#if there are snipers trained on me right now this is your sign to take the shot

[paranormaljones]

i just.

why do i even try at this point.

spent last night hanging out at a game night with some friends. a certain guy was there, one who i have talked about recently, and we clicked pretty immediately and i felt like there was definitely a vibe going on.

woke up this morning to find out that one of my friends who was also there learned that he has a girlfriend whom he recently started dating.

i'm just done. i'm so done. there's always something. every time i think there's a chance, the rug gets ripped out from under me and i'm humiliated once again. i give up.

[captain-mj]

Asking politely for another part of Selkie!Soap and Changeling!Ghost fic.

I will go bone hunting if necessary.

Understood!! Previous part and compilation

Ghost started to look immediately. He scrubbed the entire house up and down for the coat and found nothing.

How disappointing.

Ghost knew what he needed to do. He needed to get closer to the... man. The two of them were alone right now. Two glasses sat in front of both of them, but Simon couldn't lift his mask to drink it. Fucking refused. There were

"How did you get her?" His mouth felt like it was full of razors. Cutting his tongue as he tried to talk. "Her coat?"

"I'd watch her bathing every day over the summer. Her hair was so long. It reached her back. She was the most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. Then she left her coat out on the rock to dry." Fergus grinned. "Snatched it up so she'd marry me. Never wanted to be apart from her."

Simon hated how must that sounded like him. He watched Soap almost obsessively and he also never ever wanted to be apart from him. After all of this was said and done, he'd take a look at that and examine it. Soap deserved someone good. Simon was not that, but maybe he could try.

"I have a problem." Ghost looked over. "I don't know where to hide the coat. How fr away from it can you be? I brought it with us, just in case. Don't trust Soap to give me the truth."

Fergus nodded. "Aye. Understandable. They're fickle creatures, the fae. Like a changeling, they'll trick you out of house and home. Ya see, here's the thing. As long as it's stashed nearby, you have complete control over them. I suggest finding a space they can't go into and putting it there."

"They weak to iron or something?"

"No. Good train of thought, but they're not that I've seen. Pick somewhere like your office at work. Something they can't go into. It's better if they can't even think of that as an option. Next, you have to touch it occasionally. Wear it out and stuff like that."

"Where do you hide yours?"

"Can't tell you. Never know if one of my kid's is listening. Love them, but their mom is their favorite. It's cause I was the one always having to keep them straight."

Ghost side eyed him. "Ever hit them?"

"What? God no. They were still children. Just wee assholes."

It was not lost on Ghost that the man who held a woman against her will for years still thought hitting kids was abhorrent. "Right."

Recon. That's what he had to do.

"Johnny. I'm going to stalk your dad. Do you have a sniper rifle available?"

Soap and his mom stared at him, a little dumbfounded. "No. I do not keep a rifle on me, Simon. Why are you stalking my dad?"

"Find coat. He wears it occasionally, meaning he must see it occasionally. If you don't have a gun, I have to do it the old fashioned way."

Soap's Mom looked nervous. "Old fashioned way?"

Ghost nodded. "I'm going to follow him until he messes up. And they all mess up."

His day started out simple. Watching the man eat breakfast with his family. Soap checked his parent's bedroom, just in case it was in there while Ghost kept him distracted. Then he followed him around the house. He was like a shadow through the home. Not even Soap noticed him half the time, though he did always notice something was off in the air.

Ghost wondered if this came from him being a changeling or simply his trauma. Either worked. Each room Fergus went into was sent to Soap who would tear it apart just in case. And then Fergus left the house.

Ghost followed silently. Keeping the coat out of the house would be smart. He had mentioned an office at work. Maybe he was speaking from experience.

Fergus paused and he ducked into an alley, making sure to keep an eye on him. His target went into a store. Family owned shop. Ghost followed and saw him talking to the owner, but he left after buying some things. He couldn't see any signs they were holding something for him. Least of all of thick fur coat.

There were other false alarms. The coffeeshop it seemed he frequented, his job, the place he ate for lunch.

Ghost watched it all, waiting for something to happen. Anything to happen.

Then it did.

Golf clubs.

It was such an odd detail. Golfing wasn't even popular in this area. But Ghost got a weird feeling and went over to check the clubs when he was distracted.

