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charliedawn · 2 years ago

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Caught under the mistletoe

Hannibal family x Reader

Peter was caught off guard when he noticed the mistletoe above the threshold.

He looked behind you and saw his two brothers looking at him with big mischievous smiles. He instantly knew it was their doing.

Hannibal Jr. had decided to go and retrieve Hannibal Sr. for the day, leaving plenty of time for Morgan and Kevin to plot his embarrassment.

He quickly understood Kevin had set up the whole house and Morgan was holding a camera in his hands.

They probably expected you to just reject him on the spot or tell him you didn't want to kiss him.

He tried not to roll his eyes.

However, he was agreeably surprised when you didn't reject or refuse the kiss, you were even the one to engage first.

He thought it would be a simple peck on the lips, something innocent enough that his two brothers would quickly get bored of..But boy, was he wrong.

You grabbed him by the collar and in an instant, you were kissing him with fire.

He wasn't one to deny an early Christmas gift and decided to indulge in the tradition before kissing you back with just as much passion or even more.

Problem was, he got so caught up in the moment, he completely forgot about his two witnesses.

It was finally Kevin who had to step in.

Kevin *laughs awkwardly* : "Hum..Not to be an a** or anything but, the food is gonna get cold."

Morgan *keeps filming*

You addressed Kevin a mischievous smirk before closing the door behind you.

Kevin instantly tried to look for his keys, but realized he had left them inside and so had Morgan.

They had tried to set Peter up, a few minutes outside would make them think twice.

Peter would have normally opened the door for them in the following minute..

But, when you kissed him again, he completely lost it.

At this point, nothing could have snapped Peter out of it and at the end, the two other boys had to wait 10 minutes outside before they were allowed back in.

Kevin was surprised. He was usually the one pranking people, but he got trapped under the mistletoe anyway.

No doubt Morgan was behind this..

Kevin *nervously scratching the back of his head and looking at everything but you* : "Hey. We don't gotta..You know..No worries."

He tried to tell you you didn't need to kiss him, but when you admitted you wanted to, his eyes widened in shock.

"You want to...okay ? Sure. No problem."

He tried to shrug it off as casual, but was literally panicking inside.

Intense mental self-doubt activated.

Kevin is a very nervous boy in general and even though it doesn't show often because of his constant teasing and verbal overconfidence..He would be stunned and excited.

But, he would also be afraid of messing things up and wonder if he shouldn't be the one to just call things off and call it a day.

But, if he really thought you wanted to and felt confident enough ?

He would give it a shot. But, be careful that he doesn't get lost too far into his own thoughts, or it would definitely ruin the experience.

Example: his brain during a kiss.

How does someone kiss someone else ?

Eww. Eww. Ewww...Let's do it again.

Wait. Am I actually enjoying this ?

Nah.

Okay. Maybe. A little.

It would end up with Kevin, making a bunch of random weird facial expressions the whole time, to the point where it would seem like he isn't enjoying himself.

So, verbal praise is always a plus.

You : "...Stop overthinking things and just kiss me."

Him *smiles and nods before indulging* : "Alright, ma'am."

Morgan expected it. Kevin did the same thing every year. It made family reunions awkward and most of the time some family friend would try to set him up with his niece/nephew/cousin..

It wasn't a pleasant tradition for Morgan, but he did enjoy it on rare occasions when Kevin or Peter would embarrass themselves by trying to kiss the most "good-looking" person of the night.

Only to end up with a wet kiss on the cheek from great aunt Jane.

He usually didn't participate in their childish games..However, when he saw you—he immediately called dibs.

Peter : "HEY ! NOT FAIR ! I SAW THEM FIRST !"

Kevin : "YEAH ! WHATEVER THE BABY SQUIRREL SAID !"

Morgan *sighs* : "Alright. Then, shall I speak to father about that time when you both broke uncle Hannibal Jr.' favorite vase and I took the blame ?"

Peter and Kevin : "...."

No need to say. They didn't win that argument and Morgan got full monopoly.

He then approached you and first talked to you before smoothly leading you to the mistletoe he knew was hanging above the fire place.

Morgan *smiles/pretends not to have known it was there* : "Would you look at that ? It seems like a trap was set.."

You *smile back/not buying it* : "A very sweet trap indeed.."

Morgan is very simple and direct when it comes to physical signs of attachment.

If he likes it ? He'll ask again.

If he doesn't ? Friends it is.

But, as he is a man who prefers to rely on what he knows than what he feels, the kiss will be enjoyable depending on how your previous discussion went.

Morgan *stays still for a second or two after the kiss before smiling* : "~Not bad. Not bad at all.."

Hannibal Jr. was set up by his three very very nosy nephews who decided it was their job to find their uncle a good person to kiss on Christmas.

Morgan organized multiple files on each of the guests until they found the ideal candidate: you.

Kevin hung mistletoe over various strategic places he knew would make it impossible for his uncle to miss or deny.

Peter talked to the both of you separately during the event and made sure the two of you would end up alone at the end.

Kevin even slashed your tires so you won't leave too early. Dedication right there.

However, their uncle wasn't a fool and even though he didn't really know what the three of them were plotting, he eventually realized when both of your backs collided.

You turned around and suddenly, he seemed to understand.

He looked up and as he expected, the mistletoe was there.

You looked up as well and your eyes widened for a second before you let out a small knowing chuckle.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I should have paid more attention."

He studied you carefully. He had never seen you before..

"Who are you ?"

"I am one of Morgan's co-workers. He invited me. I hope it is no bother ?", you answered and Hannibal Jr. sighed. Of course the boy was behind it all..

"No. Of course not, love."

You blushed slightly at the nickname before looking up once more at the mistletoe.

"Do you want us to kiss ?", you asked and Hannibal Jr. chuckled softly.

"That is how the tradition goes..."

You laughed too and before you knew it, your lips were connected and Hannibal Jr. heard vivid clapping behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Besides, he was enjoying what he was doing far too much to stop.

Finally, to trap Hannibal Sr. under the mistletoe would take incredible time and effort. The man barely leaves his office and to catch him off guard is as rare and unlikely as spotting Santa Claus in July.

It would take the whole family to come up with a plan—including Hannibal Jr.

And to get him on board would already be a miracle.

At the end though, Hannibal Jr. decided it would make a good distraction and an occasion to test the younger Hannibals' skills. So, he allowed it.

He did help them set their father up with one of his co-workers he had invited for the occasion.

He knew you had been single for a while and were living alone. No attachment.

His father would approve, as you would fit better into the family and soon, they were all working on a way to

But, he let the young ones take care of the rest and only sometimes inquired on their plans and gave them some clues or advice.

When the day arrived, you soon found yourself outside with Hannibal Jr. who pretended to have forgotten his drink inside.

You waited. But, he never came back.

Instead, his father did and was surprised to find you alone outside, freezing.

He instinctively took off his coat and gave it to you.

"You poor thing..A charming young lady/man such as yourself shouldn't be waiting here in the dark all on their own."

You hadn't waited that long, but you wouldn't rectify it when the man was acting like such a gentleman.

Hannibal Sr. wasn't the one to spot the mistletoe first, you did.

You looked up and your eyes widened slightly as you noticed the branch hanging above your heads from one of the branch of an apple tree..

The silence made Hannibal Sr. look up at what you were looking at and his own eyes widened slightly before he shook his head and let out a small chuckle of disbelief.

"I swear those boys.."

His eyes then settled back on you and you involuntarily shivered. You weren't cold. But, you had this odd feeling about the man.

He mistook your silence for denial about the mistletoe and sighed.

"If you wish, we could come back inside and forget about it ? It is up to you.."

He wasn't one to push, but you shook your head. He had been nice enough to keep you company. You didn't want to appear rude.

When he leant in, you followed.

But, you were surprised when he lips didn't connect with your lips, but your cheek.

You then blushed when you realized you had expected the other alternative, without even considering this one..

He then lead you back inside and once you were back, he raised your hand to his lips and kissed it.

Your heart hammered in your chest.

It was only when he was gone that you realized he had left his jacket with you.

You were about to call him back when you felt something brush against your fingertips in his pocket.

When you pulled it out, your eyes widened as you realized it was his number..

At the end, the only one who had been trapped was you.

#fandoms #imagine #fanfic #morgan hannibal x reader #hannibal x reader #hannibal family #hannibals #hannibal #kevin hannibal x reader #peter hannibal x reader #Hannibal Jr. x reader #Hannibal Sr. x reader

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mdpikachu · 2 years ago

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I’d love to hear more about Mephistopheles’s friendship with Sakata Kintoki. I’ve never considered that dynamic before.

borrowing daku's art bc i dont think i've drawn them together but. also i write mephi, daku writes taro.

Friendship summary: Local area man meets a clown and immediately gets the clown's name wrong (and calls him Moose for short). Said clown decides this is hilarious and sticks around to see what other dumb things happen. here's a readmore

Mephi's plan failed within ten minutes. Oops! Shared interests! (golden bear, dozing bombs. machinery. also, safety but that came later) That, and while Mephi intended to just lie to Kintaro constantly about mundane goofy things, this also failed. Mephi has the majority of the brain cells between them (usually), which is funny because you'd think the clown would be the idiot.

Taro's the doof supreme (affectionate) brawn, Moose is the nerd (affectionate) brain. Together they make an actual team bc Mephi's good at strategic planning/traps (witchcraft/bombs) and Kintoki hits like a truck and has an easy escape option (golden bear).

I'll make it a decent format instead of name: dialogue bc that's a slog. Kintaro was initially based on just info from the JP server and tl'd dialogue so he's a lil dumber than canon sorry about that. mephi is never wrong bc im never wrong (<- was violently wrong about a bit of faust lore thats critically important to mephistos character. oopsy. tfw u suggest mephi lying about killing faust and then reread the interlude after introducing ghost faust DERAILED, MOVING ON)

----

(Scene opens with Kintaro's Master with his head in the sofa, avoiding human contact. Overstimulated. too many guests. Mephi's Master isn't present at the moment.)

Pointing at this was Mephisto, who had returned to be unnecessarily difficult.

"Wow, it's a wild sofa ostrich! I've never seen one in the wild before!"

"Hey, hey! He's no stupid ostrich, youuuu…. er….." Kintaro trailed off, staring at Mephisto. He wasn't actually sure what he was looking at.

"I'll wait!" Mephisto announced, pulling his legs off the ground to sit cross-legged in midair. His tails wagged slowly as he watched Kintato go through a variety of facial expressions while thinking.

"You trapeze artist!" Kintaro shot back well over a minute later, "That's what that get-up is supposed to be, ain't it?!"

Mephi grins and holds up two fingers. "Nope! Two tries!"

Kintaro "Ehhh"d for a moment, before announcing that he needed a hint. Lancer Elizabeth was standing nearby, rolling her eyes in disbelief. Even she wasn't this stupid! She had no right to judge, though, having attempted to sing on the roof to the new neighbors.

Mephisto gave Kintaro a big grin before tapping one of the horns on his hat as his hint. This man could probably guess a demon, or an oni, or--

"Oh, a deer!" Kintaro guessed confidently, and completely incorrectly.

Mephisto put a finger down. One guess remaining!

"Wait, wait, wait! Wait! I know! I know!"

Mephisto sat back in the air and waited for Kintaro to excitedly make his hypothesis known.

"You're a moose!" Kintaro announced, throwing his hands up, "I love meeses!" ---- (Mephisto broke out laughing before correcting Kintaro with more info than anyone else got. The trust was Instant. kintaro also wants to get piledriven by a moose, takes 10 dmg from mephi giving it an actual shot in the backyard, and then proceeds to get evaded by mephi like 4 times. eventually a bomb blew up, ash-facing both of them. scene ends with this. skipped him giving mephi a helmet and mephi accepting it. we also joked that this was a ship but its a friendship. mephis master does nothing to stop any of this, and neither does taro's.) Kintaro: [he picks up Mephisto] We're going to go on a drive! A drive into your heart! If no one else is going to befriend you, I am, Moose! Our friendship will be golden!! (other dumb shit they did together: clothes shopping (safety on bikes!), use an ouija board (mephi hated every second of it), i know theyve fought together at least twice, i dont remember what else. theres like 25 documents of this nonsense i dont remember shite. im not putting this in the tag i say putting it in the t)

#mephistopheles #mddttxt

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casspurrjoybell-29 · 1 year ago

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Forging Ties - Chapter 34 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

Duran heard something from behind them and then startled as he saw Harrison charging towards them on all fours with Skye on his back.

Harrison was a sweetheart but he was a little intimidating at a full sprint.

Fortunately, Harrison slowed down when he reached them and his expression morphed into the closest thing to a smile his facial features were capable of.

He stood up on his back legs and Skye climbed up onto his shoulder.

Skye held two folded up notes in his hands.

He scrutinised one of them, then the other and then finally held one of them out, clearly not directed at any particular one of the three of them.

It had Fanner's name on it, so he was the one who took it.

"Aw," Fanner said as he read the short note. "It's from Yore. It says 'I love you' and he drew a heart."

"That man is much too wholesome," Duran commented.

Skye held out the second note.

He seemed to have worked out through the process of elimination that this one was for Duran.

"What does it say?" Fanner asked. "Is it from Hamish?"

"It is," Duran said. "It says 'hey baby, want some dick?'"

Danya let out a deep sigh.

"See, we talked a lot and he gets me," Duran said.

Skye nodded thoughtfully.

"Would you like some dick? I don't have a pen but if you have a short reply, like yes or perhaps no, I can remember it and deliver a message back with my voice."

"We should probably head back anyway," Fanner said. "I have appointments to heal people today. Duran, come by tonight and I'll get started on your back, okay?"

"Thanks," Duran said. "Those scars are a real mood killer."

"I guess I have things I need to get back to as well," Danya said. "I'm supposed to be rounding the kids up for their morning classes today. Are you sure you don't want to come, Harrison?"

"I'm an adult," Harrison declared. "I have a job as a courier now."

Danya hesitated.

"You should keep doing that, then. I'm glad you found something that makes you happy."

"Yeah, I have a lot of self esteem now," Harrison said as they all began slowly walking back the way they'd come. "Skye told me that being a bear is cool."

"It's so cool," Skye said. "I don't know how you got bullied so much when you can simply eat the bullies."

"No," Harrison said. "I'm not allowed to kill people. Even humans. I don't want to get in trouble."

"I guess I don't really want you to kill anyone," Skye said. "Don't worry. I'll show you how to deal with bullies. I'm very good at it. Last time there was a bully, he broke his own hand and started crying. I didn't even have to touch him."

"Wow," Harrison said.

"Yeah. Nim didn't have much faith in me but I have a lot of life experience with bullies. If someone tries to bully you, we'll just tell them that it's mean and it hurts your feelings."

"Oh, okay," Harrison said. "I didn't think of that."

"You can tell me and I'll deal with it," Danya said. "Bullying isn't okay."

"I'm also happy to deal with it," Duran said. "I don't mind giving a seven year old a firm shaking if that's what it takes."

"We'll try saying that it's mean and then get them in trouble with Danya and then the shaking and then eat them if that doesn't work," Skye said. "I think that's fair."

"I can't stress this enough: do not eat anyone." Danya shot Duran a look. "Or shake any children."

