#he murdered people who were going to happily murder him

[amaranthinespirit]

I can imagine some random person getting charged with the murder of all of these people and Simon and his wife just snuggled on the couch happily, tea in hand, watching the trial or seeing the news report

husband!simon riley watching the murder trials with murderer!reader

the news was plastered with the arrest of who they think is responsible for the disappearances and murders of men and women across town. every channel broadcast live updates about the upcoming murder trials until it was finally time.

Today marks the beginning of the trials, and for the next several months, simon and you would cuddle up on the couch with a couple of mugs of tea and some popcorn. it was your special time together. every day after he got home, it'd already be on, and simon would scold you for watching it without him.

you and simon tear the case apart, way too engrossed in the details of your own murders. neither of you could resist commenting on the prosecutor's statements, their evidence that pointed towards the defendant, making you both upset for the man.

because, of course, the person accused is a man. it always is. shallow-minded men who have no faith in women being killers, but you are only thankful because it means you are not on the list of people that they suspect.

well, even if you were, they thought they caught the guy.

every day you were anxious to find out the verdict. would the man be found guilty, or innocent? what would his sentence be?

until the verdict finally came—life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

you empathized with the innocent man, wondering if you were to end up caught—you would never because simon always took care of you—would this too be your sentence?

hopefully, you never found out.

but the police would soon realize that the man they caught was in fact not the right one because the killings would pick up again a few months after trial ended.

you were too bloodthirsty to stop, and simon wasn't going to hold you back.

keep the requests coming!!! my drafts are filled with stuff I don't feel like writing so I need more ideas.

[imtryingbuck]

The stubborn princess

~ gif not mine credit to owner ~

Pairing: Prince!Bucky Barnes x Princess!fem!Reader

Summary: Prince Bucky has to marry, again, Lady Y/n is the one he has to marry. He isn’t exactly warm towards her.

Word count: 15,544

Warnings: fluff. angst. mentions of death (+ a stillborn - not detailed). mentions of a bedding ceremony (doesn’t happen). mentions of virginity check. underage marriage (only mentioned once and doesn’t happen!). murder (detailed but not, you know?). attempted SA. swearing. smut but not smut. pregnancy.

A/N: thank you for the request, hope you like it🤍

Masterlist

The year is 1610, Lady Y/n was given a gift - a gift that many women would love to have, marrying a prince, the heir to the throne of a wealthy and prosperous kingdom. She was to become a princess and in time a queen, it was a gift her parents were more than happy with, yet it was a gift she would happily give to someone else.

Her fingers trembled as the carriage moved rocklily along the cobbled ground, her mother chastised her for slouching as the stuffy air in the beautifully decorated carriage filled her lungs making her more uncomfortable than the corset tied painfully around her.

Everything was aching from her hair that had more pins keeping the strands together than she thought was necessary, her shoes was pinching her toes so painfully that they became numb, the top of her dress kept biting into her skin, her two younger sisters giggling and talking loudly causing her head to throb. Even her eyes began to sting.

“I’m not telling you again Y/n, sit up.”

“Yes mother.”

“And smile.”

“Yes mother.”

The carriage finally came to a halt, her sisters both gasping in surprise as they stared up at the castle - her mother once again telling her off as she kept her head down. Her own eyes casting upwards when she made her exit, it was beautiful, rows and rows of bright colourful flowers decorating the grounds that were slightly covered by towering trees, the white walls of the castle seemed to go on forever as the fluffy clouds slowly passed by. Nothing seemed out of place, not even the guards uniform as they stood side by side of the royal family.

The only thing that was out of place was her.

After the greetings were done, her mother and queen Winnifred were arm in arm as they talked about the upcoming wedding, they were followed by king George and her sisters, then prince James and then her on her own.

The hustle and bustle of the room made her head spin, maids running around with different things in their hands whilst the seamstress kept pricking her skin with the needle. The queen and her mum were enjoying the expensive wine as they laughed loudly about something that she wasn’t paying attention to as her eyes were too focused on the small pot of flowers by her side as she tried to concentrate on her breathing.

They’d only arrived two days ago and here she was already being fitted for her wedding dress, and she hadn’t even spent any time with the man that she was going to marry - let alone spoke to him.

Three days later she was walking slowly down the aisle towards a man who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else and not in the church. After exchanging vows and sealing their union with an awkward kiss, they linked arms and stiffly walked back down the white, gold embroidered runner towards the cheering coming from the people in the kingdom.

No one had ever seen a newly married couple look so miserable.

Her mum and sisters left just two days after the wedding, since then she had been on her own, the maids gave up on her after a few days. The first couple of weeks were difficult for her - she didn’t eat, drink, or leave her private chambers that were in prince James' wing of the castle. The only thing she could do to fill in the loneliness was sleep.

And that's how Natasha and Wanda found her.

After five long weeks of being isolated from everyone, queen Winnifred had sent her personal maids to fetch the princess from her room. “Princess, it’s time to wake up.”

“Go away.”

“Can’t do that I’m afraid.” Wanda giggled. “The queen wishes to have lunch with you.”

With a quiet groan she removed the quilt from her head. “Lunch?”

“Yes, princess.” The two redheads watched with worried eyes as Y/n slowly stood up from the bed, her nightgown hanging loosely on her frame. “Maybe you should have something to eat before you meet with the queen?”

“I’m not hungry, thank you.” As the words come out of her mouth her stomach growls. “Will the prince be attending too?”

“Not today.” Natasha answered. “Let’s get you bathed and dressed.”

Wanda picked out a pastel pink dress with white flowers embroidered on the bottom, it was simple yet elegant, whilst Natasha washed her hair - gently removing the lugs and notts out. The girls talked quietly between themselves as she sat in the metal tub with her knees pulled up to her chest enjoying the warmth and the smell of lavender. The only time she spoke was when they were pinning her hair into place. “What- never mind.”

“What is it?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Are you sure? You can ask us anything.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat. “What is he- the queen like?”

The redheads shared a look between themselves, Natasha speaking up. “The queen is the sweetest and kindness woman either one of us have met, so is the king - he likes to think he’s in charge but its the queen.” They both laugh. “Princess Rebecca is, well she’s a character. Prince James is complex, though a good man.”

“A good man? He spent our wedding night with another woman, yes a good man indeed.”

“That-”

“It doesn’t matter.” Standing up from the vanity she makes her way towards the door. “Will you be taking me to meet with the queen?”

As they walked down the hallway she noticed how dull the walls were compared to the rest of the castle, the curtains were shut despite it being light outside, there were a few large paintings hanging up on the wall - some were covered, those that weren’t she glanced at them and saw that they were portraits of the king, queen and princess. The large doors separating the princes’ wing to the rest of the castle came open, her eyes needing to adjust to the bright lights and colours around her, the guards walked in front of her as Natasha and Wanda followed behind.

“It’s nice to see you again Y/n.”

Bowing slowly. “Queen Winnifred.”

“Please sit.” Winnifred smiles warmly. “I don’t know what food you prefer so I had the cooks make everything I could think of.”

“You didn’t need to do that, queen Winnifred.” Sitting down in the seat, she nervously picked at the skin around her nails. “Thank you.”

“Please call me Winnie. Dig in, please.”

All she grabbed was a roll and took tiny bites out of it. “Okay.”

“How are you?”

“Fine, how are you?”

“I’m okay.” Chewing the food in her mouth and swallowing, Winnie looked at her new daughter in law and frowned. “The maids said you haven’t been eating.”

“I haven’t been hungry.”

“Really? For five weeks you haven’t eaten anything, so surely you’ve been hungry.”

Putting the roll down on the plate, she sighed softly. “It-it’s just being in a new place queen Winnie.”

“Just call me Winnie I told you and I understand but you must eat, you need to keep up your strength.”

“I know.” Twisting the gold bracelet around that her grandfather had given to her for her sixteenth birthday - several months before he passed away. “I need to be strong for when it’s time to birth heirs.”

“It isn’t just for that.” Winnie says softly. “You don’t want to pass out and get seriously ill.”

“I’ll be okay.”

Winnie goes to respond but the doors come open - George and James enter, the former smiling as soon as he sees Y/n. “Princess, it’s so good to see you.” He waves her off as she tries to stand up.

“King George.”

“How are you?”

“Fine. How are you?”

“I’m well now that I’m near my beautiful wife.”

Dropping her knife and fork onto the table and crossing her arms, Winnie sighs. “What have you done?”

“N-nothing.”

“George.”

“I broke one of the vases that king Howard gifted us.” He rushed out. “I’m so sorry.”

“Which one?”

The kings eyes lowered to the ground as he whispered. “The black and gold one.”

“My favourite?”

“Your favourite.” Winnie threw a roll at his head causing him to cry out. “Hey! That hurt.”

“No it didn’t and that’s for breaking my favourite vase.”

As George made his way over to his wife - pressing a sweet and lingering kiss to her temple, Y/n’s eyes shifted to the other man in the room. James stood by the door as stiff as the marble statue next to him. This was the first time since the wedding that they had been in the same room together let alone seen each other, just like their wedding he hadn’t spared her a glance, looking straight past her when his mum spoke to him. She understood, in a way she did, she understood why he wasn’t exactly jumping for joy at having a new wife - especially when the only time they met was five days before getting married and it was only the once, and even then they didn’t talk to each other.

She understood that she wasn’t going to have the marriage she had always wished and hoped for, and that’s what hurt more.

James made some excuse as to why he couldn’t stay and have lunch with them then quickly made his escape, his mum gave her a small smile whilst his dad shook his head in disappointment. The king and queen made conversation as she sat there quietly fiddling with the napkin in her lap.

It’d be a month before she saw James again.

A huge celebration was being thrown for princess Rebecca’s sixteenth birthday. Y/n was asked by Winnie for her help - it was the only way that she could get her daughter in law to come out of her room, Winnie’s lips curved up as Y/n smiled and laughed along with Rebecca. The sixteen year old absolutely loved spending time with her new sister in law, asking her questions about everything and anything she could think of.

It was time for them to enter the decorated and crowded ballroom, James held his arm out for her to hold on to - he made no comment about her dress or even a simple hello. It was awkward. Especially as they had to act as if they were in love. They sat in silence side by side as the celebration went on, she kept trying to speak to him but the words kept dying on the tip of her tongue or when she did manage to speak the words came out so quiet that he didn’t hear due to the music playing loudly.

Rebecca danced and laughed with everyone, a huge smile on her face as she took in everything around her - that smile dropping when she saw the lost look on Y/n’s face, saying her goodbye to her friends she made her way over to the high table. “Princess Y/n, would you like to dance?”

“I- I’m fine here, thank you.” She whispered, but the look on Rebecca’s face said that she wasn’t going to drop it. “O-okay.”

“Can’t say no to the birthday girl.” The young princess smiles. Hand in hand with Y/n she made her way through the crowd. “Everyone deserves to dance.”

Y/n tried to sit down after one dance but Rebecca wasn’t having any of it, after their fourth she managed to get away from the young energetic girl, bidding her goodbyes she left the ballroom and made her way to her chambers. As she walked slowly down the dimly lit hallway she noticed that one of the covers had fallen off a painting that was hanging up, without thinking she picked it up, stopping when she looked at the portrait.

A young, beautiful woman with brown eyes dark enough to appear black, a soft warm smile on her plump lips, her skin painted so smoothly that Y/n wondered if this woman’s skin was actually that soft. A large ruby hung from the gold chain around her neck, not a single strand of hair was out of place as a tiara sat up on her head.

Y/n’s fingers traced over the engraved letters on the metal plate underneath the painting. She was so lost in the moment that she didn’t hear the door open squeaking ever so slightly as it does, nor does she realise that someone is standing behind her - until they clear their throat. “What are you doing?”

“P-prince James.”

“I’ll ask again, what are you doing?”

“The cover fell and I-I was just putting it back.”

“Right.” He stands there with his hands at his back, his eyes on her until she catches him staring. “Put it back then.”

“S-she’s beautiful.”

“She was, yes.”

Princess Dolores. Y/n had known of the young woman who was lucky to marry the man she loved and him loving her back just as much, she was told their love and tragic story the same day she and her family left their home for her to meet the man she was going to marry. It was said that they were in love with each other since they were young - before they even knew what love really was, their parents knew of their love and affection for one another so they allowed them to marry.

The union caused a rift between the king and Y/n’s father as an alliance was made before James and Y/n was even born.

Two years after they were married they were told the most amazing news, princess Dolores was with child. According to the maid back at home, James forbade his wife to do anything - if she wanted a drink, he got it, if she wanted food in the early hours of the morning he happily got it for her, if she wanted to go for a walk he went with her even if he was busy. He doted on her even more than he already did.

The day finally came for them to meet their babe, what was supposed to be the happiest day of their life became the worst. A beautiful baby boy was born asleep.

James held his wife, his love, in his arms as they grieved over the death of their son. Two hours later princess Dolores took her last breath - complications of the birthing bed they said.

Several months later James was told he would need to marry again, something he was understandably against. A week after the anniversary of the death of his wife and son, he was forced to stand at the altar and marry a woman he had met one time.

“You don’t have to cover her up.” She whispered, her hands squeezing the cloth tightly. “She shouldn’t be covered.”

“Why?” Shifting from foot to foot he tilted his head to the side. “Wouldn’t it make you jealous? Or angry even?”

“No.” Looking up at the portrait of her husband's first wife. “I understand that you still love her, I will never ask for you to forget her.”

“No?” He watches as she nods her head he moves to one of the other pictures that were covered and pulls the cloth off. A portrait of him and Dolores. “What about this? Should this one be covered?”

Shaking her head. “You look happy.”

“Because I was.” He snaps, before removing all the covers. “This, none of this bothers you? She was my wife, the mother to our son, the woman I still love, and you’re telling me that this doesn’t bother you?”

“I have already told you, no.” Finding herself folding the cloth still in her hands, she shakes her head again as her vision starts to blur. “I don’t wish to replace her, truly I don’t, I didn’t have a say when it came to marrying you and I don’t have a say on the matter of us having children.”

“You- you didn’t have a say?”

A humorless chuckle leaves her lips. “Of course I didn’t. I was told in the morning when I arrived here. There was no warning, no chance for me to disagree - not that they would listen to me. I had no choice, prince James.”

“I- I’m sorry.” He whispers, feeling guilty for the way he’s spoken to her and the way he’s treated her since they got married. “I thought you knew, I was told all about you months before we met. I thought- I’m sorry Y/n.”

“It’s okay. Truly it is, I understand that your heart belongs to another and I do not wish to take that away from her.” She says as he tries to disagree with her. “I only wish that we could be friends, maybe? I will not get in the way of you and your paramours, I only ask that you keep it discreet and I will do my duty and give you an heir when it’s time.”

“Para- what? I wouldn’t- I swear!”

“The maids said that you spent our wedding night with another woman, and that’s why you refused the bedding ceremony to happen.”

“No I didn’t, I swear. The only reason I didn’t have the bedding ceremony happen was out of respect to you, I didn’t allow it to happen with Dolores so I wouldn’t allow it to happen with you.” He rushed out, gripping the beige coloured cloth in his hand. “I promise I was not with another woman.”

“It- it doesn’t matter. As I said, please keep them discreet.” Y/n turns around and heads into her chambers before he could even respond.

The next day as she walks down the hallway she notices the pictures covered once again, so she removes them and carries on her way to the library that Wanda had spoken highly about. The library was beautiful. Ceiling to floor shelves filled with all the books that had been written in the world - many of them were translated in different languages, a large fireplace that had already been lit sat against the left side of the room, three huge stained glass windows which created a colourful effect that bounced off of everything in the room - the bright coloured patterns made her smile. She felt happy, almost giddy as she spun around taking in everything around her.

Wanda found her lying on her stomach in front of the fireplace with numerous books around her. “Princess you need to eat.”

“Not hungry.”

“You didn’t have breakfast this morning, nor did you eat anything at the celebration last night.”

“Still not-”

“Hungry, I know.” The redhead chuckled. “Maybe something small? Only a few bites will do.”

“Fine.” She huffed. “As long as you eat with me.”

“I- I’m not sure-”

Turning around to face her, she smiled. “Please.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” When Wanda got back with a tray full of food, she placed it down on the floor next to Y/n, slowly taking a step back. “Sit with me, please.”

“What are you reading?”

“I don’t know.” She giggled. “It’s a good read though.”

“I’m glad. Please eat.” Grabbing a roll, she gasped as Wanda lightly smacked her hand. “You need to have more than that, it’s the only thing you ate when you had lunch with the queen.”

“But I like them?”

“Have something more, please.”

“Okay.” Picking up a slice of meat, she all but shoves it into her mouth causing Wanda to playfully roll her eyes. “Happy?”

“It’s unladylike to speak with your mouth full, did you know that?”

“I did, yes. Now it’s your turn to eat.” The only sound coming from the room was the crackling of the fire and the flipping of pages as they ate in silence and read. When the plate became empty, Y/n spoke. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“How long have you been working for the king and queen?”

“Since I was fifteen, my parents died of the plague and my twin brother was killed trying to protect a woman.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” She smiled softly. “I was on my own for about a year when Steve found me on the street begging for food - it isn’t something I’m proud of but I needed to survive, I prom-”

“You don’t need to feel ashamed.” Placing her hand on Wanda's, she gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’m never going to judge you for doing something you needed to do in order to survive.”

“I was in a bad way when Steve found me, he could have left me but he brought me here instead, ordered the maids to run a bath for me and had the cooks do me some food. Queen Winnie came in when I was having a bath, it was awkward.” She chuckled. “But she was so sweet to me, allowing me to sleep in one of the guest rooms, getting a physician to clean my wounds and check me over, and a week later she was giving me a job as her personal maid, she taught me how to read and write and king George taught me how to defend myself which ended with me nearly stabbing him in the leg.” They both laughed, Wanda smiling at the memory. “And I’ve been here ever since.”

“That’s really sweet. What about Natasha?”

“She was here before me, her story isn’t for me to tell but I will say she terrified me when we first met.”

“Why? She seems… nice.”

“She was moody and blunt, still is I suppose but truly princess Y/n she’s the nicest and kindest person I’ve ever met.”

“I hope to get to know her better.” Giving the redhead another squeeze on her hand. “Oh who’s Steve?”

“Bucky’s best friend an-”

“Who’s Bucky?”

“Your husband.”

“No? His name is-”

“James, yeah I know but everyone calls him Bucky - it’s short for Buchanan which is his middle name, he prefers to be called Bucky to be truthful.”

“Oh.” That was one thing the maid from her home forgot to mention, there was probably a lot more that she didn’t know about the man she married, but not knowing the name that he preferred to go by slightly annoyed her. “So, Steve?”

“He’s also a knight and Buck- James’s personal guard. He’s a good man but trust me when I say that you don’t want to get on his bad side.”

“Noted.”

“But honestly he’s a gentle man.”

“Sounds like you like him.” Wanda blushed and shook her head. “You do, don’t you?”

“No! No I don’t, he is a friend.” Glancing at the door before leaning over and whispering. “Don’t tell anyone but he and Nat were spending a lot of time together, if you know what I mean, however when Lady Peggy came along Steve stopped talking to Nat and he was all over the Lady.”

“That's horrible!”

“I know! And that's why I threw an apple at his head.” They both burst out laughing again. “You should have seen him, I got him right in the forehead!”

“You didn’t!”

“I did.” Wanda wiped the tears from her eyes as her stomach started to ache. “I thought the queen would be mad at me but she caught Nat crying and she told her everything so when Winnie found out that I threw an apple at him she said to me good job.” Her eyes widened when she realised what she had just said. “Don’t tell Nat that I told you that she was crying because I will just deny it.”

It was Y/n’s turn to wipe her own tears, shaking her head. “I won’t say anything, I promise.”

“Can I ask you something?” Wanda asked after the laughter died down. Y/n nods her head with a small smile on her lips. “What was your family like?”

“They’re… okay.”

“Just okay?”

“There isn’t much to say really.”

She guessed she overstepped the mark and instantly felt bad. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Picking at the strands of the rug they laid on, she shrugged. “M-my father was always busy, that’s why he didn’t come here with my family, my mother is- well she’s strict and can be quite mean, I have two younger sisters that are annoying and spoilt, I have three brothers although one did die in a battle and the other two never really spoke to me.”

“Why didn’t they speak to you?”

“I don’t know, they are older than me so maybe that’s why.”

“You said your brother died?”

“Yes but like the other two I wasn’t close to him.”

“Were you close with your sisters?”

“No.” She chuckled. “My brothers were born quite close together, several years later I was born and then the twins were born when I just turned eleven, and I wasn’t allowed near them for two months.”

“How come?”

“I was really ill for a few weeks before they were born and my mother didn’t want me anywhere near them so they wouldn’t get ill too.”

“That’s horrible, and not fair.” It was Wanda’s turn to squeeze Y/n’s hand. “It must have been lonely.”

“It was, especially when Rosie died.”

“Who is she?”

“My personal maid, she pretty much raised me. I used to think that she was my mum.” She chuckled. “She would always correct me, but I would call her mum just so she would tell me off - a smile on her lips as she did. She was always so kind to me, always held me when I cried, always made me laugh.”

“She sounds amazing. I’m so sorry.”

“She was.” She smiled sadly. “You don’t need to apologise because of her I knew a mothers love and real kindness.”

Not long after their conversation Y/n made her way to her chambers, finding the paintings once again covered - squinting her eyes she looked to the end of the hallway where James’s room was she smiled as she removed the covers once more.

Over the course of the week Y/n and Wanda met in the library - Winnie was more than happy to let Wanda spend time with the princess as it meant that she would eat thanks to the maid's constant badgering. Everyday they would lay on the rug or sit in the comfortable chairs and read - sometimes in silence or out loud, a maid would bring a tray full of food for them to eat and enjoy, when they weren’t reading they would talk about their lives or Wanda would tell her all the gossip and rumours she heard, but most importantly they would laugh - something Y/n hadn’t done since Rosie had passed away.

She had just bid goodnight to her redheaded friend then made her way down the corridor, she noticed the cloths still missing from that morning when she took them down - it had been their little routine since that night when they spoke, in the mornings she would remove the covers and when she would come back from spending the day with Wanda they would be covered again. A small frown appeared on her face as she took the paintings in. “You are quite stubborn, aren’t you?”

Spinning around she sees James standing there with a grin on his lips. “I can be sometimes.”

“Why do they not bother you?” He asked as he pointed to the wall.

“Why would they?”

“Because they’re of Dolores.”

“Exactly, just because you married me doesn’t mean you forget about her.” Glancing over her shoulder to look at the woman who held her husband's heart. “As I said the other day I do not want that to happen.”

“I don’t understand you.” James chuckled lowly. “You aren’t angry, actually you prefer the portraits to be shown and I don’t understand why?”

Walking over the windows she opens the curtains, the moon castling some light into the hallway, she chuckles softly. “I’ll be starting on these next.”

James walks over towards her and stands by her side, both looking up at the full moon. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“How can I be angry when I’m the other woman? How can I be angry when there isn’t any point in trying to make this work.”

