#finds it difficult to talk and even appears to be close to tears. it's a rare moment of real deep emotion and not the kind of naturalistic

[anantaru]

— comforting you on a bad day

including — scaramouche, wriothesley, alhaitham, childe x gn! reader

genre — fluff, hurt -> comfort

— scaramouche

scaramouche finds you sitting on the couch, burying your face into your hands.

easy to see, he knew you must've had a bad day or that something inconvenient must've happen to you— and unquestionably, he feels a slight function of heartache when you're suddenly pulling your head up to look at him walk towards you, gloom settling on his countenance.

scaramouche doesn't say anything at first, he doesn't want to make you overwhelmed or like you had to talk about it, it was up to you if you wanted of course. but it was interesting to see how dependable he was on your happiness, because the man detested seeing your smile fade, he'd do anything to bring it back— as soon as you're sad, unahappy or dejected, he's beginning to feel it with you.

he was angry— bend out of his usual shape because he cannot find a quick solution to this, he just doesn't want to see you covered in a gloomy mask.

however, instead of resorting back to his past methods of handling situations such as those, especially the ones that come close to his own emotions, scaramouche decides to take a seat right next to you before placing his hand on his knee, but with his palm facing up— you see, as if to invite you to take it.

hopefully you do.

"you're quiet," he inquires shortly after, tilting his head to look at you, "on any other day, you'd greet me the moment i walk through that door," he purses his lips a little, the hand on his knee quietly turning impatient, like he's scared you won't take it— or even worse, what if he's the reason you felt this way?

troubled, scaramouche proceeds to look at you, and it might not come across like it since it can be quite difficult for him to show his proper feelings— but he'd do anything for you right now, if there's something he could do in order for your smile to appear again, he'd do it without batting an eye.

his throat lets go of a dry sigh when you take his hand sweetly before resting your head against his shoulder, holding your breath as you exhale through a crumbling heave.

scaramouche's grip on you tightens, "who did this to you?" he decides to ask, his voice growing an octave louder, ultimately signalizing the despair he felt from seeing you like this, "is there someone who made you feel this way? someone i should be aware of?" scaramouche had to know if there was a third party that was involved and most importantly, responsible for this— if so, you could easily leave it to him to take care of it.

you sniffle, the grip your hand had on his palm strengthening, "no one, it's just me," you embarrassingly rub your cheek against his shoulder as he leans back into the couch so you could make yourself more comfortable, "i just had a bad day, that's all," and as badly as your eyes wanted to flutter shut, you were frightened to do so due to possible tears dousing your cheeks.

for some reason, you didn't want him to see you cry— despite the fact that you would never be judged nor laughed at by him.

the man loves you dearly, he could tell the entire world about it— draw warm and tender words on a pavement blossoming with roses. it's truly a magical feeling, turning to dizzying deeds and actions when he gets to kiss and hug you, touch and caress you.

scaramouche whispers your name softly when he slowly runs his thumb to circle around your hand, "hey, you don't have to be sad anymore," at his sentence, you curiously turn your head up as best as you can when his eyes flitter down at you.

"i mean, since i'm back from the akademiya now, we can spend all night together," you make a hum of appreciation before shifting yourself into him so you're lying as close to your boyfriend as possible, "—besides," scaramouche continues as he rests his head against yours, his mind and spirit soothing yours, "if someone is, in fact, responsible for your sadness, i might need to take care of something else first."

you chuckle, believing he's joking before opting to peck his cheek as at the same time, he pulls you in for a proper kiss— ah well, how sweet, you're smiling now, he can sense it as denseness lifts from your shoulders.

strongly invaded by a warm cradle around your whole face, scaramouche silently takes your chin between his thumb and pointer finger, "i told you," he sternly reminds you, whispering his words as his brows narrowed, the muscles in your face beginning to soften upon receiving his homely touch.

"i won't let anyone or anything sadden you, doesn't matter what it is, i will make sure you're being taken care of."

— wriothesley

you do not move an inch, your body hemmed in a draining blanket that fueled a negative spot in your heart, but do not be mistaken because within this cold, you can feel the warmth of wriothesley's love all the more.

you're like a sheet of glass right now, utterly still, eyes open as if gazing into a dark hole, unable to move a single muscle by how challenging this day had been for you.

as soon as he shrouds your body against his arms and pushes you into his chest, your eyes are glazed in warm liquid that cover the majority of your cheeks, slowly eating away at your skin. your boyfriend doesn't mind when you're crying in front of him, quite the reverse actually, he sees it as you trusting him so much, that you're willing to be vulnerable in front of him.

as soon as he kisses your forehead in reassurance, the force of the impact your emotions have caused on your mental state lift a little, paired with your general feelings resulting in you stumbling forward into his embrace, your hands clumsily scrambling at his jacket as you sniffle into his chest.

in your relationship you didn't need to hide your raw emotions, not only would wriothesley see through you right away, but it's, bluntly saying, pointless to do that in the first place. the man knows that in this moment in time, he needs to be there for you, and he doesn't expect you to be happy and positive all the time.

yet seeing you like this feels like losing a limb, because you're completing wriothesley in a way, you're like a puzzle piece fixing his heart— the fear of being unable to help you, give you what you need was scrambling into his body and mind, and if you ultimately sought after it, the duke would gladly destroy anything to make you happy, including himself.

"sorry, am i being too much?" you sniffle out before rubbing your eyes to get rid of the blur, honestly clueless as to why you're apologizing in the first place, "i think you must've expected our date to turn out differently," you continue, it was all you could shove past the heavy lump in your throat. you're holding yourself on a single thread, deep breathes and hefty swallows, your soft fingers slipping beneath the back of his neck.

wriothesley smiled, feeling the pull of it behind his heart, he disliked whenever you were apologizing for things you cannot control, not to mention when they were so human too.

"not at all, do not say that," he answers, holding you close, "you will never be able to be too much for me," he promises as he sighs out, one last octave teasing the following as his lips slowly move with a warm tenderness on your forehead once he places a kiss on you.

— alhaitham

alhaitham will not touch you, yes, he will sit next to you and offer a shoulder for you to lean on if you so seek it, but he will not begin to speak first nor say anything at all— wether it's questioning your current state or beginning to somehow figure it out on his own.

instead, he just listens to you.

you can talk to your boyfriend about everything, he does not care if it's pointless gossip you've overheard the other day, or you talking about this new, exciting hobby you found or like now, something that has pulled and squeezed at your heart like you're unable to breathe anymore.

he will not interrupt you, the man will make sure you can scream your heart out of your chest if it means that you feel better afterwards. he's a good listener and when you tell him everything that's on your mind, alhaitham will subconsciously ponder about possible solutions on how to help you out.

"nothing could be more human than this, don't ever feel like you have to hide this from me," he says as your tears slip beyond your control, rushing uncontrollably. alhaitham desired you beyond any significant reason, he has fallen for you and such fact will never falter, it's beyond native intelligence, beyond common sense.

although sometimes, he can trail off, it's cute, especially when he's catching himself admiring his darling, "you're so beautiful, have i told you that today?" for a second, right after you tipple over his words, your body is unable to react, and then you cannot help yourself but let go of a chuckle.

his sudden compliment came so unexpected regardless of your boyfriend being blunt by nature, "you're telling me this while i'm crying and looking like a mess?" your lips curve into a flustered smile, cutting through your initial weary facade. the chilling waves that flung into your body surely caused havoc, but it was almost frightening by how fast alhaitham could change your mood. 

"I thought you should know," he ponders, softly pushing your head up so you could look at him, "you're always beautiful to me, that has nothing to do with how you're feeling,"

shortly after, you lean into a tender kiss, chasing the love he was always providing you with— this time, simply feeling him once wasn't enough, so you kiss him again, again and again, leaving him with enlarged pupils as he pulls gently away.

— childe

childe will find things to make you feel better, heavy emphasized on the find.

it's something he has to get done and despite the fact that he might not seem like it, he feels it with you, everything, it impact him, regardless if you're being drained that day, saddened or if it even has anything to do with him in the first place.

naturally, he'd also pamper you so you're feeling more comfortable, but such wasn't necessarily a new in your relationship, he clearly has a habit of spoiling you to bits— the celestial bodies decorating the world, yes, ajax would reach for the stars in the sky if you so wished for them.

you're aware that he's mostly absent due to his work requiring him for the most times, but he'd make sure to be by your side the moment he realizes you're genuinely not feeling well. childe is quite adapt of finding a way to make what he wants to achieve possible so do not worry yourself, he will never let you down.

for all that, do not get greatly surprised when he's starting to throw around unfunny jokes his brother might've told him or tell you a story about how hilariously weird his fellow colleagues can be, not to mention scary which was rib-tickling in its own manner.

the man will get nervous too and it's cute, it's his first serious relationship and he doesn't want to do anything wrong. also, important side note but it goes without saying that him being this adorable will already lift your mood a bit.

he's also a little overwhelmed by the situation and is scared to make it somehow worse for you. little does he realize that you're so thankful to him, in fact, you do not need him to magically solve the problems for you, your boyfriend just being here and listening was enough to find comfort.

it's all the more charming, he is, how he smiles from head to toe when you're searching his snug, pleasant hugs when he lets you sob into his chest.

"you're so comfy," you mumble into his jacket before rubbing your cheek over the place where you could faintly notice his fastened heart thumping beneath his ribcage.

your message makes him immediately blush, scarlet red catching his skin and setting it ablaze as he averts his gaze a little to conceal it.

childe doesn't necessarily think he's good at comforting somebody, but he shows you another smile when you gaze up at him, his grin close-lipped but bright as a bared tooth, "i'm sorry, i know i have neglected you recently," you recognize the weary weight of his words, how they're crumpling off his face, "my work, ugh, i know i should've been there for you more," he groans, "you don't deserve to be alone all the time,"

"it's not your fault," you draw a shaky gasp, panicked arms flying to his neck to wrap around him, "you're here now, aren't you?" your eyes glow, flickering with an impression that he cannot forget, it's boiling over until reaching the surface of your complete countenance, "can you stay for the night? only if it's possible," you reluctantly continue.

it's important to note that you really do not fault him, childe was not only providing for his family, but he wanted to give you a life where you do not have to worry about the material aspect of living.

ajax slides his large palm soothingly along the shiver of pain wracking your frame as he listlessly rests his head against yours, "i'll stay as long as you want me to, until you're feeling better, until you can smile again."

©2024 anantaru do not repost, copy, translate, modify, claim as your own

[vroomvro0mferrari]

LN4 | Win & Woo

Summary: Congratulating Lando after his first race win is a lot more difficult than you expected. When you finally get the chance to, he reacts differently than you anticipated.

Lando Norris x best friend!Reader

WC: 3.1K

Warnings: Cursing, making out

Masterlist

You’re watching from the garage as Lando drives around the track. You keep your eyes on the screen in front of you as you bite your nails. You don’t think you’ve ever been this nervous before. Lando has been leading the race for over twenty laps now, and it’s only a few more until he wins – his first win. Your heart is beating out of your chest as your eyes are locked on Max’s gap to Lando, not even paying attention to everything else that’s happening on track. You’re grinning widely, barely keeping in your excitement, when you see the number get larger at every glance. You’re trying to calm yourself down, to not get too excited too early because you know from earlier experiences that everything can go wrong in one split second, even on the last laps, but there’s no rain today.

You hear the commentators speaking in the background as you stare at the TV. Every time they say something about how this might be Lando’s first win, your heart skips a beat, mentally scolding them not to jinx this wonderful opportunity. Your focused gaze on the screen doesn’t falter as Lando starts his last lap. No matter what happens around you, your eyes are pointed that way. You’re fumbling with your fingers and nibbling on your lip anxiously as you watch Lando turn through the last corners, a smile slowly making its way on your face.

Next thing you know, you’re screaming, jumping and cheering as Lando crosses the checkered flag first. You’re smiling so big that your cheeks hurt as you hug Max and cheer with the team. You quickly congratulate the team before rushing to the parc fermé, hoping to congratulate Lando before he’s whisked away for the podium. 

It’s busy – what else did you expect? You can barely work your way through the crowd, but you try anyway, pushing people aside to see your best friend. You can’t see him yet, but you hear the cheers of people as he appears on the big screens nearby. You watch how he’s congratulated by his competitors, as Fernando and Carlos come over to hug him and how Lando takes a sprint to the team awaiting him. He’s got a big smile on his face, a blissed-out look, when he jumps over the fence into the team who’s ready to catch him. 

You’re close enough to see him on top of the crowd of orange, but he can’t see you. That doesn’t mean he’s not trying to, tough. The second he got out of the car, he was searching for you, and that’s what he does as soon as he’s got both his feet on the ground again. But before he can properly look around, Zak has found him, and then Andrea, and in no time he’s led away from where you’re standing. It’s useless for you to fight your way to the front when he’s already gone. So you change your course, quickly move back, and rush to the podium.

You search your way through the seemingly maze-like paddock as you hurry to make it to the podium in time. You can hear the drivers talk about their race over the speakers that are everywhere while you walk and you can hear Lando laughing in the background, but you don’t let it distract you; you’re on a mission. 

When you get to the podium, you’re once again pushing through the crowd in search of a place in front, somewhere Lando can see you. Thankfully, Zak spots you and helps you out, pulling you to stand in front of him where Lando’ll be able to find you. Although Lando hasn’t told him, Zak has caught wind of his secret crush and knows that he’ll probably be searching for you in the crowd of orange.

You cheer and clap politely when Charles and Max walk to their respective podium steps, but you watch with tears in your eyes and pride welling up inside you when Lando runs onto the stage. You clap and cheer as loudly as you can, staring up at him on the highest step. You can see his eyes flitting around in search of you while he pumps his fist through the air. His face lights up with happiness as soon as he finally spots you in the crowd. He winks with a big grin, and your smile grows even more in response. You can’t feel anything but delight at his achievement – the goal he’d been trying to reach ever since he stepped foot into his first kart, his life-long dream. The tears of joy are rolling down your face; you’ve never been so proud. 

He smiles at you from his spot that’s much too far away and sticks up his thumb as if he’s asking you if you’re okay. You laugh at the motion and nod your head. Of course, you’re okay, you’re more than okay, you’re elated.

You admire Lando in his essence. He looks so pretty up there, face turned towards the sun with his eyes closed, soaking in his victory. He wipes under his eyes, and while some might question whether it's sweat or tears he’s wiping away, you know it’s the latter.

You cheer when the anthem ends, and then again when he throws the trophy up, nearly gasping in shock when you see it flying through the air. It would be such a Lando thing to break his first P1 trophy, but he catches it in time and places it securely on the ground, although it’s not necessarily safe there either.

You can’t seem to take your eyes off him, not when Andrea’s handed his trophy, or when Max gets his. And when Charles receives his prize, your gaze is still focused on Lando. But then again, he’s staring at you too. Your eye contact is so intense that Lando doesn’t see the champagne coming. Absolutely shocked at the cold beverage that’s sprayed on his face. And even if he had seen it coming, he would’ve had no time to react to how fast Max and Charles were targeting him.

He’s wiping his face, this time not because of tears (or sweat), but to get the slightly burning alcohol out of his eyes. His hands are slippery when he shakes the big bottle of champagne before slamming it. He can’t see that well right now, but that doesn’t mean he can’t aim well. He grins when he hears you squeak at the cold fluid, even though he doesn’t see your reaction with his head turned away.

Your eyes follow Lando’s every move as he wipes the champagne from his face and takes a sip before spraying the bottle again. You can’t help but admire him like this. He looks so happy up there, smiling in joy while he and his colleagues cover each other in champagne. His beaming smile and damp hair, which is curling more than ever, make him look so beautiful, too. You know you shouldn’t be thinking like this – he’s your best friend, but you can’t help it when he looks so pretty up there.

After he has his picture taken, he makes eye contact with you again. He nods his face towards the side, eyebrows raised, silently asking you to meet up with him and you nod in response. Quickly leaving the podium and making your way to the motorhome, you feel Lando’s eyes pricking your back. He feels so lucky, so incredibly lucky, to have you here with him. He can’t believe that you chose to fly out here for him, that you care about him so much that you’d fly around the world just to watch him work. He’s overjoyed to have you here with him to celebrate his first Formula 1 win; to have his best friends here, although he secretly wishes you were more than that.

Lando finishes his duties as quickly as possible, rushing through all the polite talks with the team members, celebrities and competitors so he can go to you. He gets antsier every time someone stops him on his way to his driver’s room, and when Zak stops him to have an extensive talk about his amazing performance, and how much he deserved it, he’s had enough.

“Sorry, Zak, but can we do this later? Y/N’s waiting in my driver’s room and I really want to celebrate with her right now. I haven’t been able to talk to her yet, and-”

Zak grins while Lando rants. He knows there’s more than friendship between you and Lando, and Lando’s current behaviour is only proving him right. 

