#henry is new to fighting but leans into it SO HARD

[cultofsappho]

my brain is desperately trying to mesh my hyperfixations rn so...

would anyone read a rwrb last of us au? 

alex is the dishearted smuggler who agrees to take the immune guy (henry) to the fireflies only to realize henry’s never been outside of the QZ before and has to rely on alex. first they’re tentative, hateful allies with a job until they spend more and more time alone together, surviving the apocalypse, and slowly the dynamic changes. 

enemies to lovers zombie apocalypse au anyone?

I mean can you imagine the: “Alex, what did you do?” “I saved him” 

[storiesfromafan]

What's Mine Is Mine - Mattheo x Reader

A/N: woke up to the news of Dame Maggie Smith's passing. So I did a little something in memory.

Prompt: “I'm not the jealous type, but what's mine is mine. End of story"

“What do you think you were doing!?” Boomed the loud voice of Professor McGonagall. “Fighting another student! And breaking his nose! Mr Riddle, it will be detention for a month for you!”

You looked to your boyfriend, a hard look on your face. As you were also mad at the Slytherin boy. Yet he didn't looked faze, maybe a little proud of himself more so. You didn't know why he had to attack the Gryffindor boy.

“And you" McGonagall swings around to you look at you, still mad but a little softer. “You will get detention for two weeks!”

“W-what?” You sputtered. “I-I did nothing, other then try to break them up!?”

“When I came upon the scene, it didn't look like you were breaking it up Miss (Y/L/N). Two weeks detention, another word from you and it will be more, understood?”

You bit your tongue and nodded your head, casting a glare to Mattheo. Who looked quite pleased with himself.

The Professor sighed. “Alright, back to your house you go".

You both got up from your seats in McGonagall's class room, and began to walk to the room's door. Before you even took two step's, the Professor asked for you to stop and wait a moment. She sent off Mattheo, who didn't like leaving you, but he reluctantly left the room. You turned back and moved to stand before McGonagall at her desk.

“Yes Professor?” You asked calmly.

She looked at you with a soft, pointed look. “I am not one to meddle in the lives of students, but are you sure Mr Riddle is the right suitor for you? He is hot headed and easy to anger, that to me is not a good thing".

You understood her concerns and felt touched the women cared, but she did not know Mattheo like you did. No one did. They only saw what he showed them; cocky, tough, smartass and anger issues. But what you have seen of your boyfriend was loyalty, kindness, sweet and passionate sides. Slytherin boy's protected and coveted what was theirs.

“All due respect Professor, you don't know Mattheo like I do" you replied with a confident voice. “He might be what you have said, but you don't know him like I do. There is more to him then just that. Am I free to leave now?”

Professor McGonagall gave you a surprised look before dismissing you. You weren’t one to necessarily speak up like you did, and be rather rude to those in authority. But part of her admired your loyalty to Mattheo Riddle. And she hoped you were right about knowing him well.

You walked from the classroom with a sigh. This is not how you wanted your afternoon to go. You didn't want to have to step between your boyfriend, who had came across a Gryffindor classmate asking you for your notes from Snape's class, and another student. Alright, Slytherin and Gryffindor might not get along, but with Henry, you had a mutual respect for each other and your studies.

But Mattheo came upon you both, having a laugh, and looks to have thought Henry was flirting with you. One minute you're laughing, the next Mattheo had grabbed Henry and pulled him away. They exchanged words before Mattheo punched him. And began their fist fight. You moved to break them up, which was hopeless. Soon Professor McGonagall came across you three, as well as the crowd of on lookers. And, well you know what happened next.

“What did she want?” Asked Mattheo, as you came upon him leaning on a wall.

You kept your mouth shut, choosing to ignore your boyfriend and continue walking to the dungeons. A few more times did Mattheo try to talk to you, but you still kept your lips shut tight. Your anger slowly boiling below the surface. When you both descended the stairs to the dungeon did he try again.

“Come on love" he half sighed, half whined. “Talk to me!”

You stopped suddenly – which halted Mattheo – and turned around to shoot him a sharp look. “What can I say to take back the last hour, Theo? Nothing. So what's the point!?”

He flinched at your raised voice. “Come on love" – he stepped up and grabbed your hand, which you withdrew from him a few seconds later – “don't be like this".

“Like what?” You questioned while crossing your arms over your chest.

“L-like this" he moved his hands up and down, gesturing to your stern presence. “This stern figure, when you're not".

You scoffed. “I wouldn’t have to be stern if you hadn't attacked Henry".

Mattheo rolled his eyes, “Henry. God his name is worse then his shit fighting skills".

You studied your boyfriend. And after taking in his annoyed tone, agitated roll of his eyes and the fact he'd beaten up your friend but not friend. You concluded one thing about your boyfriend.

“You were jealous" you proclaimed in amusement, having to hold back a chuckle.

Mattheo shot you a glare. “I'm not the jealous type, but what's mine is mine. End of story”.

You smirked. “You answered that a little too quick, love” you laughed. And began to head for Slytherin house.

Mattheo sputtered out words, trying to defend himself before finally letting out a frustrated sound. “I was not jealous!” He called before storming after you and your cackling frame.

[mrsevans90]

Puppy Love

Captain Syverson x OFC Emma Miller Part 14

Summary: Austin Syverson has returned to Texas after retiring from the military and starts his own contracting business. Syverson is used to being alone and thinks he prefers it that way. While at work he stumbles upon an injured and abused puppy. When he meets the new veterinarian in town, Emma Miller, he is immediately smitten with her. It turns out Emma has some baggage of her own. Will they be able to make it work? Or is it just a case of fleeting puppy love?

Pairing: Henry Cavill as Captain Austin Syverson x OFC Emma Miller 

Warnings: Violence, attempted kidnapping, stalking, injured arm, mention of weapon, nightmares, angst, period care, fear, anxious Sy, police officers, language

MINORS DNI! Must be 18+

I do not authorize any copying/pasting, stealing of my work, or using my words as your own. 

This story is not beta’d. All mistakes are my own.

A/N: I am an imperfect person who makes mistakes. All that I ask is to please be kind and if you enjoy it then please comment and REPOST! I appreciate any love, comments, and reposts more than you could know. Thank you for reading! 

Part 13

My heart immediately sinks to the pit of my stomach and in an instant, I’m running. It feels like minutes as I run watching Colin’s slimy hands wrapped around Emma’s chest from behind as she fights to defend herself. He is gripping her wrist tightly as he pins it to her chest and she’s twisting and yelling, but I can no longer hear her screams over my own raging thoughts. He looks up as my thundering steps approach just as Emma bites his hand. 

“Ouch! You bitch!” He screams at Emma and I use his moment of distraction to rip Emma from his arms. I push her behind me away from Colin and without another thought, I rare back and punch him square in the nose. The force behind that punch was enough to split my knuckles but I don’t hesitate to follow his body to the ground and hit him again. Hard. As hard as I can. I’m completely lost in my rage as the only sound I hear being the blood rushing past my ears as my adrenaline pumps throughout my body. A large hand lands on my shoulder and I’m about to turn and fight whoever has dared to touch me in this state when I recognize Mr. Ellis. Mr. Ellis is a friend of my PawPaw’s and similar in age to him which gives me momentary pause. When did he get here?

“Son, he’s out cold. You’ve gotta stop now.” Mr. Ellis gestures to Colin’s body which is crumpled on the hot asphalt of the parking lot. 

“I… he was…” I attempt to organize my thoughts but I can’t.

“I know, Sy. I saw. I saw him trying to snatch that girl and I was getting my gun out of the glovebox when you came running up. Didn’t think I could take him alone. I’ve already called 911 and they’re on their way.” Mr. Ellis talks to me like I’m a caged predator and I realize, that’s exactly how I feel. God, it felt so good to split my hand open on his face. To feel just an ounce of the pain I’d like to inflict upon him. I maybe only got two good hits in before Mr. Ellis stopped me, but I made them count judging from the blood seeping on the ground from Colin’s obvious broken nose. I hear a sniffle and whip around to see Emma sitting on her bottom leaned up against a dark colored car with tears streaking noiselessly down her face.

Oh God, Emma.

Despite protest from my bum leg, I clamber up and over to her. She’s holding her right wrist with her hand and looks absolutely petrified.

“Sugar, I’m here. I’m so sorry.” I apologize. I want to apologize for her seeing me like this, for leaving her alone, for not getting there soon enough, the list is endless.

“Austin…” She whimpers and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into my lap on the asphalt. Sirens are getting louder as police and EMT’s swarm the grocery store parking lot. 

“I was…sso…scared.” She hiccups between sobs and I feel my heart absolutely shatter.

“I know, Sugar. You were so brave. You were incredible. I’m so sorry.”  

EMT’s quickly rush to Colin’s side where he remains unconscious as they transfer him to a stretcher. Much to my dismay, according to the vitals they were shouting, he’s still alive. 

I know several of the police officers and they agree to call Walt for me. Following protocol, they still have to separate Emma and I to hear the versions of our story to piece together what happened. I refused any care for my hand, as the throbbing in my knuckles felt like the perfect reminder that I gave Colin what he was asking for. As a second EMT is taking a look at Emma’s wrist, a police officer that I knew from the ball field in high school named Keith allows me to say goodbye to Emma before driving me to the station for questioning. 

“Is it broken?” I ask the EMT.

“There’s a possibility of a hairline fracture. We won’t know until she gets an x-ray but Ms. Miller doesn’t want to go to the hospital.” She tells me.

“Emma, baby. Go to the hospital and get it checked out.” 

“I’ll give myself an x-ray at the clinic and if it’s broken I’ll call an ortho doc, but first I’m going to answer the police officer’s questions at the station.”

“Sugar, I” 

“Austin, I don’t want to go to the hospital where he will be. I want to go where you are going.” There it is. She doesn’t want to be in the same building with him and I don’t blame her. 

“Okay, I understand. Are you in pain?” 

“I’ll be fine.” She says as she stands up and a female officer joins us. 

“We have to ride separately because of their protocol, but Walt has been called and I’ll send him directly to you so you won’t be alone, alright Darlin’?”

She nods and I kiss her gently. 

“I love you, and I’ll be with you as soon as they let me.”

“I love you too.” She says with a forced smile. God, I don't want to leave her.

I follow Keith to his cruiser and he allows me to sit in the passenger seat.

I call PawPaw on the way and explain what happened before I ask him to go get my truck from the parking lot since he has my spare keys, that’s full of groceries and take them home for me before dropping my truck at the police station. Nothing surprises that man as he just agrees, tells me that he’ll take the dogs back with him so not to rush and to call him when I can.

I also call Walt and he promises that he’s almost at the station and he’ll go straight to Emma when he arrives. He’s a homicide detective so this isn’t even remotely a part of his job description, but he’s well respected in the community and someone I trust entirely so I want him by Emma’s side until I can be.

We arrive at the police department where I’m placed in a monitored room for about twenty minutes before an older man comes into question me. I explain to him exactly who Colin was, Emma’s history and fear of him, and my actions when I walked out of the store. The investigator surmises that my story matches the witness testimony that was given by Mr. Ellis as well as a young mother who was walking into the store when Colin grabbed Emma. 

“I can confirm that the suspect is conscious now at the hospital, but you should know there is a strong possibility he attempts to press charges against you for assault.” 

I scoff. “I dare him to try.” I say truthfully and the detective just leans back in his chair.

“You’re a big guy compared to him. What was going through your head?”

“I probably would have killed him if Mr. Ellis didn’t stop me. He was trying to take the love of my life. Someone he abused physically, verbally and mentally for years before I met her. I was not going to allow that to happen.”

“Off the books of course, I’d probably do the exact same if someone came after my wife or daughter, so I don’t blame you.” He said with a smirk.

“Can I see her?” 

“She’s still being questioned but I can show you where to wait.”

“Walt with her?” I ask.

“He hasn’t left her side, which is unusual but Walt’s taking good care of her.

After waiting for what felt like forever, Emma finally emerges from the room she was in with Walt right behind her. Her arm is wrapped in a temporary brace as she cradles it to her abdomen.

“Austin.” She says with a visible relief as I wrap my arms around her and she cuddles into my chest.

“Thank you, Walt.” I shake his hand while not removing my arms from Emma’s body.

“Not a problem. She did well. We’re pressing charges against the suspect for attempted kidnapping and stalking, in addition to the violation of the restraining order. He won’t get out of it like last time. We’re talking mandatory jailtime if he’s convicted.” I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank God.” I respond aloud.

“We have some paperwork to fill out and then y’all can go.” Walter directs us over to his desk and sends someone to get us coffee.

“The final thing we need to do is a written statement from you, Sy. I got Emma’s in the investigation room. She couldn’t write so I transcribed for her.”

I bite my lip to keep from cursing at the fact that my girl is injured. The poor thing looks exhausted as she cradles the Styrofoam cup of strong black coffee in her uninjured hand. I know it’s bitter after she takes a small sip and places it down with a slight look of disgust. 

“I’ll make this as quick as I can, Sugar.” I say and she nods before looking at the picture of Faye that Walt has on his desk. They engage in small talk as I recount the events of the afternoon starting at the grocery store on paper. My handwriting is just barely legible, but it was good enough for the army to never say anything so they shouldn’t have problem with it either. When I’m finished, I glance at Em who is resting her head against her uninjured arm across Walt’s desk and lightly dozing. I hand the legal pad back over to Walt who reads over it and then has me sign it at the bottom. He adds his signature as a witness to my statement. 

“There was a vehicle in the parking lot near where the assault took place that had an Alabama license plate on it.”

“Was it registered to him?”

“Nope, rental car. I’ve got someone trying to confirm that he was the renter.”

“Was it darkly colored?”

“Black.”

“Damnit..” I mutter. “She said she saw a dark car parked out by her neighbor’s house all night. It turned around in her driveway but she thought it was the neighbor’s kid. I didn’t check the surveillance video when she mentioned it.” I’m such a fucking idiot, I think to myself.

“Was she home?”

“Nah, she was at mine. I should’ve looked into it.” 

“Well, at least she wasn’t there and you’ve got surveillance camera’s up. Send me the video later when you go back and obsess over this.” He knows me well.

“I will.”

“She gonna be okay?” Walt asks and I shrug my shoulders.

“I honestly don’t know. I just can’t believe this even happened. I should have protected her.”

“You did, Sy. That guys face proves it.”

“I shouldn’t have left her alone.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. She’s not a child that needs a babysitter, you didn’t know. Just try to let her process her feelings about it and be there. That’s all you can do in situations like these.” 

“Thanks man. I really owe ya for being there for us. For her. I know this isn’t your responsibility and you certainly don’t have the time to spare.” 

“We’re family, practically brothers. She’s a great girl and I expect to see her officially becoming family one day.” He says with a wink and I smirk.

“I’m just trying not to scare her off or I’d already have a ring.” We shake hands and I gently wake Emma up.

“Sugar, we’re done. Let’s get out of here.” I tell her and she sleepily blinks up at me before nodding. Walt and I are both surprised when she walks around Walter’s desk and wraps her arms around him. 

“Thank you for everything. Next time you have Faye, I would love to meet her.” She says genuinely and Walt smiles, something rare for him.

“You can count on it. As soon as she knows you’re a veterinarian she’ll be asking you a million questions so prepare yourself now.”

“Bring her to the clinic sometime. She can be my assistant for the day.” Emma smiles and I’m surprised at how comfortable she seems around Walt. I’m grateful for it though. I’m closer with him than I am with my own brother and I appreciate her having someone else here she can rely on. Walt’s not an easy man to get to know, so it makes me happy that she broke down that barrier and got him to open up. Breaking down walls seems to come naturally to her. God knows, she worked her magic on me somehow.

We say our goodbyes and make our way to the parking lot where I find my truck parked in the lot, just like PawPaw said he would.

“How?” Emma asked as I opened the passenger door and lifted her in.

“PawPaw. Called him on the way to the station.” I answer before getting in and cranking the engine. It’s late afternoon now and this day seems to have gone on forever. 

“Can we get something to eat on the way home?” Emma asks and I arch my eyebrow at her.

“Sure, but I’m taking you to get that arm checked out.” 

“No. I want fast food, and I want to go home.” She demands.

“Baby, I’m worried that it’s broken. You’re clearly in pain. You’ve been cradling your arm against you since it happened.”

“I just need some Tylenol and a greasy burger. I’ll go tomorrow. After everything today, I just want to go home. Please?” She looks at me with pure exhaustion and almost seems like she might cry. I nod and put the truck in gear. I can't ever seem to tell her no.

“Promise you’ll tell me if it hurts and I’ll take you to the doctor.” I command and she promises.

After securing a bag full of greasy Mcdonald’s, I start making the way towards her house assuming she’d want to be in the comfort of her home. I plan on staying wherever she is, so I’m glad my grandparents took the dogs for the night.

“Where are we going? You missed the turn.” She points out.

“You said you wanted to go home so I figured you meant yours.”

“No. I want to go to yours.”

“Okay, Sugar.” I tell her as I make a u-turn to head back in the direction of my house with a small smile on my lips.

“What?” Emma asks.

“I just like hearing you say you want to go home and meaning my house. I figured you’d want to be in your own bed or something.”

She shakes her head. “Your house feels more like home to me.”

“It is baby. It’s our home.” I tell her as I tuck some hair behind her ear and her smile melts my heart.

After we get home and I explain that the dogs are with my grandparents, Emma takes some medicine before we tuck in to our greasy dinner. Is it really that tasty, or are we just starving from the events of the day? The Wizard of Oz plays noisily on the tv in the background but neither of us seem to be watching it, rather just using it as background noise while we eat.

Emma is quiet, likely processing everything that has happened so I just remain a silent presence as I let her sit in her contemplation, remaining close if she decides she’d like to talk.

I place a bag of frozen peas on her arm when she’s done eating and it startles her almost as if she didn’t notice me moving around beside her. She thanks me quietly as I elevate her arm on some pillows before I run my hands through her hair. We remain sitting in the living room until the movie credits are rolling on the tv screen. Emma is curled against me but seems uncomfortable. I ask her if her arm hurts and she just replies, “cramps”. Damn, in all of the madness today I forgot. This morning seems like it was a lifetime ago. 

“Let’s go take a warm shower and get in bed, Darlin’”. 

Emma nods and I help her up before tossing the peas back in the freezer. I shut off the lights and double check that the doors are locked before we head into the master bathroom and I turn the water on to get it warming. 

“I’ll give you a minute. Need anything?” I ask and she just shakes her head.

I head back into the bedroom making sure I have all of the comfort items I purchased this morning ready for her. I pulled out one of my t-shirts and grabbed some panties from her bag before setting them on her side of the bed. I made sure she had some water and pain relief meds on the nightstand as well. I stripped myself down before knocking on the bathroom door to let her know I was coming back in. Emma was already standing in the hot stream of water so I joined her and wrapped my arms around her. Her bandage was taken off and sat on the bathroom vanity and this was the first look I had gotten of it since she got hurt. I gently placed her arm in my flat palm and looked at the blue, purple, and slightly yellow bruise that had formed along the top of her forearm. 

“I’m okay.” She said as I stared at her arm and tried to reign in my anger towards that bastard of a human. 

“You should see the other guy…oh wait.” She jokes and I can’t help but smirk. Before I can apologize again for not getting to her quick enough, she speaks again.

“Could you help me wash my hair?” 

“Of course, Sugar. Let me.” I take her shampoo that she brought and left over here a few weeks ago and washed her hair before rinsing and conditioning it. While letting that sit, I washed her body as gently as I could. I noticed her knees were scraped but didn’t say anything about it, just gently cleaning them off. After rinsing her hair and her body, I quickly bathed myself before getting us out and wrapping her up in a towel. I attempted to wrap her hair up in a towel as well, but that ended up being more complicated than I realized. She smiled and asked for a moment of privacy so I waited for her in the bedroom as I threw on some boxers. Emma came out a moment later still wrapped in her towel and I quickly helped her put on some panties and my DILIGAF t-shirt that she loves so much. I re-wrapped her hand with the bandage that the EMT’s placed on it earlier today and made her promise that we would get it looked at tomorrow. She showed me how to brush her hair, claiming she could do it with her non-dominant hand, but I was adamant that she let me help her. I gently combed through the tangles over her long hair before settling her in bed with the hot water bottle on her abdomen before crawling in behind her to spoon her.

“Mmm. Thank you for the hot water bottle. And, everything else.”

“I’m just sorry you got hurt. I’ve replayed it in my head a hundred times at least and I shouldn’t have left you alone.”

“Baby. Don’t. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m so grateful you were there.”

“What happened…when I went back inside the store? I’ve been trying not to ask but I just need to know.”

“Well, you went back inside and I started unloading the groceries into the truck. Once I got them all in, I went to put the grocery cart in the little return area. I didn’t see him, I just felt someone come up behind me and I tried to turn around but he wrapped his arms around me and told me to stay still. That’s when I knew. The second I heard his voice and felt his breath on my neck, I knew it was Colin. I told him to stop, not do this. All he said was, “I’m going to make you regret turning your back on me.” I noticed he was sort of backing me up away from your truck and that’s when I started really fighting him and screaming. You showed up a few moments later.” She explained.

My hands gripped tightly into fists as I thought about what happened next. His hands on her, Emma’s screams, my urge to get to her.

Emma placed her hand on top of mine before turning over to face me. I helped her move her hair away from her face before she kissed me. Lovingly, tenderly, appreciatively.

“I love you, Austin Syverson. You mean the world to me.”

“I love you more, Sugar.”

“Thank you for putting up with my baggage.”

“Thank you for putting up with mine.” I say as I stroke her cheek before kissing her forehead. Emma yawns and places her hot water bottle on the nightstand before snuggling into me and falling asleep. Her eyelids flutter in the moonlight that trickles in to the bedroom and I lay there admiring her strength while also running through every ‘what if’ scenario in my head.  What if I hadn’t arrived in time and he had managed to take her? What if he had hurt her worse? What were his intentions by taking her? My brain gets carried away and I’m tempted to get up and get a beer, but I can’t stand the thought of leaving Emma alone after almost losing her. I lay there in the dark with the most incredible woman that I’ve ever met curled against my chest and thank God for letting her be okay before I finally drift off to sleep.

I’m awoken with a start at some point in the middle of the night, blinking the sleep from my eyes as I try and figure out what woke me. I hear Emma whimper and see that she’s having a nightmare. Usually it’s me with the nightmares, but this time she’s the one crying and curled in on herself in the fetal position.

“Sugar?” I gently try and rouse her.

“no, please no.” She mumbles and I flip the lamp on and scoop her up against me.

“Sugar, it’s Austin. You’re safe.” I tell her and her eyelids peel open, groggily.

She takes a deep breath as tears stream down her face. My heart somehow breaks even more.

I don’t know what to do or say so I just keep repeating that she’s safe and hold her until her crying calms down and she is asleep in my arms.

I lay in the dark cradling her as I try to keep my thoughts on my perfect girl, rather than that scum that I wish I had wiped off of parking lot to finish him off. I reach for my phone with my intentions clear. I know what I want. I have some research to do and now is the best time to start.

Part 15

Taglist: @shellyshellshell, @henryownsme, @caramariehurst, @beck07990, @mollymal, @kingliam2019, @syversonswife, @identity2212, @starfirewildheart, @hannah9921, @wa-ni, @kneelforloki, @cutedoxie, @enchantedbytomandhenry, @foxyjwls007, @geralts-yenn, @courtlynwriter, @corrie1013, @squeezyvalkyrie, @summersong69, @livisss, @mayloma, @uunotheangel, @warriormirkwood, @sofiebstar

[yanderes-galore]

Can you do Mike afton with your prompts 57, 53, and 10? Also can it be romantic?

