#if he hadn't been there she would have been so alone and lonely in her work and efforts

[regency-monster-love]

Gargoyle arranged marriage, chapter 8

Master list for this fic

Male gargoyle x female human | Regency era | SFW: fluff, family angst, crying

~ 😈🎩 ~

Winifred's life was full, and she was happy.

During the day, she'd started going out on visits to the tenants and neighbors, helping those that needed her charitable support as she was now a titled lady, and socializing with those that needed nothing more than companionship. One or two ladies seemed like they could develop into genuine friends already. She'd also walk the gardens or visit the village with her maid, shopping and talking.

During the evenings, she'd visit with Hugo. If the weather was fine, she'd go flying with him, and if not, she might play pianoforte while he listened, or simply sit silently reading together.

And during the nights, they'd make love. He was always sweet and gentle, and they both enjoyed it greatly.

Afterwards, Hugo would stay with her as she fell asleep, but every morning she’d wake up alone. She wished it didn’t have to be this way, but she reminded herself that this was the reality of being married to a gargoyle. And the blow was often softened by finding something that he had left for her on the breakfast table. Not just flowers, but once a mother-of-pearl hair comb, and sometimes a book with a note sticking out from its pages: Read this last night and this part reminded me of you, or, I think you will enjoy this poem. She liked that she could share in his life in these small ways even when they were apart. And at least her days were far less lonely.

Hugo felt so much less lonely too. He hadn't realized just how dull and gloomy his life had been before Winifred came into it with all of her life and color. She made him happier than he’d been since he was a child with his beloved parents.

But all honeymoons have to come to an end. And theirs was ending with a formal dinner for Winifred's parents. Winifred had delayed inviting them for as long as possible, not wanting to bring their coldness into the warmth of the new life she was creating with Hugo, but it could not be put off any longer.

It went even worse than she expected.

Living with her parents, Winifred had hardened herself to their neglect and indifference. She had been used to it, so it caused her little pain. But now, after living with Hugo's care and affection for weeks, her thick skin had worn away and left her vulnerable again.

When her parents first entered the house, Winifred beamed at them, and rushed to take their hands. “Mama, Papa, how long we’ve been apart! I’m so happy to see you again!”

Neither of them made any move to kiss her, nor squeeze her hands back. “Well, yes, that is what occurs when one marries, Winifred,” her mother said coolly. Her father said nothing.

“Of course,” Winifred said meekly, dropping their hands and stepping back.

Hugo noticed his wife deflate at once, his own smile dropping away as well. He didn’t like how her parents had no kind comment to make to their sweet daughter. But perhaps they were just the sort of people that found it uncomfortable to express affection in front of others. He would have to be sure to step away at some point this evening so that Winifred could have some private time with her parents.

But first, there was dinner—and awkward conversation, it turned out.

Winifred’s parents asked her nothing of what she had been doing for the last two weeks or how she was settling into being a wife, lady, and mistress of so large an estate. She tried to volunteer such information anyway, trusting that her parents must be interested in knowing that their only daughter was happy and what had made her so. But the response she got from them was lukewarm, at best.

For instance, she told them of how she was arranging for a few of the tenant children whose parents couldn't afford to send them to school to have free lessons with the vicar, so at least they might learn to read. “I might try teaching them a bit of mathematics, as well,” she added.

“You're no scholar, Winifred,” her father said.

“I suppose a little something is better than nothing,” was the closest thing to a commendation her mother could muster, then she turned to Hugo to praise the soup and enthusiastically ask him about his cook.

Hugo frowned, glancing at Winifred, and tried to politely steer the conversation back onto his wife and her endeavors, but her parents seemed utterly uninterested in anything he had to say about her.

By the time dinner was over, he was doubting whether it really would be good to give her any time alone with her parents, but Winifred’s father invited Hugo to drink with him following the meal, and etiquette demanded the ladies depart for that, so a tête-à-tête between mother and daughter, at least, was unavoidable.

As soon as the women were away from the males, Winifred’s mother rounded on her. “Why are you not wearing a cap? It has been driving me to distraction all evening. You're a married woman now, Winifred,” she scolded.

Winifred reached up to touch her hair gingerly. “Sir Hugo likes seeing my hair.”

Her mother's lip curled. She had never liked her daughter's red hair. “But it’s so garish! Ah, is this because gargoyles are all gray and bland? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that they have strange preferences, being so unattractive themselves.”

Winifred wanted to protest that Hugo was not unattractive, but she'd never spoken against her mother, so she said nothing.

“Well, you must do whatever makes your husband happy, so if he wishes you to not wear a cap, so be it,” her mother sighed. “And I must say, I’m glad that he doesn’t find you plain. Or, at least, not plain enough to object to. Your father and I would hate to have him sending you back to us. We were so very thankful that Sir Hugo had no qualms about marrying such a plain girl when we were arranging your marriage to him. You should be thankful for that as well, Winifred. I hope you tell him that.”

Her shoulders curved inward. “Yes,” she said quietly, “I’ll thank him for that.”

“Sit up straight, Winifred—slouching does your appearance no favors.”

She stiffened her back against her mother’s criticism.

When the males rejoined them, Hugo knew with a single glance at his wife that the conversation with her mother had not been pleasant for Winifred, but he couldn’t ask her about it with her parents present. His wings twitched in his impatience for them to be gone.

Thankfully, they didn’t stay much longer—everyone’s spirits seemed to be low by this point—but as soon as they left, Winifred told Hugo that she was very tired and would go straight to bed. He expressed concern that she was unwell, but she assured him she was all right, wished him a good night, and slipped away.

He knew she wasn’t telling him the truth, but was unsure what was the right course of action to take about it. Should he respect her privacy, especially since theirs was a marriage of convenience without that sort of emotional intimacy—but was it, really? That was how it started, but in just these few weeks he’d come to feel closer to her than anyone else in his life before, save his parents. Was he just flattering himself that Winifred felt the same way about him?

It didn’t matter—he was worried about her, and he had to find a way to help her. He strode to her bedroom, knocked, got no response, and cracked the door open to see if she was inside—and saw her weeping in her chair.

“Winifred!” he cried out as he rushed into the room to kneel at her feet. “What’s happened?”

“It’s nothing, don’t trouble yourself about it,” Winifred said, trying to hide her face, but still crying.

“It’s not nothing—I’ve never seen you so upset! Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

The pleading distress in her sweet husband’s voice broke through her feeble defenses, and she sobbed anew. “They were so unkind tonight! My parents. They've always been, but I thought, now that I'm married, they might be proud of me, or, or, pleased with me at least—but I was such a silly fool for thinking that—I've done nothing special to earn their respect—”

“You're not a fool,” Hugo snapped, and Winifred was startled into silence—she'd never heard anger in his voice before. “My apologies—but you are not, because of course you expected them to treat you better than that—you're their daughter—and they should have, because you are special.”

She shook her head. “They've never thought so. Just tonight, my mother reminded me of how plain I am, and my father of how useless my work with the tenants is.” Hugo clenched his jaw to keep from interrupting Winifred again with his anger at her parents. His fists were clenched too.

“I've never pleased them,” she continued mournfully. “I don't even think they've ever really loved me.” Her voice twisted on those last words, and she dropped her head and covered her face to sob deeply for a few moments. Hugo's face was contorted with despair too, at seeing his wife so overcome with pain; he could do nothing except stroke her legs as he sat at her feet.

“I'm not worth loving,” she whimpered after several moments. “No one has ever loved me.”

Hugo's heart twisted and burned. “But Winifred…I love you.”

~ 😈🎩 ~

End of chapter 8 | Master list for this fic

Next up: we get to see what happens when you push sweet, gentle Hugo too far by insulting his beloved wife. 😈

Read all of my Regency monster ficlets and snippets at the tag #my writing or my master list.

Taglist: @apuddleonthelivingroomfloor, @graveblanketgreen, @slightly-knot-insane, @flippinsweettots, @blushycadaver, @dij-ology, @xxfeelmylovexx (comment if you want to be added to the list)

[thatscarletflycatcher]

It has probably been said before, but in It's a Wonderful Life, part of George's regret is a sense of guilt about what Mary could have had had she not married him; that she is in it because she loves him so much, and so she endures the life they have. And yet when we get to the reality where George never existed, Mary is a librarian. There's this contrast between the casinos and the cabarets and such (all exploitative and fraudulent ways of preying on desperate poor people) that populate Pottersville, and Mary, in this timeline, choosing the one job that remains a community oriented, free, helpful service. She married George because she loved him, yes, but also because his convictions about doing good for his community were also hers all along, and would have been even if he had not existed. She doesn't endure the life they have out of sheer abnegation, but embraces it out of conviction.

[m-archived]

to expand on john + loneliness: do you realize how lonely john had to be to do everything he did For millie? their affair is left so vague but i assume it went on for quite some time, and neither of them obviously stopped loving the other, but for millie to be able to move on in some measurable ways but john not at all — the way that those moments he shared with her, his desire to be with her and sarah, to be a family, drove him not only for the rest of his life but to twist his entire established worldview (religious and moral) to fit the narrative he wanted so badly. the idea of being able to be loved and love freely was so powerful and moving for him that he was willing to sacrifice everyone and everything to get it.

[lina-lovebug]

Sharkboy and his Shadow

Percy Jackson x fem! reader

Background: reader is the only child of Nyx, and has grown up with Percy. After being claimed, lots of kids are afraid of her, and reader feels alone. To 'help' Percy see the error of his ways, Luke and Annabeth come up with a plan.

_ _ _

"(Y/N) (L/N), daughter of Nyx, the Personification of Night, and Queen of Tartarus."

Ever since that day, (Y/N) had never felt so alone.

She grew up with Percy, always being by his side, and she felt lucky enough to see him be claimed by Poseidon. She was happy for him, and understood his rage at the same time.

But when she was claimed? There were no kids staring in awe or clapping or congratulations. There were only whispers amongst them, and stares of horror.

Because no one ever thought that Nyx would have a half-blood child.

She's Nyx. She keeps to herself, away from the affairs of Olympus and mortals.

So no one wanted to make friends with the forbidden girl.

Luke was still friendly, but it became obvious that he wasn't interested in being friends like before. Annabeth, however, still stayed by her side. She was the only one to congratulated her, and decided to explain to (Y/N) what this means now.

Not only was being a child of The Big Three forbidden, but being a daughter of Nyx? That meant more danger for everyone, and she'd become the main target for any monster who wanted her dead.

And to top it all off, she thinks Percy is avoiding her.

She hadn't seen him since she'd been claimed. She had seen him briefly during most days, but when she'd look and see him staring, he'd quickly move his gaze to the ground or the sky.

"If I thought that being a half-blood was so lonely, I'd never have come."

Annabeth felt bad for the girl, "it's not a choice, (Y/N). Nyx chose your dad for a reason."

"And yet all she's sent me is a fucking knife!"

(Y/N) yelled as she threw the dagger her mother sent her into the fire. Annabeth gasped, quickly retrieving the dagger with a stick.

The black dagger hadn't been damaged.

Before Annabeth could lecture the girl on damaging gifts from your Godly parent, she saw the tears in her eyes.

(Y/N) was angry. She'd been so angry that she started sobbing, sinking to the floor of her own empty cabin. Annabeth held her.

"I miss my dad," She sobbed, hiccuping, "I'm so alone. . .I miss Percy."

"Seaweed brain," Annabeth cursed.

Annabeth knew why Percy had been avoiding her.

Because he liked her.

Percy confessed this to Annabeth. He said he knew how important being claimed was to her. How she'd be the most sought after half-blood now.

And feared endangering her if he stayed too close.

"Tell you what?" Annabeth pulled away, "tomorrow, we'll have a girls night. I'll take you to Aphrodite cabin, and Silena will do your hair and dress you up."

She sniffled, "I doubt any of those girls want me there."

Oh, Aphrodite girls were secretly cheering (Y/N) on. They knew the consequences of having a powerful female figure in your life, but one that chose to never be present much.

"Silena does, and whatever she wants, the girls will follow."

(Y/N) didn't get much sleep that night, tears coming and going, and she only managed to find sleep when she thought of how Percy used to hold her. When they'd have sleepovers and she'd have a nightmare, Percy would always hold her until they fell asleep.

That's why she thought she was holding herself.

But her eyes deceive her.

With wide eyes, she jumped up but her head banged into the top bunk. The mystery boy awoke, asking if the girl was okay.

"Luke?! When did you-?! How?!"

"You're bleeding, (Y/N)," Luke ignored her sudden panic, helping the daughter of Nyx up. She checked her head and found some blood.

"What the fuck. . ."

Luke quickly dragged her to the infirmary, but not without notice. The few half bloods that were awake gasped, seeing Luke Castellan leaving the Nyx Cabin with (Y/N) in his arms.

And so did Percy.

"Hey, hey! What happened?" Percy called after them, catching up but hearing Percys' sudden urgency made her want to cry. He's been avoiding her for two weeks, but now he's worried?

"Put your hand on my shoulder," Luke whispered to her, and she gave him a look of confusion.

"Just do it, pretty girl," With an awkward blush, she nodded and, as a result, pushed herself closer into his chest.

"She hit her head. She'll be fine, go tell Chiron," Luke dismissed, leaving Percy with more questions than he had answers.

Why was Luke in her cabin? When did he get there? Why were you hurt?

Did he spend the night?

That last thought made the son of poseidon wish he hadn't been avoiding you all this time. It made him angry with himself that he let Luke become interested in you.

"So why were you in my room, Luke?" (Y/N) asked, holding an ice pack on her throbbing head.

"I left early this morning to check on you, and I know that Percy wanted to do that this morning. So, I figured that sharkboy might get a little jealous if he saw me in your bed," He explained with a shrug.

"Jealous?" She questioned with a scoff, "he's been avoiding me like the plague since I've been claimed."

"Did you think that because you've been claimed that he's avoiding you, or that he's avoiding you because he's scared he'll attract more monsters to you?"

"Luke, I don't have time-"

He cut her off, "it's bad enough that Percy got claimed the second day he got here. He's a forbidden child. Now, the girl he's been crushing on since diapers is the number one target of every monster out there."

"He. . .he doesn't like me like that," I said, feeling my face heat up.

Luke quirked his brow, "that's seriously what you got out of that?"

