#he was at the barn where a family member had their horse. a little too poorly cared for... he refused to be rideable (past abuse probably)

[jorvikzelda]

GOD my heart aches every time I see the black Dartmoor

[badjokesbyjeff]

A wealthy man was ordered by his physician to go away to the mountains for a rest. He went home, told the members of his family what the doctor had said. He said, "While I'm away, I don't wish to be annoyed by letters or telegrams; in fact, I don't want to receive any news of any kind." So he went away and was gone about six weeks.

He returned to the city very much improved in health and very anxious for some news from home. He got off of the train at the depot, was met by his servant, and the following conversation ensued:

Man: Well, Henry, how is everything at home? Is there any news?

Henry: No, sir. There ain't no news, sir. Everything is just about the same as it was when y'all went away. Nothin' happened. No sir, there ain't nothing happened, there ain't no news.

Man: Well, you know, I'm just dying for some word from home now. You can tell me any little thing, no matter how trifling.

Henry: No sir, there ain't no news. There ain't nothin' to tell you, sir. Except... there's just one little thing. Since you've been away, your dog died.

Man: Oh, my dog died, eh? Well, that's too bad. What killed the

dog?

Henry: Well, sir, the dog ate some burnt horseflesh. And that's what killed the dog.

Man: Ate burnt horseflesh? Where did he get burnt horseflesh to eat?

Henry: Well, sir, you know, your barn burned down. And after the fire had cooled off, the dog ran in and ate some of the burnt horse- flesh, and that's what killed the dog.

Man: Oh, my barn burned down, eh?

Henry: Oh yessir, yes indeed, the barn, that's all burned down.

Man: How did the barn catch fire?

Henry: Well, sir, you see, a spark from the house flew over, caught on to the barn, burned the barn down, burned up all the cows and the horses, and after the fire had cooled off, the dog ran in and ate some of the burnt horseflesh, and that's what killed the dog.

Man: Oh, then my house burned down too, eh?

Henry: Oh yessir, yes indeed, the house, that's completely destroyed.

Man: Well, how did the house catch fire?

Henry: Well sir, they had some candles burning in the house, and one of the candles caught onto the curtain, and the curtains caught onto the roof, and the spark flew over and caught onto the barn, burned the barn down, burned up all the cows and the horses, and after the fire had cooled off, the dog ran in and ate some of the burnt horseflesh, and that's what killed the dog.

Man: You say they had candles burning in the house where I have gas and electricity? I never knew there was a candle in the place.

Henry: Oh yessir, yessir, they had the candles there. They had the candles burning all around the coffin.

Man: The coffin? Who's dead?

Henry: Oh yessir, yessir, that's another little thing I forgot to tell you about. Since you've been away, your mother-in-law died.

Man: Oh, my mother-in-law died, eh?

Henry: Yessir, yessir, she's dead all right. You needn't worry about that.

Man: What killed my mother-in-law?

Henry: Well sir, I don't know exactly what killed her sir, but around the neighborhood, they say it was from the shock of your wife running away with the chauffeur. But outside of that sir, why, there ain't no news.

[clemblog]

Caine’s Lesson - Part 11

•

Pomni, Max, Chad and Gummigoo had all been out on their scavenger adventures. Happily riding past the old fudge lake where the Fudge monster used to reside.

“POMNI!”

She had Jingle stop immediately. Snapping her head directly in the direction of the familiar voice. It was something she’d never imagined seeing here before.

Ragatha.

Kinger.

Zooble.

Gangle.

Jax.

All covered in fudge dragging themselves out of the lake.

“What are you guys doing here?!” She exclaimed, jumping down from Jingle.

“Pomni! Thank goodness! You’re okay!” Beamed Ragatha, pulling her into a hug.

“…Caine happened.” Eeked Gangle.

Pomni frowned at this.

“Did you guys yell at him too-?”

“No, I just think he’s kind of… loosing it-“ Hummed Zooble.

“Huh.” Frowned Pomni. “Guess you guys should come with me then-“

She turned to her crew.

“T-Think we have room for these guys back at the ranch?”

“Course Poms! A friend of yours is a friend of ours!” Grinned Gummigoo.

“Poms~?” Mused Jax.

“…Shut up, that’s just my name here-“

“Whatever you say Pom Pom~”

“It’s Poms!”

Pomni took Ragatha on Jingle.

Gummigoo had Zooble and Gangle on Tang. Max had Jax on Sour. Chad was with Kinger on Horse!

When the group got back, Pomni went with Gummigoo, Max and Chad to tend to the horses. Leaving the circus members outside of the main ranch house. Ma Croc opened the door.

“Oh my! More citizen survivors, please, come in come in. My name is Ma! Come sit down, I’m making some soup! You’re all skin and bones! So have as much as you please!”

“Hey-!”

“A-Alright-“

“…Okay.”

“That’s incredibly kind of you Ma- Come on guys! Be polite guests-“

“AA- Where are we-“

“You’re at Croco Ranch, my dear!” Smiled Ma, having lead the group into the kitchen of the house. “It’s the current safe house for all the candy citizens who survived the attack from the Fudge.”

Luckily, she’d turned to stir her soup and grab some bowls as everyone was now glaring at Jax. Well. Except for Zooble, but she was quickly brought up to speed by Gangle and joined everyone in the subtle shame game.

Ma was soon handing everyone bowls of soup, giving Jax a break from the glaring. It was a warm sweet soup, so nobody had any complaints.

“I’m going to get you all a place set up now. You’ll need the rest. And to clean up-“ She chuckled, looking over their fudge covered appearances.

“Ah- Yeah-“ Snickered Ragtha, sheepishly. “Again, thank Ma-“

“It’s no problem in the slightest, dear.”

The group were soon lead out to the barn where they’d be staying for the time being. Ma had done her best to give everyone bedding that was suited to them! It was very comfy and the group were very grateful.

Ragatha sat on her bed, just staring off and watching all the Candy citizens pass by. Truth be told, she was a little sad. She had never seen Pomni so happy- She’d be thriving outside the circus! Away from the group- …away from her. Had she been reading things wrong all along? Did Pomni not value her as much as she valued her? Did she do something wrong?

She wasn’t sure.

But there was one thing she did know. As badly as she wanted it, Pomni’s heart wasn’t for her. So, she’d stay quiet. And hope that deep down, once things settled down Pomni would ease back into their little circus family. So they could be friends again! Because at the end of the day, even if she knew she was okay, and that they were all together again.

Ragatha still missed her. She’d changed so much- Even if she knew it was for the better… She missed the scared sassy Pomni she’d met who’d stuck by her and the rest of the circus.

But at the end of the day, if you love something. You’re supposed to let it go.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t hope it’ll grow stronger, and that it may return to you someday, even if just for a moment.

So that’s what Ragatha would do.

“Hey? Are you alright?”

Ragatha blinked and looked up, she’d been stuck in her thoughts for a little while now-

It was Lou.

“Oh! I’m alright- Just thinking-.” She admitted, sheepishly.

“Pretty intently, with that grimace on your face-“ Mused Lou, softly, poking her playfully on the forehead. “You’ll start getting wrinkles if you aren’t careful-“

Ragatha snickered at this gently.

“Right- Right-“

“Kidding.” Mused Lou, softly. “Nobody should have to care for wrinkles, they’re natural. But still, you should look out for how long you space out. I’m Lou, by the way. Princess of the Candy Kingdom.”

“Alright, will do Lou.” Winked Ragatha, playfully. “Thanks though, I’ll definitely keep it in mind.”

“Great! I’d hate to see a pretty face like yours look so down in the dumps again.”

Ragatha just snickered at this, rolling her eyes.

“Now, come on, you wanna come help me with some organising or are you gonna stay moping around.”

“I don’t mind helping!”

Maybe getting over Pomni wouldn’t be so hard for Ragatha after all!

Jax was asleep in his bed, curled up in a knitted blanket that matched his dungarees. Zooble wasn’t sure where Kinger had gotten off to but that just left her and Gangle to relax on their opposing bunk beds. The peace was nice, especially now that she didn’t have to worry about Caine. It meant she could finally focus on Gangle. And what she meant to her. What she wanted for the future, if they got a future at all- She wasn’t sure anymore, but she wouldn’t let it drag her down- Because if their was even a possibility of a future, she’d plan it out for the rest of her days.

Because in many times in life, sometimes the only thing you had was hope.

Part 12

[kokinu09]

Let Go of the Reins || CHAPTER 1

~*~

pairing seungmin x fem!reader

genre strangers to lovers, romance, fluff, slight angst later, happy ending, social media, not meant to be, someday

summary Australia is considered home for two of the eight members. When two tour dates are scheduled for the land down under, the boys can’t help but want to spend a bit more time there to visit family and do a little sightseeing. So how do they convince the company that they need to stay a couple weeks? Filming some SKZ Code episodes.

A local riding school just outside the city with amazing reviews for their skilled instructors and beautiful horses is hosting a very popular kpop group to film their experiences. Y/N knows the group well and she just so happens to be their star working student.

status ongoing

taglist OPEN

previous | masterlist | next

~*~

The drive to their destination isn’t too bad. It’s actually very beautiful. The transition from the city to the more rural areas into the natural Australian landscape. Vast grassy fields, rolling hills, and lush, green forests all brimming with wildlife and gorgeous views.

They’re heading to a small riding school about an hour out of the city. Chan had told them about it vaguely in the chat earlier. Seungmin is sure he didn’t even know much about it other than what they’re doing and where they’re going.

As the vans pull up, he takes note of how big the place seems to be. They’re only at the entrance and the sheer amount of grounds they’ll be covering is already making him feel exhausted.

He looks around at the others when they’ve all filed out. Of course Chan is over talking to one of the staff, pointing in all different directions he assumes is him getting as much information as possible. Minho is hung back near Han in their little introverted huddle waiting for instructions. Felix’s bright eyed smile as he looks around makes him chuckle from the blatant contrast between his own dread and the older’s excitement. And the other three were currently bickering and placing bets on who they think will get bucked off.

“Mm, I don’t think Hannie-hyung would. He’d just let the horse take over before disagreeing with it.” Jeongin decides. Hyunjin hums in agreement beside him.

“You’re right. It will definitely be Changbin-hyung before anyone else.” He adds.

“HEY!” The older boy shouts indignantly. “The horses are going to love me! What are you talking about?!” Changbin continues to loudly defend himself for about a minute before Chan appears to intervene, gathering all of the boys closer.

“Ok, it’s almost time for the host to come get us for instruction. Today will mostly be us getting to look around and learn the do’s and dont’s.” Chan explains before turning to look pointedly at Changbin. “But let’s try not to startle the horses with too much yelling, yeah?”

Changbin gawks but is ultimately left speechless without an argument to stand on. The other two boys that had placed bets snicker. “See?” Hyunjin laughs, earning an elbow from his elder.

~*~

What was surprising was the lack of cameras following them around. Seungmin had first noticed when they were led to the entrance of the main barn to meet the inspector but he didn’t say anything.

Now that they are fully inside and being taught about the equipment they’d be using, it feels strange. They’re so used to seemingly being recorded at all times that the moments when they’re not, they automatically are just waiting for the cameras to show.

“I thought we were recording SKZ Codes. Where’s the camera crew?” He whispers the question to Chan.

The leader’s eyes flicker over to him then back towards the instructor. “We are but the host’s insisted that the first day be used solely for institutional purposes for our safety. Tomorrow will be more fun, I promise.” He offers a smile of reassurance.

Seungmin hums in understanding and pretends to tune back into listening, even though all of this is incredibly boring to him.

“Minho, look!” Han alerts in excitement, completely interrupting the poor woman talking and all eyes turn to where he is pointing further down the barn.

A mother cat lounges about as her three small kittens pounce and play nearby. A chorus of delighted and amused sounds erupt from their group. A few of the members, Minho included, abandon their seats all together in favor of playing with the kittens.

Seungmin even got up in favor of distracting from the monotonous lesson about horse equipment.

“Oh, you’ve found little Miss Cali and her babies!” The woman says lightly. Minho already has all three kittens circling his crouched legs as he scratches their mother’s head. “And it seems they really like you!” She laughs.

“I would hope so! He’s our resident cat whisperer!” Han teases as he coaxes one of the kittens to come his way instead.

“Don’t be dramatic,” Minho scoffs. “I just treat them with respect and they appreciate that.” Then he smirks. “They’re not like dogs just desperate for attention.”

“Hey!” Seungmin gawks in offense. But he gets brushed off with a wave of Minho’s hand as if he hadn’t meant it towards him, even though he definitely did. The younger just clicks his tongue in annoyance.

Chan is too busy apologizing to the nice lady for the interruption and giving her a vague translation of what the members were saying to notice when Seungmin slips further from the members and the cats. And neither had the rest of them.

He didn’t stray far at first. Just slipping further into the barn to see some of the horses still in their stalls. Even getting to pet a few of them on the nose if they were close enough to the door. He smiles to himself at the peaceful moments he gets to share with these gentle giants on his own for once.

Not that he doesn’t enjoy experiencing things with the members. Because he does! It’s just rare to have a moment alone even when they aren’t filming. Lucky for him, his fellow members are easily distracted and, without the cameras watching their every move, he could enjoy one of these seldom quiet instances.

The further from the group he got, the more his curiosity peaks at the sounds coming from outside. The distant neigh of excited horses and the almost rhythmic pounding of against the dirt. What would it hurt if he explores just a little more?

So he glances over his shoulder, to make sure no one has missed him yet, then continues to wander out of the barn.

The air outside is refreshing, even with the humid heat. It’s better than inside the stuffy barn. Someone must have cut the grass recently because he can smell it mixing with the kicked up dirt. A light breeze hits his face as he takes in a deep breath and keeps walking further from the confines of the barn.

“Arena?” He wonders aloud when he reads a sign nailed to a pretty white fence. The only arenas he’s ever been to were for concerts or sports. What could an arena be for at this riding school?

The fenced area is surrounded by trees and greenery, almost as if they are trying to keep it hidden from the general attendees for their services. His interest peeks again, curious what they could be hiding.

He pushes on, the grass under his feet turning to dirt as soon as he crosses the fence’s threshold. The vast space seems filled with obstacles; red and white horizontal bars held up by sturdy posts, barrels strategically placed exact distances apart, and even a couple weird standing curtain-like fixtures.

“Oh, some kind of training arena,” he murmurs to himself, walking up to the closest jump obstacle just to look at it. He hasn’t seen these kinds of things in person after all. It’s much bigger than what he imagined watching it on a little phone screen. But the horses also seem bigger, so he guesses he just isn’t used to all this yet.