Sure! I'll see what I can do :) Been a bit since I've done this AU. This is a new take on it.

@okchijt helped me with this so this is mostly their take while I filled in the plot they gave me. Requester wanted FLS AU.

Yandere! FLS! Michael Afton Concept

What is the FLS AU?

Yandere! FLS AU! Michael Afton Prompts 57, 53, and 10

"You're stuck with me, like it or not."

"I left you a few voice mails, why didn't you pick up?"

"I've given myself all to you! Yet you call me a monster!"

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Stalking, Violence, Breaking and entering, Manipulation, Kidnapping implied, Forced relationship implied.

The phone rings on and on as you type away at your keyboard. On screen is an email soon to be sent to your boss, Henry. You were nearly at a breakthrough on an important case.

Incriminating evidence filled the email. Many documents and notes were attached all about two people behind a long list of murders. The case of The Aftons was very important to your employer.

Your job was to play detective. You were meant to work for them at their Pizzeria, collect evidence, then leave. That was it... that was the job.

Then one of them, the son, got attached.

You had a feeling he caught on to you. Even now as you type away and prepare to send Henry your evidence your phone rings. You knew it was him, the voice mails were endless.

You hadn't bothered to listen to them. Instead you focused on your email by putting on the final touches. Then your mouse drifted to the send button...

Only for the power to cut.

You go silent, eyes blown wide and looking at the computer in shock. There wasn't any storms. Did you flip something by accident?

"I left you a few voice mails, why didn't you pick up? Are you ignoring me?"

The voice echoes from close by and you feel the hair on your skin shoot up. You spin your chair around and search the darkness for answers. Unfortunately... your questions are answered.

Michael stands in the doorway of the room. His posture is confident and he stares at you like you're his newest prey. You can only stare as he blocks your exit.

"Don't you know how much I've done for you?" Michael sighs. "I've been protecting you from my father as I already know your plans. I could've just killed you... but now I like you too much for that."

The man in front of you does a fake pout while leaning in the doorway. The fact he knew everything made your heart drop to your stomach. He's more clever than you thought.

"I've already sacrificed so much by allowing these games to play out. However, this still means I have to prevent you from exposing the family business, y'know?" Michael sighs, playing with your emotions to satiate the sadism within him.

"You're a monster for doing all of this!" You yell at the man. You can see Michael feign shock and surprise before chuckling.

"I've given myself all to you! Yet you call me a monster!" Michael accuses in a playful manner before turning serious. "I could've just killed you, but I'm nice enough to protect you and let you live!"

You quickly stand up to keep distance as Michael walks forward. Despite the situation you manage to keep yourself calm. It's in the line of work, after all. Yet you still find yourself shaking when he gets close to you.

"I've been so patient with you. I think things should go my way for once, shouldn't they?" Michael hums towards you. You try to run around him but he catches you with ease. It's funny to him... did you not think he was an experienced killer?

You feel your chest hit the desk hard as your arms are held behind your back. The resulting impact causes the computer to crash onto the ground, the email and evidence now long destroyed. Panic sets in as struggle and fight against the killer behind you.

Said killer only appears excited by your fate.

"I think it's time you rest, dear. Isn't it getting late?" Michael coos, raising the knife in his hand. You suddenly feel a blunt object smack into your head before your vision darkens.

"You're stuck with me, like it or not." Michael whispers with a giggle before your vision fails you.

[coffee-counts-as-a-meal]

"my blood is medicine"

no but tell me why out of everything that happened in this episode THIS is what broke my heart the most

(TLOU 1x05 "Endure and Survive" spoilers below)

I've seen some people comment about how show!Ellie feels younger than game!Ellie, like an actual 14-year old, where game!Ellie could have honestly passed as somewhere around 16ish just based on the way she carries herself. and I think that's honestly something they lean into a lot in the show, which ultimately strengthens it (i could write a whole other essay on the choices they made in changing certain aspects of Joel's character and relationship with Ellie and how it becomes SO MUCH MORE COMPELLING AND STRONGER AND THE BETTER FOR IT but that's a whole other thing)

and like. The dynamic between her and Sam (also de-aged canonically, which is HEARTBREAKING HE WAS SO TINY) feels so innocent. They're children and they're allowed to be children.

Also noticed how the moment from the game where Henry scolded Sam for merely picking up a toy was changed to Henry giving Sam crayons and ENCOURAGING HIM to draw and paint and have fun even when they're fighting to survive - it's not enough that Henry and Joel are fighting to protect their lives, but they're fighting to protect Ellie and Sam's childhood too. Letting them play soccer and steal comic books. Joel apologizing to Ellie and giving her space if she wanted it to talk about having to shoot Bryan. Henry saying "it'll be nice for Sam to have a friend," not just the practical cost-benefit analysis of what it'll mean to be traveling as a pack of four to Wyoming.

so Ellie telling Sam "my blood is medicine" hit me so hard not just because it's a last ditch-effort to save her friend. It's just so matter-of-fact in such a childish way. It's "it's okay, you skinned your knee, don't cry, I'll blow some magic fairy dust to make it feel better," it's an absolute belief in something that might not work but you kinda have to be a kid to even have that sort of faith in the first place.

when I was 13 my little sister had nightmares about that one chimpanzee that ate that lady's face (kids who grew up on dateline and late night news will know what I'm talking about) and couldn't sleep. she was around 8 at the time. I gave her a hair scrunchie and told her that if she spoke certain magic words, fairies would appear and fight whatever it was that came to harm her.

"My blood is medicine." "This scrunchie will protect you." These are the words of kids who truly believe that things will turn out okay - you wouldn't hear those words from adults, or at least they wouldn't be said in such a genuine way. Ellie genuinely believed her blood was medicine - she believed she could save her friend, magically, scientifically, whatever way you want to believe it could have worked. She's seen so much and been through so much, but she's still a kid whose first instinct is to go up to the other kid on the playground and comfort them - it's okay, my blood is medicine. You'll be okay. You're scared? I'm scared too. I'll stay up with you. Like a sleepover. We'll read comic books all night.

But her blood isn't medicine. And unlike Sam, eventually she'll have to grow up.

[amateurvoltaire]

In one of your last posts you mentioned you were studying the civil war in Vandée. Have you ever seen the rather new movie "Vaincre ou Mourir" on the topic? If yes, what do you think of it? I was very curious to give it a try, hoping it's not the usual demonisation of the revolutionary government. Not that I expect it to be portrayed positively in a movie focused on the Vendéean insurgents pov, of course...

Thanks a lot for your question! It’s the first one I've ever received, and I’m really excited to dive into it. (I might have gone a bit overboard, so grab a coffee or a drink before you tackle this beast… TLDR at the bottom…)

I watched "Vaincre ou Mourir" a couple of months ago. Before I dive into my thoughts, the man himself would like a word:

All jokes aside, have you ever been to one of those medieval theme parks where they offer a "realistic" medieval show with dinner? As a kid, every summer, my parents took me to a jousting show at an Italian theme park. We'd watch two knights fight each other for an hour while being “medieval” and munching on chicken legs without any cutlery.

That's pretty much how I felt watching this movie: it’s flashy and fun but doesn’t have much going on underneath. It makes more sense when you discover that the film was funded by Puy du Feu, a large historical theme park in Vendée.

The context

And this is the thing: despite the Canal+ distribution, most of the production is local. The Vendée itself is often defined as a memory space (1), which can lead to a community feeling a special connection to their past. This is often reflected in local traditions, commemorations, and even political leanings. I remember watching an interview from the bicentenary where some locals said they don’t celebrate the 14th of July as a matter of principle—200 years later!

It’s also worth noting that the Vendée has a history of conservative and right-leaning political preferences, and Canal+ is also a right-leaning media outlet.

The Experts

Is it a documentary? Is it a fictional film? It's hard to say in the first few minutes.

The movie attempts to project historical accuracy by introducing four experts right at the start. If a film opens with such a direct appeal to authority, I tend to scrutinise who these experts are. So, who are they?

Reynald Secher: a historian who has been a massive proponent of the Vandean genocide theory. He is very anti-Republican, and his research methodologies are rather sketchy…

Nicolas Delahaye: I don’t know much about him, but I see he publishes primarily regionally in a Vendean publishing house. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s particularly biased, but it does mean his audience is very limited to people with specific views.

Anne Rolland-Boulestreau: a historian at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest specialising in the Vendée counter-revolution. Her articles in the Annales Historiques de la Révolution Française seem unbiased and well-researched. I own one of her books but haven't read it yet, so I can't speak to her longer-form content.

Armand Bernand: if you google de la Rochejaquelein, you will find this guy everywhere. He owns a publishing house, loves the Château de la Durbelière (2), and wrote a series of books set there. He clearly has a historical crush on M. Henri. I think he cosplayed him during some re-enactments and wrote a book about Henri’s brother Auguste.

It’s worth mentioning they either hail from Vendée or work exclusively within the region. This is my bias speaking because I’ve pretty much read all his work, but if you make a movie about the Vendee and can’t get Jean-Clément Martin to say something on camera about it, you should probably not feature any experts…

The Story

After an awkward three minutes of experts telling us how important the revolution was and introducing Charette, we get to the actual movie, which opens with a pile of bodies, burnings, a hanged person, and an awkward first-person voiceover of Charette saying that they made the Vendee into an inferno. This will be a theme for the next hour or so.

If I were to describe this film in two words, "tragedy porn" would fit. What occurred in Vendée was horrific, and its rightly violent portrayal should help viewers understand and appreciate the human and historical impact. However, the film often prioritises shock value over explaining the underlying reasons.

Charette is, by all accounts, a very compelling subject. The guy was a libertine with bucket-loads of courage and style who had a woman as an aide de camp in 1793! Despite spending 1.5 hours with him, narrated from his perspective, I would be hard-pressed to tell you what he’s actually fighting for. Is it honour? Is it revenge? Is it stubbornness? Your guess is as good as mine!

There is absolutely no character growth whatsoever. The film presents as a sequence of battles and shocking scenes narrated by a somewhat detached Charette. Remember what I said about the medieval show? This shock-value approach might work for a short performance during dinner but falls flat when stretched across an entire film.

Despite the weak script, the actors are quite good. Nothing Oscar-worthy, but they can act. The guy that plays Charette does a very good job and is quite charismatic.

The Historical Accuracy

On the whole, I can’t see glaring historical errors. It is fairly historically accurate with some minor issues. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but there are things I noticed and jotted down:

The main one is the bizarre theory that Charette agreed to the peace of 1795 because he was promised that Louis XVII would be handed to him. This has absolutely no credible historical basis whatsoever. It’s a myth that has been propagated for over 200 years.

I’m pretty sure Charette didn’t sign the treaty of La Jaunaye. In fact, as far as I remember, no one from the insurgent side signed it.

While not a historical inaccuracy per se, it's a missed opportunity that the film often portrays Charette as the sole leader of the Vendean army. Though he mentions being one chief among many, this aspect is quickly glossed over. His historical relationship with the Catholic and Royal Army and its leaders was complex and would have been interesting to explore further. It's a shame the film likely didn't have the budget to delve into this, as it could have also demonstrated that Vendée wasn't a monolith.

The depiction of the republican army as well-equipped is somewhat exaggerated. If they were as well-appointed as shown, Carnot and Prieur (Cote D’or) would be out of a job, and Saint-Just wouldn't have needed to requisition shoes for the army.

Lastly, the film underexplains the context of why the counter-revolution started. In my opinion, it manipulatively emphasises the king's execution more than warranted, suggesting it triggered the popular uprising when it really did not. The conflict in Vendée began as a peasant revolt, where the local population was far more concerned with religious issues than royal politics. Most Vendean peasants likely couldn't name the king—they probably knew he was a Louis since there had been a Louis on the throne for 200 years, but that's about it. Their concerns were local: when parish priests who had taken the civic oath replaced their traditional priests, and the Levée en masse was decreed, forcing them to fight random Germans 600 km away for a regime threatening their way of life, they rebelled.

Is the movie anti-Republican propaganda?

To wrap up, is the film anti-Republican? Frankly, I don’t believe it is overtly so. It adopts a somewhat clichéd stance: the revolution's ideals were noble, but things eventually went too far. While I have plenty of thoughts on this—which I'll keep to myself for now—I wouldn’t say this perspective is inherently anti-Republican.

Charette is depicted as initially supportive of the revolution, which is accurate for many aristocrats, especially the minor nobility. The portrayal of Republican soldiers is balanced, with General Jean-Pierre Travot sometimes appearing more honourable than Charette. As the main character, Charette is shown as lazy, indecisive, and sometimes brutal, so the film does not attempt to heroise him. The princes, especially Artois, are also depicted negatively. So, the film isn’t overtly royalist.

Is there a specific stance against the Government (aka the CSP)? I don’t recall them being mentioned, which, again, is accurate since most Vendeeans, including the nobility, were not deeply involved in Parisian politics.

That being said, Carrier and Turreau are portrayed very negatively, and rightfully so. Republican generals are also shown as less likely to spare the "brigands" when captured, which aligns with historical accounts. The movie leans heavily on shock value, featuring hard-to-watch scenes of executions, guillotines, and drownings. Unfortunately, even the staunchest republican historians would be hard-pressed to find the evidence to call those scenes revisionists.

Beyond that, the only thing that stood out to me about the Republicans is that they made Kleber look about 60 years old.

In conclusion, is this the most accurate film ever? Certainly not. Is it counter-revolutionary propaganda? I genuinely don’t think so, and if someone claims otherwise, they’re likely being disingenuous.

TLDR:

Watched the movie "Vaincre ou Mourir," which felt like a medieval theme park show—entertaining but lacking depth, probably due to its funding by an actual historical theme park. Despite its attempt to appear historically accurate with expert interviews, the film fails to deeply explore its characters or the complexities of the Vendée region's history. While it doesn't contain major historical inaccuracies, it oversimplifies the causes and events of the Vendée uprising, focusing more on visual shock than factual explanation. Not outright anti-Republican or counter-revolutionary, but doesn't offer new insights into anything. Overall, flashy but not as informative as it could be.

Notes

A memory space is defined as a location (physical or otherwise) where memories, histories, and narratives are preserved, shared, and understood within a society or culture. Things like museums, monuments, rituals, stories and in this case a region can be memory spaces

Château de la Durbelière was the home of La Rochejaquelein

PS: Thank you again for your question! I had a lot of fun answering it.

[xkaidaxxxx]

y/n, Yami or Fuegoleon

Mentions: Rejection, Sadness, healing, Nsfw

Reblogs are appreciated

no, proofread

When he took you back to the hideout you met everyone and after your introductions he tossed a robe at you. “ A new member! Alright!” Asta yelled happily. “You can’t just be tossing those around, captain.” Vanessa said walking past you giving you a glare and went to her room. “ She hasn't had her daily drinks. Don’t worry about her. Now let's fight!” luck said. “ No you idiot!” Noelle replied. You flinched at her loudness. She noticed and calmly spoke, “Let's get you cleaned up and into new clothes.” you nodded and followed her. 

As time passed by you had fallen in love with Yami but you never planned on confessing especially after what you witnessed 2 weeks ago. 

You were on your way downstairs to the living room and since you were at the top floor it was almost like a fucking work out. As you were walking downstairs the hideout decided to rearrange. As it did you saw Yami and Vanessa making out. She was against the wall. Your heart broke. Once you reached the living room you sat down. “You look like you might die.” Finral commented. “I went to visit Henry and got too close. I’m only tired.” you replied leaning back on the couch. Noelle earned your trust and vice versa. You girls are besties and so she knew about your “prince”, she also knew you must have seen something you didn’t like. “ No ma’am you promised we would go out today.” Noelle said, grabbing your hand and dragging you out

You girls reached the city and walked into a nice coffee shop. As soon as you girls got seated she asked, “What happened?” You teared up. “I won’t be confessing to Yami.” you said. She was shocked after all the work you girls put into practicing your flirting skills. You even asked Finral for tips and he said you were hard working. “ What? Why? You worked hard on flirting and gaining the courage to do so.” she said. Noelle was really rooting for you. “I saw him making out with Vanessa while the hideout was rearranging.” you replied. “You still have to do it. Get it out of your system.” she replied. You nodded. You knew she was right. You’d only be suffering if you held it in. Maybe just maybe if you confessed it will help you cry after getting rejected and be easier to move on. 

It took a week for you to gather up the strength to do it. “ Captain Y-Yami…can we talk for a bit?” you asked before he started training. “ Yeah. Make it quick alright.” He replied. “I really like you. These feelings are strong. Would you like to go on a date with me?” you confessed. Your stomach was turning. “I’m flattered that you like me and have the courage to confess to me but no. I do not feel the same way. That and you’re young. 6 years younger. Run along kid.” he replied. Your heart shattered. Tears ran down your cheeks as you walked away going up to your room locking yourself in. 

It took 3 days for the entire magic knights to know about you being rejected. You knew it was Vanessa's doing but you didn’t care. “ I’m not surprised. I’m guessing Yami wants to keep his reputation as clean as possible.” Nozel said. You knew the Silva siblings would make fun of you besides noelle “ No Magic Knight would want to date someone like you. Everyone knows how you were saved by Captain Yami. He was being nice like always.” Char commented. You know she also loves Yami. It was very evident at least to you. “ Leave her alone. Heartache isn’t meant to be laughed at.” Fuegoleon said. He defended you. The meeting was about to start but you decided to leave. “Stupid girl.” Vanessa whispered. 

As time passed Yami couldn’t contain himself anymore. He needed to tell you why he rejected you. As he reached your room he heard whimpers. You were fingering you pretty cunt. “M’fuck.” you said fingering yourself but you just can’t finish. Yami stayed completely silent and loved the pretty sounds leaving your mouth. Eventually you couldn’t take it anymore. 

During the months you were healing, the Fuegoleon Vermillion managed to enter your heart. He took your virginity. In such a romantic way. You two dated for about 2 months and then you were his girlfriend. You could say you moved on just a tiny bit fast. 

You were missing his touch which is why you were having to masturbate. “ I can't finish.” you spoke and whined. You decided to call him. 

Phone call

Fuegoleon: Hello darling, It’s late. Is everything alright?

Y/n: Leon…I miss you and I can’t finish. I’m frustrated and I need help. Pretty please help me.

Fuegoleon: Naughty girl. 

Video call 

You set your phone straight against a candle on the coffee table scooting close to the edge of the bed. Fuegoleon had the perfect view of your body. Especially your wet cunny. You were blessed by having the room at the top floor. Away from everyone. You bit your lip as you saw him undress and stroke his dick.

Fuegoleon: Rub that pretty little clit f’me baby. 

Y/n: Yes daddy anything for you. 

Yami heard your moans and whines. 

About 3 minutes passed and you came. Fuegoleon knew you loved dirty talk and him teasing you with nasty words. 

Y/n: F-Fuegoleon! 

You were ordered by Leon to rub your clit as fast as you could and you obeyed him. He knew your body so perfectly because after obeying his order you were squirting and you got the screen wet. He also released a big load.

Fuegoleon: fuck

Y/n: More. Daddy, I want more.

When Yami heard Fuegoleon’s name he was shocked. He understood you found someone new and so he left. Defeated. 

Fuegoleon: Don’t worry, my love. I’ll head over. Leave the window open. I love you y/n. See you soon. 

With that Fuegoleon hung up, got dressed and flew to your hideout quietly.

[phillycheesesteakcore]

The Sleepover

CONTAINS SEASON 1 SPOILERS

word count: 4.6k

cw: mostly fluff, some angst if you squint, a little suggestive

synopsis: Glenn still has a house on Earth. it mostly stays empty, except of course when a certain druid uses it as a place to crash occasionally. this is what happens when the owner of the house happens to catch said druid when he comes home unexpectedly

Henry shook his head, pushing that last thought away and dragging himself to his feet. He could almost see Mercede’s smug smirk over his dumb crush. He made his way to the living room, dropping the bag he’d brought with him on the floor and collapsing on the sofa. He stared absentmindedly at the ceiling. It was quiet here. So quiet. In a few minutes he’d schlep himself off the couch and pop the pastries he’d picked up from Trader Joe’s in the air fryer to toast. In a few minutes he’d actually enjoy a meal that didn’t end in an impromptu food fight. In a few minutes he might even take a shower without having to worry about anyone barging into the bathroom without so much a knock. But right now, right now he’d just lie there and stare at the ceiling, enjoying the silence.

Henry looked around furtively. This was ridiculous. He really should stop this. This would be the last time. You said that a dozen times ago, a little voice said in his head. He ignored that voice and turned the key in the lock as quietly as he could, slipping soundlessly into the house. Closing the door behind him, he leaned back against it and sunk to the floor. Eyes shut, he simply breathed in the air of the empty house, smelling of leather and guitar polish and the faintest whiff of weed. Just like him.

Glenn pulled into his driveway and just sat there parked, looking up at the house. He could’ve just made a portal inside, but he’d had to pick his car up from the mechanic anyways, and it was nice to drive around a bit. Most times he came back to Earth he just hung out with Nick or the other dads and their kids, so it’d been a while since he actually took a spin around San Dimas. Most of it was the same, but there were a few new sights to see. He was just glad to be home. Hell was cool and all, but it was still Hell.

Grabbing his duffle bag and the bags of groceries and other things he’d picked up from the store, he got out of the car and headed towards the door.

“Glenn, honey?” an old voice called over, “Is that you?”

“Yes Ms. Dolores,” he replied with a grin, making his way over the low fence that marked the property line, “it’s me”

“It’s so nice to see you” his geriatric neighbor said genially, gently pinching his cheeks, “I swear I see less and less of you these days. Where’ve you been?”

“Nowhere suitable for your ladylike ears to hear,” Glenn said with a wink.

“Oh, stop it,” she said with a cheeky smile, “if I were twenty years younger, I’d give you a run for your money.”

“I think we both know if you were twenty years younger, I wouldn’t stand a chance, Ms. Dolores,” Glenn said. She playfully swatted his shoulder.

“You stop with that talk now, or else you’ll make your boyfriend jealous. I think he’s inside.” she said. Glenn quirked an eyebrow.

“Boyfriend?”

“You know; greasy blonde hair, cargo shorts, Birkenstocks? Kind of cute in a crunchy way.”

“Oh right, him,” Glenn said, slow smile spreading across his face, amused.

“Has that new salt and pepper in your hair made you as forgetful as me, or do you just have so many paramours it’s hard to keep track of them all?” she asked sardonically.

“I’m not dignifying that with a response.” Glenn replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek in goodbye and heading towards his own home, “You take care of yourself.”

“You too honey” she called, going back to what she’d been doing.

Glenn approached the front door, fishing his spare key out of the secret compartment in the house number by the doorbell. He was about to put it in and turn the lock when a thought occurred to him. Instead, he slipped the key in his pocket and simply tried the doorknob, finding it open just like he suspected. Slipping inside as quietly as he could, he looked around and listened for anyone else inside. Sure enough, there was light spilling out into the hallway from the direction of the kitchen and he could hear a quiet humming coming from there as well.