Despite her frustration and anger towards Percy, she could never despise him so much that her feelings would fade. She still cared about him and ultimately feared that her feelings couldn't be reciprocated.

"Look, if he doesn't seem interested or even the slightest bit jealous, I'll let you know," Luke knew Percy well.

In fact, Luke endured countless hours of listening to how Percy adored (Y/N). How Percy first realized that she wasn't just his best friend, or at least that's not what he wanted her to be. He wanted to be the one she sought out each morning - be the one she could lean on. As capable as she was, he still wanted to help her as much as he could.

He'd lift the entire weight of this off her shoulders if she asked.

(Y/N) had the beauty of the stars and Percy could spend the rest of his life happily staring at her.

"Okay," She nodded.

_ _ _

"Wait, I have two different outfits?"

"Of course!" Silena expressed, bringing out the second one, "this one is for our picnic tonight."

It was a gorgeous white dress that sagged off the shoulders, flowy and the top decorated with several types of flowers.

"Oh, okay," (Y/N) nodded, completely unaware that there would be no girls' night.

Just a really good plan to help force these desperate lovebirds together.

"If this doesn't get him staring, then he's blind," Silena concluded before popping on some lip gloss onto the daughter of Nyx. She could admit, she looked very pretty but her stomach became a bundle of nerves when thinking about how Percy may either ignore her and or she'd finally unblind herself to the longing looks of the son of Poseidon.

She walked out of Aphrodite cabin right as lunchtime came, and she received multiple stares as she made her way.

"How's your day been?" Luke came up behind her, swinging his arm around her shoulders.

"Honestly I still think you're crazy," She confessed, "Percy doesn't-"

He pecked her cheek without warning before whispering, "Look ahead".

And she has never seen Percy look so angry.

He clenched his tray with the fury of a God, denting it even as she looked at him. He quickly looked away, retreating back to his cabin.

Oh my God's. . .

"Percy likes me."

"Now, tonight-where are you going?!" Luke shouted as she chased after him.

She flung the door open to see his sea blue eyes filled with tears. "Oh Percy."

"I'm sorry I haven't talked to you," He immediately confessed, walking towards her, "I would never be scared of you. I'm scared of what my presence will bring to us. I'm already a target, and I didn't want to risk your safety. But I let Luke get close enough to. . ." He stared into her eyes, "I've liked you since we were eight, and I'm sorry I let my thoughts get ahead of my feelings."

"It wasn't my idea," She couldn't stand to see her sweet boy cry, "Annabeth wanted to make you jealous, make you regret ignoring me, but I didn't believe that you liked me. I never thought that you saw me as anything more than a friend."

(Y/N) grabbed his hands, "I like you, Percy. Gods, I've liked you since the first time you shared your mom's cookies with me. You're so kind, you're selfish beyond any God, and you're the sweetest. I was scared that my mother being Nyx might have pushed you away."

His hand came up to her face, "not even the Gods above could separate the two of us."

His eyes glanced between her eyes and lips, hesitating.

"Kiss me, Percy Jackson."

And he did.

The kiss was something out of a movie. She could feel the amount of love he had for her, one hand remaining on her cheek while the other held her hand. She leaned into him, and he seemed to chase her lips as she pulled away for air.

"Not everyone can breathe underwater," She reminded him with a smile.

"I think we might lose a friend tonight," Percy said, and (Y/N) frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Luke put his lips on my girl. I'll provoke single combat," He pulled out riptide, and her eyes widened.

He gave her a quick kiss on her lips, "if you don't see me tonight, I'm drowning him."

"Percy!" He ignored her calls as he ran outside, running straight towards Luke, who laughed before realizing that Percy wasn't stopping and started running too.

"Is that Percy?" Grover asked as she walked outside, hearing the shouts coming from the forest of Luke trying to calm down Percy.

"Yup. Call Chiron, he might water board Luke."

But after Chiron managed to stop Percy, they spent the rest of the night in his cabin exchanging kisses and unexpectedly receiving a gift from her mother.

"What's this?" She questioned as the owl flew off, the small package being addressed to both Percy and her.

"From your mom, it looks like," He opened it up, and a necklace with a Triton pendant fell out. Just as he picked it up, it transformed into a black Triton that was covered in black shadows.

"Holy shit!" Percy breathed out as (Y/N) grabbed the note that fell out.

"Oh Gods," seeing her reaction, he bent down and read the note.

"Oh," He observed the Triton, "well. . .at least we know she cares."

Break my daughters heart and I'll kill you with that very Triton,

From your mother, Nyx.

[ashwhowrites]

Can you do angst # 26 a bit of a longer fic where Eddie and reader have been married for a couple years and as the years go on the reader starts to feel neglected in their relationship because of him prioritizing his band (or any job you write in). She comes to a breaking point after he overhears a convo on the phone that she has with a coworker and gets jealous, and they get into a fight where she says he's not the person she married or how she feels alone in their relationship. You can decide the end ( if eddie redeems himself or this could be the end of them)

I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it! Thank you for requesting ❤️

A new you

“You’re not the same person I married, don’t tell me I’m wrong.”

The dream was for Eddie's career to take off after they got married. Y/N wanted to get married and try for kids before he had to pack up and travel around the world. Everything was going perfectly in the beginning, they were happy and constantly trying for a baby.

But once the band got their name in the stars, Y/N realized her and their marriage got set on the back burner. Eddie spent all his hours in the studio, or at home in his music room as the door was closed. And when the door was closed, that meant Y/N couldn't disturb him.

At first, she didn't want to do anything about it. It was new and exciting and she understood it took a lot of Eddie's time and energy. But months turned into years and now they sat in a marriage that felt like roommates. She missed her husband, she missed his time, his touch and him.

She was hurt she got pushed aside and it hurt even more that they hadn't tried for a baby in months. He has been so caught up with the band that he barely was home, and when he was, it was to drop in bed and be gone by morning. She missed the way their relationship used to be. Back when he looked at her with love and wanted to be with her. Now it seemed he could care less about her.

She tried to talk to him about it but it was nearly impossible. She was at the break of giving up. The thought of leaving him behind and moving on. It was clear he didn't have any mind to save the marriage. Hell, he probably didn't notice it was drowning to begin with. The longer it went on, the more lonely she felt.

"Hey, Eddie?" She whispered, his body next to hers as they lay separately in the bed.

"Hm?" He mumbled, half asleep as his head was buried in the pillows.

"Can you take some time off from the band? Maybe a weekend and we can go off somewhere together?" She asked, rolling over to face him. His eyes weren't open, but the lack of snores told her he was still awake.

"Sure, honey. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

She wasn't shocked that the conversation never happened. It was like he lived a whole different world on his side of the bed. She was close enough to touch him, yet she almost felt like it wasn't her place. She hated that she felt conflicted about wanting to kiss or touch her husband. But anytime she tried, it ended with him pushing her off and her feeling stupid for trying.

She was stuck in a one-sided relationship and she had no idea what to do.

~~~

"I'm going to grab dinner tonight with a co-worker so I might not be home when you are," she explained as she dressed herself. Eddie hummed from the bathroom, spitting out his toothpaste as he half-listened.

"Would you like me to bring you back something?" She asked, walking into the bathroom. She admired how he looked as he brushed his teeth. His messy hair and shirtless chest. She bit her lip as she slowly walked closer to him, the desire to be touched by him was increasing.

"No, I'll send someone to grab something," he shrugged, barely noticing her body as he walked past her and out of the bathroom.

"Or I could bring something to you before I go? We aren't going until like seven," she offered, following behind him. "Maybe give us a chance to talk?"

Eddie threw on his jeans as he looked at her, confused. "Why would you do that?"

She sighed as she tried to remain calm. "Because I'm your wife, Eddie. I'd like to have time with you."

"Look I don't have time for this conversation again. If you stop by, cool. If you don't, that's cool too. But I have to go. Have fun at dinner."

Without a kiss, he went right out the door.

~

Y/N held her stomach as she tried not to fall out of her chair laughing. Her insides were all clenched as she gasped for air.

"I truly didn't think I was that funny," Logan laughed as he watched her dry her tears.

She calmed herself down, wiping the tears that leaked as she took a big sigh. As the laughter died, she realized how good it felt. She hadn't laughed in what felt like forever. Eddie was the funniest person she'd ever met, but she couldn't remember the last time he cared to make her crack a smile. The thought changed her mood slightly, Logan fast to pick up on it.

"You okay?" He asked, sipping on his glass of wine as she prepared to lie. But she wanted to say it, she needed to clear her brain and maybe she'll sleep better at night.

Within seconds she was spiraling. Telling Logan all about her marriage. How it started so beautifully and how she wished she could do anything to get it back.

Even when he treated her like she was nothing, she wished it was him sitting across from her.

~

She sighed as she walked into the quiet house. Eddie's car was nowhere in the driveway. She was tempted to drive herself to the studio but she knew that would do nothing in her favor. She climbed into the empty bed, trying to blink away the tears as she fell asleep.

~~~

After dinner with Logan, he asked her to go a few more times. They exchanged their numbers and she spent most of her time talking to him as she waited all night for Eddie to come home. She appreciated having a friend.

~

"Friday? I mean I should be free. What did you want to do?" Y/N asked, phone against her ear as she scrubbed the dishes.

Eddie slipped into the house, checking his watch as he set down his guitar case. Another late night, he planned to go straight to bed but he heard talking and movement from the kitchen. He was surprised Y/N was still awake.

"I mean, that restaurant is beautiful, and I've always wanted to go. But isn't it a bit romantic?" She asked

Eddie's ears perked up, close enough to hear a man speaking on the other line.

"So? I think you deserve a little romance in your life."

Before Y/N had the chance to say something, or acknowledge Eddie's presence, Eddie was grabbing the phone and hanging it up.

"Edward!" Y/N scolded, reaching for her phone but Eddie shoved it in his back pocket.

"Who the fuck was that?" He asked, clearly fuming.

"Logan, from work," Y/N answered

"Why is Logan wanting to take you out? Uh? Doesn't he know you're married?"

Y/N couldn't help but scuff. "He does, do you?"

"What does that mean?" Eddie asked

"Maybe if you made time to talk to me, you'd understand," she said as she brushed past him. But he was right about her tail. Crazy how he suddenly was wide awake and interested in her.

"Talking right now aren't we?"

Y/N began to angrily make the bed. "No, now it's an argument. You have been ignoring me, abandoning me for that stupid band. I made a friend, it's not my fault he happens to be interested in hanging out with me. Why would I say no? So I can enjoy another lonely night on the couch wondering why my husband hates me?" She took a deep breath as she tried to remain calm.

"Oh don't be dramatic, hate you? Of course, I don't hate you!" Eddie fought, "and you have other friends! Don't you think it's inappropriate for him to ask you somewhere romantic?"

Y/N rolled her eyes, smacking the pillows down. "So yeah, it might be a little inappropriate. Would I let it go somewhere inappropriate? Absolutely not. But maybe this is the wake-up call you need. Because Eddie, the way we are going, I don't want that for my future."

"You don't want me in your future?" Eddie asked, slightly hurt as she sat on the bed.

"I do! But the old Eddie. You’re not the same person I married, and don’t tell me I’m wrong. You are completely different and I'm unhappy," Y/N explained. She looked down at the ring on her finger, "We were supposed to make a family, Eddie."

Eddie felt his anger melting away as she held herself. "We can still have a family, baby." He said softly as he walked over.

"Don't bother lying to me because I'm so close to being done," Y/N bitterly laughed. She ignored his body as he sat across from her, placing a hand on her knees.

"I'm not lying! But you knew this was the dream when we got married."

"FUCK THE DREAM, EDDIE!" She yelled as she stood up. "You have been living the dream for years. What about mine? What about the kids and the big house? You knew my dream when we got married! But mine is not as important? You're different and I hate it."

"Oh, so you hate who I am?" Eddie scoffed, standing up. "I didn't purposely ignore your dream; it's just mine. I was on the tracks and already going. I'm sorry I got caught up in it. I'm guilty of that."

"Yes I do, Eddie!" She spat, staring into his darkening eyes, "I hate this version of you. I want my husband back. The guy who loved me and couldn't breathe without me. You used to love me like crazy, we were never apart. You used to take care of me, hold my hand, and open every door. I used to feel so fixed in your arms, Eddie," she cried, "now? This is the longest we've seen each other in months. Are you seeing someone? Or did you just wake up one day and decide you hated your life with me?"

"Someone else? You really think I'm seeing someone else?" Eddie scoffed, "I'd never do that and I can't believe you think I would. And especially after your new friend asked you on a fucking date!"

"What am I supposed to think? We haven't had sex in months! What happened? We used to have no issues with intimacy. And now we have nothing. Are you not attracted to me anymore? Is that the problem?"

"You're supposed to think I'm loyal and that I'm exactly where I said I would be. I've been at the studio working my ass off. So I'm tired when I come home. I still think you are the most gorgeous woman I've seen, but I'm exhausted when I come home, and I don't want sex."

"What's the point of a marriage if you only care to be at the studio? Hell, move out and live in the damn fucking place." She spat, "I'm done being pushed aside. I'm not going to put effort into a relationship with you when you don't even care to be in it." She cried.

Eddie tried to blink away his own tears as he watched her cry. "So do you want a divorce? Because I don't. It's clear I've fucked up, and I need to work on many things, but in no way do I want to let you go," He asked, his voice cracking as the reality of the question made his insides clench. He hated himself for getting to this point. All he had to do was love her the way she deserved.

"I don't want to leave, and I don't want you to leave. But I need you to be that way again. Please just love me like you used to," she sobbed. Eddie couldn't stop the silent tears that fell down his face as he stood and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he cried, "I don't want either of us to leave, baby. I love you, so fucking much," he kissed her head. "I'm going to fix this. I'm going to put you and this marriage first. The exact way it should be."

"Can we talk about it in the morning? I just want to sleep next to you," she cried. Eddie softly moved them to the bed, wrapping his arms around her.

She melted into his arms, enjoying the feeling that she hadn't felt in so long. She wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring. If he'd wake up a changed man or wake up the same. She wasn't sure if her marriage was being saved or going under. But right now she felt at home in his arms and that's what she needed for the night.

