#i’m tired of hearing about her. tired of all she represents

[spelllingandthemysteryschool]

we must rid this world of the specter of The Girl

[whatsjulietslastname]

Okay so this is me talking about everything that is wrong with Double Exposure because my first post about it was an angry reaction at the pricefield breaking up news and it wasn’t really diving into it. Obviously don’t read this if you haven’t played the game and do not want to get spoiled. Also, this is going to be long.

First of all, what I really want to speak about and what a lot of people are refusing to accept is how painfully out of character Max is throughout the whole game. “Yeah but she’s ten years older—” Don’t care. That doesn’t mean her entire personality has to change. I’ll say it over and over again, 2014 Max Caulfield would have absolutely despised her adult version. The thing that bugs me the most about 2024 Max Caulfield is how careless she is with her powers. She’s not asking herself where they came from, she doesn’t even freak out, or actually care. In the first game, right after she first rewinds, she constantly has to remind herself that she isn’t dreaming, and that this is real. In this game, she just accepts it, and goes on with her day, and uses her powers for the most useless reasons possible. What about the Max from her nightmare who represents the guilt she felt for using her powers wrong and putting all of those people in danger, you say? Absolutely forgotten. Max uses her powers so she can find items easier and so the people who rejected her in her main timeline want her in the other one. (Yes, after Chloe breaks up with her and expresses her worries about the fact that Max — apparently — uses her powers so things go her way — which is already incredibly out of character, because no, 2014 Max wouldn’t have used her powers on Chloe to avoid conflict, especially after what happened.) That is incredibly manipulative and shitty. SHE WOULDN’T FUCKING SAY THAT. And also, why on Earth would she try and use her powers to avoid her friend’s death when she KNOWS where this is leading. Did she not learn anything from the past? Apparently, she didn’t! And proceeded to completely forget about it all.

Something else that is incredibly annoying and gets tiring after like ten minutes is the amount of awkward sex-related jokes that Max (and every character, somehow) keeps making at any given moment. Pretty sure this was supposed to show us that Max is an adult now and that she hangs out with adults and knows what sex is but that is way too much. Nobody talks like that in real life (and if I ever meet someone who does I’m leaving the conversation). Max also makes cringey jokes all the time, because her dialogue (and hers only, which makes it sound even weirder) is the same as the 2014 one, except it was 2014 back then and it was acceptable. Now, if Max Caulfield says ‘let’s trash, shakabrah’, you’re only making it obvious how much fan-service you filled this game with. It would be funny if she said it to Chloe, because then it would have sounded like an inside joke, except she says it to her new lame love interest who has no idea what she’s talking about, and just. Why. Why would she, Deck Nine. The main problem about the fact that those jokes are thrown at us all the time is that Max’s inner dialogue is almost only focused on them. Something traumatic happens to her? Who cares. She’s gotta make a joke about the rock you pick up and then bring to another universe’s lame love interest who’s gonna reject her anyway and say ‘I’ll never apologize for my dad jokes’ because apparently, we’re never seeing the end of the fan-service in this game.

Chloe is out of character too the only few times we hear of her, but that’s only because Deck Nine makes it obvious how much they despise her. She leaves Max through a very underwhelming letter, which is already out of character enough. She then proceeds to never reach out for years (which is something Max has done to her and that has hurt her, so why the fuck would she do the same thing right after?) And apparently, she doesn’t care. She just moves on, and parties, and kind of starts flirting with Max’s high school bully, and makes cringey posts on the Internet that make her sound like an extremely corny player. That isn’t Chloe Price. That’s someone Chloe Price would make fun of, at most. I kept picturing 2014 Chloe reading the things her adult self apparently posts on social media and freeze in terror. Genuinely. Also, the whole ‘Joyce is dead and Chloe is angry at Max for it’. Sigh. Chloe gave Max the choice. She said ‘you’re the only one who can (make this choice)’. And then, when Max choses her, in front of her, and lets the town get blown away, Chloe says ‘I’ll always be with you’. Why the sudden switch up? Never explained. Chloe is just angry at Max for something she originally wasn’t angry at her for.

The writing in this game is super weak, too. There are a few cool scenes (I’m thinking the one where Safi tells Max to pulls the trigger in the middle of the storm, if you manage to make it past how boringly similar to LiS 1 it feels), but it’s mostly just…meh, at most. For instance, Safi asks Max about Chloe, we learn that Chloe and Max broke up, or that Chloe died, and then without giving us any time to process that, the game forces us to friendzone or flirt with some random girl that is apparently into Max. We don’t have any time to decide if we like her or not, you just take a look at her and decide if Max wants her. The dialogues are more often than not awful too. It sounds like something ChatGPT would write. Nearly every single interaction Max can have with basically anyone feels forced, and like people talk too much, or not enough, people say random thing that makes no sense and nobody cares, we suddenly hear Max’s thoughts in a middle of a conversation, there are awkward moments of silence. Painful to witness. Max has NO chemistry with either of her love interests (though the guy is somehow more interesting than the girl to interact with), and manages to have more romantic moments with her best friend who she’s not supposed to be into than with them. Both those love interests are useless and suck anyway, because they will both end up rejecting Max by the end anyway, and apparently won’t even return, which strikes the question of why the romantic plot lines were even involved. (Which also made me hate Amanda a lot. I guess she is somewhat likable at the beginning of the game, but she gradually becomes annoyingly pushy and ends up telling Max she’s too much to deal with at the end of the game anyway). Also, it’s annoying how obvious it is that the romantic plot line is way more explored with Amanda than it is with Vihn. Stop making Max look like she’s basically a lesbian but not completely because she hooks up with guys sometimes. Stop bisexual erasure, basically.

The game gives up on its own plot in the middle of it. It was promoted as a murder mystery but stop being one after a while to become a What The Hell Is Going On With Safi kind of thing. Also, there’s the whole thing with the detective. Why did they even create him only to treat him as a joke and never explain what happened with him. One of the most confusing thing about this game. What the hell was that for.

The nightmare sequence. God, how I hate it. If you want to deal with Max’s trauma, do it WELL. It’s a go big or go home thing, not a ‘let’s put some sort of references but never properly deal with anything’. IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING. There’s references about Chloe everywhere, and never Chloe. I get it, you don’t want her to be in this game. But if you do want to talk about Max’s trauma, you gotta swallow your pride and put her somewhere anyway. Max can’t have a nightmare about the things that traumatized her without Chloe being there. It just makes it even more obvious how much the studio avoided to put her in the game on purpose. The bathroom scene? God, please, what the fuck was that. Why would Max think of herself as some kind of Nathan Prescott parallel?? The only thing they had in common was pointing a gun at someone. That’s it. That was another poor attempt of the game to try and not put Chloe there but still say ‘look!! Max still thinks about her and is traumatized!! But she somehow dreams about it without seeing her face once!!’ like just stop. And the Dark Room part felt very underwhelming too. Kudos to Hannah Telle for the amazing voice acting on this, but the scene lasted ten seconds. Just don’t put it there, please.

The nightmare isn’t needed in every LiS game. So isn’t the Storm. So aren’t the nosebleed. Why does Diamond get nosebleed because of her powers? That was a Max thing. Daniel didn’t get nosebleed, Alex didn’t get nosebleed, Chris didn’t get nosebleed. (Rachel didn’t get nosebleed either). Why is this suddenly something everybody get because of their powers?? And why do every powers suddenly create Storms. It’s not a common Powers Problem, it was a Rewind Powers thing. God, this makes me mad.

And last but not least. The final choice. It felt so??? Underwhelming??? I use this word a lot, but it’s how the whole game feels for me. The LiS choices are hard to pick. There’s no morally wrong or right answer. It depends on who you are, what you stand for. The first game was about learning how to let go or refuse to let your friend get ruined by fate. The second game was about giving your life up for your brother to have a chance or refusing to give up on what you believe in and what makes you who you are, no matter what. Before the Storm was about protecting your loved ones from the truth or refusing to lie to them and let them hurt. True Colors was about forgive the unforgivable in the name of compassion or hold a grudge in the name of family.

And then there’s this game. ‘Do you wanna join the X-men me and my team of supervillains and take over the world lol’. Why would Max say yes to that. Just why. If you want to play the game in character, it’s obvious that you have to pick ‘refuse’. If you want to play an out of character evil Max just for the sake of it because it’s fun, alright! I don’t blame you. It’s fun. But why on Earth would Max Caulfield agree.

Also, they take you for an idiot with the cat content. Do NOT waste your money on it, you will regret it.

Anyway. This game would’ve been okay if it hadn’t been apart of the LiS franchise, and if it had starred a different main character. I still would’ve thought it was confusing and generally not great, but at least it wouldn’t have felt like such a let down. (Side note: everything I’ve said doesn’t include Moses and Gwen. I want to put them in my pocket and carry them around with me forever. Love them a lot.)

And congratulations if you’ve read this far. I probably would’ve gone ‘I ain’t reading allat’ and scrolled

[obessedwithfictionalmen]

Back to black

John Egan X Pilot! Reader

Summary: The relationship of Y/n and Bucky when they're both at their lowest.

Warning: Toxic relationship/ manipulation/ cheating/ mention of sex/ swearing/ use of Y/n/ abuse of alcohol/

Word count: 1.2k

He left no time to regret

Kept his dick wet

With his same old safe bet

Me and my head high

And my tears dry

Get on without my guy.

Their relationship was toxic, they would fight and make-up all the time. Their arguments would always end up with them being naked in the bed. She was a female pilot; he was a pilot too. They were on the same base, so they always saw each other. Some of the other pilots grew tired of them always fighting, but no matter what happened, they’d still be in love with the other, they were addicted to the thrill and the highs and lows of their relationship. It distracted them from the horror they saw all the time, the sex was an occasion to let everything out, it was often raw and real, they tried to get a grip on reality. But when he drank, he could be really mean. Y/n tried to get out of the situation, but she was like a drug addict, always needing more. So, she would cry in her room, her tears represented all the things she couldn’t have with him; a walk in a park, slow dancing together, going on dates and having deep conversations with him. She had to face the fact that the relationship she was in wasn’t the one her mother described, it was the one her father warned her about.

You went back to what you knew

So far removed

From all that we went through

And I tread a troubled track

My odds are stacked

I'll go back to black.

‘’What do you mean you’re going to London?’’ she asked as she looked at him packing his bags. ‘’I need a break from all this, I need to drink, to get out of here!’’ he said, putting his shirt in his bag. He was going to drink in London, getting back to his old coping habit, or he was going to find another woman to have sex with, his ladies-men reputation was well known by the woman. ‘’Right, cause running away is easier than stay and talk about your feelings’’ she chuckled, but it was filled with anger in her voice. He clenched his jaw as she gritted her teeth. There it was, the anger building up in her stomach, she wanted to punch the wall, choke him and hit him, but she contained herself, like always. ‘’I’m going to London, so whatever you say, won’t change my mind’’ he mumbled, with hint of frustration in his voice. Talking to him was useless, he was going to get drunk, probably going to cheat on her, come back with flowers and do it all again. She felt her throat squeeze, she didn’t want to cry in front of him. ‘’Why did I come here, anyway.’’ She whispered. Bucky looked up at her. ‘’Have fun in London, you know where to find me when you come back. Or I’ll probably be rotting in a potato field in Germany, enjoy your weekend, John’’ she said as she slammed his door. The idea of her being dead didn’t sit well in his mind, but he needed to get out of here, he was starting to lose his mind.

We only said goodbye with words

I died a hundred times

You go back to her

And I go back to

I go back to us.

She coiled up against her door, crying again. They had a fight, she looked at the letter in her hands. A woman named Lexie wrote to him; saying how much she enjoyed the night they spent together in London, and it went on with details of their steamy night. He cheated on her many times before, but it was never confirmed, now, to hold a letter, she felt like her heart was shattering with each word she read. Tears fell on the paper as she continued to read it. Bucky could hear her cry when he entered the building, since she was a woman on a base filled with men, her and the other woman had a private building. He knew that she was crying because of him. She thought she was dying, her heart was painful, each breath she took was hurting her lungs, her head was pounding from all the crying. It wasn’t the first time she ‘died’ it happened multiple times before. When he knocked at her door, he didn’t expect her to open it that fast. ‘’What the fuck do you want?’’ she tried to yell, but her voice cracked, showing all the pain she was in. ‘’Darling, I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, I feel so fucking bad right now, please let me in’’ he pleaded. She didn’t have any energy to fight with him, she let him inside her room, he closed the door, slowly, as he looked at her. She looked so tired, in pain and hurt. ‘’I know you won’t forgive me, and I’ve said it before, but this time, I promise you that I truly fucking mean it, she meant nothing. It’s really hard for me to talk about my feelings, I was about to go crazy, the second I kissed her I regretted it. Y/n, please look at me’’ she didn’t want to hear him, but he sounded so sincere. ‘’How do I know this time is different?’’ she whispered. ‘’I don’t know what to tell you, but I swear on everything I have, I’m going to change, no more messing around, I love you, and I can’t keep hurting you.’’ His eyes filled with tears. ‘’Y/n, I love you and I’m begging you, please you have to believe me, you can ask Buck, I’ve thrown away all my alcohol, and I – ‘’ Y/n cut him off, placing her hands on his. ‘’Just shut up and kiss me’’ she said, her voice filled with pain, again. Bucky kissed her, putting his both hands on her cheek. He tenderly kissed her lips. ‘’I love you so much’’ he praised between kisses.

She didn’t know if that promise was true, but she was going to take whatever he was willing to give, because they needed each other, one couldn’t live without the other. The adrenaline, the love; they craved each other. So whatever he gave her, she was going to take it, or she was going back to black…

[wisteriaiswriting]

Reyna, Sova, Fade and Breach getting proposed to.

ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕒𝕝

Words: 951

You had gone to Brimstone with the request of a week off, as you and your partner, Reyna or as you call her by Zyanya, were going back to Mexico. She was ecstatic to return, you were as well but you had another idea in mind. And the locals were more than willing to help.

The first day was spent browsing some jewelry stores before commissioning a place, specifically for a ring. The metal was the best gold they had, with shining magenta stones placed in it.

For the next few days while the ring was being completed you let her show you around, not surprisingly all the locals loved you. At some point they started guiding you both towards the area’s centre, with everyone surrounding it. So she got rightfully suspicious.

“What have you done?”

“Zyanya, I think everyone can agree with me here,” Taking a deep breath before you continued, grabbing the ring to show her. “You’ve changed my life, and everyone’s for the better, and I’m hoping you’re willing to do it for the rest of my life?”

It was almost laughable at how you looked right now, but not maliciously.

“Of course, Estimado.”

Letting you place the ring on her finger before pulling you close for a kiss. Hearing everyone cheer for the two of you.

***

Estimado - dear

The room was filled with conversation and the crackling of the fire. Sasha sat next to his Babuska while you were on her other side, this was a night she would love to have again. Soon enough he noticed how fidgety you were slowly becoming.

“Голубь, are you alright?”

Taking a deep breath as you stood up, reaching into your pocket to pull out the box.

“Sasha, ты выйдешь за меня?”

The other two paused, his Babuska wasn’t surprised, she was waiting for his response. Relaxing as he started laughing, reaching around into his back pocket. Only to pull out… another box.

“Y/N, it seems you’ve gotten quicker.” Covering the space inbetween you two in a few steps, “But yes, I’ll spend the rest of my life with you.”

***

Голубь - Dove

ты выйдешь за меня? - will you marry me?

She never thought about marriage.

It was generally hard to think about it when almost every thought was a nightmare, but that's all you were thinking about. Hazal was the only girl you want to spend the rest of your life with, unable to imagine yourself with anyone else.

With hope in your mind you brought the rings, one with a light blue gem, representing her right eye colour. You could, and have spent hours staring into her own eyes, and you’d never get tired of it. The other one held a [colour] gem, matching your own. Keeping them safe in your pocket until the right time, which came soon enough.

You were still awake until the late of night, unable to sleep knowing what you were planning. Hazal on the other hand fell asleep easily enough, staying asleep was the difficult part. At one point she gave up opting to lay on your stomach while on her phone, talking about anything that came to mind.

Reaching over to the bedside table, grabbing the two rings.

“What happened this time?”

She sighed before responding.

“They went after you, I don’t know what they did but…” Hearing her voice crack broke your heart, pulling her closer. “You didn’t return.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Curious, she looked up, eyes meeting yours before moving to the rings. “Please Hazal, let me into your mind and do whatever I can to help.”

Her eyes teared up slightly before she blinked, moving up to pull you into a harsh kiss. Showing you how she felt at that moment, mumbling something before going in for another kiss.

“I won’t let them touch you, benim rüyam.”

***

benim rüyam - my dream

Marriage wasn’t something Erik thought about often, maybe once or twice in his younger years. Ever since he started dating you though, those thoughts have skyrocketed. It wouldn’t be your normal wedding due to… ya know, everything really.

Luckily enough for him you have also been thinking about marriage. For anyone else you would’ve spent a good chunk of your paycheck on a ring, but this is Erik you’re talking about. He doesn’t care for expensive rings, so something personal is what you are looking for.

So you went to one of his closest friends about this, Raze. She was ecstatic to take part in this, starting on it instantly. She had finished within the day, pushing aside any other projects to complete this one. Handing them and a necklace over to you she shoved you out of the room, following you all the way to the gym.

Which is where you found him, Skye and deadlock. The latter two were across the room, while Breach had just grabbed his bag to leave. All three of them paused and looked over to the now open door.

“Babe!”

“Erik, I have something to ask you.”

“Did I do something?”

Silently laughing at him before pulling the rings from behind your back. Looking at him as you opened your hand.

“Erik Torsten, will you marry me?”

The room went silent, you held your breath. His eyes went wide while his mouth opened, his arms moved slightly before pausing.

“YES!”

In seconds he had dropped his bag, moved over to you and threw you up into the air before catching you. Holding you close as your arms wrapped around his neck, careful to not drop the rings. Leaning back just enough to clasp the necklace onto him, Erik placing you down soon after.

He took your ring and ever so carefully, placing it on your finger. Beaming when he succeeded.

