#if anyone wanted to read about Clang i guess

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

Wherever you wanna go

Written for day 14 of the @steddieholidaydrabbles, and for round one of the @steddiebingo

Prompt: Together and Fluff

Rated: T

Tags: Omegaverse; Alpha!Steve; Omega!Eddie; Steddie dads; mpreg (referenced); Domestic fluff

Notes: Set in the same universe as Whatever you want it to be

“Okay, we’ve been over this,” Eddie says. “I know you value your independence, and I appreciate your commitment, but there's no shame in accepting a little help, yeah?” 

“No,” Lizzie replies, swatting him off with tiny hands. “Lone.” 

“But-” Eddie says, but she doesn’t listen, just continues her way up the slide with a determined frown. She looks ridiculously like Steve - from the way her chestnut hair falls into her face, all the way to the stubbornly set jaw and pouty bottom lip. Speaking of Steve …

“Stop laughing,” Eddie grouses, admitting defeat and stomping back to their park bench. “You won’t think it’s funny when she falls.” 

“You worry too much,” Steve chuckles, kissing his cheek. “She's gonna be fine.” 

Eddie groans. “The stubborn streak on this kid is unbelievable.” 

“Yeah?” Steve shoots him a side-glance and goes back to his parenting magazine. “Sounds like someone I know.” 

“Well, that’s one thing she gets from me, at least,” Eddie huffs. “I grow her in my own body, go through the absolute hell that is labor, and she pops out looking like your little clone? That's just unfair.”

Steve turns a page. “I’ve read that it’s fairly normal for them to look more like the alpha parent for the first year or two. Keeps us emotionally attached, apparently. And for the record, she gets a lot of things from you.” 

“Huh,” Eddie mutters, slotting closer into his space. It’s getting chilly, but Steve always runs warm, and his sweater is fluffy and soft. “Hope she didn’t get the goldfish brain and the smart mouth. I’d like her to have an easy life.” 

“Hey now. I like your mouth,” Steve smirks. Eddie slaps his arm. “And just so you know, I was talking about your determination and your passion, and your love for music, among other things. The way she goes off when you play that guitar?” 

Eddie grins, even as something in his chest tugs. 

“She is the best audience I’ve ever had,” he concedes. “And my metal version of Wheels on the Bus slaps, I think we can all agree there.”

They lapse into silence for a few seconds.

“Speaking of music,” Steve finally says, setting aside his magazine so that he can take Eddie’s hand. “That new bar on Lincoln’s is looking for live acts. Maybe you should-” 

Eddie shakes his head. The treacherous thing in his chest twists. “Nah, Stevie, I don’t think so.” 

Steve frowns. “Why not? It might be a good way for you to get back into things. You always wanted-” 

“Yes,” Eddie says. “But when these places say they’re looking for music acts, they don’t mean scrawny omegas with a toddler at home.”

He stands, meaning to walk back to Lizzie, but Steve doesn’t let go of his hand. “You can’t know that unless you try. They might say yes. And I’ve no problem staying home with Liz, you know that.”

Something bittersweet and warm blooms behind Eddie’s collarbone. He sighs, sinking back onto the bench. “I know, big boy. You're brilliant with her. That's not what I'm worried about.” 

Steve flushes at the praise, but his eyes hold the same determination as on the day when he first proposed courtship to Eddie. Like he’s ready to tear apart anyone who’ll try and hurt him. 

“You shouldn’t worry at all,” he says. “Whatever you wanna do, wherever you wanna go, we’ll find a way together, yeah? Just … promise me you’ll think about it?” 

Eddie is nodding before he even knows it. How could he do anything else in the face of those earnest puppy-dog eyes? 

“Yeah, okay,” he says, leaning in for a brief kiss. “I guess I can-” 

A loud clang and a shrill cry interrupt him. When they whip around, Lizzie is scrambling upright at the end of the slide and holding her head, big tears running down her cheeks.

“Fuck,” Eddie groans, jumping up to get to her, but Steve beats him to it and scoops her up in his arms. 

“That’ll leave a bump,” he says. “Come on, lemme kiss it better.”

Lizzie, whose wails have already quietened, giggles as he leaves a trail of loud, wet smooches all over the side of her face. The warm, fuzzy thing in Eddie’s chest flutters as he joins them. Lizzie burrows her face into his neck, seeking his scent, but refuses to leave Steve’s arms when he attempts to hand her over. Eddie goes for wrapping an arm around Steve’s waist instead, pressing a kiss to his temple.

“Oh, isn’t this adorable?”

When they look up, an old lady is standing next to the slide, grocery bags in both hands. 

“Never mind me, dears,” she giggles. “I just think it’s beautiful, seeing young families together like this. You don’t see many alphas being that involved. Don’t let that one go, he’s a keeper.”

“Thank y-” Eddie starts to say, but then it dawns on him that she isn’t looking at him. She’s looking at Steve. Steve, with his fuzzy, pastel-colored sweater, who’s cradling their little daughter with the softest, most gooey smile on his face. “Erm, actually-”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Steve interrupts him, laying his head on Eddie’s shoulder. “I’m not planning to. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.” 

“What the fuck?” Eddie hisses as the woman trundles on and Steve shouts a cheery goodbye after her. “What was that all about?” 

Steve disentangles himself from his embrace, kissing his cheek once more before he carries Lizzie over to her stroller. 

“What?” he calls over his shoulder. “Let people assume what they want, we don’t owe them an explanation.” 

He’s right, Eddie thinks as they start making their way home. They don’t owe anyone shit. As long as the three of them are together and happy, that’s all that matters. 

He’s planning on keeping it this way. 

More holiday drabbles

More steddie bingo

[jobean12-blog]

Neighborly Love

Pairing: Beefy!Bucky x reader

Word Count: 1,446

Summary: Bucky is your new neighhor and tension has been building since he  moved in so when the water in his apartment stops working he comes to you first. 

Author’s Note: So my dear love @mickeyhenrys made this edit for me and it sparked an idea because omg it’s glorious and Bucky in glasses is just 🔥🔥🔥and it all happened while we were thirsting over the recent pics of Seb and his MAN BUN! YUM! Thank you so much love and thank you all so much for reading! Much love always! ❤️❤️❤️Divider by the sweet @firefly-graphics thank you darling Daisy🥰

Warnings: Fun, flirty, some fluff, some tension, the doorbell is a pain in the butt, i-mpl-ie-d s-e-x-y time

The below edit is NOT MINE: credit goes to @mickeyhenrys thank you again my lovely 

I’m also including the pic of Seb and his beefy bun below the cut because YES

After a long debate with yourself over whether or not you want to walk to the bathroom in just your tee shirt and panties you decide to make a run for it so you can wash up and change all at once.

With that decision, you open your bedroom door and step into the hall, about to walk to the bathroom when it’s door opens.

Bucky freezes in the doorway when he sees you, his eyes running down the length of your body.

“Mornin’ doll,” he says before clearing his throat. “Sleep ok?”

His long hair is curled around his ears, still wet and sending droplets of water dripping onto his bare shoulders that converge into a glistening trail down his naked chest, zigzagging through his sculpted abdominals before disappearing beneath the waistband of his jeans.  

Jeans that hang low enough to reveal the defined V-cut of his hips.

He raises his arm, towel in hand, and starts to dry his hair, drawing your eyes to his flexing bicep.

“UGH!”

You push him out of the way and slam the bathroom door behind you.

“Guess that’s a no,” he mutters before walking back into the living room.

Once you’re washed up and you’ve used the bathroom you stomp back out, having forgotten all about changing.

You walk over to him and shove his glasses at his chest, hard. “You forgot these in the bathroom.”

“Doll?” Bucky asks in confusion.

“You’re over here, using my shower, walking around like that,” you mutter as you clang angrily around the kitchen.

“Did I miss something?” he asks from the doorway.

“Put a shirt on Bucky,” you snap, keeping your back to him.

“Only if you put on some shorts and a bra doll face,” he replies with a chuckle.

You suddenly go still, remembering you’re only wearing your panties under your oversized tee. Whirling around with the intention to slip past him, you glower but when you reach the doorway he blocks your path, maneuvering you against the wall.

He raises an arm above your head and leans in, the clean scent of your shampoo in his hair. Your eyes travel over his skin appreciatively and when you meet his gaze you find him staring down at your legs. Your thighs rub together instinctively and he lets out a grunt filled with desire.

You try to unjumble your thoughts, the tiny rational part of your brain yelling at you to run.

But everything else is too loud.

“Bucky?” you breathe out and your eyes fall to his mouth.

He lifts his other hand and gently brushes his thumb along the curve of your jaw, in the process bringing your face closer to his. Goose bumps erupt across your skin at the scrape of his calluses and your mind fills with thoughts of how those hands would feel on the rest of your body.

You breathe out his name once more as his head dips, his lips just brushing along yours when the doorbell rings.

With a muttered curse, he retreats, his eyes filled with the promise that this isn’t over.

“I’ll get it,” you squeak.

He catches you by the arm to stop you.

“I’ll get it doll face,” he rumbles, letting his eyes sweep down your body. “No way I’m lettin’ anyone else see you like this.”

You nod with wide eyes and hurry back to your bedroom, quickly glancing back to watch as he lifts his shirt over his head and shoves his glasses onto his face.

“Who was it?” you ask when you return, now dressed in leggings and a new shirt.

“The landlord,” he answers. “My water should be fixed by five.”

“Ok, great,” you say with far too much cheer. “Coffee?”

“Sure, thanks doll,” he says as he takes the hair tie from his wrist and secures his hair at the base of his neck in a small bun.

You stare for a moment too long before looking away and trying to focus on making the coffee.

A few minutes later you walk into your small living room, mugs in hand and sit next to him on the couch. You place the steaming coffee down on the small table and snuggle into his side.

“Thanks again,” he says.

“For what?”

“For letting me crash here and take a shower.”

“Of course,” you tell him. “I’m just glad one of us has working water to use. It seems like everything goes wrong all at once in this building.”  

Your gazes hold for a second before he reaches for his coffee. When he sits back you lean into him again.

“There’s a whole lotta couch ya know doll,” he teases.

“You’re warm and you smell nice,” you pout even as you push yourself away from him.  

He goes to reach for you so he can tuck you back against him but unfortunately during all the shifting you manage to spill a spot of your coffee on his shirt.

“OH MY GOD,” you screech as you plop your coffee back on the table, spilling more, before you grab his shirt and pull it away from his body. “I’m sorry! Are you ok?”

He carefully places his coffee mug down and gives you a lopsided smirk.

“Pretty sure that was my fault,” he says sheepishly. “And I’m fine doll. Don’t worry.”

Your fingers slip higher and you lift the wet fabric, searching his skin for any redness.

His stomach muscles flex under your touch.

“Are you sure?” you whisper, finally dragging your eyes away from his skin.

“I’m sure,” he replies, his voice gruff.

Suddenly, the air feels too thick and the feel of him under your fingers, the heat from his body and the way his eyes shine with desire makes it hard to breathe.

You lick your lips, needing to kiss him.

His head dips to yours as you move upward and then his mouth is on you, frantic and hungry.

Strong arms circle around you, his hands splayed over your back as he pulls you closer until you’re straddling him.

You roll your hips against him, feeling how much he wants you. Your hands dance along his chest and reach behind his head to tug his hair free of the tie, letting it spill out around his face before you slide your fingers through the silky strands. His glasses go askew and he pulls away just fast enough to rip them off and drop them on the couch.

His large hands smooth down to your waist to grip your hips and you feel the pressure of him holding you down as you grind over him again and again. Tightening his hold, he lifts his hips, increasing the pressure.

With every roll of your hips you grow needier and his grip turns bruising.

“I need to come Bucky,” you murmur against his lips.

He growls your name, and then kisses you again, keeping your hips in constant motion over the hardness between his legs.

“Fuck,” he grunts, his cheeks flushed.

“Please,” you whine, your fingernails digging into his skin. “I need you. I need you inside m…”

Ding Dong

“You have to be fucking kidding me,” he growls.

You’re still seated in his lap, your heavy breathing the only sound when the bell buzzes again.

“Don’t move,” he commands as he gently lifts you up.

He adjusts himself in his jeans and grabs his glasses, pushing them up and over his nose. With one last longing glance he starts to walk toward the door.

“Bucky wait!” you call quietly.

He stops and looks back as you hop off the couch and go to him. You press your body along his and reach up to fix his hair and adjust his glasses.

“There…,” you say. “Your hair was a bit mussed and your glasses were crooked.”

“Thanks,” he says with a grin then grabs you around the waist, presses you so close that feel every inch of him and kisses you until you’re breathless.

Third buzz of the bell.

He stomps away and opens the door with too much force, making you giggle. Then you hear him saying a lot of “uh huh, ok, that’s fine, yeah, yeah,” and then the door slams shut and the lock clicks.  

“Was that the landlord again?” you ask as he stalks toward you.

He nods but doesn’t elaborate and when you open your mouth to ask more questions he presses a long finger against your lips.  

“It’s fine,” he says. “Now…”

He starts walking you backward toward the couch and sits, pulling you down over his lap.

“Where were we?” he murmurs with a whisper of his lips along yours.

@book-dragon-13 @hiddles-rose @lookiamtrying @goldylions @sstan-hoe @late-to-the-party-81 @buckysdollforlife @blackwidownat2814 @randomfandompenguin @seitmai @littleseasiren​ 

[thelikesofus]

starting our forever, baby

9-1-1 on ABC | Buddie | 2.1k words | s7 spec, prev bucktommy, getting together, love confessions, love is stored in the kitchen

Eddie wakes up to a surprise visit from Buck and they finally talk about forever.

Read on AO3

Eddie wakes up to the sound of pans clanging in the kitchen and the smell of pancake batter and hot butter. Neither of these things is cause for alarm nor out of the ordinary but he is ninety-eight percent certain he went to sleep in an empty house. 

He rolls out of bed, shrugging on a sweatshirt and grabbing a pair of soft socks out of his drawer on the way past and to no surprise finds Buck in the kitchen.

“Hey! Eddie,” Buck smiles brightly at him as Eddie cautiously perches himself on a kitchen stool. “Good morning.”

Buck is bathed in sunlight from the kitchen window behind him, a halo of gold filtering through his soft curls, gel-free and touseled on the top of Buck’s head in a way that Eddie wishes he would let them be more often. “Morning, Buck. You’re here early.”

Buck bustles around the kitchen, pulling milk out of the fridge and grabbing a mug from the top cupboard, his body moving around Eddie’s kitchen as if it has been programmed with an innate sense of where to find anything and everything. He could be convinced that Buck knows his way around Eddie’s kitchen better than Eddie does. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m sorry. It’s just–it’s been a while, yeah? And I feel like I haven’t seen Chris in ages–I miss the kid–and I figured he was probably, if not missing me, at least missing my pancakes. I hope he hasn’t been letting you make them.”

Buck pours coffee from the pot into the mug, tops it off with the precise amount of milk that Eddie prefers, and sets it in front of Eddie before turning to the frying pan and flipping the pancake. “I know you’ve been improving in the cooking department–I can see it, Eddie, and I’m proud of you,” Eddie’s heart squeezes in his chest. “But pancakes are my department.”

“I wouldn’t want to steal your thunder.” Eddie quips and Buck whips around to wave the spatula at him.

“Exactly!”

“Buck,” Eddie presses carefully because there’s a frantic energy fizzing beneath Buck’s skin, he can see it in the way he moves, the line of his shoulders, and the exaggerated way he swings his arms. “Christopher isn’t here. He’s on school camp until Friday.”

“Oh, right, I knew that.” Buck’s whole body joints to a stop like a record skipping on a turntable and then just as soon he’s back in motion again. “That’s okay! I brought lemon juice for on your pancakes, we can save the bacon for the weekend when he gets back.”

Eddie’s heart grows three sizes in his chest, threatening to burst out all over his kitchen and cover Buck and the bench top in a flood of emotions he’s spent the last month and a half trying to fold smaller and smaller until he can safely tuck them away beneath his ribs where it can’t hurt anyone but himself. 

“Buck?” The other man glances at him before turning back to the stove, giving a soft hum in response. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” Buck grins at him again but it doesn’t reach his eyes this time. 

“You’re buzzing, and not the good kind.” Eddie stands and rounds the counter, he leans against the other side while still giving Buck as much space as he needs. He presses again, softer this time. “Buck? What’s going on?”

Buck deflates and turns the stove off, removing the pan from the element and leaning against the other counter opposite Eddie. “Tommy and I broke up. I broke up with him, or we broke up with each other, I guess.” 

Eddie isn’t sure what to say. As far as he knew Buck and Tommy’s relationship had been going smoothly. They were a good fit, even Eddie could tell, as much as it sometimes pained him to admit. But he was happy for them. Seeing them dance together at Maddie and Chimney’s wedding had filled Eddie with a sense of pride even when it also left him feeling like he was walking with a permanent rock in his shoe—a phenomenon he could finally put a name to after a few long talks with Frank and an enlightening if not nervewracking night at a bar called the Peacock that Hen had suggested he visit for ‘research purposes’. 

“I thought you really liked Tommy?” Is what he finally manages to say once he unsticks his tongue from the roof of his mouth.

“I do,” Buck says. His arms are still full of static as he gestures with his hands in that way that Buck does when he’s nervous or overwhelmed and he’s not looking Eddie in the eyes. Buck shakes his head. “I did. I did, and Tommy is wonderful but I think we both realized that it wasn’t going to last. He got offered a job, down in Mexico.” Buck pushes away from the bench, pulls two plates out of the drawer, and starts dividing the stack of pancakes between them.

“After the whole fiasco with the cruise ship, the LAFD decided they wanted someone on the ground down there as a sort of link between the Los Angeles rescue helicopters and the team down in Mexico City. They’re going to put him in charge of his own team and he’s been working towards some sort of promotion for ages so he’s really excited about it.”

“He didn’t ask you to go with him did he?” Eddie can’t help but let the question burst out of him. The thought of Buck leaving already feels like tearing out a lung but he also knows he’s in no position to ask Buck to stay, certainly not for Eddie’s sake. 