@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37 @bellaisswagger @arlxt @ineedmentalhelp123 @emxxblog

[mang0d0ll]

Bob's Lonely Hearts Club

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ summary: bob's all alone on valentines day. but not for much longer.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ word count: 1.6k

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ includes: fluff, fem main character, negative self-talk, morale boosting, fem mc becomes bobs hype man, implied sex, mentions of alcohol and drinking, bob gets kinda tipsy, hangman is kind of a douchebag but whats new

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ a/n: this is my first full fic on tumblr!! YYYAAAAAYYYY im so excited that its here! this idea has been collecting dust in my brain and my notes app literally since tgm came out in 2022, but im just so proud of myself for actually writing this and putting it out in the world. enjoy <333333

I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY WORK TO BE REPOSTED OR FED INTO AI

Bob wouldn't really classify himself as a loner.

Sure he was quiet, preferring to take a back seat to the rambunctious chatter and lighthearted bickering the rest of his teammates were always up to, but they always included him in the conversation. Hangman particularly enjoyed ribbing him with jokes about his mouse-like demeanour, until Bob would throw some smack talk of his own, making the group erupt with laughter.

But tonight was different. It was Valentine's, and Bob was - by all accounts - a loner.

There were other patrons scattered across the Hard Deck, but nowhere near the regular amount on a typical Friday night.

He hadn't even realised the romantic holiday was coming up. It wasn't until a week prior when Fanboy hollered that he'd scored a date with someone he'd been chatting up on Bumble; his booming voice causing Bob’s pool cue to completely miss the ball.

From then on, it was all he heard from the Daggers. Payback had a dinner planned with his long-term partner, Rooster was going out with a woman he'd been casually seeing, and Coyote nonchalantly declared that he'd have no problem heading into town and picking up a cute chick on the day itself.

Hangman had let it slip that he and Phoenix were going to a drive-in cinema together, but any cheeky remarks from the rest of the team were left unsaid at the heat of Phoenix’s glare.

So there Bob was, sitting at the bar on Valentine's, nursing a drink and musing over everything he could've been doing instead. With the complexities and demands of his job, he'd rarely given much thought to his romantic life. Boy, was he regretting it.

His eyes bore into the random sports match playing on the bar’s TV, his brain only registering the vibrant colours and fast-paced movements.

"Hey, Bob."

A melodious voice broke him out of his daze. Behind the counter stood everyone's favourite, sweet-as-sugar Hard Deck employee. She gave him a small smile as she wiped down glasses and put them aside.

"Fancy seeing you here tonight. Thought you'd have somewhere more important to be."

His head tilted, like a curious puppy, making her giggle.

"Y'know, cause it's Valentine's?"

"Right!" Bob exclaimed. "Yeah, no, no plans. I don't have anywhere else to be, so..." His voice trailed off as her warm smile struck his soul. With sweaty palms, he raised his glass and took a swig of his drink.

"That's a surprise," she said.

"It is?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I thought you'd have a cute date or something."

Bob's eyes widened and he quickly choked out a laugh, "Me? Oh, no, no I'm flattered but I'm not..." A wave of nausea rushed through his body - the words sticking to his throat. "I'm not really the ask-out-women type," he said as he stared into his glass. "Never been good at it."

And maybe it was the alcohol making him feel all fuzzy. Maybe it was the bar's dim lighting setting the mood. Or maybe it was the feeling of being almost alone with the attention of the stunning bartender-slash-waitress he maybe, sort of, definitely, had a crush on.

Something in the situation just made him feel... different. Trusting. Honest.

"I'm not confident like the rest of them," he confessed. "Hangman, Rooster, Coyote, they see someone they like and have no problem approaching them. Even if they didn't, there are plenty of people who come up and offer their numbers all the time. But I can't do that. Can't bring myself to talk to anybody like that. I'm not suave or charming like they are. Not cool or confident. I don't stand out in a crowd or attract any eyes from across the room. I'm just the guy in the background no one gives two cents about. Boring ol' Bob."

A silence hung between them, the static sports commentator voice floating through the air.

A tsunami of emotions whirled through him. On one hand, a weight had been lifted off him- a cathartic thrum in his chest at finally voicing the thoughts that'd tormented him for years. On the other hand, the admission of his feelings only made them more real and ever apparent to him. A dark cloud over his head, doomed to follow him.

"Excuse me?" she spat.

His head snapped up to find her eyes ablaze.

"Do you really think that?"

His mouth opened and closed like a fish but no words came out. Thankfully for him, she didn't give him time to reply.

"Bob, you’re an amazing person. You're kind, and sweet, and thoughtful. You're always there for others, helping them even when they don’t ask for it. You carry your friends out when they're too drunk to walk. You listen to them rant about their work and lives. And when you're here during closing you insist on helping us clean up; stacking the chairs and storing crates in the back. You’re this guardian angel looking out for everyone around you.

So what if you're not like Rooster or Hangman? Why would you wanna be anyone else anyways? You're an amazing person all on your own and you show it everyday."

Bob felt an overwhelming heat engulf his body. It was as though he'd stood at the entrance of an active volcano for a decade.

“You really think that?” he squeaked out.

“Yes! And if girls don't see that then screw them. Anyone with a functioning brain cell would be lucky to go out with you.”

Bob smiled shyly, "Well, I'm flattered-"

"I mean, you're literally a dream!" She continued, hands frantically wiping glasses and setting them down with a low thud. "Not only are you kindhearted but you're a dream to look at. It's honestly criminal how fit you are with your glasses making you look so cute, and kissable, and..."

Her voice trailed off as their eyes locked and she registered Bob's tomato-red face. Bob's heart pounded in his ears.

"Sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Bob wouldn't really classify himself as brave.

Sure he'd had a rare, unexpected surge of bravery when he joined the military - shocking everyone that knew him - but everything that came after was simply part of the job. Each day of suffering through grueling training to become a WSO had nothing to do with his bravery, but rather his tenacity and determination to show everyone what he could accomplish. What he was made of.

Buf in this moment, a rare moment in his life, Bob chose to be brave.

"What time do you get off from work?" he asked.

"Soon. In about an hour."

"And... do you have any plans after?"

"I was just gonna go home," she blushed, a smile painting across her face. "But you're most welcome to come with me."

"So Bob, how was your Valentine's?"

The Dagger Squad's chatter quieted down at Hangman's sudden question. The sounds of the Hard Deck filling the silence between them.

"It was good," Bob replied, leaning against a pillar and doing his best to act casual.

"Really? Get up to anything fun?"

"Stop it," Phoenix chided.

"What? I'm just asking," Hangman laughed, gliding about the pool table and lining up his shot as if he wasn't interrogating his teammate. "Wanna know if Baby-on-Board spent the night alone like I said he would."

The crack of his cue against the ball came as a comical sound effect to the shock everyone was smacked in the face with. Phoenix shook her head in disbelief and mouthed a 'sorry' to her WSO, which he waved off with an understanding smile.

"Well Hangman, since you're so desperate to know, I came here on Valentine's. And while I did start out alone, I ended up going home with someone."

Everyone's heads whipped towards him.

"No shit. Seriously?" Hangman chuckled. "Who is she? Who had the honour of being our Bobby's companion. Is she even real?"

It was at this time that she walked over to them, empty tray in hand. The woman who'd occupied Bob's head 24/7 ever since the night they shared together a week prior. The woman he'd confided in and poured his heart out to. The woman who held him and kissed his doubts away all night long. Her lips soft against his smooth skin, the heat of her body melded against his.

She moved with grace as she motioned for the team's empty glasses and bottles, everyone giving her polite smiles as she passed. Bob allowed his eyes to trail after her before turning his attention back to Hangman.

"I can assure you she is very real. She's an amazing woman, full of kindness and love. Adorable to boot. Honestly, I'm over the freaking moon that she even wants my company."

Their eyes met as she got closer to Bob, still pretending to be completely unaffected by the conversation at hand. Picking up the last empty bottle, she began to walk pass Bob to get back to the kitchen.

"And I'm most definitely taking her home with me tonight," Bob declared. Just as she passed, Bob raised his hand and let it fall with a swift smack! to her behind.

Jumping back in shock with a loud yelp, she turned to Bob, ready to tell him off, only to be met with his cheeky smirk and smitten eyes.

She huffed and glared at him, though there was no real heat behind her eyes. "We're leaving as soon as my shift is over."

"Yes ma'am," Bob smiled.

She scurried away as she failed to suppress the smile growing on her face.

He stared at her retreating figure unashamedly as the rest of the Daggers began whooping and hollering.

"Dude! No way!"

"How'd you pull her? What did you say?"

"My man! Knew you had that dog in ya!"

Their words fell on Bob's deaf ears, his head preoccupied with counting down to when he could finally leave with the woman of his dreams.

[cherie-doll]

I love the father headcanons, can we see one where our munchkins are Lil older and they start wanting a brother/sister 🥺?

spinning at the thought of this <3

ଘ Price, Ghost, Soap, Gaz, Roach, Alejandro, Rudy, Phillip Graves, Makarov, Keegan, König, Horangi, Nikto

ʚɞ Price...

he's content with the one kid you two have right now, he knew this was your first and going into parenthood hadn't been a completely smooth journey but you had learned to enjoy the ups and deal with the downs of it

however a thought did start reeling when your son asked why he didn't have a baby sister, he saw how his grade school friend had a baby sister and seeing her cute chubby cheeks that looked so squeezable and hearing her gurgles and toothless smile made him want a sibling

i can just see price turning to him and saying "you're asking for one as if it was a pet", implying that a sibling was another human not some dog or cat you could just have around, but you actually liked the idea of another kid, you had observed how lonely your son would be on weekends when he wasn't at school

price had assumed you wouldn't want another one until later that night he comes back from tucking the kid in bed and he settles in bed with a groan and finds you immediately turning to him, laying your head on his chest and saying you want a girl

ʚɞ Ghost...

you two had been living apart for some time now, he came by when he could to take your daughter to his house and care for her and then bring her back and so on, he was a responsible father and cooperated in taking care of all her needs with you

on weekends he usually took you both out to eat and this was one of those times, your daughter had been unusually quiet during the meal when she stared around to settle her eyes on Simon then you

"i want a baby sister...or brother" she said firmly in her little voice, the clattering of the eating utensils stopped as both you and Simon turned to her in surprise

"where'd this come from..." you mumbled, not meeting Simon's eyes as he seemed to actually be considering this, he had been wanting to mention maybe moving back into the house with you and living together but he hadn't known how to speak about the subject, but to him, this was the perfect opportunity

"that's not a bad idea" his response made your head snap back up and your eyes met his, his gaze wasn't playful but rather serious, so he wasn't joking...

he definitely felt like you drifting away and although he was aware a new kid wasn't going to repair it, it certainly didn't mean your relationship was in shambles either, he seriously did discuss it as a possibility after dinner when he was alone with you

and could you turn him down, honestly?

ʚɞ Soap...

you, personally, haven't brought the topic up to him because you want to see if he'll ask you yourself, at some point he will but... when? well, the seedling you thought was slowly growing in his mind full on sprouted when your son stopped playing one afternoon and turned to you both saying he wanted a brother

johnny turned to you too, his eyes hopeful about your reaction, he didn't mind if it was another boy or if you'd be lucky and have a girl, he just wanted another kid, memories of how he used to dress his son in the cutest baby onesies when he was a few months old came back

he still had them just in case and was ready to buy more, neither of you knew this but your son expected a kid his age to come out of you, he forgot he'd have to wait some time before he's able to play with his sibling, the kid really just wanted someone to play with and cause mischief

ʚɞ Gaz...

urhgurhu he's so new father coded idk how to explain it

it's endearing seeing how gentle he is with your daughter; the first time he held her at the hospital he was too scared to take her from the nurse's extended arms, he had to take a seat and wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans

he sorta panicked when she was handed to him and he quickly looked up to ask the nurse how to hold her correctly, he didn't want to hurt her little neck, especially when she seemed so fragile, silently, he admired his little girl and almost cried right then and there

you saw how his eyes softened so much and they glossed over with tears just wanting to spill, it was such an emotional moment for him; he finally had a family to take care of

and now she was five whole years, he could hardly believe it, when her birthday rolled around and he asked her what she wanted, she looked up at him with her big, bright cherub eyes and said she wanted a sister

and how could he deny her that? he begged you to give him another child, he didn't want to disappoint his little girl, it was her birthday wish and he wanted to see them grow up together

ʚɞ Roach...

he would 'subtly' imply that he wanted another one, things like leaving around some of your daughter's clothes from when she was a newborn, "that won't fit her..." you point out, the size difference being very obvious yet he acts clueless, he's trying to say that there should be another baby to dress in these clothes!

your kid has just learned how to talk yet he's attempting to teach her to ask for a sibling when she's perfectly fine being the only child for now, maybe she's going to want one in the future or she'll regret not having someone to play with when she was younger

you'll be preparing dinner and he'll walk in holding your four-year-old and saying something like "she learned a new phrase!" and she mumbles it because she doesn't even know what she's saying but don't worry! he's already translating for you

ʚɞ Alejandro...

he loved his daughter, the way she had inherited most of your features with his complementing her and how she was his little angel, she was such a sweet child how could he NOT want another one?

