#i’m going to eat my seed loaf with it :)

[mildmayfoxe]

enjoying one of my fine MEADS while i make GREEK LENTIL SALAD

[finelinevogue]

the eras

summary - harry is the best boyfriend ever and not just because he has taylor swifts number

pairing - boyfriend!harry x reader

word count - ~1k

.’•*,.’>*,~<\*•,.-:’•.~_,*^;-.•*

“Hey babe.” You answered the phone whilst you wandered down the bakery aisle at Tescos.

Friday night was always grocery shopping night. The end of a week, beginning the weekend a fresh.

“Hey.” Harry answered.

“You okay? Need anything?”

“No, uh, you put cereal bars on the list right?”

“Yeah. I got ‘em. Where are you?”

“I’m just leaving Gem’s now. I’ll be home just before you I think.” He coughed out.

“Okay.” You said reaching for a loaf of whole grain bread, because Harry doesn’t care for white bread and you refuse to eat bread with seeds in.

“Need to ask y’something though.” He cleared his throat, which got you listening carefully.

“Right…”

You walked down the crockery aisle, because you cannot help yourself when it comes to an eclectic mug collection. You see a new, cool, mug? You buy it. There’s no other option.

As you pondered over whether any of the mugs took your fancy, Harry continued talking.

“So I spoke to someone today.”

“Uh… Congratulations?” You laughed out nervously, making a joke in a weird situation.

“You wanna know who?”

“Well, obviously.”

“Taylor.”

No second name was needed.

It was obvious who he meant.

You stopped reaching for a mug and instead stood still. You couldn’t move for a brief second, until you remembered you were in public and thought that being a statue might be a bit odd.

You placed the basket filled with groceries on the floor and pushed your hand back through your hair to ground you.

“Okay.”

“And she’s offered me - us - something.”

“Am I going to to get jealous? ‘Cause you know how much of a power couple you two made.” You giggled nervously.

“There’s too much to unpack there for a phone conversation, but no you won’t get jealous. Well, I mean, maybe you will I don’t really know what goes on in your head someti–”

“Harry!” You paused him.

“Taylor’s given us free Era’s tour tickets.”

You gasped a little bit.

Well, a lot. So much so that the people around you stopped to watch you, thinking something was wrong with the aisle or the mugs.

“Fuck off.” You cupped your hand over your mouth.

“Yeah, for London. Said we can come to all of them, or just one and whichever date.”

“No, babe, stop. You’re fucking lying.” Your eye’s watered.

Harry knew how much of a Swiftie you were. Like BIG time. You’d been a fan for a very long time. Through all the hate and all the drama, you had been there. Harry was even saved in your phone as ‘Taylor’s Ex’ as a period of time - as a healthy joke between the two of you.

You had a TikTok that was dedicated to being a fan, but it was mostly filled with you reacting to Taylor content or filming a series of videos where you rated Harry’s outfits - even though you’re with him when he’s getting dressed in a morning.

To not only get to go to the Eras tour, but to be invited by Taylor herself… Well. World ended.

“No, it’s real. Promise.” Harry laughed to himself, imagining you right now.

A few tears ran down your cheeks.

“Fuck. This is so embarrassing.” You laughed, wiping your nose and sniffling. “I’m literally crying on the mugs aisle.”

“Y/N, baby, we don’t need anymore mugs!” Harry laughed more.

“Shut up, yes we do. Wait. Is this real?”

“It is, my love. You’re going to the Eras tour.”

[enqmind]

Fic!

This is what happens when you've recently read baby trapping fics and then have a conversation about what foods you can't eat around taking certain medications.

Soap/Female Reader WC: 1.4k 18+ content.

Warnings: Baby trapping, manipulation, tampering with contraceptives, tampering with food, technically poisoning, misuse of a dietary supplement. Noncon, despite containing no actual sex (because baby trapping).

Reader notes: Implied to dislike marmite, probably isn't Scottish, dislikes masks (not a covid denier. they just make her uncomfortable).

Gothmet

 Johnny has been cooking a lot lately.

 “Trying to take after your compatriot?”

 He’d laughed at that.

 “I think you’ll find I don’t hit my Boiling Point quite so fast, love.”

 You suspected he’d last five minutes in food service, since you’re not actually allowed to explode the sous chef.

 But as a home cook? Oh, he was passable.

 His latest creation was squid ink ravioli filled with an avant garde bacon and nigella seed concoction.

 It was interesting, but good was a different question.

 “Do you like it?” He asked, puppy dog enthusiasm radiating off of him in waves.

 “… I don’t know,” you confessed. “It’s certainly interesting, but I’m not sure one way or the other.”

 You half expected his face to fall, but instead he looked thoughtful as he took a considered bite.

 “Aye, I see what you mean. This’ll take some workshopping. You willing to be my taste tester?” 

 You grinned at him over your wine.

 “It would be my pleasure.”

 “And that is my top priority, after all.”

 He didn’t seem discouraged by the half hearted kick under the table, especially if his enthusiasm for ‘dessert’ was considered.

 His new culinary interest expanded to baking.

 The next day he presented you with a zebra cake with the highest contrast you’d ever seen. The chocolate stripes were almost jet black.

 “I got some o’  that ultra Dutch processed cocoa to try making my own oreos. Ordered one of them special biscuit cutters too, but it hasn’t arrived yet. So I decided to make a very accurate zebra cake.”

 “You ordered one for bourbons too, right?”

 “What do you take me for, hen? Some kind of godless heathen?”

 You raised your hands placatingly.

 “Just making sure, Johnno. Gotta check to see if you’ve been replaced by a sexy doppelganger every now and then.”

 He squinted at you.

 “Yeah, well. You’ll get your bourbons. With bourbon cream, mind.”

 “Always trying to ply me with something, aren’t you?”

 He looked scandalised when you laughed.

 Within the week he had those biscuits ready for you. True to his word the bourbons had bourbon cream and the orefauxs (as he called them) had Baileys cream. Both were as black as the devil’s bottom.

 “I might need a new wardrobe soon if you keep this up,” you joked between mouthfuls.

 “Ah, I’ll just help you work it off. Or just buy you a new one.”

 The look you gave him might not have been as withering as you’d hoped, but he seemed to get the message.

 “I’ll try to bake you something healthier next time.”

 Something healthier meant a coal black loaf of bread.

 “It’s a black bread,” he said cheerily, “it’s got rye in it. Thought might as well go the whole hog and added some activated charcoal to make it as black as you like your coffee.”

 It was with a heavy sigh that you turned your eyes to him.

 “I can’t eat this.”

 His face did fall this time.

 “Oh. You allergic to rye? Or are you afraid I’ve slipped some marmite in?”

 “My marmite take is neither here nor there. The problem is that I’m on the pill and activated charcoal can make it not work.”

 “Oh, shit.”

 He looked so crestfallen that you felt even worse.

 “Sorry.”

 “No, no. It’s my fault. Shoulda considered that.”

 You tore off a chunk and slathered it with butter, just to see him light up a little.

 “Well, I guess half a loaf over a couple days can’t hurt too much.”

 His grin was blinding.

 “Ah, but what am I gonna do with all this spare activated charcoal? I cannae eat it all meself.”

 You gave him a grin of your own.

 “Could live up to your callsign and use it to make soap. Good for the skin and all that.”

 “Ah,” he said sagely. “So that’s why they kept showing me that melt and pour stuff. I was starting to think I’d have to assassinate Bezos for knowing too much. How’d he even find out?”

 You chuckle as you eat your chunk of bread.

 “It’s really good,” you mumbled, delight rendering you mannerless.

 Johnny puffed up with pride.

 “I’ll try a different colourant next time. Still got that squid ink, after all.”

 “How is recipe development, by the way?”

 “Can’t complain. I’ll have another plate for you in a couple o’ days.”

 “I look forward to it!”

 In the meantime you were working your way through the biscuits, cake and that half a loaf.

 The second round of ravioli was divine. Exactly what was different was a question, but if Johnny was going to continue to be a magician in the kitchen then he was allowed a few secrets.

 He joked that this was the way to your heart, and he wasn’t far wrong. There was something about a handsome and rugged man cooking for you that was so very seductive. So less ‘way to your heart’ and ‘way into your knickers’.

 His culinary adventures continued with a squid ink version of the bread (still delicious, barely tasted different) and so much chocolatey goodness.

 Despite previously thinking such things impossible, you liked chocolate as much as the next woman, it was getting more than a bit much.

 “Don’t worry. I’ll take a break on the old chocolate,” he reassured you over some jjajangmyeon. “I’ve got a few more ideas up my sleeve.”

 He bought you a pie.

 It was rectangular, but certainly a pie.

 “I thought you said you made buns?”

 “I did hen, a bun at least. This is a black bun, it’s traditional around Hogmanay.”

 When he cut it open you could see why it was called that.

 The filling was dark as a moonless night and chock full of dried fruit.

 Granted, you were a bit leery, but you gave it a shot and were pleasantly surprised.

 “This is good. Remind me to come ‘round yours for New Year’s.”

 “It’ll be an invitation, not a reminder, lass.”

 You grinned, even with currents stuck in your teeth.

 The next thing he bought you was fudge.

 You were more dubious about this one than the pie.

 “Why is it black?”

 “It’s liquorice flavoured. Me mam asked me to make some, thought I’d let you try it too.”

 Maybe you could deal with the dried fruit, but the liquorice was a bit much. All sorts were one thing, but this flavour and this texture? It was weird and gritty and didn’t go. No thank you.

 “Well, you win some you lose some,” he grinned, “they can’t all be winners.”

 The liquorice might not have been, but the black sesame seed mochi certainly was.

 “It’s good in a porridge too, they use rice starch to thicken it.”

 You raised an eyebrow at him.

 “Porridge without oats? Do your countrymen know you’re speaking such blasphemy?”

 “Aye, aye. Fair point. You keep this schtumm and I'll work on some fusion cuisine so they don’t burn me in Parliament square.”

 It took a few days, but the proper black sesame seed porridge was welcome. You’d been feeling a little under the weather lately.

 “So what do we call this? Scorean? Kortish?”

 “Please stop.”

 “You’re no fun.”

 Johnny pouted.

 “Oh right. Before I forget; what happened to that soap making? Or am I just not getting any?” It was your turn to pout.

 “Ah, I decided to go cold process. So it’ll be ready when I get back from deployment.”

 You nodded.

 “Do you want me to bring some down when I come pick you up so we can throw it at Simon? ‘Cause he’s gonna need it with that fucking mask he’s always wearing.”

 Johnny’s eyebrow’s rose.

 “I still don’t get why you hate it so much.”

 “I swear he’s making faces at me under that thing.”

 “Really?” He asked dubiously.

 “I just don’t like it. He gives me a weird vibe.”

 Johnny looked affronted.

 “Hey-“

 “Because of the mask. Hated it during the pandemic, too. I’d last three minutes in Japan in the winter.”

 “I’ll take you in the summer then,” he smiled softly, placated.

 You rolled your eyes affectionately.

 “I’ll hold you to that.”

 As ever, it was with a heavy heart that you saw him off the next day.

 He did leave you with some treats to tide you over. Another black bun, some biscuits (chocolate was back on the menu) and a box of lovely dark parkin. Altogether, it should last most of the time he was away.

 It didn’t.

 You stress ate most of it when you found out you were pregnant.

[thewalkingwillowtree]

Safe Haven

Series Part Listing Found Here

Neteyam x Original Na'vi Female Character

Summery: Seeking refuge, Xilä and her father venture to the lands of the Omatikaya clan, in the hopes that the Toruk Makto would be generous in allowing them to stay. This is her story about not only finding her strength, but finding love. 

Warning: This story contains smut, violence & abuse (please don't read if these topics will affect you)

Some characters have been aged up. Neteyam in particular is 23.

Xilä is my own creation.

~

Part 10 - Red

A brush of hair tickled the tip of Xilä's nose. Unconsciously, she sniffed and shifted away from it, snuggling closer to the wall of warmth in front of her. Bleary eyes blinking open to the span of a chiselled blue chest, she felt the uncomfortable sensation of having a full bladder. 

“Mmm-Tey,” she groggily mumbled, stretching out her legs with a sleepy yawn. “Teyam,” she tried again, when she failed to squirm out of his arms. 

Lifting her head to take account of their position, she slumped back with a sleepy smile. 

She was completely locked in her lover’s embrace. Both laid on their sides, fronts so flushed with each other, she could feel the outline of him poking her through his loincloth.

Her head was cocooned on his right bicep, face a mere inches from a pectoral, while his other arm draped across her waist, hand tucked inside her top, fingers spanning the width of her back. 

“Teeeeyam. Wake up, handsome,” she sang, tilting her head to run her nose under his jaw. 

He shifted with a little groan. “It’s still early, baby. Go back to sleep,” he grumbled over the top of her head- voice rough with sleep as he slipped a knee between her thighs. 

She hissed when he pressed against her bladder. “I have to pee,” she whined, trying to break free again. “Neteyam!” she berated, nipping the skin of his neck. 

After a few more failed attempts, she finally made her break for it, scrambling to climb over his massive frame and out of the room.  

Neteyam was much more awake when she returned. He had turned on her little lamp- its light bathing the room in a soft glow as he sat cross legged on her bed. In front of him was a spread of mismatched breakfast items. 

“What are you eating?” she giggled, slumping her way over to nestle in the well of his legs with her knees tucked to her chest. 

“I raided Salveen’s stock for some breakfast. Did you have dinner last night?” he asked. “I think I forgot to have,” he mumbled over a mouthful as he offered her a bite of his. 

She shook her head in response to his question and took a big bite of the loaf slice in his hand, cheeks puffy as she chewed. 

They ate in silence, feasting on sweetened seed cakes, leftover hexapede stew, slices of Xi's famous loaf and a couple of almost ripe berries.

Feeling full, she fed him her last half of a seed cake, giggling when he playfully nipped her fingertips in the process. 

“I’m sorry about last night,” Xi eventually said, breaking the long comfortable silence. 

“Don’t you dare,” he said, cutting her off. He twisted her sideways and tilted her chin up. “You have no reason to apologize, alright? None.” 

She nodded mutely with a saddened frown, so he kissed it, smoothing away the creases on her forehead with a thumb before kissing the pout off her lips. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” he murmured gently. “Was it- was it the one with your mother again?”

“Yes,” she admitted, laying her temple on his shoulder, accepting the hand he gave her to fiddle with. “It was the one about the night she left.”

“Sal and Jxo said you had one the night before as well….do you know if something triggered them?” 

A fleeting flash of her father’s face popped in her mind- his ominous threat to take them back to Li’ona causing the meal she just ate to swirl uncomfortably.

It was on the tip of her tongue to spill everything to Neteyam but she knew how he’d react, so she had to ease the truth out carefully. 

“Um…I ah…” she mumbled, switching her gaze from his face to his fingers she’d been fidgeting with. 

However as she prepared herself to admit the truth, a gruff clearing of a throat interrupted what she was about to say.

“You two better be fucking clothed,” Jxo’s voice echoed from the other side of the curtain. “I’m coming in!” he yelled, giving them no time to have even made themselves decent even if they already were. 

When Jxo pulled aside the privacy curtain, he paused at the sight of their cuddled position, sending a squinted glare over the top of her head. “Alright, get out,” he said simply. 

“Jxo!” she chidded, but Neteyam was already nodding like he expected Jxo’s reaction as he shifted her off his lap.

He kissed her jaw and whispered a quick, “I love you” and “see you later” into her skin, before he was standing tall again to walk right out. 

Jxo regarded Xilä for a few seconds. “Why don’t you get cleaned up and we go for a walk?” he suggested in what she considered his gentle tone of voice. 

