#had a few angry tears at some bar but she never shed a tear over him because thats just not who she is

[dirt-str1der]

How do you think majima hit his ex wife ? Do you think he did it like kiryu slapped haruka , he whapped his hand over her cheek like a reflex, without even thinking. Do you think he revved up for a backhand during an argument, or maybe he grabbed her by the shoulders and straight up threw her to the ground while she was at her most vulnerable and then he walked out the door and never looked back

[oh-for-fic-sake]

They Hung Up

Masterlist

Summary: August can always fix your problems, especially when someone is ripping off his princess.

Warnings: fluff, ddlg, daddy kink

A/n: inspired by my chat with ebay this morning. Apparantly ebay will charge buyers import and customs VAT on items that aren't even being imported into the country... or going through customs. And they don't charge this at checkout they only charge it when they take the actually money. When i told the lady thats stealing your taking more then the agreed amount from my bank she hung up on me telling me to 'speak to the tax office'

Taglist: in reblogs.

"No but you cant charge import tax on something that isn't being imported.... No they cant that's illegal look I just want my money beck for the tax-what do you mean no?!... Hello? Hello?" You could have cried you were so angry and upset. You closed locked your phone screen and sniffed shaking your head in frustration.

"Princess what's wrong?" You snapped your head to your daddy, august was scowling. You could see the aggravated look as he took in your tears. Your daddy never liked you wasting them on other people. Your sweet pure tears were only meant to be shed for him! Every droplet was his to pull from you, be it tears of rapturous pleasure or shed from being spanked for being naughty.

"August? I? they hung up on me!" You hissed quickly running over to him tucking yourself into his thick frame pressing your head into his chest trying to soak in the smell of his aftershave. The spicy scent was heady and a little overbearing, you could tell why. Under the spice was the metallic twang of blood and deep sooty smell of fired bullets. You both loved and hated it, as safe as it made you feel remembering just who and what he was if frightened you, one day he could be hurt.

"Who? Sweetpea?" He purred softly needing to calm you down before he could make heads roll. His arms encircled you squeezing you tightly and he rested his chin on your head the  began swaying with you slowly.

"The support desk! They charged import tax! And nothing was imported! Daddy I was careful and-and I checked and double checked there was no warning not on check out or nothin' then they took another ten dollars on top and now my bank is angry and charging me for going over!" You said quickly panicked that he would be mad at you for spending too much again.

"Okay pumpkin slow down... Tell daddy what's going on slowly... Don't miss anything out okay angel" he said pulling you back a little to let you catch your breath. But you quivered and opened your mouth wiping at your eyes before trying to argue.

"Yeah but!?"

"Shh shh no buts take a deep breath... Now out, good girl now start from the beginning" he coaxed slowly cooing at you as you took a few breaths and calmed, settling down n his arms feeling safe and secure, even if you were still angry.

"I got that lamp with the shelves... It was fifty four dollars and ninety nine cents" you started explaining from the beginning and waited for August to nod.

"Yes I know, I remember you showing me to see if it would fit in the corner" he spoke remembering the little pull cord box lamp and three shelves, you wanted it for the internet router and house phone to sit on so you had more room for snacks on the side table.

"Well I got it and paid but then when paypal billed me they charged sixty four dollars and ninety-nine cents... I messaged them and they said it was import tax!" You cried out getting yourself all angry again, cheeks puffing out sweetly as you huffed and growled even throwing you hands up in frustration. August made to speak but you continued your tale of the mean support desk and their money thieving ways.

"I looked it up and cos its coming for inside the state I don't have to pay! So I called and they said I had to because the shop was registered outside of the USA! But its wrong! They're wrong and when I asked for my money she hung up on me! She said I have to talk to the tax office people!" August frowned that wasn't right and he knew it. It was clear you were being taken for a fool. These bastards were at it all over the place he'd seen some of it on the news, instead of tax evasion as we know it there was a new crime. Stealing tax from buyers and classing it as profit. Because its tax most people don't question it.

"And then my bank sent me this! Saying I was over my limit and in the minus! So now they are taking twenty dollars when my next allowance goes in!"  You cried quickly pulling up an email on your phone from your bank showing a notice of charges you now had on your account.

"Its not fair I didn't do nothing wrong daddy but now I'm loosing the tax and twenty dollars of my allowance!" You yelled and began sniffling again your lip wobbling. His heart melted as he watched you try so hard not to break down and cry again. You were being his big brave girl.

"Okay pumpkin i will sort this out give me the phone" he said plucking the phone from you then turned around heading to his office.

"But you cant! Its a withheld number-" you said sniffling following him one hand fisting the back of his jacket as he strode through the pent house to the secure room.

"Oh come on sweetheart don't tell me I'm going too soft and you've forgotten just who your daddy is~" he cooed opening the door and ushering you to the small teepee in the corner that had a large iPad and a few fuzzy scatter cushions .

"Go sit and watch YouTube or something okay? Let daddy fix this mess" he said pulling your headphones from the drawer and handed them to you ushering you to the small cozy spot he had made you.

You watched as he plugged your phone into his computer and made a few quick clicks before picking up his own phone and dialled a number with a smug look the  clicked his fingers at you pointing to the headphones wanting you to pop them on and stop worrying. You pouted but slipped on the large pink headset  and pretended to loom at your screen and select a video in reality you were listening to your daddy.

"Yes you wouldn't recognize it. How? Well this is a government number, you just told a young lady to inform us about taxes?" You flicked your eyes up at him grinning hearing the professional growl to his voice the 'daddy means business' tone that made you quiver with want and fear. It never meant good things, most of the time he used this tone when you were a bad girl. You only hoped the mean woman on the phone felt bad now too.

"Why yes, yes she did a miss y/n yes that's her. I would like for you to put me through to head office" you bit your lip hearing him begin his assault. No one not even the lady on the phone and her jargon would out smart your daddy!

"Pardon me I'm sorry I'm Mr Walker...I work for the tax office in her state and have decided to open an investigation about tax fraud over the issue, we have had many complaints... oh yes she informed us of everything, she was distressed over the tax miscalculation? Which has caused her to go over drawn on her account and incurred charges" he spoke firmly and turned looking to you as you giggled watching him in his huge leather spiny chair. You gasped when he frowned and pointed a finger to your iPad clearly telling you to stop being nosey and watch your videos.

"Yes I am aware of that but the shop is registered overseas, it doesn't export from overseas... so there is no international import tax due." He continued spinning around in the chair making a few notes on the large paper pad in front of him.

"Yes that's why I'm calling I've been on your website and your policies are in fact breaking the law and infringing on the rights of consumers. Do you understand? What you have done is illegal and fraudulent and I can see it isn't the first time so I would like to speak to your head of office now- thank you" you quickly looked down as August spun once more and grunted at you pointing to the door with a scowl catching you eavesdropping again.

"Poppet either watch your videos or go and have some lunch" he said covering the mouthpiece on the phone making you pout and flick your legs at him and cross your arms stubbornly. You wanted to watch!

"Decide or I will decide for you" he said raising his brows at you but you just huffed pleading with your eyes at him to let you stay and listen.

"Right lunch it is come on up! Off you pop go make a sandwich and have some juice" he said holding out his hand for the headphones.

"But I want to see you tell them off daddy!" You huffed non to impressed at being set out of the room so quickly.

"No, now do as I've asked daddy will be out in a few minuets this wont take long" you held his gaze for a few moments before you lost your nerve then stood with a pout handing him your headphones and left the room closing the door when you were told to.

It was twenty minuets alter August came put of the office and padded to the kitchen seeing you at the breakfast bar swinging on a chair whislt munching a chocolate spread sandwich a few candy wrappers on the side and packets of chips and un touched apple. He sighed giving you the stink eye but didn't say anything. You found a loop hole he said lunch and sandwich... he hadn't specified what type of lunch and sandwich.

"All sorted poppet! Your being refunded and getting compensation which will be debited into your account in forty eight hours" he said rounding the breakfast bar snatching the apple opening the cutlery drawer fishing out a knife.

"That's quick daddy... I thought they can only do it in five days?" You asked watching as he sliced the apples and began cutting the core out for you.

"Oh princess its amazing what people can do when they think the big bad tax man is on to them~" he chuckled at your face as he placed the apple on your plate. You didn't want to eat it but you would . Quickly. Because if you left it too long itd go brown and you would whine about it, get a warning and end up having to eat it anyway.

"Will you get in trouble? you pretended to be the tax man daddy" You said cautiously lifting a small apple wedge to your mouth and nibbled it.

"Me? Of course not daddy has many different identities love, and I can use them when I want love... besides we just uncovered a company that not only evades tax but it stealing it!" He grinned. If there was one thing he liked it was justice. Everyone should pay their dues. Especially someone who rigs a system to benefit themselves.

"And.. My bank charges?" You asked still unsure if he will be mad a you for over spending...Again

"All gone, daddy will cover them princess; now just how much chocolate spread is in that sandwich?" He said leaning over your plate trying to pry apart the two slices of bread.

"Err a little" you shrugged still eating your apple whist trying to smoosh your sandwich and hide the super thick chocolatey layer.

"Mm hmm there's more chocolate then bread poppet~" he hummed unimpressed but let it slide, again you'd found your loophole, the last thing he'd do is punish you for being a smart ass. It could save your life one day.

"Sorry daddy" you said whilst pulling the plates closer to yourself protectively worried he would steal our chocolate.

"Oh don't be poppet once its gone its gone its you that will miss it not me" he chuckled and spun around crossing the kitchen to make his own lunch. You grinned happily, what had been a bad day was getting better and better! You were getting your money back, compensation,  your daddy was paying your and charges and you got to keep your chocolate spread! What more could you ask for? Well there was one more thing you could ask for.

"Daddy can I have a puppy?"

[feralthoughtdump]

Love Me Harder

CW: swearing, smut, reader calls Bucky “Sergeant”, spitting, choking, restraints (with a necktie), spanking, dom!Bucky

Word Count: 2.3k

“Oh you’re really testing me, aren’t you?” 

She giggles at Bucky’s words. Her plan was working, and it was working well. 

From giving him a quick peek at her lacy black panties while getting ready, to the teasing touches, to her giving the bartender one too many flirty looks, it was all to rile him up. Get him angry, and hopefully end their dry spell. 

Well, calling it a dry spell was a bit dramatic. It was just a little over a week without Bucky fucking her. Nevertheless, she was still irritated.

It wasn’t necessarily Bucky’s fault, nor is it hers. They’ve been busy. With him going on back-to-back missions, and her having a jam-packed schedule, neither of them had the time. 

But right when they found some time to take a break, Sharon threw a party and insisted that they’d come. 

The final straw was when she had taken her panties off in the bathroom and sneakily tucked them into the pocket of Bucky’s jacket. When his fingers grazed over the lace, he saw red. If they weren’t surrounded by others, he would’ve bent her over the bar and fucked her until she forgot her name. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sergeant.” She purrs into his ear and leaves the table, heading off to talk to Sharon. 

It wasn’t until a few hours later when the crowd had dissipated and his watch read 1:03 am when the two of them decided to leave. 

She was disappointed when he said nothing, or more so, when he did nothing, as they got into the car, ready to head back to their shared Brooklyn apartment. 

She took off her makeup and showered with dissatisfaction on the tip of her tongue. Her plan was working, but it failed miserably. 

It didn’t help that his hair had begun to get long again. It hung in his face and was always so soft between her fingers. 

She loved to grab onto it when his head was between her thighs and the thought of it made her hornier than ever.

Sure, she could just touch herself and relieve the frustration between her legs, but it wasn’t the same. Plus, if Bucky found out, she would be due for the worst spanking of her life. 

She walked out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a pair of his boxers and a thin cami, ready to sleep away the ache between her thighs. 

As she crouched down to pet Tux, the little black and white cat they adopted a few months ago, Bucky’s boots crept into her vision, illuminated from the bedside light.

“Look at me, doll.” 

His tone was authoritative and demanding so she knew better than to disobey. She looked up into his blue eyes, pleasantly surprised by the anger and lust that glazed over them.

She slowly starts to get up, Tux scampering out of the bedroom door, but Bucky places a hand on her shoulder, pushing her back onto her knees. 

He’s still dressed in the party attire, only he’s shed the jacket. Her mouth waters at the sight of his button-up shirt, now untucked from his black jeans with his tie hanging loosely from the collar. 

She slowly reached up to unbutton his jeans but he catches her wrist. 

“No. Not after the shit you pulled earlier tonight.” He taps his metal fingers on her lower lip. “Open up.”

She parts her lips and lets him slide the metal onto her tongue. They never break eye contact as she sucks, swirling her tongue around the digits. 

He lets his other hand caress her face, gently stroking her cheek. 

“Good girl.” He murmurs.

She closes her eyes and whines around his fingers. 

“You’re such a needy little thing, aren’t you?” He cocks his head. “Already so desperate just from sucking my fingers.”

She nods, giving his big doe eyes. 

He pulls her fingers from her mouth and hooks his thumb over her teeth. 

“Answer me!” He commands.

“Yes!” She struggles to speak with her open mouth.

He bends down and stares daggers into her. 

Without speaking, he spits, letting it land on her tongue. 

“Don’t you dare swallow until I tell you.”

She nods her head.

He observes her with an amused smirk, watching her eyes water and her jaw tremble. After about a minute, he unhooks his thumb from her jaw. Gently, he taps his fingers against her chin, signaling her to close her mouth.

“Swallow.”

He says nothing as she obediently swallows, then latching his lips onto hers. It’s rough, slopping kissing with teeth knocking into each other and gentle bites at her lips.

When he pulls away from her, she pouts with spit-slicken, swollen lips, the only thing on her mind being Bucky and his cock. 

The hardwood floor digs into her knees and she shifts, trying to relieve the pain. 

“Do your knees hurt?” He asks, voice low and gentle.

She nods her head. 

“Yes Sergeant.” 

“I guess I should do something about that.”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. 

“Yeah, you really should.”

She’s taken by surprise at the feeling of his hand grabbing her neck, the metal squeezing at the sides. 

“You really need to fix that attitude of yours.” He growls, pulling her up to stand on wobbly feet. “You think that you can flirt with the bartender like a little slut? You think that you can tease me all night in front of Sharon and all her friends?”

“If it’s enough to make you fuck me,” She retorts with a gasp “then yeah. Yeah, I do.” 

She realizes that she should’ve just kept her mouth shut when he slams her down onto the bed, her feet bouncing on the mattress. 

His grip on her neck tightens and her eyes roll into the back of her head. A whine escapes her lips when he takes his hand away.

“Hands above your head.” He orders. When she doesn’t comply, he lands a hard slap on her thigh, making her cry out. “Now!”

She hurriedly obeys and watches with excited eyes as he loops his tie around her wrists, binding them together with a tight knot.

Her mouth stretches into a smile when Bucky shrugs off his dress shirt. She drools at the sight of his form, especially at the way his biceps flex when he pulls his undershirt over his head.

“Like what you see, doll?”

She bites her lip and nods.

“Such a shame I’m not letting you touch me. You’ve done plenty of that tonight.”

Her heart drops and a whimper slips past her lips.

All she wanted to do was get her hands on him but Bucky is denying her of that. It wasn’t fair. 

Well, in retrospect, she probably deserves it. 

So she sighs and pouts, hoping that her wide-eyed gaze would be enough to convince him to be nicer to her. 

“I’m sorry.” She apologizes. “I just- I just wanted you to fuck me.” 

Bucky wraps his hands around her ankles and pulls her down the bed. 

“Oh, doll, is that all you wanted?” He gently caresses her calf. “You just wanted me to fuck you?”

“Yes.”

“Yes…?”

“Yes Sergeant.” She whines, all gaspy and desperate. “Can you please fuck me?”

He lowers himself onto the bed, letting her legs draw over his shoulders. 

“You’ve got such good manners, doll.” He plants a wet kiss to the inside of her thigh. 

“Asking so nicely too.” He tugs her (well, his) boxers down her legs and throws them onto the floor. “But I’m not fucking you yet.”

She’s reduced to a panting mess when he eases a finger inside of her. 

Her eyes squeeze shut as she takes a deep breath, careful not to whine too loudly. It was far too late at night and she wouldn’t want to wake the neighbors. 

Bucky’s done so little to her yet the way he dominates her, the way he’s able to take control over her, it leaves her dizzy. 

“Come on, pretty girl.” He murmurs against her thighs. “Let me hear those pretty sounds.” 

She shakes her head.

“The neighbors.” she whispers “I don’t want to wake them up.”

He shoves another finger inside of her, making her yelp at the stretch.

“I don’t care if they hear you. In fact,” he curls his fingers up, hitting that spot inside of her. “I want them to hear you. Let them know you’re mine.” 

She bites her lip, still reluctant, and Bucky rolls his eyes.

He pistons his fingers in and out of her and swirls his tongue around her clit. 

Her resolve is slowly starting to chip away as she lets out a breathy moan. 

“Bucky!”

He responds with a hum, the vibrations making her clench down on his metal fingers. 

She’s close. Very, very close. 

Her chest rises and falls as she struggles to control her volume, biting down on her lip so hard, it’s close to bleeding. 

“I’m-” tears pool in her eyes. “I’m gonna-”

He swiftly pulls away from her, slipping his fingers out of her. 

“No, you aren’t.” 

She tries to sit up, but finds it difficult, given her restrained hands. She collapses back onto the bed with a frustrated groan. 

“Please!”

He takes hold of her face, squishing her cheeks together. 

“I decide when you get to cum. Now, if you don’t stop being a whiny brat, I won’t let you cum at all. Do you understand?”

She nods her head, tears spilling over her lashline. 

“Words, angel, use your words.” He chastises. 

“Yes- Yes Sergeant.” She quavers. “Yes, I understand.” 

His hold on her chin is released and she inhales a shaky breath. When she thinks he isn’t looking, too occupied with stripping off his jeans, she discreetly tries to rub her thighs together. 

She isn’t so lucky. 

As a quiet gasp leaves her lips, his belt cracks down on her thigh. Her once quiet gasp turns into a loud yelp. 

“What did I just say?” 

“I’m sorry!” She wails. “I just wanted to cum!” 

He flips her over onto her stomach and smacks her ass with the belt, leaving a bright red stripe on her flesh. 

She bites down onto the pillow and lets out a cry, the ache in her tummy growing stronger.

“No, I don’t think you do.” The leather cracks onto her skin again and she pulls at her bindings. “Because if you wanted to cum, you wouldn’t be so disobedient.” 

She buries her face in the pillow, muffling her sobs as he continues his assault on her ass, occasionally switching out the leather belt for his metal hand, worsening the sting. 

“I knew you’d like this.” She hears him murmur, swiping a finger through her dripping cunt. “My dirty little thing.” 

He chuckles at her little yelp when he pinches the burning skin. 

“You’re awfully cute, sweet angel.” He coos. “So cute, in fact, I think I’m gonna give you what you want.” 

He pulls her hips up, her upper half sliding down the mattress. 

“Are you going to fuck me?” She asks sweetly, turning her head to look at him. 

“Oh, angel,” He gently pushes her sweaty hair out of her face. “Of course. I think I’ve punished you enough.” 

She winces and pulls at her restraints as he slowly pushes his cock inside. She’s taken him before, but she never really got used to the stretch. 

When he’s fully situated inside of her, he places a strong hand on her back, keeping her still on the mattress. 

“Remember what I said, doll?” He asks. 

“You decide when I cum.” She answers. 

He pulls out halfway and slams himself back inside of her, making her wail.

“Good girl.” 

The way he’s got her positioned allows him to go deeper, each thrust hitting that spot inside of her that would send her toppling over the edge in a few minutes. Normally, this would be a good thing, but now? When she’s so close? Not really. 

She’s no longer holding back on her volume. Her pleading sobs and desperate whines ricochet throughout the room, for sure, waking up the neighbors. 

As she tightens around his cock, she looks out the window, trying to distract herself with the view of the city skyline. 

Her little distraction fails to do anything when he snaps his forward, driving his cock deep into her. 

“Fuck!” She curses through gritted teeth. “I’m close. I’m really close.”

“Hold it.” He huffs. 

“I can’t!” She protests. 

Bucky removes his hand from her back and places it on her tied wrists. 

“Yes, you can. Do you know why?”

She shakes her head, tears streaming down her face. 

“Because I said so.”

Her mouth hangs open, moaning his name and desperate pleas. 

She’s clenching tightly around him, making him curse. 

“Fuck, you’re so tight, angel.” He hangs his head, his hair ticking at her skin. “Gonna make me cum.” 

He lowers his head to her face. 

“You wanna cum? You wanna cum with me?”

She gives him an enthusiastic nod, a quiet ‘yes, please’ spilling from her lips.

“Are you going to be good?”

“Yes, Sergeant.” 

“Gonna misbehave and act out again?”

“No, Sergeant.” 

He grins at her. 

“Good. Good girl. Come on, cum for me.”

The pressure inside of her snaps and she cums with a loud cry, pleasure wracking through her body. 

She feels him release inside of her and she blissfully hums, a fucked out smile forming on her lips. 

“Fuck.” He quietly mutters, carefully undoing the tie on her wrist. 

When her hands are free, he lies down next to her and pulls her close. 

She quietly rests her head on the juncture of his neck and shoulder, nosing at his throat. 

“Thanks.” She giggles, her head all dizzy. 

“For what, doll?”

“For the sex. I really needed it.”

He brings her wrists up to his lips, gently kissing along the red marks. 

“I think we both needed it.”

He turns off the bedside lamp and places a kiss on the top of her head. 

“Come on, doll. Get some sleep. It’s late.” 

Before they drift off to sleep, she quietly speaks up.

“I love you, Bucky.” 

He gives her a kiss on the tip of her nose. 

“I love you too.”

[ravennm84]

Marinette Family Court Reveal

After the overwhelming resonse I received from Marinette Family Court Circus, how could I not write a sequel? This story focuses more on what was going on with the class and what they’re seeing on the news. There will be some salt coming, so have a glass of water on hand. Anyways, Warm-Fuzzies and please enjoy!!

The class was in a state of shock. In the span of 24 hours, there was so much joy and tragedy. Gathered at Alya’s apartment, they watched TVi news as Hawkmoth and Mayura were unmasked as Gabriel Agreste and his assistant, Nathalie. The class was in an uproar for a while, wondering if Adrien had been involved.

Lila shed tears, real ones, at the loss of her modeling job and the chance to keep Adrien as a trophy boyfriend. Now, he was useless to her. Anything to do with him would be toxic to her reputation, her only chance was to use her tears and claim that she’d had no idea that he was involved in such things. That he must have been trying to use her to get close to her mother to have international backing. Luckily, her classmates were such sheep that no one questioned what she said. They just comforted her, even ignoring the announcement of Adrien being exonerated of any charges, beyond a reasonable doubt, a few hours later.

The following day in class, Mme. Bustier came in and announced that not only had Adrien been pulled out of school for his own safety, but Marinette would not be attending for a while. “I’m afraid that she was in a terrible accident and has been put in the hospital.”

“How bad?” Alya asked, standing from her chair.

“She’s alive, but I’m afraid that her parents and grandmother were killed in a fatal car accident.”

From there, gossip flew all around the room. How bad had it been? How hurt was Marinette? Do you think the accident was Marinette’s fault?

What?

They weren’t sure who asked that question, but it brought up other things. How she’d been acting strange the past few months. The way she’d distanced herself from everyone in class. How she’d been bullying Lila when she thought no one was looking. Always calling Lila a liar even though she had no proof. It was clear to everyone that she was a troubled girl, but the idea that she’d caused the accident and killed her parents and grandmother? That didn’t seem like the girl they knew.

Still, they weren’t sure. So, no one really reached out to her in the hospital. No one called or went to visit to see if she was alright. Except Lila, she put the fear of her bully aside and went to check on her, only to call Alya crying an hour later.

“I don’t understand why she hates me so much.” Lila sobbed on Alya’s couch and the spectacled girl rubbed her friend’s back. “All I did was tell her that I was worried about her, but she yelled at me and told me to get out of the room. But I can’t blame her. I think she’s just scared.”

“Of course she’s scared, she just lost her family-”

“No, she killed her family!” Lila stressed, looking freaked out. “She admitted it to me, like she didn’t think anyone would believe me! She said she distracted her father while he was driving and caused the crash since they were starting to get wise to how she really is, and that her grandmother was just ‘collateral damage’. I didn’t think anyone could be so cruel!”

Alya was in shock. She hadn’t thought that Marinette, someone she used to think of as a friend, would ever do something like that. Especially to her own family. But… Lila had never lied to her, why would she start now? “Do the police know about this?”

Lila shook her head. “I’m not sure. But I do know that she’s talking to a lawyer, she’s probably going to get her inheritance and disappear before anyone figures out what she’s done.”

“Don’t worry, girl. I won’t let her get away with this.”

“What are you going to do?” Lila asked, her voice trembling.

“Whatever I need to do to get justice for Tom and Sabine.”

~oOo~

To say that the reaction Alya got from the Paris Police Department when told them that she had a source that Marinette had killed her family in order to collect her inheritance and disappear… it hadn’t been well received. Officer Roger came to the interrogation room personally, seeing as how she was in his daughter’s class, as Alya sat with her extremely angry parents.

“Do you want to explain why you just tried to file a false police report?” Officer Roger asked her.

“It’s not false! I have a source.”

“And who might that be?”

