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aiimaginesbts · 4 years ago

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Of Two Hearts: Chapter 7

Seokjin x Reader x Taehyung (ft. Jimin and Namjoon)

Genres: Royalty AU, angst

Word count: 4,729 words

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Read the First Part: What You Never Had

Disclaimer/Copyright

The sun was scorching the ground, burning you and Taehyung along with it, but you took it in stride. No one would have time to worry about something this trivial in the heat of battle. Resisting the urge to glance at Jungkook, who was standing some distance away under the merciful shade of the cluster of trees, you urged your horse along, readying yourself to shoot once again. Gathering your focus with one deep breath, you got into position, then let loose an arrow. A satisfying thunk greeted your ears, but you didn’t follow the sound with your eyes. Instead you drew another arrow from your quiver, swiftly moving to repeat the feat. Taehyung’s instructions repeated in your mind over and over, like a mantra. Keep your shoulders and arms still. Pressing your right thigh against the saddle, you rested the bulk of your weight against the stirrups, drawing the nocked arrow and quickly releasing it.

After repeating this until you ran out of arrows, you turned your mare around, directing it towards Taehyung, who was waiting just outside the range of the trees you were aiming at. He walked towards you as you approached, but your eyes were eagerly zoned in on the trees. Anxious to find out how you did. It was getting late, and this would probably be the last round for the day. Since you were training in a remote field a little way away from the main castle building, you needed to allow some time to return home before it got dark. With the preparations for the war in its final stages, Jungkook, your Royal Guard, was the only man that could be afforded to spare to guard you, but you actually preferred it this way. If the trees didn’t obstruct your view, the walls of the castle would still close enough to be seen, so you shouldn’t be in any real danger. Of course, on occasions Taehyung joined you as well, such as today. He was your teacher, after all. At first, the lessons were frequent, but he’d had to focus on his actual duties once you’d gotten the basics down. Thankfully, you’d managed to learn quickly, sparing yourself the guilt of bothering the important man so much, as well as the confusion of being close to him for extended periods of time.

“You’re doing much better than I thought,” Taehyung commented once he was within hearing range. “It shouldn’t be surprising, I suppose, although I sorely wish that this excuse for me to spend more time with you could have lasted a little longer.”

His roundabout statement, coupled with your awkward position of looking down at him from atop your horse, made you shift uncomfortably in the leather saddle. There were many reasons for you not to question him – your cowardice being on the top of the list – but in these instances, he had you dying to ask. And this time, you gave in to your urges. “Forgive me for asking, but why would you want to spend any more time with me than necessary? Considering what Ji – what my lady-in-waiting told you, why are you still going through with all of this?”

It wasn’t wise to ask. Doing so was just poking the hornet’s nest. You knew that. However, you just couldn’t go on any longer without knowing. Letting Taehyung treat you like this; like he’d never known about another man’s existence in your life, was unbearable. However, instead of answering, he reached his arms up towards you; an offer to help you get down from your chestnut mare. Holding back your frustration at having your question go unanswered after you’d plucked up the courage to voice it, you acquiesced into getting off and into his arms. Once he lowered you to the ground, you started to back away, but Taehyung’s arms grew firmer around you, making your breath catch. It wasn’t like he’d never touched you before, but it had all been necessary contact. Even when he taught you how to dance, he’d held you almost as closely as he had you now, but it was always been for the purpose of teaching you something. There was something different in this embrace. A tighter grip. Something more purposeful than mere instruction, you could tell. That dark look you’d never seen in his eyes. Your senses were prickling, telling you that you needed to get away for your own good. Yet you couldn’t escape even if you could muster the strength to pull away. For some reason, you were frozen in place.

“Please don’t blame her. She told me in the hopes that I would offer you release from your predicament. Sadly, it did not achieve the effect she had intended.” His words had your mind reeling. Ji Eun really told him about Jin so he would cancel your engagement. She had told you as much, but his admittance to it still had you stunned. It did not achieve the effect she had intended. What did he mean by that? Were you right in your assumption that he didn’t break the engagement agreement just to spite you? You looked into his brown eyes, desperate to find the truth within its depths. No, that couldn’t be right. Your instincts told you that he wasn’t that kind of person. He might not be perfect, but he wasn’t mean or vindictive. However, before you could try to ask for a clarification, he’d cut you off with a query of his own. “Does your hand hurt?”

Again, he didn’t give you a chance to form words, instead reaching out for your drawing hand and to inspect it himself. Self-consciousness overtook you immediately — given the time spent on less than typical womanly pursuits, you were afraid that your hands weren’t as soft and smooth as a princess’s should be. You wanted to start saying that it was completely fine and draw your hand away from his gaze, but he abruptly steered the conversation towards the unexpected once more. “Do you know how sensitive hands and fingers can be?”

“Eh?”

Rather than providing a verbal response, Taehyung answered you by bringing your hand towards his mouth. A wicked grin grew from the ends of his lips right before they parted, and his tongue darted out. The tip of it flicked the end of your little finger, drawing a startled gasp from you. He proceeded to run his tongue from the heel of your palm up to your fingertips, showering each digit with thorough attention. And your traitorous body was reacting to it! Never would you have thought that the nerves embedded within your hands would shoot off such sparks, sending jolts all the way through your whole body. It was just your hand! Why was it reacting so strongly?!

“Tae—aah!” Your gasp bordered on a pleasured whine when he lightly nipped the tip of your index finger. He wasn’t even gripping your wrist that tightly, yet you found that you couldn’t pull away.

“Mm, yes, I like it when you call me that.” Taehyung’s voice has always been deep, but this impossibly sensual quality to it was new to you, reverberating within your body like lightning trapped within a box, shaking you to your core. Then he pulled your thumb ring off, so he could engulf your thumb in his warm mouth and suck on it, and your knees threatened to buckle.

By some miracle, the last bit of your mind that retained the tiny piece of its sanity reminded you that you weren’t alone. “Oh!” Shocked into awareness by your own realisation, your head whipped to the left in Jungkook’s direction. Your Royal Guard had been leaning against a tree trunk some distance away so he could keep an eye on you. Although he still stood in the same spot, he’d turned his body away — giving the privacy he thought you needed. It informed you that he’d seen the whole thing, and this time you managed to yank your hand away, completely mortified.

Taehyung released it easily, but in return, his arm around your waist suddenly jerked you forward, causing you to topple against his chest. With a yelp, you tried to regain your balance, and he took your brief moment of helplessness to lean down and whisper in your ear, “perhaps not all hope is lost for me, after all.”

This time you had no intention to stick around so you could ask him what he meant. Feet desperately shuffling to find even ground, you retreated clumsily from his embrace, and he let you go easily, his arms falling to his sides. “I—it’s getting late,” you stammered, still panicked by your own response to his advances. “I’ll be returning, if that’s all right with you.”

“Of course,” he agreed amicably with a slight dip of his head, assuming the air of a gentleman contradictory to his behaviour just a moment ago. “I will follow suit, after I’ve cleared this up.”

In any other circumstances, you would have insisted that you should be picking up after yourself. It was you who were practicing, after all. But you simply nodded, eager to flee his intense gaze. Ignoring the guilt over making him do so for you, you started to hurry towards Jungkook, barely able to keep yourself from breaking into a full run away from the Crown Prince.

“By the way, when I said that you’re doing well, I meant it,” Taehyung called after you, making you pause and turn back in curiosity. “You may not be able to kill, but you have enough accuracy to slow your enemy down. And that may save your life.”

Normally you’d be elated to hear that he’d deemed your skills good enough to be of use, but at the moment you couldn’t think of anything else other than his heat and saliva still lingering all over your hand. It was still tingling even as you held it protectively over your chest, as if afraid that Taehyung would suddenly run over and claim it once more. With a simple nod of acknowledgement, you turned away and all but sprinted towards Jungkook. You didn’t even spare the trees that you’d aimed at a glance to see how you’d really done.

By the time you’d approached Jungkook, the guard had long heard you coming and had dutifully faced you once more, ready for whatever instruction you might have. “We should return now,” you told him breathily, heart still racing. Whether it was caused by the speed with which you’d scurried towards him, or because of what happened with Taehyung, you weren’t sure. The synchronised throbbing of your hand with the thudding of your heart suggested that it was the latter, but you couldn’t think about that right now. Your head felt horribly messy, yet strangely you couldn’t identify a single clear thought. All you wanted was to make an escape. You’d leave analysing the situation for later. Maybe never.

“Of course,” Jungkook murmured obediently, but his brow was furrowed. “Are you planning to go back on foot?”

Darn it all! In your haste to put as much distance between yourself and Taehyung as quickly as possible, you’d left your mount behind. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Taehyung must be laughing to himself right now.

Seeing your flustered expression, Jungkook kindly offered; “I will retrieve it for you, if you do not mind.”

“Yes, please,” you exhaled in relief. Just the thought of the face that Taehyung would make if you’d turned around to take her back was beyond mortifying. “Thank you.”

While Jungkook got your horse for you, you stood still, as if the trees were more worthy of watching compared to the two handsome men, or like you were a sulking child. In truth, you were just willing your heartbeat to slow down to a normal pace, and your face to return to normal body temperature. By the time Jungkook reached your side again, you’d achieved neither, so you were glad that you were going back to the castle, at the very least. Hopefully once you were out of Taehyung’s vicinity, you’d be able to actually use your brain again.

Jungkook rode next to you, going along with your slow, pensive pace. At first, you hardly urged your horse forward, barely leading her in the right direction, even. Just riding in a daze. However, after a while, you noticed that Jungkook seemed uneasy from the corner of your eye. Was it because he was bored and wished to arrive sooner? You couldn’t blame him — there were probably other things he needed to do back at the castle instead of just babysitting you — but he was still fidgeting after you’d started going faster. Considering that Jungkook seemed to be a rather private person, you decided to focus on the path ahead instead of saying anything, but after a while, your patience was unexpectedly rewarded.

“Your Highness.”

“Hmm?” Mind quickly wandered towards Taehyung again, you were surprised at the sudden call.

“If I may...”

You turned to flash an encouraging smile at him. Even though he was reserved, sometimes you’d wondered if he was being polite because of your status. Every time he’d broached any subject or conversation with you, he’d always been so hesitant and sweet. “Do go ahead.”

“Whenever you need to get out of a situation, or if you need any help, do not hesitate to call out to me,” Jungkook said firmly. “Regardless of who is involved. My responsibility is to protect you, first and foremost.”

“Oh.” You replied simply, letting the words sink in. Once they did, you went, “Oh!” He must be referring to what had happened with Taehyung just now. Blood rushed to your cheek once again, and your head felt overheated. “Th—thank you, Jungkook. I will keep that in mind.” Yes, you should have been aware that you could have called on him to get you away from Taehyung. But you didn’t. The easy explanation was that you were too overwhelmed to think about doing so, but... would you have wanted to, if you’d remembered that you had a way out? Suddenly the memories of the sensations you’d felt earlier came rushing back to you, and your hand started prickling once more. It was as if Taehyung’s tongue was sliding all over it again, making you shiver. Since when had you become so sensitive?! Unconsciously, you shook it hard, as if by doing so, you could rid of the thoughts now associated with it.

It didn’t work, of course. In fact, you couldn’t stop thinking about it, all the way to your engagement ball. As expected, that night you were a bundle of nerves. However, the reason behind your anxiousness and worries were completely different that the you before that day of practice would expect. Before what happened with Taehyung at that archery practice, you’d thought that having your engagement announced would make it real. That there would be no turning back. Of course, you’d known for a long time now that there was already no way that your engagement would be cancelled, but no amount of time could prepare you for it. Not completely.

However, now that the night had finally come, the thoughts on your mind were running in a completely different direction. You were going to marry Taehyung, Crown Prince of Delphina. That was a fact that was now official. Yet all you could think about was your turbulent feelings towards your fiancé. From the first time you’d met him, Taehyung had been someone you admired. No, you’d looked up to him even before you were introduced, just based off of the stories you’d heard about him. He was well-known for his leadership, his looks, his charm. It seemed like he was perfect. When you’d met him, you’d discovered that he was nowhere near as unapproachable or as intimidating as you’d expected him to be. Still, he didn’t seem to possess any flaws. Anyone should feel fortunate to be betrothed to a man as perfect as Taehyung was. Anyone except you. Rather than a man who was perfect in every way, you’d wanted a man who was perfect for you. And that was Jin. It would be a miserable existence without Jin, but you’d thought you could come to terms with being married to Taehyung someday, somehow, because you were under the impression that your husband-to-be viewed the marriage as one of convenience, like you did. You’d be trapped with each other, for the sake of your countries.

However, now you could barely look at the man standing right next to you. Once, you’d thought that your hands would be connected on this night, but not your hearts. When had you started noticing that Taehyung wasn’t without his faults? That he was capable of falling in love? And that afternoon at archery practice... why weren’t you impervious to him? The hand that he’d showered with such surprising affection started to feel hot from the memories of days past. You tried to rationalise the clammy feeling by telling yourself that the two of you had been greeting people for hours, thanking them for their well-wishes while holding hands. If you hadn’t been doing that, you’d danced with him, while he still held your hand. You were conflicted between wanting to yank your hand away and asking him to do it again. Why were you feeling like this, when you still couldn’t let Jin go? These emotions only fed your self-hatred. You felt like the most selfish, greediest person in the world.

“Are you tired?” Taehyung’s voice cut through the loud, incessant thoughts in your head.

He’d correctly guessed one of the reasons behind your weary look. It was to be expected; you’d been on your feet for hours, entertaining guests almost non-stop. Anyone would have been exhausted. However, Taehyung had been going through the same motions, so you pushed his concern away. “I’m fine.” You couldn’t complain when he had to be at least as tired as you were, if not more.

Unexpectedly, your answer made him turn away from the direction of one of the guests from a neighbouring country, who was walking towards the two of you, to give you his full attention. “You look a little pale.” His large, calloused hand caressed your cheek, but you didn’t flinch. Instead, you stared back up at him, eyes wide with surprise. “You should rest a little.”

“Yes,” you said unthinkingly, lost in his big, kind eyes. A second later, once you realised what you’d agreed to, you asked, “but what about you?”

“I’ll be fine. You don’t think I’m used to handling dignitaries by now?” For the first time that night, he grinned at you. Nothing like those polite smiles he’d been flashing all evening. You couldn’t help but think that it was especially for you. “In fact, why don’t you take a breather on the balcony beyond the doors next to the angel sculpture over there? I’ll make sure no one disturbs you.”

You glanced towards the direction he was looking at. It was barely visible from your vantage point, tucked in a corner the guests were sure to miss. Vowing to yourself to only get a brief respite, you agreed to make yourself scarce before the guest could get close enough to engage you in a conversation. “Thank you,” you whispered to Taehyung gratefully.

“Take your time,” he reminded you, in his constantly reassuring manner.

It was amazing that Taehyung already knew where to direct you to, considering his short time in the castle, most of which was spent in meeting rooms, joining one council after another. You yourself knew that most people weren’t aware of this little hideaway, and half or even a full hour in private was guaranteed, at the very least. Still, you didn’t want to leave him to fend for himself for too long. The two of you were the stars of the engagement ball, and your absence would surely be missed. You just needed to catch a breath, anyway.

Or so you thought, until you opened the doors to the balcony.

“Jin?”

After blinking your eyes several times, you could verify that it really was Jin standing by the balcony. He was dressed sharply in his uniform, as you’d always seen him nowadays. However, shrouded in the cloak of the night, bathed only in the pale moonlight, he looked like an ethereal being not of this world. For a few moments, you stood there, transfixed in your surprise and awe at the sight of him. Then reality returned to you, and you turned back to look at the door of the balcony that you’d managed to close behind you earlier. Did anyone know that Jin was here? As happy as you were to see him, the last thing you wanted was for him to get into trouble.

“Ji Eun told me that no one would disturb us,” Jin provided an explanation to clear your confusion.

“Ji Eun?”

He nodded. “She led me here, so I could see you.”

Did Taehyung put her up to this? The Crown Prince was the one who directed you here, after all. But then Jin extended his hand; a silent invitation for you to join him, and you decided to stop thinking about the events that had led you to Jin’s side and simply enjoy the time you had with him. Who knew if there will be any more opportunities such as this in the future. You hated your weak heart, even as you stepped beside Jin. Time with him was something that you never should wish for, now that you were another man’s fiancé. Taehyung had been magnanimous beyond words in allowing you to meet Jin like this, despite his own feelings for you. Yet here you were, ridiculously elated, wishing that this was a dream that would never end.

Watching Jin’s face in profile, you couldn’t help but admire his looks once more. But it wasn’t just his handsomeness that had you falling for him over and over again. It was his beautiful, kind heart that always reached towards yours, no matter the distance. The strength that he displayed, regardless of the hardships before him. This was the toughest trial for him yet, and for you as well. Outwardly, he seemed calm and collected, but the pain was clear in his eyes, raw and fresh, like the reality that the two of you could never be together hit just yesterday. You tore your gaze away, towards the direction he was facing, taking in the crescent moon. If you hadn’t, you just knew that you’d burst into tears.

“I saw you inside earlier,” Jin broke the silence after a few minutes. “You look absolutely breathtaking.”

So he saw you. It wasn’t surprising, but all you could think about was that he must have seen you next to Taehyung, where you’d been all evening as you’d greeted the guests, both local and foreign. “I’m sorry.”

Jin didn’t question your apology. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Doing your part for the country is something to be proud of. It’s something that I strive to do myself.”

Trust Jin to spin this around into something noble, while you’d been struggling with your selfish feelings about the whole thing. “I can’t stand the thought of hurting you.”

From the edge of your vision, you could see his hand reaching towards you. But before he could make contact, he changed his mind with a grimace, drawing it back towards himself. At that instant, your entire being craved for his touch. You missed him so much. And so you initiated it yourself — pulling at his clothes and crashing yourself against him. His chest was as firm and comforting as ever, and you buried your head in it, taking small comfort in his never-forgotten scent. Somehow you managed not to cry. At first, you could feel him stiffen at the sudden movement, then a pause as he sorted through the thoughts in his head. Then, at long last, as if he’d been defeated by your nearness, he wrapped his arms around you, squeezing you with a force that relayed how much he loved you, conveying just how much he’d missed you. You could barely breathe, but you cherished the unspoken feelings of doomed love. You’d stay like this for eternity if you could so choose.

Jin probably felt the same way, because even as his hold relaxed, he didn’t seem inclined on letting you out of his embrace. So the two of you remained like that for a while, letting precious moments pass as you savoured each other’s presence. Another chance like this might never come again. It shouldn’t, now that you were someone else’s fiancée. This should be goodbye, but you never wanted it to come. With all your heart, you wished that time would stop right here. Even with Taehyung’s charm and kindness threatening to wear down your defences, when you were with Jin, you were reminded that the Crown Prince couldn’t compare to the knight in your heart. You were so immersed in taking in Jin’s warmth, his scent, the way his arms curled around you, that it was a while before you realised that the world was still revolving. Life was still going on around you. And the guests, so close by, were just beyond the door, enjoying your engagement ball. The soft music floating through the door eventually reminded you of reality.

But it didn’t mean that you were ready to return to it just yet. Aching to be with him for a little longer, you tightened your own arms just above his waist. Unconsciously, you started moving, leaning slowly towards the right, then the left, prompting Jin to take small steps in this direction then that with you. At first he followed out of pure surprise, but then he stiffened. “Wait, uh... I don’t know how to dance.”

There was a tinge of pain in his voice. He didn’t know because a man of his station didn’t need such skills. But it didn’t matter to you what Jin couldn’t do. He was always dependable where it mattered, and that was all you cared for. “It’s fine. We can just move like this, right?” There was nothing complicated with just swaying to and fro in each other’s arms in time with the music, dancing round and round a small, invisible circle that was your own, private space. “You don’t have to be perfect. Let’s stay like this. You’re not a Royal Guard now. You’re just Jin. And not a princess. I’m just me. Just for now. Please.”

You lifted your chin up, longing expression beseeching him to grant you this small request. His eyes shimmered under the pale moonlight, but before you could look closer, he crushed you even more tightly than before. “If I could give you the world, I would,” he whispered words of longing instead of empty promises that he could never keep.

Shaking your head adamantly against his chest, you gently protested. “You’ve already given me the world, Jin. You’re the world to me.” No reply came. None was needed. You knew that you meant as much to him as he did to you. It was all in the way he squeezed you with love and gratitude. Drops of hot liquid fell on your hair like gentle summer rain, surprising you. “Jin?”

You started to look up once more, but Jin moved his arm to press your head against his chest, a desperate plea not to see him at his weakest. “Please, just... don’t look at me right now.” His broken, hoarse imploration tore at your heart. If that was all you could give him, then you would do so readily. “It may be treason for me to say this, but, no matter who you are with, I will always love you. I could never stop myself from loving you, right from the beginning.”

Burying your head deeper against his sturdy chest, you told him, “I love you, Jin.” It didn’t need to be said, but this could be the final time these words would fall from your lips. And all of a sudden, you could no longer keep your own tears at bay. “No matter who I marry, you will always have my heart.”

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A/N: Since I’ve started my new job, I will need to move across the country. Due to the time that adjustment and heavy workload will take, I can’t guarantee that Chapter 8 will come out by end of next month. But I will still try to bring it to you guys as soon as possible. I hope you’ll be kind enough to understand and wait :)

#armiesnet #hyunglinenetwork #networkbangtan #taehyung smut #bts smut #jin angst #taehyung angst

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starlightinhumanform · 5 years ago

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The Art of Love: Chapter 11

Fandom: She Ra (2018)

Ship: Glimadora

Summary: Glimmer and Bow have a chat. Glimmer’s secret crush might not being a secret anymore...

