#i do not want another damn war on my hands so just... leave

[scripted-downfall]

So I’ve just started watching Supernatural season 11 and I’m about twenty minutes into episode two and I was wondering your take on Sam here. I just passed him praying acknowledging that he is the reason that a lot of people are dying. But he’s also stated, in the previous episode, that he’d do it again in a heartbeat. So I guess I was wondering your thoughts on this? And if you feel like the actions differ from previous ones in that Sam is willing to sacrifice potentially thousands of people just so he doesn’t have to lose Dean. In the past they’ve been willing to sacrifice themselves or hurt demons, but even with saying no to the archangels it was in part to stop a larger amount of casualties. Also I was curious to your opinion on the “cure” angle which felt to me as a way to be like ‘see sam isn’t a bad guy sure he caused this but he doesn’t want to hurt anyone else he wants to help’ even though be doing that more people potentially get infected and die in the process.

Hello, and thanks for the ask! (And idk if you've been here before or not, but welcome regardless!)

The delay in response is largely because I went back and skimmed through the transcripts for episodes 1 and 2 of the season, as well as past conversation with friends, to see what I said then and remember my opinion on this... and damn but I remember all this now and I thank you for the opportunity to respond! I'll probably address your points slightly out of order, if that's okay! (And apologies in advance; this turned out longer than I thought... here's a keep reading :) )

First, re. my general opinions about Sam in these episodes. This section pissed me off when I first watched it. (For reference, I wasn't live-reacting to the show; instead, I would watch the show, then go to Discord and rant at @typicalopposite about all the things that --- positively or negatively --- stuck with me. And ranting about s11 eps 1 and 2 took at least half an hour without her responding, more so if you add in her responses.) Warning for spoilers to the end of episode two; it's been way more than 20 minutes since this ask, so I'm hoping that's not a problem!

For one thing, he ticked me off with his dumb talk about "when did we change, Dean? Since when do we shoot first, ask questions later" with all the zombie apocalypse level shit going down. In zombie film archetypes, he's totally the annoying pacifist who views zombies as people too and then gets people killed as a result. AND hides his injury to the point that he starts turning and could, in theory, end up infecting someone. Yeah, it ends/ended up working out here, but that doesn't make it good logic/decision making, and, in a supernatural contagion like the one they were facing, they should not have tried for the luxury of a cure. Indeed, Sam probably got way more people killed in the meantime than he actually saved. And I'm not sure what he meant by, "I'm gonna do what I do best, Dean," but, whatever was actually meant, I find it immensely amusing that the line was followed by Sam drinking monster blood and then lying about it to his brother. Yes, I recognize that this was not the same as the Ruby situation, but the (probably accidental) implication is interesting.

It also pissed me off that they keep running with this idea of "we broke this." Like, no, false, full-stop, we did not break this. Dean repeatedly said he didn't want you do to what you were doing. NOWHERE did he say he wanted it to happen. He was actually taking steps to not break the whole thing. The only culpability Dean has in the MOC not being dealt with without releasing Amara is that he took that swing at Death (and that only happened because he couldn't kill Sam, or let Death kill Sam). But that wasn't even what removed the Mark? Rowena et al. working behind the scenes is what removed the Mark. And she was working under Sam's... idk, request? threat? supervision? Fill-in-the-blank, you know what I mean. "We" did not break anything; Sam broke the thing.

Which brings me to your point about Sam acknowledging that he's the reason people are dying but also being willing to do it again, and about his actions differing from the past... I'm honestly not fully sure.

In some ways, his insistence on removing the Mark (and staying to find a cure) is in-character. He's often depicted--- though not always (cough cough: Benny, Emma, the other characters he inexplicably decided weren't human enough to receive the same repeated chances he gave everyone else) --- as believing in nurture over nature. Just being a supernatural isn't the same as being automatically evil. And, if he stuck to that, it'd, frankly, be an admirable stance to take. (But, again, he doesn't stick to it --- especially whenever a non-human character is getting mutually close to his brother.) And, in this case, he refused to believe that Dean was ever "too far gone" to be cured, so... that tracks.

It also bears mentioning... Sam has a habit of taking action because he feels guilty, and that guilt leading him to not consider the consequences. Take post-s3-finale-through-s4, for example: Dean's gone, and he feels guilty about it, so he takes on his ill-advised-and-poorly-handled attack against Lilith, which ends up starting the apocalypse. (And let it be known that, for all I'm a Sam anti, I do recognize that he wasn't wrong in going after Lilith. He, Dean, Bobby, etc; they all thought that killing Lilith was the way to go. My problem with him is a) how he did it and b) how he treated his brother throughout the entire arc. Not the action. However, it's still an example of his guilt driving him into something that caused a lot of people harm.) So, in that sense, getting rid of the Mark continues tobe pretty in character. I don't know if it started out normal or not. (e.g. I could see that Sam felt guilty about the fact that Dean took on the MOC because he was cruising along in his, frankly, vaguely suicidal mindset after Sam cut him off, but I'm not sure I remember the scenes well enough to know if Sam's intent focus on finding a way to take off the Mark stems from that guilt, or idealism, or codependency.) Regardless, after Charlie, curing the MOC becomes less about curing the Mark and more about him working off the guilt about her death.

And, stemming off of that, this is another instance of him telling himself that he's doing something for his brother when he's really not. s4: he goes on a revenge quest to take down Lilith "for Dean" despite Dean coming back, being right there, and asking him not to. s10, pre-Charlie: he decides to take off the Mark even after Dean says he doesn't want him to do so. (I admit that this is an iffier situation because, like with Sam's Gadreel thing, there's the question of whether MOC!Dean has medical authority over non-MOC!Dean... but still.) s10, post-Charlie: he continues trying to take off the Mark despite Dean very explicitly and without any qualifications saying he doesn't want him to. Etc.

So, on the one hand, Sam's actions regarding the Mark --- and his actions regarding the zombie-virus-adjacent cure --- are kinda in-line with past behavior.

The line you isolated about how he'd "do it again in a heartbeat" (or whatever the actual quote was), however, is unusual. Usually, Sam spends the aftermath of a plan going wrong angsting about how much damage it did, with 0 ostensible willingness to do it again. No matter how committed he was to that path ahead of time, and no matter how many times he follows that same path (with different specifics) again later, he at least claimed that his guilt was so powerful that he'd never act similarly, he'd changed, etc. After the s4 finale, for an example, he apologizes more-or-less nonstop for some of it, etc. This time, though, he's blatantly saying that he'd do it again. And, for all he feels guilty, he's, for once, recognizing that he doesn't feel guilty enough to not do it again, and he's coming to terms with what that means. That feels different from his character in the past.

And, secondarily, the difference between this action and his past actions is that they knew removing the Mark would cause problems. With Lilith? Like I said, they didn't know it would cause problems. It's not really a surprise that he didn't stop because they thought it was the right course of action, and he always thinks he knows the best way to go. With the archangels, saying yes was a clear path to death and destruction, so it's, again, not really a surprise they both said no.

But here? (And, btw, I've made a previous post comparing the MOC situation to the Gadreel situation --- basically arguing that Dean gets vilified for Gadreel while Sam gets away with MOC no problem, called Actions of the Greater Greater Good, if you wanna check it out --- and I'm borrowing some of the wording here.) Good, bad, and neutral characters alike had warned them against taking off the Mark; these include but are not limited to: Cas, Rowena, Crowley, kinda Charlie, the Book of the Damned itself, Dean (through the Mark), the Styne family, eventually even Death itself. Sam also had to work with Rowena (clearly suspect with bad motives at that point) and drive off a high-powered ally (Crowley) in the process, while working with a book tied to dark forces. And so on. There was no "whoa, however could we have known that this was going to cause wide-scale problems", or, at least, there shouldn't have been. Sam knew what the costs could be and went on anyway.

That's the real character shift. He's actively taking on the consequences --- and potentially harming multitudes as a result --- instead of accidentally stumbling into it. So, yes, I do think his actions here are vaguely out of character; not in the fact that he did what he did, but that he did what he did knowing what could happen as a result.

Which is --- to attend to your final point about the cure, and to borrow your wording --- why I agree with you about it's a way to say "see sam isn’t a bad guy sure he caused this but he doesn’t want to hurt anyone else he wants to help." He's doing the whole try-to-do-something-good-to-counteract-his-guilt thing, and it's once again quite possibly causing problems (since we've no clue how many people he actually saved, and how many people died because he was obsessed with the cure instead of saving people who hadn't been infected at all). It's annoying and naive, in my opinion, and it did not exactly endear me to his character.

I hope that was a vaguely coherent way of answering the ask... I've been rambling with my computer keys for so long that I'm not sure it makes any sense whatsoever, but I'm hoping it does... I'd love to hear back from you if you happen to have a response, but no pressure; all the best!

[workingwhileidream]

Okay Burrow's End had me thinking some thoughts... So here are my favorite Dimension 20 moments that rotate like a rotisserie chicken in my brain (in no particular order other than the order I thought if them).

- Riz goes into the butthole of the Corn Ooze Monster (Fantasy High). The first absolutely insane shenanigans move anyone makes on D20, setting the tone the show will have forever.

- Raphaniel kills Queen Pamelia (Ravening War). I think I saw Brennan's soul leave his body briefly when he got that How Do You Want To Do This from Matt. Time was an absolute flat circle that day.

- Hank convinces Brennan to let him role savvy instead of sneak (Mentopolis). Hank is one of the most famous content creators, having him on the show was phenomenal to begin with. Then right out of the gate, he pulls this move in his first episode. And it just works. Hilarious, instantly iconic.

- Jet Dies (A Crown of Candy). When Lapin dies, it is shocking but I wasn't attached to him as a character. Lapin was a bit antagonistic and his death happens early in the season. On the other hand, Jet is instantly likeable. Emily and Siobhan are amazing as siblings, their performances this campaign are some of my favorites. I have siblings and I am very close to them, so this hit me like a ton of bricks.

- The entire epilogue of Burrow's End. "Are you pitching and Air Bud ending?" is one of the instant hall of fame quotes from this show. I started crying I was laughing so hard.

- Ylfa's bottleneck and the TPK (Neverafter). There are so many close calls for total party kills in Dimension 20 history, but this is where it finally happens and it's only 3 episodes in. I was on edge, expecting another TPK at any turn, for the rest of the campaign.

- 3 nat one initiative rolls for the battle that literally opens the season (A Starstruck Odyssey). The beginning of a new season is always full of excitement. This season was extra special, having everyone back in the dome after the pandemic and the season being based off Brennan's Mom's comics. The zoom energy is still in the air and I still think about this season opener a lot.

- Mother Timothy Goose breaks Snow White's concentration with a cantrip (Neverafter). Only Ally Beardsley could and we all damn well know it. Still didn't stop me from being so far in disbelief that all I could do is laugh.

- Hob's "You will never know another lonely day" speech to Rue (A Court of Fey and Flowers). I will still cry about this if I think about it for too long. Rue and Hob's romance is the heart of this season to me. I won't be over it ever.

- Gertrude convinces Nyruth to give the Questing Queens very powerful boons after the Queens tried to rob them only a few hours earlier (Dungeons and Drag Queens). The fact that this season exists drives a level of serotonin into my brain that is unimaginable. This is the definition of a big swing and when Bob rolls well, Brennan has no other choice than to honor it. This is one of the moments I have made a meme of. I cannot wait for season 2.

- Wuuvy shows up to the duel and she did not come to play (A Court of Fey and Flowers). Aabria has talked about how Wuuvy is one of her favorite NPCs and I feel the same. Wuuvy and Rue's relationship has such a great arc and this moment is so pivotal.

- Fabian's no good very bad day (Fantasy High Sophomore Year). An iconic moment in D20 history that was truly wild to watch live. For everything to go so fantastically bad for Fabian and Lou was unprecedented. There is a reason why people still talk about this moment to this day.

- Amathar survives being pushed off the castle (A Crown of Candy). Brennan tried to kill Lou so many times in this campaign. I really thought Brennan had gotten him with this one, my stomach sunk. But Lou pulls it out and Amathar lives once again.

- Pib plays "Smoke on the Water" (Neverafter). "I stepped out to play 'Smoke on the Water' " is also a hall of fame quote to me. This list could be all Pib moments if I'm being honest, he's my favorite Zac character. And the fact that Zac doesn't roll well makes this moment funnier to me.

- Buddy Bear gets planted with the All Blossom (Dungeons and Drag Queens). Jujubee and Brennan owe me a therapy session for this one. I sobbed. My cat is my baby and I will be ruined the day she leaves me, so I get it. I really do.

- "Eat your dice, Brennan" (Fantasy High Sophomore Year). A great bit made physically possible by Siobhan. I hope Siobhan gives him gummy dice or something like that so that Brennan can continue to eat his dice for Junior Year.

- Orange Top Hat Fairy (Neverafter). It's a horror season and the cast is doing bits about how hot a mini is the entire finale and the Adventuring Party that followed. I felt the stress and off the walls energy through the screen. The Smooth Criminal pin was the first piece of Dimension 20 merch I bought.

- Viola's epic takedown of Phoebe (Burrow's End). Watching Rashawn absolutely crush it her first time in the dome was amazing. I loved Viola from the jump, her arc was so satisfying and fun to watch. Also the idea of a tiny stoat kicking a gun just the right way to get it to fire is hilarious. No notes other than please have Rashawn come back on every season she possibly can.

- Evan Kelmp warns the Rosemont student not to duel him (Misfits and Magic). Brennan's deadpan warning matched with the reactions of the other players and Aabria really make this scene. An underrated Brennan moment for sure.

- Stacey Fakename turns out to be real (Mentopolis). This was such a good reoccurring bit, so to have Stacey be real at the end of the story was too funny. In a season of bits, tropes, and puns - this one has the most payoff to me and is definitely my favorite.

[sugusearrings]

( ' safe & sound ' )

just close your eyes, the sun is going down you'll be alright no one can hurt you now come morning light you and i'll be safe and sound.

— summary: captain levi ackerman the strongest warrior alive is struggling to adjust after the war. but you (fem!reader) are there to remind him he deserves peace. — genre: fluff but tiny bit of angst. — playing: safe & sound by taylor swift — note(s): so aot just ended and i'm still in denial it's really over. my boy eren did nothing wrong but i understand, 80% is kind of a lot BUT HE WAS A CHILD WAR WEAPON. anyways, post war. SPOLIERS AHEAD JUST A FAIR WARNING OKAY. levi ackerman and reader have a slight age gape ( reader is 25 and levi is in his mid thirties). mentions of brief sex. mentions of scars and death. maybe some spelling errors i missed but i tried ~ levi may be grumpy and mean but he's a total softie to the reader. — word count: 2k

He inhaled sharply as his upper body sat up from his sleep. He could feel the cold sweat formed on his the side of his head rolling down. His chest rose up and down with each inhale he took. He ran his hand over his face. He glanced down at his hands. His two missing fingers always reminded him what happened almost five years ago now. The rumbling ending. Everyone is trying to rebuild a normal life. He never really knew what a normal life was. His life was all about fighting and survival and now it was over. What was Levi made for now?