“The other woman? What work?”

“Your heart belongs to a woman that isn’t me, and this marriage.” There was no anger in her tone, she just sounded drained. “I know this marriage will never work, I understand, truly I do. I’ll do what is expected of me, and I understand if you need to wait.” Smiling up at the moon, she turned to face him - tugging at the thick soft curtain. “I expect us to have a new routine. Goodnight prince James.”

He watches as she walks towards her room and slips through the gap of the door, and for the first time since the day he lost his wife and son, a genuine smile appeared on his lips. Closing the curtains before making his way towards his room knowing that in the morning they would have a new routine.

For the next two weeks the pair didn’t see each other - their only form of communication was her opening the curtains in the morning on her way to the library and him closing them at night. Winnie was growing annoyed by absence of James and Y/n at the dining table, even more annoyed when she found out that the couple wasn’t spending any time together - George knew his wife wanted their son to be happy and be in love like he once was, so the king determined to make his wife smile once more. Making his way to his sons chambers he entered without knocking. “I wish to be-”

“It’s me.” George says coming to the seat that James was sitting at. “How are you?”

“I’m fine. You?”

Staring into the flickering flames from the fireplace he sighed. “I would be if your mother was happy.”

“Why isn’t she happy?” Placing the book he was reading down he turned in his seat. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s because you and the princess have yet to spend time together.”

“What?”

“Your mother wishes you to spend time with the princess, and you will because you do not want to upset your mother, do you?”

“I- I- no, no I don’t.”

Smiling in triumph of how easy this was, George pats James on the shoulder. “Take her into the gardens, it’s a beautiful day.”

James heads to Y/n’s room waiting patiently for her to answer only for him to sigh and make his way to the library when she doesn’t answer. He hadn’t been to the room in a long time, the last time he was there was with Dolores when they were looking for names to pick for their unborn babe - his hand lingered on the door handle as the bittersweet memory replayed before him. A small amused smile tugged at his lips as he entered, seeing Y/n and Wanda play out a sword fight scene from a book they were reading - Wanda was the first to notice him.

“You will surrender to- Wanda?” Following the redheads eyeline, she dropped the cushion they were using as swords. “Pr- prince James.”

“Princess.”

“What- is everything okay?”

“Yes.” Wanda smiled to herself as James couldn’t take his eyes off of Y/n. “I- I just wondered if you would like to go for a walk through the gardens- with me of course.”

Handing the book over to Wanda giving her a shy smile as she does, she fixes her dress and makes her way over to him. “I would like that.” She hadn’t seen much of the castle she called home since arriving so as they made their way outside her eyes shifted around taking in everything around her. James held his arm out so she could link her arm through his, he walked her towards the gardens, smiling softly as she basked in the sunlight. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is, yes.” The pair strolled the grounds in silence, her eyes following the pretty butterflies fluttering around them creating invisible zigzags in the air as his own eyes were on her the whole time. He couldn’t deny that she was beautiful, he wasn’t blind, he thought that if he didn’t spend time with her then he wouldn’t develop feelings for her and then he wouldn’t be betraying Dolores because even though she was gone he still wore his wedding ring but now he wore it around his neck on the chain she had gifted him. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

Stopping in front of a fountain, he dropped his arm. “For not being here for you.”

“It’s okay.”

“No it isn’t.” He shakes his head as he sits on the stone bench in front of the fountain. “I haven’t treated you kindly and I’ve blamed you for things that you didn’t have control over. I’m sorry for it all, princess.”

Taking a seat next to him, her fingers twiddling with her bracelet on her wrist as her eyes followed a dark blue butterfly fluttering around. “It’s all forgiven.”

“Wh- how are you able to forgive me?”

“Because you aren’t the only one that has had their heart broken, forced into something that you do not want, and in all honesty prince James I do not have the energy to try and pretend to be angry at you.” She chuckles softly as the dark blue butterfly she had been watching landed on a leaf then slid off.

He sits there trying to understand her words, realising that he knew nothing about her or her life before being brought to his home and forced to marry him. It was his own fault, and he knew that. “What do you mean? When you said I’m not the only one that has had my heart broken.”

“I fell in love with the stable boy, and he loved me too.” She says after a few minutes of silence. “The last time I saw him was when I was being dragged into the carriage to be brought here. My mother and father knew of my feelings and they would try and keep me away from him, accusing me of doing things that never happened, making me feel dirty and wrong for loving someone who according to them wasn’t worthy of someone like me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologising.” She chuckles. “Neither one of us had a choice or say in this, so there is nothing to be sorry for.”

“Can I ask you something?” She nods and for the first time since they left the library she looks at him. “What did they accuse you of?”

“Sleeping with him, but it isn’t true, we didn’t even kiss. We were just friends who fell in love with each other, I swear nothing ever happened between us other than him giving me a hug when Rosie died.”

“Why would they accuse you?”

“Because we would spend time together, just us two, and my parents thought that something was happening and that’s why they had me checked.”

“Checked? What do you mean?”

“Checked… you know? To see if I was still pure.” Her eyebrow raised as he shakes his head in confusion. “Still a virgin.”

He rolled his eyes mainly at himself for not understanding what she meant straight away. “Oh!”

“Even when it was proven that I am, they still didn’t want me spending time with him so I would sneak out when everyone went to sleep.”

“Naughty.” He winked, causing her to giggle. “Did they ever find out?”

“Not until a week before I came here.”

“What happened?” Her cheeks went red, and his eyes went wide as she shook her head. “Y/n?”

“It’s embarrassing!”

“You definitely have to tell me now!” He laughed. “Come on.”

“I- I tripped over and fell into one of the statues and it made so much noise that it woke my parents up.”

He burst out laughing. A loud and cheerful laugh, something that he hadn’t done since the death of Dolores and their son. “Y-you didn’t! Then what happened?”

“Unfortunately I did.” She giggled. “Luckily I was coming back but they saw that I wasn’t in my nightgown and put two and two together, they scolded me until the sun came up and long after. For the rest of the week they had placed guards outside my door so I could no longer sneak out.”

“That’s- I shouldn’t be laughing, sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She says with a cheeky grin. “What they didn’t know was that I was climbing out of the window.”

“Y/n!”

“What?”

“You could have hurt yourself!”

“I didn’t, well there was one night where my hand slipped and fell but I was near the ground so I didn’t have far to fall.”

“You crazy girl.” He chuckled. “Did you two ever tell each other about how you felt?”

“We did. Even planned to run away with each other.” She smiled sadly with a soft sigh as she looked up at the sky. “I understand that isn’t something you want to hear.”

“Why didn’t you do it?”

“Because the day we planned was the day I found out I was marrying you.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Stop saying sorry! It’s no one’s fault.”

“You would have been happy with him though.”

She shrugs. “It doesn’t matter now.” Standing up she holds her arm out for him. “Come on, I want to see the rest of the garden.”

A soft smile lit up his face as he stood up and linked arms with her. As they walked slowly around he told her the stories and memories of when he was young and playing in the garden with Steve and Sam - explaining to her that both of them were away and would be back in a week - she giggled at the antics the three would get up to. When her stomach started to growl, Bucky suggested that they should head back inside to get something to eat. “I’ll make sure the cooks make your favorite rolls.”

“How do you know?”

“Wanda.” He smiles. “I’ve been asking her everything about you.”

“I- prince James you’re a sneaky man.”

He chuckles with a nod - he couldn’t disagree with her statement. “Call me Bucky, stop with this whole prince thing, alright?”

“Okay… prince Bucky.”

She giggles as he groans. “I can’t win with you, can I?”

“Nope.”

Winnie and George stood at the top of the staircase with smiles on their lips as they watched their son and daughter in law chuckle as they made their way into the dining hall. “I told you I’d sort it out.” George says quietly.

Over the course of a month they both fell into a routine where Bucky would wait for Y/n to get ready and then they would head to the dining room and have breakfast with his parents, then he would leave to do his duties whilst she either stayed with Winnie or go to the library with Wanda, and after he was done he would go and find her so they could go to the gardens. Afterwards they would have dinner with his family.

Bucky’s feet falter as he makes his way down the hallway towards his room to change out of his training uniform when he spots large window boxes full of multicoloured flowers that definitely weren’t there that morning. Slowly making his way over his fingers delicately reaching out to feel the soft petals, a smile growing on his face. Y/n was making slow changes to the dark and dull hallway and the rooms in their private quarters - the only room she didn’t enter was his bedroom - he wasn’t mad, more amused by her attempts to be sneaky about it, denying everything when he asked her.

After getting changed he went in the direction of the library where he knew she was when Steve came up to him and handed him a letter that had arrived. “Brock, again.”

“What has he said this time?” The blond asked as they walked through the hallways.

“That I would regret my decision.” He shrugs, folding up the letter and placing it into his trousers pocket. “I received a letter a couple of weeks ago saying that I needed to change my mind about not marrying his sister.”

“But you and Y/n were already married at this point, right?”

“Yep.”

Turning to face each other as they reach the library. “Are you going to tell Y/n?”

“I don’t know, maybe. I’ll see you later.” When he enters the room Y/n is laying on her back with a book in her hands raised above her face, he stifles the laugh that wants to announce his presence as she struggles to keep a hold of the pages. Even with him not saying a word Y/n holds up a finger to signal him to wait, when she’s finished reading the page she closes it softly. “Finished?”

“Finished, I’m enjoying this book so far.”

“I’m glad. What’s it about?” As she talks enthusiastically she links arms with him as they make their way towards the gardens, once again his eyes never leave her face - loving the way she lit up everytime he asked questions about the characters in her book. The cold air greets them as they come outside, ever the gentleman he takes his cloak off and wraps it around her. “Here.”

“Are you not going to get cold?”

“I’ll be fine.” She smiles, happy with his answer as she loves the way it drowns her with warmth and his scent. “Would you like to go and see if those bird eggs have hatched?”

“Yes please!”

His whole body tingles as she slides her hand into his, not even caring that she’s dragging him towards the tree where they had seen a bird's nest with three eggs the day before. “Slow down!” He chuckles loudly as she only grins at him.

After waiting nearly twenty minutes on a nearby bench the unmistakable sound of an egg hatching was heard, Y/n’s hand gripped his tightly - her eyes trained on the nest, and then the sound of chirping could be heard. “Bucky, look how happy mama bird is! Oh I wish we could see them properly, oh can we name them?”

He chuckles, nodding his head. “I don’t see why not, what do you want to name them?”

“James, Steve and Sam.”

His face falls, looking her dead in the eye as a sweet smile takes up her face. “Are you being serious?”

“Yes.”

“Are- right, but what if they are girls?”

“James, Steve and Sam.” He sat there stumbling over his words staring at her as if she had three heads on her shoulders. “Don’t you like the names?”

“I do.”

“Then that’s their names.” Saying her goodbyes to the birds, she takes Bucky’s hand and gently pulls him up so they could carry on their walk. As they neared the pond separating them and his family crypt she feels him tense up. “You okay?”

“Yes, I don’t know. I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?” His fingers slowly unlink with hers as he slips his hand away, he hands her the letter, urging her to read it with a small nod. “I don’t understand?”

“His name is Brock Rumlow, he sent a letter of condolences after Dolores and our son died but in the same ink offered his sister as an alliance.” Y/n’s eyes went wide with shock, Bucky nodded as a low chuckle left him. “I threw the letter in the fireplace, then every two weeks he sent another - all offering his young sister, Y/n she is only thirteen.”

Her face scrunches up in disgust. “Are you joking?”

“No. I wrote a letter back when I learned of her age and told him I was not interested, but he wouldn’t leave it be. When he got word of our marriage the letters kept coming, each time he asked me to dissolve our union and to wed his sister so our forces could be united.” He lets out a scoff, his foot lightly kicking a stone. “He has no lands, no title, the only men he has are savages.”

“He says that you will regret your decision, what does he mean? What will he do?”

Hearing the worry in her voice he quickly grabbed her hands softly, promising her as he says. “Nothing, he will not be stupid enough to come here.”

“Are you sure?”

Tucking in a few stray hairs behind her ear, a soft smile on his lips. “I’m positive and I swear to you that no one will harm you.”

“I believe you.” Squeezing his hand. Sam had made his way over to the couple letting them know that dinner was being served, bidding his goodbyes before either one could say anything. “Come on, let's get some food. I also need to tell your mother about the eggs hatching.”

Bucky chewed on his food as he watched Y/n tell his mum enthusiastically about the three new birds - the entire dining hall filled with laughter when she told everyone the names of the birds. He purposely chose to ignore Steve’s eyes and the not so subtle grin on his face as he continued to watch Y/n - he couldn’t take his eyes off of her, the way her bright eyes lit up, the way her nose scrunched up as her smile grew as Rebecca told her about her day, parts of her soft hair falling out of the braid it was in. He had only just begun to realise just how truly beautiful she was, inside and out, her witty remarks and her honesty were something that drew him closer to her.

He didn’t say a word as they walked arm in arm towards their chambers - aside from bidding her goodnight before he nervously pressed a sweet yet quick kiss to her cheek. That small act caused both of their cheeks to turn bright red.

Her eyes squint at hearing a light thud on his door not knowing that Bucky banged his head against it out of embarrassment.

Without the help from the maid she managed to undo her dress and the braid, she got into her nightgown and practically crawled into bed. Finally getting comfortable in the large bed after a long day with one final tug of her on her thick blanket bringing it further up to her chin, she was fast asleep the second her head touched the pillow.

She had no idea of how long she had been asleep when the weight of a hand covered her mouth that had her eyes shooting open. A man towering over her with a sickening grin on his lips, she flinched as he breathed on her. “Don’t make a sound princess.”

Her face aches from the pressure of the man’s hand, her whole body rigid, her eyes wide with fear, a sharp pain shoots through her skull then everything goes black.

Wanda panted for breath as she ran faster than she had ever done before, without knocking she slammed open the door to king George’s private office knowing that Bucky, Steve and Sam were also there.

“Wha- Wanda?” George wasn’t too pleased with the meeting he was having with his son and guards interrupted by the maid.

“She’s gone! Princess Y/n, s-she’s gone.”

Bucky pushed by her and ran all the way to his wing with his dad, best friends and Wanda following closely behind, he rushed into Y/n’s room and began frantically looking around. “Where- where is she?”

“I- I don’t know, she wasn’t in the library like always so I came here and found the room empty.” Wanda explained, her eyes filling with tears as Bucky paced up and down. “I- I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” George says softly, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Can you go and fetch the queen and bring her here.”

Without saying a word the redhead nodded and ran out of the room. “Buck.”

“Not now Steve.”

“There’s a note on the table, it’s for you.”

Turning to face the blond he rushed over and grabbed the note. “It- she’s been taken!”

“Who would be stupid enough to take her?” George snatched the note from his sons grasp and read it himself. “We will find her and bring her back home, I promise.”

“It’s all my fault.” Sitting on the edge of Y/n’s bed Bucky began tugging at his hair. “It’s my fault!”

“It’s not.”

“What is going on?” Winnie questioned as she entered, Wanda and Natasha right behind her. “George?”

He doesn’t say anything, just hands her the note, going over to his son he takes a seat next to him. “You mustn’t blame yourself.”

“Steve, go and get all the guards and meet us in the war room. Sam, go and place the castle on lockdown.” Winnie orders - going over to where her son and husband were sitting, crouching down she puts her hands on Bucky’s knees. “We will find her.”

“We don’t know where she is mum, we don’t know if-if- I can’t- mum I can’t do it again- I can’t bury another wife!” His mums hands struggle to grab his own as he tugs furiously on his hair, his chest heaving as unpleasant thoughts and visions enter his head.

“You will not! I swear this to you.” Squeezing his hands softly, she gives him a reassuring smile. “We will get her back.”

It was freezing cold in the dark and dingy room she found herself waking up in, the strong stench of blood and sick was stuck in her throat as her stomach churned with disgust and fear, the rope tying her hands painfully together behind her back was that tight she was sure that blood was trickling down her hand, she tried to shift her legs only to find them also tied. The throbbing pain in her head intensified when the door squeaked loudly open.

“Ah, you’re awake princess.”

“W-who are you?”

“Someone who knows your husband.” The man walks closer towards her and crouches down. “He wronged me so I took something from him. You.” The way he looked her up and down made her skin crawl, the hairs on the back of her neck standing to attention as he reached out and ran his fingers along her bare leg. “Nothing to say princess?”

“What is it that you want?”

Sighing dramatically and with a huff he shifts himself so he could sit on the dirty, hay covered floor in front of her. “Your husband is going to try and rescue you- why are you laughing?”

She laughed even more as his face contoured in confusion, shaking her head as tears began to slip down her cheeks. “Y-you- oh you idiot! James won’t come and rescue me!”

“Y-you’re his wife.”

“And?” Her eyebrows raise as he sits there opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. “Are you alright?”

He jumps up and begins to pace around the small room, his eyes bouncing from her to the floor. “He will come, he has too, you're his wife.”

“I’ll say it again, and? He doesn’t love me, everyone knows that - well not everyone because you didn’t - he’ll just move on and marry someone else.”

“You're wrong!”

“You might as well just kill me now because he isn’t coming.” She says nonchalantly with a shrug. “I would say you could let me go but I’m not that stupid- unlike some people in this room.”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Spit flies from his mouth as he screams. Rushing over he grabs ahold of her hair and pulls her closer to him. “I’ll be generous and give him five days to come and find you. If he’s not here by then, I’ll let my men have their fun with you, and then I’ll kill you.” His nose flares whether in anger or frustration as he sees no sign of fear in her eyes as she stares straight into his own. Roughly letting her go he smirks when her head bounces off the wall behind her, slamming the door behind him he laughs as he says. “See you in five days princess.”

Listening out for the multiple footsteps getting further away from her, she let go of the breath of air she didn’t know she was holding. Looking out of the tiny window to the left of her, she smiled sadly as the full moon hung high in the night sky - the first fearful tear fell from her eyes as she tried to get as comfortable as she could.

Bucky couldn’t settle. If he was standing he was pacing around. If he was sitting his knee would be bouncing up and down. He wouldn’t eat or drink or even attempt to sleep despite his mums constant badgering and failed attempts to get him to eat. Every time his eyes closed on their own accord he would see horrendous images of her - bruised and cuts littering her soft skin, her begging the monsters who took her not to hurt her, before it could get any worse he would force his eyes open, they would leave him breathless and tugging furiously at his hair again.

Steve walked past Y/n’s room finding the door open, there he was sitting on the edge of her bed holding her wedding ring - that was left behind - in his hand. “Buck?”

“We’ve been getting on so well - now that I’ve not been avoiding her.” He says with a humourless chuckle. Gripping the ring tighter in his hand, he shakes his head as fresh tears burn his vision. “It isn’t fair Steve, I’ve lost her before I even got a chance at happiness again.”

“You can’t think like that, we will get her back.” The blond's heart aching at seeing his best friend broken again - after losing Dolores he became a shell of himself. Steve held his brother in his arms after he completely destroyed the nursery he spent everyday for several weeks decorating - the blond remembers the happy couple's cheerful chuckles bouncing off the walls as Bucky accidentally tipped paint all over himself. He knew Bucky didn’t want to marry again and he couldn’t blame him for that, but seeing Bucky’s eyes light up whenever Y/n was around he knew that maybe he would get his best friend back. Smiling softly, he opened the door wider. “Come on, we’re all waiting on you.”

Determination fuelled him as he walked towards his father, nodding his head at his dads unspoken question before mounting his horse. He was going to bring his wife home, he had to, he couldn’t - wouldn’t fail her.

Every time she tried to close her eyes they somehow always knew and would bang on the metal door startling her awake, they hadn’t given her any food or anything to drink, and with the coldness seeping into her bones she was starting to struggle with keeping focused. She had long since given up trying to get comfortable as every time she moved a sharp pain shot through her arm - being at an uncomfortable angle caused one side of her body to go numb. Seconds after her eyes shut close the door squeaked loudly open.

“Wake up princess.” The man whose name she still didn’t know says as he kicks her legs. “It’s been five days.”

“T-told you he wouldn’t come.” She croaked out watching as he leaned against the wall, a grin on his lips as his eyes lingered on her legs - though her heart was beating so loudly she thought he must be able to hear, she tried not to show any fear.

“Yes you did.” Pushing himself off the wall he walks slowly up to her, pulling out a knife he pulled her forward to cut the binds. “And I told you what would happen, didn’t I? Didn’t I princess?” He grips her face in his hand and forces her head up and down when she doesn’t respond. “I have to admire your courage, you’ve yet to be broken but I can promise you that is all going to change.” He grabs hold of her legs quicker than her brain can catch up to what’s happening, with one hand holding the knife to her throat the other begins to undo the buttons to his trousers, before he could free himself Y/n brings her leg up and kicks him with all her strength. “You bitch!”

Not even sparing him a glance she jumps up on shaky legs and runs towards the door, she doesn’t get far as he grabs hold of her ankle and drags her down. “Get. Off. Me!” She growls with clenched teeth, kicking him in the face after each word. Hissing in agony as he drags the blade down her leg, blood instantly streaming out.

He knocks her onto her back and climbs on top. “You just had to ruin things, didn’t you?”

“I would rather die than have you touch me!” She smiles sarcastically, chuckling as he flinches at her words. “You pathetic little boy.”

“Shut up!”

“Sorry, did I hurt your feelings?” At that, he drops the knife next to them and wraps his hands tightly around her throat. She couldn’t tell which hurt more, the open wound on her leg or the pain on her neck, but she knew that she wasn’t going to die in this dingy room with this disgusting creature on top of her - reaching out she blindly searches for the knife, without thought or hesitation she grabs the handle and uses all her strength to ram it into his side.

“You- you-” He mumbles just seconds before landing on her, his breathing slowing down.

“I- oh… oh no, no, wake up - don’t fall asleep, no, I- I didn’t mean to- wake up!” Her blood covered hand shakes as she pats him on the back, her breathing getting faster and shorter as he doesn’t move. “No, no you wake up, you can’t die!”

What felt like a lifetime was in fact only a couple of seconds, a few minutes max, she laid there with him on top of her as tears poured from her eyes, her heart pounding loudly and painfully in her chest. She had just murdered him. The rational part of her brain wasn’t working, wasn’t trying to make her realise that he was going to kill her without any hesitation, wasn’t making her realise that what she did was justifiable.

Wincing as she pushes him off of her he lands on the ground with a soft thud, whispering an apology she pulls the blade from his side and slowly gets up to make her escape.

Steve watched nervously as Bucky paced up and down whilst king George gave out the orders, they received word two nights before that Y/n had been kept in a fort, they had found it and the plan was to surround it and then attack. There wasn’t going to be any negotiations, no messing around, they were going to get the princess with or without shedding blood.

His father gave the signal to attack. The large wooden gates were quickly knocked down, and it all went to chaos. Blood stuck to his skin and clothes. The cries and screams echoed into the night. His eyes were frantically searching around for any sign of his wife. Grabbing one of the enemies, he slams him onto the ground. “Where is she?”

“Dead.” The man with black teeth laughed. “The bitch is-” Bucky’s blade goes through the man's throat before he could finish his sentence.