[issatalk]

“Meu Amor”

pairing: inês bettencourt x oc

fluff

prompts:

inês is out playing with the portugal team and you surprise her

“meu amor, i miss you so much” inês said with a slight pout on the face, she was on her fiba europe tournament representing Portugal in Lithuania. she had been extremely excited all summer over that tournament and had been telling you on how she hoped she was picked so she could represent her country. “ i miss you too baby, so much, i wish i could be there with you” i said not lying in a single word, i truly missed my girl and being 30 hrs away from one another with a 7 hour time difference was heavy on both. “ i wish i could hug you and kiss you, i miss those big cheeks “ she said with a sly smile at the last phrase. i laughed the least i could because being sick in the summer sucks and not being to able to be with your girlfriend for something she loves also sucks but laughing and your throat hurting sucked even more.

“i’m finally on my last days of meds, i’m definetly feeling better! how was your game? how did you feel?” i said trying to get some words out of her “ well in all honestly we were pretty tense at first, i guess we were nervous but after a while we got the hang of eachother and did pretty well. i dedicated you a basket”

“oh yeah? which one?” i laughed know she just came up with that, whenever she plays she is always locked in and doesn’t think about anything but the game,but i let her keep talking. “the one where i did a right handed reverse layup” a big smile came out of her proud of her accomplishment on court. “well ok, if you say so” i was getting tired the time delay had me crazy and all i wanted was to be with my girl, she was doing some stuff around her hotel room “hey babe” i said “i’m going to sleep now, it’s late and you know i’ve got to get some rest” “ oh yeah of course, i love you, sleep well and get better please” i smiled hanging up the phone.

to her surprise she didn’t know i was lying, i was sick and did feel bad from time to time but i was on my way out of being sick and on my way to Lithuania. ever since she got the news on her secured placed for the team i knew i had to give her a big surprise, i told her that i wouldn’t be able to go and that i had to stay over summer for work and family, when really i had bought plane tickets and reserved my hotel to watch her in every single game. knowing how much this meant for her i knew she would love this. i was on my way to the airport and finally after a couple of layovers i was exhausted. in the process i had received messages from inês that she wanted to facetime but i had to make up excuses saying i was too tired and felt bad. i actually felt kind of bad for lying to her but i knew it would be so worth it. a whole day without hearing her voice i was exhausted from all the traveling.

as i took a taxi to take me to my hotel i swear i was going to faint, how do people deal with this it’s just too much. arrived at the hotel checked in and had my room ready, i ran like a little kid as fast as i could to my room, key in hand i opened the door and as soon as i was inside i plugged my phone and fell asleep hard.

i woke up to my ringtone and checked the screen, inês was calling “ shit” i said to myself, what would i say to her? she will notice the background being unusual, maybe i will just tell her i am out somewhere, yeah let’s say that. with my hair in a big mess and the darkest eyes bags in the world i ran to the bathroom coating my face with cold water to wake up,knowing she might get upset if i don’t respond since it’s been almost two days of my traveling, then i hear the ringing stop but a bunch of notifications sounds came up. oh was she worried now. “shit, ughhh” this surprise was going heaviness than expected.

i read her messages and they went something alike ‘are you feeling better?, goodnight love you, we won!!, goodmorning to the most beautiful girl!, are you okay baby?, are you okay? in worried you haven’t been answering’ and in all honestly i was so tired i lacked mobile service the whole trip and all of the wifi sucked so i most definitely had not been notified of her messages through the whole trip. i now feeling bad for everything called her. “inês hello baby” i tried to say as cheerful as i could with all the little energies i had, i put on a big smile for my girl. “ meu amor, você me deixou preocupado” she said quickly definitely as she said worried. “ oh no, don’t worry i am ok it’s just been really long couple of days and you know they are heavy” “ oh, i’m glad you are okay, i was so worried, how are you feeling now ? do i finally have a healthy girlfriend to kiss when i get back home?” i laughed out loud “yes i am officially well of health” yeah right ms.big eye bags “i’m so glad” “ i’ve been seeing your games! but how do you feel?you have been doing amazing bringing the team good points and amazing assistance as always”i commented changing the topic so she didn’t notice and would concentrate on something else,”the girls have been good” and she went on ranting about everything going on. god i cant wait to kiss her again she’s so beautiful and i’m only watching on a screen cannot wait to see her in real life.

the morning went on as our talk was cut short because she had a game later in the evening so she had to warmup and all that. i took my opportunity to shower, get ready, did my make up and dressed cute in her UConn jersey. took a taxi to the stadium and i was so nervous to surprise her, thankfully i had reached out to one of her closest friends from the team and was getting updates from everything going on. she and i had been communicating and she was the only one who knew i would be surprising her and helped me get everything set up. heading to the stadium and arriving i made sure to text anya that i was here and also sent a good luck text to inês like always just so she didn’t start suspecting anything. i sat in the public section and hoped she didn’t see me till the end.

as the game went on portugal was a couple points down but they still had 5 minutes in the fourth quarter. inês was in the game, as you cheered from the bleachers still not spotted by your girlfriend, you kept screaming and cheering for the team. they were catching up and were only five points apart and in that moments inês had just banked a three and as loud cheers came from your mouth , celebrating that your girl had been closing the game up. her teammates kept playing a to a near lever of the actual floor and as inês and the team were going into the hall to go to their locker rooms, anya had spotted you and told you exactly at what time the team would go to the bus so that you could come out of it before everyone went in.

you followed her instructions clearly, as you were now on the bus that would take them to the same hotel you were staying in. a few minutes passed and you were talking to the driver about stupid and common things, you received a notification “ babe! we won!!” a text from inês came in, along with a bunch of smiley face emojis. in that exact moment you also received a text from anya saying they were on their way, which made cut the conversation with the driver as she closed the doors so you could surprise your girl.

as you saw them walk out of the building all in their uniforms with their sweats and full of bags you knew this was the time. they kept approaching the bus and as soon as the doors were opening you waited until someone stepped in , anya. as soon as she was in she told you that everyone in the team knew and that it’s for to go out, those words fell out of her mouth which made me run out of the bus. i went down the steps and every turned to look at me while my girlfriend was looking at something in her bag, a teammate poked her arm, then she turned and looked up.

she stayed still, but a big smile started to form on her mouth, she ran as quick as she could dropping everything and went straight to hugging you. the hug was so full and felt so comfortable, finally being back into my girlfriends arms. we separated and her questions came right up “meu amor,what are you doing here omg” she looked at me in shock, inspecting my face to look out for any answer “i though you were in connecticut, i can’t believe you are here”. “surpriseee” i said with a big smile, she hugged me again and gave me a small peck.

while the team was on their way to the hotel on the bus i had to call a taxi once again. as soon as my ride arrived at the hotel, inês was waiting for me at the entrance. “let me hold this bag for you pretty lady” she said in an exaggerated deep voice, i only laughed as we started talking. arriving in my room now ours, i went ahead and explained her my whole plan” i know how important this is for you and i wnat to make it known that i’m willing to be there for you always” i told her, my words full of sincerity “meu amor, i love you, thank you for this”

[littlemissmentallyunstable]

title: all those words hidden in the silence

pairing: kitt azer x (first person reader)

synopsis: you break into the castle for a mission where you may have to assassinate the king but you fancy teasing him a little first… given your history

warnings: swearing, intense-ness

a/n: don’t ask me how or why this idea came to me but it was super fun to write :)) btw the crossed out parts are to represent her ‘forbidden’ thoughts

taglist: @fleuriosa @midiosaamor @whatsamongus @zaraaaabear @lovethornes @emelia07 @sweetreveriee @userxs-blog @anintellectualintellectual @off-to-the-r4ces @hermesenthusiast

“Pretty night for a murder don’t you think,” I grin, swinging my dagger between my fingers nonchalantly.

The king turns around. The look of shock on his face leaves me satisfied but like any addiction, a part of me craves more. I watch as he slowly pales when he meets my eyes. I wasn’t sure he could pale any more, he looks like he hasn’t eaten in days. The king is weak. Perfect.

“Very pretty,” he muses, keeping on the diplomatic mask he’s crafted for himself, “the blood will match your new outfit.”

“Taking notes about what I wear now?” I raise an eyebrow, approaching him slowly. My steps long and swift, almost a glide. I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs in his neck as he swallows and wonder if he’s nervous.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” he sighs with a blank stare, “it’s just a change from seeing you in rags, did that little seamstress friend of our silver saviour sew it for you?”

He hits a nerve and he knows it as the corner of his mouth turn up to form malicious smirk. I want to rip it off of his cruelly beautiful face and tear each part into a million pieces of nothingness. So he can finally be the nothing he made her.

“You murdered Adena,” I growl, not bothering to hide my burning rage. Unlike the king, I’m not a fan of wearing a mask. I don’t play pretend, I don’t mess about, I’m real.

He dares to take a step closer to me, “she was collateral damage.”

“Why don’t I make you collateral damage?” I snarl, gripping tighter to my dagger. My knuckles turn white.

“It’s my talent sweetheart,” he tells me, “I’d be careful if I were you.”

His green eyes blaze with a synthetic fierceness. I laugh, throwing my head back and holding my stomach. He’s taken off guard and stares at me in bewilderment.

“Oh sorry,” I snort, trying to pull myself together, “it’s just hilarious to me that you think you’ll be doing the killing tonight.”

“I wouldn’t get so giggly sweetheart,” he murmurs, getting closer still, looming over me to cast his cowardly shadow, “you know I could if I wanted to.”

“No I don’t actually, you’ve had countless opportunities to do it,” I scoff, “so tell me, brave king, noble king, why haven’t you killed me yet?”

He paralyses for a second and I have the golden opportunity to end him right there. Lunge forwards and impale him with my handmade dagger. Watch the blood leak from his lifeless body. See as the last flicker of light leaves those hypnotising emerald eyes. But I don’t. I don’t do it and I don’t know why.

“You know why,” he whispered, sending a shiver down my spine. It’s like he’s answering both the question in my head and the one I had said aloud.

I quirk my eyebrow upwards and fold my arms, I won’t let him do this to me, he can’t play the vulnerable card before I do, “do I?” I ask.

“Are you going to make me say it?” he murmurs so quietly I can hear my heart thumping my chest, “is that what you want from me?”

So it’s true. He still loves me like I love him. And he won’t kill me because of it. Good. I have an advantage.

“Are you brave enough to say it?” I mumbled, tilting my face upwards to really look at him.

He’s still my Kitt. I can see past his pretence, far past it. I always have been able to. And even with his tired eyes and hollowed cheeks, colder gaze and harsher tone, beneath all of that he’s the boy I used to know. The boy I fell for in too many ways. The boy who was vulnerable with me. The boy who I was vulnerable with.

“I have guards posted on every door,” he diverts the conversation, “how did you get past them?”

I get the answer to my previous question. He is not brave enough to admit it. He’s still a coward then.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” my lips draw into a thin smile.

“You know I could have you killed in an instant,” he muses, “my guards will obey my every wish, it wouldn’t be me to do it.”

He won’t call them. I already know it. But I’ll play his game, as tedious as manipulation is it serves well in the end.

“Too bad you won’t be able to reach them,” I shrug softly.

His face hardens, “what did you do?”

I don’t reply, staring at my nails to prove my disinterest. He tries calling for them, for help, for anyone. I yawn and roll my eyes. They won’t come. They don’t come. I see a flicker of rage in his eyes, a furious spark ignites somewhere inside of him. At least he looks less like a dead man walking when angry, at least now he had passion about something.

“What did you do!” he yells, his booming voice remaining me of his father, making me feel a little queasy.

“Demanding me isn’t going to make me tell you,” I say fiercely, “I’m not one of your subject Kitty.”

He flinches at the nickname. It’s like a reflex he has no control over. The mask cracks slightly. Whoops.

He glares at me, regaining his pathetic royal composure, the facade that is everything but him, “where’s my brother?”

“I don’t know,” I say.

“Yes you do,” he insists.

“No I don’t,” I exclaimed.

“TELL ME!” he screams, madly clawing at my arms, pinning me to the wall behind us.

My back hits it with an awkward thump. Pain rolls across my body and I bite my lip. He has me at the wrists, forcing me to drop my beloved dagger. Our faces are so close they nearly touch. I wonder if he can see the scar on my left eyebrow, the one he gave me. I don’t tear my gaze from his and for what feels like hours he stare at each other panting like exhausted dogs. His hands slowly drop my wrists and trail gently down my face. I’ve missed his touch. They reach my neck and in a sudden jerky movement he clasps his hands around it. I gasp, he smiles something blazing in his eyes. He’s hungry to witness my pain. Shame he’ll have to starve tonight.

“Go on,” I murmur, “strangle me, do it, I dare you.”

He breathes heavily, looking into my eyes like he used to after all those times we’d kissed. A mix of emotions rise into my chest, a bittersweet mixture of all I want to forgot. Part of me thinks it might be worth dying, if it’s at his hands.

“You can’t,” I whisper, “can you?”

“What do you want?” he asks hoarsely, dropping his arms and taking a step back. Disappointment hits my stomach. I didn’t want him to let go.

“Oh honey,” I say, strutting past him, “there’s a long list.”

“Tell me what you want,” he walks infront of me, stopping my tracks, “and I will let you walk out of here alive.”

“You won’t kill me either away,” I say, “what good is that promise?”

“Don’t be so sure,” Kitt says, “I might not do it myself but there are others who will. So what do you want?”

“At this current moment,” I ask, taking a step closer to him so I can feel him breathe.

He nods, “name it.”

“I want your blood,” I whisper, pushing him down harshly onto a chair, “on my dagger, your cold lifeless body in my arms,” I say, your lips on my lips I don’t.

A ghost of a smile haunts his empty features, as he grabs my chin, “you’re a pretty liar, but not a good enough one.”

“Do you want to test me?” I ask, straddling him so I’m sat on his lap. For the plan to work I need to be a distraction, that’s all this is, I reassure myself. I ignore the fact that I want to be in this position.

“Tell me this makes you feel nothing,” he says in a low voice, running his soft hands up my thighs and then up to the small of my back where he holds me like I’m weightless, like I’m a dancer.

I gasp sharply. All my oxygen stolen by a thief with emerald eyes. The same theif who stole my heart.

“Look me in the eye and tell me this makes you feel nothing,” he repeats again.

I can’t do it. And he knows it. This makes me feel more than I’ve felt in a long time. I open my mouth to reply but two rough unfamiliar sets of hands grab my arms. I look behind to see two guards on me.

Kitt grins, something cruel in his smirk make my heart ache, “two can play at the manipulation game sweetheart,” he says.

Sweetheart. My toes curl at the thought of being his sweetheart. I want to kick myself and then sob in a heap. I’d let my guard down again. I’d been vulnerable again. I’d let myself take it all as one big joke again. He wasn’t my Kitt anymore and I was naive to think he could be. I’d failed the mission, I’d failed to kill him, I’d failed to manipulate him, I’d failed to play it smart.

He just stands there, over me, crown looking too heavy for his head. I hate that look he’s giving me. I attempt to lunge at him but the guards’ grip is too strong and I’m held back. He’s still smirking at me. I spit in his face.

“Aren’t you beautiful when you’re angry,” he taunts, unbothered by my undignified behaviour.

I’d been so cocky before. How stupid did I look now?

“Fuck you Kitt,” I shout, a rawness in my voice that I didn’t recognise.

He chuckles, “not so sarcastic now are we?”

“I’m going to kill you,” I look at him, a dead seriousness set in my expression.

“That’s what you came here to do though and as it happens I’m not dead,” he shrugs at me. I wish his eyes weren’t so pretty to stare at.

“They’ll end you Kitt,” I tell him, “they’re planning to end you.”

Am I threatening him or am I warning him? I can’t tell anymore. My mind is too conflicted to decide.

“And I will destroy every last one until there’s just you and I,” he murmurs, before standing up and issuing his kingly orders, “take her to a holding cell boys.”

a/n: thanks for reading 🤍🤍 I promise more of my req fic will be posted soon

powerless masterlist

[yourlocalmerchgirl]

Your Person

Bobby Goren X neurodivergent F!reader

Summary: Bobby has spent most if his life feeling like he didn't belong, that it wasn't possible for him to connect with someone the way everyone else does, that is until me meets you, his person.

Warnings: Cannon level violence and language. So much fluff, love and acceptance. mentions of Panic, anxiety and death/dying. Minimal use of Y/N. Very little physical description of reader

Authors note: This is story was a labor of love and my love letter to Bobby Goren and the way Vincent D'Onofrio played him. I've never connected with or seen myself represented in a character the way I do with Bobby Goren. I dont think you need to of seen Law and Order: Criminal Intent to enjoy this story.

The midsummer sun shinned down on Bobby’s face as he walked to the coffee shop. The sun feels similar to warmth that spreads throughout his chest whenever he sees you. The smile you always give him. God that smile. It’s different than the smile you give everyone else around you.

He can’t help but smile thinking about the day you met. How flustered and embarrassed you were when you’d run into him causing his coffee to spill everywhere. How he felt something tug In his chest when your big hazel eyes looked into his when you realized it spilled on him. He wanted to wrap his arms around you and tell you it was ok when it was clear you were prepared to be yelled at.

Bobby knew the moment he started falling for you. He tried to fight it at first because it scared the shit out of him. Pretty much resigning to the fact that he’d always be alone. His job was demanding, which was hard for a lot people to deal with. So he had stopped entraining anything that wasn’t serious. He wanted someone to share a life with, someone that would accept him, quarks and all. So he didn’t want to waste what little free time he had with someone who only wanted sex.

As he dips into the cafe the cashier greets him with a tired smile.

“Welcome in, just to let you know we close in 10 minutes”

“No problem, I’ll have a large coffee cream and sugar”

“Oh, Ah is (y/n) in today?”

“Umm I’m going to grab the owner” she replies eyeing him suspiciously.

Bobby doesn’t blame her, she doesn’t know him, he hasn’t been in, in about a month. She’s doing the safe thing by getting someone.

“Hey, theres this guy out front that I’ve never seen before asking for Y/N”

“Ok, I’ll go up and check it out. Why don’t you start your end of day tasks”

Stacey makes her way to the front to see who’s asking for you. She’s very happy to see it’s Bobby, the one person you’ve really taking a liking too since he started coming in.

“Hey Bobby, sorry about that”

“It’s no problem, I know she was just being safe, doing the right thing”

“She’s here, back in her usual spot doing some ordering on her laptop” Stacey says as she hands him his coffee.

“I wont stay long, I know your trying to close up”

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. She’ll be really happy to see you, but you didn’t hear that from me” Stacey chuckles.

She’ll be happy to see me?

Bobby is rounding the corner into the seating area at the exact moment you happen to look up from your laptop.

The way you light up sends a sea of warmth crashing against his chest. He waves awkwardly and you return the wave.