Henry had finally pulled himself off the couch and made his way to the kitchen to make himself a snack. He was absentmindedly reading the ingredients lest on the back of the packaging when the air fryer let out a little trill indicating it was done. After carefully folding up and tucking the cardboard box in one of the recycling bins, Henry grabbed a plate from the cupboard and started putting pasties on it.

“By all means, make yourself at home,” a voice said from behind him. Henry yelped and jumped with a start, almost dropping his plate. Whipping around, he saw a not-so-amused looking Glenn Close leaning against the doorframe, duffle bag slung over his shoulder, groceries in his arms.

“Glenn! H-hi!” Henry stuttered, “Listen, I can explain.”

Glenn just walked over to the kitchen island, setting the duffle bag on one of the tall stools pulled up against it and the grocery bags on top of it. He started pulling things out of the bags and walked over to the cupboard to put them away, peeking his head back out from behind the open cupboard door.

“Go ahead, explain.” he said, going right back to putting the things away.

“R-right. Um, well, Glenn, you’re probably wondering what I’m doing in your house.” Henry stammered out, still stood nervously by the air fryer.

“Uh-huh.” Glenn moved over to the fridge, sliding past Henry in the narrow space between the kitchen island and the counter. Henry felt the heat of him as he went by, shivering just a tiny bit. He shook his head, gathering himself before going on.

“D’you— do you remember that time we needed a speaker on short notice and you said I could borrow one from your place?”

“Yeah.” Glenn said from the refrigerator, sniffing suspiciously at a jug of juice he’d left behind.

“Well, I, uh, never got around to giving you back your house key.”

“Clearly,” He decided to throw it out just to be safe. Going over to where the trash can was, he noticed the recycling bins. “These new?”

“Uh, y-yeah.”

“Huh,” Glenn said before throwing away the bottle. He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, just staring at Henry.

“Look, man, I’m sorry for crashing your place and using your stuff and moving things around. I honestly didn’t mean to keep your key, I really just forgot to give it back right away, and then I never had it on me when you were around. I know I shouldn’t be here when you’re not home, or I should’ve at least asked,” Henry burst out in a rush, “it was meant to be just a one-time thing but then it came a habit before I realized it, and I’m really, really sorry and I— are you laughing?”

“No it’s— keep going man it’s—” Glenn cleared his throat and tried to put his serious face back on but just doubled over laughing again, leaning on Henry for support. “You just looked like kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Seriously, what am I gonna do, ground you? It’s fine man.”

Henry sagged against the counter, relieved and slightly annoyed. “That wasn’t funny Glenn.”

Glenn looked up, face nearly split in two with a grin. “Come on, it was a little funny.”

Henry could feel the weight of him, catch a whiff of that smoky, almost spicy scent that clung to him. Gently shoving him off, he cleared his throat asked “When’d you get back?”

“This morning. I picked my car up from the shop and decided to a spin around town. I actually ran into my neighbor just outside. You’re over here quite a bit, aren’t you?” Glenn asked, leaning in even closer and playfully flicking Henry’s cheek, “She thinks you’re my boyfriend.”

Henry turned beet red and spluttered. “Sh-she saw me? I’m not over here that ofte— She r-really thinks tha— I can’t believe she’d say something li—”

“Relax,” Glenn said, resting a hand on Henry’s shoulder, “I don’t think she’s exactly going around telling people that. Besides, you could do a lot worse than me.” With a wink, he turned back to the kitchen island, he grabbing his duffle bag and heading out the door. “I’m gonna go shower real quick, I’ll be right back.”

Henry once again sagged against the kitchen counter, chuckling to himself. He felt windblown, but that was just the thing about Glenn, wasn’t it?

He was just sitting down at the table with his snacks when his phone rang. His wife’s face filled up the screen.

“Hola, mi amor,” Mercedes trilled, “just wanted to let you know that Ricky picked up the boys for an impromptu sleepover with their cousins. Me and some of the girls from the station are going out to get some drinks so I might be back late. You’re at Glenn’s anyway right? So you’ll be fine. Say hi to him for me.”

“How’d you know he was in town?” Henry asked.

“Gloria ran into him at the mechanic’s,” her expression turned mischievous, “try not to embarrass yourself too much, you know how you can get.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Henry said, blushing furiously.

“Oh come now, mi león, don’t be coy. Remember that cute barista in Quito? Or that lovely couple in Amsterdam? And we can’t forget how you first were with me when—”

“Alright, I get it.” Henry said.

“Get what?” Glenn asked as he came into the kitchen. He had a towel wrapped low around his waist and another in his hands drying his hair. He came over to where Henry was sitting and looked over his shoulder. “Hey Mercedes. Looking radiant as always.”

“Thank you Glenn, great to see you,” she replied, “well, I’ve got to run. I’m carpooling with Gloria, and you know how she hates to be left waiting. You boys have fun. Te amo mi amor, I’ll talk to you later.”

“Get what?” Glenn asked again after Mercedes hung up.

“It’s nothing,” Henry said quickly. He looked at Glenn. He was still drying off his long salt-and-pepper hair, and evidently hadn’t bothered to dry off much else yet. Water droplets glistened on his skin under the kitchen lights, and Henry struggled not to stare. “You’re dripping all over the kitchen.”

“And you’re changing the subject. Besides, it’s my kitchen. I’ll drip where I like.” Glenn said.

“You’ll catch a cold.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m a demon now, remember? We have a much warmer internal temperature than humans.” He took Henry’s hand and placed it on his bare chest. Sure enough, the heat was unlike anything he’d ever felt before. He could feel the strong thump of Glenn’s heartbeat under his skin, he wondered if that had been affected too by his transformation. He realized he’d been staring too long and snatched his hand away.

“Oh, um, I guess you will.” He laughed nervously. “Mercedes was just calling to let me know that the twins were taken care of for the night and she was going out with friends.”

“Great. You should spend the night. We’ve got a lot to catching up to do.”

“Aren’t you going over to Jodie’s to hang out with Nick and them?”

“Jodie always makes a big stink if I show up without giving them a heads up when I’m coming around. I’ll go tomorrow.” He leaned in, placing a hand on the table with a smirk, “What, you don’t want to spend some quality time with your good friend Glenn?”

“It’s not like that,”

“Alright then. You go shower. I don’t care if you think rain is nature’s shower or whatever. I’ll order pizza from that new place I saw in town. You know if they’re any good?”

“Hey!” Henry said, slightly offended, “And yes, they are. They’ve got great vegan options too.”

“Fantastic. Now shoo, off you go.” Glenn started looking up the place he’d seen on his phone, “I’ll order for you too don’t worry.”

“Fine,” with a sigh Henry started to get up.

“Up the stairs, second door on the right,” Glenn called after him.

“Yeah I know.” Henrey said back.

“Oh I forgot, you practically own the place.”

“Shut up!” Henry spluttered, “And put some clothes on, I don’t care how hot you are.” He immediately wanted to stuff the words back in his mouth.

“What was that?” Glenn asked, Henry could practically hear that smugness in his voice.

“Nothing!” and with that he raced up the stairs, hearing Glenn cackling with laughter behind him.

Glenn knocked on the bathroom door, entering when he heard a muted response. Henry was stood there barefoot in only his cargo shorts, squinting at the back of a shampoo bottle.

“I brought you a towel,” Glenn said, handing it over to him, “what’re you doing?”

“Thanks,” Henry said, slinging it over his shoulder absentmindedly, “I’m just trying to figure out how eco-friendly this is.”

“Please,” Glenn scoffed, “you think I just let any old garbage chemicals in this hair? You got nothing to worry about.” To demonstrate, he let his hair down and fall to its full length reaching past his waist. Henry’s expression softened.

“I guess you’re right.” He said.

“Of course I am. Food’ll be here in about twenty minutes. When you’re done you can just put your clothes in that basket, I’ll throw ‘em in the laundry.” With that, Glenn left the bathroom and headed downstairs. He collapsed on the sofa in the living room. Henry had been there, he realized. He could smell that musky, piney scent of him. A faint smile played at his lips. He should probably get back to his room and finish unpacking, but he just wanted to lay there for a bit. A couple minutes later the doorbell rang. Heaving himself off the couch, he got up to go answer it. “Food’s here!” he yelled upstairs to Henry.

“Alright, I’ll be down in a minute!” Henry called back.

Glenn took the takeout out to the back porch and put it all on the picnic table out there. He could hear Henry come downstairs. “Out here!” he hollered. When Henry came out wearing his robe, he stopped in tracks.

“Oh sorry,” Henry said a little sheepishly, “is it alright that I borrowed this? I didn’t have anything else to wear.”

“Uh, yeah, it’s fine man,” Glenn replied after a beat, “Sorry, I should’ve left something out for you.”

“No, it’s fine, I’m alright.” Henry stared at the mountain of food laid out on the table. “Are the others coming over too?”

“Nope, just us,” Glenn said with a grin “I eat a lot more than I used to on account of being a—”

“Demon, right” Henry sat down as Glenn inspected the pizza box labels and handed one off to him.

“This is for you,” he said, handing him two smaller bags as well, “and I got you a salad and some garlic bread too. It’s vegan, I asked, don’t worry.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“I thought you might want to eat watching your favorite show.” Glenn said. Looking up, Henry saw that, sure enough, the sun was setting in a gorgeous array of oranges and pinks and reds, streaked with vibrant shots of blue.

“Thanks,” Henry said with a sight chuckle, “I gotta say Glenn, you are the nicest demon I know.”

“Don’t let anyone know,” Glenn said, “I have a reputation to uphold.”

“Sure.” Henry just rolled his eyes. After a moment he asked, “What is that like, being a demon?”

Glenn didn’t answer.

“If that’s too personal I’m sorry, you don’t have to answer.”

“No no, it’s” Glenn sighed and took another beat before answering, “that’s just the thing. It’s great. My senses are heightened, I’m stronger, I don’t get sick. It’s a better body than I ever had before.” He looked out into the backyard for a moment. “Over there in that corner there used to be a crabapple tree. When Nick was a little kid, he and some of his friends ate a bunch that they’d picked from the schoolyard over there and a little tree ended up growing. There was a playset too. He begged me and Morgan to get it for him on a trip to Costco. Hell, I had to buy this picnic table like the one we used to have. It took me forever to find the exact same type but I did. There’s nothing here that proves I was ever anything to either of them, and I don’t even have the same body I was a husband and father in.”

Henry put a hand on Glenn’s shoulder. “I— I’m sorry I asked.”

“No, it’s— it’s fine man.” Glenn ran a hand through his hair, “It’s not your fault. I— I’m glad you’re here.”

“Even though I broke in?” Henry smiled.

“Pfft, yeah,” he looked over at Henry, “Why did you come here? I’m not mad or anything, just, why here?”

“You— you know I love my boys,” Henry started, chewing on his lip, “but it’s no secret that they can be— difficult. Even before, well, everything, I used to have to get a way every now and again. Stay an extra hour at the museum, that sort of thing. But since we came back, things have been different. And of course they have, of course they have. It would be unfair for me to expect everything to go right back to normal, whatever normal even is anymore. But, Glenn, my sons feel like strangers to me. I’m— I’m reaching out with love and it’s like it means nothing. Lark is so angry, all the time. And he’s hurt, and I know this, and I want to help, but he just won’t let me. He won’t even let me get close. And Sparrow, Sparrow, the poor kid is tearing himself in two. Trying to keep the peace, trying to mediate, trying to be a good brother. And I’m afraid he doesn’t have room for himself anymore. And I can see this, and I can do nothing, they won’t even let me try. I— being in that house, it’s… I have no words for it, Glenn. And so I run away, like a coward. And I end up here, where I can just be alone, without pitying glances from coworkers who know my kids used to come with me all the time, or know-it-all comments about teenage rebellion.”

After a minute, Glenn said, “You’re a good dad Henry.”

Henry looked up sharply. “I didn’t say all that for you to tell—”

“I know. But I wouldn’t’ve said it if I didn’t mean it. We both know what shitty dads are like. And I know that just not being a shitty dad doesn’t make you a good one. But you’re a good dad Henry.”

“Thanks Glenn.” Henry said after a minute.

“Yeah.” Glenn looked up at the house. “Thanks for staying with me tonight. I’ll be honest I was relieved when I found out you were here. I— I don’t like being here by myself. The house being so empty just feels so wrong. And you can come over whenever you’d like. Someone should stay here. I don’t know if I count.”

“Okay,” Henry said softly. They ate in silence for a few minutes. A drone buzzed overhead. Glenn looked over at Henry with a wicked smile.

“Watch this.” He got up from the picnic table and walked down the back porch steps into the backyard. As he went, horns sprouted out of his head. He took off his shirt as wings sprung from his back and a tail peeked out from the top of his pants. Crouching low for a second, he leaped into the air, his wings taking him further up until he caught the drone twenty feet in the air. He took a deep breath and bellowed as loud as he could directly into its camera before letting it go and slamming back to the ground.

“What in the world?” Henry asked with a bewildered smile.

“There’s a fairly new urban legend going around about a local cryptid that may or may not be based on yours truly,” Glenn replied, grinning wildly. Slinging his t-shirt over his shoulder, he walked back up the steps of the back porch and started clearing up the empty pizza boxes and take-out bags.

“You shouldn’t mess with them like that,” Henry jokingly scolded as he moved to help him clean up.

“I’m not really, if you think about it. A demon truly walks amongst them.” Glenn said, wiggling his eyebrows mischievously. Bringing the things inside, he placed it all on the counter, looking to the recycling bins and then back to Henry. “We’re supposed to separate the plastic and cardboard right?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s right,” Henry said, pleased that Glenn was using his little additions to the kitchen, “you have to flatten them first though, so they don’t take up too much space.”

“Got it. Watch this.” Glenn stacked all six pizza boxes in his hands and shmushed them together.

“No, you’re supposed to unfold them first,” Henry laughed, “if you do it like that, they’ll bunch up around the sides.”

“You don’t like my pizza box flattening?” Glenn asked, taking one of the boxes and lightly smacking Henry on the shoulder. “Huh?”

“Wait— sto— Glenn!” Henry managed to snatch one of the boxes and smack Glenn right back between laughs.

“Oh it’s so on.” They chased each other around the kitchen, laughing and smacking each other until Glenn had Henry cornered by fridge. He raised his pizza box above his head to bring it down on Henry for one final smack.

“Entangle!” Henry yelled and the little potted plant on the windowsill suddenly burst into a writhing, viney mass, wrapping up Glenn in seconds. Thoroughly incapacitated, Glenn could only watch as Henry got oh so close and gave him one last soft tap on the forehead with his pizza box.

“You cheat.” Glenn said, smiling.

“I was playing with a demon after all,” Henry shrugged innocently, “you can’t really expect me to play nice.”

“Yeah, yeah.” With a great burst of his wings, he cut through the plant, freeing himself. He looked down at the pile of vines left on the floor and then back at Henry. “I’m not cleaning that up.”

“Fair enough,” Henry started making his way over to the closet where the cleaning supplies were kept to grab the broom, but his foot caught on one of the vines. Glenn tried to catch him before he fell, but they both ended up crashing to the floor.

“Ow,” Henry rubbed his sore hip, “you okay Glenn?”

“Uh…” Glenn stared down at Henry. The robe he was wearing had slipped down his shoulders. The two of them were close, so close. Glenn could smell the scent of his soap on Henry’s skin. He could feel him, warm beneath him, legs tangled with his own. Henry’s breath tickled against his skin in a small gasp as Glenn brushed away a lock of blonde hair from his face. Glenn leaned his head in closer.

“Glenn?” Henry asked in barely a whisper.

“Yeah?” Glenn responded in the same breath, dragging his eyes away from his lips to look Henry in the eyes, “If you don’t want—”

Herny kissed him. His lips were soft but fierce against Glenn’s own, ravenous, hungry. His hands snaked up Glenn’s neck, his fingers tangling in his salt-and-pepper hair. He tugged on it and Glenn moaned softly into his mouth. Glenn’s own hands wandered over Henry’s body, feeling his way under the robe, tugging it down to the belted waist. His hands faltered. He wanted this, he needed this, so badly, and yet he—

Henry tore his lips from the kiss. “Glenn?”

“I— I can’t, I—” Glenn’s voice was raw and raspy. “I’m sorry— I—”

“Hey,” Henry’s face softened. Letting go of Glenn’s hair, he caressed his face. “It’s okay.”

“I want to, I really do, but—” Glenn couldn’t find the words.

“You don’t have to explain.”

“I’m sorry,”

“Don’t apologize.” gently pushing himself up, Henry took Glenn’s hand in his own, “We can take this slow.”

Glenn just nodded. They sat in silence together for a few minutes. After a while, Glenn pulled himself to his feet and offered a hand to help Henry up. He gave him a small smile.

“We should, uh, probably get you some real pj’s.”

“Oh, right.” Henry laughed. They both stared at the mess of the kitchen, suddenly feeling tired.

“We can clean up tomorrow, I wanna go to bed.” Glenn said.

“Yeah,” Henry replied. They headed upstairs. Glenn dug through his drawer pulled out a t-shirt and pair of sweatpants and handed them to Henry.

“Thanks.”

“I, uh, dressed the bed in the next room over while you were in the shower earlier.” Glenn said, “If you want to sleep there, that is. Unless you want to sleep here… with me.”

“Are you sure?” Henry asked.

“Yeah,” Glenn smiled, “yeah I am.”

“Okay then.” Henry pulled on the t-shirt and sweatpants, slipping out of the robe. By the time he was done changing, Glenn was already in bed. He crawled in under the covers with him and closed his eyes. Glenn switched off the light beside the bed.

“Goodnight Glenn.”

“Goodnight Henry.”

“I know you’re awake.” Henry gently poked at Glenn’s cheek.

“No I’m not,” Glenn grumbled, digging deeper under the covers trying to shut out the morning light.

“Sure.” Henry just rolled his eyes.

“What time is it?”

“Nine twenty-one.”

“It’s nine am on a Saturday, there’s no way I’m awake.”

“If you say so.”

After a minute, Glenn reached a hand out from under the covers and felt around for his phone on the bedside table.

“I thought you weren’t awake.”

Glenn just made a face at him. Picking up his phone, he dialed Jodie.

“What?” Jodie answered.

“Me and Henry are coming over for breakfast.”

“Henry, sure. You I don’t know.”

“Shut up.”

“Is that Glenn?” he heard Nick ask, “Is he eating here? Did he say he’s bringing Henry? Are Lark and Sparrow coming?”

Glenn looked over at Henry. “We can pick your boys up from Ricky’s place on the way over, right?”

“Y-yeah.” Henry said.

“Yeah, the twins are coming too.” Glenn hung up without waiting for a response from Jodie. He and Henry got dressed and ready to leave. Just before Henry got in the car, he pulled him close and kissed him.

“Good morning, by the way.” Glenn said.

“Good morning to you too.” Henry replied.

“Good morning boys!” Ms. Dolores called from over the fence.

“Good morning Ms. Dolores!” they hollered back.

“How are you Hank?” she asked, “Don’t be such a stranger, you should come say hi some time.”

“It’s Henry.” Glenn said.

“It’s fine,” Henry said, “I’ll be sure to do that Ms. Dolores.”

“Good, good.”

Glenn pulled out of the driveway and headed over to Ricky Garcia’s place. The twins piled in the backseat and they drove to the Foster household. Nicky answered the door and gave Glenn a big hug before pulling Lark and Sparrow to go hang out in his room. Glenn and Henry made their way to the dining room and said hello to Jodie and Morgan, catching up. Jodie noticed the band t-shirt Henry was wearing and smirked.

“About damn time,” he muttered under his breath to Glenn.

“Shut up.”

They were all sat down halfway through breakfast when Glenn remembered.

“Shit, the kitchen.”

Taglist: @apricior @aqua-ginger @cheesetheory @greiiliss @i-3at-s0ap @officialgleamstar @m1locer3al @your-witch-trial-has-expired @thedndgoblinwholivesinyourwalls @itsbrucey @drag-ev @nutria--oscura @babacontainsmultitudes @prettyupsetnerd @pepadesol @cornychipper-18 @girlnemisis @landrick-lycidas @icy-book @watermelon-beachboy @bread-stickk @amnestyliketaz @yinmndragon @quillisgay @wombat-things @confusedlazydoggo @van-goghs-leftear @pencildragons @justablah56 @auguststone @chaos-ignited @roboobin @abeinginsand @mcleavemealone @himboparimbo @cookies-over-yonder @javasquats @lunarrosette @renepessimisticfanboi @mikeystrawberry @greylight32 @imperatrice-pigeon @oswin-remains (I tagged most people who interacted with my previous posts about this fic, barring those who indicated in their bio/carrd that they were minors, due to the suggestive content. If this applies to you and I missed it, or you would like to be taken off the tag list for any other reason, please let me know!)

[daryldixonfanfiction]

What you fight for! pt.9 - RUN!

Masterlist

summary: Escaping the city seems all too good to be true until they stumble upon a horde of walkers.

Warnings: protective!Daryl, sniper!Daryl, walkers and a lot of them, unaliving, close call, fluff, mutual pining, age gap, unrequited love, angst, child's death, suicide.

wc:3.6k

Making it safely past the guards without getting notice they continue onwards. Walking down the residential area Daryl keeps a watchful eye, never letting down his guard. Maybe it was ingrained in him, he was never the one to relax. And Henry never shutting his mouth like they weren’t still in danger only made him feel annoyed and he was agitated about keeping Julia safe, he always was.

“Why can’t we use flashlights?” Sam askes and Henry answers, “Daryl doesn't want us to draw attention.” “But no one is here.” “No, no one is here. No one’s gonna be here because my plan worked.”

“So much goddamn talkin’,” Daryl sighs, annoyed as always. Julia stifles a laugh.

“I’m just saying…I delivered,” Henry insists. “Make this right, go down the street, embankment behind the last house…and we’re free as a bird.”

They turn the corner. The sight of a fence holding a huge herd of walkers behind the houses caught his eye and Daryl hushed them into silence. The herd was big enough to take down the fence and if the dead took a whiff off there sent it would be game over. Daryl hurried them onwards and just when he looked back to Julia a gunshot almost hit her.

“Move, move!” Daryl ushers them behind a car. 

“The fuck is that comin’ from?” Henry whispered, holding his little brother close.

“Shut up,” Daryl hushed him. Pearing behind the car bumper he sees a muffle flash from a distance. It was coming from a second story window across the road. In fear and panic Henry takes Sam's hand and runs,

“What are you doing?!” Daryl questions.

“Getting the fuck out of here!” Henry said. A bullet barely misses them, making Henry return just as fast and he asks, fear lased in his voice,

“What do we do?” 

Daryl peers behind the car again, the sniper shoots another shot, clearly wanting to kill them. He leans his back against the car and sighs,

“All right. Stay here?”

“What?” Julia says panicked. Her hand fisting the fabric on his arm. Clearly scared for him to leave. And he new the only way this would work was for her to be on board,

“If you don’t move, he’s not gonna hit you. I’m gonna go around, try to get in the house through the back and I’ll take him out.”

“But if you go out there, he's gonna kill you.”

“It’s dark, and he has shit ame.” Daryl shakes his head. “Nobody's gonna kill me.”

“Then he's gonna kill us.” Julia insists.

Daryl stared down at her. Her brown eyes were practically begging him, his stomach did a flip. Her looking at him like that was similar to how she had looked at him underneath him. And it was hard to deny her. But this was how they made it out alive. And Daryl questions,

“Do you trust me?”