~

Walking through Home Camp while barely anyone else was up, felt surreal. There was a peaceful feeling to the village. Tents were lighting up slowly, one by one as their inhibitors awoke to prepare for the day ahead. 

“How are you, kid?” Jxo asked when they strolled past a tent where a fussing baby was heard. 

“I’m good, Jxo. Really good,” she smiled. 

“Even after last night?” he asked, referring to her nightmare. 

“Yes. I’m getting better at not letting them get to me,” she said proudly. 

“Good……..” After a long beat, he said, “Your skxawng boyfriend asked for Sal and my’s blessing last night.”

Xi’s head flicked over to him in surprise, a massive, grin growing on her face. “He did?” she asked, practically swooning.

“Mhm….You really like him, huh?” he asked.

“No,” she said truthfully. “I love him.”

Jxo stopped their pace. He stared out at the herd of grazing direhorses they had just approached and leaned on the enclosure’s fence- arms folded as he gave her his full attention.

“Are you sure this is something you want Xi? I get that you love him, but I want to make sure this is your decision and that you’re not being persuaded or pressured. Being the Chief’s eldest, there are a lot of expectations of him- has he even told you the whole truth on the topic?”

Xilä’s grin didn’t drop for a second. “So Norm taught me something pretty cool the other day- It’s a lot and I’m still learning the names of everything but… Apparently there's an entire universe out there, beyond Pandora. Stars, planets, galaxies. Some that haven’t even been discovered yet. It’s absolutely incredible.”

Jxo listened intently. 

“My point is…out of everyone, out of everything in existence….Neteyam Sully makes me feel like I’m the most important one of them all…and I have never felt that way before. Not once.” 

Xilä walked over and leaned her back on the fence as well. “Jxo. Please know, he’s never pressured me or persuaded me into this…and yes, he has told me everything- about the council and their stupid ultimatum,” she huffed. “I’m not doing this because of that, just so you know.”

Tugging on Jxo’s arm, she continued, “I never knew much about love, Jxo. But I’ve seen the way you and Sal are together.…..I've always wanted that...I never thought I’d ever have a chance at it. I love Neteyam, and he makes me feel so stupidly happy, so safe, and so loved….. I’m sure about this decision Jxo, more than anything.” 

Jxo frowned at the change in her voice, the emotions poking through. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, tucking her in for a hug she eagerly returned. “Looks like I’m getting another idiot son in law,” he grumbled jokingly. 

She giggled. “You know you like him, Jxo,” she teased. “You’re just pretending you don’t like him because you are being protective- over me.” She looked up at him with glistening eyes. “Thank you, for caring,” she said earnestly. “You are the best father I know.” 

He gave her a wobbly smile. “Yeah well, you’re my kid. Of course I care.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not looking forward to when you have to move out,” he admitted. “But, I’ll make sure you have the nicest shit for when you do. I’ll have my guys start working on the beams for the tent and….and I’ll- I’ll craft you the grandest-” He couldn’t finish his sentence. 

“Aw Jxo,” Xi cooed, hugging him tighter. 

They stayed wrapped up in their embrace for a few more minutes before they were suddenly interrupted. 

“Well ain’t this sweet,” a voice drawled out, barging in on their sweet moment.

Xilä's blood ran cold, body turned tense. Jxo released her and stood to his full height as he regarded T'shteyo. “Can I help you with something?” he asked, hands on his hips under the guise of checking his dagger. 

“Came to have a word with my daughter, but I see she’s gone and got herself a new dad-dy. That's what the blood demons call it, right?” 

Xi gripped Jxo’s forearm. “Jxo, let’s go,” she pleaded, eyes darting around for anyone nearby.

“We need to talk, Xilä.” T'shteyo’s stern tone and icy glare had her rooted to the spot.  

The elder stepped in front of her blocking his view. “You’ve got nothing to fucking say to her. Get gone.”

“Looks like you need to learn your place, old man,” T'shteyo threatened as he took a step forward. 

However a group of chatting Na’vi’s who had just rounded the bend, stumbled upon them, interrupting the tense moment- fishermen who were heading out for the day. 

“Everything okay here, Jxo? Xi?” It was Yalnïk- D’avi’s husband and Jxo’s son in law. His grip tightened on his bow as he took in the stand off. 

“Everything is fine, son,” Jxo said, not taking his glare off of the Li’ona male. “T'shteyo here, was just leaving. Right?”

Xilä’s father smiled easily, his eyes jumped from Jxo who’s hand lingered on his knife, to the group of intimidating fishermen, sharpening their suspicious glares. 

“Right,” he spat in faux agreement before turning to stalk away, leaving Xi to release a breath of relief. 

~

All warriors were gathered in a clearing on the east side of the village. They all listened with rapt attention as Neteyam and the clan’s second in command addressed them. 

“Alright that’s it for now. Let’s just recap real quick…For the next moon cycle, teams four and ten are switching with three and six for the night shifts… New trainees will be integrating soon after the upcoming Iknimaya ceremony. That being said, teams! This is a reminder we do not condone hazing.” Neteyam sent a pointed glare to his brother amidst the crowd. 

Lo’ak gave him a “who, me?” look and a mischievous smirk. 

“We’ve had two breaches of Palulukans this week alone because of slacking off. It’s mating season, so they are even more vicious and unpredictable. If you are not taking your patrols seriously you will be stripped of your position, that is not a warning it is a fact.

And lastly all communication devices are due for an upgrade. Please visit the labs as soon as you can and one of the technicians there will assist you. This is a requirement and not a suggestion. Any questions?”

A few members raised their hands. In quick succession, between Neteyam and Gwuyle they were able to respond to all concerns before dismissing the warriors. 

“Leati,” Neteyam called to the woman who was standing nearby. “A moment, please?” 

Leati glanced at the two women beside her with a smirk before flirtatiously prowling towards him. “Of course Nete,” she practically purred loud enough for her friends to hear. “I’ll see you guys later,” she told them.

Neteyam suppressed an eye roll and walked them a few feet away from the dispersing crowd. 

“Before you say anything, I want to apologize for yesterday. You had an emergency with your student and I was not being very considerate. And you were right, Gwuyle was just as good as you are.”

“Leati-”

“We passed by the way. My team. We got a perfect score,” she said, smiling so wide and batting her lashes so fast that Neteyam felt slightly dizzy. “I wish you were there though. It would have been even better,” she purred, sauntering closer to him. 

“Leati,” he said again, a bit sterner this time.

She stepped back and looked down slightly annoyed before fixing him with a hurt glare. “I know what you’re here to say. You choose her, don't you? Xilä.”

“You had no right telling her we were together. None. When did we ever discuss that?” 

She folded her arms in defence. “We didn’t, no. But I just thought, since-”

“But nothing, Leati! We. You and me? We are colleagues. Teammates. That’s it. I’m sorry if you were told otherwise, but it’s on you for believing them. I have no intention of playing games with the council anymore. I suggest you do the same.”

“That’s not fair. We-”

“Tough!” he said, cutting her off again. “What’s not fair is how you went about it, Leati….You should have come to me, not her…..You were cruel, Leati. Unnecessarily cruel,” he hissed.

Her eyes widened in shock at his fury towards her. “I’m sorry, Neteyam.” She reached out to rub his bicep. “Please don’t hate me.”

He stepped back, avoiding her touch. “I don’t, but you hurt the woman I love and I won’t stand for it.”

She flinched when he said the word love. 

“I thought we’d be good together…I thought-”

“Do you even like me?” he questioned. “Do you even know me?”

She breathed out a laugh as if he were being absurd. “Of course I like you. And I’ve known you all my life, Neteyam. Why can’t you just see me?” she snapped. “I’m the one who’s always been there!” 

“What do you like about me,” he asked frankly. 

“W-what?” 

“What. Do you like, about me?” he enunciated again, his frustration peaking through.  

“You- well you’re a good leader and you’re quite fit- better looking than most males.”

He shook his head as if feeling sorry for her.

“And you think that warrants a future with me? You don’t want me, Leati. You want the title. The status, right? The attention? You’re an ambitious woman, which is great. But think about it, you know you only see me as a stepping stone to your next goal- another challenge to achieve….and then what?”

She swallowed, looking torn as she clearly absorbed his words. “But, we’d be the perfect couple, Nete. Everyone sees it. Even the council agrees! You’re the only one fighting this!” 

“Sure, from the outside it would sure seem like we’d be perfect for each other,” he agreed. “But there is no connection between us Leati, we both know that. Can you honestly say, at the end of the day that you see a forever with me? One where you don’t wake up a year later and instantly regret everything. Because if you do, then you need to stop lying to yourself.” 

“Oh Eywa,” she hushed out, face crumpling in realization. “I’m sorry Neteyam,” she whispered automatically. 

“No you’re not,” he said, reading her all too well. “Not yet at least…but maybe one day.” He gave her one last disappointed look before walking off. “Take care, Leati.”  

Lo’ak was waiting for him a couple feet away. When Neteyam caught up to him, their steps matched as they made their way out of the forest. 

“So I hear congratulations are in order,” Lo’ak teased. “I came to tell you myself last night, but you weren’t home,” he said, glancing at his brother with a knowing smirk. 

Neteyam shook his head. “I swear our family can’t keep a secret for shit. Who was it, Kiri or Spider?”

“Both,” he laughed. “And don’t worry, I know we’re keeping it on the down low for now… So? How’s it feel?” he asked out of curiosity. 

At the thought of his gorgeous wife to be, an uncontrollable grin broke out on Neteyam’s face- he and his brother’s spat from yesterday instantly being forgotten.

“Shit. That good, huh?” Lo’ak teased, grinning along as well. “How’d Leati take it? I assume that’s what you two were talking about?”

Neteyam side-eyed his brother. “How do you know about that?” 

Lo’ak shrugged easily and swung an arm around him. “I know everything, big brother,” he said, shaking him a little.

~

It was a week later and Xilä's nerves began to get the best of her. 

“Why are you so fidgety dear? Did you not sleep well? Do you want some tea? Should I send for the healer? You know the talk now is that the Purple Fever season is already here. My friend said her granddaughter’s classmate had it two weeks ago! Can you believe it? Bah! Here let me see your tail, Xi. Goodness, you look like you’re about to be sick!”

Xi shared a slightly nauseous but amused smile with Jxo over the table as his wife fretted over her. 

“She’s fine darling, let the dear finish her breakfast,” the elder said as he chewed on the soft sari cakes and tender meat she and Salveen had slaved over- the man, while an incredible woodworker, could not cook to save his life. 

“I am fine, Salveen. Honest. It’s just, Neteyam is taking me on my final ikran flying lesson this morning and I am a bit anxious is all.”

“Ah…Yes, ikrans can be a bit tricky. But they are majestic beasts. What is it that has you nervous though? He said you have been excelling in your lessons.”

“My fear of flying, mostly...I mean I’m over it- almost… Neteyam's great at helping me face my fears. My first two weeks of lessons alone he had me jumping off cliffs,” she said, making a face of disapproval. “It's just the rites I'm a bit worried about.”

Salveen patted her hand sympathetically. “It’s normal to be nervous darling. The good thing is, you're going to be in very capable hands. That boy won’t let anything happen to you,” she assured with the flick of a hand as she got to her feet to dish out a second helping of food. “Right, Jxo?”

Jxo nodded in agreement, accepting his seconds without a fuss. 

“Now eat up and get going before he sends a search party.”

~

Both Neteyam and Xi agreed it would be easier to meet at the ikran enclosures that morning since Neteyam would be coming in straight from a mid morning patrol shift.

Walking through the bustling encampment with a lot more confidence than her first time, Xi waved to a few familiar faces. She could already hear the loud cries and screeches of the mountain beasts as she neared the enclosures. 

Before she could make it there however, a figure had her faltering in her tracks. Looking cruel and terrifying as ever, her father beckoned her over to his spot where he sat, shaded by a large sprouted plant. 

Glancing around to make sure there were a few people within eye shot, Xi unwillingly walked over, making sure to keep him at a wide berth. 

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, displeased. 

“I haven’t,” she lied in a steady voice.

The truth was she had. He had been popping up more and more lately, trying to have a word with her, but thankfully someone had always been with her at the time.

She’d managed to dodge him a total of over six times in a week without anyone noticing. And after her last encounter with him, she had begged Jxo not to say anything to Neteyam.

Xi was truly going to tell him everything- there just never seemed to be the right moment.

“I’ve been busy with my lessons.”

“Oh yeah? With that boy? JakeSully’s bastard?”

“His name is Neteyam,” she snapped, unable to contain her upsetness. 

A cold smile curled on the Li’ona male’s face. “You’re sweet on him,” he taunted. 

Xi didn’t answer. 

“Listen. You remember our conversation? That means I don’t want you getting too comfortable here anymore. This is not our home. These are not our people-”

“But we’ve been here for so long now, how-!”

“The moment Su’ko slips up, we are going back to Li’ona!” he hissed, cutting her off. “I told you already we are not staying here. I let you have your fun…but it’s time we get back.” 

“Father, there is nothing there for us. You said-”

“I know what I said!” he seethed. “But I am Olo'eyktan! Not some trainee youngling as they so like to treat me here! I will not settle for less. I have had enough of this forest and its fucking inhibitors!”

He began to wrap an armoured band tightly around his forearm. “I didn’t have too, but I’m being kind enough to keep you informed. I lost contact with my insider, so I need you to be ready at a moment’s notice now, since there's another plan in the works. If Su’ko takes the bait, there won't be bloodshed. We’ll be back before you know it. I want none of your whining and back talk either. Understood?”

Her father was a madman she thought- insane. She was not leaving this clan. She had already accepted it as her home. There were people who cared for her here, who she cared for in turn too- the man she loved was here. She refused to return to living in the shadows of a grave. 

“I am not going,” she declared. “I have a life here now. I will not be leaving with you.”

“You say that as if you have a choice,” he said amused. “I need you in order to get back. It’s non negotiable.”

“I don’t care!” she snapped hysterically. “I am not going with you!”

His cold eyes flickered to hers, sending a fearful chill down her spine. 

“I am trying to be kind here Xilä, but you are making it very difficult. You think JakeSully wants us here? You think people like us belong here?! You think because you found yourself a new mommy and daddy to play happy little family with, that they’ll want you forever? You’re new. A shiny toy they’ll soon forget. Because you are nothing! Worthless! You still belong to me brat- ties still as intact as the day you were born and I say you are going! So help me I will drag you back kicking and screaming if I have to!” he was on his feet now, chest heaving as he spat hurtful words. 

Fury boiled in her veins like never before and Xilä shook as uncontrollable tears pooled in her eyes. “I. Said. NO!” she hissed out, palms balled into fists. “Do you understand me?! I am not going! And you’re wrong. I am not worthless. I am not nothing! And you don’t. Own. Me. Anymore.” 

Xilä turned to walk away but her father was faster. 

His hand shot out and clamped her wrist in a vice-like hold, bodily moving her so that his towering frame blocked her from prying eyes. 

“You little bitch,” he seethed. “Did I say you could walk away?”

“N-no,” she stuttered, nervous by his proximity, frantic eyes trying to see around him. “I’m late for my lesson, father. May I please leave?” she pleaded, desperately trying to do damage control- she knew what he was capable of.  

His grip tightened causing her to wince in pain. “We haven’t finished our conversion. What the fuck kind of lessons are they teaching you?” 

“Please, let me go,” she begged, trying to get him to loosen his hold. 

“You think just because they teach you to wield a bow or jump off a cliff and breathe the spirit of Eywa or what ever fuck they call it, you what? You think you’re tough shit now? I am your fucking father, I will not be disrespected.”

Mustering her strength, she shot him a loathsome glare. “You are hurting me. Let. Go.” she hissed through clenched teeth. 

“Little girl, you are testing my patience. I see I’m going to have to break you all over again.” She cried out when her wrist was twisted. 