“Hi” he say unable to contain the smile dancing across his face.

“Bobby! Hi. You’re alright?” The smile creeps across your face.

“What do you mean I’m alright?” He asks tilting his head to the side to watch your expression as he sits.

Fuck. You can feel your skin heating up as you pull your eyes down too your laptop.

He realizes by your reaction that he sounded accusatory when he didn’t mean too.

“I didn’t mean for that to sound that way”

“I didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just been a while since I’d seen you in…uh not that I expect you to come in. I know you’re busy. I um just was worried when it had been a while.” At this point youre face is on fire, you’re making an absolute fool of yourself with your word vomit.

She worries about me

“We’ve had several intense cases back to back. We pretty much were working around the clock. Only went home to sleep. Not that I was really sleeping either.” He says studying you intently, trying desperately to figure out if you feel the palpable connection that’s between the two of you.

“I wish I’d know, I would have brought some stuff from the cafe down for you and your partner.”

“That’s really very sweet of you”

“It’s not like you come in everyday, but regularly enough that I just thought something might of happened to you in the line of duty” you say without thinking, almost like you’d forgotten you were talking to him.

Bobby tilts his head trying to look at your face.

“You really were worried about me. I didn’t mean to worry you”

The realization crashing down on you like a brick. Fuck. I really said that out loud.

“I ah. Man I’m saying a lot of things. I’m sorry I’m trying not to be weird. Didn’t really mean to say that out loud” you say dragging your hands down your face as you pull your eyes up to find him already looking at you.

His deep brown eyes are soft, his smile kind as he watches you.

“No it’s not like that. It’s nice to know someone’s worried about me.”

“I’m sure lots of people are worried about you, you’re pretty awesome.”

OH MY GOD. I need to stop talking. What the hell am I doing. This man is not interested in my flattery. Where is literally anyone to cut into this conversation to save me from myself.

Just then as if you materialized her yourself you notice Stacey over Bobby’s shoulder coming towards the two of you.

“Did our girl over here tell you she’s testing out some new recipes for the bakery case? And that she’s knocking it out of park?”

“No she didn’t, she must of forgotten to tell me how much of a badass she is.”

Your face is beat read at that point, meanwhile the both of them are smiling ear to ear talking about you.

“Yea she’s like that, she’s too modest really. I tell her all the time she needs to brag about her pastries more often”

“Man you two are quiet the pair today” you laugh

“Besides, why brag about myself, I’m just an average baker. I’m no Gordon Ramsay”

“I don’t see Gordon Ramsay making apple danishes and apple bread. I bet you could kick his ass” Stacey adds as you all begin to laugh.

Bobby relishes bring included in this moment of banter. Seeing how light and free you are when your wall is completely down and there’s no anxiety in sight.

“I’d love to try them, can I?” Bobby cuts in.

He doesn’t miss the way your face lights up at his comment.

“Sure, I think there’s still some left from my test batch this morning let me go check”

You say before going out back to check.

“Can I ask you something about her?” Bobby asks, his voice soft with a hint of hesitation.

“Of corse you can, though I might not give you a answer”

Bobby can’t help but smile at Stacey’s direct protectiveness of you. He’s happy you have a friend like her.

“Does she have a boyfriend?”

“No she doesn’t” Stacey says arching your eyebrow in curiosity.

“Do you think she’d want to go to dinner with me?”

Stacey looks over her shoulder to see if you were coming before answering.

“I’m going to be real honest for a second. Yes, honestly I think she would love to go to dinner with you. She really enjoys when you come in and truly was worried something had happened to you when you didn’t for a while. But with that being said don’t ask her if you’re not serious about going actually. Don’t ask her just to blow her off or to only get what you want when it’s convenient for you.”

“I get where your coming from”

“I’m not trying to say you’re the type to do that. She just-she has a big heart and people love to take advantage of that. She doesn’t trust or open up easy. At times she has crippling anxiety. So just be patient with her. Your smart and perspective, I’m sure you’ve noticed that her anxiety eases when she sees that you’re here”

Bobby knows exactly what Stacey’s talking about. He picked up on your anxiety immediately, notcing that over time when he’d come in at peak times you’d sometimes be drowning in your anxiety. But he swore you’d look up and connect eyes with you and he’d see your expression soften, your body become less tense. He always thought it was his eyes playing tricks on him, letting himself see what he wanted to see. But Stacey confirming it was real made the fire in his chest burn hotter.

As they can hear you coming back Stacey leans in quickly to Bobby so you don’t hear.

“She finds comfort in you, please don’t take that for granted”

Bobby nods, you’re too close now to respond. He appreciates the serious heart to heart with Stacey.

“Hey sorry it took so long, I think they taste better heated up so I was waiting for the little oven to heat up so I could warm them up for you”

“Well I’ll leave you guys to it, I’ll be in the office for a bit doing payroll. Welcome back Bobby, it was nice to see you” Stacey offers before leaving the two of you alone.

“Thank you, you didn’t have to go through all that trouble for me”

“Oh no it’s no worries, really. Oh I ah should have asked do you need it packed up? You probably need to get back to work.”

“Im actually all done for the day. But I can go, I’m sure you want to go home.” Bobby says as he starts to stand, worried he’s over stayed his welcome.

“Oh ok, here let me pack these up for you”

You’re disappointed, Bobby can tell by your tone. He feels clueless navigating stuff like this sometimes. He never wants to come off as over baring or clingy, he’s been sold so many times that needy guys aren’t attractive.

“It was nice to see you today, hope you like the pastries” you offer unable to tamp down your smile. There was just something about Bobby that drew you too him, that made you feel like there’s this electricity between the two of you.

Bobby’s half way through the doorway when he doubles back. His hearts pounding but he just has to do it.

“Sorry, one more thing. Would you like to go to dinner with me sometime?”

“Like…on a date?” You ask shifting on your feet nervously. It couldn’t be could it?

“Yes, If you’d want that. If not id still like to go as friends.” Bobby wonders if you can see if his heart pounding in is chest because, fuck- he was nervous.

“I’d really like that…to go on a date with you”

A genuine smile rolls so quickly over both of your faces as both of you look at each other in awe.

You go around the counter to get a piece of paper and a pen.

“Here, this is my number just let me know when it works with your schedule and I can make it work with mine”

“Heres mine as well”

The way your fingers graze his when you take his card send electricity shooting through his whole body.

“I’m off the whole week because of all the over time I’ve worked, are you free tomorrow or is that to short notice?”

“No, that works for me I can do that”

Your smile makes Goren feel like he’s the only person in the world.

“Does 5 o’clock work?”

“Works for me”

“Where can I pick you up?”

“You can pick me up here”

“Oh ah I don’t want to rush you, making you get ready here”

“Oh” you let out a little laugh. “I just live upstairs. Stacey and I both do”

“Just ring the buzzer for Apartment 1 next to the graffiti covered door and I’ll come right down”

——————————————————————

The buzzer sounds as you quickly pad across your apartment to the call box.

“Hello”

“Hey it’s Bobby, sorry I’m a little early”

“It’s ok, let me grab my shoes and I’ll be right down”

Bobby fidgets with his hands, rubbing his thumb into the palm of the opposite hand while he waits.

He can’t help the smile that comes at just hearing the door click open and it only grows as you open the door and step out on to the sidewalk. The way the early evening sun hits you makes you look ethereal.

“You look beautiful, I like your dress” Bobby beams.

“Thank you so much, I had to get it when I saw it, but never had a reason to wear it” you smile.

“You look very handsome” you try to turn away but he catches a glimpse of you blushing. Bobby thinks it’s so cute when to get shy like this.

“I really like your suite, it’s a nice color on you” you say reaching over and rubbing the fabric between your index finger and thumb. “It’s soft too” you say with a smile.

Bobby lets out a content hum, the sound makes you painfully aware that you actually did in-fact feel the fabric of his suite coat.

“Oh god I’m sorry” you say pulling your focus to the ground. “I have this bad habit of feeling the texture of things”

“It’s ok, I get it. You’re a tactile person. Please don’t feel bad. I also have a bad habit of touching things. Picking things up and checking them out or playing with them. And most people really don’t like it when you touch their stuff. I try not to but I just can’t help myself.”

“You can feel my dress if you want”

Bobby can’t help but smile at the gesture and the meaning behind it.

His finger tips lightly graze the bare skin of your arm as he takes the fabric of your sleeve between his fingers.

The little giggle that bubbles out of you when the sensation of his touch tickles you leaves him breathless.

To any just passerby this scene unfolding must look awkward. And it is, but it is the must beautiful kind of awkward. The both of you showing vulnerable glimpses of yourselves to one another and being met with nothing but acceptance.

“Do you like Italian food? There’s a great place near here I thought I could take you too, if you’d like”

“I love Italian, that sounds great”

The two of you fall into comfortable small talk as you walk to the restaurant.

The two of you are met with a warm happy welcome when you walk into a quaint restaurant.

“Welcome back, Bobby! Your usual table and meal tonight?” The hostess says with a smile.

He comes here often

“I…ah actually would like table for two tonight” Bobby responds as he turns to smile at you.

“Wonderful, right this way” the waitress beams

“Their food is very good here. The veal parmesan is my favorite but you really can’t go wrong with anything here”

“Can I get anything else to drink besides water for the two of you?”

“I’ll have a glass of red wine please”

“And for you miss?”

“Oh, just water is ok for me”

“I’ll ah I’ll just stick with water too”

“No, no it’s ok, please have the wine”

“Sorry I should have asked if you were ok with alcohol.”

“Really it’s ok. It’s not like that. I just… I’m admittedly very nervous about tonight so if I mix that with alcohol, I’ll just talk your ear off” you laugh.

“I think I’d like that” he smiles. He could listen to you talk all night long.

It’s at this point you’re painfully aware that the restaurant is getting very busy. A huge party arrived taking over one whole side of the tiny space. You’re trying to ignore it, to just focus on the sound of Bobby’s soothing voice. You so badly want tonight to go well, and certainly having a panic attack within the middle of the restaurant would not help in that.

The two of you order dinner, as the loud drone of conversations are crashing together. Your heart starts pounding as all the chatter becomes impossible to sort through. You squirming around in your seat as you try to sooth yourself doesn’t go unnoticed by Bobby. He sees your pulse quickening in the glow of the restaurant, as your eyes squeeze shut. He knows right away you’re having a panic attack without you having to say anything as he springs into action.

Quietly he goes up to the hostess, explaining that you’re not feeling well and asks to pay for dinner and for it to-go.

When he turns back you’re gripping the table so tightly your knuckles are white.

Bobby kneels down next to you,smoothing his hand up and down your back. The way you relax into his touch fills his chest with that familiar warm sensation.

“Why don’t we go” he softly says into your ear.

I really fucking did it now

Letting out a pained sigh you slowly stand. You can’t even bring yourself to look at him as he guides the two of you out of the restaurant, his hand never leaving your lower back.

“Are you ok?” He tilts his head trying to look at your face.

You can feel yourself retreated further and further inward, embarrassed and upset with yourself.

“I should go, I’m sorry I ruined your night. Thank you for taking me out, or atleast trying too”

You turn to walk away but Bobby reaches out for your arm, stopping you in your tracks.

“Please wait. I’ll take you home if you’d like. But you need to know you’d your not ruining my night.”

“That’s very nice of you but…” you start but Bobby cuts you off when he sees tears in your eyes.

“Hey, do you like ice cream? What if we got ice cream and walked around the park?

“Wait you want to continue our date by getting ice cream when we couldn’t even get though dinner”

“I won’t tell if you won’t” Bobby smirks

“Ok” you smile

“Maybe there will be a lot of ducks at the pound” you say smiling up at him as the two of you exit the ice cream parlor.

“You like animals” it’s less of a question and more of making a mental note out loud.

“I do. I love animals. I like them more than most people because all they want is to give and receive unconditional love. They don’t judge you. They’re just there for you.”

“I never thought about it that way, but you’re right. It really is unfair that some of us have to feel that way.”

“It is because I don’t think you ever fully get used to being an acquired for most people. I just wish It hadn’t taken me so long to realize most people were just using me.”

Bobby’s both saddened and surprised by your comment. On one hand it hurts him that you’ve ever had to feel this way, that you’ve had to experience that same kind of loneliness. And on the other hand he’s never had someone pull the thoughts right out of his own head, to be able put to words to what that exact feeling is like.

A thought occurred to Bobby- Would she let me hold her hand. Before he can stop himself hes sliding his hand softly down your fore arm to lace his fingers with yours.

“Is this ok?” Bobby asks bashfully asks as the two of you enter the park.

The way you lock eyes with him when you answer, the way you’re filled with pure happiness radiating off of you makes the breath catch in his throat. He’s never felt this free before with anyone and he’s prepared to make sure you feel that you’ll always feel that way too.

—————————————————————-

That one date turned into the two of you seeing eachother every day that week that Bobby was off.

That week turned into months, 4 months to be exact and as you burst onto the street below, your arms full of bags Bobby cant remember a time he was happier.

“What’s all this?” He laughs as he takes the bags as you two wait for a cab to his place.

“We havnt gotten to see each other in a couple weeks, I though I could cook dinner for us and we could just relax, watch some movies or read.”

“You don’t have to go through all that trouble”

“Well I want too, besides I got a new cookbook with some of the gift cards you gave me for the bookstore. So there’s some stuff I’ve been dying to make.

“ you know.. you didn’t have to do that you know. You didn’t have to send that gift card over”

“I know. But I was upset I couldn’t take you to the book store to get that new book you’ve been excited about. Were you able to get it?”

“Yes! I was able to get the last signed edition they had” you beam up at him, unable to contain your excitement.

“I havnt finished it yet, but it’s so good Bobby! I brought it so you could see it, can I show you?”

“Of course” he smiles as he leans against you, looking on as you show him the book.

“Do you mind if shower quickly?”

“Of course, no rush. I’ll get started on dinner. Take your time, don’t worry about me” you coo, wrapping your arms around his neck as you push yourself up on your tippy toes to kiss him.

As Bobby wipes the steam covered mirror with his towel he can’t help but stare at his own reflection, desperate to see himself the way you see him. Everything about being around you feels like a dream, still In disbelief that a girl like you would choose to spend time with him. That a girl like you who’s so kind, patient and loving wants him in her world.

Bobby knew he wasn’t for everyone, that most people thought he was to weird, obsessive and by the book. He had a short fuse when it came to other peoples bullshit and could be somewhat of a loose cannon but the moment someone made comments about him he would shrink back into himself because deep down he always believed their hateful words.

But when you look at him, your eyes are always filled with a level of love and empathy that he’s never received from anyone before. Bobby knows he’s weird, that there’s a lot about himself and his personality that he can’t help. When it comes to you though he feels free, he never feels out of place or like he doesn’t fit into society when he’s with you.

The sight of you swaying to the music you have on as you cook makes his heart thunder in his chest.

I love this women

“Dance with me for a moment while dinner cooks” Bobby whispers, his breath fanning your neck as he wraps his arms around you nuzzling into you.

“I don’t know how too” you giggle, never getting enough when he’s like this- clingy and playfully romantic.

“It’s ok, follow my lead. I’ll teach you.” Bobby relishes moments like this. He loved teaching you things.

“There, that’s it, just like that” he coos as the two of you glide around the kitchen.

You let out the cutest content hum as you buried your face in his chest. He gradually slows the two of you to a stop as he holds you In the middle of the kitchen.

“What are you thinking about?” He asks kissing the crown of your head.

You tilt your head up to find his deep brown eyes watching you intently.

“I’m thinking about how happy you make me”

Just as he’s about to reply Bobby’s work phone starts ringing. He lets out a gravely growl.

“I’m sorry, that’s work I have to get it”

“It’s ok” you whisper stepping back to busy yourself taking dinner out of the oven. You try to hide the fact that you’re sad, but it’s useless, Bobby knows he can feel it, he knows your micro-expressions like the back of his hand.

“This is Goren” he answers the phone as he steps into the living room.

The rest of the phone call is in a quick hushed tone. You can tell Bobby’s frustrated by the call.

“I-I have to go. I’m really sorry. There’s a huge development in our case and they need me”

“It’s ok. I’ll just put this in the fridge and go too”

“No no. It’s ok please stay. Make yourself at home. I will be back I just don’t know when.”

“O-okay”

This couldn’t have come at a worse time is all Bobby can think as he makes his way to the station. You’re always so good about his schedule but this is the first time he’s had to leave abruptly like that for work and while you were at his place no less. A place you havnt been many times and he knows your probably anxious right now about being there alone.

“What’s the update?”

“The manager of a motel in the Catskills called the tip line saying a father and two children matching Nathan and his kids checked into his motel a couple of hours ago. Chef wants us to go out there and stake it out.”

“Alright let’s head out then”

——————————————————————

“Sorry to have to call you in Bobby” Eames says finally breaking the silence in the back of the stake out van.

“It’s fine, wasn’t trying to be short on the phone” Bobby waves his hand as he’s looking out the window.

“Eames I think I got something” he says handing her the binoculars.

“Over there at the vending machine, I think that’s Lilly, Nathan’s daughter”

“She was pretty glued to you when we were there for questioning drew you that picture, maybe she remembers you. If she does she could get us access to Nathan.”

Eames and Bobby cautiously approach the little girl at the vending machine.

“Hi Lily, do you remember me and my partner Alex? We came to your house a few times.”

“Yes, policeman Bobby. Did you hang my picture up?”

“Of course I did, right next to my desk just like I said.” Bobby says kneeling next to Lily.

“You did! I hope everyone likes it!” Lily’s eyes light up as she scoots closer to Bobby.

“Can you tell us where you dad and brother are?” Eames asks

“They are in the room. Dad and bothers hair is turning blonde but the room is really stinky so I came out here. Dad said mine would change too.”

“He’s bleaching their hair” Bobby says locking eyes with Eames.

“Sweetheart, do you think you could take us to the room, we’d like our hair blonde too.”

“Ok, but could I have some more chips? I’m hungry”

“Yes, let’s get you some more chips” Bobby says pulling a dollar from his pocket and slipping it into the machine and handing the chips to the girl.

“Can you show us the way? we don’t know where to go?”

“Mmhmm” Lily hums happily as her little hand grabs Bobby’s.

Bobby and Eames hang back a moment as Lily enters the room.

“Daddy! My friend are here and they got me some chips!”

Nathan looks up to unexpectedly to find the pair starring back at him, scrambling he draws his gun.