Warnings (for this chapter): Some mild angst, Mild language (please tell me if anything needs to be added)

Genre: High School AU, Angst with a Happy Ending, Rivals/Enemies to Lovers, Eventual Fluff

A/N: Just a side note that I consistently headcanon Bow as trans and even though that doesn’t play a role in this fic, it is mentioned. As always, thank you for all of your continued support and encouragement!! Love you all 🖤✨

Ao3 The Art of Love Masterpost Fic Masterpost Fic Request Info

By the time the day ended, Glimmer was ready to bury herself under five blankets and spend the next four hours watching YouTube. Of course she couldn’t do that. Because life just wasn’t that easy.

Her feet shuffled in a way that could only be described as noncommittal- weak and only partially agreeing to their actions. Her head felt like it was filled to the brim with cotton, stuffed into a too tight headband that squeezed across her temples and made what was left in her head pound. Saturated; that’s was she was. Used up like a sponge.

Such things being considered, Glimmer was in a surprisingly good mood. So she couldn’t help but smile when she heard feet pound up from behind her and stop suddenly beside her.

“Hey, Bow!”

Bow was stopped, bent over with his hands on his knee and gasping for breath. He raised a finger up, “Just... give me a... moment.”

Glimmer giggled, “You good?”

Bow swung upright, “I can’t breathe but I’m great. How are you? Hopelessly in love?”

“I can not handle your bullshit right now,” Glimmer began walking but couldn’t help but smile slightly, “Blocked. Cancelled. Deleted.”

“Why? Because I’m right?” Bow had caught up with her again, grinning.

“It’s a crush Bow, nothing more. It’s definitely not love.”

Bow nodded as they continued walking, “Uh-huh. Is that why you’re blushing so hard?”

“I’m blushing because you are bothering me,” Glimmer grumbled out her words, and turned her head to raise an eyebrow at him.

Bow raised an eyebrow back, “Wanna talk about it?”

Glimmer stopped walking and flopped backwards so she could lean dramatically against the hall’s cinderblock wall. She let her head roll backwards and stared up at the ceiling. The hall had cleared out, the distant sound of dance practice echoing between her and Bow. She still held a smile but it was quickly growing stale. It wasn’t that she was sad, or that she didn’t enjoy Bow’s company; there was just a lot to consider in that question.

Did she want to talk about it? Well, yes. There was so much she had to say and so much she wanted Bow to at least give his opinion or, at best, offer advice. But of all the things she wanted to say, there was so much she was scared to admit to. She doubted she would even mange to get half of it out. She would choke up and her words would lie, caught and festering somewhere in her throat. And there all those emotions would stay, blocked between her heart and her mouth. They would simmer there for a drawn out second before they boiled over and streamed down her cheeks. Bow would put his hands on her shoulders ask her what was wrong in his too-soft-for-his-own-good voice and Glimmer wouldn’t be able to tell him because the words burned as they bubbled and corroded her vocal chords.

But the feelings, they were hard to explain. She squinted up at the fluorescent panels which only marginally improved the lighting but greatly added to the prison-like atmosphere. The flickering bulbs were a thousand miles away as she tried to wrap her mind around the images flickering behind her eyes. Adora’s smile. The way her eyes shone when she sang. How her voice could wrap around Glimmer’s brain and find all the ways to make her glitch. How her body fit perfectly against Glimmer’s. The raw intensity with which Adora felt emotions and how she let them wash over whoever was nearby.

Bow’s feet made a scuffing sound as he shifted somewhat awkwardly across from Glimmer. The movement brought her back to the present and and made her wonder how long he had been standing there.

“I’m going to take that to mean that, yes, you do have something to say?” He prompted.

Glimmer let her head swing forward and blew a sigh through her nose.

It’s like molten gold filling my chest. And it’s bright and it’s burning and god yes it hurts but it’s beautiful too. It’s smooth and it runs down my throat, stealing my voice. It coats my eyes and tints the world around me but that’s ok because it turns everything beautiful. And at the same time, it’s far too much and it scares me and it hurts because all that shining gold is more than I could ever deserve or ever handle.

She couldn’t explain that. She would sound crazy. Bow probably wouldn’t see it as crazy, but he would take it too far. Glimmer was already freaking out about it, she couldn’t stand Bow freaking out on top of that.

“Glimmer?” Bow reached out, placing the expected gentle hand on her shoulder, “Is everything ok? Are you ok?”

Glimmer gave a breathy laugh. She hadn’t even realized how blurry her eyes had become, “Yeah. Sorry.”

His eyebrows were wrinkled in concern and Glimmer could tell he was worried that he had somehow caused her distress, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

She took a deep breath and made up her mind, “I have a lot to tell you actually. So let’s go to some place more comfortable than the middle of the hallway.”

Bow smiled, “Library?”

“Library.”

Bow and Glimmer had a well-established tradition of spending the time after school together, sharing stories and ranting about life in the library under the pretense that they were study partners. Everyone knew they weren’t actually doing work but left them alone because they stayed to their back-corner sofa and only rarely did the conversations dissolve into yelling.

They walked comfortably next to each other, unbothered when their shoulders bumped and chatting about the ridiculous amount of homework they would undoubtedly procrastinate doing that night.

People often mistook them as a couple; something which both Bow and Glimmer would laugh at. They had the running joke that if neither of them had found someone by the time they were 35, they would just marry each other. They were close as friends could be. He was the first one she had come out as bi to and she has the first he had come as trans to. Glimmer generally didn’t mind people thinking she was dating Bow, but sometimes she worried it would discourage other people from having interest in her. Then she would brush it off as ridiculous because she was pretty sure there was plenty of other things to discourage them.

They reached the library within a few minutes, both flopping dramatically onto their usual couch. They were in an emptier section of the library, most people at tables or occupied in the computer lab.

Glimmer swung her legs over the arm of the couch and leaned into Bow’s side. She let a defeated puff stream out of her mouth, once again unsure of what she could possible say.

Bow let them sit in silence for a few moments before prompting her again, “So... what was it that you wanted to tell me?”

She groaned, “Adora. Pretty. Girls. Yes. Crush.”

Bow laughed and patted her shoulder, “That all?”

Glimmer brought her hands up to hide her face in and shook her head, “Bow, I don’t even know where to start.”

She could feel him shrug against the weight of her body, “How about you just start from last night. I’m pretty sure you liked her before, if I’m being perfectly honest, but it sounds like it only got serious last night?”

The last sentence was stated as a question instead of a statement and Glimmer knew Bow was trying to bait her into giving more information. She gave in, returning the shrug, “Yeah I guess. I have no idea how long I’ve liked her but I think it’s been almost the whole year.”

“Why do you think it took you so long to realize?”

Glimmer had to take a deep breath for that one, “Because I hated her. Because I was jealous of her. And because I was scared of liking her.”

“Ok,” Glimmer could hear the hesitation in his voice, “And why was that?”

“I just- you know how- I couldn’t,” she paused before trying again, “There were- are- a lot of reasons. I just feel like I shouldn’t. I still think liking girls is something bad or at least dangerous.”

Bow started to say something but Glimmer continued before he could get a word in, “So there was that guilt and I guess disgust. It’s that internalized homophobia bullshit. I think that’s what they call it? Anyways, I know Adora won’t go for me and I’ll just get hurt and I know I’m stupid for getting so infatuated.”

This time Bow was able to interrupt, “I wouldn’t be so sure of that if I were you.”

Glimmer snorted, “Oh, and why is that? Has she privately confessed her love for me to you?”

“Well no-“

“Look, Bow, she’s popular and she’s beautiful and she could probably get any girl she wanted. She’s definitely not going to settle for me.”

“Hey hey first of all,” he elbowed her in the back, “nobody has to ‘settle’ for you. We’ve talked about this. What have I told you?”

Glimmer rolled her eyes, “I’m not going to say it.”

He elbowed her again, “Say it, coward.”

She blew a raspberry before droning out the ridiculous mantra Bow had told her in a monotone voice, “I am gorgeous and perfect in every way. I am a queen; y’all are peasants and do not deserve to witness my glory.”

Bow nodded, “You may continue.”

“You’re so stupid. Anyways, with your permission to continue, even if Adora does have the slightest interest in me- which she doesn’t and will continue not to- Cat would get jealous. I’m pretty sure she already is with this stupid project. She won’t let Adora anywhere near me as soon as the project finishes.”

“How do you know that? Adora’s her own person. She can hang out with you if she wants to- no matter what Cat thinks. And by the way, I think she will want to hang out with you.”

Glimmer felt her throat going tight, “She told me she wanted to be friends but I don’t think she meant it.”

“Glimmer, that’s great!! What makes you think she wouldn’t mean it?”

“I don’t know,” Glimmer hesitated once more, “She was acting really weird last night.”

Bow rolled his hand in a Go on motion.

Glimmer’s stomach clenched as her mind flashed back to the night before. She sat up, hunching over her knees as she were worried the sensation would show through. It all seemed very far away, surely longer than the 24 hours reality told her it was. It all seemed very fake. Adora couldn’t possibly have looked at her with that much affection in her eyes. She couldn’t have asked her to dance and laughed so loud Glimmer was sure someone would hear. She certainly didn’t stand a breath away from Glimmer and give her a smirk that made her insides freeze. It was simply impossible.

“Glimmer?” Bow leaned sideways to bump his shoulder into hers, “What do you mean weird?”

“Just very affectionate I guess,” She looked up at Bow, knowing what was coming and not sure if she would be able to answer.

“How is that a bad thing?” There it was.

“Because,” Glimmer seemed to choke for a moment and she could swear it was because her heart was in her throat, “I know that it probably wasn’t real; it was probably just Adora being tired and getting clingy or something. And because I know it won’t ever happen again. And knowing that hurts.”

Bow reached and took one of her hands in his. They were warmer and sturdier than hers- small and trembling. It was such a normal, familiar action but all she could think about was Adora’s hands in hers’ as they sat side by side and she attempted to teach her how to use chopsticks. It had to be some surreal dream. That would be easier. That would make sense. She felt vulnerable and exposed. No doubt the entire library was acting as witness to her breakdown. She hunkered into herself further, almost entirely folded in half now. She just wanted it all to pause. Things would be so much easier if they marched in one at a time. Instead life liked to throw a thousand problems at her at once. And sometimes those problems looked like soccer players who smiled a little too brightly because they were trying to hide just how much more like the ocean they were than the sun. Adora wasn’t stupid; she was deep and dark and sometimes the shades twisted from blues to jagged purples which undoubtably scraped against her sides. Glimmer wanted to learn every shade of that girl- yes the happy yellows but also the stormy grays. She wanted to dull the shards that hurt Adora and do her best heal the wounds she couldn’t prevent. But she would never get the chance. It was all fantasy. The melancholy was corrosive.

Bow squeezed her hand in his grip, cueing her to look up. When he spoke it was with a slow, steady voice. Glimmer knew that voice; that was the voice he used when Glimmer was about to shatter into a million pieces.

She breathed in deeply through her nose and tried to concentrate on his words, “I know this may seem very unrealistic to you but I really don’t think Adora’s affection was fake or just some side effect. I don’t think you just give up on it happening again.”

Glimmer’s face collapsed into a combination of disdain, incredulity, and despair, “If I keep holding onto hope, I’m going to keep getting hurt every time I’m inevitably disappointed.”

“How do you know you’re going to get disappointed though?!” Bow waved his arms out in a way that would have been comical if Glimmer wasn’t on the verge of tears. He was starting to get exasperated, his voice rising dangerously shrill and loud.

Glimmer hissed out a shush and clapped his arms back down to his body.

She rolled her eyes, “Look, I’ll live in your make-believe world for a second, ok? Let’s say that Adora does like me- platonically, romantically, whatever it doesn’t matter. Even if she does, Cat is not going to stand being around me. She hates me. So Adora will have to choose between me and Cat. That will have two possible results: Most likely, she will choose her best friend and leave me behind. That result can be summed up as: Ouch. Either that or she’ll choose me. From then on, Cat will hate me more than she already does- and I do not want to find out what that would mean- and Adora will always resent me because I’m the reason she and her best friend fell apart.“

Bow nodded sagely for a moment, “You’ve really thought this through.”

She could tell he wasn’t as concerned with her hypothetical situations as she was. This time it was her voice that reached a dangerously high volume, “Yes of course I’ve thought this through! Have you met me?! I think everything through!”

“Ok true, but I still don’t think-“

“Actually I’m not finished yet! Because even if by some miracle, Cat and I are able to ‘coexist,’ then I’m always going to be an accessory to Cat and Adora’s relationship. I will always be an add-on; something that is merely tolerated. And I will not be able to stand that. I would rather never talk to Adora again than have to deal with that.”

“Glimmer I get it and you’re making some good points, it’s just,” he paused, pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes, piecing together his words, “of all those situations you’ve thought up, you’ve never once considered the possibility that things will turn out ok.”

Glimmer leaned sideways into Bow, just trying to affirm that she had heard him. She hated making Bow this exasperated. She knew he was just trying to help her. Hell, maybe he was even right. Still, Glimmer was thinking realistically. She was thinking cautiously. She was... she has no idea what she was doing.

“You know, Glimmer,” Bow returned the lean in her direction, “sometimes the world doesn’t suck.”

She rolled her eyes, “Mm, really? And you’d be what? An expert of the world’s constant condition?”

Bow sat up straight and puffed out his chest, “Yes in fact.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Glimmer’s voice still wavered as she spoke, but she could feel a grin start to grow across her lips.

“And you know what? I might be ridiculous, but I like to think that I’ll be right one of these times.”

Glimmer loved Bow’s optimism but it often came across to her as purely naive. She wished he could be right about this, if only to give him the satisfaction. But it was unrealistic and the sooner she accepted that fact, the easier it would be to take reality’s crushing blow. And the sooner Bow stopped encouraging her wishful thinking, the easier it would be to accept.

But he was giving her a grin that held nothing but purity and confidence, and she couldn’t break that. She tried to return the smile, “Sure. We’ll see.”

His smile grew until he was beaming, “Yep! We will!”

Satisfied that he had beaten Glimmer into optimistic submission, Bow slapped the sofa seat next to him, “Come on, I gotta go.”

They moved towards the exit together, chatting casually as they weaved through tables of clustered students. The library was filled with the quiet bubbling of 50 voices, each trying not to make noise but none the less adding to the atmosphere of sound. It was relaxing to some extent and apparently Bow found it safe enough to continue their conversation.

“So... what would you do if Adora liked you back? I mean, like, would you go on dates or-”

Glimmer nearly tackled him to the ground but instead froze, hissing, “Shut up! Elizabeth is right there! She hangs out with Adora sometimes! What if she heard you yelling?!”

Bow’s eyes lit up at the mention of Elizabeth, “Really? Where is she?”

“Don’t look so happy about it; she right at the table behind you!”

Bow spun around and waved, “Hey Elizabeth!”

The girl jolted up from where she had been hunched over the table, “Oh, hey Bow!”

Teachers often got Glimmer and Elizabeth mixed up; Glimmer never understood why. She wore huge, round glasses and had a fascination with math that Glimmer could never possibly possess. It was true that they both had dyed hair, but her’s was far darker and nearly hit the floor. (How Elizabeth didn’t trip over it every time she stood up was a mystery Glimmer would never solve).

It wasn’t that Glimmer minded Elizabeth but-

“This is not the time!” Glimmer grabbed Bow’s hand and began dragging him towards the doors.

Before they could actually get out outside, Elizabeth popped up in front of them, grinning broadly and practically shouting when she spoke, “What were you saying about Adora?”

Elizabeth had a habit of appearing randomly in your face, without any warning and giving Glimmer a heart attack every time. That being said, Glimmer was having a heart attack. Even if Elizabeth hadn’t startled her by materializing out of the blue and effectively blocking her escape route, yelling about Adora in the middle of the library definitely would’ve been enough to push Glimmer off the edge.

Glimmer’s eyes widened and it felt like the wind had been punched out of her- a solid blow straight to core. She struggled to find anything to say, simply trying to remember how to breathe. Finally she shook her head and grabbed Bow and Elizabeth’s hand, “Out. Both of you.”

“Oh, wait- wow. Your hands are really strong.”

Glimmer ignored Elizabeth’s chatter as she barreled outside. When they turned the corner Glimmer let go of their hands and turned so she could glare at both of them. They stood with their backs to the building wall, shoulder to shoulder like a police line up.

The campus continued to move around them as they stood in awkward silence. Glimmer paced back and forth, wringing her hands. She had made an impulsive decision when she grabbed Elizabeth and now she had to deal with the consequences. Bow stood with his arms crossed, staring at random things and avoiding where Glimmer was treading miles through the sidewalk. Elizabeth on the other hand seemed to be entirely unbothered, humming to herself and fidgeting with something she had pulled out of her pocket.

Glimmer shook her head; she was being stupid, “Look, Elizabeth, I’m sorry I dragged you out here. I was really overreacting and I’m sorry you had to be a part of that. Just please don’t mention anything about Adora to anyone.”

“Hmm what?” Elizabeth jerked her head up, “Oh! Adora. Yeah, her, I think she’s cool. I think we might be friends. Not sure. That would be nice though.”

Elizabeth spoke in short, choppy sentences that bounced from one topic to another and made Glimmer’s head hurt. She pinched the bridge of her nose, “Yes, we’re talking about Adora. Just please forget I said anything about her.”

“So let me get this straight. You’re talking about Adora, you told me you were talking about Adora,” Elizabeth was moving her hands in front of her face like she was playing an invisible game of connect the dots, “But you don’t want me to know you were talking about Adora?”

Bow squinted, “Yeah that sounds about right.”

“Just, whatever you heard, don’t tell anyone any of it. Please?”

Elizabeth darted forward towards Glimmer, staring hard into her face. She continued to scrutinize Glimmer as she began to speak, “You have a crush in her don’t you?”

Glimmer’s hand itched to clamp itself over Elizabeth’s mouth. She let her own lips fall open, once again struggling desperately to find words to fill the space with. She attempted to regain some veneer of composure, standing up straighter and turning her chin slightly in the air, “I will neither confirm or deny anything concerning that matter.”

“So... is that a yes?”

“No! Its nothing!” Glimmer growled.

“You’re not acting like it’s nothing,” Bow spoke with a smug grin and subtly raised eyebrows.

Glimmer glared at Bow for a second before breaking off the staring contest by rubbing the palms of her hands upwards across her face and settling across her eyes. This situation had been out of her control since Weaver had assigned her to be partners with Adora. Maybe it had been out of her hands since Adora scampered into her seat in the first day of school, laughing loudly at something Cat had said. Now nothing was in her hands except her own tired fears.

“Hey,” Elizabeth’s voice broke through the darkness Glimmer was hiding behind, “I’ve gotta go so I’m just gonna... um, yeah, bye!”

Glimmer looked up to see Elizabeth jogging back to the library. The girl paused for a moment to wave before disappearing inside. Glimmer sighed and collapsed into a lump on the concrete. She looked up at Bow, “She’s going to say something isn’t she?”

Bow scratched the back of his head. It was possible he was trying to think, but it was more likely he was just buying time; Glimmer knew he didn’t want to say exactly what she knew he was going to say. He deflated and sat down next to Glimmer, “I don’t think she’d do it on purpose. She might just... forget not to.”

Glimmer flopped backwards. The clouds were drifting across the sky slowly; beautiful, serine motions that ran in paradox to her racing mind; so many thoughts and they all blurred together into one word. Shit.

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thinkyoureholy · 5 years ago

Text

Opposites Attract [11]

Pairing : Park Jimin / [Fem] Reader

Genre : Angst, Violence, Language, Fluff, Smut, Enemies to Lovers! AU, Fantasy! AU

Words : 4k

Pt 1. Pt 2. Pt 3. Pt 4. Pt 5. Pt 6. Pt 7. Pt 8. Pt 9. Pt 10. Pt 11. Pt 12. Pt 13. Pt 14. Pt 15.

⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

-Y/N’s P.O.V-

I sighed out softly, staring up at the ceiling. I could hear Yoongi and Hoseok talking softly amongst themselves from across the room. I had been awake for a few hours now but they hadn’t taken noticed. I looked as good as new on the outside but something felt off about my powers, they felt like they weren’t entirely mine. It--It felt like the strength of the power I had in me had doubled, no it tripled in strength. I...I was afraid of it now. This could mean that the power I held was limitless, I felt that if I built it up I could become unstoppable...and that scares me more than anything.

Without thinking I brought a hand out, wanting to test something. I stared at my palm, watching as the stem of a rose began to form, the ice crystalizing right before my eyes. The stem was half formed when little tiny streams of water began to sprout from my palm. The water moved like a snake, each individual stream moving like it had a mind of its own. Just as the rose was completely formed the water swarmed around it, engulfing it completely, rising from my palm. When it was inches above my face I closed my palm. The water slicing into the ice so fast I could barely even see it, the rose made of ice and the water that surrounded it turned into a fine mist. So the feeling I had was right, I was now able to use both sides of my power at the same time. Before it was one or the other, the thought of using them both was just that, a thought, the idea was impossible. So I guess this means that whole talk about being chosen by Poseidon is true, huh?

“Did--Did you just use...b-both…” Hoseok began but trailed off not being able to finish.

I said nothing as I sat up, staring down at my closed fist for a moment.

“Y/N are feeling better now?” Yoongi asked, ignoring what just happened.

“No. I mean physically yes, but emotionally...no, I’m far from being okay.” I said, looking up at him.

He frowned, opening his mouth to ask why when I beat him to it, telling him exactly why.

“That day...out on that field 8 years ago...why--why did neither of you tell me that day was the day my father became a murderer?”

As soon as I finished speaking I saw the color had drained from both their faces. Yoongi opened his mouth to speak but closed it several times, the words not coming out. Hoseok took a single step towards me but made no move to get closer.

