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multi-fandom-imagines8 · 23 days ago

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A Song of Ice & Shadow

Part 11

Summary: the day everyone dreaded has finally arrived. Facing impossible odds against Hybern, defeat seems inevitable- but nothing could have prepared Y/n for what's about to unfold.

Warnings: Graphic descriptions of violence, injury, blood & gore, character death, trauma, and self-blame.

WC: 6.5 K.

You can read previous chapters here Fictober Challenge

As the sun began to rise, the light hit Y/n’s face, and the soft breeze made strands of her hair fall on her face, causing her to stir. She blinked groggily, bringing a hand up to shield her eyes from the sunlight as she took in her surroundings. She was still outside that village, where she and Azriel watched the stars. Something hard rested beneath her head: a muscled chest. Her heart stuttered in panic Shit!

She looked up, only to meet a set of hazel eyes already locked on her. Azriel’s gaze was steady, his lips curving into a small smile. Y/n quickly rubbed her eyes and sat up, pulling away from his chest, her fingers brushing through her tangled hair.

“Good morning” Azriel greeted softly, his voice warm.

She groaned, rolling her shoulders to work out the stiffness. “Did you get any sleep at all?”.

“I couldn’t” he replied, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. He shifted slightly, flexing his stiff wings.

“Sorry. Did I seriously fall asleep here?” she asked, squinting at him, her expression a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.

“Yes. You slept like a baby” he teased, his eyes soft as they flickered over her sleepy face.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” she frowned, still brushing her hair out of her face.

“You looked so peaceful,” he admitted, his gaze unwavering. “And I know you usually have trouble sleeping at night. I didn;t want to wake you, afraid you wouldn’t fall back asleep.”

“And you stayed sitting like that all night?” She glanced at him, her tone now concerned as she rubbed her temples, half-asleep and not fully processing his words.

“It’s not as bad as you might think” he said, his hand subtly massaging his own shoulder to hide the discomfort.

“Do you enjoy pain that much?” she muttered, narrowing her eyes at him.

Azriel chuckled softly, the sound like a gentle hum. “Only when it comes to you” he half-joked.

Y/n huffed, tilting her head back and closing her eyes briefly. “Funny. How long do we have before we need to leave?”.

“Not long. Everyone should be waking up now” he said, his eyes lingering on her.

She groaned again, burying her face in her hands. “I just want to sleep some more” she muttered, her voice muffled by her palms.

“You can lay your head back, I’ll wake you when everyone is ready” Azriel offered.

“I need to lie down on my soft pillows, no offense to your chest.” SHe flashed him a teasing smile, though her eyes were still heavy with sleep. “Besides, aren’t you tired? If anyone should rest for a few minutes, it’s you. I’ll even offer my lap for your head- it’s at least soft.”

Azriel’s brows lifted, surprised at her playful tone. He was seeing a new side of her- a side she kept hidden for so long. A side she probably wasn’t aware she was showing in her sleepy state.

“I’d like nothing more than to take you up on that offer,” he said, his smile slowly fading. “But I’m afraid if I fall asleep now, I won’t wake up in time for battle.”

“All the more reason you should” she yawned, her words slurred, as she rested her head on her knees.

A soft chuckle escaped him again. His eyes softened, warmth flickering in them as he watched her relaxed state. “You look cute when you wake up in the morning” he said, almost as if he couldn;t stop the words from slipping out.

Y/n peeked at him through half-lidded eyes, her expression deadpan. “The first and last person who called me cute ended up in the infirmary, on the brink of death” she murmured, her lips twitching with a teasing smile. “So, be careful with your next words.”

Azriel chuckled again, but this time there was a flash of something else in his eyes- something deeper, more vulnerable. “Sometimes, I don’t know if you’re joking or telling the truth” he admitted, watching her with a thoughtful look.

“Fuck around and find out” she replued with a sleepy grin.

Something about her in that moment- unguarded, without the usual walls she built around herself- made him pause. The way her guard was down, how her words flowed without caution or restraint, sent a chill through him.

If they had more time, he would've loved nothing more than to sit here, watch her like this for a little longer- ask her the questions he never dared to ask before. He wanted to wrap his shadows around her, to protect her from everything the world would throw their way.

But war was calling. And he didn’t know if he would ever get the chance to see her like this again. Hell, he didn’t know if he’d get to see her at all after today. One thing he knew for certain: if she were in danger, which she likely would be, he’d gladly lay down his life for her. He just hoped if that moment came, she’d forgive him for it.

Cassian was the first to emerge, his usual swagger replaced by a quiet resolve, as he approached his brother and Y/n. There was no snarky comment this time, just a firm nod before he turned his attention to the task ahead. Soon after, Rhys and the others gathered, their expression grim but determined.

As they took to the sky, Cassian immediately started executing the war strategy, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield while he changed captains and formations with swift precision.

The sisters quickly changed into Illyrian leathers, though Elain, finding the tight-fitting attire scandalous, was offered more modest clothing by Viviane. Y/n, on the other hand, embraced the Illyrian leathers, slipping into the black leather pants before throwing on a custom-made black leather coat that resembled a dress. Her lips twitched with satisfaction as she adjusted the coat’s collar- if she was going to fight, she was going to fight in style.

Cassian approached, handing out weapons. He gave Nesta and Y/n each a knife, but Y/n shook her head, refusing. Instead, she asked for a sword, her voice steady.

The group collectively still. Cassian blinked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise, a scoff escaping his lips. “And what are you going to do with a sword? You can’t even fight. I even offered to train you.” His voice had a teasing edge, though a thread of genuine concern was woven into his words.

Y/n squared her shoulders, chin lifting defiantly, eyes narrowing. “You don’t know that. Besides, don’t you need everyone willing to fight on the battlefield?”

Cassian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, warriors who have been trained and know how to fight.”

“Look, we don’t have time to argue.” Her tone turned sharp, her eyes flashing. “I have made up my mind. Feyre and Nesta don’t need me. They can nullify the Cauldron with your High Lord’s second-in-command. I’m not going to sit back and watch people die while I do nothing. I’m going on that battlefield.”

“Y/n, you can’t,” Feyre interjected, her voice soft but laced with worry, her eyes flickering nervously between Rhys and her sister.

“Why?” Y/n jaw clenched as she turned to Feyre. “Because I might die? So can everyone else on the battlefield. So can you.”

Rhys stepped forward, his expression unreadable, though his tone was unyielding. “I forbid it.”

“You’re not my High Lord. I don’t have to listen to you” Y/n shot back, her voice cold.

“If you won’t listen to me, then do it for your sisters. They’ll be worried about you” Rhys replied, his voice quieter now, though his violet eyes bore into hers.

Y/n’s lips curled into a defiant smirk. “Everyone would be worried about you too, so…”

Before the tension could escalate further, Azriel stepped forward. His voice was calm, almost a whisper, but it cut through the heated exchange like a blade. “Y/n, can I talk to you alone for a moment?” Without waiting for a response, he gently took her wrist, his touch warm but firm, and led her toward one of the nearby war tents.

Once inside, she tugged her hand from his grasp, eyes narrowing. “What is it?”

Azriel sighed, his scarred hands flexing at his sides before he crossed his arms over his chest, as if steeling himself. “You being out there would play to our disadvantage. It’s not about whether you can fight or not,” he began, his voice low and controlled, “but if you’re out there, I’ll be distracted- worried about you, My focus won’t be on the fight, and I need to be focused”

Y/n blinked, caught off guard by the admission. “What? Why? And since when do you care?”

Azriel’s expression flickered, his eyes darting away for a split second as if realizing he had said too much. He cleared his throat, trying to recover. “We’d all be worried, focused on you. Me, Cassian, Rhys…You’re my High Lady’s sister. We failed her- you- once, I- we’re not about to make the same mistake twice. It’s better if you go with them. You’re needed more there. When they destroy the Cauldron, someone needs to watch their back.”

His hands moved to his waist, and he unhooked a small blade. He held it out to her, his scarred fingers brushing hers as he placed it in her hand. “Here take this. This is Truth-Teller. It has never failed me once. If someone comes near, use it. It will strike true. It will serve you well.”

Y/n stared down at the blade in her hand, the weight of his words sinking in. Then, she pulled her hand back, her expression hardening once more. “So, after a long discussion with your brothers, you’re allowed to fight while you’re still limping, but I shouldn’t?”

“You make it sound so easy,” he replied, a faint smile ghosting his lips. “I barely managed to convince them. And I won’t be doing any flying today.”

“Good” she muttered, though relief was obvious in her voice. Her eyes flicked over his wings, concern softening her features for a brief moment. She had overheard the argument yesterday, the three Illyrians debating over whether Azriel should fly or not. She was glad they had talked some sense into him.

“I’ll go with them. You don’t have to worry about me- about us,” she added, her voice dropping to a quiet murmur. “I’ll protect my sisters with my life.”

Azriel’s gaze softened, but he said nothing, simply nodding as they exited the tent. Outside, Rhys was giving a rousing speech, his words both inspirational and grounding as he spoke about each of his family members. His tone became lighter when he turned to Feyre’s three sisters, his violet eyes sparkling with warmth.

“We haven’t known each other for long, but I believe you were brought here, into our family, for a reason, too.” His gaze landed on Y/n, and he smirked slightly. “And you, amongst other things, I believe you were brought here to be a pain in my ass, but also to challenge and balance me. Your presence here is appreciated."

Y/n rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Alright, wrap it up. This is becoming too sappy for me.”

Her words brought a ripple of soft laughter from the group, but even as the moment lightened, there was tension underneath it all- a tension that hummed in the air like the calm before the storm.

—

Looking over at the army they faced, Y/n felt her chest tighten as dread curled deep within her. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and for a brief, terrifying moment, it was heard to breathe. They were vastly outnumbered- overwhelmed. A shiver ran down her spine as the sinking feeling settled in her gut. Something was going to go wrong today. She could feel it. Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard, afraid that this might be the day she lost someone she loved.

The five High Lords stood in their designated places, ready for battle, but there was no sign of Tamlin or Beron. The enemy held the high ground, which left them at a disadvantage, and Y/n’s stomach churned uneasily.

Rhys turned to Cassian, his expression sharp. “How long do you think we have?”

Cassian’s jaw clenched, his brows furrowing in deep concern as he surveyed the battlefield. “Worst case scenario? A few hours… before we’re all probably dead.”

Y/n’s breath hitched at Cassian’s grim words, and she fought to keep her fear at bay. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she tried to hold onto some semblance of calm. There was still no word on the Cauldron’s whereabouts, but even when they found it, they would have to go on foot, through the heart of the battlefield, because of the strong wards the King had reinforced.

Cassian led the Illyrian legions into the sky, their powerful wings beating against the wind as Thesan’s Peregryns legion joined them. Y/n watched them rise, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear, her heart pounding faster at the sight of them flying headlong into the fray. Magic erupted on both sides as the shields placed around the armies crumbled under the assault.

With the glamour gone, Y/n’s breath caught as she saw the Bone Carver and Bryaxis at the front lines. Feyre had made a deal with them to fight on their side. The eerie sight of the two immortals, combined with the primal energy they emitted, sent a shiver down Y/n’s spine.

Then, the Weaver appeared- her dark, menacing figure cutting through the battlefield like a shadow of death. This time, it had been Rhys who struck the deal. The air was thick with the sounds of the battle- screams, metal clashing, and the roars of the Weaver, the Bone Carver and Bryaxis shredding soldiers to pieces with terrifying efficiency.

Y/n’s voice was soft, laced with curiosity and fear. “So, that’s what was under the library?” she asked, her eyes flickering to Feyre.

Feyre nodded, her face pale but composed, recalling what Cassian had told her. “Yes. You were drawn to it. If Cassian hadn’t stopped you that day, you would’ve gone down to face it.”

Y/n shook her head slowly, her brow furrowed as she tried to process it. “I didn’t know what it was. I just felt… a tug. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Feyre’s voice dropped to a whisper. “What did it say to you?”

Y/n's lips twitched into a faint, bitter smile. “Nothing important. Just some cryptic shit.”

In a single, fluid motion, Rhys raised his hand, and with a flick of his fingers, hundreds of soldiers were simply…gone. Misted into nothingness. The raw power that radiated from him sent a ripple of awe through Y/n. She leaned closer to Feyre, her voice hushed. “Now I know why they call your mate the most powerful High Lord.”

Rhys, catching her words, smirked at her over his shoulder, his violet eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement despite the grim situation.

Azriel moved next, his face impassive, eyes dark and focused, as his seven siphons flared to life. The raw power he unleashed was almost tangible, the air around him shimmering with the force of his magic. Y/n couldn’t help but glance at him, her heart twisting in her chest. His magic, combined with the sight of him fighting with such unrelenting strength, sent a rush of emotions through her.

The flying legions surged forward, arrows raining down on the enemy. The army below responded in kind, only their arrowheads were made from Faebane. Y/n’s gaze followed the trajectory of each arrow, her breath catching in her throat as she watched Illyrian soldiers fall. The battlefield was a chaotic mess of death and destruction, and it felt like the wat would end before they even got close to the Cauldron.

Then, a horn blared- piercing sound that cut through the chaos. Y/n’s head snapped toward the north as three armies emerged from the horizon. Relief washed over her, though it was tinged with disbelief. Beron and Tamlin had come to their aid, along with a mortal army led by Graysen and Jurian. Eris landed in front of Rhys, his usual haughty demeanor replaced by determination.

He told him the armies awaited orders, but it seemed Beron’s army had already moved, destroying the enemy's wagons full of Faebane and burning everything in their way. Rhys told Feyre to make their move now.

Feyre and her sisters prepared to move out. Before leaving, Y/n stole a glance back at Azriel, her heart heavy with unspoken words. Her lips parted, but whatever she wanted to say lodged in her throat. She closed her mouth again, deciding against it.

The females, cloaked by a glamour and Azriel’s shadows, followed the trail of death left behind by the Weaver, who appeared to have an uncanny ability to smell the Cauldron. As they approached enemy territory, Y/n and Nesta both sucked in a breath at the same time, their bodies tensing, every nerve on edge. They could feel it- the dark, pulsing presence of the Cauldron. It was close.

Seconds later, Rhys and Azriel were there, appearing beside them in a blur of power. Without a word, the two of them cast shields around the army, their magic glowing brightly as it encased their forces. But just as Y/n began to feel the faintest glimmer of hope, Nesta screamed- Cassian’s name tearing from her lips with raw panic.

Cassina rushed toward them, but before he could reach them, the Cauldron’s blast struck the earth. The ground shook violently, a deafening roar filling the air as the impact rippled across the battlefield. Y/n’s knees buckled, and she barely managed to stay upright as she watched in horror. The Illyrian legion dropped dead, their bodies crumpling to the ground in an instant. Even Rhys and Azriel’s shields shattered like glass, leaving them all exposed.

For a heartbeat, everything was still, the silence deafening in the wake of such devastation. But Y/n knew- she knew it wasn’t over. The King was preparing to use the Cauldron again, and this time… they might not survive it. The Carver was gone- wiped away by the blast.

Cassian landed next to Nesta, his chest heaving, thinking she was injured. His breath caught when he realized the truth- she had saved him. His eyes widened for a moment, before guilt and gratitude flickered across his face. But there was no time for words, no time for anything except the gnawing truth: they were losing. Fast.

