#i mean. maybe it is. but we have no reason to believe that
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He's a leader, an inspiring figure, but not physically powerful. She's a badass -- a killer, a superhuman, someone the world fears -- and she will do anything to make sure his vision comes true. Including things he would hate to know about.
She's a leader, an inspiring figure. He's her strong second-in-command, totally loyal, smart and capable and people like him. He could be in command if he wanted to be, but he knows she's better at it, so he happily assists her.
One is a wizard. One is a sharpshooter, swordfighter, or martial artist. They fight crime!
She's his bodyguard.
They're on opposite sides of the conflict. They hate each other. They love each other. They try to kill each other but maybe not as hard as they could be trying.
He's a superhero. She was a superhero, until something disillusioned her, and now she tries to convince him he's on the wrong side, and he tries to convince her that she is. They are actually having sex, not just UST'ing.
He's a hero. She's a dragon. Do with that what you will.
He's naive and idealistic. She's cynical and jaded. But oh, how she wants to believe in the world he sees... even as she tries to convince him of the world as she knows it, because she doesn't want the world to hurt him.
One is a scientist. One is an elite government agent. They fight crime!
They're cops. They're partners. And when they find out how corrupt the department is, they have to rely on each other to survive as the entire police force they gave their working lives to come after them to kill them.
They're both spies. When will they find out the other one is an enemy spy?
She seems like a typical housewife. That's because the entire world wants to kill her for being the most dangerous human being alive, and no one would suspect a PTA mom of being that person. He knows what she is and will do anything he can to hide her... until the day she's forced to reveal herself to save him.
He's a starship captain. She's a trickster god.
She was born to a long line of humans who can control supernatural entities. He's a proud supernatural entity who hates how much he wants to submit to this inferior human... who has the power to control him, but won't invoke it until he asks her.
I mean, I could do this all day. Ships don't even have to be queer to be great. They just have to have the man and the woman on equal footing, with each having power though their power might be in different domains. The entire probelm with het ships is how the woman is generally in some way treated as an ancilliary to the man. Either she's better than him at everything and yet for some reason he's the chosen hero, or he's better than her at most things, or we are told she is awesome but she never gets to show it. So don't do that. Give them both power and show how they are separately both powerful, and how putting them together makes them both stronger (unless it doesn't because they're fighting each other.)
"how can m/f ships be good-" first of all through the power of bisexuality anything is possible so write that down. second of all if we start othering ships based on gender and nothing else we're no better than the opposition. third of all you need to watch more addams family
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HEYYYY
acquainted was so fye twin 🙏
i was wondering if you could write something abt bakugo wanted to pick up chubby!reader (for wtv reason 😭) and reader being like “im too heavy” and katsuki’s just like “bitch what are you talking about. i’m katsuki bakugo.”
NEED this rn 💔💔
★ i need a hero!
ft. katsuki bakugo x chubby fem reader
warnings: idk chubby reader obv, dry humping, making out
notes: I LOVE MY MUTUALS HIIII !! responding to this immediately bc UGHHJ as a plus sized woman i just know he prefers big girls sorry. he’s so strong and could give less of a fuck abt your size. also i’m high rn so this got slutty sorry y’all
katsuki’s got you sat in his lap on your shared couch, his fingers massaging the plush skin of your thighs as you kissed. he’d often pull you to him like this as soon after a particularly long day; as soon as he’s in the door, he’s gotta have his hands on you. he shifts his grip to your ass, pulling you ever closer to him with a low groan into your mouth. it’s messy and intense and you can tell the dinner you’d made just before he got home would be cold by the time you both got to it. not that you minded at all with the way he ground your hips down onto him, feeling his cock stiffen beneath his hero costume.
you pant as you pull away for a moment, leaning your forehead against his and watching where your bodies met. he continued dragging you against his length, a hazy grin on his face at the sound of your whines. “m-missed you, suki,” you sighed, fingers carding through his blonde locks. he groaned in response, nipping at your neck. “missed ya more, princess,” he says hurriedly, kiss-bitten lips slotting against yours once again. “can’t believe i ever left. shit’s stupid.”
you giggled breathlessly at his attitude, knowing he loved his job more than anything (well, maybe besides this). “it was nine hours, baby, we do this every day-“ you’re cut off by your own gasp as his hips buck into your own, a low laugh rumbling from your husband’s chest. “doesn’t mean i gotta like it.” he gruffs, sliding his arms beneath you and shifting his weight to the front of the couch cushion.
“don’tttt, i’m too heavy!” you yelp, smacking his chest as you try to wiggle out of his grasp. katsuki laughs again, raising his eyebrows at you in disbelief. “you’re what now?”
“i said i’m too heavy, let go so i can walk! i don’t want you to get hurt-“
“oh, so ya think i’m weak now, is that it?”
you frown, furrowing your eyebrows in frustration. he always had a way of challenging you on things like this that just made your concerns feel silly - and, well, most of the time they were. “you know that’s not what i mean, suki, shut uppp,” you groaned, crossing your arms over your chest. “nah, you shut up,” he murmured against the skin of your neck, kissing and licking his way up to your ear. “‘nd let me carry ya to bed so i can remind you how easy it is for me to toss ya around.”
yeah, maybe sometimes you forget how strong katsuki really is, but he’ll be sure to remind you.
#mha x reader#mha#katsuki bakugo#katsuki bakugo mha#bakugo katsuki#katsuki bakugo x reader#bakugo katuski x reader#katsuki bakugo x reader smut#bnha bakugo katsuki#bakugou katsuki#katsuki x you#bakugo x reader#mha bakugou#bakugou x reader#bnha bakugou#bakugo x reader smut#bakugo katuski#bakugou x you#bakugou x y/n#mha smut#mha x reader smut#mha x you#mha x female reader#mha x y/n#asks
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can u make an angst / smut fic inspired by heartbeat- childish gambino pleaseee I’ve asked sm people and no one answereddd 😔😔.
"Heartbeat"
chris sturniolo x reader
° You and Chris broke up for a reason. But you keep finding yourselves wandering back to each other.
warnings: kind of smut, (p in v), angst
You flunk down onto Chris' couch. It was 1am, he had called desperately again, you'd said you stopped this shit. You told yourself you were done. You'd told him that too, yet neither of you seemed to care.
Still, it doesn't matter, you're sat on his couch now, cursing yourself for it. You know you shouldn't be here, but your mind is defiant against you the moment you hear his voice.
You're anxiously perched on the edge of the couch, biting your thumb, your eyes wandering around the room.
"Here." Chris mumbles, handing you a drink, sinking into the couch next to you.
You glance at him, unsure. Did you make a bad decision driving over here? You should leave, but you want to stay.
"I know what you're thinking." Chris deadpanned.
"That we both want different things, and that this is a dumb idea?" You clarify, throwing up your eyebrows and turning your head toward him.
"This is the last time, alright." He swore, but it meant nothing.
You nod along, as if you're naïve enough to believe it. His hands roam through your hair, as he shoves his lips around yours, kissing you passionately, starving for you.
Things escalate fast, into a full makeout, chris' hand gripping your thigh with one hand and un hooking his belt with the other.
"Ugh-i missed this.." he whines, sliding his cock slowly into you,
You moan out quietly as buries himself into you.
The only sounds in the room were his grunts and your soft moans. "Mmhh-c-chris." You whimper, resting your face in his neck as he pushes further into you.
It all happens so fast. The feeling of chris deep inside of you again was something that, as much as you hate to admit it, you craved.
He pumps himself into you, and within a short moment, both of you have already reached a high. He's grabbing your hips as you moan into his ear, "ugh-im.. gonna." You tell him, as you both come simultaneously.
You throw yourself down beside him on the couch, not sure whether that was worth having to get over him another time...
Thoughts bubble inside your brain. This felt so right, laying next to him again. Maybe there's a reason you both keep ending up like this.
You decide to ask the dreaded question of.. "What are we?"
"Fuck. Why do we always end up having this conversation?" He sighs, rolling his eyes,
"Chris I told you not to fucking call me, and you did." You scowl, escalating the lazy chatter into an argument.
"Doesn't mean I changed my mind." He grunts.
"So you were just bored? fucking lonely and horny, hm? I'm just some bitch to you huh?" You shout at him, following him into his kitchen.
"No! Shit- this is why we ended this." He yells,
"We ended it yet you've called me seven times since then." You blurt out angrily,
"Fuck! Can we not do this shit again." Chris grunts
"Are we dating? are we fucking? are we best friends? are we something in-between that?" You scream.
"I don't know! I don't know what I want, okay?" He bellowed.
The sounds of his harsh, cruel tone echo off of the walls of his apartment.
The words sink into your heart. You feel stupid for going back to him again. He clearly just wants to fuck, but you've always wanted more than that, and he never will.
if you liked this, consider liking, commenting, or reblogging! thank you for reading! :)
taglist: @matthewsroses @chrislilcumslvt @pvssychicken @bull3t-f0r-my-v4l3nt1n3 @ivysturnss @mattsbitchh @matts-myloverboy @sturniolo-fann @emely9274 @sophand4n4 @uncannyguava
#matt sturniolo#chris sturniolo#nick sturniolo#sturniolo triplets#sturniolo fanfic#christopher sturniolo#sturniolo fandom#sturniolo smut#sturniolo fluff#matt sturniolo fanfic#matthew sturniolo#chris sturniolo fanfic#chris sturniolo smut#chris sturniolo x you#chris sturniolo x reader#matt sturniolo smut#sturniolo smut fics#sturniolo#matt sturniolo x reader
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Hi!! So I want to ask your opinion on how accurate this is, because I crossed over this (obviously biased) twitter account (@/richardk1990) that talks stats of the show and that the impact in SM postbreakup is non existent.
I am curious about this and also if we will ever see some stats over what happened after in 8x06 and then after 8x07, if the comments on the posts or to abc will have some impact... (maybe it didn't and I guess we have to make up our peace with that in the same manner that we always talked about how buddie was a minimum % of viewers, so we are)
You mean this guy?
This guy who reblogs and believes murdoc??
Lou lost 20? 🤣 what? The bnfs that had notifications turned on??
They look at interactions, reasons behind interactions (which a vast majority are completely upset about the break-up), and all-around feedback.
They don't give one fuck about how many people follow their cast members.
All tptb care about is their pocketbooks, and if you don't believe that, you are completely naive.
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Here is your Big Fat Hero- Cailtyn 'defender' post
I somehow get that you think Caitlyn went too far, but so did the fandom. A lot of you talk about her as a 'dictator' and compare her use of The Grey to make her sound like Hitler, it seems people forget that she purposely used it only on her targets, not on civilians or all of Zaun. In fact, she even did a bit of a favor for Zaunites in the long term.
So let’s start analyzing the important aspects in a somewhat objective way. (Don’t mind my profile picture—I promise I'll try to be objective… or maybe not, who knows?)
EVEN after her mother died, Caitlyn still tried to protect the innocent in Zaun and tried to convincing the council not to start an invasion.
She even disagreed with Vi’s opinion on using the gauntlet (Hextech as a weapon), which we saw when she discussed it with Jayce.
This was her last scene before the attack on the memorial.
After that, we can clearly see how much it affected her; it fueled her anger (Good job, Ambessa—a true politician! No wonder Mel learned from her - except she is using it for better reasons). Yet, her anger wasn’t directed at civilians or all of Zaun.
Even then, she managed to call off the invasion, which she didn’t support in the first place. And after the attack, Vi talked her down in just two minutes—a point that hasn’t gotten enough credit, especially since it was her mother’s memorial.
This scene is also telling: there’s a storm brewing inside her, and while she wants to do the right thing, like protecting innocents from war, events escalate too quickly for her to reason through them and find a solution alone. Vi staying as her only remaining pillar in all this madness.
But yeah, her anger hasn’t faded just jet, but with Vi, they found an alternative—morally gray, but still better than risking a massacre between Zaun and Piltover.
And this is what they did. In the clip at the beginning of Episode 3, we see that they targeted ONLY gang members, not civilians in Zaun. I need to mention this a few times because there's already a misconception that Caitlyn and Vi are targeting or harming civilians.
But if you look at every frame, you’ll only see them going after gang members responsible for suffering and exploitation—Margot's and Chross's gangs, for example.
Oh, and let’s not forget, these were the people Isha was running from in the first place. A children!
So, Overall, this is just a continuation of what Vi tried to do in Season 1, but now with Caitlyn instead of Jayce (or alone).
So why does Caitlyn get all the blame?
As I see it, these actions were not hers alone; Vi was part of it too. In fact, this was Vi’s original plan (except the Jinx part, of course).
So, the point of my post is this: Yes, Caitlyn is heading in a bad direction, and killing—even gang members— with gas isn’t a good thing. But at this point, she and Vi haven’t harmed innocents. Despite how it looks, at least these actions prevent more innocent children, like Isha, from being harmed. Another question is where things will go now that Caitlyn has pushed Vi away (which I think was her only truly wrong action in Act 1).
Now Ambessa has taken Vi's place (in meaning of influence, not in any other way you little pervert) , and rather than calming her, Ambessa will fuel Caitlyn’s anger, grief, and self-hatred even more.
Oh my god, I love this scene. You can see the micro-expression on Ambessa's face, how satisfied she is, knowing how good she’s pulling the strings so far.
But I think we all feel that this match is far from over.
I also leave this here:
In the end, though, I believe that Caitlyn, no matter who’s currently influencing her, will have to decide her own path and who she truly is—without relying on anyone else. Even if we love her with Vi, this is something she needs to figure out ALONE.
Anyway, I might have written more in detail if Tumblr didn’t have a 10-image/post limit. Maybe I’ll make another post about the things I left out or would have expanded on.
#caitlyn kiramman#caitvi#arcane#arcane vi#vi arcane#arcane season 2#arcane season 2 spoilers#ambessa medarda#mel medarda#jinx#jinx arcane#arcane s2 spoilers#arcane spoilers#arcane s2#arcane discussion
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Constant Companions Closeup #2: NOT QUITE THERE
(also on spotify!)
b-b-back once again
Round two of the Constant Companions Closeups - a series of in-depth dives into the songs off of my latest album, Constant Companions! Yesterday was track one, Dyad - today is track two, Not Quite There, featuring the incomparable telebasher!