“Y-Y/N you--you gotta understand we...we had no choice, your parents had no other choice.”

I closed my eyes at his words, the tears that I had shed earlier making a reappearance as I inhaled sharply, “So it’s true? I was hoping, praying to a god I don’t believe in that he was lying, praying that my parents weren’t like that, that my father--that he wasn’t a killer. But it’s true.”

“Y/N your father was a good man.” Yoongi finally said, his words broken, “He was a good man. Everything he did was to protect everyone.”

“By killing an innocent woman? Jimin and his brother were left without a mother!” I yelled through my tears, standing up from the bed,

“Why?! Tell me why he did it!”

“Y/N...we--we can’t. It was the last promise we made him…”

“Tell me!” I shouted, louder than before, not knowing that my eyes had changed in that moment.

I watched them both swallow harshly, Yoongi stepping forward, “No.”

I closed my eyes tightly at hearing his answer, clenching my hands into fists at my sides, “Get out.”

“Y/N please.”

“I said get out!” I yelled, my voice breaking.

They stayed where they were for a moment before reluctantly moving their feet. As soon as I heard the door close I stumble back until my back met the wall behind me. I slid down the wall, burying my face into my knees.

-Jimin’s P.O.V-

“You sure you don’t need any guards with you?” Gai asked as we reached the front door.

“I’ll be fine. Just make sure to get Namjoon here. I’m sure if you just mention Y/N’s name he’ll come running.” I said, a hint of distaste in my voice.

Gai stopped walking at my words, a smirk playing at his lips, “Oh ho, what's this? Are you jealous right now? Of Kim Namjoon? Wow, I must be dreaming.”

“Stop talking nonsense and just go do as you’re told.” I said, avoiding his eyes, slipping on my jacket.

“You are aren’t you? I thought I was imagining that look in your eyes earlier when you were staring down Min Yoongi but I’m right. You’re jealous, of every man that’s around her no less.” He said with a chuckle.

“Shut up.” I grumbled out, leaving him behind.

“Yo Park Jimin!”

I stopped at hearing him call out my name, turning around to face him, “I’m glad you’ve finally put everything behind you and decided to start over with her. She’s perfect for you. I hope you two live happily like you deserve, once this is all over that is.”

I looked at him with wide eyes, surprised at his words. After a moment of just standing there I let out a scoff before turning my back on him. As I walked away from him I couldn’t hide the smile that played at my lips.

“I’m here to see Taehyung, tell him Park Jimin is here.” I said to the guards at the border.

They shared a look, hesitating, “Sir, we can’t. We’re on strict orders not to let anyone in, I’m sorry.”

I smirked, taking a step closer to them, “Didn’t you hear me? I don’t care what orders you’re under, go get Kim Taehyung.”

The man swallowed harshly, opening his mouth but closed it again, not finding the words. When he looked like he was about to speak the voice I heard wasn’t his.

“It looks like it’s you that can't hear properly. We’re not letting anyone in Jimin, that includes you.”

I set my jaw at the sound of his voice, glaring at him as he sauntered over, “Jeon Jungkook. I need to speak with Taehyung, you either let me in while I’m asking nicely or I’ll force my way in, it’s your choice.”

Jungkook smirked, shoving his hands in his coat pocket, “I’d like to see you try. You know we never got to finish that fight, what do you say, let’s finish it right now.”

“I’m not here to fight, I’m here to talk to Taehyung and I’m not leaving until I do.” I said through clenched teeth.

He took slow steps towards me, a cocky look in his eye, “Well it looks like you’ll be here awhile. While you wait why don’t we have a little fun, huh? I’ve always wanted to wipe that smug look off your face, why not give me the pleasure of doing just that right now?”

He pushed at my shoulders but I didn’t budge, “Come on, show me those flames of yours. Those same ones you used to attack not only my master with but Y/N as well. Bring them out, come on I’m waiting. What are you scared now? Afraid that I might extinguish that fire of yours for good?”

I clenched my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I bit my tongue. He continued to provoke me but I kept silent. This is for Y/N, once we’ve dealt with Seokjin I can come back and teach this brat a lesson, stay calm, repeated to myself over and over again like a mantra, that is until he said something I couldn’t ignore.

“Come on at least put up a fight, that way I can take your body back to Y/N, show her how I got rid of the pest that endangered her life. Who knows she might even reward me for it, and I’ve got just the thing in mind to ask for.” He said with a smirk, his eyes shining mischievously.

At his words my fire spread up my arm, but before I even got to do anything a voice stopped me.

“Jeon Jungkook!”

Jungkook froze at the anger behind his voice, turning on his heel and bowed his head to the man marching over to us.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Taehyung all but growled out, coming to stand before Jungkook.

“I was just-”

“Do you even understand the situation we’re all in at the moment? This is no time for you to be picking fights with others!” He shouted, pointing a finger harshly in to his chest.

“But Taehyung he--he wouldn’t take no for an answer. We told him we couldn’t let him in so he threatened to force his way in. I couldn’t just-”

“From what I just heard it sounded like you were the one that was provoking him,” Taehyung cut him off, the anger clear in his voice.

I’ve known Taehyung for five years now and I have never seen him so angry before. Truth be told he even scared me a little with the look his was giving Jungkook. Jungkook hung his head like a puppy that just got scolded for peeing on the floor. I frowned, feeling a bit bad for him, knowing he wasn’t entirely at fault.

“Taehyung I-”

“And you, who the hell do you think you are demanding to be let in? Do you even know what’s going on? The Zeus faction has taken over, Poseidon is no longer in power.” Taehyun spat out.

I felt my face pale at his words, “W-What? They--They can’t do that.”

“They can do whatever the hell they want, it’s the Zeus faction we’re talking about.”

I stumbled back at his words. Seokjin must be serious about this if he took over, kicking Poseidon off the throne when it was their turn to rule. But Yoongi and Hoseok haven’t mentioned anything about it, I’m sure they would’ve said something about it if they knew. I mean this is big, it’s fucking huge. Every single one of us knew Zeus was the strongest and it was only a matter a time when they would remind us, but I never expected it to actually happen.

“So what now?”

“They’re calling everyone to arms, saying the Hephaestus faction is starting a revolution and we need to stop them as soon as possible.”

“That’s crazy!” I shouted, taking a step forward, ready to defend my people but Taehyung beat me to it.

“It wouldn’t be the first time your people try and start a war, Jimin. Everyone is on Zeus' side, ready to fight the rebels.”

“Tae, we’re being targeted for the third time in less than a century. Do you really believe that we’d risk our own people for a war we know we won’t win? Taehyung something bigger is going on here and you know it.”

Taehyung lowered his gaze, staring down at the ground beneath his feet for a moment before a heavy sigh left his lips, “Okay fine, let’s say I believe you. Tell me what’s really going on then.”

“Seokjin is trying to kill Y/N.”

“What?!” Both Jungkook and Taehyung exclaimed, the two looking at me with wide eyes.

“At first it all started with him trying to get rid of me because of a vision he had but it’s turned into something so much bigger than that. I came here to ask you to help me...I-I can’t protect her on my own, not against someone like Seokjin.”

They both wore frowns on their faces, still shocked to be hearing this news. I should’ve known Seokjin would lie to everyone, it’s what they did to my grandfather no doubt. History is repeating itself and I’m hellbent on stopping it, knowing Y/N’s life is on the line. Taehyung sighed heavily, sharing a look with Jungkook before turning to me.

“Look, I can’t promise you my people, I don’t have that kind of power. But...Jungkook and I are willing to help.”

I let out a breath of relief, a small smile playing at my lips. So this is what it’s like to have loyal friends, huh? I’m glad she spent her time making friends with the people around her instead of enemies like I did. Seeing how ready they were to help out I couldn’t help but feel bad for the way I’ve treated them, especially that last day we saw each other.

“Before--Before anything I just...want to apologize for the way I acted. I now realize what an idiot I’ve been...I’m sorry.” I apologized, bowing to the two to show my sincerity.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, making me stand upright, “I get you were angry Jimin, I would be too if I lost my mother the way you did. I’m just glad you finally realize your mistakes, not only with us but with Y/N as well. I’m sure you’re going out of your way because you’ve finally figured out how much you love her.”

I stared at Taehyung in shock, “How did you-”

“Oh come on, it was written all over your face every time you saw her,” Jungkook scoffed out, crossing his arms over his chest, “Now let’s go before I try and change Taehyung’s mind.”

He pushed passed me, walking away from Taehyung and I. I shared a look of gratitude with him, seeing a grin spread across his face. The two of us began to walk back to my home but were stopped after taking a few steps.

“Uh...sir?”

We stopped at the sound of the guard’s voice, Taehyung turning around to face her.

“Can--Can we go as well?”

I was surprised at her words, looking to her partner to see that he had the same determined look in his eyes.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea...I don’t want either of you to get punished by my father…” Taehyung said with a frown.

“But sir, I’m sorry but you know our loyalty stands with you.” The male guard said.

Taehyung went to shoot them down again but I stopped him, “Tae...this can help us. You have people that are loyal to you, not your father, this might give us a fighting chance. You can tell them to be ready for your signal the day of the battle, we can win this.”

Taehyung looked torn on what to do. I could tell he felt uneasy about going behind his father’s back to do something like this. With a sigh he rubbed his hands over his face.

“Fine. Tell everyone that’s ever been under my charge to wait for my bird, I’ll let it fly when I need you.”

“What the hell are you guys doing? Hurry the hell up!” Jungkook yelled out to us.

I pulled on Taehyung’s arm but he fought against me, “If you find yourselves in a bind forget about helping me. And if you get caught you tell my father I was the one that forced you into it you understand?”

“Yes sir.” They both said in unison, standing at attention with their heads bowed, left arm behind their back while they placed their right fist over their hearts.

I stood outside my home speechless, my jaw hanging open. There...were so many soldiers from Gaia...I couldn’t even count them if I tried.

“G-Gai?”

Gai walked over to me with caution, “Yeah?”

“What is all this?” I asked, dazed as I looked over each and every one of them.

“W-Well when I reached the Gaia faction Namjoon was on his way out. It looks like he was going to march over here with his army before we even got the chance to ask him for help.”

I kept my gaze forward, reaching over to place a hand on Gai’s shoulder, squeezing tightly as I spoke through clenched teeth, “Where the hell do you think I’m gonna hide all these people? When my father finds out about all this he’ll have my head. We were supposed to do this discreetly, tell me what the fuck is discreet about hundreds of Gaia soldiers?”

“J-Jimin I had no choice but to bring them here.”

“I asked him to bring me here Jimin. I heard everything from Levi, he asked for my help long before you sent Gai over to me.” Namjoon spoke up, stepping out from behind his soldiers.

I looked at him in shock? Levi did? So does this mean he’s going against Zeus? But on the way over here Taehyung had told me the Poseidon faction had been on lock down since this morning...did Levi contact Namjoon before then. Gai had gone for Yoongi and Hoseok yesterday afternoon so that means between then and this morning Seokjin closed in the people of Poseidon. I wonder if Y/N knows about this. I shook my head, looking over to Namjoon and giving him a grateful nod. He gave me a dimpled smile in return, turning to his army.

“Alright, make yourselves scarce. Find a few inns to stay in, I’ll let you know when I need you.”

A loud thunderous chorus of ‘yes sir’s were heard, surprising myself and those around me. I leaned closer to Gai, whispering, “Do we even have enough inns for all of them?”

“N-No. I’ll, uh, I’ll go talk to the principal of the high school and ask her to let them stay there. We won’t be able to hold any classes for the students anyway so it’ll be empty.” He said, calling out for them to follow him instead.

I watched them all leave, a heavy sigh falling from my lips. I ran my fingers through my hair, thinking about how I was going to explain all this to my father. I knew once he saw Y/N he’d throw a fit. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t noticed yet but that’s not surprising in the least. He had been withdrawn ever since my mother died, the only thing he did was get angry. And I fed off that anger, justifying my actions because of it. I rubbed my hands over my face, turning to Namjoon but before I could get a word out someone yelled out my name.

“You have a lot of fucking nerve, Jimin.” Yoongi spat out from the door, making his way to me but Hoseok stopped him, holding him back, “What gives you the right to fucking tell her about that day? It took us years for her to forget it but you brought it back up w-”

“She had every right to know who her father really was. He was a murderer.”

“That’s exactly why we never fucking told her! Do you have any idea how much she loved her father? We didn’t want to ruin that for her!” Yoongi yelled out, fighting against Hoseok’s hold but Hoseok just held on tighter, “Now she’s broken because the man she thought so highly of and loved with all her might was nothing but a murderer.”

I frowned at his words, getting angry myself, “He killed my mother he-”

“He was under orders!” Yoongi shouted, cutting me off, “He--he was under orders, he had no choice but to do what he did, we had no choice.”

My jaw went slack at his words, “W-What?”

I could see the unshed tears in Yoongi’s eyes. This must have been haunting him since the day it happened. Without saying another word he shoved Hoseok off of him, storming off. Hoseok just stared after him, sadness in his eyes before turning to face me.

“Zeus has been running things from the very beginning. You can’t honestly tell me you believe those stronger than everyone else would simply relinquish their power to us weaker ones so easily. They’re the ones behind your mother’s death, even your grandfather’s. They’ve killed those that they thought had a chance of beating them, and now their target is Y/N,” Hoseok said, his voice low, “I hope you have one hell of a plan up your sleeve because with how things are right now...we don’t stand much of a chance. Our numbers do nothing against their strength.”

My shoulders slumped at his words, maybe I was in way over my head. I had the drive and determination but that’s not enough...I don’t think I have the strength to go up against someone like Seokjin, to protect Y/N. I know I’m strong...but not that strong.

“Hey...Jimin...I know this might not be good timing but I’ve gotta tell you, I’ve been skeptical about things the whole way here. I just can’t wrap my head around Y/N not only being stronger than Seokjin but being chosen by Poseidon. You know I never really believed in the gods anyway so…” Taehyung trailed off in a timid voice.

“We want to make sure we’ve made the right choice and we’re not just fighting a losing battle here.” Jungkook added, stepping forward.

I opened my mouth to answer but was cut off by the sound of Y/N’s voice. I turned to look in the direction it was coming from, the color leaving my face at the sight. My father was dragging her over to the front door, his hand gripping onto her hair tightly. She kicked and screamed for him to let her go and he did, he threw her down the steps that lead to the front door. I ran to help her as she came to a stop a few feet away from me. I could see Hoseok fighting against Namjoon and Gai’s hold, Yoongi somehow showing back up in that moment, Jungkook and Taehyung having to hold him back. I could practically feel the anger radiating off of their bodies but that anger was nothing compared to the one I felt. The moment I saw him dragging her like a rag doll my blood had begun to boil, the rage within me was uncontrollable when I saw the blood flowing from the side of her head, dripping down to her shoulder. I kept my eyes on her face, relieved to see that she was still conscious but the way she let out a groan let me know she was in pain. I clenched my hands into fists, my whole body burning with a fire that demanded to be let out but before that--I scooped her up, moving her aside. I placed her by the others, letting her lean back against a pillar. As soon as I set her down all the guys surrounded her, the only one that didn’t was Gai. He grabbed onto my arm, warning me with his eyes but I ignored him, yanking my arm out of his grip.

I turned to face my father, letting my fire crawl up my arms, the flames licking at my neck, “Is Jisoo home?”

“N-No...Jimin-”

I didn’t stay to hear anything he had to say, slowing walking to my father. With every step I took my fire grew, my father’s expression remained unchanged.

“Why the fuck was that Poseidon bitch in my home?! You’re lucky I didn’t-”

I didn’t give him a chance to finish, extending an arm in his direction, my fire shooting off like a missile, hitting it’s mark. Everything within reach burst into flames, the fire began to spread quickly but I didn’t care. I walked through the burning doorway, a dangerous glint in my eyes as I glared over at my father who had been thrown back into a pillar that stood in the middle of our home. I closed my eyes briefly, cracking my neck before looking at him with hate filled eyes, I’ve had enough.

“How dare y-”

“How dare you put your fucking hands on her? I’ve put up with your bullshit for the past 23 fucking years of my life and I’ve had it. I’m fucking done you hear me, done.”

Tags : @rjsmochii

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cartoonfangirl1218 · 5 years ago

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Antonio and Pablo Agama headcanons

Leoncio Renato Braganza-Olmos was a dashing cavalry officer, just recently promoted when he met Altagracia Luna Quelempan-Agama,a healer working in the army camp. It was during an army dance, this being the years before Shuriki, and the camp was celebrating its recent victory. Like a classic fairytale, their eyes met across the room. He introduced himself and bowed, they danced, and fell head over heels for each other. Their backgrounds were quite different with Leoncio coming from a long line of esteemed army men much like the Villalobos of Avalor City. In fact, the Villalobos family was one of their greatest rivals for the Olmos family wanted to move out of serving the borders of far away villages and achieve glory in war on foreign land or against dangerous malvagos that seemed to attack the city.

Altagracia was a mestiza, a mixed race girl of indeginous tribes that prided themselves from descending from the great Maruvians and of the more pure blood Spanish descent. Altargracia was very much inspired by her indigenous side, working hard with others to keep their culture and knowledge of medicines and textiles alive. Though, there was not much discrimination for her mixed blood, as many actually wanted to learn the secrets of ancient Maru, people still sometimes taunted them for their superstitions and outdated ideas. Both their families cautioned them from getting married, fearing that their backgrounds would be too different.

However, the couple did not care. Their backgrounds meant little compared to their love for one another. She wanted to support him in his army battles and patch him up in the privacy of their own home and Leoncio adored his at turns intelligent and fierce wife who may not be able to hold a spear but could verbally spar with the best of his fellow soldiers.

Though the life of following army camp after army camp was tiring, they leaned on each other and were thanful to have the other by their side. Eventually came the day when Leoncio got a sword through his thigh. It broke stright through the bone and sidelined him for nearly a year. He eventually healed despite fears that he’d have to be amputed, but he would live with a permenant limp and had to retire from his life of sword. It happened to be excellent timing for Altagracia was pregnant with their first child.

They settled into Altagracia’s home village where Leoncio was aimlessly lost at first, unsure that he had any skills for citizen work but with Altagracia’s guidence and help, he found his way to work as a part-time picker on pepper plantations while Altagracia continued to work and sell her weaving wares and herbal medicines.

Their first son, Antonio Lautaro Agama-Olmos was born at dawn, a loud and robust baby. A direct contrast to their second son, Pablo Sergio Agama-Olmos who was born at midnight, similarly loud but skinnier.

The family was small but happy. Leoncio being a particularly proud father, trying to teach his sons fighting tricks and boast of his great victories. However, one day, Leoncio left without a trace. Perhaps he left because life in a small village bored him, maybe he had found another woman, or maybe he wished to start over fresh in Avalor City without the burden of caring for a family or the hauntings of his former officer glory. It could have been any one of these reasons but no one would ever know for he left no note.

Altagracia received no sympathy from her family who had warned her that a wealthy man like he might get bored with her, warnings she blithely ignored. She had more help from the Olmos’ who pitied her and felt similarly abandoned for Leoncio sent no word either to them. Besides it went against their honor to abandon someone who was part of their family. They sent Altagracia an “allowance” of sorts monthly and Leoncio’s younger brother, Fernando even offered to marry her to make up for his brother’s grievous actions and give the boys a father. Altagracia politely refused, her pain was too strong and she wished never to see any of her husband’s kin ever again.

Altagracia reluctantly accepted the money as she needed it for her sons, and packed up, took up her old name, and moved to the village over the plateau. (I imagine it to be very similar to Curicó in Chile. You know, mountains on either side, a central fertile valley for agriculture, humid and wet). She couldn’t stand the humiliation of everyone knowing her husband left her and wanted to start fresh even though the rumors and pitying stares still plagued her when she moved to the new village near Mesa Roja. Words traveled fast.

Despite the money sent to her, she couldn’t buy a house with enough space for all her weaving so she couldn’t open her own weaving shop. But Altagracia was determined to make do and used the stables that adjoined her home to house her looms and set to work by herself to create the most elaborate, quality ponchos, clothes and other items till she became the known as “la mujer de la telar.” The money the Olmos did sent them was set aside for special nonessential things like archery sets or a professional portrait since Altagracia decided any essential items like food or clothing, she would pay with her own work. Those luxeries Pablo proudly boasted about since it set them apart from their little less-off farming neighbors, and he’d often sell these goods for a price. That is until Altagracia found out and threatened to stop buying him things if he wasn’t going to use it himself.

Antonio had been 7 at the time, Pablo only 6, and if that one devastating event wasn’t enough. That was the same year that Shuriki came to power. Music and the old festivals were banned. Altagracia was one of the few people who was happy with this new arrangement since she’d much rather not be reminded of dances or anything happy like that. The boys however, were sorely disappointed by the thought of no more spring harvesting festivals with the children’s races or the games and such. And the addition of Shuriki’s guards patrolling the perimeters to quell any underground rebellions was an unnerving new normal to add to their lives.

Though the boys were too young to truly understand the full context of what was going on, they came today follow their mother’s mantra of “make do with what they have” and made their own fun without the festivals like marbles or pretending their were great trapeze artists like the traveling circus they saw or exploring their new home and the surrounding wild. Antonio’s particularly favorite game was pretending to find lost treasure which influenced his later career.

By the time Antonio was a teenager, he came to think of himself as the new man of the house. He saw how Leoncio’s departure affected their mother. She threw herself into her work, and doted on them more than ever. But she was so distrustful of others especially the rich who she now thought saw people like her as playthings or beneath them. He heard the rumors and taunts of other kids that “they” were the reason their dad ran away. And he vowed that he’d bring fortune to the Agamas name. They’d be known for something else than their disappeared dad.