“Hey..hey point your gun at me not my partner.” Bobby’s voice booms

“We’re just here to talk Nathan, we walk to help you.”

“Bull shit you don’t want to help me. You don’t give a shit about me. You just want to take my family away.” Nathan gestures angrily, turning his attention back towards Eames.

“Hey what did I tell you focus on me, not my partner.”

“We do want to help you, and we will. We will make sure that you have access to therapy and meds on the inside.”

“Fuck you man I’m not going away, you’re not putting my kids with strangers” Nathan reaches for Lilly while waving his gun at Bobby.

“Daddy please stop shouting at my friends”

“Shut up, they’re not your friends, they want to take you away from me just like they did with mommy”

“Why don’t you let my partner take the kids to the diner to get some food and you and I will have a talk.”

“Give her your gun and phone, put them on the floor and slid them over to her, no funny business” Nathan motions his gun towards Eames.

Bobby does what he’s told. He knows it’s risky but he needs to get Eames and the kids out of here.

“Lily can you draw me some new pictures to hang up at work?”

“Ok I can do that” she says as she takes Eames and her brother’s hand and they all leave.

“You know she looks up to you, ever since the two of you came poking around the house asking question she’s talked about you guys nonstop. It’s pretty cruel to tell a child you care just to get what you want.”

“I’m not lying. I hung the picture up next to my desk.”

“You’re the one lying to her about us taking her mother away.”

“If you hadn’t of been hanging around asking questions….” Bobby cuts Nathan off mid sentence.

“Nathan. Your embezzling money, stealing from your clients. We’re doing our jobs asking questions.”

“If you didn’t come around asking questions that made my wife suspicious she’d still be alive.”

“Don’t put that on me. You killed your wife not me.” Bobby shouts unable to keep his cool any longer.

“You don’t get it do you? This is a eye for a eye situation”

“So what, you want to hurt me? You want hit me? Go ahead, give me the best you’ve got.” Goren snarls.

Nathan laughs

“Only one of us is leaving this room and it’s not going to be you Bobby”

“You’re really stooping to a new low threatening a detective.”

“It’s not a threat. Your not leaving this room alive”

Bobby’s starting to panic, his heart pounding against his chest as he try’s to figure a way out.

“If you kill me youll never see your kids again, you’ll loose everything.”

“I already lost everything when you forced me to kill my wife. My only choice is to take you out.” Nathan says as he takes a step closer

“And what are you going do when your daughter comes in here and sees you’ve killed her friend.”

“Do not talk about my daughter. She needs to learn that the world is cruel and that not everyone is what they seem” Nathan spits as he digs the gun into Bobby’s chest.

Bobby’s mind races as he try’s to slow his breathing. He knows Nathan wants to see him panicking, he’s desperately trying to ease his mind. In all of his career he’s never felt this close to death, he can’t do that to Eames or to you.

“Hope you told the person you have at home that you love them because you’ll never see them again”

In an instant all Bobby sees is your face, the way you looked into his eyes as he lead you around his kitchen in a dance. Everything about it was so simple and romantic and then you told him how happy he makes you. And then he never got to tell you how happy you make him, how he’s never loved anyone the way he loves you. The idea of never getting to see what life would be like with you makes him see red and he snaps.

“Well come on, do it if you’re going to do it” Bobby Growls. The pain of his thoughts being flooded with moments that would never be with you, hurts worse than death it’s self he’s sure of it.

A rapid secession of bangs rings out from the other side of the door rendering Nathan distracted for a slipt second. Bobby lunges forward grabbing ahold of the gun and kicking his knee trying to knock him down.

He pushes against Bobby causing him to stumble back, he attempts to take a shot at Bobby but when does he pushes hard back into him. The bullet lodges into the wall as Nathan regains his footing holding the gun on Bobby.

Eames bursts through the door in this moment.

“Nathan drop your weapon” she shouts holding her gun on him.

“Your going to have to shoot me or I’m going to shoot your partner”

Nathan lunges torwards Bobby and with out hesitation Eames shoots him in the b chest in self defense.

Bobby sits there in the back of the van, his head in his hands as they make the couple hour drive back to the city.

“Are you alright, Bobby?” Eames asks needing to check on her partner.

“Am I am ok? No I’m not ok. I almost died. Almost never saw her again.” He grits out, frazzled and shaken by the whole ordeal.

“Ugh sorry. I didn’t mean to yell, I’m just shaken up”

“I heard what he said to you. You love her don’t you?”

Bobby nods in response, afraid to say it out loud.

“Does she know?”

“No” Bobby shakes his head with a low voice. He lets out a long breathy sigh as he leans his head back against the wall of the van before closing his eyes.

“I feel loved too” Bobby breaths out into the dark quietness of the van as they pull back into the station garage.

Bobby never talks like this, so Eames knows he’s being genuine and vulnerable with her.

“You go, I’ll go up and do our paperwork before I go home.”

“No it’s ok”

“You’ve had a long night, you deserve some rest. Take a few paid days off. If the captain has an issue with it he can take it up with me”

“Thank you, Eames” Bobby gives her a tight lipped smile before heading to his car.

You’re all he can think about on you his drive home. He’s so distraught and disheveled over tonight’s events. All he wants right now is for you to crowd his senses, to be in your arms with your hands messaging through his hair as you tell him everything going to be alright.

As Bobby pulls up to his places he hope that some luck is on his side, that you’ll still be there but he fears it’s unlikely. After a few minutes he drags himself inside. You left the light on above the sink for him, there’s a note telling him that dinner is in the fridge for him. He takes this as a sign that you’ve left and his shoulders sag a little.

He just stairs at the small plate of food on the counter. His nerves are still through the roof from work but he knows he needs to eat, not really remembering the last time he did. He’s aimlessly pacing around the kitchen picking at the plate of food when he notices warm dim light coming from his bedroom.

Maybe she did stay.

Bobby stops in his tracks at the sight of you sound asleep in his bed with a your book laid across your chest. He can’t help but tear up as he sinks down on the bed next to you, leaning over you to grab your bookmark off the bedside table. As he gently takes the book off your chest and places the bookmark inside he notices your wearing one of his undershirts as a bed shirt.

Softly he lets his body fall onto yours, his head nuzzling into the crook of your neck.

“Mmhmm Bobby” you hum sleepily as you wrap your arms around him tightly, one hand instinctually messaging through his short greying curls.

Bobby lets out a ragged breath as he melts further into you.

“What time is it? I should go and let you get some rest.”

“Please…don’t go. Don’t leave me alone” Bobby chokes out.

“I-I I’m not going anywhere Bobby”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not tonight, not right now. I’m just to-I was just to scared I’d never see you again. I just want to be near you”

“Why don’t we take a shower, that will help sooth you.

Bobby watches you in complete awe of the way you move around the bathroom getting the shower ready, at how caring and loving you are with him. It’s hard for him to believe that all of this is real. That someone like you would truthfully care for him, would want to spend time with him. It’s hard for him to trust people because of his line of work and the life hes had, but opening up to and trusting you was the best decision he ever made.

Taglist: @malindacath @aselys @jupiteress @yesalwayswelles @samfromstardewsgf23 @pixiehex1985 @celticwitchofsorrow @capondi @thatsjustdandy @storywriter12 @namesirrelevant @lzrdonaleash @thegirlthatwillstealurman @modestlyabsurd @cheyanne-chan @darkangelforever333 @gertieisayellowjeep @shuilian @elefrog25-blog @nightsore @dumbasswalkinghere @liviadrusilla44 @musicalwayshelp0193-blog @malevolent-muse @mandy426 @missingfromthephotographs

[sugarcubetikki]

Okay. I am annoyed by the everything so I’m gonna go ahead and debunk all the arguments against the Francesca X Michaela storyline.

In case you weren’t aware of all the complaints going around, here they are:

they’ve completely changed the storyline from the books! francesca’s infertility storyline was sooo important and now it won’t happen!

eloise would’ve made more sense as the queer bridgerton, her and cressida or some other female character would’ve been great over francesca.

by immediately making francesca attracted to michaela they downplayed john and her’s relationship that was built up this season, they cheapened the book storyline into a cliche love triangle!

michael was the best book hero ever! I can’t believe they’ve changed him to michaela.

I am taking all these criticisms/complaints at face value and ignoring any lesbophobia undertones (for now) just to prove how flawed they still are on their own.

Firstly, saying that Francesca’s infertility storyline has been ruined is far from the truth. Instead it can be done in a different way. Think about Francesca in a queer relationship and wanting kids in the kind of society she lives in. It basically mirrors the infertility storyline from the books except her struggles would become representative of the struggles that queer people who want kids face. If they went for this storyline in her season, I think it would be really really nice, we’ve seen a straight infertility storyline play out so many times, this would be great.

Secondly, I am so tired of hearing that it should’ve been Eloise over Francesca. I don’t think Eloise would’ve made more or less sense as a queer women. I think any and every character has the potential to be written as queer or straight. Being an outspoken women with little interest on marriage shouldn’t make Eloise more queer. I also really liked the idea of a potential Eloise X Cressida romance but that does not mean Francesca cannot be queer. In fact, I’m excited to see this introverted autistic queer girl rep! Francesca, go prove we exist.

Thirdly, Francesca’s season hasn’t even happened yet! Getting mad over one scene of Michaela, saying that John and Francesca’s relationship has been downplayed and that we’re in for a cheapened love triangle story is so unreasonable. It was a single scene and people are choosing to get mad over something that hasn’t even happened yet? Besides, if this storyline plays out, it wouldn’t mean that Francesca shouldn’t have been made queer but simply that the writers didn’t write the storyline to your liking. The fact that there’s this much outrage over this is so ridiculous to me. Wait till her season. We have no idea how they’re going to play out the storyline just yet so stop hating already (there may be some lesbophobia implications to this claim which I have spoken about below).

Fourthly, I know it’s not a nice feeling to not get the chance to see a beloved book character onscreen due to this gender swap. It may feel unfair but I mean but…give Michaela a chance? We haven’t seen her personality yet and we don’t know how Masali will bring her character to life. If your qualms are that the love interest is no longer a guy you can fetishise and fawn over, then well…log out of the internet, rant to a friend and stick to the books. Let the sapphics have their wlw romance that we rarely get these days because we keep getting cancelled since streaming services hate gay women. And no that is not an exaggeration but our plain reality. So let us have this.

Finally, to end things off, let us address the lesbophobia aspect to this separately because it is 100% worth mentioning.

The treatment towards queer women onscreen is hardly the same as the hype around queer men.

We can see it in the way streaming services and the internet hype up gay romances whilst sapphic romances are largely ignored and cast to the side (just to make it clear I have nothing against people enjoying mlm romance I enjoy mlm romance all I’m saying that it’s a real shame that wlw romance doesn’t get the same amount of appreciation).

The response to Francesca X Michaela has been largely negative and it’s frustrating. Outside of the cosy gay rabbit hole that tumblr is, there’s just outrage over this storyline/pairing for a number of different reasons that well…all feel ridiculous.

Bridgerton has gone off the books many times yet there’s more outrage than before when it comes to Francesca X Michaela?

Fans are getting a lot more defensive of John and Francesca’s relationship despite knowing he was never going to be endgame all because of Michaela? I’m sorry but I’m sure that if Michaela was Michael and we got the exact same scene with Francesca, do you think there would be as much outrage over John and Francesca’s relationship being downplayed? No. Let’s be honest. People wouldn’t be as mad because there’d be an attractive man involved.

I think the sapphics deserve so much more and better treatment from fellow non-sapphics. Instead of a show of appreciation, we keep getting unreasonable amounts of fire onto this storyline that hasn’t even happened.

What’s worse is that I know that Francesca X Michaela’s romance could follow the story beats of previous seasons that were eaten up by fans and still be bad to people because sapphic romances are just judged more harshly as straight audiences refuse to connect with them. If their romance isn’t phenomenal and just good, then it won’t be enough which is just frustrating.

So yeah, the hate towards Francesca and Michaela is unwarranted and unjust. People need to calm down and realise that their claims are contributing to lesbophobia whether they realise it or not.

[scoobydoodean]

Dean starting off 7.05 having nightmares about 1) Cas walking into the lake 2) Sam going crazy in the warehouse shooting at nothing 3) His conversation with Amy about past actions being a pattern you will always come back to, right before stabbing her.

I’m already so tired of hearing about Amy in early season 7 and it’s only been two episodes. Fuck her suburban mom schtick that she uses to justify remorselessly murdering addicts. I simply don’t feel bad for her at all and the idea that it was all a one time thing is absolutely laughable to me given she felt absolutely zero remorse for anything. But I do think she represents something deeper for Dean—the idea of an inescapable destiny. It will always end bloody or sad or with you becoming the monster higher powers told you you’d be. When Dean tells her "You are what you are" he's talking about Cas, and he's talking about Sam, and he's talking about himself. They will never escape. They will never be okay. Their world will always be full of blood and death and mistakes and all of them taking turns going off the deepend.

It’s a defeatist attitude in keeping with his depressed state and the range of emotions he was feeling in 7.04 when Osiris saw the delicious levels of guilt Dean puts on himself (most of them completely illogical—like it being his fault that Jo became a hunter, or that Sam would somehow still be at Stanford if he hadn't asked him for help finding John over a single weekend). Osiris targets guilty people because he has a type like any most other serial killers. The situation with Osiris also illustrates the differences between Dean and Amy even though Dean sees both of them as monsters. Osiris only targeted people who felt bad about the things they'd done. You could murder 1000 people in cold blood and if you didn't feel bad about it, he wouldn't give a damn. The guilt was delicious to him, and that guilt is something Amy utterly lacked... and also something Sam claims to lack (though I don't think Sam's low level of guilty feelings actually sticks).

[goosewriting]

I am a SUCKER for enemies to lovers

So hear me out, reader is part of the mantis crew as a healer and for some reason cal and them just don’t get along. at. all. And maybe like, they put their differences aside for the sake of getting the holocron first (not without some tension and snipping at each other) but after that’s over, neither of them have anything to take their mind off the other so they end up sniping at each other and getting into arguments a lot more often and eventually reader storms off after cal had said something particularly scathing and she maybe gets into trouble in some way? Like she’s not the best at fighting but then her blaster jams up and she thinks she’s done for but cal had followed her and saves her? Anyway, it all ends in a super heated kiss? Idk just a thought lol

(If you did write this, could reader be short? Like I’m 5’2” and I don’t see many fics where my height is represented? If that makes sense? And since I headcanon cal as six foot..)

Anyway sorry for the longish request! Just thought I’d drop in something lol

Have a good day/night!!

Can't Stand to be With(out) You

summary: after getting on everyone’s nerves with their bickering, Cal and reader are put in time-out to finally make up. 

relationship: Cal Kestis x gn!reader

warnings: second hand embarrassment, making out 

word count: 3k

A/N: to be frank, this was one of the hardest Cal fics to write. the request and idea in itself is great and i’ve been trying to come up with something since the moment you sent it in, but it’s been SO hard to find a way to convincingly portray cal like someone reader doesn't get along with because i literally love him sm i can’t imagine him ever being anything other than a sweetheart with the people he cares about 😭 so yeah i hope i did your request justice!<3 i love short!reader so please do send in some more for cal when i open reqs :’) 

[all masterlists] 🪶 [star wars masterlist] 🪶 [ao3]

(english is not my first language. constructive criticism and grammar corrections are very appreciated!)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ever since the holocron was retrieved and destroyed, some deeper troubles seem to be coming to the surface amongst the Mantis crew. Or rather, between you and Cal specifically. Cere decided that the team should lie low for some time until comm chatter about them calms down again, so you currently find yourself on a moon somewhere in the Outer Rim.

Cal and you accompanied Greez to the local market to get provisions, and even in small things like these, you notice how much friction has bubbled up between you and the redhead. 

If you’re being honest with yourself, you’re so tired of Cal’s way of going about things. The way he always goes in sabres and blasters-a-blazin’ instead of strategising a little more. That one time he literally jumped off the Mantis mid-flight on Kashyyyk? Absolutely insane. 

Cal seems to think that stims or bacta will cure anything. He comes up so beat up sometimes that you’ve questioned his self-preservation instincts more than once. You give him a piece of your mind as well when he comes back to the Mantis like this, that he has to better take care of himself out there, as one day he might be so injured, he might not make it back in time for you to patch him up again. 

He suggested that the solution might be to take you with him, and for a low stake reconnaissance mission he did drag you along, but you both quickly realised that that was not your strong suit. You know he probably didn’t mean to, but still, he made you feel like you were slowing him down. And you were pretty helpless against local fauna and enemies, still not completely skilled at shooting your blaster, since you had never had to use one before.

And if that didn’t make you feel pretty useless that day, then you had to swallow your pride and ask him to get some supplies from the top shelf, as you’re too short to reach. This was, unfortunately, not a rare occurrence. And while he never openly made fun of your height, this was just a reminder of yet another aspect where he was “superior” to you. 

Bringing your focus back to the task at hand, you point to a basket of fruits, saying that you should get some. Meanwhile, Cal is looking at some pre-packaged food instead of fresh produce; he vouches for practicality, while you insist you should focus on nutrition. Greez rolls his eyes as you butt heads for what seems like the hundredth time today. 

Merely seeing Cal’s face brings up anger in you now. Your mind trails off again as he goes on about ration bars, thinking about how insufferable he is. The way he thinks the whole weight of the galaxy resides on his shoulders; what’s up with that? He is so harsh with himself when something doesn't go as planned. And then the whole team has to deal with his sulking. 

Having had enough of your antics, Greez sends you both back to camp to cool off while he takes care of the food. 

“And by the time we’re back, you better be best friends!” he calls as you leave the market.

Cere is currently elsewhere with Merrin getting intel. As you’re both walking side by side in spiteful silence, Cal takes out his comlink, hitting up Cere and asking if he can join her. The gall of this guy! You shoot him an incredulous look. Cere says no, however, and in a hushed voice makes it clear that she, too, is fed up with your bickering, so you should make up already. Then she hangs up. 

The whole walk back, Cal is restless and frustrated. He claims to be stuck on the moon, and he feels like they’re losing time, that he could be doing something. 

You stop dead in your tracks, and he looks back at you questioningly. 

“You're always going on about doing more and more. Why can’t you take a break and be happy about what you’ve already accomplished?” you blurt out, unable to hold back any more. “You’ve saved all those kids on the holocron list. In the past months, you’ve almost died so many times I’ve lost count. I understand the cause, but you’ve neglected yourself for too long. Heal and rest properly so you can still go out there to do… whatever it is you do.”