"Those come after you get to try to deal with it, so..." Skye shrugged.

"He's joking and so am I," Duran reassured Danya when he started to look genuinely worried. "We'll take care of you, Harrison. I promise. And hey, if you want to maybe roar and run at the bullies a little, that wouldn't hurt anyone..."

"Well..." Danya said. "No, you're right, it wouldn't. Being reminded of what you're messing with isn't such a bad thing."

Skye nodded.

"Bears are so cool and they win every fight."

Hamish, Yore, Slone and Nim were still sitting around the firepit when they headed back off the beach.

Nim was already on his feet and Skye giggled as he slid over Harrison's shoulder and into his arms.

Fanner went over to Yore and gave him a hug.

"Thank you for the note. I love you, too."

"Good news," Hamish said, holding Aris up in his hands. "I rehomed the baby."

"Oh," Duran said, his eyebrows lifting. "Good?"

"We'll be taking her," Nim said. "It feels right."

"That actually does make sense," Duran said. "Also, I did tell Hamish I'd help take care of her and now the situation has been resolved before I actually had to, which is great for me. I get the credit for a good deed without actually having to do anything."

"I see you're holding my note," Hamish said. "Shall I hand this baby off to her adoptive parents so that we can discuss its contents."

"This would be much more subtle if I hadn't already read it out loud to half of the people here," Duran said. "But yes."

"I mean, I could prob'ly make a pretty good guess what it said without anyone telling me," Slone said. "Hard to be subtle when you got a one track mind."

"Well, listen, if I didn't have any subtlety when I was living in an environment where being gay was borderline illegal, I'm not about to bother with it now," Hamish said. "Take your baby, Nim."

Nim took Aris from Hamish and cradled her in the crook of his arm, a serene smile overcoming his face as he looked down at her.

"How did you get away with that, anyway? Beyond the legality issues, I thought humans these days were pretty homophobic. And in the military..."

"Well, two key points," Hamish said. "First, men who like to fuck men are a lot more common than most people think and boy did I suck a lot of dick. I made friends. The second is just that I'm extremely likeable. People don't really give a shit about half the things they think they do... they just want something to hate and it's easy to just go along with whatever's popular. Throw a bit of charm their way, and they'll just as soon forget about all of it. That's why Simon had to be more secretive about his sexuality. If someone dislikes him, especially for the wrong reasons, he has no ability or desire to reverse course on that."

"I find it hard to blame him for that," Nim commented. "It's understandable, it's just not very strategic. Then again, he might say that being more or less openly gay in the human military was also a questionable strategy."

"Well, you're both still here, so I suppose things worked out."

"Exactly. Anyway, formula and diapers are on the ship. Good luck."

"Uhh..." Nim said but Hamish was already walking away.

He beckoned to Duran to follow him as he passed.

Duran offered Nim a shrug and followed Hamish up the hill that led behind The Spire.

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karahalloway · 8 months ago

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One glance at the caller ID and he was wide awake. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed as he answered. “Bas. What’s wrong?”

I'm getting some bad juju already...!

She hesitated as her hand hovered over the knob. Something was clearly wrong, or the head of the Royal Guard wouldn’t be on the phone with her fiancé. The memory of being shot at engulfed her. The smell of gunpowder in her nose, the thunderous booming of the gun in her ears, the wet stickiness of Drake’s blood on her skin, and the crippling fear of loss all washed over her with incapacitating suddenness.

God, I get chills just reading this description...!

“Who is it?” “Riley? It’s Liam.”

Of-fucking-course 😣

The brokenness in his voice obliterated her fear and spurred her into action. She flung the door open, her eyes widening in shock and concern as she took in his expression.

Oh... This is the burning of Applewood, isn't it...? Sorry Liam...

She understood instantly why he was in her room, in her arms. She might not understand yet what had transpired, but she understood that he could not, and would not, show weakness to the world. Not that caring, tears or grief were weaknesses. No, she counted those things as strengths.

Eugh... As much as he has been pushing boundaries in this fic with Riley, I do hate that he is in this situation... That he has to keep his feelings bottled up publically, and there isn't really anyone else he can confide in, or find solace with, apart from Riley...

Drake exited the bathroom with a grim expression. His eyes darted from the empty bed to the sight that greeted him at the doorway of the bedroom. The king of Cordonian was wrapped in his fiancée’s arms.

😬😬😬😬😬

Riley’s eyes met his over Liam’s shoulder. He nodded at her as he read everything he needed to know in her expression.

Okay, phew! I was worried that the stuff that happened during the polo match was going to erupt here bc everyone is feeling super raw...! But, luckily, Drake seems to have a good read on the situation.

“Hey,” Drake’s voice softened considerably as he clasped a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “Don’t be sorry for being human, Li. That’s a good thing. Unfeeling rulers are the dangerous ones.”

The extensive and ancient orchards at Applewood had been razed. The terror group Sons of the Earth was taking credit.

They better be praying to their maker...

A little thrill ran through her, despite the gravity of the situation. She was suddenly and intensely aware of the proximity of both men. Their body heat, the smoothness of Liam’s palm in hers, the roughness of Drake’s. Her heart beat a little faster.

This is going to end up in a poly set-up, isn't it? 😆

He leaned forward in his seat and turned sideways so he had a clear view of both Riley and Liam. “You’ll both wear body armor.” Liam tried to protest. “I don’t think—” “The ultra-light stuff. Under your clothes. Trust me, no one will know it’s there.”

I'm glad you put this in here! Under the circumstances, it make complete sense, and it really is like wearing another shirt under your clothes. That said, it won't stop anything with a large caliber... or a head shot 😬

“And remember,” Madeleine chided as she shuffled the notecards in her own hands, “You are representing Cordonia up there so for the love of God, remember to keep your back straight, make eye contact with a few of the reporters, and don’t forget your facial expressions! You want to convey—” “That’s enough!” The usually restrained and controlled Drake spun on the countess, the fury dancing in his eyes enough to cause her to jerk back in startlement. He released Riley and took a step in her direction as he fumed. “Could you lay off her for one goddamn minute? We have five minutes before they have to be on stage and I’m trying to save her fucking life!”

Whooo! Go Drake! I agree - Maddy is complete focused on the wrong things here...

Madeleine’s already anemic pallor went even paler.

This line... 🤣🤣🤣 👌

Riley stepped into Drake’s arms and took his face in her hands. “I love you. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

I've got a bad feeling about this... 🫣

Drake himself had tried to make Liam feel better, but nothing he said had made an impression. He’d watched as Liam’s friends and family members had tried to offer advice, condolences, and comfort. No one had succeeded in that endeavor. No one but Riley. Because Liam was still in love with her, and his love for her was deep and it was true, and it was real. Just like his own.

“There is a way for all three of us to be happy.”

🤣

Liam moved closer to Riley, then hesitated, shooting a glance at Drake. When he found nothing but encouragement there, he reached for her hand. “Please give this proposal due consideration before you make a decision. I implore you not to dismiss it out of hand. This is something that I want…. you have no idea how much…. but I won’t pressure you and I won’t rush you. Take all the time you need.” His eyes flicked back to Drake. “Both of you. If we move forward with this, we must all be on the same page. I want no room for misunderstandings or resentment.”

👏👏👏

I have to admit, I had my heart in my mouth throughout this entire chapter, wondering if when Drake was going to explode at Liam again, but I am happy to see that the gravity of the situation has forced a reassessment of priorities, and that he was actually the one to propose the open marriage solution 🥰 Well done, Walker! 🖖

The De Facto Queen Chapter 5: Come Together

Series: The De Facto Queen

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Drake, Riley x Liam

Rating: MA

Warnings for this chapter: language, destruction of apple orchards

Word Count: 3,907 (approximately 30 minutes reading time)

Summary: Riley and Drake awake to devastating news about the orchards at Applewood.

A/N: I started this chapter thinking it would be the last chapter. Halfway through, I still thought that. Maybe three-fourths of the way through I was like...oh, no. This doesn't wrap up so neatly or so soon.

My other stuff: Master List.

The sun wasn’t even completely up when the shrillness of a phone cut through the early morning silence. Riley moaned in protest and scooted her body back, snuggling closer into the warmth of the man wrapped around her.

Drake’s arm tightened around her, and he drew her closer as his eyes blinked open, taking in the earliness of the hour. They weren’t scheduled to leave until after breakfast. There was no valid reason for anyone to be calling him at this hour unless something had gone wrong somewhere. “Sorry, babe.” He mumbled as he released her to roll over and grab his phone off the nightstand. One glance at the caller ID and he was wide awake. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed as he answered. “Bas. What’s wrong?”

Riley tried to go back to sleep, but the hard edge in Drake’s tone, despite his attempt to keep his voice low as he disappeared into the bathroom to keep from waking her, alerted her that something was amiss. She pushed out of the covers and reached for her robe. She had barely finished tying it when a knock sounded at the door.

Riley froze as her eyes tracked to the bathroom and back. Drake was still in there on the phone with Bastien. Whoever was at the door had to have gotten past her security detail, so she decided it was safe to open it.

The knock sounded again. She jumped, jerking away from the door as if she’d been scalded. “Who is it?”

“Riley? It’s Liam.”

The brokenness in his voice obliterated her fear and spurred her into action. She flung the door open, her eyes widening in shock and concern as she took in his expression.

Liam stumbled into the room and, without warning or preamble, fell into her arms. His face pressed into her chest as a shuddering sob broke free.

Her arms wrapped instinctively around him. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

His arms tightened around her as he pressed his face harder into her body. Half-coherent words fell from his lips as his body shook with tears. “Terrorists…. the orchards…. burned….”

She understood instantly why he was in her room, in her arms. She might not understand yet what had transpired, but she understood that he could not, and would not, show weakness to the world.

Not that caring, tears or grief were weaknesses. No, she counted those things as strengths.

Nonetheless, his father had instilled in him a deep shame of those very qualities. But Constantine had never broken Liam, merely forced the better parts of him into hiding.

She was the safe place for him to show all of his vulnerability. She wouldn’t judge him; she wouldn’t question his fitness for the throne. She would support him; she would console him. That part of their relationship had never changed, and it never would.

Instead of questioning him, she did her best to soothe him. Her fingers ran through his hair, her hand patted his back as she murmured quiet words of comfort to him. Her eyes flicked to the door to ensure it was closed.

His emotions didn’t make him weak, but there was no point in having a servant or a guard witness their king’s most vulnerable moment. The people of Cordonia would need to see him strong and steadfast when he dealt with whatever had happened.

Crying was for private moments. Stoicism and strength were for the public. Unwavering surety in their next course of action.

They clung together, sympathetic tears streaming down her face. She didn’t need to know what had happened to feel his pain and that was enough to stir her own.

Terrorists…. burnt orchards…..it was enough for her to gather there had been another attack. Just days after Liam had confessed his insecurities about being a good enough ruler to her.

Liam, in tears in her arms, and Drake on the phone with Bastien before dawn, hinted at just how dire the situation was. Her jaw set with resolve. “Whatever happened, we will get through it together and we will fix it, okay?”

He nodded, his tears slacked, but he remained still and silent in her embrace.

Drake exited the bathroom with a grim expression. His eyes darted from the empty bed to the sight that greeted him at the doorway of the bedroom.

The king of Cordonian was wrapped in his fiancée’s arms.

Riley’s eyes met his over Liam’s shoulder. He nodded at her as he read everything he needed to know in her expression.

Drake made his way across the room and then cleared his throat to get Liam’s attention. “I just got off the phone with Bas…”

Liam’s head jerked up, and he stepped away from Riley guiltily. “I’m sorry��I just…”

Drake’s eyes flicked up to Riley’s again, acknowledging to himself that she brought out the softer, more in touch with his humanity side of his best friend and that it was a good thing.

Of course, Liam was upset. It wasn’t just an attack on his country. Applewood was the seat of House Rys, his ancestral home. It was a strike at his very heart. Nothing represented Cordonia more than the apple orchards at Applewood. It was a clear message that Liam could protect nothing and no one.

It could not be allowed to stand.

Liam stared back into his friend’s eyes for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you.”

Drake’s jaw clenched. “Don’t thank me until we catch the bastards that did this.”

“Would one of you like to fill me in on what’s going on?” Riley looked expectantly back and forth between them.

Drake pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

She watched the video in horror.

The extensive and ancient orchards at Applewood had been razed. The terror group Sons of the Earth was taking credit.

“Oh…” tears streaked down her face again.

Drake looped an arm around her as he retrieved his phone from her grasp. “It’s going to be okay, baby, I promise.”

Her grief steeled Liam’s resolve. He pulled himself completely upright as he decided, “We’re diverting the unity tour. We have to go to Applewood. Get Katarina looped in. She can meet us there with the PR team. We need to address this publicly as quickly as possible.”

“On it.” Drake was already dialing the palace press secretary, Katarina Trakas, as he released Riley and stepped away to make the arrangements.

Less than half an hour later, they were in the back of a bulletproof SUV on their way to Applewood, joined by Max and Hana.

Riley sat in the middle, Liam on one side of her, Drake on the other. Max and Hana were across from her. Liam’s face darkened as he recounted all the information he had on the situation at Applewood. She reached for his hand without thought, instinctively comforting him.

He looked over at her in surprise, then gave her a grateful smile as he squeezed her hand. His gaze went to Drake, then back to Riley, indecision creasing his brow briefly before coming to some sort of decision. He went back to the conversation without releasing her hand.

She watched his face for a moment. Stress shown in the grim lines of his face, but there was a subtle relaxing of his shoulders, a slight but noticeable easing of tension in his body at her touch.

Riley’s head swung around to find her fiancé, anxiety gripping her as she anticipated his response. Drake met her gaze with equanimity. He gave her a reassuring smile as he reached for her other hand. There was nothing but love and acceptance in his eyes as his thumb stroked the back of her hand.

Riley’s eyes lifted to meet Hana’s. Her best friend lifted an eyebrow in question. Riley widened her eyes a little to convey her uncertainty about what was going on.

While she struggled to put her focus back where it belonged, Liam and Drake coordinated over secured lines with the head of the King Guard and the Royal Press Secretary. Liam wanted to hit the ground running the moment they arrived. Drake was determined to have as much information as humanly possible before Liam set foot in front of a podium.

“I’m just saying it would be safer to just televise the press conference from a secure location to ensure that—”

“No,” Liam cut him off, “I won’t hide. That would send the exact wrong message.”

“It wouldn’t be hiding—”

“We’ll do the conference on the west lawn,” Liam said firmly, with finality.

“Fine,” Drake grunted with a shake of his head. His best friend was about to risk an assassination attempt and all he could do was quadruple security and search every person who stepped foot on Applewood grounds and hope it was enough.

Even worse, Riley would be on that stage with him. He clamped his mouth shut with a great deal of effort. What was he going to say? He had encouraged her to accept this role. Some degree of danger would always be present. It came with the territory. He squeezed her hand tighter as his mind whirled with ways to minimize the risk. An idea seized him.

He leaned forward in his seat and turned sideways so he had a clear view of both Riley and Liam. “You’ll both wear body armor.”

Liam tried to protest. “I don’t think—”

“The ultra-light stuff. Under your clothes. Trust me, no one will know it’s there.”