Suddenly, he hears the fast approaching sound of hooves pounding against the ground. “Oh shit,” Seungmin curses, his eyes go wide with panic as he bolts upright and pushes himself backwards as quickly as he can. If he trips over his own two feet just as the horse clears the jump and he’s face-to-face with a huge animal that could crush him in an instant, then that’s between him and the dirt under his ass.

But the massive creature skids to a stop before he can be trampled and the panicked voice of the rider drifts over the irritant neighs.

“Oh my god! Are you ok?”

He looks up and thinks he might be dreaming. An angel atop her white stead, the Australian sun casting a halo around her silhouette as she watches over him. Maybe he did die and go to heaven.

~*~

It’s a miracle that you stopped in time. Your heart thrumming in your chest with panic that you’d almost accidentally run someone over and worry that this not-just-a-somebody but Korean fucking idol is actually hurt because of you.

“I’m so so so sorry!” The words coming out without even a breath in between as you hop out of the saddle, rushing to help him up off the ground and back onto his feet.

Seungmin still hasn’t found his voice even as you frantically check him over for anything visible, all the while the word sorry becoming your new catchphrase. But his silence almost makes you worry even worse than if he was scolding you.

With a huff you finally straighten to look him in the face, eyes big and round and scared. “Please tell me you’re alright.”

It was only then that you realize just how scared he must have been; his eyes wide and almost sparkling (what you could only assume is from unshed tears because why else would his eyes be so big and beautiful), face flushed (maybe he’s embarrassed that you’re seeing him so vulnerable?), and lips slightly agape (the shock seeming to still have a tight grip on his tongue). That has to be the only explanation as to why he is looking at you like this.

He finally blinks a few times as he breathes out a laugh at how much fuss you’re making over this. “I’m fine, don’t worry,” he assures, brushing off the dust from his pants.

“Oh thank god!” You dramatically sigh. “Your company would kill me if anything happened to you!”

“Ha! Gee thanks!” Seungmin laughs humorously.

“Wha—? Wait! No! Not like that!” You laugh along, relieved that he’s able to joke about the situation. But that’s kinda the problem here though, isn’t it? Your features shift from a lighthearted smile to very serious in a matter of seconds. Your lips pressing into a hard line. “What are you doing in the arena? You could have really gotten hurt!”

“Don’t be dramatic. I was only looking around.” Then he smirks. “And besides, nothing bad actually happened.”

You huff out an annoyed breath. “Yeah! ‘Cause my horse and I have been working together for a very long time.”

“My hero~!” He coos teasingly.

“Shut up,” you glare but the blush heating your cheeks doesn’t go unnoticed. “Anyone less experienced as a rider might not have stopped in time and you would have been trampled!” The scold coming out much more concerned than you intended.

“But again, I wasn’t and everything is fine,” he brushes it off and your cheeks heat up for a completely different reason.

“Where are the rest of the boys. We are having a safety meeting before anything else.” You demand, grabbing his wrist as you stomp towards the barn. Maybe dropping your hold when he catches his footing and is able to keep pace with you. (Or maybe it was out of embarrassment, you’ll never admit the truth.)

“Hey, w-wait!” It’s his turn to grip onto your wrist to stop you. “You obviously know who I am,” you snort as if to say ‘yeah no shit’, which makes him chuckle but he has to know. “But I didn’t catch your name.”

You’re sure the look on your face is so dumb because you just stare at him as if he’s joking for a few long seconds. Why on earth could he want to know your name? You’re just some girl who teaches riding lessons. A glorified stable hand. Nothing special. But he is patient as he waits for your response, an eagerness clearly bubbling just beneath the surface.

“Y/N.”

~*~

taglist

@kangaracha @rainfallingfromthesky @puppysmileseungmin @keepswingin

[miilkybnn]

I know these have been requested already but I adore your 09 and cowboy Ghost/Roach/Soap art and would love to see more!! Also, do you have any cowboy/gunslinger headcanons for the three??

I, too, adore ’09 GhostRoachSoap AND cowboy/ranch life GhostRoachSoap so you absolutely WILL see more of them, I promise!!

As for ideas/hc for the cowboy au, it’s a lot more “ranch life” based than gunslingers so if you are into that, keep reading below the line!

If not, then you are more than welcome to skip over this :}

Disclaimer: Most of my ideas are a bit scattered so I apologize for the messy layout, I’ll try my best to keep it coherent. Also, this is not all of them I don’t want this to be overly long

Background:

The AU takes place in Roach’s family ranch where all three members have been discharged from duty.

In this AU, because I like happiness, there is no war over the horizon and is simply a group of people living their lives out on the rolling plains of either Texas or Tennessee— I’m leaning more towards Texas just because I know more about the agriculture of the Texas plains.

In this AU, the 141 & Co simply live their lives from either being retired/discharged/etc. While everyone is involved (except for Shepherd, eat shit and die Shepherd), they all do their own thing but primary attention is mainly on GhostRoachSoap

Roach (+ extended background):

Roach and his other 5 siblings have the ranch under their and their parent’s name. He and two of his siblings, the youngest and the second oldest, are more active in taking care of the ranch's needs now that their parents are well into their ages. The other three help ever so often with more minor things but they have their own families to tend to and his parents don't actually live in the ranch anymore (again, due to age) and live closer to the city.

Roach, however, is the main caretaker for the ranch. He spends the most time on the land and is often alone, that was until Ghost and Soap came

Headcanons;

His accent left when he joined the army. Came back tenfold after a week on the ranch.

Has a collection of cowboy hats and each one serves a purpose (although his favorite is his very worn-out Cattleman that he leaves by the front door to take on his way out)

Expert horse rider. I'm not saying you would see this man at the Rodeo, but he’s had his fair share of bucking broncos, and not ONCE has he been bucked off.

Though there are horses on the ranch, his horse is Estella— a Chestnut American Quarter Horse with three white socks (forelegs + right hind leg) and a star + stripe. She loves to chew on people’s clothes if they turn their backs on her.

Has slept in the barn before (multiple times) and regrets it every time (wouldn’t recommend it, very lumpy and you WILL wake up with straw in places you don’t want it to be)

LOVES cattle work, and hates paperwork 💀 (he lets Ghost, and his two other siblings take care of it) due to this, he is good at reading the animals and knowing when something is wrong!

Are good friends with the vet! (It’s his ex 💀) (They broke amicably though so it’s okay!!) (“So, like, when I kiss you??…. it’s gross” “OH thank God, I thought it was only me")

Gets SOOO distracted when Soap is picking the hay bales. Bff short circuits for a good minute before Ella gets miffed at him and throws her head back

Cows > sheep (will make an exception for baby lambs tho)

Soap:

Along with Ghost, realistically both would not actually retire in some rural Texas town but because I can, let's say they decided to retire to some rural Texas town.

Soap is the most recent member to the farm and took to it like a duck to water. (We'll ignore the times he forgot to lock the chicken coop). He was on active duty but after a close call that was too close to comfort, he decided that maybe it was time to retire. Price is the one that mentioned the ranch to him, although at the time he did not know it was a ranch.

All Price told him was ��if you are looking for something a little different, take a look here" and looking he went.

Headcanons:

Not on the friendliest terms with the cattle dogs but boy do they LOVE him (they’ve tried to herd him multiple times and have succeeded) (he cusses both Ghost and Roach out for watching and letting it happen)

Loves the nitty gritty work. Hay bales? Check. Cleaning the stables? On it. Shearing the sheep? The Clippers are all warmed up already. If there’s a job that involves getting his hands dirty, he is the first in line

Sheep > cows

His horse is a Buckskin American Quarter Horse that he very proudly named Buck. This name came after Roach told him the color of his coat but was reinforced when Soap tried riding him and was almost bucked off. They became the best of pals after that, and Buck occasionally tries to nibble Soap’s mohawk for fun.

His favorite chore is feeding the animals! He loves watching them all flock to their food and munch away. He doesn't find it much of a chore as it fills him with such joy to see all the creatures he cares for flourish.

Gagged the first, second, and third time he saw a sheep give birth. Man has seen a soldier’s leg come clean off from a bomb and recovered in less than 5 minutes but BIRTH? Get the bucket ready.

Ghost:

Discharged after a mission had gone wrong, Ghost had no idea where to go. With no family to go back to and no friends to crash with, civilian life was looking very bleak until Price came to him with a plane ticket and an address to some rural town in Texas.

Ranch life was… different for Ghost. It wasn’t bad per say, and he can’t really find much to complain about, but it was just different. It is... steadier? softer? he's not too sure but at least it lets him sleep easier at night.

It took him and Roach a while to find a rhythm. It wasn’t easy and it was very awkward at first but eventually they were able to settle on something unique for them that worked out.

Headcanons:

Sheep > cows

He likes to roam around with the LGDs. He greatly respects their jobs and has grown a soft spot for them. He knows he’s not supposed to distract them, but he just can’t help himself and always gives them a good belly rub.

Became good friends with the farrier. Farrier does most of the talking but Ghost will join in here and there. He really likes learning about the Farrier's different methods and likes to watch him work on the horses. (Lowkey thinking about making Jackson the farrier bc why not)

One of my favorite personal hc's about Ghost is that he is shit at naming things so yeah, he named his horse, Horse. Roach almost took his horse privileges away because of it but anyway, his horse is not an AQH like Roach/Soap but is instead one of the two draft horses the ranch has! His horse is Blue Roan Clydesdale with a very splotchy coat that loves peppermints and loves napping her days away (she’s had three kids alright she deserves it)

Genuinely enjoys doing the ranch paperwork. Sure, he has to ask Roach here and there where some of the stuff is at but honestly? Could spend hours reading and organizing the books and such. He's very interested in the topics discussed.

Earliest riser. His favorite time of the day is just before the sun peaks over the horizon where everything is blue and foggy, where condensation sits on his skin, when the crickets are still chirping, and when the mourning doves are softly cooing. Roach wakes up soon after him.

[jungle-angel]

Oh my gourd!! #22 from the cottage core list is too cute!! Pick whoever you want

Honey......you probably knew who I was gonna pick when I read this (lol).

5am and Coyote was already up, the dusky skies of spring streaked with a pale rose red. As soon as he had that coffee mug in his hands, it would be out the door to the barn to get the cows out and the horses ready.

The little ranch house where the two of you lived was a gift from Javy's grandfather, a stonemason who made his living off of building houses, walls and other things that came from the earth. After the two of you had gotten married, you had moved right in, the both of you eager to start a family soon.

Javy took his field pack and headed off to the huge barn that more members of his family tended to. Spring had already begun to turn to summer, the mists rolling over the hills and the mountains in the distance. Javy could practically smell the sun coming up. Just another half hour or so and it would be near broad daylight.

The animals in the barn were just beginning to wake up, the clank of the cowbells heard every so often along with the snort of a horse or two. Javy set his field pack on the hook near the door, noticing right away that it was much heavier than it normally was. When he opened it and pulled out the contents, there was his Bento box, full of his favorite lunch and a little note from you on top.

Baby Girl was saying hello this morning, she wanted me to tell you not to forget this so I set it in your pack for later. Love, (Y/n).

Javy couldn't control the smile that broke out on his face. Never in his life was he so sure that you and your unborn daughter would be the one thing that made his life worth living.

[acidh2otoby]

Agent Kennedy, Part 3

Leon Kennedy x Male!Reader

Takes place after re4 but before re6

This part will probably make the giddy readers absolutely melt

Second part > Agent Kennedy, Part 2

It wasn't long until Saturday roled around. You were nervous. Not because you thought Leon would ditch you but because you were afraid you'd do or say something stupid. You had taken the day off so you could do what you needed to do at your house.

After you got ready, you waited for a knock on your door. Leon had stopped by your office the day prior for your phone number and your address so he could pick you up. You tried to sit on your couch until he arrived but you couldn't help but pace in your living room.

Not too long after, Leon knocked on the front door. You were about to rush to open the door before you remembered that you needed to at least take your phone. You quickly turned around to grab it and shove it in your pocket before answering.

Leon looked nervous but had a smile on his face. You probably looked the same.

"Hi." Leon said, slightly lost of words.

"Hey." You replied, but your words were slightly cut off by your own hiccup.

Your eyes went wide before you hiccuped again. You forgot that you get hiccups when you get nervous. Leon's eyes also widened before he laughed.

"Dammit..." You muttered before you hiccuped again.

"Aw, someone got the hiccups?" Leon chuckled, his head tilted a little.

"Shut up." You muttered, another hiccup cut you off.

Leon laughed again, you rolled your eyes before stepping out of your house and let Leon lead you to his car. The car ride was pretty quiet, minus your hiccuping and Leon's occasionally chuckle, until he finally broke the silence.

"When was the last time you saw a white horse?" Leon asked, making you confused.

"Um... I don't know? I think I was four or five?" You responded, actually curious yourself now.

"Where did you see it?" Leon continued, making you even more confused.

"I was visiting a family member and they lived on a barn and had a white horse... I think?" You replied, brainstorming your memories.

Leon hummed before the car went silent again. You noticed something was a little weird...

"What's wrong?" Leon asked, but the look on his face said that he knew the answer.

"Something's off but I don't know what's wrong." You said, looking around a little.

"Your hiccups are gone." Leon said smugly, smirking a little.

You paused and waited for a hiccup, when nothing came, you looked over at Leon with a slightly shocked face.

"How did you do that?" You asked, partly wanting to know what happened.

"Can't tell you, because then it won't work next time." Leon replied, shrugging a little.

You scoffed and shook your head. You and Leon kept up a conversation the rest of the way until you felt the car slow down.

"We're here already?" You asked to yourself, looking around.

Leon smiled a little and put the car in park, you both got out of the car and Leon led you to the front door. It wasn't specificly fancy but it was still a dinner date.

The date itself went really well, the main talking point was telling funny stories about the Redfields. You had more stories but Leon had some good ones. The main reason that became the thing was because you knew already a lot about Leon and Leon knew a lot about you.

"So, random question but I feel like it's an okay one," Leon started after some laughter died down. "Who made you realize you were into guys?"

Shit.

Oh god, no.

Why?

Those were just some thoughts going through your mind, another one was worrying about what Leon's reaction would be if you told the truth.

"Well, um... It was, um..." You started, trying to think of a lie.

"Was it Chris?" Leon asked, interrupting your ramble.

Your face went red with embarrassment. How the hell did he know that? You had gotten over your crush on Chris years ago because it was a stupid one. You nodded and hid your face in your hands, Leon laughed.

"Hey, it's okay. At least yours was actually someone you knew." Leon admitted, trying to make you feel better.

"Someone I knew? Who was yours?" You asked, really confused.

"It was Christian Bale..." Leon mumbled, his face turning a little pink from embarrassment. Your eyes widened and you covered your mouth to try not to laugh, Leon noticed this. "Shut up..."

That made you start laughing, you kept your hand over your mouth to make it quieter since you didn't want to draw attention.

