#genuinely. head spinning. nauseous. good lord

[jonny-b-meowborn]

she monkey on my man til I stab a guy holding the knife in my teeth

[whatifxwereyou]

The Oncoming Storm Part 2: Fire

Fandom: Mortal Kombat 2021

Liu Kang x Reader or Kung Lao x Reader

Summary: You wake up somewhere strange *again*. This time your underground and greeted by Liu Kang. For some reason you trust him, but why?

A/N: Have I mentioned I’m a huge fan of the slow burn? Whoops. I’ll let you guys know when the paths are branching between Lao/Liu. Thanks for reading and hope you keep enjoying! Also, thanks for coming to my TED talk.

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Warm flames flickered off brown-gray stone walls. Other than the burning flame to your right, the room was small and dark. There was no door and you could hear movement somewhere beyond its opening. I’m underground, you thought. The air smelled musty and it was so dry that your nose burned. Underground and maybe in the desert. You closed your eyes again quickly.

In your mind’s eye you pictured the small purple flower Kung Lao had given you in your youth. Frail and rare. Many flowers had grown in your hometown but purple had been a new and exotic color. You’d always been fond of it afterward. You’d never gotten the chance to tell Kung Lao that. For a time you had kept it pressed between the pages of your favorite book as a memorial to the boy who had been your best friend. You hadn’t thought about the flower in years. You’d be lying if you said you hadn’t thought about him.

The details of what happened were fuzzy. You remembered the fight in your shop and remembered waking up to the face of Kung Lao. It was still insane to think that the boy you’d thought dead was, in fact, alive and in good health. It was even crazier to think that he’d been the one to save you from the fire in your shop.

You shook away the memory lest it return you to the darkness of unconsciousness.

You were, again, in an unfamiliar bed but things were vastly different. You’d been cared for and changed into a modest dressing gown, judging by the soft but coarse material. This had likely been done by a health professional. You were certain that Kung Lao must have brought you somewhere to be helped. Then again, most hospitals you knew of weren’t underground and they certainly didn’t use these types of gowns. It wasn’t a hospital gown, more like the type of gown that would have been worn for bed in ages past. Long and thin, but warm. You pictured it off-white. The one you wore had no sleeves, most likely for ease of access since you’d been injured.

You had to decide if you should panic or not. If you looked around and saw a medical professional or Kung Lao then you would remain calm. If you didn’t then panic seemed the way to go. Opening your eyes again, you were relieved that the world didn’t spin and you weren’t nauseous. But there was no doctor and definitely no Kung Lao.

There was a different man in his place, unfamiliar, shorter in stature, his gaze focused on something other than you. He was dressed mostly in black, no sleeves (which seemed the fashion of this underground wherever), and a red sash tied around his middle. His demeanor was calm and quiet and in his left hand he clutched a string of prayer beads. His skin was dusted with soot or grease, you couldn’t tell. He looked as though he had been handling charcoal for hours. He was also surprisingly muscular.

And handsome. You wouldn’t deny that you’d admired him. His brow was knit with concern and as you shifted, he turned toward you. Brown eyes met yours with genuine concern and he held a hand up defensively. “Take it slow.” His voice was soothing but this was all too familiar.

A strange bed and a stranger next to it after having fallen unconscious. He was telling you how what to do and how to feel. Again. Not a chance! On the small table next to the head of the bed there was a bowl half-filled with water and some medical tools. The tool closest to you was a hook used for stitching up wounds. It wasn’t the best weapon but it was all you could reach. You sat upright quickly, snatched the hook, and moved far enough away from the stranger that you had room to breathe and could better gauge his intent and reactions.

But you had moved too quickly and suddenly there were ten of him as the room spun. You thought you might puke if he got any closer. That would get him away from you, probably better than the needle would. Much to your surprise, he laughed with the subtlest of smiles. The smile radiated more from his eyes amidst his worry than it did outwardly. “You’re surprisingly fast for someone who has been in and out of consciousness for over a week.”

“A… a week?” You stuttered and forced your vision to focus on the blurry version of him smiling in the middle. Thankfully, your brain obeyed and the room stopped spinning. He didn’t seem to pose you any threat. You could tell just by his smile. A smile that made him all the more handsome. The time that had passed was not important so you didn’t wait for an answer to your initial question. “Who are you? Where am I? And where is Kung Lao?” Those three things were at the top of your list now that you were thinking clearly. There were a hundred other questions you had about Mortal Kombat, the dragon mark on your back, and other realms but you figured those could come later. Dealing with the here and now; that was the right way to do it.

“I am Liu Kang.” He bowed his head, holding up his prayer beads as he did. “You are in Raiden’s Temple where the Order of Light gathers to protect Earthrealm. Kung Lao is off on an errand at Lord Raiden’s behest. I assure you that he did not wish to leave you but had little other choice.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, you leaned against the cool stone behind you. Answers, finally. “I’m Y/N. Thank you for answering my questions.”

“Kung Lao mentioned you would likely be defensive.” Liu Kang gestured to the bowl on the nightstand. “I have been caring for your wounds. I do not usually tend to the sick but I promised my cousin that I would see you were cared for.”

“Cousin?”

“Kung Lao. He is my brother. Not by blood but by bond.”

That was a relief. At least this complete stranger had a connection to the other near complete stranger that you’d met the last time you’d woken up in a strange place. Wait… hadn’t you gone blind? Setting the hook back down on the side table, you patted your face in search of a mark or wound that would have caused that. There was none. Liu Kang’s eyes were sparkling in amusement.

“The last thing I remember is losing my vision.” You explained.

“Yes, about that.” Liu Kang moved the hook back to its original place. “The men who attacked your shop were vicious and cruel warriors. They were gifted but squandered their gifts to satiate their greed, a thing that can never be sated. You did the world a favor by stopping them. However, the blades that wounded you were coated in a rare poison. It is lucky that Kung Lao found you and could bring you to us for treatment. The blindness was a temporary side effect of the poison.”

“Poison?” This was wild. That morning you’d been stocking your shop and had taught a class of ten-year-olds. Now you’d been attacked, killed a few men, and had been poisoned. Wild. You supposed, in reality, it had been over a week ago and not that morning. Whatever. You decided to take the blows as they came. Deal with the problems and insanity as it happened. It was the only way to keep a clear head.

“It took many days and much prayer but we bled the poison from your wounds. Now they should begin to heal.”

“I’m still stuck on the poison part of this story. Really? Who does that?”

“You must be very resilient, Miss Y/N. Even the mightiest of warriors poisoned so terribly would submit to death. You are a fighter.”

“Thanks… I think.”

Liu Kang bowed his head again respectfully. He was easy to talk to, you weren’t sure why. You’d been careful around Kung Lao but you found yourself immediately not careful around Liu Kang. There was an instant connection to him.

“I was ill as a child. It made me more resilient to sickness, perhaps.” You had been ill but it had been the kind of illness that parents sent their children away for, the kind where they couldn’t explain how their child saw or did things beyond their understanding. It had made you terribly sick and weak. Why were you telling him this? It’d slipped out of your mouth without permission from your lips.

“I have not met many who would credit childhood illness for their resilience.”

“Perhaps I’m more stubborn than most. I’ve been told I have thick skin. The kids would tease me for being different. I was told that I would never be strong. I would never catch up. Never be normal. I didn’t like that word, not even as a kid.”

“Which one?”

“Never.”

That subtle smile again. Damn, it was attractive.

“I’m sorry.” You laughed with an apologetic bow of your own. Your head spun and you mentally cursed your politeness. “I didn’t mean to say all that. It just slipped out.”

“It’s no problem. I would like you to continue your story if you would.”

“Only if you’re certain.”

“I assure you that I’m not merely being polite.” There was something genuine about his words, as if he considered them carefully before he spoke. Perhaps Kung Lao had warned him about you. Or perhaps he was just careful. Your first instinct had been to jump at them both. It was their every right to be defensive but you couldn’t be blamed either. “How did you overcome your illness?”

“I fought. I worked harder than most did just to be on the same level as everyone else. I grew out of my sickness with age and thanks to my hard work I became stronger than most. After that I dedicated my life to teaching others to become strong, to be more than the ‘never’ we’re told we’ll be.”

“Admirable.” Liu Kang seemed as relieved as you had been upon discovering he was not there to hurt you. Maybe he’d been worried about your intent too. “It is nice to have another worthy of their marking.”

“The dragon mark?”

“Yes.”

“About that…”

“Do you know why you are here?”

“Kung Lao said something about being chosen because of the mark but I’m guessing that the mark only came to me because I killed those men. Am I right? It had to belong to one of them. It’s less like I was chosen and more like… I stole it.”

“Yes. Did Kung Lao tell you? He said you wouldn’t understand.”