Laughter from nearby seemed to have reminded T'shteyo that they were out in the open. With a cynical grin and one last bruising squeeze, he roughly shoved her away from him, dropping his hold in the process. 

She stumbled and scrambled to back away, trying to create much needed distance. 

“I shouldn’t have let you have your fun it seems. You’re changing Xilä. I don’t like it. It doesn’t suit you.” 

“I think it suits me fine,” she said through quivering lips. Her head spun as she felt her body begin to shut down. 

Xi turned and sprinted when she saw his nose flare at her snide comment. Disorientated, she cradled her burning wrist and headed in the opposite direction of the ikran enclosures- blindly returning right back to her home tent. 

Anxiety was crippling her in the moment. She was completely shaken by her encounter with her father. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but they did not fall.

Damn him. Damn her father. She couldn’t even cry like a normal person half the time. 

When she finally reached the safety of the tent, she flew inside, accidentally giving Salveen a bit of a scare with her abrupt arrival. 

“Oh Great Mother!” the elder chuckled, holding her stitching to her chest, “You gave me a right fright! I thought- Oh…” Salveen’s ramble paused when she finally saw the state Xi was in. 

“Xi. What- what has happened?” she asked, standing wide eyed at the petrified looking girl. 

Xi shook her head, head tilting downward to hide her eyes. “It’s nothing Salveen,” she lied, still cradling her wrist, trying to hide the quickly forming bruise. “I don’t- I don’t feel so well. I think I'll just lay down for a bit,” she choked out, backing away from the approaching elder.

Face marred in extreme concern, Salveen stopped her advancing and nodded, nervously wringing her hands together. “Of course dear, of course....Is there anything I can do? Jxo has already left for the day, so if you’d like to talk about it or I can go get him-” 

Xi shook her head again, looking up with a forced smile. “No thank you. I think resting should be enough.” 

Backing away, she retreated behind the curtain divider, and instantly slumped onto her pile of bedding, hiding under a soft pelt.

A sob finally escaped her as she curled up into a ball.

~

Neteyam unharnessed his ikran and patted his beak affectionately. “It looks like our girl’s not going to show up today,” he told the beast. “Sorry Bud.”

He had been waiting for Xi, like they agreed, for a little over a half hour now and there had been no sign of her. Albeit a bit disappointed, he decided to go find her instead of leaving it be.

“Salveen-,” he said when he entered the tent, stopping short at her uncharacteristic glare. “Uh, is Xi here? She never showed up for our lesson.”

“She didn’t?” the elder questioned, her glare softening.

Turning to frown at the hanging Xilä was hidden behind, she said, “I think something is wrong then. I thought it was your fault. She wouldn’t talk to me, she just came back looking quite ill. I know she’s been nervous about tomorrow- but, but the same thing happened last week….”

Neteyam frowned as he too turned to stare at the hanging blocking his view. 

“You should go talk to her. I will make myself scarce,” she suggested, fumbling to untangle herself from the mess of her latest project as she stood. 

He made no objections, he hated putting her out of her way but he honestly preferred if they had the privacy. 

She patted his shoulder gently. “I’ll stay nearby if you need me,” she soothed, before walking out of the tent. 

Making his way over to Xi, he crouched before her sleeping, curled up position, frowning when he instantly spotted her tear stained cheeks. 

“Xi,” he called softly, tucking her hair behind her ear, tracing down the line of her jaw with his knuckles. 

She stirred and blinked up at him with a slightly puzzled smile, but yet obviously pleased to see him. “Hi, what are you doing here?” she asked in a slightly scratchy voice.

His lip quirked. “I should be asking you that. You never showed up for our lesson. Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asked, caressing her cheek. “Were you crying?”

Blanket falling to her waist as she quickly sat up, a horror struck expression crossed her face. “Neteyam, I am so, so sorry. I don’t- I can’t believe I forgot just like tha-”

“Hey, hey stop Xi. It’s fine. Salveen said you were ill?” His warm palm lifted to her cheek again and down her neck, checking for signs of a fever before his eyes began to scan her body. “Did something ha-” 

Xi followed his gaze and saw that he was staring at her wrist. Yanking her hand back, she tucked it under the soft leather in her lap. 

Neteyam tilted his head dangerously and Xi held her breath as she watched shifting emotions cross his face. 

“What was that?” he asked in eerie calm. 

“Nothing,” she lied foolishly. 

“Then show me that it is nothing.”

Xi swallowed nervously. “It was an accident,” she whispered, avoiding his stare. 

“Eyes, Xilä,” he demanded. 

Meeting his narrowed gaze she bit her lip to hold herself from spewing the truth.

“You’re lying to me,” he said, sounding disappointed. 

Pulling the cloth on her lap backwards, he exposed her hidden hand. He pursed his lips and gently thumbed at the ugly, angry bruise circling her small wrist- it looked painful. 

“These are fucking finger marks, Xilä. A hand made this.” 

Xilä could tell by the strain in his voice he was trying to control his fury. 

“What I want to know is, who’s hand did this?” Neteyam knew- he knew it was her father but he still decided to ask. 

“Neteyam….” she pleaded. “It’s just,” she blew out a frustrated breath. “It’s my fault. I made him angry. My father has this insane idea that we- he first said it the other day when-”

“The other day? When was that?” he frowned, cutting her off. “He spoke to you other times?  Besides today?”

Xi nodded reluctantly. “….The first time was the day with all the Leati drama- nothing happened though!” she assured quickly. “He- he just wanted to talk…..and I was going to tell you, I promise I was!”

“Tell me what happened. Tell me everything.”

“Neteyam-”

“Xilä, please do not try and downplay this right now. I want to know everything that happened between the very first interaction to today when you came home with a fucking mangled looking wrist!” he seethed. “Every look he gave, every word he spoke, every hair on your head he touched!”

She hesitated, swallowing hard as the words evaded her. 

His face softened at her expression. He drew her in for a soft kiss and quiet apology for his sudden temper. Leaning back he gave her an encouraging nudge by linking his pinkie with her index. “Xi, I need to know. Please.”

So she told him.

Everything.

From the uneasy feeling she had felt before her father had first approached her right after her conversation with Leati, to the early morning she was with Jxo- along with all the in between attempts, to that very morning when he had again threatened to take her back to Li’ona, thus ensuing her injured wrist when she stood up to him. 

Neteyam was quiet the entire time she spoke. Not once did he interrupt, he was engaged as he took in every word, every emotion that flashed across her beautiful face. 

“....and it doesn’t matter, because I won’t be going anywhere. I’m staying here- with you. So we can forget the whole thing, alright?” she finished, staring at his blank expression in worry. 

“No baby, the whole thing can’t be forgotten,” he said forebodingly. His mind was distracted now, whirling as he digested everything she had just told him. 

“Why not? Can we just drop it, please?”

“Fuck no!” he shouted, standing at full height. “He hurt you Xilä! He hurt what's mine! I won’t drop it! I fucking warned him! I told him! I- ”

It seemed he couldn’t hold it in any longer- anger blinding him, all he saw was RED.

He was going to kill T'shteyo. 

“No! Wait! Wait ‘Teyam!” She scrambled to stand in his way, blocking him from stalking out of her room. “Please don’t. It’s fine. I’m fine.” 

“But you’re not fucking fine Xi! Look at your wrist! It looks broken! What kind of father does that to his kid? What kind of monster decides to do that to you? You’re- you’re mine.” His voice shook with emotion. This was tearing him up, she realized. “You’re mine, Xi.”

Shaking his head, he tried to push past her but she pressed against his chest, preventing him again. 

“Xilä, move.” His patience was waning. 

“No,” she whispered.

“Xi-”

Surging upward, she cut him off with a kiss which he eagerly returned. He broke them apart after a few seconds and levelled her with a frown. 

“I know what you’re trying to do Xilä. This doesn’t change anything,” he warned. 

“Okay then,” she said simply, staring up at him with those brilliant eyes of hers. 

“Fuck,” he muttered, looking up to the ceiling with his hands on his waist as if praying for resilience. 

He blew out a breath and squinted down at her. “I mean it Xilä, you’re not going to change my mind about this. I’m still going after him.” 

She nodded. “Okay.” 

“Fine.” 

“Fine,” she echoed. 

“Shit.” 

With one last curse he was gripping her neck and bending at the waist to give her a bruising kiss. Using surprising strength, she pushed him backwards, trapping him against one of the tent’s support beams. 

Their kisses turned from frenzied smacks into deep open mouthed needy clashes of tongues and teeth. 

Neteyam tethered his fingers into her hair as he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth.

Xi moaned and raked her fingertips down his smooth chest, pawing at his hard lower abs. Creeping them upwards, she tucked her digits beneath his warrior belt, palms resting flat against his skin. 

She whimpered when a twinge of pain shocked her as her wrist bent at a bad angle, but she ignored it. 

He gently pried her hands out from their hiding spot when she winced in pain again, thumbs gently caressing her wrists as he lifted them to rest on his shoulders instead. 

In an instant he flipped them, crowding her against the beam now. His hand fastened onto her skirt, dragging it far up her thigh. 

Xi whined, breaking their heated kiss. “Why are you so freaking tall? You’re killing my neck, handsome.”

He chuckled against her lips and then before she could blink he all but hauled her up- his large hands gripping her thighs with ease as she automatically wrapped her legs around him.

“Better?” he teased, nipping her top lip, as he tugged on her top, baring one perky breast. 

“Sooo much better,” she hummed, opening up for him to taste her again, toes curling when he pinched and rolled her nipple, hiking her higher to taste the bud too. “Why does it feel so good?” she sighed.

He grinned wickedly against her skin, giving her one last suck before he claimed her lips again- tongues fighting for dominance. 

She gave a little needy whine when his roaming hand got close to where she wanted him- the pulsing heat right between her legs. 

“Oh Eywa,�� she purred, desperately jutting her hips forward. 

“We’re going to have to stop,” he rasped, sounding remorseful as he pulled away.

“What?! No we don’t,” she disagreed, straining to tug his retreeting face back to hers. 

“Sweetheart, I’m not thinking clearly right now and I am telling you if we don’t stop now, I am going to end up fucking you right against this beam,” he said seriously. 

She made a little O with her mouth, shocked by his words. Her eyes glazed over momentarily because that- that didn’t sound like a bad thing to her at all. 

Neteyam huffed a laugh at her expression and gently set her down, keeping her steady when her knees buckled a little. He pressed up against her- twitching, hard and needy as he sank his arousal into her upper stomach. 

Xi’s head tilted upward along the beam behind her head. She gave him a few moments to catch himself, watching as he tried to keep some semblance of control. 

Eyes closed, he took deep calming breaths until he felt steady again. Gold clashing with silver, he gave her a sweet smile.

“I love you,” he whispered. 

“I love you too.”

“I meant what I said you know,” he reminded softly, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

“I know,” she resigned. “But I don’t want you to get hurt. My father is not a good man, Neteyam. I would hate it if anything happened to you because of me.”  

“You would right? You wouldn’t like it if anyone hurt me?” he asked, rubbing her hip. 

“Of course not!”  

“Then you would understand why I feel the way I do, when I see this…right?” He lifted her wrist between them and pressed a feather light kiss to it. The harsh colours of the bruise clashing against her dusty blue skin. 

“You would know how angry I feel…how much it makes me want to hurt the person that did it. Right?”

“Yes,” she whispered. 

“Is there anything else I need to know?” he asked, tracing her kiss swollen bottom lip.

“No, I told you everything.”

He nodded, and leaned down to press their foreheads together. “Xilä. You did nothing wrong, okay? Nothing was your fault. You said you made him angry? So the fuck what? He had no right to hurt you either way. It was wrong. He is wrong. And I hope you know everything he said is bullshit. I hope you know how much you are very much wanted here.” His eyes bore into hers. Words pleading with her to understand him. “You are everything Xilä. Everything. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered, she didn’t know what else to say. She feared she might have just started bawling her eyes out. 

“It’s not broken is it?” he asked worriedly as he checked her wrist over properly. Shame filling him because he should’ve made sure she was okay, first and foremost. 

She sniffled then shook her head. “Most likely just a sprain. I would’ve been in agony if it were broken.” 

“Alright,” he whispered in relief, kissing her wrist once more. 

He lovingly caressed her popped out breast, before pulling up her top to cover it again, then straightened out her screwed up skirt and tried his best to tame her mused hair. 

A hurt look flashed across his face while he did this. “Xi, you lied to me today. I don’t want that for us. I don’t want us to hide things from each other anymore. You and I, we’re…we’re a team, okay? And we’re going to become a permanent team soon.” 

She nodded with a sad frown and tugged him downward to give an apologetic kiss. “I’m sorry,” she breathed against his lips. 

He kissed her mouth one last time, adjusted himself in his loincloth, then stepped back with a pained and annoyed shake of his head. “You can come in, Salveen. I know you’re there.”

Xi, slapped her palm over her mouth, in mortification. How long had the woman been there?

Neteyam rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, sending a prayer for patience. It’s Salveen! Of course he should have known the elder would have eavesdropped.

“Well you two sure took your time,” the elder sassed as she walked in. “I had to leave and come back so many times. I swear you two have no self control- tuh! Ohh my poor darling, come here, let me see you,” she said, fretting over Xi, pulling her in for a motherly hug then examining her injury. 

She tutted. “Oh no no no. Straight to the healers with you. We need to make sure it’s not broken for sure. It is a serious matter and we can not be so careless about these things.”

“It’s not broken,” Xi tried to assure the elder, but she was having none of it. 

SMACK!

“Ow! Salveen?!”

She had slapped Neteyam’s arm with a scowl on her face. “You should have taken her to the healers first thing, boy! But no, you’re too busy sucking off her face. Bah! Come along dear, let’s get you to Tsahìk.”

“Wait!” Xi closed the distance between her and Neteyam once more, hugging him close with her good arm. “You better come back in one piece,” she demanded seriously. She knew for a fact he was not going to simply speak with her father- she was not stupid.

Her brows furrowed when she saw his smile. “I mean it Neteyam Sully. Promise me!” she snapped.

“I promise,” he said earnestly. He cupped her cheek, “I will come back to you in one piece, okay?”

“And……please don’t kill him,” she whispered. 

“Xi-”

“Please.”

~

Tracking down T'shteyo was quite easy. All he had to do was send out one simple call to his unit.

“Who’s got eyes on T'shteyo?”

It was almost too perfect where Xi’s father was located. Neteyam found him in the training ring in the middle of a brutal one and one fight.

Many onlookers lined the fence of the ring, hooting and urging on the fighters. Amongst them were Lo’ak and Spider, who were comfortably lounged on the wooden rails. 

Neteyam observed the fight in interest, noting the way T'shteyo was clearly playing dirty. There was no skill or decorum in his movement. He was all snarls and frantic, tempered punches. The man seemed to have not learned anything during his time here- Jake had said as much. 

One last brutal punch from the Li’ona male sent the warrior to the ground, ending the fight. Giggles and cheers from T'shteyo’s small fangirl club were the only positive calls toward the man, the rest of the crowd was a mix of jeers, boos, hisses and fearful stares of shock.  

Meeting his breaking point by just looking at the man, Neteyam leaped over the fence with ease- rage filling him when thoughts of Xilä’s bruised wrist and petrified face filled his head. 

Fiercely striding the length of the ring, braids whipping with purpose, Neteyam called out, “How about a round, T'shteyo?!”

T'shteyo turned with a sardonic smile. “With you? Gladly!”

Lo’ak and Spider perked up in alarm, both glancing at each other in concern. Lo’ak frowned when spotted the determined glint in Neteyam’s eyes. Something was up. 

The two men circled each other, each bearing matching, murderous glares and snarling fanged teeth. 

