#i hold no ill will towards anyone that didn't know of course

[s-lycopersicum]

Every time I reblog that Pas comic, I have to skirt around the fact that the light-haired girl got reduced to just That Smug Anime Girl on the internet at large.

[just-some-random-blogger]

Losing Dogs

Neither you or Aegon wanted to get married. Neither you or Aegon wanted to marry each other. But at some point, you figured you should make the most of what you had, and so you offer your husband a deal he cannot refuse.

Aegon Targaryen x Reader | 6k+ | cw: fem!reader, wife!reader, arranged marriage/loveless marriage, smut (piv, virginity loss, rough/loveless sex) DD:DNE, alcoholism, violence, suicide/suicidal thoughts & ideation, mentions of domestic/child abuse, death, pregnancy/miscarriage, aegon's mommy issues, insecurities, angst, typos, etc.

A/N: ... i had something to say about this fic but i forgot... maybe ill remember later???? edit: i did not remember. i thought of mitski while entitling this so go play i bet on losing dogs ig?

Tagging: @pinksirensong @aralezinspace @deniixlovezelda @azperja @sloanexx @risefallrise

You don't know what you have until it's gone.

Aegon only truly understood what this meant the day he was married and he was forbidden to drink a drop of alcohol.

As if it wasn't painful enough that he was going to be married to a complete stranger from some house he's never fucking heard of, he was erratic and uneasy the whole day because of the withdrawal. He loathes the preparation, the ceremony, the fucking pageantry of it all.

He thinks it was worse that you seemed to be so chipper the entire time. You smiled with a halo, skin shining with the light. You also seemingly did no wrong, judging by the praises you received from his mother and grandfather. But, who was he kidding, of course they fucking loved you, they chose you to be his prison keeper.

You did not press him once, not when you were preparing for the ceremony, not when you were at the feast, not even after the Queen encouraged you to dance.

Anyone with eyes could see from how he slumped on his chair during dinner that Aegon would rather die than circle around the room to this grating noise echoing in the chamber.

The band begins to play another song and another round of dancing ensues.

He stares at the food on the table. Oh, to be a suckling pig.

The relief that coursed through him when he could finally leave was enough to knock him out. Except, he really wanted, no, needed a drink.

He crashes on his bed, belly down, and reaches for the cabinet door on his bedside table. He feels for his bottle, hand knocking into the corners of the compartment, but he sits up when he finds nothing.

He growls in frustration upon realizing this was definitely his mother's doing. Thief!

"I managed a cup."

Aegon struggles to look over his shoulder from his position. He rolls on his back as you walk to the side of the bed.

He stares at you. You offer a glass holding burgundy liquid. Your voice is soft and kind as you explain, "your mother would suspect me if I took a whole bottle."

Aegon pushes himself up and sits on the edge of the bed, facing you. He gulps at the wine you were offering.

Sure, he may not be the brightest, but anyone could tell this scene was the epitome of ulterior motives. Aegon leans on his thighs, "why are you doing this?"

You stare a moment. You clutch the cup in both hands and examine it. Again, your voice is gentle, "you are clearly in torment. It hurts my heart."

His eye twitches.

I see. It seems you were a fucking saint.

Aegon rips the glass out of your hands, some of the wine spills over. He downs the contents in one go, then chucks the glass across the room once he finished.

He looks back at you, glaring with watery eyes. He was exhausted, he was angry, and he wanted you to know it. But you don't flinch at the sound of the glass breaking. You didn't flinch at all when he showed aggression. Why didn't you flinch?

You press your lips and sigh. You step towards him and reach out.

He nervously straightens up and tilts his head back as you approach. His breath hitches when your warm hand touches his cheek. He blinks rapidly.

"It's been a long day. Would you like me to help you change?"

Again, his eye twitches.

And then he realizes what you mean.

Ah. So, this is what you wanted?

He releases a breath, eyes lowering. Your face falls into a slight frown.

He thinks about it for a moment. I mean, sex was sex and he was game. It didn't matter how he performed, his completion was all that mattered, really. And you were pretty enough, albeit irritatingly good.

When you stroke his hair, Aegon pulls at your skirts, causing you to squeak and topple, hands flying to his shoulders for support. Your faces are inches apart. He pulls you down until you have no other choice than to sit on his lap.

You can smell the remnants of the wine he just drank on his breath. Aegon brings his face closer to yours, and you let out a soft 'hmp'. You mutter, "I gather you don't want to change, but want to get out of your clothes."

He narrows his eyes as you shift on his lap and undo the buttons by his chest. He mutters dumbly, "this is what you wanted."

With knit brows, you retort, "I've not yet told you what I wanted." You shift on his lap again as you peel his top off. Amidst it, he asks, "what do you want?"

You grunt after ridding him of his top. You fold it in your arms then set it aside on the bed. You turn back to him. Aegon's breath hitches when you fondle with strings of his undershirt. He watches your lips as you mumble, "I want you to give me a ride on your dragon."

He furrows his brows. But that's what he just said.

You stand, only to lift your skirt and take your place back on his lap. This time, you straddle him.

Aegon gulps, hands coming to your hips like a magnet. He feels you grind on him; shaky breaths leave his lips in response. His hands scratch up your back and a moan escapes him when your nails trace his collarbones.

"Allow me one trip on Sunfyre, and in return, I'll be your magic lamp," you whisper, taking one of his hands, bringing it to the side of your ribs, "you may rub me where you like-"

His heart skips when you kiss his cheek.

"-and I will grant you all your wishes."

Aegon ticks.

The next moment, he pushes you down on the bed. He doesn't bother getting either of you naked, nor does he prepare you at all in fact. Thankfully, you were already wet.

You don't have the opportunity to ask him to be gentle, to explain you were a bride after all, and it was your wedding night.

Aegon grips your skirts as he fucks you like he means to prove a point. He snaps his hips roughly into you to assert dominance, to exemplify control. Sure, you offered yourself to him, but he was the one doing the work, and you were the one beneath him.

In truth, the pace he set gave you more pain rather than pleasure. And with how pent up he was, the rough tempo he set burnt him out way too quickly before it could make any of you feel good. And when he begins to lag, you start to feel good.

You notice this change and rub your nose against his. He recoils, unused to affection when fucking. It snaps him back into an aggressive trance.

You yelp. Aegon convinced himself it was a sound of bliss.

You kiss his jaw and work your way to his ear, hoping to calm him down. He tenses at the feel of your tongue on his lobe. It stokes flames in his belly and makes him involuntarily roll his hips slower to focus on the attention you're giving. In return, his pace is just enough for him to hit that spot that makes you throw your head back.

Aegon is startled by the scratchy groan that leaves your throat. He finds himself lifting his head to spectate, but you pull him into you by the nape and groan, "like that. Please- gods - that feels good."

His brows tense and he rolls his hips again, finding the same reaction.

You wrap your arms and legs around him, uncaring of how hot and sweaty you were getting. In the heat of the moment, you reach for his lips, needing them, needing something to wrap your own on.

Aegon kisses you. He kisses you with a strange twinge in his chest. He kisses you until he has to pull away and reposition himself to catch his building climax.

In a second, he's back to his fuck-loving self, only self-serving and lustful. As he gazes upon your writhing body, catching the beads of sweat on your skin, the concentration on your face, and the way you chant his name as you part your legs for him, he's overcome by another spirit. To watch you break, to watch you coil and collapse around him felt just as urgent as his need to come.

And so Aegon rubs your clit and forces you to peak first; you do it so well he curses loudly and comes after.

He lays on top of you for a moment, the overwhelming need to be held ripples through his body. He recalls how his whores shoo him away after he's done fucking them though. Before you can cradle him in your arms, he rolls off you.

You close your legs and and watch him strip himself and sequentially change. You watch him get back in bed and bring himself underneath the covers. He goes to sleep.

He fucking goes to sleep.

You feel hollow after this, but tell yourself it's nothing personal. You repeat this as you, yourself, get up and change, sequentially sleeping too. Or at least you try. You have fight the urge to cry for hours before you do.

The next morning, you bring up dragon riding to Aegon, and disappointed as you are, you are unsurprised to find that he was unwilling to give you such a thing.

It was a plain thing you were asking for, you explain. And it's exactly why he doesn't want to do it. It's clearly some trick, something to trap him, something he's going to regret. It was probably some ploy orchestrated by his mother.

Oh gods, he thinks, it's worse. It's a bonding experience so you can make him into your puppet. Fuck. No.

So, he does what he does best, and makes an excuse, "I don't feel like riding today. I'm still exhausted from the festivities."

You purse your lips and nod, "that's understandable. Would you like for me to get you something?"

Wait. You weren't going to argue about him not keeping his end of the deal?

You seem to catch this, considering your response and the way you take his hand. You place his palm on your chest. He can feel your pulse quicken as you mutter, "I am your magic lamp, husband. I wish to please you. I will prove this until you trust me enough to grant me a ride on dragonback."

He narrows his eyes, "you would grant me wishes, all in return for a ride on Sunfyre?"

You smile softly at him, "in return for respite, yes."

He doesn't trust your smile.

"I want to visit the Grey Cliffs. I have for a years now. I went there once as a child and long to go again."

"Why?" he knits his brows at your explanation, "what's there?"

You lower his hand and rub his skin, "respite, my prince."

Aegon pulls his hand away.

Very well. If that is what you want, then he will wear your wishes dry until you find it no longer worth the trouble.

Aegon wishes on his lamp everyday, and his wife sequentially plays entertainer, jester, servant, and slave.

He makes you bring a bottle of wine with you everywhere, and pour him a cup when he wishes. He loathes how you seem unbothered by it. He loathes how you don't even correct a visiting Lord who mistakes you for a cupbearer and simply serve him some wine. The Lord is mortified when he realizes you are his wife, a fucking princess. Aegon hates how you tell the man you were unbothered because you spent your whole life being a cupbearer to your father anyway.

He makes you do trivial tasks as well, sometimes tasks meant for more than one person at a time, and yet you still manage to do them, annoyingly better than the maids. When he demanded you cook him a full course meal, you did so all by yourself, and had the servants looking at you like you were some goddess.

He ripped a hole in his clothes then made you mend it. You covered the hole so seamlessly that he poked a bigger one right in front of you. And even then you don't give him the satisfaction of getting angry. You tell him you will embroider something on top of the hole and he storms off. He overhears you telling the servants, who applaud your level-headedness, that you were used to angry men, because your father was just the same.

You use each of these moments to somehow tell him you were the perfect wife and he had to oblige your stupid request at some point.

But then he found your flaw.

Aegon asked you to play the harpsichord for him, and you told him you did not know how. The woman who knew all did not know something? He would then proceed to hang this over your head. When he asked you for food, he'd tell you how much better it'd taste if he had entertainment. If he asked you to do something physically taxing for him, he's say that he wouldn't have asked you to do it, had you known how to play his 'favorite' instrument. He would use this as the reason why he could never bring you to Grey Cliffs.

It was all fun and games, but then you had to snitch, hadn't you?

"What are you doing to that poor girl!" Queen Alicent barked, making his ears ring.

Aegon groans from where he lies in bed. His mother rips the blankets off him, making him wake in a sour mood.

"She is your wife!" Alicent yells, "not your slave! Fine, you wish her to do tasks for you, tasks for your betterment. But to insult her standing by treating her like a maid is beneath a prince, Aegon!"

Aegon feels his throat tighten at the sight of his angry mother's face, "she is my wife," he growls, "I do with her as I please."

She strikes his cheek.

Aegon's head whips to the side. He doesn't have the energy to look back at her.

"You will no longer parade her as a cupbearer. I will have it decreed you are not ever served a drop of wine if you don't."

Alicent leaves after this. Aegon's anger explodes when the door closes.

He screams and rips at his hair. He kicks furniture around and eventually drops to the floor, exhausted, furious, and hurt. This was all your fault.

He screams again and claws the tears on his face. He slowly exhales through tight lips. His cheek is hot with saltwater. Who was he joking, this was all him.

This was all Aegon's doing.

His breathing is impeded by snot. He walks over to his window and stares at the ground below. If he jumps head first, not even the best maester in Westeros could fix him.

Before he can lean on the ledge, he is paralyzed in his spot by the sound of the door opening.

"I did not know she would be angry with you," you say.

Aegon looks back.

You see his red eyes and wet skin. He is a mirror to your younger self. You feel sick to your stomach. You try to explain, "I only asked if she could find a harpsichord teacher. I did not realize she would take offense in wanting to learn to play for you."

Aegon's heart aches at your naïve response. You were a stupid, perfect wife, and he, a stupid, petulant husband.

"I'm better off dead," he mumbles, looking back out the window. The call of the fall felt inviting, "want to push me, wife?"

You don't respond.

Aegon looks back at you, and suddenly you're only inches away. He tries to evade you, but you manage to catch his hand.

"We could jump together."

"What?"

Your face is blank. You part your lips, and for a moment, your eyes seem desperate, but then it's gone. You sigh, "dying is quite lonely," looking down, "I could keep you company."

Aegon stares at you. Tears stream down his face. "You're mad," he sniffles, yanking his hand away.

He walks over to his bed and collapses on it. He wraps himself in a blanket and feels sorry for himself, and angry at you for suggesting such a thing. Even now you want to be perfect by dying with him?

"I am," you mutter.

Aegon watches as you walk over to him. You sit on the floor beside his bed and look at your hands as you rub them.

"I cannot play the harpsichord, because my father does not like noise," you explain, "I was not allowed to make a sound or else I would be punished."

Aegon covers his head with a blanket but keeps his face visible, "he beat you, didn't he?"

You look at him, eyes melancholy, but still, he is the only one crying, "he beat everyone."

Aegon does not respond.

"I can sing though."

His brow raises, "how can you sing?"

"I would practice whenever he was gone, and sing for my mother in secret. It made her happy... happy enough."

He knew there was more to this confession, but he was too tired to ask about it, too tired to shed more tears.

"Would you like me to sing for you?"

"No."

"..."

"..."

"Would you like me to hold you?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

You stand from where you sat and get on the edge of the bed. Aegon watches as you slowly lie beside him. You bring an arm over him and pull him close. Aegon closes his eyes as you bring him into your chest.

You hold him until he falls asleep. Later that night, he asks you to hold him again. He also asks you to sing to him.

Aegon nestles his face in the crook of your neck. He wraps his arms around your torso, digging his fingers between your flesh and the bed. Your hushed voice reverberates in the bedroom, the song you sing is haunting and soothing. The vibrations from your chest lull him to sleep. You feel wetness pool by your clavicle but you make no note of it.