Liam hesitated as he considered it.

“Do it so I can focus on the security.” Drake pushed the one trump card he knew would sway Liam. Riley’s safety. “I won’t be able to think straight if she’s up there unprotected.”

It was the thought of Riley being shot at again that convinced him. With a curt nod, the king agreed. His eyes cut sideways at her as he gripped her hand a little firmer.

He couldn’t…he wouldn’t risk her life.

Drake let out an audible sigh of relief as he released her hand and typed furiously into his phone. “Everything will be ready when we arrive.”

Two hours later, Riley was fidgeting nervously as she read over the notes Madeleine had thrust into her hands while Drake was strapping her into the bulletproof vest.

“Would you stand still?” He grunted in annoyance as he tugged one of her side straps a little tighter.

“Sorry,” she murmured as her eyes flicked from the notecards in her hand to the blond who was giving her instructions as if she’d never done a press conference before.

“That’s enough!” The usually restrained and controlled Drake spun on the countess, the fury dancing in his eyes enough to cause her to jerk back in startlement. He released Riley and took a step in her direction as he fumed. “Could you lay off her for one goddamn minute? We have five minutes before they have to be on stage and I’m trying to save her fucking life!”

“I—” Madeleine gulped as she took another step backward.

Drake swiped the cards from her hands as he fixed her with a death glare. “She’s done dozens of these. She knows how to fucking stand!”

Madeleine’s already anemic pallor went even paler. “I just—”

“Drake!” Riley touched his shoulder. “It’s okay! She’s just doing her job. The one I asked her to do!”

Drake’s eyes fluttered briefly shut as he beat his fear, anger, and anxiety back. He blew out a careful breath before turning back to face her. “I’m sorry, baby. I just need you to focus on the thing that’s going to keep you alive before worrying about the rest.”

Riley nodded vigorously. “I am. I will! Please finish helping me with the vest. I’ll read the cards after we’re done.”

His shoulders relaxed as some of the tension eased out of his body. He resumed fussing with the vest as he told Madeleine without looking back. “Sorry. This is just stressful.”

“For all of us.” The countess sniffed. She looked down at her shaking hands then back up at Riley, watching as Drake strapped her into a bulletproof vest, knowing she was about to step onto a public stage outside in broad daylight where she could be the potential target of another assignation attempt. “I didn’t mean any disrespect. This is just…all I can contribute.”

“It’s fine.” Drake finished, stepping back to inspect his handiwork with a critical eye. “Okay, you can get dressed now.”

Riley hurriedly dressed as she directed her next remark to Madeleine. “Could you please go let Liam know that I need two more minutes?”

“But the press—”

“Can wait.”

Madeleine hesitated a fraction of a second, then nodded in acquiescence and retreated from the room.

Riley stepped into Drake’s arms and took his face in her hands. “I love you. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“I’m holding you to that.” He whispered before pulling her into a long, lingering kiss. He poured all his love and fear for her into that kiss, wanting nothing more than to grab her, get back in the limo, and get her as far away from danger as possible. Instead, he released her and forced himself to step away. “Okay, it’s time.”

Applewood had been secured before they had arrived and swept again after they arrived. There were no buildings close enough to the manor for a sniper to hide in and, thanks to the orchard burning, no trees either. He was still a bundle of nerves as he watched her climb the steps to the stage.

Riley stood at the podium next to Liam, like she belonged there. It was becoming commonplace. Drake tried to remember the last press conference Liam held where Riley hadn’t been standing right beside him.

Perhaps when he’d announced the itinerary for the engagement tour. Madeleine had been beside him then and the stiffness in his posture had radiated his discomfort, at least to those who knew him well.

His body language when he was on stage next to Riley was different. More relaxed. More open. More at ease. Even in these exigent circumstances, a simple glance in her direction and his shoulders straightened almost imperceptibly. Confidence flooded back into his posture. Hope shone from his features.

Drake had to admit that Riley’s speech was well received by the public, perhaps even more so than Liam’s. They loved her. He didn’t blame them.

When the press conference was over, Riley joined Liam in the orchard to plant a new apple tree. A sapling. A symbol of Cordonia, of hope for the future. The area was cordoned off to keep the masses away from the royal couple.

Not that they were a couple, and only Liam was royal. Though the image they presented was very much one of a royal couple. A king and his beloved queen.

Drake shook his head to clear it of those thoughts as he circulated through the press of people, his eyes scanning the crowd for threats, his ears open for anything suspicious.

What he heard were hundreds of conversations about what Cordonia had lost by not having Riley as its queen.

“Would have been an amazing queen….”

“It’s a shame that scandal happened. I heard it was all a setup. She never…”

“They say that’s why the king ended his engagement with the countess….”

“The king still loves her…. “

“She’s so down to earth. Just want Cordonia needs…..”

“She should have been queen…”

The crowd cheered as Riley and Liam packed the dirt around the sapling. They stood and waved to the onlookers before the security team ushered them inside the manor.

Drake let out a long sigh of relief as the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.

There had been no assassination attempt. Riley and Liam were safe inside Applewood.

His relief was short-lived.

The moment the last of the public was cleared from the property, Liam stepped out the front door with Riley on his arm.

“What the actual fuck?” Drake growled, taking a step in their direction. A firm hand on his arm stopped him.

He turned to find Bastien giving him a sympathetic shake of his head. “Let them be. The grounds have been cleared. Liam wants to see the damage up close. It’s his prerogative.”

Drake shook off his godfather’s touch as a shadow crossed his face, but he stayed put. Bastien was right. The grounds had been cleared and there was no immediate danger. He watched from a distance as Riley and Liam walked through the remnants of the once-verdant landscape.

Mere hours before, a vibrant, lush thousand-acre orchard had stood there. Living hues had painted the grounds. Deep greens and vibrant reds had delighted the eye. The crisp, apple-scented air had pleased the nose. Now charred stumps rose toward the sky, blackened husks dotted the scorched earth. The acrid scent of carbonized trees wafted on the breeze.

They walked cautiously across the blistered ground, tendrils of gray smoke curling around their ankles and rising into the late afternoon air.

Drake stood on the sidelines watching as his fiancée and best friend stopped walking and held each other in the middle of the charred orchard. Not in a sexual way. It was clear she was comforting him. What was even clearer was that it was working. Much of the tension had drained out of the king’s body as he returned her embrace. There was a genuine smile on his face as they pulled apart.

Liam entwined his fingers with hers as they made their way back toward the manor.

Drake couldn’t stand still a moment longer. He charged across the grounds, intercepting them at the front door. “I need to speak to you both. Privately.”

“Oh, I…” Liam dropped Riley’s hand and stepped away from her. He shoved his hands in his pockets with a flush. “I hope I haven’t overstepped any bound—”

“That’s what I want to talk about.” Drake ushered them both through the entryway and into a small sitting room just off the main hall. He shut the door behind him and then turned to face his best friend. “You still love her.”

“Drake, I’m sorry I’ve tried—”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Drake clasped, then released his shoulder quickly. “You love who you love.”

He would know. He had fought his feelings for her for months and failed abysmally. Turning to face his fiancée, he stated, “You still love him, too. It’s obvious.”

Riley’s lower lip started to tremble. This was exactly what she didn’t want. Her head shook back and forth. “We talked about this! I thought—”

He nodded impatiently. “We did talk about it, and I’ve realized something.”

“What?” she asked with trepidation.

“I don’t want to spend our lives together constantly worrying about you and Liam fighting these feelings.”

“Drake! I love—”

“I know.” He held a hand up to stop her. “I’m not questioning that one bit. I love you too, Riley, and I’m not breaking up with you. Would you just listen?”

Riley pressed her lips together with a fair amount of effort.

“There is a way for all three of us to be happy.”

Riley blinked. “What do you mean?”

Liam’s body froze as his head jerked up, his gaze suddenly penetrating and intense as he watched the exchange.

“I mean…” he took her hand in his and pulled her into his body, “What if you didn’t have to choose?”

Her brows pulled together in confusion. “I already chose—”

“You chose to marry me and to spend the rest of your life with me, and for that, I will be eternally grateful. But you also chose to close off a part of yourself and fight your feelings for Liam. Believe me, I have some experience with that. I’m telling you that you don’t have to.”

“Wait…” Riley’s mind spun. “Are you saying that you’re okay with me having…with Liam and I…. what are you saying, exactly?”

“I’m telling you that I would be okay with you continuing your relationship with Liam. I’m amenable to an open marriage. Well….” His eyes darted to Liam and then back to Riley. “Maybe not entirely open, but I’m willing to make room for Liam in a triad situation.”

Riley shot a sidelong glance at Liam before responding. “Drake. That’s incredibly generous of you…”

“But?”

“What would that even look like?”

He lifted his shoulders expansively. “We’ll figure that out together.”

Riley stared at him for a long moment as confusion turned into astonishment. “You’re serious!”

Drake nodded with equanimity. “Mm-hm.”

“May I speak?” Liam’s voice was quiet but filled with restrained hopefulness.

“Please do.” Drake gave a respectful nod as he stepped back and turned so that he was looking at Liam instead of Riley.

Her resolve to reject Drake’s offer out of a sense of loyalty faltered in the face of Liam’s impassioned plea. Dropping her eyes from his, she nodded. Her voice was barely a whisper as she told the floor, “Okay, I’ll consider it.”

35 notes · View notes

writer-of-various · 3 years ago

Text

Bell's Story

"The test subject is secure. Naga, where are the reports?"

"Right here, sir. Isn't that Perseus' right hand?"

"Yes. This process is confidential, you can not tell Perseus about any of this."

"Sir, I may be one to break the law and crap but this is Perseus we are talking about. He is our commandant-"

"Naga, you are either in this or not."

"...I'm afraid I can't help you comrade."

"Don't worry Vindur..."

"That American pig is dead..."

"And you will do the honors."

Fourteen Hours Earlier

Bell was lost for words as Adler led her and the team elsewhere. She had stopped the nuclear bombs from detonating. She had saved millions of lives across Europe.

"Nice work, kid!" Woods patted her back, freezing when he noticed her wince. "Hey, you alright?"

"She's fine. Park, contact Hudson and tell him the mission's done. Bell, follow me. " Bell felt intimidated as Adler spoke for her, although he's been doing so for the last few months. Perhaps it was because she learned the truth. Yeah, that sounded right.

She followed closely behind Adler, her mind on high alert despite her pounding headache and day's long exhaustion. Her legs ached as she and Adler went up a hill, her ears alert at the sound of rushing waves. She didn't know what came over her, but she jogged ahead of Adler, coming to an isolated cliff that overlooked the crystal blue ocean. Tall waves rushed up before colliding with another, sending particles of ice cold water into the air. Maybe she had enjoyed the ocean before everything.

Her momentary calmness was replaced with frustration as she tried to remember anything from her past, anything when she was a Perseus agent. She came up empty minded, and she took a few steps back, head bowed as Adler walked over to her, standing to her right. He took out a cigarette, not before offering her one.

"No, thank you sir" she whispered. He nodded, sliding the pack into one of his holster pouches before taking out his lighter. He lit up the cigarette, having to shield the flame from the wind. Bell grimaced as he inhaled the nicotine, knowing that was his sixth cigarette in a span of twelve hours. She couldn't help but feel guilty, as if Adler's coping skill was her fault. But a part of her mind told her it wasn't, that she shouldn't care about Adler.

"You did good, Bell," he spoke at last. She was surprised at how...calm yet rough his voice sounded. "I just want you to know that this little thing that's happened between you and me... It was always for the greater good. Heroes have to make sacrifices. That's why when I ask you for one more, I hope you understand..."

Bell didn't like how he trailed off, how he grounded a cigarette that was barely used, and how his hand attempted to discretely move over to his hip holster. She reached her hand back to her own, waiting as a momentary silence settled over them.

"It was never personal."

It was quick, too quick. She didn't know who pulled out their gun first. All she knew was that two shots rang out, a flock of birds squawking in fear in the distance. Her feet staggered back, tripping over each other and causing her to fall back, her eyes watching as Adler fell to his knees, hand over his shoulder. Black and red crept up on her vision as the pain spread throughout, her legs and arms numbing in a prickling sensation. She tried reaching her hand out, but her mind fell into a painful slumber.

Present

"Wake up!"

"Wake. Up!"

Bell let out a weak whimper as something cold drenched her, her wound stinging at the touch. She opened her eyes, long lashes wet as she let out gasps, the air in her lungs suddenly declining. She glanced up, her eyes forced wider by fear when she saw a man peering down at her, his left eye shielded by an eyepatch. His facial features felt too familiar and Bell wondered if she had met him before being captured.

"Who are you? Where am I?" she hisses, trying to stand up to attack the man, but she was restrained to a metal chair. Her lips turned up in a snarl as she narrowed her eyes at the man, who had grabbed a needle syringe.

"Stay still or it will hurt more." Bell knew she was done for when the man spoke in Russian, her last memories of however long it was ago coming to. Adler had shot her. Adler had betrayed her. Just like Arash...but why? She herself had betrayed Perseus. She had stopped the nukes from going off. She did everything he wanted, and yet he wasn't satisfied. What did she do wrong?

She winced when the needle poked her on the side of the neck, injecting whatever it was that was in the tube into her bloodstream.

"The fuck do you want?" She growled, struggling against the leather cuffs, but they just rubbed against her skin harshly.

"Calm down Vindur. You remember me, no?" The man speaks, but he lets out a bitter laugh before Bell can answer. "Wait, of course you don't who I am. Stupid American took away your greatest memories. But do not worry, little one, I am going ti help you."

"Who are you?" She caught how the man seemed to freeze, something flashing through his remaining eye before he continued to dispose the needle and look at a pile of folders.

"Vikhor Kuzmin. But you can address me as Stitch."

Stitch?

Stitch...

Stitch.

"Careful there, Vindur, this isn't a toy." Stitch scolded a younger Bell, who simply grinned up at him.

"I know what I'm doing, Vik! I promise. " her giggles spoke against her statement, but Stitch couldn't help the chuckle that left him. He ruffled Bell's hair, to the girl's dismay, and led her out of the storage factory. "Vik? Would you always be my friend?"

Stitch looked down at her and smiled, kissing the top of her head. "Of course, little one. Now, we must hurry to Riga. Perseus is waiting for us."

"V-vik?" Bell whispered, teats brimming the edges of her eyelids. Stitch turned so quickly to look at her that he nearly knocked over a small tray of medical instruments.

"Yes. Yes, that's me, Vindur. What else do you remember?"

Bell shook her head, having a hard time believing that she was - is?- friends with this man, whom is also a Perseus agent. But he could help her regain her memory...right?

"We...we are friends...and Perseus...Riga" her vision blurred, a headache pounding in her brain as she tried to keep her eyes open. What did he inject her with exactly? A sedate?

"Shit. Good job, Vindur. This is progress. But I need you to close your eyes. We're friends, remember?" Stitch frowned as Bell nodded to his words, her eyes closing as she let herself surrender to unconsciousness. He slipped on leather gloves, grabbing a shot with acidic green liquid inside the tube. His eye trailed over to a particular folder in hesitation, staring down the big bold letters.

Numbers Programming - Brainwash Method One

"This is for you Bell."

Five Months Later

Kill him.

