#i need to know what was going on after he ran away

[siri-ike]

He's gone! And his mouth is full of glass! This must be how B and Alfred felt every time Dick pulled this shit.

Dick ran through the hallways, but there wasn't so much as a hint. This must be how he broke in to begin with. Some kind of disappearing act. Swiftly through the corridors, he lept until suddenly he was pulled into a room.

"Tim, what's-"

Tim simply pointed at his desk computer where the security feed from the nursery was playing. The baby lay in its crib, wiggling a little but not upset. In the room was a chair. In the chair was a teen sized figure. Based on the height, it could be either Damian or Danny, and there is no way Damian would be in there.

Danny sat with his elbows on his knees, back slouched and hands fidgeting. His head moved somewhat. Like he was talking.

"Do you have sound?" Tim wasn't supposed to have access at all in his bedroom. He's not even supposed to have a computer in here. Not since the incident.

Tim looked behind them to make sure the door was closed before unplugging the earbuds.

"- better off without me. I'm sure they'll take good care of you. You'll be fed, and warm... and you'll always have someone."

The baby kicked in the air and mumbled despite having its own fist in its mouth.

"I can't, please just trust me. I know what I'm doing."

Nightwing leaned in closer. "Somethings not right."

"I do care. That's why I'm doing this. You'll never be safe if I stay."

"Mmmbrrrprprp"

"I'm sure Mr Wayne will do that if you ask. Or Nightwing, he seemed pretty eager."

"Prfrrfp"

"Respite? First off, where did you even learn that word? And second, I did. I ate, I bathed, I read an astronomy book. Can you believe in that whole library there was only one old space book?"

"There aren't any old space books in the library." Tim recounted.

"It was really high up and dusty." Dick explained.

"Have you ever known Alfred to let an inch of this place get dusty?"

On the screen, Danny stood up and got closer to the crib. And Nightwing realized what was wrong.

"It's not your fault. None of this is your fault. It's Vlads." Danny picked up the baby. It was about the size of his torso.

"Tim, do you see anything off?" Maybe he was just misremembering things. "We estimated she was around 3 months old before, based on size. But look."

The baby mumbled at Danny.

"One, that's it. After that, I expect you to cooperate with your new family."

"Blrrrrlt"

Danny grimaced. He doesn't need to take that from a baby.

He drew a deep breath. "Crack," his voice was soft and sweet. "Oh, the pressure- rusting chains on a perfect tower." He sang in a gentle lullaby like tone. "Crash -" He stepped away from the crib and lay his head on the babys. "Oh, another - fix the fallen 'fore it gets you." He held his hand out and made little balls of ectoblasm that floated in the air. "Spinning orbs with a perfect beat, precious little memories. But if one shatters, a catastrophe. The child of the clocks hears it instantly." He let the balls dimm and rise with his voice. "The timekeepers work will never, ever stop. Repairing the fractures of the past." She reached out to one of the balls. She touched it, and it floated slowly away. "Tormented by the pressure to mend it back together, but the pieces all break in their grasp."

"Tim, find an image of that baby from earlier today."

"So their heart keeps on bleeding for the eeeendless dream, restore the little laughs. But the work never ends, no its never meant to mend. This broke heartbeat forever lasts."

Tim pulled up a recording from the dining room. In the image of Danny feeding the baby, it was clear. She was a lot bigger now.

Danny walked the baby over to the balcony.

"Strike. From the hand on the one. As time goes on, we go back and forth. Why? Keep exhausting myself. Just to alter a past that's unchangeable. Spinning orbs with a perfect beat, precious little memories." He opened the glass doors. "And they've all shattered its a tragedy. Child of the clocks fix it instantly." He stepped outside.

"Keep watching." Nightwing rushed out.

"So lock yourself in your grand masterpiece with the winding, twirling memories. Blow out the candles, choke out the lights." The ectoplasm in the room disappeared in an instant. "Let the smoke consume your teary eyes. Lose yourself to the busy monster. He eats your intuition. Forget the stolen smiles. Go chain yourself to your own ambition." He held the child with one hand and placed the other on the banister, looking out into the yard. Still, his voice was soft and lull. "You've tried, and you've tried, but oh, we both know." He looked straight down to the ground. "You've lost your own self, and you have no control." His face was unseen by the camera. But Tim could hear he was stifling back tears. "Grass couldn't grow out from under your feet, little rabbit in a hurry, too helpless, too weak. But you're desperate to escape. You're scared of the ghost."

Danny looked back for a moment. It was enough for Tim to catch the puffiness in his eyes.

"But you'll sacrifice yourself to keep one thing whole. But you'll heal, and you'll heal what doesn't exist. Now it's all dead and gone. We're not heeeeroes." He held her head to his chest in a protective form. "We're kids."

Tim checked the hallway cameras. Nightwing was almost there.

"The timekeepers work will never, ever stop. Repairing the fractures of the past. Tormented by the pressure to mend it back together, but the pieces all break in their grasp." He took the baby back to the crib. "So their heart keeps on bleeding for the eeeendless dream, restore the little laughs." He placed her down, and she slept soundly. "But the work never ends, no its never meant to mend. This broke heartbeat forever lasts."

Nightwing opened the door and ran in. The noise woke the baby who started crying. But no one else was there. Nightwing picked her up and bounced her gently. "I'm sorry. Were you sleeping?" Despite the cool breeze wafting in through the wide open balcony door, she was warm to the touch. He checked behind the door and in the closet. Nightwing steeled his nerves and held her head close to his chest so she wouldn't have to see. He inched closer until he was right at the banister. They're on the third floor, 44 feet to the ground. Survival from this height is unlikely. He looked over the edge and-

Nothing.

He's not there. Nightwing finally let himself breathe again. He was so relieved that even the crying couldn't keep his heart rate up. He closed the door and sat down with her. She tore at his suit, and in her furious mouth, Nightwing could spot little glimpses if white on her upper gum. He reached over to a drawer full of cloth diapers and handed her one. Chewing on it quieted her down a bit. He put his hand to his ear. "Did you see where he went?" He was quiet for a moment. "Must be how he got in to begin with." He stood up. "She's definitely bigger, I can see a few teeth."

She.

It's a girl.

His clone is a girl. His baby is a girl.

Nightwing looked over his shoulder at the sound of a sniffle. He placed her back into the crib and walked away from where she sat and gnawed on her rag. He stepped out and listened close to the door.

On the camera, Danny finally reappeared, sitting with his legs folded beneath him in front of the crib. He reached through the bars and placed a hand on the side of her face. She followed it until she was lying down again. Danny stood up and looked at the ceiling above the chair. It was subtle, but that was definitely a camera. Before he left, he only had one thing to say.

"Diya, it's a star in the Fornax system."

After the Nasty Burger incident, Danny went to live with Vlad under the promise that he would change. And he did, for all of two months before Danny discovered a secret basement full of clones. All except one of them were unstable.

Thoroughly betrayed, Danny takes the one stable clone and puts the rest of them out of their misery. Then he heads to Gotham where the local billionaire has a habit of taking in black hair blued eyed orphans. Fight fire with fire right? Or in this case money with money.

[morganbritton132]

(A little continuation from this post about teeny tiny Steve asking Wayne for help)

“It’s not a lie!” Steve insisted, grabbing hold of Tommy’s backpack strap so they don’t get separated as they filter out of the school building. “It really happened, I swear.”

“Superman really came to your house?”

“Not Superman. Not a superhero,” Steve shook his head. “He’s just has powers. I saw them with my own eyes.”

Tommy waited until the crowd started to thin out before saying, “I think you need to get your eyes checked.”

Steve rolled his eyes, “I’m serious, Tommy. Mr Wayne could see through metal and had super-strength, and - and he can control electricity like an X-Men.”

“If he’s a superhero how come you know his name? They’re supposed to have secret identities.”

“Cause I’m smart and figured it out.”

Tommy makes a face, leading them over to the crosswalk so they can make the trek to his house, “Is this like when you went to ninja school over spring break?”

“I did go to ninja school!”

“My mom said you went to your grandma’s.”

“That’s where the ninja school is,” Steve insisted. “Grandpa Otis taught me ninja moves from the war.”

“Grandpa Otis isn’t a ninja.”

“He has a sword, Tommy. Why would he-“

“Hey, guys! Wait up!” They heard behind them and stopped as Carol ran to catch up. “Choir was cancelled. What’s up with the police here?”

“They have to be here,” Steve answered, “To help with the traffic after that girl got hit a car.”

“But why are they staring at you?”

What?

Steve turned and looked over at the cop monitoring the crosswalk. He was a big scary looking guy with a big mustache and big arms, and yeah. He was staring at them.

Steve looked away from Hopper quickly, “We didn’t do anything.”

“Maybe they know about the superhero and are looking for him,” Tommy said dramatically. “Maybe they want to capture him but they don’t know how to get to him so they’re looking at you. They know how to you easy.”

“Oh my god, he’s still talking about the superhero thing?” Carol asked.

Tommy grinned at her and the two walked off, but Steve stayed rooted to his spot. He turned back one last time, observing Hopper as he observed him. Steve frowned.

Then he ran after his friends, “Guys, wait for me.”

[sweetdispatch]

First impression - C. Bedard

Next door hearts pairing: Connor Bedard x Hughes!reader summary: You invited Connor to spend the weekend with you and your brothers were watching his every move to make sure he's the right guy for you warning: none note: ahh so sorry my love @toasttt11 for the wait☹️but i hope you like it!!!!

After the conversation with your brothers who begged you to invite Connor, you were thinking about it. As much as you wanted to see him, you didn’t want to take him away from his family. All season he barely saw them and you really wanted him to spend the time with them. You didn’t want to sound selfish and ask him to come. Later that day, you called him and he could tell that your mind was somewhere else.

“What’s going on in your pretty head?” Connor asked you.

“It’s just my brothers” You sighed. 

“Talk to me, maybe I can help you” Connor proposed. 

“It’s just… they asked me to invite you here and as much as I want you here I don’t want to take your time. I want you to spend the time with your family” You admitted.

“I would love to come. It’s been a month since we saw each other and I miss you. It would be my pleasure to see you and meet your family” Connor told you.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to force you” 

“I’m sure but if you don’t want me there, I understand” 

“Oh I want you here, trust me” You told him with a smile. 

“Then I guess we’ll see each other soon” Connor told you and changed the topic to tell you about the day he spent with his friends. 

You made plans with Connor and next week he was coming to see you. You told your family about it and they all were excited to meet him. Although you were scared of this because you know your brothers and you knew that they’ll be investigating Connor’ every move. You tried to think a lot about it and just enjoy the fact that you’ll see your boyfriend. 

The day has arrived. You went to pick up Connor from the airport. All your worries about this weekend disappeared when you spotted him. You ran into his arms and felt safe like never before when he hugged you. You stood there for a moment until you pulled away and kissed his lips. 

“I missed you” You told him. 

“I missed you too. I’m so happy to see you again” Connor said and grabbed your hand. 

Whole way back to your home you two were catching up with the last month. It was so fresh to have Connor by your side again. When you parked the car in the driveway, you felt the need to warn him about your brothers. You didn’t want to be surprised by their reaction and behaviour. 

“Before we go there I need to tell you about my brothers. They’re super protective and I’m pretty sure they’ll be watching you very closely but don’t be scared, they’re harmless or at least I think. They might ask you a hundred questions…” Before you could continue, Connor interrupted you. 

“Don’t worry it’s gonna be alright” Connor squeezed your hand. 

You two left the car and wished to have Connor’ excitement. You were nervous about this because you simply didn’t trust your brothers. You were sure they were gonna do or say something stupid and this might affect your relationship. Connor opened the door for you and you entered. In the speed of light your brothers appeared. 

Thankfully you could avoid the awkward meeting since your brothers knew Connor and Connor knew them but they were looking very closely between you and Connor. They didn't say a word except for hey and you were happy that for now, they left you two alone. You grabbed his hand and took him to your room.

For the rest of the day, you were laying in your bed with Connor talking about plans for the next few days. No one was bothering you and you were living in your own bubble until Luke told you that the dinner was ready. You took a deep breath and with Connor you went downstairs. The show is about to start, you thought to yourself. 

The dinner went smoothly. Your parents were talking with Connor about his life but your brothers didn’t say anything. They were looking at you and Connor and how you two were acting with each other. You knew that they were judging him and how he’s behaving with you. You barely ate anything from the nerves and Connor noticed this. He whispered into your ear that you need to eat or you’re gonna be dizzy like he was the other day in Chicago and you giggled. 

With that, your nerves disappeared. Your head started replaying the moment when it was just you and him in Chicago and you were eating dinner in front of tv but Connor got so caught up in telling you a story about what happened on a roadie that when he stood up, he was dizzy. It was a cute situation and it helped you to calm down. Your brothers noticed that after he said something to you, you started eating and they smiled a little bit that he has a positive impact on you. 

The next day, you two were laying in the garden. Connor was laying on his back and you were on top of him. His arms were placed on your back. It wasn’t much talking between you two. Just enjoying the time you have together. You two understood each other without words. Jack saw you two and wanted to interrupt whatever you were doing when he saw Connor’ hands on you but stopped when he noticed the smile that was on your lips. Jack knew you and knew that it was a genuine smile. He smiled to himself, seeing you happy. 

After dinner, you and Connor went to the living room to watch a movie with Luke. You and Connor sat on the couch meanwhile Luke took the armchair. You cuddled into Connor and Luke was lurking on you two from time to time. In the middle of the movie, he saw that Connor fell asleep and his head was laying on your thighs. You were looking at his sleeping figure while running your hand through his hair. Luke was delighted to see you this happy with Connor and knew that you don’t care about the movie anymore. The only thing you cared about was the boy sleeping on your legs. 

Late evening you were craving something sweet but you were too lazy to go downstairs for ice cream. That’s why Connor decided to go and grab them for you. When he was in the kitchen, Quinn appeared next to him. He spotted that Connor is making your favorite ice dessert. This melted his heart that he knew you that well. 

“You're a good guy Connor” Quinn suddenly said. “My sister is really happy with you”

“Thanks. I want to be the best guy for her. She deserves it” Connor smiled shyly. 

“You know, when she told us that she’s dating a hockey player we weren’t the happiest. We wanted to meet you and see if you’re good for her. This might sound weird but me, Jack and Luke had been watching you two and I don’t think I ever saw her this happy” Quinn admitted.

“I get it, she’s your younger sister and you are protective over her and I don’t blame you but I really like her and I care about her deeply. I want to be the reason she’s smiling every day” Connor told him.

“You better be or we’re gonna have a problem” Quinn joked. “Now go to her before she’ll be mad that her ice cream are melted” 

Connor walked into the bedroom and handed you a bowl. You kissed his cheek and grabbed a spoon to eat them. He looked at you and smiled widely. He was happy to have you. 

“I think your brothers accepted me” Connor said out of nowhere. You stopped eating and looked at him. 