Aegon asks you to hold him the next morning after breaking fast. He asks you to stay with him in bed and to sing to him some more. When you have to leave his side, he asks to join you and waits until he can have you in his arms again.

Aegon becomes your shadow, and follows you around, under the promise of getting to share in your embrace. As you read and review letters or ledgers, your seat becomes Aegon's lap. He sleeps against you while you work without a fuss, cheek pressed against your back, arms fastened around your waist.

Sometimes, he notices the line that forms between your brows while you read and at some point, asks about it. You explain what causes it, and he is unmoved, as he is uninterested in politics that stress you. But when you read out to him, he finds comfort in your voice and asks you to read some. He falls asleep to your calm droning of circumstances he could not care less about. He groans and groggily awakens when you stop. He mumbles against your skin that you continue, pleadingly so.

When you had to leave the Keep for business, Aegon insisted that he joined you. When you brushed his cheek and explained to him why he could not go and that you would not be long, Aegon pushed you away and stormed off. You left without him anyway, and the treachery he felt was so great, he realized then how he could no longer go day to day without you. What was there to do, if you were not there?

And so Aegon desperately rubs his magic lamp and wishes upon you.

He wishes that you never leave without him again once you return.

He wishes that you promise to no longer make plans without him.

He traps you beneath him on your shared bed and wishes to be inside you. He kisses you and wishes to see you completely bared to him.

Aegon's mind is dizzy as he gazes upon the glory of your skin. He kisses your thighs, your hips, your breast, your lips.

Aegon wishes to surrender to you. He wishes that you undress him. He wishes to pull you on his body like a blanket. He wishes to see you take control. He wishes to see you cast your eyes upon him and lay your weight on his body.

He wishes to see you use him, to take what you need from him, to pleasure yourself, and to make him yours. He squeezes your thighs desperately when you moan out his name. This was much more maddening that what he imagined it would be.

He wishes to feel you come undone around him. He wishes he could forever feel the pleasure he did when he comes right after you do.

He wishes to hold you after. And when he holds you, when you lay on his chest and kiss him there, he wishes to never leave this moment ever again. He wishes to sing to you like you've sung to him.

"What are your plans tomorrow," Aegon asks as he draws nothings on your back.

You lift your head from his chest. He looks at you. You smile, "whatever you wish them to be."

He rubs your back and smiles, "I wish to take you to the Grey Cliffs."

Your expression drops, "what?"

He raises a brow at your reaction. You shift on your place. You straddle him again.

He looks up at you, noticing the line between your brows. He rubs your thighs, "you've granted me all my wishes. It's time I grant you yours." He shifts on his elbows and sits himself up, "it's time you meet my mount and-"

"We don't have to," you cut him off, placing your hands on his shoulders.

Aegon examines your expression. He listens to you sigh.

"I'd like to keep you-- wish to keep you..." you correct yourself, pushing him back down.

He looks up at you, feeling your hands rake up his body.

"...just like this," you finish, eyes solemn, lips curving into a soft smile, "I've not felt a thing like this in my entire life."

Aegon takes one of your hands and places it on his cheek. He whispers it like a secret, "neither have I."

You lean down to kiss him, "I wish to keep like this."

He kisses you back.

He is blindsided by how his wishes came to bite him in the arse. It's all crashing down on him. Suddenly, he wishes he didn't actually do any of those things with you.

He most of all wishes he heard you wrong. He wishes you didn't repeat yourself when he stupidly said, "what?"

"I'm with child," you speak slower, less excited yet excited still.

Aegon wishes you didn't look so excited. He wishes he fucking pulled out, but gods, you felt so good-- you feel so good around him, he felt so good inside you.

He realized the next moment, it couldn't be helped. You were going to have to bear his spawn at one point or another. He wishes you didn't have to. He wishes his seed wouldn't take completely. He wishes you don't take it to term. He wishes he won't have to be a father. Fuck.

He realizes he's been too quiet and you were waiting for a response from him. Your face began to twist. Your smile fades.

"Congratulations," Aegon musters. He feels like he swallowed a metal ball. His eyes wander to your belly. He mumbles mindlessly, "I suppose."

Your face falls.

Aegon looks back at you. Your face is devoid of any semblance of the glow it normally holds. You look sick. You feel sick.

"I see," you say, unintentionally allowing him to hear your voice break. Aegon's brows furrow at it.

He shakes his head, "you will be a great mother," he chuckles dryly, "you mother me so well."

You offer him a smile, but Aegon can see how disconnected it was from your eyes. You say, "thank you."

When you leave him after this, he wishes he hadn't said a word. He wishes he just left it at congratulations. He wishes he just pretended like the idea of having a child didn't mortify him and make him sick to his stomach. He wishes he wasn't so ill-suited to be a father.

Ageon no longer wishes for anything after this.

He no longer wishes to hold you, though he so badly wanted to. He no longer wishes to hear you sing, nor does he wish to hear you read to him. He no longer wishes to be around you, though his body urged him to follow you around like the lost soul he was.

He wishes he didn't wonder what you were doing at every moment of the day. He so desperately wishes to rid you from his mind completely that he drowns himself in his first and only true love, alcohol.

Fuck. He wishes he hadn't taken this route to his room. He wishes you hadn't taken this route to wherever it was you were going. He wishes he just turned around and fled like the coward he was, because then, you wouldn't have spoken to him.

"Husband," you curtsey.

Aegon stiffens and uncomfortably avoids your eyes.

You catch it, feeling your chest tighten painfully. You clear your throat and take a deep breath to steel yourself, "I thought you should know that I will be travelling."

Aegon looks at you.

"I have a ship ready and I'll be visiting the Grey Cliffs. Do not wait up for me."

His face falls. He opens his mouth, but doesn't have an opportunity to speak.

"I thought you should also know that I am no longer carrying."

His eyes widen.

"It's not an uncommon occurrence the first few months," you say simply, "I suppose the gods do not wish me to be a mother."

Aegon feels like a murderer. He wants to say something, to apologize, to comfort you, but he can't. He's too taken aback to do a single thing.

He turns into stone when you take his hand. You step forward and place his palm on your chest. Your heart is slow as you speak, "you won't have to worry about anything anymore, Aegon. Today is the end of our shared torment."

Aegon's stomach drops when you kiss him.

His eyes are glassy. You pull away before he can kiss you back. He wants to hold you, but the sadness in your eyes reminds him he is undeserving. You kiss his wrist, "goodbye, my love. I love you."

His heart thumps as you walk away.

Aegon is manic. He basks in the mess he's made and feels crushed by it all.

He finally acts after wasting so much time feeling sorry for himself. You were long out of his sight by the time he started running. This is why he headed to the dragonpit and got on Sunfyre.

"WAIT!" he screams, just as your boat leaves the dock.

Aegon watches as you run to the edge of the boat. He lands Sunfyre and runs as far to the edge of the docks as he could.

"Aegon-"

"Take me with you!" he pleads, "let me be the one to take you to where you must go!"

You look back. The ship stops. The crew brings down a boat and on it, you are rowed back to the dock.

He crushes you in his arms once he reaches you.

"Aegon," you mutter.

"Forgive me," he shudders, "I... I wish you let me do this for you."

"Aegon," your voice croaks. You push him away, "go home."

His heart drops. He breaks away to look at you. Your words feel like a stab at his thorax. It was presumptuous of him to assume you'd want him back, but it doesn't kill him inside any less.

"I've come to realize this is a trip I must go on myself," you mutter.

He shakes his head, "no. Please." He motions an arm out to his mount, "one wish. That I grant you one wish before you throw me away forever is... is--"

Your throat constricts at his words. Tears rush down your eyes, "I'm not throwing you away--"

"Please," he squeezes both your hands in his, "please, let me do this for you."

The flight to the Grey Cliffs is quiet, save for the whoosh of winds and the roars of the golden dragon you both rode. You always imagined it would be freeing, but only now did you know how it freeing it truly felt to fly. You knew now you'd forever chase the euphoric crush of air against your skin.

Aegon, who sat behind you, looks at your form as you outstretch your arms and close your eyes. Your body presses against him, and in this moment, he is unable to hold back from wrapping an arm around you and sparing a kiss on your shoulder. You are snapped out of your trance because of this.

The Grey Cliffs are dark and gloomy when you get there. Aegon realizes when you land that it got its name from the weather conditions.

He helps you down and surveys the area, trying to make out which part of this drear land was so special to you that you wished to go here.

You catch his expression and squeeze his hand.

Aegon turns to you.

You give a solemn look, "the view is better on the edge."

Aegon strokes Sunfyre's cheek, commanding him to stay before you lead him by the hand to the edge of the cliff. Once you get there, he feels queasy looking down at the crashing waves far beneath him. In contrast, you seem comforted by the view. His brows furrow at the deep breath you give out.

When you look at him, his stomach feels it, the comfort you felt upon witnessing the violent waves. Whatever it was that compelled you to this place was the same force that compelled him to kiss you.

He reaches out for your cheek, his other hand coming to you back. He pulls you close. His heart twinges when you stop him from kissing you.

"Aegon-"

"Forgive me," he cuts, "I beg."

You gawk at him. He brushes your hair which was wildly flinging with the breeze.

"You must know by now that I am craven. I lack the spine and the wit to be of any use to you."

Your eyes water. Your lips quiver.

"I would be a hopeless father, worse than my own, no doubt."

"Aegon," you babble as sobs overtake you.

Aegon, himself, succumbs to tears. He wipes the ones streaming down your face before taking a breath, "but you made me feel a love I do not deserve."

You swallow a heavy lump in your throat.

"I love you," he confesses.

"No," you pierce his heart. You shake your head in disagreement, "Aegon, this is a mistake. Bringing you here was a mistake."

"No!" he blurts louder than needed, "this was a choice," he looks down, "I choose to rip my insides out for you to devour. I am miserable, much more in the heat of your hate, but most of all without you."

His downturned eyes land on your face when you grab his wrists. You croak, "I do not hate you."

Aegon is not relieved by the admission, but he chooses to believe you mean it. He smiles softly, "good."

"But I do hate this life I live."

He clenches his jaw. Of course you do.

"You saved me," you press a hand on his cheek, taking your turn to wipe his tears, "even if for a moment."

"I made you miserable."

You chuckle. The sound makes his heart skip.

"You filled my life with purpose," you smile softly, "even when you did not mean to."

Aegon knits his brows deeply and takes your hands. He brings them to his lips and kisses them.

"But accidents happen. You must remember that accidents happen all the time."

Aegon shakes his head, "this is not an accident. Believe me when I say I chose to do this, I- ... I choose to love you."

You sob and turn to your feet.

"Please... believe me."

You sniffle and nod, slowly looking up at him, "I believe you."

You lunge into his arms and seal him into a tight hug. He hugs you back like it's his only way of surviving.

A crack of thunder startles Sunfyre. He becomes restless and steals away Aegon's attention, panicked that he might flee and leave them here.

He pulls away and takes a step towards her. He holds your hand, urging you to follow, "we should go before it rains."

You hug him from behind and press your face into his back, "thank you for taking me on Sunfyre."

"It was a long time coming."

"I've always wondered what it would be like to fly. And now that I know how peaceful it is, I'm ready to fly one last time."

He turns to you as you slowly come to his side. You hold his hand. He looks at you as you turn to Sunfyre. He promises, "I will take you on dragonback as many times as you wish."

You smile, but your eyes are fixed on his dragon. You release his hand and wrap your arms around yourself, "he is beautiful. You must never tire looking at him."

Aegon gazes upon Sunfyre. He takes in his golden scales and has newfound appreciation.

You take a step back.

"He is. To be honest, it's been long since I, myself, took him out of the pit. He must enjoy this day as much as you do."

"Aegon, you must understand that what I have to say has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with me."

Aegon turns to you. He watches you tighten your arms around yourself. You must be cold. He rubs your shoulders.

You shake your head and turn him back to his dragon, "look at Sunfyre."

He knits his brows, "I'm looking."

"For so long," you release him, "I've wanted to fly free, to find my peace here in the cliffs. This was before I even met you." You point at the golden dragon, "I choose to love you too, but accidents happen, like if Sunfyre were to fly away, and you were to be left here alone."

Aegon stares at his ride for a moment as you lower your hand. He tries to makes sense of your words, but he cannot for the life of him understand.

He sighs, "what accident? Why do you keep-"

Aegon is flooded by confusion when he turns and finds you nowhere behind him. A split second later, he lets a horrified scream and the fear that claws into him makes his knees buckle. He crumbles to the ground and crawls to the edge of the cliff. He screams so loud that Sunfyre roars back and comes towards him.

Aegon watches as the red seafoam bubbles at the foot of the cliff. He watches as the crimson waves slowly slosh back into its original tint.

Rain begins to pour, and his tears taste no longer salty.

Was this the flying you ached for? Was this the relief you sought?

When he returns to King's Landing, dripping wet, he breaks down in front of his mother, weeping as he clutched his skirts.

Queen Alicent is obviously disturbed. She instructs her servants to get his son a change of clothes and some towels. She looks down at him, "what's happened? What's wrong, Aegon?"

"An accident-" he barely manages to say, "there's been an accident."

"An accident?!"

Aegon's mind goes blank. A bitter taste

You don't know what you have until it's gone.

[writingforatwistedworld]

Hi!! I really love your writting🥰 i would like to request for the self-aware au, Reader hiding behind them after being chased by some particularly pushy NPCs with Rook, Trey, and Jack please❤️

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, murder, description of violence, blood, obsession, stalking

Trey Clover/Jack Howl/Rook Hunt-Hiding behind them

Ah, what a nice day. In fact, it is perfect for trying out that recipe with that dough that needed to rest for a while

Or rather, that was his plan for the day until he suddenly heard two pairs of footsteps rushing into the dorm kitchen

And no, it was not the kind of footsteps that spoke of joy like the ones of his siblings did. from time to time, it sounded panicked

Just a second later you entered the kitchen with an octavinelle student, the latter one trying to catch up to you

Before the baker could figure out what was going on, you were suddenly behind him, using his body as a shield

Oh… oh!

Was this guy harassing you?

How dare he? How dare-

Deep breaths. Very deep breaths - would be something he would have said to himself if he wasn't this angry

By some miracle, he was able to hold himself together

He was this close to loose his reputation as "that nice hat wearing baker"

A strict look towards the student and you were finally alone with him

For you the whole thing was over but for that student?

