table, “don’t stain the tablecloth.” 

You take a few and Magni just continues his feast. His dad sits with a cringe and shakes his head. He takes a garlic knot between two fingers, the morsel seeming so small, and bites into it delicately. He hums and you can’t help but share the sentiment, while you restrain yourself from mimicking his son as your stomach roars again. 

[thevoidstaredback]

Tales of Conquest, Warnings of Fools:

Letters Between Brothers

Damian Wayne,   Jan 15, 2014

Thank the gods you’re okay! I was so worried! When you didn’t answer, I assumed the worst, and then I saw the news and I freaked out! Seeing as you didn’t mention anything about accepting my help, I’m going to assume you don’t need it right now. The offer will remain open, however.

A lot has happened since my last letter, though you’ll forgive me for not going into detail. It’s gonna be a pain to get this to you at all, let alone if it had been filled with everything I want to say. What I can and will tell you is that my town has been put under a soft lock-in and a Media Blackout. Things and people and news can come in, but almost nothing and no one can go out. Everything is screened before it’s even considered for being able to leave the city lines. Something is here that the government doesn't want to get out to the general public. It took a lot to be able to even get this out, hence the huge amount of time between me writing it and you getting it.

I’ll keep the line open, but it might take a while for my responses to get to you.

Ancients, I hope you can come visit soon. If you need an excuse, we’ve got the only female purple-back gorilla in town! Her name’s Delilah. I can teach you how to communicate with her if you’d like!

Anyway, I gotta go.

من الجيد أن أسمع منك يا أخي.

Danyal

***

Danny was tired. He was ready to sleep for a week. He doesn’t care that he’s not gonna be allowed to because he’s gonna do it anyway. After beating Pariah Dark, Danny had laid on the floor for a solid hour before moving. When he finally got up, he moved the crown and ring to sit on the cushion of the throne. The orb he kept with him. He was gentle with it, careful to not hole it too tightly or too lightly. Then, he flew back to where Amity Park was floating.

“Where were you!” Sam demanded the second he landed in her room.

“Finding a way out of the Zone,” he said.

“And?” Tucker prompted, “Do we have a way home?”

Danny paused and then groaned. “Noooo.”

Sam inhaled deeply, frustration dripping from her voice like honey. “Then what took you so long to come back?”

Tucker finally looked up from his PDA and then startled. “Dude! You’re hurt! What the hell?”

“What?!” Sam screamed.

Danny looked down at himself. “Oh, yeah, did I forget to mention that?”

“Dude!”

“Okay, okay! So, you know that really scary Ghost King guy that Vlad decided to wake up because he’s a piss-baby who wants power?”

“Yeah?”

“Well,” he looked away from them and then held up his right hand, showing them the fire orb in his hand. “This is maybe kinda all that’s left of him.”

“Danny!” They both jumped away from him. “Did you bring the fucking Ghost King into my house?!”

“I wasn’t just- I couldn’t- Leaving it where it was seemed like a bad idea!”

“So you brought it with you!”

“Yes! It seemed like a better idea than leaving him where anyone could pick him up!”

Tucker calmed himself in the corner, taking large breaths. Sam closed her eyes where she stood, doing the same thing. After a few seconds she said, “Get that thing out of my house. Then, find out a way to get us back home-”

“Technically we are home…”

“-to Earth. When you’ve done that and the sky is blue and I can see fields on the horizon, then you may come back into my house. Okay?”

He backed towards the window. “I guess this is a horrible time to mention that I don’t know a single ghost that can help me?”

“Out!”

“Okay, bye!” He was quick to leave, flying away as Phantom, the fire orb still in his hand, though now he cradled it to his chest. He was stopped a few times by his classmates, trusting Phantom more than the ghost hunters. Anytime they’d ask him what was happening, he’d tell them that he had everything under control and that he was going to get them all back to their home dimension soon.

He didn’t tell them that he was freaking out. He didn’t tell them that they’d been there for six days now because he and Vlad are the only two in Amity Park who can keep track of time in the Realms. He didn’t tell them that he was working alone because the government decided to cut off all access to help. He didn’t tell them that no one even knew they were missing because of the same government. He didn’t tell them a lot of things. 

He’d learned, from watching other heroes in the world, that smiles and reassurances were the only things to keep people calm sometimes. So, that’s what he did. He kept the freakouts internal, and smiled at his classmates as they asked him to tell them it would be okay.

He flew over the edge of the island that was now taking the space of the Amity Portal. He didn’t know where he was going, but he was hoping that he’d be able to find someone that would help him as long as he picked a direction and flew.

It took an entire day, but he found someone who could help. Probably. The island was purple, just like all of them, and the only building on it was a dark clocktower. It looked like a grandfather clock, a balcony wrapped around the building just under the clock face. There were cogs floating in the space above and around it, as well as implemented into the building itself.

He dropped his flight, landing on the ground a ways from the door. “Ḵ̴͓̈́͌̔ạ̶̍s̵̥̤͠ ̴̤̽̓͛m̵̹̠̈́̂̍å̸̢͎̜̎ ̸̫́v̶͖͙̍̀̚õ̸̠͔̀i̴̍̕͜n̸͉̪͊̾̓ ̷̝̻͊̚̚t̷̬̩͝͝ú̷͔̟͖l̵̗̖͗͛̎l̸̻̫̂̀̕á̸̜͔̥?” he asked. The door under the glass pendulum window opened. He took that as an invitation and walked forward.

Inside the body of the clocktower was plain, a stone staircase winding up behind the ticking pendulum. He walked up every step, the fiery orb cradled in both hands against his chest. It was really warm.

There was no trap door or hatch at the top of the stairs. Instead, it opened up into the room behind the clock face. The wall opposite the clock face was covered in screens with orbs floating around, each one showing different faces and events and times. There was a small seating area right next to the giant window; that’s where he found his host.

“T̴̡̫́͊͝͠ē̸̞̱͑͊̃͝r̷̩͛͒͠e̶͉̠̪̎̔͂́̅ ̴͚̤͓̬̲͊͒̔̽t̵̢͉̗̺̲̑̌̅̚u̸̬̔͌͆ḻ̷̛̫͍̜́e̵̖̰͕̰̪͝m̷̳͎̘̮̞͝͠a̶͖̬͉̤͉̒̀̋s̸͖̱͓̪̪̈́́t̷̖̿̓͊,̸̢͙̮͊̾ ̷̡̲̱͖̲͑͆̔̕ń̴̠̪̈́̊̒̃ó̸̡̺̞͕͍́̽̀͆ō̵̦̅̔r̶̠̉͆̕ ̵̞̟̣̇̈̆ḱ̴̢͕͔͈̇͛͂͋u̵̫̲̎̀̀̽ͅǹ̵̢͖͚̜ͅį̴̠͖̠̪͗̒̓̅ǹ̸̝͒͊͠g̸͎̖̗͎̈́̃ả̸̮͉̱̀́̌̉s̷̡̞̼̃̿̏͂͊.” the ghost said. They were covered by a dark purple hooded cloak, a lighter purple tunic and pants underneath. Their skin was a light teal and their eyes were bright red. A black metal cog held the cloak on their shoulder, a glass door showed black clock and a pendulum in their chest. Floating upright beside them was a black metal staff, a mint green eye-like orb resting between the three prongs on the top. “My name is A̸̠̺̹̐̉̈̅j̶͈̐ą̷͈̩̱̣̑͐̎̔̉͝ ̸̛̹̮̹̦͆̊̇͘͜͝ͅm̷̢̲̳͚̞̄́̈ê̵̡̙̞̥i̷̡̹̺̺̼̟̽͜s̶̹͈͖̲̫̫̍̅t̶͖͈̓̽̍̒̋͝ę̵͔̠͐̍͛̒̈ͅŗ̶̡̲̺̩̯͌̓, but you may call me Clockwork.”