She hesitated at that, Lila had begged her to keep her name out of it. “I’m not really comfortable saying.” 

“Then how exactly did this source of yours, gain this information?”

Thinking it over for a moment, she decided that was okay. “It was someone that visited Marinette, she admitted to my source that she purposefully distracted her father while he was driving and caused the crash.” When Officer Roger looked even angrier, she knew that must have been right and he didn’t want to admit that he’d been wrong.

At least…

“Mlle. Cesaire, as this has been made public knowledge, allow me to tell you exactly how wrong your source is. Firstly, Tom Dupain was not driving the car, Gina Dupain was driving. As for Marinette causing the accident, that’s also untrue. Street cameras confirm that four university students ran a red light and struck their car. The driver of the other car even confessed to having been drinking and causing the accident.”

Alya was in shock. Tom hadn’t been driving and Marinette hadn’t caused the accident… that would mean…

“Hate to break it to you Mlle. Cesaire, but whoever your source is has lied to you and caused you to be charged with filing a false police report.”

All the way home, Alya’s parents were scolding her for even thinking that Marinette could do such a thing. “She has always been such a good friend to you, and don’t think we don’t know about all the times you had Marinette watch Ella and Etta while you went off on dates with Nino. I bet you never even offered to pay her for babysitting the girls, did you?” Her father snapped as he parked the car outside their apartment building.

“And what about all the dresses and handmade gifts she gave you, some for no reason at all. Did you ever even thank her for those? And still, you accuse her of killing her entire family and almost getting herself killed for money? Why would you ever believe that?”

Seeing no reason to keep it to herself anymore, she told them. She told them how Marinette seemed to change when her new friend, Lila, came to school. How she had been calling her a liar just because she was jealous about the glamorous life she lived, the celebrities she knew, and her crush on Adrien. How she kept on accusing Lila of lying and faking injuries, even to the point of hurting her when Marinette threw a napkin at her and strained her sprained wrist. And then, when Marinette had been expelled, how she had accused Lila of being behind the whole thing.

When she was finished explaining, she thought for sure that she’d convinced her parents. Then she saw the looks on their faces.

“Alya, at any point, did you ever look up any of Lila’s claims?” Her mother asked in a slow, even voice.

“Now you sound like Marinette!”

“You do not talk to your mother like that!” Her father snapped before taking a deep breath to steady himself. Even without Hawkmoth around, it was difficult for people to express themselves as they used to. “Alya, I want you to take out your phone and look up any articles that have to do with Jagged Stone and Lila Rossi.”

Realizing how upset her parents were, she did what her father told her, knowing that she would find the proof in a couple minutes and they would see that Marinette…

Her phone read 1 result found: the Ladyblog.

Confused, she looked up any connection between Lila and Bruce Wayne. She said that she was practically a member of the family and that she and Damien Wayne were…

1 result found: the Ladyblog

Her hands were beginning to shake as she did her search for Lila and Tony Stark, that had to be true! She had talked about meeting him over video chat in class and how they’d talked about…

1 result found: the Ladyblog

Search after search, it was all the same. Lila and Clara Nightingale, Lila and Prince Ali, Lila and XY, Lila and the Avengers, Lila and Ladybug: 1 result found: the Ladyblog.

“I-I don’t understand?”

“Did you, at any time, check your sources before posting them?” Her mother asked, but Alya didn’t answer. She’d thought that Lila’s word had been enough, but… “This Lila girl has been lying to you, and apparently she’s been bullying someone who you used to think was a real friend. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

And she really was. She’d turned on Marinette, accusing her of being a jealous bully that had killed her own family, all on the word of a liar. So when her parents grounded her and told her that she was to shut down the Ladyblog, she didn’t argue. The blog was so full of lies that she would never be able to use it as a credible source for work experience in the future, if she even had a future in journalism anymore.

~oOo~

The next day at school, Alya could barely lift her eyes to meet anyone around her. Her mother said that she should be ashamed, and she was. She was ashamed, mortified, depressed, and all together hating herself after spending the entire night thinking of all the cruel and terrible things she had said to and about her former friend. She wasn’t going to delude herself thinking that she and Marinette could ever be friends again, she didn’t deserve her after throwing her aside for a bunch of fake stories and glittery lies.

But there was still one thing she could do. It wouldn’t make things right but it would probably be something Marinette would have done if she could have. So Alya got to class early and connected her laptop to the overhead projector. When everyone, barring Adrien and Marinette got to class. She got down to business.

“Everyone, I’ve got something very important to tell you, it has to do with Marinette.” She could already hear the murmurs around the classroom, Lila must have messaged them the lies while she’d been at the police station. “I want to start by saying that we have been misinformed. After speaking with the police and doing a ton of research, I can say with close to 100% certainty that Marinette never bullied Lila and that Lila has been lying to us since she got here.”

Before Lila could say anything, Alya brought up her first powerpoint slide. “I did a search last night on all the connections that Lila’s told us about with Jagged Stone, Clara Nightingale, Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark, Prince Ali, and many others; and they all came up the same thing” The slide showed a screen shots of her searches, showing the only result being the Ladyblog. 

“Lila also told me the other day, how she went to visit Marinette and she confessed that she distracted her father while he was driving to cause the accident and kill her family so she could collect her inheritance.” Alya switched slides to the news article on the accident. “Yet the police report, traffic cameras, and witnesses all claim that to be false. Marinette’s grandmother was driving. The other driver admitted to running the light and causing the accident. And seeing as Marinette has never hid her dislike of Lila, it’s highly doubtful that she would even let Lila into her hospital room, let alone tell her something like that.”

The class had been staring at the slides in a state of shock until Alya finished speaking. Then all of them were whipping out their phones to do their own searches. Lila looked to be in a state of panic, unsure if she could bring anyone back to her side after showing all this evidence and everyone suddenly looking things up themselves.

“Oh, and Lila,” Alya said in a slightly sweet voice that made the italian glare. “So you know, my parents grounded me when the police charged me for filing a false police report after what you told me. They also decided to call the embassy to talk to your mother directly. I hope you at least get into as much trouble as you tried to do to Marinette.”

The girl didn’t want to stick around to find out, she was about to run out of the class but Mme. Bustier entered a second later and told everyone to take their seats. Lila tried to get herself excused multiple times, but the teacher just said “I understand that you must be upset by everything that has happened, but please know that you don’t have to leave the room to cry. This is a safe place again, and we are here for you.”

Before Lila’s 4th attempt to be excused, M. Damocles’ assistant knocked on the door and said that Lila was required in the office. The girl shot Alya an if-I-could-kill-you-now-I-would look before gathering her things and stomping out of the classroom. Alya hoped that she would never see the girl again. 

Then just before lunch, Markov came on and alerted everyone that the news was talking about Marinette. Mme. Bustier turned the projector back on and plugged Markov in. Sure enough, there was Marinette, looking much worse for wear. She was in a wheelchair with her right leg and arm in casts. They could see cuts healing on her exposed skin and she was much more pale than the last time they saw her. But what really caught the class’ attention, was what the bar read at the bottom of the screen. “Custody battle between Stark, Wayne, and Stone”.

The camera switched from Marinette to Jagged Stone. “Tom and Sabine were like family to me, some of the most rock’n’roll folks I’ve ever met. When I got the call saying that they were gone and Marinette had no one else, all I could think about was being there for the rockin’ little lady. She is the kindest, smartest, and most talented girl I’ve ever met. Whatever it takes, I’m going to do what I can to help her.”

Then the camera went to Tony Stark. “Tom Dupain and Sabine Cheng were the kind of people others should strive to be; they stood up for what was right and let you know if you were wrong. I was on the receiving end of their lectures more than once, and they’re probably one of the reasons why I put on the suit over and over again. They helped make me a better man… and now they’re gone. I can never repay them for how they helped me, the least I can do is try to give their daughter a safe environment to heal.”

Finally, the camera came to Bruce Wayne and his sons. “I know the pain of losing one's parents when you’re young, it’s not something I would wish on anyone. But I had a support system when I was young, one of those people was Gina Dupain, a wonderful woman that forced me to see that there was still good in the world. She passed that goodness and strength to Tom Dupain and was lucky enough to find a good woman like Sabine. The fact that they are gone from the world… all I could think when I heard of their passing was how dark the world would become without the three of them. But there is also so much goodness in their daughter, Marinette. If I can have the opportunity; I just hope that I can do for Marinette, what Gina did for me.”

When the camera switched again, it came to Nadja Chamack, who looked a little teary eyed. “This story has been admittedly difficult for me to remain objective, as I know… knew the family personally. I do agree with Jagged Stone, Tony Stark, and Bruce Wayne in saying that Tom, Sabine, and Gina were wonderful people and it is a great loss that they are no longer with us. TVi news will continue to follow this story as it develops. Back to you, Alec.”

Mme. Bustier’s class watched the news in total shock. They’d had no idea that Marinette knew Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne, but how could they have forgotten that she knew Jagged Stone and Nadja Chamack. Hell, Alya had even watched Manon with her more than once. 

All the things Lila had promised them, Marinette probably could have done and more. She could have introduced Kitty Section and Nino to Jagged Stone and given them an in to the music industry. Computer programming and robotics for Max, there was no one better known in the industry than Tony Stark. Business and charities, an introduction to Bruce Wayne could have done wonders for Chloe, Sabrina, and Mylene. If Alya had even asked while they were still friends, Marinette may have asked Nadja if they were offering any internships at TVi for her. And even if her former friend didn’t have any obvious contacts in sports for Kim, or art for Alix and Nathaniel; with the way her name was getting out there with her fashion designs, she’d have probably made connections within the next few years.

A look around the room told Alya that the class was thinking the same thing. If they had just listened to their friend, instead of calling her jealous. If they had looked into a single thing Lila said instead of blindly following her. If they had even just gone to visit Marinette in the hospital rather than leave her alone during the hardest time of her life… No, they had no right to ask anything of her and all of them knew it.

Later that day, just before school let out for the day, Markov alerted everyone that Marinette was leaving the courthouse and the little robot was reconnected to the projector. What they saw was Marinette giving a small smile, her lawyer looking relieved, and the three men smiling fondly at the teenage girl. When the reporters started firing questions at them they were silenced when Marinette raised her good arm and motioned for everyone to calm down before pointing to Nadja.

“Has the judge come to a decision on the subject of custody?” Nadja asked, pointing her microphone at Marinette. Only to be answered by her lawyer, the bar listed his name as M. Contere.

“Mlle. Dupain-Cheng and I have presented a proposal to the judge, it has yet to be finalized but I will say that it holds potential.”

Marinette pointed to another reporter, who had been politely raising his hand. “Mssrs. Stone, Stark, and Wayne seem to be in high spirits, does this indicate that the final decision will allow for all parties to have interactions with Mlle. Dupain-Cheng?”

M. Contere kept a straight, professional face, but everyone could see the happy crinkle at the corner of his eyes. “Although I cannot, at this time, comment on the specifics of the proposal, I will say that it is in the best interests of my client.”

Marinette chose a young girl who looked a bit overwhelmed but smiled gratefully. “This question is directed to Mssrs. Stone, Stark, and Wayne. What kind of accommodations are you planning on making if receiving custody?”

The three men shared a look before smiling at the young reporter. 

“Anything Marinette will need to heal and make a future for herself,” Bruce Wayne began.

“And probably a bunch of things she’ll say she doesn’t need, but will end up giving her anyway, since she deserves everything.” Tony Stark smiled down at her, earning a you-better-not look from Marinette, and caused a few reporters to chuckle.

“All of us here see this rockin’ little lady as family, these custody hearings will make it official. I can say with great certainty that, no matter what the judge decides, myself and these two men will do everything in our power to help her in any way we can.” Jagged said, as he placed a gentle hand on top of Marinette’s head.

M. Contere pointed at a different reporter this time, and was visibly surprised by the question. “There has been a rumor going around that Marinette purposefully caused the accident to collect her inheritance, any comment?”

The three powerful men that were standing behind Marinette became visibly upset and Marinette began to cry. Before Jagged Stone, Tony Stark, or Bruce Wayne could advance on the reporter to demand where he had heard such a claim, their lead lawyers stepped forward. The intimidating force that the three of them exuded was enough that all of the reporters took a few steps back.

“That question is a blatant falsehood that was founded by rumor, not facts,” stated the Stone lawyer in a cold voice as he stared down the reporter who asked the question.

The Wayne lawyer continued, speaking clearly so no one would mishear or misquote what was said. “As stated in the police report and other sources, the accident was caused when a group of university students failed to yield at a red light and struck the Dupain-Chengs’ vehicle. The driver has already pleaded guilty to charges of DUI, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, and vehicular assault.” 

The camera panned over to Tony Stark’s lawyer, as he finished speaking quietly to the three men before turning back to the camera. “These comments have also come to the attention of the Paris Police Department, as someone attempted to file a false police report on the matter. After a brief discussion with Mssrs. Stone, Wayne, and Stark, they have agreed to work together, along with the PPD, to find the source of these rumors and see the individual brought up on charges of slander, harassment, and defamation of character; among other charges.”

“No more questions,” M. Contere said as he and the other lawyers escorted their clients away from the courthouse. The reporters tried to ask more questions, but were met with icy looks and ‘no comment”.

Alya couldn’t help but smile at that. After school, when Officer Roger came to pick up Sabrina, she would tell him exactly who her source was. She would tell who her “source” had been and all the things she’d said about Marinette since she’d started attending school. She would show him all the recordings on her blog before it was shut down and send him video copies of Lila’s interviews as evidence. If she was lucky, Lila would also be charged for slandering Jagged Stone, Tony Stark, and Bruce Wayne; as well as Marinette.

Again, Alya knew that this wouldn’t fix her friendship with Marinette, but it was also the right thing to do. And for the first time in a long time, she was going to be on the side of good.

Taglist:

@whydoexamsexist  @geekydragonyt  @thornalchemist23

@maribat-is-lifeblood  @ironspiderstark  @miyla-lokidottir

@futursworld  @luveverything12  @dreamkitty25

@smolplantmum  @imablinkmarvelarmy  @moonlitiiminie

@chez-pezeater

[mosswillow]

Useless - Dark!Steve Rogers x Reader (part one)

Warnings: 18+ Adult content!, Werewolves, A/B/O, Possessive behavior, Dark, Non con/dub con, Forced marriage, power imbalance, general misogyny, Punishments, smut, violence .

Summary: “Trying to fight this is useless doll, we’ll always end up right back here.” You’re the bottom of the pack, an Omega, and Steve has chosen you for his mate.

A/N: This will probably be two or three parts. Likes, reblogging, comments are always welcome.  

Word count: 3.2k

Present

The forest is cold and dark. Snow drifts down, soaking your coat and chilling you to the bone but you barely notice. All you can think about is getting away. You’ve been running for so long and need a break. You look back, slowing to a brisk walk when you don’t see anything. You can’t stop moving, not until you’re at the edge of your pack's territory, not until you’re safe.

They weren’t expecting you to do it. It’s always been an option but you’ve never actually known anyone who has run. Wolves need and like pack structures, leaving doesn’t even cross most of their minds. You know a few who have mated into other packs but running is unheard of. You’re different though. You've never felt content with the structure or hierarchy. The way you’ve grown up has left you with contempt for pack life. Even still, you would have stayed despite it if it wasn’t for Steve. You don’t want to run from your friends and family, don’t want to leave the life you’ve known since birth. The decision to run was hard but you had to make it.

2 months ago.

“Y/N We need to talk to you,” Your mom tells you over the phone.

“What is it? What happened?”

“Just come over tonight for dinner ok?”

You hang up your phone worried and confused. You see your parents almost every day and already plan on having dinner with them tomorrow. Your mom didn’t sound upset, in fact she seemed excited, but you have the sinking feeling that something is very wrong.

You arrive at your parents house at six, walking in and hanging up your jacket. You always feel calm in your childhood home. It’s familiar and warm. You had the option to stay, most Omegas do, but you wanted to have a place of your own. As soon as you came of age you packed up and moved into your own home on the compound. Getting a little space, as small as it is, has helped you be content with your life.

There’s a nice smell coming from the kitchen and you kick your shoes off and make your way through the house.

“Mom, Dad, I’m here.”

You walk into the kitchen and see him there with them. Steve Rogers.

“Oh, hi Steve. I didn’t know you would be here too.” Your stomach drops.

“Why don’t we sit down.” Your mom says cheerfully.

You sit across from Steve and start eating. It’s a complicated meal that you know took some time to make. You know why this is happening, why Steve is here and why your parents put in extra effort into this dinner. You act like you don’t know though. Maybe if you act dumb he won’t say what you know he’s about to say.

“Steve has some good news.” you father says, looking at you wearily.

“Oh?”

“I made second Alpha.” Steve says.

“Congratulations,” you deadpan. Your tone doesn’t go unnoticed and your parents both shift uncomfortably in their seats.

“Now that it’s official I can finally find a mate.”

“I’m sure you’ll find someone great.”

Everyone stares at you but you act oblivious.

“Y/N It’s you. I pick you.”

You set your fork down, finally dropping the act.You’ve always known Steve has a thing for you. You’ve heard through Alpha friends that Steve has asked more than one Alpha to stay away from you. You’ve made it clear that you aren’t interested in him but it obviously hasn’t dissuaded him. It’s not that you’re not attracted to him or think he’s a bad guy, you just don’t feel ready for any sort of relationship yet. You know that for an Omega getting mated means giving up your autonomy. Alphas don’t take things slowly once they start relationships so you’ve been careful around them not to start anything. Maybe you’ll want to be mated and have pups one day but not yet.

“No thank you.”

“Y/N! I’m sorry Alpha, we thought she was over this.” Your father says.

Steve sets his fork down and leans back in his chair.

“I’m not asking, I'm telling. As a pack leader it’s my right to choose a mate. It’s always been you.”

He’s right, His new standing gives him the right to choose a mate. He can pick you if he wants and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it.

“When?”

“Three months.”

You stand and walk away pulling your shoes on quickly and slamming the front door on your way out. Your parents yell and Steve follows behind you, grabbing your forgotten jacket.

“Y/N stop!”

You whip around and glare at him.

“Find a different wolf to mate Steve.”

“No, you’re the one I want.” he crosses his arms and glares right back at you.

“You’re really going to force me to be your mate? You don’t see how fucked up this is?”

“This shouldn’t be a surprise doll, I’ve always made my intentions with you clear.”

“And I’ve made it clear that I’m not interested.”

He lifts his hand to your face wiping away a tear you hadn’t realized you'd shed.

“I don’t get it, why me? You could be with any wolf you want. You could find an Alpha or Beta and be in a power couple or If you wanted someone to do the whole Alpha Omega dynamic thing there are plenty willing Omegas out there.”

Steve bites his bottom lip and grabs you, forcing you into a hug.

“When we were in highschool before I hit my growth spurt and presented as an Alpha everyone thought I would be an Omega, do you remember that?”

“Yes.”

You don’t like thinking about that time in your life. Everyone thought you were going to be an Alpha, including you. You were a confident pup, raised to be a leader. Everything changed when you presented as an Omega and not for the better.

“You were the only one that didn’t bully me back then.”

You pull out of his arms.

“Wait, I was nice to you in highschool so you’re returning the favor by forcing me into a mating bond? What the fuck Steve.”

“It’s not about you, it’s about me. I’ve worked hard for my position in the pack and you’re my reward.”

“I’m not a reward, I'm a person.”

“You’re an Omega.”

“Stay away from me,” you yell. In a moment of pure anger you try, dramatically, to push him over but end up panting against his unmoving body.

You start to shake slightly and Steve holds your jacket open for you.

“Put it on, you’re cold.”

You are cold, but you’re also angry and stubborn. You stare at Steve and clench your jaw. He immediately reacts to the challenge, his body towering over you in a show of dominance. You try to fight against your instincts but they tell you to stand down. He’s your Alpha, even if you weren’t an Omega you would still feel the push to submit to a stronger wolf. You start to waver and finally lower your head. Steve holds the jacket out for you again and this time you put your arms through and zip it up. Steve puts his hand under your chin, gently lifting it until you’re staring at him.

“Trying to fight this is useless doll, we’ll always end up right back here.”

Your body relaxes in defeat and you don’t struggle as Steve puts his arm around you and walks you back to your home. He gives you a kiss on the cheek and waits until you’re inside with the door locked to leave.

Present.

Everyone has the right to run, even Omegas. One chance to make it outside the pack's territory. The rules are that you have to start in the compound, leave after midnight and make it out before sunrise. You can’t use a car or get help from anyone. If you aren’t caught they have to let you go. You will be considered a rogue wolf. You’ll have to find another pack or live like the humans. That’s if you make it out. If you’re caught you will either bare your neck and take any punishment that your Alpha deems necessary or fight one of the pack Alphas, which you know would end up being Steve.

You start running again. You focus on reaching the quickly approaching edge of your pack's territory, ignoring the fact that you can no longer feel your paws due to the snow covered ground. Every step gives you hope. You didn’t tell a soul you were even thinking about leaving but that doesn’t mean nobody noticed. You know Steve has wolves watching you and that’s in addition to the wolves that patrol the woods.

You stop in your tracks when you hear a branch snap. You know they’re here before seeing the group of wolves appear in front of you. They slowly stalk towards you working together to push you away from the border line. You growl and run as fast as you can, trying to get around them. You can see the finish line, you’re so close. You’re tired though and they surround you easily, leaving no way to escape.

1.5 months ago.

You order a drink from the bartender and take a sip. The liquid burns down your throat and your mind feels a little more fuzzy. You come here often with friends. It’s one of the few businesses in town that are completely hidden from the human world, disguised behind a washateria. Wolves from neighboring packs gather here as well as the occasional rogue wolf. It’s generally a good time and tonight is no different.

“He’s here. I told you he’d come.” Wanda says nervously.

You look over to see Steve. His eyes are on you and he’s not even trying to mask his anger a little. Everyone in the bar knows why he’s here, you’re sure at least a few wolves texted him. Even the wolves from other packs shy away from Steve as he takes long strides towards you.

“You’re going to be in so much trouble Y/N.” Natasha says, shaking her head.

“What can I say, I love pissing him off.” you down the rest of your drink, knowing that you probably won't get to stay here much longer.

Steve smiles as he reaches you.

“Y/N.”

You hold your middle finger up toward him and every wolf in the bar goes silent at the display of disrespect. Anyone in the pack would be punished for an action like that and you know exactly what will happen next but don’t care.

Steve acts quickly grabbing the back of your neck and pushing you against the bar.

“Want to try that again?”

He lets you go and motions with his head to the floor. You kneel and look down.

“I’m sorry for my disrespect Alpha.” you say.

Steve crouches in front of you.

“Who is your superior, Omega?”

“You are Alpha.”

“And who do you belong to?”

“You.”

“Stay.”

Steve leaves you kneeling on the floor and orders a drink. He ignores you for a full twenty minutes before reaching down and pulling you up.

“I think you should be getting home now, I’ll drive you.”

You look at your shocked friends and flash a smile before following Steve out of the bar.

Steve takes your hand and pulls you to the alleyway, pushing you against the wall.

“You want to explain yourself?”

“I already apologised.”

Steve pulls his phone out and shows you a video of yourself at the bar twerking while wolves from neighboring packs watch. One walks up to you and flirts and you touch his arm flirting back. You’ve never really been one to show off like that but you’ll do anything if you know it will make Steve angry. You giggle at the sight and Steve growls.

“This looks bad on me, like I can’t control my Omega.”

“You’re welcome to choose a more obedient Omega, one you can control easier.”

“Ah, I see what you’re doing, it’s clever.”

Steve swipes his thumb over your lips.

“You think you can play games with me…”

He pushes his thumb into your mouth slowly.

“but you forget…”

Steve pulls his hand back and places it over your throat.

“Alphas are really good at games...”

He leans in and nibbles on your ear.

“And we always win,” he whispers

Steve lets you go and steps back, holding out his hand for you to take.

“Come.”

Present

Steve shifts into his human form and takes a few steps toward you.

“It’s over Y/N.”

You growl at him and move into a protective stance.

“I know it’s your right but I don’t want to fight you, if you just submit we can end this little rebellion now and go home.”

You stand your ground unwilling to go down without a fight. You know that the fight will leave you more physically hurt than if you submitted and took the punishment but you have to try. If you beat Steve they’ll let you go. You can’t live your life wondering what would have happened even if the chances of you winning are slim. Maybe he’ll get hit by lightning, you never know.

Steve sighs. “I guess we’re doing this.”

One month ago

You fill a cup of coffee and hand it to a customer. You’ve been working at a coffee shop in town since you were a teen and love it. You wipe down the espresso machine and check your watch. Only a few minutes until your shift ends. You hear the jingle of bells that mean a new customer is here and your heart drops as Steve walks in. He walks to the counter and smiles at you.

“Can I get a mocha?”

You roll your eyes and make him his coffee. Steve's face hardens at your attitude and you smirk knowing he can’t do anything here, in a shop where humans visit. You hand him his drink and head to the back to clock out.

“What do you want?” you ask as you walk out of work and to your car.

Steve walks ahead of you and leans against the drivers side door. He raises an eyebrow.

“You’re on thin ice Y/N and not just with me. You’re very close to having town privileges taken away.”

“Why?”

“Why do you think?”

“If I was an Alpha nobody would care about my - ” you pause “ - rebellious spirit.”

Steve sets his coffee on top of your car and grabs your wrists in one hand and holds them against himself.