As the fight continued around him he watched as two large men stalked towards a small shaking figure, squinting his eyes as his heart jumped into his throat. “Y/n? Y/n!”

Y/n’s heart nearly stopped beating as a loud crash pierced through the silence seconds before everything went chaotic. The whole place erupted in war cries, blades clashing against blades, men crying out in pain - she tries to find somewhere to hide as men rush past her not even sparing her a glance. That was until two men saw her trying to hide - one reached out grabbing her by her hair yanking her up, he didn't even flinch as her nails dig into his arms clawing at him in desperation.

The tight grip he had on her hair gets released as a blade goes through his stomach, scrambling backwards and tripping over she lands with a hard thud.

His heart squeezed painfully in his chest seeing her shaking on the ground with her knees pulled tightly to her chest and covered in blood, dropping his sword he crouches down. “Y/n, it’s me - it’s Bucky.”

“B-Bucky?”

“It’s me, sweet girl.”

Her teary eyes broke his heart. “Y-you came.” She whispers before launching herself into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck. “You came!”

“Of course I did.” Running his fingers up and down her back, he holds her just as tight as she was holding him. “Of course I came for you. Is this blood yours? Look at me darling.”

Reluctantly pulling away from him she wipes the tears from her cheeks. “I- I thought you wouldn’t an-and I told him but he wouldn’t listen - why did you come?”

His frown matches her own. “What do you mean, why did I come? You're my wife.”

“But-”

“No buts, okay? Is the blood yours Y/n?”

“N-not all of it.” She tugs at her nightgown that was once a pastel pink now dark red. “I- Bucky I- I killed him - I didn’t mean to b-but I couldn’t- he was-”

“It’s okay.” He interrupts her, nodding softly as she frowns. “You didn’t have a choice. I’m so sorry that you had to be in a situation that you didn’t have a choice.”

“I didn’t- I’m sorry.”

Cupping her face in his hands, he wipes some of the drying blood off her cheek. “You don’t need to apologise, I mean it Y/n - don’t ever apologise, okay?”

“O-okay.”

“Let’s get you home, Wanda’s missing you.”

When George sees them approaching from the archway he grabs the nearest blanket he could see and rushes over to them, wrapping it around her with a soft smile. All the soldiers lowered their heads in a sign of respect as the three royals walked past, Steve and Sam stood to the side watching as Bucky’s eyes never leaving Y/n’s face.

Wanda couldn’t settle. She had tried ever since they had left the camp to rescue Y/n. She had begged her king and queen to go too, after nearly an hour of her pleading with them they caved and said yes - both knowing that their daughter in law and maid were close, they thought Y/n would appreciate seeing a friendly face. The skin around her nails were sore from her constant biting, her knee kept bouncing every time she sat down, every few seconds she kept looking up the hill where the fort sat to see if anyone was coming.

She had only just sat down on a fallen log when she heard the sound of horses getting close. “Wanda!” She rushes towards her king but he waves her off. “The princess has been injured, help her.”

Bucky helps Y/n down off his horse and leads her to where Wanda was waving him over. “Princess, I'm so glad you’re safe. I have missed you terribly.”

“I've missed you too, my friend.” The redhead had a smile on her face the whole time she worked on cleaning and stitching up the large wound on Y/n’s leg. When she was done she helped the princess take off the blood soaked nightgown and change into a plain dress Wanda had brought along whilst Bucky went to get some food. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me.” Wanda whispered. “It might scar but I’ve tried my hardest-”

Taking the maids hand in hers she squeezed gently. “It’s okay, I promise.”

“Prince James has been struggling since you were taken.”

“How do you mean?”

“He wouldn’t eat or sleep, and the only time he spoke was when he was trying to find you. He was truly worried about you princess.”

“I didn’t think he would come for me.” She whispers, her fingers picking at the loose thread of her dress. “I t-thought he would just leave me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because he doesn’t love me.”

“You're his wife.”

“And? If I was at home and this happened my parents wouldn’t even realise.” She chuckles lowly. “I’m grateful, truly I am, but I really thought I was going to die there an-and I just accepted that.”

Before Wanda could respond the flaps of the tent came open, the look on Bucky’s face told the two women he had heard the conversation. “Wanda, you can leave.” The redhead nods, bidding her goodbyes as she leaves. Bucky sat in the seat he was in before and hands her a plate George had with him. “Here, I didn’t know what you wanted so I got a bit of everything that we have.”

“Thank you.”

“Did you mean it?” The question was asked without missing a beat. It also hung in the air as she chewed her food slowly as she tried to find a way to delay answering, his bright blue eyes pleading with her to talk to him. “Y/n?”

Swallowing the food, she let out a soft sigh. “I- I don’t know what you want me to say Bucky.”

“Tell me that you knew I wasn’t going leave you there, that I was going to rescue you.” The distress in his voice had her heart clenching. “You must have known, right?”

“I just thought that it would be easier for-”

“Easier for me to bury a second wife? You truly are stubborn!” He scoffs. “I like you Y/n, and I would never wish any harm on you, finding out that you were taken it- it terrified me - the thought of never seeing you again and that stupid smile you give whenever you tell me the most ridiculous of jokes, it terrified me and you think that just because I haven’t told you that I love you it meant that I would leave you there being hurt or worse!”

He stands up and makes a beeline to exit the tent not even stopping as she calls out his name. The second the fresh cold air hit his skin he let out a stuttering breath. Steve watches as his best friend staggers away towards a tree further away and collapses against it - jumping up he runs over towards him. “Buck?”

“She doesn’t- she thought-”

“Bucky breath, slowly in and out.” The blond sat in silence as he waited for Bucky to steady his breathing - he had only seen him like this twice in all the years they had known each other, the first time was the day he buried Dolores and their son, and the second time was the morning of him getting married to Y/n. “Did she say what happened to her?”

“No.” He wasn’t going to tell anyone about her killing the monster who had taken her, it wasn’t his place to say anything without her permission. “She thought I was going to leave her there, she thinks I don’t love her, she just accepted that she was going to die in there. I- I just don’t know what to do Steve.”

“Why would she think- wait, do you love her?” Under the moonlight Steve could see Bucky’s cheeks blush. His loud chuckles catches the attention from those from camp - not that he cares. “You do, don’t you?”

“Yes- no- I don’t know. She drives me insane with her stubbornness and her beautiful face and her smile, oh and her laugh.” He twists his wedding ring as he stares up at the moon. “She said that Dolores has my heart which is true but is it possible that she could too?”

“Maybe but that’s a good thing, no?”

“I feel like I’m betraying Dot, yet all I want to do is make Y/n smile, make her happy. It’s different, I don’t know how to explain it.” He sees the confusion written all over his best friends face, he shrugs. “With Dot, we were young when we fell in love - it was perfect, we were always happy but with Y/n it’s… she makes me laugh, she annoys me, she frustrates me but in a good way you know? With Y/n it’s easier.” His voice goes quiet towards the end of his sentence. Never did he ever think that he would love someone else, he promised Dolores that he would never love anyone else - and here he was not even two years after her death falling in love with someone he was forced to marry.

“Dolores would want you to be happy, and I know for sure that she would have loved Y/n if they had met.”

“You think so?”

Steve nods, a soft smile on his lips. “Bucky if Y/n makes you happy you shouldn’t push that away, you’d be stupid if you do.” The blond uses Bucky’s shoulder to help him stand up with a groan. “Don’t be stupid Buck.”

The sun began to rise by the time Bucky finally moved away from the tree only for him to go and sit outside his tent where Y/n was sleeping, safe and sound. A few soldiers that were still awake were milling around the makeshift camp - some getting ready for the morning when it was time to head home, the others were on guard duty. No one paid him any attention as he fiddled with the ring on his finger, Steve was right and he knew it, he just hoped he hadn’t messed things up with his stubborn princess.

George found him in the morning still sitting guard, a frown on his lips as he studied the chain in his hands - a ring dangling from it - a soft sigh fell from the king's lips as he made his way over to his son. “Have you been here all night?”

“Yes.”

“Have you slept?”

“No.”

George groans dramatically causing Bucky to roll his eyes. “Your mother will be mad at me now.”

“I’m not a child.” He grumbled - huffing when his dad laughed.

“I know but you know how your mum worries.” Patting his son on his shoulder he nods his head towards the tent. “How is she?”

“Wanda cleaned and stitched the wound, I’ll get her to clean it again before we leave.” He says as he stretches his legs out. “She’s not told me what happened.”

“Yet. She’ll talk to you when she’s ready, I’m sure of it.”

“Dad?”

“Yes.”

“I- I think I lo-” He cuts himself out when the flaps to his tent comes open, a tired Y/n emerges. “You shouldn’t be walking around.” He scolds her, raising up and offering his arm for her to take.

“M-my leg hurts.”

“I’ll go and get Wanda.” George says before walking off in the direction to where the redhead was.

“Come and sit.” Bucky holds her arm and helps her sit in the chair he had been occupying all night. “You should have called for me, I would have helped you.”

“I know.” She breathes out softly trying to get her leg into a comfortable position. “I just wanted some fresh air and not to be a burden.”

“A burden? Don’t be stupid Y/n.” Squeezing her hand in his, he shakes his head. “You’ll never be a burden.”

“You say that now but when I’m constantly asking you for help you’ll get annoyed.”

“Never.” He vowed. “However I expect the same treatment if I’m ever injured.”

“Don’t be stupid.” She smiles which grows as he chuckles. “I’ll get Wanda to look after you.”

“That’s harsh.”

Wanda runs over whilst rubbing the sleep from her eyes, instantly checking on the wound - cleaning it and wrapping it up with fresh bandages, whispering an apology as she wraps it too tightly. When king George is reassured by Wanda that the princess was well enough to travel he gives the order to pack everything up so they could go back home.

It had been two weeks since they returned home, Winnie cried happily when she saw Y/n - grimacing when she saw her leg, rushing the physicians into the young woman’s chambers, luckily there were no signs of infection. Winnie had the cooks prepare food as she made up a bath herself and even pouring her favourite oils into the tub, she stayed there throughout Wanda helping Y/n bathe - talking to her about everything and anything.

In those two weeks Bucky hadn’t visited her, not once, despite Y/n having asked for him a couple of times he kept himself in the hallway - never going further away other than his own room just to have a restless sleep. Wanda had asked him why he wouldn’t go in and see the princess and he responded that he was angry, he wasn’t, not really, he was still upset about the conversation he had with Y/n - didn’t help that he still didn’t know what had happened when she was taken, his mind conjuring up awful abuse and suffering.

“Bucky, are you there?”

It was the first time he had heard her voice since coming home, he had missed it - though he knew he only had himself to blame for that. “Yes.”

“Go away.” He chuckles softly, shaking his head as he leans against the wall. “Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“You’re annoying.”

“So are you.” She scrunches up her face, frowning when he says. “Don’t be pulling that face.”

“How- I wasn’t pulling a face.”

“Yes you did, now your arms are crossed and your pouting.”

Her eyes scan the room to make sure he wasn’t actually inside with her because of how right he was. “That- how?”

“And now you're coming to the door.” He whispers, grinning when the door comes open. “Princess.”

“Don’t you have anything better to do than be standing outside my room?”

“I’m trying to keep an eye on you and since you won’t allow me in your room, I’ll have to do it from right here.”

Squinting her eyes and folding her arms - he mimics her actions. “I thought you were angry at me?”

“I was, still am.” He shrugs his grin getting wider. “How’s your leg healing?”

“It’s fine.” Rolling her eyes she turns around and walks towards her bed, sitting down she has to fight off the smile that tries to make an appearance as he leans against the doorframe - a dopey grin on his lips. “Come in then, you're letting all the heat out.”

“Thank goodness, it’s freezing in that hallway.” He chuckles, shutting the door behind him as he makes his way towards the large lit fireplace. “I’m not actually angry at you, you do know that don’t you?”

“Seems like you was.”

“No. I was just worried about you, I didn't want your leg falling off or something.”

“It’s not going to fall off.”

“It could.”

“It wouldn’t.”

“Could.”

“If it falls off can I hit you with it?”

“I don’t see why not.” With his back to her he smiles as she giggles. He had honestly missed the sound. “Did Wanda change your bandages?”

“Yes, she did it earlier.”

“Good.” The couple fell into a comfortable silence, Bucky stared into the flickering flames as Y/n's eyes went from her hands that were resting on her lap to him. His body was relaxed for the first time since the night he rescued her, his hair was washed and put in the small bun she had grown used to seeing. Bucky was the first to break the silence. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, are you?”

“I only ask because you're staring.”

“No I’m not.”

“Are.”

“Not.”

He turns around and smirks. “Are.”

“You’re annoying, do you know that?”

“Says the one.” Squinting his eyes at her, she does the same. “Admit that you were staring and all is forgiven.”

“Forgiven?” Standing up and walking towards him, she crosses her arms. “Admit that you’re annoying.”

“You first.”

“Never.”

There’s a few inches between the two as they stare at each other, both silently daring the other to break first, both internally struggling not to be the one that breaks first.

Bucky cheats. Plain and simple. He unfolds his arms quicker than she realised, cupping her face in his warm hands and presses his lips to hers.

It takes her brain a few seconds to catch up, when it does she pulls herself away from him, and smacks him across the face. “What are you doing?”

“I- I was kiss-”

Y/n cuts him off by pulling him closer by his shirt and kisses him back. She had never kissed anyone before, the first time she did was when they were married - it was only a peck, this, this was completely different, he knew obviously and she was grateful that he was silently showing her the ropes as he took the lead.

“W-we don’t have to.” He whispers against her soft intoxicating lips when she tenses in his arms as his hands begin to explore her frame.

“I want to.”

He smiles softly as he leads her backwards to the bed, his fingers slowly undoing the laces to her dress as her eyes stay on his. The dark green dress gifted to her by the queen pooled around her ankles with a soft thud, she expected his eyes to go from hers to her naked body but they didn't - they stayed on hers.

“You are beautiful. So, so very beautiful.” A sharp gasp falls from her lips as he sets a trail of wet kisses down her neck, chuckling as she giggles. “You alright?”

“It tickles.”

“I’m sorry, my love.” He whispers against her lips. “Want me to stop?”

“No!” She replies quickly. “Please don’t stop.”

He continues to leave a burning trail down her body, smirking to himself as she giggles softly, cupping her breasts - loving the way they fit perfectly in the palms of his large hands - his lips never once leaving her goosebumped skin. She inhales sharply when she feels his hot breath between her legs only to release a sigh which quickly turns into a deep moan when he begins to devour her as if he was starved - and like a man starved, he couldn’t get enough of her.

Silently asking if she wanted to continue, the response he gets is her hands tugging at his waist. He practically rips off his own clothes, sighs of content leave their mouths as he slides home for the first time, littering kisses all over her beautiful face as he whispers praises. The feeling of her body beneath his was something that he never wanted to forget, her warmth, her softness, her soft cries as he brought her pleasure with every touch and movement.

It wasn’t long until they both fell apart in each other's arms.

After cleaning up the mess he left in between her legs, he climbed into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yes.” She has a smile on her lips as she looks up at him - one that had his heart fluttering. “Bucky.”

“Yes?”

“You’re annoying.”

Pulling her closer with a chuckle, he places a lingering kiss to her forehead. “And you are stubborn.”

In the morning they laid in her warm and cosy bed, his arm under her as she talked about what had happened that week she was taken, describing the man who she killed - he had told her that the man was Brock. A deep frown on his face as she kept apologising for what she had done, his arms circled around her naked body and pressing her against his as she finally broke down in tears.

For the whole day they stayed in her room, enjoying the warmth of each other and the quietness that they wouldn’t get from the rest of the castle. Wanda went to take them some food only to turn bright red as the sound of soft moaning seeped from under the door.

Throughout the week Bucky had stayed in her room, practically moving in - she didn’t complain until she nearly tripped over his clothes that he had left on the floor which he was quick to apologise and pick them up.

Everyone in the castle saw the difference between the couple, the first time George and Winnie saw Bucky place a lingering kiss on Y/n’s lips as he was heading towards the training grounds their eyes widened in surprise before trying to pretend they hadn��t seen the public display of affection when the young couple gaze turned to them. It was nice for them to see their son go back to being happy, for them it had been far too long since they had seen a genuine smile on his face.

“Gwen?”

Gwendolyn - Brock’s sister - had been found by one of George's soldiers, terrified and trembling with fear as she was brought before the king who brought her back home, he didn’t have the heart to leave a child on her own despite who she had admitted who her brother was. She had been given a job as a maid which she was more than happy with, Y/n had requested the young girl to be with her just so the guards would leave her alone. It’s now been six months since she had been serving the princess, and she couldn’t be happier. The young girl preferred to be called Gwen had told Y/n and Bucky that it was her way of getting further away from her brother as he was the only person who called her by her full name - they both understood completely and were more than willing to make her comfortable. “Yes princess.”

“Do you know how to read and write?”

“No princess.”

“Would you like to learn?”

The young girl's eyes widened, her head nodding quickly. “Y-yes please princess.”

“How many times have I told you to drop the title?” She chuckles lightly. “We’ll do your lessons in the library, would you like to start today?”

“If- if that’s okay?”

“Of course it is, let's go.”

Gwen deeply appreciated that the princess and Wanda didn’t make her feel more stupid or embarrassed than she already felt as she stumbled and stuttered over the words in the book, a shy smile taking up her face as they both praised her.

Bucky leaned against the doorframe with a soft grin on his lips as he listened to Y/n help Gwen with the word she was stuck on, his heart beating faster as his wife smiled with pride as the young girl read the sentence without struggle. Making his presence known, he took a step forward. “Well done Gwen.”

“P-prince James.” She went to jump up out of her seat when Y/n placed her hand on hers and shook her head with a soft smile. “T-thank you.”

“Are you learning how to write as well?”

“Yes prince James.”

“You don’t need to use my title.” He tells her. “How is your writing?”

“Terrible prin- sir?”

Her cheeks turn bright red as they all laugh, not at her but because of her words. “Just call me James or Bucky, none of this sir stuff.”

“O-okay.”

Bucky had to admit that he found it a bit weird that Y/n wanted the young girl as her maid, quickly understanding when she told him that some of the guards had made comments about the young girl's body - he felt sick at hearing that. For him it was weird due to the fact that she was the child her brother was trying to get him to marry - it wasn’t her fault obviously and he knew that. “And if your writing is terrible, it will get better in time, don't worry.” Turning to face Y/n he held his hand out for her. “My love, they’re here.”

Y/n nodded and took his hand to help her stand, her free hand resting on her growing bump. Five months ago Wanda kept eyeing up Y/n as the latter couldn’t get comfortable before jumping up to find the basin to empty the contents of her stomach, it was the redhead who suggested that maybe she was pregnant - stifling a laugh when the princess went pale as her eyes went wide.

When the physician confirmed what Wanda already knew, it was hard for Bucky to understand what Y/n was trying to say, and after nearly ten minutes of stuttering and stumbling over her words she practically shouted out that she was with child. He was ecstatic, smiling from ear to ear, hands instantly moving to her stomach. However it didn’t last long. He stared at her stomach as she slept peacefully next to him that night as images flashed in front of him of Dolores and their son - bloody and lifeless. Y/n woke up to him pacing up and down, his watery eyes bounced from her to the floor - it took her nearly an hour to calm him down and reassure him that everything would be okay.

Swallowing the lump in her throat as they entered the throne room she kept her eyes on queen Winnie as her family came into view. “Darling.”

Bucky felt Y/n tense as her father greeted her. “Father.”

“You are with child?”

“Yes.”

“And you did not send a letter to inform us?” Her mum questioned, eyeing up her daughter.

“I-”

“We had to find out-”

“Don’t interrupt my wife.” Bucky cuts her mum off. “And I must say that you have not once sent a letter to Y/n since she’s been here, therefore you can’t complain.”

Both George and Winnie tried to conceal the smirks on their faces - not fast enough as Y/n already caught it. “She’s my daughter.”

“And she is my wife and the mother of our child.”

“And we all know what happened to your last wife and child, don’t we?” Bucky’s jaw tightened as Y/n’s eyes went wide as her father chuckled at what his wife said.

“Get out.” All eyes in the throne room snap to Y/n.

“W-what?”

“Get out.” She repeats without missing a beat, her voice cold as she stares at her father.

“You heard the princess.” Winnie says. “Get out.”

“B-but my queen-”

“You and your wife have been rude to my family, and I don’t want you here in my home. Now leave.”

In awkward silence her parents scurried by them with their heads downwards. Bucky gave her a reassuring smile once the doors closed a deafening bang. “I- I’m so sorry.”

“What for?”

“For my parents, I’m sorry.”

The brunette gripped her hands and shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“He’s right.” George says as he descends the steps. “You did nothing wrong.”

“B-but they’re my parents.”

“You can’t control what your parents say or do, and we don’t blame you.”

A week later Gwen enters the drawing room where Y/n was doing some needlework, she softly says. “Princess, a letter has arrived for you.”

“Thank you.” When she saw her fathers handwriting she debated whether or not to open it, however curiosity got the better of her. A single sentence written in her fathers neat handwriting.

You are dead to us.

She wouldn’t hear or see her family ever again.

It was two weeks after their first anniversary Bucky was running as fast as he could towards the painful piercing screams with his heart lodged into his throat, Steve and Sam right behind him, finding George waiting outside the room flinching as each cry got louder. “Dad?”

“She’s okay, your mum is in there with her, so is Wanda and Natasha.” Placing his hand on his son’s shoulder giving him a reassuring squeeze. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Y/n’s whole body sagged after one final push, hair sticking to her face as she panted, it was only when Wanda came into view with a huge smile on her lips as she wiped the sweat from her face. “W-what is it?”

“A boy, princess.”

Nodding weakly, her gaze went to Natasha as she cleaned up the crying baby, she didn’t even realise that Winnie was congratulating her as Wanda cleaned her up, she didn’t even react when the door came open.

Bucky slowly walked in, his heart racing as he heard the baby crying - something that he never got to hear with his son. His heart stilling when he sees Y/n dazed, pale and struggling to sit up. I can’t do it again kept repeating over and over as he rushed to her. “Y/n? My love?”

Nodding, a tired grin on her face as she slurred. “I- I just had a baby.”

“Yes you did.” He chuckled. “You did so well my sweet girl, so well, I’m so proud of you.”

“It’s a boy. The baby, it’s a boy.” She waved lazily over to where Natasha was once standing. “I’m tired.”

“You can’t go to sleep just yet darling.” Bucky let out a quiet laugh as she nodded with a pout. “Do you want to name him?”

“You can. Can I hold him?”

“Of course.”

Natasha handed the babe over to Y/n, the tiredness disappeared the second her son was placed into her arms. “Oh he’s beautiful!”

“Yes he is.” He agreed, a huge smile on his face as their son wrapped his tiny fingers around Bucky’s finger. “Do you like the name Chase?”

“Welcome to the world Chase.”