"another one, just like her... just think about it" and he even got your daughter to ask you with her own little spin on the question, she knew how to get things, she would twirl and fidget with her princess dress, shyly asking with the little spark in her eye and the small smile she knew got her almost every toy and candy she asked for

it was impossible to go an entire day without hearing it from one of them, the problem was that they both were asking for another girl, what is instead of that you got a boy? and you knew just how that could turn out, he was likely to inherit alejandro's personality and you had heard it firsthand from alejandro's mother how he was like as a boy

you could already see how hyper the kid would turn out to be, you really did want a son but seeing how alejandro spoiled your daughter... you were reasonably worried how your son would turn out

ʚɞ Rudy...

he's so in love with raising his kid rn he hasn't ever thought about having another one, says he wants to focus on the one you have right now because he's devoted like that, but what about when his kid starts going off about wanting a sibling? a little baby would surely be exciting

he's worried that your child doesn't fully understand the responsibility that comes with a newborn, he dedicates so much time to your child that he's worried they would get jealous when their sibling is born, it's not that he's completely closed off to the idea of another child, but maybe when this one is a little older?

he's had to hold himself back from saying something about another kid when he stares at the baby shoes in the glass display when you go to the mall, he should be content with the child you have in your care

he also thinks about whether you're ready for another one yet, after all it is very hard and he's so considerate he wouldn't want to make you feel pressured about it

ʚɞ Phillip Graves...

he's been wanting another kid for a LONG time now, ever since he was there to hold your firstborn and see their tiny eyes open and meet his for the first time

he just loves the idea of having kids with you, he believes you are his biggest blessing he's ever received on this cake of earth and now he understands the blissful joy and simplicity his forebears relished in

his job is now second when it used to be the first priority in his life, money and riches don't matter as long as you're by his side and happy, of course he does love providing lavish things for you but he wouldn't enjoy it if he didn't have you to spoil

i could see him having a little bit of a breeding kink but he's also just a great father, your hormones be acting up when you see him shirtless and with a dad bod ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

but srs, he once asked his kid if he ever wanted a sibling because he'd been thinking about asking you for another child and when the little booger said yes he sent him to tell you

like your kid just going up to you saying he wanted a baby brother or sister and phillip just so happens to walk by and gives you a wink along w/ a sly smile

ʚɞ Makarov...

"sure, why not" his quick response without even so much as batting an eye at the question his son asked, it was as if it were only a simple request, as easy as if the kid had asked for candy, your son smiled, delighted he was going to have a sibling and ran off

you scoffed, "and you didn't even ask me?" and Makarov only gave you a glance before going back to eating the meal before him, he chewed for a good minute, leaving you with no other choice but to sit impatiently waiting for his answer

he chewed slowly, swallowing only when the bits of food had been ground down into almost nothing and then swallowing that, "what should we name this one?" he asked a little too nonchalantly for your liking, he went on to what features this child would inherent, the possibility of it being a boy or a girl and you're just sitting there confused and "wait just a minute now"

ofc later he does ask if you want to try for the second child, in his mind it's likely he already has a name for them and all but he wouldn't force you to have another kid if you were hesitant about it

he's great at sugarcoating things and sweetening you up with honeyed words in your ear so it's easy for you to say yes in the moment

ʚɞ Keegan...

he was probably just trying to unwind after a long day when your kid brought that up, the both of you exchanged worried glances as you had agreed on not having anymore kids, he actually wasn't sure whether he ever even wanted kids but after becoming a father he quite enjoyed it, it wasn't as hard as it was expected because your kid was surprisingly calm

so he did let the thought linger in his mind, thinking maybe a second one wouldn't be THAT bad of an idea but then what if this second kid wasn't what neither of you expected? he didn't like difficult kids, he's seen how some parents struggle with their kids and they look so damn tired

he thinks about getting the kid a pet, that would distract him from wanting a sibling, right? well, turns out that only works temporarily, he's then hearing from his kid how the dog doesn't know how to play with their toys, that the dog won't sit still and watch tv with them

now keegan really is second guessing his previous decision...

ʚɞ König...

könig always gets so flustered when people ask if he ever thought of having another kid, he doesn't know how to answer that question because neither of you had ever discussed it before, before you two had even had your first kid he had been too nervous to talk about the possibility of having children

he didn't want to say whether or not he wanted children because what if you didn't and that was a huge determining factor for you? but you remember the first time you asked him and he had softly said yes, more than anything he wanted at least one, especially after you two were living together it was all he could think of

so he thought about how to tell you he wanted another one because he had said previously that he was fine with only one, but he's sort of thankful it was his daughter that brought it up first, she was already seven and now that she felt a little older and definitely wanted a sibling

she didn't care whether it was a baby brother or sister and frankly, neither did könig, he just wanted another kid and heck he'd even be willing to become a stay at home father

ʚɞ Horangi...

you didn't expect your daughter to ask for a sibling since horangi always made time to play games and spend time with her, you'd think she wouldn't want one because she might get jealous of not having her dad focus on only her

but surprisingly she did, you sort of expected horangi to ask for another kid because eventually your daughter would grow up and well, naturally spend more time alone or with friends instead so he'd miss that, right?

well, you compromised and soon enough there was a baby boy born, except he was not at all what your daughter or horangi had been expecting, in reality, your daughter wanted a playmate to incorporate in their games and with time it was obvious your son was more of the quiet type

he wasn't much for playing games and often was content with being in your arms while you read and listened to music

ʚɞ Nikto...

nikto didn't know he had it in him to even raise kids until you had your first baby, it's like he unlocked a part of himself he didn't know he had, overnight he had become so nurturing and he didn't know how to feel about another kid

exploring the thought of how many kids you two could handle made him feel unsure when his son came up to him with a picture he had drawn in school, at first nikto hadn't paid much attention to what the scrawly figures on the papers were until his son asked what he thought of it

nikto only said it was a very nice picture and his son beamed, a huge smile on his face, "so you agree?", "with what?" nikto was confused, "having another baby!", and nikto almost fell out of his chair

nikto didn't really give a reply and dismissed the kid who was too happy to care about what his father's answer had been, maybe nikto should talk to you about this...

[johanna-swann]

It's so funny to me how the second someone insinuates that Maddie may have made a mistake / been unsensitive in her talk with Buck her defense squad is there calling you a sexist asshole. Seriously, Maddie is like weaponised (cishet-)white femininity incarnate. That woman can do nothing wrong and if you disagree you clearly hate women.

Like. Two episodes ago she told a man to kill himself and everybody in the show clapped her on the shoulder with a "well done" and the fandom was worried for her - poor Maddie, how will she get through this, won't this traumatise her? And yes, I know the caller mentioned her daughter by name. The call was being recorded though, she could've got police protection for Jee-Yun within 5 minutes. Instead she literally told a caller to kill himself? Isn't she supposed to be level-headed when people get rude, aggressive or threatening on the phone? Isn't that literally her job, to stay calm throughout these situations?

And now this thing with Buck and Tommy. Nobody even accused her of doing anything bad, people just questioned whether it was particularly sensitive of her to tell her perpetually single and abandoned brother to just "learn how to be alone" instead. As if Buck hasn't been single for most of his life and as if he hadn't been alone almost entirely between the ages of 10 and 26.

Besides, this is a drama show. Like, sue me for wanting to see the siblings fight about something. Let them have the "I'm not the little kid you see in me anymore" fight. Make Buck say it too harshly, make Maddie get defensive, make Chim get caught between them. Make it messy.

Do you know how much more I would love Maddie if she wasn't some sort of saintly martyr and instead actually made stupid or reckless mistakes sometimes and had flaws? Like. Bobby can be distant and secretive. Athena has chronic lone wolf syndrome. Buck is impulsive as fuck. Hen is a prefectionist workaholic who sometimes neglects her family. Eddie can be very self-centered. Chimney will go to great lengths to make himself more likeable (he has actually stopped doing that so much a while ago, he is still something of a peacekeeper though).

Good characters have flaws! Good characters make decisions, act a certain way, say things that are wrong! It's what keeps them and the show interesting. The point is not that they're perfect, the point is that they aren't and you still get where they're coming from and empathise. They've never really done that with Maddie, she doesn't have flaws she just has trauma.

[bikananjarrus]

thinking about how hera lost her brother and her mother to two different wars, and had a father who didn't believe in her and couldn't see past his own vision of the fight to give her the time of day, so she left her home and remaining family behind. thinking about how chopper crashed, went down with his pilot over a warzone, and would have definitely been sent to the scrap pile if hera hadn't saved him, but he still had to wake up to find out that his pilot was dead. thinking about how, after surviving order 66, kanan bounced around from place to place, never letting himself stay too long or get close to anyone because it could cost him his life if anyone found out who he was, and how lonely that would've been to have to bury his past like that. thinking about zeb, another survivor of genocide, thought he was the only one of his people left, truly all alone in the big wide galaxy, and feeling like it was partially his fault because he couldn't save more of his people. thinking about sabine who was young and made an ambitious, devastating mistake that she tried to fix, but her family and clan disowned her anyway, and when she tried to find a new group to belong to, they left her for dead all alone. thinking about ezra, whose parents were taken away from him at age 7 and the person his parents trusted to look out for him if something happened also abandoned him, so he was left orphaned and alone and had to figure out how to survive all on his own, scared to ever get close to anyone because what if they left him too?

just thinking about how every single member of the ghost crew was alone until they found each other. thinking about how hera started that all by first saving chopper and then by giving herself a new home (the ghost), and in turn, giving every member of the ghost crew a new home and a family they could rely on to never abandon them.

[fawnwilde]

Could you potentially write a little something about reader traveling with Charles after Arthur’s death? Reader was in the gang, she is very sweet and friendly, and is good at getting people to do what she wants, while Charles is good at survival and keeping them alive. Together they travel, seemingly complete opposites but slowly falling for each other. Reader understands his need for silence, and Charles entertains her meaningless conversations. Charles is tired of being a lone wolf and finds comfort in having someone to look out for, and gains a sense of safety having her looking out for him. Maybe something about them around a campfire one night, maybe reader convinces Charles to have a drink with her and things get a little intimate for the first time, or fluffy idk! Whatever you want! Thank you very much

What Comes After I ⋆˚࿔

Charles Smith x reader

next

rating: explicit (18+)

This is such a great ask, thank you so much!! I took the prompt and kind of went crazy with it, so I hope you like it! <3

content warning: smut MDNI, angst, fluff, sunshine reader, period typical racism, friends to lovers, outdoor sex shenanigans, cunnilingus, piv sex, cuddlin n shit

word count: 4.2k

You were there when Arthur died.

The both of you had witnessed the gang’s demise, until it was only you two and John left. When it came to it, he had told you to leave with John. And you planned to, but you had a bad feeling when Arthur left your line of sight.

You found him on the mountain, beaten to within an inch of his life with Micah Bell standing over him. You tried to get in between them, willing to die to protect your friend. Micah looked ready to do that for you, if Dutch hadn't intervened.

But that brief kindness meant nothing to you when both he and Micah left, turning their backs on you.

Arthur told you not to worry, told you to leave in case Micah came back. But you refused, unwilling to leave him in his state. You held his hand as he succumbed to his injuries, his body too far gone to do anything. The both of you watched the sun rise, and you only allowed yourself to cry when you felt his hand go limp in yours.

Charles found you there, not too long later.

You were sitting beside your fallen friend, tears blurring your vision as you prepared yourself to bury Arthur. A shadow was cast over you, and you looked up to see Mr Smith, a devastated look on his face.

You weren't upset with Charles for not being there when it all fell apart. He had his own job to do, one which was personal to him. But no matter how many times you said that, you could tell he felt guilty for not being there to help when he was needed.

You buried Arthur together. Hands shaking with every pile of dirt removed from the ground, tears reflecting off your skin as you placed him in his grave. The two of you stood on top of the mountain for a while, unwilling to leave Arthur alone.

After a while, you felt Charles take your hand. You looked up at him, and he nodded, pulling you away.

You and Charles weren't close before. He joined the gang less than a year before the fall, where you had been a member since John had joined.

Charles was always kind to you. He was soft spoken when talking to you, his hands were respectful when he helped you off a wagon, and he sat silently beside you around the campfire, a calming presence. He was a friend, someone you could rely on, but only one of many.

Now, as if overnight, you were all each other had. And The two of you certainly made an unusual pair.

You travelled side by side across the plains. He atop his large steed, you driving your trusty wagon. The quiet roads between towns were only disturbed by your incessant talking. You never liked silence, and would often find yourself chattering away to an audience of one.

Charles would rarely contribute. He would hum in agreement if you asked for his opinion, or huff out an amused laugh at your retelling of an old camp incident. The most you would get out of him was when you would ask him a question about the surrounding nature, or about the type of bird that landed on your bench. You enjoyed the days where he would tell you about his culture.

Sometimes you wonder if you annoy him. He was a man of few words, while you were always known for your silver tongue and lively personality.

Whilst you had been a part of the gang for years, you were never there for your fighting abilities. You knew how to shoot, sure, but your skills were limited. You were a natural born sweet talker, and a personable aura that got people to trust you. Dutch often had you working as a distraction, or out gathering information. But you liked to think that your main job was being the voice of reason, or a friend to everyone in camp,

But while you could sell milk to a cow, you couldn’t defend yourself against a real threat. The others would protect you in danger, and now that Charles was your only companion, he was always your saviour. He would defend you from the occasional coyote, he would hunt food to keep you from going hungry, he would be by your side if a stranger got too comfortable with you.

Charles had become everything to you, but you were scared that in the days where he would be silent, he was regretting taking you with him. You weren't much use save for your chatter, which Charles clearly had no use for.

You sometimes fear you’re a burden.

Today, as the sun had started to set, you were glad to see a town on the horizon. A town meant you could get a drink somewhere, maybe a hot meal that Charles’ wouldn't have to catch for you, and a room with a bed.

You were also thankful that Charles would get a break from you.

It was a self deprecating thought, you know, but you hoped that if Charles had a night away from you, it would make it easier being on the road again with you the next day.

You look over at the man in question, noting the deep furrow in his brow, and his tight grip on the reins. He was tense, and you shrank in your seat worrying if you are the reason.

The two of you hitch your horses outside of a run down saloon. You begin climbing down from your wagon, accepting the hand Charles offers.

“Thank you.” You smile, and he nods.

The two of you walk into the saloon. It’s dim,and smells strongly of liquor and sweat, but you cannot help but feel giddy at the sight of food being served from the bar.

“I'll apologise in advance, I don’t think I’ll be too ladylike when I get a meal.” You laugh, looking up at Charles as you make your way across the floor, “I could eat a horse right now.”

“Don’t tell me you’re bored of what I get us already.” Charles huffs, an amused smile playing on his lips.

You smile even brighter at his jest. You take a seat at the bar, warily putting your hands on the sticky bar. Charles hovers beside you, surveying the saloon with focused eyes even in the low light.

The bartender wipes a rag over a glass, raising an eyebrow at the odd pair of you, “What can I get you?”

You order food and a shot of whiskey for yourself. Charles declines a drink, eyeing the bartender warily as the other man stares at him for too long. You place a couple of notes on the bar before Charles touches your shoulder.

“There’s a hotel across the street, I’ll go and get us a couple of rooms.”