Danny bowed a little in greeting, the ghost’s very gaze pouring an intense pressure on him. “Greetings, Clockwork. My name is D̷̨̨̤̥̤́̈́͘è̷̲̟͗͒̾ë̶̩̥̪́́͠m̷͎̿̀̎ͅö̸͍̤̫̥͕́͂̓n̷̤̰̆͑͂̊ḯ̵̮̰͝ ̷̦̜̪̬̿͂̓͒̚l̶͓̬̣͚͈̉ȃ̵̰̭̮͈͐̿p̸͔̝̓̈͗̋ş̶̥̦̥͍̽͑͒̊, but you may call me Danyal.”

Clockwork nodded in return, motioning to the seats around him. “Please, join me.”

“Thank you,” Honestly, Danny had no idea where these manners were coming from, but they were here now and they seemed to be the right things to be doing and saying because he had yet to be attacked. And even when he’d gone to Pariah with the intent of a fight, they had a cordial conversation beforehand.

“There is a town from a Living Realm trapped in the In-Between Realm.” Clockwork said after Danny had sat down. “You seek a way to return them.”

Danny nodded. “Yes.”

“You walk a fine line, K̴͔̑͘u̸̙͌̋͠m̴̬̯̤̄͗̊̚m̷̹̜̟̣̈ḯ̴͚͕̙̗̥̀t̸͚̠̭̣͎̒̄u̷̺̹̫̅͑ṡ̷̞͆l̶̝̈́̌̅a̶̹̪̎̇̈̈̓p̸͎̬͖̺͊̾̽͜š̶̞̤͐͗͝.” Clockwork said. “The line between the Living and Dead is a thin one, and yet you walk with perfect balance.”

A million questions were going through Danny’s head too fast for him to fully register them. He asked, “Do you know what I am?”

The older ghost nodded. “You are P̷̺̞͆̓̇ö̵̯́̄̃̃õ̶̮͕̭l̷͕̪͉̮͚͆̽͆e̶̡̢͔̝̽̈͗̑l̸̢̖̗͇̐̿̕d̶̠̻̬̂̉̓̑̕ĭ̵̝̻͋̈ ̶̳̩̯̠͋̂̈́e̵̢̳̬̖̍͠l̴͓̼͒̄u̷̢̲͖̞̦̒̎̂s̷͙̪̘͊͒͆,̶̲͕͓͌̚̚ ̵̙̩͍͊p̶̫̼̪̝͑͘o̷̭̼̰̚o̸̖̭͓͚̲̽̓̅̏̕l̸͍͙̀̑̉ȩ̴̡̣͔̃̄͋l̶̟̫̭͗̌̊d̵̛̻i̴̺͈͉̔̂͘ ̷̜̯̣̙̍̅̇ș̷̌̂͝͠ư̴̰̿r̸̡̹͚̣͑ͅn̵̙͖̅̐̅ú̴͈͛̃͑́ͅḍ̶̖̱̍; T̸̬͒̆̎̈́͠õ̷̡̰̝͖̂̐e̴͙̊ͅl̸̥̥̹͚̩̥͊̄̀̔̈́͠i̴̟̜͖͔͓̦̔n̵̢͖͓͌͂ḛ̵̡̼͍̏̒͊̂͜͝ ̸͍̱͋̑͗ẗ̴̺â̵̧̞̰̣̰̬̝̊͌͊̆́s̷̤͍̱̜͙̑͒å̸͚͔̩̇̎͆͝k̴̲̅ä̶͕́̈́͂̎̂̏a̷̠͋́̌͊͊̓͝ļ̶̯̤̍.”

“What does that mean?” he wondered.

They shook their head. “You will understand in time.”

Danny was quick to concede the point. “Can you help me return Ḿ̷̢̳̫̮̾͗i̶̧̩̣̐̓̓n̷̬̼̘̟̞͝û̸͔̰̠̞̒͘̚ ̶̦͋k̸̤͔͊̄́ŏ̶̮̦̬̫̙̐̂͝͠d̶̝̯̆̎̉̊͜u̵̲̬͒͜ to where we belong?”

“I cannot,” was the answer, “But I can tell you how to do it.”

Danny hesitated for no more than a moment before nodding. “Your help would be greatly appreciated, sir.”

Clockwork smiled. “No need to be so formal anymore, T̶̨͇͋͌͆͌́ä̸͇̰͓̿h̷̥̓͌͋̈̔̓t̴̗̻͚͈͚̺̓́̔e̴̢̯̱̓̄̎̾̆ḑ̷̬̔ḛ̷̱̭̙̪͑̃͌̓͐ ̵̭̯͔̈̈̇̓̕̕l̶̜̞̺̜̦̋̿̄͒͊a̶̢̼͈͆p̶͓̟̱̣̉š̶̹͋̄̕͝. You are welcome in Ḿ̷̢̳̫̮̾͗i̶̧̩̣̐̓̓n̷̬̼̘̟̞͝û̸͔̰̠̞̒͘̚ ̶̦͋k̸̤͔͊̄́ŏ̶̮̦̬̫̙̐̂͝͠d̶̝̯̆̎̉̊͜u̵̲̬͒͜ whenever you seek it.” The whole building was filled with the chime of a clock striking midnight. “To take s̸̡̮̤̽̓͝͝į̴̡̯͙͌n̴̤̅̈̌͊̃u̷͔̗̮͐ ̷̜̈̆̇̕͝k̵̢̰̙̗̱͂̄͋̈̈́ô̸̦͛̾̿͑d̸̢̡̪͇͋͗͝u̵̲̠͊̃̈͜ back to the Realm in which it belongs, you must use Ŗ̸̢̱̻͊̍́̐̒ä̴̯̫̗̪̑̕͠e̸̯̞͎͇̍v̴̲̥̲̊͜͝ṳ̵̀ ̷͓̞͇̙̑̍̏̏s̴̡̫͇̅̑̏õ̸͔͋̏̀r̴̛͚̰̔͆m̷̲̞̈́u̸̠͆̀̂͜ş̴͔̩̰̎̇̆̎̿ to open a portal. However, once you put it on, you will be announcing your claim to T̴͖̳̪̭̫͆͜r̴̤̻̳͔̭̪̭̅́̋o̴̲̍͌̂͒o̶̢̩̳͂̒͠n̵̩͕͖̟̈̆͐́̃͋̾.”

“Wait,” Danny said, worry seeping into his tone and expression, “T̴͖̳̪̭̫͆͜r̴̤̻̳͔̭̪̭̅́̋o̴̲̍͌̂͒o̶̢̩̳͂̒͠n̵̩͕͖̟̈̆͐́̃͋̾? I don’t want to be King! I just- I wanna be me.”

