#fictober day 9

[underratedbananawerewolf]

Fictober 2023 Day 9

Prompt 9: "I wouldn't do that if I were you." 

Fandom: Honkai Star Rail 

Rating: T 

Warnings: None 

Stelle liked spending time in the Archives. It was pleasantly quiet there and she enjoyed Dan Heng’s company even when they didn’t do anything but share the same space. She often spent her evenings there, playing on her phone or reading while her companion worked on his daily data entries.  

This evening she had flopped down next to him as he was working from his bed rather than at the desk earning her a long-suffering stare. “Must you?” 

Stelle considered that and then nodded after that moment of thought. “Yes. I think so.” She shifted just enough to use him as a backrest, her gaze turning down to the puzzle game she opened. Given the heavy sigh behind her, she knew he had given up any protest about having her there.  

Silence descended for quite a while before something caught Stelle’s attention. Something soft brushed against her knee and she looked up to blink at just what had touched her. Glimmering blue scales met her gaze, the tip of the long tail having come to brush against her leg.  

Oh. 

She hadn’t seen much of Dan Heng’s tail. He still kept much of his Vidyadhara features hidden. Given his past, she didn’t really blame him for it. His human guise was safer and likely held better memories for him than anything his true nature did. But every once in a while, she caught glimpses of his ethereal beauty, and she hoped it meant he felt safe enough to relax the usually rigid control over himself.  

Without pausing to think Stelle reached out to run her hand across what she could reach of the tail, threading her fingers through the fur and feeling the practically translucent scales beneath. So soft. A soft choking sound from behind her broke her concentration, the girl looking up and over to see Dan Heng staring at her.  

“Do you mind?” He grumbled.  

“Could you feel it?” Stelle had stopped stroking him, but her hand remained where it lay.”  

“Of course, I can.” He groused. “It’s my tail.”  

She cocked her head, noting the faint hint of pink in his cheeks and flooding up into what parts of his ears she could see through his hair. She then very deliberately dragged her fingers through the fur as far as she could reach, her eyes still on his face.  

“Please, Stelle. Don’t do that.”  

“Why not?” She hadn’t stopped being curious as to how he would react. 

“Because I don’t know how much I can take.” He growled. “You don’t want to see what I might do.” 

A faint smile touched her lips at that growl, a mischievous glint in her golden eyes showing up. “Maybe I do.” Her nails traced the outline of several scales. It was as if they were made from solid water, just slightly cooler than room temperature. 

Her wrist was abruptly caught as the tail tip wrapped around it, removing all chance of further touching on her part, while his hand came up to catch her chin and force her to look him in the eye.  

He really was beautiful. Of course, whenever she told him that he always blushed. She didn’t want to lose that opportunity to see that so her compliments to him remained few and usually unexpected. “Stelle, you’re playing with things you don’t understand.” His voice no longer held the calm collected and almost indifferent tone he usually possessed. Instead, it was a much deeper and perhaps more bestial growl. “Stop it.”  

After that moment of consideration and not wanting to upset him any further (and knowing he likely wouldn’t ever explain what she might be playing with anyway), Stelle finally nodded. “Okay, Dan Heng. I’ll be good.”  

He released her with a sigh, the tail vanishing from view. He didn’t demand that she leave as he did enjoy her company, but he would at least take temptation out of her reach. Her touch had been a distraction. “I doubt that.” 

[sarcasticsciencefictionwriter]

Fictober prompt nine! Prompt: "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: F/M

Fandom: Sanctuary (Canada TV 2008)

Relationship: Helen Magnus/Nikola Tesla

Characters:, Helen Magnus, Nikola Tesla, James Watson (Sanctuary TV), Nigel Griffin, Ashley Magnus, Henry Foss, Declan MacRae

Additional Tags: AU, Baking Show AU, Enemies to Lovers, Professional Rivals, Fictober 2023, Additional Warnings In Author's Note

Chapter Summary:

Helen snaps.

[ririchonne]

Rick: “Don’t dry yourself too much darling… soon enough you’re going to get wet again 😏

Let’s build for the future Yeah?”

🍁 ☀️ An Autumnal rainy night brought to the world a sweet summer child 🍁 ☀️

Draft clear out: never get to finish this for the fictober challenge sorry 🫣 @richonneevents

[randomfoggytiger]

"The Truth Is Out There-- But So Are Lies"

(Fictober, Day 9)

*****

Fox Mulder, Scully knew, was incredibly good at lying. 

“A campaign of misinformation” he’d called it once; but it took skill-- and guts-- to stare NSA, CIA, or other FBI overheads straight in the eye and lie, baldfaced, without getting caught. It took reckless courage to face paramilitary terrorists alone, lie, smooth over the lie, and prove himself continually without proving a thing. It took grounded fear to be silent about his partner’s ova. 

The only man who could take down Fox Mulder was himself. 

His passion blew cautionary plans into ash, howling with the wind in the face of near conquest or great loss. Mulder believed himself too blindly; and that belief was affirmed by the begrudging terror of his opposition-- a self-fulfilling prophecy, all of them. Guts, reckless courage, fear: all fuel to his own demise. Mulder's enemies had only to stand back and light the flame.

To err is human; to lie is to understand humanity-- to get into their heads, to fill it with what they think they want, to turn them inside out before they see the trick. Those caught up in detection study other magicians and other magicians study them; and each misses the other's current play while deconstructing the last.

And that's why, Scully knew, they were terrified of her as well: fathoms and fathoms Fox Mulder might go, but, like a headless giant, he would always follow his gut back to his partner, always allow Scully to lead them out of the darkness with her detached council.

She might only know some slight-of-hand compared to the grandeur Mulder and various Ozs behind sundry secret curtains battled with; but Scully was skeptic enough to know that true magic was only possible with true belief.

That those who hid the truth fathoms deep would unwittingly bury themselves with it.

*****

Thank you for reading~

Enjoy!

Tagging @today-in-fic and @xffictober2023 and @fictober-event

[captainderyn]

1. It's not too late, let's go." [Fictober '23]

I said I was going to be late to the party :)) but I have a lovely block of writing time at least one or twice a week with this new job, so I figured why not give it a little try (plus @tiredassmage enabled me so hard with the idea of Agenttober that I couldn't at least put something out :P)

Day: 1

Fandom: SWTOR (pre Imp Agent story)

Genre: Fanfiction

Warnings: None

Summary: It was always supposed to be the three of them, the dream team: Roslynd, Rhys, and Valetyn. They were supposed to stick together, become cipher agents together. A training accident derails all their plans, leaving Roslynd feeling lost and dreading their last day together at the celebration that was supposed to be the best day of their budding careers.