You can not trust Adler!

Kill Adler!

Shoot him.

Do not trust Adler.

24. 20.

Kill him.

16.

"SHUT UP!!!" Bell heaved as she threw her head back, trying to ignore the man who has been watching her for what she estimated has been over a week. It was no other than Perseus himself, and Bell didn't know whether to feel relief or anger. Maybe both.

"You can't shut them up, comrade. You must complete your mission. We've-"

"NO! P-please...no" Bell struggled against her restraints as glaring red numbers tainted her vision, hoping that Perseus didn't say those seven cursed words. MK Ultra was still in effect and Adler's voice was plaguing her mind.

"You do not like Adler, don't you? He made you suffer so mercilessly, all your greatest achievements wiped from your conscious. You must kill him."

"No...no I won't. I won't." Bell whispered to herself, trying to reassure herself.

"Run Bell. Run." Bell feels her throat dry when Perseus suddenly disappears, as if he was a hallucination or something. Was he?

Bell jumped when the screeching sound of alarms went off, eyes wide as the dark room was lit up with red. Too much red.

"P-perseus?" She croaked out, too many voices in her head and her body ached and her stomach growled-

"The compound is under attack. Evacuate to the nearest safe exit. The compound has been invaded-"

Adler?

Bell looked down at her cuffs and began to yank herself back, her wrists burning but she pushed away the pain and tugged hard. One tug, however, broke the leather and she was free. She is free.

Standing up on trembling legs, she made her way over to the metal door and pushed down the handle, surprised it gently swung open with ease. It wasn't locked?

Kill him.

We've got a job to do.

Yells in Russian echoed the compound as Bell ran down the hall, sweat dripping from her eyebrows as she strained her body to move quicker. It was malnourished as Stitch barely fed her and it ached as she was dehydrated and didn't get any shut eye, unless Stitch sedated her but it was painful as he injected and electrocuted her.

You did good, kid.

"A-adler" She slammed her body against an exit, the door breaking off its hinges as she ran towards a forest. She ran, she ran and she didn't look back. She's free.

Comrade, run.

Bell had snuck aboard a cattle train, jumping off when it entered a small town. She was thankful it was midnight, embracing the cooing from owls and chirps from crickets. As much as she didn't want to, she broke into a clothing store and grabbed a pair of boots, a pair of trousers, and a jacket. She left the patient dress on, feeling too bad for stealing that she couldn't bear to grab a shirt.

She found a piece of bread on the ground and swallowed back any discomfort as she ate it, grimacing at how stale it was. She boarded another train, this time carrying products from another country. As exhaustion hit, she let herself sleep. She was pleased that the numbers, or voices, didn't bother her.

She spent a year traveling on foot and by sneaking aboard trains, guiltily stealing money as she went. Before she knew it, she arrived in Austria and when she came across Vienna, she remembered her mother. Or rather, her mother's smile and pale hair. She was born in Vienna, she remembers happily. Every night she repeated that sentence, to help her never forget. She'll spend two more years saving money before arriving in England. There, she found no other than Helen Park.

"Bell? Luv, it's been three years...where did you go?" Bell was taken aback by Park's words and asked her to elaborate. "Adler said he let you go from the job, so you can start anew...unless..."

"He shot me." And she finally got to tell her story.

Despite her protests, Park had bought her a plane ticket so she can go to the states. Park knew where Mason was currently residing and gave her his address. It was going to be a long flight but Bell was overdosed with excitement and nervousness to care.

The doorbell to Alex Mason's small house awoke him from a nightmare. Which he was thankful for but he was confused on who would be at his house at 2 am. With his beloved pistol concealed, Mason opened the door and nearly fainted at the sight of Bell standing on his doorstep, shaking like a leaf.

"H-hey Mason..."

"Bell?"

To say Mason was outraged when Bell explained everything was an understandment.

It was a call that made Bell nearly throw up the breakfast Alex made her. Adler had been captured by Stitch and was brainwashed. Her and Mason packed their bags and headed over to National Security Agency Facility, where they would meet Woods and Hudson. Both men were surprised to see her but Woods got over his surprise once he scooped her up into a tight embrace and nearly sobbed into his shoulder. Hudson welcomed her back and they went to work.

"Begin the number sequence Alex" Bell had commanded, watching with pain-filled eyes as Adler struggled to set himself free. Like she had done so for several months years ago.

She was concerned when he went unconscious, nearly running out to wake him but Woods held her back.

"He's needs to rest, kiddo" he had said reassuringly. She calmed down, refusing to eat or sleep, instead she peered down at Adler. He looked peaceful asleep, like he was oblivious on what was wrong with him, on what was wrong in the world. She liked him like that. He was like a little boy.

"As much as I hate him, there were moments where he treated you with respect. You like him, don't you?" Perseus says beside her, looking down at her with a soft smile. Bell looked up at him and smiled tiredly.

"Yeah...I do. He's my friend, despite everything."

"Not what I meant, Vindur. But if he's still your friend, is Stitch still yours?"

Bell went silent for a few moments before nodding, tears willed up in her eyes. She hasn't recovered the slightest from MK Ultra nor the Numbers, and yet here she stood, praying that one of the two men that caused her the most pain would be alright. She cared too much.

"Vik would always be my friend. My comrade. Despite everything. And so is Russ."

Woods let Bell run out to go to Adler when he woke up, Mason and Hudson following closely after her. Adler stared up at Bell in confusion, shaking his head.

"This.. this is a trick...a sick trick...fuck." Bell cried, shaking her head.

"I'm here, Russ. I'm here." Once Alex unbuckled his cuffs and helped him stand up, Adler staggered over to Bell and pulled her into a hug.

"K-kid...God kid I'm so sorry...I love you-"

"Russell, it's okay. I love you too. I'm always going to be here. You can't get rid of me that easily."

45 notes · View notes

hexpea · 3 years ago

Text

Ch. 11 - Effects

With the Star Plasma Vessel mission complete after being what seemed to be a total disaster, classes resumed to their normal schedule a few days later. What didn't seem to return to normal were the relationships held on campus.

Nanami and his newfound confidence no longer felt afraid to hide who he was. Haibara took much pleasure in this, being able to happily hold hands while traversing from class to class. The two were clearly in new-relationship bliss. Geto and Gojo, however, appeared to be a bit low after their mission - Haibara and Nanami having no idea what happened after the pair left with the girls after the hotel. Whatever it was, the two figured, it couldn't have been good. Gojo looked especially exhausted though he still put on his usual show with his vibrant attitude. Geto was the opposite. He was already always the quieter of the two, though equally mischievous and fun - to a point. Returning to class, he had a different look in his eyes, as if something had died within him. It worried Gojo though he hadn't dared to admit it.

Nanami and Haibara happily began their day's assignments in the afternoon, sitting outside on the grass in the courtyard thanks to another day of nice weather.

"If it isn't our two favorite freshmen," Gojo strolled over with Geto silently trailing him, a weak smile on his face as he let Gojo do the talking.

"Hey, you two!" Haibara innocently greeted as Nanami looked less than thrilled. "How goes it?" He was hesitant to ask about the mission, curious to know the ending but based off of the facial expressions they had on returning it was better he not ask directly.

"Oh it's going," Gojo sighed, sitting down with them - one leg curved and the other propped up with his arm resting on top of his knee. Geto still stood, not realizing Gojo had intended on lingering.

"How did the mission end up?" Nanami wasn't afraid to ask compared to Haibara. "Did the girl successfully merge with Master Tengen?" Gojo gulped and Geto balled his fists, feeling as if he wanted to run away.

"Unfortunately there was a complication," Gojo mumbled, looking down at the grass and beginning to play with a few blades. "The girl...she was killed before any of that could happen."

"Killed?" Nanami's eyes widened with a bit of fury. "How? By who?!"

"We were attacked by some sorcerer killer. Found out he was Toji Zenin. Goes...went by Fushiguro," Gojo explained. "I wasn't paying attention and he..." He trailed off and then mad a motion as if he were stabbing himself straight in the chest.

"You didn't have your infinity on..." Nanami flattened his expression.

"It's not completely his fault," Geto butted in, still standing with fists balled. "Fushiguro had no cursed energy. He was...invisible."

"He...got the best of me in our first fight. I was able to heal myself but then he went after Geto and the girls." Gojo looked up at Geto, expecting him to continue.

"I offered Amanai life instead of the merger. We were discussing what could be if she decided to step away but Fushiguro managed to sneak in and shot her in her temple before attacking me."

"Ultimately I took him out later that day," Gojo shrugged, trying his best to suppress any other bits of sadness that he had - it was the only way he knew how to cope. "We took care of Amanai and then came back to campus...now here we are attending class the next day as if nothing happened."

"I'm going to go..." Geto grew too impatient to linger any longer. He left immediately with no other word in the opposite direction.

"We're both taking it pretty hard. That girl...shouldn't have had to die. She was going to choose not to merge anyway...she just wanted a normal life." Gojo ran his hand through his hair and shifted his seated position to be cross-legged. "Geto seems to be taking it real hard for some reason. He keeps mumbling about something that Fushiguro guy said."

"Did he say what that was?" Nanami asked. Haibara was too stunned to speak.

"No...not specifically. He keeps muttering something about monkeys of all things," Gojo made a weird face that signified his lack of understanding. "No idea." He shook his head. "I'm worried about him for sure."

"Y-yeah...keep an eye on him..." Nanami mumbled, narrowing his eyes and grimacing. "That's...concerning."

"He watched her...die...right?" Haibara asked innocently and Gojo intensely stared straight at the young man. "That's got to be rough on someone...maybe he just needs some time."

"Yeah," Gojo smiled, "I think so, too." He continued looking at Haibara as anyone would while naturally holding a conversation. It wasn't until Gojo noticed the purple mark on Haibara's neck that things shifted, a wicked grin growing on his face. "Haibara-kun..." he chuckled, leaning forward and pushing Haibara's open jacket out of the way, "were you and Nanamin up to no good while we were gone?"

Haibara quickly blushed and yanked his jacket closed, using the high collar to hide his neck. Nanami's grimace increased as did his urge to punch Gojo. He unfortunately knew better, Gojo likely able to put up his infinity before he could do anything. Gojo snickered and leaned back, Haibara putting his knees up to hide his face better.

"What? Nothin' to be embarrassed about," Gojo leaned back on his hands, "it's all in the fun, right?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

"I...I'm gonna' go!" Haibara quickly stood and gathered his things. Nanami's gaze pierced Gojo's again as he looked up at Haibara with a satisfied smile. "I'll be back in my room, Kento, if you wanna' join when you're done here!" He quickly left, feeling completely embarrassed.

"You're a dick," Nanami stood and began to gather his own materials.

"Oh, Nanamin, please," Gojo also stood and watched as Nanami stuffed a notebook into his satchel and sling it over his shoulder, "you know I'm just poking fun."

"I don't give two shits what you're doing. You're a dick," he began to walk past, brushing Gojo's shoulder in return. He paused for a moment when he realized his infinity was off.

"I've got no need to have my guard up," he smiled as Nanami looked back with an angrily shocked expression - fully expecting the infinity to resist as he purposefully ran into Gojo.

Nanami began to grit his teeth, primarily out of anger at the small twinge he felt in his chest. Feeling any sort of attraction to the shit show that was Gojo Satoru felt so incorrect and wrong, and not just because of his relationship with Haibara.

"What? Gonna' go back and make out with your boyfriend?" Gojo teased in a sing-song-y voice, just absolutely gushing over the fact that it was all his fault Haibara and Nanami were together. If he hadn't invited them to that party, their relationship would've never happened! At least in Gojo's mind.

"Shut the fuck up!" Nanami growled loudly as he stormed away.

"Oh yeah, let that anger out on him. I'm sure he loves what you do to him, Kentooo~" Gojo moaned Nanami's name, still toying with him as he walked further away. Hearing Gojo's weak moans with his playful voice made him immediately tense up and start walking faster.

"Piece of shit," he muttered under his breath.

Gojo sat alone and sighed. Nanami now completely out of sight. He shook his head and began to walk back toward the dorms himself, hoping to find Geto there.

"Hey..." his voice was soft as he stood in front of the closed door, already in Geto's room thanks to his ability. Geto had been lying on his bed, feet crossed as he lounged and read a book. He barely looked over toward Gojo. "You okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Geto answered, turning a page. Gojo stood there helplessly. "Why?"

"You've not been yourself all the way since we've gotten back," he mumbled, "I know that it was rough...like really rough," he gave a knowing laugh and scratched the back of his head, "and I'm fucked up over it, too. But...it's not like we haven't seen death before. What's different about this one?"

"It's not about the death, Gojo," Geto sighed, snapping the book shut after dogearing the page. "I thought I told you that..." he nervously trailed off.

"Yeah...you said it was something that Toji guy said," Gojo furrowed his brow and took a few steps closer. "But I don't know what that was...you won't tell me." Truthfully, Geto was keeping it from Gojo as a way to keep his sanity. He knew that if Gojo knew what Fushiguro had said, he'd get all bent up out of shape worse than he had...and he'd do something about it. While Geto was mentally unwell about what was said, he knew he had the ability to swallow it down...hopefully...and not do anything rash...hopefully.

"It's unimportant," Geto stood up and closed the gap between the two. He warmly pecked Gojo's forehead, holding his upper arms as Gojo still stood helplessly.

"Geto..." Gojo whispered as Geto continued to pepper his face in kisses. "Ge-" he was stopped by Geto's lips, his grip on Gojo's shoulders tightening as a clear way to distract him.

Geto hummed into Gojo's mouth just how he liked it. His velvety voice made Gojo weak and Geto knew it.

"Doesn't matter," he murmured into the kiss, tongue stretching out and into Gojo's mouth, "just kiss me."

Geto continued, pushing his face farther into Gojo's as Gojo's body continued angling backward. He was not accepting of Geto's reply. Geto gave up and cradled the side of Gojo's neck as his lips met with his jugular. Gojo pouted though Geto couldn't see it. He couldn't help the physical reaction that his body naturally had for his lover - upset at him or not.

"Geto," Gojo aggressively shoved Geto away as soon as he worked up the courage to do so. "I'm not gonna' fuck you unless you tell me what's going on."

"He...just said some fucked up shit about Amanai's body," Geto lied, "something grotesque that I don't want to repeat." A complete lie. Gojo shuttered at the mere thought of what it could have been. "I...hate how gross of a guy he was...it's just...hard." That very last part, those last three words were completely the truth.

"I'm sorry you had to see it. I'm sorry I didn't stop it from happening," Gojo gave a somber look, a frown adorning his otherwise perfect features. "It's all my fault..." Gojo was beginning to slightly tear up, remembering the details of the last few days.

"Hey..." Geto quickly grabbed Gojo and brought him close. "It's not. You did what you could and what you thought was best. We're still young. It's the higher ups...they sent us on a mission we couldn't do."

"But...we're the strongest," Gojo pulled away, not meaning to say that in a tearfully jokey manner. He was serious. "We are the strongest and we let it slip through our fingers."

"Satoru..." he mumbled softly, using his thumb to wipe the tear. "You did what you could," he repeated, "we're doing what we can for humanity. They don't know the lengths that we have gone through. They're ungrateful and you messing up just once will have little effect on their lives - even Master Tengen's life."