There was no beat of a moment, no hesitation - and she said,

“With my life.”

Daryl was struck by her answer to his very soul. How could she trust him so completely? And he could only feel more undeserving of her trust, but it was good enough. 

He nods and crawls to the front of the car, then runs to another car across the street, as the sniper takes shots at him but misses each time. He keeps running and makes it behind a fence, brushing away tree branches as he ushers true woodland. Coming up to the house he runs around it, then pauses when he sees the bridge in the distance Henry told him about. 

They were so close to getting out he could almost taste it. 

He then moves quietly inside the house by the back door. Floorboards creak under his feet with every step he takes. Holding his crossbow ready and aimed forward, he sports the staircase leading up to the upper level and begins climbing it with his back to the wall. He can hear the shots coming from above and stops, eyeing the upper level. Daryl creeps up to a room, the door is ajar. Light shines true onto his face as he shuffles closer. Narrowing his eyes he approaches. An old man with wavy gray hair holds a rifle. The man turns to him from where he sits on a chair by the window and looks at him. Daryl orders with his crossbow pointed at him,

“Put the gun down, slide it over to me, and then stay up here for another hour.”

The old man looked away and Daryl felt the pit of his stomach sink, because he knew what he had to do if the man didn't comply. “That’s all you have to do.” 

The old man tilts his head back in his direction, “Please don’t do it. Please." Daryl tried.

But the old man grabs his gun and moves to point it at him - and in that same second Daryl automatically fiers a bolt, sending the man limp to the floor. For a moment he wonderd if the man did so in knowing how it would end as he never seemed scared - but it was done and there was no taking it back.  

Daryl didn't like killing and he had taken pity on him as he was clearly very old, probably half blind by his bad aime. Retrieving the bolt he then puts his crossbow on his back to pick up the man's rifle off the floor. But just when he walks to the window the static coming from a walkie-talkie breaks the silence. 

Then. 

“ANTONY? ANTHONY? ANTHONY HOLD THEM WHERE THEY ARE. WE’RE ALMOST THERE.” A woman's voice specs over the static,

Fuck.

The fucking killing party that had ambushed them from before had found them. Daryl looked to the window and to his horror approaching headlights down the street were coming in fast, right towards where Julia and the others were hiding. Daryl yells as loud he can from the open window,

“RUN!! RUN!! RUUUUN!!!

Daryl looks true the scoop and he sees Julia and the others looking back to the incoming vehicles before they make a run for it. A large truck with a huge plow spray painted RUN on the front drives straight into cars, clearing the road like a bulldozer. He could feel himself begin to shake, the heart pounding feeling of fear breaks a cold sweat on his back, making his fingers slippery. But he couldn't let the fear consume him, he had to focus. All he let himself think of ways of protecting her.

Daryl uses the rifle to shoot at the truck and the approaching cars, acting as their sniper. Julia, Henry and Sam run for their lives, but on their feet they were no match for the fast approaching vehicles. Julia uses her gun to shoot behind her until she runs out of bullets. Just when the truck was right behind her Daryl takes one deep breath as he aims and hits the driver of the truck just as Julia trips over herself. It wears off the road and crashes into the tall fence. Hundreds of walkers could be heard from the fence pushing up against it.

Many more vehicles pull up and park as Julia is left on the ground, staring at the scene behind her, she gets up and escapes just before the crashed truck catches on fire and explodes behind her. Julia falls to the ground again and Daryl finds it hard to see her clearly. The dense smoke covers the area and burning rubell liters ground casting an orange hue over the street. Then he sees Henry run up to Julia and usher her away behind a car where they hide as armed people pore out of the cars. Four men begin to advance the house at the leader's orders as others stand guard towards the fence where walkers could be heard groening and pushing at the fence.

Daryl is quick to lean his back against the wall and reloads the rifle - then the women's voice he recognises from the walkie-talkie begins, Daryl listens from the window,

“Dead end guys. Gonna step on out? Save us some time?” Onely silence followed, the leader continued. “No? That’s all right. Doesn't matter.”

��I’ll come out!” Henry suddenly spoke up. “Just let my brother and the girl go!”

“No,” the leader answered monotonically. “Sorry. The girl is with the man who killed Bryan. And your brother…Well, he's with you.”

“You don’t understand!” Henry pleads.

“But I do,” the female leader insists. “I know why you did what you did. But that doesn't make it right. My people want justice, and that’s what’s gonna happen.”

“Hes just a fucking kid!” Henry pleads again, clearly scared for his brother.

“Well, kids die. They die all the time. You think the whole world revolves around him? That he's worth…everything? Well, this is what happens when you fuck with us. You all are going to have to pay the price.”

Then, Daryl ses Henry stand with his hands up, Julia and Sam still hiding behind the car. He steps forward and stares at the leader and that’s when Daryl knew for sure that he was one of the good people. He wasn't only protecting his brother, he was protecting her too.

The woman shrugs and tilt’s her head, “It ends the way it ends,” she said, holding Henry at gunpoint.

Daryl held his breath knowing for what was coming - but it never happened. 

Horrifying screams from the men by the fence could be heard true the dense smoke. Everyone's attention turns to the sound of the dead and to their horror, a herd of hundreds of walkers were hedging straight for them. 

Chaos erupts as everyone begins to fire towards the horde but the dead are too many, overpowering them. Henry runs back to Sam and Julia as the infected attack the people. A walker sneaks behind the car and Daryl shoots it from his lookout. He sees them make a run for it and shoots down the infected after them. A walker gets a hold of Julia, he shoots it down instantly. She begins to army crawl towards a vehicle, Daryl tracks her movements and continues shooting walkers that get in her way. Julia then stands and runs towards the car, its back window is broken open and she sliders true to the tiny opening inside. Daryl shoots a walker clawing at the window and he sees her thinking in there and all he wanted was for her to get out of there and get her to safety. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her. 

Julia may be immune but she wasn't immune to being eaten alive.

Another Walker claws at the window, and to its horror it begins to open the dore, something he had never seen or knew a walker could do.

He begins to frantically shoot to warn Julia of the incoming threat, and never before had he felt so powerless. When the walker got inside the car it felt like the longest seconds of his life. There was nothing he could do then believe she could get out of this situation herself. It almost felt like he couldn't breathe, the fear of losing her felt overbearingly overwhelming. But then he could see her head moving about in the car and she had crawled her way to the front, making her way out and trapped the walker inside the car. Julia sits on the ground, Daryl sees her scanning the chaos before her, spotting Henry and Sam hiding under a car as two walkers try to get to them. Then she looks up at him as if knowing he would have her back in what she was about to do. Julia sprints towards them and doges, infected as Daryl shots them down. A car ramming true walkers almost hits her but she keeps going towards where Henry and Sam are kicking at the walkers clawing at them. Julia reaches them and takes down a walker, driving her knife into its head then moves to the other, Daryl shoots it down before she could take it out. Julia helps Henry and Sam up and they run towards the house he's in. 

Daryl takes it as his time to exit the house. Running towards the way he knew Henry would lead them towards the bridge. 

“STOP!” the female leader shouts, holding the tree of them at gunpoint up ahead.

Daryl runs even faster - than out of the darkness a walker sneaks behind the woman and before she could shoot it bites into her neck. She is being devoured on the ground when he finally makes it to them.

Seeing Daryl right there before her, Julia felt relief flooding in. She wanted to cry, leep into the safety of his big arms and stay there forever - but there was no place for such a thing. A silent thank you echoes in her mind as he takes a firm hold of her hand, clearly not wanting to be separated again, and neither does she. A silent reinsurance of ‘I got you’ - and Julia returns it just the same.

“This way now!” Daryl orders urgently, “Move!”

And they run away from the chaotic scene between the people and the horde of walkers.

Making it safely over the bridge they take shelter in the unbounded military radio station outside the city. And to their disappointment there were no survivors from the fireflies there, but at least some food. They agreed on heading west to Wyoming together in the morning.

Daryl and Henry keps watch in the main room as Julia lets Sam look at her drawings in her diary, a distraction from the horror the kid had just been true. The soft glow of the lantern and Julia's motherly voice coming from the twin bedroom offers a calmness only she could provide. 

He found her selfless in that way. Being able to put behind one selves needs for someone else. Like she did for Sam. Then as it was late Henry insisted for his little brother to go to bed and he did as he was told. But it didn't take long before the kid came out of the bedroom asking for Julia to tuck him in instead of his brother. The kid clearly took a liking to her and Daryl knew it had to do with what Henry had told him.

Julia followed the kid inside and she could be heard speaking were softly, and very much so the only thing he heard was her saying,

“Go to sleep now. I will be right here when you wake up.”

“Promis?” Same asked and Julia answered reassuringly, “I promise.”

“Julia?”

Julia hummed in acknowledgment and Sam said with his little voice, “Can you sing me goodnight? Mommy always did.”

“ofcourse, what songs did she sing?”

“I don’t remember.”

“That’s okay."

Soothing melodies of her lullaby fill the room. It felt so calming all the men could do was to stop and listen. Her voice sounded almost religious. Angelike. She was the universe singing to it’s own song. It sounds like life falling in love with being alive. A reminder that life could still be beautiful in an ugly world. And he realized that it was moments like these that gave a reason to keep fighting. And he wowed he would do whatever it takes to keep it so.

Daryl moved to the bedroom, admiring from the dore and washes her soothingly smooth back the kids hair. Daryl sees how Sam melts into her touch and how his eyes begin to become heavy, fluttering close into the world of dreams. And when he falls asleep Daryl steps inside. 

“You should get some sleep,” Daryl said softly 

Julia hums and moves a piece of hair from Sam’s face. His eyes studies her, and he asked,

“You okay?"

Julias hand on Sam's face stills for a second - but then, 

"He's scared.”

Daryl steps closer, standing behind her where she's sitting on the shear by the bead. He studies her side profile and her soft features in the dim glow. Then followed where her hand moved, her thumb making soothing circles on Sam's hand. 

“You think he will be okay?” He asked.

“I hope so,” she answered softly and he could see the exhaustion under her eyes. “I promised him I would be here when he wakes up.”

Daryl hums in understanding, knowing she wouldn't leave the kids' side, he moves and grabs a blanket off the other bed and without a word he drops it over her shoulders, a silent act of kindness. He's met with her sweet smile and her kind eyes. A wordless thank you that made his heart pound and his stomach swirl with butterflies. He wanted so badly to confess to his feelings, but instead he stepped closer, tilting her chin up like he had done before and asked one more time,

“You sure you’re alright?”

Julia nods, looking true her eyelashes straight into his blue ones. It was dangerous. He shouldn't be this close, feel this comfortable with someone he could never have. The way she looks up at him with those brown eyes, reminds him of how she had looked knelt between his knees all those knights ago. Fuck. Why couldn't he control his mind? He had to stop before it was too late... And he did so, reluctantly removing his hand from her chin. And he didn't miss how she closed her eyes as if she didn't  want him to let go. But he knew it to be his imagination playing tricks on him, making him see things that weren't there.

Softly Daryl closed the bedroom door, going back to keeping wash with Henry in the main room and kept watch as long as his body would let him, because just like Julia he was completely exhausted.

Daryl flinches awake as Julia and Sam spill out of the beedrome. He was disoriented by the sudan comotion and Julia’s terrified screams for help, but then he jumped into action realizing Sam must have turned into a walker.

Julia and Sam struggle on the floor, she is being pinned down, Daryl doesn't hesitate to lunch for the gun on the floor, but Henry snages it before he can reach it,

“Nope, nope, nope.” Henry warns, keeping the gun pointed at him.

“Daryl!” Julia screams on the floor.

Daryl was panicking inside. Eny second and the kid would rip her into pieces.

Daryl reaches for his weapon but Henry fiers at his feet, stopping him. Julia screams for him over and over and he didn't care anymore, her life was far more important than his. Then, Henry spins around and shoots his brother and Sam’s body falls off Julia and lays limp on the floor, blood starts to seep out from the body. Henry Stads frozen and Julia sits up disheveled.

“Julia. Are you okay?" Daryl asks, breathing heavy.

Slowly Julia turns and looks at him, clearly shaken by what had happened. He steps forward but Henry points the gun at him. Daryl puts his hands up, and moves very carefully towards Henry who was in both shock and disbelief after having to shoot his own brother. Daryl begins calmy, 

“Easy, easy, easy,” Henry’s hold on the gun becomes unsteady, Daryl tries to calm him before he does something stupid. “Henry, gimme the gun. Henry, gimme the gun.”

“What did I do?” Henry said in disbelief.

“Shh,” Daryl calms.”

“What did I do? What-what-,” he stutters. “-what did I do?” He looks at his brother with tears in his eyes, becoming pale, looking like he wanted to throw up. “Sam…” his voice broke, but there was no answer.

“Henry, gimme the gun. Gimme the gun.” Daryl motions for the weapon.

And for a second it seemed like Henry came to his senses - but he saw the shift behind his eyes and his stomach sank. Henry points the gun to his own head and to his horror pulls the trigger.

“Henry, no!” Daryl shouts, but it was too late.

Henry's lifeless body collapses to the floor. Julia stares with watery eyes, completely distraught of seeing two people dying right before her eyes.

He had never seen her so broken.

He didn't know what to do, or what the right thing to say was. Neither did he understand how it all had gone so wrong, so terribly wrong when it had just seemed to look up finding Henry and Sam. Julia was like a doll, unmoving and emotions less. She looked so small, so fragile on the floor - just blankly staring into nothing.

Daryl kneels before her, trying to get her attention and even though her eyes were looking into his, she was somewhere else. As if she had removed herself from the present  in order to cope.

-

He knew Sam meant alot to her so he buried them outside in the yard with two merkershift crosses on each grave. Just when he finished evening out the dirt on top with a shovel, Julia for the first time sins Henry opted out hours ago moved on her own, walking up to him with both of their stuff.

With a somber expression Julia leaves her bracelets on Sam's grave, and he washes her in silence as she does so. The midday sky was clear, the sun shining down on them and he didn't exactly know how he was going to get her to Wyoming, six states away across the country, but he knew they would probably be walking. 

He puts down the shovel wis his pac now on, then looks at her there still sitting down by the grave,

“Julia.” Daryl said softly. “We should go.” And he reaches his hand out, Julia looks at him and he encourages. “Comon.” And she takes it.

Pt.10 masterlist

[stuffymcstuffsworld]

Arrogance

Never had he seen such arrogance. It made him clench his teeth. Henry growls out to the younger demon.

♤You better show some respect! Check your behavior. No one speaks to Sullivan that way.♤

His eyes narrow. That blasted imp in question stared at him gleefully from where you had kicked the doors to the meeting room open. The audacity.

♤Did you expect us to sit back and take your insolent, brazen display?♤

You laugh. Flashing a bright grin and jumping up onto the table. Strutting down like it was a runway. Shrugging and giving a casual response.

☆You've got it twisted. I'm not the one who needs a new attitude.☆

Henri drew his weapon and charged. You ducked and dodged it. Basically, dancing around him. Nothing more than a game to you.

☆Well maybe you missed it, but I'm just that bitch, and I will do nothing less than what I please. I'm the backbone of these thieves.☆

Delivering a roundhouse kick to his stomach, sending him back. He skids across the table and grunts the other crowns stood up ready to join the fight.

You smirk. This is what you had wanted to spread chaos. You give a fake pout and shrug, avoiding Amaymon's claws.

☆Mad that I acted redpectless? Well, it's cause no one can respect this.☆

Tossing Astaroh over your shoulder like they were a rag doll. Giggling and avoiding Amuryillis's kick. Grabbing her tail and swinging her to the side and dopping her.

☆Sorry, group attending, but since when are the crowns too scared to fight? You're long past trending. Sorry, babes, but I ain't swiping right.☆

Waving your finger right in Sullivan's face. The older demon just sits there a glint in his eyes. But you weren't intimidated. If anything, it made you excited.

☆You've lost your relevance.☆

Sullivan calmly says stands up. Looking you dead in the eye. He leans forward and with an even tempered tone says.

◇We can't act without more intelligence.◇

You make a face. Rolling your eyes and crinkling your nose in disgust as you dodge another attack from behind.

☆Ugh. No wonder I'm so respectless. I could eat you lot for breakfast.☆

Henri strikes again. Your tail stops him from getting closer. He snarls. Baring his teeth at you in rage as he pours more of his strength into his attack.

♤You and the six are inane and uninformed. Smug wannabes who don't heed when you've been warned.♤

Twisting turns and flips out of the way. It's just too hard to catch you. How excruciating. Not even ariel attacks seemed to faze you.

☆Well, it's just cause no one can respect us! Just cause no one can respect this! No one can respect us! Respect us!☆

Laughing and weaving out of the way. Skipping in front of the big three and playing with your nails. Tou can't help but taunt them.

☆Oops, did I strike a nerve? Cause when I brought up the former head, couldn't help but observe. That your wrinkled faces turned red.☆

Side stepping a spear. Looking over your shoulder at Baal. A knowing look on his face as he stalks towards you. You wiggle your fingers at him and yank the spear out of the table, ready to fight for real.

☆And why are you avoiding war? That's what demons were built for.☆

Clashing against each other. The sound of metal striking against metal. Baal's tail slapping you across the room. But you bounce back up.

☆Mad that I'm acting respectless? Well, how could you ever respect this?☆

You gestured to yourself before charging again. Avoiding several others and focusing on Baal instead. He smirks. Summoning his lightning.

You narrowly dodge it. Brushing your hair out of your face. Giving a playful mocking bow to everyone in the room.

☆Sorry, group attending, but since when are those in charge too scared to fight? You're long past trending. Sorry, babes, but I ain't swiping right. You've lost your relevance. ☆

□I admire your diligence.□

Baal jeers. You feel your heart flutter at the compliment. He's not really known to compliment others easily when it comes to the six fingers.

Sure, he'll speak honey'd words when nessisary. But a real compliment? You couldn't wait to rub it into Atori's face later.

You give a fake scoff and spin your stolen weapon into position. Again, you lunge. It wasn't a fair fight. But going against so many strong demons made your blood rush.

☆No wonder I'm so respectless, I could eat you all for breakfast!☆

Suddenly, Henri manages to grab you from behind. The two of you grapple on the floor. His low voice rumbles in your ear.

♤You and the six are insane and need reform. Smug and naive, you should heed when I warn.☆

You manage to buck him off of you. Rolling away before Paimon could land a blow to your skull. You jump up to your feet quickly.

☆Well, it's cause no one could respect this. It's cause no one could respect us. Cause no one could respect this. Respect us.☆

Hours later, when you're icing your wounds. Relaxing against a couch. You had just narrowly avoided being captured.

Baal enters seeing your feet propped up. He leans over the side of the couch. He strokes your hair out of your face.

"You did well." He praised. You giggle. The medicine you had taken for the pain had made you a bit loopy. You lean into his touch.

☆Mad that I acted respectless?☆

□How can anyone respect this?□

He doesn't seem bothered and answers back in kind. Pressing his forehead against yours. Rubbing your cheek gently.

☆No wonder I'm so respectless, I ate them all from breakfast.☆

□mm thanks to you for being respectless. One thing I'm starting to suspect is... he knows why that group is headless.□

You lean back further into the couch. Nodding along to his statement. Yes. It was true. There was definitely a secret when the crowns hadn't moved on and found a new king at this point.

☆Well, let's just keep being respectless. One day, we'll make them respect us.☆

[queen-of-writing-bad-things]

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 2

Episode 17: Danger and Thunder, Part 1

Things had been difficult in Swellview for Captain Man and Kid Danger. A sudden crime wave had meant that they were being called out to emergencies every five minutes; there was no time to rest or relax, just call after call after call. They had tried to keep on top of it, but something was making the criminals in town go crazy and so, Swellview's greatest fighters were unbelievably busy. Even (y/n) had pitched in and Ray was grateful. Not only did it give her a chance to get some experience under her belt, but it also gave them some time together and currently, that was few and far between.

It also didn't help that good old Dr Minyak and his assistant Nurse Cohort had regained their memories and busted out of jail. It was just another problem on the pile and it put Ray on edge even more.

"Hey, if you were Dr Minyak and you had just broke out of prison, where would you hide?" He asked Henry and (y/n), who were sprawled out of the couch as he sat at the computer. Both of them were trying to rest up with a drink before another emergency came in, but the worry of one of their nemeses on the loose made it tricky.

"I don't know. Omar's Pizza?" Henry prompted, thinking about the greasy snack. He could go for one at the moment; fighting crime was a hungry business.

"Why Omar's Pizza?" (y/n) asked in confusion as she took a sip of her tea. She'd never had to work this hard as a superhero, but with so much work piling up, she needed to respond to the calls Captain Man couldn't make. Her newfound fame on Swellview's news channels wasn't amazing, but she was certain that if she could keep a low profile, the cameras wouldn't care about Miss Danger for long.

"'Cause they have good pizza," Henry replied in a monotone voice. He didn't have the energy to sound any different, he just wanted the pick-me-up of the sugar in his blueberry soda. Not only was he shattered from fighting all the time, but his personal life had also taken a blow too.

"You wanna order one?" Ray asked, hoping he could stimulate a smile onto his sidekick's face. He had no idea why he was being so sluggish and melancholy and he didn't like it. Not one bit.

"Nah, I'm too depressed to eat." The boy replied, pouting as he rested his head against the couch.

"Aw, Hen, it's not that bad." (y/n) comforted him by putting a hand on his outstretched knee, but it didn't help much. It was like this sadness would never end. Thankfully for the couple, the elevator dinged and out came Charlotte and Schwoz. Maybe they'd be able to brighten things up in the hideout.

"Come on. Look at my eyes and my chin." Schwoz moaned at Charlotte, bringing zero cheer into the room, just a silly argument.

"Oh, give it up, Schwoz. You do not look like Uncle Jesse from Full House." The teen girl countered and the two broke up as Schwoz stomped away. He thought he looked like him, even though he couldn't be further away from the character.

"Charlotte, (y/n), come here," Ray asked the girls and Charlotte stood in front of him as (y/n) slowly got off the couch. Did she have to stand up? She just wanted to sit, sitting was nice and required no effort.

"What's Henry so bummed out about?" Ray asked them once they were together. He leaned in so the boy wouldn't hear them and (y/n) resisted the temptation to sit on his knee. She'd learnt that lesson weeks ago, she wasn't anyone special, just the girl he employed to keep his superhero activities running smoothly.

"I can't tell you. He's worried you'll laugh at him." Charlotte sighed, glancing at her friend as he moped on the couch. 

"I'll never laugh at Henry's pain. Come on, what's going on?" Ray pleaded with big, round eyes. He hated not being in the know, especially when his girl and assistant knew the details.

"If you laugh, I'll kill you." (y/n) warned him in a stern tone. Henry was really beat up about this and after weeks of kicking ass, she had developed a pretty mean swing. One chuckle and he'd be meeting it.

"Okay, he's bummed because his girlfriend moved out of town to film that reality show, Kids in The Woods," Charlotte explained quietly, hoping that Henry wasn't listening in. He'd been gutted when he heard the news and now, he was nothing but depressed.

"But that happened over a year ago," Ray recalled, but he had the wrong girl. Yep, Henry had lost two girlfriends to the same show, which sucked. A lot.

"No, doofus, that was Chloe, his first girlfriend. This time, it's Bianca. You know, the tall, brunette one." (y/n) clarified, mimicking Bianca's proportions with her hands and hair. It was a shame that she'd left, she was a nice girl and (y/n) knew that she had made Henry very happy.