“And you will be, but you must first make your decision. You told T̵̳̪̂̌̎y̵̛̭̻̖̽r̴̹̰̗͝ḁ̸͚̟̈̆n̴͔̞͊̈͑ṅ̷̝̂-̷̼͙̼̏̃k̴̛̙̣̠͑û̶̘͍̞ň̷͈͇̲ỉ̶̛̗̺͜͝n̸͐̈́͜͠g̴̼̀ä̸̞͙̲́s̶͎̬͙̀͒ that you fight to protect, so now you must choose to protect. Claim T̴͖̳̪̭̫͆͜r̴̤̻̳͔̭̪̭̅́̋o̴̲̍͌̂͒o̶̢̩̳͂̒͠n̵̩͕͖̟̈̆͐́̃͋̾ and get s̸̡̮̤̽̓͝͝į̴̡̯͙͌n̴̤̅̈̌͊̃u̷͔̗̮͐ ̷̜̈̆̇̕͝k̵̢̰̙̗̱͂̄͋̈̈́ô̸̦͛̾̿͑d̸̢̡̪͇͋͗͝u̵̲̠͊̃̈͜ back to where it belongs, or refuse and keep s̸̡̮̤̽̓͝͝į̴̡̯͙͌n̴̤̅̈̌͊̃u̷͔̗̮͐ ̷̜̈̆̇̕͝k̵̢̰̙̗̱͂̄͋̈̈́ô̸̦͛̾̿͑d̸̢̡̪͇͋͗͝u̵̲̠͊̃̈͜ here between the L̷͔͕͔̂̿̆̾͠õ̸̭̙̮̭̽ͅp̸͚̲͍̐̚ͅư̶̐̍ͅt̷̡̰̙̚u̷͚̖͖̐̀̿́͝ḑ̷̟̲͔̭͗́̀ ̷̘̟̦́̾̒̑̕k̸͚̃ứ̵͕̘̥̩̾̓͑n̸̘̹̗̗͙̂͂̓͗͝i̷̳͕̝͂̓n̴̪̈́̇̌g̶̩͈̺̟͖̀̐̽͒̈ŕ̶̛̜͔͠ì̸̯̈i̸̠͎̳̳̓͠g̷̪̲̈́̽̐̌̄ì̸̮͌͒̌d̶͉̻̭̀̓͑.”

“That’s hardly a choice,” Danny said. Clockwork shrugged. “How do I use the  Ŗ̸̢̱̻͊̍́̐̒ä̴̯̫̗̪̑̕͠e̸̯̞͎͇̍v̴̲̥̲̊͜͝ṳ̵̀ ̷͓̞͇̙̑̍̏̏s̴̡̫͇̅̑̏õ̸͔͋̏̀r̴̛͚̰̔͆m̷̲̞̈́u̸̠͆̀̂͜ş̴͔̩̰̎̇̆̎̿?”

Clockwork’s smile hadn’t dropped at all during the conversation, but it did seem like they had only just started smiling. “You will know when you put it on.”

“Oh.” He remembered the little ball of fire in his hands. “When I beat T̵̳̪̂̌̎y̵̛̭̻̖̽r̴̹̰̗͝ḁ̸͚̟̈̆n̴͔̞͊̈͑ṅ̷̝̂-̷̼͙̼̏̃k̴̛̙̣̠͑û̶̘͍̞ň̷͈͇̲ỉ̶̛̗̺͜͝n̸͐̈́͜͠g̴̼̀ä̸̞͙̲́s̶͎̬͙̀͒,” he held the small orb in from of him, “he disappeared and left this behind. What is it?”

There was a twinkle in Clockwork’s pupiless eyes. “That is the very essence of his being; his T̸̼̈̏u̶͉̭̘̓̀ȗ̵͔͘͜ͅm̷̡̫͗͋̽. To T̵̨̉̈́̉͝a̴̗͉̪̐̾́̃ͅp̷̫̔̆̉a̴̗͉͛̈́̒͘͠ a ghost, you must End them by crushing or eating their T̸̼̈̏u̶͉̭̘̓̀ȗ̵͔͘͜ͅm̷̡̫͗͋̽.

“What?” Danny freaked out, “I don’t want to End him!”

“Then keep that with you at all times.”

“What’ll- What’ll happen if I don’t?”

“It would be within your best interest to keep T̷̢̥̟̈̎̀͆͝ÿ̴̪̍́͌r̷̯͍̹̔̎͠͠ȃ̶̮n̸̦̪̜̓́̽͑d̶͔͚̿͗́͘ȋ̸̢̪͉̕ ̵̩̎͐̒k̵̥̬͐̌u̷̢̎n̵̻̾̊i̶̧͖̳̅̽ņ̷̞̫̹̀̿̔̈͘ͅg̶͖̻̈̋̎͌͜͜͝a̵͔̱͍̺̓͝ ̵̰̲̤̈́̏̏t̸̺̫͙͐̽̔͐̎ú̵͖̗̪̠͊ụ̸̥̖̈̀̆̚̕m̷͇͕̮͖͑̀͝ with you at all times.”

Danny gulped and nodded, standing from his place. “Thank you for helping me, A̸̠̺̹̐̉̈̅j̶͈̐ą̷͈̩̱̣̑͐̎̔̉͝ ̸̛̹̮̹̦͆̊̇͘͜͝ͅm̷̢̲̳͚̞̄́̈ê̵̡̙̞̥i̷̡̹̺̺̼̟̽͜s̶̹͈͖̲̫̫̍̅t̶͖͈̓̽̍̒̋͝ę̵͔̠͐̍͛̒̈ͅŗ̶̡̲̺̩̯͌̓”

“It was my pleasure, K̸̡̧͕̇̑́̐̚͝o̸̧̰͕̯̿̐͠s̶͔͇͇̱̲͔̩̓̽͗̀͊̈m̶͉͇̟͆̄͆͆̈̉͘͝o̶̹̬̤̟̥̣̅͒́̇̇̆s̴̗͇̰̫͆͑e̴̪͕̲̪͎͓̾̚m̶̢͈̰̳̙̻̜̩̱̀̒ẹ̵̖̟͔́̃̒͑i̸̭̩̙͉̮͚̻̰̰̇̎̈́͊͘͠s̸̛̛͚̤̳̭͋̊́͒̔́̚̕t̴͍̮̱͈̹̞͊̋͂ḛ̸̢͙̺̼͍̬̙͍̣̽̎̊͘̚r̵̤̜̲̱̦̕.”

Danny left through the clock face, flying back towards Pariah’s Keep. It had been just under a day since he’d been there. Amity Park had been in the Infinite Realms for seven days now. Any attention drawn by them disappearing for a week could either be really good or really bad. Regardless, they’d all find out about their lost time as soon as they got back to their Living Realm and Danny was not looking forward to that.

He arrived at the Keep much as he had earlier. Though, instead of walking up the steps, he flew straight into the throne room. It was just as he’d left it. Before he went to the dais, he tried to calm his nerves by picking up the weapons from his battle. The daggers were re-hidden, the rapier re-sheathed. He picked up Pariah’s long sword and strapped it to his back, just under his tanto using the two halves of the former King’s cape.

With a deep breath, Danny finally approached the Throne, Crown, and Ring. He touched only the Ring, fearing what might happen if he even breathed on the other two, and slipped it onto the middle finger on his left hand. He felt a pulse of fury rush through him before it settled deep in his gut. The Ring itself changed from a simple black band to an obsidian ring encrusted with ice. It wasn’t cold on his finger, and was hardly noticeable.

Once again, he flew back to where Amity Park had been dropped. Once he was floating over the town, he reached for the power inside the Ring. It came easily to him, as though he knew exactly what he needed to do. He lifted his left hand, ripping it down in a quick motion. The green and black sky ripped open, blue calling the attention of everyone in Amity Park. He ignored them, pulling the rip bigger and bigger before pushing it down onto the town. He ignored the screams as the rip engulfed them. Then, once the last of the purple island was through, he zipped the rip up. In its place was the reactivated Fenton Portal. He used it to go home.

No one was in the lab when he got there, but he turned invisible anyway, making his way to his room to put Pariah Dark’s Core somewhere safe until he could get something to turn it into a necklace or something. He texted Sam and Tucker, telling them he was fine and that he was going to sleep before he texted Jazz the same thing. He told all three of them to wake him next week.