“Of course, Lan. Enjoy the moment!” He says grinning, patting Lando on the back before pushing him in the right direction.

Lando thanks him before rushing off. Now that he’s finally out of the grasp of the needy people at the podium, he’s basically running through the paddock to get to you as quickly as possible. Completely overheating from the Miami sun, he unzips his race suit before entering the garage. He shakes hands with the team members he comes across, accepting their congratulations with a hasty smile, and hugs Oscar when he runs into him but doesn’t pay them much attention otherwise.

Lando doesn’t even take a moment to calm his mind before rushing into his driver’s room. You squeal in surprise when the door smashes into the wall, and Lando lifts you up into the air before you can catch a look at him. He squeezes you tightly to him as he twirls the both of you, your arms wrapped around his neck so you don’t fall.

You giggle at the feeling of his face pressed into your neck as he slowly settles you onto the floor. Not wanting to let go of Lando yet, you slide one hand over his back as the other combs through his hair while you stay close. The champagne covering his curls makes your hand sticky, but you can’t find it in yourself to care. You can smell the sweet alcohol on him as he leans his head on your shoulder and sighs.

The big smile on your face refuses to fade as you whisper, “You won”. You can feel Lando’s cheeks pressing against your shoulder as a smile takes place on his face. Running a hand through his hair once more, you feel the happy tears rolling down your face again. You move your hands away from Lando so you can wipe your face as you sniffle. Lando’s head lifts as soon as he feels the weight of your hands disappear. Holding your waist and gazing into your eyes, he asks, “Are you crying?” with a teasing smile on his face.

You punch his shoulder and roll your eyes, “Shut up!” 

You wipe under your eyes again before sighing, “I’m just so proud of you,” you say, arms hanging limply at your sides.

Lando stares at you intensely, his silly smile still on his face. His gaze is so penetrating that you nearly feel the need to look away. Lando is oblivious to how piercing his eye contact is, only focused on the thoughts that are racing through his mind. No person would cry at the achievements of their best friend, right? Max wouldn’t be crying right now, that’s for sure. Does that mean that maybe you see him as more than a friend? He certainly hopes so. Lando can feel the adrenaline running through his body as he looks at you, it’s pushing him to do things he’s not sure will work out well. He doesn’t want to ruin your friendship, but he wants to kiss you more.

Lando smiles at you, wiping your cheeks clean while he watches you. His hand rests on the side of your face while the other slides down to your hip, where he pulls you in close. He banishes all the thoughts from his head and kisses you with full conviction, with no hesitation (or thoughts) in his brain as he lets his body take over.

His lips move against yours aggressively while his hands grapple to pull you closer. He grips your hip tightly and uses it as leverage to press your body against his while his other hand moves from your cheek to the back of your head, tangling his fingers in your hair. The feeling is heavenly, something he has wanted to feel for so long. It feels so right to kiss you, and to feel your body against his.

He’s completely lost in his passion and adoration for you as he kisses you. Meanwhile, you’re in shock. You didn’t expect Lando to kiss you, especially not as fervently as he did. Your surprise left you frozen, completely unmoving, apart from Lando’s hands pulling you nearer. The firmness of your body doesn’t mean the kiss is unwanted, though. In fact, you’re just about to pull Lando closer when he realises your unresponsiveness. His mind switches back on and races faster than his car a moment ago. Fuck – you don’t want this. You’re too polite to stop him, but you don’t want this. He just screwed everything up. Once it dawns on him, he pushes you away so fast you think you’ll have a whiplash.

Your hands are still up in the air where they were about to touch Lando’s chest as you stare at him in shock. He runs his hands across his face in frustration at his fuck-up as he avoids your gaze. He turns away from you, so you can only see his back, his very muscled back, as he sighs and mumbles to himself.

He turns around to face you. You can see the guilt in his eyes when he tries to explain, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that” 

You stay quiet as you process Lando’s confession. Why is he apologising? 

He sighs once more at your silence, running his hand over his face, again. He looks up at you through his lashes but doesn’t say anything. You’re about to respond when he continues, “No, fuck it. I’m not sorry. I love you.”

“Lando,” you tell him, breathlessly. You step closer to him and smooth your hands over his shoulders and towards his chest, “kiss me?”

You don’t have to say that twice. Lando grabs your waist as his lips meet yours in another rough kiss while your hands shoot up to hold his face. He pushes you up against the door as he nibbles on your lip. You moan softly at the feeling of Lando’s body against you, and he takes the opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth. You can taste the champagne on his tongue when you kiss him back just as passionately.

Your hands find their respective place in Lando’s hair again and you pull on the curls softly, earning a quiet groan in reward. The sound gets you hot, and it doesn’t help when Lando lets his hands wander over your body. He squeezes your ass gently before hoisting you up and you immediately wrap your legs around him in reflex.

Lando leaves you panting when he moves his kisses from your mouth to your jaw. He manages to pull another moan from you when he sucks on the skin behind your ear. Softly biting before soothingly licking the soft skin, most definitely leaving a mark behind. But that’s exactly his goal, his plan even, as he sucks love bites along your neck. And as much as you love the feeling and don’t want to think about anything but Lando in this moment, the thoughts of leaving the paddock later with the race winner, and the amount of paparazzi that’ll want a picture of him, penetrate your mind. So, you push Lando away from your skin.

“Lan,” you gasp, “we should stop.”

It takes a few seconds for Lando to get his mind back into the right headspace, a headspace in which not every thought is obsessed with you. He stares at you with hazy eyes, and you stare back. Dear God, it’s hard not to kiss him again when he looks like this, with his hair wet from the champagne and messy from your hands and his lips swollen and red from your heated kiss. You nearly let out another moan at the sight, but bite your lip to prevent it.

“Baby, don’t bite your lip if you don’t want me to kiss you,” Lando says hoarsely.

“Sorry.”

You’re both panting while you stare at each other. Neither of you is sure how to continue now. Lando admitted he loves you, should you say it back now? You do love him, but maybe you should wait until he says something. Does this mean you’re dating now? Is he your boyfriend, or do you have to ask first? It’s so unnecessarily confusing and complicated.

“I love you,” you finally admit.

Lando smiles at the confession, “You do, huh?” He says cockily. 

You punch his shoulder again, “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like… I don’t know. You’re all smug about it, but you said you loved me first, so I win.”

He laughs at your response, “Sure baby, you win.”

You smile at him, “So, does this mean you’re my boyfriend now?”

Lando has a big grin on his face now while he stares at you adoringly, “Yes, if you want me to be,” he says sweetly.

“I want you to be,” you murmur, fiddling with the strands of hair that are falling into his face.

“Good, because I want you to be my girlfriend,” he responds, pulling your chin up.

You smile a big grin at his admission. 

“So, now that that’s settled, can I kiss my girlfriend?” Lando asks with a cheeky smile, to which you merely nod in response.

Lando pulls you closer by your chin, gently placing his lips back on yours. This time, you can feel him smile against your lips while he kisses you softly and lovingly. Nevertheless, the kiss is passionate and lustful. How could it be anything other than that when this was the best day of his life. He just won his first Formula 1 race and got the girl. There's absolutely nothing that could ruin this perfect day, he's sure of it.

[hongcherry]

how svt would react if their introvert s/o is socially exhausted

pairing/genres: svt x reader (gn); fluff, hurt/comfort

warnings: none? (plz lmk if i overlooked something)

author's note: for this anon! coming up with 13 different scenarios is not as easy as it may seem LOL, but it was fun doing something i haven't done before, so thank you for the request! i hope you got some rest, anon 💗

seventeen masterlist | main masterlist

Seungcheol

After you climb into Seungcheol’s car after one of your many social events this week, you fail to control your overwhelming emotions.

Seungcheol instantly panics at your sudden crying. It started with quiet sniffles, but now you’re borderline sobbing in your hands.

He wants to pull you into his arms, but it’s not as easy to do so since you’re in his car. Instead, he rubs your thigh with one hand and your back with the other.

“Did something happen tonight?” he asks. There’s a mix of worry and anger laced in his tone. He can’t help but picture someone doing something to upset you.

You shake your head and try to calm your cries.

Truthfully, you’re just overwhelmed with responsibility. You’re exhausted with the need to put on a comradely and upstanding appearance. You’re tired of having the same mindless small talks and being over-aware of your surroundings. You just want to stay at home rather than be in public.

Once Seungcheol knows the reason behind your tears, which he had a feeling about these past few days, he drives you both home. He rubs loving circles on your thigh throughout the trip, sending you words of encouragement every now and then. He doesn’t want to attribute to your overbearing emotions, but he wants you to know he’s here for you.

The night is spent cuddling in bed and eating takeout food. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s exactly what you need. He had offered to give you alone time, but you kept him close. You may not want to be around people, but Seungcheol is an exception. He’s your comfort person, someone you don’t have to put on an appearance for. Someone who understands you and knows how to lift your mood.

When you’re on the brink of sleep, you feel Seungcheol’s lips press against the back of your head. He whispers words of encouragement and tells you he’ll always be here for you. You smile, turn in his arms so you’re facing him, and hold him tightly. He chuckles softly at your reaction and holds you as tightly as you’re holding him.

Jeonghan

Jeonghan claims to want to be an island.

He wants to be a place where people can come and go, leaving their worries behind. Except you ended up shipwrecked on the island and made a home.

Jeonghan leans against the headboard of your shared bed. Your back is pressed against his chest, legs tangled under the covers. You want to spill all your troubles to him, but after constant social interactions, you find it difficult to even express your fatigue. Instead, you both cuddle in silence. Heavy rain falls outside; the pit-pat of the droplets luring you into calmness.

Jeonghan knows something’s wrong, but he’s not quite sure what. He whispers that he’s here for you when you’re ready. You nod, pressing yourself against his warm chest more as you peer at him. He grins and captures your lips in his. The kiss is slow, lazy movements that drag for a little too long, but you don’t care. You feel like life’s been too hectic; you need it all to slow down.

Jeonghan gives your body a gentle squeeze as he pulls away. Your gaze stays on his for a few seconds before you pull him down again.

While you adore Jeonghan’s playful attitude, it’s times like these when you feel extra special. You know he’ll always be there when you need him. Whether you need to rant to him for thirty minutes, cry for fifteen, or simply be near him.

Jeonghan’s your constant.

Joshua

“Babe, are you ready to g—”

Joshua stops mid-sentence upon seeing your dejected form on the couch, shoulders slouched, and a guilty look on your face.

Today was your and Joshua’s two-year anniversary, and he had planned a night out. Normally, you would be over the moon. However, with your constant attendance at social events the past week, you’re dreading going out.

This was meant to be a special night, but you feel like you’ve ruined it. You want to power through, but your body has had enough.

When you finally disclose your troubles with Joshua, he instantly sits next to you and gives you comforting back rubs. He tells you that there’s nothing to feel guilty about. That going out isn’t needed to celebrate your anniversary. He only needs to spend time with you; he doesn’t care the how or where.

So, after a few more reassuring words, you find yourself spending the night indoors with your handsome boyfriend doing mundane activities like cooking and watching shows with little talking. However, you and Joshua are past the awkward silences. You’re able to find comfort in the quietness with him.

And when he gives you random kisses and reassuring smiles throughout the night, you know the night wasn’t ruined by staying in. You just needed him.

Jun

Jun has always been attentive to your needs. After knowing you for years, he can tell when you’re feeling off. You’ve been less talkative, less energetic, and less focused. It’s almost like you’re just a shell of yourself—not really living but just going through the motions.

While you’re away at the nth social gathering, he leaves for the grocery store to gather all the ingredients he needs for your favorite dish. It may not be much, but he just wants you to feel better even if it’s for an hour.

Your routine for coming home nowadays includes taking off your shoes, changing into something more comfortable, and then lying in bed for a few hours until you get up for food.

Jun greets you from the kitchen sweetly and you answer as nicely as you can. It’s nothing against him, but you feel too drained to do or say much. You smell something familiar that makes your stomach rumble. Though before you can question it, Jun gently informs you to get dressed and then come to the dining room.

You mumble an “okay,” then do as you’re told.

Jun’s got the table set and a small, beautiful flower arrangement in the center.

“What’s this?” you wonder.

Jun comes carrying food that makes your mouth water. You recognize it instantly.

“Just thought you deserved a nice meal,” he replies and helps you sit down, placing a kiss on your cheek before he leaves again.

You eye him as he brings in more small dishes. Everything looks incredible, and you can’t wait to indulge in his delicious cooking.

Jun gives you a smile as he sits and nods toward the food, inviting you to go first. The first bite gives you a burst of happiness; there’s something about great food that makes you feel good. Once you get some food in your stomach, Jun begins eating as well.

It’s a nice night after a tiring day. Jun talks a little, but it’s mainly filled with comfortable silence that you welcome. It’s actions like these that make you fall for him more.

Soonyoung

When Soonyoung finds out about your social exhaustion, he fears you won’t want to be around him. Is he making you feel worse? Should he give you some space?

You’re quick to deny his worries. You love his presence, but you warn you may not be as talkative as normal. Soonyoung nods in understanding—tells you he’s perfectly fine with that. He just loves being around you. Sure, he loves your voice too, but he understands needing to recharge after back-to-back social events.

When it’s time for dinner, Soonyoung hesitates to ask if you want to help. He’s not sure if that’s asking for too much, but you smile and follow him to the kitchen.

It’s not unusual to cook dinner together but the time is typically filled with chatting and instructions given by you. This time, it’s Soonyoung leading the dinner preparation. Lately, he’s been more into cooking. Granted, not all his dishes turn out that great, but every chef has to start somewhere. It’s rather nice seeing how excited he gets when executing a dish idea.

You follow his instructions well—chopping this, stirring that. Even though you’re not alone and are on your feet, your mind feels at ease. You don’t have to think about what to say next or how to respond to someone’s actions. You just need to let Soonyoung guide you.

He does so with care. Sometimes he’ll crack a few light jokes just to see the faint smile on your face.

When dinner is done and bellies are full, Soonyoung sends you off to rest while he cleans up. You feel guilty he’s done so much work tonight, but you’re grateful he’s putting in so much effort to make you happy. Next time he’s feeling down like you, you’ll make sure you put in the same effort to see him smile.

Wonwoo

Wonwoo knows the need for alone time. While he doesn’t mind being around his friends for hours, attending social events is a different story. Even if he’s with friends, there are still numerous eyes watching him and other worries he has to consider. It’s draining to constantly uphold an image.

So, when you come home from your final event, he takes no offense when you tell him you want to be alone for a while. Although he’s not sure how long “a while” is, he supports your need to recharge. He tells you that he’s here and to not be afraid to ask for anything as he’ll be there in an instant.

After thanking him and giving him a sweet kiss, you retreat to the bedroom.

Wonwoo sits at his gaming desk in the other room. His headset is on, and his fingers tap rapidly on the keyboard. He’s been playing for a little over an hour when you shuffle inside.

He pauses his game and pushes off his headset.

You’re silent as you push his chair back a bit and settle in his lap.

Wonwoo smiles and helps you get comfortable. You lean against his chest, arms wrapped around his neck tightly with your head nestled in his shoulder.

“You can play,” you mumble.

Wonwoo doesn’t reply verbally. He simply kisses the side of your head before he slips on the headset again and rolls his chair as close as he can get without squishing you.

Your eyes are closed as you lax in his arms. The sound of his keys clacking brings an odd sense of comfort to you. Although you still feel socially drained, you want to be around Wonwoo because if anyone can make you feel better, it’s him. You don’t need his words of encouragement, though you know he’d give them. You just need to know he’s here for you.

And he is.

Always.

Jihoon

There’s something so mesmerizing about the way Jihoon works. His eyebrows are slightly furrowed, indicating how much he’s focusing.

“Whatcha’ looking at, babe?” he chuckles when he catches you staring.

You peer at his eyes and smile, shaking your head. “Nothing. I just like watching you work.”

He hums and sets down his phone that he’s writing lyrics on. He pulls you closer, squeezing you and kissing your forehead.

“You doing okay?” he asks.

It’s been a few days since you confided in him about your social exhaustion. One too many social gatherings have left you with low energy. You haven’t felt like doing much, but Jihoon doesn’t seem to mind. He’s content doing different activities while in the same room.

You shrug in response, and Jihoon gives you a sad yet encouraging smile that tells you to keep going and hang in there. He understands having to do things because you have a responsibility. It’s not always easy, but you have to persevere. And some days it’s easier to; some days it’s not. However, with Jihoon, those easier days happen a lot more often.

You rest your head on Jihoon’s chest while he picks up his phone again. It’s silent except for the sounds of him pressing the keyboard. You wonder what he’s writing about, but Jihoon has never been one to lend you a sneak peek. At least, not while he’s in the process. Maybe he’ll let you review a draft, but that’s the earliest stage you get to see. Regardless, you always end up liking his results.

You don’t realize you’ve fallen asleep until Jihoon gently shakes you. He tells you he needs to use the restroom and that he’ll be right back.