They needed to get to the Cauldron- urgently, desperately- but Nesta was in no condition to move, her face place, her breath shallow. Elain wasn’t faring much better, vomiting uncontrollably into the grass nearby, her body shaking with the force of it. Y/n’s heart clenched painfully at the sight of them both, feeling utterly helpless. Her fingers twitched, clenching into fists, as if sheer willpower alone could summon her powers. But nothing came.

Feyre’s voice trembled as she asked, “Can we destroy the Cauldron with just me?” Her eyes were wide, flickering with fear and determination.

Y/n stepped forward, squaring her shoulders, trying to muster some strength. “If you need me, I’ll go with you” she said, her voice steady even as her insides churned with doubt. But Amren shook her head. “We can handle it.”

Y/n rose to her feet, surveying the battlefield- her heart sinking at the sight. Death was everywhere, littering the field like a dark, suffocating blanket. Bodies, blood, and broken weapons surrounded them on all sides, and a cold numbness began to creep into her bones. She tried, once again, to call upon her powers, but they remained silent, out of reach. Her lips parted in frustration, her breath ragged, but there was nothing.

Then, another horn sounded. Y/n’s head snapped toward the sound, and her blood ran cold. Hybern’s army was closing in, surrounding them from every direction. There was no escape.

How were they supposed to face all of them when they can’t even handle one army? Y/n thought to herself.

Rhys turned to Azriel, his face grim but composed. “Azriel, you lead the remaining Illyrians on the northern flank.”

Azriel nodded sharply, already preparing to take flight, when Y/n’s voice halted him. “Good luck” she murmured, her eyes fixed on him. Her chest tightened with an inexplicable dread, not knowing if this would be the last time she saw him.

Azriel’s wings unfurled, his face hard with focus, but before he could take to the skies, Y/n called out again, softer this time. “And Azriel?... Be careful. Try not to die.”

She said his name for the first time, and Azriel’s breath hitched, a flicker of surprise lightening his hazel eyes. He stood still for a fraction of a second, as if her words had struck him somewhere deep, but he quickly masked it. He had waited so long to hear his name from her lips, yet this was the worst possible moment to dwell on it. War was raging around them, and the stakes were too high.

He gave her a short nod, then leapt into the sky without looking back. Y/n watched him ascend, her heart aching at the sight of his strained wings- how much effort it took for him to fight despite his injuries, how much he was willing to sacrifice for his family, for his people, for everyone. Her fingers brushed against her lips unconsciously, as if trying to hold onto the moment, the fleeting connection between them before the chaos swallowed them whole.

Rhys’ voice cut through the tense air, commanding Cassian to take the southern flank. As the two Illyrians were about to fly, the sound of a dozen horns echoed across the sky- a triumphant, hopeful sound that lifted the oppressive weight pressing down on Y/n’s chest. Her eyes widened in disbelief as thousands of winged soldiers appeared, their formation tight and disciplined. An armada of ships approached from the eastern horizon, their sails full as they sliced through the waters.

Drakon’s legion had arrived, the Seraphim. And on those ships- thousands of soldiers, Miryam’s people, allies from the old war. Relief surged through Y/n, momentarily easing the dread that had gripped her, The winged male leading them descended next to Rhys, the two exchanging quick, sharp words as they caught up on the situation.

The male informed them of an armada they’d met halfway through their journey- soldiers who he thought were friends of Rhys. And then, he spoke of the last queen, Vassa, who had been betrayed by the other mortal queens. He told the sisters that she was found by a man who called himself the Prince of Merchants. Their father- he was here. Although her relationship with him had deteriorated over the past few years, Y/n still cared about him. She had never forgotten the kindness he had shown her, how he treated and loved her like one of his own daughters. Her eyes flickered to the ships nearing the shore, and there- etched on the side of each one- were the names of his daughters. Her father’s personal ships.

The sight of his fleet brought a lump to her throat, and for a brief moment, the cold exterior she had built over the years cracked. Her lips trembled slightly, but she quickly masked it, steeling herself for what was to come.

As Nesta approached Rhys, she requested to be used as bait, her voice sharp and unwavering. Y/n immediately insisted on going with her, knowing full well that the King harbored a particular hatred for the two of them. Between the power Nesta had stolen from the Cauldron and Y/n’s past deeds- slaughtering his men the last time they were on the battlefield- his fury would be unmatched.

The thought of what he could do to them, though…the chill that ran down Y/n’s spine was enough to make her doubt for a heartbeat. Would he kill them on the spot? Or worse- would he control them? Use their power against those they loved? The second option scared Y/n more than death itself. The idea of being used as a weapon against the people she had sworn to protect sent a fresh wave of terror coursing through her veins.

It was a reckless plan, but it was the only one that offered a chance to destroy the Cauldron. Cassian, ever loyal and protective, volunteered to accompany the sisters, standing by their side without hesitation. He and Rhys debated fiercely for a moment, the tension between them heavy, knowing full well that this could be a death sentence.

The three of them faced a high probability of death, but none of them backed down. Y/n’s gaze hardened, determination burning in her chest, as she glanced at Cassian and Nesta. If this was their fate, they would meet it head-on. Together.

—

Nesta had finally drawn the King’s attention, rallying the power within her. Y/n stood beside her, desperately trying to summon her own powers, her breath shaky and her hands trembling as she reached deep inside herself- nothing. A flicker of panic raced through her, but she shoved it down, focusing on her sister’s power surging next to her.

But before Nesta could strike, the King appeared- materializing out of the shadows with a twisted smile on his face. Beside him, one of his beats loomed, its massive form dark and menacing, claws gleaming in the pale light. The world seemed to narrow in on itself, the sound of the battlefield fading into a suffocating silence as Y/n’s eyes locked onto the sight before her.

The King held a sword to their father’s throat, the blade pressed tightly against his skin. To his right, the beast had its claws wrapped around Y/n’s biological father, gripping him by the throat. One wrong move, and both their throats would be ripped open.

“No” Y/n gasped, a low sob escaping her lips, her voice raw and breaking. Her legs felt like jelly beneath her, and she struggled to stay upright as her worst fear began to unfold right in front of her eyes.

The King’s voice was cruel, his smirk cold and calculating. “You two- do you know how much you’ve cost me? I thought of ways to make you pay. Who knew the answer would fall so neatly into my hands?” He sneered, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight.

“Please” the sisters begged in unison, their voice shaky, but Y/n’s cracked with desperation. “Don’t hurt them” she added, her voice breaking, her heart hammering in her chest. How had her father ended up here? He was supposed to be far away from this- safe. She had sent him a letter, hoping to keep him distant from the battle. But now, here he was, dressed in battle attire, and only one thing standing between him and death was the cruel whim of the King.

The King’s eyes flicked between them, enjoying their agony. “And what will you give me in return?”

“Whatever you want” Y/n replied, her voice shaky but resolute. “Just let them go.”

“Will you give back what you took from me?” the King asked, his tone mocking.

“Yes” Nesta answered without hesitation, her chin lifted defiantly, her voice hard as steel.

The King’s grin widened, his hand tightening on the sword. “Even if I have to carve it out of you?”

Nesta’s face remained cold, but Y/n could see the flicker of fear in her sister’s eyes. “Do whatever you want to me” Y/n whispered, her voice desperate, pleading. “Just let them go, please.”

Their father snarled, his voice filled with defiance despite the blade at his throat. “Don’t you dare lay your filthy hands on my daughters-”

A sickening snap echoed through the air. The King’s hand moved in one swift, merciless motion, snapping their father’s neck like it was nothing. Y/n’s world tilted, the sound reverberating in her mind. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumbled to the ground, her knees hitting the dirt. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and tears blurred her vision as she stared at her father’s lifeless body, his eyes open, but vacant- gone.

A choked osb ripped from her throat as she reached out, but he was too far away. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and she knelt there, frozen, as the weight of what had just happened pressed on her chest, suffocating her.

“Wait until you see what I have planned for your real father” the King continued, his voice dripping with malice. “You’ve caused me so much trouble, and I am going to make you suffer for it.” He gestured to the beast holding her biological father. “Keep him alive until the end.”

Nesta stood still, her face a blank mask, but Y/n could see it- the devastation in her sister’s eyes. The spark of her power died out, leaving her hollow. Cassian, in a desperate attempt to protect her, launched himself at the King, his body moving like a whirlwind of rage.

But Y/n remained frozen, her body refusing to move, no matter how much she begged it to. Her limbs felt like lead, her eyes fixed on her father’s body- his lifeless form burned into her mind. She had always feared this moment, the helplessness of standing by as someone she loved was taken from her.

Her biological father’s voice broke through the fog of her mind, weak and strained. “I’m sorry, Y/n.”

Y/n turned slightly to face him, her voice barely a whisper, breaking as she spoke. “Why are you here? Why didn’t you stay away?”

“I came for you. I had to. There’s something important I have to tell you and I need you to listen carefully” he croaked, his voice trembling. “If I don’t make it, there’s a letter…in my pocket. Take it.��

“No- don’t say that. You’ll make it. I’m sorry- I’m so sorry- I-” Her words tumbled out, frantic, broken, when suddenly Cassina’s scream tore through the air.

Y/n whipped her head around, and her heart stopped. Cassian was on the ground, his wings shattered, bones protruding from his thigh, his siphons flickering weakly. The world tilted again, nausea rising in her throat as the scene unfolded before her.

“Stop!” Nesta screamed, her voice raw with anguish as she rushed toward Cassian, her power exploding around her. But the King was faster. He stepped on Cassian;s wings, grinding his boot into them with cruel force. Bones cracked under the pressure, and Cassian’s scream was nothing short of agony.

Nesta’s power surged, but the King winnowed away, leaving her helpless. She crawled to Cassian, her hands trembling as she reached for his sword, even as he begged her to run. Tears streaked her face, but she ignored them, her focus entirely on protecting him.

She faced the King again, her grip on sword tight, but in a single motion, he disarmed her. His hand struck her across the face with such force that Nesta crumpled to the ground, her body trembling with the effort of trying to get up. She managed to strike him with her power, one blow after the other, but it wasn’t enough. Cassian was too heavy to lift, and the King was closing in.

Y/n watched, frozen, her body paralyzed with rage and fear. But as the King approached Nesta, who was covering Cassian’s body with her own, Y/n’s fury boiled over. Her vision tunneled as she grabbed the sword from the ground, her heart pounding with a singular, blinding rage. She strode toward him, her eyes blazing with hatred.

Before she could reach him, the King’s magic lashed out, flinging her across the ground. Her body slammed into the ground, pain radiating from every bone. She struggled to rise, but the King was already there, picking up the sword and driving it deep into her gut.

The pain was immediate, white-hot and all-consuming. Blood splattered from her mouth, and heer vision blurred as she crumpled forward, her hands clutching her stomach in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. Her body trembled violently as life slowly drained from her.

Nesta watched, helpless as her own power drained out.

Slowly, with trembling hands, Y/n reached for Truth-Teller, pulling it from her waist. Her breath was ragged, her hands shaking as the King leaned down, driving the sword deeper into her body. She managed to strike him with the dagger, the blade sinking into his thigh.

The King groaned in pain, staggering back for a moment. Blood oozed from the wound, darkening his already blackened armor. He yanked the blade free with a growl, tossing it aside as if it were an annoyance rather than a mortal threat. His eyes, filled with cruel amusement, locked on hers.

“You are troublesome” he hissed, his voice like poison. A dark smirk curled his lips. “Bring him here” he ordered his beast, pointing to her biological father. The creature complied, dragging the man closer with brutal efficiency.

“Now” the King sneered, “you’re going to watch as I order your father’s execution, right before your eyes.” He laughed, a horrible sound that echoed in her ears, sending chills down her spine.

Y/n’s heart raced, her mind filled with a flood of memories. Images from her past rushed in, the death of someone she loved, the helplessness she felt as she watched life slip away from them. She had buried those memories deep, hiding them from the light, but now they all came crashing back- unstoppable. No. This couldn’t be happening again. She had powers now. She could do something. If they would just…

“I love you” her father said softly, his voice breaking. Then- a horrible, wet sound tore through the air. Warm liquid splattered onto her face- his blood.

“NO!” Y/n screamed, the sound ripping through her throat, raw and agonized. Her vision blurred as a single tear rolled down her cheek. The grief, the rage, the fear all melded into one. Her body trembled uncontrollably as something deep within her snapped.

A surge of power exploded from her, wild and untamed. The sky, once clear, darkened in an instant. Thunder rumbled ominously, and the air crackled with electricity. Lightning split the sky, striking the beast that held her father, killing it in a blinding flash of light

Another bolt hit the King, knocking him back and causing the ground to tremble. The storm was hers, born from the depth of her anguish.

The battlefield erupted in chaos as the thunderstorm raged. Bolts of lightning struck indiscriminately, the sheer force of it tearing apart the ground. Soldiers screamed, both friend and foe, as the storm ripped through them. And yet, even with all this power, it was too late.

Y/n’s breath came in short, ragged bursts as she realized it. Too late. Tears mixed with the blood on her face, and her chest heaved, her body trembling from the overwhelming torrent of emotions that coursed through her. She had all this power, and still, she had been helpless. She couldn;t save her father- either of them.

The Cauldron, not far away, cracked under the weight of her power, but she didn;t care. She couldn’t feel triumph, couldn’t feel anything but the hollow ache of loss. She let it all go- all the emotions she had bottled up for so long: the rage, the pain, the fear, the hatred. She let it flood out of her, her magic draining from her until she was barely conscious, her vision fading in and out.

As the storm died down, the King, now recovered, approached her. His twisted grin returned, though his steps were slower, his body weakened from the damage. He crouched down, lifting her chin with one finger. “Beautiful” he said, his voice low and vile. His eyes glittered with twisted admiration. “I might yet have a use for you.”

Before he could say more, a strangled, choking sound erupted from him. His body jerked violently, and his grip on Y/n faltered. Elain stood behind him, her face pale but her eyes burning with fierce determination. She had taken up Azriel’s blade and shoved it into the back of the King’s neck with unflinching precision.

“Don’t touch my sister” Elain said, her voice trembling with anger, but steady in its resolve.

The King collapsed to his knees, his hand flailing as he tried to reach the knife embedded in his neck. His eyes widened in shock, blood gurgling from his mouth. Y/n, struggling to get to her feet, pushed herself up with whatever strength she had left. Pain shot through her body with every movement, but she didn’t stop.

She staggered toward the King, blood dripping from her wounds, her body screaming in agony. Herhand shook violently as she gripped the handle of the blade, twisting it slowly, deliberately further into his throat. She leaned close, her face pale and emotionless, watching as he struggled under her touch.

“I promised I’d be the one to kill you” she whispered, her voice cold, devoid of emotion. “And I keep my promises.”

With one final, brutal motion, she severed his head from his body. His lifeless form crumpled to the ground, and Y/n let the blade fall from her hand. She stood there for a moment, staring down at the body, but feeling…nothing. The world seemed muted, as if it had faded into the background. There was no satisfaction in his death, no sense of triumph. Only the hollow emptiness of loss.

She never would have imagined that she’d lose not one, but two fathers on the same day. That she’d witness their horrible, violent deaths with her own eyes, helpless to save either of them. A numbness crept through her, settling deep into her bones. She had failed them, failed to protect the people she loved the most. Self-hatred gnawed at her, vicious and unforgiving.