He quickly reached over for his cane leaning against the nightstand.

Levi was determined not to be stuck to that damn chair, he did whatever exercise he could without putting too much on his body. There were some days he had to be wheeled around. But using the cane on the daily was happening often. He didn’t want to be helpless or dependent on anyone. He was never like that so why start now?

He made his way out of the bedroom and walked into the small hallway that normally took two minutes to pass but it felt entirely. He was on alert, adrenaline pumping through his veins already. How could he protect now? He felt so useless. Once the greatest warrior to this. At first it was hard accepting this new reality of his. All he wanted to do was sink more into the dark and isolate himself.

If he was gone, would anyone notice? Would anyone care? Those he loved and cared for were long gone leaving him alone. He never knew loneliness would become his true enemy.

He held his breath accepting his fate as he walked into the kitchen. His dull gray eye widen seeing you standing there already pouring some tea in one of his favorite cups. He nearly dropped his cane.

“Name…”

“Captain Levi?” You looked up at him a bit startled he was awake. He let out a heavy exhale.

“After all this time, you still callin’ me that?” He rolled his eye then shook his head. “Give me a break.” You giggled quietly with a light blush appearing on your cheeks.

“I’m sorry, it’s just an old habit I guess.”

“What are you doing up?” He asked you completely ignoring what you said.

“I figured you would want some tea when you would wake up.” You replied walking over to grab another cup from the cabinet. Levi could feel his ears beginning to burn. He cleared his throat.

“You…know?” You turned around to see the flustered older man. You tilted your head slightly to the side and was baffled. He thought he could hide his nightmares from you. His nightmares of the past.

“Of course I do.”

Your warm smile still made his heart throb the same way it did when you two met.

He found you the most annoying thing ever. You were too optimistic for his liking and you were very emotional. You were immature and very impulsive. But he adored that about you. You weren’t scared to stand up for what you believe in, even against him. When he was your captain and you were just a cadet on his squad. You two saw things from different perspectives but he respected that. He wasn’t sure if he ever told you he did.

“I’m sorry I woke you.” He made his way over to the nearest chair at the table. He pulled it out so he could sit. You took the cup full of tea and walked over to place it in front of him.

“It’s okay, Levi. Your nightmares don’t always wake me,” you placed your hand over his, “I have my own too, y’know?” You gave him a gentle squeeze.

The guilt sunk deep in Levi’s chest. How could he not think about you having your own trauma for what you both went through. Losing people you love, being injured and almost close to death several times. You had many scars to prove it. Especially the one on your neck reaching to the top of your chest. It was easier to hide but doesn’t mean it wasn’t a constant reminder when you would change outfits, shower, even during intimate times.

“I’m a horrible husband aren’t I, name?” He sighed deeply, reaching to grab his cup the same way he always has. You smiled remembering the time you made fun of the way he held his glass to your other comrades. It was all laughter until Levi was behind you the whole time. When you turned around looking white as a ghost seeing Levi glaring down at you. You screamed loudly then he made you clean his office and room from top to bottom.

“A little bit.” You teased him playfully. You grinned when your husband glared at you. “I’m kidding, Levi. How are you a bad husband?”

“My wife has fucking nightmares next to me and here I am sleeping.” He snapped. You bit your bottom lip and lowered your eyes. “But I even breathe a certain way, she knows if there’s something wrong with me.” He went on becoming more aggravated with himself.

“You’re being hard on yourself again.”

“You’re not denying it.” He countered. You sighed deeply.

“Levi…I have nightmares, yes. But you help me just by being there next to me.” You gave him another squeeze. Before he could say some smart ass remark you cut him off. “You remind me of what’s happening now. I can’t forget the past...I can never forget. But waking up next you eases it and makes it better to deal with.” Levi remained silent.

He couldn’t believe someone like you could ever love someone like him. To this day he would be in disbelief. You were so warm and he was so cold. But here you are sharing a life with him.

“You make it sound so easy.” He mumbled lowly.

“I know when you have nightmares when you hold onto me tight.” You admitted. His eye widened looking over at you. You smiled shyly looking away. You were trying to hide the dark blush on your cheeks but he would always see it. You couldn’t hide it from him.

He could remember the first time he made you blush. It was the first time he saw you with your hair down. When he complemented you ( in his own way that didn’t sound too mean ), you blushed. His heart fluttered how perfect you looked with your cheeks flushed.

“You woke up because I wasn’t in bed this time…” You spoke snapping him out of his own thoughts.

“I thought in a marriage there was no such thing as secrets.” He joked dryly.

You laughed covering your mouth with your hand. He noticed some faint scars on your hand. He remembered that scar. He remembers all the scars on every inch of your body. He would kiss them gently some nights making your breathing hitch. He would kiss the scar on your neck the most. He felt that needed the most attention. The day he almost lost you for good.

You were fighting alongside him against Zeke for the first time.

That’s when Levi realizes his feelings for you.

He stood by your side whenever he can, waiting for you to recover. He would even read out loud to you. When you woke up a few days later, you asked him to re-read the sentence he just read because you couldn’t hear him.

What nearly broke him when he thought you drank the wine with the spinal fluid.

Thankfully you didn’t but he confessed his feelings for you the same night. Yes, it was inappropriate for a caption to be with his cadet but he didn’t care about his title or yours in that moment. Levi just needed you to know in case something happened. He was ready to hear your rejection but when you confessed your own feelings for him, he was relieved.

That’s when Zeke did the explosion, Levi had enough time to push you off the wagon leaving him to suffer the injuries alone. He doesn’t regret it. He’ll do it all over again.

“Is this how you pictured how things would be after?” You asked him gently. Levi closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them. His dull gray eyes staring into yours.

“Yes and no.”

“That’s not a fair answer, Captain Levi.”

“Name.”

“Sorry.” You held your hands up in defense. He sighed softly.

“Yes, I pictured this after the rumbling. Marrying you, having a normal life with you. Just being with you in peace. What I didn’t expect was to be like this.” He glanced down at his hand again that bandaged up from the fingers he lost from that explosion. “I wasn’t much of a looker then but god look at me now.” He let out a sad chuckle. You frowned, feeling your heart aching. Was he serious right now? You thought Levi was the most handsome man you ever met. You were drawn to his dark gray hues. During the day they would glisten.

“Levi, don’t think that. You’re still handsome to me and always will be.”

“Don’t feed me that shit, name.” Levi scoffed. His stubbornness was still the same as before. You sighed and rested your chin on your hand letting him ramble on his negativity. “Probably see me as a pity case.”

“If that’s so, why do we still make love four times a week?” You questioned. When you looked over to your husband who was silent but red in the face. You felt your lips curl up into a smirk. “Cat got your tongue, captain Levi? Oh I’m sorry, I forgot to mention how we fuck multiple times. All night if I don’t tap out.” You purred in a tone you knew was his weakness. Levi shifted a bit in his seat then brought his left hand to clear his throat.

“Shut it you brat.”

You simply smiled at your victory.

“I love you, Levi. I don’t know why you can’t accept that.”

“You deserve better.”

“So do you.” You replied back. Levi glared at you once again.

“How can you say that shit?”

“Because you’re saying it so why not?” You shrugged then got up to pour yourself that tea you swore it was cold by now. Levi’s eye scanned down to your body how it hid underneath his white shirt. When you would lift to reach something it exposed some of your bare flesh underneath. He held his breath for a moment.

“I just…hope this is what you want.” His voice spoke. You didn’t turn around. Your eyes glanced down at your cup you were holding. Your ring finger was empty but the silver band stood on your nightstand with your glass of water that was empty now. Levi would always bring you a glass of water before bed.

“I want to spend my life with you, Levi. We’re at peace now. You’re at peace. You deserved this. You risked your life so many times. Everyday it’s a struggle for you to live with what happened. But we can do it together, just trust me?”

You turned with glossy eyes staring back over to him. He used his strength to stand up on his own for a moment. Then he made his way over to you. Once he was close enough, he placed his hand on your cheek just studying your face.

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings…I’m just scared to lose you.” He confessed not trying to make eye contact with you. You placed your hand on his cheek and stroked it with your thumb. You stroked over the scars left behind by the stitches on his face you did for him. “I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost you.”

“I survived to live a life with you, Levi.”

You whispered then leaned forward to place your lips against his. His arm wrapped around your waist to bring you closer to his body. His lips moved against yours passionately. He pushed his body against yours causing your lower back to press against the counter. You let out a shaky breath when he broke the kiss then started to kiss along your neck. His fingers trailed down to the buttons on your shirt. Just when you were going to close your eyes and enjoy his lips sucking on your skin you were interrupted.

“Mommy? Daddy?”

You both pulled away at the same time to see a groggy toddler with messy dark hair all over the place. He hugged his stuffed bear tightly with his other arm.

“Hi baby.” You greeted him softly making. Levi straighten your shirt making sure the buttons were still in tact.

“What are you doing up, hm?” Levi asked him. The toddler frowned with his gray eyes half open.

“I wanna sleep with you and mama.” He made grabby hands towards him. He shook his head.

“Sorry kid, you have to go sleep in your bed like a big boy.” Your son sniffed and his big gray eyes began to water. Of course you were a sucker but you didn’t expect for Levi to be the one who caved in. “Tsk. Fine. Just for tonight.” Levi grabbed his cane and began to walk back into your bedroom. The little boy’s eyes beamed, making you giggle quietly. You brought the two cups to the sink thinking you were in the clear.

“Clean those damn cups.” Levi’s voice echoed from the bedroom.

You sucked your teeth with an eye roll.

“I’ll clean them in the morning.” You entered the bedroom seeing Levi already in bed. He leaned over to bring his son into bed. He snuggled up against his father, sighing happily feeling his warmth. You went over to your side on the bed to lay next to your son.

Levi always spoke about not wanting children. You didn’t have a clear answer if you wanted them or not. Some days you did but bringing them in a world like this wasn’t fair either. But finding out you were pregnant on your wedding day was a surprise. It meant you were pregnant during the fight that stopped the rumbling.

It was a miracle the child growing inside of you survived. But he’s a fighter like his father.

Asher Levi Ackerman.

A fortunate blessing for you both.

You leaned against the headboard stroking Asher’s hair as his eyes began to close.

“He looks just like you.” You whispered to Levi as you moved some of Asher’s dark hair out of his face. He smiled a bit.

“You think so?”

“Everyone says it. He looks nothing like me.”

“But he acts like you. A brat.”

You reached over to shove him playfully. It made him chuckle.

“Sleep, name. We have a long day at the shop tomorrow.”

“Fuck me.” You mumbled under your breath with a groan.

“Maybe tomorrow.”

Levi laid down and closed his eyes hearing you giggle quietly before drifting back to sleep. You laid down staring at your son and husband cuddling with one another. You could tell Levi’s nightmare was over for the night. You soon drifted into a deep slumber.

And yes, you did forget to wash the teacups in the sink

But Levi washed them before opening the tea shop for the day but he did remember to scold you about it.

[opal-owl-flight]

Your Protege. (Pt 2)

(Pt 1)

SAME DAY DELIVERY. HERE WE GO.

This is the only time theyve shown such sheer anger in front of anyone. Theyre usually just cold, or disappointed -- never furious.

Its one of the times Neo3 actually feared the captain.

MORE NOTES ABT CUTTLEFISH BELOW

Not over how Cuttlefish is this fuckign loony old man who pushes his ideas on young 3, constantly goinf "yall kids think Im crazy but LOOK WHOS RIGHT FOR ONCE", "I cant fight anymore, thats why I got you!", "Youre hero material, kid! Youre gonna be big!!"

Then raves abt how the Octarians are evil

3, who was desperate for praise from someone who reminds them of their direct relatives, does everything he says to do just to be appreciated more.

Cuttlefish taught them how to fight hand to hand. How to move and think on their feet. (Though they were given similar in their younger years)

Cuttlefish was... generally more warm and supportive than their dad, but yknow. A lot of this started bc 3 agreed to work for him. Be his deadly weapon.

-------

Cuttlefish was more concerned abt the Zapfish than 3s well-being then... He knew that the constant praising was working so hes gonna keep doing it. (...mostly bc thats what worked on HIM back then)

After 3 does his dirty work, he realized he should probably keep the kid around bc his paranoia with Octaria is a damn bitch and this kid is one hell of an ass kicker. They dont mind. Right??

3 never showed any sign of wanting to leave. Why would they, he was so kind to them, more than their dad or grandad ever was. (Also the paranoia rubbed off on them. Oops!)

Then, he asked them to go on a longer patrol with him. Pushed them to their fucking limit. Bc of what?? Octaria making moves again? (Octavio did make moves but they were already, as we say in the game, "too far from the objective to really contribute to the fight". This is why agent 4 was dragged in.)

There, 3 saw more and more that hes just a loony old man who wanted to have a fancy weapon to protect him in his crusade. A crusade they never really questioned, mind you. Theyve no reason to believe Octaria was nice in any way, not when they keep trying to kill them. (...in self defense. They havent realized, yet.)

Then they encounter 8, who had dropped her weapon at the sight of them. Raising her hands in surrender. 3 was far ahead of the coot, and managed to actually talk to her and everything. They were this close to bringing her back to Inkopolis as a friend, until the bastard ruined the moment.

Cuttlefish still told them that she was a danger. It might be a trick! Dont put your guard down! Pressured to follow their superior, 3s mask returns to their face, turning onto 8 with the herl shot ready to fire.

Then they all tumbled into the metro.......

....for Cuttlefish to use yet ANOTHER kid (8) to get him out of a hairy situation.

--------

Hes a crazy old man. Only caring for any of the kids beyond the platoon after they do his dirty work.

Like "mmm! Thank you for committing the war crimes in my stead. Youre a good kid, you know that? Anything I can do to support you further? Mmmm???"

...I dont think hes aware.

Hes not aware that hes harming the entire platoon, bc in his mind hes doing the greater good here. Get some easily manipulable kids on the street, shower em with praise and promises of glory and valor, and theyll do ANYTHING for you.

Including the warcrimes you keep wanting to do.

I think...I think he doesnt know hes manipulating the kids. I think he genuinely believes his own promises. He glamorizes the valor of war bc hes a commander who sits in the back of it. He really believes that this is for the best. He believes that this is how you inspire your troops to fight.