This one's a bit of a dark horse relative to the rest of the album, but it may very well be my personal favorite song on the entire thing so dammit let's Yap
---
For the uninitiated, this song pulls heavily from a song off my previous album called Gummyworm, both in vibe and by very directly quoting its synth motif.
Both of these songs deal with two sides of the same emotional coin. I actually don't want to go into too much detail about it - I feel like the lyrics spell things out clearly enough - but I will say this:
When it's all you know, it's easy to believe that a love that isolates you, a love that doesn't respect you, a love that hurts is better than no love at all.
You deserve better. There are always people who genuinely want what's best for you, who want you to feel truly loved. It certainly isn't always easy - it's genuinely good if your interpersonal relationships have a little friction sometimes - but love should make your life brighter.
You deserve a love that's fair.
---
The original version of this song was actually intended to be on Bittersweet alongside Gummyworm. The original concept for that album had a whole heady concept involving duality, songs reflecting each other, the two halves basically being reprisals of each other... Ultimately, I'm glad I scrapped that idea, because it was waaaaaay too much for me to manage after a couple years of barely making music. Maybe I'll revisit it someday though?
The drums on this song are sampled from an Instagram post by Louis Cole, where he's doing this crazy one-handed hi-hat blast by holding a drumstick sideways. I'm a drummer and that shit genuinely scares me a little like i dont know how he does half the things he does its fucked BUT. I bring this up because he's one of my biggest inspirations as a musician! I'm really big on jazz in general, in case my love for spicy chords wasn't enough of an indication, but his specific brand of freaky hyperactive bullshit just does it for me.
Seriously, go watch his band KNOWER play their song Overtime. Absolutely insane performances across the board. also Clown Core
This whole song is really just my attempt at matching some of that hectic jazzy energy with my own style of music, so I figured it only made sense to make it another collab with another musician making delightfully frantic jazz bullshit - the legend herself, telebasher! I really am such a massive fan of her work, and I struggle to think of anyone who plays guitar quite like she does. We previously worked together on another Bittersweet track, Asemic Speech, and her guitar work is a major reason why that song is still one of my favorite I've ever released!! She's just built different like listen to this oh my god!!!!
Lastly, since this song was one of the first written for this entire project... it is admittedly a case of me shoehorning the album's leitmotif in after the fact. It's a little forced when it shows up in the backing vocals! But, the choir of vocal synths during the guitar solo served an additional purpose - my own voice doesn't show up on the album again for another four entire songs, and this would've otherwise been the only song on the entire album that didn't feature any vocal synths. Thus did I attempt to bridge the gap, as it were. Hopefully it makes the final product feel more natural!!
Either way, that's all for today's post.... i think.... which means that tomorrow.... we're gonna rot.... for clout
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OK, I know we got a few Star Wars crossover AUs here already, but like
What if Desmond gets reborn into Star Wars as a Zabrak? Specifically a female Dathomirian Zabrak. I say female cause the female Dathomirian's learn force stuff while the males are little more then slaves and do not learn force stuff- they're more warriors though.
Let's have Desmond be younger the Obi-wan but Older then Anakin here.
Desmond was old enough to have remembered his time in Dathomir, learning the very basics of Nightsister's magic and culture before, for some reason or another, he was taken off planet, and not long later, gets taken in by the Jedi due to his force Sensitivity. So about older then 3 but younger then 6 cause, if I remember, 6 years old is the oldest they may take a child in or af least the species' equivalent to 6.
I mention Desmond learning basic Nightsister magic cause, among the things Nightsister's are able to do, they can conjure up spirits of ancestors and other night sister's and such. And with Desmond being Desmond, despite only being taught basics, let's say he's oddly adept in spirit conjuring without even needing the Ichor Dathomir has. Meaning, Desmond summons his ancestors from his previous life, and their presence in general would cause confusion and chaos among the Nightsister even, maybe warrant Desmond being sent away? Unsure how or why he's away from Dathomir.
Least to say, the Jedi having to deal with a child born with Dark Side influences with their clearly Force Ghost they can summon- which, none of them can even understand them but can see the fact they are a good influence and, very reluctantly, do not do anything about Desmond's ancestors as he calls them.
Just- The Force pushing Desmond to interfere with the future events of the galaxy, first being him befriending Obi-Wan around the time Obi-wan is still new to being a Padawan and Desmond's on his way to obtaining his first lightsaber. Maybe they meet at the Archives cause Altair insisted Desmond to read as much stuff as he can.
We might have to mess up the timeline a bit but the reason Desmond was pushed out of the clan could be because the current Mother, Talzin, realized that Desmond is too rigid in certain ways.
They have no qualms with a sister who prefers to be called ‘he’. He was more gifted than most and, whatever he lacked, he makes up through sheer willpower and guile.
His moral compass isn’t black and white but there are certain aspects to it that do appear… impregnable.
It’s because of Desmond’s moral compass that the mother knew he would never agree to siding with Darth Sidius.
In fact, Desmond would absolutely lead them to a civil war if he learns of what Darth Sidius had done just to stop the clan from assisting the Sith Lord and then he’d definitely try to kill Darth Sidius himself.
Talzin knew the child enough to know that he would destroy the stability she was preserving if he remained with them.
But…
Desmond was also one of her most precious students. An orphan she had taken in and nurtured, answered every questions and trained personally.
She cannot kill him even if she knew that it was better than he died here, before he could reach greater magic than she herself could.
So she banishes him, made up some pathetic excuse.
And he didn’t call her out to it.
He didn’t try to plead his innocence.
It was unnerving.
The child knew that he was being banished by the one person that raised him as her own.
And it was like he was expecting it.
No.
That wasn’t right.
It was like…
He didn’t know it was going to happen but, now that it did, he wasn’t surprised by it.
As if it was a given that his mother would leave him.
They sent him in a merchant ship that would tell him about each planet they’d visit and he can leave at any time.
If he wanted to, he can work for the merchant ship and learn the trades.
Talzin believed that he would do well, whatever he turned out to be.
So when she heard of a nightsister wearing the robes of a Jedi…
When she saw a hologram of Desmond, older and composed…
Melding the Force and their magic fluently to destroy all who stand before him with the calmness of a Jedi and the merciless of a Nightsister.
She knew…
It was only a matter of time before he returned to them…
To pass judgment upon the people who abandoned him.
#you wanted to focus on obiwan friendship#obiwan is pretty much desmond's moral compass XD#my hands decided#oh outside pov about how much the nightsisters fucked up#hahahaha#man desmond being in phantom menace would be so wacked#obiwan: desmond no#quigon: desmond maybe#desmond: desmond yes!#if you guys want more star wars crossover check the tag#fic idea: star wars#fic idea: assassin's creed#teecup writes/has a plot#ask and answer#desmond miles#assassin's creed
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I actually realized this after JC crossed what I believed was the line of no return- in the Burial Mound. Before that point, I didn't actually loathe him, I genuinely thought that it's possible he had his tender moments, it's possible he wasn't always like that, it's possible... blah blah blah.
But when that moment came for me, I realized that I was just deluding myself into trying to like all the characters who WWX was so attached towards. Just because WWX genuinely loves JC doesn't mean JC is a good person in any way. Or that he returns those sentiments.
It was after that I saw all the way JC constantly abused WWX, kept him separated from people who cared about him, tried (and failed) to manipulate WWX into only needing his acknowledgement.
I think the only reason WWX turned actually against LWJ in the first life is because of JC. At first WWX genuinely wanted to stay away from LWJ because he thought LWJ would figure him out in some way or maybe he'd give in and tell him, so he used JC as a crutch to stay away from him. Then, when LWJ came to Yunmeng why did WWX go to JC and say "someone who wants to lock me up?" when it sounded like such an odd and jealous thought?
It was JC. It had to be. He was always scared someone would take WWX away from him and the one who persisted even with WWX wielding demonic cultivation, was LWJ. He used whatever he could to convince WWX that LWJ did not have his best interests at heart.
Was it possible that JC actually believed that? No. Why not? Because I'm pretty sure we and JC saw the exact same thing in the retaking the swords scene of the indoctrination camp. And JC saw it even closer. He accompanied LWJ for 3 whole months while LWJ thought WWX was dead. There's no way LWJ managed to have a hold of his emotions or composure the entire time.
So JC was threatened by how invested LWJ was in WWX. In fact, I think LWJ also saw too much into what JC felt for WWX. The jealousy and anger and inferiority...All of it. So the first opportunity JC got to separate the two- to not allow LWJ to reconnect, to express his intense need to protect WWX- he used it. He was the one who started accusing LWJ first. He was the one who said he hated WWX and he wanted to take him away to Gusu to exorcise him.
LWJ didn't say shit. JC said all that. And WWX was already really exhausted and he really did trust JC. He trusted JC right up until the siege, where his weakness of trusting JC, of letting him and only him, enter the Burial Mounds got everyone under his protection killed.
You know, now that I look back on it, that scene where JC and WWX are running away after the massacre of the Jiang Clan, and then JC strangles WWX in his grief and rage, was one of the first scenes in which we were shown that this guy is...a pretty major red flag.
That's definitely a scene that, reading after knowing everything that happened, made me go yikes, this guy needs help.
Now before anyone comes at me, yes I know perfectly well that he was grief stricken and not in his right mind, and that he and the readers (which is one of the reasons I suppose why the fandom just skips over this) were still reeling from the shock and horror of what had just happened, but still. It's interesting, and a revealing scene (because people are more likely to show their true nature when experiencing intense emotions), and he chose to use WWX as an outlet and strangle him, irrationally blaming him for the tragedy, even though he knew it wasn't really his fault. And I had looked over this because it could be excused as a one time thing, before reading the rest of the novel and realising that he never really grows out of this behaviour. In fact, he grows into it, wields it as a weapon and makes his anger and resentment such an integral part of himself that others define him by it, and stay away from him for exactly this reason.
Just a small scene, but a very good way of showing that when JC experiences any negative emotions, his first instinct is to lash out at others about it, not caring how it hurts them. And this is just one of many other scenes showing the same.
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I’ve been thinking about smth (not a good sign lol).
Like that break up pisses me off for so many reasons on so many layers but the one reason that came to light in lieu of the preview:
Buck will probably never acknowledge what went wrong. He will be like well, another one left me, I was too much as always, nothing that can I help with anyway and on to the next one. Probably, maybe the next one will show him the ways why his realationships don’t work which will not satisfy me narratively since it’s not your partner’s job to be your mother/therapist/do your self discovery for you.
I mean - you're right.
The show painted the break up as - Buck was doing something because he's in love and wants a future with Tommy. Tommy is the one to back off because he's scared.
But, as much as we can see the wrong in Tommy's actions and understand them... the show itself doesn't acknowledge Buck's wrongdoings. Was he malicious? Not in the slightest. But they don't seem to realize where he was wrong. Why was his behavior the thing that made Tommy believe they wouldn't end well? Tommy didn't come up with this out of nowhere - Tommy reacted to Buck's words.
It would be very interesting for the show to have some introspection on that, but at this point, I feel like that is asking too much. And until they address it, Buck's relationships will either feel incredibly rushed and non-genuine, or they will go up in flames. My bet is the latter.
#bucktommy#tevan#evan buckley#tommy kinard#911 abc#lou ferrigno jr#anti buddie#not really but i don't want them nowhere near my blog#espressotonicc❣️
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Do you think Rudy will come back after all this stuff coming out
Do I hope it until the very end? Yes, but it’s probably part of my coping mechanism and still being in denial.
Realistically? Sadly, I highly doubt it.
I think that even before the release of the finale he wanted to put a definite end to this experience…and honestly I think that all the shit online towards his girlfriend and the articles about the “feud” only made the situation worse. To me this collective behavior is only contributing to confirm his decision (and I’m not talking about expressing the disappointed towards the season and the writing, I’d be an hypocrite ‘cause I’m the n.1 doing it as you can see, I mean the insults and gossip and hate)
The only thing I could possibly maybe see for it to work out is if the producers get to a point of actually fearing for the show and result to close to begging him, offering more money or coming to an agreement for the shortest amount of episodes as possible.
But to be fair, we’re all focusing on Rudy but even the writers we don’t know if they want to or have the intention to do something about it, yes the backlash is massive and I’m the first one advocating under their social media (THE SHOW’S ONE, let’s leave the cast alone pls)…but it’s a big plot to turn around and we don’t know if they’re willing to, also ‘cause we don’t know how far S5 is already into writing, depends on how much there would be to scrap up and start again as well, delaying means more money and I don’t think at the moment Netflix is well intentioned for accommodating OBX and it’s madness. (Obx makes TONS of money for Netflix and they even invest so much into it with production budget, events, merch etc. so no one can convince me that THIS is the reason why they cut it short to one more season and that’s it…they renewed that shitshow that’s Elite since forever just for money)
I think it’s a hope that I don’t want to let go and I won’t give up advocating for it until I see them on that set until the very last day of shooting, but realistically I find it really really hard. To come to this it means that Rudy was probably well damn set on his decision.
Once again I believe that the truth stands in the middle, some of the speculations (even regarding the writers) are true and others very much blown up by fans and media…we don’t even know for certain if the writers want that, we need to take everything we read with a pinch of salt.
So long story short: I hope so and I’ll keep advocating for it (even for my own sanity) but I think it’s really really difficult.
One thing’s for sure…without JJ I’m not watching S5 and I mean it. I physically can’t.
#once again I was not able to give a short answer sorry#I GET TALKATIVE ABOUT THINGS I CARE ABOUT#MY BAD LOL#outer banks#obx#jj maybank#obx netflix#obx4#jiara#obx s4#outer banks netflix#rudy pankow#obx cast#anon ask
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SUNSETS, I WANNA HEAR YOUR VOICE
A LOVE THAT NOBODY COULD DESTROY
“Would you still love me if I couldn’t do this anymore” I questions, I can’t make eye contact. I can’t stare at the boy I love because I think if I look at him I might keep trying. Keep trying to be the hero I’ve wanted to be, “would it change how you see me? Because-“ I’m trapped in a hospital bed. Blankets covering my legs. Mangled and tangled in stitches and wraps. So mangled it might be a miracle if I can walk again. Let alone jump from building to building chasing someone.
