#i guess not so everything just felt so useless in the end

[alwayseclecticdinosaur]

Listen I know the curse said "suck her dry" but imagine if Inhae ACTUALLY MADE USE OF HER NURSING DEGREE and loopholed the curse by just storing her blood over time until the quantity of blood equaled the amount of a human. Then Woohyeol could just drink it all in one go. And hell, maybe we could've had a tense moment where she ran out of time to accumulate all the bags or Manhwi stole some, so SWH would need to drink from her neck and almost loses control or whatever.

[spineless-lobster]

I finally watched the return and uh… well unfortunately it was worse than I was expecting

[rans-prettydoll]

Mechanic!Sukuna . . . Part 2!

Note : mechanic!sukuna part 1 here! Make sure to read this part before so it all makes sense. ALSO MIGHT BE SOME TYPING MISTAKES.

Mechanic!Sukuna who while you are outside his house as he fixes your car, makes you watch him so you could at least understand a bit about what he was doing but fuck was it useless. The sweat on his forehead and the oil that stuck to his thick digits that you so badly wanted for him to fuck into your pretty pussy. You couldn’t help but clench your thighs as you watched him work.

Mechanic!Sukuna always noticed that whenever you came over to his house to have him fix your car, you would be wearing the skimpiest clothing. Your cute mini skirts and crop tops that he had mentioned before in his mind but every time he saw you his dick would throb.

Mechanic!Sukuna would send you away with a perfectly fixed car and before you got in it, you would kiss him in return with a side of money. Of course, you got a discount. Shit, he would make you pay in a different way. His favorite pretty customers always got pretty prices.

Mechanic!Sukuna who would groan and talk shit whenever you had called him only a few days later about how you had driven over a nail while on your way back from work. You were upset and he could practically hear the pout in your voice as you complained about your flat tire. He would then only a few minutes later, pull up in his car to come get you. You were so upset as you got out of the car, explaining to him what happened. Gosh, you were so adorable and you didn’t even know how much he wanted to fuck you over the hood of your car right now. He wanted to fuck some sense into you, to make you stop fucking up your car so much that he obviously would have to fix it, but man did he hate it so good. He loved the way you always called him first. Even for stuff that didn’t have to deal with your car. He loved the way you depended on him for things that you felt only he could help you with. He was so lost in thought that he only broke out when he felt you hug him as you whined in his chest. Your button-down shirt had a bit too many buttons opened but it was valid because of how hot it was out, it showed your pretty cleavage. Oh, how bad he wanted to suck and leave a hickey right on those tits that you loved to show off to him so much while he was trying to focus on your car. But back to the current moment. He would sigh and place one hand on your back, patting it before placing the other hand on your ass. Giving it a small pat too as he spoke in the rough tone of his, “Fuck woman..can’t take care of a car for shit. For right now just get in mine and I’ll drive ya pretty ass home. We’ll worry about yours in a few. Don’t worry, I’ll fuckin’ come back and get it of course. But ya know ya gonna have to pay me back...I don’t think I want money this time. This ass lookin’ too cute in these work pants…” He would say before leaving a small smack on your ass to which you would whine before swinging yourself off him. Walking back to your car to grab your bags and everything and putting it in his car then getting in the passenger seat.

Mechanic!Sukuna who ended up fucking you silly in the back of his car once he made it in your driveway. He had you bouncing on his dick so good that it made the whole car shake as you moaned. You were trying to keep it down, for fuck sake you didn’t want your nosey neighbors to hear you getting fucked so good to the point where you couldn’t think straight anymore!! All you could do was babble as you held onto his strong shoulders. He had your work shirt popped open and bra halfway off, just enough for him to pop a tit out as he sucked on it. Swirling his tongue and making sure to leave hickeys all over that pretty chest of yours just like he had been wanting to do ever since he’d met you. “Shit..woman. Told ya I was gon’ make ya pay me back, aye? But I guess it’s a payment the both of us can enjoy.” He would say as he took a long lick from your left tit up to your neck where he had marked a few minutes before. He took one of his hands and he brought it down to smack that plumped ass of yours that you had been showing off to him in those mini skirts you always wore. Always bending over so he could see your pretty panties and then acting like you didn’t know that you were making his cock ache. But now he had that same cock stuffed into your pussy, making you bounce and clench on it until he fucked some sense into that brain of yours. Until you learned how to take better care of your car. But you knew you wouldn’t, fuck if this was the outcome that you were going to get each time you fucked up your car from now on. You would make sure to pop a tire or something!! You didn’t even know. But fuck all you knew at the moment was that his dick was so good. Better than you had ever imagined while you had been playing with your pussy to his voice whenever you called him telling him about how you would be coming over the next day to get your car fixed. You let out a loud moan as you felt him thrust up into you, bullying your pussy so good as he lectured you. “Ya gonna listen now, huh? Ya gonna stop fuckin’ up ya car? Or do I have to have ya bouncing on my dick like this every time until ya get some sense into that pretty head of yours? Such a nasty, thing. I know ya only fuck your car so that ya can come over.” He would say as he let out a deep chuckle before pulling you off as he cummed all over your tummy. You would cum too, all over his back seats. So what if he knew your plans all along, he seemed to like the idea just as much as you. You loved your mechanic.

@shaeshaeboo asked to be tagged ! 💋

[yougavememyopia]

18+ NSFW, but it's clothed, sub yandere, mean afab reader, he falls between your legs and y'know, "master," degradation

Clumsy yandere, who constantly looked at you with lovesick eyes. Following you everywhere and basically worshipping the ground you walked on. Every item that you touched was sacred, added to his little shrine. Every angle of you was a picture in his poorly made scrapbook.

He'd accidentally bump his drink into random nobodies while he was busy trying to get a sniff of your divine scent. Frustrated that his clumsiness led him to losing sight of your fleeting figure.

You tried your best to ignore him. The loud thud of him falling over objects or his small "oof" when he bumped into walls never went unnoticed by you.

He'd instinctively apologize to the inanimate articles and walk away awkwardly. Ashamed of the attention he drew to himself.

You finally decided to confront him, getting tired of watching him trip over his shoelaces and timidly fleeing the scene. "What's the matter with you, huh? Why are you such a fucking klutz?"

He had no idea how to answer that. It was as if he was cursed to be so uncordinated ever since he was born. He chuckled and shrugged you off with a joke about bad luck. Hand brushing against yours while you helped him up. He had never felt so warm— his cheeks flushed scarlet as a heat wave traveled through his body, building awkward sweat.

You didn't understand how you managed to make his knees buckle with your mere presence. He'd trip over nothing, ending up injured at your feet. Looking up at you with glistened eyes and a dumb smile. It took everything in you to not step on his pitiful face.

"Guess you could say... I, uh, fell for you?" His laughter triggered another eye roll from you. It was truly pathetic how he thought that he could win you over one day. After all, his luck was bad. Very, very bad.

He kept getting caught by you doing the most unhinged things. Sniffing your dirty laundry. Stealing your useless trash. Lurking around your place at strange times.

Denying the truth from you always got him nowhere, so he'd try to confess over and over of how much he loved the little things about you. Sounding incoherent as he stumbled and jumped between words.

"I just can't– s-staying away from you is– I mean, I am sorry... a-a little? But you're like my master. N-no, wait, I... I didn't mean to say that–"

Loud drums of his heartbeat banged in his ear every time your eyes met. The repulsed look on your face making his stomach twist with glee. You were looking at him. Paying attention to him. He didn't deserve any of it. He truly didn't.

“I didn't do anything terrible this time! Just stole your straw. Is that bad?" He'd say in an ashamed voice— head down, eyes studying the ground. His sweaty, shaky fingers fiddled with each other as he waited for your verdict.

You forced him to throw the object in the bin. He felt orgasmic as you lectured him about his creepy behavior. The pure displeased look on your face giving him a high. Only if you knew the thoughts going on his head, you'd slap him without hesitation.

He had a detailed diary about all the little things about you that he loved. Each physical and personality characteristic was intricated in unusually specific details. Of course, his terrible curse led him to accidentally lose it at your place the first time he broke in.

Not only did he get an injury collapsing on your floor— running away when he heard your security system— but he also exposed you to his most disturbing private thoughts.

Pages and pages of your name and doodled hearts. I love you's and perverted fantasies written all over. Scribbles of how he wanted to carve your name into his skin with a knife. Feel you inside his veins. Finally belong to you and only you~♡.

You were disgusted. Particularly grossed out (and a bit turned on) at all the sexual positions he wrote about. The shameless smut written like he had already experienced it. Most of it about rough punishment that made your mouth agape.

No matter how hard you tried to avoid him after that, he was always there. With a weary expression and a bruised body. His fearful gaze had changed to something cloudy and crazed. Like at any point, he would break.

The tension between you grew each day, and so you invited him over to talk. Feeling the need to do something about the lustful glances exchanged.

Then he did it again— ruined everything with his clumsiness. He brought over a drugged drink. Your favorite flavor with an addition of something that'll aid in kidnapping. Before he could hand you it over, he collapsed on you. The cup spilled and flooded the ground, turning the tiles slippery.

When you opened your eyes, you found yourself to be okay. Sighing relief as no weird cliché kissing moment happened. Instead, warm breaths fanned your thighs. The clumsy yandere faced with a sight he had only imagined.

Your smell flooded his nose, and his eyes shut in ecstasy. He felt as if this was the best thing that could ever happen to him. Happy that his luck led him to the source of your scent. Moaning loudly without intent.

"I-I'm so sorry-" You could barely hear his muffle words, the vibration of his voice sending shivers right through you. Your thoughts unclear with the feeling of his mouth moving on your crotch. "S-so sorry."

"Nngh—" You let out a noise from the simulation. He wanted to move away but found himself unable to find the strength to. Your mind became hazy. A hand reaching down to hold his head there, earning a small whimper from him. "You... already made a fool of yourself. Use that mouth for something better and show me how sorry you are."

"...really? T-thank you! Thank you so much." That was all he needed to stop hesitantkng and create a wet stain on the fabric of your front. Whining each time his tongue felt a little bit of your private through the pants. He wanted nothing more than to rip your clothes off and taste you. "Please... please give me a chance to worship you like you deserve it. Keep me as a toy to use whenever you please. Please master-"

"-shut the fuck up already! I have no interest in you gross fantasies." You tugged on his hair and forced his flushed face to get as close as possible. His breathing hitched while you grinded against his tongue, making his pants feel tighter. But all his focus was on your voice. "Just make me come, you worthless creep."

Oh, how he loved when you spoke to him with such disgust in your tone. He wanted to serve you as best as he could, so maybe one day, he'll finally get the privilege of being praised.

[fudgeez]

The price of Jaeyi's Love

Synopsis: Jaeyi, after two years of intense, almost suffocating devotion to Y/N, suddenly declares that Y/N has become "boring." She breaks up with Y/N with cruel indifference, mocking Y/N's attempts to understand and even instigating subtle bullying to further distance herself. Y/N, devastated, eventually accepts the reality and tries to rebuild her life, returning to her hobbies and pre-Jaeyi routines.

However, the arrival of a friendly and vibrant transfer student named Seulgi, who immediately gravitates towards Y/N, ignites a possessive rage in Jaeyi.

masterlist

Y/N POV

I chuckled, looking at the finished hand gloves. Jaeyi always complained about being cold, so I'd crocheted them for her. Perfect timing, too—her tutoring session had just ended. I walked over, a hopeful smile on my face, and held them out to her. But something was off. Her eyes weren't warm; they were... different. Cold.

"We should break up," she said, just like that. My mouth fell open. My handmade gloves, meant as a loving gift, suddenly felt heavy and useless. "What? Jaeyi, what are you talking about?"

"We're done." Her eyes, which used to sparkle with affection, were now hard and distant.

She turned and walked away, not another word. I heard her tell her assistant, in a clipped, dismissive tone, "Have her driven home."

It wasn't a question, or even a polite request. It was an order, like I was just something to be dealt with. I stood there, stunned, the soft yarn of the gloves now feeling like a cruel joke.

The rumors started soon after Jaeyi dumped me. Cruel whispers echoed her cold dismissal, branding me with a single, cutting word: boring.

It wasn’t just the sting of rejection that hurt—it was the way she had framed me, as if our entire relationship had been nothing more than a dull, predictable mistake.

And then came the bullying.

It wasn’t random. It was calculated, deliberate. A wave of petty cruelty that felt almost personal.

It started with whispers.

"Did you hear? Jaeyi said she nearly died of boredom dating her."

"No wonder. I mean, what did she even talk about? Homework?"

"I still don’t get why Jaeyi even bothered with her. A bet, maybe?"

"More like a pity project."

I kept my head down as I walked through the hallway, but the words clung to me like static. It didn’t matter if I walked faster, if I ignored them. They followed me, weaving themselves into my thoughts like an unwanted song stuck on repeat.

At first, it was just talk. But talk turned into action.

In the cafeteria, as I carried my tray to an empty table, someone stuck out their foot. I barely had time to react before I stumbled forward, my tray tilting, food spilling onto my sweater. Laughter erupted around me.

"Oops." A girl smirked from her seat, barely looking up from her phone.

"Guess she’s as clumsy as she is boring."

"Maybe that’s why Jaeyi left—couldn’t take another second of her monotone voice."

The laughter swirled around me, sharp and cruel, digging into my skin like tiny needles. I clenched my fists, willing myself to stay still, to pretend this didn’t hurt as much as it did.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her.

Jaeyi.

She had been watching. She had seen everything—the trip, the fall, the laughter. For a split second, our eyes met. Something flickered across her face. Recognition? Guilt? I couldn’t tell. But whatever it was, it wasn’t enough to make her stay.

She turned and walked away.

Just like that.

I swallowed hard, the sting of humiliation spreading through my chest.

Kyung and Yeri were standing nearby, their laughter dying in their throats when they saw me. Their expressions shifted, guilt creeping into their eyes.

Yeri fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, avoiding my gaze, while Kyung’s smirk faltered just a little.

But neither of them said anything.

Neither of them stopped it.

Neither of them helped me.

I wasn’t just being rejected. I was being erased.

Jaeyi’s dismissal had sparked the rumors. The rumors fueled the bullying. The bullying left me isolated. And the more alone I felt, the more I believed their words.

Maybe I really was boring.

Maybe that was why Jaeyi left.

Maybe that was why no one had ever really wanted me here in the first place.

Y/N retreated, the vibrant colors of her life fading into dull gray. She sought solace in her old hobbies, sketching in her notebook, losing herself in the lines and shadows, trying to piece herself back together.  

Then came Seulgi a whirlwind of sunshine and laughter.  

The transfer student, with her bright eyes and infectious energy, sat beside Y/N during lunch, her presence a stark contrast to the coldness that had settled over Y/N’s life.  

"Hey! Mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is packed." Seulgi’s voice was light, casual, but her smile was warm, genuine.  

Y/N hesitated, glancing around. Empty seats were everywhere. Seulgi could’ve sat anywhere. Yet, she had chosen here.  

"Oh, uh, sure." Y/N managed a weak smile.  

Seulgi plopped down, setting her tray on the table before glancing at Y/N’s open sketchbook. Her eyes widened in admiration. "Wow, that’s amazing! You’re really talented."

A flicker of something unfamiliar pride, perhaps stirred in Y/N’s chest.

"Thanks," she murmured.  

"I’m Seulgi, by the way. New here."

"I’m Y/N. Nice to meet you." 

Seulgi's presence was a balm to Y/N's wounded soul. They bonded over art, music, and shared dreams. For the first time in months, Y/N felt a flicker of hope.

A comfortable silence settled between them as Y/N continued sketching. They were at Y/N’s house, lounging in her room, the dim glow of a desk lamp casting soft shadows on the walls.

Seulgi lay on her stomach, chin propped on her hand, watching Y/N curiously.

"So, Y/N…" she began, her voice casual yet laced with curiosity. "Not to be weird, but… why does Jaeyi's fans keep bullying you?"

Y/N stiffened, her pencil freezing mid-stroke.

Seulgi didn’t look away. She didn’t rush to fill the silence with forced chatter. She just waited.

Something inside Y/N cracked.

"Jaeyi… she’s my ex. We dated for two years." The words tumbled out before she could stop them. "And after she dumped me, everything changed. The rumors, the bullying it all started because of her fans."

She expected Seulgi to flinch, to awkwardly change the subject, or maybe even pretend she hadn’t heard. But Seulgi didn’t move. She just blinked.

"Well, that’s stupid. I mean, seriously? They’re that immature?" Seulgi scoffed.

Y/N blinked, caught off guard. "You’re… not disgust? Or distance yourself?"

Seulgi raised an eyebrow. "Why would I?"

"Because… they might target you too. Now that we’re always together." Y/N’s voice was hesitant, her fingers tightening around her pencil.

Seulgi let out a laugh—a genuine, carefree sound. "Please, I can handle myself. And if they try anything, I’ll be protecting you too." She grinned, eyes twinkling.

"They’re just a bunch of losers, anyway."

Y/N laughed—a small, breathy sound, but real.

Meanwhile

They Didn’t Know Someone Was Listening…

Far from Y/N’s room, a phone screen flickered to life. Jaeyi’s eyes darkened as she listened to the audio playing through her earbuds.

She had planted a small recording device in Y/N’s room back when they were together, a careless impulse at the time—maybe for fun, maybe for control. Either way, after the breakup, she had forgotten about it.

Until now.

It had been weeks since she last thought about Y/N, brushing aside the guilt and discomfort with distractions. Not until, in the library, she saw something she hadn’t expected—Y/N, laughing.

With someone else.

Seulgi.

She had watched from afar as Seulgi playfully nudged Y/N, stealing her pencil, teasing her about her sketches. And Y/N… she had let her. She had smiled.

Something in Jaeyi twisted.

So when she got home, on a whim, she reactivated the old device, curiosity gnawing at her. What she didn’t expect was to hear her own name.

"Jaeyi… she’s my ex. We dated for two years. And after she dumped me, everything changed. The rumors, the bullying it all started because of her fans."

Jaeyi’s breath caught.

Y/N still talked about her.

Then came Seulgi’s voice, unwavering and filled with warmth.

"Please, I can handle myself. And if they try anything, I’ll be protecting you too."

Jaeyi’s grip on her phone tightened.

Seulgi was protecting Y/N now? Standing where Jaeyi used to stand?

A strange, unwelcome feeling crawled under her skin.

Jealousy.

Regret.

Something else she couldn’t name.