--------

LETS GO THATS ALL MY NOTES I SPENT ALL DAY FINISHING THIS COMIC. GOODNIGHT INKOPOLIS!!!

[ode2rin]

it has become an awful pattern of habit how much itoshi sae always shows up at your doorstep only when he wants to. 

“don’t go out with oliver.”

and here he was again, like a recurring relapse that happens every single time you thought you’re doing better. the kind that hits when you think you're finally making progress, that momentary flicker of doing better before it all crumbles.

and you were. you’re doing good, doing better, but god, does it hurt like hell when he pulls stunts like this.

it was a relentless tug-of-war, a game he played so unfairly, leaving you with no rules, no defenses. you were damn sick of it. 

“really?” the word escaped as a scoff, a blend of disbelief and irritation coating your voice. “you're showing up to my place at this hour just to say that?” 

a drawn-out exhale left sae's lips at your reaction, the scent of alcohol accompanying it—a scent foreign to the sae you'd known. was he drinking? itoshi sae doesn’t drink – or at least the sae you knew would never let a single drop of alcohol taint his flesh. 

“just don’t. he’ll hurt you.”

a bitter laugh escaped you, “you're one to talk about hurting people, aren't you?”

if you didn't know better, you'd mistake the look he shot you for something resembling an apology mixed with regret. but no, you knew that those eyes can never hold such, not for you, not for anyone.

“news flash, itoshi. you don’t have the right to decide who i can or cannot go out with.” 

“don’t i?” 

his challenge lingered in the air, a question not constrained by words but driven by conflicting wills, a daring meeting of gazes that had been evaded until now.

you're so fucking unfair, itoshi sae.

“leave,” you spat, your grip on the doorknob tightened, fingers almost digging into the cool metal. 

“don’t i, y/n? do i not have a right to you?”

“please, sae. just go,” you murmured, eyes squeezed shut, a trace of tears threatening to break free.

“— because you have all damn rights to me that it fucking terrifies me.” 

and there it was.

the vulnerability he so fiercely and stubbornly concealed, laid bare for you to witness. it slipped out like an admission, raw and unguarded.

sae's insides churned as your gaze bore into him, the intensity of it feeling like a searing heat that left him exposed, his thoughts laid bare. it was as if you were looking at him as if he had grown a second head, an incredulity mirrored in his own disbelief at what he had just blurted.

but it’s the truth, a truth etched not in alcohol-induced haze but in the sobering clarity that you, ever loving you, terrified him. 

“you– you terrify me," his words stumbled out, like he was admitting a secret he never meant to reveal. “you’re the first thought that comes to my mind, and the last one before i sleep. i feel you everywhere, your presence, your absence — it terrifies me, y/n.” 

he ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration that echoed the inner chaos he couldn't quite contain. the sting of alcohol just added to the jumble of thoughts, like mixing a cocktail of emotions he wasn't prepared to deal with. 

sae had never been great with handling drinks, and here he was, wearing his heart on his sleeve, a little more vulnerable than he’d intended. 

after all, a body so foreign to alcohol can only handle so much.

and it's ironic how that also applies to sae's acceptance of your love – like a liquor he's not used to, but still very much would like a taste.

he knew he had absolutely no right to show up here; he had no right to stop you from going out with another man; he had no right to claim a part of you, not after he shattered your heart because he was afraid of his own.

he knew that, but itoshi sae is selfish. he wanted you, terrifyingly so. he hoped — prayed, even—no one will ever have you the same way he does. 

and he meant that in the most selfish way possible. because, time and time again, itoshi sae was selfish, even more so when it came to loving you.

“it terrifies me,” he carried on, a touch firmer this time, his gaze unyielding as it held yours, “how much you consume me, and it frightens me even more how much i would let you.”

“then just let me, you stupid asshole.” 

the words burst out of you, a declaration that felt like a leap of faith. your arms instinctively reached out, embracing him as if to underscore your determination. you had caught his confession like a lifeline, and now it was your turn to throw your heart into the mix.

“and you have all the damn rights to me too,” you murmured against his lips.

the truth is, he doesn't deserve you, not in the slightest. but god, you want him to— so bad. and after hearing what he said, you knew he wanted the same thing too.

you wrap your arms tighter around him, and it's like fitting together two missing pieces. you missed this, missed him. no amount of trying will ever relieve the longing. because truth be told, hearts aren't great at playing hide and seek; that much can be seen from the way you’re both holding on to each other.

“i'll love you slowly, until it's not scary, until you get used to it,” you whispered, forehead pressed against his.

in the quiet space between your whispered words, sae felt the world shift beneath his feet. 

love with you wasn't meant to be frightening. love with you wasn't meant to be all-consuming.

love with you, he realized, only needed to be exactly like this— your fingers against his nape, a smile curving your lips, and the assurance in your gaze that promised better times ahead.

“i’ll get used to it.” maybe the words came off wobbly, but he couldn’t care any less now; it was a promise.

“you better.” you let out a chuckle, genuine this time, and it took just one chuckle for sae to realize that everything will be just fine. 

[extra]:

“sae?”

you pull his attention, sensing his wakefulness from the lingering kisses he peppers on your skin. the same man who laid bare his heart to you was sprawled within your sheets, his breathing gentle against your neck.

though his lips stay sealed, the comforting squeeze of your hand relays that he was listening.

“where did you hear that i’m going out with oliver?”

a brief pause, followed by a scoff. way to ruin a moment, sae’s inner voice grumbles at the timing of your question. why bring up another guy's name now, especially when he's shirtless and right above you? the nerve.

“doesn’t matter.” he dismisses your question. 

yet, there's something oddly satisfying about riling up the usually composed sae, it’s one of your life’s greatest pleasures. and so, you press on, unable to resist the urge to tease. 

“come on, now. i want to know what made my cold and grumpy sae to show up at my door at 2 am, professing that i terrify him,” you pushed, meeting his irritated glare with an arched brow. “— and don’t give me that look. those were your words, not mine!”

tch. he clicks his tongue, fully aware you won't let him live down his confession. “got it from shidou. he told me right before asking me to drink with him.”

as those words escape sae’s lips, you burst into laughter, leaving him to wonder if he broke you with last night's late-night affection.

“what’s so funny?” he raises an eyebrow at your sudden outburst.

“shidou tricked you into drinking with him, love. i turned down oliver without a second thought. we didn't even get close to going on a date,” you playfully reveal, your grin growing. “i kind of mentioned that to shidou. we share gossip occasionally, you know.”

sae froze at what you said, and he didn’t need no damn mirror to see that he was turning red from the embarrassment and realization that he had been lured to drink.

“i’ll kill him.”

“and i’ll thank him.” may shidou get all the dopamine he so cunningly desires. 

note. i also don't know what this is so don't look at me now :P i'm throwing tomatoes at myself

[eyesofshinigami]

3, 2, 1, Fight!

Rating: General Audiences

Tags: Meet Ugly, Steve and Dustin are brothers, pre-relationship

Written for the STWG daily drabble prompt: not a meet cute but a meet ugly

This is not at all how Steve pictured his Saturday going. He could be anywhere, instead, he’s standing in a comic book shop, fighting over a toy with another grown man who looks like he’s going to beat Steve over the head with it.

“Let go!” the guy yells, trying to tug the action figure out of Steve’s hands

“No, you let go!” Steve yells back, yanking it back. He has to give the guy props, though. He’s just as relentless as Steve is.

The guy sputters, an attractive shade of pink coloring his cheeks as his curly hair falls in his face. Wait, what? “Fuck off, why are you even here? Don’t you belong in a gym or something?”

Steve scoffs, still yanking. “Does it matter why I’m here? Just let go already!”

Dustin had been asking for this action figure for months now, talking about it and showing Steve newspaper clippings and TV commercials. Steve, being the good big brother he is, promised their mom that he would do his best to get it for him for his upcoming birthday. He’d be damned if he was going to let some punk, albeit a very attractive punk, take it away from him. Why did they only put three out on the shelf anyway?

They play tug of war for another few minutes, until the bewildered clerk, who had been watching their exchange, finally butts in and says, “Uh, I think I might have another one in the back? Can you wait here?”

They both nod, neither of them letting go of the toy. “I wish he would have said that in the first place,” Steve grouses, watching the clerk disappear behind a door. “Why they only put out a couple of copies of a toy I will never understand.”

It’s Hot Guy’s turn to sputter. “Toy? TOY? This, sir, is the limited edition statue of Kas the Betrayer that Wizard of the Coast put out to celebrate the anniversary of his DnD release! Not that you would care about any of that, you troglodyte.”

Steve has no idea what any of that means. “Oh, so that’s why Dustin wanted it. Makes sense now. He loves that guy.”

“Wait, it’s not for you?”

“Uh, no? It’s for my kid brother’s birthday. He loves that Dorks and Dragons game and he ran a Kas… uh… campaign? Last year? It was his first time. Kas is kind of a big deal to him.”

The other guy starts to look a little contemplative, but that’s when the clerk appears with another, much less rankled looking box. Steve immediately lets the one in his hands go and takes that one instead. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

The clerk shrugs and heads back behind the counter. Meanwhile, Hot Guy tugs his hair in front of his face. “Uh, look. I’m sorry I said such shitty things over a toy. It’s just, Kas is kind of a big deal to me too. You could have just said.”

Steve waves him off. “No worries, I get it. But now we both have one.” He pauses and considers a second. It’s worth a shot. “You could make it up to me over lunch in the food court.”

Hot Guy’s eyes go wide. “Are you serious?”

Okay, wow. “Well, I was, but you can just say no, you don’t have to-“

“No, no, no!” Hot Guy says, waving his arms around, nearly dropping the box he fought so hard for. “No, I’d like that. Eddie,” he says, holding out a hand. That pretty pink flush is back. Steve kind of wants to see how far it goes down.

“Steve. Now let’s go, before any more wayward nerds decide they want to fight us over these.”

Eddie, dork that he is, bows and motions towards the cash register, “By your leave, my prince.”

Steve rolls his eyes. He always did like the nerdy ones.

[misctf]

Hey I've always been a pudgy and geeky type of guy and now at 50 I wish I had done things different. Could you change reality so I've always been a bear or daddy or age regress me so I'm a jock or himbo?

Are you sure you want this? I mean, I appreciate where you’re coming from. Really, I do. But are you sure? There’re risks and.... Okay I’ll spare you the details. You seem pretty set on this.

Cracks fingers.

Where to start... 50 years old, a tad pudgy, and I can tell that Star Wars shirt you’re wearing hasn’t been washed in a while. Not to worry!

Snaps fingers. The cold air now caressing your naked body.

Much better! Now I can see what I’m working with. Stay still please.

You feel my hands run along your pudgy, hairy gut. You wince as I give it a squeeze. You watch as I saunter behind you and yelp when I tug at the back hair that wraps up and around your shoulders. And as my hand runs along the thinning hair on your head, you gasp as a pressure emanates from within your brain.

Ah...Interesting... I can see it. Who you want to be... Okay, okay. This is gonna be tough, but just take a deep breath. And before I begin, you should know I set my clients up for success, which means... So... right... You’re full steam ahead. Sounds good!

You wince when I firmly grab your flabby chest and start massaging. A groan escapes your lips and you watch as the fat melts from your chest, leaving it flat. But with another squeeze, you watch as my hands begin to fill again. This time with your new muscle tit flesh. Bigger and bigger, until my hands can’t contain them. Firm and bounceable. Simultaneously, your skin heats up as your chest and back hair vanish, leaving you clean shaven. You watch as I give your nipples a squeeze and... the pleasure nearly knocks you off your feet. You moan as I pinch them between my fingers.

Like that? Yeah I can tell. I made them extra sensitive. Like so sensitive that the fabric of a shirt might make you cum. Oh don’t give me that look. Trust me, you’ll want to show off what I’m giving you. Okay... let’s...

My hands run along your abdomen and you feel like the wind is knocked out of you. The pudgy gut you sported before is starting to melt. Painful at first, but when you see the six pack you’re now sporting, you grin. But it’s short lived. You feel my hands firmly grip your ass. And this time, you moan as you feel your flabby ass firm up, filling with firm, bouncy fat and muscle. An ass that’ll always turn heads. And when I give your bubble butt a gentle slap, you moan loudly.

Yeah... what can I say? I want you to really enjoy your new body. Yeah... okay... I get you’re horny. Like hornier than you’ve ever been. But you’re turning out so well. We can’t stop now! Oh! Look at that! Your skin is starting to tan! See? We just need to get started and the rest follows. It’s like your body knows what its destined to become. But we’re missing something...

I run my hands up and down your arms, filling each of them with muscle. And then more. And then even more. They feel heavier to you. Bulging as if you’d just done curls for days. My hands don’t even come close to being able to wrap around them. And your shoulders... you’d never thought the whole ‘shoulders like boulders’ would ever apply to you. Now you’re a shining example.

Yeah, I know. Damn, dude. And I should ask... what’s your skin care routine? I jest, I jest. You’re 21, of course you have great skin! Haha you look so happy! Beats being 50, right? Oh! Before I forget...

You watch as I pull out a baseball cap and slap it on your head. Beneath it, you feel a burning sensation as your thinning hair grows in rapidly. And a few blond curls poke out from beneath your new hat.

So, what do you think? Of course, of course. I told you I’d help. And god, I gotta say you turned out hot. Now, I did tell you earlier that I set my clients up for success. And right now, you might have the body, but do you have the mindset? Okay, calm down... I did say there were risks, right? And I can’t let you ruin my work. Just stay still and...

You feel my hand on your head. And another around your growing cock.

Right... how does computer science fit into the new you? Or comic books? Okay, let’s get rid of that... and let’s move this here... and... Hey you good? You’re drooling all over yourself.

I give your cock a few tugs. A moan escapes your lips.

Phew! We’re still here. Right... okay let’s get rid of that... definitely get rid of this... Perfect! It’ll take a bit of space for all the knowledge to maintain this look. You’ll need most of your brain dedicated to workouts and diet. And since I doubt academics is your ticket to success, I might as well give you the knowledge to set up a successful OnlyFans account. Have any problems with that? I didn’t think so.  

I tug again on your cock, the pleasure somehow even more intense and your eyes roll back into your head.

Alright, but deep down you’re still that geeky guy. But with a body like this, it would be a waste not to have the right mindset for it. So, you get the idea? Shirtless, cocky, alpha douchebag. No more quiet geeky nerd. Yeah... look at that smirk. You’re getting it, now.

You flex in the mirror, the smirk never leaving your face. And then you turn back to me, gesturing toward your raging erection.

Well, what can I say. I.... Oh... Well, I mean if you insist. Might as well finish what I started. On my knees? Oh, okay... You want me to stop talking? Alright I.......