“What do you mean?” You asked him confused. 

“I was talking with Quinn in the kitchen and he said that he never saw you this happy like you’re with me” You blushed at his words. 

“He wasn’t lying. I’m the happiest person when you’re by my side” You confessed. 

“And I’m the happiest person to have you in my life” Connor kissed your forehead. 

You were thankful that your brothers accepted Connor. This meeting was scary for you but turns out to be the best decision. Smile couldn’t disappear from your face when Quinn gave Connor a blessing from their side and doesn’t make problems over the fact that you’re dating a hockey player. You knew that from now on you don’t have to hide anything from your brothers and can proudly talk about your boyfriend to them. 

[kioflerkira]

Hey can I have ajealous percy jackson x reader

But percy doesn't realise at first cause he's oblivious and the reader sort of does but doesn't think much of it because she's with percy

Also the reader and this guy are friends so she's around him a lot?

“ YOU JEALOUS ? ”

warnings: fluff, fire, jealous percy pairings: p.jackson x reader summary: percy, oblivious to his own jealousy, grows increasingly annoyed and perhaps jealous of some camper and his friendship with you.

━━━━ ⋮ ୨୧ ⋮ ━━━━

YOU AND ELIJAH ANDRÉS, a son of ares, had always been close. you trained together, cracked jokes, and shared an easy friendship that made sense. you balanced each other out—his fiery temper softened by your patience, your strategic mind sharpened by his bluntness. to you, it was just friendship. to percy ? well, he wasn’t quite sure yet.

it started small. he’d catch elijah slinging an arm over your shoulder after a particularly tough sparring match, and something inside him would tighten. he’d watch you laugh at one of elijah’s admittedly dumb jokes, and his grip on riptide would get just a bit firmer. still, he brushed it off. it wasn’t like he had a reason to be bothered, right ? he was your boyfriend, after all.

then came the day when he finally noticed it.

you were sitting by the campfire, recounting some ridiculous quest moment to a group of campers. elijah was beside you, leaning in just a little too close for percy’s liking. when you laughed, elijah nudged you playfully, his smirk way too smug. and percy felt it—that unmistakable, irrational burn of jealousy.

“dude,” grover muttered beside him, watching his clenched fists, “you good?”

“i’m fine,” percy said quickly. too quickly.

“you sure ? because you look like you wanna drown him.”

“I don’t wanna drown him,” percy grumbled. “just.. make sure he backs off.”

grover snorted. “yeah, you’re totally not jealous.”

percy opened his mouth to argue but stopped when elijah leaned closer to you, whispering something in your ear that made you roll your eyes and shove him away, laughing.

that was it. that was the final straw.

me stood up, marching over before he could stop himself. “hey.”

you blinked up at him, surprised. “hey, percy. need anything ?”

elijah smirked. “sup, jackson ?”

percy ignored him— he wasn’t worth his time—, eyes locked on you. “can I talk to you ? like, alone ?”

you frowned but nodded. “uh- yeah, sure”

he took your hand (pointedly ignoring elijah’s knowing grin) and led you away from the fire. once you were out of earshot, you crossed your arms. “okay, what’s up with you ?”

percy ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “are you and elijah.. ?” he trailed off, feeling ridiculous.

you raised a brow. “are we what ?”

“like.. close ? too close ?”

realization dawned on your face, and then you laughed. “oh my gods, percy. you jealous ?”

“no !” he said immediately. then, at your unimpressed look, he sighed. “just.. mildly irritated by him”

you grinned, stepping closer. “percy, I love you, you idiot. elijah’s just a friend.”

“I know, it’s just—” He hesitated, looking at the ground. “he gets to train with you all the time, joke around with you, and I just.. I dunno. It bugs me.”

your expression softened. “you do realize you’re my boyfriend, right ? that you’re the one I want to spend my time with ?”

his lips quirked up. “yeah?”

you rolled your eyes fondly before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “mhm, seaweed brain. now stop pouting and come back to the fire.”

percy huffed but laced his fingers through yours. as you walked back, he made a silent promise to himself—next sparring session, elijah was going down.

━━━━ ⋮ ୨୧ ⋮ ━━━━

a/n: gods, i love elijah smsmsm 😖

[finchyclarkemd]

No more secrets

~Fluff~

The game had begun ten minutes ago, and you had found the perfect hiding spot- a cramped supply closet tucked away at the back of the warehouse. Dust floated in the sliver of light that peeked through the gap beneath the door, and distant laughter echoed through the open space outside.   

You pressed yourself against the cold wall, heartbeat steady but alert. Hide and Seek was supposed to be a fun, lighthearted shoot for the crew, but for you, it was another test. Another chance to keep a secret you had spent months perfecting.  

Then the door opened.  

A shadow slipped inside, shutting it quickly behind them. Your breath caught for half a second before you realised who it was.  

Chris.  

Your chest tightened. He wasn’t supposed to be here.  

He turned, eyes finding yours in the dark, and despite the situation, a slow smirk tugged at his lips. “Really?” he murmured, voice just above a whisper. “Out of all the places to hide?”  

Your pulse kicked up. Not just from the risk of being caught, but from the way he was looking at you- like he wasn’t sorry at all to be stuck here with you.  

“I was here first,” you whispered back, arms crossing. “You should leave before someone-”  

Footsteps echoed nearby.  

Chris’s gaze flickered to the door, then back to you. His smirk faded, replaced by something quieter. Calculated. He wasn’t leaving.  

You swallowed, pressing yourself further into the shadows. The space was small, too small, and Chris was too close.  

It shouldn’t have mattered- you had been careful, after all. No one had noticed the way he looked at you when he thought no one was watching. No one had caught the way his hand always lingered just a second too long when passing something to you. You had played your parts perfectly.  

But now, in the dim light of a too-small space, you weren’t sure how long you could keep playing.  

Chris exhaled slowly, and then- before you could stop him- he reached up, fingers brushing against your jaw. It was the lightest touch, but it unraveled you in an instant.  

“We shouldn’t,” you breathed, but your voice lacked conviction.  

“I know.” His voice was soft, his eyes unreadable in the dim light.  

Then he kissed you.  

Slow. Deliberate. Like he had waited for this moment, like he was tired of pretending it didn’t matter. His lips were warm, his hand steady as it curled around your waist, pulling you against him. It was reckless, but in that second, neither of you cared.  

And then-  

The door swung open.  

Light flooded in, and you barely had time to jerk apart before a familiar voice cut through the air.  

“Wait- what the hell?”  

Harry.  

The silence was damning.  

You didn’t move. Chris didn’t move. But it didn’t matter.   

Because despite months of secrecy, despite all the careful glances and hidden touches- one look at Harry’s face told you everything.  

You hadn’t been as good at hiding as you thought.

Harry’s eyes flicked between you and Chris, his expression shifting from confusion to realisation in real time. The way you were standing- too close. The way Chris’s hand was still resting on your waist, like he hadn’t quite convinced himself to let go yet. The way neither of you had an excuse ready.  

His mouth opened, then shut. Then opened again. “Wait… Are you-”  

“Nothing,” Chris cut in, too quickly. His voice was calm, but you knew him well enough to hear the slight edge in it- the scramble to cover something up that was already out in the open. “Just hiding.”  

Harry scoffed, stepping further into the doorway. “Oh yeah? Because it looked like you were-” His eyes narrowed, and then, almost gleefully, “Holy shit. You were kissing.”  

Your stomach dropped. “Harry-”  

“Oh my god.” His grin widened. “No way. No actual way. How long?”  

You shot Chris a look, heart pounding, but he only ran a hand through his hair, exhaling through his nose. “Harry-”  

“No. No, I need to know.” Harry leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. He was enjoying this too much. “Because I’ve been saying something was going on for months, and no one believed me.”  

Chris let out a slow breath, finally dropping his hand from your waist like that would somehow undo what Harry had just witnessed. “You’re imagining things.”  

Harry scoffed. “Chris. Come on.” He gestured vaguely between you. “The tension? The stolen looks? The fact that you just kissed in the middle of a game when literally anyone could’ve walked in?” He smirked. “Which, by the way, I did. You’re welcome.”  

You groaned, pressing your fingers to your temples. “Okay, fine. Just… keep your voice down.”  

Harry’s eyes widened. “So it’s true?”  

Chris sighed. “Yes, okay? It’s true.”  

Harry grinned like he had just won the lottery. “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”  

Chris rolled his eyes. “Glad we could make your day.” 

“Oh, you have no idea.” Harry’s smirk softened slightly, and for the first time, there was something other than pure amusement in his expression. Something almost… sincere. “I won’t say anything. Not unless you want me to.”  

You blinked. “Really?”  

“Hey, I can be cool.” He shrugged. “I just can’t believe you two actually pulled it off this long.” His grin returned, teasing. “Well. Almost.”  

Chris shot him a glare, but you could see the corner of his mouth twitching, like he was resisting a smile. You exhaled, tension slowly easing from your shoulders.  

Maybe you hadn’t been as good at hiding as you thought.  

But at least, for now, your secret was safe.

Harry lingered in the doorway, arms crossed, a smug expression still plastered across his face. He was enjoying this too much, and you weren’t sure whether you wanted to shove him out of the room or bribe him into forgetting the last five minutes entirely.  

“So,” he said, dragging the word out, “just to clarify- I’m the only one who knows, right?”  

Chris sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Yes, Harry. You’re the only one who knows.”  

“For now,” you muttered under your breath, shooting Chris a pointed look.  

His lips twitched, but he gave a small nod, as if acknowledging that, yeah, that close call had been way too close. You had been so careful for months, but now, all it had taken was a single stolen moment- one lapse in judgment- and the secret you’d built had started to unravel.  

Harry’s grin widened. “And, just so I’m clear, how long have you two been-”  

“None of your business,” Chris cut in.  

Harry gasped dramatically. “Oh, that means a while then.”  

You groaned, rubbing your temples. “Harry, please.”  

He laughed, but it wasn’t cruel- it was lighter, softer. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop prying. For now.”  

Chris narrowed his eyes. “Harry-”

“I said for now,” he repeated, smirking. Then, with a glance toward the hallway, he added, “But, seriously, you two need to get out of here before someone else comes looking. I might be able to keep my mouth shut, but if it had been Arthur or George who walked in?” He let out a low whistle. “Game over.”  

You and Chris exchanged a glance, and you hated how right Harry was.  

Chris sighed. “Fine. You go first. We’ll wait a few minutes.”  

Harry held a hand to his chest. “Wow. So sneaky. So romantic.”  

“Harry.”  

“Okay, okay, I’m going.” He turned toward the hallway, then hesitated.  

When he looked back, his expression was softer- still teasing, but there was something else behind it. Something genuine. “For real, though,” he said, quieter this time, “I won’t say anything. And… I’m happy for you guys.”  

The sincerity caught you off guard. You exchanged a glance with Chris, and his expression softened, too.  

“Thanks,” you said finally.  

Harry nodded, then grinned again. “Just don’t get caught next time.”  

And with that, he slipped out the door, leaving you alone with Chris once more.  

The silence stretched between you, thick with everything that had just happened. Chris ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.  

“Well,” he muttered, glancing at you, “we almost made it.”  

You let out a quiet laugh, shaking your head. “Yeah. Almost.”  

His gaze lingered on you, something unreadable in his expression. Then, slowly, he reached for your hand, lacing his fingers through yours. The touch was reassuring, grounding- like he was telling you that, no matter what happened next, you were in this together.  

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

A week had passed since that close call in the supply closet, and, to your surprise, Harry hadn’t said a word to anyone. The air between you, Chris, and Harry had remained surprisingly normal, almost like that moment in the warehouse had never happened. Chris and you were back to being as careful as ever- more so, really- and Harry had gone back to his usual teasing self, though there was always a knowing glint in his eye when he looked between you two. He didn’t push. He didn’t ask.  

For the most part, it was as though he had genuinely respected the quiet unspoken agreement.  

You and Chris were still masters of secrecy, no one suspected a thing. The glances you exchanged in crowded rooms, the moments where your hands brushed just a little too long, the shared smiles when no one was looking. It was easy.  

But easy didn’t mean comfortable.  

Tonight was another late shoot, another rushed set change with only a few hours before the next scene. You and Chris were separated for most of the night, caught up in different parts of the set, doing your best to pretend like everything was normal. You kept it together. But it was harder tonight. 

Your heart raced when Chris walked into the room, a few steps ahead of the crew, and his eyes met yours across the space. That same old tug of familiarity, of the quiet connection you shared, was stronger than ever. It was like he was pulling you in, gravity refusing to let you ignore it.  

But you couldn’t. You had to ignore it.   

The shoot was almost over, and soon you’d be back to pretending, to keeping your distance.  

You were halfway through touching up your makeup in the corner when Chris approached. He glanced around the room- quick, subtle- before stepping closer.  

You barely had time to breathe before his hand found yours. A fleeting touch, barely noticeable to anyone but you.  

He gave you a soft smile. “You good?” His voice was low enough that only you could hear it.  

You squeezed his hand, forcing a small smile. “Yeah. Just tired.”  

Chris raised an eyebrow. “Tired? You look like you’re about to fall asleep standing up.”  

You chuckled softly. “It’s nothing. Just the usual.”  

He stepped in closer, his hand still on yours, and for a moment, you didn’t care who saw. It was just the two of you, your connection quiet but undeniable. Your heart beat a little faster in your chest. It was a reminder of everything that had been, everything that still was, even if no one else knew.  

But then, just as quickly as he had come, Chris released your hand. His eyes flicked to the door, checking for anyone in the vicinity. When he saw no one, he gave you one last lingering look before turning back to the crew.  

You exhaled slowly. Even though the brief moment felt like a stolen piece of heaven, the truth was clear. This was all a game of balance now. It was a game of when and where and how, never why- because no one could ever know.  

A few moments later, Harry appeared beside you, leaning against the makeup table with a raised brow. “I saw that,” he said, his voice a little too casual, though his eyes danced with amusement.  

You shot him a glance. “Saw what?”  

“Chris. Hand. Yours.” He grinned, an almost teasing edge to his voice.  

“Harry.”  

“Hey, relax.” He raised both hands in mock surrender. “I’m not saying anything. Just wanted to check if the 'secret relationship' is still a thing.”  

You glared at him, but there was no anger in it- only exhaustion. “It’s still a thing.”  

“I figured.” He paused, then lowered his voice, his expression softening. “Look, I’m not going to make it weird. But… just make sure you’re being careful. I know you two. You can only hide it for so long.”  

You swallowed, looking away for a moment. “I know.”  

Harry’s smile softened. “I’ll let you get back to it, then.” He pushed off the table and moved toward the door, but then, just before he left, he added, “But you really should stop looking at each other like that. If you keep doing it, you won’t be able to hide it much longer.”  

You didn’t say anything in response, just watched as Harry disappeared out the door. His words echoed in your mind, heavy and real. The secret wasn’t just a secret anymore, it was a weight.  

