#fighting fro my life over here

[choccymilllk]

small techno because im anxious 👍👍

[er-osion]

Stay (in my life)

pairing: Jason Todd x gn!Reader

summary: Red Hood comes back to your apartment for a patch job again, but his injuries are a bit more severe this time so he accepts your offer to stay over

word count: 4.3k

warnings: blood, fairly detailed descriptions of injuries, fluff

author’s note: sorry this one’s a little long ya’ll, i got a bit carried away. hope you guys enjoy. you can read part one here.

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“Holy shit, you look terrible!” You gasp as you take in Red Hood’s battered form as he clumsily steps over to your couch.

“Thanks, you look great too.” Hood grits out in reply as he slumps into the cushions. You hurry to grab your med kit and rush over beside him.

“You’re getting blood all over my couch, Hood.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’m really good at getting stains out.”

“I hope you’re also really good at surviving what appears to be multiple stab wounds and severe burns.”

“You’d laugh at that statement if you knew my background.”

“We’re gonna have to move this to the bathroom, I need better lighting and access to the sink.”

“I just sat down.” Hood exasperated.

“You know it’s not far.” You rolled your eyes at his words but couldn’t fight the rising anxiety at his condition. On instinct, you got up and held out your hand for him to take. Hood moved his head to look at your hand.

“Considering my size and condition, I don’t think you’re gonna be much help getting me off this couch by yourself.” He noted, unimpressed.

You narrowed your eyes at him but kept your hand where it was, “It’s more the sentiment. However, in your condition you might very well need all the help you can get walking the short distance to my bathroom.” Hood paused but set his gloved hand in yours. It was dirty with dust and what you assumed was blood and gripped tightly, probably more so than he realized, but you paid no mind with your thoughts wrapped up in Hood’s less than favorable state. The vigilante got up slowly from your couch and he wobbled to and fro once he was on his feet. The two of you started to move carefully to your bathroom, which was just down the hall, but Hood seemed to be more injured than you initially thought because his knees suddenly became weak and you both had to make a combined effort to catch him.

“Did you hit your head tonight?” You ask as Hood tried to restabilize himself.

“You asking if I have a concussion?” Hood responded.

“That’s exactly what I’m asking, yes.”

“It’s highly probable. I was thrown against a cement wall pretty hard.” Hood moved and wrapped one of his large arms around your shoulder for more support, immediately putting more of his weight onto you. The man was heavy beyond belief, but he did his best not to pile his muscle mass on top of you. The arm around your shoulders was secure and his hand gripped the fabric of your t-shirt tightly. Hood groaned while he settled more into you and you began walking again. Despite your rampant mind, your heart hammered in your chest at the contact and you felt the skin touching his arm dance. By some miracle, the two of you made it to your bathroom, and you did your best to help Red Hood down onto the floor in front of your bathtub.

“Can you just start listing off all your possible injuries while I get all my supplies out?” You asked Hood while you opened the first aid kit. Hood complied, and started listing off all the places he suspected was injured during his patrol tonight. You noticed, though, that his words sometimes got slurred and his sentences kept drifting off —in other words, he didn’t seem all there. “Are you sure you don’t have a concussion?” You probed.

“Told you, it’s very possible. What do you think, doc?” Hood shot back.

“In all honesty, I suspect you have a concussion. Maybe not a severe one, but a concussion is still bad no matter the level. How does your head feel, where it got hit?”

“It hurts.”

“No shit Sherlock, but I was hoping for a more detailed answer.”

“I guess it’s kind of a dull pain? Not like a migraine, but it also hurts in my neck and back of the head.”

“Okay, I think we need to deal with your head first.” You stopped when you realized the implications of your words. You’d need his helmet off to examine his head for any open wounds, you’d never seen Red Hood with his helmet off. Hood seemed to realize this at the same time since you saw him tense suddenly. Neither of you moved or said anything for a couple seconds, trying to figure out how to proceed. You quickly tried to remedy the awkwardness, “Look, I know I’m not supposed to see your face, I’m just concerned about your head but the last thing I want to do right now is push your boundaries, so if taking off the helmet is a no-go we’ll figure something else out.”

Red Hood shook his head, “No, you’re right, as usual. I trust you won’t go mouthing off about what the Red Hood’s face looks like.” He teased as he moved his hand up toward his helmet. You heard a clicking noise and a quiet hiss and felt your body still with anticipation. Hood slowly removed the helmet and you saw him peel off a domino mask underneath.

When his face was bare and uncovered in front of you, you let out a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding. He’s beautiful. Red Hood was the most gorgeous man you’d ever seen. His eyes a mystifying swirl of green and blue, dim with exhaustion but there was still this inexplicable unnatural glow to them. His hair —while slightly matted from the helmet— looked deliciously soft, the color of the night sky with a bold white streak at the front. There was a long thin scar connecting one of his eyebrows to his pale pink lips. You were speechless as you took in Hood’s face, trying to wrap your head around how someone could look that goddamn beautiful. It really wasn’t fair. Your heart was racing out of your chest and you were having trouble maintaining a steady breath while you gazed at his features. Red Hood noticed your stare and shifted a little uncomfortably under your gaze, his gemstone eyes gluing themselves to the ground.

“You gonna stare at my face all night, or are you gonna fix me up?” His voice snapped you back to reality.

“Right right, sorry. I just… wasn’t expecting to finally learn what you looked like tonight… got caught up in the surprise I guess.” You tried to cover your embarrassment and scooched closer so you could examine his head. You looked around and felt very gently for any bumps or wounds. “Hood, you’re bleeding at the back of your head.” The worry in your voice was prominent.

“That would help explain the dizziness.”

Your lips pulled into a line and you started to clean his head wound as carefully as you could, and then wrapped it gently with a bandage. You then made the vigilante promise not to fall asleep on you while you worked on the rest of his injuries. The rest of his body made the head injury look like a splinter. Multiple abrasions were littered across his torso, the molested skin was red with blood and irritation. You could see small bits of debris lodged in the surface of his cuts and abdomen. The slashes on his arms were in a similar state. As if the knife assaults weren’t enough, spots of his body were marred with blistering burns the color of bright red and white. Your heart stung at the obvious pain your hero must be in. No one deserved this, especially not Hood. Your eyebrows furrowed deeper with concern and your frown carved further into your face.

You were startled out of your thoughts when a thumb brushed between your eyebrows, forcing the furrow to even out. You blinked, and shot your gaze up to the owner of the hand. Hood was looking at you with green eyes that were clouded with emotions you couldn’t pinpoint. He had been frowning, but when you locked eyes, the edge of his lips quirked upward ever so slightly. “Keep that face up and you’ll get wrinkles before you’re thirty.” He teased as his thumb once again brushed between your brows, to further his point.

You huffed and shook your head slightly, but not too much to force his hand off of your face. “Keep coming here on the brink of death at 2 am and I definitely will.” You fired back with the ghost of a smirk. Neither of you felt the need to say anything more, Hood’s hand lingered at the top of your head for a brief moment before he retracted it back to his side. You instantly missed the contact. But, you turned your attention back to the task at hand and began caring for Hood’s various other injuries. You used tweezers to fish out the pebbles that had burrowed into his skin and then cleaned the subsequent areas with water and your saline solution. You looked at each cut to determine if it needed stitches or not. For the ones that did, you warned Hood of your plans each time and made extra careful work of numbing the areas before stitching his wounds neatly and efficiently.

Jason watched you in a daze. He could never get over how well you handled everything. Even though he knew you were worried and filled with anxiety, you worked calmly and with composure. You were focused and didn’t let your fears rule your movements, something he greatly appreciated as the one with the injuries. Jason hadn’t planned for any of this to happen. He hadn’t planned for tonight’s ambush to go so wrong, he hadn’t planned to hobble into your apartment nearly blind with pain and dizziness, and he certainly hadn’t planned to take both of his masks off in front of you. Sure, the two of you had been getting closer as of late. After your offer to host him even on nights he wasn’t injured, Jason had been showing up to your apartment a couple nights out of the week to make dinner and watch tv with you. In the past few weeks, Jason had been relishing in the change in your dynamic. Just existing in the same space as you put Jason’s head into a flurry, but in the most exciting way. The best part of his day has been visiting you these last few weeks. And of course, each time he’s entered your place he’s thought about removing the helmet and allowing you to get closer to him in a way he hasn’t let anyone in years. But each time, he’s stopped himself in fear. Fear of what exactly? Fear of putting you in danger, fear of scaring you, fear of disappointing you. Jason Tood would not be able to handle it if any of those things occurred. But there’s no time like the present, as they say. At least you didn’t flinch when you saw him. He couldn’t exactly figure out what you were thinking (whether it was positive or negative) but it wasn’t disgust he saw on your face, so a win is a win.

The black-haired man is suddenly overtaken with words and spits out without realizing, “I’m Jason, by the way.”

You freeze and look up at him questioningly. “I’m sorry?”

“My name, it’s Jason.”

“Oh! Okay, Jason…” You test the weight of his name on your tongue, “Jason, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” You conclude with a genuine smile.

Jason’s entire stomach has just done at least 20 flips. His heart is beating so hard and loud in his chest he hopes you don’t hear it. The man never knew a person could say his name so sweetly. He never knew his name could be uttered without any hint of malice by someone outside of his family. Your pronunciation of his name is echoing in his mind like bells to a dizzying effect. He’s been a fool. He’s been such an idiot. How could he let fear prevent him from lifting his helmet and telling you his name, when he could’ve been hearing the beautiful way you say it all this time? Jason realizes he’s left you verbally hanging for a good minute just staring, so he clears his throat and adverts his eyes. “The pleasure is all mine.” When Jason looks back at you, he sees your smile is still plastered on your face and it gives him a strange sense of pride.

“I want you to know though, I know the mask was probably a lot tonight. I don’t want to force you to say or give up anything for my sake, I’m the one treating you. I’m so glad you trust me enough with your face and name, but I don’t want you to think I need it to help you, Jason. I’d fix you up even if you came in here one day as a bat-Frankenstein.” You’re worried you might’ve pushed him too far tonight. You don’t want Ho—Jason, to think you’re only out to discover his secret identity. You want him to understand that you’d care for him no matter the circumstances, whether you knew his face and name or not.

All at once, Jason felt his throat close up and tears brimming his eyes. Do you know what your words mean to him? Do you know how instantly you make him feel loved? Jason is so certain he is undeserving of your kindness and understanding, but here you are giving it to him freely. Will you ever understand the effect you have on him? How you heal pieces of his soul he thought long shattered. Jason’s full, pink lips quiver into a small smile. A smile of profound gratitude, appreciation, and sadness.

“Angel, it’s long overdue. You’re right on one thing though, I do trust you. I trust you far more than my colleagues would probably advise, but I do so anyway because I can’t do anything else. I keep invading your life in sharp broken pieces and asking you to pick me up off the floor, even at risk of hurting yourself. Yet, you do it each time with a grace Shakespeare wishes he could write about. The fact I want you to understand is that; if I didn’t want you to see my face or know my name, you wouldn’t. End of story. But that’s not the case, so it isn’t the end of the story. You’re not pushing me. And to know that you’d fix me up even if I did end up a bat-Frankenstein, is some of the most relieving news I’ve had all month.” Jason had to end his monologue with a small tease, worried his vulnerability would be too obvious without it. You listen to his words with so much intent you’ve forgotten the rest of the world. An invisible hand is squeezing your heart to the point it hurts. You can only take shallow breaths and you feel as though you might tear up.

“Well then, let’s finish fixing you up.” Your words come out barely a whisper and you go back to tending to his wounds. But neither of you can ignore the change in the air. The swift shift into a heavy lull that keeps a smile on both of your faces. You realize you’ll be done treating him soon and a wave of panic rises in you. He can’t leave now, not after everything we just left unsaid. But he leaves every time I finish taking care of him, without wasting a second. Then, an idea comes to mind. One you’ve conjured up multiple times in the past but never really entertained because of its unlikeliness to occur. It’s a risk, for sure. It’s very possible you mess it up and ruin the evening, but things have gone smoothly thus far and the success has given you a boost in confidence. Plus, you are still majorly concerned for his health, so you brave the question once you’ve completed the last bandage.

“I’m done wrapping your injuries, but that in no way means you’re recovered. I know you’re probably anxious to get back to your safe house or whatever, but you’re a severe liability in your condition.”

“So what do you suggest?” Jason asks with a skeptically raised eyebrow.

“…Um well, I was going to offer —and it’s perfectly acceptable if you say no— but I was going to offer you stay over here for the night, to have somewhere to lie down without having to brave Gotham at night with a concussion and several broken ribs.” You refused to meet Jason’s eyes as you offered him to stay the night, so you missed how they widened in surprise and then lit with anticipation.

“Yeah that— um, I—” Jason coughed awkwardly, something you’ve never seen him do but find endearing, “I mean yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Not sure I could make it a block without collapsing. But you uh— you sure you don’t mind?” Jason’s voice softens in volume at the end of his query.

“I wouldn’t be offering if I did.”

“Fair point.” You smiled at his acceptance of your invitation, secretly giddy at the idea of him spending the night. “But um, I don’t really have anything for you to change into.”

“Understandable. I have my compression shorts on though so I’ll be fine.” Jason assures you and you nod your head. You then help him up off of the bathroom floor. Jason once again lays his arm around your shoulders for support and your stomach twists into knots. The two of you say nothing as you move toward your bedroom. Jason helps open the door with his free arm so you can shimmy your two bodies through the opening. Jason suddenly feels very awkward and misplaced inside. He’s never seen your room before, and to do so now feels so intimate it makes him light headed. This is the most personal space in your entire apartment and it is just now striking Jason that this is where he’ll be sleeping since you don’t have a guest room. Too lost in his racing thoughts, the vigilante doesn’t notice you’ve helped him to sit down on the edge of your bed. You reluctantly pull away from his grip around your shoulders to go turn on your bedside lamp, immediately feeling the absence of his body heat. Jason is pulled back into reality at the loss of contact and is hit with the need to say something but he searches for words with no avail.

It’s you who breaks the silence in a quiet but firm voice, instinctively not wanting to ruin the quiet air of the room. “You can sleep in here tonight. I’ll be in the living room if you need anything. If you get thirsty or hungry please help yourself to anything in my kitchen. The bedroom door locks too, just in case that’d make you more comfortable. Like I said though, if you need anything just come grab me, I’ll be on the couch.” You turn to leave him in privacy, but Jason quickly speaks up.

“You’re gonna sleep on the couch?” He asks incredulously.

“Well that is the only other option.” You affirmed with a raised eyebrow.

“No no no. It’s your house, you can sleep in your bed. I’ll take the couch.” Jason started to get up, but you could see him straining with each movement. You rushed over and gently but forcefully pushed him to sit back on the bed.

“Yeah, no. You are the one who’s severely injured, I’m not letting you sleep on a couch in your state. I really don’t mind anyways, it’s just one night.”

“Well I refuse to make you sleep on a couch in your own home, you already sacrifice enough just letting me in here.” You were about to protest his use of the word ‘sacrifice’ before Jason continued, with a suggestion that made you still. “We could… we could share the bed? I mean— it’s big enough for two people and we’re both apparently too stubborn to let the other one sleep in the living room.” Jason’s lake green eyes scanned your face for any sign of disgust or hesitation, his palms felt sweaty and he suddenly felt like an idiot for even suggesting such a thing.

You were frozen, the cogs turning in your head at the implications of his offer. Your heart was racing. The two of you sleep in the same bed? You had just learned his name, and now you two would be sharing a bed? You tried to stop yourself from feeling so excited at the idea. Jason took your silence for uncertainty and continued blabbering, “We’re both adults, right? I don’t mean anything by it, I just— I don’t want you getting a bad night's sleep on your couch, and your stubborn ass clearly won’t let me sleep anywhere that isn’t a real bed so… I don’t know, maybe it was a dumb suggestion. You can forget about it, I’ll take the couch—”

You interrupted him with a burst, shaking your hands in front of you to keep Jason from getting up. “Oh, no no no. It’s fine, it's fine. Really, it’s cool. We can— we can share the bed I don’t mind. It’s a smart idea. Just, ya know, be careful with your stitches and bandages. I’d hate for you to worsen any injuries in your sleep.” You tried to sound calm and collected, but really you were shaking with excitement and nerves. Jason just nodded slowly, still looking a little unsure at your agreement, but he moved to step out of his armor anyway.

You walked over to your side of the bed, and started fiddling with random nick nacks on your nightstand to try and appear busy while Jason got undressed behind you. Lord almighty, it was taking every ounce of your strength not to look behind you and oogle at what you knew were rippling muscles. “Focus, gotta get through this night without making a fool of yourself.” You thought as you felt the bed dip on the other side, signaling Jason was ready to sleep.

With that, you turned the lamp off and slipped underneath the covers. Jason copied you wordlessly and you both laid in the dark, staring at the ceiling in silence. The air was so thick with tension it was near suffocating, but the two of you were too scared to speak and break the spell of the night. You unconsciously let out a little sigh and turned on your side so your back was facing Jason. You closed your eyes to try and force yourself to sleep, but your mind was hyper vigilant at this point. You could feel the bed dipping to accommodate Jason’s gigantic form on the other side. You weren’t used to sharing this space with anyone, and the fact that you could feel his breath through the mattress had your mind in a frenzy. You were fighting every fiber of your being that was telling you —no, begging you to move closer to the man beside you.

Jason was pleading with the universe in hopes that you couldn’t hear how his heart was thundering in his chest. For someone who’s lying down, his breathing sure is quick. Jason thought this would be enough. Just having you near by, occupying the same space, he thought that’d be enough to satisfy his urge to be near you. But for some goddamn reason, it’s making it worse. How can you be so close yet so far? How much closer can he get before he crosses a line? Jason blames his exhaustion for his next move.

Out of nowhere, you feel something heavy curl around your waist. Your eyes pop open in surprise, and you have to force your body to be still. Jason uses the arm draped across your middle to pull you closer to him. Your back presses against his solid chest and you forget what it was ever like to be cold. You can feel warmth seeping into your skin from every point of contact between the two of you. You can feel each breath Jason takes pushing into your back and you can feel the speeding rhythm of his heart, which you’re sure is close to the speed of your own. Your lips have curled into a smile and you’re fighting off a sigh of contentment.

“Is—is this okay?” Jason’s question comes out in an unsure whisper. If you hadn’t been so close you wouldn’t have heard him.

“Yeah, this is okay.” You reassure at an equal volume, worried that being any louder would shatter the moment. Your smile has evolved into a full on grin.

“Okay.” Jason mutters and then presses his head into the curve of your neck. His muscular arm tightens around your waist and his hand grips your shirt gently. You subconsciously shuffle further into him, though, you didn’t think there was anyway you could physically get any closer. Still, any space left between the two of you was eliminated. Your two breaths became one as your heartbeats synced up. You could feel Jason’s warm breath against your neck and it sent shivers down your spine. Jason felt so warm and happy, here with you in his arms. Holding you felt like a reward he didn’t deserve. He only hopes he’ll be able to do this again…and again, and again, and again.

You’ve never felt so safe as you do in Jason’s arms. It’s almost euphoric, being like this with him. You never want this moment to end, but the warmth of Jason’s embrace is quickly dragging you under the spell of sleep. You hope you wake up with him in the morning, you hope this isn’t a dream. You two have probably crossed some sort of line tonight, not that either of you care right now. The unclear nature of your relationship with the vigilante is something for you to wrestle with in the morning. For now, you’ll fall asleep wrapped in Jason’s arms, with the happy thought that he’ll surely be coming back to do this again.

[fanaticsnail]

hi sis can you write me a sanji fic pleaseeeeeee

One hurt/comfort Sanji fic here for you, Smol-Snail.

Limits

Masterlist Here

Word Count: 2,500+

Synopsis: Baratie has been overbooked, and the tension in the kitchen has been overwhelming. Being a hard-working kitchen hand, you have been covering far too many shifts. Sensing the overwhelm, your coworker attempts to aid you through your emotions.

Themes: Sanji x gn!reader, hurt/comfort, kitchen slang, eating food, minor swearing, fluff, angst, domesticity, hidden feelings, almost kisses, playful banter, nicknames.

Notes: Spoiling my sister usually includes Mihawk or Garp, but I am absolutely loving the change. Thanks for the ask, sis! Hope you like it. Also, gosh it's good to be back in Baratie again.

The crackle of water hitting a pan of hot oil popped and simmered, a string of curses and yells following the large rukkus. Voices overlapping, music blaring, orders expediting, and the clangs of silverware shuddering with ceramics in water continued to mute their tones in the air surrounding the lively kitchen of Baratie.

It had been a mean shift tonight. The restaurant was overbooked, over packed, and overwhelmed. Guests on the waiting list were made to wait longer than they had anticipated, adding to tempers flaring and temperaments turning foul on all sides. The front of house were begging with the back of house, the back of house pleading with the front of house. Chef Zeff had even jumped on the line, cooking alongside the lot of you to fight against the rush. The thump of his peg leg hitting the linoleum swelled within the serenade of the lively kitchen, the chorus finally rising without any indication of an interlude.

“Carne, 'hot behind', damn it!” Zeff growled angrily while standing to full stature. Carne was holding a tray of simmering desserts at chest height behind him while shifting from one surface to the other. “Communicate, kitchen. Ya’ hear?”

“Oui chef!” The kitchen all repeated the phrase like a prayer on their tongues to their hierarchical clergyman.

“Ca Marche-!”

“Sharps-!”

“Plate up-!”

“Push-!”

“To the pass-!”

“Through-!”

Sanji stalked through the rows up until the pass, pacing two and fro while jumping in to aid all those that needed support. Garnishing mains, whipping cream for desserts, assorting steel bowls of oils and accompaniments to coincide with breads and greens: Sanji did it all. Each time he stepped in to aid in the dance of the kitchen, his eyes fell to your frame to mentally check in.

Eyes down, shoulders hunched, rubber gloves thrust up to your elbows, you ensured the kitchen remained functional with the fluctuation of crockery, cutlery and dishes for truly impeccable service. The kitchen-hand, or 'Dish Pig', was the backbone to a functional restaurant, the mental wellbeing of the house truly on the shoulders of that individual.

How could a chef create masterpieces without a canvas? How could guests in the dining hall consume their delectable arrangements without the means to raise each bite to their lips? The kitchen-hand ensured all was possible, and the chefs barely paid you any heed while you slaved away to grant them relief in their supplies.

You attempted to hone in on your craft, using your fingernails beneath the rubber gloves to chip at caramelized and caked scorches on iron pots like a scourer. Breaths heavy and labored, you shifted everything from your focus asside from one thing and one thing only:

Keep the kitchen clean.

Bubbles and suds consumed your senses, your hair sticking to your forehead in heavy clumps of sweat and soap. Your nostrils flared with the burn of eucalyptus, lemon and menthol. Working a fortnight of splits and doubles to cover for your colleagues had finally taken its toll on you, and stressors in your personal life added to the tension in your bones. The loss on your own mentality began to slip into a panic as another wave of silverware made their way to your arm side.

The mention of, “‘Ere ye’ go, dish pig. Clean up,” barely phased you, regardless to the usual playful temperament you displayed. You didn't even crack the smile you usually had on your face, your permanent exhaustion falling in the emotionless and dead-stare you displayed down at the dish rack.

The kitchen has began to pack down. Each element was extinguished, and stock was taken alongside a final tally. The chefs had removed their aprons, cravats and hats and began making their way towards the bar for their knockoffs. Your own drink would have to wait, the pile never reducing no matter how hard you had worked.

For each plate you cleared and cleaned, four more would somehow find their way to your hands. Each pot would have a lid to match, each pan would have an array of spatula, tongs, and forks to pair with. The chefs used the tools of their artistry with reckless abandon, and it was now you who was paying the price for their carelessness.

“A'ight, beers? That what we're drinkin'?” Patty clapped his hands and rubbed them enthusiastically together. Carne barked out a long string of laughter, allowing himself to succumb to the relief that came from a grueling shift while he clapped his hand over Patty’s bicep.

“I'm keen on one of them steins we just got in,” he admitted, squeezing lightly before looking to Zeff, “Is that on the menu for knock offs, chef?”

“Only is if you save two for me, you prick,” Zeff stated affectionately, “Give us a pale or an amber, I'll be in my office takin’ a damn breath. What about you, little eggplant? What are you drinkin’ tonight?”

Sanji hadn't spoken a word since he hung up his apron. He had been keeping an eye on you throughout your shift, feeling the tension waft in your aura the longer you silently chipped away at your monotonous task.

“I'm gonna have a cigarette,” he nodded to the head chef without moving his eyes away from you. “Then I think I'll sample that new amaretto rum you got in.” Sanji moved to Zeff’s side, casually glancing back at you while lowering his tone to the head chef, “But first, I'm gonna stay here a while. Leave inventory to me, and I'll take care of it, old man.”

Zeff noticed the drop in Sanji’s usual cadence and finally took notice to the quiver in your shoulders. With a curt nod, Zeff turned to both Patty and Carne and spoke to them with a simple scowl that meant: ‘Get out of the kitchen, now’. The two chefs quickly looked between Zeff and Sanji, then to the source of the noise continuing to fall from the underappreciated corner of the kitchen. With a nod of their own, they silently excused themselves from the kitchen with Zeff trailing behind them.

Where Sanji would've placed an unlit cigarette between his teeth and stalked out behind them, he would never do that without you. Both of you were similar in ages, and the rapport and camaraderie had always been a highlight to his kitchen shifts. The two of you were more than coworkers, more than simple friends, and you both lived and breathed Baratie in your own ways. You both loved that place, thrived on the chaotic energy working the line, and adored spending time in the dark before the next shift would begin.

The only difference between you is Sanji had been working his usual shifts, and you had been overworked far beyond your natural capacity lately. You were running low on mental energy, and you were taking it out on the dishes you were cleaning.

Wiping, scrubbing, clawing, patting, drying, prying, stacking, and placing away in their delegated areas: you had not spoken a word for the whole shift. Nothing more than a soft, shaky breath expelling from an otherwise vacant expression, nobody would know if anything was occurring within the battle of your mind.

But Sanji did.

Unhooking his apron and rolling up the sleeves of his uniform jacket, he placed it over his neck and slowly moved over to work silently in an unoccupied station. Several containers of various raw ingredients were hastily removed from their spots. Pots, water, flours, sugars, utensils and plates were all set up by his skilled hands: making something of your youth that he knew would bring you comfort.

Rolling glutinous rice flour into small balls with regular flour and water, he stuffed them full of purple adzuki mix, hazelnut white chocolate, and yuzu-honey dew custard. Placing the small balls in a steamer, he set a mental timer to check on them after a few minutes. Not his usual method to make dango, but he wanted to experiment for you.

He knew better than to disturb you when you were like this, and he allowed you to work out whatever was brewing in your mind on the dishes you were cleaning. He looked to the bowls and dishes he had just made in crafting you something delectable and grimaced.

‘All of those dishes just to make a simple dessert,’ he mentally scolded himself, ‘And that's just one piece of the kitchen. You're taking care of everyone’s dishes here, not just the kitchen’s.’ He gently lifted the lid of the bamboo steamer to gauge the consistency of the circular treats, nodding to himself once he viewed the squishy exterior.

Plating up the dish by patting them dry and rolling them in rice flour, he softly approached you with the bowl of rainbow-colored treats.

You were in your own head, your thoughts swirling in a tight coil threatening to snap. This shift had been enough to break a seasoned kitchen hand, and you had endured it all with a silent professionalism. Just when you were about to begin the next wave of remaining dishes, you turned and met your eyes with a plate of rainbow and sunshine.

“Hands, chef. You need to eat something,” Sanji softly spoke, his usual smirk and cocky attitude fleeing his face. The replacement of his usual demeanor was something you hadn't experienced with him. His eyes were rounded, his lips softly pouring, his head was lowered and seeking out your gaze with his own, and his empathy was worn with each subtlety.

All in one fluid motion, your head hung low and your glove-covered hands shrouded your eyes from his gaze. At the same motion, Sanji placed the bowl down beside you and hastily drew you into an encumbering embrace. It had finally been too much for you, and this was the first breakdown you had ever had regarding a shift. Heavy sobs were muffled by your rubber-covered palms while Sanji cradled you in his arms.

“Hold onto me, love,” Sanji softly whispered into your ear. You immediately unburied your face within your palms and nuzzled into the blonde man’s neck, arms wrapping beneath his shoulders and clinging to him like a rope offered from a cliff’s edge. “There you go. Good job. Just hold on, okay?”

“S-Sanji?” you attempted to whimper out, only being met with a soft shush and a tighter hold on your form. He rose one arm up to remove your dark chef’s cap from your head and carded his hands over your scalp in a soft brush.

“You've been pushing too many doubles, and saying ‘yes’ a whole lot lately,” he gently soothed you, “And while I love this place as much as you and the old man, I know my limits.” He gently lifted his head to gaze down to where your head was nestled in his collar, “You just hit yours, didn't you?”

“First time since I started,” you whispered into his shirt, “I didn't think I had one ‘til now, Ji.” Your admission alongside his arms holding you firmly dried up your tears after the heavy release.