And as your cock meets the back of my throat and your moans fill the room, I couldn’t help but wonder if adding another douchey alpha bro to the world was worth it.

[leona-hawthorne]

OUR DREAMS / mattheo riddle

mattheo riddle x fem reader

summary: fate worked against you, forcing you to break your promise to never leave his side.

warnings: angst, war (battle of hogwarts— brief), death, grief, funeral, suicide, swearing. this is just a lot of heavy material so please read at your own risk. nothing here is being romanticized— remember this is all fiction.

words: 4.2k + a bonus of 1.2k (it’s a long one!)

a/n: this one took a while icl

navigation mattheo riddle masterlist

ONE YEAR AGO:

The small bathroom in Mattheo's dorm was dimly lit, casting a soft glow over the white tiles. The air was thick with tension, mingled with the metallic scent of blood and the sharp tang of antiseptic. You sat on the sink counter, your legs dangling over the edge, while Mattheo stood between them, close enough that you could feel the heat radiating from his body. His shirt was discarded somewhere on the floor, revealing the fresh wounds that marred his skin. The mirror behind you reflected the tension in his eyes, the fire that never seemed to extinguish.

He was desperate to kiss you as his hands gently cupped your thighs. His eyes followed your every movement, the fluorescent light casting shadows across your face.

It wasn’t surprising that the boy had gotten into yet another fight, but you couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. Still, you’d help him with his cuts and bruises, of course. It’s not like you wanted to see him all black and blue. Your relationship with him was complicated. Your arrangement was supposed to be just a means of release, of physicality, nothing but two friends helping each other out, but honestly, you didn’t know where the line between friends and lovers was drawn.

Mattheo's jaw clenched as you dabbed at a particularly nasty cut on his side, the silence between you growing heavier with each passing second. He let out a frustrated sigh, breaking the stillness.

"You always do this," he muttered, his voice low and edged with frustration.

"Do what? Help you?" you shot back, meeting his gaze with a stubborn intensity.

"Yeah. I don’t need your help."

You rolled your eyes, not backing down. "Well, too bad. You’re gonna get it anyway."

He grumbled something under his breath, his movements more agitated. "I could’ve done it myself."

"We both know damn well you wouldn’t try to clean a single one of these cuts and they’d have ended up infected," you retorted, a hint of exasperation in your voice.

His gaze flickered to you, irritation simmering in his dark eyes. "Whatever."

A heavy silence fell between you again, the only sound the faint dripping of water from the faucet. You watched him carefully, the way his fingers moved along your thighs with practiced ease despite the tension in his muscles. The dim light cast shadows over his handsome features, highlighting the hard lines of his face and the anger that seemed to perpetually simmer beneath the surface.

You let out a sigh, placing the cloth aside for a moment. "Mattheo, you can’t solve all your problems with your fists."

"Why do you care?" he snapped, his gaze flicking back to you, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Do you think I like seeing you this way? All fucked up and bloodied?" you shot back, frustration creeping into your voice.

"It’s none of your business," he replied, his voice cold and distant.

"It is my business. I care about you, Mattheo. You know that," you insisted, leaning forward slightly, trying to bridge the gap between you.

"Oh, you’re such a saint, aren’t you? You’re so damn perfect. You probably love seeing me like this just so you can help me, don’t you? Make you feel good about yourself, yeah?" he spat, his words dripping with bitterness.

"Mattheo, why are you being like this?"

"Y/N, I don’t fucking need your fake love or your sympathy. We’re using each other, alright? Don’t give me this fake shit when you know damn well I don’t matter that much to you," he said, his eyes dark and stormy.

"It’s not fake, Mattheo! I care about you. Why can’t you just accept that?" you pleaded, your hands gripping the edge of the sink tightly.

"Because. It’s not that easy."

"Why?! We’re friends, aren’t we?" you asked, your voice almost breaking.

"No," he said, his tone final and resolute.

"No?" you echoed, your heart sinking at his words.

Heavy silence hung in the air as you stared at each other, the tension thick and suffocating. Mattheo swallowed, gathering the nerve to speak again.

"We’re not fucking friends, Y/N. We stopped being friends the second you let me kiss you," he said, his voice low and filled with a raw intensity that made your breath catch.

"Then what the hell are we doing, Mattheo? Wasn’t this supposed to be no strings attached? What the hell is going through your head?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

“You wanna know the fucking truth, Y/N?” He grumbled through gritted teeth.

“That’s all I’ve been asking for.”

Silence hung heavy in the air between you. Beneath the burning hot anger in his eyes, there was a raw vulnerability, and it took a moment for you to process it. You reached up, your fingers gently brushing against his cheek, avoiding the fresh wounds.

He nodded vigorously, taking a deep breath to prepare for what he was about to confess. He swallowed hard, pressing his tongue to the inside of his cheek in frustration. "I’m falling for you, Y/N. And I’m fucking terrified that you’re gonna end up walking away from me if I let you in."

The reality of his unfiltered words hit you with the force of a tidal wave, leaving you struggling to stay afloat.

His eyes softened, vulnerability peeking through the cracks of his hardened exterior. "I don’t know how to do this shit," he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "I don’t know how to let someone in without pushing them away."

The confession hung in the air between you, heavy and charged. You could see the fear in his eyes, the vulnerability that he tried so hard to hide behind his tough exterior. Your heart ached for him, for the boy who had always been so strong, yet so fragile underneath it all.

So, you decided actions speak louder than words and you leaned in, brushing your lips against his before placing a soft, tender kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"You don’t have to do it alone," you murmured softly, reaching out to cup his cheek, feeling the roughness of his stubble against your palm. "We can figure it out together. Just… don’t shut me out."

He leaned into your touch, closing his eyes as if savoring the moment. "I don’t deserve you," he muttered, his voice thick with emotion.

"That’s not for you to decide," you replied softly. "Just let me be here for you. Let me care about you."

He opened his eyes, searching your face for any sign of insincerity. Finding none, he exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly.

"Okay," he said finally, his voice barely audible.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before meeting your gaze again. "Promise me that you won’t leave me. Not after this and not any other time you see me getting hurt. Promise me you’ll always stick around."

"I promise," you whispered, your voice shaky but sincere. "I’m not going anywhere, Mattheo."

He nodded, his eyes never leaving yours, and for the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he deserved to be cared for.

If only he’d known of the dark future that awaited the two of you.

PRESENT:

The war had raged on longer than anyone had expected. It was a dark time for everyone, filled with pain, loss, and the constant shadow of fear. Yet, amidst the chaos, you had found a sanctuary in each other. Mattheo had always been a complex soul, but you had seen the light in him, the flicker of goodness that he had desperately tried to hide from the world.

You had made a promise to each other on a night when the stars were the only witnesses to your vows. It was in the abandoned courtyard of Hogwarts, far from the prying eyes of the others, that you had pledged your hearts. You promised you would never leave his side, no matter what fate awaited you both.

As the days turned to weeks, and the weeks to months, the war took its toll. Mattheo fought valiantly, his heart a fortress of determination. But every battle, every loss, chipped away at that fortress. And then, that fateful night came.

He had been in the thick of the fight, his wand a blur of deflected curses and hexes. He had always been a formidable opponent, but even the strongest warriors have their weaknesses.

His was you.

In the corner of his eye, he saw you fall, your body crumpling to the ground. The world seemed to slow, the sounds of the battle fading into a distant roar as he ran to you.

"Y/N!" His voice was hoarse, desperate. He dropped to his knees beside you, cradling your head in his lap. Blood stained your robes, a stark contrast against the pale moonlight. Your eyes fluttered open, and you gave him a weak smile.

"I'm sorry, Mattheo," you whispered, your voice barely audible over the cacophony around you. "I tried..."

"Shh," he whispered, his heart breaking with every labored breath you took. “Fuck. Don't speak, baby. Just stay with me. Please."

You reached up, your hand trembling, to touch his cheek. "I love you," you said, the words filled with a lifetime of emotions. "So much, Matty."

Before he could respond, before he could tell you how much he needed you, how much he loved you, your hand fell limp, your eyes closing for the last time. He screamed your name, a raw, primal sound that echoed through the battlefield.

Days turned into a blur of grief and anger. He felt like a ghost, drifting through the remnants of his life without you. He wandered the broken halls of Hogwarts, the memories of your laughter haunting every corner. He found himself at the courtyard where you had made your promise, the stars indifferent to his pain.

He knelt on the cold stone, his tears falling freely. "You promised," he whispered into the night, his voice breaking. "You promised you'd never leave me."

You were so close to peace. The war was ending, you’d almost made it out together, but you were stolen from him and he couldn’t help the rage that bubbled within him at the unjust ending of your beautiful soul.

The wind carried his words away, the silence his only response. He looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling as if mocking him. "I was supposed to marry you," he said, his voice louder now, filled with anger and sorrow. "We were supposed to have a life together!"

But no matter how many times he shouted, no matter how many tears he shed, you were gone. The war had taken you from him, and with you, it had taken his heart.

In the end, all he had left were the memories of your love, the ghost of your touch, and the shattered pieces of the promises you had made. The second Wizarding World War had claimed many lives, but none as precious to him as yours.

And so, Mattheo Riddle was left to wander the ruins of his heart, forever haunted by the loss of the one person who had ever truly seen him, who had ever truly loved him.

The day of your funeral arrived with a heaviness that seemed to permeate the very air. The sky was overcast, gray clouds hanging low as if the heavens themselves mourned your passing. Mattheo stood at the edge of the graveyard, the stark black of his robes blending into the gloom of the overcast sky, his heart a leaden weight in his chest. He felt numb, the world around him muted and distant.

A small crowd had gathered, friends, family, and comrades from the war, but all he could focus on was the void where you should have been. To Mattheo, they were mere shadows, their sorrow a distant echo compared to the roaring agony within him.

People had gathered to pay their respects, their faces somber and tear-streaked. Friends and family stood in solemn silence as the service began. Mattheo could barely hear the words of the officiant, his mind consumed by memories of you.

The way you laughed, the way your eyes sparkled with mischief, your gentle touch, the way you had looked at him as if he were the only person in the world. He remembered the night you had promised each other forever, your eyes shining with love and certainty, the way you had held him close on those cold nights when the war seemed never-ending. He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms as he fought to keep his composure.

The eulogy was a blur, words drifting past him without meaning. He couldn't bear to listen, couldn't bear to accept that this was real. His eyes were fixed on your casket, a cold and lifeless vessel that could never hold the warmth of your spirit. You looked peaceful, as if merely sleeping, but he knew better. The light that had danced in your eyes was gone forever You had somehow, stupidly made him believe in a future where love could triumph over darkness. Now, you’re fucking dead. How was that any fair?

He stood apart from the crowd, not out of choice, but because the grief was too overwhelming to share. His eyes followed the procession as your casket was carried forward, draped in a beautiful white cloth. It was impossible to believe that you were in there, so still, so silent.

In his hand, he clutched a simple, silver ring. It had been meant for you, a symbol of the life you were supposed to share. He had carried it with him through every battle, every moment of doubt, a promise of a future he now knew would never come to pass.

He walked forward, each step heavier than the last. The closer he got, the more real it became. The finality of it all crashed over him like a tidal wave. He stopped at the foot of your grave, looking down at the polished wood. His throat tightened, his vision blurring with tears he refused to shed.

As they lowered you into the ground, Mattheo felt his legs give way. He dropped to his knees, the pain of losing you crashing over him in relentless waves. He clutched at the grass, the earth beneath his fingers feeling both real and surreal.

He stood by your grave, watching as the earth swallowed the last physical connection he had to you.

He had written a letter to you, a final goodbye that he clutched in his hand. It was crumpled and tear-stained, but it held all the words he had never been able to say. With trembling hands, he reached forward and placed it gently on top of your casket.

"I love you, Y/N," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I always will. I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you."

His tears fell freely now, mingling with the dirt. He wanted to stay there forever, to be close to you in some way, even if it was just a grave. He could feel the eyes of others on him, their pity and their sympathy, but it meant nothing. Nothing could fill the void you had left behind.

People began to approach him, offering their condolences. He nodded mechanically, his mind far away. It wasn't until the crowd began to disperse that he finally allowed himself to step forward.

As the ceremony drew to a close, people began to drift away, leaving him alone with his grief. He stayed long after the others had gone, the sky darkening above him. The first drops of rain began to fall, soft and cold against his skin.

He traced the letters of your name on the gravestone, the finality of it all sinking in. "We were supposed to get married," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rain. "We were supposed to have a life together. I don't know how to do this without you."

The silence was deafening. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the sound of your laughter, the feel of your hand in his, but it felt like trying to grasp smoke. The memories were there, but they were slipping away, replaced by the harsh reality of your absence.

His hand clenched into a fist, gripping the earth as if he could hold onto you through sheer force of will. "I was supposed to protect you," he said, his voice filled with self-recrimination. "I was supposed to keep you safe. I failed you."

He closed his eyes, letting the rain mix with his tears. He could almost feel your presence beside him, a phantom touch that was both comforting and cruel. He would carry you with him always, in his heart and in his memories, but it would never be enough.

The wind rustled the leaves overhead, a soft, mournful sound. He looked up, his eyes scanning the sky as if searching for a sign, a glimpse of you. But there was nothing.

"I don't know how to say goodbye," he whispered. "I don't want to say goodbye."

The weight of the finality of your death crushed him, and for the first time since you had died, he allowed himself to truly cry. He wept for the future you had lost, the love you would never share, and the promises you would never keep.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the graveyard, Mattheo rose to his feet. He looked down at your grave one last time, his heart aching with the loss. "Goodbye, Y/N," he said softly. "Rest in peace, my love." Before standing, he placed a single, white lily on the fresh soil, a symbol of the pure, untainted love you’d blessed him with.

With a heavy heart, he turned and walked away, each step a reminder of the life you had planned together, the life that had been cruelly stolen by the war. The future stretched out before him, an endless road of sorrow and longing, and he had no idea how he was going to conquer it without you by his side.

He stumbled to his car, and started driving to a place that only you two knew about, a place that held memories of you together. Tears blurred his vision and he wiped them away with his sleeve, the fabric damp against his cheeks.

Mattheo's hands tightened around the steering wheel as he navigated the familiar turns that led to the cliff overlooking the water. The memories flooded his mind with every passing mile, memories of laughter, of whispered promises, of stolen moments beneath the starlit sky. His heart ached with every beat, the pain of losing you still raw and unrelenting.

Mattheo can only hope that he'll see you in the afterlife, because right now he cannot fathom being alive without his lioness.

