#he cut her arm and she passed out because shes afraid of blood

[caffeinatedopossum]

I had a dream that one of you paid to have me assassinated

[vanilleandclove]

the meadow in which you lay | 2

ser erryk cargyll x arryn!reader | chapter two: lady arryn, oathbreaker

More years have past, when the sworn shields of Rhaenyra shift to that of Viserys's sons, Aegon and Aemond, both young and sprouting boys, the houses gather for the funeral of Lady Laena Velaryon. Only, the funeral is yet once again marked with violence from the interference of the young and old, greens.

word count: 2k | warnings: oral sex (female receiving), slight insults to one's gender and sexuality, the reader hates the greens (her vibes are off) | a/n: two parts in one day woop woop!

previous - next

taglist: @wolvestitches @holb32 @callsignwidow

"A raven has come in for you Lady Arryn" Margot lightly curtsied, "My deepest condolences my Lady, I know how much you and the Lady Laena accompanied each other with Rhaenyra".

As you read the raven's word, you surely wondered if it was pure farce, 'Lady Laena Velaryon, wife to Daemon Targaryen, mother to the Ladies Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, has passed in her labors'. Your knees faltered, wondering if it was a curse to the years, you have not spoken to one another; Laena became a wonderful mother to her two beautiful and fierce daughters she shared with Daemon. The Velaryon blood is known to be kind, fierce, and strong, you know for certain her dearest daughters will be an image of that. You looked up from your hands as they held the message, glassy irises, blinking away the tears, your throat scratchy and dry- as if sandpaper was cutting into your larynx.

"Margot" you spoke up before clearing your throat, "Would you kindly see to it that two ravens are sent. One to the Princess Rhaenys and her Lord husband Corlys, sending my condolences for their loss. The other to my cousin Princess Rhaenyra, telling her I will be voyaging to Driftmark and will meet her and her sons there".

"You are missing one person I am afraid" Margot insinuated, you looked into her eyes, and gave her a slight nod.

"And to Ser Erryk and his brother".

Come Laena's funeral, you took note to Daemon's shock of death, everyone grieves differently especially how he was the one who stumbled upon the Lady as she wanted to die a dragon-riders death but laid to rest as a Velaryon. You dressed in your late mother's dress, attending Laena's funeral with your brother. You donned in a black dress with blue, almost white accents that were meticulously sewn into the fabrics. Your brother and his dear wife Lady Tully- now Arryn- showed upmost respect to your mourning.

"You are rather looking stunning Lady Arryn, welcome back to Driftmark Lord Arryn and your Lady wife" Lord Corlys smiled somberly, giving your hand a tight squeeze, your father always took company with Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys, them being a close ally to the point of family. "We already made sure to secure your sleeping arrangements for the week, the journey must have been taxing".

"Anything for the Velaryons, you are a close to kin to us Lord Corlys" you nodded, "Where might Laena's daughters be, I would like to comfort them?"

Princess Rhaenys directed you to the benches, seeing the beauty that has become of Laena's children. They truly were an extension to their mother. Giving them a tight and lasting hug, the girls further sobbed into your arms, gripping onto your dress, you lightly cooed into their ears to soothe them; looking out to the view in front you, the tides were rather high.

As you left to seek business elsewhere, glancing over to Aegon and Aemond to their sworn shields, now Ser Erryk and Arryk. You gave them a light nod before furrowing your brows that met the gaze of Criston and his mistress, Alicent. You owed them no respect, especially from the events that followed but more because of how Alicent insulted your choice to not marry in order raise rumors of your sexuality and perhaps if you were born a man. You've heard it all, since then, you have not spoken a word to the Queen, nevertheless you did not give a fuck about simple formalities, she was no Queen, she was a consort whom whispers tyrannical rulings alongside her poor excuse of a father into the Kings ear, granted he was also a sad excuse of a man.

"Dear cousin" you hugged Rhaenyra, lightly petting the heads of Lucerys and Jacaerys, they have grown since you've last seen them, freckles kissing the kids face, "How is Laenor?".

She nodded, keeping a hand on your wrist, "Cannot seem to find him cousin, though, how was the journey?".

"Far too long I am afraid" you chuckled, your eyes wrinkled at the answer, you greatly enjoyed ventures from the Vale, noting that Kingsroad had beautiful scenery. "I am grateful to be staying here, Jeyne prefers to be left at home alone, she is one to be riddled angst. My brother and I tried to persuade her to come to company Jace and Luke, perhaps they'd become close friends".

Rhaenyra lightly smiled, "I'd prefer them to be in her company than that of the Queen's children" noticing the refusal to call her kin, her siblings. Jeyne was quite the cunning and caring girl, though it was not a weakness but a skill.

The night ventured on, losing sight of Rhaenyra and making your way to the Kingsguard, taking company in Ser Erryk. You took in his appearance, his beard no longer just stubble and his hair had grown, it's copper tones being kissed by fire in the dim light. How handsome he has aged, you cannot shamelessly admit how much the heat grew within your legs, may you see it to your chambers alone in the later hours. You were seemed to be a horny-stricken teen who ached to be felt and known.

"My brother and I received your raven" Erryk started, your face could not resist to smile. "Did not think you'd send one my Lady Arryn".

"You know my name Ser Erryk" you lightly snickered, "No need for formalities… my love".

You searched his eyes for an answer that his mouth could not give, your foreheads lightly touching one another, wondering if you could allow yourself to give up decency and let him break an oath, one of the highest in the realms. A complete lapse of judgement that it was, the pool that soaked your dressing underneath your dress, your heart betraying you in the way you could not understand, begging it to silence itself for you could not dissuade the knight into bedding you and breaking his oaths to the King.

"I cannot- We cannot continue" he lightly murmured, grabbing at your waist, you shuddered in the halls of Driftmark, "You make it hard to maintain a sworn oath my love" the way his affections rolled off his tongue.

"Leave me" you choked out faintly, your lips almost touching his, "Erryk. Leave me" your hand grazing his cheek. "I cannot bare to see you and not have you, need that be in love or in friendship. You make it hard to resist".

"I cannot do that either I am afraid" her whispered, finally kissing your lips just as he did when you were the age of 16, but with a harsher undertone of lust and the years of pining for one another. "I cannot please you in the means of pleasing me. Though, I can please you my Lady".

You quickly opened the door to your chambers, rushing in Erryk in order for no one to question. As you allowed the knight to undress you, you worked on his breeches. "Stop" he delicately paused your advances "This is solely for you my love". You panted as the knight's ease into undressing you, furrowing your brow as you wished to please his just as much. Your cunt quickly became exposed to the knight, his mouth salivating, begging to taste you.

As the knight firstly started with spitting on your heat, even if your wetness was sufficient enough to grant ease, he wanted to mark you, however he can. Your moans cascading through your quarters, gripping onto the table he sat you at as he devoured your cunt. His mouth sucking onto your bud, his nose inhaling the most delicate scent of you. You found yourself raking your hands into the knight's head, his locks being entangled into your fingers. Your thighs faintly shaking around Erryk's head as he held them down with one arm, the other finding purchase onto your stomach, your other hand finding his own, hoping he would please you with your fingers once more.

"Erryk" you moaned, your voice breaking as pleasure overtook your bones, "Please, take it".

"Use your words" Erryk teased, his beard tickling your inner core. You gripped onto his hair once more, in order to raise him once again to kiss him.

"Take my maidenhead" you spoke into the kiss, he simply shook his head, "Not with your cock my love".

"That is a pleasure for your husband to take".

"I do not wish to be wedded, my line ends with me, my brother suffices" you challenged. "Please" you pleaded again, he lightly smirked, before opening your legs once more and thrusting a singular finger into your cunt. Your pleasure led to you knocking over several cups and almost a candle. Staring into the eyes of the man who was the perpetrator of your ecstasy. "I'm going to finish Ser".

"Erryk" he corrected as he then added an additional digit, sending you over the edge. How beautifully you came, gripping onto his arm for dear life as no man has ever made you cum. Wishing you were to never be parted from your dear lover. Kissing him once more, you bit onto his lip, afraid of losing him to law.

"I love you" you quietly spoke, kissing his forehead, then his cheek. Finding his affections once again, painted in his eyes.

Later in the evening, as Erryk cleaned you up, clamoring interrupted, Erryk quickly grabbed his swords and left your quarters, "Stay here" was all he could muster though he could not stop you from wondering what has happened.

"You do not listen do you?" Erryk teased as you ran behind him quickly surpassing his place, despite the limp he now gave you from overstimulating your cunt, your urgency was one that led the knight to have a strain in his breeches.

As you both stumbled into the halls, clearly gaining a view of the violence, your heart leaped as you saw Jace and Luke's bloodied face, looking ahead to see Aemond's now swollen face with stitches upon his eye. You gracefully entered the hall, much to Alicent's distaste as she noticed Erryk trailing behind you, her stares stabbing daggers into you. Her spats of insults and verbal fighting with Rhaenyra as she pleaded for Lucerys's eye to be taken as a debt to be paid. You quickly defended yourself to that of Jace and Luke, forcing a barrier between the two.

"If the King will not seek vengeance, the Queen will" Alicent spoke up, a near act of treason. As she grabbed Viserys's blade, seeking her own form of revenge. You nearly were pushed back by the ideals of the Kingsguards, you saw Criston Cole rushing up to you, seeing that Daemon and Ser Erryk immediately pushing him back. You saw the gaze Criston gave the two of you, his smirk being one of a jester. The smug look being an insult.

When blood was drawn from Rhaenyra, your place with the boys was replaced by Lord Corlys. You quickly forced Alicent away. "Your insolence does nothing Alicent, the honor and dignity you parade about is gone, no longer the piss poor lady you once were, nothing more than a fake Queen who hides behind her father who hides behind the King" you wildly spat at her face, as Rhaenyra began her own testament to her once friend. How the times have changed greatly.

[namii-88]

boboiboy galaxy au

pairing: reversed!elements x reader

TW: blood, injuries

(a/n: i tried my best to keep their personalities as close to canon as possible but struggled a bit, so apologies in advanced if they seem out of character!)

How.. how did things turn out this way?

It was supposed to be a simple mission, but why?

Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I ran as fast as I could, trying to navigate where I am along the way. We haven't even stayed here for a day but it felt as if we've been here for months. Navigating a planet that's covered in trees made it impossible to know where I came from. Every time I pass an area, I can't help but feel like I've come across that area before. Finding my way back was almost impossible, but I don't have a choice.

I suddenly felt a vine wrap around my leg and it pulled me harshly until I fell. The impact wasn't that sudden so I was able to catch myself before I sustained any injuries on my face. I screamed in pain as I realized that there were thorns on the vines and they were digging into my flesh. I scrambled around in panic trying to tug my feet away from the vines that it was captured in, careful in trying not to drag the thorns further into my leg.

"I'm coming to get you," I heard a playful voice echoing from the trees, a surge of terror fills my entire body as I hastily removed the vines. I continued to run trying my best to ignore the pain in my leg, tears were building up in my eyes but I tried my best to push it away. Exhaustion was slowly filling up my body as the damage from the previous fight started to kick in. My running became more sluggish and I became less aware of my surroundings, bumping into trees and stumbling in every rock that I come across.

No.. Please just a bit more and I can get some help..

Just a bit more and I can save hi-

My thoughts were cut off when I slipped on ice that suddenly appeared from the ground. I tried to push myself up but was struggling to do so because the entire world seemed like it was spinning. My head was pounding and I felt a wet and warm liquid drip down the side of my face. I lifted a hand to touch it.

Blood..

I bit my lip and wiped the blood off as best as I could. With the little strength I have left, I lifted myself off the ground while trying to ignore the splitting headache I was having because of my injury. I was about to run again but was unable to, due to vines suddenly crawling up and encaging my entire body. My legs, arms, and waist were completely covered by vines.

I can't move

I tugged as hard as I could against the vines but my attempts were in vain. "Stop trying to escape," I quickly looked in front of me and saw Thorn pouting at me, "Don't you wanna be with us?" I hardened my gaze towards him and continued my struggle with trying to escape the vines. He starts to walk towards me with a smile—smirk and starts to giggle, "Stop doing that n/n, it's not gonna do anything silly."

"Daun," Ice suddenly appears behind Thorn and stares at him in annoyance, "Stop fooling around and bring her back to the ship, Solar is almost done preparing." I felt a chill run down my spine when I realized what he said.

The ship?

That was the only place I could send help, why would they want to go there?

Unless.. no...

Dread fills my entire body as I realize what they did, yet I couldn't help but feel a tiny speck of hope.

Thorn rolls his eyes and turns around to meet his 'brother'. "Boooo, you're no fun, I'm just having fun with capturing her," he whines. I felt the urge to roll my eyes but was afraid to do so when Ice's gaze met mine. "Oh please! You only want n/n's attention for yourself!", Blaze suddenly appears and accuses him in a snarky tone. He crosses his arms and shots Thorn an annoyed look, "Keeping her for yourself won't make her like you any more than she likes me." A smirk appears on Blaze's face as he sees Thorn's eyebrows furrow in anger. Ice sighs tiredly at Blaze's attempt to pick a fight and chose to watch silently, having no intentions of stopping his 'brothers'.

The vines that were wrapped around me started to get loose when Thorn faced Blaze in anger, but before he could come up with a comeback, a voice suddenly interrupts their little argument. "Daun, you were supposed to bring her back 20 minutes ago," Gempa suddenly appeared with a disapproving look on his face. I let out a whimper of pain as I felt the vines tighten around me because of Thorn's reaction with the sudden appearance of his brother.

Gempa suddenly meets my eyes and the previous look of disapproval was replaced with a look of worry. "Daun, you're hurting y/n," he says with an assertive voice. Thorn quickly looks at me, eyeing me up and down until his eyes widen as he finally spots my injury. I quickly felt the vines loosening up, he quickly rushed over to me and gently held my face. "N/n! I am so sorry, I was so busy with trying to get you, I didn't realize that I was hurting you." I almost felt bad with how he sounded, he actually sounds guilty.

With the sudden appearance of the four of them, I didn't realize that my wounds were getting worse by the second. Blood started pouring out of my forehead again and the pain in my leg was beginning to become more unbearable. Thorn was about to inspect my wounds but was unable to because of my hand suddenly grabbing his wrist.

"Stop," I tried to muster out the most confident voice I could do, but was struggling to do so with the tears welling up my eyes. Thorn looks at me in confusion—worry, "N/n?" I almost broke with how genuine he looked but was able to keep my composure, "Stop acting like you care about me."

Thorn looks at me in disbelief as I saw the other three having similar reactions. "W-what do you mean?", I let go of his hand as I tried to get out of the vines. With how much they loosened up, I was able to remove them easier than before. Gempa tries to make his way to me but with my new found freedom, I try to escape. I turned around and tried to sprint away from them, hearing them yell my name, but was frozen from my spot when I saw Thunderstorm already looking at us with his usual cold stare. His arms were crossed and his eyes were following my every move intently.

From the back, I felt arms wrap around my waist and a chin laid against my left shoulder— hugging me. A familiar tone fills my left ear, "Why do you want to run away so badly?", I tried to ignore the pounding in my chest when I realized how close Cyclone was next to me.