Suddenly the poor lad fell ill, claiming that he had stomach problems

Heck, he couldn't even keep his food down

Such a shame... Trey surely hoped he would survive

Who else could he secretly gift those cakes? You? Oh no... It's just that he experiments with some new recipes...

Ignore that bottle in the cupboard

Jack is someone who keeps his friends very close and is not afraid to stand up for them

Only that he saw you as someone more precious than a friend

So when he saw you running away from a student and slipping behind him he saw the world just a tiny bit tinted red

The young wolf beastman isn't someone who uses violence just because he can do or feel like using it

(Honestly, at this point he is more like your little dog than some fearsome wolf)

Just because he didn't turn the student into very biological and mushy fertiliser for the flowers then and there doesn't mean he was calm though

Grabbing the not so nice company of yours, he told you to not worry and leave your little problem to him

Ah yes, Jack Howl, that kind acquaintance of yours

How nice of him

But you know, there are also tales about wolves acting as if they are kind just to devour you

Of course Jack didn't do that

Does not mean that things went as peaceful as you thought they did after you left

Jack usually keeps his instincts under control but on that evening he had to cut his nails very short and scrub his hands

Anyone would be horrified after the sensation of calcium breaking under their hand, splintering like old, dried out wood under a saw

He should feel guilty but... it was hard to do so

Which brings us back to a sink being used by a certain beastman

Geez, some things are so hard to get off of skin once it dries, wouldn't you agree?

First of all, it's a wonder the hunter wasn't watching you from a tree (or something like that... who knew bushes could walk in this world)

If he had he would have immediately revealed himself by slithering in between you and that oh so foolish first year

But alas, apparently a miracle happened and this time it was you seeking out him

When Rook heart the certain sound of your shoes hitting the ground he was swivelling around, a poem about his devotion towards you already on his tongue...

And them you hid behind his arm curtains (you know, their dorm uniforms sleves)

Did hiw beloved Overseer, perfection and liberatir in person finally choose him as their most favorite- no? Ok that's cool too

If this was any other situation he would have started a speech in his wannabe French, stating how short he was by your rejection

But right now he had to deal with your little stalker (don't try to act all innocent, Rook, you did the same many more times than they ever could without being noticed)

Trying to calm you down the hunter brought you to Pomfiore

And nothing weir happened

No I am not joking, Rook was his usual normal self (if we want to call at best flirtatious remarks and at worst frantic devoted ramblings normal)

From then on you were much closer to the hunter

Especially after a body was found

And oh, how grateful Rook was for not having the time to get rid of the body on that day

Of course, he had noticed how ce fou followed you two to the dorm

How trusting you were when he told you that he wanted to get you two something to drink...

And there the parasite still was, lingering around the entrance of his dorm

The only regret Rook had was finishing his job so quickly

It was always such a bore whenever his prey wouldn't squirm

Well, at least you were now close to him

Just be careful, the hunter was also back then the one bringing her highness a false heart. Who knows how much he would lie to get you all to himself?

Uh and… maybe don't open that box he has in his room in a cooler. He told you he keeps some sort of trophy in there and I think that is all we need to know

[cyberkitty1]

pt 2/2 of the crybaby reader x earth42 Miles Morales

MAJOR MAJOR spoilers!! read with caution.

i said tomorrow night but I worked my butt off to get it done today!!

Aaron makes his way to Miles and room not even bothering to knock, I mean why would he? He just watched his nephew make his own girlfriend who would do anything for him cry. He was beyond furious.

“So now we are just going around making people cry?” Miles smirks at him “man I am literally the prowler? all i make people do is cry and beg for their life” he says almost laughing.

Aaron sighs pinching the bridge of his nose.” you are not supposed to let your job interfere with your normal life, you know that. Now you’re chasing your girl, the girl your supposed to love away? are you serious?”

Miles looks at him annoyed “ why wouls you care all she ever does is cry, shes happy she cries, shes mad she cries, shes sad she cries, man even when shes bored she cries. its annoying” he says holding his face in his hands.

Aaron walks to the bed and sits next to him. He’s never been put in this situation so he doesn’t know what to say. “ you’re dad was a lot better doing this than i ever was.” Miles visibly stiffens, this was the first time he’s brought up his dad since his funeral.

“ Miles I know you have been through a lot, more then i ever will but that doesn’t give you a reason to act that way towards her, she only wants whats best for you and she loves you with everything shes got. I would kill for a person like that to be in my life. I know you reacted like this because you feel you don’t have anyone to talk to but i’m always here man you know this.”

He wrapped an arm around his shoulder.” So don’t be taken your anger out on your girl she just loves you ok?” Miles sighs realizing, he was way to harsh in you you shouldn’t have been ignoring you and now he feels like a fool.

“ Yea, ill talk to her tomorrow” Aaron smiles, “ good I don’t need the only person who can get you to open up gone, now do i?” he says laughing a bit.

* Next Morning *

You didnt get a wink of sleep that night you where thinking about all the things you could have done to upset him that much. You werent mad just confused, confused as to why he would react that way. Of course you will still love him but this still hurt.

You were lost in thought when you realize someone texted you, it was Miles? You wasted no time to open it.

miles. can you come over later today?

you. yea

miles. dress comfortable

you were nervous, was he breaking up with you? You had no idea what to expect with how you guys left everything yesterday there was many directions this could go.

Hours later ( im lazy )

You got ready and made your way over to his place. Knocking on the door he answered “hola cariño ven conmigo” he helped you in with a warm smile taking your hand. Shutting the door behind you he led you into his bedroom sitting you down on his bed. He stood looking at you kind of nervous? he started:

“Voy a decir esto en español para que todo salga bien. Te amo mucho y siento mucho haberte tratado de una manera que nunca te mereces. Lamento haberte hecho llorar y haberte hecho sentir que hiciste algo mal. Todo lo que haces es amarme y tratarme bien, pero yo te traté como si no me importara. Y por eso lo siento mucho y espero que lo encuentres en tu corazón para perdonarme.”

(I'm going to say this in Spanish so that everything goes well. I love you very much and I am so sorry that I treated you in a way that you never deserve. I'm sorry I made you cry and made you feel like you did something wrong. All you do is love me and treat me right, but I treated you like I didn't care. And for that I am very sorry and I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me.)

You waited and listened to him through and through and when he was done you spoke. “ Miles I will forever love you, you know that. I know that you are going through something but why didn’t you tell me? why don’t you talk to me? why wont you let me in?” you said holding his hands.

“No quería que pensaras menos en mí, que me consideraras débil.” You look at him sympathetically “ Miles I would never, never ever think of you as weak ok? Whenever you need me I will be there with you, I love you miles so much.” and with that, you were crying.

(“I didn't want you to think less of me, to consider me weak.”)

“mi princesa por favor no llores odio cuando lloras” he said wiping your tears away “ I know and i’m sorry that i’m always crying about everything i know it annoys you” you say sniffling. He feeling you pulling at his heart strings, feeling the worse he has felt since his father’s passing.

("My princess please don't cry I hate when you cry"’)

“ahora me tienes a punto de llorar mami, te quiero mucho y me arrepiento de haberte dicho que te encontré una llorona. Nunca debí haberte dicho eso, eres mi todo, ¿lo sabías? Debería disculparme contigo, lamento haberte tratado de esa manera, ¿me perdonarías?” He said with tears in his eyes.

(“Now you have me about to cry mommy, I love you very much and I regret having told you that I found you a crybaby. I never should have told you that, you are my everything, you know that? I should apologize to you, I'm sorry I treated you that way, would you forgive me?")

You held his face looking into his eyes with so much adoration. “ Miles I will forever love you, I forgive you, I will forgive you ten times over.” You said resting your head on his. After a few minutes he wipes his tears saying “ I forgot I wanted you to watch a movie with me if you forgave me.” You smile at him giving him a kiss.

“ Thank you Miles,i appreciate it all.” he sighs “ Ma, stop saying stuff like that I need to be saying sorry to you” he says looking you in your eyes.

And with that he sits on his bed back against the headboard with you tucked into his side, eating snacks and watching your favorite movies.

( this or this )

He suddenly turns to you and says “te amo mas que la cantidad de estrellas en el cielo” he says looking into your eyes. You turn to him resting your hand ok his face, hearing your voice that sounds like honey.

("I love you more than the number of stars in the sky")

“yo tambien te amo mi principe”

( "I love you too my prince")

Part 3 of the earth 42 Miles spoiling you will be done as soon as I can 🙏🏾

A/n: overlook the fact that i spelt honey as hunny 😔 ( its changed now)

[dollypopup]

"Colin should have grovelled more!" "Penelope folded too easily"

I think statements like this typically come from people who like Penelope. . .but don't really understand her. And don't really understand just why she cares for Colin, and just why him groveling would not in any way bring her peace.

Penelope and Colin are kindred spirits in their loneliness, in season 3 more than any others. Penelope had lost her friendship with Eloise, and Colin didn't really have a close friend circle to begin with. Except with Pen. Pen was the person he could put the mask down for, could open up to, (in particular with their 'dreams' discussion) and that's why he couldn't even entertain the idea of giving up talking to her in Season 2. She is a vital part of his life, and holds so much significance and importance to him.

I imagine that's what made their silence over his travels especially painful for him. They spent such a long time talking after Season 1, and he even informs her that her letters were so encouraging, that it helped him heal something inside of himself. That if she could see him in a gentle way. . .so could he. (And he repays this, because he is honest to god out here acting and looking at her like she hung the moon in the sky). But without her presence in his life, he spiraled. Didn't feel confident in being who he is, and thus put on his persona more firmly. We know this because he wrote in his journal that "I want to be less needy, less insecure, while still maintaining the core of my vulnerability that makes me who I am". That he misses his family, that he misses home.

And we know, from the books, that Home? Home is Penelope. Penelope is his North Star, is his guiding force, and who I argue he feels he needs. In his very first scene, he looks toward her house, tries to find her in the window. When he does not, he returns to his family. In the outdoor gathering, he looks for her and finds her, eager to talk. He states aloud that he misses her, and I imagine he wrote it, too. Not hearing back from her over the course of his travels was surely something that hurt him, but he doesn't hold any ill will toward her for it, only wants to reconnect again. In fact, the one and only time he brings up how he misses her and that she didn't respond, she makes very clear the reason why: she heard what he said and it hurt her. And he's ashamed of it.

Colin hears her call him cruel, and instead of ruffling his feathers about it, instead of getting upset, instead of having a chip on his shoulder as I feel so many men would about it. . .he understands why she does so.

Penelope is a woman who has been largely treated poorly in her society. She feels unheard, she feels undesired, and in her circumstances, and I can't help but ask myself. . .has anyone ever truly apologized to Penelope for hurting her, before? Her mother? Her sisters? Eloise, likely, but. . .anyone else? And the way Colin did? Because of all the characters in the show, Colin? Colin knows how to apologize. He has a lot of practice in it. And very importantly: Colin, a man of privilege in his society, apologizes. . .predominately to women. To Marina, to his mother, and multiple times to Penelope.

Ultimately, Penelope wants to be heard, Penelope wants to be understood, Penelope wants to feel desired.

And Colin checks every single one of those boxes. He informs he is not who he was before, and then he proves it to her. He hears that he hurt her, and he comments on it directly. An entire night apart, and he comes back to her 'Because I embarrass you' with 'I am most certainly not ashamed of you', replies to her 'I am a laughingstock' with 'you are clever, and warm, and I am proud to call you my good friend'. He hears her proclaim her own insecurities, and empathizes so deeply with her. He listens. He understands. He makes clear that he cares for her, and that she *is* desired. 'You lift my spirits' 'I seek you out at every social assembly'. That she helps him see the world in ways he loves, that he sees HER and how much she has cared for HIM, that she makes him feel appreciated, that he appreciates her, in turn.

And then? Then? He shows her. He tells her, and he shows her. His actions all throughout Season 3 reinforce this apology. He continues looking for her in every corner of every ballroom, he continues complimenting her, he laughs at her jokes and respects her boundaries, he is ever so gentle with her, he listens to her with an attentiveness that no one else has ever given her. To Lady Whistledown? Sure. But to Penelope? Who else in the entirety of that ton has listened to Penelope the way Colin has?

Absolutely no one.

Penelope Featherington ghosts Colin Bridgerton for months with no explanation, and Colin comes back wanting to reach out to her, and she finally tells him why.

And he apologizes. Because he listens. Really, truly listens. And really truly cares.

I need you to understand how rare that is, even nowadays, but especially back then. That Colin is the kind of man who can put his hurt to the side and realize he made a mistake, that he said something callous, and he adores her, and he can't lose her, and he has to see her and make it right.

Because that's why Penelope fell for Colin. Not because he's beautiful, not for his charm, not for his family. But for his heart. Because he shows her kindness in a world that so often disregards her. Because he seeks her out and tries to understand her, truly hears what she has to say and compliments her, says he's sorry and looks at things from her perspective.

Because he saw her when she was invisible.

Penelope Featherington, who grew up in a house that made cruel jabs at her, has Colin Bridgerton come to her and say he regrets what he said, and that he was wrong, and that he understands why she's mad at him. Penelope Featherington who has so rarely had much of anyone tell her that they're sorry for what they said about her, sits before Colin Bridgerton as he professes how much she means to him. That he cannot even spend a full day away from her knowing they're on bad terms with each other without making it right. That he sees how she is hurting and he has to in any way he can amend it. She is lonely, with no one really in her corner at the start of season 3, and she feels like she lost it all, and Colin comes to her and says 'no, I'm here and I appreciate you and you are special to me, please let me in and let me prove it'. Is it any wonder why after she shakes his hand, she stands in the sun, and she feels the warmth of it, she can smile? That she can breathe, again? That she can be truly content for the first time in the season?

Because Penelope Featherington does not want Colin to beg. She knows him. She knows the tender, full heart he hides behind the new cavalier persona. She knows the soft underbelly of Colin Bridgerton.

He never had to grovel. All he had to do was love her. Assuredly. Fervently. Loudly. Unapologetically.

And he does.

[anonymityisfunwriter]

Question...? Act V - “On your mind with some dickhead guy…”

Pairing - Steve Rogers x Reader Summary - After years of back and forth, years of unknowns, a lifetime of questions, it's time for answers.

Question...? Mini Series List | Steve Rogers Masterlist

1 Year Earlier... 

“Can I ask you a question?” 