Read Full Fic on AO3

--

A year’s worth of stress, blood, sweat, and tears released across the graduation pavilion in thrumming music and strobing lights. Newly minted Imperial Intelligence professionals, strung so tightly after walking the tightrope of success and failure, let out everything they’d been holding within themselves. 

It was a night to be remembered, or, more than likely, filtered through a hangover stupor the next morning, filtering fact from fiction through a raging headache. 

Sipping at her fruity drink, which Roslynd had told the bartender to make extra strong, Roslynd couldn’t find it within herself to muster the same excitement. No, it wasn’t the cautious anticipation that knotted in her stomach. It was dread. It was guilt. It was something gross and bleak, and miserable. 

The countdown set for this night, the one she’d tick down every morning as she’d unwound her curlers from her hair, had stopped a month ago. Ever since she’d stumbled back into her room, clumsy on crutches, it’d laid face down on her desk where she’d slammed it down in a fit of tears. 

“I wish you were coming with us.” Valetyn’s touch was feather light on her shoulder before one arm went around her waist. She leaned back against his chest, brushing against the silk of his shirt. Her gut twisted again; the rich purple of his shirt, the purple sheen of her dress and matching earrings, Rhys’ violently violet tie, all chosen to match when they’d been certain all three of them would be getting on the transport to some backwater planet tomorrow. 

Back when they’d been certain their trio would be moving on as one. 

[norbezjones]

Whumptober Day 9: Obsession (Romance The Backrooms)

(Posting this late, but better late than never!)

Look, in case you couldn’t figure it out from June Of Doom & Whumptember, I like whump.  So I’ll be participating in Whumptober when I have the time/energy to.  I may use all of the day’s prompts, or I may use some of them.  We’ll see what happens.

Like usual, I will be doing these for the characters of my story Romance The Backrooms, a liminal space otome with 5 main love interests.  This is an original work, not fanfiction.

Enjoy!

(I also included the fictober-event prompt today!)

Today’s Prompts: Obsession, bruises, “don’t listen to me, listen to them”

Characters: Kalcal

Other Info: This is the “evil Kalcal” AU where Kalcal & Zenobos were being hunted, Zenobos was killed by the hunters, and Kalcal has vowed revenge.  This is from Kalcal’s point of view.  CONTENT WARNING: cannibalism, obsessed Kalcal

_________

When Zenobos died, I ate the body.  I’ve done similar things before, but this time, it felt different.  I wasn’t eating him for simple subsistence, but to make sure nobody could ever get to him ever again, by making him part of me.

I gorged on my friend, and I don’t regret it.  Ever since that day, I hear Zenobos’s voice when I’m in trouble, guiding me, helping me.  When I’m bruised and battered and at the end of my rope, he is there.  Because he is part of me.

But don’t take my word for it, don’t listen to me.  Listen to him.

Can’t you hear his voice?

[farfromstrange]

Fictober Day 9: Love Confessions

Fictober Masterlist | Main Masterlist

Pairing: Matt Murdock x F!Reader

Prompt: Love Confessions (🌼)

Summary: You've been with Matt for a few months now, but you haven't dared to tell him those three magical words you are dying to say. Until one morning, they slip out of him instead.

Warnings: Fluff. Established relationship. First 'I love you.

Word Count: 1.2k

A/n: Matt took the wheel again for this one, but I'm not complaining. He's in control of this Fictober, I fear.

Read Me On AO3!

The morning air smells of coffee and buttered toast with hints of caramel and salt. You’re busy pouring the dark liquid from the pot into one of Matt’s to-go cups—the one you got for him. Breakfast was short, but at least you got to spend the morning together. 

Three months ago, he kissed you for the first time. Three months ago, he took you out on a date, and after dancing around each other like quite the limber gymnasts for weeks, he let his guard down. Three months ago, you found the man of your dreams; he let you into his home, surrendered his body to you and with it, his soul, and you have not left since. 

As the rain patters against the window pane, you watch him stumble out of the bedroom, hurriedly buttoning up his shirt. You chuckle. He couldn’t keep his hands off you this morning—or any morning you stay over, really. You have yet to move in with him, but all in due time. You’re just happy he let you see all of him, finally, after trying to read him for so long. 

He let you put a magnifying glass into his life, and just when he thought you would run away scared, you turned around and vowed to stay. Matt might be a little broken, but that’s what you love about him.

Love.

You haven’t dared to utter those words yet. Three months of dating, and you’re as sure about your feelings as you can be. You’re not so sure about him. He’s gentle with you, he remembers the smallest details you tell him, and he brings you flowers every Friday. Matt takes good care of you, but you don’t know if he feels the same way about you. For all you know, he just likes being with you.  

“That for me?” he asks, interrupting your train of thought as he slides his arm around your waist from behind.

You smile at him, hoping he doesn’t notice your absent mind. “Yeah,” you say. “I know how much you hate the stuff Foggy keeps around the office. This should keep you awake ‘til lunch.”

He places a kiss against your temple with a satisfied hum. “You’re a goddess. Thank you.”

Blood rushes to your head. It’s the little things he does, the little things he says, the little terms of endearment, and the way he touches you that make it so much harder for you not to blurt out the truth. 

“I think I’ll be home early tonight,” he says. “You want to grab some dinner?”

You watch as he takes the cup, adding the milk you put where he can easily find it before he closes the lid. Trying to be subtle, you wipe away some of the spillage, but the smirk on his face tells you that he did notice. 

You clear your throat, trying to keep your composure. “Dinner sounds nice.”

“Alright.” He reaches for his wallet on the table nearby. “Pick you up around seven?” 

“Sure,” you say.

It’s sickeningly domestic, the way you are with him. The way he is with you. God, you want more of that. You want it every day. The voice in your head is screaming for you to be careful, but you’re already too deep to pull out now. He might be the man you grow old with, or he will be the heartbreak that kills you. There is no in-between with this man or the way you’re feeling about him. You are more than just down bad. You’re down mad—mad because he already drove you crazy. 

Matt kisses you again, this time on the lips. “See you tonight.”

You are about to give the sentiment back to him when suddenly, three words tumble from his lips that implode every thought of worry you’d had over the past three months.

“I love you,” he says.

You stop. 

He stops.

You both stop dead in your tracks.

Oh. 

“What?” you ask, your voice soft, barely above a whisper. 

Matt stands as though he’s wishing for the ground to open up and swallow him. Doubt crosses his unfocused eyes. They dart left, right, then back to where he can hear your heart racing. He can’t read you. 