Gojo blinked hard at Geto's words that came out mysteriously aggressive. Geto had a weak smile on his face as he tried to comfort Gojo. Gojo had no choice but to accept what Geto was saying though something felt slightly off about his demeanor.

#hainana #nanago #satosugu #jjk #jujutsu kaisen

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igotyouniverse · 4 years ago

Text

Breathe Me - Chapter 2 [nct vamp au]

Description: After dropping out of college and coming home for the first time in two years, 22-year-old Ava Lee gets caught up in a mystery surrounding the people she thought she knew for so long. Between friendship, affairs and true love the young women finds herself being pulled into a nightmare she would never wake up from.

Pairing: Oc x Taeyong , Oc x Johnny [side: markxoc, tenxoc, lucasxoc, jaehyunxoc]

Included Members: Taeyong, Johnny, Mark, Lucas, Ten, Jaehyun, Doyoung, Haechan (maybe more)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Angst, Fantasy

Warnings: some swearing I guess and some umm angst (this chapter)

suggestive content, strong language, violence, blood, death. probably more, not sure yet (later chapters)

a/n: yeah who doesn't like awkward encounters in cafés and bookstores? Plus an awkward party with a big surprise? Sign me up. Anyway, that's the second chapter for this baby. I got carried away a lot, so it turned out a lot longer than expected but I honestly didn't want to split it up. A lot is happening! I'm honestly so excited for the third one as the main plot will start there and let me tell you – it will go WILD, haha. Enjoy ♥

ch. 1 || ch. 3

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“Oh, hey Ava. Haven't seen you in forever. How are you? That's exactly what he said.”, Ava told her best friend while savouring her freshly baked croissant.

Yunmi sighed and took another sip form her third coffee. “I mean you actually didn't see him in nearly three years.”

Ava shot her friend a glance and snorted. “Yeah, well, that's not my bad. He decided to completely ignore me for no reason at all.”

“Yeah, because he's a jerk. That's a fact.”, Yunmi said with a smile, trying to comfort her friend.

“Totally.”

“A handsome jerk, tho.”, Ava added and drank a sip of her water, trying to avoid her friend's gaze.

“Yup, we all got eyes. But I still don't get it. I mean you two didn't even hook up, did you?”, she felt Yunmi's eyes staring holes in her body.

“No, I've told you a hundred times. We just kissed. I think I'd remember if I hooked up with fucking Johnny Suh.”, Ava sighed with frustration in her voice. Of course she thought Johnny was attractive. Well, not only attractive. It was like she was just drawn to his simple presence. Not to mention, that he was funny, smart, caring and overall just a good person. Or that's what she thought before he decided to just erase her out of his life.

She just couldn't get a hang of it. The memories she had of that night were just magnificient. The farewell party was fun and chill. Everyone enjoyed themselves while dancing or just having drinks. She wasn't even that buzzed, especially not in the moment she remembered so clearly it even felt a little surreal sometimes. But she could remember so clearly how she talked to Johnny for hours about everything. It wasn't the typical smalltalk they usually had – she told him about her worries for university, her feelings about this god forsaken town and even managed to tell him that he crushed on him for years, not having the balls to ask him out. Him being the best friend of her brother didn't make the whole situation easier, though.

And then, just like in all these movies she binge-watched with Yunmi he actually kissed her. And not like a friend, no, she remembered his lips on hers so clearly. The softness of them and how perfectly fit on hers like they were just meant to be. Yet, it felt like a dream sometimes. She felt how much passion the kiss had, it was breathtaking, like a sweet drug she couldn't get enough from and yes, she absolutely would've slept with him but she knew that he was a gentleman. They just chuckled at each other before he brought her home, promising to call the next day before her flight would take off.

But that never happened.

“Maybe you should try talking to him? Like face-to-face. You won't be able to avoid him forever, especially because of Mark.”, Yunmi said and tried to read her friends emotions but Ava just chuckled.

“Watch me.”

The café Yunmi picked out was next to the bookstore Mark worked at. Ava remembered how the spot was always closed and under construction but apparently it opened a few months ago. The style was simple and comfy. It was a light store with paintings on the walls and different types of plants everywhere. Huge windows allowed a view over the main street and the small park right in the middle. It seemed oddly familiar to Ava, even though she never set a foot in this building. But something just felt like she's been there before but she couldn't figure it out.

“I need more coffee.”, Yunmi said and pouted looking at her empty cup.

“Dude, that was your third coffee.” Ava laughed and looked at her friend, with just a tint of worry in her eyes.

“Happens when you work as a nurse. Night shifts are just so tiring here. Nothing happens anyway but I wasn't able to take a nap because I had to do all these papers.”, she said annoyed and pouted at Ava, holding up her empty cup.

The girl sighed and smiled, standing up to get her friend her needed refill.

Ava went up to the empty counter and looked for the young waiter she saw earlier but to her surprise another young man came out, looking at her with warm eyes.

“Can I get a refill please?”, she asked politely and handed the guy the cup after he nodded. His eyes focused on her for just a second, but for her it felt longer. Did she know him? His hair was dyed in a ashy-blonde color, hair framing his delicate facial features. His eyes looked warm yet they had something deep and maybe even dark about them. The way he moved looked elegant. She eyed him just for a second longer, trying hardly to think why he looked so familiar. She even felt like she somewhat heard his voice before. She squinted her eyes trying to take a look at his name tag but apparently he didn't even wear one.

“Here. Do you need something else?”, he asked.

Ava froze for a split second, realized how impolite it was to stare at a person as bluntly as she did.

“No, thank you. I really like the place, though. It's pretty.”, she smiled lightly and took the cup.

The guy thanked her, his face lightened up, a smile appearing on his face, which made her feel warm all of a sudden. Why did his smile see so familiar?

She hurried back to the table her friend was sitting, giving her her desperately needed caffeine.

“Who's the guy at the counter?”, Ava asked.

Yunmi immediately turned around to take a look at who her friend meant.

“Taeyong. He owns this place.”

After Ava stayed silent, not quite sure if she knew him or not, Yunmi added,

“He lives together with Johnny and Jaehyun in that house. We met him there once, don't you remember?”, Yunmi asked and raised a brow.

“I don't know. I guess? You know how bad my memory is.”, Ava chuckled and stared at her glass of water before giving her friend a smile.

Honestly, she wasn't sure if she remembered. Maybe she did meet him back then. Maybe not.

“He's cute, isn't he? He even makes the pastries himself.”, Yunmi said and took a bit of her sandwich after inhaling her coffee.

“Yeah, he is nice, I guess.”, Ava said, looking over at the counter where Taeyong stood. She saw how his eyes met hers, holding the eye-contact for just a bit before he turned around and went to the back.

Weird.

“There will be a party tonight at their house.” Yunmi said, eyeing her friend once more. After Ava didn't answer right away Yunmi sighed.

“We should go. It will be fun.” she added.

“Since when do you want to go parties?”, Ava asked her friend, raising her brow. As long as she remembered Yunmi and her weren't the type of girls who went to parties. They usually preferred a good movie night with food over drinks and bad music. Even in college, Ava didn't attend many of those famous college parties she heard about.

“Their parties are usually really nice.”, she smiled softly and started to play with a strand of her brown hair.

“Mh-mh. Their parties or just someone at their parties?”, Ava teased her friend, poking her cheek.

Yunmi pouted a light shade of red on her cheeks. She caught her.

“Well, you won't know if you don't join.”, Yunmi poked out her tongue at Ava, laughing softly at her.

“Fine. But if I see Johnny I'll leave.”, Ava said firmly and looked at her hands for a second. She really didn't want to attend another party where he was after the last time, even if it was years ago.

“He lives there, genius. Of course he will be there. But it will be fun, I promise. Maybe you could even use the chance to talk to-”

A glance of Ava cut her friends words off, holding her hands up in defeat.

“Fine. Or ignore him. Just come with me. I'll introduce you to some cool people, okay?”

The girl groaned until she gave in.

“Okay. I will be there. Mark probably wants to go too, anyway.”, Ava said and rummaged in her bag, trying to find her phone.

“Probably.”, Yunmi answered, seemingly uninterested if the boy would join them or not.

“Mh, can't find my phone.”, Ava muttered, unable to find anything in her bag anyway.

“Well, the bookstore is right next-door, I'll just ask him there. I think he's working.”, she looked to her best friend who seemed to have spaced out for a second.

“You join me?”, she asked, touching Yunmis hand for a second. Her best friend shook her head, smiling at her.

“No no, I need to take a nap and a shower before the party. Just, um, say hello from me, will you?”, Yunmi stood up, taking her jacket over her arm, helping to put the empty plates and cups on the empty counter.

“Yeah, sure. See you then.”, Ava said putting the rest of the plates on the counter, a bit surprised about the sudden haste her friend was in.

She sighed taking a look around the café once more before leaving it for the day. Ava tried her best to not overthink the whole situation and slowly walked to the next door on the street, leading into the small bookstore her younger brother worked at.

She strolled through the filled shelves, inhaling the magnificent scent of all the bound books walking up to her most favourite isle – old classics. Her fingers trailed over the spines, feeling their different textures. She used to read a lot, every week a new book in her hand, ready to savour it in just one sitting. Back then, it felt easy to just sit down, a book in her hands and shutting the world out completely, focusing only on the words forming these beautiful pictures inside her head, making all these thoughts haunting her in real life go away just like that. When did she lose this talent? Nowadays, she just couldn't get herself to actually read a book. She continues to buy them, placing them prominently on her nightstand, in hopes for her to just grab it in the evening but the pile of books just grew bigger and bigger over the weeks until she finally stopped to even buy them. She hoped to get back into her once most loved hobby. Even if it was just for a few minutes.

“Hey, didn't expect you to visit me.”, she heard Mark saying and turned around, a big smile on her lips.

“I wanted to surprise you, I've actually met with Yunmi. We had breakfast in the café next door.”, Ava answered and looked at her brother. She chuckled mildly. He looked so grown-up and mature in his plain black shirt with his round glasses on, his dark hair falling into his face. She realized how different he looked from the last time she saw him. Unbelievable that he was already 20 years old.

“Oh-Uh, yeah it opened up a few weeks ago. The owner is Jaehyun and Johnny's roommate.”, Mark said after he scratched the nape of his neck. “H-How's Yunmi? She alright?”, he asked casually while sorting a book from his hand into the shelv.

“Yeah, I guess. She said hello but had to rush home.”, Ava answered, shrugging her shoulders.

She eyed her brother and how he fumbled with the hem of his shirt, he seemed to want to say something but decided not to.

“Anyway.”, he exhaled loudly and cleared his throat before smiling at Ava. “I'm happy you're visiting. Want me to show you around? I mean you technically know it, though.”, her brother chuckled.

But as the good sister she is she nodded and let her brother show her all the different types of book they had and which authors occasionally came to give a reading. Seeing his eyes lighten up just by the name of these authors made her heart melt. He explained passionately the several differences in their writing techniques and why they were his favourites. He told her how he fell in love with classic literature, especially romance and tragedy.

Ava listened to him swooning over different works and their means to past society, yet he even read modern novels. She looked at all the books, most of them she already read by herself when she was younger. She felt proud seeing him glowing up, doing what he loved without hiding.

“I just hope I'll be half as good as them.”, she heard her brother sighing when he put down the last book.

Ava put a hand on his slim shoulder and smiled at him warmly.

“I’m sure you will be. Trust me, I will be your biggest fan!”, she laughed and ruffled his hair, making him scrunch his nose before trying to fix his hair.

“Please. I appreciate the encouragement but it's still a long way. Plus mom and dad are still not very fond of the idea of me becoming an author. They think it's still a phase and that I will soon realize it's stupid and become a doctor like – well.”, he shrugged his shoulders before speaking out his thoughts.

Ava bit her lip. “I will tell them.”, she said, not believing her answer.

“When will you, though? I mean, I'm not pressuring you. I get it, it's hard but don't you think it will be even harder the longer it lasts? They're not stupid.”, Mark said looking at his sister, his eyes were filled with worry.

“I know. I'm just – imagine their disappointment. I need a plan, you know?”, she muttered, trying to avoid his gaze. She felt guilty for lying but she would feel even worse seeing the disappointment in her parents eyes when they realize she wasn't that perfect daughter they saw her as.

“Promise me you'll figure something out, okay? It's not healthy.”, he said, looking up when he heard the door open.

“Yes, I promise. Just give me some more time, will you?”, she pleaded at him, pouting as best as she possibly could.

“Sure.”, he rolled his eyes, sighing deeply before he put on a smile and waved at the new customer.

Ava turned around and saw two young men walking in.

“Hey guys, what are you doing here?”, Mark said and smiled, walking up to his friends.

Ava just sighed, silently asking the universe why it made life for her that hard.

“Hi.”, she just briefly said, trying not to look directly into Johnny's eyes. She even managed to ignore him and just gave Jaehyun a smile which he joined.

“Long time no see. You look good.”, Jaehyun said and brushed his hand briefly at her arm.

Ava chuckled, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks.”

She felt Johnny looking at her standing next to Jaehyun, eyeing both of them. Just like she wanted him to do.

“We're actually looking for books for the café. Taeyong wants to have some more for visitors to read.”, Johnny said after clearing his throat. Ava's eyes wandered to Johnny's just for a quick second but she already found herself being mesmerized by his presence once again. She liked the way he wore his black hair, the strands falling into his face just perfectly. Her gaze locked at his lips while he spoke with Mark about the books Taeyong wanted and even though the name still rang a bell in the back of her head she couldn't free herself from the way Johnny's lips moved. She knew how soft they felt, recognizing the feeling just too well.

Her thoughts moved back to that night like they always did and the urge to confront him about why he decided to let her hang like that grew stronger. She knew that it would probably was just a kiss for most people but for her it felt so differently. It was romantic and intimate, just how she imagined kissing him over and over again when she was younger. Plus, him declaring his feelings for her made that memory even more perfect. Yet, it all shattered when he ignored her.

She felt a hand on her back and then a breath at her ear, before Jaeyhun whispered

“You good?”

She felt the grin on his face when she rolled her eyes and nodded.

For a split second she saw how Johnny turned his head towards her, looking away just another second later, continuing to talk to Mark.

“Will you be at our place tonight?”, Jaehyun asked, not moving his hand from her back.

“I guess so. Yunmi asked me, too.”, Ava smiled at Jaehyun, wordlessly thanking him.

“Well, you can't say no now. I'd be happy if you came.”, he smiled at her paired with a short wink before laughing with her.

She heard Johnny clearing his throat and looked up to him.

“Anyway, we should head back to the café or Taeyong will be mad at us for leaving him alone for too long.”, he said while taking books off Mark's arms he seemed to have collected for them.

“Sure.”, Jaehyun said and smiled at the others, before looking down at Ava again. “See you tonight then, can't wait.”, he said, stroking her back slightly before leaving behind Johnny.

Ava felt her brother's piercing gaze on her back while she tried to look away, shrugging her shoulders.

“Stop staring at me like that.”, she hissed at Mark and rolled her eyes. She finally looked at him but he just shook his head, wanting to say something but all he did was open his mouth for a second before closing it again, raising both of his hands.