"Let me go," I shakily tried to remove his arms around me but was unable to, due to him tightening his hold around me even more, "Hmmm? But I don't want tooo," he whines as he snuggles into my shoulder even more.

"I wanna hug n/n too!!", I heard Thorn's voice get near us, followed by a remark by Blaze as well, "No fair I got here first!", Blaze and Thorn then tried to remove Cyclone who was persistently holding onto me while laughing and taunting the other two. I heard Gempa sigh as he commanded the three to let go of me, "Taufan, please let go of y/n. Api, Daun, can't you see that she's struggling because of your rowdiness?". And with that, Thorn pouted while stepping away from Cyclone, Blaze stepped away with a 'hmp' while crossing his arms, and Cyclone removed his hand from my waist with a dejected look.

Gempa sighs again then turns to look at me with a warm look and a gentle smile. He slowly makes his way to me and gently holds my cheek. I felt his warm hand and I subconsciously leaned against it, the exhaustion from my body, making it difficult to show rejection to such warmth.

"Are you okay n/n?"

I almost believed that he was still the boy I fell in love with, but wasn't able to fully sink into that delusion because of the constant reminder of who he really is. Those red eyes and white hair that every single one of them has. The kind, selfless, and warm hero that I fell in love with was gone–at least some of him was. All that's left are the elements that he used to control, free to be their own person. But they were much more twisted than they used to be, no matter how much they try to be who they were before, I could tell that something about them has changed—for the worst.

[guccifrog]

MEDDLE ABOUT P2

band!chris sturniolo X reader

warnings: swearing/ band chris

ᵗʰⁱˢ ⁱˢ ᵐʸ ᵒʳⁱᵍⁱⁿᵃˡ ʷᵒʳᵏ// ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵗᵉᵃˡ ᵒʳ ᶜᵒᵖʸ

˚ ༘ ·˚꒰Meddle about-chase atlantic꒱ ₊˚ˑ

1:35 ━━━●───── 3:47

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

ᵂᵉ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵐᵉᵗ ᵉᵃᶜʰ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ᵈᵃʸ

ᴮᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃˡʳᵉᵃᵈʸ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵐᵉ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵗʸᵖᵉ ᵒᶠ ʷᵃʸ

part1

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y/n's pov

The air was cool, as the first rays of the sun crept over the horizon. The streets were quiet, except for the occasional car that hummed past me, its headlights painting the concrete in shades of amber and gold. I found myself walking back to my apartment, lost in thought.

The walk usually took me no more than thirty minutes, but today it felt like hours. My mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the night over and over again.

I finally reached my apartment building, walking up the steps to the entrance. The doorman, nodded in my direction as I passed by. He'd seen me come home in worse shape before, but he never asked questions. That was just the way it was here.

As I inserted my key into the lock, I heard someone clear their throat behind me. Startled, I whipped around to see who it was. To my surprise, it was the owner of the apartment complex, she was an elderly woman who had been living here since before I was born. She was also the most greedy, selfish, and uncaring person I had ever met.

"Ah, good morning dear," she said with a forced smile. "I hope you don't mind me catching you here. I was wondering if I could have a word with you about your rent. You know, we've been having some trouble with it lately."

I felt my blood boil at her words. Of course, she wanted to talk to me about my rent. She always found a way to bring it up, like it was somehow my fault that she had to charge so much to keep her shit running. "Mrs.Brown," I said, trying to keep my voice calm, "I've already told you, I'm doing the best I can, and things are tight right now. I can't afford any more increases."

Her face twisted into a mask of false concern. "Oh, dear, I know it must be difficult for you. But you see, the maintenance costs have gone up, and I'm afraid I'll have to find another renter to fill the vacancy if you can't keep up with your payments. You understand, don't you?" She gestured behind her as if to hint that there were dozens of people waiting in line to take my place.

I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to throw something at her. "I understand," I bit out through gritted teeth, before turning around to open my apartment door.

"have a good day-" she started, but I cut her off by slamming the door in her face. I stood there for a moment, taking deep breaths as my heart rate slowly returned to normal.

Once I regained my composure, I made my way to my room, collapsing onto my bed. I stared up at the ceiling, feeling defeated and exhausted. My mind was spinning, too much shit was going on, and I didn't know how much more I could take. I closed my eyes, trying to sleep, but the thoughts kept racing through my head.

Sometime later, I heard a soft knock on my door. It was probably Olivia, my roommate. I sighed and rolled over, forcing myself to sit up. "Come in," I called out, not bothering to hide the exhaustion in my voice.

The door opened and Olivia poked her head in. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, her voice concerned. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. She must have seen through my lie because she came in and sat down on the edge of my bed. " I'm sorry about yesterday," she said softly." he called so suddenly, I didn't know what to do…"

I turned to look at her. "It's okay Liv I don't mind really- And oh my god girl, guess who I bumped into today?" I asked her, trying to change the subject. She raised an eyebrow curiously.

"Mrs. Brown, she was here too, she wanted to talk about my rent again," I told her, feeling a little bitter. Olivia let out a sigh and nodded.

"We really need to move out of here, It's not fair that she keeps pressuring us like this," she said as she put her arm around me. "I'm sorry I've been kinda distant lately, I've just been trying to figure things out." I put my arm around her back and gave her a small squeeze. "It's alright, I know you've got your own stuff going on."

I glanced around my room, at all the posters and pictures I had put up on the walls. It was the only place that felt close to home. "I don't know what I'm going to do if I can't stay here," I said softly, more to myself than to her. "I mean, I could try finding another job, but with my schedule…"

Olivia gave my arm a gentle squeeze. "We'll figure something out, you know that. We can start by looking for a new place together. I'm sure there are other apartments out there that are more affordable and less of a nightmare." She leaned back, her head resting on her hand.

"by the way, we're invited to a party this Friday," Olivia said, perking up. I raised my eyebrow at her "We?" I asked.

"Yes, we and I don't want to hear any excuses about not wanting to go out. You need to have some fun, even if it's just for one night. I mean when was the last time you went to a party ?" She asked with a pout.

I couldn't remember the last time I had gone out and just let loose, maybe yesterday at the concert but I don't think that counts. It had been forever. And I needed a distraction from all my problems. "Alright, alright, I'll go," I said with a sigh. "Who's throwing the party?"

"One of my boyfriend's friends. It's at his place, should be fun." Olivia grinned. I groaned, rolling my eyes, but she didn't seem to notice. "Anyway, I have to go get ready for work" With that, she leaned in and kissed my cheek before heading out of the room.

I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling again. The lack of sleep from the past few days was starting to catch up with me. I groaned and closed my eyes, trying to decide if I really wanted to go to this party or not. Olivia was right, I needed a break, but I had too much on my mind.

chris's pov

I was sure I was going insane. She's been on my mind non-stop since we parted ways. Her face, her voice, the way she laughed…it's all carved into my memory.

I want to see her again, but at the same time, I'm intimidated by her. She's out of my league, I know that for a fact.

I couldn't help but wonder what she was doing now. Was she still outside? Did she meet someone else? Or was she already back home, tucked into bed, dreaming of whatever it is that she dreams about? I wish I knew. I wish I could just figure out a way to see her again, to talk to her, and to find out more about her.

Fuck I couldn't stop thinking about her.

"Chris!" Matt, who was driving, snapped his fingers in front of my face." are you even listening to me?" he asked. I blinked a few times, trying to focus on his words. "what are thinking about? You've been spacing out a lot for the past two hours"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I knew I had to tell him eventually, me and Matt never hide anything from each other, it's always been like this. but I wasn't really in the mood to talk about it right now.

"It's nothing, man," I said, forcing a laugh. "I'm just thinking about the girl we met tonight. You know, she was…really cool, and we hit it off pretty well."

Matt arched an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Oh yeah? You're finally getting interested in the ladies again, huh?"

"Matt" I started, but he cut me off quickly " Chris" I sighed.

"Matt please I don't want to talk about this again" I looked out of the window, staring at the passing cars as we drove along the road.

"You have to Chris, you need to leave what happened in the past in the past. You can't just dwell on it forever " Matt said and I turned to look at him confused. " I told you I moved on a long time ago, what are you talking about?" I asked. He sighed, shaking his head.

"Chris you're my brother and I know you better than anyone, but you have to accept the fact that you're not over it yet. You can't keep denying it. You've been acting weird for months now, and I think it's time we face the truth." Matt paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "Look, I get it, she was everything. I mean, who else could make you feel like this after all this time? But you can't keep running away from your feelings. You need to confront them, deal with them, and then move on."

I didn't say anything, just kept staring out the window. I knew he was right, but it was easier said than done. Part of me wanted to accept the truth and face my feelings head-on. But another part of me was terrified of losing control, of being hurt again and failing once more. I didn't know how to handle this, or what to do.

Matt reached over, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sure you'll figure it out with time, just don't rush things, okay?" I nodded, still looking out the window, unable to meet his gaze. I knew he was trying to help me, but sometimes his advice felt more like a burden. It was like he expected me to just magically get over it when in reality, it wasn't that simple.

"Anyways," he continued, changing the subject, which I secretly thanked him for "I was asking earlier if you want to go to Lucas's party this Friday. It's supposed to be a pretty big thing or whatever, and we haven't hung out with him in a while. You in?" I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, sure." It would be a distraction, at least.

The rest of the ride home passed in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. As we pulled into the driveway, I couldn't help but wonder how things would have been different if I had never fucked things up in the first place. Would I be happier? Would my life have taken a different path?

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

lmk what you guys think ♡︎

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[acourtofbooksandshadows]

Not So Routine- Chapter 8

Summary: Unexpected visitors cause your night to go astray. Luckily Mor is there to help anchor you.

Pairings: Eventual!Nessian x Afab!Reader Current!Mor x Afab!Reader

Warnings: Angst, men being disgusting foul little things, blood, weapons, swearing, wounds, passing out, vomit, bones breaking, child abuse from parent and death. Just please tread lightly if you are squeamish or uncomfortable with any of the above topics.

Word count: 3233

Bookshelf Series Bookshelf

It seemed that all the eventful experiences of the day were not in fact over. Because when you got home that night you paused dead in your tracks and stared widely at the forms waiting for you. Out of everyone you’d expected to be at your door it definitely wasn’t Azriel and Rhysand. You stared at them in shock and Rhysand tried to give you his best calming smile while Azriel didn’t even try to look less intimidating. 

“Oh, hello, I wasn’t expecting company today.” They were blocking your door and didn’t seem like they were going to move until your keys rattled. Rhysand stepped aside and Azriel tucked his wings in as you approached, you made quick work of the door before ushering them inside. You groaned as you realized you hadn’t cleaned up your apartment in a couple days. You hadn’t thought you’d need to since Mor was the only one that ever came over and she didn’t mind a bit of clutter. 

“I’m sorry for the mess. I wasn’t-” Your words were cut off by Rhysand. 

“Expecting company.” Nerves were working through you at a fast pace. You had a feeling that this wasn’t a friendly visit. Especially with the way Azriel seemed a little on edge. 

“Is this about Devlon?” You chewed on your lower lip so hard you started to taste blood before releasing it. 

“I’ve been gathering information on him and the males in ironcrest. I’m just wanting to iron out a few details with you.” Azriel’s voice surprised you as you realized this was the first time you’ve heard it. 

“Would either of you like tea or anything?” You stood awkwardly in the doorway to your kitchen that was just next to your front door. They both shook their head and you lead them towards your dining room table. You were thankful for the bench that lined one side of the table as Azriel was able to comfortably sit without his wings being in the way. 

“What would you like to know?” Azriel shot off a list of names in reply and had you confirm or deny their involvement. But you hadn’t known any of their names so that didn’t help at all. 

“We could try something different instead. If you’re comfortable with it of course.” You eyed Rhysand curiously already suspecting you wouldn’t like the words about to leave his mouth. 

“I could look at the memory and we could narrow down who they are that way.” A large wave of nausea took over you at the thought of reliving the experience that had scarred you not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. 

“Does it have to be tonight?” You hadn’t realized you were picking at your nails until you pulled on a especially tender spot and you dropped your hands into your lap. 

“The sooner the better. I’m afraid that if they get wind of me digging around they might flee or try to hide any evidence of their activities.” Azriel’s voice shook you once again. Though from the stories you’ve heard of him you doubted anyone would figure out what he was up to. Unless of course he wanted them too. Rhysand seemed to take pity in the way you shook as he placed a calming hand on your arm from his spot next to you.

“Would you like me to request Mor join us?” You nodded your head quickly at his question, you knew her presence would help you undoubtedly. His eyes glazed over for a moment and after waiting with baited breath he came back. He didn’t even have to tell you what she said as she appeared in the space behind Rhysand. 

“I’m scared.” You whispered to her as she pulled a chair next to yours. She grabbed your hand that was closest to her and intertwined her fingers with yours. 

“I know but I’ll be here the whole time. Then we can go to bed afterwards.” She dragged the smooth skin of her thumb along the smooth skin of the back of your hand soothingly. You nodded your head at her before turning back to Rhysand, who was eyeing you and his cousin curiously. 

“I’m ready.” Somehow your voice came out steady and your hands didn’t shake. But nausea was something you couldn’t push away. This would be the first and the only time you showed it to someone else. 

“Would it be alright for me to share the memory with Azriel and Mor as you share it with me?” You nodded your head at him and began chewing on your lip again. Your eyes fluttered closed and then squeezed tight. Rhysand began to claw at your mind and you let out him enter as a shaky breath left your mouth. Once he found the memory you were whisked into it. 

When you had awoken that morning you groaned in pain. Your stomach and back felt like it was on fire and being stabbed all at once. You sat up with a wince and that’s when you noticed the wet feeling between your legs. You lifted the blanket up and stared at the blood that pooled between your legs. Panic set through you like water breaking through a damn. 

You weren’t exactly sure what was happening to you. But you knew that if your father found out that he’d find some way to punish you. So you got out of your bed and stood on shaky legs. There were chores that you needed to complete before Devlon came home. Even though you felt an ache and a sweat all over your body you couldn’t leave the chores unfinished. 

Your legs barely held you up as you exited your cramped room and made your way to the bathroom. You bunched up a small towel in your underwear to hopefully hold the blood that still steadily poured out of you. The rough feeling of the walls dug into your hand as you caught yourself from falling down the stairs when a particularly sharp jab spiked in your side. Your wings unused twitched open and closed behind you. After two large glasses of water to hold down the nausea and a mug of tea, with a bowl of oatmeal you finally started on your chores. 

Even though your father had a wife she did nothing to help you. Instead she would sit around most of the day and complain. She would complain about anything she could think of. Most of the time though it was you she’d complain about. Then there were some days where she would stay in her room and wouldn’t leave until your father came home. That left all the chores for you. It had become a routine at this point though. Wake up, eat breakfast, make your fathers bed, do the dishes, do the laundry, dust, sweep, mop, take care of the trash and then have dinner on the table by the time he comes home. 