“He did, sort of.” Buck shrugs. “I think he already knew I wouldn’t say yes. L.A. is my home, I couldn’t leave the 118, I couldn’t leave Maddie and Jee-yun. Christopher, the thought of being anywhere that kid isn’t is just—and I know he’s not—but I still couldn’t. I won’t. Tommy knows that. He also knew that I wouldn’t leave you.”

“Me?” Now Eddie has to swallow down a lump of surprise. Eddie doesn't think that little of himself, he knows he’s important to Buck, they are important to each other, but important enough to be the reason Buck stays in Los Angeles while his boyfriend moves to another country?

Buck turns to place two plates, carefully stacked with fluffy, golden pancakes, each drizzled in lemon juice and sprinkled with sugar—Eddie’s favorite—on the kitchen island, and then he’s facing Eddie again only feet away in all his early morning glory and Eddie dares to hope.

“You.” Buck rests one hip against the counter and turns the full power of those bright blue eyes on Eddie as he finally makes eye contact for the first time all morning. “Yes, you, Eddie. Tommy is lovely and sweet and he has been so, so good to me for the last two months, we’ve been good for each other, I think.”

Eddie breaks the eye contact, he’s heard all about how wonderful and lovely Tommy is for the last two months and while he has been so happy for Buck, truly, it has also been agony. But then Buck is stepping up into Eddie’s space and gripping his elbow. Buck ducks his head until he can catch Eddie’s eyes again and follows his gaze until Eddie gives up on trying to hide from him. 

“But it was never going to work long-term, I don’t think it was ever meant to. He’s very sweet and we get along well but it never got any deeper than that. We made better friends than anything else.”

“Okay, so you ended it on mutual terms and he’s moving to Mexico?”

“Not for a few months but eventually he is yes.”

“A few months?”

“Next February.”

“February? Next year? Buck that ages away, why break up now if he’s not leaving until–.”

“Because it was time.”

“Time for what?”

“To stop lying to myself, to you.”

Eddie almost bites his tongue. “Lying to me? Buck, I am so confused right now. Did you hit your head? You do remember coming out to me right? You’ve been dating a man for the last two months. You brought a man to your sister’s wedding. Honestly, I am still living off of the high that I got from seeing your mother’s face when you kissed Tommy on the dance floor, that was—.”

“Eddie!” Buck laughs around his name and it’s the sweetest sound Eddie has ever heard. “Would you let me finish talking? Please?”

Eddie nods. “Right, yes. Sorry. Proceed.” He swings his arm out dramatically and Buck pinches the skin on the back of Eddie’s arm and rolls his eyes. 

“Eddie,” There’s a seriousness to Buck’s tone that Eddie doesn’t hear often. “I don’t want to presume anything okay, so if I’ve been reading this wrong then please tell me because I don’t want to make this weird, the last thing I want to do is hurt you or make you uncomfortable but—.” Eddie watches the tick in Buck's jaw tighten. “There’s something here, right? You and me?”

“Do you think there is?” Eddie whispers into the space between them, barely getting the words out past where his heart sits in his throat. 

“I dare to hope there is,” Buck whispers back. “I would like there to be. Eddie, you’re my best friend, you’ve been my rock for years and I love you more than anything but I also—I also think I might be in love with you, and I think I have been for a long time.”

“You think?”

“Like pretty God damn certain actually.” 

“Good, good.” Eddie nods, barely keeping the grin from breaking across his face. He can feel his lips twitching with the effort to suppress it. “That’s good.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” He steps into Buck’s space and leans forward until he can press their foreheads together. Buck’s arm slides from Eddie’s elbow to around his waist and Eddie rests his palm against Buck’s chest, sliding it up until he can wrap his fingers over the swell of Buck’s shoulder and press his thumb into that divet in Buck’s throat where Eddie can feel the heat of him and the pulse of his heartbeat beneath the pad of his thumb. “Because I am definitely in love with you.”

“You never said anything.”

“I didn’t know and then I did but you were with Tommy and you were happy. I was happy for you.”

Buck breathes deeply and Eddie reveals in the way it rushes past his cheek. “What about you?”

“I’m happy now,” Eddie says and it’s true, and realizing that only multiples the happiness tenfold. “I’m so happy I could burst.”

“Happy that I got dumped again?”

“You didn’t get dumped, you said it was mutual.” Eddie squeezes his shoulder. “But yes, happy that you might finally be mine, that I might finally get to be yours.”

Buck leans back and when Eddie opens his eyes he finds Buck’s eyes glassy and brimming with tears.

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” Buck says and Eddie pulls him into his arms until they are chest to chest, chins hooked over each other’s shoulders and wrapped up in each other so completely that Eddie could not tell you where one of them ends and the other begins and it feels so right, so right to have Buck so close to him, for them to be one and the same. They breathe together for a long time, squeezing each other closer whenever the micro fraction of an inch between them begins to field like football fields of distance.

“We take this slow, we do it right,” Eddie says carefully, pulling back just far enough to cup his hand around Buck’s cheek and hold his gaze. A niggly part of his brain tries to remind him of everything that could go wrong, of everything they have to lose, but a bigger part of him can only hope for everything that could go so beautifully right. 

“We have the rest of forever, after all.” Buck’s smile is soft at the edges and it smoothes the jagged parts of Eddie’s worry. 

Eddie leans up and presses one gentle kiss to the corner of Buck’s mouth, allowing himself that much for now. The rest will come, he is in no rush for the rest of his life. On Friday Christopher will be home and they can make pancakes again. At the end of the month, Buck’s lease will expire and Eddie will finally have an excuse to never let Buck leave his house again. In February they will wave Tommy off at the airport and Eddie will get the chance to thank him properly. Soon enough they might get to dance at another wedding, maybe their own, definitely together, for the rest of forever. 

“Forever and a day.” He promises.

[maldaptivedreamer]

From Afar P. 7

With your heart aching and your ego is bruised, can you bring yourself to forgive him? Will you give him the chance to fix what he broke?… Is he worth a second chance?

content: Errors and mistakes, not entirely accurate to alien universe, angst with happy ending, name calling (asshole, darling, etc.)

wc: ~2.9

a/n: I'm not sure about how I feel about the ending, but I did try to make it happy. Didn't wanna draw things out too much, but not sure if it landed. Feels kinda rushed. Anyway, thanks for reading!

Masterlist     

Work had been a shitshow. The lack of sleep was starting to take its toll on your body, and the constant ache in your muscles only worsened throughout the day.

You accidentally dropped your drill, and the loud clanging noise reverberated through the stuffy tunnel. Normally, everyone kept to themselves and ignored the sounds of their coworkers, focused on meeting their quota by the end of their shift. But this time, all eyes were on you. A nearby worker shouted over the deafening noises, “Damn, I feel sorry for that bastard.”

Finishing your shift and returning your drill, you couldn't help but agree with their sentiment. The attendant quickly noticed the damaged drill and tsked disapprovingly before adding more time to your work contract as compensation for the damage.

Ultimately, your shift ended with more time owed than less.

As you near your front door, all you can think about is a long shower and crawling into bed.

Lost in thought, you almost miss the figure sitting on your doorstep until you're only a few doors away. Gnawing on your lip, you sigh and begin to mentally prepare yourself.

Schooling your face into an expression of dry neutrality, you apprehensively approach the door. The figure stands up and brushes himself off, his voice shaking with fake enthusiasm, “Hey, haven’t seen you in a while.”

Bjorn looks almost exactly the same as he did the last time you saw him. Almost.

But you know him better than that. Have come to know him more intimately than, dare you say, anyone else ever had.

His stress is evident in the creases on his clothes, the headband he wears with little concern for its placement, and the fidgety movements of his hands as he twists his ring or wipes them on his jeans. It's also visible in the darker shade of pink on his bottom lip from constant biting.

He stands in front of your door, silently pleading for entry. You say nothing, and he swallows hard at your silence.

With a nod and a downward glance, he shuffles his feet in the dirt and speaks, “You, uh… You changed the code to your door, and I wasn’t really able to catch you…” His voice trails off and you simply watch him.

His chest puffs with a deep, audible breath, “Guess you’ve just been busy… I guess. Would you… may I come in?”

Silently, you gesture towards your door, and he quickly moves aside. Your body shields the keypad as you enter the code and unlock the door. Turning to face him, you tilt your head up to meet his gaze.

Finally speaking, you utter out a simple, “No.” You watch as the hope in his eyes is quickly replaced by desperation.

His voice is rushed as you move to shut the door, “Please! Please… I just want to talk. I want to… to apologize. To say I’m sorry.”

Your neutral expression drops into a frown as you respond with an unforgiving tone, “You just did, why should I let you in? … I’m tired and I’ve had a shit day at work. I’m really, really not in the mood, nor do I have the energy to have this conversation.”

Bjorn forces his anxious eyes to focus on yours as he speaks in a low, watery voice, “You’re right… You’re always right love. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry… You’ve given me so many chances. So, so many. And-” His voice becomes choked, “and I fucked every single one of them up… But I’m asking, begging for one more love. Please- just, just to talk.”

You pause before giving him a forced nod, swallowing the lump in your throat. Your voice is blunt, “Okay, but I need to take a quick shower first, so… just go wait in the kitchen or something.”

Without waiting for his response, you swing open the door and retreat to your room.

As you turn on the faucets and gather a change of clothes, you can still feel his pleading eyes piercing into you from two rooms away.

You briefly lean on the counter with both hands and stretch your tense body. With a grimace, you strip off your clothes and step into the warm stream of water.

As the warm water cascades over you, you feel the strain in your muscles begin to relax. You take a deep breath and decide that this shower will, in fact, not be quick – He’d wasted your time before why not return the favor. Trying to disregard your spiteful thoughts, you focus on clearing your mind before what will surely be a draining conversation.

As you dry off and get dressed, your body pulses with adrenaline. The urge to run or fight is intense and your body tenses with restraint.

Making your way into the kitchen, you can see him sit awkwardly on the chair. Deciding to keep your distance, you force your shaking hands to still as you lean against the kitchen counter.

You roll your eyes and tiredly speak, “Go on then.”

There is a tense silence as Bjorn avoids looking at you. His voice is shaky and falters as he speaks, “I’m sorry.”

Another silence follows, and your grip on the counter tightens. Scoffing with disbelief, your voice sharp, “‘I’m sorry.’ That’s it?"

You push yourself off the counter, fists clenched and hissing with frustration. “You can’t even bother to look me in the fucking eye?… What? What did you think this was gonnna be, huh?” you seethe. You pause to let your question hang in the air before continuing.

You stare at him as your brows are furrowed in anger. Scoffing, you begin to pace on the kitchen floor, “Nothing to say? Is it because you thought that you’d come here… say sorry… and then everything would be, okay?”

Your pacing on the kitchen floor intensifies as Bjorn swallows, watching you rub your hands across your face. "No, I-" he begins.

Cutting him off, you continue with a bitter tone, “No? You didn’t come here expecting make up sex? Or better yet, angry sex? … You never really wanted to talk about any of this,” you gesture between you angrily, “That was the problem, but now that I’m done… You want to fix it…”

Your voice falters and you feel treacherous tears cloud your eyes, “You know… It hurt… It fucking hurt when you repeatedly, repeatedly kept putting the conversation off?

Dragging a harsh hand through your hair and chest heaving, you hiss, “Do you know how fucking embarrassing it is to be with someone everyone calls an asshole?”

Your voice turns mocking, “They were joking, sure. But I’m not finding the joke very funny right now… I have been soo patient with you. Why do you think that was?”

Not pausing for him to answer, your voice holds so much sorrow and anger, “Because I fucking liked you Bjorn.”

“Liked?”, he chokes out, pain evident on his face.

Slowly nodding, you give him a sarcastic smile, “Yeah liked… Did you think that I stayed and put up with your shit because of the sex? No," you scoff and laugh bitterly.

Leaning on the counter with your head down, your voice is now quiet, “I stayed because I started to fucking like you. The humiliating thing is I really, really liked you.”

Both of you remain silent as you process the weight of your words. The surge of anger and adrenaline may have given you a temporary boost, but now you feel completely drained. Your body slumps as all the emotions that you had been suppressing finally spill out. The argument has left you with an empty feeling in your chest.

When Bjorn finally speaks, his voice is laced with guilt. He stands up, gesturing with open hands as he apologizes, “I understand… and I am so, so sorry for how much I’ve hurt you, for hurting you. I’m sorry for how much I’ve put you through.” There is a pause as he gathers his thoughts, it gives you a chance to do the same. You allow yourself to slide down to the floor, your limbs feeling exhausted and useless.

His face is open and genuine, with gleaming eyes that never waver from your gaze. The pain in your chest intensifies as he lowers himself to the ground, settling a few feet away from you.

Bjorn lets out a wet laugh as he speaks, “You’re right. I’m an asshole, I can be one, but never to you. I never wanted to be that to you. I…”

He draws in a deep breath and licks his dry lips. His hands ball into fists as he struggles against the urge to reach out and touch yours. A few stray tears slide down his flushed cheeks, “I want a relationship with you. I want to be with you… I want to be your partner if you’ll still have me, and if not… then I would like to be a part of your life. I… care about you. I really, really like you. I don’t exactly know if what we have… had… was love, but it was the closest thing I’ve ever come to it. I’m not sure if you feel, or felt, the same but I am so fuckin’ sorry that I ruined it darling.”

Bringing himself closer to you, his tone soft and vulnerable, “I want to work on this, on me…” He licks his lips again, searching for the right words, “If not with you then for you. I want to be better.”

You sigh and reach out a trembling hand towards him. Bjorn immediately crawls closer and takes your hand in his. You study his face and shake your head, gently brushing his hair away back, “Bjorn, I don’t want you to change for me. I want you to do it for you… This won’t work if you do it for me. I accept your apology, but I don’t forgive you…”

You can see the glimmer of hope in his eyes as he tentatively reaches out to wipe away your tears. You force yourself to shake your head and raise a hand to do it yourself.

As his hand falls away, you steel yourself and speak firmly despite the heaviness in your chest, “We are not picking up where we left off… As much as I would really like to believe you, I don’t. I don’t trust you. We need to take things slow, to be friends. I just, just need time… I can’t be around you right now. I’m still so angry and I don’t want to start a friendship with you still angry.”

Licking your dry lips, your breaths come out in choppy bursts. A frown creases your face.

Bjorn swallows hard and gives you space. His voice is strained - it's hard to tell if it's from hurt or hope or both - when he speaks again, “Thank you lo-”

You quickly interrupt him, “And don’t, don’t call me love. It’s-”, you pause, “Nicknames need to be kept to a minimum, but don’t call me love. Please.”

A small part of you is hopeful, cautiously hopeful. Very cautiously hopeful.

“Easy darling, you’ll end up cuttin’ yourself if you keep on,” Bjorn’s teasing and stupidly annoying voice reaches your ears.

Groaning, you flip him off, “Then fucking help me asshat.”

He throws his head back in a laugh as he uncrosses his arms. Pushing himself from the wall he’d leant on, he makes his way toward you.

"Alright, alright," he chuckles, reaching out to you. Your face scrunches with one final attempt before begrudgingly handing the bottle to him. Sitting by you, his fingers brush yours as they grasp the neck of the bottle. You try to ignore the warmth that spreads through your body at his touch.

Bjorn effortlessly opens the beer, and he hands it to you. You purposefully brush your fingers against his as he speaks.

“There you are darling,” he murmurs, his voice suddenly low and serious. Feeling drawn to his blue eyes, you meet his intense gaze. For a moment, the world seems to stand still.

Shaking yourself out of it, you clear your throat. "Thanks," you mutter.

Sighing, you try to focus on why you asked him here in the first place. Your voice is noticeably worried as you speak, “Tyler and Navarro will be distracting Kay, so I need help setting everything up for her. So, can you help me? There’s a lot I wanna to get done.”

Bjorn grins, the earlier tension dissipating. "Depends. What's in it for me?"

As you focus on his familiar teasing, the stress dissipates. You roll your eyes, fighting back a smile. "The pleasure of my company, obviously."

"Oh, obviously," he drawls. "Because that's such a treat."

Your playful tone reaches his ears as he nudges you, "Oh please, you love my company. You’re always around, practically obsessed with me... Who knows maybe one day I’m gonna find a way to get rid of your annoying ass.”

He stretches out next to you as he speaks, “Come now darling, you’d miss me and my pretty face too much.”

He tilts his head towards you and his voice is suddenly serious, genuine, “Hey lo-.”

Your heart jumps as you hear his slip up, but you ignore it.

Clearing his throat, he continues, “Course I’ll help with everything. And she’s gonna love it. Everything will be perfect. With her bleeding heart, she would’ve loved just the cake you’d made her, she’ll crash when she sees what you’ve got planned.”

His light nudges bring you back to reality, pulling you out of your racing thoughts. The teasing grin is back on his face, “Relax princess, it’s ‘sposed to be a party.”

You try. You roll your shoulders, but the attempt is useless. It will be, until everything is done, possibly even after.

Watching you, he bites his lip briefly before furrowing his brows, “C’mon, we’ll work on fixin’ it til everything looks good, yeah?”

Glancing at him, your eyes hold a genuine appreciation for him. Appreciation for more than just his help with Kay’s party.

Holding air in your cheeks, you nod at him. Bjorn’s smile is enough to slightly lessen the anxiety in your chest.

With his reassurance and comforting presence beside you, you become lost in your thoughts.

It took a considerable amount of time and effort to get where you both are now, but you are grateful that you allowed him back into your life. You thought you had strong feelings for him before, but they have only intensified since then.

Bjorn has changed; you have seen how hard he's worked to improve himself and to be better. Everyone around him has noticed; all of them mentioning that he is significantly more tolerable now, attributing that change to you. You don’t want to take the credit for his hard work to change, but… his relationship with you did play a significant role in motivating him to change.

You pause your thoughts and sneak a glance at him from the corner of your eye.

He gets up to grab another beer and stumbles over the trash on the floor, cursing under his breath. You can't help but release a small, breathless giggle, causing him to turn towards you with a playful glare.