“Course you do. We all do,” his soft baritone gently coaxed you. You slowly raised your eyes to meet his. His smile was like sunshine after a storm, warmth following a heavy winter, hope where hopelessness was found mere minutes prior, and a sanctuary found after a season of war.

When he looked at you, you felt like the most important person in the world. Time stood still in that moment, eyes darting between one another's and gently focussing briefly on the other’s lips. The close proximity you found yourself in was not unfamiliar to you, but this emotion swelling was far greater than you had anticipated. Sanji made to lean towards you, halting mid-way and second guessing himself from giving you the kiss he truly wanted. Instead, he pressed his forehead to yours in a gentle seal of friendship.

Noses flush with one another’s, you both closed your eyes and dwelled in the silence for a moment. Nothing else was heard: no yells in the kitchen, no music from the dining room, no yells from your coworkers, and no demands from the patrons in the hall. All that was heard was the small thump of your heartbeat in your ears, and your shared breaths gently soothing one another in unison.

“I made you dango,” Sanji uttered softly, making no move to part from you.

“Thank you, Ji,” you expressed your gratitude just as softly.

“And while you eat, I'll finish up on the dishes,” he scrunched his nose playfully, moving away from your head and slowly releasing you from his embrace, “Then we can go and have a knock off. I'll have one of the bar staff take your shift tomorrow- And before you interrupt-!”

Sanji knew you all too well, halting your interjection before you had an opportunity to speak it out with a harsh expression.

“-I know it's a 'double split'. That's a four person job, and I know exactly the four people to do it,” he finally withdrew his arms from your shoulders and soothed your upper arms with a firm caress. “Now, hand over those gloves. I made a right mess cooking you your sweets, and I'm going to see to it that it's spotless while you eat.”

You slowly removed your arms from his body, halting them briefly on his hips while you bowed your head in gratitude.

“Oui, chef,” you huffed out in a bid to add humor to the scenario. Releasing him from your grasp, you began to remove your rubber gloves and hang them over the steel railing beside the sink.

Sanji slid his hands from your shoulders, his right hand moving to gently tap your chin up with his index finger. Following his motions, you met your eyes with his once more, offering him a small smile after the exhaustion of emotional release.

“‘Oui Chef’?” he gently teased you, his eyes playfully narrowing in his jest, “Hush, you. Now go eat your dango and tell me what you like about it. We got sweet red bean, white chocolate hazelnut, and citrus-melon mouse in the centers.”

Your eyes bloomed with a wave of gratitude, Sanji’s understanding washing from his aura and consuming you within his single glance. The only thing to break your joint hypnosis with the scent of the sweetness atop the bench, you bobbed your head a final time to your coworker and dearest friend.

You moved to sit by the sink on a wooden stool, plonking down and resting your worn feet with the plate sat in your lap. Head slumping on the steel bench, you close your eyes and raise one of the squishy spheres to your lips.

Placing the entire blob into your mouth, the center burst on impact of the clamp of your teeth. The flavors erupted over your palate, your emotions once again being forced to the surface at his thoughtfulness. Each tartness was compensated by the sweetness it needed, the sours holding a balance of soft umami to prolong the dance over your tongue.

Watching from the corner of his eye while elbows deep in the sink, Sanji smiled at the encounter, truly pleased that he could offer you that sense of comfort after a grueling few weeks. Each bite you took of his mastery had his heart swell. Knowing he could do this for you, take a piece of that burden away from you and give you some joy to focus on: that was all he ever craved in return from you.

Tag list: @mfreedomstuff @daydreamer-in-training @since-im-already-here @gingernut1314 @writingmysanity @i-am-vita @indydonuts @feral-artistry @the-light-of-star @empirenowmp3 @racfoam @sunflowersatori @carrotsunshine @skullfacedlady @jintaka-hane @thenotsofantasticlifestory

[thebiggerbear]

"I hate you." "You have a weird way of showing that." - Alec McDowell Prompt Response

Summary: You're looking for a way to set yourself up and blend in after breaking out of Manticore. Having heard the rumors, you seek out Max for help. In doing so, you come across someone you had never thought you'd see again.

Pairing: Alec McDowell x Female!Reader; Alec McDowell x Female!Transgenic Reader

A/N: Prompt from @creativepromptsforwriting (#941). I have been in love with the world of Dark Angel and Alec ever since the show aired. To me, it's completely fascinating, and I really wish it had continued. (I was a big Malec fan back then btw; Lomax just wasn't my thing) There's so much to explore, especially with Max herself and how the transgenic community was going to move forward now that the public was aware of them. And of course, Joshua, OC, and Alec. Great stuff. Originally, I wasn't sure what scenario would best suit Alec based on this prompt line but I knew it would definitely be something that would apply to him. As far as It's A Wonderful Life, I was listening to the Christmas radio show they aired back in the 40's as I was outlining this one and the idea sort of came to life on its own. Hope this one's alright.

This is meant to take place mid-s2 and I did use events from the Berrisford Agenda episode (2x11) as inspiration for the beginning. 😉

Thanks to my beta @rieleatiel for her services. You rock, girl!

Warnings: implied violence; implied murder; mention of fatal injury; implied sex

Word Count: 8419

Taglist: @avada-kedavra-bitch-187

Alec Taglist: @heartlessdelusions; @nancymcl

Jensen Taglist: @samanddeaninatrenchcoat; @deansbbyx

You can also read on AO3

"I hate you." "You have a weird way of showing that."

Soldier Boy version ✨ Beau version ✨ Dean version ✨ Jenny version ✨ Jason version ✨ Tom version ✨ CJ version ✨ Rachel version ✨ Anael version ✨ SDV Leah version

You made your way into the bike messenger shop, glancing around despite the busy, distracting din. Rumor had it that a transgenic named Max had a sweet hookup here, something a fellow transgenic like yourself could use, being on the run and all. You could get a job, make money, and more importantly: blend in; not to mention it would teach you the layout of the city, the ins and outs, and provide you with legal documentation to let you past checkpoints in case Manticore ever came looking. 

So far, you hadn’t spotted the dark brunette you had been told about, and you didn’t sense any of your kind here. While a few people either walked past you, giving you a once-over as they did or stood there staring, all of them appeared to be human. Everyone else was milling to and fro, and you wondered if perhaps you’d been given wrong information. It had happened before so you were used to it, but this one you had really been hoping would turn out to be true. You could use a lucky break.

A man was barking out orders to a group of messengers before they dispersed, and his eye landed on you once they did. “You need something, Missy-Miss?”

You assumed the crankpot was the boss so you carefully approached him. “Uh, yeah, I was looking for—”

You were interrupted by yells coming from your far left. Your head snapped in the direction of the sounds and your eyes widened at what you saw.

There was the transgenic X5-494 backed up against the lockers, holding his hands out in a ‘whoa’ manner and giving the women in front of him his most charming grin; by the looks of their faces, it wasn’t working. “Ladies, ladies. No need to fight.”

“You didn’t tell me you were already seeing Lena when you asked me out!” One woman seethed.

“He asked you out?” Another woman, who you assumed was Lena, demanded. “I bet it happened right after we slept together, didn’t it?”

“He slept with you?” A third woman blanched.

“Tell me you haven't been making the rounds through the entire company,” another woman scoffed in disgust.

You shook your head, watching the show. Typical 494. Even out here he was still getting himself into trouble. By the sounds of it, he more than deserved the wrath of the women he was currently faced with, but you were still taken aback by his sudden appearance. Just when you thought you’d never see him again…

Before you knew it, the older man you had been talking to made his way over. “Alright, break it up! Break it up!” He forced his way next to 494 and glared at the ladies. “Shouldn’t you be working? You want your paychecks? Packages need to be delivered on time. Get going.”

The women grumbled and began to disperse, glaring in both men’s direction. “You just wait until later, Alec! This isn’t over!” 494 gave them all a sheepish smile while the other man scowled. 

“Okay, okay! You’ve got deliveries to make. Packages don’t deliver themselves so let’s go, keep it moving!” 

By the time they had all left, 494’s smile dropped and he seemed to deflate, gratefully clapping the man’s shoulder. “Thanks. I think they were about to eat me alive,” he laughed.

“Not on my watch,” the other man promised. “How’re you feeling, champ? You okay?”

“Yeah, no, I’m good. Just, you know…” He gestured to where the women had disappeared and bugged his eyes before letting out a nervous chuckle.

“You should’ve let them take a swing at him,” a brunette woman suddenly threw at them as she approached her locker, which was near the two men. “It’s not like he didn’t deserve it.”

494 let out a huff. “Thanks, Max,” he mumbled.

That name caught your attention—so this was Max. It had surprised you to see 494 here of all places, but it made sense considering what X5-452 had set up here.

“Don’t be like that, Missy-Miss,” the older man warned the woman. “There’s no reason to have that kind of attitude.”

Max shook her head and discreetly rolled her eyes, zipping up her backpack. “So what have you got for me today, Normal?”

Normal held out two packages for her to take. “They need these by noon, not one second later.”

Max snatched the packages and nodded. 494 stepped closer to her. “I’ll come with you,” he insisted, still seeing some of the dirty looks he was receiving from girls coming to and fro. 

She made a face at him which clearly said that wasn’t going to happen, and before she could voice that, Normal cleared his throat. “Not a bad idea. You could show him the ropes on that side of town and keep him from the estrogen mob looking to burn him at the stake. He’s got that raw animal charisma working and it’s causing trouble.” This time you made your own face of disgust. And this guy’s name was Normal? Far from it.

“Whatever,” Max snapped and shoved a package into 494’s chest, hard. She turned and was about to leave when you stepped forward.

“Max?” You called.

Her eyes snapped towards you as did 494’s and Normal’s. “Yeah?” She asked, seeming unsure. 

You knew she was sensing who you really were just like you could sense her and 494 across the way, even if you hadn’t just been watching them. You ignored 494’s eyes widening at the sight of you and the sudden tension in his body, making your way closer. “I was wondering if we could have a word.”

Max’s brows furrowed and Normal glanced between you, holding up a finger. “No visitors at work, Miss. You know the rule: packages need to be there by noon. Make it quick.” He turned and walked away, completely uninterested in whatever conversation you two were about to have.

Max stepped over to you, studying you intently. “You know my name, but I don’t know yours. What do you want?”

494 was standing right next to her, his eyes never leaving you. The surprise was still evident in his expression along with something else you couldn’t quite put a name to.

You glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention to you, before turning and lifting your ponytail from your neck, letting her see the barcode tattoo you had. After a moment, you spun on your heel to find her appearing a little more receptive to what you had to say. “So, you got somewhere we can talk?”

She nodded and glanced over at 494 before inclining her head in a direction she expected you to follow her in. You obliged, your eyes briefly flickering to 494’s, before he followed both of you.

Once you were outside in a semi-private spot, Max turned to you, her arms crossed. “So, who are you really?”

“X5-498,” you answered. 

Max glanced over at 494 before addressing you once again. “How long have you been on the run?”

“Since you destroyed the base and helped 494 escape.” You nodded in his direction. Yeah, maybe you were still a little bitter about that. 494 looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“I didn’t help him do anything,” Max insisted, her nose scrunching up in what appeared to be repulsion at the very idea. 

494 ignored her and trained his gaze on you. “I thought you were dead.”

You smirked over at him and crossed your arms. “Sorry to disappoint.” You noticed his jaw tighten and his eyes narrow at the jab.

“You two know each other?” Max was looking between you but neither of you looked away from the other. 

“She was my breeding partner,” 494 informed her. 

Max’s eyes widened and turned on you. “Wait, what?”

“Yeah,” you agreed. “He wouldn’t have been my first choice, either.”

He snorted and the amused smirk you were more than familiar with began to appear on his face, yet he didn’t say a word. 

“Oh-kay. That’s not super weird or anything.” She turned to 494. “You had more than one breeding partner? Were you Manticore’s stud horse or something?” She looked grossed out at the thought.

494’s eyes briefly flickered over to her. “498 and I were paired off long before you got there.”

“But then, if you were already paired off, why were you paired off with me, too?” Your gaze snapped to Max who looked genuinely confused for a moment before realization hit her. “Oh, right. It was all part of your big plan to get me to trust you so I could accidentally kill Logan. Got it.”

494 shrugged unapologetically. “Pretty much.” He turned back to you. “Renfro gave me the mission and told me if I didn’t succeed, then that’d be it for me. I was already on thin ice with them. So, she assigned me to you, Max, and I did what I had to do.”

“And he left me to die,” you supplied, gracing her with your smirk. 

His jaw dropped before he closed his mouth and pressed his lips into a thin line. “I didn’t leave you there to die,” he protested. 

“Leaving me there to burn to death constitutes as leaving me to die,” you countered. He glared at you but you ignored it. You noticed Max’s eyes constantly moving between the two of you and you decided you’d get to the point of why you were here. “452, I’m here because word on the street is that you have a way of helping fellow transgenics like yourself.” You motioned towards 494. “I was hoping you might be able to help me as well.”

She looked taken aback. “I don’t have anything set up like that. As a matter of fact, Alec here only got the job because of Normal’s weird worship of him.” 494 gave her a smug smile which made her roll her eyes. “But as far as other transgenics go, I don’t really have anything in place to help like you’re thinking. Sorry.”

You nodded, figuring as much. You thought it had been unlikely but you had hoped anyway. All you could do now was remain on the run until you could find a place where you could seamlessly blend in. “Thank you for your time.”

“Just hold up a sec,” 494 entreated you, but you ignored him.

You turned to leave when Max’s voice stopped you. “Wait.” You glanced back and found her watching you, compassion twinkling in her eyes. “Maybe there’s something we can do.” She quickly glanced at 494 who was giving her a look. Max rolled her eyes at him but lifted her chin when addressing you. “I wouldn’t put you with this one because it sounds like you’ve been punished enough already.”

494 shot her a glare to which she only smirked. You couldn’t help but smile yourself; perhaps you would like this 452 after all. 

“But I think I have an idea of where you can stay. It’s temporary and you’d have a roommate, but we can see about getting you a job and getting you set up properly. Logan can help, too, with papers. If you’re serious and you plan to stay, that is.”

494 watched you intently. You thought it over for a moment. This proposal was better than anything you had going for you right now. Hell, you would have even stuck yourself with 494 again if it meant you’d have a place to sleep and something to eat, safe from Manticore for a while. You gave Max a nod. “Thank you.” To your surprise, 494 seemed to relax a bit at your response.

She smiled and turned, indicating you should follow. “You’ll be with Joshua for the time being. He’s pretty easy to get along with,” she assured you, her tone softening a bit. You could tell she was fond of the guy she was mentioning.

“Joshua?” You questioned, looking from her to 494.

494 stayed in step with you as you all made your way out onto the street. He shot you a smile as Max retrieved her bike. “You like dogs?”

Joshua did indeed turn out to be a decent roommate. He was kind and thoughtful and actually a little funny. Truthfully, you hadn’t been prepared to find a dogman as your new temporary roommate, but once you found out about his history, you found yourself feeling compassion for his situation. You were glad he had managed to escape the destruction of the base that night. 

Max kept her word and set you up with a job as a bike messenger at Jam Pony (apparently a couple of the girls 494 had been involved with decided to up and quit for some strange reason), which gave you access to all of the legal documentation you’d need to get past certain checkpoints in the city. She’d introduced you to her friends Original Cyndi and Sketchy, who would also turn out to be your coworkers. Normal viewed you as another hooligan he was forced to pay for standing around and not doing your job just like the rest, though despite his warped assertions, you actually did get your work done. You ended up going on runs with 494 and Max to get to know the ins and outs of the job. Outside of work, you kept your distance unless your help was needed. Max and OC had invited you to Crash a couple of times, but you bowed out, especially when Sketch seemed a little too invested in your joining them. You also met Logan and Asha, neither of whom you cared for very much; still, they were important to your fellow transgenics and Logan was helping you, so you kept your thoughts to yourself. All in all, you were settling into life in Seattle and beginning to blend in. And you avoided 494 like the Plague despite his couple of attempts to approach you and strike up a conversation, so everything was going pretty swell. 

You had even found a new place you liked to escape to every now and then. You knew the Space Needle was also Max’s favorite spot—she had told you as much—but after a long day, you liked to get to the highest point and look out over the city you now were beginning to call home. 

It was one such peaceful night when 494 found you.

“Thought I’d find you here.” He carefully lowered himself down next to you.

You didn’t respond and instead focused on the feel of the cool breeze gently blowing through your hair.

“I’m glad you made it out,” he admitted.

You shot him a look before returning your attention to the city. 

“I am.” He rested his forearms on his knees and looked out towards the city skyline. “I know what we had wasn’t of our making, but it wasn’t all horrible, was it?”

You let his question hang in the air. No, it hadn’t been all horrible, but it was still a messed up situation you both had been thrust into. Based on what you’d learned about his sessions with Max, copulation hadn’t needed to happen due to the background plan. You and 494 weren’t so lucky after a while, just like every other pair of breeding partners in the facility. By the time Max was recaptured and brought to the base, Renfro and company were already starting to side-eye the two of you and wanted to know how you hadn’t gotten pregnant yet. Almost every other pairing had been successful or reassigned if they weren’t; you were arousing too much suspicion by your constant failure to report an impregnation despite your successful copulations. The truth was that you and 494 did what you could to prevent it from happening. You had no desire to add to the ranks of Manticore transgenics and neither did he, something you both had been on the same page about since the first night you’d been thrown into a cell together.

You hadn’t fooled yourselves. This wasn’t about love or any attraction you had for one another, nor was it even a fun roll in the sheets; you both would not have chosen each other if you’d had a say in any of it. This was all about science and genetics, and it was purely clinical. That didn’t mean that there weren’t a few moments here and there that you snatched for yourselves: a laugh here, a tender moment there, a camaraderie forged between you in flipping off the organization that had created you and controlled you since your first breaths. So no, it wasn’t all horrible.

Which is why you didn’t protest or move away when you felt him subtly shift a little closer to you. You nearly smiled at the action; 494 had always sought a connection between you, something that superseded the physical. You couldn’t count the amount of times after your sessions that you had both held onto each other: you still remembered how he would wrap his arms around you and pull you close, letting out a content sigh as you ran your fingers through his sweaty hair, scratching at his scalp in the way you knew he liked. And he would make sure every inch of him was still touching you on the uncomfortable cot suspended from the wall, before the guards were due to come back and retrieve him. How he would chatter away about different subjects, doing his best to engage you.

“I went back for you,” he murmured.

Surprise ran through you as you turned wide eyes on him. 

“Once they revealed the base’s location and I was able to get free, I went back for you.” He stared at you, swallowing compulsively. “But by the time I got there, it was too late. I thought you were gone.”

You could see the truth of what he was saying in his green eyes, but you refused to give in that easily. You huffed out a snort and turned back to the view. “More like you were hoping.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you could see him shaking his head. “I never wanted you gone.”

You ignored him and continued your ritual of observing the city, allowing silence to fall between you. Only when he slowly took your hand into his did you turn a glare on him and finally speak:  “I hate you, you realize that, right?”

“You have a weird way of showing that.” He nodded his head towards your intertwined fingers. 

You rolled your eyes but you didn’t pull away. “Don’t you have a harem to get back to? Or what’s her name…Asha? Now that you’re free to choose who you want to copulate with. You didn’t seem to have any issue finding willing partners before I showed up.”

This time, he was the one who snorted. “Just passing time.”

You finally did pull away, grimacing. “Ew.”

He let out a nervous-sounding laugh. “I just meant it’s all been casual. Nothing serious.”

You side-eyed him. “Good luck with that.” You got to your feet and were about to leave when he grabbed your hand to stop you, forcing you to look down at him.

“Y/N,” he murmured, using the name Max had picked out for you. It wasn’t your favorite, but you needed something to go on the paperwork for Jam Pony and the papers Logan was acquiring for you, so you figured it would do. Perhaps you’d even grow into it and it could be a decent identity for you.

“494?”

He shot you a glare. “Alec.”

Right. Max had named him, too. That was something he’d mentioned on one of the runs you, he, and Max had gone on. You had smirked at Max’s explanation of that choice while 494 had rolled his eyes.

“Okay then. Alec?” It felt weird to call him that yet at the same time…it felt like a good fit.

His thumb tenderly stroked against your skin and he watched you. “Just wanted to see how it sounded. Using our names instead.”

You nodded. You could understand that. All of this was new and…fragile in a way. Any moment you could be found, you could either be killed or worse — brought back to another base. However, from what you’d heard, the former was more likely to happen these days. Max had encouraged you to start thinking about what you wanted out of life, and so far, freedom was certainly at the top of your list. You might be free right now, but you weren’t really free, not with your captors still out there who viewed you as their property, to apprehend or destroy at will. You had a feeling that Alec knew that just as well as you did, no matter the optimistic picture Max tried to paint for Joshua or any other transgenics she might come across.

He tugged on your hand to urge you to sit back down next to him. You resisted for a moment but then decided to oblige. What did a few minutes more matter in the scheme of things? He snuck an arm around your shoulders and pulled you closer. Had it been anyone else, that arm would have been ripped from its socket by now. 

Alec gave you a small smile and leaned down to press a kiss to your hair, flooding you with memories of every time he’d done just that. Other memories made appearances, too: his sharing with you about his side hustle of trading things with guards for certain comforts, something he actually used on your behalf a few times; his laugh and kiss to your head when both of you had gotten a little too much into one copulating session, almost making the two of you forget to take your usual precautions; his promise of getting you both out of there together if you could hold out just a little longer; his expression when he told you that he thought Renfro had a mission for him that would keep him out of your barracks for the next few nights but that he’d do his best to see it through quickly and return; the last time you’d seen him when he’d exchanged a look with you across the yard before you and your unit were led away for more drills and testing, you thinking back to the worry you’d seen in his expression and since you didn’t know the cause, it created your own set of worries — 494 never let it show if he was ever worried or scared. 

You weren’t sure how to feel about any of this. Yes, you and Alec had history but it had been forced upon you. Although you had forged some sort of connection during it all, it didn't mean that either of you were looking to continue that or see where it went on the outside—especially now that you were able to choose for yourselves. Still, that connection hadn’t simply ceased to exist just because you wished it would… Especially not when he was trying his damndest to restore some piece of it, right here and right now.

He lowered his head to meet your eyes and you could feel something familiar inside your chest squeezing a little bit. You told yourself that it had to be heartburn from the chicken stew you’d eaten for dinner earlier, and not anything to do with him at all. “I’ve missed this,” he quietly admitted. “Just talking and being together. Didn’t you?”

You gave him a look of disbelief mixed with amusement. “I don’t really think we did all that much talking as I remember it.”

That cocky smirk of his was back. “True.” 

You rolled your eyes and he laughed. You enjoyed the familiar sound that caused more memories to wash over you. You would never admit it but the bond you’d shared had actually been the only good thing to sustain you when you were running after the explosion. You’d hoped that wherever he was, he had gotten away and was safe. You knew he hadn’t been in his barracks; you’d checked amidst the chaos. 

Thinking back to that night, you rested your head back against his shoulder and stared out into the night. His lips tipped up in a small smile and he laid his head up against yours, following your gaze. You both stayed like that for the next hour until he murmured to you, “Come back with me?”

You turned to frown up at him. Was he for real? “Really?”

“No, not that, I just meant…” He ran his free hand over his hair. “I didn’t think I’d see you again and now you’re here. I didn’t really know how to ask you before without it sounding like that. But I want to show you my place.” He gave you a bit of a proud smile.

You considered it. It would be interesting to see what kind of setup he had going for himself. That had been something you had talked about back in your bunk at the base as he held you to him, his hands roaming your bare back. “You sure Alec’s groupies won’t mind?”

Alec smirked and shook his head. “I don’t have any roommates or regular visitors if that’s what you’re asking.”

You smirked right back and leaned in, making his eyes drop to your lips. “I wasn’t,” you whispered before dropping his hand and getting to your feet. 

He got up as well, grinning over at you, that familiar fire lighting those sharp green eyes. “Just think: no guards to bribe, no need to keep it down, no time limit, no metal cot we both have to try to fit on…”

You snorted. “So you really are asking me to go back with you for that reason.”

“No, I really do want to show you the sweet setup I have.” His smile then turned wicked. “But if that were to happen, I wouldn’t exactly be against it.”

“Uh-huh.” You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms, looking away from him. You did your best to hide your own smile when he wrapped his arms around you from behind, resting his lips near your ear.

“So what do you say? Let me show you my apartment. I got a couch, a bed, a tub…”  

“Ooh, a tub?” You pretended to be impressed though you weren’t pretending too much. If a tub was considered a luxury before the world went to hell, then it was an even rarer commodity now. 

“Yep,” he huskily whispered as he brushed a kiss to your ear lobe. “All the hot water and soap you could want.” He trailed his lips down your neck, making your eyes shut halfway. “And I’ve got glasses, plates, a coffee table… I even have a stereo.”

You dug your teeth into your bottom lip when he found that spot on your neck that he knew you loved. “A stereo?”

“For music,” he explained, pressing a kiss to your jawline. “And I even managed to score some whiskey from years back, pre-pulse. You’ll love it,” he promised before nuzzling your cheek. “Come home with me.”   

You stared out over the horizon, unsure if you should give in to what he was tempting you with. Before, at Manticore, the sex had been clinical and while there was a connection between you, given the circumstances, it made sense to stick together like glue. But now… “I don’t know if I should. We’re out now and everything’s changed.”

He spun you in his arms, his brows furrowed as he cupped your face with his hands. “Not for me. I meant what I said to you in there, we were gonna get out together, find some place to blend in, and make it work.”

“But we didn’t get out together,” you whispered, gently removing his hands from you before stepping around him towards the door. 

He grabbed your hand. “Y/N.” You glanced back at his earnest expression. “I did come back for you. When everything exploded and I didn’t hear or see any trace of you, I thought—”

“I know. I went to look for you, too, once I managed to get out of my barracks.” His eyes widened slightly in surprise. “That guard, Hayes, he let me out. He said something about a deal you had in place with him if things went wrong while you were away on your mission.” You dropped your gaze. “It must’ve really cost you, so… Thanks for that.” You squeezed his hand before letting it go and making your way inside the abandoned building.   

You didn’t look back; there was no point. When you thought back to that night, you remembered Hayes sneering at you as he opened your cell door, spitting something about telling 494 that he owed him something better than cigars and the usual contraband this time. You didn’t bother thanking the man who treated you and every other transgenic on the base as nothing more than freak science experiments that were less than human, and you booked it towards the male barracks, fighting your way through when you needed to. You would never forget the relief you felt finding the specific bunk you were looking for empty, that was then followed by the feeling of betrayal, which quickly shifted into acceptance. You hoped he was alive out there somewhere, whether he had made it out before you got there or he had already been out in the world on his mission. You had chalked up your time together as a weird yet not so bad interaction and kept running. You’d even seen Hayes’ dead body on your way out, his throat torn apart, almost as if that too was closing the book on this messed up chapter of your life.

And that’s what you’d done: closed that chapter of your life and attempted to move on, to do what you could to figure out your own life. You never expected to see 494 again, let alone find him living his life, a harem of women around him. It had stuck a finger into that particular wound for a moment before the blanket acceptance was back in place. Your relationship was exactly as you’d thought it had been for both of you: something that had been forced upon you by your creators and you both had tried to make something good out of it (just not the child Manticore had wanted). And now, it was over. You both were on the outside and it was time for you both to go your separate ways, figuratively if not literally. He’d done right by you in that last moment and you’d escaped, gotten free, and lived. What more could you ask for?

You were just about to scale down to the next level when his hand landed on your shoulder, making you look back at him.

“Y/N, come back with me to my place. I want to show you something.”

You gave him a look. “494—”

“Alec,” he corrected. “I’m not talking about sex, though if you wanted that at some point, like I said, I’m more than willing.” He lifted his hand to cup your cheek and he stared into your eyes, willing you to agree. “I really want to show you something.” 

His thumb tenderly ran along your bottom lip in a familiar gesture that had always preceded a kiss before he left you for the night. A part of you hoped he would repeat the action but when he didn’t, you were more relieved than anything. Your body yearned for his—the familiarity, the comfort—but you still didn’t think you should fall back into old habits—it could only end badly, whether he ended up getting bored or one of you (or both) were found by your enemies. You felt incredibly torn. Truthfully, you weren’t quite sure what you wanted when it came to him. 

“Please,” he added. “Come over.”

He looked so determined, so earnest, that you found yourself slowly nodding in agreement. 

His handsome face lit up with a bright smile. “I promise, you’re really gonna like it.” He urged you to follow him, scaling to the next level down with you right behind him. You hoped he was right, and you also hoped you would finally get some sort of answer for yourself on whether to explore this new great unknown with him with the former Emerald City as the backdrop in contrast to your cramped cell or to close the book on him for good.

You had to admit, Alec had a nice apartment. It was bigger than you’d imagined and he had told you the truth: he had glasses, plates, a coffee table, a couch, a bed, a tub, the so-called stereo (which he turned on for a minute to show you how it worked), and the whiskey he’d promised. As you drank from your glass, marveling at the taste, you glanced around, nodding.

“Nice,” you complimented.

“Thanks.” He took your hand and led you to a corner of the living room where a box sat tall on some sort of stand. He released you to go over and stand next to it, turning to beam over at you. “What do you think?”