“I think I will, but that doesn’t matter right now, because you’ll be fine. This is stupid you’re making such a big deal out of nothing” He grumbles slightly, head resting on his balled first as he leans against the chair. Elbow digging into the uncomfortable wooden arm, “she said you had a 20% chance of full recovery”
“80% chance I’ll never walk again, kats this isn’t some out of the blue ‘would you still love me if I was a worm’ type bullshit, this is real” I sit up slightly, mustering what courage I have left to look him in the eyes.
His eyes meet mine, and for a moment I hope for sympathy. I search and search for a glimpse of something to hold onto, of anything that looks like he might believe me, like he might look into the face of reality. But he’s avoidant. Again.
“Why won’t you see this? Why can’t you see this? There’s no coming back from an injury like this. Look at me.” I demand, he avoids me again, only staring into my undamaged face. But never at my body. He only stares at the lumpy blankets that cover me. It sets me off. I rip the starchy blankets off. Pale skin bruised red and black, deep gashes against my outer and a gap where my legs should meet. A large divot in the inside of my thigh. Stitched together. I make him stare at the gaps in my skin, “LOOK AT ME KATSUKI! LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME” I’m angry, devastated how I’ve given my life and body to a dream that would’ve never come true, “you should’ve left me there to die”
“Get over yourself” he scoffs, “none of us came out of this unscathed, Ms. Midnight died, she’s dead! I almost died, we all almost died. You’re not the only one who when through something, quit acting like you were” he sits up, crossing his arms over his chest. Defensive and aggressive, like he’s always been, “yeah your legs are fucked up, yeah you’ve got a 80% chance of never walking again but there’s still a chance” he softens, a silent whisper or plea leaves his voice, “you can still make it. You should try.. at least. Try”
I purse my lips together, I want to speak but I can’t, “you don’t know how it felt feeling you die. Feeling your heart stop beating, watching you shake and writhe in agony, I held you in my arms. As you died, that was me. And now you’re wishing I left you there? Like what? Like you’re worth nothing? You mean everything to me, you’re my everything” He confesses, this is as close to an ‘I love you’ I’ll get out of him. I don’t want to be mad at him, not after this.
“Would you still love me-“
“No. I wouldn’t love you. I don’t love quitters, there’s a reason I love you. Because you don’t quit, I’ll be dammed if I let you do it now” He shakes his head slightly. His eyes look over me now, over my hospital gown, until they land on my legs. Mangled and broken, torn and twisted.
“You didn’t let me finish” I repeat what I was originally saying, “even if I tried, if I did everything right and it didn’t work. You’d still like me at least?”
I watch him inhale, like he’s mulling over something so important. And maybe this is important, why should he build his life upon a cripple?
“Yeah, I’d still love you”
*hi I’m still alive I just have carpal tunnel:)
I’m trying to get more used to writing more descriptively and like angst n stuff so.. plz comment !!
#louiseabilenewrites#my hero acedamia#my hero academia#bakugo katuski#bakugou katsuki#bakugou x reader#bnha bakugo katsuki#bnha bakugou#katsuki bakugo mha#katsuki bakugo x reader#mha bakugou#bakugo x reader#katsuki bakugou#bakugo x reader angst#bakugo katsuki angst#bakugo Katsuki x reader angst#angst
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rating the volo voice lines from pokemon masters ex as i hear them for the first time
youtube
“I’m Volo of the Ginkgo Guild, the go-to choice for your mercantile needs.”
Sounds like he’s practicing his merchant persona in front of a mirror. Very pleased with his own performance. Might break out into song about it. 8/10
“Allow me to present this to you.”
Spot-on cadence of Chris Traeger from Parks and Recreation. 4/10
“Here’s a special treat for you!”
Creepy. Feels like he’s going to hand me a bomb. 2/10
“Oh! It’s looking lively around here.”
Sounds like he thinks he’s too cool for the party you’ve both walked into and wants to know that you hate it too. 7/10
“What a joy to be alive!”
Said with the paradoxical determination and resignation of someone who values his own life too highly to end it, but hates that life so fucking bad. 10/10
“Oh! My heart is racing with excitement!”
Sounds like he just made himself think of something he actually cares about in order to generate enthusiasm about your thing. Also, overdoing it on the “oh,” there. 7/10
“If we use this well, the world will open up.”
Whatever you say, beautiful. What are we talking about? 8/10
“I like you better and better!”
He’s telling the truth, but he likes me for reasons way less innocent and simple than my continued business. Regardless, the praise is appreciated. 10/10
“Fancy running into you again!”
Two possibilities: he very intentionally arranged this meeting and is pretending to be surprised, or he was surprised by the meeting and is pretending to be chill about it. 8/10
“Maybe we’ll get to know each other better now!”
Sounds like he’s about to ask for my social security number, and if I’m into men, and if I’m into giving men my social security number. 6/10
“Of course. I’d be glad to help.”
He’s foaming at the mouth to involve himself in whatever protagonist shit I’m up to right now. 9/10
“I can see a whole new world!”
According to Bulbapedia, he says this “upon reaching max level.” Is that like a relationship level? Does that mean I’m his world? Knowing his motivations in PLA, this could easily have a double meaning—getting close to me, and therefore Arceus, allows him to create a new world. This concerns me less because of the world erasure thing, and more because it might mean he doesn’t actually care about me. 1/10
“Let the battle begin!”
Doing a pretty good job sounding normal with this one. 3/10
“That’s it! Go right ahead!”
According to Bulbapedia he’s saying this to Togepi, which is very sweet. Also explains why it doesn’t sound fake as hell. 10/10
“Here you are!”
He says this to Togepi when he gives her an item in battle, I’m assuming a potion? Which is, again, extremely sweet. 10/10
“Pay me later!”
He says this while “using Trainer move,” which I assume is like his signature flourish during battle. The reference to his merchant persona is clever and he sounds like he’s very proud of it. I’m amused by the implication that I’m supposed to pay him for something, though. Is he helping me or battling me? Both? What are we, Volo? 4/10
“Delightful!”
Accompanies the “nice” emote. I’m not going to complain. 5/10
“Careful now!”
Accompanies the “watch out” emote. He sounds concerned, but like, in a “please don’t inconvenience me with your pain” way. I wish he truly cared, but maybe if I lie to myself, I can believe that he does. 3/10
“I’m filled with curiosity!”
Said with the exact cadence of Grunkle Stan talking to idiot tourists at the Mystery Shack. Ostensibly laughing at himself, but actually laughing at the people who are stupid enough to believe him. 9/10
“Pokemon battles are always good fun!”
He only says this when he wins, which means they’re not always good fun. Makes perfect sense for the character and I like the delivery. 8/10
“Too powerful…”
He says, actively fantasizing about eventually proving himself more powerful. 10/10
“BEHOLD! DESTINY! LEGENDS! UNDONE!”
Bulbapedia identifies these words as things he yells during “unity attack/theme skill.” I have no idea what that means. It sounds to me like he’s accidentally taken a double dose of his ADHD stimulant medication and is just saying whatever the fuck comes to mind. 6/10
“Allow me!”
Said while “switching in.” Assuming he’s helping me, this is rather nice to hear. I’m more than happy to set this strange contemptuous man on my battle opponent. 9/10
“Oh dear, that’s too bad.”
Said while “recalling fainted Pokemon.” Option 1: He’s recalling his Togepi and trying very hard to sound brave about it. 10/10. Option 2: He’s taunting me about my fainted Pokemon with a sickly-sweet condescending tone. Also 10/10.
“Good morning! Are you heading out today?”
I appreciate the casual greeting and barely-contained rabid interest in my protagonist activities. 8/10
“In that case, potions are a must.”
Thoughtful and dedicated to his quotas. It does feel like he’s five seconds from calling me “milady,” though. Wait, in PLA I think he actually does that. It might be “madam.” He’s so embarrassing. 7/10
“The weather outsider is lovely today.”
Sounds like he’s about to take his lunch break so we can enjoy it together. 8/10
“So, how about it? Care to go on an outing with me?”
Already beat him to it. He’s trying so hard to sound chill, but I think if I said no it would ruin his day. Also, what’s with “outing?” Just say “date.” The game knows you’re saying “date.” This is a dating sim. 10/10
“Please, don’t overexert yourself too late at night. I don’t want to lose one of my loyal customers!”
First, that’s what she said. 6/10. Second, he’s negging me again. 9/10. Third, he has other loyal customers?! 0/10
“Ah!”
Sounds like the peanut butter baby from that 2016 viral video. 4/10
“Rrrrrrr…”
Nintendog. 7/10
*Sighs deeply*
Agreed. 9/10
“Yes.”
Me when I say “yes.” 5/10
*Increasingly loud fake bouts of laughter*
This man is going to end up on the news. 10/10
*Evil chuckle, tapering off into deranged humming*
This man is going to end up at the Tony Awards. 10/10
*Bitchy throat clear that turns into a laugh*
This is how he laughs at the PLA protagonist after he insults their “curious getup.” 10/10
“Outstanding!”
He’s high, tipsy, and/or sleep deprived, and someone just suggested getting takeout. 6/10
“As expected…”
Apropos of nothing, but he does like to feel smart. 7/10
“CONGRAAAAAAATULATIONS!!!”
This is perfect. This is a perfect voice line. The voice actor understands the comedy of Volo’s character perfectly. Divine madness aside, he is a merchant NPC almost obsessively invested in the protagonist’s adventures—but unlike many such cases, the narrative both understands and demonstrates how fucking weird and off-putting that is. 1000000/10
“I wish you great fortune.”
Reminds me of the PLA line, “Supporting you now is actually an investment in my own fortunes.” The voice actor nails the double meaning. 7/10
“HOOOOW DARE????!!!!”
I can’t find an explanation for this line. I think it’s just random. He’s so fucking weird. Did he read that in a book? Is he in a bad play? 10/10
*Whimpering*
Took a quick break to walk around my apartment and poorly make the bed. No further comment. ?/10
*Relieved sigh*
It’s a relieved sigh.
*Literal actual moaning*
???????????????????
*Various other noises*
The people in the comments of this video were not exaggerating. Holy shit.
“Have some mercy!”
WHAT IS THIS GAME RATED??????
*Deep sigh* “Now then…”
I have no words. I don’t know. Why does this exist in the way it exists.
“Right! Thank you!”
I feel like I just witnessed something that I did not ask to witness. Does the Ginkgo Guild have a HR department?
“My apologies.”
That is not helping his case.
“Leave it to me!”
Good voice line. Great performance. He would say that. We’re back on track, love it. 5/10
“No thank yewwwwww…”
Bitch. 8/10
“Please!”
“Indeed…”
“That is quite something!”
All very normal. 5/10
“You’re too kind.”
This is the weirdest line delivery yet. He sounds unhinged. Something happened around the 1:19 point of this video that neither of us can pretend didn’t happen. ???/10
“Until next time.”
Spoken like a charming male musical theater lead who just did a little song and dance about his life philosophy. 9/10
“Come on, now.”
Getting weird again. There is nothing I could possibly possess that would necessitate that amount of beleaguered desperation. 6/10
“Let’s get our blood pumping!”
Not on the first date—sorry, outing. ?/10
“The mysteries of the past… oH-hO! How they tICKle my curiosity!”
Sure. Why not. 5/10
“Investigating the odd and novel is key to any good merchant’s success.”
This is delivered pretty much how I would imagine in the game! Also just such a fun line for him—he says this as if it makes all the sense in the world, but it literally doesn’t? It’s a total non-sequitor. Investigating the odd and novel have nothing to do with being a successful merchant, and later in the game he even admits to ditching work to do his research. I’ve always appreciated that part of his characterization—the way he knows that he’s bullshitting everyone and getting away with it, and is simultaneously so smug about his clever ruse and so miserable to be alone in his truth. 10/10
“A HISTORIC MOMENT!”
Deeply bizarre final line for a deeply bizarre character. I hope he says this about mundane shit like dropping a cup of coffee or getting an email. 10/10.
#my conclusion is ????????????#it was somehow more insane than i thought it would be#why did they do this#pla#volo#merchant volo#pokemon masters ex
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I love how I said I was too tired and now here I’m back with another ask lol 
Ugh the Super Spy handhold scene is just PEAK insight into why Will fell in love with Mike. Why Will didn’t list Mike as one of the people he felt babied or treated like glass by. Like he’s not a mistake.
Mike listens to Will and then turns the now-memories into an ability Will now has, something that could help them defeat the Mind Flayer. He doesn’t baby him, he doesn’t treat him like he’s broken or infected or sickly, he encourages him and supports him, and he’s so soft and sweet and encouraging, but the second Will voices fear of the Mind Flayer figuring out that they’re spying, and spying back, Mike becomes so firm and determined and protective in a way that isn’t babying Will but rather throwing up his shield and standing by his side to go through this together.
The Duffers have clearly put so much thought and consideration into why Will loves Mike. They didn’t make it like Dustin and Max—Dustin had a surface level crush on Max, a girl he’d known for a week (and then a month, by the Snow Ball) that he moved on from by season 3. If you’d have asked season 2 Dustin why he liked Max, he’d probably sound a lot like Mike talking about El: she’s so cool, she’s badass, she’s talented at X Y Z. Nothing about how she makes him feel.
The reasons Will gives in the van scene for how Mike makes him feel are illustrated beautifully in season 2. And it sucks that season 3 rocked that—“It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” but one summer wasn’t enough to destroy was has been building since they were in kindergarten.
Which, on that note, I think is another major piece of evidence as to Byler being endgame in season 5: the fact that they’re filming a childhood Byler + Jonathan flashback scene. I think it can be all too easy to forget that these characters lives are not confined to just the seasons that we have watched them go through. It’s one thing for the characters to talk about meeting in kindergarten, it’s another thing for us to see a scene of them that young and realize, “oh my gosh they really do have so much history and emotional buildup.” Especially if the flashback buyer scene that we do get is one with a lot of emotional weight or baggage (maybe Lonnie and something he did or said will be mentioned) or they make a promise together or one of those classic, “when I grow up, I’m gonna marry you!” scenes (if so, make Mike say it pleeeaaasseee).