"I guess we got a thing for guys with Chris in their names." You mumbled through laughter.

Leon chuckled a little, finding it hard to stay mad at you when you were laughing so hard. The rest of the date was just some stories about highschool and middle school years until you both decided to call it a night.

You both had a small disagreement of who should pay, Leon said that he would pay but then went to use the bathroom. You took that opportunity to pay instead, it wasn't much but you were really determined. Did this confuse the crap out of Leon until he realized you paid? Yes. You didn't care.

When Leon got you back home, he walked you to your front door, classic cheesy first date things. So you just decided to complete the date with one final thing.

Leon was in the process of telling you 'goodbye' when your hand cupped his cheek and brought him closer. Leon froze when he realized you had just kissed him but went along with it. It wasn't anything wild, just a sweet first date kiss.

After you pulled away, Leon's face was red and his words were stuck in his throat again. You chuckled a little, finding it funny that an agent that's fought various monsters turns into a teenager when he's in love.

"I guess I'll see you around then, Agent Kennedy." You said before unlocking your door and entering your house. You turned around and waved at Leon before shutting the door.

Leon was starting to grow very fond of his new nickname, he smiled as he went back to his car.

[mystery-star]

At your Service – Ben Wade

Pairing: Ben Wade x fem!reader

Warnings: mentions of war

Words: 1155

-

“Ben Wade, at your service” the words were followed by a short bow. Trying to get a closer look at the man, you moved next to your mother who had opened the door.

“What do you want?” your mother asked

“I’m tired and hungry from a long day’s ride. Wouldn’t you have something to eat and a place to sleep in exchange for money?” you saw your mother glance at you and could almost hear her thoughts. With the civil war going on and all male family members gone, the money was welcome. But was it wise to let a stranger in the house? And to give him some of the little food you had? Then, however, your mother gave a nod.

“(Y/N), go get another plate”

-

During the meal you couldn’t help but throw glances at your guest from time to time. You wondered if he was a soldier too, although he wasn’t in uniform. Or maybe a cowboy? But what of his herd then? Although you wanted to ask him, you held back. Your mother surely wouldn’t approve of it. After you ate, your mother asked you to show Mr. Wade to the barn, where he could sleep and give him a blanket.

“You like him, don’t you?” your sister asked as you were in your shared room to get a spare blanket.

“What? Who?”

“Oh, come on” she chuckled “You couldn’t take your eyes off him during dinner”

“That’s not true” you replied “I just wondered who he was” grinning your sister crossed her arms

“Well, at least admit you find him good looking”

“Good looking?”

“Even I gotta admit that” she added “But don’t tell Pete, yeah?” you just nodded. Your sister sighed “Just be careful, okay?” after she left the room, you sighed and once you had the blanket you asked the guest to follow you to the stable.

“Cozy” he teased when you helped him pile up some straw

“I know. I’m sorry. That’s all we have” you apologized, handing him the blanket

“No worries. I’m used to worse. Better than the hard floor. Thank you, Miss (Y/N)” when he took the blanket both his hands brushed over yours and you felt a warm shiver run down your back. Judging by his grin, he’d touched you on purpose.

“Do-do you need something else?” you asked, trying to ignore the feeling you had.

“Maybe some feed for the horse?”

“Oh. Right. Uhm... I’ll go have a look” once you found some oats for his horse, you went to its box, feeding it while stroking the dark-brown horse’s muzzle and talking to it in a hushed voice.

“Ain’t she beautiful?”

“Huh?” you turned around and saw the man standing right behind you. After having recovered from the initial shock, you gave a nod.

“Yeah, she is. My father’s horse almost has the same color”

“He fighting in the war?”

“Yes” you replied, feeling sad about the fact that you might not see him for a long time or never again. You also stopped stroking the horse.

“You know, she loves a good petting”

“Your horse?” you wanted to know

“Yeah” not sure what else to do, you started petting it again, even now that the animal was done eating. Suddenly, you felt a hand on the back of your shoulder, moving towards your neck. Letting out a gasp, you quickly moved away from him and the horse. For a second you stared at him, then you left “Wait” he managed to grab your wrist and had you not been too shocked, you would have cried out. “I’m sorry” he said “Didn’t want to scare you. Or do something you dislike” he flicked his tongue “It’s just I rarely see such a beauty” he let go of you and for some reason you didn’t continue to run but stared at him again. “Do tell” he said, trying to adjust the straw at his sleeping place a little “Your sister’s married right? Her husband gone to war too?”

“Err yes” you replied, not sure why you even did.

“But you aren’t” it wasn’t a question. With a nod you confirmed

“Are you married?”

“Alas no” he chuckled “Doubt I’ll ever find a woman that wants me”

“Why?” you asked “Do you scare them away when you just touch them?”

“No, not that. More ‘bout the fact how I live and what I am” you tilted your head

“Have you deserted the army? Are you on the run because of that?”

“Never joined no army” he said

“Ah” you cleared your throat “Guess I should better head back to the house or my family will start wondering where I am” he gave a nod

“(Y/N)” he said as you had reached the door. “I might be gone very early in the morning. But I’d like to see you again. That is, if you want it too” was this what your sister had meant with being careful? That he wanted you to himself and then take you by force? A shiver ran down your back.

“How can I know you won’t harm me?” you asked turning back to him, making him smile

“You’ll have to trust me ‘cause all I can do is give you is my word. I promise I won’t harm you. I don’t even want to hurt you. Just to get to know you, talk to you and enjoy your company” you looked at him in disbelief. Could you really trust him? On the other hand, if he tried something you could scream and your family would come to your help. He gave a tiny nod and stepped closer “Well, you don’t have to make up your mind now. Just come here later if you agree, yeah?” gently, he took your hand, pecking your knuckles “However, if you don’t want to see me again; it’s been a great pleasure to meet, you (Y/N) and thank you for your hospitality” he placed something in your hand. It were another 5 dollars.

“You already paid us”

“I know. That’s for the feed” you swallowed. It was way too much. But you could need the money. “Don’t feel bad ‘bout it. I got a feeling you’ll need it. Now that you’re all alone. You promise to take care of each other?” you only nodded

“We always do” when he kissed your knuckles again, he also ran the back of his hand over your cheek. Goosebumps erupted on your skin but you smiled

“Well then” he said, letting go of you as if the touch before had never happened “I’ll either see you later or goodbye”

“Yes” you nodded “Thank you for the money. I wish you a good night” feeling your face heat up, you turned around and left the barn. As soon as you were outside you knew that you definitely would sneak back here in the night to meet Ben Wade again...

[triforceangel13]

An Accidental Mating Ch. 28 (A SidLink Omegaverse Story)

Chapter 28: Snowed In

The front door to Link's home cracked open and Sidon rushed his little family inside, doing his best to not jostle them too much but also get them in quickly from the storm.

The storm had gotten much worse than it had been before. The peak of the storm was coming now with high winds and much snow.

Thankfully they hadn't been too far away from where they had the Yiga come after them.

“Here,” Sidon said, pulling the chair out for Link and set him down with his cloak. “I'll go make sure Epona stays safe and warm.”

“Alright, but be careful,” Link said to him, watching as his husband slipped outside once more to help their horse. Looking down Link bit his lip a little, tucking the cloak around Ephira a little more. Their poor girl was shivering.

“We're save now,” he said, getting up and limping his way to the fireplace that would warm up the entire home.

He set in some wood and then he lit a match that was nearby with one hand and set the logs up so they would give them the warmth they needed. “There we go. Just a little bit and then we'll be all nice and warm,” he said to Ephira who was fussing a little bit in the cloak and pressed herself to Link.

He settled down in front of the fire and he rocked Ephira a little bit, waiting not so patiently for Sidon to come back.

It wasn't much longer from that that Sidon returned and was shoving the door closed behind them, letting out a sigh.

“She's good. Got her tucked into the side barn with blankets and hay. She nearly gave me an issue because she didn't see you,” Sidon admitted, looking down at the two of them.

“Well I'm glad she setled down,” Link said and pulled the cloak off of them as they were warming up. “Here, sit by the fire. I'll start getting us something to eat.”

Sidon frown and he settled down, wrapping his arms around Link's body. “No you don't. You are going to sit here and let your leg rest. I am going to work on getting us something to eat.”

“But...” Link started.

“No buts. You let me handle this. You're injured,” Sidon insisted. Link looked up at him and then nodded his head. He wasn't used to others taking care of him. He was used to doing everything himself even if he was injured or not feeling his best.

But this was Sidon's nature coming in to play as well. Sidon was an alpha, and he was probably determined to take care of Link and his child, especially after everything that they really had been through.

Link had to learn that at least when it came to Sidon and certain things he would let the alpha zora take charge.

Just like out with the Yiga Clan member. He had to let him take care of the situation and to protect the both of them.

“Alright,” Link said to him, settling himself comfortable and rocked Ephira. She let out a soft yawn and closed her eyes. Link was glad to see that she was settling down and was finally warming up enough to relax.

Sidon was surprised and it showed on his face. He quickly hid it and then he turned away so he could start looking for some food to eat. “We may be stuck in here a while,” Link siad. “I've got some salted meats stored and some rice. It should help us.” “Found it,” Sidon said, moving to the little stove that Link had. “I may not be a chef but I can make us something to warm us up.”

“Thank you Sidon,” Link said. “We should make some with no meat or make the meat really soft for Ephira.”

“Good idea,” Sidon said and went about to start making their meal. Link smiled down at their daughter as she settled and relaxed. Link shivered a bit and pressed his face down to her stomach. That was when he mind started to wander. Cuddled close in on himself, not feeling his best, and the sound of a flickering flame.

His mind traveled back to when he had been in the Yiga hideout, caged like an animal and living off bananas to keep Ephira and himself alive.

He shivered again, his memories going to when he had been laid out on the table, a knife pressing to his stomach to hurt him and take his child.

A sudden gasp came from him as he shot his head up, looking around him and clutching his daughter to himself.

The sudden movement however caused Ephira to wake more firmly and let out a soft cry at being startled. The cries made what Link was feeling even worse and he backed himself against the table, holding her close.

“Link? Link, what's wrong?” Sidon asked him. Link's eyes were wide with fear and just seeing Sidon's shape had him hissing at the alpha.

Sidon had to admit he was surprised, never seeing Link dwell into his instincts before. Something else had to have caused it.

“Link, it's okay. You're here in your home with me. You're safe,” Sidon said, doing something he hadn't done in a long time. He let out a calming scent towards him. Link kept his teeth bared at him until he caught his alpha's scent.

His whole demanor changed then and he relaxed, crawling his way closer to him and Ephira's wails calmed down to little hiccups and sniffles.

“Sidon,” Link croaked, tucking his face into his neck and his other arm wrapped around his neck tightly as he knelt before them. Sidon picked them up against him, concern written all over his face. Link felt really warm.

“You're safe,” Sidon said again, holding him close and rubbed his back. “You're right here in Hateno with me and Ephira.”

He had to keep him calm. He needed to help him relax. There was no way he was going into a heat now was he? He was pregnant with their second child.

“I saw that place again,” Link whispered to him.

Sidon kissed his head, rocking him as he head back to the stove to keep cooking but keep a firm hold on them both. They both needed him right now.

Link was putting his full trust in him. He was ill and he was having a memory brought up from it. Sidon was sure this wouldn't be the first time.

“I promise you, you will never have to experience that ever again,” Sidon promised him. “I won't let them take you again.”

Link let out a small noise, feeling relaxed in his arms but shivered again against him. Yes, Link was most certainly coming down with something.

“How come you don't feel sick...” Link mumbled to him. “Neither does Ephira. She's just a little cranky from the cold.”

“Zoras and Hylians get different illnesses. I cannot get sick from you love,” Sidon told him, pulling their food off the stove and put it into two lage bowls and then one small one.

Link thought they would be sitting down at the table but Sidon brought them up to the bedroom and settled Link down on the bed.

Propping Ephira in his lap Sidon went back down to get their food and sat down with them.

“You need rest and you need to relax,” he said to him, pulling the damp cloak from him and rest a blanket around him.

“But,” Link started but one glance of those gold eyes Link stopped.

“Do you have enough strength to eat?” Sidon asked and Link nodded, taking the bowls and set them to the side to feed himself and Ephira.

*

Their meals were eaten and Ephira was asleep in Link's arms. Sidon watched the two of them after he had cleaned up and he noticed Link was getting worse.

Taking Ephira into his arms Sidon set her in the makeshift crib they had made. Thankfully this was nice and comfortlabe for her and it was big so she wouldn't roll out of it.

But Link was bundled in the blankets and he was still shivering hard. The snow storm was still about the same, packing on the snow and even the wind was doing that. Sidon was chilly himself and had even put on his clothes, which were rare for a Zora, but he was not nearly as bad as Link was.

“I should go get more fire wood,” Link mumbled to him but Sidon shook his head and finally crawled into the bed next to him, pulling the blankets over them both to help keep Link warm. The blonde pressed against him, closing his eyes.

“No, you need to stay here and rest with me. You're sick Link,” Sidon said to him. Link pressed closer, sweat collecting on his forehead.

Sidon watched him worriedly. He'd have to contact Zelda in the morning if Link wasn't better. It was one thing that Link was sick but it was another when he was pregnant and he was having hallucinations.

“Ganon is coming,” Link mumbled to him tiredly. “I need to get out there and save the princess from Ganon...”

Sidon held him tighter and Link pushed against him, shaking his blonde head even though his eyes were closed.

“No...let me go,” he said, clutching at Sidon's arm. “Someone get these moblins off of me.”

Sidon closed his eyes tight, letting out that scent again to him and whispered gently into his ear, not daring to take his arms from around Link.

If he did Link could start charging out that door into the storm...granted that if he even had that kind of strength at the moment.

“You're safe,” he said again to him, petting his hair and holding him close. “Ganon is defeated, Zelda is save. You are safe.”

It took a moment, Link struggling against his arms again until he finally relaxed against him, blue eyes opening up.

“Sidon..?” Link said softly, confusion burning in his eyes but he relaxed against his alpha. “What...am I seeing things again?”

“Yes, but I'm here for you. You just need to rest and relax Link,” he said.

“I know..it's just hard,” Link sighed against him. “I'm so used to doing everything on my own that when I need the help I have a hard time accepting it.”

“I can see that,” Sidon chuckled at that and kissed his head. “But I am going to make sure that you do get well. Your fever is making you hallucinate so it's best to try to just rest. I'll be here every step of the way.”

Link tensed a little at that but nodded his head. He was getting worried with himself and for the sake of himself and their baby, he had to relax.

“I trust you,” Link said to him and let his body relax against him again, bundling more into the blankets to keep himself warm. “I love you.” “I love you too Link,” Sidon said and then settled more into the bed withhim.