The question is so timid. It's just loud enough for him to hear you over the music that plays in the bar. It was strange. The way you speak to him. The way he speaks to you. How you hold yourself tense and guarded. Once upon a time, Steve was your safe space, the person you trusted more than anyone, but that couldn't be any further from the truth now. 

Sure, you'd reconciled since that ill-fated glorified make out session. Almost two years had come and gone. And still, you both knew that things were never quite the same.

Steve looks on for a moment. There's a palpable tension as he stares at his now warm bottle of beer. He nods, taking another long pull from the bottle, “Go for it.” 

You finish the last of your cocktail, turning to face him, “What do you think of him? Be honest.” 

He does his very best not to grit his teeth or roll his eyes. There was a reason he was here tonight. There was a reason you invited all of your friends here tonight. To meet you newest boyfriend. The newest in a string of boyfriends from the last two years.

Steve snorts, “I haven’t even talked to the guy yet.” 

You roll your eyes, flagging down the bartender, “Yeah, like that’s ever stopped you from passing judgment on any of my dates.” 

A smile pulls at the corner of his mouth, “You could do better.” 

You scoff, “You always say that.” 

It's Steve's turn to roll his eyes. A soft, playful laugh escapes his lips, “I do not always say that.” 

“You do!" you exclaim, a hint of a laugh threaded through your words. "You always say that!” 

“Why do you even care what I think?” 

“Because you’re my best friend.” 

“I’m surprised you didn’t revoke that title from me after I acted like such an asshole.” 

Steve instantly regrets bringing it up when he sees your smile momentarily slip. You shake your head, “That was almost two years ago, and we’re in such different places now. It’s water under the bridge.”

“I know. I just - I would understand if things couldn’t go back to the way they were. Like I said I was an asshole. I’m surprised you even care what I think, clearly I’m not very good at this whole dating thing.”

His shoulders tense at the reminder. Now, the shoe was on the other foot.

For two years, he watched as you dated countless losers and dickhead guys.

For two years, he watched, knowing he didn't have a right to do a damn thing about it. He'd lost that right two years ago.

You hesitantly rest your hand on his shoulder, “Listen, I know things were a little tense with us, but you’re still my best friend, Steve. Of course I care what you think.” 

He returns a smile that he only hopes looks more sincere than it feels. That's all he was to you these days. A friend. He knows the 'best' was only for old time's sake. For all intents and purposes, Bucky had taken that role from him. He couldn't even blame you for it, not in the slightest. You'd been more kind and generous than he deserved.

Even now, you were here talking to him, metaphorically reaching out to him again.

You always gave him so much more than he deserved.

Perhaps that's why he was so insistent and stubborn about the losers you dated. Deep down, he knows you deserve so much more than they could ever give you, so much more than he could ever give you.

“You’re my best friend too.”

“Can you just say that again on camera?” you joke, reaching for your phone. “I need to rub that in Bucky’s face.”

“Not a chance.”

“Come on, we should head to the table. They’ll be waiting for us.” 

He helps you with the round of drinks for the table, walking behind you as you walk towards a different man. He watches as you settle back next to your boyfriend. 

“Ahh… the famous Steve.” Your boyfriend reaches out to shake Steve’s hand. Steve already hates the man. He doesn't like the glaring smell of booze coming from his breath. The way he snakes an arm around you like he's staking a claim on you in front of Steve. “I gotta keep an eye on you.” 

“Excuse me?” Steve cocks an eyebrow, a tight grimace hardening on his face. 

Sam quickly chimes in with an awkward chuckle. “Just ignore Steve, he’s a little grumpy tonight.”

“Women troubles?” your boyfriend guesses. 

Steve does his very best to tamper his reaction. If only for your sake. He nods, graciously taking the life preserver that Sam threw his way. “Something like that.” 

“You can’t live with them, but you can’t live without them, am I right?” he jokes, tossing a heavy arm over your shoulder. 

It's clear to everyone at the table that your new boyfriend was more than a little far gone by that point. Bucky’s gaze finds yours, he quirks an eyebrow at you, silently asking you what the hell you were thinking. 

You shoot a glare at him while your boyfriend stares at Steve for another long moment. You turn to your boyfriend, smiling as you introduce your friends, “Anyway… this is Bucky, who lived down the street from me and Steve when we were kids. And this is Sam and his girlfriend, Natasha. Sam works with Steve at the VA.”

Your boyfriend tips his head at the group, “It’s nice to meet you all.”

“So how did you two meet?” Natasha asks. 

Before you can answer, he talks over you, “Mutual friend from work. I told him I wanted the most beautiful woman in the building, but she wasn’t available.”

A laugh bubbles out of his throat at his own joke at your expense. Even you find yourself at a loss for words, awkwardly chuckling at your boyfriend’s strange attempt at a joke. 

“Well,” Sam clears his throat, doing his best to remedy the increasingly awkward situation, “You, um, you two must be hitting it off pretty well if she’s introducing you to all of us at once.”

"I'd say so," your boyfriend snorts. “It’s an interesting group you’ve got here.” 

“Oh yeah,” Bucky agrees. “We’ve all known each other for years. I don’t know life without these idiots.” 

“Huh…” your boyfriend tsks. 

Your heart sinks as you realize what's about to start drunkenly pouring out of your boyfriend's mouth. You rest your hand on his chest, "Please don't start. Let's have a good time tonight."

He shakes off your hand, rolling his eyes. “No, it's fine! Come on, you said you're all friends, aren't you?” 

Bucky’s eyebrows furrow. “Yeah…”

He turns to Sam, “And you’re okay with that?”

Sam’s signature goofy grin falters for a moment. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Your boyfriend shrugs. “It’s just… weird.” 

You look at Steve, who remains stoically staring at your boyfriend with a look that could kill. Bucky’s gaze volleys to you, then to Steve, then back to you. “Why is that weird?”

“It’s just unnatural.”

Bucky bites back his sarcastic retort, shaking his head as he refuses to respond to that. Natasha pipes in, “Unnatural? Why is that ‘unnatural’?”

“Come on, babe,” he cajoles you. “Back me up here.”

The truth of the matter was that this night was supposed to assuage your boyfriend’s concerns about your friendship group. Mostly where Steve and Bucky were concerned. He simply couldn't fathom that your relationship was truly platonic. And while, that was only partially true where Steve was concerned, you weren't about to give him more reason to be jealous and petty.

And you never in your wildest dreams thought that he would bring it up in front of them.

You lean closer to him, your voice dropping, “Can we please talk about this in private?”

“Come on,” he scoffs, brushing you off. “I just think it’s a little weird for men and women to be as tight knit as you guys are.” 

“What the hell does that mean?” Steve sharply asks.

Other than just outright disagreeing with your new boyfriend's hot take, Steve can't help but wonder how could this guy not recognize that meeting your girlfriend's friends wasn't exactly an appropriate place for talking about gender roles and friendship dynamics?

Your eyes dart to Steve, silently imploring him to reel in his clear frustration. 

Your boyfriend tosses back yet another drink before leaning in and smirking at Steve. “Nothing, it’s just - how close are you guys really?” 

“Does the concept of friendship evade you or somethin’?” Steve bites back. "Or are you too drunk off your ass to think straight?"

“Whoa, whoa!" Your boyfriend raises his hand, feigning innocence. He condescendingly adds, "I’m just saying. I think it’s weird.”

“So if it bothers you, why the hell are you here tonight?” Steve snarls. 

“Steve,” you hiss. You lean over across the table, trying to implore him to behave, "That's enough." 

“I never said it bothered me." Your boyfriend settles back into his seat, finally removing his hands from you entirely. "I mean, maybe if I was more serious about her, it would bother me.”

Your eyes flicker to Steve with an apologetic expression. You take your boyfriend's hand, trying to pull him out of the booth. “He’s kidding.”

“Is he?” Steve challenges. 

Your boyfriend wrenches his hand out of your grip, only enraging Steve even further with his clear lack of consideration for you. 

“Oh please, like you haven’t thought about it?” His gaze volleys between Steve and Bucky. "Passing her around between the two of you?”

“Hey,” Bucky warns. 

Your cheeks flame, partially covering your face in embarrassment, “It’s fine, Bucky. He’s drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s saying.” 

“I think I’m right on the money,” your boyfriend slurs. “I see how Stevie’s been looking at you. All night he’s been watching you.” 

“I’m warning you,” Steve rumbles. “Shut your mouth before I knock a few teeth out.”

“Steve!” you scold. “That’s enough!” 

Your boyfriend chuckles, tossing back the rest of your drink, “Don’t worry, when I’m done you can have my sloppy seconds.”

The moment the words leave your now ex-boyfriend’s mouth, Steve’s fist flies.

And just like he promised, it lands square in the face. You swear you can hear the impact with a sickening crunch of his nose. A shocked gasp flies out of your mouth as your boyfriend's hand clutches his nose.

He whines in pain, "You asshole!"

There's not much Steve can say or do as the bouncer reacts, hauling Steve out of the booth. Sam dashes over to the bar for a rag for your boyfriend's bloody nose. 

And in spite of your now ex-boyfriend's medical emergency, you storm after Steve. You throw the door to the bar open to find Steve taking deep breaths in the brisk, nighttime air. “What the hell, Steve?”

He stares out into the street like he also can't believe what he just did. “I’m - I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?" you repeat in disbelief. "What the hell were you thinking?”

“I don’t know.” 

“You don’t know? You just got into a pissing match with my boyfriend and you don’t know?” 

His hand rakes through his hair, “I’m drunk, alright? Things got out of hand.” 

“You aren’t drunk," you accuse. "And even if you were, it doesn’t justify you breaking someone’s nose!”

Steve whirls around with a harsh glare, “So you’ll excuse his actions, but not mine?” 

“I’m not excusing anything!" you shout back. "I was trying to de-escalate, but you seemed pretty hellbent on making things worse!” 

“I am not going to let anyone talk about you like that. Especially some sleazy, dickhead guy that doesn’t deserve you.” 

“You don’t get to tell me what I deserve!" You know you're fully yelling at this point, but you can't bring yourself to care. Your blood boils. "You don’t get to tell me that every guy I bring around is an asshole!”

"I know that!" he explodes. You freeze. He rakes his fingers through his hair. His chest heaves, his shoulders rising and falling like he can't breathe without you. "I know that. And it kills me! Can't you see that it's killing me?" 

You suck in a breath, your eyes blowing wide. "Steve..."

His eyes are pleading, “Doesn’t it feel like everything is just second best?”

"What?" 

"Nothing." He shakes his head repeatedly. "Like I said, I'm drunk." 

You know he's lying. That's clear to Steve. But when he looks at you, he sees those 3 months.

More specifically those three months after that ill fated night. It took you three months to even be in the same room as him, another month before you could even look him in the eye, and yet another month to even say more than a few words to him.

It took all that time and an intervention from Bucky to get even a whisper of you back in his life. 

He looks at you, and he sees the last two years. Two years without his best friend. He feels your absence all at once, hitting him like a ton of bricks. He recalls the feeling of you beneath his fingertips. He recalls the way his heart shattered just a little more every time you declined his calls, ignored his messages. 

His heart hammers against his ribcage with that realization.

Because when he looks at you, he sees the loss of his life.

A loss he's not sure he could bear. He's not strong enough. Not brave enough. So if this is all he can have, if all he gets are whispers of you, he'll take it. 

He'll do anything to keep you, even if it means he'll never get to have all of you. 

As you take a step forward, he takes two steps back. He shakes his head, "I'm sorry." 

And without another word, he leaves. 

Question...? Mini Series List Inspired By Taylor Swift Steve Rogers Masterlist

Taglist: @marianita195 @meli18gonzalez @ludicbouquetfromearth @matchat3a @famousbreadcherryblossomsstuff @valoraxx @blue786sworld @buckyandgeraltsupremacy @geminigengar @ansaturn @ecolle @lexhalstead3 @ybflkmj @mediocre-daydreams@shanye1112 @thegirlnextdoorssister @toomanyfanficsbruh @moonlightreader649 @breathtaking-cynthia @mirikusashes @beans-and-toast @niyahcoca @katiechikin @elxvrr @antiheroxsblog @infamouslyclumsy @krissydclayton93 @buckysbarne @deadheadwbedhead @qualitygiantshoepsychic @whitexwolfxx310 @getosprettyboy @matchat3a @weallhaveadestiny @mostlymarvelgirl @honeydew3064 @michealharrypotter @mrs-bucky-barnes-73 @withyoutilltheendoftheline @the-photo-hoe @rae-nna @sarachabeans1@double-shot-of-tequila @spookyparadisesheep @lunaalovesyouu @daisy-loves-bucky@roseproseposts @theoraekenslover@king814318 @maybesomedaytho @carlie-babes99 @sunshinechikin @as-white-as-snow-love @melala1030 @badasswlthafatass @armystay89 @multiversefanfics @cherrysscinema @breathlesspieceofdeath @ravenn-darkholme @bxckybxrnes24 @guiltyasreid @bellabarnes1378 @blithecapricorn @mrsnikstan

[tedwardremus]

Career Advice with James F. Potter

"Alright, Evans?"

"Hmm," Lily replied with a quill between her teeth, not looking up from the pamphlet she was reading.

James Potter leaned in above her, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. "What's got you so engrossed, Evans?"

Lily sighed, lifting her eyes from the pamphlet and taking the quill from her mouth. "Nothing, just trying to figure out what I want to do after Hogwarts."

"Ah, an age-old dilemma," James said with an air of mock authority, "But worry not, my dear Evans. James F. Potter is here to rescue you from the clutches of career confusion."

James cranked his head to read the title of the pamphlet Lily was holding, "The Hilgard Apothecary Apprentice Program for Medicinal Potineering," he let out an admiring whistle. "Got to be pretty swotty for that."

James plopped down on the couch beside Lily, holding a career pamphlet of his own. Lily assumed he must have just come from Professor McGonagall's office for his own career advice meeting. And, of course, wherever Potter went - so did his friends. Sirius Black fell gracefully onto the armchair across from them, swinging his legs across one of the arms of the chair as his dark hair fell into his eyes.

Remus Lupin, on the other hand, stayed standing. Lily thought he looked like he was having an inner fight about whether to sit down or crawl back into bed.

"Come on, Moony, grab some couch." Potter patted the empty seat impatiently next to him. “We have important matters of future employment to discuss.”

"Can we not?" Black groaned, "All anyone wants to talk about this past week is career advice. It is getting dreadfully boring."

"Everyone but Moony, I don't think I've heard him talk about his plans after Hogwarts once."