You had just got done making dinner when your father came into the small house. The cramps had lessened as you worked around the house so you were going to bathe and wash the towels you had gone through while he ate dinner. But he called out to you when your foot met the second step of the stairs. You turned around nervously and you saw him take a deep breath. Then there was nothing but fury within his eyes. 

“Your first bleeding. Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Your whole body went on high alert as you looked at him. He was all but shaking with rage. The words wouldn’t leave your throat as fear settled within every nook of your body. 

“Answer me now.” He was baring his teeth at you, wings spreading out and chest puffing up. You shrank into yourself slowly under his gaze.

“It happened this morning, I didn’t know what was wrong. I am sorry.” You took the one step down and knelt before him. Wings sagging behind you and eyes gazing at the floor. You weren’t lying when you told him you had no idea what was happening. You had never been told of a first bleeding before. 

“You’re absolutely useless to me now. Go up to your room until I get you.” You hadn’t been prepared to be sent to your room. You’d normally receive your punishment immediately. It was typically a whipping with his belt or a couple of well placed kicks and punches to your body. 

You felt your breakfast from the morning coming up your throat as you stood and stalked up the stairs. Once you sat on your bed you stared at your wall for what felt like days but was really only a couple of hours. 

The trance you were in was broken as you heard your name being called through the house. You made quick work of going down the stairs and you went to kneel before your father again but he stopped you. The bile that you had finally choked down earlier threatened to come back up as he glared at you. He started walking towards the door and you stood in your place.

“Let’s go.” You hesitated at his words because you had never been allowed outside. From the day you were born all you had was the walls and rooms of your house. 

“I said let’s fucking go.” He stalked over to you and grabbed your hair roughly dragging you behind him. Your wings scraped against the floor as your legs stumbled beneath you to keep up right. The sharp chill of the breeze outside pierced the thin dress you wore and you hissed. You brought your hands up to your arms trying to rub heat into them. The snow seeped into the thin flats on your feet and chilled your toes instantly. 

You looked around and took in the sights of the camp you had only ever gazed upon from the windows in your house. No one was outside and that had you on edge even more than you already were. There was normally a slew of males drinking and rough housing at all hours. But right now it seemed everyone was inside. The wings on your back were twitching in agony at the sharp pricks of cold snapping at them. 

There was no sound to be heard other than your laboring breath and the curses from the male dragging you. The reality of the situation you were in finally set in as he dragged you closer to the trees. He pulled you through the foliage not doing anything to protect you against the lashing of the branches and leaves on your skin. You screamed as you hit a root in the ground and twisted your ankle, a loud crack ringing out through the silent night.

When you entered a clearing you noticed three males standing there. They all had wings but you didn’t recognize them as any of the males you had seen from the windows of your house. They didn’t even flinch at the way you were thrown to the ground before them. Your father spat at you as you cradled the wrist that had tried to catch you from your fall. 

“Do whatever you want to her. I don’t ever want to see her again.” His voice was pure venom as he directed the statement at the males. Before he promptly turned around and left the clearing.

Your eyes were wide and you pleaded with the males in front of you but they only laughed before one of them went to snatch you up. But you backed away from them as best you could with your injured leg and arm. That earned you a punch that went straight to your nose and cracked the bone efficiently. Blood sprayed out across your face and the ground and your head spun at the pain. 

You didn’t see the other one come up behind you. An arm wrapped around your neck and you clawed at the material of the shirt while you fought for your oxygen. He only squeezed harder even as your nails finally shredded his shirt and made contact with his skin. He brought you up and the tips of your now bare feet grazed the snow covered ground. Your vision blurred and you tried to let out a final plea but you couldn’t get a word out. The ache in your chest ebbed into a buzz throughout your body as your lungs continued to struggle. The last thing you heard before you passed out was the one that hadn’t approached you yet saying how much fun he was going to have with you. 

When you woke up, you gagged at the taste of blood in your mouth. You tried to open your eyes but they didn’t want to cooperate. It took you several more tries before they finally cracked open. You realized through the slits in your eyes that they were swollen. The dark room around you didn’t give you any clues as to where you were. But the laughing beyond the door gave you an idea. 

A loud scream ripped through your throat as you tried to stand. You looked down at your ankles and realized they were both shackled and the right one was swollen, bruised and had an odd angle to it. You tried to bring a hand down to your swollen ankle but noticed that they were also shackled and that your left wrist was in just about as poor condition as your ankle was. Your scream seemed to have garnered the attention of the Illyrians because the door was slamming open and light was flooding in. 

“Oh good, the bitch is awake.” You didn’t know where the voice was coming from as you squeezed your eyes shut. The light entering the room caused a sharp pain to throb through your head. 

“Now for that fun I talked about earlier.” You assumed he had a set of keys in his hand as you heard the sound of metal clanging together. Your suspicions were confirmed as you felt the shackles being unlocked from the floor. Two of them grabbed you under your armpits and started to drag you out to where they came from. You cracked your eyes open despite the light and tried to ignore the way the shackles pulled on your mangled wrist and ankle. 

The large table in the center of the room and the weapons lining the walls had you getting sick. The vomit mixed with the blood in your mouth and on your face and clothes as it came out of you. You heard one of the males next to you curse before a sharp pain radiated through your side. You glanced down and noticed there was a knife sticking out of your side. 

“Let’s get this done with. She’s fucking disgusting.” You figured you were even though you couldn’t see yourself. You knew there was blood and now vomit covering your face and clothes. You could feel blood pooling between your legs and down them. Your skin had tiny cuts and dirt and what not from being dragged through the forest and you were bruised in various places. 

“Get her on the table.” You tried once again to pull away from them but they only gripped you harder and the male that stabbed you twisted the knife. They picked you up and laid you face down on the table. Your nose smacked against the rough surface and you were sure they had broken it again. 

“What are you going to do?” Your question fell on deaf ears as they locked you down by your shackles and moved around the room. They all seemed perfectly in sync as they skirted around each other and handed each other different objects.

“Hold the half breed down. I’m gonna get started on the first one.” Your wings twitched at the words. Like they knew what was happening before you did. Pain shot through you with a vengeance as the first deep cut was made to your wing. You tried to push away the pain and fight but with the second deep cut you were succumbing to the black spots in your already hazy vision. 

The next time you opened your eyes you were numb. Every last part of you no longer feeling. You couldn’t feel the nasty cuts in your back were now laying bare on the dirty ground below you from where your wings were cut off. You couldn’t feel the snow seeping into your skin, the broken bones from earlier weren’t even a thought either as you stared up at the sun above you. A slow and cynical laugh left your lips as you realized this was the first time you had ever felt the sun on your skin. Because you couldn’t even feel the heat from it. 

A sound rang out somewhere near you but you couldn’t make it out as your ears rang. You hadn’t even noticed the blood that now poured down the sides of your neck and mixed in with your hair. Your eyes were still slits from the swelling when someone came and blocked the sun from your view. You blinked once and then twice, slowly as you tried to make out who was there. 

You watched their mouth move but couldn’t make out what they were saying. They came toward you and you couldn’t find it within you to fight them. Even when their wings finally came into view from where they stood tall and proud behind them. They knelt down beside you and hauled you into their arms. You didn’t feel any pain as they jostled you to adjust you better trying to avoid hitting the knife still lodged in your side. 

As you finally took in their face you realized it was a gorgeous female. You had never seen anyone as pretty as her, you decided. A small smile grazed your lips and you hoped this angel of death understood you were grateful for them before your eyes fluttered closed and you slipped into the darkness that had been fighting to consume you. 

A sob left your lips as you came back to your kitchen table. The males around the table looked at you in surprise and you shrunk into yourself but Mor was quick in standing up and gathering you into her arms, your legs wrapping around her middle. She smoothed a hand over your hair and laid a kiss on your forehead before whispering to her cousin and Azriel. You couldn’t understand what she was saying as your head was buried into her neck. 

She carried you to your room and laid you on your bed. You didn’t hear a door close but you felt a ripple of power through your apartment and figured that Rhysand must’ve winnowed away as Azriel slipped through his shadows. Mor carefully got you out of your day clothes and slipped you into a pair of sleep pants and a sleep shirt. She laid beside you once she was in similar attire and let you curl into her. She ran a hand up and down your back until you fell asleep with tear tracks down your face. Before you slipped into slumber you had uttered a sentence that rattled her bones. 

“I want the killing blows.”

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed getting insight into readers past. There will be more Nesta and Cassian in the next part. Thank you all for reading and as always likes, comments, reblogs and follows are much appreciated.

Tags(open): @kmc1989 @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @luvmoo @wolfsbane44 @acourtofinkandpapyrus @moonlwghts @maddietheshoe @hyemishii @fanboyluvr @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @pinksmellslikelove @waytoomanyteenagefeels @littlebbb @cat-or-kitten @brandywineeeee

[alltheworldsinmyhead]

the hungering hearts

circle IV: heresy

It’s an addictive thing. Not the blood, not the sex. But to be trusted so deeply.

kanej vampire au/ read on ao3

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People on the corridors and stairs of the Slat exchange knowing looks above Inej’s head when she passes them and think she cannot see it. They are inherently wrong about that; they are also wrong in thinking she cares about their opinions in the first place.

All these dirty thugs and petty thieves holding themselves above her because she used to earn her wages on her back. It’s pathetic, really. It’s even more pathetic that they consider her a whore still, just something to warm their bosses’ bed, a canary he keeps for his amusement.

And what about her amusement?

She opens the door to the office that used to be Per Haskell’s without knocking and closes it firmly behind herself, thinking, with a surge of sweet satisfaction, that she’s the only one who can get away with it.

Kaz, seated on a low chair in front of an easel, spares her a glance and a half-smile, before turning back to the painting in front of him. He has a brush in his hand, its bristles thin like a strand of hair. His gloves are nearly laid out on the desk.

And he shrugged off his jacket, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. For Kaz, it’s a close thing to being naked.

She leans against the wall, watching him work for a moment. The afternoon light, weak enough that it doesn’t hurt him, falls inside the room through the window and basks him in pale yellow. His hair, overdue for a cut, gets into his eyes now and then and he brushes it off with his wrist; a distracting gesture, drawing her attention to wry muscles flexing in his forearm, to the graceful line of his shoulders. And it’s a spectacle in itself, his face; the way concentration carves the furrow of his brow, the lines in his forehead, the tight-pressed curl of his lips. His eyes are the color of the Suli tea, spiced with nutmeg and cloves, served with honey. In between each movement, he is so still that it tugs on something animalistic within her brain, a long-forgotten instinct to flee or fight. She swallows it down with an ease.

He could’ve been a painting himself. Just something to watch and admire.

But, she thinks, her eyes set on his thighs, his chest, the line of his neck, I’m not here for window shopping.

He adds some more greens to the dress of a woman on a portrait and she asks:

“Why are you doing it? Wylan’s busy?”

The lines on Kaz’s forehead get deeper.

“He’s too good to slum in with us now, I’m afraid. Our little merchling has grown up.”

Now, a splash of white, just a bit of it.

“Just admit you didn’t even ask him,” she says, crossing the room on soft feet. “You are allowed to enjoy painting, Kaz. You don’t have to find justifications to do it.”

She stands right behind him now, carefully wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. He smells like he always does; like ink, and soap, and metal.

The painting is a pretty perfect copy of The Portrait of Cecelia De Groot, painted by a Ketterdam-born Jan Van Rijk some hundred years ago. The original hangs in the portrait gallery of Councilman Lievens, but Inej suspects it won’t hang there for too long. Art thefts are Kaz’s favorite hobby, and she has to call them a hobby because she knows for a fact that they take more work than they are worth and that the paintings themselves are hard to liquidate. Usually, he has a buyer for the lifted originals, but sometimes he just keeps them under his bed, like a dragon’s hoard. Shows them to her, talks about the lights and shadows, and the technique, and she listens, her heart softening at the rare enthusiasm in his voice.

“It’s for a job,” Kaz said, predictably, adding some more white to the lace collar around the woman’s neck. Inej scoffs.

“As I said,” she tilts her head and leans down, just a bit more, to press a kiss behind his ear. “You are allowed to enjoy things.”

She hears his soft exhale. His hand, with a brush between his fingers, falls on his knee.

“I see,” he sounds stoic enough but she can hear a hint of quiet amusement in his voice. “Is that why you’re here, Inej? Looking for some enjoyment?”

“Maybe.”

*******read more on ao3********

[blueberrypancakesworld]

It's not your fault

warning : big hurt, big angst, tiny comfort, use of Y/n, mentioned character death

Summary : There's a knock on your window in the middle of the night. What should be a quiet night in your mind is a pure tragedy for your boyfriends. They are hiding something from you, something you must painfully experience yourself. The acceptance of the cruel reality.

Poly! Lost Boys x fem reader

masterlist

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The sun was still so incredibly bright during the day. But it was the night that seemed all the darker. The night seemed to use all its power and plunge everything into darkness. It seemed so infinitely stronger.

It was the first moment when the moon rose, the shadows lengthened and everything went to sleep, when the young woman was already asleep. The day had been exhausting because the two frog brothers had not shown up at the shop and she had to somehow manage the shift alone.

She had long since sunk into her sleep, into her humanity of tiredness. She was almost oblivious to her surroundings. Almost. But something reached her ear, a sound that rang out again. Her mind had not yet understood what was happening, she turned slightly and pulled the blanket closer to her.

Thought it was a dream, perhaps? Before the noise sounded again. Louder, faster, more urgent. ,,Y/n!" someone called her name and she mumbled something. She thought it was her mother telling her she had overslept. But the voice was too dark for that, it was a male voice. It couldn't be her mother.

Something was not right. Tiredly opening her eyes, she pushed the blanket aside and took a few seconds to orient herself. She felt the goose bumps on her body from her top and short sleeping pants. She looked around.

Darkness. She fumbled at her bedside table for her lamp and stood up. Her room was needily lit and yet she saw what she needed to see. Saw what it was that made the noise. ,,What are you doing here?" she asked tiredly and confusedly as she went to her window and opened the latch so David, Dwayne and Paul could fly in.

The cool night air flew lightly into the room, dancing with her curtains and even knocking a couple of loose sheets off her desk, but none of them picked it up. None of the three hugged or greeted her.

None of the three smiled. She wanted to go over to Paul who had stayed as close as possible to the window. It's like he wants to disappear again right away, she thought, feeling the heavy mood she could just sense.

She reached out for his hand but he pulled his away. As if he was afraid she might hurt him. Although it should have been the other way round. ,,Paul?" she asked and sought his gaze, but he only looked out into the night. ,,What's going on? Where is Marko?" she asked after looking out of the window to see where the little blond had gone.

However, she expected him to be kissing her neck and pulling her close to him any second. But too much time seemed to have passed for that. ,,He's...not coming," she heard Dwayne say, his eyes fixed on the ground and his arms crossed. She saw how tense he was.

Saw how his fingers had formed claws and were almost threatening to cut through the leather of his jacket. ,,Oh...is he hunting?" she dared to ask, even though something told her that the more she probed, the less she would get. ,,Y/n I...no we all need some of your blood," said David who seemed the most normal so far. But even though there was a small smile on his lips. His blue eyes were full of sadness. He seemed to have suffered.