She had left Y/N behind, convinced it was the right choice. Then why did it feel like Y/N had finally found something Jaeyi had never been able to give her?

Why did it feel like Jaeyi was the one being left behind now?

And why couldn’t she stop listening?

The rooftop was quiet, save for the soft hum of the wind rustling against the railing. Y/N stood near the edge, staring out at the cityscape beyond the school grounds, her mind lost in a swirl of emotions. A lone tear traced a path down her cheek, a silent testament to the pain Jaeyi had inflicted.

"Y/N."

A voice cut through the stillness, a familiar, silken whisper that sent a shiver down her spine.

Y/N turned sharply, eyes widening as she saw Jaeyi standing a few feet away, her expression unreadable. But beneath the surface, a dark current flickered, a possessive hunger that made Y/N's heart pound.

"What are you doing here?" Y/N asked, her grip tightening on the rooftop railing, knuckles turning white.

Jaeyi took a slow step forward, her movements predatory.

"I miss you."

Her voice was calm, too calm, a predator lulling its prey. But there was something in her eyes something dark, possessive, desperate, a burning intensity that made Y/N want to run.

Y/N swallowed hard. "Jaeyi…"

Jaeyi’s lips parted, hesitation flickering across her face before she let out a quiet breath, a breath that seemed to carry a weight of unspoken desires. "Come back to me."

Y/N’s heart lurched, a sickening twist of fear and a ghost of longing. "What?"

"Be my girlfriend again." Jaeyi’s voice was firmer now, edged with something almost demanding, a command disguised as a plea. "I was stupid. I shouldn't have let you go."

Y/N inhaled sharply, caught between shock and something deeper something she wasn’t sure she wanted to name, a dangerous pull towards the familiar darkness.

"You—" She let out a hollow laugh, a sound devoid of joy. "You dumped me, Jaeyi. You left me. And then you let them—" Her voice cracked, a raw, exposed nerve.

"You let them tear me apart, and you did nothing."

Jaeyi flinched, but she didn’t step back. If anything, she moved closer, her eyes glittering with an obsessive light.

"I know," she admitted, her voice low and persuasive. "I know I messed up. But I can fix it. I can fix us. I can make everything like it was before. Better."

Y/N clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. "Why now? Why come crawling back now?"

Jaeyi’s jaw tightened, a muscle twitching in her cheek. "Seulgi. She’s not right for you. She's stealing you from me."

Y/N scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "And you think you are?"

Jaeyi’s hands trembled as she reached out, her fingers just barely grazing Y/N’s wrist, a touch that sent a jolt of fear and a strange, unwelcome warmth through her.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice laced with a dangerous intensity.

"You’re mine, Y/N. You’ve always been mine."

Y/N’s breath hitched, a gasp trapped in her throat. A storm of emotions crashed inside her—pain, longing, anger, and something terrifyingly close to the love she once felt for Jaeyi, a twisted, possessive love that threatened to consume her.

Did she still want this? Did she still want her?

Before she could answer, the rooftop door burst open, shattering the tense silence.

"Y/N! I brought your favorite—"

Seulgi’s voice froze mid-sentence, the cheerful grin on her face fading as she took in the sight before her—Jaeyi standing too close, Y/N’s expression caught between conflict and distress, the air thick with unspoken tension.

A tense silence stretched between the three of them, broken only by the wind.

Jaeyi’s fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms.

"Of course," she muttered under her breath, a low growl of possessive rage. "She just had to show up."

Seulgi narrowed her eyes, stepping forward without hesitation, the bag of food still clutched in her hand, a protective barrier between Y/N and Jaeyi.

"What’s going on here?" Her voice wasn’t playful this time. It was sharp, protective, a challenge.

Y/N swallowed, still reeling, but Jaeyi was the one who spoke, her eyes never leaving Y/N's.

"We’re talking." Her tone was clipped, defensive, a warning. "This doesn’t concern you."

Seulgi scoffed, her eyes flashing. "It concerns me if you’re making her uncomfortable."

Y/N felt the weight of both their gazes on her, a suffocating pressure. Jaeyi’s pleading eyes, filled with a dangerous possessiveness, Seulgi’s concerned yet firm stare, a beacon of safety.

"Y/N," Jaeyi said softly, her voice dangerously smooth, a silken threat. "Tell her. Tell her you still love me. Tell her you're mine."

Y/N’s breath caught, a wave of fear washing over her.

Seulgi shifted, her expression unreadable, a silent question. "And if she doesn’t?" she challenged, her voice low and steady.

Jaeyi didn’t look at her. She only looked at Y/N, her eyes burning with an obsessive intensity, waiting, hoping, demanding.

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut for a brief second, a desperate attempt to regain control.

"Jaeyi…" her voice wavered, a fragile whisper. "I…"

A deep inhale. A slow exhale, a moment of clarity amidst the chaos.

"I’m sorry. But i like what im a now."

Jaeyi’s face twisted—hurt, frustration, something unspoken, a dark, simmering rage.

Seulgi took another step closer, her presence grounding, a solid wall of support. "Come on, Y/N. Let’s go."

---  

Jaeyi’s eyes darkened, a predatory gleam in their depths. "You can't have her Seulgi," she hissed, her voice a low, dangerous growl. "She's mine."

Jaeyi sat on the edge of Y/N’s bed, her fingers ghosting over the soft fabric of the blanket. The room smelled the same—warm, familiar, like Y/N. It felt like stepping into the past, into a time before everything fell apart.  

Her eyes scanned the room, stopping when she spotted something on the shelves.  

A small, wistful smile formed on her lips.  

Her gifts—every little thing she had ever given Y/N—were still there. The bracelet from their first date, the stuffed bear she won for her at a festival, the keychain with their initials.  

She still keeps them.

For a brief second, Jaeyi allowed herself to believe that maybe—just maybe—Y/N hadn’t truly moved on. That all of this, Seulgi included, was just a phase.  

But then she saw it.  

A framed picture sitting right beside the memories of them.

Y/N and Seulgi, laughing together, their arms draped over each other, faces glowing with happiness.  

Jaeyi’s stomach twisted, her nails digging into her palm.  

Seulgi was ruining everything.  

Before she even realized what she was doing, her fingers wrapped around the frame. Her heart pounded in her ears, the sound of her own ragged breathing filling the room.   

The glass cracked as she tore the picture from the frame, shredding it into pieces, her breaths coming out uneven.  

"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "No, no, no."

She wouldn’t let this happen.  

She wouldn’t let Seulgi take Y/N away from her.  

Jaeyi exhaled sharply, her grip tightening on the torn scraps of the photo. She had waited too long, watched from the sidelines as Seulgi wormed her way into Y/N’s life, pretending to be her savior.  

Enough was enough.  

She had a plan. And that plan started tonight.

Jaeyi leaned back against the headboard, her fingers brushing over the old bracelet Y/N still kept.  

A smirk played on her lips as she settled in, waiting.  

Y/N would be home soon.

And this time, Jaeyi wouldn’t let her slip away.

Y/N fumbled with her keys, the events of the rooftop encounter still swirling in her mind. Seulgi's comforting presence had been a lifeline, but the echo of Jaeyi's words "You're mine." clung to her like a chilling shadow.

She pushed open the door to her room, expecting the familiar quiet, and froze.

Jaeyi was there.

She sat comfortably in Y/N’s favorite chair by the window, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Her presence was both unsettling and commanding, like she had always belonged there.

A wave of shock, then fear, crashed over Y/N. "Jaeyi? What are you doing here?"

Jaeyi rose gracefully, a slow, knowing smile playing on her lips. "I came to see you, of course."

Before Y/N could react, Jaeyi was in front of her, closing the distance in one fluid motion. Then her lips were on hers.

The kiss was sudden, deep, and intoxicating. Jaeyi’s hands slid along Y/N’s waist, pulling her in, her touch both possessive and desperate.

Y/N stiffened at first, her mind screaming at her to stop this, to push Jaeyi away. But her body betrayed her.

The familiarity of Jaeyi’s touch, the way her lips moved with a hunger that felt all-consuming—it stirred something buried deep within.

She hesitated, caught in the heat of the moment, allowing Jaeyi to take more, to claim more.

Jaeyi smirked against her lips, sensing her surrender. Her hands explored—fingertips tracing Y/N’s spine, pressing into her hips, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them.

Just as Y/N felt herself slipping completely into Jaeyi’s control, Jaeyi abruptly pulled away. Her eyes burned with something dark and triumphant as she stepped back, tilting her head toward the corner of the room.

"Look," she whispered, her voice disturbingly calm.

Y/N followed her gaze on Jaeyi's phone.

And froze.

A large container sat in the corner of unknown room.

Inside—bound, gagged, bruised—was Seulgi.

Y/N’s breath hitched, horror clawing at her throat. "You..." she gasped, her entire body going rigid.

Jaeyi smiled sweetly, almost mockingly. "She was getting in the way," she purred, running a lazy finger down Y/N’s arm. "But don't worry, she'll be fine. As long as you do what I say."

Y/N’s stomach twisted.

"Jaeyi, please... let her go."

Jaeyi lifted Y/N’s chin with a single finger, forcing their eyes to meet.

"Be with me," she murmured, her touch deceptively gentle.

"Be mine, like you were always meant to be. And she won’t get hurt."

Y/N’s mind spun, trapped between a terrifying ultimatum and the magnetic pull of Jaeyi’s presence. She wanted to run. She wanted to fight. But Seulgi—Seulgi was helpless, suffering because of her.

She had no choice.

A deal with the devil.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I'll do it. Just... please don't hurt her."

Jaeyi’s smile widened—a dark, victorious gleam in her eyes.

"Good girl," she murmured, leaning in for another kiss.

Y/N didn’t resist this time.

Jaeyi pushed her back until she hit the bed, guiding her down with slow, deliberate movements. Her lips moved from Y/N’s mouth to her jaw, then down to the sensitive skin of her neck, leaving a trail of possessive marks.

"You belong to me," Jaeyi whispered against her throat, her hands roaming lower, claiming every inch of Y/N as if she were already hers.

Y/N gasped, torn between the horror of the situation and the undeniable pull of Jaeyi’s touch. Every kiss, every movement, was a silent demand—give in to me, and Seulgi lives.

And so, she did.

As Jaeyi’s lips captured hers once more, Y/N let herself drown in the twisted pleasure of the moment. This was her pact, her surrender.

Her price to pay.

And Jaeyi made sure she felt every second of it.

Y/N was making a lot of noise, moaning loudly, because Jaeyi was using her tongue to give her a lot of pleasure. Jaeyi had been doing this for a while, and Y/N was very wet.

Jaeyi teased her, asking, "Do you like that? Do you really like my tongue?" Y/N couldn't answer with words, only moans. She tried to pull Jaeyi's head closer, wanting more, but Jaeyi stopped her.

Jaeyi wanted to control the situation. She wanted to make Y/N wait and enjoy every moment.

She moved her tongue in different ways, teasing Y/N and making her feel very good.

Y/N's body moved a lot because she felt so much pleasure. Jaeyi watched Y/N's face, enjoying how much power she had.

When Y/N was about to have a very strong feeling of pleasure, she made a loud cry.

Jaeyi let her enjoy that feeling, and then stopped.

Jaeyi looked up at Y/N and said, "Good girl," like she was praising her. She enjoyed having control over Y/N's pleasure.

Jaeyi watched Y/N, a predatory gleam in her eyes. Y/N was a mess, completely undone, her body still trembling from the aftershocks of pleasure. Jaeyi savored the sight, the way Y/N's chest heaved with each ragged breath, the way her lips were swollen and parted, the way her eyes were glazed with a hazy satisfaction.

"You're such a mess," Jaeyi purred, her voice laced with a dark amusement. "So needy."

Y/N, still lost in the afterglow, could only whimper, a soft, pleading sound that sent a thrill through Jaeyi.  She reached out, her fingers tracing the dampness at Y/N's entrance, eliciting a gasp.

"Still want more, don't you?" Jaeyi teased, her touch light and teasing. "Can't get enough, can you?"

Y/N's hips bucked involuntarily, a silent plea for more. Jaeyi chuckled, a low, throaty sound that vibrated through Y/N's core.

"Such a good girl," Jaeyi murmured, her fingers slipping inside, slowly at first, then with increasing urgency.  Y/N's moans returned, louder this time, desperate and demanding. Jaeyi watched, her eyes burning with a possessive intensity, as Y/N writhed beneath her touch, completely at her mercy.

"You need me, don't you?" Jaeyi whispered, her voice a seductive poison.

"You need my touch, my control."

Y/N could only nod, her body a testament to Jaeyi's words. Jaeyi smiled, a cruel, triumphant smile. She had won. She had broken Y/N, molded her into the perfect, obedient plaything.  And as Y/N's cries of pleasure filled the room, Jaeyi reveled in her victory, her heart pounding with a dark, possessive satisfaction.

[teaboot]

hopping onto the train of questions about parental abuse to ask:

how did you determine your dad was abusive? because for me it's like. i honestly cannot remember much about my younger years except that it felt much worse? and it's not like he's physically abusive but every time he speaks to me I end up feeling like week-old roadkill and i'm not sure that qualifies.

i guess follow up question is how can you tell if your parent(s) are abusive or if maybe you're just overreacting/bad if that makes sense..?

I think I had an easier time if it because I had a life outside him first? Like. He and my mom didn’t get together till I was 4 or 5, so everything I knew about being polite and respectful I learned from HER first, and so I already had a pretty strong sense of “justice” and “fair”. In the earlier years, if he said I was being bad, I believed him. It was “punishments” that made no sense. Being grounded? Yeah okay I’d do my best to do nothing for a couple weeks. Ripping all my books off the shelf, tossing them to the floor, and telling ME to clean them up? Because they were “teaching me a bad attitude”? How did THAT make sense? I thought we all cleaned up our own messes and treated other’s belongings gently??

Noticing hypocrisy and double-standards led to being gaslit, which led to paranoia and obsessively recording and writing down conversations immediately to reassure myself I wasn’t insane. Then a lot of research into what psychological abuse WAS and how to respond to manipulative behaviour.

After that, I made plans to move out and spoke to some adults at my highschool to let them know, “hey, this is what he’s doing to ME, and in a few years X Y and Z are going to be living with him without me to handle him and they’ll be attending here, so can you keep an eye on them?”.

Then just. Keeping notes.

Honestly, it’s mostly just keeping track of patterns, double-standards, and what happens before and after bad behaviour.

I noticed that HE, for example, had a habit of calling me a useless retard whenever he was angry, but as soon as he wanted something I was a smart and beautiful young ‘lady’. Also, weirdly, not matter WHO started the fight, I was always the one who ended up feeling bad and apologizing- which seemed. Odd. Like… surely it’s not ALL me? Why is it ALWAYS me who feels guilty? Oh. Oh, that’s on purpose. Interesting

But fit what it’s worth. If talking to him makes you feel bad? Even if it isn’t abusive, it shouldn’t be unpleasant. Listen to your gut. You don’t actually have to deal with him forever. Consider trying to figure out what exactly it is about your interactions that feels unpleasant and work from there

[freakmcnastyy]

Welcome home

Geum Seongjae x f!reader Pt.2

Summary: After the breakup, the reader ends up owing Seongjae a debt—and he’s more than happy to use it as a chance to get his revenge.

Note: Inspired by an anon request!!

Pt.1 / Pt.2

⸻

It had been two weeks since you and him broke up.

Or… did you even break up? You weren’t sure anymore.

He never came back home that night.

Didn’t even text. So you lost your temper and blocked him—everywhere.

He never cared much anyway. If he really wanted to, he’d come find you.

But he didn’t.

So now, here you were, wandering aimlessly down a random street.

It was night. Cold. And you were bored. That’s why you went out.

The problem was: you were in Union's territory.

The air here tasted like him—like power, like filth, like ownership.

You pulled your hood over your head.

You didn’t want to walk through this part of town. Not anymore.

Just as you turned the corner—

Five men appeared. Slit eyes, cigarette smoke, loud laughter echoing off the pavement.

One of them tilted his head with a greasy grin.

Even his teeth looked like they smelled.

“Well, well, ain’t this a surprise. Seongjae’s ex-wife… right?”

You frowned, couldn’t hold back.

“Ex-girlfriend,” you corrected.

He laughed. “Yeah, yeah. Girlfriend. Same shit, right?”

Then the bulky one stepped forward—probably their leader.

He took off his beanie, squinted at you.

“Heard somethin’… You been talkin’ shit about Union, right? Spilling our name to the streets?”

Your pupils widened. Shit.

“What? No—I didn’t—”

Didn’t even get to finish.

“Cut the crap,” one of them barked. “You lose your damn mind after leaving Seongjae? Don’t tell me you actually think you matter now.”

You didn’t answer.

Maybe you did get a little bold. But something about them—it reeked of him.

Same rot. Same poison.

One of them shoved you back by the shoulder.

“Who the hell do you think you are talkin’ about us, huh? You breathe here ‘cause we let you. Got that?”

“So what if I said somethin’? Everyone already knows you’re trash.”

One of them laughed, but it wasn’t a fun laugh. It was dark. Rotten.

And then it started.

The first punch landed on your right cheek.

Second—a kick straight to your stomach.

You fought back. You tried.

But it was five-on-one.

Everything Seongjae ever taught you was useless now.

One of them snatched your phone.

“That all there is to the whole ‘strong woman’ act?” someone whispered in your ear.

When your knees hit the ground, everything went quiet.

Only one of them—sly-looking, probably the slickest of the group—leaned in and said:

“There’s a way to fix your little mistake.”

“You’re gonna join Union.”

You froze.

Even the wind paused.

“What…?”

“Guess what, sweetheart—your ex sent us. Looks like he still knows exactly where you’ll be, and when.”

You felt your stomach churn.

So he planned this.

He was watching.

He let this happen to you?

Their smirks got wider. One of them handed your phone back.

It wasn’t a gesture of kindness—just a symbol.

Welcome to the family.

⸻

They grabbed your arm.

You were still breathing hard.

Your legs had stopped shaking, but the nausea sat heavy in your gut.

You didn’t say anything.

Wouldn’t have mattered if you did.

They dragged you off the street like a stray dog—into a rusted metal door.

The light inside was dim. The air smelled damp.

But the place was buzzing—not with life, but with crime.

And then you saw him.

Papers scattered on the table, bikes lined up around the walls…

And on the couch—feet on the table, cigarette in hand—Seongjae.