“I assume that he would have told me but then I went blind. As you can imagine, I no longer cared much about the mark after that.” You laughed and so did Liu Kang. His laugh was quiet and genuine. It made you smile far more than should have been allowed. His joy was as comforting as the flickering light of the candle on the side table. “I didn’t have the mark that morning. I can only assume that was when I got it. Weirder things have happened so it was as good a guess as any.”

“Your intuition is remarkable.”

“What happens next?”

“For now you heal.” Liu Kang gestured to your arms. The gauze wrapped around your forearms was stained with blood even though the dressings looked fresh. You didn’t feel any pain. Either you’d been given good drugs to deal or adrenaline was protecting you. “You are in no condition to begin training. Lord Raiden has been told about you. I am keeping him informed on your condition.”

“So, you’re my babysitter.”

“I prefer caretaker. But yes.”

“If it’s been a week and I’m still bleeding like this then I have a feeling it could take awhile to heal. Can I learn more in the meantime? About any of this? I don’t want to just sleep and sit around doing nothing. I don’t know anything about this place and I know very little about the Order of Light. And I definitely don’t know anything about this mark or Mortal Kombat.” Liu Kang seemed surprised, but pleasantly so, as if this were something he’d greatly desired to hear.

“You really want to learn more?” He smiled brightly. You nodded. “The masters have trained me for years in matters of Mortal Kombat and the protection of Earthrealm. I would be happy to teach you if you would allow me.”

“I would be delighted to have the company, Liu Kang.” You very much meant that.

“I have some work to do around the temple but we can start this evening.”

“Perfect.”

Next Chapter >>

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #227

“it’s my party, and i’ll die when i want to.”

Where do you hang your towel to dry after showering? On the rack that's on the bathroom door. What kind of mouse pad do you have? It's just a simple black one. Do you brush your hair with a comb or a brush? A comb. If you had a choice to be a unicorn or mermaid which would it be? Probably a unicorn? Idk. I think unicorns are cooler, but I guess being a mermaid (as depicted in the media, however) would be fun. Can you do a hand stand? No. If you were the opposite sex, how would you style your hair? Fuck man emo hair is the way to go don't even try to change my mind. What movie are you embarrassed to admit you’ve watched? None, really. Would you rather spin upside down going 30 miles or drop 400 ft. into water? Well, dropping 400 ft. into water would literally result in your body exploding upon impact with the water; at that height (I'm pretty sure that's high enough, anyway), the water's surface would be like concrete at the velocity you land. Soooo, the former. I'd like to live. What's your favorite shape? "I don’t really have one. I guess the shape of women’s bodies? Like, all kinds of them? Whooooopsie gaysie!" <<<< HAHAHA YOOOOOOOOO THIS. If you were put in a room with nothing except for a pencil and paper, what would you write? Doodle meerkats or write poetry. Do you use deodorant? Does anyone who can afford it and in America not? I'm ignorant to if that's a societal standard in other places in the world. Do you think you’ve grown as a person since this time last year? I honestly don't know. If you could change one physical trait about yourself, what would it be? Can I PLEASE weigh around 120 again??? Have you ever gone out with someone you didn’t like? Well, I didn't not like him. I kinda had a crush on him in high school for a brief period, but we lost communication throughout school. When he asked me out a few years ago, I only agreed to it as a test, I guess. He was a good person, and again, I had liked him. It was a "get to know one another (again)" thing. It was still very, very unlike me, though; I usually date people only when I know I'm into them. Looking back, it really was mostly an "I don't want to hurt his feelings" thing. What are some of your morals? "I wouldn’t say I have any unique morals or things like that. I just…don’t do harm and treat people like I’d want them to treat me." <<<< Pretty much this. I don't see my morals as unordinary. Just hopefully the usual good person. Would you ever take a bullet for your significant other? I wouldn't even fucking hesitate. Do you like your smile, or are you unhappy with it? I hate it. I look high when I smile. My eyes squint too much. If you were starving on a freezing mountain, would you eat your friend? No. Some things aren't worth living after. Out of all your friends, who can you count on the most? Sara. Do people who say they’re depressed bother you? I actually don't think any other survey question I have EVER come across boils my blood like this one. Fuck no they don't. Depression isn't a goddamn choice. Rot the fuck in Hell if depressed people "bother" you. Their mental illness is far, far, far fucking more an inconvenience to the victim than to you. What do you think of hunting? By this point in my animal/wildlife conservation and welfare eruption, I'm perfectly open in calling you a goddamn asshole if you hunt for any reason other than survival. There is something seriously wrong in your head if you get fucking pleasure out of ending a life without reasonable cause. Damn man, this surveys getting me fired up, lmao. White lies aren’t dangerous; true or false? They can be. Do you pretend your crush is with you when you’re home alone? I mean, I can daydream? But I don't actually like, pretend they're present. How many times do you go behind your parents’ back weekly? Never. Do you tend to go for people older or younger than you? Older or the same age. I don't mind if they're slightly younger though, so long as they're of legal age of course. If you became a doctor, would you help your patients kill themselves? I am 110% in favor of assisted suicide when a patient is diagnosed with a terminal malady. Forcing a human being to suffer 'til their inexorable death via the hands of their illness is, to me, torture. I genuinely do think I'm a very compassionate and gentle person, so while it would be ABSOLUTELY heartbreaking and probably scarring, I actually feel I'd be a good option for a doctor euthanizing a qualified patient. Are you good at haunted houses, or do you scream your head off? I haven't been to very many at all, actually. The one I remember that I've attended a few times, I handled just fine. They're fun to me. If you’ve seen it, what did you think of the Twilight movie? I didn't watch it, so I really can't make a fair judgment, but from what I've seen and heard (so take this with a grain of salt), the acting is horrid and the romance is very poorly composed. Would you rather be called babe or darling? The latter. Does the movie Titanic make you cry? Oh Lord, yes. We (surprisingly) watched it during one of my psych hospital stays, and even some of the guys were teary-eyed. What is your favorite thing to do on your phone? Play PokemonGO when I'm in enough of an urban area to be able to lmao. Which Disney princess resembles you the most? *shrugs* Which fairytale seems closest to your life story? Rapunzel being trapped in her home, lmao. What color was your first phone? Hm... I believe it was blue? Was your first phone a flip phone? I don't believe so; it slid upwards. What is your favorite pizza parlor? I'm a basic bitch that finds Domino's to be the bomb diggity. What is an old website that closed down that you miss? Hm... I'm not sure. Well, the site itself didn't close down, the Animal Planet's Meerkat Manor forum and games are dearly missed by me. Have you ever had an embarrassing period story? If so, what happened? Not that I recall, thankfully. What was your worst experience in high school? My depression. How much did your senior prom dress cost you? I don't remember, but I know it wouldn't have been all that expensive. Did you cry at your high school graduation? I only teared up very slightly. Did you cry at your college graduation (if applicable)? N/A, but I'm sure I will out of so much pride and joy. Do your parents try to stop you from chasing your dreams? Hell no. My parents are so, so supportive Who is a former friend that you wish would come back into your life? I miss Megan so, so much. Have you ever been in a serious romantic relationship? Two. What instrument did you play in the marching band? I wasn't in the marching band, but rather the normal one. I played the flute. Who got kicked off of your favorite talent show that you were mad about? Okay, so I remember one year, there was this very quiet, shy, and darkly-styled young man with a love for metal on America's Got Talent. Everyone was expecting a screamo mess, and then he belts out FUCKING BEAUTIFUL opera. Everyone lost it, myself included, and the sweetheart started crying. Sadly, he was eliminated the next round because his nerves got to him, poor thing. Do you own the entire series on DVD of any TV show? If so, what? Meerkat Manor. What show did you always want to be on when you were a kid? None, really. Can you tell the difference between Mary-Kate and Ashley? I think I could as a kid? I haven't seen them in forever and half. Who is your favorite set of twins? *shrugs* What is the grossest thing you have ever vomited up? Idk? Have you ever thrown up in public, in front of someone else? If yes, was it embarrassing? Yes, but I was in kindergarten, so it wasn't too embarrassing. I was just surprised. Did you ever take your dog to school? Whoa... this brought back memories. I believe I did bring Teddy to school one day in elementary school... 5th grade, maybe? I can't recall what the occasion was, though. Name one person you know who had a baby in high school. I don't remember her name. Describe your dream wedding in three words. Autumnal, personal, memorable. What do you hate the most about summer? The fucking heat. What is your favorite thing to do in a swimming pool? Just swim around. Which part of your body is the most muscular? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA BOY I couldn't even GUESS. My legs are recovering from muscle atrophy, so OBVIOUSLY not them. My arms aren't impressive. Neither is my stomach at all. I honestly don't know. What was the last race you ran called? Brittany??????????????? running a?????????????????? r a c e??????????????????????????????? Which major holiday is closest to your birthday? Valentine's Day. Do you find kite flying boring? I haven't done that since I was a kid, but BOY did I LOOOOOVE it back then! I'd probably still find it kinda fun. What is your favorite musical? Musicals make me cringe. Have you ever seen a Broadway show? No. What is the best summer camp you have ever been to? Well, I remember as a kid, one of the vacation Bible schools I went to was pretty fun. It was Hawaiian-themed. Have you ever ran a cash register? Never. Ever. Fucking. Again. Do you like the feeling in your stomach on a big drop on a roller coaster? I've never been on one, but I hate even just the sensation you get when the elevator goes up or down. I immediately get dizzy and nauseous. It's so bad that I even experience this in video games if you have to jump from a large height. What is your favorite roller coaster? N/A How and when were you baptized, if applicable? Hell if I remember. Have you been baptized more than once? No. Would you rather paint or carve a pumpkin? Carve it. Have you decorated for fall yet this year? No. Do you own pumpkin earrings? No, but now I want some. That sounds so cute. Have you ever asked someone to be your Valentine? I mean, not really? I've had s/os on Valentine's Days, so being each other's is kinda just... a given. What was your favorite video game to play with your brother? My older half-bro, when he lived with us anyway, used to play this mercenary game (I don't remember the name) that I LOVED watching him play. Idk why. Really when he played anything I would sit right beside him and watch. What computer game did you used to play all the time? Amazon Trail 3 was my cocaine, hunny. Do you like the name Ellery? I guess it's kinda cute... but it reminds me of celery. Do you find cemeteries pretty? "Pretty" isn't the word I'd use, but I find them aesthetically pleasing. They're more like... mysterious, enchanting. Does your phone screen freeze a lot? Often enough... Who is the better cook in your household? My mom. What by your definition is the naughtiest thing you have done? I guess the time I was entirely naked and him just in boxers going the fuck at each other on the chaise in the living room when we were home alone one night. Or maybe when we "slept" in my sister's room one night (can't remember exactly why) and we just fooled around the entire night instead. He came on her bed multiple times, hence why I guess it fits "naughtiest." (Yes, yes, he cleaned it up, calm down.) I honestly haven't done anything too wild. What is one thing you’d never want your parents to find out? The Joel situation I've told before. Which room of your house are you in? Mine. How many blankets do you sleep under? One thick one. I miss my school lunch menu.. what’s the fave thing on yours? Okay real talk, my high school chicken sandwiches were The Good Shit. Do you like your best friend's parents? Could you even tell me their names? I love them, and I could, but it's not my business to share that online. Anything silly that annoys you? (I hate hearing nails being clipped) I really hate people going in/out the opposite door. Why are you where you are right now? I absolutely have to take a mental health day from school, so I'm home in my room. Did you used to watch Blues Clues? Of course. What's your opinion on people wearing high heels to school? I feel very sorry for your feet, aha. But I don't care if you do, go for it. What difficulty do you play on Guitar Hero? I used to play like, everything on expert, but now if I do, I can barely manage expert on most and have to do hard. Do you stutter when you get nervous? BADLY. You’re at the grocery store, what 3 fruits do you get? Strawberries, apples, grapes. If you died next week, what would be the cause of death? Sleep deprivation lmao. Love these night terrors + nightmares. What do you think about dating websites? Whatever. I definitely think there are better, safer ways, but it's not a huge deal. Just go into it with a genuine heart and mind of wanting to find love. There's nothing wrong with wanting a partner to enjoy life with. Do you wear contacts or glasses? I wear glasses. I wish I could do contacts, but noooo sir. I had them very briefly again earlier this year, but I just couldn't; all I could do was feel them there, mainly the weighted one in my left eye because my vision is so bad in it. They just bugged me too much. What is one memory you have from elementary school? Making our own butter in 4th grade came to me first. We walked through school singing this annoying song while we shook our jars. Do you own a pair of converses? A few. How many fridges are in your house? One. Are you easy to get along with? I hope so, but idk. If you were drunk would the person you like take care of you? She's over 800 miles away lmao. What kind of people are you attracted to? Platonically or romantically? Well, with either, I'm drawn to compassion, a tranquil mind, empathy, gentleness, romance if we're talking romantic attraction, a deep thinker, wisdom, creativity, uniqueness/individuality, just, funny, thoughtful, charitable, concerned with nature/love and kindness to animals, intelligence... There's a lot. Do you think you’ll be in a relationship two months from now? I don't see why I wouldn't be. Do you like it when people play with your hair? My hair's too short now for that. It'd feel weird. I used to like it, though. Do you think there is life on other planets? Probably. Do you like bubble baths? I don't enjoy baths period. Who are you most comfortable around? My mom, or Sara. Depends on the subject matter. Have any of your ex’s told you they regret breaking up? No. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with? I wouldn't. I'm strictly monogamous and to me would feel like cheating. Have you ever liked someone and never told them? Yeah. What do you say during awkward silences? Nothing, but I panic inside. What are you paranoid about? My loved ones secretly hating me or leaving me, being raped, people thinking I'm weird (and not in a good way), stuff like that. Have you done anything recently that you hope nobody finds out about? I don't think so. Been suspended/expelled? For what? No. Been arrested? For what? No. Craving something? What? Nothing. What color are your towels? They're varied. How many pillows do you sleep with? Two. Favorite animal? MEERKATS. Opossums are #2. Favorite character from Mean Girls? I don't remember the characters at all. Favorite actress? Betty White. Favorite actor? BITCH Markiplier, lmao. But okay if you mean a "real" actor, probably Johnny Depp. Last time you were in an elevator? Thursday when I had to go upstairs to my Writing class. It's absolutely humiliating, but I can't make it up two flights of stairs due to my muscle atrophy without people asking if I'm okay. Even going down is dangerous for me because my legs ABSOLUTELY QUAKE and I have to go extremely slow. I go down via stairs anyway though for practice. I'm going to fall one day, I know it. I’m sure we all know what your name is… so, tell us what your boss’ name is? N/A Do you actually read your friend’s surveys, or do you just copy paste them and fill them out yourself? Yes; I love learning about my friends. When you were a kid, which comic strip was your favorite? I didn't care for them. Would you feel guilty about cheating on your taxes if you got away with it? Well yeah. Have you ever thought about getting your lip pierced? It is pierced. What woke you up this morning? A nightmare that resulted in me screaming almost the loudest I ever have in my life. My throat hurt for quite a while. What was your favorite sweet as a child? Reese's cups. Still are. Do you own a lunch box? Yeah. How many times a day do you brush your teeth? Once, oops. If there was a fire, what would you take with you? The very first thing I'd grab would be Teddy, then Roman, Venus, and then my laptop, probably. How many people have the same middle name as you? The majority of the white female population lmao. Does your house have a white picket fence? The backyard does. Have you ever needed to call the police? 911 when we thought my mom was having a heart attack. What are you best at? Writing, I guess.