You were so scared of rejection that the thought that he might reciprocate those three words had been the last on your mind—until now. Now you know. He said it. He said that he loves you, and all you can do is stare at him because the truth hits so much harder when it’s out there.

He must think you don’t feel the same way. He must think your temporary paralysis has something to do with him, and this is nothing more than a casual thing between you. But there’s nothing casual about what’s burning between you. There’s nothing casual about the fire, the passion, and yes, the love that’s building between you like an unbreakable brick tower.  

You almost flinch when he pulls away with that kicked-puppy look in his expressive hazel eyes. They glisten enough for your reflection to stare back at you.

“I, uh,” he stammers, “I have to go.”

Unfortunately, you remain rooted to the ground as he grabs his coffee and his suit jacket, and heads for the door. 

Get it together, you idiot! 

The door falls shut behind him. Normally, his footsteps would echo in the hallway, but there’s not a single shoe shuffling against the floorboards. 

You snap out of it. How idiotic, you think, getting caught off guard by the man you love telling you he loves you, shattering your anxieties. That’s supposed to be a good thing. It is a good thing. He has your heart, and you’re not getting it back. You need to tell him that. This is not the time to be a flabbergasted idiot or to act like a lovesick teenager who’s never heard the word ‘love’ before. This is the time to actually act. 

You drop everything you’re holding and sprint toward the door. At the very same time though, the front door opens back up, revealing a disheveled Matt. Again, you stare at each other. One second, two, then a minute has passed. 

He places his cane aside. “I didn’t–” he starts, running his fingers through his hair, “I mean, I did, I just… I wasn’t… you know, the coffee, and…”

A smile grows on your face. A stupid, lovesick smile that makes your cheeks hurt. He loves you, and he meant it. 

“Yeah,” you say. “I know.”

“You know?” He exhales shakily.

You nod. “Yeah, I… I know. And I–” You take a step forward. 

“Yes?” Matt takes a step toward you, also.

A pause. You take another deep breath. “I love you too,” you say.

The weight finally lifts off your chest. It’s out there now. No going back. 

The words have barely seeped in before Matt is on you, pulling you in by your hips as he brings his lips to yours. He kisses you like you are the air he breathes. He kisses you, and the last wall standing between you shatters to the ground.

“You had me scared there for a second,” he murmurs. 

“I’m so sorry.” You brush your nose against his. “I was just so surprised you said it, and I–”

He frowns. “Surprised? Why?”

“I’ve loved you for months now, and I just thought… you weren’t ready. So, I didn’t say anything.”

“Sweetheart,” he grabs your face, “I’ve been ready since the day I met you. I love you.”

And you will love each other until the day you both die, you’re sure.

@ebathory997 @the-b33skn33s @scoliobean @drmeghanjones @lanae111 @gpenguin666 @linamarr @itwasthereaminuteago @norestfortheshelbywicked @yarrystyleeza @littlenerdyravenclaw @etanordoesbullsh1t @thychuvaluswife @harleycao @schneeflocky @imjustcal @pipsqueakkitten @merlinbtch @sya-skies @thatonegamefish @amberritonicole @pigeonmama @bohemianrhapsody86 @a-gir1-has-n0-name @winkev1 @callsign-ember @chittaphonstar @buckyyyismahhlife @trublu2u @xnatyx @zomtart @ethereal-blaze @littleagxs @ravenclaw617 @lucienofthelakes @steve-chandler

[voxslays]

Hazbin Hotel “Haztober” Prompt List

I personally love love love Flufftober, Angstober, Kinktober, and Fictober! That’s why this year I am making my own! Every day I will write about one (or more) Hazbin Characters, using the daily prompts below:

Day 1: Making Caramel Apples

Day 2: Seasonal Shopping (Clothes, decor, etc.)

Day 3: “The leaves are changing!”

Day 4: ‘We fell in love in October.’

Day 5: Autumn Breeze

Day 6: Overcast Morning

Day 7: Dinner Parties

Day 8: The night I lost you

Day 9: The night I found you

Day 10: Love Potion

Day 11: The Elevator~

Day 12-15: The One (Series)

Day 16: By The Fireplace

Day 17: Pumpkin Patch Visit

Day 18: For a Fortnight

Day 19: Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate, & Pumpkin Spice

Day 20: Jumping in a leaf pile

Day 21: Making Cookies!

Day 22: Kissing (and singing) In the rain

Day 23: The red means I love you~!

Day 24: Under the Weather

Day 25: Black Cats

Day 26: Apple Pies

Day 27: Full Moon

Day 28: Underneath the Sky

Day 29: Carving Jack o’ Lanterns

Day 30: Costume Party

Day 31: Trick or Treat/Halloween

Day 32: Supriseee!!!

I’m super not excited to torture myself into writing everyday…but in the end…it will be so worth it!

Masterlist

[richonneevents]

Richonne Fictober 2024 Rules, Guidelines, & Calendar

Richonne Fictober 2024 is a 31 day challenge for fanfiction writers/creators to write/create and publish a Richonne-centric story or related content everyday for the month of October.

Fics should be between 100 and 5,000 words. Rick and Michonne must be the main pairing. Richonne is an interracial pairing, so be mindful of tropes and language that perpetuates racism and misogynoir. Rick is a canonically disabled character, so be mindful of using tropes and language that is ableist. Fanartists should be mindful of not whitewashing Michonne, Andre, and RJ in their pieces.

Please tag @richonneevents and use the tag: #richonnefictober24

Be sure to tag your prompt and which day you are filling.

In addition to Richonne-centric fanfiction, creators are encouraged to make fanart; playlists; edits; moodboards; rec lists; graphics; podfics; gifsets; photo sets; fanvids etc.

WEEK 1

Day 1: Making Caramel / Candy Apples

Day 2: Seasonal Shopping (Clothes, decor, etc.)

Day 3: “The leaves are changing!”

Day 4: “Pumpkin spice...what?!”

Day 5: Autumn Breeze

WEEK 2

Day 6: Overcast Morning

Day 7: Bobbing for Apples

Day 8: Pumpkin Patch Visit

Day 9: Rainy Day

Day 10: Scarecrow

Day 11: Haunted Hayride / Haunted House

Day 12: Horror Movie Marathon

WEEK 3

Day 13: Jumping in A Leaf Pile

Day 14: Warm Apple Cider / Hot Chocolate etc

Day 15: Corn Maze

Day 16: By The Fire(place)

Day 17: Candles 

Day 18: Flannel

Day 19: Nestled Under Blankets

WEEK 4

Day 20: Festival 

Day 21: First Frost

Day 22: Kissing In The Rain

Day 23: Baking Pies

Day 24: Cemetery Stakeout 

Day 25: Black Cat

Day 26: Dead-End

WEEK 5

Day 27: Underneath The Sky

Day 28: Full Moon

Day 29: Carving Jack o’ Lanterns

Day 30: Costume Party

Day 31: Trick or Treat

[siriuslysmoking]

Fictober | 2024

The 13 days of Fictober

Starts Saturday October 19th

Everyday at 11

Includes: Fluff (plenty of it), angst (also plenty), smut is marked with *, feel good stuff to make me happy and hopefully you <3

A/N: they’re not all as long as fics, it’s a bunch of blurbs that I don’t want to write 1k+ for.