Jihoon holds you closely once he gets back. He whispers a goodnight before falling into slumber as well.

Seokmin

After attending more social gatherings than you can count on your fingers, you’ve become drained. You could go without being around a single human being for a good month.

Except for one.

He lays next to you in bed, eyes darting across your features with worry.

When you ponder what’s wrong, he asks if he’s done something to upset you. You’re confused at first, but then it hits you. You’ve always inquired about his days; however, you’ve been lacking in keeping up to date with his life. You find yourself coming home, then eating and sleeping your day away. Even when you’re up, you’ve stayed to yourself.

You finally tell Seokmin that you’re socially exhausted. Just the mere thought of opening your mouth or being engaged in a conversation has you running for the hills.

Seokmin pushes aside his silent worries and tries not to put anything you’ve said to heart. You’re not upset with him—hell, you’re probably not upset with anyone but just need some quiet time. He’s felt this way before, so he understands you.

Seokmin slides off the bed and leaves the room. You watch in confusion, but he just grins and tells you not to worry.

After fifteen minutes, he comes back and leads you to the living room where he’s set up a mini spa. There’s a bubbling foot bath, a back massage cushion, and calming music playing. You can smell lavender and something else that you’re not sure of, but it makes you feel relaxed.

Seokmin spends hours tending to your body. From foot rubs to forearm massages, he takes care of your body in a way that makes you feel worshipped and loved.

You feel guilty that he’s pampering you so much, but he reassures you multiple times that all you need to do is close your eyes and relax. He has no issue doing this if it means you feel better.

Mingyu

You didn’t mean to snap at Mingyu when he asked if you knew where his wallet was. It was a simple question that had a simple answer. Yet, you replied rudely.

Mingyu had stared at you, not overly offended by your outburst since it was out of character. Rather, he grew concerned. Over the past few days, he’s noticed a decline in your attitude. He could almost see your patience decrease with each passing day. He’s aware of the social events you’ve been going to and figures you’re exhausted from those.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—” you try to apologize a few minutes later. You’ve calmed down and have reflected on your actions.

“I’m not upset with you, but if it makes you feel better, I accept your apology,” he says and pulls you in for a hug. A hug that engulfs you with comfort from his strong and loving embrace.

You end up telling him how you’re feeling, confirming his suspicion behind your outburst.

He gives your head a gentle kiss. You know he’s not mad at you, but you’re still disappointed with yourself for how you treated him.

When it’s time for bed, Mingyu’s by your side. He offers to wash your face for you so all you have to do is relax. With a nod, he washes his hands, then begins your face routine. Although it’s a thoughtful gesture, he tries to help rinse your face as well. However, it just results in wet floors and laughter. He apologizes but you wave a hand as you smile at him. He gives you a sheepish grin as he pats your face dry.

Perhaps that didn’t go as he planned, but at least you brightened up—even if it were just a few minutes.

Minghao

Minghao sits across from you, an encouraging smile on his lips. You follow suit and copy his sitting position.

He nods once you’ve settled and takes your hands.

“Close your eyes and copy my breathing,” he instructs softly.

Your eyes flutter close, zeroing your focus on the man before you. It’s quiet at first, but then Minghao inhales loud enough for you to hear.

You breathe in.

One.

Two.

Three.

Minghao exhales slowly.

You repeat Minghao’s patterns for an unknown amount of time. You simply let him guide you through whatever meditation practices he often does, which he offered once you told him about your social fatigue.

At first, your mind is still crowded with stress and exhaustion. It’s hard to try to relax when you know you still have more events to come. Though you continue for the sake of pleasing Minghao. You appreciate his time, even if it’s not helping as much.

Minutes pass as you still follow Minghao. Gradually your mind becomes empty—only focusing on the man before you, hands still in his. You don’t even realize how light you feel until Minghao starts pulling away.

Your eyes flutter open and see his gentle smile. You don’t even need to tell him it worked since the look on your face explains it all.

Perhaps you’ll be joining in on his meditation every night from now on.

Seungkwan

Seungkwan’s normally okay with touch. He doesn’t mind the lingering hugs or handholding in public. However, you, on the other hand, have never been as open as him. It’s unusual for you to be openly affectionate. Or at least not for a long time.

Though while visiting a farmers’ market, you cling to him more the entire time. When you encounter another person and have to converse, no matter how short the interaction is, you let Seungkwan do all the talking.

Seungkwan is naturally a talker, so he doesn’t mind taking the lead; however, you don’t even make a peep. Often, you’d at least chime in your two cents, but you don’t do that. No, you stay silent by his side and simply listen.

Seungkwan pulls you aside after a while and asks if you’re okay. When you give him a sad smile and explain you’re just socially exhausted from all your events, he instantly becomes serious. He apologizes for taking you out and not catching on sooner, but you’re not offended at all. You give him a reassuring peck on the cheek and tell him you’re fine, just not up for being around crowds too long.

Seungkwan nods in understanding, then starts leading you back to the parking lot. You tell him you can stay longer, but he refuses. He wants you to be comfortable and happy. He’s seen what he wanted and is perfectly fine heading back.

Halfway home, Seungkwan glances at you in the passenger seat.

“You want some ice cream?”

He smiles knowingly. Ice cream has always been your coping food.

You grin and nod, heart warm at his sweet gesture. Ice cream may be your comfort food, but Seungkwan is your comfort person.

Vernon

Vernon loves to watch movies. So much so that he’s dedicated Friday nights to movie nights. Each night you get to experience a new film with him. Sometimes you both love it, other times you both hate it. And of course, there are times when one loves it more than the other.

After the movies, you end up dissecting it. Some people may find that boring, but you and Vernon share similar hobbies—analyzing movies being one of them.

However, with your frequent social events, you find it difficult to be excited about tonight’s movie.

The movie summary seemed interesting, but your brain feels so drained that you doubt you’ll be paying much attention. Let alone be prepared to engage in a conversation afterward.

When Vernon sits down next to you on the couch, you turn to him reluctantly.

“Do you mind if we rewatch something instead tonight?”

Vernon gives you a confused look. You normally watch new movies, not old ones. When he asks about the reason, you give a summarized answer.

Vernon’s understanding and asks what you’d like to watch. Too fatigued to even think about it, you let him decide. He ends up putting on a movie that you both really enjoyed a few weeks ago. It’s light and easy to follow, yet it had spurred you both to talk about it for hours—somehow getting into a deep conversation.

You snuggle into his side while the opening credits play. He moves one of his arms around your shoulders, rubbing it tenderly. Although it’s not a traditional movie night, you’re glad you still get to participate in it regardless.

Chan

Chan would like to seem more observant than he really is. He would like to say he knew why you were so distant or why you seemed temperamental. However, he can’t. What he does know is that you’re not as bright as you are normally. He knows everyone has their ups and downs, but your down has been occurring long enough to worry him.

He’s standing in line at the grocery store ready to check out when his phone rings. He smiles when he sees your ID; however, your response is not what he expected.

You’re crying.

You’re sniffling and hiccupping so much that it’s hard for Chan to understand what you’re saying. He coos at you, trying to calm you down so he can grasp what’s going on.

After a minute, you’re finally able to tell him you’re overwhelmed coherently. Your social battery has run out of juice and all you want to do is come home.

“I’ll be right there, baby,” he says instantly.

He leaves his cart, apologizing profusely to the worker who eyes him at the act, then beelines it to his car.

It doesn’t matter that he spent an hour picking out food. It doesn’t matter that he was waiting in line for fifteen minutes. He just needs to be there for you.

Chan stays on the line throughout the drive. He keeps you up to date on how far he is and continues to reassure you that it’ll be okay.

He meets you outside the building and engulfs you in the most secure and loving hug. He holds you against his chest, letting you wet his shirt with your tears while he rubs your back soothingly.

“How does leaving a little early sound?” he suggests.

Normally, you try to stick it out. You have a responsibility and want to fulfill your duty. However, all these non-stop events have drained you beyond recognition.

You nod and quickly text a friend at the event that you’ve started to feel sick and need to leave.

You let Chan take care of you the rest of the day. He brings you food in bed, takes care of some house chores that you planned to do, and gives you plenty of cuddles and kisses.

a/n: i feel like i've entered a whole new world by writing a reaction/imagine 🤣 (i haven't, but im just dramatic)

divider credit

©️hongcherry // DO NOT REPOST OR MODIFY Please consider reblogging if you liked this work to show your support. Feedback/commentary is always welcomed.

[aangelinakii]

Request - you’re surprised by how affectionate/clingy Bruce can be when he’s barely running on any sleep

HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

— hold you tight, squeeze you right.

summary : your husband isn't always the biggest fan of physical affection. however, you come to find that when his body is exhausted, the only thing it can think to do, is look for you.

note : thank you so much for requesting ! i also got a request very similar to this for jason, so if that was you or you're reading this, so sorry i haven't published it, i'm so blocked trying to write it 😭😭 hopefully i can publish it soon, but hopefully this is good in the meantime :)

note 2 : also the moodboard ??? the leopard print ???? making me feel expensive asf

although batman was known as the superhero to actually not be super, you felt your husband did have a superpower of his own; being able to run on fifteen minutes of sleep, if that.

so it was a surprise to you that, when bruce returned from work at the office, after a long night of patrolling the dingy streets of gotham, the toll of lack of sleep was taking over. neatly-gelled hair sticking out in places, thin skin beneath his eyes dark, his inability to smile at you as he pushed through the door to your shared bedroom.

you'd already gotten in bed, teeth brushed, face washed, tucked up in the sheets, when he finally came home. the pages of a book were open in your lap, room illuminated by the amber gleam of your bedside lamp.

"hey," you smiled up at him, tearing your eyes away from the print, only to find him walk straight through thr door into the adjacent en suite.

must've been a tough day; and you were back to your reading.

from the bathroom, you could hear the flush of the toilet, the rinse of the taps, the scrubbing of teeth, a few coughs here and there: the sounds of your husband washing away his day, preparing to settle in bed beside you.

when the door finally opened, and you glanced up, bruce's tie was undone and hanging beneath his upturned collar, the buttons down his shirt had been let loose and his toned torso was left on display, and his grey blazer was hanging from two fingers, the sleeves just barely dragging along the floor.

he seemed slightly worse for wear, but with the kids on patrol tonight, hopefully that would change by the morning.

obviously, it had not been easy convincing bruce to stay home tonight, but everyone agreed he should take it easy for one night, at the very least. his dedication to this city was admirable — one of the very reasons you had married him — but even the heroes need to save themselves sometimes.

"you okay, honey?" you piped up, slightly worried by his appearance now, and lack of communication since he'd returned home. eyes remaining on him as he pulled open the ornate wardrobe on his side of the bed, you folded a cat ear on your page and carefully closed it on the front cover.

only a couple beats passed before bruce blearily swirled around, the smile at the corner of his mouth not quite reaching his eyes as he tugged the snake of a necktie from his collar. "just exhausted like you wouldn't believe," he managed to chuckle, turning back around to the wardrobe to remove and hang his white shirt.

"i think i could believe." placing your closed book on your side table, you shifted under the sheets to face bruce as he swapped out his slacks for the pair of linen trousers he wore to sleep. "i didn't get to see you at all today. you weren't here when i went to sleep last night, and you were gone by the time i woke up."

it was difficult to not sound upset, which bruce noted as he peeled back the made covers on his side of the bed and slipped in beside you.

as soon as his aching body hit the memory foam mattress you shared, it was like the shadow of sleep took over, the way he sighed graciously and closed his eyes; but he was determined to stay awake, to talk with you, the one he had married.

marriages don't succeed if each night and morning is the same — a cold bed to fall asleep to, a cold bed to wake up to.

one of your husband's muscular arms pulled you in close, so his head was tucked below your chin. the musky scent of his hair wax filled your nostrils, an indication that, along with the stony form of it, he had failed to wash out his hair.

"how was your day?" the movement of his lips brushed against your chest, and the shiver that ran down your body only caused him to hold you closer, a second arm miraculously squirming beneath you. his voice was low, half-muffled by the fabric of your sleep top, half-muffled by the sleep threatening to take over.

the hum of a laugh brushed past your lips, and your fingertips came up to brush along the nape of bruce's neck, the spike of his coming-in hair after his most recent haircut prickling against your skin.

"probably not even half as bad as yours," you chuckled in response, fingers grazing higher, breaking through that cast of waxed-down hair. at your touch, your husband sighed against you once more, nuzzling in closer; as if close wasn't close enough.

you allowed a few beats to pass before continuing. "work went smoothly today, nothing too horrible. how about—"

the tickle of a stubble on its first legs brushed against the soft skin of your collarbone as bruce's lips, smooth after brushing his teeth, pressed a kiss against the base of your neck.

"how about yours?" you managed to ask after a beat, unconsciously tilting your neck. "and your night — i haven't seen you since you got home yesterday."

vibrating against your pulse, bruce's reply was gravelly, almost incoherent. "long, tired," you think he said. "want to sleep, but i missed you."

you're sure he fell into slumber after that, with the way his soft breaths against your neck fell into rhythm, and the way his lips fell slack, no longer concerned with kissing or speaking.

perhaps, although selfishly, you wished he would come back from work tired every day.

[aurumacadicus]

Don't forget, you can find more of this under my 'arranged witching au' tag!

--

He was even hotter up close, Tony lamented, curling his hands into fists in his lap. Rogers' hair looked golden in the candlelight, and it seemed to make the blue of his eyes pop more. He was built like a brick house, too, and Tony hadn't even known he found that attractive until Rogers had handed his shield off to one of the footmen like it weighed nothing and the footman had staggered with it, his own muscles straining to hold it off the floor.

Nomadic covens were used to hard labor. If they settled in a place, it was only for a few years, and then they left before their magic could truly take root. The downside to this was that they'd never be as powerful as a rooted coven. On the other hand, a witch was only as strong as their roots where they were rooted, so unless they were on their own property, they would find the nomads had the upper hand in a fight.

He'd never thought about what that 'hard labor' would entail, nor that he might... have to appreciate it. It wasn't a chore to appreciate.

Tony gripped his hands tighter, until he could feel his nails biting into his palms, and tried to focus on what Rogers and his father were talking about. It was difficult. Howard had cast a muddling spell to keep their conversation from being overheard. He comforted himself with the knowledge that Rogers seemed to be the only person who could hear him--even his mother appeared to be having difficulty following along. Rogers's coven-mates weren't even pretending they could understand.

Rogers set something on the table between them, and Tony didn't even pretend he wasn't craning his head to see what it was. He felt a flush of ice through his veins as he saw the skull and tentacles branded into the piece of burnt leather. He'd only seen it once before, when his mother had brought a bundle of old things that included a medallion like it to a cleansing fire, and one of the old biddies from another coven had explained that that was what the man who cursed Tony as a babe had been wearing. (The old biddy's voice had lowered, conspiratorial, "Maria Stark was so enraged when she realized her baby had been cursed, the warlock had burst into flames without her having to utter a word.")

Tony suddenly understood the gravity of his upcoming nuptials. If Hydra was rearing their ugly heads again, it wouldn't be just the nomadic covens in danger--every rooted coven would be, too. Hydra had turned their magic dark, ugly, something that sucked the power from others and killed them from the inside like poison. They didn't even need to show brute force to ruin a coven. All they needed was one person to sneak in and poison it from the inside.

Tony had known his father probably wouldn't fight the engagement, but now, seeing that Hydra was back on the rise again, he knew they wouldn't have a choice.

"I have this, too," Rogers suddenly said, voice cutting through loud and clear, and set a wooden box on the table in front of Tony.

Tony blinked, then glanced over at his parents. When Maria gave him a slight nod, he turned back to it, reaching out to draw it toward himself. The box's finish was slick under his fingers, and it still felt warm from Rogers's body heat. He ran his thumbs over the edges, then tipped the box open on its hinges.

"Oh," he breathed as light glinted off the large blue stone inside. It was cut square, resting in a silver setting. The silver band seemed thinner than what a man would normally wear. He took it out of the velvet cushion and held it up between his index and thumb. It wouldn't fit--it was for smaller, more delicate fingers. His mother's finger, probably.

The blue of the stone seemed to swirl in circles, but when Tony turned it toward the light, it stopped.

He looked up at Rogers, then let his eyes drift down to where his hands were clasped on top of the table, at the tear drop-shaped ruby set in gold on his finger. His mother had given Sarah Rogers that, as thanks for taking the curse off of him.

Rogers reached out, gently taking the ring from his fingers. He lifted it to his mouth, gave it a quick blow, as if he was trying to blow dust off of it. Then he reached back toward him, sliding the ring onto his finger--a perfect fit.

Tony could feel his cheeks turning pink and ducked his head, barely managing to choke out a polite, if strained, "Thank you."