“None of my business.”

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Ava's head felt already heavy without any alcohol in it. She stared at the dark street in front of her, trying to concentrate on driving the car her parents gladly allowed them to use to drive to the party. Of course, she didn't even want to drink. She didn't even want to attend the party at all but she had to admit that she was curious – curious about how the people had changed, curious about how they'd behave and obviously curious about certain of these people whose names she didn't want to think about again.

Even when the last time she visited the house was three years ago she remembered the way so clearly as if she'd just was there yesterday. She took a glance at Mark who was sitting next to hear, looking out of his window, seemingly way up in his own thoughts she wished to read.

Ava sighed quietly, focusing her eyes on the street. She felt anxious about meeting all these people. No one knew about her not so graceful career, still thinking she studied medicine on some ivy league college back in the city everyone dreamed of living. The thought of them asking all these questions she already had to answer her parents made her shiver. Maybe she should just hide in a closet until Mark wanted to go back home. Would be smarter than awkwardly running into someone again – once a day is enough.

Yet she took hours to get ready, carefully picking out an outfit, lipstick and the way she wore her hair, trying to look casual but not too casual. The chance of running into him was just too high for her to not try to make herself look presentable.

The street got more narrow, leading into the woods where the house was.

“I still don't get why they're living in the woods.”, she sighed and looked at Mark for a second before driving on the long gateway leading to the house.

“Taeyong inherited it from his grandma or something.”, Mark answered, waking up from his thoughts.

Ava just nodded, already seeing some more cars and people standing outside. She couldn't see enough to look at their faces. The girl quickly parked the vehicle and stretched her arms once she got out, looking around. The late summer air was still warm and comfortable yet one could sense the upcoming autumn as some leaves slowly turned darker.

The siblings walked down the path leading to the entrance, which led to a huge front yard. It was lighted with small paper lamps, showing off some of the landscaping done. She even heard a fountain splashing somewhere. She looked around, not quite sure if she'd remember the place at all. The house was surrounded by a traditional stone fence and she wondered how old it was. Ava could already hear the people enjoying themselves, with loud music pounding in her ear.

From what she saw through the darkness and the sparse light the house itself looked huge enough to probably fit a hundred people. The door was left open, shoes flooding the entrance area.

After bumping into dozens of people greeting her, smiling and waving she helplessly looked at Mark who was still right behind her looking for someone.

“You made it!”, Ava heard Yunmi screaming in her hear, an arm around her waist, pressing a kiss on her cheek. Ava could smell a note of alcohol in her friend's breath and chuckled.

“How much did you already drink?”, she asked but Yunmi waved her off, her gaze meeting Mark.

“Oh hi Mark. Nice to see you, how are you?”, she asked politely while resting her head on Ava's shoulder.

“Uhm, I'm good thanks. And you?”, he scratched is neck, looking away, probably trying to find his own friends.

“Life's great.”, she answered and laughed, removing her head from her friend's shoulder to take a sip from her cup, shaking it in front of Ava's face.

“Want something? I can totally mix you a drink.”

“No, thanks. I don't drink.”, she answered and smiled apologetic.

“I'm gonna look for Johnny. Hit me up when you want to go home, alright?”, Mark said and disappeared in the moving crowd of people.

“I take it you don't want to look for Johnny?”, Yunmi asked her friend, directly looking at her, rolling her eyes when Ava shook her head.

“Nope. So, who are these cool people you wanted me to get to know?”, Ava smiled.

Yunmi entangled her fingers with hers and dragged her through the crowd, brabbling something about a girl and a boy.

Not long after Ava spotted to semi-familiar people her friend shouted at. A girl with a black long bob smiled warmly and waved.

The boy, a bit shorter than her, with short black hair smiled and greeted her. “Ava, you must remember Ten and Sunhyung, right? We went to Highschool together.”, Yunmi introduced them but Ava wasn't exactly sure who they were. She barely remembered anyone from Highscool, though. At least not their names.

“We were in another class, though.”, Sunhyung chuckled.

“Nice to meet you. So what are you guys doing?”, Ava asked them.

“Well, we're actually officers right now. Ten is my partner.”, Sunhyung explained and smiled at Ten, who just nodded and raised his cup.

“Not on duty tonight, though.”, he winked and exed the rest of the liquid.

“Yunmi told me you're studying medicine? Pretty cool. How's life in the States? This town must bore you to death.”, Sunhyung chuckled and looked at her cup, seemingly disappointed that it was empty.

“I'm actually enjoying it. It's like a vacation.”, Ava answered and hoped no one would ask her to further elaborate on her studies, which weren't even real.

“I'd give everything to travel to a real city. The only “crimescenes” we're looking at are rather boring. It's mostly just noise disturbance or someone's speeding who isn't from here.”, Sunhyung rolled her eyes.

“Hey, last week we had one burglary!”, Ten protested.

“You mean the sixteen-year-old boy who stole some Vodka from the store? How exciting.”, his partner answered sarcastically and laughed.

“I need a refill, you want something?”, Yunmi asked in the group as she apparently spotted something at the bar which needed her attention.

Ten and Sunhyung both nooded eagerly. She didn't bother to look at Yunmi, knowing she'd say no anyway.

Ava's eyes followed her friend to the bar, by which a tall young men stood. She saw how Yunmi straightened her back and smiled at the guy, who she probably knew. Ava noticed how her friend pushed her long hair back and saw how her mouth formed into a laugh after the boy said something. Ava tilted her head, trying to figure out if the knew him or not. She would probably remember a guy like him. He was handsome, yet his face had something sheepish when he talked to Yunmi.

“That's Lucas.”, she heard Sunhyung say and snapped out of her thoughts, “He moved her two years ago. Always hangs out with Johnny and the rest.”, she added and Ava raised her brows. She was pretty sure she never saw or even heard of him before.

“I swear Yunmi has the biggest crush on him. Always swooning over his hands or something.”, Ava heard Sunhyung continue and asked herself why exactly her best friend didn't tell her anything about that guy.

“Well, quite obvious that they're flirting.”, Ten added and nodded.

“Yeah, I'm betting they end hooking up tonight.”, said Sunyhung.

“Never. Both won't make the first moves. They're flirting for months and nothing interesting happened.”, her partner replied.

“Got it in my guts. Tonight is the night.”, Sunhyung nodded with a stern voice.

“Pff, wanna bet? 50 they won't hook up.”, Ten chuckled.

“Make it 100.”, Sunhyung answered, looking at her partner while shaking his hand.

Ava's gaze meanwhile scanned the room for someone else. As if someone read her thoughts, Johnny came down the stairs with Mark right behind him.

Johnny's eyes met Ava's for a moment and she clenched her jaw. She noticed how he was moving towards her and how her heart began to beat faster in her chest.

“I'm gonna get some water or something. Be right back.”, she mumbled and quickly disappeared in the crowd, trying to keep herself as small as possible. Her eyes searched for a kitchen, which she finally found. Gladly, there weren't any people in it. Probably because the whole alcohol was at the bar and no one here wanted to drink something else.

She sighed and looked for a water bottle but all she saw were some empty cups.

“What are you looking for?”, she suddenly heard a way too familiar voice and turned around just to see Johnny standing in the door frame, a small smile on his lips.

“Just some water.”, she answered quietly, trying her best to look away from his dammed face. She saw how he moved next to her and opened a door next to her which apparently belonged to the fridge. Just a second later he handed her a bottle of cool water. Ava looked up and mumbled a quick thank you but it was enough to catch him smiling again, which made her heartbeat increase.

“I'm glad you came.”, Johnny said and leaned with his back against the door, looking down at her.

“Yunmi practically forced me to. It's nice, though.”, she answered, fumbling with the bottle in her hands, not sure what else to do with them.

Silence flooded the room and all the questions burned on her tongue. Taking a deep breath, she managed to look up at him, meeting his gaze. She locked her eyes with his for much longer as initially wanted and already felt how she got lost in his gaze just like everytime he looked at her.

He was handsome. His black hair messily falling into his face, his beautifully shaped lips curling upwards to form a small smile. Johnny's dark eyes seemed to look right through her.

“Can I ask you something?”, Ava finally found her voice and gulped, without breaking of the gaze.

“Anything.”, he answered, his voice unusual quiet.

“I need to know why you ignored me after that night.”

“What exactly do you mean?”, his brows furrowed.

“My last night here. You kissed me. You told me you'd call me the next day but you never did. And when I tried to reach out you simply ignored all my messages.” she sighed loudly, breaking their connection for a second, to gather her thoughts, “Seriously I felt so stupid. I still do.”

“Ava, listen, it's not what you think.”, she heard him answer and looked at his eyes once more.

“Then tell me, Johnny. Seriously. It's driving me insane.”, she pleaded, letting her arms drop in frustration.

Silence came up once more. The girl's frustration grew with any second passing by, not sure what she could say to finally get him to answer properly.

“I really thought about every single reason why you did that.”, she sighed, pain growing inside of her body, “And the only possible reason left is what you never liked me at all.”, she said, her voice just a small whisper, anxious about his answer.

“It's not that I don't like you. It's quite the opposite.”, Johnny said as she looked up at him again.

“I can't believe you.”, she sighed and furrowed her brows, thinking about his reasons why when he liked her.

“Listen, I'm sorry if I had hurt you but it's not that simple.”, he tried to explain but Ava just snorted and chuckled bitterly.

“Seriously just tell me directly into my face that I imagined all of that and that you're not interested. I'm not a kid and you're owing me that.” she answered, pressing her lips together.

“I can't tell you that because it would be a lie.”, now it was Johnny who sighed.

“It's the only possible explanation. Don't you want to tell me that you're not interested because you don't want to hurt me? Honestly, it would've hurt less if you'd just told me instead of ghosting me for years!”, her voice got louder such as her thoughts, which were going crazy inside of her head.

“That's not it.”, now frustration filled his voice as well. Ava looked into his face, seeing how he pushed his hair back, seemingly unsure about what to say.

“God, this is so stupid. I'm just gonna go.”, she dropped her arms in defeat, tired and annoyed. She didn't want to maintain this nonsense conversation when she wouldn't get a proper answer anyway.

Just when she wanted to move out of the door she felt Johnny's hand on her shoulder.

“Just – don't go, please.”, she heard him say and rolled her eyes.

“Then tell me why.”, as soon as she turned around she felt how Johnny laid his arms around her figure, pressing her against his chest softly.

“I'm sorry. I honestly am, please believe me.”, she felt how he buried his head in heir hair and wrapped her arms around his torso, her heart hammering loudly in her chest.

“I want to.”, she mumbled in the material of his black shirt and tightened her grip around him.

It felt unbelievably good to hug him, yet she still didn't get an answer from him, making her anxiety rise inside her body. She still didn't know why and the sudden touch confused her even more.

Ava started to wiggle when she realized her thoughts wouldn't shut up. Reluctantly, she looked up at him, loosening the hug a bit, yet not ready to let him go completely.

“This is confusing. I just want to know what's going on, please.” she pleaded once more, locking her eyes with his, just staring into them, trying to find answers.

She felt how Johnny moved one of his hands up her back, reaching her head, carefully putting one of her strands of hair behind her hear, his hand lingering on her cheek.

Her breath quickened when her eyes wandered over his face, absorbing every inch of it, until she stopped at his just perfectly shaped lips. She licked over hers, memories of how his tasted on hers flooded her mind. Her gaze went up again, meeting his once again that night.

The girl was once again hypnotised by his gaze, unable to look away this time.

Without further thinking about it, she put her hands on his neck and pulled him closer to her, to finally press her lips on his. His lips were just as soft as she memorized them, fitting on hers just as she remembered. The kiss was careful, still anxious about his reaction but when he actually pressed her closer to him, deepening the kiss her mind went completely blank.

Her eyes fell shut, her fingers slightly tightening on the back of his neck, trying to keep him even closer. Their lips moved in perfect sync, just as they belonged on each other. The girl cherished every second of it, how his hands cupped her face while one thumbs caressed her cheek, touching her so softly, as if she could break any second. The taste of his lips were sweet, she couldn't even taste a bit of alcohol, which ensure her that this was what he wanted.

As soft as the kiss was, she knew she wanted more. She needed more. After all these months of anxiety, pain and worry she finally kissed him again. Ava opened her mouth for him, allowing his tongue to play with hers, just like she always wanted to be kissed by him. Her fingers buried in his thick her, while his hands trailed down her body to rest on her hips.

Just before she could press her body closer Johnny pushed himself away, as if he'd burn himself.

Completely puzzled, the girl stared at him, not understanding what was going on.

“I can't. I'm sorry.”, she heard him say, his voice sounding strained, as he quickly ran out of the kitchen, leaving Ava alone once again.

She stared at her hands, her heart still beating fast, trying to catch her own breath. The girl felt how tears formed in the corners of her eyes and how her chest, which felt so light and carefree the other second, now felt like some heavy stone was laying on it, stealing her breath away. She had the sudden urge of fresh air and stumbled out of the kitchen, trying to leave everyone in that house behind her while not being seen. She couldn't manage to explain her situation to anyone. She wanted to be alone.

Ava breathed in the cold air and closed her eyes for a second, trying to get as much distance as possible between her and that house. She took a look at her smartphone to check the time but it wasn't even midnight yet, and she didn't want to be a killjoy and spoil Mark's fun. She made her way out of the garden and looked at the woods behind the property and stopped for a second. She heard how the wind whistled through the branches and how the leftover leaves trailed through the air. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, the latest event flooding her mind. This didn't make any sense to her. Why did he kiss her again? It wasn't just a casual kiss, she could feel that. And this time it wasn't her freaking imagination. The way he hold her and returned her kiss, the way he pressed her against his body – that wasn't imagination.

She actually believed him. She trusted his words yet he was acting like something completely different was on his mind and she just couldn't figure it out. Her thoughts went crazy and she felt how her throat got sore. Why did he stop when it felt so good? Any why did he leave her like that, not explaining his behaviour once again.

Ava kept going towards the trees, sometimes looking up at the sky which wasn't as clear as she thought. Thick black clouds were blocking the moon and stars and she sighed, yet it felt nice to move and properly breathe since the air in the house was muggy and way too hot. Or maybe it just felt like that to her. Her body felt exhausted, yet still full of adrenaline. What did she do wrong? Once again, she went through all the possibilities and couldn't get the hand of it. She didn't want to get hurt again by him, yet there she was. Feeling exactly the same as two years ago. It felt like some kind of absurd Deja Vu.

She flinched when she heard a loud crackle next to her and squinted her eyes, when she couldn't see anything. For a second, she thought someone was here, probably some drunk people enjoying themselves in the woods. She rolled her eyes and continue to stroll when she heard a noise again, but this time it sounded more like a hiss. Ava turned around, trying to see anything but it was too dark. Maybe some brainless jock saw her and tried to scare her.

Another crunching noise, this time right behind her, made her flinch once more, the hairs on her neck standing up. She felt her muscles tighten, when she turned around yet still no one was there. The girl looked a round several times, until she decided to head back to the house which she only saw in some distance thanks to the lights outside. Maybe she could just wait inside the car until Mark wanted to leave the party.

For a few seconds, it was silent again when she heard another noise, this time way closer to her, besides her.