[wordsablaze]

Amusing Azazel Is Alec’s Forte

Asmodeus offers Alec immortality at a sly, costly price but love makes a deadly pawn and Shadowhunters are great at loopholes... a sort of follow-up to ‘bookshelves and in-laws’ inspired by a request from @minim236, enjoy!

A/N: huge shout-out to @catastrokey, @bcnedrah and @brooklynxmagic for some ace dialogue inspiration! <3

"By the Angel!" Alec yells, his eyes wide and his hand reaching for the bow that isn't there because he never usually feels the need to protect himself when he's around Magnus.

"What's wro- oh, look who nobody dragged in but somehow ended up inside anyway." Magnus' internal shields are up in a heartbeat as his expression changes from amused to protective.

Azazel smirks at him. "I knew I could always count on you for a warm welcome, nephew dearest."

Magnus scoffs. "You can't expect any kind of welcome after you forced me to leave behind my own body, uncle dearest."

His words have never been more scalding and some part of Alec files this under 'badass things his boyfriend can do' even though he really should be focusing on the second greater demon their home has been annoyed with rather than making a note of how much he loves Magnus.

Instead of offering any kind of apology, Azazel shrugs. "I am merely the messenger this time around."

Alec frowns. "Who needs a greater demon as a messenger?"

Fighting the urge to roll his eyes at the naivety in that question, Magnus throws Alec a pointed look and gestures to the bookshelf. Realisation dawns on Alec within a millisecond and he blushes, clearly embarrassed by his deductions, or lack thereof.

"If you're the messenger, shouldn't you have a message for us?" Magnus asks, practically sensing Alec's embarrassment and wanting to divert the attention from his flushed shadowhunter.

Azazel's eye roll would win the Olympics if eye-rolling were a sport. "I have an invitation."

Both Magnus and Alec step closer to one another, Magnus still in front. Azazel takes this in and raises a single eyebrow. "It's a very innocent dinner invitation."

"Since when does Asmodeus invite shadowhunters for dinner?" Magnus asks. "Or do anything innocently, for that matter?"