Shoulders relaxed, smile filthy.

He saw you. Moved his cigarette with his lips. Slowly dropped his foot off the table.

Without looking, he gestured to the men. “Leave us.”

No words needed. They just left. Door clicked shut.

He stepped toward you.

That smile? Wider.

“Welcome home, baby. Long time no see.”

The cigarette still hung from his lips. Ash about to fall, but he didn’t care.

He never cared—except when it came to you.

“I heard…” he said, blowing smoke from his nose,

“…you tried to out us. That mad at me, huh?”

You didn’t move. Breath short.

But your voice, somehow, found its way out:

“You were the one who left me alone in that house.”

He paused. His brow twitched—but the smile didn’t fade.

“And you were the one who blocked me—everywhere.

Remember? Insta, Kakao, even wiped my name from your bank info.”

You swallowed. Yeah, you did.

Because staying would’ve broken you.

You didn’t speak for a moment. Then finally:

“What do you want from me?”

This time, you didn’t look away.

Seongjae rolled the cigarette between his fingers.

That smirk of his… yeah, it was back.

He thought it was funny.

“You know… when you’re about to pull off a heist…”

“…you need to distract the owner.”

You got it.

Didn’t need the details.

One look in his eyes—his intent burned straight into your brain.

“Flirt,” he said.

“Pull attention. Not too much—some eyes, some words. That’s enough.”

You felt your blood boil.

It hit like a punch to the gut.

He was gonna use you as bait.

“And if I don’t?”

Your voice was low. But firm. You weren’t begging. You had pride left. A little.

Seongjae’s smile vanished. He squinted.

Dropped the cigarette. Crushed it under his shoe.

Then he leaned in.

That voice—sweet and venomous—hit your ears:

“You know how much I love you.”

“But you also know how much I hate betrayal.”

“You tried to expose me. Got loud with my men.

Now you stand here, acting tough?”

Your throat dried up. Your eyes narrowed.

“If you don’t pay for what you did… I’ll ruin you.”

“And I can. ‘Cause I still know you better than anyone.”

Silence.

He just looked at you.

In his kingdom, and you?

His prisoner.

⸻

11 PM.

Back alley.

Motorbikes lined up, still warm. Headlights off, but engines recently killed.

You’re waiting by the wall.

Black leather jacket. Tight jeans. Hair down.

Lipstick a little smudged—but that’s a weapon too.

You don’t need to try hard.

You step onto the stage and the game begins.

Target’s locked.

Some guy from another crew. Tipsy. Weak spot? Women.

Perfect.

You walk out.

Pretending to talk on the phone. Laughing fake laughs.

Then—oops—you bump into him by the bike.

“Oh, my bad,” you say sweetly.

He looks at you. Scans you up and down.

His brain’s buffering. GPU’s overheating.

You know exactly where his eyes are stuck.

“You ride bikes?” you ask, tapping the seat.

“Yeah… way better than cars,” he mutters, eyes glassy.

“You into bikes too?”

You smile. Step closer.

Another step.

Then—smooth but firm—you pin him gently against the wall.

Your eyes catch his like a snare.

“Mhm… isn’t it kinda hot when a guy knows how to ride a bike?”

you whisper, voice soft as air, sharp as a blade.

He holds his breath.

Hands raised, like he’s already caught.

You haven’t even touched him yet.

Hands in your jacket pockets, but your stare pierces him.

“You hang around here often?”

“Maybe we’ll bump into each other again…”

He swallows hard.

Eyes wide, full of butterflies.

“Uh… can I maybe get your number? Like for a coffee—”

Before he even finishes, you’re already handing him a note.

A fake number scribbled on paper.

“Call me,” you say.

Then wink. Turn around. Walk away—fast.

Because in the back alley… another guy’s already hotwired the bike.

Gone.

The guy leans on the wall, still drunk on your scent.

Feels like your hands are still on his jacket.

Then—

The bike engine screams.

He snaps out of it.

Looks around.

Bike’s gone.

Mouth open. Eyes wide.

“What the FUCK?!”

He looks down at the paper.

Dials the number.

“The number you have dialed is not in service…”

⸻

You’ve turned the corner. Walking alone.

Night breeze whips your hair across your face—but you don’t care.

You still smell like that guy—but your mind’s elsewhere.

Just as you turn another corner—

A shadow steps out from the dark.

Seongjae.

Lighting a cigarette, flipping the lighter in his hand.

He scans you—but his eyes already know what you did.

“Damn,” he says.

“Didn’t know your charm worked on other guys too.”

You fight the urge to roll your eyes.

Hands in pockets.

“Jealous?” you fire back, deadpan.

He meets your eyes.

A beat. Then he shrugs.

“Nah,” he says.

“Business is business. So what if you pinned him to a wall or kissed him. We got the goods. We win.”

He laughs. Your eyes lock.

The cold silence between you screams a thousand words.

He narrows his gaze.

“Lucky you owe us,” he says.

“Now we get to use you like a free pawn.”

Your chest burns—but you don’t show it.

You’re not that girl anymore.

Not just someone’s ex.

You’re something else now.

And this war?

You’re in it.

⸻

Two—maybe three—weeks passed like that.

Mission after mission… sometimes it was a motorcycle, sometimes a wallet, sometimes just distracting someone long enough to turn their back.

You couldn’t even tell what time it was anymore, what day, who you were even talking to.

And Seongjae.

He was always somewhere in the corner.

Sometimes he’d show up to mock you, sometimes throw in a “Nice job, I guess,” but there was always that sarcastic smirk on his face.

You didn’t fall into bed each night—you collapsed.

Whatever you used to be, you weren’t anymore. But nobody could tell what you’d become either.

And then one day… it went wrong.

It was someone else’s mission you stepped in for.

But a cop had been tracking the past few incidents—and you got caught.

Your passport, your ID, your school records… everything was now stuck on government screens.

You found yourself inside a police station—gray walls, dim lights, and a silence that scraped your nerves raw.

Your hands were shaking.

You didn’t know why, or for who, you ended up like this.

The only thing you did know: you’d already lost your freedom.

This… was just the final blow.

Then someone walked in.

Those familiar footsteps.

Those heavy-ass steps.

And that cursed Seongjae.

No cigarette this time.

Just the sound of cash rustling in an envelope from his pocket, silencing the officers inside.

And then…

Without saying a word, he grabbed your arm.

“Move.”

He dragged you out—hard.

You didn’t even say anything at first.

Under a streetlamp, on the freezing pavement, your held-back tears choked you like a lump in your throat.

And then… you just couldn’t take it anymore.

“Enough!” you shouted.

“That’s enough. I’m tired!”

He stopped for a second. Caught off guard.

But you were already crying.

“Why are you doing this? Do you like watching me fall apart?

You’re the reason we broke up, so why are you taking your anger out on me?”

Your tears, your voice, your nose—everything blurred into one.

“Just let me go, Seongjae. I swear… I’m in pain.”

You wiped your eyes with shaky hands, but it felt like the more you wiped, the more tears spilled out.

Because everything you’d been holding in… was finally pouring out.

He was silent.

Looking at you—but for the first time, he looked wrecked on the inside too.

Because seeing you like this… was new to him.

You were always the strong one.

The one who stood up to everyone—even him.

But now, here you were, breaking down right in front of him.

And he just stood there.

Said nothing.

Because he didn’t know what to feel anymore either.

But one thing was clear—he pulled you out of that mess with his own hands.

“It’s over,” he said.

“You’re done with all this.

Everything I did… was just to keep you close. But I messed up.”

⸻

That night… you kept crying.

Your hands were trembling as you covered your face.

But he… didn’t leave.

For the first time… he stayed.

Didn’t say a word. Didn’t touch you.

But the way his eyes looked at you…

It was like they whispered Stay.

Like they whispered Forgive me.

And you…

For the first time in a long time, felt safe next to him.

Because he was tired too.

That night, both of you realized—hurting each other, holding onto pride, chasing revenge… none of it led anywhere.

The next morning…

Your doorbell rang.

When you opened it, he was standing there—holding a small bag.

You looked at it.

Your heart was still cracked.

But there was something in Seongjae’s eyes:

Regret.

Hope.

And clearly—love.

“I’m staying. I’m not gonna vanish into thin air again, or come home with blood all over me.

But this time—you’re staying too.

That’s my only condition.”

“I promise. I’m not leaving this time,” he said.

And then…

He held you.

For the first time, like he meant it.

Like you were his.

And life…

For once, smiled at two broken people.

There was no more war.

No more gangs.

No more hate.

Just you two.

Finally.

[kefiteria]

I loved loved your “if I kneel” story about sebek, I would love to see your take on Lilia if you ever feel like writing for him ☺️💞💚🙏

pairing : Lilia Vanrouge x Reader

summary: You made a bet with Lilia Vanrouge: if he lost, he’d stop flirting. If you lost? You’d have to flirt back. Well. Guess who’s now spiraling in slow-motion while attempting seductive eye contact and forgetting how sentences work. He’s smug, you’re doomed, and this is what you get for challenging a centuries-old fae at his own game.

a/n: Lilia is easily in my top 3 favorites 😩🙏🏻 so this piece is really me indulging in his flavor of charm for once — softer, smugger, dangerously sweet. A little different from my usual existential dread writings🌀 If you enjoyed the fluster, the tension, the barely-contained chaos~ let me know! 🍀 Thank you so much for requesting and enjoying my writing💖

“Go ahead. Say that I’m crazy. Because isn’t that what you’ve made me? And you—” Lilia’s voice curved like smoke through the hollow between your ribs.

“You’re crazy too.” His smile, wide and unrepentant, was sharper than anything Raskolnikov would dare to confess.

Before you could recoil, he had already pushed you — gently, politely, irreversibly — down onto the ancient stone bench lining the corridor.

A hallway. Open. Daylight humming like static against the stained-glass. A place where moments like this should unravel into nothing.

But they never do, with him.

You tried to make your voice a wall, a line of marble between heart and hazard.

“I don’t think this falls under the terms of our agreement, Vice Housewarden Lilia.”

The formality was a mask, suffocating, and flimsy. You clung to it like a prayer, or a blade — a distance you could press between your chest and his centuries.

Lilia only tilted his head, almost sympathetically, eyes glinting like a cathedral set on fire.

“You keep lobbing distance at me, dear.” he said, voice low, intimate in its tiredness.

“You've been talking all the nonsense, and maybe neither one of us should talk anymore?”

There was no mockery in it—not precisely. Merely the soft, baroque ache of a man who had learned to dress his loneliness in lace and laughter; who remembered centuries too vividly and was, in turn, remembered too dimly.

When he leaned closer, the fabric of his coat made a noise like leaves whispering secrets to the wind—secrets only the old and the unloved would understand.

“Go on. Say it again. That I’m crazy.”

The words curled around your spine like an incantation. A dare. A descent.

“Vice Housewarden Lilia.” you breathed, too soft to scold, too loud to pretend.

“If you keep behaving like this, people will talk. This is a hallway. A public one—”

You didn’t finish. The words slipped, blurred at the edges like ink in water, and your tongue—once yours—sat heavy, useless in your mouth. Everything felt slow, steeped in something golden and wrong.

The only thing louder than your heartbeat was the hush of his breathing—or rather, the lack of it. He didn’t move. He didn’t even blink. In that stillness, you felt yourself unraveling softly, like silk torn under candlelight.

“Ah~” he murmured, almost tenderly, “there it is. Your voice when you’re lying to yourself.”

As you blinked, he went closer again — not in distance, but in density. Like gravity. Like regret.

“Where is your end of the deal, starlight? You lost.” he said, with the kindness of a man reciting a eulogy.

“I thought mortals glorified their oaths. Or… is it because I’m no knight, and you think my promises are made to be broken?”

His lips hovered near the shell of your ear—not quite a kiss, not quite mercy. Just the phantom hush of skin remembering what it has never been given. You felt it anyway. Felt it like a sin prayed too sweetly: his breath tracing a line down your neck like a ghost leaving fingerprints you’d deny in daylight.

Because you’d promised because you had looked him in the eye and wrapped your pride in oaths too fragile to keep—

You let the lie fall.

Not in anger. Not in surrender.

But like the first snow on a grave. Soft. Inevitable.

“Fine.” you said in surrender paired with a voice crystalline, trembling, absurd.

“Would you rather I call you my liege… or my sin?”

Lilia stilled, the motion caught somewhere between a sigh and a shudder.

The smile that lingered was no longer a jest but a fragile relic, folding inward like a moth’s wing pressed beneath a glass—the delicate architecture of centuries collapsing in slow, deliberate surrender.

His eyes widened, not with surprise, but with the slow, mournful clarity of a man submerged in thick honeyed fog, as if he had been waiting through countless seasons—through winter’s cruelty and summer’s forgetfulness—for a single, trembling syllable to fall exactly like that.

Between the shallow tides of breath and silence, the air thickened, saturated with the weight of unspoken eons, a fragile tension spun from threads of smoke and old, unspent desire, pressing against your skin like a secret too tender to bear.

“Mmm…” he exhaled slowly, voice dusted in awe.

“Why not both?”

He stepped back—just far enough to keep you breathing, just close enough to make your chest ache like a wound left open.

“Careful now.” he said, his voice suddenly bare and steady, like a secret carved into stone.

“Flirt with me like that again, and I might start hoping you meant it.”

Then he turned—slick as midnight, a slow, satisfied smile curling at the corners of his lips as he walked away.

Under his breath, just loud enough for the shadows to catch it, he murmured:

“You keep throwing stones, sweetheart — like you’re trying to chase me off. But I don’t mind. I’ve got all the time in the world to throw them back."

"If this is a game, then play it. But don’t blame me when you start to like losing.”

His gloved hands adjusted, deliberate and calm, like the calm before a storm you’re desperate to dive into—and desperate to escape.

Left standing there, your heartbeat pounding in wild rebellion, the echo of a bet you never truly lost twisting tighter around your ribs.

And damn if it doesn’t feel like the first page of a story neither of you are ready to end.

[hencheri]

▸ 18+ mdni. | warnings. humiliation, cum play (sort of), daddy kink, ten's lowkey a huge perv.

dom!ten with a dumb gf... loves to make you shy, loves to embarrass you... but he swears, it's only because he loves you so fucking much.

one arm draped over the back of your chair, thighs spread and his knee bumping into yours, his other hand playing with the fork on his napkin. he pretends to not hear you, pretends he doesn't notice your small hand pulling on his t-shirt, laughing and talking with his friends.

"tennie, please..." you say softly, in the lowest voice so he's the only one catching onto the desperation in your tone. you pull again, staring at the side of his face, but he doesn't look at you once.

you almost feel tears kissing your eyes, puffing air into your cheeks. you know what he wants, what he's waiting for. it's so humiliating.

you go to speak a second time, but right when you do the table turns silent. "daddy-" you stop yourself, feeling the blood rush to your cheeks, fingers clenching into your skirt.

you finally have your boyfriend's attention, looking down his nose at you, letting out a questioning hum. but you can't get the words out as everyone's eyes are on you, mockery laced in their laughs. ten holds back the smirk from tugging onto his lips. so adorable.

he knows xiaojun and hendery are making fun of him, but he can't bring himself to care—the embarrassed look on your face is everything he wants to see right now; those big, rounded eyes gazing at him so helplessly, your puffed out cheeks that he knows are hot to the touch, bottom lip jutted out, that cute familiar pout decorating your kissable lips...

"i have... an issue," you whisper and he notices how you close your legs tightly.

"what is it, angel?" he asks, leaning over your frame, caging you with his body.

you stare back at him sheepishly, a look that clearly means 'i can't say it here'. he guesses what's wrong with how you clench your legs, bringing the hem of your skirt down, barely covering anything. he narrows his eyes at you, wondering if he should force you to say it—but that'd be too cruel, you're just too stupid for your own good.

he's not surprised when he brings you to the car to discover that the problem was his cum seeping from your cunt, dripping down your inner thighs to the point of forming a wet patch on your skirt. he finds it amusing at first—that's why you were clenching your thighs so tightly, trying to keep his cum from leaking out of your little pussy. how endearing.

"you made me walk out on my friends for that little mess?" he grins, legs wide open on each side of his hips, his favourite position to see you in. how useless you are, needing ten to solve every little problem you have, crying from embarrassment.

"'m sorry," you babble out, strings of spit sticking to your pouty lips. "i felt it..." you make a little disgusted face, scrunching up your nose. "it was too uncomfortable," you explain in a whiny voice.

maybe he should've left you your panties this morning when he couldn't help but bend you over the bed and fuck your little cunt until you were nothing but a brainless mess just before going out to lunch. but that would've been less fun, right?

ten chuckles, trailing his hands over your thighs. "you don't like it when daddy claims what's his? when he cums in that slutty pussy of yours?" he teases, feeling how your breath hitches at his vulgar words, obvious lust in your eyes.

you love it—love being used, love being your boyfriend's dumb little cocksleeve, walking around with his cum leaking out of you and into your panties. you feel possessed, cared for in a way.

"tennie..." you whine again, wanting his teasing to end, but he loves it too much to stop.

"that's not my name, angel," he smiles, "be good and i might clean up that mess for you."

you don't need more convincing than that, daddy slipping past your lips like second nature, like it's always been ten's name. his head nestled between your soft thighs, sucking your folds in his mouth lewdly, short nails digging into your flesh, your fingers pulling on his hair while you moan and cry.

your legs are shaking so much, thrown over his shoulders, back leaned over the backseats—everything feels like a daze, waves of pleasure blinding your mind, making you lose all sense of reality. all you know is ten's name and the feeling of his tongue flicking over your clit.

you cum about 3 times, complaining about how sensitive you are, how you can't take more, but ten forces more orgasms out of you, kinda punishing you for being so useless—though he will never teach you how to be less dependent on him. he loves you too much, he needs you to be his dumb little angel, his helpless but adorable girlfriend.

[bedouinpoet]

Leader, lover, sir, and broken dream

Aaron Hotchner x (BAU) fem reader

Continuation of Permission and offices and punishments. Three part story. Took me a hot minute to finish it but hope you like it part 2 and 3 will be done soon! Hope you enjoy my lovelies. Not much SMUT in this chapter but a ton in the next two chapters 🫣

CHAPTER 1

It had been a year since Haley was murdered by George Foyet aka the reaper. That day tore down everything for Hotch…for Jack…and for you. Her funeral was the day Aaron Hotchner decided to end it with you. You felt your heart rip apart he was pushing you away. After everything you both went through together, even when Haley and Jack were in witness protection things may have gotten rocky but you got to be there for him but there was this feeling of guilt that you were together while they were in witness protection. But you and the team were all doing everything you possibly could to take Foyet down but when all was said and done…you remember that day, every day like it was only moments before.