The one obstacle to his big plan was his own brother. It seemed Pablo had inherited their father’s propensity for wanting glory and their mother’s sly tongue. He fancied himself as a poor man’s merchant (more accurately a con man) and had been cheating people out of their money with goods that he overhyped or stole from people for them to buy it back at exorbitant prices. Antonio often chewed him out for these things especially since it could reflect badly on their whole family but Pablo defended that they wouldn’t want their dear Mama to worry more than she had to, beside he was doing his part as a dutiful son to give her money any way he can. Even though he made plenty of enemies that way. Their neighbors, the Palomas, especially.

Their mother did notice the tension between both boys and often had to drop subtle reminders and wise proverbs like “Family isn't an important thing. It's everything,” or “The important thing in a family is not being together but being united.”

But they both possessed the same stubborness and their differences grew anyway. Antonio was a studious student, paying attention in class while Pablo often skipped because he felt there was no point. Most people didn’t use the lessons on geometry or English in their daily lives, they learned their family trade and that was that. He much preferred to wager and make bets with the boys and flirt. Antonio had also entertained thoughts of marrying girls he had crushes on but he knew that would doom his dream. Once he got married, he’d have to stay settled down and he didn’t want that so he staye dcelibate though many women, allured by his muscular build, did try to tempt him much to Pablo’s disgust (Poor Pablo, he wanted to be tempted. That's all he wanted!). But Antonio was different. Their teacher, Professora Risquez thought Antonio had potential, he had a passion for history and the stories of treasure hunters so she told him about the field of archeology. It sounded like a dream to him! Being able to find lost civilizations that told them of where they came from and what they did just like the ancient Maruvians.

He couldn’t get the kind of education at home. Not there where the highest level was 12th grade. Professora Risquez offered to sponsor him to go to the University of Avalor. He would live with her parents in their house in the city and he could pursue a degree in archaeological studies. It was a perfect plan and Altagracia was thrilled for her son, and Antonio was similarly thrilled. He was getting one step closer to his dream of bringing fame to the Agama name.

The only one who was less enthusiastic was Pablo who thought Antonio was acting stuck up and superior to him which he kind of was. This led to their first major fight, leading them to never speak to each other for the next twenty eight years.

Antonio hunkered down on his studies, but it had been quite a shock when he first arrived in the city. They had so many more modern convencies like carriages instead of carts and shops for everything and the port brought all sorts of peoples and stories of distant lands that he could never imagine. He even saw a professional circus that put the traveling circus he saw in his childhood to shame.

Then there was the actual university, the small school with its few teachers and lackluster substance had not prepared him for rigerous testing and academic tone of the unversity. But Professora Risquez’s parents had been former professors themselves and helped him with his study habits and time management. As for the kids, some were nice, some were snobs, a regular crowd of all kinds of people. Though sometimes those classist snobs sniffed at his “village peasant” accent and how fast he talked (Chilean spanish accents is known for being the fastest-spoken) so he learned to modify his fast to his slower, guttural sound.

It got stressful at times but the one thing that kept him going was the passion for archeology itself. Each book he read, he yearned to know more, to learn more, to go out and explore and find the routes himself which he did every summer, even managing to secure his first glimpse of fame when he found the Heiroglyphic Staircase of Maru.

Pablo stayed at home, helping his mom with selling her wares and occasionally take odd jobs about town. Eventually, he got bored with the poor provincial village and decided to set out for his own. Altagracia gave her blessings since she had enough money to get by on her own with her work and the allowance from the Olmos. Besides she felt that maybe it would encourage Pablo to grow up a little especially now that he was out of Antonio’s shadow. He offered his services as a salesman to various small businesses but often quit when he felt ready to wander again or because he wanted a larger cut than his employers were willing to give him. He also decided to do his own version of treasure hunting and find items from the trash or wild or sometimes laying around someone’s backyard and sell them, often adding they belonged to some famous royal or legend or had magic properties. Then splitting town before his angry customors found out they were tricked.

Meanwhile, as Pablo scraped by, Antonio was sending money and letters to their mother with each new discovery he found. He had gotten his biggest dream as a result with the fame and universities begging him to come vist and give lectures. He did so especially if Professora Risquez asked, but he found the fame wasn’t as appealing as he thought it would be. Lectures, especially preparing them, were boring and he didn’t sell his items rather he gave them to museums to study. He much preferred the thrill of the adventuring and the excitment of finding treasure than anything else.

Then came the day he ventured to Obsidian Island. He had been so sure of himself, having sort of bought into his own hype, and that this would be his greatest find yet. But he had not anticipated for the gecko curse to be real! He freaked out when he was first transformed finding his brain sharing the instincts of a gecko’s and he’d often be distracted by his gecko instincts. Which he had stayed in that form for years.

Meanwhile, Pablo had come home from his itenerite wanderings after his mother wrote to him to come back. He had been 5 years since she had last heard from Antonio. Pablo had no information to give her on that front, but it didn’t matter because she needed him now that her arthritis was acting up and it was harder for her to move. Eventually, she had stopped moving completely and needed to move around in a wheelchair. Pablo cared for her during her final days and then Antonio came back.

He finished his adventure at Obsidian Island, and no longer a gecko, he had to apologize and explain to everyone he had known what had happened. His first trip was to his dear mama who had wept with joy seeing Antonio alive and well and that he had not abandoned her as she had thought. Pablo was put-off. Finally, he had time with their mama but once again Antonio, the golden boy outshone him and “saved” the day.

The next day, Altagracia died, seemingly ready to move on after seeing her son again. Pablo and Antonio tersely arranged the funeral together, maintaing some politeness to each other. But that all exploded after the funeral. Pablo made some comment of how nice it was for the famed and renowned Antonio Agama to find time to visit and how he had done all the work when Altagracia was ill and Antonio made her think he had left them just like Leoncio. Antonio shot back that he didn’t mean to not contact them. He was a freaking gecko! Those were exnuating circumstances, and it wasn’t like Pablo was so concerned about his welfare since he hadn’t written him so much a letter since Antonio left for college. This left them in fury and they refused to talk to each other again.

Until the will came and both were given parts of that treasure map aka The Family Treasure. After the events of that episode and Elena’s song getting stuck in their head thus reminding them, they decided to patch up their relationship and spend more time with one another with Antonio even inviting Pablo to his next archeological adventure so they’d have plenty of time to talk or find more things to fight about, but they’ve come to sort of like it that way.

#pablo agama #antonio agama #my headcanons #my hcs #headcanons #elena of avalor

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tarithenurse · 5 years ago

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Agent of Hope - 12

Your world falls into ruin together with the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcements Logistics Division when you find out that your boyfriend isn’t one of the good guys. Pairing: Brock Rumlow x fem!reader, Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader Contents: ALL THE WARNINGS INCLUDING TRIGGER WARNINGS. A tiny bit of good in the end? A/N: I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

12 - Broken people

… Romanoff’s PoV …

“This is more like it!” Stark sounds cheerful over the coms.

He’s flown ahead to scout together with Sam, eager to make sure no one escapes him and the rest of the team of Avengers as they head through the vacated part of town.

Peering down a side road, Natasha has to admit that it’s more than just a single neighbourhood that’s been abandoned long ago. The town was dependant on one industry only, not atypical for a lot of the rural mid-states, and when that went belly-up the entire town was vacated out of a need for jobs. Splintered windows beneath sheets of plywood, boarded up doors, and overgrown patios and curbs. Ghost town. But the place isn’t completely empty. A bit of hacking through Stark’s suit has proved that someone’s accessing the electrical grid and the water at one location only: a school. Perfect place for a large group of people take hunker down for a while.

“What’s the play, Nat?” Steve’s voice calls the former Russian back to the situation.

Go in, kill what moves, save [Y/N]. But it has to be more detailed than that. “Sam ‘nd Steve take the south entrance, Tony find a way in from west or make one…we take the north side.”

The man in a can is hovering far above the building sprawled out between wild grasses and shrubberies, allowing Jarvis to do its work while everyone else moves to the desired positions.

It’s a good thing. Thanks to Jarvis, they know how many Hydra-goons are waiting as the wannabe rescuers storm the place, moving methodically along the main hallways without forgetting to check each room…just in case. It’s silent work with very few surprises until they inevitably encounter the first opposition, five for each pair (counting Stark and Jarvis together, of course).

Hydra trains their people very well, forming teams with strong bonds and a capability for adapting rapidly under pressure. It’s hard to tell from the grunts or weapon-noise through the coms how the others are fairing against the enemy, but at least Natasha is a force that not even Hydra can withstand at the moment. She bears down on them like a hurricane and without any regards for her own safety except what is needed to reach the next target and the one after that.

… Rumlow’s PoV …

Grabbing the few things he needs, Brock’s mentally racing through the plan for getting the hell our of dodge. The second in command knows. Each and every Hydra member has to be ready to lay down there lives to ensure the goal is achieved, but sometimes the higher-ranking officers are part of a bigger puzzle that requires them (in this case Rumlow) to leave before it’s too late so they/he can fight another day.

“And the girl?” Crouched behind a corner at a T-intersection in the hallway to avoid the shrapnel and bullets, the man glances over at Rumlow on the other side of the hall.

“Not a priority.”

That’s it. A death-sentence in three words. The second knows what it means and there are no need to say anything else even as the two men meet each other’s gaze for a second before Rumlow twists to look around his own corner. An arrow whistles by with only an inch to spare and lodges itself in the wall behind him.

“COVER!” The last of his shout is drowned in the small explosion which makes a whole in the wall. Bloody Robin Hood.

Debris and smoke is raining down as Rumlow unfolds himself from where he’d landed on the floor. His ears are ringing and there’s probably a part of the less healed wounds that have re-opened on his shoulder, but it doesn’t matter right this second.

So she cares! The fiery hair is partially breaking free from the ponytail, floating in thin wisps around Romanoff’s face as she engages two Hydra agents simultaneously. The grey-green eyes are normally calculative, showing the same detachment that he himself has been trained to utilize during any mission. Not this time.

A second expands and stretches, slowing the embers to the point where they look like fireflies hovering in the air and the sound of fighting is a distant rumbling. There’s more than enough time for Brock to notice the snarl curling the pretty lips to show a flash of white teeth. It’s the eyes that does it, though. It’s almost funny. All this time he thought having [Y/N] would be a matter of principles and strategy for Captain bloody Rogers, that that’s the reason the Avengers are coming for the freak of an ex…but it’s the emotionless less bitch who’s invested. It’s so obvious it’s tempting to stay and watch, to be there when Romanoff finds the limb body.

Time snaps back like a rubber band, flinging Brock and the world into action once more. As he run down the hallway and away from the noise, it’s the fear – the desperation – in the Black Widow’s eyes that gives him wings.

… Reader’s PoV …

The sound of an explosion reaches you from far away, stubbornly pushing through the fluffy nothingness that surrounds and cools you. Smaller sounds can be heard too, but you just…just can’t be bothered with it all. What does it all matter anyways? Wanting to go back to the calm fluff, you refuse to open your eyes to find out what’s happening…it will only bring you pain anyways, and you’re so fed up of the constant aching from within and outside. When was the last time you weren’t hurting while awake? It’s impossible to tell. Maybe you’ve always been in pain, head electrocuting you and body ripped apart bit by bit. Or is that your soul? The dark silence comes to your rescue, quieting your brain and the world again.

…

Darkness moves in your mind, tearing your thought to pieces with pure agony. Tunnel. Running. It’s not you fleeing in the dark, but someone else. Images of landscapes and helicopters come and go together with random faces you’ve never seen together with the hot sunlight over a city you’ve never seen although you recognize the green shape tearing through the street. There’s a scream above it all, much closer and with a different quality to it. Me? Your throat is raw as the dirty tiles between leather of the real world breaks through your vision, the faded turquoise pulsing with your heartbeat in your head. The sound of yourself nestles itself over everything else, lulling you into a pained rest of brightest white before the darkness rebuilds a cocoon around you.

…

You see the slender legs (black pants covered in dust) wrapping around the neck of a man. You see the tendrils of red whip into the field of vision as the male and the entire hallway spins. The sounds you hear don’t fit that image, though. Instead there’s a metalling sound followed by a sort of oingoingoingoing and heavy boots.

“Shit!” The deep voice makes you wince, it’s much too loud this close to you. “I don’t know, hold on…”

Big hands touch your face, then neck, feeling around for something. Stop! You have to get away from the groping hands. They’ll wrap around your throat, pull your clothes aside to squeeze your breasts painfully, and tear your pants off before they pin you to whatever surface is available. Then the real pain will begin. Deep and unrelenting.

“Hey! [Y/N], it’s okay, it’s me!”

But the man’s words don’t matter. “It’s me…don’t you remember? We were good together…loved each other…look at me, baby…” Soft words whispered into your ear so many times in an attempt to stop you from struggling, promising you that the pain will go away. But it never did. He always hurt you. Or let the others send lightning through your brain until the skull would nearly split. Not again! You won’t let any of them hurt you again. Get away! And there comes the dark fuzz from the corners to save you, bring the peace and nothingness with it.

…

“Don’t let her fall.”

You spill out of the monstrosity of a chair, nearly spilling the non-existent contents of your stomach as the movement is halted by something. Someone. The broad figure has a strong grip on you, holding on so you can’t get away no matter how much you begin to struggle. Every shift in the limbs sends pain screaming through the muscles even as the shoves and pushes become weaker. No! You barely have any energy left, but this is your chance to get away. Away from Brock. Home. You know there’s no such place, the apartment you had was shared with the last man you ever want to see again. That’s not a home anymore. Tasha. Please, find me. That’s where you have to go, where you’ll be safe. Tasha. Nat!

“Easy, she’s … -er wa-” the voice fades in and out as darkness returns.

… Romanoff’s PoV …

At least she’s alive. The words running on repeat in Natasha’s head are meant to be a way to calm herself. A soothing mantra. However, as she runs down the halls of the derelict school, it’s not enough to keep the worry tugged away because this is about [Y/N], and everything she can hear the guys say on the coms is verifying the horrible fears supressed lately.

“Talk to me,” she pleads, ignoring that her body would prefer the air for itself rather than talking.

The second of hesitation is oppressing through the little earpiece, speaking volumes more than any words could.

“She’s in and out of consciousness,” Steve finally explains, “alive, but far from healthy.” Natasha can imagine the way the Captain’s jaw must be set right now. “Nat…she freaks out if we’re too close if she’s awa–“

As if on cue, there’s a strangled wail from Steve’s end and something that sounds a lot like a man in sudden pain. “Fuuuuu…she…my balls…” Sam whimpers broken.

“Almost there.”

…

The sight of [Y/N] shivering figure is like a punch to the guts. It’s not the dirt, torn clothes, or even the bruises and blood. It’s the way the woman is huddled into a corner of the deep end of the pool as far from Sam and Steve as she can possibly get and the haunted look as she tries to hold her head up in an attempt to keep track of the men while battling fatigue. But worst of all? [Y/N] is trying to hold the tattered trousers tightly closed with one hand behind a shield of knobbly knees and broken fingernails that sometimes stray to her scalp where hair has been sheared off in patches where bluish gel still sticks.

“[Y/N]…” I have to be slow, have to be calm. “It’s me…Natasha. [Y/N], can you hear me?”

Frightened eyes blink in confusion, searching for the source of the female voice echoing in the empty pool. Tears glide slowly down the poor girl’s cheeks along paths crusty with old salt.

“T-Tash-a?” Hoarse. Broken. The once rich sound has been reduced to a ghost. “Whe- Nat?”

The former spy recognises the grimaces caused by conflicting emotions that hurt more than any physical pain could ever do, and she wants to rush over to hold the woman. Keep her safe now when she couldn’t before…but one wrong move will be disastrous.

“I’m here. Can I come closer?”

Inch by inch, the abused woman unfolds enough to stretch her arms towards Natasha. One in each other’s embrace, [Y/N] keeps feelings the rescuer’s face and threading the dirty fingers through the flaming hair. A soft smile is on her lips, only wavering when Steve tries to come closer – at least he gets the point and retreats again.

“Y’ere,” the former prisoner sighs.

Unable to hold her own head any longer, she lets it sink onto Natasha’s shoulder. The redhead is thankful, that way she can allow her lips to quiver as they want to without the concern that the poor soul in her arms might see it. Fiddling with a zipper, she pulls out a syringe.

“I’m here, [Y/N].” At least her voice is still even. “I got you, go to sleep.” The needle finds its mark, unnoticed by the exhausted woman, and hot tears begin to fall on her head as the sedative enter her system. “I got you.”

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lostinaseaoffictionalbliss · 5 years ago

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Make My Heart Sing

A/N: any gifs i use are not my own. I get them from google

Summary: Your job leads to you seeing Steve Rogers, but for a long time you keep your feelings close to the vest. Until one night he comes to you

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader

Warnings: none

Word Count: 1281

You were a singer in a 40s style bar and lounge. It was something you greatly enjoyed. The music, the outfits, the laid back attitude of most of the customers. You liked all of it; it was the perfect job for you. Or maybe it was the hottie that came into the bar every Friday night that you enjoyed so much.

The first time you had seen him, you had almost missed the beat to start the next chorus. His blue button up was so tight as he leaned against the bar and it drew attention to his muscles. You had sucked in a breath that would have been heard by the crowd if you hadn’t lowered the mic when you spotted him.

Luckily one of the band members had caught your attention and you managed to pick up the song without really catching anyone’s attention. It would have been embarrassing if someone had caught onto the fact you had been ogling the man.

That had been a few months ago and you still hadn’t worked up the courage to approach the man. You mentality berated yourself every time you watched him leave at the end of the night. You were beautiful, talented. Why couldn’t you muster the courage to approach him, introduce yourself? It wasn’t that hard to do. Just walk up to him and say, “I’m nice to meet you, I’m…”

But the words always got stuck in your throat and you hated yourself for it. You wanted more than anything to say a few words to him, but they never came out. And it would seem tonight would be no different.

You sang and danced your heart out, spinning around the stage and hitting all your notes perfectly. There were plenty of applause and a few wolf whistles. By now you had grown accustomed to that. The men did it every night. Some of them had even asked you on a date, but none of them caught your attention. Not since you’d first laid eyes on your handsome blue-eyed soldier.

The truth was you had managed to figure out who he was and knowing that you had a crush on Captain America made you feel silly. He was a hero. He had saved the world from aliens. Yes, he was still a person and you didn’t have trouble looking past his fame. Your issue, and the real reason you couldn’t introduce yourself, was because you didn’t think you were worthy of such a remarkable human being.

He had been through so much in his life, probably had women coming up to him all the time because of his looks or because they recognized him. You didn’t want to add to any stress he might have because of it. So every time you say him the courage you had managed to grasp hold of the night before disappeared like smoke in the night and you couldn’t catch it.

It was a little heartbreaking to watch him and not say a word, but you supposed that was better than never seeing him at all. Perhaps it was better this way. You wouldn’t make a mess of his life and he wouldn’t have to worry about you becoming a potential target for one of his enemies. At least that was what you told yourself. Whenever you saw him the mantra ‘he is better off without you’ played in your head.

Until tonight that is. Tonight wasn’t like all the other nights he had came in, sat at the bar, and had a few drinks. Tonight there was a strange feeling in the air. You looked at him and for a brief moment he was looking back. He smiled and your heart fluttered. Yet, that wasn’t the only difference tonight held.

When you finished your set and headed to your dressing room to grab your bag and head home for the night there was someone in front of your door. Steve was standing there and by the looks of him, he was just as nervous as you were.

“Hi. What...what are you doing in front of my room?” You asked softly.

He lifted his head and locked eyes with you. “I’ve been coming in here for months trying to work up the nerve to say something to you. The first time I came because Stark suggested it. Said it might make me feel a little more at ease than the other clubs. But then I saw you and I thought you were gorgeous. So I came the next week hoping to see you again. I did and this time I caught your full set. Your voice sang to my heart.” He let out a nervous laugh, knowing his last sentence was cheesy and probably cliche.

“You actually wanted to talk to me?” You were beginning to realize that your pinning had been mutual. Or so you hoped.

Steve smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. I tried every time I was here to work up the gumption to tell you I think you have a wonderful voice and that you’re beautiful. The thing is I’m not really used to dating and talking to girls unless it’s for a mission. And even then they still make me nervous.”

You laughed softly. “You were nervous? Have you looked in a mirror? You’re gorgeous and sweet. The way you always buy me a drink. Don’t deny it. I didn’t start getting a free drink every Friday until you started coming in. Even still I was nervous to approach you. I didn’t think I was good enough for someone so wonderful. My life is a bit of a mess.”

“I’m sure that however messy your life is it’s nothing compared to mine. You didn’t need to be nervous.”

“It’s probably not as messy, but I didn’t want to complicate your life anymore.” You looked down. Seeing his shadow you lifted your gaze.

“Well I’m here now and maybe I want you to complicate it. What do you say to coffee?”

“I’d love that. Just give me a few minutes to change and we’ll go.” You stepped toward your room.

Steve smiled and nodded. “I’ll wait right here for you.”

An hour later you were sitting across from him sipping a chocolate mocha. “Wait...wait you mean to tell me Falcon got his ass handed to him by someone named Ant-man? That’s the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard.” You laughed softly.

He nodded. “Oh yeah. Scott shrunk down and really gave it to him. Not that Sam will admit to it. What man would?”

“I’m not sure a woman would want to admit to that. It’s one thing to get beat up by someone your own size or bigger. A whole other to get beat up by someone this big.” You held your fingers up really close together.

He grinned. “You aren’t wrong. I doubt anyone wants to go through that.”

Talking with Steve was easy. You ended up spending hours together in the coffee shop talking. One mocha turned into four and by the time you realized what time it was the sun had been up for a bit.