Bucky refused to leave the room even as Natasha and Wanda helped Y/n change clothes, he just held their baby as he slept happily with a belly full of milk. Placing Chase into his cradle, he turned to face Y/n as she got comfortable in bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired, you?”

“The same despite me not pushing a baby out.” He chuckled quietly, softly running his fingers through her hair. “I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“I love you. I love you with every single inch of my being, I’ve known for months I’ve just been scared to tell you.”

“Why have you been scared?”

“Because you said Dolores had my heart and whilst that was true I’ve realised that you have it in the palm of your hand.” His finger traces a line down her arm to her hand. “And no this is not me saying it because you’ve just given birth, I truly am in love with you.”

“I’m in love with you too.” She smiles. “I love you.”

Y/n bursts into giggles as Bucky attacks her face with kisses.

Two months later their portrait was finished and ready to be unveiled, Y/n’s couldn’t take her eyes off it. Bucky kept being told off because his eyes were on her the whole time the artist drew them. No one could understand why the portraits of Dolores weren’t taken down, Bucky had told her that he wouldn’t be mad if she wanted to be placed elsewhere but she didn’t want that, she had reminded him that she didn’t want him to forget his first wife - his first love.

Now the year is 1620, the years went by as their love continued to grow as well as their family - a son followed over a year after Chase was born, then a set of twins joined a year later another son and their only daughter. Y/n told him no more children, acting as if she wasn’t the one who kept asking him for more.

Bucky and Y/n stood side by side with the heavy weight of the crowns upon their heads, their three sons and daughter standing behind them as the whole kingdom loudly cheered as the new king and queen made their appearance on the castle steps.

George and Winnie had decided that it was time for them to both step down from the throne - both having been sitting on their thrones for thirty years, deciding to live out the rest of their lives without the weight of the crown upon their shoulders. It was time to let the people of their home to celebrate a new king and queen.

Bucky took his queen's hand in his, squeezing softly as they walked towards their thrones. “I love you.”

“And I love you.” She whispers back to him, smiling as he helps her sit.

“Even if I’m annoying?”

Chuckling softly she nods. “Even though you’re annoying.”

Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he whispers in her ear. “You are truly stubborn.”

Tags: @imcinnamoons | @pigeonmama | @capsbestgirl77

[sacredsorceress]

in this home / logan howlett

PAIRING: logan howlett x f!witch!reader

SUMMARY: after the avengers disbanded, you were left with no direction. what happens when you save a certain mutant from the brink of death and invite him and his daughter into your home? (or rather, co-parenting and falling in love with Logan to give him and Laura the life they never had)

WC: 9.1 k

WARNINGS: SLOWWWWW burn, use of y/n, witchcraft (mcu style. i started this during agatha), hopelessness, mentions of death, injuries, nightmares, reader nearly getting killed, guns, a wannabe murderer, violence, blood, angst but also fluff!!

logan masterlist | inbox | masterlist

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

What most stories fail to discuss is what happens after the day is saved. They complete with a delicate happily ever after, wrapped in a bow and shipped off to the Void where the characters, presumably, live in domestic bliss for the remainder of their days.

You wish that were the case.

What they don't discuss is the mourning once the adrenaline has worn off- a gnawing grief that brings you to the knees in the middle of cooking dinner and a pain in your chest that renders you dizzy. They don't discuss they days you feel numb, sitting in the driver's seat of the car with nowhere to go.

You had spent years devoted to the Avengers. In a way, all you knew was saving people. But with Thanos defeated, fifty percent of the population returned to their loved ones, and the team disbanded, you were left with nowhere to go.

Some say if people no longer talk about a thing, it ceases to exist. With your name out of papers and no longer slipped into children's nighttime prayers, you wondered if maybe that were true.

Certain people, however, kept you from fading into the abyss as you knew it.

It was a Sunday morning and the cafe you sat in was packed. Between Sam Wilson being late and the awkward shuffle to steal a table the moment another couple sat up, you had almost gone home.

The conversation had been pleasant but you drifted in and out of focus, not being able to forget what this same conversation would have been like before.

Glancing out the window, you felt as if you were trapped within an aquarium.

The sharp, fluorescent lighting above had given you a migraine and the sounds of innocent forks scraping cake off their plates sounded like nails on a chalkboard in your ears. The passerbys laughing with their friends on the sidewalk shook you as if you were in a snow globe- as though everyone was living, moving... going someplace-while you were bound.

Sam's hand waved in front of you, breaking you from your thoughts.

"You could work for the government?" Sam suggested. He leaned back in his seat and pointed two thumbs at himself. "You've got an in."

You snorted. For several reasons, you'd have to decline but you imagine that sharing the same skillset as Wanda Maximoff would not go over well with the government.

Bringing a piping hot cup of coffee to your lips, you shook your head.

"No thanks."

Sam waved his hands in the air as if to brush off the suggestion entirely.

"Alright," Sam said, tapping his finger against his chin as if to think. "What about dating? My sister met her boyfriend on Tinder. Have you tried that?"

You raised your eyebrow at him as if to ask, "really?"

"I'm serious!" Sam defended. "Some lovin' could be good for you."

Besides the fact that that sentence alone made you throw up a little in your mouth, you couldn't think of anything less appealing.

Not to be a snob, but you weren't sure if the bright-eyed men holding fish in their photos and promising to let you steal their sweatshirt were right for a woman like you. In the past few years you had become a reclusive storm with trauma a mile long. Sprinkle in the fact that you were a former Avenger who dealt with the threat of danger and uncertainty daily, that was a recipe for disaster.

Who could deal with a life like that?

You shuffled in your seat.

"Can we change the subject?" You asked, clearing your throat.

Sam looked at you for a moment before leaning in. His arms laid crossed on the table as his voice lowered.

"Listen, I get. I do." He said, glancing at the passerbys. "But when Tony left you that land, he didn't want you to sit around and be alone forever, okay? You're alive and you've got some pretty cool wizard-"

"Witch-"

"Whatever, powers." Sam finished. "You think Nat or Steve would want you to sit around and mourn them?"

Despite how you failed to meet his eyes, instead opting to look at the dregs of your coffee at the bottom of its glass, his words hit you deep.

He was right.

"No," You said. "but I don't know what to do, Sam. What's next for me?"

Sam leaned back in his seat and shrugged.

"The whole damn multiverse is open." He sighed, lifting his own mug up to his lips. "You'll find something."

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

A divination witch set you on your path.

Since breakfast, you hadn't been able to shake off your conversation with Sam. After your fellow Avengers' deaths, it had almost felt wrong to do something for yourself. Why did you get to live while the others perished?

But now you wondered how upset they would be to find out you had become a living ghost. You couldn't bear their disappointment.

It took you three fake fortune tellers before you found a proper witch in a hole in the wall shopfront. The pleasantries were short before her power overcame her.

Her eyes rolled back as the candles scattered about flickered. The light above you flashed as the bulb exploded, raining glass over your head. With a pen in hand, she scribbled on the paper in front of her. You listened to the etching of lead against paper while shielding yourself from the falling pieces of glass.

In an instant, as if you had imagined it, the lights fell back to their usual dim appearance, the rumbling stopped and she cleared her throat, suddenly composed.

She handed you that same piece of paper and sent you on your way.

Now, as the sun set beyond the horizon you skimmed the paper once more. Your candles had been lit and the aroma of the potion that had used up most of your stores wafted throughout the space, gurgling in its cauldron. Your symbols had been etched on the floor, written with your fingers dripped into the prior substance.

Now all that was left was the setting sun.

Check.

It was now or never.

With a deep breath you sat on the floor. The wood creaked beneath you as you did, as if your home could feel the weight of the spell you were about to cast- the future you were about to create. You crossed your legs into an all too familiar position and laid your hands palm-up on your knees.

The beat of your heart quickened in your chest, uncertainty threatening to take hold. You took a shaky break and cleared your throat. The silence of the room made it echo in your ears.

You closed your eyes.

"Oh maiden, mother, crone,

Show my path

written in thy stone."

The floor rumbled beneath you. A breeze filtered in through the opened window and brushed against you, raising your skin. You heard the sound of wood creaking, churning as if the house were renovating itself- expanding and rearranging the makeup of your walls. Finally, and most odd of all, you heard a lock click.

You turned around.

A door had appeared in your once solid wall.

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

So this is what it feels like.

When Logan opened his eyes, he was greeted by a warm, inviting light. The evening sun had begun to peak through the windows of the bedroom, leaving shadows on his arm from where the blinds stood, weakly shielding him from its rays. A jazz song hummed from the distance, luring Logan with its melodic keys.

The first thing he noticed was the lack of pain. The last Logan remembered, he was impaled by a branch- body beaten beyond return. Laura was holding him, the children were safe, and for the first time, he learned what it was like to die.

After all the stories that he had heard, Logan thought that this was it. What comes next. Peace.

It took a bit of effort for him to get his eyes open- something he had experienced more than a handful of times after a particularly strong night drinking. At first, all he saw was light. Blinking a few more times a familiar figure came into clarity:

"Laura?"

His voice was raspy and he felt his vocal chords scrape against one another, dry. Just as he had made out Laura’s figure, she ran from the room.

Logan rubbed at his eyes with his left hand as he gripped the sheets with his right.

"Laura?" He called again. "Kid?"

Finally gaining clarity, Logan discovered that he was in a bedroom. The rocking chair that Laura had been in moments before sat facing him and continued to creek forwards and back after she had left. Throughout the room, various books and bottles littered every surface.

Before he had time to process, you came bolting into the room with Laura at your heel. The mutant rubbed at his eyes, as the image of the two of you wobbled in his vision. Logan, upon your entrance, attempted to lift himself up with a groan.

"Hey... hey." You cooed, gently easing Logan back into bed. "Easy tiger. Relax."

Laura took her place at his side as your soft hands laid against his bare chest.

"Relax?" Logan asked, a dry laugh escaping his throat. "Listen lady, I thought I was fucking dead. Where the hell am I?"

If there was one thing that Logan was terrible at- it was relaxing. And also probably mathematics if he really thought about it, but after nearly dying and being tasked with saving a dozen kids, relaxing was about the last thing on his mind.

He was tempted to fight back. Afterall, you were a stranger and it was rare that one of those had the best intentions with him. That was until he saw Laura- safe and clean and, most importantly, calm- looking up at him with her doe eyes.

The last time he saw her this calm was with Charles. He felt a pang in his chest.

"She fixed you." Laura said as she glanced between Logan and yourself. "She's magic."

Logan furrowed his eyebrows, pulling his eyes away from Laura to look at you.

One of your hands remained on Logan's chest while the other flipped through a spell book on the bedside table. Your hand was gentle against his skin, encouraging him to relax without forcing him into the pillow. Your face was scrunched, focused on the passage below and yet, you seemed perfectly calm. It was odd almost. Logan couldn't remember the last time a person, especially a mutant, had been relaxed in his presence.

A part of him, albeit a one that often failed in the fight for dominance, was relieved to relinquish himself to you. He had fought, and fought, and fought, and fought. And, god, it didn't matter how many times Logan's body healed himself- he was tired. Exhausted.

If it weren't for Laura, after two hundred years, he was ready to die in the middle of that forest.

"Where am I?"

Shifting your attention back to logan, you placed your hands on your hips- leaving the spot on his chest where your hand had once been cold.

You and Laura exchanged looks and the girl giggled quietly.

"Well, the short answer is upstate New York." You responded with a flair, watching as his eyebrow arched. "More specifically? You're in a different universe."

Huh?

Logan glanced between you and Laura. A silence hung in the air as you both looked at him with playful grins on your faces.

Logan had been unconscious for about a week while his body healed. In that time, you had watched over Laura- explaining the different universes, your magic, and the way those with abilities were perceived in your world. By now, this had become home. Logan, however, would need a bit more convincing.

When he realised the both of you were being serious, a congested laugh left his throat.

"Oh c'mon." Logan chuckled in his gravely voice. "I must've hit my head real fucking hard-"

"-She's not lying!" Laura interrupted, squeezing Logan's arm enough to draw blood. "It's safe. Look."

Laura picked up his hand and held it in front of his face.

His wrinkles had vanished, elasticity restored in his skin. His scars had faded into nonexistence. The spot where Laura had just drew blood healed quickly, erasing any trace of injury. He watched the edges of his skin lace together again, born anew.

“How…” Logan began, noting how the callouses on his hands had seemingly disappeared. “How in the hell did you do that?”

You smiled.

“A magician never reveals her secrets.”

Logan continued to stare at you incredulously, his mind racing, trying to make sense of the matter at hand. Despite you never having done something this drastic before, you had seen this look your fair share of times and understood it well.

As the sun continued setting in the distance, the light peeking in had become more faded by the minute. With a wave of your hand, you shut the blinds, and the candles littering the space had alit at once with a resounding "whoosh".

Logan, more confused than ever, tugged at the bedsheet that had laid over him, kicking his feet over the side of the bed with a humph.

Laura had told you that he would be difficult... stubborn even. The life that he had lived, albeit longer, was not unfamiliar to yours. It was hard to trust and more difficult to accept comfortability. Even after being comatose for a week, in autopilot fashion he was onto his next mission. Despite you not affording the same grace to yourself, you weren't going to let that happen to him.

“Laura, honey,” You said. “Why don’t you let your dad and I talk a bit, okay?”

The child glanced between you and her father before nodding and making her way from the room. The door shut behind her with a click.

The air in the room felt thick. You could feel Logan's eyes burning a hole right through you.

You cleared your throat.

"Look, I'm sure you've got a lot of questions-"

The man ran one of his hands through his tussled hair while the other scratched his overgrown beard. As messy as he was in this state, a deeper part of you couldn't help but think of him as the definition of rugged.

"You think?" Logan quipped sarcastically. "Where's the rest of 'em?"

The other mutant children.

"They're here too." You said, crossing the room to your rocking chair. "I'm part of this sort of ... uh... organization.. for people like us. With special abilities. When I ended up in your universe and came back here, I contacted some people I knew and they've adopted them. We're starting a school for them too, but otherwise they're going to grow up like any other kid. Not soldiers." You crossed your legs, allowing the old wooden chair to creek back and forth. "They deserve it."

Logan couldn't help a scoff that escaped him. A light, tired smile fell to his lips as he thought of a new school for mutant kids. The old Logan would have laughed, but with the death of the professor remaining a fresh wound, it felt like a relief.

You did what he couldn't.

"A school, huh?" He asked.

You smiled.

"A school."

For a moment, silence hung in the air. The only sound was the persistent creak of wood emanating from your rocking chair.

"Logan, I-" You pierced the silence.

"I'll take the kid and get out of your hair in the morning."

And there it was.

What you had been fearing the past week.

"Logan," You treaded carefully, fearful that one wrong movement would send him out the door. "Don't. I'm serious when I say that I want you here. I... it's been nice."

He looked at you quizzically. As if a cartoon lightbulb had flashed with an animated ding! above him, the answer came.

"That uh... what did you call it? Organization?" He pondered, looking at you solemly. "Let me take a guess- it's not around anymore?"

A silence hung in the air once more.

"Let me take a guess," You said just above a whisper. "Yours isn't either?"

His unresponsiveness answered your question.

"Right, well," you said, ceasing your rocking. "If you want to go, I won't keep you here. I'll help you out in whatever way you need to get your life started. But between us... I like the company."

You pushed yourself to your feet.

"I'm going to go start dinner." You announced, slipping towards the door. "Think it over and let me know."

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

Laura was perched in front of the television while you sat planted behind her, braiding her damp hair. The blue light of the television reflected off of her face as she absentmindedly shoved popcorn into her mouth— focused solely on the screen.

Above the crunching of popcorn kernels you heard Logan's sock padded feet make their way into the room.

His hair was still wet and you could tell that he had tried to tame it by brushing his fingers through either side, sticking it up.

Logan smiled when he was greeted by you and Laura dressed in pajamas watching some princess movie on the television. Although he would never be caught dead in pants with ice-skating penguins on them, instead adorned in the matching gray sweatpants and t-shirt you laid out on the bed for him, he found it.. comforting. One would even say "cozy" and "domestic" if they had it in their vocabularies, to which Logan did not.

All he knew was this was a far cry from what he had been experiencing the week prior.

"Hey," You smiled up at him, nudging your head to the next room. "Dinner's in the dining room. I'll be there in a minute once I finish up her hair."

He wanted to argue about how you didn't need to make dinner for him or, better yet, spend the effort to come keep him company, but Logan knew better.

And, to be completely transparent, he didn't want to say no.

Logan instead nodded and pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against. He moved towards the dining room, grabbing a handful popcorn from Laura's bowl as he went past.

"Hmph!" She snarled, snatching it back.

Logan shrugged and shoved a few kernels into his mouth, "Taxes."

You giggled as you watched the two of them interact, tying off Laura's hair.

"All good to go, missy." You announced.

In the dining room, the candle that you had left burning on the table illuminated Logan's face. The warm tones of the flame highlighted the curve of his nose and the reddened blush on his cheeks from the warmth of the space. An old jazz song played on the record player as Logan leaned back in his seat, taking a sip from the glass of whiskey you had left for him on the table.

When he heard your footsteps, Logan looked up and tipped the glass towards you.

"How'd you know?"

You shrugged, pulling out the chair beside him.

"Lucky guess."

Leaning forward in his seat, Logan placed the glass back down on the table. The silence between you was comfortable- your feet resting on the rungs of his chair as the melody from the record filled the room.

Logan leaned forward and took a bite from the plate you had laid out, humming as he did.

"You made this?" He asked, mouth full.

You leaned forward, inspecting his plate.

"Well yeah," You responded warily. "Is it okay? I've just been cooking for myself the past few years so it might not-"

"You kidding?" He responded with a chuckle that came from deep within his chest. "I can't remember the last time I had a home cooked meal."

You smiled.

"Well I don't remember the last time I had someone to share it with."

The comment came out before you had the time to quite think about it. You had only really met this man hours ago and here you were, feeding, clothing him, and having an air of intimacy surrounding you both that was owed to a pair who had known each other far longer.

To your relief, a crooked smile rose to Logan's face as he shook his head.

The two of you sat in silence, Logan eating his meal as you relaxed into your seat, letting the music soothe you. The noise from the television playing in the other room periodically carried into the one you sat in but you, and unbeknownst to you, Logan, found solace in it. The company, the warmth of sitting close to someone, and the mashup of various sounds were a comforting reminder that you weren't alone.

After a moment, Logan cleared his throat.

"I'll go find some work tomorrow."

"Logan, you really don't have to-"

He shot you a look- eyebrows raised and lips drawn in a thin line- that told you that he was firm in this.

"Listen," He said. "I appreciate all this, but if the kid n' I are gonna stay, I need to do something, alright? Let me help."

You nodded, biting back your smile at his decision to remain.

"There's a lumberyard up the road if that's your thing." You said bringing a glass to your lips. "The owner's always complaining he can't find new guys out here."

Logan scooped up another bite with his fork.

"That'll work."

"Good." You said with a smile. "Then it's settled. Your new life starts tomorrow."

Or was it today?

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

At the end of the first week, Laura's nightmares began.

Her screams- not of her usual rage, but of sadness... fear- would pull you and Logan from your slumber. You'd rush from your bedrooms on opposite ends of the hall towards Laura. His hands would reach for the knob first, but you'd be at her bedside in an instant, brushing past him.

He'd flick on the light as you brushed her hair from her forehead, cooing her awake.

"Laura, honey, it's a dream." You said, shading her from the light as she opened her eyes. "We're right here."

We.

It was the first time that you referred to you and Logan as a pair. A team. The other half that made you whole.

It became the same pattern every night. You'd wake up to her cries, rush to her aid, then read with her until she fell asleep. With you both within reach, she'd fall peacefully back to sleep- staying that way until the morning.

This night, when you went to tuck Laura in, however, you never made it back to your beds. With either of her hands, she held onto one of your wrists, urging you to stay with her as she fell asleep. The look on her face could melt even the Wolverine's heart, how did you stand a chance?

You and Logan made room for each other at the edge of the bed, sitting side by side with your backs against the baseboard. There were whispered sorrys and mumbles of discomfort as elbows collided with ribs and knees with shins.

"Kid did this on purpose." Logan grumbled.

Before you could ask why, his arm wrapped around your shoulder, alleviating the discomfort as you melted into his side.

"There."

At first you stiffened, in unfamiliar territory with the man you had only just met a week ago, but as you heard Laura's breathing turn to snores, you relaxed into his chest.

You could hear how his breath rattled in his chest, your head rising and falling with each inhale. You couldn't help but smile at the fact that Logan smelt like the body wash and shampoo you had left in the bathroom specifically for him. But not the conditioner. You should have guessed.

The nightlight in the corner spun, casting silhouettes of horses around the room. It looked as if they were running, chasing after one another but never able to reach the finish line.

The light ran over Logan's face, highlighting the scruff he had missed from that morning. His head had tilted back against the board, his eyes closed shut. You thought that if he had been normal, you would have noted razor burn on his neck.

With Laura's snores and Logan's eased breathing, you felt your eyes begin to lull, luring you into the sleep you so desperately craved. Laying your head on Logan's chest completely, you surrendered yourself to the wave of exhaustion.

Logan felt your head fall lower on his chest and your body go limp in his arms. As your breathing slowed, your hands fell into his lap and your leg draped over his.

He wanted to laugh. Really, he did, but the idea of waking either of his girls up stopped the laugh in its track, it falling to a scoff that just barely escaped his lips.

If only the man he was two weeks ago could see him now- tucking his daughter into bed and falling asleep with a woman in his arms all without a single worry in the world. Maybe he was dead and somehow made it to heaven.

But then he remembered his imagination couldn't make up a woman like you. One who took him in without a second thought, who worried about if he ate enough, who bought him new clothes because "they reminded me of you". Logan hadn't been able of conceiving normalcy. That, he left to you.

But he was still learning you then.

It was in that moment that his heart skipped a beat for the first time as your face nuzzled into his neck, hair brushing against his cheek. It was such a shocking feeling- one he hadn't known in decades- that his hand flew to his chest.

Then he realized- it was you. You did that to him.

Fuck.

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

After a month, Logan got his own vehicle: a truck with a front bench seat. Although it was old and a bit beat up, he took pride in it. And besides, you would’ve been lying if you said your ears didn’t perk up every time you heard that rusty door slam signaling his return from work.

Without thinking, all three of you had fallen into a routine. Laura, who had been playing in the front yard after school, would run up to her father, roping him into whatever she had been getting up to that afternoon. You, hearing the truck's engine turn off and the playful giggles of Laura, would find yourself on the porch watching the two of them- shawl wrapped cozily around your shoulders as you brought a hot drink to your lips.

And whether it was while he was drawing the most awful scribble you've ever seen in chalk, or roughhousing on the front lawn, you'd manage to catch Logan's eye.

What you didn't know, was that Logan had his own routine. He'd join Laura in whatever she doing, but when he heard that squeak of the hurricane door opening, signalling your arrival to the scene? He was like a dog. Logan would pause whatever he was doing, looking up to meet your eyes.

Only when you gave him the same, warm smile that he thought about morning, noon, and night, did he find the permission to continue what he had been doing prior.