[syoddeye]

bespoke

ghost x transmasc!reader | 1k words tags: brief, mild mentions of transphobic experiences. simon riley's terrible and dirty jokes. brief scene at the end with makeshift restraints. otherwise, fluff. a/n: got hit with a wave of dysphoria. wrote this. bon appétit. 💀

He ties your tie. Insists. 

It’s not like you don’t know how. You do. You walked a tightrope for years. Lived through the height of twee and dapper, collected and wore neckties and bowties unironically. Tried and suffered through all types of aesthetics and accessories to find your style. But this is the first big to-do since you hard launched your ‘new’ identity. The first time you’ll wear such an outfit where you don’t force a laugh or tightly smile as others call it a gimmick or costume. Where your family isn’t around to call it the ‘offbeat’ fashion of a quirky niece or an eccentric daughter.

When you dressed, hands shaking with excitement, perhaps you messed up the knot. It looked passable. You weren’t about to ask him to check it. A lifetime of teasing and backhanded compliments led to a fierce independent streak. Nobody could pester you if they couldn’t get close. ‘Course, nobody could help, either.

But because it’s him, you allow it.

It’s been a long, lonely road. Worth it, though, in the end. To find and carve out your path. To meet the man who’s served as your most steadfast support, confidant, and protector. Whose hands smooth your lapels and straighten the knot. Whose eyes catch you staring and soften when he sees how glassy yours look.

“We don’t have to go.”  

“I want to.”

“You’re upset.”

“Believe me, I’m not. Far from it.” 

You wipe a pesky tear and survey yourself in the mirror. The secondhand suit fits like a glove, modified to perfection. The result of someone’s pestering. An indulgence difficult to accept when originally agreed upon but a triumph in the moment. It pays its dividends in confidence, making you stand straighter and feel as though you might float.

Simon bends, tucking his chin over your shoulder. The silk mask obscuring his face matches his suit, pure black, of course. His eyes drag down your reflections as his arms thread under yours, tugging you backward into his chest. 

“We clean up nice.”

“One of us does.” You smile, a bit pained from his continued sweetness. “I look like I raided my dad’s wardrobe.”

You regret it the moment you say it because you know how stupid it sounds. Hours of tailoring and craft adorn you. Enough care and attention to detail for it to appear completely bespoke and custom—not stolen or borrowed.

A big hand skirts up, fingers and thumb slotting over your face. He gently squeezes your cheeks. A habit when he thinks you’re acting foolish or chirping incessantly. He presses until your lips fold in an artificial pout.

“You got a mouth tonight.”

“‘M told s��good f’kissing.” You force out, not bothering to even try and remove his hand.

Simon squishes your cheeks a moment longer, staring hard in the mirror. Studying. He lets go and presses his lips to your temple. 

“Think you’re funny?”

“You usually laugh.”

“Not when you joke at your own expense.” 

The pout that appears on your face is genuine this time, and so is the instinct to flee. It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve tried to run away from the kindness of Simon Riley. It’s certainly not the first time he flexes his muscle, molding himself to you.

“Settle. Talk t’me.”

You shake your head and try to squirm free despite knowing all the good that’ll do.

“We’re going to be late if we don’t leave now.”

“Then we’ll be late.”

“To a wedding? Simon we can’t be the people that walk in after the bride.”

“I’ll walk her down myself if ya don’t start talkin’.”

It’s anyone’s guess how serious he is about that. Erring on the side of caution, you fuss a second more, then finally voice the fears eating you alive. The laundry list of worst-case scenarios and what-ifs. Your thoughts bend to dread like flowers track the sun.

“If anythin’ happens, we’ll handle it. Together.” Simon pinches your hips. “Or alone, in the small hours, after I drop you at home.”

That isn’t a joke. Simon doesn’t make empty threats. Not about that.

“Simon—“

“How many times do I gotta tell you, to get it through your skull, hm?” He murmurs, littering emphatic kisses over the side of your head. Nipping your neck. If he wasn’t holding you, you’d be a puddle.

“You can’t get rid of me. You got me, love. Let me worry about the hard things.” A squeak tears out when a broad hand skims down the front of your suit and cups the front of your trousers. His grip pulses over the packer, and you nearly skyrocket through the ceiling. “If you’re good and check in with me like you’re supposed to, I’ll have a nice hard thing for you later.”

To save face, as if you aren’t practically drooling at that, you shoot him a look in the mirror. Wrinkle your nose and curl your lip. The glint in your eye is unmistakable, however. 

“Simon,” You groan in feigned disgust. “You’re terrible.”

“Don’t I know it. C’mon.” He releases you entirely, stepping back to adjust himself and his shirt collar in the mirror. “Price’ll kill me if we’re late.”

Hours later, back home after a night of celebration, he ties your tie. 

Tight enough to keep your wrists together, loose enough to feel safe. He strips you slowly and thoughtfully. Takes his time setting each element aside. He inflicts sweet torture, showering you with praise and echoing compliments paid to you at the reception.

So handsome. Lookin’ braw. Don’t let the bride see ya.

Usually, such words would do you in. Gnaw and bite like flies, make you assume the worst. Assume people were just being polite and lying. But…Simon wouldn’t lie. As he looms over you, hooking a leg with one arm and bracketing your head with the other, he tells you to settle. Reminds you to let him worry about the hard things.

And because it’s him, you allow it.

[cutielando]

forever | r.c.

synopsis: in which you finally get your happily ever after

my masterlist

"Will you marry me?"

That was the question that had changed your life a couple of months ago.

Your long-term boyfriend, Rafe Cameron, had finally got the courage to ask you to marry him, after being in a relationship for more than 4 years together.

He had saved up money from his job to buy you the ring with his own earned money, not with the money his family had.

The beautiful diamond ring has been beautifully sitting on your ring finger ever since the night he got on one knee, there being very few occasions when you would take it off. You often found yourself just staring at the jewel on your finger, mesmerized by the diamond and what it signified for you and Rafe.

A first step to your forever life together, side by side.

Planning for your wedding had been the most stressful, yet most beautiful period of your life up to that point. Getting to organize the wedding of your dreams with Rafe was magical, building up the ever growing excitement for the fast-approaching wedding date.

Before you knew it, you were waking up on the morning of your wedding day, stretching out to find Rafe's side of the bed empty and cold. 

You sighed, remembering that your families had insisted that you two don't see each other on your wedding day before the aisle, and you didn't want to admit it, but you missed seeing Rafe already and you had barely just opened your eyes.

A ding from your phone made you snap out of your thoughts and pick it up, smiling once you saw that it was a text from Rafe.

good morning angel, i hope you slept well <3 i know you're probably sad we didn't get to wake up next to each other, i'm just as hurt by that. but look on the bright side, in a couple of hours we'll finally be married and wake up next to each other every morning for the rest of our lives. i love you and i can't wait to see you walking down the aisle to me <33

Your heart could have exploded just because of that message, butterflies erupting in your stomach. Even after so many years of knowing each other and being together, Rafe still managed to make you shy and flustered every time.

You quickly typed out a response before you heard a soft knock on your bedroom door.

"Honey? Are you awake?" the quiet and muffled voice of your mother asked from behind the door, prompting you to get up and open the door.

"Hi mom" your smile was contagious, but your mother's was 10 times more so than yours.

Ever since she learned the news of your engagement, she couldn't stop talking about it and smiling constantly, over the moon that her daughter was finally getting married.

"Morning honey. How are you feeling?" she quickly looked left and right to make sure Rafe wasn't anywhere near you before she walked in and closed the door behind her.

Your mother and Rafe's sisters were tasked with guarding you from seeing Rafe and your brother along wit your father were tasked with keeping him away from you.

A task that was going to prove to be difficult because Rafe couldn't stand being away from you for long.

"Nervous, but excited at the same time. I just can't believe I'm really getting married in a few hours" you were giddy, holding your mother's hands excitedly.

"Oh, my sweet girl. You're all grown up" your mother's voice started quivering and tears suddenly appeared in her eyes, making you shush her and bring her in a hug.

"Mom, please don't cry. You're going to make me cry too" you said as you pouted, hugging your mother close. 

Ever since your mother had met Rafe, she had been sure that he was going to be the man you were going to end up marrying. Fast-forward, turns out she had been right.

Several hours later, with the help of your mother, Wheezie and Sarah, you were all glammed up in your dress, getting ready for your father to come and get you.

A knock on your door signaled that it was time for the ceremony, making your stomach churn with nerves.

"Are you ready sweetheart?" your father asked you as he gave you your arm, standing in front of the still-closed doors of the church.

You let out a big sigh and nodded, giving him a convincing smile. You held the bouquet in your other hand, feet tapping against the floor impatiently.

Once you heard the music starting and the doors slowly started to open, you knew the moment had finally come. Everyone in the room turned around to look at you, big gasps echoing through the big church.

However, your eyes were only on Rafe, who was waiting for you at the alter with your brother and Topper by his side.

"Hi" you mouthed to him once you made eye contact, making him smile widely and wiping a tear that had escaped from his eyes.

The walk towards Rafe felt like an eternity to you, when in reality it had only been a minute. You had got lost in Rafe's eyes, your attention only focusing in on him.

"Take care of my girl" your father told your soon-to-be husband once you reached the alter and Rafe took your hand from your father.

"I promise, sir" he said, gently helping you up the few steps.

"Hello, everyone" the reverend began speaking. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage between these two exceptional young people, Y/N and Rafe. I can see how excited the bride and the groom are, so I won't make this any longer than it should be. Y/N, Rafe, have you prepared your vows?" you both nodded, and then the reverend motioned for you to go first.

You let out a breath, suddenly a little bit nervous. But as you looked into Rafe's eyes, you suddenly relaxed and realized there was nothing to be nervous about, not when it came to him.

"Rafe, my love, I can't even begin to explain to you how much I love and appreciate you. You came into my life at a point when I didn't believe that love was real, that I was worthy of being so passionately and irrevocably loved by someone. But you showed me what real love is, you taught me to push myself and achieve every goal I set for myself. You always push me to be my best self and you have helped me grow as a person and mature. You always know what to say, you can always read me even when I don't want to say anything, you know me better than I know myself. I promise to love and to cherish you from this forward and until the day we are no longer going to be on this planet. I love you and I can't wait to see what the rest of our lives looks like" tears had started pouring down yours and Rafe's cheeks, making everyone in the audience also tear up.

"How can I top that?" Rafe joked, making your families laugh as well. "Y/N, the love I have for you is consuming, it's so strong I don't even know what to do with it sometimes. You have helped me become a better man, take responsibilities for my actions and be more understanding of life. You showed me that I had a purpose in this world and that made me realize my life's purpose is to love you and to show you how much you mean to me. I know I'm not the easiest person to be with, but I'm trying to be better for you every single day, to show you that I deserve to be married to you because you only deserve the best. I promise to love you and care for you for the rest of our lives, keep you safe and I will make it my life's mission to make sure you never lack anything. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life by your side, baby. I love you so much"

Everyone in the room was crying by the end, including your father who you had never seen crying before.

"The rings?" the reverend turned to your brother, who fished them out of his pocket.

"Y/N, do you take Rafe Cameron to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in holy matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?" 

"I do" you proudly exclaimed and slid the ring on Rafe's left hand.

"Rafe, do you take Y/N Y/L/N to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in holy matrimony, to love her, to honor her, to comfort her, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do" Rafe slid the ring on your left hand as well, taking both of your hands in his after.

"By the power invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride" Rafe didn't waste another second before he pulled you to him, taking your face in his hands and kissing you deeply.

The whole room started cheering and clapping, but you didn't hear anything else around you.

You only felt Rafe kissing you, sharing your first moment as husband and wife.

When you both pulled away, whispers of 'I love you' were shared between you, quiet so nobody could hear.

And as you both walked out of the church hand-in-hand, you knew that you were ready for anything life had to offer you as long as you had each other.

Mr. and Mrs. Cameron against the world, forever.

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[rachetmath]

RWBY x Video games pt 2

Ruby: Okay so this time we were paired or geouped for some games. Me and my team were in Borderlands.

Jaune: Really? Which one?

Yang: All of them.

Jaune: *laughs* Okay. Okay. So who was right, the hunter or the deemed villains?

Ruby: Simple it was-

Weiss: Villains.

Blake: What?!

Yang: Babe we have to admit in a world like Pandora it might as well be the insane, and probably the most irredeemable place to live in.

Ruby: Doesn't matter. Jax is more evil than all those psychos. He knew what he was doing.

Weiss: Yeah but he was trying to get rid of psychos and provide people who are less crazy a safe place to live. Even though it's madness considering he’ll tax people.

Blake: What about the twins?

Yang: I mean shoot they were more of an after-product. They might as well represent that being a hunter ain't all what it is cracked up to be. Cause there will always be somebody bigger and badder who will one-up you in every way. Not just that they probably have brought more order to Pandora than we ever did.

Ruby: But-

Jaune: Okay! Forget I asked before you tear each other apart.

Ruby: Fine. Anyways what games were you guys in?

Nora and Ren: It Takes Two.

Yang: Oh. I mean it's easy considering-

Nora: No, we had issues.

Ren: A lot of them.

Nora: But the levels were beautiful. And Jaune.

Jaune: ?

Nora: If you ever want to talk I’m here.

Jaune: Hm.

Ruby: Wow you and Jaune have… tension.

Nora: I know.

Yang: Anyways, what about you, Jaune?

Jaune: O well I was by myself-

Emerald: Oh hell no. You lying ass bitch.

Weiss: Woah, hold on, Emerald why are you mad?

Emerald: I was with his pussy ass in the game. It took hours to get out.

Jaune: Cause you couldn't let me do my objectives.

Emerald: And make the game easier to where the Grimm will suspect us? No.

An incoming message saying, “The objective is to clear the game. The NPCs would have made his job hard enough considering there is no save button. You just made it more difficult for him by getting in his way. You could have stood still.”

Jaune: See.

Emerald: Well I gave you a fair shot.

Jaune: Please, it took you killing me I don't know how many times for me to even want to settle the score. By the way, I didn't appreciate the dry humping.

Emerald: Fuck you.

Jaune: Fuck you too. Don't be mad because I managed to outplay you. You are just trash.

Emerald: Okay. See-see we can fight. We can settle this now.

Jaune: Girl I will have you on your knees, begging. In fact I will have you scream my name and call me ‘Daddy’ like you ain't my daughter.

Nora: Are you two trying to insult each other or-

Emerald: Yes!

Jaune: Probably both.

Ruby: I feel disturbed to ask but what game was-?

Jaune and Emerald: Death Loop.

RWBY: Ew.

Nora: Gross.

Ren: I mean-no, I- I second that. Ew.

Emerald: *blushes* Shut up!

Ruby: Anyways where’s Oscar?

Oscar: Here.

Ruby: What game were you in?

Oscar: I wasn't in a game.

Jaune: What?!

Emerald: Don't tell me you have been sitting here the whole time.

Oscar: Yep.

Jaune: Oscar we are going through hell trying to stay alive. You didn't think to go and try to find us a way out?

Oscar: Sorry.

Jaune: Damn it!

Emerald: Stupid ass- Hazel made a damn mistake sparring you!

Jaune: Hey now don't get out of line.

Emerald: Or what?!

Jaune: I-

A door appears.

The message said, “If you two need to blow off steam then take a break here.”

Yang: Seriously? Like they are that tense to-

The door closes immediately with Jaune and Emerald gone.

Blake: *jaws dropped*

Weiss: They-they… impossible…

Ruby: Weiss claim down I sure-

Emerald: Ah~ Yes~ Harder. HARDER!!!

Ruby: Oh I hate being wrong.

Weiss: Fuck.

[livesworthlivingau]

Lives Worth Living Chapter 12

ISAT and Two Hat spoilers below! CW: Stabbing

(You're surrounded by your family… Trembling and shaking, sobbing while they all hold you close… In this moment, you are loved…)

"So cute… To think anyone could actually love you~. It's just pathetic Stardust~!" (You hear Loop's voice as it echoes around you, snapping you out of the moment, everyone is gone. You're left kneeling there alone in a lightless void… You frantically look around, getting to your feet. This place is familiar… That realization terrifies you…)

"To think that anyone could love someone as BROKEN as you!" (You snap around to the voice, met face to face with the sadness from all those years ago. Its spiraling eye glares deep into your soul while its inverted shades envelop you. You're frozen… like touching one of the king's tears… You can't move at all as a sick, deep, twisted grin grows across its face. Its teeth are sharp as daggers, perfectly slotting together across that horrid smile. You feel your frozen form shaking, tears flowing from your eyes, you try to struggle free, you NEED to get free!)

"Keeping you frozen is no fun, I want you to FEEL THIS STARDUST~!" (It shrieks out in a demented version of Loop's voice, grabbing you by the throat. It feels as though it yanks you out of time itself, slamming you to the ground and raising a dagger above it's head. You choke out for air, raising your hand to stop it, but it's too late, the familiar stinging yet somewhat dull sensation of it slamming into your chest fills your entire form.)