“If you can pull even one hand out of my grip I won’t force you to mate me.”

You know what he’s doing but you pull against him anyways trying to get your arms free. it’s no use. He doesn’t even seem like he’s trying and you give up after only a few minutes. He finally lets your arms go and flips you so your back is against the car. He puts his arms on either side of you and leans in slightly.

“The hierarchy is here for a reason, the sooner you accept it the sooner you can be happy.”

You reach up and grab his hot coffee from behind you throwing it in his face. You immediately regret the decision as he slams his body against you. He grabs your arm so hard you cry out in pain. A car full of  humans parks next to you and Steve let's go.

“Hey, Are you ok ma'am?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” You smile.

When they leave Steve opens your car door and pushes you in.

“Go home.”

You

Present

Steve shifts back to his wolf and sits down several feet away from you. You lunge for him, getting a bite in and he throws you off. You hit a nearby tree and lie on the ground for a minute before standing and lunging again. He bites you and slams you down and again you stand swaying a bit. You keep going over and over attacking and being thrown against the ground or trees. The Alpha and Beta wolves that have been watching start whimpering at the sight. Several shift into humans to beg you to stop. Steve paces between rounds and you can tell he’s extremely upset with the whole ordeal. Eventually you’re so bruised and battered you have no choice but to bare your neck and submit.

Three weeks ago

You run around your home getting ready for tonight. You’re usually excited for parties. You like when the whole pack gets together. That was before though. You haven't seen Steve since the incident at work and the lack of communication makes you nervous.

You take a deep breath before opening your door. Steve is waiting for you on your porch and looks you up and down before pushing you inside.

“What?”

“Sit.”

You roll your eyes and sit on the couch crossing your arms and Steve stands in front of you.

“Your behavior has gotten out of control.”

You bite your tongue in an attempt to stop yourself from saying something you’ll regret.

“We’re taking away your town privileges.”

“What about work?”

“I was going to have you quit after we mate anyway.”

You bury your emotions knowing that acting out in any way will just make everything worse.

“Let’s just go,” you finally say.

Steve puts his arms around you as you walk to the party. Nothing you’ve tried has worked to dissuade him from claiming you. The crazy part is that you don’t even hate him. Your heart flutters when he’s near. You disgusted with yourself for loving the attention. If he had waited you probably would have accepted his advances. He forced you though. Everyone thinks you’re being ridiculous and sometimes you agree but you just can’t bring yourself to give up. You know what you have to do now, what your only choice is if you want freedom. You have to run.

Present

You shiver in the snow, barely conscious. Steve wraps a blanket around you and lifts you into his arms.

“What am I going to do with you? My strong little Omega.” His voice cracks. It’s the first time you’ve heard actual emotion in it.

You drift in and out of consciousness as he carries you to a nearby car parked off road. He drives you back to the compound. The entire pack is silently waiting for you. Your mom cries when she sees your body and your dad won’t even look at you. Steve doesn’t carry you to your home like you expect and instead brings you to his. He lies you in his bed and covers you with several warm blankets before leaving you to sleep.

You failed.

Steve was right, you’ll always end up right back here.

PART TWO

[fanmoose12]

catch me if you can

Сharacters: Hange Zoe, Levi, Erwin Smith, Kenny Ackerman

Genres: Mystery / Romance

Summary: The Ackerman duo. Just the mention of this name filled Hange with so many feelings. Mostly, when she reread the files of their cases over and over, until her eyes watered, she felt pricking annoyance. Sometimes, when she stared at the dead bodies of those scarce unfortunates who stumbled upon their crimes, she was filled with hatred and a pushing need for revenge. Hange couldn’t deny, however, there were times when she marveled at the impudence of their crimes. And, when she was investigating the Ackerman’s cases and saw just how meticulously planned they all were, she couldn’t help but feel something close to fascination.No one knew who they were. No one had seen their faces, no one knew their true names. Almost everyone knew of their crimes.Hange was determined to unravel every last one of their secrets. She will put an end to their crimes and then she will get the elusive Ackermans behind bars.

Chapter 8/?

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Hange hated it.

She hated it all – the today’s cold early morning, the yesterday’s long, sleepless night, the shitty, overpriced coffee from the airport cafe. She hated the weather that was too cold not to wear a coat and a scarf, but now made her sweat in all the layers of clothing. She hated the uncomfortable chair she was sitting at, hated waiting for so long just to see the needed flight appear on screen. She hated her new case and the sense of urgency it brought along. She hated that she had to work with him to find that missing young girl.

And more than all of that, she hated that sleazy bastard, that Ackerman.

She hated that morning in the hospital, when she found a note and recognized that it was written by the same hand that used to mock her every failure. Everything clicked right there and then, and Hange hated that she felt sad about it. Not angry, not betrayed, but sad. She was hurt, she was miserable, so much so that she actually shed a few tears, feeling like she lost someone she never actually had.

She should have known better, should have not let that happen. She shouldn’t have trusted him, not after just a couple of dates, after a few silly jokes and endearing gestures. But Ackerman, that damned thief, managed to sneak through all of her defenses, he made her think that there was something there, some connection between them. Perhaps, even something special.

Then everything turned out to be a lie, and it left her broken, wondering what she did wrong, when did she become so naive. She threw herself into her work, finding a short respite in it. For long two months that seemed more like a few days, she almost felt at piece, almost managed to convince herself – and everyone else – that she ceased thinking about Ackermans, their case and the man who might or might not even be called Levi. And now she had to work with him.

Hange hated her job sometimes.

She also hated her heart most of the time, especially right now, when it squeezed painfully at the sight of Ackerman’s dark, sullen and so unfairly handsome face.

Despite the large crowd and long corridor that separated them, their eyes still met each other.

Her treacherous heart skipped another beat.

Hange gripped the paper coffee cup as tight as it allowed, forcing herself to school her expression in something more appropriate – cold, detached. Not so heartbroken.

At least, Ackerman had the decency to look ashamed. He lowered his gaze as soon as he saw her, and it gave Hange the time to look over his entire form.

He changed. Ever so slightly, but still noticeable enough for Hange’s keen eyes.

He was more tanned now, not nearly as sickly pale as he was before. The circles under his eyes didn’t disappear though, and so didn’t his stiff posture. There was another change, however - a small cut on his left cheek. It sparked a quick flash of anger for the person responsible. Hange hated herself for that, too.

She shouldn’t care about that, shouldn’t wonder about the person who hurt Levi, shouldn’t wish to hurt them back. These feelings, they irritated Hange. Unfortunately, she couldn’t make them disappear.

“It’s just you here?” Ackerman approached her slowly, his hand gripping the strap of his travelling bag just as tightly as Hange held her coffee cup. She stood up too, straightening to her full height. Ackerman stopped, just a few steps away from her. “I thought you would bring the entire police department to arrest me.”

Hange scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You’re not that important.”

And there was also that tiny little thing about her not actually having the power to arrest him. Technically, the Ackermans’ case was closed. Technically, Hange had no definitive piece of evidence that she could have used to lock him up.

Technically, Ackerman wasn’t even supposed to be here. And neither was she.

Back at the precinct, no one actually knew about that venture of hers. And they wouldn’t find out about it, not if Hange did everything right.

There were lots of reasons why Hange had to keep Ackerman’s involvement a secret. There was this thing about him being a notorious criminal who escaped justice, but more importantly, there was this little thing about her going on a date with the said criminal. Hange knew that Erwin knew about Levi and his true identity, he never told her that specifically, but when Hange demanded to take her off Ackerman’s case, he didn’t even bat an eye. He also didn’t ask a single question. The absence of his reaction made her wonder just how much he actually knew, and for how long he had that knowledge. Had he known since the beginning? Had he kept quiet just to see where it would lead? And whether she would realize the truth or not?

Hange didn’t have the guts to ask Erwin about that directly, didn’t wish to open that can of worms right now, preferred that it would stay closed for good. They both ignored that mistake of hers, both didn’t dare to bring up Levi or her previous case. And Hange would have liked for it to stay this way forever.

But if Erwin found out that Hange made Ackerman come out of hiding, so he would help her to find the missing Krista Lenz, well… Erwin probably wouldn’t chew her head off, but he definitely would give her a strict, and extremely long verbal reprimanding.

And he would take her off the case, and that… well, Hange already had a case she failed at spectacularly, she didn’t wish for that to become a pattern.

She also wished to find Krista Lenz and save her from whatever peril she found herself in. Hange didn’t know her, had only seen the photos, but that bright smile and those kind blue eyes kept pushing her forward, gave her a reason to not just solve the case, but bring that girl home.

And if she had to work with the damned Ackerman to achieve it, so be it.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” she promptly turned away from him, starting a brisk pace and heading to the exit of the airport. She hoped the Ackerman would follow. He did, surprisingly obedient. “Let’s eat before we start.”

***

The diner was nice.

Small but cozy, the interior was made up entirely of combination of blue and white. The tables were clean and adorned with neat, soft tablecloth, the booth he was sitting at was spacious and comfortable, the food was delicious and tea was made just as he liked it, even the music didn’t bother him, a pleasant, quiet melody was playing, adding to the atmosphere.

The diner was nice. His company, however, was not. Levi never thought that someone could eat breakfast so angrily. But every time his and Hange’s gazes met, he was quick to look away, her icy cold stare practically boring into his soul.

Thankfully, while Hange was busy devouring her omelet, she didn’t glance at him even once. She had mentioned that she was starving, and, knowing her work etiquette and seeing that her cheekbones became slightly more pronounced, Levi was inclined to think that her backhanded remark wasn’t just a figure of speech.

Watching her eat made Levi wonder what would happen if he ordered her a desert. Would Hange punch him or simply annihilate him with her glare?

Honestly, Levi was surprised she hadn’t punched him the moment she had seen him in the airport. He was also immensely surprised that he was having breakfast in a diner and not on his way to the prison.

During the phone call, Hange said that she wasn’t going to arrest him, but still, he would have liked to ask more about it. However, breaching that subject with Hange looking so furious didn’t seem like a great idea. He was walking on a thin ice as it was.

But even so, the tense silence was swiftly becoming unbearable, and Levi raked his brain for a topic of conversation, something safe and unassuming, the kind of talk that wouldn’t earn him a kick to his face.

“So how did you find me?”

Not the best way to start, Levi realized that as soon as the question tumbled out of his mouth. He cringed, thinking if he should just take his words back. But it was already too late.

Hange put the fork down and looked at him. With her eyebrows furrowed like that, she looked too much like her Captain, that annoying Erwin Smith. She wasn’t nearly as annoying, though. And, in Levi’s humble opinion, she was much handsomer than her mentor.

“It wasn’t that hard,” Hange said, as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. Some gravy remained at the side of her lips, but Levi wasn’t sure if he should point that out. He would have liked to wipe it out himself, he remembered doing exactly that during one of their dates, which felt like it had happened a lifetime ago. He would have liked to repeat that simple gesture. Then again, Hange probably wouldn’t have liked if he did that. “I guessed that you left the city on the night when…” something in her expression shifted, her face became less guarded. But Hange blinked and it was gone, the same stone mask returning. She cleared her throat and continued, “when we spoke for the last time. Since I knew when you left, it was only a matter of looking at the camera recording from the airport and finding which flight you took. Then I requested some security viewings from the city you were hiding at, and… here you are.”

Hange made it sound so simple, Levi almost believed that it actually was. Her exhausted face told another story, though. Levi could only imagine how long it took her to find him. She must be at her wit’s end, if she went through all of this just to get his help.

“What do you need me for then?”

Hange reached to her bag, opening and rummaging through it. When she was finished, she took out the case file and handed it to him.

“This is Krista Lenz, a college student who had disappeared a week ago,” Levi opened the case file, young blonde girl with impossibly bright eyes stared at him from the first page. “Do you recognize her?”

Levi looked at the photo for another second, just to be sure. But the girl on the photo stirred nothing in him. No vague memory, no sort of recollection. The name didn’t sound familiar, and if he had ever met the girl, it could only be in passing, as both of them, perhaps, walked beside each other on the same sidewalk. But that was the extent of it. Whoever this girl was, Levi did not know her.

He said the very thing to Hange, as he closed and pushed the case file back to her.

Hange pushed it back to him. “Well, too bad that you don’t know her. Because your uncle is the one who kidnapped her.”

Levi was very grateful for his extreme talent at keeping his face straight, because mentally his jaw was somewhere near the fucking floor. Externally, however, he didn’t let a single muscle on his face twitch.

With more self-restraint that he thought was capable of, he lifted an eyebrow, and asked, “I beg your pardon?”

“You’ve heard me,” Hange opened the case file for him and flicked through a couple of pages. “We searched Krista’s room and found a few letters, written by some Kenny the Reaper. Sounds familiar to you?”

More familiar than Hange thought. Of course, Levi knew Kenny the Reaper, back when he was a brat, his uncle used to tell tales of the Reaper, scary, blood-curling stories about the tall man in a long dusty black coat, who lived across the tracks. Kenny said the man’s hands were constantly covered in red and he always smelled of metal and copper. Kenny said the Reaper would come and take him, if Levi continued acting like a pathetic, whiny brat. Stories about the Reaper used to terrify the shit out of him, especially during the nights, when Kenny turned off the lights and storm was raging outside.

After his mother died, and Levi was spending his days in bed, crying himself to sleep, the stories about Kenny the Reaper reached their peak.

Kenny the Reaper would whisk you away at night if you don’t eat the soup, Kenny the Reaper would stand above your bed during the night if you don’t go to sleep, Kenny the Reaper would bath you in your own blood, if you don’t change your dirty clothes, Kenny the Reaper would come and eat your heart in front of you, if you don’t stop crying.

During those horrible, grief-filled days, only the fear of Kenny the Reaper was able to stop Levi from wallowing in his own misery.

Kenny wasn’t the best parent, wasn’t truly made for it, but, surprisingly, some of his methods, as cruel as they were, actually worked on Levi.

But he stopped with the silly stories once Levi became a teenager and they ceased having an effect on him.

Then why did Kenny the Reaper return? Why did he write letters to a young girl, who had disappeared? Could it really be that his uncle was the culprit?

Levi looked down at the case file, where a picture of the Reaper’s note was attached. All doubts disappeared from his mind. It was Kenny’s handwriting, the same messy, barely incomprehensible scribblings. But how did they appear inside the missing girl’s room? And why did Kenny write them in the first place?

He looked at note more closely, squinting to read it.

I have something you might want to look at it, little Missy. Come to the tracks tonight, or Kenny the Ripper will take you away by force.

Levi stared at the note for another moment, struggling to comprehend. It looked like… utter gibberish.

“So?” Hange lifted the cup to her lips, watching him over its rim. “Was my hunch correct? Is it really your uncle’s doing?”

It was just a hunch, but Hange had him located and brought back into the city simply to check if she was right? Either she was that confident in her theory, or… she was that desperate.

“It’s his handwriting,” he told her. “This note was definitely written by him.”

But did Kenny kidnap some girl? Levi didn’t know if that was possible. Why would his uncle even do that? What shitty trouble was he involved in this time? What was going on in the city during the two months that he was away? What Kenny was up to during that time? What was he up to right now?

It seemed like Levi certainly had missed a lot. He had to catch up to it all, and quickly. Perhaps, Hange would be able to help him.

“I don’t think Kenny had taken that girl,” Levi wasn’t sure if his uncle was even capable of that. Sure, he did some nasty things, but always for a reason. And what possible reason could he have to kidnap a young girl? “Did you receive a ransom after her disappearance?”

“No. There is utter silence after Krista went missing. I thought about your uncle only because I’ve remembered you mentioning that his name was Kenny. Decided this theory was worth pursuing.”

Levi didn’t even know he said it, but Hange remembered it? This small detail probably shouldn’t have made him feel so warm inside.

She’s a detective, it’s her job to pick up and remember stuff, he told himself. His heart refused to listen.

“I’m willing to help you find him,” he said to Hange, shaking his head to get rid of useless thoughts. He had a more pressing matter right now. For example, why the fuck his uncle decided to kidnap someone. Finding an answer to this question was his priority. Levi just had to remember that.

“Oh,” Hange waved her hand dismissively. “You don’t really have a choice in that. I need you to help me, Ackerman. And since your apartment was abandoned a little over a week ago, just as Krista went missing, I think it’s a good place to start our investigation.”

Hange knew where his apartment was located? This was hardly surprising, considering that she managed to find him in another city, but still… Her detective skills were brilliant.

Hange waved over the waitress, asking for a bill. As soon as she paid, she stood up. Levi quickly followed her suit.

“My apartment is on the other side of town,” he began, as he fell into step with Hange. “Aren’t you afraid I’m going to escape?”

“Want me to handcuff you, Ackerman? Didn’t know you were so kinky,” surprisingly, Hange grinned. But the merry expression didn’t stay for long. The serious detective face returned almost immediately. “If you really think about escaping, my advice to you – don’t. I found you in another city on the other side of the world. How long do you think it would take me to find you here?”

Well, point was certainly taken. No more jokes and attempts at flirting. Hange was definitely not in the mood for this. Levi would have liked to blame it on her case, but he wasn’t that naïve and he was never that good at fooling himself. Hange hated him now, and there was nothing surprising about it. He knew it was going to come to this. He thought he was prepared.

But the bitter taste in his mouth, the giant, crushing weight in his chest – that he wasn’t ready for.

“It’ll be easier to get to my apartment by the subway,” he said, swallowing down the lump in his throat. “Come on, I’ll lead the way.”

He wanted Hange to throw some stupid joke or a lame one-liner, say at least something. Instead, she followed after him without a single word.

Levi's disappointment was unmeasurable.

***

Hange didn’t know how exactly she pictured the apartment of two notorious thieves to look like, but she certainly didn’t expect the Ackermans’ den to look so… normal.

No secret traps, no hidden treasures, no weaponry hanging on the wall, there was nothing that could even hint at the possibility that the two men that were living there were criminals.

The apartment was relatively small, with only two bedrooms and a kitchen. It also wasn’t as spartan as Hange would have imagined it to be. There were pictures – but not photos – hanging on the walls, house plants that stood on windowsills, a bookshelf filled with books, curtains that fluttered from the wind coming from the open windows.

All of it was so mundane and cozy… Hange didn’t quite know what to make of it.

However, she had to admit, she was not only surprised, but a little disappointed too. She didn’t know what to expect from Ackermans’ apartment, but she had her ideas of what Levi’s apartment would look like. She pictured a neat, pristine place with spotless floors and shining cutlery.

But in reality, the sink was overflowing with dirty dishes, the kitchen was filled with empty pizza boxes and bottles of beer, clothes were lying in the piles on the floor, dust was flying in the air.

Did the great clean freak Levi really live there? Or was that side of Levi’s persona just another lie?

“Fucking Kenny,” Ackerman mumbled under his breath, his scowl as fierce as ever. “I was gone for two months and he already turned into a pig.”

Oh. So that wasn’t part of an act? Hange was actually relieved to hear it. Enough to chuckle and say, “The obsession with cleanliness doesn’t run in the family?”

Ackerman turned from glaring at the dark stain on the kitchen table to look at her. His mouth twitched, as their eyes met. “Kenny is just a horrible exception.”

And there it was. For no longer than a single moment, but something had ignited, some sort of connection, recognition deep within her, the feeling of belonging. It was the same feeling she had whenever she was with Levi before.

But it wasn’t Levi, she reminded herself strictly. It wasn’t Levi, the awkward, endearing man she stumbled upon one evening. It was Ackerman, a thief who consciously played with her feelings, who lied to her and fooled her into believing he was someone else.

But Hange knew who he was now. She wouldn’t let him fool her anymore.

She looked away from him, her expression turning sourer. Possibly sensing her foul mood, Ackerman turned away too, his frown deepening.

“What exactly you expect to find here?” he asked. “I thought you guys had already searched our house.”

“No. I didn’t want to bother with getting a search warrant.”

She didn’t want to, and she couldn’t. If she came to Erwin, asking for a search warrant for the Ackermans’ apartment, because she suspected that one of Ackermans was involved in her new case, Erwin would call off the case right that instant. He’d say that she was too emotionally compromised, that she couldn’t think straight and had an unhealthy obsession with Ackermans’ case.

Erwin wouldn’t have listened to her theory, wouldn’t have let her continue working. And Hange couldn’t let go of this case, couldn't allow someone from Nile’s team to start searching for the missing Krista Lenz. After all, there was a reason why Erwin gave that case specifically to her. She was driven, endlessly dedicated to her work, Erwin knew she wouldn’t stop before Krista Lenz was found and safely returned to her old life.

And Hange couldn’t let Krista’s safety be compromised, because of some search warrant she didn’t even need. She came here with the owner of the apartment, right? Technically, she got inside without breaking any laws. Except she was working with a criminal, but then again, no one could prove that Ackerman was a criminal. Hange would have to work on that after she brought Krista home.

“So what is it that you hope to find here?” Ackerman repeated his question. “I doubt your missing girl is hidden inside my closet.”

Hange rolled her eyes at the obvious sarcasm. Ackerman didn’t believe her, but she didn’t really need him to. He could believe that his uncle was innocent, that it was some big misunderstanding or whatever lie he created for himself. She didn’t need Ackerman to share her suspicions, she just needed him to help her find Kenny Ackerman.

That was the primary and only reason for his involvement.

“Let’s start with his room then,” Hange said. “Even if Krista isn’t there, perhaps, we’ll be able to find something of use anyway.”

“Well, you’re the boss here,” Ackerman scoffed.

With hands shoved deep into his pockets, Ackerman led her out of the kitchen and into a short hallway. As they walked, they passed a room that had a slightly ajar door. Curious, Hange popped her head inside. In contrast to the rest of the house, that room was tidy. It didn’t take a detective to realize that it was Levi’s room. On a wardrobe beside the bed, there was a blue shirt hanging. Hange recognize it as the same shirt Levi wore to their so-called first date. The shirt was nice, she remembered thinking that it brought Levi’s eyes.

Hange wanted to rip it into pieces.

She kicked the door closed with her foot, ignoring Ackerman’s wide-eyed stare. “Let’s just get it over with,” she grumbled, beyond frustrated.

Thankfully, Ackerman didn’t comment and silently led her to his uncle’s room.

Inside, it was even messier than in the rest of the apartment. Papers were scattered around, empty glasses and plates were littering the floor, the bed was unmade, the blanket and pillow missing from it. The state of the room was even worse than the mess inside Hange’s apartment, even during her bad days. It was dark too, the heavy brown curtains blocking the sunlight from outside entirely.

Honestly, it looked a little too creepy for Hange’s taste. Like the room of a madman. A madman who had kidnapped a young girl. A madman, who without hesitation had killed an innocent man and had almost killed her. Hange felt a shiver ran through her spine at that thought.

“Are you sure that your guys didn’t search the house?” Ackerman’s gruff voice brought her to the present.

“You think that someone broke in?”

“Possibly,” Ackerman nodded. “Either someone broke in, or Kenny just lost his mind.”

“And which one is more probable?”

Ackerman shrugged. “I’d say fifty-fifty.”

“Cool,” she rubbed her temples, feeling a migraine coming. “Amazing. Just awesome.” So she wasn’t only looking for a cruel criminal, but apparently he could be crazy as well. And she thought this case couldn’t get any worse. “Let’s start looking for clues then. Before your uncle arrives and decapitates me or something.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ackerman chided. “He won’t decapitate you. Just slash your throat.”

His dry delivery and his deadpan face made it hard for Hange to understand whether he was joking or not. She hoped he was. She liked her throat, and didn’t want it to be slashed.

“I’ll take the left part of the room,” she announced to Ackerman, immediately getting to work. The sooner they finish here, the lesser were chances of having her throat slashed. Probably.

As Hange kneeled on the floor, looking through papers scattered there, she couldn’t help but look around the room. And as she took a good look at it, she couldn’t help but wonder…

“Why are you doing this?” she asked Ackerman.

He threw her a dark look. “By this you mean…”

“Why do you keep doing this?” she gestured around, “Stealing things, being criminals. You have enough as it is. Why not start doing honest work?”

“We’re stealing from rich assholes. You can hardly call it a crime.”

“Oh, I get it now,” Hange rolled her eyes. “Once a thief forever a thief, right?”

“I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” Ackerman said curtly.

“And why not? Because I’m a cop?”

“Because you’re a cop, dressed in a coat that no cop should be able to afford.”

Affronted, Hange scowled at him. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

“That you grew up rich. That you don’t know what poverty or need is. That you have no idea that sometimes,” his eyes flashed, a deep-seated anger coming to surface. Hange wondered if all of it was directed on her alone. “Honest work isn’t enough.”

Logically, Hange knew it was her cue to back away. But she was riled up already, she was exhausted and frustrated. She was also annoyed that Ackerman had figured her out so easily. So instead of shutting up like she should have to, she kept challenging him. “And when exactly honest work isn’t enough?”

“When your mother dies because you can’t pay her medical bills.”

Ackerman spoke quietly, calmly. His tone wasn’t angry or accusing. He didn’t even sound hurt. But Hange felt like the most disgusting piece of shit. Shame cursed through her, as she struggled to find her words, to apologize or— do something rathan than stare helplessly at him.

“Let’s get back to work,” he said, ending the heavy silence.