Your eyes roved over the box with a glass front, confused. “It’s…great?”

He gave you a look as if you should know what it was before smiling wide again. “It’s a TV,” he crowed. 

Your brows furrowed in confusion. “TV?”

“Yeah, you know, to watch movies and TV shows, that kind of thing.” 

You peered at it, wondering just how it worked. You’d heard of movies of course, but you’d never seen one. Did the images just appear on the glass when you turned it on? Was there something that needed to be selected or perhaps inserted somewhere?

He proudly laid a hand on top of it. “I managed to get ahold of it after one of my customers I’ve been selling synthetics to heard about some old lady dying nearby who had one. I headed right over to her place and got this beauty.” He smiled down at it. 

“You’ve been selling synthetics?” Of course he was still hustling, even out here. In Manticore, it had been a necessity; out here, if it helped him get nice digs like this and set him up, you had to give him credit for keeping it going and getting creative.

“Among other things. Oh, and look.” He gestured down to another smaller box sitting in front of it. “I was also able to get a VCR. It took me a few months to get a lead on one of these, but I got it.” He chuckled and turned a wide smile on you. 

You returned the smile, still unsure of what a VCR was.

“And the best part,” He took your glass from you and placed it on top of the TV before he grabbed something from behind it and shoved it into your hands. You looked down at the rectangular object and spied a familiar image you had only seen once before, when you were on the run from Manticore the first time. Your eyes widened; something you had told Alec about one night after copulating a few times and he was falling asleep, him tiredly rubbing your shoulder as you laid your head on his chest, one of the nights he’d bought more time for you both… The sight made the corners of your eyes sting, yet you forced yourself to keep the tears at bay. He had heard you that night even while nodding off and he’d— he’d managed to get his hands on it. “It’s that movie you told me about,” he began. “It’s—”

“--A Wonderful Life,” you finished in an awed whisper. You reverently traced the picture you’d seen a hundred times before Manticore caught you. You ignored the rips and stains surrounding the rim of the image and focused on the man who’d caught your interest in the first place. He looked happy, staring down at his wife, the two of them surrounded by their children, one hoisted up behind him and holding onto him for dear life. They all looked happy, which was something you’d never had or known. You’d never had a father, never knew your mother, and you’d never had a family, not like the one portrayed in the picture. Sure, you had dozens of brothers and sisters, but you weren’t a family. Manticore would punish you if any of you had even uttered the word. You were soldiers in training and that was it.

Still, this image piqued your interest and many nights, you found that you couldn’t stop staring at it. It was in an old theater, a place you’d managed to find while running the first time—the same place you took shelter in and eventually turned it into your own setup. There were other people throughout the theater who’d had the same idea, but they pretty much left you alone once you’d fought off the biggest guy in the group who had stupidly tried to take your food from you. Once you’d seen that poster, it created a yearning in you for something you had never known, something you never imagined wanting. You didn’t need parents and you didn’t need siblings, but you did crave family… Something that became more and more apparent the more you studied the image, imagining what that life would be like. 

Which is why it was so cruel when Manticore recaptured you and immediately thrust you into its breeding program. Not only had they taken your life from you since conception, viewed you as their property that they were determined to see some sort of return of their investment on—now they wanted to take whatever life you could create from you and control it, too. You weren’t going to let that happen. As a matter of fact, you’d fought 494 off the first night they sent him into your cell. It had taken him by surprise because he’d thought you both were on the same page: you had orders. But he’d quickly learned that you’d rather die than follow those particular ones. He’d maintained his distance until a guard came to retrieve him, and as he’d glanced back at you one last time as he stepped across the threshold, you knew then that you were marked for death. A soldier refusing to obey and follow orders was no good to the organization and more importantly, of no use. Thus, it took you by surprise the next day when 494 confirmed the success of your copulation the previous night to your superiors which led to him being brought back to your cell later that night to continue.

From there, even though it took a little bit, you’d both talked and began getting to know one another. You’d learned that he didn’t want to spawn any kids for Manticore anymore than you did. Eventually, a bond began to form between you and of course, so did an attraction. The night you got hit with your first heat since being recaptured—thanks to a splash of feline DNA in your system, something you’d always been able to manage on the outside before—things had changed between you, and 494 no longer had to lie when reporting that copulation had been successful. Nonetheless, the entire time you’d been back in Manticore’s hands, you’d never forgotten about that picture and what you truly wanted: your freedom, a life, and eventually, family—happiness. You wanted to be happy just like the people in the poster.

And now here you were: on the outside, free for the moment, attempting to build a life, and this picture had somehow made its way back to you, right into your very hands, real enough to literally touch. “How did you get it?”

“One of Max’s fences gave me a line on where I could find one.”

You glanced up to find him watching you intently. You gave him a small grateful smile and you could see relief flood through his expression before he covered it with a smile of his own.

He cleared his throat. “I got it before you showed up, but…I never watched it. I couldn’t bring myself to. It felt wrong to watch it without you, especially after how you talked about it, so it’s been sitting in that case for months. I hope it still works.” He let out in a quiet chuckle.

You placed the box down on top of the TV and approached him. He watched as you cupped his face with your hands and pulled him down to you, your lips meeting for the first time since seeing him again. That all-too familiar feeling flooded you and this time, you didn’t fight the smile that made its way to your face. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” This time, he was the one initiating a kiss, and he snaked his arms around your waist, pulling you into him.

Only when you both needed air and he pulled away to trail kisses down to your neck did you tease into his ear, “So exactly how many girls have you shown this movie to?”

“None,” he breathed, nibbling on your earlobe. “I told you, I didn’t want to watch it without you.”

“You expect me to believe that you haven’t shown the TV or the VCR to any other girls?” You chuckled.

He pulled back to meet your eyes. “Okay, yeah, fair enough, I’ve shown them both of those, but not that movie, I swear. That was always yours.”

You knew you should be disgusted—not only that he had been such a callous player in your absence but also because he had used similar moves on you—but right then, you decided to throw all caution to the wind, even if just for one night. Seeing the movie picture again had reminded you that you needed to take happiness wherever you could find it, because thanks to your life, who knew how much longer you had? 

“So,” you whispered huskily as you ran your fingers through his hair. “What were you saying about a bed and no time limit…?”

His eyes lit up with that familiar fire and he smirked. “Oh, hell yes.” He kissed you harder than before and picked you up, making you laugh into his mouth, as he used his transgenic speed to get you to the bedroom. 

You watched the images on the screen in awe. You and Alec were sharing a blanket to keep your nude bodies warm as you sat in his embrace, the only light in the place coming from the TV. He had his chin resting on your bare shoulder, watching the movie intently with you. The man from the movie poster, George, was telling the woman, Mary, how he was going to travel the world and he was listing off his dreams right before she threw a rock at the abandoned house they were facing. When they started singing, Alec began to frown, but you? You were completely enraptured. You’d never seen or heard anything like this before. 

In the beginning, the tape had seemed like it didn’t want to work, black and white tears in the image as it played, but thankfully Alec knew what he was doing with the equipment and how to get it working. Ever since then, your eyes hadn’t strayed from the screen once, even when Alec had tried to get a second round going, promising you he could pause the film and you could finish watching it later. When he’d failed to garner your attention, he’d pressed a kiss to the back of your head and settled behind you, letting out a quiet sigh of contentment as he’d burrowed into your neck before rejoining you in watching the movie.

When George told Mary that he’d give her the moon, Alec rolled his eyes and dropped a kiss onto your skin. “That’s lame,” he muttered.

You turned to look at him. “Why? Because he wants to give her anything she wants?”

“No. Because he’s going to lasso the moon. Lasso the moon? Really?”

You laughed and he smiled, leaning in to kiss your cheek. “Alright, sure, it’s cheesy, but the message isn’t.”

“It’s not?” Alec moved to kiss your ear.

“No. He likes her that much, he’d do anything for her. Kind of nice actually,” you ended in a whisper as you turned back to the screen. You let out a soft chuckle when the old man interrupted the couple and told George that he talked too much and he should kiss Mary already.

Alec, who had glanced back at the screen to watch that part of the scene, turned an affectionate smile on you before leaning in to nuzzle your cheek. “Stay here tonight,” he urged.

Your eyelids dropped halfway when he moved his lips to your neck and you dug your teeth into your bottom lip. “I can’t. Joshua will be worried.”

“The big guy will be just fine, trust me,” he promised, his lips gliding back to your shoulder. “I want you to stay.”

You thought it over. You both had reacquainted yourselves earlier quite nicely so that wasn’t an issue. Just like Alec had said, it had been amazing to be in a bed for once, not under the pressure of a timeclock or having to worry about prying eyes and listening ears milling around. You didn’t have to separate soon after you were finished if the guards Alec usually bribed weren’t on shift that night. Here, you were free to just be and let things take their own course and that had been a phenomenal feeling. As for what came next… you weren’t too sure about that. You hadn’t done a lot of talking since Alec carried you into his bedroom and playfully dropped you on the bed, knowing it wouldn’t hurt you. You had let out an incredulous laugh and he mirrored your grin before he’d been all over you.

You watched as he pressed tender kisses to your bare skin before glancing up at you hopefully. You took his face into your hand and he leaned into your touch. Seeing that, you decided to state your one condition if he truly wanted you to stay. “No more girls.” You refused to look away as you threw down that gauntlet. While he never said he wanted anything more than tonight with you, you needed him to know that if this did somehow go past that, you wouldn’t be wondering just who he had in his bed or on his couch a few hours before you would arrive at his front door. Or who he might bring back to this apartment to show his TV and VCR to. 

He stared at you for a moment until the corner of his lips tipped up into a bit of a smug smile. “No more girls,” he agreed.

You tilted your head at him, studying his expression.

“What?” He laughed. 

“Just like that?”

Alec’s smile grew and he leaned in to place a kiss to the corner of your mouth. “Just like that.” You weren’t the least bit surprised when he suddenly turned you around in his arms to face him, one hand keeping the blanket over you, cocooning you both. He wiggled his eyebrows playfully at you before covering both of your heads with the blanket and leaning in for the kill.

“What about the movie?” You laughed as he began to kiss your neck.

“That’s the great thing about tapes. We can watch it again anytime we want,” he murmured, his hands starting to roam your body insistently.

“So we can watch the lasso the moon part again?” You teased.

He groaned into your neck, making you laugh. “Yeah, we can, if that’s what you want,” he grumbled, sounding like he was going to majorly suffer when you watched it again.

You pulled back, smiling, and cupped his face. “I want you,” you told him earnestly. And you did. You wanted more nights with him like this, you wanted what you two had managed to create back in your cell. Studying him now, you could see the man who had become almost everything to you back then, who’d kept you going during the rough moments, who ended up looking out for you even though he usually lived by the unwritten rule of only ever looking out for himself.  

His eyes stared into yours and a small smile began to form on his face. “Then stay,” he urged.

You pretended to think over it for a minute and when you grinned over at him, his smile was already mirroring yours. “Okay,” you answered playfully, as if he had only posed a simple question like asking you if you wanted a drink or not. You moved up to kiss him and bury your fingers in his disheveled hair. “No lassoing the moon required,” you murmured to his lips.

He rolled his eyes and quickly maneuvered you onto your back with him right on top of you. He smirked down at you, leaning in to kiss you. “I’ll give you something better than the damn moon,” he mumbled into your mouth, making you laugh. 

You didn’t want the moon or the stars (except the ones Alec made you see exploding behind your eyelids from time to time) or anything else that grand. What you wanted was simple: everything right here in front of you at this moment. A life that was your own, a job that helped keep money coming in, a roof over your head that offered protection from the cold, the wet, and intruders, while offering you a safe space to rest your head at night; food in your stomach, clothes that fit, and the feelings that coursed through you every time Alec kissed you.

Post-pulse Seattle might not be Bedford Falls and you might not be George Bailey or even Mary for that matter, but you were free, you were building a life, and you were happy. And someday, if you lived long enough, you might even get that family you’d been yearning for. From the look of things, between Joshua, Max, and now Alec, you were hopefully already starting to form something akin to the idea. And really, what more could you ask for?

dividers by @firefly-graphics

[mint-8]

Yandere Sculptor x GN! Reader

Content/Trigger warning: Mentions of stalking.

- Yandere Sculptor who has dedicated their entire life to the creation of their art. The ability to mold rock, clay, resin, plastic, and even cardboard, into beautiful figures, whether they are useful items such as intricate plates and cups, or to detailed and almost life-like copies of animals and people, or to the most abstract and confusing pieces, they can’t deny that they love their innate talent. Thanks to the support and encouragement from their parents from an early age, they have made a name for themselves in many art circles as an up-and-coming prodigy. With hundreds requesting their time and skill for commissions, from weddings, to museums and to private collections, their future was solidified in stone as one of the greatest sculptors of the decade… so why did you have to exist?

- Yandere Sculptor met you in one of their many art shows. Simple, you were intently watching one of their sculptures with a small glass full of champagne while they were talking with one of their fellow artist.

“I’m telling you, marble is way too overrated. Bronze and brass can be just as good of material as any other!”

“…”

“You’re not listening to me, are you?”

“Correct. I’ll leave for now, bye”

“At least try to be more polite about it!”

- Yandere Sculptor gets beside you and as you continue to stare at their piece. They want to talk to you so badly, but over a million possible introduction questions start fighting in their head over which one would be the most optimal until they realize that you have already left the venue and it's are about to close.

"Not so lucky today, eh?"

"..."

"Don't worry, you'll get them next time, champ. I'm sure they wouldn't mind an asshole who leaves their friend to go and try and fail miserably to flirt"

"... You're angry. I'll let you be so you calm down"

"Can't you even pretend to care?!"

- Yandere Sculptor meets you once again in another exhibition, this time with you seemingly talking with someone else. Perfect timing.

- Yandere Sculptor is determined to talk to you this time. They have prepared over 862 possible scenarios for the perfect conversation, which will definitely end with you completely enamored with them, their number in your phone and yours on theirs, and possibly preparing for marriage. Only for them to forget it all after you greet them back.

"..."

"Uhm... are you alright?"

"You're beautiful"

"Oh! Thank you, but-"

"Let's go out"

"Eh?"

- Yandere Sculptor has clearly won you over with their impeccable charisma, and you definitely didn't agree to hang out because you considered them adorably pathetic or felt bad for them. Yandere Sculptor then prepares for the date of their life with help from their friend. They meet you in the park the two of you agreed to go, on a full tuxedo, a bouquet of flowers and expensive jewelry in a cute little box.

"I think you over dressed for this"

"I didn't"

"Oh really? We are in 30-degree weather, and we were supposed to just get some ice cream and walk around the park"

"You are worthy this and everything else in the galaxy"

"... Unconventional but appreciated. Let's go to a cafe first, ok?"

- Yandere Sculptor really loves you with all their heart, but have a very bad time expressing it appropriately, or even with enough care so as to not embarass you in public.

"What's this?"

"A car"

"Yes, obviously. And why is it here?"

"You said you wanted one, so I bought it"

"... Are you an idiot?"

"Funny, my friend said the same"

- Yandere Sculptor will let you be the one with the pants in the relationship and wouldn't even dare to get in your way in whatever you wish to do. They might not get it completely, or at all really, but are very eager to spend time with you, so they will give it their all to make you smile.

- Yandere Sculptor sometimes uses their wealth and connections to protect you and make you happy fro the shadows, like getting a reservation to that show or restaurant you always wanted to go to, hire some bodyguards and detectives to make sure you are safe, bribe some cops to make sure that stalker of yours gets the death penalty, buy land so they can build the house of your dreams when you eventually get married. You know, small stuff.

- Yandere Sculptor does have a nasty side to them, of course. They might be blunt, somewhat stupid, and clueless, and they are completely head over heels for you, but they sometimes wish you would never leave their side. They wish they could keep you in their house forever, praising you and making art in your honor. They already have many sculptures of you (some with a more angelic or godly design than others), plus some portraits and photos from the many commissions they have paid to portray your beauty in new artistic angles.

- Yandere Sculptor has so many artistic representations of you that are sure to last for decades or even generations thanks to their high-quality materials. But it's not enough for them. Just like any other human, you one day will die and leave this terrenal plain of existence to transcend to a more spiritual form, but they don't want your corpse to rot and destroy the beauty that they believe is the same as that of a goddes.

- Yandere Sculptor has a lot of experience with working with resin, so it wouldn't be too difficult to make you into a perfect statue that will never age and never get hurt. It's an interesting thought, an appealing thought, but then you call them to ask if they wish to go to an art exhibition, and they immediately forget it all to get ready for the event. Who knows, perhaps they will be happy to simply be buried with you in the cemetery, but to immortalize you and them into a sculpture...

"It would be beautiful :)"

[starlight-artbby]

I FUCKING LOVED THE NEW X-MEN EPISODE!!!

We got the Summers Family acting like an actual Family. I love how Kurt gave Jean the best advice like literally Kurt gives everyone the advice they so desperately need. Seeing Scott and Nathan fist bump to also gave me life. I also love when Jean talks about Maddie like I deeply believe Jean saw her as a sister but just didn't know how exactly to reach out when she went through so much.

Also can I talk about how much I love Jean being all Motherly?!?! Like telling Nathan to put on his seatbelt and putting it on for him. Then Scott also being dad and a good husband saying stuff like Nathan, Jean Run! Like ooh those two were finally acting like a family and I am so here for it.

Need more of the Summers Family I fear.

I literally hate Bastion so much already. Like how are you as a Mutant, basically getting rid of your kind? Not to mention Magneto starting war?!?! I could never blame him. Like he literally knew how ostracized Mutants would be from day one.

I also love how Kurt was ready to Kill fro Rogue in an instant. He literally would do anything for his sister and I love him for it .

Now hoo... Roberto's mother done pissed me off. So many parents would rather save face than protect their children. The hurt in his eyes when his mother didn't believe him broke my heart. Can we also talk about how Jubilee literally suicide jumped off that building even for just a second like she would rather hope she learned how to fly instead of surrendering.

I also once again loved the Cute Juberto scenes. I know a lot of people don't fuck with the relationship but I seriously love them. I think they are so cute. Also Roberto learning how to fly and practicing in the danger room! Like I loved that.

Morph was once again killing me with the jokes like not the Wolverine universe thing. I enjoyed seeing the Logan fight sequence when he was in the air and Kurt with swords was everything I didn't know I needed to see animated until that very moment.

Now Professor X done pissed me off still. Like HOW DO YOU FINALLY SHOW UP!!! AFTER EVERYTHING!!! You had the X-Men take over YOUR DREAM! And then you abandon THEM?!?! Like ughhh!!!

Good news thou, STORM WILL HOPEFULLY BE IN THE NEXT EPISODE. And maybe we will get her saving Jubilee and Roberto that would be cool.

I also hope Rogue wakes up soon. (Not to mention I loved seeing all those marvel characters especially Spiderman♡♡♡)

Also, I love Jubilee's new outfit. And the "To me my X-Men was everything. I love when they say that line. And seeing the faces?! Loved that. I am all to excited for the next episode.

[introspectivememories]

what's wrong with data analyst bernard?

summary: tim's a workaholic ceo. bernard is, to put it simply, a down-on-his-luck loser with a kid to take care of. somewhere along the line, they meet. (very loosely based on the 2018 hit kdrama, "what's wrong with secretary kim?")

A/N: for @chamiryokuroi bc this fanart has given me brainrot since the moment i saw it. but also bc, i missed writing and your art helped. i hope you like it. (more notes at the end.) (AO3 LINK)

Today is a good day, Bernard thinks happily, brand new ID badge bouncing on his tie. It's his first day at Wayne Ent. and Mori had sent him off with a hug and muttered, "have a good day, Tou-san." It's been bouncing around in his head all day. Tou-san, Tou-san, Tou-san, he's really a dad now. He's got to make sure Mori has everything he needs and this new job is going to make sure he can do that.

Shaking his head once to clear it, he takes a sip of the complimentary coffee a team member bought him for his first day. His team leader, Young-joon Lee, is taking him on a tour of the building. Young-joon is a wonderful man in his late 30s but it's very clear that he's been consumed by the office lifestyle.

"...and here is our magnificent lobby!" Young-joon is saying as he tunes back in. His team leader spreads his arms wide out as he speaks, "Everyone knows the lobby but it's my personal philosophy that making friends or at least being on amicable terms with the ground floor staff will make your life easier."

Bernard laughs politely, "I know what you mean. I can't tell you how many times being nice to the host at the restaurant I used to work at saved my butt during rush hour."

"A man after my own heart!" Young-joon says, smiling widely as he leads him to the help desk.

Bernard tilts his head up to look at the skylight. It's a gorgeous thing with little animal motifs running alongside it. It lights up the lobby bringing a welcoming feeling into it. With the sunlight pouring into the room, along with the din of busy workers in slacks running to and fro, it really feels like stepping into a movie.

Are you seeing me Darls?, he thinks with a childlike glee, hand coming up to thumb at his badge again, I made it!

"This, my friend," Young-joon says, pulling up to the help-desk, "is our wonder-duo. Tamara and Abhishek. They practically run this building. Lord knows we'd be tripping all over ourselves without them."

Tamara and Abhishek smile as they get introduced.

"They run this building?" he asks confusedly.

"You see, young padawan," Abhishek says, "not only do we help the people that come in here asking questions or for instructions, we also answer any questions the staff has for us."

"Things like, 'What's HR’s number?' or 'Can you page Data for me?' or 'No seriously, I'm calling HR on this man right now. What is their number?'" Tamara says grinning.

Bernard laughs. It feels like that's all he's been doing since he got here. "You have to tell me the story on that one day."

"Sorry," Tamara says, faux-apologetic, "the minimum clearance on that story is half-a-year. Gotta level up."

His cheeks hurt from smiling. This is his and Mori's new beginning. This is where they level up. Nothing's gonna stop him now.

"Do you know the story behind that one?" he asks, turning to Young-joon.

"Of course! But where would be the fun in telling you? You have to stay the six months and if luck comes my way, longer."

"You want me for longer?"

"Of course, I saw the way you worked during those practice problems in the interview. I had to fight the other team leaders for you. It was brutal."

"Get back I say!" Young-joon says, miming a sword fight. A pleased warmth builds in his chest; they wanted him, they wanted him!

Darls you better be fucking watching this. I'm movin' up in the world.

"Ooh, send me that footage. I wanna see our newest recruits skills," Abhishek says.

"You got the data team fighting over you?" Tamara asks, eyebrows raised, "I wanna see it—"

Whatever she was going to say is cut off by the sound of both of their pagers pinging. Immediately going stock still, they start typing on their computers.

Bernard turns to Young-joon confused but his team leader looks like nothing is out of the ordinary.

"The boss is coming." Young-joon says, like that's a reasonable explanation for two people shutting down in the middle of the conversation, "It's always quite a spectacle and they always have to notify the other execs. Just watch."

Still, the boss? Maybe Bruce Wayne will say 'hi' to him and he'll charm the CEO and Mr. Wayne can figure out a way to—

No, no. He's done making those kinds of fantasies. Nobody is coming to help. Bernard is going to figure out his life on his own, he is going to take such good care of his kid, and he is not going to wait for some rich billionaire to swoop in and take care of him. He got this far didn't he? He'll get even farther.

He and his team leader lean against the help desk sipping coffee as they wait for the CEO to come in and sure enough, a black Rolls Royce pulls up to the driveway in the front. The minute the door opens, flashes from the paparazzi's cameras start going off. Out steps a bodyguard in a black suit with an umbrella opened. From below the umbrella he sees a nice pair of brown loafers step out. The CEO seems to be wearing a navy blue suit today. The paparazzi roars and the flashes increase.

"Oh wow," a man remarks a few feet away from him, "the circus is strong today, huh?" His friend laughs.

A woman wearing red heels steps out after the CEO, the paparazzi flashes decrease dramatically. More bodyguards exit after the woman and form a square around the CEO and his assistant/secretary. They shuffle towards the entrance where he sees the elderly doormen greet the executives with a smile. Whatever they say is lost to the sound of the city but the doormen laugh and push the doors open.

Young-joon's been making small talk throughout the entrance and Bernard tries to keep up but whatever the hell is going on at the entrance is way more interesting than anything his team leader is talking about. As they enter the guards spread out and dissolve the square. The woman comes into view first, red heels with a black slacks and a white button down. She's holding a long coat in one hand and a laptop bag slung over her shoulder. She's gorgeous and clearly the one in charge, going by the way she barks orders at the guards.

Young-joon says something and he turns around to respond, grabbing his coffee cup off the desk counter. His CEO's loafers tap across the lobby's marble floor, something about it is comforting. A lull in the room's conversations causes the CEO's voice to carry over.

"...Tam, make sure the quarterly reports are on my desk by at least 4 today and make sure to push back the sales meeting by 30 minutes to an hour, the board wants to talk — Oh Mr. Bardakcı! Thank you for stay—..."

Bernard's heart jackrabbits in his chest. He knows that voice but- it can't be. It's not possible; he chose Wayne Enterprises for a reason. He's not supposed to be here. He's supposed to be at his father's company. Unless... there was a merger? No, that seems like the kind of thing the news wouldn't've shut up about. He would've known.

When was the last time you had time to sit down and read the news, Bear? Darls says inside his head

She's right. With filing for custody of Mori and graduating from college and the job search, he hasn't had time for much else. It's entirely possible that he could've missed one of the biggest mergers of the decade.

Fuck, Fuck.

He wasn't supposed to be here. Bernard was supposed to be moving on. He was supposed to be building a life for himself away from the shadows of his childhood. He was supposed to be forgetting that Tim Drake ever existed.

He has to make sure though. Turning his body around, he prays that it's not the man he thinks it is. But sure enough, there stands Tim Drake, resplendent in a navy blue suit and a golden tie.

Golden ties for golden boys, he thinks absentmindedly.

The suit fits him perfectly, stretching across his shoulders and wrapping around his waist. Even the tie looks knotted perfectly. How long did it take him to learn, Bernard wonders. He could never get it right back in high school. Does his assistant Tam do it- no, no! This is why he didn't apply to Drake Industries. Bernard can't do anything around Tim and Tim is never going to care enough about him to stay.

Tim's head seems to be turning in his direction and Bernard whips his head back to make sure Tim doesn’t even catch a glimpse of him. His hand twitches violently enough that the coffee cup falls out of his hand and spills all over the floor. The cup rattles deafeningly on the floor. Bernard can't fucking breathe.

"-ernard? Bernard!" his team leader's voice cuts through the haze in his head. Young-joon looks concerned, "Are you okay?"

He blinks slowly, "...What?"

"I said, 'Are you okay?’ You look like you've seen a ghost?"

No, Bernard thinks, seeing Darls would be preferable to whatever level of hell I've found myself in.

"I'm—, I'm fine." he says rather unconvincingly. His eyes dart back to the spill, "What am I saying? There's a large puddle of coffee on the floor. I—, I should get some paper towels for that."

"Do you have any paper towels, Wonder-Duo?" he asks, trying desperately to ignore Tamara and Abhishek's concerned looks.

"I already called the custodial staff," Tamara says slowly, like she’s trying not to spook him, "but if it makes you feel any better," she pulls out a huge stack of paper towels, "go crazy, I guess."

Bernard takes a handful of paper towels and gets to work. The cleaning is meditative and with each swipe of the paper towel, the puddle gets smaller. Bernard pretends the puddle is his feelings for Tim. Swipe, forget about the 4pm milkshakes and his laughter when Darls snorted milk out of her nose. Swipe, don't think about the way he used to smell. Swipe, he left and never looked back; you don't look back either.

The tap, tap, tap of loafer on marble is getting closer to them for some reason. Why is it getting closer? Does it not have staff meetings, market research, and people to leave behind?

"What is going on here?" Tim asks.

"Nothing much, sir." Abhishek responds, "Newbie just spilled some coffee."

Abhishek, no!

"Oh is that all? And he took the initiative to start cleaning instead of waiting for the custodial staff. You made a good choice, Young-joon."

"Thank you, sir!" Young-joon says, "I was taking him on the tour when you came in. Most newbies love the show so I thought we'd stop here for a little bit."

Tim laughs. Bernard hates that his heart still skips a beat at the sound.

A pair of brown loafers and a wool-covered knee slowly appear in his vision. Why is Tim crouching in front of him? Why won't this man leave him alone?

"This looks like quite a lot of work, let me help."

You can help by leaving me the hell alone, he thinks uncharitably.

"I hope you found the facilities to your liking," Tim continues, like he hadn't heard Bernard's thoughts, "My name is Tim Drake-Wayne, CEO."

I know, he wants to say. I know you're Tim Drake. I know you like to skateboard and that you stared at Tony Hawk's photo for an hour every day in high school ‘cause didn't want to be one of those people who didn't recognize him. I know you struggled with your dad not really being there. I know you loved Mrs. Winters as much as you loved your mom. I know that you like history more than any other subject even though your best was always math.

Bernard says nothing instead.

Tim laughs awkwardly and Bernard knows he isn't helping the conversation along but whatever, he's allowed to be petty, right?

"I assure you, whatever you heard in the tabloids and the news, isn't true. I promise I won't bite…," Tim’s voice trails off as Bernard lifts his head.