(You jolt awake with a gasp. You're shaking, sweating, panting. You feel at your chest for a moment and rub your face, looking around to find yourself in a tent, noticing Isa lightly snoring beside you… You're safe, you're loved, you're safe, you're loved. It was just a nightmare…)

(You wipe the tears from your eye, hold your hand to your chest, and take several deep breaths. It takes a minute to finally calm down... As much as you don't want to, you manage to pull yourself away from Isa and slip outside of your tent. The sound of sniffling makes you pause, looking around to find Bonnie holding their legs close to their chest and sniffling. They sat near the extinguished firepit and were trying to calm themself down.)

"… Bonbon?… You okay?"

"Huh?!" (They jumped at first, startled by you appearing near them in the dim night.)

"O-Oh… H-Heyfrin…"

"Nightmare?" (They just put their chin to their knees, trying to fight back the tears as they nod.)

"Yeah… Me too… If only some cool kid with magic hugs could help me out about now~." (You tease a bit to try and relieve the tension, only for Bonnie to snap at you.)

"I'm not stupid Frin! I know my hugs aren't magic…" (They shout then grumble. Something was really bothering them…)

"I… I'm sorry Bonbon… Do you wanna talk about it?" (Wow it feels really weird to be the one saying that for once… They give another sniffle and sit silently for a moment.)

"… What if we don't find Nille?… Why did stupid Nille even leave!? Doesn't she know I'm coming back?! What if she gets hurt?! What if you even talking about it changed everything?!" (Bonnie gets louder and louder as the emotions well up, tears pouring down their face.)

"Woah! Hey, hey, it's okay Bonnie… Breathe with me? Please?" (You ask sincerely, your hands lightly bracing their shoulders to help ground them. They give another sniffle and nod, choking out a few heavy, difficult breaths with you and wiping their tears again.)

"Nille turns out fine, I promise… She even took down a sadness all by herself last time!" (You decide to leave out the part where she got injured… Bonnie doesn't need to hear that right now.)

"R-really?… Nille did?…"

"Yup! Your sister's real tough! Besides, if anything happens I can always just loop back and fix it!"

"… How do you loop back Frin?… Everyone looked at each other like they knew and didn't want to say it! Why won't they tell me!?" (You freeze. How do you answer that… How COULD you answer that, to a kid no less… Bonnie just crosses their arms, pouting more as they recognize the look on your face.)

"… You get hurt, don't you?… You promised me you'd try not to get hurt! You super duper promised!"

"… I'm sorry Bonnie, you're right… I shouldn't talk about looping like it's no big deal… Can… Can I make you a new promise then?…" (Bonnie keeps quiet, but appears to be listening still.)

"… I promise I won't loop on purpose anymore, not unless it's the only option, okay?" (Bonnie sits in silence a little while longer before turning and rapidly swinging their arms around you, squeezing as tight as they can around your waist.)

"I don't want you to get hurt anymore Frin! Not for me, or Nille, or anyone!!"

"Bonbon…"

"It's not fair that you have to get hurt again! Why does it have to always be you!?"

"… I… I don't know Bonnie… And I'm sorry but… As long as I have this gift, or curse, or whatever you wanna blinding call it at this point… If I can use it to help you all then... I wouldn't really hesitate to… But you're right, I shouldn't see myself as disposable… So I'm gonna make you a secret wish promise, okay?" (Bonnie breaks the hug for a moment to look up at you in awe.)

"A… A secret wish promise?… Is that real?!"

"Yup! But it requires a very specific ritual. Do you think you're up for it?"

"Y-Yes!! Yes I can do it!!" (Their frantic eagerness just made you break out into laughter.)

"Alright! Alright I believe you! Now, here's what you gotta do… You gotta hold up your pinkie with your right hand. Then you put your left hand over your heart, and believe as hard as you can about our promise!" (You and Bonnie both do this silly little ritual you've just made up, then you hold out your pinkie.)

"Now curl it around mine and say 'I promise' 3 times." (And again you lead as they follow, repeating it 3 times together.)

"There, secret wish promise done~."

"Woah… I can't believe I just made a wish promise…"

"Now don't go telling everyone about those, like I said it's a very secret ritual!" (Bonnie nods quickly and gives a sort of salute.)

"I promise! Super duper promise!" (You chuckle again, ruffing their hair and hugging them close.)

"Great, now you ready to go back to bed?" (Bonnie nodded, giving one last hug before heading back to their tent, all giddy about this new shared secret.)

(You decide to stay up a little while longer, enjoying the still night with only the occasional faint sound of animals moving through the terrain. Your nightmare flashes into your mind again for a moment with a wince… You decide to bring your thumb to your ear and pinkie to your mouth again…)

"Loop?… Can you talk to me?… Please?… I just want to know you're okay…" (You pause, waiting for a response that never comes… But it feels like the connection is there...)

"Do you remember that time... I forgot Mirabelle's name?… I was so freaked out, all I could think to do was call you for help… Without a second thought, you helped me… you helped me remember everyone's names, their nicknames even, and why I started using them… You brought me back from the edge, and it helped keep me going… I don't think I ever thanked you for that… So thank you, Loop… Thank you for keeping me going when I thought I couldn't anymore…"

["… Stardust…"]

"Loop?! Loop where are you?! Are you alri-" (You suddenly feel the connection fade, but you heard them… They're alright, and you've made progress. That's all you can ask for in this moment.)

[quitealotofsodapop]

Gods, in that au where Macaque struck true, imagine his GUILT when he learns about the first egg. That, in his rage at Wukong and desire to harm the pilgrims, he destroyed what very might as well be his and Wukong's chance at a family.

Because I very much doubt Wukong will allow him to be around this second egg.

Prev. Me and @soniclozdplove do a lot of talking in the Notes.

Macaque learns of the First Egg when enters Diyu. Kṣitigarbha, the Bodhisattva of the dead and unborn, looks at him with a mixture of disappointment and sorrow. Macaque doesn't understand until he sees the egg-shaped mass of soul energy in the god's arms. Silent tears roll down his face as the little soul briefly forms the silhouette of a baby monkey.

He collapses as the realisation hits him like a mountain - Wukong was with child, and Macaque had caused him to miscarry. Macaque weeps and pleads for the Ten Kings to take his soul and spare the unborn in his place, only to receive the curt assurance from the bodhisattva that the little one will be kept safe for until they can reunite with their parent.

Macaque is in such despair at the tragedy he's caused that he fails to notice the chains of a greater force engulf and drag him into the deepest pits of the Underworld - Kṣitigarbha and the Ten Kings themselves left puzzled by what primordial force has taken the spiritual monkey.

Macaque spends half an eternity in pitch darkness, only able to listen to the sounds of the Underworld's waters and the odd gossip of it's inhabitants

Then he hears something truly amazing; the very soul of the child he stole from his mate is to be guided through Naihe Bridge - it is time for them to be reborn! He struggles against his confinement for the first time in over a thousand years - determined to protect the child and reunite with his mate.

Thats when the White Bone Spirit makes her strike. Even though Macaque knows nothing good will come of accepting her offer, he takes the risk - hoping beyond all hope that Wukong may come to forgive him for what he did to their first child.

Macaque does not receive a welcome party when he reaches Flower Fruit Mountain. Fear flashes in Wukong's eyes when he gazes upon his former mate once more - the red sash draped over his swollen belly resembling Macaque's missing scarf. Macaque drops to the ground, kowtowing to his mate about how he had genuinely not known of the First Egg when he had engaged him in battle and how *their* child is soon to reborn as the Second.

Tieshan starts strangling her former-sworn brother before Wukong can respond to Macaque's frenzied sobbing. The rest of Wukong's new found troop are there to witness this sight - the reincarnated Pilgrims horrified when Nezha reveals to them the details of what happened with Wukong's *First* stone egg. The only reason Macaque doesn't reenter Diyu immediately is the appearance of a certain Bodhisattva of Mercy. Guanyin shows their own brand of contempt, but tells them to let the shadow monkey live, sensing that he had returned for not-entirely selfish reasons.

Macaque decides that he must find a way to prove that he's remorseful and wishes to be there for Wukong and the Second/Rainbow Egg. It's pretty difficult to even get close to Wukong to grovel at his feet, his whole adoptive troop ready to tear Macaque apart for his sin.

Ultimately, the only thing Macaque can think of that could bring Wukong or his troop to even consider his apology is something Macaque himself had fought to free him from.

Macaque kneels before Guanyin and begs her to bind him.

Wukong can only blink away tears as he sees the familiar gold Circlet encircle Macaque's brow. Insurance that his former mate can never harm him or his child ever again, at the cost of his divine freedom. Subjecting himself to the same chains he fought to free his King from if it proved just a little bit that he was repentant.

It's a start.

[querenciasturniolo]

done ⮕ m.s.

word count: 1k

warnings: angst, swearing, uncomfortable conversation, crying, panic attack

summary: matt has been distant since the triplets moved to LA, and you’re determined to find out why, even if it means the two of you are done

a/n: angst has always been difficult for me to write, but i hope i did it justice 🤞🏻

everything written is completely fictional. the people i write for are written with characteristics and mannerisms that i made for them, this is in no way depicting what would actually happen in real life.

requested: yes (: @floofparker i hope this works!

Things between you and Matt had been rocky for a while.

His texts had been few and far between, and drier than they’ve ever been. You’d talked to Chris and Nick, asking them if everything was alright with Matt. They’d told you that being away from Boston was hard, and the distance could have been fucking with him, but that he hadn’t said anything to them. All of this led you to where you were now; sitting on their couch and waiting for Matt to get home to see him.

Nick and Chris had already gone to their rooms, but Matt had yet to make an appearance.

“He’s taking a drive, he should be back soon.” Nick had told you, a strange feeling swirling in your gut the longer you waited. It wasn’t until the front door opened and you heard him walking up the stairs that your heart started racing.

Every atom in your body was on high alert as you finally saw him. He hadn’t noticed you yet, going about taking his keys off of his belt loop and throwing them on the table. You had missed him so much, but seeing him made the hurt you were feeling more intense.

“Matt.”

His whole body jerked and he finally faced you with his hand on his chest. “Jesus Christ, Y/n?” He said, his eyes wide as his eyes met yours. “What are you doing here?”

You took in a shaky breath and pushed yourself off of the couch. “I wanted to see you—wanted to talk to you.” You said, your voice coming out uneven. Matt nodded, a forced smile on his face as he pulled you into a hug. The hug was uncomfortable to say the least, as if he was only doing it because he was obligated. You pulled away and wrapped your arms around yourself.

“What’s wrong?”

You sighed and shook your head, trying your best to keep it together. “What’s going on, Matty?” You asked, almost wincing at the nickname. You hadn’t called him that since you were kids, but you couldn’t help it. Him practically pretending you didn’t exist since he’d been in LA was hard, it was one of the hardest things you’d ever experienced.

Matt sighed, and you could tell this conversation wasn’t going to go well. “What do you mean?”

You turned and headed back to the couch, patting the cushion next to you without looking up. The couch dipped from where he was sitting, and you sighed and looked up at him. Your eyes were burning and hot, the knot in your throat near excruciating as you tried to keep your tears at bay.

“Do you even want me anymore?”

Matt was silent, his face void of any emotion as he stared down at the table. It felt like a thousand pound weight was laying on your chest, your eyes closing as the tears you’d been fighting finally slipped through and rolled down your cheeks. He didn’t speak, but his silence was enough.

A shaky sigh left your lips, your mouth completely dry as you aggressively wiped at your cheeks and pushed yourself off of the couch. You needed to get away from him, you couldn’t breathe. The moment his hand gripped your arm, you lost it.

“Y/n, wait—“

You turned around, your breathing labored as you pulled your arm away from his grasp.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” You asked, your voice sounding so desperate as you tried to level your breathing. Tears were pooling in his eyes as he shrugged his shoulders, his hands shaking as he ran them through his hair.

“I-I…I don’t know, I didn’t know how. You were just so far away, I couldn’t stand missing you so I just stopped trying.” He said, his voice rough with emotion. You couldn’t tell if the heaviness in your chest was heartbreak or panic.

Fuck, you couldn’t breathe.

You had backed yourself into the wall to get some distance between the two of you, your whole body shaking as you stared at the floor. You were frozen, your fight or flight going haywire as you avoided looking at him. Your breaths came in and out as short bursts, your throat aching at the force.

“Y/n, baby, breathe.” Matt said, his voice sounding too close and too far away all at once. Suddenly, his arms were wrapped around you, the embrace tight to keep you from shaking so violently. The weight on your chest dissipated little by little, the heartache stubbornly staying as the panic slowly went away.

“What did I do wrong?” You whispered, your voice broken and pathetic as Matt’s grip tightened.

“Nothing, you didn't do anything wrong. I should have just talked to you.” He replied, his voice almost quieter than yours.

“Are we…is this done?”

Matt sighed into your hair, you felt the movement of him shaking his head. “I don’t want it to be, I can fix this.” He said, his shoulders relaxing as you finally wrapped your arms around him. “Fuck, I missed you so much. I’m so sorry.”

The two of you stayed that way for what felt like ages, leveling your breathing and clinging to each other for dear life. You pulled away first, but not completely, using your hands to wipe the stray tears that had fallen down his cheeks.

“Just talk to me, please. I…I need you to talk to me from now on.” You said, Matt nodding as he closed his eyes and rested his head against your hold. You were exhausted, your body and head heavy with all of the emotions you’d just flown through. Matt opened his eyes then, studying your features intently before he spoke. He was good at reading you, he always has been.

“You can take my bed, I’ll sleep on the couch.” He said, immediately going to pull away. You shook your head and pulled away completely. You lightly grabbed his hand, a slight shake to yours as you walked towards his bedroom. He followed behind you, a few sniffles from the both of you breaking through the silence.

You dropped onto the mattress and pulled him down, wrapping your arms around him the moment he was comfortable. He pulled the comforter out from under the two of you and pulled it up to your shoulders. You knew the two of you would have to really talk about this in the morning, but you couldn’t stand the idea of sleeping in his bed without his warmth.

The only thing you processed was the soft kiss pressed to the top of your head and the gentle movement of his fingertips dancing along your arm before sleep fully consumed you.

[simpfordemetri]

No need for perfection- Jane Volturi

⟳ & ♥︎

TW: Mentions of binge eating

Request by Anon: Hi! I've been lurking on here a while and love your work. The Volturi aren't loved enough, especially Jane. Can I request a one-shot of Jane? Preferably one where the reader is dealing with insecurity, so Jane tries to make her feel better. Sorry if it's been written before!

Being in a castle full of perfect people who resulted to be vampires wasn’t easy ,less when you are still humanly imperfect. Your skin wasn’t clean and porcelain looking , your lips were often chapped due to the hot of Volterra , your hair didn’t look perfect and most of the time it was messy and you often need to use your glasses which you don’t particularly like .

You were surrounded by perfection and angelical features ,god ,even their voices were flawless .Even if you look closely for details you didn’t find anything out of place.

And with that ,many insecurities appeared in your mind ,trying to look for solutions ,buying loads and loads of make-up or giving a chance to try and use eyes contacts so you didn’t have to wear your glasses.

Your actions seemed unnoticeable, for you at least ,because Jane;your mate, could tell everything that was going on .She knows you like she knows the palms of her hands ,she always know what’s happening just by hearing you breath. However ,she didn’t say anything, not yet.

But everything became too much when you started to skip meals ,but then you couldn’t contain your hunger and ate an unhealthy amount of food until you were physically sick . Food wrappers were founded everywhere in the room ,your intents of hiding them useless . And Jane was finally loosing her mind as she was watching you fall into a rabit hole more and more everyday .And the worst part ,she doesn’t know how to help or what was happening .

Research was done by her ,even using the help of her biggest fear ,technology, she read a bunch of articles finding about Binge eating and the consequences of it .Her stomach sunken at the sudden feeling of how bad you might feel .Eating until your stomach can’t take more and then dealing with the pain ,the distress and sleeping out until you feel a bit better.

Jane wasn’t the best helping or calming down someone ,it wasn’t her forte. She is used to deal with feeling by shutting down and throwing a tantrum .But you weren’t like that and humans emotion were pretty different in her opinion.

Preparing herself and thinking about what she is going to say and being careful about her words ,she finally knock on the door of your shared room ,waiting for you to invite her inside.

Sitting on the bed next to you and grabbing your hand in her ,interlocking each other fingers while her gaze meets yours directly. She sighed trying to find the words to start the awkward but necessary conversation.

-I…I might have noticed what you are doing to yourself ,Y/N- Her angelical voice sounded like a whisper ,however you were able to listen to each word she said .

You didn’t talk, your eyes giving a confused look encouraging her to explain herself.

-Your recents eating habits aren’t healthy ,you are hurting yourself and I know looking for a solution right away might be difficult, so for now I just want to understand what is going on in that beautiful mind of yours ,Cara Mia-

You stayed silent for a few minutes ,secretly mad at yourself for letting your beautiful mate noticed and worrying her ,and also trying to find the answer to her question .