The smile on your face softens as he makes his way back towards you. You both sit in silence before your gentle voice breaks it, “I forgive you Bjorn.”

You shift your gaze from the people around you to his pretty blue eyes, "I forgive you," you say softly. "And maybe not now… but if you wanna start dating, start a relationship together… then I’m ready.”

A wide grin spreads across his face at your words, and he bites his lip to contain it. You can't help but smile in return.

The warm feeling in your chest intensifies as he takes your hand in his. Squeezing your clasped hands, he swallows.

Bjorn's eyes shine with emotion as he gazes at you, he squeezes your hand tighter. "Are you sure?" he asks softly, his voice filled with hope and a hint of disbelief.

You squeeze his hand back, feeling a surge of warmth at his consideration. "I'm sure. We've taken things slow, built a friendship. I trust you again, Bjorn. And I..." You pause, gathering your courage. "I think I'm falling in love with you."

His breath catches and for a moment he's speechless. Then a brilliant smile spreads across his face. "I love you too," he murmurs.

Bjorn lets out a shaky breath, bringing your joined hands to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to your knuckles. "Thank you," he murmurs against your skin. "I promise I won't let you down this time. I'll do whatever it takes to make this work."

You can't help but smile at the sincerity in his voice. "I know you will. We'll make it work together."

Bjorn leans in slowly, giving you time to pull away if you want. But you don't. Your eyes flutter closed as his lips meet yours in a tender kiss.

Pulling away, you feel the familiar warmth of his forehead against yours. You laugh and caress his cheek with your thumb, teasingly saying, “That’s all you’re getting til you take me out on a date.”

His warm breath tickles your face as he chuckles, "A date, huh?" Bjorn murmurs, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I think I can manage that.”

He wraps an arm around your shoulder, and you lean into him, both of you lost in comfortable silence. Kissing your forehead, Bjorn's arms feel like home.

[stardustrebels]

More of You- Chapter 3

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem!reader

WC: 2.6k

Rating: 18+ for eventual smut, MDNI

Series Masterlist | Blog Masterlist Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Summary: After a devastating betrayal and loss, you left everything behind on the East Coast and promised yourself a fresh start in Austin, Texas. Independence as your new mantra, you vow never to let anyone too close again. Then you meet Joel Miller- a man whose warmth and Southern charm makes it hard to stick to your resolve. As your feelings deepen, you’re forced to confront your past- and question if letting someone in again is worth the risk. 

Tags: No outbreak!AU. Coffee shop meet-cute with a slow-ish burn. Sickly sweet fluff with eventual smut. I wanted to write something that gave me the warm fuzzies, and I am kicking my feet and giggling while I write this. Joel Miller just deserves a good life, you know? Joel and reader have a teeny tiny age gap- Joel is 42, reader is mid 30s. Sarah is 19. No use of Y/N, minimal descriptions of reader. She has hair long enough to tie back and she wears skirts and dresses.

A/N: I'm really beginning to enjoy writing again, and this fic has really become the highlight of my holiday season. If you're reading this little story, thank you from the bottom of my heart- I really hope you enjoy it! Maybe these two idiots will actually manage to speak to each other in the next chapter. We can but hope, eh?

Your heart sank a little the next day when you arrived and the table where the handsome Mr. Miller had been the day before was empty. You tried to ignore the little stab of disappointment as you ordered, and sat down in your usual spot, scanning the rest of the tables for any sign of him and told yourself to stop being absurd. You were disappointed because, what, a handsome man in a coffee shop wasn’t there to shoot you half-smiles while you ogled at him? 

Despite the internal scolding you were giving yourself, you kept glancing at the clock as you worked. He’d been here early the last two days. You guessed before his 9-5. You absently wondered what he did for work. Nothing about his phone call yesterday had given it away. You figured if he didn’t show in the next fifteen minutes, then he wasn’t going to. 

Despite your clock-watching, you managed to get a good chunk of your own work done. You’d brought your drawing tablet today and were digitising another logo based on some sketches you’d done the night before. It helped distract you, at least that’s what you told yourself. Every now and then, your eyes darted to the door or scanned the empty tables around you. Each time, the knot of disappointment in your stomach tightened a little more. 

By the time you’d finished outlining the design, an hour had passed and you were resigned to the fact that he wasn’t coming. You felt foolish. He was just some guy whose morning routine had coincidentally, temporarily overlapped with yours. A thought struck you then, harsh and clanging: you hadn’t noticed a wedding ring on his hand. 

Had you even looked?

Your stomach turned at the realisation. No, you hadn’t. You were hit with a sudden shame, laced with biting hypocrisy. Too caught up in a fanciful daydream without stopping to consider the most basic facts. For all you knew, he could have a wife, kids, a whole life that had nothing to do with you and never would. 

You let out a sigh and set down your tablet with as much care as your exasperation would allow, irritated with yourself. You glanced around at the other customers in the coffee shop, caught up in their own busy morning routines and told yourself to let it go. You shook your head in an attempt to clear the thoughts. There was no point in spiralling over a complete stranger. Maybe it was better this way; a stark reminder to stick to the plan you’d promised yourself. This was just the universe’s way of making sure you stuck to it. The universe was a dick, you concluded.

Another fifteen minutes passed, and you were mulling over whether you would be better off finishing your work for the day at home. You were not, you told yourself firmly, going back to your apartment to sulk. 

The chair scraped lightly against the floor as you shifted to begin packing up your things. Just as you reached for your tablet, the bell over the door jingled and a gust of warm air swept in to the shop. 

You glanced up reflexively, and your stomach swooped. There he was. As if you’d summoned him with the sheer force of will. Mr. Miller. 

He stepped up to the counter, his broad flannel-clad shoulders framed by the morning light spilling in behind him. His dark hair was slightly mussed, as if he’d been running his hands through it. He looked harassed, and didn’t return the cheery smile the barista offered as he ordered.

It might have been wishful thinking, but his expression looked faintly apologetic as he glanced over at you, before turning toward his usual table. He ran a hand through his unruly curls as he glanced down at his phone, frowning. He caught your eye again and you offered him a small smile. The furrow in his brow lessened and he smiled back. He draped his jacket over the back of the chair in front of him and hesitated before he pulled it out to sit. He took a step away from his table towards you and your eyebrows shot up- was he actually coming over here? Was he going to talk to you? You were struck with a sudden panic;  heat rising up the back of your neck as you tried to look nonchalant. Before you could gather any kind of coherent thought, a familiar voice rang out from somewhere behind him.

“Hello, stranger!” 

You looked up, startled, and watched as he paused awkwardly mid-stride. You resisted the urge to laugh at the absurdity of the situation as the source of the voice bounded past him, her dark curls bouncing as she moved, a bright smile plastered across her face. You would recognise that voice anywhere.

“Summer, hi!”

A genuine smile spread across your face despite the unexpected interruption as you stood and pulled her in to a hug. Summer was the one good friend you’d made since moving to Austin- a whirlwind of energy and unfiltered opinions who, after a brief but unforgettable drunken conversation, had taken you under her wing. 

You’d been sitting quietly at a bar the night that you met her, nursing a drink and privately celebrating your first freelance client. It was a small victory, but one you were determined to savour, even if it was in solitude. Summer had appeared like a bolt of lightning, plopping down on the stool next to yours with a conspiratorial grin. 

“Celebrating alone? That’s tragic. Me too,” She’d declared, flagging down the bartender before you could respond. Her confidence had been disarming, and you found yourself telling her all about the new client and how you’d only just moved to Austin a few weeks ago and didn’t know anyone. “You do now!” She’d said happily, clinking her glass against yours. 

From that night on, Summer had been a constant in your life. She dragged you out of your apartment for brunches, happy hours and art shows. She’d shown you the best thrift stores, the hidden coffee spots, and the parts of the city you’re sure you would have never found on your own. And despite her tendency to bulldoze through social norms with her exuberance and complete lack of filter, she’d become someone you’d quickly considered a true friend. 

“You are not going to believe the morning I’ve had,” Summer said, flopping in to the chair across from you without waiting for an invitation. “I am officially in the market for a new job. Again.”

As happy as you were to see her, as she chatted away you couldn’t help but sneak glances over to the other table when you thought Summer wouldn’t notice. Your heart sank slightly as, not long after he’d arrived, he shot back the last mouthful of coffee and made moves to leave. You tried to keep the disappointment from showing on your face. 

“You’re distracted,” Summer said suddenly, pulling your attention back. 

“What? No I’m not.”

She raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in to a smirk. You opened your mouth to protest further, but the words stuck in your throat. Your eyes flitted back over to the table over her shoulder and her eyes followed yours, and before you could stop her, she turned in her seat to look. You didn’t dare take your eyes from her as she snapped her head back to you, curls flying conspicuously.

“Huh. Well, I don’t blame you. He is pretty distracting.” Summer murmured, looking back again in a way that was anything but subtle. You hissed her name through your teeth, mortified. 

“What? He’s hot,” she said,  shrugging unapologetically as she turned back to you again. “And he’s looking over here.” 

You felt your cheeks heat, and you busied yourself with your coffee. “He’s not looking over here.” 

“He totally is,” she insisted, leaning in with a mischievous glint in her eye.

You hesitated, glaring half-seriously at her over your coffee cup, weighing up whether to throw gasoline on this particular fire. You leaned in, fingers fidgeting with the edge of your sketchbook. Summer smiled sweetly at you from across the table, hands clasped under her chin, eyes wide with anticipation.

“He comes in here a lot,” You murmured across the table, setting your coffee down, “Every day, in fact. We’ve… smiled at each other a few times.” You said, only realising how ridiculous it all was when the words left your mouth.

Summer laughed and dragged a hand down her face dramatically. 

“Oh my stars, you’ve smiled at each other? Alert the church elders!” she said, her eyes glinting in a way you didn’t like. “Next time he looks over, wave him over here. I’ll do it for you if you-” 

“No!” You said quickly, ignoring the fact that you saw his head snap up to look at your you in your peripheral. Your heart was suddenly pounding in your chest. 

“Don’t you dare. Summer,” you pleaded, “I mean it.”

Summer laughed again, but held up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, fine. I won’t.” 

You sighed in relief as he went through his usual leaving ritual, stealing glances as he shrugged on his jacket, checked his watch and carried his empty coffee cup to the counter.

“I wonder what his name is,” Summer said as she watched him leave, her head tilted as she admired him before turning back to you with a sly smile. “Bet it’s something rugged like Jack or Keith.”

You giggled and relaxed a little back in your seat now that there was no danger of him overhearing you, or Summer talking to him on your behalf. 

“His surname’s Miller,” You said on impulse. You shrugged and blushed slightly at the expression Summer shot you. “I overheard him on the phone yesterday.”

“Why didn’t you say?” She groaned, grabbing her phone from the table. She tapped furiously at the screen, her brow furrowed with concentration. You sipped your coffee, watching her with a mix of amusement and unease. 

“What are you doing?” You asked warily. 

“Finding him, obviously,” she replied without looking up. 

“Summer, no,” you protested, leaning forward as if you could somehow stop her through sheer force of will. “That’s creepy!”

“It’s not creepy; it’s resourceful!” She countered happily, lips twitching in to a grin. “If you spend every day pining over this guy, you might as well find out who he is.” 

You groaned, sinking back in to your chair. “I’m not pining.” 

Summer raised an eyebrow, but didn’t argue. A few seconds later, she let out a triumphant noise and turned her phone screen toward you. “Miller Construction,” she announced. “That him?” 

You reluctantly leaned forward, your stomach flipping as you scanned the screen. There, under a sleek header for Miller Construction: Consultation & Project Management, was a row of polished photos of the company’s leadership team. 

Your heart thudded against your ribs as you spotted him. His hair was neater, his beard was shorter and he was maybe slightly younger, but it was unmistakably him, smiling at you from the screen. You smiled back at his picture despite yourself, ignoring the flips your stomach was doing. You blinked at the name under his photo.

Joel Miller. 

Summer grinned wickedly, turning the phone back to look. 

“Told you it’d be rugged,” she said, putting on a deeper voice and waggling her eyebrows at you, “Jack. Keith. Joel.”

You laughed, watching as Summer scrolled through the website, her eyes darting about the screen. “If he’s here tomorrow you have to speak to him. Introduce yourself. He clearly wants you to,” she said, flicking her eyes back up to you. 

“I don’t know, Summer. He’s probably married or-”

“No ring,” Summer interrupted, wiggling her left hand at you “First thing I checked.” 

You rolled your eyes at her, but your face felt hot. 

“I’m supposed to be focusing on myself, Summer,” you said, before draining your coffee cup, “I don’t have time for-”

“For what?” Summer interrupted you, “Who says it has to be anything serious? He’s gorgeous, seems polite enough, owns a thriving business apparently. You should just let yourself have a bit of fun once in a while.” 

You stared down at your empty coffee cup and bit your lip as Summer continued, “Life’s too short to pass up an opportunity like that,” she said, locking her phone and placing it back down on the table.

“You’re incorrigible,” you said, throwing her a weak smile. 

“And you’re stubborn,” She shot back, grinning at you fondly. 

“Anyway, you jobless wonder” you said, eager to move the conversation on, “tell me everything that’s happened since I last saw you.” 

Summer left an hour later, only after you agreed to join her for brunch at the weekend. You packed up your things and headed home with every intention of diving back in to your work, but your focus wavered the moment you walked through the door. Your space felt unusually quiet; the hum of your appliances doing little to fill the void. You threw open a window to let the buzz of the city float in before you set up at your desk, determined to finish the logo you’d been working on this morning. It was no use, after ten minutes you’d made zero progress. The pen sat idly in your hand against the tablet. You pushed back from the desk, rubbing your temples, and tried not to think about Joel Miller. 

The memory of his hesitant step toward you in the coffee shop replayed in your mind. The furrow in his brow, the way his eyes had softened when you caught his gaze- it was maddening how much detail your brain had decided to cling to.

Before you knew it, you’d typed “Miller Construction Austin” in to your browser search bar. A moment later, the company website loaded, clean and professional with bold, simple fonts. The homepage featured photos of their completed projects and a blurb about the company. You clicked through to the “About Us” tab at the top of the page without a second thought.  

And there he was. Joel Miller, listed as founder and co-owner. Dressed in a nice suit and tie, dimples framing his easy smile. The image was a different side of him than you’d seen in the coffee shop, but his eyes were the same- dark chestnut pools filled with a warmth that made your chest tighten. 

Your finger hovered over the x on the tab, ready to close it, but you didn’t. Instead, you leaned back in your chair, crossing your arms as if putting some distance between yourself and the man staring back at you from the screen would somehow untangle the knot in your chest. 

You’re unsure whether Summer had done you any favours by finding him, by giving him more of a weight in the world. You might have been better off with the limited information you’d had before. With a heavy sigh, you finally closed the tab and shut your laptop. You sat for a moment, staring out the window as the sun set over the city.

You allowed yourself a moment to reflect on your experiences so far here in Austin. You’d arrived here without any kind of plan beyond ‘find somewhere to live’, and ‘make money so you don’t starve’, and everything seemed to be going okay so far. You considered Summer; you always aspired to be more like her- less anxious and worried, more impulsive and hedonistic. You were working on it. It was a slow process. 

You pushed away from the desk and stood, stretching your arms above your head, pushing away deep internal conversation and instead wondering what to have for dinner. 

By the time you climbed in to bed later that night, you’d worked through some of the thoughts bouncing around inside your head, and settled on the rationalisation that you often forgot: that life would unfold as it always did, in its own time, no matter how much you tried to steer it.

For now, you’d let the day end and see where tomorrow took you.

Next Chapter

[blush-boulevard]

𝓣𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓩𝓪𝓾𝓷

𝐄𝐤𝐤𝐨 𝐱 𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐱 - Jinx has spent her entire life locked away in a tower by her Father, Silco, who claims that the outside world is too dangerous for her and her shimmer-infused, hair. When Ekko, a daring young inventor and firelight, stumbles upon the tower while fleeing Enforcers, he offers to take Jinx on an adventure to experience the world for the first time, unaware of the dangers that await as Silco desperately tries to bring her back.

Character x character/ Fluff/ Romance/ Tangled AU/ Arcane/ League of Legends/ Ekko/ Jinx/ One shot

word count: 5410

@blush-boulevard｜𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬｜𝑅���𝐿𝐸𝒮 𝒜𝒩𝒟 𝒢𝒰𝐼𝒟𝐸𝐿𝐼𝒩𝐸𝒮｜𝕮𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘｜𝓚-𝓹𝓸𝓹 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽｜𝓡𝓮𝓰𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓻 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽

Ekko sprinted through the shadowy alleyways of Zaun, his heart pounding in his chest as the sound of Enforcer boots clanged louder with each step. The dark, metal-covered streets twisted around him, echoing the industrial wasteland he called home. His eyes darted, searching for a way out. And then, in the distance, he saw it—a tower of sorts, looming like an oasis in the smog. Smoke rose from its base, an unlikely beacon of escape. He pushed himself harder, adrenaline surging as his legs carried him toward the strange structure, a dark sentinel against the chaos of the city.

The tower was a relic from another time, overtaken by creeping ivy and neglect. It stood like a forgotten monument amidst the decay of Zaun’s sprawling factories. As Ekko scaled the rusted overgrown vines, the plants crackled slightly under his weight, but he pushed forward, feeling his pulse race with the urgency of the moment. The smoke thickened, swirling around the tower like a veil, hiding whatever secrets it contained.

At the top of the tower, Jinx watched, a gleam in her eyes. She had never seen anyone climb so quickly. When Ekko reached the top and saw her standing there, holding a giant machine gun in her hands, ready to shoot, his breath caught in his throat. He raised his hands in a peaceful gesture, panting from the exertion.

“Hey, Woah, Woah, Woah, Don’t shoot me,” he said with a cheeky grin.

Jinx���s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on the device. “Who are you? What do you want?”

Ekko raised his hands higher, his smile fading as he tried to catch his breath. “Just looking for a place to hide. Name’s Ekko. I... I’m not here to hurt you.”

Her eyes scanned him suspiciously, her hair sparking with an electric blue glow. "You're not with Silco, are you?"