"Bianca got cast on the same reality show that Chloe did?" Ray gasped, not believing how unlucky his sidekick was. Man, he'd lost loads of girlfriends, but it never phased him. He only had one girl on his mind and she hated being on TV. He only had to worry about other guys, not cameras.

"Yeah," Charlotte confirmed and Ray gave Henry a sympathetic look for about five seconds before bursting into peels of laughter. 

"No, no, no--" Charlotte tried to quieten him down as his laughter grew louder, but her attempts failed when her boss stood up and cruelly pointed in Henry's face. He could be a real jerk sometimes.

"Charlotte and (y/n) just said you just lost another girlfriend to Kids in The Woods!" He snitched, making the girls glare at him when Henry looked at them in betrayal. He didn't want Ray to know anything because he knew that this was exactly how he would react.

"Guys!" He exclaimed over Ray's laughter. Well, that was them never telling him anything ever again. He was just too childish.

"I'm going to kill you now." (y/n) growled at him and jumped on his back, but he just laughed harder, even when she feebly thumped her fists against him. He didn't mean any harm and it was kinda funny that the TV show was stealing all of Henry's love interests. Plus, he liked joking around with his girl and he would never tell anyone, but she looked hot when she was angry, so he enjoyed riling her up.

However, before (y/n) could get to the killing part, an alarm blared in the Man Cave and the emergency lights flashed red. Something was going down.

"Oh, shit, that's the alarm for Junk-N-Stuff." (y/n) gasped and hopped off Ray's back. She could end him later, right now, someone or something bad was upstairs and they needed to find out what.

"The alarm? But we locked up." Charlotte said as the couple sat down together, not caring that (y/n) was in Ray's lap. It was instinctive and easier for them both to be at the controls this way and deep down, despite their mutual fear of upsetting each other, they loved being like this.

"Burglars!" Ray hissed as the security cameras showed three guys in Mexican getups breaking in through the front door. Punks, like they could break into Captain Man's store and get away with it.

"Hey, they're not just any burglars, they're The Three Muchachos." Henry pointed out, recognising the criminals' odd choice of costume. 

"¿Cómo?" Schwoz asked in Spanish, basically asking what Henry was on about. He'd never heard of these guys before.

"Who are they?" Charlotte questioned too. She'd been through loads of criminals in the database and she'd never seen these three before.

"Three of Canada's most evil siblings," Ray explained as the Muchachos searched the store for anything worth taking.

"Raymond, can we use the anti-burglar stuff up in Junk-N-Stuff?" (y/n) smirked at her best friend as she leaned into his chest and he patted her thigh in response. Yeah, that was a good idea, he wanted to give those assholes a good hiding.

"Yeah, I've always wanted to try those." Charlotte squealed. She'd been working for Captain Man for ages now and she still hadn't seen the store's gadgets in action. 

"Okay, let's start things off with a little fire on Muchacho Uno," Ray smirked and reached around (y/n) so he could tap a button. They all laughed at the guy's pain when the dinosaur breathed fire onto him and sent the criminals into fits of fear. 

"Oh, oh, hey! Look, look, Muchacho Dos seems interested in our cash register." Henry pointed at the monitor as he watched a burglar poke around the counter. Well, they had something for him.

"Thank god, I took the money out." (y/n) breathed as Henry activated the next gadget. The young woman enjoyed how Ray's deep laugh reverberated next to her ear as they saw the register give off a small explosion. It was safe to safe that the smoke and flying debris scared the Muchachos shitless and everyone in the Man Cave celebrated their success. They were criminals, they deserved it. Henry gave Ray a high-five as he pulled off the trick and even gave him a thumbs-up as he snuggled into (y/n). It was good to see them being lovey-dovey again after a couple of weeks of hesitancy.

"Oo, what about the hoes, can we drop the hoes?" Charlotte asked as the Muchacho clutched his eye. 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's drop the hoes." (y/n) giggled and excitedly squirmed in Ray's lap, not realising that it was subtle torture for him. He had to keep himself under control, he'd already nearly screwed everything up with her and he didn't fancy going without her again.

"Hoes!" He exclaimed, quickly dropping a load of farming tools from the ceiling before anyone could pick up and his desire. It was amazing to see the burglars incapacitated on the floor and hilarious that they had thought that they could rob a store and not face Captain Man's wrath. Idiots.

"We should go get them and kick their asses." (y/n) said once the laughing had calmed down. Ray agreed, knowing that he had to go cuff the men before they could escape, even if it meant his girl would have to get up. One of these days he'd get to have her to himself for more than five minutes.

~

The Three Muchachos had been dragged to the Man Cave and chained up as they were sleeping. Ray and Henry had transformed into their uniforms and so had (y/n). She was beginning to like the outfit, it gave her power and confidence, something she felt she lacked without it and for Ray, it came with the bonus of accentuating her gorgeous curves. He loved seeing her so sexy and sure of herself, he only prayed that someone else wouldn't see it too. 

"All right, you Three Muchachos, I wanna know why you left Canada and came here to Swellview." Ray hissed as he took off the last mask of the Muchachos. Turns out, one of them was a girl, but she was just as hateful towards superheroes as her brothers and kept glaring at the superhero interrogating them.

"Yeah and I also wanna know," Henry added, although he didn't sound as threatening as Ray. He needed to work on that, criminals didn't take weakness very seriously and if he was going to be his own hero, he needed to be tough and respected.

"So, start talking or else, or else that sweaty, onion-loving guy over there is gonna give you some big wet, sweat-hugs." (y/n) growled at them, her voice poised and strong, despite the stench coming from Schwoz's cousin, Larry. He was being monitored by Charlotte as he ran on a treadmill and ate onions, which smelt revolting. But with Ray behind her, she wasn't scared of any criminal, even when they were giving her a murderous stare. 

"Well, I'm not telling you anything, bitch, eh?" 

"Yeah, sorry not sorry, babe, eh?"

"Eh?!" The Muchachos hissed back and Ray's expression grew dark as they spoke. No one insulted his girl and got away with it, even if she brushed it off. She'd learnt long ago that criminals would call her anything to get her to be scared of them and now, any name was just water off a duck's back to her.

"Okay, I've had enough. Hug 'em." The superhero ordered Larry in a harsh voice as he pulled his girl away from the men and woman. He just wanted to love and protect her and he wasn't going to let these punks get her down.

"Hug 'em all!" Henry yelled too, equally angry at the defiant attitudes of the criminals and how they spoke to his friend. He just prayed that her presence would keep Ray's temper under control.

"No! No, no, don't!" The criminals cried out as Schwoz's cousin happily ran towards them and wrapped them each in a sticky, smelly hug. Even his sweat smelt like onions, so it was an effective way of getting them to speak.

"I'll talk, I'll talk!" The girl muchacho screamed before Larry could get to her. Ray raised his hand and the sweaty man backed off. The superheroes glared at the woman as Charlotte got ready with her PearPad. She needed to get every detail down.

"We came here for The Meeting." She explained, which didn't carry much water for Captain Man or Kid Danger, they'd have to try harder than that.

"What meeting?" Henry asked, having heard nothing about a meeting in the underworld of crime. 

"The meeting for all the top criminals in Swellview, eh?"

"And Canada." The men said and Ray frowned at his words. It didn't sound good. All his enemies together in one place? That was his second-worst nightmare.

"What's this meeting about?" Miss Danger interrogated, feeling how Ray tensed up as he ran the notion through his mind. If she could, she'd pick up his hand to tell him it was all gonna be okay, but they had appearances to keep up.

"All we were told was the meeting was aboot taking down Captain Man and Kid Danger. And probably Captain Man's new pretty sidekick. We hate Miss Danger too, eh?!" A Muchacho said and Ray gulped as he fit everything together. Bad guys were after him and now Henry and (y/n) because he dragged them into his world. Shit.

"Oh, that's us," Henry whispered nervously in his ear and Ray clenched his teeth. He'd die before Swellview's scum got their hands on his girl and he was gonna make sure he stopped them.

"Well then, we're gonna lock you up, take your costumes and masks, sneak into this secret meeting and find out what's going on." Ray countered and (y/n) smiled at the thought of being included. It was scary since she was going up against proper supervillains, but she was tired of fighting petty thieves and delinquents. She wanted to get in on some action and put her superpower to use.

"...what's going on." Henry trailed off at the end, wanting to be part of the plan.

"Okay, Larry, hug 'em, you know you want to!" (y/n) laughed as she saw the man raring to go. Aw, sweaty onion group hug; gross but oddly cute. Go figure. 

~Upstairs in Junk-N-Stuff~

Having donned the three muchacho costumes, Ray, Henry and (y/n) had made their way up to the store. Stepping out of the elevator, the two males studied each other's costumes as (y/n) adjusted hers. They had to be perfect, otherwise, every villain at this meeting would smell a rat.

"How do I look?" Ray asked his sidekick as he pulled at his blue Mexican wrestling mask. Why would anyone choose this as their costume?

"Muy estupido." Henry joked, also feeling silly in his red mask. At least their identities were hidden.

"Thanks...wait." Ray stopped smiling when he worked out the Spanish. To be fair, he did look very stupid and (y/n) giggled at her friends as she walked out behind them.

"Wow. Muy guapo, señor." She told her best friend with a chuckle, making him sulk. He thought she was making fun of him too, but really, she had always thought Ray was handsome, or rather, drop-dead gorgeous.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." He sarcastically laughed back as she pulled at her costume. It was too big in some places and too small in others. In her mind, she didn't look like the female muchacho, she just looked silly and that worried her.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" (y/n) asked them with knitted eyebrows. They had so much more experience than her when it came to dealing with evil criminals and psychopaths, all she knew was how to throw a punch and even then, she wasn't the best.

"It'll be fine, just stay close to us, don't say anything and act like a muchacho from Canada." Ray stepped forward and lovingly grabbed her elbows so he could gaze down at her. Having him with her did put her at ease, but it was her first major mission, so some nerves were expected. Even Captain Man was nervous, did he really want to lure his sweet girl into a den filled with all his enemies? He knew she wouldn't stay behind, but part of him wanted to let her stay home, where it was safe and he could be the one in mortal peril.

"Look, just because I can speak a bit of Spanish doesn't mean I know anything about muchaching." (y/n) rolled her eyes, but before Henry or Ray could open their mouths to reply, a bang came from the storefront. What now?

"Hey, what's that noise?" Henry asked his boss. Hopefully, it wouldn't be anything bad. 

"Oh, it's just the guy Schwoz called to fix the air conditioning," Ray replied in a calm voice, indicating that there was no threat or danger, just some repairman.

"I could've done that." The young woman protested as she followed the large man around the corner to see what the guy was up to. She thought it was a waste of money to call out a guy when she could have easily pulled the thing apart and tinkered with it until it was fixed. Oh, well. The sight of three, masked people strutting out onto the shopfloor spooked the handyman off his ladder and onto the floor. Poor guy, they should've known their costumes were scary.

"Please, please, don't hurt me, my cat depends on me." The guy quivered in fear as the three muchachos stared at him. To anyone not aware that these muchachos were actually Swellview's greatest fighters, it looked like a mugging. Well, that's certainly how it appeared to a pretty, young, brunette superheroine peering through the glass door. 

"Dude, why are you scared of us?" Ray asked the man in confusion, not seeing how the girl at the door had sloped off to transform into her super suit. This was all one big misunderstanding and it was quickly spiralling out of control.

"Doofus, he thinks we're The Three Muchachos." (y/n) told him, so they tried to step forward and soothe the man's fears, but seeing three masked criminals reaching out scared the man even more.

"Please, don't hurt me, I only came to fix the air conditioning!" He pleaded, just before Thunder Girl burst through the door. Phoebe Thunderman, Hiddenville's superhero-in-training- had seen a frightened citizen in need of assistance and now, she was here to kick these Muchachos' asses.

"Hold it right there, muchachos." She ordered them confidently, grabbing a wooden pole from one of the displays on sale. Ah, geez.

"Ah! Thank the Gods!" The repairman shrieked and ran out of the store, fearing for his life. Great, now they were gonna get beaten up and the air conditioning was still broken. Phoebe stepped in front of the "criminals" and Captain Man wasn't impressed. He didn't need some vigilante causing chaos in his shop.

"Look, miss, I don't know who you are, but--ahhhhhhh!" Ray never finished his sentence. The young girl wasn't taking any chances with these thugs, so she used her telekinesis to launch the large man backwards and into the wall. Ray landed in a heap on the floor, groaning in pain. Thank god, he was indestructible, otherwise, he be in pretty bad shape. (y/n) knelt next to him, frantically helping him to his feet as Henry dealt with the girl. 

"Hey, how did you just make him fly across the room like that--?" Henry's surprised wonder was cut off when Phoebe made a piece of junk fly at his head, knocking him to the ground. Oh dear, Ray was down, Henry was down, now it was (y/n)'s turn.

"Okay, love, you want to try that again?" She growled, infuriated that this girl had hurt her not-boyfriend and an innocent boy. She wasn't sure how, but she was gonna give this girl a taste of her own medicine.

(y/n) walked towards Phoebe, who nervously pointed her stick at her and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She could take on one, dumb muchacho, no problem. Lifting another piece of junk with her powers, the girl sent it flying towards the helper, who shielded her face with her arms. It ricocheted off her body, no doubt leaving a bruise, but (y/n) had her own superpower and it would take more than that to knock her down.

Henry and Ray scrambled to their feet and stared at the two girls, who were awaiting each other's next move. 

"Okay, how did you make this fly of that table and hit me on my head? Oh, and why?!" Henry asked, baffled at what was happening. (y/n)'s hands were pulled up to her chin in a fighting stance as she figured out what she could try. 

"Quiet, muchacho. Now, all of you, get on the ground." Thunder Girl ordered them, not afraid of the woman who was so clearly ready to beat her up. Like they were gonna listen to her, this was their store, and they weren't criminals, for god's sake.

"In your dreams." (y/n) smirked, glad that Henry and Ray were back with her. Suddenly, the fighting didn't seem so scary.

"We don't wanna get on the ground." Ray groaned. His pain had disappeared but he didn't have control over the situation and he hated it. He was a goddamn superhero, getting beaten by a girl not much older than Henry and his girl was the one fighting her. It sucked.

"Yeah, we just got up," Henry added, not fancying another radio to the skull. His head was still throbbing from the first.

"And we're not muchachos." The large man tried to tell her and to prove his innocence, he fumbled to take off his wrestling mask. However, he was a bit slow and Thunder Girl wasn't going to take his word.

"You filthy, Canadian liars. You jerks are an embarrassment to the other nice 99.9% of Canadians who are awesome." She hissed, and that lecture was the final straw for Ray. He wasn't going to let his friends get hurt just because she wouldn't listen to them.

"All right, I've had enough of this girl." He growled and stepped forward to grab her, but when he did, Phoebe demonstrated another one of her superpowers; her freeze breath. Ray was frozen mid-punch, making Henry and (y/n) pale in shock and worry. 

"Holy shit...Raimundo, ¿estás bien?" (y/n) screamed at her best friend in panic. What had that crazy girl done to him? She could hear Ray grunting and straining through the ice as he wiggled to get free. Using his indestructibility and superstrength, Ray broke out of the encasing ice and stood, perfectly fine, in front of Phoebe.

"How did you break free?" She asked nervously. No one had ever been able to escape her ice breath and now, she was worried that she had bitten off more than she could chew.

"By doing this...arghhhh!" Ray imitated his feat of strength as (y/n) came up beside him with Henry. 

"But that's impossible." The young girl spluttered, feeling pretty intimidated by the man who was resistant to her powers. Henry yanked off his mask and glared at her in response.

"Not for Captain Man." He hissed, his face revealing shocking Phoebe to her core. They weren't muchachos?

"Kid Danger?" She breathed out as Ray and (y/n) pulled off their hoods too. God, it was nice to be able to breathe again.

"Hey." The superhero greeted her in an annoyed voice as he put his hand on the young woman's shoulder to check she was all right. A slight smile and nod told him she was fine and then, they focused on the overzealous girl in front of them.

" Captain Man? Miss Danger?" Phoebe broke out into a smile as she dropped her stick in shock. She had made a colossal mistake, she idolised these guys and she had whacked them on the head with junk and made them fly across the room. Oops.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. All of you, I didn't realise you guys were you." She apologised profusely, hoping they would forgive her mistake. To be fair, they looked like criminals when they had the costumes on, it was understandable that she did her duty and tried to stop them.

"Wait a minute, telekinetic powers, freeze breath, young girl...holy shit, I know who you are! Are you the daughter of Thunder Man?" (y/n) breathed out as she looked at Phoebe in amazement. 

"Yeah!" She confirmed, making (y/n) smile at her brightly. She was a huge fan of her dad, he'd been her favourite superhero when she was a kid. Of course, now she was a Captain Man fan, but still, Thunder Man was epic.

"Clever girl." Ray praised her quietly as he wrapped an arm around her waist. He didn't see Phoebe as a threat anymore so now he was free to be himself around his girl and it spoke volumes to the young Thunderman. She had speculated that Miss Danger was close to Captain Man, but she would never have guessed they were in a relationship. They were cute together and it wasn't surprising how their lovey-dovey behaviour brought her to the wrong conclusion. 

"Freebie!" Ray smiled at the girl, breaking her out of her analysing daydream. It was close, but not quite right. 

"Phoebe." She corrected, not noticing how taken Henry was with her. Screw Bianca, this chick was super pretty and a powerful superheroine, so he couldn't help but snap a quick photo. 

"Wait, you guys know my dad?" Phoebe asked as she took off her mask. If she had known her dad knew Captain Man, she would've asked all about him. 

"Of course! He was my favourite superhero for ages...stop whining, you're my favourite now." (y/n) trailed off and slapped Ray's stomach with the back of her hand when she saw how pouty he became when she gushed about loving Thunder Man. She thought it was just his superhero ego talking, but it was also him hurting from the heart. Sure, Hank Thunderman was now a retired, married guy with kids, but he couldn't help but feel jealous when she praised other guys. He wanted to be the only hero in her eyes. 

"Oh, and I'm sorry for your loss. I would've gone to his funeral, but (y/n) and I had tickets to a ball game that weekend." Ray quickly offered his condolences, but Phoebe and (y/n) just stared at him in confusion. What was he on?

"Uh, my dad's not dead." Thunder Girl said awkwardly as the woman next to Ray facepalmed. Trust him to think one of the world's best superheroes and one of his old friends had died.

"Oh, well, when he does die, if there isn't a ball game that day, (y/n) and I'll be there." He smiled, thinking he was being nice. Thankfully, Henry was looking for a chance to talk to the pretty girl and he pulled her to the side before Ray could say anything else.

"So...you're a superhero?" He asked her, using some small talk to his advantage. All his other girls paled in comparison to Phoebe and it was safe to say that he was smitten.

"Uh, well, no. I mean, almost. I--oh my gosh, I'm just so excited to meet your guys. I mean...why are you dressed as the three muchachos?" Phoebe's head was spinning with a million questions and her excitement, but she decided to say the one that was screaming out to her first.

"'Cause, we're going undercover," Henry smirked, trying to seem cool and aloof in front of her.

"There's a secret meeting of evil people happening here." Ray continued in a serious tone, feeling his superhero voice come back as he thought about his gathering enemies.

"And we're gonna find out what they're up to." (y/n) finished, also trying to sound confident. She still needed to work on it, but she was getting there. Soon, she'd be on the same level as Captain Man.

"No way! Can I go with you, please? I really wanna help!" Phoebe begged, seeing this as her chance to work with Swellview's best crime fighters and gain some experience.

"Yes!" Henry eagerly said, but there was a slight problem.

"No!" Ray protested, shutting down his sidekick's excitement. Just because the kid had a crush, didn't mean they could take her.

"I'd like her to come with us," Henry argued with his boss as he sauntered around Phoebe and got close to him and (y/n).

"Henry, that's too many people wearing--" (y/n) tried to tell him, but Henry was desperate to dazzle this attractive heroine.

"--Look at her." Henry interrupted, but Phoebe heard and it was a bit weird for her.

"Uh, how old are you?" She asked, sensing that this kid had a crush on her, even though she was quite a bit older than him.

"Sixteen." Henry bragged, making Ray and (y/n) roll their eyes. Wow, he was trying to impress her.

"He's fourteen." Ray corrected, making (y/n) smirk at him in amusement. Yeah, they weren't gonna let him get away with it that easily. 

"Nearly fifteen." Henry tried to play it off, but he should've known that trying to flirt in front of the couple just tickled their funny bones and they were gonna be making fun of him and butt in at every opportunity.

"But still fourteen." (y/n) replied in a sing-song voice and the constant corrections were starting to get on his nerves,

"Okay, but fourteen's the new fifteen, so..." He hissed back as Phoebe watched in amusement. Aw, he was so cute but too young for her liking.

"Well, uh...I'm older." She told him awkwardly, which didn't quell Henry's crush. If anything, it made him worse.

"Yeahhhh..." He smirked, loving that she was an older girl. Good grief, someone needed to do something and fast before his tongue hit the floor.

"Right, so...Phoebe, you can have my muchacho costume so you can come with us to the...evil lunatic meeting." (y/n) jumped in, handing Phoebe the mask before stepping out of the purple jumpsuit and giving her that too. Her actions made Henry and Ray look at her in shock, but they didn't need to worry, she had something else up her sleeve.

"What? No, I--we need you and your superpower." Ray whined, trying to cover up his disappointment that she had "given up". It would be safer to have her in the Man Cave, but he was looking forward to seeing her kick some ass.

"You have a superpower?" Phoebe gasped, looking at the woman with a startled, impressed expression. Wow, she was full of surprises and she felt a bit bad that she was taking her place.

"Yeah, you know, super-regeneration. I heal instantly." She explained bashfully, particularly when Ray smiled down at her with pride. They were a power couple, with his indestructibility and her healing, the villains wouldn't know what hit them.

"It's dope," Henry told Phoebe with a grin, adding to her excitement. Okay, she was so siked to be able to work them, all they needed to do now was convince Captain Man.

"How are you gonna sneak into the meeting without a disguise? They'll rip you to shreds, sweet girl." Ray told her gently, gulping at the thought of all the criminals pouncing on her before she could do anything. God, he felt sick when he imagined that, it was his biggest fear; not being able to help and then losing her because he was fast enough or strong enough.

"It's okay, you know Vectress, that supervillain you fought last year?" (y/n) looked at him and he nodded. He remembered, it was a hard fight since the woman was crazy, but she ran off with her tail between her legs when Captain Man triumphed over her.

"Yeah, course." He replied in a suspicious tone. What was she thinking?

"Well, Swellview Police sent us her outfit after they found it dumped in the street. I'm sure it'll fit better than that thing and the criminals won't know the difference. We have the same hair colour and everything." (y/n) explained, pointing to the purple muchacho costume with disgust. She wasn't particularly looking forward to wearing the Vectress outfit either, but she'd put up with it because she had a striking resemblance to the evil woman and she knew she could pull it off.

"Are you sure? Vectress is crazy, if she finds out you impersonated her, she'll hunt you down." Henry asked in concern, seeing how Ray's eyes widened at the idea. Not only was he worried for her safety, but Vectress was also known to be...seductive and sexy. He knew he would struggle to see her behave like that around him and others, meaning that everything would be ten times harder.