"Err.." Remus was looking at his shoes, avoiding eye contact with his friends, "There isn't much to talk about. I think I'll just go to the dorm, I am very tired."

"Come on Moony, you are top in Care of Magical Creatures as well as your strong Defense marks, plus you're a fucking prefect, and you tutor all those first years! There is plenty to talk about! You could walk into any job you want!"

"You know none of that matters." Remus gave James a pointed look. "And I don't want to talk about it."

"Listen, Remus," James was insistent and staring his friend down "I will do everything I can to ensure you get whatever job you want. You're a hard worker and one of the nicest blokes I've ever met. And if the worst-case scenario happens, I'll make sure you're OK. You know that right?"

"I just can't think about anything right now, I'm going to --"

"This is nonsense! Remus, your little problem shouldn't stop you from --"

"Lay off it, James" Sirius interjected. "Let Remus go nap before he passes out on his feet again." James waved his hand in the air as if to give Remus permission to retreat to his bed. With a tired "see you later" Remus wearily walked up the stairs to his dorm.

"Does he really think his illness will prevent him from getting a job? That's awful!" Lily couldn't help but voice her concern. Lily didn't know exactly what his illness was (though Severus has his theories, and she didn't appreciate his disgust at the idea he proposed) but she knew Remus and the idea that he felt his future was already decided against him upset her. Remus didn't deserve to feel judged like that.

"Don't worry Evans, he'll be fine," James assured Lily. "Remus can't help but be a bit self-loathing now and then but he's my friend and I'll make sure he's OK."

"Come on, Prongs, I meant it when I said this career talk was boring." Sirius tossed a pillow from his chair at James.

Ignoring his best friend, James leaned forward towards Lily, a spark of excitement in his hazel eyes. "So medicinal potions? That's quite the goal, Evans."

"Professor Slughorn suggested it. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a nurse, like my mum was during the war, but I had no clue about magical careers. Brewing potions for the hospital sounds interesting." Lily bit her lip and furrowed her brow. "The wizarding world is funny though. In the muggle world, you'd go on to more specialized schools or universities to qualify for a career. Here it's all about connections and apprenticeships. It's very overwhelming for those of us who grew up in the muggle world."

"If you really are intersted in becoming a potions master I could introduce you to my dad." James suggested, "He's a renowned potioneer. I'm sure he could help you get an internship."

"Oh no! That is not necessary! Please don't bother him!" The last thing Lily wanted was to owe a favor to James Potter.

"It won't be a problem at all though! He sold his company a few decades ago so he has lots of time on his hands but he still belongs to some potion societies and keeps up with the top potioneers in the field. He loves helping young people get started. He'd be thrilled to be asked!"

Sirius, who had been twirling his wand between his fingers, looked up at Lily. "Fleamont's a good guy, very principled. He won't help if he thinks you're not qualified. You should let James write you an introduction."

"I'll think about it... Speaking of qualifications," Lily wanted to change the subject as the thought of Potter asking his father to help her get an internship ignited an odd fluttering sense in her stomach and a small heat rise to her cheeks. It was all very confusing. "What about you, Black? Any career aspirations?"

Sirius merely shrugged "All I know is I'm not keen on the Ministry. Wouldn't take their gold for anything."

"Well, what do you like? What are your hobbies?" Lily always thought Black was a bit of a mystery. A certifiable genius, everyone knew that, and while Lily had seen him take pride in his top marks in every class her took, Lily also knew he had issues with authority and would rather spend his time outside than in a classroom. And while every breath he took exhibited his aristocratic upbringing and he walked around with an air of unshakable privilege, He was in Gryffindor while the rest of his family was in Slytherin and Lily knew he didn't talk to his brother or any of his cousins.

"Nothing out of the ordinary astronomy, crosswords... mapmaking." He shared a sly grin with James on that last word, like it was an inside joke.

"Mapmaking? Sounds like you want to be a pirate." Lily deadpanned while James chuckled from beside her.

"What about you, Potter?" Lily asked, "You just came from your career talk. What insight did McGongall give you?"

"Well, we talked Quidditch, but much to her disappointment, I'm not sure if I want to stick with it after school. Turing professional kind of ruins the fun of it, you know?"

Sirius leaned back in his chair, a smirk on his face. "McGonagall invited Prongs to submit articles for Transfiguration Today. Wants him to start building his CV, you know."

Lily looked impressed. "Really? That's quite an accomplishment, Potter."

James straightened up, running his hand through his messy hair. "You think so? I can send you a -" but James was cut off by the appearance of Peter Pettigrew who sat next to Potter with a great heavy sigh, a stack of his own career pamphlets in hand.

"Wormtail!" James greeted his friend, "How did your talk go? Going to make us all proud by joining the ranks of the Centaur Liaison Office?"

Pettigrew just sank lower into the couch and let the pamphlets drop to the ground. His talk with McGonagall evidently hadn't gone well.

"No worries, Pete," Sirus told Pettigrew, "If you fail out of Hogwarts you can always go on the Potter Financial Support Plan like Remus."

"Speaking of Moony," James said checking his watch "We should go check on him. He probably won't feel like going to dinner this evening. If he's awake we should grab him some food from the kitchen."

"You know he won't eat anything. He never does," Sirius said as lifted himself from the dark red chair anyway and stretched his arms above his head.

"I could eat! One of McGonagall's suggestions was a cook at the Leaky Cauldron and I haven't stopped thinking about meat pies since." Peter bounced up, abandoning his various pamphlets on the floor.

As the boys bounded up the stairs to check on Remus, Lily absentmindedly picked up the pamphlet Potter had been holding when he walked in. The words on the cover caught her eye: "Legal Aid for Disadvantaged Magical Beings."

A smile teased Lily's lips as she looked up at Potter's retreating back.

[cjshereig]

~ More than anything ~

Stalker!2012 Donatello x Willing/eager!Female reader.

Not proofread. Im so sorry-

_______________________________________________________

You're walking home at night, getting home from a party your friend was holding at her place. You check your phone for notifications, your friend had held onto it so you could 'distance yourself' and 'live a little'. Whatever. Who needs to live when I have all the people I actually care about right on one screen! Instead you spent 5 hours at a party with many couples surrounding you. Making out, groping eachother. They should get a room, gosh. You see many texts from your best friend, Donnie.

Donnie<3: Y/N where are you? 9:12 PM

Donnie<3: I went by your house and you weren't there 9:34 PM

Donnie<3: Im worried sick about you 9:46 PM

Donnie<3: Please just respond 10:27 PM

Donnie<3: Please don't ignore me 10:35 PM

Donnie<3: Dont make me use the tracker I put into the T-Phone! 11:52 PM

Donnie<3: A party? Really? You know how dangerous those are. Especially for someone as pretty as you so late at night! 1:49 AM

You'd forgotten about the tracker, but how he knew it was a party confused you a bit. Nobody had told him about it and you didn't see him there. Whatever. You feel so bad for him. Such a poor anxious innocent soul. You shoot him a quick text to attempt to ease his mind.

Y/N<3: Donnie, im so sorry. I meant to text before I left but I forgot. I promise to text next time. Sorry, D. 2:03 AM

You get an immediate reply

Donnie<3: Star, you had me worried out of my mind! 2:03 AM

Y/N<3: I knowwwww. Im sorry. I swear on everything I am ill try to pay attention more 2:04 AM

Donnie<3: Good. Get back to the lair. You need sleep. I'll grab us snacks.

You smile down at your T-phone. He'd always been so considerate. Especially towards you. He'd always know where you are, who you're with and what you're doing. Just to keep you out of trouble of course. You'd always been so trusting of others.

You walk to the lair. You look around you to check if anyone sees you. You see a familiar set of white glowing eyes. You ignore it, figuring he's just out on patrol. Opening the manhole cover and hopping down, you make your way towards the lair. You arrive and all of the boys greet you. Mikey gives you a big hug and you pat him on the shell. Leo and Raph are busy training or doing something along those likes, you never really cared to ask. You walk too the lab and Donnie is waiting at the door for you. Wasn't he just- nevermind. It was probably just your imagination. He hugs you and rubs your back, murmuring against your hair about how much he'd missed you.

"Its been way to long, sunshine" He says, breathing in the scent of your shampoo. You look up at him with an eyebrow sarcastically raised. "Donnie, I saw you yesterday" He replies with a smile "Yeah, thats what I said. Too long" *you roll your eyes. He lets go of the hug after a solid minute. He does the usual. Shows you everything in his lab. Every new invention or project. Or just random small things he'd been tinkering with to pass spare time. He pulls out a small box from a drawer in his desk. "I hope you like it. I spent days on this" You take the small box into your hands and open it. Its a necklace with a few charms and a locket. You notice how its not metal that would make your skin turn green from wearing it too long. He spent time and actual money into this. You open the locket and see a picture of the two of you that Donnie had taken about a year ago. In it, you were asleep on the couch, my head leaned against donnies shoulder. There are a few charms. A purple turtle and two hearts. One a simple love heart and the second a realistic human heart. Both out of Sterling silver. You look up at him with a wide smile. "Donnie... I don't know what to say. Its lovely" He gently puts it around your neck. He smiles as he sees the colors of the metal against your skin. Though, the picture in the locket. You don't remember him going to your house. Like, literally ever. You always went to the lair. So how did he get that photo? You're sure whatever the answer is, it is perfectly rational. You had most likely just forgotten. He continues to ask you questions about the party. Like who you were with, what you were doing, what you drank. He knew all of this already but he couldn't have you know this though. He was just kind, sweet Donnie. He'd never do something as demented as to stalk his best friend. At least, thats what he believed you thought. In reality you knew the whole time. You knew he was around. Even when you couldn't see or hear him, you could feel him around. The thickness of the air, the soft scent of his cologne that according to his brothers, he only started buying after he'd met you.And you absolutely adored it, you loved it more than anything. The attention, but only because it was from him, little did he know, you we're just as obsessed with him as he was of you. This could go so many ways, who knows where this deranged dynamic duo will go.

[radioiaci]

|| @cannibalxroses || Hello, I would like to chime in on this since it seems to be a matter of uhhh public concern now and I think it's time I said something! Putting it under a read-more because it'll be a little lengthy. Know that I want this to be as respectful as possible and that I am not upset or mad or anything about anything that's been going on! I just have some opinions and context to provide.

I have not made it a secret that I feel as though my portrayal of Alastor is veering more steadily towards MLM/gay relationships. This is just something I've discovered over the course of writing him. Now, when I initially posted about it, I made it clear that this does not mean that I wanted to outright dissolve or otherwise write off ships with female characters!

But in a similar vein to how literally every interaction with him is under the veil of his aro/ace experience, so too would every interaction be colored by the fact that he is starting to prefer men. This can lead to some VERY interesting conflict and nuance as these are all topics that I LOVE to explore via his inner monologue. And he is NOT ALWAYS going to make SMART or FAIR decisions to his partners as a result; both men and women. And I think that's a perfectly great way to explore lots of pathways for a ship. (All of his ships in general are never going to be 100% healthy. Alastor is a jealous, possessive, violent, and often emotionally DEAD individual.)

In this verse in particular, he cares about Rosie and does love her. He has explored sexual relations with her on a few occasions and he didn't dislike them (he, in fact, enjoyed them, given the context) - but I will say that outright, he is hard pressed to consider himself attracted to her as a default. This is ALSO coupled with the fact that Alastor - IN ALL of his relationships - has a very hard time getting his libido to react. It requires some specific parameters that can sometimes be a lot of work. And sexual interactions may not always be reciprocated or go as planned.

WITH THAT CONTEXT IN MIND:

Prior to the Unholy Crusade event, I was of an understanding that we could absolutely continue having he and Rosie be together and be married. I think that is an interesting plot point for him to have to cope with his sexuality (as well as the torch he still holds for Vox) in a married/committed relationship with a woman; particularly a woman who he very much cherishes still.

BUT - I know that when I get into those topics, I get VERY WORDY. I get VERY NOVELLA in my responses and that is not everyone's cup of tea. It was my understanding that, over time, some of Xixi's interest in those types of posts began to wane or she otherwise started to prefer short, sillier interactions with other characters, WHICH IS 100% OKAY AND FINE AND I HARBOR NO ILL WILL TOWARDS ANYONE INVOLVED, XIXI INCLUDED. Everyone is allowed to cater their experience in the way that makes sense to them and their character! But that is the impression I received.

However, in all honesty, when my long para replies are met with much shorter responses, I do get a little sad. And I know that not everyone gets as wordy as me, so really, it's just my bad for assuming that people WANTED to read/respond to that kind of thing in kind (I should have asked probably) but because of that, I started to draw back a bit because the effort and interest didn't quite seem to be on the same page.

So when Xixi proposed the death of Rosie and the end to the ship as a whole I was a bit taken aback, especially since we had spoken at least once after I made the initial post about Al's MLM sexuality and it seemed like it would be an okay thing to continue with. BUT I also know that Rosie's character does really like romance, affection, etc. and things that Alastor is not always fantastic at showing. So even though I was a little bit down about that being the inevitable conclusion (and it did, admittedly, make my participation in the event feel a bit moot which it was already sort of scant because I've been busy and can't always keep up with those quick timed events, as I've expressed before), I understood that it was what Xixi wanted for the character and for the ship and I do not fault her for it!

I did wish, at the time, that maybe it had been brought up to me beforehand, but I know events move quick, things can come up and happen, and I'm not gonna fault someone for that either.

Ultimately, I decided I was okay with it. I chatted with a pal and decided that with a little bit of their input I could write a nice little ending to Alastor's story in that verse so that I still felt like I had a bit of agency in how he continues on after that, even if we weren't necessarily going to play in that verse anymore. I like to have control of my characters and their eventual fates, so it made me feel better in an otherwise unfortunate situation.

But now that the plan B is being proposed, I really don't want it to seem as though I hate the ship/wanted it to end/am committed to ruining it out of spite. I think I'd just like to commit to what was proposed to me because I've already planned out how I would like to end that story and I don't want to put pressure on Xixi (or myself) to try and match up our writing styles or interest levels when it does not seem as though we're able to provide what we're each looking for in a ship between Rosie/Alastor.

All that to say that I am sort of sold on completing that story for Alastor in one way or another, but that does not mean that I hate radiorose, nor that I harbor any sore feelings towards Xixi. Nor do I have any disdain for her writing style whatsoever! I think it's great and if there is any future indication that our styles can jive together again, I'd be open to it.

But at this time, it just seems like it's better for the ship to meet a conclusion.