"Silco?" Ekko shook his head. "No way. I’m with the firelights. We’re the ones trying to take him down."

"So... you're like what? their leader?" Jinx said her face softening as she gestured to the mask on his hip. 

“Yeah," Ekko nodded, glancing down at the scuffed up mask. Both of their eyes shifted towards  the alley below as the sound of Enforcer boots grew closer. “But right now, I just need to hide. Can you help me?”

Jinx hesitated, studying him for a long moment, then lowered her weapon. “Fine. I guess you can stay. For now.”

The two went deeper into the tower, the air thick with the smell of smoke and chemicals. Jinx’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of curiosity and excitement as she led the way, her hair a glowing streak behind her. Ekko tried to keep up, marveling at how quickly she moved, as if this was her world and he was just a guest.

As they made their way through the dark, tangled corridors of the tower, Ekko couldn't help but ask, “So, what's with you and the Shimmer Festival? I saw a few drawings of it on your walls”

Jinx’s face lit up with something resembling wonder. “It’s like  a celebration? Right? Lights, sounds, people... I’ve read about it in books, but I’ve never been. I think it’s... magical."

"Magical?" Ekko chuckled. “Silco is THE Eye of Zaun, I’m surprised he’s never taken you”

Jinx tugged at a strand of her glowing blue hair, looking down. "Silco says it’s dangerous for me. He says... I’m too different."

Ekko’s brow furrowed. “Too different? Why?”

She bit her lip and shrugged. "My hair," she said quietly. "It’s... not like everyone else’s."

Ekko’s mind raced. Why would Silco keep someone as vibrant and full of life as her locked away in this tower? What was he really hiding? But before he could ask more, Jinx grabbed his arm and motioned to a trapdoor in the floor.

“This way,” she whispered. “We can’t stay here, silco’s going to come back soon.”

They slid into the hidden tunnel below the tower, the cool earth surrounding them as they ran through the darkened passages. The air smelled damp, and the ground trembled with the distant rumble of Zaun's machines.

As they neared the exit of the tunnel, Ekko couldn’t help but ask, “ Soooo, What’s your story? How does your hair, despite its incredibly long length, make you any different from any other zaunite?”

Jinx’s face darkened. “Well , Silco’s my father and my... protector. He tells me that my hair is special, that I should be kept hidden away. That I’m a gift, but also a curse.”

Ekko frowned, understanding the weight of her words. "He’s wrong."

"I used to believe him," she whispered, looking down at the ground. "But I don’t know anymore."

They stopped at a gate at the end of the tunnel. It was locked from the inside but through the bars of the tunnel you could see the city streets, the Shimmer Festival now in full swing. The night sky was ablaze with color, lights twinkling like stars, music and laughter filling the air. Ekko looked at Jinx, her eyes wide with wonder, a look that reminded him of someone seeing the world for the first time.

Before Jinx could speak, Ekko began picking the lock. Causing the giant gate to swing open. 

“Are you ready for this?” he asked with a grin, reaching out his hand for her to take.

Her smile was brighter than the neon lights surrounding them as she took his hand. "More than you could ever know."

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

As they escaped into the chaos of the Shimmer Festival, the world around them seemed like a dream—a wild kaleidoscope of color and sound. For Jinx, it was all new, and she was overwhelmed by the energy of it. The lights flickered in the air like distant stars, the music swirling around them like magic. It felt like she had stepped into a storybook, and every moment, every laugh, every new sight was a page being turned for the very first time.

They walked deeper into the festival, Jinx’s eyes wide with wonder as she took everything in. Her hair, still glowing with the power deep inside her, caught the eyes of curious onlookers. Children followed her in awe, whispering excitedly and pointing at her bright blue hair. Ekko chuckled, watching the scene unfold as Jinx seemed to forget everything around her, caught up in the excitement.

A group of young children ran up to her, their faces bright with excitement. One little girl, no older than five, tugged on Jinx’s sleeve, her eyes shining.

"Your hair!" the girl exclaimed, gazing up at her in wonder. “It’s so shiny! Can we braid it?”

Jinx’s gaze softened, her heart tugging at the thought of something so simple. She had never had anyone ask to touch her hair before. It had always been a symbol of her captivity, a reminder of everything she was told to hide. But here, in this moment, surrounded by the innocence of the festival, her hair didn’t feel like a burden—it felt like a gift.

“Braided, huh?” Jinx grinned down at the little girl, her voice soft and playful. “You want to braid this mess?”

The children giggled, pulling out colorful ribbons and small braiding tools from their pockets, eager to adorn her hair with bright, shining threads. One child climbed up to sit beside her, and another carefully began weaving half of her blue hair into a neat braid. The others followed suit, working together to do the other side.

Ekko watched, leaning against a nearby stall, his arms crossed. He hadn’t expected this. Jinx had always been the unpredictable force—the wild girl locked in a tower, feared by everyone. But now, surrounded by laughter and innocence, she looked... free. Her smile was soft, her usual spark of mischief replaced with something gentler. The braids grew, weaving through her hair, creating a masterpiece of colorful strands.

"You know," Ekko called over to Jinx with a smirk, "if they keep at it, you might end up looking like a walking rainbow."

Jinx stuck out her tongue playfully at him. “I think I look fabulous,” she teased. “Look at this, Ekko. These kids know what they’re doing.”

As the children continued to braid her hair, more and more people gathered around to admire the scene. A few adults even stepped forward to ask if they could join in, admiring her glowing hair and the lively scene she had become.

Jinx laughed, the sound like music in the air, and in that moment, she felt something she had never felt before: a sense of belonging.

Once they were finished, Jinx stood up, her hair now adorned with colorful ribbons and two braids that cascaded down her back like a waterfall of light. The children stepped back, admiring their work, and Jinx took a moment to look at herself in a small mirror one of the children had handed her.

She smiled softly, her fingers brushing through the delicate braids. “It’s beautiful," she whispered, her voice a little softer than usual.

Ekko walked up to her, looking her over. "I have to admit," he said with a grin, "you've never looked more... normal."

Jinx shot him a playful glare but couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her lips. "Normal? Is that your idea of a compliment?" she asked.

“Nope," Ekko chuckled. "But I do think you look... like you belong here. With all of us.”

Jinx’s eyes softened, and she looked around at the bustling crowd, the festival lights dancing in her eyes. For the first time in her life, she felt like she did belong. Like she was more than the girl in the tower. Like she was part of something much bigger.

The children cheered, and one of them tugged on her sleeve again, looking up at her with a hopeful smile. “Can you come dance with us?”

Jinx’s heart swelled. "Me? Dance?" She glanced at Ekko, who gave her an encouraging nod.

"Why not?" Ekko said with a grin. "You deserve to enjoy it, Jinx."

And so, with a wide smile, Jinx joined the children in their dance, her hair swinging and glowing brightly under the festival lights. Ekko watched as she spun and laughed, lost in the joy of the moment. The music, the people, the lights—it was all a whirlwind of life that she had never imagined.

For Jinx, the girl who had once been trapped in a tower, this was a new beginning. And she was free. For the first time, her past felt far away, like a distant memory she no longer needed to carry.

The laughter of the children and the music of the Shimmer Festival filled the air as Jinx twirled, her braided hair catching the light like a ribbon of stars. She felt a sense of freedom she had never known—a world so vibrant and full of possibilities. The weight of Silco’s control, the oppressive walls of the tower, all of it seemed a lifetime away as she danced with the kids, her heart light.

But, just as quickly as the joy had blossomed, a shadow fell over the festival.

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

A familiar, unsettling voice broke through the music, cold and commanding.

"Jinx."

The crowd parted like a wave, and there he stood. Silco. His presence sliced through the energy of the night, the festival's joyful atmosphere dimming in his wake. His piercing yellow eyes locked onto Jinx, and his mouth curled into a smirk that sent a chill down Ekko's spine.

"Silco!" Jinx exclaimed, her smile faltering. Her body tensed, and for a brief moment, the carefree joy she’d felt evaporated. She slowly stepped back from the children, as if drawn into the gravitational pull of Silco's dark presence.

“Jinx, I warned you,” Silco said, his voice laced with venom. His eyes flicked to Ekko, the same cold disdain written across his face. “I told you that you would never belong here. Not with them. Not in this… circus.”

Jinx's heart sank. She knew this moment was coming—she could feel it in the air. The possibility of a life beyond the tower, beyond Silco’s clutches, was too much for him to allow. His grip on her was still too strong.

But something had changed inside her, something she couldn’t ignore.

“No.” Jinx’s voice was firmer than she expected. She looked over her shoulder at Ekko, then back to Silco. "I’m not going back. I don’t belong with you. Not anymore.”

Silco’s smile twisted, his face hardening with an expression of dark amusement. “Oh, Jinx. You don’t know what you’re doing. You think you can escape? You think these people are your family? They will turn on you just like everyone else. You are nothing without me. I gave you purpose. I gave you power.”

“I don’t need your power!” Jinx snapped, her voice cracking with a mix of fear and newfound defiance. Her hands, still tingling from the energy of the festival, clenched into fists. “I’m not your puppet anymore. I’m not your prisoner!”

The words were out before she could even fully understand them. And for the first time, it felt like she wasn’t just speaking them to him, but to herself. She wasn’t trapped. She wasn’t just a creation of Silco’s will. She was her own person.

Silco’s eyes flared with anger, the dark storm that had always loomed over him intensifying. He stepped forward, his voice turning low and menacing. “You think you have a choice? You’re nothing without me. I made you. I am your father. You owe me everything.”

Ekko stepped in front of Jinx, his posture firm and protective. “No. She doesn’t owe you anything. And you’re not taking her back.” His voice was cold and unwavering, and for a moment, Silco looked at him as though he were an insignificant bug to crush.

But the tension was palpable. The air around them seemed to freeze, as if the entire festival held its breath.

Jinx’s heart raced, a mix of fear and adrenaline coursing through her. She had never seen Silco so furious. But she also felt something else—a surge of power, of courage, rising in her chest. The once-feared man who had tried to control her, to break her, was no longer her master.

Before she could speak again, the sound of boots pounding the pavement echoed behind Silco. His men, armed and ready, had closed in, forming a wall around them.

“You think you can run, Jinx?” Silco’s voice was like ice. “You’ve been a part of my plan all along. You can’t escape your fate.”

But as Silco's men advanced, a quiet, almost imperceptible sound cut through the tense air—a sharp whirring, like the hum of a machine coming to life.

Jinx looked up, her eyes alight with recognition.

Ekko saw it too, and in that moment, he knew exactly what needed to happen.

He turned to Jinx, his voice urgent but calm. "Run, Jinx! Go now!"

Jinx didn’t hesitate. She grabbed Ekko’s hand, her heart pounding as they dashed through the crowd, weaving between festival-goers. Silco’s men, too slow to catch up, were left behind in their wake.

But Silco wasn’t done. His voice echoed through the crowd, a dangerous threat hanging in the air. “You can run, Jinx, but you’ll never be free. You belong to me.”

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

As they rounded a corner, Jinx’s mind was a blur of emotions—fear, exhilaration, and a desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, she could escape Silco’s grasp for good. She didn’t know where they were going, but she didn’t care. She trusted Ekko. He had proven that he would never let her go back to the cage she had lived in for so long.

They reached the edge of the festival, where the lights and sounds of the celebration began to fade. Jinx’s breath came in sharp gasps, her heart still racing. She looked up at Ekko, her eyes wide, her voice trembling.

"Ekko… what do we do now? He's not going to stop coming after me."

Ekko’s grip on her hand tightened, his eyes scanning the alley ahead, his thoughts already moving in the direction of their next move. He knew Silco wouldn’t give up, but they had something he didn’t—freedom. And together, they could fight for it.

“We keep running,” Ekko said, his voice steady, even in the face of the chaos that loomed behind them. “And we show him what happens when you try to control someone who refuses to be controlled.”

As Ekko and Jinx made their way through the winding streets, their hearts pounding with the thrill of freedom, they didn’t notice the shadows moving closer, creeping in from the edges of the festival. The sounds of the city, once filled with joy, now felt ominous, as if the ground itself knew Silco's men were on the hunt.

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air. “Jinx!”

Both Ekko and Jinx froze.

Out of the shadows emerged a group of Silco’s men, and at their head, the man himself—Silco. His icy gaze fixed on Jinx, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "Did you think you could run forever, my dear?" he sneered, stepping forward.

Jinx’s face flickered with fear, then determination. "I don’t belong to you anymore, Silco!" she shouted, stepping back.

Ekko’s heart raced as he positioned himself between Jinx and Silco, his voice firm. “You won’t get her, Silco.”

Silco’s expression twisted into something darker. "Oh, I already have. You see, Jinx has always been mine to control. And now, she's come home." He gestured to his men, who closed in, surrounding them.

Jinx took a step back, shaking her head. “No! I’m not your prisoner anymore!”

Silco's eyes darkened as he took a slow step toward her. "You think you can change that so easily? You're a child. You need me. You always have."

Ekko looked at Jinx, his voice desperate. "Jinx, we can still run! We can—"

But before Ekko could finish, Sevika lunged, grabbing Jinx with her metal arm  and pulling her away from Ekko. Her eyes widened in panic as she struggled against their grip.

"Let go of me!" Jinx cried, thrashing and kicking, her hair whipping around wildly.

Ekko lunged forward, but one of his men knocked him back with a swift strike. He hit the ground with a grunt, but quickly rolled and got to his feet, ready to fight.

Just before one of his men could strike, Silco raised his hand, stopping his men. "Enough." His voice was cold, commanding. "She’s coming back with me, whether she wants to or not."

Jinx looked at Ekko, her eyes wide with fear. She could feel herself being dragged back toward the looming tower. She could almost hear the echoes of her past, the endless years of isolation in that prison she’d once called home. Her chest tightened.

“Ekko...” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I’m sorry.”

Ekko’s heart twisted at the sound of her voice, her helplessness pulling at him like a thousand chains. But he couldn’t do anything. Not with Silco right there.

“Please,” Ekko said, breathless, his voice laced with urgency. “You don’t have to go back with him, Jinx.”

Jinx’s eyes filled with doubt, and for a moment, she stopped struggling. She wanted to believe Ekko. She wanted to trust him. But Silco’s grip on her was powerful—stronger than Ekko had ever realized. She didn’t know if she could fight it.

Silco, sensing her hesitation, smiled cruelly. “She’s coming with me, Ekko. You can’t save her from herself.”

“Jinx!” Ekko shouted one last time, reaching for her.

But it was too late. Silco’s men had already pulled her away. Jinx’s eyes were locked on Ekko’s as they dragged her back into the shadows, the tower looming in the distance like a grim reminder of the cage she couldn’t escape from—yet.

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

Back at the tower, Silco’s grip on Jinx only tightened. She was locked in her room, surrounded by the cold, metallic walls she had once tried so hard to forget. She paced in circles, her heart pounding in her chest as she tugged at her hair, her thoughts racing.

She could hear Silco’s voice, distant but authoritative, giving orders to his men. He was preparing to tighten his hold on her, to remind her of who she was, what she was meant to be.

The door to her room creaked open. Silco entered, his eyes gleaming with that all-too-familiar dominance.

“Jinx,” he said, his tone deceptively soft. “You need to understand something. You can never leave me. You are my daughter, my eveyrthing. Without me, you are nothing.”

Jinx’s heart felt like it was being squeezed in her chest. She opened her mouth to argue, to shout at him to leave her alone, but no words came out. The reality of her situation crashed down on her.

“You’re not going anywhere,” Silco said with finality, his voice cruel and cold. He stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder in a mock gesture of affection. “You belong here. You always will.”

Jinx recoiled at his touch, shaking her head. “No,” she whispered, though the word felt weak, even to herself.

“Don’t fight this, Jinx,” Silco said, his voice turning dark and low. “I’ve given you everything. All the power you could ever need. And in return, you’ll stay with me. Forever.”

Jinx’s mind raced. She wanted to fight, to scream, to break free from him. But the walls of her room, the looming tower, felt suffocating. She thought of Ekko—of the freedom she had almost grasped—and she felt a pang of guilt. A wave of doubt washed over her. What was she doing? Could she really leave it all behind?

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

Meanwhile, Ekko, battered and bruised from the confrontation, didn’t stop. He had to get Jinx back. He wasn’t going to let Silco keep her locked in that tower, not when she had just tasted freedom. But first, he needed a plan. And he needed help.

The streets of Zaun were quiet now, the festival's music a distant memory. As Ekko slipped through the shadows, his mind raced with ideas. He needed to break into the tower. He needed to free Jinx, no matter what it took.

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

Back in the tower, Jinx sat on her bed, her head hanging low. She felt defeated. Silco had her once again, and she didn’t know how to escape. But one thing was certain—she couldn’t stay here forever.

And Ekko… Ekko had made her feel something she hadn’t felt in years: hope.

The days in the tower were long, and the walls felt closer with each passing hour. Jinx couldn’t stop thinking about Ekko, about the moments they shared on the run, the taste of freedom. It was a bitter reminder of what she’d lost—what she had willingly walked away from. But Silco’s grip was suffocating, and his promises of power and control clouded her mind. He was right, wasn’t he? She couldn’t be anything without him. She was just a weapon, a tool, a thing.

And yet, despite everything, she couldn't shake the memory of Ekko's face—the hope in his eyes, the fire in his voice. She remembered the way he said she wasn’t alone. The thought brought a tear to her eye, but she wiped it away quickly. It was a weakness. Silco didn’t allow weakness.

But Jinx knew she couldn’t live like this forever. Something inside her was breaking. The longer she stayed in this tower, the more the walls pressed in, suffocating her spirit. She couldn’t let Silco win.

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

Elsewhere, Ekko was planning. He couldn't stop thinking about her, his mind racing with the possibilities of getting her back. Jinx wasn’t just some mission—she was a person, a friend, someone who mattered. He couldn’t let Silco keep her, not when he knew there was more to her than the monster Silco was trying to mold her into.