…

1 year ago, Haley’s funeral.

Everything feels so surreal for the whole team, everyone just trying to see what you could do for Aaron “I just feel so awful, maybe I should send them gift basket or or or I don’t know home made cookies, or brownies or wine I don’t know-“ you give Pen a hug to cool down her spiral as she starts to tear up “hey whatever you give them they will love, Jack happens to love double chocolate and Hotch likes simple chocolate chip you wink and wipe away her tears “they’ll be okay pen, its just gonna take time and a whole lot of support from us when their ready” She smiles and nods giving you one more grateful hug. You spend an hour talking with people sharing memories, you notice Hotch has been avoiding you but you shake it off you can’t imagine what he’s going through all you can do is be patient and be there for him as best you can but its getting hard when all you want to do is hold him, tell him it will be alright. Give Jack-o-lantern a big hug. But for some reason you can’t. You keep glancing at Hotch and notice he started fidgeting with his index and thumb, he always does that when he’s nervous or a million miles away so you shoot him a text

Y/N: Hey, if you need a drink or some fresh air just let me know , how are you right now? <3

You see Hotch take his phone, read your text…then put it back, he’s never done that, he really is avoiding you. You once again shake it off as Derek comes over beside you. “He’ll be okay pretty girl” and you start to feel your eyes burn with tears, the emotions you’ve been burying rise to the surface, Morgan is always able to get you and he hugs you without you needing to say a word and you stay in his arms for a moment “I know guess I just feel so useless. How are you feeling by the way DM?” He laughs into your hair, you started calling him that after a flirty joke you told Morgan to piss off Hotch and get punished after work “Derek Morgan can fill my DM’s anytime”

Hotch tied you to the bed and didn’t let you cum for an hour after that.

“I’m alright pretty girl just worried about Hotch and Jack but they are both tough they’ll get through it” you find yourself hugging him tighter not realizing how badly you needed to be hugged like this….then you get a text

Hotch: meet me outside in five…please…the balcony

you turn to see but Hotch is already gone. As you step out onto the balcony you face Aaron’s back. Even after everything he’s gone through he always stands tall, the air and silhouette of a leader. And he fidgets with his index and thumb, you clear your throat and he turns around his face softens from surprise to familiarity “you were a million miles away huh?” He tilts his head in curiosity and it takes everything in you to not just go and kiss that adorable face…but some thing about the way he looks at you stops you. Even from grabbing his hand. You just put your hands in your pockets “What’s up handsome? Where’s your head at right now?” He swallows hard and for the first time ever it seems like Aaron Hotchner….was scared to say whatever he wanted to say. “Aaron? What is it? talk to me” you reach for his hand finally and for a moment everything is okay for a moment Hotch is back to being your Hotch, your Aaron, then it crashes, he lets go of your hands and ”I don’t think we should continue this anymore…”

”I’m sorry? Continue what?”

”this….us…”

you try and tell yourself this is a trick of your mind, your ears something in your body is just playing some sick joke…it must be

“wait…are you ….Aaron are you breaking up with me?”

You see Hotch’s eyes swell with tears and you know one more word and the dam breaks as he nods

“what? No? Aaron, Hotch honey right now you’ve gone through something unimaginable and its fine if you need me to give you and Jack some space to settle but please please don’t do this, don’t do what you always do when your in pain don’t push me away we don’t have to end this, us, after how hard we-“

”but we do don’t you see? Haley-“

the dam shatters to a million pieces but he keeps going “While Haley and jack- my son! Were in witness protection , while Foyet was hunting them like dogs, you and I were” his sobs began to break through and it was like time stopped for you as you felt every brick of the wall he tore down, slowly build back up. You say nothing as he continues “I just can’t…I don’t know if we can go past this cause everytime we’ve kissed since…I just can’t…I think its safer if we just stop now”

”Safer for whom?” You want to cry, to shout, to push him, to hug him but you can’t you just stand there eyes burning looking at the man you love push you away and your entirely powerless. You notice your question took him by surprise

“well…you said safer …safer for whom, you or me? Cause I think you’re scared, and hurt and so you do what you always do when you’re in pain and your scared of losing someone else you love and I think that’s really why your saying this”

don’t cry is all you can think as as Hotch cries. You realize you’ve never really seen him cry like this and you also realize . He is already going through hell, if this is what he wants you can’t make it harder on him especially not now.

“No I’m saying this because it’s the truth. Right now I need to focus on Jack we are done…I’m sorry y/n I really really am…tell me what I can do-“

“nothing-“

”wh-what?”

”there is nothing you can do…you clearly Made your choice. I wont beg, and I wont make this harder for you right now you need to take care of yourself and Jack …it’s fine I understand . It was nice while it lasted and hopefully we can still be friends especially since we work together -“

“of course but y/n-“

he tries to grab your hand but its too late you are already walking away with a text from Morgan

Derek: we got another case :(

“its fine Hotchner….no worries I get it goodbye” no more calling him Aaron…Aaron was for a different time a happier time so you leave making sure not to look back or else he’d see the tears streaming down your face and your body almost shut down….as you walk away from your dream and build back those brick walls this time with iron steel

…

back to present 1 year later

”remind me again why we can’t make paperwork illegal?”

You sigh placing another file on the mountain on your desk, leaning back on your chair you allow yourself a glance at Hotch. Since the breakup you have kept your distance but he always made it so hard. After a few months he started having you drive in the the same car again, teaming up more often and you always made sure to act like you didn’t care.

“I know what you mean pretty girl Damn, my hand is about become a permanent claw if only SOMEONE would take us out of our misery and can read all this in five minutes…what do you say pretty boy?”

you and Morgan both look at Reid with pleading eyes, you’re practically pouting and without even looking up from his page Reid shakes his head smiling “not a chance”

“ughhhhh” you and Derek both groan in unison

“I think that’s Spence”s way of saying ‘how can you do your job properly without doing the paper work or the statistics on how we can we improve our speed reading by doing more paperwork-“

“actually statistically the average person learns their reading timing by the age of 15 although with practice you can improve your timing by practice but its best to practice before the age of 40 or else it becomes far more difficult. So Technincally the human mind can learn to read 4.5 seconds faster the more you train it to skim whilst still retaining the information-“

“Spence Spence….JJ was just being sarcastic hun” you pat him on the shoulder “bless my wee lamb” (every time you call him that he blushes how could you resist) “ohhhh” he mearly nods and continues to read as you all laugh before continuing your own work. When you see Pen coming out of Hotch’s office…”we have a case my lovelies…off to the round table my knights of shining armour…or leather for my handsome man and pretty girl Morgan and y/n”

you and Morgan high five in mini celebration “saved by the bell!”

“So you are all heading to Dallas Texas home of hot cowboys, horses annnnd creepy serial killers apparently…this is Victoria Baird a 23 year old sophomore in college, last night she was taken from her car after a frat party….”

“Any idea if she was on anything?”

”not according to her friends apparently she rarely drinks and last night she was the appointed designated driver-“ before you could ask anything further you notice Pens face fall further “alas my beautiful family there’s more and the real reason Dallas PD invited us….this is Patty Sybil, Cherry Smith, Liz Barton, in the past three weeks each were grabbed on a Friday and found the next Friday, ME says they were dead less then an hour before they were found so they were killed that day.”

“One a week that’s a short cooling off period, all brunettes, short hair, brown to hazel eyes, he definitely has a type these girls look like they could be sisters-“ you notice Hotch’s eyes never leaving you…maybe he notices what you unfortunately already picked up on…these girls looked a hell of lot like you….you remember comforting JJ a lot when the cases had to do with young blond women around her age and looked like her….it was tough…and now you understand even more how it can make you feel when the victimology hits too close to home…its a haunting feeling but you shake is off reminding yourself this is about them and finding the son of a bitch hurting these innocent girls all because they wanted to party…these girls had a right to feel safe no matter what they were doing. And its about finding Victoria-

“if we’re right Victoria Baird only has till Friday to live… wheels up in 20” Hotch is the first to grab his go bags and leave. You, Reid and JJ agree to get the coffee on your way promising Em to pick up her caramel Machiatto with soy.

…..

On the Plane you take your usual corner seat legs up leaning against the wall. Missing the days when you always sat by Hotch, secretly getting a hand grab or thigh grab when no one was watching but you liked your corner, your corner was safe, your corner was farthest away from Hotch but still part of the conversation. You try to make notes in the file as you notice a pattern.

“Hey Pen?”

“Yes beautiful girl?”

“You said that Victoria was the DD and apparently Cherry Smith was partying with her friends but she was 4 years sober and apparently didn’t break it…what was Liz Bartons drinking habit? Especially the night she was taken?” Everyone looks down except Hotch whose eyes remain on you hanging on your every word. “thaaaat is a good question….acording to her friends she wasn’t much of a drinker and…” Garcia’s eyes widen, you were right “she was the DD the night she was taken”

“THATS another connection our unsub likes the responsible type but why? I mean it would be a lot easier to take someone when their inhibitions are lowered by alcohol, not that I’m victim blaming ever…person has every right to go enjoy themselves and be safe doing it but yet the unsub takes those whose alert is probably at the highest..”

“why do you say that?” Reid gives you your coffee and sits besides you as you share your blanket

“when you’re a girl…and with your girlfriends you know the risks…all girls do and when your the DD there is an unspoken responsibility to keep tabs on everyone to keep your girls safe and-“

For a moment you picture yourself in the bar as the unsub, who and what would you look for? How to catch her off guard. Your brain is going faster then you realize until you hear Hotch’s voice bring you back to reality as he seems to read your mind, he always does.

“Which makes her the perfect target, she’s so focused on everyone else’s safety she doesn’t pay attention to the man that’s focused on her” you nod your head taking a moment longer to keep eye contact with Hotch so you quickly look away clearing your suddenly dry throat.

“Exactly! Plus her other friends were intoxicated so none of them are paying much attention to the perv in the corner”

you find yourself able to sit a bit taller and you try not to smile but you always feel this way when you crack something new in the case, a small insurance that you belong in this team. But your smile fades as you notice Hotch looking at you even while Rossi’s talking and you can’t read his eyes but you swear there’s a hint of a smile in his face, pride? No that can’t be it you think looking away and staying relatively quite the rest of the flight only talking to Spencer who’s feet are now up as you both share the blanket comfortably and he rests his hand casually on your shin that’s by him covered up. Hotche’s eyes darken as he notices the level of casual touch between you two. The moment you landed in Dallas it was non stop. Hotch tried to pair you off with him when “actually is it ok if y\n comes with me? I think she could give more insight plus she’s the youngest and college students would be more likely to open up to her-“

“plus my wee lamb needs a wing woman with all them college girls” you hug Reid and kiss his cheek teasingly as he fake pushes you away but you notice Reid’s blush and Hotch stares daggers in your directions but he gave in “fine- Reid and y/n you two go to the college and the frat house Victoria was last seen in, JJ you’re with me to coordinate with local law enforcement” and you all part says in your respective SUVs “don’t worry wee lamb you can be passenger princess” you wink at Reid and he shakes his head and laughs “gee thanks”…..

“so do you remember if anyone was paying particular attention to Victoria? Anyone come up to her?” Reid begins to ask questions to the victims friend Lindsey as you look outside of the frat house, no signs of a struggle. “No-no I don’t know there was a few guys, but everyone loved Vickie and she’s so pretty-“

you sense a tinge of jealousy at those final words as she looked off when she spoke. You and Reid gave knowing looks, you’d discuss that later. “Did she reject anyone? Any of them take it hard?” You ask stepping closer. Lindsey shakes her head “I don’t think so, it was just a fun party everyone having a good time” you could tell she was holding something back. You push further. “Come on Lindsey…I need you to think, you said a few guys hit on her? So she must have rejected at least one of ‘em at least right? Think”

“okay yea…yea one of the guys struck out with Vic, he was this shorter white guy, he kept trying but Vic just wasn’t into it, he throw a glass on the ground, so a couple of the guys kicked him out”

Reid adds on to the questioning “do you remember anything else about the guy? Hair colour maybe? Eyes, anything distinctive?” “yea blond I think but the lights were crazy that night, colourful, and music was loud bumpin-“

Reid looks at you for translation and you laugh lightly

“she means the music was good ya nerd”

you nudge him, loving his innocence even when he’s supposed to be the older one…

the rest of the day went the same way, two more mentions of the supposed “short blonde white dude” but with no other descriptions or leads, Hotch called it a night. As you step up to the front desk of the hotel a feeling of Deja vu washed over you when the women says “sorry agents we’re almost entirely full a couple conferences in the city we only have four rooms available, two king, two double twin”

Before anyone could say anything Rossi takes one of the kings for himself “sorry kids I am not sharing a room again too old and consider this pay back for the two bottles of hundred dollar scotch you party animals drank at my house.” Everyone rolled their eyes but you couldn’t argue as he was already walking to the elevator waving while it closed, Emily and JJ paired off which left you with Morgan, Reid ….and Hotch. Whatever happens you knew you couldn’t pair off with Hotch it would be too hard, too painful. Your head spiralled, Hotch was clearly looking at you ready to speak when Reid saves the day and you could just kiss him for it “hey y/n wanna room? We can watch that documentary on Arthurian history we talked about?” You can’t help but smile widely loving your bestie more and more. “hell yea we can, but we are gonna have to get some chips, can’t have a documentary night without proper snack action, we’ll take the king” you wink at Reid and he shakes his head as you notice Hotch staring at you with a shocked expression at your ease to share a bed with your bestie. But Reid breaks the tension. “Deal ill go get them and meet you upstairs”

”sounds gucci handsome I’ll take your bag just get my chips.” You grab Reids go bag and you nudge Morgan as you notice him laughing “y’all really are nerds…I mean I expected that from pretty boy but you too y/n?”

“Hey! I’m a nerd and proud you’re just jelly cause you aren’t part of the King Arthur legends snack party” you stick your tongue out and tease morgan more as Hotch hands him the room key pretending to ignore the conversation but you could tell he’s hanging on every word. You all go into the elevator and you put your bag and Reid’s bag down giving your exhausted arms a break. When the elevator door opens on your teams floor before you can react Hotch grabs your bag silently, you don’t argue you just grab Reids bag and head to your door, before Morgan steps into his own room he makes sure to wink at you “hey you and pretty boy better not get too crazy.” “no promises” you wink back sticking your tongue out as you go into your own hotel room followed closely by Hotch so close you feel yourself barely able to breath. As you get into the room you gently put Reid’s bag down on the rather smaller looking king size bed then as you turn around you notice Hotch putting your bag down on the bench close to the door, staring at the bed, looking none too happy. The silence deafening so you try to break it as casually as possible “welllp thanks Hotch!”

“What’s going on between you and Reid?”

and that hit of Deja vu strikes again for the second time today remembering him asking a similar question regarding Morgan. Yet you’re still caught by surprise by the question all the same. “I’m sorry?” His face remains at his neutral seriousness but his jaw is clenching, he does that when he’s proper angry. “are you and agent Reid dating yes or no?” You start to feel anger sizzling at his authoritative, ownership tone. As if he has some right to know everything about your sex or relationship life. This time for some reason you wanna see where this goes so you play with him. “maybe….its not really your concern Hotchner” it was his turn to act surprised. “excuse me? It’s my business as your boss-“

you feel your emotions starting to bubble to the surface and shockingly it’s followed by your eyes filling with tears

“oh for fuvk sakes Hotch don’t give me that Bull! Garcia and Kevin dated and it was fine. YOU AND I (the tears start to fall) and worked and did our job fine so don’t act like this is work related cause that’s bullshit Aaron Hotchner….you’re jealous and THATS the real reason and we both know it. Why can’t you just admit it!?” You feel your face burning, your whole body shakes and you feel, whatever was keeping you together, break, and you notice his fist clenching, his eyes darken and without half a second passing his hand is grabbing your waist and his lips crash into yours. In that moment you feel like you’re coming home. Your hands run through his hair your other hand grabbing his tie but as you feel his hand run under your shirt carressing your bare skin, something in you pushes him away, “no no I can’t do this-“ you take a step back

“y/n? What’s wrong?” His face flushed yet filled with concern and the dam breaks, the rope snaps. Your breath still heavy but you continue “we can’t do this…fuck why Hotch? Why? First you break up with me, you broke me! And now what ? You wanna fuck me just cause you see me with someone else on the team?” He shakes his head profusely “no-no no sweet-“

”don’t call me that! You lost the that right when you ended it…”

You notice the hurt in his eyes but you can’t you just can’t, he broke you last time. Hotch takes a deep breath

“okay…I apologize, but that’s not it y/n I-“

”Then what? Huh!?cause we both know-its only been a year, we fuck, I let you back in, then something makes you feel guilty and you drop me again….I can’t handle it I already lost you once….if I lose you again it would kill me, and this time I wouldn’t recover just-“ you feel your eyes burn with your pain “just get out Hotch, we’ll forget about the whole thing just go! Please!” Before he could protest you started to cry completely and your face spilt with your pain, apparently Hotch could see that because he didn’t argue, he stood up straight and walked out closing the door gently as you fall onto the bed, face in your hands trying to hide your hurt from the empty room as you feel yourself break all over again but you swore this time….you weren’t going to let him hurt you again….

to be continued

[nemesis-writer]

Crybaby

Masterlist TW- neglect, almost-suicide, suicidal thoughts

She stood on the bridge In silence and fear, For the demons of darkness Had driven her here.

So close to falling yet so far from succeeding, I latched on to the bar hoping to make my self let go from the shivering rain. But no, I just held on wishing that a brother or father of mine could save me.

They cut her heart Right out of her chest, Making her believe That the demons knew best.

They depth of my hatred for them goes farther than the deepest oceans and the farthest galaxies. I guess from this you can tell that my life has always been described as a poem from the darkest poets such as Edgar Poe, or darker than the ebony that coats the outside of the unknown galaxy.

I've always loved myself for it, yet I've always been hated for it. The Waynes could also be mentioned as the Addams' family with a loyal butler, multiple suicidal kids, and 'loving parents'. Yet unlike the Waynes, at least the Addams family aren't full of rage and loathesome creatures.