*

Danny woke up the next day because his parents had invited the G.I.W. over to study the Portal. He groaned and flipped over, shoving the pillow over his face. When that didn’t work, he sighed and got up. May as well be productive if he couldn’t sleep, right?

He was still so tired.

Sluggishly, he dragged himself around his room to get ready for the day. Then, with the fire orb that was the former Ghost King in his hand, he left his room and knocked on Jazz’s door. She answered immediately.

“I thought you were gonna sleep for a week?” Her answer was an explosion in the lab. She winced. “Right. What did you need?”

“Do you have-” He yawned. “Do you have, like, a chain or something? I gotta turn this into a necklace.”

She looked at the orb in his hand, slightly larger than a marble and seemingly made of fire. “Do I even want to know?”

“Not until I’m awake enough to explain.”

“Riight.” She turned and nodded for him to come in. “Let me check real quick, but I can’t promise I have something.”

“That’s-” He yawned again. “That’s okay.” He sat down on the armchair in the corner of her room, pulling the light pink throw blanket on the back on himself. It was really soft. His eyes drooped.

There was some shuffling for a few minutes, the quiet noise lulling Danny further to sleep. He startled when she shouted, “Here it is!” She turned to him, holding up two chains, one thrice as long as the other. “This should work- Danny? Are you asleep?”

He rubbed his eyes. “No.”

She smiled softly. “Why are you so tired?”

“No reason.”

“I’m sure,” she hummed. “Let me see that, okay? I’ll make a necklace for you real fast.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled.

“No problem.”

Again, the quiet noise of Jazz working started to lull Danny back to sleep. He shifted to get comfortable, closing his eyes for a minute. A minute that turned into a day and a half.

“Welcome back to the land of the living,” Jazz snarked when he left her room to eat breakfast.

He yawned, much more awake than before. “Yeah, yeah. Sorry about crashing in your room.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she waved off, “I crashed in yours, so we’re even.”

He reached up and touched the fire orb amulet that was now resting against his chest, fiddling with it as he watched Jazz make pancakes. “So, what’s the plan for the day?”

She shrugged. “I don’t have anything, do you?”

“Nope,” he said, “Just a let-” He froze. “The letter!” Quickly, he flew up the stairs and into his room. On the desk was the sealed envelope he’d meant to send when he got home the day Amity Park was pulled into the Infinite Realms. He found his way back down stairs, not stopping by the kitchen before going outside to have it delivered. He stopped short, however, when he registered where he was.

This was definitely Amity Park, and they were definitely back in their Realm, but everything had a strange tint to it. He didn’t think anyone noticed, though. The sky was slightly more green than blue, same with the sun and clouds, and it was slightly dimmer and colors were more vibrant, like during a solar eclipse. The ground and buildings all had a slight purple tint that made the shadows darker. Every plant, animal, insect, and person he saw had a barely-there glow to them.

He stumbled. What the hell? Was this a consequence of being in the In-Between Realm for so long? What did this mean for the people and animals living here? What did this mean for him?

“Are you alright, D?” Jazz asked from the door behind him. She must not see it, then.

“Um, yeah, just, um…Forgot my glasses.”

“Tsk. You need to get better at remembering them, Danny.”

“I know, I’m just…still not used to them!”

“It’s been a year.”

“It’s actually only been three months since I got them.”

“Just go mail your letter. Breakfast will be done soon.”

He waved behind him, going to stand in front of the mailbox. He was quick to put the letter in and close the door, flipping the little red flag up. He hesitated before going back into the house, though. He shook his head and moved before he could chicken out. Damian had reached out after two years and Danny wasn’t about to make him wait that long for a response. It would be childish.

The anticipation of waiting for a response was bubbling up in his stomach again. It was just like when he’d sent that first letter. This time, though, he knew he’d get a reply.

*

Damian was worried. He’d sent Danyal a response, but he’d yet to get anything back. He couldn’t blame his little brother, though. After all, he’d waited two years before finally answering. He wouldn’t fault him for not even opening the thing. However, he did worry if something had happened. When he’d looked up Amity Park again, he found that the whole town was on lockdown; Nothing was going in and nothing was coming out. That was lifted a day ago, though, and there was still no response.

His Father and his siblings all remained none the wiser to his communications. At least, he liked to believe that. Father was aware of Danyal, but he doesn’t know that he and Damian are - were? - in contact with one another. He would like to keep it that way.

He wanted to go visit Danyal soon, or maybe have him come to Gotham. There was so much to tell him, but only so much room on some paper. He wanted to know things, too! Ask questions and get more than a few words for an answer. He wanted to be able to see his brother’s face for the first time since they were six years old.

But he might’ve fucked it all up because he was a coward.

There was a Media Block on Amity Park, Illinois. It wasn’t obvious at first glance, but it was glaringly in the face of anyone looking into the town. He hadn’t managed to get much before he was found and kicked from the servers, but he did find news on two hero-like figures in the town; one of which was being debated as a hero or a villain. Damian thought it should be obvious if someone is a hero or a villain, but that’s just him and the rest of the world’s opinion versus this tiny little city in the middle of nowhere.

Father had caught onto his distracted state of mind and threatened to bench him if he couldn’t pull himself together. He tried, but he couldn’t keep his thoughts from wandering back to Danyal and how he was doing.

He refused to answer anyone when they inquired about why he kept spacing out. He knew it wasn’t like him, but there was a lot on his mind at the moment!

The very next day, a letter from Danyal arrived for him. Like the last one, this one had no return address, but he recognised the handwriting. His family - minus Alfred - were all suspicious of the letter because of the lack of information on the front, but Damian batted them all away and took the letter to his room, locking himself inside.

As soon as he finished reading it, he got a piece of paper and wrote out a reply. He was not going to make his brother wait any longer than he already had to.

Was Danyal this anxious about getting letters from him? He hoped so.

***

Danyal Fenton, Jan. 26, 2014

I am fine, as are all of the others. Thank you for your concern. Though, are you alright? I found the Media Block when I tried to access any information from inside Amity Park.

Your offer of assistance is greatly appreciated. Does it matter what I ask for? If not, then I have an idea that would require me to call upon you. If you are willing, that is. My family, though I am glad everyone is back together and tolerating each other, are stifling. Especially since I have taken up the Robin Mantle.

The Media Block is very concerning. What is the government hiding and why does it require them to soft-lock the town? Would you like me to contact the Justice League? This is something they will be able to help with.

I would be beyond delighted to come meet Delilah. If you are willing to teach me how to communicate with her, I am willing to learn. عسى أن تقود النجوم مسارك دائمًا. Damian Wayne

Translation 1 - Arabic: Good to hear from you, brother

Translation 2 - Estonian & Zalgo - May I come in?

Translation 3 - Estonian & Zalgo: Greetings, young King … Master of Time

Translation 4 - Estonian & Zalgo: Child of the Demon

Translation 5 - Estonian & Zalgo: Ghost Child

Translation 6 - Estonian & Zalgo: Half Living, Half Dead; A True Balance

Translation 7 - Estonian & Zalgo: My home

Translation 8 - Estonian & Zalgo: Child of the Stars … My home … your home … Ring of Rage … The Throne

Translation 9 - Estonian & Zalgo: The Throne

Translation 10 - Estonian & Zalgo: Tyrant King … The throne … your home … your home … Infinite Realms … Ring of Rage

Translation 11 - Estonian & Zalgo: Tyrant King

Translation 12 - Estonian & Zalgo: Core … Kill … Core

Translation 13 - Estonian & Zalgo: Tyrant King’s Core

Translation 14 - Estonian & Zalgo: Master of Time

Translation 15 - Estonian & Zalgo: Master of Space

Translation 16 - Arabic: May the stars always lead your course.