"Wait, Asmodeus. As in, my father-in-law? The same father-in-law who destroyed our bookshelf? He wants to have dinner?" Alec blurts, clearly not fully awake – or just traumatised by his first meeting with the in-laws.

To his credit, Magnus barely reacts, replying, "Technically, It was the company he attracted that destroyed our bookshelf. And, darling, how many other fathers-in-law do you have?"

"Oh, Lord, save me from this-" Azazel holds up a hand- "that's the wrong kind of being to pray to, pardon me."

Magnus has never seen Alec look so utterly bewildered and out of control so he laces their hands together and turns back to Azazel with a nonchalant glare. "Either get to the point or get out, would you?"

"Touchy, are we?" Azazel retorts but then nods. "Your presence in Edom at midnight is required."

"That's not how invitations work," Alec says, finally somewhat in his senses.

"They are if you're my father," Magnus mutters and waves a hand. "You can go now."

"I will, but not because you asked me to, but because I cannot tolerate this impolite behaviour and I would much rather converse when the both of you are a little more tolerable." Instead of announcing his departure like most beings would, he vanishes on the spot, with no warning whatsoever.

"Magnus?" Alec asks as soon as he's gone. "What exactly just happened?"

"I believe it's some sort of ulterior motive in action, Alexander, but not to worry!" Magnus chirps. "As long as we ignore my father the whole time, everything should go smoothly."

"What?"

"Obviously just seeing you wasn't enough for my father, so we've been ordered to go and meet him again."

Alec's expression mirrors the disbelief in his mind when he licks his lips as if saliva can give him the strength needed to speak. Magnus waits patiently as Alec takes a deep breath before deciding on his question: "Are we meant to wear matching suits?"

"Since when did fashion become a priority to the same Shadowhunter who wears the same t-shirt for a week?"

"Since I have to make a good impression in front of the father of the warlock embodiment of fashion itself!"

Alec's panic is clearly genuine because his ability to articulate sentences is usually a little less repetitive than that, which Magnus can't help but find both endearing and hilarious.

"I'm almost insulted you assume my style is based on anything but my own creativity." Magnus plants a small kiss on Alec's nose – a gesture that never fails to make him smile – and smirks. "It's probably better for you to go looking as different to me as you can, to be honest."

There's a small smile on his face and miniature fireworks on the tip of his nose but Alec still can't even remotely calm down, the thought of willingly going to Edom making him slightly nauseous. In fact, he's still out of it until something falls around him, causing him to blink and slowly realise Magnus has gone. And left a shower of glitter going above his head.

Groaning, Alec steps to the side, only for the glitter to carry on falling around him, recycling itself to back above his head just before it hits the floor.

"Magnus!"

"Yes, sweet pea?" Magnus draws from behind him - so he has to spin fast enough to give a regular mundane whiplash - as if he'd been standing there all along. Which isn't totally out of the question, since Magnus seems to enjoy staring at Alec even though he doesn't really understand what he has that's worth the attention, but that's another matter.

"Cut it out!" Alec whines.

"Cut what out? Honestly, you'd think a Shadowhunter would know to be more concise..."

"Magnus, I will break up with you."

"Will you really?" Magnus' eyes have ever looked so sly.

No.

"You doubt me?" If anybody could see his smirk, they wouldn't recognise him.

"Yes. Yes, Alexander, I do."

"Already? But you haven't even proposed."

Alec's heart is in his throat because did he really just say that without thinking? He might not know how to control his oral filter but he does know how to go along with things so he can easily fold his arms and raise an eyebrow as if he isn't totally freaking out on the inside.

Magnus laughs and snaps his fingers, the glitter vanishing as quickly as it had started to rain, making Alec grin smugly. He manages to retain said smugness right up until Magnus creates the portal for them to go to Edom, at which point his confidence fizzles.

"Magnus, I can't do this."

"And the head of the New York Institute can't be in a relationship with the High Warlock of Brooklyn but here we are, mm?"

Alec breathes, taking Magnus' outstretched hand and stepping through the portal. After recovering from nausea that might be from nerves and might be transportation side effects, he nods to Magnus, the two of them starting to walk. They don't really have to go far, just a little distance where, despite the barren landscape, a rather lavish house stands. Well, it's more like one large room, as Alec discovers once they walk through the doors.

"Magnus!" Asmodeus booms instantly, smiling wolfishly.

"Father."

Alec's tongue refuses to work so he just nods, hoping he's not being impolite. How is he meant to know what kind of standards a prince of Hell has anyway?

"Oh, sit down already," Azazel mutters, rolling his eyes from where he's sat at a small, rectangular table.

Magnus pulls Alec to one of the longer sides, sitting so Magnus is in between Asmodeus and Alec and the two of them are opposite Azazel. Asmodeus smiles strangely as he settles at the head of the table, gesturing to the food in front of them. "Help yourselves."

Even Azazel seems a little shocked, choking on his wine.

"Alright, we're here, now what do you want?" Magnus asks.

"Why can't I just want to have a nice dinner with my son?"

Alec watches Magnus snort in amusement. "You wouldn't know how to be nice even if it was a part of your DNA so-"

"How can we help you?" Alec interrupts, trying his best not to panic.

Three sets of eyebrows lift up in surprise before Asmodeus can recover and shoot Magnus a pointed look, then turn to Alec. "I'd like a word with you."

"You wish!" Magnus scoffs, frowning, shifting closer to Alec.

As euphoric as that makes him feel, Alec knows Asmodeus won't give it up until he gets his way so he kissed Magnus' cheek and winks. "I'll be quick."

After a second, Magnus nods and squeezes Alec's hand before standing and walking out of the room, Azazel doing the same. He watches them leave, only slightly worried, eventually turning to Asmodeus with the best smile he can manage.

"I have an offer for you, Shadowhunter."

"What kind of offer?" Alec asks, both curious and dubious.

"One regarding your little argument with my son."

Argument? Alec doesn't waste time wondering how Asmodeus knows about their argument, choosing instead to wonder what Asmodeus can do about the contents of Magnus' box. He can't figure out what he's missing until…

"You mean…?"

"Magnus' immorality, yes," Asmodeus confirms, a glint in his eyes.

"You're not taking away his immortality, I already know that's too high a price to pay." Alec doesn't even think before saying that, knowing that Magnus becoming mortal now would be a disaster and a half and the last thing they want is to cause either of them more pain.

Asmodeus, however, seems unfazed. "I wasn't referring to taking away his immortality…"

Alec's eyes widen. There's no way to avoid it, the prospect of being able to spend a forever with Magnus too beautiful for him to stay professional. He can tell that's the desired effect because there's an air of victory around Asmodeus immediately.

"What's the price?" Alec asks. He might be sentimental and hopelessly in love but he's not entirely naïve.

"A favour."

"A favour?" he echoes, not believing it.

"Exactly. A small favour, just the one, in exchange for immortality." Asmodeus smiles, but this time it's scarily warm as if this really is some kind of gift and not the way to achieving an ulterior motive.

"I…"

He doesn't know.

"I need to talk to Magnus."

Asmodeus, having anticipated such a reaction, simply waves a hand as permission. Alec is out of his chair immediately, all but sprinting to Magnus and stumbling out of the door, where Magnus is waiting with an anxious look on his face.

"Magnus, he…"

"I know, Alexander, I know. And you can't. You can't, darling, it's not worth it."

"But, Magnus, it's not that bad of a price to pay."

Shaking his head, Magnus takes Alec's hands. "You don't want to owe my father a favour, especially not when he's just given you immortality."

Beside them, Azazel clears his throat. "This is awfully sentimental but I suggest you hurry up and make a decision before he changes his mind." And, with that, he's gone, walking back inside.

"He always was my most helpful uncle," Magnus mutters.

Alec exhales, both in amusement and determination. "Magnus, I have to. I don't care what I'll have to do."

"Alexander… This isn't like losing a bet to your siblings, this is Asmodeus having power over you for all of eternity. I don't want that for you."

But Alec is stubborn by nature and, worse, he's in love.

Before Magnus can say anything else, Alec has pulled them inside and is already nodding. "I accept."

Azazel chokes on his wine a second time – he might as well learn not to drink it when Alec is around – just as Asmodeus beams. "Wonderful!"

"Alexander!" Magnus looks at him with a mixture of shock and concern, primarily the latter.

Alec wakes up to Magnus' golden eyes.

"What just happened?" Alec groans, slightly alarmed by the worried rage in his boyfriend's eyes.

"Welcome to immortality," Magnus murmurs, pulling Alec into a sitting position and throwing his arms around him. Alec blinks, then hugs Magnus back, seriously confused as to what he's missed.

He then notices the newfound energy in his soul and his eyes widen as he gasps, "Magnus?"

"You can be my new box," Magnus whispers in his ear and Alec chuckles, then looks up to see Azazel grinning happily at them. He'd be concerned with the devilish look in Asmodeus' eyes but he's too wrapped up in the reality of being immortal to care about anything else right now.