Day 1 - Percy and the Pumpkin Patch

Day 2 - Werewolf Clarisse

Day 3 - Regulus and the Corn Maze

Day 4 - James and Costumess

Day 5 - Leo and the daughter of Hecate

Day 6 - Haunted House with Blaise

Day 7 - Siren Reader with Percy

Day 8 - Eddie and a Scary Movie

Day 9 - Vampire Blaise

Day 10 - Ghost Reader with James

Day 11 - Leo with daughter of Hades

Day 12 - Clarisse and Spooky Actor Reader

Day 13 - Steve and Pumpkin Carving

Comment if you want to be tagged for all or specific days <33

[baronessblixen]

Fictober Day 9: Heard Any Good Rumors Lately?

Prompt: "Don't listen to me, listen to them"

Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Jealousy in season 6 when Diana can't wait to share a rumor with Scully... Rating: T, wc: 1,552

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober24

When the restroom door opens, she’s just finished washing her hands, observing her face in the mirror in front of her. Scully glances over and is disappointed, but not surprised, to see Diana Fowley there. Her nose itches when she catches a whiff of her perfume.

“Good afternoon, Agent Scully,” she says, standing right beside her at the sink, her face close to the mirror.

“Good afternoon,” she replies, intending to leave, but Diana blocks her way.

“Have you heard?” she asks and Scully is genuinely taken aback.

“Heard what?” It doesn’t take long for her to regret asking. Diana’s expression turns from a small, polite smile into a huge smirk, and Scully knows by now that it’s never a good sign.

“About Fox.” At first, she thinks something must have happened. Her heart gallops in her chest and she wants to ask Diana where he is, how bad it is, and how quickly she can get to him. But if something had happened to Mulder, the other woman wouldn’t be grinning. Even she isn’t that cruel.

“Enlighten me.” She puts her hands on her hips, hoping Diana can’t see them shaking.

“The rumor is-,” Diana steps closer to her, invading her personal space. As if she were a friend or a confidant. “That our dear Fox is in love.”

Once, when she was barely a teen, wearing her first bra that she thought would finally draw boys’ attention to her, Melissa stormed into her room, revealing that she'd just kissed Parker McMann - the boy Dana had had a secret crush on all summer. She stammered a ‘good for you’ before she broke into tears. It had seemed like the end of the world. Melissa held her, dried her tears, and promised her baby sister that she’d never again kiss a boy she liked. A promise she'd kept. Diana’s words now cut just as deep. It can’t be true. Deep in her heart, Scully knows it. This is just a sick joke Diana is playing. She knows how to push her buttons. She thinks of Mulder, of the last few days, the last week. Rationally, it just doesn’t make any sense. She arches an eyebrow in disbelief, nevertheless intrigued.

“You’re wondering who it is, don’t you?” The smirk on her face is by now a permanent fixture. “So did I. Here I was thinking, hmm, isn’t Fox spending all his time with the delectable Agent Scully? Imagine my surprise when I find out that the woman who’s captured his heart isn’t you.”

She’s 13 years old again, but this time there’s no one here to comfort her, to hold her hand and make promises. She puts on her bravest face and digs her fingers into her skin, the pain a welcome distraction. It can’t be, she reminds herself. Cause whatever game Diana is playing, part of what she’s saying is true: She and Mulder have been spending all their time together.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Diana.” Her voice is steadier than she thought possible.

“Don’t listen to me,” the other woman says and puts her arm around Scully. It’s not a friendly gesture; she holds her in place, one hand on her back. In the same place where Mulder’s hand always is. Her skin prickles and everything inside her screams to get away. “Listen to them,” Diana whispers into her ear.

Before Scully can ask her what and who she means, she hears it: women’s voices. They’re loud and giggly, in full gossip mode.

“I could not believe it,” one of the voices says. “Fox Mulder is dating! I thought he and his partner-”

“What, Agent Scully? No, they’re just friends.” Loud laughter rings in Scully’s ear.

“She’s not his type at all, is she?” Another voice asks, and the round of laughter seems to agree with that assessment.

“He’s such a cutie and deserves someone who’s not as…”

“Cold?” asks someone else, voicing what Scully is feeling. Cold. She’s shivering, frozen in Diana’s grasp.

“Well, you tried, didn’t you?” Diana’s voice is too close and too sugary; she feels dizzy and stumbles when Diana’s arms let go of her. With a wink, she disappears into one of the stalls, right as the group of women steps into the restroom, still giggling.

“Agent Scully,” one of them says with a curt nod. Scully, pretending she hasn’t heard a single word, nods back. As soon as she’s out in the hall, the laughter returns. She can’t get away fast enough. By now, she imagines, Diana has joined in.

In her haste to flee, she doesn’t notice Mulder walking toward her and crashes right into him.

“Missed me?” he jokes, but his smile falls away as soon as he sees her face. “Hey Scully, what happened?”

“Nothing,” she says in a small voice, picking up her pace again with Mulder on her heels.

“Something happened, Scully. I can see it on your face.” This is Mulder. Half an hour ago, she wouldn't have thought twice about seeking solace in his friendship. Now? After what she’s just had to witness, and hear, she wants to lick her wounds in peace. But Mulder doesn’t let go of her. As soon as his hand lands on her back where Diana touched her less than ten minutes ago, she crumbles.

“Hey, hey.” Before she knows what’s happening, Mulder has engulfed her in his arms, holding her close to him. His heart is racing against her ear. “Scully, please tell me what happened. Please.” But she stays quiet, allowing herself this moment.

“Let’s go back to the office, hm?” His arm remains around her as he leads her to their basement office. With her eyes kept down, she doesn’t see if anyone’s giving them looks. She can’t see – or hear – any more today.

“Can you please tell me now what happened? You went to get a coffee and now you’re crying. Who do I have to hurt?” He accentuates his attempt at humor with a smile.

“Yourself,” she says without thinking.

“I- what?”

“It doesn’t matter, Mulder. Your private life is your private life. I was just surprised that- you should know that the rumor mill is well oiled.”