They’re giving us a flashback Byler scene because they want us to understand and feel just how long these two have loved each other, even before it was romantic, even before they understood it was romantic. Because they want us/ the GA to see how much it makes sense. How this has been a long time coming.
Okay sleep time lol
Hello, you probably already slept, woke up and slept again lmao
No but in all seriousness, that's exactly what I think too. I believe it can be easy for people to think why would Will fall for Mike? Like, I see people saying that Will deserves better and blablabla.
But! Even with that awful thing Mike has said, he has shown more care for Will than he has for pretty much anyone else.
Mike listens to Will, doesn't coddle him or make him feel like he is wrong, ensures that Will knows he's there for him, supports him and listens to him but not only that, he shows to Will that he can do things himself and that he's not broken or wrong.
It shows how much Mike means to Will that not even those words were enough to stop him from caring about Mike, because the thing is, like you said, we don't even know the extent of what Mike means to him and vice versa.
Using the flashbacks is a sure fire way of letting the audience know that their connection was blossoming for ages, is a way of allowing us to see how much Mike has always cared for Will, even when he couldn't show it properly.
And also I hope you managed to get some rest ❤️
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Eating Crow
Chapter 1: The Little Flame of Treviso
“No scars. A talented assassin.” He observed, fixing the cuffs of his shirt. She pulled down the collar of her jacket, revealing gashes along the side of her throat. He let his eyes linger curiously. “My second most valuable asset is my face. I protect it.” "What other scars does she have? What other scars could we give her?” “Hmm.” He ignored Spite’s lust for violence - or maybe it was just plain lust. “What’s your first?” “My aim.”
Pairing: Lucanis x Fem Rook/OFC x sometimes Spite??
Summary: Born to renowned assassins and raised in the heart of Treviso, Fiamma De Riva hasn’t known home in a very long time. Orphaned, she was taken under the wing of her cousin, Viago, and quickly ascended through the ranks of the Antivan Crows.
After being sidelined for a well-meaning mistake, she abandoned the life she once knew to pursue the Dread Wolf alongside Varric, the only person left who still believed in her.
Now living under the alias “Rook,” Fiamma is rallying forces against elven gods. But when she must return to those she once called family for aid, she’s tasked with rescuing the Demon of Vyrantium, Lucanis Dellamorte, who might force her to reckon with the legacy she’s abandoned… and bring her dangerously close to the edge
Word Count: 3.2k
A/N: Welcome to my Lucanis fic! Mind the tags, grab a cup of coffee, and get cozy. If you're new to my fics, I LOVE lore. I usually get wrapped in dnd lore, but have been a Dragon Age fan for 13 years or something like that (that's terrifying to read back to myself) and you know...lore comes with the territory. I might get a few things wrong, feel free to (kindly) let me know. This is an 18+ fic, MDNI!
Things of note: Rook is Fem, human, mage, Antivan Crow. I like writing storylines and tension, but there will be smut! I don't know how the tags/warnings will evolve, but it's reasonable to expect some messy Spite consent stuff? Please read on AO3 if you need to track warnings, they will be inevitably detailed better there (or just want to be real sweet and give me hits/kudos/comments).
There will be spoilers! I am starting this right at the Sea of Blood quest where you get Lucanis. I suspect it will take me some time to flesh things out so hopefully that gives you time to finish the game!
─── ⊹⊱♤⊰⊹ ───
“You can’t be serious.”
Fiamma De Riva paced Neve Gallus’ office, bright blue wisps parting for her as she changed directions in the small room. The detective had made cozy conditions out of a not-particularly welcoming space. She’d give her that, but the scattered papers and books set her on edge. Perched atop her desk, Neve sat with one leg crossed over the other. Her dwarven-crafted golden prosthetic glinted in the soft light as she bounced her foot in the air impatiently.
“Rook, we’ve all got tough decisions to make. I know a family reunion isn’t the move you were hoping for, but we need an assassin.”
“You have me!”
“We need another assassin. You might be the Little Flame of Treviso, but we need something bigger, we need-”
Fiamma could hear the weariness in Neve’s words as she touched her forehead absentmindedly and winced, forgetting about the nasty cut gracing her forehead.
Fiamma felt a pang of guilt - if she’d told the mage to stay behind, perhaps things would have ended differently. She might not have gotten hurt and Varric…
Varric.
She shook her head, swallowing hard. Varric was going to be fine. Nobody else seemed worried about him. Why should she be?
“You need the Demon of Vyrantium.”
Neve offered a smile, holding out an opened letter. Fiamma took it apprehensively, her fingertips tracing the wings of the Antivan Crows’ seal.
“I’ve already arranged a meeting with his grandmother, First Talon Caterina Dellamorte, and your cousin, Viago.”
With a resigned sigh, she tossed the envelope aside and crossed her arms, averting her gaze. “I hate that you’re right.”
Neve pushed off her desk, squeezing Fiamma’s shoulder on the way out.
“If it’s any consolation, I usually am.”
─── ⊹⊱♤⊰⊹ ───
Fiamma arranged for them to meet with a former friend, Teia, in Treviso, prior to meeting with Viago and Caterina. It would soften the blow of returning home to be greeted by a friendlier face first.
“You made it. I hear you go by Rook these days.”
“It’s good to see you. Neve, meet Andarateia of House Cantori.”
“No need to be formal with friends. Teia, please. Come, Viago is gathering the others. He’s happy you’re home.”
“I somehow doubt that.”
“He’s missed you. You broke his heart when you went away.”
“And he broke mine when he had me waiting on Caterina like a handmaid instead of protecting our city.”
Teia sighed, proceeding to lead them through the city.
“When you said the others, did the others include Illario?”
“Oh, please, Fi-Rook. He doesn’t bite.”
“He might as well.”
Fiamma glanced around at their surroundings, the dilapidated buildings, the quiet streets that were once bustling with life, romance, and joy.
“I hate seeing Treviso ground down like this.”
“This occupation will not last. The Antivan Crows remain. And one day, I will see a knife through every would-be tyrant’s throat.”
They took a zipline to the Crows’ headquarters. Fiamma swung from the bars, enjoying the wind on her face as the city skyline swept below her feet. She landed with a cat’s grace, greeted by the familiar thud of cobblestone beneath her boots. She’d never admit it out loud, but she missed this.
“A casino. Nice.” Neve said as they walked across a narrow beam.
“The Cantori Diamond.” Fiamma sneered.
“Watch it.” Teia called back to her.
Vaulted ceilings and plush furniture awaited them in the meeting chamber. Fiamma eyed the empty goblets near one chair, wondering which was full of the diluted poison Viago dosed himself with every day. Paranoid bastard.
“Two years.” Her cousin growled as they entered.
“Nice to see you too, Viago.”
“Did you finish that contract? To stop your Dread Wolf?”
“It wasn’t a formal contract. I left, remember?” Fiamma asked. “When you called me an embarrassment to our house? But since you asked, no, not yet. Things are more complicated.”
“How many times do I have to tell you? Crows always finish the job.”
“We just can’t take initiative, right? My run-in with the Antaam taught me that.” She bit back.
“Don’t let him scold you too much. Vi was worried about you.” Teia interjected to ease the tension.
Viago lowered his head, clearing his throat and kicking at the polished ground under his boots. “Fiammetta-”
“It’s Rook, now.”
From the corner of her eye, she watched as Illario shifted his weight from foot to foot, watching her with a pained expression. She’d deal with that later.
“Rook. You remember Caterina Dellamorte.” Viago said.
“A pleasure.” She gave a slight bow. Despite changing the First Talon’s linens and bringing her breakfast on her balcony, Fiama had acquired a fondness for her.
“Have you finally returned home, Fiamma?” Illario interrupted, and the thin smile Caterina began to offer vanished.
“I’ve come to ask for assistance. My current target is a pair of elven gods - that’s what they call themselves, at least. They’re ancient blighted mages. I need our best. Someone who brought blood mages and Venatori to their knees.”
“My grandson.” Caterina said, her brow furrowing.
“Lucanis Dellamorte is dead.” Viago said, “He was killed a year ago now. If you’d remained home, you’d know-”
“Dead?” Fiamma blinked. She never thought it would be possible for anyone to best the Demon of Vyrantium. Not unless foul play was involved. Despite his occasional smugness, she found no pleasure in the news. Particularly since there wouldn’t be another assassin on offer even half as good as him. Her eyes flicked to Caterina, to offer condolences. The First Talon would never admit to playing favorites, but in the time Fiamma spent in her home, and being courted by her youngest grandson, it was clear Lucanis was who she favored to take her place.
“What I say doesn’t leave this room.” Caterina said, “The body our people brought back was not my grandson. It was dressed in his clothing, but it had been altered with blood magic to have his face.”
“My cousin is still alive?” Illario hissed, “And you didn’t think to tell me?”
“His ship was attacked. We knew someone sold him out…so you kept your suspicions to yourself?” Viago was clearly surprised by the news.
“But you’ve brought it up now. Why?” Neve asked.
“I’ve had eyes on the Venatori ever since they took my grandson from me,” Caterina answered. “They were hunting your Dread Wolf. And what you did to his ritual threw them into disarray. They made mistakes, and now I have a location. The Ossuary. Where the Demon of Vyrantium is kept. Find this Ossuary. Find Lucanis, and you’ll have your god-killer. And I’ll have my grandson.”
“Come. Caterina arranged a boat. One of our mages will meet us there.” Illario said, leading them to the docks.
“A boat?” Fiamma asked, following him down the steps.
“Did you think the Venatori would keep a normal prison? Or that one could hold the Demon of Vyrantam? The Ossuary lies beneath the sea. A fact I learned mere minutes ago. Maybe she thought I’d act too rashly trying to save him.” He said bitterly, his eyes meeting hers. “Seems everyone enjoys keeping me in the dark.”
“Illario-”
“I would have words with you upon your return.” He commanded, “Right now, I need to learn whether my cousin is still alive.”
A small boat rocked in the gentle current by the dock, a lantern affixed to its bow. A Crow in a purple hood watched them warily, waiting.
“There, you take the boat.”
“You’re not coming?”
“You play the alluring hero. You’re the one who needs redemption so badly.” Illario was on edge, but there seemed to be more to it than a broken heart and family drama. “Someone has to make sure we weren’t followed.”
As the boat pushed away from the dock, Fiamma watched him disappear into the streets of Treviso. She didn’t miss him. Most times, she didn’t like him. But she knew how he felt about his family, and her heart ached for him, even just a little.
─── ⊹⊱♤⊰⊹ ───
By Lucanis Dellamorte’s count, he had been in this underwater prison for a year.
Give or take.
It would be beautiful if he were here for any other reason. When he’d arrived to start the contract assigned to him, the views were breathtaking.
Occasionally, he’d prayed the enchantments keeping the Ossuary in place would fail. That he’d drown and get lost in the fade, or wherever he was bound to go. What would happen to him in death? And Spite, the demon who shared his body and consciousness? They had an agreeable ally ship, if only because they were both imprisoned and stuck with one another against their will.
He’d scratched a mark for each day in his crystalline prison. With no weapons, he used his fingernails, sometimes scraping until he bled to carve a line deep enough. He had to remember. He had to survive.
The days Calivan didn’t send for him, he scratched to the left. The days he was tortured, on the right. Eventually, the right became so crowded, they all blurred together.
A familiar voice caught his attention outside, interrupting his ritual.
“We don’t have to fight. We’re just here for Lucanis Dellamorte.”
“Come to save us?” Spite asked eagerly. “Took them long enough.”
But who was it? Not Caterina. He’d know it was her in an instant. Not Teia…
“Razikale, Dragon of Mystery. Lusacan, Dragon of Night—” As the Ossuary Guard began his incantation, Lucanis sensed Spite’s excitement.
“Hear your faithful call—”
“Now, now!”
With the guard distracted, the defenses of his prison were weak enough that Spite propelled them over the top.
He was flying.
A lifetime of training and muscle memory returned to him instantly. On instinct, he seized the nearest guard from behind, using him as a shield as another advanced on him with a sword, cutting clean through. With a swift, fluid motion, he propelled the lifeless body into his attacker, sending them into the air to be impaled by a nearby crystal stalagmite. With a running charge, he snapped the necks of two advancing guards, stealing one’s sword. His hand closed around the hilt, the cool metal causing him - and Spite - to shiver with anticipation. He turned at the sound of footsteps, slashing the throat of the final Venatori.
“Lucanis.”
He turned slowly to greet his rescuer, the essence of Spite’s wings retreating into his spine.
Fiamma De Riva. Viago’s little cousin. She’d been sentenced to serve as Caterina’s assistant as punishment for foiling a Crow operation. Good intentions aside, she’d acted rashly, and whether she believed it or not, she got off easy.
De Riva had always been pleasant enough. A bit cold towards him, but he didn’t hold it against her. Lucanis could tell her ego was hurt. Even worse, he knew she looked at Caterina’s home, the home he grew up in, and felt he hadn’t earned it. And she’d been right. He’d only earned his place in those halls by birthright, but his place in the Crows…he’d earned through blood and sweat.
But never tears. Caterina had no patience for tears. Poor Illario.
She’d been given the quarters next to his during her assignment. Despite her reputation for being a bit of a spitfire, living up to her namesake of “Little Flame”, she was quiet. Polite. And she treated his grandmother well. Earned her respect - no simple task. She was possibly the only person who Caterina Dellamorte would listen to regarding her health. If little De Riva had tacked a few more years on to his grandmother’s life, she had his gratitude for it.
Oh, how Illario had pined for her. She entertained it for some time, before his spoiled nature got on her nerves. But he fell hard. Once, his cousin drank himself into such a state outside Fiamma’s locked door that he nearly failed to fulfill a shared contact. Lucanis had to slap him awake, then pull him along just so he could do all the heavy lifting.
He’d do it all over just to see his little cousin again.
“Little De Riva? She looks like a grown woman to me.” Spite interjected, making him acutely aware that he was never alone in his thoughts.
“I’m only five years her senior. But five years is a sizeable gap when you’ve known someone since childhood.” Lucanis thought back quickly, dismissing the demon’s observations.