-I…I really don’t know how to answer you Jane. I suppose i have been feeling a bit bad lately, being surrounded by perfection and ethereal looks ,and then there is me , a simple human walking through this big castle being completely lost on what is going on .Things have go put of control I’m not going to lie .I’m so sorry-Your voice cracked in your last words ,looking sorry at her as your eyes were covered by tears.

-My beautiful love, you are the only thing I need and completely perfect by my eyes .However ,little human, perfection is subjective ,I don’t like perfection as anyone is complete perfect even if they think so .You have no need of hurting yourself like that as a form of punishment .And by that darling ,you are MY simple human. -Her lips turned into a soft smile as she grabbed your face pulling you close to her .

A very gentle and soft kiss was planted on your lips ,her hands caressing your cheeks as she falls on top of you laying both of you in bed ,decided to show you how precious you are .

[deansapplepie]

Till THE DEAD do us part | Chapter 9

A/N: This story will take place in all the seasons, but it’s not exactly a rewriting cause I’d have to re-watch everything to use the exactly lines of the characters, also I think it’s better if I tell a side story without changing the main facts of the story.

This story has a Female Reader, but I don’t describe her appearance, so anyone can identify with her.

Chapter 8 Chapter 10

Masterlist

Chapter 9: I ain’t yer bitch, Grimes

Summary: The day starts with a horrifying secret coming to the knowledge of the group, dividing opinions about the matter. Stress is all around again, people say things they didn’t really mean. Everybody is suffering, but some matters have their conclusion. This is absolutely the worst synopsis I ever made, but also that was the hardest chapter for me.

Warnings: swearing, little angsty, nightmares, violence, death, discussions, Daryl is a meanie (but he’s suffering). Minors do not interact. (If you think there should be more warnings, let me know)

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Grimes!Reader (Rick’s Sister)

Word Count: 5,029

Extra notes: I proofread the text, but English is not my first language, so feel free to correct any mistakes, of course with love. I’m consulting a timeline of everything that happened, but it can happen that I put events out of order. In the series after the happenings of this Chapter we have a gap of 7 days, so I’ll use it to have the freedom to be more creative and create nice interactions of our loved characters.

You were walking in a large field, it was the end of the afternoon and a little cloudy, so the colors were not bright. Far away you saw a person, it looked like a kid, but you were not exactly sure you needed to get closer. Soon you weren’t walking anymore, you were running. When you got closer you could see better, it was a kid, a girl. She had short blond hair and was wearing a blue t-shirt. ‘Sophia’, you thought. That was the clothes she was when she got lost.

“Hey, Sophia. It’s me Y/N.” You called her going in her direction but she didn’t turn to you. “Sophia, we were so worried, we looked for you everywhere. Your mom is so worried. She’s gonna be so happy when she sees you.”

Again, no answer. When you got close enough to touch the little girl, you put your hand on her shoulder and called her. She turned to you, and you saw the most horrifying thing, she was pale white, veins evident on her skin, her eyes were the greenish that only the walkers had, and she jumped on you.

You woke up immediately sitting in the dark, you were sweating, your heart beating impossibly fast, it was even a little difficult to breath. When you sat up, Daryl woke up startled, he sat by your side touching your shoulders as delicately as he could. “Wha’ happened? Are ya okay?” He asked worriedly, by the way you woke up he was sure you were not ok.

“I had a nightmare. A terrible one.” You said, when you thought about talking about Sophia the tears came to your eyes, and you couldn’t help but cry. He was surprised he never saw you like that, well… except the day he encountered you in the woods, but in the middle of the night? Never… well, not that you had slept many times together, in fact this was the third time you slept in the same place.

“I’m ‘ere. Try to calm down and tell me. I need to know to help ya.” He pulled you to his chest hugging you from behind, as much as your sitting position allowed.

“Sophia…” You managed to say, all this days you were all worried about her, but you didn’t had any dream or nightmare about the girl, so why today? “I found her…” you sobbed. “She had turned Daryl, she died and…” More sobs take the control over you.

“Shush… com’ere.” He turned you around and laid down with you, your face hiding on his chest, he caressed your back and your hair. “It was just a nightmare, we’re gonna find her and she’s gonna be ok.”

He couldn’t be sure of it and you knew. He also knew it, but he wished to find the little girl more than anything. It’d give hope to the group, Carol would be happy and everything he went through would be worth it. He kissed the top of your head and continued giving you comfort till both of you fell asleep again.

The next day everyone was sat having breakfast together when Glenn came and dropped an atomic bomb on everyone, saying the old barn was full of walkers. When he gave the news, you almost choked on your breakfast, but you could see it was as if he had taken a burden off his shoulders. Damn, the kid was carrying a lot of secrets with him.

After this, it was all chaos. Everyone went to the barn, following Shane. Shane wanted you all to leave, but you couldn’t just leave without Sophia. He got mad at Daryl, because he insisted, he was close to find the girl. You all got to know that Hershel saw the walkers as sick people, how fucked up could this be? While you discussed the door of the barn started shaking with the walkers going against it. You decided to watch the barn just in case, Shane being the first one on duty.

You went back to the camp and saw Daryl, crossbow on his back, going to the stables. ‘Oh he’s not thinking about taking another horse, is he?’ You thought, but you knew he were, you followed him and also saw Carol coming in the same direction. You found him inside looking for a horse. “You can’t go out there in your state.”

“Well, just watch me sweetheart.” He said an acid tone in his voice.

“Daryl, you’re severely injured and it was caused by a horse. Let the others look for her.” You tried to bring reason to him.

“Listen, ya don’t get to boss me around, I ain’t yer bitch, Grimes.” Even when he was mad he had never called you by your last name, but when he made you upset you called him Dixon, so you could not exactly blame him.

“Alright, do whatever the fuck you wanna do.” You wanted to say that you were just worried, that he needed to have a good recovery because he was essential for the group, the group needed him. You needed him, but the words just got stuck in your throat.

You turned your back to him and left the place going back to the camp, you passed Carol on you way and knew she was also going to try to reason with him. Maybe he’d listen the mother of the child. You sat on the swing, Carl on your side and Luna on the ground chewing on a branch she found somewhere. You observed Daryl storming off the stables followed by Carol. It looked like she somehow convinced him, even though he didn’t look happy about it.

It all got you thinking about the terrible nightmare you had, you still wanted to have hope and the same faith Daryl had, but the odds were not really on the little girl’s side. “Aunt Y/N, do you think we’ll find Sophia?” Carl asked while you both sat on the swing.

“Yes, I’m sure we will…” You tried reassuring your nephew, well you really thought, but you weren’t sure how you’d find her, dead? Alive? A walker?

“I don’t want to leave and let her behind.”

“Me neither sweetie, me neither.” You took his little hand in yours and squeezed it.

After lunch you were all together at the house’s Porch when Shane arrived with all the guns, you took your gun back of course, you agreed that having the walkers so close, you needed to have protection. You put it back close to your knife on your waist. Shane was inciting everyone while he gave everybody guns, when you all saw Hershel, Rick and Jimmy bringing Walkers as if they were just doggies that they found in the woods.

“What the fuck?” You didn’t have time to hold your tongue, so everyone looked in that direction and if it could get worse, it would and it got.

Everything happened so fast at the moment, Shane ran down the hills you all followed behind him, Luna being faster than everybody an passing Shane. ‘Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. It can get bad if she get close to one of those things.’ You tried to run faster even with your injured leg. When you got down there Rick was divided on telling Shane to stop and trying to command Luna to not get close to the walkers. You got her by the collar and brought her distant from them.

Then everything went fast, Shane shot the Walkers that Hershel and Rick were bringing to show the farmer that they were not alive and following he broke the lock of the barn door releasing the walkers that were inside. You got your gun and aimed it in the direction of them and started shooting with the others to contain the monsters to get to you. One hand holding Luna and the other firmly holding the gun. When you thought everything was over, you listened to a low moaning coming from the barn, getting closer and closer to all of you. And when it came to light… there she was. Sophia. She wasn’t Sophia anymore, she was a walker just like in your dream and you couldn’t dare shooting her… not the little girl you met on the road, the one that played with your nephew and was like a niece to you, not the so pure and innocent Sophia that had already suffered much in her life.

You put your gun back at your waist and turned your back, you didn’t want to see, you couldn’t dare to look anymore. You heard Carol’s cries and saw that Daryl embraced her so he wouldn’t get any closer. You got to Lori and Carl, and hugged them. It broke your heart, seeing Sophia turned just like in your nightmare, Carl crying for his friend, Carol suffering… You were relieved to have “found” Sophia, but you were also extremely sad.

You put the walkers bodies on the truck to burn them, but made graves for Sophia, Hershel’s wife and stepson. You reunited to make a funeral for them, Carol didn’t want to participate. You could understand her, but at the same time it pained you that her little girl was not going to have her mom on her funeral as it should have been. Maybe that wasn’t Sophia anymore, but it was before… and if you had found her dead instead of turned, wouldn’t you bury her too and say your goodbyes?

Everybody started to go their separate ways and back to their chores. You stayed there a little longer and then headed back to the camp. When you got there you saw Daryl disassembling all his camp that was in the extreme corner where all of you were camping. He was already kind of far from you, what was he doing? You approached him, a little afraid of his reaction.

“D., what are you doing?” You asked genuinely worried.

“Wha’ does it look like?” He grunted throwing things in his bag just to get away from there.

“Like you’re running away from us.” You kept your distance and let he continue to do whatever he was doing. “I know you’re upset, I’m too. All of us, actually. We need to stay together. I know it’s breaking you, you were truly involved on Sophia’s search…”

“Ya know nothin’ ‘bout me!” He retorted, throwing all his belongings on the ground.

“You’re hurting. If you need me, you know where to find me. I’ll be there for you in the same way you were there for me when I needed.” You left, you didn’t look back. There was nothing you could do for him to listen to you in the moment.

You went looking for the others and found them at the Greenes house. It was a little crowded, Beth was catatonic. Maggie said that one moment she was on the kitchen doing her activities and in the other she passed out and was on this state she was right now. Hershel was nowhere to be found and he was the only one that could help her.

Lori suggested you tried to do something to help, since you technically have the same knowledge as Hershel, but you wouldn’t dare. The old man was way more experienced than you with animals and people, you’d not risk. Rick and Glenn left to bring him back to take care of Beth.

You stayed all the afternoon helping Maggie and Patricia with the house and with Beth. When the night arrived you had dinner ready for everyone to eat. In that moment you learned that Lori was missing, you hadn’t even noticed. A car was missing too. Shane got up and went after Lori, everybody was worried. ‘This day can’t get worse’, you thought.

“Carl, eat. Your mom gonna want to know you ate everything when she’s back.” You told the boy that continued to eat contradicted.

“Why’s your boyfriend not here?” Maggie asked sitting by your side to eat.

“He wants to be left alone.” You deep breathed. “I guess this is how he copes with his frustration. what happened today was probably too much for him.”

“First time you don’t correct me when I call him your boyfriend.”

“And would it matter if I did? You’d still call him that.” You shoved a mouthful of vegetables in your mouth, you didn’t feel like eating, but you forced yourself to.

“Why aren’t you with him?” You truly liked Maggie, she was a good girl and you were pretty sure Glenn was in love with her, but you couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed with her questions. You didn’t want to remember that he was hurting and that he was alone, just because he couldn’t stop himself from pushing away from people.

“He doesn’t want me there, I’m not forcing anything. I left the door open, so when he needs me… if he needs me, he’ll come and find me.” You drank water to help the food down, the food was delicious but you really didn’t felt like eating. You just ate to survive. “I finished, gonna wash my plate and stay with Beth till you finish. Carl, don’t leave Andrea.”

You were still not good with Andrea, but you knew she would protect and take care of Carl properly. You went to the room and sat by Beth’s side. It was really a great shock to her… Shane wasn’t completely wrong about cleaning the barn, but the way he did… it was the problem. “I’m sorry Beth, I wish you didn’t need to go through that.”

In one hour or maybe two Shane got back with Lori. She was hurt and you wondered what could have possibly happened. She told all of you the story about going to look for Rick, Glenn and Hershel. She was insane, maybe? Did pregnancy do this to a woman? Like it would be of no use to one more person go looking for them, as Rick and Glenn were already looking for someone.

“Know what’s that Y/N?” Shane asked you, and you knew that probably you’d fight after a long time with no fights. “She asked your boyfriend to go look for them and he didn’t…”

“And he had no obligation of going! Rick went with Glenn to look for Hershel, that was enough. The only thing we needed to do was wait for them! Going look for them aren’t going to bring them faster to the farm.” You exploded, now even this he would like to blame someone? “The only fault of this is yours Lori, couldn’t you just wait them? It’s not like you have superpowers and would bring they back instantly. You just put yourself and the baby in danger!”

“Baby?” Many of the people around Lori and Shane said. Which baby?

Lori gave you an annoyed look.

“Sorry.” You said about revealing the baby, not what you said about making no sense going to look for Rick at this point.

Then the questions started, and Carl learned he was going to be a big bro. Carol and Dale took Lori to the RV to check on her. You approached Dale to ask him a favor, well not actually a favor, but it would be one for you.

“Dale, can I stay on watch tonight?” You asked the older man.

“Yes, of course. Who’s going to change with you?” He asked.

“No one, it’s better if everyone rest. Tomorrow I can sleep.” You told him and he saw in your eyes you were almost pleading him.

“It’s not right, you know? To be deprived of sleep.”

“I’m not. Tomorrow morning someone can take my place and I go to sleep. Please.” You asked again.

He agreed, so you just asked him to wait a little cause you were going to check where Luna was. You pretty much already had an idea, but you had to make sure she wasn’t in the woods or somewhere else. You walked in the dark only with the moonlight to guide you, you could see the whole structure of his camp.

Anxiety was bringing an uncomfortable feeling to your chest and stomach, and you were a little afraid of what you could encounter. When you arrived, you saw him and Carol, he having an outburst on her. You ran to stay between her and him.

“What the hell are you doing?” You yelled at him. How could he treat her like this after everything she went through?

“Keeping all of ya away from me!” He yelled back, even though he was shouting you could see in his eyes that anger wasn’t exactly what he was feeling, maybe just a bit. “Don’t ya understand I’m here for a reason? I ain’t yer servant so ya can go ordering me aroun’ as ya want!”

“Carol, go back. Let him be today. I’m pretty sure tomorrow he’ll regret his actions.” You told the woman that was behind you.

“What are ya here for?” He asked daggers on his eyes, he probably didn’t like what you said. “Came here to tell me, how I treated yer sis bad?”

“No, you asshole. I just defended your ass when someone mentioned it was your fault!” You retorted him, you had come with good intentions just to look for Luna, but you couldn’t just stand how he treated Carol and how he was behaving.

“Let me guess, Shane?”

“It doesn’t matter.” You answered, you didn’t want to take longer there, cause the longer you got to come back the more you were inclined to have a fight with him, and you didn’t want it. You just wanted Daryl back, the one that was a little bit grumpy and rough, but that was also sweet and considerate in the small things. “I came here for my dog. Is she here?”

“She’s sleeping in the tent.” He replied, you were surprised she didn’t wake up with all the yelling.

“Good.” You turned your back to him and started to go back to the camp.

“Aren’t ya gonna take her?” He asked a tad bit annoyed and confused.

“Just wanted to know if she was safe, you can have her today. You probably need her more than me.” You answered not turning back and continued your way back to the camp.

You went to RV and let Dale know you were already there to start your watch. Once more he tried talking you out of it, but you needed this time just for yourself and speaking the truth you were afraid of sleeping alone after your nightmare the night before, this time you wouldn’t have anyone to hug you if you needed.

You sat on the beach chair on the top of the RV, rifle resting on your lap, binoculars hanging on your neck and starring at the darkness. You always liked the night, more than the day, but you never were the one to change your sleeping habits because of this and despite of that you couldn’t appreciate the night properly at the cities. In your opinion the most special and magic thing about the night, was the sky with the moon and all the stars, you felt like you were looking into the universe and that mesmerized you. Also, you loved the silence and peace you could find at night.

Recently, you couldn’t enjoy the night anymore, because it was too dangerous, but honestly, being a woman, it wasn’t so different before. You didn’t enjoy the nights because of the parties and trivial things like this, what you really liked was the calming and silence it could give you. No car noises. No phones ringing. No one ring the doorbell. No annoying neighbors (well, most of the time). Now wasn’t so different all day, but you still needed to deal with people, and drama, and damn people that should be dead walking around and trying to eat your guts.

You spent the night watching the darkness, admiring the night and putting your thoughts in order. It was so exhausting being on an apocalypse, you couldn’t guess that besides fighting walkers, you’d need to deal with other people, have tons of familiar drama and have worries about a man you knew almost 3 months ago and was able to shake your life in a way no one had before, not even that bastard son of a bitch that ruined your life. On top of that you had your own dramas, traumas, worries and he, the man you couldn’t just stay away or give up, had his own troubles and you didn’t know if you would be able to break each other's barriers.