"Yeah, I'm not staying here and we could do with Phoebe's powers, sooo..." The young woman gave Ray her best puppy-dog eyes and fluttered her eyelashes. He needed to learn how to resist those as he always got lost in them, but that would have to wait for another day.

"All right, Phoebe, you're in." Ray conceded, making the grinning teens gasp in animation. 

"Really?" They exclaimed, losing their cool for a minute before Ray gestured for them to stay calm. Superheroes don't lose control of their emotions (unless they involve pretty girls).

~The bottom of Lake Swellview~ 

What an interesting place for an evil secret meeting. It was quite ingenious, building their base under the water and the complexity of the entrance had made it a pain for Captain Man, Kid Danger, Miss Danger and Thunder Girl to get in. Luckily though, they had made it and. were sneaking through the halls in their costumes. Ray, Henry and Phoebe were obviously, The Three Muchachos, but (y/n), well, she was pushing the limits of her comfort zone. 

The Vectress's outfit did fit her perfectly, but it revealed more of her stomach, arms and boobs than she was normally comfortable with, but she swallowed her nerves. The villainess was insane, but also sophisticated, confident and alluring, so she had to do her best to channel those characteristics in her alarmingly high heels. How anyone could rob banks and kidnap people in them was beyond her.

Ray was struggling too. He hated Vectress with every fibre of his being, but he had to admit, seeing his innocent, sweet girl all dolled up in her dark, crazed make-up and clothes made his lower stomach burn with desire. Everything that she normally kept covered up was out for everyone to see and it sent stabs of lust and jealousy through his body. He wanted to be the only one who got to see her like that, the only one who she blessed with having her like that, but he had to reign it in. The danger was very real.

"Okay, guys, turn on your tooth cameras," Ray instructed them and they all pressed the little chip that was stuck to their front teeth. It was an odd place to put a camera, but it was Schwoz's design and they allowed the genius and Charlotte to see what was happening on the supercomputer.

"Now what?" Phoebe whispered, feeling nervous since she was still inexperienced.

"Now, we all smile so Charlotte and Schwoz can see what we're seeing," Henry explained and they all plastered false smiles on their faces. They looked crazy, but for (y/n), that was the vibe she was going for.

"You three look insane." (y/n) giggled as she smiled as seductively as she could. To be honest, with the hair, makeup and outfit, she felt the part and her confidence was rising. If Ray wasn't wearing a mask, she would see his red cheeks and tense body as he willed himself to stay calm.

There were so many villains here, Doctor Minyak, Nurse Cohort, Drillfinger, Van Del, The Time Jerker and for some reason, Jeff. Why he was there was a mystery to everyone, he was a petty thief, hardly the stuff of nightmares. The Three Muchachos smiled at their "friends" as they navigated the room and Vectress's appearance was proving quite popular, much to Ray's fury.

"Miss Vectress...what a lovely surprise." The Time Jerker smirked at her and so did Van Del, in fact, every man in the room was eyeing Swellview's hottest villain and (y/n) had to gulp down her fear and release her inner seductress.

"Hi, boys. How are ya?" She smiled with mischievous eyes, angling her body so her cleavage was visible and her curves looked impeccable. Ray felt like he was gonna puke and he wanted to punch Van Del when he stared at his girl's features. She wasn't a piece of meat and the way they leered at her without looking at her face irritated him even further. He loved all of her, not just her boobs or ass (even if they made her unbelievably hot) and any guy who didn't respect her as a person, was destined to face his wrath.

"All right, I want to know who called this meeting." Doctor Minyak announced, feeling a little bored with all the pleasantries. He didn't take kindly to being summoned like some dog. 

"I thought you did, Minyak." Van Del replied as everyone looked around the room. Wait, if they didn't know who it was, did that mean the ringleader wasn't here yet?

"Maybe it was the Three Muchachos." Drill Finger suggested, making the three incognito heroes panic as all eyes turned to them.

"Oh, no, not us, eh?" They all denied it quickly, trying to act as Canadian and evil as possible. 

"What about Vectress? She never comes to secret meetings!" Nurse Cohort hissed, slightly jealous that she wasn't the hottest villainess in the room. Some people have odd priorities.

"Yes, it's an interesting thought. What say you, Vectress?" Doctor Minyak concurred with his assistant and looked at (y/n) with suspicious, but also lustful eyes. To keep up her appearance, she twirled a lock of her heavily teased hair in her finger and giggled maniacally as she puffed out her chest and fidgeted playfully.

"Oh, sugar, if I wanted to see you, I wouldn't call a meeting. It would just be me and you." Her voice was soft and sugary with a hint of mania that gave people a peek into her unstable mind, but it made Minyak look away with flushed cheeks. He wasn't used to such flirtatious behaviour and it made him back down quickly as the young woman smirked at him. Ray was clenching his fists and biting his lip, he wanted to hear her speak to him like that and the fact that his enemies were getting to openly flirt with her boiled his blood.

"Then who did call this meeting?" Alien Girl asked in her weird, deep voice. She was the one who had sent the alien space bug to kill Captain Man and now, she was happily amongst her fellow villains.

Suddenly, there was a burst of mist in the doorway and the group of villains looked on in wonder as a figure came through the smoke. It couldn't be, it wasn't possible...he was supposed to be dead. The Toddler.

(y/n) wanted to run and hide behind Ray, who she knew was petrified by shock at his greatest enemy returning from the dead, but she couldn't move. A mix of fear and confusion glued her feet to the floor, but that was a good thing. Vectress didn't run and hide when she was scared, she was fearless and any weakness would give the game away.

"Ray!" Henry hissed in his boss's ear, who kept his eyes glued on the deranged man and the woman he loved. She was too far in front of him to be able to grab and pull out of danger, making him nervous about what could happen if The Toddler got angry. 

"I see him," Ray replied quietly, still worrying about the distance between him and his girl. He should've made sure she didn't mingle with the criminals as they walked around the room because now, she was on her own.

"I thought you and Kid Danger captured The Toddler over a year ago," Phoebe whispered as her heart pounded from the sudden spike of adrenaline. She could see how (y/n) had frozen up, but knew she couldn't do anything. She just had to trust that she could keep herself safe until her boyfriend could get to her.

"I--I--I did my best." Ray stuttered as he panicked. Talk about a plot twist, he was not expecting this.

"Well, well, to those of you who thought I was dead, BOO!" Toddler screamed, making the crowd jump. God, he was insane and unfortunately for (y/n), he had his eye on her.

"Hey, Tress-Tress. Glad you could come." He smiled at her crazily, making (y/n) subtly gulp. He smelt like acrid milk and baby powder, which made (y/n)'s stomach turn, but she couldn't show her disgust. She wanted to take advantage of the shine he had for her, it would keep her safe and it could influence him to listen to her.

"Anything for you, Todd." She smirked back, trailing a blood-red nail along his chest as she buttered him up. It would repulse Ray and maybe even make him hate her, but she had no choice.

"Now, let this meeting begin...MAX! Bring my booster seat!" The Toddler ordered and took (y/n) by the hand so she could sit next to him. Oh god. 

The criminal stormed past the Muchachos with a scowl on his face and as she was dragged behind him, the young woman managed to sneak Ray a desperate glance. He felt like passing out as his girl was led into the heart of the criminal circle, by his archenemy of all people, who fancied her and her fake wickedness. And he couldn't do anything! He just had to submit to The Toddler as he stomped past and couldn't pull her into his arms and shield her like he wanted to.

A young man walked into the room, carrying the booster seat in his hand. He was in his late teens, cute and boyish, probably popular with the ladies and obeying The Toddler's every command.

"Oh my god." Phoebe breathed out as she instantly recognised the boy. She'd kill him, she really would. He was going to jeopardise everything!

"What?" Ray asked as he checked to see if the criminals were looking at them. Thankfully (or not thankfully), they were still focusing on their leader and his beautiful (y/n). 

"What? Are you scared? 'Cause if you're scared, you can hug me." Henry rambled at her, just wanting to get close to the young heroine. If he wanted lessons on subtly loving someone, he should've spoken to his boss. He'd been hiding his love for (y/n) for years, longer than she had for him, and he hugged her all the time.

"I'm not scared," Phoebe said firmly, making Henry back off. Maybe one day.

"Then why'd you say oh my god?" Ray asked in confusion.

"'Cause, that guy helping The Toddler...he's my twin brother, Max," Phoebe revealed in an irritated voice. Max had always wanted to be a supervillain and was the complete opposite of his sister, which got super annoying all the time. Particularly when he teamed up with criminals to get his hand on some dumb weapon.

"Whoa!"

"Seriously?" Ray and Henry gasped in horror as they watched the boy take the seat to The Toddler. 

"Yeah," Phoebe confirmed quietly, hating that her brother was embarrassing her like that. What would Captain Man think of her now that he knew her twin was getting all chummy with his greatest enemies?

"Are you sure you're not scared? 'Cause if you are you can hug me." Henry tried it on again, but it didn't work. He was so desperate of being dumped, he just wanted some female attention.

"I'm not scared." The girl reiterated and he zipped his lips. At this point, The Toddler had sat down on his throne/booster seat and had let (y/n) sit by his side on a luxurious golden chair, lined with red velvet. It was smaller than his throne but still told everyone else that she was the favourite. She sat poised on the cushioned chair and purposefully leaned towards their criminal like she was happy to bask in his presence. With one leg over the arm, her hand on The Toddler's throne and a flirty yet crazed smirk on her face, she was a picture of the perfect villainess.

"Smooth my leg hair." Toddler order Max, who immediately followed the instruction without question. He petted the criminal's leg with rapid strokes as the man-child gave (y/n) a wicked smirk. Her painted lips matched his as she beat back the instinct to run away and find comfort in Ray's arms. She hated this, it felt so wrong to cosy up to this psycho when the one she wanted was across the room, watching with a broken heart. He knew it was just an act, but it gave him a taste of what it would be like to lose her.

"Guys, keep smiling, so Charlotte and Schwoz can see what we're seeing in the Man Cave." Henry reminded them once they had sat at the long table and they all put their smiles on again. Ray was much happier with a scowl, but he had no choice. He had to sit and endure the torture, otherwise, he'd be torn limb from limb.

"Okay, but that Jeff guy thinks I'm smiling at him." Phoebe hissed, making them all look across the table to see Jeff smirking and winking at the girl as he munched on some potato chips. 

"Just keep smiling and being Canadian. I want to get (y/n) away from that creep." Ray hissed, making sure to say her friend's name quietly. If they figured out who she was, she'd be in extreme danger and he'd have to send her away from Swellview, forever.

"Right, right. We can't let your girlfriend get hurt." Phoebe refocused her mind, remembering that (y/n) was currently on her own and in the thick of the lion's den.

"She's not his girlfriend," Henry whispered in reply as he felt Ray tense up next to him. He hated that everyone assumed that about them, it was like they were teasing him with the idea that she could love him back. He knew he'd never hurt her or let her down, he'd worship the ground she walked on if only she'd give him a chance. 

"What? But she's so in l---" Phoebe was cut off by Henry when he kicked his foot sharply into her shin and looked at him in pain and horror. He shook his head frantically at her as if to say "no, no, no, that's the one thing you can't say" and Phoebe got the message. Well, that was disappointing, she thought they'd be the perfect couple.

"So, Toddler, how are you not dead?" Van Del asked his leader, leaning forward so he could see past (y/n)'s chair. 

"Yes, we all heard that the last time you battled Captain Man, he and Kid Danger dropped you into your bottomless pit of balls." Doctor Minyak added, recalling the event where Henry had solidified his role as Ray's permanent sidekick. God, it seemed so long ago.

"All right, I'll tell you what happened. Max! Would you like to hold my milk?" The Toddler passed a wine glass full of milk to the teen, who accepted it with a puzzled expression.

"Yes. I was hoping you'd ask." He said sarcastically, but luckily, the criminal didn't pick up on it. He was too distracted by how (y/n) was leaning her chin on her elbows and gazing up at him eagerly as she pretended to be interested in his story. 

"It was awful. I was blasted, hundreds of feet down, deep into the earth, covered in plastic balls." He described in a low, growling voice. (y/n) ignored his gross smell and acted like she was on the edge of her seat as he spoke.

"So, how'd you did yourself out, eh?" Henry asked in a terrible Canadian accent. It sounded half Scottish, half Cockney, but whatever it was, it sure as hell wasn't Canadian. Still, it gave (y/n) an excuse to look over at her friends and she caught Ray's gaze, so she tried to communicate all her calming feelings to him so he wouldn't worry about her.

"I had to use my bare hands, scraping and clawing, inch by inch, and then, finally, I arrived back up to the surface of the earth." Toddler finished by looking up mysteriously, making his followers do the same. All they could see was the metal and glass ceiling of the underwater dome, but the deranged man-child was recalling how he had resurfaced in a children's sandbox. 

"So brave, sugar." Vectress cooed at Toddler, fluttering her eyelashes like she did when she wanted something from Ray. 

"And now, it's Toddler Time." He growled, allowing her to clutch his arm as she fawned over him. Ray wasn't sure how much more of them he could take, especially since he had been trying for years to get her to love him and now, he had to watch her snuggle into his nemesis with her boobs on show. Life was not fair.

"Yes, you?" The Toddler accepted a question from Jeff as he raised his hand. His question was guaranteed to be moronic.

"Are we having dessert or what?" Yep, definitely moronic and it pissed off The Toddler to no end.

"This meeting isn't about dessert. This is about us! If we combine our powers, we could destroy Captain Man and Kid Danger and then, nothing can stop us!" The Toddler proposed, walking over the table as he inspired his fellow villains to rise and defeat their enemy once and for all. Ray and Henry gulped at the thought of some kind of evil super-alliance and knew it was bad news for them when they all nodded and agreed. 

"What about Captain Man's newest sidekick, Miss Danger? I heard she's just as powerful as Captain Man." Doctor Minyak butted in over the noise of their agreement and they all stopped to ponder his statement as (y/n) gulped. News travelled fast and it looked like every criminal in town knew about her now.

"We'll take her down too! I'm sure Captain Man will love to see her join our side! Or we could just kill her if she proves to be too much trouble!" The Toddler chuckled evilly and Ray panicked as they discussed their plans about his girl. Stupid news crews always getting stories out, now, she was in danger because of the life he lead her into.

"Or, or, we could all decide to be good, eh?" He tried to convince them, but they just looked at him in disgust. 

"Right, eh? We could all become nice people and not commit any more crimes, eh?" Henry added, making (y/n) cringe. They were trying to tell evil people to be good, why on earth did they think it would be a good idea?

"And recycle and be polite to our parents!" Oh god, now Phoebe was joining in. Seriously? Recycling? Their comments sent the group into chaos as they started to argue about becoming or not becoming good.

"ALL RIGHT! Max! Tell them what to do." The Toddler made them all shut up instantly and the room fell silent, leaving Max able to explain the evil plan.

"Okay, everyone, if you have any ideas on how to destroy Captain Man, Kid Danger and Miss Danger, please, come join The Toddler by the dry-erase board." The teen directed the villains to the right side of the room where the leader was standing on a stool to help him reach the board. Funny.

"Let's go. Let's go." He said as they all stood up and shuffled to where he was. Even if they had no ideas, they didn't want to be the one to enrage the guy who was known to be so psychotic.

"What do we do now?" Phoebe whispered to Captain Man and Kid Danger as the other criminals gathered. This was their chance to get close to (y/n) again and as such, they weren't gonna waste it. 

"Uh, you go talk to your brother and figure out what he's doing here. Kid, you come with me. We're gonna get (y/n) back to us." He quickly strategised, knowing that they had to ascertain two main things: (y/n) and Max. 

"Right." Henry nodded and they split up, the superhero duo going immediately to their friend's side as Phoebe sloped off. 

"Hey, you all right?" Ray breathed in her ear, glad they were at the back of the crowd so no one could see him intertwine their fingers. It was a risky game, getting too close to her, but they found themselves unable to part after being so scared.

"Sort of, his breath smells like sour milk and I think his diaper needs changing." She grimaced as she clung tightly to his hand. Having The Toddler breathing on her and ogling her body made her tummy twist in repulsion, but she was back by her hero's side now, that's all that she cared about.

Meanwhile, Phoebe walked away from the crowd and to the back of the room, where Max was busy pouring more milk for The Toddler. 

"Can I talk to you, eh?" She said through gritted teeth, trying to keep her anger down. She couldn't blow her cover here.

"Sure, muchacha." Max smiled, showing his knowledge about Spanish gendered suffixes. Phoebe sighed and dragged him off to the hallway where they could talk away from prying eyes, mainly The Toddler's.

"So, how often do you clean those masks, 'cause they can get really smelly--ahhh!" max recoiled in surprise/horror when Phoebe lifted her purple mask to reveal her identity to him. 

"What are you doing here, Phoebe?" Max hissed, suddenly feeling very worried that his sister could ruin everything for him. 

"I told you I was coming to Swellview. What are you doing here?" She fired back, readjusting her mask before anyone saw her face and realised she was a spy. 

"I wanted to steal that cool new device Doctor Minyak made." Her brother reminded her that he had also told her about his plans before he had left. 

"The hamburger motor?" She guessed, not remembering the exact name of Minyak's invention, but honestly, she didn't really care.

"The heliometer." He corrected, annoyed that she had forgotten all about a gadget that could make someone of something float and sound all squeaky.

"Max, you gotta get out of here, this room is full of some of the worst, most evil people ever," Phoebe begged him, knowing that the criminals wouldn't give a fig about dropping a young and inexperienced kid like her brother if it meant saving their skins.

"You're here." He pointed out, making her roll her eyes. She hated it when he tried to. be funny.

"Yeah, but I'm here undercover with Captain Man, Kid Danger and Miss Danger--huh, huh!!" Loose lips shink ships and Phoebe clapped her hand over her mouth as she revealed her secret. Oh god, she'd just put all of her new friends in danger, crap.

"Captain Man, Kid Danger and Miss Danger are in this room?" Max gasped, smirking evilly at the new information. Oh boy, his sister couldn't keep a secret to save her life.

"No, Max, no, no, no, don't--" Phoebe sighed as he ran off, knowing she'd only draw attention to herself if she followed. 

"Hi, I'm Jeff. You wanna bite of my pie?" Max was the least of her worries. Now, she had to contend with Jeff, who was smirking at her as he ate his dessert. Ah, geez. Feeling disgusted by his flirting, Phoebe took one look at the pie and froze it with her ice breath, making the man pout. 

"Okay, what if we captured Captain Man, Kid Danger and Miss Danger, then we drop them...in the Grand Canyon!" Van Del suggested as his fellow villains oo'd and aw'd at the idea. Ray was still hiding his and (y/n)'s conjoined hands as the three worried about what the villains were gonna try and do to them, but little did they know, Phoebe was bricking it.

Max smirked at his sister as she caught his eye and he edged closer to The Toddler. He had the power to ruin everything and she was terrified.

"Then, we fill the entire Grand Canyon with mud!" Van Del finished, not seeing that his plan. was crazy. There was no wonder his entire gang of Wall Dogs got sent to jail if that was the best he could come up with.

"Okay, there's, like, 75 reasons why that plan is stupid!" Toddler snapped, wishing that he could work with someone intelligent for once. 

"Hey, we have a problem." Phoebe nudged Ray's arm and tried to keep her voice steady. The large man dropped his girl's hand immediately as he snapped his neck to her and they put some space between them. 

"Not now, I have to listen to this," Ray told her as he tried to focus on what the criminals were saying. He refused to be caught unawares by these idiots, especially since they were threatening his young sidekick and the woman he loved. Phoebe panicked as she saw Max waltzed up to The Toddler's side and she knew she had to get Captain Man to listen to her.

"Or, we go back in time when the Grand Canyon was much smaller." The Time Jerker prompted, irritating everyone.

"Please, does everything with you have to be about time travel?" Nurse Cohort asked, turning to the yellow-wearing man on her left.

"Well, I am the Time Jerker!" He snapped back, making another argument erupt. All Max needed was an opening and then he'd pounce.

"Sir?" He tapped Toddler and the shoulder, gaining his attention. Shit on it.

"What, boy?! I'm busy!" He hissed at the teen, who smirked in response. He wouldn't be using that tone in about ten seconds.

"Busy? I don't think you'll feel too busy to see some old friends of yours!" Max gloated and the glint in his eye made his sister freak out.

"No, no, no, no, no!" She squealed, but it was too late. Max used his telekinesis to lift Henry and Ray's masks off, revealing them to be superheroes. The criminals stepped back in shock, but also delight as their targets stood terrified in the middle of the room. 

"It's Captain Man and Kid Danger!" Nurse Cohort pointed at them as they gulped. This was going to be a tricky one to get out of.

"And if you look closely, that's not Vectress! It's Miss Danger in disguise!" Max added and the villains gasped again as they noticed the subtle differences between the two women. Before they were almost invisible, but now they looked properly, they were as clear as day. Oh shit. 

"Well, well, well. Roll me over and change my diaper." The Toddler growled at them, feeling pretty stupid that they had fooled him so well, especially Miss Danger. She was quite the actress it seemed.

"'Sup?" Henry greeted them all nervously as Ray slowly angled himself so (y/n) was slightly behind him. He wanted her to have the chance to escape with Henry and Phoebe, that way, she wouldn't have to face the torture of his enemies.

"Time's up, for you three." The Time Jerker replied, showing his annoyingly clever talent for making up time puns on the spot. 

"Nice one." (y/n) chuckled nervously, feeling extremely nervous at how there were so many evil glares on her.

"I'll give them a taste of my heliometer!" Doctor Minyak yelled, pointing the weapon at the trio, but Phoebe wasn't going to let them get hurt. She'd already let her idols down one, she wasn't going to let it happen again. With a strong kick, she bashed the heliometer out of Minyak's hand, making him scream in pain. 

"That third muchacho just foot kicked me, right in my hand." He whimpered, but Phoebe didn't care about his pain, nor did she care about how she'd just revealed where her loyalties lied. 

"I'm not a muchacho! I'm not even Canadian!" She said proudly and whipped off her mask to expose her hero mask. They were all so shocked at the revelation, no one noticed how Max had crawled to the back of the room where the heliometer had landed or how (y/n) was chewing one of the special gumballs.

With one strong yank, Henry, Ray and Phoebe discarded their muchacho costumes, revealing their superhero uniform underneath. The young woman next to them blew her bubble and transformed into her super suit too. She was more than relieved that Schwoz had engineered some for her so she could fight crime instantly and now, standing next to her friends, she looked pretty damn cool.

"All right, you evils, on the floor, hands behind your backs!" Captain Man ordered them, but he was outnumbered badly, so the criminals didn't pay much attention to his demands. Well, everyone except Jeff, who immediately did as he was told.

"One down, about fifteen to go." (y/n) jokingly whispered to Ray, her fists still pulled up to her chin as she got ready to throw some fists. It was inevitable, Jeff was just dumb, the others were gonna put up a fight.

"Get up, Jeff." The Toddler hissed to him.

"You're embarrassing us!" Minayk added harshly, making the fat guy scramble to his feet as the criminals closed in on the superheroes.

"Well, I'm just gonna, uh... finish this bowl of lentils..." Ray chuckled nervously, holding the bowl in his hands briefly before throwing it at the light above their heads. With the darkness to aid them, Ray, Henry, (y/n) and Phoebe made a break for it and dashed down the corridor as the evil group broke out into chaos. 