He spent days sneaking around Zaun, gathering intel, talking to people he trusted, trying to figure out how to get past Silco’s security. It wasn’t easy. Silco had his eyes everywhere. But Ekko had the advantage of knowing the hidden passages and forgotten corners of the city. He just needed to wait for the right moment.

➽────────────────────────────────────────❥

One night, under the cover of darkness, Ekko finally made his move.

He slipped through the back alleys, his heart pounding as he approached the tower. The streets were quiet—too quiet. Silco’s men had been instructed to stay alert, but even so, the shadows were on his side. Ekko knew these walls better than anyone. He’d spent years evading Silco’s goons, always one step ahead, always in the shadows.

He scaled the side of the tower, moving swiftly up the crumbling walls. His mind was set, his resolve stronger than ever. He had to get to Jinx before it was too late.

Inside the tower, Jinx had finally made a decision. She couldn’t stay here. She couldn’t keep letting Silco control her, telling her who she was, what she was meant to be. But how could she escape? She had no idea how to fight him directly—Silco’s hold on her was far too strong.

As she sat in the cold, dark room, her thoughts swirled. Then, in the silence, she heard something—a sound. Footsteps. Someone was coming. Was it Silco? Was it maybe Sevika?

Her heart skipped a beat as she stood up, her breath caught in her throat. The door to her room creaked open, and she almost gasped. Standing there, silhouetted in the doorway, was Ekko.

“Ekko?” Jinx whispered, her voice trembling. She almost couldn’t believe it. Was this real, or was her mind playing tricks on her?

Ekko grinned, his eyes glinting with determination. “You didn’t think I’d leave you here, did you?”

Her heart soared. “But… Silco—”

“Silco doesn’t control you,” Ekko said, cutting her off. “You’re not his, Jinx. You never were.”

Jinx felt a wave of emotion crash over her, a mix of relief, confusion, and fear. Could it really be this simple? Could she really leave him behind?

Ekko held out his hand. “Come with me. We can run. We can finally be free.”

For a moment, Jinx hesitated, the weight of everything she’d been told—the years of manipulation, the lies—pressing down on her. But then she looked at Ekko, at the sincerity in his eyes. She saw the same hope that had been there on the night they first met.

With a deep breath, she reached out, taking his hand.

As Jinx stood, hand outstretched toward Ekko, the weight of everything she had endured in the tower seemed to melt away. There was no turning back now. She was ready to leave Silco, ready to start a new life—a real life.

"Ekko," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm ready."

Ekko’s eyes softened, a mixture of relief and happiness flashing across his face as he reached out to take her hand. But just as their fingers brushed, a booming voice shattered the moment, cold and commanding.

“Jinx.”

Jinx’s heart stopped. She pulled her hand back instinctively, but it was too late.

From the shadows at the far end of the hallway, Silco emerged, his eyes glowing with anger. He moved with the speed of a predator, his presence suffocating as he advanced toward them. Ekko stepped in front of Jinx, his posture defensive.

“You think you can just walk away from me?” Silco sneered, his voice laced with venom. “You belong with me, Jinx. You’re my daughter and You always will be.”

Jinx's stomach twisted. Silco's words hit her like a punch, and the tug of loyalty to the man who had raised her was strong. But her eyes flicked to Ekko—he was right there, offering her something real. She felt the pull between the two, the weight of her past and the promise of a future.

"I don't belong with you, Silco," Jinx said, her voice shaking but determined. "I belong with ekko, in the outside world."

Silco’s expression twisted into one of pure rage. With a swift motion, he lunged forward, grabbing Jinx by the wrist and pulling her close. “You’re making a mistake,” he hissed, his fingers tightening around her arm. “I gave you everything! You’re nothing without me!”

Jinx struggled, her pulse pounding in her throat. Ekko moved, swift as a shadow, aiming a punch at Silco’s face. But Silco was faster, using his unnatural strength to deflect the blow and send Ekko sprawling backward.

“Stay out of this, boy,” Silco snarled, his eyes flickering with the dangerous glint of his power.

But Ekko wasn’t about to back down. He surged forward again, fists flying, the two of them locked in a brutal struggle. Each blow that landed echoed through the tower, shaking its foundations. Jinx watched, torn between the two, her heart heavy with indecision.

As the fight raged on, she felt the heat of something inside her—something raw, something powerful—beginning to rise. Her hair, still glowing with the strange, unnatural energy that Silco had forced upon her, began to crackle with energy. The walls around her seemed to vibrate with her inner turmoil.

“No…” Jinx whispered, her voice trembling, but it was already too late.

With a surge of uncontrolled power, a burst of light erupted from her hair. The room trembled as the force rippled outward, crashing into the walls. The tower groaned in protest, cracks spider webbing across its surface as the energy from Jinx’s power surged uncontrollably.

“Jinx!” Ekko shouted, eyes wide with alarm as the tower began to collapse around them. “We need to get out of here—now!”

But it was too late. The explosion of energy she had unleashed ripped through the tower’s structure, sending debris and metal flying. The walls crumbled, the very foundation of Silco’s world giving way to the destruction Jinx had inadvertently caused. The room around them shattered, and Ekko grabbed Jinx, pulling her close to shield her from the falling wreckage.

The ground shook as the tower’s walls caved in, a deafening roar filling the air. And then, silence.

Jinx sat in the smoldering remains of the tower, her breathing ragged. Her hands shook as she stared at the wreckage, feeling the weight of everything that had just happened. The dust settled around them, but the chaos inside her hadn’t abated.

“Ekko,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I… I didn’t mean for this. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Her eyes welled with tears, the enormity of what she had done crashing down on her. She had destroyed everything—Silco, the only figure she had ever known as a father. And for what?

Ekko knelt beside her, his presence warm and steady. He reached out, gently cupping her face, wiping away the tear that had fallen.

“You didn’t destroy anything, Jinx,” he said softly. “You freed yourself. You’ve been trapped in that tower for so long, it’s no wonder you didn’t know how to control it. But you are in control now.”

Jinx shook her head. “But Silco… he was my father. He gave me everything. I don’t know what to feel anymore. I’m scared, Ekko.”

Ekko’s expression softened, his gaze tender. He placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her. “I know you’re scared. But you’re not alone. You don’t have to face this by yourself.”

Jinx’s heart ached. She had never known a love like this, a kindness that didn’t come with strings attached. Ekko wasn’t asking for anything. He just wanted to help her.

He leaned in closer, his eyes searching hers. “Jinx… I’ve never stopped caring about you. I’ve been by your side even when it seemed impossible. And I’ll keep being there for you, no matter what.”

The words struck something deep inside her, and without thinking, she leaned in. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss—her first kiss not of fear or control, but of freedom, of choice. It was everything she had longed for.

When they pulled away, Jinx smiled, her heart lighter than it had been in years. “Ekko… I don’t know what the future holds, but for the first time, I think I can face it. With you.”

Ekko’s smile mirrored hers. “Together. Always.”

The wreckage of the tower lay behind them, but in the quiet aftermath, there was something new ahead of them—a future, uncertain and wild, but filled with promise.

And for the first time in her life, Jinx felt like she was truly free.

This was inspired by a post I saw on Twitter. P.S. I did not proofread this. It came straight off the top of my head, so if there are grammatical errors, I apologize.

[doomed-era]

For the chapter title thing, I'm curious about Apotheosis! Tbh had never heard of that word before reading that chapter, so thank you for expanding my vocabulary haha

Oh yeah! It's a very fun word, and not commonly used (for good reason; people don't ascend to divinity just every day)

This is the chapter where Link tries to stab Zelda. So, the reason for naming the chapter "Apotheosis" is twofold, based on two common uses of the word. In Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey (haha hero. HAHA), the apotheosis is the peak of the action, where the protagonist comes to a realization that changes everything. Then, of course, there's the standard definition, a person ascending to godhood or being revered as a god. Both uses of the word are ironic, in this chapter's case. The fic isn't following the structure of "the monomyth" at all, though it is where the protagonist makes an important realization, and there is no ascension-- rather, there is the opposite, as Link is forced to see Zelda for the human being that she is, and has his own apparent "godhood" taken from him. It ties into some of his primary flaws: his inability to see anything but "the big picture," his obsession with his own "purpose," and his refusal to see himself as a person.

Okay I am not going to go into a full breakdown of Link's mental state in this chapter I PROMISE but I really do have a lot to say about it and just. the chapter. Mostly about the Ganon battle and the thing right after. So uhh more under the cut. (Mental illness/suicide mention as well)

Still, he could not let it live, for the good of the kingdom and its people. But what good did the kingdom do? He had never seen it, and though its ruins were everywhere, the people he knew were happy without its dominion. They admired the vessel, they adored her, even, but what did she provide them with? ...Above all else, Hylia and her kin wanted control. If the power of the gods could be replicated, then what was a god? The technology was blasphemy: a challenge to an ancient order engraved on their souls, so it was discarded, left to rot...

This is actually one of the few paragraphs where I sort of (?) agree with my own protagonist. Uh...surprise, I guess? There are a few key things to see here, namely that he's noting the negative impact of both Ganon and the Royal Family, the two other members of the "cycle." He fails, of course, to see his own contribution to their destruction. Link may be under Hylia's control, and he is a victim of abuse, but he is still responsible for his own actions (which is a major theme of GBoH!!! victims are rarely perfect people and it doesn't make them less of a victim!! victims can hurt people and become the people who hurt them cycles of violence etc etc etc frothing at the mo)

His head burned. This monster had taken everything away from him. It would never land another blow on anyone he knew, in this life or the next. Maybe there wouldn't be a need for another life. What if he could stop it for good? Link pulled himself up and jammed his sword into the eye on Ganon's shoulder, twice for good measure. The voices shouted orders, praise, goading him towards the finish. They clanged and clanged and clanged, the frantic cacophony blurring together until it became nothing but nonsense. Today this would end. The cosmic gears would crack, then shatter, and finally everything would be at peace.

He's doing the thing again, but he's MUCH more clear about his intentions here. Guy wants to end the cycle. He's aware that Hylia and her vessel will probably put up a fight, but he doesn't care anymore. He's The Hero(tm), and he's going to finally put an end to all this suffering because He's Important and He's the Only One That Can, Probably. But yeah he kind of wants to die. Ish. Link's never really been suicidal, but at this point he's very apathetic about death. It's why he lets himself fall later in the chapter; he just...doesn't care anymore. There's also his thought that if he dies he'll just reincarnate and have to go through this all over again which has prevented him from being too doom and gloom in the past about it.

Link saw the vessel's hand around his wrist. It was shaking. He blinked, and their eyes met, gold on green. He had never seen her face before. Her features were soft, but her nose was slightly pointed– a gentler version of the king's nose, and with the same pride he had in his facial features, stifled though it was. Black ooze stuck to her cheek, and traveled down her right side, where it sagged on the tips of her fingers.

Zelda :^) I wanted to mention she had Rhoam's nose (even though she doesn't in canon, I know) because it adds an extra level of humanization to her in Link's mind. There is a slight layer of me griping at Nintendo for making Zelda too much of a pretty princess damsel after her arc in BOTW and also just trying wayyy too hard to make her cute and conventionally attractive in general but we'll save that rant for another time. you have all of these interestingly designed npcs (yes even girls) but the main characters stick out like plastic surgery'd sore thumbs. god.

After I chose you. I told you that you had a purpose, to encourage you, and you twisted it, because in the end you were nothing but a murderous little wretch. Well, I'll tell you the truth. The spirit of the hero left you long ago. The only reason that sword accepted you was that I willed it to. Touch it again, and you will feel its righteous fury. 

Last Hylia lines as of now YAY!! Anyway this wasn't planned until pretty late in the writing process and I think it's pretty fun. It also mirrors some abusive religious institutions and how they will say you were a faker all along if you leave :)

Okay that's probably enough I know I love to yap!!! But thank you for bearing with me if you read this far lmao I enjoy putting a lot of thought into this kind of thing

[practically-an-x-man]

"And if you need any help- Please. Hesitate to ask."

Just a little prompt for you

Oooh, I've been pondering this one for a while and I think I want to try something with Nikoletta...

____ New Blood

Word Count: 2.2k Content Warnings: mild fighting, nothing too extreme ____

Nikoletta Bordeaux lounged on her cot, picking at a loose thread at the corner of her blanket. Reputation only ever got her so far. These long days got boring, and the amount of shenanigans she was able to pull were few and far between most days. It didn't suit her to start trouble just for starting trouble - it wobbled her seat of power, her carefully-balanced perch at the top of the food chain - and Waller hadn't brought in any new blood lately.

Which left her with very few things to do. She'd done her rounds. Everybody here knew who she was, the power she held. She wasn't hungry, nor tired enough to sleep. She'd scoured the halls for gossip, ducking into shadows to eavesdrop, and had come up with pitifully little of interest.

So she waited. And hoped something interesting would happen eventually.

She didn't realize she'd begun to drift off until a metallic clang startled her awake. Nikoletta jolted upright, one hand sneaking automatically back towards the far corner of her cot. There was always a shadow there, something to sink into if anyone tried to cause her harm-

But it was only Waller, standing in the doorway with one first against the metal jamb. She offered Nikoletta a thinly-veiled glare. It was a look she returned.

"Up, Bordeaux. Now."

"Fresh meat?" Nikoletta guessed, drawing her spine straight in an unconscious attempt to appear more powerful. It worked on most of the other prisoners. It did not work on Amanda Waller.

"A few." she responded, lifting her other hand to show off a fistful of manila folders. She tossed them onto the cot, the strings in the cheap mattress creaking with the impact. Nikoletta closed her fingers around them as if they might grow legs and skitter away.

"Finally." she muttered under her breath. Waller hmphed from the door.

"They're getting introduced now. Read your files and get out there."

"Pushy, pushy." Nikoletta said, daring to look her right in the face, "You're getting awfully demanding, Amanda."

"You're not the one in charge here, Bordeaux, much as you like to pretend you are."

"You and I both know I'm here of my own free will," she fired back, her New Orleans drawl ribboning around the words and softening her threat into something more languid, "There's nothing you can do to hold me here."

"Believe me, we'll find something." Waller hissed, her voice icy. There was something practiced about it. Nikoletta would know. She'd done the same. Amanda Waller waved a hand, tension clear in her posture. "Read the files. Take care of it. And if you need any help- please. Hesitate to ask."

She was gone before Nikoletta could say another word.

Sighing, she flipped through the files. There wasn't much excitement to be found.

One man would be serving life after he sent Superman into respiratory distress with vaporized kryptonite. Typical. Half the inmates in here for targeting Supes. It was like some kind of ego boost, trying to find a way to take down the most powerful man in the universe. None succeeded, and those that survived were sent to Belle Reve. At this point, it was almost pathetic. One would think they'd at least pick a new target.

Two women were partners in crime, sent in together after attempting to bust into Fort Knox. One of them could make herself intangible, the file read, and the other had some sort of hypnosis that distracted the guards. Both would be sent to private cells, with power dampeners to prevent escape.

If there was one thing Nikoletta was certain about, it was that they'd find her swinging from a water pipe before they ever put a power dampener on her.

She almost smiled as she read the next file. The man - a dark-haired, slender fellow with tired eyes - was claimed to have taken down all of STAR Labs before he arrived. If so, good riddance. Much of his file was redacted in dark ink, unfortunately robbing her of the chance to read that whole story, but she hoped it had gone up in flames. She hoped there was nothing left of that infernal place.

Which left the last one. Another man. His file had been redacted too, even more than the prior one. She didn't get a name, nor a birthdate, nor what he'd been sent to Belle Reve for. She didn't know if he was a meta or not - often very useful information, for someone like her. All she had was a photo, pinned to the corner of the file. There was a smudge at the bottom of the photograph, a drop of spilled ink that had been ineffectively wiped away.

Waller's signal.

Whatever he'd done, she didn't want to deal with him. She wanted him gone.

Easy.

Nikoletta stood up from her cot, pausing to stretch her aching limbs. Sometimes she wondered where those aches came from. A remnant from her capture at STAR Labs? Her body warning her that it wasn't meant to dive between worlds like she did? Or simply a lingering echo of her malnourished childhood?

She didn't know. It didn't matter. She'd never let them see her pain anyway.

Nikoletta tugged a pair of leather gloves onto her hands, flexing her fingers a few times to loosen them up. It was the only amenity they'd willingly offer her, and largely because the alternative was worse.

She spared a final glance at the files, then tucked them under her pillow. Waller would collect them later. Nikoletta never got to keep what she was given.

She took in a deep breath and straightened her spine, drawing into her mind images of power and grace. Outside this room, she was so much more than herself.

The Queen of Belle Reve stepped out of her cell.

____

"Which one, boss?"

"Haven't spotted him yet. Seems he's a bit of a loner." Nikoletta responded, lifting a soggy French fry into her mouth, "You'll know when I mark him."

"But I never get there first when you mark them." the man muttered, hunched over his dinner tray, "Can't you just let me have him? Once?"

"Be my guest. If you'd like to end up in a week of solitary." she snapped, giving him a warning look, "If you want my protection... you follow my rules. Nobody goes down unless they're marked. We keep things clean around here."

As she spoke, she trailed a finger along one wilted leaf of lettuce from her tray. She only wore one glove now, and inky darkness followed her unprotected touch - truly, fully black, darker even than rot. Finger-painting with shadows. Nikoletta glanced down at it, then crushed the leaf into her hand and watched the darkness overtake it. Anything organic would do the same. Save for her own skin, nothing was safe.

"C'mon, Nik, please-"

"Adrian." she hissed, "I cannot make exceptions. If you want him, go get him. But then you put yourself outside my jurisdiction. You go after the ones that I've marked, and those only, or you put your blood in the water. Your choice."

He sighed and lifted his hand to adjust his glasses, refusing to meet Nikoletta's eyes. He knew she was right.

"Could you at least... mark him when I'm close by?" he muttered a moment later, "Otherwise I can never get there in time."

A shout rang out just as he finished, and dozens of eyes snapped to the other side of the galley. Some stayed there. Others turned to Nikoletta, watching for her next move. It took her a moment to decode the situation.

"You just might get your wish..." she muttered, easily sliding out of her seat, "Stay close."