Time melts into their embrace, the two of them still reeling from the turn of events but happier than they've ever been. Nothing matters, not Edom, not Lilith, not oxygen, as they relish their unprecedented happiness, Alec still dimly wondering why and when he'd passed out and why Magnus' eyes had revealed themselves, but he now has forever to ask about that.

Someone claps.

It's Asmodeus, naturally. Alec and Magnus reluctantly pull away and stand before the greater demon, matching questioning looks on their faces.

"A word, if you will?" He drawls.

Alec nods. "Of course."

He sees Azazel moving towards Magnus after he follows Asmodeus to the side of the room, where he's met with a sly look. "I have my favour to ask you."

"Of course," Alec replies without missing a beat, "I'll do whatever you need."

"Break up with Magnus."

Alec's heart, now immortal or not, stops beating for a second.

He'd done all of this, risked it all, just to be with Magnus... and Asmodeus, the one who'd helped to make it possible, is asking him to end their story before it can truly blossom? He knows he should have foreseen something like this happening, he knows Magnus had warned him, but he'd still hoped that everything could just go smoothly for once.

In and out.

His breathing is deafening as he processes the statement, trying to comprehend the gravity of his situation and unravel the consequences so he can figure out a way to get through them without breaking his heart, or worse, breaking Magnus' heart. He has to find a way, he tells himself, he has to find a way to fix this dilemma before anyone, namely Magnus, can sense its existence.

Inhale and exhale.

He bites his lower lip, ignoring Asmodeus' smouldering gaze, and lets his eyes close as he thinks it through. He knows he won't be able to cope without Magnus, he can feel the pull to Magnus in his bones, and there's no way he can live forever without the comfort of his first and only boyfriend beside him. Being with Magnus isn't a choice for him anymore, it's a way of life, so he has to figure something out before his world crumbles.

"Okay," he says eventually, opening his eyes with a strong smile.

"Okay?" Asmodeus echoes, his confident arrogance fading to shock. Genuine shock. The kind of shock you would never expect to see on a greater demon.

Alec grins. "Yeah, okay. That's fine. I'll go do it right now!"

He's aware of Asmodeus' conflicted gaze on him as he walks back to Magnus. He grabs Magnus' jacket lapels and gently smashes their lips together before pulling back with a small wink.

"Magnus, I'm breaking up with you," he says, trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible.

Magnus blinks at him, still reeling from the kiss and startled by the wink. He opens his mouth, his eyes glittering with scepticism and pain, but Alec shakes his head, not wanting to give Asmodeus the satisfaction of seeing either of them distraught.

"Right, I think that settles everything. Unless there's something else you want, Asmodeus?" Alec can't be bothered to even try and sound polite so he just smiles broadly, internally laughing at Azazel's dumbfounded expression.

"Alexander?" Magnus asks quietly, his voice full of question and trust.

When Asmodeus shakes his head, Alec turns to Magnus and waves a hand. "Care to make a portal back?"

This time, they go through separately, Magnus watching as Alec strides though and then hesitantly stepping in after him. The second the portal closes, Alec pulls Magnus into a hug, breathing deeply. Alec's guilt courses through him like wildfire as he feels how tense Magnus is but he'd had no other choice.

"Alexander?" Magnus repeats, unable to say anything else with his head whirling faster than light can travel. It takes him a few minutes but he finally works up the courage to say, "You just broke up with me."

"Your father asked me to."

"You seem... calm?" Magnus' eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"Of course I am. Now, if you'll allow me, I'd like to get back together with my ex."

"Alexander, aren't I your ex?" Magnus asks after a pregnant pause, small embers of hope lighting up in his eyes.

Alec grins. "Exactly."

Magnus laughs, his tension melting away like ice in a desert, and kisses Alec, then taking his hands and grinning. Alec grins back instantly, glad Magnus hadn't misunderstood. "So, this time around, will you be my boyfriend for as long as immortality can offer us?"

They're both laughing and they're both nodding – even though Alec has no reason to since he'd asked the question, but he's just that kind of awkward – and they're both more than a little bit giddy with excitement.

Said excitement remains undisturbed for the following three minutes, after which two greater demons appear in their kitchen. At least it's not the bookshelf this time, Alec thinks.

"What did you do?" Asmodeus growls, probably having sensed Magnus' extremely fluctuating emotions.

Magnus smiles and swings their connected hands as he says, "You really should learn to be more specific."

Azazel snorts, clearly impressed, as Asmodeus' rage turns into disbelief and back to rage again. "How dare you betray our deal?"

"I didn't. I broke up with him, just like you asked me to-" Alec clears his throat- "but you never said we couldn't get back together."

Silence reigns.

Its reign ends when Asmodeus blinks and darkly mutters something under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as if that can help him, as if anything can help him, which it can't. He looks to Azazel for help but finds none, the other greater demon laughing quietly.

"Azazel!" Asmodeus chides, "Why are you supporting this?"

Azazel shrugs. "Hoping to outwit the High Warlock of Brooklyn and the head of the New York Institute was never a reliable idea, brother."

"I only needed to outwit the stupid Shadowhunter," Asmodeus grumbles.

"Be careful who you call stupid, father," Magnus warns, his voice cold and sharp but burning with ire.

Asmodeus looks up at that, glancing over Alec once again. "And what exactly makes you so special?"

Alec grins. He wants to say something satirical or sarcastic but if Asmodeus is anything like Magnus, there's not much point. Instead, he turns to Magnus and smiles. "I'm in love with your son."

Azazel whistles. He also immediately stifles it because Asmodeus growls at him and glares at the now-reunited couple. "You might have won for now but I have time on my side and I will win this."

"Yeah, and so do we," Magnus scoffs, "so good luck with that."

Their fridge disappears as Azazel creates a portal in its place, Asmodeus marching through with irritation radiating from his form and Azazel winking at them before following, not even trying to hide his bemusement.

"Next time you break up with me for the sake of loopholes, how about giving me a little warning?"

Alec shakes his head. "Nah, that would lose the authenticity, wouldn't it?"

Magnus' jaw drops open and he stares at Alec in disbelief. It's okay, though, because Alec wipes that disbelief away when he kisses Magnus' forehead, a soft, apologetic smirk on his face, an expression that wouldn't be possible for anyone else to display.

"You're lucky I love you," Magnus murmurs but, to Alec, it's as loud as love itself, if not louder.

"I guess that means we're both lucky, right?" Alec whispers back, knowing his face is flushed and his smile is idiotically wide.

"Unfortunately for Asmodeus…" Magnus agrees, beaming.

Asmodeus may be the ruler of Edom, powerful, sly and feared by many, but nothing can defeat the love between Magnus and Alec. Their love is a force to be reckoned with, one that can withstand the strongest of attacks and the most unscrupulous of plots, constantly reinforced by their adoration and appreciation for one another. And now that they have immortality on their side, the universe doesn't stand a chance against the power they wield without even trying or the power they can unleash, almost effortlessly, within a heartbeat.

like/reblog but don’t repost, thanks!

[thegirlswewanttokiss]

Life had dealt Maggie a shit hand. With her Mexican parents, Maggie stood just about no chance of making it in some nowhere town in Nebraska. Maggie could, at the very least, pass for Italian which wasn’t much better. But the worst part was that she had stupidly confessed her love to a girl when she was fourteen and her father had quite literally thrown Maggie out with nothing more than a bag of her clothes and a demand that she never, ever come back. 

It had absolutely shattered her but she had desperately pushed past it all, determined to make a place for herself in the world. It hadn’t taken long to realize that being a teenage girl living on the streets was a very, very bad thing to be and after a terrifyingly close call with a handful of drunk men stumbling out of a bar, she had cut off all her hair and started dressing like a boy. 

It was easier this way, picking pockets and pawning stolen items. As a girl, no one would have taken her seriously. As a boy, people involved in illegal activity saw potential. She ran weapons and drugs for a while, earning herself a place to live only a year after leaving home. It was hard to keep her sex a secret when she shared a room with four other teenage boys but she managed through raw determination, a blessedly small bust, and very loose shirts. Besides, no one ever expected that she might be a girl because that was positively absurd even if Maggie didn’t grow much if at all after age fifteen. She attributed it to a year of starving on the streets and she let them poke fun at her, knowing that it was easier that way. 

Maggie, going by Sawyer, had worked her way up the ranks, taking charge whenever she saw an opening. She was ambitious enough to catch the boss’s eye and he appreciated her hard work and loyalty. Still, being a boy was… stifling. It was unpleasant, really, and when she got her own living space… she branched out. 

Being Maggie felt liberating after five years of living as Sawyer. Her hair had grown out a bit and it was a little shorter than was normal for a woman but it wasn’t too noticeable. She wasn’t a huge fan of dresses but she felt far more like herself when she went out as Maggie. She was happier like this and she found a balance between being Maggie and being Sawyer, getting the most out of both versions of herself. Maggie felt more comfortable but being Sawyer was her livelihood. 