T'shteyo attacked first but Neteyam dodge his punch, tail whipping to land a stinging slice across the older man’s stomach. 

Over and over T'shteyo tried to lay one on him, he was turning angrier by the second as Neteyam continued to block and dodge his attacks.

This was good. He was tiring himself out. 

“Enough with the dancing!” he roared. “Is this a fight or not?” 

“I warned you,” Neteyam hissed as they circled each other. “I told you if you went anywhere near her, if you touched her- I told you, I’d hurt you. So I’m cashing in on my promise.”

The man gave him a sadistic grin. “So the bitch went crying to you, huh?”

WHAM! 

Neteyam slammed his fist into T'shteyo’s face who’s head twisted with an audible CRUNCH when his knuckles made contact with the Na’vi’s cheek. 

Cheers and hoots from the crowd echoed around them, but Neteyam tuned them out. 

WHAM!

With another bruising punch, T'shteyo stumbled before charging with an angry roar.

WHACK!

T'shteyo wheezed and hunched over from the blow to his gut but he recovered quickly and managed to surprise the younger Na’vi with a slam of his own. 

Neteyam spat the blood from his mouth, barely recognizing the aching throb of his bottom lip. 

Playing dirty again, the man gave a bloody grin as he pulled out his knife.

The crowd turn frantic and worried at the sight but Neteyam kept his cool.

Using his tail as a whip, he sliced it against T'shteyo’s incoming hand, causing him to drop the weapon as he sent a rib cracking kick to the man’s chest. 

With blinding rage, Neteyam turned ruthless. He flipped T'shteyo to the ground, sending punch after punch. The Li’ona male was at his mercy as he continuously pummelled his fists to his face. 

“Neteyam! Neteyam stop!” 

Two, maybe three sets of arms wrapped around him, trying to yank his feral form off the near unconscious body beneath him. 

“Bro stop!”

“Neteyam! Son, you need to stop!”

Their voices of reason and pleading fell on deaf ears however. He fought against their hold when they held him up- eyes still locked on T'shteyo who was now trying to flee. The man fumbled to stand and scrambled his way over the fence as the crowd parted for him in revulsion. 

With a roar of anger Neteyam fought free from his captors’ clutches. He leaped over the fence to chase after the beast of a man. 

Neteyam tackled him and they wrestled before he quickly gained the upper hand once more. Pressing the tip of his knife against the man’s throat made him freeze up. 

He could almost distantly hear voices of concern and distress- his name falling from muffled lips. But again, he tuned them out.

Bloodshot silver eyes glared up at him. “You must really like her, huh?” he taunted. “All of this because of some brat?” 

The tip of the blade dug deeper. “Don’t you dare fucking call her that!” he hissed. “The only reason you’re still alive right now is because she begged me not to kill you. You don’t deserve her. You treat her like nothing. Why? She is all you have left in the world.” 

“She is nothing!” T'shteyo seethed. “Just like her cowardly bitch of a mother.” 

Neteyam shook his head and released the man from his hold. Standing, he sent a final kick to the man’s ribs causing him to roll over with an agonizing groan, face first into a pile of ikran scat.  

“I’m giving you one week,” Neteyam said. “You pack your shit and leave. Xilä stays.” 

Panting, the hulking man struggled to sit up, wincing in pain. He spat and what looked like a tooth went flying out. Wiping the filth from his face he glared up at Neteyam. “I want two cycles,” he countered. 

“No. You don’t get two months.” 

“Two months and I’ll leave quietly. I’m pretty sure you broke a few of my ribs,” he wheezed pathetically. “I’ll need to recover. Might as well kill me now if you’d send me out like this.”

Neteyam ignored the growing crowd around them as he considered the request. He could feel his brother and father’s eyes boring into his back. 

“Two months,” he agreed coldly. “But you’ll be heavily guarded the entire time. You’re not allowed to roam free. And make no mistake- You remember my three rules about Xilä?”

The man nodded. 

Neteyam walked closer and stooped to his level. He hissed under his breath so no one else could hear his words.

“Same thing goes. Only this time, I won’t just hurt you. This little round we had is nothing in comparison. You so much as step an inch out of line, and I’ll kill you with my bare hands. I’ll rip you limb from limb and enjoy every moment of it. Do you understand me?” 

T'shteyo swayed slightly. He looked pathetic and every bit like his disgusting personality with blood and shit covering his face and chest. 

“Yes,” he reluctantly hissed through a few missing teeth, breathing heavily as he seemed to be in excruciating pain. 

When Neteyam stood he gestured to two warriors. “Take him to the southern tents, get someone to call for a healer. He’s not to be left unattended.” 

“Yes Sir.”

Jake and Lo’ak flanked him as they watched the warriors drag the near unconscious man away. 

“Get the area cleared,” Jake ordered to a nearby high ranker, who quickly turned to scatter the crowd of onlookers. “What did he do?” his father then asked him. 

“He hurt my wife. So I hurt him,” Neteyam said, turning to face them- noting both Spider and Jxo were there also.

The two men glanced at each other. Jxo turned instantly concerned while Jake continued to stare at his son as if seeing him for the first time.

“Xilä-” Jxo started, but Neteyam cut him off. 

“She’s alright, Jxo,” he assured. “Sal took her to the healers. Xi thinks it's a sprained wrist.”

The elder nodded. “I- I’m going to- to,” he stuttered for a moment before turning and walking off quickly without finishing his sentence. 

“If you’re upset about why I didn’t send T'shteyo straight to the healers, it’s because Xi is already there. I didn’t want them bumping into each other,” Neteyam said, misreading his fathers continuous unnerving stare. “I’m going to go myself-”

“No,” his father said, halting his steps. “Lo’ak, Spider, get out of here.”

Both boys sent Neteyam sympathetic and apologetic looks before walking off. He knew they were most likely the reason his father had shown up to stop him from killing the man. He didn’t blame them one bit. Neteyam knew he’d gone overboard. 

“Dad, I need to go see her.”

“Not like this!” he hissed. “You’re still pent up. Sure you’re a bit bruised, but you’ve got her father’s blood on you. Do you really want her to see you like this?”

“No,” he said dejectedly when he glanced down at himself- his head was finally clearing, sane thoughts returning after his blinding haze of anger and rage.

Jake however, was fuming. He was completely baffled by his son’s uncharacteristic behavior. “Neteyam what the hell? You can’t-”

“Dad don’t, alright? That man has been hurting Xilä her entire life. You saw what she was like when she first came here! You know how bad it was!” he yelled. “She is not just Xilä to me anymore. She’s going to be my wife. I love that woman, Sir. I finally understand how you feel about mom- that madding, crippling love, that would make you do anything to keep them from harm's way.”

Jake stayed silent as he watched his son tear up. 

“He hurt her, dad...I couldn’t leave it alone,” he whispered in honest frustration. 

Jake softened at his son's pain. Tugging on his head he pulled him in for a crushing, hug.

“Alright son, it’s alright,” he comforted. “Come on, let’s go get you cleaned up.”

~

Holy ikran scat! Lol...too soon?

Well I mean we had a nice fluffy start and then it sort of spiralled and we finally got to see T'shteyo's ass handed to him by none other than our protective beanstalk Neteyam. *giggles*

Also how about the Leati talk? Too harsh?

As always, lemme know what you think. I love hearing from you all :)

Tags: @jakesullyfatjuicypeen @granddearduck @riatesullironalite @strawberri-blonde @earthling55 @innercreationflower @duckworthbean @gyuventure @btsiguess-kpop @blkmystery @neteswife

If you'd like to be tagged or I forgot you by accident, please let me know.

[poolsidepanic]

Your Number in the Pocket of My Jeans

words: 1,077 | read on ao3

Heather Holloway hasn’t seen anyone from Hawkins in five years, not even her parents. Aside from the weekly phone calls home to assure her mom and dad that she is, in fact, not dead, she’s not even spoken to anyone she knew from that place. She’d wanted a clean split, none of the same faces and drama and misery of that awful place. 

That’s why it comes as such a shock to her when she comes face to face with Chrissy Cunningham in the bread aisle of her local grocery store. 

It’s 10:06 in the evening in the middle of autumn and the darkness outside the window behind her seems to frame Chrissy in the shine of the store’s glaring fluorescents. That sort of light shouldn’t be flattering, but Chrissy manages to defy that, looking cosy and approachable in a soft, off-white sweater and brown fleece leggings. 

For a moment, Heather tries to blink away the mirage, convinced she must be seeing things. Surely, this is just some other short young woman who reminds her of Chrissy… but no. The longer she stares, the more undeniable it becomes. This is, indeed, Chrissy Cunningham, hair tied back in her same characteristic ponytail, staring determinedly at the sliced bread.

At ten at night. In Heather’s local store. Miles away from Hawkins.

What are the chances?

Shaking her head, Heather tries to go back to her own shopping. She’d only come here because she’d found her bread had moulded and she was out of milk, so she had nothing in her apartment for breakfast the next day and that wouldn’t do.

She grabs the first loaf she sees and prepares to scurry away, to escape the uncomfortable impulse to go up and say hi for some reason, when Chrissy seems to materialise right beside her.

“Hi, sorry,” she says, voice sweet and almost too cheerful for the late hour—or it would be if Heather didn't think she sounded sweet like honey with an adorable, shy smile to match that stole her breath from her chest. 

Heather half-expects Chrissy to ask if they know each other or to bring up school, to have recognised Heather just as Heather had recognised Chrissy. But the girl says nothing of the sort. Instead, she raises a loaf of bread for Heather’s inspection.

“Is this seeded?” she asks.

For a moment, Heather only blinks, surprised, before hurrying to reply. Her face flushes at her no-doubt gormless pause.

“Um, yeah,” Heather confirms before adding a belated; “Hi, Chrissy.”

The girl’s face pinches in a confused frown, eyes settling almost uncertainly on Heather’s face. 

“Sorry, do we know each other?”

“Sort of. We both went to Hawkins High. I’m Heather, I was in the grade above you so it makes sense why you don’t recognise me.”

Chrissy’s face flushes slightly pink and Heather finds herself strangely endeared by it. She’s cute. Heather hadn’t known Chrissy well from school, but she sees that her sweetness seems to have followed her here, to this new city, years later.

“Ah,” Chrissy says. “Well, that,” she concedes, “and also that I’m—uh—blind now….”

“Oh, shit,” Heather says, maybe tactlessly, but Chrissy giggles. “I guess that answers why you were asking about the bread.”

“Yep,” Chrissy hums happily. “Eddie will eat anything other than seeded, so it’s just my luck that I grabbed the wrong one. Think you can give me a hand?”

“Sure thing.”

They switch out her seeded loaf for a sliced brown bread that Chrissy confirms would be good in its stead.

“How long have you been in town?” Heather asks when the pair of them linger in the aisle even after both their arms are suitably full of bread.

“Only about a week. Eddie and I just moved into a place nearby.”

“That your boyfriend?”

Chrissy laughs.

“No, no. Eddie and I are just friends. Roomies! We’ve been close since I lost my vision.”

Heather smiles, strangely thankful to hear that.

“And he sent you out grocery shopping alone at this hour? Not exactly gentlemanly.”

“He’s around somewhere,” Chrissy corrects with a dismissive wave.

“Christina!” comes a cheerful voice from at the end of the aisle, startling the pair of them.

“Oh, and there he is,” Chrissy laughs.

Heather takes a step back, realising with a start that she had found herself drawn closer into the other girl’s space. In the gap she creates, Eddie happily joins their little circle.

“So this is what’s been taking you so long, you little flirt! I was wondering where you had gotten to.”

Chrissy’s blush abruptly deepens into a much darker red. 

She ducks her head, looking suddenly embarrassed and uncertain. Heather shouldn’t want to tease her for it and yet part of her does, quite badly. She wants to see just how bold that blush can turn, just how cute Chrissy can become when flustered.

Maybe seeing people from Hawkins around isn’t so bad if they’re as adorable as her.

“I wasn’t flirting!” she protests with a squeak.

Eddie grins mischievously, sending Heather a wink.

“Less fun for your new friend, then. Hopefully she won’t mind if I steal you back, in that case.”

“I think she will,” Heather laughs, shifting her weight to stave off the growing ache in her bones—they had never quite set back right when she reformed in the destruction of the Mind Flayer. 

Two confused expressions swivel to her and she grins back at them, eyes settling teasingly on Chrissy even while unsure how much, if any, of her expression the other can make out.

“Now that I know we could have been flirting this whole time, I think we’d better get to making that right.”

Chrissy’s lips part in a surprised little ‘o’ but she seems pleased by the remark. Her body leans in towards Heather, clearly interested.

“How about it, beautiful?” Heather continues, confident now that her comments will be well received. “Can I give you my number so that you can call me sometime? Maybe I’ll even let you ask me on a date.”

Chrissy giggles, an almost disbelieving sound.

“I think that’s something I can permit,” she says.

The smile on Heather’s face is so wide that it makes her cheeks ache. “Perfect.”

Heather Holloway leaves her local grocery store at 10:29pm with a loaf of bread, a pint of milk, and Chrissy Cunningham’s phone number tucked safely into the back pocket of her jeans.

[sendpseuds]

The people must know: What are your favorite sandwiches???

Ah, sandwiches. What a magical food.

Since you graced us all with a whole dissertation I feel like I owe you the same level of detail, let’s see what we can do here.

While I am not actually vegetarian, I LOVE a veggie sandwich. One of my all time favorites to make at home is seeded rye with hummus on one side and homemade herby cream cheese on the other [usually parsley, green onion, mint, dill, and fresh garlic. Also sometimes this is chèvre instead of cream cheese]. Between the bread we have sliced cucumbers [seasoned with salt, pepper, and lemon juice], big slices of tomato, and arugula [sprouts if I can get my hands on them]. This whole ordeal is fabulous with turkey or bacon if you want more protein, I’ve also done smashed chickpeas in place of the hummus for a heartier option.

Another veggie sandwich I love is from a local bakery and if I knew exactly how they made it I would tell you, but it’s fresh crusty sourdough liberally coated in amazing olive oil, with this incredible carrot purée, thinly sliced fennel, Calabrian chilis, and arugula. So fucking good.

Okay, let’s talk about something less “healthy”

If you’ve ever been to Buffalo, New York [Go Bills] there are TWO sandwiches that I think about all the time.

The first is pretty ubiquitous through western New York: Beef on Weck. This is roast beef, dipped in hot jus, and piled on a kimmelweck roll [basically a Kaiser roll with crunchy sea salt and caraway seeds]. That’s it. Personally, I like to add an almost unadvisable amount of horseradish, but that’s it. It’s perfect.

The second is a true drunken indulgence. The Stinger Hoagie from Jim’s Steakout. If you are unfamiliar with Jim’s, most locations are open until 5am [bars in Buffalo close at 4am. A real drinking town] and the employees can often be seen wearing shirts that say “I see drunk people.” The Stinger Hoagie is their beautiful monster. Cheesesteak meets chicken finger sub. Shaved steak, chicken fingers, fried onions, melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato, Frank’s Red Hot, and Jim’s special sauce. [I am fucking drooling right now, I haven’t had one of these since I was in my twenties.]

When it comes to deli meat, I tend to lean toward turkey, but I want some really soft seeded multigrain bread with crispy Romain and good tomatoes. Thick slices of sharp sharp cheddar, mayonnaise, and Nance’s Sharp and Creamy mustard. I might toss in some cucumber or parsley, maybe apples and bacon if I’m feeling extra, but the specific mustard is very important.