Link tried to stay awake longer but it was soon enough that he finally fell asleep in Sidon's arms, finally feeling warm and safe enough to rest.

Sidon smiled, letting himself relax as well. He was a light sleeper so he would be able to protect Link from anything.

He would always protect Link with everything in him.

Nothing would ever happen to him or their little ones as long as he was around.

I’m open for written commissions

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[tommyspeakycap]

Uncle Charlie and the Shelby sis?

omg i love this idea !!!!

I actually think that little Shelby would be quite close to Charlie so here’s a sweet blurb! (set in 1920 - so moving towards end of season 1. i also made up charlie’s war history as we don’t know much about it)

“Fucking, shitty, stupid bastard-”

“Oi!”

When you hear the sound of the voice cutting in likely to chastise you for your use of explicit choice language while you were practically beating the shit of the hay you were shovelling for the horses, you turn around to face him. He see’s that you look rather flustered, face a bit red as you blow a sigh past your lips and shove your hair back out of your face. “Sorry, uncle Charlie.”

“Mhm,” he nods his head, “And what’ve your brothers done this time eh?” You sigh again with some sort of disgruntled huff afterwards to display your clear irritation with the behaviour of who Charlie assumed would most likely be Tommy, Arthur at a push but very unlikely to be John. John annoyed you a lot, he knew, but never tended to make you genuinely angry. At least, never angry enough to switch off the sunshine and rainbows girl who sang and hummed while shovelling hay and horse shit.

“Tommy’s being a fucking idiot. Again.” You bite harshly.

“Oi!”

“Sorry, Charlie.”

He shakes his head at you with the very slightest of smiles. “And how’s that? What’s he done?” Your uncle grabs the spair shovel from where it was leaning against the barn door so as to join you in your cleaning of the stables. Charlie can sense the anger that had built in you from Tommy’s seemingly incessant enforcement of all sorts of new and more restrictive rules for the members of the family - especially you and slightly Ada - since he had started to try expand the business into the race tracks. He doubts this time will be any different from the last three times you’ve complained about him in the last week.

“Finn’s 11 and he gets to go with them to the races sometimes, but i’m nearly 17 and i can’t even step out the house without an escort when the boys aren’t in Small Heath. It’s so unfair!” You rant almost desperately. The frustration is clearly heard in your words, and Charlie was no fool to picking up on your feelings by the way you spoke and acted. Charlie very, very much understands your brothers desires to keep you safe; you’re his favourite if he’s totally honest. So he’s incredibly protective himself, he felt quite a sense of fatherly responsibility for you.

Charlie had gone to fight in France for around a year and a half. That definitely did a number on him, but he was transferred home after being shot. It was then that he was appointed a post on the home front as a farmer and some kind of war horse breeder and trainer because he was so good with animals. As a result, it had become his job to look after you during the years of the war that your brothers were away. Polly did your breakfasts and dinner and would make sure you were well looked after, but Charlie took you out to the farm during the day where he would make packed lunches. You would get to pick vegetables, train the sheep dogs, collect wool and the likes of that sort of work. He knew that since you were 12, had you stayed hanging around the factories in Small Heath, you might’ve ended up having to work in one, so brought you to work with him instead. It had brought you extremely close to your uncle.

It’s why now, it was his scrap yard you went to when Tommy and the rest of the family were getting to you. He would often find you there, felt like a sixth sense of some sort that he would just get a feeling you were there - if he hadn’t heard you shouting or singing. Most commonly your troubles were caused by or at least had some distant correlation to Tommy and something he had done. The head of the family does of course think through his decisions and what they’re impact will be, but the one mistake Thomas tends to make when he thinks abouts these impacts is what appears to always affect you.

And that is, that he looks for direct danger. He overthinks and spends nights riddled with fear that his plan will bring harm to those he loves. He fears Billy Kimber will come to try and take from Tommy what he holds most dear in retaliation if he doesn’t act exactly the right way. He fails to look at less direct impacts. He sees your protection escorts as keeping you from being harmed and sees keeping you in the house constantly as ensuring he knows that you’re safe, always. He doesn’t see you missing out on your youth or missing your friends or feeling threatening and anxious at the fact you’re always either in house arrest or practically with a fucking protection detail. He never thinks like that and Charlie knows that is what gets to you so much, because you just see that as he being malicious and not thinking about what’s best for you at all.

“Sometimes i just wish we were normal y’know?” The change in tone of your voice from red hot anger to a timid quite mumble tells Charlie that you’re hurting more than you may ever let on in words. “Just miss my life.” You lament lowly, dropping the shovel and instead opting to drop yourself down on a nearby haybale.

Charlie signs not in annoyance or anger, but in a kind of sympathetic way as he leans himself on his shovel and turns to face your direction. “I know you do, love. Think we all do these days. Missing your brother eh?” Charlie tries to ask you as softly as he can despite having a generally grumpy, grumbling voice. The question marks another change in your demeanour as he immediately notes that your shoulders slump and you begin clenching your jaw to try not to get all upset.

You just nod in response.

“Mhm,” Charlie hums, moving to sit on the hay bale next to you, “Though so.” He pulls you into his side and feels you shaking a little with a few small sniffles to tell him your were crying. It breaks his heart and he know it would shatter Tommy’s if he knew. He had known for weeks that part of your rage and irritation was a smoke screen for the painful fact that you just missed your brother. You missed being little and holding his hand, having him play games with you and look after you, spend time with you and have genuine, actual conversations that weren’t two minutes long, arguments or about business and rules. You were still young and the four years you’d spent without them, plus the trauma you’d gone through in your life, meant that you missed and relied upon them a lot more than most would. Your hurting heart just longed for your big brother to make all things right again, just like he used to.

Things were so much more complicated now than they were before, you knew that. But it didn’t stop the hurt, it only just made it more painful.

“Listen, hey, listen,” Charlie comforts, “It’s alright. I’ll have words with that brother of your eh?” He feels you nod your head. “Yes please.” You whisper, sniffling again.

A silence falls between you as it often does, a bubble created where you could feels your feelings and your uncle would do all that he could in his limited power to move whatever kind of mountains you needed moving so you could feel better again. It was damn near his very top priority that you were provided with a better childhood and better young adult-hood than what he was able to give the Tommy, Arthur and John.

But it just so happened that Charlie Strong made a promise to the woman he loved - your mother. The woman you were so very like. He felt it his duty to protect you like a daughter because that is what your mother would have wanted. He promised to look after you and in doing so he recognised what your brothers often didn’t. Your physical well-being wasn’t everything. Of the same importance he wanted, just as the rest of the family did, for you to be safe, happy and loved in an emotional sense. They did love you, all of them. So much it was painful and so much that it was enough to do you a lifetime; they just had such a bad way of showing it.

Charlie decided it was time now to give your older brothers a wake up call. It was time they learned how to love you in a way you understood. Killing for you and keeping you bubble wrap didn’t tell you they loved you, they had to show you in a true way. They had to tell you and hold you just like he had learned to do to show his care and love for you. He had to change to accommodate how you experienced love, so he did just that; he changed.

Charlie was determined and he held a level of authority with the boys he practically raised. So starting with Tommy, he was going to enforce that same change in order to make sure you knew just how fucking loved you were in that family.

And for Charlie Strong, all of the fighting, the pushing and the moving of seemingly unmovable mountains was worth in to no end when you mumbled, “I love you, uncle Charlie.” Against his shoulder while he hugged you tight.

“Yeah yeah, Shelby,” he sniggers, pressing a kiss on top of your head, “I love you too.”

[summahsunlight]

Worth the Risk, Part 12

Rating: Mature(18+only)

Word Count: 1707

Pairing: Army Pilot!Poe Dameron x Nurse!Reader (1940s AU)

Summary: It’s the 1940s, Army pilot and Captain Poe Dameron is flying on missions for the United States Army in Europe.  After being shot down off the coast of France, Poe wakes up in an Army hospital in England, to find you, a nurse, taking care of him. Throughout the process of his recovery, Poe finds himself falling for you, and even though you, for the most part, maintain a professional relationship with him–you’re falling for him as well. Both of you know the risks of falling in love during a war, but then again, both of you have never cared much for being cautious.

Warnings: Angst, Holocaust imagery (not graphic)

Start from the beginning!

Taglist: @fanfic-addict-98​, @thescarletknight2014​, @blushingwueen​, @americasassromanoff, @ginger-swag-rapunzel​, @spider-starry​, @totelpoedameron, @captain-america5, @liadamerondjarin​, @m1rkw00dpr1ncess​, @paintballkid711​, @justanotherblonde23​, @castiel-barnes​, @itspdameronthings​

Hello readers, I am so sorry that this part took this long. I hope you enjoy reading it! Remember the taglist is open, just comment here or send me an ask/message if you would like to be added!🥰 As I mentioned in the warnings there is some mention of the Holocaust, however it is not graphic imagery but I wanted to warn readers. 

August, 1944

It was quiet now. Earlier that day the streets of Paris had been lined with citizens cheering the Allied Forces as they rode into the city. Poe had collected so many roses from the adoring crowds that he had enough to give you two dozen.  You’d found a glass jar and they were now sitting on the small table besides your cot, the sweet smell permeating the air. 

Currently your head was resting on Poe’s bare chest, listening to his heart beat, as well as the drunk Frenchman singing outside your window.  In a few days he’d be moving out of Paris with his unit, while you would be staying behind and treating the wounded. You knew that this was coming at some point--the Army was going to station your unit in a more permanent place--and Poe would be on the move. Because of this you clung a bit more tightly to one another tonight.

“I’m gonna miss Paris.”

“Why? Because all those random girls wanted to kiss you?”

Poe chuckled and pressed his lips to your temple. “It did give a whole new meaning to French kiss.”

You playfully hit him on the shoulder and laughed. Someday, you would get to lounge in bed like this, without a care in the world--without the war right outside your window. “You’re an idiot.”

“Arana says I’m a lovable idiot.”

“True. And you’re my lovable idiot.”

His finger ghosted over your cheek, his brown eyes softening as he gazed at you with so much love in them. “Do you know for the first time since this war began I actually feel hope that we might win this? That I might actually walk away and be able to go home to the ranch and build a life with you.”

It was so easy to feel hopeful when he talked like that, you realized. Softly you played with his hair. “What’s the ranch like?”

Poe smiled, softly. “Hot.”

You returned his smile. “Hotter than the South of France in August?”

“Much hotter.”

“Can you see for miles?”

“Miles and miles of blue skies and rolling hills.”

“Are there horses?”

“Lots of horses.”

Closing your eyes you tried to imagine the ranch where Poe had grown up. You’d grown up in the city--there had been no wide open spaces or horses--other than the ones pulling carriages or police officers rode. “I always wanted my own horse when I was a little girl.”

Poe ran his fingers through your hair, heart softening at the thought of you as a child wishing for a pony.. “Do you know how to ride? I could always teach you.” 

Even thought you had not been able to have a pony when you were growing up, your parents did provide you with riding lessons. “I know how to ride but it’s been a few years--I might need a refresher course.” 

“Something to look forward too then.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I know the perfect spot on the ranch to ride out to.”

Placing a kiss on his shoulder, you smiled. Tomorrow morning both of you would be back in the thick of the war, but for now, it was just the two of you, dreaming about the future. 

Poe wrapped you tightly into his arms and kissed your temple. He was dreading having to say good-bye to you tomorrow morning but he would at least have peace of mind knowing that you were safe in Paris while he pressed on with the Army deeper into Europe.  Since taking back France there was a new sense of hope resonating with the boys--they were going to see this through to the end--they were going to win.

You fingers brushed his hair back. He’d gone back to trimming his curls since he’d left the hospital in England, but you still loved how incredibly soft his hair was. “What are you thinking about?”

A gentle smile spread across his face as he looked at you. “Just feeling incredibly hopeful.”

“Me too.”

“A year from now we’ll be on the ranch--you’ll see--it will be over, finally.”

--------

September, 1944

It wasn’t often in the last few weeks that you got to leave Paris. There was still heavy concern about Nazi troops inciting guerrilla warfare in the forests and along the country roads that led to towns and villages outside of the city. You had already been injured thanks to one sniper before--you didn’t want to go through that experience again.

However, a few volunteers had been asked to assist with the medical needs of some prisoners that had recently been freed from a Nazi camp. 

There was far less destruction out here in the countryside, although there was still evidence of war, of the Allies heavy bombing runs. Poe couldn’t talk about those, at least not with you and you weren’t sure if it was because he was sworn to secrecy or if the very idea that he could kill innocent people rendered him speechless. You surmised it was both. 

His letters that last few weeks had been short, upbeat; he would let her know if Arana was fine--still a pain in my ass, but I love him--Poe had written. 

“Lieutenant,” the driver said, pulling your attention away from daydreaming. “Did the Army give you any forewarning about what you’re going to see?”

“No,” you said with a shake of your head, suddenly feeling a pit forming in your stomach. “Is it that bad?”

“Treated them worse than animals,” the driver mumbled as pulled down a long, narrow drive that led to a stone farmhouse. “And they’re not soldiers ma’am--civilians, French civilians. The French Red Cross has been caring for them, but with the war still going on, it’s overwhelming. They asked for some help.”

Something inside of you sparked, the conversations you’d heard your father have with other men in the neighborhood when he thought you were not within earshot.  What had you agreed to expose your nurses too? Already they had seen so much--too much. 

The jeep came to a stop in front of the farmhouse. You glanced at it for a moment, a picture of the French countryside at the onset, but you knew inside.... it was a much different story. Stealing yourself, you took a deep breath and got out of the jeep. With your medical bag in hand, you headed inside to find the doctor in charge. 

It was eerily quiet. Beds lined walls with far too thin men, women, and children.  A French nurse handed you a mask, told you to put it on because they were dealing with an outbreak of influenza. Judging by the condition of the patients, this came as no surprise to you; they had no immune systems to combat even a cold. 

Slipping the mask on you, you buried your emotions and got to work. Later, when you sat down to write a letter to Poe, you’d let them all out. But for now, you had work to do.

------

Eight hours later, you found yourself hugging a toilet bowl. In all your lifetime, you had never seen people so sick, so frail, or so thin. Not even when you and your mother had traveled to rural parts of New York to help people in need during the Depression had you seen such horrendous conditions.

The Army private that had driven you to the farmhouse had been right--these people had been treated worse than animals. 

“Lieutenant?” Jess called from the other side of the door. “You okay?”

“No,” you answered, truthfully before vomiting again.

“Can I come in?”

“Enter at your own risk.”

Slowly, the. door to the bathroom opened and Jess stepped inside. She closed it behind her before speaking. “I know this probably means nothing to you--but the way you held it together today, it really helped all the girls. I don’t know how you did it.”