His knuckles turned white, his grip strong around the steering wheel as he drove through the winding roads, the path almost instinctual. The car's engine hummed, the only sound breaking the heavy silence that enveloped him. He wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jacket, his vision blurred but his destination clear in his mind.

He was heading to the place that had been your sanctuary, your escape from the world. It was a secluded cliff overlooking the ocean, a spot you had discovered together and claimed as their own. The memories of stolen kisses and whispered promises haunted him, every twist and turn of the road a painful reminder of what he had lost. The memories felt like shards of glass, cutting into his already shattered, bloodless husk of a heart.

The car finally came to a stop as he arrived at the precipice overlooking the water, the sunset you painted absolutely beautiful, and he sat there for a moment, gathering his strength. He inhaled a shaky breath, trying to compose himself. But grief gripped him like a vice, refusing to let go. How could he go on without you? How could he face a world that no longer held your light?

With a heavy sigh, Mattheo stepped out of the car. The wind whipped around him, carrying the scent of salt and memories of happier times. He walked slowly to the edge of the cliff, the ground uneven beneath his feet. The waves crashed against the rocks below, a tumultuous echo of his own emotions.

The wind hit him with a force that almost made him stumble and the waves crashed violently against the rocks below, their relentless power a stark contrast to the fragile state of his heart.

The breeze was strong, tugging at his clothes and whipping through his hair, but he barely noticed. He stood at the edge, looking out at the horizon where the sea met the sky. The last time they had been here, you had laughed and danced in the wind, your spirit free and wild. He had called you his lioness, admiring your strength and courage. Now, the wind seemed to mock him with its emptiness.

The pain was overwhelming, a crushing weight that made it hard to breathe. He closed his eyes, letting the memories wash over him. He could see you, hear your laughter, feel your touch. The ache in his chest deepened, the emptiness consuming him.

"I can't do this," he said, his voice trembling. "I can't go on without you."

"I hope I'll see you in the afterlife," he murmured, his heart breaking with each word. "Because right now, I can't fathom being alive without you."

The thought of reuniting with you someday gave him a sliver of solace, a tiny fragment of hope to cling to. But it did little to alleviate the overwhelming sorrow that consumed him in this moment.

As he stood there, teetering on the edge, he took a deep breath, the salty air filling his lungs. He remembered the nights they had spent here, the dreams they had shared, the future they had planned. It was all gone, reduced to nothing but a mere dream.

The wind still whipped around him, but it no longer felt like a force of despair. It was a reminder of your spirit, wild and untamed, a part of him forever.

"I'll join you, my beautiful girl," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the roar of the wind and the sea. Tears streamed down his cheeks, unabated now, mingling with the salty spray. He looked out across the water, searching for solace in the vast expanse of the horizon. He closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment to imagine you beside him, your hand in his once more.

The ache in his chest was unbearable, a physical manifestation of the void you had left behind. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver ring, complemented by a beautiful diamond. He clutched it in his palm, holding it against his heart.

The sky was a canvas of shifting clouds, tinged with hues of orange and pink as the sun began its descent. It was a sight you both had cherished, moments spent in quiet awe of the beauty that surrounded you. Now, the beauty seemed cruel, a stark reminder of everything he had lost.

Mattheo closed his eyes, letting the memories wash over him like the crashing waves below. He remembered the warmth of your smile, the strength in your embrace, the way you had always believed in him even when he couldn't believe in himself.

"I love you," he said aloud, his words a whisper against the wind. "I'll love you for eternity."

With a deep breath, he stepped closer to the edge, his heart heavy with grief but resolute in his decision. The waves continued to crash against the rocks below, a tumultuous symphony that echoed the turmoil in his soul. He closed his eyes one final time, a tear slipping down his cheek, before taking a step forward.

In that moment, the wind seemed to soften, as if nature itself held its breath. Mattheo felt weightless, suspended between earth and sky, between life and death. His thoughts were of you, of the life you had planned together, and the love that would never fade. The wind caught his hair as he fell, the world around him fading into a blur of memories and regrets.

As he plummeted towards the crashing waves below, he closed his eyes, imagining that he would soon be reunited with you. The pain in his heart would finally be eased, and together, you would find peace in the afterlife.

As he fell, he felt a fleeting sense of peace wash over him, the hope that in the next life, he would find you waiting. And as the ocean embraced him, swallowing him whole, he knew that even in death, your love would be his guiding light. He’s not alone, or scared, or in pain.

And in that moment, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the world grew dark around him, Mattheo found solace in the belief that love transcends even death itself.

Together, you would rest in eternity, bound by a love that not even death could tear asunder.

BONUS: HIS LETTER.

To my beautiful, beautiful Y/N Riddle,

I don't know where to begin, or if words will ever be enough to express the depths of my love for you and the agony that now fills my heart. It feels like only yesterday when we first met at Hogwarts, two young souls unaware of the future that awaited us.

I remember the first time I saw you, how your smile lit up the room and warmed even the coldest corners of my soul. I was drawn to you in a way I never thought possible. But I was so afraid, Y/N. Afraid to open up, afraid to let someone see the darkness that has always consumed me. You broke through those walls with such ease, with such compassion and understanding, that I couldn’t help but fall in love with you.

You made me believe in love, in a future where happiness and peace were not just distant fantasies but achievable realities. We talked about our dreams, about a life together filled with laughter and love, with children who would know nothing of the darkness we faced during the war.

Do you remember our dreams, Y/N? The plans we made under the stars, whispering of a future where we would be together always? The quiet evenings we spent planning our future, weaving our hopes into a tapestry of promises and vows? I can still hear your laughter, see the sparkle in your eyes as you spoke of the life we would build together.

We dreamed of a home filled with laughter and love, of a life where we would grow old together, hand in hand. I never wanted children before I met you. Now, I think I would’ve wanted a daughter, but a boy would’ve been nice too. We’d have two or maybe three beautiful kids. They’d probably have my curly hair and I’d have wanted them to have your vibrant eyes.

But before that, I’d move you away from all the chaos. It would’ve just been you and me out in the countryside, quiet and far from the drama. Like the Weasleys’. I’d never admit it to anyone but you, but I’ve always been jealous of them, of their family. I wanted what they had, with you. A loud, rowdy family that was held together by love instead of riches.

You and I didn’t have enough time. Hardly one year was not nearly enough time. I would’ve wanted to have you all to myself for a couple years, put a ring on that pretty finger and flaunt you around.

You were my anchor, Y/N, my reason for hope during the darkest times of the war. When everything seemed lost, you were the light that guided me through the storm.

But now, as I write these words, I find myself standing alone at your bedside, surrounded by the ghost of your presence, a haunting silence in place of your laugh, and the echo of promises left unfulfilled. I’m surrounded by memories of our time together, memories that now seem both painfully vivid and achingly distant.

The war has ended, but victory tastes bitter without you by my side. How can I celebrate when you are not here to share in the peace we fought so hard to achieve?

We made a pact, you and I. I remember the vow we made, Y/N, on that fateful night when the battle raged around us. We promised that nothing would tear us apart, not even death itself. Yet here I am, facing a reality where you are no longer by my side. You were taken from me, torn away in the final throes of the war, just as we dared to hope for peace.

And now, you’re gone. Taken from me by a world that seems intent on destroying everything good and pure. I am angry, Y/N. Angry at the universe for robbing me of the one person who made me feel whole. Angry at you for making me believe that we could have a future together, only to leave me to face this empty world alone.

How could you leave me like this? How could you promise to never leave and then be taken from me, just as we were on the brink of the life we dreamed of?

You made me believe that I deserved love, that letting someone in wouldn’t be a mistake, that it would bring me more joy than pain. But then, what is this agony I feel? Would I have felt this way if I’d refused to give in all that time ago?

The truth is, I can’t even blame you. Because I know that even if I hadn’t given in, I still would’ve loved you from afar, and the pain of losing you would still be this unbearable.

The ache of knowing that I will never again hear your voice, or feel your touch, or see your smile is torturous. The pain of knowing that our dreams will never come to fruition, that our love story has been cut short before it truly began.

In the days since you left me, I have tried to find solace in memories of our time together. Every laugh, every touch, every shared moment is etched into my soul, a bittersweet reminder of what once was and what will never be again. I miss you more than words can say, and the emptiness inside me grows with each passing day.

They say time heals all wounds, but how can time soothe a heart so irreparably broken? Every beat is a reminder of your absence, every breath a struggle to fill the void you left behind. I carry your love like a precious burden, cherished and painful in equal measure. In every quiet moment, I still feel your presence, as if you linger just beyond reach, waiting for me to join you.

I have made a decision, my love. As I stand here before you, I know that I cannot go on without you. My heart belongs to you and you alone, and I cannot bear to face a future where your laughter does not fill the air. I hope you can forgive me for this selfish act, for choosing to follow you rather than endure a life without you.

With this letter, I relinquish the burden of my sorrow and embrace the peace that awaits us beyond this world. I will find you again, of this I am certain, for our love is eternal and boundless, a beacon that will guide me through the darkness until we are reunited once more.

Until that day, my love, hold me in your heart as I hold you in mine.

Wherever you are now, Y/N, my heart will always be with you. In this life and the next, we will be together again, for love knows no boundaries, not even death itself.

Wait for me, beautiful girl. I’m coming back to you. I’ll still need another kiss when I see you once more.

Until we meet again, my beloved,

Your Mattheo

[melrosing]

so stuff I’ve not liked about the finale and S2 more generally…. unfortunately it’s a lot and i'm thinking i might need to say this in several parts but first and foremost: the pacing really was shit and i don't just mean there weren't enough action scenes i mean the whole season they've had almost nothing to say about these characters and have just been making us think they do by having them repeat the same ham-fisted monologues about power and peace and the cost of war and whatever whilst moving at a glacial pace from one minor plot point to another and by the end of it most of these characters STILL haven't changed, and where they have it feels undeserved, and yes they really are at roughly the place they started so what have they even got to show for these eight hours of TV?? like damn

and I do get that the writer's strike has really effected them here and HBO hacking two eps off their season affected them too and that really can't be helped. but the pacing has been pretty poor from kick off and I can't just put it down to this being a more 'internal' season. i do not care about big battles. it's fine to have a season of a show that’s more about the characters’ interiority rather than plot action. that’s the exact reason why I like AFFC so much.

but these characters barely have interiority like idk what to say. some like Rhaenyra, Jace and Alicent have been spouting the same monologues every episode about wanting peace/wanting agency/wanting peace again etc etc, and the more interesting moments like Alicent's apparent suicide attempts, Rhaenyra's butchering of the dragonseeds etc... I mean where IS the interiority here?? unless they are spelling out a character's thoughts in the most literal way they can (as per Jace's diatribes about the dragonseeds), they leave their audience to do absolutely all the work by showing us nothing, and just leaving us to figure that the characters must be having some kind of thoughts but y'all can decide what they are.

and even Daemon, whose entire ARC was about his interiority.... like look I was so so ready to love this arc. i love fucked up little dream sequences. i love harrenhal. i was really enjoying the angle they took with alys. i was here for it. but now we've seen the whole of his S2 arc, im going to say yes, it was intended as a redemption adjacent kind of arc, and it isn't a very good one. Daemon has a handful of weird dreams, gets shouted at by some Riverlands folk, and he's a changed man.

consider the character everyone compares Daemon to (and who I'm always more than happy to talk about) and that's Jaime. and look at the sheer ground covered in ASOS: Jaime breaks out of a dungeon, Jaime meets a younger version of himself, Jaime gets his hand hacked off, Jaime reveals his anime villain backstory in the bath, Jaime deals with Roose Bolton, Jaime has a weird weirwood dream, Jaime fights a fucking bear - and at this point we're still only about halfway through.

now in contrast, what have they actually managed to do with Daemon this season. where has that finale moment with Rhaenyra been earned. this is not slow pacing for the sake of powerful character development, it's slow because they don't have anything else to say.

and also look at the state of characters like Aemond who seemed really promising in S1, yet in this season he barely reflects on the fact that he hadn't meant to kill Luke, and this war is an accident that he started, etc etc - he's just a killing machine lol. there were some nice touches in there, like i say i enjoyed Helaena telling Aemond how he'll die in the finale. but I no longer trust these writers to do anything with their more inspired ideas because they just consistently fail to do so.

look at Baela!!! like my god, has Baela had the opportunity to do anything except A) what she's told and B) counsel men on their feelings. she has like one moment looking at Daemon and you feel like the series is going to explore how complex it is to be Daemon Targaryen's daughter.... but my god they never do!! so where IS this interiority we've spent eight episodes on! what have they got to show for it!!

and i talked more weeks back about how frustrating i've found the writing of women more generally in this series and as of the finale I am finding it so egregious and so condescending. women want peace. women want to protect their children. women are tired of men. women are tired of war. women are trying to end this war peacefully. women are pacifists. women hate violence. and so on and so on and so on like jesus christ who am i even talking about here. even i don't know. it's so boring. it's so dry. and it requires female characters to always be the paragons of virtue, never do anything truly condemnable, never be unlikeable, never fucking anything except stand around saying how much they hate this. im bored of it and it makes me angry that they would do this in a series that specifically seeks to make everyone grey and everyone complex - they keep suggesting that might extend to the women before abruptly shutting it down again. see Alicent and Rhaenyra even STILL, after EVERYTHING, trying to peacefully shut down the war for the sake of love and friendship in the goddamn finale. I don't believe it anymore!! it's not cute! it's just dull!!!

and finally that just kind of brings me to how shortsighted a lot of the plot developments seem, when you see how the characters fail to reckon with their pasts or shit that just happened. Rhaenyra and Mysaria make out, and then that's never mentioned again and the tone never changes between them. Rhaenyra is done thinking about Luke. Helaena is done thinking about Jaehaerys. Aegon actually didn't mention Jaehaerys in the list of things he's 'lost' in that finale. Alicent's relationship w Viserys was just now condensed to 'we were fond of each other but he always liked your mum better'

like idk it's just. if this season's pacing is all about giving characters the chance to change and grow into the people they'll be when this war REALLY kicks off.... do it. write it. do not just write the same monologue a dozen times and hope it'll hit harder with each. doesn't work like that. sorry.

[annwrites]

how the hell are we going to get through this, baby?

— pairing: gale cleven x wife!reader x john egan

— type: one-shot (for the moment being, at least)

— summary: you, gale, & john are in a polygamous marriage & you share one last dance with them before they're shipped off to war.

— word count: 2,251

John takes a sip of his beer, then looks at you, or, rather, the back of your head. Your beautiful head of hair, soft and loose. He dreads the idea of tonight being the last time he'll ever touch it—you. His girl, his sweetheart, his wife, his goddamn everything since you were five-years-old, and he and Gale six.