You glanced at Chris again, and he was busy talking with someone on the other side of the room, his back turned. A small, aching part of you wondered how much longer you could keep this up.  

You looked down at your hands, your fingers still tingling from where Chris had held yours moments before.  

You didn’t have an answer. 

The soft hum of the city outside Chris’s flat was a quiet contrast to the warmth that filled the space between you two. The familiar clutter of his apartment was a comforting reminder of how much you’d grown accustomed to the moments you shared here, hidden in plain sight, in the secrecy of these four walls. The world outside had no idea- no idea how much more there was to you and Chris than what people saw when you were together on set, when you exchanged stolen glances across rooms.  

But tonight was different.  

You sat on the couch, your fingers tapping nervously on the edge of the armrest. Chris was across from you, his laptop open on the coffee table, his fingers hovering over the keys. The same tension that had followed you both for months was still there, but now there was something else, too. Something new. Excitement, perhaps. Maybe even relief.  

“Are you sure?” you asked quietly, breaking the silence.  

Chris glanced up from the screen, his eyes soft, but there was something determined in them too. He leaned back, his lips curling into a small smile. “We’ve been hiding it long enough.”  

You took a breath. “I know… but it’s just…”  

He reached across the table, taking your hand in his. The simple gesture felt like an anchor, steadying you in the whirlwind of what was about to happen. “It’s just time. We’ve spent enough time pretending, and now we don’t have to.”  

You squeezed his hand, nodding. "Okay. Let's do it."  

With a slow exhale, Chris clicked open Instagram on his laptop. He scrolled through his feed for a moment, pausing on a picture of the two of you laughing at some behind-the-scenes moment from a shoot. The picture was innocent enough, nothing that would give anything away. But it was the perfect one. He clicked it, tapping the “share” button.  

You watched as his finger hovered over the caption. The seconds stretched, but then, in a movement that felt both reckless and freeing, he typed.  

“Here’s to the best part of my life. #NoMoreSecrets #InThisTogether”

You felt your breath catch in your throat. This was it.  

Chris met your gaze, his hand resting on top of yours. “You good?” he asked softly.  

“Yeah,” you whispered, the word almost a breath. “I’m good.”  

Without another word, he pressed "Post."  

The notification popped up almost immediately: Your post is live.  

There was a quiet moment where everything hung in the balance. You glanced at the screen, your heart beating fast as you saw the first few comments rolling in. The likes, the hearts. Some from familiar faces, some from strangers. But there was one thing that stood out in the flood of reactions: it was official now.  

Chris pulled you toward him, his smile wide. “Well,” he said, his voice filled with something that sounded like both relief and joy, “there’s no turning back now.”  

You chuckled softly, leaning into him as he wrapped his arms around you. “Not that I’d want to.”  

As you both sat there, tangled together, the phone in Chris’s hand vibrated with notifications. Messages, comments, and, inevitably, a few people reaching out privately. The world had just found out about something you’d kept hidden for so long- but for once, it didn’t feel like a burden. It felt like freedom.  

"Harry’s going to have a field day with this," you muttered, the thought making you laugh quietly.  

Chris laughed too, his lips brushing against your forehead. “He’ll text us, I’m sure.”  

And, as if on cue, Chris’s phone buzzed again. He glanced down, his grin widening as he read the message.  

“Yup. Here it is.” He held the phone out to you, where Harry’s text was displayed:  

“About damn time, you two. Finally, I can stop pretending I didn’t know. Congrats, lovebirds. I expect a celebration soon. 😏”

You both laughed, the sound light and carefree, and in that moment, everything felt like it had finally fallen into place. No more pretending. No more hiding. Just you, and Chris, and the world that was finally going to see what you had together.  

“I guess we can stop pretending to be casual now,” you said softly, turning your face toward his.  

Chris met your gaze, his eyes full of that same warmth that had drawn you to him all those months ago. “Yeah,” he said, his voice just above a whisper, “now we can finally be real.”  

And for the first time in a long time, the secret was gone. You were both free.

——————————————————————————————————

Another Chris fic to feed your delusions (delulu is the solulu). Fic idea was from my friend again. Also, off topic, I got an Arthur TV cameo today and it was 8 minutes long!

Tags-

@themdera

@tyna-19

[geeeemmmmmmm]

"I have waited for this"

Summary:You and Bucky whom you dislike immensely are paired up on a mission and have to share a room with him. Who knows what could happen..

Warnings:Very bland enemies to lovers, banter, fluff, one bed trope(idk I think I wrote it following that trope loosely)

A/N:I know very cliche tropes but I haven't tried them and wanted to give it a shot so expect this to be quite bad aha! As always sorry for any mistakes and enjoy!

WC:2.3K(I got carried away)

Chatter filled the conference room at the tower; Tony was growing more agitated with being ignored by everyone "Hey, Let's focus here we actually have some important things to go over. Can you guys just hear me out for a minute?" he called out in the toughest voice he could muster up. The chatter came to a sudden halt as everyone looked at Tony finally ready to listen as if you all were in a primary school classroom. "Ahem, as we all know Thano's followers, the Black Order have scurried their way here. Bruce and I will be tracking them from here but we need some of you guys to try and keep an eye on them, we don't want to attack just yet." You nodded along processing what Tony had just told you guys before he began on again "We all need to be split up into groups to observe them all. Natasha and Steve, are you two willinging to be on watch duty for Cull Obsidian?". Steve and Natasha happily looked at each other then at Tony to confirm as he nodded back. 

"Y/N and Bucky, you two being the last ones left, can you please observe Proxima Midnight?" that statement from Tony jolted you awake like nothing before. You and Bucky were not friends, barely teammates in your mind. Something about him just rubbed you the wrong way since the day you met him and you kept strong on that feeling and he seemed to match that energy alongside you whether it be calling out snarky comments to each other during training sessions or just pushing past harshly as you walked past each other in the halls. The worst part of this situation is that you can't even ask anyone to switch partners with you because you fell asleep while the others' names were being called. It was a common occurrence for you to doze off and you had been repeatedly told by Steve that if you fall asleep again, there'd be consequences. You thought to yourself that this must be a punishment from last time as you remembered how you snored at the table, in front of everyone and you figured Steve must have got Tony to help him get his payback by pairing you with Bucky. This mission being a serious one you didn't want to be yelled at in-front of everyone, especially Bucky.

Everyone hurried off together chattering as they scurried off to wherever their member of the Black Order is currently, leaving you and Bucky sitting at opposite ends of the table glaring at each other before he snapped "Let's get going then the drive to New Jersey isn't that bad but I don't want traffic" you bit your tongue and just nodded not wanting to ruin this mission even more before it even starts. Quickly you ran to your room to pack your duffle bag, not even sure how much you needed because you fell asleep while that was being covered so you just guessed hoping 3 days worth of clothes and toiletries was enough. 

"Chop chop Barnes" you called out to him irritated that he rushed you while not even being ready himself while you pounded on his door tapping your foot impatiently. "What? I'm here aren't I?" you heard as his door opened swiftly making you take in the sight of Bucky smiling at you trying his best to taunt you just as he swung his bag over his metal arm - you hated how good he looked in that black shirt that somehow hugged everyone of his muscles and made his eyes shine like diamonds. After everyone else left to begin their mission properly, you and Bucky finally embarked on yours. The lift ride down was awkward as you two stood side by side trying to not look at each other "Whose car are we taking?" "Mine, I am the gentleman after all" he sneered back watching you roll your eyes and walk out of the lift the moment those doors opened.

The hour 40 minute drive was... something to say the least. The radio was the only thing in reach to try help the ride there but of course Bucky would make it his mission to make you annoyed, you tried multiple times to turn it on but he just swatted your hand away, not even looking at you while he kept his left arm on the wheel completely unphased. "I'll turn it on only if I pick the station!" he declared trying his hide his amusement at your bland reply of "Didn't know winter soldiers even listen to music" noticing how you shrugged and gazed out the window just happy to get a distraction to keep you from sneaking glances at Bucky's arms. Static suddenly blasted from the stereo "oops guess the station is down, might as well keep it on to see if it comes back" he said nonchalantly just waiting to see your reaction. You managed to stay silent just grimacing as the static pierced your ears. 5 minutes was all you could handle with that horrible noise filling the car "Seriously how can you listen to this noise I can't even handle it with normal hearing how can you do it with super soldier hearing?" you gave in and asked him. Truth be told Bucky hated the static in his ears too, it felt like it was gripping his brain but he just needed an excuse for you to somehow talk to him. "Really? I love this sound! But I suppose I can turn it off since I'm such a nice guy" he said with the cheekiest grin on his face as he looked over at you. You can’t help but laugh about how much charm he has, even to you.

The car doors slammed as you two climbed out almost in sync. Just thankful to be out of Bucky's car you stretched your arms and took in the fresh air. "Guess this is where we are staying" "Guess so." you replied to him carefully reaching for your bag in the trunk before Bucky got his. Since you guys had left later than everyone else and had a slightly longer drive it was about 6:45PM when you arrived to the hotel, you headed into the main office of the small 3 story hotel not expecting to be greeted by a very cheerful receptionist sitting at her desk "How can I be of service today" she said with a bright smile "Just one room with 2 beds for about 3 days please" you told her, still not sure exactly on how long this mission was meant to be. "Oh dear me! We only have one room left with one bed, will that be ok?" she asked, still in that bright tone she started with "Oh uhm yea that should be fine" you sheepishly replied to her not wanting to delay your mission any further for finding a new hotel. You paid and got your room key, you strolled over to Bucky who didn't look too happy as he held his bag in hand waiting outside. "You heard?" Bucky just nodded in reply. 

"I think we are on the second floor" you said while looking at the faded blue paint job that clung weakly to the bricks making up the hotel. "Let's go and get changed then" Bucky said, somehow not being able to come up with some comment to annoy you. The stairs creaked as you and Bucky trudged up even only going up 2 floors.The stairs did not feel the most secure but you just shrugged it off. The key you were given struggled to fit into the lock but it managed as you shoved the door open, taking in the sight of the double bed in the corner of the room with a very little couch in the other. "Hope you didn't have your hopes up for what this room would be" you tried to make light of how awkward the sleeping situation will be. The room was not the most inviting, yes but at least it had a bathroom, a very small one but hey least it had a shower, sink and toilet you thought to yourself as you tried to figure out what that musky smell was that lingered in the hall. 

You splashed some cold water on your face in the bathroom as you stopped and walked out into the room upon hearing Bucky talk on the phone "Yes I'll tell her" he replied then hung up. "Bruce said the tracking system they are using back at home has had an error so it's best we just sit tight tonight and prepare to start tomorrow morning." He told you in a calm tone "Oh ok then, I'll just get changed into my pyjamas then". Shit the only pajamas you brought were 2 pairs of very tiny shorts and a lace tank top, you cursed yourself for not doing your laundry and you vowed to always double check what you have packed from now on. You creeped the bathroom door open peeking out to see if Bucky had changed and he did just into some boxers clearly not caring what he was wearing, he noticed as you softly stepped out trying to stop himself from looking and thinking about how gorgeous you looked. He'd only really seen you in either training gear or just some casual clothes but to be fair he never went out with the other avengers so he hasn't seen you dolled up, not that it mattered he's always found you beautiful. 

"So uhm who's sleeping where?" you asked him looking at the options you had which were the double bed or the ground. "I'll just take the ground" Bucky replied 'Are you sure Buck? I can sleep there I don't mind" you tried to reason with him, you disliked him immensely sure but you weren't a horrible person so of course you volunteered for the worse option. "You have to get your beauty sleep so take the bed" you didn't feel like bickering so you just crawled into bed chucking him a pillow and the blanket which sat on the end of the bed. It was about 7:30PM and you were knackered so you pulled the thin duvet over you."Night" you whispered to Bucky who was trying to get comfy "Night, pretty" he whispered back "That's a new name for me now huh" you responded "What if I mean it?" he teased. A laugh escaped your lips at his reply and how bold it was, even for Bucky as you got comfortable and tried to sleep but if the universe hadn't cursed you enough today, you discovered there was no heater and it was incredibly cold and the duvet provided felt like tissue paper against the cold. After what felt like hours you heard a movement in the room but you just figured it was Bucky in his sleep  so you shut your eyes again and tried to think of anything to help you fall asleep. 

"What's got you tossing and turning? It's keeping me up." Bucky said as he broke the silence in the icy cold room "Just cold" you mumbled as you yet again turned yourself into a ball trying to generate some heat. "Will this help?" he said as you just tried to see what he was doing in the darkness before you felt weight on the bed as it embraced you before you could even react. Bucky had crawled into your bed and pulled you on his chest - no words could even come out of your mouth. 

He had fully stunned you, you managed to speak after what felt like forever "Why are you doing this, I thought you hated me" you questioned him not sure if you should sink into the embrace you'd never thought you'd like or squirm away and end up scaring him away. "One, your cold and you're tossing and turning kept me up, two I've never hated you, in fact I've always thought you hated me so I tried to match your energy but I tried to show that I’ve always liked you" he admitted. 

His arms around your waist loosened as you pulled back to look at him and mustered up the confidence to speak "Buck, I never hated you. I think we just got off on the wrong foot and I never tried to fix that and I’m sorry for being rude and hiding behind hostility but I do want to admit... I have always liked you even if I've hid it behind hostility" it felt so great to get this off your chest and you are pretty sure if you had a chance to admit your crush on Bucky being in his arms would be the best chance you've got.

"Well that's great because I do like you too" he gave you a big cheesy smile even though it was dark in the room you could see his smile shine through the darkness. You went for it, you don't know how you got the courage but you found his lips in the darkness and kissed him trying to capture your love for him in it as he kissed you back with passion as if he was craving this from you. He pulled back first to your surprise and rested his forehead against yours as you two caught your breath again "Do you know how long I've waited for this?" "Patience is a virtue" you giggled while you replied as you cuddled up on his chest again letting the biggest smile sit on your face. A couple minutes of comfortable silence passed "How are you so warm, I was freezing before you climbed in" you questioned. "Super soldier serum I guess" Bucky mumbled back sleepily before saying quickly "Go back to sleep I'm tired" as he nuzzled his face into your hair. "Only because I like you Barnes" you whispered back, hearing a slight chuckle come from him before sleep took him over as soft snores emitted from him.

You finally fell asleep happy in the one man's arms you never thought you'd end up in but this was the one of the best night's you'd had in a while.

A/N:Hope this wasn't too bad of a read, I am always open to feedback because I am still quite unfamiliar with this style of writing and I do want to improve:) FYI I did write this late last night so there's probs some mistakes I missed when rereading it but hope you all enjoyed and thank you for reading <333

[red-in-the-ledger]

Where’s My Love; Part I.

joaquin torresxreader, angst

You weren’t supposed to be here.