"Kid Danger! Take Phoebe and (y/n) and get out of here! I'll hold them off!" Ray said as they skidded to a halt just before the base's exit. He wanted to give his love and the kids a chance to escape and if that meant him getting captured, so be it.

"Absolutely not! I'm not leaving you!" (y/n)'s eyes widened at his words and she grasped onto the front of his uniform to stop him from going away. He'd never hold off that many thugs and she'd die if she knew something happened to him when she could've stayed and helped. She was strong now and a superhero, she could fight by his side.

"Yeah!"

"We wanna stay and fight!" Henry and Phoebe agreed as Ray looked between them and (y/n). The young woman's eyes sparkled with tears as she refused to let go, but Ray couldn't let her stay, even if it meant he might never see her again. At least he'd know that he had kept his promise to himself. She would never be hurt and she would never be unsafe because of him.

"No! There's too many of them!" Ray argued, his tone harsh, but his hands were gentle as they came up to hold (y/n)'s wrists. It pained him to push her away but he knew he had to. The villains would soon come after them and they needed to go now.

"But what about Max?" Phoebe asked in a panic, worried that her brother might get hurt from his involvement with the criminals.

"I said go! Kid, that's an order!" Ray told Henry sternly as he used his superior strength to push (y/n) away despite her protests. Henry grabbed Phoebe's hand and pulled her down the corridor as Ray tried to keep his girl from following him.

"No, I don't want you to go." She cried, wiping her tears away as she thought that this could be the last time she'd see him. There were so many unspoken feelings she wanted to tell him, but there wasn't enough time for her to tell him anything.

"I need you to get Henry and Phoebe out of here safely. There's no time to argue." He said, frantically brushing away her tears with his gloved thumbs as he heard the criminals' disorientated shouting continued. He wanted her gone now, but she couldn't without telling him. If this was their last time together, she wasn't going to waste it.

"Ray, I--" Her confession was interrupted as The Toddler let out a particularly loud shout and it made Ray panic even more. He pushed her further down the corridor, and despite her protests, he wouldn't let her get a word in edgeways.

"No, you need to go. You need to go right now." He insisted, turning around sharply to check if they were coming yet or not. It was only a matter of minutes before they came running.

"But I need to tell you that I--" She tried to say, but he just ignored her protests, thinking she was just gonna tell him that she could fight with him or something and there was no way he'd let her do that.

"Sweet girl...please, you have to go." He told her gently, making a lone tear roll down her face as she nodded slowly. Three words, just three simple words that would take anyone else three seconds to say had taken her years and now, she would wait even longer.

"Come back to me." She whispered, feeling her heart shattering as she nodded bitterly. She didn't want it to end this way.

"Always." He promised, pressing his lips to her hairline as he took in the smell of her shampoo and perfume. His love, his home, his sweet girl, always. Looking into his eyes one last time, she stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek, like it was her way of giving something of hers to take with him.

"For luck." She said, stepping back and watching him swallow nervously as the commotion got louder. He took in the sight of her again and even with her tear-stained cheeks and messy hair, she was still beautiful. 

Ray gulped and turned around, sprinting off into the darkness of the tunnel as he ran to give her the one thing she could never find; time.

"I love you." She whispered after him, even though he'd never hear it, a lost whisper that she desperately wanted to tell him. She left her confession behind as she too turned around and ran, doing exactly what he said, even though it was exactly what she didn't want to do.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Season 3 Rewatch Drabbles: 3x20 Kansas

Summary:  A series of 100-500 word drabbles to accompany my    rewatch of season 3 of Once Upon a Time.  There will be a drabble–either a deleted scene, a “fix it” fic or a character musing for each episode of the season.  Focus will be on Emma, Henry, the Charmings and Killian–with an emphasis on Captain Swan’s epic love story.

Word Count: 770

Other Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hook! Hook! Hook!  Wake up! Killian!” Emma shouted, shaking him, hearing the blinding panic in her voice.

Nothing happened.  He lay there, senseless and immobile. Not breathing. She caressed his face, leaning down close. “Killian, come back to me!”

Still nothing.  Emma knew this was what Zelena wanted.  She’d manipulated them into the exact place she wanted them.  Emma could either let him die or give him mouth to mouth–giving up her magic.

It wasn’t even a question.  She couldn’t lose him.  She couldn’t.

She’d been trying so hard, so damned hard ever since drinking the memory potion Hook had given her, to deny….well, a lot of things, but in particular the pull, the unbreakable emotional tether she had to Killian.  The thought that he had burrowed his way into her heart, that he’d begun to matter to her frankly terrified her.

Oh, she could admit she liked him.  She could admit he’d been her friend and confidant ever since Neverland. She could admit they would have been far worse off in this fight without him around.  And as for his looks, well, she wasn’t blind.  Obviously he was hot as hell.

What she hadn’t been able to admit, even to herself, is that it went deeper.  That she was beginning to care for him in a way she hadn’t cared for anyone, at least since Neal.

And so she’d told herself over and over again that she wasn’t going to let him all the way in.  She wasn’t going to give him the power to break her heart.  When all was said and done, she could walk away back to New York without a backward glance.  Leaving him behind would be no big deal.

And yet he continued to push and push and push.  It wasn’t so much that he was pestering her to be with him.  He wasn’t.  He had always, always let her set the pace of their “relationship” or whatever it was.

It was that he got to the heart of the matter.  Pushing her to move past her denial.  Pushing her to move past her fear.  Pushing her to accept that things had changed and that she couldn’t take Henry away from his family again, at least not without doing damage to both him and them.

And so she’d been snarky–nearly to the point of being cruel–as they’d trudged through the woods to Zelena’s house.

“You’ve taken care of the boy quite well here,” he’d said,  “You can talk about danger all you like, but it isn’t that. So tell me, what is it? Why are you so scared of staying?  I think it’s because you can see a future here. A happy one.”

As usual, he’d hit the nail on the head.  Back in New York before she’d taken the memory potion, he’d told her he knew her better than she knew herself, and once again, he’d proven the truth of that statement.

The fear had risen up and made her respond in a mocking, cutting tone.  One meant to dismiss.  One meant to convey that he was nothing to her.

One that was a lie from beginning to end.

“Let me guess, with you?”

For a split second, she’d seen the pain in his eyes at that, and she’d had the urge to apologize, but then, as usual, all hell had broken loose.  Zelena and Gold had shown up, and well, it all led to this moment right now.

The moment she had to admit, at least to herself, exactly what he meant to her.

“Son of a bitch,” she muttered before leaning down and letting her lips touch his.

There was an instantaneous wave.  She felt her magic lifting from her, like the removal of a cozy coat in the middle of winter.  It left her cold, vulnerable.

But there was something more, some kind of energy surge.  The deep, dark honest part of her that her conscious mind viciously kept under lock and key wondered if that had been it, proof that they’d shared a True Love’s Kiss.

And really, truth be told, what happened between them had been more like a kiss than mouth to mouth rescusitation. 

She’d sat back, looked at him, waiting, her fear mounting as the moments passed by, each one feeling like an hour.

And then he’d coughed, water spewing from his mouth, and the relief that flooded her was stronger than any she’d felt. 

He turned horrified blue eyes up at her. “Swan, what did you do?” he asked.What I had to, she thought. Nothing, absolutely nothing, would be worth letting you die.

NEXT CHAPTER->

[sweetbillwriting]

A Thousand Leaves

Part 4 - Mama's Boy

Description: A local news reporter wants to know everything about the young man that has been found imprisoned in a basement. While she searches for answers, her relationship with the young man becomes more and more complicated.

Characters: The character Henry is inspired by several of Bill Skarsgård's characters but mostly The Kid from Castle Rock. The rest are my own original characters.

Setting: The story is set in the early 90s in a nameless town with several smaller villages surrounding it.

Warnings: 18+, abuse, age difference, jealousy, victim blaming, smut, religion.

Notes: Henry Deaver is back! I noticed I changed the perspective in the middle of this story, and I'm sorry for that and I hope it doesn't affect the experience too much. It's a good idea to read the earlier chapters again before this because it is names and other things that can be hard to understand without the background.

"Where are they??" Irma said to her father angrily. She didn't think she could be so angry at him and especially not because of such a thing.

Eric Kiehl gave her a strange look and crossed his arms. They stood in her parents' hallway but it was only one of them who was mad.

"They are at one of her friends' houses. It's your mother we're talking about, honey."

Irma looked at him in annoyance. He didn't understand a thing. How would he, he was a man.

"Which friend? What are they doing there?"

"Sharon, they are cutting his hair, I think."

Her dad shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He couldn't believe his daughter was this controlling and did not even trust her own mother.

Irma clenched her jaw before she ran out the door. It was just a ten minute walk to Sharon’s and she felt like she nearly ran there. She knew what an impact Henry had on women, even some men and she wanted to protect him from middle aged women. She was also worried her mother had a bigger interest in Henry than she had pretended to but Irma wasn't comfortable really thinking about that. It would mean her mother thought about cheating against her father. Sharon lived in a big house similar to her parents. Irma didn't have time to calm down, to collect herself and knocked hard on the door. She felt it took ages for someone to open and when someone did it was her own mother.

"Oh thank God you're here!" She said it in panic and dragged her daughter into the hallway.

"Has something happened? Is he okay?" Irma said in just as much panic and looked around the house. She could hear several women talking from the living room but they were not happy, it sounded more like they were fighting.

"What's happening?" Said Irma confused while listening.

"They're fighting. About Henry!" Whisper Bea. "Take him away! I thought he would like being in our New Age meeting. Instead they started to ask him the most Inappropriate questions."

"Like what??"

"Susan even made him show his… Penis in the bathroom for her! I think she even touched it!"

Irma just stood and looked at her mother in disbelief. Her mother and her friends were calm new age women, talking about tarot and star signs but seemed to have gone crazy from meeting Henry.

"Where is he now?" Irma was calmer now but not because she felt calmness, more that she was scared that Henry felt awful. He had been abused before.

"He is with Edie in the backyard. He has it better there."

Edie was Sharon's teenage daughter. She was a bit boring and virginal and wanted to be a doctor. Irma had many times tried to talk with her but she was both shy and without social competence. Henry probably was safe with her. Irma walked through the house carefully, hoping to not get caught, instead she caught Henry on the porch. Maybe her mother's friend had been on him but it was obvious it was he that leaned into Edie, with his fingers in her hair and kissed those untouched lips.

Irma just stood and looked at them where they sat on the porch steps with her heart in her throat. Henry kissed Edie again, leaned his head to the side and let the tip of his tongue drag over her lower lip. His other hand played with her short plaid skirt.

"Henry?" Irma said his name with a low voice. She was close to tears but instead of getting an answer he bit his lip when Edie moaned. He worked his lips down Edie's neck while his hand dived in under her skirt. Edie just moaned, leaned her head back and bit her lip. She was beautiful. Really beautiful and looked so erotic. Irma had never thought she was anything special before but now it was painfully obvious why Henry had chosen to be close to the teenager.

"Henry!" Irma almost screamed with a voice full of hurt feelings. Henry looked up at Irma fast with big innocent eyes. He didn't watch her with shame, more like he didn't understand her anger.

"Is there something wrong?" He asked with his smooth voice. His hand was still under Edie's skirt.

"Don't use those… 'Little boy eyes' towards me! Come! Now!" She said determined but tears had broken free from her eyes.

Both Henry and Edie looked at her confused then at each other. Edie took his hand in her's, dragged her hand up the back of his hand and took a vise grip around his wrist. Henry looked at her with big eyes, like he was in love.

"Henry! She's a fucking teenager! She is seventeen years old!"

"I'm nineteen actually." Edie's voice was much harder than her usual shy voice.

"Who the fuck cares! Henry is my boyfriend!"

It wasn't like they had decided that but he was more or less her boyfriend.

"Am I?" Henry said confused while playing with Edie's hand.

"Just come now!" Irma stomped her foot and it finally made Henry stand up.

She took his hand forcefully and dragged him away from the porch, through the house. It felt like she had a fire in her heart, burning of rage and jealousy.

She continued to drag him home but slowed down when she realized Henry followed her without force.

"Have I done something wrong?" He whispered. He looked at her with those big multicolored eyes and blinked slowly. He really looked like a confused boy. Irma stopped and looked up at him while he played with the edge of his dark blue sweater. He swallowed dryly when he saw Irma's hurt look.

"I thought… I thought we were a thing," she said and lowered her eyes.

"A thing?"

"Yes."

Henry stood quiet and looked at her up and down.

"What do you mean with 'a thing'?"

Irma raised her head and looked at him. She drowned in his eyes and sighed. He really was confused. He didn't get it.

"What you did with Edie… With me… You should just do that with one person."

"Why? It's really nice… Why not… With more people?"

Irma didn't know how to answer his question. He didn't seem to have that sort of romantic feelings for her so why would she tell him about her own? She shouldn't even have those feelings, she should write an article about him.

Irma continued to walk in silence with Henry one step behind her.

"Why can't I kiss a teenager?"

Irma bit her lip and closed her eyes. She didn't want to talk about this with him but she had chosen to take care of him.

"Because you're too old. You're an adult, she's still a child."

"I thought we didn't know my age?"

Irma sighed in anger and continued to walk. She was tired of him. Maybe he didn't understand but it was still awful behavior.

×××

While Henry was reading in one of the armchairs in the living room, Irma sat with Bea, her mother, in the kitchen. They both sat quietly, stunned by everything that had happened. The awful questions to Henry, the fighting, the abuse but then also his cozy meeting with Edie.

"He was probably in some sort of shock, the poor thing. He is such a beautiful man with an amazing aura and gets awful treatment because of it," said Bea and shook her head. Irma knew it wasn't that easy. It was obvious Henry was a sexual person, maybe even liking to degrade and manipulate people but he didn't seem to have any knowledge about boundaries. He was a confused, traumatized man but probably with a background very different from the person her mother could see.

"Was he hard?" When Susan… abused him?"

Bea swallowed hard and looked down at her hands. It was obvious she didn't want to answer.

"He was, wasn't he? Maybe he actually even wanted it?" Irma shook her head of distaste. "He wanted it, right? You also saw it, his other face."

"He's just confused. He doesn't know what he wants. It happens to many abuse victims. They don't feel like they own their own body."

Bea laid her hand on her chest like she felt pain for him. Irma just looked at the backyard, the orange and brown leaves lying on the ground. Maybe she was the one in the wrong here. Henry was such an innocent creature, probably just taking after the person, or people who had abused him. He didn't know better.

She heard Henry's dragging footsteps coming into the kitchen. His eyes were big, glassy and he looked like he was in panic.

"What is it, honey?” Asked Bea worriedly and stood up. She blocked Irma's view of him and they talked with low voices. Irma wondered what it was all about and wanted to ask but didn't want to make him more upset. Henry turned and walked out the kitchen and Bea looked at her daughter with a sad look.

"He had fallen asleep and urinated himself. Because of his nightmares… It’s happened a few times before. You must see that he is a victim in this?" Said Irma's mother, upset before walking out from the kitchen, to Henry in the bathroom.

×××

Irma decided to stay for dinner that day, not really because she wanted to be with her parents but because she really wanted to show Henry how sorry she was. She had acted like he was any other guy even if he was far from it. He had probably lived in a cage for years, gotten abused and lost his memory because of the trauma. Who knows how he had been placed in that cage, maybe that was one more traumatic reason. She couldn't think of him as a regular guy because he didn't even know how to be one. She sat and looked at him while he ate. In the beginning he had just eaten white bread, now he ate a pasta salad. His stomach was still sensitive and acted up if he ate too much fat or spices. He ate carefully and slowly with a low gaze. Bea gave her daughter a disappointed look and shook her head. She knew Henry didn't eat that carefully anymore and blamed her daughter for making him uncomfortable.

Irma cleared her throat and tried to find Henry's eyes but it was so hard she gave up.

"Henry? I'm sorry I… Got mad at you. I know it can't be easy for you to know how to act."

Irma thought back on the memory of him on Halloween.

"I was just the person they wanted me to be."

Had he done the same to her? Played a role as the sexy guy because that was what she wanted? Maybe it was a thing he had been taught in the cage. She looked at his brown hair that was shorter and his big hands that weren't at all as skinny as when he was in the institution. Irma made a sob and looked down at her plate. Her mother had really cared for him and she was so occupied trying to sleep with him, seize him to really care for him. Irma looked at her mother with tears running down her cheeks.

"And I'm sorry mom… I know you want his best."

Henry looked up at the two women and then at the man of the house. Eric smiled pleased, especially when Bea first looked at Henry then smiled at their daughter. She took her hand in her's and squeezed it.

"It's okay, honey."

Irma looked at Henry who watched her but didn't smile.

"You can be with Edie if you like. It's none of my business." The word pained in her mouth especially when Henry smiled a little and looked down at his salad.

"Thank you," he said with a low voice and fixed his hair.

They sat silently for a while in the dining room. There wasn't an empty chair anymore and Irma looked at the man who had filled it. He was a part of the family now and maybe she should see him more as a brother.

"Would it be okay if I stay over? It would feel so empty going back to my apartment," she said and looked at her father. He licked his lips and looked at her mother instead. It usually was her father who decided in their home but it seemed like it had changed. Irma looked at her mother who looked bothered.

"I think Henry needs some rest… It has been an eventful day."

Irma looked shocked at her mother and furrowed her brows. She was their child, not Henry. Wasn't she always welcomed?

Irma made a sound of offense and looked at Henry sitting at her brother's chair. Her brother Isaiah had been the favorite child when he was alive, ambitious and liked by everyone, it seemed like her parents had a new golden child and it wasn't even their own.

"It's okay… But… but can I have the bed?" Said Henry carefully to her. Bea watched her daughter worriedly then Henry.

"Of course honey, she can't kick you out of your bed. You need it because of your back."

Irma didn't know if she should laugh or cry. The situation was bizarre and she thought about just going home but she needed to take back her family. If she would go home he would become even more of the child.

×××

Irma got to sleep in the guestroom. The bed in that room was the smaller one she had had when she was ten, the one in her room was Isaiah's old one that she had inherited after he had passed away. The bed Henry slept in now. The small bed wasn't comfortable at all so maybe it was also that, that made her walk into her room in the middle of the night after a toilet visit. She hadn't meant to go to Henry, it was probably just an old habit that made her walk into the bigger room.

Henry laid on his back in the bed. He was snoring lightly but it wasn't what Irma's attention was on, it was his body. It had changed drastically since the last time she saw it undressed. He layed in just a pair of bright red boxers that enhanced his bulge. He had lean muscles in every body part and she could see them move when he changed position. She wondered if he had worked out or where the muscles had come from. She walked closer and looked at the abs and muscular chest. Her mother hadn't said a thing about him working out. His hand moved but Irma didn't think about that until it took a hold of her hand and he laid it on his abs. She looked up at his face in surprise and he smiled at her.

"It looked like you wanted to touch…" He said softly and stretched out so she could see his body even better.

"Have you… you... Ehh.. Like have you worked out?" She said embarrassed and let her fingers drag over his stomach, down to the elastic of his boxers.

Henry smiled and shook his head.

"I'm just this way."

Irma looked down at his body again and giggled a little. He was too perfect. She dragged her palm over his body to feel everything better, chest, stomach, v-line but also down over his bulge. She continued her movement over his boxers when she got a reaction and Henry dragged them down when he was fully hard to show off his impressive size. Perfect. Just perfect.

Henry sat up on the edge, leaned back on his hands and gave her a smirk. Irma wouldn't be able to say why she knew, but in that moment she knew what he wanted. Slowly she took off her clothes and let him watch intensely, then she crawled up in the bed and took her position on all fours. She couldn't see Henry anymore, just felt his movements on the mattress. He crawled up behind her, on his knees and stood there a long time without touching her. Maybe he touched himself. Maybe he just enjoyed seeing her position with her butt in the air. Irma just waited patiently but hoped he would penetrate her soon. He did after a while but after having spanked her five times. He didn't make a sound about it, just did it like it was the most natural thing. Irma giggled in surprise but just waited for his cock. When he pushed into her she was so wet he slipped in with ease but still she could feel every vein, every twitch.

×××

The house was old but we'll maintained but the house's natural sounds they couldn't do much about. When it was windy the sound became worse so that night Irma woke up from the house stretching and banging. She looked around confused but remembered her embrace with Henry. She could feel his cum all over her back but also how sore she was on the inside, her ass and her hair roots that he had pulled on hard but Henry was gone from the bed. The house made a loud bang but that wasn't everything she heard, she could also hear voices. Whispering voices, close but still a bit away from her. She turned towards the door and her eyes met a dim light from the doorway. It took a while for her eyes to get used to the light but when she did she could clearly see Henry, dressed in only his boxers and her mother in a robe. They stood close together and her mother laughed. Even if it was dark could Irma see how her eyes twinkled while watching Henry, how her eyes shifted between his face and his body. Henry wore an innocent smile and took her mother's hand in his. Irma couldn't hear what they talked about but she doubted she wanted to hear it. Once again it didn't seem like her mother thought of Henry as a son at all.

×××

It was obvious something was weird with Henry. Not just what has happened to him but it was something else. Irma had her article to write and she knew it could be an interesting article, nothing anyone had expected. The only thing that had stopped her from digging was her feelings for Henry. Henry, with multicolored eyes and a velvet voice. She still had feelings for him, maybe more than ever but she also had more questions than she had ever had.

The next day she left Henry to her mother's care and took her parents' car to the town Luna had lived in. The town of The New Church of The Glorious Light. She left her sunny town, in orange and red and went to the gray corner a few hours away. The trees there had already lost all their leaves and the houses didn't look like they had gotten love in a long time. Irma didn't know where to start and parked her car by the church. Or could you even say it was a church? It had lost most of its roof and it seemed like birds and bats had moved into it. Irma couldn't see a person, it looked like the whole town was abandoned. She sighed to herself and dragged her hand over her soft suede jacket. She must start somewhere, she thought to herself and looked at the biggest house on the street. It was much bigger than the rest and had two cars by the garage. She would start there, ask them about Henry Deaver, the church musician and hope that they weren't new in town. She looked at the sign by a dead bush while she walked up the driveway.

Kevin, Esther & Ewe

The Munro Family

×

[xxrainshadowsxx]

Interpersonal Chapter 12

Fighting, family trauma, and the use of a certain word that can't be taken back.

TW: When I say family trauma, I do mean it. I don't go into a lot of detail, but there are a few mentions of emotional manipulation/abuse from family members, starting with the line "What exactly did they do to you?" and sprinkled throughout the rest of the chapter.

A few weeks later, you were sitting in the living room, waiting for Onceler to get home. Despite being thrust into an unfamiliar world, you’d also had some of the best days of your life. Henry had accepted your move out without complaint after you’d handed him the check, giving you a “Good luck,” as a parting gift, the media attention had largely died down with nothing new to report, and now you were just a woman living in blissful harmony with her boyfriend.

You still get butterflies when you wake up in the mornings and he was in the bed with you. Everyday you learned more about his quirks and mannerisms, like the fact that he was a surprisingly good cook. He was very much an artsy type, and you spent long hours discussing your favorite books, movies, and especially music.

And of course, your physical passion only grew as well. Now that you were living together, it was nigh impossible for you to keep your hands off each other; you had sex on an almost daily basis. Sometimes it was hard and fast, desperation for each other over boiling, but other times it was slow and sensual, lasting long hours into the night. You had no other word for those long sessions other than making love, as clichéd as it was. It was foreign to you, but you loved it. You loved adoring and being adored by him.