Wiping your mouth with the back of your hand, you answered her, honestly, “I’m not sure how I did it, either. My parents helped several families get out of Germany before the war began, they told us stories but I never...I never thought it would have been like this.”

Jess sat down next to you, pressing her back against the vanity. “I don’t think anyone could have imagined it was like this, Lieutenant. How could anyone sane imagine this?”

You had to agree. Dropping back on your feet, you glanced exhausted at your friend. She looked just as drained as you; the pair of you had spent the entire day helping treat patients and listen to the ones that could communicate with you what they had been through--ripped away from their families, losing everything they owned. None of them were sure if members of their families were even alive--they had been sent away to other countries--you had heard the word Auschwitz a few times. 

“Do you think Captain Dameron is right?”

“About what?”

“The war being almost over.”

“I think he wants it to be almost over.”

“Me and him both.”

Sighing, you swallowed the sour tasting bile in your throat, wishing you could unsee the sick and dying people today. Suddenly you were feeling Poe’s absence harder than ever--you wished he was here so he could pull you into his arms and just tell you that it was going to be okay. 

Jess reached for your hand and gave it a squeeze. “Maybe you should go write to him.”

You glanced at her, incredulously. “How did you know I was even thinking about him?”

“Because if the man I was gonna marry was that good looking--I’d be thinking about him all the time as well,” she said, with a big smile.

“He is pretty cute,” you said, returning her smile. And then you both started laughing. When the laughter had died down, you rested your head on Jess’ shoulder. “Thanks, Jess. I feel better.”

“Anytime, Y/N,” Jess said, softly. “You don’t have to shoulder all this alone, especially if we’re going to be here helping these poor people for a while. We’re going to need each other to lean on.”

[fea-warriorheart]

Another Life

His heart pounds as he edges around the side of the barn, peeking out into the field beyond. There's no sign of his hunter, yet he's not stupid enough to think he's safe.

He's given odd looks as he sneaks across the gap between the buildings, from people and animals alike. One of the horses gives him an indignant huff as he brushes past, and he's probably lucky there's a fence between them.

He's in a bad spot. His hunter knows it better than him. He has to get to familiar ground before-

"Found you!"

Jaskier shrieks as strong arms wrap around his waist, lifting his feet off the ground. He can hear the smug grin as the boy behind him adds, "Too exposed, lark."

The hands dart down his sides, tickling him while also letting his feet touch the ground once more. Jaskier shrieks again, but there's no fear this time; laughter and mirth sound in every sound as he squirms in the stableboy's hold.

"Geralt! Stop it! I yield!"

A soft laugh comes from behind him, and the arms around him loosen, releasing him. Jaskier turns, face flushed and split with a grin as he takes in the redhead before him. Geralt's a good head taller than him, despite only being two years older. While Jaskier spends his days studying and being proper, Geralt spends his split between helping at the estate stables and learning medicinal practices under the watchful eye of his mother. He's lean from winter, as most of the village is, but there's already muscle starting to build back up on his frame with the scraps of food he's given by a sympathetic cook.

Laughter sparkles in Geralt's fern-colored eyes, a feature many might call dull compared to some of the other shades sported by humanoid races, but Jaskier was of the firm belief it fit him perfectly. Geralt was a child of nature, just like his mother, and it was fitting for such a prominent feature to reflect that.

"Julian! Get back here!"

The brunette grimaced at the sharp tone. Geralt's expression instantly smoothed into the neutral stance most of the servants took when a member of the house approached, let alone one of Jaskier's parents.

His father stalked over, scowling at him. "You're late for your lessons. I shouldn't have to come out here and drag you around. It's disgraceful."

Julian bowed his head slightly. "Yes, father. My apologies."

An iron grip latched on to his upper arm. His father sneered at Geralt as he started dragging him back towards the manor. "Get back to work, brat."

Julian didn't risk glancing back. Geralt would only get in further trouble; he knew his father already disliked the boy for being friendly with him, but kept him around because of his old friendship with Visenna. The woman had been there for Jaskier's birth, as well as his two sister's. Plus, Geralt had a way with the animals that no one could quite explain - or replicate - and it was too much trouble in his father's eyes to find and train a new boy for the job.

Geralt is one of the few good things Julian has in his life. He won't risk him by being stupid.

-

A fierce storm is raging against the windows of the kitchen. Many of the servants are fast asleep, but Jaskier paces the room, worry lines etched into his brow. Geralt is making them both a pot of tea; a messenger had arrived in the early evening, stating that Jaskier's father had been ambushed by bandits and that his location was currently unknown. Despite being reassured by his mother, sleep had not come easy to the young viscount.

Geralt rested a gentle hand on his shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts, and offered him a steaming cup. "Sit down," he murmured. "You'll do nothing for no one wearing holes into the floorboards."

He sits with a flop, tracing a finger along the edge of the cup as he waits for it to cool a bit. Geralt sits beside him, something they're only allowed to do in moments like this; moments of solitude in a life full of company. "You know I worry."

"Yes. It's why I knew you would seek me out."

Jaskier glances at him. Geralt's coat is drying by the fire; he'd accompanied the messenger to the manor through the storm, soaking both of them through, and his mother had insisted the poor boy stay the night. He'd taken a place by the kitchen fire to stay out of the way, and had been waiting when Jaskier slipped inside.

With Geralt, Jaskier is able to be... well, Jaskier. He's able to laugh and tell stupid jokes and not care about being proper, but only with Geralt. With all others, he must be Julian Alfred Pankratz.

It's no wonder why he feels drawn to the boy.

He sighs softly, leaning against Geralt. "What if they hurt him?"

"He's a hardy man, you know. This isn't the first time he's had to fight."

"That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."

"I know, lark." Geralt gives him a one-armed hug-squeeze around his shoulders. "He'll be alright. Probably just lost his way in the storm, is all."

Jaskier shrugs miserably, sipping at his tea. They sit in silence for a while; Geralt eventually stands to clean their cups and dry them off. He's placing them back in the cupboard when the door slams open, startling both boys and causing the fire to give a threatening flicker.

Two figures stumble inside; one is unmistakably his father, while the other has broad shoulders and wears a thick cloak, obscuring all but the chestnut beard with gray flecks peppering it. The stranger slams the door shut, bolting it against the wind, and Jaskier's father stands there for a moment, breathing heavily as he takes in the two boys.

The stranger turns, then, and Julian's heart clenches when he sees the Witcher's medallion hanging around his neck. He pulls down the hood of his cloak, golden eyes reflecting the light of the fire. His gaze is on Julian, studying him curiously.

He turns back to Julian's father. "I assume you didn't expect either of them to be here. Which would fulfill your payment."

The man tenses, then shakes his head. "No, I expected my son to be here. He always waits up when I'm late. The stable boy, though- bah. You can take him."

Julian feels his world slow to a halt. When he looks at Geralt, he feels like he's moving through pine resin. The redhead's eyes are wide with shock and fear, and his mouth opens and closes a few times, though no sound leaves him.

"Fine. I doubt I have enough rations to bring both of them with me, anyways." The Witcher turns back to them, crossing his arms. "Your name, boy."

"No!" Julian's voice starts working again, and he stands between them. "You can't take him!"

"Julian," his father hisses, storming over to him and yanking him away. "He claimed the Law of Surprise for saving my life. It must be fulfilled."

"No! He can't take Geralt! Please, father, you can't let him!" Tears burn his eyes. Geralt still isn't moving, still hasn't looked away from the Witcher.

Golden and green gazes snap to them as Julian is backhanded. The Witcher is there in an instant, gripping his father's wrist enough to make the man cry out.

"I don't take kindly to those who would abuse a child for caring for a friend," the Witcher says softly. "Touch him again and lose your hand. Your oath has been fulfilled. Leave us, now."

"Wait." A small voice sounds from the corner where Geralt stands. He's trembling, eyes darting between the Witcher and Julian. "Can I- Can I at least say goodbye?"

Something in the Witcher's face softens, and he steps back, nodding. "Do you have any family?"

"My mother, she lives in the village..."

"You can say farewell to her as well and grab some spare clothes. Make it quick."

The Witcher leans against the fireplace, and Geralt rushes over, wiping at Jaskier's tears with soothing motions. "It's alright, lark. Don't cry... It'll be okay..."

"Geralt... Please, you can't leave me..." Jaskier gripped his shirt, twisting the fabric in his grip. A gentle hand brushes through his hair.

"You know I can't just ignore this, lark... I have to go, but we'll see each other again eventually, yeah...?"

Jaskier sniffles. Geralt lifts his chin, forcing their eyes to meet. He smiles gently, and for the life of him, Jaskier can't help but feel the truth in his words. He nods, even as his bottom lip wobbles. "Yeah."

The Witcher steps in again, a hand on Geralt's shoulder. He hands the boy his coat, and with one last look back, Jaskier's best friend vanishes into the stormy night.

-

He learns in Oxenfurt how few boys survive the Witcher mutations. He does not want to believe it, but part of him mourns his friend. Geralt was strong, but verging on too old for the Trials; his body would be more likely to reject them than to adapt to them. And besides, Geralt was a farmer, a healer, not a monster hunter.

So Jaskier does his best to move on. But there are nights, often dark with storms, where he curls in on himself and wishes things had happened differently.

He graduates Oxenfurt a master of the arts and top of his class, and then he just... wanders. He plays as a bard in taverns and inns, earning enough coin to stay the night and occasionally buy some new clothes. He takes lovers, but never partners; he loves too much and yet too little, flitting from person to person as his very being rejects each and every one.

He's nineteen, playing in some backwater village. The road there had been harrowing; he had been lucky to join a group of merchants at the last town. A nest of monsters - he wasn't sure what, he hadn't paid attention - had been terrorizing most travelers in small groups for weeks. They'd even been so desperate as to put up a notice for a Witcher.

Despite all of the stories, Jaskier hasn't seen another since that night. He's beginning to wonder if they're just a figment of everyone's collective imagination; perhaps the monsters just kill themselves off or migrate elsewhere when the pickings are slim.

He's just finished a song, collecting some meager coin as the door opens. Jaskier is retreating to his table when a hand rests on his shoulder; his mind runs through anyone he might have pissed off. He hasn't been in town long enough to anger any husbands, fathers or brothers, and no one would have followed him through such a dangerous area. So truly, for the life of him, he doesn't know why-

"Lark."

His world goes still in a way that has happened only once before.

He turns slowly. He's no longer a head shorter; his eyes are about level with his nose. His skin is paler than Jaskier remembers, contrasted with dark armor. A wolf's head gleams above it, snarling at his foes, and two swords are visible on his back.

Snow white hair brushes his shoulders, tied back clumsily. Jaskier can't find the strength to breathe as he finally looks him in the eye.

Gone is the green of ferns and grass in the spring; molten gold takes their place, slitted pupils darting in minuscule movements as he searches Jaskier's face. For all the differences, he's still the same boy - still the stable boy Jaskier knew.

He's still...

Jaskier is breathless as he whispers, "Geralt."

A small smile spreads across the boy's - man's, he's twenty, twenty-one now - face. He takes Jaskier's hand in his, squeezing it gently. "I told you I'd see you again."

//An indulgent thing that I came up with out of the blue. Lost steam at the end which is why it sort of trails off, but hey, if anyone's interested in a part two.... (bold presumption, I know.)

[sammysdewysensitiveeyes]

"Explorers raided tombs and paraded the remains of ancient monarchs and dynasties to their homes. Mummies were unwrapped at social affairs and examined—and it was such a popular pastime that tourism companies in Egypt sent such delights to European countries to satisfy their morbid curiosities and struggled to fuel the growing trend."

“So you see,” Sebastian continued, “There is a historical precedent for this sort of thing. I’m hardly the first businessman to notice the wasted resources just rotting away underground. Or stuffed into an urn, depending on customs and family sentiment.”

“There’s historical precedent for a lot of fucked up shit, Shaw. That doesn’t make it okay!” Pyro stared, aghast, at the website. “Does the Council know you’re doing this? They can’t possibly approve!”

“Are you going to run and tattle on me?” Sebastian sneered. “That doesn’t seem like you, Allerdyce, but you have become more of a conformist rule-follower in Krakoa, it seems. At any rate, some of the Council are aware of my side business. They have elected not to bring it to a vote in meetings, so presumably I am breaking no law of the island.”

“But….it’s wrong. It’s bloody grotesque is what it is!” Pyro exclaimed.

“Is it better or worse than burning people to death during a bank robbery, or as part of some half-baked political protest?”

“Oh, give me a fucking break, Shaw!” Pyro snapped. “I know I’ve done some bad things – “

“Some bad things. What an adorable generalization, ducking out of all serious responsibility – “

“I know I’ve killed people, okay?” Not quite as many as some X-Men wanted to pretend, though. He mostly went for guards, police officers and soldiers, who, as far as Pyro was concerned, had it fucking coming. He hadn’t wanted to kill people to rob a bank, and there was never a need to if the civilians were smart enough to stay well back.

“But killing people doesn’t mean I can’t draw any moral lines, ever,” Pyro continued. “And I’m drawin’ a line right here. This is not okay.”

“Why not? Who does it hurt, really?”

“Well, surely the people whose bodies are getting rented out to sickos! No one would want that.” Pyro wasn’t sure he could articulate the sick churning in the pit of his stomach. It was something that went beyond logic, just a deep sense of disgust that seemed to well up from the center of his being. He was an open-minded fellow, he was willing to play fast and loose with a few morals, but surely some things were just….wrong. Right?

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them,” Sebastian said, waving a hand dismissively. “And apparently X-Factor is running some very interesting experiments with discarded mutant corpses over in their appropriately named “Boneyard.” And I’m quite confident that Sinister is probably churning out clones in his little lab, no matter how he might deny it. So whats the harm in my business?”

“Just because other people are doing it doesn’t make it okay! It’s like a….desecration, isn’t it?” Perhaps there was some of his Gran’s staunch Catholicism lurking under the surface, despite Pyro’s current status as…well, not an atheist, exactly, more like an agnostic who didn’t want to think about things too hard. He had to admit, a childhood of Mass and Confession and Hail Marys really got under your skin, no matter how long ago you walked away from the church.

“All this fuss over discarded meat,” Sebastian shrugged. “That’s all it really is when you remove religion and sentiment from the equation. Really, Allerdyce, I’m surprised at your squeamishness.”

“Are you really okay with it, then?” Pyro asked. “Letting some human fuck a mutant corpse? That’s what they’re doing it, isn’t it?”

“Not necessarily. I believe that’s the most common activity, but a few people want to cook and eat choice pieces.”

“Oh, that’s perfectly all right, then.” Pyro’s words were so heavy with sarcasm, they practically thudded onto the floor.