Part 9 Storyboard

[treedaddymcpuffpuff]

Excessive Force : Tom Ludlow x Fem Nurse Reader (COLLAB W/ THE INCREDIBLE @johnwickb1tsch) - Chapter One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen

TW: noncon, angst, trauma, PTSD, don’t read this if you like hot doctors named Julian (he was probably an actual sweetheart in canon, but we decided to flip that around in this, so read with that in mind)

You really should have foreseen it, before letting yourself hang out alone in the breakroom. But you are tired–exhausted, actually, and you can only blame so much on the work at hand.

Tom fucking Ludlow.

You find yourself grinning like an idiot at your sandwich–which is exactly how Dr. Julian Mercer finds you, of course. You don’t even fucking hear him approach. He just appears at your side like a ghost, and you nearly jump out of your skin as he says in a low voice, “Y/n.”

“Jesus Christ,” you wheeze, clutching your chest. “Julian…”

“Maybe Doctor would be more appropriate.” It probably would, but you’re not sure if he’s asking for this out of the cold indifference his tone suggests–or that other little extra meaning it has for the two of you.

“Okay, Doctor Mercer. Creep around like a fucking ghost much?”

“No. You were just distracted.”

You blow air between your teeth. You really don’t want to fight with this man right now, but it feels like he’s spoiling for something. “What do you want?”

He takes your hands in his, running gentle fingers over marks on your wrists that have now mostly faded. You hate to admit it–but this careful, questing touch sends a thrill across your skin. “The animal,” he growls under his breath. “Clearly no clue as to what he was doing.”

Hoo boy, was he wrong about that.

“Did you have a safeword at least?”

“No…?”

“Fucking amateur.” 

You don’t know how to tell him, that rendering sex absolutely clinical with boundaries and safewords beforehand just doesn’t do it for you. You just…trusted Tom not to hurt you. And he didn’t. 

“Julian…”

“Doctor.”

“Yeah, that. What do you think you’re doing?” You try to pull your hands away, but he holds on, just firm enough to keep you. Despite what Tom likes to taunt, Julian is not little, or weak.

The look in his eyes is that of a man drowning.

“Losing my mind?”

“You are being ridiculous. You have got to let it go.”

“I’m trying, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”

This is absurd. Men do not lose their shit over you. They use you, then throw you away at their first convenience. You give a fat sigh that you hope conveys your annoyance. 

“Julian, have you seen the women that walk around this hospital? Better, Have you seen the women in your BDSM club? Have you never thought of trying one of those girls out? I mean, they are into the same stuff.” 

His thumb presses on the dark marks the belt left on your wrist, making a little diffuse ache light your skin. “You are clearly into BDSM, y/n. Just the unsafe way of doing it, I suppose.” 

Okay, now he’s just plain pissing you off. Once again, a man insinuating that you’re too stupid and naive to advocate for yourself. Too weak to take initiative, too gullible to know that you have to. You wrench your hand back from him, and he glares after it like it called him a dirty name. “Are you kidding me?” You say, not hiding the bite of your words, “and setting people on fire is just so safe, right? Whipping someone’s feet is the safest thing you can do in sex, yep, boy howdy, you’re absolutely right, Julian. How stupid of me.” 

Your aim is to hurt him with your words, although now you’re regretting it when he looks back at you with those big, brown, sad orbs. Fuck, you can just never win with this man and his multiple personalities. He runs a hand through his hair. “You’re with him, then?” 

“I’m…” you take a breath and try to step outside of yourself for a minute and view the situation objectively, just like you learned to do in therapy, and what you’re seeing is a misguided man who doesn’t know he can bag any freaky woman he wants become overly attached to you because he was vulnerable with you that one time. “I’m not.” How do you word it without sounding pathetic? “I’m not that great of a catch. I promise you there is a much better person out there for you.” 

“I don’t think so,” he says quietly, intensely, sending a shudder through you that freezes and burns all at once. “Do you love him?” 

“What?” You ask incredulously. “I just met him.”

“Well, then, I still have a chance.” 

Your fist clenches unconsciously, ready for a fight. Maybe a metaphorical fight, but a fight nonetheless. “No,” you tell him, swallowing your nice, “you don’t, Julian.” 

“What if…I promised not to punish you?”

This does make you pause, and you swear, not because you’re actually considering it, but because you are surprised he would even think to compromise his needs, for you. 

It’s a heady feeling, if not entirely misplaced.

“No,” you answer, much too late. “No, no, nope.”

“I can see you’re intrigued.”

“No, I’m…flabbergasted. It wouldn’t be any fun for you.”

He looks you up and down, blatantly checking you out. You swear you will never get used to that look in a man’s eyes, trained on you. “I wouldn’t say that.” Then his attention turns back to your wrists, tracing the marks Tom’s belt left again with fascination. “Just let me…do this to you. God, the things I would do to you.” He inches closer as he says this, until before you know it you are standing nearly chest to chest, and your heart is beating at a mile a minute.

You have to try twice, before you find your voice. “That’s exactly what scares me about you, Julian.”

He dares to touch you, turning your face up to his with his palm on your jaw. “That you might like it, y/n?”

You take a deep breath, and you step back, away from Julian. Away from your sandwich too, unfortunately. But you guess you’re going to have to write it off. Or circle back later. You have no further clever quips to offer Dr. Julian Mercer. For lack of a better word–you flee.

At the nurses’ station a bright and cheery reminder of someone else’s devotion awaits you. A happy bouquet of sunflowers, with a simple card that reads, Dorothy, Thinking about you. Glad you’re not in Kansas anymore -T It is just the boost to morale you need, after your chilling little interlude with Julian.

However, you don’t get to take them home. They disappear while you are working, and you think you know who is to blame for the childish act of revenge. Rather than letting it drop, you decide to prove to Julian that you have boundaries and he can’t just push you around like this. 

You catch him as he’s about to get into his car, and get Deja Vu from the scenario. The parking garage isn’t well lit, empty of other humans, and damp with oppressive LA heat. Maybe it’s not the best place to confront a man, but you never claimed to be a complete genius. And, now that you’re here…

“Julian, do you know where my sunflowers went? From the desk? Tom got them for me.”

He looks down at you with dark eyes. “Fresh flowers are a health code violation. I had to dispose of them.” 

And you thought Tom could make you livid; Julian is here proving that he can spike your anger from a two to a ten in one simple sentence. “And what about the flowers you got me that stayed at the desk? Huh? Those were fine, right?”

He shrugs. “No.” 

“So, what the fuck?” You’re raising your voice, feeling the heat of anger singing through the blood in your body like a vengeful choir. Your fist clenches to actually punch him—God, you want to. 

“I’ll buy you more flowers,” he says, as if that’s going to fix the problem. 

“I don’t want your flowers,” you growl, “I don’t want you, Julian!” 

Before you know what’s happening, he has you gripped up in his hands and pressed against the door of his car, mouth on your own, bullying inside to suck and bite and bruise. You try to push and kick and thrash against him, but his long body is pressed firmly into yours, holding you steady against warm metal. His blunt fingers dig into the flesh of your upper arms and make you gasp, which allows him further entrance into your mouth.

You can’t fucking breathe with him latched onto you like this, and your frantic hands reach to tear at his scrubs, his belt, his skin. He pulls away, blessedly, panting and wild eyed, and you immediately start in on him. “Get the fuck off me, Julian.” You writhe in short, shallow breaths, lungs crushed by his heavy torso and unable to entirely fill. 

“This is what you want,” he says, ignoring your demand. “You want someone to take advantage of you. Make you, force you. And if that’s what you need, that’s what I can give.”