Ava started to run, fear suddenly filling her body as her breath and heartbeat quickened, a feeling of danger flowing her body. The noises got louder, someone was definitely following her. She heard fast footsteps approaching her, whispers and hisses starting to echo inside her head, making her want to scream. She shook her head, trying to leave the voices behind but it was like they were just stuck, burying every other sound under it.

The blood pulsated in her head, breathing loudly. Sweat running down her forehead while her feet tried to run as fast as she could, yet she didn't seem to come any closer to the house.

A dark laugh suddenly appeared as she saw a black figure suddenly standing in front her, which made her stop in her steps, almost falling over.

She couldn't see a face, nor anything else which could possibly explain who it was. The figure took a stop closer to her, making her move backwards until her back met with once of the trees, the tree bark scratching her back uncomfortably.

The girl blinked once and the figure was gone, her blood still pulsating in her veins. She gulped, looking around before continuing to run in the direction she thought was the right one, while still turning her head every other second.

Suddenly she felt a breath on her neck, paired with a deep chuckle, making her stop in her tracks once more. She wanted to ask something, scream, anything but it felt like she suddenly had a lump in her throat. The voices inside her head growing louder and louder with each second passing by.

As soon as she wanted to start running again, a hand grabbed her wrist, forcing her to stand still. The grip was harsh and strong, not moving an inch even when she tried her best to wiggle her wrist free. She grunted and tried to take a look at the person behind her but she couldn't move at all.

“Oh no, you can't look at me. Not now, dear child.”, a voice said. It was more of a whisper than a real voice. The sound seemed hypnotic.

“There, there, hold still. Don't scream now.”, he said as she tried to wiggle herself free until her body stiffened. Suddenly, it was like all the noises she heard a second ago were gone. She didn't hear the whistles of the wind, the arches or their leaves. Nothing. It felt like the was in a vacuum, only the voice echoing in her head, telling her to hold still.

“You see, it's nothing personal.”, he continued and chuckled, sending shivers through her body.

“It's just, you got to understand that you're part of something bigger.”, she felt a hot breath on her neck again, making her want to scream but it felt like she lost her voice.

He heard him click his tongue, followed by a cold finger stroking over her neck.

“Such a pity. So beautiful. I see what he's found in you, honestly. But, you know, sacrifices must be made. And such a pretty one.”, the voice continued.

Tears started to form in her eyes, rolling down her cheek, burning her skin. She didn't know what was going to happen but she felt afraid. More than that – she feared for her life. Something in his presence made her body fill with this primal fear.

“Oh, so pretty while crying, what a sight.”, a finger wiped one of her tears, chuckling mildly.

“You know, I like it when they scream. And now you need to scream, so he can hear you, you know?”, like a snap, Ava seemed to found her voice and screamed in a high-pitched voice.

Suddenly he let her go, making her stumble over her feet, her knees meeting the cold earth. She coughed while pulling herself up, commanding her body to start running again. When her feet started to move and her thoughts came back, the voices also did. They laughed at her in different tones, from every direction. It felt like a circle was around her, closing closer around her, laughing louder with every step she took.

Another desperate scream fell of her lips as she pressed her hands against her ears, trying to make the voices go but they got even louder, so loud she felt like becoming deaf. She couldn't even hear her own breath anymore, while tears ran down her face.

“It's so much fun to play, don't you think?”, she heard his voice echoing inside her head again, the screams suddenly disappearing.

“You know why? Because I always win.”, a chuckle echoed inside her head, turning into a loud laugh next to her ear.

“Maybe he'll find you, maybe he won't. I hope he does, otherwise it would spoil the fun.”, the voice added and she felt the grip on her wrist again.

“Ah, I'd really want to keep you for myself, such a shame.” he sighed, her body stiffen again, whilst she felt like choking, unable to bring out the slightest sound.

“It's nothing personal against you, my love. You just picked the wrong person to spend your time with, that's all.”

Her eyes widened in fear, her mouth suddenly hanging open without leaving a sound when the world around her suddenly turned pitch black.

･.｡*†*｡.･◆･.｡*†*｡.･◆･.｡*†*｡.･◆･.｡*†*｡.･

masterlist

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lilfriezatyrant · 4 years ago

Text

The Gilded Appearance

A few minutes have passed since he disappeared from this terrestrial hell...or rather he was recruited for a very special tournament.

This lousy monkey had actually managed to convince him. But he can't blame him. Anything is better than to have to be exposed to this cocoon and listen to horrible parades with disgusting fairy songs. He is in a gate that connects this world with the beyond...some human with magical powers had brought him here. A circumstance he does not consider important. His body seems stiff. This repulsive shell hanging from a cherry tree tightened him up very much and he had no freedom of movement at all. What an annoyance! And audacity!

He lets his tense neck circle, whereupon a cracking sound can be heard immediately, his pure ivory-coloured skin appears slightly turquoise due to the blue flames flickering in the portal. One eye looks slowly upwards and he immediately notices a glow over his crystalline skull. Immediately an annoyed sigh sets in. "How degrading for me...of course I have to keep this grotesque halo," he closes his eye again, had briefly determined where Goku is and puts his hands on his hips while he slowly struts to him. His tail flickers elegantly with every step behind him. "Hey, Frieza! I am Glad you're he--!" But he interrupts the mouthy voice with a glorious stroke in the pit of this stomach. "Oops, pardon me...my hand slipped...", he opens one eye again, it is almost like a cheeky wink and he rejoices in the pain of this simian barbarian. His white fist bores into his stomach one last time, but before he could react, his face distorts itself into a painful expression. This monkey had started a counterattack! Also a punch in HIS very stomach. He gritted his perfect teeth and heard the cheeky words of the Saiyan. "Oh, I am also sorry. Mine too." Inside he is loaded with wrath, but he keeps the control he has acquired over the last years. A real anger vein pulsates at his temple, but he smiles slightly, his vermilion eyes glowing at his counterpart.

"Okay Frieza, no more hand slipping. We have to hurry. We only have a few minutes left." The emperor stands upright again and immediately recovers from this little unexpected punch. He seems only slightly confused, his eyes widening as Goku gives him a hand. "Take my hand. I will take us away from here immediately", he himself, in his slight amazement, only brings a quiet "Oh?" as an answer. He chuckles slightly amused, "Then what shall slip next?"

But he doesn't take the hand of this monkey, because a ghostly creature floats panickedly towards them...probably it belongs to this other being. "Baba! We are in trouble! There are several creatures outside! We're surrounded!"

The Emperor puts his hands behind his back and cackles slightly. "A welcome party? You did not tell me that, Goku." He jokes with a smirk. But he does not get an answer, and the other goes out of the building.

His tail flickers enthusiastically behind him for a moment before he slowly follows him.

Oh? Fighters from another universe? This should be interesting. Unknown assassins who probably want to destroy fighters from other universes so that they can no longer participate in the tournament. A...perfidious manner, yet effective.

He watches the action, stands at the entrance of the building, his view directly to Goku and the... locusts in the sky. The unsuspecting monkey asks him questions, but his voice only meets with deaf ears. Clever assassins. Loyal people who understand their work...or they will be subjected to even worse torture if they fail?

Although the Saiyan's contact person gets on his nerves...the same answer follows constantly, namely none.

"I won't tell."

But in the next moment the chest of this dog-like alien is pierced and he falls into the water, rises again, his face screamed in pain. It was a deathbeam, straight from the deadly index finger of the Ruler of the Universe. But he had deliberately missed the vital organ so as not to cause an initial death here on Earth...at least not yet. But his shot was so precise and so close to Goku that he had poked his cheek. "Oh...I am sorry again...I guess my hand slipped after all." his smug grin remains and he can see a certain seriousness in Goku's eyes. Of course he has perfectly memorized his previous words in his head. He never forgets. I guess they will have some minutes left for a little warm-up exercise. "You know, my body has become quite soft in hell...", his smug manner can be heard on the outside and his body slowly covers itself in a golden aura. "And I thought I could loosen it up.", his changed ki continues to grow, it jst like a golden flame in which he is blazing and that's exactly how his inside feels: His body is exposed to so much heat that even the strongest material could melt...but he has got used to it, his body and his organs know this procedure...besides he is a cold-blooded being, literally and heat is very pleasant for his organism. Everyone here isn't moving... nobody is talking. Everyone watches this divine transformation, everyone seems to be spellbound. Just the kind of attention he was hoping for. Very good. A promising audience and it will be his greatest pleasure to eviscerate them. Every single being here.

At the moment, however, he is completely focused on this new power, which he has mastered after another stay in his own hell. Glaring light is emitted as his body takes on a new form in this shell. He has spread out his arms, his back is leaning backwards, almost forming a hollow back, his piercing eyes are closed and he still wears his perfect smug grin. It is the coming anticipation of the bloodbath with which he will inaugurate his golden skin.

Although his posture is inviting, every single limb is under tension. He has to bundle this incredible energy before he can release it and each of his metamorphoses is painful, an irrevocable fact. But it is never visible to an outsider.

Every single cell of his slowly changing body takes on an even more resistant form, micro scales merge together to become more robust as well. The purple spheres on his shoulders disappear completely under a stable golden layer. More muscle mass is formed on his membrane. His perfect transformation is almost complete...the colour gold to humiliate every still living Saiyan and to be superior to this monkey race.

And the hot feeling inside does something very curious: slight signs of goose bumps are visible...but only Frieza himself knows this, no one else would noticed. This unbelievable increase in power causes this. He is excited about what is imminent...he is bloodthirsty and will show no mercy with his finally mastered power.

His strong toes briefly brace themselves, his nails claw into the stone floor before they glow golden for a moment and relax again. The same tension can be seen on his upper body and arms, which have increased considerably in muscle tone. His facial features are also briefly tense for a millisecond before it turns purple and his smirk is still clearly visible with his black lips.

The glistening light had spread over several kilometers during the night and is now slowly fading as his body completes the transformation.

His upper body makes a forward movement. It is like a bow, an invitation for the honour that all attendees were allowed to experience and it is also an augury for the coming disaster. Executed by the Golden Deity who is reborn.

His scarlet eyes open again in a sharp gaze, his golden and massive tail wagging briefly and swiftly once behind him, before he in his sublime form announces his arrival: "Behold the true power of the Golden Frieza!"

@dragonblobz I promised you I will give you a golden terror, didn't I? uwu

#frieza #freeza #golden form #Dragon ball super ep. 95 #Because every Frieza gurl ADORE this scene uwu #I just wanted to describe the transformation of his golden form :3 #My writing #golden Frieza #long post #Frieza's view #I am sorry for some grammar mistakes ><

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addictofsupernatural · 5 years ago

Text

Emotions (pt. 4)

Billy Hargrove x reader

Summary: Billy gets sick, and y/n goes to his house for a surprise visit.

Word Count: 1920

Chapter 1 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 5

Over the next few weeks, the two of you had done many things together and had gotten even closer. You two went to the movies, a carnival, and even drove over an hour to a beach, where he teased you about your sloppy sand castle making skills. Most of the time he was at your house, eating with your family or just hanging out. There were even times where Hopper found Billy while driving and invited him to his house for dinner.

Because of that late beach night though, Billy ended up getting sick. Although he told you over the phone that he'd be fine, you secretly made a plan to visit him at his home. He always dodged your request to go to his house, but you made a plan to make him soup after school and deliver it to him.

Going to school without Billy felt weird and different. It felt lonely again, which became a foreign feeling. People began to treat you the way they treated you before Billy. Especially in biology.

One girl sat in Billy's seat and leaned into your space. "So how's it been being Billy's little whore?"

You didn't like that. Usually you didn't care about what people said about you, but her putting down Billy's name made you mad, something you didn't really ever have to deal with.

"I'm his friend, but maybe you don't know the difference." You tried to keep your voice calm, though it was surprisingly hard. You didn't want to look at her face, you were afraid that it'd get you angrier.

"Excuse me? You really think you can speak to me like that?!" You kept your eyes focused on the window. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

You looked at her. Her hair was full of hairspray, and you could tell that her hair is naturally straight, but she curled it. She wore heavy make up, and her hair was tied up high in a scrunchie. "Okay, what am I supposed to be looking at?"

She scoffed. "Someone who's way hotter than you." She glanced at a group of girls speculating, who nodded for her to go on. "Maybe you should leave it to the pretty girls to be with the guys like Billy. You probably aren't ready to give them what they really want."

You watched her smile at the group of girls. Your anger began to disappear. You understood now. She was just a girl, trying to fit in with bad people that control other people by bullying.

You looked in her eyes. "That's the wrong mentality. If someone isn't giving you attention, then you shouldn't try to give them your attention. You should just find someone who treats you the way you want to be treated."

She had her mouth open with something to say, but nothing came out. The bell then rang, and everybody went back to their seats.

After school when Hopper picked you up he also picked up Max so she could tell you where they lived. You first went to your home to make him soup and warm tea. When you finished, you told Hopper that you and El were spending the night with Max. So he dropped the three of you off.

"Crap." Max said. "Billy's dad is home. I don't know how he'll react to you giving Billy the soup and tea."

"El might have physical powers, but I have emotional powers. It'll be fine." That caused Max to crack a small smile, with the thought of that asshole of a stepdad losing to someone for once.

The three of you stepped inside, immediately causing Neil Hargrove to stand up from the couch. He eyed you, since you seemed around Billy's age. He stuck out his hand, to which you shook. "Hello sir. It's nice to meet you." You offered him a smile.

"Hey. Mind telling me what your doing here?" You saw him glancing down your body once more, with the snug clothes that Billy had bought you on.

"Oh, my sister and I are spending the night with Max. We just wanted to make sure that she goes to school safely tomorrow in case her brother isn't well enough to take her."

"Billy's always been a lazy ass kid. He can take her to school tomorrow, and you–"

You put a hand on his shoulder, sending exhausted emotions into him. "Sir, you look beat. You should probably go to bed."

"I... No, I–" You sent stronger emotions through him. "Yeah, yeah I'll go to bed now."

As he left for his room, you unzipped your backpack to take out the dinner you made for Billy. Max knocked on the door, and you heard Billy croak out a what?! "I have a surprise for you." Max said. "I'm coming in, so you better have clothes on!"

"What the fuck is the point of knocking when you just invite yourself in?!" He sat up angrily, but then saw you. His facial expression went from annoyed to shocked.

"Hi Billy."

"Sweetheart, what are you doing here?" You calmly walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. "My dad–"

"Is in bed right now." You said. "He agreed to let me and El sleep over for Max before he went to bed." At this point Max showed El to her room, leaving the two of you alone.

"No, that can't be–" He cut himself off with a coughing fit.

"Billy." You said. "I have a way with people. Just trust me. Please?" You asked him, in a teasingly innocent way. He nodded, his face becoming more relaxed. You handed him the soup and tea. "I made these for you, so you can get better. I hope you like them."

He set them down on his dresser and scooted closer to you. He hooked his finger under your chin and raised your head. "You're too good for me doll."

You smiled gently and put your hand over the one that had your chin. As you put his hand down, you gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You should give yourself more credit."

He stared at you, his face beginning to feel hot. "What was that for?" He quietly asked.

You looked down in embarrassment. "Um, I saw somewhere that a kiss on the cheek was a term of endearment between someone important to you. Maybe I misinterpreted the meaning. Sorry."