[this isn’t really a sandwich but I’ll often take a big rib of Romaine lettuce and make a little deli boat with turkey, cheese, and Mayo. I’m sure I can blame that on high school, my mother, and all the lovely disordered eating habits I developed as a teen]

Grilled cheese… I’m sort of all over the place with grilled cheese, always experimenting, but for me, the most important thing is using GRATED CHEESE [and to be clear, I mean block cheese that you grate at home, not the pre-grated stuff in the bag, please, this is important, that shit doesn’t melt right] I want the cheese pouring over the sides of the bread, hitting the pan, oozing and bubbling until it’s gold and crispy and perfect.

I’ll give you one fancy grilled cheese: deviled egg grilled cheese. Two hard boiled eggs, whites sliced thin, yolks mixed with mayo, mustard, pepper, paprika, dill. Into the pan goes bread, cheese mixture [gruyere and cheddar, shredded and mixed with a little Mayo and mustard], yolk mixture, sliced whites, more cheese mixture, bread. Done.

This is getting out of control and I haven’t talked about chopped italian sandwiches, or banh mi, or my mom’s famous roast beef and mock Boursin sandwiches, or my obsession with Calabrian chilis [oh! Add those to the mayo on a turkey sandwich], or the time I put an entire meatloaf on an entire loaf of bread and called it a sandwich.

I haven’t even TOUCHED on breakfast sandwiches but if I get into that we’ll be here forever.

So, for now, I’ll cap it there, but there’s plenty of room for a sequel.

Hope that answers your question!

[ladietblonde]

As it should be exceedingly clear, I don’t actually live on a diet consisting only of cigarettes, coffee, and champagne because a) that’s inhuman and b) champagne is so expensive right now and wine is much more affordable on my tiny budget. This less-chic post is my basic Monday-Friday diet (up until a certain point), when I’m not keto or IF or any other totally chic diet plan. I’ll start with my grocery list:

2 avocados, one ripe and one unripe

2 tomatoes

Spinach

12 eggs

1 small loaf of whole wheat bread from a local bakery

2 grapefruits

1 tub of 2% fat plain greek yoghurt

~100g bulk quinoa

an eat-alone cheese (I love Manchego and hard goat cheeses)

a head of cauliflower

From this list I usually do the following:

Breakfast: either poached eggs on toast with spinach and 1/4 of half of an avocado on each slice (need to make it last), or greek yoghurt with seeds and granola and things and half of a grapefruit

Dinner: a fillet of salmon with salad, or roasted cauliflower with quinoa and salad, or a massive warm salad with avocado and quinoa and salmon and basically anything else I have.

Night snack: a few pieces of cheese with a glass of wine.

I seldom eat lunch except when I’m working weekends and I get staff lunch, I spend the majority of my days out of the house and I’m both too lazy to pack lunch and too poor to buy it. If I’m dying I definitely will run home and have a slice of toast or some cheese or something but I’ve been having a later breakfast and early dinner for so long I’m very used to it. These are also just my staple groceries: when I have money I go out and buy massive packages of salmon and cut it into portions to freeze, cans of soup, chia seeds, granola, pasta, etc. to have on hand for variety. Those grocery trips will set me back around $80 because I stock up every few months when I have a particularly large paycheque, but my regular trip gives me enough to supplement my stock-up trips for two weeks on about $35.

My best tip for grocery shopping with minimal money is to just completely avoid the inner aisles, not only are they full with horrendously unhealthy people checking out the processed garbage, but they’re overpriced and unnecessary. Hit the produce, fish/meat counter, bakery, and dairy and you’re done. Low-cal sugarfree fat free bullshit is so unchic, come on who wants to be seen throwing away tons of processed food wrappers when you can exist on a diet that’s almost entirely compostable? The environment is chic, there has to be some way to make up for your leather handbag/shoes/pants.

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Text from Victor’s ASMR - Past Days

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for content not yet released in EN! 🍒

These texts accompany ASMR [Past Days - 昔时]

[ Scenario One ]

Victor: What are you doing? The fragrance has drifted over to me.

MC: I used the unfinished French loaf from a few days ago to make bread pudding. You can tell that it’s delicious just by the smell, can’t you?

Victor: There’s whipping cream in the cupboard. Heat it and add some vanilla seeds.

Victor: Sprinkling some once the pudding is baked will make it taste even better.

MC: I’m almost done with breakfast. Victor, get out of bed quickly...

Victor: I’m already up.

Victor: Unlike a certain dummy, who uses her phone in bed after getting up.

MC: The weather’s really good today, and I feel like going out for a stroll after breakfast.

Victor: I happen to have the same idea.

Victor: The view is pretty good today. Play golf with me.

[ Scenario Two ]

Victor: What are you doing? The fragrance has drifted over to me.

MC: Hehe. I’m making the tapioca pudding I learnt last week~ Just wait and see - I can guarantee a success on my first try.

Victor: Based on your previous successes, you’ve never succeeded in making a new dessert.

Victor: But I won’t deal a blow to your confidence. Otherwise, you might say that I’ve never encouraged your learning process.

MC: I’ve been busying myself for almost an hour. Are you really planning to just eat and not help out?

Victor: I was giving you sufficient space to showcase your independence.

Victor: Wait till I finish responding to an e-mail.

MC: Do you have to go to the office today? I saw that Goldman sent you a very long e-mail last night.

Victor: No need. Goldman was just giving me a report after settling the matter.

Victor: Today, I’m all yours.

[ Scenario Three ]

Victor: What are you doing? The fragrance has drifted over to me.

MC: Who was the one who wanted to eat pudding last night? I’m fulfilling his request.

Victor: Puddings aren’t this fragrant. Did you bake a cake too?

Victor: Add less sugar. Otherwise, you’ll say that you’re fat and refuse to eat meals.

MC: Breakfast is ready. May I know if CEO Victor would like to pair it with any beverages?

Victor: I’m up, wait for me.

Victor: I’ll prepare sago soup for you.

MC: CEO Victor, I have a bold suggestion... let’s skip work for a day!

Victor: Judging by how you secretly shut off my alarm clock, it’s no longer a suggestion but has already been put into practice.

Victor: I don’t have any work plans today, so I’ll leave today to you.

[shepherds-of-haven]

I hope you’re having a great day Lena! I was just wondering if we could have any fluff facts about the shepherds as a whole! Like fun tidbits of how they interact with each other, what some of them do if they have the same day off, does anyone host weekly game nights?? I hope that makes sense! Reading the recent short story on Patreon I love seeing how the characters interact with one another and now I need moreeeeeee🙏

Ooh, great question! I’m feeling curiously tapped dry at the moment, so I’ll probably have to reblog this as more ideas come to me; I’m so happy you’re enjoying the short story, btw!! 💖

Some group dynamic headcanons:

Many of them steal clothes from each other. Briony wears a cute sweater of Shery's (she asked), Ayla gets cold so she just takes one of Red's jackets from a chair (she didn't ask), Chase gives Tallys his scarf one day and Riel corders Trouble a pair of gloves from a fashion line he favors because his old ones are holey and they get into an argument about it... This leads to some recruits mistakenly thinking that the captains are all involved in some sort of mass relationship because they keep walking out of each other's rooms wearing each other's clothes. (The recruits believe a lot of really dumb stuff, if you couldn't tell. They LOVE gossip. It's like a competitive sport in the compound)

There is a weekly card game night, initiated and organized first by Chase, but it grows bigger over time, with snacks, cakes, drinks, and new games being procured! I'd actually say it's more like every ten-fourteen days or so than on any set weekday, and is typically proposed by anyone who senses that they or others need to blow off some steam. They all tend to meet in a private common room and either just chill and play some card games and casually drink and listen to music, or they get LOUD and raucous and play more risque non-card games (like Question or Command/Truth or Dare). The loud nights are more like once a month or bi-monthly, though! They take place in the captains' lounge so dumb recruits don't get to join! It's rare that they're in there all doing the same thing, though: maybe half will be at the table playing card games while others will be broken up into smaller groups, say arm-wrestling in the corner or playing chess at the smaller table or reading, but they're all there! Game nights are almost never held unless everyone is there, which is extraordinarily difficult to schedule, but they all make an effort to make it happen--even those who first had to be dragged into it, like Blade or Riel!

Speaking of chess games, Red and Riel have a standing game where they complete at least four more moves every night that they're around and able to meet up after dinner. Planning their next move helps them both break up the monotony of the day, and it's something they enjoy immensely. However, whenever he gets called away on a mission, Red gets sick with worry that Riel's been cooking up all sorts of schemes while he's been gone, so sometimes on the road he has, like, a schematic that he doodles on trying to anticipate Riel's next move, and it's very nerdy and ramps up in joking Anxiety. Riel, graciously, goes easier on him on nights after he comes back from long trips, though he denies it

Similarly, Blade and Trouble have a standing training session once a week where they just beat the crap out of each other. This is generally where they do the majority of their talking

Briony and Ayla first had an agreement that they would get the other one up if they overslept (Briony tends to be the one who oversleeps while Ayla is better about being up at dawn, but Ayla is really grouchy if she went to bed late and Briony is the only one who can handle her), which morphed into doing runs and sparring together at dawn and having breakfast frequently!

The girls have a standing spa night once a month where they all get together in a room (usually Shery’s) and basically do sleepover stuff and relax and chat and catch up for a few hours. This also sometimes involves showing each other new outfits that they bought that month! Sometimes there are even group baths in the big common bath, but these are rarer because Shery is shy and Tallys doesn’t like sitting in hot water getting pruny

Chase and Trouble drag Red and Halek to go drinking with them around once a month; sometimes Blade is persuaded to go if Trouble can get the drop on him and punch him hard enough to wind him. It’s complicated

Riel and Shery, of course, have tea together once a week! You’re not allowed if you can’t bring a chill vibe (Riel’s rules). Tallys, Lavinet, Halek, and Red are occasional visitors; Briony is allowed on a good day. Blade would be allowed but he has 0 interest

Similarly, Lavinet hosts a weekly brunch, either in a courtyard or at some restaurant in town! Typically it’s a girl thing and Ayla, Briony, and Shery are the most consistent attendees, but Chase has snuck his way in there often, and Riel, Halek, or Red pop up occasionally!

Tallys and Halek cook together! It’s not all that often and doesn’t seem to have any set way of materializing--it just happens somehow--but they both very much enjoy it! Sometimes they cook dinner for the whole group and have a little dinner party that they both secretly get excited for! Sometimes Shery bakes the dessert!

Riel noticed that Tallys has a little garden that she spends time weeding, so he sends gardening tools or special seeds when he thinks she needs them and she leaves baskets of vegetables or vases of flowers in his office. All of this is done without exchanging a word

Chase sporadically teaches Briony acrobatics and things like tightrope walking, just randomly whenever they’re both idle. She teaches him how to gut people with bare fists and also sometimes they paint! 

Caine caught Red grazing in the pantry late one night and now it’s like a Thing where they pass each other in the kitchen and Red sort of just looks the other way re: Caine’s bedtime and what on earth he’s doing up so late and Caine doesn’t tell anybody that Red is just absent-mindedly eating a loaf of bread at 2 AM because he was too busy working to remember to eat dinner. It’ll be like, “there’s some turkey leftover from dinner in the cold box” “oh hey, Caine. thanks. ...so, what’s the news from the midnight watch tonight?” “i’m going to go hunt ghosts on the seventh floor with my friends!” “...okay! have fun!”

Lavinet has a monthly shopping trip where she updates her wardrobe, and it is very common for others to accompany her around the city and just shop while they drop! Common partners are Shery, Briony, Riel, Chase, and once memorably Blade, who didn’t know what he was in for!

Trouble and Ayla are wildly competitive and keep arm-wrestling each other for money; this becomes a bi-weekly sporting event that is eagerly attended and bet upon by third parties

There was ONE group karaoke night. ONE. Most of them got so blackout drunk that they swore to never do it again. Even now, several of them go green whenever they hear a popular bar song (“Don’t Piss Where You Plant Your Flowers”) being sung, especially badly

The game of "telephone" gets really bad in their group. It's like, Shery will say to Briony that she's worried because she thought Riel looked a bit peaky and feverish. Briony will say in passing to Trouble that Riel is getting sick and Shery is worried. Trouble will say to Tallys that Shery is worried sick because Riel is bedridden. Tallys will be mixing herbs and Chase will ask what for and Tallys will reply that Riel is sick, but because she's mixing herbs, Chase will surmise that the sickness must be quite advanced, and will later say, "Damn, have you seen Riel? Seems like he's really sick." Red will interpret this as "I have seen Riel for myself and have determined that he's extremely ill." At least four people will bust into Riel's room, expecting him to be on the verge of death, despite the fact that they saw Riel that morning. Riel will be fine and very annoyed at the intrusion.

They rarely go out as a group to bars and establishments outside of the compound (too chaotic as well as risky, for one thing, and also, recruits don't need to see their superiors like hanging out of bushes and dancing on tabletops drunk out of their minds, and also, "Mages can't drink" (lol)), but when they do deem it a worthy occasion (Trouble's birthday, say), the girls are very punctual when getting ready, and the boys are almost always extremely late due to various shenanigans (Chase forgot that he put a booby trap on Red’s door, covering Red with flour, or a cat somehow slips into Trouble’s room and steals, like, a detonator or an important key, and they have to go chasing it across the city). This has led to the girls coming late on purpose in order to even out their arrival, but mysteriously, this has only led to even later start times, meaning they often don’t get started until like 10 or 11 PM when the most well-intentioned souls meant to be in bed by midnight... that never happens, either!

One such night once led to them ending up on a ridge in the Sun’s Embrace, like a mile outside of the city, in order to watch the sun rise together, because hiking in the dark while blasted out of their minds sounded like a really good idea. They all made it, and the dawn was spectacular, but the moment was ruined when Tallys said softly, “It’s the beginning of a beautiful new day--” punctuated by Trouble abruptly throwing up in a bush and Riel just flat-out passing out

[sincerelyciarra]

A Brief Vegetable Ranking

by someone who doesn’t really like vegetables, and especially not raw ones (the wet kronch is Bad)

🥦🍅🍆🥬🥒🥕🌽🥔🧅🥦🍅🍆🥬🥒🥕🌽🥔

Artichoke: Not really sure what these taste like. Not a fan of spinach and artichoke dip because I can’t get past the idea that something Suspicious is going on in there. I know people eat artichoke hearts but, ngl, seems like a lot of work with little reward. 3/10

Asparagus: Far too expensive for such a little dude. Looks and tastes the most like what I imagine the first branch off a young, spring sapling tastes like. Smells like you did something wrong when you cooked it, even if you did not. If I ever had to make a Scarecrow-Medusa, this is what I would make her hair out of. 2/10

Broccoli: Roasted broccoli is fucking delicious, and I’ll hear nothing to the contrary. Also very good in soup! 10/10

Carrots: Not my favorite. Fine in small amounts, but too much becomes Too Much a lot quicker than you’d expect. Good in curry. Not as good for your eyes or as popular with rabbits as Looney Tunes would have you believe. 5/10

Cauliflower: (Please see, Broccoli.) Bonus points for also coming in purple. 11/10

Celery: Looks and tastes like the color green, but in the worst possible way. When you learned about chlorophyll in the fifth grade, this is the smell you imagined. Gets points back for being delicious in chicken soup, but ultimately not worth the pain of having to dodge around it while you’re eating because. Ew. 3/10

Corn: An objectively superior vegetable in almost all ways. Would eat in every form except as cornbread. 15/10

Cucumbers: Whoever started the idea that adding slices of cucumber to water would make it Crisp and Refreshing is Wrong and A Liar™ and Should Be Punished For Their Crimes. Water is already on thin ice, taste wise, and the addition of cucumber ruins the experience entirely. However, you can place the slices over your eyelids for a little at-home spa day like Ashley Tisdale in HSM 2. 1/10

Eggplant: Full points for inspiring the word Aubergine, which rolls off the tongue in such a delightfully pretentious way. Also, eggplant parmesan is good, maybe? (hearsay, unsourced.) 10/10

Green Beans: A favorite, but only when they come from a can, otherwise they’re too crunchy. (Fresh green beans are acceptable roasted.) 9/10

Lettuce: BIG HATE. All of the bad qualities of celery with none of the good. An evil leaf that sits limply on top of your food, dripping its horrible juices all over everything. My personal hell-food. Irredeemable. Abhorrent. -10,000/10

Onions: I don’t personally fuck with onions, but only a fool would deny how much onions have done for us as a society. Truly the backbone of modern cuisine. Just wish they didn’t look and feel Like That when cooked. 20/10

Peas: Do people still eat peas? Who decided that peas were going to be the Frozen Vegetable Staple™ for multiple generations of americans?? I’m pretty sure I’ve only had peas in chicken pot pie and so-so vegetable soup, and they’re nothing to write home about. Genuinely would not know how to cook them if asked. Points for always being tucked in the back of your freezer for when you need something to ice your knee. 2/10

Potatoes: GOD TIER. Fantastic in all forms. Also, to those of you saying that potatoes don’t count as a vegetable because they’re mostly starch: learn from NASA’s mistakes and stop trying to pluto my boy off the food pyramid. Respect your elders. 100/10.