He'd go back to passing the ball to Laura, giving her pointers on her throw, or pushing her on the tire swing he'd set up a week earlier; but now he had an added pep in his step knowing your watchful gaze was on him. It wasn't daunting, but peaceful, warm, and comfortable. It made him want to be better... do better.

It was always in him, but your faith in Logan is what brought out his potential.

Jean always said he had a soft spot for women. The same bitter resolve Logan reserved for the rest of the population would dissipate in the presence of the opposite sex- a remanent of a bygone era maybe. Maybe.

When the sun began to set- "God damn daylight savings," Logan would grumble- all three of you would begin to head inside, the warm glow of the house inviting the three of you in. Sometimes Logan would hold the door open for you, insisting he be the last to go in and lock up.

You figured it was chivalry. He knew it was the care and concern that had grown for not only Laura, but you.

Alternatively, you'd sometimes catch him before he crossed the threshold. You'd watch Laura skip out of earshot, and gently grab Logan's arm.

The feeling of your touch against his skin was foreign yet familiar, but most certainly welcomed. The absentminded rub of your thumb against the fabric of his shirt was enough to make his heart sink in his chest. Then, you'd look up at him with thankful eyes, peeking beneath your eyelashes and he'd wonder whether he'd physically be able to restrain himself much longer.

You'd comment on something you watched him do and remind him how good he was. But once, in a moment Logan would never forget, as the two of you watched your girl run inside, you snaked your arm around his back.

"We're lucky to have you, you know?"

Logan, stunned, wasn't sure what to respond, but luckily you didn't give him the space to.

"Now, what are we thinking for dinner? I'm starving."

Still, he waited for your foot to cross the threshold before he allowed himself to enter.

That night when Logan went to sleep, the interaction played over and over in his mind. He could feel the ghost of your touch against his skin as he fell asleep to the lullaby of your soft voice reminding him that you were his.

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

After how many years does a person stop remembering their own birthday?

For Logan, it was complicated but he stopped considering the day very early on. When there was no one there to celebrate with and you had the "gift" of never ending regeneration, was it worth commemorating another year in a seemingly endless life? Especially with one such as his, he wondered...no. was sure.... that there wasn't anything worth celebrating.

It was like any other day: Logan woke up, ate breakfast, went to work... but unlike the rest of them, when he slammed his truck door shut after a long day on the job, Laura wasn't playing outside despite the sun's rays still peeking through the trees. Shrugging it off, he grabbed his bag from the bed and made his way inside.

On most occasions, Logan would have stopped.

Logan would have heard the hushed whispers between you and Laura, her giggles spurning you on to do the same. He would've noted the click of the lighter on the other side of the door, but in the complete opposite of Wolverine fashion, he had gotten comfortable.

"Just like we practiced-" Your hushed voice whispered from the other side of the thick wood.

Raising his eyebrow, Logan opened the door.

On the other side, you and Laura stood with a homemade cake in your hands. The candle on top- a "1"- flickered brightly as your voices rang out singing happy birthday.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you.."

Logan could count on one hand the number of times he had cried in his very long life, but seeing the two of you standing in front of him, he felt pressure grow behind his dark eyes. Your smile, bright as ever, welcomed him in and he couldn't help but admire the way that the flame made your eyes sparkle.

You had the option of anybody- anyone in the multiverse- and you chose him to share this family and home with. Although Laura may have encouraged you, Logan knew that this was your idea. The cake, the song, the candles, the banner hanging above the door- it had your scheming written all over it. You were warm and kind and, Logan would admit, so beautiful that in that moment, he got choked up. Never had he been shown care like this.

"Happy birthday dear Logan-"

"-Daddy..."

"Happy birthday to you!"

In one hand you brought the cake close to the burly man. With the other, you brushed a stray tear from his cheek.

"Make a wish!" Laura shouted, tugging on his arm.

Pulling himself back into the moment, Logan ruffled his daughter's hair.

"Well I don't know, kid." He said. "Doesn't seem like there's much to wish for."

"Oh c'mon, Lo." You said, brushing his hair from his face absentmindedly. "There's gotta be something."

And something there was. Rather, someone.

The Logan that had existed three months ago was a changed man. To be clear, he was just as stubborn and hotheaded as always, but the unshakable doom, gloom and overall nihilistic manner about him had shifted.

Once, Charles had told Laura that Logan was ready to die... wanted to die. Now, he would never let anything happen to him, not for his own sake but for yours and the mutant girl the two of you shared.

He wanted to wake up in the morning and smell the bitter coffee you brewed for him in the kitchen before work. He wanted to go to work and have the men tease him about his "missus" they knew nothing about. He wanted to come home at the end of the day to hear your laughs and jokes at his expense. Most importantly, he wanted to fall asleep at night knowing it would be the same tomorrow.

Logan, the lone wolf, the Wolverine, in his vulnerability had found a safe haven in Laura and you.

You, who gave yourself freely and optimistically. It almost felt wrong how he wanted more from you, but how could he help it? You gave him a taste and he wanted more.

Taking a deep breath- and rolling his eyes for show- Logan blew the candle out with a wish in mind.

"What's your wish?" Laura asked, bouncing on her toes as the smoke flitted through the air.

Logan, a bit embarrassed but not wanting to admit it, was preparing to mess with Laura about wishing for something completely asinine, but to his relief, you stepped in.

"He can't tell you, silly." You said, placing your hand on Laura's back to guide her towards the kitchen. "If he tells you, then it won't come true."

Glancing over your shoulder, you shot Logan a wink.

God, he was fucked.

Logan and you followed Laura into the kitchen, dragging a few feet behind.

"Didn't wanna know what I wished for?" Logan asked.

The Logan of long ago- the one who had the time and heart to devote to a woman- had slowly appeared the more time he spent with you. It's as if in the warmth of your love, the harsh exterior had melted away.

Sometimes Logan wondered if you were right that first day when you told him the old him was dead. Then, a moment like this would happen and he would be reminded that it was always in him, waiting for the right condition, or person, to bring it forth.

"I don't know what you're talking about," You said, smiling. "I meant what I said. I don't wanna know. I want your wish to come true... don't you?"

Logan in that moment wondered whether you had peeked into his mind. Had you fished out his deepest desires and decided to dangle them in front of his face?

You hadn't given him time to ask. Instead, you left him standing in confusion in the foyer as you rushed into the kitchen.

"Laura!" You shouted, "Do not stick your hand into that cake! Laura-"

Shaking his head in disbelief at what his life had become, a dry chuckled escape Logan's throat.

"Jesus."

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

Considering the portion of her life that she had spent locked up in comparison to being free, you were proud of the progress that Laura had made. She picked up incredibly quick on the way things worked. She knew not to steal, how to use a fork and knife, to wait until the little green man appeared to cross the street- she was quick, intelligent, and incredibly perceptive.

One part she still struggled with, however, was managing her anger: a trait she had inherited from her father.

It was a minor concern. The life that you and Logan had created for her was one that made the likelihood of outbursts scarce- only a heated argument with Logan over something as silly as a game would be able to bring her claws out... metaphorically of course.

"Logan, she doesn't know what property tax is." You'd say after she stormed off with a stomp and growl. "Give her a break."

"That's not how the game goes." Logan would argue. "If the kid wants to survive out there, she's gotta know how the world works."

"It's Monopoly, Logan!"

However, as with any child, you couldn't always control when those outbursts occurred.

The three of you had had a nightmare of a weekend. A short trip that had otherwise gone smoothly, went up in flames last minute when all flights were canceled due to an impending blizzard. Rather than stick it out, with Logan needing to get back to work, the two of you decided it would be best to road trip back home.

For the most part it was fine. Intermittently Logan would scold Laura for kicking his seat absentmindedly and you'd all argue over whether to use air conditioning or windows, but besides that it was perfectly fine. Normal even. Which was rare for two immortals from a different universe and a witch.

When Laura begged to pull over for a snack, how were you supposed to know that it could go so wrong?

As you browsed the aisles, occasionally picking up a snack, skimming the back and placing it back where it came from., Laura had drifted from your side. A beverage in the back had caught her eye without you realising and by the time you noticed her departure, it was too late.

When you heard her sweet voice turn to cursed growls that resembled her fathers, you were across the store in an instant.

An old man stood before her with a hand wrapped around one of her wrists.

"Woah!" You shouted, standing between the man and Laura. "What's going on here?"

"Your brat kid stomped on my foot, that's what!" The man growled. "You oughta teach that girl a lesson!"

Although you had created a gap between her and the man, that comment had you throwing Laura behind you entirely. A part of you that had been buried for years- an aggression you barely recognized- came to the surface.

"Don't talk to my daughter like that!" You shouted, shoving your finger in his face. "You have some fucking nerve-"

All of the commotion piqued Logan's ears from across the shop. The unfamiliar pitch of your voice had Logan tossing his keys on the counter and quickening his pace to you.

"Oh good," The guy said. "Maybe you can tell your bitch of a wife to-"

In the past few months, Logan had become a man that the old Logan- figuratively and literally- would have never recognized. He was cool, calm, and collected. His outbursts were few and far between and never, ever violent.

But, hearing that bite in your voice? Seeing the fire in your eyes? And, worst of all, some man call you that? No Logan would have let that slide.

A part of him- a primal one that called to action when needed- came out then.

Before he had even had time to process the implication of what the asshole said, Logan had grabbed the collar of his shirt with a growl and slammed him against the freezer. Bottles rattled on their shelves as the collective hiss of a spare few crashing on the floor echoed throughout the convenience store.

"We got a problem here, bub?” Logan hissed.

The confidence of the man whose feet were now dangling in the air had deteriorated. The fear in his eyes was palpable as he gasped for air.

“No!” He gasped. “Everything’s fine!”

“Yeah?” Logan asked, shoving the man up higher, eliciting a whelp. “Why don’t you apologize to the lady then.”

“I’m- ah!” He hissed. “I’m sorry!”

Logan's face burned red as he held him high. A visible vein protruded from his neck.

"Logan." You called. "He's not worth it. Let him go."

The man's shoes scraped against the glass doors he was pressed against.

"Let's just go home."

Logan glanced to where you stood with Laura shielded in your arms. On any given day of his other life he would have beat that man to a pulp for insulting the only two people breathing who mattered to him. He would of let his conscience take a back seat while his fists led, the only consequence being a stinging in his knuckles for a brief moment.

But now, there was stuff- or rather, people... his girls- at stake. Any confrontation with the law could put the dynamic you had in jeopardy. His ego wasn't worth the price.

Logan dropped the man to the floor and wiped his hands against his jacket. Before he could allow himself to turn back and get himself into trouble, he placed his hand on your shoulder and gently guided you towards the door.

"C'mon, let's go."

Later, as the sun set beyond the horizon, Laura laid asleep with her head in your lap. Had she been anyone besides the daughter of the Wolverine, you would have argued for seatbelt safety. However, seeing her content face nuzzled in a sweatshirt on your lap- her feet kicked up onto her father's- how could you say no?

Logan lazily hummed along to an old tune playing on the radio, one arm leaning out the window.

He cleared his throat.

"Daughter, huh?"

His eyes were trained on the road but you saw a hint of a smile at the edge of his lips.

"Am I your wife?"

If he had been the old Logan- before the endless pain, before the wars, before the deaths of his loved ones- he would have told you he loved you right there.

I wish you were.

But he wasn't. Despite his appearance he was an old, disgruntled, traumatized, burdened man. Logan didn't have the same confidence he did decades ago where he could say it, mean it and not worry about the consequences.

And your love, romantic or not, was not something he was willing to gamble.

But God he wanted you.

"If you were my wife, I'd treat you helluva lot better." He said. The smile had disappeared, replaced by a stoic, knitted line.

The fingers of yours that had been running through Laura's hair stopped. Your breath caught in your throat as you glanced out the window, watching the trees on the side of the highway blur past you.

"You treat me pretty damn well, Logan." You said, trying to sound humorous but ultimately falling flat. "I envy the woman who gets you."

This should have been the moment that it changed.

This should have been the moment that Logan pulled the car over to the side of the road and told you that he didn't want to pretend to be a family anymore- three people who were falling into the roles assigned to them- he wanted you to be a family because you were one. It wasn't pretend. It wasn't a facade. You were a family in every sense of the word.

Because he was yours, you were his and Laura belonged to you as much as Logan.

When the guys at work asked about his missus, he wanted to say your name. The lines had been blurred, but he wanted to straighten them out beyond where they had begin- where they were meant to be. You with him, him with you, you all together.

How could he think about another woman when his world revolved around you?

But then Laura stirred in your lap and his built-up confidence crumbled.

She yawned, curling herself into your lap.

"Are we home yet?"

Pulling your eyes from the road, you smiled and resumed brushing your fingers through her hair.

"Almost, honey."

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

"Logan!"

Your sharp cry woke Logan from his slumber with a start. Before he had entirely processed that it was your voice calling for help, he had flung the sheets from his body and threw himself out of bed.

"Y/n?" Logan shouted, his sock covered feet hitting the floor.

Below, he heard a shatter. He could make out the sound of distinct pieces of glass sliding across the floor as you screamed his name.

"Get off of-" He heard your muffled voice grunt from the floor below. "Logan, help!"

Hearing your pleas, Logan threw open the bedroom door and ran down the stairs- skipping three steps at a time. He felt his heart pounding against his chest so aggressively that he was sure he would be able to see the imprint of it on his skin had he looked in a mirror.

Despite his descending the staircase at a rapid pace, your voice became more distant the closer he got.

Then, he heard the back door swing open.

Logan dodged his way through the threshold of the living room, running over the shattered vase that littered the floor. Drops of blood stained the rug. The television that had been on when you fell asleep on the couch hours earlier was still playing reruns of your favorite show.

Logan quickened his pace. He felt the chilled breeze hit his skin coming from the backdoor left ajar. When he crossed from the kitchen onto the porch, he froze.

He could hear the rhythmic buzz of the electric collar around your neck- suppressing your powers- from where he stood. Your socks were wet from the freshly melted snow that stained where you stood on the grass. A deep red gash drew blood from your forehead, dripping down your face and over your cheeks.

Behind you, a man stood with a gun to your back.

"Who the fuck are you?" The stranger called, shaking you 'til you lost your balance.

You fell to your knees in front of him with a cry.

"I'm gonna be the guy who kills you if you don't let her go." Logan growled, fists balled up at his sides.

His voice echoed amongst the trees and as sturdy as it sounded, the feeling of his fingernails digging into his palms was the only thing that kept Logan from shaking.

You- precious, kind, loving- you were on your knees powerless, preparing yourself for your own demise. Tears pooled at the corner of your eyes as you heaved, no doubt from the fight you had just lost in the living room. Logan realized that for the first time in the months he had known you, you were scared.

You were like a fortress in a storm- sturdy, powerful, confident- but now it was as though a battering ram had been taken to your resolve, leaving you destroyed. There was something about that knowledge that terrified him even more- if you were scared, he had every reason to be terrified.

"Oh I'm not letting her go," The guy laughed. "The Avengers ruined my life. This used to be the Avengers Compound base and she's going to die here like the rest of them. You can kill me all you want, but she," He pulled your hair, "is going out with me."

As he tugged your hair, your face raised to meet Logan's. By now, tears stained your cheeks, running down your neck and into the hem of your shirt.

Finally, when life was going the way you wanted- in the way you felt you deserved- it was coming to an end.

The only comfort brought was that Logan was here with you.

"Logan-" You cried, a sob lodged in your throat.

Logan could feel his heart shatter into a thousand pieces at your soft, yet broken voice.

Holding back his own emotions for your sake, he breathed shakily.

"Sweetheart... I'm gonna fix this. Just-"

"I love you." You sobbed, hands tied behind your back. Your chest rose and fell with a wheeze as another cry escaped you. "God, I loved you so much it hurt. I wanted us to-"

Past tense.

Just like that, the dam broke.

Tears that had been burning behind Logan's eyes fled the corners, blurring his vision. His fists loosened their grip as one moved to balance himself on the railing. All the while, his chest burned with the fire of a thousand suns.

"Don't talk like that." Logan huffed, blinking back tears.

Then, Logan heard the click of the bullet falling into place.

"Show's over." The stranger announced. "Say hi to your friends for me."

People often wonder what thoughts go through your head the moment before you die. Some say their life flashes before them, others disappear without even knowing. You?

Oddly enough you wanted to remind Logan to clean up the glass in the living room before Laura could step on it. That you had bread rising in the kitchen that he should bake, or remember to throw out before it got moldy. That the deed to your land was in the safe in your office. The combination was your birthday.

But all you could manage was an-

"I love you."

You think that covered it.

You could hear his index finger fiddling with the trigger behind you. You swore later that you could even make out the sound of his knuckles popping as they bent into position.

Both were interrupted by a whiny slishhh as two shimmering claws shot from his torso.

Laura.

Like a gun going off at the races, Logan broke into a run across the yard. When you were feet away, he slid onto his knees in the wet grass and pulled you into him.

If his brain hadn't been so fogged, Logan would have worried that he hurt you from how tight he squeezed you. His calloused fingertips tangled themselves in your hair as your forehead found its home against his own. His other hand gripped your shirt for dear life, feeling the chill of your skin through the cloth.

His warm breath enveloped your face as he held you tighter- fearing what would happen if you escaped his reach.

Soft cries escaped your lips as he peppered your forehead in kisses.

"You're safe now, I got you." He said, more for himself than you. "I love you too, darlin', I'm right here."

Logan heard the earth crunch beside him as Laura wordlessly kneeled beside you both and slipped into your embrace.

.:*

After the first responders had come and gone, it was 3am.

You and Logan put Laura to bed together. When you leaned over to tuck her in, her arms wrapped around you, pulling you into her. Her fingers dug into the fabric of your shirt as her face hid in your shoulder.

For the second time that evening, tears burned in your eyes. This time, not out of fear of the unknown but peace at the future revealed.

You brushed her hair back and kissed her forhead.

"I love you." You said, quelling the shake in your voice. "I'm not going anywhere."

She pulled away and allowed you to tuck the blanket up to her chin.

"Sweet dreams."

As you handed her the stuffed animal you had gifted her the first day, her voice spoke out barely above a whisper.

"I love you too, Mommy."

And the dam broke. As if sensing your composure, Logan reached out and laid a hand on your shoulder.

"Night kiddo."

Logan ushered you from the room, carefully closing the door as you exited. He took your hand in his and led you to your room.

His hands were just as you imagined them- callous and rough. But they didn't scare or deter you. No, they were a physical manifestation of his perseverance. The hands he would use to love, provide and protect you. They had to be strong, they carried the weight of the world in his hands. It was a comfort and privilege to be loved by them.

In your room, Logan turned the lamp on and guided you under the covers. He pulled the covers over your form and as he did, you snatched his wrist in your hand.

"Stay."

It wasn't question, an order, or a command.

It was a plead. A begging on your knees.

"I'm not goin' anywhere."

His voice was dry, tired.

Moving to the other side of the bed, he carefully slid into the space beside you.

"C'mere."

He stretched his arm over your back and eased you into his side. Like a woman stranded in the ocean and he your life raft, you slipped your arms around him and held him as if your life depended on it. You nuzzled your face in the crook of his neck and breathed in his scent for the first time.

Although it was new, the intimacy felt familiar. Whether because of your dreams made real or that you both had fallen into the place destined for you, you weren't sure. But the ease lulled you to surrender to your exhaustion.

"I love you." You mumbled into his neck, your vision fleeing from focus as your eyes drooped.

Logan breathed in deeply, stroking his face with your knuckles as your breathing slowed.

"I love you too, darlin.'"

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

This has been in the drafts for months and i'm SO excited to finally put it out into the world. replies and reblogs are greatly appreciated. I would love to know what you all think <3 laura's perception of reader and logan are very much based on the end of logan where she calls logan daddy (i wanna SOB) and i did edit a few chunks out to limit the word count aflkdjal, anyway thank you for reading!! -cass

[jo-com]

𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧˚ ༘ ⋆ ➛ Opposite

Oscar Piastri x Fem!reader

Summary: Oscar has always been so grumpy and moody; frowning towards others but when he sees you, his mood changes faster than the speed of light itself.

Genre: Black cat boyfriend x Golden retriever girlfriend

Note: look out for grammatical errors and this is not proofread guys!

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ➛ My Masterlist

─────── ─ ⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚─ ───────

“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” Lando joked, seeing as Oscar’s expression rested into it’s usual downward smile. It was always fixated like that so it’s hard to tell whether or not he’s mad or just himself— others often misinterpret his attitude though.

Mainly because of his resting bitch face and the fact that he’s always frowning all the time, but people got used to it overtime.

Oscar just rolled his eyes and shrugged,”Nothing, i was just staring at something.”

“Staring?” Lando scoffed, “mate, you look like you’re about to murder someone.”

Oscar flipped Lando off, not even sparing him a single glance as he does so.

The other driver chuckled at his child like behavior and just shook his head in a playful manner, “I am telling you man, whatever your staring at right now, might think you’re judging the inside of their soul”

“I don’t even care, fuck them” oscar retaliated, his eyes rolling in the back of his head out of habit.

Before Lando could even tease him any further, a familiar voice spoke softly; interrupting their conversation and joining in themselves.

“Fuck who?” You asked innocently, your smile so radiant and bright that it lit up the once cold and mundane atmosphere.

Oscar’s whole demeanor changed and so did his mood— as soon as you set foot in the hospice and when his eyes landed on your pretty figure, he was like a completely new person.

“Hi babyy!” He spoke, dragging the y with an exaggerated smile, his tone going from gloomy to happy.

Lando giggled from the corner, “wow, where did that come from.”

Oscar momentarily glared at Lando— his eyes shifted back to his old one. If looks could kill, Lando would be buried 6 feet under.

His fellow driver put both hands in front and gestured to back off, “guess i am off then, see you around y/n."

"Bye lan, it was nice seeing you!" you replied happily.

Meanwhile, whilst Lando was heading out, Oscar's sharp stare never jearked away from his body; staring daggers at the poor man.

But of course, once Lando has left, his whole aura changed; he was all bubbly and smiley. It's like he wasn't the Oscar from earlier.

Oscar then patted his lap, gesturing for you to sit there, to which you happily obliged. Sitting excitedly on his lap and gripping his waist to try and balance yourself.

You leaned in to his embrace and shifted yourself to comfort.

"What were you guys talking about?," you mumbled, moving your head up to see his face clearly.

Oscar let out a contented sigh as he gently laid his hand in the roof of your head and ruffled it. You were just so damn adorable, sitting on his lap like that.

Your eyes narrowed from his movement, "What was that for?" You gasped confusingly, earning a soft chuckle from your boyfriend.

"Nothing you're just too cute not to" Oscar spoke, using his free hand to pinch the side of your cheek.

He looked at awe with your confused look-- he doesn't know why it affects him that much and why it makes his heart go beat crazy, but he likes the feeling.

Only with you though.

You guys were too busy with each other that you didn't even notice another presscence blocking the doorframe.

Only when a subtle gasp where let out that the two of you knew that there was someone else.