I HOPE THAT PROVIDES CONTEXT AND INSIGHT as to my decision making here. I really do not want it to seem as though I'm purposefully sabotaging their ship when I just sort of want to commit to what was initially proposed.

I hope that makes sense. I don't often go at length about these kinds of things, but since people were concerned, I wanted to make myself clear.

ANYWAY.

[sirthisisa-wendys]

hii! could i request AU pirate!wakasa and black dragons and other characters, maybe toman (dont do it if you dont want to)

AUR MY GAHD (let me know if I didn't write anyone you wanted!)

Let's see what the guys do when they find a stowaway on their ship. And when that stowaway happens to be the Ship Comissioner's daughter.

Stowaway: Wakasa Imaushi/ Keizo Arashi/ Shinichiro Sano/ Takeomi Akashi/ Chifuyu Matsuno & Baji Keisuke/ Ken Ryuguji x Fem!Reader

wc: 2.1k

tw: like, a little smut, but mostly fluff

masterlist

Wakasa "The Shadow" Imaushi

Wakasa's crew shouts and runs about the boat, preparing for the inevitable. A departure from shore was always the most exciting part of the adventure, and as Wakasa leans over the map in his quarters, he feels a sense of enthusiasm overcome him.

The vessel he'd been working on for years was finally on its maiden voyage, preparing to take the seas by force. Waka imagines when his nemesis, Redcliff, would encounter him on the high seas. He shudders with pleasure as he remembers the installation of world-class cannons. Redcliff wouldn't stand a chance.

"Captain!" His door bursts wide open without decorum, and someone stumbles into the small space, panting heavily. "Captain! We have a stowaway!" Waka mutters to himself, frowning. Of course, this would be his first encounter on the seas.

He follows the short fellow onto the deck, only to see you lying on the ship floor with an ashen face. "A stowaway..." Waka murmurs, eyeing you carefully. He notices the jewels around your neck and wrist, admiring them for a moment before returning to his scowl.

"What are you doing on my ship?"

"I have no ill intentions," you mutter, holding a hand up in the air as an oath. "I swear I am only here because I have to be." Chuckles erupt around the ship as it drifts into the sea unmoored.

"I didn't invite you," Wakasa replies, crossing his arms. "I don't invite wenches onto my ship."

"I am not a wench," you protest, finding your legs momentarily. You stand shakily, holding onto the main mast. "I'm the commissioner's daughter." A hush falls over the men, and you swallow hard, meeting Wakasa's eyes without fear.

"Did he send you?" Waka wonders, instinctively stepping back from you. He doesn't deal with wealthy women at all. That's not his specialty.

"I'm..." You pause, choosing your words carefully. "I ran away." You remove your bracelet and necklace, handing them over to the captain. "That's my fare." Wakasa eyes the jewels, his gut feeling raring at him to throw you overboard. But you're a woman. A rich one at that.

"Where do you want to go?" The question weighs heavily on his mind as you ponder for a moment, then raise your head defiantly.

"Wherever you're going." He scoffs at your remark.

"You want to become part of my crew?" You shrug in the face of the white-haired pirate, smirking.

"It's better than being wed to a megalomaniac." Wakasa laughs out loud, which encourages his crew to do the same.

"I'm just as thirsty for power," Waka promises, pocketing the jewelry. "But I'll bite. We're going to the Isle of Wolfgulch. If you think you can make it on my ship for a week, we'll see about making you part of my crew."

"You won't regret it," you reply, and Waka's eyebrows shoot up.

"Oh, I sure hope not," he breathes. "Or I'll toss you overboard with the other fools."

Keizo "Redcliff" Arashi

Heavy boots thud toward you. You're on the wooden deck, face down, praying to whatever god is out there that Redcliff would crush you quickly.

"It's illegal to trespass." The simple statement makes you nod once. "What should I do with you?" You lift your head to look at the icy-eyed man, praying a little harder in your head. He looks down at you curiously, but this isn't the first time his eyes have lain on your features.

You wonder if he remembers you from all those years ago. You wonder if he remembers your father or how he once looked on Keizo and told you, "That one is a born sailor." You don't see any register of memory behind his eyes, so you lower your own to the floor again.

"No answer," he finally mutters. "Hm."

How could Keizo forget the hot summer you spent on the beach, watching him redo his knots and untie them again while your toes skimmed the cool water's surface? You weren't yet thirteen, but you watched the older boy work his way around a mast and back, desire seeping into your heart as he grew stronger, smarter, more--

"Get her some clothes and a meal," Keizo grunts, turning away from you. "The commissioner's daughter is a friend to us."

"A friend?" you exhale, your heart beating wildly. Perhaps he had forgotten the illicit kiss you stole from him before he sailed away for the first time, leaving you on the shores of a fuzzy memory.

Keizo turns his head toward you, stopping on his way up the steps. You can read his expression from far away, the one that says "later" as if you were something to be dealt with. But instead of continuing his path up the stairs, he walks back down, his eyes serious.

"If your father knew you were here, what would he do?"

"Not a damn thing," you reply softly.

"Are you sure about that, y/n?" Keizo lifts your chin with a single finger, his eyes searching yours.

"I told you I'd follow you to the ends of the earth if you ever returned." A smile lifts the corners of Keizo's mouth, but only slightly.

"Both of us remembered, then."

Shinichiro "Soft Iron" Sano

Shin puts his head in his hands, considering the awful dilemma he's presented with.

"I'm so sorry," you whisper, clasping your hands together. "I just have to make sure my brother is okay..." Shinichiro leans back in his chair, wounded. Your brother! Mikey flashes in front of his eyes.

"You understand, don't you?" Shinichiro lowers his hands to look at your face. Oh! Your pleading face wounds him even more, despite the fact that he's certainly at sea and in heaps of trouble. He pauses and takes a deep breath, then lets it go before answering your pleas.

"You will see your brother," he murmurs. "We will turn the ship about and return you to your home." Your eyes widen, and for a brief moment, Shin thinks you will accept the verdict. But then you burst into tears.

"Don't cry, don't cry," he urges you, standing from his chair and coming around to comfort you. "It's just..." Shin searches for the answer among his many thoughts. "He's not on this ship. But perhaps he'll be on the next one."

"He said he was on Soft-Iron's ship," you reply quickly, unfolding the letter you stuffed into your pants pocket. "Look!" Shinichiro reads the words with mounting dread. It's a bald-faced lie, he thinks. But a damn good one.

"I've never known your brother," Shin answers, looking at the foreign signature in dismay. "He must have misled you. I'm sorry." You take the letter back while sitting and absorbing the news.

"Then we need to find him!" You stand up and take Shin's place at his desk. "We have to search for him. You'll help me, won't you?" Shin stiffens at the sight of your hopeful face turned to him. You had expertly tapped his weakness: a pretty face and a mission.

"S-sure," he hears himself say. "We'll find him together." You hurry to him and throw your arms around his neck, thanking him profusely. Soft-Iron can already feel his heart melting into nothingness in his chest as he inhales your womanly scent. Dear Lord, he prays silently. I hope we never find this guy.

Takeomi "Scar-Face" Akashi

Takeomi is above you, huffing and grunting as his hair caresses your face. "You should've... never... shown... your face... little thief."

Your fingers instinctively grip the sheets, but you release them to drag your nails across Takeomi's back. "Hate fucking is still fucking," you quip back, sweat rolling down your spine. Takeomi cries out as the pain mixes with pleasure, one becoming the other in an endless loop of insanity.

"Got caught stealing from me again." You roll your eyes at his comment, moaning despite your annoyance. Stealing from Scar-Face was too easy, you reckon. If it wasn't the booze that brought him to his knees, then it was money. And if it wasn't that, it was women. Well, you. You're the only woman in his life at present.

A hand comes up and smacks your left ass cheek, and you bite down on your exclamation, trying to hold it in as the crew circulates just outside the door. "You'll pay for that," you hiss, but Omi just huffs a short laugh.

"That and all the other shit you've taken from me, huh? Just paying out of my ass," he complains, rutting into you roughly. This is pure heaven, you think to yourself, digging your nails into his back again. "You'll pay for what you stole tonight."

"Impossible." You clench around his cock, pushing him closer to his high. Takeomi gasps, trying to hold his shaky breaths, but he continues to fail miserably. "I'm gonna take that orgasm before you can take mine," you laugh, clenching around his again. "I took your manhood once, and I'll do it again. Just like I stole your heart." Your tone is teasing, but there's a modicum of truth behind the statement.

"If your daddy wasn't who he was, I would've made you a wench long ago." Takeomi shudders, groaning sharply before spilling his seed inside of you. "Would've... made you my wife... a long time ago."

Chifuyu "Shore Raider" Matsuno & Baji "Blackmane" Keisuke

"No, no, no!" Baji grabs your arm, pulling you out of the closet. His touch isn't rough, but it's enough to set your skin ablaze. "No stowaways!"

"Hey!" you shout, stumbling behind him as he drags you into the open. "That hurts!"

"What hurts me," Baji begins, growling. "Is that Chifuyu sneaks you onto this ship without my permission and then hides you in his closet!" Chifuyu comes down from his perch at the wheel, his eyes full of concern.

"Baji!" It's clear he has every intention of throwing you into the ocean, but Chifuyu quickly stands between him and the railing. "Don't you dare--"

"Women distract us from our purpose," Baji sneers, gripping your wrist even tighter. "Or did you forget the vow we made, Matsuno?"

The vow. You stand in the salty air, watching Chifuyu pale, then blink twice as if a spell had been broken. "I know we made a promise to each other," Chifuyu murmurs, holding his hands out. "Nothing will come between us, Baji; we're co-captains. But I love y/n, too."

Baji grunts, his jaw muscles fluttering. "If you have a woman," Blackmane begins, turning his head towards you. "Then I'll need my own. You'll help me find one, won't you?"

"As sure as the sun rises," Chifuyu nods, smiling brightly. Baji lets you go and stalks off, shaking his head and muttering about the "silly spell" you'd cast over his friend.

Ken "Dragon Skull" Ryuguji

"Tell me the story again." Draken leans his mouth on his laced-together hands, eyes devoid of emotion.

"I got on the ship during the night," you repeat. "I stowed myself into the pantry, where the pickles and eggs are. And I fell asleep." Draken nods. "And I woke up when we were a ways away from the shore."

"But I don't understand why you snuck onto the ship." You roll your eyes, sighing loudly.

"Dad? Arranged marriage? The whole 'you speak when I say you speak,' 'you jump when I say you jump' thing?"

"Freedom," Draken articulates, and you nod. But it was more than that.

For years, you watched Draken hone his skills as a pirate. Every time he returned, he brought more loot and more fame. You feared being left behind in the wake of all of his success.

"I didn't want to be left behind," you exhale.

"Why didn't you just ask?" You're stunned, unsure of how to answer the simple question. "Y/n, we've been friends for so long. I would've told you that you could come along. Now, I'm sure I have the ire of your father and the whole island."

You had yet to consider how this would complicate things for Draken. You were just thinking about being at sea with your best friend, exploring the world together. You hang your head, but Draken walks toward you and touches your cheek from his bed.

"Cheer up," he urges you softly. "I'm not going to make you fish food today. Even though you scared the dogshit out of my crew."

"I brought some money if that makes any difference."

"Keep the money," Draken whispers, his eyes softening. "That's your loot. The first rule of the sea is what's yours is yours." He leans forward to kiss your forehead. "Come on, I might as well introduce you to the others... since you're stuck with me and all." You giggle as he takes your hand, leading you to the deck.

[sexydarkchocolatesposts]

Hi Si! Your morning with mihawk post was so cute <3 that got me thinking though, can I request a continuation where Perona decides disturb you two in the morning with shenanigans. I feel like Mihawk would be annoyed but reader would just find it amusing cause she sees Perona as their adopted child. Thank you!

I wanna die this was sent in August but I've only seen it now. First of all sorry for the late response school sucks and kept me from writing plus some others stress I'm here now though so yay?

btw I am so sorry for being late. Anyway, let's go.

"Touche" with that you settled deeper into his arms and attempted to fall asleep before the excited voice echoing through the halls warned you that sleep or any attempt would be futile. Sitting up you gazed expectantly at the door waiting for your sweet daughter to come tumbling through the door. You giggled as you felt a tug as your arm gazing down towards Dracule who was desperately trying to urge you to slip back into the covers.

"If we act as if we're asleep she might not bother us." Desperately tugging at you to get down.

"You know I can't keep a straight face, especially around her." Against your words, dramatically sighing you slipped back into his embrace. "It's my only flaw." "You have no flaws" his voice low enough you could have missed it. Yet you didn't. With him you never did. Your face lit up happily as his grip tightened at the increasing noise. Desperately trying to hold in your laughter you decided to play along, for his sake.

"YOU HAVE NO ID-,"Faced with the embraced couple Perona paused "oh, you're asleep." Seemingly perplexed at what to do now she gently walked towards the desk careful not to wake you two up and sat down. "Guess I'll wait"

A low defeated 'oh come on' was heard from above you prompting you to try to suppress your erupting giggles. You failed. Coughing at the sheer amount of laughter you were letting out you continued to choke as you gazed at the two staring towards you in combined concern and confusion. "Are you ok." "y-y-y-yeah." Sighing Dracule gazed at his confused daughter. "Perona" "hm?" "three hours" "huh?" "give us three hours, after that (and only after that) we'll hear whatever you were going to say" "but-" He got up and gently nudged her out of the door as she whined,"but it's so interesting though. you'll wish I told you sooner.The news of the century. I mean the utter,shock, gul-" With that the door was closed as she was speaking. Sighing in relief he moved back to the bed "two hours." Groaning, as her head popped into the door. "three" "two and half" "it's basically three." "No it's not thirty minutes is a large amount of time it is-" before she started on her dramatic spiel he conceded. "Fine, two and a half" "deal!" with that she bounded off. crashing onto the bed he defeatedly groaned prompting you to giggle again. "Where does she get it from." "The stubbornness," He gazed towards you deadpanning when you said "well who else of course, you. Also the pettiness" Rolling his eyes in feigned annoyance he grabbed you out of the covers and wrapped himself around you. Sighing as he fell in place with you where he belonged. "three hours." He whispered. Turning to peck his jaw you countered.