Astonishment was in her face not only that the vampires wanted something from her so early was rather strange. She was also a little worried that there were only three of them. Then there was the chill. They were hiding something from her. But still she nodded and agreed and sat down on her bed.

Not least because she had seen David stroking his hand from time to time and saw the burn. The sun had got him. She stretched her arm out slightly and tied her hair into a braid to clear her neck. ,,Please" she murmured and waited for the three to help themselves. Normally it was an intimate moment between the five of them.

A moment that would be introduced with kisses, sweet words and endearments. A moment of love between them. But now? Now it seemed a tragedy. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the last times, the beautiful, sensual loving moments between them. It helped to suppress the pain of the bite a little.

But she wouldn't have done all this voluntarily if she didn't love them all with all her heart. But Marko was not there again. Not even when she felt something dripping on her thigh, something wetting her arm and something running down her neck. ,,What?" she murmured softly and opened her eyes as she looked at the three of them.

It made her heart stop for a moment, her insides scramble and her pulse quicken out of fear. To quicken out of pain in not knowing what had happened. The three were in their vampire form but what dripped on her was not her own blood. It was tears. Bloody tears.

The three cried silent tears. ,,That-that's not possible," she murmured, her eyes darting back and forth over the three. Looking for confirmation that she was imagining things. That her suspicions were wrong.

That it was just a joke. That Marko would still join them. A bad nightmare that wasn't true. She saw her vision blur as tears came to her eyes. As her heart contracted and she winced slightly from the pain.

She wanted to scream, cry, sob. Do something but she seemed paralysed. He was gone. He would not rise again. They had lost him. Her slightly trembling fingers clung lightly to David and Dwayne as if she was afraid she would topple over any second.

Unable to cope with the truth. ,,He can't be de-" she opened her lips but only a silent scream escaped her as the three of them suddenly sank into her house and drank her blood at the same time. They did not allow her to speak the truth. Not to say that Marko was dead.

But with the biting of the three, her tears flowed down her cheeks and fell onto her top. Her weeping and sobbing was stifled by the sound of the three. She wanted to tear herself away, to curl up and hide, to shake off this unbearable thought. But the vampires wouldn't let her. It never hurt so much.

In the bites and the bloodsucking was rage and haas driven by grief. They blame themselves it went through her head and she felt it hit her. She knew, as obvious as it was, that there was nothing she could have done. She didn't know what had killed the blonde but her blood wouldn't have been enough. She would have died.

Something that hurt even more. But as soon as the realisation hit her, she felt a slight tingling in her body and black spots slowly began to appear on her vision. They were going to suck her into unconsciousness.

They wanted to avenge Marko. ,,Stop...it," she said, but her voice sounded weak, muffled and too far away. She tried to free herself from their grasp, but it was no use. They only seemed to bite harder. Just wanting to have more power. More of the love that was still inside her before it was destroyed like the three.

Before a wave of dizziness went through her body and for a moment she threatened to topple over. They had sucked her blood too much. Only then did she feel David murmur something and the three of them disengage from her and lay gently on the bed.

She closed her eyes for a moment, barely feeling her limbs and everything seemed so infinitely far away from her. ,,Thank you," she heard Dwayne's voice gently wipe away a tear and try to calm her. To take away the fear she felt. Her hand searched for one of the three.

But they had all long since risen from the bed and were heading for the window. ,,Please...don't go" she pleaded, afraid she would never see any of them again. That all they had was no longer. That their love would be torn from her. She did not hear the brief murmur of the three of them discussing something.

She didn't hear how Paul and Dwayne had already flown out. She felt David lift her slightly and place her gently under the covers. His light smell of smoke surrounded her. Bringing her back to sleep.

She saw his eyes, felt the tingling sensation in her head, knew what it meant. ,,Don't please," she mumbled as her vision slowly began to blur. As her weak mind was broken by the grief of hypnosis and the image of David carrying her. ,,It's not your fault," was the last thing she said before David left the room and the window closed. How she robbed him of the sleep she did not want.

But once surrounded by darkness she saw him again. Marko. For the moment, her grief would be sated. Until she would wake up and face reality. Losing all her love in one night.

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[yellowcry]

This ride goes where?

Unplanned chapter 2. Set in Pedro ruins lives by @miracles-and-butterflies

TW: Abuse, Major character death

Mirabel didn't remember a lot. There was pain and then followed the blackness of unconsciousness, washing her all over. Only rarely, a scream would pierce through the quiet air. Low heartbreaking cry. Was someone hurt? What was happening? The voice sounded almost like Luisa... A fear rose in Mirabel's chest, she tried to listen to the sound.

Luisa needed help! Even if they weren't really close, Luisa was distant as long as Mirabel could remember herself, Mirabel loved her with all her heart. Her body was too weak, the screams were fading away. Disintegrating and returning against. But slowly they were getting quieter.

Finally, her eyes burst open. Mirabel Jumped on her feet, looking in the direction from where the painful sounds were coming from. Her eyes locked on Luisa, who was weeping on the parquet floor, looking down. Her body winced as Abuelo hit her. With some sheer luck, Mirabel didn't feel dizzy looking at Luisa's arms. But she didn't have time to think about it. She ran to Abuelo at a speed way faster than her legs could make and gripped onto his waist

Her arms passed right through him. Mirabel gasped in confusion, looking down at herself. Was she just a bit paler now?

A bigger hand had lied on her shoulder. The young girl looked behind and gasped in surprise. "Isabela?" Only a few seconds later, as she examined the facial traits and hair, put into two neat braids she let out another shocked whisper. "A... Abuela?"

The woman nodded with sadness in her eyes. Mirabel stared at the place on the floor where she-her body lay, peaceful and unbothered. Blood still was dripping down from the cut on her neck, dirtying a white blouse.

Mirabel felt her guts twitching. What was going on? Why weren't they happy? Her gift had no use, it was just a burden for everyone. In the same sense, she could be giftless.

Abuela wrapped her arms around Mirabel, pulling her closer in a hug. The young girl stared visibly nowhere with wide-open eyes. The shock towered over her.

"This is all your fault!" Mirabel's metamorphical breathing froze, she pulled her head away from Abuela's chest. Was he... Of course... It was about her death. Luisa looked to the side with watery eyes, ashamed.

Mirabel broke out of Abuela's hands. "It's not!" Her cries fell on dead ears. "It's not because of Luisa, I promise!" Abuelo couldn't hear her. Luisa couldn't hear her. "It..."

Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't mean to hurt Luisa! She didn't think Abuelo would beat her. Now Luisa was suffering and it all was because of her.

Abuela sighed, standing behind her. "This isn't your fault,"

Mirabel stared to the ground. "Can I go back in time?" She knew that she couldn't but she wished it so much. "I didn't mean for Abuelo to hurt Luisa over my death."

She didn't think Abuelo would be upset. He had always said that Mirabel and her gift were just a waste of space. She had no use, nobody should react like this. But, now Luisa was crying in pain, her wrists twitched, pressed against the ropes.

Abuela looked at the wall, where an old photo stood in a cabinet. "Join the club." She chuckled, but her voice was anything but happy.

Mirabel walked to Luisa, passing Abuelo. Her heart ached in terror. Now, looking closer, Mirabel could make out an evident rope burns Red and painful, multiply of them. This couldn't happen in one go .. And some of the bruises looked old too...

A horrified breath left her mouth. "I am afraid of asking if this is the first time." A little, childish part of her wanted to hope that it was the first time, that Abuelo had never hurt Luisa before.

"No, far from it." Abuela shook her head, her gaze shifted to the floor. Mirabel knew her heart was about to break in half. Why didn't she notice it? If only she tried to spend time with Luisa, maybe she would have noticed that something was wrong. If Mirabel wasn't that selfish, maybe she could help Luisa.

Instinctively, she clung onto her big sister, her arms pressed against each other, making her fall in surprise. Luisa didn't even blink.

Mirabel would do anything, she wanted to fall on her knees and beg Luisa for forgiveness. But her sister wasn't able to hear it, knowing that Mirabel was still here, right in front of her. How could she tell Abuelo that her sister was guilty of nothing? How many times has it happened already? The fact itself made Mirabel sick.

The ropes clicked, finally freeing Luisa. She rolled over to the floor. blinking away the tears. For a few moments, she hugged her injured arms, then stared at the blood that covered her trembling fingers. Fresh drops of Luisa's red filling dripped onto the floor as she rushed to the corpse in front of her.

"It's okay... I got you..." Luisa whispered, holding back her sobbing. "We'll get you to hospital and..." She squeezed Mirabel's wrist. And in a split second her face widened, eyes rounded in terror. "Mirabe?" She gasped, trying to feel the pulse that wasn't there. Her face went paler than death, breathing was almost non-existent. The realization crawled onto Luisa into a heavy and extremely painful progression.

She was so upset... She shouldn't be, but she was.

Luisa just sat on her knees with a breathless body in her arms. Tears started to sink down again, her lips moved in a wordless whisper.

Mirabel stood behind her, wishing to return to her body, be alive. "How can I hug Luisa if I'm dead?" She wanted to cling to her sister and never let her go. Make sure that nobody would dare to hurt her ever again.

"You can't," Abuela admitted, mortified by her own words. "Same way I can't hit Pedro."

It was unfair. Mirabel was a bad, useless excuse of a granddaughter, but Luisa deserved nothing on this She kneeled down, wrapping her arm around Luisa, watching not to get inside her body. Her other hand lay on Luisa's injured bicep. In an objective way, Luisa couldn't feel it. Still, Mirabel hoped that there was at least some way to comfort her hermana.

[ariel-seagull-wings]

THE SNAKE WHO WAS A PRINCESS

@tamisdava2 @adarkrainbow @themousefromfantasyland @the-blue-fairie @princesssarisa @faintingheroine @softlytowardthesun @grimoireoffolkloreandfairytales @professorlehnsherr-almashy

(Brazilian Folktale)

In ancient times there was a Kingdom that was not happy because its Queen had never had a child. The King was sad seeing the day when he got old, died and couldn't leave a person of his blood on the throne. The people made promises, the queen prayed, and the much-desired heir never appeared. 

One day, at the sound of the Hail Marys, the Queen lost her patience and said something she shouldn't have said: 

“God my Lord!”

She said: 

“Grant that I have a child, even if it's a snake!” 

After a while it seemed that the Queen was actually going to have a child. The King ordered the news to be celebrated with parties that didn't stop. Night and day the people danced and sang in front of the palace. 

No one paid any more taxes, the King walked around with his teeth bared in contentment, satisfied, treating his slaves with kindness. 

And it was like that until one stormy day, with thunder and lightning cutting through the clouds, the queen gave birth to a girl, very beautiful, with blue eyes, blonde hair, a beauty. But the girl had been born with a snake wrapped around her neck. 

Everyone in the King's house was disgusted. When the Queen looked at her daughter, she burst into tears. And no one wanted to go near the crib for fear of the snake. Doctors from other kingdoms came, doctors, prayers, diviners, and the more they did to remove the snake from the little princess's neck, the more the snake stuck to the beautiful girl. 

And the years went by. And the years went by. And the princess created a sisterly affection for the little snake, which was green and had a head with human eyes. For whole hours the princess would spend playing with the snake by the sea. 

And when the snake saw the waves of the sea, it liked to get out of the princess's neck and walk happily through the waves. She was so far from land that her friend didn't even see where she was going. 

And that's why she started to cry, afraid that the little snake wouldn't come back. She cried so much that the snake returned to the girl's neck, curled up, joined her friend, and the two returned together to the king's palace, where no one knew about these games on the beach. But one day, the snake entered the sea, going further than the other times. The princess cried, cried a lot, until she came back to say: 

“My rich princess, my day has come, I'm going far away, far away, to a land that is a thousand leagues lower than the bottom of the sea. You will be alone, my sister, but  I will not abandon you, I will help you whenever necessary. My name is Labismínia. Scream for Labismínia, and you can rest assured, I will come to your aid.” 

And having said this, the little snake ran into the sea. The princess stood on the edge of the beach crying. So many tears flowed from her eyes, like a stream of streams. Then she fell silent. Labisminia, her sister, was gone. And she was alone in the world, alone. 

At home, when Princess Maria arrived, without the snake around her neck, there was a commotion. The king danced with joy, immediately ordered a great party to be prepared, and called the kings of the other kingdoms. 

The people ate cake, they killed oxen and sheep for the people. And the slaves worked without shackles on their arms and feet. But Princess Maria was sad. It didn't even seem like it was all for her.

Every morning, when the sun rose, she went to the seaside to see if Labisminia appeared. And the sun arrived from far, far away and brought no news of Labismínia. In the afternoon, the princess returned to the beach where she played so much with her friend. She wanted to see if the moon said anything. 

The moon could tell if she had seen Labisminia, if she had passed through her sister's land. The moon was floating so much above the waters of the sea! 

But nothing. Neither the moon nor the sun gave news of Labisminia, which was in a land that was a thousand leagues further away than the bottom of the sea. Then the princess cried. 

Would God grant that she would go to the land that was a thousand leagues below the bottom of the sea…

Oh! If she could descend like a fish, escape the world and meet Labisminia again! Her neck was already used to the snake. And it went on like this, until one day the whole kingdom became sad. 

The King ordered the slaves to be shackled again, the king forced the people of his kingdom to pray. The Queen had started to get sick. There was no doctor who knew what it was. 

Doctors came from all corners of the earth, sorcerers from all corners of the world. And when the Queen felt she was going to die, she called the King and, in front of the entire court, said to her husband: 

“When you have to get married again, she said, taking a ring off her finger, it can only be with the princess on whose finger fits this ring that I give you.” 

The king cried a lot, but after so much crying, he began to think about his marriage. 

And for this he sent messengers to all sides of the earth. First for the princesses of Castille. And the ring didn't fit on anyone's finger. Then, to the daughters of the French peers. Anything. 

The king then sent to speak to the sovereign of England. And no princess appeared for the king's ring. In the Austrian court it was the same thing. 

And so it took a long time. The King was already convinced that he would no longer find a girl to marry, when he remembered his daughter, the Princess, who was the greatest beauty in the world. 

Who knows, he thought, if that snake around Maria's neck might not be a sign from God for him to marry his own daughter? 

And thinking so, he sent for the Princess. And the ring fit on his daughter's finger, as if it had been made for her.

When the princess learned of her father's intentions, she ran to the edge of the beach and began to cry loudly, crying so much, shedding tears like the eyes of water from a mountain range. 

“Labismínia, Labismínia!”

She shouted:

“Come and help me!” And when she saw it, it was a noise that came from the bottom of the sea. A big wave hit her feet, and the little green snake, with human eyes, appeared in front of her, magically, saying to her: 

“Why is the beautiful princess crying, my sister?”

Maria told her whole story. She was the most unfortunate girl of all the girls in the land, as she would have to marry her own father. 

“There's nothing, my sister.” 

Labismínia told her. 

“I will save you from everything. Ask the king that for you to marry him he needs to give you a dress the color of the field with all its flowers.” 

Then the sea made another fearful noise and a wave carried Labisminia into the depths.