Adrian beamed and hopped up from the bench, disregarding his tray of food. He was smaller than most of the other guys in this joint, though that didn't matter. She'd seen him fight. He was ruthless. And casually ruthless too, which was almost worse. He enjoyed what he did. Even with no weapons, no powers, nothing to make him stand out, he was one of the more dangerous prisoners to be found in Belle Reve.

It was exactly why she'd kept him so close.

A fight had broken out in the far corner of the cafeteria. None of the guards were attempting to stop it- not yet. A dark-haired man lay sprawled on the linoleum, painted with his own spilled tray of food. He wore a power dampener around his neck, but he wasn't even attempting to fight. Standing over him... the man from her photo. The one Waller wanted gone.

"Excuse me, gentlemen." Nikoletta's voice rang out, drawing eyes from every corner of the cafeteria. It included the larger man, the new inmate. She gave him a false smile. "You're one of the new ones, aren't you?"

"Yeah. N'who're you?" he huffed, his voice so gravelly she expected him to cough up diamonds when he'd finished. Nikoletta's face held no emotion. Her eyes reflected no light, only pools of pure shadow.

"I'm the queen around here. You ought to stay quiet until you learn how I run things. Or I must say- it won't end well for you."

"Heh. I'd snap you like a twig."

Nikoletta tilted her head. She hadn't been in the mood for a public display... but these newbies would need to learn who she was. And the rest could use a reminder. This one would prove a good example.

"Try."

He didn't grant her so much as a moment. She didn't need one.

He charged for her, his broad frame filling her vision and casting her face in shadow. Perfect.

She didn't move so much as an inch, not until she saw his fist swinging for her. Then she melted into the shadows.

Nikoletta reappeared a step behind him, though his lost momentum spun him in a circle to face her once again. For just a moment, he was too dazed to react. That was all she needed.

Her fist swung out, clipping him in the jaw and sending him staggering back a step. She was too small a woman to topple him, but darkness burst across his jaw like he'd been struck with a paintball. Nikoletta took a calm step back as he reeled.

"I'll end this here. But you'll learn your place." she advised. The new inmate growled, promising danger. But she turned her back on him. Here in Belle Reve, her greatest asset was not her shadows. It was the army at her back.

"They outta put a collar on you too." the newbie snapped, though she heard no telltale footsteps of him advancing. Either her demonstration has succeeded, and he'd learned his place... or he'd just realized he was suddenly surrounded by threats.

"What do you think happened when they tried?"

She strode away from the man, her gloved hand clapping Adrian on the shoulder as she passed.

"All yours. Go nuts."

"With so many people-"

"Waller wanted him gone. Guards won't blink."

A slow grin spread across his face, deceptively bright and open for what she'd just promised him. He looked like a kid on Christmas, surveying the array of presents under the tree. Nikoletta found herself returning his smile, though hers was faint and didn't quite reach her eyes.

She approached the man on the floor. He was working his way up to his feet, struggling to get his balance with the heavy collar around his neck. She did not offer him a hand, but he shot her a grateful look all the same.

"Thank you." he mumbled. His voice was as meek as the rest of him. He wrung his hands in front of his body, his eyes darting from place to place. Once, they managed to jump all the way up to her face, and she saw that they were nearly as dark as her own. He moved to hold out a hand, then reconsidered. "I'm- um, I'm Abne-"

"Word of advice." Nikoletta cut him off, "No names. No stories. No powers. Don't stand out. For a guy like you, that's your best chance in this place."

"Oh- okay, I-"

"I mean it. Head down. Or they'll make you a target. Do you understand?"

He nodded just a hair too fast. Nikoletta all but ignored the motion, dark eyes flicking across his food-spattered jumpsuit and discarded tray. She did feel bad for him, in a way. It wasn't her first run-in with these meek types, and often the quietest proved to be the most dangerous in the end. People boasted about what they were proud of, but nobody broadcasted the truly awful deeds. Not if they wanted to last.

But there was something different about this one. She wondered what he'd done to end up here. She wondered what had driven him to tear STAR Labs up at the roots. She wondered why they put him in such a heavy power dampener.

She was sure she'd learn eventually.

Rumor traveled quickly in Belle Reve.

[gorillaxyz]

ive spent the past couple days binge reading blue period... and i havent even gotten THAT far (just started the 6th volume!!!!) because each chapter is like 50 pages long (aside from the last chapter of the 5th vol i guess) but im back to reading my....... other two. dunmeshi first time reading and my mp100 reread...

i finished the 4th volume of dunmeshi today :^) falin!!!!!!!!!! shes been resurrected :) there was a lot of cool and cute art AND FARCILLE... OH MY GOD. EVERY LESBIAN AROUND THE WORLD SHOULD REJOICE... FARCILLE........... FARCILLE.................... and i thought it was awesome how the red dragon BIT LAIOS' FOOT OFF... i liked the mark that was left after marcille reattached it...... and when he was scratching it im going to be honest! my interest... was piqued. but then falin healed him up fully and the weird ring mark was lost </3 SAD! but yeah...

i didnt think i would ever like dunmeshi just bc i found it really annoying how it was FUCKING EVERYWHERE I LOOOOOOOOOOKED when the anime came out. i wasnt annoyed at anyone who put it on my dash god forbid!!! the story/characters themselves just got on my nerves. because they were fucking everywhere. im happy i gave it another chance though because ive really been enjoying it at my own pace :)

and the guy i hated seeing the most is now the guy i love seeing the most (LAIOS.) so isnt it cute how people change... he is very charming cute and funny i want to throw him down a flight of stairs to hear his armour clang and such

today ill finish rereading volume 4 of mp100 :^) there are about 50 chapters left until serizawa shows up. and he was the whole reason i started my reread in the first place... BUT THE MANGA IS SO GENUINELY FUNNY ive tried watching the anime like 5 different times and it just sucks so much in comparison. i dont want amazing animation sequences and a consistent and appealing art style!! i want ONEs style!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i want the swear woooooooords!!!!!!!!!!

so yes i am enjoying myself mangafully lately heh... hope everyone is doing okay <3

[sunshinebingo]

The Princess and the Knight

Chapter 5

A/N: I will give a cookie 🍪 to anyone who can guess who Aurelia and the Count of Day are. The hint is: they will most likely make an appearance on Day 1 of Sun and Flame Week

@headcanonheadcase and @shadowsxgwynriel I hope this chapter takes a little of the edge off.

Synopsis: The Princess receives some bad news that she decides to share with the Knight.

Word Count: 1.7k

Warning: a bit NSFW

Read the previous chapter here

Read on Ao3 here

Gwyn was glowing. Her afternoon spent with Azriel had exceeded all her expectations. It has also open a door for them in terms of physical intimacy. She couldn’t wait to explore more with him. She was already thinking about all the ways in which she could bring him pleasure like he did with her when someone elbowed her gently in the ribs.

Aurelia, the Queen’s little sister, laughed at the way her niece startled, as if she had been pulled from a dream.

“Are you with us my dear?” the Queen asked her seemingly distracted daughter.

“Where else would I be?” Gwyn took a sip of her wine to hopefully hide her blushing cheeks.

“I was asking if you have perhaps come across the Count while in Windhaven,” Orla said.

“I did not. I was there to visit Emerie,” Gwyn replied, feeling immensely grateful for the friend who has unknowingly provided her with the perfect excuse.

“I didn’t want my presence to be known so I was very discreet.”

Orla doubted that Gwyn would be happy about the news that she was about to share but her daughter had to know.

“My darling, I have something to tell you,” Orla started. When Gwyn gave her mother her full attention, the Queen sighed and continued, “A letter arrived this afternoon from the count. He wants to court you.”

Aurelia’s fork fell from her hands and clanged on her plate. Gwyn’s eyes widened in shock. That was not the kind of news she was expecting.

“That conceited old man?” Aurelia asked as if the proposal was being made to her.

“He is not that old.” Orla replied. Gwyn furrowed her brows at her mother, questioning whether she was considering the count as a possible match for her.

Orla had not meant to defend the man who she knew would never have a chance with her daughter. She knew that Gwyneth’s heart already belonged with someone else. Even if it did not at the moment, count Devlon was not the type of man that she would want for her. He was good with his duties but there was not much more to like about him. Orla reached a hand across the table and squeezed Gwyn’s in reassurance.

“I am in no way inferring that I like that idea my dear.” Gwyn’s shoulders instantly relaxed at her mother’s words. “I have always told you that whoever you choose should be a matter of your heart, not political alliances.”

Gwyn’s thoughts drifted to the man who was currently on the other side of the castle.

“But,” Orla continued, “we cannot be rude towards him.”

“It is not rude to refuse a man’s advances,” Aurelia pointed out.

“What I am trying to say,” Orla said with a pointed look at her sister, “is that he wants to spend some time with you tomorrow. Maybe you should accept his invitation and kindly explain to him that it is not what you want.”

Gwyn considered what her mother said. She understood that, since Devlon was the count of one of the towns of the Kingdom, the Queen did not want any conflict to arise because of such things.

“Okay,” she sighed and grabbed her glass of wine. “I will tolerate him for a little while and then be rid of him.”

Aurelia snorted. “God knows he is not the easiest man to endure,” she said. The count had a reputation for having a high opinion of himself. “I really do not envy your position Gwynie.”

“But you would if it was the count of Day who she had to spend time with,” Orla said with a mischievous smile. Gwyn noticed how her aunt started to blush. Aurelia tucked her auburn hair behind her ear.

“Well at least the count of Day is certainly better company to hold.”

“Is that so?” Gwyn’s smirk was the twin to her mother’s. “Is that a little crush I’m sensing?”

“Little?” Orla scoffed.

“I do not have a crush. I am not a child,” Aurelia retorted. Gwyn and Orla laughed when her flush deepened. The Queen thought about how flustered her sister looked around the count every time he was near her. Gwyn and the knight always acted the same around each other. Now more than ever.

“Your mother always liked to meddle Gwynie,” Aurelia stared at her sister across to table.

Orla placed a hand on her heart and gasped in fake outrage. “At least my meddling is beneficial to the two of you,” she said. Both Gwyn and Aurelia frowned.

“If I do not,” Orla continued, “You two would spend the rest of your days watching your crushes from behind a pillar.”

Gwyn could not help the smile blooming on her face at the realisation that her mother was probably right. But she would not admit that to her yet.

“Mother, not everyone can go straight to their Prince charming and say ‘would you like to dance? I think you are better than all those here who are lusting after my crown’”

Aurelia burst out laughing at Gwyn’s attempt to imitate her mother’s voice. Unlike Gwyn and herself, her elder sister had been bold enough to approach the one she was interested in. Said person had then fallen head over heels in love with his stubborn Queen. Aurelia only wished that Gwyn and her could find such love someday. Though she suspected that her niece might be a step before her.

.......................................................

Gwyn looked at Azriel when she finished telling him everything about the Count of Windhaven. Azriel had been nervous when he knocked on Gwyneth’s door that night. But when her lady-in-waiting had informed the knight that her mistress had arranged for him to discreetly meet her in her chamber, he had immediately agreed.

Gwyn had made her dislike for the count known several times during their conversation. She did not want Azriel to doubt her intentions towards him. Their relationship was being kept a secret because that was the best for the both of them for the time being, not because she wanted to keep her options open. She had never even considered the possibility of being with someone else but him.

“All of this is up to you Gwyneth. You should get to decide what you want,” Azriel told her. It was clear that she hated the man. But he would not try to influence her decision regardless of his feelings for her. Gwyn moved from her seat next to him on the couch to sit on his lap. One of his hands wrapped around her waist while the other settled on her knees.

“I have already decided.” She kissed Azriel on the cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I want you.” She kissed him on the other cheek.

“Princess,” Azriel said when she kissed him on the neck.

“I don’t want to be the Princess when I’m with you Az.” She started to gently scrape her nails on Azriel’s scalp.

“What would you like to be then?”

Gwyn brought her face back to him. “Yours,” she replied and Azriel’s heart skipped a beat. “I want to be your Gwyn.”

Azriel smiled at her. “My Gwyn,” he whispered, brushing his nose against hers. “My Gwyneth.”

Gwyn kissed him. It was slow at first. But when Azriel glided his hand higher up her legs, Gwyn felt a sudden rush of heat in her core. The kiss deepened and Azriel’s hand itched to reach between her legs. Just as he was about to do so, Gwyn pulled away and kneeled before him. All thoughts left his mind when she spread his knees and settled between them.

His mouth opened in small gasp when she reached for the laces of his pants. Gwyn did not take her eyes away from his face as she undid the laces. She watched his expression, searching for any sign that she was doing something wrong.

Gwyn only looked down when his length was finally freed. The sight of him sent another wave of heat between her legs. She had felt him pressed against her earlier that day, but seeing it was something else entirely. Azriel thought that she might decide she was not yet ready. But then she took his cock in her hand and squeezed gently. Azriel closed his eyes and released a shaky breath.

“Teach me?” Gwyn asked him. She wanted to learn all the ways in which she could please him. Azriel wrapped a hand around her own and started guiding her. He moved his hand up and down his shaft, applying just the right amount of pressure.

Pride sparked in her when he removed his hand and threw his head back in a moan . Gwyn licked her lips as she recalled all the things she had read about in her books. She lowered her face and ran her tongue over the tip of his length.

Azriel was ready to explode just from that small gesture. He opened his eyes to look at her. Her teal eyes were already fixed on him.

“Am I doing good?” she asked, then bit her lower lip. Azriel reached out a hand to cup her cheek. He ran his thumb over her lips and Gwyn took it in her mouth.

“You’re perfect,” he breathed.

Gwyn released his finger and smirked. She leaned forward and wrapped her lips around his length. She went slow to avoid hurting him since she was still trying to figure this out. Azriel groan in pleasure at the feeling of her wet, warm mouth around his cock. Her hand started to mirror the movement at the base of his shaft while her tongue and lips focused on the head.

The hand that was still cupping her cheek moved to tangle in her hair while his other hand moved to pull on his own. Gwyn moaned around his cock when he slightly pulled on her hair. Azriel bit down a curse when she started swirling her tongue around the tip of his cock.

“Gwyn I’m close.” She knew what was about to happen and she wanted to have all of it.

“Don’t hold back,” she told him. She closed her mouth around his cock again and tightened her grip on him. Azriel came with Gwyn’s name on his lips and her mouth still around him. She felt his release going down her throat and she relished every drop of it.

Azriel was still coming down from his orgasm when Gwyn sat up to straddle him. She took his face in her hands and kissed him again. Azriel tasted the remnant of his release on her lips. He loved it. He loved her.

[nataliavega]

jacqui-velazquez​:

“I wouldn’t trust anyone who didn’t,” Jacqui immediately fired back, though that, of course, was not true - Jacqui would trust pretty much anyone if the vibes were there. Liking prairie fire shots was just…a helpful way to encourage the good vibes. She nodded her head along to Nat’s words, fully understanding the sentiment. Maybe less so with reading but….”Honestly?” Jacqui said, their head swaying from side to side as they gave a tsk of their tongue. “I do, but I don’t do much of it. Takes a lot to hold my attention for that long. But…I get it. That’s how I feel about music a lot of the time.Each song lets you -” Their face had brightened up, a spark in their eyes as they were about to go into a spiel about music when a bell clanged, the sound announcing the round was over. 

Jacqui visibly slumped their shoulders, pouting at Nat for a brief moment. “Guess we’ll have to pick this back up later. Go on a date that lasts longer than a couple minutes,” they said, scrunching their nose up playfully.

.

Jacqui was like light personified. They were just so... cool. So carefree. So... all of the things Nat also wanted to be. Maybe that was how the time seemed to slip away unnoticed, enthralled by the passion in Jacqui’s voice. Disappointment fell down like a cleaver between them and Nat sat back in her chair with a breathy laugh as she startled at the sound of the bell. With a sigh, she pushed up from her chair, matching the scrunched look on Jacqui’s face with one of her own. “Name the time and place,” she said as she stood, “and I’ll be there.”

end.

[tentamissilebrat]

Quick Obey Me Headcanons I have for my MC and stories

I wanted a place for this because I’ve been thinking about this stuff as I've been writing a story and because I'm feeling really in the mood for plotting this out in my own head.

Mammon definitely still sleeps in the nude but tries to do less so on account of the number of times Clang comes over because "Mamo? Do you think plants wish they could whisper secrets?" Because Clang has a lot of 3am questions and, look, it's easier to just wear pants then wake up naked, your crush/datefriend hovering over you, letting you scream before saying "I think it's a flaw that you can't turn off your tastebuds."

Belphie sleeps everywhere but is something of a stickler if he sees other people napping in weird places, especially his family. Like, no, of course he doesn't care, but no he does and he's woken up from sleeping on this couch with pains from his neck to his back so, hey, wake up, wake up so you don't damage your back idiot.

Clang encourages the worst of Lucifer's tea mania because they'll be out shopping and Clang will pull him into the tea shop and ten minutes later, there's 20 new tea pots, 15 different tea sets, and too many new orders of quality tea. Lord Diavolo loves it because Clang hosts more tea parties after a successful tea endeavor and thus there's more group hangouts where less stupid bull I mean, fun events are held against everyone's will!!

This is very specific to how I write Clang and their relationships but I'll throw it in here: Clang is only romantically involved with the boys, but is not uninterested in pursuing other relationships with the other Dateables. I do think as of now, Clang and Solomon are courting, Clang is....giving some time to Lord Diavolo because they don't trust him (more on that another time), and Clang admitted to not feeling romantic towards Simeon during his confession, but said that they would like to try. So they're in a half-courting thing while Clang worries over what's happening to him during season 4 (and if it has anything to do with them). Barbados and Clang are....not exactly icy, but when Barbados tells the MC ingame that "I'm curious over you, but I don't really care beyond that", Clang was like "No yeah, that checks."