“Dellamorte!” Beside Fiamma, a dwarf woman had her bow pulled tightly, aimed in his direction.
“Rook. He’s possessed by a demon.” She warned.
“Rook?” Lucanis tilted his head curiously.
“It’s complicated.” She blurted. “Caterina promised us a mage killer if we broke you out of here. Can I count on you?”
He nodded. “I can still work.”
“Are you really possessed?”
“It’s complicated.” He said, glancing around the room. “I will help you, but I need something from you first. They have a vial of my blood. They can use it to control me. I cannot leave it in their hands. And…I had a contract when I was captured. One of my targets is here. Calivan.”
“Blood magic.” She scowled. “Come on. He’s good to go, Harding.”
“Forget the contract. We need to get out of here!” Harding said, her arrow still pointed at the center of his chest.
“Crows don’t break contracts.” He and De Riva said in unison.
Harding sighed and lowered her bow. “Alright, let’s make this quick.”
“I’ll owe you.” Lucanis said as they exited the chamber.
“I’m sure we’ll owe each other when this is all over.” Rook countered.
“Yes. I’d like to be owed a favor by the Little Flame.” Spite growled with delight.
De Riva was an impressive assassin, he thought to himself, as they fought their way through Venatori. He hadn’t seen her fight often, but it was evident she wasn’t out of practice. She’d left Treviso shortly before he’d been captured, where he wasn’t sure, but it was encouraging to see a Crow refuse to give up her work. It was good work.
“I found it!” Rook’s voice broke him from his thoughts. She held the flask of his blood in the air and his stomach clenched. She was a mage, after all, and with his blood in her hands-
“Destroy it!” He and Spite snarled at the same time. She hesitated, staring at the vial in her palm.
“Can I trust you? Can you promise me I don’t need to stow this for safekeeping?”
“Not hers!” Spite screamed in his head. “Stop her! Throttle her until she-”
“You can trust me,” Lucanis said evenly.
Rook’s eyes narrowed. “I hope you’re right.”
She threw the vial to the ground, and with a flick of her wrist, ignited the remnants of his blood in flame.
“Thank you.” He said,
“Don’t mention it. Let’s go kill your target.”
─── ⊹⊱♤⊰⊹ ───
Caterina was nowhere in sight when Lucanis returned to Treviso.
“Maker…” Teia breathed as he and Rook entered.
“What happened here?” Lucanis demanded.
Illario slammed his fist on the table. “A message. From Zara Renata.”
Spite raged in his skull, so loudly that he didn’t notice Illario approaching.
“I can’t believe it. You’re home.” He said, grasping Lucanis’ thumb and wrapping his fingers around it in a typical Crow handshake.
“Zara…her people got this close?” Lucanis asked, letting his arm fall to his side as he paced, assessing the room.
“The woman who runs the prison?” Rook asked.
“The woman who captured me.” Lucanis glanced towards the door. “Where’s Caterina?”
Teia lowered her head and stifled a sob, Viago coming behind her and placing his hand on her shoulder. Something always existed between them, but Lucanis wasn’t sure if they’d acted on it yet.
“The Venatori got her in the confusion.” Viago said.
“I get two of you back, just to lose the other.” Illario lamented.
“Lucanis…I’m so sorry.” Neve said from behind Rook.
“No…time…to…grieve!”
Lucanis ignored Spite.
“I need to work.”
“You should take some time-” Neve began, holding out her hand.
“He doesn’t need time.” Rook interjected, stepping forward and holding his gaze. “He needs a target.”
Spite’s responding arousal was palpable.
“I like her.”
─── ⊹⊱♤⊰⊹ ───
Lucanis braced one arm on the weathered mantelpiece, staring into the flames as they crackled on the hearth. He was in the fade. Or something like that. The Lighthouse, Rook had called it. And what a strange place it was. Fiamma - Rook now, as she asked him to address her - had another companion, Bellara, who had been thinking out loud since his arrival.
“-they’re the same thing. Mostly. Kind of,” she said to Neve from the table.
“Except one will manipulate you. Or kill you. Or both.” Neve replied.
The doors to the kitchen opened.
“What’s everyone talking about?” Rook asked.
Lucanis turned away from the hearth.
“Spite.”
“The demon inside of Lucanis.” Neve clarified. “When a person gets possessed, the demon usually takes control.”
“And they turn into a monster. The spirit just…molds them. However they want.” Bellara added.
Neve’s mouth formed a line. “I’ve heard of abominations being cured by killing the demon in the Fade. That’s not a sure bet, though.”
“Well, there’s one way…” Bellara said, staring at her hands, “but it’s…well…we’d have to, um…”
“You’d have to kill me,” Lucanis finished.
The room seemed to hold its breath.
“We’ll find another way.” Rook said. She didn’t seem impassioned about the statement, but it was comforting she wanted him alive. Behind her, Spite admired her with a sinister smile.
“She won’t hurt you. How sweet.”
Get away from her. Lucanis commanded.
The demon leapt back next to the fireplace, crouching, and Lucanis turned his head to ignore him.
“I want to talk to her.”
The others continued their conversation, but he couldn’t hear anything over Spite’s impatience.
“Let me talk to them! I want. To talk. To ROOK!”
“ROOK!”
The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them, Spite channeling all of his energy into the equivalent of a punch to the face. Lucanis pinched his nose, feeling the blood pool between his thumb and forefinger, with a stifled gasp of pain.
Bellara shot up from her seat, mouth agape.
“Lucanis!”
He held out his hand in protest, his voice calm, summoning years of training to keep himself from trembling. “No. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
“What just happened?” Rook asked.
“He’s throwing a tantrum because he didn’t get his way. He’d do this in the Ossuary. The Fade does whatever a spirit wants. Real walls with chains, not so much. Just…give me a minute. He’ll get bored once everyone leaves.”
Rook lingered, hands on a chair back, as the others left, eyeing him warily.
“You’re still here.” Lucanis said.
“Having an abomination in the Lighthouse makes me nervous.” She finally said after several beats of silence.
He bristled. “Well, being an abomination makes me nervous, too.”
He held up a hand to silence her, walking around the table until he was only a sword’s length from her, studying her face. He couldn’t fault Illario for being heartbroken. She was stunning. How many times had she used her looks to her advantage? Was she like Teia, killing only men who deserved it by luring them to their deaths, like a Siren at sea? Or did she use the advantage of her beauty to kill more than just politicians and rapists?
“No scars. A talented assassin.” He said, fixing the cuffs of his shirt.
She pulled down the collar of her jacket, revealing gashes along the side of her throat. He let his eyes linger curiously.
“My second most valuable asset is my face. I protect it.”
“What other scars does she have? What other scars could we give her?”
“Hmm.” He ignored Spite’s lust for violence - or maybe it was just plain lust - and took a few steps back, dragging his finger along the wood of the dinner table.
“What’s your first?”
She turned to depart, the heels of her boots clicking on the stone floor as she strode towards the doors, throwing them open. She grinned over her shoulder back at him, showing him just how charming she could be.
“My aim.”
#lucanis dellamorte#spite being a little shit#lucanis x rook#lucanis fanfic#dragon age lucanis#da4 lucanis#lucanis romance#lucanis fic#dragon age the veilguard#dragon age fanfiction#veilguard fic#dragon age veilguard#spite dragon age#rook x lucanis#da4#lucanis#lucanis fanfiction#eating crow
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Liminality: Part 13
Pairing: Frankie Morales x Female Reader
Word Count: 9,755
Rating: R - the general themes and tones of the previous chapters carry over, but there's no outright violence or sex.
Summary: There's no denying it anymore - something has to be done to stop the Florida Chaos wolf. Who it is only makes things more difficult, but you're surprised as just how completely Frankie's friends rally to help him ... and you.
And they all know the cost.
Author’s note:
This story is actually beginning to wind down, believe it or not. I've got the remaining parts outlined, and they just need to be written ... I'm thinking maybe two more + an epilogue after this one? We'll see.
Thank you for being patient, and for sticking around. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Wanna talk about Wolf Frankie or his friends? My inbox is always open.
Masterlist (for the journal entries and all of the other 'extras' + previous chapters)
Will got to Frankie’s less than thirty minutes later, the sound of his bike audible well before he came into view.
Frankie was pacing around the living room, one hand rubbing at the side of his head and tugging his hair into further disarray by the moment. You were curled up on his couch with a blanket wrapped around you, eyes unfocused and staring across the room at the wall next to his TV.
Neither of you had spoken much after his declaration in the truck, and you knew that you were both trying to process the revelation that Tom was, in fact, the Chaos wolf. That means he was bitten after Colombia. That means that he somehow found someone in the Chaos line. That means -
“It’s just me.” Will’s voice came from the kitchen, and both you and Frankie turned in that direction, even though he didn’t stop moving his feet. “Bike’s in the garage, just in case.” He stepped into the room, his eyes moving between you and his friend, and then lingering on Frankie. “You alright?”
Frankie finally stopped moving, spinning to face Will and lashing out with one arm, pointing directly at you. “No, I am not fucking alright. We’ve been giving him insider fucking information for weeks now, and because I didn’t figure it out, he almost fucking killed my -”
“Frankie.” You leaned forward, putting both feet onto the floor. “This isn’t your fault.” You knew it would take more than your words to get through to him, but you still needed to try. “You didn’t ask for any of this, and you didn’t know, so you can’t blame yourself.”
Will crossed his arms, taking a deep breath as he leaned against the doorframe and watched the two of you as Frankie started again. “If I hadn’t been bitten in South America, he wouldn’t even have known the fucking wolves existed. And he wouldn’t have been looking for another one, which means that he wouldn’t have -”
“How do you know that one of them didn’t just find him?” Will cleared his throat, narrowing his eyes. “His bite could have been just as accidental as yours was, ‘Fish.” You understood his reasoning. Will was trying to explain what had happened in a way that didn’t put all the blame on Tom. And they’ve known each other for so long and been through so much together, it makes sense. I’d do the same thing for someone I thought I knew. “Think about all those trips he took with Molly and Tessa. Could have been on any one of them.” He turned his attention to you. “You said the Chaos line has been a problem for a long time, right? Are they only in the States, or are there more of ‘em in other places?”
“They’re all over.” You rubbed the space between your brows with two fingertips. “And my family’s research confirms that it’s been that way for as far as they’ve been able to go back.” Will nodded, breathing slowly. “How long… you said Tom stopped coming out with you for the moon about a year ago, right?” They both nodded. “So whatever happened to him, happened recently.”
“We didn’t notice anything.” Will stepped closer and then dropped down into the armchair, running a hand over his beard. “We were all so fucking busy with our own shit that we didn’t notice a change in him, and that’s…. Fuck. That’s on all of us.”
“You might not have.” Readjusting the blanket, you bit your lip and shook your head. “Is Frankie much different, aside from that period right around the moon?” Both of them said no, and so you went on. “So it makes sense if Tom had someone helping him learn everything. The Chaos line is only visible when they’re at their worst. They’ve mastered blending in because it’s a survival technique for them. If Tom had the help of one or more of them, then … you wouldn’t have noticed anything because you shouldn’t have.”
“You called it.” Frankie stepped closer to you and then sat down on the cushion to your right. “At the bar that night when he winced? But I said you were wong. And then he fucking … I should have listened. I should have believed you.”
It wasn’t worth trying to convince him that you weren’t mad - or that he shouldn’t have been upset with himself. But I appreciate him admitting that.
“What are the odds, though?” Reaching over, you took his hand. “Frankie, if he got bitten a year ago, and these attacks have been going on for months, then he started attacking people pretty much right away. And that means that he knew what to do and how to manage it. And if he knew how to manage it, then he knew how to hide it. You weren’t supposed to notice anything.”
“So you don’t think that it was an accidental bite.”
“No.” You looked away and at Will, unblinking. “I don’t.” His jaw twitched, eyes going hard. “Because if it was an accidental bite, he’d be in the same boat as Frankie and know nothing. You guys already have a routine in place to handle one transformation, so adding another wolf into the mix every month wouldn’t have changed much, especially if he told you that he got bitten while looking for answers.” You finally looked at Frankie, holding his gaze. “He deliberately kept it from you. He’s deliberately hurting people. I don’t know him the way you do, so I have no idea why. Based on what I do know, though? He’s … what they’d want. I’ve been looking for this fucking line of wolves for years. It fits their pattern.”
“But what can he give them?” Will leaned closer, head tilted. “Molly’s not having another kid. He’s working alone. And none of the people that he’s attacked and bitten have survived, so it’s not like he’s furthering the line.”
“No one survived that we know of.” Frankie lowered his head, covering his face with both hands. “They found bodies of people that didn’t, and Alec made it to the hospital but wasn’t bitten. If he’s bitten anyone and they’ve lived? He might have pointed ‘em in the direction of whoever he answers to so they could get help.” He was right, and that was something that you’d never thought of. And I should have. “And Tom’s fucking loaded, Ironhead. We all are. He can offer them money.”
You gasped in surprise, but as soon as he said it, you knew Frankie was right about that, too. Even a line of wolves that went back hundreds of years would have been motivated by money - especially in the amount that Tom could have offered. “I need a drink.” You pushed to your feet, heading for the kitchen. “Either of you want anything?”
They both said no, and so you entered the room alone, immediately going for Frankie’s liquor cabinet.
It would have been easy for you to spiral - to stand there and dwell on the fact that in the span of only a few months, you’d met and fallen for a wolf and found a separate link to the line of wolves your family had been after for years. Adding in the fact that the second wolf had actually attacked you - purposely - was another concern. But it’s not that separate.
Grabbing a bottle at random and then a glass, you poured yourself a strong drink and then knocked it back in two swallows, wincing at the burn. It wouldn’t solve your problems - nor would it change the way you felt, but it would calm you. And then I can try to calm him.
Frankie and Will were talking quietly, but both of them turned their attention to you when you walked back into the room. Frankie’s eyes brightened briefly, and Will gave you a single nod. “Better?”