And then there was the day that she ran into one of her associates while sneaking out of her apartment as Maggie. That had been an awkward conversation, trying desperately to find the best way to spin this. In the end, she lied about being her own sister, hoping to explain the fact that she and her supposed brother looked identical. The lie, though a little flimsy, held and suddenly Maggie mattered. Sure, she wasn’t given a job but the rest of the gang looked out for her, making sure that she was safe when walking home at night. 

The only person who noticed that Maggie and Sawyer had never been in the same place at the same time was James. He had confronted her only a few months after Maggie started showing up. Maggie had been terrified that he would turn her over, humiliating her and sentencing her to any number of horrors because she had betrayed her family with such a heinous crime. Fortunately for her, though, James was a smart man. A smart, ambitious man. And he knew that Sawyer–Maggie–was headed to the top of the food chain. So he had offered her a deal: a promise of keeping her secret and helping her lie in exchange for a place at her side when she ended up taking over. 

It had been a good move for both of them and it was only a few short years before Sawyer took control of things, first branching out into another part of National City before taking everything over completely. As promised, James was her right hand man and Maggie refused to treat him differently just because he wasn’t white even if it might bring to question the fact that Sawyer didn’t quite look white enough. 

Things got easier once she took over and being in charge meant that she could let Sawyer hang back in the shadows and she could do things as Maggie. It meant that she could grow out her hair a bit and she could be both respected and underestimated by her crew. And, best of all, it was easier to find out who wanted what from her–well, Sawyer–well in advance. It was no secret that Maggie was the one who set up Sawyer’s meetings and arranged his schedule. She was, essentially, his secretary to everyone other than James and it also let her smell cops easier. 

They always treated her like an idiot, trying to flirt their way past her defenses which was almost laughable because it was so damn obvious and also because they were barking up a very wrong tree. Maggie’s–Sawyer’s–reign was going strong, business expanding into Metropolis just a hair as she tested the waters. Nothing much yet, just a few teams moving weapons here and there, getting friendly with the locals and feeling it out. Of course, this meant that the heat had been turned up and it had taken Maggie far, far too long to find the rat. 

The kid was a genius with alarms and locks and Maggie was upset that she had to off him. He had real potential and she had to admit that she had been impressed that he’d gone for a bumbling idiot who had fallen on hard times and needed cash. At least he had blended in well and it wasn’t until someone caught him with a cop that they knew what he was. 

A hit was set up for tomorrow and Maggie, though a little frustrated that she had to lose someone so goddamn useful, didn’t give a second thought to it. It was just business, after all, and Maggie had been sixteen the first time she killed someone. Nearly twelve years later and one more body didn’t make much of a difference anymore. 

It was foolish of her to be so brave but being Maggie made her feel free and open and, though Sawyer took home women from time to time, Maggie was lonely. She craved intimacy that was more than just a dark room and unzipped pants with a certain false appendage strapped to her. It felt good, yes, but she wanted more than that. She wanted fingers or lips or tongue between her legs, giving her exactly what she really needed. 

There could be men, of course. Men who would probably be happy to give Sawyer’s sister a night of fun without demanding much in return from her. But the thought of a man touching her like that was more than enough to make her feel a little nauseous and she knew that there would never be a time that she was that desperate. No, she’d settle for never touching another woman again before sharing a bed with a man. 

But Maggie wanted to pretend, for just a moment, that she could be what she wanted to be. It wasn’t a club for this sort of thing but Maggie just wanted to flirt uselessly with some pretty girl who would giggle as if they were playing a wonderfully delightful game. And so she had gone alone–stupidly–and she’d had too much to drink and she’d worn too high heels that made being tipsy even more difficult than usual. Which was exactly why she missed the sudden and suspicious silence by the time she snuck out the backdoor of the bar. 

Maggie didn’t hear him until it was too late; Winn and several other tall, burly cops were hiding in the shadows. There was no mistaking what they wanted and Maggie felt panic bubble in her throat like cheap champagne. She was outnumbered and the only gun she had was strapped to her thigh and there was no way that she would be able to reach it on time. 

She ran as fast as she could, tripping over the uneven ground in her thin heels and she wished that she had spent her teenage years learning to be graceful in these damn things instead of chopping her hair once a month and trying to decide whether or not to stuff her pants with a sock. It didn’t take long before she stumbled, finding herself yanked backwards by a strong hand that had snatched the material of Maggie’s dress, keeping her upright as the fabric was pulled too tightly. 

“We have a message for your brother,” one of the cops said, looking disgustingly smug as he leered at her. “And you’re going to deliver it.” 

Maggie spat in his face, a technique honed as a teenager in countless spitting contests, making his lip curl in disgust. “Fuck you,” she snapped as she flailed backwards in an attempt to knock the man behind her on his ass. But his free hand grabbed her arm roughly and she let out a helpless cry of pain, barely remembering to play her part as Sawyer’s weak, feminine sister through the anger burning in her chest. 

“We’re going to bring him down,” the cop swore and Maggie could see a flicker of regret on Winn’s face, clearly feeling bad for participating in this. Maggie should have offed him sooner. The bastard deserved it for doing this. 

The first punch to the gut was a surprise, knocking the breath from her lungs and swallowing her startled cry. The cop in charge had hit her hard and she stumbled despite the tight grip on her arm. “He’s going to pay for what he’s doing to my city,” he snarled and the next hit split her lip, the backhanded slap almost worse than the first blow simply because it felt more humiliating to be struck like a disobedient wife with a drunkard for a husband. 

“Lord, come on–” Winn began, sounding genuinely upset but a sharp look cut him off immediately. Weak, Maggie thought viciously as she thrashed against the man holding her. 

Lord grabbed Maggie’s chin to keep her still, the hatred clear as day in his expression. “We’ll bring him down piece by piece,” he growled. He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her down to the ground and she hit her elbows hard on the pavement. He kicked her next, hitting her hip with a surprising amount of force. She rolled, rising onto her hands and knees, realizing that no one was going to pick her up again. She let her hair obscure her face, let her shoulders shake with false tears, hiccuping fake sobs. 

Fingers tangled roughly in her hair and her gaze was pulled up to look at Lord as he crouched next to her, looking smug as he brought his face too close and–

Maggie headbutted him so hard that she saw stars but the sharp crack of bone and the blood already pouring from Lord’s nose was wonderfully satisfying. And she was on her feet a heartbeat later, running for her life. She raced through the dark city that she knew like the back of her hand, kicking off her heels somewhere along the way. She could hear them behind her and she could hear them shouting from somewhere off to her left, clearly planning on cutting off her escape. She turned a corner and spotted one of them and immediately backtracked, trying to put as much distance between herself and the cops. Whatever they had planned for her, she didn’t want them to see it through. 

But they were ahead of her again. And to her right now. In a panic, she bolted down a dark alley, wondering if she could just… hide it out. But, with six cops looking for her in a limited area, her chances were slim to none. She pressed herself against a door, her heart racing violently in her chest as she tried to figure out her next course of action. 

@yourewearingmytshirt

[kaleidopewrites]

Secretly Sick

Summary: You hate being sick, but you also hate being fussed and waited on by others more. Bucky has his work cut out for him, trying to care for you

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Sick!Reader

Word Count: 2361

Warning: the reader being sick, brief mentions of death (comparing it to fainting) general fluff and maybe a piece or two of angst

A/N: This was requested by a lovely anon (again, thank you) and it was a really cool idea. I had a lot of fun writing this one :) 

Drop me a request, anything SebStan or Marvel based :)

You knew, as soon as you woke up, your next few days would be Hell. As you lifted your head from the pillow, your brain swam with pain, the feeling making you slightly dizzy as you groaned. Oh, how you regretted getting caught in that storm now.

Your nose remained partially blocked when you rose from the bed, making you groan before collapsing into the cold, wood-panel flooring. You could sense your body temperature rising and a headache forming.

You hated being sick, like all people. But with your strong immune system, you struggled to get sick often. So, when you did, the sickness hit you like a truck on steroids. However, with the stomach flips, dry throat, blocked nose and pounding head, this was gonna be one heck of a head cold.

And you didn’t want anyone to find out.

You hated being pampered on just as much as you hated getting sick, and clowns. And living in Stark Tower surrounded by people who continuously entertained the ideology of ‘family’ and ‘helping each other out’ meant you were in for a world of attention.

So, as the responsible adult you were, you decided you could handle this on your own.

Good Lord, you were wrong.

The beginning of the day was fine. You managed to sneak a few pills down your throat in the kitchen when no one was around, and that seemed to ease the growing headache slightly. But any mention of food and you’d feel like you were going to hurl, so you played off eating breakfast while you had the chance.