"...Bernard?" Tim whispers, he looks like he's seen a ghost.

Bernard tries for a smile, he's pretty sure it comes out looking like a grimace.

"Sir," he says nodding curtly, hands still moving to sweep up the coffee puddle.

Tim's hand reaches out to touch his face, as if to make sure Bernard is really there. Bernard recoils as Tim's hand grazes his cheek. Tim's hand hangs in the air uselessly.

"Bernard?" Tim says again, as if to make sure his eyes aren't playing tricks on him.

"That's my name, Sir," he says through clenched teeth, "don't wear it out."

He can feel Young-joon and the Wonder-Duo's confused stare but he says nothing. What would he even say, really?

Hey, this is my old friend Tim Drake? Hey, I used to know him like the back of my hand? Hey, our best friend died and it feels like I'm the only one still grieving? Hey, in my junior year, five different gangs shot up my school and my best friend died in my arms and he left and I had to pick up the pieces by myself? Hey, I'm the idiot that's still in love with Tim Drake?

The clack of Tam's heels comes as a welcome distraction.

"Tim!" she says, grabbing his arm and pulling him away, "What the hell do you think you're doing? We have to go talk to the board. Build rapport with your employees later."

Tim stumbles to his feet, "Yes, but—, I—, This is—"

He sounds like he's glitching. Bastard. Is it really such a surprise to see Bernard in a well paying job? Even Tam is starting to look a little concerned now.

"Explain later," she commands, dragging Tim behind her. Bernard keeps his head down and continues wiping up the coffee puddle. Sneaking a glance upward shows him that Tim keeps turning back around to stare at him.

For a moment their eyes meet, brown against blue. 'Bernard?' he sees Tim mouth. Bastard, saying his name so many times. Doesn't he know what that does to Bernard? Why does Tim insist on breaking his heart again and again and again? Was once not enough?

He's tired of putting these walls up and just for a second, he lets them come down. Let Tim see the entirety of his brokenness. Tim already has his heart, he can have this too.

'Tim' he mouths back, smiling sadly. Tim looks stunned and the rage that had been simmering in his gut begins to boil over.

Do you see what I've become? Do you see how thoroughly Grieves ruined me? Is this not your doing too? Why did you leave? Have you ever visited Darla? Why was it so easy for you to not look back? Was I not your friend? Or was it just a time pass? Why wasn't I enough for you to stay?

He watches until the elevator doors close, separating him from Tim once again. His body sags like a marionette cut from its strings and his fingers clench uselessly around the coffee soaked paper towels. A hand lands on his shoulder and he flinches.

"Hey, hey," Young-joon soothes from where he's crouched right next to him. When did Young-joon crouch down? How much time has he missed? "It's just me, Bernard. Are you okay? What was that? Does our CEO know you?"

He exhales shakily. He needs to get out of here. He needs to sob hard enough he throws up. He needs the steady press of a knife on his back. He needs things he's not allowed to have anymore.

Bernard shoots up so fast the world spins around him. holding onto the desk for support, he tries to smile at his team leader. It stretches across his face misshapenly.

"I'm—, I'm sorry," he says stumbling over his words in a rush to get them out, "I have to—"

He has to what? Pretend to not see Darls out of the corner of his eye? Pretend like his hands don't have blood on them? Pretend like he isn't seeing bullet wounds every time he closes his eyes?

"—go to the bathroom," he finishes lamely. Gathering up all of the paper towels, he walks away dazedly, ignoring Young-joon's calls behind him. He shoves the towels in the nearest trashcan, letting his feet lead him to the nearest bathroom.

The bathroom is thankfully empty when he enters and he locks the door behind him. Sliding down the door, he exhales shakily. There's not enough air in this room; he can't breathe. The fluorescent lights hum above their coverings. The one on the left flickers. Who's bright idea was it to install school lights in a business office's bathroom?

The world outside the bathroom rushes on too loudly. Somebody is talking about their vacation. Someone is bemoaning their presentation today. His chest is getting tighter. His hands come up to tug on his hair. Why can't he breathe?

The exhales are coming quicker and quicker. Something comes tapping down the hallway. It's the gunmen, it has to be. A quick glance down tells him all he needs to know: he's covered in blood.

It's Lila's, he thinks dazedly, I had to carry her into the office. Or no, it's Olu's. I held him when he died. He said, he said, what did he say?

Why can't he remember? He hits his head with the heel of his palm.

Think he tells himself, we have to tell Olu's parents what he said. He said—, he said—.

His body sags.

Oh now he remembers. He said, "I don't wanna die Bernard."

A whimper tears itself out of his throat and he slaps a palm over his mouth. There's blood smeared across his face now, he must look like he walked out of a slasher film. He has to be quiet. if he's too loud, the gunmen will find them and then they'll all be dead.

Cry quietly, he tells himself, Darls doesn't need—

Darla! How could he forget about Darla with a hole in her gut? He needs to get to her. Lurching forward, he scrabbles across Mrs. Castillo's linoleum floor. He's smearing Olu's blood everywhere. Why won't Nikhil stop fucking crying so loudly? Goddamn freshmen and their hysterics. Where is Tim? Is he safe? He can't lose both friends today, please Lord, please.

BANG!

A violent flinch tears through his body. He sobs audibly this time, gagging on his spit. It's the gunmen, it has to be. He hasn't even held Darls' hand or counted Tim's moles for the last time. Where are the Darls? She shouldn't be alone. She doesn't like violence like this.

"Why didn't you save me, Bear?" a voice asks from behind him.

He freezes. Slowly he turns around and nearly yells in shock. Falling back on his butt, he stares up at his friend.

(He has to be quiet, he has to be quiet, he has to be quiet-)

Darls is standing behind him still in her crop top and cargo pants. Her once smooth midsection, bloodied and warped. The bullet wound still drips blood.

Plink, plink, plink.

Bernard hates the scent of iron.

"Why didn't you save me, Bear?" she asks, her voice echoing, "I thought we were friends."

There’s blood dripping down the side of her mouth. Now he remembers, the blood on him isn’t Olu’s or Lila’s — although there is that too — it’s almost overwhelmingly Darla’s. He’s covered in it. Elbows deep in it. It streaks up his arms like a macabre tattoo. He wore a white shirt to school today. The stains will never come out. He is Carrie at the end of prom, mortified and humiliated.

He crawls backwards until his back hits the wall, the impact knocking him out of the worst of that night. He's back in the bathroom. The lights hum loudly overhead. Darla hasn’t left yet.

She tilts her head, “Why didn’t you help me, Bear? I thought we were friends.”

“We are,” he rasps out, “we are friends.”

“Are we?” her eyes have no pupils. His Darls had eyes that shone in the sunlight. His Darls is dead. “Then why am I still bleeding? Why am I still hurting? Why is there a bullet in my stomach, Bear?!”

She’s shouting by the end and he flinches. His hands can’t seem to stop tugging at his hair. The blood must’ve smeared all over it. Talk about taking strawberry blond literally.

“I swear I did everything I could Darls,” he sobs out quietly, voice cracking, “I followed all of Mrs. Castillo’s instructions as best I could. I put pressure and tied the dressing as tight as I could.”

“You thought that was enough?” she snarls, hands coming down to grip the wound. It twists grotesquely; he gags, “You think any of that matters when I’m dead and you’re still alive?”

“Please, please. You know I wouldn’t leave you to die, Darls. Please, please, please believe me.”

“Liar, liar!” she screams, blood dripping out of her mouth onto her pink LOVE shirt. It darkens as each drop hits it. Soon it’ll be completely drenched and she’ll be drowning in it. Where did his smiling friend go? “I’m dead, Bear! I’m dead, dead, dead and it’s all your fault! Why didn’t you save me?! Why didn’t you save me?!”

He keens, body curling in on itself. One hand goes down to press on his throat; he’s making too much noise. Nikhil’s just a freshman. He shouldn’t have to die just because Bernard couldn’t shut up for once in his life.

“Please,” he whispers raggedly, “I tried, I tried. I swear I tried, Darls.”

“It hurts, Bear,” she sobs. Darla’s too young to be sounding so wrecked, “It hurts so much. Please help me.”

All of sudden, it’s too much. The taste of iron sits heavy on his tongue and Darla won’t stop sobbing. His fingers fumble for his phone and he presses one. It rings once, twice and finally on the third ring does a voice answer.

“Bear?” the other side says groggily.

“Ty please, I can't do this anymore,“ he sobs.

Tyrone suddenly sounds a lot more alert, “Bear what’s going on?”

“Darla won’t stop crying and she keeps on screaming that it’s my fault she died.” he wails, “I know I should’ve done more but please, can you tell her I tried? That I stayed with her until the end? She won’t listen to me, Ty. She won’t listen to me.”

There’s a muffled yell of ‘Babe!” on the other end. “Yeah,” Ty breathes out, “I’ll tell her.”

“You put me on speaker, okay?” Ty instructs, “And you gotta tell me if she’s nodding or if she’s gone or if she said anything, alright? I can’t see her.”

“Okay,” he whispers, pulling the phone away from his ear to press the speaker button.

“You tell me when to start, Bear,” he says, voice filling the bathroom. Darla looks up from where she’s sobbing.

“You can start now Ty,” he rasps out, holding the phone out.

“Hey Darla,” Ty says, “Bear told me you said a lotta mean things about him. Stuff like, ‘he’s the reason you died’ and that ‘he never cared’. Darla, you gotta believe me when I say Bear never stopped caring. He held your hand the whole way through. Told you stories about all the things you two were gonna do once you got out of that nurse’s office. He tried, Darla, honest. I’ve never seen him as focused as when you stopped breathing and Mrs. Castillo had him give you CPR. He couldn’t stop sobbing the whole time.”

“But I’m still dead,” she says.

“But I’m still dead,” he repeats.

Ty inhales sharply, “Yeah,” he says thickly, “you are. And I’ll never stop being sorry about that. But you can’t take that out on Bear. He’s just trying to live his life.”

Darls’ face twists up like a childs, “But it hurts,” she cries.

“But—, but it hurts,” he repeats, voice hitching.

Ty curses, “Oh, fuck. I can’t do this. Babe, can you—?”

“Yeah, of course.” 

“Hey, Darla. It’s me, Jimmy from the football team. I don’t know if you remember me but I remember you. After high school, me and Tyrone ended up getting married. Somewhere between shitty weed brownies and bad college parties, we fell in love. Isn’t that nice?”

Darls nods; he tells them as such.

“We visited you after the ceremony. I hope you felt that wherever you are these days. But the point I’m trying to make is that from all I’ve told you just now, you can probably figure out that Ty and I didn’t go pro like we planned. The shooting fucked up Ty’s knee and and my arm. After the hospital stays, playing football for a whole bunch of people just didn’t sound appealing anymore. We’re high school teachers now. Ty teaches math and I teach gym. When it rains or gets cold, my arm and Ty’s knee hurts like hell. But Darla, it doesn't hurt forever. It gets better, I promise.”

“Darla,” Jimmy says, voice unusually serious, “you’re right, you are dead and it does hurt. I’m sorry, I’ll never stop being sorry. I don’t know if it’ll ever go away for you; I’m not too much of an expert on the supernatural. Ty’s the smart one, after all. But I love you, Ty loves you, Bear loves you. I hope that when it hurts the most you can use that as a balm.”

“Auntie Bea loves you too!” Ty’s mom hollers from the background, “Aunt Betty, too!”

Ty laughs wetly and Jimmy snorts, “Does that sound okay?” they ask.

Darls smiles, her teeth stained red from all the blood that built up in her mouth. Bernard misses her with an ache he feels in his bones. Darls nods.

“She nodded,” he says quietly. He blinks once and she’s gone. Where did she go? Doesn’t she know that the gunmen are still at large? She needs to be somewhere safe. He can’t lose a friend today.

“Bear, Bear, you gotta breathe. Take a deep breath for me, c’mon,” Jimmy says.

“She’s gone, Jim. She’s gone again. Why does she keep leaving?” he says, crying. His body can’t stop trembling. How long has he been here? How much time has he missed?

“I miss the cult,” he whispers, “I never had things like this happen when I was with them.”

“Yeah,” Ty snaps, “‘Cause you were high off of like 50 different pain meds ‘cause you let them whip you.”

“Ty, not helping.”

“Move over, let me talk to him."

"Hey, sweetheart," Auntie Bea's voice crackles through his tiny speaker, "I know you're tired and I know you're hurting. I know you miss the cult but you gotta breathe for me, okay? You're gonna pass out otherwise."

"I can't, I can't," he gasps out. 

"Sure you can, you just gotta tell me five things you can see. Can you list those five things for me?"

Bernard desperately tries to get his breathing under control, "The sink is dirty."

"Good, good. Anything else?" 

"The tiles need to be re-grouted."

Aunt Betty barks out a laugh. Bernard's lips twitch upward.

"Keep going."

"My pants, my white shirt, my ID badge," he rattles off.

They talk him through the rest of the grounding techniques and by the time he feels like he's in control again, he's exhausted. His eyes hurt and his throat is dry. 

"Can you tell us why you spiraled so hard, Bear? This hasn't happened in a long time," Jimmy asks.

"I spoke to Tim again," he says simply. He pushes himself up onto his feet and walks over to the sink. Setting the phone down on the counter, he grips the sink with both hands and just breathes. The Bernard in the mirror looks like he just came out of a warzone, eyes haunted, hair messed up. 

"Oh fuck," Ty says, "Where did you even meet him?"

"At my new job at Wayne Ent."

"Why would you apply there?" Jimmy asks, stressed.

"I didn't know! It's not like I've had a lotta time in the past few years to check the news!"

"Well, whatever, what’s done is done." Ty says, ever practical, "Are you going to quit?"

"No!” he says vehemently.

“No,” he repeats quieter, “Wayne has the best benefits and Mori needs that. I’ll just suck it up and try to avoid him.”

“Don’t be fucking stupid,” Aunt Betty says.

“Ma!”

“Oh be quiet Jimmy. I’ve never heard of a more stupider thing. He’s your CEO, Bear, and he knows you work there. He’s obviously going to want ‘to catch up’ or whatever. There is no avoiding him. Can you handle that?”

What can he say? Aunt Betty is right. He can’t handle talking to Tim. Even seeing Tim felt like touching a live wire. He can’t deal with another episode. Mori doesn’t need him to be fucked up, Mori needs him to be the stable adult he promised the courts he was. 

“You can’t, sweetheart,” she says softly, “you can’t handle it.”

There’s some shuffling on the other end of the phone. 

“Bear,” Ty says gently, “I love you, man. You’re my brother. Jimmy loves you, Mama loves you, Aunt Betty loves you. But you gotta start thinking about therapy.”

“I know, I know,” he sighs, “I shouldn’t’ve dragged you into this. I’m—”

Ty cuts him off with an exasperated huff, “It’s not about that Bear. I’ll keep talking to your hallucinations for as long as you need me too. Even when we’re seventy, I’ll do it for you. I don’t care about that. I care about you and I want you to be happy and healthy. I don’t want you to keep seeing Darla. I don’t want you to keep trying to scrub the blood off your hands. 

“And I know you’ve been avoiding therapy ‘cause you don’t got the money and ‘cause talking about your problems is scary but it’s not just you anymore. You got Mori now. That custody claim is going through. You can’t just avoid things ‘cause they’re hard now. You work at Wayne now; that paycheck is more than enough to set a few dollars aside each month to save up for therapy. Hell, mental health probably comes with your medical benefits. Please, Bear. If you can’t get help for you, then do it for us, for Mori. Please stop making us watch you hurt.”

Bernard exhales shakily.

“I never wanna find you the way we did after the cult, Bear. I never wanna see you in the hospital bed like that again. Please don’t do that to us, please,” Ty whispers.

Unconsciously, his hand comes up to rub at the scar left behind from the sacrifice. It stretches along the length of his sternum, jagged and rough. On good days, he can pretend that it’s a scar from a heart surgery. He doesn’t have that many good days.

Bernard presses the heel of his palms into his eyes before using his hands to scrub at his face. He’s always so tired these days.

“Okay,” he says simply, “okay.”

“Okay?” Ty asks hopefully.

“Okay, you’re right. It’s not just me anymore. Mori deserves the best and I’m gonna give it to him. And I love Tim, I think I’ll always love Tim but he clearly doesn’t give a shit about me. So I gotta make my peace with it or I’ll go crazy.”

Ty whoops, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” he chants.

“Bear, it’s still the middle of the workday,” Jimmy says, although he too, sounds happy. Auntie Bea and Betty are muttering about a feast, he thinks. “Don’t you have to get back to work?”

“Yeah, that’s if I’m not fired already,” he mutters.

“Hey!” Jimmy admonishes, “Optimism only, no pessimism.”

“Alright, alright. I gotta get back to work now. Thanks guys.”

“Of course, we’ll let you go now. Ma wants me to tell you that we’re having dinner at your place today.”

“Aunt Betty,” he whines, “I haven’t cleaned and you and Auntie Bea are just looking for a reason to spoil Mori.”

“Absolutely,” they say, unashamed, “he’s our only grandson. We have to spoil him.”

“Fine,” he sighs but he’s smiling. Fuck, he loves these people. God knows he wouldn’t have survived the past six years without them.

“Bye Bear,” they say before he hangs up, “Good luck on your first day!”

He cuts the phone and slides it back into his pocket. Turning on the tap, he splashes some cold water onto his face. Using his wet hands, he tries to rearrange his mussed up hair into something acceptable for an office job.

Time to face the music Darls, he tells her smiling face in the mirror. She gives him a thumbs up in return.

The walk back to his office feels like a death sentence. He’s fucked this up, he knows it. Freaking out over a small interaction with his CEO and then running away only to come back two hours later? It’s over, done for. Bernard takes comfort in the fact that at least the severance package will be nice.

Stepping into the office, immediately draws the eyes of his team members. Every step towards his team leader’s office feels nerve-wracking. Just before he enters, Esperanza, the team’s second in command, stops him.

“Whatever happened,” she says, “just explain it to him. Young-joon’s a reasonable man, he’s not gonna yell at you.”

Some of the tension leaves him and he nods. Knocking on the door, he enters. His team leader looks up and smiles.

“Ah, Bernard! Why don’t you take a seat for me?”

He crosses his wrists behind his back, “I’d rather stand, sir.”

His team leader looks confused, “‘Sir’? Just call me Young-joon like I told you.”

“Anyway, after you left, I took the liberty of going through your file to see if there was anything I missed. I hope that wasn’t overstepping my boundaries.”

“No s-, Young-joon. You’re fine.”

Young-joon sighs and pushes the file he was reading before Bernard came in forward. It’s his file. 

“I’m going to say some statements,” he says, “and I want you to confirm whether it’s true or not. If any of these questions make you uncomfortable, just tell me okay? I’ll drop it immediately.”

Bernard nods.

“You went to Louis E. Grieves Memorial High School.”

“Yes.”

“Based on the dates you put in your file, you were there for the shooting.”

“...Yes. Junior year.”

“You know our CEO.”

“Yes,” he breathes out.

“How?”

He used to fall asleep on my shoulder during lunch and I would listen to him breathe. He’s got moles all over his face. Darls once connected them with a sharpie. His step-mom was so hot, I thought I’d spontaneously combust every time she smiled. HIs dad didn’t really like me and flirting with his wife didn’t help my case. The Drake condo had a crocheted flower blanket on the sofa that his mom had made during her pregnancy. He liked to skateboard but couldn’t roller-blade to save his life. I have all this love and nowhere to put it.

“It’s a little private,” he says instead.

“I’m only asking because we work quite closely with him. We see him often and if that makes you uncomfortable, then I can have you transferred to another team.”

His shoulders sag, “We went to Grieves together for one year. Our mutual friend died. It’s a little hard to look at him.”

“Jesus Christ.” Young-joon says, “Okay well the offer is still on the table, Bernard. Do you want to be transferred?”

“No, I like your team. I’d like to stay,” he says, firmly.

“Are you sure?” Youn-joon asks, eyebrows raised.

“Yes.”

“Okay then,” and it’s like a switch had flipped. Gone is his serious team leader and in its place is the man he met this morning.

“If you plan on staying,” he says smiling, “then my primary recommendation is that you use the medical benefits the company gives you to find a therapist. If you need help, the infirmary here will walk you through it.” 

Oh thank god it comes included with his medical, Ty will be overjoyed to hear that. But first, he has to ask Young-joon why he’s doing all this. Bernard knows his experience with authority figures is a little skewed towards the shitty side of the spectrum but even so, people usually aren’t so kind in his experience.

“Why are you doing this? Why didn’t you fire me? Why are you helping me?”

Young-joon chuckles, “Do you want to be fired?”

“No! But still, why are you helping me?”

Young-joon sighs and stands up. Walking around his desk, he stops right in front of Bernard. Young-joon puts a hand on his shoulder.

“This city takes a lot out of its people, believe me I know. And you were so young, when Gotham took her piece of you. It wasn’t fair of you to go through that. Just like it wasn’t fair to me and my wife when we got kidnapped as children. These kinds of things don’t go away. I still get worked up over zip-ties. My wife still has nightmares. All you can do is learn to live with it.

“You seem like a good kid with a good head on your shoulders. I’d hate to see all that potential go to waste ‘cause you kept getting trapped in your mind. I had a lot of help to get to where and who I am today. Consider this, me paying it forward. One day, I hope you can pay it forward too.”

His eyes feel suspiciously wet. “Thank you,” he chokes out, “thank you.”

Young-joon laughs, “There’s no need for the waterworks, Bernard. Now, pack up your things and go home. You’re in no state to analyze data today but I expect you here at 9AM sharp tomorrow, alright?”

Bernard mock salutes, “Yes, sir.”

“Goodbye, Bernard.”

Right before he exits, he turns around and calls out his team leader’s name.

“Young-joon,” Young-joon looks up confused, “you can call me Bear, by the way.”

A wide grin stretches across his team leader’s face, “Okay then. Goodbye Bear, see you tomorrow.”

Walking out of the office, it feels like a burden has been lifted off his shoulders. Esperanza takes one look at him and snorts.

“You just got Young-joon-ed, huh?”

His jaw drops, “He does that often enough you guys have a name for it?”

The other team members laugh, “Welcome to Data Analysis Team 1, kiddo. We look forward to working with you from now on.”

Smiling, he gathers his things and leaves after a few goodbyes. Once outside the building, the smile drops. It’s an hour-and-a-half bus ride from Wayne Tower to his house. The bus stop sits right in front of the tower too. Some new initiative by the mayor to promote the city moving towards green energy. Hey look, even rich people take the bus! What a fucking joke.

The tower warps the sunlight around it and he stares up at the top floor. Is Tim watching? Can Tim see him from up there? Does he care or was it just the shock of seeing someone he once knew this morning? Has Tim ever thought about him, about them? Or were they just moments in his life? Perpendicular lines, intersecting once and then never again.

I miss you, he thinks staring at the top floor, I miss you more than anything but I’ll walk into oncoming traffic before I ever reach for you again.

The bus pulls up next to him and he snags a seat in the back. Dropping his head onto the seat in front of him, he stares out the window. Darls smiles back at him in the window reflection, perpetually sixteen. He’s twenty-two now.

Fuckin’ hell Darls, he thinks wearily, we’re really in it now.

Darls places her hand against the glass, he leans his shoulder onto it. If he closes his eyes, he can almost feel her warmth.

We’ll make it through, she says.

The bus rumbles forward and he lets the cracked streets of Gotham lull him to sleep. He’ll make it through.

A/N: chami! i hope you like it!!! i've never gifted a fic before, i don't really know how this works. and to everyone who read it, i hope you liked it too! please leave your thoughts in the reblogs or replies!!! i miss the days when td:r was coming out and we were all collectively freaking out. anyway when i said loosely based, i really did mean loosely. props to you guys if you can figure out the direct references to the drama. but this is a one-shot. i'm not gonna be writing anything else for this 'verse? au? (god i'm always so worried im using em dashes wrong)

if you have questions or you're confused by something i wrote, feel free to ask questions or send an ask or message. oh, and i know some people like know the exact wordcount. so, it's exactly 6,785 words long. nice number right?

also, please note that if you want to make art or a podfic or hell, even fanfiction of this, feel free to do so! i hope that's not too presumptuous or anything. idk i see fanfic writers make this disclaimer all the time, so i thought i'd do it to.

thank you for reading!

[huggybearhughes43]

Will you please write an Alex Lyon smut for the Lyon girlies👁️👄👁️?😮‍💨🥹✨

Something about like him being heartbroken breaking up with his gf and where he is lost in life , and y/n who works for red wings social media team helps him out when he’s the lowest and it turns innocent but spicy in the end🥹

Thank you

Alex Lyon x Fem! Reader

Warnings- smut, raw dawgin, riding, oral (m! Receiving), rebound sex, cum swallowing

Summary- in the ask

Word count- 1.2k

I arrived to work early this morning, thinking nothing of it but to merely get more work done. I was sat in my office chair, working on the computer, when I heard the doors open and close in the distance. I glance at the clock in the corner of my computer screen and it was still an hour before the team was meant to arrive. I decide to ignore it, thinking it must be a manager.

That’s what I thought until I heard a soft knocking at my door. “Come in,” I whisper just enough for the person to hear. The last thing I expected was for Alex Lyon to walk it totally disheveled. His hair was a mess, eyes puffy, and cheeks red. I realize who it was, standing up and walking towards him. “Alex? What happened?” My hand raises to his cheek, my thumb wiping away a tear.

He clears his throat, his eyes looking everywhere but me. “She broke up with me.” He doesn’t specify a name but I know exactly who he’s referring to. I saw her sometimes at the practices and at the games but she’s never talked to the team outside of Alex. He shakes his head and places a hand over mine on his face before looking down at me. “Look, I didn’t know who else to come to… I’m sorry I bothered you.” He shakes his head and begins to retract.

“No,” I shake my head with a soft, comforting smile, “it’s okay, really. I have work to finish but you’re welcome to stay if you want.” He nods and makes his way to the comfortable couch I have in the corner of my office. I sit back in my chair and get back to work. After about an half hour my work was complete for now. I twirl my chair around to look at him and I sigh.

“Do you want me to get you anything?” I stand up and walk towards Alex. He shakes his head and a quiet “no” falls from his lips. I pinch my lips closed and sit next to him on the couch. I allow my hand to run through his hair. “Are you going to be okay for practice?” I pause, “If not, you can always stay in here with me.” My hand drops from his hair to my lap, his eyes eventually find mine. “I… I- uh, I’ll stay in here.” I smile and nod, “okay”.

Pretty much for the rest of the day Alex was cooped up in my office, scrolling through his phone while I completed the work the managers give to me. The time on my computer beep six pm, I look over to Alex. He’d been sitting on that couch for twelve hours, alternating through being on his phone, napping, and just staring at the ceiling fighting back tears. I close my laptop and move my chair to face him once again. I stand up and move to sit on one of the arm armrests of the couch.

He looks up from his phone and looks up at me. He was laying down on the couch. “It sucks seeing you like this.” I begin, “what could I possibly do to make you feel better?” He sits up without breaking eye contact. “I mean, I could buy you dinner…” I think, “I could, I dunno, anything you want I guess?” “Kiss me.” My eyes go wide and my neck snaps to look at him. “What?” “You asked what could you do to make me feel better, kiss me.” I go quiet, thinking about it for a moment. He notices the quietness and clears his throat. “Or don’t- I- I mean you don’t have to.”

I cut his paranoid rant off with pressing my lips to his. He takes a second to kiss back, clearly in shock that I did what he asked. But eventually his lips move with mine and he moves his hands to hold the sides of my face. In the heat of the kiss, I slide off of the arm rest and into his lap, straddling him. His hands move from my face, down my back, to rest on my ass. He squeezes and I pull away from the kiss, breathless. “Are you sure, Alex? I mean, will this really make you feel better?”

He looks up at me and presses a soft kiss to my lips before speaking. “Feelings don’t have to be involved… I just wanna forget.” I take in a deep breath and nod, pressing my lips back to his. The kiss was slow and thoughtful, his hands roaming all over the back of my body. I pull away and peel my shirt off of my body, tossing it on the floor. I connect our lips once again as I unclip my bra and disregard it on the floor like my shirt.

Alex moves his kisses down my jaw and all the way down to my breasts. He moves to squeeze them as he peppers kisses all over them. I tug at the hem of his shirt, silently asking him to take it off. He listens and strips it off and throwing it with the rest of the clothes. The skirt I was wearing was bunched at my waist and my panties were pulled to the side in no time. He nestled his head onto my shoulder as he pulled down his sweatpants just enough to let his hard cock spring free.

Alex moves one of his hands to rub through my folds, making sure I was comfortable and ready for him. He slowly moves to line himself up, waiting for any protest before he pushes in. When all he hears is heavy breaths from me, he moves his hands to my hips, pulling me down slowly to sit onto him. I throw my head back as he bottoms out, I allow small breathy moans to fall from my lips. His lips attach themselves to my neck to fight back his moans.

Alex’s hands move my hips back and forth on his. One of his hands fall from my hips, lower for his thumb to rub circles on my clit. “Alex…” I whine out. “I know, pretty girl, cum for me.” He whispers into my neck. My pussy clenches around him, my orgasm getting closer and closer. The band snaps inside of me and my cum coats his cock. I moan out, grounding myself by putting my hand in his hair harshly. The action of pulling his hair sends him over the edge, he pulls me off of him but before he could cum I fall to my knees.