“Y/N…?” His voice cracked through the comms, laced with disbelief. His eyes, wide beneath his headgear, locked onto you like he’d seen a ghost.

“What—what are you doing here?”

You didn’t answer.

Your stare was unwavering—empty. Cold. A shadow of who you used to be. That’s when it hit him like a punch to the gut. You weren’t in control.

Your warm, honeyed eyes—the ones that once held nothing but light and love when they looked at him—were hollow now. Glazed over. Stripped of everything that made them yours.

“Y/N! Hey!” he called out, louder this time, as he watched you smash the back window of the black SUV in front of you with a precision that didn’t feel human.

The sound of shattering glass echoed like gunfire.

He barely had time to register it before you reached in, pulled out the silver canister—the one filled with enough adamantium to tip the scales of global power—and tucked it beneath your arm like it was nothing more than a grocery bag.

“Joaquin, you need to do something. Now!” Sam’s voice crackled through the earpiece, urgent and sharp, snapping him out of his daze.

“What—what do I do!?” he asked, but he already knew. He just couldn’t make himself say it. Couldn’t even let the thought fully settle.

“Stop her.” Sam’s voice softened now, as if he knew the weight of what he was asking. “I know what she means to you. But if she gets away with that canister, the war begins. And a lot of people—millions—are going to die.”

Joaquin’s feet felt like they were bolted to the pavement. His breath caught in his throat. This couldn’t be real. Not you. Not like this.

But then you turned to him.

Still silent. Still watching.

And you ran.

Joaquin didn’t think. He moved, his instincts taking over.

“Target is mobile!” he barked into the comms, already sprinting after you. “I’m going after her!”

His chest ached with every step—not from the running, but from the heartbreak. Because deep down, he wasn’t chasing a threat.

He was chasing the ghost of the woman he loved.

You moved like a shadow, cutting through the dimly lit alleyways with practiced speed. Every twist and turn seemed premeditated, like you knew this city better than he ever could.

And maybe you did now.

Joaquin’s boots pounded the pavement behind you, breath ragged as he tried to close the distance. “Y/N!” he shouted, voice cracking with desperation.

You didn’t stop. Didn’t even flinch.

Up ahead, a fire escape ladder dropped from a brick wall. You leapt, scaling it effortlessly, one hand still securing the canister. Joaquin followed, slower, heart hammering with dread.

You were trained, sure. But this wasn’t training.

This was weaponization.

“Sam, I can’t get close to her!” Joaquin gasped, climbing two rungs at a time.

“Buy time. We’ve got backup rerouting to your position.”

“Great. I was hoping to have an audience when I get my ass kicked.”

You reached the rooftop and kept moving, your silhouette framed by the low city lights, wind whipping your hair around like wild strands of warpaint. Joaquin finally hauled himself up after you, stumbling slightly as he landed—but you were already near the ledge.

“Y/N, stop!”

You did. For just a second.

He saw the smallest flicker in your eyes. A hesitation. A crack in the ice.

Joaquin was nervous to move. Scared even the smallest movement would scare you off. His hands were raised, voice gentler now.

“I know you’re still in there,” he gulped. “Whatever they did to you, whatever they’re making you feel right now—it’s not real.”

Your grip tightened on the canister.

“Please,” he whispered. “Come back to me.”

The wind howled between you, loud and merciless. Then—your body jerked. A shudder passed through you like a system overload. You staggered back a step.

“Y/N?”

A glitch.

You dropped the canister.

It clanged against the rooftop.

And then—your hands flew to your head as a scream ripped from your throat, raw and agonized, your knees buckling under you. Joaquin’s heart stopped. He dropped to his knees beside you, but kept his distance.

“Hey, I’ve got you. I’m right here, okay?”

More than anything, he wished he could pull you into his arms and erase the world around you.

Your breathing was shallow. Broken. And when your eyes finally met his, something familiar shimmered there—something real.

“J?” You mumbled. Your voice barely above a whisper. But he heard it. Clear as day.

Before he could respond, or even take a breath, a dart embedded in your neck with a hiss.

Your body slumped forward and collapsed into his arms.

“No—no, no, no!” Joaquin cradled you as your body began seizing.

His eyes scanned the shadows around them. A rooftop away, he caught the glimpse of a figure vanishing into the dark.

Whoever did this… they were smart, calculated.

And now?

Now it was personal.

—

Everything was heavy. Your limbs, your head—your heart.

The world came back in fragments. A dull, aching hum beneath your skin. A low beeping somewhere close. The sterile sting of antiseptic in the air. And the soft pull of fabric sheets beneath your fingers.

You were lying down.

Alive.

You blinked against the blurry overhead lights, your throat dry. A groan escaped before you could stop it.

“Y/N?”

The voice was soft, but immediate. Familiar.

You turned your head, slow and sluggish, and there he was—Joaquin. Sitting beside you, still in tactical gear, dried blood on his temple. His eyes looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

You stared at him. Confused. Dazed.

“What…?” Your voice came out hoarse.

He leaned forward, hands shaking just slightly. “You’re safe. You’re—back.”

Back?

You frowned, trying to piece together the fog in your mind. There were flashes—brief, violent snippets like broken glass.

A black SUV.

A canister.

The rooftop.

“I…” You paused, something inside you flinching. “I - I wasn’t…”

“I know.” He reached for your hand, hesitating just long enough for you to pull away—but you didn’t. You let him take it. His touch was warm, grounding. Real.

But they couldn’t stop the vicious attacks of memories flashing behind your eyes.

Images—sharp and jarring—struck like lightning. The SUV. The glass shattering. The cold weight of the canister in your hands. The scream of civilians. The sound of Joaquin’s voice—begging you to stop, to look at him, to remember.

You flinched.

Your fingers twitched in his grasp, breath catching as another wave surged forward. You saw blood on your hands—someone’s blood. You weren’t sure whose. You didn’t even know if it was real. But it felt real. Too real.

“Hey,” Joaquin said gently, his thumb brushing across your knuckles. “It’s over. You’re safe.”

You shook your head. “It’s not,” you replied, voice low, cracking. “I can still feel them. In my head.”

He didn’t pull away. Just leaned a little closer, like he could shoulder the weight for you if he tried hard enough.

I’m not letting them get to you again.” His voice was quiet, but deadly sure. “We’re gonna find out who did this. And we’re gonna end it.”

You wished you could believe that was enough.

But the truth was—it wasn’t just manipulation. It was invasion. They’d crawled into your head, rewired your instincts, buried commands under your skin.

And worse?

Part of you followed them. Willingly.

A tear slipped down your cheek before you could stop it. “I could’ve killed you, Joaquin.”

“But you didn’t,” he said, without hesitation. “You came back.”

You looked down at your hands—calloused, bruised, unfamiliar.

Did I?

He was quiet for a long moment. Then, “Do you remember the first time we trained together?”

You blinked, confused by the shift. “What?”

“You disarmed me in under four seconds and laughed in my face.”

Despite yourself, the corner of your mouth twitched. “You tripped over your own foot.”

“Exactly,” he said, a tiny smile playing at his lips. “That’s the Y/N I know. Smart. Fast. A little cocky. A lot terrifying.”

You let out a shaky breath.

He leaned in, his eyes boring into yours. “She’s still in there. I see her.”

“And I’m not letting them get to you again.” His voice was quiet, but deadly sure. “We’re gonna find out who did this. And we’re gonna end it.”

You stared at him. At the pain etched deep behind his eyes. And something inside you cracked—something you hadn’t felt in what seemed like forever.

Before you could answer, the door opened. Sam stood in the doorway, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

“We need to talk,” he said. “All of us. Now.”

You exhaled slowly and sat up, ignoring the dizziness.

You’d just come back from the edge.

Now it was time to face what waited beyond it.

[dreamdragonkadia]

Requested by @that-choir-girl I hope you enjoy! I'm so sorry it took me a minute to get to this. p.jackson/apollo!reader

It was a stupid hope.

Thinking Luke would come to his senses. That maybe the boy who once taught you how to shoot an arrow before you'd even been claimed would look at you—really look—and remember who he used to be.

But, he didn’t.

You hadn’t told anyone what he asked of you. Not Annabeth. Not Chiron. Definitely not Percy.

The guilt sat in your stomach like a rock. You hadn’t said a word about Luke’s offer—about his plan, about Kronos. You kept it buried, hoping it would fade.

You’d always been angry at the gods. At your father for waiting so long to claim you. But this? Joining Kronos? No. That line, at least, you wouldn’t cross.

Then Luke took Percy. Lured him away like it was nothing.

You didn’t even think. Couldn't think. You just ran—Annabeth and Grover close behind—praying to any god who might listen that you weren’t already too late.

'Please, please, please.'

You found them just as the sun was bleeding into the trees, orange and gold and too beautiful for how wrong everything felt.

Percy was on his knees. Sweating, pale, barely upright. And Luke was behind him, Backbiter angled at his throat.

“Don’t move,” Luke said, eyes locking on yours.

You froze, heart hammering. Grover's breathing went nonexistent beside you. Annabeth didn’t even blink, gripping her dagger like a lifeline.

One wrong step and that cursed blade would tear through Percy like paper.

“Luke,” you said, carefully. “Let him go.”

His grip tightened. “You should’ve joined me.”

“You’re hurting people.”

“I’m making things right.”

“By poisoning him?” Annabeth snapped, stepping forward.

Luke tilted his head like it’s no big deal. Like this was another day. “He’ll last long enough.”

You barely heard him. Your eyes were locked on Percy now—on the sickly purple veins crawling up from the gash in his side. Backbiter’s poison. You can practically feel it burning through his bloodstream.

Then Percy’s eyes flick to your side.

It’s subtle. Barely a twitch. But you know him well enough to understand.

A signal.

With whatever strength he had left, Percy slammed his shoulder into Luke’s leg, knocking him off balance just enough.

It’s all you need.

Annabeth moves first—quick as lightning, dagger drawn. Grover’s right behind her, charging like a goat possessed.

And you?

You go straight to Percy.

You drop to your knees beside him, tuning out the clash of the fight behind you.

His skin was burning. His lips were pale. He blinked up at you, slow and dazed, like he was trying to figure out if you were real.

“You came,” he murmured.

“Of course I did,” you whispered, brushing the damp hair from his forehead. “What, like I was gonna let you die out here?”

He gave a breathy sound that might’ve been a laugh—or a wheeze. “Not… my best day.”

You pressed your hands to the wound at his side. The magic came instinctively—warmth building in your chest and pouring into him, chasing the venom like light through smoke. Your father’s power was supposed to be sunlight and music. Right now, it felt more like fire and desperation.

Percy jerked under your hands, gasping. But he didn’t pull away.

You kept going until the poison was gone.

Behind you, there’s a grunt and a thud—then silence.

You turned to see Luke on the ground, Annabeth’s dagger at his throat, her eyes wild with fury. Grover stood nearby, panting hard, looking like he’d just headbutted a freight train.

Luke’s gaze flicked to you.

And for one second—just one—he looked like the boy you used to know. The one who showed you how to notch an arrow. The one who laughed with you by the campfire like the world was never going to end.

Then he moved.

Fast.

With a twist of his arm, an elbow to Annabeth’s ribs, and he was on his feet before anyone could stop him. She lunged after him, but he was already backing into the shadows of the trees.

“They’ll fail you again,” he warned, breath ragged. “And when they do… you’ll come looking for me.”

Then he vanished into the trees.

Percy slumped forward the moment he was gone, like his body had been held together by sheer will and now that will had snapped.

You caught him before he could hit the ground, arms wrapping around his shoulders, pulling him in close.

“I’ve got you,” you murmured.

He let out a shaky, warm breath against your neck. For a second, you thought he’d already passed out—until you felt his fingers curl gently into your shirt.

“Hey…” he whispered. “You’re not gonna… disappear too, right?”

You blinked. “What?”

“I mean…” He swallowed hard. “Could you… maybe stay? Just for a little while? I— I don’t really wanna be alone right now. Not after everything.”

There was something so soft, so Percy in the way he said it—like he was embarrassed to ask, like needing someone made him feel guilty.

You didn’t let him finish the thought.

“Of course,” you said, tucking your hand behind his head, gently guiding it to your shoulder. “I’m here. I’m staying.”

He didn’t say anything else. Just leaned into you, heavy and warm and still trembling slightly.

The walk back to camp was slow. He pressed into your side the entire way, head tucked into the crook of your neck like it was the only place that felt safe, one arm looped around your shoulders.

At some point, his hand found yours and didn’t let go.

You didn’t make him.

And honestly… you didn’t want to.

[aswanlake]

᯽ 0.1⠀( pyrrhic victory . )⠀by aswanlake.

tags: @saradika-graphics for dividers

synopsis: your father was never a normal man , rude to every human being in the planet except you — unless he needed to be . today was the day of one of your spontaneous trips that your father’s work let him take , instead of studying like you were supposed to , you got curious . too curious , you ran into someone you were never supposed to meet , The Winter Soldier . to make matters worse ? this won’t be the last time you two meet .

content warnings: DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT !! mentions of world war ll / the Cold War / russia & “propaganda” from the Russian / German and American government , descriptions of blood and murder , torture , implied grooming of a child , psychological horror , graphic descriptions and language , stockholm syndrome , implied sexual abuse and assault , drugging , mutilation , and trafficking , strays from canon , weird timeline , brainwashing . (basically the red room & bucky’s torture plus a lot more)

word count: uhh I’m not sure , it’s a long one . well over 6k I think .

a/n: this is the story that replaced the Slytherin boys story (since I lowkey hated it) expect the shauna x reader to come out in the next few days . after that finnick x reader and then I’ll make my way down the line of priority . y/n isn’t used to refer to the oc much but rather just in the descriptions , reader is called “scylla” as an experiment name . if you enjoy this and want to be added to the taglist please comment below ! reblogs are appreciated and loved .

song of the chapter⠀⠀:⠀⠀dna by lia marie johnson .