“Rumor mill? I think you’ve lost me.”

“People know,” she says simply, leaning against the side of the desk, trying to regain her composure. Mulder doesn’t owe her an explanation, but she thought they were friends. There have been moments when she thought they were more than that.

“Can I be people? Cause I feel like I don’t know anything.”

“About your girlfriend.”

“About my what?” he has the audacity to laugh.

“Your girlfriend. Or partner, whatever term you use.” Lover, she thinks. Mulder’s lover. She blushes, having to remind herself that it’s not her. That it won’t be her.

“You’re my only partner, Scully. I don’t know what you heard, or whoever said what, but I can assure you that I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“But Diana said-”

“Since when do you believe anything Diana says?” he asks with a laugh.

“She was very convincing. So were the other women.”

“The other-,” Mulder trails off and shakes his head. “I don’t even want to know. But I think I know what happened.” Scully raises an eyebrow, her heart doing silly things again. Only this time, she doesn’t mind.

“So the other day Diana propositioned me,” Mulder says and as if knowing what saying something like that might do to her, he steps into her space. “And I politely told her no, thank you, no interest. Diana isn’t someone who likes hearing the word no, though. So I told her a little white lie. It’s not even a lie when you think about it. I said I was interested in someone else. She asked me who, and I said she doesn’t know her. Which is the truth.”

“I see,” Scully says quietly, reading between the lines. There is someone Mulder is interested in and it still isn’t her.

“You know why I said it?” Mulder’s voice is close to her face now, warm and gentle. “Cause she doesn’t know you at all. The real you. ” Her eyes grow wide when she registers what he just said. She regards him, searching for a twitch around his lips, any indication that he’s messing with her. But there isn’t.

“So whatever lies and rumors Diana is spinning,” he says, leaning even closer, “don’t listen to her. I didn’t know she’d corner you. I should have known better. Sometimes she still surprises me – and not in a good way.”

“I feel so silly,” Scully admits.

“Don’t,” Mulder says, his thumb stroking her cheek. “It’s cute.”

“Mulder…”

“No, it is. Makes it easier for me to…,” he doesn’t finish whatever he means to say and instead kisses her right where his thumb has just been. “Been wanting to do that for a while. We’re not giving Diana credit for this, all right?” His smile is warm and tender. How could she have doubted him for even a second?

“We won’t.” And against her better judgment, she leans forward, pressing a promising kiss to his lips. Just as she’s debating whether they should throw caution to the wind altogether, the door opens, and Diana walks in and the smirk slips off her face.

[intimacyequalsdeath]

Bubz's Slasher Fictober Day 9: Chop-Top Sawyer (Pumpkin Spice)

Almost to double digit days! This is also officially day two of the Pumpkin spice week which will make much more sense when I post the final masterlist so stay tuned!

Notes: Minors DNI, Porn with a smidge of plot. No pronouns or descriptions of reader used. NSFW. Not really anything to raunchy but it's also Chop-top so proceed at your own risk lol. Kinda off AU really the other thing I changed for story sake is Nubbins being alive. Short and spicy.

"Bobby your brother could walk in!" You screeched at him.

He gave a laugh that more so resembled a witch's cackle before wrapping his arms around and pulling you further down on his lap, subsequently shoving his cock further into your plush walls.

Cock warming was something you and Bobby did often, especially since he got back from Vietnam. It would help calm him down after particularly rough nightmares about his time in war and helped him to shut up after fighting with Drayton. Though you two never had dared to do it with the door unlocked when Nubbins could easily walk in at any moment.

If you didn't know any better you'd think Bobby lied to you that the door was locked just to get your pants off.

"C'mon mama relax! Nubbins ain't gonna come in here and even if he does I'm sure you'll be good and quiet" He breathed into your ear letting out another signature laugh. He jutted his hips sharply into you and continued to laugh at the squeal that was produced from your throat at the feeling of the tip of his cock brushing up against the sweet spot at the deepest point in side of you.

"Chop I swear I'll never you let you do this again if you don't quit it" You snapped at him, him and you both knowing you didn't actually mean it.

He brought a hand up to your chest and rubbed your nipple through your shit while sucking on the pulse point on the side of your neck. You threw your head back and groaned.

Your eyes widened when you heard the oldest Sawyer brother approach the outside of the bedroom door.

"Bobby! Goddamnit Boy are you in there?!" Drayton yelled.

"Better find a way to get him to git before he opens that door mama" Bobby snickered before reattaching his lips to your neck and giving another few random thrusts.

'Bobby I swear to god if you don't answer me right now you'll sleep out in the barn!" Drayton yelled again.

"He's Busy!" You screamed through a moan as Bobby began steadily thrusting back and forth in and out of you. You heard Drayton grumble something about sex crazed young people before he walked away from the door.

Bobby's hands gripped your hips, no doubt leaving figure shaped bruises, and slammed you continually into his girth. You turned your head pressing your face into the dirty mattress to suppress your moans hoping to save a little dignity with his brothers.

"Bobby on my bed again?!" A voice yelled as the door swung open, But Bobby's thrusts didn't stop on account of his brother.

"Godammit Nubbins get the hell out!" Bobby yelled panting from over exerting himself with his thrusts. You suddenly started loosing yourself, not caring that Nubbins was in the room as you began to push your ass back into Bobby to meet his thrusts.

You were chasing your own climax and didn't give a fuck whether Nubbins was in the room or not.

"Y-you also do it on my b-bed, you g-got your own!" Nubbins yelled again seemingly not caring himself that his brother was nearly splitting you open in front of him on his bed none the less. Bobby didn't answer that time focusing on bringing you to your high. You could feel his cock pulsate inside of you and knew he was close too.

The ecstasy washed over you at once, You could feel your walls clench around him while you came as you milked his cock of the creamy warm ropes that shot out into painting your walls white.

"Oh fuck baby" You moaned, Bobby's lips connected back to your neck and his thrusts became erratic trying to give you every last ounce of his cum.

When the world stopped being spotty and you were brought back to earth panting with a grin that matched Bobby's, You lips met as the two of you started to cool down. Only one thing brought the two of you out of your sexed out state. The click of a camera.

"Nubbins Goddamn you!"

And there went tonight's peace in the Sawyer house.

[captainsophiestark]

The 60s

Klaus Mikaelson x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2023!

Fandom: The Vampire Diaries/The Originals

Day 9 Prompt: "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Summary: Klaus wiped the memory of the love of his life after hundreds of years together to try to protect them from Mikael. Now, however, his ex has their memories back is going to find their boyfriend. Even if he is in someone else's body.