Princess Maria returned home comforted and told her father what she wanted. The king was surprised by his daughter's request, but he was not disappointed. Messengers, servants, slaves went out into the world looking for the dress. The princess, in the palace, was already resting, when her father appeared with the requested dress, which was the color of the field with all its little flowers. 

“I give you the dress of your desires. It cost me more than the Kingdom I won in the battle with the Moors.”

The princess looked at the dress, which was a beauty like she had never seen. But as soon as she thought about the wedding, she started crying again. And with that agony in her heart she ran to the beach shouting for the snake: 

“Labismínia! Labismínia! Come save me!”

Then the sea gave a groan, and a wave brought the little green snake with human eyes to the princess's feet. 

“Labismínia, the King my father sent people through the hollow of the world looking for the dress that was the color of the field with all its little flowers. It's beautiful, Labismínia, but I don't want to marry my father.”

“There 's nothing.”

 Said the little snake:

“There 's nothing. Ask him for another dress, a dress the color of the sea with all the fish.”

Princess Maria consoled herself again. And a big wave, all white foam, took Labismínia to the bottom of the sea.

The King, when he found out about the princess's new request, put his hands on his head. Where to find a dress like that? But he had to marry his daughter. 

And he sent his messengers out into the world again. 

One day the sea-colored dress arrived with all its fish, and he gave the dress to his daughter. The princess found it a beauty, much more beautiful than the other. She dressed up with him, looked at herself in the palace mirrors, but when she remembered that she had to marry her father, she found herself crying. And she went to the beach after Labisminia. And the little snake didn't take long to arrive to console her sister. 

“There's nothing, my sister Maria. There's no need to cry so much, Labismínia has to find a way. Go back and ask your father for a dress the color of the sky with all the stars. There's no need to cry, my dear sister.” 

And she reassured so many good things that the princess returned home happy with her life. She immediately went to talk to her father. She wanted a dress the color of the sky with all the stars. The king gave in to despair. Where to find a dress like that? So he called his vassals, called his treasurer, opened his chests and said: 

“Damn you for the world. Bring me this dress, even if it costs all the gold I won in the war with the Turks.”

​

And the messengers went out into the world. The princess, happy, sang. She went out through the garden, walking among the rose bushes, which smelled so much as if each one were a bottle of scent. 

And the birds in the trees sang. Many came to play at the feet of the princess, who was the happiest creature in this world. Princess Maria played with the birds, happy, content, in the trust she had in her sister Labismínia. 

And times went by. 

But one day the King arrived in her chamber. 

Behind him came a hundred slaves who carried in their hands the dress she had asked for from her father. 

The stars in the sky on the blue silk sparkled as if it were made of diamonds. The train of her dress went so far that she couldn't even see the end.  

“My daughter…”

 The King said to her.

“I bring you the greatest wealth of all the kingdoms on earth. For this dress I gave all the gold and all the stones that I brought from the wars with the Turks. Now, my daughter, let's set our wedding day.” 

The princess didn't even wait for her father to leave her room. He soon fell to the ground, crying. She had been deceived by Labismínia! And at the edge of the beach she went to call for her companion, screaming in pain. Tears flowed from her eyes like water from a casagrande toe.  

“Labismínia, Labismínia, where is my heart’s little snake?” 

A noise was heard coming from the bottom of the sea. And the green snake with human eyes approached the crying princess. Maria told him everything. It was okay, said the little snake. 

“Go home, pack your bags, with all the dresses your father gave you, and go back to the seaside. Here where I am, you will find a ship that will take you to a beautiful kingdom, far away from this world where you have suffered so much, my little sister of the heart. But look carefully: when you're on the happiest day of your life, scream for me three times, so that I can become disenchanted and become the princess I am again.”

No sooner said than done. Princess Maria fled with her dresses on the ship that Labismínia had sent for her. 

The King had gone out on a hunt. 

And the princess filled the ship with her suitcases. And she was gone into the unknown realm. 

Once there, she did everything as Labismínia had told her. 

She jumped ashore, and when she noticed, she no longer saw the ship, nor did she see the suitcases with her dresses anymore. She was changed into a servant, a poor girl, the poorest girl on earth. 

And arriving in the unknown kingdom, she went to ask the Queen for a job, who, seeing her so poor, ordered her to take care of the chicken coop.

Maria slept among the chickens, dirty as she had never seen one of her father's slaves. 

At night she cried, seeing that Labismínia had lied to her. 

Poor her, she was the poorest girl in the world! 

Even so, Princess Maria still gave thanks to God. Better to sleep with the chickens than marry her father. 

Where was the prince that Labismínia had promised her? After a while, they started talking in the kingdom about a very big party that they were going to give in the city near the castle. 

And on the day of the spoken party, in the early evening, Maria began to notice the carriages that passed, clinking along the road. So, after wrapping up the chickens, she thought about life. She was the poorest girl in this world of God. 

Everyone went to the castle party, the poor and the rich, and she alone stayed there, smelling the dirt from the king's chickens. 

But all this was better than marrying her father. 

She had this thought in her head when she heard a voice coming from far away:

“Take your carriage, Maria, and go to the party.”

Suddenly, she saw herself in her dress the color of the fields with all its little flowers. A carriage with a silver harness, with six black horses, was waiting for her. And that's how Princess Maria went to the most talked about ball in the city. When she entered the hall, she admired everyone. They had never seen a richer and more beautiful princess. Her dress filled everything with beauty. It was as if the most beautiful field on earth had entered the room, with all its perfumes, with all its colors. 

The King and Queen immediately wanted to meet that Princess of such distinction. And the one who noticed Maria most was the king's son, a very handsome Prince, with black eyes. But the Princess didn't stay until the end of the party. When the roosters began to crow, she returned in her carriage to her corner in the castle. The other day, it was what everyone was talking about, in the king's palace. 

What kingdom could that Princess be from, with such beautiful clothes, with such blond hair, with such blue eyes? 

The Prince only talked about her with his mother. I didn't want to know anything else there, other than that girl in the dress that was the color of the field with all its little flowers. 

The next night there was another dance in town. 

Along the way to the city, Maria saw people passing by in carriages. 

Very sad, she was seeing so many happy people, so many loved girls, and she was there among the chickens, so poor and so alone. 

Despite this, everything seemed better than marrying her father. Soon she heard a very familiar voice: 

“Maria, Maria, take your carriage and go to the party.” 

Waiting for her was a beautiful carriage with golden harnesses and two pampas horses. 

And with her dress the color of the sea with all the fish, the unknown princess entered the room, amazing. 

The people's astonishment was even greater than the other night. 

Where had that girl gone to get such a beautiful dress? 

The Queen's dress, next to Maria's, looked like a poor man's outfit. 

And wherever Maria passed, there was a wave of smell. Her golden hair, her blue eyes, were unnatural, they were so beautiful. 

The Prince didn't take his eyes off her. 

There was a buzz around the room. Where did that girl come from?

And the coachmen at the palace door stared open-mouthed at the carriage. 

With its golden harness, all made of glass, Maria's carriage far left the king's cabriole, which looked like a poor man's car next to hers. 

The huge horses had never been seen so big in that area. And the coachman dressed like a court grandee. 

That was wealth. And when the roosters crowed, the princess retired to her room, where she went to sleep among the filth of her chickens. 

The other day, at court, all the talk was about the beautiful princess. 

The Prince did not sit still. 

Spies were already on every corner of the road to see where the most beautiful Princess who had ever crossed the royal roads was coming from and passing by. 

In her corner, Maria didn't even show a sign of pride. 

Mixed with her chickens, she was dirty like the poorest girl in the world and still giving thanks to God. 

Better all that than marrying her father. 

And in the afternoon, when she was taking her chickens to the pigsty, she saw the black-eyed prince standing on the road.

“Where did you come from, chicken farmer?” 

He said looking at the girl's face. 

“Yesterday I saw a princess at the city party who looked just like you!” 

Trembling with fear, Maria replied: 

“Who am I, your Highness, to look like the most beautiful princess at your party?” But the Prince left bowing his head. 

That day was the last night of the party. 

Maria, sitting at the door of her room, looked at the moon coming out of the sky, very round, covering everything with silver. 

A wind came from afar and blew the Princess's enchanting hair. 

Along the road, carriages rushed to the ball. 

Then she heard Labismínia's soft voice: 

“Maria, take your carriage and go to the party.”

A carriage with diamond harnesses, with six white horses, waited for the most beautiful princess in the land. When Maria gave faith, she was wearing her dress that was the color of the sky with all the stars. 

In the large ballroom, everyone stopped to look at her. The dancing stopped, the music stopped. 

The Princess entered and all you could see were people admiring the beauty she brought. 

The Prince was so filled with love that he ran to the princess and fell at her feet, kissing her dress, with tears in his black eyes.

“My beautiful Princess, keep this token with you …” 

He said. 

And he gave Maria a beautiful jewel. Just as the roosters crowed, the princess returned to her room. And the Prince, with so much love for her, fell ill in bed. Nothing existed for him, he didn't eat, he didn't sleep, heaving sighs for the princess who had left. 

The Queen called all the doctors in the kingdom to see her son in that state. But no one knew what he had. Poor thing, he didn't even want to drink a cup of broth. From no one's hand did he accept food or drink. 

The poor mother asked others to see if her son received from anyone what she did not want to receive from her hands. But the Prince refused. 

He wanted to die, telling everyone that only the beautiful Princess at the party existed for him. 

The Queen called, one by one, all the women in her court. 

She called the princesses, she called the wives and daughters of her vassals, and the prince didn't want to look at any of them. 

That's when they remembered the girl from the chicken coop. 

Maria was called to the palace. 

The Queen immediately ordered her to take a broth to the Prince's room, which he didn't want to take from anyone's hands. 

“My rich lady, who am I to deserve so much honor from Your Majesty? All I can do is prepare a broth.” 

The Queen accepted, she was so distressed. Maria prepared the broth and put the jewel that the prince had given her at the party into the cup. 

And when the prince put the spoon in the cup and saw the jewel, he got up from the bed, shouting to his mother: 

“Mother, I'm fine. Order the creature that prepared the broth to be brought here.”

They sent for the chicken farmer.

And when the messengers arrived from the chicken coop, they found the princess of the party, in her most beautiful dress, with a hundred slaves to serve as her servant, with a thousand suitcases of clothing, with three large carriages. 

And Princess Mary married the black-eyed Prince … 

But on the day of the wedding feast she forgot to call Labismínia three times, as she had promised. 

And the poor princess was not disenchanted. 

She remained a snake for life, with those human eyes. And that is why even today the sea moans so much, screams so much, makes so much noise. 

It is poor Labismínia who, from the bottom of the sea, calls for her ungrateful sister who did not remember her on the happiest day of her life.

[nocturnal-milk-dud]

IT'S SPOOKY SEASON AND I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED FOR YOUR SPOOKY COME BACK

can I please request Hassan and 30 Days of Night? I wanna smash two of my faves together 🖤

I finally finished something!!! Yay! Also you were insane for this...but I should've seen it coming

My Hands Won't Keep You Safe

Pairing: Sheriff Hassan el-Shabbaz x Reader

Warnings/notes: blood; violence; I was overwhelmed by all the directions I could've gone with this but I ultimately wanted "soft"; it's actually pretty tame but I LOVE IT

Rating: PG-13

Word count: 1368

Your hand rests in Hassan’s and you try not to think about how you can feel his blood moving under his skin. Or how you can hear every heartbeat in the room.

“What are we going to do?” you had asked.

“Whatever you want to do,” he’d replied.

The others all wanted you dead, still do probably, but you had been the only one to hear the scream, the only one to run out into the night and bring her back alive.

They’d pulled the girl away from you and tried to bring an ax down on your neck. Would have if Hassan hadn’t put himself in the way.

A wave of nausea passes over you and you rest your head against the bars. Your skin is clammy from a sickly, burning heat, the epicenter the cut on your neck. You pass your tongue over your teeth, feeling the unnatural sharpness of them. The keen tangy smell of sweat hits the back of your throat but there's something else, something richer and sweeter coming to the surface. You look over to where Hassan is sleeping uncomfortably just on the other side of the bars and all you see is fire. He's bright and warm and for a moment you think the sun has come several days early. You want to reach out to him. You want to sink your teeth into him and taste the sun. You clench your eyes shut and cover your face.

“Are you hungry?” You look up at the sound of a gentle voice. The small girl with blood crusted in her hair is standing on the other side of the bars, holding a granola bar in her hands. You give her a smile that’s more like a wince, and shake your head, even though you’re starving. She tugs awkwardly at the sleeve of her jacket and the action catches your eye. So does the small trickle of blood working its way down the back of her hand.

“Are you okay?” you ask, but you already know the answer. It comes to you through your nose. Something smells off, you don’t know any other way to describe it. The girl doesn’t answer, doesn’t get the chance to.

“Get away from there.” It’s Roberta, an older woman who always spared you a kind smile, which makes the scowl she gives you that much more painful. Roberta takes the girl by the arm, guiding her away from the cell door. You watch Cliff–the man who came at you with the ax–take their place, his brow furrowing, nostrils flaring, knuckles white around his weapon.

“I’ve had enough of this,” Cliff says. “Those things are tearing this town to pieces and we’re supposed to sit here and wait for this one to turn? No. No, I’m not gonna do it.” Hassan slowly pushes himself to his feet, towering over the agitated man.

“What are you doing, Cliff?” he asks, his tone almost conversational.

“C’mon, Sheriff, look at them!” Cliff says, as if that’s all the argument he needs–and maybe it is. “They're a ticking time bomb! For Christ’s sake–they already look just like those things!” You turn away at the feeling of eyes on you.

“I’m not interested in unnecessary bloodshed here,” Hassan simply states.

“Unnecessary?” Cliff scoffs. “Way I see it, we’re just getting ahead of things, and you’re afraid to admit I’m right.” A tighter, more threatening circle had formed around Hassan as Cliff spoke and Hassan eyes each haggard, hungry survivor carefully.

“They aren't hurting anybody, and that girl is alive because of them, or have you all forgotten?” There’s a pause as the entire room seems to let go of the breath it’s holding. You hear a sound like the scuttling of rats.

Cliff opens his mouth to speak, but you shush him, hearing something land on the roof of the building next door. Hassan crouches down, his face close to the bars.

“What is it?’ he whispers.

“They’re surrounding us,” you reply, your voice just as quiet. Hassan turns to talk to the others, his hand outstretched in a calming gesture, but before he can get a word out, Cliff strikes him in the side of the head with the ax handle. Hassan’s head bounces brutally off the metal bars and he collapses limply to the floor. You cry out before you can think better of it, and reach out to him. Cliff brings the ax down and you recoil before he can strike your arm.

“Let’s get out of here,” he says to the others, and when some hesitate: “what? You wanna stay with someone who’s gonna gamble with your safety? Who’s gonna risk your lives for one of them?” He gestures to you with the butt of his ax. “Get going, we’ll make for the general store like we planned.” You try to catch the attention of those with doubt in their eyes, those who know you, who care for Hassan, who don’t want blood on their hands. You try to tell them it’s not safe, but none listen. They all leave, one by one, wind and snow blustering in behind them. Cliff hangs behind, and you watch as he searches Hassan’s pockets and belt. He comes up with the cell keys and dangles them triumphantly before you. Without taking his eyes off you, he pockets them and leaves, not bothering to close the door.