"two and a half"

also to anyone interested requests are open I actually write for a lot of fandoms I just need to (you know) make a masterlist hopefully ill get to it too. and thx for reading bye

[asshlyyyy]

Besides You

This is for all my people who are having a rough day. I've had this in my drafts for quite some time and didn't know where to take it. I hope you enjoy this, and I can't wait to get more out to you guys! Hopefully I'll have some one-shots coming up while I continue work on the multi-part fics.

If anyone knows why my posts have been doing terribly also... let me know. My posts have been... not doing quite as well as they should be. I'm not complaining it is just frustrating when you look at your follower to like ratio. My posts are showing up in tags... I just don't know what's happening.

Masterlist

Pairing: Elvis (or Austin!Elvis) x gn!reader

Warnings: Slight sexual themes, swearing, spelling and grammatical errors most likely. If I missed anything please let me know.

Word Count: 1.1k

“Hey darlin’, everything all right?” You heard Elvis speak from the door frame. You hummed and looked over at him. “Ya haven’t come down yet.” You gave him a weak smile. 

“I know… just… I’m just having an off day is all.” You replied back with a simple shrug. Though it more looked like an awkward movement due to you laying down.

You felt so bad. God… you felt so so bad. It wasn’t fair to Elvis. You were extremely happy with Elvis. That wasn’t the issue at bay. Your depression just made everything worse. You had these episodes now and again. These could appear at any moment, so you could really never prepare for them, which is why it wasn’t fair for Elvis. He shouldn’t have to deal with your… illness. 

“Mind if I join ya?” He asked with a slight smile on his face. 

You smiled softly and nodded, “though I don’t want to hold you back, Elvis.” 

“You can never hold me back, darlin’. I always want to be beside you.” He said softly and laid down on the bed next to you. You let out a break and shook your head.

“I just feel like I’m constantly holding you back.” You confessed to him. It was the first time you let those words come out of your mouth. You never told him about this. You didn’t want him to worry about you any more than he did. He looked at you confused. You brought your hand up to his shirt and played with his buttons.

“What do you mean? You’re never holding me back.” Elvis shook his head. 

“Remember all those things you wanted to do? Those that you wanted me to join you with? I would say no sometimes… and then you just wouldn’t do them. I… I don't want you to not do something just because I’m not in the mood.” You explained to Elvis. He brought his hand up to your head and ran his fingers through your hair. 

“Do me a favor, sweetheart. Look at ya ring finger there. What do ya see?” You looked at him confused but brought your hand up to your face. You looked at your engagement ring and wedding band. 

“The engagement ring you gave me, and the wedding band that binds us together.” You answered him. You looked past your hand and towards his blue eyes. 

“Exactly,” he used his finger to caress your cheek. You blushed lightly and pressed your face against his chest. “I married you because I love you for who you are. Just because ya have a few flaws don’ mean I don’ love ‘em. I love every single inch of you. From the top of your head to the ends of your toes.” He poked your stomach.

You let out a small giggle and looked up at him, “you’re so silly.” 

“Only for you of course.” You rolled your eyes playfully and pulled away. You pushed yourself up into a seated position and faced him. 

“Thank you.”

“Why are ya thankin’ me for?” He rubbed your thigh gently. 

“Because you’ve done a lot for me.” You grabbed his hand and interlocked your fingers together, “From putting up with my mood swings, joining me on my off days, holding me when I’m crying and not forcing me to speak about my feelings… to not ask why I’m crying. You don’t see me as a crybaby. You see me as a person.”

“I see you as the most perfect person I’ve eva met.” Elvis rested his forehead against yours. 

“Oh stop,” you giggled lightly as you slapped his chest lightly.

“‘M being serious,” he chuckled lightly and pulled away so that he could look at you. Your e/c orbs rolled in playfulness and pulled yourself far away from him. “Without you, I don’ know where I would’ve been in ma life. As cliche as it sounds… ya shaped me into who I am today.”

“Well… you shaped me into who I am today. Without you… I could've been dead, who knows.” You shrugged and got out of bed, feeling much better than you did beforehand. 

“I have a feelin’ God made it so we found each other. I believe in every universe… or different timeline… we would have found each other. We complete one another.”

“Okay lover boy, get out of bed.” You pulled the sheets off. “I have to clean these.”

“They can survive another night.”

“Elivs… these need to be cleaned. Especially after what happened yesterday morning.” You pointed out to him as you rolled the sheet over your hands.

“I have no idea what you are talkin’ about,” he said as a smirk found its way onto his lips. You rolled your eyes and walked over to the basket. You had to use whatever energy you had currently and get these chores done.

“Why don’ I help ya?” Elvis suggested. You looked over at him confused. It wasn’t like he never offered to help before, but when it came to laundry he tended to… shy away. He didn’t want to end up fucking something up. Like… accidentally shrinking his clothes, or turning his whites to pink.

“Are you sure? You can go ahead and do other things, I don’t mind.” You answered as you continued to peel the bed sheets off. 

“‘M sure. I want to make this day easy and enjoyable for you.” You smiled at his kind words and looked over at him. God, you were so lucky to call him yours. You always viewed him as the poor boy you met. The fame and fortune… it was something you never saw. You viewed it more as… he got a raise. It was silly but…

You knew how stressful Elvis got when it came to fame and fortune. You also knew that he loved to spend his fortune. Especially when it came to you. He loved to shower you with new things, and you loved every minute of it. Yet, you made sure he knew that you didn’t need anything. You had him, and that was all that mattered. He was all you needed.

“You’re all I need Elvis,” you whispered, “being near you makes everything easy and enjoyable.” 

“Oh darlin’,” he smiled and made his way over to you. “You’re all I need also.”

Elvis pressed his lips against yours and pulled you down onto the bed with him. You let out a light squeal before you kissed back. You brought your hands up to his face and smiled. Elvis was all you needed on a bad day. 

Sorry this was so short. Sometimes, there are certain things that need to be short. Just because they are short don't mean that they don't have meaning. I know I love writing longer things, but sometimes I can't force it out of me to write longer fics.

Mutual Taglist: @babyhoneypresley, @emmymaehereeeeee, @venus-haze, @austinstyles

[pells-beautiful-wife]

Pell x fem!reader

We need more pell fics istg

Warnings: death, angst, lots of tears, Comfort, spoilers,

The explosion left the Palace silent. Infact the whole of Alubarna was silent as the grave.

But your insides were a screaming raging sea.

It couldn't have been him it must have been a different zoan type, but how likely was that.

You started running towards the clock tower.

He wouldn't die, he promised.

Running up the stairs two at a time you finally reached the top.

"VIVI!" You screamed out she was at the edge of the tower hand clamped over her mouth sobbing.

She turned slowly eyes widening as she saw you.

"Vivi please tell me, tell me it wasn't him!" You collapsed to your knees. "TELL ME IT WASNT PELL!"

"I'm sorry!" She cried back.

She said something after that but you didn't hear.

You would happily return to that raging sea of un-knowing. You wanted to cry and scream.

But you just felt numb.

You no longer felt the pain of your aching calves or even the throbbing of the stray bullet in your shoulder.

"Did- did he save everyone?" Your tears finally overflowed like your own words had snapped you back to reality. "Please vivi, tell me his death meant something?"

"IT DID! PELL SAVED US ALL!" Your heart throbbed in your chest.

He broke his promise. He died, but it meant the kingdom was safe, it meant you were safe.

You stood back up and dragged yourself over to were vivi was kneeling plonking yourself down next to her.

"I'm glad," you choked out.

The city was a mess, it hurt to see it damaged let alone like this. From the rooftops.

***

The straw hats that had brought vivi back were staying in the Palace. Or more specifically with vivi.

Of course you partied and joked with them. It helped you forget. In the end you all became friends but with there inevitable departure nearing, you dwelled on your loss more frequently.

"I was looking for you!" Called out a deep voice behind you.

"Oh, commander chaka."

"Well it's lieutenant again now," chaka rubbed the back of his neck.

"Oh yes, it is a great thing that Igarams back, and vivis made so many new friends."

"Yes, actually it hasn't gone unnoticed that you, along with Princess vivi, have become good friends with the straw hats, his majesty has requested you join us all in celebrating our victory," said chaka.

"Celebrating?" You furrowed your brow.

"Is there a problem?" Chaka asked.

"Have you forgotten our losses? Forgotten how many people died out there?" Your insides boiled dangerously.

"Listen, I know you and Pell were close but-"

"CLOSE??? CHAKA ARE YOU BLIND??" People began to watch as you let all your anger boil out of you.

"I'm sorry?"

"YOU HEARD ME!!! PELL WAS MY EVERYTHING!!! and I watched him get blown to smithereens right before my eyes!" Tears stung your eyes as you tried to keep it together. "I couldn't even say goodbye, I couldn't hold him in his last seconds, I COULDN'T EVEN HOLD HIS CORPSE!!!" You collapsed to the ground sobs racking your body.

The only sound was that of your sobs.

Until chaka fell into a bow.

"Pell fought bravely he-"

"Chaka," you sniffed.

"Yes?" he rose his head out of the bow.

"I- I know, he did what's best. I'm sorry I yelled at you," you wiped your tears away.

Chaka slumped slightly seeing your teary eyes. Gently he wrapped his arms around you and squeezed you tight.

"We all miss him, but he wouldn't want us to mourn," chaka mumbled.

"I know chaka," you sighed standing up. "I think ill be going to my room now."

"Of course," he bowed and you left.

***

The pirates were loud, turning the, supposed to be formal, dinner into a riot.

The captain ate like it was his last day, even going as far as to steal from others plates.

The swordsman drank like there was no tomorrow.

The navigator scolded the lot.

The sharpshooter told anyone who would listen of adventures way to good to be true.

The cook when he wasn't flirting demanded the recipe to almost every dish.

The doctor followed the captains lead, almost choked to death in the process.

And you hadn't a clue were the camel came into this.

The princess just laughed about it.

Eventually the food was gone, but instead of calming quite the opposite happened.

The sharp shooter balanced a dozen plates on his nose.

The doctor stuck chopsticks inbetween his nose and bottom lip.

And the captain began dancing whilst the crew and vivi just clapped along merrily.

The fun spread like wildfire soon the king, chakka and igaram joined in.

Even the guards added to the party.

Despite yourself, you still found a smile pulling at your lips and laughter bubbling in your throat.

You cheered and clapped and even sung with ussop and vivi.

The little doctor turned into a man and lifted you on his shoulders.

Prancing around the room with you bouncing around on top.

Until you felt yourself falling backwards suddenly.

"Woah, chopper!" You cried as he looked around seeing you fall.

Before your legs could even leave his shoulders, the captain caught you with stretched arms and a grin.

Luffys arms snapped back and you were thrust onto his shoulder your bum in the air.

"Hehe, don't worry I got you!" He beamed. All three of you laughing.

"LUFFY THATS NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY!" Sanji cried, running over and carefully lifting you down bridal style.

"Thank you sanji!" You thanked him as he put you down.

"Anything for milady!" You smiled and pecked his cheek, sending him into a love hurricane until he tripped on a chair leg and fell flat on his face.

Nami and zoro, found this hilarious of course, the bubbly drunk red head pointed at sanji with one arm a bottle in the other, whilst the swordsman beant double clutching his stomach.

The whole affair was interrupted by ussop and chopper doing a jig on the table.

You clapped with the rest until your hands stung and your eyelids drooped.

But the rest took no heed as you slumped back into your chair head falling to the side as you closed your eyes, it couldn't hurt to close them for a second.

Well a second turned into a minute and a minute turned into ten and before you knew it someone was shaking you awake.

"Hey, you wanna go bathe? Everyone's going down to the bathing rooms," vivi pointed over her shoulder to the almost deserted room.

"Yeah sure! I could do with not smelling of alcohol!" You both giggled.

***

The warm steam enveloped you like a lovers embrace as you watched vivi lather namis back in soap. The two having grown quite close over the past few days. (😏)

The other two making idle chit chat, you zoning out.

Surprisingly it wasn't pell whom you thought of. For the first time in a long while, you didn't know what to do with yourself. Although you'd spent your whole life in Alabasta you now felt no obligation to stay. Almost as if your desire to live here had died with pell.

"Hey? You good?" Nami asked his eyebrows raised.

"What?" You spluttered.

"I was just saying how it must be hard for you losing a loved one like that."

"You have no idea," you pushed your hair behind your ear.

"Actually I do, when I was really little my foster mother died," she smiled softly at you.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know."

"It's fine I didn't tell you,"she paused swapping positions with vivi picking up the soap. "You know, your always welcome to come sailing with us?"

You looked away from her considering her offer.

"I think I'll stay, alubarna is my home."

***

You tossed and turned on the couch.

Sleep had somehow alluded you for many hours and dawn was peaking into your living room.

You had since given up on trying to sleep in your bed as the thoughts of him kept you up all night and your pillow soaked.

Throwing the covers off, you sat up resting your head in your hands.

Rubbing your eyes you stood up fixing your pijamas before dragging yourself through to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

Taking a deep swig you pulled yourself up onto the counter letting your head fall back again at the cupboard.

Tears carved pathways down your soft cheeks.

Sshh dont cry it'll be alright,

All wounds heal even if they leave a scar.

His voice echoed through your head.

The tears grew thicker.

I won't let you fall,

I love you,

Fat tears rolled down your face and neck as your mind flashed back to another day, up in the clock tower.

And you won't drop me?

I wouldn't dream of it, just try not to pull any of my feathers out or I might be tempted

Not funny

He held up his wings apologetically.

cautiously you took a step forwards and wrapped your arms around his neck, squeezing your eyes tight shut waiting for the rush of air.

We don't have to if you don't want to?

You shook your head hard a tear leaking from your eye.

Pell transformed back into his human form, swiveling around to pull you into him.

It's ok to be scared love

are you ever scared?

Only just now, I was so scared, what if I'd dropped you? I now I wouldn't of but I was so terrified

but you take the princess all the time

Losing her would break me. But losing you would shatter my very soul,

As you sat there on the counter top, you realised that was an understatement.

Your soul wasn't simply shattered.

It was ripped from your body and torn into a million tiny pieces right before your eyes

Once your crying fit had subsided you dressed yourself and exited your home making a bee line for where you knew chakka would be.

entering through the door you saw him sitting at a fancy oak desk.

"chakka? You free?" You asked.

"hmm, well not really but come in anyway," he said placing the paper he was reading down next to a big stack. "What did you need?" He asked.

"just some company I guess," you sighed.

"you haven't been sleeping have you?" He said concerned.

"honestly no."

"nor have I, you need to understand Pell was my dearest friend, we went through everything together, until we couldn't,"

You nodded in understanding.