With the last of her strength, Y/n crawled to her biological father’s body. His blood soaked the grass, watering the earth beneath him. She rested her head on his arm, her cheek brushing against his cooling skin. Her body shook with exhaustion, her eyelids heavy. Her face had gone pale, her lips a soft shade of blue, and her body felt cold- so cold.

As her vision began to fade, Y/n closed her eyes, her mind sinking into the darkness. She was a failure and all she wanted was to escape the pain, to join them- her fathers- in whatever peace awaited beyond this world. She exhaled one last breath, her body stilling as the coldness consumed her.

Tags: : @st4r-girl-official @judig92 @5onedirection5 @nayaniasworld @blackgirlmagicforever @stained-glass-eyes0708 @slytherintaco @aehllita @nebarious @t0uch-starved-h0e @bravo-delta-eccho @sylvermoon @going-through-shit @latinxbipride @i-am-infinite @azrielrot @fuckingsimp4azriel @theravenphoenix26 @hanatsuki-hime @fantanbietsson @rcarbo1 @weasleymagic @secretsicanthideanymore @spymaster03

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deathbyathousandspiders · 1 year ago

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hello!! ive been scrolling thru ur work and i am instantly obsessed. can i request a meet cute of peter? :( maybe they meet post nwh and she’s like wanda and she’s doing lessons w strange like america chavez 🥹 something like that :D thank u!

do u also happen to have a masterlist? i’d love to read more of ur work ure really amazing! ❤️‍🔥

you’re so sweet!! i just published my masterlist and pinned it :)

but here’s the link too !!

✨masterlist✨.

this is just a quick lil blurb :,) i hope you like it !!

800+.

The chill of winter rushed down your spine, causing a subtle shiver to follow along your goosebumps. You should’ve known that the old ass windows of the Sanctum would be drafty, but the view of New York covered in snow was somehow a sight you couldn’t pull your focus from. It was breathtaking.

Strange trusted you to house–sit the Sanctum Sanctorum while he and Wong went out to visit Kamar–Taj. It was a little day trip for them, so you didn’t mind the task. Besides, it was the least you could do to make it up to Dr. Strange for letting you stay there. You couldn’t exactly remember how you’d lost your family, but alas, it brought you here anyways. You were left lonesome, with powers you could barely summon on command.

He was training you on your telekinesis abilities, and giving you sanctuary from the blistering wind–chill outside. Watching the Sanctum for a few hours felt like a reasonable task for you to take on. You were more than capable of protecting it.

The sound of the doorbell stirred you from your people watching, immediately grounding you from your thoughts while you trekked down the steps. The doorbell rang again just before you got to the large door, opening it with a slight twinge of irritation. All your annoyance melted away when you realized who had disrupted the peaceful afternoon.

A boy, roughly your age, stood on the steps in front of you. He looked at you doe–eyed. Stunned. It seemed like you both anticipated a greeting from different people. His brown eyes pierced your soul, making a mental note to remind you that you had to see them again. His hands dug into the pockets of his winter coat, hesitant to break the silence.

“Is, uh- Is Dr. Strange here?” He asked, voice on the verge of breaking. It almost seemed like he was too scared to hear the answer.

Your head turned into the building, about to call out for the doctor before you realized how much of an idiot you were for forgetting. “Um, no. Sorry, he’s out today.” Your brows creased, feeling a little sympathetic. You weren’t sure why your powers were picking up his energy so adamantly, but his energy was something that drew you in. “Do you want me to deliver a message?”

It seemed like your words carried a weight that only he knew the gravity of. He suddenly seemed lighter. Hopeful. “I, umm.. No, that’s okay.” He turned on his heel, stepping down the steps again. “Thanks anyways–”

“Wait.” You cut him off. You couldn’t figure out why, but you didn’t want him to go. Part of you knew he was more significant than he was leading on. A part of him lived in the barren sanctum walls, and you knew it. “What’s your name?” A small smile touched your lips, “I’ll let him know you stopped by.”

The boy froze dead in his tracks. It was almost like you’d said something wrong. Shit. Doe eyes turned into the stare of a deer in headlights. He didn’t seem to know what to do.

Your brows creased a little more, concernment sewn in the crevasse this time. “Are you okay?” He didn’t reply. He didn’t even move. You weren’t sure why he started malfunctioning, but you knew you had to do something.

“Maybe it’ll help if I tell you my name first?” Even you didn’t sound too sure, but this was better than nothing. You leaned into the doorframe more, trying to present yourself in less of an intimidating way. “I’m Y/N.”

You watched him mimicking the deep breath you took, easing into his posture. He gained some color back, and found his way back to his body. A nervous smile tickled the corners of his mouth with a breathy laugh, awkwardly glancing down at his boots.

“Sorry..” He spoke amid the anxious laugh, scratching the back of his neck. “It’s nice to meet you, Y/N.” His smile grew at the way your name fit with his voice. “I’m, uh.. Peter Parker.” It was like his name was some forbidden tongue. Getting it out seemed to lift the weight stuck on his shoulders though. “My name’s Peter Parker.”

Smiling back at him, you stood upright. “Well, Peter Parker, it’s nice to meet you too.” You sent a reassuring nod in his direction. “I’ll be sure to let the doctor know you stopped by.” Your brow arched at him, unable to shake the grin off your face. “Alright?”

Peter took steps away from the door, but kept his eyes on yours. “Thank you!” He beamed a little. It seemed to be the first light to hit the boy’s eyes in a while. “Happy holidays, Y/N.” He chimed, walking off into the street.

You hollered the same thing back in his direction before shutting the sanctum doors. You couldn’t quite dismiss the odd energy that your powers sensed from Peter, but it wasn’t a negative feeling. In fact, it was fascinating to you. And walking back to the drafty old window you’d been stuck at all day, you realized you wouldn’t be forgetting about Peter Parker anytime soon.

You hoped you’d be lucky enough to see him soon.

#🪷 .゜・ ˗ˏˋ ☾ ´ˎ˗ 𝕭𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐁𝐒.#🕊️ .゜・ ˗ˏˋ ☾ ´ˎ˗ 𝕰𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝕽𝐄𝐐.#marvel imagines #marvel mcu #mcu imagine #mcu peter parker #peter parker imagine #peter parker #peter parker x reader #peter parker blurb #blurb #mcu #imagine #tom holland imagine #tom holland x reader #tom holland

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lostsyren · 2 months ago

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ᯓ★ perfect a gold-digger!sofia concept

{summary: what if sofia’s primary motive was to live the kook life? and what if rafe was her ticket to that dream?}

{a/n: it was fun to characterise sofia in a different way– i personally don’t think she’s a gold digger, so i added a bit of a softer spin to the concept! let me know what you think and what else you’d like to see from her or rafe’s characters!}

˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙ ˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙ ˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙⋆✮⋆˙

𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 He was perfect. Massive house, flashy car, shiny watch– Rafe Cameron, the kook king of the Outer Banks.

Sofia initially admired from afar, it wasn’t hard to after all– Rafe was at the country club almost every day and being the club bartender meant she had front row seats to him. The way all eyes gravitated to his person everytime he entered a room, the hundred dollar bills he’d pull out as tips, the way everyone wanted to be his friend.

Sofia wanted that. Desperately. She’d moved from Mexico to the OBX a few months ago, with barely any money; the money she did have, she used to make a down payment of the small house she’d rented. After that, Sofia quickly learnt the lingo of locals. Kook, Pogue. The Cut, Figure 8. 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚

She was a Pogue and her house was on The Cut.

And the golden, glittering people at the club were Kooks and the sprawling white edifices were all on Figure 8.

Sofia burned with bitterness everytime one of those rich assholes bossed her around at work–

Two beers asap

Are you deaf? I said on the rocks

I’d like my bill today lady

But Rafe was different. He was…nice. He learnt her name– Miss Sofia he’d call her– and he’d always leave a generous tip. It just made Sofia more resolute– she wouldn’t stay a Pogue any longer.

“You going to Rafe’s party tomorrow?” She overheard a group of kook guys chatter at the bar. Her shift was nearly over, the sky dark already, and her body exhausted. But she perked up on hearing this.

“The one over at Tannyhill? Yeah I’m down.”

That night she was leaving work, trying to figure out how she’d get into that party as she headed to her car. But then it was like fate had thrust her towards the answer. There approaching her, way down the parking lot, was no other than Rafe Cameron.

Her heart soared in her chest. This was her chance.

They were moments away from crossing each other, Rafe locking eyes with her, throwing her a small half-smile.

Do it, she screamed at herself.

“Hi,” she greeted with a sweet smile.

“Hey,” he responded. Sofia could tell he was caught off guard but he still remained polite. Aside from when he ordered drinks, the two never talked. This was new territory for the both of them.

“I didn’t see you at the club today?”

“Yeah– I uh had some business to sort out.” Rafe stopped, taking the moment to talk with her.

She nodded enthusiastically, shining her big, bright eyes at him.

“You missed me huh?” He said with a smirk.

She was in.

“Of course, you’re my favourite customer.”

She watched him as he subtly eyed her.

“Well I guess I’ll see you then, bye Rafe.” She turned to walk to her car, her breath caught in her chest.

“Wait, wait. I’m having a party tomorrow at my house.”

She slowly turned around to face him, feigning unawareness, “oh…ok.”

“You should come by– if you’re free that is.”

“Yeah that’d be cool. What’s your address?”

Rafe raised his eyebrow as if he didn’t understand the questions, “Tannyhill?”

Sofia shook her head, to say she still didn’t know.

“Shit sorry, I keep forgetting that you’re not from here. Just give me your number and I’ll text it to you.”

And that’s how Sofia managed to be the girl on Rafe Cameron’s arm. It wasn’t hard to like him– he was charming, funny, not to mention handsome. She thought it’d be harder to get into his bed, after all she was a Pogue, a bartender– she was supposed to be invisible to him. But Rafe was surprisingly down. Desperate even. Like he was trying to distract himself from something.

Sofia’s heart sometimes stirred for the boy. But she reminded herself of what she truly wanted– this. The satin bedsheets, the crystal chandeliers, the ocean view.

She didn’t feel bad, or guilty– both her and Rafe’s ‘relationship’ was transactional. They both took things.

For her it was the fancy dinners he’d take her on and hefty tips he’d slide her at the bar and for him it was…company. Sofia realised Rafe Cameron was actually quite lonely.

So she played the part. It wasn’t hard. There was something vulnerable about Rafe that made her care. But she’d always quash it down knowing how messy feelings would be– she wasn’t loosing out on the lux and glitz of the kook life to something as trivial as heartbreak.

Sofia was currently taking a bath in the claw footed tub in the en-suite of Rafe’s bedroom at Tannyhill. Inhaling softly, eyes closed, she breathed in the lavender scent of the water, her hands skimming the iridescent bubbles on the surface.

It was late and after they’d messed around for a bit, Rafe had run her a bath.

Sofia sighed softly to herself thinking this wouldn’t be possible back home with her single shower with the shit water pressure.

A soft knock on the bathroom door interrupted her clouding thoughts.

“Hmn?” She hummed, blinking open her eyes.

“Can I come in?” Rafe asked, on the other side of the door.

“Yeah.”

He entered, Sofia smiling up at home from the bathtub. He’d gotten changed into some grey sweats and a T-shirt that pulled across his arms. Sofia wouldn’t have minded going for another round.

“What’s up?” She smiled, the water reaching her neck.

“Nothing– just wanted to talk to you about something.”

Her heart dropped into her stomach. Was he ending this? This…situationship?

“Hey, what’s wrong?” She simpered, her eyebrows furrowing in concern.

“That day–” he coughed clearing his throat, “that day on the balcony, after you stayed over, you gave me some advice– do you remember?”

Rafe approached Sofia, sitting on the edge of the bathtub, his body turned to face her. Her eyes trailed down to his fingers, the tips of them skimming the bubbly water.

That day on the balcony– that day he was acting…off. He’d been stressed out, terse. It had worried her.

Sofia nodded slowly, noticing how he avoided eye contact with her. “Yeah, what about it?”

“You really helped me that day…more than you know.” He mumbled.

Sofia lifted her hand out the water, locking her fingers with his, “Rafe– is everything ok?” She was seriously beginning to worry now, the feeling of care, that warm sticky emotion, worming its way inside her heart. When she felt like that she’d forget what this was– she’d forget how Rafe saw her as a fuck buddy, and she’d forget how she saw him as a gold mine. Instead she only saw him and how she wanted to help him feel better.

“Everything is fine. I uh just wanted to say thank you for that.”

She gave him a confused, lopsided smile, “you’re welcome?”

“Here I got something for you.” He let go of her hand, pulling out a small black box from his pocket, and giving it to her to open.

Sofia glanced at the box, then back up at him. He had a stupid smirk plastered across his face, the abashed look from before already faded.

“Rafe– you didn’t have to.” She said, internally thrumming with delight. Her fingers slowly opened the gift, revealing a thread of scintillating diamonds resting on black velvet, like stars in the night sky.

“Dios mio,” she breathed. It was beautiful.

“Here let me put it on you.”

“No don’t– I’m in the bath, I don’t want to ruin it.”

Rafe chuckled lowly, “Sof, they’re diamonds– they don’t get ruined.”

She didn’t even know what to respond to that, so she just grinned widely, letting out an excited laugh.

Rafe took out the spool of sparkles, standing up to walk behind her. He knelt down low, bringing the necklace onto her décolleté, Sofia jolting slightly at how cold it felt. She looked down to see the delicate metal rest prettily on her skin, the water lapping up to graze the diamonds.

“It’s so beautiful, thank you Rafe.” She gushed, turning her neck to face him.

“Don’t mention it,” he whispered into her ear, planting a kiss on her temple, peppering more kissed until he reached her lips. Sofia gasped against his mouth, savouring the sensation of the cold diamonds and his hot fingers trailing her neck.

Her broke the kiss, his eyes roving down her face to her chest, “I’ll let you finish your bath.” Rafe stood up, leaving the room.

Sofia felt conflicted. A diamond necklace? For a piece of advice? It felt like an unfair trade. But she quickly got over it when she saw the way they sparkled under the bathroom lights.

This was the life she wanted. And she would bask in it.

“Hurry up alright? I wanna see the necklace on you up close.” Rafe called from the room.

Sofia laughed, “gonna take my time now!” She called back, sinking into the water, closing her eyes once again.

Perfect. This was perfect.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

#outer banks #rafe and sofia #rafe cameron #sofia outer banks #sofia obx #rafe x sofia #drew starkey #fiona palomo #rafe cameron thoughts #rafe cameron fanfiction #rafe cameron fluff #༊*·˚syren

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attempt-at-fanfic · 7 months ago

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That makes two of us

The sun was coming through the curtains putting a calming light in the room. It however woke up Alex who was none to impressed by it. She stirred awake, the sun annoying her, she turned over and made refuge in the neck of the pilot next to her. Jake was still deep asleep, his arm wrapped around her waist. Alex lay still listening to him breathing and watching his gorgeous face. His face was calm and void of all the arrogance and anxiety it was normally filled with. It was nice seeing him so calm and at peace. He was so beautiful in moments like this.

As if he could sense her watching him, Jake gentle stirred awake. Is eyes still closed he mumbled “Stop staring at me, creep.” She smiled “Not my fault my boyfriend is very pretty.” His eyes opened and Alex got to see the beautiful pools of green and blue. She turned on to her stomach, his arm wrapping tighter around her. She leaned down to him kissing him softly. This was her favourite moments. It was Jake’s too, even though he would ever admit that he enjoy these moments more than the intimate events the night previous that lead up to it. They enjoyed these simple moments together when they could, as their job rarely allowed them.