By lunchtime, more occupants of Stark Tower were seen floating around the common room area. You kept an eye on your reflection whenever you could, making sure you could keep everything you were feeling behind carefully crafted makeup and a smile.

Tony was the first to spot your lack of usual energy, but you blamed it on a lack of sleep, having a tosser of a night. He seemed to understand, and tried talking to you about getting some relaxational for next time, but you politely declined.

You wouldn’t see Peter or Wanda until the afternoon, both attending high school and college respectively. Bruce was busy helping Tony in his lab room, Clint was down visiting with Nat, Thor was in space; Vision would hang around sometimes though, floating through the walls.

The only people missing were Sam, Steve and Bucky. And how you feared when Bucky would return later today. You and the super soldier had been dating for a few months now, having clicked instantly with his surprisingly contrasting personality; charismatic and outgoing, yet shy.

And you knew, if anyone could pick out your slowly deteriorating health, it would be him. You wondered how late it would be to start putting money towards acting classes when the door to the common room opened and in strolled three tired, but happy faces.

To accommodate the nausea building in your stomach, you felt the butterflies pick up as Bucky strolled in next to his friends, a comfortable smile sitting on his face as they laughed at some joke unknown to you.

He’d changed much since you first met him. It was a victory to get him to smile, a war winning celebration to get him to laugh. He was usually shy and reserved, never speaking more than a few words to anyone, even Steve.

But as soon as you both hit it off, you knew he was changing for the better, turning back into that ‘40s Bucky’ Steve had described to you. The tension he always had knotted into his shoulders and the misery behind his eyes soon vanished well before the two of you started dating.

Bucky instantly found you curled up on the couch, still wearing your pyjamas from the morning and trying to bask in as much cool air as you could, without giving your illness away. “(Y/N),” He beamed, changing his course to walk towards you.

You smiled as you tried swallowing past the lump in your throat, ignoring the need to cough the phlegm from your lungs and sniffle your blocked nose, all growing worse by the second. “Hey,”

Bucky dipped onto the couch, sweeping you up in a chaste kiss before smiling. He reeled back, trying to press his forehead to yours but you backed away reflectively, knowing he’d feel your temperature easily.

He saw your reaction with a frown of his own, sliding down onto the couch with ease as Sam and Steve grabbed water bottles from the fridge, unwinding before they wanted to clean up. “You okay, doll?” He asked, reaching out again but you took his hand with yours.

“Fine, just having a lazy day,” You grinned as best you could, feeling the medicine you took earlier begin to wear off. You had moved all the appropriate medication to your room along with four water bottles. You were set, but you weren’t ready to hide away just yet. You needed an excuse.

“Are you sure?” Damn, you thought you were being convincing. Of course, Bucky would be tuned to seek out people with illnesses. He helped take care of pre-serum Steve when he had asthma and all those nasty stuff he had. So, of course, you had your worked cut out for you trying to convince him.

“I’m fine,” You say, smiling genuinely, holding his hand tightly in yours. “Oh really?” Bucky quirked an eyebrow. “Because your hands are awfully clammy,”

“I was sitting on them before you entered, they’re just sweaty,”

“And your skin’s looking a little pale,”

“I haven’t been outside the last few days, excuse me for lacking in vitamin D,”

“Doll--”

“Bucky, I’m fine, I swear,” You sighed, rising from the couch a little too fast. Your headache mixed with a fever left you severely dizzy and you felt like you were going to fall over, if cool hands hadn’t gripped your waist.

“Let me guess, you stood up a little too fast?” He asked, walking into your blurry line of vision. You nod, attempting to look like you weren’t about to pass out. “As a matter of fact, yes,” You add another defiant nod to the end of your sentence, before proclaiming you’ll be in your room.

While you used the excuse that you needed to catch up on work, you don’t think you could’ve handled it in that room much more. It wasn’t Bucky’s fault, or anyone’s for that matter, just the illness was growing faster than you would’ve liked and you needed a cool room and darkness.

Once you entered the confides of your room, you closed the curtains and turned on the A/C, letting the cool breeze gently waft into the room. You took another few pills for the afternoon before crawling onto the bed right under the A/C.

You curled up on top of the covers, too lazy and too sick to really do more than that. The head cold was draining your energy fast and soon you’ll barely be able to walk down the hall. Your eyelids felt heavy as you curled up in on yourself, your stomach rumbling uncomfortably.

You slept through the afternoon, waking up in random points during the day to only get whisked back into sleep again. You discovered years ago when you felt hot and nauseous that constant freezing air eased the horrible feelings. You’d shiver and feel cold, but it was better than the other option.

FRIDAY’s soft voice spoke through your room, announcing that dinner was ready. You groaned. You knew you had to make an appearance. If you didn’t, it was a sure-fire sign that something was wrong, and you couldn’t let the others know.

With a yawn to lower the lump in your throat, you rise from the bed, the action wobbling your legs and putting dots in front of your eyes. When you put a hand to your head, you felt the heat radiating off it. You weren’t sure the pills were working.

Regardless, you were determined to play it off like nothing was happening. So, with all the strength you had, you crossed the room to the door, croakily telling the AI to let everyone know you’d be down in a second.

As soon as you opened the door, you regretted every decision you made. The lights blinded you, knocking you further off balance and you had to press a hand against the wall to steady yourself. You took all of about three and a half steps before you collapsed in a heap on the ground.

The walls were reflecting an ugly yellow light as you closed your eyes, your head spinning and making you feel horrible against the cold floor. You felt like you were still falling, half aware of your fainted form in the middle of the hall.

You couldn’t move, you could barely breathe and all you could feel was your heart beating uncomfortably in your ears, the sound drowning out everything else. Your limbs felt like lead and you knew you wouldn’t make it to dinner.

For a moment, your dramatic self wondered if this was what it was like to die. Lying in a heap on the cold floor, nose both runny and blocked, a fire burning in the back of your head and between your eyes. You knew you were being melodramatic, but you were allowed, it seemed.

You felt like you had only been lying there a few seconds, but thundering footsteps and a worried, familiar voice told you, you had been there for more than five minutes.

“(Y/N)? (Y/N), can you hear me?” Hands pressed against your back, you could only let out a haphazard groan, almost a soft whimper. Bucky gently took your shoulders and rolled you onto your back.

As soon as the light attacked your eyelids, you groaned louder, managing to throw an arm over your eyes. You wanted to be left alone, to stay there for the rest of eternity until the head cold had moved on to another victim.

“Jesus, (Y/N), you look like shit,” You hoped you could retaliate with a quip of your own, but the energy never surfaced, so you remained silent. You let Bucky curl his arms under you, before lifting you into his arms.

You were instantly encompassed by his soft, beautiful scent. It didn’t ease your headache, not banish the blocked nose to the wastelands, but it did make it easier to survive both of them.

As soon as Bucky stepped into your room, you sighed, relaxing a little in the cool and the dark. Your boyfriend walked you over to the bed and sat you down on it, making you open your eyes and stare up at him.

He clearly wasn’t impressed.

“How long?” You gulped, knowing you’d been caught and you couldn’t lie now. With a caving sigh, you faced him entirely. “Just today,” You mumble, guilty for having been caught. Now you regretted not at least letting Bucky know.

“And when were you planning on telling me?” You remained silent, not really able to answer his question. Bucky sighed as he licked his lips, sitting on the edge of the bed and running his fingers through his hair.

“You passed out ten minutes ago before FRIDAY offered to say something, aware you weren’t getting up. How did it even get this bad?” He sighed, pressing his flesh hand against your forehead, feeling the heat beneath it.

“It wasn’t my intention to get sick, James,” You grumbled, the headache pinching the muscles in your forehead. “Well, aren’t you glad I’ve decided not to get mad and take care of you,” Bucky grinned. You groaned.

“Exactly why I didn’t tell anyone,” You sighed, feeling tears prick behind your eyes for no reason. “Doll…” Bucky trailed off. “I don’t like people fussing or pampering over me. I don’t like the attention.”

Bucky sighed, biting his lip. He clearly wanted to take care of you, or at least be around to make sure nothing worse happened. “How about a compromise?” He suggested and you look up at him again, listening as intently as you could.

“Take a shower and I get to give you some chicken soup. And then we’ll have a movie date, just the two of us. We’ll keep the lights and screen dim and you can fall asleep whenever you want. Deal?” You thought it over. He was secretly taking care of you, but that way, you’ll just be relaxing.

“Okay,” You mumbled. Bucky grinned before rising, helping you stand. “Need help in the shower?” He asked, leading you towards the bathroom. “Perv,” You spit with a grin before you sigh. “But yes, I’ll need help. I don’t want to fall over again.”

As promised, Bucky stood right outside the shower and helped you clean off the stress and sweat of the day. You felt far better than before and allowed him to help you dry off. You’d seen each other naked already, you had been dating a few months after all.