Luke, during their first year in the Devildom, tried to remind Clang that he's "technically older! I should be the one taking care of you!" Clang just took this as "I should call him older brother". So they do. A lot. In public. Luke: (Sees Clang and Mammon walking together to class) Clang! Clang: (Turning around, sees Luke, big smile) Big Brother! It's very jarring for people who aren't in the know (actually, it's somewhat jarring for people anyway, since it looks like someone in their late 20s being deeply respectful to a pouty child who barely reaches the other one's stomach) but Luke actually likes it! Clang tends to be very respectful and affectionate towards him as well (Old habits die hard when you have cold parents) so he likes it! Clang likes that someone so genuinely likes considering them a part of their family.

I think when the boys used to miss Clang, they all collectively would do family bonding that Clang tried to encourage. Family movie night is never adhered to as much when Clang is gone, but it definitely happens. In fact, if someone tries to weasel out, one of the brothers looks over at them and goes "It's Friday so it's family movie night". When Clang comes back, they regale them with the movies they all saw and the games they played and all promise to do it now that everyone in the family is home.

After learning a few very simple recipes, Beel bakes a little more after that first year of the student exchange program. More often he eats the raw ingredients or whole bowls or pans of batter, but he tries again once he feels he can. Filling up the house with something warm and good makes him feel it's home. Sometimes, he does it because he misses his favorite human. Sometimes, he does it because the house feels too cold, too much like how it used to be. Sometimes....he bakes and wonders if Lilith would have liked it. He wishes he could show her, he hopes somehow that when Clang comes home, takes a bite out of something he makes, somehow Lilith can taste it. Or just the joy her precious descendant takes from his baking. He hopes Lilith can taste that too.

Satan is the only one Clang talks to about the timeline trauma willingly, because initially they needed help seeing if things were different and, if so, how much? Satan has had to hold Clang as they cried, confused and upset at the feeling of being a replacement for themselves, feeling like they jacked the life of a different Clang. Satan is a little more bitter towards Lord Diavolo once Clang pieces together that Lord Diavolo must have known they would die, he must have, and admits to Satan about feeling lied to, time and time again, by Lord Diavolo.

I don't really want to leave any boys out so uhhhhh Levi and Clang's relationship is sort of based on the fact that Levi really did think for the longest time that Clang was a normie who was only interested in like "normie anime" (think Naruto, Dragon Ball, and My Hero Academia if you've never had this lobbied at you or a friend) so he was trying to get them used to the "good shit". Cut to someone else (probably Satan) asking about what their personal library set up was like, and Levi overhears that Clang has a whole half of their bookcase dedicated to shoujo manga. Turns out, when Levi was trying to figure out what kind of anime to show them, he went to the general consensus for good anime and (I don't know if anyone's noticed) they're either ghibli movies or sci-fi/action shows. Cut to Levi being embarrassed that they never told him they were a huge weeb too!! ("You never asked, you just called me a normie and didn't even ask me for an 8x8." "I didn't even know you knew what that meant! I-I-I-! You just looked too nice and normal to get into anime!" "....You think I'm nice and normal? :D")

Asmo and Clang do a lot of skin care treatments and make up sessions together (mostly because Asmo drags them into it) and Clang will write about the experience and how romantic it was for them (if you've ever had a crush on someone who would occasionally do your make up, you know what I mean and it is a mad heart racing shoujo moment) and send them to Asmo. Asmo keeps these "love letters" and has only showed off a few to Solomon because those puppies are Asmo's and he is not sharing.

[chaotic-super]

October Birthday

Supercorptober Day 27 - October

Lena is tired.

Today has sucked balls. The board has been jumping down her throat because of a tiny dip in their profits and think that yelling at her will somehow make it all better. On top of that, it’s her birthday. Not that anyone else knows that, it is absolutely privileged information that only her assistant, Jess, knows and the only reason she knows is because she sometimes handles documents with her date of birth on them.

She’s perfectly happy to just get home, shower and then snuggle up on the couch with a nice glass of wine, birthdays are overrated anyway. Jess already broke the rules of not mentioning her birthday this morning by bringing her a little iced cupcake with her coffee, and as much as that meant to her, she’d prefer to just ignore the day altogether, just like everyone did when she was a child in the Luthor household.

She turns the key to unlock her front door, happy to be home. The door swings open to reveal a low light spread across her apartment, a soft golden glow coating everything.

The problem with that lands firmly in the fact that she never leaves lights on, so who the fuck is in her apartment?

A loud clang fills the air before a muffled whisper reaches her ears. She knows that whisper and even without hearing the exact phase, she can tell that it’s most likely some variation on an almost curse.

Her guard drops and she closes the door behind her, heading right in to find the intruder and figure out why they are here and how they got into her place without a key, she’s never given anyone a key.

She steps into the kitchen to find a mess of ingredients littering the counters and pans across the stove. The source of the clang is found in the pile of pots already in the sink, piled high enough to make her feel even more exhausted just by looking at them.

Standing in the centre of the mess is the one and only Kara Danvers, completely oblivious to her arrival and completely immersed in some veggies she’s got in one of the pans.

“Hey.” Lena drawls, dropping her purse on the floor and discarding her uncomfortable heels, not even caring about the icy cold floor on her feet.

Kara practically jumps out of her skin. “Lena! What are you doing here?”

“I uh…live here.”

Kara shakes her head, physically throwing her dumbfounded confusion aside. “What I meant was – why are you back so soon? I thought you were finishing at seven today because of your meeting with the board.”

“How do you know about that?” Lena’s eyebrows raise in questioning as she heaves herself up onto one of her barstools. “Actually, let me guess. Jess?”

“Don’t be mad at her, she means well.” Kara turns the heat off the stove, giving herself a little reprieve to turn and talk to Lena properly.

Lena looks deep into Kara’s deep blue eyes, infatuated with the popping colour that just pulls her in. “Should I be mad at you then?”

She receives a brisk negative headshake for her question. “Nope, because even though it’s your birthday, I’m not overdoing it. Even I’m not that cruel. It’s obvious to literally everyone that you don’t like celebrating your birthday so instead of a party or a group get together for drinks, we’re just having a nice quiet dinner and then we’ll watch a movie before a little late night reading and going to sleep.”

Lena has to admit that it all sounds very nice, but she doesn’t want to set a precedent that she will be doing something every year. “I appreciate it, but I really don’t like to acknowledge the day.”

“So we don’t have to. I won’t mention the day, let’s just have a nice meal, homemade if you hadn’t noticed, and relax. No gifts, no ‘happy birthdays’, no unnecessary frills.”

Lena hates how quickly Kara can win her over and it’s times like these when she hates that she’s in love with her best friend but so far into the friendzone that she fears she can never climb out of the wretched pit. “Fine, I’ll allow it…but only if you let me help you cook.”

“I was hoping you’d say that, this cooking lark is much harder than I thought it would be.” Kara wipes the back of her hand across her forehead dramatically, pretending to wipe away the sweat that’s not there.

“Yes, well, I was really quite worried when I saw you in my kitchen, you’re the person who is most likely to burn down this entire building.” Lena pitches her with a smug smile, knowing it landed on its mark when an offended hand flies to Kara’s chest.

Kara just shakes her head and gestures for Lena to come and join her.

Lena slides herself off the stool, her feet pattering against the floor as she pads around the kitchen island towards Kara. “Alright, let me see what concoction you’ve managed to make.”

“Rude.”

To Lena’s surprise, the food actually looks pretty good. Kara’s managed to make an epic looking lasagne, which is currently finishing off in the oven, and she has a bunch of veggies going on the stove to go with it.

Lena pegs Kara with an astounded stare.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Kara can feel Lena’s emerald orbs burning into the side of her head.

"You did this by yourself?"

Kara shrugs. “I had Eliza send me her recipe with about fifty added instructions that anyone else would be able to guess with basic common sense, but yeah, I guess so.”

Kara is pulled away from the stove in an unexpected motion and pulled right into Lena’s arms in a tight hug. She doubts she could escape Lena’s grasp if she tried, not that she would want to try and escape.

“Thank you.”

“Always.”

With one last squeeze, Lena pulls away and takes a look at the lasagne in the oven. “It looks like this is just about done.”

Kara glances over her shoulder and then into the pots. “Same for these, why don’t you go change into something more comfortable while I serve this?”

Taking Kara’s suggestion, Lena goes right ahead and makes her way to the bedroom, grabbing her discarded heels and purse as she goes.

She comes back out after changing and taking a calming breath from trying not to freak out that for the first time since her birth mother was still alive, she’s actually acknowledging her birthday.

Kara is waiting for her, plates and glasses full and a couple of nice white candles littered across the bar.

“Where were you hiding those?” Lena laughs, watching Kara light the last couple of them.

“You already busted my first surprise, you have to let me at least have this one. I love a good candle.” Kara pulls one of the stools out for Lena, offering a hand to help her up.

The food is much better than what Lena was expecting but then again, it is Eliza’s recipe and everyone knows that Eliza is an incredible cook.

This is not at all how she was expecting to spend her Thursday night – wait, Thursday?

“Isn’t Thursday usually sister’s night?”

Kara shrugs nonchalantly. “I just told Alex that we were getting together now before Halloween because otherwise we probably won’t have a chance to celebrate because work is so busy. I didn’t think you would want anyone else to know. She didn’t mind rescheduling too much, we’re going to have it in a couple of days instead.”

“You really did that for me?”

“Of course I did, I’m just glad your birthday is so close to a major holiday, it makes for a great cover up. Now, eat your dinner, your couch is calling me and I’m expecting cuddles for my efforts.”

Lena answers with a simple roll of her eyes but really, she wants to kiss Kara right now for her thoughtfulness and maybe a little bit because she’s ever so slightly in love with her.

Maybe later.

[bobbys-naughty-corner]

So I’ve been playing dead by daylight recently and searching fan art of the game so now I’m horny for slashers. Here’s a fic of pyramid head

Warning: noncon/dubcon, 18 +, explicit. Read at own risk

Pyramid Head x reader

I woke right beside a generator and quickly rushed towards it. I hated when the trail started, I’m sure everyone does. And this place always made me more uncomfortable than any other. The killer being Pyramid Head gave me the hardest time. I’m used to getting caught and hooked but not caught and fondled. He’d know exactly where I was and always chased after me as if I was the only here. I wanted to get out of this school as quickly as I could. “Hey.” Feng whispered as she came to help me with the generator. I nodded her way and she told me she saw Pyramid Head on the other side of the school last. She knew I had the worst time with him. I heard the start of another generator across the hall, I guess that was the other survivors. Feng and I were close to finishing but when I saw Meg and Jake run pass the classroom my heart instantly sank and I felt uneasy. We’re they being chased. My heart beat thumped loudly in my ears and Feng and I both knew Pyramid Head was coming. But we didn’t even bother leaving the generator, we were so close.

Feng gasped and looked above me. I felt my body yanked and slammed against one of the desk in the room. Pyramid Head wrapped his hand around my neck, choking the life out of me. Feng flashed her flashlight in his face and he let me go, shielding himself from the light. I gasped and coughed, rolling off the desk and running away. I heard Feng cry out and she sprinted out the room limping and trailing blood. I helped her down the corridor and we rounded a corner to the infirmary and I covered her mouth as she cried in pain. When my heart beat stopped pounding in my ears I instantly healed her up. Using some of my clothing to bandage her wound. “Thank you Feng. Can you continue or do you need a minute?” She shook her head and stood up like she was never hurt. “Let’s go, we have one generator left.” And right as she said that we heard the doors turn on. They fixed all of the generators? Jake and Meg were really good at the generators. We left the infirmary and headed towards the Teachers room we’re we met up with Jake. “Hey! This way!” He beckoned us over and we rushed over to him. He led us to the doors that was already being opened by Meg.

My heart beat again thuddd in my ear and everyone scattered. Well everyone except Meg. She bravely stayed opening the gate even while Pyramid Head approached her. “Meg! Run!” I yelled at her. The killer turned his huge cone head towards my voice and began walking towards me. I ran down the corridor, his large very oversized sword dragging against the floor as he chased me. He was slow but not as slow as Michael. I heard the blaring sound of the gate opening. If I could just get around him I’ll be free. I ran up the stairs to the second floor and entered the equipment room. Hiding in the corner. I panted and tried to steady my breathing as I heard his sword clanging against the stairs as he came up. Should I have ran further? Maybe, but it was too late for that now. I didn’t hear the dragging of metal, I know he was on this floor. My heart still thudded in my ears, so I know he was close. I closed my eyes and tried to calm down. He was absolutely terrifying. My legs shook and my body dripped in sweat. Calm down, you’ll get out of this. Just relax. I took a deep breath in and out. But I nearly lost my shit when a hand clasped over my mouth. I opened my eyes wide and panicked but calmed down when I saw it was Jake. He put a finger to his lips to shush me. I nodded and he took his hand away from my mouth. He led me out of the room and down the stairs. We crouched and crept to the door. Jake stopped when he heard clanging infront of us. He pushed me against the wall and pressed his body over mine, caging me in between his arms as we hid from Pyramid Head. My chest touched his as I took heavy breaths. “Listen. He’s just going to keep going after you so I’ll distract him and you run to the door okay.” Jake said. He looked into my eyes and smiled a little. “No, I can’t let you do that. You could be killed.” I replied back. Our whispering was pretty loud but the tension only grew when we heard the killer again. “I’ll be right after you. I’m only going to run around the floor once and head straight for the door right after.” He said. I shook my head which made Jake frown. “Do you want to get out of this alive or what? We can’t just argue until he gets us. Now when I say run, you run. Got it.” He was stern and his tone was deep. As if talking to a child. I just sighed and nod my head in agreement.

Jake peeked out the door and motioned me to follow him. We continued to crouch towards the door. When we were close to the door we heard running. Fast, heavy thudding footsteps coming right at us. We turned around and saw Pyramid head sprinting. Since when?! We scrambled to our feet but Jake tripped over his laces. When I went to go help him back up he pushed me. “Run!” He yelled at me right before the sword pierced through his body. The sword even went through the floor. Jakes blood quickly spilled and touched my boots. I pushed myself back as Pyramid Head stepped towards me. I turned around and tried to run but he grabbed me by my hair. I was so close. The gate was right there. I cried, kicked and screamed as he dragged me down the corridor. He dragged me into the teacher room by the stairs and forced me over the desk. My face against the desk while his other hand held my hip. I gasped and jumped when I felt something grinding on my ass. His hand tore my shirt from where I had ripped it to help Feng. He grabbed my bra and tugged on it a couple of times. “Wait! What are you doing?! Stop!” I tried to push myself up but he was definitely stronger than me. The little muscle I had and height couldn’t even compare with him. He was a real beast. He pulled my bra this time making the fabric rip, the wire underneath cut my skin and it came off. He grunted, pleased to see my exposed back. Trailed his huge hand down my spine. Gurgles coming from the inside of his ‘head’, as if trying to speak.

He released my hair and my body. When I tried to get up he pushed me back but still didn’t hold me down. “Agh!” I cried at the force. I tried getting up again and he slammed me harder into the wood. I stayed still knowing if I moved he would just do the same thing. He wanted me to be against the desk but didn’t want to hold me down. After a couple of second of obeying him he raked his nails down my back. Digging into my skin enough to draw blood as his hands trailed from my shoulders down to the dimples above my ass. I kept silent, crying to myself as the pain of his nails nearly had me kicking. I forced myself to stay still. I felt the flat end of that pyramid on his head drag the blood down my back, playing with it and painting my skin in my own blood. His hands came beside my body on the desk and he bang to grind his bulge against my ass again. His grinding turned into humping. He pushed up my skirt and put his hand back on the desk and humped my ass, his bulge hitting right at my covered heat. He was rough and pushed my body into the desk, making the desk shake every time his hips slammed against my butt.

I was undeniably wet. My vagina enjoying the teasing of him trying to fuck me through our clothes. Well what ever it was he wore. I whimpered and held back my moans. My hands covering my mouth. I shouldn’t be enjoying this. His humps got faster and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I moaned out and he pressed a hand to my lower back keeping me and the desk steady as he continued to thrust against my vagina. I heard small sounds of pleasure, grunts and groans, coming from him. Of course he was enjoying this. It was sick. What got him all riled up? Was it the killing? It couldn’t be? He didn’t do this to anyone else. But how would I know? I wouldn’t tell anyone about this. Did he does this to Meg, Claudette, or Feng? Would he even care whether if they were male or female? I was taken away from my thoughts when I felt his finger slide against my panty. I gasped and squirmed away, covering my breast and crawling on my ass. He growled angrily. He pointed to the desk and I shook my head. “Just kill me!” I rather die then go any further. He grunted and pointed at the desk again. “No!” I yelled. He stomped over to me and grabbed my arm. I yelped and stared at the pyramid as if looking at his face and whimpered. He pulled me up and brought me back to the desk. Gurgling and squishy sounds emanating from the Pyramid. It made me cringe. He was clearly trying to speak. He pointed to the desk once more and released my arm.

I shook my head no and he pushed me. He kept pushing me. Trying to make me to lay on the desk on my own. As he pushed and shoved me he growled. “Okay! Okay!” I yelled at him. I bent over but he lifted me back up and shook the Pyramid left and right, ‘no’. He didn’t want me in that position anymore. I used one hand to jump on the desk and lean back. He let out an approved grunt. He knelt down and the metal pyramid touched the bottom of my breast. He pushed my thighs up and apart. I stared at the ceiling and tried to remove myself mentally. Thinking of my new friends. Knowing that they’re back at camp, probably wondering where I was but safe until another trial. I gasped and nearly sat up when in felt something long and wet swipe across my slit. The pyramid vibrated as if he was laughing. His fingers moved my panty to the side but he still ripped them. His hand then came up and grabbed mine. I flinched away but he grabbed them again, gently this time. Entangling his fingers in mine, I let out a shuddered moan when the wet appendage licked my exposed folds. My hips bucked slightly and my legs rested on the edge of the desk. Did he really have a tongue? Does that mean he has a head? No, at least I don’t think so. The Pyramid was too narrow for anyone to wear.