Alex understands what I’m asking for as I stick my tongue out for him. He throws his head back as he cums. His hand jerking back and forth, making sure every drop landed in my mouth. Once he finishes I swallow and show him proof. He laughs as he pulls his sweatpants back up. I readjust my skirt and redress myself, throwing him his shirt. “Feel better now?” He pulls his shirt on and stands up. Before I can react, Alex pulls me into a hug, “Way better, thank you.”

[heliosthegriffin]

The Witch is overpowered, but overly sensitive to pain

"This is it, Salem!" Jaune shouts.

Ruby slices through a line of Beowolves. "We're here to take you down for good!"

"Oh ho ho, well come and try it!" Salem poses dramatically, pointing a hand at them.

Jaune moves in front of Ruby, taking a hit of magic with his shield. Ruby lowers Crescent Rose on his shoulder, aiming at Salem's heart, if she still possessed one.

Salem does even dodge the shot, a shimmering shield of rainbow-colored magic blocking it, the bullet ricocheting above her, hitting the ceiling.

The bullet hits a gargoyle on the wall, making it wobble, then fall down. It drops like a heavy rock off a cliff. It falls down right next to Salem, and she is distracted.

Ruby speeds forward and cuts through the shield with the blade of her scythe, Jaune following behing her, pushes her back with his shield, and then kick her's in the abdomen.

"OW! FUCK! Ow-ow-ow!" Salem buckles over, breathing hard. Jaune stands uneasily over her, his sword held high, but not quite sure what to do next. He looks to Ruby, who awkwardly shuffles holding Cresent Rose.

Salem falls to her knees, holding her stomach. "Fuff-ha, fuff-ah. Shit, ow." She looks at Jaune in betrayal. "What the hell, man? Who goes and does that to a lady!?"

Jaune's eyes flicker to and fro guiltily. "Um, we're fighting." "Yeah, but like a high-fantasy magic battle! Where beams go pew-pew!"

"I'm not a wizard. I don't have a gun that make pew-pew."

Salem breathes heavily. "I noticed! Ah, my dad might have put me in a tower most of my life, but nobody's ever hit me before! Ah, ouch."

Jaune looked to Ruby, who seemed to have caught a case of second-hand shame. "Ruby over there has a gun and stuff, and shoot lasers of her eyes." Jaune offed.

"Yeah, I'm used to that! It's normal to shoot and use lasers on me, but who punches a lady in the gut?!"

"Kicked. And, I mean Yang, did that to you?"

"That was a double! A body double made of Grimm Ooze!"

Jaune noticed Ruby edging out of the room, but locked her down with a meaningful gaze. Which meant, 'You helped me get into this, you're helping me get out.'.

"I was back here playing Total Remnant Destruction!" Salem moaned, balling up on the floor.

Ruby around and offered a sympathetic hand to Salem. "Hey, hey how about we start this over, and without any hand-to-hand, or gut kicks." Ruby said, giving Jaune a awakward look, which he returned.

Salem took the hand. "Ok, lets do that."

Ruby then gave a pull.

One she did too fast, accidentally giving the Witch a headbutt, causing Ruby to stumble back groaning, as she didn't have her aura up, and Salem fell back to the ground, holding her forehead.

"AH! Ozpin blowing me was less painful!"

Jaune looked at her pathetic form. "I thought that was a double? When Oscar blew up the whale?"

"I was talking about when the first time he did it! When you get blown up with magic, it doesn't it hurt, it like a weird tickle, or your leg falling asleep and then waking back up!' She accidentally bent over, causing her bruised stomach to spasm.

"Oh no, uh urg. I think I'm going to throw up!" Salem's pale face went red.

"Jaune help her!" Ruby said urgently. "She got her hair in her face, don't let it get all messy!"

"Why me?" Jaune moaned, going over to help her.

"Because out of the three of us, you have the most experience with throwing up!"

Jaune scowled, but pulled back Salem's hair, causing her to cry, "Too rough, be more gentle -urggg!" She started hurling over Jaune's boots black ichor, with little tenacles and limbs flaying about.

Jaune's gaze went dead, but continued to hold her hair back, and offer gentle words of comfort, and little rubs on the shoulder blades, promising that everything would get better.

After moving her away from the vomit, and getting rid of his Grimm-stained boots, Salem started crying into his lap, and Jaune realized with horror, that Ruby had abandoned him when he wasn't looking. Probably unable to withstand the sheer uncomfortable air that came with caring for the person you were trying to destroy mere minutes ago.

Then he heard soft snoring. Looking down, the Grimm Queen had fallen asleep. She was almost cute like this, other than the black ichor around her mouth, which he took care of with a spare hanky, which was now quickly dissolving.

Jaune quickly resigned himself to being her awhile, and took out a book he had been meaning to finish, and now seemed just as good a time as any. He put on a pair of reading glasses, and gently patted Salem's head, hoping that she'd stay asleep for a while, and while doing so, keep the world from being destroyed for a bit longer.

---

An: I always thought it would be funny if Salem had a extremly low tolerance for pain, because how much it would contrast her being normally a mostly invincible villain and being a caster type fighter, who isn't used to getting up close and personal.

[friendlyneighborhoodsynthezoid]

More Pirate Batch! Wrecker

One more right away, just to prove I've got the rest on the way.

Wrecker was content with his life as a dock worker. Or so he told himself, daily, while he spent long hours hauling heavy crates to and fro in the relentless wind and heat. Wrecker knew he was a strong guy, but even he was going to bed exhausted and dreading the morning that would begin the cycle of endless work once again. Until one day, he spied a strange looking visitor to the docks. A young man, maybe Wreckers age, stepped off a peculiar-looking ship, docked clumsily and with evident difficulty in a secluded corner in the pier. Wrecker would never claim himself to be the brightest sort, but to his eyes, this guy looked green. Both literally, and meta… figur… and that he looked inexperienced. The hat and coat he wore were impressive but didn’t quite fit him right. The ship was sleek and looked well armed, but it appeared damaged and shoddily repaired. And this kid stepped off the ship alone, with no visible escort or companions, and walked right past where Wrecker was gawking without even seeming to see him.

The whole of his workday, Wrecker’s thoughts kept straying to the half-hidden ship and the strange fellow who captained it. That evening, Wrecker went to it and undid the rope which held it. It was a sorry job that Wrecker couldn’t stand not correcting. With a mighty tug, the ship straightened out and drifted closer to the pier, where he fastened it more securely. Wrecker sat on the edge of the pier, legs dangling over the side and daydreaming about weaponry when raised voices caught his attention.

“Hey, you! With the silly hat!” Wrecker turned his head slightly towards the shout, not moving just yet. It didn’t pay to get involved and escalate things when it wasn’t necessary.

“Well lookie here,” a different voice added, “we’ve caught ourselves a Fett!”

That make Wrecker whip his head around, subtly be damned. Wrecker would never presume to be knowledgeable about, well, anything, but even he recognized that name. He scanned the docks until his eyes alighted on the same young man he’d noticed that morning. His carefully constructed air of confidence was cracking slightly as he took small steps back from two hulking figures lurching towards him.

“Hey, fellas, I was just leaving-” he tired, hands up placatingly.

“Yeah, right,” snorted one of the thugs- he was big and ugly, sure, but wrecker decided he could be dealt with, “you’re leaving, Fett? No way yer Jango. Not parading about with no backup and a coat that don’t even fit. You one of his brats?” he punctuated the sentence with a sharp jab of his huge finger. Wrecker’s feet were carrying him closer without any input from his brain.

The young man rolled his eyes, “I dunno about any Fett, but-” his gaze caught Wrecker’s and flashed from searching, to scheming, and finally, smug confidence, “-what was that you said about backup?” he ducked, turned and ran as the two thugs turned to find Wrecker behind them.

Wrecker gave them a chance. “You guys wanna back off and let this one go?” he asked. He meant it, too, but it seemed to Wrecker that people only ever wanted to solve problems by punching them. This suited him just fine. Predictably, the thugs bared teeth and fists, and wrecker mourned the state of peace he’d enjoyed minutes before. Oh well. It would be a short fight.

_______

 A short time later, Wrecker was sitting idly by the water, watching the sunlight play across the rippling surface of the bay. A smoky voice sounded from behind him. “Hey pal, you looking for a career change?”

“What?” Wrecker yelped and turned around to find the young captain standing over him with a calculating sort of smile. “What’re you- but who- i’m just a dock hand!” 

The guy rolled his eyes. “Right. A dock hand who just saved my stupid skin, and – I notice- pulled my ship into port with your bare hands. You, my friend, are something special.” he sat down next to him, kicking his booted feet a little. “The names Hunter Fett, and I’m looking for a crew. I could use a big guy like you. You can probably guess why-" Wrecker tried not to glance at the man's short stature- "I can promise one hell of an adventure if you join up. And a significant amount of firepower.” Wrecker’s eyes lit up, for his nickname was well chosen. Firearms and cannons were his great obsession and his best talent. Hunter smirked. “I may be short on men, but I’ve got guns galore.”

And so Wrecker's new life began.

[ner5y]

@notherpuppet's role reversal lyrics for Hazbin Hotel songs have lived in my head rent free, so I wrote my own rendition of "Ready For This"!

Looking over this again, there are noticeable areas for improvement, but this is my first time writing lyrics.

Maybe I'll make a karaoke style video to show where each syllable fits into the song!

Here's the original post this was inspired by

Alastor: Have you ever wanted something

That was so clear in your mind

That you could taste it?

Exorcist 1: (Spoken) You mean like ice-cream for a friend?

Alastor: (Spoken) Ha! No

It's a feeling like a roaring

In your heart that you could find

If you just faced it

Stand up against the fray and well,

I'll just come out and say it

For the first time in my life

I know that I am ready for this

and to that heavy thrum, I'll lead you from the front

I can't do this on my own

Throughout, history has shown

That our legends never won their wars alone!

I know the burden may be great,

But with your help, I'm sure we'll take the weight!

Aren't you tired of your power and authority so easily belittled?

Exorcist 2: (Spoken) Maybe if we just talked it out-

Alastor: (Spoken) ugh, Face it!

Those in hell will never listen,

Now's the time they feel their rotten egos crippled!

They'll find their power rippled

(Spoken) And yours tripled!

Don't you want to see those bastards set alight?

Join up now, prepare to travel

Onwards to a glorious battle!

Time to steel your nerves, jump in and join the fight!

Set all that hidden bloodlust free

Follow me

And we'll divide and conquer,

Their heads upon a stake!

Charlie: Just think of all the new friends you could make!

Alastor: (Spoken) Christ's sake…

Exorcist 1: (Spoken) New friends? I'm in!

Exorcist 2: (Spoken) Oh, woah!

Exorcist 3: (Spoken) I'm so lonely!

Exorcists: It's time now to act

They're on the attack

When they move to strike

We won't stall striking back!

We'll follow with glee

We can't wait to see

The new friends we'll meet

On this hellish retreat!

Though your lust for blood is something we abhor,

We will help you fight the fight and win the war!

Those overlords won't stand a chance against our light brigade

So we say, "hip hooray!" we will join in your crusade!

Alastor: Hey now, that's the spirit! Can we amp it up?

Vaggie: (Spoken) Oi!

Do not take their jubilation

For easy manipulation!

Alastor: But if I could take their rage and build it up-

Vaggie: (Spoken) Hey, kid!

They're no demons, but they're tough!

Alastor: Fair enough…

Alastor and Vaggie: We are forever thankful for your bravery and aid!

Exorcists: We can't wait to meet the new friends we'll have made!

Alastor: (Spoken) oookay…

For the first time in my life,

I'm going to be ready for this

Ready to be their marshall, leading the parade

They're quite affable, I know,

But I'll help their rage to grow!

Until they're an army ready for the fro!

Though not the most intimidating,

I can help them fix their sorry state!

Vaggie: They're dancing along

They're singing his song!

Charlie: Surprised? Why, I knew he could do it all along!

Vaggie: although his motivations are a little harsh…

Charlie: His confidence will surely help him lead this march!

And I will be the one to heal him of his blight

Vaggie: Fine I'm in!

Charlie and Vaggie: Stick with him, he will surely see the light!

Exorcists and Alastor: For the first time in our lives

We know that we are ready for this!

Exorcists: We'll show them their most righteous battle yet!

Exorcists: We will gladly lend a hand!

Alastor: I will finally take a stand!

Against those sinners and their deadly threat!

All: We'll be the victors in this war

And once it's over, we'll restore

Authority, we're ready for

War!

Alastor: I really hope that they're ready for this…

[letsgofoletsgo]

To Rekindle a Soul

This fic was inspired by the Vox Machina episode Those Who Walk Away. It was one of my favorite episodes, of season two, and I wanted to write something similar with BG3. Hope you enjoy!

TW: Death/revival, angst ~

“Karlach! Get up here now!”

The urgency of Gale’s voice made Karlach’s stomach sink. She could hardly remember ever hearing his voice with such a tone, let alone directed at her. Immediately she bounded to the rope secured at the entrance of the pit, climbing out so swiftly it was as if she was narrowly avoiding her death. Instinct left no time for her imagination to fill the gaps, pressing onward with haste. Her claws sunk into the stone of the temple as she pushed herself upward. 

“Gale, what’s happened, I-”

For the first time, Karlach felt her engine threaten to stop.

A few feet away lay Rivera. Cradled in Halsin’s arms, the rest of the team gathered around him. He lay unmoving, limp, lifeless. Frightened shouts, pleads, and demands echoed within the chasm, panic and severity overwhelming the air as time seemed to warp. Shadowheart trying any spell she could, desperately asking the druid what could be done. Astarion, in a rare moment of concern, yelling at Gale to do something, Gale snapping back fervently that he doesn’t know what he could do. 

It all fell silent to Karlach as she bounded over to him, leaving a singed trail in her wake. 

“RIVERA!!!”

She bellowed as she fell to the ground, snatching his body from Halsin’s grasp, stray embers landing and fading against his body. Her gaze, blurred with tears and horror, flicked over Rivera’s face, feeling utterly sick to her stomach as his glassy eyes stared into nothingness. Her engine clacked violently, steam pouring from her vents, fueling the wildfire that leapt from her back.

“No! No no no! Rivera, please! You can’t- not like this-!” A disfigured string of pleads and cries fell from Karlach’s mouth, desperately wrapping her body around Rivera’s, clutching him into her chest. 

In a moment, a fun-loving, curious, vibrant life was gone. The fellow tiefling that ended up becoming Karlach’s everything. The first hug she received in a decade. The best thing that had ever happened to her, her best friend, her lover, her twin flame- ripped from her embrace just like everything else in her life. 

Gone. 

“Wait-” Halsin said suddenly, “A revival rite!” 

Everyone looked at him. A glimmer of hope had emerged, but there was little time. 

“Wh- A resurrection ritual? I’ve never done one of those before.” Shadowheart admitted. 

“Yes, it’s complicated, but it's his only chance.” Taking his staff, Halsin began to dig runes into the ground, precise even in his hurried motions. 

As Shadowheart went to help him, Gale approached Karlach’s side, kneeling as close as her searing heat would allow. 

“Karlach, look at me.” He said, voice stern with necessity. 

She moved her head just slightly, tears burning away from her lashes as she barely locked eyes with the wizard.

“We’re going to try a resurrection ritual, but we’re going to need him in the spell circle.” 

Gale knew he’d need to be gentle in order to pry Rivera from Karalch’s arms. He seemed to get through to her, grip loosening as Halsin tenderly collected him. However, instinct and emotion tore through as she reached for him once again, almost growling at Halsin. Lae’zel swiftly positioned herself between them, bracing against Karlach’s burning skin. 

“If you want your mate alive, listen to him.” She snarled, laden with solemn concern. 

Karlach remained still. Flames barely contained, shuddering breaths fighting against her roaring engine. She sat in a daze as the ritual commenced, magic flowing from Halsin and Shadowheart’s palms to create a golden capsule. The group’s voices became indistinguishable as Karlach stared forward, hardly able to think, wishing this was a horrible nightmare she could wake up from. 

And then, Karlach noticed. She couldn’t hear their voices anymore. It appeared as if the group in front of her had been frozen. 

She could hardly process it before something caught the corner of her eye. Her attention being torn from Rivera after what felt like hours, now witnessing something otherworldly taking form across the room. It looked like a tree growing before her eyes, green and black magic seeping from its skin as it took shape. Its roots melded into legs, its branches wove into arms. A wooden crest emerged where the canopy would be, curling around a glowing energy. The being now appeared humanoid, donning armor made of bark. Its skin was a vibrant green, casting a warm glow that alleviated the darkness around it. 

Karlach remembered. 

Rivera’s patron. Lord Oberon. 

The ruler of the Fae that he spoke of with such reverence. The king of beasts he had sworn loyalty to, that he had vowed to protect. The being he worshiped like a cleric does their god, he viewed him as salvation, meaning, purpose. It was something Karlach never quite understood, but respected. 

Now, the Green Lord was among the mortals. The death of his champion rippled across realities, beckoning his presence to the Material Plane. He approached Rivera slowly, moving like a great oak swaying in the wind. Oberon towered over his corpse, eyes masking an emotion that Karlach couldn’t place. He brought his hand forward, lowering an outstretched finger to the capsule. As if it were a brittle husk, the capsule broke from a single touch. Oberon then turned his hand, lifting it upwards. Beckoning the body. 

From his chest, it began to emerge. The culmination of Rivera’s soul, blue and ethereal and so fragile compared to the Fey’s near godly aura. Oberon lifted him slowly, standing as an otherworldly reaper ready to escort a soul to the next life. 

Karlach, however, was not ready to watch her life be taken from her once more. 

“Take me instead you Fey bastard!”

Oberon turned to her. The words flew hastily from her mouth, but she showed no remorse as she glared up at him. Karlach felt like her own soul was out in the open, like she was begging for her own life. At that moment, she saw no difference. Broken, burning, crying before the king of the Fey, all she wanted was for him to understand, to give Rivera another chance like he had given her. 

The lord raised his other hand, focusing on the tip of his finger. From it, an orange energy began to glow. It took the form of a small butterfly, marigold wings standing stark against the dark brown of Oberon’s armor. He watched as it flew from his hand, a candlelit beacon through the murky chasm. It approached Karlach, unphased by her radiating heat, and landed on her forehead. She could feel her skin buzzing from its touch, but it wasn’t unpleasant. The butterfly’s warmth felt different from her own, it felt safe, comforting. 

The sensation then began to spread down her face, down her neck, and into her body as the butterfly seemed to melt into her. It was electric, mesmerizing. The energy collected into her engine, calming the metallic clang that Karlach could barely hear. She felt some kind of tug from her chest, something weaving itself within her non-living core. 

The next thing she knew, the glow had faded into the usual red combustion of her engine. Its scorching intensity returned, but it felt… shifted, somehow. Like someone had just slightly realigned the device within her chest. She looked to Oberon, hoping for some answer, some meaning to what had happened. His expression remained unreadable as he remained for a moment. Words failed Karlach as the Lord began his retreat to his own realm, the same green light pouring from his bark as the ground engulfed him. His eyes remained on her, a weighing sense of divine promise as he disappeared. She expected the same light to overwhelm her senses, to drag her to the Feywilds along with him as payment for her lover’s life. 

If that’s what it took, she was ready. 

And yet, Karlach opened her eyes. Still sat in the chasm. Still breathing. 

Her mind was a blur. Her body felt disconnected from her mind, images and sensations flashing across her memory with no rhyme or reason. She tried to remember. To remember a dream, a prophecy, a message delivered in the thick fog of a sunrise. The stifling dread, green and blue, the feeling of electric warmth on her skin…

Then, a sound caught her ear. Karlach focused forward, recognizing her companions huddled around each other. Shaky smiles and soft, relieved voices now filled the room. 

In Halsin’s arms, there was Rivera. Alive. 

Karlach felt the euphoria of her escape from Avernus a thousand times over as her body moved on its own accord. Rivera’s wonderful blue eyes finally met hers as he came to, groggy and disoriented, but living all the same. He could hardly ask what happened before Karlach wrapped him in a powerful embrace, nearly knocking Halsin backwards in the process. He simply smiled at them, eyes heavy with happiness and relief as he muttered his thanks to Silvanus.

“... Karlach?” Rivera managed from her crushing arms. 

Karlach loosened her grip just slightly, face glowing as his voice graced her senses. “Hey, ‘sokay, you’re alright now, it's all okay.” Her voice wavered in her gentle whispers. 

“Where… What happened?” 

“Doesn't-” she fought back a hiccup, “Doesn’t matter. You’re safe, you're okay, it's gonna be okay.” 

Karlach kept on, reassuring her own nerves as well as Rivera’s. In the whirlwind she had just endured, she had finally found the eye of the storm. Safe in her arms, alive and well. To her, in that moment, that’s all that mattered.

And she would do whatever it took to keep it that way.

~

Taglist: @ramblyships @ava-ships @gay-selfships @candyheartedchy @fritzyships @self-shippy @hellfirenacht @blorbosfrommyhead @little-miss-selfships @skipper-self-shipper

(DM me if you want to me added or removed)

[windsweptinred]

@maelstroms-blog and @remolinop I promsied you a wee Eternity short from Metamorphosis. So here it is, full to the brim with fluff. 💖😅

A cool night breeze drifted gently into the nursery through the open casement windows. 

Within an ornate oak cot, engraved with beasts, both fantastical and nightmarish in form, a tiny hand reached upwards, grasping at the air with glee. The gust swept down, caressing the little fingers lovingly, then withdrawing with reluctance, drawing back to skies with a  silent promise to return. 

A small babe, just past his first year of life, staggered clumsily to his feet. Toddering  to the bars of his cot, little fingers grasped tight upon the railing for support, looking towards the night sky longingly. Stepping on wobbly tip toes, he stretched his right hand towards the window, left clutching a small blanket of raven feathers possessively to his chest. "Ma-mi?" He called questioningly into the air. Above, two stars flared brightly down upon him and a great, beaming smile spread across his face. His little feet, stomping excitedly against the soft mattress. 

So enthralled was he, he missed the soft, swirl of sand materialising on the corner of the room, and the pale figure who stepped forth from it, tread quiet and considerate of the occupants within. 

"Do you not wish to visit my kingdom tonight little brother?" A soothing voice enquired. 

The young boy turned abruptly, swaying slightly on his unsteady legs as he did. Three teeth flashing proudly in a wide grin as his clapped his hands together with glee at the sight before him. 

" Deeam! " He cried, reaching now for the new arrival enthusiastically, chubby fingers curling in a grabby motion. Luminous, gold irises dancing and twisting in loops and figure eights on dark eyes at the sight of his older brother. 

Two slender hands reached down, carefully lifting the child and blanket and cradling them to his chest. "Why do you not sleep tonight Etie?" Dream asked. Fingers carding through the boys' silky black locks.

Little hands waved once more towards the open window. "Ma-mi" He called again. 

Dream looked through the frame to the night sky, blazing with unrivalled beauty over the rooftops of London. He reached out in greeting, feeling a wave of love sweep over him in return. 

"He will be back soon, Eternity. He crafts a new galaxy into existence tonight. Is that not exciting?" 

In answer, the young Endless shoved his blanket into his mouth, gumming at the dark, iridescent feathers with determination. 

Frowning slightly, Dream pulled at the blanket, releasing it from his brother's mouth with a soft yank and trail of drool. Earning an angry cry and teary eyes in response. 

"Be careful, Eternity." He scolded gently. "This belonged to your big brother. You must treasure it." 

Tubby legs swung and kicked as the littlest Endless looked at his brother thoughtfully. 

"Pffffiieeess?" He asked. 

Dream smiled indulgently, sitting his baby brother back upon his tiny mattress. "That's right, Orpheus. He wraps about you while you slumber and keeps you safe and warm. Are you not lucky?"

Eternity bounced on his bottom enthusiastically, smile, a carbon copy of his father's, "Cat Deeem?" He enquired loudly. 

Dream shushed him calmly, staring at the antique Elizabethan bassinet, engraved with songbirds, which stood opposite the cot. Within, a baby, only shy of newborn, with a riot of minute auburn curls already sprayed about her head, slept soundly. 

"Be careful Eternity, do not wake your sister. Euphoria plays in fields of Fiddler's Green. Do you not wish to join her?" 

"Cat, cat, cat!" The boy demanded, swaying his little arms too and fro as if to emphasise his point.

Dream raised a white eyebrow, unimpressed at his display. "I have duties to attend to, little brother." 

Eternity's little mouth formed a familiar, forlorn pout, eyes wet in a tiny replica of his mother's hard done by expression. 

Dream sighed, knowing the fight was lost. 

"Only until Mother returns," He warned sternly. And with a slight shift in the air, where once had been a fair young man, now a large white cat, hair long, thick and soft, sat upon the cot mattress. 

With a loud, rumbling purr it sauntered gracefully towards the child. Rubbing itself around the boy as he squealed in glee, clutching at the white tufts of his fur eagerly. 

Kneading happily at the soft bedding below, purr all the louder, Dream graced Eternity's forehead with a single, tender lick. Before settling demurely, legs tucked under himself, letting out a yawn, fangs glistening in the moonlight. 

The baby boy followed suit, little mouth wide as he yawned, snuggling into his brother's fluffy belly, a contented smile upon his lips. 

A few hours later a second form would materialise within the room in a cloud of starlight, long robe awash with magnificent, multicoloured nebula. Behind him, two owls came to perch elegantly upon the sill, as he gazed adoringly into the cot. 

"Dusk, relay a message to Lucienne in the Dreaming." He instructed quietly. "Tell her, Lord Daniel rests, safe and well in our care and will return to her in due course. In his absence, might she send Matthew to watch over my children's dreams?" 

He gave one last glance to the occupants of the cot as Dusk disappeared with a great waft of her wings. Little Eternity, head nestled into his brother's furr. Dream, head propped upon his baby brother's head in peaceful slumber. He checked next upon his daughter, green eyes, so like Dream's, closed tight in sleep. Little body curled up blissfully in her brother Robyn's lovingly restored oak cradle. 

With a quiet whisper to Dawn to keep watch over them, he took in his children one last time. 

"Sweet dreams" He wished them tenderly, before exiting the room to seek out his husband. 

Thank you to @danimydear (I hope I've linked the right blog there 😅) For the suggestion of Euphoria for Eternity's sibling. I loved it as it fills the gap left by Delight perfectly. I really liked Entropy and Evolution too... I sense the second coming of the chaos twins!

If you've got any more mini promots from the Metamorphosis verse you'd like me to tackle, feel free to send me them. 😊

[star-quill]

ok but country rockstar!peter who's engaged, but he's not happy. he thought proposing would make everything better, that it would fix things. but it didn't. they're still having problems. but he can't call off the marriage, it's not good for his image. they act all loved up on red carpets and at award shows and everyone just assumes everything's fine. even if he wins an award, he has to act happy, thank his fiancée in the speech and she pretends to be happy for him, but this is just another thing for him to gloat about. they act fine in the cab ride home, but as soon as the door shuts, they're arguing.

arguing about the award, the event, then it turns to arguments about their relationship, the proposal, the engagement, the wedding.

"well is there even going to be a wedding? because if this is life with you, i don't fuckin' want it.."

"this is it.. for life.. you know that.."

"just.. can we stop this and just go to bed, i'm fuckin' exhausted, honey.."

he hasn't called her honey in so long, it felt like a sting at the back of his throat when he said it.

he wakes up the next day to a call from his manager asking to come to the studio. he grumbles and says he'll be there in an hour. when he arrives, he spots you sitting at reception and smiles. he's about to speak to you when his manager walks in.

"hey.. great timing.. needed you to come in and give a tour.. we got a newbie.."

he extends his hand towards you and peter just nods, letting you stand up and walk towards him, shaking his hand and introducing yourself.

"alright.. well.. have at it, i'm in meetings all day so.. i'll see you later, pete.."

peter just nodded, turning to you and smiling. he walked you through the building, showing you the meeting rooms, the recording booths and the editing suites. he kept asking you questions about your music knowledge, your career and most importantly, yourself.

"well i grew up with country music.. then i started singing 'round the house and.. here i am.. it's nice to know i'm on the same record label as you.. got someone i can look up to.."

"you don't wanna look up to me.."

"why not? you're talented, you've got loads of awards, and your fiancée is so pretty.. you've got like, the perfect life.."

"sweetheart.. it ain't perfect.."

you both walked through the building until he made it to the canteen, making the both of you a coffee and taking you to a table to sit for a bit.

"but.. you were like.. so loved up yesterday.."

"yeah.. then came home and had three different arguments.. we fight all the time at home.. that's why i proposed.. i thought it would fix everything.."

"but it didn't.. i'm so sorry.."

"don't be.. we even tried a marriage councillor.. that shit was worse.."

"sometimes people just aren't meant to be.."

"yeah.. anyway.. what about you? you all loved up?"

"me? no.. i did have a boyfriend in 10th grade but.. we broke up after a week.."

"ouch.."