Hange nodded numbly, scooping a bunch of papers in her hands. She briefly glanced at them, but nothing seemed to hold any importance. There were some bills, checks, half-finished plans, written so messily Hange could barely decipher most of the words. There was nothing that could link Kenny Ackerman to the disappearance of Krista Lenz. Still, Hange persisted, forcing her thoughts to focus on the case, and not on the argument that had transpired moments ago.

It seemed stupid, ridiculous, she was so angry with Ackerman, but now she felt ashamed of her careless words. She was ashamed of being so naïve, so privileged. She knew she was lucky, luckier than most to be born in a wealthy family and have access to everything she needed or wanted. Not everyone was as fortunate as her, and some of people ended up just as Ackermans – driven to the life of crime by poverty and desperation. After all, most of the criminals didn’t choose this way of living, but Hange had forgotten about that. She let her single-minded determination cloud her perception and abandon her principals and initial reason for joining the force.

So fixed on catching criminals, she had forgotten that she wanted to help people, including those, who were lost or didn’t know better.

Hange felt the need to apologize to Ackerman. He was an asshole in his own right, but her cruelty and prejudice was uncalled for. She was better than this. At least, she hoped so.

So lost in her own thoughts, Hange missed the moment when Ackerman had moved from his kneeling position on the floor. Now he stood next to a long desk, gazing at it skeptically.

“If there is something worthy in this pile of shit, it’s gotta be here,” he explained to the confused Hange.

Still sitting on a floor, she watched how Ackerman opened the lowest drawer of the desk, throwing everything that was inside on the floor. More papers fell out. Once the drawer was empty, Ackerman pressed on something inside and revealed a hidden bottom drawer.

A secret compartment! Hange jumped to his side.

He was already shifting through the documents he found inside, his face as bored as ever. “Shit, I think there is nothing important her—”

“Wait!” Hange yelled, yanking a photo from between his fingers. Her eyes wide and mouth open, she stared at it. She knew that face, that face was staring accusingly at her for a whole week now, pushing Hange to find its owner. Linked to that photo was a birth certificate, and it bewildered Hange even more.

“What is it?” Ackerman rose on tiptoes, looking over her shoulder. “Did you find something?”

“I guess I did,” Hange slowly nodded, her eyes still glued to the photo and the document. “It appears we’ve been wrong. We aren’t looking for Krista Lenz. We’re searching for Historia.”

[hargrove-mayfields]

Billy has to stick up for max a lot because of her autism, at school he walks to her class and their afraid of him because just,,, look at him

warnings for mentions of bullying and ableism.

It isn’t easy to make Maxine Mayfield cry.

At least, Billy had almost never seen her shed a tear in the six years he’d known her but maybe two times: once when she was still little, and just learned her step-family was going to move into her house and replace her real dad forever, and once when she was told they would be leaving California. Both times she’d run off to her room and slammed the door before anyone could see, but Billy had noticed. He always did when it came to Max. Had to when he knew damn well how much trouble he’d be in if things went wrong while he was watching her.

Beyond that there were a few teary eyed looks that got wiped away, maybe a sniffle she’d try to cover up by complaining about her allergies, but it was very rare, even during meltdowns, that she’d be full on crying, tears streaming down her face so quickly she couldn’t wipe them away while sobs wrack through her and make her shake.

So Billy knows first thing that something is very, very wrong when she’s already at his car after school, her face buried in her balled up jacket and doing exactly that. He can hear her from outside the car, so he sighs and knocks on the window before he yanks the door open, but Max doesn’t even flinch, just curls up tighter in the passenger seat and ignores him.

That’s a bad sign too, the fact she isn’t even trying to hide it from him, “What’s a’matter Maxi?”

“None of your business.” She snaps at him, voice thick and wet with tears. It’s unfamiliar seeing her like that and it makes Billy feel tense ang guilt even though he didn’t do it this time, so he tries, “Come on. It totally is my business. You get tears on my leather seats n’the salt’ll stain ‘em up, and you’ll be the one to clean it up.”

All it gets from Max is another heavy sob, instantly hitting him with a pang of regret for trying to be light about this, “Shit. M’sorry, Maxi. Didn’t mean it like that. Just tryin’ ta make you smile.”

“Well it didn’t work!” Max sniffles, throwing her jacket on the dash and finally turning to look at Billy, face flushed red and tracked with tears, her bottom lip still wobbling, “I’ll never ever smile again..”

“Why not? I know it’s not just because of your dumbass brother.” Billy sees a twitch at the corner of her lip, the slightest hint of a smile at him insulting himself, and he counts that as a small win, a sign he’s getting at least a little bit through to Max, so he prompts her again, “What happened at school today, Max?”

Her gaze drops to her lap, and she shrugs her shoulders slightly, stiffly, as she mumbles an explanation, “Remember how I told you about that boy, who's mean to me and my friends?”

“‘Course I do. I never forget anythin’ you tell me.”

Max wipes her nose on her sleeve, and corrects him, “Except for when you forgot I told you I had AV club and you came in the school looking for me and then you got stuck talking to a teacher for like, three hours after I was done.”

“Yeah, well that was one time. N’I was already havin’ a bad day when you told me, thank you very much.” He encourages her, his face serious though their tone is light-hearted, “Keep goin’, what’d this kid do now?”

Again Max’s features close off, and she tries to lie, “He was just.. Well it was my fault.. I-I don’t know.”

“Max. I need the truth.”

Talking fast, like she’s fighting against her thoughts, she makes him promise, “Promise me you won’t do anything dumb, first.”

Billy lifts a hand from the steering wheel, “I won’t. Cross my heart, Maxi.”

At this point, in the silence that builds while Max wills herself to speak, Billy starts to drive, since it’s clear he won’t be going back into that school. It isn’t lost on him the way Max takes a deep breath, out of relief that he meant it when he said he wasn’t going to be dumb and march back in there.

Quickly, once she’s ready, she explains, “Okay. Well he kinda sort of told me that I was annoying ‘cause I laugh too much, and I told him it was just a stim n’that I couldn’t help it but he said that made me a baby and I told him I wasn’t and he called me a retard instead and I was already stressed so I started crying like a dumb baby and he laughed at me and none of my friends said anything or helped me and I just.. yeah.”

All Billy can do is raise his eyebrows, has about a hundred and one pissy and angry things he could say, but he doesn’t utter a word, because he doesn’t want to make Max more upset than she already is.

Clearly just the change in his expression spooks her though, because she insists, sounding like she could cry again at any second, “You promised me!”

He puts his hands up sort of defensively, though he has to grab the wheel again when the car veers, swallowing his anger to tell her calmly, “I didn’t even say anything. I promised I’d be nice and I’m gonna keep that promise.”

She nods hesitantly, more to show trust than agreement, so Billy continues, “But Maxi that’s.. bad. Why don’t you tell a teacher or some shit?”

“Yeah, like they would even do anything. They already hate me for being in their coed classes.” Max mumbles the last part, looking away, “They’d probably rather Troy beat me up so I wouldn’t be bothering them anymore.”

“Tell me you’re being dramatic.”

But Max just shrugs again.

“Fuck, I hate this fucking place.” Billy tears his eyes from the road to look Max in the eyes as she says it, even knowing she can’t return the gesture, “You know you don’t deserve to go through this shit, Maxi?”

“It.. is kinda my fault though.”

He lashes out, just a little, hearing her talk like that about herself. Because it’s not fair that a thirteen year old girl looks at herself that way, yeah, but also because he knows it’s in some ways his fault too, and their parents for the way she’d been brought up, and the shit she'd been around that she even thinks to say shit like that.

He hits the palm of his hand against the rim of his steering wheel, rather he goes to before he catches himself, slowing it before it really hits, tapping it more than anything, “No the fuck it isn’t. It’s nobody’s fault but the assholes that make it into a problem. And fucking Neil’s for dragging us to this close-minded little spot on the map. I hate this fucking town”

“Oh.” Is all Max says.

Billy waits, but he can see she doesn’t know what else to say, so he sighs, “Look, I made my promise to you. Can you make one for me now?”

Max looks confused, “Okay?”

“Promise me that the next time somebody says some shit to you, you stand up for yourself.” Max scrunches up her face, like she immediately disagrees with that, but Billy insists, “Look, I don���t care if you’re crying like a damn baby or you can’t even talk while you do it, just don’t let ‘em walk all over you like that again.”

“I’m not fighting anyone, Billy. I’m not.. like you.”

“That’s not what I said. I said to stand up for yourself. It’s different.”

“Yeah right. How am I supposed to do that?” Billy knows that some asshole had to have said that to Max, that for whatever bullshit reason she couldn’t stick up for herself. Damn kid can’t catch a break in life, so he tells her, at this point not sure if this is even advice or just him ranting at Max, “This kid calls you a slur again, tell ‘im at least you got the diagnosis. Make him feel like he’s the stupid one. And if a teacher ever pulls some shit about the way you learn, tell ‘em you’ll go to the board of education and personally get their asses fired. Your mom would fight for you.”

“No she wouldn’t.”

“Then dammit I would. Your friends would if they understood. I know Sinclair would kick ass for you.”

Max’s toughness finally cracks- she learned that from him, to put on that hard exterior and fake it- Billy's determination stronger than her stubbornness. She looks up at him with a look in her eye that says he’s said all the right things, “You really think so?”

“No shit. Big brothers know all about this kind of bull.”

“I guess.” Max smiles just a little, and tells him matter-of-factly, “But you’re not that kind of big brother. You’re too cool.”

“Hell yeah I am.” Billy hums proudly, adding with humor in his tone, “But it’s even more cool to be nice to your little sister than it is to be an asshole. Remember that one.”

Max nods, listing it off on her fingers, “Stand up for myself, but don’t be an asshole, and Billy's secretly a big softie. I think I got it.”

“Good. Now out of my car, shitbird.”

Giggling in that way that says she knows she got him, Max swings open her door and runs into the house, leaving Billy to watch after her. He turns off the car but doesn’t get out, trying to bury his worry for her under his expression, not because he didn’t care, or even because he didn’t want her to know, he was long past that, but because he was worried what would happen if Susan saw his concern.

She’d weasel the truth out of Max if she knew something was up, and somehow, despite her promises, Neil would find out once he dragged his ass back home from the bar later tonight, and then it would somehow be Billy’s fault. He just hopes, if Max lets slip about the bullying, she at least doesn’t get too mouthy and mention the part where she was crying.

That was a Friday when that all went down, so Billy has the weekend, which thankfully does not include any snitching, to decide what he’s going to do about it. It’s not like he was ever going to go beat up on any tweens anyways, but he promised Max he wouldn’t be dumb, and he knew that meant no passive aggressive bullshit either. At least not while she could see him.

Because that ruled out like, half of his options, he’s still kind of clueless on what he’s going to do that next Monday morning when schools back in. He’s sitting in the middle school parking lot, fingers twitching against the steering wheel without a cigarette to busy them with, waiting for 7:30 on the dot when Max always goes in.

At this point, he’s considering just ditching with her to go get ice cream or something so she doesn’t have to face any bullies today, but his epiphany comes in the form of watching Jonathan Byers walk the littler one all the way to the front doors, his hand protectively hooked through the handle on the kid’s backpack. When the clock ticks the right time and Max opens her door, he knows what he’s going to do, and he turns the car off.

She freezes, can tell he’s up to something. “What are you doing?”

“Nothin’. M’just walking you in.” She glares at him in response to the smug smile he wears, so he swears, “Honest. I got basketball today. No way I’m missing that shit ‘cause I fought some little kid.”

“You’re lying.”

“Can’t I just be nice to my little sister?”

From the look on her face, she’s still skeptical, but it's enough to get Max to agree to it, grabbing her bag from the backseat and mumbling, “Whatever. Just don’t embarrass me.”

Billy chuckles, giving Max a head start towards the building before he follows, “Hey now, I thought just yesterday I was your cool older brother.”

“Cool older brothers don’t walk their sisters to the door.” She calls it over her shoulder, and Billy can’t help but tease her more, correcting her in a sing-songy voice, “Who said I was stoppin’ at the door? I’m walking you all the way to your class.”

“Oh god.” Max stops walking, but Billy keeps up, this time pulling ahead enough to call back to her, “Come on shitbird. Don’t wanna be late.”

“I hate you so much.”

“Yeah, right. You love that I would take the time outta my morning to do this for you.” He props open the door for Max with his boot, pretending not to notice the way all the little middle school kids at their lockers turn to gawk at them, letting her shove past him with her face flushed deeper than the color of her hair in embarrassment.

Pulling on her backpack straps, like she’s trying to physically make herself smaller, she mumbles, “No, I actually hate you.”

He almost feels bad for embarrassing her, but that’s the other part of his job, and he reminds her of that, “Good. There’s some more advice for ya, little sisters should always hate their big brothers, or he’s doing something wrong.”

They get a little ways down the hall, Max’s confidence going up just some as the shock wears off and people start to turn away, but Billy hardly notices. He doesn’t even come close to being bothered by eighth grade politics anymore, and if he’s intimidating the poor kids, well that’s exactly what he’s there for.

When he’s met with a particularly harsh glare from some snob nosed brat, who happens to remind him a lot of one Tommy Hagan, he bumps into Max on purpose, and announces louder than he needs to in hopes the kid’ll know he was looking for him, “That the little asshole s’been givin’ you trouble?”

Glancing nervously between him and Billy, she nods, “Yeah..”

Billy just nods, a cross between acknowledgment and judgement, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You said-“ Again Max panics, but Billy cuts her off this time with a simple assurance of, “And I didn’t do anything.”

Her eyebrows knit together, realizing that that wasn’t a lie, “I.. guess you didn’t.”

“What’s your first class anyways?”

“We report to the cafeteria before first period.” She informs him, leading him that way, but he hooks two fingers through the strap on her bag to stop her, “Not gonna happen, Maxi. Being shoved in a tiny room with three hundred other kids makes you feel all ‘meltdowny’ I think was your exact word. So you’re not doin’ that anymore. I just decided.”

“But that’s against the rules.”

“Yeah, so’s me bein’ in this building during school hours, but nobody’s saying shit to me, are they?”

Max narrows her eyes at him then, and he knows he said too much, that he’s been found out, “That’s your plan isn’t it.”

There’s a crooked smile on his face he can’t hide as he plays innocent-like, “What is?”

Max pushes him a little and he pretends to misstep while she accuses him, “Coming into school and being all intimidating so nobody will bug me anymore.”

“Pfft, yeah right.” Billy denies again, getting nothing but an eye roll in response at first, but when it’s clear it’s he’s not going to give up and admit it, Max does, glancing shortly over at him, “Well thanks anyways, Billy.”

She adds, realizing he’s wandering with no idea where they’re going, having never been in the middle school himself, “My first class is in B-18.”

“Which one is’at?” He asks, just curious, but Max deflects the question, giving a short, “It’s taught by Mr. Clarke.”

Just from how quiet she is, Billy can tell that she's hiding something, “Max. You seriously don’t even know what class you’re in?”

“No I don’t, okay?” Max stops in the middle of the hallway, ranting at her brother, “It’s already not the same as my old school, and then they moved my schedule all around again after they decided I didn’t qualify for special ed, so now I just go where I’m s’posed to, and I know my teachers better than my classes.”

“And you didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

“No. There’s nothing anyone can do so it doesn’t matter.” Her tone implies she thought a lot about it, maybe even wanted to, but decided not to.

Billy insists right back, these past two days feeling like he’s constantly petitioning for Max to trust and rely on him, “Oh I could do somethin’. You know I could.”

“I do. But I don’t want you to. Sticking up for me is enough.”

That’s what makes Billy understand. The firmness in her voice says everything she needs him to hear: Max doesn’t want Billy to do for her what she can handle. This is bigger than just being the older brother. This is her setting boundaries, asking for help without wanting to be controlled. That’s something he never really got how to do, being raised by a dictator and all, but it’s something she needs. Sometimes he forgets that.

He doesn’t say anything else, just lets it sit while Max takes him down some stairs to the right room. She stops outside, scuffing up the dusty marble floors with the toe of her Chuck Taylor’s, “Could you.. stick around for a little bit in case he says something?”

Billy clicks his tongue, remarking, “I dunno. I got a class in a few..”

But his sarcasm falls short with Max, which, that’s his bad for not realizing that it would, and her face falls, “Oh, well I guess I can just-”

“Was just funnin’ you shitbird. I don’t give a fuck about my classes.” Max grimaces in that all too familiar way of uncertainty, so he promises, “I’ll be right out here. Go talk to your teacher, ‘n if he says some shit to you, remember I only promised not be stupid about the bully.”

He at least gets a smile for that one, before Max rolls her eyes, “You’re not fighting my science teacher, dummy.”

“Whatever. Just get in there, brat.”

He can see Max holding back a smile as she listens, bounding into her classroom with another quick glance back at Billy to check that he wasn’t lying and going to walk away.

Billy waits until the door fall closed to lean against the row of lockers opposite it, watching her through the little meshed over windows. By now, he’s pretty well versed on what arguments with angry authority figures look like, and the conversation between Max and her teacher is not one. He still stays though, just because Max asked him to, but maybe, just maybe a little for himself, a reassurance that the second he leaves shit isn’t going to get worse, and Max’ll have at least someone other than her equally as nerdy little friends behind her.

Then they both turn and give him a little wave, Max and her teacher, an acknowledgment to Billy that this new routine was indeed going to work out. The way the school district had handled everything else, he wonders if the guy even knew Max wasn’t like his other students until now.

Still, seeing that, Billy gives a half nod in response, and decides his job is done here, at least until tomorrow when he does the same. Max’ll get used to it, and his hope is that the little bully brats won’t. He’ll just have to keep them on their toes.

Which is exactly why, while on his way out, Billy has to break his promise to Max, just slightly, and do something dumb. He finds the Troy kid again, and waits until the little punk is at his peak to knock him down a few pegs.

He’s complaining about some teacher, which is pretty typical for a thirteen-fourteen year old kid, but the other things he’s said to Max make it not as relatable, not as innocent. So he does what any logical, mature adult would do, and scares the piss out of him.

Billy waits until the kid gets a laugh from his troop of assholes, and slams the locker door beside him shut, uncaring of who’s it was. All eyes are quickly on him, all too wide against too pale faces. It’s too easy.

“What are you little shits whining about over here?”

The one in charge steps forward, trying to be tough despite the way he has to practically bend backwards to look up at Billy’s face, “None of your business. Did the freak send you after us to scare us? It ain’t gonna work.”

“Oh I’m not here to scare you. I’m just here to give you your final warning. We’re past the point of intimidation. Matter of fact, next time I have to come here.. it won’t be looking so good for you.”

“You’re lying.” The kid accuses, despite the obvious doubt written behind his features.

Billy can work with that.

“I might be. But I’m still an authority figure over your sorry little asses, and if you don’t start respecting that..” He bends down a little further, still nowhere near the kid but making his whole troupe flinche back, and drops his pitch, “well, I can’t promise what’ll happen to ya, but unlike your teachers, I don’t play by the rules. You got that?”

Straightening himself back out, Billy pretends to start walking away before he adds, “Oh, and if you pick on my kid sister ever again, I will know. Just remember that, uh, Troy was it?”

The kid nods dumbly, literally vibrating with something like fear, and Billy can say he’s pretty satisfied with that. He pats the kid on the shoulder, a touch so gentle it wouldn’t’ve hurt a fly, and notably couldn’t get him in any trouble, but the little shit scampers off, three other puffy head bullies trailing after him.

Everyone sees it happen, Billy with his nasty smirk and his distinguishably high-schooler way of carrying himself, Troy running for the hills in the other direction. He leaves feeling like his point has been thoroughly proven.

It isn’t easy to make Maxine Mayfield cry, but it’s even harder to get away with it, and Billy knows it won’t be a problem from now on.

[we-are-only-halfway-home93]

Come and Lay the Roses 29- No Room For Innocence- [Ivar x OC]

Summary: Aaline witnesses a blood eagle.

Characters: Ivar x OC, Bjorn x Torvi, Ubbe x Margrethe, Hvitserk x Thora, Sigurd x OC, Ragnar, Lagertha 

Warnings: arranged marriage, violence, sex, torture, language, mentions of rape/sexual assault

Word Count: 2544

Ch. 28

AN: I’d like to apologize for how long it’s taken me to update. I have no excuses. All I can say is life. 

It took me a while to get the blood eagle scene done. I wasn’t sure how I wanted that to look for a while. I think it turned out okay. I listened to Heimta Thurs by Wardruna the whole time I wrote it to put me in the right head space. 

I’d like to thank everyone who’s stuck with me for this long. I sincerely appreciate you.

“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.” ~ Samuel Johnson

Aaline heaved as her body expelled what little she’d eaten that day. Her stomach had been in knots all day and it finally rebelled against her. She heaved again as a timid knock sounded on the door. “What?” she croaked. 

Torvi pushed the door open with care and peeked around the frame. She winced when Aaline gagged again, nothing coming up except bile and saliva. 

She pushed her way into the room and shut the door behind her, turning the lock and leaning against it. “Are you alright?” She asked. 

Aaline rolled her eyes up to her sister-in-law and bit back the snarky comment she so badly wanted to express. She clenched her eyes shut as her stomach seized but was thankful when nothing came up. 

“I’m fine.”

“I vomited when I saw my first blood eagle.” Torvi shared. Aaline slowly sat back, her hands still clutching the rim of the toilet. Her nausea had dissipated but her stomach still felt weak. 

“I hid behind the shed. I swore everything I’d eaten in the last week came out of me that night.” Aaline turned her head and stared at Torvi. She had a faraway look in her eyes and a sad smile on her face. 

“Did you love him?” Aaline asked. She remembered that Björn was Torvi's third husband and that her first had been blood eagled by Ragnar after he tried to kill Aslaug and their children. Ivar hadn’t even been born yet and Björn was just a teenager. 

Torvi blinked and turned her head. She smiled fully at Aaline and shook her head. “No. I thought I did but I was young. I didn’t know what love was. The love I had for him was one of companionship and youth. I did not love him like a wife should.”

Aaline nodded, processing. “And you married the son of his executioner.” She looked up when Torvi laughed. 

“I didn’t blame Björn. I didn’t even blame Ragnar. I was angry, yes, but my husband broke our laws, committed crimes. He was going to die no matter what.” Torvi shrugged and stepped deeper into the bathroom.

“Ivar will understand if you are unwell. This is a difficult experience.” Aaline shook her head. 

“I told you, I’m fine. I’m sure it’s nothing. I’ve been feeling under the weather for the last few days. It’s probably just a stomach bug.” Aaline made to stand. Torvi helped her up and studied her closely. Aaline closed the lid of the toilet and flushed, wincing at the reminder of her episode. 

“How long have you been feeling poorly?” Torvi asked. Aaline shrugged, washing her hands. 

“I’m not sure. A few days at least.”

“Just nausea or something else?” Aaline sighed and dried her hands, trying to be patient. 

“Mostly nausea. A few headaches,  some stomach cramps. I’m tired all the time. Really, Torvi, I’m fine. It’s just a stomach bug.” 

She tossed the towel down onto the counter and pulled the door open. “Can we please go? Ivar’s supposed to help me get ready.” Torvi looked at her, her gaze skeptical. She nodded once and preceded Aaline out of the bathroom. Aaline shook her head at Torvi’s behavior and followed her, closing the door behind her.

.

“It’s a preposterous plan. I don’t even know how you talked me into it.” 

“It’s because you know I’m right.” 

Ecbert looked up with sharp eyes at the young woman before him. She held her head high and carried an air of superiority around her. Ecbert didn’t know if she was stupid or just insane. Perhaps a bit of both. 

Ecbert himself wondered where his own sanity had gone to consider this plan. It wasn’t even a good one and he truly didn’t even know its purpose. 

 “I don’t see how this plan will weaken Ragnar.”

The woman scoffed and he narrowed his eyes. “Ivar will go mad with grief and anger. Ragnar won’t be able to control him thus losing control of his men. He’ll be overthrown and you’ll be able to swoop in and take control of his empire.”

The plan was shaky at best. It all hinged on a small group of men being able to go unnoticed by Ragnar Lothbrok’s very observant sons. Even then they weren’t guaranteed a win right away. The women before him needed to stay out of it personally and Ecbert wasn’t sure if she was capable. 

“You remember what we discussed.” He said. 

She narrowed her eyes and sat up straighter almost like she was trying to look intimidating. “I remember.” 

Ecbert arched one perfect brow and waited, hoping she’d take his cue. She did and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not to approach anyone in the Lothbrok family.” She admitted through clenched teeth. 

Ecbert sat back only marginally satisfied. 

“Good.” He waved a hand at her, dismissing her and she rose with anger. Ecbert didn’t flinch when she slammed through the double doors. He was too engrossed in calculating everything that could go wrong with their plan.

.

It was late, almost midnight and Ivar was helping Aaline into the traditional white outfit worn during a blood eagle. Aaline knew very little about the traditions involved in a ritualistic murder. She knew it was a big deal. Their family was taking revenge on the man who murdered Sigurd. 

The blood eagle was a sacrifice to Odin. Aelle would serve as both a warning and a blessing. His death would bless their retribution, keeping them safe from further harm. It would also warn others intent on wronging them. His death would tell them what would happen to anyone who tried to take them down.

White was worn to show the blood that was spilled. It was expected for blood to transfer on all spectators and it would symbolize the blessing that Odin brought upon them.