Spinach: It’s fine I guess?? Feel like it could be doing more for itself. 5/10

Tomatoes: Do Not understand the appeal. Uncomfortably wet and full of seeds. The thought of biting into a cherry tomato and having it squish in my mouth fills me with dread. Delicious in soup (sometimes) but I could and would live without it. 4/10

Zucchini: Someone brought in a loaf of zucchini bread to an elementary school pot luck and I never got over the betrayal. 0/10

[beck-a-leck]

Doug Dylas fluff might be nice I don’t know if they are capable of fluff

Thank you for the prompt!

Those two are almost incapable of fluff, but I managed to squeeze some out of them. Naturally food is involved, and some minor bullying, and bread.

Enjoy!

Ask for some self-indulgent writing prompts!

An unusual aroma greeted Dylas as he stepped into the general store. The strangeness of it nearly stopped him in his tracks. It wasn’t an unfamiliar scent, just not one he’d ever experienced here.

Blossom caught his eye and flashed Dylas a warm smile from behind the counter. “he’s waiting for you upstairs, dear.”

Dylas thanked her, scooted past the customers in line, and let himself through the closed door. As he climbed the stairs, the aroma grew stronger – warm and yeasty. Blossom must have been baking earlier, and the scent was still lingering. Dylas didn’t mind, fresh baked bread was, in his opinion, one of the best smells in the world.

He handled plenty of bread at Porcoline’s but couldn’t recall a time when he’d caught it here. Doug abhorred bread, and Blossom was content to get what she needed for her uses from the loaves that came into the store, supplied by a local bakery.

Dylas turned automatically at the top of the stairs to look into Doug’s room, but paused when he saw the dwarf was not in his usual spot. He found him in the most unusual place, in the kitchen.

Doug was preoccupied with washing up dishes in the sink, he didn’t even notice Dylas was standing there.

Smirking, Dylas crossed his arms. “What are you doing in there?”

Doug yelped, dropping the bowl he had been scrubbing into the sink. He whipped around, shouting an accusation. “You’re early!”

“Well, ‘hello’ to you too.” Dylas stepped into the kitchen. He saw no fresh loaves of bread, and the oven was warm. Doug, however, was wearing a frilly, flour dusted apron. Curious. “That’s a cute look.”

Doug flushed almost as deeply red as his hair as he yanked off the apron. “Just borrowed it from Granny.”

Dylas reached up and brushed a bit of flour from Doug’s hot cheek. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were baking, and breadof all things.”

“S-so what if I am?”

“Well… by your own words, you hate bread. You never eat it.”

“Well, maybe I didn’t make it for myself.”

“Oh, for Blossom then?”

Doug looked away, his silver eyes skirted all around the kitchen when he muttered, “Yeah, sure.” He checked the ticking timer sitting on the countertop. “It’s still got a few minutes left to bake.”

Dylas took the unspoken hint and pulled out a kitchen chair. “So, what possessed you to bake bread of all things?”

Doug rubbed at the back of his head, his cheeks were still a little pink. “Well, I asked Granny to teach me how to cook, ya’know it’s useful to know and I thought it would be nice to be able to cook her dinner once in a while and well… it turns out bread is pretty easy to do, if you stick to the basics and don’t get too fancy.”

“Hm, true.” Bread was one of the first things Porcoline had taught Dylas to bake back when he started helping out around the restaurant. “But rice is also really easy. You didn’t start with that.”

“Well… I tried making risotto and,” Doug grimaced, but laughed. “We kinda had to throw the whole pot out. Granny enlisted me in breadmaking instead. She used to bake her own all the time, but she doesn’t have the strength anymore to knead the dough. Heh, it’s actually kind of fun, even if I don’t eat the stuff.”

Dylas had to agree with a knowing smile. Kneading dough wasa good way to work out some minor frustrations.

The timer rang and Doug jumped to his feet like a fire had been lit underneath him. “These’ll need to cool for a while, you can go ahead and head to my room.”

“Not a chance, I’m going to inspect your handiwork. Can’t have you poising old Blossom on accident.” Dylas shadowed Doug back into the kitchen, keeping his distance, but putting his height to good use to peer over Doug’s shoulders. The dwarf tried to block the baking sheet with his body, but there was no hiding once he set the hot pan on the stove top.

Dylas was… genuinely surprised. Cooking was not Doug’s forte and would never be. He half expected to see lumpy, misshapen loaves, unevenly cooked, probably burnt on the bottom, or very undercooked, at best, just a basic round loaf of bread. Instead, there were half a dozen little loaves, only about the size of his hand, they were perfectly golden-brown, and fish-shaped.

“I think you’ve outdone yourself, Doug.” Dylas leaned closer to inspect them. “You used an egg wash, I see, and sprinkled sesame seeds on top, and…” he took a deep breath. Beneath the wonderful bready scent of the loaves, he caught a hint of herbs and… “Do I smell fish?”

“Yeah, they have a spicy salmon filling.”

“Wow, color me impressed.” Dylas’ ears perked when he realized something. “You… didn’t make these for Blossom, did you?”

Doug’s cheeks went bright red once now. “Uh, no. She’s not much for spicy things. I um… I m-made these for you.”

“Me?” It was Dylas’ turn to blush.

“Yeah, well… you know, I thought you might like them…”

“Well, let’s try one! Get me a plate and knife.”

Doug produced them, holding the plate while Dylas reached for one of the loaved. “Wait, that’s still hot!”

Dylas didn’t even flinch as he picked up the oven-fresh roll and dropped it on the plate. “Kitchen hands.” He said with a laugh, patting Doug on the cheek.

He turned back to the table and sat down once more. He cut the fish roll cleanly in two, releasing an aromatic pocket of steam that smelled of the spices and salmon. While he waited for it to cool, he gave it another examination. “It looks good, smells great.” He cast Doug a suspicious look over the steaming roll. “You sure you’re not just taking credit for Blossom’s work?”

“Of course not! I did everything myself!” Doug sputtered indignantly. “The only thing that came from Blossom is the recipe!”

“All right, all right, I believe you, calm down,” Dylas laughed. He picked up half of the now cooled roll, thought it was still pleasantly warm. “How does it taste?” Dylas asked, eyeing the roll.

“I-I wouldn’t know. I don’t eat the bread.”

“You mean you haven’t even tried your own cooking?” Dylas shook his head and tore the piece of roll in two. He offered one to Doug. “You have to try it. You’ll never become a better cook if you don’t try the food you make.”

“But – ugh – but it’s bread.”

Dylas was insistent. Grumbling, Doug took the piece of roll. “The things I do for you…” Despite his tone, he still smiled.

“You cook it, you eat it.” Dylas shot back. He raised the bread to Doug and added with a smile. “Cheers.”

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP meme from Reddit 4/20/22

“ I grew this crystal from scrap copper and vinegar. It's called copper acetate, and it took 7 months to grow.” “Still makes more sense than religion.” “Wow, it even grew a hair!” “Why the gloves?“ “I don’t think you’re lying. But I still don’t believe you.” “So you specifically took the peanut butter, that got confiscated on the plane, just to use as a dip for the airplane cookies they serve?” “Don't expect perfection from yourself. Just always do better.“ “One manslaughter is another man's laughter.” “How many hours of sleep have you lost to this one?“ “I’m going to be thinking about your missed opportunity while trying to sleep tonight.” “When you get older, a tactical wank is waiting a really long time between wanks so you can save that dick energy for your partner.“ "The way I raised my eyebrows slightly after asking them their favourite type of cheese might have been a little too much. What a useless, stupid motherfucker I actually am. I deserve to die alone." “A girl whistled at me when I had my shirt off during summer when I was 17. I'm still riding that high and I turn 30 this year.“ “Why you feeding the wildlife?“ “That’s a big ass chicken.” “Looks like a big, angry warrior chicken.” “That’s a really well-drawn cat for a kindergartner.” “Who wants a co-worker’s leftover meat anyway?” “This is the future! The apex of sandwich making! Your grand kids will be eating this futuristic Mother of a sandwich!!!” “What is the best strategy for eating this?” “Yeah the bread needs to be convex not concave, give me a Christmas ham covered a layer of bread 1 slice deep, just a fucking sphere.” “I make a sandwich I like to call the triple bacon deluxe where I push a bacon bit into the middle of an unsliced loaf of whole wheat.” “ Must the sapling bear fruit the moment it rises from the earth?” “ I want to fight that fucking asshole that did this.” “ I’m writing this down for my therapist.” “ For a long time now I've had the sense that I just don't belong on this world any more.” “This douchebag knocked up all of my cats.” “ Yeah, if I was a cat I would follow him around.” “ Someone traveled back in time to create this I swear!” "Dude, that's not a dog. I don't even know what the fuck that is." “ The first things our ancestors did was breed the human faces out of dogs to make them more palatable.” “ Yeah, I couldn't eat something with a human face on it either.” “ No such thing as an ugly animal!” “ So that's what Japanese people's private parts are made of!” “ Whatever that is, you’re not supposed to see it!” “ I'll give you two carrots for that.” “A handful of seeds, take it or leave it.” “Is this the future?” “ Potato politics are universal.” “You can't tell where green ends and blue begins - therefore colours don't exist.” “ What a color blind IDIOT” “ Yeah why don't you just see colors, STUPID” “ If I ever need to quit somewhere  I hate, I'm going to microwave butter lovers popcorn and salmon for 50 minutes before i walk out the door.” “ I never liked eating paper towels, but you're saying that if I microwave them, they'll get salty and tasty?” “ Take sex at face value: sticking a slim organ used for urination into a flesh pocket permanently covered in some (varying) amount of bodily fluids between the only 2 waste disposal “openings”.” “ Feel sorry for any innocent bystanders!” “ Not the fluids you expect to get hit by when you see someone laying on train tracks.” “Could someone tell me what breed this kitten is?” "Just shoot it and burn the corpse." “The worry is child kidnapping.” “ A signal is received from space. Scientists spend the whole thing panicking about it and the military goes on alert and there's panic and chaos and then someone deciphers it and it's a recipe for potato salad. Then the potato salad becomes self-aware and a renegade soldier thrown out of his top grade position of chief tough guy is forced to fight the mayonnaise covered menace.”

[paperbagnotes]

Constant groceries list;

Dried fruit or dates, prunes, apricots

Peanut butter powder

Kind or Lara bars

Rice crackers

Yogurt

Honey

Aloe

Andies candies chocolate mints I put them in my freezer for a frozen treat

Citrus (grapefruit, mandarin, orange, lemon)

Fruit (mango, mangosteen, pineapple, apple, banana, coconut, lychee, straw-berries, cherries, avo, melon, grapes, kiwis, plums, pears, papaya, passion fruit, dragon fruit)

Juice concentrate (pomegranate, guava)

Veg (mushrooms, carrot, broccoli, bok choy , Brussels sprouts, asparagus, artichoke, kale, spinach, sprouts, arugula, jackfruit, leeks, cauliflower, eggplant, squash, snow pea shoots/leaves, mustard greens, green beans, beets, bitter melon, okra, lettuce, potato, tomato, tomato paste, pickles, cucumber, zucchini, onion, almost any)

Gelatin

Raw sugar cane

Tapioca startch

Almond flour

Baking soda

Brown sugar

Baby oats

Bagels

Basil seeds

Hemp seeds

Spirulia

Chia

Cocoa powder

Coconut oil

Coconut aminos

Fake butter (flavacol or orville)

powdered cheese or popcorn seasoning

A cheese

(id like to say anything delicious but often it’s just cheap Parmesan, or “creamcheese” “sourcream” or “American” if I have soft pretzels, most of the time it’s probably mozzarella though maybe. the best recent cheese I got to eat wasnt anything crazy just something called sartori espresso cheese by I think the brand? BellaVitano lol, but it was amazing!)

Egg

Nondairy “milk”

Nori sheets & flakes

Imitation :( crab (fillet for occasion)

Olives

Tuna

Tofu

Tea

Herbs (Chaga, maca, kava, camu camu, hypericum, astragalus, gymnema leaf, pinebark, milk thistle, lions Maine, coriolus, cordyceps, silybin, maitake, reishi, cumin, red curry, yellow curry, za’atar, black pepper, basil, garlic, parsley, cilantro, celery salt, chives/shallots, fenugreek, lemon grass, carrot seed, saffron, turmeric, tarragon, paprika, Cayenne, jalapeño powder, habanero flakes, fire oil, olive oil, balsamic, brewers yeast, chaat-tandoori-graham masalas, pumpkin spice, peppermint essential oil, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, other flavor extracts/beverage syrups)

Stonemill Matcha powder or Taoist elixir chai from masala chai co.

Chlorophyll or Udo's oil -not often

Nuts and seeds (poppy, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, cashew, pistachio, pecan, pinenut, hazelnut, walnut, almond, Brazil)

Grains&beans (corn kernels, rice, quinoa, lentils, rice flour or gluttonous wheat flour?, black-white-pinto-mung beans, splitpea, chickpea, edamame)

Cup’ noodle seafood (optional)

Naan bread/tortilla/pita

Pb&J

Loaf

Devils poison optional 🧉🍺🍹🍸🍾🍶🍷🥃☠️

With these ingredients I can snack and make almost all of my comfort foods it really depends on what veg or grain/bean I have.

I gotta go to red apple tomorrow- so this is fresh in my mind. I’ll get one farmers market day off Atleast before I go I hope :] something to look forward too

I’m literally out of 20 things or Atleast half this list rn.. but with a month to two left.... ah - eh. I’m letting most of it run out. I hate losing a cabinet of spice everytime I move.

Ce la vie

[marvel-and-mischief]

Field of Surprises

This is my Secret Santa that I've also combined into a birthday fic for @lilkermit14 Happy Birthday!! I really hope you like this and are having a fantastic 19th birthday!!💓

Title: Field of Surprises Pairing: Pero Tovar x F!Reader Summary: Pero takes reader to a beautiful field of flowers for a birthday picnic, but the pollen has an unusual effect on the two of them Warnings: PLEASE HEED THE WARNINGS!! This is the dirtiest thing I've ever written, SEX POLLEN so dubcon naturally but there is a conversation about consent, p in v heterosexual sex, graphic sexual imagery, swear words, rough sex, hand job, breeding kink if you squint, cockwarming, unprotected sex (but it’s the times) Words: 2884

Your day of birth was particularly special this year as it was the first year you could celebrate it with Pero as your husband. He woke you up with sleepy kisses and passionate lovemaking, before insisting you let him bring you breakfast as you relaxed in bed. It was the perfect start to the morning, being treated as the special woman you were to Pero. 