Word Count: 2,215

Category: Angst, Fluff

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

I was going to kill Klaus Mikaelson.

Unlike the other thousand people who'd probably had that thought in the last week alone, however, mine was actually justified. For hundreds of years, Nik and I had been together, happy, and in love. We'd wandered the world together, side by side, having each other's backs through thick and thin. Out of everyone in the entire world, I was the only one he'd always trusted, completely, without a doubt in mind.

And then Mikael had shown up one time too many.

Nik and I had faced him a few times, and he had firmly held the spot of 'my least favorite Original' for literal centuries. We'd always come out shaken, but fine, until about a hundred and fifty years ago. That time, he'd gotten Nik cornered, so I'd jumped in to save him. Mikael had almost killed me instead.

We'd managed to both make it out alive, thankfully, but Nik had been foaming at the mouth with nerves and fear. I'd tried to calm him down, but it hadn't worked. He'd gotten too scared, so for the first time in our entire relationship, he broke my trust. He compelled me to forget him, and to go somewhere else, far away, where I'd never be put in danger by him and his family again.

It had worked, unfortunately for me. Until recently, when something had happened to break the compulsion and bring my memories back. At first, I'd been terrified that it meant Nik had died. But, after a little investigating and compelling of my own, I realized he'd been body-hopping with the help of witches. Something about it must've shaken his compulsion loose, and allowed me to remember.

It hadn't taken me long to track him down to Mystic Falls, Virginia. I couldn't help being a little proud of myself for finding him so quickly; it helped that I knew him well. I'd arrived in Virginia last night, and managed to track down Nik's exact location and hiding place just as quickly. He'd apparently taken over the body of a history teacher at the local high school. Who would I have been to miss that opportunity?

With a little more compulsion, I'd convinced the front office staff to let me into the teacher's history class. I found a seat to one side of the classroom, then settled in to wait for Nik to show up. I almost blew my cover when, a moment later, the spitting image of Katherine Pierce walked through the door.

I knew he'd come to town for the doppelgänger, but it was still surprising to see someone who looked just like Katherine. Apparently, that lie we'd planted about the Curse of the Sun and the Moon had been working out pretty well. She sat on the other side of the room from me, flirting with another vampire and sitting with her witch friend. I sighed, already ready to leave the classroom, when Nik finally walked in.

The teacher, Alaric Saltzman, was tall, with brown hair, and dressed in something I could almost see Nik wearing normally. He strode through the open door with a "hello class" and went right to his desk like it was any other day. I snorted.

"What... are we learning today?" he mused, flipping through his history book. He hadn't looked up once; hadn't had a chance to see me yet.

"With the decade dance tonight we've been covering the sixties all week," a girl in the front chimed in. Nik looked up.

"Right. The sixties."

For the first time, he turned, and I thought his eyes might finally find me. Instead, they found the doppelgänger—Elena—like a heat-seeking missile.

Understandable, since we didn't think she existed. But still annoying.

He glanced from her to the open classroom door, then turned to the board. I huffed a sigh and rolled my eyes. What was he gonna do, just grab her and run? Much too obvious for his style, and we both knew it.

"The uh... the sixties," he started, mentioning the decade for the third time now as he turned around to write the same words on the board. "...I wish there was something good I could say about the sixties."

I covered a snort with my elbow. I almost raised my hand to say something like "Maybe they would've been better if you'd still had me with you", but that was also too sloppy for my style. Too many students asking questions, seeing me, and too many enemies possibly getting hints about Nik.

"They actually kind of sucked," Nik continued. "Except for the Beatles, of course, they made it bearable."

His eyes strayed to Elena's witch friend, and my heart squeezed in my chest. Nik was recounting memories that didn't include me, when I should've appeared in almost all of them. The hurt was only semi-manageable because I wasn't looking at the love of my life's face while hearing this, too.

"Uh, what else was there? The Cuban Missile... thing. The uh... we walked on the moon, that was, uh... Watergate."

"Watergate was the seventies, Ric," Elena chimed in with a fond smile. "Uh, I mean, Mr. Saltzman."

"Right," Nik continued, a familiar edge to an unfamiliar smile. His eyes never strayed from Elena. "It all kind of... mushes together up here. Sixties, seventies. Thank you, Elena."

I watched him teach the rest of the class in a way that could only be described as 'playing with his food'. He said Elena's name another time or two, savoring it in a way I recognized as him relishing in victory. I was happy to see him happy, but the added side effect of him being so wrapped up in doppelgänger nonsense meant that he still hadn't noticed me.

I tried not to let it get to me. Especially since it had given me the best opening I could've asked for to scare the daylights out of Nik and get just a little bit of payback.

Once the bell rang, I stood and hovered at the edge of the classroom. Nik dismissed everyone and said goodbye to the class, saying a special, specific goodbye to Elena and watching her leave. It wouldn't have been terribly obvious to anyone with no reason to suspect 'Alaric' was not who he said he was, but it was ridiculous to me.

Nik moved to the door to look out into the hallway as the classroom emptied of every single student except for me. He watched Elena go, his back to what he thought was an empty classroom, giving me exactly the opening I wanted. I crossed the room quickly but quietly, using all of my vampire skills to keep him from noticing me until I was right next to him, almost shoulder to shoulder.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I said, right into Nik's ear. He'd jumped and spun around at the first word, but now stood frozen, his mouth open in shock as he stared at me. I grinned. "You know, whatever you were planning to do to the doppelgänger. At school. In a human body. While she's surrounded by supernaturals. That's just a bad idea."

"Y/N..." he breathed, voice barely above a whisper. Then, he surged forward, wrapping me tight in his arms and spinning me around in a hug. He moved backwards into the classroom, and I slammed the door with my heel just to avoid any prying eyes.

Nik finally pulled back, eyes wide and a vague smile on his face, like he was happy but didn't actually believe this was real. I smiled back at him, even though he didn't quite look like my Nik, and gave his hands a reassuring squeeze.

"How... how is this possible?" he asked, his voice still quiet, like any loud noise might shatter the moment. "How are you here?"

"I still don't totally know. But I think, when you moved into this... teacher body... it was enough for your compulsion on me to break."

Nik's face fell immediately, as it should have. I frowned, the immediate happiness of finding Nik having worn off.

"I can't believe you did that to me, Nik," I said, taking a step back from him. "It was supposed to be the two of us, through everything. Against everything. No matter what. How could you betray that?"

He gave a frown of pain, taking a half step towards me before thinking better of it.