Traditionally, it was expected that the victim remain silent less they be barred entrance into Valhalla. Björn had talked long about how Jarl Borg had taken the whole of his punishment in silence, never making a sound as Ragnar killed him. 

She could see the respect shining clearly in Björn’s eyes. Even though Jarl Borg had tried to murder his brothers and step-mother, Björn had admiration for the man. Aaline was eager to understand why.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts and she looked up. Hvitserk opened the door and nodded once, pushing it further open and leaving them again. It was time.

Ivar settled his hands on her shoulders and stepped around to face her. “It’s not going to be pretty.” She rolled her eyes and looked away but he caught her chin between his fingers and pulled her back to look at him.

“There’s going to be blood, lots of it. He’ll scream and he’ll cry and there’ll be piss and shit along with the blood. Do you think you can handle that?” Ivar’s voice was soft when he spoke but she could hear the hard edge. He still wanted her to back out. He wanted her to sit up here in their room alone while the rest of the family witnessed the execution of the man responsible for their pain. 

She wrapped her hand around Ivar’s wrist and gently pushed it away. “I think you forget who you’re married to.” She said. 

She stepped around him and headed towards the door, turning at the frame to look over her shoulder at him. He was staring at her, his face unreadable. She cocked an eyebrow. He shook his head and followed her out the door.

As they descended the stairs, the light grew dimmer. The shadows on the wall danced. The smell of incense was heavy in the air. A heavy bass resounded in the air and chains rattled against the stone.

 When they turned the final corner into the room, Aaline allowed herself to take in the scene. Ragnar stood in the center of the room on a raised platform. His back was to them and his shoulders flexed as he worked with something on the table before him. Behind him, standing shoulder width apart, were two identical wooden posts with half circle brackets at the top. 

Ivar cupped her elbow and steered her towards the rest of his siblings. The brothers and their wives were standing in a semi-circle around Sibylle whose eyes were glassy.  Aaline didn’t know if it was her tears or the drugs that gave her the appearance. 

Ivar stopped beside Hvitserk and nodded, folding his hands in front of him as they waited. Aaline surveyed the room. Lagertha stood just behind the table that Ragnar was working at. Rollo and Floki stood across from them, Helga next to Floki. Several of Ragnar’s men filled the rest of the room. She and Ivar were the last to arrive.

Ragnar turned to Rollo and Floki and nodded once. The two men retreated behind a door behind Lagertha. The drum beat held steady. 

Rollo and Floki returned with Aelle bound between them. A gag was tied tight in his mouth and his wrists and ankles were hogtied. He was naked from the waist up. Rollo and Floki stepped onto the platform and shoved Aelle to his knees between the wooden posts. 

She couldn’t hear what he was saying to them but Aaline could see his mouth trying to move around the gag. Rollo and Floki ignored him as they tied his wrists to the posts beside him. Tears poured down his face and she felt more than heard Ivar chuckle behind her.

The fires surrounding them were hot and the incense made her drowsy. She felt like she was outside of herself, watching the movement around her with detachment. She hardly felt Ivar’s hands on her shoulders.   

Ragnar turned then to the trembling Aelle and scanned the line of his back with clinical apathy. He placed a hand on Aelle’s shoulder and the man startled. Ragnar stilled him with strong fingers pressed deep into the meat of his shoulder. Ragnar bent low and settled his face next to Aelle’s. 

Aelle’s screams were drowned out by the thumping of the drums and the crackling of the fire. Blood pooled around his knees as Ragnar drew the blade up the center of his back. Ivar’s fingers tightened on her shoulders.

Her eyes were glued to the scene before her. She felt entranced by Ragnar’s work. Ivar brought his chin down to her shoulder and watched with her.

Ragnar drew the knife quickly across Aelle’s shoulders and back, pulling the skin back from the bones. Blood sailed through the air, spattering the spectators with warm drops. 

Aaline inhaled sharply and the scent of copper filled her sinuses. Ivar’s hands trailed down her arms and to her hands. He knotted their fingers together as more blood sliced through the air and painted their faces. 

Ragnar soon replaced his blade with an axe, the blade winking in the firelight. Aelle’s screams had died as shock set in. He wasn’t dead yet. Aaline could see his chest heaving up and down. Blood dripped down his arms and sides as Ragnar moved his flesh as he pleased. 

With a flash, the axe came down and separated ribs from spine. The sound of breaking bone reverberated through the air, over taking the drums. Ragnar hacked at the bones, sending blood flinging through the air. Aaline could feel it settled on her cheeks and fought back the urge to lick her lips.

Ivar did no such thing, leaning close and licking a long stripe up the side of her face, humming at the metallic taste that coated his tongue. Aaline shivered as his breath ghosted over her ear. “I can’t wait to lick his blood off you.” He nipped sharply at her earlobe and she shivered. He was hard as steel against the small of her back.

With his ribs now spread wide away from his body, Aelle died. Aaline watched as Ragnar finished the ritual, slipping his hands inside Aelle’s chest from behind and pulling his lungs from within. He settled the useless organs across Aelle’s still shoulders and stepped back.

He was covered in blood. His bare feet were sticky with it as he stepped around to Aelle’s front. His hands were stained crimson as he, almost reverently, pushed Aelle’s hair back off his forehead. His face and beard were saturated in the life giving fluid as he gazed down at the man who ordered his son dead. 

When Ragnar’s head came up, Rollo and Floki got to work. 

Aelle was to be placed on display outside of Ecbert’s home. He was to serve as a warning to the rest of the Saxons.

Once Rollo and Floki began cutting down Aelle, the rest of the spectators began making their way out of the ceremony room. A bonfire was lit in the backyard and they were to spend the rest of the night celebrating Aelle’s demise and Sigurd’s life. 

Aaline was confident she and Ivar wouldn’t make it to the bonfire. 

Ivar tugged her back the way they’d come with insistent hands. She allowed him to lead her away, her mind still preoccupied with the blood eagle.

As soon as Ivar had their bedroom door shut, she was pressed face first against the wood of the door. She gasped and smacked her palms against the door. 

Ivar already had his hands under her dress and his fingers inside her panties. His groan vibrated against her back and she shuddered when he immediately sank two thick fingers inside her. “You’re soaked.” He whispered brokenly against her ear. 

She moaned and arched her back, pulling his fingers deeper and feeling him hard against her ass. 

“Did it turn you on? Watching a man die?” He rocked his fingers inside of her, pressing his palm against her clit. She pressed her forehead to the door, pressing back against him. She needed more. More pressure, more fingers, more friction. Just more. 

“More.” She moaned. Ivar cursed and withdrew his fingers. She felt him fumbling behind her. Before she had time to take a breath, he was sheathed to the hilt inside her. She yelped, her muscles stretching to accommodate him. 

The sting between her legs quickly subsided when he started moving. His fingers returned between her legs and circled her clit in quick, firm circles. Her knees buckled but he wrapped an arm around her waist and kept them upright. 

Ivar groaned against her neck before sinking his teeth hard into the muscle of her shoulder. Her pussy clenched around him and he groaned, the vibrations against her skin sending goosebumps down her back. 

Her whole body vibrated and her knees began to shake as her orgasm crested inside her. Ivar circled her clit twice more and her orgasm washed over her. She shook against him, her internal muscles squeezing him tight. He wrapped a hand around her throat and grunted, his cock twitching inside her. 

She sagged against the door, her heart pounding and her knees like jello. Ivar licked the side of her neck, moaning at the taste of sweat and blood.

Tags: @dreamlesswonder @youbloodymadgenius  @inforapound  @bcarolinablr @funmadnessandbadassvikings @feyrearcheron-nightcourt @londongal2810 @khiraeth @didiintheblog @jeremyrennerfanxxxx123 @xbellaxcarolinax @shannygoatgruff @kingniazx@revolution-starter @jay-bel

[bts-hyperfixation]

Forget me not

It had been a long-awaited night out. Relaxing with your friends after finals sounded like a great plan, letting off steam before heading home for the summer. So why did it feel like someone was repeatedly punching you in the stomach. Of course, you knew that answer, even if you were loath to admit it. Park fucking Jimin.

You’d met the idol when you were a lowly college freshman, you’d been smitten with him then and as time went on and you’d gotten closer the infatuation had only gotten worse. Most of the time you managed to supress your crush, until you had the slightest bit of alcohol in you. And therein lies tonight’s problem. You knew it was a bad idea when he invited himself out to your celebratory drinks, but he has you wrapped around his little finger. Normally you came up with an excuse not to drink around him, finding just as much fun in his company anyway. Unfortunately, tonight there was no way out of it.

You watched from the bar as he dazzled the room. His eyes glittering in the disco lights as his hips swayed to the beat. One girl in particular had been the target of most of his attention for the night. The minute he finished two drinks he wandered off into the throngs of other drunk people without so much of a goodbye. She keeps touching him: a hand on his waist, a playfully hip check, an ‘accidental’ grind. It was vomit inducing to see her try. Even worse was the grin on Jimin’s face, indicating his mutual interest. You only had one option to make it through the rest of tonight, shots!

You lost count after six. The world was spinning far too much to be bothered with keeping track. Most of your friends had dispersed into the crowd… or maybe you’d just gotten lost on the way to the bathroom. It’s hard to tell as the whole night blurs into one. You stumble around for a little while, trying to catch your bearings, until you tumble into a very familiar feeling pair of arms.

“Easy Y/N. You okay?” You look up to find the beautiful source of your pain looking down at you concerned. Suddenly the urge to vomit is back. Luckily you manage to keep the bile in your throat, breathing deeply before trying to force what you hope is an easy smile.

“I’mmm gooodd” you slur in the least convincing way possible. He chuckles a little at your attempt and wraps an arm around you, supporting most of your weight. The two of you make your way to a taxi rank and he clambers in next to you. You lie your head on his shoulder and wait for the world to stop spinning behind your closed eyes, but it never does. The taxi doesn’t take long to arrive at your house.

“Do you need me to stay with you?” it’s not uncommon for you to have sleepovers, but usually its after long movie nights or dinners. The thought of him seeing you hungover was too much for you even in your current state of inebriation.

“No, I’ll be okay, pwomise” your words still aren’t particularly convincing but Jimin concedes. Instead settling for walking you to the door and making sure you get inside.

“Goodnight Y/N” He kisses your cheek and moves to walk back to the waiting taxi.

“Jimin?” you call after him. He turns back, expecting you to say goodnight. “What did you see in her?” your eyes have welled up with tears, but he just shrugs and sighs before getting into the taxi. You stare down the street long after the car has disappeared from view.

By the time morning comes, your head is pounding. Everything after the third shot is a complete blur. No event following stands out as its own incident. You swallow some paracetamol and check your phone, hoping to find some indication of who you might’ve upset in your drunken state. You breathe a sigh of relief when you find no angry texts or awkward photos. Going about your day it never occurs to you to text Jimin.

A few days pass and you haven’t heard from him. Sometimes it could get like this. If he was busy with shoots or interviews, but you left for home soon and he hadn’t even thought to contact you once. You had sent a couple, just checking in but got no response. Eventually you decided it’d be best to turn up at the dorm.

He opens the door to you in sweats and a tank. Messy haired and bleary eyed, he looked like he was in the middle of a day off… but if that wasn’t the case why hadn’t he messaged back.

“Hey.” Its stilted and awkward as he shuffles back to let you through the door.

“Is everything okay? It feels like your avoiding me.” He refuses to meet your eyes while you confront him, its then you see the dark circles under his usually bright eyes. You reach your hand up to cup his face, but he flinches like it burnt him.

“Why did you ask me that?”

“Ask you what? If your okay? Because I care…”

“Not that.” He spits suddenly angry. “Why did you ask me what I saw in the girl I was flirting with the other night? Why did you ask me like you cared?” your mouth flops open a little, confused by the sudden bout of anger.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Jimin! I don’t remember anything about that night!” your voice rises to match his, angry that he was angry.

“You always do this! Pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about every time you lead me on and I’m so sick of it!”

“I don’t know what you mean, I don’t lead you on!”

“You do! You make me think you might like me the same way I like you and then you ‘conveniently forget’ the next day.” He’s breathing heavy as he waits for you to process the new information, getting more and more agitated as he you fail to catch onto what he means. “Oh, for fuck’s sake” his lips attach to yours, pushing you back against the door as his hands cage you in. your mouth opens in a gasp and he slides his tongue in, exploring every inch as you begin to react. Relaxing your muscles and kissing him back. Your arms snake around his neck, grabbing at the hair at the nape, anything to bring him closer to you. His own hands travel down, lifting you by the thighs and into his arms. For such a lithe figure, he is definitely strong. Before you know it you’re being thrown onto his bed, scrambling for purchase as he climbs over you and reconnects your lips.

“Slow… down…” you pant in between kisses. He stops immediately and sits back, dejected. You panic when you realise what it sounds like. “No wait Jimin, I want to do this… I just think we should talk about what this means to both of us.” He nods slowly and helps you up into a sitting position. “I think I’m in love with you.” You hold your breath as his eyes search yours. You will yourself not to cry at the possibility of rejection, knowing you were risking it all with such a confession when all he felt could be lust. It feels like an eternity before he responds, kissing you again. This one much more chaste, creating butterfly in your stomach as you melt into him.

“I think I’m in love with you to.” His deep brown eyes sparkle with the revelation and you can’t help the wandering hand that goes up to play with is hair, tugging gently to force his lips back on your own. You keep your leverage as you kiss, directing his head where you want it. His hands trail down your sides to your waist, he fumbles with the button on your jeans. His fingers find their way into your panties. His middle finger drags along you wet slit before delving straight in. Unprepared, your grip on his hair tightens and he moans into your mouth. Nothing has ever sounded sexier to you. You tug again, eager to elicit the same sound. This time the moan is deeper as you pull harder and he forces two more fingers into your dripping hole.

No longer content with the amount of clothing still separating you, you release his hair, only to gain a whimper in return. His eyes meet yours, needy and sad, until you reach between the two of you to lift your hem. He removes his hand from your underwear before shedding his own clothes. When your finally naked he takes the opportunity to kiss every inch of you, worshipping you and making you shiver. Its not long until your begging for him. Desperate and whiny after years of build up to this one moment. Clearly, he feels the same way as he lines himself up with your entrance. He lets out a long whimper as he slides to the hilt, barely giving you time to adjust to the intrusion before pistoning his hips. Your hand sneaks to play with your clit as pressure builds inside your stomach. Nearly screaming by the time you come, the pleasure rolls through you in aftershocks with this unrelenting pace. Only when tears fall from your eyes does he stutter. Groaning as his own orgasm hits you.

“Tell me again” he whispers as he rolls next to you on the bed.

“Tell you what? This time your fairly certain you know what he wants but are set on teasing him. He meets your eyes with his sad expression and your resolves breaks immediately. You reach a hand into his hair and pull softly as you whisper back “I love you Park Jimin.”

Masterlist

Prompts WIP

[babygirlkiki1016]

Masterlist

Chapter 9: Love Vs Rage

Chapter 10: A lovely Bond

My hand clasped over my mouth at the words I had spoken, I didn't mean for it to come out. It was as if on instinct, but Thorin didn't seem to mind, he didn't take his eyes off me. And for the first time since the beginning of this trip, I saw love and adoration in those ocean blue orbs. His cheeks turned light pink at my comment, slowly he stood his chest almost against mine.

"You love me?" He muttered, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. "How can you love me amralime?" It was him, the same rough voice from earlier, he is the one who called me that.

"I don't know, but when I'm around you, your who my heart belongs to. It's why I left because I thought my feelings were getting in the way. I thought love was getting in the way but it was rage, I can't blame you no matter how much I want to. And I admire your bravery and courage, but throughout this quest, each piece of my heart had attached itself to you. Maybe it was your leadership or your kind words, or maybe it was something entirely different but I'm positive about one thing Myis Ravos (My raven), I love you. And...I forgive you." Tears rolled down his cheeks as he held in a sob the best he could but failed. His strong arms wrapped around me and he nuzzled his face into my neck.

"I love you too...Promise you won't leave again, promise me that we'll stay together no matter how hard this journey gets. Cause losing you just for a few hours broke me, I didn't want to move. I didn't want to do anything without you by my side." My hands slid up his back, but before I could enjoy the warm hug from him I felt his wound.

"I will if you promise to let me treat your injuries." He chucked but groaned as it hurt his chest, I helped him sit back down. The rag in my hand ran over his skin again, wiping away the blood and dirt from the surface. "Promise me you won't be so reckless, I don't know what I would do if I lost you." He grabbed my hand and kissed my knuckles lightly.

"Same goes for you." I couldn't help but smile, I didn't feel angry anymore. I felt loved and happy, I haven't felt like this in a long time. I kept cleaning the blood off, and when I was finished I took a step back to see if I missed anything.

"Alright, get into the bath I'll bring some lathers." As he begins to undress I rummaged through the basket of pink and purple bars, none was a manly type of smell but I highly doubt he would mind. "I have lavender, and cherry but beware both will make you smell like a woman." He laughed and turned around in the pool, the ends of his hair were now wet. I had this weird feeling to get in there with him, my legs rubbed together in excitement. Quickly I dismissed the thought and handed him the soaps but before I turned away he clutched my arm.

"Join me, for I am not able to flex my body like I'm used to. I believe I acquire assistance, I might just miss a spot." His fingers reach to the hem of my shirt, slowly undoing the ribbon tying it together.

"You've been bathing yourself for many years Thorin, I think you can handle this on your own." I didn't stop him from sliding my shirt down my shoulders, nor when he started to undo my bindings.

"I won't look if that's what you worried about, I trust my men but they sometimes can't help but let their eyes wander. I don't want them to see you bare." His touch leaves me, and he looks away so I'd be more open to the idea of joining him. He did have a point, I care for these dwarves but sometimes urges can take over. I shed the rest of my clothes, letting them join his that remained on the stone. He tensed up for a second as he felt the water move, he knew I was in now. "Lavender?" He held out the bar of soap, which I gladly took from him. His breathing became more rapid, he was nervous for I was too close.

"Nervous my king?" I said sarcastically as I ran the soap over his back, he leaned into my touch like it was heavenly.

"A little, I've never been in the presence of such a beautiful woman." He glanced back at me for a moment before turning forward again, he really wanted to look. "The things I said before, I didn't mean them, I meant something entirely different. At first, I was just being rude, but over time I fell for you. When I called you weak and a burden, I wanted you to go home for I do not wish to see you hurt. And when I called you a whore, it was because I was jealous of the stares the rest were giving you." Elrond was right, this entire time he loved me, but what about what he said at the bridge? Is this all just a plan to make me help him?

"And what about the bridge, when you were talking to Dwalin?"

"I knew you heard, at the moment I was trying to push you away. I too was afraid of what my feelings would bring, but when I noticed the rest started to be protective of you I realized they had accepted you as one of their own. I truly do love you, Uslukhuê kurdu, (Dragon of my heart). And I do not wish to push away my feelings any longer. If I may ask, will you let me court you?" I smiled at his offer, now that I think about it he was the one who courted me. The one who gave me more food in my bowl than the others.

"I believe you've already had, but I accept your offer Thorin." He sighed in relief, but something else remained on his mind.

"May I turn around? There is something I wish to do." I hummed in response and slowly he faced me, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips which I returned. "You are mine amralime, and no one can take you from me."

~♪♠♪~

After we cleaned up, I made sure that Thorin had a new pair of clothes that was stowed away in one of the chests after I bandaged his torso. The rest took their pick of the pile, and what surprised me was that they enjoyed the design upon the cloth.

"Y/n," Thorin called with a brush and a small silver bead in hand. He sat down next to me on a stool with his legs spread apart. Without another word, I sat between them, and he began to brush my hair softly. "This is the reason we dwarves keep our hair long, so our lover can braid it. It's a symbol showing that we're taken, and I'm glad I get to share it with you. What about you? What are your counting rituals?"

"We don't have much, it's normal human ways of courting. Gifting each other with flowers and chocolates, the only different thing is the wedding. When two of my kin want to marry, they need to get permission from either the King or Queen. We may have a huge kingdom but we treat it like a small town. If they receive permission then a wedding is planned, the entire kingdom will be there to see it. You'll have your party where you mingle with guests before you do the private ceremony of the night." He brushed my hair back towards him while running his fingers through it, I leaned back slightly enjoying the sensation.

"What is the private ceremony?"

"The private ceremony seems like nonsense, but it's very important. If the two wish to go through with it, they will have a bowl of paint infused with the blood of a royal. You need the blood of a royal to make it work, but each one will paint its markings on the other. It's a private ceremony because both of the two are going to be bare when this happens, after the painting is in place they will make a promise and the paint is now infused with their skin." Setting down the brush he grabbed a lock of my hair and started to braid it, he seemed focused like it was a masterpiece.

"What happens if they break that promise?"

"It depends on the situation, if one chooses to break their promise on purpose, the one who broke the promise is not allowed to marry again. For the marking burns into their skin, that way each digonisk knows that they are not to be intimate with anyone ever again. The other who remained faithful are allowed to remarry, for the symbols will disappear. However if one breaks it by accident, say a life or death situation and it is proven to be true there is a spell that the royal can cast to remove them." I looked up at him for a second, a smirk on my face as he looks down at me in slight horror.

"Still wish for me to be yours?" That look of fear was wiped off instantly, he kissed my forehead and tilted my head back up so he could finish his braid.

"That is one way to keep someone loyal, maybe my kin should have something like that. Although yes, I wish to still be with you, until death does us part." He holds out the braid he finished. "Hold it for me." I carefully grabbed the end with my fingers as he goes to braid another lock on the other side.

"What kind of braid is this?"

"Well you have to defeat Smaug, so this braid will help you keep your hair out of your face."

"Is it true that once your hair is braided you can never take it out again?"

"Only your other can take it out and fix it, if you do it yourself it shows you do not care about the courtship. Which once I'm done, you will braid my hair as the process states."

"And I can braid it in any way I want?" A mischievous smile came across my features, which he chuckled for he knew what I was doing.

"Anyway, you want." He grabs the braid that rested between my fingers and intertwined the two together.

"Interesting, perhaps I'll braid it in front of your face to give you a longer beard."

"If I die because of my inability to see I blame you." He clipped my hair with the bead and kissed my temple while wrapping his arms around me. "Who knew you were such a prankster, I think my nephews are a bad influence for you."

"Oh please you haven't seen anything yet, back in the kingdom of Larthas I was constantly scolded by my parents for always leaving presents for the maids. One time, I put a bucket of mud on the top of her door, and let's just say she wasn't happy. It took her hours to get the mud out of her hair." He laughed as we switched places, his hand stroked my leg gently. I summoned an ethereal bead making it into a solid object, on it there lied a dragon symbol.

"So what braid are you thinking of?" I wanted it to be special, something that showed it could only be made by me.

"Choose a color."

"Red (Or whatever color you prefer)." I conjured a red ribbon and began to braid his hair. (I'll leave that up to you guys, but I would do something like this.)

Everyone's jaws dropped at my handiwork, especially Thorin, the moment he got up and looked in the mirror his heart stopped.

"How on earth did you manage to do that?" His eyes lit up with excitement but I could feel the jealousy radiating off of him. He traced the design, he almost couldn't stop staring at it. "Never mind that, come back over here I'll show what I can really do with that h/c hair of yours."

@fili-is-my-lover @kirenia15 @lunariasilver @depressedchilipepper @tschrist1 @ayamenimthiriel

[turkisherlockian]

Unethical - Request [Benedict Cumberbatch AU] - (Part Two)

Warnings: angst, smut

Word count: 2800

A/N: Sorry for making you wait for too long, I've been pretty sick :( I hope you like it @leniram1890 😸

Part One

---

Marinel was so embarassed and angry. She was glad that she didn't disappoint Benedict but she didn't want him to know about her crush on him. Not at all. Now she had to follow him outside, trying not to hear Julia's cries. He found out. He found out. He knows she loves him. He is her boss. Her boss, god damn it! She must quit.

Benedict was furious and walking fast. He wasn't sorry for the money or Julia. His best friend... His best friend did this to him. Stole his money, fucked his wife and betrayed him. He thought he could trust him.

Tears were formed in his eyes when he suddenly stopped walking and turned around, Miranel had to stop as well. Her cheeks were red and her makeup was ruined. She stared into his eyes as he opened his mouth to say something, and then he looked away. Was he mad at her too? Was he going to fire her?

She was surprised when he hugged her tightly, she didn't expect this. However, she hugged him back tightly and rubbed his back. It wasn't about her... It wad about him. He was cheated on, his money was stolen by both his wife and best friend. Marinel didn't expect Jack to do that, too. All Benedict needed was someone he could trust, now. And she hoped she could be the one.

"Thank you." he said quietly, tears rolled down his cheek as he kept his eyes shut.

She's never seen him like this. It hurt her to see him in pain. She could kiss all the tears he shed and mend his wounds if she could. "It's okay." She smiled a little when he pulled back.

He wiped his tears away with his fingers and sniffled before clearing his throat. "I'm going to call my lawyer."

Marinel just nodded, not knowing what to say. Was she supposed to leave now? But she couldn't just leave him like that, he was pretty upset. But again, who did she think she is to stay for him? She was just an employee. Nothing more.

She looked up at him, he was about to say something but she interrupted him, "I'll go to my room... Good night, Mr Cumberbatch."

Benedict couldn't even respond and was surprised, but he understood. Instead of saying something, he just watched her leave.