1951 , november 16th | “y/n karpov” , eight years old | subject number : n/a

you and your father had a weird relationship , nothing you two did as a “family” could be classified as normal . his job couldn’t even be classified as normal , not that you actually knew what it was . normal fathers would take their kids out to play ball or go shopping , yours took you to shooting ranges where he taught you how to shoot different guns and how to take them apart then put them right back together . normal fathers would come home after late days working and embrace their kids while eating dinner together at the table , yours took you to work with him and let you sit in the corner while he did . . whatever he did .

you didn’t know what you father did but you knew it wasn’t good , you could always hear screams and cries echoing from the halls of the cold building . the only part you liked was the traveling , every few months your dad would pack you guys some bags and you’d just disappear for however long he chose . sometimes it was for a week , two the longest you’ve gone was a few months , he always had the same excuse — “ work has us moving around but we’ll be back home soon . ”

you never knew your mom , never asked about her either , you only did once whenever you were little which led to a huge “demonstration” from your father . he led you to a room full of women , all lined up , perfectly , not a hair out of place , they looked beautiful and deadly all at once . the woman was terrifying , Melina , your father called her . she tried to have a nice face around you but that only made her scarier , especially when you saw what the girls did , what she made them do . “ your mom worked for them . a dangerous woman she is , I took you away from her . had to keep you safe . ” since then you’ve never asked about her again . not if it was going to make you return to the “red room” , it was a stupid and childish name that you had made up but it was fitting . the halls were always covered by red , whether it have been due to crappy lighting or the crimson from someone’s body .

today was just like any other trip , your father packed your bags and you two took off . you always came back to your penthouse in Kazen , the place was nice , not to much the people but the place was comforting and cozy . you were homeschooled so disappearing was never a problem , you just did work on the plane or while your father worked . “ afternoon Mr. Karpov . ” the guard stood up tall , the chill from the Siberian weather , he gave a smile in your direction , voice and expression softening upon seeing you — stuffed animal held tightly in one hand while you held your math homework in the other . “ Ms. Karpov . ” you gave him a wave before the doors opened , your father wrapped his arm around your shoulder , pulling the heavy coat you wore over you a bit more with a small tug .

“ now I have to work for a few hours but you’re gonna finish your math homework . then after that you can watch tv , can you do that for me ? ” he’d crouched down to your height , you were barley eight years old so you weren’t necessarily tall . his hand rubbed lightly against your cheek as you nodded excitedly by his question . you weren’t allowed to watch tv often , your dad always mumbled about American propaganda making its way to the Russian screens which made your eyes roll . you didn’t care about America or the war , though it had ended , the tvs were still filled with hatred . you learned about it obviously because you had to but the war only caused you and your father more anguish . you never believed any of the things you saw on tv or the flyers that were up in other countries or cities , you only listened to your father . he was all you had and the only one you wanted to make proud .

1953 , june 12th | “y/n karpov” , ten years old | subject number : n/a

next was the “cold war” . a weird name . the war been going on for almost six years , you’d really only realize three years ago that it was real and it wasn’t just some thing that conspiracy theorist were talking about . your father’s work started to ramp up in the past two years , your trips lessening more and more and your ultimate holding place being Siberia . you hated it , Siberia unlike Kazan didn’t have seasons , it was almost always cold — freezing . the spring and summer were short , they were warm but a fleeting moment . your father was always working , he never came to see you anymore , it was annoying and you were getting upset .

the guards that shadowed you were nice but they were never your father . they couldn’t be him . they couldn’t give you the same love that your father could , why did he rip it away from you like that ? what had you done to deserve it ? you didn’t upset him , you always did you work , you never asked questions . but he stole it from you anyways , deprived you of the one thing that kept you going . your studying got lazier , your schoolwork got sloppier and sloppier , you even stopped enjoying tv , you’d just stare at the walls and groan and complain about being left alone to guards that did nothing but mumble and apologize .

“ can I go to the bathroom ? dad’s not back , I’ll be back soon . pop in and out , promise . ” she spoke to the guard across the room , he was supposed to follow you everywhere but you didn’t want him to follow you there . it was invasive . you stood up , heading towards the door and he went to turn , to follow behind you but you held your hand up . by technicality you had some authority , not much but some . “ I’ll be fine , you don’t need to follow me , it’s just to the bathroom , right ? ” the guard was skeptical but let you go , however you went everywhere but the bathroom . heading down a empty hallway , guards were everywhere but you just managed to catch a time where they weren’t on duty . perhaps it was a shift change or someone just wasn’t were they were supposed to be .

your eyes came across a lab , through the window of the door you could see your father standing before a guy . his face was covered by the man’s body but he was quite obviously uncomfortable . he was strapped down to the table , body shaking and moving uncontrollably as if he was trying to escape . your father yelled , you rarely heard him yell but he was basically screeching at the man before him . you felt bad , your father sounded terrifying and then he hit him . hard . your eyes widened as you watched the treatment the man was receiving , he already looked disheveled , eyes drained of color and hope .

then the machine started and everything just got worse and worse . soon came his screams , the screams you had gotten accustomed to hearing because you didn’t truly think they were real or filled with such pain . a gasp escaped your mouth and your hands clasped over it quite quickly — eyes widening even more after you recognized your action . everyone in the room stopped , the buzzing sound from whatever machine on the man stopped and everyone turned to look at you , finally you were able to see the man’s face ; it was odd , you saw a little bit of yourself in him . you didn’t have time to stare at him because soon you locked eyes with your father and ran .

“ dad , I’m sorry , I’m sorry . I didn’t mean to walk around , I didn’t see anything , I swear ! I didn’t see anything ! ” you’d begged and pleaded for the last hour , asking for his forgiveness . it was his fault anyways , has he not deprived you of the love you so desperately needed then you would have never have gone looking . you would have never tried to see anything at all , all you wanted was him to love you . “ I do everything for you . I do everything and yet you still manage to screw things up somehow . Was going to wait till you were older for this but it seems like now is a better time than ever . ” your father grumbled before grabbing you harshly by the arm . it was insufferable , terrible , the pain spread through your entire arm immediately . you pulled against him with every bit of strength you had , though it wasn’t a lot .

the punishment for your crime was spending time in a cell . it was cold , disgusting , absolutely grimy and fillies with the stench of blood . there was a bed that had basically been ripped to shreds , the door was completely solid and no matter how many times you banged on it and begged to be let free . he never listened , it was almost as if he didn’t care . he kept you in there for the rest of the day , didn’t visit or talk to you . any time you messed up , that would be your punishment , so you made sure not to mess up often because when you did it would be hell . you hated that cell , to the point where you couldn’t sleep with the lights off and door closed anymore — too dark , only one or the other .

1959 , february 17th | “y/n karpov” , sixteen years old | subject number : 43XX

stopped talking to your father after the first time he hit you . you’d yelled at him , finally broke after six years of silence and asked what he was keeping the “soldier” downstairs for . the war was over , there was no reason to harbor a man in their basement and he responded by slapping you so hard you were disoriented . your body fell to the floor , hand covering the warmth blooming on your cheek from the pure force he held behind the hit . “ when I tell you to stop talking , you stop talking . when I tell you to be good , you be good . why do you always have to disappoint me ? ” that was the last time to disappointed him before the testing started .

it was countless injections and being wired up to machines , every day , all day , you hated them . any time you tried to move and fight back it resulted in shocks . electro shock therapy as your father called it , they needed to get you ready and in shape . for what ? you’ve never known but if you hated this then you were worried for what was next . the therapy got worse and worse , to the point were they would shock you until you couldn’t think straight , couldn’t move your body without help and your eyes couldn’t stay open . your brain was mush , you didn’t remember much during those sessions or much that happened before or after them . just the pain , all you remembered was the pain . now it was your screams that filled the room and the hallways and instead of being outside , coloring , doing homework or watching tv , you were experiencing it and you hated it .

“ You share DNA with him . That soldier , you know that ? My blood , his blood — it all runs through those veins of yours . took it from him when we captured him . You are his child , just as much as you are mine . ” you didn’t understand what he was saying , the man in there was clearly older than you but not old enough to have kids , especially not for you to be sixteen , it didn’t make sense . how did you share DNA with him ? you wanted to ask but your mouth wouldn’t open , your eyes were barley keeping open but managed a struggle just to look at him .

“ do you remember the red room ? I took you there whenever you were younger . one of those women , was lucky . the rest of them have their ovaries removed but that one , she got to keep them , for just a pinch longer than the others did . to have our child . our creation . unfortunately Barnes missed the birth of his first child but I didn’t . I was there for you . I will always be there for you , my experiment . ” your father was just rambling at this point , it didn’t make much sense . experiment ? you were an experiment ? a test subject ? for what ? “ why ? ” you just barley managed to croak out , your voice was hoarse , throat dry and cracking .

“ the winter soldier . he can topple governments , countries , win wars , our greatest weapon against our opposing forces . however where one goes right , there is always room for improvement . for more . ” now it made more sense . he was a power hungry bastard . your father was the worst man alive but you were truly his daughter . perhaps even his favorite . with the way he talked you were positive he had more , you’ve never met them , probably never would if you couldn’t get off this damn table .

almost as if he read your mind , your arms and legs were unhooked from the table , you couldn’t move them on your own but it was still a little bit freeing . only for a few moments , it was quickly replaced by you being hauled into a chair within a chamber . that was the first time you’ve ever witnessed the cyro chamber . it was colder than any winter in Siberia . the chill never left , even after the seasons passed and the years went by , the chill remained but you were barely conscious enough to remember what season it was — to even remember what seasons were .

2003 , march 9th | y/n barnes karpov , “Scylla” , sixteen years old physically , mentally ?? | subject number : 4384

you had been let out of the cyro chamber a few times , at least six times through out the years . they tried to disorient you , perhaps thinking that it would keep you from remembering where you were and what time period you had been in and honestly it worked . you could never understand what year you were in until it was too late and you were back with the uncomfortable chill . you tried your best to prove that you weren’t going to be a good investment , that you would fail in the moment of danger but with the “super soldier serum” (as they called it) running through your veins you were quite the opposite . you were strong , stronger than the average teenager , with enough strength to take in a man in his average thirties and forties even if he worked out — they tested it . young men , old men , each came in and out of the training room and as much as your body shook at the sight of them and the thought of hurting someone when you were told to attack , you did . biting just like a lap dog .

very rarely , whenever you and the soldier were awake at the same time , they’d let you train together . see who could hold their own the longest , it was always him . no matter how many times they’d run your two up against each other , he reminded you that you were nothing more than a child and it was so insulting . you trained hard and long , went through suffering and pain and torture just to be treated like a child and worthless by “the soldier” .

your hands gripped at his arm , the metal one holding you down by your throat to the ground , cutting off your air supply and keeping your body pinned to the floor . he didn’t feel a thing whenever your nails scratched against his silver arm , an attempt to rip it off or get it off of your throat , anything to get you to be able to breath again . “ off . winter , six . scylla , none . ” he finally pulled off of you , allowing you to take in greedy gasps of air . your arms flailed helplessly as you forced yourself upwards onto your feet .

your hand rung your own neck , feeling at the injury that was certainly to bruise . there was so mumbling from the soldiers behind the two of you before your “father” spoke once more . “ you two are done for the day . take them back . scylla to the chair , we have something else to do . ” the brainwashing had embedded itself in you . they didn’t need to drag you anymore unless your body was weakened but you had enough strength to walk and if you were being honest you hated their touch being on you so you would have forced yourself up anyways .

they say you down , back in the chair , usually you’d wake up here with no memories of what had happened before , only that you needed to follow the directions of the men before you and your father was the only one who truly cared about you . it was ridiculous but you couldn’t find yourself to deviate from what they said . they had strapped you down once more , body pushed backwards and the edge of the wall was your only view before your father graced your line of vision . “ we were trying to wait until she had developed further to do this but we’ve run into some complications . so what better time than the present , eh ? ” he held up a freaky looking vial , it was obvious that there was blood inside but it had mixed with something you couldn’t place .

“ inside this is the blood of our most powerful assassin , winter is good but everyone needs a femme fatale , don’t they ? but you , you my creation , my child . you will be a mix of everything great — everything good to have ever come out of this organization . mixed all into one , my hydra . ” this is what he meant all those years ago , not that you remember , when he called you an experiment . you were a mix of everything great and the only hope was that you would come out even better than everything you had been mixed with .

2016 , april 12th | y/n barnes karpov , “Scylla” , eighteen years old physically , mentally ?? | subject number : 4384

Bucky Barnes . the Winter Soldier had escaped and with him he took down Hydra , not all of it but most of it . he disappeared off the face of the earth then , you couldn’t find him , at least not for a little bit . bucharest , romania , the area felt familiar to you , every country did , as if you’d been there before . ever so slowly everything had been coming back to you , the torture , the murder , the pain . everything hurt and it never got better . your handler , at least the one you had been left with , Alexander Pierce was dead — murdered by Nick Fury . a subject was never supposed to be on their own , wander alone with no place to go but you and one objective in mind . find the winter soldier .

unfortunately following him through romania led to problems , one star spangled man , a flying bird man and a cat man . . . what had superheroes nowadays come to ? “ uhh cap , I got a child following you and Bucky down the building . ” Captain America , you’d heard of him a little during the wars and whenever they’d allow you to see what America was trying to produce in respond to the winter soldier — he was a specimen in the minds of Hydra but a joke of your own . Bucky and Steve were on foot , running across the roof of a building and you followed closely behind them , you didn’t think you’d be seen but you also didn’t account for a man with wings to following you .

you never actually engaged in the fight , didn’t need to tire yourself out for no reason , besides they didn’t think of you as a threat yet and you would have liked to keep it that way . that was until you all reached the underpass , you’d run up on them just as Bucky had been disarmed and thrown off of his motorcycle , his only way of transportation . the man dressed as a cat was seconds way from clawing the man’s face off but was thrown away by the strength of Captain America . it was intriguing to watch him fight in real time however he wasn’t your concern . without sparing him another glance you reached Bucky’s side , sirens and ringing from cop cars starting to filled the area . “ there’s a kid here ! a kid ! be careful , would you ? ” Steve pleaded to the cops , your eyes hadn’t left Bucky as you stood in front of him , mocking his movements , kneeling down on the ground and putting your hands behind your head .

“ long time no see , Отец . ” Bucky’s eyes widened at your words . he was expecting a “soldat”or maybe for you to try and kill him , force him to pay for the crimes he might have committed against you that he just didn’t remember . the cops were barely gentle with you , forcing your face into the ground with such harshness that everyone there turned their head with guilt and disgust . “ be careful with her , she’s still a kid . ” Sam spoke up , he hadn’t talked much but at least he had the balls to say something about that . Bucky’s eyes never left your , even as they dragged him away , he wouldn’t let it happen . when they placed him in a glass cage , you just in handcuffs (what a mistake) , he still never looked away . not until they forced him away from you .

“ what are you doing here ? ” Tony Stark . he wasn’t a cop , barely a S.H.I.E.L.D agent so he shouldn’t have been interrogating you but they allowed him to — god only knows why . you just looked behind him , the two way glass , trying to figure out who was back there . “ why were you following Barnes and Roger’s ? ” you could answer both questions but didn’t want to , he didn’t give you any reason to . “ come on kid , you gotta give me something- ” “ you talk too much . ” your eyes met his for once , getting a ticked off chuckle from his lips . this man was ego and pride , perhaps if you could knock him down then you’d be allowed another interrogator . “ where is . . . Barnes , I want to speak to him . ” Tony shook his head at your statement , he most likely took it as a question but you weren’t asking . “ I’m the one asking the questions here , alright ? You can see him whenever he gets done with his psych eval and his questioning . ”

you shook your head and tried to stand , the handcuffs holding you to the table being the only thing keeping you down . “ no . now . I need to go now . ” instead of answering you , Tony walked out , probably joining his friends behind the two way glass . you hated being treated like a child , being ignored , being disrespected .