Sure enough, folded up and slid between the clubs, was her coat. His head buzzed as he tried to think of how to retrieve it without him knowing. He wanted to give her plenty of time to make her decisions on how she wanted to leave.

The coat was so soft. Softer than Soap's. How young was she when he took it?

He decided not to entertain those thoughts and backed off. Ghost waited until he put them away for the day to slip into his car and take the coat from the bag. He quickly took it home, keeping it folded and refusing to touch it with his bare skin. Just in case he got those weird feelings about wearing it like he did Soap. The fantasy that Soap was different and that's why he got the urge was something he was desperate not to break.

Moray was talking with her daughters and Soap. Ghost, like a cat with a dead mouse, dropped it in front of her. It hit the table with a thump. Dust fell off of it.

"Hol-"

"You fu-"

"You ma-"

All three of the siblings started talking. Ghost tuned them out, focusing on her. Anything Soap said, he could hear later.

He expected her to lunge for the coat. To be feral and wild like he knew he would be.

Instead, she stood up and hugged him. The sudden contact made him stiffen, but she squeezed him gently.

"Thank you."

He swore he heard a soft Manchester accent commenting, "That's my good boy." But he chose to ignore that. If he suddenly had the ability to hear ghosts or was just going crazy, that wasn't important.

He didn't hug her back.

Moray picked up the coat and hugged it around herself.

"Alright. I'm sorry, Johnny. I do like your new boyfriend."

[canthavetoomuchchaos]

Viking

Simon Riley x sniper! Reader

Call sign: Viking. VI for short.

Specialty: sniping and stealth.

Viking wears Norse war paint, any type of your choosing.

A new recruit is added to the 141, they have been specifically chosen for the task force by Captain Price. What happens when Ghost can't seem to read this new member?

The day I arrive on base is slightly overwhelming, the base is about the same as my old one, but seeing as I've been chosen for the special task force 141, it's a little intimidating.

I hop out of the helicopter, my duffel slung over my shoulder and it's now that I'm glad I decided to wear my paint. A man wearing a skull painted balaclava stands a few feet away from the heli. I see who I assume is Captain Price, based on his facial hair and infamous hat. Next to him stands a man with a mowhawk, I've been told this guy is called Soap. I walk towards the group, my face still like a stone in a neutral expression, my eyes scanning the area before approaching any further.

"Viking, glad you could make it. As I'm sure you know, I'm Captain John Price, just call me Price. This here is ghost," he gestures towards the man with the balaclava, he gives no response. "And this is Soap." He gestures to the man with a mowhawk. So I was right then. Soap gives a nod, I give one in return.

"glad I could make it sir. Do I need to do anything before I find my way to the barracks?" I say, my tone flat and waiting for a response. Ghost huffs and turns around walking away, I ignore it. Price and Soap shrug, allowing him to walk away and Price answers my question.

"No, no tasks need done for the moment, Soap here will show you to the barracks. There's a briefing in 0200, don't be late." He says, then walks off in the same direction Ghost had gone.

"Well, seems you're comin' with me to the barracks then. This way." Soap says with a nod. I follow after him and watch as he fidgets with some loose wires.

"you're the demolition specialist." I say, though it was meant to sound like a question, it came out as a statement. He huffs a small chuckle and nods

"that would be me yes, the wires give it away?"

I nod, adjusting my duffel on my shoulder so it's not digging into my neck as much. We finally reach the barracks and soap shows me which cot will be mine and where my locker will be in the bathroom. I place my duffel next to my cot and nod to Soap. He looks at the time on his watch.

"you've got about 30 minutes before the briefing. See you there Viking!" Soap then leaves and I'm alone in the barracks. I look around slightly and start placing my things in their places. I adjust my shirt and make shirt the black holster on my thigh is still attached, tightening it slightly and placing my pistol in it. I check just above it for my knives and find all 3 are still secured. I then leave the barracks and make my way to the main building, Price meets me at the door and walks me to a training room if sorts.

"this briefing will be a smidge different. You'll be showing your skills to your new teammates in the dark." He says, a slightly smug expression on his face. The others in the room, Soap, Ghost, and Gaz I assume, all stare at him, clearly not having been informed until now.