When the sun rose, you saw some dust far away in the road, you took the binoculars and saw the car in which Glenn and Rick left coming to the farm. You descended the RV stairs and went running to the house, announcing they were back and you prayed that please they had Hershel with them.

Soon they stopped in front of the house and all of the three were together, but they had guy with them. His leg was hurt. Soon Hershel and Patricia went to do a surgery on the boy’s leg. Glenn and Rick explained everything, the way things escalated made you fear what could happen. If this boy escaped or if their group went after you, all would be lost. It was too dangerous, but as a human being you could also understand what they did and why they did. After Hershel finished the surgery, and took care of Beth, everybody reunited to decide what to do with the kid. First plan, was to wait his recovery and then abandon him in a place far away from the farm. It could be a good plan, Shane didn’t like it much, but… what did he like nowadays? Maybe just Lori.

You left after you got breakfast, ready to go to your tent and try to sleep a little, or else Dale would speak a lot about it and the elderly man could be very incisive when he wanted.

“Can we talk?” You heard a gruff voice behind you, his voice. You didn’t look back.

“Did you already talk to Carol? She’s probably the most upset one.” You said, looking side eyed to your right and seeing Luna following you two. “Talk to her, then we can talk. Luna, come on girl, you already stayed away from me for enough time.”

You went to your tent and changed into comfortable clothes just to take a nap and make Dale happy that you rested as you promised. Luna joined you and laid there running your hand on her back, in some way it was soothing for you. After some time you heard Daryl knocking on the imaginary door of your tent. “Come in”, you said and soon he opened the door, entered and zipped it again. “Did you talk to Carol?”

“Yeah, already apologized for being a dick.” He said sitting in the opposite side from you. You sat and took a look at him in the dark of the tent while Luna turned around to rest her head on his lap.

“At least you’re a conscious dick.” You murmured.

“Wish, I wasn’t one at all” he chewed on his thumb.

“Everyone can be one sometimes.” And it was true, just that he was one more often, but you also knew he never had anyone to help him deal with his emotions. “I don’t like when you’re like that.”

“I know. Me neither. It’s just… I dunno how to be anything other than that.” He petted Luna’s head.

“I know. You were bad yesterday, because you cared, you felt… it’s ok to feel D. You’re human, you have a heart. It’s just how you bring these emotions out.” You were so calm, that it got him confused. It wasn’t that you weren’t upset, but you could see through his angry grumpy façade. It was just him trying to hide what he was truly feeling, also a way of auto sabotage himself. “It’s ok to rely on others. I see that you probably never had someone like this before, but now you have us. You have me. If you need to vent about something, cry or just go to the top of a mountain and scream all your feelings, you can come to me.”

“ ‘m sorry.” That’s the only thing he could say, he knew no explanation was needed, because you had just said pretty much what he was feeling.

“Come here.” You said laying over your sleeping bag and pointing at your chest. “Lay down and rest your head here.”

“Whatta ya…” he started to question, but you just cut him.

“Just do as I say, if I can lay my head on your chest, you can also do the same with me.” You opened your arms waiting for him.

You almost expected him to throw a tantrum just like the day before when he said he wasn’t your servant for you to order him around, but he obeyed laying on your left side, so he would not hurt his recovering wound. He rested his head on your chest, put his left arm around you while you hugged him with both your arms. One hand caressing his back carefully to not hurt him and the other on his head playing with his hair. He was a little embarrassed in the beginning, he thought it was very different you laying on his chest than he laying on yours. In his mind when you laid on his chest, it was pure, lovely and innocent, but for he, a man, lay on your chest it sounded wrong… women chests had always been something extremely sexualized by the society. Until that moment, when you started to rub his back and ran your fingers on his hair, he had never thought it could also be pure, innocent, lovely, soothing and many other adjectives that he could use to describe the sensation. He could listen to your heartbeat and feel your breathing, being able to relax.

“You’re forgiven, just don’t push yourself away again. Specially when we didn’t even fought between us.” You kissed the top of his head and he would not admit, but you felt him snuggling more into you. “Do you like it?” He just let a small hum. “This is what I mean when I say you can come to me. Whenever you need I’ll comfort you as you have already comforted me.”

You didn’t feel any animosity from the day before, in fact, when you saw him taking his things to set his camp far from yours, you thought you’d give him his space so he could overcome the situation. But when you saw he treating Carol badly you couldn’t just watch. You were happy he apologized to Carol and you were glad he came to you. You felt good about being able to show him what comfort was and how he could heal without hurting himself and the others around him.

You ended up sleeping with him in your arms, he stayed a little more enjoying the feeling and organizing his thoughts. Then he got up and left taking Luna with him and going around to see what he could do to help. He didn’t want to disturb your sleep, he knew you didn’t sleep, because he didn’t too. The night before, He just laid in his tent, Luna by his side and he couldn’t stop thinking about all his actions of the day, he wished you were there, but he had treated you so badly that he didn’t even know if you would like him close to you ever again. He regretted his actions like you said he would, but it was like he couldn’t control himself when he felt like this and mean words came out of his mouth without he even thinking about it. So even though he rested during the night he couldn’t sleep thinking about everything and knowing you were there keeping watch all by yourself in the darkness of the night. He could see you there, before he went to his tent, he saw you on top of the RV even from that distance he could see it was you. He wanted to go there and ask what you were doing, tell you to stop being so stubborn and go to sleep, but that night he felt like he didn’t have that right anymore.

He just knew one thing he needed to stop hurting people he didn’t want to hurt, people that he was learning he cared about. It feared him, because the only person he ever cared about was Merle. He didn’t even care about himself, but now he had people that he wasn’t completely sure yet, but he thought that maybe cared about him. Well, he felt like you truly cared, and he had to stop building walls and closing the door for you. He had never felt so good and safe before as he felt in your arms, and that was one thing he had to value, this was something he wanted to feel again and again and again.

Final Notes: Gosh, this was a very challenging chapter for me to finish, it took me sometime because the things never seemed right. For the next chapter or maybe chapterS we’ll have a gab of time that I can fill with something, so I was thinking about crossbow and hunting lessons with Daryl.

What do you think? If there’s anything you’d like to see, let me know me know. If it fits the story I’m trying to build maybe I can include.

Taglist: @sunnybunnyy2 @royaltysuite

Wanna be added to my taglist? Just let me know.

[aviiarie]

˚ ₊ ‧ ♡ HAPPY HALLOWEEN! — feat. kagaya event masterlist

synopsis. you go to a halloween party along with some friends, but in between games and snacks, you notice some... strange things about this party, and its host. warnings. none? notes. request for anon! gn!reader. implied vampire!kagaya. 1.5k words! THIS IS MY LAST ONEEEE THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT ON THIS EVENT GUYSSSS

This Halloween party was... strange.

It wasn't a bad party, by any means. There were plenty of drinks, a snack table stacked high with treats to keep you from feeling hungry, and music filling the air.

You might be enjoying yourself more if you had someone to talk to, but all of your friends had left one by one. One saw an old acquaintance across the room and went over to catch up, one left to get something to drink, and even Mitsuri—who had asked you to come in the first place—vanished from your side without you even realizing where she went. Suffice to say, your night was already soured, even before you started to notice the peculiarities of the party.

All of the faces you glanced between were that of strangers, which wasn't a surprise, even if it was nerve-wracking. You had been invited by your new friends, but every other guest was unfamiliar, friends of friends that you had never met before. They looked at you curiously, whispering behind their hands while trading odd looks in your direction, yet not a single one of them tried to speak to you.

You clutched your cup tighter, taking a sip to distract yourself from the discomfort creeping closer. It wasn't just being surrounded by people you didn't know, there was something else that felt off about the event. It was difficult to describe exactly what it was, but the lurking feeling of danger never passed.

“Hello.” A pleasant voice appeared right by your ear, making you flinch and spill droplets of your drink onto the floor. You turned your head, finding yourself face to face with a man smiling serenely at you. There was an odd pinkish colouring across his forehead; a scar or birthmark, perhaps.

“Hi.” You smiled awkwardly.

“My name is Kagaya. I'm the host of this party here, and I just happened to notice you here by yourself.” He paused. “Did a friend bring you here?”

“Um, yeah... one of my friends invited me—” To be perfectly honest, friends was even a stretch, you had been hanging out with Mitsuri and her friends for only a month or two, but she was too eager for you to come to the party for you to even consider refusing. “[Name]. It's nice to meet you.”

Kagaya offered a hand, that you quickly shook. His skin was ice-cold to touch, almost making you gasp at the shock of it.

“It is nice to meet you.” Kagaya smiled, as if he was amused by a joke only he heard. “I have a lot of gatherings, but I rarely meet new people at them. Mitsuri must have thought you were special if she brought you along.”

“Uh—” Did you even mention Mitsuri's name?

“[Name]! I'm so sorry!” Mitsuri appeared, pushing past the crowd, her face crumpled up as if she was close to tears. “I just left to say hello to someone and couldn't find you again! I didn't mean to leave you by yourself!”

As she stopped in front of you, she blinked in surprise at the man at your side. “O-Oh! You've met already?”

“Just now.” Kagaya nodded briefly at Mitsuri, excusing himself and disappearing back into the midst of the people, everyone greeting him warmly as he passed them. Your eyes tracked his movements, frowning as you noticed his pale, almost sickly skin. Up close, you had seen a flash of white in his mouth, vampire fangs that looked almost real. He must have put a lot of effort into his costume.

Mitsuri made up for her brief absence with a lot of chatter, about the snacks she had eaten and the games that they had been playing. She didn't seem to mind your quietness, as you let her talking fade to background noise.

Some of the people you saw really were strange. There was a man in a startlingly realistic zombie costume, complete with grunts and groans instead of words, who glared at you the second you made eye contact. There were a few dressed as witches having a loud conversation about potions, and a vampire with fake blood dripping down his chin.

But what unnerved you most of all was the atmosphere, the lingering feeling of dread in your chest that you couldn't dismiss. You were much too old to be fearing Halloween, but there was still the feeling of someone's eyes glued to your back, a sense of danger that made your skin crawl.

“Hey, I know I said I'd stay beside you, but I see someone I know over there.” Mitsuri smiled sheepishly. “Do you mind if I go talk for a bit? You can come too!”

You waved her away, forcing a grin. “You can go, I'll be fine on my own.”

She gave you a quick hug, before darting off to greet her friend. You let the smile drop once she was out of sight, breathing out shakily. It was exhausting, but Mitsuri would be disappointed if you left too early. Maybe you could fake being sick, and go home.

In search of another drink to fill your cup, you slipped into the kitchen, finding it empty. On the counter was a jug with a dark red drink inside, like the pomegranate juice that had been served earlier. It was a different consistency, so you poured a small amount into your cup to have a closer look.

Holding the cup up to your face, you could see the drink was thicker than juice, and a much darker shade. There was a strong, metallic scent as well, as if it was—

“I would not drink that, if I were you.” The cup was plucked out of your hands. Kagaya chuckled, gently placing it aside. “I doubt it would be to your tastes.”

He opened the fridge and pulled out a can of soda, pressing it into your hands. You took it with a murmured thanks, and he took his place beside you.

“Halloween is a rather special night of the year, isn't it?” Kagaya mused, smiling out at the party through the open kitchen door. Somehow, even though he was practically a stranger, you found yourself at ease beside him.

“I guess so.” You hummed.

“There's a little story I like, about Halloween.” He continued. “Do you want to hear it?”

You gave a nod, and that was enough for him to start talking.

“Long ago, when all of the ghouls and monsters discovered that humans were wearing costumes of them, they were filled with joy. One night a year, they were able to walk alongside humans, without scaring them.”

You took another sip of the soda, listening intently.

“But, when people discovered that actual monsters were among them, they were outraged. The monsters were attacked with rocks and pitchforks, and forced to flee.” Kagaya paused, a melancholic look passing over his face.

Watching his expression carefully, you could almost pick apart the layers of nostalgia, regret, and reminiscence in his eyes. He didn't look like he was telling an old story he'd heard, he looked like he was recounting a memory.

“This upset some of the monsters, as they never intended to hurt the humans. They only wanted to know what it was like to be one of them.” Kagaya fell silent, staring straight with a blank expression. Awkwardly, you cough into your hand.

“So... what happened next?” You prompted.

Kagaya sighed. “Next, a young, newly turned vampire decided that if they weren't going to be allowed to celebrate among humans, they would celebrate by themselves. He organized a gathering on the same night, where vampires, ghosts, spirits, monsters of all sorts would be able to spend a night of festivities together. And the next year he did the same thing, and the next, and the next, for decades, even centuries.”

“All that time...” You breathed.

“Of course it would change over the years, to match the time period.” He chuckled, shaking his head slightly. “But what would stay the same was the host, as he watched generations of monsters rise and fall, countless guests with countless stories to tell.”

You chewed your lip, still slightly on edge. The way he was smiling at you, you could see the flash of white of his scarily real-looking fangs. “Why are you telling me this?”

Kagaya only laughed, his eyes once again drifting to the open door. Through the doorway, you watched in horror as one of the men dressed as a zombie snapped one of his arms clean off, making his friends whoop and cheer and making your heart stop. The man beside you only sighed, like a father watching his rowdy children.

He turned back to face you, fixing you with a sharp look. His eyes pierced through you, making you shrink back from the weight of his gaze. Seeing your reaction, his eyes softened and the intense expression vanished as quickly as it appeared.

“It is just as I said; if you were invited, then there must be something special about you.”

🏷️ taglist: @mollzaj, @mitsvriii, @an-angstyteen

© aviiarie 2024. do not copy, repost, translate or use my work to train ai

[little-miss-dilf-lover]

Ooo can I also please request a Tangerine x fem!civilian!reader where Y/n is is Tangerine’s wife and one day she is at home alone (in the mansion she shares with Tan and Lem), while her husband and brother in law are on a job, and she hears the door and thinks it’s them coming home, until the door slams shut and things downstairs are being destroyed (it’s one of the twin’s enemies). Y/n runs to her and Tan’s room, and shakily grabs the gun that Tan told her to grab in case of emergency (he taught her how to use it). The bad guys find her and she has to defend herself, the Twins coming home to her covered in blood and sobbing/hyperventilating+ Tangerine taking her into his arms and holding her close, petting her hair 🥺

🥹love it. thank you for requesting, hope you like it💌

incase of emergency

tangerine x fem!reader

wc || 0.5k

warnings || mentions of blood, weapons & death

masterlist + rules

taglist

Tangerine and Lemon have been away on a mission for the last few days, so that meant you were home alone in the mansion you shared with the twins. It was coming up to the time they said they’d be back, so when you hear the front door slam shut, you happily make your way to the landing to greet them. Immediately stopping in your tracks when you hear smashing and clattering from downstairs. Ducking to the floor, quietly crawling back into the bedroom. Carefully standing up to retrieve a gun from your bedside table. Panic settles in when you hear an indistinct conversation from the living room. Covering your mouth to stop your heavy breathing so you could hear what they were saying.

“Where’s his girl? Her car is there.”

Eyes bugging out your head when you realise they were talking about you. Ducking behind the bed, with your gun directed at the bedroom door. Trying your best to contain your shaky hands.

Footsteps ‘stealthily’ rush up the stairs, creeping around doors to find you. But when you see three figures appear in front of the door you pull the trigger, aiming at all of their chests without a second thought. Peeking up from the bed to make sure they’re down, you rush over to them, dragging them out of the way of the door so you could slam it shut.

Lugging their heavy weight, grip made difficult from their already red-saturated clothing.

Tears prickle as you shut the door, running into the walk-in wardrobe and cowering yourself in the safe nook. Bringing your knees to your chest so you could cry. Sobbing into your knees, waiting impatiently for Tangerine and Lemon to return home.

As someone who is married to one of the deadliest pair of assassins, it wasn’t uncommon for you to be used as bait between vendettas. The twins had many created enemies over the years. So much so, that as soon as you started dating, he taught you everything he knew; teaching you how to load and use guns, practice aim, and even the correct way of disposing bodies. He taught you how to protect yourself if the unthinkable happened.

So now, you were huddled in a small space, silently sobbing to yourself, desperately trying to remember their words of encouragement.

You hear cars pull up out front with two worried yells following shortly after. “Y/N!” Footsteps stamp up the stairs, heavily running across the wooden floor, urgently trying to find you.

“Y/N!” Your husband's panicked voice shouts from behind the door, noticing the pile of dead bodies pooled in blood.

He busts the door open, frantically looking around until he sees you curled up on the floor hyperventilating. Immediately rushing over and falling to his knees beside you. Anxious hands checking your pulse. A genuine sigh of relief escapes him, “are- are you hurt?” He questions, already thinking the worst.