“You don’t want to eat here?” You ask, confused.

He shakes his head, “I'll figure something out. Don’t feel like staying here too long.”

You nod with a sad expression. This is one of the worse areas, plenty of white patrons glaring at Charles. It makes you sick, judgement against one of the best men you know simply for the colour of his skin. You understand why he wants to leave, and touch his arm gently in reassurance.

He looks down at you with an unreadable expression, before nodding and turning to leave.

The bartender leaves you your meal, and you try to eat without feeling down about being alone. You enjoy Charles’ company, and you always feel safe when he’s around. You down your shot, feeling a prickling sensation at the nape of your neck.

The feeling of being watched.

Turning your head, you make eye contact with a man. He’s tall and gangly, face red with sun burns. He smiles hungrily at you, dry lipped and yellow stained teeth. You shudder, turning back around and trying to make yourself even smaller.

A presence appeared at your side, and you hoped that Charles had changed his mind and come back. But no, as you turn, you come face to face with the unnerving man from before.

He licks his teeth, looking you up and down with a predatory grin, “Never seen you around these parts, girly. Where’ve you come from?”

Disgust crawls up your spine.

You lean away from him, grimacing.

“Aw, where do you think you’re going, kitty? Come play with me.” The man reaches out, his fingers brushing against the bare skin on your shoulder, before his hand is snatched away.

You gasp as Charles comes into view. He towers over the other man, who’s face drops when he looks up at your rageful friend.

“Get your hands off of her!” Charles shoves the man back, sending him crumbling and cursing.

You gasp as Charles takes your hand, leading you firmly but gently out of the saloon. Patrons stare as you leave, whispering amongst themselves at the chaos.

You’re led across the street, Charles’ hand in yours the only warmth protecting you from the chill of the night. He walks briskly, a sneer on his lips. You hold onto him tighter, letting him lead you into the hotel and up the stairs.

He takes you to one of the rooms, unlocking it and gently pulling you in. Once the door is closed, he deflates slightly, rubbing a hand over his face.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten so angry.” Charles says softly.

You shake your head, “You've got nothing to apologise for. You saved me again.”

He smiles sadly, shrugging as he makes eye contact with you, “It's been a long day.”

You look down at your joined hands, surprised to see him still holding it. He lets you go, almost hesitantly, before taking a step away from you.

“You should get some rest. We’ll go at sunrise, get away from this town.” Charles growls the last word, eyes flashing as he remembers the man from the saloon.

Nodding, you clasp your own hands together. He turns to leave.

“Goodnight Charles.”

“Goodnight, dove.” He says gently, the nickname he sometimes uses for you making you smile.

The door closes behind him, leaving you alone and rubbing at the hand he held, missing the warmth he provided.

The next morning, you meet Charles outside the hotel. He feeds both of your horses apples, talking quietly to them with an easy smile on his face.

You join his side, exchanging greetings before heading off.

The journey starts normally, you retell a story of when Arthur and you stumbled upon an O'driscoll hide out and had to hide in a couple of fox holes. Arthur got stuck and you had to dig him out while a mother fox almost bit his nose off.

Halfway through the story, you notice Charles looking tired and weary, and anxiety creeps up on you again, worried you’re annoying him again.

A fork in the road separates the path in two directions. You pull your horse to a stop, a sigh deflating you.

Charles halts as well, looking over at you.

“Charles… look, maybe we should..” You start, voice trembling. You can’t look at him keeping your eyes low as you try to sift through your thoughts.

He says your name softly, walking his horse closer to our wagon.

“Maybe we should go our separate ways.” You choke out, “I… I can’t stand making you feel miserable. I know you feel an obligation to me, us being the last two left, but you shouldn't feel the need to stick around. I want you to be happy, Charles.”

You sit in silence. Your eyes remain on the dirt ground, a tear falling down onto your skirt.

Charles sighs, murmuring your name again, urging you to look at him again.

“You don’t make me miserable.”

Looking up, you lock eyes with him. He looks ashamed, guilty for making you feel this way.

“Im sorry if I seem miserable. But I’m not. I like listening to you talk. You make my days happier.” He shrugs, looking away and off into the distance, “So. I don’t think we should go our separate ways. I'll be too bored.”

With that, he clicks his tongue, spurring his horse forwards.

“Now, what happened when the fox found Arthur in her home?” He asks you.

You watch him for a moment, feeling happiness rise in your chest again.

After that conversation, things became infinitely better with Charles.

Knowing that you didn’t annoy him and that he enjoyed your talkativeness made you embrace your own personality around him. Your days were filled with easy conversation, enjoying the scenery surrounding you both.

Charles made more of an effort to engage with you, but you often reminded him that he didn’t need to change himself for you, you liked him just the way he was.

You loved him just the way he was.

You didn't tell him that. You realised it while the both of you were taking a break from travelling.

A deer calf had gotten trapped on the edge of an embankment,it’s mother panicked and erratic. Charles climbed down and rescued the baby deer, moving swiftly but gently.

He managed to renite the family without causing any more stress, taking his leave as the mother cleans her young.

As Charles mounted his horse, a buck approached the doe and calf, checking over the baby and mother. The small family looked to you and Charles, before retreating back into the woods. The buck lingered, before it followed his family.

He wondered aloud about the buck, explaining to you reincarnation and how he believed that maybe the buck was Arthur, and the doe and calf, the family he lost. He shrugged off your skepticism, stating that he just hoped Arthur would find happiness in another life.

You realised you were in love with Charles Smith in that moment.

The two of you had set up camp in a small clearing, a winding river surrounding you and giving you somewhere to fish.

You got you both dinner, and helped Charles start a fire.

Once dinner was eaten and the sun had set, you sat back and watched him as he stoked the fire. The flames lit his face stunningly, his strong brow and full lips casting moving shadows, his dark eyes tired but focused on the task at hand.

You reach into your satchel, looking for your journal to do a quick sketch of him. Your fingers brush against something glass, and you almost exclaim in glee when you pull out a bottle of whiskey you bought a few weeks back. It's unopened, the opportunity to pour a glass never appearing.

Tonight would have to do.

You unscrew the lit, nose wrinkling slightly at the harsh odour immediately released. Taking a quick swig, you wince at the burn, but grin at the warm feeling it immediately provides.

Charles looks up, and you wave him over.

“Come on, come drink with me.” You smile, shaking the bottle gently.

He raises his eyebrows, looking between you and

“I don’t think so.” He chuckles, grabbing his knife and a block of wood to whittle.

You sigh, frowning.

“I don’t understand you sometimes, Charles Smith.” You say, exaggerating your disappointment to guilt him to join you, “We’re safe here. You can relax for a night.”

Charles huffs through his nose, glaring at you half-heartedly “And if tonight is the night we finally get attacked by a pack of hungry wolves?"

“Then I will defend us.” You say with faux stoicism.

“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Nope.” You giggle, grabbing both of your tin cups.

He laughs, eyes crinkling with a large smile, “Fine. One drink.”

One drink turned into two, which turned into three, and… you lost count at six. The two of you were lay on the grass a few feet from the fire, laughing at a story you were telling about when Sean tried to do a heist alone and somehow ended up getting chased all the way back to camp by a pack of hungry dogs. Your side hurt from laughing, and Charles’ own laugh echoed around you.

While you sighed and stretched, you could feel Charles’ eyes on you. He's silent for a moment, and you open your mouth to ask him what's wrong, before he speaks.

“I’m in love with you.” He murmurs.

You giggle, turning to look at him. He’s already watching you, his normally serious face relaxed with the effects of the alcohol.

“Really?” You ask, turning over fully to lie on your side.

Charles turns too, nodding. He reaches out, tucking a piece of fallen hair behind your ear. He watches your face, his eyes travelling over your features before landing on your lips.

“Could you love me?” He whispers.

You smile, “I already do.”

Who moved first is anyone's guess, but it doesn't matter as is hips meet yours. They’re warm and firm, and better than you dreamed.

You sigh against him, and Charles deepens the kiss, your tongues meeting in a pleasant battle.

He rolls on top of you, settling between your thighs and dragging his hands over your body. Charles is careful with his touches, feeling your skin with reverence and affection.

You wrap your arms around his neck, winding your fingers in the thick hair cascading from his scalp and fanning around both of your faces. He groans appreciatively as you tug on his strands, his hips pressing flush against yours.

Your gasp breaks the kiss, feeling his large, solid member pressing against you. Charles grunts, kissing along your neck while he shallowly thrusts against you, seeking pleasure only your body can provide.

“Charles…” You moan, spreading your legs further and gripping onto him harder.

“Fuck, love.” Charles sits up on his haunches, admiring the sight you make. His eyes roam over you, his pupils dilated and lips swollen from your kisses.

His thumb rub soothing circles on your hips, his eyes locking on yours once more.

“Do you want this?”

“More than anything.”

A deep rumble emerges from his chest as his hands fly to your shirt, unbuttoning it before growing impatient and tearing it in half. You gasp, then whine as his hands drift to your breasts, caressing your flesh lovingly before pulling your chemise down to expose the skin to his eyes. His lips descend upon them, nipping and sucking marks and taking your nipples into his mouth.

Writhing beneath him, your hand return to his head, dragging your nails across his scalp and gripping his hair when he sucks on your sensitive skin.

His mouth travels lower, tugging your chemise down along with your skirt and bloomers, leaving you naked beneath the moon. Charles inhales sharply as he admires you, groaning as he kisses every inch of skin accessible.

With a swift motion, he pulls your thighs over his shoulders, looking up at you for permission. You nod and whine down at him, “Please, Charles-”

He needs no further invitation, plunging his face into your cunt. Gasping, your neck arches as he latches onto your clit, rolling his tongue and teeth over it thoroughly. Stars appear behind your clenched eyes as Charles worships your pussy, devouring you like a man starved.

One of your hands grips his hair, while the other claws at the dirt below, feeling your orgasm approaching embarrassingly close. Charles alternates between plunging his tongue into your slick hole and sucking your clit into his mouth, making you pulse and writhe against his mouth. He groans against you, his own eyes rolled back in enjoyment.

As you reach the precipice, your hand clenches in his hair, sharp enough to possibly hurt, but he doesn't cease his task. He knows you’re close, and puts pressure back on your clit, his teeth dragging across it.

You cum with a cry of his name, back arching and cunt leaking like a faucet. Charles kisses your cunt as you come down, murmuring praises against your thighs.

“Are you alright, my dove?” He asks, crawling back on top of you and cupping your face, eyes looking over you with love and pride.

You nod, a tired smile on your face. “Mhm.” You reach down, cupping his bulge and causing him to groan, “Want you.”

“Think you can handle me?” He's not cocky with his question; you can tell he is sizable against your palm, big enough to rip you apart if he's not careful. But you trust him, and need him in this moment.

“I can. Made for you.” You smile, kissing him again softly and unhurried.

Charles groans, sitting up to pull off his shirt. Your hands wander over his firm chest. His skin is warm, muscles rippling with his haste to get undressed. He's littered with scars, and you admire them, caressing your fingers over them. He can see the love in your eyes, and it makes him swell with happiness.

He shoves his trousers down, tossing them away to land with the rest of your discarded clothes. Your eyes widen at the sight of his cock. It’s above average in length, but as thick as your wrist and curving upwards. The tip is an angry red and leaking, eager to fill you up.

“I’ll be gentle.” Charles says, noticing your awed expression, “I'd never hurt you, my love.”

“I know.” You smile, taking his face in your hands to pull him down for another kiss. It's slow and meaningful, as he leans back over you with your thighs around his waist.

You can feel him nudge against your entrance, rubbing against your clit as he gets comfortable. One of his arms holds him up beside your head, while the other reaches down to grasp himself in hand.

The both of you look down as he lines himself up, twin groans escaping you as he pushes the tip in. You’re wet enough for him to slip inside easily, inches disappearing inside you agonisingly slow. It’s a tight fit, and your hand grips onto his forearm beside you at the fullness.

Charles curses as he bottoms out, his other man grasping yours as he takes a second to bask in the feeling. You watch his eyes roll shut, his chest heaving. Leaning forward, you kiss his jaw, nudging at his flushed skin.

He presses his face into your neck, pulling out only to fuck back into you, pleasure shooting through your whole body. You grasp onto him, moaning out as he repeats his shallow but hard thrusts.

The alcohol mixed with your joint yearning brings you both to the edge quickly, your knees against Charles’ chest as he moves faster and faster, the wet sounds of your coupling with your gasps and his grunts.

“Fuck, feels so good…” Charles grunts against your shoulder, speeding up his thrusts as he chases his climax.

The cord inside you winds unbearably tight, your own end getting closer with every time his tip bullies your g-spot. His hand leaves yours to disappear between you, pressing rapid circles against your clit.

“Need- need you to cum with me, my love… please, please cum with me.”

You cry out, locking your legs around him as you shake beneath him, your cunt squeezing him tighter. A harsh thrust has you falling over the edge, biting down on his shoulder as your vision blurs and you ride wave after wave of euphoria.

Charles groans, hips suffering, “God- where, my love?”

“Inside. Please, Charles, inside me.” You mewl.

Barely a second later, Charles shoves himself fully inside you, grunting out your name as he empties himself within you. He collapses against you, being wary of his size and not lying on you too long, falling to his side beside you.

Exhausted and sated, you lie boneless and ready to sleep. With your eyes closed, you can hear Charles move around, and can feel him pull a blanket over you both. He pulls you to his chest, kissing your hair.

You fall asleep as he murmurs how much he loves you.

The sun rises on a new day, and you lie awake nestled in Charles’ arms.

His face is peaceful, mouth set in a small smile. You wish you could capture the image and keep it with you forever, never wanting to forget how beautiful he is now he's yours.

The hard ground presses into your hip, and you squirm slightly to get more comfortable. Charles huffs, eyes fluttering awake to see why you were moving out of the cocoon of his arms.

“Morning.” You whisper, brushing you hand over his cheek.

He smiles as his eyes focus on you, turning his head to kiss you palm, “Morning.”

“Any regrets?” You ask, though you know the answer.

“None. You?”

“Only that we didn't do that in a bed.” You joke, grimacing at the hard ground below you.

Charles chuckles sleepily, pulling you over and on top of him. His body is infinitely more comfortable, and you sigh contentedly.