I turn to Price and nod, walking to one corner as they all watch, Price counts down from 5, turning the lights off at 3. The hunt begins. I blink twice whilst my eyes adjust, remembering where the equipment in the room is as I feel the vibrations of someone approaching from my left, I jump and kick the air near me, landing a kick to someone's jaw. I'll feel bad later, right now, I need to survive this drill. The more I stay in place the easier they can find me, I calm my breathing to be silent as I silently run towards the last place I saw ghost, I see the shadow of his hulking figure and approach it slowly, carefully jumping onto his back and covering his mouth through the mask, his hands come up to grab me and I take my opportunity to swing around his waist, using my grip on his head and his weight to my advantage, flipping him onto his back, tapping him twice as a silent drill kill.

Price suddenly turns the light back on and I'm blinded for a moment, soap runs at me, blood running from his nose, and he swings a nasty right hook into my jaw, I recoil and quickly recover, dropping down and swinging my leg underneath him, effectively taking him down, I tap him twice like I did Ghost and he stays down, knowing the taps. Price is behind me putting me into a tight headlock before I can think. My eyes widen and I quickly throw an elbow to his ribs, lifting my arms to his face and plunging my thumbs into his eyes, pushing enough to hurt but not to injure. He yells and releases me, a hand over his eyes as he backs away.

I turn and Gaz is running at me, a fake knife pulled as I fight him off, keeping the hand weilding the knife away from my body. I finally tripped him and he goes down, I tap his chest two times and stand up, still silently moving as I return next to the door.

Price stands up and a small smile is on his face at my empty expression.

"you live up to your reputation. I was expecting as much but you can never be too sure. Good work soldier. " the other men stand up and I accidentally make direct eye contact with Ghost. He holds it and I refuse to look away, not allowing his dead looking eyes to deter my confidence in my skills. He blinks after a minute and walks out the door, a quiet grunt coming out of his mouth as Soap explains to him how I kicked him before he even knew he had found me.

This is going to be one interesting task force.

[lonelypond]

NicoMaki, HonoKotoUmi, Love Live, 4.3K, 4/4

Summary: Honoka makes a decision as the rest of the crew rush to her aid.

Mighty Fine Shootin', Chapter 4

Twenty minutes before

The wagon with dynamite was slowing Tsubasa down. They were in sight of the railroad tracks and could see the smoke from the approaching train. Frustrated, Tsubasa had dismounted and taken over the reins of the wagon, urging the cart horses faster with curses and slaps. It seemed to be working, at least from Honoka's perspective. So she had a hard choice, do something while they were on the move, before actual contact with the train. To wait would be endangering too many innocents. And Umi and Kotori. Honoka wished no one ill but Tsubasa had made bad choices over and over again. Today, there would be consequences. Honoka slowed her horse, letting fellow members of the gang pass her. One gloved hand rested on the handle of her Colt pistol, relaxed so as not to draw attention. Honoka would briefly have the element of surprise. She hoped she'd read the signs and signals right. A glance at the plume of smoke from the train. It was getting closer. No more delay. Her hand hesitated. It gritted too hard against Honoka's nature, a sneak attack. The dynamite wasn't going anywhere faster than her bullet would find it. And Honoka wasn't a cold blooded killer.

"Hey, Tsubasa. Better jump."

Kira Tsubasa's head swivelled and chilly green eyes locked onto Honoka's, opening wide as so many little hints swarmed into a realization about why she'd never found out the identity of the marshal. Right under her nose. Like the dynamite. And then Tsubasa leapt through the air, rolling into a landing.

One snake strike motion and Honoka's gun was out and two bullets headed to the load of dynamite in the wagon. Barely even a breath before a searing heat pulsed outward with a huge, concussive noise, throwing riders off horses, other horses stumbling back and rearing. Forewarned, Honoka controlled her horse, steering her clear of the chaos. And then the riders came out of the trees, a very familiar voice calling out, "U.S. Marshals. Surrender!"