"IS THAT A SMILE I SEE FROM THE OSCAR PIASTRI??"

"LEAVE US ALONE PIERRE"

And he's back.

...

Sorry for not updating in a long time, I've not been myself lately😭

[strawbeerossi]

Mine

Pairing: Fem!Reader x Spencer Reid

Description: Whenever the police chief gets a little too friendly with you, you find yourself having a very strict conversation with Spencer at the hotel.

Content/Warnings: Jealous!Spencer, unprotected sex, squirting

Word Count: 1.6K

Kinktober Day Twenty Eight: Squirting

Navigation || Kinktober Masterlist || AO3

Spencer felt his eye twitching as he noticed the newest chief of police was all over you. There was a child abduction case in Nashville, Tennessee that the BAU had offered their resources to. It was standard, children going missing and parents getting weird texts the longer their children were kept captive. You were spending a lot of time at the precinct with him due to you being the designated member alongside JJ to interview the families and surviving child victims who were let go.

“So agent. I got a few questions on your profiling abilities.” The man stated as he was leaning against the desk he was closest to, your gaze lifting from the case file the team had been building up over the past few days. “Okay, lay them on me.” You were just being friendly, not being the best at sensing when men were hitting on you or outright flirting. It was both a blessing and a curse. “Is it true that kids in abusive homes are guaranteed to be murderers?”

The question was quick but you were faster to answer. “No! Not in all cases. Stressors and triggers from childhood can play a big part in the psychological damage of a serial killer but there are people who came from relatively good homes who have murdered others in cold blood. There’s no exact genetic makeup or reason yet, but one day I’m sure it’ll all be answered in depth.”

The rest of the day went like that. He’d ask a question and you’d happily answer, although he was essentially eyefucking you while you were too enthralled in an explanation to pay close enough attention. Hotch had eventually instructed the team to go to their hotel for the night, the team needed rest after being awake for nearly twenty four hours without so much as a break.

The SUV ride back was dead silent, mostly because of exhaustion setting in. However, you could sense tension in your boyfriend as you rested your head lightly against his shoulder.

He’d been abnormally quiet at the precinct, barely even looking in your direction when you came near him. You figured it was exhaustion. Not only were you up for long hours but cases involving children were some of the most draining things you’d ever have to go through. After arriving at the hotel and everyone disbanding to get to their rooms, you were unlocking the door and getting your shoes off while Spencer quietly walked deeper into the room.

“Did you want to take a shower first, babe?” You asked, offering a smile.

It faltered though whenever your boyfriend was facing you, fury in his eyes. “Are we not gonna talk about how chief Lorn is shamelessly flirting with you? It’s like you're eating it up! I mean come on, babe. Why would you ever assume he would care about profiling related things?” His tone was steady, yet anger bubbling over the surface. You looked confused, an eyebrow raised. “Flirting? Spencer, he’s asking questions. I think you’re just tired and taking your emotions out on me.”

Very good guess and probably true, however Spencer wouldn’t admit that. “No. I’m not taking out my emotions on you for no reason. You think I don’t see you batting your eyelashes or laughing at anything this guy says? You don’t know how angry it makes me to know how blind you are to these signals.” Blunt. The words had your mouth agape in shock. “I’m not flirting with the damn police chief! Jesus, Spencer.”

“I don’t believe you. You look like you are eating up all the attention. You know, I bet he wouldn’t even treat you the way I do. Do you think he’d spend every waking moment dedicating his life to you? Huh? Do you think he could love you like I do?” His footsteps were quick and his path decided to back you up against the wall. “Cause I know for sure that he can’t make you cum like I do.” His honey colored eyes were blown out with lust, his hands immediately moving to grip your hips tight. “Spencer!” You squeaked, your pussy clenching desperately around nothing as you could feel the heat of arousal coursing through your veins. Spencer hardly ever got jealous like this, however you liked this side of him. He was rough and could be a little mean, which really did get the job done. “Tell me I’m lying.” His eyes narrowed, hand under your chin making you stare up at him.

“I-I wasn’t flirting with anyone! I was just being friendly.” Your voice was barely above a whisper while Spencer sighed and dropped his hand from your chin. “Go get on the bed.” He murmured, already working on getting his tie off. You knew what you were in for. Spencer didn’t act like this much but you knew that special incidents would pull this rather uncharacteristic side out of him. You’d done what you were used to, already stripping yourself down as you were crawling onto the hotel bed while preparing yourself for whatever was coming.

You knew that he wasn’t going to give you the princess treatment like usual, instead Spencer was getting right to business as he was reaching in his bag to pull out a condom from the side pocket and using his teeth to tear it open. After rolling on the rubber, he was heading over to the edge of the bed to grasp your ankle, tugging your body down the mattress. His gaze was focused on your pussy, a low hum leaving his lips. “Look at how wet you are.” His fingers were teasingly running through your slick folds to collect your sweet arousal, holding a hand up to show off the glistening digits. “Now, I wonder who did that..” He playfully pondered while giving his cock a few lazy tugs.

As he was situated between your legs, Spencer was grasping his shaft and smacking it against your pussy before moving to run his tip through your folds to further tease you, your hand gently reaching for his hip. “Fuck, Spencer. Please.” You whined.

That was all he needed to hear, his large hands wrapping your legs around his waist as he readied himself, his right hand on his cock while the left squeezed your hip. As the thick tip was breaching your soaked cunt, the male was shushing your whines. “We haven’t even gotten started yet. Tonight, I’m gonna show you just how much you don’t need some idiotic police chief and learn how to appreciate what you do have.” Jealousy wasn’t something Spencer was proud of but the emotion was prominently on display and he wasn’t gonna hide it.

His hips were slamming against yours without warning, a loud gasp falling from your lips as your head was falling back against the mattress. “Fuck!” You cursed, feeling the burn of his cock stretching out your desperate and leaking pussy from being shoved deep into your warmth. “You think he’d have you acting like this? Look at how desperate you are and I’ve barely touched you.” His voice was low as both hands roughly gripped your hips. Spencer was normally more of the soft and sweet side, however in these sorts of moods, he was different than anyone who really knew him could imagine.

His thrusts were relentless, your pussy sinfully squelching from each rough snap of his hips, your arousal adding a shine to his cock. “Is this what you wanted? To be fucked like a cheap whore?” The vulgarity alone was making your stomach do flips. This was the man who was bashful with saying the word bitch, yet here he was, cursing and calling you a whore. You wouldn’t complain at all, mainly because you couldn’t.

With his onslaught of assaulting your cunt, you were letting out a series of moans, shaky whines, and pleas for him not to stop. Your skin was flushed, nails digging into your partner’s shoulders as you were in pure bliss. “Look at you. You like it when I abuse your cunt, don’t you? Want to be used like the whore you are? Fuck,” He huffed out, lips smashing against yours as he wasted no time practically shoving his tongue in your mouth while slamming his cock into your pussy, slamming into the spot where you needed him most.

The feeling of your walls constricting and spasming around his cock was like a dream. Spencer was sensitive, so he loved feeling your gummy walls and being able to have them gripping at his shaft, your desperate pussy making an attempt to suck in more of his dick even though it just wasn’t possible.

You were seeing stars, a familiar heat brewing in the pit of your stomach. However, you weren’t able to speak, only being reduced to blubbering about being close, even so the words were slurred together and still hard read. Thankfully, Spencer knew exactly what you were trying to convey, a hand coming down between your sweaty bodies as he was quick to press his finger against your clit, the pressure on the bundle of nerves causing you to whine desperately.

However what happened next was something that even snapped Spencer out of his jealous haze.

He was in the midst of roughly fucking into you whenever your legs were shaking violently, your nails dragging down his back as your body arched from the bed while hitting your orgasm. Instead of making a creamy mess of his cock, there was a gush of arousal that painted his thighs, pelvis, your thighs, and the hotel bedsheets below you. Spencer was slowly coming to a stop while staring at you with wide eyes.

“You’ve never done that before!” He squeaked, his eyes casting down at the glistening of your arousal painting his skin. You were fucked out, your eyes glossed over as you opened your mouth to speak, however a moan falling out soon after.

“No, no. We are doing that again!”

[yonypj]

LUX IMPERATOR X READER

SFW!

The night is cold, cold as hell as you hug the coat you are wearing, even the old thin and worn coat protecting you from getting colder and you can feel the wind blowing on your skin.

You continue walking down the empty and dark street, the streetlights illuminating the path you have in mind, the old and abandoned cinema, the huge and bright sign of the Palazzo Movie Theater and seen in the distance, looking at one of the main entrance doors you see several flowers with notes, each one for the 15 missing people who once visited this place with joy, you start to feel bad when you look at the flowers, your conscience weighs more and more, invading a place of a possible murder crime seems to be disrespectful.

In fact, you are only there for this reason, because it is abandoned and untouched, the film reels abandoned without functionality inside now that it is abandoned can be worth some money! It is indeed disrespectful but you cannot let the opportunity pass you by, getting some money with it will help you at least buy a plate of food or a cheap hotel room!

You sigh, feeling more motivated and less guilty for wanting to rob the place where there were victims, feeling less worse about yourself for being a terrible human being, the place in front of you only confirms the desperation you have to get money.

Finally managed to enter the screening room, the place dirty with dust and forgotten by time, crusts of dirt stain the red carpet only confirming that the place has not been taken care of for a long time, relaxing your muscles for fear of finding a guard since the lights are on, you walk further while inspecting the place for something valuable, walking through the space and trying to hear any sign of noise so as not to be caught. As you start to climb the stairs of the rows of chairs the lights go out, the light of a spotlight turns on and directs itself to the middle of the stage, your heart feels like it will have a heart attack as your gaze follows the light.

Something so unreal emerges from the stage curtains, smiling and starting to sing a theme song while doing a dance, your brain can't reason as you look at this thing, a cartoon, dancing and singing outside a movie screen. You blink once, twice, three times and even five times to make sure you're not hallucinating, the strange being stops and puts his hands on his waist "Oh let's see what we have here, an unexpected visitor" he says while smiling, his eyes in different directions from each other, it would be funny if it weren't scary to see something like that, "To what do I owe the honor of such a lovely visit, Sweet Pea?".

"....how?" That's all that comes out of your mouth, looking at the being before you, you just stand there looking at him "I hit my head, it can only be" the only logical conclusion you think as you see him smile even more at your confusion, "oh no no, I can tell, I'm as real as you are" he says holding the edges of his jacket, striking a pose to show himself more while giving short turns from side to side.

"That's...impossible, you're here! Like, a cartoon!" Frowning you frown at him which makes him just hum in amusement "Don't make me laugh! Honey, you look like you're seeing a ghost" he says, jumping off the stage as he approaches, climbing the stairs... with some difficulty but when he gets close to you a step away he looks like a trident "and while what does a place like this do hmmm?", you feel him poke your arm, feel the heat that he emanates in a strange way.

You pull away almost immediately, still feeling your heart almost jump out of your throat, the whole experience being too scary to bear, let alone bear something like that near you. "I... I like exploring decaying places... and... knowing what they're like inside." Your voice comes out trembling, almost like a quiet whisper. You hear your heart beating so fast in your ear that you swear it hurts.

The being before you seems to believe it enough, smiling happily as he clasps his hands together, humming in affirmation as he begins to speak excitedly. "Oh, I see, a curious and exploratory person. Did you know that curiosity killed the cat? You'd better be more careful when entering desolate places" he says, in false concern but calming your nerves for having believed it. "But it's a good thing I'm here then! I can guide you through this old cinema if that will satisfy your explorer's desire!" Before any protest or excuse to leave, he grabs your arm and drags you up, even though he's so short, he manages to have enough strength to make you trip over your own feet.

Maybe you can't refuse a free tour of this old cinema, you hope to at least get out of here soon...

So, I just posted this for fun, it might be boring or have English mistakes since it's not my native language but I hope you like it! [I'm not good at writing, my area is drawings!]

[gh0stsp1d3r]

we need deadpool x oblivious gender neutral reader or him fending creeps off the reader thx :3

I’m gonna kill that fucker

A/n: AHHH I love this. Also I dreamed abt this request litcherally. Like I had a vision after I read it and fell asleep. Gif and div not mine. also this is most def not one of my best works LEVAE ME ALOME

warnings: creepy dude, mentions of murder (it’s Wade), a few suggestive mentions, your hammered, couple shenanigans !

Wade had always been protective of you even when you both were just friends, he had been protective, sheltering you from harm's way. His protectiveness got even stronger when you started dating.

And he’d be damned if he let some other random ass motherfucker look at you like that, touch you like that.

His hand was on your arm, and you took it as innocent, but he could see the discomfort on your face, even from afar. Then his hand went down to your back, you still visibly uncomfortable but not saying a word.

He wasn’t jealous, he was annoyed. Annoyed at that creep staring at you like you were his prey, like a piece of meat he needed to get his hands on. He was away from you for two seconds! 

He grumbled under his breath as he made his way back to you, both drinks still in his hands. You turned, smiling at the sight of your boyfriend. He noticed the man’s hand dropped from its place on your skin, turning to Wade.

“Who’s your friend?” Wade asked you, staring at the man with a crooked, forced smile. The man nodded at Wade, glaring at him.

“This is Micheal, Micheal this is Wade! My boyfriend.” You introduced the two to each other with a slight slur in your voice, not noticing the staring competition it seemed like the two were having at the moment.

Micheal cleared his throat, both men turning back to you. Wade wrapped an arm around you, smug smile on his face.

“Well, Micheal. You always hang around here?” He asked, glancing around the bar.

The man shrugged, Wade nodding.

“Man of few words, huh?” Wade retorted.

“I guess, yeah.” He scoffed, gripping the cup in his hands tighter.

The tension was thick, everyone could see it except you, who happily downed the rest of your drink.

“Slow down.” Wade chuckled at you, pulling you even closer into his side with a smile.

“Micheal was just telling me about- about-“ you hiccuped over your words. “About where he lives or something.”

Micheal flushed at you exposing him like that, glancing the other way, feeling Wades eyes on him.

“Is that so?” He mused, raising his eyebrows at the dark haired man.

“I mean, I’m just… here for a weekend. I was just-“

“Wondering if they could go home with you?” Wade tilted his head to the side, the man shrugged, glaring at your boyfriend.

“Can we go?” You turned to ask Wade, who nodded and you slipped out of his arms, beginning to walk towards the door slowly.

“Well, uh, Micheal, seems like they are struggling to walk at the moment…” he trailed off, watching you walk away and attempt to go to the door, stumbling around.

“So, gotta go. See you.” He pat the man hard on the back, man grimacing and sneering at Wade, watching you leave together.

He had a hand on the small of your back, leading you out of the crowded bar, and both of you walking out into the city lights.

“So, that Micheal guy….” He started, you looking up at Wade with a confused expression, not knowing why he brought the random man up.

“What about him?” You slurred out.

“Well, I mean, he’s a bit of a creep… he was like 60. I saw grey hairs on his head! And you don’t talk to hot people in bars unless you wanna bang them.” He held his hands up in defense when you narrowed your eyes at him.

“I think he was just… being friendly.” You shrugged.

“Oh, you oblivious, sweet thing.” He shook his head, you frowning. “Old men are the worst, babe. Believe me.” He chuckled, frown still on your face.

“He was just… I don’t know!” You threw your hands up.

“He had his hand on your back, on your arm, he literally was about to touch your ass before I came over, what does that sound like to you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Flirting! What else would it be?”

“Hm. I mean… I guess he did ask me… where I lived and if I wanted to ride with him…” you huffed, realizing he was right, recalling the words he had said earlier.

“Oh, see?! I’m gonna kill that fucker.” He exclaimed.

“You’d do that for me?” You said with a small smile.

“What makes you think I haven’t?” He raised his eyebrows, you giggling. He wasn’t really joking.

You began to turn to the side, thinking that it was the way to your house until Wade grabbed the collar of your shirt, pulling you in the opposite direction.

“Wade!” You complained, shoving his hand off your shirt.

“First, you’re going the wrong way, second you were about to run into a lamppost. I should be hearing, thank you Wade!” He clasped his hands together, looking up at the sky. “You’re my lifesaver, Wade!’” He mocked in a high pitched tone.

“Thank you Wade, o my Wade, how can I ever repay you?” You spoke sarcastically, giggling at the end.

“See? That’s exactly what I meant.”

[shanieveh]

jealousy, jealousy . . .

- everyone can see his rageful eyes as he looks at the both you, except for you (genshin men)

Murder. Execution. Homocide. These were the words echoing in NEUVILLETTE's mind as he looked at the two of you.

How can you sit there and laugh and look so beautiful?

The chief justice can't do jokes, unlike him. He can't smile and jest so easily, unlike him, and that's what infuriates him. But little did he know, that precious smile of yours can only be made because the topic of conversation was him.

The God of Geo gave prosperity and stability to the land of Liyue and that is about to crumble if ZHONGLI looked at the both of you dancing for even one morea second.

A childhood bestfriend, huh?

Then why was he so eager to grab your waist?! That was his to grab! Didn't you say you were his and that we was yours? Enough. That guy won't mind a bit of indestructible power of earth and contracts? He... was about to face the wrath of the rock.

At this rate, WRIOTHESLEY would have a brand new prisoner. Every single one of his friends is forcing him to keep his fists in his pockets and so far it has not been working.

Don't give my spouse some puny ass flowers, you punk!

His mind was going into the direction of violence, chanting the ancient languages of tevyat to send this guy into Celestia. But as you saw him and smiled happily and gave him a flying kiss... why was he mad again?

LYNEY was not the jealous type, he thinks so. So when he say you with him out of all people, it popped off twelve bloodvessels. You shouldn't be near him, that was your ex! He was taller, much more muscular..

He can't be insecure, he was Lyney after all!

He was deeply insecure, more than everything. No more glints of rage and sadness, but rather, a sad cat in need of cuddling and as you see this poor sight you immediately dismissed your ex. He was your home after all, the love of your life.

So it wasn't normal to destroy several properties after learning your significant other kissed someone in the cheek? ALHAITHAM knew it was a 5 year old but it didn't make a big of a difference. That for me him was betrayal.

Oh so you want cuddles now? After everything you did?

It took you 71 hours and 56 minutes of constant cooing and cuddling and reassurance for the big baby to forgive you for kissing an actual baby. In the end he hugged your chest in front of that 5 year old and smirked for him to know his place.

KAEYA was a natural flirt who gives flattery to everyone who surrounds him, so when another guy gives you that type of flattery then he wishes to relish the depths of hell.

What do you mean they look like most echanting rose?! Don't compare them to a mere flower!!

And the list of argument comes on as he mades on his way to you both with a sparkle in his eyes. A mission. To wipe that guy's stupid smirk off his face. Forever.

[szarina]

i love Zaynes series, but hear me out

reader who got stockholm syndrome after x time with Zayne and now she feels for him. It could go both ways

-somehow happy ending

or

-Zayne back to his old self

tho my darkfics ass cant help, but imagine dark and twisted love and how he would make people who gets too close to her and his kids disappear, but she's at this point also twisted so shes fine with it, because he cares like noone ever coul 'he killed x for me it's the greatest devotion my husband could show to me" 👁🫦👁

❆ ₊⋆ content warnings. stockholm syndrome + implied noncon + implied murder + non mc

Somehow you forget what it feels to fight.

You eventually got tired of all the screaming — the hands that you had thrown towards him. No matter how many times you had slapped him or cried, he remains calm. Not caring how the paleness of his skin reddened or peeling from your nails scraping it bloody. Letting you feel all of your hatred towards him. You didn't even remembered when you had stopped.

Or maybe the moment you escaped and suddenly you can't feel the two pair of feet kicking in your stomach until they hear his voice again. Recognizing the voice of their father that you once loved and it turned to resentment.

You still love him. A small voice told you inside your brain and that completely rewired you in some sort of way. It's wrong. You told yourself. Zayne didn't loved you until you were bleeding. Almost slipping from his grasp.

The man who gave up his soulmate for you. Broke rules to be with you and the one who you turned into a monster for being consumed with his madness to love you. Gave you his undying devotion while his hands were bloody — stained with blood, not from his patients but those who dared to touch you.

“I would kill for you.” You hear him whisper it to you one night. Wrapped in his embrace while the world was silent. It was terrifying and assured you at the same. He already had done it without blinking as he took lives. You start to think that you're also sick in the head too for allowing such things to happen.

Some days you caught yourself leaning into his touch before you break from your drunkenness, trying to sober up. You wanted to fight but your lips were already returning his kisses. The slow intimate moments at night when the twins were asleep in the nursery. Staring at each other's eyes and your love were slowly returning. This time it wasn't clumsy like you were stumbling in the dark. It was clearer.

You also don't want to ruin moments like this — not when Aurora and Yue played in the soft earth, where blades of grass are flattened by their tiny footsteps. Where Zayne engulfs you with his embrace under the shade of a willow tree. The butter-yellow gingham blanket laid beneath you.

He holds you tight. He always does. Every chance he can get — afraid that you'll disappear again while you both watch your children play in the grass-covered ground.

You feel his lips pressing the side of your head. The spot where your eyebrow ends. It was soft — sweet and gentle. You closed your eyes for a moment before blinking. Thinking that maybe it was a dream but the protruding skin where his scars meet the soft pads of your fingers tells you that it was real.

Slowly, you move your body. Your ear is pressed against his chest where you can heart the slow beats of his heart. Nestled in the security of his arms while he gently draw soft circles in the naked skin of your thighs where your sundress had ridden up to reveal more of the thickness of your thighs.

“Mommy!” Aurora's voice echoes in the park as she run towards you, Yue following her. They immediately curled up in your chest like they were back in your womb again. Their tiny heads raised, round wide eyes with the colors of green and brown gazing in your own. Happily giggling. You were glad they were happy and didn't inherit the ugliest parts of you and their father. You could pretend that they weren't conceived from ill intentions. It's enough. You always reminded yourself.

A small smile is bestowed on his lips. Admiring the his wife and the twins in your arms. It was right. What he did was right. If you left, you denied yourself and him of this kind of happiness — contentment. This is the result of his devotion for you.

“I love you.” Zayne whispers, enough for you to hear and you find your lips curving into a smile. He didn't say it much, for his actions are enough more than his words but still you were pleased to hear it coming from him. You returned it without much of a hesitation now, cause maybe.... Maybe...

You were just sick as him too.

[joyfulcowboycandy]

The princess in the tower... And the dragon?

Malleus x Reader

❥ one shot

Content warning: murder, angst and fluff, malleus is very tall, hints of past sexual assault

fem reader

The princess in the tower… And the dragon?

This is how the story goes:

A beautiful princess from a faraway kingdom is kidnapped and held captive in a tower by an evil and strong dragon, and the knight must slay the dragon and save her from his evil clutches. The princess then falls in love with the strong knight who risked his life to save her, and they lived happily ever after.

This "princess," however, is far different from how the story is meant to go.

She is no princess at all.

Y/n is merely a common girl who ran away from a life of suffering, seeking refuge in a lonely tower in the middle of a desolate forest. She found solace here, safe from the cruelty of others. But the tower had a guardian of its own—a dragon. Not that she knew it at first.