“Oh is that the time?”

He looked to the clock. “Yeah, that’s the time. I didn’t realize how late it was. You should get home and get some rest.”

You went to put money on the table for the coffee when he closed your hand.

“Let me get this. It’s the least I can do after making you think for months that I would never want you.”

You smiled softly and gave him a tender kiss. “We should do this again sometime.”

“We definitely will,” he said softly.

#steve #steve rogers #steve rogers x reader #steve x reader #captain america #captain america x reader #captain rogers #captain rogers x reader #mcu #mcu fanfiction #mcu fandom #mcu fanfics #marvel #marvel fanfiction #marvel fandom #marvel fanfics

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patricksilverrose · 5 years ago

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My Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2019

It's that time of year again! I'm gonna use the same introduction on this post like I will on the other for the most part, so don't get scared about reading the same post twice. Today we're gonna be looking at my Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2019! I did a video on my music channel where I just talk about the favorites, but here you will see them AND ALL the honorable mentions! I want to give a few disclaimers: 1) I am a metalhead, so most of the releases you will see are metal releases; 2) this is all based on my personal tastes and opinions as to what I found to be the best.

Before we get into the countdown, let's see the honorable mentions! How I rank them is if the release has ** following it then it means that I enjoyed the release, but if it has *** it means that it had the potential to make it into the rankings. So here they are!

Valcata - Valcata** (symphonic power metal / metal opera) The End of Melancholy - Paradox Intention** (alternative metal) Autumn - Stacking Smoke** (atmospheric gothic metal) Shokran - Ethereal** (djent / progressive metal / ambient) My Propane - Antidote** (djent / alternative metal) Celestivl - TenTimesTwo** (symphonic metal) Diabolical - Eclipse** (black metal) Degrees of Truth - Time Travel Artifact** (progressive metal) Ardours - Last Place on Earth** (gothic metal) Devin Townsend - Empath** (progressive metal) The Agonist - Orphans** (progressive death metal) Battle Beast - No More Hollywood Endings** (heavy metal) Verite - New Skin** (indie pop) Porselain - Duende** (avant-garde) Vetrar Draugurinn - Hinterlands** (gothic metal) Scarlet Stories - Necrologies** (dark metal) Port Noir - The New Routine** (alternative / prog rock) We are the Catalyst - Ephemeral** (alternative metal) Tarja - In the Raw** (symphonic metal) Kobra and the Lotus - Evolution** (hard rock) Rage of Light - Imploder** (trance death metal) FKA Twigs - Magdalene** (trip hop) Cellar Darling - The Spell** (progressive metal) The Dark Element - Songs the Night Sings** (power metal) Voyager - Colours in the Sun** (djent / progressive metal) Arcane Ritual - Witch-Heart** (gothic metal) Metalite - Biomechanicals** (power metal) Gone in April - Shards of Light** (melodic symphonic death metal) Pencey Sloe - Don't Believe, Watch Out** (shoegaze) The Murder of My Sweet - Brave Tin World** (symphonic metal) Symfobia - The Smog of Tomorrow** (symphonic metal) Ianwill - One Credit Left** (metalcore) Visions of Atlantis - Wanderers** (symphonic power metal)

Sharks in Your Mouth - Sacrilegious*** (symphonic deathcore) Glasya - Heaven's Demise*** (symphonic metal) Lacuna Coil - Black Anima*** (gothic metal) Lighthouse in Darkness - The Melancholy Movies*** (trip hop / sad Hollywood music) Banks - III*** (r&b) Saor - Forgotten Paths*** (folk death metal) Plague of Stars - Daedalus*** (gothic metal) Hecate Enthroned - Embrace of the Godless Aeon*** (symphonic black metal) Dorian Electra - Flamboyant*** (experimental / queer pop) Beast in Black - From Hell with Love*** (power metal) Shadow of Intent - Melancholy*** (symphonic deathcore) Leprous - Pitfalls*** (prog rock) Cathubodua - Continuum*** (symphonic metal) Reism - Dysthymia*** (gothic metal) Starset - Divisions*** (cinematic rock) The Lust - Lustration*** (gothic metal) Neverlight - The Quiet Room*** (progressive gothic metal)

And now let's look at the big boys!

10. The Offering - Home [progressive metal]

I would like to label these guys as "progressive power death metal", but prog is good enough since it rounds it out perfectly. Amazing production and very interesting riffs and song-writing. A bit chaotic, but there's structure to the chaos. The singer's voice is absolutely insane and he has an incredible vocal range.

Favorite songs: 1. Failure (S.O.S.) 2. Lovesick 3. Glory

9. Infected Rain - Endorphin [modern metal]

I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I do. Epic production and full of epic songs. They really have evolved a lot over the years, but this album is still very much true to who they are. It's a very diverse album that experiments with different directions, but keeps its direction.

Favorite songs: 1. Black Gold 2. Earth Mantra 3. Passerby

8. Lindsay Schoolcraft - Martyr [symphonic gothic metal]

I've said this once and I'll continue to say it: this album is like a love child between Within Temptation and Evanescence. It's very dreamy and absolutely beautiful. This album was definitely worth the wait. And if you got the storybook edition (like I did), then you know the exclusive bonus tracks are absolutely wonderful.

Favorite songs: 1. Stranger 2. Into the Night 3. Remember

7. Muna - Saves the World [indie pop / queer pop]

This album is so much fun, but also very sad. These queens really know how to make good sad music, but then turn around and make it upbeat and fun. This album I feel isn't as dramatic as About U (which I LOVE), but instead is more from the heart and personal. It's a very touching album.

Favorite songs: 1. Stayaway 2. Who 3. Pink Light

6. Swallow the Sun - When a Shadow is Forced into the Light [gothic doom metal]

When I first heard Upon the Water, I knew right when they mentioned "nightingale" that it was about Aleah Stanbridge and had a strong feeeling that the whole album would be dedicated to her, and it very much is. It's definitely a very deep and hard album to listen to if you're someone, like myself, was very fond of Aleah. It's full of so much beauty, raw emotion, and heartbreak.

Favorite songs: 1. Firelights 2. Upon the Water 3. Never Left

5. Imperia - Flames of Eternity [symphonic metal]

I feel this album is very different from what they've done in the past, but still very much an Imperia album. Helena dove deep into her heart for this album just like the previous album, but it's not as heartbreaking which makes it easier to take in. I love the unique directions they went in with the song-writing to really make this album different.

1. Fear is an Illusion 2. The Scarred Soul 3. Book of Love

4. Fleshgod Apocalypse - Veleno [symphonic technical death metal]

This album is both very chaotic and well structured. It's pretty whimsical at times which helps it stand out compared to previous releases; not to mention they experimented with their sound a bit in general with this album. I really love the orchestrations and choirs on this album in particular since they don't sound like they have on previous releases.

Favorite songs: 1. The Day We'll be Gone 2. Fury 3. Monnalisa

3. Within Temptation - Resist [symphonic modern metal]

This is how you rebrand yourself. It's still very much true to who they are, but a very solid and different evolution. It really reminds me a lot of their older stuff, but with a modern twist to it. The production on it is absolutely amazing and the storytelling is done so beautifully. This is my new favorite album from them, and I haven't had one since The Heart of Everything.

Favorite songs: 1. Raise Your Banner 2. Trophy Hunter 3. Firelight

2. Starkill - Gravity [symphonic power death metal]

They really stepped their pussies up with this album. It's absolutely amazing. The production is light years ahead of that of Shadow Sleep (which was my biggest gripe with that album). I love the sci-fi feel to a lot of the songs off the album and just how dramatic and intense it gets.

Favorite songs: 1. The Real Enemy 2. Until We Fall 3. Castaway

1. Ex Libris - ANN (A Progressive Metal Trilogy) [progressive symphonic metal]

If you want to learn the stories of three Ann's throughout history and love super dramatic, powerful, gut-wrenching music, then this is the release for you. I know chapter 1 made it on my favorite EPs last year (and placed number 1 at that), but since the last two chapters were released this year, it makes since to just include the whole album here since that's what all three chapters make. Dianne and the guys really went above and beyond for this album and Joost did such an incredible job at helping them make this album as perfect as it is. I especially love how much Dianne emulated all three of them and how she channeled them perfectly.

Favorite songs (in no particular order): 1. Chapter 1 - Anne Boleyn: The Beheading 2. Chapter 2 - Anastasia Romanova: The Exile 3. Chapter 3 - Anne Frank: The Raid

And that's it for the albums! I highly recommend these EPs for those of you whom are interested. Follow this link to see the post all about my favorite EPs of the year!

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foreverwayward · 6 years ago

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“Wayward Hearts” Season 2 Chapter 10: Heart

Summary: After the sudden death of John, Sam and Dean, along with Riley, continue their quest for vengeance. As Sam and Riley’s powers continue to grow, the three young hunters find themselves closer to the Yellow-Eyed demon than ever before. The strength within themselves and their loyalty to each other will be tested as they are left to fight their families’ lifelong war alone, unaware that unimaginable evil will lead them to face darkness itself as they carry the weight of their fathers’ legacies.

Masterlist

Word Count: 9,027

Content Warning: language, light smut and violence

DISCLAIMER: any words or phrases in bold in the story are not my own and are credited to the writers of Supernatural.

**GIFS ARE NOT MY OWN**

Dean and Riley sat on opposite beds in the dingy motel room somewhere in San Francisco as they cleaned their guns. The familiar sound of the metal clicking as they took them apart felt like sweet, yet strange, childhood memories.

The Winchester’s eyes looked up at Riley as she focused on her task and he watched her for a brief moment as a smirk crept up his face. Even with silence between them and being lost in their work, the couple enjoyed those quiet moments. Words didn’t need to be said for them to enjoy each other’s company.

Breaking his attention away from the guns and the girl in front of him, Dean looked towards his brother. “So, this lawyer guy you checked out at the morgue today, he the first heart-free corpse in town?”

“First man,” Sam emphasized as he got a bottle of beer from the fridge. “Nate Mulligan, a local lawyer. But, over the past year, several women have gone missing. Dead bodies all washed up later in the bay, too deteriorated to draw firm conclusions.”

“But no hearts?”

“No hearts. They were all hookers working Hunter’s Point.” Sam sat backward in his chair, facing his partners as he popped the cap off his drink. “Now, cops are trying to keep things under wrap, but they’re looking for a serial killer.”

“What about the lunar cycle,” Riley asked.

“Mm-hmm. Yeah, month after month, all the murders happen in the week leading up to the full moon.”

“That’s this week, right?”

“Hence the lawyer.”

Dean snickered. “Awesome.”

With a breathy laugh, Riley gazed up from her gun saying, “damn. Geeking out much over there, Dean?”

“I’m sorry, but what about a human by day, a freak animal killing machine by moonlight’ don’t you understand?” Dean opened a black, smaller, rectangular box filled with silver bullets. “I mean, werewolves are badass. We haven’t seen one since we were kids.”

“Okay, Sparky,” Sam started in a playful and teasing tone. “And you know what? After we kill it, we can go to Disneyland!”

Dean ignored his brother’s snarky comment. “What about you, Rye? Run into any of these guys before?”

“Uh--yeah. I was about...13 I think? Dad and I caught wind of one when we were in Minnesota right after I had really started hunting with him. It was a tough son of a bitch, I’ll tell you that much.” She was already up and putting away her gear as she tied her hair up in a messy bun and synched it tight. “My first kill on a hunt actually.”

“Damn,” he nodded, impressed. “You went balls to the wall.”

“Well, Dad always said, ‘know your gun, know your target, and don’t miss’.” She laughed at the ridiculous mantra. ”Good thing I’m a damn good shot.” Riley tilted her head with a shrug. “It’s a gift.”

Dean chuckled. “A gorgeous woman who can handle a gun, what more could I ask for?”

She bent down to kiss him with a smile as she sat on the bed.

“You know what the best part about it is? We already know how to bring these suckers down.” Dean held up a silver bullet and admired it. “One of these bad boys right to the heart. So, what’s our next move?”

“Talk to the girl that found the body,” Sam added.

------

In a well-decorated apartment, the three stood waiting to speak to the witness. The walls were a soft neutral color with nearly sheer white window curtains. Subtle plants sat the perfect positions of the living room among the clean and somewhat modern furniture.

The witness was a young woman named Madison. She was taller than Riley and truly beautiful. Her long brunette hair ran over her shoulders and touched her chest. Madison had fuller lips and a soft skin tone that just suited her so well.

A neighbor had already been visiting when the hunters got there. He was a meek-looking man with a head of dark curly hair, with a beard and mustache to match. The man was wearing a yellow shirt with a logo from ‘Mission Church’ and a large cross.

Sam, Dean, and Riley weren’t dressed in their suits, though still posed as detectives for the case.

“I’m Detective Landis.” Dean pointed to Sam before gesturing to Riley as well. “These are my partners, Dante, and Wadleigh.”

“I don’t understand,” Madison said looking slightly confused. “I already gave my statement to the police.”

“Right. We just have to go over a few things,” Sam replied.

The man’s face looked almost sad knowing it was time for him to leave. “Well, I guess I’ll leave you to it. Just call me if you need anything, Madison.”

“I will. Thanks again for the casserole.” After the neighbor had taken his leave, Madison looked over to the undercover hunters. “He’s sweet. Glen--he’s a neighbor. Came over to check on me.” She exhaled. “Alright, well please--have a seat.” Madison guided them all over to the glass countered table as they sat down to talk.

“You must be pretty shaken up. You were Nate Mulligan’s assistant, right?”

“For about two years, yeah.”

Riley looked over at the woman trying to get a read on her. “So, would you say you pretty much knew all about him?”

With a nod, Madison answered, “yeah. Probably knew more about him than he did. Nate was…” she smiled fondly. “He was nice. But, uh--I mean, you get a few scotches in him and he’d start hitting on anything within a five-mile radius. You know the type.”

“Did Nate have any enemies?” Dean inquired.

“What do you mean? It sure looked like an animal attack.”

“No, yeah--we’re just covering all the bases. Anyone that might have had a beef with him--a former client, an ex…”

Madison groaned softly hating to answer that question. “Well, this is kinda embarrassing, but my ex-boyfriend, Kurt--Kurt Mueller. He went a little nuts after our break up. He’s...kind of been stalking me. I guess he got it in his head that there was something going on between me and Nate and showed up at the office one day. Kurt came in pissed and started something with Nate and threw a punch. Security had to come in and drag him out. I’m lucky I didn’t lose my job.”

“When did you see Kurt last?” Riley felt a gentleness coming from Madison. She seemed like a genuinely sweet girl. Everything she was saying up until then was the whole truth. It didn’t seem like she had much to hide at all; except for the fact that Riley was able to pick up that the girl was definitely attracted to Sam.

It made her have to hide a smile she felt coming on.

“Actually, a few nights ago, the night Nate died. Kurt showed up when a bunch of us from the office went out for a drink. It was like--he was watching me? He just disappeared. I’ll be honest,” Madison paused. “He scares me.”

------

The hunters went down the steps toward the sidewalk. Bare winter trees surrounded the area and the cold bay air caused their breaths to fog.

“So, what do you guys think?” Riley asked. “I mean, the stalker ex-boyfriend hated the boss and was there the same night.”

Dean looked around the neighborhood, checking things around them as he always did. “Think he’s our dog-faced boy?”

“Well, it’s a theory,” Sam shrugged.

“We’ve gone off worse.”

As they all reached the Impala, Riley reached for the front door handle. “I say we give Kurt a friendly visit.”

Riley and the Winchesters got in the car and drove down the road.

At that moment, Madison began to peek out the window after hearing a noise from outside. Moving the curtains to get a better look, she saw Kurt standing on her lawn, staring back up at her. She gasped and jumped back.

When she went to look again, Kurt was already gone.

------

That night, the boys and Riley had arrived at Kurt’s apartment. After scoping out the area and knowing he wasn’t home, Dean picked the lock before they all went inside.

Nodding her head and giving a face of approval, Riley looked around some more before speaking. “Huh. Much nicer than what I was expecting.”

“What were you expecting?” Sam asked.

“I dunno...not so clean and decorated. More...serial killer-ish? I mean, where’s the wall mural of Madison photos? Stalker fail.”

He chuckled and looked over to Dean who was looking in the fridge. “Anything?”

“Nah. Nothing but a six-pack and leftovers.”

“Check the freezer,” Riley said, interjecting. “Might be some frozen remains. Oh, and see if he’s got any ice cream. That sounds amazing.”

“No left-over doggie food or Haagen-Dazs.”

She sighed. “Wishful thinking.”

There was a sound nearby of a door opening and then shutting and the hunters all turned to look at each other.

Dean opened the sliding glass door out to the balcony and stepped outside. On the wall, he could see claw marks in the concrete that drug down to the ground.

“Guys,” Dean called. “Come here.” They joined him and he pointed to his find. “Check it out.”

After Sam, Dean, and Riley went back inside to continue their search for more about Kurt, the sound of a gunshot echoed through the neighborhood from outside.

Immediately, the three took off in its direction and found themselves on the side of the apartment building. In the alley, behind a large dumpster, lied the mauled body of a policeman. His flesh was torn into and his chest cavity had been ripped completely open. The fresh blood still gushed from him onto the concrete.

Sam pulled out his phone. “I’ll call 911.”

Dean pushed the dumpster out of the way before bending down to get a closer look and Riley joined him.

“I’d say Kurt’s looking more and more like our Cujo,” he said looking over the mangled body.

“Crap,” Riley muttered. “We gotta go check on Madison if he’s out there.”

------

It was early morning as the hunters knock on Madison’s apartment door, across the hall, Glen opened his door to the sound. “What’s going on?”

“Police business, Glen,” Dean answered.

Madison opened the door in her pajamas and robe, surprised to see them again. “What is it?” she asked, worried.

Glancing over at Glen, Sam told her, “maybe we should talk somewhere, privately.”

She stepped out of the way of the entrance letting them all in.

Riley turned to look at Glen once more and her eyes squinted slightly, not understanding on what she was picking up on him. It was strange, but she just studied him for a moment before he shut his door and disappeared into his apartment.

When they were all inside and into the kitchen, Madison poured them all cups of freshly brewed coffee. Steam formed as the warm drink filled their mugs.

“Has Kurt been here?” Sam sipped at his mug.

Riley could feel Sam’s heart flutter as he talked to Madison. His thoughts rushed and she could hear him think about how beautiful she was. Knowing they both liked each other, Riley had to somehow get them to spend time together.

Riley knew Madison would be good for Sam. Not to mention the guy hadn’t exactly spent much time with a woman since losing Jess.

“Not exactly,” she responded. “He was outside last night. Just...looking at me.”

The three exchanged looks and it didn’t go unnoticed by Madison.

“Oh god, has he done something?”

“We’re, uh--we’re not really sure...”

Dean jumped in, “It’s probably nothing, but...we just don’t wanna take any chances. In fact, one of us should probably stay here with you? Just in case he stops by. Where does he work?”

“He owns a body shop.”

“You mind grabbing that address for us?”

She nodded at his request and left the kitchen to retrieve it.

“Alright,” Sam started. “I’ll stay here. You guys go check out the body shop.”

Agreeing, almost too earnestly, Riley replied, “yeah! I think that’s a great idea!” She was smiling knowing that was her opportunity to get them together. “We’re gonna get out of here.”

Riley took Dean’s hand and waved at Sam before pulling her boyfriend along with her.

The brothers shared a quick look of uncertainty before they could no longer see each other.

When they got to the hallway, Dean closed the door behind them and glanced at her in curiosity. “What the hell was that about?”

“We…” she said hooking her arm into Dean’s, “are gonna let those two have some time alone.”

It took a second, but Dean caught on his eyebrow hooked. “Did you pick up on something?”

“Ohhhh yeah. Let’s just say...even if they have nothing to talk about, they’ll still enjoy each other’s company immensely.”

Dean grinned. “My boy.”

------

Later that morning, Madison went through her mail while Sam watched her from the kitchen. When she felt his eyes on her, she turned to meet his gaze. He smiled uncomfortably at Madison, not knowing how to act around her.

“Um...do you wanna sit on the couch?” she offered.

“No, no, no. I’m okay.”

“Are you sure,” Madison pressed sweetly. “It’s more comfortable.”

“Ah, I’m fine.”

She came back to the table with a basket of laundry and turned it over to drop it all in front of the hunter. Madison began to sift through the clothing and sorted out her underwear as she pulled out a lacy thong.

The second Sam saw the sexy underwear, he swallowed hard and blurted out, “you know what? I think I will sit on the couch.”

He awkwardly got up and went over to find another seat away from her lingerie and she smiled at his response. Sam’s cell phone rang and he pulled it out to answer.

Riley’s voice came through the line before he could even speak. “Let me guess, you’re trying to think of something to say to her and sitting all the couch like a scared teenager,” she teased.

“Did you find Kurt?”

“Nuh-uh. Dude hasn’t been in for the last week. Boss says he’s M.I.A. But, because Dean and I are just so freaking good, we got a line on where we might be able to find him.”

Sam could hear the familiar squeak of the doors as Riley and Dean got into the Impala.

“What’s she wearing?” Dean shouted loud enough for Sam to hear.

“Bye, guys.” Sam hung up immediately after, returning to his uncomfortable situation and fiddling with his hands.

Madison walked over to the couch and sat beside him before picking up the remote and turning on a soap opera.

Sam made a face, obviously unhappy with her choice.

“I saw that,” she teased.

He tried to play innocent. “What?”

“Okay, here’s the deal,” Madison smiled. “My house, my TV, and I never get to watch my show. So, suck it up.”

------

The credits from the daytime drama rolled as Sam sat on the couch completely riveted. “Wait, wait--okay, so just to get back at him, Kendall married Ethan’s father?”