The rest of the day saw Pero hurrying to take over the chores from you, instead ushering you into the chair in front of the fireplace.

“Let me do that, mi amore,” Pero would whisper and leave you with your feet up on a cushion covered stool as he carried on with whatever you were attempting to do around the house. 

All that relaxing sent you into a peaceful slumber, from which Pero gently woke you up in the early evening.

“Mi amor, wake up for me, I have one more surprise for you this day,” Pero’s fingertips softly tickled the side of your neck whilst he pressed sweet kisses to your forehead. You woke up refreshed and feeling good from your sleep. 

“You have already done so much for me today,” you smiled, stretching out your limbs and standing from your chair. Pero moved to grab your cloak, wrapping it around your shoulders and tying the string at the front for you. 

“Just one more. I took a different route back from market the other day and found a field with these beautiful flowers I have never seen in all my travels,” Pero picked up a wooden basket from the table, and you spied that the napkin on top covered a heaping pile of what you could only assume was food for your trip, “it is not far, we can sit and eat as the sun goes down over the hill. What do you say?”

Your beaming grin was response enough as you leaned over to place a hungry kiss on your husband’s lips. 

“You treat me so well,” you breathed, grin back in place as Pero hurried you through the door.

It didn’t take long to reach the field Pero spoke about. It was off the beaten track, hidden behind overgrown hedges and tall trees at the edge of the forest. The sight of the flowers took your breath away. They seemed to positively glow in the setting sun, shades of oranges and reds and yellows like the flames of a fire. The smaller flowers were around the size of a strawberry, the petals closed up to a sharp point at the top. The larger flowers had bloomed to the size of a round loaf of bread, the petals spread wide to reveal long stamen thick with powder the same color as the flower. 

“It is like walking through a dream, isn’t it?” Pero observed, coming up behind you and resting his chin on your shoulder.

“I have never seen anything like it,” you replied, in awe of your surprise. You could see over the other side of the field was the hill to sit and watch the sun going down over the town, so you took Pero’s free hand in yours and stepped into the field.

The sweet, floral smells hit your nostrils as you walked through, and you found yourself raking your hand along beside you, fingertips sliding over the silky petals and catching on the powder inside. Next to you, you saw Pero was just as enraptured with your surroundings, head tilted down to smell them as he passed by. 

You plucked a flower, heavy and yellow and put it to your nose. It smelled like a sweetbread and was so bright it shone against your skin like a flaming torch. You turned and held it up to Pero’s nose for him to smell, and he replied with a hum and a pleasant smile. 

“This is all so perfect, Pero,” you sighed happily as you came to a patch of grass clear of flowers and saw Pero set down the basket at your feet. 

“Sit, get comfortable,” Pero instructed, and pulled you down next to him on the grass. He leaned into you as you opened the basket, setting down a piece of cloth to place the food upon. 

From your place on the hill you could see the town a little walk away, a few guards were scattered around keeping everyone who had stayed to frequent the taverns in order, others were lighting the torches along the town wall. You could hear the trickling of the river in the distance and birds tweeting in the trees. Otherwise, you were completely alone in the quiet of the prettiest, most peaceful field you had ever seen. 

“Eat, mi esposa,” Pero placed something in your hand whilst you were observing, a broken off piece of cheese on a chunk of cut bread and urged you to eat. As you bit down, you noticed Pero wasn’t eating, instead he was scratching at the back of his neck as though irritated by something. 

“What is wrong?” You asked, concerned by the agitation on Pero’s face. He rolled his shoulders back to try and alleviate the ache and sat up straight, pulling at the collar of his shirt.

“Maybe I’m allergic,” he grumbled, trying to ignore what felt like a thousand insects creeping along his neck. 

“We can leave-“

“No, mi amor, I will feel better when I have eaten,” he insisted through gritted teeth. Now that he really thought about it, it wasn’t an irritation he was feeling but more of a burning heat running along his skin. He felt it travel over his shoulders and down his chest, spreading lower until it reached his cock, making him glance over in your direction.

You were struggling with your own problems as you took the last bite of your food and tried to swallow it over the lump in your throat. You felt yourself getting slick between your legs when you had been staring at Pero’s neck. Of course you often felt attracted to him, his lean body with muscle built from years of wielding a sword, his handsome features, strong body, even the scar across his eye did things to you. But the attraction had never been as strong as this. 

You needed him. Like you needed air to breathe and food in your belly. You felt greedy, for his hungry eyes on you, for his deft fingers to work their magic on your body, for his mouth on your breast and his cock thrust to the hilt until he breached your womb. 

Your mind was a fog of images of all the times Pero had taken you in the heat of passion. You wanted to rip his clothes off with your bare hands and run them all over lean muscle and soft flesh and through silky hair and coarse hair. You needed to taste his skin, his sweat, his cock, his seed. 

You felt yourself growing hot with embarrassment then. You were thinking like a common whore, not that you thought Pero would mind. He enjoyed your confidence in your shared bed, his eyes always lit up with desire when you asked, no demanded, what you wanted from him. He encouraged you. But this seemed inappropriate.

Pero had brought you to this wonderful field to be romantic. To be slow and to show his love, not his lust, for you on your special day. And it made you feel dirty that all you wanted to do was shed him of his clothes and impale yourself on his fat cock. 

“Mi amor, is something wrong?” Pero’s voice was strained from trying to keep himself together for your sake. He saw a distant look in your eyes despite the fact you were staring directly at him. He knew something wasn’t right, and maybe it was the same something he was feeling. That itch that needed scratching, but could only be cured by fucking you senseless in the middle of this field. 

“I don’t… I erm…” words weren’t coming easily to you as you fixated on Pero’s curved lips. You couldn’t hold yourself back and before you knew what you were doing, you had launched yourself into his lap and began licking desperately into his mouth, moaning obscenely at the taste of salty cheese on his tongue and the smell of smoked wood on his skin. 

Pero’s arms pulled you flush against his chest, feeling the swell of your breasts against him. Your hands painfully gripped handfuls of his hair, the sensations making Pero groan from the back of his throat. You could feel his cock, hard and hot against your clothed core and all you could think about was the too many layers between your skin and his. 

You pulled back reluctantly, chest heaving with breathlessness and saw Pero in the exact same state as you. His eyes were cloudy with passion, his jaw tense with restraint as thoughts of ravaging you like a wild animal overwhelmed him. 

“I don’t know what has come over me, mi amor,” Pero’s gravelly voice made you whimper with want, rubbing your core against his cock to feel some kind of friction. His hands held your hips still against his thigh, away from where he wanted you most. Something was happening that he couldn’t explain, and he didn’t want you fucking him where anybody could walk by if you were going to regret it afterwards.

“Listen to me,” Pero growled, waiting for you to make eye contact with him before he continued, “I want you, and you want me, but are you sure you want to do this here?”

His stern tone cleared your head for a moment as you took in your surroundings. The sounds of the town had disappeared to almost nothing, and the sun was setting low enough that nobody would be walking through a field at this time of evening. 

“I want to. I need you Pero, please,” you leaned forward to kiss sloppily down the slope of his neck to a spot beneath his ear that made Pero buck up into you when you sucked there, “fuck me, husband.”

With a moan, Pero ripped at the ties that held your bodice together, pulling it free enough that he could pull down the front of your dress and free your breasts. You gasped as he took the nipple of one breast into his mouth, sucking and nibbling at the pliant skin whilst roughly massaging your other breast. The vibrations from his mouth and the roughness of his calloused hand brought you embarrassingly closer to your first orgasm as you rubbed your clothed crotch against his thigh. With a final cry of his name you shuddered under his touch as a rush of wetness flooded over Pero’s breeches. 

Pero pulled away from you to frantically loosen the front of his breeches and release his aching cock. It sprung up, the tip an angry red like the flowers that surrounded you, and hit his stomach, Pero sighing in relief at the cold air soothing its heat.

“I need it,” was all you could say, eyes trained on the cock you knew so well. You wrapped your hand around it, earning you a hiss from your lover, as you used the precum to aid in pumping up and down, from base to tip. 

That desperation that had been temporarily sated from your release was quickly rising up once more, your breath hitching, your core clenching in need. Pero could see the conflict in your eyes, his own need to feel you around his cock almost overwhelming as he grabbed your hips and moved to hover you over him.

“If we do this, I will not be able to stop myself, mi esposa,” Pero warned, but it was what you wanted, for him to drill into you until all of your senses were Pero and nothing else. You responded by lowering yourself suddenly onto him, a loud cry of relief leaving you as Pero bottomed out in you making him cry out your name. 

Pero pulled you tightly against his chest as he swiftly switched your positions, laying you on the ground to hover above you. You moved your legs to wrap high around his waist, chanting his name urgently. Pero didn’t need telling twice, immediately assuming a rough rhythm that had you clawing at the grass beneath you. You could barely make any sound at all, only silently gasping into the air as you received exactly what your body craved. 

Pero’s face was hid in the crook of your neck and he chased his release, the only thoughts in his mind of you and how warm and tight you felt around him, how he needed to thrust deeper and deeper, to fill you up so much his seed had no choice but to spill out of you, and even then he wanted to fill you more. 

His heart was beating harder than he thought possible, the sound in his ears and the panting of his breaths louder than the sounds you were making. But he knew you were enjoying this just as much as he was when your legs on his back urged him impossibly closer and your fingers dug into the skin of his ass, leaving red and white marks that would be there for many days to come. 

Pero dared to raise his head to see the state of bliss on your face, your bottom lip caught between your teeth, your eyes scrunched closed as you chased another orgasm. He found your wrists and held them above your head, making you look up at him with dark, lustful eyes.

“You fuck me so good, Pero,” you whined, and without breaking the rhythm of his hips Pero bit down on the soft skin of you neck, sucking a bruising kiss there. 

He kept your wrists in a tight grip with one hand, and slipped his other hand between you to find your clit. You cried out when he started rubbing circles just how you like it to bring you closer to the edge.

“Come for me, come and I promise I will fill you up better than I ever have. I will spill so deep inside you, you will feel me for weeks, hermosa,” Pero groaned into your ear, and that was the final straw to have you clenching hard around his cock, arching your back off the ground and whimpering through your release. You saw white behind your eyelids as you shook through the best orgasm of your life. 

Pero continued to rut into you a few more times before one final thrust saw him spilling his seed deep within you whilst biting down on the thick flesh of your shoulder. His body relaxed on top of you whilst he caught his breath. After a few moments he rolled you both over, laying your body on top of his with his cock still seated comfortably inside you. 

You could have fallen asleep like this, mind soft with love, body pliant and deliciously used, Pero surrounding you inside and out. You were completely sated, exhausted in the best way.

“Mi amor, talk to me,” Pero urged, your silence not at all comforting him. 

“I feel wonderful,” you lifted your head and showed him your goofy, tired smile, making him chuckle. 

Pero took the time to sweep the area, the mercenary in him wanting to ensure you were both safe in your surroundings. The field was empty except the two of you, the tall flowers creating an ominous, intimidating sight in the rapid darkening of the sky. It was then Pero frowned and thought of the beginning of the evening and how sudden your attractions had been to one another. 

“I think we should go home and clean up, maybe continue this in the safety of our marriage bed,” Pero whispered, eyeing the flowers suspiciously. 

You hummed in agreement, the promise of more activities encouraging you to pull yourself off Pero’s cock with a soft mewl and make yourself presentable. 

When Pero had packed up the basket and taken your hand he paused to kiss you tenderly, a stark contrast to how rough you had both been moments before.

“I hope your special day has been just that.”

You smiled, a warmth fluttering in your breast as you took in the love in your husband’s eyes.

“It has,” you assured him with a nod. You attempted to lead him back through the field towards your cottage but he stood rooted to the spot.

“No,” Pero tugged you in the opposite direction, “let us go down the hill.”

“That is the long way round,” you said confused, watching as Pero shot a frown towards the beautiful flowers behind you. 

“Trust me, I think it would be wise to stay clear of this field from now on.”

You laughed and shook your head at his quirkiness. Maybe he just wanted more time with you, to prolong this day. 

Now the strangeness of the evening had left, in its place was love and adoration for the man you called your husband, and you saw those same feelings towards you in the soft curve of a smile and the sweet looks he was shooting your way. 

[ajbwasntwriting]

Daughter!Reader x Negan, Reader x Daryl: Chapter 5. Secrets hurt

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Listen I don’t know why I decided to give each chapter an artsy title I just did. Also as anyone following this may have noticed this story isn’t gonna be regularly updated but rather updated when I have something I’m proud enough to post though I am determined to finish this series, just school comes first. I hope you understand.

I’ll only post more chapters if previous chapters get a good reaction so if you enjoy this please heart it, reblog it, and/or reply to it. Interaction inspires.

if you wish to be added to the tag list please dm me. All chapters can be found under the tag AJ’s Negan’s Daughter AU

The winter continued like that. He’d bring you food and you’d give him goods, even visiting multiple times a week. Sometimes he’d tell you about the stuff, holding up a jar of applesauce ‘from The Kingdom. The guy who runs it used to own a tiger’ or loaf of bread ‘the hilltop grows the grain, but Alexandria makes it.’ You would hum and nod along, knowing he was just trying to convince you to come back. Mainly because he’d ask if you wanted to come back with him and you would be ‘grateful but happy where you are’

You had asked him to start making lists so you knew what to find and you always tried your best to deliver. Cloths, blankets, kitchen utensils, baby bottles-

“Baby bottles?” you asked, pointing at the item on the list. He nodded.

“John and his wife are pregnant and we don’t have enough to go around.” He explained from the comfort of your couch, feet up on the table.

“But you have some?” you continued, not believing what you were hearing “You have...children? As in...babies?”

“Yea. I keep telling you we’re building a society.” he laughed at your bewilderment. “You’d fit in gr-” your mind ran as what you knew was coming ‘Here it comes again. No never works with these people. How do I get him to shut up?’

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” you cut him off, smiling. You turned to your kitchen unit, pulling out a large bot, a can of vegetable soup, and salted beef that Daryl had brought that day. “You’ve brought me so much it’ll probably go bad before I can eat it all.”

In that time he had stood up and walked over to the kitchen, now leaning on the counter. His sudden appearance made you hold your breath “When did ‘get out’ become ‘stay for dinner’?” he asked, seemingly amused.

“When you stopped understanding what ‘I don’t wanna be part of your group’ meant.” You retorted, cutting up the salted beef with a dedicated kitchen knife. “Are you staying or not?” you turned to him, stopping your cuts for the moment. He nodded with a shallow ‘yeah’, making you smile then go back to cutting. You poured the meat and soup into the pot, placing the lid on top. “Some snow on top to water it down and we’ll be sleeping with full stomachs tonight.”

You had him carry some bowls and a ladle up to the roof. Within an hour the fire outside was lit and the food was cooked atop four bricks you were lucky enough to be able to upgrade your cooking fire with, the old lamp now repurposed into a weapon. There was no conversation but you didn’t feel like you needed it. The wind was calm, letting Daryl look out over the city. “Do you know where the museum is?” He asked while you were stirring the soup.

“A couple of blocks down,” you called back. “Why?”

“Me and a few others are planning on raiding it in the summer” he answered, not turning back to you.

That’s when you realised something. You had heard about all these friends. Carol, Michone, Saddiq, Rosita, Eugene, Henry, Ezekiel, Lauren. He’d mentioned them in passing, saying how they made something he brought you or appreciated something you brought him. Yet he always came alone. It would’ve made more sense if Rick was doing these deliveries, you’d met him before the winter. Sure you stitched up his leg.

The two of you were sitting in front of the fire as it fizzled out when curiosity got the better of you. You swallowed the food in your mouth.

“Why are you always here alone?” you asked, he looked up at you from the other side of the fire. “It makes more sense to have people watching your back but for the past month or so you’ve been visiting me on your own. Why?”