“Not better, but … I needed that.” You dropped back down onto the couch but instead of letting you sit next to him, Frankie yanked you closer, both arms wrapping around you. “Frankie, what -”
“He was alone with you twice tonight. After he did what he did. He was alone with you, and he was questioning you, and I just … fuck, it makes me mad.” Frankie laughed, the sound bitter. “He did it right under my fucking nose. All of this. And he had the goddamn balls to tease you with that wine. It wasn’t just about me, he was telling you that he’s a wolf, too.” You replayed the conversations, thinking hard about Tom’s demeanor. He’s good at hiding shit, I’ll give him that.
“He’s getting bolder.” You turned your head and kissed Frankie’s cheek. “He attacked me even though he knew Will was there and that I’d have access to a gun with silver bullets. He invited us over. He’s actively planning things with you guys, and -”
“He’s going out to clean up the RV site.” Will swore, lowering his head as he whipped it back and forth. “I already did it, but he’s going to make sure there’s no fucking trace of himself there, at least in wolf form. And he’ll know which way he went in the woods to get rid of that trail, too.” Oh shit, that’s true. “And we fucking just … let him walk right in and do it.” Wait a minute.
“Will.” You swallowed hard and then bit your lip. “How did you and Frankie come up with the idea to try and get him to bleed tonight?” That question actually got Will to smile, the blonde sitting back down on the chair and angling his body toward yours. “Something tipped you off. Why tonight? What was it?”
“It was you.” He grinned, gesturing with one hand. “When you showed that video and I watched it again, I noticed something.” What? What could possibly have made you consider this? “The other night, when you and ‘Fish were in that clearing, and you saw him for the first time?” He paused, sticking his tongue unto his cheek. “You pointed out his tattoo in the pattern of his fur. The tattoo on his hand’s still there when he changes, but the one on his arm isn’t.”
“And when you showed us the video, Will noticed something on the wolf.” Frankie mumbled your name, and then leaned down to kiss the top of your shoulder. “Something on his shoulder.” Seriously?
“I recognized the shape of it. And it was just too convenient. So when ‘Fish and I went inside to get beers, I told him what I thought I saw, and we decided to do somethin’ about it.” He paused, looking down at the ground and taking a deep breath. “We didn’t know if I’d be able to do it tonight, but we figured it was good to try because of his sense of smell.” It was a good call - his heightened senses would have allowed Frankie to smell the wolf in Tom’s blood, which might not have been the case even a few days later. “But then you guys left, and I thought we were fucked, but -”
“But I had to take a leak.” Frankie laughed again, rolling his eyes. “And so it all worked out.”
Tom hadn’t seemed like he knew what was happening while he was attempting to clean his hand off, but there was no way to be sure. “You’re going to have to act normal for the next few weeks with him.” You closed your eyes. “And I’m going to, too.”
“You’re not going fucking near him for the next few weeks.” Frankie’s voice was little more than a growl, and Will agreed moments later. “In fact, I don’t want you to stay in that house you’re renting, either. He knows you’re there. He might have keys. And if he’s suspicious, he -”
“He might get more suspicious if she’s suddenly here all the time instead of there, too.” Will wet his lips, his eyes moving between the two of you. “It’s too quick.”
“I don’t fucking care.” Frankie stood again, crossing his arms and beginning to pace between the couch and Will’s chair. “And we told everyone she’s staying in Florida because we’re together, so why wouldn’t she move in?”
“Because she hasn’t even met your kid yet. ‘Fish.” Frankie stopped moving and you straightened up, your mouth falling open. He’s right. “And if there’s one thing Tom knows about you, it’s that your daughter’s the most important person in your life. You wouldn’t move a woman in after a couple months without having her meet Carmen and Becca first.”
“He’s right, Frankie.” You looked up at him, defeated. “Me moving in now would look bad. And I don’t want to live with you because we’re scared, I want it to be because you want me here.”
“I want you here.” He turned to face you, letting his arms drop to his side. “You think I don’t? After wh -”
“No. But I want you to ask me to move in when we’re not dealing with this anymore.” You held your hand out to him and he took it, his fingers sliding between yours. “We’ve already skipped a boatload of steps in this relationship, I don’t want something so important to be another.”
It was a conversation you didn’t want to have in front of Will, but at least beginning it was necessary. Because we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We have to be smart about this. We have to be smarter than him. “It’s gotta be business as usual, ‘Fish. For all of us. And we’ve got a leg up, because he doesn’t know she’s looking for wolves, and because he doesn’t know we know he is one.”
“We need to tell Benny and Pope.” Frankie let go of your hand, turning back to look at Will. “We need to let them know what we’re up against.”
“We’ve gotta do this the right way, Frankie.” Will leaned forward, glancing at you before he looked up at his friend. “Otherwise he’s going to know something’s up. We have weeks until the moon, and it’s not like he can change between the -”
“About that.” Frankie’s hand was moving back and forth, fingers loosely curled. “He might be able to. I can, and if he’s been learning from people that know what the fuck they’re doing, we’ve got to assume he can, too.”
“Fuck.” You used one hand to cover your mouth, fear starting to creep back in. If he can change at will, he could get into my apartment and … there’d be nothing to tie him to it. Just animal fur. You leaned back against the corner of the couch, drawing your uninjured leg up toward your chest. “He was fishing tonight. He was asking me questions and it felt … I don’t know. It felt different. He’s always kind of smug, but tonight felt like he wasn’t trying to hide it.”
“He gets like that when he feels like he’s winning.” Will dragged a hand through his hair, shaking his head back and forth. “Cocky. But he makes mistakes, like he did in South America.”
“He made a lot of fucking mistakes in South America.” Frankie laughed, and it was the first time that night that it sounded almost genuine. “We all did. But you’re right. Because when Tom thinks he’s untouchable, it makes him real fucking reckless.”
“This is gonna kill my brother.” Will stood, his sigh audible. “He idolizes Tom. And there’s no real way to prove it’s the truth until we can catch him on a full moon, so -”
“Is there really a realtor conference in Orlando next month?” You mumbled the question, reaching into your pocket for your phone. “Because if there is, that might be how he met the Chaos wolf in the first place. But if it’s over a full moon, that means he’s going to turn in Orlando, and I know nothing about that city to even begin to....” You did a Google search, eyes on your screen. Well, he wasn’t lying about that. “There is one.” You nodded, scanning the text. “And it’s the right dates.”
“Might just be cover,” Will moved away from his chair and toward the doorway, pausing and turning his head back to look over his shoulder. “To give him a reason to be gone for a few days. Molly won’t ask questions if he says he’s doing something for work.” He reached up, resting his hand on the doorframe. “One of us should follow him there. And since I was with you this last time, ‘Fish, it should be me.”
Part of you understood that reasoning. It was logical. It wouldn’t raise suspicions if Will bowed out of going with you and Frankie, since he’d done his part the previous month. But another part of you felt terror at the thought that Will wouldn’t be there with you. He saved me once. I trust him. I trust him with my life. “That’s a good idea.” Frankie nodded, watching his friend closely. “But we’ll need to figure this shit out with Benny and Pope, too.”
Will agreed, eyes moving between you and Frankie before he closed them, bringing a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t going to end well for Tom, is it.”
“No.” Frankie stood, shaking his head slowly. “It isn’t.” Will’s response wasn’t audible, but you did see his jaw lock, a muscle in his cheek twitching as he let out a slow breath. “There’s no way it can.” He and Frankie shared another look, and you saw the resignation in his eyes, his shoulders rising and falling in slow motion. I get it. It’s got to be so hard for them to think about that.
Will turned his attention back to you, lips turning upward into a sad smile. “I hope you get some sleep tonight. Both of you.”
“You too, Will.” You set your phone down, leaning back. “Get home safe, alright?” He assured you he would, and then he and Frankie left the room, heading for the front door. You could hear them talking, but before too long, Frankie reappeared in the doorway, his posture much looser than it had been. “We need to go to sleep, Frankie. You have to be up to fly tomorrow.”
“I do.” He walked back over to where you sat, sitting down on the table in front of you and then leaning in. “I need you to look at me.” You did, lifting your chin enough that you could meet his eyes. Frankie reached up, sliding his fingers along the column of your neck so that he could curl them gently around the nape. “What happens to Tom isn’t just because of what he did to you. It’s not going to be your fault, that I take care of this. It’s his own.”
“I know.” You moved your thumb over his stubbled cheek, nodding. “He made his choices.” Frankie agreed, leaning into your touch. “We need to talk about what happened right before Will left, but it’s not a good -”
“After we deal with Tom, I want you to meet Becca and Carmen.” He stiffened slightly, and you could see fear in his eyes. “Will’s right. I can’t ask you to come live here before that happens, but …” He sighed, closing his eyes. “We’re going to go back and forth between your place and this one for the next couple weeks. Spend as much time as you can with one of us or at Ironhead’s or even at Pope’s with Yova. And if Tom -”
“I know, ‘Fish.” You closed the distance between you, pressing your forehead to his. “And I know that you do want me here. I just want to make sure that you’ll still want that when this is over.” And you’ve had to kill someone you thought you could trust. “I don’t doubt your feelings for me, but this isn’t a normal situation.”
“It’s not.” He squared his shoulders, nodding. “But we both … we both felt this before we knew anything else was going on, so that has to mean something.” You agreed, and it made you feel better, but only marginally. “First time I met you, remember?” You smiled, eyes dropping as your cheeks heated. Yeah, I remember. He stood up, holding both hands out to you. “Now come to bed with me so that I can wake up and fly tourists over the Bay tomorrow.”
That made you laugh, and he squeezed your hands tightly when you took them, helping you to your feet. “I was one of those tourists when I first got here.”
“You were.” You headed down the hallway, Frankie walking backwards so he didn’t have to look away. “And I looked forward to every flight with you.” Arching a brow, you watched as he grinned. “Still do, if you ever want to go back up.” I do. I really do.
The two of you got ready for bed quickly, and when you stood by the side of his bed, Frankie stopped you before you could grab the bottom hem of your shirt. Instead of letting you remove it, he did it for you, tossing it to the side and then reaching to unhook your bra. Once that was gone, Frankie’s hands skimmed over your skin, his eyes following the movement.
“Bed, Francisco.” You spoke quietly, reaching out to press a hand against his abdomen. “It’s late and we’re both exhausted.” He didn’t fight it, instead nodding as you climbed into bed and waited for him to follow.
He held you close after you both got comfortable, but you could tell that he was still tense. I am too, though. This is … more complicated than I thought.
Tom actually being the Chaos wolf was something that you hadn’t expected - and you knew that none of the other guys had, either. It complicated things, but more importantly it forced their hand in a way that you knew would be difficult for them to handle emotionally. And it has to be done soon, which makes it worse.
Tom would fight back, that much was certain, based on the way he’d acted in the previous months. The real question was whether or not Frankie and the others having an advantage of knowing would be enough for them to win. It has to be. Because I can’t lose him. I won’t.
—
It took a few days to get everyone together in the same room, but that was only because it had to be done in a way that Tom was invited - but couldn’t make it.
Will handled that, sending out a group message asking when the guys wanted to meet for drinks at the bar. When Tom said he had no time that week because of late showings and plans with Molly, it became easier to choose a day and a location.
That turned out to be Pope’s place, which meant Yovanna would be there. But she knows. So maybe this is the right time for her to tell everyone. You were nervous as you and Frankie drove there after he’d finished his flights, but despite the conversation that awaited you both, he kept it together.
Will’s truck was parked in front of the house when you pulled up, and when you walked around the house and into the back yard, you saw that Benny was there, too, both of them sitting in chairs and holding drinks as they talked to Pope and Yovanna.
You caught the look she gave you as you headed to where they were, her eyes dropping to your leg and then rising - first back to meet your eyes and then drifting to Frankie’s face, her lips twisting into a frown. You shook your head, mouthing the word no, and her eyes widened before she reached over, taking Pope’s hand and squeezing it.
The two of you joined the group, sliding into open seats and saying hello as Benny slid drinks across the tabletop to you. Frankie took his and opened it, downing a long swig before turning his attention to Will. You watched as they shared a look, the blonde’s throat working as he swallowed and then gave Frankie a nod.
“Hey.” Will closed his eyes, and then let out a deep breath. “There’s something we need to talk about, but I don’t know if Yova’s going to want to hear it.” You weren’t surprised that he’d called the woman out directly - that was just how Will was - but you were surprised when she pulled her hand free from Pope’s and moved to sit next to you, her arms crossed over her chest.
“I want to hear it.” She nodded, looking between the other men and then finally at Pope, who was watching her with a look of amusement on his face. “Especially if it has to do with the wolves.”
“You knew?” Benny leaned in, his eyes widening. “This whole time? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I did not want to.” She shrugged, scoffing. “What would it have helped? Me telling you stories? I have never met one before Francisco. But I knew there were others. I knew another one was here and it was hurting people.” She leaned forward and looked past you at Frankie. “And I knew it could not be you because you are not that kind of man.”
There was trust in her eyes - her voice strong and even as she spoke. “Last thing I want to do is hurt people.” Frankie cleared his throat. “But yeah, that is … what this is about.” Pope sat down, too, joining the rest of you at the table.
It was silent for long seconds, and you didn’t know who was going to speak first. But it should be me. “I’ve been lying to all of you.” Frankie stiffened next to you, but you ignored it. “I didn’t come here to write about Tampa. I came here looking for werewolves.” It helped that only Benny and Yovanna had been in the dark about it, but you were thankful that everyone at the table stayed quiet and let you go on. “Frankie figured it out because my research wasn’t hidden when he showed up at my apartment one morning. I told Will after I got attacked last week.”
“You were looking for ‘Fish?” Benny leaned in, eyes narrowed. “How’d you know it was him?”
“No, I didn’t know it was him. That all just … it’s a weird fucking coincidence. And even before he told me what he is, I still didn’t think it was him that I was looking for. But as soon as he did, I realized that there were two wolves. And the other one was the one I’ve been trying to find.”
“Why are you looking for wolves?” Pope cut in, scratching at the back of his neck. He’s going along with it. “What do you want from them?”
That started your story, and you repeated it for what you hoped was the last time. Everyone listened to you without interrupting, and Frankie’s hand rested on your thigh the entire time, reminding you that he was there. Like I could forget.
“And since my cousin���s out of this for good now, I’ve got … I’ve got to finish this. Even if it’s the last thing I do with hunting, taking care of this wolf?” You looked between them, locking your gaze on Benny’s face. “I’ll make it right for Alec. And I think … I think that’ll be enough for me.”