He licked up and down my folds until his tongue slipped passed them and found my clit. “Mmmm!” I squealed through my closed lips. His right hand left my hand and used my arousal to soak his dirty fingers. I felt disgusted having him touch me like this but it did feel good. He was gentle this time. Unlike when he was humping me. I’d soon eat my words when he forced two fingers into my vagina at once. I cried and grit my teeth. My free hand pushing at his head while my other hand squeezed his. He grunted and I felt the wet muscle poke my clit. Flicking at my clit teasingly making me moan. His fingers scissored my hole, stretching me out. It felt uncomfortable since he was a big and thick man thing. His fingers moving in and out of me, the sounds of my wet pussy filled my ears. I squirmed underneath him and he groaned. His ‘tongue’ or whatever it was entered my hole between his fingers. It was longer, really long, and it licked my insides so nicely. My eyes rolled back and his fingers slowly slid out of me, holding my thigh as his tongue are me out. I felt my stomach sink in but also expand as my bladder filled up. I know that feeling. As many times as I loved it I hated it now. “Please stop I don’t want to.” I cried. He just continued and massaged my thigh. My arousal dripping down his chest and I was so close to cumming on him. He growled and the vibration sent me over. My back arched as much as it could and I cried out, I squirted over him and he pulled his tongue out. Tears streamed down my face and my legs closed when he stood up again.

I heard that thing he wore fall to the floor. He was now naked and I couldn’t look away from him. If he was clean I would be able to appreciate the massive body he owned but he was dirty and covered in blood. When I looked down I panicked when I saw the size of his cock. That’s not normal. No. Get it away from me. “Enough please! Just kill me!” I kicked his chest as he tried to grab my legs. “No! No! Stop! I said stop!” I kicked the Pyramid and he stumbled back. Groaning in pain. I guess I hit a sensitive spot. Of course I did, that heavy thing attached to his body was bound to be sore on his neck and shoulders and I’m sure it could never come off. “Please kill me, I want to see my friends.” I said. I was tired of this. This wasn’t apart of the trails. It was just escape or be killed. Why was he doing this? He shook his head and grunt, coming back towards me. His hands groped my boobs and I gave up. I was too afraid to kill myself and he wasn’t going to do it until after he had his way with me. He pinched my nipples, I whinced in pain and he immediately let go. My legs wrapped around his hips as he pressed his bare cock over my clit. Grinding on me and he played with my breast. He moved his chest closer and the pyramid lightly sat over my head. He grabbed my hand and put it on his chest. My hand touched his body. It was a beautiful body, too bad it was dirty, the scars that was on him made it more beautiful. He moved my hand down to his nipple and I grazed it lightly. Feeling it becoming hard at my touch. I took a deep breath and sat up. He moved back and I used both of my hands to touch him. His cock throbbing at my soft hands. Tracing his veins, the sculpt of his abs, the definition of his arms, appreciating his massive form. He pulled my waist towards his body, the thing I assumed was his tongue came out and licked my cheek. I shivered and let him lick my face. Sucking in my lips when it got too close. His hands held my head gently and he brushed back my untamed hair.

He pushed me back onto the desk and slowly spread my legs. He positioned his cock at my hole and I stared off at a wall. Not wanting to watch him take my virginity. But he wasn’t having that. He turned my head by my chin and made me stare at the nonexistent head that was replaced with an oversized metal cone. He pushed in and my teeth gritted. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I chanted in my head. He was huge, too big for me but he kept forcing himself in. His hips clapped against mine but his cock didn’t even go inside. It slipped up, he spread my legs wider and tried again. He slipped again and let out an irritated gurgle. “I-it won’t fit.” He nodded yes, as if saying ‘yes it will.’ I shut up and let him try again. This time he used his hand to steady himself so his dick wouldn’t move anywhere. The tip slowly moving in, I whinced and cried as the stretched became unbareable. He was spliting me apart, I wasn’t as prepared for this as I hoped I was. His two fingers didn’t even compare. He growled as he moved in further, scratching my thighs and leanig his head back. I watched his dick sink into me and I even saw the outline of his cock through my skin. Blooding dripping down his balls and my ass as he tore my hole. I mentally thanked my parents for giving me my body, I couldn’t imagine being smaller and trying to accommodate to his size. I mean to him I was of course still small but it wasn’t so bad. He let go of my thighs and put his hands beside my torso, clawing the desk, the wood chipped under his nails. I wiggled my hips trying to pleasure myself and he immediately pressed a hand over my hip. I whined when he stopped me. Again he gurgled, why did he keep doing that, I can’t understand him. He stayed still and massaged my body. Soothing the pain from me. He was all the way in, our bodies connected. I suddenly just realized that my heart wasn’t thudding like it would normally if the killer was close. It was quiet. My body eased as if there was no threat. The warmth of his hands caressing my body.

“Please move.” I begged him. Glancing off into the distance before looking back at him. He slowly brought his hips back and slowly pushed back in. I felt my slick gush as he moved, feeling myself getting wetter just from one thrust. He grunted and picked up the pace. “Ahh, please more.” My hand reached out to his chest and he held my hand. Fucking me faster. My eyes rolled back and I bite my bottom lips, smiling to myself as my body was encased in pleasure. He groaned and held my hips as he began to go harder. Pounding away at me like I was some doll, but when i slapped his chest and cried out he slowed down. Rubbing his tongue over my cheek as an apology. I nodded and his tongue licked my nipples. I didn’t feel much at my boobs but knowing that his tongue was there sent shivers down my spine and euphoric shocks through my body. His dick abusing my cervix giving me beautiful pain.

“Mm! Oh fuck! Good! Feels good!” I praised him. His hands tightened at my hips and he bucked harshly but went back to his original pace. “You’re making me feel so good.” I continued to praise him. He let out a gargle that sounded like he was happy. He likes the praises? “Yes! Just like that, right there! Ahh! Yes!” I moaned. He felt amazing. My hand moved down to my clit but he moved it to his shoulder. He put his thumb in my mouth and dragged it over my teeth, gums and tongue. I sucked on it and got another groan from him. He pulled his thumb out and placed it on my clit. Fucking me as he rubbed my sensitive bud. “Oh shit!” I yelled. My eyes squeezed shut as an overwhelming feeling of pleasure hit my body. My insides felt like mush, my pussy felt sore and numb but the way his dick hit my cervix just proved how much my body loved it. The way I moaned, panted and yelled was music to him. My body convulsed under him as I came again. My mouth hung open in a silent cry as I came on his cock. He didn’t stop, he fucked me through it. But he did go faster. The desk moving under us, it was really loud. Pushing the desk towards the wall as he fucked me relentlessly. Rearranging my guts and making me stupid over his dick. I babbled nonsense and my body was numb and weak under him. Using me however he pleased just to get himself off. Making sounds like an animal as he brutalized my pussy. It was overwhelming. Why did I like it? Why was I enjoying it? Please stop. “Don’t stop.” I panted. The fuck was wrong with me? His tongue licked my lips and I opened my mouth letting it in. Tasting blood as he explored my mouth. Using his tongue to fuck my mouth.

He slammed into me. Again and again and again. He was close, his thick cock throbbed inside me and his hips stuttered once. His tongue still down my throat. I moaned over it and sucked on it. His thumb rubbed my clit again and I bucked my hips. It was so sensitive, he made me jump and move. My orgasm built up again. My bladder filling with fluid as I felt my stomach tighten. I choked on his tongue and gasped when he removed it. He pulled out and rubbed my clit faster and I squirted again as he shot his cum over my body. My hole clenched around nothing as I came. I shudder, shook and cried out. I bucked wildly and my eyes crossed. He pressed my hips down to help me relax. I panted and took deep breaths to help me get over my orgasm. When I finally relaxed he scooped his cum on his finger and put it in my mouth. My tongue lapped it up like it was an icicle. Moaning slightly just to please him. He groaned and stroked my cheek. He then left the room. Coming back with his blood stained sword. I dropped to my knees and waited for him kill me. He pulled me up to my feet and pat my head. Just do it! I yelled in my head. He brought the sword up to my neck and slowly sliced my jugular. Gagging on my blood, the pain was unimaginable.

I woke up at camp, my clothes back on and no evidence of what happened on me. “YN! Jesus Christ what took you so long?!” Feng ran over to me. I stayed silent and just curled up into fetal position.

[funky-lady]

Anchored Loyalties

The Boatem Crew Boards the Dream Cruise Ship

TW : canon typical violence for both dsmp and 3rd/Last Life, character death, injuries, swearing?

Forewarning, this won’t respect canon at all, it’s a rough outline of where I want to go with this AU.

Jack wastes no time drawing his sword when he spots Sam approaching their position, Eret and Niki following his lead. They move as one, dropping from their hiding spot and blocking off the creeper hybrid’s path.

Today, the Warden of the Pandora’s Vault will die.

…

Sam pauses when he comes face to face with Jack, Eret and Niki who are standing side by side with their weapons at the ready.

“I don’t want to cause any more trouble than is needed, guys. I’m just here for Dream, that’s all.”

“We both know that’s a lie. You’re here for revenge.” Niki gives him a deadpan look. “I can’t believe the infamous Warden actually fell for a trap when he’s supposed to be as infallible as his beloved prison.” The woman lets out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “I guess I should’ve expected our little trap to work, though. After all, two prisoners managed to escape the Vault under your watch, and they weren’t exactly unharmed.”

“Is that why you are doing this, Niki? Don’t tell this is about Dream! I thought you hated him!”

“I don’t give a fuck about what happens to Dream! You could have killed him for all I care!” She spits out. “But you fucked up when you decided to hurt Techno. For that, you won’t be coming out of our trap alive.”

“What do you mean–”

…

Niki watches with a smirk as Sam’s eyes widen in realization when he finally spots Puffy, standing next to Pearl on a nearby bridge.

The clear betrayal in Sam’s eyes bleeds into panic as his com pings and a monotone voice reads out the creeper’s latest notification.

Quackity was squashed by a falling anvil whilst fighting Technoblade.

A cold glint enters Sam’s gaze as his face turns stony, which is never a good sign, but Niki stands her ground.

She can feel Jack’s steady presence by her side, and she shifts into a relaxed fighting stance.

She can thank Grian and Mumbo for their rekindled friendship. The avian and the redstone genius took Jack under their wing, despite his swearing habits. Her friend flourished under the positive influence of the duo.

Boatem has earned her loyalty.

Because of them, she got one of her best friends back. She doesn’t even want to think about how things would’ve turned out if the Boatem Crew never got stranded on the Dream SMP server, and Jack was left to stew in his bitterness and resentment.

Shaking those thoughts away before they distract her from this fight, Niki grins savagely as she makes the first move and stabs Sam in the shoulder, setting it and a part of his arm on fire thanks to the enchants on her sword.

He’ll pay for hurting her mentor.

…

As Sam moves to attack Niki, Jack locks his sword with the Warden’s trident with a resounding clang that echoes loudly through the battlefield, straining slightly as he and Sam engage in a battle of strength, his opponent uncaring about the fact that he is currently on fire.

Jack can feel his arms strain under the pressure of Sam creeper hybrid side's superior strength, but he stands his ground, not ready to allow the Warden to hurt Niki, or anyone else for that matter. He accidentally summons his blaze rods as he pours every ounce of strength he has in this battle of wills. Embers jumping from his skin as he starts smoking slightly.

He holds strong until the Warden’s armoured foot connects with his knee.

He bites back a cry of pain, quite easily actually, losing a canon life to lava was far worse, faltering and nearly getting impaled in the chest. He barely dodges, earning himself a large gash on his arm instead. Eret intervenes just in time, tossing a weakening potion at Sam’s feet while Niki sprints towards him with a worried frown, pulling him away from the fight and splashing him with an instant health potion.

Despite the pain he’s in, he allows himself a moment to appreciate just how much his relationship with Niki has improved over the past few months. How much his mental state and his relationships in general have improved. He doesn’t wish death on an abused teenager anymore. He doesn’t spend his time blaming a victim for things outside their control.

He owes Boatem so much. They opened his eyes, gave him a new purpose, set him on a path of healing, free of hate. They don’t even hold it over his head. It’s refreshing.

For that, they have earned his trust and loyalty.

As soon as the others have moved away, Eret tosses an instant harm potion at Sam’s feet and watches in satisfaction as the Warden’s face twists into a pained grimace, especially when they follow it up with a vial of poison for good measure.

Letting out a pained hiss, Jack goes to speak, to thank Niki or maybe to tell her to not worry about him and focus on the fight. She shushes him sternly as she shoves a golden apple into his hand without a word and jumps back into the fray.

He slumps back against a rock, not too worried for Niki. When she fights with all she has, Niki is a one woman army. Even Techno is secretly wary of her when she has bad days.

Eret gives Niki a small acknowledging nod as she fall into a fighting stance next to them, casting Jack a worried look and the man gives them a shaky thumbs up.

They look around for anything that could help them win this fight, and an insane idea forming in their head when he spots Jellie, Scar’s cat, in all of her top hatted glory, sitting on a rock that is about a foot away from them. This might just be the first time that the cat’s habit of following Jack around because he’s a human furnace might actually be useful.

Wasting no time, they pick up the cat and throw her at the Warden.

Immediately, Sam scrambles backwards, cursing his creeper instincts.

…

Moving closer to the rest of his apprentice’s group, Techno smirks as the big bad prison Warden cowers in the presence of a mere cat.

Then Jellie’s eyes start glowing blue and under everyone’s bewildered gaze, Sam gets attacked by a swarm of vex.

Well, that’s… an interesting development.

Recovering from his shock first, Jack wastes no time moving towards Sam, just close enough to shoot a rocket point blank in his face.

Collapsing in Eret’s arms, he feels nothing but relief as he slumps in exhaustion, his task done. He managed to protect Niki and Eret. He avenged Tommy, who died and suffered so much because of the creeper hybrid’s negligence.

After spending so much time hating the kid, Jack owes him that much.

A ping from his com has him glancing at the screen, where the proof of Sam’s demise stands out in white on the beat-up black screen.

He lets out a maniacal giggle that would make his mentor proud.

> Awesamdude was blown up by JackManifold

A/N : This post has been rewritten to include more point of views.

A/N : For those who don’t know, the cat is Jellie, GoodTimesWithScar’s cat in IRL who was selected to be added to the game. Scar has a past with vexes, and has their powers, so I thought why not extend that to his cat?

@call-me-dj @pinkpuffballdude

[otostnai]

Vroom

notes: did this take long? yes, but its okay i have many works ive been doing so gg, also not proof read

CW: Cursing

“SHION PUSH FASTER??” Mochi shouted to the person behind him. Tenjiku was being a menace to society (like always) so they decided to fight each other in shopping carts then bet on who would win. Currently Mochi was in a cart while holding a pool noodle with Shion pushing the cart he was in. “I'M TRYING?? YOUR FATASS IS HEAVY AS FUCK” Shion hollared out. They could hear wheels screeching against the parking lot they were in coming closer near them.

“SHION WE NEED MORE MOMENTUM I CAN'T BEAT THESE ASSHOLES WITHOUT IT!” Mochi screeched towards Shion as he held out his pool noodle. “RAN SLOW DOWN OR MOCHI WON'T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO WILL GET INJURED AFTER THIS” Rin called out to his older brother. “YOU WILL BE FINE???” Ran shrilled back to Rin. “NO SHIT I’LL BE FINE YOU WON'T!” Anyone could tell Rin’s frustration grew to his brother. “I’LL ALSO BE FINE?? THANK YOU FOR CARING I GUESS?” Ran wasn't the smartest currently. As the two carts near each other you could hear Hanma’s loud boisterous laugh. “Mochi and Shion are shit at this.” Koko said, cracking up, “I wouldn't be surprised if no one wanted to bet on those two.”

The two carts clanged into each other then Rin and MOCHI started battling each other with the pool noodles. “SHIT SHION PUSH ME SOMEWHERE ELSE I'M GETTING MY SHIT WRECKED?!” Mochi yelped out as he held his purple pool noodle up as a shield from Rin’s green noodle. “JUST GIVE UP ALREADY, RAN AND I WIN??” The younger haitani exclaimed as he continuously hit Mochi’s noodle, occasionally bonking Mochi on the head. “ AS IF! SHION AND I AREN'T LOSERS!” Mochi shouted back as Shion pulled the cart into himself then shifted the cart into another direction and ran. “MOCHI WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SO HEAVY TO PUSH??” Shion shrieked and he turned his head to see Rin and Ran chasing them.

“WELL GEE SHION I DON'T KNOW MAYBE YOU ARE JUST WEAK AS HELL??” Rin and Ran were catching up and the speed they were at caused the haitani brothers' hair to blow behind them. “FUCK THEY ARE CATCHING UP GO FASTER GO GO!!” Mochi yelped out, clearly panicking about the two brothers catching up. “IT'S OVER MOCHI! YOU HAVE SHION PUSHING YOU NOT ONLY THAT BUT YOU ARE SHIT AT FIGHTING!” Ran shouted over to the other team while sprinting and pushing the cart which held his younger brother.

“SHION GET IN THE CART WE ARE SWITCHING POSITIONS YOU ARE COMPLETE ASS CHEEKS AT PUSHING A CART!” Shion’s teammate said as he got up from the cart and jumped out. “GET IN THE CART HURRY UP BEFORE THEY GET HERE??” Mochi questioned and shoved the purple pool noodle to Shion’s chest. “I’M TRYING MY HARDEST RIGHT NOW OKAY??” Shion hollered back. “SHION YOU ARE THE SHITTIEST TEAMMATE EVER.” Mochi had grabbed Shion’s feet and pushed him in the cart, earning a yelp from Shion.

“NOW YOU’RE IN COME ON YOU'RE GOING TO FIGHT RIN.” Mochi shouted and turned the cart around to the opposing team. “I'M FIGHTING SHION NOW?? MOCH YOU TRIED BLOCKING MY ATTACKS AND COULDN'T, BUT YOU THINK SHION CAN??” Rin yelled towards Mochi. “OH FUCK OFF!” Shion called out to Rin. As the two carts began running to each other Hanma was having a jolly time watching on the sidelines with Kisaki. “Kaku-chan, who do you think will win?” Izana asked, “Hah? It’s obvious the haitani brothers will win, wouldn’t you agree?” He responded by turning his head towards Izana. “It doesn't matter too much to me.” Izana said as he swung his legs back and forth and grinned.