The scent of blood is overwhelming.

“Hassan?” You lay down on your stomach and reach through the bars, giving Hassan’s body a soft shake. Your hand moves to his face, turning his head towards you. A patch of blood stains the right side of his head and face, but his heart is still beating.

Soft growls make you stop breathing, and your eyes rest on the back door Cliff left open. Snow scatters across the floor, the wind wailing like a ghost. Another threat you can do absolutely nothing about. Cliff means to make you watch Hassan die–one way or another. Your stomach sits in a tight knot and you want to throw yourself against the cell door.

You carefully drag Hassan as close to the bars as you can, his arm resting in your lap, the skin of his wrist exposed. Those creatures will not have him. The cold will not have him.

Screams shatter the night, followed by the animalistic shrieks of the creatures. Something bolts past the open door and your body tenses. Hassan still hasn’t woken, and you glance at his slack face. When your eyes return to the door a figure waits there. It stands motionless, shrouded in the thick darkness. Your grip on Hassan tightens. You run your tongue over your lips.

You bring Hassan’s wrist to your mouth, but you’re suddenly not sure if you can do it.

The figure passes over the threshold, ushered in by the wind.

"Forgive me," you whisper.

The figure moves soundlessly, taking their time. Your teeth brush at his soft skin.

You can’t break it. Your mouth is frozen, your eyes open in a wide, desperate panic, your breathing frantic. You can’t do it. You have to do it.

A hand reaches through the bars. A small hand, holding a set of keys. You let go of Hassan. You can make out the little girl in the lamplight now. Her eyes are like yours. Her mouth is bloody. You glance at Hassan, worried she’ll turn her hungry attention to him, but she doesn’t seem interested. She just shakes the keys at you, and they jingle sharply.

You let yourself out quickly and go to Hassan, taking him in your arms. His eyes open slowly, as if they’d rather stay closed.

“I have to get him somewhere safe,” you say to the girl. “I have to–” you look down at the wet, warm spot of blood on your hand, the sunlight coming from Hassan’s head wound, and your mind empties, your mouth waters, your stomach aches, your whole body seems to wake up and reach for it. You clamp down on your tongue with your needle teeth and smear the blood on your pants.

“I have to get him somewhere safe,” you repeat, hauling the semi-conscious Hassan to his feet.

[spinchip]

Turn You to a Colder Summer

(a/n: I wrote and edited this during my breaks at work, don't judge my grammar mistakes too harshly hehe)

(Warnings: frostbite (descriptions of numbness), violence, blood, injury, torture, mentions of past self harm, mouth trauma, threat of potential death. Kai does not have a good time, but he lives. The Ice Emperor is a Bad Guy)

(Wordcount: 2600)

Cold fingers drag along Kai's cheek in painful friction, ice crystals cracking and cutting into his skin like nettles as the hand arcs up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind his ear. The Ice Emperor's eyes are uncanny where they piece Kais gaze- black sclera where there should be white, burning electric blue where there should be warm sky, little flecks of gold that shift in and out of existence in the glow of the ice spires around them. No love. His expression is blank but not in the way Zanes usually is. It's cruel, clinical, and coldly detached.

Kai is bound in the floor, laid sideways to avoid the throbbing agony of brushing his frostbitten shoulder along the too-cold stone beneath him. That mark is hand-shaped, pressed brutally into his skin with a purposeful touch because Zane's ice couldn't get past the fire in his blood normally, not without excessive force or access to unlimited power. The ice blocks binding his arms behind his back and his ankles together don't sink frost as deep as when the Ice Emperor had torn him from his friends with an iron grip around his bicep. Their ambush failed. They were trying to escape, back through the tunnels Krag had shown them but he hesitated to follow, a part of him wanting to try and succeed where Lloyd had failed and draw Zane from the tyrant wearing his face. Kai knew better, he knew he couldn't get caught.

But he did, and now the Emperor is crouched over him with strange eyes and snowflakes trickling from his palm.

"He's not himself." Lloyd had said after stumbling back into the village- he’d left to look for the land bounty and had stayed gone three days, "If he catches you, he'll kill you." He promised, the sash from his ninja suit rewrapped tight over his belly and stained with his blood. The Staff of forbidden spinjitzu had a blade, after all. The Emperor was not afraid to use it. It was pure luck Lloyd had avoided the thick of the blade and hadn’t dropped his guts on the throne room floor.

To further prove his point and to save a life, he'd been dragging behind him a girl with each of her limbs encased in ice and delirious from blood loss, her mouth smeared with red where she'd coughed up bits of her lungs. He’d tapped her- just a tap against her sternum, the barest of hits that she’d nearly dodged, and he’d pushed ice into the delicate capillaries lining her lungs and frozen her blood half solid. The first breath she’d taken after had been agony, the second had torn. Akita. Lloyd had to tell them her name because she had passed out not long after arriving in the village- and when she tries to speak she was too out of it to form the right words. The blood flooding in her mouth wasn’t any help, either. Her body gave out once they began to chip her limbs free of ice, exhaustion claiming her. She was holding on to her life by a thread. Zane had done that.

No, the Ice Emperor had done that. It was an important distinction.

Kai, who'd just gotten his power back- the weak flicker that it was- had gone and gotten himself caught by the man.

The Ice Emperors eyes cut paths along his face, searching for something he knows is there but can't quite place. He'd been pacing around Kai for a long while, agitated and upset as he stared daggers at his prisoner. The frost on the edge of Kais cold and chapped lips reminds him not to speak. The Emperor has no qualms about forcing his silence. At first he’d thought the man was guarding him, too worried about the threat his powers might impose to regulate him to a typical cell under the palace. He was wrong. The Ice Emperor has no fear of him at all. Now he's so close Kai can smell oil, tracing burning cold lines into his skin as if finding the right path across his face will reveal what he's looking for.

Kai prepares for the eventual question. He also prepares for the scenario where the Emperor asks no questions and freezes his heart in his chest, but he hopes it doesn't come to that. He imagines what the Ice Emperor might ask- what the part of Zane still alive in him might push him to ask. There's no doubt that Zane still lives, because if he didn't the Emperor would have no reason to take any interest I'm him at all. He'd have been dead ten times over. Maybe he'll ask who are you? Or how do I know you? Or how do you know me? And Kai can explain to him that he loves him, he loves him, he loves him and that will make everything okay. It will. It has to.

Another long moment passes where the Emperor is crouched over him searching. Kai searches him too. Looks at everything in hope of finding the piece of the puzzle he can use to slot everything back into place. He's wearing completely different robes than he was before he was struck by the staff, white and gray and hand embroidered with diamonds made to glitter everytime he moved. His armor is growing fractals of ice in a messy, unkempt way. There's a patch where the icicles have been meticulously chipped away, but that chore was dropped and now they've been left to grow rampant. His face is dented and there's a patch of ice that's holding his jaw in place- an ugly crack from the corner of his mouth, a gap, and Kai can see where the connection between his mandible and skull has been snapped. The lopsided frown makes the break even more apparent.

The hand on his face is covered by a pure white glove. The hand on the staff is bare other than a thick case of ice, and Kai can see clear through it to the mess underneath. The titanium casing on his hand has been split apart to reveal his skeletal structure below. Kai has spent enough time in Jay and Nyas' mechanic lair under the monastery to have at least somewhat of a grasp on the basics of Zanes parts, so he knows what he's looking at. More specifically, he knows what he's not looking at. Wire- important wires, the ones Nya complains about because they have to special order them and they take ages to come- are missing. Not torn out, but neatly trimmed down near his wrist. The structure boning for his pinkie is gone, removed in the same clean fashion. There's more- Kai only knows so much, but he can tell the machinery underneath looks far more barren than a few wires and bone. Lloyd told them about the message in that cave, where he'd tried to fix the mech.

Kai can see it clearly in his mind. Zane, desperate and alone, taking the edge of a ninja star and sliding it along the near Invisible seam holding the casing of his hand together and shoving, cracking the connection points until it pops clean off. He and the mechs used the same type of wiring, after all.

The Emperor's voice is quiet when he speaks, the unfamiliar deep grit softening in the question meant just for the space between them, "Why do I hate you so much?"

Kais heartbreak over what might have happened in the cave stalls, every part of his mind thrown off rhythm with a question he never would have guessed he'd be asked. He can't articulate a response because he can't understand why Zane would hate him, and why that emotion would be leaking out into the Ice Emperor now.

"Zane-" He starts before his mouth is sealed shut with a layer of ice. Brain freeze hits first, sharp and cruel and like an icepick up through the roof of his mouth. Frost invades his mouth and glues his teeth together, crawling halfway down his throat. It hurts all the way to the roots of his teeth and he thrashes on instinct, bouncing his head off hard stone before he can control his reaction. Every part of his face hurts. There's a terrifying moment where the ice spreads over the back of his throat and seals off his sinuses and he's certain the Emperor has finally decided to kill him by suffocating him to death.

But the ice recedes almost as quickly as it came, though the Emperor keeps his hand over Kais mouth as a reminder not to slip up again. That was worse than the first time he'd done it, Kai doesn't want to know how bad it might be next.

The Ice Emperor's face is terrifyingly blank, a mask that gives absolutely nothing to Kai, so empty it scares him more than anything he's done so far. The interest in his eyes has fractured, and underneath is a hatred that makes the black of his pupils seem darker.

"You and your friends," his voice is still gentle, chillingly calm, "I hate all of you so much. I do not know why, but I do. I want to punish you."

Kai’s heart is jack rabbiting in his chest, beating at his ribs as adrenaline floods his system with nowhere to go. Fight or flight and he can't do either.

He takes his hand off Kai's mouth, "Speak." He orders.

Kai is woefully unprepared, stumbling over himself to try and come up with some way to remind Zane who he is. Lloyd told him that Zane said he loved them in his goodbye video. Why did that change? Was it the staff corrupting his mind? But the staff can only feed feelings that were already there. Did some part of Zane, some small part, really hate him?

"You're sick," he tries, his tongue darting out to try and wet chapped lips but its been hours since he's had a drink and his mouth is dry, "The staff is altering your mind, Zane. This isn't you. We're all friends! We love you!" He isn't above pleading and he pours desperation into each word, "You have to remember! I love you!"

The Emperor tilts his head inquisitively to the side as his expression flickers along the edges. Kai still knows Zane well enough to pick up on the minute changes- not a hint of it is kind. Whatever Kai said picked something loose, but not enough. Not enough. The light In his eyes changes but not in any way Kai can understand. He presses his finger to Kais mouth and seals it with another layer of ice, stopping his words. The air is thick, fraught with a tension so strong Kai can barely breathe through it. The Emperor looks at him. His eyes are so dark. He can still see Zane in everything the man does.

"I waited for you," the Ice Emperor speaks slowly, sounding out the sentence as if reaffirming its truth. A piece of Zane, just a sliver- a curiosity for the man crouched before him. It's a feeling, a certainty of a grievous crime, "And you never came."

It's bone chilling hatred.

It's betrayal.

Kais heart drops through his stomach and cracks to pieces on the icy floor. No no no-! He can't wrench his jaw free of his muzzle but he tries desperately to. He tries to scream, to howl and pour heat into his mouth- fire reacts to his devotion to his family, rushing through his body but again Kai is not enough.

We didn't know! We couldn't have known! We came as soon as we could! He thrashes on the floor, tries to bash his jaw down to shatter ice. He wants to grab the Emperor by the shoulders and shake shake shake him until his head pops off. I would have torn apart the sixteen realms to get to you! He's crying and the tears sting where they drip down his face. I would do anything!

He slumps, boneless and sore where his skin bruises on stone. He's thirsty, he's starving, and he's so so cold. The fire flickers out of him back down to an ember, faint and comforting if not much else. He blinks the wet from his eyes and sees the Emperors white white robes are stained with blood at the bottom. Above him, the tyrant moves.

Kai pushes himself back, the reality really sinking in. He was going to die here. No! he couldn't! He couldn't let Zane do this because when they got him back- and they would get him back, Kai has to believe that- he would never forgive himself. His back hits a pillar of ice and he looks around wildly, trying to figure out some way to get out of this, a smoking gun, a dues ex machina- anything! To stop what's coming.

He can do nothing. He squeezes his eyes shut as the Ice Emperor cups his cheek gently- but there's no ice stabbing into his brain, no agony of a literal ice pick lobotomy. The Emperors thumb wipes away an errant tear. A heartbeat passes before Kai hesitantly looks up at him.

The Emperor's face is still and serene, "I am not going to kill you, Kai." There is a moment of relief, even an inkling of hope before the chill comes.

It seeps into his skin from the Emperor's hand, down down through his face- It pours like slush through fat and muscle, cutting through his cheek to burn his gums and freeze the nerves in his teeth. It gets colder. Kai tries to dislodge his hand but the Emperor jerks forward and slams him down, holding his head against the stone floor as he pours ice into his blood faster, more brutal. Kai can't scream, his jaw locking against the bite of frost. It gets colder. It burns like the road rash he’d gotten the first time he’d wrecked his motorcycle, but a million times worse. Pain overwhelms all of his senses until he forgets how to breathe, hyperventilating and trying miserably to suck in enough air through his nose. His mouth is still sealed shut, he can't get enough air- he can't- His vision flickers with black spots.

It gets colder.

Feeling stops, numbness spreading like a balm over dying nerves. He stops struggling, taking advantage of the respite to catch his breath. His chest hurts with how hard his heart beats. His head is spinning. He looks up at the Ice Emperor with exhausted eyes and finds no pity, and especially no mercy. As Kai had struggled and sobbed in agony, he’d watched it all happen. He’d just watched. Kai is aware of the hand in his face by pressure alone, feeling blissfully gone.

The Ice Emperor takes his hand away.

He lays there and breathes, a tingling feeling spreading over his cheek. Pins and needles that turn sharper and sharper. With the loss of cold, feeling creeps back in and Kai is slowly aware of every inch of dying skin the frostbite has decimated. It hurts- it hurts like nothing he's ever experienced. He can't comprehend the pain, his mind blanking out as the blood roars in his ear. His vision goes gray at the edges as he struggles to stay awake. He can't pass out- he has to bring Zane back. He has to. He can't let him hurt the others. He can’t fail him like he did with the fight against Aspheera. Kai has to be enough. Please let him be enough.

The Emperor cards a hand through Kai's bangs, deceptively gentle as he wipes sweat slick hair off his forehead.

"I want you to suffer."

[marvels-bitch-boy]

Emerald Eyes Part 3: Chapter 6

Chapter 6 (Y/N's POV)

Word Count: 3.5k

A/N: Sorry this took so long, I ended up studying abroad for another semester and had a couple of things happen while I was over there. I had a hard time writing anything. But now that I've talked to a therapist and been back home I've found myself some time to write! I hope you all enjoy!