"You don't understand. My... Mikael... almost killed you. If I'd been the cause of your death-"

"Okay, first of all, you would never be the cause of my death. You know how I know? Because you would never kill me." I stared at Nik long and hard, and although he looked away from my gaze quickly, I never did. "Second, the only person who would've been the cause of my death was Mikael. You are not responsible for a bad person trying to kill me."

"Unless that bad person is trying to kill you to get to me." He said it quietly but firmly, looking up at me with a rueful smile from lowered lashes, like he'd just said some checkmate truth we'd both been avoiding. I put a hand on my hip and glared.

"Actually Nik, no, it's still not your fault. It's the bad person's fault. That's it. And before you start telling me it's your fault for dragging me into it or whatever, I could've left. I didn't want to, and I still don't want to. I've seen every level of crazy your life has to offer, and I'm signing up for all of it.

"And Nik, before you try to tell me how much you'd miss me if you lost me, you did lose me! By letting fear drive you to compel me out of your life. And I also lost you. I guess I've been generally content for the past hundred and fifty years, but I've never been totally satisfied. Because something is missing. I've known total and complete happiness, and it's whenever I'm with you. This immortal life isn't worth living without you, Nik. Don't try to tell me it is."

He stared at me for a few long moments, then pulled me to him again. Unlike the first hug, this time our feet stayed planted firmly on the ground, wrapped tight in the strong hold of each other's embrace. I sighed as Nik rested his head against mine, moving his mouth right next to my ear.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Y/N. I shouldn't have done that to you. I was just... terrified at the thought of losing you."

"I know. But Nik, we're nothing if we're not together. I need you to promise me you won't do that again. The two of us, side by side, for eternity. That's it, alright?"

He pulled away, hands holding my arms tight as he stared me straight in the eye.

"I give you my word."

Slowly, a smile spread across my face, a new warmth growing in my chest. Not once, in hundreds of years, had Nik ever broken his word to me. We were going to be okay.

He grinned back at me once he noticed my smile, then leaned in to kiss me. I stopped him, jerking back a bit, and he gave me a concerned look.

"I love you, and I am so happy to see you again, but I'm not kissing you until you're back in your own body. I have no interest in kissing this rando you've possessed."

Nik grinned, and although it wasn't his body or his smile, I swear it looked exactly like it was supposed to.

"Fair enough. I don't think I want you kissing this 'rando' either. What do you say we get out of here, and do what needs to be done so I can get back into my body, break my curse, and kiss you properly?"

"...Not in that order, right?"

"No, not in that order."

"Then deal."

Nik smiled and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as we headed towards the door together. I had no idea what the next part of his plan was, but once I was caught up to speed, I knew we'd be putting it into action shoulder to shoulder again, and all would be right with the world.

"You know, you're a shit teacher," I mused as we headed off into the high school together. Nik shot me a look as he kept leading me towards whatever destination he had in mind.

"Do you remember much interesting information to teach children about the sixties?"

I shrugged. "No. But I could probably fake it better than you. Watergate."

"I was in Australia, Watergate was a low priority."

"I was in Greenland, so... checkmate."

He just shook his head, a smile finding its way onto his face all the same. I was the only one in the world Nik trusted endlessly, the only one who could find him in a matter of days no matter where he was in the world, and the only one who could get away with giving him shit with absolutely no repercussions. And now that I had him and my memories back, I was never letting him go.

****************

TVD/TO Masterlist: @elenavampire21

[multi-fandom-imagines8]

Fictober Challenge

Hello everyone! I wanted to get back into writing since it’s been so long (other than the Az fic). With October around the corner, I’m excited to do another writing challenge and would love some inspiration. So please send in some requests! I prefer angst, but I’m open to any ideas.

A/N: Writing every day for a whole month was nothing short of a whirlwind. There were moments of exhaustion and moments of inspiration, but somehow, I pushed through. Sometimes, I had to improvise and pull ideas out of thin air, and there were days when I found myself writing two or three pieces just to keep up. It was both draining and deeply rewarding. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this collection that came from hard work and late nights! 🧡

Fluff🍁

Appropriate amount of angst? 🍂

Pure/heavy angst 🌧️

Day 1: Still Not Over You Qimir x reader 🍂

Day 2: Bound by Duty part 1 Cassian x reader 🍁🍂

Day 3: The Price of Vengeance Sam Winchester x reader 🌧️

Day 4: Shadow of the Past Alexander Morozova x reader 🍂

Day 5: What We Could’ve Been Part 1 Eris Vanserra x reader 🍁

Day 6: A Heart Off Guard drabble Steve Rogers x reader 🍁

Day 7: Forever in the Dark Part 1 Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader x reader 🍁🍂

Day 8: Forever in the Dark Part 2 Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader x reader 🍁🌧️

Day 9: A Song of Ice & Shadow Part 10 Azriel x reader 🍁🍂

Day 10: Drowning in Silence Dean Winchester x reader 🍁🍂

Day 11: Behind the Walls Erik Lehnsherr x reader 🍁🍂

Day 12: In Another World Part 1 Kylo Ren x reader 🍂

Day 13: More Than Enough Azriel x reader. 🍁🍂

Day 14: Trouble Xaden Riorson x reader 🍁🍂

Day 15: No More Running Qimir x reader 🍁🍂

Day 16: A Heart Off Guard Steve Rogers x reader 🍁🌧️?

Day 17: A Song of Ice & Shadow Part 11 Azriel x reader 🌧️

Day 18: Forbidden Desire Rhysand x reader 🍁

Day 19: Torn by the Dark Part 1 Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker x reader 🍂

Day 20: Fading Love John Shelby x reader 🌧️

Day 21: The Mighty Cold Thor Odinson x reader 🍁

Day 22: Torn by the Dark Part 2 Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker x reader 🌧️

Day 23: Only One of You Rhysand x reader 🍁🍂

Day 24: Convenient Inconvenience Xaden Riorson x reader 🍁

Day 25: Bound by Duty part 2 Cassian x reader 🍁🍂

Day 26: A Song of Ice & Shadow Part 12 Azriel x reader 🌧️

Day 27: In Another World Part 2 Kylo Ren x reader 🍁🍂

Day 28: Die for Love Jaskier x reader 🌧️

Day 29: What We Could’ve Been Part 2 Eris Vanserra x reader 🍁🌧️

Day 30: A Comforting Presence Anakin Skywalker x reader 🍁🍂

Day 31: Not So Rational Azriel x reader 🍁

[jarofstyles]

FICTOBER DAY 9- Shut You Up

Fictober Prompts/Masterlist

Patreon

Warnings- exhibitionism, role-play if you squint, costumes, degradation

-----

“If you can’t be fucking quiet, I’ll find a way to shut you up.” Harry’s words vibrated against her cheek as she leaned against the sink, hands gripping it while his fingers curled inside of her. 