“Mm-hmm. And now? All those casinos that Ethan is supposed to inherit? They’ll all go to her.”

“What a bitch!” Sam said emphatically before they both started laughing.

“Admit it. You’re hooked.”

“No, no, no, no, no, no. I wouldn’t say I’m hooked.” Madison giggled at Sam’s words. “You know, can I ask you a question? It’s--it's a little personal.”

“You’ve seen my entire underwear collection. Go ahead.”

He smiled and nodded. “Okay, um…well, you’re--you're clearly smart. I mean, your house is full--is full of great books, you know? And you’re independent…” Sam trailed off before looking over at her. “What were you doing with Kurt?”

After a pause, Madison shook her head. “I don’t know. I mean, it’s not like he introduced himself, like, ‘hi, I’m possessive and controlling and I like to punch people. Wanna be my girlfriend’?” The two laughed again as Sam nodded lightly. “I mean, we all make mistakes, but mine’s wanted by the police.” She took a beat again before becoming more serious. “You wanna know why I stayed with him? Really? ...I was too insecure to leave.”

“I find that hard to believe. I mean, you don’t really seem like the type.”

“Yeah, well, some stuff happened. My life changed, I changed--for the better, I think.

“What happened?”

“Well, for one thing, I got mugged.”

Sam was taken back and smiled, surprised by her answer. “And that’s supposed to be a good thing?”

“Now, don’t get me wrong,” she started. “It rattled the crap outta me. But I kinda had an epiphany. I could either take control of my life or keep feeling sorry for myself. First thing I did was tell Kurt that it was time for him to go.”

“Smart move.”

“Apparently, after that? Things just kind of blossomed. All of it really has been kind of wonderful.” When Sam shrugged, she asked with a smile, “what? Doesn’t everyone think that the best thing that ever happened to them was some random, crazy act of violence?”

Sam laughed. “Not usually, but you’re--unusual,” he added awkwardly.

“Unusual like...” she circled her finger, pointing at her head in a funny gesture as to say ‘crazy’. “That kind of ‘unusual’?”

“No, no, no, no, no…” he replied earnestly. “Unusual like...impressive.” Sam looked at her like he hadn’t looked at another woman in longer than he could remember.

“...really?” Madison tried to hide her desire to grin, completely flattered, before softly asking, “you think so?”

Sam’s phone rang, interrupting their moment and he smiled, apologetically. “Hey.”

“I found him,” Dean told him over loud club music. He was sitting in a private booth of a strip club with Riley as his eyes landed on Kurt who was drinking a beer.

“Good. Don’t take your eyes off him,” Sam’s voice echoed from the other end of the line.

Dean ended the call as Riley gave him a flirty look. “What’s going on in that little mind of yours?”

“Well…” Riley got up and straddled Dean with her arms around his neck.

His hands went to her waist and gripped at her hips as his breath hitched.

“We’re in a strip club and you’re trying not to look at naked women because of me. Least I can do is make sure you get a little show…” She bit her lip and played with the back of his neck.

Dean beamed and he suddenly got antsy in his seat as she took off her jacket, revealing her low cut, black tank top. Her lace bra poked out the top just enough to be the perfect tease.

As she began to slowly grind on his lap to the music, Dean tried to hide the groan that tried to claw its way out of his throat. Their jeans rubbed together in the most perfect way as the heat between them rose.

Riley could see him begin to wiggle underneath him and she grinned before leaning into his ear. “Good thing the music’s loud,” she whispered. “Wouldn’t want anyone else knowing you’re gonna be getting a strip club ‘happy ending’.” She softly nibbled his ear and that moan finally escaped him.

Dean grabbed her backside and encouraged her grinding as he looked her in her eyes intently. “God, I love you.”

“I love you too. Hey, don’t forget to keep an eye on the creep alright?” she reminded him.

“Right--right.” Dean almost moaned as his mouth found her neck. “We’re on a job and I take my work...very seriously,” he mumbled into her skin.

------

Riley and Dean had followed Kurt back to his apartment building. It was night and they leaned against a large dumpster in the alley below as they watched for anything to happen. Loud music came from Kurt’s place and the lights were all still on.

Loading her gun with a silver bullet, Riley cocked it. She gazed up at the apartment and then back at Dean who was pouting.

“I get five minutes in a booth with you and the guy takes off,” he complained with a huff. “You know it’s been over a week since we’ve had time alone together? I’m dying over here.”

She chuckled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a tease--thought for sure we’d have more time.”

“Yeah, well...you better be ready when the opportunity presents itself because you started something and I’m fucking finishing it.”

Riley bit her lip and met his eyes. “Mm…” she mewed. “Better keep that promise.”

Grabbing the back of her head as his fingers tangled into her hair, Dean pulled her in for a passionate and heated kiss.

Not more than a few seconds later, a loud crash of glass shattering came from above them and they turned to the sound as the lights above turned off.

“What that fuck?” Dean muttered before they both ran towards the entrance of the building in a sprint.

After they had climbed the stairs and finally reached the apartment, Dean kicked open the door with he and Riley holding their guns ready.

He glided in first, clearing the room as she covered his back. They split up as Dean went into the bedrooms and Riley into the kitchen. She slowed down as she heard a loud crunching coming from just ahead.

Riley peered inside and lowered her gun in shock. On the floor, was Kurt. His chest was torn to shreds and a woman was feeding on his freshly dead corpse.

The creature heard the hunter and turned in her direction. Electric blue eyes with slanted pupils that resembled a cat, stared back at her. The creature’s nails had grown long into deadly claws. Fierce, blood-stained teeth snarled harshly as flesh fell from her mouth. It was Madison.

“Oh shit…” Riley murmured under her breath. In that brief moment, the hunter could finally hear the growling inside the monster. It sounded more primal than anything she had ever heard before and it sounded hungry.

Before she could yell for Dean, Madison lunged at her and threw her against the wall. Riley grunted at the impact and fell to the ground. Her gun fell from her hand and out of her reach as her eyes began to close.

Dean rushed into the room at the commotion and found Riley and Kurt’s body on the floor. Whatever had been in the kitchen with them, had already fled. He fell to his knees by his girlfriend’s side with fear and dropped his gun. “Sweetheart--Rye, you okay?”

Suddenly, there was a sound coming from behind him and when he spun around, Dean’s eyes widened as he saw Madison charging towards him. She had already been too close for him to react. The was no time to grab his gun before he was shoved across the room and hit the wooden floor.

The werewolf jumped on top of him and he struggled to hold her back as he pulled out a silver knife and sliced her arm.

Madison growled out loudly in pain before dashing towards the open window and disappearing into the night.

Dean had hit his head as well and the room began to grow dark around him. “Riley…” he whispered before losing consciousness.

------

“Dean…” Riley begged as she shook him. “Dean, wake up.”

He slowly opened his eyes and saw her hovering above him as the soft morning light glowed on her face.

Riley sighed in relief and Dean instantly reached up for her.

“Shit, are you alright?! I couldn’t get to you. Madison...she came outta nowhere...”

Riley shushed him. “Dean, it’s okay. I’m okay.”

Dean grunted as he sat up, sore from the blow, but he had to get to Riley. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her close.

As though it had all finally come back to him, he pulled away and grabbed for his phone. “Shit. I gotta call Sam.”

------

Sam walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a glass before turning on the faucet to get a glass of water. His lips met the rim and he drank while his cell phone rang. It was Dean.

“Dean, are you guys okay?”

“Yeah, now that we’re both conscious. The werewolf knocked us both out cold. Sam, it’s Madison.”

“What?!” Sam asked in shock. He walked into the living room and then down towards her bedroom and opened her door. She was sound asleep in her bed.

Riley stretched her neck and seethed through her teeth at the pain before yelling, “nice job keeping an eye on the girl, Sam!”

“I’ve been here the whole time,” Sam’s brow furrowed and he was more than taken back. “She’s in bed, asleep.”

“Well, she wasn’t a couple hours ago. Check her right arm below her elbow,” Dean pushed. “I nicked her with a silver knife.”

Sam hung up the phone and stood in Madison’s room near the foot of her bed. She woke to the sound of his boots hitting the floor.

“Good morning,” she cooed. Sitting up to look at him, Madison realized she was naked, covered only by her bed sheet.

Sam could see the cut on her arm that Dean had described as she wrapped her arm over her chest.

“Um...where are my pajamas?”

Shaken and clearly upset at what he had just discovered, Sam didn’t say a word, only to leave the room and stomp off.

“Sam?” she called. Madison wrapped a blanket around her and went after him. “Sam, what’s going on? Where are you going?” She walked into the living room to see him at the front door, locking it.

“I’m not going anywhere...and neither are you.”

------

After allowing her to get dressed, Sam had bound her wrists to a chair in the main room. He stood in front of her with a gun in hand and his arms slightly folded. Sam was so angry with himself for being so foolish. He kept telling himself that he should have known.

“You’re psychotic,” Madison told him. “The whole ‘I’m a cop’ trick? God, I’m so stupid.”

“Well, I guess neither of us are who we are we were, huh?” Sam snarked.

Fear filled Madison as she stared at the hunter and she fought back the urge to cry. “Sam, you’re sick, okay? You’re imagining things. Monsters don’t exist, not really.”

“You know what? Save the act.”

“It’s not an act!” she finally sobbed. “I am not a werewolf! There’s no such thing! It’s made up, alright? Th--they’re not real! You know they’re not real!”

“No?!” he snapped and pointed to her fresh wound. “Then where did that come from?”

“I don’t know! Sam, God, you need help. Please, don’t do something that you’re gonna regret. I’m not what you think I am. I’m not.”

Sam was visibly upset and shaking with both rage and pain after having developed feelings for her. There was a knocking at the door and he went to answer it.

Dean entered and Riley followed. The older brother smirked at Madison.

“How you doin’? My head feels great, thanks. By the way, you’re lucky I don’t put a bullet in your right now for hurting her.” Dean threatened, pointing at Riley.

“We’ve gotta talk.” Sam brought his partners into the other room to talk in private. “She says she has no idea what I’m talking about.”

“She’s lying.”

“Or, maybe she really doesn’t know she’s changing, you know? Maybe--maybe when the creature takes over, she blacks out.”

Annoyed with his brother’s theory, Dean rolled his eyes. “Like a really hot Incredible Hulk? Come on, dude, she ganked her boss and her ex-boyfriend. That doesn’t sound rash and unconscious.”

“Yeah, but what if it was, Dean? I mean, what if some animal part of her brain saw both those guys as threats? Hell, the cop, too.”

“What are you, the Dog Whisperer now?” Riley asked with attitude.

“Look, I just...I don’t know. There--there was something in her eyes.”

“...the look of a killer, mayhaps?”

“But if she has no control over it--”

“Exactly,” Dean agreed. “She can’t control it. Even if she’s telling the truth, it’s not gonna change anything.”

“I’m not putting a bullet through some girl’s chest who has no idea what’s happening.”

“Sam, she’s a monster and you’re feeling sorry for her?”

“Maybe I understand her.” Sam paused and his face softened with almost a pleading look. “Look, there might be another way we can get the job done without having to waste her.” He went over to his bag and pulled out John’s hunter’s journal.

Riley put up a hand to interrupt. “Another way to stop a werewolf? Oh, this should be interesting.”

“Dad’s theory--” The youngest Winchester read his father’s words. “Lycanthropy might have a cure if you kill the werewolf who bit you, severing the bloodline”.

“Might have a cure.” Dean started. “Meaning “who the fuck knows?”

“It’s worth a shot.”

Riley sighed heavily. She could feel Sam’s emotions, how desperately he wanted to find an answer. She wanted more than anything for Sam to be happy, but she’d be damned if he’d be with a werewolf.

Gently, Riley told him, “Sam, where would we even start looking? I mean, the bitch that bit her could be long gone. Could be anyone...or anywhere. Madison could have been bitten years ago.”

Sam’s eyes lit up with a realization. “No. I don’t think so.” He led them both back into the living room where Madison was still tied to the seat. “Madison, when were you mugged?”

She just looked up at Sam, scared and hurt as she refused to comply.

“Please. It’s important, alright? Just answer the question.”

“About a month ago.”

“Did you see the guy?”

“No. He grabbed me from behind.”

“Did he bite you?”

Madison looked at Sam as tears formed in her eyes. “On--on the back of my neck. How did you know that?”

Showing that he meant her no harm, Sam made it clear to her that he was setting his gun down on the table and went behind her.

Brushing her hair away, he exposed a scarred lump the size of a golf ball on her neck. Riley and Dean joined him to see what he had found.

“Oh, that’s just a love bite,” Dean teased. “Believe me, that could have been a lot worse. Actually, I think she’s gotten worse,” he nodded in Riley’s direction and smiled with pride.

Riley scoffed through a laugh and hid her face while Sam gave him a look urging him to move on.

Dean cleared his throat. “Where were you at the time?”

“Walking home from a friend’s loft.”

“Let me guess, not too far from Hunter’s Point?” Dean asked as he circled her.

Madison nodded.

As the brothers motioned for them to all leave the room again to talk, Riley stood in her spot just looking at the woman who had attacked them only hours before. She was trying to penetrate her mind and see if she had been lying.

Unfortunately, it seemed that besides the animalistic noises that came from monsters; thoughts of creatures were much harder to read.

A minute more of focusing, Riley could finally hear her. “What is she looking at me like that for? Oh my god, they’re gonna kill me. They’re all crazy. They really think I’m a werewolf. What the fuck have I gotten myself into?”

The hunter’s face softened and her muscles relaxed. Riley turned on her heel to meet the boys. She swung open the kitchen door where Sam and Dean were talking.

Sam was finishing his thought. “The same place where those other murders happened. I’m telling you, it’s a werewolf’s hunting grounds.”

“Maybe,” Dean returned. “But that doesn’t mean it’s gonna be out there tonight.”

“You guys…” Riley said softly.

“It’s the right time of the lunar cycle,” Sam nodded. “Look, I know it’s a long shot.”

“Guys…” she tried again.

“Hey, you’re forgetting something. Maddie’s probably gonna turn soon, alright? We can’t just let her take off to an all-you-can-eat buffet,” Dean snarked.

Riley huffed and raised her voice. “Alright, if you both don’t listen to me right now, I’m gonna start kicking your asses.”

Sam and Dean’s eyes widened slightly as they both gave each other a look of ‘yikes’.

She sighed, calming herself. “I got through to Madison. Yes, she’s something you probably don’t wanna feed after midnight, but she really doesn’t know she’s a werewolf.”

“Wait, seriously?” Sam asked hopefully.

“Yeah. She thinks we’re all nuts. The girl is scared out of her mind.”

“I’m gonna stay with her. You guys go.”

“And if she busts loose?” Dean waited for his brother to respond and when he didn’t he grew more stern. “Sam?”

Sam’s voice broke a little as he told him, “I’ll shoot her, okay? But Dean, I need you to go out there--at least go look for the thing. Guys, please. We can save this girl.”

Feeling everything that radiated from Sam, all the pain and desperation, Riley knew it was all so real for him. This wasn’t just a crush. Sam felt something for Madison--something he hadn’t felt in a long time and he wasn’t ready to give it up.

“Okay,” Riley told him. “Let’s do it your way.”

Dean was looking intently at his brother with worry and she reached for his hand.

“Come on, Dean,” she whispered as they both left.

When Sam went back into the living room, he saw Madison still in her chair, with tears running down her face. “Please…” she begged through her sobbing. “Please...just let me go.”

He sighed heavily and hated to see her in pain. The hunter grabbed a chair and pulled it closer so he could sit in front of her. “Look…” Sam’s tone was soft and gentle. “I know you’re scared. I also know that there’s no way in hell you’re gonna believe me. But I’m doing this because I’m trying to help you. I’m not gonna lie, alright? The odds aren’t exactly in our favor. But, if this goes the way I pray it does...I’ll untie you, and I’ll walk out that door, and I’ll never come back. You’ll live the rest of your life,” his voice was almost at a whisper as he felt the lump in his throat grow and tears forming at his eyes. “...and I’ll just be a bad memory.”

------

Sam stood looking out the window, his heart heavy with guilt. He gazed at the moon as it’s light softly glowed on him and the curtains of the windows.

Hearing something behind him, he turned to see Madison. Her fingernails began to grow before his eyes and stretched into long claws.

Madison’s eyes changed to a bright blue and her teeth had suddenly become monstrous. She growled as she bared her hungry fangs and ripped through the restraints that held her down, releasing herself. The now turned werewolf went straight for the hunter.

Her claws met Sam’s cheek and tore through his skin. Madison’s strength was enough to send him to the ground onto his belly.

Sam quickly got up and drew his weapon.

He couldn’t shoot her. He wouldn’t shoot her. There had to be another way to buy some time.

Sam backed up as Madison eased towards him with her mouth drooling, ready to rip him apart and devour him.

Realizing there was a door to her bedroom behind him, he pulled it open as she lunged in his direction. Immediately, Sam slammed the door shut behind her and pushed the entertainment center in front of it.

The door rattled and shook as the creature inside banged and fought to free itself.

------

In a dark alley in Hunter’s Point, Riley and Dean had been canvassing the area. The night was still as they stayed quiet and vigilantly looked for the creature they hoped to find. They wouldn’t be splitting up this time.

A blood-curdling scream came from nearby and the hunters sped in its direction. Their hearts beat fast and their breaths quickened as their boots rapidly hit the street.

Dean and Riley stopped when they saw a blonde woman screaming for help with a man on top of her. He was growling, had massive claws, and his fangs were ready to feast.

Being quick at the draw, they both fired two shots each directly into the werewolf’s chest. He jolted at each bullet and then collapsed beside the woman as he began to cough up blood.

The blonde, scared and shaken, got up and ran off.

“You’re welcome!” Dean shouted.

Riley scurried over to the defeated creature knowing exactly who it was. It was Glen, Madison’s neighbor. She knew then why she felt that strange feeling coming from him before.

As she looked down at him, Riley crouched nearer as his eyes and teeth returned to their human state.

Blood poured from his mouth and his body shook in shock. “It happened...again,” Glen choked. “Where am I? H--help me. Oh, God. Oh my God.”

Closing her eyes, Riley went to touch his arm.

Dean blurted, “Rye, don’t.”

“It’s okay, Dean...he’s not gonna hurt me.” She focused all her energy and thought, “please, let me at least do this right.”

Riley reached into him and brought about thoughts of better times into his mind. Her abilities helped ease Glen’s moment of terror as flashes of childhood memories swam through him. There was a brief smile as he released his final breath.

That breeze of death that Riley had begun to expect blew through her as his soul left his body.

------

Madison awoke in the comfort of her bed. The morning birds sang as she opened her eyes and looked towards the doorway, there was Sam. The door had nearly been torn apart with claw marks leaving it completely destroyed.

“It should be over now.” Sam’s eyes flooded and he sniffled. “You’ll never see me again.”

She slowly got up and surveyed her bedroom. All the furniture and walls were ruined beyond recognition. Scratches and tears ripped through everything she owned.

As her eyes went back to find Sam, he was already gone.

------

“It’s sad actually,” Dean started as they all sat in the Impala outside Madison’s home. “Glen had no clue what was going on. Hey, why do you guys think he didn’t kill Madison? I mean, why turn her?”

Sam stared up at the house, still wishing he could go back inside. “I think he had a thing for her.”

There was a silence that fell in the car and Riley shifted to look at Sam who sat in the back seat. “Sam, what about Madison?”

“What about her?”

“Oh, come on. I know how you feel about her. I can feel it practically seeping out of you. With how strong these feelings are, hell, I miss her.”

“What do you want me to do, Rye? She thinks I’m a fucking lunatic.

Dean shrugged. “You saved her life, man.”

“She doesn’t know that.”

Madison appeared at the window beside them. “You know, for a stake-out, your car’s a little conspicuous. What are you still doing here?”

“Honestly?” Dean replied. “Uh--we’re pretty sure you’re not gonna turn tonight, but we’ve gotta be a hundred percent, so, you know, we’re...lurking.”

Riley gave Dean a look and slapped his arm. “You’ll have to excuse my boyfriend. His mouth tends to run away from him.”

“I know this sounds crazy,” Sam told her with hopeful eyes just happy to see her again.

“Sure does.” Madison paused with a sigh. “So, you were telling the truth weren’t you? About everything. You were just trying to protect me…”

Sam nodded softly. “Yeah.”

She wasn’t ready to let him go. Sam already meant more to her than Madison cared to admit. “Well, if we’re gonna wait it out...we might as well do it together.”

------

Just short of twenty-four hours later, the hunters had waited out the next long night. All four watched from the large window in front of the house as the sun rose over the horizon.

Madison had made it through the night without turning.

“Does--does this mean it worked?” Madison asked eagerly.

The tense muscles Sam had carried over the last two days finally relaxed as he looked at her. “Yeah. I think so.”

She sighed in relief, “oh my God. Thank you. Thank you so much.” Madison’s arms wrapped around Sam in a warm and grateful embrace.

Wanting to be recognized as well, Dean cleared his throat and she turned to face him with a smile.

“Yes, you too, Dean...and of course Riley. Thank you.”

“Aw, don’t mention it,” Dean told her as if her words weren’t necessary.

There was an awkward pause in the room and Riley could hear Sam’s thoughts. “God, are they ever going to leave? Jesus.”

Following immediately after was Madison’s. “They’re not gonna want to stay, right?”

Riley clapped her hands together. “So, Dean, I think it’s time you and I head back to the motel room.” She smirked and put an arm around his waist.

Dean’s arm dropped down over her shoulders and he shot her a playful look. “Oh, that is most definitely true. We’ll, uh--we’ll just leave you two kids to it.” As he and Riley walked towards the door, Dean pumped his fist up in the air as a signal to Sam before the couple disappeared behind the closing door.