Soon after, Bucky disappeared to make you his promised chicken soup and when he returned, he helped you take small sips, having known you hadn’t eaten all day and didn’t desperately want to see it again so soon.

He even brought up garlic bread and buttered popcorn for, mostly himself, but for you as well to snack on if you felt hungrier later. With the lights turned completely off, he laid under covers while you stayed on top, staying under the A/C.

He turned on the TV and put the brightness down the whole way before putting on the first movie he saw. He allowed you to cuddle into his left arm before he wrapped it onto your forehead, allowing you a chance to breathe through your fever.

Sleep found you particularly easily that night, and you were more than ecstatic to have Bucky push his way into his caring boyfriend role. You may never admit it out loud to anyone, but you enjoyed allowing Bucky to take care of you.

Future illnesses didn’t seem that bad from now on, it seemed.

[dancingalone21]

Broken - Part 2 (Final)

Summary: Jensen and the reader had an amazing night...until the condom broke. Not happy with the way things went down, Jensen surprises the reader when he shows up at her house.

Pairing: Jensen x Reader

Word Count: 1,597

Part 1

~

“The shit I get myself into.” Jensen grumbles to himself, absentmindedly grabbing the brim of his hat and spinning it around.

Tired and annoyed, Jensen’s at a standstill in the ice cream isle at Whole Foods. His greenish hazel eyes have been darting back and forth, trying to decide which brand of ice cream would be best for breakfast.

Inwardly groaning, the actor snaps his eyes shut realizing just how ridiculous that sounds. A fact like that should maybe deter him from pursuing a girl like you. Something perceived as cute and quirky could easily be a red flag in disguise. With his luck, you probably entertain some sick habit like collecting human teeth in the back of your closet.

Jensen’s ridiculous train of thought is interrupted by a text from Gen, thankfully she’s an early riser. He breathes a sigh of relief once your address is in his hands. It’s quickly chased away when a shit ton of nerves overtake him.

Jensen hates how things ended late last night, he finally finds a girl that he really likes and this is what happens. He even planned on asking you out for a proper date, something better than a one night stand. Then shit hit the fan and his plans were rudely interrupted by a god damn broken condom.

After he followed your hyper ass around the house, he finally shook himself out of the whirlwind that was you. Not able to sleep, Jensen filled his time knocking back whiskey and pacing relentlessly around his home. Basically killing time until the supermarket was open the next morning.

Finally giving up on the ice cream crisis, Jensen chucks a popular brand into his cart and rolls into the next isle. He picks up a few more items for you then cluelessly wonders what to choose next.

Flowers? Candy? A stuffed animal? It’s not like Hallmark has a greeting card for this type of embarrassing situation.

I’m sorry I blew my load into you. Have a great day!

Ugh. Jensen decides to just stick with what he has and heads to your house, it’s probably the safest idea. Shit will be awkward enough, he doesn’t need to amplify the stressful tension.

Jensen stalls in your driveway at first, debating back and forth if this is the right move to make. The ice cream in his bag soon forcing his ass to march over and impatiently knock on your front door. It swings open sooner than expected making him freeze, the confused expression on your face not helping.   

“You look…good.” Jensen tilts his head as his mesmerizing eyes rake over your body. If you weren’t so perturbed right now, you’d yank his ass inside and rip his clothes off.

“Uh…sorry to disappoint you?” You reply making Jensen sheepishly shake his head.

“Well, I googled the Plan B pill and read how it usually makes women sick so…” He explains pulling a huge sigh from your lips.

“I haven’t taken it yet.”

“Oh.”

“Why are you here?”

“I don’t like how things played out last night. I should have never let you leave like that. I would’ve called but I never got your number. Gen told me how to find you.”

“Yeah I shouldn’t have freaked the way I did.” You admit nervously gnawing at your bottom lip.

“Can I come in?”

“…I guess.”

You immediately catch your reflection in the hallway mirror as you pass by and your eyes widen. Son of a bitch. You’re in bright purple pajama pants and a Disney World t-shirt that says ‘I’m Goofy. What’s your excuse?’

“Give me a minute. I’ll go change quick.” You mumble refusing to make eye contact with the god like creature behind you.

“Aw. I kinda like Goofy.” Jensen smirks holding back a chuckle, garnering an eye roll in response.

“What’s all that?” You gesture to the bag in Jensen’s grasp, ridiculously curious about what this man wants from you.

“Ginger ale, saltines, soup and ice cream. I read it makes you nauseous and I threw the ice cream in to try and win brownie points.” The charming bastard throws you a wink and then strolls right by you into the kitchen.

“Oh that’s nice of you. Thanks.” You answer carefully, nervously assessing how much of a mess your kitchen is at the moment.

“So…” Jensen sets his gaze on the Plan B box chilling on your kitchen counter before locking eyes with you.

“Don’t worry. I have like 72 hours even though it’s best to take it as soon as possible. I suppose I’m just a little paranoid. I’ve been staring at it all morning.” You admit giving the box the evil eye.

“Paranoid? About what?”

“My system is really sensitive when I take pills. It’s guaranteed that I’ll get all of the side effects that this pill has to offer. That’s how it always is.” You lightly scoff aggravated that your body betrays you.

“And I made the mistake of googling it, there’s a shit ton of horror stories of how sick women have got. But whatever, it is what it is.”

“Damn, that sucks. If I could take your place and do it for you I would, Y/N.” Jensen genuinely means that, you can hear the sincerity in his voice and it’s weirdly comforting.

“Do you have Netflix?” He loudly throws over his shoulder, on his way out of the kitchen towards the family room.

“Uh…yeah. Why?” You inquire following close behind.

“We’re gonna need something good to watch all day and night. Duh.”

“We?”

“I might be overstepping my bounds here but I’m not leaving and you won’t convince me otherwise.”

“Jensen…”

“I know we barely know each other but you didn’t get into this mess on your own, Y/N. I’m gonna stay as long as I need to. Whether it be one day or three, I’m not letting you do this alone.”

The tone of Jensen’s voice makes it clear that he wouldn’t be persuaded otherwise but of course that doesn’t stop you. The man is clearly a stubborn fucker but you’ve dealt with worse including yourself.

“That’s really sweet but not necessary, Ackles. If you’re worried that I won’t take the pill then you can watch me do it. I’m just being a wuss. I’ll take it right now.”

“It’s not that, Y/N. We both know you couldn’t handle a celebrity baby. Too many pictures.” He snickers clearly amused at your scared as hell confession.

“Shut up.” You snap back, crossing your arms over your chest trying to fight back a smile.

“For real though, I’m not worried about that. I can tell you’re a genuine person. Plus Gen wouldn’t have invited you into her life if you weren’t.”

“But…”

“I’m on hiatus so you can’t get rid of me, beautiful. I don’t know what you prefer when you’re sick, if you like company or to be left alone. You can tell me to fuck off and lock yourself in the bedroom if you want. I’ll just chill out here in case you need something.”

What a thoughtful son of bitch.

“Ok. If that’s what you wanna do. You can leave at any time.” You tell him defeatedly.

“Ok.”

“I know I won’t be able to eat for a while so I planned on ordering food once it got closer to lunch time. You hungry?”

“Yeah. What do you want? I could always make you something in the mean time.” Jensen sweetly offers already making his way towards the refrigerator.

My lord. He’s a good egg.

“Nah I’ll just have my usual bowl of ice cream.” You laugh once you see it’s already been set on the counter by Jensen who’s wearing a knowing grin.

“I’m a quick learner.” He declares proudly causing you to giggle.

“What else can I do? To make you feel better about all of this?”

“I can’t think of anything.” You shrug, attractively shoving a big spoonful of Häagen-Dazs into your mouth.

“We could always….” Jensen starts with a wiggle of eyebrows.

“Seriously?”

“Why not? We both had fun last night and you’re gonna take the pill anyways, right? So we don’t even have to worry about protection this time around.” He stupidly suggests with a devilish smirk.  

“Good idea, Ackles. Let’s shoot more sperm into my vagina. Just for fun!” You exclaim flinging a spoonful of ice cream but sadly missing the mark.

“Are you always this uptight?” He cracks up, pointing at the ice cream on the floor.

“No. This is just a weird situation, dude! Dean fucking Winchester is standing in my kitchen.” You retort with an annoyed stance.

“You’re crazy.” Jensen responds adorably quirking an eyebrow in your direction.

“I’m glad we’re both on the same page now.” You announce failing to keep a straight face. Damn it.

“I haven’t heard the word no yet…” Jensen mentions moving closer to you.

“Fine. Let’s go but we’re using a condom.” You sigh heavily as you set down your bowl of ice cream and leave the room.

“Please tone down the enthusiasm. You’re embarrassing yourself, Y/N.” Jensen scoffs then effortlessly throws you over his shoulder, pulling a surprised squeal from your lips as he heads into the bedroom.

~

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