You regret your poor choice of words the moment they come out of your mouth. You didn’t mean to downplay Cal’s actions and the danger he gets himself into to save people or get intel. But at the end of the day, you don't actually know exactly what he does and how. You only see the end result in the state he comes back in.

“‘Whatever I do’?” he repeats incredulously with a scoff. “What do you think I do? I’m sorry I can’t stay inside the ship all the time playing nurse.”

Whatever intention you had of backtracking and rephrasing is thrown out the window. His words sting.

“Playing…?”

You haven't told him about the nightmares plaguing you, where you see him over and over, bleeding out, falling to his death, unable to rescue him. He dies in your arms every time.

But you’re not about to tell him that. So you storm off. Where to, doesn’t matter, you just need to get away from him. 

You can hear Cal calling out to you as he tries to keep up with your hasty pace, navigating through the maze of narrow passages that make up the village. At some point, you manage to lose him after squeezing through a rather small opening in the wall, and you stop to catch your breath. Your mind is reeling, and there are so many things you want to tell him but know will get you nowhere. The team wants, needs you to make up to function properly again, and you know it. You’re aware it’s not just him but you as well who has become extremely irritable, causing the team morale to sink considerably.

Leaning back against the brick wall, you groan in frustration. Why does it always have to be you to give in, and swallow your pride and words for the sake of a moment of peace on the Mantis? It’s not fair.

As you’re mulling over this, you don’t hear the steps quickly getting closer. By the time you realise what’s happening, a bandit is standing in front of you, holding a knife in his hand. You don’t really have anything to give him, so you quickly push yourself off the wall and make a run for it. Turning around mid-run, you try to shoot at the bandit, but of course your blaster gets jammed, so you throw it at him instead. The guy easily dodges the weapon, quickly closing the distance between you two. 

When he inevitably reaches you, he harshly grabs onto your arm, bringing you to a forceful stop and slamming you against the wall. There’s a blur of lights as Cal appears out of seemingly thin air, fighting off the bandit, who quickly escapes with a yelp of fear. 

You shake your head at Cal’s actions, so much for “lying low”; here he is, yet again, sabre out. 

“Put that thing away before someone else sees,” you reprimand him, looking around the passage, but luckily there’s no one. 

Cal retracts his weapon, clipping it back to his belt, hidden under his coat. He looks around one last time to make sure the coast is clear, then turns to you with a frown, surely to scold you, but whatever he was going to say dissipates, as does his anger, his face instead morphing into worry.

”You’re bleeding,” he points out, his hand coming up to your temple. But you swat him away, hissing as you touch the wound caused by getting slammed face-first into a brick wall. You look at the blood on your fingertips accusingly, like it’s to blame for this whole situation. 

You walk back to camp in silence, not without retrieving your blaster that you threw a couple streets further back. Cal follows a couple of steps behind you, and you don’t look back at him once. 

When you arrive, you’re glad to see the rest of the team hasn’t come back yet. You get your things and go to the refresher to use the mirror to patch yourself up. Cal wants to help, but you swat his hand away for the second time that day. So he leaves you alone to clean your wound and apply some bacta, then you place a little gauze over it. 

When you come back out, you find him sitting on his bunk, and he calls you to him, so you sit next to him, both of you surrounded by uncomfortable silence until he speaks.

”About what I said earlier–“

“Don’t,” you cut him off, shaking your head. “You’re so concerned about the entire galaxy out there that you forget the people right here with you.”

“What do you mean?” He looks at you, offended. 

The sound you produce is something between a scoff and a groan of frustration, starting to turn away. 

“I don’t forget about any of you!” he remarks, gently holding your shoulders to make you face him. “I couldn’t do this without you, and if anything, we’re doing this also for ourselves. Because we can, and others out there don’t have the chance to fight back.”

“Ugh!” You free yourself of his hold and stand up, pacing up and down in front of him. “You’re like, this all powerful being of legends, moving stuff with your mind, effortlessly picking your enemies off, while I'm back here, worrying about you to the point I can't sleep. All the time, but especially ever since we destroyed the holocron, you go around picking fights, going after imps without thinking of the consequences that could have for the rest of us!”

He looks at you, and you can feel your whole body shaking.

“Is that what you’re worried about?” he asks. “Nothing will happen to any of you, I’ll protect you.”

“But what if you can't!” Now you’re close to tears, sitting back down on his cot, looking up at him almost pleadingly. “What if you don’t come back?! Do you know how terrified I’ve been every time you left and I didn’t know what state you’d come back in, if at all?”

“Wha–”

This time, it’s your hands that come up to his shoulders, and you shake him back and forth lightly to emphasise your words.

“You say you’ll protect us, but who’s protecting you, Cal? I can’t go out there with you, we’ve already established that. But what if you need me? What if I can’t get to you in time? I could never forgive myself.”

“You’ve got it all wrong,” he says, taking your hands in his and giving them a reassuring squeeze. “The reason I can go out there in the first place is because I know you’re safe, and that you’ll be here when I come back.”

“That’s not sustainable at all,” you say with a huff.

“It’s worked this far, though, hasn’t it?”

There is a moment of silence as you hold each other’s gaze, and while you’ve seen his eyes a million times, for the first time you realise just how deep of a blue they hold. Were they always this beautiful? 

“So all this time, you’ve been worried about me?” he asks almost shyly.

“Obviously,” you answer. 

“I thought you disliked me. Some days even hated me.” 

“What? No. I mean–” 

He raises his brow questioningly, and as you’re trying to formulate an answer that encompasses that some days you can’t stand him but he, in fact, means so much to you, you look down at your hands still in his, and he holds onto them even tighter, as if scared that you might let go. 

“I mean, I, uhm,” you stumble over your words, looking back at up him, aware of the heat spreading on your face. “We’ve been part of this crew for a while now. I guess I’ve become rather… fond of you. As a colleague, you know.”

“Colleagues, huh,” he says, and a grin spreads on his face, an adorable blush adorning his freckled cheeks. “That’s too bad, because I think I just realised I, uh, like you. A lot, actually.”

You can’t help but laugh at the timing of such a confession.

“To think that all this time we were giving each other such a hard time,” you say, shaking your head.

“Maybe it’s better that way, though.”

“How so?” you ask.

“Had I known back then, it would have been infinitely harder to leave for missions. I know it certainly will be from now on.”

“I could still join you,” you joke, and you both laugh, knowing that that’s a bad idea for a multitude of reasons.

“Absolutely not. I’m not putting you in danger,” he says, his hands momentarily letting go of yours to gingerly run up and down your arms as he looks lost in thought, cherishing this moment. Then his eyes snap back to yours as if he suddenly remembered something.

“You said earlier you're so worried that you can’t sleep?”

“Ah, well, yeah,” you say with a slight shrug, trying to brush it off. “I’ve been having some nightmares, but nothing serious.”

Cal gives you a deadpan expression. 

“Yeah well, you know,” you try to come up with an explanation that holds the least amount of detail as possible. All the while, his soft caresses seem to light your whole body on fire. “You’ve come back pretty bruised at times. I was, am, scared that one day I won’t be able to patch you back up.”

“Believe it or not, I do know my limits. I wouldn't ever put myself in actual danger if I knew I was in over my head.”

“And I believe you. What I'm worried about is your ability to assess the situation.” 

“Ouch,” he chuckles. “Maybe I can just see more from where I stand.” 

You narrow your eyes at him.

“Do you mean through the Force, or are you actually calling me short right now?”

He grins.

“Oh, you better watch out for your kneecaps, young man, they might go missing one night!”

“Yeah? I’d like to see you try…  shortie.”

“Oh, that’s it!” 

You play wrestle him, and he scoots further back onto the cot, so you follow, throwing half-hearted swipes at him, until you realise that you ended up climbing on top of him.

“Ah, sorry–” you apologise, trying to lift yourself off of him, but he holds you down, bringing you closer by your hips so you’re straddling him, and he sits up with you on his lap.

“It’s not just blind arrogance, by the way,” he says, bringing his hand up to run his knuckles over your jaw. “I trust the Force and my Master’s teachings more than I trust myself. They haven't failed me yet. I'm here. I’ll be here tomorrow, and the day after. So please, the last thing I want is for you to lose sleep over me.”

“I’ll try.”

Cal properly cups your face with both his hands now, and you place yours over his, leaning into his touch. Your faces start inching closer, like a magnetic force is pulling you together.

“It might help if you’re there when I fall asleep, though,” you whisper, lips ghosting over his. “Just a hypothesis.”

“I’m sure that can be arranged.” 

When he finally kisses you, it’s like all the pieces of a puzzle fall into place. Everything makes sense now; the tension between you two, which had been there from the very beginning, was and had always been attraction. Disguised as snarky comments, arguments, glares and grumbles; in the end, you’d always find yourselves together, seeking out each other’s company.

As this realisation hits you, you feel a weight being lifted from your shoulders. But there’s a different weight on you now, one that you welcome, as Cal pushes you onto your back on his cot, climbing on top of you. He kisses you with desperation, as if making up for lost time, and you pull him closer, but it’s not enough. Everything you feel, taste, and breathe is Cal, and you don’t want this moment to end. He breaks the kiss momentarily for some much-needed oxygen, and attacks your throat instead. You bring one hand to your mouth in an attempt to stop the sounds threatening to escape, but it doesn’t work, and they only spur him on. Bringing his lips back to yours, his tongue finds your own. He snakes an arm around your back, further arching into him.

Suddenly, Cal flinches in surprise and pulls back, leaning on his elbows on either side of you.

“W-what?” you ask, out of breath.

“Cere is outside,” he merely says, a violent blush going from the tip of his ears all the way down to his neck.

“How do you…?”

“She was, uh, checking in, to see if we were here,” he says, unable to look at you.

“Well, can you tell her to… wait a bit longer?” you ask, running your fingers through his copper hair. His eyes find yours again and he tilts his head to the side, a smug smile starting to spread on his lips.

“Hm… You’re cute when you’re needy,” he says.

“Shut up,” you say with no snark whatsoever, chuckling. 

“Maybe we can take this somewhere else,” Cal proposes, leaving a trail of small kisses on your jaw. “There’s a pretty good spot up by the hills, it has a nice view.”

“Should we pack some dinner too?”

He takes a moment to look down at you underneath him, then smiles with hungry eyes, towering over you.

“Good idea, I’m starving.”

— — — — —

Meanwhile, outside: Cere pinching the bridge of her nose with a groan, Greez giving her a confused look, while Merrin looks strangely proud.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

🐥 taglist: [link to join in my pinned post!] @dybynyght, @galaxtic-writings, @kalea-bane, @soka-writes-things, @padawancat97, @riddikulus-obsessions, @optimisticprime3, @starilicious , @lovelyygirl8, @cathyket, @wildefire, @ghostkestis, @reckoning-star, @wyvernthekriger, @camiemorgan8, @ivelostmyabilitytoeven

[m-jelly]

The Crow's Song - Ending

Prince Levi x Witch Reader

Royal Romance with magic.

Court day and Jane shows her madness is deep. The baby arrives and you learn the fate of Vance. A cute moment with your husband and the new little princess.

Ao3

The judge moved papers around on his desk. He released a long sigh and looked up. “Everyone all settled in?” He smiled as people responded. “Lovely. Duke Erwin, you are representing the Prince and Princess. Are you okay? You have everything.”

Erwin rose to his feet. “We’re okay over here.”

“Good.” He leaned and eyed you to see Levi had almost wrapped himself around you. “Your Highnesses, are you okay? If you need to step out, you are welcome to.”

Levi bowed his head. “Thank you.”

He looked over at Countess Layla to see she was pouting hard. “Countess, please behave yourself okay?”

She huffed. “I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you. I don’t want a fight in my courtroom today.”

She folded her arms. “Fine, fine.”

He released a long sigh. “Now, normally we have the King and Queen, but the two of them are currently occupied with having a strong word with King Rowen. So, we will do our best.” He shuffled in his seat. “Alright, quiet in court. I am Judge Robert Stevens, I will be presiding over this case along with the next one.” He sighed. “First, this is their Highnesses vs Lady Jane Applegate. Please bring in Lady Jane Applegate.”

All eyes moved to the side of the room where the stairs down to the cells resided. The wooden seats creaked as people shifted to look. The insane screams and shouts were initially quiet but were getting closer. Everyone present was getting very nervous and uncomfortable, it was hard to hear someone screaming and shouting so much like they were some possessed being.

The guards dragged Jane by her upper arms. Normally, people would go to a dock, but she was volatile so they chained her to a post behind bars in a cell alone. As they put her in her spot, the two guards had to wrangle her like a wild animal. She thrashed and moved a moment but paused as soon as she spotted Levi.

Jane lit up with joy. “Levi! Levi, my love! I knew you’d save me!”

Levi hugged you tightly and rubbed your baby bump. “The baby okay?”

You looked up at him as Jane kept shouting. “Yeah. They’re moving a bit.”

Levi placed his hand on your hump and smiled. “I can feel them. They’re comforting us.” He kissed your temple. “You are so beautiful.”

You gazed at him. “My handsome man.”

He kissed you causing Jane to scream bloody murder. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Judge Robert Stevens slammed his gavel. “Lady Jane Applegate, you will hold your tongue until I say you can speak. Do you understand me?”

Jane lowered her head. “I do, but he’s mine.”

“Right, now let’s begin.”

You gripped Levi’s thigh and turned your head to him. “I’m tired.”

Levi squeezed you. “Do you want to leave?”

You hummed. “I…I don’t know.”

“We’ll do anything you need.”

You released a long sigh. “It’s okay. We need to be here. I need to be here.” You looked ahead as Erwin talked about the case. “Just seems so…odd. I know she’ll never get better and she’s a bad person. I dunno, it’s just odd that we’re in court and closing this chapter in our lives.”

Levi kissed the side of your head. “I understand.”

Judge Robert sighed. “Lady Jane, your plea in this was rather confusing. So, please state your case.”

Jane smiled as she shuffled. “Thank you. I admit I attacked the witch.”

“The princess.”

“Witch.”

Judge Robert sighed. “Please refer to her with her correct title.”

Jane gritted her teeth. “This is what I’m talking about! That title is mine! I’m the princess! I was meant to meet the prince at a ball. He’d fall in love with my sweet innocence and purity. That witch was supposed to be the villainess in my story. I was supposed to be married to him!”

“Lady Jane. Please, lower your voice.”

Jane launched towards you. “You were supposed to die by my hand in that bedroom! That evil spawn inside you was supposed to perish. I’m meant to have a blessed baby with the prince! You both need to die so this world can be fixed! You’re killing it all.”

Judge Robert slammed his gavel. “Order! Order! Lady Jane, never in all my years have I met someone as delusional as you. This is not some magical book that pulled you in. This is real life and you almost killed an innocent woman. According to Duke Erwin, Prince Levi was the one who chased the princess for romance and marriage.”

“She put a spell on him!” She locked eyes with you. “You’re a disgusting monster! Your baby is trash!”

Levi reached over and covered your ears. He glared at Jane as she carried on screaming. He looked down at you and smiled softly. He mouthed to you. “I love you so much.”

You smiled brightly and mouthed back. “Love you.”

He leaned his head and kissed you. He moved his hands from your ears. “Sorry, I didn’t want you to hear what she had to say.”

You hugged Levi. “Thank you.”

Judge Robert shook his head. “Unbelievable and delusional. Lady Jane, you need serious psychological assistance. I believe the best course of action is to give you life but provide you with mental health assistance.”

You winced a little. “Ah.”

Levi panicked a bit. “Bunny?”

You hummed and rubbed your belly. “Baby kicked. I could do with some fresh air.”

Levi slipped out of his seat and then guided you out of court as Jane started shouting about her fate. He found a little spot for you by a water fountain. “How is this?”

You nodded. “It’s perfect.”

Levi stopped you from sitting. “Wait.” He dragged his blazer off and lay it down. “There, now you can sit.”

You hummed a laugh and sat down. “You’re so cute.”

He crouched in front of you and massaged the back of your legs. “We don’t have to be here, okay? We can go home and sort out the baby’s room.” He rested his chin on your lap. “Erwin will update us.”

You released a long sigh. “But I want to be seen as strong.”

“Darling, you are strong. You faced off against Jane and Vance.” He placed his hands on your belly. “You are making an adorable little baby.”

You giggled. “You always know how to make me smile.”

He tilted his head and kissed you. “I want to make you smile as much as possible.”

“You’re a wonderful husband.” You caressed his cheek. “Can we go home?”

“Yes.”

He helped you to your feet. “Let's get home, have a hot chocolate and snuggle up a bit.”

“I think that’s the perfect plan.”

You couldn’t stop crying, it was just a perfect love-filled moment. Your darling daughter had just been born, your body was a mess but you were so happy at how plump and lively she was. You looked up at Levi sitting next to you to see he was crying just as much as you. “Levi.”

He wrapped an arm around you and kissed your temple. “You are amazing. She’s perfect.” He sobbed a bit. “She’s so chunky.”

Kuchel hurried over to you and dabbed your forehead. “You have an incredibly healthy baby girl.”

You sniffed. “Daisy, she’s called Daisy.”

Levi kissed your cheek. “Princess Daisy Ackerman. It’s beautiful.”

Your mother reached for Daisy. “Can I take her? She needs cleaning.”

You handed your baby over. “Okay.”

Levi hugged you. “Bunny, I’m going to try and heal you with my magic, okay?”

You nodded. “Okay, as long as Daisy is okay.”

Levi helped you lie down on the bed. “She’s fine. She’s in good hands.” He placed his hand on your pelvis and the side of your face. “Relax a bit, okay?” He sighed as he sent his magic into you. “Let me know if you feel sick.”

You closed your eyes and leaned into Levi’s touch. “Mm, it feels so warm and cosy.”

Levi leaned over and kissed your forehead. “I’m glad it feels good.”

You opened your eyes and gazed at him. “Kiss.”

He kissed you. “You get all the kisses.”

You winced. “Mm, stop.”

He pulled back from you. “I’ve healed a lot. You just need one more session. You did well.”

You smiled brightly. “Thanks. Can you help me sit up? I want to hold Daisy when she’s back.”

“Of course, but I think it’s best we move you to a new bed.”

“Really?”

He nodded and scooped you up into his arms. “The bed is a bit of a mess.”

You looked down to see what he was talking about. “All that came out of me?”

“Don’t look at it. Focus on me.”