He then flipped them both over, trapping her under him with his arms at either side of her head, lips still interlocked. He pulled back and looked at her, she looked so beautiful. He then began kissing her neck, trailing along her collar bone up to her ear and along her jaw. He pecked her lips before moving down to her breasts that were begging for attention. He sucked, licked and kissed at them until he got bored and began to move downwards.

Alex was loving every moment of this. She usually did with him. He was the only man she had been with that could make her feel so good so easily. She was in the moment not paying attention to anything other than Jake burying his face in her pussy. She didn’t even hear the sound of her front door opening and slamming shut. Neither of them even heard the sound of Bradley calling for Alex. Not until he was on the stairs did she hear him.

“Fuck, Bradley.” Jake stopped, “Excuse me.” She rolled her eyes “No, Bradley’s here. Fuck. I forgot I said I’d get breakfast with him and dad.” She pushed Jake off her. “Shit” he whisper-yelled. He jumped up desperately trying to getting his underwear and jeans on. Alex had managed to grab a top and pair of jeans to pull on, only to be hit with realisation they left Jakes shirt downstairs. She looked at Jake who seemed to have the same quick realisation after he shoved his jeans on.

“Hey, Alex! Who’s your new male sleepover guest! Better hope Mav knows who he is or he’ll be finding out real soon!” Bradley yelled laughing to himself. He reached the door and, deciding to embarrass her further, he dramatically threw open the door. Only to be meet with Alex dressed and “HANGMAN!” Standing shirtless and with unbuttoned jeans. “WHAT THE HELL?!” Rooster yelled. Alex ushered him outside the room closing the door. Rooster protesting and looking pissed at Jake.

“HANGMAN, ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?!” He yelled at her. “Bradley Bradshaw will you keep your voice down.” She scolded him. “Oh you’re right I’m so sorry for shocking you with upset.” He sarcastically replied. She glared at him. “You’re not dating him.” He said shaking his head. “You can’t.” “Well it’s too late” she replied angrily. Rooster sighed. “But why him?” He complained “Hangman’s the worst.

“Hey!” Yelled Jake from behind the door. Alex rolled your eyes. “How long?” He asked. “6 months” she said avoiding his gaze. “6 MONTHS, I MEAN!!…WHAT!…HAVE YOU TOLD MAV.” “Keep your voice down! And no I haven’t.” She glared at him “And it’s going to stay that why.”

“Fine!” Rooster rolled his eyes. “But you could do so much better.” “No I can’t. I like Jake, just deal with that.” She smirked. He huffed “Fine, I’m not ok with this but I’m not gonna argue cause you’re a stubborn bitch.” She smiled at this. “Good, now go wait outside I’ll be down in a minute.” Rooster walked away. “Fine but if it’s longer than a minute then I’m calling Mav and telling!” She rolled her eyes again. “Man child” she mumbled to herself.

The bedroom door opened to a very shirtless and very attractive Jake. “So no quickie before I go.” He smirked. She sighed at him “No you horny bastard.” She leaned against him “But Rooster isn’t amazing at keeping secrets so we might have to tell my dad.” Jake sighed and then leaned in and kissed her deeply. She fell into him as the kiss got more passionate, before hearing the horn of Bradleys truck, informing them that their minute was up. Alex reluctantly pulled away sighing “I’ll be back later, but I’ll text you.”. He smiled “Ill wait here for you, all alone, in you’re bed…possibly naked.” He smirked. “Damn you Jacob.” She whispered before peaking his lips and walking out. He watched her go, smiling to himself.

“That was three minutes.” Rooster said to her as she got in the car. “Yes and tell me Bradley what we could possible do in three minutes.” She said matter of fact. “Hey, I don’t wanna assume shit.” He said. She laughed then turned to him “All seriousness Bradley. He makes me really happy. I really like him.” Rooster sighed and turned her and smiled. “Good. He better or I’ll kill him. I mean it he hurts you at all I’ll-“ “I know you’ll kill him. He knows to that’s why we haven’t you or dad.” She irrupted with. He smiled and backed out of the car park. “Does explain Bagmans behaviour.” He said. “How do you mean?” She questioned. “Well, looking back I feel like an idiot. He was down bad for you the whole time and I didn’t even notice.”

She smilies “That makes two of us.”

#jake hangman fic #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #jake seresin smut #jake seresin x mitchell!reader #jake seresin x reader #Jake seresin x OC #hangman x oc #hangman x reader

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lemoncrushh · 4 months ago

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Too Far From Texas | Chapter Twenty

STORY PAGE

Word Count: 5805

I woke up with my head still on Harry’s chest. I’d fallen asleep like that after we’d made love. His hand rested on the small of my back while his breath whispered across my forehead and through my hair. He always looked so peaceful when he slept. I had no doubt his dreams were always good ones, nothing like the ones that tormented my brain.

But once again, I hadn’t awakened from a dream. My skin was still on fire from his touch, my core still aching from the orgasm he’d drawn out of me. The pink negligee he’d given me lay on the floor next to the chair where he’d made me come first before moving me to the bed. I immediately felt my thigh twitch, my center moist from the memory of how he’d made me feel just hours before. I needed him again.

I kissed his chest lightly, not wanting to startle him. I began to leave a trail from the little patch of hair down to his butterfly tattoo. I felt him stir when my hand slid down his side and I reached his belly button. His perfect penis lay waiting for me, not yet fully hard. I watched it twitch against his stomach as I ran my hands up his thighs and blew a gentle breath of air across his balls. He moaned then, a deep gravelly sound somewhere between frustration and exhaustion. Then I kissed his thighs, his balls and the base of his shaft, making him rustle under the sheets and call out in wonder.

“Wha-”

“It’s just me, baby love,” I explained softly as I took his penis in my hand and began to stroke it.

He moaned again, throwing his arm over his eyes. I licked my lips and took him into my mouth, gently suckling with my tongue.

“Holy shit,” he groaned, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

I continued to stroke him as I sucked, my hand meeting my lips. Harry combed his fingers through my hair then, no doubt wanting to watch me as I pleased him. And I did love pleasing him. But this time I was being rather selfish. I needed to feel him inside me.

Popping my mouth from him, I sat up on my knees and flipped my hair back. Harry watched me through half open eyelids, his lips pouty and pink as I crawled up his body and straddled him.

He was inside me before he noticed, and I didn’t say anything. I wanted to feel him - all of him. He was so hard, and I felt so full and so wet. He just continued to watch me as I rode him, his breaths heavy. It wasn’t until I picked up the pace and started to moan that he tried to stop me.

“Fuck.” He swallowed hard. “Baby...you forgot the condom.”

“No, I didn’t,” I protested.

“Yeah, you did. I can feel you and...it feels too fucking good.”

“I know,” I whined. “I don’t want it. I want you.”

“Shit. Stacey, are you serious?”

“Yes.”

He stared at me wide eyed for a couple of seconds as I rode him until he squeezed his eyes shut and grabbed my hips.

“No! Baby, get a goddamn condom!”

“But it feels so good!” I cried.

“I know it does, but shit, I can’t come inside you.”

I froze my movements and stared at him, taking in the scared look on his face. Blinking several times, I was determined to hold back the tears. Then I climbed off of him and reached for the drawer of the nightstand. I could feel him watching me as I tore the package and rolled the condom on, but I couldn’t look at him yet. I was ashamed.

For one split second I had gone too far with my inhibitions, or lack thereof. I’d been willing to risk everything, for what? To feel him raw? Or had I honestly been considering the possibility of having his baby?

I sucked in my lips as I straddled him again, trying to get my mind back on how good he felt, even with a condom. I’d been dumb, and I wasn’t going to let him see me cry.

“Stacey…” I heard him say. “Look at me.”

Hesitantly, I lifted my gaze. His face was full of concern. “I’m sorry,” I said as I moved my hips. “I wasn’t thinking.”

A tiny tear escaped my eye, but Harry caught it before I did, swiping his thumb across my cheek.

“Baby…” he whispered. “Stop for a second. Are you okay?”

I nodded slowly. “I’m just...I’m leaving tomorrow. And I wanted you again. One more time.”

Harry sighed and pulled me to him. He kissed me deeply before rolling me over. Then he entered me with a deep thrust, making me call out.

“That still feels good, yeah?” he growled in my ear.

“Uh huh.”

“You love the way I fuck you, don’t you baby?”

“Yes, Harry.”

I wrapped my legs around him as he grabbed the headboard behind me, moving our bodies so hard that I almost hit it.

“Say it,” he demanded.

My toes curled and I let out another loud moan as I held tight to him.

“You fuck me so good, sugar.” Then a squeak released from my throat as he hit the perfect spot. “Oh God, right there! Ohhh!”

“Oh yeah, baby…” Harry groaned. “Ohhhh yeahhh.”

I clawed his back as we came together, both of us trembling. He buried his face in my neck as he murmured how amazing I was. Then he kissed me sweetly as though I was made of glass.

“Stacey…” he exhaled. “Oh, my darling. I love you so much.”

I brushed the curls from his forehead and drew a line with my finger from his eyebrows to his lips. “I love you, too.”

After trips to the bathroom, we fell asleep once again, though Harry much sooner than I. I was still mentally kicking myself for how stupid I’d been. But one thing was still floating around in my brain.

What if…

“Don’t forget these,” said Harry with a smirk as he handed me my pink lace panties, the ones that he’d taken off of me when he’d sat me in his lap on the chair the night before.

“Oh yeah,” I replied groggily, holding out my hand to stuff the garment in my suitcase.

“Or...perhaps I should keep them for myself...as a momento.”

“If you want,” I mumbled, shoving my toiletry bag inside.

“Um, Stacey?”

“Yes?” I asked, lifting my head. Harry stood across the bed from me, his eyebrows raised, the underwear still in his hand.

“It was a joke, love,” he confirmed, his lips slightly twitching as though he wasn’t sure whether to smile or not.

“Oh.” I gave a tight smile and reached out to take the panties. “Of course.”

Dropping them in my suitcase, I turned for the bathroom to make sure I didn’t forget anything. I could sense his presence behind me as I inspected the sink. I checked off my mental checklist, pleased that I’d gotten everything.

“Stacey.”

“Hmm?”

“What are you doing?”

I turned and looked at him, his beautiful frame standing in the doorway.

“Packing,” I grinned before walking past him.

He tried to stop me with his hand, but missed as I walked around the bed to double check the nightstand.

“That’s not what I meant,” he said with a sigh.

“What did you mean, sugar?” I opened the drawer but he immediately pushed it closed.

“Damn it, Stacey, look at me!”

I blinked several times, scared for a split second. I knew Harry wasn’t angry, just frustrated. But I stood frozen, staring forward.

“Talk to me, baby,” he urged again, this time in a calmer tone. He took my hands in his before lifting my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“I can’t,” I whined softly. “I can’t do it, Harry.”

“Can’t do what?”

“I can’t stay goodbye.”

My body shook as I said the words. It was the truth. I couldn’t look him in the eye and say goodbye. It was too hard.

With a sigh, Harry wrapped me in his arms. I cried softly against his chest, wanting to feel him for as long as I could while also trying to keep my heart from being broken.

“Then we won’t,” I barely heard him say.

“What?” I sniffled, my cheek still pressed to his chest.

“We won’t say goodbye,” he murmured, his mouth against my hair, his hands rubbing my back. “We’ll add that to no buts. It’s too negative anyway. It kind of...signifies an end, doesn’t it? And this is definitely not an end. So no buts, and no goodbyes, yeah?”

I considered his declaration for a moment, then spoke. “Sounds like a country song.”

With his adorable giggle, Harry hugged me tighter and I laughed with him. Then he lifted my chin again and smiled his beautiful smile at me.

“That’s my girl,” he said.

I raised my brows. “Your girl?”

“Yeah. Aren’t you?”

I felt myself blush, remembering his deep voice in my ear the night before as his fingers stroked me to orgasm and he’d whispered “good girl.”

“Just makes me feel like a teenager.”

“Hmm,” Harry sounded with a nod. His eyes took me in, making me feel all warm and fuzzy, and I think I might’ve even let out a giggle. “Yeah, you’re most certainly not one of those.”

I playfully pushed his chest with my palm, but he pulled me back to him.

“But you’re still my girl,” he added, his dreamy eyes grinning at me.

I ran my hands up his shoulders and kissed him tenderly. “And woman?” I asked against his mouth before another kiss.

“Absolutely.”

His voice vibrated through me before he kissed me once again, darting his tongue inside my mouth. I sighed as I leaned into him, pressing my body as close as possible. His hands roamed my back and my behind until he released me gently, looking into my eyes.

“Let’s remember this,” he said.

“Hmm?” I asked, still starry-eyed.

“This,” he repeated. “This kiss. This room. This time together. Remember it when you miss me. When you get lonely. When you wake up alone from a dream. Remember that I stood right here and told you I love you. And before you know it...it’ll be March, and we’ll be together again.”

I stared at him for what felt like forever. I had no words. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I’d lost the will to speak. I did feel the tears begin to fall, however, and I couldn’t stop them. Harry’s expression softening, he bit his lip and wiped my cheek with his thumb. My silence most likely worrying him, he chuckled nervously.

“You can say something now,” he choked, catching another tear as I saw one trickle from his own eye. “Just not goodbye.”

My throat felt raw as I took in a breath. It was a wonder I was able to make a sound at all.

“I love you, Harry Styles,” was all I could manage.

“I’m not going to ask how it was,” Lorelei commented as she helped me load my luggage into her trunk. “It’s written all over your face.”

“That’s jet lag,” I scoffed.

“No, don’t lie to me, doll. I see that glow.”

I bit my cheek and climbed into the passenger seat. I wasn’t about to tell her the glow might possibly be from all the tears I’d shed and the alcohol I’d drunk on the plane to keep from shedding more.

“Flight was okay?” asked Lor as she drove out of the airport pick up and onto the freeway.

“Yeah,” I yawned. “Just long.”

“Did you sleep at all?”

“Just a little.”

We drove in silence for a few minutes, the radio so low I couldn’t make out the song, until Lorelei sighed loudly.

“Okay, tell me.”

“What?”

“How was it?” she pressed, no longer able to hide her excitement.

I chuckled, leaning back into the leather seat. “Wonderful.”

“I see you’re wearing the necklace.”

I grinned, placing my hand over the pendant on my chest. “Thank you, Lor.”

“Don’t thank me. It was his idea. He just asked for the birthstones.”

“I love it,” I muttered, fingering the charms.

“And him,” she added.

My eyes popped open wide, and I stared out of the windshield. “I do. Oh god, Lor, I do!”

My best friend giggled with glee and grabbed my hand.

“I’m so in love with him, Lor, what am I gonna do?” Suddenly I felt completely overwhelmed, my emotions taking over once again.

“Aw, hon, don’t cry! If you cry, you’ll make me cry, and Lorelei Burns does not cry.”

“What the fuck, yes you do!” I whined as I wiped a tear.

“Okay, I do. But you’re the only one that’s seen me, and I just...I can’t cry today.”

“Sorry.”

“No. No, Stace, tell me. Seriously, I wanna hear all about it.”

“Well, I told you about how I didn’t say it back right away.”