Marinel was in tears, she knew it wasn't about her but her inner voice was so cruel. She was nothing to him. Nothing! What she did was unethical, wrong, pathetic! Tears rolled down her cheeks as she slammed her room's door.

What was he thinking of her, now? He must have pitied on her, even. Poor, young woman, in love with her married boss.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and walked into the bathroom. Her makeup was ruined and cheeks were wet. With shaking hands, she removed her makeup and washed her face with cold water. She needed to stop crying.

Wearing her nightgown, she sat on the bed with a sigh. She knew she wasn't going to be able to sleep, and mentally cursed herself for not bringing a book with her. Marinel stood up and opened the balcony's door to breathe in some fresh air. London looked magnificent at night. As she kept watching the city, her inner voice kept talking and bothering her but the gentle knock on the door interrupted it. Who could that be at this late hour of the night? Julia? Hopefully not.

She unlocked the door and opened it without asking who it is, but didn't expect to see Benedict there. He was wearing his dark blue pyjamas, his hair was messy and eyes red. "You weren't asleep, were you?"

"I wasn't... Come in."

She breathed in his minty cologne as he walked past her and sat on the bed. She hesitated but sat next to him.

"They left the hotel. Probably to run away from the police. I don't care..." He closes his eyes that were aching. 'I've got this terrible headache and couldn't manage to sleep. Do you happen to have any painkillers with you?"

"Ahuh," Marinel stood up and looked through her bag with shaking hands. He came to her room. He sat on her bed. He knew she loved him but he still came to her.

Taking a small bottle water out of the mini bar, she gave them to him and he thanked her with a gentle smile.

She sat next to him again and after drinking all of the cold water, Benedict spoke quietly. "I expected Julia to cheat on me, I knew she did, but I didn't expect Jason to do that. He was the one that informed me about the money-laundering. He bit his lip and turned to her, "I don't know how to thank you properly."

"You don't need to thank me." Marinel had to keep herself from looking at his lips, she looked down and just smiled a bit.

"I do... And I will."

They both were quiet, and it felt like the room was getting hotter.

"Marinel..."

She looked up at him.

"Don't be like this."

"Like what?" Her heart was beating fast and she felt like it was going to explode.

"I knew you loved me."

"W--what? Who? Who told you?..."

"No one."

It was Marinel's turn to be surprised now.

"What do you mean?" She asked quietly and tears were formed in her eyes once again.

Benedict took a deep breath, "I could see it in your eyes. I never saw it in anyone else's, not even in Julia's. You were always formal and professional, but I... I could feel it. It was in your eyes, your every word, every movement. You never upset me, and always helped me. You were there when I established this company, and there again when we almost went bankrupt. I was blind..."

Marinel shed a few tears as he spoke and put his hand on her cheek. "Your brilliant mind, mind-blowing beauty and sincerity... I am sorry, Marinel. I was blind. I couldn't see the right one for me that was right under my nose. I thought I loved Julia and she loved me back, but now I realize that I just loved the idea of having a family and a child, maybe. I couldn't have either of them. Marinel, I don't deserve you or your love, I..." He stopped talking when she started sobbing softly. "Darling, I'm so sorry..."

"Don't be... I don't understand, it's just... What do you mean, Benedict? What is it? Are you going to say that you can't love me back? Or that I should resign? I can't take it any longer..."

"No," he spoke softly and held her face in his big hands. "Marinel, I like you. And I couldn't do anything about it because I was married. Now that it's over, I can say it... I like you, and oh, please don't cry..." He hugged her tightly until she calmed down, he's never seen her like this either. She always seemed strong.

Marinel sniffled when they pulled back, she was still unable to believe it. He liked her back? Since when?

"Benedict, your reputation..."

"It's already torn up," he chuckled, "I don't expect anything, I just wanted you to know that. Please don't cry now, it wounds me..." He said with a smile and tilted his head to the side.

Marinel nodded, "Oh wow," she giggled quietly as she her cheeks started burning under his touch. Her hands made their way to his hands and pulled them down, only to hold them tight. Her thumbs rubbed his hands' soft skin and she thought about how painfully beautiful they were, for a moment. Benedict watched her appreciate his beauty before pressing her knuckles to his lips to kiss them. Marinel was smiling now, and he felt his heart ache for a moment. She was beautiful. He was really blind.

Now they were cuddling on the bed, one of Benedict's arms under her head and the other one around her waist. Marinel held his hand tightly, afraid this dream might end soon and not wanting to let him go. It didn't feel real, but it was. Nothing else happened, they didn't even share a kiss. Benedict was in pain and Marinel was there to soothe it as she was always going to be.

The young woman fell asleep quickly despite her heart that was beating fast, and Benedict had covered her body with a silk sheet. He felt the summer breeze hit skin and looked at the woman sleeping beside him. His tired eyes defeated his mind and soon, he fell asleep as well.

---

They were supposed to leave in the morning, but he didn't have the heart to wake her up so everyone left but they didn't. Marinel woke up to the sound of the door closing and there he was, with a breakfast tray.

"Good morning, darling." he smiled and walked closer to the bed, but she suddenly sat up on the bed and checked her phone, "We are late!"

Benedict chuckled quietly and shook his head, "It's alright. It was too early and I didn't want to wake you up."

"But--"

"Hush, love, I'm the boss here."

Fuck, this is hot.

Marinel bit her lip to not laugh but she failed, a low groan followed it. Her head was aching terribly, she held it between her hands and closed her eyes, "I told you to stop crying, you didn't listen."

She laughed once again and rolled her eyes playfully. He sat next to her and spoke quietly, "I didn't know what you like, so I kind of ordered them all..."

He's adorable, she thought, I'm gonna do it. I'll kiss his cheek... I'll do it. And she did. He turned to her and kissed a spot very close to her lips. She blushed and got up carefully, "I need to wash my face..." Benedict nodded, and felt guilty when he watched her hips as she walked into the bathroom.

"I couldn't get to say it last night, but you looked ravishing." He said with a smile. Marinel blushed again, "So did you. You always do, though."

"I'll win if you turn this into competition."

"I'm just telling the truth!"

They were chatting lazily in the bed with a full stomach. They had the whole day to themselves, Benedict turned his phone off because he didn't want to be disturbed. Even if it was about Julia and Jason. He didn't give a fuck about them, not anymore. He hated Julia earlier but his broken heart mended itself last night and now it was stone cold when Jason was mentioned.

After a long moment of silence, Benedict turned to her. She was smiling at him, so genuinely, so beautifully. He couldn't help but held her face and kissed her slowly at first, but when she let him put his tongue into her mouth so easily, he felt his cock twitch. Marinel didn't know what to do, where to put her hands or just how to kiss him back with his tongue inside her mouth but his hands rubbed her arms and suddenly, pulled her on top of him. His hands were on her butt, rubbing her thighs. When they were out of breath, they pulled back but their faces were still close. Benedict sensed that she was nervous, removed his hands. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable..."

"No! No you didn't, it's just... I've... Never been kissed like... Well, like you did." She bit her lip as she held onto his muscular arms.

"If you've never been kissed like that before, you haven't gone any further than that either, right?" He spoke gently.

She nodded and looked down, but he raised her chin with his fingers and smiled at her. "It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's actually even better for you, and me, if you let me be your first."

She gasped at his words, he wanted her. He wanted to sleep with her! Was it too soon? But if he hated his wife, it must have been ages since he last-- shut up! She thanked heavens that she shaved before coming here.

"Darling? Don't listen to that voice in your head. If you don't want it, we won't do it." But he would have loved to have her right there.

Marinel didn't hesitate when she said, "I want it."

Benedict was more gentle now, not wanting to freak her out. His hands took her gown off slowly, and she looked breathtaking in her underwear. Her curves, her breasts, her soft skin, he couldn't keep his hands off her. He kissed her breasts while his hands were wandering on her waist back, arms and she just held her breath. "Don't hold back, love. Let me hear you."

She let out a sigh as she pulled his hair, earned a groan from him. He laid her down on the bed and got on top of her, kissed her passionately as he started taking his pyjamas off. She was panting when he stripped down to his boxers. He was hard and she tried not to look at it, but she knew he was big. God help me, she thought, she both wanted it inside of her and was kind of scared of it. The expression on her face made Benedict chuckle, "Don't worry, love. I'll be gentle."

She wasn't even aware of it when he took her underwear off, her eyes were closed and she couldn't help but held her breath. She exhaled loudly when he took one of her nipples between his lips, his tongue lapping at the soft bud. His other hand was squeezing the other breast, and it hurt to still be in his boxers.

He did the same to the other breast and groaned when she pulled his hair, "Benedict..." she moaned quietly and her voice sent vibrations to his manhood. He need her, now.

He kissed her again as one of his hands touched her, his middle finger delved into her wetness and he moaned into her mouth when he found out she was dripping wet. He circled her clit with the same finger and she arched her back, she was too sensitive. "Oh, love," he spoke with a low voice, "You're so wet..."

After a few minutes of the torture that felt like forever, Benedict stopped and took his boxers off. He was painfully hard and now, it looked even more intimidating. He fisted himself twice while kissing her, "Are you ready?"

It wasn't like she didn't want it, she did want it inside of her, but she wasn't sure if he could enter her even... However, she trusted him. "Yes." She whispered and felt the tip of his cock against her entrance. "It'll hurt..." He whispered back, and she just nodded. She was ready.

She moaned in pain when he pushed the tip of it in, but she relaxed a bit ehen he continued rubbing her clit. "Relax, darling... Let me in..."

It wouldn't be so hard to go further if she wasn't so tight. They both moaned when he pushed in more, and then pulled back a bit slowly. The pain was easing and she started to enjoy him inside her, filling her up and touching her g spot...

And soon, she was crying out in pleasure. "OH fff--... Yes, yes, yES! Please Ben..."

Benedict chuckled through his moans, he didn't expect her to be loud. Not that he would mind. He was close, and his fingers were rubbing her clit furiously. "Cum for me, love... Come on..."

Her legs started to shake as she came, her insides squeezing Benedict's cock. He moaned loudly and knew he had to pull back if he didn't want her to get pregnant... Just yet. He actually would have loved that.

He came all over her stomach and they both were panting like a dog. He lied beside her and waited until she calmed down. "Are you alright?" He asked after a few minutes. "Yeah," she said and he got up to bring a wet, warm towel. He gently put it over her womanhood and she whimpered in comfort, it felt good. "Thank you..."

He kissed her forehead and covered her naked body with the blanket. After taking a short shower, he joined her and fell asleep.

None of them were thinking of work or Julia or Jason. Their presence was the only thing they were focused on, and now that they had each other, they could drift off to sleep in peace.

--

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it @leniram1890 😸

[itsamejin]

leave me || part 4 || suga angst || finale

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3

Warning: angst, cheating, cursing

Summary: He’s cheating and you’re aware. You just don’t know what to do about it.

–

Yoongi sat in front of Jieun’s high-rise apartment complex on a bench, suffering from the cold but ultimately unfazed. The argument that occurred only hours before hurt more than this. The tears had dried by then and the only thing that was stopping him from making his way up to her penthouse suite was the terrible numbness in his heart. 

He felt so emotionally exhausted from what happened just a few hours earlier that he found himself in front of her apartment without much thought. It was like instinct to always come back here in the middle of the night. No matter if he was drunk or stressed, Jieun’s apartment would always be the place Yoongi found himself in. 

He always came after a late night of drinking or after a particularly heated argument with you. He felt safer with her, but now Yoongi wonders if he’ll ever get a chance to right his wrongs if he didn’t break up with Jieun- to expose his wrongdoings and have a clean break. Somehow the thought of letting her go too made his heart clench even more.

Yoongi made his way into the lobby and with several deep breaths, finally got in the elevator. He pressed the button to the highest floor where Jieun resided.

The doors opened and it was then he realized that there was no turning back. Jieun was in her own living room, back facing Yoongi, as she scrolled through her phone with a wine glass in hand. She jumped slightly at the sound of the elevator opening and smiled when she saw that it was Yoongi who came up.

“Yoongi! You should have called,” she said excitedly, turning off her phone.

“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said, sorrow slightly hinted in his voice.

“Are you feeling better now, babe?” she asked as she walked up to him, wine glass still in hand. She pulled him into a short embrace and sighed into his shoulder.

“I’ve missed you,” she said quietly.

For a moment, Yoongi forgot about the argument that happened earlier. That all was right in the world and that he had both you and her by his side. He felt so selfish at that moment, but it was the truth. His feelings were so muddled he couldn’t choose between the two of you. Yoongi knew he loved you, he was sure of it. But it was something in the way Jieun carried herself that took Yoongi’s breath away just the same. He felt a lump in his throat form as he thought of it.

It should’ve been then when he confessed to Jieun of all his wrongdoings. It should have been then when he got down on his knees and begged for forgiveness- and yet the way she stared up at him without a hint of disgust or sadness had only reminded him that at least Jieun still loved him. Irrevocably and without question, Jieun was still in love with Yoongi.

Maybe that’s why instead of spilling his heart out to her, Yoongi took her wine glass and gulped it down for himself and sat it aside on a nearby table. Maybe that’s why instead of leaving the apartment with any semblance of pride left, he took Jieun by the waist and kissed her deeply. Maybe instead of leading Jieun back into the living room and pushing her down onto the couch, he could’ve told her that he had knowingly broken her heart.

But Yoongi knew what kind of person he was and so he didn’t utter a single word after. Instead, Yoongi undressed Jieun to distract himself from his own guilt.

–

Sitting at home with your chin tucked between your knees, you replayed the conversation with Yoongi from just a few hours ago. You should have at least apologized, you thought. He did deserve an explanation at the very least, but you were too caught up in your own heated emotions that you lashed out on him. How could you expect him to know what you were going through without telling him first?

No, you sighed. He deserved it.

You stood up from the comfort of your couch and raided your fridge for ice cream. It seemed to be your best friend for the past few weeks. Instead of immediately grabbing the large tub from the freezer, the sight of frozen crab sticks next to it almost brought you to tears. It reminded you so much of your first date with Yoongi all those years ago at a sushi place where you ended up paying because his check from his part-time job hadn’t come in yet. 

It was much simpler back then. He didn’t have to wear hats or masks to go out on dates. He didn’t have this facade that he was someone better than he truly was. Yoongi was just Yoongi and that’s all you could’ve asked from him.

The number of times he apologized for not being able to pay for such a cheap date brought a small smile to your face. Yoongi made it up to you later that day by taking you to a secret rooftop spot to watch the sunset together. The first time you ever felt his lips on yours, the first time you felt like love would actually last.

You banged your head against your fist to get rid of the sweet images of him in your mind.

“For the love of God, please forget about him,” you muttered to yourself repeatedly. Without even realizing, you shed tears as you gripped the freezer handle with a new purpose. You stood there crying and crying until your mother walked downstairs to see what all the commotion was in the middle of the night. She rushed over to you.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” she asked worriedly.

“I hate him,” you said, trying to convince yourself of something that wasn’t true. “I hate him so much.”

You hoped that he was alone in that stupid apartment, crying to himself and hurting just as much as you. That he regretted every single mistake he made and that his sins would live with him forever. You wished for him to hate himself as much as you hated him.

“Baby it’s alright,” she cooed. “Things will get better. They always do.”

God, you hope it will.

–

The morning came and the guilt came with it. Yoongi stroked Jieun’s hair, as they laid on the couch, nothing but a silk blanket between them. As he stared at the penthouse’s beautiful view of Seoul, he tried to ignore his clothes strewn across the floor. He shouldn’t have come in the first place if all he was going to do was hurt her even more. He tried to get up as silently as he could, but Jieun felt his warm presence leave and attempted to have him lay back down.

“Don’t go yet or I’ll miss you again,” she muttered cutely, her eyes closed and cheeks puffed. He chuckled sadly and pulled her up with him. He held onto her and smiled.

“I’m just gonna go to the restroom, okay?” he said softly, trying to move the stray hairs away from her face. Jieun nodded, but her eyes were still closed.

Yoongi stood up as she collapsed back onto the couch, the thin blanket covering her naked form. He sighed as he grabbed his boxers and gray sweatpants from the ground and put it on. Just a little while longer and then he’d tell her. He was sure that he would.

As Yoongi brushed his teeth and washed his face, he noticed how red his eyes were from the night before. No wonder Jieun had looked so concerned for him yesterday, he looked like a fucking mess. 

Yoongi took a deep breath as he studied his reflection once again. He was thankful that Jieun still took him in and comforted him without question, that she had that much loyalty towards him. Yoongi wished he could have reciprocated the amount of love either of you gave him.

Yoongi rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands. He didn’t want to lose her too. 

When Yoongi walked back into the living room, all semblance of contentment washed away because Jieun was there, clearly awake and somewhat dressed, holding a ring that he should not have brought with him in the first place. After you stormed off without it, he had put it in his pocket without thinking. He saw Jieun’s clenched jaw and angry pupils. There was no way he could avoid this situation.

“What are you doing?” he asked as kindly as he could.

“Why do you have this ring?” Jieun asked rigidly, looking back and forth between the ring and Yoongi. “It’s too small for you.”

Yoongi pursed his lips as he walked closer towards her.

“Listen, Jieun,” he started slowly, “I have to tell you something.”

Jieun knew where this was going. She had a feeling ever since Jin told her off that one night. Actually, she might have had a feeling even before then when he started his bar-hopping escapades and coming to her apartment drunker than usual. It was all leading to one thing and one thing only.

“What’s going on Yoongi?” she asked as she put down the ring on her coffee table. She stood up to meet eyes with him.

Yoongi took a deep breath. There was no real way of saying this without it hurting. He was prepared right then for her to slap him in the face.

“I had a girlfriend before you and I started dating,” he eased in, gauging her reaction that quickly turned sour. “And I never broke up with her... I just...”

It took every part of herself to not collapse onto the floor. The pain was unbearable. It seared into her as she looked into his cloudy eyes. Cheating was one thing. Being the second girl was another. In some sick way, Jieun felt dirty.

“I’ve been cheating on her with you,” he said shakily. “And I regret it so, so much.”

She stared at him, sadness and disgust laced in her gaze. Jieun couldn’t help but bite her lip to stop it from quivering. She felt trapped in her own home. As she looked up at Yoongi, he looked like a different person altogether. Not the caring and compassionate senior who showed her around his studio, not the silly boy who’d play with her pinky toe as they played a horror movie that both he and her were too afraid to watch. Before her eyes, she didn’t see the Yoongi who seemed invincible to the world’s judgment and prejudices. Instead, she saw a broken man with tired eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

“You regret being with me?” she asked, trying to appear strong but her shaky voice had given it away.

He shook his head frantically, kneeling beside her.

“No, not that. Never that,” he said, trying to take her hand but having it pushed away. “I shouldn’t have hurt either of you. That’s what I regret.”

“How long,” she asked quietly and continued on when he looked confused. “How long were you with her before you met me?”

It seemed like a pointless question. He cheated point black period. There would be no silver lining to this, she thought. She just wanted to know how long she was ruining another girl’s life.

“I was with her before I even became a trainee,” he said in a whisper. “I was with her for six years.”

It was then she heard the sound of her own heart breaking. Any semblance of hope had drained from her eyes. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“How could you?” she whimpered as she pushed him even further away, getting up from the couch. “Yoongi, how could you do that to her? How could you do that to me?”

He closed his eyes to compose himself. His throat was dry. All he wanted was a glass of water, but he had to keep talking. He needed to fix things.

"We should break up,” he said, although every part of his body screamed to stop talking. “You deserve so much better.”

She nodded in agreement, but a small part of her wanted him to stay. To crawl onto his knees and tell her that he chose her.... that he loved her more.

“I think you should go,” she said, turning her back towards him.

“I should,” he agreed. He stood up and grabbed his coat from the floor. Yoongi walked towards her slowly. It took every part of himself not to completely collapse on her body and ask for a second chance, but Yoongi knew that he didn’t deserve it. Jieun was too good for him and you were too. 

As a last goodbye, Yoongi embraced her from behind and kissed the back of her head. She didn’t have the energy to push him off. Even if she was disgusted with Yoongi, she missed this. Jieun missed thinking that she was the only girl in Yoongi’s world. As she stood there, with her eyes closed, it felt like just a few minutes ago when they weren’t fighting.

Yoongi cried into her shoulder.

“I know it’s selfish that I’m saying this all right now, but I just wanted you to know that I’m sorry. Nothing about what I did was your fault.”

He gulped as he heard her let out a sob.

“I love you, Jieun. I loved you so much when I shouldn’t have.”

The two stood there, clutching each other as if their life depended on it. There was something she couldn’t quite shake off and she needed to know.

“What’s her name?” Jieun asked.

He pulled away sadly and tried to look into her eyes but she avoided contact.

“Why?”

“Just tell me, Yoongi.”

He sighed and let her go hesitantly.

“[Y/N].”

It was the sound of your name that had made Jieun ball up her fists in anger. She collapsed to the floor hugging her knees as she cried into them. There really was no going back was there?

“You told me she was your sister,” she sobbed.

Yoongi crouched next to her and cried onto her back.

“I’m sorry,” he would say repeatedly until the words no longer held any meaning to her.

–

It didn't get easier as the days passed. You thought the blunt piercing in your chest would eventually fade, but three weeks after that conversation and it was still hard to get out of bed in the morning. Just a week before, Big Hit had announced Yoongi and Jieun breaking up from “busy schedules” and “bad timing.” You knew better, though... you just hoped Jieun was the one to break it off, not him.

You sighed deeply to yourself as you picked out clothes to wear later that day. You were finally heading back to work after weeks of paid sick leave, unable to come to work as you recovered from the illness that was Min Yoongi. You desperately needed a cup of coffee, but your parents refused to carry anymore around because they didn’t like the smell of it. I’ll just have to go to a cafe, you thought to yourself. 

After getting dressed, you called a cab to the nearest cafe that was within walking distance from your workplace. The eye-bags that haunted your face was still visible, but the taxi driver was kind enough to not point them out.

You ordered your usual and watched as yet another couple sat down at a table, drooling over themselves as they fed each other cute cakes and tiny sandwiches. You scoffed at the lovely pairs that surrounded you. Call it pessimism or bitterness, but you couldn’t stand the sight of couples that resembled your past relationship so much.

“Number 53, number 53,” the worker at the counter called. You made your way to grab your drink until a hand that reached out first got a hold of it before you. The fingers looked familiar and the scent of the person was just too distinct to ignore. You looked up and was met with a masked figure wearing sunglasses.

Jieun.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry I thought he said 64,” she said as she pulled her hand away. She hadn’t quite looked at you yet, but when she did, you swore hell froze over. She stared at you blankly and you couldn’t quite decipher what was going on in her mind. The glasses were tinted so black that you couldn’t even see her eyes underneath.

“You’re [Y/N] right?” she asked cautiously, tucking a strand of her hair back.

You nodded as you finally grabbed the drink from the counter. You took a sip from it. Bitter.

“I’m Jieun,” she said softly. “But I think you already know that.”

You could see in her eyes that she wanted to reach out and shake your hand, but it already felt a little too late to do that.

“Yeah,” you replied back curtly not knowing how to continue the conversation.

“Actually, I’m glad I bumped into you,” she said, apprehension laced in her voice. “I wanted to talk... about Yoongi.”

You sighed and checked the time on your watch. It wouldn’t be another hour until your shift started and you felt like you needed to hear what Jieun wanted to say anyways.

“I’m free for a bit.”

She smiled sadly towards you and took off her sunglasses to reveal tired eyes.

Jieun led you a table in the corner of the cafe, hidden by various plants. It was then that she took off her face mask. She looked exhausted, resembling you quite a bit just a few weeks before. She looked at you, searching for a way to start the much-needed conversation.

“[Y/N],” she said hesitantly. “I found out the day after I bumped into you. Yoongi told me everything after I found your ring on him.”

You stared up at her, unable to take a sip out of your coffee. “And?” you asked, more curious than infuriated.

You could tell she was about ready to cry. You wanted to comfort her, truly you did, but maybe it was the bitterness that stopped you from reaching out to her.

“I’m sorry, [Y/N]. I can’t help but feel like it’s my fault.”

You shook your head in understanding.

“I thought it was my fault too, but it’s not. Yoongi dug his own grave, Jieun,” you replied reassuringly. 

She chuckled slightly.

“But you know what the crazy thing is?” she asked hesitantly.

“What?”

Jieun took a moment to herself as she stared down at her fingers, fiddling with them nervously.

“I miss him, [Y/N] and I feel like I’m going crazy,” she said shakily. “Every time I see him in real life I can’t help but feel like I need him back in my life. I just... I don’t think I can live without him.”

It seemed that Jieun had grown codependent on Yoongi throughout the months they were together. It was unfortunate, but you could definitely relate to her. You were once like that at one point in your life, choosing to still be with him even though he had another woman.

“You don’t need him as much as you think you do Jieun,” you said, taking her hand from across the table into yours. “Trust me.”

You don’t really know who you were trying to convince. You weren’t even fully over Yoongi yet and here you were, offering advice to the other girl that contributed to your broken heart.

She sighed shakily and shook her head.

“I know it’s stupid. I know I shouldn’t forgive him, but I love him so much,” she said, clenching your hand into hers. 

You took out a handkerchief and gave it to Jieun, wiping away her tears with it. Her eye makeup slightly getting smudged. 

“You’re a strong girl Jieun,” you said sternly. “And you’ll be so much better off without him.”