Yukiho. Yukiho had gotten her message. A flash of fawn colored hair caught Honoka's eye. Kotori? No, her mother, retired Deputy Director of The Marshals, who'd recruited and trained Honoka, Yukiho, and Umi. A gunshot kicking the dirt next to her horse focused Honoka back in the present. Where had Erena and Anju gotten to? Tsubasa wasn't getting to her feet. Still too close to the wagon to be unscathed. Honoka spotted orange hair running to where Tsubasa had likely landed. Anju. Honoka laid along her horse's back, minimizing her profile. Erena had probably found cover in the chaos, ducking back into the trees, probably on foot, the better to scramble out on a branch and use her sniper skills.  Bullets were whining by everywhere. Honoka spotted Yukiho to her left with Director Minami by her side. They were returning fire, while pushing the scattered bandits toward the central wreckage of the wagon. Honoka rode to Yukiho's other side.

"Glad to see you."

"Hey, sis. You sure do know how to send a signal."

"There's a sniper somewhere. She'll probably be after me."

"Get cover. Now." Director Minami ordered.

"You're a big target, sis."

A bullet tore through Honoka's hat.

"Darn it."

Yukiho leaned over and pushed Honoka in the direction of the closest cover, "Just go."

Honoka chivvied her horse, hurrying to reach a less exposed location.

###

Eli hadn't seen Nozomi in a couple of hours. Time to tip up her hat, lean back, and lose a few hands to ease her absence from the table.

Pair of fives. Not a great hand. She let herself frown and pushed a dollar chip forward.

"I'll take three."

Dealer obliged. Eli stared at her full house, keeping the frown. Raises went around the table, gamblers eager to get some of their stash back. Eli was about to oblige them. 5 to her. "I'll see your 5 and raise you…" hesitate, bite lip, give off hurried air, "two."

"You're bluffing. I'm in."

Neither of her remaining rivals raised so when it came back to Eli she laid out her initial pair.

The pale man next to her snorted, "That the best you got? Flush." He laid 5 clubs on the table. "They might not be pretty but they get the job done, Miss Russian."

Eli knew he'd slipped the ace of clubs out of his worn sleeve. Once upon a time, she would have shot a hole in his hat and slit his cuffs. Now she sighed, an envious smile at his good fortune.

"Da, ya got me. Time for a dinner break." Eli pushed back from the table, making sure to swivel her hip so her pistol hit the table, to discourage anyone from joining her.

A boom. The train rocked. Nozomi. Where was Nozomi? Eli shoved through to the aisle and started running. She pulled up when she saw Umi, both hands raised to block her.

"Where's Nozomi?"

"I sent her to get the horses. We've got to stop the train."

"Why? The explosion was behind us."

"Honoka will be out there, alone. We have to hurry."

"UMI!" Kototi skittered around Eli, going straight for Umi, throwing her arms around the sheriff's waistcoat.

"Kotori, let me breathe."

Eli shook her head. "You stop the train. You have the badge. I'm going to help Nozomi."

Umi considered. "All right. Bring the horses to the locomotive. There's at least two bandits. Nozomi knows who they are."

Nozomi with two bandits. Eli didn't wait to listen to anything else Umi said.

###

Nozomi held the shotgun almost lazily. But anyone who could read people would have been warned by the narrowing of her eyes. The bandits misread the situation, choosing threats.

"I gave you your cigs. Let us through."

"You're not taking any horses."

"It's two to one. How are you going to stop us."

"Easy. I'm gonna let you go." Nozomi cocked the gun, raising it to her chest. "Just step off the train and I won't follow."

"You won't follow. Like we're supposed to be scared."

A smile. Cold. "That's the best offer you'll get on this train. I'd take it if I were you."

"NOZOMI!" could be heard from behind the door. Then before anyone could react, Eli broke through, reading the situation in an instant and tackling the bandit who had their gun on Nozomi. Knee on their chest, Eli had her pistol out and pointed at the bandit's face, "You're under arrest."

Nozomi had stepped closer to the other bandit, rifle cocked, pointed at their temple. "Drop your gun."

Metal hit the ground. Nozomi kicked it away. "I told you that was the easy way."

"Nozomi?"

"I'm fine, Eli."

"Thank God."

"Where's Umi?"

"Stopping the train." Eli looked Nozomi over and seeing no wounds, relaxed. "You'd better get the guards. We'll have to restrain these two and leave 'em."