“Yeah.”

“But since then...it’s like...I keep falling for him over and over. I can’t get enough of him. I’m gonna miss him so much! I miss him already! My heart hurts!”

I placed my hand on my chest and closed my eyes. “I’ve never felt this way in my life,” I whispered.

“Oh hon…” Lorelei sighed and took my hand, squeezing it. “I know.”

I sucked in my lips and looked down at my lap. “He wants me to come see him in L.A. in March.”

I waited a moment for Lorelei’s reaction until I heard her sigh. “I know that, too.”

I blinked, raising my head. “You do? He told you?”

“Well...not exactly. You might say...I put a little bug in his ear.”

“What do you mean?” I inquired.

“Well, you know, he was planning this trip for you, and I thought it was great and all but, what then? I had no doubt he loved you and was going to tell you so. But I felt like...there needed to be something else, you know?”

I continued to stare at my friend as she drove, her eyes on the road. When I didn’t say anything, Lorelei shrugged.

“I might’ve suggested, inadvertently, that you might like to be among his people.”

“His people?”

“His friends,” Lor explained. “His entourage. Instead of just sneaking around to B&B’s and the sort.”

“You didn’t.”

“I did. And he must have taken it to heart because the next time we talked, he asked if you’d ever been to L.A.”

“Really?” I gasped.

“I told him you hadn’t, but you’d always wanted to. And next thing I knew he was telling me about his manager and how things would be getting busy with the tour starting in March.”

“Wow,” I mouthed.

Lorelei shifted her eyes at me with a grin. “I take that to mean he’s gonna miss you madly. But he wants to be with you again before he leaves for months.”

“For months,” I echoed.

“You’re going, right?” Lor asked when she exited the freeway.

“I...I guess...I am.”

“Of course you are. Big step meeting his crew. In their habitat, no less. He must be really serious about you, Stace.”

“Yeah,” I breathed with a slight nod.

“And just think, he already had this planned when you showed up in England. If he was already serious about you then, he must be even more so after this week.”

I swallowed hard as I took in my best friend’s words. My legs felt weak as I climbed out of the car. Lorelei helped me again with my suitcases, dragging the heaviest one up the stairs to my apartment. My hands shook as I jiggled the keys inside the lock and finally opened the door. Dropping my keys and purse on the counter, I rounded it to grab a water from the fridge.

“Oh. By the way,” Lor called as she rolled my luggage down the hall to my bedroom, “Tod knows about Harry.”

I slept for nearly three hours after Lorelei left. When I finally got out of bed, I made myself a pot of coffee and texted Harry, replying to the one he’d sent me.

I miss you.

I miss you, too. Just had a great nap, though.

Much needed, I’m sure. Did you get my parcel?

Yes. It’s very sweet, you didn’t have to.

I wanted to.

I’ll wait until the girls are here to open it.

Okay. It’s mostly for them, but there’s something for you, too.

You’ve given me enough.

Never.

I love you.

And I love you. No buts.

I smiled at his final message, remembering the dream I’d had. I texted him the kissing emoji and sat on the sofa with my coffee. I stared at the large box that had been shipped to my address while I’d been overseas. It was addressed to Miss Jasmine and Miss Emery Barnett ℅ Ms. Stacey Barnett. Lorelei had said it arrived just the day before and she’d suspected it was from a Mr. Styles. She’d shown it to me right after she’d informed me that Tod knew about him.

I’d had a sour feeling in my stomach at the immediate knowledge, but it went away when I decided - with Lor’s help - that it didn’t matter if he knew. Emery had been the one to spill the beans when her dad had come to pick her up. He had acted curious about my being out of town, and she let the cat out of the bag that I’d gone to England.

“England?” Tod had asked in a condescending tone. I could just imagine it. “Why is she there?”

“She’s with Harry!” Em had blurted, much to Lorelei’s dismay.

“Harry who?”

“Um…” Lor said she sputtered a bit, trying to find the right reply.

“Oops!” Emery sucked in her lips and facepalmed herself.

“Is this the man she’s seeing?” Tod inquired. “The one who sent her flowers last time I was here?”

“Yep!” Lorelei said plainly, her hands on her hips. “That’s exactly who it is.”

“And they went to England together?”

Lor said she looked at Em who kept her mouth shut. “Yep. That’s right.”

“Huh.”

Lorelei told me that was all he said after that. Just a sound. Like a “well, okay then.” And he left with the girls.

In a way, I was relieved that Tod knew. But he didn’t know the Harry I was seeing was Harry Styles, and he didn’t need to. It was probably for the best.

My phone rang with Harry’s ringtone, waking me from a not-so-deep sleep.

“Hello?” I answered after noticing it was only a quarter to midnight. Which meant it was Christmas morning in Holmes Chapel.

“Hello, my Christmas angel.”

I smiled, rolling onto my back. “Merry Christmas, handsome.”

“I dunno ‘bout that,” he remarked. “Just woke up.”

“Mmm, well then you definitely are,” I added with a stretch of my limbs. I could hear the grin in his sigh. “Wait, just woke up?” I asked. “You mean you called me first?”

“No, I called Jeffrey first.”

With a burst of laughter, I cursed him quietly. Little shit.

“I had a dream about you,” he said low.

“You did?”

“You were wearing that little pink thing.”

“Oh,” I grinned.

“Are you wearing it now?”

With a chuckle, I shook my head as if he could see me. “No,” I replied.

“A shame.”

“I don’t see the point in wearing it when you’re not around.”

“Well, that’s where you’re wrong.”

“Am I?”

“Hmm,” he sounded to confirm his statement. “I think you should wear it often. And think of me.”

“That seems dangerous,” I remarked.

“Why?” Harry asked slyly. He knew exactly why.

“Because it’s only natural I’d start thinking of the last time I wore it.”

“And?”

“And…” I took a deep breath and sighed. “I don’t know if I could handle it. I’d miss you too much.”

“Baby…”

“Um...let’s change the subject,” I insisted. “It’s Christmas morning there now. Aren’t you supposed to be celebrating with your family?”

“In a bit. I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Mmm.”

“Sorry, I won’t keep you. I know it’s late there. I probably woke you, didn’t I?”

“It’s okay,” I replied, cuddling into my covers. “I’d rather hear your voice. You could call me at three in the morning and read the dictionary to me and I wouldn’t mind.”

“Wow, and here I thought I was rather good at conversation.”

“You know what I mean,” I scoffed.

Harry chuckled and, in my mind, I could picture him lying in bed, only it was the bed we’d shared at the Marchburrough Inn, and I was lying beside him.

“I love you, Harry.”

“Mmm, now that’s my favorite sound. I could hear it always.”

I smiled. “You mean you’re not sick of it yet?”

“Never. I love you, too, Stacey.” I heard him sigh and groan with a stretch as my insides did a little dance. “I only wish I had thought to extend your trip so you could come here with me.”

“Come with you...to your mother’s house?” I nearly gasped.

“Yeah. I want her to meet you,” he declared. “But I reckon we’ll just have to wait until March.”

“She’s going to be there?”

“Of course.”

My stomach flipped again at the thought of meeting Harry’s mother. I knew she was a lovely lady, but I wasn’t sure what she’d think of me. In fact, she was only around ten years older than I. Some mothers might have a problem with their son dating an older woman, no matter how famous he was.

“I look forward to meeting her, then,” I said with a smile in my tone that I hoped Harry caught.

“Good. Now I should go find out what all she has planned for the day.”

“Okay, sugar. Merry Christmas. And tell everyone...” I stopped myself. “Well, I mean...if anyone knows…”

“My mum knows,” Harry confirmed softly.

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure what to say.

“I told her last night.”

“Oh.” Is there an echo in here? I thought. “Um...and what did she say?”

“That you sound lovely. And she can’t wait to meet you either.”

“She did not, you lie,” I mocked.

“I’m not lying,” Harry giggled.

“Well then you’re leaving out parts to spare my feelings.”

“No ‘m not!”

“Harold.”

Harry laughed harder. “Baby, I swear. If I’m leaving out anything, it’s because it was...personal.”

“I can’t know what you say about me?”

“It was nothing bad. Maybe she was a little concerned at first, but after I told her how I’d fallen in love with you and your amazing kids, she warmed up to the idea.”

“You told her about my kids?”

“Of course I did. I think they’re fabulous. And I’m glad you’re their mum.”

My body relaxing at his affirmation, I sighed, biting my lip. “You’re wonderful,” I said.

“So are you. Now get some sleep and I’ll call you later to say hi to those fabulous kids of yours.”

“Okay,” I grinned from ear to ear.

After we said our goodnights and hung up, I let the sound of his voice ring in my ears for a while. Then I let a memory drift into my consciousness - the night before I left.

I wasn’t sure what had come over me, why I’d thought it was safe to have sex without protection. Perhaps it had been meeting Harold and Millicent, the older couple in the cafe and their granddaughter with her baby. Maybe I had gotten caught up in the idea of having another one of my own, or even more, the idea that I may not ever have another one. It had saddened me, for sure. But I couldn’t fathom why in the world I would have been so careless, and deliberately so. Had I been trying to get pregnant, just to prove something? And if so, to whom?

Harry, though worried and persistent about my getting a condom, had still been fairly lovely about it. I just hated that I had duped him. He didn’t deserve that from me. He really was the most wonderful man I’d ever known.

One truth remained, and would always remain, however - my age. I wasn’t getting any younger. And though Harry might have loved my kids, he wasn’t ready to have kids of his own yet. So where did that leave us down the line?

I ended up asking myself a million similar questions, going round and round in my head as the clock ticked on, until finally I told myself to give it a rest. I got up, used the bathroom and got a drink of water before crawling back under the covers. I thought of his voice again, his eyes and his lips on mine. These were things that comforted me, and within no time I’d fallen asleep.

“Merry Christmas!” I cheered as soon as I opened the door.

Emery stood on the other side, arms open wide. “Mommy!”

We embraced tightly before she ran inside, dropping her bag next to the sofa. Then I hugged Jasmine, touching her sweet smiling face. She tapped her fingers together with happiness and followed her sister into the living room where my mother waited for her hugs.

“Merry Christmas,” said Tod when I shut the door. He carried Jasmine’s bag inside, leaving it next to Emery’s.

“Did y’all have a good Christmas?” I asked mostly the girls.

“Yeah!” shouted Em. “Look what I got!”

She ran around the couch, holding out a stuffed animal with large eyes. “It’s a new Beanie Boo,” she explained.

“Cute!” I nodded, bopping it on its nose. Then I turned to Tod. “How was Christmas with your mom and Tara?”

“Good,” he shrugged. He told me a little about his mother and sister, but I was barely paying attention. The buzzer went off in my kitchen so I rounded the counter to check on my roast.

“That smells good, Mommy,” Emery danced behind me.

“Thank you, sweet pea.”

“So how was England?” asked Tod as I set the roast pan on the counter.

I knew he was going to ask eventually. And I’d been prepared to answer. But I hadn’t been prepared for the knot in my stomach. Removing the oven mits from my hands, I took a deep breath and let it out.

“Wonderful,” I replied honestly. “Really, really wonderful.”

“What part were you in, London?”

“Just outside.”

“Hmm,” nodded Tod, lifting his left arm to scratch his right. “So um...Emery said his name is Harry?”

“I’m sorry, Mommy,” cried Em as she ran to me and wrapped her arounds around me. She whined against me, letting me know she felt bad for spilling the beans.

“It’s okay, monkey,” I assured her, combing my fingers through her hair. Then I addressed my ex-husband. “Yes. Harry.”

Tod blinked. I knew he didn’t have enough emotions inside him to cry over me, but he did look taken aback. He scratched his chin, looked at the kitchen counter, then back at me.

“Good for you,” he finally said.

“Thank you,” I muttered.

I looked down at Em who was eyeing me. I smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

“Give Daddy a hug bye,” I told her.

Releasing her hold on me, she moved to Tod who lifted her with a grunt. I watched them exchange kisses and goodbyes before he did the same with Jasmine. My mom, who had thankfully not said a word, moved to the kitchen to gather plates and glasses for dinner.

“Merry Christmas,” I said again as I watched Tod walk to the door.

“You too,” he waved back, barely looking at me that time. “See you girls Friday.”

“Bye Daddy!” called Emery from the living room where she was already into a game on her iPad.

The door shut and I turned to my mom whose eyes were wide with anticipation, no doubt dying to say what was on her mind.

“He did not seem happy about that,” she remarked in a hushed tone.

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t expect him to be. It’s my life, not his.”

“You’re right. You’re with Harry now.”

I grinned at her as I touched the pendant he’d given me. I’d told her about my trip, or at least the parts a daughter can tell her mother. She was happy for me, for the first time in a long time.

After dinner, we sat in the living room, my tiny table top tree that I’d set up before my trip glowing in the corner of the room. The girls opened the presents from my mom and me first, then my mother and I exchanged gifts. Last, I brought out the box that Harry had sent.

“What is that?” my mother asked.

“It’s from Harry,” I explained. “For the girls.”

“Gosh!”

As was my tradition, I had them open one gift at a time, taking turns. He’d sent clothes for both of them (once again from the help of Lorelei, no doubt), books, writing and drawing pads, and a cozy blanket with their names embroidered for each of them. He’d also sent them each a pretty bracelet with their birthstones. I wondered if he’d gotten them from the same jeweler where he’d gotten the necklace he’d given me. I tried my best not to get too teary-eyed, wishing he could have seen them open their presents.

Last, at the bottom of the box was a gift for me, along with a card. I wondered if I should open it in front of everyone, but my mother insisted.

The card itself was pretty generic, at least on the outside, though the picture magically resembled the tree and fireplace in the living room at the bed and breakfast. Inside, however, was a separate handwritten letter. My hands shook as I unfolded it, this time deciding I needed to read it to myself. My mother frowned but understood.

Dear Stacey,

By the time you read this, we’ve already spent a most glorious week together at the B&B - at least I hope. Perhaps things didn’t go as planned and you left early, in which case this letter is awkward.

I giggled to myself and continued.

I hope I got up enough nerve to tell you I love you. And I hope you said it back. But in case I didn’t, here’s my confession. I’m so in love with you. You own my heart, Stacey. And I’m glad because I have a feeling you’ll take good care of it.

If I did things as planned, you have the two gifts I gave you in person. But there’s one more thing I wanted you to have. I’m sorry it’s used, but I think you’ll like it. And if you miss me as much as I know I’m missing you, it might help while we’re apart.

Yours always,

H x

With tears in my eyes, I put down the letter and reached for the box. Emery tried to grab the letter, but my mother stopped her, giving her the evil eye.

“It’s personal,” she whispered.

Wiping my cheeks, I tore into the package and the white tissue paper. Underneath lay a man’s shirt. His shirt. The purple shirt he’d worn on our first date, the night he’d come to my apartment and met my children. The night of our first kiss.

“Harry…” I cried.

I lifted the garment to my face. Though it smelled freshly laundered, it still had a hint of his aroma. I figured he might have sprayed it with his cologne before sending it to me. It smelled amazing which made me both laugh and cry.

“That’s kind of a weird present,” declared Emery.

“Shh!” my mom sounded.

“No it’s not,” I chuckled. “It’s so him.”

Unbuttoning the shirt, I slipped my arms through. I sighed and sat back on the sofa, imagining being enveloped in Harry’s arms. My mom shook her head, not really getting it either, but I didn’t care.