“I don’t want that,” you reply. “I want the opposite of that! Get off me! I will scream.” 

His mouth edges into a terrifying smile. “You think anyone’s going to hear you?” He asks, looking around the empty parking garage. “You think anyone’s going to save you if I decide to take you home for a few days and do terrible things to you?” He grabs your chin, fingers spanning the entire bottom, reminding you of the size difference and making you whimper in pain. He presses his lips against the shell of your ear. “Make you regret having nerve endings…” 

Your whole body is shaking violently with adrenalized fear. Sweet Doctor Julian is a fucking wolf in sheep’s clothing, and he’s hungry for your flesh and blood. You should have known. You should have seen this coming. Shouldn’t you be an expert on narcissists and abusers by now? Shouldn’t you have been smarter? Shouldn’t you do the smart thing now and convince him to let you go?

“Please, Julian.” Disgust bubbles in your gut, reacting vehemently to the pathetic, pleading voice that leaves your mouth. “Please don’t.” 

He pulls your chin up a little higher. “You can beg prettier than that.” 

“Please, Doctor.” You swallow the raging hatred you have for yourself. “Please don’t hurt me. I’ll be a good girl.” 

He hums and kisses you temple, lips ghosting into your hairline as he inhales your shampoo choice. “You’re lucky I don’t put you on your knees right here and make you choke on my cock for a while, pumpkin.” 

“Please.” You give him your best impression of a beaten dog with wide, owl eyes, hoping you can somehow get out of this without actually getting hurt. All you can think of is Tom; how you wish he was here to beat the fuck out of Julian, how you should have let him beat the fuck out of Julian on your doorstep. 

His hand moves down, pressing softly into the front of your throat, just enough to make it uncomfortable. “It’s refreshing to see something so wild become so tame with fear.” Fear is an understatement. Pure panicking terror is what consumes you. Bred from C-PTSD and Julian’s heavy, big hand on your throat. You’ve been here before, small and terrified under a man with power… And, suddenly, you’re her again, that little girl trembling and cowering and cornered. You don’t know that you’re crying until a little tear tickles down your cheek. 

He kisses that saltwater trail, peeks his tongue out to taste your sad desperation and shivers against you. “You taste delicious.” 

Fucking Hannibal Lector, Psycho, serial killer. How did you not see it? How? 

It occurs to you that Tom saw it, saw straight through the mask, to the beast beneath Julian Mercer’s carefully constructed facade, all along. He’d warned you, but like the stubborn little idiot you are, you didn’t listen. 

Tom. Somehow it’s the thought of him, how he looks at you like you are precious, like you’re not stupid, like you are something worth saving, that breaks your thought pattern, your desire to just freeze and hope this man with his hand on your throat isn’t going to hurt you, hope that the bad thing goes away if you’re still enough, small enough, don’t draw attention to yourself. You think on what Tom would have you do.

You hear Ludlow’s voice, plain as day, cutting through the fear: c’mon, you have just enough room to fuck him up. 

You drive your knee as absolutely hard as you can into Dr. Julian Mercer’s gonads. 

The good doctor crumbles with a groan that sounds like his soul leaving his body. 

You run. On your shaking legs as fast as you can to your car, barely able to unlock the door with your trembling hands trying to manipulate your keys in the lock. You feel like you’re in a horror film. Instead of being the one yelling at the screen, Don’t run up the stairs, stupid!—you are the stupid girl, and you have so much sympathy for the girl being chased by the Big Bad with a knife and having no idea what to do with your hands. 

No. You are not dying today. You are not letting this monster win today. You are not fodder. You are Final Girl material, goddammit. Maybe you never believed it before, but Tom’s voice is still in your head. You can hear him ordering you what to do. Put in your key. Twist. Open. Get in. Lock the door. 

 You manage all this somehow, just before Juian slams against your window, his face a mask of fury. “Open the door, y/n.” 

Maybe still channeling Tom, and maybe acting completely on your own now, you press your middle finger against the window for him before starting your engine and peeling away. He barely manages to stumble back in time to save his toes from getting crushed by your racing tires. 

[ell0ra-br3kk3r-writes]

Enchanted

pairing: kaz brekker x fem!reader

genre: fluff

el's thoughts: the first fic from the speak now event! requested by @wonderland2425 i hope you enjoy it! y/n is nikolai's sister in this story, but no physical traits are described

“Princess!”

Y/N turned around to see some old family… friends, as her mother would call them. 

“Oh my! How grown you’ve become.” The older man smiled and reached for her hand as his wife stood beside him with a tired smile. 

“Yes,” she chuckled. “It has been a few years since I’ve been to a gathering like this. And I have to say, what a momentous occasion it is.” She looked down the hall desperately searching for someone to use as an escape. She saw two palace guards talking to each other and smiled. “I’ll have to excuse myself. I think my escorts are here.” She dipped her head into a bow of respect.

Placing her hands on the top layer of her deep purple dress, she walked away from the couple. She adjusted the off-the-shoulder neckline, her fingers running over the rhinestones around her shoulders. Once she was close enough she heard the female guard clear her throat as they both turned to face her. 

“Your Highness.”

Y/N smiled kindly at the bronze-skinned girl and turned to the taller man beside her. “Will you escort me to the main hall, please? I don’t think I can stand another conversation with these people.” She chuckled to fill the moment of silence before he nodded and walked beside her. 

She felt a bit uneasy as she let him lead the way. She made an effort to know every guard from her home yet these two had managed to slip past her notice. “Are you new?”

“Why would you ask that?” His voice was rough like rock salt as if he was getting over a sore throat.

“It’s just that, I typically know all of our staff back at the castle… I didn’t mean any offense.” 

The guard nodded stiffly and turned the corner, walking into the main hall. He stood still, waiting for her to walk to the rest of the royal family but she continued to stay beside him. 

Y/N felt his confusion and said, “I don’t feel like going in yet… Do you mind me waiting here?”

He looked down at her, his mind racing as if trying to solve a puzzle. “You’re the Princess, you shouldn’t be asking.”

“Well, I know, but you also have a job and you have orders from someone in a higher position. If you need to be somewhere else then you can leave.” Y/N smiled kindly. 

It was as if her smile never left her face and her thoughtfulness was what she expected people to receive from her. 

The hall fell into a hushed mummer as Alina walked into the room. General Kirigan led her to the stage and introduced her. He pulled the shadows of the room tighter and stepped back to let Alina take center stage. She clasped her hands together and pulled them apart, a ball of light floating between them. She brought the light to one hand and separated it into two orbs. She continued to push them towards the center of the room so the light reflected off the chandelier. 

The people in the hall gasped and were awed at the miracle before them. Alina made the light fade and everyone slowly fell to their knees before her. Y/N placed a hand over her heart and bowed her head in prayer to the Saints, but she didn’t get on her knees. She was still the princess and she was told ‘bow to no one’. 

Kaz cleared his throat and forced his eyes back on Alina as she made her way to the back of the room. ‘The mission,’ he reminded himself, internally scolding himself for staring at the princess during the light show. Scolding himself for noticing the way the light reflected in her eyes and the jewels on her dress and around her neck. ‘The mission.’

Y/N looked up at him and saw a distant yet determined look in his eyes. “You must have other things to do.” She stepped forward and turned to face him. “I’ll let you get back to your work, but I extend my gratitude to you for waiting with me.” She spun on her heel and pulled her shoulders back as she walked forward to her mother’s side. She froze in her steps and turned back towards him. “I didn’t ask for your name,” she said once she stood in front of him again. 

Kaz’s mind screamed at him not to tell her but he found himself at peace in her presence. “Kaz.” The flash of recognition in her eyes didn’t go unnoticed. 