"yeah, well.. boys will be boys.."

he just laughs and smiles.

"men suck.. i'll tell you that.."

you take a sip of your coffee and smile, looking at him while he does the same.

when you both finished your coffees, he walked you back through the building to reception. he turned to you with a smile.

"i haven't got anythin' else i need to do for the rest of the day.. so.. if you need a ride anywhere.. i got my truck.."

"oh.. i was just gonna go home.. if that's ok?"

"absolutely.. c'mon, let me take you home.."

there was just something about him driving that got you riled up. the way his hand gripped the wheel, his other hand tapping along to the beat of the song playing over the radio. you kept getting urges to kiss him but you had to remind yourself he was engaged. even though he had problems at home, you weren't about to be a home wrecker.

he pulled up outside your apartment complex and got out, jogging round to the passenger side and opening your door for you.

"m'lady.."

you just smiled and coughed up a laugh.

"hey.. i'm trying to be gentlemanly.."

"oh is that what that was.."

he just frowned at you and you smiled.

"well, i'll see you another time, hopefully?"

"yeah.. yeah.."

he walked round to his side, watching you go up to your door. he waited a while and then saw you at a window, waving to him. he waved back, smiling before getting into his car and driving back home. he knew there'd be an argument when he got home, but he really couldn't care less. for the first time in his life, he was truly happy. then the realisation hit him. he was happy because of someone else. he feels like he's cheated on his fiancée, not physically, but emotionally. you and peter just clicked so well, he's actually looking forward to seeing you again. for a second he thinks about turning the car around, going back to your place and kissing you, but he couldn't, he shouldn't. now he's parked up outside his house and he realised he never stopped thinking about you the whole drive home.

everything is fine at home for the rest of the day. then he goes to sleep in his own bedroom, having not slept in the same bed as his fiancée since they got engaged. he drifts off to sleep and there you are, looking so pretty. you're flooding every thought he has and he jolts awake, sweat dripping from his body. and he's hard.

shit.

he needs to get laid and he needs to get laid quick. he gets up, throws a t-shirt on and walks across the hall. he's about to knock the door and wake his fiancée up, but he stops himself. he feels himself walking downstairs and out to the front door. then he slips into his car and drives off, back to your place. he walks up to the front door, finds your name and presses the buzzer. he steps back and looks up, seeing your light come on. after a while, you open the main door to him, still looking half asleep.

"it's like.. two in the morning.. are you ok?"

"i need to get laid.."

"what?"

"i.. i had a dream.. about you.."

"pete.. you're engaged.."

"i don't care.."

"we can't do this.."

"but you want to.. i noticed you when i drove you home.. you were itching for it.."

you knew it wasn't right, but now you were dragging him in and up to your apartment, sitting him on your couch before you sunk down onto his lap. your hands cupped his neck as you leaned down and kissed him, feeling his hands slide up under your t-shirt to grip your waist. you felt him smile against your lips and you pulled away, only to be met with a frown.

"why'd you stop?"

"you were smiling.."

"i ain't kissed anyone like that in so long.. felt so good.."

"mmhm?"

"mmhm.."

[atiny-piratequeen]

𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑪𝒉.𝟒 (𝑷.𝑺𝒉)

✧.*Summary  ✧.*-Due to olden traditions, you’re sent off to be a sacrifice to an unseen beast on an island far from home. You’re not exactly the one to go down without a fight and you promise when you get yourself out of this situation, you’re going back for revenge.

After an encounter in the ocean and arriving on the island in question, you collect yourself and begin making preparations to get yourself off of this island.

All while being watched over by a pair of unfamiliar, narrowed emerald eyes.

✧.*Pairing  ✧.*-Siren!Park Seonghwa x Fem!Reader

✧.*Genres  ✧.*-Angst, Romance, Smut, Action, Fantasy, Survival, Slight Horror Elements, Hurt/Comfort, Revenge, Siren AU, Monster AU, Enemies to Lovers

✧.*TWs  ✧.*-Mentions of Death, Blood, Subtle Monster Transformations, Non-Descript Mentions of Eating People (I mean Seonghwa ain't human so it's not cannibalism but-)

✧.*Sws ✧.* - Hair pulling, Strength Kink, Size Difference, Food Play, Oral Fixations, Wet Dream, Cunnilingus, Blowjobs, Pussy Drunk Seonghwa, Monster Anatomy (Elongated tongue, Two Cocks, Knots-), Thigh Fucking, Titty Fucking, Grinding, Teasing, Fingering, Squirting, Cum Swallowing, Overstimulation, Virginity Loss, Depictions similar to Heats/Ruts, Double Penetration, Breeding, Knotting, Creampie, Mind Break (From Pleasure, everything is safe, sane, and enthusiastically consensual here)

✧.*Rating  ✧.*- Explicit (18+)-Minors DNI

✧.*WC  ✧.*-15.5k+ (help, my back hurts-)

✧.*Previous Chapter

✧.*Next Chapter

✧.*A/N  ✧.*This was originally a 3k+ paid commission thanks to the lovely @jacksons-goddess-gaia​​ but I loved the idea so much that I decided to make this into a short series! Thank you again for allowing me to turn your comm into something of a bigger scale and I hope you and everyone else also likes this little series! Just a note of warning, the ending of this series does have a pretty dark ending so please be mindful of the tws of each respective chapter (tbh I don’t think its any darker than the shit I make yall suffer through write anyway but just a fair warning, you are not ending this as any kind of pacifist lol)

✧.*Series Playlist ✧.* (I keep fidling with this one so dont be surprised if songs are added lmao)

✧.*  AO3 | Taglist Form | Commission Sheet  ✧.*    

✧.*  ©atiny-piratequeen. do not repost, translate, or use my works. Minors DNI✧.*

✧.*Network Pings- @kwritersworld | @kdiarynet | @k-vanity

Divider Cr.- @benkeibear (tysm ily)

After that fateful day, everything regarding life on the island…shifted.

Seonghwa no longer appeared just in the corner of your vision. No, instead, he had been all but glued to your side, helping you with hunts and accompanying you as you traversed newer parts of the island. 

It was nice. Having a companion at your side. Someone who would sit and listen to your stories about your parents, whom you missed dearly. Or an extra pair of hands to help you find the missing remains scattered about the island and lay your fallen sisters to rest properly. 

Speaking of resting, after a bit of fumbling, he'd all but nominated himself to be your…mattress, essentially. Not a single night passed now without Seonghwa settling his large form down first, looking at you with those dazzling emerald eyes as he waited for you to (shyly) crawl beside him. Some nights, you sleep with your back to his broad chest, lulled to sleep by his singing as he held you close with a single arm. 

Other nights, when bite of the night air is a bit chillier or while it rains just outside, Seonghwa nudged you on top of him, cocooning you in a blanket and then protectively wrapping both arms around you, rumbling every time you wiggled in his grasp until you force your fluttering heart to calm down and tuck your head in the crook of his neck.

He doesn't sing then, not until you're settled in and already dozing. Instead, he lets you shift to and fro, watching with half lidded eyes that shine in the dark with mirth.

"Have you finished fluttering, Little Bird?"

You flush and feel your ears heat up.

"You could help."

"I could. But it is cuter to watch you wriggle around. You make some interesting sounds."

You slap him half heartedly (it doesn't phase him) and huff, focusing on going to sleep after that. 

It's only after you begin to doze off on your own that you hear those familiar notes, quietly pushing you into the realm of dreams as you feel every thrum and vibration rumble from his throat.

This truly was a dream…

Erm, anyway-

Seonghwa had been so kind as to use his magic to create clothes for himself…before promptly giving you his shirt to wear. 

It was so large, it essentially was a dress, with the benefit of being fresh and clean (and smelling of Seonghwa). He didn't bat a lash as he produced a fresh shirt for you nearly daily (until you told him you could just wash the others, feeling bad about how much he'd been gifting you) Seonghwa usually ended up staying in the nude unless you both intended on going much deeper in the forest for the day.

Even then, he somehow ended up coming back to camp with you, pants mysteriously absent. Something about being more comfortable and feeling less restricted in "Landling Attire" and not seeing any need in wearing them if you already knew of his existence and weren't bothered by it. 

Well, you were bothered by it, but probably not in the way he'd thought. The more time you spent with the seven foot behemoth of a man, the more you began to…realize some things.

Specifically with the dawning realization you definitely had an attraction to him. 

At first, you'd held a small conference with yourself in your head. Had it just been residual emotions from him saving your life? Perhaps that was part of it, but it certainly wasn't all.

Your mind had already wandered way more than it ever had before with anyone else when you had those treacherous first 48 hours together. It continued to wander, tripping, falling, and rolling down a hill as you become hyper aware of certain…habits the SeaBorn man had. 

Like the otherworldly show of strength he showed nabbing that sturgeon, or the way he had cleared the way for you sometimes by hefting up entire boulders, the veins in his arms, neck, and legs bulging from the challenge before letting out a rough snarl of a noise as he tossed it aside. The pleased, almost feline purr that would leave his lips when he was satisfied, accompanied with an occasional clicking resonating from deep in his chest that tickled your brain in a way you were wholly unused to. 

Or, endearingly, the way he'd tilt his head, listening to you intently as you told quiet stories over your dinner campfire. His singing always put you at ease, and you quickly found it took no effort at all for you to fall asleep against his chest once he began to sing to you.

It was…oddly domestic and wholesome, though your thoughts weren't always the same.

Like today. 

Seonghwa could pick you up without any effort, often doing so with one hand or arm, supporting your bottom as he'd lift you up to reach high fruit from trees you previously weren't able to reach without throwing fallen branches and rocks and hoping your aim was good enough to make them fall. 

That's where you'd found yourself today. Perched on his shoulders, reaching up as you mumble under your breath. It would be easier if he just held you up, yes. His arm span was enough. But you were admittedly stubborn, and wanted to hold onto some sense of usefulness. Seonghwa was here but you couldn't expect him to do everything while you sit back and do nothing. 

He merely grunted below you, feeling the weight of your hips on the back of his neck, humming as you huff. 

"Do you wish to-"

"No, I got it!" You cut him off, threading your fingers through his hair without thinking, steadying yourself as you rise up to your knees. Your fingers brush just barely against the fruit, your knees digging into Seonghwa’s shoulder slightly as you lean more. 

"Y/n. As much as I looooove having your knees on my shoulders, just let me hold you up." 

You barely have the time to rebut his suggestion before you feel yourself slip and fall forward, head first. 

You shriek, throwing your arms up to brace yourself for the ground. 

You're stopped abruptly, dangling upside down as Seonghwa’s hand shot out to catch you, wrapping his fingers around your ankle. 

Immediately, you feel a breeze, the fabric of his shirt dropping with gravity as he holds you. 

Fire ignites in your veins as you lift your head, blushing all the way to your ears when you're met with his cock.

Your eyes are crossed as you stare, before a deep growl above you drew your gaze forward. 

It's admittedly hard to see while upside down, but Seonghwa isn't looking at your face when you strain your neck to look at him. 

A passing breeze reminds you of your…compromised position-and where his eyes were currently locked-and you bring your other leg in, closing them to the best of your ability. 

That seems to snap Seonghwa out of his trance, his eyes-now…magenta?-focusing onto yours as he righted you and set you on your feet. You look up at him, completely flustered, but for once it's him who doesn't meet your gaze.

Instead, he reeled back, slamming his fist into the tree and holding his free hand out to catch the falling fruit. Once he did, he looked down at you finally, his eyes still half lidded and magenta as he offered his arm for you to climb into. You do so, perching back on his shoulders as he walks back to camp. 

Neither of you speak during that stretch of time, though a huge part of you wants to know why his usual emerald eyes turned such a vibrant and deep shade of magenta. 

You try to think back to when you'd ever seen his eyes change, and can only recall them doing so in moments of fury, bleeding into a bloody crimson. 

Was…he angry at you? Was that it?

"Seonghwa?" You finally speak once you see the outline of your camp through the trees. He made a sound of acknowledgment in his throat and glanced at you, seemingly lost in thought. You worry your lip between your teeth. 

"Uh, I'm sorry. If I hurt you with my knees or anything. I just like to do things myself and having everything handed to me just-"

"I am not injured. And I know you prefer your independence. Which is why I didn't say anything until you began to strain yourself."

You nod quietly, looking at his side profile. 

"....are you angry at me?"

"Not in the slightest. Why? Your scent has changed again. What has made you anxious? Did I harm you when I caught you?" He finally turned to look at you, and you pressed your lips together, shaking your head. 

"Your eyes changed color. I've only seen that when you're angry. They're not red but…"you trail off, looking down. He said you hadn't hurt him but his shoulder was permanently scarred from you, maybe it was still sensitive-

Your thoughts halt and stall as he placed a finger under your chin, lifting it so you meet his gaze.

"I can assure you, it's not anger I'm feeling at the moment." 

"....what are you feeling, then?" You inquire. He hummed, deep and melodic as he set you down and leaned into your ear. 

"Probably the same thing you're feeling that's making your scent so sweet."

Your eyes widen slightly as words fail you completely, watching as Seonghwa turned his attention to the fruit he'd knocked out of the tree, sniffing quietly. You flushed, staring at him as you gripped the end of his shirt you were wearing. 

He'd been mentioning that since you met him. Your scent. He seemed to be able to detect even minute changes in your mood because of it and you feel realization dawn on you exactly what he meant by 'sweet smell'. 

It's your own arousal. 

There was a cracking sound that snapped you abruptly from the conference you'd been having with yourself, and your head whirled around to the noise, watching as Seonghwa held one of the hard-shelled fruits in his giant palm, squeezing and cracking it clean in half effortlessly. Carefully, he sniffed the inside before a pleased grin tugged at his lips, fangs flashing. You watch as he pulled one half away from the other, tilting his head back to eat directly from the split fruit. 

Juices dribbled down his chin and neck as he messily ate, a low purr rolling out of his throat. Milky, white, and fragrant. You could see a sliver of his tongue, much longer than any human or beast you'd encountered in your own life, curling and coaxing more of the fruit out.

Goodness, the sounds-

Truly, you need to think back and recall when exactly you obtained such a perverted mind. 

"It's safe to eat." 

You jolt, eyes snapping upwards. His eyes are fixed on you as he lowered the second half of the fruit, the same tongue he'd just used to clear out the inside of the fruit rolling over his lips as he waited for you to take it.

"O-oh. Uh. Thank you."

You reach and take it from him, clearing your throat as you pluck pieces of the inside out, the juices sweet and fragrant as you raise the fruit to your lips.

Seonghwa smiled and sat beside you, one arm resting on his knee as the other grabbed another fruit. A familiar crack startled you for a moment before you saw him eating out of the corner of your vision. Clear, sticky droplets chased one another down the side of his lips, past the curve of his Adam's apple, and disappearing further down his chest.

'Stop staring, Y/n.' You tell yourself

You do not, in fact, stop. Instead, you pause completely, lips slightly parted as a band of tension builds in your stomach. You don't voice it, but your brain is aflame with chatter regarding the SeaBorn and your mind is invaded with thoughts of licking his chest and neck clean, chasing the droplets in reverse all the way up to his lips-

You must have made a sound of some sort, instantly pink eyes are fixed on you. 

Seonghwa doesn't say a word, leaning into your space, the sweet smell from his natural scent and the fruit making you dizzy. 

"You haven't eaten much. Is it unappetizing? I can always fish instead for you." He offered. You shake your head, coughing and looking away.

"N-no, sorry, my head is just in the clouds."

He doesn't move from his spot, humming as he took the fruit from your hands. You only have enough time to utter a hurried 'hey!' before he dug the flesh of the fruit out with his claws before he held it to your lips, waiting. 

You reach, his eyes narrow and he pulls away slightly. You don't have to repeat the motion to know what he's trying to do. 

"If you're not going to eat because you're distracted, I'll just feed you. Don't bite your tongue. Or me."

You feel a wave of embarrassment laced with excitement as you open your mouth, eyes fixed on Seonghwa’s as he guided the first piece past your lips. 

It was a good fruit. Great, even. But every single move you made in these moments was laced with a tension you'd never felt before. 

"Do you like it?" He inquired, pausing before giving you another. 

"Yes," you respond, leaving your mouth open afterwards, welcoming more. 

It seems you weren't the only one who'd had a dirty mind today. Seonghwa’s eyes drifted to your lips, a low, vibrating hum rumbling from his chest as he fed you another piece. 

"Good," he breathed out airily, thumb idly rolling over your lips, smearing the fruit juice across your bottom lip. "I don't want to do anything you don't like."

You know full well this isn't about the fruit anymore. You lick your lips when he pulled his hand away, heart thundering in your chest. 

"I would tell you." You mutter. He hummed, eyes half-lidded as he looked back into your eyes. 

"And I would cease. Immediately."

You bite your lip and watch him bring the last of the fruit forward. You grab his wrist, holding him still as you eat from his fingers, kissing his fingertips gently before your tongue flicked out, lapping up juices from his palm up to his middle finger. 

"I know you'd stop. I trust you."

More patches of scales appeared in an instant, peachy pink as a loud purr reverberated through his chest. He stared at his fingers when you pulled back before bringing them directly to his lips, tongue curling over his middle finger where you'd just lapped up. 

You shudder, subtly rubbing your thighs together as Seonghwa stared at you through his lashes. 

You'll always be smaller than him but under that gaze, you felt like a divine being up in the clouds had laid eyes on you. 

Seonghwa finished and rumbled, standing to toss the husks of the fruit into the lake for the bottom feeders to hide inside and shelter from larger predators. Eventually, it would break down and become sustenance for those in the lake. You follow the line of his body as he moved, and feel punched in the chest when you find he's definitely aroused.

“You’re staring a lot more than usual today.” He teased, lips pulling up into a smirk as he waded into the water, effectively hiding himself from you before he dove in, his massive tail appearing moments later, slapping the surface of the water and sending droplets flying upwards. 

It left a beautiful rainbow as he disappeared below the surface. 

The water of the lake was pleasant and clear, and you could see the outline of his large body as he swam deeper. 

Soon, you couldn't see that much. 

"Because my mind is racing." You huff, staring at the surface of the water.

You weren't ignorant of your own body. Hardly so. You just…didn't know how to go about it. 

Or if you should. 

Seonghwa wasn't human. Would something like sex between the two of you even work? 

You're reminded, with a flush to your cheeks, that he has two dicks, apparently. 

Though, you had only seen one. 

You hum and lay back, closing your eyes and exhaling gently. He had the same basic shape as a human, though his size may prove to be…a challenge. 

Seriously, why had you only seen one?

"Maybe it's tucked away internally like some other animals do?" You muse to yourself. There's a splash somewhere in the lake and you jolt upright, thinking he'd heard. 

Instead, you find him showboating, diving deep and launching his body several feet out of the water, flinging droplets of water every which way before making a colossal splash in the center of the lake. Thankfully, his choice of location spared you the trouble of having to dry yourself off. 

You watch him swim and flip in the lake, your palm resting on your chin. 

Perverted thoughts and musings aside, this still felt…right. Whatever this was. 

You lay back down, finding yourself dozing under the afternoon sun. 

Your brain hadn't been quite done tormenting you, however. 

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

In your dream, there wasn't nearly the same amount of agonizing fanfare when it came to your desires. As soon as you're mind focused, you find your hand tangled in Seonghwa’s silky locks, with his head buried between your thighs. 

You're rutting against his mouth, eyes fluttering as that oh-so-long tongue curls and curves inside of you. The sound is intoxicating, and you realize your imagination has taken the sight of Seonghwa eating-messily,at that-and ran with it, down to the noise rolling around in your mind. 

"Look at me. Don't close your eyes." 

With a shiver, you look down, staring back at peachy pink colored eyes. Your lips part as you hurriedly whisper his name, cooing like a mantra as your hips twitch and jolt every which way. 

He groans and drags you to your climax, holding onto your hips so you don't squirm away, tongue flicking and curling until he was sure he'd licked you clean. 

It leaves you spent, your chest rising and falling erratically as he leaned up to meet your lips, rumbling against them. 

"Just lie back. I'll take care of the rest." He purred, running the tips of his claws down your abdomen, just enough to make the goosebumps rise on your skin. 

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

When you jolt awake, you make a sound you don't recognize, and out of your peripheral, you see a shadow pause. 

Seonghwa looked down at you, holding two massive tree trunks under his arms as he met your wide, unfocused gaze. 

"Are you alright?"

You nod, sitting up. You're embarrassed to find a telltale ache between your legs and your heart still trying to escape from your chest.

Seonghwa stared at you even longer, still, before sitting across from you, watching you for a prolonged pause before he seemed to drop it, setting one of the trunks down beside him. The other one rested in his lap, and he took a moment, eyeing it from different angles before humming. 

"What are you doing?" You inquire, standing-albeit a bit on wobbly legs-and walking over to him. 

"Firewood." Is all he says before he dug his claws into one end of the tree. 

It's there, you notice, roots. 

"Seonghwa…? Did you uproot a tree?"

He looked at you before nodding. 

"Yes. It's more efficient this way than to slowly hack away at branches, no?" He inquired, promptly tearing the trunk in half with a growl and one hard motion. 

You flinch a bit at the sudden loud and splintering noise, and he paused, looking at you. 

"Could you stand back, my Little Bird? I don't want any pieces flying and harming you."

My Little Bird.

You feel the heat rise to your face as you move a ways away from him. He looked over his shoulder, nodding when you’d moved a good enough distance. The sound of him grunting and growling filled the air once more and you decide to wander around while he does that, trying to clear your mind. 

It wasn't like there was anything to deny when it came to your feelings in this matter. Seonghwa was a devilishly attractive being and you clearly felt yourself being drawn into him. 

Even without his powers.

He’d explained them to you one evening. The power of his voice. It could easily bend and break one’s mind. Leave them a mere feeble shell of themselves as he did whatever he pleased. 

And all he ever seemed to use those enchanting notes for was easing your mind during moments of distress, when the nightmares of your past experiences made sweat break out on your skin and when the claws of panic drag their nails down every corner of your mind. 

His voice melted those things away, a hummed lullaby at times, an orchestra of one during others. 

You startle as you feel your toes brush against something cold and wet and as you bring yourself free of your thoughts, you find you’ve walked to a hidden waterfall you found a few days back. 

-“Seonghwa! Seonghwa, look! I found a waterfall!” You’d been so excited to tell him, looking down at the crystal clear water. It was well hidden, with green surrounding it on most sides in the shape of a crescent, and a decently sized spring. 

Seonghwa had looked around, nose tilted up as he sniffed for any signs of danger. When he found there were none, he relaxed, smiling at you. 

“Would you like to go inside? Have you been near a waterfall this close before?” He inquired, taking your hand and walking towards the water. 

You considered taking your clothes off before getting in, but felt a familiar shyness creep into your being that lead to you just getting in as you were, gasping as Seonghwa tugged you under the water’s surface. 

He held his hands near your head, the water spinning and swirling until it formed a bubble, and he simply smiled, fangs flashing as you take a hesitant breath of surprise. 

“I would never let you drown.” He chuckled, and you shudder, holding onto him regardless. Seonghwa didn’t tease you, simply holding your hand and swimming with you, his tail a beautiful glittering fan in the clear water.-

You shake yourself out of yet another daydream and begin to take your clothes off, wading into the water. The sun hadn’t yet set, so you weren’t worried about not being able to find your way home afterward. 

The ache between your legs reminded you of your ever wandering mind and you huff, sitting on a smooth rock. You worry your lip between your teeth, looking down. 

Seonghwa hadn’t followed you this time, it should be fine. 

You reach between your legs, surprised at just how wet you’d gotten from your dream. It was almost embarrassing, the dream didn’t even last long. 

Of course, it wasn’t just that though, was it?

You sigh and close your eyes, rolling your fingers over your clit, letting your head tilt back as the tiny sparks ran up and down your spine. Your free hand finds its way to your chest, caressing and squeezing. 

How would his hands feel on your body instead? 

That one thought alone made a whimper slip from your lips, your mind yearning for Seonghwa’s touch as you feel your fingers covered in your own fluids the more you rubbed yourself. 

“S-Seonghwa-” You sigh his name, your back arching as you recall the way he stared at you when he caught you, his eyes trained on your pussy, both they and his scales that beautiful pink color. 

He wanted you, probably just as much as you wanted him. His body all but broadcasted it. 

Hell, look at you, yours did just as much as his, at this point.

You slip your fingers into yourself after teasing them against it for an agonizingly long stretch of time, mewling as you spread your legs wider. 

Your voice is but a whisper over the sound of the rushing waterfall just a few feet away, and without a second thought, you let your moans freefall, calling out Seonghwa’s name the longer you pleasured yourself. 

It was aggravating, your fingers felt good, but they weren’t enough. Your mind had ingrained its own version of pleasure inside of your head and one, two, even three fingers weren’t enough to satisfy the hunger and need that had settled in. 

“Seonghwa! Seonghwaa!” You whimper, frustrated beyond comprehension. 

“My. Is this where you snuck off to?” 

You freeze, the only thing you hear for the longest time is rushing water and your erratic heartbeat. Your eyes open slowly, and you sit up, finding Seonghwa standing a few yards from you, arms crossed. 

You don't say a word as he slowly drug his gaze up your body, from your toes all the way to the top of your head, his scales a deeper shade of pink before his eyes-also pink-locked onto your face. 

“You called my name, so I came running, thinking you were in trouble. It seems I was wrong.” 

You don’t break your gaze with him, but the burn in your chest reminded you that you actually needed to breathe. 

“Seonghwa…”You pant pathetically, and had your head been clearer, you may have been embarrassed. Instead, you reach for him, brows pulled up. 

He cleared the space between you in an instant, dwarfing you with his sheer size as he leaned down to wrap his arms around your waist. 

“You poor girl. I’ve never seen this look on your face before. How can I help?” 

You blush. Your mouth flounders for longer than you’d like it to. He chuckled and tilted your chin up, leaning into your space. 

“How about we start with a kiss?”

Your eyes drift down to his lips and you nod, pulling your fingers free from yourself and blushing as Seonghwa leaned in, kissing you. He held your chin between his fingers, his claws lightly pressing against your skin, but not breaking as you melt against him. 

He’s…surprisingly soft. His lips are plush and you realize-again-that you’ve forgotten to breathe again until you feel him lap at your bottom lip. You bring your hands up, cupping his face as you deepen the kiss. 

Seonghwa growled, the sound reverberating and vibrating through his chest loud enough for you to feel it in your own. Goosebumps rise on your skin as he hungrily kissed you, pushing you back until he was completely on top of you, his palms splayed out on the rock at either side of your head. 

You feel yourself ache as you kiss him, reminded of the length of his tongue as he leads the kiss, exploring and mapping out every part of your mouth. The feeling is bordering on overwhelming as you part your lips wider, panting and gasping as spittle ran down the corner of your lips. 

Seonghwa broke the kiss, looking down at your dominant hand. 

It's then, you realize, you’ve smeared your juices along the skin of his cheek and chin when you held him, and a sense of mortification settled in your body. 

“O-Oh, I’m so sorry-”

Seonghwa’s tongue lulled out of his mouth, long enough to lap at his cheek before doing the same to his chin. You stare at him, heart hammering in your chest as his pupils dilate, staring dead into your eyes. 

“Seonghwa?” 

He grabbed your hand, dragging his tongue along your fingers, groaning as he did so, the pink of his eyes and scales darkening even more as he breathed sharply through his nose. 

“So this is how you taste? Its…intoxicating.” He growled, letting your fingers go after a few moments of him sensually licking and sucking them clean. You blush and think back to the fruit, to your dreams, and his…interesting reaction. 

“Do you want to taste more?” You whisper, still having trouble finding your voice. He heard you, regardless, looking down at you before his eyes trailed lower. Your gaze followed, biting your lip as you saw his cock, hard and drooling along your stomach. 

Still, just the one. 

You are hell bent on seeing the second one. 

Seonghwa moved lower, grabbing both of your knees and holding them apart, eyes focused on the glistening juices clinging to you. You almost close your legs instinctively, but a simple flex of his fingers reinforced that you wouldn’t be able to do so easily. 

Good, you didn’t actually want to. 

You let out a soft exhale as Seonghwa drug his tongue over your clit, a deep rumble leaving his lips as he tasted more of you. He curled his tongue over the bud, settling himself between your legs and purring as he suckled on it. The sparks from before paled in comparison to the lightning trailing up and down your spine, your hands flying to tangle themselves in the blonde’s hair. 

Seonghwa didn’t budge, panting against your core as he drug the tip of his tongue lower, moving his elongated tongue along your clit and between your folds. He perked when you let out a gasp, the tip of his tongue dipping into you for the briefest of moments. 

He slowly looked back up at you, holding your gaze as he smiled against your lower lips. Your heart squeezed and you subtly spread your legs wider, biting your lip when you feel his fingers tighten for a moment, expecting you to try and close them again. 

When you don’t he took the silent invitation for what it was, delving his tongue into you and groaning once he did. 

Seonghwa’s hands move from your knees to your thighs, claws slightly digging into the soft skin there as he worked his tongue in and out of you. 

Your grip in his hair tightened and you gasp as you rock your hips back and forth, working yourself shamelessly on his tongue. Seonghwa didn’t mind, in fact, he’d been surprisingly quiet since he’d gotten between your legs. You shyly glance down, biting your lip as you see him eagerly bobbing his head, his lips and undoubtedly his chin covered in your precum. 