“No.” You quietly mumble.

“Oh thank fuck- I’m so sorry… I’m so so sorry.” Pulling you into his lap, holding you close to his chest. His comforting hands brushing over the back of your hair to calm you. “I thought I lost you.” He muffles into the crown of your head.

@tangerinesgf

@kpopgirlbtssvt

@over-at-the-frank3nstein-place

@earth-elemental18

@ashlynhasmanyhyperfixations

@idontknowwhattohaveasmyuser

@thewinterv

@navs-bhat

@ilovetangerinewithallmyheart

@theredvelvetbitch

@randomawesomeperson102

[rafemotherfuckingcameron]

FUGITIVE

Word Count: 3.3k

Pairing(s): Rafe x Reader

Warnings: Fluff, Gun play, Injury, Cuddling, Kiss

Summary: Ward informs the authorities that Y/N is the one who shot the sheriff.

MASTERLIST

Tuesday 12:07 pm

**Attention all units, the fugitive has been spotted heading southbound towards the ferry. Any available units, please respond**

As I sprint through the tall grass, I sense my legs beginning to tremble from exhaustion. I spot the ferry in the distance and push myself to run even faster. Just as I'm on the verge of reaching it, I witness the ferry pulling away, and in that moment, it becomes clear—I am officially trapped on the island. My breath comes out in heavy gasps as I watch the ferry shrink into the horizon. 

Panic sets in, realising that my escape route has slipped away. The realisation dawns on me—I'm stranded, surrounded by the familiar landscape of the island. With every passing second, the weight of the situation becomes more apparent, and I'm left to contemplate my next move in this unexpected predicament. Suddenly hearing sirens and seeing flashing blue and red lights, the distant sounds draw closer, and a wave of apprehension washes over me. I realise that the authorities have caught up, and my chances of evading capture are rapidly diminishing. 

The once serene island now feels like a labyrinth closing in, amplifying the urgency of finding a hiding place or an alternate escape route. My thoughts run wild, “How did I get here?” I ask myself, a few tears spilling from my eyes.

Yesterday

Entering the back door of the Cameron Estate, I out pull out my phone and send a text to Sarah, inquiring about her whereabouts. However, there's no immediate response.

Deciding to find her myself, I make my way through the maze-like corridors. The house seems almost empty, with only distant sounds echoing through the hallways. Eventually, I reach Sarah's room and gently knock on the door. "Sarah? It's me. Are you in there?" I call out, hoping for a response. I walk back downstairs ready to leave when I hear people talking in the living room. I quietly walk forward, trying to hear them talk, I recognise Wards voice. 

My heart starts to race as I eavesdrop on the intense conversation unfolding in the living room. The revelation of a potentially serious situation involving Ward and a lawyer raises my concern. I discreetly inch closer to the source of the conversation, careful not to make any noise.

The lawyer's response echoes in the room, emphasising the severity of the situation. 

"Ward, it's not as easy as just waving your hand over it. This is murder, you get that right. I'm doing my best to not have you arrested for this," he asserts, making it clear that the matter at hand is grave.

Ward's frustration becomes evident as he raises his voice, "I'm paying 2 million to make this go away, why is it taking so long?" He angrily throws papers off the table, revealing his impatience and perhaps a lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation.

The lawyer, undeterred, warns Ward about the consequences. "Your my lawyer; I expect you to do something soon, or I'll have to take care of you like I did the sheriff," Ward threatens, revealing a darker side to his character and actions.

Panic sets in as you realise that my attempt to discreetly eavesdrop has been foiled by a notification. The sudden turn of events escalates when Ward, reacting swiftly, grabs my wrist and pulls me into the room. The tension in the room is palpable, especially with a gun now in play.

Ward, seemingly caught in a difficult situation, points the gun at my head. The lawyer protests, "Ward, don't do this!" The man appears to have a different plan, whispering something into Ward's ear.

Ward seems to consider the suggestion and, after a moment, holds his head and pulls me forward against him. He places the gun in my hand and then takes it back letting go, instructing me to leave. The situation is bewildering, and it's unclear what the man whispered to Ward or what their motivations might be.

Breathing heavily, I run to a safe distance from the Cameron Estate and quickly retrieve my phone. As the cool night air chills my skin, I dial Sarah's number, desperation evident in my voice as I leave a voicemail.

"Sarah, please pick up. It's urgent, and I really need to talk to you. Please call me back as soon as you get this."

Tuesday 9:00am

The night passes with uneasy quietness, my mind racing at the though of seeing Ward again. I turn on the Tv to watch Netflix when a breaking news story catches my eye. 

“One of our most beloved Sheriff’s has been shot and left for dead on the side of the road. Authorities are looking for Y/N Y/L/N who we believe ended the life of Sheriff Peterkin. We had a witness come forward this morning saying the saw her running late last night, where she was found dead. An offical manhunt is underway and we are bringing in the FBI for the investigation.”

The world around me seems to crumble, and I’m left grappling with the enormity of the accusations. The mention of an official manhunt and the involvement of the FBI add a layer of urgency and severity to the situation.

I grab a bag, throwing some clothes and water in, fuelled by a mix of fear, desperation, and the need to evade the mounting accusations, I make the gut-wrenching decision to flee as a fugitive. With the bag slung over my shoulder, I slip out of my home, leaving behind the life I once knew.

Tuesday 12:30 pm

Heart pounding, I make a split-second decision to run back through the bush. The adrenaline fuels my legs as I sprint, weaving through the trees desperately trying to put as much distance between myself and the approaching sirens. The crunch of leaves beneath my hurried footsteps echoes in my ears.

With every stride, I can sense the pursuit closing in. I risk a glance behind and catch glimpses of flashing lights through the trees. Panic intensifies, urging me to push my limits. As I navigate the uneven terrain, branches claw at me, and thorns snag my clothes, but the urgency to escape propels me forward. 

I reach the road and quickly scan the parked cars for a potential means of escape. Spotting a rock nearby, I grab it with a determined grip. With a surge of adrenaline, I make a swift move toward a car, my breath hitching as I swing the rock into a side window. The shattering glass reverberates through the quiet surroundings, and my heart races with the audacity of my actions.

As I settle into the stolen car, the realiSation hits that my desperate escape requires more than just smashing a window. Glancing around the driver's seat, I spot the exposed wires beneath the steering column. Drawing on every bit of knowledge I've gathered from movies and the unpredictability of the moment, I hesitantly reach for the wires.

Heart pounding, I strip the ends and connect them, praying that the makeshift hot-wiring will breathe life into the stolen vehicle. The distant wail of sirens intensifies, urging me to work faster. The engine responds with a hesitant sputter, then roars to life, a symphony of rebellion against the encroaching authorities.

Adrenaline courses through my veins as I race through the streets, the sound of sirens blaring behind me. With the cops hot on my tail, every second counts. Frustration builds as I try to reach Sarah for help, but once again, there's no response.

I make a split-second to try contacting Rafe, hoping he might have some insight into Sarah's whereabouts. “Hey Siri, call Rafe on speaker,” with the phone now on speaker, I could hear Rafe's voice crackle through the line.

"What's up, Y/n, long time no see," Rafe greets you, his voice tinged with surprise at my sudden call.

"Rafe, have you seen Sarah? I really need to talk to her," I shout urgently into the phone, I voice strained with worry.

There's a moment of silence on the other end, broken only by the sound of the rushing wind and the distant wail of sirens. I hold my breath, hoping for a response.

Then, finally, Rafe's voice comes through, filled with concern. "I haven't seen her recently. Y/n, Is everything okay? What's going on?"

I quickly fill Rafe in on the events that have unfolded and the accusations against me. As I speak, I look into the rearview mirror, and in my moment of distraction, I fail to notice the vehicle abruptly slowing down in front of me.

I crash up the back of the car in front, the windshield smashing into pieces. The airbags deployed hitting me straight in the face. Trying to get out of the car my leg comes into to contact with a piece of hot metal and burns my calf. Pain shoots through my body, causing me to cry out in pain. 

"Y/n! Are you okay? What happened?” Rafe's voice echoes in your ears, filled with urgency and worry. With the pain coursing through my leg, I struggle to respond. Summoning all my strength, I manage to speak a response, “No, I’m not, I need to go. I’ll….I’ll call you back” I say ending the call. Staggering away from the car wreck, I hide behind a fence with overgrown bushes hanging down, just covering me from the cops only a few feet away. 

“Spread out, she can’t be far” I heard one of the cops say. More police arrive to start a search, the only option I had was to run to that alley I see about 500 metres away. I begin to crawl through the long grass, staying low enough to not be seen. The burn on my leg stings as I drag it along the dry grass. 

“Freeze, don’t move!” The cop says, pointing the gun at me, I muster up the last of my energy, lifting my body and running for the alleyway. Just as I reach the buildings, my worst nightmare unfolds before my eyes. The alley is a dead end with no escape route in sight. Panic courses through me as I realise that I've been cornered, trapped like a cornered animal with nowhere left to run.

Tuesday 4:27pm

As the officers draw closer, their authoritative commands ringing in my ears, I reluctantly raise my hands in a gesture of surrender. My heart sinks as I watch their determined advance, their expressions betraying little emotion beyond their duty to enforce the law.

Just as the officers prepare to take me into custody, the sudden cacophony of screeching tires and a roaring engine pierces the tense atmosphere. My eyes widen in astonishment as a white BMW hurtles down the street, barreling towards me at breakneck speed. The car screeches to a sudden halt, and my attention snaps to the passenger door as it swings open. “Y/n, get in!” 

Without hesitation, I seize the opportunity, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I sprint towards the car. I slide into the passenger seat, the door slamming shut behind me as the engine roars back to life.

As I glance over at the driver, a flood of relief washes over me when I see Rafe behind the wheel. With the flick of his wrist we puts the car into gear and hits the gas pedal, I grip onto the door handle tightly as we lurch into motion. 

"Thank you Rafe," I say, my voice filled with gratitude as I turn to him, "I don't know what would’ve happened if you didn’t show up." Rafe offers me a reassuring smile, his eyes look at me and then back at the road. "I'm sorry this has happened to you, Y/n," Rafe's voice cuts through the tension, filled with genuine remorse. "When you called me, I was at home, and when I heard you say Ward was framing you for murder, I confronted him. He admitted it, but he threatened to implicate me as an accessory to murder if I got involved."

“So what are you doing here than?” I questioned. "I couldn't just stand by and let you face this alone," Rafe responds, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation.

"You're not just a friend, Y/n. I love you and...........and I wouldn’t want anything to bad to happen to you.” There's a quiet resolve in his words, a testament to the depth of our bond and the lengths he's willing to go to ensure my safety. As I meet his gaze, I grasp Rafe’s hand and lace my fingers between his.

A smirk tugs at the corners of Rafe's lips as he continues, his voice laced with a hint of satisfaction. "Plus, I got his confession on my phone."

“What? How?” I asked manoeuvring my body to face him. Rafe's smirk widens at my incredulous reaction. "Let's just say I've learned a thing or two from you about being one step ahead," he replies cryptically, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I lean in closer, my curiosity piqued. "Seriously, how did you manage to get his confession?" Rafe's expression shifts, his smirk softening into a knowing grin. "Let's just say I have my ways," he replies, his tone teasing yet reassuring. "But trust me, Y/n, we've got everything we need to take him down."

The sound of sirens blares in the distance, growing louder with each passing moment as the police close in on our location. Rafe grits his teeth in determination, his hands steady on the wheel as he navigates tight corners and narrow alleys with expert precision. With the police closing in from all sides, Rafe's knuckles whiten as he grips the steering wheel, his eyes scanning the road ahead for any possible escape route.

Y/n, put your seatbelt on," he instructs, his gaze unwavering as he watches me comply. I nod in acknowledgment, grateful for his concern amidst the chaos, with a quick click I fasten my seat belt.

In a split-second decision born of desperation and quick thinking, Rafe spots an opportunity—a narrow alleyway to the right, barely wide enough for the car to squeeze through. With unwavering resolve, he wrenches the wheel sharply, sending the car careening into the alley with breathtaking speed.

The sudden manoeuvre takes my breath away as the car lurches to the side, narrowly avoiding collision with the surrounding buildings. The police cars, caught off guard by the audacious move, screech to a halt, their pursuit momentarily stalled as they struggle to navigate the tight streets.

Adrenaline courses through my veins as Rafe expertly navigates the twisting alleyway, the walls closing in on either side as if threatening to swallow you whole. The sound of scraping metal and the frantic shouts of the pursuing officers fill the air, As the alleyway opens up into a wider street, I steal a glance behind and see the police cars in disarray, their pursuit thwarted by Rafe's daring manoeuvre. With a sense of exhilaration and relief washing over me, I realise that for now, at least, we’ve managed to get away.

Rafe spots a small, overgrown patch of bushes at the edge of a nearby park. Without hesitation, he veers off the road and drives the car into the cover of the foliage, the branches scratching against the car's exterior as it comes to a halt. With the engine silenced and the car hidden from view, me and Rafe exchange a tense glance. Breathless and on edge, we listen intently for any sign of the police cars, my heart pounding in my chest.

Tuesday 6:15pm

Eventually the sirens started to fade into the night I finally allow myself a moment to catch my breath. With trembling hands, I reach down to unlace my shoes, but as my fingers brush past the burn on my calf, a sharp jolt of pain shoots through my, causing me to inhale sharply.

Concern flickers across Rafe's face as he notices your distress. "Y/n, are you okay?" he asks, his voice filled with genuine worry. I force a weak smile, trying to downplay the pain coursing through me. "I'll be fine," I reassure him, though the strain in my voice betrays my words.

Without hesitation, he reaches into the backseat, rummaging through the contents until he retrieves a small first aid kit.

"Here, let's get that taken care of," Rafe says gently. I offer him a grateful nod, feeling a rush of relief at his calming presence. Rafe carefully cleans the burn, his touch gentle yet efficient as he tends to my injury. The sting of antiseptic is sharp, but it's a welcome sensation.

As Rafe wraps the bandage snugly around my calf, I feel a sense of comfort wash over me, knowing that I’m in good hands. Despite the pain and uncertainty of the night, there's a flicker of hope in your heart, buoyed by the unwavering support of my friend.

"Thank you, Rafe," you say softly, my voice filled with gratitude as I meet his gaze.

He offers me a warm smile in return, his eyes reflecting the depth of his concern. "Anytime, Y/n. We're in this together."

“We should stay here the night and then figure out what to do in the morning.” Rafe says packing up the first aid box. I nod in agreement with Rafe's suggestion, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in my bones. The events of the night have taken their toll, both physically and emotionally, and the prospect of a few hours of rest is a welcome one.

"Sounds like a plan," I reply, my voice heavy with fatigue. "I could definitely use some sleep."

“You can take the backseat, it’s comfier.” I offer Rafe a grateful smile, "Thanks, Rafe. I appreciate it." With a nod, I settle into the backseat, finding the cushions surprisingly plush beneath me.

As I settle into the backseat, I can't shake the chill that seems to seep into my bones, the night air creeping in through the cracks in the car's windows. Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on my eyelids, the cold lingers, gnawing at my skin and leaving me shivering.

With a soft sigh, I glance over at Rafe, who's busy making himself comfortable in the front seat. A sudden impulse grips me, and I find myself reaching out to him, my voice small against the backdrop of the night.

"Rafe," I call softly, my breath misting in the chilly air. "It's so cold back here. Do you think... maybe you could come back and... keep me warm?"

There's a moment of hesitation, a flicker of uncertainty in Rafe's eyes, before he nods, understanding dawning on his features. Without a word, he unbuckles his seatbelt and slips into the backseat beside me, his warmth a welcome contrast to the icy air.

As he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close against his chest, I feel a rush of comfort wash over me. The cold seems to melt away in the embrace of his arms, replaced by a sense of safety and security that's all too rare in these uncertain times.

“Rafe?” as I whisper his name, his gaze meets mine with a tender intensity, his eyes reflecting the depth of emotion that mirrors my own “Yeah?” With a steady breath, I voice the words that have been lingering in my heart, knowing that in this moment, amidst the turmoil, there's no room for doubt.

“I love you too!”

With a gentle touch, Rafe tilts my chin upward, closing the distance between us until our lips meet in a tender kiss. Time seems to stand still as we melt into each-other, the world fading away until there's only the warmth of his lips against mine, the rhythm of our breaths intertwining in a silent symphony of love.

In that fleeting moment, every worry, every fear is forgotten, replaced by the overwhelming certainty that in each other's arms, we've found our sanctuary.

As we pull away, breathless and hearts racing, the echo of our kiss lingers in the air, a promise of the love that binds us together, as we hold each other close, lost in the embrace of our love, I'm reminded that no matter what challenges lie ahead, as long as we face them together, we'll emerge stronger, united by the unshakeable power of our love.

🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️🚘🚔❤️‍🔥🏃‍♀️