She stared up into your eyes and chuckled slightly.

“I hope so. You seem to be doing fine,” she replied.

If she only knew.

–

Four years later... 

Your small conversation with Jieun had stuck with you throughout the years, never really escaping your mind. The two of you never saw each other again and to your dismay, Jieun did end up getting back together with Yoongi two years after the incident. They created waves in the Korean media, for weeks their love story was plastered everywhere The first celebrities to admit a reconciliation! The headlines alone made you want to gag.

It was another two years later since your least favorite couple got back together when they announced their happy engagement. You shouldn’t have been angry. In fact, it made you upset that you were even getting worked up over something that happened four years ago. It was still fresh in your memory. The nights Yoongi spent with her, the tears you cried, the youth you had given up for him. 

It was hard to admit that deep down inside, you never truly got over Min Yoongi. He’d send you flowers every year on your anniversary date with cards that said “I’m sorry” but he never contacted you at all other than that. He followed through with your wishes to never see him again and you were thankful for that. 

Sometimes, when the loneliness was too unbearable, you’d wish he was hurting just as bad as you. You hoped that Jieun was just a distraction and that she never fully replaced the amount of love and acceptance you gave him. 

It made your blood boil at the thought of Yoongi enjoying his life on a beautiful penthouse with a gorgeous and naive girlfriend at his side and praise from all of his fans. No one knew about you and no one will ever know. You could never truly forgive Yoongi for what he had taken away from you, but you still propped the flowers up near your window every time he sent them.

You tried to get over him several times and date other people, but the trust issues you carried from your previous relationship were never really resolved. You were never one for one night stands and long term relationships were a hassle too. You were stuck in this in-between area in your life where nothing really felt right and no one ever filled the void that Yoongi left in you.

You were starting to worry that no one ever would.

–

You walked down the streets of Seoul, coming back to visit from Daegu for a college reunion. Everyone was married and couldn’t stop talking about it. You got an old colleague’s phone number that you didn’t plan on calling and everyone asked you about your mysterious ex-boyfriend they never got to meet. Needless to say, you were craving to find a place that served the strongest alcohol. 

You found one, neatly tucked away in one of the various city alleyways, playing loud pop music and reruns of old sitcoms on the television. Alone at a table for two, pouring yourself soju until your heart stopped hurting as much as it did and the exhaustion had numbed.

It wasn’t like you hated your life. You traveled frequently with your high-paying job and you lived comfortably by yourself in Daegu. Your friends often told you that you smiled brighter than you did before and your parents stopped worrying about you just as much. 

It was just the idea of Jieun wearing a ring that could have been yours... it made you sick to your stomach. It just wasn’t fair. Were you supposed to forgive him? Were you supposed to live the rest of your life never truly trusting him? 

No. You were sure you made the right decision then. It’s just, during nights like these, you wondered if the hollow feeling in your heart was from you still loving him or the bitterness that came with leaving such a long term relationship.

“[Y/N]?”

You heard your name in the sea of people around you and it came from someone that you no longer recognized.

“Yoongi,” you slurred, staring directly at the man who walked towards you. Just like Jieun on that day, he had on sunglasses and a face mask. His voice was still the same, but it sounded foreign to you.

“Crazy I ran into you here,” he said awkwardly.

“Yeah.”

It looked like he had something to say and it made you antsy.

“I actually wanted to see you,” he said softly, taking the seat across from you. “I was gonna visit home and drop by your parent’s place.”

“I don’t live there anymore,” you said, grabbing your shot glass and pouring another drink.

“I know. Your friends told me,” he said shyly. “You get the flowers fine, right?”

You stared up at him. Despite his disguise, you could tell he was happy and not the kind that was temporary or disingenuous. He legitimately looked like life had dealt him a lucky hand and that made you chug down the soju much more quickly.

“What did you want to see me for?” you said, signaling to one of the servers to give you another bottle. Third one for the night. 

“I wanted to give you this,” he said pulling out a small card from the inside of his coat pocket. It didn’t take a genius to know what it was. 

A wedding invitation.

You scoffed quietly and took it in your hand, opening it carefully as to not stain it with alcohol. The colors were minty and showcased a lovely photo of Yoongi and Jieun in front of a tall forest, looking into each other’s eyes longingly. It hurt to admit, but they were in love. You missed when Yoongi looked at you like that.

“I don’t have any ill intentions giving you this,” he started, realizing the sour look on your face. “I want you to come because you were my best friend before you were my girlfriend. You were with me through thick and thin and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

You couldn’t see his eyes through the sunglasses, but you could tell he was being truthful. It warmed your heart, just a little, but it also made you want to cry. Whenever you imagined a wedding, you had always seen Yoongi and you walking down that aisle together. That it would be your dad that led you to him and that his cute nephew would hand you two the rings. That you would be the one he’d recite his vows to. It’s crazy how this was where you two were now, in a shady pub talking as if you were strangers.

You set the invitation down and pushed the shot glass away from you.

“Yoongi, I don’t want to go,” you said as calmly as you could. It was better to be honest in these situations than regret it later on.

He only nodded back in response, knowing that you’d refuse his offer.

“That’s okay,” he said sadly. “I don’t want to force you. Just know that you’re welcome to come. I want you there and Jieun does too.”

You sighed. Yoongi felt like a different person. Whether it was a character development or him being overly polite, you didn’t like the idea of him being civil.

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

He shook his head.

“No,” he replied. “I actually wanted to thank you instead of apologizing this time.”

You tilted your head out of curiosity.

“Thank me? For what?”

If he was going to say thank you for tolerating his unfaithfulness so that he could eventually get married to his mistress, you swore you’d have punched him in the mouth. But he didn’t say that. Because like it or not, Yoongi did change. 

“I wanted to thank you for being supportive of me, even when I had nothing,” he said. “And thank you for not forgiving me.”

“Why would you thank me for that?” you asked, slightly tense.

He smiled a bit.

“I needed to be single for a while to figure out what was wrong with me,” he chuckled slightly. “Jieun and I only got back together after I started attending AA meetings. I learned a lot there.”

You nodded your head in understanding, swigging around the soju bottle and wondering why the server had not come back with a new one yet. You had only tolerated him up to that point because you were tipsy, but now that you were sobering up, all you wanted to do was pour a drink over him.

“I’m really sorry for everything,” Yoongi said solemnly.

You glanced at him. It would be okay to lie just a little, right?

“You don’t need to apologize anymore Yoongi,” you said, rolling your eyes slightly. “I got over it pretty quickly.”

You enjoyed the slight look of pain that Yoongi had on him, even through the face mask. 

“That’s good [Y/N],” he said. “You deserve way more than what I gave to you.”

You were just about to reply when his phone went off from a call notification. He looked at you apologetically and stood up. 

“I have to leave, [Y/N], but call me if you ever need anything.”

Before answering the call, he waited a bit and sighed.

“It’s the least I could do for you,” he said quietly.

Even if you were to ask him to come back, beg to him on the spot that you’d give anything to be with him again, you knew that he’d kindly reject because you knew that Yoongi’s love was long gone by now and even when he was cheating you felt it wane a bit. You scoffed at your own heart breaking as you stared at his walking silhouette.

When Yoongi left, the new soju bottle you requested for finally came. And somehow, as you popped the lid open, you started to cry. The tears in your eyes were enough to fill the shot glass in your hand.

You wished that you could hate him, but your heart wouldn’t let you.... because he was still Yoongi and you were still you. 

At one point in your life, that used to be enough.

–

A/N:  Finally done! I hope y'all are okay with this ending. I knew that I didn’t want it to be the stereotypical “I’m better without him” because sometimes that’s just not realistic.

I don’t really know what to do after this so please send requests in my ask box I’m dying to write angst. Thank you all for the numerous support, I read all of your comments in the ask box and they always bring a smile to my face! I appreciate it very much <3

Tags:  @jaiuneamesolitaiire @milady-mira @somewhereinthestarss @yunkibts @cuteipat @xanny91 @mllelise

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Tokyo Love Story (Part 2) Perishing Flower

The competition is starting to get pretty heated.

@rurifangirl tagging by request

Ruri Kazama broke eye contact with you and looked around, "Is Sakura-sensei not here?"

"How do you know Sakura is not here? Have we met? Maybe he's hiding among these people, but you didn't recognize him." Caesar sized up Ruri Kazama, straightening up and looking him up and down.

"I've never met Sakura-sensei, but I think he has the eyes of a lion." Ruri Kazama smiled.

"You'd better ask a lion if he agrees with your assessment." Caesar raised an eyebrow.

Ruri’s words reminded you of the moments in the elevator that took you to the basement of Genji Heavy Industries. Z’s fearsome jealousy had reminded you of a snarling lion. Just the idea of someone else touching you was enough for him to lose his patient aloofness. But you don’t remember seeing such a fortress-like possessiveness in Lu Mingfei.

"Are you looking for us or something?" Caesar asked.

"Something indeed, but, first, let's settle the grievance at hand." Ruri Kazama walked up to the angry woman and bowed deeply, "Please forgive me, but the life of an escort is not as you say. If we are really just dogs, then you who are accompanied by dogs should also feel degraded, right?"

   "I.... I..." In front of this spring-like young man, she blushed rosy in embarrassment.  Her stomach gurgled. She had not eaten since last night.

"It sounds like you are hungry. If you don't mind, I'll make you some food first. Let's talk about the apology afterwards, okay?"

"I'm so impressed! I've been to the bar where you appeared in Osaka! Can I have a card later?" The woman was flattered as he gently ushered her away.

Even though he wasn’t speaking to you or giving you any direct attention, his honeyed words to Caesar, his positive comments about Lu Mingfei, and his quiet but firm defense of Chu Zihang calmed your irritation and you felt your assessment of him increase significantly. Who wouldn’t appreciate a man who treated your found family with dignity?

Whale followed Ruri Kazama and the other lady to the kitchen and, just like that, the tension in the room melted away. People milled about and started talking, except for your four suitors who looked like they felt at a loss. The Takamagahara was supposed to be closing, but they didn’t want to leave you with the Titan of the Male Escort world. They want to at least keep up the appearance of competition even though they felt completely outmatched.

“You can put me down…” You tell Chu Zihang.

“Your wounds will show.” He murmured.

You turned to the four men and opened your mouth and, with great effort to use your broken voice, you squeaked. “Can I borrow someone’s jacket? I’m sorry to ask this.”

In a flash, all four of them rushed to you with their warm and inviting coats, holding them out with pleading eyes even though you sure you smelled like a sewer full of rotten fish.

In the end, you picked Chance’s puffy coat. You liked that he had the nerve to laugh in this situation when you came in. He never took the situation all that seriously. You valued a sense of humor in a moment like that. Chance looked genuinely surprised. A bright smile appears on his face.

You take the jacket and Chu Zihang sets you down and helps you into it. You grace them all with a smile, flinching at the disappointment and rivalry of the men around you. The emotions among the three whose jackets you snubbed were running high in the presence of Ruri Kazama and it was a little embarrassing.  You hurry over to the Takamagahara’s fancy bar, where he was cooking breakfast for the woman who had assaulted Chu Zihang.

Ruri Kazama skillfully turned on the induction cooker and kettle and poured the milk and cocoa powder into the blender while frying the eggs. He found half of a fresh pine mushroom and two shiitake mushrooms in the fridge, diced them, and spread them on top of the eggs. The golden noodles were poured into a bowl. Ruri Kazama seasoned them with fish sauce and scallions. The pine mushroom omelette was spread on the noodles, and the hot cocoa was ready. Less than ten minutes later, breakfast was presented on a tray and brought to the lady.

"The ingredients are not quite complete, so please bear with me." Ruri Kazama said apologetically.

The lady took a bite of the omelette and her lip trembled. For a brief moment, you understand that deep down, she was so miserable and incredibly lonely, that she would spend thousands on her selfish desire for Chu Zihang, but would shed tears over a simple breakfast served up with a tender heart. You feel an uneasy movement in your chest. Why was he making you feel sorry for this woman when you wanted to kill her mercilessly just a few minutes ago?

Then you remembered the female deadpool, whose claw now hung on your belt. You felt something towards that mindless creature before you shot it. You huff, smiling dryly. You never thought of yourself as a sentimental person, but you weren't completely devoid of compassion. You felt sorry for that monster. Why not this one?

Ruri now approaches you, wiping his pale delicate hands with a warm, moist towel. In the morning light, the side of his face has a sparkling sheen of sweat. His skin seems to be as fine as rice paper.

“It is said that the flowers that bloom in Siberia are the most beautiful.” Ruri’s silken voice was very soft next to you, and the men gathered in the hall strained to hear what he was saying.

“They don’t last very long though.” Your words were also very quiet, but rough, like a scratched up vinyl record, as your voice was still paralyzed from fighting in the fire. Your tired, pessimistic response might have shocked those who could hear it, especially coming from a young beautiful girl. Such words are more appropriate for an old and weary woman. Ruri Kazama was supposed to be famous, but you didn’t know him. Without that clout of reputation, his line was cheap when placed against the background of your dark reality. And at this moment, you weren’t going to mince words with him. Tired and sore, you were at your most vulnerable but also at your most unforgiving.

Ruri, however, nodded once in confirmation, his voice lowered even more. “Indeed. Further… the line between full bloom and decay is impossible to see.”

Within your heart, something stirs again. It’s not love or compassion, but a deep ache, a sorrow that nestled there. It tightened like a string around your throat. You couldn’t deny the truth of these words. You were young, like a blooming flower, but death followed you so close it breathed down the back of your neck. Each day could be your last.

Ruri’s voice stayed gentle and kind. “But don’t be sad, Main Character. Now is your time to shine in the sun and dance with the other flowers. Look around you. The most handsome men in Tokyo are bowing at your feet. You have dined with the most powerful men of Japan. Do you know why?”

Even if you hadn’t lost your voice, you’re so choked up that you can only speak in a hoarse whisper. “Why?”

“Because it’s these small, ephemeral blooms that men will travel hundreds of thousands of miles to see… and it’s women like you, perishing flowers in full bloom, that men desire the most.” He then takes the bouquet of tulips from the bar counter and offers them to you.

Such poetry, wit, and charm were enough to make Caesar annoyed. Not only was there a super hybrid that surpassed him, but a male escort with more appeal than him! Ruri Kazama’s winsome words were affecting some of the men in the crowd who blinked, misty eyed, and turned away to pretend to wipe away a bit of dust.

You let out a soft sigh and look at the bouquet of tulips. They seemed to be bought from a convenience store. Chu Zihang was right. This wasn’t about physical beauty, popularity or riches. He could tempt you with a simple suit and cheap flowers because your heart stirred at his words. He pulled up the emotions from deep inside like a skilled fisherman. He was unlike the other men who were gaudy, energetic. With practiced ease, he opened your heart, no alcohol required.

You looked back up at him. He had a knowing look in his eyes. At that look, the sorrow faded and something else turned over in your soul, as though you were sitting at a card table and you flipped the cards over in a game of Blackjack!  You take a breath and lift yourself up a little straighter. “Perishing flower? Do you think I’m perishing? Mr. Kazama, you are mistaken.”

A loud gasp rippled through the room.  Had you met the night before the raid at Genji Heavy Industries, there was no doubt that you would have fallen sobbing into his arms and given him a star heart. You’re not sure where he got his information from. It would have been accurate. Yesterday, you were perishing. You were not only hunted by death, but you had been actively seeking it.

But that changed. You had to live. For Caesar, for Renata, for Z… for yourself. With your melancholic response, you’d baited him, even if it wasn’t intentional, into revealing that he was no Caesar Gattuso. His heart was like how your heart had been, seeing the decay even as he bloomed.

“If you’re seeking a star-heart from me, then it's too late. The Takamagahara is closed. However, you’ll have another opportunity tonight. I’ve not given anyone a star-heart ticket, so you’re still in the running.”

Ruri Kazama’s eyes fell, realizing that, like the suitors before him, he too had lost this round. His smile remained frozen on his face for a moment, but then he retracted his flower bouquet, silently accepting his loss.

As Ruri moved back around the bar,  the entire room was stunned and frozen with shock. The large woman’s fork clattered to the plate and she stared open-mouthed at you. Never in six years had any woman refused Ruri Kazama! Quick to jump on an opportunity, the woman reached for Ruri as he passed. “It’s alright, Master Kazama. You don’t have to pay attention to …”

Ruri Kazama pressed a finger to her puffy lips and smiled. “If I won on the first day, it wouldn't be much of a show, would it?”

The woman nodded briefly, her eyes following him as he moved away. Then she glared at you and took another bite of her omelette, turning up her nose. “Hmph!”

Caesar's face was full of black lines, looking all the world like a jealous and protective older brother. Ruri approached him, humbly nodding his head.

"Having heard of the grace of three fellow masters, BasaraKing, Ukyo Tachibana and Sakura, and, with a desire in my heart to get to know the Main Character, I came here to invite you to watch my Kabuki performance tomorrow night." Ruri Kazama held the tulip bouquet in his hand to Caesar.

Caesar looked into the bouquet before taking it. From inside of it, he removed four envelopes. After examining them for a moment, his whole body tensed and he gave Ruri Kazama a sharp glare. Ruri Kazama leaned forward and whispered something in Caesar’s ear.

"I look forward to seeing all four of you at the show." Ruri Kazama  raised his voice and bowed deeply in farewell. He turned toward the door as a black Rolls-Royce sedan gilded noiselessly up to the curb and the driver pulled the door open for him.

"There's a call for BasaraKing. It sounds like Sakura," Fujiwara Kansuke said, holding a cellphone.

You sit up straight abruptly and gasp at the pain that shoots through your back.

Caesar took the phone, "It's me. You're actually not dead?"

Chu Zihang lightly touched your shoulder. “Lu Mingfei is probably alright. Let’s go. I’ll prepare a bath and let you rest.”

In the elevator, Chu Zihang stood next to you. His pale face was turned technicolor by the gaudy lights of the car. “I really thought that you would accept the bouquet. You seemed to react to Ruri Kazama.”

“He’s something special, that’s for sure.” You pulled the jacket over your shoulder, feeling cold after coming in from the rain. “Were you moved by his words?”

“I was more moved by yours.”

You tilt your head up at Chu Zihang, smirking, “A… sou-ka?” was a phrase you’d heard frequently and picked up. “You’re not competing though.”

Chu Zihang had just put the fire under the big barrel and filled it when Caesar knocked. He stepped out of the room for a moment and shut the sliding door. They were speaking quietly to each other for a minute or so, but you couldn’t make out what they were saying. Chu Zihang moved back to the door but didn’t open it. “Lu M… I mean Sakura needs someone to pick him up. We’ll be back soon.”

“Stay out of trouble.” You slip out of your body suit as slowly and carefully as you can. Dry blood still fell from the skintight suit in chunks. Your soft, supple pale skin is contoured with years worth of cultivated muscle and scars, but your curves are still quite feminine. You were no wraithlike beauty. Your looks could be more comparable to a tigress. Your own smell hits as you sink into the warm water of the barrel, down to your neck. Before long, all the tension and pain in your body started to melt away and you sighed, your dark hair spreading into the water.

After about ten minutes, you hear a slow soft clap. You open your eyes. “Z… Hentai.”

“You don’t have anything I haven’t seen before. I want to congratulate you on facing the Dragon of all Men and easily routing him. You are truly a dragon slayer.” You turn your head. He was leaning against the wall in a leather jacket and pants, looking like he had ridden in a motorcycle here. He picked up the Deadpool claw and was tapping it against his black serrated army knife and making kissing noises.

“You wanna explain why you almost got us all killed?” You ask, eyes narrowing.

“What are you talking about?” He lowered the knives to look at you directly.

“You know what I’m talking about! I came this close to dying!”

“I didn’t ‘almost get you killed’. Those things had to die, and I showed you how to kill them! And you had fun, didn’t you?”

You turn away from him and let out a breath, settling deep into the water. “Yeah. I have to admit, you got me good with that laser pointer strat. But we almost died, Z.”

Z strolled in front of you again, sheathing his weapon and tapping the deadpool claw in his palm. “Plus you came away with this lovely souvenir. You know these are the sort of things legendary weapons are made out of.” He holds up the claw to the light. “But this is just a raw bone… it’s a bit vulgar to just be carrying around something like this. I should dress up properly, for a lady such as yourself.”

“Z…” You sigh. “When are you going to let me know what’s going on?”

“That time is coming soon. Very soon. The Kabuki performance will explain a lot to you. So play close attention, girl. There will be a test later.” He sets the claw down on a table and picks up his cell phone.

"I can't even ask one question?"

"You can ask one." He was texting and not looking at you.

"What is your relationship with Lu Mingfei?"

He answered quickly, much to your surprise. "He's my older brother. He doesn't like me much, so don't tell him I talk to you." He put the cell phone in his pocket. “In the meantime, I have to warn you not to fall in love with Ruri Kazama.”

“It’s okay… I don’t think I can fall in love with anyone anyway.”

“Not even me?” He looked up, his yellow eyes widening.

You gather your knees to your chest. You grumble, your heart sinking when you remember your kiss with him in the elevator. “When I told you I thought I loved you, you mocked me. You said I didn’t know what love was. You don’t even believe in it.”

“I never said I didn’t believe in it. I said I was curious. Everyone our age gets curious, right?”

You looked up at him, searching his face with anxious confusion. He looked at you seriously, like he was annoyed about something.  Your heartbeats faster under that golden gaze. Was he saying he did feel something for you? Or that he wanted to?

Z was quietly turning the claw in his hands while you watched him. “It’s tiring replaying the same old story. I think I’ll join the game.”

He set the claw down, having made a decision. He approached you. “Sleep well, you’ll need your strength tomorrow.” He leaned over and gave you a little kiss on the top of the head. He took a step out of your peripheral vision. When you looked to follow his movement, he had already vanished.

In the server room of the Takamagahara, the computer array controlling the game statistics for the MC Romance Competition lit up on its own. The machine beeped and made little scratching noises. The roster of contenders for the heart of the Main Character was edited to include one more space. Next to Ruri Kazama’s name and picture was another picture, but it was just a human shaped shadow. Underneath the shadow was a single letter.

Z.

[babybluebanshee]

Things I’ve Had to Deal With as a City Librarian: This Again

The library continues to be a vexing place, and so I continue to chronicle the madness. This is my burden. My curse.

- A teenage girl (probably at least 14) kept coming in and checking things out on her mother’s card. The card expires, and we tell the girl she can’t use it until the mother comes in to renew it. Our director received a call a few days later from the very angry mother, telling him she would, under no circumstances enter our library to renew the card. She would do it over the phone, but she refused to come in. The director thought it was due to covid concerns (valid), but before he can say a word, the mother, completely unprompted, went into a tirade about how she hates libraries and books and thinks that ours should burn to the ground because it was a waste of space and money. The only reason she got a library card at all was because her daughter begged her to, and she refused to let the daughter get her own, because “children don’t need library cards”. Finally, the director let her renew the card over the phone, simply to get her to shut up. Tellingly, we haven’t seen the daughter in about two months now.

- A woman came in to print something from our computers, and asked for help because she wasn’t very computer savvy. Not too out of the ordinary, except for one thing - this poor woman had a horrible ear infection and could barely hear a word. I managed to help her get what she needed in a relatively short amount of time, despite having to practically scream at her to be able to hear me. 

- A woman with a 23-page fax came in. It was front and back, so I had to do it manually on the glass of the copier. Right as I finished the last page, she got a phone call from the people she was sending it to. After she hung up, she told me that I could go ahead and cancel the fax, they’d rather she send it via e-fax, and she had a scanner at home, so she could do it there. She didn’t even apologize for making me do all that work. 

- An elderly lady came in asking if someone could help her set up an email account. Since I had nothing to do, I decided I could help her out. I ended up spending about an hour helping her because she knew nothing about computers. She didn’t know how to type, how to use a mouse, or what an address bar or browser or password was. I had to help her through every single solitary step to finally produce a useable gmail. When I finally had her ready to go, she revealed the reason she wanted to get an email account - an old flame from when she was young had come back into her life, but he lived in Florida. So they wanted to keep in touch. They probably exchanged emails for about a month after she first set it up. Then she came in one day, slid a candy bar into my hand, and told me she was leaving to go down to Florida to be closer to him. I hope they’re happy.

- An elderly couple came in with a tree branch they’d found on their property, and asked if we had any books about identifying Missouri trees because they’d never seen one like the one they had before. Most of the ones we did have had been checked out, so I decided to google it for them. They were very impressed by this, and were even more impressed when I found a picture that looked exactly like the branch they’d brought in. Turns out it was a persimmon tree. We spend about half an hour after that talking about persimmon trees and how messy they could be and how the husband and his friends used to steal persimmons from their mean teacher’s yard. It was utterly adorable. 

- A little girl and her dad came in, both equally excited about getting library cards after recently moving to the area. The chattered about all the books they were going to get, even more so after I told them they could have up to ten at a time. When they were done, the daughter sheepishly asked if we had any books about ancient Egypt. So not only did I make sure to load her up with books and show her how to use the card catalogue, but I also discovered she didn’t know anything about King Tut, so we had a long discussion about mummies and archeology. Her dad clearly wasn’t as into it as her, but he tried his hardest to be enthusiastic, and actually said, “Yeah! Mummies! Woo!” at one point. I had to go in the back after they left because I was so overwhelmed by how cute they were. 