“We’ll have a bed. In our own home, one I’ll make for us.” He murmurs, kissing your head

You drift off again, warm and safe, wrapped in Charles’ arms as he softly talks about the life you will have.

Both of you can't wait for the future.

AN/ Like I said, I went crazy. I really hope you liked it!! Mwah x

[beuhakkaka]

What is Fugis backstory

[THIS POST IS NO LONGER CURRENT. PLS DISREGARD IN TERMS OF CANON]-Beuh

YOU GREEDY PEOPLE, YOU WANT MORE?!?!? (Jk I've been wanting to info dump about this au for the past thousand years)

⚠️TW FOR MENTION OF DEATH/SLIGHT BLOOD ON ONE PIC ⚠️

OKK so Fugi was born in a poor home. His father was a drunk and wasn't around very often, and his mother was a little crazy. His home life would have been TERRIBLE if it wasn't for his twin sister, Angelica. As her name would indicate, she was a total sweety pie and was the complete opposite of Fugis grumpy, cold self. He loved her deeply and was very warm with her, and her alone.

Everything would have stayed relatively fine if it weren't for him and his sisters little escapade in the woods. There, they stumbled across a terrible creature. With teeth as long as his head and sharp as a blade, the beast would have killed Angelica if it weren't for Fugi stepping in.

He fought off the creature, but sustained a bite wound from the ordeal.

The wound healed shockingly quickly, and within hours, it had scarred over. He was now able to return home without his mom noticing (thank goodness!) but if he had known WHY it had healed so quickly, he wouldn't have felt so relieved.

That night, he went to sleep a boy, and the next, he woke up a monster. Long claws, sharp teeth, pointed ears, and above all else utterly massive. He had turned into what they called a giant nosferatu overnight. He ran away from home, knowing his mother would surely turn him in to hunters if he stayed.

BUT, his sister followed his tracks and managed to find him. She begged for him to stay, saying she would never forgive him if he abandoned her. At first, he was, of course, hesiant, knowing how easily he could hurt her and the nature of the creature he had become. But her tears convinced him, so he agreed to try and visit her. Before she left, she gave him a parting gift, her prized mirror. She couldn't give him a photo of her, but if he looked at his reflection, she was sure he would be reminded of his sister, who shared the same smile as him.

Fugi learned to hunt for animals and lay low to remain undetected. He eventually managed to sneak back to town and visit his sister without being seen, which, of course, was a little nerve-wracking for Angelica, but she loved him. So Angelica helped repair the tears in his clothes and made sure he knew the best places to find food.

One day, while taking a nap in his cave below a cliff, he heard the cries of a little girl. He peeked over the cliff to get a look at her, staying hidden. He did not recognize her bright, red hair, and he knew he surely would have if she had been from his village.

Whoever she was, she clearly needed help. So, keeping himself hidden beneath the cliffs edge, he spoke. Telling her where to go. She 100% should have questioned the echoy, disembodied voice coming from the cliff, but she was so scared she listened anyways, following his directions to the main village.

Fugi thought that was gonna be the end of it, but then the next day, she came back??? She clearly had no sense of preservation and was very lonely, as she loudly declared that "Mr. voice" was to be her friend.

Fugi learned her name was Annora and that she was rather...odd, and annoying.

But with time, he found he didn't mind her company.

He kept himself hidden from her, despite her begging for him to show himself, saying that if she looked at him, she would turn to stone. Of course, being a stupid nine year old, she believed him.

Everything was actually really nice for a few weeks. He got to chat with Annora when he was in the forest and visit his sister at night. Sure, it was a little cold, and sleeping on the caves ground was uncomfortable, but he made it work.

However, everything changed when raiders attacked his village. Fugi hadn't been there when the attack happened, so when he went to visit his sister, all he found was a town, consumed in flames. His sister, his mother, and his father were all dead, along with the rest of the village. Annora never returned, he assumed she had been caught in the fight as well.

Living in the forest he had once had so much fun in, became a constant reminder of his loss. So, to escape the grief, he made his way to where all nosferatu's congregated. The formation of canyons cleverly named "Deaths ledge" thanks to the fact that any human who went there, ended up dead!

It was quite the journey, but he eventually arrived. A desert in the middle of nowhere, there weren't animals or ready running water for him to live on. He could have went back home, but the idea of that made him ill with sorrow. So, he remained.

He struggled at first in the nosferatu's populace, not only being young but also very naive to their ways. Even if they had all been human once, the years of being a monster had shifted their views of empathy. None cared about the dirty child, focused on their own survival and lives.

Such a cold world would have been the end for others, but Fugi managed to scrape by, growing to be a very competent adult.

It was in these adult years, that he happened to hear about a bunch of humans whom were known for plundering villages, and burning it thereafter.

It didn't take long for him to connect the dots.

Now fully grown, and with years of grief turned into rage, the man now had a new goal.

Revenge.

Journeying back to the lush lands of humans, he hadn't thought the first day he took a nap. He would encounter a human girl with bright, red hair.

GRAAHAHH that was so fun to write!!! Ugh, au's are so fun...anyways this isn't 100% solid and is subject to change! But for now this is what I have hehe👹

[fangirl-in-general]

How would Rhys and Pierce react that reader who a friend of Ava is a witch?

OOOOO I love this idea!! Rhys and Pierce are not my number one characters so forgive me if I screw up their personalities a bit but here goes!!

Warnings: slight suggestive content, I am not a practicing witch so I intentionally left it a little vague when it came to actual practices, some language, slight violence in Pierce's oneshot, lmk if I missed anything!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rhys

It hadn't been more than a month since Ava called me screaming and crying over some 'demons' taking over her life.

"Please you have to get them out!! They're driving me crazy!!"

"Get them out?? I'm not an exorcist! I'm a witch!! And a new one at that! I can barely cast a hex much less dispel evil spirits! Girl, call a priest!!" Aca and I have always had each other's backs, ever since high school. I was always the one she would call when she needed something and considering how lonely we both were and how hard it became for her to rely on other people, I felt it was an honor. Though she did overdo it from time to time.

"Spirits? What no! There's actually five men in my house claiming to be demons!!" Wait what...

"IT'S DAEMOS HUMAN!!! CORRECT IT OR I WILL!!!" The unfamiliar voice on the other end of the phone made my heart sink to the floor and I immediately grabbed my keys and a can of wasp spray and raced out the door.

That was about two weeks ago, and I haven't left Ava alone since. They don't seem intent on taking advantage of her 'hospitality', but I wasn't going to take any chances. Especially not with how comfortable she had grown letting them wander about her house unsupervised. One of them went through her bra drawer like a lunatic for crying out loud!!! talking about 'sources of power' and what not.

Creeps...

Rhys, the only one who seemed relatively well adjusted, came and sat next to me at the kitchen counter. I kept my eyes glued to the cards in front of me.

The Tower Upright...

interesting

"Excuse me, I don't mean to intrude. What are those?"

A distracted smile makes its way to my face as I continue to shuffle the cards, another pops out. "Tarot cards. And you're not intruding as long as you don't take them from me like Asch did."

The Chariot reversed...

Rhys lets out a nervous chuckle and continues to inspect my actions. "Do they...do anything?"

I steal a glance; his brows are pressed together in concentration and his eyes pass between expectance and curiosity. "More or less. They're kind of like a guiding tool. We can use them to better understand ourselves and connect with the universe around us. They can be a useful way to prepare for coming events, or to better handle current ones. But most people don't believe in it so it's whatever I guess."

He gasps slightly. "Intriguing. So you use them to see the future and read minds?"

The snort that came out of me was far from intentional, but I honestly had no other idea how to react to that statement. "I mean, sure something like that."

"Can you read mine?"

I turned to him. "You want me to do a tarot reading for you?"

He nodded with more excitement than I had seen from any of them besides the pink one. I shrugged and began to reshuffle the cards. "Fine but just a basic one. I'm still a new witch and I don't wanna hear anything mean or judgy from someone who doesn't even-"

"You're a witch??"

For some reason I felt my blood run cold. I felt like a bug under a microscope, and I couldn't tell if the gaze he had fixed me with was simply observation, or calculation. Similar feelings with vastly different intentions. But both managed to send a shiver down my spine and a reluctant blush to my cheeks.

All I could muster was a nod before forcing myself back to shuffling.

"That's incredible!! Why did you not tell us before! Ava told us she was a powerful sorceress but TWO powerful magic users working together is surely a force to be reckoned with!! You must tell me what you know! I want to learn everything!"

His words forced a smile to my face, and I couldn't help the blush that accompanied it.

His praises continued. "I knew you had to be quite skilled to be so close to Princess Ava, but this explains it all! You were simply trying to hide your abilities so that we wouldn't expect your attack if something went wrong!! How incredibly intelligent!" He leaned forward, excitement practically bursting from him. "Please read this 'tarot' I simply must see your skills firsthand!"

I let a chuckle escape and went back to shuffling the deck. Two cards fell out.

"Death, and High Preist reversed..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peirce

"You know what Leif!! One of these days you're gonna wish you kept your dirty little mouth shut for once!!"

Leif was (as usual) doing nothing but being the biggest menace he possibly could be. Stealing my phone, going through my things, screaming in my ear, shit talking, etc.

To say I had enough was an understatement. The only thing that kept me from wringing his neck was a large muscley arm wrapping around my torso and throwing me over his shoulder. "Hey! Wha- PEIRCE!!" My screaming didn't stop him from wordlessly lugging me to my room and tossing me onto the bed. Now I know what you're thinking 'omg that's so sexy this is totally about to get fun' well I thought the exact same thing the first three times this happened, and I'll admit the thought still crosses my mind the twelve times it's happened since then but NO! This is still a (mostly) family friendly blog after all (for now).

Anyway, I sit up with a groan and glare at Peirce who has made himself comfortable in the chair in the corner of the room. This happens so often that it's practically scripted at this point. Leif is an ass, I get frustrated, Peirce gets tired, carries me to my room, then babysits me so I won't go out and try to strangle the antagonistic fiend in the other room.

At this point I'm done. I'm so sick of Leif and his attitude and lack of consequences. Just because they think Ava is a powerful sorceress and they don't think I'm anything more than her confidant doesn't mean they get to push me around. Leif is gonna get what's coming to him.

I glance at Peirce who is sitting arms crossed, still watching me though his gaze is softer now. I jump off the bed and head to my desk. digging through the drawers I pull out some candles and begin flipping through the book of incantations I keep tucked under a floorboard. I used to store said book in my nightstand drawer but surprise surprise, the guys went rummaging through my things and I don't trust them not to mess with it.

I'm missing a key piece to the puzzle. "Hey Peirce?"

A hum can be heard from the corner.

"Could I talk you into stealing some of Leif's hair for me?" I turn and give him the sweetest least guilty smile I could muster. He rises slowly and stalks over to me looming as he stared into my eyes as if inspecting for a motive. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't realized how much larger than me he was, because I had defiantly noticed, and it was absolutely something I thought of frequently.

He let out quiet grunt and left the room. I was probably imagining the blush on his cheeks, but the image was going to stay in my head for a painfully long time.

"Peirce w- OW!!! YOU PRICK WHAT THE HELL!!!"

Leif's screaming was nothing new, but it almost made my heart swell to know that Peirce was willing to potentially start a confrontation just to get something I asked without any context at all. 'I should definitely kiss him for that'

He came back into the room holding a suspiciously large chunk of blond hair and handed it to me. I smiled at him, and he nodded before following me over to my desk.

"What are you doing?" His voice always caught me off guard. It was a beautiful, gentle, sound that filled my ears like a deep breath after drowning. I wish he would talk more but I didn't ever want to force him.

"I'm gonna hex him."

"Leif?"

I hum a confirmation and turn to the desk with the supplies. He continues his questioning. "On Daemos it takes a very skilled witch to perform such a task. Are you a skilled witch?"

I nod. The 'skilled' aspect was more or less true. My mentor was very skilled, and I'd been training under her for almost two years now, but I still had a long way to go, and she'd probably scold me big time for simply attempting this... but who said she had to know.

"So you are...magic?"

I turned to look at him. He stood next to the desk, eyes fixed on the task before me, and I couldn't help but smile as I responded. "Yea, something like that. Why?"

A flash of concern passed over his face, but it was quickly replaced with a soft smile that almost melted my heart to the floor.

"It's good to be powerful. I'm glad to know you can keep yourself safe while I can't." Pierce's words shot straight to my heart and tears instantly welled in my eyes.

"Thank you...Pierce." The blush that filled his cheeks at my words was enough to distract me from the fact that I had already lit the candles and was now burning the hair I held in my hands. "OW! SHIT!"

The hair fell from my hands right onto the carpet below us causing a mini panicked stomp dance to shake the room and probably the downstairs neighbor's entire apartment but that also probably the least obnoxious thing they've heard from up here so what can you do I guess.

Welp...there goes that hex...

Pierce begins to walk out the door. "I will bring you more." and despite the screams from the other room, the only expression I could muster was a flustered smile.

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I hope you enjoyed!! Please feel free to send feed back, this whole blog is an attempt to work on my writing skills so I'm completely open to suggestions and constructive criticism!

Hope you all have the best day!

[firewasabeast]

once a year tommy goes to this little cafe outside of LA and sits at the same table and orders the same meal. he's done it since he got back from the army. no one knows about it except for the owner of the cafe, steve, who's been there since day one. he didn't always go alone. when he was young he would go with his mom. it was a yearly tradition when they'd go back-to-school shopping. they went right before he was shipped off to afghanistan too, just because they'd miss their usual date. when tommy was away, his mom died of a sudden heart attack. he didn't even find out about it for a few weeks.

he didn't go for a couple of years after that. the anniversary of their annual cafe date was somehow worse than the anniversary of her death. but one year, something inside him screamed for him to go back. go have that meal that they loved so much. sit at that table. do it for her. maybe you'll even feel her there? so he goes. and steve remembers him. how could he ever forget tommy? he'd watched that kid grow up!

the first year he went back was hard. he barely ate the food, felt indescribably lonely, and once he got back to his car he sobbed for nearly half an hour before he could even drive away.

then he came back the next year, and the next, and the next. he kept coming back, always alone. even when he had people in his life, he'd come alone.

then one year steve looked over at the table, knowing tommy should be arriving soon, and saw two men sitting there. he went over to tell them they'd have to move- the table was reserved, but halfway over he stopped. it was tommy... with someone this time. the other guy was looking around, then leaning in close to tommy. it looked like he was asking questions. he reached over the table and took tommy's hand and squeezed it and tommy... smiled. he smiled a real smile that reached his eyes. steve hadn't seen that smile since the last time he came with his mom.

so steve walks over to the table to say hello, like always. to ask him about his life and what he's been up to this last year. he'd always say "not much, really. nothing new." but this time he kept his smile, motioned toward the man across from him and introduced him as, "My boyfriend, Evan Buckley, or Buck. Evan, this is Steve."

and this boy, Buck, he stands and shakes steve's hand, asks to pull up another chair, says, "i heard you knew tommy's mom?"

steve nods. "i did." because while tommy only came once a year, his mom came more often. it was her little safe haven away from home.