“Understand, Allerdyce, I find all this personally distasteful. I am disgusted by the idea of necrophilia, and even cannabalsim. But I see no reason to deny others, if there is money to be made. The ‘sickos’ will pay top dollar for discrete fulfillment of their taboo desires.”

“But do you really want to be putting mutant corpses in human hands? Haven’t they got scientists trying to study us or clone us or whatever? Put our DNA in Sentinels to make super-weapons?”

Sebastian laughed heartily. “Really, I didn’t think you were so naïve. Mutants have been in the public eye for several decades. The various governments of the world have been capturing mutant test subjects for a very long time. There are hundreds of mutants buried in graveyards and millions in the heavy layer of ash that still covers Genosha. If some enterprising human scientist wants mutant DNA, it would be very, very easy to lay hands on it. In fact, your own corpse is probably preserved in a government lab somewhere. In other words, there’s no point in closing the barn door at this point. The horses are long gone.”

Pyro couldn’t resist a full-body shudder at the thought. He knew, deep down, that his body was probably stuck in a metal drawer somewhere, or cut into chunks sitting in labelled glass jars. The US government had probably been interested in him as a Legacy Virus victim, back before the cure. It shouldn’t matter, but somehow, it did.

“And the bodies are only available for a limited amount of time, at any rate,” Sebastian continued. “Aside from the obvious natural impermanence of a corpse, I’ve had Sinister inject the bodies with a kind of “kill switch.” After five days, the corpse will dissolve, leaving no trace behind. The humans are only paying to rent, after all.”

“But wait…..” Pyro ventured. “What gives you the right to sell other people’s bodies? Shouldn’t they be the ones to profit off that?”

“What gives people the right to collect discarded trash?” Sebastian said, spreading his arms wide. “Would you begrudge the little old lady collecting aluminum cans for a few pennies from a recycling center? Or the struggling student who takes a sofa from the side of the road? That’s all these corpses are. Trash. Their previous owners have shiny new bodies – bodies gifted to them by Krakoa and the Five, by the way – and left no instructions as to disposal. I don’t use bodies from people who requested to be cremated, or some kind of ritual burial. Just bodies have have been carelessly tossed aside, by people who clearly don’t care.”

“Oh, well I’m sure you’ll be happy to explain that to everyone else, then,” Pyro said. “I’m sure they’ll all be totally understanding.” He realized a moment later, with a nervous twinge, that threatening to tell on the unscrupulous businessman while you were sitting alone in his massive castle and no one else knew where you were was a very stupid thing to do. Fuck. He should have at least claimed to have evidence left with a trusted friend or something, but he’d only just stumbled across this, while exploring the so-called “dark web.” Maybe he could bluff his way out of this.

“I told you, some Council members are already well aware,” Sebastian said, sitting back and regarding Pyro across steepled fingers. “I don’t think you’d find those in authority quite as willing to turn on me as you imagine, Allerdyce. In fact, it’s entirely possible that any attempt to inform the public will lead to a hasty mind-wipe for you.”

“I’ve got proof. I left it all on a flash drive with……” Freddy? Dominic? Mystique? “….a friend,” he finished, not wanting to actually put anyone else in the crosshairs. Hell, Mystique might even know about this. He’d like to think better of her, but she always had schemes within schemes going. He wondered which telepath on the Council might be in on this. Was Sinister a telepath? That arrogant piece of shit Exodus? He seemed too high-minded to approve, but that mission in the Savage Land had shown Pyro that Exodus did not give a single fuck about mutants that he considered weak or “unworthy.” Frost? Even Xavier? Pyro had never trusted that creepy bastard. Something about him had always seemed too good to be true.

Sebastian laughed again. “Oh, you think I’m going to kill you? That’s cute. Allerdyce, you are not in some ridiculous detective story. I am a practical man, and despite your bleating about morals, I know you are, too. I am willing to make you an offer. It’s an easy job. All you have to do is ‘keep mum,’ as they say.” Sebastian wrote a number down on a piece of paper, and slid it across the table.

It was, in fact, a very nice number. Enough to make some of Pyro’s disgust quickly fall away.

“After all, why shouldn’t you enjoy the same kind of luxury experienced by Krakoa’s elite? You serve aboard the Marauder, and you’re obviously on the lowest rung of the crew. None of the power and privilege weilded by the X-Men, none of the wealth bestowed by birth on Christian Frost, my own son, and the Von Struckers. And you do significantly more work than for the Hellfire Trading Company than those spoiled idiots. Why not take a little something for yourself?”

Pyro’s mind whirled. Of course, taking the money now would mean he was “in it,” so to speak. And if the secret got out, he’d probably be implicated along with Shaw, at least in the eys of his fellow mutants. Which would hurt a bit, after all his heroics with the Marauders. He was starting to feel, at least a little bit, like a good guy.

But on the other hand, if Sebastian was telling the truth, and some of the Council already knew, trying to tattle would just get him in the shit. It was all well and good to have movies about heroic whistle-blowers, but in the real world, they got slandered, ruined, and sometimes murdered. No one would stand up for a relative nobody like Pyro, especially if Frost and Mystique already knew. At best he’d just get mind-wiped.

It would be safer to just walk away and keep his mouth shut. And if he was going to walk away anyhow, why not pick up a paycheck for it?

They were just corpses, right? What a resurrected mutant didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.

And it didn’t seem to actually be breaking any Krakoan laws.

And it was a lot of money.

And Pyro really did like money.

It wasn’t like he was a proper journo anymore, was he? No need for integrity.

Pyro pushed the paper back across the table.

“You’ll need to add a zero to that number before I’ll even consider it,” he said. “And this is just for silence, understand? I’m not gonna be your employee, don’t start expecting me to fetch and carry.”

Sebastian grinned, making a mark on the paper, and held it his hand to shake.

“I knew you’d see sense. It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Allerdyce.”

OOC: I was going to make that sillier, but the more I thought about it…..Sebastian probably would bribe Pyro to shut up, and Pyro would probably just take the money. He’s trying to be “good,” but not that good. Also, no offense intended to Exodus. After the story in the Quicksilver min-series, when Pyro is working with Acolytes on a mission for a supposed Legacy Virus cure (which doesn’t exist), Pyro probably holds a serious grudge against him.

[yet-another-fan-girl9]

Panic

Summary: A prank Loki pulls has much worse consequences than he anticipated. OR Loki doesn’t really know how to deal with his feelings. [Set after Ragnarok but IW and Endgame doesn’t happen]

Warnings: language, spiders, arachnophobia, panic attack

Word Count: 2492

A/N: This idea has been bouncing around my head for a while so here it is! 

~*~

In Loki’s opinion, the Avenger’s compound in upstate New York (apparently the ‘State’ was called New York but the city he had invaded almost a decade ago was also called New York, those strange Midgardians) was as ugly as a pile of horse shit. It was short and wide, plainly white with large windows. Completely different from Asgard’s beautiful golden towers and spires. The only thing he would have enjoyed was the forest surrounding the compound. Keywords being: would have.

The fucking ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ didn’t trust Loki enough to let him off of the compound’s property. Thor had vouched for him but then he had left with the Valkyrie to find a good location for the people of Asgard to rebuild their lives. Thor had said that Loki has changed and had helped save the Asgardians. Obviously the Avengers didn’t trust Loki.

He felt like a goddamned child being watched constantly and he knew that they felt the same. That they were babysitting Loki. To earn their trust, the infamous God of Mischief began his stay on his best behavior, but he was just that. The God of Mischief.

And he couldn’t stay out of trouble for long…

Now, first things first, there were a few more all righteous Avengers than the last time Loki was on Midgard.

There was the Witch. Loki thought her abilities were quite remarkable. When he had first been brought to the group of heroes, she was the one who probed his mind for malicious intent. Although he wouldn’t admit it, Loki was surprised at how powerful she was and how easily she had gotten into his head. She had gotten her powers with the use of the Mind Stone from his staff.

The same Mind Stone sat on the Vision’s forehead. It didn’t take long for Loki to deduce that there was something going on between the Witch and the android.

There was a kid. Parker always called him ‘Mr. Loki’ when he got the chance to speak to him. And every time Loki spoke to Parker was interesting, he was a clever kid, until Stark whisked him away.

There was another supersoldier like the Captain. Apparently the metal armed man was the Captian’s friend from long ago. He had been forced to be an assassin by an evil organization. The same organization that had given the witch her powers. The assassin didn’t talk much but Loki had quickly learned not to get on Barnes’ bad side.

The same couldn’t be said about the seemingly always joyous ‘Falcon.’ He wasn’t enhanced and relied on a suit like Stark or the James Rhodes who occasionally popped in and out of the compound.

Then there was the Siren. Another victim of ‘Hydra’ (their emblem wasn’t a hydra at all, but rather an octopus. Fucking idiotic Midgardians.) To say Loki liked her or was curious about her would be an understatement. Obviously, though, he hid his interest well. The Siren wasn’t just called the Siren because she could control people with her words, but also because she inexplicably called to him in a way he could not resist.

The first day he spoke to her, she had shocked him with her quick, witty replies that could rival Stark’s, and dare he say even his. Loki remembered her sauntering off with a smirk and a swish of her hips before he could recover from her unexpected remark. It didn’t make him mad as he had expected. What made him mad was the feelings in his chest and stomach whenever she was around. He didn’t know what to do.

Second things second. Loki was tired of being good and compliant. He wouldn’t do anything bad, but Wilson gave him an idea when Loki watched the dark-skinned man placed magnets on Barnes’ arm. Pranks. Loki could, and would, cause a little mischief through small and harmless pranks.

He made hallways seem longer than they actually were; leaving his victims confused as to why it took them five minutes to walk fifty meters. He made it look sunny outside when it was actually pouring; chuckling to himself when they came running back inside, soaked to the bone.

There were definitely some members of the team he avoided. Barton definitely still held a grudge against him. No need to make it worse. Stark, the Captian, and Banner were the same. As was the Widow, but he avoided her because, in all honesty, Loki did not want to be on the bad end of her wrath.

There was too much history with the Avengers he had fought in the past so he picked on the new members, save for Barnes.

The Witch was tricky. Rub her the wrong way and she could absolutely decimate Loki. She could also predict when something was going to happen. It was either because she heard his thoughts or from the experience of someone pulling these things on her before. Loki heard she had had a brother.

The Vision was quite naive which made him a good target.

Parker, when he was around, was also very trusting. But he was also still a kid and Loki would be facing Stark’s anger if he ever took it too far.

The Falcon, who was wary of Loki, still enjoyed a good prank. The god had to keep an eye out for possible retaliation, though.

He didn’t know why he usually picked on the Siren. Or maybe he did. To deal with these feelings? Especially when she was always understanding and patient with him all while still shooting him smart remarks. Especially when she seemed to… could he call it reciprocate if she didn’t know how he felt?

Loki would notice her beginning to stumble over a few words. She would sit next to him, laugh at the snarks he mumbled under his breath, comfort him when she found him awake at strange hours of the night. But was it just hopeful thinking?

He wanted her to notice him. To keep smiling at him. To keep talking to him. For a terrifying moment, Loki found himself wishing he was more like Thor: a magnet for the ladies. Or even more like Stark with experienced charm, but he quickly waved those thoughts away, not even giving them another glance.

One day, she gave him inspiration. An idea to bring her right into his arms. 

It was a quiet morning in the compound. Loki was sitting by a large window reading a book while people still kept their distance. Then, a sudden shriek, her shriek, pierced the silence. Everyone rushed to the kitchen where she was, prepared for anything.

What they found was the mighty Siren standing on top of the counter wide-eyed and chest heaving. Wilson, who had gotten to her first, was shaking his head as he threw a crumpled ball of tissues away.

“What happened?”

“What’s going on?”

“Are you okay?”

The questions spilled from everyone’s mouths.

“It was just a spider,” Wilson explained. He held out a hand to help her down from the counter. Loki wished it was his hand she had taken.

“A spider?” Barton raised an eyebrow. “You screamed bloody murder ‘cause of a fuckin’ spider?”

“It was a big spider,” she said as Wilson behind her shook his head and brought his pointer and thumb together to demonstrate the actual size of the arachnid.

“Honestly,” the Widow smirked, “I’m a bit offended.”

“Haha,” she rolled her eyes. “You’re so fucking funny, Nat.”

~*~

It has been a week since your spider incident and it seems like the rest of the team had forgotten it. For now. It was only time until someone brought up the embarrassing experience at dinner or at one of Tony’s many parties. No need to tell more people about your phobia.

You hated that you hated spiders. Really any bugs. Anything creepy crawly. Anything with more than four legs. You were supposed to be this powerful being who could bend anyone to your will just by speaking to them. There was one thing behind this. Behind everything: Hydra.

Fucking Hydra. Always had a hand, or should you say a tentacle, in your life. Your parents were esteemed Hydra agents and your brother was eager to follow in their footsteps. When he discovered your power, he wanted to exploit it. He tortured you to make you compliant. Tortured you when you weren’t. Torture, torture, torture. That’s all Hydra really does now. Fucking torture.

The worst one was when he tied you to a chair and…

No. Don’t think about that. Don’t think of the reasons behind your phobias.  You’ll only spiral and there will be no one here to help you. Everyone was either on a mission or at home with family. The only other person in the compound was Loki. 

Everyone had wished you luck before they left, but you liked Loki. You didn’t have any bad history with him and he honestly seemed to have redeemed himself. He was an interesting character with a tragic backstory like most of the other people on the team. Bucky and Nat have been able to redeem themselves, so why wasn’t the rest of the team giving Loki a real chance? 

You really liked Loki. He was clever and definitely a looker. Fuck, did you like him that way? Maybe? It wouldn’t be a bad thing, but you never really had feelings like these before, your history didn’t give you much time for crushes. 

You pondered over your feelings for the God of Mischief while eating your cereal. Unbeknownst to you, the man in question stood around the corner. You didn’t know of his plans and when you picked up a spoonful of cereal, it wasn’t cereal. The metal spoon held a multitude of spiders of all sizes.

You were paralyzed. Your only movement was the shaking of your hand.

You couldn’t breathe. Fuck, just breathe.

You couldn’t move. Not until the arachnids moved first, crawling up the handle towards your fingers. The spoon fell back into the bowl, causing spiders to crawl out of the ceramic as well. You fell off your chair and landed roughly on the floor.

You blinked and suddenly they vanished. Droplets of milk and spilled cereal replaced them. But you could still feel them.

You could still feel their legs crawling along your body. Crawling into your nose, ears, and mouth. Don’t breathe them in.

You had to breathe.

Don’t let them near your eyes. Close your eyes.

But when you did you saw your brother. Standing over you, a terrifying glint in his eyes as he watched the waves of arachnids wash over your body.

You looked up and it wasn’t your brother standing above you. It was… it was… who… He was speaking. You couldn’t hear him over the sound of your rapid heartbeat and the blood rushing through your ears.