Halfway during a board game with the girls, another of my traditions that we usually did on Christmas Eve, my phone rang with Harry’s ringtone. I could see he was FaceTiming, so I quickly handed the phone to Em to let her answer.

“Merry Christmas, Harry!”

“Oh, hi there, Em! Happy Christmas!”

“Thank you for the presents!” she cheered.

“You are very welcome. Did you like them?”

Emery nodded emphatically, raising her wrist and jiggling it to show off her bracelet.

“Mommy cried at your letter, though.”

“Oh?” Harry chuckled nervously. “Did she read it to you?”

“Nuh uh,” Em shook her head. “She wouldn’t let me read it.”

“Because it was for me, only,” I pressed.

“That it was,” agreed Harry. “Hi, baby.”

I giggled, waving at him on the screen. “Hi.”

Just like at Thanksgiving, I aimed the phone in front of Jasmine and let Harry say Happy Christmas to her. She waved and smiled as before, happy to see Harry’s face. And just like before, I took the phone to my room for a bit of privacy.

“I see you’re wearing my shirt,” he grinned.

“Is that okay? It smells like you and I just love it against my skin.”

“Of course, baby, that’s what it’s for.”

“I might even sleep in it, you know.”

Harry chuckled, “That’s okay too. Sorry about the letter.”

“Why? That was the best part.”

His beautiful face beamed at me before softening and finally falling into a frown. “I miss you.”

“Stop it, Harry, or we’re not gonna get through this.”

He ran his hand down his face and sighed. “You’re right.”

“So how was your Christmas?” I asked him.

“Lovely. Mum made all my favorites. I’ve drunk a little too much wine, hopefully you can’t tell.”

“Maybe a little,” I poked, “but it’s totally fine. I had a couple glasses myself.”

“I reckon I’ve had more than a couple,” Harry grinned, his eyes squinting.

I laughed, taking in the look on his face. “I should get back to the board game,” I said.

“Oh, of course. Give the girls hugs from me please. And tell your mum Merry Christmas.”

“Okay. Harry?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Thank you for trusting me with your heart.”

A smile slowly spread across his face before he leaned into the phone and kissed the screen. I did the same, my own lips meeting his the only way they could from across the ocean.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“And I love you. Not buts.”

MASTERLIST | KO-FI | FEEDBACK | PATREON

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jaxteller87 · 9 months ago

Text

Where I Need to Be

had just pulled into the clubhouse after returning from New York to see how everyone’s been. It’s been six months since my parents passed away, and I was feeling particularly down about it. I wanted to stop by to check in on the boys, but more specifically, I wanted to see how Teller was doing. Even though we weren’t dating the whole time I was in NY, I was hoping to spend some time with him dor the few days I was in Charming. When I wheeled into the clubhouse, it was wrecked. They must have had some hell of a party. I made my way past all the garbage, hung over hang-arounds, and knocked on the dorm door. Receiving no answer, I gently pushed it open.

There, I saw my best friend in bed, lighting a cigarette. I looked over to the bathroom and saw Ima standing in the doorway, tits out, with a smile playing on her lips. “Good morning,” she smirked. I looked back at Jax, and I felt the room start to spin. I felt nauseous and dizzy, but of all things, I felt like I was in the right place at the wrong time.

“Well, I’ll leave you guys to whatever it is you were doing,” I said. I meant to simply shut the door, but I put a little too much mustard on it and slammed it instead. I didn’t care, though; I just rolled back out to the bar where Tig was.

“Well, hello there, babydoll; good to see you,” he looked like shit, but Tig usually did when he was surrounded by a dozen Coronoa’s at 1 PM on a Wednesday.

“Hey, Tiggy.”

“What are you drinking, doll face?” he asked, brushing off the table, clearing it of cigarette buts, ashes, peanut shells, and some mysterious fluids I hoped were spilled beer.

“Coke with lime, please,” I smiled and rolled up to the table.

“Did you know Jax was with Ima?” I asked curiously as Tig reached over the bar to grab my drink from the mini-fridge.

“What? He was?” Tig was a shit liar, and I heard it in his tone before I even had to look in his eyes.

“He did what?” Donna shouted from behind us. I didn’t even know she was there, nor did I hear her come in.

“Yup. I walked into the aftermath a few minutes ago. I opened the door to the dorm room, and there they were.”

“Damn. I’m sorry, bestie,” Donna sat down beside me, “I guess I knew too. Opie said something about it last night, but there was alcohol involved, and I thought he was just talking nonsense. That’s usually all he ever finds at the bottom of the bottle.”

“Well, we all know what Jax found at the bottom of his bottle,” I quipped, “And if you go look, I bet you she’s still in his room getting dressed.”

“Are you okay?” Donna whispered in my ear.

I rested my head on her shoulder. “No, not really,” I whispered back.

Just then, Ima came walking down the hall with the smuggest of smiles. If I could have lept out of my wheelchair to kick her ass, I would have. I think Donna wanted to beat her ass too, but for the sake of keeping it civil, at least for the moment, she just glanced at her with the devil’s eyes.

“If looks could kill,” I heard one of the boys say from the half-packed clubhouse.

I had no right to be angry. We aren’t together anymore, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting a little. I don’t know what I expected out of him either; I mean, just because I wasn’t out and about spreading my legs didn’t mean he couldn’t do what he did with— with her. Even thinking her name made me want to throw up in my mouth.

“We could go slash her tires,” Donna whispered.

“Hey, let’s fight nicely, ladies. Keep it to hair pulling and slapping,” Tig winked. “I can get the kiddie pool out of the storage shed, and we can fill it with Jello or pudding, your choice.”

“You’re gross. Has anyone ever told you that?” Donna winced.

“Not today, but it’s early,” Tig blew her a kiss and then went back to his own little world, letting us to our conversation.

“Donna, we aren’t together. He can sleep with whoever he wants,” I dipped my finger into my soda and stirred it around, a clear sign I was feeling overly anxious about the whole ordeal.

“I know, but it’s Ima. He knows better than this,” Donna said. “I love Jax, and I don’t think this was personal, but you really got to think, sweetheart—”

“What’s that?” I asked, sipping my drink.

“He could have any girl, and the ones he can’t have, he could probably find a way to get. Why Ima? Why did he fuck the only one that you’d give a shit about?”

That was true; it did really hurt, but at the same time, I don’t think I would have liked to walk in on him with anyone. I was perfectly fine with the illusion that neither of us was hooking up with anyone else, but I wasn’t ready to do the math right now.

A few minutes later, Opie walked back the hall, I’m guessing to get Jax. They were only gone a moment before they both came out. Jax looked like he had just gotten out of the shower, and Opie gave Donna and me a little side-eye. I couldn’t tell if he was saying, ‘Have at it’ or ‘Go easy on him,’ but the truth was, I wasn’t looking for a fight. Jax came over and pulled a chair up between Donna and me and sat on it backward like all the teenagers do. He had a shameful, disgusted look on his face, but I couldn’t tell if it was because he felt guilty or if it was the fact that I caught him in the act.

“Hey, how have—”

SLAP!

Without missing a beat, Donna whacked him upside his head. “Please, for the love of all that’s holy, Teller, tell me you put a hat on little Jax before you jumped into that cesspool,” she said loud enough to garner a look and a scoff from Ima, who was now sitting with two prospects.

“Ow! Christ, Donna! I was horny, I didn’t have a death wish!” he responded. Ima heard that, too, and her mouth dropped to the floor. It was funny, and I smirked, but I didn’t laugh.

Jax looked up at me with those puppy dog eyes and a disappointed look on his face. “Sorry, you walked in on that. Everyone was drinking last night, and honestly, it was a hole in the dark before I realized who it was. Not that it makes it right, but I don’t want you thinking there was a deeper meaning behind it.”

I wasn’t sure if that made me feel better or worse. Just a hole in the dark? Maybe guys just go through it differently than girls. Although, I knew Jax long enough to know when he was full of shit, and this was not one of those times. “Hey, we’re not together anymore. You can sleep with whoever you want.”

Next thing I knew, the two prospects sitting with the queen of the crows had started fist-fighting each other, a scuffle fueled by Ima, no less. Needless to say, Jax had to deal with it, and that was pretty much it.

Later on that evening, I ended up at Jax’s place. I don’t really remember how I got here, but it started with heading out to the park with Donna and Ope. They got hungry so we stopped for burgers, and low and behold, I now found myself sitting on Jax’s porch. Ope had a surprise for Donna and said I could go along if I wanted, but I didn’t want to be a third wheel. Plus, I think they kind of wanted to get Jax and me together to talk about what happened earlier. These two red birds showed up shortly after I got here, and I’ve been infatuated with them while I replayed the past few months in my head.

“You’re the only face I see,” Teller said, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“Huh?” I said, confused.

“When I’m with someone, you’re the only face I see,” he clarified. “I need you here. This is where you need to be!”

I just rolled my eyes, “Yeah, I’m sure.” I started to lead my chair inside, and he followed right behind, helping me get my wheels over the door ledge. “I can do it, but thanks.”

“I’m not even going to try to explain myself because I already said what it was. I was drunk and stupid, and she was willing and easy.”

“I get it. You don’t need to say shit, really. You’re a big boy, and you can do big-boy stuff with whoever you want. I’m not sure if it would have made a difference, but I just can’t bear the fact that it was Ima. Fuckin Ima, Jax! Maybe I don’t want to see you fucking anybody, or maybe I just don’t want to see you fucking anybody but me, but of all the crows in the nest you got with Ima!” I yelled. I can’t believe I just told him I didn’t want to see him fuck anyone but me.

Before I knew it, he had my face sandwiched between in his hand, and he was kissing me like we were the lead roles in a romance movie, and this was our big, sappy ending. In the heat of the moment, I dug my fingers into the chest of his shirt and ripped it off his body.

“I’ll buy you a new shirt, I promise.”

“I don’t care about the damn shirt!” he said, helping me out of my pants.

A little while later, we were both lying on the floor, all cuddled up. I gently scratched his beard as he smiled and kissed my forehead. He was right; this is where I needed to be.

#jax teller imagine #jax teller x disabled reader #jax teller x oc

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idkyouyet23 · 5 months ago

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‘On My Mind’

~ a LITG Max fanfic ~

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

Chapter Eight - Lovestruck

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 💌:

Filler chapter of Max’s Pov as I wanted to update this and get to writing Movie Night tomorrow :)

Once again, I’m not going by script I may as well call this a rewrite at this point

Enjoy my lovelies and I’d love to hear your thoughts & feedback in the comments!!!

~Jess

You can read it below or on AO3,

whatever you like :)

𝐌𝐚𝐱’𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐯:

It’s currently almost evening time,

I stroll through the Villa to find my Jazzy,

I stop once I notice her chatting to Hazel and Bea, Jazzy looks up and

beams when she sees me

‘Hi pretty boy!’, after Jazzy speaks the other two girls notice me

‘Bea I think that’s our cue to leave’

‘Yeah I agree, better leave you

lovebirds to it’

And with that Hazel and Bea walk away to the other islanders.

I lay down beside her on one of the daybeds,

‘How are you gorgeous?’

‘I’m better now that you’re here Max,

you always brighten my day’,

Jazzy snuggles up closer to me,

so close that I can almost feel her heart beating

‘I’m glad that hear it! You always brighten up my day too’

Jack and Sienna are talking across the Villa at the pool, I notice Jack glancing over at us, 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘢𝘻𝘻𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺.

‘I feel so lucky to have you Max,

I wouldn’t wanna be here with anyone else’, I look down at her with a soft smile

‘You mean that?’ I question

‘Of course I do! You’re honestly my everything’, Jazzy leans up and kisses me,

I can’t help but smile into the kiss,

We hear footsteps coming towards us so we quickly pull away from each other,

Of course it’s Jack.

‘Sorry to interrupt, Max I was wondering if we could have a chat?’,

𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵?

‘Yeah sure’,

‘Catch you guys later, I’m gonna go talk to Claudia and Theo’, and with that Jazzy walks off

‘I just wanted to clear the air about this situation’

‘Oh yeah, I don’t want any competition between us or anything’

‘It does irritate me though as I thought that Jazzy would have came back to me after Casa’

‘What about Sienna?

Don’t you like being in a couple with her?’,

I inquire trying to stay calm

‘I’d prefer to be with Jazzy though-‘,

Jack argues and I interrupt him

‘I think that Jazzy and I are better suited!’

‘Oh do you now?’

‘Jazzy had her pick and she chose me,

so you should respect her decision!’,

Suddenly a bush behind the daybeds moves to reveal Jazzy and the other islanders go silent

‘Jack go back to Sienna please,

I mean you called her a ‘head turner for sure’ at your date after you got dumped’

‘How do you know that?’

‘Bea told me obviously so as Max said respect my decision and just leave me alone!’,

Jazzy almost screams at Jack and Sienna spirits over with that smug look on her face

‘Yeah come on Jack,

you’re my partner after all’, Sienna grins at Jazzy, they walk away as Hazel goes to talk with them

‘Are you okay?’, Emel asks Jazzy

‘Yup just trying to forget about all this…’

Jazzy slowly sits down beside me and she continues speaking

‘As long as I have Max I’m sure that I’ll be grand’

‘You’ll always have me’, I give her hand a reassuring squeeze

I watch as Bea and Claudia rush over towards us

‘Always someone trying to shit - stir in here, am I right?’

‘You’re definitely right on that one Claudia, what do I have to do to prove to everyone that I only have eyes for Max?’

‘You shouldn’t listen to Jack or Sienna,

everyone else here can see that you’re genuine’

‘I agree with Bea of course’, Liam replies

‘How about we do a get to know each other session, but it’s drama - free?’

Theo suggests and everyone agrees to it.

‘Right, I have a question for Jazzy’,

Oakley announces

‘Okay, go ahead’

‘Dream artist or band that you wanna make a song with?’

‘Ooh that’s a great question! Has to be Sam Fender, I just love his voice and how he writes his lyrics’

‘I love his music too, I could produce it too if it happens’

‘Aww I’d love that! My best friend is my producer so you guys could work together, I’m sure that he’ll love you Max’

‘That sounds so amazing’

‘You two are so perfect together,

truly like soulmates’, Emel beams over at us

‘Thanks Emel, it definitely feels that way’,

I respond and I notice Jack looking down disappointed

‘I honestly can’t imagine myself with anyone else other than Max’,

Jazzy looks directly into my eyes

‘I’ve never felt this way about anyone else before like I just feel like I can always be myself around you and I’m just so grateful to have you’, I instantly press my lips against hers and we hear cheering from the other islanders, the two of us pull away as I hear a text on my phone

‘I got a text!’

‘Read it out, we don’t have all day’, Sienna huffs out

‘𝑰𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔,

𝑮𝒆𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒘!

#𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 #𝑮𝒆𝒕𝑻𝒉𝒆𝑷𝒐𝒑𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒏𝑶𝒖𝒕’,

‘Secrets Spilled? Oh my gosh!’,

Claudia remarks

‘I wonder if that popcorn will be any good?’, Liam states and Jazzy looks at me knowingly,

𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘈𝘮𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵? 𝘐𝘧 𝘴𝘰, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘑𝘢𝘻𝘻𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭.