Master List , P1 Chapter 1 , P2 Chapter 1 , P3 Chapter 4 , P3 Chapter 7

Sitting in a pub you felt a pair of eyes on you. Your hair had grown out and you let your facial hair go with it. You felt completely unrecognisable. Finishing off your pint, you stood up and made your way out into the cold night air. 

You knew where the silver-haired man would be at this time, with his sister coming out of a pub just a few doors down. You noticed a man on the opposite side of the street staring at the redhead. He had his face hidden by a ballcap. He started to follow the pair in front of you slowly, you watched as he continued and seemed to take side alleys that went right on their route. What he didn’t expect was you to yank him by the collar in one of these alleys. 

Slamming him against the brick wall and holding him down as you waited for the footsteps you both were trailing to fade away. 

“Release me before I make you” the voice made you roll your eyes. Fucking Vision.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” you look at him with annoyance and rage that seem to be mixing together the longer you look at him. “Didn’t you get the message that none of them want to see your face after the accords!?” 

He gave you a smug look “Is that why you lurk in the shadows as well? -or perhaps because you’re afraid of what they’ll say when they see who you really are” His words make you want to burn the synthetic skin that covers his face. The thought flashes through your mind for only a second before you took a breath. 

“I swear to god if you even talk to her-” Suddenly you are cut off by a blast of some kind as it hits you in the chest. Fuck. The floor beneath you feels cold. The stones digging into your back like you are a shipwreck hitting the rocks. Your shirt feels heavy against your skin, your chest goes along with it. It’s a feeling you’re all too familiar with. “Fuck” Your hand goes up to cover the wound. Within moments you see Vision chucked through the sky. Landing somewhere in the distance with a large crash of the earth.  

Attempting to get up, your hand slips from the blood that's coated your palm. Still making your way up you follow the sound of battle coming from the train station. 

- - -

Fuck. You keep repeating it over and over again in your head as you take each step. Finally reaching the station you see Wanda preparing to fight against the attackers but their attention is shifted to a train nearby. You see a familiar silhouette emerge from the shadows and within seconds combat resumes. 

Stepping out you watch as Natasha takes on an emaciated Skeletor. His robes are discarded as he begins to fight her with swiftness. You watch as he gets closer to her and the pain from your wound only elevates the fear you have for her. Before you could properly think your fist is raised and a blast of yellow and blue flame hit him like a truck and launched him farther away from her. She turned to the direction of his attack and her face was filled with surprise that dissipated as she saw the blood that now covered you. Your arm stayed up as you aimed one more blast in the same direction. “Move!” you felt the word rip through your throat seconds before the heat left your fist. The blast of fire ripped through the night air and rammed itself into the largest blue woman you’ve ever seen. Natasha had already ducked out of the way and watched as the large woman went flying like a rag doll. She lands next to the skeletal-like man, they both lean on each other and say something you couldn’t hear. 

Actually, you couldn’t hear a lot now because you felt like you were about to pass out. Your mind went slightly fuzzy and you could only muster a few words before you hit the floor and you were pretty sure one of them was once again “fuck” 

- - -

Waking up you felt almost a million eyes on you. The sensation stayed on you as you attempted to get up, your shirt was shredded around you and the sensation of dried blood was coating you like tissue paper and glue. Looking towards the eyes of everyone around you, finding that indeed every pair was locked onto you, each holding a different sense of emotion. 

You thought for a moment… it felt like a pretty long moment actually. “How’s everyone been?” pursing your lips due to the silence that fell upon you all. “I’m doing great, how bout you Y/N?”  you reply to your own question “Well I’ve been on vacation for a bit, sightseeing and all” You sneak a glance at Wanda who stayed near her brother. “-I’ve missed us” giving the group your best faux smile and a sigh. Standing up you wobbled for a second before catching yourself and taking in a deep breath “I need to get back to work, can I get a cab from here?” the attempts to lighten the mood didn’t seem to be working. 

“Are you seriously not going to shut up?” you turned to see Sam leaning on the wall of the quinjet. “I mean, who is this? You never talked this much before” 

“It’s the brain injuries, trust me they rearrange some stuff…” you try to crack your neck and loosen up “...made me fun-” you turn to Natasha “You’d know all about that, dyed your hair since then… looks good” A sly wink was given to her and you saw her flex her jaw, probably in annoyance. “I really do need to call my boss and let her know I’ve been taken” Holding a hand out you shrug. 

“Can’t do that” the strong voice that rolled your eyes until they were in the back of your head reverberated through the jet.

“Why not? I’m in the private sector, I’m not on the run… it’s just so I can clock in?” you produce a face pout “I hate doing unpaid overtime” 

“Just stop with the jokes, for god sake go back to being quiet!” the one voice you never expected to be yelling at you came from across the jet. Wanda. “Stop being this fake version of you!...” she had tears prickling the corners of her eyes “Just stop”. 

Her words. She had no idea, none of them -except Nat. They all had no idea that this is the new real version of you. You couldn’t help it though, using the jokes to hide the awkwardness, the guilt you felt, it was all so easy to hide behind. “I can’t… I’m sorry, but this is me. Leave it or love it” You faced away from her, ducking your face from the rest of the wandering eyes. 

The entire trip felt all-encompassing, you didn’t speak for the rest of it. Not even when Natasha sat down next to you. You just closed your eyes and tilted your head back. You heard Pietro whisper something about you, you didn’t care though. You couldn’t bear to hear him say anything bad about you. You had learned how to drown out certain sounds, you had to when you were stuck under rubble. It kept you mildly sane for the most part. You felt pressure on the side of your knee. Opening your right eye only a smidge, you saw the widow's knee press into yours. You felt the corner of your lips lift what felt like an atom. Sitting in silence for the rest of the flight you remained content with her choice. 

- - - 

After you wake up from a small nap on the jet you are helped through the compound by Natasha. It seems as though no one else would even lay a hand on you. The hallways were quiet. It reminded you of when you’d skulk around at night, walking to and from the library. You emerged from the hallway into the common room. You saw Rhodey and Bruce talking to General Ross. As soon as he saw the group heading in his direction, he and the captain began exchanging words. Ross only got a few in before Rhodey hung up on him. He had been projected like a hologram. It was so realistic to him being here, you could even see the detail in his face when he caught a glimpse of you. 

Rhodey didn’t make eye contact with you but you knew he saw you. The way his body language changed as he talked to Steve and Natasha. It was obvious. She handed you off to Bruce who didn’t seem to understand why no one else even got near you. He attempted to make small talk when he brought you to the infirmary, you didn’t hate it. “So… where’d you go?” he continued as he lay you down on the gurney.

“Hell” you made sure to give him a smirk, lightening the response. 

He didn’t really understand exactly what you meant by that, he didn’t pry either. “Sounds fun…” he kept his gaze down on your wound as he spoke “You seem more cheerful, you and Nat still together?” You remained silent and he just continued tending to your chest. 

Thinking for a moment you decided to talk. You hadn’t had a real conversation with someone since helping Natasha almost a year ago. “No… and I don’t know if I’m more cheerful or just hiding at this point” He stopped and you worried for a second that you had said something you should have kept inside. 

He sat up and put his tools to the side. “Why do you think you’d be hiding?” 

You didn’t really have a full answer, just multiple short little ones. If you worked hard enough in your head maybe a sentence could form. 

“There’s just been this… darkness- or maybe it’s just a hole..” you continued thinking “And I’m worried that I’ll- I’ll be stuck in it alone-” you had let out a deep breath before going on “-But I don’t want to drag anyone into it. Not her or anyone else.”

“I don’t think that’s true…” he seemed now to think of a continuation “This new you…-I just met him and I think that he’s already made his way out of the darkness enough- at least by himself…” you nodded your head in understanding as he got up “-it’s never too late to ask for help, sometimes you just need a hand” and with that, he left. 

You sat up, looking out the windows of the infirmary. It was all so new and old at the same time. The life you had now was nice, but you just felt so alone, the shadows were all you seemed to have. 

- - -

Finding new clothes seemed to be a bit of a difficult task, you had outgrown almost all of your old shirts that had been kept, and the pants too. You had to ask Steve if you could borrow something. Surprisingly you almost filled his clothes. You had overheard everyone discussing what the next steps should be. You felt like you needed some sense of fresh air. Slowly you inched your way out of the compound. You didn’t think anyone would notice you gone for a minute or two. You had swiped a phone too on the way out, as soon as you got far enough away you dialled her. 

It took three full rings before she picked up, this had you puzzled and slightly concerned. Her voice was producing a fake confidence, that had you more concerned. “Hey there hot stuff”

“Valentina… how’d you know it’s me? -actually, never mind.” you looked around to make sure you were still alone “I had a bit of a run-in with some old friends -suffered a hit to the chest from unknown assailants… I’d love to get some intel”

She scoffed at your words “You think I know something about that? -well I do but still it's the principle” You heard her take a sip of something and clear her throat “There seems to be a bit of a pest problem coming from outta town… you might have to help them squash it”

“Yes ma’am- I’ll call you with any new details” You heard the sound of footsteps approaching you and hung up the phone before she could even make a snarky remark. You knew you’d get shit for it. You didn’t move, you stayed still and simply stared up at the sky. The sunset was beginning to fade and the night would soon replace it. “I never noticed before… the sun kinda makes the clouds look like cotton candy from here.” You tried to keep your tone as innocent as possible. The ground beneath your feet move and sink as the body that had found you joined your side. You turned to face her. “Can’t remember if you like cotton candy or not…” your hand gestures to your head as you talked “Whole brain injury and just all-around personality change” She didn’t seem amused. 

“It’s kind of growing on me… -I mean except when you’re an asshole” You could sense the playfulness in her tone. 

“Nat, I don’t want this- this new me to grow on you” You made sure to look as deep into her eyes as you could. You wanted her to know this was the truth. You needed her to know that you meant this. She looked at you with slight surprise.  “Whatever you think is here right now-” you gestured between your bodies “-it shouldn’t be here. I need you to take back what you said in St. Petersburg…” you trailed off as you felt your voice catch slightly. 

“No, I’m not going to take it back.” her brows stitched together as she looked at you “I’ll change it but I’m not going to take it back-” she took one of your hands into hers. The warmth of it almost sent bumps along your arm. “I’d stay by your side. Leave it or love it?” she took her free hand and set it up over your chest. Just past the bandages that covered you. You both stood so close to the other. You could practically feel the warmth radiating off of her and you knew she could too “Well I don’t want to leave it” 

Your mind was still. You had no thoughts for once, no joke to deflect how you felt. The thing was you knew this wouldn’t end well. You couldn’t go back to the team, and you knew sure as hell she would never join Leviathan. “I can’t come back here, you know that…” You took her hand away from your chest “If you won’t leave this…” and you took a step back from her “I’m doing it for you” Turning away from her you began to walk back to the compound. You couldn’t look back at her or risk changing your mind. You didn’t want to pull her into the hole that you’ve begun to fall into. 

- - -

Stepping into the compound you went directly to your old room. You didn’t spare a glance at anyone else. Closing the door felt like a million pounds. The sound of it echoed for what felt like ages. Everything in your room that had once occupied it was gone. Sitting on the edge of the bed, like you had many nights before; you felt like a ghost. The sensation that you were in the wrong place didn’t leave. You sat in silence until it became unbearable. The room was pitch black but you had the way to the door memorized. Standing at the edge of the doorway you had a sense of deja vu. Imagining the different nights this had happened. The nights when you had simply gotten up to just knock on Natasha's door and lay with her. Tonight though you couldn’t do that. If you had even tried you knew you would never leave her side. You decided to go to the kitchen, if you found anyone in there you would simply go for a walk outside. Perhaps you’d see if you could snoop on the computers for a while. Your feet had dragged you to the kitchen and there wasn’t a single light on. 

Turning on the light above the stove to illuminate the countertops you began making some tea. Waiting on the water to come to a boil you stood near the window, looking out at the night sky. The moon illuminated the water of the lake and the tops of the trees. You hear scraping footsteps approach from the hallway and you slowly turned to see who they belonged to. The silver hair was almost an echo of the moon. You felt your body tense up as he saw you. The two of you hadn’t talked at all. Well to his knowledge you hadn’t spoken since Berlin, you remember seeing him in a bar in Scotland. He was on the other side of the room downing pints while his sister went to the bathroom. You were going to head home for the night when he bumped into you spilling his glass on you, he began apologizing profusely but you stopped him. “Completely my fault-” You reached into your pocket and handed him a couple of pounds. You left before he could say another word. You considered doing the same thing now and just booking yourself out of the room but the reminder of the water coming towards a boil took the idea out of your head. 

His accent was much thicker than Wanda’s “How long?” you looked at him puzzled. Maybe it was the look of sleep that covered his face or the lighting. He caught your look and continued “How long were you in Scotland?” 

You looked almost taken aback by his question but you gave him an answer “Roughly eleven months…” The kettle whistled and you moved to pick a tea, you knew his favourite flavour and grabbed an extra mug on the way back to the kettle. 

“I never saw you once…” he thought for a second “I probably did, didn’t I?” you nodded your head “How many times?” 

Pursing your lips and handing him the steaming mug “I think it was about five times… spoke only once though” 

He took the mug and stood still for a moment. He looked like he was finally realizing the moment he was in “Why didn’t you reach out to me after the mission?” this question made you freeze. He didn’t really know everything… none of them did. 

“I was in the care of my employer, and I wasn’t allowed to contact anyone while I recovered” You took a sip of your tea and felt the warmth spread. “-I also didn’t know how you’d react to me… especially with how I was back then -I was so angry, I just wanted to burn the whole world…” you stayed quiet after that. Your words trailed over to him and you saw the next question bubbling to the surface. 

“How long did you stay in the rubble?...-I’m sorry for asking, I just- we looked through it for weeks…” you knew he felt bad about it. You knew if you told him the exact length of time and what you went through, he would feel even worse. The thing was you didn’t want to lie to him. You couldn’t after all this time you wanted to be as honest as possible. 

You moved to the nearest chair and took a seat. Staring at your cup as he slowly joined you. Looking at the steam that continued to flow out you took a shallow breath “I was there for almost a month, I passed out after a few minutes and kept going in and out of consciousness… my throat was so torn and shredded from screaming, I lost a lot of blood -a good amount- after I was found they put me in a coma to monitor me. When I woke up I was filled in on everything. Couldn’t walk for a couple of weeks, talking was easier though…” you took a sip and thought again “I had some pretty bad head trauma… the memories of being trapped kinda just come back every now and then, can’t stay alone for too long either” 

He didn’t ask another question. He put a hand on your back, it didn’t move. “You know…” he looked like a toddler attempting to put pieces together in his head “I can stick with you tomorrow…if you’d like” he gave a small shrug and the light showed you the small bashful smile he was holding back. 

“What’s happening tomorrow?” holding the mug to your lips you listened as he filled you in on the details. And jesus christ there was a lot that you had missed. 