Y/N had known her costume would most definitely get Harry going, but she hadn’t anticipated being dragged into the bathroom at their friend’s halloween party and her skirt being flipped up with his cock grinding against her ass. When she had showed up in a cheer costume, it had dome something to him. He didn’t know himself how hot he would find it, but Y/N had a way of making herself look absolutely delicious in anything she put herself in.

Tiny little skirt and her high ponytail, showing off her neck and the little ‘H’ charm on her necklace, it swished over her ass and Harry had been very quick to get her alone. Her eagerness straight away had been enough to drive the girl mad, but his hand tugging down the protective shorts to keep her from flashing and smacking against the supple flesh was enough to get her dripping. 

“It feels too good.” She whimpered, trying to bite on her lip but failing as she felt the thickness of his cock against her ass. He was cruel, keeping it tucked away, but his finger was fucking into her cunt. The sounds were wet and squelching into the bathroom, a humiliatingly hot reminder of how desperate she got for her boyfriend. His costume was his jersey, eye black smeared under his cheek and his cap backward on his head, showing off his gorgeous face even more with his hair not falling into his face. 

“I can tell. Soaking my hand, for fucks sake.” He chuckled. “But you’re being too loud.  If you can’t do it on your own…” He released his own hand that had steadied himself, bringing it up to her mouth. “Suppose I can shut you up with my fingers.” Without warning, he pushed past her lips and placed two digits into her mouth. “Suck on those and keep fucking quiet. Already showed up in this slutty little thing. Do you want people to hear you being a slut too?” He crooned into her ear. 

She tried to deny it, her denial muffled against his fingers as he curled the ones inside her hole just a little bit. Her eyes lulled closed, leaning over the sink further before Harry's grip on her pulled her back up. “Open your eyes, watch it. Look at what I see when I play with that precious little pussy.”

His hand was slightly hidden under the skirt, and somehow it was hotter. Al she could see was his wrist glistening as he would pull out only to shove them back in. The top of the ensemble had been pushed up, her tits wet and nipples swollen from Harry’s prior mouthing, tummy heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her face was the messiest, lipstick smeared around her and Harry’s mouths and glitter from her cheeks spread around on both of them. There would be no mistaking it when they came out, they’d been up to no good. 

“And now you’re drooling around my fingers. My filthy girl. Can’t believe you… Wanted to be a dirty little cocktease, and now you’re seeing what happens when you do all of that.” He taunted. “Suck on them. Go on, know you love to suck on things.” His cock throbbed against her ass. “Making a mess of both my hands. There we go…” He praised, sliding his fingers deeper into her mouth and making her gag slightly. “Don’t be dramatic, baby. You take my cock so much deeper than that. And you will, once I get you there. Want those cute little Bambi legs to wobble out of here and make sure the rest know that you’re being taken care of.”

The heel of his hand was rubbing against her clit as he fucked into her pussy, his thick fingers reaching places her own couldn’t. It was so good, but she wanted more. She wanted his cock inside of her. Like he could read her mind as she started to rut her ass back against his length, he laughed against her and made her shiver as he kissed her cheek. 

“Not quite yet, baby. I’m not done. But if you want to be a good little cheerleader for me and bounce on my cock when I’ve had my fill of watching you squirm… Maybe I’ll be nice.”

[ghostofskywalker]

A Moment's Reprieve

Katniss Everdeen/Reader

Fictober Day 9 of 31

Words: 721

Summary: Your first gala after winning the Games is overwhelming. Katniss is there for you, and not just because the Capitol thinks you're in love.

Lights twinkled across the room as you sat at a table, nursing a drink that was probably more expensive than most of the clothes you owned. A sick part of your brain would almost rather be at the Games, because at least there people said what they meant, and if they tried to kill you it was easier to see them coming. Here, all those attacks came in the form of trying statements and pitying tones. 

You didn’t want to be here. You shouldn’t be here. But this was the price you paid to walk out of that arena, and you were starting to wonder if the future was even worth it. You had tricked the gamemakers into letting you walk away, and you would spend the rest of your life being reminded of it. 

A hand gently resting on your shoulder pulled your thoughts back to the present, and you turned to see Katniss Everdeen standing before you. Your fellow “guest of honor” at the gala, the two of you had entered an unspoken agreement for this evening. Everyone here believed that you were in love, and there was no choice but to play along. 

“You look like you need some air,” she said, and if you had to guess, you would say that the statement applied to her just as much as it did you. 

You nodded. “If you find us a way to escape, I’m all in.” 

Katniss smiled, and you could see the pain behind her eyes, that you were sure could be registered in your expression as well. “It’s not a full escape, but I found a place.” 

You reached up to take her hand as you pulled yourself out of the chair, leaving your drink to be forgotten on the table. “I’ll take it.” 

You didn’t know if anyone was watching as you and Katniss left the ballroom, and if they were, you hoped that they simply believed you to be sneaking off for some intimate privacy. People would be okay with that here, especially if they believed the two of you would soon make regular appearances in the Capitol’s gossip magazines. 

The courtyard was bare when you stepped past a gorgeously carved archway, in more ways than one. Not only were there no partygoers here, but the places where you felt there should be plants and flowers were just empty, or the flora had been pruned so far back that they looked on the verge of death. Something could be said here, about the Capitol and its need to control to the point of destruction, but you were too overwhelmed from the gala to actually string the words together. 

As you and Katniss sat down on a bench, your head rested naturally on her shoulder. It was a holdover from the games, where you did anything and everything to showcase the lie you were selling, to get everyone to believe how in love the two of you were, and you quickly sat up straight once you realized what you had done. 

“Is everything okay?” she asked. 

“Yeah,” you breathed, trying not to let on that your response was a lie. “I just- we aren’t being watched out here or anything.” 

Katniss reached down to take your hand once more. “You don’t have to stay away from me all the time,” she said, and you could tell that she wanted to say something else, but was keeping it in for whatever reason. “We’re in this together.” 

You nodded, slowly returning your head to where it had just been resting. Something about this felt so natural, as much as the genesis of the relationship had been nothing but a game to win over hearts and minds. You would be with her for the rest of your lives here, a selfish part of you wondered if the act you played out for the Capitol cameras would someday become real. “I like the sound of that,” you said softly, staring out at the scene before you. “No matter what happens, we’ll get through it together.” 

Neither of you may have been strong enough to admit your feelings right there, but they were present. The word together was enough of an admission for now, as you sat in comfortable silence and enjoyed this quiet moment of escape with her.

- the end -

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