"Just let me cuff this one so she can't cause you any trouble." With a strength that surprised her captive, Nozomi had her wrists chained around a post in under a minute. "I'll be right back." Nozomi winked, "Don't have too much fun without me."

"Nozomi."

Nozomi laughed, "Sorry." She kissed the top of Eli's head. "I won't be long, love."

Once Nozomi was gone, Eli growled and casually connected the bandit's head to the floor of the train as she adjusted her hold on their shirt collar. They swallowed back their complaint when they read the murder lurking in blue eyes.

"Stay still."

"Yes'm."

"Good."

###

The engine room was hot and crowded, impatience thick in the air.

"Stop the train." Umi demanded.

"I can't."

Unlike the train, Umi had no intention of stopping. "Are you the engineer? Is this train equipped with air brakes?"

"Yes."

Umi moved closer to the controls. "Which of these activates them?"

The grizzled engineer pushed back, "You don't know what you're doing. There are bandits out there."

"And I am here to help stop them. Pull the brake."

The engineer glanced to his partner, who started to reach for something to use as a weapon.

Umi pulled out her badge, "Sheriff Umi Sonoda, working with the Federal Marshals. There are two bandits on this train. My colleagues have probably transferred custody to your railroad police."

"Why didn't railroad security warn us?"

"We set a trap for the A-Rise gang. Only the actively involved law enforcement officers knew."

A chin scratch. An easing of the engineer's posture. Kotori stepped forward, "Please listen to Umi, sir. We're needed. And we need your help."

Umi had never witnessed anyone turn down Kotori. This engineer would not start a new trend. He reached for a lever, then hesitated. "Does it have to be a full stop?"

"We need our horses."

He nodded, then turned to his younger colleague, "Better get up there, Jimmy."

"Yup." And the brakeman headed for the roof of the car next in line.

"Thank you." Umi's sincerity eased the mood.

"Just nail those bastards to a tree. I lost good friends in a raid last year."

"We will do our best."

A shared glance, a nod, and the train shuddered to a stop.

###

Erena hadn't been able to resist a shot at Kousaka, that traitor. Marshals were everywhere, circling her team, herding them, disarming them, now about to set up a perimenter. She could see Anju's ginger hair, bent over Tsubasa, thrown several yards from the wreckage. Maybe Tsubasa was still alive…Honoka hadn't had the grit to do her job thoroughly. Erena spotted two marshals heading in her direction. She'd have to flee, gather whoever she could find, and get set up in a hideout for winter. A chance to rescue her friends might come but only if she escaped. Walking her horse quietly through the trees, she hurried to reach a spot out of the sight of the marshals so she could mount up.

###

Maki had switched to automatic mode, her muscles urging the horse faster, her mind racing through most likely injuries due to explosives. Unless someone had made rudimentary triage efforts, Maki was in a desperate race against blood loss. She could smell the acrid smoke and blood and gunpowder. Must be close. Ahead of her, a rider directed their horse across the trail Maki was on. She pulled up Midnight, angry.

"Get out of my way. I'm a doctor. People might be dying."

"No one is getting through. We have it under control."

"Are there injuries? I can help. Don't be stupid."

Maki heard horses behind her. Nico. And Rin. Rin would get her through. She urged Midnight into a turn.

"Rin. Tell them I'm a doctor."

Rin was out of breath and holding her badge in front of her, "Let her through. Is Honoka okay?"

"Hoshizora! Good to see you. We were afraid you might be…"

Rin glanced over her shoulder to Hanayo. "I'm fine. Let Maki through."

Maki pushed Midnight to a trot.

"I'm with her. Don't try to stop me." Nico's voice snapped from next to her.

This was better. Maki could make a difference now. And Nico, Rin, and Hanayo had her back.

###

Maki could read an accident or battle scene automatically. Bustles of activity, lines of fighters or rescuers, riderless horses moving in dangerously erratic patterns. Her eyes were drawn to oases of quiet, the almost hidden patches where silence and blood mingled, tears often in the mix. About fifteen feet from the still burning wagon, Maki saw a stillness and dismounting, she grabbed her waxed canvas roll from the saddle and headed for her first patient, not paying attention to warning shouts or passing bullets. Nico cursed, grabbed several blankets, and jumped down, grabbing Midnight's reins, tossing them at Rin and Hanayo.