“Kaz,” she smiled. “That’s a nice name. I’ll make sure to keep an eye open for you back at the palace.”

The Bastard of the Barrel stood there in a royal guard’s uniform watching the princess walk away from him. 

~

Kaz and Inej walked towards where Jesper stood, leaning against the stone statue. 

“What happened, are you okay?” Jesper asked as he looked over Inej.

“She’s real, Jesper. She made the light sing.”

Kaz glared between the two. “We lost her.”

“Did we?” Jesper smirked.

“We don’t know where she is,” said Kaz.

“Don’t we?” The Zemini laughed, “Just ask.”

“Jesper…” Kaz’s tone was a warning.

“Just ask.”

The three crows climbed onto the carriage, Jesper taking the reins with Kaz beside him while Inej stood behind the pair.

“Just ask,” said Jesper again.

“Fine. Do we have a fix on where to target it?” asked Kaz.

Jesper smiled and shook his head, getting the horses into a trot.  

Kaz sat silently beside Jesper staring blankly ahead. His mind went back to his encounter with the princess in between thinking of the sun summoner. He didn’t believe in love at first sight and he knew he never would, but his curiosity was piqued, to say the least. He wanted to know more about her and figure out why she was the way she was. Why she was so kind to a stranger in a familiar uniform? 

“What are you thinking about?” Inej asked over his shoulder. 

“Nothing.”

“C’mon, you can tell us,” chimed Jesper.

“I said nothing.” 

The two crows knew better than to push him farther but also knew better than to believe it was nothing. 

Inej had seen Kaz stare at the princess during and after the light show. She knew the princess confused him and he wanted to solve the puzzle. And she knew he’d put it aside till this job was done.

~

“Nikolai!” 

“Y/N!” 

The younger sibling wrapped her arms around her brother in a warm greeting. “I’ve missed you.”

“Just as I’ve missed you. How have you been?” The pair moved to sit down on the couch of Nikolai’s waiting room.

“I’ve been great. You’ll never believe who I met today.”

The prince laughed, “Who?”

“That Kaz Brekker of yours.” Y/N smiled widely at her brother’s disbelief. “Yes, I did. And for him being a gang leader, he had himself a very good set of manners. Though he didn’t talk much but I don’t blame him for that.”

Nikolai watched his sister with a knowing smile. He noticed the twinkle in her eye as she spoke about her latest encounter. “Was he handsome?”

“Oh, very handsome.” Y/N’s eyes widened as soon as the words slipped from her lips and gasped before covering her mouth with her hand. 

The older of the two laughed, “I had a feeling. Just asking.” 

“You had no right, Nik.”

“I had every right. You're my sister and I’m his employer… He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, “Yes yes, I know. I’m going to bed now. Good night.” Nikolai smiled and wished her good night. 

Once she reached her room she twirled around in her nightgown, smiling giddily to herself. She had never experienced a crush before and this new feeling fluttered through her chest excitedly. The unknown of it all was addicting and she loved it. Would she see him again? Is he still awake thinking of her just as she’s thinking of him? Did he have another girl back home waiting for him?

“Please don’t have somebody waiting on you.” She spoke aloud as if the Saints above will carry her message to him. Throwing herself back into her bed, she pulled the covers around her body. Her eyes grew heavy and a yawn slipped past her lips. She switched her light off and smiled into her pillow as her thoughts echoed his name. “I was enchanted to meet you.”

[littlelovelyra]

I Could Love You

Tav teaches Astarion that there are things way better than sexual intimacy and that he does not owe her his body <3

Astarions POV

AO3 if you prefer

Lil one shot to get me back into the swing of things - please note this was a quick idea so there may be a few errors and may not be my best work :)

For ease all my work is 18+ - MINORS DNI

TW: Fluff, mentions of sex, mature themes, strongish language, angsty

It all happened so fast, one minute she was there beside you fighting the bulette, and the next she was hanging off the ledge. The beast had swung its claws in her direction and she expertly dodged out of the way, however, when its massive claw returned on the backhand it caught her by surprise and sent her rolling down the hill struggling to get a grip. 

The fear in her eyes as she toppled off the edge would have stopped your heart if it could still beat but you felt the nauseating sensation squeeze through your gut when you lost sight of her. Your legs were moving before your mind comprehended the events unfolding. As you slid your way down to the edge desperately peering over, you see she has managed to lodge the dagger you gifted her into the crevice wall. 

“Your hand. Give me your hand!” You reach out to her knowing time is of the essence, that dagger will not hold her long. The dagger slides down in one jolt moving her down only a few inches and you watch as her wide eyes twinkle in fear, fighting back her tears and her bottom lip trembles slightly causing your chest to tighten in panic. “You need to give me your hand! Now!” A crack of desperation resonates in your voice as you plunge your hand down gripping her arm just as the dagger gives way and falls into the dark void beneath her. 

“Listen to me. I’m going to pull you up but you need to hold on. Okay? Can you do that for me?” Your eyes search hers as you try to remain calm, she nods quickly in response as she tightens her grip and you begin to pull. It takes all your strength to bring her back up but as you expend the last of your energy she finally topples over to safety and knocks the two of you away from the ledge. Her arms tangle around your neck and her panicked breaths start to slow as your hand circles her back in comfort. 

“I lost my fucking tent.” She breathes out, her voice filled with irritation and her brows pinch together in anger.

“I’m sorry?? You almost died and all you can say is you lost your tent?” A laugh escapes your lips and she turns to you steaming with rage. “A thank you would have been nice. Don’t worry about the tent, I’m sure Gale would offer you some space in his.” The minute the words leave your mouth regret washes over you. Whatever this thing was between you and her confused you. This was meant to be a strategic alliance and you did what you knew best, that being sex. To your knowledge, the fastest way to build an alliance with someone is to fuck them and fuck them so good that they wouldn’t want anything else. Simple. So why in the nine hells does your stomach twist every time she’s in danger? Why does the thought of her in someone else’s tent fill you with disgust and rage? 

“Well, thank you, Astarion! Of course I would ask Gale; there is nobody else here that I would want to share a tent with. So thanks for saving me.” Pink stains her cheeks with rage as she dusts herself off and storms towards the group, leaving you staring after her like some love-sick puppy. Standing to your feet, you stroll towards the group with your usual nonchalant swagger, trying to ignore the heavy feeling in your chest as you watch her approach Gale. The wizard is practically beaming as she asks to share his tent for the evening, and you wonder to yourself if all this excitement would set off that orb in his chest… what a tragedy that would be…

“It would be my honour, Tav.” Your daydreams of a self-destructing Gale are interrupted by his ridiculous, chirpy voice as he bows slightly at the waist. What an idiot. You think to yourself.

It doesn’t take the group long until you find a suitable spot to set up for the evening, and you can’t help but notice that she has avoided you the entire time. At this point in the night, she is setting up inside Gale’s tent, and the melody of her laughter drifts through the air, cutting through your chest. It stings knowing that another male can bring out a sound that beautiful from her lips and with clenched fists you stalk off away from camp. Maybe hunting for your next feed would help take your mind off her. 

“It wOuLd bE mY hOnOuR TaV”, you mock Gale’s voice as you scan your surroundings, looking for a suitable option to feed on. “If she chooses that gods damn wizard over me, then I’m waltzing straight into the sunlight once I get this tadpole out. How humiliating would that be? Though… I suppose I don’t help myself by practically pushing her into a tent with him. GODS Astarion. Use your brain. You’ve been around long enough!” You throw your hands in the air as you converse with yourself, thankfully the under dark doesn’t have many people around�� if anyone heard you, they may label you insane. 