“S-Seonghwa!” You cry out, he only growled in response, pressing his nose against your pelvis as he thrust his tongue deeper. He seemed to be intoxicated, squeezing your thighs tighter. 

You feel droplets roll down them, and at first, you assume it’s sweat. It wasn’t until the dazed and lustful look in Seonghwa’s face is replaced with a sobered look, his eyes snapping over to your thigh. You whine, frustrated, and follow his gaze.

His claws had dug into your thighs, drawing ribbons of blood. 

You hardly felt any pain from the pricks, but Seonghwa immediately pulled away from your pussy, moving to drag his tongue up your thigh, suckling and kissing his way up until he reached where he had drawn blood, laving them with licks and kisses. 

You smile, gently caressing his head before you push him away from your thigh. Seonghwa looked at you with a curious expression in his hooded eyes. 

“I’m fine. I didn’t even notice. You felt so good…”You trail off before gasping sharply as he kissed your clit. 

“Then I’ll continue.”

You bite your knuckle as he once again pushed his tongue into you, holding you by your ass and keeping you flush against his lips, with your thighs over his shoulders. 

“D-Don’t you-ah-! Don’t you want me to…ngh oh fu-fuck right there-”Your thought process derailed as Seonghwa’s tongue brushed against a tight bundle of nerves deep inside of you. 

Goodness, if his tongue could go that deep, just how deep could his cocks go?

The thought, combined with the sensations of Seonghwa hungrily eating you out was enough to push you over the edge of your pleasure, and you feel yourself unravel in his arms moments later after trying-and failing-to rush out a hurried warning to him. 

He felt you clench around his tongue, still thrusting and curling it regardless, but you can see his pupils dilate even more the moment your orgasm actually settles on his palette. 

He squeezed your ass tight, a deep growl ripping from his throat as he kept going, trying to urge more of your cum out. You feel your eyes flutter closed, hips twitching both towards his mouth, and away. 

“More, Y/n, darling I want more. You’re…mmm...you taste so good.” 

The sound is absolutely filthy as he messily alternated between thrusting his tongue deep inside of you, and pulling his tongue out to focus on your clit. 

You close your thighs around his head, rocking and bucking forward as you feel another orgasm fast approaching. Every part of your body feels like it's electrified one moment and on fire the next. 

“My…nnn, my body, Seonghwa-” You mewl, kneading and groping your chest. Seonghwa looked up, smiling drunkenly as he licked his lips.

“SeaBorn saliva has aphrodisiac properties it makes it easier for our partners to take both of our cocks during sex. Does this feel good, Y/n?” He rubbed his thumb over your clit, resting his chin on your stomach as you jolt and twitch. 

Both….

“I wanna…nnn I wanna see it.” You moan, bucking. Seonghwa looked at you before he removed your thighs from his shoulders and sat up, licking the taste of your precum off of his thumb. 

You can see his cock standing proud, thick and long, but still unable to stand straight against his abdomen from the weight of it. Seonghwa watched you with a dark, pleased gaze, a melodious clicking leaving his chest as he stood to his full height. 

Like this, after you sit up, you’re eye level with his cock. 

There’s a sweet aroma coming from him, and you lean forward to kiss the tip of his cock, confirming that the sweet smell is from his cock as a bead of precum rolled out against your lips. Seonghwa seemed to consider putting his hands on your head like you had done to him, but he resisted, squaring his shoulders and letting you lick and grab him at your own pace. 

He didn’t want to hurt you. 

The action was endearing, and you sent him a smile as you stroked him, licking and kissing his cock. Your eyes trail up, and you notice just above his sizable length, there's a vertical slit in his skin, weeping more of the sweet smelling liquid, though it was an interesting color. 

A creamy and glittering pastel pink fluid dribbled out of the slit, and you found yourself staring as it shimmered in the moonlight at certain angles, you could see flecks of blue and silver in the milky fluid. 

Oh, it was already night time? How long had you two been going at it?

You bring your hand up, rubbing your fingers between the fold, and immediately Seonghwa’s hips jerk, his eyes wide. 

You stare up at him before you sit up straighter, pushing your fingers past the leaking slit. Seonghwa let out a sound that was a blend of a growl and a whimper as your fingers brush against something. 

“So that’s where you’ve been hiding it.” You murmur, proud of yourself as you tease the area until he groaned, his second cock unsheathed from the messy slit. 

It wasn’t identical to the first, with this one being longer, veins throbbing along the sides of it as it sat coated in the same pretty fluid that had revealed its location in the first place. There were several interesting barb-like protrusions just beneath the crown of his cock and the further down you inspected, you can see he was certainly thicker at the base of it. 

Seonghwa opened his mouth to comment on you staring, but all that left his lips was a half roar as you leaned forward to take the head of his second cock in your mouth, sitting up on your knees to press the first between your breasts to make sure both got attention. 

You quickly find out why this one was hidden as you roll your tongue over the barbs (they’re thankfully quite soft, though you can imagine the way they’ll feel rubbing inside of someone-) and watch him buck and shudder, mouth falling open. 

This one was more sensitive than the other. 

Much more sensitive. 

You smile and work both of his cocks at different paces, aching between your legs as you listen to him groan and growl above you, each note sending a chill down your spine. You rub your body along the cock between your breasts, using your least dominant hand to keep it flush against your skin while the other thumbed the base of Seonghwa’s upper one. 

You held his gaze as you slowly slid more of it into your mouth, careful of your teeth as you did so. You can hear the pleased clicking rumble through Seonghwa’s chest as he caressed your cheek, fighting back the urge to kick his hips up and fuck your throat. You appreciate the courtesy, and begin to hum around his length, drool running down your chin. 

It's messy, uncoordinated, and borderline primal, the feeling you’ve been feeling all night. Any of the embarrassment you had before was long gone the moment he kissed you earlier and now all that remained was a searing need for more.

You wanted to feel his touch everywhere. His lips against your skin, his claws dragging down and leaving crimson ribbons in their wake for him to chase away with his tongue moments later. The addicting sensation of his tongue curling and twisting inside of you, stroking deeper than your fingers ever could. 

And this taste, the sweet, pastel liquid dribbling from his cock that left you greedily sliding deeper, wanting more, needing more. 

Your mind thrums in desire as you imagine him sliding between your legs, sinking deep inside you and anchoring you with a firm grip on your thighs.

“Y…n…” Seonghwa grit out, fingers digging into his own thighs, fighting with himself still to not pull your hair. You see gold trail down his thigh and whine in protest, reaching up to lace your fingers through his, squeezing his massive hand with the hand that was on the cock in your mouth. 

Seonghwa looked like he wouldn’t be able to take much more, chest rising and falling harshly as his lip curled up, fang bared and fingers flexing. You feel tears bead in the corners of your eyes, your jaw aching as you bob your head, dragging your tongue over the barbs every time you pull your head back. 

When he finally came undone, it’s like watching an explosion of color. Patches of scales are apparent on different parts of his body, glittering and shimmering. Even his lids and the corners of his eyes hold a pink shimmer of adoration as he groaned, eyes rolling back, tongue rolling over his lips as a long, pleased groan tumbled out of his chest. 

Heat flooded into your mouth, thick and sweet, absolutely intoxicating, and you take care not to waste a single drop. 

Well, of the one in your mouth. You can’t do much about the cum rolling between your breasts, splashes of it reaching all the way up to your collar as Seonghwa’s hips kick up and buck. 

Once he’s come down from the pleasure, he gently pulled himself from your mouth, petting you as you look up, tired and in a daze. He leaned down, fingers rubbing between your legs before scooping up some of his own cum, mixing them as he pushed his fingers past your lips. You moan and happily curl your tongue around the digits, holding his gaze and tilting your head back for a kiss when he removed them from your mouth moments later. 

He waded back in the water as he kissed you, pulling you along and supporting your jelly legs immediately with his tail, happy that the shift between his legs and the tail took but a moment or two between. 

He swam on his back, gently washing you as he looked upon you with a tender, pink eyed gaze. 

“You look exhausted. Go on, rest. I will make sure I get you back to camp safely.” 

You smile softly, kissing his pectoral, right over where you could hear his strong heartbeat. It's that same steady beating that took you by the hand and guided you into the realm of sleep, drifting off in his arms. 

Seonghwa smiled and brushed his fingers over your cheek, blinking when he noticed a patch of platinum scales that had formed over the round skin of your cheekbone. 

“Oh, my. I didn’t think it would happen this soon.” He mused, wrapping his arms around you protectively. As you nestled into his chest, he couldn’t help the smile that stretched across his lips. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

When you awake, you feel like your body is heavy. Warmth envelopes you and you cannot move anything below your shoulders. 

Your eyes snap open and shoot downwards before you relax in an instant.

Seonghwa is sleeping, his head nestled on your chest as he laid between your legs, breathing evenly. 

You smile softly, gently petting his head. He didn't budge, though you can hear telltale pleased clicking and purrs coming from him.

You admire him in this moment of quiet, caressing his ears, his cheeks, and his jaw. He pressed his face into your hands and opened his eyes minutes later, rumbling. 

"Hello."

You smile as that gravelly voice finally rumbled into your ear. 

"Hello, handsome."

He hummed, turning to kiss your palm. You smile and still your hands, just…taking him in. 

"Your thighs have healed. I made sure." He yawned, slowly sitting up. You lament the loss of his warmth and the oddly comforting feel of his weight on yours, and instead tilt your head. 

"Made sure?" You inquire, looking down to confirm there were no punctures in your thigh. There were none and an impressed sound left your lips. You truly didn't mind that much, honestly. 

In a way, the slight sparks of pain were only flooded over by an even bigger wave of excitement and pleasure. 

"I licked them until the wounds closed."

You blink. Seonghwa is stretching sore limbs beside you, the occasional dense pop confirming time wasn't standing still. 

"Your magic does that too?"

He looked down at you.

"Only on other beings. It doesn't work on myself. This is why I needed to return to the water before for my own mortal wounds."

You think back. Seonghwa had definitely licked you before. A small flicker against your neck here, a drag against your hand there. Every time, you'd been too flustered to realize you'd even sustained any injuries in the first place, much more focused on the large SeaBorn licking you. 

Seonghwa noticed your blush and smiled, cupping your chin. 

"I'd like to take you somewhere today."

You tilt your head and blink a bit before nodding. 

"Where are we going?"

"To meet some friends of mine. I have to ask them a few questions."

You perk. He hadn't mentioned any friends quite yet, and you looked down at yourself, suddenly worried about your appearance. 

Seonghwa noticed and kissed the top of your head. 

"Don't worry." He picked you up and you look down, finding an elegant flowing dress covering your body. It was an ombre of your favorite colors, light and breathable. As you shift slightly, you feel the familiar weight of your father’s knife once again returned to your thigh. 

“You dressed me?” You inquire, looking at Seonghwa as he carried you through the treeline. Emerald eyes drifted down to meet yours before he nodded. 

“I didn’t know if you’d catch a ‘cold’ or not from being naked through the night, especially after being in the water. Landlings and their lack of constitution can be rather concerning.” 

You let out a small exhale and put your head on his collar. 

“It’s hard to catch a cold when you have a massive SeaBorn sleeping on top of you.” You shoot back with no fire in your voice. Seonghwa tutted and looked forward. 

“...I wanted to be close to you.” His voice came out quietly a few moments later. You raise your head, looking at him as best you could with the angle. He doesn’t meet your gaze this time, but you can see the telltale shimmer of pink in some of his scales. 

“I always sleep beside you.”

“Closer.” 

“Sometimes, there’s no space between us, Seonghwa. It’s rather warm and cozy, too.” You add, making sure he knew you didn’t mind the closeness. He lifted his chin a bit higher. 

“....Closer.” 

“Any closer and you’ll be inside of me, Hwa.” 

You expected another sassy comeback, instead, Seonghwa glanced down at you, the edges of the emerald in his eyes tinged pink. 

Oh. 

You blush and break eye contact first, looking away. When you do, you realize he’d walked you to the beach. You look around curiously. 

“By the way, where are your friends? I’ve never seen them and I was pretty sure we’d been up and down this place and I haven’t seen another…uh…person at all.” You mutter. Seonghwa hummed and chuckled, pointing to the water. 

“You won’t find them on this island. I don’t know if everyone will be available, but Hongjoong is. Ocean knows he has nothing better to do.” 

As if on a cue, a huge wave crashed into both of you, drenching you both in water. You shriek and cling to Seonghwa and he hardly seemed phased, lips quirking in one of his signature smirks. 

“See? Nothing better to do. Come, just hold onto me. You can hold on tightly, I guarantee you won’t hurt me.” He told you, setting you down before he walked out into the water, diving in once he was deep enough. You follow close behind, diving in once you felt the telltale dip in the shelf of sand below your toes. 

Seonghwa looked back at you, raising a clawed hand, golden and shimmering in the water. He took your hand and laced your fingers together with his, kissing your hand before he made a swirling motion around your head. 

Like before, the water bent to his will, a bubble of air appearing over your head. You exhale and wrap your arms around his shoulders, hugging him as he held both of your wrists securely with one of his hands, beginning his decent into the depths. 

You look around in wonder, smiling as you see fish you never would have seen up near the surface. Your grip on Seonghwa tightened as some kind of shark swam in your direction, but the siren hardly batted a lash, watching with half lidded eyes as the shark meandered past both of you. 

“Woah…”You murmur, relaxing once the threat had passed. 

Below you, lights begin to catch your vision and you find that more interesting than the sealife above you. 

There, formed from coral, are buildings. Rows upon rows of homes. You can see some of them swim past you as Seonghwa brings you into this village under the sea. 

You get a few glances, some of the smaller seaborn with more aquatic features looking at you with wide eyes. 

“The guppies, they’re interested in you.” 

You blush and wave at the ‘guppies’, watching as they chirped and swam away behind an older SeaBorn woman. She looked at you with a curious gaze before seemingly locking onto your cheek and then smiling fondly, waving back at you. 

There was a series of clicks that sounded through the water, but you frown, feeling like she was trying to communicate to you. Seonghwa looked in her direction and clicked back, his tail flowing elegantly as he slowed down. 

“She’s complimenting you and welcoming you.” He translated, continuing on. You smile and wave at her again as he left the area. 

“Seonghwa?” 

“Mmm?” 

“How did you learn to speak my language? Correct me if I’m wrong but it looks like you SeaBorn have your own language completely…how did you learn?” 

“Eating humans.” 

You blink. Seonghwa rubbed his thumb over your knuckles as he held onto you. 

“Those who threaten the water of my homeland, those who get a little too close to this place while being uninvited, they must be dispatched. It may not align with what you may consider ‘humanity’, but that’s how it always has been. You protect your home with tooth and claw, no matter how far you go, you protect your home waters.” He explained, albeit a bit hesitantly, as if you would see him differently. 

You hum. 

He wasn’t ever a ‘human’, so it would be ridiculous to apply one’s sense of ‘humanity’ to him. 

To be honest, Seonghwa had behaved with more decency and humanity in your short time together than any of those horrid men who threw you out to sea to die would ever achieve in their entire lifetimes. 

“Are you afraid of me?” Seonghwa inquired, still rubbing your knuckles. You shook your head, instead hugging him tighter. 

“No. Not at all. I just wish I knew what it felt like to have a home worth protecting.” You muse. 

You cannot see the way Seonghwa’s eyes widen in surprise before he tightened his grip ever so slightly on your wrists, holding you securely as he sped up, swimming to the biggest building in the sea village. 

When he swims past the door frame, you both are suddenly swirling in a black and white whirlpool. You let out a startled shout as you cling to him, closing your eyes. Seonghwa didn’t seem too concerned. 

“What was that about having ‘nothing better to do?’” An unfamiliar voice comes from the swirling water and Seonghwa rolled his eyes. 

“You’re doing a terrible job at refuting my point.” 

“I remember you being a bit more fun than this. Whatever.” 

The water stilled in an instant, and in its wake was a peculiar SeaBorn man. He had been smaller than Seonghwa in size, with a fin protruding from the back of his thick black and white tail. While not as shimmery and eye catching as Seonghwa’s, it certainly looked like it could do major damage if one were to be struck with it. 

His hair was an interesting blue color, and you can see his eyes, which appeared to be pitch black at first, were a deep brown as he got close to your face to inspect you. 

You don’t flinch away, looking back unafraid. Seonghwa wouldn’t let anything happen to you. 

“Mmm. I see. Your scents are already beginning to lace together. Is that why you’re here, my dear friend?” He inquired, looking over at Seonghwa. He nodded, sending a look over his shoulder at you. You’re have no idea what that means, so you only blink back at him before looking at his friend. 

He smiled, his fangs just as sharp as Seonghwa’s. He extended a hand to you and chuckled. 

“My name is Hongjoong. Thank you for taking such good care of my big angelfish right here.” 

“I’m older than you.”

“And yet, who ended up being declared the leader?”

The two bickered and you watch them go back and forth, a smile spreading further across your lips. Honestly, they sound a bit like you and Seonghwa when you bicker amongst yourselves, too. 

“My name is Y/n.” You introduce yourself, taking Hongjoong’s hand. He shook your firmly, careful not to harm you as he swum around the two of you with his hands behind his head. 

“Pardon us, Y/n.” Hongjoong excused himself as he swam up to Seonghwa’s face, righting himself so he could speak to him. You could no longer understand them anymore, blinking owlishly as they conversed with a series of clicks and melodic sounds. 

You’d of course, only heard Seonghwa sing, but now with Hongjoong beside them, and both of them conversing in their own beautiful way, you find yourself entranced at how well the melodies and notes bounce off one another. 

Were all of Seonghwa’s friends SeaBorns? Now you’re curious how a group full of the beautiful race sounded as they conversed with one another. 

As your mind wandered, Hongjoong smiled in interest. 

“*+:｡.｡So, you’re courting a Landling. I never thought I’d see the day. Not with THE proud Park Seonghwa~ You left home with such a chip on your shoulder promising you never would, I almost took you seriously.｡.｡:+*”

“*+:｡.｡I swear I will go to Yunho instead if you’re going to be of no help.｡.｡:+”*

Hongjoong cocked a brow and swam around the two of you on his back once again, humming. 

“*+:｡.｡Oh, please do. I’d love to see a SeaBorn learn how to court from a MoonChild. I’m sure it’ll go swimmingly.｡.｡:+*”

Seonghwa huffed before casting a glance at you. You still hardly noticed, taking in the beautiful interior of the room. Hongjoong watched him before he smiled and once again righted himself. 

“*+:｡.｡What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t tease you at least a little bit? I’ll tell you everything, stay here a sec. If you want this to work, you need a bit more than saliva and our precum to prepare her for what’s to come. After all, if you truly want to go through with this, she’s going to have to toss away that pesky humanity of hers.｡.｡:+*” Hongjoong made a face, tail swishing below him. 

“*+:｡.｡If there’s anything I hate, it's watching my loved ones wither away when it’s completely avoidable. Anyway, stay here. ｡.｡:+*”

You look up as Hongjoong swam away, tilting your head curiously. You pull yourself closer to Seonghwa, cheek brushing against his. 

“Are you alright?” You inquire. Seonghwa nodded and turned his head, kissing you gently. You smile and melt against him, kneading his shoulders. 

“Here we go~ You do know how to use this, right?” Hongjoong inquired, coming back to you and smiling as you inspect his hands. There was an hour-glass shaped bottle in his palm, a shifting golden liquid inside of it as he passed it along to Seonghwa. 

“I do. I know. Thank you.” Seonghwa smiled and you look at him curiously. Hongjoong smiled and swam around you once more before settling in front. He seemed to enjoy doing that. 

“*+:｡.｡And Seonghwa? Make sure to trim your damn claws. You’ll tear the poor girl up if you try prepping her as you are.｡.｡:+*” Hongjoong added. Seonghwa flushed and cleared his throat. 

“We should head back. I don’t want the water pressure to start getting to Y/n.” He muttered, looking over his shoulder at you. You smile softly and squeeze closer. Your dress flowed along your legs, mimicking one of the tails of the SeaBorns. You wanted to tell him you were fine, but a yawn came from your lips instead. 

Oh. Maybe you have gotten a bit drowsy…

Hongjoong made a motion with his hand, coal black claws pointing towards the door. 

“Go on. And next time don’t take forever to come back home. If I didn’t hear you talking shit towards the ocean, I wouldn’t know if you’re dead or alive up there.”

Seonghwa took a look at you over his shoulder and smiled softly. 

“*+:｡.｡I will be back sooner, I swear. Besides, SOMEONE has to look after our guppies if we have any.｡.｡:+*”

Hongjoong’s lip curled in faux disgust. 

“Nevermind, don’t come back, call San or Yeosang.”

Seonghwa laughed as he began to ascend to the surface, holding the bottle of…whatever it was Hongjoong gave him tight in his other hand. He never let your hands go this entire time, a pleasant warmth settled in them despite the cool water. You kiss the corner of his jaw, feeling yourself dozing. 

What an interesting thought. Falling asleep in water. 

How…absurd….

Seonghwa heard you yawn once more, glancing over to find you completely asleep. He looked upon you with a tender gaze, swimming around to wrap his arms under your legs and arms, carrying you up to the surface quickly. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Seonghwa let you sleep without disturbing you, though when you awoke, you found yourself back in camp, a fresh dress on as the one you were wearing earlier blew in the wind, drying. You rub your eye, looking around and finding Seonghwa sitting near the river, grumbling as he washed something off. You mumble something incoherent as you come to, and he looked over his shoulder, his eyes their normal green. 

"Oh, good. You're awake. I got some things for you." He rumbled, though he stayed seated near the water's edge, still cleaning. 

You roll to your feet, walking over to him and taking a peek, blinking as he inspected several beautiful stones. 

You blink, watching as he held one up to the sun to see the color it made as the light hit it. He grinned and finally held his hand out to you, placing them in your palm. 

"This is peridot, this is amethyst, and this is grandidierite. This one is incredibly rare. I've had this since I was born." 

You stare at the last stone, a beautiful greenish blue, in shock and immediately go to hand it back to him.

"It's valuable and probably sentimental to you, I can't possibly keep it-"

"My mother gave it to my father when they were courting. Then she gave it to me when I became of age. Now I'm giving it to you."

You stare at him. Your mouth flounders for a second before you look at the stone. 

"Seonghwa…are you courting me right now?"

He arched a brow and hummed, turning his tail back into his legs, a hard-to-read expression on his face. You bite your inner lip and will yourself to keep your eyes above his collar this time. 

This was a serious conversation, you didn’t need your mind wandering again. 

"I have been since I found you. You don't have to accept them if you don't want to. Here," He extended his hand, waiting for you to give the stones back. Instead, you close your hand around them and hold them close to your bosom. Seonghwa arched a brow at you, a curious rumble leaving his chest. 

"You can't just tell me these are a courting gift and then immediately ask for it back." You find yourself answering his unasked question. He let out a small hum before smiling and leaning close. 

"Okay then, I won't. Tell me, Little Bird, what is your favorite color? Next, I'll look for stones of that kind."

You look at the gemstones in your hand and reach to touch his face with your free one, gently rubbing circles along his cheekbone. He seemed taken aback, though he didn't move from your grip, pink scales appearing once more, his eyes shifting again to that color from earlier, though it was definitely a few shades lighter. 

He's flustered. 

Despite the lack of tension in his body and his expression remaining curious, you're sure now this was probably the equivalent to him blushing. 

"This is my favorite color. This pretty shade of pink. Can I see more of it?" You try your hand at your own flirtations, leaning up and pressing your lips to his cheek. 

Seonghwa’s hands twitch at his sides as he looked down at you, pupils dilated slightly.

"Pink stone. Got it."

"No, not pink stones. Just you."

You can feel heat under his scales as he pressed his head closer into your palm, eyes half lidded. 

"Just me."

You smile, setting the stones in your lap and holding his face with both hands as you run your thumbs over the curve of his cheeks. 

He let you touch him without moving a muscle. Your fingers mapping out both soft skin and scales along with the strong line of his jaw, a smile coming to your face.

He really was the most gorgeous creature you'd ever encountered in your life. 

"Y/n." You perk at his voice and lift your head. 

"Yes?"

He began to sing, a beautiful symphony composed of one. He was the conductor and the orchestra, every rise and fall of his voice absolutely mesmerizing. 

You also notice, his voice is clearer than it usually is, bold tones and immaculate whispers, each note blending into the one that came just before it. He held your gaze, and you can tell this wasn’t an enchantment. 

No drifting off, no cloudy daze, your vision-and mind-remained crystalline as you watched him sing, his large hands placed over yours to keep you touching his cheeks. 

Once he finished, the melody carried off with the wind, and he gazed down at you, not saying a word. 

You may very well be going crazy, but that felt a confession of love. 

Seonghwa rubbed your knuckles and smiled softly. 

“I’d like to be yours, and for you to be mine.” 

You feel your thoughts grind to a halt as you look at him. Seonghwa waited, not moving an inch as he held your gaze. 

For a while, there’s nothing. And then, you feel tears roll down your cheek. 

“Y/n?!” He startled. You throw your arms around him and hug him tight. He wrapped his arms around you, smiling softly as he nuzzled your head. 

“Don’t cry so suddenly like that, you had me worried.” He murmured, kissing your temple. You turn your head to kiss him and once again, his eyes drift to your cheek. 

What’s wrong? You keep looking at my cheek. Do I have a cut or something?” You inquire, reaching up to touch it. He opened his mouth to say something, but your fingers make contact before he can and you feel the smooth expanse of something unfamiliar to your own body.

Scales. 

You flatten your fingertips against your cheek, lips parted as you caress the tiny patch. Your eyes drift back to Seonghwa’s and he coughed ever so slightly, looking down. 

“I wasn’t aware it would happen when we…well, did everything last night, but it seems the more you and I are together intimately the…less…human you will be.” 

You stare at him. His scales are pink as he avoided your gaze, coughing quietly. You touch your cheek again, trying to process his words slowly. 

“Was it because of that pretty pastel stuff that came out of you?” You inquire. Seonghwa’s cheeks went bright red as he snapped his head back to look at you. 

“Don’t call it ‘stuff’! That makes it sound weird!”

You look at him and smile, cupping his cheeks. 

“You don’t get flustered like this so easy compared to me, but when you do, it’s adorable. You coo. Seonghwa huffed, though he didn’t pull out of your hands. 

“Do not tease me. I’ve never-ugh. I just want to make sure you don’t regret this. The more we do this, the less you will be a ‘human’ and I….I don’t want you to hate me later for something like that. If we stop now, the scales will disappear in a week or so…” He’d offered the solution, but he clearly didn’t want to, and the smile training at your lips grew wider. 

“Seonghwa, are you a virgin?”

Seonghwa nearly threw himself back, an offended, flushed look adorning his face as he gaped at you. You don’t say another word, his response was more than telling. 

“I-What does it matter?” He narrowed his pink eyes at you and you push at his chest, happy you didn’t have to apply any more force and he got the hint, laying himself down. You crawl up his body, cupping his cheeks, a surge of confidence in your body. 

“It doesn’t really matter. You won’t be for much longer.” You promise with a sweet kiss to his lips. Seonghwa let out a groan beneath you, holding your ass while you press yourself against his chest. 

You lace your fingers in his hair, tugging firmly and smiling at the growl that trickled past his lips, teeth bared as you press kisses down his jaw and throat. 

You can feel him hard against your thigh, and you hum, pushing your smaller body down and maneuvering until you could trap his cock between your thighs. He shuddered, his grip on your waist tightening as you rock your hips back and forth, leaving bites and kisses down his chest, running your fingers up and down his side to make him shudder. 

“Y/n-”He growled out your name, the tone making excitement thrum in your veins as you clench your thighs together tighter. You can feel moisture against your navel as you rock your hips, and moments later, it’s followed by a deliciously sweet scent. 

You decide to tease him, quickening your movements. He rewards you by grabbing your hips, grunting and rutting hard and fast against you. You moan, palms flat against his chest as you feel him push between your folds, thrusting the length of his cock between them. Your clit rubbed against every inch and you find yourself clawing at him without thinking, thighs shaking as you feel him thick and pulsing against you. 

“Turn around. I want to taste you again.” He ordered, all traces of his flustered stammering gone. He looked at you with a hunger in his eyes that made you ache, and you make haste in turning for him, raising your hips high for him. 

Two massive hands come down on the globes of your ass cheeks, drawing a sharp gasp and cry from you before Seonghwa is dragging you closer to his face, panting the moment he caught your scent, snatching your dress up and over your ass. You gasp and nearly jolt off as he goes right for your clit, had it not been for his firm grip on your ass. 

He let out a warning growl of protest, silently demanding to be able to enjoy his meal, and you feel a blush and the rise of a challenge hit you. 

No matter how much he enjoyed eating you, certainly you couldn’t just sit back and let him remain neglected.

You curse your short stature, unable to get as firm of a grip on his cock as you had before, but once again, the pheromones and delectable tasting fluid running from the slit in his skin reminded you of your compromise. 