Tony entered the room with the two way glass , glancing towards Romanoff . “ I don’t know what’s wrong with that kid . she’s not even afraid she just- stares , it’s freaky . are we sure she’s even real ? not something somebody built in their lab ? ” she rolled her eyes at him, “ not everyone had the money to do that Stark . you are right though , something about this kid just isn’t right . how did she know where to find Barnes ? ” before she could get an answer to her rhetorical question the sound of you breaking the handcuffs that connected you to the table , you approached the two way glass , without knowing it looking Natasha directly in the eyes . “ I want to see Barnes . now . ”

[violetasteracademic]

My Maasverse ship graveyard

Listen I have had an ungodly number of ships that never even came close to sailing in the Sarah J. Maas multiverse. These were my real and genuine thoughts but this is all in fun and for anyone who wants to have a good laugh, okay? This is a safe space for our goofy lil ideas. Spoilers for everything. RIP.

Starting with the most obvious first:

Feyre and Lucien. I know I am not the only one who fell prey to assuming the first ACOTAR was a love triangle. Lucien was giving I could steal your girl energy the entire time.

Manon and Elide. Manon's who did that to you was hotter than Rowan's who did that to you. I said what I said. These are lesbian women who just happen to be in relationships with Dorian and Lorcan, men who are also lesbians. And they know their wives are in love.

Ithan and Jesiba. I was so sure this was happening. The black cat and golden retriever energy these two were giving off was insane. I still can't believe Jesiba didn't have her Taylor Swift moment and rail the captain of the sunball team before things went down the way they did.

Morrigan and Vassa. I swear on my grave, I initially thought Vassa was introduced as a love interest for Morrigan so she could have a second chance romance with a human queen. That's immediately where my mind went.

Declan and Isaiah. Did these two ever even meet? Idk. I don't think so. But I kept waiting for it to happen. I got very hyper fixated on the idea of the Commander of the 33rd legion Isaiah Tiberian, who was kind of this goody two shoes and rule follower, and Declan Emmet being a hacker and breaking the law to solve crimes. I invented this entire story in my head where Isaiah was going to need to lean on Declan and his hacking to help solve all the shit they were doing and would have to turn a blind eye to the illegality of it all, and then Feyre would make a painting for them called The Commander and the Cyber Criminal.

Tharion and Ariadne. Idk guys... I still kind of ship it? But I'm also very here for his chaotic arranged marriage. I don't know what's going on with any of it, but they had a few moments. And then Ari showed up at the end of CC3 after being MIA the whole book, after Sathia ran away to save her ex. But Hypaxia also smirked knowingly over Sathia and Tharion!? I don't know. I also ship Ariadne with Manon and Elide. I think they'll throw down in the multiverse and form a polycule with their lesbian husbands.

Fenrys with literally anyone. Get this man the love of his life.

Baxian with me. Baxian, the man, the myth, the legend that you are. When he beat down Pollux's ass for assaulting a woman at a bar I was like, oh yeah. This one's mine. I know you can never really recover from losing a mate but I think together we could really try. LET ME LOVE YOU.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Please share your ship graveyard with me, no matter how goofy or silly. We've all been there!

[fel-09]

This is my first time making a request, but I read a lot of your writings, but can I kindly request a Thranduil x reader, where the reader is an immortal being who had either lost their lover or/ran away from them because they couldn't handle the grief of losing a loved one and Thranduil and the reader bond over this when he got closer to them from over a century of knowing them when he found the reader as a injured Foreigner and kept them as a comfort ig? Sorry that's it's so long, but hope it's not to much! Hope your okay!

Sorry there hasn't been a fanfic for so long, I've just been busy with university.

And even time doesn't heal

You don't remember how you came to be in these lands. You can't remember how you came to be in this land, but you have a fragmentary memory of the purple sunset, the rustle of leaves underfoot, the smell of blood, and the endless darkness. When you opened your eyes, you saw only the patterned ceiling, and the soft light of the moon pouring into the chambers through the ajar window.

Your first master of these chambers was neither a rough warrior nor a caring nurse, but a tall elf with an impenetrable gaze and a crown of woven branches.

- You are alive," he said without emotion, watching you from a distance.

You didn't immediately understand the meaning of his words. Of course you're alive. Wasn't that always your essence? You are an immortal whose age has no end. But it has no meaning.

- Where am I?" his voice sounded dry, like a man who's been silent too long.

- In my palace," the elf answered.

So began your life in the kingdom of Greenwood.

More than a century passed, and you stopped counting the days long ago. You lived among the elves, but you were not one of them. You sat in the shadows when they celebrated, and left when their songs reminded you of times long gone. Your thoughts stayed with the past, with loss, with someone you no longer hoped to meet again.

But if anyone understood your silence, it was the king himself.

You never spoke of it. He never asked about your past, and you never asked about his. But when he went out into the garden alone, you were always there. When he stood at the high balcony, gazing out into the woods, you leaned silently against the column.

He offered you no words of comfort because he knew there were no words that could erase the pain.

- Time doesn't heal," you said quietly one day.

- No," he agreed. - But it teaches us to live with what's left.

Then you looked at him in a new way. His eyes reflected the loneliness you knew so well.

And maybe it was in that moment that you realized for the first time that you were not alone.

You shrank back, wrapping your arms around yourself and pressing your face into the soft pillow. The warm air of the chambers suddenly seemed as cold as the winter chill that had once chilled you to the bone. Memories came over you like icy water, piercing and unstoppable.

You remembered holding his hand, knowing you'd have to let go soon. You remembered his voice, weak, almost faded, and how the world lost all color when he was silent forever. You ran away, through time and space, but wherever you went, the memory followed you, clawing at your heart with the claws of the past.

A quiet footstep sounded somewhere nearby.

- Do not be alone," Thranduil's voice was steady, but there was a softness that had not been there before. - Sometimes even the strongest need someone to share the weight of the past.

You didn't answer, only sank deeper into the pillow. The Forest King hesitated, then sat next to you on the edge of the bed.

- You could snuggle into my arms, if you like," he suggested after a short pause. - And I'll tell you stories.

You froze.

Thranduil rarely offered intimacy, even verbal, but now there was no command or condescension in his voice, only a warm confidence, as if he knew it would help.

Struggling, you rose slowly, feeling your heart pounding somewhere in your throat. Cautiously, as if afraid he'd change his mind, you moved closer and rested your forehead against his shoulder. The fabric of his clothes was cool, but the warmth of his body underneath was alive and secure.

Thranduil didn't move, giving you time to adjust, and then his arms wrapped gently around your back. The movement was unhurried, gentle, as if he were holding something fragile and weightless rather than an immortal being.

- A long time ago," he began, his voice right next to your ear, "when Licholesia was not yet called that, when the stars seemed closer and darkness did not dare to come under the trees, there was an elf woman. She saw things in the forests that others did not see, and said that trees sing if you know how to listen...

You closed your eyes, letting his words envelop you like the soft whisper of rain. And in that silence, in that tentative embrace, the past released its grip for a moment.

[chrepsi]

ˇ ⋆ ╱ rest and repair - c. sturniolo

bf!chris x fem!reader

in which ; chris comforts reader after a rough day.

a/n ; not proofread as usual

it had been a long, exhausting day. the kind of day that felt like it would never end. from the moment you woke up, it was one obstacle after another, each one a little more overwhelming than the last. by the time the evening rolled around, you felt like you had nothing left to give. you were mentally drained, your body sore, and the weight of everything pressing down on you was unbearable.

as the day wound down, the one thought that kept you going was the idea of seeing chris. you’d been looking forward to it all day. he has this amazing ability to make everything feel okay, to turn even the most difficult moments into something bearable.

when you arrived at the triplets' shared home, the familiar warmth of his presence was exactly what you needed. he was already there, waiting for you. as soon as you stepped through the door, you could feel the tension in your body begin to ease, even if just a little. chris was sitting on the couch, his eyes lighting up when he saw you.

“hey,” he greeted you softly, standing up to pull you into a tight hug. his embrace was the kind that made everything feel safe. he didn’t need to say anything—just holding you was enough to remind you that everything would be okay.

you leaned into him, your head resting on his chest. you didn’t need words to explain how you were feeling; chris just knew. he always did.

“rough day?” he asked, his voice gentle as he ran his fingers through your hair. his touch was soothing, like balm on a wound.

you nodded, not trusting yourself to speak just yet. you didn’t want to break down in front of him, but the overwhelming emotions of the day were hard to hold in.

chris must’ve sensed it, because he pulled back just enough to look you in the eye. “i’ve got you,” he said, his voice firm but soft. “let me take care of you. you don’t have to do anything right now.”

you felt a lump form in your throat, and despite your best efforts, a few tears slipped down your cheeks. chris gently wiped them away with his thumb, a soft smile playing on his lips as he cupped your face in his hands.

“you’re okay,” he reassured you. “you’re safe with me.”

he guided you over to the couch, sitting you down beside him before standing up to grab a blanket from the couch. he draped it over you, tucking you in carefully as if you were made of glass.

“i know it’s been a lot,” he said, sitting down beside you. “but you don’t have to carry it all alone.”

you rested your head on his shoulder, closing your eyes as you tried to ground yourself in the comfort of his presence. chris’s warmth surrounded you, and the rhythmic sound of his heartbeat was a steady anchor amidst the chaos in your mind.

“do you want to talk about it?” he asked quietly after a few moments, his voice a soft murmur. you shook your head, not quite ready to put everything into words. instead, you just needed to feel cared for, to be reminded that you didn’t have to face the world alone.

“i’m here for you,” he said, pulling you closer to him. “whenever you’re ready, we can talk about it. or we don’t have to. i'm just happy to be here with you.”

you let out a breath, feeling a little lighter. chris had this uncanny ability to make you feel seen, heard, and loved without any pressure. he never rushed you to open up, but at the same time, he was always there when you needed him most.

he stroked your hair, his touch tender and deliberate as he tried to help you relax. “let’s take this slow,” he suggested. “no need to do anything you’re not ready for. just breathe, alright?”

you nodded again, a small smile tugging at your lips. chris didn’t demand anything from you. he didn’t expect you to be okay right away. he understood that healing—whether physical or emotional—was a process, and he was willing to be there for you every step of the way.

as the minutes ticked by, chris continued to spoil you with kindness. he made you a warm cup of tea, offering it to you with a soft smile. you accepted it gratefully, the warmth of the mug in your hands a small comfort. he sat beside you, chatting casually about his day, letting the sound of his voice fill the space without pressure. his words were light, but his tone was warm and inviting, allowing you to feel safe in your own time.

eventually, when the cup of tea was gone and the quiet between you felt comfortable, chris stood up again, his movements slow and deliberate. he came back with a small bowl of your favorite snacks, placing it on the coffee table in front of you.

“here, i thought you might like something to munch on,” he said, his eyes twinkling with that playful warmth that always made you smile.

you laughed lightly, reaching for a snack. “you’re always so thoughtful.”

“i try,” he replied with a wink. “i just want you to feel good. you deserve it.”

there was no rush. no urgency. just the calming presence of someone who cared for you deeply and wanted nothing more than to see you happy and at peace.

after a while, chris stood once more, this time to gather a few blankets and pillows, making a little nest of comfort on the couch. “you’re going to rest now, okay?” he said, looking at you with a soft, reassuring smile. “i’ll be right here if you need anything.”

you didn’t even need to answer. you knew that, in that moment, everything would be okay. chris was right beside you, and that was all that mattered. you settled into the makeshift nest of pillows, the softness of it surrounding you like a cocoon.

chris laid down next to you, pulling you close, his arm around you as you nestled into his side. the world outside seemed to fade away as you closed your eyes, content in the warmth and care that surrounded you.

“close your eyes, relax.” chris whispered gently, his voice full of affection. “i've got you. everything’s gonna be alright.”

and with that, the weight of the world seemed to lift, replaced by the calming feeling of safety, trust, and love. in that moment, with chris by your side, you knew that whatever the world threw at you, you would always have him there, taking care of you, every step of the way.

a/n ; need to cuddle with this man asap :(

hawtties ; @trevorsgodmother @pr3ttylittleslutt @v4lsturn @wildfluer @delilahsturns @courta13 @kisses4chris @chrispycremedonut @chrisspussygang @stvrniolotrxpl3ts @baebadoobee4ever @emely9274 @mvkyis @mattsbug @sturniqloo @mattsleftball @tits4matt @mothstvrnz @joanakaulitz @strnilolover

[worlds-we-write]

Beneath the Ashen Sky

Chapter 3:The Breaking Point

pairing: jackson!joel x f!reader summary: A new threat puts Jackson on edge, forcing hard decisions and stirring old instincts. As tension builds, you and Joel find yourselves on uncertain ground—closer than ever, but still holding back. Chapter WC: 3.3K Tags: slow burn, protective!Joel, stubborn!reader, emotional tension, Joel Miller x reader, post-outbreak Jackson, unspoken feelings, almost confession, grumpy x grumpy, mutual pining, power struggle, soft angst, near-kiss, building chemistry, hurt/comfort elements, raider threat, Joel being Joel™.

Series Masterlist

Joel wasn’t a man who ran from things.

Not from fights. Not from hard choices.

But this?

You?

This was something else entirely.

Since the moment he muttered those words – I can’t lose you – Joel had done everything in his power to ignore them. To pretend they never left his mouth. To act like nothing had changed.

So, he did what he always did when something felt too big, too raw, too dangerous.

He shut it down.

He avoided you.

Not obviously – not enough for people to start asking questions. But enough that you’d notice.

When you passed by him in the town square, instead of his usual nod or gruff acknowledgement, he’d look away first.

When he heard your voice in a crowded room, he’d force himself to walk the other way.

When Maria mentioned your name – asked how you were doing, asked if he’d checked in on you – he just grunted, kept his head down, kept his hands busy.

That was the key. Keeping busy.

If his hands were moving, his mind wasn’t.

So, he worked.

Did double patrols.

Fixed every damn thing that needed fixing.

Helped Tommy reinforce the town’s perimeter, even though they didn’t really need it.

Anything to keep his mind from wandering.

Anything to keep your voice from creeping in.

Anything to stop the memory of your blood on his hands from replaying every time he closed his eyes.

But it didn’t work.

Because no matter how much he distracted himself, he still saw you everywhere.

Still heard you.

Still thought about the way your fingers had clutched his shirt, weak and trembling, the way your lips had parted slightly when you whispered his name in the infirmary.

“Joel…”

Just thinking about it made his chest go tight, his hands clench into fists.

He told himself it was just leftover adrenaline.

Told himself he was just pissed that you got hurt.

Told himself that was all it was.

But deep down, he knew better.

And so did Maria.

Joel should have known Maria would notice.

She saw everything.

So it wasn’t a surprise when she cornered him near the armory one afternoon, arms crossed, eyebrows raised.