He smiles when you throw your head back, laughing at whatever joke your friend, Marie, has just told you.

"How the hell are we supposed to leave her here all alone like this?" John asks.

Gale turns his head in your direction, leaning back against the bar, forearms braced on either side of him. "We don't have another choice."

John shakes his head. "She's going to fall apart when we leave. She won't be able to properly look after herself once we—"

Gale interrupts him, his head turning in his direction. "She's not some China doll, John."

"She's fragile. And too damn gentle. Since we were kids, there's barely been a day where she's had to live without us. The hell do you think she'll do if one of us—or even worse, both of us—come home to her in a casket?"

A muscle in Gale's jaw feathers, and he takes another drink of his beer. "It's why I married her, John. To make sure she got my pension incase—"

"Some monthly check isn't going to fucking hold her at night, or—"

Gale turns himself back around, not wanting the entire room to witness the argument that's about to erupt between the two of them.

One last good night, that's all he'd asked for. And yet, John's stubborn ass can never be bothered to just go along with things.

"What the hell would you have me do, Bucky?"

John turns back around to the bar as well, resting his forearms atop it. "We should've never enlisted."

Gale's long fuse suddenly grows a great deal shorter then. "It's not like it was some spur-of-the-moment decision. We talked about it, all three of us. We decided it was the right thing to do. She gave us her blessing."

John lets out a chuckle with no humor behind it. "Because you think she'd ever tell you no?"

Gale leans in toward him then. "The hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Everything she does is in hopes of pleasing you. And you have her wrapped right around your finger, don't you? That's why it's your ring that she's wearing." His tone has turned resentful.

"She's wearing yours, too. I'm sorry that polygamy isn't legal in the US. Why are you making everything my fault?"

He wasn't going to admit it out loud, but it hurt. His best friend, a man he shared a home, a life, a marriage, and a woman with treating him so lowly. And on their last night here—at home—at that. You were one half of him, John the other. But this disdain—believing you have a favorite between the two of them—wasn't a new development.

Finally, John sighs, softening. "I'm sorry. I'm just scared shitless. For both of us... For her."

They're both quiet for a moment, then John speaks again. "We should've tried to get her pregnant, and not stopped until she was."

Gale lets out a low swear. "You think that'd really help her? We get her pregnant so she can go through nine months of maternity all alone, neither of us there to hold her hand, or take care of her. And what if something happened? What if she miscarried, or—"

"Jesus Christ, why do you have to jump to the worst possible conclusion? She's too damn maternal not to be a mother, Gale."

"I'm not saying she isn't. But now isn't the right time. If you think losing one of us would tear her apart, losing a baby—our baby—would kill her."

John goes silent then. Before he glances back to you. "I just wanted to leave her with something. Some part of us to get her through this so she wouldn't be all alone."

Gale places his hand firmly on his best friend's shoulder. "She won't be alone. She has our folks."

He briefly wonders if this is really about leaving you with some part of them, or John leaving a piece of himself in the world if he doesn't live through this war.

He doesn't dare ask.

Finally, John stands, draining the last drops of his beer before walking over to his new bride.

Their bride.

You and Marie both look up at him as he comes to stand in front of you. "What's a guy got to do to get a pretty girl to dance with him around here, huh?"

You beam at him and it makes his heart jump.

"You just have to ask."

He pretends to balk. "That's it?"

You continue looking up at him, cheeks flushed, doe-eyes full of love and adoration.

He bends forward then, toward you, as he extends his right hand. "Well, then, miss, would you do the honor of giving this soldier one last dance?"

Marie sits by, watching with idle curiosity at your exchange.

You place your delicate hand in his own—your right one, which wears his ring—before standing.

John leads you over, into the middle of the room and spins you out before pulling you in close to him, until your chests are touching.

He places his right hand firmly against the small of your back as your left comes to rest upon his shoulder. He holds your other at chest-level as you begin to dance.

John presses his right cheek against your hair, closing his eyes for a moment. "How the hell are we going to get through this, baby?"

Tears sting your eyes, but you force it down. You won't cry. Not tonight. Not here, at least. You want this evening to be perfect.

You pull back far enough to look him in the eyes, running your fingers through his hair. "I wish I knew the answer."

You glance behind him, at Gale, who's watching you both with a small smile on his face.

You then continue. "This—all of it—both of you going off to war, having no idea how long that will be, what it will be like, all of us being apart for more than a couple of days for the first time in well over a decade... Not knowing...not knowing what the future holds..."

You trail off and have to take a moment to calm yourself before you turn into a shaking, sobbing mess.

John simply presses a firm kiss to your forehead, allowing you a moment to breathe.

Your eyes meet again and he picks up where you left off, looking down at you, his eyes full of surety. "We're going to get through this, sweetheart. We're going to get through this war, come back home to you, and then our lives together truly begin."

You desperately wish you had his optimism. In truth, you hope desperately that he's right, but more and more lately, you were doing your utmost to make yourself understand that their mutual survival...it may not come to pass. And that thought makes you feel sick.

If you lost both of them, you wouldn't bother trying to go on another day. They'd both made you swear and swear that you wouldn't even consider such a thing. And you had lied magnificently. Told each of them exactly what they wanted to hear. But you knew the truth of it in your heart.

John has his lips pressed to yours, kissing you long and deep, when a relaxed baritone voice interrupts you.

"Mind if I cut in?"

John finishes your kiss slowly, gently, before looking at Gale, who stands but a few inches from the two of you, hands in his pockets, looking at the two of you with so much love and warmth.

John chuckles, eye sparkling. "Trying to steal my girl, Cleven?"

Gale shrugs, a sly grin coming across his face. "Every chance I get, Egan."

John presses one last quick kiss to your hair, before stepping aside, whispering something into Gale's ear, which causes him to laugh out loud, then head back up to the bar.

Once Gale has taken John's place, you look up to him, an amused look on your face. "What was that about?"

Gale shakes his head, looking back at the man in question, a toothy grin on his face. "Nothin', darlin'."

He looks down at you, then.

"Was it about me?" You ask with a raised brow.

He chuckles. "Wouldn't you like to know."

You 'accidentally' step on one of his feet, causing him only to smirk down at you.

You bat your eyes at him. "Oops."

He gives a small nod of his head. "Starting to think that John's pickin' on you for all those years when we were kids is starting to rub off."

You grin, shaking your head.

He then leans in toward you to claim a kiss.

You try to sear the feeling of his lips against your into your memory. How slowly and passionately he kisses you, the taste of him, how he flicks the tip of his tongue against your lips, asking for entry, which you quickly give him.

When he pulls away, your cheeks are flushed and lips swollen. You lie your cheek against his chest and he rests his chin atop your head.

You still when you notice two officers at the front of the room, looking at the two of you, chatting with each other, shocked and confused looks on their faces.

You look up at Gale and he reaches down, brushing a loose strand from your face.

"Those men are staring at us."

He shrugs, not even bothering with asking 'whom', before he replies "let 'em watch".

"You might be serving alongside them."

He gives you another kiss. "And?"

You sigh. "You know your fellow soldiers are going to talk about their girls, then ask about yours. About John's. What're you going to tell them?"

He's looking at you with mild amusement, like you should somehow already know the answer. "The truth, I guess."

You're surprised by his answer.

The two of them seemed to stop caring a long time ago about what others do, or even might think about them. You still find it difficult to at times. You want to reach the same level of surety about your marriage—it still feels so strange to even think about it as that now—that they both have.

"Oh."

He cups your cheek in his palm. "The only two people whose opinions I care about are yours and John's. Nobody else gets to have one, not when it comes to us." He brushes the pad of his thumb along your lower lip. "Alright?"

You nod.

He kisses you once more before you lie your head back against his chest, this time facing in John's direction.

"Promise me you'll both take care of each other. That you won't let any stupid fights or squabbles get between you."

He replies almost instantly. "With our lives, honey. You know that. Won't be time for fighting each other when we'll have enemies on all sides that we'll be doing that with."

You nod. "Are you scared?"

He's silent for a moment, and that silence alone gives you your answer.

"Think I'd be stupid not to be. I know a lot of these boys are hoping to go off to Europe and become heroes, not wanting to acknowledge that they may not make it back in one piece, if at all. I'm just trying to keep my head out of the clouds and my expectations reasonable."

He begins rubbing one of his palms soothingly against your back.

"And John?"

"We haven't spoken much about it."

Because they're both scared, you think. They both put up such brave faces in front of you—for you—but you can read each of them like the back of your hand.

You suddenly feel a second body pressing itself against your back, strong arms wrapping around you, and your eyes flutter closed as you smile softly, happily, as the two of them hold you between them.

You will this night to last—both your husbands holding you, loving you, making you feel utterly safe and secure—because the thought of coming back home to an empty house tomorrow once they've both gone...

You squeeze your eyes more tightly shut, fighting back tears.

You're grateful they'll have each other, but who will you have to lean on? Who will hold you when you wake up in a cold sweat, crying and trembling as you fear the worst? Who will reassure you, as you sit on the front porch, or by the window, waiting for the post—for any word from them—that everything is okay? That they are?

What will you have left if, when they return home, it's with flags draped over coffins?

"I love you," John whispers, breaking you from fearful thoughts of the absolute worst.

Gale leans down, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "We both do."

You don't see as their eyes meet, John's jaw flexing as he attempts to conserve his tears for when you won't be witness to them and Gale giving him a reassuring nod, telling him that it's okay to feel whatever he's feeling.

"I love you, too. Both of you. Just...come back to me."

"We will," they both reply in unison.

You all three pray for it to be true.

[cranberryjuice-posts]

Sorry for breaking your window to get in here but since where already on the topic of B & E what about Clarisse x Daughter of Hermes where the Hermes Cabin and the boys from the Ares cabin started a prank war with each other and Clarisse is PISSED because she gets getting caught in the crossfire and when reader breaks into the Ares cabin to set up a prank but she accidentally wakes up Clarisse.

- it’s all fun and games -

Pairings - Clarisse La Rue x Fem! Hermes! Reader

An - i feel like I don’t use AN’s properly but who cares also my ao3 series is almost finished also I cuss way to fucking much I mean damn 😭😭 irl I say fuck every 3 words dude I have a problem

An Pt 2 - I Hope thus is good I’m going through a rough writers block rn

For the entire summer. The entire fucking summer clarisse has been dealing with everyone’s bullshit.

Her brothers had for some reason started a season long war with the Hermes cabin. Probably because over some girl which she honestly found pathetic, even though deep down she would do worse if someone tried shit with you.

So here, clarisse currently found herself looking in shock with her cabin floor covered in Greek fire ash marks. Annoyed she mentally came up with a punishment for later. Deep in thought she hadn’t realized you were behind her for cabin check up.

You let out a soft breath before gently hitting the open door. Clarisse turned around, her face going from anger to flustered.

“Hey” she stumbled slightly on her words.

You shyly waved. “Cabin check?” There was a moment of silence, just enough for you to notice the mess behind her. “I can always lie— I know how my brothers get” you tried to offer a better solution than failing the check.

Acting like she was Un-phased she shook her head. “Don’t worry about it, it’s not your fault. Shouldn’t have to cover for them ”

“Well I’m just trying to help” You chuckled, the gap between you closing quickly.

As much as clasisse complained about the summer there was still one good part, you. Flirting at every bonfire turned into spending free time together which eventually lead to you both kissing at the end of last night. “I guess I’ll see you tonight then?”

“Yeah” she shrugged. It was cute how she tried to play off her embarrassment. Reaching out you fixed clarisses necklace, Making it symmetrical on her body. With a sarcastic sigh you looked back at the Greek fire stains before looking back up at her. “I’ll come back in an hour that work for you?”

“Yeah id really appreciate it” she smiled softly.

You wished you were an Aphrodite girl, able to leave a room with beauty and want. Instead you left almost to quickly, embarrassment fueling your steps. By the time you reached the last step your face felt hot, and your body felt fuzzy. She was going to be the death of you.

———

“I’m not doing that” you cocked an eyebrow up as your brothers proposed another prank.

“Just this once” Connor practically begged. Walking past Chris smacked him upside his head, the prank they were trying to get you to do? Sneak into the ares cabin and cover it in silly string. Their reasoning for having you do it was because clarisse wouldn’t kill you.

“If she doesn’t want to do it she doesn’t have to” Chris sighed, taking a seat on his bunk.

Your brothers however couldn’t handle that as an appropriate response. Whispering to each other you saw their faces turn into a devilish grin. “Fine” they started off with false security “You don’t have to do it, but we can always tell Chiron about the secret green plant business you help the Dionysius and Demeter cabin run”

Giving them an agitated look you stood up and snatched the silly string out of their hand. “Fuck you” they always found a reason to black mail you. The trick was starting to get old.

It wasn’t until 12am that you snuck into the ares cabin. Coming in through the window you were a little worried about what a cabin full of war kids would do if someone came in. Looking back one more time to see your brothers giving you a thumbs up from afar.

Calming your nerves you took the first step inside. Silently spraying the string the stale chemical smell hit you like a truck. A few kids tossed and turned, the fear of waking one up made you work faster.

Shoving another empty can into your bag you pulled out the last one. The only section left was clarisses. The section you had been dreading of doing. Silently walking over you caught a glimpse of her drooling in her sleep. You wished your had a camera to capture the rare moment. She was beautiful, even in her most vulnerable state. Snapping out of your thoughts you remembered you had a job to do.

Stepping back with a heavy heart your foot sunk into a loose board, a loud creaking sound filling the room. It was less than a second before you felt a harsh hit to your face and your body on the floor.

Not really paying attention to your surroundings with ringing in your ears. The lights came on and a pair of strong hands grabbed the side of your arms. A few kids were shouting and in the background you could almost make out the front door opening.

Coming back you felt blood trail down your face from your nose and clarisse looking guilty at you. Her hands squeezing your arms as she couldn’t say anything. You groaned and held your head back exhausted.

Being moved to a bed you were barley able to understand what was happening in-front of you. In the background both cabins were yelling at one another, it felt like a fight might break out. Clarisse was crouched infront of you trying to asses your now broken nose. You could tell she was starting to loose her patience.

At first you didn’t hear anything. The ringing went away however when clarisse slammed her spear on the ground commanding the attention to her.

“ENOUGH! Everybody who is not my sibling get out now! And to everyone else I want a first aid kit some ice, nectar, ambrosia, and i want this cabin cleaned now!” A strong silence filled the room before the ares kids got to work. If looks could kill the Hermes cabin would had dropped dead. “Whatever you all have going on ends now understand! Im sick and tired of dealing with all of your bullshit and Luke you need to get a better control over your siblings!”