You smiled at Levi. “Okay.”

He carried you to your shared bedroom and straight to the bathroom. “I think a bath would be good.”

You sighed a bit. “Yeah.”

“I know, I know, you want Daisy but you need a nice bath and new clothes. Daisy is being checked and cleaned by our mothers.”

You smiled a bit. “I hope she’s healthy.”

“She is.” He removed your dress and sat you in the bath. He started delicately scrubbing you. “Is the water okay?”

“It’s making me tired. So, it’s perfect.”

“I’m glad.” He carried on cleaning you before lifting you out of the bath, drying you and placing you in a new night dress. “Cute.”

You hugged your husband. “Thank you. You’ve been unbelievable.”

He carried you to the bed and tucked you in. “I just want to take care of you, that’s all.” He kissed your cheek. “Now, I’m off to get our precious little girl. You going to be okay without me for a bit?”

You nodded and pulled at the bedsheets. “I think so.”

“I’ll hurry.”

You waved to Levi as you sat in bed alone. You lowered your hand and hummed in thought. It was odd to not have a baby moving inside you anymore, there was just this emptiness and an aching in your body from delivering her. It felt weird to be alone as well. In the last two months of your pregnancy, you were never left alone. Your labour was a full day and even more people were around you, but now you were alone and you felt.

Empty.

For a long time, you were alone and had no one, you were by yourself and then you dated Vance and it was impossible to get away from him. When you broke up with Vance, you were alone again and it brought you some sense of peace. Levi walked into your life and you hadn’t been alone for years because of him. Levi changed your little world into a bigger one full of life, laughter, friends and love. So, sitting alone in a room after giving birth, was hard.

You didn’t like being alone.

Levi softly opened the door with a smile on his face and Daisy carefully held against him. “She is clean. She is healthy and she has done a poop already.” He chuckled. “The doctor said he’s never known a baby to be so active and healthy and that you must have fed her well.” He looked up at you and his smile dropped. “Sweet bunny witch wifey?”

You rubbed your tears away. “Sorry, I was just thinking that I used to be so lonely, but you’ve made my life and world so much better. I’m not alone anymore.” You sobbed a bit. “Being in here without you or anyone, I just missed that liveliness around me.”

He hurried over to you. “Oh, sweet spell bunny.” He sat and showered your face with kisses. “I love you so much. You’re so cute.”

You sniffed. “You’re cuter.”

He smiled softly. “I agree though. Before finding you, life was lonely. I’m so glad I have you.” He looked down at Daisy sleeping. “Look what you made.”

“We.” You played with Levi’s hair. “We made her.”

“I was all you.”

You hummed a laugh. “Levi, I did need your cum to make her.”

He blushed a bit. “True, but you baked her like a little cute loaf she is.”

You reached down and lightly touched her puffy cheek. “Okay, you win.” You sighed. “She is so cute. Did she really do a poop already?”

“Yeah, was a deadly one.”

You leaned down and inhaled. “Mm, she smells so good though.”

“Like baked goods.”

You laughed. “She is a baked good.”

Levi leaned over and kissed you. “You’ll never be alone again, okay?”

“Thank you.”

He looked down as Daisy shifted and whined. “I think she’s hungry. Are you okay to feed her? It’s okay if you’re tired, we have milkies back up.”

You moved your dress down. “I’m good to go.”

Levi moved Daisy into your arms and helped you a little. “There we go.”

You smiled as Daisy latched on and started drinking. “Oh, thank goodness she latched on.”

Levi wrapped his arm around you. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

You yawned a bit. “I’m tired.”

He squeezed you. “I know, I know, but just a little longer and then you can nap.”

“Mm.” You pated Daisy’s bum. “She’s doing so well.”

“You’re doing good as well.”

“I guess I am.” You pulled Daisy from your chest. “Could you burp her?”

Levi happily took his daughter. “I’d be honoured.”

You slipped down in bed and sighed. “I’ve never felt this exhausted.”

“Well, you did bring a little…well…” He looked at Daisy. “She’s not little, she’s a chunky flower. Anyway…” He smiled at you. “You did bring a chunky baby into the world and you can’t use magic, everyone has been around you so much. Oh, and finally Vance has been sentenced.”

You gripped the sheets. “He has?”

Levi rocked Daisy. “Yeah. I guess I should have told you. He was sentenced.”

“What…what happened?”

“He’s been banished to an island. He’s had his magic taken from him. He’ll be made to work on the island with others. They haven’t healed him so his arm is back.”

You stared at Levi. “Let me guess, you asked them not to?”

He pouted. “That hand touched you!” He gasped when Daisy whined at him raising his voice. “Shh, it’s okay, little flower. Daddy got angry at a poohead.”

You giggled as Daisy settled down. “All better.”

Levi slipped down into bed and lay Daisy on his chest. “I’ll do the first shift. You sleep as much as possible, okay?”

You hummed. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Darling spell bunny, you pushed this chunky thing out of you. You need rest. Leave it to me. If she needs feeding, I will wake you.”

You rubbed Levi’s arm. “Thank you.”

Levi lightly held your hand as his other rested on his daughter. He smiled softly as his whole body relaxed. He rested his eyes a moment but Daisy getting fussy woke him up. He worried she was hungry because you were in a deep sleep but then he smelt it. “Oh, you pooped big time, huh?”

He slipped out of bed and took his daughter to her room. He cleaned her up and changed her. As soon as he left his room he saw his parents and yours. He showed Daisy to them and enjoyed the fuss they were making of her. He gave them an update on how you were doing and accepted their offer to take some shifts so the two of you could get some sleep. He handed his daughter over to your mother and bid them farewell for now.

He dragged his tired body down the hall and back to the bedroom. He paused when you sat looking exhausted. “Love.”

You opened your arms to him. “Come here.”

He hurried over, climbed into bed and spooned with you. “Mm.”

“Daisy with our parents?”

“They offered and said we need sleep.”

You cuddled Levi. “I think that’s a good idea.”

Levi hummed. “Plus, you need me.”

“I always need you.”

“Me too.”

Daisy sat on her blanket in the ballroom, her favourite blanket in her hand and her eyes locked onto you as you flew around. She squealed with laughter. “Ma, ma, ma!”

You floated over to her. “I’m here, little flower. Stay there for mummy.” You flew up and lined the walls with more decorations. “There.”

Daisy slapped her hands on the floor and began crawling to you. “Eh! Ma, ma, ma.”

Levi entered the ballroom with a few boxes. “I have those decorations from my welcoming ceremony. I can’t believe we’re using what my mother used for me for Daisy. Makes me feel so warm inside. I just know everyone will love Daisy.”

You hummed a laugh. “It’s very cute. This place went from baby Levi to baby Daisy.”

Levi placed the boxes down and saw his daughter crawling. “Oop, we have an escaped bunny.” He used his crows to grab her by the back of her onesie, lift her and bring her to him. “Got you.”

Daisy squealed in delight and clapped her little hands. “Aboo!”

Levi chuckled. “That’s right, aboo.”

She looked up and smiled. “Ma!”

Levi smiled at his daughter. “That’s right, it’s mummy.”

You flew down and fixed your dress. “Sorry, since getting my powers back I just want to use them all the time.” You made lights sparkle for Daisy. “I love my magic because it led me to you.”

“I love your magic too.”

You kissed Daisy’s cheek and then Levi. “Could you watch her for a bit? I’ll finish off decorating.”

Levi carried his daughter over to her blanket and sat. “Looks like it’s you and me kiddo.”

Daisy patted Levi’s cheek. “Bah.”

“That so?” He sat her on his lap and picked up her favourite toy. He wiggled the little toy at her making her giggle. “I’m a happy little crow, hop, hop, hop.” He used it to kiss her nose. “I protect you and mummy.”

She clapped her hands. “Mm.”

He lifted it and made it dance. He summoned some of his magical crows and made them dance too. “Little crow party for my little baby.”

She wiggled on her bum. “Ah!” She reached for a shadow crow, but fell forward and hit her head. “Uh…” She welled up. “Oooow.”

He scooped her up and held her as she cried a little. “It’s okay.” He kissed her forehead. “You got a little boo boo, huh?” He picked up her toy crow. “Here you go.”

She grabbed her toy and hugged it. “Mm.”

He cuddled her and kissed the top of her head a few times. “Better?”

She patted and pulled at the doll. She stopped and sighed. “Mm.”

“Big sigh for a little girl.”

You landed on your feet and smiled. “I think she’s probably hungry.”

Levi adjusted her in his arms. “Let’s get you something to eat, huh?”

You sat down and grabbed a food pot from your bag. “Here.”

“Thank you.” He took the pot and spoon from you. He fed Daisy and smiled as she happily ate and wiggled. “You are very hungry, huh?”

“She eats a lot. I’m glad she does.” You cleaned her face a little. “Each day I hope that she’s healthy.”

“She’s healthy.” He gave her a drink before helping her burp. “All better. I think we’ll have a little play now, huh?” He placed her down and watched her crawl. “I feel like it’s she’ll be running circles around us in no time.”

You hummed a laugh. “It’s hard to think she’ll be growing up into an adult one day.”

Levi flopped onto your lap and whined. “No, she’d not allowed.”

You played with Levi’s hair. “She has to.” You watched Daisy crawl around and then move towards Levi. “She’s coming back for you.”

Daisy crawled over and petted Levi’s head. “Da, da, da.”

Levi smiled. “Thank you.”

She hummed then noticed you and squealed in delight. “Ma! Mm!”

You picked her up and kissed her face. “Hello, my little flower.”

Levi sat up and smiled. “You know, I couldn’t have asked for anything better in life.”

You grinned at him. “I feel the same way.”

“We have a very long life together. The next major step is being King and Queen when my father steps down.” He moved closer. “Can you handle that?”

“Me? Handle work, you and this one? Easy.” You smirked. “Just watch me. I’m a woman who sets her mind to achieve things and gets them. I mean, I got you.”

Levi chuckled. “You really did get me.”

“What about you?”

He released a long sigh. “With you by my side? I can do anything.”

[blindmagdalena]

Although he's not truly a Nazi the way Stormfront was, we do see many times throughout the show that Homelander is a bit of racist, especially towards Hispanics. I mean, he doesn't like it when he hears Ryan speaking Spanish, and all his interactions with Supersonic were so, uh, uncomfy, to say the least.

HOWEVER, Homelander is willing to overlook anything when he gets emotionally involved with someone. Like how he's always rambling on about supes being the superior race while at the same time lowkey worshipping Madelyn.

How do you think he will react to dating a Latina? I can see him being a major asshole at the beginning, complaining about her putting on Latin music while in the penthouse, and cooking "weird food". But slowly and almost unwillingly he gets dragged into the culture.

Like, her brothers and cousins adopt him and suddenly he's the guy who goes to parrillada every Sunday to hang out with his amigos, playing domino and watching freaking soccer. They nickname him "El Casas" and teach him how to speak Spanish but the type that's only spoken deep in the guetto and has grandmothers clutching their pearls.

He starts watching Soap Operas with his girlfriend ironically but then gets weirdly into them to the point that he's crying his eyes out every other episode. He also starts calling her mami/mamita and his mommy kink gets like ten times worse. Which is fine by her because she's been calling him papi rey (king daddy) in her mind since the moment she laid eyes on him.

Once they finally go public, Homelander is all but embraced by the Latino community and it makes his ratings go through the roof because America's Dad speaking perfect Spanish and dancing Salsa in his girlfriend's livestreams is the best representation they've ever gotten. His fanbase drastically changes ofc. Stormfront would be rolling on her grave, I just know it.

Forgive me if this is weird, I'm just a sad latina who's dying for representation in Homelander x reader stories.

GIRL YOU GOT ME INVESTED. i was pulling out the popcorn by the end of this!! tell me you’re gonna write this! it’s not weird at all, and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to see yourself represented. i’ve had this conversation a couple of times, and i can guarantee you’re not alone in wanting this: there’s an audience waiting!

i always tag @irenadel in these (which I hope she isn’t tired of lol) because her fic Pygmalion is the only one that i know of so far that leans into this, so you should definitely check it out if you haven’t already. i happen to have insider info that she’s working on the next chapter 👀

really and truly though, it sounds to me like you have the makings of a killer fic lined up in your mind. you clearly have a solid understanding of Homelander’s psychology, too. i really think you could do something awesome with this! it’s important that people tell these stories, and i’m not always the right person to do that.

i would 100% read the heck out of this. 🖤

[2deadkat]

i'd love to hear ur complaints abt modern geronimo! If u'd like to share that is

Thank you for asking anon, I’d love to share and you have inadvertently entered the dragon’s den/lh

But fr tho, it’s a lot. It’s mostly pertaining to the writing.

The reason why I hate modern Geronimo is in the biggest nutshell possible, they screwed up the original dynamic for the Stiltons, a majority of the books is just one big game of Geronimo torture porn between the other characters, and overall a lot of wasted potential for unique interactions between the wider cast and the rest of the Stiltons as its limited to just Geronimo himself. Hell a lot of the plots could have the input from the other Stiltons if they were brave enough. And there seems to be a new character every few books and there’s no rhyme or substance to it anymore. Since when did trap reproduce???

And you’re telling me von Volt has another relative???? Yk at some point you just stop reading the books. Oh and do not get me started on the Thea problem…

Let me start with the Stiltons real quick, somehow they got worse by watering down their personalities to a bunch of cheap jokes.

What made the classic (or early) books work was that the whole point of Geronimo’s character is that yes he’s a wimp, but that’s because he’s a tired boss who gets dragged into his family’s shenanigans, and by extension his friends and allies around him. Everyone has some eccentric personality that shocks or baffle him in some way, and that’s where the comedy comes from. He’s able to stand on his own because of his duties and eagerness to stay in his comfort zone is where the meat of the interactions come from.

His family especially Trap and Thea were meant to be respective foils to him. Trap consistently bullies him and Thea is meant to be the direct opposite of him, she’s the driving force in the group and has more pants to cover up what Gerry doesn’t have. She’s the one behind a lot of their adventures or scoops, hell she’s also the one who keeps finding them in the first place and drags her family and connections into them which makes sense because that’s her job and also where a lot of the plots start from. She fills out the spots that Gerry doesn’t have. Trap is just pure comic relief and is basically that outside force to the group. Hell the two even have a dynamic of their own where’d they just fight over the most trivial things and that makes us side with Geronimo more because of the ridiculousness of his family, that’s what made it click (to me). Highly recommend you read the early books, it shows the strongest character imo (#1-20).

Now Geronimo has all his autonomy stripped away and he’s been reduced to a nothing but a punching bag for everyone around him. I hope I’m not kidding here but try reading a classic book (let’s say #7 or #26) and compare it to the writing in a modern book (let’s say #46 or #74) it’s very jarring. They put more emphasis on different ways his day is ruined and give him no room to breathe or stand on his own. There’s just no charm to that anymore. There’s no fine line with his relationship with the other characters (Run for the Hills Geronimo is probably the worse one and represents everything I don’t like about the new dynamic)

Now over time that initial draw to action is also done by Trap, which I thought was cool because it still plays into the idea of Geronimo’s family dragging him into their shenanigans and the motives make sense to him specifically. It’s like he keeps getting calls from his relatives on schemes which is fun. But the more you keep reading the modern books the dynamic gets skewed over time and here’s the part I’ve been waiting for…Thea gets shelved completely. And now it’s somehow the GOD DAMN GINGER BROS SHOW?????

Now I think about it, Trap used to be a lot more clever in the classic books as well, he’s essentially a bumbling fool who keeps falling into the wrong situations to make a quick buck which slowly backfires on him. If you know me that well you know I’d call him a less scummier Grunkle Stan. The fact that there’s no Thea to balance it out or at least ground the dynamic to some level feels really annoying now.

You don’t really see much of her anymore as she’s either smiling at the back or doesn’t say more than five lines anymore, which is baffling because she’s the one who can pick up the pace the most. I really wished they showed more of her involvement again…They’re a trio, not a duo…and the books are suspiciously phasing her out to make room for the ginger bros fail routine and it ultimately feels very empty…there’s not much acknowledgement or involvement from her really like they could say she’s busy at mouseford or something but nope! Shelved completely without an explanation or a missed opportunity for a tie-in mention.

So far the only redemption I see is the Mayan Mystery one and the Soccer one where she had a more integral role which are way more recent but it still bothers me that they just shelved her for a majority of the modern run.

Listen if the modern books weren’t cowards she would SOLO all these people

she’d probably have an interesting dynamic knowing that she gets along with everyone well and is technically an adventurer. It’d be such a good parallel to her brother to play off of.

hell it’s even worse in the comics. Like there’s legit no acknowledgment of her at all, when trap is absent that gets an explanation but she’s just suspiciously…gone and the only time she does have a major role is when she’s used as a fake mask for a psyche-out to the villains (I’m sorry but if the comics are gonna pull that shit then I’m baited to believe that Thea and (cat lady) would have a homerotic switcheroo fight akin to Ms.Bellum and Sedusa. SHES THE TOUGHEST AND SMARTEST RODENT, USE HER GODDAMIT)

Idk man I tried reading some of the comics and it never worked out that much, again the dynamic feels suspiciously empty with zero acknowledgment. It’s not the Stiltons it’s just the fucking ginger bros for some reason. It doesn’t feel solid like it used to. I really can’t get into them which is a shame, and tbf why would I want to read a comic where Geronimo goes back in time and helps a colonist do his thing 💀

I’d be very happy if someone here can give me one good reason to get into them somehow, I want to like modern Geronimo, please/s

Look if there’s one character I don’t mind them putting in complete absence it’s probably the unaccompanied minors/s…Or Petunia which makes much more sense since she’s a family friend!

Look I actually like Ben and Bugsy as a duo, I think their whole concept is really wholesome, but the books don’t really push their parts that much, like there’s no meaningful interaction they have with the adults which is a lot of missed potential that or it’s just limited to Geronimo. Like listen I get that the whole point of the books was that it was from Geronimo’s perspective, but it’s not like everyone else was just “present”. They had more active roles and Gerry would just write all his observations down. You want a good example? The Mona Mousa Code.

Still…Benjamin had more charm and a bigger role in the classic books…that boy can hyper fixate and master niche skills in anything and was the emotional rock for Geronimo. But now he just goes along with his uncle being a punching bag routine :/ and I KNOW they could do a lot more for Bugsy here, especially since the paws are practically family friends.