And now that the media attention had largely subsided, you felt like you could finally start applying for jobs again. Which is what you’re currently doing: sending out your resume, anxiously waiting to hear back from anyone as you anticipated his return home for the night.

Your old laptop had just pinged with an email when you heard him coming in from a couple rooms over. “I’m in here,” you call out to him before looking over the email. Finally, finally, it was an offer for an interview. “Yes!” you cheer just as he walks in.

“What’s up?” he asks as he takes off his jacket and drapes it over the back of the sofa. You lean your head back to kiss him quickly. 

“I finally got an interview scheduled,” you announce. But instead of sharing your joy, he frowns as he takes a seat next to you.

“Why do you need a job?” he asks. “I make more than enough to support the both of us.”

You barely resist the urge to sigh. As lovely as most of the last few weeks had been, there was still one issue that came up frequently between the two of you: his wealth. You simply hadn’t adjusted to the sort of privilege he’d become used to. The amount of money he could throw around was staggering to you, and you were uncomfortable whenever he tried spending it on you, especially after he’d already spent way too much to pull the strings to get you out of your lease to be free to move in with him.

“It’s not about money,” you say carefully. “It’s more about having something to do during the day. I’ve told you, I get bored when I’m just sitting here.”

“And anything you might want to do, I can get for you,” he mumbles. He knows exactly how you feel about him spending money on you, but he can’t for the life of him understand why you don’t like it so much, no matter how many times you try to explain. You didn’t want to feel like you were using him. He felt as if he offered, it didn’t matter.

“I know, but I’d rather have a job,” you squirm uncomfortably. The boredom was only one reason. You knew he wouldn’t like the other reason, so you were loathe to bring it up.

“Where is it that you applied to anyway?” he asks, and you barely suppress a wince. He’s not going to like this either.

“Well, I’ve been applying to a lot of places. The one that just got back to me about an interview is for a receptionist for a real estate company here in town,” you say lightly, being purposely vague. Maybe he wouldn’t have heard of them?

No such luck. His eyes immediately narrow in suspicion as he looks over your shoulder at the email you’d stupidly left open. “No. Absolutely not,” he growls when he sees the name of the firm. “I know that place. They’re all men. No way.”

And there was his jealous streak. While it occasionally made you feel flattered, there was a very fine line between jealousy that was okay and jealousy that was too much. And with him, it got out of hand way too often. And you weren’t in much of a mood to put up with it.

“I wasn’t aware you had any say in my job,” you say icily, warning clear in your tone as you snap your laptop shut.

“And I wasn’t aware you felt the need to make me uncomfortable with where you want to work,” he shoots back. 

“What is your issue?” you finally explode, losing all control. “Do you not trust me or something? Do you seriously think I’m going to cheat on you with anyone?”

“I trust you, it’s them I don’t trust!” You’re both on your feet now, straight-up yelling at each other. This wasn’t the first fight you’ve had, but it was the first since you’ve started dating, and that made everything so much worse.

“What, you don’t think I can look after myself? You’re freaking out over something that might not even happen,” you huff.

“And you don’t seem to care if something does,” he growls. “Sorry for not wanting people to flirt with my girlfriend. I didn’t realize that was such a fucking crime.”

You’re about a second away from pulling your own hair out at this point. “Not wanting people to flirt with me is fine. Trying to control what I do isn’t. And you need to get your jealousy under control.”

“And why is it only me that has to change?” he asks, now sounding almost more confused than angry. “You just went and demanded something of me right after saying I wasn’t allowed to demand anything of you. How is that okay?”

“You could ask things if they were reasonable.” By now you’re completely shouting, and you’re glad that he doesn’t live in an apartment. In a more rational frame of mind, you could have acknowledged that he was making some good points, but you were far from the point of rationality. You just wanted to be told you were in the right. “Demanding I not work is not fucking reasonable and it’s not something I’m willing to bend on!”

He narrows his eyes. “This is about more than boredom,” he accuses. “You’d come to a compromise if that was the only problem. So what is this really about?”

Shit. He’s stumbled across the bigger truth of the matter. You were hoping to avoid this if at all possible, but you guess it was bound to come out sooner or later, and better sooner you guess. You take a deep breath to try and calm down a bit, because you know this is just going to further incite him. “I need a job to be financially independent just in case we break up,” you say in as even a voice as you can manage.

He swears under his breath. “I knew it. I fucking knew it,” he spits out venomously. He hates it when you mention taking precautions; he seems to think you think breaking up is an inevitability instead of a possibility. “Why do you keep doing this? Are you trying to tell me something? Are you planning on breaking up with me?”

“Don’t you dare put words in my mouth!” you snarl, anger rising again. “I don’t have any intentions of breaking up with you, but I can’t become totally reliant on you in case something does happen, we’ve been over this.”

“And the way you talk, you sound like you expect that. Like you need to get all of this stuff done today because you think we could end tomorrow. Do you know how much that fucking hurts that you have such little faith in us?��� His tone is shifting away from anger again, as he starts to actually open up about why he feels the way he does. He hasn’t done this before, he’s only said he doesn’t like it without saying why. Invitation there, you push.

“No, I don’t know because you haven’t bothered to tell me why before.”

“Because I’m in love with you and I can’t bear the thought of losing you!” he blurts out. You have no reply, but you feel your eyes go wide as silence hangs heavy in the air, though only for a moment. “I have to go, I need to clear my head,” he mumbles before stalking out of the room, and you hear the slam of the front door a few seconds later. You sink onto the couch as your knees fail you, and you attempt to process what you just heard.

Whatever you had been expecting him to say, it wasn’t that. Neither of you had actually used the L word yet. Hell, you’d never used that word with anyone before. Liking people was one thing. Loving them was something else entirely.

You didn’t doubt that was how he really felt. He was nothing if not sincere. He very much wore his heart on his sleeve and wasn’t the type to fake emotions or say what he thought you wanted to hear to get himself out of trouble. You’d be shocked if the thought of doing so had ever even occurred to him. 

No, his feelings didn’t scare you… much. What scared you was that, unwittingly, he was forcing an introspection that you hadn’t wanted. It had been blissful so far. Why add another element that could potentially jeopardize that?

But he’d put it out there, and now the question had to be asked. You liked him. You loved things about him. But were you in love with him?

Your first instinct is to recoil away from the idea, like you’ve been doing your whole life. It hadn’t been long enough. You hadn’t even known him for a whole year. Love needed longer to blossom, you were sure of it.

Except… no, it didn’t. Your parents had been set up on a blind date, and each of them had said they knew by the end of the night that they’d just met the person they were going to marry. Love had come quickly, and never left. You had never doubted your parents’ love for each other. They had their problems, of course, like any couple, but had always come out stronger because of them. Before the car accident and your mother’s death, they had been close to thirty years of marriage and looking good for thirty more.

You couldn’t claim the time excuse. You had to go deeper and actually confront your feelings, and be honest with yourself, no matter the answer.

You remembered asking your mother once what being in love felt like. You’d been young, only about ten or so, but her answer had stayed with you even after all these years. She’d smiled at you and said, “Well, sweetie, love looks different for everyone, but when you can’t imagine your life without them, that’s usually a good sign.” She’d later expanded on that, saying that even when you were secure and happy by yourself, and still couldn’t imagine a life without the other person, and if you were willing to put their happiness above your own, that was love.

And that couldn’t be the case. You’d only… spent the last several months trying to make him smile, no matter the cost. Okay, so you wanted him to be happy. That didn’t mean anything by itself. It would be weird if you didn’t want your boyfriend to be happy.

But you’d also taken on several extra burdens when you were working for him when things were particularly stressful, just to ease his load. And that had been before you started dating.

But you could live your life without him! However, the second you started thinking about it, you could only picture a life that was cold and gray. It could barely be classified as living. Every cell in your body rebelled against it, and it wasn’t the first time you’d had that reaction; you’d had an identical one when you’d contemplated quitting after sleeping with him for the first time.

It didn’t make sense. It defied logic. It went against everything you stood for. But you promised yourself you’d be honest. And by looking deep into your heart…

Oh. Oh.

You sat shell-shocked in the room until you heard the front door open and then close gently. You look up hopefully, but after a few moments pass and he doesn’t reappear in the room, you frown and go looking for him. You need to talk to him, now.

You’ve gotten to know the house better, but it’s still a bit of a challenge for you to navigate. Luckily, he’s in the first room you check: your bedroom. He’s sitting on the bed, pulling his shoes off, so you don’t think he sees you poke your head into the room. “Oncie? Baby?” you say softly.

He looks up then and you can see that his anger, while it hasn’t completely abated, has certainly diminished. “Don’t be cute,” he murmurs. “That’s not fair.” There’s just the barest hint of a smile playing on his lips, so you take it as an invitation to sit down next to him.

“Are you feeling better? Go for a drive or something?” you start off, feeling it’s probably better to work up to big emotions rather than just dropping them.

“Just a walk. I didn’t trust myself to drive,” he answers. “And yes, I’m better. Not great… but better. What about you?”

“I’m better too. More calm. Able to have a conversation now,” you promise. “But first things first. I’m sorry for yelling at you. I don’t like doing that.”

“I’m sorry for yelling too,” he sighs. “That’s why I left. I knew I was just going to end up saying something I regretted.” He winces. “Or, I guess, more things I regretted.” He bites his lip and can’t seem to look you in the eye.

You feel your heart drop like a stone in your stomach. “Does that mean you don’t actually mean what you said?” you whisper, willing yourself not to get misty-eyed.

Now, he looks at you dead in the face. “I meant every word,” he promises, and relief floods over you, encompassing you like a warm blanket on a winter’s night. “I just wish I’d been able to tell you in a different way rather than yelling it out in the middle of a fight.”

“Well, I’m glad you said it,” you murmur. He opens his mouth again in confusion, but before he can speak you quickly continue. “No, wait. Let me finish?” He nods slowly, and you grab his hands just for something to ground yourself. This was it.

“I did a lot of thinking while you were out. And you were right. I wasn’t being fair by refusing to compromise. Whatever we do, I want you to be comfortable. You are the most important thing in my life, not some job or my pride… because I am absolutely in love with you too.”

He looks at you in wondrous disbelief for a minute before taking your face in between his hands and kissing you frantically, like he’s never really kissed you before. You respond in kind, eager to drink in this man that you had, somehow, fallen so completely for. You still didn’t understand it, but you were sure of what you felt, for once.

“I love you… I love you… I love you,” he whispers in between kisses, a mantra that you could hear for the rest of your life and never get tired of.

“I love you,” you repeat as you pull back, and again, it just feels so right. He gives you that same wondrous expression before pulling you into his arms, holding you tightly against him for several minutes.

“I don’t care if you take that job,” he murmurs after a while, still holding you. “You were right, I was letting my jealousy get the better of me. And I trust you. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me on purpose.”

“Thank you,” you whisper. “And again, I promise I don’t plan on leaving. I don’t ever want to leave you.”

He finally releases his hold on you, but you don’t go far; you keep your head on his shoulder. “You don’t know how much hearing that means,” he says. “After everything, especially with my family, it’s almost too good to be true.”

“What exactly did they do to you?” you ask. You knew it was bad. You knew it had damaged his psyche to the point where he felt the effects every single day, whether he knew it or not. But he hadn’t gotten into the specifics of it with you yet. You didn’t want to push him too far, but you also couldn’t help unless you knew what they had done.

He doesn’t say anything for a long time, instead changing into a T shirt and sweats, which is what he usually sleeps in. He lays down on the bed and you slide next to him, resting your head on his chest. He has a haunted, faraway look in his eyes, but he finally begins to speak.

“For as long as I can remember, my mother’s affection has been conditional. Unless I was useful to her in some way, she made it very clear she didn’t really care to have me around. Over the years, all I heard was that I would never amount to anything.”

Anger bubbles up in your chest again, not at him this time, but at his mother. If you ever see that woman again, it’s going to take an act of the divine to stop you from leaving an imprint of your hand on her face.

“When I left to start my company, of course she thought I’d be a failure. And when it took a while to get started, I believed it too. Why wouldn’t I? That’s all I’d been taught to believe my whole life. But… well, you know what happened then. The thneed took off. I made a lot of money very quickly.” He smiles ruefully. “And suddenly, I was very useful to her.”

"What a bitch!" you exclaim, unable to help yourself. He just shrugs, almost as if in defeat, before continuing on.

"Yeah. Well, I was useful. She came, my brothers came, my aunt and uncle came, and they were all saying how proud they were of me. That was literally all I had ever wanted my entire life. I knew what she was doing, but I forced myself to look the other way… until I couldn't anymore."

His face gets dark and he grips you tight, holding onto you like a lifeline. "I caught her one day planning to embezzle company funds with my aunt and uncle. After that, I couldn't keep pretending she was actually there because she cared about me. I sent her away, I cut her off, she tried every tactic she could think of to try and squeeze more money out of me. In the end, she just gave me even more of a fear that people would only ever use me." He closes his eyes tightly, and you throw your arm over him, hugging him as best you can from your current position.

When he finally opens his eyes, he's looking directly into yours. "And then just a couple weeks later, you came into my life. And you changed everything," he whispers in sheer awe. "What you've done for me, what you are to me, is better than anything I deserve or ever could've asked for myself." He pulls you even closer to him. "I love you so much."

"Believe me, you've changed me too," you murmur. "I never expected to fall in love so quickly, and to not be scared of admitting it. But you've made me not scared. You've made me excited and… giddy is the best way I can describe it. Euphoric."

He presses a kiss to the top of your head. His story had explained so much; why he was so touch starved, so needing of constant reassurances, even the way he showed affection–spending exorbitant amounts of money–suddenly made all the sense in the world. That was all he knew.

And yet, he was learning what you needed, and very willing to do so. He made such an effort to be present in every moment with you, which is all you wanted. He'd changed your life just as much as he claimed you changed his. It wasn't just being in the public eye, though that had definitely been an adjustment. No, the biggest change he'd brought to your life was, inexplicably, peace. You felt whole when you were with him.

"How far away is that real estate place from my office?" he asks after a few moments, breaking you out of your musings.

"Not far. Probably only a ten minute walk," you reply sleepily. "Why?"

"For my own peace of mind, would you care too much if I picked you up everyday?" he asks hesitantly. "I still don't love the idea of you being surrounded by a bunch of guys all day, but I'm not going to stop you. Just hoping this is something we can compromise on."

You nod your head easily. That wasn't a problem to you in the slightest. "Like I said, whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I know your family fucked you up, but we can grow beyond that. We just need to take baby steps."

He gives you another kiss on the top of your head as thanks before pulling a blanket over the both of you, seemingly about to go to sleep. But you had one last question, and better to get it out now instead of bringing this up again later.

"Did you ever find out why she did this to you?" you ask. "Is this just what she's like with everyone, or is it specific to you?"

"It's more or less the same with everyone. Just the worst with me," he mutters without opening his eyes. "I heard her say once that I reminded her of my dad, which is obvious since I don't look like anyone else in the family, and from her tone of voice, I don't think the comparison was a good one, at least not to her. But she's never given a definitive reason. Probably just narcissism."

"Your brothers don't remind her of your dad?"

He snorts. "Doubtful, considering they have a different one. I don't know if they ever knew him, but he was gone by time I was born. And they look a bit like her, but they especially look like my uncle, her brother. So there's more of a family resemblance with them that I didn't get."

You bury your head in his neck now that you have your answers. "I swear I won't be like her," you reiterate.

"I know you won't be," he murmurs before he lets sleep overtake him.

You were determined to keep your promise. You loved him, and the two of you were slowly but surely building your own kind of family together. And you would do everything in your power to keep his heart from further harm.

Thank you so much for all the likes, follows, comments, and whatnot. I had a very rough week, and each time I got a notification, it really lifted my spirits more than you could know.

[dangerdazee]

what do u think chapa would be doing when df ended? something with bose idk

i wasn't sure if you meant this as in after the show ended or after the team came to an end, so i just went with both lol

post show finale:

well ofc it's heavily implied at the end that Danger Force continue crime fighting, taking over as the primary heroes of Swellview.

and they should still have at least another year of high school left! i'm not sure if they were finishing middle school when DF started or starting high school when DF started... but either way they should have at least a year left. if they were in their last year of middle school, they'd still have two years of high school. if they were starting high school, they'd have one year left.

it's kinda hard for me to think about what their lives might look like now though. i mean, they no longer have Ray or Schwoz. there's a new level of responsibility on them.

honestly i feel like Chapa probably struggles handling it all, prioritizes Danger Force, and ends up not doing well in school. i don't think it's a Henry situation or anything though. she'll graduate, Mika will make sure of that.

you mentioned Bose, so thinking about her friendship with Bose... hm. in season 3, Bose starts talking about his birth dad a lot more. he also seems a less like the cheery boy we met in season 5 of Henry Danger, yknow? he seems a bit more down. i feel like those two correlate: the uptick in his mentions of his birth dad and his less cheery demeanor. it seems like he started thinking about his family life a lot more than he used to and that's affecting him. i could definitely see Chapa being someone he talks to about all of that. i feel like she would listen to him well and be able make sense of things he says. she's kind of a shoulder to lean on, someone who helps him to not bottle it up in his own mind. gotta love their friendship. (he does what she does lol)

post danger force retirement:

we saw what happened when she wasn't being pushed to the good side. she went to the bad side. between seasons 2 and 3, she became a criminal.

that honestly surprises me. bc idk how some of the other DF kids let that slide. i know everyone is scared of her, but when it comes to something serious, they will confront her and stand their ground. and i feel like Chapa turning to a life of crime is something they'd be trying to keep her from??

so i think that's where she naturally goes to after DF calls it quits, but i don't think her friends would just sit by and let it happen this time. they would at least try to keep her from it. try to keep her occupied, try full-on confrontation, whatever method.

she definitely kept any gum balls she had left in her container lol. she even tried to keep them when Ray made them all turn in their gum in Power Problems, so no doubt in my mind that she brought home all the red gum she had this time. she probably tries to save it, but she might pop a bubble every once in a while. for the memories, yknow?

i can't think of much Bose-centric to add, really. they're still friends. they're still Chapa and Bose. they miss seeing each other as often as they used to. but of course that applies to Mika and Miles with Chapa and Bose just as much and vice versa. at this point, they're all out of school and not meeting up at the Man's Nest every day anymore. life takes over and they just can't see each other as often. i definitely think there would be some planned DF meetup days where they all plan a time to hang out for a while, but i could also see Chapa and Bose spending time together on their own. it's great to be with all your friends, but sometimes there's one friend you end up spending a little extra time with cause you just have that extra-time kind of connection, and i think they definitely have that kind of friendship.

also, i feel like DF had some almost-breakup moments before they actually ended it. times when tension got too high and people said things they shouldn't have and conflict got too much and whatever evil they were battling was too much stress on them and suddenly they're on the verge of ending DF. it never actually happened though. not entirely, at least. maybe they got really close and maybe even they all separated for a day, but it never lasted.

[rissararity]

Mercy Rose - (Steve Rogers/oc)

(Mira attempts to fight off Steve's attackers and ends up not much better off than him)

CHAPTER TWO:

Word count: 913

Mira missed the bus home and ran all the way there, hoping by some miracle she’d get there first.

She’d heard through the grapevine at school  that a group of boys were planning on using beating up Steve as an initiation for a new kid that wanted to join their friend group.

She tried to tell Bucky at school but LouAnn was NOT going to let her get a word in. She knew he sometimes hangout with Steve, and wanted to make sure their date was still on for the evening.

So the sixteen year old was sprinting through town at full speed, ignoring the disgruntled shouts of those she nearly took out.

If only she could fly!

Lungs burning, she followed her ears to another ally where she could see a group of boys from her school, and a mop of blonde on the ground.

Seeing red, she strode over “What the hell are you doing?!” she grabbed one of the boys and shoved him aside to break the semi-circle and get to her friend.

Mira screamed and covered her mouth at the dirty, blood covered pile of skin and bones. “How could you!? Asshole!” she pulled her fist back and sucker punched the new boy with everything she had, sending him to the ground.

The other boys hooted and hollered, laughing. “Are you really gonna take that from a dame?” the leader, Troy, asked.

The boy turned his eyes to the beautiful, teary eyed girl and hesitated.

“Momma says woman beaters go to hell.” His South Carolina drawl sounded.

Troy snickered, “Of course she’d say that. She’s a woman.” He snapped his fingers, making his lacky-Elmer- grab both of her arms, holding them back and keeping her still.

“Let go! Fuck off!” Mira growled, pulling as hard as she could but unable to make Elmer budge.

Troy’s hand flew across her cheek, a sharp sting and tinge of blood on her lip  appeared. She gasped in shock, glaring at him.

“A lady doesn’t speak so crass.”

“Fuck off, asshole.” She spat, pulling harder at her captor.

Troy’s green  eyes hardened, handsome face contorting in anger, “You know what, Henry? We’ll get back to you. Go home.” He didn’t look at the person he was talking to.

“Sure thing!” Henry scurried off, tripping over himself in his haste.

The others closed in around Mira and Elmer, Steve-forgotten- slowly tried to sit up to intervene but his body wobbled and creaked in response to his efforts.

“You wouldn’t hit a lady!”  she tried.

Troy smirked,  “Well, you see angel face, you just proved to me that you’re not a lady.” He paused, watching her jaw drop, a handprint now clear on her cheek.

“and that makes you fair game.”

…

When Bucky found them after twenty minuets of frantic searching, they sat on the ground next to each other, leaning against the wall for support.

Both had a split eyebrow, fat lip and assorted bruises all over. He had a bloody nose and her lower lip was split, bleeding and bruised.

Still, he saw the telltale shine of her powers being used flicker against the brick. That’s actually how he found them.

When he rounded the corner of the dumpster he cursed aloud as he took in the state of the blondes.

Mira looked dizzy but tried to focus on Steve’s bruised ribs, her head dropped every few seconds but she jerked it back quickly.

That was the first time Bucky realized how much of an angel she really was. Injured and in pain, and she still prioritized Steve over healing herself.

The bright silver light cast an ethereal glow across her features, both figuratively and literally making him see her in a new light. Even while battered and exhausted, she was trying to help Steve.

He had no doubt she’d angered one of the assailants who really let her have it, with the looks of her bruised knuckles she’d even hit one of them.

His face fell as she looked up at him in surprise,  one eye crusted with blood. His chest tightened as guilt gripped his heart.

He should have been here. She TRIED to tell him. He should have told LouAnn to pipe down and let her talk.

All affection he once had for that girl died immediately.

Teary eyed himself, Bucky fell to his knees before his friends and carefully pulled them into his chest, able to fit both thanks to Steve’s scrawny frame.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have been here.” He felt tears soak into his shirt on Mira’s side. “I should have told that dumb broad to shut it. I’ll never let any of ‘em treat you like that again-Angel, I mean it.” He swore, kissing the top of her head.

“He’s gonna be out for a couple of days at least.  I’ll be good to go by tomorrow,  but my aunt hasn’t been feeling great lately so I might have to stay home and take care of her a while. If I don’t come in tomorrow –“

Bucky chuckled, “Yes, I’ll swing by and grab your homework along with Steve’s and leave it between the screen and wooden door.”

“Right.” Her giggle was cut short by a gasp of pain as she accidently tugged at her lip cut.

The oldest boy frowned at the sound he swore he’d never forget. Her sound of pain.

He never wanted to hear it again.