“Will it, though?” Pope swallowed, taking his lower lip between his teeth. “You had no plans to stop before, so why would this be enough now? It’s one wolf. You’re not going to eliminate the whole line. You never were.”
“No.” Laughing, you rubbed at the space between your eyes. “I wasn’t. But this is what I knew. It was what I thought I had to do to be considered a contributing member of my family. Even if I never found anything, at least I tried.”
“But you did find something.” Yovanna reached over, taking your hand and linking her fingers with yours. “You found Francisco and you found all of us. You found out that it is possible to be with a wolf and not need to … hunt it.” She took a breath. “But you also found the other one. And it …” Her gaze dropped and then rose, her eyes wide. “You know who it is. You know who the other wolf is and that’s why we’re here tonight.”
“Yes.” Your heart was pounding, but you knew that if you looked at Frankie, you’d break down - and so you didn’t. You looked at Pope first, and then at Benny before finally meeting Will’s eyes. He nodded slowly, raising the tips of his fingers from where they rested against the tabletop to tell you to relax. “We do know who it is.”
“Tom should be here for this.” Pope leaned in, eyeing you. “He’s part of this, and he was there when ‘Fish got bitten.”
“There’s a reason he’s not here, Pope.” Frankie’s voice was low, and when you finally turned your head to look at him, you saw that his shoulders were straight, eyes bright. “There’s a reason it’s just us, and -”
“Bullshit.” Benny cut in, making a fist and knocking it against the table. “Will asked him to be here. I saw the fucking texts. Why -”
“We picked tonight because Tom couldn’t make it.” Will crossed his arms again and leaned back in his chair. “Tom is the other wolf, Benny. ‘Fish and I tested it the other night, and it’s him. He’s been attacking people for the last couple months. He attacked her cousin. He attacked her. He doesn’t give a shit who he hurts, and he’s been lying to us for a fucking year.”
No one replied right away, and as Will’s voice trailed off, you risked a look over at Benny, watching as his face contorted between emotions. He’s hurt. He’s hurt and sad and… “How?” He licked his lips and then stood up from the table, pushing his chair back. “How did it happen? How do you know?”
“I smelled his blood the other night, and it was the same as what was all over the clearing.” Frankie sniffed. “I have no idea how he found someone to bite him, but I’m sure as fuck going to ask next month.”
“How? He’s got that conference. He won’t be -”
“I think it’s a cover.” You pinched the bridge of your nose. “There is a conference, but I think that just got him out of having to come and stay with Frankie next moon. I think … I think he’s going to come back to the clearing and try to finish what he started because he knows Frankie will be miles away and I’ll be there.”
“That’s dumb as shit, though.” Pope’s eyes were narrow. “He knows there’s always someone there with Frankie. He knows that we wouldn’t dream of letting you go there by yourself next month. He has to know that ‘Fish wouldn’t go far, especially if he thought there was a chance the other wolf would come back.”
“He’s too cocky.” Will spoke up, frowning as he shook his head. “He’ll think that -”
“He is an asshole.” Yovanna spat the words out, standing up and shoving her chair backwards before slapping her hand down on the table. “I have never liked him, not even meeting him that first time. And since I have come here?” She snarled, waving her hand. “He is mean and nasty and I have never trusted him, but I put up with him because he was your friend.” She pointed at Benny. “Your own brother is telling you this is the truth and you don’t believe him? Why would he lie? Why would Francisco lie when that lie means Tom has to go?”
The rest of you were silent as her words sunk in, and for a few moments, you were in awe of the woman. She barely knew you, and had no real reason to stand up for you in the way she was. But she loves Pope. And if Tom is willing to do this to someone Frankie cares about, she’s in just as much danger.
“Are you sure?” Benny’s eyes were narrowed as he stared at you and then at Frankie. “I mean positive, ‘Fish? Because if what you’re saying is true, then we have to -” Will groaned, covering his face with both hands.
“Watch the video, man. The spot on the wolf’s shoulder is in the same damn place as Tom’s tattoo. ‘Fish smelled the blood. Tom’s been real fuckin’ shady about helping out for a long time now. It fits. We didn’t see it because we didn’t want to, but c’mon, Benny.”
“I’m sure, Benjamin.” Frankie’s head moved from side to side, and you heard the fatigue in his voice. “I don’t want it to be true, but it is.” It was your turn to support him then, and you reached over to settle your hand on his forearm, fingers closing around it. I know you don’t want it to be true. I don’t either. “And I’m not asking for your help with this. I understand if you don’t want to be involved with what’s got to happen, but I need you to at least … not give anything away for the next couple weeks.”
“How the fuck are we supposed to -” Pope rubbed at his eyes. “‘Fish, man. C’mon. He’s not stupid. He’s going to know something’s up the second one of us talks to him.”
“No he won’t.” Benny sniffed, dropping back into his seat and hanging his head. “Because this is the shit we were trained to do. We’ve got to put our emotions to the side and treat this like any of the fucking bullshit missions we went on.” You felt relief - despite his closeness to Frankie, and the friendliness Benny had shown you while you were together, you figured that he would have been more difficult to convince. “This isn’t Tom. This is fucking Lorea all over again. He’s dangerous and he’s hurting people, and we need to stop him.”
“So we’re just going to kill him?” Pope laughed, his expression incredulous. “Just kill our friend without giving him a chance to explain? How does that make us any better than any of the people we went after in uniform? How does it make us any better than him?”
“This is what he’s done to people, Pope.” You pulled out your phone and navigated to the hidden folder of photos that contained your research on the Florida Chaos wolf. “This is what he’s done to the people he’s killed. This is what he did to Alec. This is what he did to me.” You slid the phone over the table at him and then pushed your chair back, lifting your leg and swinging it upward and onto the table before ripping the bandage off of it.
You heard Benny’s gasp and Yovanna’s reaction - something muttered in Spanish that was muffled by the way her hand covered her mouth. You saw Will’s wince, even though he’d seen the fresh wound. It was beginning to heal, and though it looked better than it had days earlier, it was still red and swollen and somewhat raw around the edges, the scabbing thick.
“She’s going to have that reminder for the rest of her fucking life, Pope. You saw the video. You watched him attack her. He didn’t flinch. There was no hesitation.” Frankie’s hand moved to touch your ankle, the tips of his fingers gliding up your leg, though he avoided the wound. “We aren’t going to do anything. I won’t ask you to be a part of this, but I need you to know why I’m going to -”
“Frankie.” Pope darkened the screen of your phone and then pushed it back toward you. “There’s no fucking way you’re doing this yourself.” Your breath left you in a whoosh of relief, and as you put your foot back on the ground and closed your eyes, shoulders slumping. “It’s just a lot to take in, y’know?”
“I know.” He cleared his throat, reaching up to take his hat off and toss it onto the table. “But we can’t let him keep going, and you all know it. He’s not going to stop. So I have to stop him, because I’m the only one who can.”
“And what if you can’t?” It wasn’t unkind, and it was the first time Will had questioned Frankie - which surprised you. “He’s bigger than you as a wolf. He’s mean. You’ve tried real hard to hide that part of yourself during the moon, and he hasn’t.”
“That’s my advantage. He’s never seen me as a wolf protecting someone I love.” Frankie paused and said your name, waiting for you to look over at him before he continued. When he spoke again, you heard an edge to his voice that had never been there before - and it chilled you to the bone. “But that’ll be the last thing he ever sees.”
—
Over the next few days, everything changed - and at the same time, nothing changed.
You and Frankie continued your routine of spending nights together, alternating between your apartment and his house. While he was at work, you kept up with your research, using what you already knew about the wolves and adding information about Tom straight from Frankie’s photo albums and anything that the others told you - or that you could find on social media.
You were determined to find the same link that Tom had to the other wolves, because that would mean more of an understanding about the way the Chaos wolves worked - and recruited. But what am I going to do with that? After this, I’m… I’m done.
That was another thing that you’d thought long and hard about, both while Frankie was beside you and when you were apart. You’d told him that you’d consider ending your search for the Chaos wolves after Florida, but the truth was that you’d known for a long time that what you were doing was a fool’s errand. I just had no real reason to stop.
But Frankie was a reason. Will and Benny and Pope and Yovanna were reasons. Carmen was a reason. You’d never be able to eliminate the Chaos line in its entirety, but removing Tom from the equation would balance the scales for your family somewhat by getting payback for causing Alec’s injury - and for yours.
It probably wasn’t the route that prior generations of your family had imagined, but it would be enough. Enough for me, anyway. Enough to keep us safe.
Though the assumption was likely foolish, you had no doubts that Frankie would handle Tom - with or without the help of his friends. You trusted that he would do whatever was necessary to keep his daughter safe, which meant tapping into a part of himself that he’d never allowed to the surface before. But it’s not just for Carmen, it’s … to protect me, too.
You kept up your routine and so did Frankie, his scheduled flights going off without a hitch until two forecasted rainy days in a row thanks to a tropical storm grounded everything. It was during those days that he decided to drive up to see Carmen and Becca, which took a little convincing on your end. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to spend time with his daughter, but Frankie was very against leaving you alone for such a long period of time.
He’d only agreed after you promised to find some way to keep yourself occupied for the time he was gone that didn’t involve you staying in Tampa. It seemed like overkill, but when you saw the look in Frankie’s eyes as he made the request, you realized that it was nonnegotiable.
So the night before he was set to leave, and you were scheduled to check into a bed and breakfast in Punta Gorda, the two of you headed to Ironhead’s just to keep up appearances.
It was busier than usual, since thanks to the rain, sitting on most of the outdoor patios was out of the question. But you still managed to find an open booth, both of you sliding into it as you lowered the hoods on the jackets you wore.
There were drinks placed in front of you moments later, and when you looked up, you found Benny’s smiling face, the blonde nodding at you before he turned his head to look at Frankie. “Hey, you two.”
“Benjamin.” Frankie reached for his drink, lifting the glass. “Busy in here tonight.”
“Sure as fuck is. It always gets like this when it rains, but that forecast’s got a lot of the tourists worried, so…” He shrugged. “I’m not gonna complain and neither are my bartenders.” You laughed, settling back against the cushion as he said goodbye and headed back for the bar.
“You excited, Francisco?” You sipped your drink, locking eyes with him. “Two days with Carmen?”
“I always am.” The look in his eyes softened, something that hadn’t happened often in the previous few days. “She wants to go to the park, but I don’t know if we’ll be able to because of the rain.”
“You’ll figure it out.” He nodded, his gaze leaving your face and sweeping over the busy bar. “Should I be worried about storm surge or anything down there? I don’t want to get stuck because of flooding, or -”
“Nah.” He sipped his drink again, shaking his head. “Storm’s tracking north. You might get a little flooding and some wind, but you’ll be alright.” He met your eyes again and winked, one side of his mouth lifting in a smirk. “You can trust me, I’m a pilot. I know weather.”
You laughed at that, lowering your head. For a few seconds, it was like things were normal between you, and that night at the bar was just a night out with Frankie. Maybe it will be soon. Maybe we can have … When you looked up, your laughter stopped as you saw who was standing in the crowd beside the bar. Oh, shit.
You leaned forward, reaching over the table to take his hands. “Frankie.” He stiffened, shoulders going rigid. “You have to stay calm, alright? Molly and Tom are here, and -”
“That fuck can’t just -”
“He can.” You squeezed his hands, wetting your lips and trying to stay calm yourself. “We know nothing, Frankie. We have to make him believe it.” It was a pep talk for him as much as it was one for you - and you were uncertain that you could make your own words reality. “There are too many people here. Too many innocent people, and …” You trailed off when he lifted your joined hands and pressed a kiss to your knuckles before he let go and reached for his drink again, downing the remainder in one long swig.
“I’m good.” He nodded, shoulders relaxing. “I’m fucking peachy.”
You wondered if maybe, with the crowd, Tom wouldn’t see where the two of you were sitting. A few seconds later, you understood that that wouldn’t be the case. He caught your eye, his brows rising before he leaned over to speak into Molly’s ear, one hand lifting to point in your direction. “They’re coming over, Frankie. It -”
“Hey, you two.” Your blood went cold at the friendly tone of his voice, but you forced yourself to look up at where they stood, eyeing Tom as he slipped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Busy in here tonight, isn’t it?”
“We were going to have dinner on a patio, but with the rain, everything’s closed and …” Molly rolled her eyes, drawing your attention. “We ended up here, which isn’t bad, but …”
“D… do you want to sit?” You forced the words out, surprised to hear that your voice was steady, even though your heart was racing. “Frankie can scoot over here, and you can sit on that side.” Tom looked stunned at the offer, and so did Frankie, but before you could say anything else, he slid to the end of the booth and then stood, moving to where you sat.
He got as close to you as he could, his arm draped over your shoulders, and as Tom and Molly took seats across from you, you realized that Frankie’s arm was positioned so that his scar was visible. It’s like he’s reminding Tom what he is but in a way that seems … oh, Francisco. You reached over, laying your hand on his thigh and squeezing.
“So.” Tom sipped his drink, his eyes on you. “You get to be here for a tropical storm. You gonna ride it out at ‘Fish’s place, or -”
“Actually.” Frankie cocked his head to the side. “Actually, I’m going to see Carmen for a couple days. Can’t fly with the wind and rain, so it seemed like a good time.” Tom’s eyes widened, and as Molly interjected, telling Frankie how great it was that he’d get to spend time with his daughter, he stared at you. You wondered if, like Frankie, Tom’s eyes flashed a different color when he was emotional, and then wondered if that other color was the reddish that you’d seen while he was a wolf.
“He’s leaving you alone here?” Tom chewed on his lower lip, eyes narrowing. “That’s a surprise.” What are you planning?
“No, I’m going out of town, too.” You reached for your drink, willing your hand not to shake. “Planned it before the weather went to shit, and I’m still going to go. It’ll be good research, and I’m not really interested in trying to cancel reservations.”
“Where you headed?” Coming from anyone else, it would have been an innocuous question, but you could almost feel the edge to Tom’s ask, and you knew Frankie did, too.