The dragon was enormous, far too large to ever fit inside the tower, so at first, she thought she could stay without much trouble. After all, she reasoned, dragons don’t communicate with humans… Do they? If he wanted to harm her, he would’ve done so by now. Yet, despite his fearsome appearance, he never attacked her. Instead, he left her alone, merely resting atop the tower. He even brought her berries and fruits. It was confusing. Back in her village, dragons were supposed to be vile creatures—monsters of destruction.

But unlike the people she once knew, the dragon never hurt her. And that was all that mattered.

Back in her village, life had been anything but safe. Y/n was forever scarred by that one night, the night when she dared to speak up about the man who assaulted her. He was a respected figure, shielded by his reputation, while she was met with disbelief and scorn. Her cries for justice were silenced, twisted into accusations that she had tarnished his honor. Her family turned their backs on her, and the verbal abuse became unbearable. They accused her of lying, of bringing shame upon them. The whispers, the judgment, it all closed in on her, suffocating her until she could no longer bear it.

The fear of men had embedded itself deep in her heart, long before she ever arrived at the tower. Their leering gazes, their unchecked power—it had always terrified her. The man who hurt her wasn’t an isolated case. She’d witnessed the way men in the village treated women—like possessions, tools for their amusement, and nothing more. And her voice, like so many others, had been ignored.

The tower became her sanctuary, and the dragon… oddly enough, her only comfort.

He never tried to speak to her. He never tried to control her. He only existed, a quiet presence at the top of the tower. It was strange how she found herself feeling safe in his silent company, even if she knew nothing about him. There were no words exchanged, no gestures of friendship. But he brought her food, he never entered her space, and most importantly—he never tried to harm her.

The men who came after her, however, were nothing like the dragon.

One day, the peaceful silence was shattered by the sound of hooves pounding against the forest floor. Y/n’s heart jumped into her throat as she rushed to the window, peeking out just enough to see a knight approaching the base of the tower. A sinking feeling filled her chest as she backed away, trembling. He called out for her, and although she didn’t respond, she could feel his eyes tracking her every movement from below. The way he stared at her… it was enough to freeze her blood.

She didn’t want to face him, didn’t want him to come any closer. But when he started climbing up the tower, panic surged through her veins.

In his eyes, she was nothing more than a prize. A damsel in distress that needed saving. It disgusted her how these men—knights, they called themselves—felt entitled to her. They believed they could show up, kill the dragon, and take her hand in marriage as if she were a mere trophy. She’d seen that look in their eyes before. It wasn’t concern. It wasn’t compassion. It was desire. Lust. Greed.

She didn’t trust him. She couldn’t.

So, when he reached the top and looked at her with those hungry eyes, her fear turned into cold determination. She pushed him down the tower, watching as he fell.

The sickening thud echoed below.

It wasn’t the end, though. Someone found the body, and after that, more men came—knights in shining armor, each more eager than the last to claim the “princess” for themselves. None of them cared what she wanted. They were predators, and their so-called chivalry was nothing but a facade for their selfish ambitions.

They never once asked for her permission. They assumed their presence was wanted, that they had the right to "rescue" her. But she didn’t want to be rescued. She didn’t want them at all. And every time one of them climbed the tower, she pushed them down just the same. The rumors spread quickly—of a dragon killing knights left and right, all to protect the princess in the tower.

But she knew the truth. The dragon had done nothing.

In fact, the dragon had done more for her than any man ever had. He was gentle. He respected her space, and in return, she felt safer around him than she ever had with another human. It was strange, perhaps even foolish, to trust a dragon—an unpredictable creature of legend. But in his quietness, she found solace. He gave her berries and fruits, a kind of offering. Maybe the dragon, too, was lonely.

One evening, he left a clawful of berries by her window as usual. She hesitated for a moment before reaching out. With trembling hands, she touched his claw—a tentative gesture, a soft caress of gratitude. The dragon froze, as if startled by her touch. She could feel the cold, smooth surface beneath her fingers, the sharpness of his talons. Her heart pounded as she traced the lines of his scales, feeling a strange sense of connection.

Suddenly, he let out a low growl, pulling away quickly. Fear gripped her as she stepped back, her pulse racing in her chest. Did she do something wrong?

“T-thank you, dragon!” she stammered, her voice shaky with fear and something else—hope, maybe.

The dragon huffed, a deep, rumbling sound that reverberated through the air. Was it a response? She couldn’t tell. But she took it as one.

She watched him from the window, her eyes tracing his dark silhouette against the moonlit sky. For the first time in so long, she felt something other than fear—something closer to… peace. Maybe, just maybe, the dragon wasn’t as evil as the stories said.

Maybe they were both just trying to survive in a world that had been cruel to them.

˙ ✩°˖🫐 ⋆｡˚꩜

Several days passed like this—her exchanging brief touches and whispers, him delivering food and resting on the roof of her tower. Until one day, something changed.

She had been waiting for the usual sound of his wings flapping when she heard something else—a soft footstep. Startled, she spun around, expecting another knight who had somehow scaled the tower. But when her eyes fell on the figure at the entrance, she froze.

He was very tall, but not in the imposing, armor-clad way of the knights. His clothes were dark, elegant, and his presence felt… different. The horns on his head glistened in the dim light of the moonlight, curling like the very symbol of power. His eyes, sharp and glowing, locked onto hers, and yet, they didn’t hold that familiar lust or greed she had come to expect. They were curious… warm.

Her breath hitched, her mind racing. Who—no, what was he? He wasn’t a knight, not a man here to take her away. But he wasn’t just any ordinary human either.

"Who… are you?" she whispered, voice trembling, not from fear, but from uncertainty.

The man—no, the creature—tilted his head, eyes softening. He didn’t speak, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was familiar, almost as if she had known him all along.

It clicked slowly in her mind. The dragon. The same eyes, the same gentle aura. He had always been watching over her, not as a threat, but as a guardian.

"You're... him, aren't you?" she murmured, stepping closer. She noticed the slight huff of air escaping his nose, much like the dragon’s low rumble when she thanked him. Her fear melted, replaced with wonder.

Her hands, almost instinctively, reached up toward his face, fingers lightly grazing his jawline. He stood still, just like he did when she touched his scales as a dragon, as if allowing her to confirm what she already knew.

He brought his hand up to meet hers, softly guiding it against his cheek. The coolness of his skin startled her—so cold, it almost seemed impossible that he was alive. In contrast, her hand was warm, curling instinctively against him, feeling the soft tickle of his hair as it cascaded over his shoulder and brushed lightly against her fingers.

“I am,” he finally spoke, his voice low and rich, carrying a quiet power that resonated deep within her.

There was no doubt left. He was the dragon—the creature that had watched over her, protected her from the horrors of the world, and silently kept her company all this time. And now, he stood before her in this form, speaking, meeting her touch with a tenderness that was both startling and comforting.

"Why… why didn’t you tell me?" she whispered, her fingers still resting against his cold cheek, her voice barely more than a breath.

The corners of his lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to smile but wasn’t used to it. His hand, still holding hers, gently lowered it from his face, though he didn’t let go. "You were afraid," he said, his gaze softening as he looked at her, the golden glow in his eyes dimming into something calmer, more serene. "And I did not wish to make you more so."

She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "Afraid?" She almost laughed, though there was nothing humorous about it. "Of the knights, maybe, but never of you. You…" Her voice cracked, and she paused, taking in a shaky breath. "You’ve been the only one I could trust."

For the first time in a long while, the truth was spilling out of her. All those months of isolation, of pushing knights off the tower in desperate fear, and yet somehow, she had found solace in him—a dragon, a creature who shouldn’t have had any reason to care about her. She couldn’t even understand why herself.

His thumb brushed over the back of her hand, a barely-there gesture, but one that sent warmth spreading through her. "I have watched over you," he said quietly, "and I have seen your strength." His gaze flickered, the glow intensifying briefly. "But I have also seen your sorrow."

She blinked rapidly, her breath catching in her throat. It was true—her life had been marked by sorrow for as long as she could remember. The betrayal of her village, the trauma that haunted her every waking moment, the men who tried to take what wasn’t theirs to claim. They all left scars, both visible and invisible, and for so long, she had felt alone in carrying them.

But with him… she hadn’t felt so alone anymore.

"I don’t know why I stayed," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "When I first came here, I didn’t know if you were going to kill me, or… or worse." She laughed softly, a bitter sound. "But I couldn’t leave either. There was nowhere else to go."

"You stayed because you found safety," he murmured, his voice almost a growl, but one laced with understanding. "You stayed because you are not like them."

Her gaze met his, and for the first time, she didn’t feel the familiar tightness in her chest that came with looking into the eyes of a man. He wasn’t like them either. He wasn’t like the knights who invaded her sanctuary with their hungry gazes and false promises. He didn’t look at her like something to be claimed.

Slowly, she pulled her hand back, though her eyes remained fixed on him. "I’ve never met anyone like you," she confessed softly, taking a small step back, though she wasn’t retreating. She was just… overwhelmed. "You’re… not human, are you?"

He shook his head. "No. I am not."

She studied him for a long moment, her eyes tracing the curve of his horns, the ethereal glow of his eyes, the way he stood so still, so calm, so unlike any man she had ever known. And then, as if the weight of everything suddenly caught up with her, she let out a shaky breath. "I don’t know what to say," she whispered, her voice cracking with the weight of all the emotions swirling inside her.

"You don’t have to say anything," he replied gently. His voice was like the rumble of distant thunder, soft but powerful. "I will not force you to speak."

She bit her lip, her gaze lowering to the floor as she tried to collect her thoughts. "I just… I feel like I’ve been running for so long. Hiding." Her voice broke on the last word, and she quickly swiped at the tear that slipped down her cheek, hating how vulnerable she felt in this moment.

Malleus watched her in silence, his eyes never leaving her, though his expression never changed. He wasn’t judging her. He wasn’t pitying her. He was just… there, with her, in this moment. And that alone made her feel a strange kind of safety she hadn’t known in a long time.

"You don’t need to run anymore," he said quietly, his voice a low murmur that seemed to reverberate in her chest. "Not from me."

Her breath hitched, and for the first time, she felt the warmth of hope flicker inside her, fragile but present. Could it really be that simple? Could she really stop running? Stop hiding? It had been so long since she felt safe, truly safe.

And yet, here he was, the dragon she had once feared, now standing before her as her protector.

Tentatively, she reached out again, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his sleeve. "Then… stay," she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the stillness between them. "Don’t leave me alone."

His gaze softened further, and for a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes—something she couldn’t quite place, but it warmed her all the same.

"As you wish," he replied, his voice as soft as the night air around them. "I will stay."

[hummingbird24220]

could I please get a Luffy x Jealous fem reader (not together yet but reader has a crush on Luffy) who’s gets all jealous when Bunny starts biting Luffys ears, thank you!

Sure! Im still waaaaay behind with one piece, just finishing thriller bark - I did my best. Ive seen the rabbit character from pictures - googled her name xp. Hope you like it!

--------------------------------

Fuzzy Feelings

Luffy x Jealous!Fem Reader

You weren’t glaring.

You definitely weren’t glaring.

Okay maybe you were glaring just a little, but no one could blame you! It was right there—right there—happening in broad daylight on the damn deck.

Carrot was currently latched onto Luffy’s ear like it was a piece of meat and he was just laughing about it like she hadn’t just chomped him three times already.

“She’s biting him again,” you hissed to Nami, who was sunbathing nearby with sunglasses and absolutely zero interest in your emotional crisis.

“Mmm-hmm,” she hummed lazily. “She’s a mink. That’s, like, how they bond.”

“I don’t bite people I like,” you muttered.

Nami slid her sunglasses down just enough to raise an eyebrow at you. “Don’t you?”

You turned red. “T-That’s not the point!”

“Right. Not the point.” She smirked, putting her glasses back on. “Just go tell Luffy you like him.”

You made a choking noise. “I’d rather throw myself overboard.”

“And yet,” Nami said, gesturing vaguely toward the deck, “you’d rather sit here and seethe while rabbit-girl nibbles your crush’s ear like it owes her money.”

You glanced back over just in time to see Luffy giggling as Carrot hung off him like a scarf. “Yooo, Carrot, that tickles!”

She responded with an adorable, “You taste like meat, Luffy!”

You nearly combusted.

“Disgusting,” you growled under your breath. “Flirt somewhere else, Bugs Bunny.”

You were about to stomp off when you heard Luffy’s voice call out, “Hey (Y/N)!”

You froze. Panic. What if he heard you say that? Was your jealousy that obvious?

You turned slowly. “Y-Yeah?”

He beamed at you, oblivious. “Wanna come help me catch fish off the side of the Sunny?”

Carrot was still hanging on his shoulder like a furry little parasite. Her big eyes blinked at you, smug.

You blinked.

Then smiled.

“Oh, absolutely,” you said sweetly. “I love stabbing things with hooks.”

You might have stared directly at Carrot when you said it.

-------

You sat on the edge of the Sunny, legs dangling off the side, a fishing rod in hand and murder in your heart.

Luffy was next to you, grinning like this was the best day of his life. Carrot had finally hopped off to grab some snacks, leaving you alone with the man who had unknowingly stolen your heart and your sanity.

"Ne, (Y/N), you’re real good at fishing," Luffy said, kicking his legs happily as he peeked over the side of the boat. "I never catch anything unless I jump in after it."

“That’s because you don’t wait,” you muttered, eyes on the water. “You have to be patient.”

“Hmm...” He leaned closer, squinting at your line. “So like... you wait for it to bite... then yank?”

His arm brushed yours.

You forgot what fish were.

“Y-Yeah,” you managed, trying not to combust from proximity. “Just—don’t yank too hard or you’ll snap the line.”

“Got it!” Luffy nodded enthusiastically.

He sat in silence for a moment, then tilted his head. “Hey, you were acting kinda weird earlier. When Carrot was biting me.”

You froze. Crap. Crapcrapcrap—

“Weird?” you asked, voice climbing an octave. “No way. Totally normal. Not weird. Pfft.”

He blinked at you. “You made a face like Sanji does when I eat all the meat.”

“W-What?! I did not—!”

“You looked angry... but also like you wanted to bite someone too?” he added, looking genuinely confused. “Were you hungry?”

You choked. “Luffy.”

“Yeah?”

“I will throw you into the sea.”

He burst into laughter, head thrown back, sunshine catching his hair just right, and you felt your heart do a somersault.

Why did he have to be so stupidly cute?

“You’re so funny, (Y/N),” he said with a grin. “I like hanging out with you.”

Your brain short-circuited. “Y-You do?”

“Yeah! You’re fun.” He leaned back on his hands. “You don’t bite like Carrot, but that’s okay. I like your way better.”

You blinked, stunned.

Was... was that his version of flirting?

Before you could say anything, Carrot came bounding back with a tray of sandwiches. “I brought snacks!”

Luffy lit up. “MEAT!!”

You barely resisted the urge to knock the tray into the ocean.

You plastered on a smile instead. “Wow, thanks, Carrot. That was so sweet of you.”

She beamed. “Right? I even saved the biggest one for Luffy!”

Your eye twitched.

Luffy grabbed the sandwich, already stuffing it in his face. “You’re the best, Carrot!”

You got up wordlessly, rod abandoned.

“(Y/N)? Where you goin’?” Luffy asked, cheeks full.

You turned and smiled through clenched teeth.

“I’m gonna go not bite people.”

He looked confused.

Carrot looked smug.

And you were so close to jumping overboard just to scream into the sea.

-----

You were storming down the hallway of the Sunny, fists clenched, trying very hard not to explode. If you had to hear Carrot giggle and say “Luuuffyyy~” one more time, you were going to snap and launch yourself into the sea head-first.

Was it stupid to be this jealous? Absolutely. Were you going to do something about it? Probably not.

…Unless you lost your temper.

Which you were about five seconds away from doing.

“(Y/N)!”

You froze.

Luffy’s voice rang out from behind you—cheerful, clueless, and all kinds of adorable.

You squeezed your eyes shut, took a deep breath, and turned around.

There he was. Hair messy from the sea breeze, a smudge of food on his cheek, and that goofy smile that made your chest feel like it was caving in.

“Why’d you leave?” he asked, stepping closer. “We didn’t get to fish more. And you forgot your rod!”

You stared at him. The way his eyes sparkled, the way he just had to chase after you without even knowing why.

God, it wasn’t fair.

You snapped.

“I like you, okay?!”

The words spilled out like you had zero control over them. Which, to be fair, you didn’t.

Luffy blinked. “Huh?”

“I like you, Luffy!” you said louder, throwing your arms up. “Like—not just ‘I want to fish with you’ like, but like like! Romantic! Feelings! Blushing! All that dumb stuff!”

He stared.

“I got jealous when Carrot bites your ears! And it’s not her fault, and I know you’re probably not even thinking about this kind of thing, but I can’t help it, okay?! You’re—you’re you, and I’m me, and I’m just—ugh!”

You stopped.

Silence.

Luffy tilted his head, looking at you like you’d just grown another limb.

“…You wanna bite my ear too?”

You groaned. “Luffy! That’s not what I—”

“But wait,” he interrupted, suddenly very serious. “You like me?”

You froze.

“…Y-Yeah.”

He blinked.

Then… smiled.

A soft one. Not goofy. Not wild.

Just a little quiet curve of his lips. It felt different.

“I didn’t know,” he said simply. “But… I like being around you. Like, a lot.”

Your heart skipped. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. When I see you, I feel all… squiggly. In my chest.” He scratched his head. “I thought it was just hunger.”

You stared. “Squiggly?”

He grinned. “Like excitement! Or nerves. Or maybe meat cravings. But I don’t feel that with Carrot. I like her, but not like how I like you.”

You blinked. “So you…?”

“I dunno what it means yet,” he admitted, stepping closer. “But I wanna find out. With you.”

You were stunned silent.

“Also,” he added with a big grin, “you can bite my ear if you want.”

You burst out laughing. “You’re such a weirdo.”

“Yup!” he said proudly. “But I’m your weirdo now, right?”

Your cheeks flamed.

“…Yeah.”

[uhhlifeig]

Paper - May 22 - word count: 555 - @wolfstarmicrofic - tw: blood, violence

Harry giggled as Sirius conjured rainbow colored bubbles with his wand, blowing raspberries at them. Remus sat nearby, sheets of paper with haphazard drawings on them next to him.

“Aw, Harry,” Sirius cooed. “You like the bubbles, huh?”

Harry gurled happily, flailing his arms around.

“You should tell Lily and James that when they get back from their night out,” Remus said, smiling. “Harry likes bubbles. What else do you like, Harry?”

“Pa’foo!” Harry shouted excitedly. “Pa’foo!” he clapped his little hands.

Sirius stood up, eyes crinkling. “Moons, when d’you think he’ll be old enough to take trick-or-treating?”

“Next year, probably, seren.”

No response- Sirius had turned into a black mass of fur. Harry was busy burying his face in Padfoot’s fur.

The doorbell rang.

“Coming,” Sirius called, turning back in an instant. Harry frowned at the loss of his favorite dog, but lit back up as Remus handed him a crayon.

Suddenly, a scream came from the doorway.

“Moons, take Harry and run! Get away, he’s here-”

There were only two people who could elicit this type of fear from Sirius- Walburga, or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

And since Walburga Black was obviously not a man…

Shit. Voldemort had found them.

Remus heard the sound of curses being exchanged (Sirius hadn’t left his wand, thank goodness), and a yelp followed by “Run, Moons!”

Remus raced upstairs to the bedroom, knowing that Sirius hadn’t bought him much time. He had to go as far as he could.

A thud from downstairs.

There was something sickly rising in his chest- a strange amalgamation of fear and grief.

He knew that his fiancé had fallen. He’d felt it deep down, felt their bond snap into pieces and disappear like dust in the wind.

“Shh, Harry,” Remus whispered, stacking boxes against the door carelessly. 

There was no point anymore, so why should he try, anyways? The whole reason he wanted to make it through in the first place was because Sirius had promised him a wedding after the war ended.

Harry still deserved a fighting chance, though.

Mouth set in grim determination, Remus cut his arm just enough to make it bleed. He drew a few runes around the toddler with his blood, and prayed that it would work.

The door burst open, boxes and dust flying everywhere.

“Give me the boy, Lupin,” Voldemort hissed. 

“No.”

Slitted red eyes bore into his soul. “No, Lupin? You dare to disobey your lord? Think of what your pack-father would say.”

“You are not my lord, nor is Greyback my pack-father,” Remus stated coldly. “My loyalty is to my friends and my family.”

“But am I not family, half-breed?” Voldemort smiled, a grotesque pull of bloodless lips and pearlescent teeth. “We share the same roots… we were both laughed at for our interests, our fears and our choices.”

Remus tilted his chin up defiantly. “I am nothing like you.”

“Murderers,” Voldemort hissed. “We have both killed. If your precious Order found out… No. That wouldn’t do. Join me, Lupin, and we can enact our revenge.”

“Over my dead body,” Remus said fiercely, wand held loosely by his side. He knew what was coming next, and he didn’t have the energy to fight it.

“If that is your wish, then let it be so. Avada Kedavra.” 

A flash of green light-  then nothing but darkness.

@percabeth-trash

[writingouthere]

neighbor!Sukuna x singlemom!reader. In the aftermath of your apartment flooding, Sukuna makes you a deal that is too good to pass up. You don't fully know what you're agreeing to, but if you did would it have really changed anything? Reader POV

cw: Sukuna may seem like just a nice guy stepping up but really he's a red flag you're just too tired to see. It's hinted reader has not been treated well in the past but no specifics.

You hadn't known what to do when you woke up to the sound of rushing water. You had acted on instinct and grabbed your daughter from the room next to yours and stood in the kitchen, calling your landlord from the number on your lease to no avail. Your daughter was starting to get fussy and after the fourth attempt with no answer, you felt lost.

Your ex hadn't exactly been the reliable type and he probably would have just contributed by cursing and complaining about shitty landlords and even shittier affordable housing but that wouldn't have helped then and thinking about it wasn't helping you now. Single, alone with your daughter who was growing more disgruntled by the minute.

You hated to even consider but, there was someone who you kept coming back to that you thought could help.

Sukuna.

The tattooed man across the hallway hadn't struck you as the friendly type, but he had proved you wrong in the few months since you moved in. He looked like the type of guy you would cross the street to avoid, but he always had time to stop and talk to you when he saw you. He also always made it a point to say hello to your daughter and listen to her rambles, even when they didn't make sense to you.

Your other neighbors had warned you about him. Stories that included threats and assaults you just couldn't connect to the man who had taken you and your daughter to the aquarium when your piece of shit ex bailed on you both, again.

You had googled him afterwards and what you saw was pages and pages that included things like attempted, suspected and scarier words like murder, hospitalized and other things that just didn't fit with the man you were still getting to know.

The water was still falling and once your daughter started waking up, you called it and went over to the maybe scary man across the hall, who never scared you.