The demons of my life have come from the very same family that held me, hurt me, neglected me, and despised me for the rest of my days.

They were always there, Sometimes just out of sight, Waiting in the background Till the time was right.

Damian was always the one I expected to push myself through the buildings that were made for despair my whole life. Jason, would be considered the first one to have memories with since he's trying to avoid showing the wretched hatred my father has for me.

Tim, Cassandra, Stephanie, and Barbara considered me useless, unintelligent, and fatally naive to the outside world. Then there's Dick, the eldest, the role model, the possibly apple of dear old dad's eye, he on the other hand found me as a means to an end, who wouldn't?

Bruce, I was stupid to assume that we could connect as a father-daughter would. Every day he wished to send me back to the adoption center and nullify all the papers that was supposed to make me a Wayne.

These demons were destructive, Knocking down the life she knew, Hating everything about her; She hated herself, too.

The family that I was inured to, has stabbed, beaten, and thrown me away like an animal. I was considered more as a stray animal begging for love and attention. The human beings that I consider myself to be connected to is Alfred and Jesse. Alfred is the Lurch of this family while Jesse is another being that has kept me from losing sanity in this jail they call home.

I got lucky to graduate just in time before I let myself drown from neglect. But sadly we can't simply run away from the demons we bear.

These demons can't be seen, But they're far from fairy tales. They live inside your mind; Their evilness prevails.

People thought I'm crazy for being ungrateful of this life, my words are deemed fraudulent. But my appearance is out of order, my clothing is ragged, my hair remains dry and bristling, my body now shows malnourishment and scars from my demons. Yet, my eyes remained the same, broken, in front of the face I was gifted to be beautiful became a mask for the truth, my face was meant to be scarred.

I've never felt the scars go deeper yet I never minded of it. But as I was about to let go of the bars that held my fear in it I heard a voice.

"Hello lady what are you doing?"

It was a voice of a little five year old girl.

"Just enjoying the rain little one. Where are your parents at?"

"I don't have any, I just like being alone."

I jumped over the bar back to the bridge, looking at her with sadness.

"Want me to take you back to the center?"

"Suree, Thank youuu!", She giggled.

And we went on our way back.

So on the bridge she stood, About to end the fight. Then she stopped and thought I'll fight them one more night.

Taglist

@lunayaps, @not-aya, @iluvcatzz, @vanessa-boo, @ivyrose9194,@thesehandsarerated-e

[anamina0]

Echoes

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V , Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII

Final part

Themes/warnings : mentions of death, mentions of blood, kissing , a lot of anger, a lot of unsolved emotions, fluff

Word count: 10.3 k

You stood up, wiping away the tear tracks on your face. They burned. You had rehearsed this conversation for so long, countless times in your head. You had pictured it, imagined what it would feel like, but now that the moment was here, all your plans felt like they were useless. Words just wouldn’t come out, no matter how hard you tried to find them. This conversation… you’d dreaded it, wished for it to never come. But deep down, you knew it couldn’t be avoided. You couldn’t lie to Vi. Not anymore. Not about something this important, even though doing this meant hurting the one person you had promised you’d never betray. But in the end, you had no choice. Vi deserved to know the truth, even if it felt like you were tearing apart everything that you held so close. This wasn’t your decision anymore. But telling her the truth meant tearing down everything you’d built between you—betraying your best friend, the person who meant so much to you. But this truth wasn’t yours to keep, and Faye had made sure of that.

“Shit,” you whispered under your breath, glancing at Vi. She was standing across from you, her confusion only deepening. She had no idea her world was about to change in a heartbeat, just like yours had. You were pacing now, hands shaking, voice unsteady. You couldn’t seem to calm down.

“I have no idea how to say this,” you mumbled. The words felt foreign in your mouth, as if they didn’t belong to you at all. No amount of thinking, no hours of preparation, could make them feel right. Your heart thundered in your chest.

“You’re freaking me out,” Vi said, her voice small, something almost fragile in it. She sank down onto the couch, trying to settle herself, though it was clear she was more anxious with every passing second. “Just tell me, okay? Whatever you’re scared of… it’s easier to just rip the Band-Aid off.”

You winced at her words. It felt as though she was already anticipating bad news. You looked down, blinking rapidly to push back the sting of more tears, trying to steady yourself before you spoke again. Taking a deep breath, you sat down next to her, slowly reaching for her hand.

“Before I say anything, just… know that you are the last person I ever want to hurt. Last person I’d want to betray,” you said quietly. Your hands were trembling as you held hers, desperate to make her understand, even though you knew it wouldn’t make things any easier. “You mean a lot to me. More than I’ve ever told you. I swear.”

Vi’s eyes softened, her gaze tender as she looked at you. There was a brief pause, a hint of something in the way she breathed. It seemed she knew, without you having to say it, that something had gone terribly wrong. She didn’t smile back, but she squeezed your hand, as if to remind you that she was with you, even through whatever this was.

“I know,” she murmured, her voice thick with something unsaid. There was sadness creeping into her voice now. “Just… say it. Please.”

You couldn’t bring yourself to look at her for too long, your heart growing heavy as you tried to find the right words—words that might hurt her but were true, no matter how painful they were.

“Is it about Ellie?” she asked, her voice quieter now, as though she was already guessing where this was headed. “She came back, and I… I know there’s something between you two, still.” Her voice almost cracked as she spoke Ellie’s name. You could feel her worry growing.

The panic in your chest rose. You shook your head quickly, frantic. “No, no,” you blurted out, desperate to stop that train of thought. “It’s not about Ellie. It will never be about her. Me and Ellie—” You paused. “We’re done, Vi.”

You could see the uncertainty shift in her face, like a weight lifted a little, but her concern still hovered between you, as she waited for whatever would come next.

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’m listening.”

“Here it comes,” you whispered, taking in a shaky breath. You still couldn’t bring yourself to look her in the eyes. You had no idea how much more of this you could handle. “Do you remember that name Ellie mentioned? The girl who found my brother?” Your voice cracked just at the thought of it, but you pushed forward.

Vi’s brow furrowed for a moment, her lips pressing tight as she tried to recall the name.

“Kinda,” she said slowly. “There was… something about an F, right? But I can’t really remember it. ”

“Faye,” you replied. You almost didn’t want to say it. Saying her name felt like it would break everything all over again. “Faye… does that name mean anything to you?” You almost couldn’t look at her, but you forced yourself to, to catch the faintest flicker of realization—or maybe something worse—in Vi’s eyes.

She hesitated, eyes narrowing slightly as she thought.

“No,” she said after a moment, the disappointment obvious. “Maybe there was someone with that name in my past? Someone from prison, I don’t know… I don’t think they were important, though. I’d remember.”

“She is my best friend, Vi,” you whispered so softly you were almost afraid she wouldn’t hear you. “Or… she was. I met her few years ago. She was new in town—didn’t know anyone. I was the first person she got close to there.” You paused, holding back another wave of tears.

Vi was still confused, still searching your face for the meaning behind your words. You could see her trying to piece things together, her mind whirring with uncertainty.

“She would tell me all these crazy stories,” you continued, your voice growing more ragged. “Stories about her past, her family… She’d talk about her sister, the things they used to do, their life, everything. At first, I didn’t believe her. She never gave names, or clear details, just crazy stories… But over time, I got used to it .”

“Okay…” Vi said, barely above a whisper, her eyes narrowing, not quite understanding but getting closer.

“She told me to move here, when Ellie left..” you pressed on, your voice growing weaker with every word. “Told me to come to Zaun under one condition.”

Vi’s eyes flickered toward yours. “What condition?”

“That I would never, ever tell anyone about her,” you said, voice barely audible now, the truth crashing down harder than ever before. “I promised her that I would never tell anyone, that no one could know about Faye.” You felt your stomach turn, disgust at yourself filling you as you confessed the truth.

Vi was quiet for a moment, clearly taken aback.

“But you’re telling me. Why?”

You could barely even breathe. Your hands were shaking as you clenched them into fists. It was now or never, and there was no way you could run from it anymore.

“fuck,” you whispered, barely able to find the strength to speak, “I think Faye is your sister, Vi. I think… I think it’s Jinx. Powder. I think she’s still alive. And I think it’s her.”

“What?” she breathed, the word barely a whisper. “My sister is dead. Is that some kind of sick joke?” Her voice cracked. The anger came crashing over her, and you could feel it swirling in the air, suffocating you both.

"No Vi,” you began, your own voice a mere rasp now, thick with emotion. “I had no clue when I met you. But when you started telling me stories about your sister, about your past… It sounded so much like the things Faye had told me. It was identical, Vi. The same, same way she used to talk about her sister. That’s when I started thinking… Maybe. Maybe it’s her. So I had to find out. I went to Savika.”

Vi stared at you, and that rage started to rise—her hands trembling at her sides, chest heaving.

“And you went to Savika… you went behind my back?” she snapped, her voice rising, disbelief and fury pouring from her. “Why didn’t you come to me, huh? Why not me?”

“I couldn’t,” you gasped, trying to explain the confusion inside of you.

“I couldn’t! I promised Faye I wouldn’t say anything! I didn’t want to doubt her… but I had to make sure. I had to know the truth, Vi. I never meant for any of this to happen, but she’s alive—alive, Vi—out there, somewhere, living a completely different life!”

“You went behind my back to do your little investigation,to Savika?!” The words slipped like a dagger between you, shattering whatever tenuous hold you had over the situation. “I thought you trusted me,. Why couldn’t you trust me with the truth?”

You couldn’t speak. The sting of her words hit you harder than anything. She was breaking apart before you, and there was nothing you could do to stop it. Vi stood now, hands clenched into fists at her sides, her breath shallow, furious, betrayed.

“Just go.” Her voice was a broken whisper of fury. “Please… just go.”

Every step you took toward the door felt like it would be the last. You had no words. No way to fix this. The silence between you was heavier than any words ever could be. All you heard as you walked away was the faint sound of your own heart breaking. You didn’t want to leave. But Vi’s words hit you like a wave, cold and sharp, crashing through everything you’d known between the two of you. She didn’t want you here. Not now. Not anymore.Every step you took toward the door felt like it tore a little bit more from you, from what you’d shared. The silence between you wasn’t just heavy—it was suffocating. It was the kind of silence that pushed you to the edge, forced you to confront the reality that everything you’d thought would bring you closer had pulled you apart. Vi didn’t look at you anymore. She just stared at the floor, arms folded across herself, trying to shield the pain you knew was there but couldn’t reach. You hesitated for a moment, one foot out the door, but you couldn’t bring yourself to leave completely. Not yet. Not when everything in you wanted to fix this. But the words—the anger, the disbelief in her eyes—they weighed on you, tied you down like a rope around your chest.

“Vi…” Your voice was small, trembling. You took one step back. “Vi, please… Talk to me. I didn’t—”

“Don’t,” she snapped, her voice harsh, cutting you off before you could finish. She wasn’t looking at you now; her gaze was focused somewhere past you, her jaw tight as if to keep herself from breaking. But you knew she was already shattered. Her whole world had crumbled, and you were standing at the edge of it, useless, helpless. She was so far from you now, farther than you’d ever been before, and it was all your fault.

“I can’t do this, ” she whispered, the rawness in her voice clawing at your heart. The hurt was palpable, burning. “I can’t… I can’t look at you right now. I can’t be here with you after what you’ve done. After what you’ve kept from me.”

You nodded numbly, still unable to look away from her.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, but the words felt hollow, barely enough to express everything you needed to say. But even now, standing on the threshold of what used to be your shared space, you knew it wouldn’t change anything. “I never meant for any of this, Vi. I just—I had to know the truth.”

“And now you’ve destroyed everything.” Her words, though quiet, stung worse than any sharp retort. “Everything I thought I could trust. Everything we had… it’s gone now. And I can’t—” She shook her head, cutting herself off again, her hands trembling in fists by her sides.

Tears welled up in your eyes, a bitter, salty wave threatening to break, but you refused to let them spill. You were the one who had broken everything, who had chosen to stay silent when you should’ve spoken the truth from the start. And now you had nothing left. No words. No promises. Only the reality that Vi’s anger, her betrayal—was something you had earned. You had to leave. You could feel it in your bones. But how could you? How could you leave like this?

“Vi…” Your voice was breaking now, a sob threatening to tear free.

She was silent for a long time, and for a brief, fleeting moment, you thought maybe—maybe she would look at you again, listen, understand that you never wanted this. That you never wanted to hurt her. But she didn’t. Her eyes stayed fixed forward, her breath coming shallowly, the emptiness between you expanding with every second.

“I can’t do this,” she said again, voice small, and yet somehow it was final. As if saying your name, one more time, would be all it took to leave the pieces of you both scattered, beyond repair. “Just go. Please. Go.”

A thousand things rushed through you then, but none of them mattered anymore. With her words, she had sealed it—this was the end. You couldn’t fix it, couldn’t undo it. She was shutting you out. You turned, your hand on the doorknob heavy as it grasped it, shaking just like the rest of you. There was a tightness in your chest, something aching, something worse than regret, as you looked over your shoulder once more. There she was—Vi, the woman you loved, and yet she felt so distant now. So unreachable. So far.

And then, quietly, softly—hopelessly—you left. With no one to look back to, no chance at redemption, only the bitter taste of your own mistakes lingering in the air behind you.

What were you supposed to do now? You couldn’t even bring yourself to think clearly. The silence of Vi’s apartment still haunted you, the echo of your conversation echoing in the space. It felt like your soul had been torn open, leaving nothing but raw, aching void inside you. You knew it wouldn’t end well, you always knew. The heavy realization sat like a stone in your chest. What could you do when the weight of it all was too much to bear? You headed up the stairs, your heart racing, mind buzzing with confusion.Stopping in front of your apartment, your stomach twisted as you remembered Ellie. It just felt like one more mess to clean up. You didn’t have the strength to face her either, not after what just happened. You didn’t want to face anyone, but you had nowhere else to go.

“I’ll just go in, go to my room, lock the door,” you murmured to yourself, grasping for anything that would give you some control over this chaos. But deep down, you knew there was no escaping from what was left of you after Vi.

You opened the door to find Ellie on your couch, her head slightly tilted as she sat up to face you. Her voice was soft, almost cautious.

“I didn’t expect you so soon,” she remarked, as if she already knew the weight in the air.

You didn’t reply, instead heading straight for your bedroom. With a quiet click, you closed the door, shutting the world out. And when you lay down, it felt like the weight of the universe pressed down on you. You weren’t okay—far from it. You were furious. At everything. At Ellie. At Vi. At Faye. At your brother. But mostly, at yourself. How had you let it go this far? You had known all along, hadn’t you? You let yourself fall for her, and no matter what you did, you’d be left alone, heartsick again, picking up the pieces of another broken story. Everyone you ever loved disappeared. They died - like your mother and sister, they left- like Ellie and your brother, or—like with Vi—you were the one who destroyed it. You had no idea how long you laid there before the gentle knocking brought you back to the world around you.

“Hey…” Ellie’s voice called quietly through the door. She paused, unsure of how to proceed. “I know I’m the last person you want to talk to, but… I’m here, you know.”

You didn’t move at first. You were too deep in your own misery to acknowledge her words. But you couldn’t let her see you like this, not with the fragile walls you had left. Not when the feelings swelled and pushed against every broken part of you.

“I’m fine, Ellie. Just go away,” you called back, but you knew she could hear the lie in your voice.

A few seconds of silence passed before the door creaked open, and there she was, standing just inside, the vulnerability radiating from her, soft and unsure.

“I said I’m fine,” you repeated more forcefully. You turned away from her, angry with yourself for even allowing her in. " I don't need your pity"

Ellie didn’t leave. Instead, you felt her sit next to you, her hand lightly resting against your back. You almost recoiled from the touch, but some broken, fragile part of you clung to it.

“I have no clue what happened there,” she started softly, “With her…” Her voice faltered before continuing. “But I know you. I know you wouldn’t come back here if something bad didn’t happen. And I…”

“And you think you’re the one who will fix this?” you snapped, finally turning to face her. You wiped at your tear-streaked face and let anger fill the space instead of grief. “Of all people… you.”

She didn’t flinch, just met your eyes with understanding.

“No,” she said, almost too quietly. “I don’t deserve to be here. But you… should work things out with her.” Ellie managed a soft, almost cynical laugh. “God, I can’t believe I’m saying this…” She sighed. “I’m so sorry. You should know, no matter what happened between you two, you’re not the one who should be let go of. There’s no one on Earth more deserving of love than you.”

You froze. Those words hit differently than anything you expected from her. This wasn’t the same Ellie who abandoned you. But what difference did it make now?

“Why are you telling me this?” you whispered, voice trembling like a secret you didn’t want to admit.

Her gaze softened, the truth pouring out of her in hesitant whispers. “Because I wouldn’t forgive myself otherwise. I’ve spent all this time trying to forget you, trying to justify everything, but all I learned was that I should never have let you go.” She swallowed hard before continuing. “You were the best thing in my life. I should’ve never left… but I did, and now… now, I see the same thing happening with her.”

“You know,” you whispered, your voice barely a breath, “just a few months ago, I would’ve given anything to hear those words from you.” You couldn’t meet her eyes as you spoke—your gaze drifting to the floor, to the empty space between you both that felt impossible to close. “Despite all the anger, all the hatred, all the sadness I’ve felt because of you, I would’ve given anything, Ellie…anything to have you back in my life. But I thought you’d never come. I thought I ruined it, I thought I did something wrong, that you stopped loving me.” The words spilled from you, rough and jagged, like secrets whispered in the dark that shouldn’t see the light of day.

Ellie’s breath caught. Her hands were trembling just enough for you to feel the electric pull between you. She leaned in, close enough that you could feel presence so dangerously close, like she might kiss you right then and there, as if the words weren’t enough. She wanted you, craved it—the warmth of your skin, the softness of your touch, the kiss that she once gave with ease, now something so desperate in her eyes.

“But…” she breathed softly, barely able to pull back, searching your face like she didn’t understand the barrier between you. She needed you to finish it, to say something that would bring her closer, something that might bridge the gap of time and hurt.

“But what?” She sounded wrecked, breathless from whatever she could still feel between you.

“But it’s too late now,” you breathed back, pulling away. To give in, to fall into the familiar ache that was both torture and pleasure in her touch. But you couldn’t—not anymore. Not when Vi haunted you and your heart felt torn to shreds by what used to be.

Ellie laughed bitterly, trying to mask the sting, but you could feel her pain as sharp as your own.