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[wellthebardsdead]

Helios: *a young ‘sun elf’ turned Aasimar raised by a sect of Shar cultists pretending to be Lathander worshippers, all of whom raised him from birth to believe he’d be sacrificed and reborn as the morning lord but in truth, they wished to spill the blood of the sun gods own in his own temple in the name of their dark lady so the shadows would consume the very source of the moon maidens silver light and the light that comes at dawn to end all darkness…, now quietly walking through the entrance of cazadors castle with a forlorn expression having witnessed astarion ascend despite his pleas* he really did it… I hope… he’s happy… I thought… I thought he’d of chosen kindness…

Gale: hundreds, thousands of lives destroyed, all to feed power to one person… are you okay?…

Helios: *flaps his wings* I’m… I’m okay… You’ve all got what you wanted now though right?… can… can we go find another temple of lathander now?… one not defiled by Githyanki or… a smouldering ruin?

Shadowheart: *knows the truth about his childhood and desperately trying to convince him he’s been mislead his whole life just like her* Helios please you can’t still be serious about this! The cultists who raised you were shar worshippers! The same as the ones who stole me from my parents-

Helios: NO THEY WERENT!

Karlach: Woah there sunbeam let’s calm down and not level this place like you did the monastery.

Helios: No I won’t calm down!!! *points to shadowheart* I got her her memories back! I lost my first flight to her betrayal! *points to lae’zel* the temple where id ascend lies in ruin now because of her people! She got her prince and a dragon too! *points at gale* I fixed your relationship with your stupid goddess! *points at Wyll* I broke your pact! *points at halsin* I saved your grove! I saved thaniel! And I saved you!!! *stomps his foot as he looks at karlach* I got you your fucking heart back! And Astarion- *chokes out a sob* he… he got the power he wanted… now I’m finally going to ascend to my place as the morning lord!!! And if none of you will help me I’ll do it myself! I’ll spill my own blood if I have to! I’ll- *goes limp in shock as sharp fangs sink into his neck with a death grip to chill him to the bone*

Karlach: ASTARION NO!

Shadowheart: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!?

Gale: HE’LL GO MAD!

Astarion: *cuts his finger feeding the Aasimar a drop of his blood, turning him into a vampire bride/consort* mm- *pulls away and catches him as he passes out in his arms* there we go… nice and quiet now… *looks at the others* What? We all wanted to stop him from killing himself. This way I can prevent him from doing so. *lifts him up, patting his wings and hair*

Gale: He’s afraid of the dark astarion! He cannot stay in the shadows he’ll go mad!

Astarion: Oh don’t worry, *smiles glancing down at the Aasimars paling face as he turns* He’ll still be able to bask in the sun… I wouldn’t dream of taking that away from him. *Carries him off into the palace, knowing he’ll hate him for his decision, even if the only reason he did it was to keep him safe*

[reviviscencegruiform]

A rare Scarecrow sighting. Crawling up the side of the Gotham clock tower to the roof like some kind of lizard. That glowing mask smiling down on them as if a small malicious moon just instigated a festival in it's honor because it got bored.

The alerts go out as it stands on the roof. Television, phone, radio. Stay inside. Lock your doors, your windows. Don't make a sound, stay out of sight, and- he'll pass by like a harmless shadow in the night. Whatever you do don't be afraid. Don't scream or cry. Don't let him know about the sweat rolling down the back of your neck or the goosebumps on your arms. You might be next. He can smell it. He knows. You can't hide from the Scarecrow.

"Vicky Vale reporting from the scene at the Gotham Clock Tower." Says the new reporter with tears in her eyes. She couldn't hide. She had to tell everyone why they should be afraid of. "We have personally confirmed the sighting and- oh god. OH GOD!"

A head bounces off the hood of the television van behind her, splattering the back of the poor trembling woman in blood. "Someone has been decapitated by the clock! I-" the camera goes down to a red puddle on the street "We can't show this, Vicky." "We have to! We-"

The live feed is cut. Seems the studio made that choice for her.

[lake-archive]

Chapter 21 - We Are Both Cursed

AO3 Link

Characters: Osamu Dazai, Annette 'Ann' Dorste-Hülshoff (OC)

Pairing: Annzai (Dazai/Ann)

Words: 1,050

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Oh she was a cruel one alright? So very cruel, he could hardly contain himself. He would say this out loud with no shame whatsoever yet in a sense his words would still ring true. Actually it was the truth, yeah. 

At first it had been very easy to keep his distance, to not think about this too much. Her reactions were probably one of the funniest and he loved getting a rise out of her. Of course he did not take it too far, keeping it within a reasonable limit. Annoy her or trick her? That was fine. Specifically hurt her however? Even he knew that this was not a line to cross. And he was not going to do that. That would take things way too far. Though Osamu had never imagined that he would underestimate the influence someone can have. More specifically, how easy it was to grow attached to people sometimes. This was one of those instances.

He didn’t want to see himself as particularly close to anyone, especially not to a woman. Sure, he had his fun by flirting or several flings. That was one thing however. Growing close to someone like this however… It was a thought which had never crossed his mind. In fact, it scared him sometimes. And Ann was probably the worst one he could have grown attached to in that way. Not because he hated her or anything of that sort. He liked her, of course he did. Not just in a teasing manner but he actually liked her, as a person. He didn’t even mind her reactions to not have him too close, trying to keep him at an arm’s length. In a way he didn’t see that as impossible. He knew of her father’s death and not too long ago she cut ties with her mother. One may put together the rest. And he wasn’t oblivious to that fact either.

It should have been fine then, both of them were set on not getting too close. However, the more time passes the harder it becomes in the end. He just… Couldn’t keep it up. He couldn’t stop himself from growing closer and closer to her. He wished not to himself. He feared that the ground would be rather shaky to walk on. How ironic, that this was one of the few things he had been afraid of… To see her as a woman. He would never see her as a ‘girl’, not when she was older than him… By a little over two weeks. He meant seeing her as a woman he would consider for… More than a distant friendship. The thought would freeze his blood in an instant. 

He had considered it a few times, keeping his distance a little and let himself calm down from all of this. Surely, there would be no drawbacks but in the end he couldn’t do that. He would always get himself back into the game. It was almost painful to look at but staying away was oddly enough not an option either. He couldn’t allow himself to break however… He refused to break character. He couldn’t slip up. But… In the end it made things even more painful. But he shouldn’t let her see it. Or there might be no turning back. Even if he wanted to crack for just one moment… He shouldn’t. And yet he showed her glimpses here and there, glimpses he would never show anyone else. Though he knew her, she would catch on in the end, wouldn’t she? Hah, in what type of a situation was he getting himself into? At this rate he won’t be able to say ‘no’ to her.

Wrong. it would be in due time that he couldn’t say ‘no’. When the time comes he won’t be able to and that was something he was afraid of. Because he knew that if he didn’t reject her he would have to let her in. Perhaps he would expose the sides automatically. Could he handle something like that? Hard to say but it would happen, wouldn’t it? Things would be so much easier if she just didn’t reciprocate any of this. Then he could move on without a second thought. But the catch was that she did feel the same.

He wasn’t a total idiot. He may not call her out on it yet it was obvious that even he knew of her terrible act. She could deny it all she wanted. She could call him ‘Dumbzai’ all day long. She could play tough all day long. It was an obvious answer in the end – Ann is in love with Osamu. Anyone could guess that one. Even the cat knew.

All while he had been catching feelings by sheer accident… At first he started this because of a promise he had with Ann’s old man. Even if he was dead Osamu had no intentions to back out of this deal. Even if it had not been the old man’s intention the time eventually turned more pleasant and he had been rather interesting on his own. Even back then Osamu had said that it was ‘gratitude for his services’. But it had started as nothing more than that, a promise made years ago. Yet feelings had come into play in the span of a year. This was no longer about this ‘promise’ – He caught himself wanting to be close to her and the one dear to her.

Osamu had to hold them back every single time or let them out in a different way. It was only getting worse as time went on. Even when simply looking at her made his head spin sometimes, though he dared not to show it. But could he truly resist once she cracked? Once she would let her emotions actually spill out and say those three words he may somewhat desire to hear? No… He will crack at the same time she will crack. It was inevitable. 

In the end he knew that the both of them were just avoiding what they couldn’t. They both could only hold back for so long. The words will eventually slip out and then there will be no turning back from this… Those three words, a curse in itself…

I love you.

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[freedom-of-speech333]

The Letters I write by Frredom_of_speech333 on ao3

Summary:

Shoto ran away from home and works at a barista at the nearby coffeeshop. He lives in a ten mile perimeter, away from prying hero eyes. He’s quite fine with his life until he meets Izuku. He wants to protect him, to be by him, to shared in the green haired’s joy and sorrows. This is the story of Shoto opening up his walls as he falls in love, told in letters to his dead brother.

Dear Touya,

    I nearly died today. Or, well, I think I did. 

I was on my way to work when a large woman with long blonde hair and green eyes bumped into me. She was having a bad day and threatened to ‘crush my skull’ if I didn’t pay her for wasting her time. I forget my wallet at home. I think I had a panic attack because I started breathing heavy and woke up looking at a shining sun of messy green hair and emerald eyes.

 His name is Izuku Midorya. After I passed out he stepped in and…. Somehow got me out. He won’t explain how. He must have used his quirk. I won’t tell on him though, he saved my life. And he’s cute. 

Still Alive,

Shoto T.

•••••••

Dear Touya, 

   I saw him again today. He showed up at the coffee shop and ordered a double expresso mint extreme, no foam.  He has a new bruise on his jaw and an infected cut on his third knuckle, right hand. 

  I put my number on his cup and asked him to call me if he gets hurt again. His face, was interesting. It turned all red and he started spluttering. He might have high blood pressure from the coffee. I tell him that when he calls.

Sincerely,

Shoto T.

••••••

Dear Touya,

   Midorya texted me. I invited him over but he said we should take it ‘slow’. Why would he want to wait to fix his injuries? Is he afraid it will hurt? We scheduled to meet at the park for a picnic lunch. I suggested the bench by the tree. It’s above ground, visible, and I can hide in the nearby crowd if He shows up. 

   I packed some soba, sauce, and a few fishcakes. Do you think he likes fish? You never did but I think he might enjoy it.

Sincerely,

Shoto T.

•••••••

Dear Touya,

   Midorya is quirkless. He always wanted to be a hero but wasn’t allowed to attend hero schools. He doesn’t have a home and lives on the streets. His face looks sad when he talks about his mom and lights up when you mention all might. 

  He saw me that day because he had been on the lookout for Miss Kim, the lady who assaulted me. She’s a big boss around here who makes a living off of newcomers. Midorya has been intercepting her and helping people.

   I think he’s great for helping people, but he doesn’t seem to care about his own well being. He had two cuts above his eyebrow, several bruises that will need time to heal, and his arm was dislocated. He didn’t say anything when I relocated his arm, which is concerning. How do I help him more? 

Frustrated,

Shoto T.

••••••

Dear Touya, 

We met up after work today. He came up to the counter and asked ‘how the most handsome person in the world is doing?’. I thought it was weird because he could have asked himself, but he said he was fine. His face became red again tho.

   We chatted about our days and I told him about Endeavor. I want him to trust me, and to like me. Honesty is the foundation of any relationship. At least, that’s what the internet says. Besides, I have several plans if he… but Midorya is different. 

  He cares. Too much I think. 

Sincerely,

Shoto T.

••••••••

Dear Touya,

   Midorya has been visiting me after work for a week now. It’s, nice. He even offered to walk to the store with me. I usually order online because it goes past the local heroes daily route.

   It was nice, we went through a couple alleyways to avoid detection and I got some fresh food. I forgot what apples tasted like. Too bad they don’t ship apples.

   I invited Midorya to spend the night. He was walking on a sprained ankle. I covered it with an ice pack and wrapped him up. He is asleep on the mat right now. I’m writing in the bathroom so the light won’t wake him up. 

 I wonder what he thinks about my ‘studio’. I don’t do art but that’s what it’s called. Midorya likes katsudon. I’ll make him some for breakfast.

 Your Brother,

Shoto T.

•••••

Dear Touya,

   It’s nice living with Izuku. And frustrating. He keeps pushing me to expand my three block traveling distance and visit another city. Traveling brings attention I don’t want, can’t he see that? But I understand why. The cherry blossoms were beautiful and the crowds actually hid us from any watchful eyes. 

  Izuku loves going on dates, even if it’s just a few candles and bowl of ramen. Oh, and we are dating now. I should have started with that.

  Touya, I’m concerned. He continues to help people, even when he is hurt. It’s hard to see him in pain, but he seems to enjoy it. Knowing he made someone else’s day better, I mean. He reminds me of you, and that scares me. Because your dead, and I want him alive.

 Sincerely,

Shoto T.

••••••••

Dear Touya,

   Izuku didn’t come home yesterday. I can’t call the police because they’ll bring me back to him. And his boss flipped me off when I asked him today. 

   I’m scared. What do I do?

Sincerely,

Shoto T.

————-

Knock-knock

   Shoto got up from the mat and peered thru the eyehole of his door. His breath caught in his throat as he pulled it open. 

   Izuku was covered in blood, supported by a badly burned raven haired man with familiar blue eyes.

   ‘Touya?’ The raven haired man grunted in reply as he pushed his way in and lowered Izuku onto the tatami mark. 

   ‘Great pick in partner little sho’, got some brains, this one.’ Touya sighed and looked at Shoto, who was still frozen by the door, stunned. ‘That was sarcasm, come here, and close the door.’

   Shoto quickly shut the door, checking that it was locked, before scrambling next to Izuku with the med kit.

   Izuku’s arms were broken and bruises danced all over his body. The blood was coming from a cut on his lip and one on his leg that was deep enough to put his finger into.

   Opening the kit, Shoto got to work bandaging Izuku up and creating ice to soothe his wounds.

  Touya sat back and watched as his brother to care of the dumbass who he loved. 

   ‘You really like him, hmm?’ Shoto looked up at Touya, lines of tears running down his face.

   ‘I thought you were dead.’ Shoto said. 

   ‘We’ll, you sure wrote a lot of letters to a dead person.’ Shoto blinked in surprise, he left the letters at the cherry tree in the park. He always assumed some squirrel was grabbing them away. 

   ‘You read them? Why didn’t you talk to me, write back?’ 

   Touya looked out the window, a beautiful view of a brick wall. ‘I’ve been in hiding too. You know what he’s like. Besides, you wouldn’t have accepted my help if you knew it was me.’ 

 Shoto’s brows furrowed. ‘What help?’ 

 ‘Your boyfriends alive, isn’t he? Your not the best hider you know. Endeavors not the only one who wants you. Plenty of villains fancy you have a high random.’ Touya looked back a Shoto, a smile stretching his scars.

  ‘I’m glad you got away. You made a pretty good life for yourself.’ Touya stood up and walked towards the door. ‘I wanted to be a hero, and it killed me. Now I just want to fix what father broke. My family. You should answer Fuyumi, she misses you.’

And with that he walked out the door. Leaving Shoto to tend to Midorya. And text his sister.

————-

Dear Touya, 

   Thank you. Fuyumi misses you too. And Izuku says he would love to meet you, when he’s not passed out. Maybe we can meet up sometime. You know where to leave a reply. 

Sincerely,

Shoto T.