He quickly put a hand on your cheek in a slight panic. "No no, sweetheart! That did mean something! I was just a little surprised, is all." You smiled and nodded, leaning into his hand. He gave you one of his charming, cheeky smiles. "Can I get another one on the lips?"

You chuckled. "No, that's different."

"It's to help me feeling better." He began to crawl closer to you.

"That's not what it means." You covered his mouth with your hand as he laid you down, trying to nuzzle his way into a kiss. "Billy!" You giggled. "Your going to get me sick!"

Max made a loud cough, stopping the two of you. "So, maybe you should put on your pajamas."

You sat up and ran your fingers through your hair. "Right! I forgot to bring something to sleep in."

"Maybe you could use one of Billy's shirts."

You looked at Billy, who nodded his head. You then grabbed a Led Zeppelin shirt while Billy stared at Max's smug face. Max did always say that he was a horny ass who would get what he deserves. He guessed that this will be that time; the thought of you in only his shirt and your underwear just sounded so hot to him, and Max was just eating it up.

As Max left, you were about to follow her before you left Billy grab your wrist. "Wait," he said, his voice low. "Can I have another kiss? Please?"

You leaned down and brushed a piece of hair from his face before kissing his forehead. "Good night Billy." You then walked out, leaving Billy to push his face into the pillow, his face burning and smiling.

"Ugh, what do even see in him?" Max asked as you put on the shirt.

You chuckled. "He's a good friend to me Max. Besides you, he's one of the people I know who treat me like a normal person."

She let out a sigh. "Whatever."

"Good morning." You said as Billy watched you put up your hair in the open bathroom. Instead of leaving your hair completely down after taking your morning shower, you put up your bed head in a half bun. "How are you feeling?"

He leaned in the door frame. "Better, thanks to you."

You smiled at him before playing with his hair and getting an idea. "Can I do something with your hair? It'll be discreet, I promise."

He wanted to say the hell you can, but looking into your eager eyes caused him to be reluctant. The two of you went to the dining room for Billy to sit down. He felt your fingers play with the lower part of his hair, and he secretly liked it.

As you finished and tied it together, Max came up and let out a chuckle. "Looks good, which is weird since you always look like crap." She smiled at him, knowing that he wouldn't say anything in front of you.

He then got up to look in the bathroom mirror, and smiled. You made a small hidden braid. It looked good. "I like it." He said as he came back.

"Really?" You beamed as he nodded. You all then ate cereal together whilst talking to each other. Billy thought of you in adoration. You somehow managed to make his shithole house into a normal one by just being there. You truly are that amazing.

As you and the two younger girls got into the car, Billy grabbed his backpack and walked out of his room to see his father standing in the door frame and looking at you. "She's pretty fine looking, don't you think?"

Billy felt disgusted at Neil thinking of you in that way. He mumbled out a yeah to please him.

"She isn't like the usual sluts you have, so you probably don't have a shot with her. I think you should go for someone a little more easy." Billy said nothing as his father walked away after that.

As Billy sat into the car, you put your hand on his thigh as the two girls were talking amongst themselves. You gave him a look, silently asking if he's okay. He gave you a small smile and a little nod. You gently squeezed his thigh before bringing your hand back and contently looking out the window. You knew that just asking was enough to make him feel a bit better.

By next week you got sick, to which Billy was at your house every night after school; you had Hopper make sure he was at school instead of with you. He tried his best to take care of you, and it made you feel a different kind of happiness. You still don't know what it is, but it makes your face burn up from the things he says and does.

One day El opened the door while you and Mike were playing a card game, and Billy sat on the ground next to you, scooping you up and putting you on his lap. He handed you a piece of paper. A flyer for prom. "Guess where we're going."

---

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veratheangel · 6 years ago

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Loki & The Sandcastle

A/N: This is my first fanfic and I'm a noob at tumblr so sorry if this or how it's posted sucks

Word count: 2520

Rating: Flirts, Fluff, and implied stuff

Loki Odinson was the one person in the compound I would have rather not have to talk to on a daily basis. Especially now that the Avengers were on a mission on the coast. We had a beach house, and everyone always hung out by the shore. But whenever anyone asked him to go outside, he'd shrug them off. All the others tried to persuade him, but he just wouldn't budge. They all bet whether or not I could do it, and I decided to accept that challenge.

"Em," Natasha crowed. She leaned against the door frame to the living room with a towel in hand. Natasha wore a white, floral bikini and her red hair had natural waves from swimming in the ocean. "Come on," she barked. "The guys are already outside hanging out." "Hold on a sec," I countered. "I need to get something," I added. I walked past Loki and into my room. "I'll be outside," she chanted from the hall. I went to my books and picked the one about the beach town. Satisfied with my decision, I went back out and found Loki still sitting in his armchair reading a book. "Hey," I greeted him. I stood behind his chair, looking over his shoulder. "What is it do you want?" He asked without looking up. The trickster god licked his finger and turned the page. I rolled my eyes at the fact that I could hear his bored facial expression in his voice. "You to come outside," I answered. I kneeled down next to the raven-haired prince and thumbed through my own book. "No, no. I don't see that happening," Loki replied. He looked down at me, and the twinge of annoyance disappeared. He almost had a smile and then checked me out. He shamelessly checked me out. "Why?" I asked. "It's not like you can't read outside, and you'd probably have fun." I stopped on page forty-four. "I just don't see the point of getting wet and getting sand all over me." He answered, ending each word with a disgusted hiss. He put his novel down on the table in front of him. "Well, read through page forty-six, and if it miraculously takes the stick out of your ass, come see me," I replied. I stood back up and placed the open book on his lap, making sure to match his stare, shooting daggers at him with my sharp eyes. I left as calmly as possible with what just happened, but when I got outside, I ran as fast as I could throwing my towel in the sand. Nat swam up to the surface of the ocean as I dove in. The water was warm and tickled the edges of the metal swatches on my legs and stomach that replaced skin and tissue. "Look at the boys," she laughed. I swam up and brushed my light brown hair out of my face. Steve and Thor were playing beach volleyball in swimsuits. "Oh no," I replied. I wanted to look away, but I just couldn't. Thor set the ball, and Steve jumped about forty feet into the air to smack it back down. "I feel like this isn't all that safe to them and us and the house," I added. I turned to Natasha, who was nodding with a look of pure fear on her face. I laughed, but Natasha interrupted me. "Loki isn't out here," she observed. "We should tell the boys, that I won." She continued, getting out onto the sand. I sighed and chased her down. "Emaline couldn't get Loki to come out," she told them. "No," I argued. "It isn't like that. I gave Loki something to read, and if he prefers it, he'll come out." I explained, hoping they believed me. "Actually, he should be coming out any moment now," I boasted. Oh please Loki, please come through. As if on cue, the trickster god came through the back door of the bungalow. Not only that, but he was just wearing green swim trunks. Nothing else. And he had abs. I mean he had abs. Everyone looked at me. "What did you give him? A brochure for a cult?" Nat asked, looking extremely concerned. I laughed as the raven-haired prince joined our circle. He towered over me, easily ten inches taller. Loki turned to me. "May I speak with you in private?" He asked, cheeks getting flushed. I nodded as he grabbed my wrists and pulled me to the side. "I'm a god. A mature god, an Asgardian prince for God's sake." He started. "I am strong. I am the trickster, Emaline!" He said, leaning in to whisper in my ear. "But, still somehow your Midgardian literature drew me out here." "Wait, who's swim trunks are those?" I asked, sounding just as confused as him. "Umm... Nevermind that, dear. I just want to build a sandcastle," he whispered. He straightened his posture as his cheeks grew even pinker. I made Loki blush? I smirked and turned to the rest of the group. I threw my right hand in the air. "Ok everyone, we are having a sandcastle competition!" I screamed, walking back to the group. Steve and Nat started laughing - hysterically. I looked back at the trickster god, who now had his arms crossed and his head hung low. A sick feeling suddenly hit me. I didn't mean to embarrass him. I pulled his tense arms apart and wrapped mine around his left one. "We're a team!" I announced, looking up at the raven-haired prince. He relaxed a bit. "What is this 'sandcastle' you speak of, brother?" Thor asked, more confused than Loki when he came outside. "They sound truly amazing," the trickster god replied. "I'll be with Thor and Steve will be the judge," Nat said. She moved in between them so she could be closer to Thor, who was even more confused by how fast this was going. I turned to Steve. "Can Loki and Thor use magic?" I asked, still holding onto the raven-haired prince. After a moment of deliberation, Steve nodded. "One," Nat started. "Two, go!" She screamed. Loki found a patch of sand close enough to the ocean that the castle wouldn't be washed away, but still close enough to quickly get water. I ran to the buckets and picked a few that appealed to me. I brought them back to the raven-haired prince, who was staring at the ground which now had a few squares marked on it. "Thoughts?" I asked, setting down the molds. "I know you've never been there before, but I want to recreate the Asgardian castle." He answered. "Okay," I said. The trickster god then gave a brief plan on how to build it. We both picked up a bucket and ran down to the water. He actually got in it and got wet. I showed him the perfect ratio of water to wet sand before going back up to the dry area. I taught him how much dry sand to mix in, and then we put the molds down. This was the moment of truth. Loki and I both carefully lifted the buckets to reveal two perfect towers. We looked up at each other. I raised my eyebrows and smirked while he gave me a flirtatious smile. I whipped my head around. "You guys have nothing on us!" I screamed to Thor and Nat, who were just now planning their structure. "Oh, I assure you that our's will be the better out of our two castles!" Thor yelled back, earning a chuckle from me at his ridiculous trash talking. I turned around to find that the raven-haired prince in the water already, getting more sand. I ran towards him and scooped out sand and water. I stood back up but felt a hand push my head back under. I raised my head to the surface and looked around. The trickster god stood with a mischevious look on his face. "Did you just dunk me?" I gasped, walking towards him. He nodded before realizing what he did. He started walking backward. "Um... You don't want to walk backward in the ocean," I advised. "Why?" He asked before dropping a good two feet. His smirk turned into a surprised look of concern. "That's why," I laughed, continuing to walk towards him. Fortunately for me, he was too shocked to move. I gave him a smirk before dunking him. He looked back at me or at least tried to through his hair. "How dare you dunk a god!" He yelled, brushing his hair out of his face. I laughed, kneeling down a foot away from his face. "Well, I did. You said you didn't see the point in getting wet, but you dunked me nevertheless." I replied calmly. He leaned in closer to me, so only a few inches were separating us. "Well, maybe I see your point about it being fun." He confessed, looking into my eyes. His cold, minty breath mingled with the warm ocean breeze in my lungs, causing me to catch my breath. Neither of us said anything for a moment, but he splashed me. I stood up straight and gasped, splashing him back. "No one likes a tease," I whined. A genuine smile spread across both of our faces, and Loki let out a low chuckle. He climbed out of the crevasse he was in. "Only in bed, my dear." He replied before chasing my back to the bucket I'd dropped. My dear? I'm his dear? He calls people dear. Not my dear. I picked up my bucket and turned around. Loki was an inch away from me. "Forget the sandcastle," he whispered. The raven-haired prince placed his hands on my waist as I dropped the bucket. The trickster god effortlessly picked me up, so our eyes were level. For a moment, just a moment, we were the only people on the beach, in the world, but only for a moment. "Hey lovebirds!" Nat called, and I realized that my best friends and Loki's brother and friends were watching the whole thing. The raven-haired prince's face turned the same deep pink color that it was a few minutes ago, but his eyes shot daggers in their direction. He put me down, and I turned around. The trickster god protectively wrapped his arms around my waist. "I think we won!" Thor screamed, and Steve nodded in agreement with them. We all looked at their finished replica of S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters and our two towers that weren't even connected. I sighed in unison with Loki. "Worth it!" I yelled back, as Wanda and Bruce came outside. To my surprise, Loki still didn't let go of me. "The mission went just as planned," Wanda announced. "Thanks for the prep help Emali-" she paused. Her gaze went from Loki to my waist and back up again. "Anytime," I replied. Loki let go of me, and I made my way back up to the beach. There stood Bruce with the most hilarious look on his face. "What?" I asked, crossing my arms. "Okay," Bruce replied after a moment of silence. He looked at the other boys who nodded. Bruce looked back at Loki, and Hulk came out. "Don't hurt her!" He screamed before Bruce came back and apologized. This caused the rest of the boys to come out and investigate the threat. The threat that made Loki fall back into the water. "Hulk made an unexpected appearance," Bruce explained. "Why?" Clint asked, looking at the giant footprints in the sand. "False alarm," Bruce answered. He gave Loki, who was now standing up, a skeptical look. "Okay," Vision shrugged. We all went inside, but Thor pulled me aside for a minute before I could get in. "Listen, Loki hasn't liked anyone in a long time. You're both equally hurt, but I know you're strong enough to make him a better person and be his anchor. Thank you," he said. The god of thunder pulled me in for a sibling-like hug. I sighed. "Don't thank me yet, or ever. If I make Loki a better person, it won't be because I tried." I replied looking directly into Thor's earnest eyes. We went in to find everyone setting up a movie night. I went into my room to change out of my black bikini and discovered my book on my bed along with a note. My dear, I knew you’d be the one to pursuade me. Or at least I hoped. I smiled before getting into my grey and black pajamas. After tucking the note into page forty-four, I went back out to find Bucky about to sit down next to Loki. "Can you sit next to me, Buck?" Steve asked, looking at me. "Sure," Bucky laughed. I neared the raven-haired prince, and he lifted the blanket he and Thor shared. "Thank you," I said. I sat down, and the trickster god covered me up. "Anything for you my dear," he whispered. The lights dimmed, and Loki's fingers intertwined with mine. His now dry hand was warmer than I expected. More than that, his hand on mine made me feel safer than I had in a while. We sat like that for the whole movie, until everyone retired to their bedrooms. I went into mine, which happened to be across the hall from Loki's, and got into bed. I laid, avoiding the thought of sleep. Every night I had a nightmare about my life before the Avengers, and it got so severe that I would think of reasons to stay up. Loki popped into my head. Maybe I could sleep with him, but I don’t want to come off as desperate and needy. But this was my only hope. I got out of bed after a few minutes of wrestling with the idea. I grabbed my blanket and headed to his room, but I couldn't knock or open the door. I couldn't make myself do anything, but before I could make a decision, Loki opened the door. "Hi," I greeted him. Hi? Seriously? He chuckled. "I was just about to go to your room," he explained. He took my blanket in his hands, stroking it. "Come in," he suggested. I nodded, too tired to say anything else. I came in and sat on the bed. He sat down next to me. "Why are you here, my dear?" He asked, sensing my anxiety. He wrapped his arm around me as I looked down at the blanket in my lap. "I, I just don't want to have to wake up from another nightmare alone," I admitted. My cheeks became flushed, and Loki sighed. He turned towards me. "Neither do I," he replied. He got up and pulled the covers on his bed back. "Come," he said quietly. I followed his voice in the dark room, and a pair of hands landed on my exposed waist. He guided me into bed before covering me up. The raven-haired prince walked around the bed as I put the balled up blanket against my chest.

#loki #loki laufeyson #loki fanfic #loki (marvel)#fanfic

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