“Because of that punk, huh?” She smirked, trying to joke, but it hurt her, just like it hurt you. You could tell.

You swallowed. Her attempt at humor didn’t hide what she was really feeling: jealousy, regret, loss.

“Yes. Because of Vi,” you said slowly, the words cutting like glass in your throat. Saying her name hurt more than you imagined it would, more than you allowed yourself to admit. “But I think we’re quite alike, Ellie,” you added, your voice thick with a truth you could no longer deny.

Ellie raised an eyebrow, confused, wanting to know what was coming. “In what?” she asked quietly, as if this conversation were opening old wounds that she hadn’t wanted to open.

“I just ruined everything,” you whispered, and the confession tore through your chest like a storm you couldn’t stop. “Just like you ruined everything with us. We both destroyed what we had, and now it’s…gone.”

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to reply. But there it was: the truth of it all. Your fractured past bleeding into this moment, and she was watching you unravel before her. It wasn’t what she expected, but somehow, it was real.

“What happened?” Ellie asked after a long, painful pause. Her voice was shaky, not like the confident, cocky girl you knew, but like someone grasping for understanding.

You took a long, trembling breath and dropped your head into your hands, pushing against the painful weight in your chest. Every inch of you ached. Your legs longed for something solid, something to keep you from falling apart completely. You invited her to sit beside you without thinking, your walls finally crumbling just enough to let her back in. Despite everything, despite how badly she’d broken you, you needed someone tonight. And the only person left in the ruins was Ellie. She sat beside you, quiet, her warmth almost suffocating in the still air. But it wasn’t the warmth that mattered now, it was the fact that she was there, and somehow, you needed it. The night stretched on as the words flowed between you, uncaring of the time. You told her everything—about Vi, about Faye. You talked about your brother still being alive, how he was caught up in this mess. You didn’t spare any detail, letting the painful truths tumble out of your mouth like they were the only thing left. It felt good. Good to tell someone, even if it was the wrong someone, even if it didn’t change anything. Somewhere in the middle of all that, the hate that had lived inside you for so long started to dissolve. It wasn’t gone—nothing like that—but the weight had been lifted, even just a little. The hours passed, her soft footsteps occasionally disturbing the quiet, waking you from the momentary respite you’d found in conversation. And then it hit you, a feeling so sharp you nearly choked on it. She wasn’t staying. Ellie was leaving. Again.

“I think I’m having déjà vu,” you said, the sarcastic chuckle falling from your lips with an edge of bitterness. You walked out of the room, letting the reality sink in, leaning against the wall. And for the first time tonight, you finally looked at her like she was a stranger, not someone who mattered to you at all.

“I’m sorry,” Ellie said softly, her voice flat, no trace of her usual strength. She was packing her things, her hands shaking slightly as she folded the straps of her bag together, organizing it like she was setting her life down for the last time. “I was going to say goodbye, but you had a rough night. I didn’t want to wake you yet.”

You leaned against the doorframe, numb, trying to laugh through it.

“Well, at least this time I knew you were leaving.” You wished you could feel something, anything, other than the painful ache of this goodbye you were forced to live with.

But Ellie didn’t laugh. She didn’t even look at you. She was busy throwing her backpack over her shoulder, coming closer with each small step. The space between you felt like an eternity, like it had always been too much. Too many walls.

“Just before I go…” she started quietly, and her hands were nervously twisting together like she was grasping for the right words. But this wasn’t the same confident girl that once was so sure. She faltered now. “I want you to know… I meant every word I said yesterday.”

You didn’t react, didn’t move, barely blinked. She stared at you, her gaze holding more than you could handle in that moment. You stayed still, terrified to respond, not knowing if it was your heart breaking again or just exhaustion pulling at the edges of your resolve.

“I love you,” Ellie whispered, and those words burned into your skin. There was regret in her voice, sorrow in the way she lingered there, unsure of what she could fix, of what was even worth trying anymore. “And I’m sorry for what I did.”

She moved toward you then, slow and hesitant, but the air between you crackled, pulsing, as if neither of you could quite control it anymore. And before you could even realize , her lips met yours, everything fell away. Her kiss hit like a memory you hadn’t asked for, an ache you hadn’t wanted to feel. Her hands gripped your waist, but you pushed her away. You couldn’t, you didn't want to do that.

“Don’t do that, Ellie,” you whispered, breath shallow. The kiss tasted like regret, like fire, like the love that would have destroyed you all over again.

“Fuck,” she whispered, stepping back but not letting you go. “Come with me. We can start fresh. Just you and me, we’ll start over.” She pulled you close again, her voice thick with emotion, wanting to change everything. But it was too late for that.

“Ellie…” you whispered, pain thickening your voice, too raw to speak through. One tear slid down your cheek, though it wasn’t your crying this time. It was hers. “It’s too late now,” you murmured, feeling your forehead rest gently against hers. There was something so sweetly tragic about this final moment. The tears you were both holding back spilled over, falling from your face as they mixed together.

“I’m afraid this is goodbye,” you said softly, the words breaking your heart.

Ellie just stared at you, her gaze clouded with emotion. It was like she was waiting for a future that no longer belonged to either of you. She moved back slightly, but her lips still brushed against your wet cheek.

“I’ll be waiting,” she whispered softly, like a promise she couldn’t make but still couldn’t take back.

As if you’d turn around and walk out with her.

“I’m not saying goodbye this time,” she added. She wiped another tear from your cheek, her eyes desperate.

But before you could respond, she was gone.

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •

It had been months, yet there was no sign of Vi. Every day since your last conversation with her, you had made your way to her apartment door. You knocked until your knuckles were sore, called her name until your voice broke, but the silence on the other side never changed. The truth didn’t hit you all at once. It came in waves, slow and cruel, when one day, a stranger opened that door instead. You stood frozen, staring at this new neighbor as they cheerfully introduced themselves, completely unaware of the storm inside you. Vi was gone. She’d moved out without a word. The world seemed to shift beneath your feet as you left, muttering something polite to the stranger while the realization pressed heavily on your chest. She wasn’t coming back. But that didn’t stop you—not entirely. Desperation kept you chasing shadows. Anytime you saw someone who looked like they might have known her, you found yourself asking, clinging to the faintest chance that someone had seen her.

“Vi?” you’d ask, voice breaking more with each time.

The answers were always the same. No. No one had seen her. It was as though she’d vanished completely, leaving nothing but the ghost of her behind. And even as months stretched on, she lingered in everything—her scent, her voice, her touch, all burned into your soul. There wasn’t a moment of any day when she didn’t consume you. When you weren’t aching for her. The longing was unbearable, gnawing at the edges of your sanity. You couldn’t escape her, no matter how much it hurt to think about what you’d lost. How you had ruined everything. You were still angry—angry at the world, at her, but mostly at yourself. How could you have let her in only to destroy what you had? It replayed in your mind like a cruel film reel—the look on her face, the way she broke apart. You hurt her so deeply, so fully, that she had to disappear to get away from it. The weight of it crushed you more with each passing day. You had done the exact same thing Ellie did to you. You left her no choice but to run. You couldn’t stop the spiraling questions that followed you everywhere. What if she went to find Jinx? What if something happened to her along the way? What if she was hurt, lost, somewhere she couldn’t make her way back from? And then, more hauntingly—what if she went to Piltover? What if she’s with Caitlyn now? What if she’s found peace, and you’re just a memory she’s glad to forget? Those thoughts made your chest tighten like a vice, but none of the answers—no scenarios you dreamed up—could ever fill the void she’d left. That emptiness was too vast, too overwhelming. It swallowed you whole, threatening to consume every part of you that wasn’t already drowning in guilt and longing. She has become your safety, your chaos. You tried to lose yourself in work, in sleepless nights, in meaningless tasks, but none of it mattered. Every thought came back to Vi. Every single one. And in her absence, the world felt quieter and crueler than ever before. Not even the memory of Ellie could distract you now. She was nothing more than a flicker in the background of your mind. Your brother, once the source of so much confusion and hope, faded into insignificance. Everything else paled when compared to her.

It all came back to Vi.

Always her.

And without her, you didn’t know how to keep going.

“You can’t interrogate every customer that walks in here, you know that, right?” Revek’s worried voice snapped you back to reality. His tone wasn’t scolding, just heavy with concern, like a parent watching their child teeter on a ledge.

“Huh?” you mumbled, forcing yourself out of your daze as you caught him leaning against the bar, arms crossed, his gaze sharp.

“I’m serious, kid,” he repeated. “You can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” you asked, trying to sound indifferent as you busied yourself pouring a drink for the latest customer.

Revek wasn’t buying it. “You know exactly what I mean,” he pressed, his voice softer now. “You keep asking about her. Every damn day.” He paused, watching your face carefully, as if waiting for you to argue. When you didn’t, he leaned closer. “I know you want to find her. But it’s starting to feel like she doesn’t want to be found. Not by you, anyway.” His words cut deeper than you’d expected, like salt in an open wound. You froze, the glass you’d been holding forgotten in your hand.

“You have to accept that, kid,” he continued, his voice gentle but firm. “It’s not good for you to keep doing this. You’re tearing yourself apart.”

You set the glass down a little harder than you meant to, avoiding his gaze.

“Easier said than done, Rev,” you muttered under your breath.

“You managed to move on last time,” he added carefully, though the words felt like a slap to your face.

Your head snapped up, glaring at him with a flash of anger. His face didn’t flinch. He wasn’t trying to hurt you; he was just being honest. You sighed, your expression softening. Revek didn’t deserve your frustration—he was one of the few people who actually cared.

“I won’t ask anyone about Vi,” you mumbled finally, though the bitterness in your voice was obvious. “At least not anyone here.”

Revek gave a quiet chuckle, patting your shoulder as he straightened up.

“You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met, kid. Stubborn and reckless.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you grumbled, waving him off as he walked toward the back door.

Your shift ended quicker than you expected. For weeks you’d begged to take on extra hours—to open and close the bar—just to keep yourself busy, keep your mind too occupied to spiral. As the last of the patrons left, you cleaned up in silence, stacking glasses, wiping down counters, anything to avoid being alone with your thoughts. When everything was spotless, you slipped on your jacket, keys jingling in your hand as you locked the doors behind you. The cold hit you immediately, biting at your face and seeping through your clothes. Wrapping your arms around yourself, you tucked the keys into your pocket and started walking toward your apartment. Zaun was eerily quiet tonight. Too quiet. Usually, the air hummed with distant shouts, the rumble of machines, or drunken laughter in the distance. But not now. The stillness prickled at your nerves. The farther you walked, the heavier the silence became, your boots echoing softly against the damp pavement. You glanced over your shoulder, certain for the third time that you weren’t alone. The streets were nearly empty, but unease wrapped itself around you, squeezing your chest.

“Get a grip,” you muttered, shaking your head.

But as you reached a darker stretch of road, the feeling grew worse. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw a shadow move. Your stomach clenched. The shadow wasn’t yours. You quickened your pace, ears straining for the sound of footsteps behind you. Your breathing was faster now, your heart hammering. Something wasn’t right.

Then it happened.

A dark figure darted out from a nearby alley, and before you could react, a heavy force slammed into you from behind. You stumbled forward, gasping, your vision spinning. Something hard struck the back of your head, and the world lurched violently before slipping into darkness.The last thing you remembered was the cold pavement against your cheek and the faint, muffled sound of footsteps retreating into the night.

A sharp, pulsing headache pulled you out of unconsciousness. Your entire body felt heavy, and your head throbbed like a drum. Everything seemed hazy, like the moments before waking from a nightmare. For a split second, you didn’t remember how you got here. But then the taste of blood in your mouth brought clarity crashing down—cold pavement, a shadow, the sharp blow to your head.Panic surged as you opened your eyes, only to see nothing but suffocating darkness. Something was covering your head. You tried moving, but your wrists were bound tight behind your back, the coarse ropes digging into your skin. Wiggling, twisting—you struggled with everything in you, but it was no use. Your breathing grew rapid, panic clawing at your chest, when a voice cut through the silence like a blade.

“Look who decided to finally wake up,” a familiar, raspy voice teased from somewhere near you. Her tone was laced with mockery and amusement. “My dearest best friend,” she added with a dark chuckle, like it was all some joke.

Your blood ran cold. You didn’t need to see her to know. The venom in her voice was enough to tell you exactly who it was. Faye. No. Jinx. Powder. The fabric covering your head was ripped off, and light stung your eyes. You blinked rapidly, adjusting as her figure came into focus. She stood before you, cocky as ever, her pink eyes shimmering with mischief and something darker beneath. Danger radiated from her every move.

“YOU.” Your voice was dripping with anger. You glared up at her, your head pounding harder with every heartbeat. “Are you insane?”

Jinx tilted her head, unbothered by your outrage, and shrugged casually. “I’m not insane,” she said, her voice light and matter-of-fact, as though kidnapping you was the most rational thing in the world. “I’m just a bit… frustrated.” Her grin spread wide as she stepped closer, towering over you, every movement of hers a deliberate provocation.

“And this is how you deal with frustration?” you spat, wriggling in your restraints again. “By kidnapping me? Seriously?”

“Sheesh, calm down,” she giggled, rolling her eyes like you were the one being unreasonable. “Nobody’s kidnapping you, look around, you're in your apartment .”

“Oh, really?” You scoffed. “So tying me up and dragging me to… what are you doing Faye?”

Her grin faded into something colder. Her expression shifted, her anger bubbling to the surface as she leaned in closer.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she snapped. Her pink eyes burned into yours. Her jaw tensed, and she leaned closer

“ don’t play stupid with me. You knew she was my sister, and yet—” She stopped herself, the words strangled in her throat, then straightened up.

“No, you know what? Call me by my real name. The one you pretended not to know until it suited you.” She knew. Of course, she knew. Vi must’ve found her—and now Jinx was here, to confront you, to rip you apart for betraying her.

“Listen, Faye—” you began.

“Jinx!” she snarled, her voice sharper now, her pink eyes flashing.

You hesitated, swallowing the bitter taste in your mouth. “…Powder.”

The name hit her like a slap. You saw the flash of vulnerability in her eyes before rage swept it away again. She scowled.

“It’s Jinx!” she barked, stepping even closer, her hands clenched into fists.

“I’m sorry for what happened. Truly, I am,” you said quickly, your voice trembling, but genuine. You didn’t look away from her burning gaze. “I never wanted to hurt you—never even imagined I’d be in this position. But I didn’t know she was your sister. I didn’t know what to do. I had to tell her.”

Her steps faltered for a moment. She wasn’t saying anything, but you could feel her weighing your words. You kept going, even though your voice was shaking.

“I couldn’t keep that from her. How could I? Knowing how much she cared about you… knowing how long she believed you were dead. I couldn’t just sit there and lie to her.” A tear rolled down your cheek, unbidden.

“It wasn’t fair to her. It wasn’t fair to anyone.”

She stared at you with an unreadable expression as she paced slowly, her eyes darting back and forth like she was reliving old memories. She was a storm barely held together—a mixture of pain, rage, and something else. The silence felt like it stretched on forever.

“You promised me,” she said finally, breaking the quiet, her voice cracking under the weight of her anger and hurt.

“I know,” you said softly. “I did, and I broke that promise. I’m sorry. But I hope you can understand. Just like I understood when you tracked down my brother and told me the truth…”

“That’s different!” she yelled suddenly, spinning on you, her movements quick and frantic. She was all fire now, heat pouring off her in waves.

“Is it?” you challenged quietly. “Untie me. We should talk about this. No more yelling. No more games.”

She crouched down in front of you, her pink eyes meeting yours as if searching for something—truth, maybe, or some kind of betrayal hidden in the depths of your expression. Her gaze lingered on the wet trail your tears had left down your cheek.

“You love her,” she murmured, the statement cutting through the tension like a dagger. Her voice was quiet, almost bitter, and her fingers flexed at her sides.

“You’re… in love with my sister.”

The tension in the air was thick as you took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself. You needed to calm Jinx down somehow, but the way her eyes were narrowing and her jaw was set told you this wasn’t going to be easy. And honestly? You didn’t blame her for being angry—she had every right to be.

“Listen,” you started cautiously, voice soft yet firm, “Jinx… I know it wasn’t my place to tell Vi about you. You don’t know how many sleepless nights I spent trying to talk myself out of it, trying to just stay away from all of this… from her. But I couldn’t. I didn’t have a choice.”

“You had no right to tell her!” Jinx snapped, her voice a mix of fury and something else—hurt.

“I know, and I’m sorry!” you murmured, your shoulders sagging as guilt wrapped around you like chains. “I swear, I didn’t want it to happen like that. But I had no other option.”

Jinx glared at you before she started pacing the small apartment, her movements quick and jerky. Her eyes flitted across the room, taking in everything with that restless energy she always carried.

“This apartment screams you, you know that?” she grumbled, her tone dripping with judgment as her gaze landed on your record player and the knickknacks scattered on the shelves. “All those stupid decorations. These records—do people even listen to records anymore?”

“Thanks?” you muttered dryly.

She waved you off like she hadn’t even heard you, though the corner of her lip twitched.

“So, what’s the deal now? You’ve clearly lost your mind over my sister. You two together or something? Is it all dramatic stares and tragic poetry?”

You blinked, her sudden shift catching you off guard. But something wasn’t adding up. If Vi had told Jinx where you lived, surely, she would’ve also mentioned that the two of you hadn’t seen each other in months. Unless…

“What are you talking about?” you asked, narrowing your eyes. “Vi and I haven’t seen each other in months. Wait… she didn’t tell you that?”

Jinx stopped pacing, spinning on her heel to face you, her lips curling into a sharp, mocking laugh. “Tell me what? I haven’t seen Vi in years, genius. Remember? She thought I was dead the entire time.”

Your stomach dropped as the realization hit you. “Wait. If you haven’t seen her, then who told you about me and Vi?” Your voice came out quieter than you expected, almost like you didn’t want the answer.

Jinx grinned, her eyes lighting up with a chaotic glee that made you instantly suspicious.

“Your grumpy ex told me, duh,” she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Ellie’s kind of my favorite now. Oh, and you clearly have a type.”