“You avoiding her?” she asked casually.

Joel stiffened. “Ain’t got time for this, Maria.”

She hummed, unconvinced. “Right. That why you’ve been keeping your distance all week?”

Joel gritted his teeth. “Ain’t your business.”

Maria tilted her head. “Yeah? ‘Cause last I checked, when someone damn near bleeds out on our land, and you look at ‘em like the world’s about to end – make it kinda hard not to notice.”

Joel felt his jaw clench.

He didn’t answer.  Didn’t know how.

Maria sighed, stepping closer. “Look, whatever you’re trying to do – pushing her away, pretending this ain’t a problem – you think its working?”

Joel glared. “Ain’t nothin’ to push away.”

Maria laughed softly, shaking her head. “Sure, Joel. Keep telling yourself that.”

And with that, she walked off.

Leaving Joel standing there, chest tight, mind racing, fists clenched.

Because she was right.

And he hated that.

Even after all that, even after forcing himself to stay away, to act like it didn’t matter…

He still found himself looking for you.

Not on purpose. Not really.

But his eyes still drifted toward the stables when he passed by.

His head still tilted slightly when he heard your voice from across the town square.

And when he saw you struggling to lift something, pushing yourself too damn hard when you were supposed to be recovering –

That was when he broke.

Healing was frustrating.

The wound on your side was deep, but the town’s doctor had done a good job patching you up. You were sore, stiff, and moving slower than usual, but you were alive. And after surviving alone for so long, after years of learning to rely on yourself, the last thing you wanted was for people to start treating you like you were helpless.

So, the second you felt steady enough, you got back to work.

At first, you stuck to small things – sweeping the stables, organizing supplies, anything to stay busy. Then, when that wasn’t enough, you started lifting, carrying, fixing – trying to shake the feeling that you were just taking up space.

You weren’t the only one who noticed.

Joel did, too.

But instead of saying something, instead of calling you out directly, he hovered.

It started out subtle – him standing near the stables longer than necessary, showing up at the town’s workshop at the same time as you, sitting at the far end of the bar when you were helping stock bottles.

Then, it became more obvious.

Every time you struggled, Joel was there.

When you reached for a sack of grain that was too heavy, he grabbed it first.

When you lifted a wooden crate, his hands were already on it before you could protest.

When you climbed onto a ladder to secure a loose beam in the stables, he was suddenly at the base of it, arms crossed, watching like he expected you to fall at any moment.

You let it go at first.

But when it kept happening – over and over – you couldn’t take it anymore.

“Are you following me, Miller?” you asked one afternoon when you caught him leaning against a post outside the stables, watching as you brushed down one of the horses.

Joel didn’t blink. “Nope.”

You gave him a flat look. “Really? Because it kinda seems like everywhere I go, you’re there.”

Joel exhaled through his nose, shifting his weight. “Ain’t my fault you keep doin’ stupid shit when you’re still injured.”

Your blood simmered. “I’m fine.”

Joel’s jaw ticked. “You ain’t fine. You’re barely healed, and you’re already pushin’ yourself too damn hard.”

Your grip on the brush tightened. “I don’t need you watching me like I’m gonna drop dead any second.”

“You almost did,” Joel said quietly.

His words knocked the breath out of you.

You hadn’t expected him to say it like that.

For a second, neither of you moved.

The only sound was the distant hum of Jackson – the wind against the rooftops, the faint murmur of people in the square.

Joel’s gaze was steady, unreadable. But there was something in his eyes – something dark and unspoken, something that made your stomach twist.

Something that told you he wasn’t just saying this to piss you off.

He was saying it because he meant it.

Because he was still thinking about it.

Still thinking about how close you had come to not making it back.

Your fingers clenched. “I’m not weak, Joel.”

He exhaled sharply. “I never said you were.”

“Then stop treating me like I am.”

Joel’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Ain’t about that.”

“Then what is it about?”

Silence.

Long. Heavy. Tense.

Joel looked like he wanted to say something, like the words were right there on the tip of his tongue – but then, just as quickly as it came, he swallowed it down.

Instead, he just shook his head, turned on his heel, and walked away.

No explanation. No argument.

Nothing.

And that?

That pissed you off even more.

The next time you saw Joel, it was in the workshop.

You had been lifting a wooden crate, wincing slightly at the pull in your side when – he was there.

Didn’t say a word.

Didn’t ask if you needed help.

Just took the crate right out of your hands, as if he’d been waiting for you to push yourself too hard.

“Joel,” you started, exasperated.

But the moment you turned, you realized how close he was.

Close enough that you could see the tension in his jaw, the crease between his brows, the flecks of gray in his beard.

Close enough that his body heat pressed against yours, even in the cold air of the workshop.

Close enough that you could smell the faint scent of wood, leather, and something deeper – something purely Joel.

Your breath hitched.

Joel stilled. 

The crate was still between you, but his hands hadn’t moved.

Neither had yours.

Your fingers were almost touching,

A heartbeat passed. Then another.

You should’ve pulled away.

You should’ve stepped back, made a sarcastic comment, broken the moment before it turned into something else.

But you didn’t.

And neither did he.

Joel’s gaze flickered.

First to your face.

Then – lower.

Your lips.

Your stomach flipped.

He didn’t move. Didn’t lean in.

But you could feel it – the pull.

It was right there, hanging in the air between you, electric, and suffocating.

If you moved even a fraction of an inch closer, you knew – knew – what would happen.

And you didn’t know if you wanted to stop it.

Your pulse pounded.

Your fingers twitched against the edge of the crate.

And then –

Joel stepped back.

Fast. Abrupt. Too sharp.

Like he had just caught himself doing something he shouldn’t.

“Be careful next time,” he muttered, voice low, almost strained.

Then – he was gone.

And you?

You stood there, stunned, breathless, completely wrecked.

Because now, there was no denying it.

Whatever this was between you and Joel – it was real.

And sooner or later? It was going to break.

The nights in Jackson were quiet.

Most people were inside by sundown, fires burning low in the hearth, the town settling into an easy rhythm of safety and routine. But you couldn’t sleep.

Your body ached from the slow healing of your wound, but it wasn’t the pain that kept you awake.

It was him.

Joel.

The way he’d been watching you. The way he hovered, making sure you didn’t push yourself too hard. The way he stepped too close, touched too lightly, lingered too long.

The way he had looked at you in the workshop—his eyes heavy, his fingers grazing yours, his breath just a little too uneven.

He’d pulled away before anything could happen.

But you weren’t stupid.

He wanted it.

Just like you did.

And that?

That scared the hell out of you.

You wrapped your coat around yourself and stepped outside, breathing in the crisp night air. The sky was cloudless, the moon casting a pale glow over the quiet streets. You walked toward the wooden railing near the town square, resting your arms against it, letting your mind drift.

Footsteps.

Heavy. Familiar. Measured.

You didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

Joel.

"You shouldn’t be out here alone." His voice came from behind you, rough and low.

You exhaled slowly, staring at the distant lights of the watchtower. "I could say the same to you."

A beat of silence. Then—the sound of boots on wood as he stepped closer, standing just a few feet away.

"You should be resting."

You smirked, glancing at him over your shoulder. "You should stop acting like I’m gonna drop dead if I step outside."

Joel didn’t answer right away. He just watched you, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable. But you knew him well enough now.

He was biting his tongue.

Trying to keep something in.

"You ain’t takin’ this seriously," he muttered finally.

Your smirk faltered. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Joel shifted, his fingers curling against the wood of the railing. "You almost died, and now you’re walkin’ around like it never happened. Like it don’t matter."

"It does matter," you shot back, turning to face him fully. "But I’m not gonna let it stop me from living my life."

Joel exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Dammit, you don’t get it."

"Then make me understand."

Your words hung in the air, thick and charged.

Joel stilled.

For a long moment, neither of you moved.

Then—he stepped closer.

The distance between you shrank to almost nothing.

Your pulse jumped.

You could see every detail of him in the dim light—the crease between his brows, the rough line of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders. His eyes were dark, searching yours, and there was something raw there.

Something unspoken.

"You think this is easy for me?" His voice was lower now, rougher. Like he hated admitting it.

Your throat went dry. "What?"

Joel’s gaze flickered—to your lips, then back to your eyes. "Watchin’ you get hurt. Almost losin’ you. You think I just—" He exhaled harshly, like he was struggling to find the words. "I can’t—"

He cut himself off.

But he didn’t move away.

And neither did you.

You should have.

You should have laughed it off, made a joke, broken the moment before it turned into something else.

But instead—

You leaned in.

Just slightly.

Just enough to see if he’d stop you.

Joel didn’t.

His breath hitched—so faint, so barely noticeable that if you weren’t this close, you wouldn’t have caught it.

But you were this close.

And you did.

The air between you was thick, unsteady.

Your fingers curled against the railing, your heart pounding so loud you were sure he could hear it.

And then—

A door slammed somewhere down the street.

A voice called out.

And just like that, the moment shattered.

Joel pulled away so fast it felt like a slap.

The warmth of his body disappeared, replaced by the cold night air. His jaw clenched, his hands flexing at his sides like he was angry at himself.

He took a step back.

Then another.

"This ain’t—" His voice was gritted, low. He shook his head once, muttering, "Fuck."

And then—he turned and walked away.

Didn’t look back.

Didn’t say anything else.

Just left you standing there, breathless, wrecked, and completely unraveling.

Because you had been right.

He wanted it.

He just wouldn’t let himself have it.

The morning after that almost-kiss, you woke up with your head still spinning.

Joel had walked away. Again.

But this time felt different.

This time, you had felt him lean in too. Had seen the way his eyes darkened, the way his breathing shifted, the way his fingers twitched like he was fighting every damn instinct in his body.

But he left.

Because of course he did.

Joel Miller was stubborn as hell.

But you?

You were just as bad.

And if he thought he could just walk away from what was happening between you, he had another thing coming.

Still, before you could even decide how to handle it, Jackson got hit with something bigger.

By midmorning, the tension in town was thick enough to cut with a knife.

You weren’t the only one who noticed it.

People were whispering. Maria had been seen speaking in hushed tones with some of the patrol leads. Tommy was checking weapons near the gates.

Something was wrong.

You spotted Joel near the armory, his stance tense, arms crossed, face locked into that permanent scowl of his.

Your stomach twisted.

You already knew before anyone said it out loud—danger was coming.

And Joel knew it too.

Maria called a town meeting by noon, gathering patrol leaders, volunteers, and anyone else willing to fight.

You stood near the back of the barn where the meeting was held, arms crossed, listening as Maria laid it all out.

"Spotted a group of men camped a few miles outside the perimeter," she said, voice steady. "Too close for comfort. Could be nothing—but we don’t take chances."

You felt Joel’s eyes on you before you even looked in his direction.

And when you finally met his gaze?

It was unreadable. But sharp. Focused.

Waiting.

Maria continued. "We’re doubling patrols, setting up additional security around the perimeter. Need volunteers to ride out and assess the situation."

You started to raise your hand.

And then—

Joel’s hand clamped around your wrist.

Firm. Unyielding.

Your breath hitched.

He wasn’t rough, but his grip burned.

And when you looked up at him, you realized—his jaw was clenched tight, his eyes full of something sharp and unreadable.

Something dangerous.

"Don’t," Joel murmured low enough that only you could hear.

A warning.

You narrowed your eyes. "Let go, Joel."

He didn’t.

"You ain’t doin’ this," he muttered, voice like gravel.

You yanked your arm back, glaring at him. "You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do."

Joel exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Ain’t about that. You’re still hurt."

"I’m fine."

"You ain’t."

Your chest tightened. "Joel, I don’t need you to—"

"Yes, you do."

His voice came out rough. Strained.

And when you really looked at him, really looked—you saw it.

This wasn’t just about the patrol.

It was about you.

About what almost happened.

About what he was trying so damn hard to fight.

Joel’s fingers flexed at his sides, his whole body coiled tight like a live wire.

"You ain’t goin’," he repeated, quieter this time.

And for a moment, you almost backed down.

Almost.

But then, Maria spoke.

"Alright," she said. "Looks like we have enough for the first patrol group—Luke, Carter, Danny, Joel—"

Joel’s head snapped toward her.

"The hell you mean, I’m goin’?"

Maria barely blinked. "I mean you’re one of our best shots, and we need you out there."

Joel looked pissed.

You almost smiled.

So.

It was fine for you to stay behind, but when he had to sit out?

He couldn’t stand it.

You stepped closer, lowering your voice so only he could hear.

"Guess I’m not the only one who’s bad at listening," you murmured.

Joel glared.

You turned before he could say anything else, walking away before he could argue.

But you felt it.

The way his gaze stayed locked on you, heavy and unmoving.

Like he wanted to drag you back, hold you there, say something else.

But he didn’t.

Because Joel Miller was stubborn as hell.

And so were you.

Joel was leaving at dawn.

You knew it. He knew it.

And yet, somehow, you still found yourself outside your cabin that night, standing on your porch, watching the town settle into darkness.

You weren’t surprised when he showed up.

"Still awake?" he muttered.

You exhaled, crossing your arms. "Could ask you the same thing."

Joel leaned against the porch railing, his eyes flickering to yours. "You mad?"

You tilted your head. "You care?"

Joel’s jaw ticked.

A long silence settled between you.

Then—softly:

"You gotta stop makin’ this hard on me," he muttered.

You swallowed.

"What?"

Joel’s fingers tensed against the railing.

"You," he said, voice gritted, strained. "You keep pushin’. Keep makin’ me—" He stopped himself, exhaled sharply. "I can’t—"

Your throat went dry. "You can’t what?"

Joel didn’t answer.

Didn’t move.

But you felt it.

The weight of whatever this was.

The tension. The frustration.

The undeniable pull that neither of you would acknowledge.

Not yet.

Finally, Joel cleared his throat, stepping back. "Go inside. Get some sleep."

And then—he was gone.

Just like that.

Again.

But this time?

This time, you knew he wasn’t just walking away.

He was running.

And you were going to make him stop.

AN: I’m really loving the slow burn that’s brewing between them—like they’re both standing on the edge but afraid to fall. Things are about to get even more intense in the next chapter, and I can’t wait for you to see what’s coming! As always, let me know what you think—comments, reactions, theories, or just screaming into the void with me are all welcome! 😭🔥💬 Stay tuned… things are only getting messier. 😏🖤

[skellseerwriting]

My Love

Calderus x Gn!Sick!Reader

Word Count: 1.5k

Content & Warnings: Hurt/comfort, physical comfort, fluff, brief descriptions of being unwell + some crying, emotional support dragon, Calderus has gentle hands and claws and grabbable horns, love confession?

Summary: Calderus shows up one night at your cabin after you fail to visit him for a few days

“Farmer?” A familiar voice called out through the opening crack of your front door. The slab of wood creaked further and a horned figure peered inside. “Oh, my dearest farmer…” he said once he saw your sorry state. Moonlight poured out behind him, covering his hair and shoulders.