"i've heard a lot about her from tommy," this buck said, a bright smile on his face. "but i'd like to know more. what was she like?"

so steve sat, and talked and talked, and the boys listened- Buck listened.

tommy never came to the cafe alone again.

[bowieandqueen11]

We Need A New Lock / Sanji Imagine

Request: could you write a sanji x reader fic of them alone in reader's room? they always end up getting interrupted by someone just as they get close to kissing, and its torture for sanji because they just cant find a moment alone with each other, so he finally finds a way to be with her late one night where he can kiss her senseless uninterrupted. thank you!

First I just wanted to say, thank you so much everyone for your support as I recovered from my operation! I'm so happy to be here and writing again!

Okay but this is both super sweet and hilarious, I hope you don't mind I spread this out over the deck a bit, and changed it around a little bit for more fun ;)

Warning: slightly spicy, so 18+ please!

(I do not own One Piece or its characters, all rights go to creators. Gif credit goes to @islandofohara.)

☆.。.:・°☆.。.:・°

Try One: Nami

At try one, Sanji was four seconds away from ripping his hair out.

Poor, Sanji: the sweet cook had spent all of dinner service with his hands clenched tightly in his fringe, fistfuls of hair nearly tugged out and scattered among the Matcha Tiramisu he had spent a lonely, and tired morning dragging himself away from your warm embrace to make specially for you. Toiling, rolling, dusting cream and cocoa that he had spent the last handful of his berries trading for from the speciality trader in the markets of the Canopi Islands; he had squinted underneath the honey melt of the sun as it fell from its crest over the horizon as he whisked and whizzed and splattered dessert up to his elbows in his desperation to make sure the sweet treat would be ready before Luffy caught the scent of it.

Finding it too tempting not to toy with the cook, you tried to stifle your smirk as you nonchalantly placed a fist under your chin and feigned interest in whatever Nami was animatedly trying to chew over with you. Flitting your irises over until you made direct eye contact, you dragged the flat edge of your tongue up the back of the spoon, making sure to wet the edge of your thumb along the way.

At any other time, Sanji may have been beside himself with embarrassment. It wasn't the first time a member of the crew had teased him... or snarled at him... or chided him for his obvious endearment, but the sound of Nami's voice was drowned out by the pulsing rush of blood that flooded through your boyfriend's ears. His full concentration was centred solely on the way your teeth scraped over your fork: the content hum as you licked over your fingers like a serpent and nearly sent Sanji clambering onto the floor to beg for the ecstasy of your sin.

You had tried not to chortle, you really had: hiding your face behind the ledger Nami was leaning over the table to shove into your face, her accusing pointer finger jabbing at a new entry she had triple underlined in her familiarly baleful black strokes. She hadn't even noticed that Sanji was nearly crumpled on the floor, bowl lying abandoned by the sink as his love-struck eyes struggled to stay within his skull.

'3000 berries?! Seriously?', she shot a growingly outraged frown in your direction, clattering her fork onto the table so she could use her free hand to point accusingly towards a recovering Sanji, whose fingernails were almost shedding wood shards off the cabinet drawer as he tried to pull himself back up to a presentable looking stand. 'You let curly brows over there spend three thousand of our berries on a pair of new pyjamas for you?'

You shrugged hesitantly, crossing your legs under the table. Your skirt began to rise up, bunching towards your hip as you crossed your ankles. You shot a lingering glance out of the corner of your eye towards Sanji, hoping with all your might that he'd be too bashful to meet your eye. Instead, as Nami cried out in outrage, Sanji's gleeful eyes locked onto yours, and the poor man was forced to grab the wooden edge of his spoon out of the sink and bite into it with his teeth to stop himself from squealing right there and then in the kitchen.

Nami incredulously trailed her eyes between the two of you, a long-simmering jaded scowl tempering over her face. Finally noticing how Sanji was loosening his shirt collar and using a freshly washed baking tray to fan the heat rolling in volcanic waves off his body.

The cat burglar pushed her tongue against her cheek and inhaled sharply as she turned her attention back to you. 'How is that even possible?! Luffy's meat budget for the month costs less than that!'

'They're special, my dear Nami!', Sanji finally managed to pipe in, his voice sounding strangled as he plopped the tray back down next to his damp tea towel. He turned towards the two of you with a pained smile plastered on his sickly looking face.

'They're made of Agar-Agar flakes, and of course, only the finest dehydrated avocados in all of the East Blue for the finest gem in all of the seas.' Sanji cocked his head and winked at you mischievously. 'It was worth every berry for my delectable little sweet pea.'

Nami made a gagging noise into her orange juice, but Sanji just bit his bottom lip and came sauntering over to stand by your side.

Sanji's breath drew in sharply as you absentmindedly began to brush your pointer finger up and up: first tickling over the arm that came winding around your shoulder, before leaning back to trace the edge of his jaw line, your eyes drawn away from Nami's waving hands to gawk up at the unbuttoned gap between his shirt where his Adam's apple lay tautly.

Nami was about to throw her muffin at your head when she suddenly started, bolting straight upright. Leaning forward on her elbows, she squinted her eyes suspiciously at the way you were nearly falling off the dining table's bench to lean back and caress your boyfriend's face.

'Hold on... what do you mean Agar Agar? How can they be made of food...'

'Well', you snorted, trying to hide your face by pulling one of Sanji's heavy arms up and draping his heavy bicep in front of your crinkling eyes. 'They are edible-'.

'Melt in the mouth, in fact', Sanji chimed in audaciously, bending his spine over so he could press a few butterfly kisses over the top of your scalp.

Nami nearly shoved the table straight into your stomach in her desperation to clamber up and escape the two of you. 'Nope. Nope! Absolutely not. The two of you get out of here now, before I start pitching water over your heads.'

Try Two: Usopp

At try two, Sanji was three seconds away from kicking the door of its hinges in annoyance.

It had taken nearly all night for the two of you to get even these few seconds of isolation together, and yet Sanji still felt so woefully unprepared. His fingers stumbled as he clumsily tried his best to ignore how his pounding heart was almost playing leap-frog with his ribs; the tautening of his abdomen as he tried to pull his under-shirt over his head left exultant lacerations against his muscles. He had to work up the courage to turn and kiss you now, or he was going to keel over and pass out on the floor from his heart's anguish: brought to his knees by the one thing he could never escape: his soul’s serendipity. 

Thankfully, you did the hard part for him.

He flushed at the sound of your feet pattering off your bed to echo through the shimmering walls towards him; he throat bobbed at the feel of your hand delicately winding round to finger at the Windsor knot choking his neck. He nearly cried out when you pressed your body flush against his back.

'My buttercup, if you keep pulling at that tie like that you'll have conked out before I've even got you to the bed.'

You could feel the desperation radiate off Sanji as he tilted his head back to try and watch you. Despite how tired he seemed, his dipping eyelashes roved almost hungrily over every aspect of you he could see, his hand coming up to slide over yours until you were bowered and anchored together in the storm.

'Well my honeyed heart', he almost made your breath hitch as he walked the two of you backwards, stopping only once the heavy weight of your bed swung against your knee pit. 'I suppose I'll just have to bring the bed to us.'

With a grunt that sounded suspiciously close to a puppy's whine, Sanji snapped you up within his arms and lifts you up to sit on the chained platform. Once you had regained your balance, you beckoned your pointer finger towards Sanji, and he nearly tripped over his own feet as he came stumbling towards you, dragged forwards as if yanked by an invisible leash tied around his ankles.

'God, I missed you today', your boyfriend muttered, grabbing onto your shirt and nearly crawling into your skin like a man possessed. As your head hit the linen lining of the swing, the man did his best not to collapse his full weight onto you when he came crushing down on top of your abdomen: the only thing holding him up being the point of his elbows that pin your arms in place, and the jut of his knees as they 'accidentally' fall between yours and slide them further... and further open. 'If Luffy has me make cook up one more medium-rare steak for him I'm going to throw myself headfirst into the ocean.'

You snorted, burrowing your nose into the soft mound of flesh underneath his earlobe. He shivered when you teasingly pursed your lips and blew against the shell, before latching on with your teeth and nipping at the squishy skin. 'If you do, don't worry. I'll make sure to fish you out with a frog net.'

'Frog net? Frog net!' Sanji slowly lowered his body to rest his forehead against the curve of skin just above your breasts, trying to stifle his smile. 'Oh, my wounded heart! I hope you're only saying that because you're going to give me a kiss.'

'Actually, it's because you're so slimy', you teased, poking your finger into his hip. His groan echoed into your bone as he pulled your waist tighter against him.

The starved man exhaled, his arms tightening around your waist; he was hiding himself away in your safety, trying to burrow himself underneath your skin like an ensnared goldcrest flying fruitlessly, dangerously, with harrowing hope for the propitious freedom wrought only by the sun.

Sanji made an incomprehensible gargle that sounded something vaguely along the lines of: 'Eye wansh kisch ewe so mphly.'

'What was that, buttercup?'

'I want to kiss you so badly', Sanji whimpered, his warm tears soaking through to your shoulders.

He was so soft. God always so soft, and as he lay before you now, you could almost imagine how sweet he must have been before his father cruelly tried to stifle it with cruel mockery and torturous punishments. So soft, so calm, so comforting, as he peered up at you with those wonderous eyes; his attention was always drawn back to you: so trusting, no matter what you said or did. Always. Just looking at you with this almost timeless intensity. As if it’s the most natural thing in the world, to want to spend his whole life caught in the light of the most translunary being he’s ever met.

You stroked your palm through the tangling strands of hair by the nape of his neck, letting your voice fall to a whisper in order not to startle Sanji any further. 'Well, you are my sweet prince after all. You can kiss me whenever you want.'

The cook's reply was muffled by a swift knock against the doorframe.

'Hey, is everything okay? I'm hearing some weird noises coming from in here... are you guys in trouble? I know those Marines on Karushi Island were pretty annoyed when Y/n tossed them backwards over their butts-'

His perturbed question was met only by a deafening groan, followed by the pillow Sanji picked up and flung hitting the porthole window with a crashing PLASH.

Usopp flinched back, instinctively reaching towards his belt to run his fingers over the solid oak of his slingshot. 'Okay, be brave. Be brave, Captain Usopp. Your friends may be in danger! They may-'. Usopp's words quickly died on his tongue when he cautiously tip-toed open the door to the boy's quarters. In fact, his tongue nearly rolled out of his jaw as his lips slackened, blubbering like a pufferfish at the sight of Sanji almost draped across you. A half-naked Sanji.

He clapped his hands over his eyes, and nearly tossed himself over the edge of the ship with how rapidly his legs were wheeling themselves backwards. 'I'm so sorry you guys! I didn't know you were- well you were, you know- boinking in ther-.'

SLAM.

The swift silence that settled over the room should have been reassuring. Should have been. If only it hadn't been followed by the confused wails from the sharpshooter as he lolled out flat against the floor: the tip of his bandana scraping underneath the toe of Sanji's shoe where it was splayed out over the edge of the bed.

Sanji just sighed like a weary father, taking one hand off your cheek to slap it over his eyes with a curt shake.

'You snuggle up here and stay warm, sweetheart. I'll go get Chopper.'

Try Three: Luffy

At try three, Sanji was busy spending his spare two seconds trying to work up the nerve to just... leap across the room to where you were standing and kiss you silly.

'Okay', Sanji folded himself against the door and started counting distractedly on his fingers. 'I've given the Captain three plates of meat, so that should distract him for a little while: I've also hidden cookies along the deck, and stuffed a few mint infused lamb shanks in the Crow's Nest. Hopefully he'll go and bother moss head for a bit instead of annoying-'

A ringing crash made the two of you wince as your poor bedroom door got another battering; this time, the handle nearly cleft a hole clean in the wall as Luffy's leg came barging sandal first into the room.

He couldn't sleep... so your Captain had the fortuitous idea of seeking out the next best thing: hugs from you.

'Y/n, there you are! I ran out of meat, I need you to rub my tummy so I can nap! I tried asking Zoro, but he kicked me off the Crow's Nest!'

Before you could even open your mouth to protest, Luffy's stretchy arms have latched onto the edges of the door and he's flung himself into the room like a Hawaiian clad cannonball. Sadly, one that had been directly configured to launch into you: headfirst, nonetheless.

'Damn it Luffy - nO!'

A look of pure terror widened your eyes as you were skidded butt-first across the floor by a mop of curly black hair and a Cheshire grinning face. A crushing weight piled onto the side of your face, and despite how much Sanji curses and tries to detach Luffy's arm from your waist, your Captain's smushed face doesn't even lift an inch off your cheek.

'Oh, Sanji! You're here too! Even better!'

Then koala mode is activated, and Luffy's legs and arms come wrapping around you... and poor Sanji's like a cocoon. The helpless cook goes flying through the air like a contorted puppet blasted out of a wonky cannon.

Oblivious as always, your Captain settled down between the two of you for his pre-sleep nap, effectively trapping pining you and a love-struck Sanji a foot away from each other. Within a blink of an eye Luffy's head lolled onto your shoulder, and you frowned as you tried to shuffle away from the thin lines of drool that dripped out of his snoring mouth. As if he could sense you moving, Luffy's arms tightened like a vice around your waist, winding another few extra times around for good measure.