You stayed silent, not because you didn’t have anything to say, but because the weight of what Ellie had done for you was settling in your chest, heavy and unshakable. You understood now why she’d told Jinx about you and Vi, why she’d stirred a pot that wasn’t hers to touch. Ellie had always had this knack for doing what she thought was best for you, even if it meant tearing herself apart in the process. This wasn’t any different. Ellie loved you—she always had. It wasn’t the loud kind of love, the kind that demanded attention or screamed to be heard. It was quieter, deeper, a part of her she kept tucked away like an old scar. You knew it must’ve hurt her, the kind of pain that lingered and clawed at her, but she still ripped the bandage off for you. She didn’t want you stuck in limbo, hanging on to unresolved feelings or an unfinished story. No, Ellie had always been the one who pushed you toward the truth, no matter how ugly or painful it might be.She didn’t tell Jinx out of spite or jealousy. That wasn’t Ellie’s style. She’d done it for you. She wanted Jinx to understand who you were to Vi, to push Jinx into making peace with her sister so that you—both of you—could finally move forward. Ellie knew she couldn’t be the one to make you happy anymore, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want you to be happy. Maybe that was her way of letting go, or maybe it was her way of saying she still cared, even if you couldn’t love her back the same way. Either way, it was one last act of love—a selfless, bittersweet gesture that left her holding onto nothing but her own heartbreak. Jinx, oblivious to the growing storm of thoughts in your head, raised an eyebrow at your silence.

“What? Nothing to say? Bet you’re wondering if Ellie’s still into you.”

You didn’t respond, knowing she was trying to bait you.

Jinx grinned wider. “Honestly, if my sister doesn’t get her act together and show up, maybe you should go back to plan A. Ellie’s clearly still head over heels, right? Wait… did something happen between you two when she came back?”

“What? No!” you exclaimed, louder than intended. “Nothing happened!”

Jinx squinted, clearly unconvinced. “You’re sure? Because your face is saying otherwise.”

“Look, she appeared out of nowhere, okay? She dropped some bombshells about my brother—who you apparently found, by the way—and then kissed me. That’s it.”

“Ohhhh, I knew something would’ve happened!” Jinx shouted gleefully. “Was it dramatic? Did she sweep you off your feet or—”

“Nothing happened,” you cut in firmly. “I pushed her away, for the record. But yeah, the damage was already done.”

Jinx folded her arms and gave you a slow once-over, a smirk tugging at her lips. “What’s up with you falling for every emotionally unavailable—”

“Shut up.” You shot her a glare. “And untie me, seriously. This isn’t funny anymore. We have a lot to talk about… starting with my brother.” Your tone shifted, growing heavier, the humor replaced with determination. You weren’t going to let her dodge this conversation. Not this time.

" we will talk " she stood up , heading towards you "but not yet " before you could gather what was going on, she hit your head . Once again. And before you knew , you were unconscious.

Your head throbbed as the loud banging on your apartment door dragged you out of the black void. You opened your eyes, struggling to focus on your surroundings. The room was dark, faint streaks of light from outside barely illuminating the scattered chaos of the apartment. You blinked, trying to gather your thoughts, but the pounding in your head was overwhelming. You shifted slightly, groaning as a sharp pain shot through your skull. At least you weren’t tied up anymore. The banging on the door didn’t stop. Each hit felt like a hammer to your already throbbing head. You tried to speak, to call out, but your voice didn’t come. Instead, you groaned again, rolling onto your back and clutching at the pain radiating from your temple. The noise stopped abruptly, and silence settled, except for your shallow breathing. Relief washed over you, but it was short-lived. A deafening crash suddenly shattered the silence.

The door. Someone broke in.

"Shit,” a voice cursed, panicked and familiar. You tried to turn your head toward the sound, but you couldn’t make out much beyond a tall silhouette moving quickly in your direction.

“Fuck,” they muttered again, and then they were kneeling beside you, their hands hesitating before reaching for you. “Hey, hey… are you okay? Talk to me.”

At first, you thought the voice was in your head, some cruel trick your brain was playing after everything Jinx had put you through. But then you felt her touch—warm, real, grounding. Your heart stuttered as recognition dawned. It wasn’t a hallucination. She was here.

“Vi?” you whispered, your voice barely audible, more breath than sound.

“Oh, thank god,” she exhaled, her relief palpable as she pulled you into her arms. “You’re alive. I thought…” Her voice cracked, and the raw emotion in her words made your throat tighten. Her touch, her voice, even the faint scent of her—it was all just as you remembered, painfully familiar and impossible to ignore. You sank into her embrace, your tears spilling before you could stop them.

“Vi.” Her name was shaky on your lips as you held her tighter, burying your face against her neck. Her warmth radiated through you, chasing away the fear that had settled in your chest.

“I’m here,” she whispered, her grip on you firm, as if she thought you might disappear if she let go. “I’m here.”

You pulled back slightly, just enough to see her face in the dim light.

“You’re really here,” you whispered, your tears blurring your vision as you brushed your fingers over her arm, just to reassure yourself she wasn’t a dream.

“I am.” Her eyes searched yours, full of something you couldn’t quite place—relief, fear, anger, all jumbled together.

“What happened?” she asked urgently. “Are you okay? I thought… I thought something happened to you. Someone told me you were in danger, and I just… I ran. I didn’t think, I—”

“Jinx,” you murmured, cutting her off. “She paid me a visit.” You managed a weak chuckle despite yourself.

Vi’s jaw tightened, her hands trembling slightly against you.

“I knew this was one of her games,” she spat. “She sent someone to tell me you were in danger. God, I thought… I thought you were…” She trailed off, her words caught in her throat.

“I’m okay,” you reassured her softly, brushing your fingers over her hand. “I’m okay. Just… help me sit up.”

Before you could finish, she scooped you into her arms like you weighed nothing, carrying you to the couch. Her strength was effortless, her touch so gentle it nearly broke you. She switched on the lamp, and for the first time, you saw her fully. Her mesmerizing blue eyes, glowing with an intensity that felt like it could pull you under. Her tattoos, stark against her skin. Her pink hair, vibrant and wild. She looked… perfect. Breathtaking. Just as you remembered, if not better.

“You’re bleeding,” she said softly, her fingers

grazing the wound on your temple. You winced but tried to wave it off when you saw the panic flare in her eyes.

“Seriously, I’m fine, Vi,” you assured her, offering a small smile. “Your sister, though? Completely insane.”

Vi exhaled sharply, nodding. “Yeah, tell me about it. This isn’t even the first time she’s kidnapped someone I…” Her words faltered, her face suddenly pale as she realized what she was about to say.

Someone I love. The words hung between you like a spark, threatening to ignite everything. You stared at her, your heart pounding in your chest as the realization hit. It was always there, always simmering beneath the surface, but hearing it—almost hearing it—made everything click into place. Every sleepless night, every time you’d thought about her, craved her, longed for her, it all made sense.

“Where is she now?” Vi asked quickly, clearly trying to recover, but you weren’t letting this moment slip away.

“I have no idea,” you mumbled, but you weren’t even thinking about Jinx anymore. Your entire focus was on Vi—her eyes locked on yours, the vulnerability written across her face. She was intimidating, raw, beautiful, and you couldn’t stand it anymore. You didn’t even realize you’d moved until your lips met hers. The kiss was sudden, rough and desperate, like both of you were trying to fill the void the other had left. It was messy, teeth clashing, lips bruising. But as the seconds stretched into eternity, the kiss softened, your desperation bleeding into something tender, something raw. Her hands trembled slightly as they cradled your face, pulling you closer as if she were terrified you’d slip away. The taste of her lips, the feel of her warmth, sent waves of longing surging through you, but what lingered most was the overwhelming relief. Vi was here. She was real. You pulled back just slightly, your breaths mingling, foreheads pressed together.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered between kisses, your voice breaking as you rested your forehead against hers. Tears rolled down your cheeks again, but this time they were tears of release, of relief. “For everything. For hiding the truth about Jinx, for hurting you.”

Her breath mingled with yours as she smiled softly, her own tears catching the faint light. “I know,” she whispered, her voice full of emotion. She brushed her nose against yours, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips again. “I’m sorry too. For leaving. For being gone.”

Her honesty made your chest ache. “I didn’t think I deserved you,” you admitted quietly.

Vi brushed her fingers over your cheek, her eyes soft but filled with determination.

“At first, I was so angry,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Angry at Jinx for making me think she was dead, and angry at you for keeping it from me. I didn’t know how to deal with it, so I did the only thing I’m good at—I ran. But the longer I was gone, the more I realized…” She paused, her thumb brushing away a stray tear on your cheek.

“I thought I was going to lose you. And I realized I couldn’t survive that. Not again. Not when… not when I love you.”

Her voice cracked on those last words, raw and vulnerable, as though saying them aloud made her break. She buried her face in your neck, pulling you close like she needed to fuse herself to you, like you were the only thing keeping her together.

“Vi…” Your voice trembled as you pulled her closer, your hands gripping onto her desperately, like letting go of her would mean losing the ground beneath you.

“I love you too,” you whispered, your lips grazing her ear as you spoke. You choked on your next words, your chest heavy with the weight of every emotion you’d held back for so long. “I tried to push it away, to pretend I didn’t need you, but I do. I need you, more than anything, more than anyone.”

She pulled back just enough to look at you, her blue eyes glistening with tears but filled with something fierce—relief, adoration, devotion. She exhaled shakily, her lips tugging into a small, fragile smile. “Say it again,” she whispered.

You cupped her face with both hands, brushing the tears from her cheeks as more fell from your own.

“I love you, Vi.” The words came out stronger this time, filled with every ounce of your heart.

Her breath hitched as she surged forward, kissing you with everything she had. Her lips were salty from tears, but they were soft and full of promise, of every unspoken word between you. Her hands tangled in your hair, holding you like you were her lifeline, like she couldn’t bear to let you go.

" get a room you two " sharp, familiar voice suddenly cut through the charged atmosphere between you and Vi. Both of you froze, the moment shattered like glass. Vi’s brow furrowed as she snapped her head toward the voice, her body instinctively shielding you.

" My plan has worked, once again" Vi’s jaw clenched as realization dawned, and you could feel the ripple of tension through her frame. Slowly, she turned to face the figure behind her—someone she had believed, for so long, was lost to her forever.

" Hey sis " Jinx mumbled, her voice unexpectedly soft, though her eyes betrayed a storm of emotions.

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Yet another chaotic, lively night filled the bar. The room buzzed with energy—laughter spilling over from clusters of friends, glasses clinking together, and the thrum of low music weaving warmth through the air. Tables were packed, couples leaned close over shared secrets, and the familiar smell of cheap liquor and Zaun’s ever-present grit grounded you in this moment. It was chaos, but it was your chaos. You thrived in it, finding bits of yourself among the people who called this part of Zaun home.

“Can you believe this guy just lost ten packs of cigarettes to me in one sitting?” Revek’s voice rumbled as he sauntered up to the bar, slapping a satisfied hand against the counter.

You rolled your eyes with a laugh, brushing a stray strand of hair away from your face. “Amazing. Your lungs are gonna thank you for that one,” you teased, smirking as you leaned forward to fix a wobbly glass.

“Don’t act all high and mighty,” he retorted with a deep laugh. “I’ve seen you steal a cigarette or two when you thought I wasn’t paying attention, you little liar.”

“Shut up, old man,” you hissed back, though a smile cracked your feigned irritation. Revek always had a way of making you laugh, no matter how exhausting the day had been.

He smirked and winked. “Speaking of cigarettes, I’m overdue for one now.” He pointed toward the back door, already reaching for his pocket. “Hold the fort, will ya?”

“I always do,” you replied, shooing him away playfully.

Tonight was busy—louder than most nights—but instead of draining you, it energized you. The hum of life in this place reminded you why you stayed, why you found comfort within Zaun’s controlled chaos. Even when things went wrong, this bar had become a haven, a tether to stability in a world that often didn’t make sense. The doors swung open suddenly, the motion catching your eye. Instantly, the corners of your mouth tugged into a smile. A familiar figure strode through the threshold, confidence in every step, her electric pink hair unmistakable. Vi.

She saw you almost immediately and grinned, shaking her head slightly as she approached. Her stride quickened as she crossed the room, her intense gaze locking onto yours with that unmistakable spark of mischief.

“Hey there, stranger,” she said smoothly, a teasing lilt in her voice as she leaned against the counter, her elbows resting casually on the worn wood. Her smirk was downright dangerous as she bit her lip, her eyes sparkling. “Care to make me a drink?”

You chuckled softly, pretending to be unimpressed.

“We were supposed to meet at home later, you know.” You tilted your head knowingly as you reached for a glass, already preparing her favorite drink.

She shrugged, her grin widening as she leaned closer. “What can I say? I couldn’t wait to see you,” she murmured, her voice low and dripping with honesty.

Heat bloomed in your chest, your heart fluttering as her presence overwhelmed your senses. Without thinking, you leaned forward, her face so close to yours that your noses nearly touched. Your lips met in a kiss—soft and slow at first, but as her smile curled into it, she tried to deepen it. But the sound of a sharp, exaggerated cough from the doorway cut through the intimate moment.

“Thirty minutes!” Revek called out loudly, his rough voice breaking the spell. He stood by the doorway with a cigarette dangling between his fingers, smoke curling lazily into the air. “Shift ends in thirty minutes, lovebirds. Surely you two can wait till then.”

You pulled back reluctantly, laughing under your breath as Vi groaned dramatically.

“Sorry, Rev,” she replied with an unapologetic smirk. Her tone was playful, but her hand still lingered on the counter near yours.

Revek chuckled, shaking his head as he blew out another puff of smoke. “Vi, you’re gonna be the reason I have to fire my best employee,” he joked, but his tone betrayed the affection he felt for you both.

Turning back to Vi, you couldn’t help the way your chest swelled at the sight of her. The teasing curve of her lips, the confident edge in her stance, and those intense blue eyes—they held your heart hostage every time. You couldn’t look at her without falling deeper.

“I’ll be waiting outside, stranger,” she murmured, her voice just loud enough to reach your ears. The warmth in her tone felt like an echo that would linger long after she left. She leaned in once more, brushing her fingers lightly against your hand—a touch so fleeting but electric—and then disappeared back into the night. Her words left you breathless, stirring something deep within your chest as you finished the shift with your mind elsewhere. Vi always had a way of making you forget the rest of the world—of anchoring you to her, no matter what storms tried to pull you apart. She’d wait for you, and you’d always follow her.

Author's note: I truly cannot believe that this story is done . It was my first time ever writing something and Echoes became even more important to me since creating this story made me fall in love with writing . I want to thank everyone who even once liked, shared, commented on my story, you guys were the ones who motivated me into finishing it .

As for the last chapter, it took a long time to write it. I wanted to make everything perfect, give each character a deserved (or not so) ending. Please let me know thoughts about it, don't hesitate to message me, to comment, chatting with you guys truly makes my day!

P.S. I will most definitely continue writing more stories, I can't wait to share more with you.

Thank you!

[ifwebefriends]

Just got back from seeing Elio and AAAAAH IT WAS SO SWEET AND CUTE PLEASE GO SEE IT so I’m just gonna write down all the thoughts I can think of the movie with gradually decreasing coherence (spoilers below)

Honestly it’s so real that Elio in his time of grief got so deeply attached to something that brought him comfort in his darkest times, can relate

I was kinda expecting/dreading Glordon to turn on Elio due to a perceived betrayal due to the whole bargaining chip thing like “was I really your friend at all?” but I was really pleasantly surprised when they didn’t do that! They stayed friends the whole movie!

This is more of a me thing but despite the movie literally being in outer space, the scope of the movie felt smaller than I anticipated? I guess I kinda expected Elio and Glordon to like go on the run hopping from planet to planet and I would have liked to see that, but I’m not faulting the movie itself for it since the marketing wasn’t very good and the movie was really good for what it was

The horror bits! Oh my god. They were so weirdly good and just the right amount of scary for me. The scene where Olga follows clone Elio’s hair down the hall and into Elio’s room had my jaw ON THE FLOOR

LORD GRIGON!!!! - he is the one dad ever who went to therapy he was such a good character it took me COMPLETELY off guard when he ripped his armor off to hold his dying son like MY GASTS WERE FLABBBBEREDDDDDDD it felt the same as that one part in Bluey’s The Sign where Bandit ripped the sign out of the ground IT WAS SO SWEET IM DEAD

I LOVE how Olga wanted to be an astronaut and she did end up going to space in the end I love that for her

The movie kinda like gave me this weird existential feeling of like “are we alone in the universe” but like not in a bad way. I haven’t really thought much about like aliens before but I don’t know, I think this movie might have changed that for me

THE PART WHERE THE ALIENS MESSAGE WAS ON ALL THE SCREENS AAAAAAH I LOVED IT I DONT KNOW WHY BUT I LOVED IT SO MUCH

I really like the whole thing about like “needing” to go into the carapace to become bigger, stronger, scarier so you can participate in the adult’s world but in doing so you lose true connections with people because you can never show your vulnerable soft side again like it feels like an allegory for masking/unmasking it was kinda cool

ELIO AND GLORDON WERE FUCKING ADORABLE AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH AND I JUST WANT TO LIKE GIVE THEM HOT CHOCOLATE AND BLANKETS IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THEM I WOULD BLOW UP THE WHOLE COMMUNIVERSE AND THEN MYSELF

Speaking of the communiverse the ambassadors were cool but like damn when it really came down to it they were kinda useless fr 🤣 (this isn’t a complaint I’m just taking the piss lmao I’m tired)

Oh yeah the universal manual was SO ANNOYED that no one wanted to know the meaning of life and he like sighed every time OMG THIS DIVA I SEE YOU

THE CLONE BODY HORROR WAS ACTUALLY INSANE like clone Elio CUTTING HIS FINGER OFF AND PUTTING IT BACK ON and clone Glordon GETTING FUCKING SHOT and then clone Elio MELTING IN THE ARMS OF THE GUARD IT WAS CRAZY I KINDA LOVED IT

Also it was kinda cool how chill the clones were about everything like clone Glordon was just like “yeah I’m getting put in a murder machine idgaf :)” and clone Elio was like “chat this has been fire but I’m gonna turn into plant fertilizer now byeee 👋”

Oh lord grigon finally snapping during the negotiation bc Elio was insulting him as a parent AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I’M LIKE THAT WAS A COOL DETAIL IN RETROSPECT

Also mad respect to Olga for going off on the Academy ppl like “naw it’s fucked that you let this shit happen to my nephew” YES QUEEN SLAY

I like how Elio like Legend of Zelda’d his way out of the prison cell idk that was just cool to me

“Ok, bye, I love you” AAAAAAAAAH RIJRFNRNRFRB I CANT WITH THAT

Yeah so like, overall, while not Pixar’s best movie, Elio was still a really damn good movie that was just fun and sweet and cute and warmed my cold little heart if you’re like autistic or queer or just like space or like Pixar movies you should really go see it in theaters if you can, we need more original movies like this oh my god

The visuals were also REALLY GOOD it was so pretty to look at

So yeah Elio good movie I saw it and you should too okay bye I love you

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

My Captivating Archenemy Part 3 (Kagari)

Alt Title: The One I Can't Stop Thinking About is my Enemy

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies.