Seonghwa all but snarled against you, hips twitching as you lean down and press a kiss to the fold of skin, mirroring his actions between your own legs. You can feel him throbbing just beyond it, but you decide to continue teasing, spreading the skin with your fingers and delving your tongue in deeper, the pheromones nearly dizzying as your tongue finds the slit of his cock. 

“Y/n~” He practically sang against your pussy, his face already soaked as he greedily licked and ate you out. You grind your hips down, spreading your thighs apart wider as you repeat the motion, pushing your tongue in as deep as you can go, curling and twisting along his walls before curling your tongue along the barbs of his cock. 

You flick with a ‘come hither’ motion, the dizzying scent of his pheromones making you clench and unclench on his tongue as you coaxed his cock out of it’s sheath, a purr leaving your lips as it slapped against your cheek, smearing essence against your skin. 

You stare at his cock, shaking your hips for him as you lick him from base to tip. 

The thought of losing whatever abstract form of humanity you had didn’t bother you as much as you’d imagine it would for most people. You’d seen the worst of humanity already, if tossing it aside meant you could stay here, entangled with your beloved, so be it. 

You grab Seonghwa’s impressive length with your dominant hand, clawing at his inner thigh with the other as you try to see if you can get it further down your throat. 

Seonghwa groaned, the sound coming out like a mixture of a whimper and a growl as you bobbed your head, tears slipping down your cheek from the strain. 

You flatten your tongue along the base, bouncing enthusiastically as Seonghwa raised and dropped your hips, thrusting his tongue deep inside in a way that made you crave something bigger. 

You touch your throat, shaking when you find he’s gotten it bulged from the size of it, and that realization is what pushed you over, clawing at his thigh and squeezing his cock at the base as you cum shakily. 

Its more overwhelming than the first two from yesterday, and you realize, in embarrassment, that you’d squirted, looking back and finding Seonghwa’s face covered in your juices. 

He stared up in a daze, panting as if he’d fought off a thousand sea beasts, tongue dragging along his lips and face, his scales deepening in color as his cock twitched in your hand, thick pearls of essence rolling from one and creamy cum from the second. 

His eyes drifted back to your trembling pussy and it took you lifting your hips-ignoring the near feral growl the motion ripped from his throat-for him to focus on your face. You crawl back up to him, kissing him messily. Seonghwa’s pouting ended as quickly as it began once you kissed him, and you smile into it as you feel his big hands trail up and down your spine, squeezing, kneading, massaging. 

Along your throat, more scales appear. Seonghwa brushed his fingers along them and you break the kiss to mirror him, feeling it yourself. He kissed down to your jugular, keening deep in his chest, clicking. 

“*+:｡.｡ o…utiful….all….m….ne｡.｡:+*”

You stare at him, lips parted. You’re starting to understand the clicks and tones. 

A sense of joy overflowed your senses and you throw your arms around him, kissing him feverishly as you press your hips down, dragging your core over one of his aching cocks. 

Seonghwa groaned as you held his face, muttering incoherently, both in your native tongue and in his own, though you could only understand bits and pieces of the latter. 

It seemed this part of the courting process had been going better than expected. 

“More…I still want more.” He rumbled, eyes dark as he looked down at you. You smile and kiss the tip of his nose before moving to your hut, settling on your hands and knees and raising your hips up high. 

“Can you get off like this? Rutting against me? I don’t think I can take even one of your cocks like this, let alone both…”You trail, ignoring the traitorous dribble of cum that fell from your pussy to the ground below at the thought. Seonghwa had wasted no time, grabbing your hips and pushing both of his cocks between your thighs, eyeing the way his girth kept your folds spread, your juices mixing with your own saliva and both his essence and precum as he thrust forward. 

Each thrust of his hips made your thighs and ass jiggle from the contact, and you bury your head in the crook of your arm, moaning as you push down on both of his cocks as best you could with your free hand, making them rut against one another and keeping them flush against you. 

Seonghwa growled your name, his tempo getting erratic and uncoordinated the longer he went until you finally feel him grip your hips tight, leaving finger-shaped marks along your skin as he finally unraveled behind you, making a mess of your hand and pussy as he came. 

Your thighs shake as a smaller orgasm rolls through you, your body slumping forward as you try and force air back into your lungs. Seonghwa kissed up your thighs (stopping to take a sneaky lick of the mess you and he had made of your cunt), continuing past your ass, the small, yet deep dimples at the small of your back, along the groove of your spine, and stopping at the top of your head, holding your trembling body close to his firm one. 

You turn your head to kiss him, tongue tangling with his as you purr from the taste of both of you lingering on your tongues. Seonghwa stayed close to you, eyes closing as he enjoyed the kiss. 

When you finally part, Seonghwa smiled and nuzzled your neck, gently nibbling along the scales. 

“I love you” He whispered. 

You feel your heart stop and you look up. Seonghwa doesn’t look away from you and you smile, stealing a kiss. 

“I love….I love you too.” You reciprocate, nestling yourself in his arms. Seonghwa rolled you onto your side, holding you close and keening. 

“Rest. I’ll clean you up.” 

You yawn and let yourself go, a carefree smile on your face. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

The next two weeks of courting had been….exhausting in the best kind of way. 

If you thought Seonghwa had been attached to you before, he certainly was glued on firmly, following you faithfully and bringing in extra rations of food and gemstones. 

You had no idea where he kept getting these shiny rocks from, but by now you’d gotten an impressive collection, and had even turned some of them into jewelry with the help of a kit that had not-so-subtly washed to shore one morning full of bands, chains, and various other tools that could be used to turn your stones into much more. 

You’d have to thank a certain orca SeaBorn later. 

Seonghwa’s favorite place had been between your legs, with most of your mornings starting with him kissing you awake, those soft lips trailing down your body until he could hold you flush against his lips and ruin you, not stopping until you were trembling and in tears from the overstimulation. 

Then, with a dazed smile (and a messy abdomen from cumming on himself), he’d kiss you tenderly, gently massaging your body free of any aches and pains before actually starting your day. 

The night usually ended the same way, regardless. 

Aside from that, Seonghwa had began the process of the SeaBorn courting process, washing you with some fragrant mixture he had made himself. He’d take care, making sure to wash you from head to toe, his claws one of his hands filed down to smooth, rounded tips.

You find out the reason why when he set you in his lap during one of your nightly bathings, groping and kneading your chest as his filed fingers rub your clit. Your breath hitched as you felt him slowly work his fingers in, licking and biting at your throat and shoulder as he worked you open, ignoring his own hardness pressed against your ass. He purred praises to you as you clench and squirm, and growled warnings, threatening to stop when the pleasure nearly made you close your thighs at other times. 

You were going insane. 

Looking between your legs, you can see your cum running between his fingers. How many times had it been today alone? Three? Four?

You arch, your sternum covered in beautiful scales as you feel your mind buzz in pleasure. 

It was so good, so addicting. 

But it was all just an appetizer. You wanted more. 

Seonghwa set his chin on your shoulder, watching as you messily squirt the fifth overstimulated orgasm into his palm, smiling from ear to ear as you whimper his name along with tiny declarations of love. As he looked down on you, he can see your eyes, tinged pink with love just like the way his were for you. 

With one final push, you two would be fully intertwined. 

Seonghwa held you tight that night, promising to let you rest until the next crescent moon. 

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Just as the tides are controlled by the phases of the moon, those born within the ocean are also at the mercy of it. 

The moment the sun set on this particular day, you feel something in you shift. Your skin felt…cold. Uncomfortably so. 

Seonghwa is always warm. 

You look around. He had gone out to grab more firewood. You’d heard a tree being downed not too long ago. 

Not good enough. Where is he? It’s cold. Your mate is always warm, he can fix it.

You open your mouth, and without a thought, you begin to sing. 

“✧˖*°࿐~♪”

Not too far off from camp, Seonghwa stopped short, eyes wide. The sound of a melody, brand new, yet familiar to him made every nerve in his body spark. He snapped his head to the left, singing back. 

“✧˖*°࿐~♪” You continue to sing, swaying left and right. You can hear him, singing back to you, the notes weaving together in harmony. 

You’re picked up ceremoniously as you sing, and you look down at Seonghwa, smiling as you cup his cheeks. His eyes are that lovely pink, his pupils a beautiful gold color. You smiled, bending down to kiss him. 

“You sang to me.” He muttered against your lips. You feel your body warming, welcoming him in as your heart thrums in your chest. 

“And you came.” You keen, nibbling his lip playfully. Seonghwa grabbed your chin, lifting it slowly as he rumbled, clicking deep in his chest. 

“Will you be mine?” He rumbled, waiting before he made any further moves. You press your cheek to his palm. 

“I already decided to be yours long ago. Don’t hold back.” You whisper. Seonghwa immediately laid you down on your back, plush pillows conjured from magic propping your head up. He made sure one was under your hips, towering over you as he bit the cork off of the curious bottle Hongjoong had given him before. You look at it before glancing up at Seonghwa. 

“This will help me prepare you. If it’s too much, let me know, we can take it slower.”

You let your legs fall open, watching as he coated his fingers in the slick, honeyed fluid. It smelled sweet, but not nearly as sweet as his own essence. You didn’t complain, however, mewling as you feel him push his fingers inside of you. 

Immediately, your mind is abuzz. 

His tongue always felt hot, he’d explained his aphrodisiac properties before, but this was…a whole different beast. 

You grab his wrist, not to push or pull, but to ground yourself as you feel him pumping two of his deliciously long fingers in and out of you. Seonghwa studied your face, licking his lips at the flush that adorned your cheeks and leaning down into your ear. 

“I feel you, quivering in anticipation.” He growled, his voice lower than his usual speaking tone, though it still bounced around your head like a rubber ball. 

“Clenching, unclenching, making a mess of my fingers. Begging for more. Can you call to me? Can you say my name?” He urged. You tilt your head back, panting as you reach to hold your legs open, giving him all the space and access he needs. 

“Seonghwa~”

“Louder. Again. Call to me.”

He curled his fingers, pressing the golden aphrodisiac right against your sweet spot. Fire and electricity explode throughout your being, and you cry out, arching and grabbing his wrist tighter, your nails digging fruitlessly into his skin. 

“Seonghwa!” 

He groaned, focusing that spot deep inside of you as he kissed down your neck to your collar, leaving love bites in his wake. 

“I never told you but…mmm…this is how I was able to find you. How I can always be there…when you call my name…I hear a chime. Distinct, strong, elegant. There’s no other sound in the world like it. No matter where you are, if you call my name, I’ll come running…or I suppose swimming, too. Its my second favorite sound in the world.” He chuckled, adding his third finger inside, stretching and curling them. You clench and whimper, making a mess of his fingers as you wrap your arms around his shoulders. 

“W-what’s the f-first-ah! Right there nnn-” You cry out, clawing down his back. He chuckled against the skin of your breast, tongue curling over your areola before he took your nipple between his lips. 

“The sound of your pussy gushing on my tongue and your moans right before you cum for me. Its a tie.” He answered honestly, looking up into your eyes, unshaken by his own confession. You whimper and pull his hair, yanking him up into a needy and wanton kiss. 

“More…Seonghwa please, I need-mmm more than your fingers-” You whine, feeling his cock throbbing against your core. Both of you look down, finding his tip angry and flushed pink, now leaking the same essence as the one usually hidden from view. 

Are these the effects of the crescent moon for a courting SeaBorn?

You reach and grab his cock, pumping it in your small hand and smiling up at him as he inhaled sharply through his fangs. You kiss him, again and again until he took the hint an parted his lips, letting you slide your tongue in while you teased both of you by rubbing the crown of his cock along your folds, coating it in your precum. 

“Hurry,” You exhale, breaking the kiss only when your lungs screamed for air. Seonghwa pulled his fingers free, licking and sucking them clean, the gold in his pupils deepening while he coated his cock in the aphrodisiac. 

“I love you.” He whispered, pressing against your entrance. You feel the pressure, the weight against it, and it took every fiber of your being to not hook your leg around his hip and pull him flush inside. 

Instead, you cup his face, rubbing your nose tenderly against his. 

“I love you too.” 

He repeated himself, whispering ‘I love yous’ amongst kisses that felt like blooms of electricity against your skin. 

Just as you open your mouth to insist he hurry, he slowly pressed into you.

You clench despite yourself, and Seonghwa groaned above you, clawing into the blankets he’d made for you as he fought to rein in the primal instinct to claim you as quickly as possible. 

The night was young, and no matter how much the pulses of the moon swayed him, he would not bend to his instincts. 

On your end, your mind nearly blanked as you feel every inch of him stretch and fill you. You feel your breath coming in short puffs as you drag your nails down Seonghwa’s back, a broken song of desire tumbling from your lips as you feel his balls finally settle against your ass. 

Seonghwa’s eyes are closed above you, his teeth gritted as he pulsed inside of you. You glance down, gushing as you see the telltale bulge in your stomach from the size of his cock. 

And it's just one. 

You pull yourself up for a kiss, distracting and grounding you both as you spasm around him, clenching and stretching to accommodate him. The aphrodisiac certainly helps, as you realize you weren’t taking as long to adjust to having him inside of you. 

Seonghwa finally regained his senses, pulling his cock out only a quarter of the way before rocking his hips forward. The motion drew a pleased shout from you, your breasts bouncing from the force. He repeated a few times, panting and clawing at the dirt before he began to set a deep, hungered pace. 

You moan and let your head fall back, feeling every shift and move of his cock inside of you. Seonghwa’s hand moved down, caressing your body sensually as he rumbled and panted above you, pressing your foreheads together. 

He didn’t say a word, simply holding your gaze as he moaned for you. In this moment of intimacy, you feel a swell in your heart. 

Seonghwa stopped instantly when he saw you crying in his arms. His brows pulled up and he cupped your face, wiping your cheeks. 

Before he can ask you what’s wrong, you kiss his palm, tears slipping down your cheek. 

“I’m just…overwhelmed. To go from being cast aside to die to this…having someone look at me like I’m their world…it’s a lot. I promise, I’m not in pain. I actually want you to go faster.” You coo, kissing it once more as you meet his eyes. Seonghwa studied your face for a while before he gently pulled out of you, anyway. 

You frown and protest immediately, but Seonghwa simply rolled you onto your side, holding your thigh up as he straddled the other, guiding his cock back to your greedy hole and pushing in with less fanfare compared to the first time, 

When he does, the air escaped your lungs once more, your back arching as Seonghwa held your ankle in one hand, keeping you spread wide for him as he rutted his cock deep inside of you. 

“Seong! H-hwa!” You cry out, voice jerking with his thrusts, your lips parting as pathetic noises fall from your lips. Seonghwa kissed your ankle, trailing up to your thigh, biting the skin of it as he pounded into you, groaning. 

“You feel so…grrrrnnn….so good… so tight for me.” He growled, sweat rolling down his skin. You bite down on your knuckle to stifle the moans falling from your lips, feeling the trickle of liquid from the force. 

“Ah ah. Careful.” He tutted above you, leaning over slowly and making your body stretch with him, your eyes widening as you feel his heavy cock press deeper as he took your hand, dragging his tongue over the silver blood that had dribbled down them from your bite. 

Silver.

Your eyes widen in joyful surprise as you watch him, realizing your blood had changed as you courted. Seonghwa suckled on your fingers, eyes flickering down to you, kissing you heatedly, reaching to rub your clit as he had you distracted. 

You jolt and gasp, lips trembling as Seonghwa dropped your thigh, pulling out and rolling you with your back splayed out on the blanket once more. He held your thighs open, speeding up and growling sweet nothings to you as he watched your face closely. 

You probably looked ruined, your eyes fluttering closed as your mouth fell open, fangs protruding as you feel the sloppy mess between your legs, both you and Seonghwa chasing your orgasms. Liquid had undoubtedly ran between the two of you, soaking his balls and making the rhythmic ‘slap slap slap’ of it against your hips sound wet and somehow lewder as you clung to his arms. 

“Right there, right there, yes yes Seong-” You throw your head back as he pressed into your sweet spot, hips angling just right once he did, speeding up so much he had to hold your hips to keep you from sliding from the force of his thrusts. 

“Don’t hold it back, beautiful, I got you, I’m right here with you.” He gritted out through his fangs, eyes flicking back and forth between your face, the alluring bounce of your breasts, and the absolute mess between your legs where you both were joined. 

You reach for him, seeking his presence as you tumble towards an orgasm that was undoubtedly more earth shattering than the first. 

Seonghwa leaned down, kissing you until both of you were panting, keeping his head tucked in the crook of your neck, letting you tug and pull his hair for purchase as you clamp around his cock, cumming with a pleasured scream that pushed him over the edge alongside you. 

The pleasure that washed over you made your mind go completely numb, your arms tightening around Seonghwa as you shook and felt a few smaller orgasms chase after the first. Heat flooded inside of you, cum, essence, and the golden aphrodisiac mixing and swirling deep inside you. 

With your newly heightened senses, the scent of sex is dizzying. 

You want more of it. 

Your eyes drift down to Seonghwa’s second cock, thick and throbbing and already unsheathed from his first orgasm and arousal, drooling against your navel in a way all too familiar. 

Seonghwa seemed to be one step ahead of you, sitting up and reaching for the bottle of the aphrodisiac. You nearly growl at him as he pulled out again, but he simply flipped you over, setting pillows under your hips. You blush at the position, feeling yourself leaking from your gaping entrance. 

Seonghwa growled, unable to resist leaning down and chasing the beautiful fluid with his tongue before pushing into your cunt and delving in. 

You gasp and arch higher, though Seonghwa stopped himself from eating you out this time in lieu of emptying the contents of the bottle on his cocks. You hear the sound, the slickness and raise your hips, shaking subtly. 

“Patience. I’m trying to not absolutely ravage you.” 

You narrow your gaze and spread your legs wider apart. 

“Seonghwa if you don’t get on with it and breed me like I deserve-” 

Oh my, now where did that come from?

Seonghwa’s eyes darken behind you, pushing one of his cocks back inside, drawing a moan of relief. You hardly have the time to taunt him into giving you even more before he’s guiding the second to your stuffed hole, slowly sliding in and stretching you much more than you expected. 

Its almost embarrassing, the whorish and raw groan that the sensation pulled from your chest, your claws leaving shreds in the blanket and even the stone below you both. 

Seonghwa held your hips, giving you time to adjust and stretch a bit, the aphrodisiac and his essence once again helping you loosen up. Its the roll of your own hips that spurn him to move, to finally give you what you’d been waiting for. 

Once he finally does move, it’s a much different pace than before, each thrust hard and nearly feral as he held you close to his chest, rubbing your clit in quick circles as he swore and growled in your ear. 

“Goodness look at you rrrnn…gush and squirt on my cocks. To think both of your mouths would be making a mess, drooling for me. I’m just as happy, darling.” He keened, reaching around to stick his fingers in your mouth. He let you suck and bite at them, pinching and rolling your clit between his fingers. 

You feel your mind blurr into mush, your senses completely overtaken with pleasure and need. Your thighs shook and you could feel every inch of his girthy cocks pounding into you, sometimes with enough strength to completely knock the wind out of your lungs. 

Your voice had broken, raw and needy as you beg him not to stop. Go faster, angle right there, keep going, don’t stop until both of you were spent. 

Seonghwa pressed down on your stomach, and you cum abruptly when you can feel the bulge of his cocks in your stomach. 

The larger man looked down at you, adoration swirling in his lustful eyes and with one motion, he hooked his arms behind yours, pulling up until you were on your knees, sitting you on his cock after picking your body up. 

“Ngh!” You cry out, drooling as you feel his cocks settle inside, the last strand of control snapping in your mind as you focus on chasing pleasure for both him and you. Your body moves on its own, notes of love and lust bouncing around the straw walls of the hut as you shakily sing through your moans, letting him thrust up and fuck into your ruined body. 

You eagerly clench, but with a delighted giggle, you find his cocks much too big for it to have the same effect, completely shaping you like him as he rose his voice to sing with you, every groan and praised word sending sparks flying up and down your spine. 

When he finally came again, your mind blanked completely, your body locking up and tears streaming down your face as a blissed out smile stretched across your lips. 

You find later that the peculiar base of his second cock is actually a knot, and it nearly made Seonghwa pass out himself as it pulsed inside of you, trapping all of his cum, essence, and the golden liquid deep inside of you along with his second cock. 

He let you go, holding you so you didn’t fall forward face first as he shuddered, hips twitching ever so slightly. You were completely fucked out of your mind, trembling as you panted, trying to catch your breath. 

Seonghwa kissed the top of your head, rubbing your hips as he willed his own to stop moving and be still. 

He looked over your shoulder and smiled softly, kissing your head as he covered you protectively, locked into place behind you. 

“*+:｡.｡I love you, so much, Y/n｡.｡:+*” He muttered. You squeeze his hand, the grip of sleep dragging you under its influence. 

He certainly wasn’t expecting a tired series of clicks and coos in response. 

“*+:｡.｡Love…you too…Seonghwa.｡.｡:+*”

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Taglist

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

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[blackjackkent]

Poor Wyll is in a bad way. In-game, I had Rakha talk to Minthara and Jaheira first because I was curious why Minthara got pulled out of the party temporarily, but the truth is Rakha definitely talked to Wyll first as soon as they started climbing out of the fleshpit.

"Gods be damned. With that parasite in his brain, father could wreak untold havoc in the Absolute's name. Should Baldur's Gate fall to the Absolute, every one of the Coast's cities will be ripe for the plucking. We're not just fighting for our cure. We're fighting for my father. We're fighting for the Gate. We're fighting for all of Faerun."

It's interesting, because while Rakha feels at perhaps her lowest point since her story began, Wyll on the other hand sounds more fired up than she's ever heard him before. His father and the city where he was born are under attack; he wants to go forward. He wants to fight.

She feels numb and exhausted, but it's as if through him she can feel something of the care for the city and man she doesn't know, even though she can't feel it on her own.

"The Absolute's cult has Ravengard," she says. Her voice is even more low and monotone than usual, but she's watching him attentively, unblinkingly. "Where will they take him?"

"Wyrm's Rock fortress," Wyll explains gravely. "All travelers to Baldur's Gate flow through it. It serves as headquarters for the Flaming Fist - and their commander, my father." He huffs out an agitated breath. "The Absolute's army's on the march. Gods forbid a tadpoled Grand Duke throw open the gates for them."

Rakha nods slowly. Yet again she is grateful for him, for his patience with her, his willingness to explain the things about his world and his home that would, perhaps, be obvious to anyone else. She will need it, more than ever, if she is going to press forward in this fight.

"What do you know about Gortash?" she asks. "And Orin?" Again, her face twists with a slight spasm of pain in her head as she thinks of the Bhaalist woman.

Wyll purses his lips thoughtfully. "Orin I'd never heard tell of," he says. "But Gortash I know. Or know of, more precisely. A self-styled 'strategic advisor' to Baldur's Gate's peers. A bit player with dreams of a leading role, the way father told it. He has no use for Gortash, and even less for his 'advice.'"

He snorts softly. "I don't remember much beyond that, but where these 'Chosen' are concerned, i have a suspicion we're about to know more than we'd like."

Probably true. All the same, Rakha feels a flash of frustration. Gortash, it seems, is a known quantity, but the things she hears of him from different people don't add up into a cohesive picture. In Karlach's words he was an arm's dealer and backstabber. In Florrick's words, a rising noble. In Wyll's words, an ambitious nobody.

She doesn't like the uncertainty. There are too many holes in her understanding as it is.

As for Orin... only Minthara seems to know anything of her at all.

Only Minthara and me, she thinks bleakly. But I can't remember what I know...

She can't think about this anymore. Her head aches so badly...

"Mizora said you can say what led to your pact and exile," she says abruptly. "It's time I know the whole truth."

She can see him flinch slightly, and for a moment she regrets the question. But she needs to talk about something else, about him - something to pull her thoughts away from Orin, and the Absolute, and that Myrkulite torturer who apparently cut her open over and over and over in the time lost to her memory...

Wyll thinks for a moment in silence, then nods. "Yes," he says. "But first - a question. If your home were under siege, what would you sacrifice to save it?"

Rakha blinks. Home? she thinks, mildly bemused. What home does she have? She remembers nothing. Apparently she lived here, once, but this is not home. This is a place where she and everyone around her was a monster.

What does the word even mean? Safety. Stability. Rest. There is none of that in her life... Except with him. Almost from the beginning, Wyll's words and his touch and his steady loyalty have been the only place - the only consistent one, at least - where she has felt any kind of peace.

The myconids were a transient thing. Lae'zel has been an unsteady, chaotic maelstrom. Even the guardian shows little warmth, even though she soothes Rakha's mind. But Wyll...

If Rakha has a home at all, it is him.

Her heart thumps heavily in her chest at the thought. She wonders if Wyll recognizes the question he is really asking.

What would she sacrifice to save *him*?

She feels a strange, anxious straining start in her temple. She realizes the answer, and it frightens her more than almost anything else.

"I'd give my life,"(*) she says, almost too low to hear.

She is almost relieved to see that Wyll doesn't seem to recognize the underlying meaning behind her words. His gaze is distant, looking past her into his memory.

"As would I..." he says quietly. "And more."

There's a long silence before he goes on. "I was seventeen. Father - Ulder Ravengard - had just been named a Grand Duke, and was called away to Elturel to help settle a dispute. That's when the Cult of the Dragon made its move."

Rakha makes a soft, questioning grunt. "What's the Cult of the Dragon?" she asks. The flare of anxiety eases as she focuses on his story, the facts she can gather up and put together. "I've never heard of them."

"A religion devoted to conjuring the most evil of goddesses," Wyll explains. "The dragon Tiamat." This doesn't mean much more to Rakha, but she nods, letting him continue. "A tenday after Father left, I heard a whisper as I slept. 'Dusthawk Hill. The Queen of Chaos awakens. Go alone.' I grabbed a rapier and set out. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, yet not a single star was shining." His lips tighten at the memory. "There they were... gathered at the foot of the Hill..."

Perhaps he recognizes that she has not context to picture any of this, because he presses a finger to his temple and she feels a sudden stirring inside her head.

Narrator: Your head tingles. Wyll wants to show you what happened.

It's natural, instinctive, to let him in. To want to see what he sees.

Allow Wyll to share his memory with you.

At once, she disappears into his thoughts, visualizes a dark, starless night, an enormous hill, an icy coldness in the air punctuated by the heat of a body standing behind her.

Narrator: In the looming shadow of the mount, five groups of five figures each encircle a lofty totem. Atop each totem, a dragon's head is carved and a massive orb held in its mouth. The cultists chant - first softly, then crying to the starless sky. There is a crack of thunder, a gust of wind - and a dragon's white head appears in the storm.

Narrator: As the maelstrom howls, Mizora's lips press to your ear. 'She will destroy Baldur's Gate. Grant me your soul and I will give you the power to save it,' she whispers.

Rakha's eyes clear, and she looks up to see Wyll watching her, looking tremendously sad and tired.

"She read the terms while two devils stood witness," he says. "And I said yes. One soul for one city."

Rakha casts her mind back into this new memory that is not hers. Wyll's thoughts - younger than she knows him now, and frightened and desperate. Mizora - cool as always, calm and smug. Rakha feels her own rage rise, as it always does, in thinking of the devil, of what she's done to Wyll.

This is what Wyll means in sacrificing himself for his home. Not her selfish interpretation, but throwing away his soul for the lives of people he has never met.

She does not know if she would be capable of it. She thinks perhaps she would not. She is not worthy of him. She never has been.

"A brave choice," she mutters hoarsely. "And a frightening one."

"I don't know that it was brave," he says quietly. "I just know that it was right."

Another slight pause; then he goes on, suddenly very matter-of-fact. "The moment I agreed, I burned with the fires of Avernus and oozed the rot of Dis. The cultists choked on our poisons and burned from our flames. When we were done, all that remained were five greyed orbs atop a pile of ash. My soul was bound and my lips were sealed."

His mouth droops at the corners and his head ducks. Clearly he is coming to the harder part of the story. She doesn't really want to ask, but she does anyway because she knows he expects it.

"And what about your father?" she asks. "The Grand Duke?"

Wyll smiles bitterly. "He returned to an unsuspecting city and a wayward son with a smirking devil at his side. I tried to tell him the truth, but my mouth couldn't form the words. I led him to the battlefield, but Mizora had swept it clean." His voice lifts with remembered desperation - then calms as he regains control of himself. His back straightens and his jaw goes tight. "After, he said only one word. 'Go.' So I did."

Rakha breathes out slowly. Her head is buzzing with a strange mess of emotions she doesn't have the energy to process. Rage, mostly - rage against Mizora for the pain she's put Wyll through. Love - love she has no words to properly articulate. And those lingering threads of anxiety, the knowledge of how much he's come to mean to her, and how much she will never feel worthy of him, of the decisions he has been able to make.

I don't know that it was brave. I just know that it was right.

She sighs, reaches out for him - an involuntary motion to pull him close, reassure herself that he is there and real. He tips his head, presses his lips to her neck.

She closes her eyes and lets herself draw a little comfort from his touch.

One day I will tear Mizora apart for how she's used you. Perhaps that's the only thing I can give you... but I promise you that much.

-----

(*) Full line is "I'd give my life if it meant keeping the residents safe," but this is better and more Rakha-ish so I'm changing it. :P