Get the spiders off you. Get them off.

He was speaking. Just breathe. He was trying to get an answer out of you.

Don’t speak. Don’t let them use you. Don’t let them hurt anyone else.

A sharp pain made you look at your arm. Had a spider bitten you? Was it venomous?

You saw blood. And long, angry marks on your arms. You had to get the spiders off.

His voice pierced through your panic. Loki. It was Loki. He was telling you to breathe. Calm down. It was if he spoke directly to your mind. Calm down. Breathe. You flinched when he brought his cool hand to your hot forehead, but then your mind was flooded with memories. Pleasant memories.

Get the spiders off.

You were laughing with your friends.

Don’t let them use you.

You were sketching a picture of the forest outside.

Your brother.

The delicious smell of your favorite homemade meal. The glorious colors of a sunset. The soft sounds of waves on a beach. The warmth of the sun on a fine spring day. Breathe.

You opened your eyes and saw the raven-haired god kneeling by your side. He held your hands in his. To stop you scratching yourself, you figured, reevaluating the marks on your arms. Obvious worry and… guilt? was etched on his face. His eyes searched your face for any other signs of distress.

“Are you okay?” Loki said when he found none. You nodded. Then shook your head. Then shrugged. You didn’t know. Loki understood. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

He helped you to your feet and slowly led you to the kitchen table. A first aid kit appeared on the table in front of you. Loki took one of your still trembling hands and examined one of the particularly deep scratches.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. Why would he be— oh. It hit you.

The sudden appearance and disappearance of the spiders. The guilt on his face. It had been one of Loki’s little pranks. Well, you wouldn’t have called it little.

“Why,” your voice was hoarse. You swallowed dryly and tried again. “Why did you?”

“I- I don’t really know.” Loki pulled out the antiseptic spray and you braced yourself for the sting. “Maybe I just— sorry,” you had let out a small whine when the spray hit your wound, “I just wanted your attention.”

“You could have just talked to me.” You watched as Loki gingerly bandaged the scratch before moving onto the other arm. “I would always talk to you.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I didn’t mean to… bring up bad memories.”

“It’s not your fault I’m fucked up.”

“You’re not.” Loki’s eyes met yours. “If anyone is fucked up here, it’s me.”

“You’re not fucked up either, Loki.” You felt the need to explain yourself. “My-my brother, he was so—”

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Loki interrupted and you nodded your appreciation. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m okay. Just a bit tired.”

“I’ll let you rest.” He got up to leave.

“No, wait.” You grabbed his arm and led him to the living room. You sat on the large couch and motioned for him to do the same. “You said you wanted my attention, talk to me.”

“I don’t want you to feel like you need to do this,” Loki said still standing.

“I do, though,” you assured him hastily, face growing warm. “I don’t want to be alone.” He nodded and sat next to you, though his posture stayed stiff. “Tell me a story.”

The two of you hardly moved throughout the rest of the day, only to get more snacks from the kitchen. Loki finally relaxed around you, even to the point where he draped his arm over the couch behind you. When Sam and Natasha returned from their mission, they found you asleep on the couch. You were tucked to the God of Mischief’s side and your head on his shoulder. His arm was around you as he slept next to you.

[timextoxhajima]

Playlist Feels

Member: ddeonghwa! :D (but not after the inception preview he’s not anymore >:( hmph i feel attacc’ed)

Genre: BIG FAT FLUFFS just ‘cause, maybe a little bit of 1950s vibes idk i’ll try lol, duchess you with villager seonghwa? maybe not...? ;)

Word Count: 4.9k

A/N: I love Cinderella so it’s safe to say that i’m going to draw a whole lot of inspiration from the movie. i may or may not sob while writing this.

“Love was just a glance away, a warm embracing dance away”

you don’t bother too much about the long, silky white gown you were supposed to be going to sleep in. it was crumpled into a ball, sitting at the edge of your bed. you knew if you asked a servant to help you get fitted, they’d probably run off to tell your father, the Duke of the Land your ancestors have been living on for generations. 

you look at yourself in the large mirror of your chamber, everything in the space either gold, white or cream in color, and it sickened you. 

what brought you comfort was the brown leather that you had around your feet and calves, and the black horse-riding jacket that hugged you around your torso. 

it was the last night of your freedom before you were to be randomly married off to a prince from a faraway land, a prince from a kingdom who has promised yours gold, land, food and shelter. 

it was too good of a deal for your parents to turn down. 

you push open your balcony doors and walked out into the platform, looking past the bushes and looking at the stable in the far right behind the castle. this isn’t the first time you sneaked out of the castle, so it wasn’t difficult to get your feet over the arm rests of the balcony and onto the bricks that made up the place that you’ve called home for all your life. 

you knew which bricks had roughed over edges and sides that stuck out for you to climb down. you don’t break a single drop of sweat by the time your feet reached the ground. 

you were finally on Night, your horse. his coat was dark as its name. 

the scent of the barn filled your nostrils, and you could only wonder what it would be like if you had a say in your future. if only you could tell your father how much you loved being in the barn, even if it meant cleaning after the animals. 

the guards were easy to get past alone, but now that you were on an arabian black horse standing proudly at nearly 1.8m in the air, it was impossible to get past them without being noticed. 

despite having an old, black coat covering your body, the only person who would ride Night was you, so it was easy to identify who was riding the most expensive horse out of the barn.

“wha-- m’lady!” the guards at the barn’s post had their hands outstretched, already beginning to run after you when the horse picked up its pace. 

“don’t tell my father,” you pull on the reigns, slowing down only to look pitifully at them. “please. it’s my last night before my wedding and coronation.”

one guard was a man easily older than your father, and the other was his son. you look at the elder one with pleading eyes, knowing that he would be easily bought over with your expression.

“father!” the younger guard urges him to respond and request for you to get off the horse. 

you bit the inside of your lips, hoping that he would let you go one last time. he watched you grow up in the castle, and tonight was the last night he had the chance of watching you run away from your responsibilities. 

the elder guard sucks in a deep breath, his chest puffing outwards. his son sighs and looks away, already knowing what he was going to say.

“m’lady,” he bows with one arm across his stomach. “please return by sunrise. you know how the Duke is when things don’t occur at the times they are supposed to.”

you grin widely, your hair braided comfortably without the helmet, since you were already used to riding Night. he resumes a straight posture, his son already returned to his designated spot right outside the barn. you wave to the both of them before pulling on the reigns and galloping away into the forest. 

you didn’t need to pull on Night’s reigns to direct him; he knew exactly where to go. there was already a trampled-down path in the grass, through the trees and past the bushes. 

ever since the Duke and Duchess let you ride on your own on Night, you’ve been finding every small excuse or pocket of free time to ride out on your own, even if it meant in the middle of the night, even if it meant you being alone. 

being surrounded by guards and fellow royal figures all day round even before you could utter your first word was the setting you grew up in. 

you’ve lost count of all the times you’ve been caught in the barn feeding the horses with the barn care-taker when you were supposed to be at ballroom-dance lessons. you’ve lost count of the times you ran off to play with the commoners’ children in the concourse whenever you left the castle to do walkabouts in the village with the Duchess. 

but you’ve resigned to your fate and responsibilities. tomorrow, you would be wed to a stranger for the sake of the kingdom’s future. 

you reach the corner of a village far away from the kingdom, looking behind your shoulders as you entered the deserted town and you saw nothing but the flag that was stuck on the tallest tower of the castle. 

the kingdom was built on a hill, so you could only guess how long you’ve been on Night, now that the only thing visible to you was the flag.

you dismount Night, giving him a pat on his neck and pulling out a carrot from a pouch by his body. you let him munch on the snack while pulling on his reigns, scouring through the roads of the almost empty town. 

there were villagers walking about once in a while, most of them looking like servants restocking or moving large boxes. it was quiet, until you heard a crowd cheer from a bar around the corner. 

you tie Night’s reigns to a post right outside the bar, looking around and noticing that the streets were lit up with amber kerosene lights hung up about every two metres or so. 

you take off the kingdom’s badge from Night’s reigns and shoved it into his pouch, leaving his gold medallion around his neck on with his name on it. you hoped that the medallion was enough to convince anybody not to steal it. 

stealing royal property was a offence punishable by death. 

you push through the wooden doors of the bar, the light from inside flashing in your eyes almost instantaneously. though the weather outside was cool, but the atmosphere inside warmed you thoroughly. 

your eyes naturally find the source of the cheering, and you notice a crowd around a single, young man who was busy aiming darts at a board. every throw hits either bullseye or somewhere just centimetres away from it. 

“ho!” the crowd cheers, mugs and hands in the air. you couldn’t help but to smile at the lively energy that you’d never see in the castle. the young man turns around, and you catch a glimpse of his face. 

his hair was long but neat, till his ears, parting near the middle of his head and he was wearing brown, full-length coat. you smile to yourself after you realised it  looked like it was made from potato sacks.

he had bright eyes that reminded you of the cat that loved to hang around Night, and he had a smile that would’ve been enough to let him pass off as a prince. 

“deals’ a deal!” someone yells from the bar counter, assuming that it was the owner of the bar. you expected him to come out with a tray of beer glasses, or a bag of coins, but instead, you see him hand the young man a bag of apples. 

“anything to keep these people entertained,” he grins widely and proudly, earning another round of loud cheers and pats on the back from the villagers. he gets pulled to a table in the corner of the bar as the crowd dissipates, the energy still running high in your blood. 

you grab a seat at the counter right where the bar owner was busy cleaning the surfaces and continuously serving drinks. the hood was still over your head, and you were hoping the silver buttons on the your horse-riding jacket wasn’t going to catch anybody’s attention.

“can i get you anything, m’lady?” the bar owner asks quietly without looking at you, hands still holding a rag and cleaning the interior of a mug. you look up cautiously at the man, blinking at his sharp ability to pick up on your identity. “your boots are made from premium leather. i noticed it when you first came in.”

you smile gently, watching as he pushes a mug across the smooth surface, and it stops right within your reach. 

“should i be worried there’s a member of a royal family sitting in my bar, m’lady?” he eyes you with a cheeky grin, knowing that he’s caused several question marks to pop up above your head. 

‘a royal family’?

“the royal family isn’t very fitting for me to use. this village has no kingdom, thus i’ve got no reason to even call you ‘m’lady’.”

you chuckle softly, taking a big gulp from the mug. 

“so,” he grabs a stool from behind a counter, and sits opposite you, a mug of beer in hand as well. the oil on his face was causing light to reflect off him like light reflects off water. the sight was familiar, but you’ve never been in those shoes. never have you once needed to work till your skin was shiny from sweat and humidity. “what brings a member of a royal family here?”

“i am to be married off to a prince i haven’t met before in my life tomorrow.”

he laughs loudly at your summarised story, arms hugging his belly as he takes another gulp of the beer. you notice the young man from before waving good bye to the others and taking his leave. 

you return your attention to the bar owner, who also gave the young man one final wave before looking at you again. 

“see, this is why i never understand the villagers for wanting to be part of a royal family. sure, none of you need to lift a finger to earn a penny, but you don’t get to make any decisions for yourself.”

you laugh, almost agonisingly. he wasn’t wrong. 

“look at me!” he says with wide eyes, arms stretched out to his sides as he presented his bar to you. 

“look at us,” he leans forward and gestures to every other villager in the bar. 

“we live our lives the way we want to, and though it might be exhausting, nothing feels better than well-deserved gains after hardwork.”

you were holding the handle of the mug and pushing it in circles, causing the liquid inside to swish around softly. 

“but i never asked to be born into the royal family. i’d rather spend my days in the barn, taking care of my horse and the other animals.”

he leans back against the cabinet behind him, giving you a warm smile. the man might’ve a ton of tattoos on his arms and even one on his neck that disappears behind his old, worn out shirt, but this was the best conversation you’ve ever had with anybody since the last time you spoke to a commoner. 

you finish your beer, face flushed bright pink but not enough to make you drunk. even if you were, Night knew the way back to the kingdom. the bar owner gets up to clear your mug, and you leave a small pouch with coins worth more than five times the price of the single mug of beer you got. 

you adjust your cloak, making sure your hood was covering your entire head and your silver buttons weren’t easy to spot. but you pushed your way out of the bar, only to see the young man from before patting Night on his neck, feeding him an apple that you assumed he won from playing darts. 

you wonder how long he’s been standing there, accompanying your horse. he left just minutes after you got your beer, and you’ve spent at least twenty minutes finishing the rest of it. 

what was more surprising was that Night wasn’t moving a single inch. he was so used to being taken care of by you, that whenever he was around strangers, he’d neigh and whinny so much, it would be difficult to ignore.

you watch quietly, taking small steps towards your horse and the young man who looked like he was talking to Night. 

you thought he hasn’t noticed you, but he opens his mouth to greet you without looking at you. 

“arabian horse. gold medallion. baroness? countess? princess, maybe?” 

you halted in your tracks, watching as he slowly turns his attention from Night to you. the potato sack that he wore over his head and his body was so long, that it looked more like a cape, now that you’ve seen him in full.

under the potato sack, he wore a simple black vest over a white, long-sleeved top. the leather boots he was wearing looked like they haven’t been cleaned or repaired in the last decade. 

“silver buttons,” he points out, eyes planted to your torso where the cloak parted and exposed your horse-riding jacket. 

“which kingdom are you from? are you just a member of the royal family or are you the heir to the throne?” he feeds Night another apple. you watch as he ties the strings of the bag that still contained a few other apples in it to his belt. 

“somewhere nearby,” you were careful with disclosing your information to a single stranger alone. “member of the royal family.”

he nods, giving Night one more pat before turning on his heels, looking like he was ready to walk off.

“wait!” you unconsciously push back your cloak, searching for the small pouches attached to your belt that contained coins. “what were the apples for?”

children? barn animals? his family?

“do you need more?” you hold out a single pouch by your fingers, dangling it on your outstretched hand. he turns to look at you, eyes focused on the pouch. he strolls over to you, not hesitating for a moment before taking the pouch, the exchange causing the coins to make clinking sounds. 

he then puts two fingers his mouth, whistling loudly. you were shocked and surprised by the sudden, sharp sound, but soon you hear the sound of hooves galloping against the floor, and a gorgeous brown and white mustang gallops right up to him from behind you. 

“good girl,” he whispers, the horse whinnying and rubbing her snout in his hair. he smiles, feeding her whatever that was left of the apples in the bag. 

“thank you for the extra change. i’ll buy more apples with the rest of it tomorrow morning when the village market opens,” he huffs, getting on the horse with ease. you notice the mustang had no reigns, but there was a mark near the base of her neck where a medallion would usually be...