After a few minutes of wriggling, some muted swearing, and a lot of shoving the toe of his boot into the side of an unaware Luffy's shin, Sanji finally managed to wrangle his hand to snake around the rubber man's bellybutton so he could link his pinkie finger with yours.

Trying your best not to to block your nostril, you shuffled your cheek to the side until you could meet your boyfriend's sorrowful eye.

Despite your circumstance, all you did was smile.

God- that smile: bright enough to alight the dusk. As piercing and ruinous as pure golden sunlight. As devastating as the fresh warmth of a salt wind borne onto the stifling heat of a forgotten crag. And it makes everything in his life up to this moment worth something. Worth it all.

All the tortures in the world would be worth it to just link pinkies with you.

Try Four: Zoro

At try four, Sanji was one second away from hoisting his crewmates over his shoulder and flinging them overboard one by one.

There was something incredibly unsexy about banging your head against a pair of Zoro's sweaty hand weights, but as Sanji pounded you to the ground, neither of you seemed to be able to muster the nerve to care.

'Sanji', you moaned almost lewdly, tugging his back and silently willing him down to cage your body against the coarse, sweaty mat. 'More. Please. More.'

His cheeks burned an almost violent carmine, but he refused to break contact; only for one sole second did his skin leave yours, when he couldn't contain the gut-wrenching want within himself anymore and dared to brush the plush top of his lip against the side of your nose.

'I- I want-'

You pressed your cheeks firmly against his, willing Sanji to believe every sweet word that you couldn't stop from gushing out of your mouth.

You stopped, panting for breath. 'Tell me sweetie - tell me what you want. Let me hear you say it.'

His body squeezed around yours, the so usually syrupy sweet cook clenching his fingers into the meat of your spine like a savage animal shaken loose from its wrought iron chains: like an unbottled tempest with nowhere left to rage except over the bearing flames.

'Please! Please - hngg, I can't, I can't. I need you. I can't hold myself back any longer.' His words sounded so painful it sent a jolt of worry through your heart.

And yet when he pressed his nose flatly against your own, so forcefully crushing his own skin against your own it nearly left you gasping for breath, there was still such a sweetness in it. Despite it all, despite how strenuously Sanji was trying to hold back that final band of constraint from snapping, his first and foremost priority would always be your wellbeing.

'I'm sorry- I'm sorry my chérie, but I need to feel you more than I need air.'

The gasping, open mouth kiss he gave you was only repeated: crashing down again and again against your own, tongue slashing with ravenous hunger over your bottom lip and clumsily leaving wet stripes of warm saliva against your cheek as Sanji devoured you. The meek, almost pitiful whimpers as he ducked his head into the curve of your shoulder blade as he grinded himself against you, effectively trapping you between the ground and the clench of his quivering thighs marked the interludes of his feast. His lips trembled as he sighed blissfully, holding the tide back as his free hand sweetly ran its knuckles up the side of your leg, stopping only when his thumb was pressed closely enough to your inseam that he could run miniature circles underneath the growing wetness of your pants.

At the sound of your shaking moan, his front teeth dug in so tightly to his bottom lip that he drew blood.

It scared you. You wanted him to do it again.

'Sanji, I said more.'

The claw of his hand as he swiped at your shirt, not caring that he almost sent a tower of Zoro's sweaty old shirts flying in his own desperation to tug yours off was his only reply. The almost achingly gentle restrain as he placed his right hand against your hip and tried to hold you in place: tried to warn you that if he started, he wasn't sure if all his pent-up yearning would allow him to stop. The sweat nearly dripped across his furrowed eyes, caking the wispy strands of his fringe against his bucking forehead as he willed himself to calm down. His eyes stung, but despite your desperate clawing up towards his shoulders, he forced his breathing to settle.

But by all the seas... as he peeked one eyelid open and saw the line of tantalising skin grow wider down your rising breast, all semblance of self-restraint fled from the near drooling cook's brain.

The feel of Sanji's lips dragging down your neck to nip at your pulse point was interrupted by the sound of a quiet c-r-a-c-k.

You peeked your head, too far gone to swim fully out of your daze. With your arms still wrapped firmly around the wide expanse of Sanji's contracting back, you jutted your chin into the constellation line of freckles by his left shoulder blade. 'Did you hear something?'

'Just the sound of this', he smiled, smoothing his hand off your hip and sliding it underneath your buttocks. He gave you a firm squeeze that left your mouth dropping open in a shocked pant as he lifted you further up against his abdomen and pressed your breasts firmly against his pecs: he was effectively cupping you up against him like a clingy, very drenched, koala bear.

This time though, the sound of something splintering was far too egregious to ignore.

The force of the door handle slamming into the wall of the Crow's Nest nearly made the whole ship shake in revulsion; the cool air against your skin was nearly too much to bear, but the raging heat that sparked out from the looming shadow enveloping the door was enough to make your whole body break out in goose bumps.

'Can you two stop making out around the ship for two seconds.'

Sanji growled, whipping his head round to sulk at the ship's swordsman.

'Can you mind your own business for even one, Marimo?'

The former bounty hunter ostentatiously held a finger up by slowly raising it into air, and it took you a second to realise he’s pointedly showing Sanji his middle finger.

'Zoro, did you- did you just break the lock?'

'What's your problem? I left my gym towel in here.'

[dixongrimesgirl]

Acting All Paternal

Carl grimes x fem!reader

content includes: smut, fingering, daddy, bredding, Judith being adorable

wc: 952

You went over to your boyfriend's house in hopes he wasn't busy. You've been so lonely since shit with the Saviors started going down. Carl was always off helping people or fighting or coming up with plans that you two hadn't been spending much time together.

You arrived at the Grimes residence and walked in. Rick had said you were always welcome and to just walk in.

You find Carl sitting on the floor with Judith in his lap while he helps her stack some blocks. You felt your pussy flutter at how good he was with her. Your mind started to wander to how he would be as a dad when you were startled out of your fantasy.

"Hey, babe" he greets you.

You shift uncomfortably and walk over to him and Judith. "Hey" you reply as you sit down beside them.

"Good job" Carl coos to Judith when she's successfully stacked three blocks all by herself. She turns to look at him and touches her small chubby hand to his cheek. He chuckles and kisses her forehead.

"I have to go" you say abruptly. You're out the door within seconds leaving Carl wondering what happened.

You'd been avoiding Carl since then and after two days he couldn't take it anymore. He was taking Judith for a walk when he came across your house and decided enough was enough. He missed you and needed to fix whatever had happened.

He knocked on your door and you answered.

You knew this was gonna happen you just didn't know how to explain yourself to him.

"Can we talk?" he asks.

A million things run through your mind and none of them are good. Was he breaking up with you? You invited him in and you both sat down on the couch, Judith in his arms.

He startles you out of your thoughts when he asks "Did I do something wrong?"

"What? Of course not" you reply quickly.

"Okay, well then why did you run out on me the other day?" he asks.

"Watching you being so good with Judith made me think about how great a dad you'd be and it really turned me on." The words tumble out of your mouth so quickly you have time to stop them. There's a slight pause before Carl smirks.

"So seeing me with Judith made you want a baby?" he asks smugly.

"Yes. No. Maybe. Ugh, you're so impossible" you groan.

He chuckles. Judith chooses that moment go have to go to the bathroom. You tell Carl she can use the bathroom at your house and when she's done Carl tells you to meet him at his house tonight and maybe you'll get your wish. He winks and leaves you standing in your living room, face as red as a tomato.

It’s just past dinner time and you’re standing out front of Carl’s house. You knock on the door before opening it. You see Carl making his way over to you.

His lips connect with yours shocking you at first but you melt into his kiss.

"We're alone tonight. My dad and Michonne are on a run and Judith is with Tara." he whispers seductively causing you to bite your lip.

"Let's go upstairs, princess." he says and takes a hold of your hand. He walks you up the stairs and into his room. Even though no one is home he shuts the door and locks it just in case.

"My pretty girl. Wanna carry my baby? Wanna make me a daddy?" he growls as he nips below your ear. You moan and he smirks. He continues until you can't take it anymore and you cry out "Just fuck me, Carl!"

He chuckles and kisses your lips before quickly tugging your shirt off. He's quick to unclasp your bra and throws it across the room.

"Carl" you gasp as his lips suction around one of your pebbled nipples. He switches his attention to the other one drawing a moan from you.

“You make the sexiest sounds” he mumbles into your chest.

He trails kisses down your exposed stomach and when he reaches the waistband of your pants he looks up at you before yanking them down. You gasp as the cool air hits your pussy which is only clothed by a very thin pair of red lace panties.

“So sexy, baby. You’re so wet for me” he growls.

You moan as he rips off your panties and immediately plunges two fingers inside you.

“Carl!” You cry out

“That’s not my name tonight, babygirl” he smirks.

“Daddy” you gasp as he curls his fingers inside you.

“There’s my good girl” he praises.

He pumps his fingers into you hard and fast until you’re seeing stars.

“Good girl. All ready for daddy to fuck that tight little hole of yours” he growls.

He pulls back to stand up and remove his clothing. He catches you starting and chuckles to himself.

“Like what ya see, pretty girl?”

You nod.

He comes back over to the bed and lines himself up with your sopping hole. He sheathes himself completing inside you in one hard thrust.

“Daddy!” You cry.

“Daddy’s got ya”

You buck your hips up into his and he takes that as a sign to start moving.

He has you coming in no time, the knot in your stomach snapping as you cry out his name. A few more thrusts and he’s spilling inside you.

“Putting my baby in ya. Oh fuck” he grunts.

After a minute he pulled out and when he pushed two fingers inside you, you gasp.

“Gotta make sure it stays in. I’ll give ya a minute then we’re going again.” He tells you.

[kabsey]

Birds of a Feather

A little something for Bellara Week. Because she deserves it.

-------

When the team traveled to Treviso, Bellara always marveled at the way Rook flew across the rooftops, effortlessly leaping from balcony to balcony as if she had a pair of spectral wings of her own. And it's not that she was any less graceful in the forest. Her footsteps were just as silent on dirt paths as cobblestone streets, and she fought off Guardians just as easily as Antaam or Venatori. But there were some hazards of Arlathan that Rook was just not prepared for.

Which was how they wound up sitting in a sunny clearing while Bellara painstakingly worked the chunks of sap from Rook's long hair. Rook's ill-advised tree lean provided a nice excuse for a break. The weather was warm—almost too warm for trekking Arlathan's paths while dressed in armor. Bellara and Rook had stripped down to their shirts and trousers—Davrin had ditched his shirt along with his armor—and they were all enjoying the chance to feel the slight breeze against their skin.

"Is this what it's like growing up in a clan?" Rook asked, a grin in her voice. "Prancing around the woods with your friends half-naked?"

Bellara snorted. She cast an ice spell on a stubborn bit of sap with one hand as she chipped at it with the comb in the other.

"Well, I don't know about prancing. There's usually a lot of work to do. And sometimes the weather's lousy, but you have to be out in it anyway."

She looked over to the other side of the clearing, where Davrin and Assan were playing, and smiled.

"But sometimes it is like this. Those are the nice parts of clan life."

"It is nice," Rook agreed quietly. Then, never one to lapse into seriousness for too long, she cupped one hand to her mouth and called, "And not just because Davrin is topless!"

He glanced at them over his shoulder, then lifted his arms and flexed his biceps and back muscles. Rook applauded, and Bellara whistled. Assan took advantage of the distraction and launched himself at Davrin's chest. He fell to the ground with a startled "Oof!" and then laughed and praised the griffon to a chorus of happy chirps from Assan.

"You lived in a city even before being a Crow, right?" Bellara asked, as she tugged on a new tangle. "Does that mean you lived in an alienage?"

"Yep," Rook replied, drawing out the "p" until it popped.

"What was that like?"

Rook didn't answer right away. And as the quiet filled with the buzzing of insects and Davrin and Assan's roughhousing, Bellara winced. She'd known other elves from cities, of course; there were quite a few among the Veil Jumpers. But she so often worked alone that she hadn't gotten close enough to any of them to ask the thousand questions she'd always wanted to ask.

And when she'd met Rook, Rook had assured her that she didn't mind rambling, that she was a rambler herself. And it was true. The two of them could talk for hours that felt like minutes, jumping from topic to topic, and those conversations had eased the worst of Bellara's self-consciousness.

But Rook's uncharacteristic silence brought it roaring back. An apology sprang to Bellara's lips, but before it could escape, Rook turned her head to meet Bellara's gaze from the corner of her eye.

"Lonely," she admitted. A hint of her usual smirk returned. "For me at least. I was a weird kid."

It was an answer that wasn't an answer, but Bellara grabbed hold of it with relief.

"I was a weird kid too," she said. She smiled as she took Rook's head in her hands and turned her to face forward again. "Maybe we would have been friends."

"Of course we would have. You, me, and the boy who sang to halla," Rook said with a nod toward Davrin. "Maybe I'd even be a Veil Jumper now."

"You still could be," Bellara told her. "If you wanted to, I mean. Strike and Irelin would definitely let you."

Rook shook her head and yelped when the movement tugged the hair Bellara was combing. "I'd miss Treviso too much. I'm hoping I get to go back for good once this is all over. But I do like it here. I plan to keep visiting."

"You definitely should!" Bellara said. "You'll always be welcome in Arlathan, Rook."

Rook turned again to smile at her and reached up to squeeze her hand. But as soon as their skin made contact, she yelped again.

"Mierda, you're cold!"

Bellara laughed as she poked Rook in the temple. "And you're wiggly. You need to hold still so I can finish this."

Rook obediently faced forward with a teasingly contrite "Sorry, lethallan."

This time Bellara went quiet for a moment. It was the first time any of them had used the Dalish term of endearment among themselves. She didn't even know how Rook knew it. It reminded her of all the best days of her childhood, the warmth infused with the bittersweet pang of nostalgia for what was lost. She realized she had stopped combing when Rook glanced back at her again.

"Did I use it wrong?" Rook asked, her nose scrunched.

Bellara shook her head and then gave into the impulse to throw her arms around Rook's shoulders and hug her tightly. Rook laughed as she gripped Bellara's forearms in turn.

"Now who's wiggly?"

"We're a hummingbird and a Crow," Bellara declared, pressing her cheek against Rook's. "We're allowed to be wiggly."