"I feel the one time I need him the most is when he's not there," chakka sighed and you reached out squeezing his hand.

"he was always there for all of us," you sniffled.

You sat in silence chakkas thumb drawing circles along your knuckles.

"Vivi is taking it badly I assume?"

"actually, she hasn't said a word of it," chakka grasped your hand more firmly. "People handle their grief in different ways."

"No, I think she's to enamored with her new friends," you sighed.

"the funeral is today," chakka said softly.

"I know."

"are you going?" He asked gently.

"I don't know, everyone keeps talking about closure and acceptance, chakka I don't need closure I need him," your voice broke on the last syllable and tears found there place on your cheeks.

chakka pulled you into him wrapping his arms around your waist.

"It might not seem like it right now but this gs are going to be ok."

Part two is on its way I hope you enjoyed it If you want tagged just ask the next part is happier @heliantart

[jokerislandgirl32]

Karma’s A B*tch…

So I heard the news surrounding the JoJo version of this song and this version, and I had to listen to both and watch the videos (bit traumatized by JoJo’s ngl… she’s literally looked like Pennywise at one point and he freaks me out, so yeah…).

I am personally crazy about Brit’s version, and the music video for this version fits the lyrics perfectly! So, it made me think about Zach and Violet (of course, lol)! And even though they don’t “cheat” on each other, there are undertones of infidelity in their relationship prior to them getting together because they both pursue other relationships while in love with each other. If that makes sense.

So, I see this as a Zach song because he regrets what he does to Violet, but after finding out she’s dating too he becomes jealous and hopes karma will seek revenge on her. But Zach’s spiteful wish does not play out as he hoped…Violet’s hurt in the process, in ways he never imagined.

See below cut for some fic clips, connections to the song. Please note that there are mentions of infidelity (kind of?), cursing, implied abuse, ill wishes, mentions of alcohol consumption and drunkenness, and implied illness.

“Another late night, another crazy mood And I didn't think twice what it would do to you I was a wild child, you always knew it It was a matter of time before I blew it…”

I stood slumped in the doorway to my hotel room looking at Gourmand with annoyance, he stood in front of me holding something behind his back, “what do you want?”

Gourmand shuffled his feet and produced a tea service tray, “I-I know you left sick…I thought some peppermint tea might help.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, grimacing at the mention of sickness that had landed me under the table and in my room for the entire evening, unknown to him or anyone else in attendance I hadn’t just eaten too many clams…I was so drunk I felt like I’d pass out at any moment, but I wasn’t drunk enough to not know he hadn’t just come to my room to give me tea, “oh yeah? You care about me? You wanna make sure I’m okay, ha! If I didn’t know better I’d say you have a crush on me!”

Gourmand’s eyes met mine, a serious expression on his face, “I do…”

I felt my jaw drop. All I had been thinking about that day was Violet. So much so I’d tried to drink her memory away… and it hadn’t helped, but this…this opportunity…it wasn’t one I could pass up. Maybe I couldn’t drink her memory away, but replacing the relationship I so desired with Violet, for one with Gourmand instead…wasn’t such a bad option.

“Why don’t you come on in,” I purred, giving him my most charming smile.

Karma's a bitch, I should've known better If I had a wish, I would've never messed around When I saw the pics of you with HIM, I felt the knife twist Karma's a bitch, and HE’S with you right now

I growled as I saw the social media post sent to me from one of Violet’s old schoolmates, Iris. Violet was in bed with another man! That creep Travis who’d tried to hurt her the night I kissed her, the night she let it slip she loved me, the night I fell for her! She was with him and not with me!

How could she do this to me?!? Sure, I’d been with Gourmand, sure I’d stopped any romantic advances toward her, but I loved her! I wanted her! She was meant to be with me, not a creep like him! Well, I decided, she can have him, she can do whatever she wants. I don’t need her! And she’ll get…she’ll get what’s coming to her.

“And when I lay me down to sleep, it's not your body next to me This lonely room feels so empty, just me and my regrets…”

I lay in bed staring at a picture of Violet and me together from her high school graduation, she looked so happy, vibrant, beautiful. My hand had been resting on her stomach, I’d started tickling her to get her to laugh for the picture and she’d placed her hand over mine to stop me…then her aunt had snapped the photo…it looked like we were a couple.

I turned over trying to get her off my mind: she was with Travis, I’d just broken up with Gourmand, all of this was my fault. At that moment my cellphone rang, I usually would have ignored it at such an hour, but the number said it was coming from North Carolina and that piqued my interest. Violet was in North Carolina, maybe she’d gotten a new number?

I answered the phone trying to keep my voice steady, but it broke from my anticipation, “H-Hello?”

“Zach?” It wasn’t Violet’s voice that greeted me, but that of her cousin Paige.

“PAIGE?” I shouted, jolting up in bed, “why are you calling me now? Do you realize what time it is?!?!”

Paige sounded different, not her usual sassy and sarcastic self, it sounded like she’d been crying, “I’m sorry Zach, but it’s Violet…something is wrong, she won’t talk to me…It’s that boyfriend of hers…”

She paused sniffling, “I know…I know Iris sent you the picture, and I know you are mad and you haven’t been talking to her, but it’s not what it looks like…look at it again…At her back and arms…the scratches…Violet’s being…I think he’s hurting her…Zach, please come down here, she’ll listen to you, she’ll talk to you. Please help her….”

My mouth went dry, I shakily opened the pictures app on my phone and look at the picture I’d cursed at every day since I got it…Paige was right…something was very wrong…and before I broke down in tears of my own I choked out, “I’ll be there tomorrow, we can talk about it more…let me know where to meet you,” before I disconnected the call.

An anguished sob left my throat, “THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!”

Picrew Used

I know this is a lot to take in, but I hope you all enjoyed it! I’m really trying to flesh out Ziolet’s story, and posts like this are part of that process!

[championofravens]

Fuck it, it's reset Tuesday. I will go in depth on why Saladin should have stayed racist.

Disclaimer first: Season of the Chosen is one of my all time favorite D2 seasons and I think the first one that led to a string of truly incredible seasons and stories in Destiny. In fact, I think the decision to have made Saladin return to the narrative the way he did was fucking fantastic. I loved it. 9/10 season all around

But it was laying the groundwork for something else Destiny would, in my opinion, over utilize in the coming seasons and moments of character writing.

Now Saladin didn't start off, like, explicitly racist towards the alien races because that wasn't even a way we could view the enemy races within the structure of the Destiny universe. He was just an old guy who lived through the horrors and had humanity first burned into his Light, seeing anyone else pretty much rightly as a threat. So when they wanted him to voice his opposition to Caiatl with the knowledge of her eventual allegiance with us, they started to use language and lines of thought similar to the prejudiced in real life. It also made us all much more willing to listen to the Cabal. By bringing in Saladin and making his behavior and actions more analogous towards actual actual racism or discrimination, we can sympathize with him while also knowing he is inherently wrong in the eyes of the story.

But it began a trend of Destiny realizing they could do things like have old characters grow or develop. And as cool as this might have been over the course of Destiny, better late than never. Except... characters only develop in one way. Like Saladin, the negative traits they hold are brought to the forefront and in more obvious language analogous to real life oppression, trauma, mental illness, or whatever. Like Saladin, the narrative clearly paints them as being deeply in the wrong even if sympathetic. And like Saladin, they have to change if they want to follow the Vanguard's platonic ideal of banding together to fight the Darkness.

This has led to characters in the recent years all going to the same therapist and talking the same way about themselves when they are prompted to have their spiritual strip down in front of the Guardians, and only getting better. But not just better- better in a way wholly convenient for the Vanguard and therefore the story. Once Bungie signaled their desire to have a climax that involved everyone banding together to take down the big bad, I wasn't a fan as it felt cliche but understood. A side effect I did not foretell was that all these characters who were maybe once threats or oddities or just people with their own nebulous motivations would be made to transform into much more agreeable versions of themselves.

So here's my examples: Drifter. Eris. Mara. Osiris. Ana and Elsie Bray. Rasputin. We reached through time itself to do the same with Uldren and Ghaul. All of these characters had multiple moments where it seemed they were suddenly dragged out of lore, put before us, and made to repent in some way. And, incredibly, it was all mostly in the exact same chunk of time. I mean Ana, Elsie, Osiris, and Rasputin all bore their souls during the same season. Eris, Uldren and Ghaul were two seasons prior, and Mara has literally not stopped apologizing since she returned to Sol. And I do think a lot of these characters have aspects of themselves worthy of examining and growing from.

But... all of them? In the same way? And more importantly... for what purpose?

Rasputin, Ghaul, Uldren, they're easier to understand: efforts to humanize characters who were powerful and antagonistic towards us, to "soften" them because they were/are inextricably tied to other people in the main cast. Rasputin needed to soften so Bungie could kill him and stop having him creating plot holes just by existing at this point in the story. Uldren and Ghaul needed to soften so they could continue to bring up the characters in relation to Crow and Caiatl without pissing people off. Again, this isn't to stay all this development was bad or unwarranted, just that it's always deployed to follow similar goals of tamping down uncomfortable or divergent characters.

Mara keeps getting melancholy lore entries written about her because no matter how often she apologies and bemoans the things she's done, she still did them and is still taking the same path those actions led her down anyways. And yet they keep revisiting it. Osiris had this moment of strong development in the season of Rasputin blowing up, but it got sharply reversed in Lightfall and then took effect again. Season of the Wish is right now and Osiris has ANOTHER lore entry here about how he's too stubborn and overworks himself and is too involved in Strand. Ana, Elsie, and Eris, frankly, had nothing wrong with them. But they were people with their own goals and desires and theories on how to fix the looming Darkness situation and were divergent from the Vanguard. So we make them "grow", speak their heart's desires in weirdly plain language, and pushed in those pesky attributes that made them even a bit nuanced.

And no place is more clear than Drifter, who was relegated to the backseat of lore for years despite incredible popularity and having a pretty strong focus in the story, so that he could be changed. I don't think I even needed to explain how vast the difference is in the Darkness peddling snakeoil salesmen charmer grifter liar son of a bitch we once had and Eris's boytoy now. Drifter got powerwashed squeaky clean and, once it was done enough, he's been back in the Seasons joking and yapping and being apart of the main cast again.

So what's my point here. Why should Saladin have remained racist? I think it's because obtaining peace with uncomfortable people and uncertainty for what comes next is not only more realistic, it is also what makes a better story for the present and future to come. Why are we reducing all of our threats down to those on the edges of our periphery? Why is it so important everyone proves themselves morally sterile before marching into the finale? I think it's just because it is easier and once characters have been simplified down enough, they become easier to write a lore piece for every three months so your community doesn't forget they exist.

I think it would have been more interesting to see Saladin forced to grapple with his feelings, swallow them down for peace, and then maybe continue the conflict in other ways both before and after TFS. I think the same of everyone else. I think it's a shame to reduce the most interesting traits of characters, while not fully committing to developing them, so they can be properly molded for plot events to come.

[seaofgoldensand]

don't chase the rabbit. - a little tidbit of my past oc i found on an old blog, sobbing. feel free to read, i'm just sort of archiving it here. <3 tw: blood, murderer, mentions of sa, mention of drugs, alcohol, etc. just please read especially if you're easily triggered. take care of your mental health, this was/is still an outlet for me. also i tried to tag accordingly, back then when writing, tw tags weren't common? i really didn't tag them because the people i followed/interacted with were fine with the same writing (and it was all through words, i never posted anything graphic) but if i missed a tag that should be in the tags or you guys have any suggestions how to properly tag triggers, please let me know!

blood, blood, and more blood.

calloused digits are tainted with the remnants of blood from the one person he truly hated. he's smiling because he's finally gone and away from his life.

"monster! you monster!" his mother sobs, pushing her son away. "…he loved me."

monster.

the word resonates in his head as his eyes glow red. maybe he is a monster. maybe he wasn't. he doesn't know and little by little he slowly begins not to care. he's laughing, rather maniacally and points to the dead body slashed by the edges of the broken beer bottle and even raises his voice at his own mother.

"you think that bloody bastard was a goddamn lover to you?!" he asks incredulously, eyes boring holes into his mother. "he didn't love you worth shit!" and he eases forward, even when she eases back, her eyes speak of something. fear. it doesn't stop him from striding forward. he grabs onto her arm and tugs the sleeves up. "you think i never saw this bullshit? these bruises? they're not love."

a slap to his face causes him to still, quiet as a mouse and if tears were to spill from his eyes. they don't, because he's learned to hold such emotions back. they sting, though. but they will never fall.

"you monster, he loved me. everything he did was for me! monster…monster…monster! get the hell away from me!"

he drops the broken beer bottle and tugs his hoodie up and as he hears sirens from a distance, he grabs his backpack (the one he always had prepared in times like this or any time to escape from the presence of the dead bastard) and hops out of the window, onto the fire escape and descends down, letting the darkness of the alley conceal him from anyone's eyes.

monster.

monster.

monster.

the word resonates in his head. his mother's voice pinning itself into his mind, but he shakes his head and doesn't let up on the pace of his feet, hopping over fences and landing down on his feet and the shock is brief before he's picking up into a run. he knows of a place he can hide out. somewhere no one will find him.

it hasn't quite hit him that not only was his step father gone from the world (by his doing) but he murdered him. he's a criminal. a murderer…a monster. he shuts his eyes tight and shakes his head as if the images playing in his head would fall off. of course they don't. he's stuck with the look of his mother's face and the look of his step father's face. there's something in his eyes that he didn't quite register and even until now. he still doesn't it.

for all he could honestly feel towards the older man was the ill he had injected in his mother. the brainwashing, the abuse and how it all gets taken out on him. he tries to forget in between those the things having been done to him those nights he was left vulnerable in his room with an apartment full of bloody drunk bastards looking for some young meat, fulfilling their hidden desires for the same sex.

what a mess he was.

what a mess he is.

finally once the voices quieted down in his head, he sleeps soundly. like a baby.

the morning he wakes up sweaty and panting, eyes shot open as he shoots up. dizziness overcomes him and he has to hold himself still to prevent himself from losing balance, albeit he's flat on his ass merely sitting up. he scrambles for his phone, digits searching through his phonebook, several miss calls from his mother that he won't get back to. he knows how it all goes.

his mother calls, he comes home. the only difference is, if he does, he'll be cuffed and sent to the police station. trialed as an adult (he wasn't sure, he was thirteen for god's sake) —a lifetime in prison? he'd rather have death.