"Tie the horses somewhere safe. I'm going after Maki."

Hanayo gulped, but nodded with more confidence than she felt. Horses were a problem she could manage.

"You got this Kayo-chin. I'm gonna find Honoka."

"Be careful, Rin."

Rin cheerfully saluted and searched for a fellow Marshal, Sugar calmly following Rin's lead. Hanayo dismounted, patting Cream, "We'll be fine, girl. Let's see where we can wait." Cream's lead rope in one hand and Midnight and Rose's in the other, Hanayo headed for the treeline.

###

Anju hissed as Maki shoved past her to kneel next to an unconscious Tsubasa.

"Get away from her."

"I'm a doctor. Be quiet."

A rough hand on Anju's shoulder pulled her away from Tsubasa and Maki. Nico had her gun and knife confiscated in less than a minute.

"Yazawa."

"Anju."

"Tsubasa's gonna…"

"Tsubasa's lucky to be alive. How come you're not in cuffs?"

Anju shrugged. Nico figured the marshals hadn't registered her as a threat. And with Tsubasa wounded, maybe she wasn't. Nico wouldn't be taking any chances. Not with Maki completely absorbed in examining the patient.

"Where's Erena? Is she in custody."

Anju didn't respond, watching Maki's face for any clue as to Tsubasa's condition.

Maki had her kit unrolled. "Is there any hot water?"

"Take these blankets." Nico shoved them past Anju. "I'll start a fire."

"Is she dying?" Anju whined.

Maki tucked a wool blanket around Tsubasa, using a second as a pillow, gently moving Tsubasa's head with the smallest motions. "You did well stopping the bleeding." Maki glanced to the wagon, the fire almost burnt out. "She's far enough from the blast zone that we might not be dealing with internal injuries. But these lacerations," Maki pointed at Tsubaba's forehead, "indicate she hit her head, as does her unconscious state."

"What does that mean?"

Nico was half listening as she gathered kindling and larger sticks, stacked them, and ignited her tinder.

"Probable concussion. No way to know how bad the damage is until she regains consciousness."

"Can't you do something?"

Ignoring her frantic audience, Maki had her stethoscope earpieces in, the bell on Tsubasa's chest.

"What's happening? Is she breathing?" Anju pressed, panic rising.

"Leave Maki alone. She's a good doctor. She'll save Tsubasa if she can. She saved Nico." Nico grabbed Anju, pulling her to her feet. "Help Nico find something to heat water in."

"I want to stay."

"We're going." Nico had left her rifle in its saddle holster but she had her pistol. Drawing it got Anju's attention and agreement.

###

Chaos. Honoka had lost her horse somewhere and knocked out, cuffed, or tied up so many members of the A-Rise gang she'd lost count. Her feet were sore, every time she went to rub her eyes the sight of her soot blackened hands stopped her. She needed water and a break. Where had Yukiho gone?

"Honoka!!!"

Umi? Honoka spun, suddenly lighter. Umi, hat flying off her head, was running toward her, Kotori right behind. They were here. They were safe. Umi's strong arms wrapped around her, Kotori's tears dropping onto both their shoulders.

"Honoka." Kotori sobbed.

Honoka felt strong enough to pick them both up but she knew that was just adrenaline surging at the touch of her lovers.

"You're all right." Kotori's hand was on Honoka's cheek, golden eyes searching for wounds.

Honoka grinned, shaking herself, "I need a bath but I'm fine, Kotori. How did you get here?"

"We heard the explosion. Captured the two bandits on the train, turned them over to the railroad police. Then stopped the train and got off." Umi held Honoka close for a long minute, then stepped back. Honoka grabbed her hand.

"You're not getting away."

"Can we help?"

"Kotori's mom's in charge."

"Mama!"

"Yeah. I didn't know if you'd make it so I took a chance and snuck out and telegramed Yukiho. She and Kotori's mom brought a bunch of marshals."

"I am very glad you were not facing A-Rise alone."

"Me too. Especially after I set off the explosion."