They nodded. Not even Luke wanted to speak, he just whistled his sibling’s out. In less than five minutes you watched as the cabin almost cleaned itself. In less than five minutes clarisse had began gently trying to bandage the broken bone, trying to take some pain away.

Helping feed a bite of ambrosia you felt your nose begin to mend on its own. Though it would still need a week to heal. Letting out a sigh of relief you finally looked up at her, up at Clarisse who was acting like a coward.

“It’s not your fault” you tried.

“I broke your nose, seems like my fault”

“And you thought I was an intruder it’s not the end of the world” you sighed grabbing her hand. It didn’t matter who was at fault it just came down to how it was handled.

She looked like she wanted to speak but she just couldn’t make the words. “If you really want to make it up to me you can always ask me out on a date” Looking up through your lashes you swore you saw her cheeks turn red.

“Y-yeah I can do that” trying to play it off but it was too late. You giggled slightly, leaning forward to close the gap and softly kiss her. Feel her rough lips against yours.

Her hands found home on your torso, traveling up and down while pulling you closer in an attempt to deepen it. Breaking away only for a moment clarisse looked over at her siblings who some stopped cleaning.

Barking orders at them to continue she looked back with a sarcastic expression making you laugh.

Laying down beside her on the small bed you looked deep into her eyes, not wanting to say a word. It felt like every emotion you two had felt for one another was known.

Giving her another soft kiss you tucked your head away into her neck. It didn’t take long to fall asleep and shockingly for the ares cabin, when the lights were out and everyone was asleep there was a peaceful quiet. One that comforted and lulled a person into a deep sleep.

[jube-art]

Would you...make more...JJ art? 🥺👉👈

sure! lmao :) a fic snippet under the cut!

Cassie breathes out, the fire inside of her makes it cloud up in the cold mountain air. She grounds herself, trying to think back on all that her Aunty Diana taught her, about containing her anger, about keeping things manageable and not lashing out at the people around her.

It’s not Cassies fault that anger runs in her family.

Deemed just a bit too ‘rough’ for the regular teen titans, she’s been given an address to go to for a team meet-up that would “fit her deposition” better.

(That the teen titans wouldn’t have a name attached too.)

It’s an old Justice League base, up here in upstate New York just outside of the Catskills and she’s just a little early. Not terribly early she doesn’t think, just about fifteen minutes from the official meeting time.

She knocks on the disguised door, the official teen titans stationary in her hands tell her exactly how to knock and where.

Sure enough, the rock wall opens up, creaking with disuse, yawning a gaping doorway into darkness.

“This is a bad idea.” She tells herself, the words make more of that cloudy air puff around her, but she moves forward into the dark anyway.

The first thing she sees is Nightwing.

Robin is here too, helping him with something just out of sight.

Involuntarily she relaxes a bit. Nobody doesn’t know who Nightwing is, he was the one who handed her the little piece of paper in the first place, telling her to come here. “Hello?”

“Oh!” Nightwing turns, shoving what he was working on down underneath the table. Robin keeps working. “Wondergirl! You’re a little early! Hello!”

Oh god. Did Cassie mess up? Should she have arrived on time? Damn it, mom, she should have left when she wanted to-!

“Welcome!” Nightwing instantly is all charming smiles and a brilliantly handsome face. He moves forward, leaving Robin to continue what he was doing. “I’m glad you decided to take a chance on this little project we wanted to start up.”

Cassie really didn’t have much of a choice did she? It was either this last ditch sort of reject project that she had no information on or it was ‘don’t be a hero’

“We’re just waiting on the other three to be ready.” Nightwing is still talking, still with that relaxed tone and smile. “They should be getting here soon. Do you want some water? We have cookies too-“

Robin jerks back. “Don’t bite me you little shit!”

Nightwing’s smile freezes on his face, awkward. “Ignore him. He’s getting one of the participants on board for this little subgroup.”

Cassie regrets everything. She’s gonna be working with somebody who bites? Who bites like a fucking child? Who is feral?!

Cassie’s all for fighting, all for war, but she’s also all for strategy, it’s in her blood. It’s apart of her power. She can’t deal with anything that’s little more than a feral beast-

Robin yanks around, bringing with him-

The boy is Cassie’s age. Black hair, a black mask over his eyes that can be nothing but one of Batman’s sort. He’s got a thick heavy and large cape on, black, going down to his ankles, pushing away from Robin with a sneer.

He’s sort of cute.

Pale face filled with freckles, thin and gaunt, a little taller than most boys Cassie’s age.

Is this- is this the new Robin?!

Cassie’s expectations of the group go way up.

“Hello?” Another voice comes from behind Cassie, causing her to turn and-

Oh my gods!

That’s! That’s Lex Luthor’s son! Dressed sharp in a form fitting leather jacket with skinny jeans and his signature thick sunglasses.

He’s got powers?!

“Ah! Superboy, so glad to see you-“

“I would rather not be called that.” The boy cuts off Nightwing, a sour expression on his face. “I would rather not be associated with that parent.”

Cassie’s mind is getting blown right now. What. What is going on?! Who is on this team?!

“Of course. I understand completely.” Nightwing’s still speaking for the bats. It looks like the older, still in the traditional uniform Robin is maneuvering the new guy to be front and center. “We’ll make a note of that going forward. Is there anything specific that you’d like to be called for now?”

The boy- superman’s son?!- just sort of looks sad now. Now that it’s been brought to attention, Cassie can’t see anybody but a younger version of Superman looking up from a punk’s face. “If I get one, I’ll let you know.”

The older Robin taps out some kind of pattern on Nightwing’s shoulder, and Nightwing taps one backwards onto Robin’s arm. They understand each other perfectly, as the older, traditional Robin goes ahead and leaves, headed to a side room with the label above it ‘Zeta’.

The new, strange, Robin (because who else is this?) sticks himself into Nightwing’s side.

The Superman … child (how?!) cocks his head at the behavior, the new Robin and him get into a weird stand off, eyes wide and unblinking. Creepy.

“Now we only have one more to wait on.” Nightwing tells the group at large. “Then after introductions we’ll discuss sort of what we have in mind for this group moving forward, and training both physically and mentally to help with both working as a team and working on handling what it takes to be a-

The concussive boom from outside makes Cassie’s ears pop. She winces at the sound, so does the kid of Superman

The bat’s both flinch, full body, jerking away physically from the noise.

The little new Robin way, way worse than Nightwing. Clinging onto Nightwing physically, off the ground and like a koala.

“That’s gonna be Impulse.” Nightwing sighs. “I thought Flash told me that they had stopped breaking the sound barrier-“

He sort of mumbles off, and the group waits a few beats in strange silence. When nothing happens for a bit, Nightwing actually reaches over to the command console and presses a button. “You have to go normal human speed, little dude.”

The group at large waits another second-

Like a flash, sure enough there’s two little wisps of a human being, one with red hair, one with blond. The two of them are wearing the same outfit, white and red, and are vibrating so hard that they are hard to get the details of.

Cassie can only see the chain that connects their wrists, tugging towards one or the other with every twitch.

It hits Cassie then, just how wild this is.

In the room right now is some powerful players, more powerful than Cassie was originally expecting when the teen titans had told her that with her … anger issues she might not be a good fit for the Titans name. Cassie expected to be thrown to the side, mad as hell, not put on a team that consisted of only power players. Batman, Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, you couldn’t get bigger names.

And here they all sit, in some run down old base cave in New York, waiting to be told that they’re going to finally be a team.

[sadnymi]

Loml p3

[Part one][Part two]

[Mattheo riddle × reader] [TTPD Masterlist]

Words:2k

"Y/N?" I called softly.

No response.

"Y/N," I called again, shaking her gently. "Y/N, wake up. Please, baby, wake up."

No response. Her body was limp in my arms, her chest no longer rising and falling. A numbness spread through me, colder than ice, more suffocating than the darkest abyss. I shook her harder, my voice rising in desperation.

"Y/N! You can’t do this to me! Please, wake up!"

My heart pounded erratically in my chest, the blood roaring in my ears. I held her closer, cradling her head against my shoulder, her lifeless form sagging against me.

"Y/N, you can't leave me," I whispered, my voice breaking. "You promised me forever. You promised to never leave. You can't break that promise now. Please, baby, come back to me."

But there was no answer. The silence was deafening, each second stretching into eternity. I pressed my forehead against hers, my tears falling onto her cold skin.

"Y/N, I love you," I said. "I love you more than anything in this world. Please, don't go. Don't leave me here alone."

Her hand, still entwined with mine, was growing colder by the moment. I squeezed it desperately, as if my touch alone could bring her back. But her fingers remained still, unmoving.

"Damn you," I screamed, lifting my head to glare at my father. "Damn you to hell! This is your fault! You did this!"

He stood in the doorway."It's better this way," he said coldly."You needed to be free of her."

"Free?" I spat, my voice hoarse with fury. "This isn't freedom. This is hell. You’ve condemned me to a living hell."

My father turned away, his silhouette dark against the dim light. "You'll understand in time," he said.

I looked down at her. I kissed her forehead, my lips lingering on her cold skin.

"No," I said, my voice trembling with fury and sorrow. "You will understand now. I know it's not love that ties you to me because you can't love. You don't even know what it means."

He turned back to me and for the first time in my life, I saw pain in my father's eyes. It was fleeting, a flash of something almost human before his mask of cold indifference slid back into place. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.

"I'm just another one of your horcruxes, aren't I?" I spat, my voice filled with bitter realization. "That's why you care so much. That's why my life is important to you."

He shook his head. "Mattheo—"

"I figured it out at a very young age," I continued, ignoring his attempt to speak. "But I was just a kid who wanted to believe otherwise, to believe that you really did care about me."

His voice was barely a whisper, filled with an emotion I'd never heard from him before. "I do care, Mattheo."

"Care?" I scoffed, my anger boiling over. "If I die, you lose another horcrux. That's all I am to you, a piece of your soul."

I looked down at Y/N's lifeless body, my heart breaking all over again. "But now," I said, my voice hardening with resolve, "her life is going to be as important to you."

I raised my wand, my mind focusing on the ancient, forbidden spell.

"Animus Vinculum," I whispered, the words heavy with power. A golden light enveloped Y/N and me, tying our souls together in a bond that meant if one of us died, the other would follow.

My father lunged forward, his eyes wide with horror. "Stop!"

But it was too late. The spell was cast, and I felt a searing pain as the magic took hold. My father raised his wand, casting another spell I didn't recognize. A silvery light burst from his wand, intertwining with the golden glow of my own spell.

"Protego Vitae,".

The two spells collided, their energies merging and twisting around us. I could feel Y/N's life force flickering, the connection between us growing stronger. My father’s spell created a barrier, a protective shield around Y/N’s soul, intertwining it with mine but also stabilizing it.

I looked up at him, confusion and anger warring within me. "What have you done?"

I looked down at Y/N, and my heart nearly stopped when I saw her chest moving, her breaths shallow but steady.

Relief washed over me, my entire body trembling as I held her closer. I gently pushed her hair away from her face, my fingers brushing against her soft skin. With my other hand, I grasped hers, bringing it to my lips and kissing it tenderly.

"She’s coming back," I whispered, my voice trembling.

My father stood there, watching us. He met my gaze, the flicker of pain still present in his eyes. "I expect you to come back to the manor ," he said, his voice flat. Then, without another word, he turned and left.

I looked down at Y/N again, her body began to stir, the color slowly returning to her cheeks. Her breathing became steadier, stronger. I carefully lifted her in my arms, cradling her body against my chest. The reality of how close I had come to losing her made my chest ache.

Carrying her to the bed, I gently laid her down, smoothing the blankets around her. I knelt beside her, my hand never leaving hers, my eyes fixed on her peaceful face.

"I'm here, love," I whispered, my voice filled with resolve. "I'm never leaving you again."

Her breathing remained steady, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. I kissed her hand once more.

I carefully cleaned the blood from her face and neck. Her skin was warm under my fingertips, a sign of life that made my heart swell with relief.

I lay beside her the entire night, never letting go of her hand. The room was silent except for the soft, rhythmic sound of her breathing. I watched her intently, my eyes heavy with exhaustion but my heart unwilling to surrender to sleep. Eventually, fatigue won, and I drifted off, my hand still clasping hers.

I woke to a faint stirring beside me. Y/N's fingers twitched in mine, and her breathing quickened. I opened my eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep. She was beginning to wake, her body shifting restlessly.

"Y/N," I murmured, sitting up and leaning over her. "It's okay, love. I'm here."

Her eyes fluttered open, wide with panic. She gasped, her gaze darting around the room before settling on me. "Mattheo?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "I... I died."

"No, love," I said softly, my heart breaking at the fear in her eyes. "You didn't die. You're here with me. You're alive."

She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I felt it, Mattheo. I felt myself slipping away. How am I here?" She looked around wildly, her breathing ragged. “No, no, I remember... I thought I was dead... I thought I lost you.”

“You didn’t lose me,” I assured her, trying to keep my own voice steady. “I’m here, love. I’m here.”

She started to sob, her body trembling with the force of it. “I thought you broke your promise. I thought you left me.”

I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs wiping away her tears. “I would never leave you. Never. I promised, and I meant it.”

“But it felt so real,” she cried, burying her face in her hands. “I was so scared.”

I pulled her hands away gently and placed them on my chest, right over my heart. “Feel that? I’m here. Alive. With you.”

She clung to me then, her fingers digging into my shirt."I thought... I thought you hated me. I thought you left me. I thought you broke your promise," she sobbed, each word a dagger to my heart. "But you're here. I knew you would never do this to me."

“I’m here,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around her tightly. “And I’m never going anywhere.”

She clambered onto my lap, holding me as if her life depended on it. I stroked her hair, pressing gentle kisses to the top of her head.

she pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. "But, How... how am I alive?" she asked, her voice still thick with emotion.

I took her face in my hands, my thumb brushing away a tear that escaped. "I couldn't let you go," I said, my voice breaking. "I cast a spell, an old and forbidden one, to bind our souls together. My father... he helped stabilize it."

My gaze steady and full of resolve. "It means that our lives are connected now. If one of us falters, the other will feel it.”

She looked up at me, her eyes wide with realization. "That spell... it could have killed you."

I nodded, my thumb brushing a tear from her cheek.

Her hands cupped my face, her forehead resting against mine. "Are our souls bonded now?" she whispered.

"Yes," I replied softly.

"Good," she said, a small smile breaking through her tears. "Because I would never live in a world where you're not a part of it."

I pulled back slightly, my lips still brushing hers. "I would have to go back."

She looked into my eyes, determination shining through her tears. "Take me with you."

"It's fucked up there, Y/N. It's dangerous. I can’t—"

"I don’t care," she interrupted. "Wherever you go, I go."