“That was smooth,” Madison joked with a laugh.

Sam was mortified by his big brother. “He means well, but…”

“You mean, he thinks you’re gonna get laid.”

“Look, I--”

“Sam,” she said shaking her head. “It’s alright.”

“No. I know I scared the shit out of you, alright? I--I mean, I tied you to a chair.”

“That’s right up there with me scratching up your face.”

“There’s just no way...we could go back, you know? Before it happened.”

“You’re right. There’s just no way.”

The two stood in front of each other fighting every urge they had for the other. Sam’s heart beat hard in his chest as he stared into her brown eyes. wanting her more than anything.

Madison bit her bottom lip and after a moment, she surrendered and kissed him.

Immediately responding, Sam pushed her against the wall as they kissed passionately.

They stripped each other of their clothing and made their way to the bedroom, falling back onto the bed. The fireplace glowed through the room and danced on their skin as the couple went back and forth over who would pin down the other.

Sam kissed every part of her body in earnest and he bit at her neck and ear. Pulling her up and into his lap, Sam brought them together as they both moaned out in unison.

It was better than Sam had even imagined. They rocked together before he laid them down and continued to give himself to her as he groaned into her neck.

Throughout the day and into the night, Sam and Madison continued to make love again and again as they let go of all they had been holding back. Finally, they both fall asleep in each other’s arms, completely content.

------

The door to the motel room swung open and hit the wall as Dean and Riley came through, already kissing each other in hunger.

Dean kicked the door closed behind them, never breaking away from her. Both went to work quickly undressing the other as their lips clung together. Dean picked her up and held her tightly under her upper thigh as her legs wrapped around him. Carrying her over to the bed, he sat on the edge as Riley slowed them down and gazed deep into his eyes.

They drank each other in as she lowered herself onto his lap and Dean’s jaw went slack as he moaned deep from his chest.

Riley’s head fell back as she lost herself in everything he was and his mouth went to her exposed chest and neck.

After a few moments, Dean picked her up once again and flipped her onto the bed never releasing their bond. He grabbed the headboard and forced himself as far as he could as Riley moaned his name.

“Look at me…” he whispered through a grunt. Their eyes met again and they both shook with pleasure. “I love you.”

Panting, Riley fought to catch her breath. “I love you, Dean.”

------

The next morning, Riley and Dean laid together in bed, tangled in each other. Riley traced her fingers on his chest and he rubbed her back as the silent minutes passed peacefully.

“Dean,” Riley picked up her head and placed her chin onto his chest and he lovingly looked back at her. “I have to tell you something.”

“Okay…” He brushed her hair behind her ear.

Closing her eyes to gain her courage she took a deep breath. “The Demon. He came to me in my dreams.”

Dean’s eyes grew. “What? When did that happen?”

“Actually...it happens almost every night.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? What does he say?”

“That I’m special and I’m not like the rest.” Tears welled in her eyes. “Dean, he said he’s coming for me.”

Dean quickly sat up to lean against the headboard and pulled her up with him before holding her chin in place for their eyes to lock. “I won’t let that happen. Do you hear me? I’m gonna keep you safe.”

“Dean...what if you can’t? What if Sam was right? Maybe this is our destiny.”

“No.” Dean’s voice was stern and adamant. “You and Sam? You’re all that matters to me. There is nothing and no one that will ever take either of you away from me. I will burn the world to the ground before I let you go.” His hands found both sides of her face as he kissed her hard and fervently. “If you’re in this with me, Rye...then it’s till the end.”

Riley’s hand sat on top of his as it cupped her cheek and she sniffled back her tears. “...till the end,” she whispered. She looked towards the door and her brow furrowed as she focused on a feeling nearby. “Sam…?”

There was a loud bang at the door and Dean grabbed a sheet to cover himself as he went to answer. The banging continued relentlessly. “I’m coming!” he yelled.

When he opened the door, there stood Sam, completely breathless and panicked. “She--she turned.”

“What?!”

“I couldn’t grab her in time. She’s out there somewhere.”

“We’ll find her, Sammy,” Dean offered in comfort. He turned around to run back inside for his clothes while Riley was already half-dressed and hurrying to go.

------

Sam, Dean, and Riley all hurried down the stairs from the China Sea Motel. The cold wind blew through them and Riley’s hair flew slightly behind her.

“I already called Bobby,” Sam started. “He doesn’t know anything. Well, except he knew that severing bloodlines doesn’t work. All our connections agree with him too. It’s completely impossible to reverse.”

Riley shook her head. “But it doesn’t make any sense. Why didn’t she turn during the night when we were all with her?”

“There’s gotta be a way to help her--some legend or something with answers.”

“If there was, don’t you think someone we know would have known it?” Dean asked.

“Well, we just have to look harder until we fucking find something!”

Dean put his hand out and stopped Sam so he could look him in the eye. “Sam, I don’t think we got a choice here anymore. I mean, she’s a sweet girl and I hate to say it, but part of her is--”

“Evil?!” Sam interjected. “Yeah, that’s what they say about me, Dean! And Riley! So, us you won’t kill, but her you’re just gonna blow away?”

Sam’s phone rang and he answered with a scoff still frustrated with Dean. He didn’t get a word in before someone spoke through the line. “Madison…? Where are you?” he questioned in a panic.

His brother and sister both looked at him, anxiously awaiting answers.

“Okay, Maddie, stay there. We’re coming to get you.”

------

The hunters sat at Madison’s dining room table with her and listened to her tell her story of the night before. Sam’s eyes refused to leave her face as he felt a swell of emotions for her.

Riley had to close her eyes and focus to keep his pain from consuming her along with Madison’s own fear and guilt.

The gun that sat on the table felt like a dark cloud that hung over them all.

“I don’t remember anything,” Madison recounted to the others. “I probably killed someone last night. Didn’t I?”

“I don’t think there’s any way to know that yet,” Riley replied in a soothing voice.

“Is there something else we can try to make it go away?”

Sam refused to give up on her. There had to be a way. “We’ll find something. I mean, there’s gotta be some answer--somewhere.”

Interrupting, Dean looked at the scared woman and shook his head. “That’s not entirely true. Madison, you deserve to know. We’ve scoured every source. There’s just no cure.”

She turned to Sam in desperation. “Is--is he right?”

The young Winchester’s jaw clenched and he felt he would explode in pain as he stood and turned away. A lump in his throat grew so large he could hardly swallow.

“Well, we could lock you up at night,” Dean offered hesitantly. “But...you bust out, and some night you will, someone else dies. I’m sorry. I am.”

Madison began to cry and exhaled heavily. “So, I guess that’s all there is to it, then.”

Shocked at her response, Sam spun around to look at her. “Stop it,” he told her. “Don’t talk like that.”

“Sam, I don’t want to hurt anyone else.” Her voice broken as her gaze met his. “I don’t wanna hurt you.” Madison picked up the gun and walked over to Sam.

“Put that down.”

“I can’t do it myself.” She handed him the gun and swallowed hard. “I need your help.”

“Madison, no.”

“Sam...I’m a monster.”

Sam’s breaths grew harder and harder to catch as their conversation went on. “You don’t have to be. We can find a way, alright? I can. I’m gonna save you.”

Crying even harder, she pleaded with the hunter. “You tried. I know you tried. But this is all there is left. Help me, Sam. I want you to do it. I want it to be you.”

“I can’t,” he said firmly.

Tears streamed down Madison’s face and rolled down her neck. “I don’t wanna die. But I can’t live like this. This is the way you can save me. Please. I’m asking you to save me.”

Sam shook his head, unable to find any more words.

Riley had a tear falling down her face as she touched Dean’s shoulder. “You have to help him. He can’t do this, Dean. It’ll kill him.”

Dean looked to her and acknowledged the thought as he got up slowly and moved closer to the couple. He delicately took the gun from Madison’s hand and Sam walked to the kitchen.

She stood in the spot where he left her as Riley and Dean followed Sam into the other room.

Sam’s lips and jaw trembled as he choked back his tears. His partners silently entered and walked over to him.

“Sam,” Dean said behind him gently. “I’m sorry.”

With tears filling his eyes, Sam turned around to look at them and his face quickly grew wet as his heart broke to pieces. “No, you’re right. She’s right.”

“Sammy, I got this one. I’ll do it.”

“She asked me to.”

Riley tried so hard not to cry and be strong for Sam. But, the pain that broke through him hit her chest so hard it took the wind out of her. His suffering was so immense and she couldn’t fix it.

Trying to bring him comfort wouldn’t help, telling Sam it was going to be okay wouldn’t do anything. Riley’s tears fell as she reached for his arm. “You don’t have to do this, Sammy.”

Sam sobbed. “Yes, I do. Please.” He held out his hand with tears streaming down his face, waiting for the gun.

Dean finally obliged and placed it in his brother’s shaking hand.

“Just wait here.” As Sam went to the doorway, he glanced back at Riley and Dean, his face soaking wet and his chest rising and falling rapidly. He then turned and slowly stepped back into the living room.

With Sam out of the room, Riley lost control of her abilities. Sam’s emotions were too strong and they overwhelmed her in a way she had never felt from someone else before.

Riley’s knees buckled and Dean caught her as she wept. “I--I can’t…” she uttered through her tears. “It hurts so much. Sam--he…it hurts, Dean…”

Wrapping his arms around her, Dean held her tight against his chest. He kissed her head as a tear ran down his own cheek. “Focus on me. Stay here with me.”

Riley tried to listen to Dean’s heartbeat and drown out the agony in the air, but it was useless. The sound of a single gunshot went off and the two flinched. Not able to fight it anymore, Riley went nearly limp in Dean’s chest and wailed silently into him.

Her brother’s heartbreak was her own as the wind was knocked from her chest. It felt as though she was dying, like she would never fully breathe again. It was pure and unimaginable suffering that she couldn’t shut out. If that was what he was feeling, how could Sam ever come back from this?

Sam swore he would save Madison, only in the end, he couldn’t.

Dean’s promise echoed through Riley’s mind in that deafening silence. Maybe her fate would be the same, her light snuffed out by the man she cared for most; a tragic love story to which there would be no happy ending, only darkness and death.

------

S2 Chapter 11: What is and What Should Never Be

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writing-royza · 6 years ago

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Tainted Blood, Tainted Soul: Chapter Twenty-five - Last-ditch Efforts

A/N: Happy Sunday, everyone, and a happy long weekend to all those with one! Mine is a busy one; personal projects, dinner with the in-laws, and moving furniture that has been at my mother's for far too long. Thank you all for being so patient with the lack of a chapter last week; with the death of my laptop and an influx of work at my job, things got pretty busy and I was just too tired to write when I got home. Hopefully this chapter makes up for it a little. Enjoy!

I do not own FMA.

Chapter Twenty-five - Last-ditch Efforts

UNINHABITED ZONE OUTSKIRTS, JADAD, ISHVAL

2327 HOURS, APRIL 24TH

Nearly two hours, and she hadn't said a word.

Roy had expected that his Lieutenant could be as tight-lipped as a clam – especially about the nature of their relationship – and there had been no reason to think that the vampire version of her would be any different. They had asked her questions, but none of her responses had been anything remotely resembling an answer.

She hadn't been silent, by any means. Roy's first question, a very calm, simple "Will you let me speak to my Lieutenant?" had been rebuffed by a stream of invective so blistering and colourful that he had to question where Riza had heard half the words for the vampire to recall. He had been thunderstruck, Miles had flushed red, and all further questioning was left to Scar, who had appeared only slightly taken aback.

He sat just outside the circle that held the vampiress captive, his hands resting on the ankles of his crossed legs. Miles and Roy had retreated to the second floor wraparound balcony, where they could observe without being intrusive as Scar calmly asked questions. He spoke languidly, red eyes watching her every move. Each question was followed by a pause of several minutes, giving her ample time to answer or make another snappish remark.

"He's good," Roy commented in a near whisper, so the vampiress' hearing would be less likely to pick it up. "Most other interrogators I've known would lose their patience after half an hour of stonewalling like this. He's as together as ever."

"I'm not sure," Mikes murmured back, "but I think he might be meditating in between questions." He pointed to where Riza was slowly prowling back and forth across the circle with the air of a caged tiger. "If I had to guess, I'd say he's counting her footsteps, using it like a mantra. Counting like that is a common enough technique in a warrior's training, at least according to what I've heard."

Looking over, idly curious, Roy asked, "Did you have any Ishvalan warrior training before you enlisted? Seems like the sort of thing that might come in handy."

Miles was already shaking his head. "My grandfather only passed down traditions and culture. He wasn't a warrior himself, so he didn't know all their ways, just bits and pieces, here and there. They keep most of their training practices to themselves." A smile tugged at his mouth. "It's not exactly top secret, but they don't shout it from the rooftops, either."

"I see." Turning his gaze back to the pacing vampiress below, Roy suppressed a shiver. It had always been clear how much danger that lithe frame held in this form; every graceful, sinuous movement telegraphed it. Now, however, what had been a low warning hum was an alarm klaxon on full volume. Much as he trusted the charms around all their necks, it felt safer to have the invisible barrier of the circle. And speaking of the charms….

"If she won't answer questions in this form, she'll likely do it as herself." He frowned. "The question is how to get the charm around her neck without getting bitten."

Miles shook his head again. "I can't help you there. You have the most face-to-face experience with this particular lady, not to mention the Lieutenant. We're relying on you to tell us if, when we get Lieutenant Hawkeye back, the vampire personality starts to take over again." One shoulder rose and fell in a half-shrug. "Though I agree, the trick is going to be getting the charm around her neck in the first place."

"At the moment, all I can think of is to tackle her, all three of us, and one of us slips the charm over her head." He watched her pacing for another moment, then got to his feet. "Of course, we could always try the direct approach." He gestured for Miles to stay seated as the Ishvalan man made to rise. "This is something I should do myself. It's going to call for a high amount of risk, and I won't ask anyone to shoulder that. Not this time."

He made it a handful of steps toward the stairs before a loud thud sounded from the roof, beyond the tarpaulins that stretched overhead.

Tension would not allow her to sit still, would not allow her to stand her ground and stare down the red-eyed man gazing at her with steady calmness. It was a calm she herself was having trouble holding onto. It was somewhat concerning, considering that this new form was capable of such stunning anger she had yet to plumb the depths of. If she let loose with it in a space she had no ready way out of, she might just end up injuring herself.

"What has Kimblee said about his long-term plans?" Scar intoned, his voice as serene and cold as a glacier.

"Eat shit," she spat, glaring daggers at the man. First, his temple's blasted blessed sand had burned her hands, then the priest had done… whatever it was that a yantir consisted of. Whatever the blue light was that also hurt… and then the Colonel had pulled his little stunt with that ludicrous fashion nightmare of a charm. Now he was sitting up there on the second level with that Miles character, the two of them whispering like schoolgirls at a slumber party.

Reaching up, she rubbed her forehead, turning to pace back across the diameter of the circle. Whatever sorcery was at work in the thing affected her like the one from the yantir had not. It left her thoughts feeling sluggish, with slight pressure close to her eyes as though she were developing a sinus headache. Granted, the whole charade could be classified as a headache in and of itself.

"Has Kimblee killed any other people than the ones we know about?" Scar asked, his voice never wavering from monotonous and steady.

"Probably you," she shot back, coming to a stop. "You just don't realize you're dead yet."

"A man who discards his name is dead in the eyes of God," he countered blandly.

Ignoring him, she looked up as Roy got to his feet, starting for the stairs. Either coming to join in on the amateurish grilling session, or to take over. Well, he was welcome to try; he'd get no farther than his reluctant partner.

She was just concocting the perfect blend of insult and invective to hurl Roy's way once he came down when there was a highly noticeable thud from the roof.

Riza's head snapped back, her circle-dulled senses straining for the aura of the man who must have just arrived… there. It was fuzzy, as though the rippling water cover Kimblee had once applied to his face was now cloaking his thoughts. He detected her wavering mental touch, returning reassurance and assertions of hope.

She rolled her eyes and began pacing once again; she needed no sympathy from him. She wasn't even sure she needed help to escape this circle. All she really did need was for one of her third-rate 'captors' to get just the slightest bit careless….

After the initial sound of the roof landing, silence resumed in the courtyard, broken only by the urgent murmurings from Roy and Miles. The Major got to his feet, moving to the railing, his fingers curling around the wrought iron. Riza's eyes flicked from him to the circle etched in the sand on the ground… no, he wasn't inside it. Pity; she could have had control of this situation now, instead of having to wait.

At the very least, the waiting period for Kimblee to make his entrance was not long at all. He appeared in a doorway on the opposite side of the courtyard from where Roy and Miles stood, his black suit buttoned neatly and his hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. His smile was thin and icy as he stared down his three enemies.

"Gentlemen," he purred in a dangerous tone. His purpled eyes glinted in the shadows. "Interesting setup you have here. I expected I'd be able to come down through the centre, but aside from the tarp cover, you seem to have found a way to create invisible barriers." His gaze went from Miles to Scar with cold disdain. "Ishvalan devilry of some kind, no doubt."

"If it were devilry, you'd have no trouble with it," Roy quipped. "It's the divine that's causing you problems."

The cold gaze went back to him, and Riza watched as Kimblee's lip pulled back in a sneer. "And yet you put your dear Lieutenant at the centre of it? You defy your usual reputation for taking care of your subordinates, Colonel."

The anger was evident in Roy's face, his fingers gripping the wrought iron railing of the balcony hard enough to turn the knuckles white. "The way I see it, by keeping her away from you, I am taking care of her, which is a damn sight more than you've ever done for anyone. All you've ever done is cause death, despair, and destruction wherever you go, for superiors and subordinates alike."

Again, the cold smile stretched Kimblee's lips in an expression that was more grimace than anything else. He held up his hands, palms outward to show the tattoos that stood out starkly on the pale skin. "That is the name of my proverbial game, Mustang."

Stopping just below where they stood on the balcony, Riza watched as Roy's eyes locked on those tattoos, his eyes widening slightly. Oh… he forgot about those…. A kind of malicious glee spread hot and constricting across her chest, making her want to giggle, but she held it back. She still believed she didn't need Kimblee's help to escape this… but perhaps she would allow him to help her.

Refusing to back down, even in the face of this new threat, Roy's eyes narrowed, glaring at his old enemy. "And you don't have any principles to stop you from using your alchemy in a place where the native people hate it," he countered. Defiantly, he folded his arms, chin held high. "I'll fight you one-on-one any other time or place, but just now, I'm a little busy." He indicated Riza with a small tilt of his head. "If and when I'm free, though, since my hosts don't like alchemy, I'll have to save my flames for another time."

A humourless laugh rasped harshly in Kimblee's throat. "You always were the holier-than-thou type. Nice to know that some personalities only get better with age."

Her current spot had left her close enough now to hear the quiet comment of "Sir, are you sure about this?" from Miles. Concern was heavy in his voice, his eyes steady and wary on Kimblee. "If he brings the building down —"

"He won't," Roy responded, then raised his voice. His dark eyes were as hard as two chips of obsidian, confident and cold in d the flickering torchlight. "That's the thing about coming after old adversaries, isn't it. You forget that there's a good chance they know all your tricks." A smirk tugged at his lips. "And the Kimblee I remember was more about going straight for that all-important explosion, not bandying words with his intended victims." One eyebrow lifted. "So where's the explosion?"

The vampire's jaw clenched visibly, his cheeks flushing a dark crimson in fury. His tattooed hands clenched into fists, then relaxed again, clearly looking to be wrapped around Roy's neck. Riza held her breath, waiting to see what the outcome would be. Roy was calling an extremely dangerous bluff and if he pushed it too far….

Wordlessly, Kimblee brought his palms together in a dark parody of Edward Elric or even Roy's own newfound circleless alchemy. Without taking his glaring eyes from Roy, he clamped his left hand to the doorjamb. Riza tensed, heard the hissing intake of breath from Miles….

And nothing happened.

Her head whipped around to Roy as he spoke, her heightened hearing catch the faint, relieved waver in his otherwise steady tone, and her sharp eyes picking up the slightest tremble in the hand he laid casually on the railing. "What's the matter? Cat got your alchemy?"

"Please stop goading him," Miles murmured, nearly inaudibly, and Riza almost agreed with him. Roy was walking an already precariously thin line that was starting to narrow and, sooner of later, he was going to slip off of it.

Finally, she broke her silence, taking a pair of steps forward to address Kimblee directly. "If you're holding back so that I don't get caught in whatever blast you conjure, don't bother." When his gaze shifted to her, still unreadable, she shrugged. "It would break the circle and then I'd be free to escape on my own."

"That's not why there was no blast."

She looked back, annoyed at Roy's interruption. "No offense, Colonel, but I'm ready to leave and its clear I'll have to make my own exit, so if you would very kindly butt out?"

The look he gave her was cold. "He isn't holding back out of fear of hurting you. I thought he might be, at first, but you have to remember that he has the same basic disregard for others that he had in his human life. It would mean literally nothing if he took you out in a blast, as long as he got at least one of us as well." His eyes narrowed. "So if he isn't using his alchemy, it's because he can't."

An ominous silence descended on the courtyard, broken only by the crackling of the torches as they burned. Roy stared down Kimblee for a minute longer before turning and heading for the stairs once again. The vampire watched him go for a moment before drawing himself up to his full height.

"Alchemy may have been the flashier option for crushing you whelps," he growled, "but it's far from the only one."

The step forward that he took would have been menacing, had he not rebounded - like Riza had — off of an invisible barrier. He stood for a moment, looking perplexed, long, pale fingers reaching out to stroke the air. "…I had thought the barrier would be at the far edge of the walkway." His eyes flashed. "Else you would be leaving yourselves open to an attack from the Lieutenant in the centre."