#love island the game #love island game #litg #litg season 8 #litg s8 #litg tempting fate #litg fanfic #litg ff #litg max

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footprintsinthesxnd · 2 years ago

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Love through the pages | Chapter 8

Masterlist

Synopsis: Bob Floyd isn’t the man you typically find in a love story. His awkward mannerism and unusual ways don’t make him the typical heart throb, but Bob certainly has his charms. He finds love in an unexpected place when he finds a hidden message in a book that changes his life for ever. He meets the girl of his dreams but true love is not always an easy road and can they survive the ups and downs that life throws at them.

Warnings: 18+, potential slow burn, mentions of injuries and hospitals, language, smut, 18+, swearing. Nothing too specific for this chapter.

Bob’s number had been in your phone contacts for over a week now and you still hadn’t used it. You drafted 16 different messages to him and tried to call him 10 times but still hadn’t worked up the courage. It wasn’t like you didn’t want to talk to him, you did desperately, but somehow this made you even more nervous. You’d poured your heart and soul into those letters and felt like you knew everything there was to know about Bob and yet now he felt like a complete stranger. Bradley had been pestering you to just call him.

“You’ll feel better once you’ve done it,” he kept telling you and he was right, once you made the first step everything would fall into place. But you still couldn’t do it.

You glared at the message you had written out while stirring your now cold pasta with your fork. You wrote a new message out to Bob during your lunch break, but once again hadn’t worked up the courage to send it. Natasha was sitting opposite you, she’d eaten her lunch and was now answering emails, occasionally glancing up at you when you kept sighing. When you sighed again she snapped her laptop screen shut, glaring at you in annoyance.

“Just send the damn message, please. It will put us all out of our misery.” She shuffled her chair round the table snatching the phone out of your hand and pressing send.

“NO!” You gasped, grabbing the phone back and staring in horror at the now blue message. It had been delivered. That was by far not the best message you had written, it wasn’t witty or friendly or anything like what you had written in the letters. It was simple.

“Hey, Bob. It’s Y/N. Jake gave Bradley your number, who gave it to me. I thought I’d reach out to say hi. Feel free to give me a call if you fancy a chat.” It wasn’t well written and you felt like you'd just spewed words out, but now there was nothing you could do. Natasha looked at you smugly like she’d won. “They owe me 20 bucks each,” she said plainly, shrugging her shoulders.

“What!?” You looked at her exasperated.

“We all had bets on how long it would take you to message Bob. Bradley thought you’d do it straight away and Jake thought after a week. Sophie bet a fortnight but I had more faith in you.” She smiled at you as you let out another sigh.

“But Nat, it wasn't the perfect message. I’ve been writing them and writing them but nothing seems to come out right.”

Natasha sighed, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder, “it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just needs to be true. Hopefully, he’ll give you a call by the end of the day.”——————————————————————————“Shit! Shit! Shit! Jake come quickly, I need your help,” Bob half gasped, half shouted from his room. Jake appeared in the doorway wrapped in a towel, water still dripping down his body.

“What? What is it?” Jake asked, hurrying towards him while trying to stop himself from tripping over his towel.

“She sent me a message. She texted me,” Bob's eyes were wide and full of worry. He gulped.

Jake raised his eyebrows, “I’m sorry, but you didn’t just make me run in here halfway through my shower because a girl messaged you?” He used his sarcastic voice and used quotation marks with his fingers as he spoke. Bob groaned, this was a big deal for him, it was the next stage in your relationship and it frightened him that someday soon you might meet again in person. Bob had only had a few girlfriends before, nothing serious and none of them had lasted more than a few months. With you this was different, it was special and he was desperate for it to be more. Jake must have seen it in Bob's eyes because he sat down carefully on the bed, not worrying about making the sheets damp.

“Bob, there’s nothing to be scared of. You really like this girl and you’ve known each other for months. You’ve told her some of your biggest secrets and now you're frightened to message her back? That's not the Bob I know.” He raised his eyebrows and looked at Bob sincerely. “The Bob I know fights for what he loves, so message her back. Just meet up for coffee or something.”

Bob nodded slowly, pulling the phone back out from where he had hidden it under his pillow and opening up the message. He wrote a simple reply asking if you’d like to meet up tomorrow. He stared down at the message nervously. His stomach churned and he could feel the bile rising in the back of his throat, his palms damp with sweat. With a deep breath, he pressed the blue arrow and the message zipped on to the screen. Delivered.

“Atta boy, Bob. I’m proud of you.” Jake sauntered out of the room, his towel hanging low enough that Bob diverted his eyes awkwardly, shaking his head. He’d done it.

Bob stretched, pushing himself off the edge of his bed. He pulled his pyjama top over his head, running his hand through his unkempt hair, his spectacles balancing on the bridge of his nose. Grabbing his towel off the radiator he moved towards the bathroom when his phone rang out. He turned slowly, hardly daring to pick it up off the table. The screen lit up, revealing a picture of him and Jake when they went to Disneyland for Jake’s birthday. Jake had set the picture as his lock screen when he fell asleep on the way home and Bob had never bothered to change it. There were two notifications, one reminding him that he had to pick up Mr Cain’s suit from the dry cleaner, Bob made a mental note to do that on his way to work. The second message was short and sweet, simply stating: “I’d love to. See you at 11 am at the bookshop,” with a little heart-shaped emoji next to it. Bob blushed fiercely, averting his eyes from the screen and trying to contain his smile. His heart swelled at the thought of finally meeting you. Bob could honestly say that he’d never felt this way for anyone before, and yet he felt like he’d known you his whole life.

Tag list: @callsign-phoenix @imjess-themess @blue-aconite @averyhotchner @mayhem24-7forever @green-socks @alexxavicry @a-reader-and-a-writer @topguncortez @maggiescarborough @callsignmaverick5 @ssprayberrythings @smoothdogsgirl @xoxabs88xox @luckyladycreator2 @abaker74 @elenavampire21 @classyunknownlover @okiegirl24 @flashyourgreeneyesatme @sunlightmurdock @basiccortez @airedale17 @callmemana @shadowolf993 @dhwanishah09 @wkndwlff @topguncultleader

#lovethroughthepages #bobfloyd #robert floyd x reader #robert bob floyd #robert 'bob' floyd #top gun maverick #jakeseresin #bradley bradshaw #natashatrace

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innocentlymacabre · 2 years ago

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Due North [Part 3]: Into the Thick of It, Part I

14.08.21 | Part 2

Fantasy meets slice-of-life in the secretive, wonderous, and oddity-rich lives of the residents of Due North

The quiet early morning moon washed Alecia Ossario in its silvery tinge. She was dressed in black from head to toe, turtleneck covered with a leather jacket with far too many pockets to even be possible on top and jeans and lace-up boots on the bottom, save for her hair which had decided green was the way to go tonight. She made a mental note to tell Jasper to bring the delivery time a couple hours ahead, so she doesn’t have to be up when the only other people awake are the aquatics, gnomes, and faeries. Still, primetime for client scouting.

The silence of the night was broken only by the faint sound of an approaching car, thrumbling slowly down the end of the road. It purred along almost noiselessly, but on this particular night, nothing else, not a frog or an angry moth (those things could work up a real racket when they wanted) stirred even in the slightest, and no music from a water sprite afterparty rung through the night (If there’s one thing those guys know, it’s how to party, Alecia thought to herself), making it the loudest sound for miles.

Its busted headlights illuminated only a few feet of the winding road in front of it, something that Alecia thought was a touch risqué, especially considering she quite valued the cargo, and the side lines were more amphibian than she would have liked. She spun her fingers by her side, weaving a little light in between her slender fingers and let it fall in front of the car. Grateful for the light, it steered a bit more steadily before coming calmly to a stop a few feet in front of Alecia.

The driver turned the engine off and stepped out. A black boot hit the ground first, a tiny spark flying off, before a jaunty, dapper man stepped out. He had a dark trench coat draped over a brown suit and a half-buttoned olive-green shirt. He rounded out the sombreness with a yellow scarf and topped it all off with a top hat balanced on his head, tilted precariously to one side. His face belonged to a much younger man, all save for the eyes, which betrayed his true age.

“Alecia!” he exclaimed. “How you doing, darling?”

“Just fine, J, just fine. You should really get that headlight fixed, ya know.”

“Yeah, you know how it is. Always something in the way.”

“Uh huh. Well, shall we get down to business?”

“Always so quick on the draw, Alecia. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t like me very much,” he jested, leading the way to the back of the car nonetheless.

“Who said I liked ya? I do like what you’re carrying though, if that helps,” she said, winking.

Jasper mimed being shot in the heart with a laugh, then opened the trunk; Alecia twiddled her fingers and redirected the light from the road to the trunk to get a better view. Two plastic-wrapped packages, roughly the size of sacks of flour, gleamed in her light, boasting colourful pills packed to the brim, threatening to spill and scatter across the pavement.

“Jasper, plastic? I thought we’d already had this conversation, come on.”

“I know, I know, sorry. Last-minute complication leaving me with no choice. Won’t happen again, don’t worry.”

Alecia huffed. “Fine. Leave it with me. If a satyr drops by, I’ll throw it in as a “gesture of good faith”.”

Producing a knife from one of her jacket pockets, Alecia made a small, sharp cut in the packaging of one of the two, scooping up the pills before they could hit the ground. She crushed the edge of one of them and sucked on the produced powder, testing its strength and pocketing the rest.

“What? Still don’t think I’m good for it?”

“I don’t think you’re smart enough for it, J. Twice now you’ve been duped into bringing me candy. Not even the good kind. Ended up giving it away with meals at the diner both times.”

“Hey, twice in – shit, how long has it been? Whatever. Twice in however many years is still pretty damn good!” he protested.

“Yeah, well, I’d just like to make sure it’s not thrice. But yeah, you’re good for it this time.” She reached into another pocket and produced a wad of cash. Jasper took it with an exaggerated bow, Alecia’s response to which was to roll her eyes, and unloaded the two packages before closing the trunk and walking back to the driver’s seat.

“Fix that headlight, J,” Alecia called out. “Can’t count on me for light on your other routes.”

“Bye Alecia!” came the singsong reply as he sped off into the night.

Liking the story? Consider reblogging so it can reach a wider audience!💜 Continue reading below :)

↝✧↝

Berto, true to himself woke up well after noon. Bella, most untrue to herself, woke up even after him, having chosen to finish moving in after dinner the previous night. After a decidedly most undignified wake up, as Bella had so elegantly put it, Berto dragged the pair of them to a bookshop simply named Deluca’s. He raved about it the entire way there, claiming it was half the reason he moved to Due North at all.

Large glass double doors stood front and centre, opposite the canal that ran through the town. Small tables lined the two storefronts it occupied, its wonderfully comfortable light spilling out onto the pavement in front. Postcards hung from near invisible strings, each one unlike its neighbours, boasting fantastical narratives and landscapes dipping in and out of reality.

Overlapping scents floated around inside, books, new and old, mingling lively with fresh-baked cakes and pastries; the quietest music, soft around the edges, piggybacked on the aromas. Rows of books lined the front half of the store, some simply stacked on shelfs, some on painted carousels, others on platters hanging from the ceiling, and still other, ludicrously expensive ones, behind glass cases. The latter half boasted the most impressive patisserie either one of Berto or Bella had seen (“And I did a year in Paris!” Bella remarked). Lines of pastries, macaroons, puffs, breads, doughnuts, waffles, and more streaked down the enormous glass casing, leaving the two of them instantly famished, despite having eaten only half an hour ago.

Alia Deluca herself manned the counter, introducing herself proudly. It wasn’t arrogant pride, Berto noted silently, even though, looking around, she had every right to be. Rather, it was indulgent and her smile warm and welcoming, inviting you to enjoy with her.

Bella ordered a black coffee with a plain muffin and Berto, with a little more than a little difficulty, managed to ask for a strawberry tart and an iced coffee. Bella thought she glimpsed something vaguely bear-like in the kitchen while placing her order, but then kicked herself for making fun of someone’s body.

“Such a vanilla order,” Berto chided once they were seated. The sun was shining, a light breeze was blowing, and the riverbank glittered with fish merrily making their way about, so they took a table outside.

“What? Afraid I embarrassed you in front of your new little friend?”

“What?” Berto cried incredulously.

“Oh please, you could barely make it to the end of that order!”

“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he firmly negated, smiling slightly nonetheless.

Bella would have perhaps been less focused on teasing Berto if they had sat inside. For all the attention they spent on the bookshop itself, they had completely neglected the patrons, a mere glance at whom would have proved to be a rather useful introduction for the oncoming evening.

Dotted across the tables and mingling amongst the books were people of all sorts. Faries, harpies, and other small, winged creatures were either sat at tiny tables hanging from the ceiling, enjoying appropriately sized coffees and breads, or zipped around through the shop, their own light mixing comfortably with Deluca’s’ ambiance.

At a table on the ground, sat an elf and a dwarf dressed for two completely different occasions. The elf was clad in colourless clothes, black from the top to bottom, save for a red and white striped scarf. The dwarf, on the other hand, looked like he would be right at home amongst the stars of Milan’s fashion week (if, you know, they allowed people standing at half the average human height). A white shirt was tucked into burgundy trousers with a chequered blue jacket buttoned up on top. He completed the ensemble with a small yellow scarf tied around his neck, half tucked into his shirt, half falling out gracefully on top of it. Their coffees had gotten cold and were instead signing rapidly at each other and pointing to places on maps strewn across the table, apparently amid a high-stakes discussion.

Another was occupied by a donsy of gnomes, chattering across enough servings of biscuits and cups of tea to go around two per gnome and still have more to spare. They were a little lounder than Alia would have liked for a bookshop crowd, but they ate a lot and tipped heartily so she didn’t mind them all too much.

Cats floated around the books section of the store, merrily browsing Alia’s collection. Only their heads were visible at any one point, the rest of their limbs operating invisibly, and even they puffed in and out of visibility. Contrary to what one would have thought, the cats had exemplary hygiene standards: these cats didn’t shed nor drool and if they happened to somehow make a mess of things, they could magic it away along with themselves. Of course, their little disappearing act gave their kind the ability to be very, very good thieves (Alia had even met a few, thankfully not at her own place though) but the clowder that frequented Deluca’s spent a small fortune every month on books and then spent hours talking to her about them – they were her favourite customers.

Berto and Bella would have met all these people and more, if only they had sat inside, and would maybe even have been advised not to cross a minotaur’s territory, even by accident. Instead, all they saw were the fish, scales gleaming in the sun as they dipped in and out of the water, swimming merrily along the canal.

↝✧↝

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fearsome-series · 1 year ago

Text

Book One [Book Two]

As Laura slammed the door behind her, she smelled…something…something…

Like a rat.

“Gef?” Laura said. “You awake?”

Gef stirred, slowly opened one eye. “Blast it, you’re a subtle one, aren’t you? Slamming the door like a Buggane’s chains.”

“Stop saying ‘Buggane’ like I should know what a ‘Buggane’ is!” Laura threw herself on her bed. “Don’t explain. Good night, Gef.”

“Don’t you want to hear if anything -”

“Good night, Gef.” She turned away.

“I didn’t see it. The black dog,” Gef said.

Laura turned back. “What, you were looking out for it?”

“I was keeping an eye out. Didn’t want to be its dinner.”

“Or you want us to be safe.”

“I’d never! I’ll be happy to see home tomorrow. You’ll see.”

“Sure, Gef,” and she turned away again.