“Calderus…” you turned further onto your stomach; covered in blankets.

“I am so glad to see you safe and sound.” His voice rapidly approached, along with the tap of claws on wooden floorboards. “What is…” he tentatively placed his fingers on you and you groaned into your pillow. “Are you unwell?” He whispered. Not wanting to look at him, you nodded. A moment passed, and the sound of something dragging across the floor pinged at the headache behind your eyes.

Presuming Calderus to be sitting in a chair at your bedside, you blindly reached out with one hand. It found its target and you tightened your hold to never let go.

“Is there anything I can do for you? I know I am not very good with cooking, but perhaps I could-“

“Juststayherewithme…” you mumbled, squeezing his hand to prevent him from leaving.

“Of course.” He responded in a silent nod, wrapping a second hand around your own. “Whatever it is that you want.”

A long, drawn out hum escaped your lips in satisfaction at the newfound peace of his presence. Your body was positively aching at the work you couldn’t pass up for your farm animals, just from the past few days alone. You’d been so busy, and so tired, and so sick that you couldn’t even visit Calderus.

“‘m sorry I didn’ visit you…” you told him, not able to keep the guilt out of your tone. The creak of the chair indicated him leaning forward as a hand held your shoulder.

“You do not need to apologize for that. I could handle you not visiting me for a few days. Right now, I am much more concerned about your own health.”

You hated how worried he sounded. Not because you hated him, no, quite the opposite. But because it just served to make you feel even more guilty.

“Please don’t worry about my health.” You cried suddenly in a high voice, the pain of your body aiding in your pained emotions. A tear or two ran down the side of your nose while you clutched your abdomen beneath you. Everything hurt. It hurt so much. You just wanted it to be gone and you wanted him to stay and make everything better.

Something touched your eyebrow and you flinched.

“Please don’t cry.” You heard the wobble in his voice as he said it. A clawed finger brushed some hair away from your temple before running down your moist cheek. “Anything but that…” he whispered more to himself than to you. His fingers trailed down your shoulder before sliding under the blanket. “I simply cannot bear it…”

“Calderus-“ you failed in your attempt not to sob.

“Shhh…” he hushed to you, caressing your back up and down with his hand. “Just allow me this, please, and if it is what you want, I shall leave afterwards.”

You squeezed your eyes shut farther and focused on his gentle touch. The blanket got pushed back, and he smoothed his palm up between your shoulder blades before rubbing deep circles into your side. It felt… so nice…

A humming originated from his mouth. The sound was music to your ears. He played a soft tune with his lips as he sought to quell the horrid aches within your back. It flowed into your ears and softened the hammering sensation behind your eyes; all melting away. Once he changed up his tactic and began scratching you through the thin cotton of your nightshirt, you couldn’t help the sigh that escaped you in an easy breath. His curved, yet gentle claws dragged up your spine and over your shoulders. At times they would reach the neck and delicately graze the skin there; sending tingly feelings through your nape and emitting more happy sighs from your parted lips. Those same sensations drew up and down your spine from the trail of his claws, and it made the experience all the more enjoyable. The musical hum of mysterious nature continued to grow, and as time went on, illegible words peeked through in a mumble of syllables. It was not in the common tongue. Something about it seemed ancient, but so was Calderus, and there were many things you had yet to learn about him.

And then you caught something among the words; something you had heard Calderus mutter to himself on occasion.

“What does that mean?” You perked up, blinking your bleary eyes in the moon-lit darkness. Calderus halted his movement and music in favor of focusing on you.

“What is it that you are referring to?” He inquired. His hand returned to his lap, and you mourned the loss of contact.

“That word you said.” You jutted your face forward for a second before laying your head sideways over folded arms. Now, he was horizontal on your visual axis. Still just as beautiful.

“Which one?” He leaned down. You spoke a jumbled version of the word you heard.

“I hear you say it all the time whenever I visit. You mumble it to yourself.” You explained. In leu of answering you immediately, Calderus’ face turned darker in the shadows. It reached the tips of his ears and he bashfully looked away; fingers covering his mouth.

“Calderus?” You tilted your head a bit. He hunched further away. “What does it mean?” You asked again, curiously.

With a shuddering breath, he parted his fingers and looked at you from the side; a single visible eye framed by a blush.

“It means ‘my love’.”

Oh.

Oh.

Heat flooded your cheeks. You buried your face into your pillow to smother it. How could you literally face him after hearing that? You would just tell him you still weren’t feeling well. Yeah, that would work. That is, it would have if you didn’t just hear him say your name with such love and tending care.

“Yeah?” You responded nervously, turning timid.

“It is getting late, and I cannot yet stray too far from my home. It is with such a heavy heart that I inform you I cannot stay any longer.”

You think your heart just broke.

“O-oh…” the word warbled out of you. The chair beneath him creaked as he went to stand up. “W-wait.” You told him. You weren’t sure what you were doing.

Scratch that, you knew exactly what you were doing.

“Yes?” He hummed, doing as you asked and leaning close again out of concern. In your spontaneity of not wanting him to leave you, you desired one last act of affection before he did. It would tide you over until you could see him again.

Sitting up from your formerly relaxed position, the blanket pooled around your hips and you reached your hands forward. Calderus found the sturdy base of his horns within the tight grip of your fingers to move as they pleased. He quietly yelped. Firmly, you pulled his face close and connected your lips.

Immediately after, you parted with a gasp-like intake of air, but didn’t let go of him yet. He looked much like before; only this time with a much, much darker skin tone on his cheeks. His eyes were so full of wonders and questions, but regretfully, neither of you had the time.

“Visit me tomorrow.” You pleaded, standing up on your knees now and looking down at Calderus’ face. He just stared in awe; sliding a hand up your arm before wrapping it around the one you had on his horn.

“I will.” He lilted, starry eyes turning heavy. His second hand found yours. Pulling them both off of his head, he brought them to his lips and kissed the knuckles with such a gentleness that it cured you of all misery. “My love.” He added, tightening his hold on you.

“I’ll be here.” You conceded in a slight lamentation. You slipped out of his hold and plopped down onto your feather mattress. “Don’t forget me.” You uttered quietly. Calderus crouched and l pressed his forehead to yours. It was a clumsy gesture, but it was perfect.

“I could never forget you. Even if I were to lose all of my memories, even if I lost every essence of myself, I know that you would still stay in the deepest recesses of my mind. You are too important to forget.” The last part was barely a breath.

You squeezed your eyes shut and pressed your mouth closed in order not to cry. You would not cry. Not again.

“Just as long as you do not forget me either.” He said. Your eyes opened. He was about to leave, but the thought was unimaginable. Forget him? How could you ever forget someone so lovely? Someone so impossibly intertwined with your life that your very soul came to rely on him for air? For life?

“Never.” You whispered.

Then he left. You were alone once again with just your sickly body and the echo of his presence.

But you were happy.

Taglist: Calderus FoM

@smoochi-march @susanatactica

[alicentlander]

stress relief (homelander x reader)

summary: Noticing you seem off, Homelander gives you some much needed (and wanted) relief.

(18+, cunnilingus, fem!reader, PWP but with a tiny bit of hurt/comfort)

wc: 750

author’s note: a very short, quick, and rushed fic but i needed some comfort for myself and thought homelander eating me out would make me feel better and it did! may write a longer and more put together version one day

You had been unusually quiet all evening. It was just stress, you had told Homelander. There’s nothing to worry about.

But Homelander - being the hyper-attentive boyfriend that he is - was never one to let something like that go when you were acting off. You were laying in bed when he came into your shared bedroom. He frowned, seeing you curled up under the covers an hour earlier than you normally would.

His hands rested on his hips as he looked down at you with an almost critical eye. You glanced up at him, not really in the mood to ask about whatever it was that he was trying to do.

“You’re not okay,” he finally said after a beat.

“I am okay,” you insisted with a sigh, pulling the covers tighter around you with a pout, “just… tired. I just need some sleep.”

He doesn’t accept that answer.

“Bullshit.”

He tugged the covers off of your body, electing a whine from your lips. “Homela-“ you started before he climbed over top of you, the bed creaking under his weight.

“What you need,” he ran his hands along your sides causing you to shiver, “is to let your boyfriend help you relax.”

His mouth started an assault on your neck before you could protest. On instinct you tilted your head back to give him better access, a whine escaping your lips. He nipped at your throat and jawline, leaving marks in his wake. You exhaled shakily, fingers tangling themselves in his hair as he started to move down your body.

“My girl…” he murmured, pressing a kiss to both of your thighs, “just let me take care of you, yeah? I can make it so you never have to be stressed again.”

You gasp when his warm breath hits your clit. Your grip on his hair tightened, squirming underneath him. He held onto your hips to keep you as in place as he could without using too much of his strength.

His tongue trailed up and down your slit. You whine and whimper, legs twitching as he licked your now soaked cunt.

“F-fuck, Homelander-!” you cried as his tongue delved inside of you, tugging his hair which got a moan out of him, “oh, God…”

He made what sounded like a hum of agreement, eating you out like a man starved. You’re panting as he eats you out in such a meticulous way that you don’t think there’s any other man alive who could ever match it.

“Oh, Homelander- John…” you moaned, fingers tightening in his hair as you came on his tongue, while your other hand desperately gripped the sheets.

He didn’t stop after your first orgasm. His tongue pulled out of your cunt, skillfully flicking against your clit once more. You grind your hips against his face as much as the hold he has on you allowed, stilling only when you began to ride out your second orgasm.

You barely even register him pulling back and collapsing next to you on the bed. You stared at the ceiling until he pulled you against his chest. You looked up at him and he tenderly held your face in his hand.

“My sweet girl…” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your forehead, “how about we take tomorrow off, hmm? Spend the day together. Just me and you.”

“Mmm… sounds nice,” you said, fingers tiredly trailing along his chest, “can you get away with that, though?”

He scoffed and rolled his eyes, pulling you closer to him, “babe. I’m the Homelander. I can do whatever the fuck I want.”

Now it was your turn to roll your eyes, but you kissed underneath his jaw and he hummed approvingly.

“You know I could take care of everything for you…” he said, “you wouldn’t have to work or deal with any annoying coworkers or worry about anything at all. Not when you’re with me.”

“I don’t know…” you mumbled, unsure. He sighed.

“I just wanna take care of you, sweetheart,” he nuzzled up against you like a cat might. “Will you let me?”

You thought about it for a moment and then nodded, curling up against him. You were so tired and overwhelmed, the idea of him taking care of you and not having to have any responsibilities sounded so nice.

He smiled in satisfaction, kissing your forehead before you fell asleep in each other’s arms.

[wakatoshiiss]

haikyuu boys when you're pregnant !

contains : t. kageyama, k. sugawara, t. oikawa, u. wakatoshi, m. atsumu // (all timeskip)

tags / warnings : fem reader (obvs), just little thoughts

notes : i started writing this with kageyama's in mind, so hopefully i executed this well. im rewatching haikyuu rn and im currently cringing as hinata sneaks his way into camp ugh. also im like posting a bunch meow

masterlist // requests are open

TOBIO KAGEYAMA -

when he finally understood what your surprise was, the worlds best dad! mug, he was over the moon excited. then worried. then absolutely freaked out. he asked too many times about how it would work with his schedule, and if you were going to be okay. he even offered taking a break from playing to help you.

the entire time, he was always checking up on you, either calling from hundreds of miles away, or keeping you in bed. he thought no different of you, didnt care that you honestly couldnt do anything by yourself, he loved taking care of you! he only thought of how cute you were with his child.

when the bump was completely evident now, he would play volleyball matches on his phone, and hold the speaker up to your tummy. he wanted his child to play volleyball, if they wanted to, of course. no matter if it was a boy or girl, he was gonna start training from before birth.

KOSHI SUGAWARA -

you straight up handed him the positive test, big eyes all teary and lip quivering. but honestly, he was so happy, he immediately dropped it and ran around the house. then he remembered you standing right there, then ran after you and literally threw you in the air.

he is a girl dad one thousand percent, so he wanted to know the gender as soon as possible. but no matter what, he was happy that you were the one who he had a family with. he made sure you never lifted a pinky, always scheduling your appointments, making food (yes even your odd cravings), and drove you around everywhere.

when hormones' kicked in, he tried his best to just shut up and sit down for you. he never wanted to upset you, but one time he did because he didnt cut your cucumbers a certain way. you were hysterical and unappetized, and he just stood there with a defeated face, knowing that the next two trimesters were going to be even better.

TORU OIKAWA -

he cried as well. harder than you actually, which made you freak out, which made him freak out. you two were in the bathroom crying out the 'im not ready to be a parent!'. but oikawa smacked himself in the face and held you close, trying to convince you everything was going to be okay.

he helped you when he could, but argentina was kicking his ass with camps and practice. so more often then not, hed come home completely worn out. but he still did the dishes, and prepped all your food. he more helped from a distance, and let you do what you needed.

he was dead set on having a boy in his mind, but when you two found out it was a girl, he was already shopping. showing you all the cute pinky clothes with bows and flowers. his mind definitely changed at that moment, knowing that his daughter would be just as beautiful has his mother (and him of course).

USHIJIMA WAKATOSHI -

you two definitely had this planned, it was his job to carry down the bloodline. and he definitely wanted a boy to carry down his legacy. ushijima was a traditionalist, if anything. you tried to explain that you didnt need to be babied just because you had a baby, but he just shook his head and made you lay down for all almost ten months.

he cooked, cleaned, and online shopped so you could see the options too. the gender reveal was where he felt most nervous, he wanted a boy. i mean he would love them no matter what, but definitely a boy. and he felt like his prayers were answered when the ultrasound came back as a male. it was the one time he publicly celebrated anything.

so he made sure you ate nice and healthy for not only you, but him. he spent the entire last trimester baby proofing every crack of your home, softening the corners of any surface, and making sure there were no dangling cords for him to choke on. when you noticed the new child lock on the cabinets, all he did was put his hand on your stomach and kiss your head, telling you to not worry about anything other than your son.

ATSUMU MIYA -

blank face, no words, and no thought. didnt understand the two lines on the little white stick that had you jumping all over him while laughing. was honestly in denial, like that, 'we are actually having a baby? together? me and you? our kid?'. but when it clicked, he teared up and hugged you.

he immediately called osamu, making fun of how he was carrying the bloodline before he was. but in all seriousness, he was overjoyed. he was all about the publicity too, showing off his beautiful wife and her cute tummy that held his child. he tried his best to help out in the house, but was a lost cause when it came to cooking. so he ordered takeout ninety percent of the time.

definite massager, shoulders, back, feet even. he had no idea how much pain you were in, so all he could do was at least get rid of some of it. told you how pretty you were even though you had been in bed for a week and continuously growing in size, he also never saw anything different, just a better chance to give you as many compliments as he could at any given time.

----♡