Within ten minutes, you found yourself in Sukuna's guest room while he stayed behind at your apartment to figure everything out. When was the last time someone told you, "I got it." You were always the responsible one. You were the mom friend, the girlfriend people liked to introduce to their parents. You had basically parented yourself!

But now, there was someone who told you that, "I got it."

So who could blame you for going along with what came next. When the next morning came and Sukuna told you that your super had come too late and the apartment was damage and you couldn't stop yourself from putting your head in your hands as your daughter happily munched on the pancakes he had made you both.

"What am I going to do," you groaned and you couldn't help but lean in when Sukuna placed his hand on your cheek.

"He said he would put you up in a hotel until it can be fixed," he said gently and you sighed. You envisioned the next several months in some shitty motel with no kitchen, sharing a lumpy bed with your two year-old, disrupting the routines you had been trying so hard to build as a single mom. No more afternoon trips to the park that was less than a block away. No more feeding the ducks with your leftover veggies or sharing pick up duties with the other moms at the daycare by your work.

"This sucks, I don't want to have to build my life all over again." And you really didn't. This was so frustrating and over what, a little water damage?

"Well," Sukuna started and he tilted your head so you were looking at him. "I do have the guest room. You could move some of your stuff over here and camp out until it's fixed. Pocket the hotel money, use it for something for the kid."

"Oh, I couldn't impose on you like that-"

"I wouldn't offer if it was an imposition," he said, his eyes glinting and for just a second you could see a little of the danger your neighbors had told you about, but then it was gone and he was leaning over you to take another pancake from the serving tray and putting it on your daughter's empty plate.

"It's not just for you, I would-I would feel a lot better knowing the both of you were taken care of. I doubt the hotel that-" he cut off looking over at your daughter, "you know is putting you up in is going to be the safest place for the two of you."

You couldn't believe you were considering it but you were so tired. You felt like life had just become a series of less than ideal circumstances you were forced to deal with just because you didn't want to settle for the wrong guy or give your daughter less than she deserved.

"I would pay rent," you said and he looked ready to argue but you held up your hand. He smiled, amused and gestured go on. "Just until they can fix the apartment and if we get to be too much tell me. We can tough it out in a hotel. We've dealt with worse," you added and he frowned before nodding.

"Deal." He turned to look at your daughter and smiled. "You hear that bug, you and mommy are moving in." Your daughter giggled and clapped her syrup covered hands.

"Temporarily," you reminded him and he smiled at you.

"Right, let's go grab the stuff you'll need while you're here temporarily." He went grabbed a towel and wiped your daughters hands while she kept laughing and chanting "move in, move in!"

Is it your fault that you didn't know that your circumstances were anything but temporary?

[maraudersilver]

despise you (Sirius Black x Potter!Reader)

Wc: 2,2K

Series masterlist

Warnings: I wrote this blurb in less than an hour, English is not my first language so if you see anything that needs improvement, let me know!

Sirius Black x Fem!Potter!Reader - Chapter 1

Summary: After winning a quidditch match against Gryffindor, you scape the party celebrated at the Slytherin common room only to encounter the Marauders lurking around the dungeons.

The Slytherin common room was boasting with music that reverberated throughout the dungeons’ walls. You were sure Slughorn would be awake soon enough, if not the giant squid lurking on the waters of the Black Lake who could be lured by the intense lighting. 

At the moment, you were outside the party halls, leaned on the hard, stone wall in an attempt to calm your breathing. It was too much. Too loud. Too many people in such a small space. Why were there Hufflepuffs celebrating Slytherin’s victory anyway? Didn’t they have a common room to loaf in? 

It had been a long day that went in a haze. One moment you were trying to choke on your morning coffee, and the next your whole house had you and the rest of the Quidditch team strutting on their shoulders for everyone to see. The match had been a hard one, Gryffindor being a great team. Not that you would admit it outloud. However, McKinnon’s growing frustration at every stop of the quaffle added to the intense beating of the bad Black brother in an attempt to throw you off your broom had only fueled your skills.

That and your brother’s priceless, devastated expression when Regulus had been the one to catch the snitch. You had almost felt some flicker of sympathy when Lily Evans refused his consolation hug petition, but it didn’t last long. 

“Are you planning on murdering someone?” Regulus’ voice took you out of your thoughts, and your bemused expression only caused him to snort. “You have a wicked grin on. That can’t be good.”

“Just recalling James’ face,” you sighed happily, to which Regulus chuckled silently. “Ah, this Christmas is going to be magical!”

“And they say I’m the evil one.” It was your time to snort, nudging Regulus lightly with your shoulder when he positioned himself next to you. “I do have to admit, seeing him so riled up the second I had the snitch in my hand was… Gratifying.”

“Gratifying?” You choked, looking up at your friend with raised brows. “What kind of word is that?”

“Some of us have proper education, you know?”

“Are you calling me illiterate?”

“That’s on you, Potter.”

You huffed, a small smirk still on your face. The two of you stayed in silence, listening to the new single of Bartilous and The Jumping Poffle that blasted through the entrance. 

“Got tired?”

“Yeah,” Regulus yawned, placing his head lazily in the stone. “What the fuck are the Hufflepuffs doing in there?”

“Right! Who let them in?”

“I’m betting on Rosier.”

“Evan?” you asked incredulously.

“Pandora. She has been sitting next to Abb… Abbie… Whatever. On transfiguration all year.”

You hummed in acknowledgement. There was a pending conversation with your group of friends about who were and weren’t welcomed during Slytherin parties. And the whole badger house was definitely not on the list. 

“Could be worse.” You peeked at the good Black brother out of the corner of your eye. “It could have been the Gryffindors.”

“As if!” Both Regulus and you chuckled. You shook your head and sighed again, rolling your shoulders uncomfortably. “James would cut both his hands before stepping a foot on our common room.”

“I was going to say that Sirius would become bald before doing so but,” Regulus grimaced, and you felt your lips stretching in amusement. “I’m positive he'd rather snog Avery than living without his hair.”

You gagged. “Not Avery.”

“What? Umbridge then?” 

“You’re the worst.”

Regulus chuckled lightly. “She’s not that bad.”

“Please, Black, tell me you don’t have a crush on Miss Pinky Winky,” you groaned.

“What? No!”

“Doesn’t sound convincing.”

“I do not-.” Regulus interrupted his defense when footsteps came down the hallway. 

“Slughorn?” you mouthed silently.

“I dunno,” replied the boy in the same way.

The both of you stood quiet and immobile, hiding in the shadows provided by the many iron armors scattered around the corridors along with the lack of torches. Sometimes you thought Dumbledore hated you all. How could a headmaster leave a part of the students’ housing inside a fucking castle without light? Simply evil. The other houses definitely didn’t have that treatment.

“You remember where it was, right?” a hushed, definitely not Slughorn voice whispered at the end of the corridor.

“We literally have a map, Prongs.”

“Excuse me, hound mutt, for not trusting your awful sense of orientation.”

“What did you call me?”

“You all tire me.”

“Sorry, Moony.”

Regulus and you shared an unimpressed look.

“I start to understand the weekly detention,” you hummed.

Suddenly, all voices and steps came to a stop. Their silhouettes were still invisible to the eye, too surrounded in darkness to be able to discern them. 

“Did you hear that?” Peter asked, resonating throughout the whole corridor.

“Yes and now they heard you too, twat,” grumbled Sirius.

You wanted to laugh. How they managed to sneak around so much was becoming a really prominent question at the front of your mind with how clumsy and noisy they were. Even if they had James’ -and yours- invisibility cloak, only a fool wouldn’t hear the elephant racket those four emanated. 

Regulus gave a tired sigh, leaning away from where he stood in the wall and elegantly moved towards the common room entrance, waving his hand lazily. “Not doing this tonight. Bye, Potter.”

“Back to the party?”

“To my dorm.”

And with that, Regulus disappeared from view and left you alone in the dungeons. With the Marauders prowling around, that is.

You considered pulling the same move as your friend. It really had been a tiring day, you didn’t need to end up colliding against the four most annoying people of the whole castle. Damn, you would rather go back to the Hufflepuffs invading your common room. 

But after a few minutes of silence, except for the ballad playing at that moment, you wondered, even hoped, if the boys had left after hearing Regulus and you. You really didn’t want to go back in. Not a very party person, to be honest. 

All hope was lost, however, when under the single torch to ever be placed in the dungeons appeared the isolated head of Peter Pettigrew. 

“Coast’s clear!”

And then, his whole body was visible, along with the other three boys who were smiling like maniacs. Well, Remus was wearing more of a sly smirk, but he didn’t fool you. He was as bad as all of them.

“Check the map. Sluggy could be lurking,” Sirius said, snatching a piece of parchment from Remus’ hands and ogling it with focus. “You fucking idiot! Wormtail, coast clear? Really? Look at this shit, then!”

The smaller boy paddled towards Sirius, who very angrily waved the object in front of Peter’s face. Even under the light of a single torch, the process of blood draining from his face was very much visible.

“But she- There’s no one there!” He animatedly pointed towards you, who just smirked when you realized you were truly hidden by the shadows.

“What?” It was James now who took the parchment, scanning it as if he was committing its contents to memory. “You have to be kidding me.”

“Is that…?”

“Yep, Moony. It’s her,” snarled Sirius, pacing the very small distance between one wall and the other. 

James called your name. “C’mon, we know you’re there.”

With a protruding groan, you made your way to a more visible corner of the corridor and smiled sarcastically at them. “What a non pleasure to see you.”

Sirius huffed. “What were you doing there?”

The four boys gave you looks that went from exasperated to resignation. Sirius being the most work up out of them. Something in you fluttered at the thought of making him so angry with just your presence. 

“Last time I checked, this was my common room.” You looked around with fake, wide eyes.

“You’re outside your common room,” said your brother with narrowed eyes.

“Salazar forgive a girl from hanging outside her common room. What a crime!”

“Stop with your theatrics,” snarked Sirius. “What do you want?”

You raised an eyebrow, a pang of rage beating in your chest. “You’re the ones prowling the dungeons. Gryffindor Tower is a long way from here, isn’t it?”

James, Sirius and Peter scoffed, while Remus just stood there, chewing on his lower lip. You looked at him with furrowed brows, he was the most decent of them all at the end of the day.

“Lupin?”

“They were accompanying me in my patrol,” the Prefect answered without looking at you.

Tilting your head, you bit your lower lip. “How funny! I thought Digory was on patrol at this hour. At least that’s what he said when I saw him inside.” You pointed to the wall behind you. “I think you got… mixed up.”

“Must have been it.”

You hummed. “And, if I remember correctly, patrols must be done with other Prefects and…” Your gaze turned from James to Peter and ended up in Sirius. “None of them are Prefects. Thank Merlin for it, though.”

“So righteous, aren’t you Potter?” spat Sirius, losing his temper sooner than you expected. “Oh, the goody-two-shoes is going to snitch on us?”

“You mean the snitch that Regulus caught?” you joked, and his blush deepened. 

“That was a lame one,” James admitted quietly, and Peter silently agreed.

Endorsed by his friends, Sirius barked a hollow laugh. “Careful, we’re four against one.”

“Not fighting my sister, dude. Don’t count me in,” James raised his hands in surrender. 

A high pitched sound escaped your throat, and it took Sirius a whole second to comprehend you were giggling. Fucking giggling. 

“So brave the Gryffindors are, huh?” you cackled, shaking your head mirthlessly. “Fighting a wandless girl all on her own just because, what? For seeing you in a corridor?”

“Don’t play victim now, it doesn’t suit you.”

Sirius was baring his teeth like a dog, which almost made you howl in laughter. He really thought he was scary. 

“Aww, how cute!” you cooed mockingly. “The pretty boy of Hogwarts could not scare a fly even if he tried.” You pouted.

Something in his expression shifted. Long lost was the snare falling from his lips, as now a sly smirk welcomed your confused state. He waggled his eyebrows and leaned towards you, his long, black hair tickling your cheek. 

“You think I’m pretty?”

The warmth abandoned your body to concentrate in your face. You were sure if anyone wanted to cook an egg on your forehead, it would be boiled by now. Opening your mouth, you tried to come up with something, anything, but you could only gape like a fish with his grey eyes looking amusedly straight at yours, so close you could see your reflection in them. 

“Cat got your tongue, love?” he mocked, licking his lips and having you copy the motion unconsciously. “Well, isn’t this interesting.”

He was almost purring. Bloody hell. As much as you couldn’t stand him and ended up arguing with him whenever you two ended up in the same room, you had to admit that you could understand the frenzy he caused in most of Hogwarts’ population. 

Suddenly, Sirius was aggressively pulled away from you. Your brain sighed in relief, while your chest ached for the proximity that had seemed so promising. 

Out of the haze, you looked up to see James dragging Sirius away by the shoulders. If it wasn’t so dark, you would have seen the maroon colour painting the bad Black brother’s features. 

“I let you fight her. But whatever the hell that was? Not a chance. Keep your hands to yourself, Padfoot.”

Peter howled, while Remus patted Sirius’ back consolingly, although his silent chuckle gave him away.

“I wasn’t doing anything! We were arguing, weren’t we, Potter?”

Still too stunned to speak, you just nodded. Your heart was beating like a drum, and you tried to associate it to the long time hatred your brother’s best friend and you had for each other.

“See? Now let me go!”

James laughed at Sirius’ lame attempts to set himself free from his grip, wriggling and snapping hands at whoever tried to touch him. And in a moment of clarity, you took your chance while they were distracted teasing him.

“Don’t prank any Slytherin, the common room or its surroundings!” you warned while running towards the entrance. “If you do, I’ll know it was you and I have proof!”

“What proof?” Peter asked.

And that was the last thing you heard before the loud, blasting music and voices from your housemates and Hufflepuffs surrounded you. Incredibly, you were thankful to be back at the party and away from the Marauders, which you knew would end up pranking the dungeons and, in fact, you had no proof of it. 

Waving at Barty and Dorcas, you made your way upstairs to your dorm. If you had craved your bed since after the match, you were now desperate to succumb into Morpheus’ arms to forget your encounter with Sirius Black, whose face was the last you saw before the entrance’s door closed. Naughty curls falling on his face, wild eyes focused on you as you had made your way back to the haven of your house.

Surely, you were only recalling it because you despised him, right?

[deadghosy]

HAZBIN HOTEL X ROBLOX NOOB! READER

prompt: your best friend John Doe hacked you into a universe where hell is much different in your mind

“OOF-” you said as you press the buttons on your ps5. A portal opens as blocky person with yellow skin exits out of the portal looking at you. “JD!” You said with a “:P” face. “noob…you get to get out the house more…” John Doe said with a static voice as he picked up your bloxy body and thrown you into a portal as you kept smiling

“:) yay I’m falling.” You said out loud as you felt yourself fall in the air. You fell but landed on your feet like always. You look around to see that it smell like must, ass, and most importantly fire. You walked around just smiling as demons and sinners looked as if you were some weirdo…..

You came across the hotel and applied for a job to be the schedule manager. You got a red outfit to match vaggie and Charlie as you grab a flat board and started to write who gets to do what.

Noob! Reader is the type to pull out a cannon out of fucking no where and fuck someone’s life up🦆(a/n: pinkie pie type shit)

I can see Alastor watching you do a r6 dance as he just looked at you weirdly with a strained smile. You literally said out loud “/E DANCE!” And started to dance 😭

Lucifer got scared because he accidentally let you dove off a roof…but you respawned with a blue force field around you making Lucifer think you were an angel.

You love the egg boiz as they love you too! You do color sheets with them as Pentious brings you guys some cookies like a mom💗

You had onetime pulled a chainsaw out because husk said he needed to get a haircut on his fur. You literally pullled it out of no while husk jolted looking at your crazed face as you reved it up.

“You said you needed a hair cut!!” “I SAID HAIR CUT! NOT END MY LIFE YOU FUCKER!” Husk yells back as you chase him smiling like “:D” with the chainsaw. It was giving scooby doo as you kept chasing him.

Lucifer would be weirded out with Noob as noob just sticks their tongue out like the :P face while Lucifer pokes you curious about your game like box body.

I imagine noob! Reader showing Charlie a picture of bacon hair boy who is doing orange justice in the back. “Oh is that your friend?” Charlie says with a nervous smile at how your friend’s hair literally looks like bacon or is. You nodded excitedly as you wave your phone happily at bacon hair boy.

You blasted “it’s raining tacos” outside of the Vee’s tower when learning your friends had opps in there. So you wanted to annoy them.

This lasted for 2 days until vaggie had found you and took you home as you screamed out the song LOUD AND PROUD

I can imagine Lucifer making you a duck hat that says “don’t duck with me!” It’s so cute 🦆

I headcannon noob!reader to be the most dangerous being in hell as they literally been to every other gun and fighting game of the roblox universe.

NOOB SOLOS‼️‼️🔥

You know those badass Roblox games with those cool combat moves? That’s what you use. 🤨

You grabbed a sinner’s face and run dragging their body in the ground with a smile. You lifted your arm and swing them around as they flew to who knows where as the crew behind you had an either shocked or entertained face.

One time Charlie and you were shopping in a mall and you peaked over the boarder to keep people from falling. “I wonder if I can die from this height.” “NOOB NO-” that’s when you had to get a kid leash on you anytime you go out with the staff.

It was a nice day as Angel was throwing knives to increase his skills. You walked by him curiously grabbing two knives and throwing them at the same time. Making it hit the bullseye as Angel looked at you shock.

“Whoa kid, how did you learn to do that?” Angel asked pulling out the knives you made in the bullseye. “I was murder once!” You said with a happy smile as you walked away. Angel dust has the most confused face ever(picture below)

I headcannon noob!reader to be like Kirby. So like noob pulls out a knife to be murder, and then they could pull out a gun as Sheriff✨🦆

“Pew pew pew” you said as you stood on the balcony of the hotel as you shot at random sinners. Alastor appeared behind you confused but laughs at the misery of the sinner running when a missed shot almost killed them.

One time Angel gave you a Tommy gun not suspecting you know how to use it….you literally started to blast sinners away-

You SHOT AN OLD LADY ALSO😨

yeah Angel never gave you his Tommy gun ever again.

As you stayed in hell, you didn’t know that you would be spied on by the angels as Adam laughs at how chaotic and naive you are.

You’re so use to bullshit in Roblox you just stand there like “🧍🏾” as shit goes on. Literally when Charlie was panicking when the extermination was due in 6 months

During a uno game you ate a card as husk was trying to win but forfeited in anger as you screamed out uno. Leaving the missing card out of your mouth….it got quiet so quick as husk chased after you.

Niffty finds you amazing as you both have crazed tendencies. You both literally cause made chaos around places 🤭

YOU USE YOUR ADOPT ME SCAMMING SKILLS TO SCAM PEOPLE 😭😭 I CAN SEE THIS

The overlords are confused when they see Lucifer bring you to a meeting for once. You just sat there eating a taco. “Ello.” You said waving your blocky arm at them.

When watching the horror movies with the crew, you don’t react at all with Alastor as you been in lots of horror games with that one guy named Guest…you miss home and him.

I headcannon that you once accidentally summoned John Doe because you sneezed and he literally stood there as you hugged him. The rest of the crew was confused thinking he was your brother.

[cerastes]

How thinly veiled are we talkin?

See, in Unicorn Overlord, there’s many characters you can spare or execute. UO attempts a moral quandary where you can put aside your moral apprehensions and spare absolutely awful people in order to recruit them, or just not kill them without them necessarily joining you.

“Attempts” is the key word here because while the gameplay is very fun, the writing of the game has all the charm of a stiff doorknob, it’s not a game I’d recommend if you want to get to know wonderful, innovative, and or charming characters per se.

Big preface coming:

A rare good example: There’s a pair of plague doctors who engaged in actual honest to god human experimentation of the cruelest most utilitarian kind, BUT it was ultimately, genuinely because that particular case was one where you really couldn’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs. If that plague they were attempting to placate spread, it really was going to be a continent-wide pandemic. One of them dies, the other one pleads you to let her finish the research, because it’s almost done and it’ll make all the sacrifices worth it. This is good because you can put the bag on it to punish an objectively cruel and cold doc but potentially fuck over a lot of people by effectively cutting out the potential cure, OR let her finish up and thus validating all the incredibly cruel experiments she carried through but potentially saving a lot more people.

Now, contrast this with this one regional lord who was severely rationing food, and who was very much a massive asshole, but the guy had a point: Famines happened in this particular region, he survived one such famine as a kid, seeing many people die. The way the good guy that puts you against him describes, he’s starving people, but literally every other villager tells you “yeah we don’t eat much but we still are pretty ok and we’ve never actually been hungry because our larders are always full”, and this guy, who was very much just an asshole but completely right and not at all unreasonable, you have no way to spare him whatsoever.

That’s fine and all, but then you have our Main Course here:

There’s a dude early on who’s gleefully killing people and looting villages who you can fight. Upon defeat, he spins you a sad story about his sick, sick sister who needs an expensive medicine, asks you to spare him. You can’t execute him, just incarcerate him, which is odd and unique to him. If you do, predictably, he escapes.

Soon after, a guy is assaulting a church, pilfering all he can with hostages, makes sure he’d enjoy putting some arrows in some foreheads. You fight, beat him, and we have a story about his friend’s sick sister, you see, and this is to help pay for her medicine. You CAN execute him.

MUCH later, in elfland, the first guy is straight up, again, gleefully killing elves and kidnapping a lot of elven villagers, selling them to slavery and worse, you fight him, he says his sister is just so so sick that he has no choice but to traffic elves. You can forgive him again or execute him. Except if you pick to not forgive him, the piece of shit Gryphon Rider that joins you this map stops you and tells him to go to her family, they’ll provide him with a full on cure free of charge for her :) yippie! Hell, if you forgave him twice, he joins you and this is framed as a really cool thing. Fuck those elves that got trafficked already, by the way. Literally no recourse, justice, or anything. Game almost guilts you for not forgiving the guy that happily murders and traffics civilians because he has a sick sister. Cool.

So at least that’s over with, except another entirely different guy who in the early game was hunting witches (who are good in this setting) for profit and glory, and who you beat, has escaped to a late game area, in the beast folk country, and has ingratiated himself with the local beast folk community, while in the darkness, he’s kidnapping and trafficking beast folk civilians. You beat him and then he gets a whole cutscene about how hard he’s been trying to reverse his fortunes — despite always showing to enjoy himself a LOT while enslaving and trafficking beast folks — and how that’s admirable and he’ll Never Give Up. You get no choice to execute him whatsoever, again, a rarity, and he becomes a defender of the beast folk, no repentance whatsoever. The beast folks who git trafficked, by the way? Fuck them lmao, because the guy Never Gives Up. Oops!

The way Unicorn Overlord handles the complete inability to punish slavemongers and traffickers of life in stark contrast with the fates of literally everyone else is incredibly jarring and weird, down to the way it’s always framed as “awww but it’s for an admirable reason though!” whereas far nobler enemies, some of which are literally just fighting to defend their people, get put in the woodchipper or have the choice to get put in the woodchipper completely unceremoniously, which is so so weird when only, specifically the people traffickers are unkillable and glorified.