“That’s how it is” he scoffed between mouthfuls.

“That’s how what is?” you snapped.

“You’re allowed to be all secretive but I’m meant to have my cards on the table.” he cut back. You thought it over a second, then went back to eating. You both finished up as the fire mellowed, taking your leave back inside. You carried the pot while he held the bowls. Back in your unit, you piled the dishes into the sink.

“I should get going,” he said, going to pick up his back.

“Y/N!” you nearly yelled. “My name is Y/N,” He looked back at you incredulously. A tense silence fell over you both “Before this,” you waved your hand to motion to the apartment “I was with a few people...including my father. We managed to secure a building, kept the walkers out but after some time new people arrived and a few of them got...Protective, I guess. Including my old man.” You crossed your arms and leant against the sink, the floor now far more interesting than the man in your apartment. “People died keeping me safe when they didn’t need to, all ‘cause my old man refused to let me help, but we were still bringing in new people but not everyone was helping, either cause they weren’t allowed to or didn’t want to. That caused anger to boil in the group and then...more people died.” Thinking back on the Sanctuary tears began to flow, but your voice didn’t shake and your body stayed firm. “I ran away and I’ve been hiding ever since ‘cause I know they’ll kill me if I’m found.” You finally looked back at Daryl who had been hanging on to your every word. You wiped away your tears. “You said I can’t be secretive, well there it is.”

“I didn’t mean-”

“You don’t wanna go home” you cut him off. “You don’t like where you rest your head, that’s why you’ve been spending more and more time out here with me. I get it.” you pushed off the sink, leaning under it to pick up a jug of water to do the dishes with. “You can leave or you can stay the night. I don’t mind.”

You turned your back on him to focus on the dishes. He picked up his things and left without another word. ‘That’s it’ you thought as you scrubbed the pot, now getting more aggressive with it, ‘you fucked up Y/N.’

The following morning you woke up, opened your bedroom door, and saw a familiar red-neck on your couch. You couldn’t stop the smile that plastered your face, but you did grab some clothes from your closet then went back to your room to dress. This time when you left he was up. “‘Morning” he croaked as he stretched. “This couch was a lot comfier the first time.”

Your relationship continued like that for the next while. He’d visit you more regularly, stay for dinner, and usually, he’d stay for the night. You got tired of the complaints about the couch and cleared out the second bedroom. You liked having him visit and were willing to facilitate it. He’d even begun leaving a few things there. Functional stuff like arrows for his bow and fuel for his bike. You found him some clothes and extra blankets, and a bigger bag to carry stuff home.

You didn’t ask why he didn’t want to be with his people. After keeping everything a secret for so long it didn’t feel right, but you could guess. Between your family and your time in the army, you had developed a skill in reading people, a skill you noticed he also had. Maybe that’s why every second didn’t need to be filled with conversation. Though you wish it was so you could know more. He was kind, there was no question of that with everything he did for you without even knowing your name. Though when he came to your apartment he was tense, and he was never happy to leave. This made you think he was going somewhere he didn’t want to be, but he had to be. He always talked so highly of the settlements, trying to get you back there. He must be going someplace else.

The winter passed, your garden began to flourish again, and the walkers thawed. You thought after the winter Daryl would stop visiting but he still showed up. He didn’t come as often for a time, saying he wasn’t gonna make the trip unless he had enough to offer you. You frowned at this “Do come out” you ordered him. “You’ve got people relying on you. Children and everything and I’m able to find stuff in the city you need.”

“I don’t wanna leave you short. Our deal ya know-”

“Screw the deal, Daryl.” you huffed “You’re my friend and I wanna help you”

“Oh we’re friends?” he commented, with a cheeky smirk “Didn’t you try to kill Rick.”

‘So Tara told them’ you thought. “Yes,” you said “In a friendly way.” normally he wouldn’t find that funny, but these past few weeks escaping away to your hide-out had given him a chance to get close to you. “Come and visit me when you can, please? I got nobody else to steal my food.” That afternoon you both search for some last pieces for Daryl, having to go deeper and deeper into the city. You talked about his group’s plan to go to the museum and raid it for seeds and old machinery. You saw first-hand what a crack-shot he was with his crossbow, you whistled as another went down “Not bad bow-boy. How’d you get so good with that?”

“Before all this” you started, walking ahead to pull the arrow out of the dead one. “Me and my brother, Merle, used to move around a lot. We used to hunt sometimes for sport, sometimes for food, but he’d always make it a competition. Decided to learn a quieter weapon so I could beat that son of a bitch.” Another two walkers approached as he spoke. He shot a bolt through one of them while you took the other down with your knife. “After that, he never helped hunting again”

“Sounds like a sore loser” you commented, pulling the arrow out of the walker's head and handing it back to Daryl. He took it and reloaded the bow.

“You have any brothers or sisters?”

“Nah” you shook your head, keeping a lookout while he reloaded. “My old man said I was a miracle baby. Mom was always sick. They thought they’d never have any. I used to hate it but after hearing how Merle left you in a cell while he ran off with your girl, I’m glad.”

“Ahh, he wasn't all that bad,” he commented, walking alongside you.

“No one is as bad as they seem when you know them. At least that’s what my superior officer said”

That evening he couldn’t stay, but he left with a heavy bag and that made you happy. As the evening descended you went back to your unit. The following week would be quiet since Daryl had his big raid coming up. Though you didn’t realise how quiet until you were in the midst of it.

You had scavenged a few things. At this stage, the apartment building had been picked dry but you had a few children’s cloths and some old bandages from first-aid kits that had seen better days. As usual, you had piled everything in Daryl’s room. As usual, you were reading another book. As usual, it failed to entertain you since you’d read it about three times now. As usual, you fell asleep on the couch, not completely though because you heard the front door open.

You sat up sharply. “Dary-”

Thwack

~ Tag List ~

@softsebastian​

[theres-an-impulstor-among-us]

Vaunna my beloved ❤

After your amazing Wels and Hels armorstand scene on my server could I get Wels and Hels story? Please? 👉👈

Oca my beloved ❤️

This is genuinely one of my favourite oneshots I’ve written. I just love the Wels/Hels dynamic so much. 

Also this is technically a sequel to the last one I wrote so go read it here if you like! This one does make sense without it tho

...

  It’s been a few weeks since the server has seen an evil hermit incident, and even though most of the hermits have let down their guard, Welsknight hasn’t. He hasn’t stopped being vigilant since his last encounter with Helsknight. He knows that his evil counterpart is out there somewhere, waiting for another chance to kill him. 

  Wels knows he can’t give him that chance. 

  One morning, while out in the desert, grinding for sand, Wels keeps spotting movement out the corner of his eye but every time he looks, he sees nothing. At first, he thinks it’s just the desert playing tricks on his mind. But his knight training tells him not to be so quick to jump to conclusions. 

  Eventually, he decides to put most of his stuff in a chest and go have a look, just in case. He leaves his valuables in the chest and explores the immediate area, looking carefully for any threats.

  He hears the sound behind him and twists to the side, a split second before a figure appears out of nowhere and attempts to shove him to the ground. 

  Wels jumps back a few steps and raises his diamond pickaxe, realising too late he accidentally brought it instead of his sword. “Helsknight.”

  His evil counterpart grins. “Hey, Welsy. Your face is looking great.”

  Wels’s hand automatically rises to his cheek, where the burn scar from their last encounter still sits. “Thanks. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here for you, of course. It’s time we have another little battle, don’t you think?”

  Normally, Wels wouldn’t hesitate to stay and fight. But he doesn’t have a real weapon and his inventory is practically empty. 

  So he bolts back towards his chest, intending to grab his sword for a proper battle. But then he realises he may be running directly into a trap, so he changes direction.

  However, at that moment, the ground under his feet gives way, sending him tumbling down into the hole below.

  His fall seems to last only a few seconds but it must be far; when he hits the ground, pain explodes through his whole body. He’s fallen very far. 

  A second after he lands, he hears a splash from nearby and glances up. With the sunlight streaming through the hole, he can see a figure emerging from a single source block of water to his left. His heart skips a beat. 

  “You idiot!” Hels snaps, tossing the bucket at the wall. “You triggered the trap too soon! I wasn’t out of the way yet!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry!” Wels’s voice is strained from pain but his anger is unmistakable. “You’re right; I should have been able to avoid the secret trap you set up for me. Dang it. But hey, at least I’m not now stuck in a hole in terrible pain with next to no resources! That sure wouldn’t be ideal!”

  Hels glares at him. “Quit it with the sarcasm. This is all your fault.”

  Wels feels indignance boil inside him but he forces himself not to rise to the bait. His rational mind knows there’s no point arguing with Hels. “Whatever. I’m gonna see if my friends will come save me.”

  He taps out a message to the server asking for help, and within a minute, he gets replies from both Etho and Joe.

  “They’re on their way,” he says. “You may as well relax, cuz we’re not going anywhere ‘til then.”

  Hels huffs and sits down a few blocks away from Wels, crossing his arms irritably. 

  They sit in silence for a long time. The sun crosses the sky above them, marking the end of the morning and the start of the afternoon. 

  After a while, Wels decides to try and be practical. He checks his inventory; all he has on him is his diamond pickaxe, sixteen obsidian, a flint and steel, a single piece of bread, and some seeds. Nothing particularly useful. There aren’t enough blocks to pillar out, and Wels can hardly move while sitting, let alone standing, anyway. He could make a nether portal, but what would be the point? There’s no way he can survive better in the nether than in this pit right now. 

  He glances up. “Hels, do you have-.”

  “I don’t have anything on me, useful or otherwise,” says Hels immediately.

  Wels knows this means he doesn’t have food on him either. He can tell from the pouty expression on Hels’s face that his counterpart is hungry. Even though Wels’s hunger was reduced somewhat by the fall, he decides to be the bigger person. 

 He breaks his loaf of bread in half and offers the bigger part to Hels, who eyes him suspiciously. “What are you doing?”

  Frowning confusedly, Wels replies, “Giving you some bread.”

  “Why?”

  “...because we both need food?”

  “Yeah, so why don’t you just eat it all? You’ll be fuller.”

  “But you won’t have any.” Wels shakes his hand. “Just take it.” 

  Hels continues to scowl at him. “Is it poisoned?”

  Sighing and rolling his eyes, Wels flicks the piece of bread into Hels’s lap and starts slowly eating his own. Out the corner of his eye, he watches Hels carefully inspect the bread before taking a hesitant bite. Finally satisfied that he isn’t being tricked, Hels starts to gobble the bread.

  Wels watches him curiously. “Why would I try to poison you, Hels?”

  Hels shrugs. “We’re enemies, isn’t that what we do? Try to kill each other?”

  “No,” Wels says. “That’s the way YOU see our relationship. I never wanted to be enemies with you, you know.”

  “Really? Wasn’t it you who started all this?”

  “No, you literally turned up out of the blue and dropped me in a hole one day. Then I destroyed you in a rap battle. Remember that?”

  “I remember the hole,” says Hels. “Don’t remember losing any rap battle.”

  “Uh huh.”

  The two fall into silence as they eat. Wels continues to watch Hels, who has already finished his half of the bread. 

  “Can I make an observation?” he asks after a few minutes.

  Hels huffs. “No but you’re gonna do it anyway.”

  “You’re not used to the concept of sharing, are you?”

  “Sharing?” Hels sits up straighter, a possessive look appearing in his eyes. “I don’t share anything! Nothing!”

  “That’s not what I meant,” says Wels. “I meant the concept of people voluntarily sharing things with you.” 

  Hels glares at him for a moment longer, before relaxing visibly. “No. Back in my dimension, it’s every person for themselves. You protect what you’ve got cuz if you don’t, you’re gonna lose it forever, so people hoard their stuff like it’s made of gold. I never got attached to anything cuz I knew it’d probably get snatched away from me sooner or later. I-.” He breaks off as he registers Wels’s expression. “Oh, don’t you dare pity me,” he growls. 

  “I’m not.”

  “Yes you are, you’re looking at me like I’m an abandoned baby dog or something.”

  Wels raises an eyebrow. “Baby dog? You mean a puppy?”

  “Shut up!” Hels growls again and huffily turns away from his counterpart. “I’m not a stupid puppy for you to adopt and train! If I get the opportunity, I WILL kill you. I would gladly leave you here to rot if it meant I could get outta this stupid hole. In fact, the only reason I’m not beating you to death right now is because you’re my best chance of getting out of here alive.”

  A pause follows his words. 

  Eventually, Wels sighs. “Sometimes, it’s so easy to see that you’re all the worst parts of me combined.”

  To his surprise, Hels doesn’t respond. His arms are folded but Wels can’t see his expression, can’t see that his counterpart’s eyes are misted over. 

  Hels is frustrated with himself; Wels has insulted him many times since their first meeting so why did that one little remark hurt him so much? Why has it brought him to tears like this? 

  Maybe it’s because Wels’s remark forced him to remember that he’s not his own person. He wasn’t born organically; he was brought into existence by a combination of Wels and a weird cloning machine. The nature of his “birth” means he isn’t a real person. He’s just a copy of Wels, made up of all the parts of himself that he hates.  

  Maybe that’s all he’ll ever be.

  A soft groan brings Hels out of his thoughts. He glances to the right and sees that Wels’s condition has deteriorated; his skin has rapidly paled and he’s clearly struggling to breathe. 

  As Hels watches, Wels reaches a shaking hand into his inventory and weakly throws an item to Hels, who catches it and turns it over. It’s a flint and steel. 

  Hels glances up in time to see Wels drop some obsidian down beside him as well. “Go, Hels,” he rasps. “Make a portal and go back to the nether.”

  Hels blinks, his mind racing as he tries to figure out the catch. “What are you doing? Why did you give me this?”

  “So you can escape. My friends are coming for me but I’ll probably die before they get here. If you’re still here when they arrive, there’s no telling what they’ll do to you. Just go while you still can.”

  After a moment, Hels narrows his eyes. “Are you tricking me? What’s the catch?”

  “Nothing,” Wels insists weakly. “Just please, go, quickly.”

  “No, seriously. Why are you so insistent I leave?”

  “B-Because…” Wels hesitates, taking in a shaky breath. “Because it’s getting dark and the mobs will be coming soon and I don’t want you to die. If I die, I respawn. You don’t.”

  Hels stares at his counterpart in confusion. “You… don’t want me to die?”

  “Of course not. How many times do we have to-.”

  He breaks off as he tries to stifle a pained cry. The fall damage he took is starting to catch up with him now. 

  The groan of a zombie sounds from nearby. Hels’s eyes widen with fear.

  “Go, Hels!” Wels’s voice cracks. “Please!” 

  Looking deep into his counterpart’s eyes and finding nothing but fear and desperation in them, Hels turns and creates a portal on the very edge of the pit, lighting it up with the flint and steel. 

  He glances back at Wels one final time, before disappearing through the portal.

  Wels closes his eyes, breathing a shallow sigh. His counterpart should be safe; if he’s anything like Wels himself, he knows how to survive on his own. 

  As the mob sounds start to surround him, he feels a calm sense of relief. He knows he’ll respawn back in his bed, and at this moment, he doesn’t care that he’ll lose the items he has on him right now. He just wants the pain to end. 

…

  Hidden safely in the nether, Hels clutches the flint and steel his counterpart gave him. He can’t stop staring at it; it represents the sacrifice Wels made for him. The first time anyone has been willing to lay down their own life for him. He can hardly believe it even happened at all; the concept of loving someone enough to want to protect them even at the cost of their own life is completely foreign. 

  As he’s puzzling this out, a message appears on the communicator he stole from Wels during their last confrontation. A message he knew deep down was coming, but one that still catches him off guard. 

Welsknight was slain by zombie