-------------------------------------------------

Laura woke up again. She heard a distant dog’s barks, a car pulling in late, and Gef’s snores. He lay curled up on the floor. At least someone could sleep.

She tiptoed past Gef, knocked on her parent’s door and asked for dad. After a couple minutes, he stumbled out.

“Laura?”

“I just wanted to say sorry. It’s just been overwhelming, and...I got angry. Sorry.”

“I probably haven’t been helping, huh? I’ve been so concerned. Or curious. Or both. Con-curi-rned.”

“Yeah.” Laura made herself laugh.

Chris and Laura tiptoed to the kitchen. “So, how was school?”

A cult tried to murder me in a bathroom. “It was okay. Uh, I had soccer and after that I met Sam.”

“Huh. Wow. Who’s Sam again?”

“She…plays soccer and basketball. And she’s a werewolf. Is that all you want to talk about? School?”

“Well, I forgot to ask. Kinda busy getting my entire worldview shattered.”

“Yeah. You’ve been through so much,” she said insincerely.

“You too,” he smiled.

“Uh, how was work?”

“Good. We interviewed some TED Talk tech guy and heard back from Ray. He’s safe.”

“Who’s Ray and what’s he safe from?”

“Do you want to hear about the very depressing news story he was investigating?”

“No.”

Chris patted Laura’s head. “You should get some sleep, Laur.”

“Thanks, dad.” She went back to her room, where Gef watched her with bleary eyes.

“Can’t sleep either?” Laura asked him.

“I was counting sheep like a hungry w…coyote - until you barged in. What were you doing?”

“Saying sorry to my dad for telling him to shut up earlier.”

“Did you mean it?”

“No. I don’t know. Maybe I just wanted to talk to someone.”

“Gef’s right here, if you need to talk.”

“Fine. Gef, I keep getting thrown into werewolf shit, and now black-dog-maybe-a-werewolf shit, and I’m tired. I want to talk about anything else, but what else is there? My brain’s thinking about everything and I can’t focus on anything.”

Gef pilfered Laura’s phone from her jacket and flicked through. Laura reached out futilely, tired arms pawing at the air as he swiped furiously just out of reach.

“Downloading, downloading...‘Random Icebreakers’...favorite airline.”

“Who the hell has a favorite airline? They all suck.”

“I stowaway on boats. Favorite season?”

“Summer. Wait, spring. You?”

“Fall. Why?”

“It’s warm but not too warm…you?”

“Everything’s dying!”

“Wow, what an in-depth topic, with so much to say.”

Gef flopped onto the table, tossing Laura’s phone to the side. “You come up with something! This damned app-useless!”

“Uhhhh…”

“Uh?”

“Uh.” Laura closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

-------------------------------------------------

Laura’s weary eyes opened slowly, revealing a room still dark and Gef still restlessly perched on the table. Every now and then, Gef looked over at the window. No movement.

“You too?”

“Hmph.”

“So you’re from India.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re one hundred and seventy?”

“Seventy, sixty-nine, seventy-one. Eighty. Give or take a few years. Or decades. Young, wild mongeese tend not to keep track of the time.”

“If you were born wild, how’d you learn to talk?”

“I always knew something was different. That my fellows all thought differently, thought less than me - and withered and died. But as for talking - only recitation ‘til Voirrey.”

“Yeah? That the girl Manuel mentioned?”

“Can’t believe there’s only two pages on me in there. You know, I have my own Wikipedia page.”

“Really?”

“Don’t dawdle, look it up!”

Laura did, and to her shock, there he was. Gef the talking mongoose. Did everyone know about him but her? How’d he get here, anyway?

“Still says nothing past that.”

“Hmm...odd. Embarrassing, it is. You know, I joined the circus once.”

“Really? What’d you do?”

“Talk, whilst being a mongoose - when they paid me.”

“But what about the Irvings?”

“...never met her again. Them again. Why so curious about my secrets? What about you?”

“Uh, I’m not really hiding anything.”

“Well, what menial drudgery do your parents suffer to shelter you in this hovel?”

“We aren’t poor, Gef. Mom works for a newspaper. Dad’s a producer for a public radio station. It’s not a hovel and, hey, you sleep in a zoo?”

“I had important work -”

“You slept in a zoo, Gef.”

“Yes, twenty hours a day. Like I said, important work..”

“...I’m gonna try for three hours tonight.”

-------------------------------------------------

Knocking on her door. “Laura?”

Laura’s eyes slowly opened. “Yeah? Come in.” She threw an arm over the snoring mongoose on her table.

Her mom opened the door. “Your dad says that someone called Jessie Ashdown will be driving you to school?”

“Uh…Jessie?”

“Yes, they run a community center?”

“Oh. Yeah. We have to, uh, talk about…there’s this therapy thing, over what happened in Elkhorn.”

“I see. He says you had a support group during the play last night?”

“Yeah, yeah. Over, you know. All of this. The trauma. You know, the trauma of a traumatic event can linger for a while…” She didn’t know what she was talking about, she was just quoting a line from a horror movie she saw about smiling demons or something.

Her mom nodded, and walked back out into the hallway. Laura quickly got dressed and got her bag ready - shoved Gef into it (he still didn’t wake up) and went outside.

Jessie was driving a van, marked with the community center’s name and logo; her dad saw her off, and Laura waved to him as they pulled away.

“I wanted to check in with ya after last night,” Jessie said. “How’re you -”

“Good,” Laura snapped, then sighed. “Good. Sorry.”

“How’re you feelin’ about being a dog?”

“I don’t know. I thought I was scared of transforming, then I was sad when I didn’t?” Laura leaned her head against the glass and looked down at the pavement. “Why aren’t you a werewolf all the time?”

“Me? I am a werewolf all the time.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yep, just being a smart ass. Why don’t I stay in werewolf form all the time? I don’t know, there’s lots to do out here. Gotta be able to talk and oppose your thumb to do ‘em. Driving, for example. Or drinking coffee. Do you drink coffee?”

“No?”

“You shouldn’t, caffeine’s not good for you. What do you drink?”

“Soda and energy drinks, mostly.”

“You should start drinking coffee,” Jessie said. “There’s lots of things you can’t see when you’re a wolf, and lots of things you can’t see when you’re a human. We’re lucky, we get to see a little bit of both. We get pumpkin spice lattes and we get to smell a mouse fifty feet away; we get to know people and know our pack closer than any of them; we get to howl to the moon and post dances to TikTok. We’ll never starve in a dark, cold winter, but we’ll have our hearts broken. But we also get to eat the heart right out of a deer.”

“Gross,” Laura laughed.

“D’you see my point? Why I’m human and a wolf and don’t pick one?”

“I do.” Laura paused, eyes focused on the cracked asphalt. “Do I have to eat the heart?”

“I don’t think it’s too healthy, compared to Monster though…”

“I don’t drink Monster.”

“What do you drink?”

“It’s called Heartrush.”

“Heartrush?”

“Yeah. It’s like, super concentrated.”

“Are you joking?”

“The can says it’s like meth in a can.”

“You’re kiddin’ me.”

“No, it’s. It’s my favorite drink. I drink it ten times a day.”

“Laura, either you’re joshin’ me or your body needs to be studied by science.”

“You came up with three different ways to ask me if I’m joking.”

“You’re joking.”

“Yeah.”

“You just made it up.”

“I didn’t. I only drank it once but I didn’t make it up.”

“It’s…it’s real?”

“Yeah. It’s illegal now.”

“Under the Geneva Convention?”

-------------------------------------------------

Laura neared the white marble stones, off to the side of the school, between them and adjacent Adams Middle in a tiny strip of grass. Private. ‘cause no one ever came to the stones. Ever.

No one knew their name anymore. Manuel called them “creepy Stonehenge” - which always confused Laura, since it implied Stonehenge wasn’t creepy. Most people, those rare times they mentioned it, called them simply “the stones”. Dying speakers broadcast cracking whispers: “peace”, “you are loved”, “you are wanted”. The centerpiece was a memorial to shooting victims. Once, new names had been chiseled on - starting in 1999, years before Laura was born - but they ran out of space years ago. Laura wouldn’t even bring Gef here; he was hiding in her locker for the moment.

“Hello, Laura.” Sitting on one of the cracked ‘reflection benches’ was Emily, wearing a deep purple jacket, dark blue pants, and a white t-shirt with art & the words “Lilith Fair” on it. She looked as if she thought nothing was strange.

“Is that shirt ironic?”

“I gave you the false impression,” Emily said, “that I commit to bits. Only when I find something funny when I’m thrifting. Normally, I’m all-serious.”

“Who’s Lilith Fair?”

“Some musical festival in the 90s, I don’t know.”

“So our next lesson is here?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, so, first question. Why?”

“Because -” the speakers interrupted with a loud, staticy ‘YOU ARE LOVED. DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS’; both jumped. “- because this is the creepiest place in the whole school. If you can shut this out, you can shut out anything.”

“Alright,” Laura tried to find a comfortable place to sit on the cold marble. “God, do they think this place actually helps people?”

“What else could they do, besides anything? Now, close your eyes.”

Laura did, hoping this was really a lesson and Emily wouldn’t drag out a box again.

“Now, what do you hear?”

“Cars. Some stuff inside. Talking, lockers, kinda muffled. The wind. Some people out front. Passing cars. Some squirrels running. Someone’s trying to smoke...”

‘CONSIDER REACHING OUT”, the speaker warbled.

“- GOD!”

“Okay. Focus on one thing. The wind, maybe.”

“The wind? Okay.”

Closed eyes again. Cars. Talking. Walking. Wind. Deep breath. The wind. Think about the wind. Rustling through leaves and branches. Cutting breeze building to a momentary howl. Tossing her and Emily’s hair.

“Open your eyes.” She almost didn’t hear it, as if she was underwater and Emily was far above.

“Did you hear the speaker telling us to ‘make friends’?”

“No?”

“Good. Then you did much better today. Now let’s get the hell out of here.”

-------------------------------------------------

Alone. Manuel was alone, since Laura was away with Emily, and that means Emily was away with Laura, and…

Manuel had been happy to go to the event yesterday night, but with what he learned…maybe he learned a little too much about all this. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone. Maybe he needed to reintroduce himself to the non-werewolf world.

He found Cameron, sitting on the floor in the hallway connecting the larger lunchroom to the school store, his denim jacket hanging loose against the brown brick wall. He was crouched over his phone, his shaggy, dirty-blonde hair draped over one of his eyes.

“Cam?” Manuel said gently, starting to sit down next to Cameron - then deciding to stand - but then thinking -

“Who - hi. I didn’t know you were, you were…” He drawled out. “You were out here. You’ve been with Laura.”

“I just thought I should check in with you,” Manuel said, his eyes locked on the floor. “A lot has happened in the past couple days, and I didn’t really know what you were…”

He tugged at the wires of his earbuds. Tugged at them pointedly.

“Oh…I’m sorry if I was interrupting you…” This happened last time they talked, too; he was watching videos by a man named Peter Randolph, this writer and self-help person from Australia, and a quick glance - don’t look, that’s - showed that he was still watching him. “I’ll leave you be…”

Manuel wound his way back into the main lunchroom, where -

“Manuel?” He looked around for the source of a voice; a red-jacketed arm shot up over the crowd. Alice. He walked over to her.

“Hello. If you wanted to talk about last night, I thought about it, and I shouldn’t have gone.”

“Huh? No, I’m apologizing to you.”

“You…are?”

“Me and Em let you walk out. We showed you around but once something went down we let you go.” Alice sighed. “It’s good that you came. ‘cause Laura needed someone to support her, and we kinda blew it.”

“...thank you. It…was good to meet everybody and learn about…”

“Dogs.”

“Dogs,” and Manuel could see Laura and Emily walking back inside, and they looked like they had something to say.

“Hey,” Emily said. “Do you want to go looking for a black dog?”

-------------------------------------------------

“We thought it was weird when we found that bicycle lying around,” Emily said as they walked along the path.

“But none of you have seen the jumpsuit guy?” Laura asked.

“No,” Emily and Alice agreed, and Manuel joined in too. Laura felt scratching in her hoodie pocket; before they went out to search for the dog, she’d been talked into going back for Gef, even if it cut into their time.

“You have something to add, Jeff?”

Gef hissed. “No. Simply scratching my leg.”

Laura rolled her eyes, sniffed the air, and -

“You smell that too?” Alice said.

“Yeah, I do,” Emily confirmed.

“Um…I don’t smell anything…” Manuel frantically sniffed the air.

“Don’t hurt yourself, Mani,” Emily said. “I can call you that?” Manuel nodded.

“It’s a smell for werewolf noses only?”

“Yeah,” Laura said, “It’s a werewolf, but a weird werewolf.”

“Is it one of those werewolves that can transform no matter what?” Manuel asked.

“No, they smell the same as any werewolf,” Emily answered. “It’s coming from down there.” Emily nodded her head towards a ditch; Laura darted forward, to the edge of it. It looked like a drainage ditch, with rocks on the bottom and a little…the concrete places where the water goes.

“It’s so strong. Should I go down?” Laura asked, but she was already climbing down into it, no matter how much Gef scratched in her hoodie pocket.

“Laura, you sure about that?” Alice asked.

“No, it has to be her. All new recruits are assigned going-into-creepy-dark-holes duty,” Emily said.

The end of the ditch was slightly too small for Laura, so she ducked down and crawled inside. It was… “I can’t see anything.”

“Yes, you can,” Emily reminded.

Oh. Yeah. Laura focused on her eyes, on letting them adjust to the darkness. Let me see in the dark, let me see in the dark, let me - The darkness became darker, no, it wasn’t the dark of buried places, it was the dark of blindness, because her eyes were changing, her eyes were melting away and new eyes were growing in their place, animalistic eyes, her vision came back in clouds, allowing her to see the contours of the little cave, to see three shapes in the back and another shape closer, a lupine shape, the dog, the black dog, whose collar -

Not a collar. Nails, buried in its skin.

Asleep. The dog was asleep.

“Pictures,” Gef hissed, and Laura braced herself to the mud and rocks and little dirty streams with one hand, and pulled her phone from her pocket with the other.

“It’ll wake up,” she whispered, shaking hands fixing tight over the black, unlit phone.

“It can hear you, it can smell you.”

Laura tapped the phone on with her nose, she opened the camera app, she turned on the flash…

“It’ll see…”

“We have to get a picture,” Gef, scrambling out of her pocket, digging his hands into her shoulder. “Else the doctor will never know what it is.”

“I…” The dog growled. No, snored. Asleep, it was still asleep. Laura wrapped her fingers around her phone and hovered her thumb above the button to take the picture, thumb swinging left and right, up and down, in its tremors…

“Laura!” Alice cried from outside the ditch, and the dog growled, and Laura’s grip loosened, and her phone started to slide, she tightened it, took a deep breath, snore or a growl snore or a

She jabbed her thumb onto her phone’s screen. Click.

The flash of light illuminated the shining, orange-yellow eyes of the dog. The flash of light illuminated the shapes in the back and the dog not asleep and the dog’s teeth and

Laura clutched her phone tight, backed away, and ran, stumbling, out of the tunnel and out of the ditch.

“You shouldn’t be out here,” scolded a teacher, stomping across the field towards them. “Past the bike path is no longer district property. Isn’t lunch over at King anyw-”

“Whatever,” Emily said. “We’ll go back onto school property,” and they ambled back to the school, Laura checking behind her the entire way. The dog didn’t follow.

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