I stared into her eyes, my heart swelling with love and fear. I knew what awaited us, but I also knew I couldn't leave her behind. Not now, not ever.

I hesitated, my heart aching at the thought of putting her in danger again not again I can’t go through that again. “It's not safe."

"I'm strong," she insisted. "I can handle it."

"I know," I replied, my voice filled with both pride and fear.

She held my gaze, unwavering. "I trust you, Mattheo. I choose you. I'll always choose to be with you, anywhere."

A small, wry smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Well, in that case, I should probably mention that I might have also set the whole manor on fire."

Her eyes widened in surprise before she burst into laughter.

The world could crumble into ashes and flames, and I would let it, if it meant keeping her safe. My father, I know, now trembles with fear for her safety just as I do. But I won't leave her behind—I can't. I will return, but she will come with me.

If my father expects me to lead one day, I will. But I won’t wait for that day to be handed to me. I will seize it now. I will take the mantle, and with it, I will ensure that this conflict ends before it has a chance to begin. I will end the war before its first battle cry, before its first blood is shed.

For her, I will make the world bend to my will. For her, I will bring peace out of chaos. She is my world, and for her, I will reshape the future.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ── ─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

[ceasarslegion]

Now that I'm on a 5 hour train ride before my airport run I can outline a few thoughts about America I've had over the last week:

-everything is so big. Like canada far beats you guys in regards to raw land mass but there's like 12 of us up there. You guys really minmaxed how much you can fit into one place. Meanwhile you leave an urban center in canada and it's just nothing for the next half hour upon which you hit a gas station warning that the next ones not gonna be for another 2 hours so fill up now

-Ive seen more Amish people in my like 4 days in upstate NY than I have in my entire life before now

-ive also seen more confederate, trump, and general American flags in the last 4 days upstate than in my entire life before now. NYC was not that bad. Are you guys okay down here

-why do you have war vets advertised on street lamps

-why do you put your flag on EVERYTHING... im pretty sure there's a part of your constitution that says you're not supposed to do that lmao??

-i bought a big gulp with my last few USD bills yesterday. It gave me a nuclear level tummy ache but the hubris of having that much pop for 2 dollars made it worth it. I get the appeal of Big Drink now

-I was asked how I want my burger cooked when I went for a good ol' american cheeseburger. You guys are just raw dogging rare ground beef here like e coli can't touch you. There was a burger that had mozzarella sticks on it on the menu. Your frankensteinian approach to food captivates me

-i hate how you have 1 dollar bills here. That's wrong to me. 5 is the proper place for bills to start. To me. But the CAD to USD exchange rate is HEAVILY weighted in your favour so it's whatever I guess. Your grocery prices make me want to scream, cry, and throw up in that order. Canada's not much better but at least the prices have the same number on them in a comparatively worthless currency

-there is something so capitalist about this country. Every second of my day I am being blasted with ads from every flat surface. At least we don't have ad screens in our taxis???

-I bought an Arizona tea flavour we don't have in canada and upon glancing at the nutrition label it had 84% of my daily sugar intake in it. If that's what your convenience store iced tea is like I think whatever sweet tea is would just kill me

-I think the guns in Walmart are perhaps contributing to the way the tankies on this webbed site think guns are cool and not dangerous at all. My god I was uneasy seeing that shit

-i got a big box of american sugar cereal that we dont have in canada and they can pry it from my cold dead hands at the airport I'm qualified to work our TSA checkpoint and I know damn well it's allowed to go in the case of personal consumption this shit fucks so goddamn hard

[bookofbonbon]

all's fair (in love and war) - sneak peek.

pairing: aegon ii targaryen x halfsister!reader (sort of, not really).

word count: 900+.

a/n: this is a long ass sneak peek for a long ass fic that i probably won't finish for like another two months lmao. but i just want to share it.

The silence is broken only by the clanging of heavy metal as Aegon reaches into a pocket of his coat, pulling something hefty from it. A chain of some sort- golden in colour and heavy in his hand as it reaches down toward the ground. But, not weighing him down for much longer as he carelessly tosses the weighted piece of jewelry down the length of the table, toward you.

It slides against the marble of the small council table with ease, coming to a near stop; however, the force from Aegon's throw sends it partly over the edge of the table and the rest soon follows with a heavy clang against the stone floor.

You peer down at the heavy pile of golden links, all too familiar with the significance of the hideous necklace.

You don't touch it.

Tilting your head, your eyes find Aegon with raised eyebrows, "what is the meaning of this?"

"You know exactly what it is," Aegon tells you gruffly. "Put it on. You are to be my Master of War."

You balk at the idea, those eight words helping you easily figure out the cause of the tension that seemed to suffocate the room.

"Have you gone mad?"

The sharp sound of wood splintering echoes in the chambers, part of his chair having snapped off in his hand, his jaw ticking madly as he levels you with a glare that holds the fire of a thousand dragons.

"Aegon..." Alicent calls softly at first, glancing nervously between the two of you; her chair soon scraping roughly against the stone floors, voice firmer, louder and, shaking with worry as he stalks toward you. "Aegon!"

The sound of several wooden chairs soon follow hers as the rest of those who sit around the small council table follow her lead, all worried about what the new King was about to do to his half-sister.

"Stay put!" he snaps at the lot of them before turning on you. Snatching the chain from the ground, he wraps a rough hand around your arm, pulling you behind him as he leads the way out of the small council chambers and into its foyer where he releases his hold.

"Leave the doors open!" He commands the Kingsguard.

Aegon paces the foyer, breathing heavily through his nose and a hand pinching its bridge. Back and forth, back and forth, a short, almost hysterical laugh bubbling out of his chest and leaving you uncertain for the first time about his state of mind. 

“Aegon,” you touch his shoulder. “Aegon, what is going on?"

There’s a beat of silence as he finally stills, turning to look at you. You take a sharp breath, seeing for the first time that he was already folding beneath the weight of the crown. 

"Look at the people seated around the table," he tells you.

"What of them?"

"Who in there, is there for me?"

"All of them," you shrug. What else were you supposed to say? Every single person who sat in that room had plotted against Rhaenyra to install him on the throne.

"You would think so," he breathes a laugh, eyes softening. "No one in there, is there for me. None of them think that I can do this, that I can be King. None of them are here because they believe in me. But you-"

He takes your hands in his, standing closer to you than you had allowed him in over four years, the gold chain cold between your hands.

"-you always have. You have always been all I had and you still are. You are the only person I can trust. I need you. So just-"

He unwraps his hands from yours, holding the chain of office out to you. "-will you just put the damn thing on and sit down?"

You hesitate, hand twitching at your side but you nod anyway. 

Bowing your head, you allow him to place it on you. He's careful in his movements, gently pulling your hair from underneath the chain where it's trapped- with eyebrows furrowed in concentration, you watch with a faint smile as he arranges it neatly on your chest, ensuring every piece is turned properly and in place.

When he's done, you look down at the chain of office which now adorns you, "Master of War, huh? How peacefully that must have gone down with the small council and your family."

Aegon scoffs, eyes hardening once again as he glares into the room full of onlookers.

"You've more war experience than most of the fools who sit around that table, experience gained under the tutelage of the Sea Snake as well. They may counsel me on whatever else may come but, on this I will have their heads if they dare go against me. Now I believe this also now belongs to you-"

He reaches into another pocket of his coat, pulling out a large spherical stone and placing it in your hand, "Welcome to the small council."

You stare at the heavy object and in your periphery, you note that Aegon is walking back into the small council chambers. Turning your head toward the room, everyone has relaxed back into their seats. Rolling the sphere around, you feel the weight of it in your hand and the weight of your promises to Rhaenyra on your shoulders. 

Following Aegon, you stand at the opposite end of where he sits at the table's head; where you will sit. You swallow thickly, heart thumping heavily in your chest as you scan the faces of his councilmen, each of them waiting on you. Your fingers ghost over the device made to hold the sphere. Aegon leans back in his chair, eyes on you as he waits for you to commence the meeting and as you place the sphere down, you place also those promises you held to Rhaenyra down as well to address the King and his councilmen. 

"Shall we begin?"

-

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Disclaimer: I do not own any characters/places mentioned above.

Do not copy. Do not translate. Do not repost.

bookofbonbon 2024. All rights reserved.

[bones4thecats]

Them Having a Aemond Targaryen! S/O

Characters: Azul Ashengrotto and Malleus Draconia (separate) Inspired By: My horrendous taste in men. A/N: Yuu is stated to be the Reader (Aemond's) younger brother, meaning that yes, Yuu is from the same world as the Reader. (And yes that means they were both isekai'd WITH DRAGONS) ⚠️ Spoilers/Trigger Warnings for: Mentions of fighting, losing an eye, mutilation, familial bonds being nonexistent, near death, decapitation, and war crimes (usurping, etc.) ⚠️

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╚═════ Azul Ashengrotto ═════════════════════════╝

🐙 When you first arrived to NRC with Yuu Targaryen, your younger brother, everyone knew there was something off with you two. And that was obvious when you were approached by the Octavinelle Trio

🐙 Azul had wanted to make a deal with you sometime, and seeing how you just stared at Jade and Floyd behind him blankly made him confused. Why were you so- cold?

"What is it you need?" You asked.

"I just wanted to speak to you in a more private setting, Lord/Lady Targaryen." Azul stated, making you quirk an eyebrow in confusion.

"How unfortunate for you three. I do not wish to speak to you at all. Good day."

🐙 Standing up straight from your leaning position on a pillar, you began to walk away, your sword that hung on your hip lightly patting your leg as you took step by step away

🐙 And, unfortunately for your younger brother, Azul wouldn't let your uncaring nature tint his own drive to get you to speak to him

🐙 Just a few months later, you began to actually speak to Azul. Not in a cynical and obvious condescending way, but rather in a fairly interested and calmer way

🐙 After a few weeks of dating, he began to notice how you would always have your eye-patch on, no matter who or what was around. Hell, when Floyd tried to take it off your head, you unsheathed your blade and nearly cut the eel's head off with a swift go. Thankfully, he had quick reflexes

🐙 Your boyfriend had asked you what was so bad that you had the urge to nearly kill one of his closest friends, to which you sighed and asked if he really wanted to know

"Of course I want to know."

"You swear that you will not be scared, yes?"

"I swear."

🐙 Azul watched as you reached up and began to pull the fabric off of your face, allowing your face to finally be fully observable. He then noticed how you gently ran your hands along a line- wait, was that a scar?

"Is that a scar, Y/N?"

"You'd be correct, Azul."

"How did you get that kind of an injury?" He asked, a tone of fear coming through his voice.

"I... had fought with my nephew back in my home world. His name was Lucerys, Lucerys Velaryon. The damned bastard had cut my face with a knife, before causing me to go half-blind for the rest of my life."

"Great Seven..."

🐙 Just as you were about to put your eye-patch back on and leave the V.I.P. Lounge -as many called it here- before you felt your lover's hand grip your wrist and gently coax you to turn around and look into his eyes

"If you think I dislike how you look, you'd be wrong. Dead wrong." He then added, "I love you for who you are, not for your looks. And I'm sure you'd agree with me on that."

"Yes... thank you very much for the support you have shown me in the previous seven weeks. I- I love you." You stuttered out nervously.

"And I love you, my Prince."

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╚═════ Malleus Draconia ═════════════════════════╝

🐉 Coming from two noble bloodlines allowed you guys to connect faster than with others. But, he does owe a lot of that to your younger brother, Yuu Targaryen, since he did introduce you two to one another

🐉 When he first heard your name from the young Targaryen, he was fairly shocked to hear that you were a famous warrior back in your home world, nonetheless was nicknamed Y/N the Kinslayer and Y/N One-Eyed

🐉 Malleus had asked Yuu if he could bring you on a nightly walk just in case, to which he just smiled nervously and said that you didn't go here as a student, rather, you participated as a guard for Dire Crowley. Since there was something going on with the Council

"Then do you have any idea when they are free for a small chat?" He questioned.

"I'm not sure myself, Prince Malleus. Perhaps I can ask him sometime here soon."

"That would be lovely, thank you Prince Yuu."

🐉 It only took maybe a couple weeks for Yuu to finally settle a day when you were free from guarding Crowley, since he planned a small vacation that weekend

🐉 Malleus stood by Ramshackle as he heard a roar and the sound of wings flapping from above, and in true dragon fashion, the prince looked up and was shocked to see a large bronze dragon flying down before landing and laying down, allowing a humanoid figure to jump down onto the ground

🐉 Instead of transforming in the air of a threat, Malleus calmly watched as the human walked around, pet the dragon's nose and lightly begin walking towards the dorm, the sound of a sword's holster hitting the leg of the human making him slightly on-edge

"You must be Prince Malleus Draconia of Briar Valley. I have heard about you from my younger brother, Yuu. You appear a lot different than what I once imagined." You said, looking at the man from behind.

🐉 Swinging around with a shocked expression, Malleus was surprised at how quickly you walked in a matter of a minute

"Yes, that is correct. You must be Y/N Targaryen, Yuu's older sibling. It is truly an honor to meet one with such power as yourself." He replied.

🐉 It only took a matter of a few weeks, around five maybe, for the Heir to the Briar Valley throne to understand that he wanted you. But, it took you almost quadruple that amount of time to come to understand you feelings, then it took an additional couple months to accept these feelings before you began to court one another

🐉 One day, you had been training against Silver and Sebek, taking on both at once, which shocked all others watching, since nobody was able to take them both on at once like you

"Y/N, if I may ask without offending you in any way, how did you obtain that scarring on the left side of your face?" Malleus quizzed with an obvious cautionary tone.

"That is quite the personal question, Malleus. Though, it is understandable why you would ask me that, since we are courting after all." You began. "Then again, since we are courting, I should tell you. It started when I was a young child, I had fought against my nephew Lucerys Velaryon. During said fight, he had taken a knife and cut my eye, causing the loss of my eye. Though in the end, I had placed a sapphire in it to repent for the missing body part."

🐉 Malleus sat next to you with a shocked expression, how could your family not seem to give a care in the world for what happened to you. It must have been so scary to lose such a vital sense to a degree like that

"I apologize for such an action happening to you, my dear."

"It is not your fault, Malleus. Actually, while I used to plan to usurp my oldest brother, Aegon, for the Iron Throne back home. But, ever since I met you, I cannot help but conquer that it seems useless to do so. Now that I met and have fallen in love with you, Malleus, it just- it is more pointless than a wheel on a carriage when it comes to importance."

🐉 Smiling gently as you laid your previous intentions out for him to see, Malleus lightly gripped your hand and kissed your cheek, making you blink with a shocked expression yourself before smiling back at him and relaxing

"I love you to your world and back here, my dear."

"I agree."