“South. Cape Coral. Frankie promised me that the majority of the storm would skip there, so…” You shrugged, hoping that it hid your discomfort - and the lie. “I guess we’ll see.”
Tom didn’t speak right away, but Molly did, waving her hand back and forth and rolling her eyes as she told you that you’d get a little rain and some wind. It was easier for you to speak to her, and so you did, answering with a laugh that was only half-forced as you took another drink.
Your hand tightened on Frankie’s leg as Tom joined in the conversation, talking about one of the many storms that they’d ridden out during their time in Tampa. And his arm shifted slightly to pull you closer, his head turning so that he could press a kiss to the space behind your ear when Tom laughed about sandbags exploding, Frankie’s quiet I’m right here, I love you making you shiver.
You had no idea how he was keeping so calm, because you were wound tighter than you could ever remember being before, and were almost desperate to get away from the table - and Tom.
It wasn’t that you were afraid he’d try anything that night. In fact, you were convinced of the opposite, because you knew that Frankie wouldn’t hesitate to fight back. You also knew that Benny and Will kept a gun behind the counter, a stash of silver bullets in a small bowl beside it. And if you knew that, then Tom did, too.
But you were afraid of him, afraid of how little he seemed to care about antagonizing you and Frankie. You were fearful of his cockiness, because it meant that he was overconfident, and if he was overconfident as a man, you knew it would carry over the closer it got to the full moon. And that makes him more dangerous.
“Anyone need a refill?” Benny appeared almost out of nowhere, his arms swinging loosely by his sides. “Tom, Molly, there’s a table that just opened if you guys wanted to have some privacy. I know how much you’ve been looking forward to it with Tessa at college.” It was subtle but pointed, and you felt a surge of affection for the younger Miller, your mouth turning upward into a smile at his offer. “Closer to the bar, too.”
Tom didn’t want to get up - you could see the hesitation in his eyes, but when Molly reached over to take his hand, nodding excitedly, you let out another small sigh of relief. “Yes, please. We should leave these two alone so they can enjoy their date. And I’m starving, so the sooner we order food, the better.”
“We can order while we sit here, Mol. I’m sure ‘Fish and -”
“Actually,” Frankie cut in, his fingertips tapping on the tabletop. “We were trying to have a date before I leave, so we’d appreciate the privacy, too.” It happened then, and you were almost positive that Tom wasn’t even aware of it - but his eyes did flash, changing color briefly in the fluorescent bar lighting as his jaw tightened. He doesn’t like Frankie challenging him. He’s angry. But that confirms it. He’s … it’s… “It was really good to see you, Mol. Hope you’re holding up well with an empty house.”
“It’s weird, but …” She pushed on Tom’s arm, urging him to stand. “We’re enjoying it.” You laughed, watching as they stood and took a step away from the table “Right, Tom?”
“Right.” He stood stiffly, his eyes moving between you and Frankie. “You two be careful driving tomorrow.” Frankie grunted and you nodded, thanking him and telling him you would. You watched as he put his hand against Molly’s lower back, turning her in the direction Benny had indicated.
“Be right back with a refill, ‘Fish,” the blonde called back at you. “No need to get up.”
Molly giggled at his words and you managed a small smile, but Frankie didn’t react until they were out of earshot. “You need to take everything you have on the Chaos line with you when you leave. He knows you won’t be there for a couple days. He…” He sighed. “He might decide to take a look around.”
You agreed, and told him as much. “I won’t go back in there until you’re back, either.” He nodded. “Did you see it, his eyes, they -”
“Mine do that too?” Turning his head to look at you, you saw concern in the depths of his, though there was nothing unusual about them that night - they were his usual deep brown. “You said you’ve seen it.”
“They do. But not red. Yours are …” Reaching up, you swept your thumb over his stubbled cheek. “They’re gold. Warm. It sort of looks like your eyes under a really bright light.” He leaned into your touch, and you felt him relax slightly. Good.
“Break it up, you two. This is a public place.” Benny put two new drinks in front of you and then stopped next to the table, flipping a towel over one shoulder. “You guys alright?”
“No, but it could have been worse.” He gave you a sympathetic smile and looked to Frankie, taking a long breath.
“We cant ask ‘em to leave, and I’m sorry about that, ‘Fish.”
“Don’t apologize.” Frankie slid away from you on the seat and your hand dropped. “As long as he doesn’t come back over here, we’re all good.” He stood up and Benny stepped back, watching as Frankie moved to the other side of the table and sat again. “We might not stay long, though. Maybe finish this round and head out.”
Benny nodded and then tapped his hand on the table, telling you that if either of you needed anything else, you knew where to find him. And when he was gone, you turned your attention back to Frankie. “After this is over…” You reached out, putting your hand flat on the table between you. “We should go on a trip somewhere.”
“What? That’s what you’re thinking about right now?” The abrupt change in subject did the trick, and you watched his posture change, Frankie’s brows shooting up as he leaned in. “A vacation?”
“Yeah, why not.” You shrugged. “It’s going to be winter soon. And I know you’ve spent almost your whole life in this humid hellscape they call Florida, but…” That made him laugh, and the sound warmed you from the inside out. Good. Good, that’s what I want to hear. “But there are places where it actually gets cold. Places where there are snow and mountains and different kinds of forests for you to run through during the full moon.”
“But I’ve never … aside from Colombia, I’ve never ….” He frowned. “What if something happens?”
“It won’t.” He took your hand, sliding his fingers between yours and pressing your palms flat against each other. “But a change in scenery, even only for a little while might be a good thing.”
“I can’t miss a holiday with Carmen. I won’t.”
“Ashley’s not due until the end of December anyway. So we can’t go out there til early next year.” You grinned, tilting your head. “And there are places out West where it snows until May and June, so we have time.” He was quiet for almost a minute, eyes locked on your face. What are you thinking, Francisco?
“You’re already thinking that far ahead?” He wet his lips and then bit the lower one. “About next summer?”
“Yes.” You swallowed, still staring at him and watching as the look in his eyes changed, heat filling them. But that’s not the wolf. “I hope that’s alright.”
“It’s more than alright.” He reached for his drink and drained half of it in one long gulp, eyes half closed as he tipped his head back. “In fact,” he continued when he’d set the glass down, creating a new ring of condensation on the table. “I think we should leave and I’ll show you just how alright it is.”
Your stomach flipped, and you shivered. Oh, Frankie. But you nodded at the same time, picking up your drink and taking a smaller - but still healthy - sip. “What are we waiting for, ‘Fish?” He squeezed your hand and then let go, reaching into his back pocket to pull out his wallet and drop a few bills on the table.
“Nothing anymore.” He stood again and waited until you did, too. Because the bar was so crowded, he had to walk behind you, but he stayed close, one hand on your lower back until you were outside in the parking lot again.
It reminded you of the first night you’d met, and when you turned to tell him that, he was waiting. “I wanted you to kiss me in the parking lot the first night we met.” You blinked a few times, watching as the water began to dampen his hair and shirt. “I understand why you didn’t, but … I wanted you to.” He stepped closer, staying quiet.
You believed that Frankie would handle Tom. You believed you’d get answers. You believed that after, you’d go to Texas and then to somewhere snowy. You believed that you’d meet Carmen and Becca and be able to take the next steps toward a future with him. But just in case… if it doesn’t happen? I don’t want anything unsaid. “I wanted to, too.”
His hands moved to your waist, pulling you closer. “I love you, Francisco, so much. And yes, I’m thinking about next year and next summer and all of the nexts because I don’t want to -”
“How ‘bout I kiss you now?” He slid one hand up the center of your back, fingers splayed. “Better late than never, right?” You nodded, closing the distance, and when your lips met, you closed your eyes, savoring the feeling.
You’d kissed him probably hundreds of times in the few months you’d known him, but that one felt different.
It had little to do with the rain and the breeze, and everything to do with what it signaled - the breaking of the tension that had grown with Tom and Molly appearing in the bar, processing of the conversation that you’d been forced to have with them, the realizations that had come after. But most importantly, it was an indication that you were still on the same page, and that it wasn’t just about immediate satisfaction or the fact that you’d found each other temporarily.
He bit softly on your lower lip and you parted them for him, the tip of your tongue poking though and meeting his. It escalated quickly from there, one of your hands rising to tangle in the damp curls at the back of his neck, Frankie’s fingers twisting the material of your shirt between them as he backed you toward the corner of the building and where he’d parked his truck.
Your back hit the cool exterior wall of the bar, and he kept kissing you, his body pressed against yours as the rain continued to fall. A flash of lightning followed by a low rumble of thunder broke you apart, and you groaned, still holding onto him. “We’re getting soaked, Frankie.”
“And?” His lips moved over yours before they strayed to your cheek and then back toward your ear. “It’s just water.”
“We’re going to ruin the interior of your truck.” Reluctantly, you pushed him away and then took his face between both hands. “But the sooner we get home, the sooner you can help me out of these clothes.”
That was the right thing to say, because Frankie backed off on his own then, jerking his chin toward the parking lot and then reaching up to take your hand.
Distracting each other wouldn’t solve your problems, and you could only continue to do it for so long before the next full moon came. And we need to worry about now before we can even think about next.
But when Frankie’s hand found yours and lifted it so that he could kiss your knuckles, it was hard not to think so far ahead… and even harder to imagine that there might not be a future for the two of you.
—
#frankie morales#frankie morales x reader#frankie morales x female reader#pedro pascal#pedro pascal character#liminality#liminality masterlist#pedro pascal masterlist#frankie morales masterlist#spooky season#frankie catfish morales#triple frontier#triple frontier fic#triple frontier au#francisco morales#francisco catfish morales#writitng#werewolf frankie
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THEORY: ROSIE IS CHARLIE’S REAL MOM (pls hmo)
SPOILERS FOR HH S2 LEAKS UNDER THE CUT!!
Okay, first let’s establish who Roo is.
Roo is the “root of all evil,” who is said to make an appearance far later in the series. Very little is known about her, but personally, I believe that she could be Eve.
Reasons:
- Adam is in Heaven, Eve is missing, despite both of them eating the fruit of knowledge. Eve is shown to have eaten it first, which set free all sin (this thing), which was contained in the fruit.
- Eating the apple first could have caused evil to possess Eve, turning her into Roo.
- In an interview, Vivziepop said that season 3 (or 4 I can’t remember) would delve more into family, which I think could mean a lot if we are going with the theory of Roo being Charlie’s real mother and with Lilith being away.
But why do I think Roo is Charlie’s real mother? Let’s look at the physical similarities:
- Both Charlie and Roo have red eyes with those little black slits
- Both have the puppy dog nose. Neither Lucifer nor Lilith have this.
- Charlie’s hand is able to turn into a giant claw, which Roo has.
Lucifer also made a comment to Adam about sleeping with Eve. I don’t think Lucifer would cheat on Lilith. If Lilith was infertile, Eve/Roo could have served as a surrogate mother.
Okay, so if Roo is supposedly Charlie’s real mom, why would Rosie be Roo? More importantly, if she is Rosie,what does she want to do with Alastor?
Based on the leaks, we now know that Rosie actually owns Alastor’s soul. So why do I still think Roo does?
(To clarify, I am not gonna leave clips for proof just out of respect for the team behind the show, but if you want to see what I’m talking about the leaks are not hard to find if you dig hard enough)
Firstly, Roo seems to act as a very ominous and mysterious figure, known to be dangerous and kinda acts as an urban legend in Hell. It wouldn’t be out of the ordinary for her to go undercover to keep her whereabouts and actions secret. In this case, disguising herself as the mayor of Cannibal Town. Second, there is a lot of eyeball imagery in regards to Roo and throughout the show. For example, the deal that was made between Rosie and Alastor was that Alastor would gain a large amount of power in exchange for something. We know that a majority of his power comes from his staff, which, you guessed it, has an eyeball on it. If we go with the idea that Rosie created this for him, we can associate it with Roo’s magic. Also, both in the hotel and in Alastor’s radio tower, there are eyeballs. Is Roo watching them?
Additionally, these last few may be a stretch, but notice how both Rosie and Roo have a big hat? Share a first letter in their name? Roo is depicted with chains, and Rosie is known to give out services in exchange for favors. Is it possible that she owns other souls? Rosie seems for some reason a lot more powerful compared to other Overlords, not to mention she is implied to be one of the few hellborn overlords.
Alright, last thing. If Roo is Rosie and Roo is Charlie’s real mom, what was the deal she made with Alastor?
Well, I believe that Roo could be jealous of Lilith and wants Charlie. It could possibly explain Lilith’s absence, who maybe made a deal with Roo? I’m still unsure of Lilith’s case on why she’s in Heaven, but Charlie and Lucifer I have a better idea of.
When meeting Charlie, Rosie acts very motherly towards her. You could blow this off as her being kind hearted, but given the evidence, I think it says so much more. In the leaks, Alastor tells Rosie he quit working at the hotel after “playing nice” because she promised him power, claiming “they really weren’t getting any closer to—“ before getting cut off by Rosie saying that quitting wasn’t his decision. Getting closer to what? Why does Rosie want Alastor at the hotel so badly? I always thought that Alastor just randomly showing up to the hotel for “entertainment” was kinda dumb. Maybe, he could be trying to get a hold of Charlie to bring to Rosie. It would explain his weird hostility towards Lucifer. Possibly frustration over his loss of control over Charlie since he had built up a trust? Maybe as part of the deal, Roo wanted some sort of revenge on Lucifer. It gets a little messy and it’s hard for me to put into words, but it makes much more sense in my head.
That’s basically it.
TL;DR: Eve is Roo, Roo is Rosie in disguise, Alastor made a deal with Rosie in exchange for power that involves gaining Charlie’s trust and bringing her back to her real mother and tearing the Morningstars apart as some sort of revenge.
#hazbin hotel#alastor hazbin hotel#lilith hazbin hotel#roo hazbin hotel#rosie hazbin hotel#hazbin hotel theory#hazbin hotel headcanon#inbox open#my headcanons#alastor#lilith morningstar#alastor the radio demon#rosie#charlie morningstar#charlie hazbin hotel#lucifer hazbin hotel#lucifer morningstar#hazbin hotel season 2#hazbin hotel leaks#Hazbin hotel season 2 leaks#theory#eve hazbin hotel
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