"As well as attacks from the outside," Miles replied. He pointed across the yard to where the first floor walls met the stone bricks of the colonnade pathway. "So the circle holding the Lieutenant is inside another, larger circle… to keep you out."

Riza had begun looking for the second circle when Miles pointed, but the deep shadows inside the colonnade hid the telltale markings. She looked back over her shoulder as a footstep shuffled in the sand behind her. She turned fully as Roy stopped several feet away, his face impassive and a protection charm in his hand.

"Riza, if you're in there," he murmured, then hesitated, rephrasing. "…You are in there. If you can hear me… you know I hate to do this, but it's the only way I can think of to get us started." He paused again, staring her in the eye. "Unless you'd like to just give up? Save me the trouble?'

A lot of things were starting to look better than facing down a doubtless angry, increasingly desperate, flame-wielding alchemist… but this was her vessel now, and she would fight to keep it. So she squared her shoulders, giving him a look of cool contempt. "Do your worst, but just remember who's waiting to come back if I tap out." Her teeth showed in a menacing, final grin. "Whatever you do to me, she'll be the one to feel it in the morning, so to speak."

"Duly noted."

She backed away when he came too close for the two charms – his and the one intended for her — to be easily bearable. Saliva flooded her mouth in preparation to vomit at the sheer repulsiveness, her shoulders rising with tension as she swallowed the urge to retch. The things smelled like three-day-old raw sewage under a hot sun next to a pile of pungent, rotting vegetation that housed a passel of roadkill skunks.

And they were wearing the thrice-blasted things like costume jewelry.

"I appreciate the thought, but what you've got there isn't really my style," she quipped, grinning though the expression held no strength. "I'm a gold and diamonds kind of girl."

He didn't answer, advancing on her with his lips set in a grim, determined line. There was nothing but resolve in those eyes, no pity, no sorrow, no reluctance… nothing that she could use to deter him, to sway him…. She backed away steadily, mirroring his own footsteps, all in terrible, anticipatory silence.

And as her back fetched up against the invisible walls of the circle, she had to admit — however much she hated to — that, this time, she had no way out.

Reflexively, she lifted a hand to her mouth as the nausea swelled, her eyes closing as Roy drew closer, spreading the string of the charm wide to slip it over her head. "Just relax," he murmured, his tone lending no comfort to the comforting words. "It'll be over in seconds."

She took the advice just long to draw a pair of shallow breaths. Holding the second, her eyes flashed open in a hot glare to find him a mere two feet away. She dropped her hand, the fingers curving into rigid clawlike hooks. Teeth bared, she lung forward against him, her hands slipping past his arms to grope blindly for his throat.

Roy let out a surprised yell as he fell backward, her momentum carrying her with him. His voice cut off as he landed hard on his back, to be taken up again by Miles on the second floor. In her peripheral vision, Riza saw him grip the railing, saw Scar rocket to his feet, and ignored them both. Her fingers found purchase around his neck, her thumbs falling into alignment on either side of his windpipe.

Just like Gluttony, a memory whispered to her, though no remorse accompanied it. She knelt, straddling his chest, the two of them nose to nose, teeth gritted and cold dark eyes staring into furious amethyst. Miles was still shouting, Kimblee adding urging comments in between, Scar remaining silent but tense. She could feel Roy's pulse pounding under her palms, feel a bead of sweat trickling onto her fingers, the convulsive motions of his trachea as he struggled to draw breath —

And then, from the centre of her chest, there erupted a feeling of exploding hellfire.

She released him with a scream, backpedaling across the sand, clawing at the leather cord he had managed to slip over her head. The pouch bumped against her chest, the smell and its proximity burning her sinuses, throat, and lungs like acid. Gasping, she fell against the barrier, choking and gagging on the stench, a feeling like angry red sparks travelling over every inch of her skin.

Roy struggled onto all fours, watching her with wide eyes, one hand held to his reddened neck. He coughed, sucking in a gasping, desperate breath before his eyes narrowed. "Give… her… back," he rasped, the words tearing themselves from his voicebox. "She's not yours. Give her back."

Something like a thin sheet of rock crumbled inside her mind, and a raging presence roared out of an abyss darker than any moonless night. With unerring accuracy, it made straight for the vampiress' centre of focus, slamming against it with all the force of a battering ram.

In the last moment before she herself fell into the blackness of the mental chasm, the crumbled rock reforming over her, the vampiress cursed Roy Mustang in every way, shape, and form she knew.

One moment, the vampire was awake, snarling and spitting with nothing but murder and hatred in those purple eyes, and the next, she seemed to freeze, to totter… and then she collapsed lifelessly onto the sand.

In the second-floor doorway, his view partly obstructed by his inability to pass the outer barrier, Kimblee snarled softly, then whirled and stalked off along the hallway. His partner in bloodshed was temporarily disabled — yes, temporarily — but he still needed to feed. Whatever trouble she was in now, she would have to withstand it until tomorrow night, when he would be free to try to help her.

She should be reasonably safe, he told himself, emerging outside the house into the cool night air. They wouldn't hurt their precious Lieutenant, not even if she were harbouring the reanimated spirit of King Bradley himself.

His own survival, by rights, should be his top priority now. For the rest of the night, she was no longer his problem.

She came awake after only a few minutes, a cold sweat instantly prickling her skin and shivers beginning to wrack her. Riza didn't move, lying on her side in the sand, her eyes closed as she swallowed in disgust at the foul taste in her mouth. Her head ached, her muscles groaned from sustained tension, her jaw tight where it had been clenched. Everything just hurt. Even her hair hurt.

"Get a blanket," a hoarse voice rasped from nearby, movement shifting the sand beside her. A hand reached out, brushing back strands of hair — ow — from her cheek. The same voice spoke, in a near whisper this time. "Up you get, Whiskygirl. I know it's late, but you can't sleep here."

Forcing her eyes open, Riza squinted in the flickering light from a ring of torches, the juddering motion playing havoc with her retinas. A tiny groan escaped her throat, her hand rising to shade her eyes. The hand stroked her hair again, and, though the motion hurt even more, she twitched away from it.

"Don't do that…." Thanks to her sluggish mind and tongue, the words came out more like 'dohh do thaaaaaaa….'

"Sorry, sorry."

She angled her hand to block the light as she forced her eyes to move, searching out the face of the person beside her. He was blurry for a moment, the features slowly returning… but she recognized the relieved smile spreading across his face. "…Roy?" She managed to get his name out, but the next words were mangled again. "Whyyy y'soun'… …fffuuh…"

He cocked his head slightly, listening as the smile faded. "…'Why do I sound funny?'" he rasped, waiting until she nodded. "Don't worry about it. Just rest for a minute, get your bearings back. You — whoa!"

He scrambled back as she suddenly pushed up on one elbow, vomiting into the sand in front of her. With nothing in her stomach, all that came up was clear saliva and burning bile. With a weak cough, she spat and laid back on the sand, the shivering starting up again, stronger this time.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

A heavy blanket was draped over her, and she welcomed the weight and promise of warmth. A pair of arms slipped beneath her shoulders and the curve of her knees, bearing her smoothly aloft, blanket and all. Blinking to clear the blurriness from her eyes, she frowned as she concentrated on the face.

"…Scar?"

"Don't speak," he answered gruffly, but there was no anger that she could detect in his voice. "You need to recover from the transition. Just rest."

The transition…? It came trickling back in, the memories of the last… however long? Time didn't have much meaning when you were trapped inside your own mind, unable to break out. Riza took a deep breath and closed her eyes against the lingering nausea, willing herself not to be sick all over Scar. It was a rare show of the truly kind person he could be beneath the rough exterior, and she had no desire to pay him back in such a fashion.

She was vaguely aware, beyond trying to maintain control of her rebellious stomach, that they went upwards and along a hallway, where Miles joined them. Her foot gently bumped the edge of a door as Scar angled himself to pass through it, and then he was setting her down on something soft.

The room, when she opened her eyes again, was lit once again by torches, with no windows and only a single doorway for entrance. Three sleeping pallets were arranged on the wooden floorboards, two of them empty, and herself occupying the third. Cautiously, Riza sat up as Miles and Roy entered, pulling the blanket closer around her shoulders.

"Kimblee might still be waiting around," she warned, thankful that her tongue was finally getting control of itself again. Her words were understandable and becoming clearer. "It might be a good idea to stay as close to the circle —"

"There's one around the edge of this room," Miles assured her, pointing to the floor near one wall where the symbols flickered in the unsteady torchlight. "We thought it might take a lot longer to suppress your… alter ego, so we set this room up as a place to sleep or take a break, if we needed it."

Roy moved to settle on the left-hand edge of her pallet, dark eyes scrutinizing her closely. "How are you feeling now?"

She frowned at the fading but present rasp in his voice. "Improving. But you still haven't told me what's wrong with —" The memory, still fading in with the rest of them, caught in her consciousness and sent a jolt through her chest. She looked from the bright red spots on his throat to the tips of her own fingers….

"No permanent damage," he said quietly, knowing she had caught on. "And I'll take it up with the other you, if I'm unlucky enough to run into her again." His smile, when she looked up, was lopsided and boyish… but lacking in conviction. "I don't think you can actually be considered responsible."

Her own smile was just as unconvincing as his. "Yes, Officer, it's my car, but my friend was driving at the time of the accident."

"What do you remember?" Miles asked, seating himself cross-legged on the floorboards at the foot of the pallet. Scar had knelt to her right, far enough away to give her space, but close enough to strike should the vampire personality reassert itself.

"Everything, essentially." She settled herself comfortably, leaving the blanket draped over her shoulders like a large shawl, with her hands free to move as she spoke. "When I'm… the subconscious, I suppose, then it's not as though I'm asleep with no idea of what's happening. I still see everything that the vampire sees, but… as though at a distance. Something might be three feet in front of her, but to me, it looks like thirty."

"Tunnel vision?" Roy asked.

She considered that a moment, then nodded. "Something like that." Her lips pursed, briefly, concentrating on the strange experience. "That being said… I don't see it with my own eyes so much as… it's like an image projected in front of me in blackness. There's some kind of mental partitioning that separates one personality from the other; whichever one isn't currently in control is shut behind it until they can manage to break through."

"Speaking of…." Miles' eyes went to the charm around her neck. "The last time you had one of those, she came back fairly quickly after a brief exposure. You've held out for almost five minutes now; what's she doing?"

Riza shook her head. "She's not even trying. Having the charm in constant contact must be the key, because one touch only locks her away for so long." She lifted a hand to the pouch. "If I took this off, she'd be back in control within a minute."

"Any ill effects?" Scar put in, his bass rumble echoing off the stone walls.

"Aside from the transition? No." She shivered involuntarily, drawing the blanket a little closer. "I'm mostly just cold. My heart rate has been abnormally low for a day or two, so circulation alone hasn't been keeping me warm. There's a full-body ache, as well, but I suspect that's because I'm not built to run and climb along rooftops the way she likes to do." She paused, then added, "The vomiting was because of how she reacted the charm; she wasn't actually sick, but I was."

The men were quiet a moment, then Miles spoke again. "Do you feel up to answering the questions we put to her? We couldn't get any kind of answer, but if you can help…?"

"If I know the answer, you'll have it."

Scar, as the former primary interrogator, took over. "What has Kimblee said of his long-term plans?"

"As far as he's said or as I know, he doesn't have any. He wasn't thinking of building some vampire army, or even just going on a killing spree. He just… woke up this way and has been making it up as he goes." She looked to Roy. "The whole reason he turned me was to get to you. To cause you pain and stress. He resents you and I both for Ishval, still. He's been carrying that grudge all this time."

His eyebrows lifted, but only briefly. "I shouldn't be surprised. Anyone who spoke out against him in those days was dealt with sooner or later. You and I just got the 'later,' apparently." He glanced at Scar, then back to her. "Tell him what the other you told me. About keeping the vampire population down."

"Oh. Yes." She turned toward the solemn warrior. "My… other self pointed out to Kimblee that, if he goes around Jadad murdering civilians, sooner or later, he'll just be destroying the… the term she used was 'food source.' Similarly, if he just bites, feeds, and leaves the victim alive, they'll slowly turn until they're one step away from being a full vampire."

"The final step being to drink the blood of the vampire who turned them?" Miles clarified.

"Exactly." Riza's fingers toyed with the beading around the cuffs of the white abaya… which was leaning toward off-white in places after the vampire had tangled with Roy earlier. "More vampires means more competition for resources, and that's something he can't afford. So unless he goes and makes a new one — which, if he doesn't think he can get me back, is very possible — he's on his own against us."

Miles glanced to his countryman. "I suppose that answers your question as to whether he's killed anyone else we don't know about."

"It does. But I have another." Red eyes were grave and solemn as Scar gazed at her steadily. "Anyone turned by this vampire develops an alter ego that slowly takes them over," he stated flatly. "So far, the only way we've found to suppress the alter ego is for the person to wear a sacred charm."

Her smile was just as grim as his eyes. "And you want to know how to get rid of the vampire personality without the victim having to wear a charm for the rest of their natural life. I've given that a lot of thought myself… and I think I have an answer, though it might bear some researching." She looked to Roy. "May I speak frankly?"

He lifted an eyebrow; she had already been perfectly blunt and straightforward. "…Go for it."

"Forgive my language, but I think the only way is to kill the bastard."

#fma #fmab #Roy Mustang #Riza Hawkeye #royza #royai #fma fanfiction #royai fanfiction #tainted blood

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aspoonofsugar · 7 years ago

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I was thinking about AOT and the first chapter: Eren was crying, probably about what he experienced or will experience before the story ends and the memories will be stored in the attacking titan. That's how Kruger knew about saving Armin and Mikasa before it even happened. However in Eren's dream there is also a moment with possibly Mikasa saying "see you later Eren". I know people disagree on which Eren it's about (Kruger or Jaeger) but actually I was thinking that since (1/2)

it’s the only memory he gets from that dream, maybe it’s a sign that eremika is really going to be plot relevant. Why would he remember Mikasa in particular (and not Armin for example), assuming these memories were really about him and Mikasa? I’m so sorry if this doesn’t make a lot of sense, I love your snk posts so I wanted your opinion. Have a great weekend!

Hello anon! I am happy you enjoy my posts! And don’t worry, your ask makes sense, but since my answer is gonna be pretty long I’ll break it into two parts:

1) Firstly I will address the scene you mentioned and some theories about it.

2) Then I will talk a little bit of Eremika.

1) I agree with you that this scene

and this scene

are both linked to a common plot point which has to do with some worldbuilding elements like the paths among Eldians, the origin of the Founding Titan, the Attack Titan and the truth about Ymir. Until these details remain unknown it is difficult to come up with a perfect explanation for these panels.

You mentioned two theories in your ask:

a) The girl Eren sees in the beginning is Mikasa.

In this case Eren is definately seeing his future and probably him separating from Mikasa since the girl’s words sound like a goodbye. If it’s so then we are inside a time paradox. I have seen people reading the time paradox as a negative loop i.e. a situation where our characters keep struggling, but are never able to overcome tragedy and so Eren keeps living again and again the same experiences in the hope of finally breaking the cycle. People who believe in this theory seem to think that we will either get a bad ending (so the end will be like the beginning with Eren waking up under the tree and the story starting once again without a solution) or, alternatively, we may have an ending where the cycle is finally broken and our characters are finally free to go on and to create a new world.

I would like to propose an alternative (definately crack) theory: the time paradox may actually be a “virtuous” loop i.e. the events we assisted, despite their violence and sadness, are actually necessary to arrive to a positive ending and Eren’s final decision will be to actually accept everything that happened to him and to “send his will back in time” to influence the past events and to be sure that everything goes as it is supposed to go (i.e. as we have seen in the series). Basically I am proposing a time paradox like the one we get in the third book of Harry Potter where the characters going back in time and interfering with the past don’t actually change it, but are used to explain details the protagonists saw the first time and couldn’t understand (like the person saving Harry from the Dementors who turned out to be Harry himself).

Thematically it would be interesting for Eren’s character because he, despite fighting for freedom, is a character who has been enslaved since when his father gave him the titan power. He didn’t choose to become the Attack Titan, so in a sense he has been negated freedom since the very beginning because he isn’t given the chance to personally make that very first choice which kicked off the whole plot. For him to eventually accept what happened and to influence past events so that things go exactly as they went in order to ensure a positive outcome would be a nice touch imo. It would make the whole story a consequence of Eren’s choice and he would regain the agency Grisha took away from him back then.

b) The girl Eren sees is actually a girl important for Eren Kruger.

This theory has its own good points. First of all it’s obvious that Isayama wants us to associate Eren to Kruger:

The fact that Eren used the name Kruger as his alias in Marley and their two designs as children being similar, not to count them having the same name, are all details meant to draw the reader’s attention to the connection between these two characters. If so then we can assume that this connection will be important both thematically (meaning that Eren and Kruger will be characters made to compare and contrast each other) and plot-wise. If their link is relevant plot-wise then it may not be too far-fetched to imagine that, because of some unknown worldbuilding elements (aka Eldian paths or something), the two of them share a special mental connection. This unique mental connection may explain why Kruger mentioned Mikasa and Armin despite not knowing them and why Eren got to see one of Kruger’s memories despite having still to receive the Attack Titan.

Even if this theory were correct, though, this wouldn’t change the fact that the scene Eren saw may be relevant to Eremika:

After all it’s Eren himself who associates the girl to Mikasa and this means that, in the case the girl is someone important to Eren Kruger, their relationship will most likely foil Eremika and this girl may become a parallel to Mikasa like Kruger is to Eren.

In short there is no doubt that the scene in chapter one will be, one way or another, relevant to Eremika and that Eren and Mikasa’s relationship will be (and already is) relevant for the story.

Now I’ll try to answer the second part of your ask.

2) I think that the most interesting thing of Eremika as a ship is that it has been set up to be solved only when Mikasa is able to make herself independent from Eren instead than when the two characters come together:

It’s interesting that we get to see this scene from Mikasa’s POV because we can contrast it with the dream Eren had. At the beginning of the series we have Mikasa looking at Eren with adoration and at the same time we have Eren having a vision of a girl he associates with Mikasa saying goodbye to him. It may very well have been an effective representation of Mikasa’s arc in a nutshell: the very beginning against the very end.

The root of Mikasa’s character is that she is a child who lost her family and who is terrified from the prospective of losing it again and to remain alone:

When she sees both her parents die she doesn’t even have the instinct to run for her life and lets herself get caught without opposing resistance because she has no idea how to live without her family. Then Eren comes into the scene and Mikasa clings to him:

Mikasa’s clinging to Eren becomes even worse after she loses her adoptive family. Let’s also notice that for her to help Eren out was also Carla’s last wish:

It is because of all these circumstances that we see her doing things like this in the beginning:

However, the narrative keeps challenging her on this aspect to the point that I wouldn’t be surprised if, by rereading Mikasa’s arc at the end of the series, it would turn out that the whole story was preparing her to say goodbye to Eren (and possibly to Armin):

After all Mikasa has been now tricked twice into thinking that she was losing a member of the costitutive group representative of her happy childhood. To me these two occurrences seemed rehearsals to what will be Mikasa’s final trial. Moreover, she is even told that both Armin and Eren won’t live long:

It’s as if the narrative is warning her that she has to move on and to become more independent because one’s life isn’t reduced to the family nucleus one is born in, but a person can forge new relationships and find warmth and happiness even outside it.

In short Mikasa’s story starts with her being totally unable to face a traumatic loss and it is possible that it will end with her having become strong enough to actually let go. It would be a beautiful way to end her arc imo because it would tie it back to her original trauma (her family being killed) and would solve it together with her relationship with Eren who firstly taught her that she could keep on living even without her loved ones.

What about Eren?

It seems to me that Eren is ironically doing to his friends what Mikasa did to him in the beginning:

Mikasa in the beginning was constantly trying to protect Eren to the point of objectifying him to an extent and of trying to control him. Now, in the last chapter we have seen how protecting the people he cares about is still a pretty strong motivation of Eren’s character:

However, he is doing it by dismissing their opinions and their feelings and by isolating himself in the process:

It’s interesting that we see Eren in front of a mirror this chapter because the place each one of EMA is at tells us something about their current state of mind.

So we have Armin in front of an enemy trying to communicate without receiving any answer exactly like any chance of dialogue with Marley has now been lost:

Then we have Mikasa who is at Sasha’s grave, but isn’t actually looking at it (she is behind the grave and not in front of it) as if she couldn’t force herself to truly face the consequences of what Eren did:

She touches her scarf instead and repeats Eren’s mantra despite Sasha’s death basically proving it wrong. They won. Sasha still died.

Finally we have Eren alone, in front of a mirror:

He isn’t seeing neither his enemies (like Armin) nor his comrades (like Mikasa), but is seeing only himself. Again, I don’t mean that he doesn’t care about others, he does, but he has assumed a self-centred prospective: he wants to protect his friends and family and will fight against whoever wants to hurt them disreguarding both who they are and what his loved ones think about the matter.

Back in Trost Mikasa was so desperate to protect Eren that she would have disreguarded her duty as a soldier in order to keep him safe and would have indirectly sacrificed others’ lives she could have saved with her strength for this reason.

In that situation it was Eren himself who woke Mikasa up and urged her to do the right thing. Now I think Eren needs a headbutt as well and it might be Mikasa the one to deliver it (since I think Armin will leave the other two). However, she will be able to do so only if she is ready to actually enter into an open conflict with Eren.

I don’t know if I was of any help! Thank you for the ask and sorry I took a while to answer it! And have a great week!

#snk #snk meta #mikasa ackerman #eren jaeger #eremika #shinjeki no kyojin #asksfullofsugar #anonymous #my meta

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