—-

But you know…I’ll do give it credit here this era has one of my favorite art styles in the series and notably the one I grew up with the most (classic books illustrations still hold more charm imo) but the way action and expression is illustrated is just *chefs kiss* there’s a certain bounce to it that makes it so memorable.

And I’ll do admit all those geography facts (even if it’s just basic facts I mean it’s a kids book) and long detailed lists or charts about a characters detail is really cool and somehow makes it more immersive.

And it’s really nice to see the universe get expanded.

But overall, the writing is not the same anymore, the original dynamic is screwed up, and lots of missed opportunity to round up the cast together. It’s either empty or I’m just getting too old…Maybe I’m just nostalgia-biased in different areas who knows. But that’s pretty all my thoughts I can pull out.

[she-walks-on-starlight]

Can u write some fluff and comfort for grayson.

i would appreciate it <3

Of course! Thanks for the request - ✨

Duty Bound

a/n: added in some hurt/comfort and a slight touch of angst for this one, it's just how the story came to me :) my requests are still open, send me your ideas I'd love to hear them 😊

Warnings: almost break-up, arguments, feelings of neglect

Summary: Grayson has been busy with work, and you're starting to feel tired of coming in second. When you deliver an ultimatum, will it make or break your relationship?

Word Count: 2k

“I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on, y/n, and I want to spend my days and my nights making you happy. I will do anything you ask, will take you anywhere you wish to go as long as I can come with you. Just please say you’ll be mine, and nothing could possibly make me any happier.”

A beautiful memory.

You sighed as you packaged the baked macaroni cheese into Tupperware containers and labelled them before putting them in the fridge, yet another dinner you’d eaten alone.

Your cat, Whiskers, wound himself around your legs and staring reproachfully at you with his wide, green eyes. Rolling your eyes, you filled his feeding dish and put it on the floor for him, earning a grateful squeak. You scratch just behind his ears, when you hear the lock turn in the front door and the heavy thud of your girlfriend’s work boots as she finally arrived home.

“I’m home, beloved! Oh, do I smell cheese?”

She appeared in the kitchen archway, her Enforcer jacket slung casually over her shoulder and her pristine white shirt unbuttoned to just above her cleavage. You fix her with faux annoyed stare.

“You do smell cheese…I’ve just put your dinner in the fridge.”

Grayson huffs, running her hands through her messy, silver streaked locks. “I’m so sorry, my love. There was a situation in the Undercity that required my attention.”

You rolled your eyes but smiled. “I suppose I’ll have to let you off then, won’t I? Sit down, I’ll warm up your dinner.”

She obeyed, sitting at your small table as you warmed the macaroni cheese and started a spinach omelette for her lunch the next day. Grayson started unlacing her boots, lightly smacking your ass whenever you passed her because she knew it made you blush. Whiskers however soon realised she was home and pawed at her laces until she lavished him with attention. She looked tired, and you knew she must’ve had a very busy shift. It seemed with every week she was the Chief Enforcer more lines carved their way into her handsome face.

“I swear, more and more Shimmer is being pumped into the Undercity and we still haven’t got a single idea on how, or who is behind it all. Every factory I shut down, two more pop up to replace it! Not to mention how many Enforcers I’m losing to those Shimmer crazed thugs! I’ve had to inform three more wives of their husbands’ deaths today! Three!”

You kiss her cheek and run your hands through her hair, massaging the nape of her neck to help her relax. “I think you need a break, Gray.”

She groaned with pleasure at your ministrations but scoffed at your words. “If I take a break, I think the entire station will collapse.”

You tried to remain bright, placing her meal in front of her and grinning as she dug in eagerly. “Well…maybe we can do something this weekend? Maybe go to that little vegan café we both like?”

“Sorry my love, I can’t. I volunteered to lead a seminar on firearm maintenance on Saturday, and the Council wants me to make an appearance at the charity gala on Sunday.”

“Oh, a gala! That could be fun, it’s been a while since we’ve gone to one, I’ll have to see if I can dig out one of my old dresses…”

Grayson swallowed, eyeing you apologetically. “About that…I’m sorry. I’d like nothing more than to have you on my arm, but as I’m there to represent the Enforcers, it wouldn’t please the Council.”

You try to keep your breathing even, turning back to the stove and flipping the spinach omelette carefully.

“So, I’m not going to see you this weekend at all?”

You hear the scraping of her chair and close your eyes to prevent tears from falling as strong, broad arms wrap around you and the scent of her fresh, citrus cologne fills your nose as she kisses your cheek and your neck, her short curls tickling your face.

“Please don’t be too upset, my love. I have a duty to the people of Piltover.”

You sighed, your entire body filling with leaden disappointment. You were so sick of this. “And what about your duty to me?”

Grayson pulls away from you, her mouth agape. “What do you mean?”

Your hands ball into fists. “This apartment is haunted by you, Gray! I’m only graced with the presence of your shadow!”

“My love, I-”

“You’re always working, and when you’re not at work, then you’re at the gym! It’s like you have no time for me anymore! You’d always rather be doing something, anything else, than spend time with me, your girlfriend!”

Grayson crossed her arms. “That’s not true. My work is very important, beloved. I cannot simply drop everything to indulge in personal leisure.”

“But your work doesn’t have to take over your entire life, Gray.”

Grayson’s eyes were like liquid steel, sharp and cold. “My work IS my life. I have spent years, decades getting to where I am now! I thought you understood that.”

Your chest felt tight, your whole body felt stiff, and a prickling heat was coating your skin. This was a losing battle. Grayson was a woman of honour, a paragon of justice and was bound to her duty. Serving and protecting the people of Piltover was her lifeblood. That would never change, perhaps could never change.

“Then I think I should stay with my sister for a while.”

Before Grayson could reply, you turned on your heel and headed into the bedroom, burying yourself under the duvet and letting your salty tears burn into your face.

The next day had gone by in a blur. Grayson hadn’t been in the apartment when you’d woken up, so you assumed she’d gone into work early. Weary from working so late, but pleased you were able to complete the wedding cake on time for that lovely couple, you stabbed your key at the rusty lock in your apartment door until it finally clicked open and allowed you entry.

The apartment was dark and silent, but you expected that. Grayson was either at her office or she was hitting the gym. Again. The satisfied high from working at your small bakery was ebbing away, leeched from you by the depression radiating from the walls that had once surrounded you with love and warmth. You were too melancholy to cook, so you order chilli oil noodles from your favourite takeout place and trudged into the bedroom.

Opening the wardrobe, you were greeted with several Chief Enforcer uniforms, all starched and ironed to perfection, the belts and buckles gleaming proudly in the dim lighting of the bedroom. You carefully pushed them aside, not wanting to crease them and reached for your jumpers hanging beside them. As you folded them, you tried to ignore the sharp aching of your heart which only intensified when you pushed Grayson’s uniforms back into place on the rail.

You were pushing her out of your life.

You growled internally at the intrusive thought. Grayson had pushed you away first, now you were just letting yourself fall from the impact. If this is what Grayson wanted, then she would reap what she had sown.

On the bed lay your frayed duffel bag, beaten up from the many camping trips you and Grayson took. Used to take. It was open, the soft material hanging apart like a mocking, laughing mouth. However, as you approached it to put the jumpers inside, there was a folded piece of paper that wasn’t there when you’d left for work. As you opened it, you gasped as you recognised Grayson’s efficient scrawl.

Giovanni’s. 7pm. Wear the red dress. Please come.

Your eyes widened. Giovanni’s, a small Italian restaurant where you’d had your first dinner date with Grayson. The red dress she mentioned had been the one she’d slowly peeled you out of that evening, the first time she’d ever touched you like that. It had been the perfect night. Your heart fluttered at the implications of the note. Did she want to recreate that night? Or was this the final goodbye? Glancing the clock, you quickly put on the dress she requested and touched up your makeup before dashing out of the door and hailing a cab.

When you arrived, the waiter smiled knowingly and led you to the private terrace which was lit with candles and fairy lights. There was only a single table, by which Grayson stood wearing a crisp, black dress shirt, matching trousers, and a red paisley tie exactly the shade of your dress. She pulled out your chair for you as you sat, somewhat dazed, and kissed your knuckles before taking her seat opposite you.

Her eyes were serious, her forehead creased with stress. “I came home at lunchtime. I wanted to surprise you, to apologise for my recent behaviour…but I forgot today was one of your workdays. Just another way I’m failing you as a partner, I suppose.”

You reached for her, entwining your slender fingers with her larger ones, the warmth of her hand travelling up your arm and into your chest. “Gray…I-”

“I saw the bag.” Her voice was a whisper, the dreadful confession staining her lips with sadness. “I realised then, that you meant it when you said you were leaving. You were absolutely right. To have driven you to this, it’s unforgivable.”

You can feel your own heart swell at her words, tears pricking at the corners of your eyes as you take in your forlorn lover, such a great, upstanding woman reduced to despair, her eyes pleading and so very remorseful.

“Gray, I do understand-”

Grayson silenced you with a gentle finger to your lips. “Please, my love, I need to tell you. You are the sun that wakes me at dawn, you are the stars that watch over me at night. You are the beat in my heart, the reason I thrive. I love you more than anything I have ever even comprehended. To neglect you this way, is the greatest pain I could have ever inflicted upon myself. You are why I work so hard, so make sure you will always be safe and never have anything to fear. But you were right, I let it consume me. It almost cost me everything I hold dear.”

It's everything you’ve needed to hear, and it takes every shred of your emotional self-control not to burst into relieved sobs. “Gray, I love you. Your sense of honour and your need to fulfil your duty are all part of you, and I love you even more for having these qualities. I just want to be able to share my life with you and know that you’ll always want to come home to me, see me, be with me.”

Grayson leaned forward, cupping your cheek. “I want for nothing more. My soul sings when I am with you, and you alone, beloved.”

Then she kisses you, and it’s just like the first time all those years ago. She cups your face with her warm hands and wipes away any tears falling, her soft lips caressing yours with care and reverence, the two of you pouring your deep love for each other into a kiss that’s been a long time coming.  When you break apart, you’re sure you are blushing, and Grayson’s look of pure adoration warms you from the inside out. You eat a beautiful meal and as you stand from the table, Grayson ceremoniously gathers you in her arms, bridal style, making you squeal with surprise and delight.

“Hey! Gray! What are you doing?”

She nuzzles into your neck. “We are going home. I have a weekend of pampering to spoil you with.”

“But what about your weekend obligations?”

Grayson kisses you, tender and slow. “Marcus is leading the seminar on Saturday, and I’ve informed the Council that I will not attend the gala. They will likely not miss the Enforcer representation anyway. Now come, I have many plans for this evening and many of them involve much less clothing. Shall we?”

Sighing contentedly, you rest your head on her shoulder as she carries you away. “Let’s go home.”

[multicohn]

summary: hoseok worries about y/n burning herself out again and jumps at the chance to help improve her dance skills for her groups comeback so she doesn't get sick again

warnings: mentions of burning out, fainting, breakdowns, depression and su!c!dal thoughts

pairing: fem! idol! reader x jung hoseok

genre: angst, fluff

face claim: no one

author note: n/n means nickname. y/n is also a “bad” dancer, so if you’re good, i’m sorry but you’re gonna have to pretend that you’re “bad”.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

y/n breathed heavily while staring into the mirror. she couldn’t remember how long she’s been in the practice room for, but it felt like ages. her members had already left while she stayed back in hopes of improving and not standing out as the groups “dance hole”. in the eyes of her company, she wasn’t bad, but fans think the complete opposite. every comeback, y/n worked herself until she collapsed, she needed to prove to them that she’s just as good as her members; but, every comeback was filled with the same negative comments about her dancing.

“y/n is so bad bro 😭😭 kick her out atp”

“why do they even have her move to the centre when she can’t dance?”

“it’s so obvious they’re only keeping her for her ( vocals / visuals )”

y/n read them all. they thought she wouldn’t see them, but she does.

y/n was broken out of her thoughts at hearing her phone ringing. she tiredly walked towards her bag and sat down with a groan, everything hurt, but she couldn’t stop.

[ incoming call from… ☀️💜 ]

“hoseok?” she mumbled out before answering

they had only been dating for a few months and in order to not get caught, y/n made sure to put emojis as his contact. their companies were aware of the relationship and warned them about being careful, especially y/n as she’s a junior and her group isn’t even close to being as big as his. they were worried about the backlash and thoughts of netizens thinking she had seduced him and was just using him to make herself and her group more popular.

“n/n!” she tried to smile at hearing his voice, but couldn’t bring herself to. she was just so tired.

“hi, hobi” concern washed over him as he heard her voice

“did i wake you?”

“no, no. just practicing, the usual, you know?” she slumped down onto the floor and released a breath at feeling the cold wood on her sweaty body

“you shouldn’t practice so hard. you’ll get sick again” his reminder made her look at herself into the mirror

she had gone on hiatus a while ago because of her deteriorating mental health and he had been the main person that looked after her since her group was busy promoting. y/n didn't want to see her family during it, she felt embarrassed for letting such negativity get to her and make her feel like she should end everything: they were harmless comments, they didn't know better, right? they were just saying things to hurt her, they didn't actually mean it… or so she tried to convince herself. hoseok understood what she felt, though the negative comments about them have been significantly different, he knew how to deal with what she was feeling and y/n couldn't help but fall in love with him even more.

hoseok represented the sun, and she the moon. his bright smile and positive words helped y/n feel better, although it did take her a while to understand that he wasn't doing it just because it might be a requirement due to them dating, but he actually cared about her. a lot of tears were shed and they both had to repeat their words as they couldn't understand the other through their sobbing, but y/n slowly managed to feel okay again.

"can you help me?" she asked softly

"of course!"

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

the phrase “practice makes perfect” has always stuck with y/n, but no matter how much hoseok helped her, she just couldn't get certain moves right. her body didn't bend in the same way her members or his did and she hated it — it just made her stick out even more.

"it's alright, you still have time" he eased her worries as she sat between his legs with her back pressed against his chest. they weren't worried about anyone seeing them as the door was locked and the window that was on the door had a curtain that he could pull down

"the others should be here soon, do you want to watch us?" y/n felt rather intimated about meeting the other members and hoseok understood as he was once in her position so he never pushed y/n into meeting them. however, his enlistment date was growing closer and the youngest four were rather noisy about wanting to meet her before he left as they knew she wouldn't interact with them otherwise. hoseok also wanted them to meet her and potentially take care of y/n while he was away in case anything happened and her own members weren't with her

"sure" he perked up and hugged her tightly making y/n laugh

one by one they came into the practice room and each of them froze at the doorway upon seeing hoseok coddling y/n who was embarrassed with showing such affection around others. they were use to him being strict during their own practices, but he was so soft with her.

jungkook felt very offended.

“she’s my girlfriend, of course i treat her better” he rolled his eyes as jungkook gasped dramatically, y/n looked between the two as they reminded her of two of her own members

throughout the practice, y/n sat against the wall and just watched. she knew they were human and could make mistakes, but seeing them shocked her a little. y/n saw them as bts: her seniors and one of the biggest korean idol groups to ever exist. it was strange yet oddly comforting?

mistakes are made and they laugh it off. y/n remembered when she did that too. once she tripped over herself and fell onto the floor which made her members burst out laughing before asking if she was okay. as trainees, all of them were rather sensitive and wanted to be perfect, but nowadays ( stan ) they didn’t judge her and reminded y/n that she wouldn’t have debuted if the company truely believed she was such an awful dancer like the internet said.

“practice makes perfect” they say. y/n has always been determined to become a better dancer and prove everyone wrong, but this time she’s going to work on doing it without burning herself out and making everyone worried

“hoseok” she called out to her boyfriend softly as he sat beside her in silence, the other boys were spread out and in their own worlds as he hummed and looked at her

“thanks” he tilted his head in confusion before asking what she meant

“for everything” she kissed his cheek softly which earned a loud gag from jimin, but they both ignored him

“i’m going to go home. practice with me, tomorrow?” he beamed and nodded happily before leaning in to kiss her

a shoe was thrown which made them jump apart and a loud; “GET A ROOM” echoed through the practice room. hoseok glared before getting up to chase after the younger members who ran out of the practice room.

[docholligay]

Choose your own adventure: July

I cna't speak to the quality of it, but I did get this month's DONE. I'm going to be honest with you: I worked really hard at this. I know the transitions are a little wonky and I'm not sure the blocking works, but that's not the point of this exercise and STUFF HAPPENS HERE. 4300 words.

“My client has passed a cognitive test that puts her beyond the understanding of an six year old, Doctor.” 

They might have been a bit too hard on Ollie--Oliver, she supposed--for having the audacity to go to law school and learn how to sound posh. It didn’t mean he was too good for the East End. Aunt Lily and Uncle Clive were bursting with pride. It was only them, she and Parvati and Florrie and Raj, who had decided it was wrong of him. Who picked at him.

“And whatever you may believe, they are capable of parsing reality and imagination,” he looked over his glasses at the doctor, “even in working class London.” 

Right. She definitely owed Oliver an apology. A series of apologies, more like. He was terrifically nervous. He’d half-lied his way to Lena’s side, and severely tested the legitimate half. He was in over his head. 

But wasn’t that the most Oxton thing of all, to be in over your head and plow ahead anyhow? 

The doctor smiled. “Of course. But given the traumatic experience she’s had, Mr. Parekh, it’s reasonable to assume that--and Lena, this happens even to the strongest of people--”

Condescending prick. 

“There might be some level of instability. The mind is a fragile thing. Hallucinations--” 

“I’m not cracked.” She shook her head. “I’m not.” 

“You alright over there?” 

“Hearing and seeing things is a common part of--” 

“Lena.” 

“It ‘appened, and it was real, and I’M NOT INSANE!”

“Well,” Doc leaned over and picked up the knife, “I wasn’t gonna say that, I was gonna say you look like you got off the world a minute. But, okay, you’re not insane. Understood.” 

Lena wiped her face. A thin mist of sweat. She shook out her hands, tried to stop the trembling. She hadn’t thought of that day in years. It came to nothing. He’d been removed from her case shortly after. There wasn’t even a note in her personnel file. No one thought that. No one thinks that. 

“I’m all right.” 

Doc’s eyebrows raised, accompanied by a huff. “Yeah, you look it.”

You’ll feel better when you eat. You’re hungry and tired, is all. You don’t feel it, but you are, I promise. Right. What had she even heard? She hadn’t heard anything, nothing, whatever it was that said to hurt Doc--if it had even said that, she couldn’t remember all that well, it can’t have been that--had just been a memory or something fluttering thorugh her mind. She had a busy mind. Always had. Right, right. This place is safe. There’s nothing to be afraid of here. 