After about an hour of walking, you notice a single beast wandering around in a clearing. It’s rather large, but you feel up for the challenge as you tread lightly towards it. Carefully, you unsheathe your dagger, preparing to leap once you find the right angle. As you bolt forward, the beast whips around, snapping its mouth over your arm, and you feel its teeth sink in. Fuck. That’s sharp. In a desperate attempt, you swiftly pull free and feel a white-hot pain shoot across your arm as its teeth tear your flesh. Expertly, you twist around its body and plunge the dagger into its throat, and the beast releases a gurgled cry. Just before you can sink your teeth into it, you hear several screeches in response.

“Oh, COME ON!!” You push the animal away in frustration and sprint from the clearing; you are not foolish enough to try to take on multiple beasts, as you’ve felt the damage their teeth are capable of. Walking to camp, you open a lesser healing potion and drink its contents. It won’t heal your wounds completely, but it will be enough until you can feed again, and since you’ve been gone for a couple of hours, you assume everyone will be asleep in their tents, which means no one will fuss over you. 

The walk back is becoming increasingly difficult, and you find yourself stumbling, your head begins to swirl, and the world seems to be spinning. When last did you feed? Was there something in the bite of the creature? The dull flame of fire comes into vision as you quicken your pace and stumble into camp.

“Astarion?” Her voice is soft and cautious as she closes her book, shifting her attention to you. 

“Oh, hello, pet. Yes. I am fine, just went for a little bite to eat. Though… I was not the one doing the biting… HAH.” You take a few wobbly steps forward and plant yourself next to her. “Enjoying a little late-night read, hmm?” You give your best smile despite feeling like you’re about to faint at any given moment.

“Yes, I told Gale I would be in later… I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to read… but… that’s not important right now. You look awful. You need to feed.” Her brow furrows in concern as she holds up her wrist to your lips. 

“Darling, I appreciate the offer but-.” 

Her voice cuts off your refusal as her eyes lock in with yours. “Just feed Astarion… Please.” Her features soften as she presses her wrist to your lips once more. 

You delicately hold her arm as you slowly lower your head and sink your teeth in, the sweet, warm taste of her blood coats your mouth, and you groan as you drink her in. Nothing tastes as sweet as her, and nothing ever will, no one could compare to her. Your mind begins to clear, your strength slowly returns, and you begin to pull away, but her free hand weaves itself through your curls and holds you in place. Your gaze meets hers with curiosity as you raise your brow, silently questioning her.

“I said drink Astarion. I will tell you when I can’t handle it. It’s okay.” A soft smile spreads across her lips as she frees her hand from your curls and places it against your cheek.

After a few languid pulls, you feel her thumb stroke your cheek. “That’s enough now; I can’t give anymore.” Her smile never falls as you release her wrist, and as if your lips had a mind of their own, you place a soft kiss against the puncture wound and you watch her cheeks flush ever so slightly. 

“Thank you, Tav.” Your voice is a whisper as you notice her hand is still on your cheek, and you bring yours up, locking her fingers with yours. “You should stay in my tent tonight; you wouldn’t want to wake Gale since you’ve stayed up so late reading.” Still holding her hand you stand up and she follows. 

“I suppose it would be quite rude of me…” she purses her lips together in thought and gives a quick nod. “Okay, let’s get you to bed so you can recover.” 

Once you’ve both changed, you notice she has laid out a spare bedroll on the opposite side of the tent. Nope. That just won’t do. You slowly crawl your way over and her brows rise in suspicion. 

“Pet… why are you all the way over there? How am I supposed to repay you for your kindness tonight?” You lower your voice seductively as you trace your thumb along her bottom lip.

“Astarion. You don’t need to repay me. I helped you because I care. My actions are MY actions. You are not indebted to me. You don’t owe me your protection… you don’t owe me a place in your tent, and you certainly do NOT owe me your body.” She shifts out of your grasp and faces you, her brows creased with concern. “Besides, there are better things to do with someone that doesn’t involve sex.” 

“I find that hard to believe.” You scoff out, feeling slightly rejected as you inch your way back to your bedroll. 

“Is that a challenge?” She raises her brow and smirks, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Alright then, lie on your back and close your eyes.”

“I thought you said no sex.” Your voice is light as you follow her orders.

“Shut up.” She scoffs. “Are your eyes closed? Good.” The warmth of her body settles beside you, and you fight the urge to open your eyes. “There are many things that are more enjoyable than sexual intimacy, for example, having someone run their fingers through your hair…” Her palm moves up your cheek until her fingers comb through your hair. With slow, long rakes, she delicately moves her hands through the waves of your curls, and a shiver runs down your spine at the gentle sensation. The storm within your mind calms and for the first time you feel the warmth of peace settle over you. 

Her hand moves from your hair, and you feel the featherlight touch of the back of her hand against yours before she brings it back up to softly trace the features of your face. “The electricity from a subtle brush of hands as you pass each other in a dimly lit hallway… or a soft caress to the skin…” She shifts beside you and lightly skims her lips against yours. “Or the feel of an almost shared kiss. A promise of something to come… there is magic in the anticipation.” As she lays back down, she gently guides your head to her chest, and once again, you fight to keep your eyes shut. 

“… but my favourite thing… is this. The feel of your loved one’s chest as it rises and falls with each breath, hearing the steady beat of their heart, knowing that it beats for you… and the best part? You could mix all these things together.” As you lay there on her chest, listening to the thrum of her heart and feeling the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes, she begins to run her hands through your hair again. If heaven existed… this was it, you were sure of it. 

“This Astarion… this feeling is better than sex.” Her words are barely above a whisper. She was right; you have taken many people to bed, but nothing compares to this. Right here at this moment, you have never felt more secure than you do now, and you wish you could stay here forever. She was brilliant, and you would be a complete fool to let this slip through your fingers. 

“Tav?” You open your eyes now and move to your side to face her. 

“Yes?” She whispers back as her eyes meet yours.

“Can I try? I mean… do you want to… uhm…” You fumble your words, and your brow creases in frustration. She takes your hand and smiles sweetly, nodding only once as she rests her head on your chest, and you begin delicately combing your fingers through her hair. "When you went off that cliff earlier... I don't think I have ever been that scared, Tav." The words are hard to get out but you know it needs to be said.

"I wasn't angry about the tent..." she whispers back. "I lost the dagger you gave me. I was angry about that but... I dont know why I couldn't just say it." her head shakes subtly on your chest.

"Probably the same reason why I suggested you staying in Gale's tent... pride? Denial? Maybe both." You keep your voice low as you continue to run your fingers through her hair.

"Denial?" She asks.

"Yes... that perhaps this... perhaps we are in denial of what we mean to each other." You release a soft sigh.

She pauses a moment and you feel her breath still. "What do we mean to each other?" the words are barely above a whisper as it leaves her lips.

"I... I don't know. But its not something casual. Its a little more than that. Just promise me you wont go falling off cliffs before we can figure it out, alright?" a strained laugh escapes your mouth.

"As long as you promise to not hunt things that are clearly too big to handle." She quips back lightly.

A soft chuckle rolls through the both of you and then you are met with a comfortable silence.

It’s not long before she falls asleep on your chest with her arm draped around you, but you continue to run your hand through her hair. A warmth swells within your chest, and you realise that, for the first time in a long time, you feel alive, and you never wanted to let her go. You may have lied earlier... not to her but more to yourself. You knew what this was but you were afraid to admit it to her... you were afraid to admit it to yourself.

But as you lay there in the silence of the night while she sleeps on your chest, you bring your lips to the crown of her head and a soft confession escapes from your trembling lips:

“I could love you.”