“care to ride with me? or do you need to return to your kingdom?” he jerks around on his horse as she sniffs Night. 

it had been forever since you’ve ridden with someone, so you were elated when he extended the invitation, not bothering about the second part of his question. 

soon, you found yourself galloping through the woods again, and you were in a part of the forest you weren’t familiar with. you and Night were just simply following behind him and his mustang. 

if the Duke and Duchess were here, they’d be screaming their heads off at you with sophistication, interrogating you about why you thought following a stranger through the trees would be a good idea. 

but there was something about the way he won those apples from the bar by entertaining the villagers, and the way he treated his horse... that reminded you of yourself, and that convinced you that he meant no harm. 

you hear nothing but crickets and the sound of heavy hooves hitting the ground, but slowly, the sound of gushing water reaches your ears, and it sounded like music. your eyes brighten, and he must’ve noticed it when he turned back to look at you once he heard the sound of nature too. he smiles and turns back to look forward, and within minutes, you arrive at the land’s prettiest sight. 

you were still on Night, admiring the way the moonlight reflected off the water. there were fireflies that lit up the strands of grass, the sound of crickets chirping and the gentle breeze that brushed the hood off your head. he dismounts from the mustang, giving her a pat as he lets her roam the area. 

“how did you--” you whirled around to ask him a question about the waterfall, only to see him by the side of Night, one hand outstretched to you. his eyes were wide and gleaming, and there was something in them that was so inviting. 

you gladly take his hand as he helps you get off Night, and he gives you space while you adjust the pouches on his sides. you were about to hook his reigns around a boulder nearby, but the young man stops you, his hold on your wrist gentle, but firm. 

“he won’t run, trust me.”

you let him guide your hand away from the reigns, and Night starts taking small steps here and there but never looking like he was ready to gallop off. the young man releases his hold on you, and instead holds his elbow out to you, hand balled up into a fist and placed over his stomach. 

you watch in kind wonder. though a little disappointed that you were still treated like royalty outside of your kingdom, you happily hook your arm through his. you walk along the lake until there was a relatively empty patch, where the grass was a little shorter and less wild. he pulls away, only to bow and offer you his right hand. 

you blink in slight surprise, unsure if he was doing what you think he was doing. 

“i had lessons when i was younger, so my apologies if my knowledge of this isn’t as up to standard as yours, your highness.”

you couldn’t help but to wonder how awkward and sudden this was, but it strangely just felt so right. you didn’t feel threatened at all, so taking his hand and allowing him to hold you just like any prince or baron or duke who’s danced with you before was pretty easy. 

“so, what brings you out here into the wilderness in the middle of the night? i doubt your family would let you run off like this, even if you were just a member of a royal family,” he smiles at you. your hand was in his and on his shoulder, his hold on your waist light but careful. you were slowly moving around the space, both your feet, strangely enough, never once trampling on each other.

“running away from my responsibilities. being born into a royal family and having all these duties lay on your shoulders have been the only things i know.”

he hums in acknowledgement, his eyes never leaving yours. 

“to tell you the truth, i’m quite surprised you accepted my invitation to ride with me. as far as i’m aware, members of the royal family don’t run off with strangers,” he flashes you a gorgeous smile, his eyes halving into pretty crescents and there was a glimmer in them like you’ve never seen before. 

“i saw the way you were with the other villagers back in the bar, and the fact that you asked for apples in return, only to feed your horse... and you have no reign on her. it means you’ve spent a considerable amount of time with her for you to create that trust between you two. that tells me a lot.”

“i understand. i take it as a compliment?” he chuckles softly, raising his arm and twirling you around. usually you’d be in a dress if you were waltzing, so doing this here in the middle of a forest, in horseback riding fitting, was oddly satisfying. 

you were finally doing something that wouldn’t be allowed in the ballroom.

“please do,” you giggle. but your light-hearted feelings disappear when he pulls you in after the spin. his hand was pressed flat against your lower back, and your head was tilted upwards to meet his eyes. 

“so what are you going to tell the royal family once you get back?” he almost whispers. there was so little space between your faces that it doesn’t require much volume to speak. “surely they would’ve noticed that you’re gone by now?”

a smile breaks out on your lips upon the question, and he turns you around. you rest your upper body weight on his arm as you lean back, his arms holding you in a dip. 

you expected him to drop you or at least feel his arm tremble from the weight, but he doesn’t. his hold was firm and had no signs of faltering. 

there was absolutely no way lessons when he was younger was enough to give him the strength and ability to hold you like this.

“where did you learn to waltz like this?” you quietly ask, eyes locking with his again as his nose comes dangerously close to yours. he flashes you the same smile you saw at the bar, and you truly wonder if he was a prince or simply a commoner. 

everything about him was sophisticated, but there was no physical evidence that he was of royal blood. 

“i’d like to keep that a secret, your highness,” he tilts his head and leans forward. your eyes flutter shut upon the contact of his lips against yours, and your chest begins to pound. butterflies fill your stomach and chills run through you despite feeling the warmth of his palm on your lower back. 

he tasted sweet, like apples. and though you expected to smell the scent of the potato sack he had around his shoulders, all you could smell was the scent of dew and water from nature. 

he pulls away, and the air that runs between your faces makes you yearn for more. but you remember you were supposed to get married tomorrow.

“in fact, i’d like to keep this night a secret between us, your highness.” 

he pulls you back up and lets go, the lack of touch making your heart drop into your stomach. you’ve danced with countless of princes, dukes and barons across the country, but never did you once miss someone’s touch. 

you hated how intimate you felt with this stranger. physical boundaries weren’t really a thing anymore, since waltzing with so many other princes granted them the permission to touch you. 

but you felt close to him. 

what were the chances that you could fall in love with a stranger within just one night? everything about him made you want to know more about him. 

how he did he know how to waltz like this? which kingdom he belonged to, or if he wasn’t, where was he from?

you let the thoughts run in your head as he lifts your hand, lightly planting a kiss on the back of your palm. he looks up to you through his hair, and you wish you could’ve said something, but nothing comes to mind.

“i’ll leave first, so you don’t need to worry that i’ll be following you,” he draws a circle on your skin, now standing up straight and looking at you like he loved you. “this has been a magical night, your highness. i was lucky to have met you tonight, and if the heavens would permit it, i hope this isn’t the first and last dance i’ll have with you.”

your heart shatters as he releases your hand from his. he turns on his heels and heads back to his horse, hopping onto her like it was nothing and gallops off without once looking back at you. 

you sigh heavily, a heavy, but empty feeling filling your stomach. 

not after i get married, i won’t.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the servant carefully pulls your veil over your face as you hear the entire kingdom go off in music and festivity. your face was void of emotion as you looked at yourself in the mirror. 

your hair took three people to tie and decorate, and your wedding dress had been specifically tailored to fit your every curve. everybody in the room was cooing at how beautiful you looked, but all you could think of was the stranger you feel in love with last night. 

you soon found yourself behind the familiar large doors of the biggest ballroom in the castle, and beyond that door would be every royal member of your family and your extended family. 

the prince you were marrying would be standing at the altar, waiting for you. 

“i’m so proud of you for doing this,” the Duke, your father, says with a pinch of affection in his voice. he knew very well that it wasn’t in your power to say no, but it was the same for him, and it was the same for anybody else born into royalty. 

“i thought you weren’t going to return last night, and i was ready to accept that you wouldn’t,” his words caused you to feel an ache in your heart, motivating you to turn to look at him. “so when you did, you had absolutely no clue how proud i was of you. you will be a great Duchess, my beautiful girl.”

his words get softer and softer as he leans forward and kisses you on the forehead through your veil. tears threaten to collect in your eyes at his short speech. 

you weren’t entirely sure if you were on the verge of crying because he was so proud of you for choosing your kingdom over the stranger, or that you knew there was no chance of you seeing him again. 

the wedding march comes on from inside the ballroom, and the doors swing open to reveal an almost all-white setting. every piece of cloth was white and every piece of furniture was gold. you look up straight ahead at the man standing at the altar, and his suit was white and gold in color as well. 

he doesn’t turn around despite everybody standing up at the sound of the doors opening. 

you empathise, knowing that he probably doesn’t want to be here either.

it felt like years while your father walks you down the isle, and he finally lets you go for you to walk up the altar on your own. 

the wedding officiate gestures to both you and the prince.

you take deep breaths to calm your heart while you look up, but your heart stops instead.

he looked almost as surprised as you were, but you could see the moment he collects himself and his prince-smile replaces his look of shock. 

your mind immediately flashes back to the previous night, and you remember that dance. 

you remember the way you melted into his hold and touch, the way he tasted like apples, the way he wished that it wasn’t going to be your first and last dance.

he looks at you with loving eyes as he heaves a sigh of relief, realising that you never once said you weren’t a princess or the daughter of a Duke.

what were the chances?

“do you, prince park of the northern lands, take lady y/n of the eastern kingdom to be your--”

“i do.”

you stifle a soft giggle at him interrupting the wedding officiate, trying your best to hold back your tears of relief. 

“uh... very well. do you, lady y/n of the eastern kingdom, take prince park to be your law--”

“i do.”

your prince grins widely. the wedding officiate looks a little confused, but he quickly nods and announces, “you may now kiss the bride.”

he was so careful with your veil, and every move of his was so soft, so gentle, and there were no words to describe how ecstatic you were. he leans forward and pauses just about an inch away from your lips. 

“the heavens must’ve heard my prayers.”

you smile widely, finally allowing the tears in your eyes to rush down your face as he kisses you lovingly. his hands find your waist and your arms find his shoulders, completely giving into the kiss as the audience applauds. 

you pull away and he looks at you with eyes you know you won’t ever be bored of. it should’ve been impossible, but falling in love with a stranger was the most wondrous thing that’s happened to you. 

- end -

A/N: big fat sobs uwuwuwuwuw

[waywardnerd67]

TFWB - Chap 26 Family Gathering

Summary: The family gathers together for a long overdue celebration. Characters: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Misha Collins, Rachel Sanderson (OFC), Molli Sanderson (OFC), Reader Pairing: Jensen x Reader / Jared x Rachel (OFC) / Misha x Molli (OFC) Warnings: Fluff/AU Word Count: 1010 Squared Filled: Free Space A/N #1: This is for @spnfluffbingo​ card

Check out: The Family We Built Masterlist

The music was thumping throughout the old barn. Laughter could be heard echoing through the cool night air. Drinks were being passed around along with slices of cake. (Y/N) was sitting on the back of an old Chevy pick up watching all the members of her family having a wonderful time.

“You know the Bride is supposed to be in there dancing and drink the night away.” Rachel hopped up on the truck next to her with a bottle of champagne.

“Move over sis, I’m joining the bridal party.”

Molli sat next to Rachel as the three of them passed the bottle between them. They watched the guests dancing and the kids starting to fall asleep at various tables.

“I never thought this day would finally come. It took you two so damn long to get together then two years to get married. Talk about your slow burn.” Rachel chuckled, taking a drink then passing it to Molli.

She took a drink, “I lost five bucks to Misha saying we would be married before them.”

“Alright, alright. I’m married now and if you remember we had to postpone our original wedding date because Jensen released another book. Then another Padababy came along.”

Rachel stole the bottle from her, “Once again, Jared’s little soldiers are just too strong for any kind of resistance.”

“Ugh!” (Y/N) and Molli groaned.

“Fellas, I do believe our ladies have decided to have their own little party without us.” Jared climbed over the side of the truck sitting behind Rachel.

Misha stood between Molli’s legs while Jensen helped (Y/N) off the truck, “Oh yeah. Rachel was just telling us all about Jared’s little soldiers breaking down her defenses.��

“(Y/N)!” Rachel yelled as Jensen led her away from the group laughing hysterically.

“Where are we going handsome?”

He was leading her out past their barn into the middle of their empty land. They had decided to move out from Austin thirty minutes to the west in Dripping Springs. Jensen had a house built for them that included having a barn with the intent of one day having some animals on their land.

He wrapped his arms around her waist resting his chin on her shoulder, “Remember, the first conversation we ever had on this property?”

***

“What do you think?” He asked as they stood in the middle of hundred acres of land.

“I think it’s perfect. The house could be over there and a path to a barn. One day we could have horses and goats.” She wrapped her arms around his waist as they looked out over the land.

Jensen pointed to a large tree, “I could build a treehouse there for when we have kids.”

She sucked in a breath stepping away from him. It was a conversation she had been trying to build up the courage to talk to him about and never finding the right time. Seemed life created a moment pushing her to tell him the only secret she ever kept from him.

“Jensen, about that…” she started as he started to walk towards the tree.

He chuckled, “Pretty girl, we don’t have to have the kid conversation yet. Let’s get through the house build and the wedding whenever they may happen. We can just keep on practicing to baby making steps.”

“There’s something I need to tell you that… that could make you change your mind about the whole house and marriage thing.”

He stopped turning towards her, “There is nothing you could say that would make me change my mind. I want to spend the rest of my life with you no matter what.”

“I can’t have children.” Saying the words out loud held such a finality for her.

“W-What?”

The tears she was trying to hold back fell down her cheeks, “My body doesn’t produce the eggs to have children. If… if you marry me then we will never have our own children.”

Looking up, her heart broke seeing the disappointment in his eyes. She should have told him way before now but she did not want to admit she was broken, damaged goods.

“You mean when I marry you.” Jensen reached out taking her hand and pulling her to him, “Where that news is shocking and I’m going to need some time to process that. There is no question as to if I’m going to marry you. It’s only a question of when I’m going to marry you.”

(Y/N) could not believe what she was hearing, “You’re really okay with never having your own biological children?”

“Will you be in my life?” She nodded, “Then yes, I am okay with not having my own kids.”

A sob escaped her lips as she hugged him tightly, “You’re truly an amazing man.”

***

“Yes, I do. Why?” She turned in his arms clasping her hand behind his neck.

“During our honeymoon in Europe, I would like to begin the process of adopting a child from the Ukraine. I’ve already started the process here but we had to be married before going over there.”

(Y/N) stood there stunned as Jensen nervously chewed on his bottom lip, “Say something.”

“Just when I think you can’t possibly surprise me with something, you do. Yes. Yes, yes, yes!”

Jensen picked her up and twirled her around, “Oh my god, I was terrified to ask you about it. I love you.”

“I love you too. Now let’s go tell the rest of our family.”

They walked back to the barn where Jared, Rachel and their two kids along with Misha, Molli and Zalyn were all huddled together outside.

“Everyone, we would like to tell you something.” Jensen announced catching all of their attention.

(Y/N) smiled widely, “We’re going to adopt a child!” Everyone started cheering and hugging them.

That is when their photographer came by asking to take their picture together, “One, two, three, Family!”

“Family!”

That was exactly what they were. Not by blood or by marriage, but a family they chose. A family they built.

The End

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