Kagari dashed across the rooftops at an unbelievable speed.

Even with the painting and me in his arms, he moved like it was no big deal.

Eventually, he landed silently in a back alley far from the mansion.

(If he puts me down now, I...)

The moment my feet touched the ground, I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tight.

Emma & Kagari: "…………"

The night wind brushed against our cheeks, and silence settled over us.

As he stood there, completely still, I cautiously looked up at his face.

Kagari: "…………"

(He's not moving. Well, anyone would freeze if someone suddenly clung to them like this.)

Once I realized what I was doing, my face grew hot, and I quickly let go.

Emma: "Sorry."

Kagari: "It's fine."

Kagari: "Was it that you didn't want to let go of me?"

Emma: "I think... I just didn't want you to run away."

Kagari: "Yeah, I figured as much."

Kagari: "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. I'm just here to return the painting to its rightful owner."

With a slightly exasperated sigh, Kagari gently set me down.

Little girl: "Mama, there's a pretty picture in front of our house!"

Mother: "A picture? That's your grandpa's painting!"

Little Girl: "Grandpa? Mama's dad? He was really good at painting!"

Mother: "Your grandpa was a famous painter. I thought I'd never see this again. You came back to me... Dad."

From afar, the sound of quiet sobbing and a child's concerned voice tugged painfully at my heart.

(So she was the true owner. Then that means… this time, too—)

Kagari: "The guy who owned that mansion ripped off the poor more times than you could count, then sold everything off in secret."

------------Flashback-----------

Emma: "There's no pattern to what he steals, and nothing's shown up on the market either."

Emma: "The only common thread is that his targets all seem to have shady rumors trailing behind them."

---------Flashback Ends--------

(So the phantom thief was only stealing what had been unfairly taken and returning it to its rightful owners. That's why none of it ever ended up on the black market.)

Stealing is a crime, sure. But when I saw the look on that mother and her child's faces… I couldn't deny that there was something righteous about what the phantom thief was doing.

And somehow, Kagari—the one I'd come to know—felt like proof of that.

(I'm so pathetic.)

Kagari: "Is this the pouty version of Miss Detective I'm seeing?"

Suddenly, he leaned in close, and I instinctively pulled back in surprise.

Kagari: "You were thinking about how useless and pathetic you are, weren't you?"

His gaze demanded an answer, so I nodded quietly.

Emma: "I knew the thief only targeted people with shady reputations, and yet I still couldn't get to the truth. I feel so ashamed and frustrated."

Emma: "But more than anything, I feel sorry for the ones who got their things taken unfairly."

Kagari: "Don't let one phantom thief case define your whole worth."

Kagari: "Every client who comes to you walks away feeling better. That's proof you're doing something right."

Kagari: "You're brilliant. You've got the mind of a real detective."

Kagari: "But you live outside the reach of deceit—too innocent for a world like this."

Kagari: "When it comes to people who hide behind fake kindness, you're still a rookie."

He paused, then awkwardly reached out and gave my head a light pat.

There was something strangely nostalgic about that little gesture.

Emma: "Thank you."

Kagari: "Well, would you look at that? The thief just comforted the detective."

Emma: "Hehe. Guess that puts me in your debt."

Kagari: "Maybe it's time I cashed in."

Emma: "And what would that entail?"

(Does he mean helping with his heists? Even if it's not for personal gain, a detective getting involved in theft is just—)

Kagari: "What do you want to say to the thief?"

(Oh, that. Was that really bothering him so much?)

I had been chasing after him for what felt like forever, all for this one moment.

I cleared my throat, trying to calm the nerves fluttering in my chest.

Emma: "I wanted to thank you."

Kagari: "Thank me?"

Emma: "The day I arrived in Kogyoku, I was nearly kidnapped—but someone saved me."

Emma: "I was so scared I couldn't speak. I didn't even get a good look at his face. But then I heard a soldier's voice in the distance—and that's when I realized: the one who saved me was the thief."

???: "Count to ten, then open your eyes. There'll be nothing left for you to fear."

(No wonder that head-pat felt so nostalgic—he did the same thing back then.)

Emma: "So… thank you for saving me back then."

Kagari: "All that chasing… just to say thank you?"

Kagari: "Calling that 'earnest' would be generous. You really are a strange one."

Kagari: "But I suppose that's just like you."

He abruptly looked away, but the relief on his face was unmistakable.

Then, without giving me a chance to say another word, he picked me up once again and took off into the night.

Eventually, he set me down near the bookstore where I worked.

Kagari: "Princess, do you really not want to let go this time?"

Emma: "Ah—"

I was holding onto the sleeve of his coat.

(This isn't about catching him as a detective.)

I knew the right thing to do would be to seize this moment and arrest him.

But now that I knew the reason behind his thefts, I couldn't see this phantom thief as a criminal anymore.

(More than that, I just—)

Kagari: "If you've got something to say, say it already."

Without warning, he grabbed both my arms and pulled until I was nearly hugging him from behind.

He held me firmly, making it clear he wouldn't let go until I spoke.

Emma: "When I realized I might never see you again after learning your true identity… I just... couldn't let you go."

And just like that, the truth came out.

It wasn't about catching the thief. I'd been chasing him all this time because I had something I needed to say.

Kagari: "Haha."

Emma: "Was that… a laugh?"

Kagari: "That was the idea—not that you could tell. But whatever."

Kagari: "As reasons go, that's not a bad one, princess."

I couldn't see his face, but I could hear the hint of satisfaction in his voice.

Kagari: "Don't worry. I'll keep being your distraction. We're still dorayaki buddies."

Kagari: "Don't forget—you're up against a seasoned master thief."

Kagari: "Even if you know who I am, there's no way you'd ever catch me."

(That makes me happy… though, as a detective, maybe it's not something I should be smiling about.)

Kagari: "You don't look happy."

Emma: "I am! I'm happy, so please stop pulling on my arms!"

With how tightly he held me, it felt like I was the one pressing myself into his back. My heart, which had just started to calm down, was pounding all over again.

(Wait—this might actually be my chance. I could hand him over to the patrol officers!)

Kagari: "You're so easy to read, you know?"

Emma: "Ah!"

The pressure around my arms suddenly eased, and Kagari leaped gracefully onto the rooftop like a cat.

I was once again reminded that catching him would never be simple.

(Maybe I don't want to cut ties with him—whether as a friend or a detective.)

Even though I'd accomplished my original goal, there was still a small flame inside me that longed to chase after the phantom thief.

Black Cat: "Meow."

On a quiet afternoon, an adorable visitor arrived at the bookstore.

The black cat that used to deliver his calling cards now showed up without its tiny backpack.

Kagari: "Special delivery."

Black Cat: "Meow!"

Kagari: "No meowing in my ear, Kuro No. 1. Have some manners."

Black Cat: "Meow."

Kuro No. 1 leaped down from Kagari's shoulder, flopped onto his back, and began sunbathing.

Kagari: "Here you go, princess."

Emma: "Thanks."

Ever since I uncovered his true identity, he's been delivering the cards to me directly.

His boldness caught me off guard, but at the same time, it made me smile.

(Now that I think about it...)

Emma: "Why do you bring your notices to me, of all people? I'm a detective."

Kagari: "That's a secret."

(That quick answer just makes me want to know more.)

Kagari: "Maybe I'll tell you... if you threaten to arrest me."

Emma: "I'll only arrest you if you commit an immoral crime—one that actually deserves it."

Kagari: "I might've already crossed that line."

Emma: "What?"

Kagari: "Well, if you're that curious, how about keeping me under surveillance?"

Kagari: "You know, as an excuse to keep me around."

Emma: "You're joking, right?"

Kagari: "Am I?"

He leaned in, closing the distance between us in an instant.

His jade-green eyes still gave away nothing, but the mischievous curve of his lips made my heart skip.

Kagari: "If you really want to keep me, try feeding me sometime."

Kagari: "You might be surprised—I'm actually quite easy to tame."

Maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to fall for this troublesome thief.

Part 1 ╎ Part 2 ╎ Part 3 ╎ Epilogue

[todayisdeadinside]

The Music Industry is FUCKED UP: Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell is a very powerful man who has done a good job of cleaning up his muddy footprints behind him. This post is intended to highlight not only his own pedophilic allegations and habits, but the people he surrounds himself with and publicly supports who are much the same if not worse. Simon Cowell is a man among like-minded company, for all the wrong reasons.

Table of contents:

The "Buffet" - told by Gavin Bain

Max Clifford

David Walliams

Jonathan King

The Buffet - told by Gavin Bain

Back in December 2024, Gavin Bain (former half of the rap/rock duo Silibil 'n Brains) went on The John Cooper Show to talk in-depth about his story "getting one over" on Sony. The original 2 videos (x) (x) that went around were just clips, with the full interview being locked behind a $9.99 Youtube Membership paywall. So, I took one for the team, and paid for 1 month of a membership to watch the whole thing.

Originally, I was going to transcribe the entire interview, but I quickly realized that is not only VERY hard, but very useless. The bits about Simon Cowell were brief and at the very end, the rest of the interview was about Gavin's personal story. I did, however, take notes on everything, so expect a post about Silibil 'n Brains soon, I guess.

Gavin explained how he, when he was still in Silibil 'n Brains, was invited to an industry afterparty that took place in a strip club. He mentioned earlier in the interview how all of these industry parties seemed to take place in strip clubs, for some reason. He ran into this guy who worked for Island Records, a record company Gavin had considered signing to but didn't, and the guy looked shocked to see Gavin there.

Apparently the afterparty was split into 2 sides of the venue, and Gavin, following people he recognized, had accidentally entered the wrong side. He had entered "the buffet." The Island Records guy asked Gavin "Who are you here with?" And Gavin said he was here with his duo-mate, to which Island Records guy said "Here-here? You're- you're gonna go to the buffet?" Gavin, taking that question literally, answered with "Why would I want to eat right now?"

That's when Gavin sees this boy he recognizes from around, a boy he knows is underage because he wasn't allowed to drink (this happened in the UK so the drinking age and age of adulthood are the same). The boy is in a lineup of other teenage girls and boys in very revealing clothing, none of the could have been older than 14-15 according to Gavin. Separate from the teenage lineup is a group of very influential music executives and industry people.

He later runs into the Island Records guy again, who tells him "You're not supposed to be here, you weren't invited. You shouldn't be here."

Later on, after this party, Gavin discovered that this was "Simon and Max's 'thing.'" These underage sex parties were a routine event hosted and organized by Simon Cowell and Max Clifford at "undisclosed strip joints." They'd invite teenagers who wanted to get into the music/entertainment industry, and they'd make them have sex with older execs for career opportunities that often never came.

Years later, Gavin came across the boy he'd recognized, who'd been underage at the time of attending the buffet. The boy, who Gavin didn't name, told him his story. He had been coerced by a Syco employee- a woman in her late 40s at the time- into having sex with her in exchange for career benefits. What ended up happening was this woman kept having sex with this underage boy, and the boy was coerced into signing away all of his image rights to Syco, trapping himself in a cycle of shitty TV appearances and roles he didn't want. He was legally unable to escape Syco at that point.

Direct quote from Gavin- "God knows where all those kids have come from. They're already tied up in pre-development deals, those deals don't just come to anyone." He explained how the boy felt like he needed to keep his sexual relationship with the older Syco employee a secret because he was underage, and he thought he would get in trouble for it. "You're never gonna cause a problem, because you think you've done something wrong."

Gavin and John Cooper also discussed another related incident, but since it isn't Simon Cowell related, I'm saving that for another post.

Max Clifford - Simon Cowell's former manager

Max Clifford was Simon Cowell's manager for over a decade, until around 2012 when he was arrested as a part of Project Yewtree on suspicion of sexual assault, and later found guilty and imprisoned for 8 accounts of such crimes in 2014. He would pass away in prison in 2017. (x) He was, as discussed above, involved in hosting Simon's buffet parties.

The fact that such a deplorable repeat offender was not only one of Simon's closest friends, but his manager of over a decade prior to his conviction, really highlights the web of pedophiles that Simon surrounds himself with. Pedophiles, I've learned, are pack animals. They're always in groups, you rarely find one working alone in the music industry. When one gets caught, they get ousted by the others and people act like their close friends and coworkers aren't likely doing the same thing.

There's a reason people say the music industry is one big sex trafficking ring- it's rife with people like Simon and Max everywhere you turn. And they all protect each other.

David Walliams - BGT & Harry Styles

David Walliams was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent alongside Simon Cowell from 2012-2022. David has faced a slew of controversies, most relevant a comment he made about Harry in 2011, when Harry was only 17 years old.

The comment was “I’d like to suck his cock” and it was broadcasted on Chris Moyles' Quiz Night. David was 40 at the time. The comment being made in 2011 and David being hired for BGT in 2012 means that Cowell chose to hire this man after this controversy, highlighting a concerning lack of care. But what else is new? (x)

Among David’s other controversies was an incident in 2006 where he exposed the genitals of multiple teenagers and simulated sexual acts with them for a comedy sketch. He repeated this sketch for years, with hefty criticism, and yet no official charges were ever pressed. (x)

Jonathan King - Simon paid his bail

Jonathan King is a record producer, singer-songwriter, music entrepreneur, and TV presenter who was convicted of four counts of sexual assault against teenage boys in 2001. His bail was set for £150,000, £50,000 of which was paid for by Simon Cowell. Although Jonathan was only convicted of 4 counts, 27 different men accused him of sexually assaulting them.

After Jonathan got out of prison, he was later arrested again as a part of Operation Ravine and charged in 2017 with 18 counts of sexual offenses, again against teenage boys. He was eventually acquitted of these charges, as a result of police errors and difficulties with a fair trial being carried out. (x) (x)

This guy has been accused of sexual assault by, like, 45 fucking people. Even if he was only convicted of 4, I highly suspect more of them were true and just didn't have enough evidence in court- and we know 18 were thrown out because the cops fucked up the investigation.

Conclusion

Simon Cowell needs to get curb stomped BADLY. He surrounds himself with pedophiles and rapists, and he himself runs pedophilic sex parties on the regular. Nobody cares, though. You won't see this in the news- they're too busy with the Diddy case, exposing more than one pedophile at a time is bad for the industry.

[stilljuststardust]

I fear I'm not practicing the LOA "right" and i'm so anxious. I keep thinking "what if all my persistence is useless because i'm not practicing the LOA right?" I can't tell if I'm truly partaking in imagination or just simply daydreaming. My understanding of the concept of "daydreaming" and "imagination" seems to have no clear distinct difference. Maybe I'm spiralling, but I feel like a fraud and can't seem to have faith in my own abilities. I continue to doubt everything because I wonder "does not feeling fulfilled in imagination mean my 4D has not shifted because I don't understand I have it?"

Is it okay to not feel anything or even feel bad towards your desires but still understand you have it and actually shift realities?

Take a deep breath.

You are going to be ok. There is nothing wrong with you. You are safe. You are stronger than you think. I believe in you. Not feeling anything is OK.

I have a laptop I manifested sitting next to me right now. I didn't feel anything when I was manifesting it and I don't feel like I have it even though it's physically here right now.

Please don't be so mean to yourself. You're going to be ok

Disclaimer: This may be controversial because people have really been shitting on affirmations lately, so let me first say that all methods work. This is just my personal experience. I understand that some of you will disagree with this post, that's OK. Please respect that everyone has their own beliefs.

Emotions don't matter

I normally put links at the end but you should really read this: it's ok to feel like shit

I know you're very stressed out, I am also a very anxious person. Please know that hurting deeply doesn't mean you can't manifest.

Feeling is not what manifests. For a long time I ran in circles because I was trying to force my emotions to conform.

I am a very anxious person sometimes bordering on paranoid. If my reality was solely dependent on what I felt like was happening a girl with long hair would be crawling out of my TV right now.

The truth is emotions are fickle. Trying to force an extremely positive emotional state will most likely just make you hurt more.

Often the most painful part of suffering is our constant attempt to suppress it instead of processing the emotion.

We are not our feelings. We are often subject to dramatic and irrational emotional states that don't reflect our actual thoughts and opinions.

"I feel awful and I don't like how often I'm feeling it" often leads us into thinking "nothing is ever going to work for me", but it's important to ground ourselves and realize that feeling like shit is not divine undeniable proof that it isn't going to work.

So what does manifest?

Your dominant thoughts and mental state.

The thoughts you repeat over and over and over. Your subconscious listens to everything you tell it and it takes you at face value every single time. If you repeat something to your subconscious it will push that experience into your reality.

You ARE manifesting, just not what you want.

I'm guessing your most common thoughts right now sound something like this:

"why isn't it working" "what am I doing wrong" "why can't I get this right"

THAT is what is manifesting right now.

It's not about feeling like you have it, it's about thinking thoughts that imply you do.

So what's the whole deal with the 4D 3D thing? Those are just buzzwords that mean your internal and external world. Your internal world manifests. What part of your internal world is constant? Your thoughts. You may not be visualizing or mediating all day but you ARE thinking all day every single day. (visualization and mediation still do work, I'm not discrediting those methods. Your mental images are still thoughts)

What now? (What I think you should do)

I want you to try robotic affirmations. There is literally no way to do them wrong. They don't require feeling or belief. its ok if repeating them feels wrong.

This is all you have to do:

All of your thoughts and words are affirmations so don't affirm against your desire. I know these are often very very habitual. That's ok, you just need to break the habit. Flip the thought or start affirming.

Repeat thoughts that imply it has manifested. It's best if it's in your own words. What would you say if it his happened? Now repeat that sentence whenever possible. Whenever you are doing something that is boring like a chore or showering instead of letting your mind water repeat your affirmation.

Don't try to feel it or imagine it, just repeat the sentence. That's why they're called robotic. There's nothing else to do but repeat them. Hopefully this gives you less to worry about.

LINKSSSS:

How to break a thought pattern

Affirm and persist

Do I have to believe?

Robotic affirmations

Please please please watch this.