- We check our phone messages every morning. It’s usually just people who forgot to renew their books before we close, but occasionally we’ll get weird ones. Like the guy who left us a long, rambling message about how his oven wasn’t working, so he tried calling city electric, and they gave him this number, but this was the number for the library, so why had they given him that one? And why weren’t we open? “Doesn’t anyone in this town work?” It went on for twenty minutes like that. My coworker Rachel initially listened to it and pulled me over to listen to it too because she was laughing so hard. We hope that guy eventually got his oven fixed, and that he realized he called us on a Sunday. 

- Rachel was out policing and a man came in with a bag from McDonald’s. He sat at one of our computers and proceeded to burst into tears. I wasn’t there for this, so I don’t know what happened after, but Rachel did say she felt so bad for him she didn’t even tell him he couldn’t have food at the computers.

- A woman asked me to make some copies for her, and I had walked a bit away before I realized I hadn’t asked her how many she needed. She didn’t hear me at first, and proceeded to pull down her mask and lean her ear in to hear me better. I still puzzle over the logic there.

- One night, near closing, Lori went to check the men’s bathroom and found clothes strewn everywhere. Pants, shirts, a few pairs of underwear, and even a belt were hanging from the stalls, the sinks, and even the urinals. A JC Penney’s bag was in the corner, which was presumably what the clothes had been in. No one who was still in the library claimed the clothes. I have no idea what the director decided to do with them. 

- My coworker Rayne was helping a lady print off some tax forms. The woman was older, and told Rayne this would be her first time doing her taxes on her own since her husband died. Rayne expressed her sympathy, and the woman decided that was an invitation to tell her about finding her husband’s bloody corpse in their shed, and how it had gotten everywhere and stained her shoes a bit. She didn’t tell Rayne exactly why he was bloody before she paid for her copies and left, wishing Rayne a nice day. Rayne needed a good sit-down after that.

- I was cleaning our study rooms, and when I walked into the last one, I immediately gagged because it smelled like someone walked in, farted like a machine gun for an hour, then walked out. It was vile. I had to grab a bottle of air freshener and just blast it for a solid minute to cut through the smell. 

[sweetness47]

The Sleeping Beauty

Pairing Sam x Reader

@spnfluffbingo square filled: fairy tale AU

Warnings: nothing really, I don’t think anyways. Implied smut at the end? Mild violent scenes. Nothing too descriptive anywhere.

Final word count: 1924

Sam brought his arm around YN, smiling as she settled into his warm embrace. They were just hanging around, channel flipping, enjoying the quiet evening. Dean was at the bar, and Cas had gone with him, it was almost like a date, but neither would admit such a thing.

YN shivered as Sam traced along her arm, the touch so feathery soft, yet spoke volumes to the thoughts going through his mind. One of the things she liked about Sam was his quiet demeanor, the way   caressed her with a mere look, undressed her with his eyes. The thoughts that danced across his beautiful hazel orbs every time he looked at her, like she was a goddess, and he worshipped the ground she walked on, they made her feel like she could do anything as long as she had him.

They gazed at each other, lost in their silent caresses, too entranced to notice the lights flicker. There was a storm outside, so it would have been shrugged off as coincidence, until the TV went wonky, the picture flitting off and on, landing briefly on the screen of death, then landing on a movie.

“Sam, weren’t we watching Food network? How did we end up on Disney?”

Sam glanced at YN, then at the tv. Frowning, he looked back at his love. “No idea, must be some weird effect from the storm. Anyways, its one of your favorites. We can watch it if you want.”

He knew her well. Sleeping Beauty was indeed one of her all time favorite Disney classics. She was a sucker for romance and brave heroes.

YN snuggled closer to Sam. “Ok. Can you turn it up a bit though? It’s really quiet.”

No sooner did Sam touch the remote, a brilliant white light lit the entire room, and when it had subsided, Sam and YN were no longer there.

**

YN woke feeling strange, but she couldn’t figure out why. She also had no clue as to why she could hear birds chirping and smell fresh forest air. It was that moment her eyes flew open, noting she wasn’t in her bed, neither was she in her house.

In fact, she was most definitely not in her realm.

She was a cartoon, and not just any cartoon, but she was in fact, Princess Aurora.

But where was Sam? How did they get there? And how on Earth were they ever going to get home?

**

Sam woke standing in a stable, beside a horse. A cartoon horse. Running over to the fresh bucket of water, he glanced at his reflection and was shocked to see he was a cartoon. He was in Sleeping Beauty. He was Prince Philip, actually.

Maybe, YN was Aurora.

But how did this happen? He remembered when he had been transported with Dean and Cas into Scooby Doo, so maybe this was the same kind of deal. As long as they played out the story, they should be returned to their world at the end.

He just had to make sure he didn’t die, and that YN was unharmed as well. He’d only seen this particular movie a couple of times, but he knew the basics. It looked like they had come into the movie about midway, where Phillip is getting ready to go riding in the forest, and meets Aurora for the first time.

He saddled Samson and easily swung up onto the horse. He paced his ride to a slow trot, enjoying the natural sounds of the forest, but also listening for the musical voice that would lead him to YN/Aurora. He had heard her sing to many of the Disney films they’d watched over the years, and knew she could carry a tune fairly well. His opinion might be somewhat bias but in his heart he knew she was more than capable of playing this role.

**

YN, having seen this movie many times, played the role of Briar Rose perfectly. She was sent by the fairies to pick berries in the woods. She strolled along the paths, feeling the grass tickle her feet as she walked. For fun, she decided to see if she could really sing like the princess in the film, so she began humming, then quietly singing lines about animals having someone to love, yet she remained single. Her heart hoped the Prince was Sam, because he was who she desired the most.

As expected, the lovebirds finally find each other. Sam practically leaps off the horse and catches YN in his arms as she meets him halfway. They dance along the grassy meadow and sing together, gazing into each other’s eyes lovingly.

They know they can’t stay there, or run away together, if they want to go back to their own world, so Sam and YN reluctantly part ways, promising to finish the story so they can live happily ever after. Together in each other’s arms, forever.

YN returns to the cottage in the glen and finds the surprise dress and birthday cake her guardians have made. They then tell her the truth of her identity, and YN feels her heart break as she pretends to be distraught over the thought of never seeing the young man she met in the forest. Dressed in the beautiful blue gown, and covered in a blue cloak, the three fairies carefully lead the princess to her home and to her parents.

Once there, they lead her to a secluded room so they can keep her safe till the sun has set, thereby foiling the prophecy Maleficent had bestowed upon Aurora when she was a baby. The three of them combined their magic to create a beautiful crown to place upon YN’s head. She looked at the golden tiara and broke down into sobs, her head resting upon her arm on her dresser as she shed tears for her beloved.

When the fairies left her alone for a few minutes, YN knew what would come next, but the trance caused by the green orb took away all her sorrows, but also took away her free will. It was like watching from outside her body. Her mind was being controlled, but she still had her own consciousness. Ever so slowly, she climbed the steps to the top tower, where her fate awaited.

The princess entered the room the orb had coaxed her to, and walked toward the spinning wheel that stood in the middle of the floor. She could hear a menacing voice telling her to touch the spindle of the spinning wheel, but she hesitated briefly, then as the voice in her head grew more demanding, she could no longer resist.

The last thing she remembered was pricking her finger on the sharp point, her body crumpling to the ground as a deep slumber overtook her.

**

Sam made his way to the cottage he’d been ‘invited to’ by YN, but he couldn’t exactly remember what would happen next. He knew Phillip would get captured by Maleficent, and that it would be soon, but when he knocked on the cottage and stepped in, he wasn’t prepared to be overcome so quickly. The evil hordes quickly tied him up and took him away, his anger rising as the evil witch laughed at him.

Chained to the dungeon wall in Maleficent’s home, he listened to her goad him, telling him she would release him in 100 years to rescue his love, then laughing at him as he struggled to break free and kill her.

Once she left him, the three fairies, who had found Aurora lying on the ground in the tower, snuck inside the forbidden mountain where the evil witch resided, and freed Phillip from the chains. Bestowing upon him the Shield of Faith and the Mighty Sword of Truth, they led him to freedom and, after freeing Samson, they helped him escape.

Maleficent heard the commotion and was beyond angry at the incompetence of her minions. She sent a cursed wall of thorns to stop Sam from getting to the castle, but the sword he’d been gifted with cut the magical weeds with ease. He would take on the world if it meant rescuing his beloved YN.

When the thorns failed to stop him, Maleficent appeared before Phillip and spoke these words, “Now shall you deal with me, O Prince, and all the powers of hell!”

With a maniacal laugh, the witch changed, grew, and there before Sam stood a large black dragon. Sam charged at the dragon, and was met with a fiery blast. The shield easily protected him, and Phillip jumped off his horse to fight the great beast. Maleficent snapped her jaws at him, breathed fire at him, but the prince remained strong and vigilant.

When a rather powerful blast knocked Phillip’s shield away, Maleficent laughed and reveled in her almost victory. He wouldn’t survive now that he had no shield. But while she laughed, the three good fairies enchanted the Sword of truth:

O Sword of Truth, fly swift and sure,

That evil die and good endure!

When they finished the spell, Sam threw the sword at the large dragon, piercing her heart. With a great cry, the evil Maleficent fell to her death, never to darken the kingdom again.

With her death, the thorns and fire disappeared, allowing Sam to enter the castle and seek out YN. He reached the room where the fairies had laid her down on a soft bed, and bent down to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. YN woke, smiling as she gazed into her lover’s eyes.

They made their way to the grand ball room and paid respect to the king and queen, YN rushing to embrace her ‘parents’. Then the prince and princess danced and shared a kiss, and lived happily ever after.

As they kissed, lights flashed, blinding them, and they held on to each other, hoping they were going back home.

**

Sam and YN opened their eyes and found themselves back in the living room, the tv back on the Food channel and everything back to normal. They remembered everything though. Sam cleared his throat, and looked at YN.

“That was interesting.” He commented.

“It was, definitely, and kinda fun.” She replied.

“It got me thinking YN. I don’t want to waste any more time just dating you. I love you. I want to marry you, have children with you, grow old with you. Say you’ll be mine.”

YN felt her eyes sting with happy tears. “Sam, I can’t imagine any part of my future where you are not in it. You complete me, and you’ve made me the happiest woman in the world. I love you so much, and I can’t wait to marry you, grow old with you, and have children with you.” She giggled as she said the last part. “Speaking of…I was going to tell you tonight anyways, but, um, we’ve already started the having children part.”

Sam’s eyes widened as her words caught up with him. “Really?”

The biggest grin she’d ever seen adorned his face as he joyously swung her around, planting kisses all over her face and neck. Picking her up bridal style, he took her to their room where he spent most of the night showing her how much he loved her.

@legion1993 @drkcnry67 @lyarr24 @idreamofplaid​

[tiramisiyu]

【未定事件簿】 Tears of Themis: Main Story 7-11 Translation

Translation Masterlist | Video

Chapter 7 – Rains of Monte Cristo: 7-1 / 7-3 / 7-5 / 7-7 / 7-9 / 7-11 / 7-13 / 7-15 / 7-17 / 7-19  ♦️ ♦️  7-20 / 7-22 / 7-24 / 7-26 / 7-28 / 7-30 / 7-32 / 7-34 / 7-35

In the afternoon, Yan Wei received Lu Jinghe and I at the city police station.

Yan Wei: So it was you who took on Wang Chunchong’s case?

MC: Yes, Leader Yan, I’ll have to trouble you again.

Yan Wei: No need to be so polite.

Lu Jinghe: We’ve already gotten an initial understanding of the case, though there are a few questions that we’d like to confirm with you in detail.

Yan Wei: No problem, go ahead.

START QUESTIONING

Murder Case Details

MC: This murder happened at the beginning of the year, so the police must have dealt with it like a missing persons case back then, yes?

Yan Wei: Indeed.

Yan Wei: At the end of January this year, Hang Jiahe reported to us that her parents Hang Fei and Qi Yu might have gone missing.

Yan Wei: The unit immediately dispatched people to their residence for investigation, but…

Yan Wei: Aside from noticing a few washed plates on the bar counter and some dragging marks on the nearby floor…

Yan Wei: There were no abnormalities in the home.

Yan Wei: After, we obtained the surveillance videos of the apartment and a few nearby streets, from which we did not discover their whereabouts either.

Yan Wei: So back then, this case could only be temporarily deemed as a “missing persons case”, to await the appearance of more clues to make a conclusion.

Lu Jinghe: But this wait went up until one week ago?

Yan Wei: Yes. I believe that you know what happened after.

Yan Wei: We detected only the fingerprints of the third person on the murder weapon – Wang Chunchong’s fingerprints.

Yan Wei: And the G24D found within the bodies of the victims is only being sold by Wang Pharmaceuticals…

Yan Wei: Thus, using Wang Chunchong as the focal point, we re-investigated locations related to the case.

Yan Wei: This time, aside from the nature park’s entrance surveillance video, we also discovered something new in the victims’ home.

MC: Discovered something new…

Police’s New Discovery

Lu Jinghe: What did you notice in the victims’ house?

Yan Wei: We detected a large amount of abnormal scalp tissue residue on the sofa cushions.

Yan Wei: That residue was not due to typical skin cell shedding, as there was also a small amount of blood on it.

Yan Wei: Combined with the dragging marks we discovered during the first investigation and the cleaned dishes…

Yan Wei: We believe that, on the night of the crime, Wang Chunchong first brought food with G24D in it and entered the victims’ home.

Yan Wei: When the victims lost consciousness and the ability to resist, perhaps to prevent blood from splattering, or perhaps to muffle the sound…

Yan Wei: He carried the two onto the ground, placed the sofa cushions on their heads, then started to deal aggressive blows at them.

Yan Wei: This resulted in the deaths of Hang Fei and Qi Yu due to intracranial bleeding.

MC: (It sounds overall like a reasonable course of events, though I still need to confirm details.)

MC: (Aside from that, why was the scalp tissue residue only detected on the second time?)

MC: Leader Yan, can you confirm that the inspected sofa cushion was always the same one?

Yan Wei: We confirmed with the photos of the crime scene from before – they’re the same.

Yan Wei: Additionally, we also investigated Wang Chunchong’s related circumstances at the same time, and discovered the proof that he took G24D, as well as his crime motive.

Yan Wei: Combining these with the nature park surveillance videos and the murder weapon creates the chain of evidence that we accused Wang Chunchong with.

MC: (Right, there’s also the surveillance video from the nature park.)

Surveillance Video Abnormalities

MC: Leader Yan, regarding the nature park’s entrance surveillance video…

MC: This video only records entrances into and exits from the mark. It does not involve any movements after one enters the park.

MC: Why did the police judge that Wang Chunchong went to discard the corpses when he appeared in the video?

Yan Wei: This comes from combining with the fingerprints on the murder weapon, as well as the time that Hang Fei and Qi Yu died, deduced by forensics.

Yan Wei: According to the inspection results and the final actions of the victims before death, Hang Fei and Qi Yu were murdered at 10pm.

Yan Wei: We retrieved the entire surveillance records of the apartment’s main entrance as well as the nature park’s entrance between 10pm to the next day at 12am and compared them.

Yan Wei: We ended up discovering that within this time period, Wang Chunchong just happened to be transporting items towards the nature park.

Yan Wei: Of course, to exclude the possibilities of others performing the crime, we also audited all others who appeared within this time period with suspicious actions.

Yan Wei: But the detection results still indicated that only Wang Chunchong’s suitcase had the victims’ DNA. No one else was out of the ordinary.

Yan Wei: Thus, we concluded that on the night of the crime, Wang Chunchong discarded the corpses in the nature park.

MC: (Could it have to do with the victims’ final movement trails…)

Victims’ Final Movement Trails

Lu Jinghe: How were the two victims’ final whereabouts confirmed?

Yan Wei: Based on the apartment main door’s surveillance videos.

Yan Wei: The video indicated that on the night of the crime at 9pm, Qi Yu once left the apartment.

Yan Wei: 45 minutes after, she returned. After, she and Hang Fei never appeared again.

Lu Jinghe: Are you sure that the person who appeared then was Qi Yu herself?

Yan Wei: We’re sure. The security guard of the apartment saw her back then.

--

[Flashback]

Yan Wei: Are you sure that the person you saw was Qi Yu herself?

Security Guard on Duty: I’m sure. I even helped the madam carry two suitcases onto her car.

Yan Wei: Suitcases? What for?

Security Guard on Duty: The madam said that they contained clothes and blankets she was preparing to send over to a new house in the suburbs.

Security Guard on Duty: Those two cases were pretty heavy, and it was quite exhausting for me.

Yan Wei: Then did you feel like something was up with Qi Yu back then?

Security Guard on Duty: Aside from how she wasn’t very talkative that day, and was also wearing a facemask and hat…

Security Guard on Duty: There were no other abnormalities.

Security Guard on Duty: It was near midnight, after all, and quite cold that day, which is why the madam would be like that.

[Flashback end]

--

MC: (It sounds like there aren’t any issues, but regarding the details… I feel like it’s strange.)

MC: (I’ll record it first, then investigate it after.)

Yan Wei: Although about that apartment, there’s something that I’m not sure if you two know.

Yan Wei: Hang Jiahe, Wang Chunchong, as well as the murdered couple lived in the same building.

Yan Wei: Hang Fei and Qi Yu lived on the tenth floor, Wang Chunchong lived on the eleventh floor, and Hang Jiahe lived on the twelfth floor.

MC: These three sets of people actually lived in the same apartment?

Lu Jinghe: Yaofu Community is a very well-known high-end community.

Lu Jinghe: Many of the wealthy who live in Stellis City and those who’ve returned from abroad have all purchased real estate here.

Lu Jinghe: It’s not too strange for them all to live here.

Yan Wei: Although, the locations of their homes are also somewhat particular. You two can go see the location after.

MC: Sure.

G24D

MC: Leader Yan, what was the proof that Wang Chunchong had G24D?

Yan Wei: When we examined Wang Pharmaceuticals’ warehouse outgoing goods records, we noticed that in a period of time before the case…

Yan Wei: A small portion of G24D was signed off and taken by Wang Chunchong.

Yan Wei: Are you sure the person who took the drug was Wang Chunchong?

Yan Wei: We aren’t extremely certain about this. It’s been a while since then, and the warehouse management couldn’t quite recall.

Yan Wei: The only thing that we could draw conclusions from was the signature on the warehouse record.

MC: …

Wang Chunchong’s Murder Motive

MC: Leader Yan, how did you decide on what Wang Chunchong’s murder motive must’ve been?

Yan Wei: Regarding this, you can see the victims’ examination reports first.

I opened the examination reports that I’d received earlier.

Yan Wei: Forensics noticed that when the crime occurred, multiple fierce blows were dealt.

MC: Many times… then if the murderer was not severely fearful, then they were severely angry…

[Obtained Hang Fei and Qi Yu’s Inspection Reports!]

Yan Wei: Correct. After, we interviewed the neighbors around them, and found out that Wang Chunchong had gotten into a conflict with the couple due to the betrothal gift before.

Yan Wei: It’s said that they had quite a few fights, and there was once when the fight almost got taken to the police station.

Yan Wei: We suspect that Wang Chunchong has held a grudge over this the whole time…

Yan Wei: So under the excuse of an apology, he entered the victims’ home on the day of the crime and carried out the murder.

MC: Then how is the relationship between Hang Jiahe and the murdered couple?

Yan Wei: Based on the interviews, their relationship is decent, and they’re a happy family.

Yan Wei: The neighbours often seen Hang Jiahe go out on vacation with her adoptive parents, and the family will also have dinner together on set dates.

Yan Wei: There are also neighbours who say that, though Hang Jiahe and Qi Yu are not biologically related…

Yan Wei: But their physiques, appearances, as well as their attitudes and relations with each other are just like a biological mother and daughter.

Yan Wei: We also investigated Hang Jiahe’s actions that day. She has ample evidence that she was not there.

Lu Jinghe: …

Proof that Hang Jiahe was not there

Lu Jinghe: What was the proof that Hang Jiahe was not there?

Yan Wei: On the day of the crime, Hang Jiahe left her residence at 7pm towards a suburban vacation villa to rest.

Yan Wei: She stayed there until the morning of the next day.

Lu Jinghe: Can anyone attest to this?

Yan Wei: We looked up the vacation villa surveillance videos. It matches her actions.

Lu Jinghe: …

MC: Then what were Wang Chunchong’s actions like on the day of the crime?

Yan Wei: Aside from the hour when he headed for the nature park, he stayed at home all day that day and never left the apartment.

Yan Wei: As for what he went to the nature park to do, he said himself that to the eastern shoals of the park to stargaze.

Yan Wei: But that shoal was not open at the beginning of the year due to the water level rising, so it couldn’t be entered.

Yan Wei: So…

MC: I understand.

MC: Aside from Wang Chunchong and Hang Jiahe, has the proof that any others related to the case weren’t at the scene of crime been investigated?

Yan Wei: All of it, yes.

Yan Wei: Hang Fei and Qi Yu stayed abroad before and only returned to Stellis City in the past few years. Thus, their interpersonal relationships are extremely simple.

Yan Wei: Aside from their daughter Hang Jiahe and son-in-law Wang Chunchong, they basically had no interactions with others.

MC: (Not even with Xu Yin? But compared to the relationship she described between her and Hang Jiahe…)

MC: (There shouldn’t be no relationship at all between her and Hang Fei and Qi Yu, right?)

MC: (Could it be… Xu Yin was lying before?)

MC: (Or… there’s something else fishy going on between Xu Yin and Hang Fei, so they didn’t want others to know about their connection?)

END INTERROGATION

 Lu Jinghe: Right, Leader Yan, have you investigated who Hang Jiahe’s biological parents are?

[Obtained Police Investigation Results!]

Yan Wei: That we haven’t. Hang Fei and Qi Yu claimed that they adopted Hang Jiahe.

Yan Wei: But we didn’t find the adoption records for that year. They might have gone through an informal process.

Yan Wei: Because there is proof that Hang Jiahe was not at the scene of crime, as well as how clearly this case points toward Wang Chunchong…

Yan Wei: Our prior investigations centered on Wang Chunchong, and we didn’t have time to perform deeper investigation on Hang Jiahe’s matters.

Lu Jinghe: Is that so…

Lu Jinghe and I traded glances.

MC: (Looks like Xu Yin and Hang Fei didn’t let others know about Hang Jiahe’s true identity.)

MC: Leader Yan, have you already made a judgement regarding Hang Fei and Qi Yu’s case?

Yan Wei: Not yet. For one, we haven’t been investigating for very long, and the evidence we’ve obtained requires additional confirmation.

Yan Wei: For another, Wang Chunchong has insisted the whole time that he didn’t kill anyone. This requires high-level attention.

Lu Jinghe: But the information circulating outside is everywhere, and they’re almost on the verge of convicting Wang Chunchong. This…

Yan Wei: We also found it weird – the investigation of this case was always a secret, and we have no idea how it got leaked.

Yan Wei: Plus… to be honest, I feel like there’s something odd about this case.

MC: Odd?

Yan Wei: Yes. First, when we were inspecting Wang Chunchong’s suitcases, though we did detect DNA of the victims…

Yan Wei: But that DNA only came from a few strands of hair.

Yan Wei: Based on my experiences, cases that are used to transport corpses won’t be left with such few traces.

MC: (Plus, Wang Chunchong was able to think of discarding the corpses, yet he didn’t think of dealing with the suitcases?)

MC: (Why are the suitcases still there after so long? Why not throw them away?)

MC: (Going back another step, if Wang Chunchong theoretically really was this careful, even if he didn’t discard the suitcases…)

MC: (He’d still end up cleaning the suitcases to make them seem normal…)

MC: (Things like hair should be much easier to clear out than blood or sebum, right?)

MC: (Is it really possible for the police to detect that this easily after an entire half-year?)

Lu Jinghe: …

Yan Wei: Additionally, when we were investigating Hang Fei and Qi Yu’s interpersonal relations, we noticed…

Yan Wei: It seemed like Hang Fei had a gambling hobby, but Hang Jiahe claimed that she and Qi Yu knew nothing about this.

Yan Wei: Can a gambler really hide their habit from their family members and have the money and time to live a “happy life” in the eyes of outsiders?

MC: It is a little strange…

Yan Wei: That’s why we kept the case investigation a secret before, in fear of omitting something.

Yan Wei: But…

Thinking of the inexplicable leaking of case information, Yan Wei couldn’t help sighing.

Yan Wei: But now that you guys have joined in, I can actually relax.

Yan Wei: If there’s anywhere where you need my help in the upcoming investigation, don’t hesitate to find me.

MC: Thank you, Leader Yan. If we notice anything, we’ll also let you know as early as possible.

--

After sending off Yan Wei, since Wang Chunchong hadn’t arrived at the meeting room yet, Lu Jinghe and I had a simple conversation.

Lu Jinghe: For now, it doesn’t seem like there are any major issues with the police’s investigation results.

MC: But there are some specific parts that don’t seem to be quite right. We’ll have to hold off on making a judgement until after we finish asking Wang Chunchong.

Lu Jinghe: Right. Plus, based on Leader Yan’s description, the relationship between Hang Fei’s family and Xu Yin is also worth pondering over.

Lu Jinghe: I feel like there’s some sort of secret hidden in this family.

MC: …

MC: Let’s also ask about this when we see Wang Chunchong.

Lu Jinghe: Yep.