Lena’s eyes flicked upwards to Doc, and she took a deep breath. She rubbed her hands together and offered up a shrug and a smile. 

“Need to eat something. Sorry.” 

Doc cut off the prolonged stare and nodded down to the pot in her hands. 

“Can I interest you in some intensely mediocre soup? Thank god canned food’s salty as it is or we’d be up shit creek. Bland as all hell, still.” 

Lena jumped down off the counter and picked a handful of spoons out of the drawer. 

“Brilliant. As an Englishwoman, I crave disappointment.” 

She looked down at the spoons. All perfectly matched, all with a letter engraved heavily into the end of the handle, all covered in tarnish. She frowned a little at it. Fareeha wouldn’t like it, the spoons looking so dirty, even if it were only tarnish. The last thing she needed right now was to hear another lecture about impressing the representatives of the Kaioh family, as if they hadn’t already decided what they were going to give. As if it weren’t just all a game to see what they could get out of it. 

But Fareeha was still her friend, even if she was aggravating and fussy. This meant a lot to her. Fareeha did a lot for all of them, Lena included. She scrubbed at the bowls of the spoons with the edge of her t-shirt, a few of the bits of greyish-black fading under the effort of her scrub, but a thin veil of tarnish remaining over the silver. The handle would have to stay black as it was, but Lena would do her best for the business end.

She helped Doc gather up everything and headed back to the group, trying to ignore the glint of the knife under the moonlight, and the quiet humming song of something she could not quite identify. 

___

It wasn’t much, but it was dinner, and that would have to be enough for now. If anyone wanted to question us on it, they could damn well get something else themselves. 

“I ask you something?” 

She met her eyes to mine, unwavering and intense even as the fire drew out them out bright. They were nice. I’ve always liked brown eyes. I’ve made a study of the ways they’re different from each other, like people always seem to do with blue eyes. Hers were that sort of russet color, that looks a little reddish when the light hits it just right. 

“I guess.” 

I shrugged, and put another ladle of soup into a bowl, and passed it the whole thing to Minako, who took it from my hands with a strange sort of caress. She stared at me as she walked back over to Haruka, like she wanted to pin me to a mounting box and cut me apart. 

“Where did you come from, exactly?” 

“Montana. It’s in the US, right up by Canada. Yellowstone and all that.” 

“That’s not what I meant.” 

I knew damn well that’s not what she meant, but I’m not used to having the point pressed on me in these sorts of situations. I don’t even know how to handle it. This is the weirdest dream I’ve ever experienced, and the longer I sit here in the house with it, the more real it seems. The more I want to go home. That’s a risk, isn’t it? You fall into a story, and you never want to leave. It builds itself around you, and it tells you the things you want to hear. It’s a horror story. 

I suppose that would make more sense if I was having even the slightest good time. 

Lena shook her head and grinned. “Not trying to be--you’re the only one I don’t know, right? ‘Ere.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “This is me girlfriend. Girlfriend, like I’m in school.. Partner sounds odd, though. Rubbish, not to have the right word for ‘er just yet, but I will, and soon. I ‘ope. Emily. I miss ‘er. Funny, innit? ‘aven’t even been gone too long.” 

She didn’t have to tell me who it was. Not that Lena could have known that. A picture of her and Emily, bright-eyed, red-headed, the two of them nestled together under an errant bough of mistletoe in what could only be one of a dozen Christmas markets. Lena’s bright blue and burgundy scarf--her cousin had made it, I knew--was well-loved and pilling, but it looked cozy against the chill, and complemented perfectly Emily’s purple knit beret. They looked so happy. 

“She’s pretty.” 

“Right?” Lena took the phone back from my hand. “Don’t tell ‘er she’s too good-looking for me, even though it’s true. Less she knows, the better.” 

She let out a bark of laughter, which shattered into a million pieces and echoed off every surface in the room. Mina and Haruka turned to look. Fareeha and Angela paid no attention, normal as the peal of the bells of the church down the street. The smile stayed. Whatever weird thing she’d been worried about in the kitchen seemed to have been forgotten in the thought of Emily. 

“So, you ‘ave anyone? Like that?” 

“I’m married, yeah.” 

Lena looked at the fire, thinking for a moment and then letting out a little huff. 

“Right so, I love ‘er. I would do near anything, for ‘er. And she loves me. I want to marry ‘er. I’m proposing in a few months. I want you to know. I want you to know she loves me, and I don’t want ot ‘urt ‘er, and that’s why I’m going to ask you something I don’t really want to ask. Makes me sound mad, it dones, and it will, but I ‘ave to.For Emily.” 

“Do you want my blessing, or--”

She turned back and gave me that same wide-eyed, intense look. 

“Are you ‘ere to kill me? To ‘urt me?” 

Holy shit. I felt a sledgehammer hit my chest, and I desperately looked away from her, trying to take in a deep breath that wouldn’t come. Staring at the shadows thrown on the wall. No, I’m not here to kill you, but you do have to die. Not today. But not that far off, either, if I’m right about where you are in life. I have to take you from Emily, and from Winston, and from your entire family who adores you. Your arc is complete and your death is essential to Fareeha’s larger growth as a person, I hope that comforts you as your body falls apart beneath you. 

I felt a little bit like an asshole. 

I chuckled, though. “Ain’t you supposed to be a big Overwatch agent? What exactly am I gonna do? I’m a writer. No,” I clapped her on the shoulder and squeezed, “I’m not here to kill ya. Not even a little bit. I like you, for starters. I like you a lot. 

“That’s outside of the--you want to know what I’m doing here? I saw a once in a lifetime opportunity to see people I’d been writing about, in a human sense. That’s all. I lucked out, and I know it’s weird as hell, but fuck, hasn’t everything today been? ” 

Lena laughed, rocking back on her heels. “Course. It’s only--never mind! Nothing!” 

I did it. She believed me. She’s not stupid, but I am telling a kind of truth, and that helps. She shook her head, and went to go grab the spoons to distribute so everyone could finally get eating. She stared at them a long while, ran her finger over the deeply carved letter, noticed the glint in the light as she turns them. I wondered where she got those up from. They look brand new. 

She called back to me as she gave Fareeha a spoon. “If I die, it’s me own fault, right?” 

“Sure is!” I called back. 

I am an asshole, after all. 

___

Annoying.

“Boy, Overwatch has a crack culinary team, huh?” Mina’s nose wrinkled as she looked at the soup. “Not that I was expecting much. Leave it to England to make starving look good.” 

Nothing. Lena didn’t even look up at her, busy looking at the spoon in hand, biting her lip as she held it up to the light, bright silver and gleaming in the firelight. Lena just shook her head and put it  down on the table. 

Lena had struck her as having a little more pride in her home, or at the very least firmly being one of those people who would say a million bad things herself, but take it personally if it came from somewhere else. She hadn’t expected the dedicated study of old flatware. 

It was probably some kind of weakness in Mina that made her want so badly to crack open every single person she spent an extended period of time with, but to her mind, it was like being able to see color. If you never had it, you could see how someone would never miss it. There are always plenty of other ways to identify objects. But once you opened that door to Oz, once you had the ability to rifle through people’s minds and see what built them, the level of control you had over any given situation doubled. At worst. 

But she didn’t need it. She kept telling herself that. She’d become like one of those people who’d started usin Door Dash for the deals and now believed it was the only way to exist as a working person. She’d forgotten how to make a sandwich. But intellectually. 

She looked around the room as everyone quietly ate the soup. It wasn’t as bad as Mina had pretended, but it wasn’t good either. Sort of like the general mood of the room. 

Haruka was across from her. Generally an easy read, but was always hard to know exactly when she was going to blow. She was tired and stressed and feeling intimidated by the general strength and athletic prowess in the room. Her ability to run fast and throw herself at a problem was less impressive when the tour guides they had could bench press her, or out manuver her. She hated being bossed around by anyone but Michiru and Mina, anyways. She looked forward to when Haruka’d had enough, it would add some spice to the situation. 

Lena was eating her soup in a way Mina could only describe unnecessarily aggressive, slurping it down and taking another ladleful. Mina watched as she closed her eyes, took deep breath, stretched, and smiled, giving herself a little nod and a quietly mouthed pep talk. Whatever had been bothering her when she had walked in, she had made some decision to sidestep it. 

Fareeha never seemed to wander too far away from Angela. Some of it made sense, because Mina had Touched Angela: Dead parents in one of those character-defining sort of tragedies, workaholic, haunted by the people she couldn’t save, all that shit. If she wanted to get to Fareeha, she’d have to get to Angela. 

Doc was leaned against the dark wood of a small series of shelves in the corner, pulling off a bottle of some dark liquor and ….She was nervous about something. More than anyone else here, there was some quality of her that didn’t quite belong. It was almost like Mina was looking at someone who was cut out of a magazine and pasted into the room, the edges of her not quite fitting onto the backdrop. 

And why didn’t the Touch work? 

It had never failed her before. She’d never seen nothing. Sure, a talented Seer could block to some degree, maybe even completely, on their best day. But that was the feeling of a door being shut in her face, not of pawing at the empty air. Not of the darkness. It wasn’t that she blocked her history, it was that she had no history to look at. Even something from outside the Sol System would show her--

Or…

No. 

Minako wasn’t about to think that. In no way could that be the answer. It was a gift, given--no fuck that, it wasn’t a gift, it was a trade. It was a salary. For all the things Mina had been asked and would be asked to give up, for all the tough calls she’d be forced to make, that was the exchange. She could see people’s pasts, she could dive into their feelings, she looked at people the way a watchmaker sprung open the back of a Rolex. 

It couldn’t be gone. The moon couldn’t take it back. The house couldn’t touch it, she’d used it in some Dark Kingdom labyrinths before. No. Impossible. 

Turns out, an impossible thing can still make you sweat. 

She turned to Haruka. Had to call her off first, or she’d just make things worse, and everyone was already careful, already wary. 

“Do me a favor?” 

“Yeah?” She looked up from her unimpressive soup. 

“No matter what happens, stay here. Don’t get mad. Don’t defend me.” 

Haruka looked at her moment, trying to mount some kind of defense against whatever was about to come, her mouth slightly open for the words that would not form themselves into being. She shut it, and then shook her head, resigned.

“I hate it when you say shit like that.” 

“It’ll be fun.” Mina began to stand up. 

“No it won’t. It’s never fun.” She called after her in a stage whisper. “It’s never fun! Minako!” 

Minako walked. No, she didn’t walk. She glided. She swanned. She wheedled her way across the room, delighted with herself, until she stood in front of Lena. She leaned up against the chair and let her breasts just sort of enter Lena’s space. Casually. It wasn’t enough to get any of Lena’s attention, as apparently the fire was so much more than her tits could ever hope to be. 

“Hey.” She cooed, moving to touch Lena’s arm, missing the skin at the last moment from an errant twitch. 

“Yeah?” Lena leaned back and looked up. 

“What are we gonna do about,” Mina sat on the edge of the chair and leaned in, “Sleeping arrangements?” 

Lena stopped for a minute, stared up at Minako, tilted her head neatly to the side, and slipped out of the chair, her back to Mina completely. 

“Few pieces of furniture in ‘ere. You can push the chairs together, make a bed. I’ve done it before, it’s not bad. I’ll take the floor,” she was moving toward Fareeha, she had seen what Mina was doing and didn’t want it. It made Mina angry. It brought out the artist in her. Life was complicated that way. “Rug’s softer than me mattress at ‘ome, I’ll be grand.”

Okay, strike one. No big deal. She was a professional, of course it was going to be harder to get to her than your average idiot in any given bar. 

Mina came up next to her. “I was thinking we all might feel a little less crowded somewhere else. But of course,” she reached her hand toward Lena, brushing the edge of her sweater with her fingertips “I’d feel better if you were with me.” 

Lena dodged, but turned to face her. “Can you not?” 

Big, sad eyes now. Slumped shoulders. “You don’t think I’m pretty.” 

Didn’t work. Lena’s eyes narrowed. 

“I think you’re nineteen, I have someone, not looking to cause an incident, and also, I think you’re lying about wanting anything to do with me like that. Don’t know why, but leave it, alright?” She stepped away from Mina, more forcefully this time, “Fareeha..” 

“I’m tired of you thinking you can order us around!” The time for the seductress was over. It was time for the brat. “We deserve your respect!” 

Fareeha stepped forward. “You have it, Aino-san.” 

“Oh don’t Aino-san ‘er.” Lena chuckled as she perched on the edge of  chair. “Over ‘ere, like she’s on the pull, after me, don’t know what san means, right, but I don’t think it’s that.” 

Mina tried to keep herself from smiling. It was a joke, a little barb meant to annoy Mina, but Mina had been watching. It was a defensive strike. Mina’d been pressing on Lena ever since they’d started this little campaign--for sport, mostly, but she wouldn’t say no if Lena wanted to--and she’d seen that it was finally wearing on her. Whether she was afraid of the dark or irritated by all the logistical issues or just tired and hungry, finally she might have been able to push Lena far enough. 

She thought it would be seduction, but this would work just fine too. Any port in a storm. 

“I’m after you??” Mina grasped at her chest in mock horror. “You’re the one who won’t let us leave! You’re the one who wants to sleep in the same room as me. Are you hoping I’ll strip down? Is that why you built the fire so hot?” 

Fareeha put a hand out. “It is safer here. Commander Oxton is a profession--”

Mina lunged forward to Lena. “Why should we all stay here? What’s the point, why can’t we get separate rooms?” 

Lena leaned toward her. Closing the gap. “To start, it’s freezing, if you ‘aven’t noticed, and it’s easier to keep one room warm. We’ve no idea when this’ll let up. We don’t know what’s round ‘ere, neither. Close up one room, watch your exits.” 

Mina was sick of flying blind. Bring on Door Dash. She had to make Lena touch her. If she couldn’t convince her to do it out of affection, she could almost certainly pull her anger. It was so close, Mina could feel it. Her mind fluttered, ideas running through it like flipping through a book, looking for the passage she remembered. She’d read a little bit about Overwatch before she’d come, hadn’t she? Just keep nipping. It’ll come. 

There was a whisper, something like a touch on her shoulder. A sound Mina had never heard before, in the back of her head, like the echo from the back of a cave. London. Remember the news, on a high rooftop. Remember the shot? You saw it while you were drinking coffee on the train. She will remember it, I assure you. You can win this.

“I just don’t get the point of it all.” She stalled for time, reaching for that image. It began to come into focus. 

“The point of it is that we ‘ave a responsibility to protect you. Protect you. Nothing else, not listening to your bloody whinging, not fulfilling whatever fantasy you have. Just protecting you. I am doing that, alright!?” 

There it is. Stop on this page. A small grin came across Minako’s face as she fired back. 

“What, about as good a job you did protecting Mondatta!?” 

The air went out of the room. Direct hit. Lena’s fists balled up, her teeth gritted, body tensed, a spring off the back leg. Here it came, she was ready to catch it. It would hurt, but all knowledge was got by an inch of pain, at least. Mina closed her eyes.

She felt Lena whoosh by her, narrowly missing her, the thick velvet chair next to Mina falling to the ground. In a show of restraint Mina would not have predicted, she had vented her temper on a chair that had probably seen at least three kings. Lena backed away from Minako, slow, careful steps away as she tugged at the back of her hair. She turned away as Mina watched her eyes flutter from anger to pain. 

“I! --I don’t!” 

Go in for the kill. 

Something animal filled her in that moment. She smelled the blood, and she attacked. Did she even want Lena to hit her, then? It had been like something inside of her, someone inside of her, coming through her, pushing through her, digging into Lena’s flesh. She felt it rush around her, speaking in tongues as she saw Lena shrink before her. 

“Protected him by moving out of the way of the bullet? By saving yourself? Are you proud of the job you did there? Did your family like it, showing the world that the Oxtons are cowards when it comes down to the wire?  Aren’t we all at least so fucking glad your dad never lived to see that! Imagine what he would say to you.”

Lena stood, silent, in the middle of the room. Doc whispered a swear into her whiskey. Everyone was waiting. The stage was clear for her, wasn’t it?

“You should have died that day, and everyone knows it! Everyone!”  

“Mina.” It was Haruka’s voice. 

Haruka had never done this, in all the years they’d known each other: Not when she was picking at Michiru, not when she told usagi to stop crying, not even when she was going after Haruka herself. The single fact of Haruka Tenoh telling Minako Aino, in one word, to stop, that she had gone too far, suddenly filled her with a deep and pervasive shame. Why hadn’t she stopped?

But it was too late. The light was out of Lena’s eyes. She backed toward to door, searching. Lena’s sorrow filled the room like smoke, posioning the air, inescapably squirreling into every crack, into Mina’s lungs. 

Fareeha reached her hand toward Lena’s shoulder. Lena twisted away, her back to the wall.

“It isn’t--”  

“Don’t.”  Her voice was choked; she cleared her throat.  “Please don’t.” 

She ran her hand through her hair, and went through the door, shutting it firmly behind her. Lena had taken neither candle nor match. Her flashlight lay on the table by the fallen velvet chair, its burgundy plush ominous in the firelight and silence. 

Fareeha stood quietly, and turned her eyes to Mina, sharp as a hawk’s. 

“I do not want, or need, your money. I will take you to the airport in the morning.” She pulled her shirt straight. “If I have to walk you there myself.” 

Fareeha picked up the flashlight and the faded blue backpack, leaving the room quickly, her footsteps fading into the darkness. Minako sank into the loveseat, hands folded in her lap, still not quite believing what had happened. She could have done it, of course she could have. But it didn’t feel like she did. 

Angela, a tear running down her face, poured herself some of Doc’s whiksey, taking the bottle straight out of her hand. She stood in front of Mina, shaking, and spat out the words. 

“You. Are so. Cruel! You should know shame.” She stomped to the other end of the roomand flopped into a chair, breathing heavy. 

She wasn’t wrong, all told. It wasn’t necessary to do what she did, and even haruka, sitting next to her, couldn’t even look at her. No one wanted to look at her, because she’d acted like a complete asshole. Lena hadn’t even done anything to her other than not be Touched. Other than be in the wrong place while Mina wondered what was wrong with this house, or with Doc, or both. All that was true. And she was ashamed. 

But Mina thought of one thing, sitting there. 

She hadn’t known Lena’s father was dead. 

Who else is going to find Lena and where are they going?