"You did what?"

"I couldn't let them get to the train. I knew you were on it."

"Honoka." Kotori's voice was soft.

"Honoka." Umi's was accusatory.

"I'm fine."

"You're lucky."

"Lucky to have the two of you." Honoka wrapped her arms around their shoulders. "Let's find Kotori's mom. I need some grub."

"And we can assist ongoing efforts."

"That's my Umi." Honoka laughed, "Did you two have any fun at all while I was gone, Kotori?"

Kotori started to tear up.

Honoka felt panic for the first time that day and rushed into an apology. "I'm sorry, Kotori. Don't cry. I'm fine. I'm coming home. Please don't cry."

Umi had almost chucked Honoka on the back of the head but restrained. "Then resist the urge to ask disturbing questions."

"C'mon, let's go."

"Lead the way." Umi's heart eased as her stride matched Honoka's. On a parallel course, Kotori between them, reunited, all safe, their love solid. They had built a home and family on this foundation.

###

Eli finished shaking a marshal's hand as she turned over three members of the bandits to the authorities. A special locomotive with two rail cars was coming from Denver with additional marshals and railroad police to pick up the captured gang members.

"You look tired, Elichi." Nozomi swung in, sliding her arms around Eli's waist.

"I am. Had to ride those three down."

"Where's your horse?"

Eli pointed vaguely north, "Left it with one of the marshals. Have you seen Umi?"

"She and Kotori found Honoka and went to talk to Kotori's mom. She's the retired Deputy Director Of The Marshals."

"I know."

Nozomi giggled, "Spent some time in her office?"

Eli shrugged. "Let's just say, I'm sure she'd be a bit too interested in anything I've been up to."

"But you're a blacksmith now. And a stalwart of the community. Umi relies on you."

There was something in Eli's eyes, something hidden, something haunted. There had been too much crossover with her old life these past few days. Eli loosened the bandana around her neck. "Is there any food around for a hungry rider?"

"Actually, Hanayo's got a nice little set up."

Eli smiled at that, "She's probably got rice cooking in at least two pots."

"Good guess."

Eli shifted her gun belt, "It'll be a nice touch of home."

###

Nico had left Anju with Umi and taken on the job of gathering the horses that were milling around riderless. She found a small clearing and put one of the younger marshals in charge. As she gathered more mounts, Maki's near constant movement was a distraction, the doctor stomping through camp, triaging the wounded, dealing with the most dire cases first. Nico finally had to focus on her own task and leave Maki to hers. Several A-Rise members had been close to the explosion; Maki setting a few fractures, cleaning and stitching wounds, stabilizing patients for transport and administering painkillers. Tsubasa remained unconscious so she was carefully moved to the area where the wounded were being prepared to be transferred onto the train.

"Nico!!!" Rin's voice rang out, distracting Nico from the feedbags she was putting over horses' noses.

"Something happen?" Nico asked.

"You got to come eat. Kayo-chin's made curry. She sent me to get you and Maki."

"Have you seen Maki?"

Rin shook her head. "Nope. Haven't been everywhere yet."

"Nico will look. Take over here."

"Sure." Rin grabbed the feedbag, petting the horse's blaze, "Hey, buddy."

Nico went back into the main area, now much more organized. She didn't immediately see a redhead. She did hear Honoka.

"Umi, you've got to convince her. There'll be a doctor on the train. She looks so exhausted."

Nico pivoted, heading for Honoka's voice.

"NICO!!! You're alive!" Honoka rushed Nico, lifting her off the ground. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Nico's glad too. Now what were you saying about Maki?"

"She's sleepwalking, can't keep her eyes open."

"Where is she?"

Honoka pointed to the left, "She was heading for the wagon last I spotted her."

Nico touched Umi's forearn, "I'll get her to take a break."

Umi nodded, "I think you could. Honoka and I need to go over some details with Director Minami. Will you be going on to Denver?"

Nico hesitated. She'd planned to go, to testify, then head further south to see her family. But the memory of the last time she'd seen Maki kept revisiting, the doctor bent with exhaustion, her steps a forced, weary shuffle, not a confident stride.

"Do you need Nico to testify in court?"

Honoka and Umi shared a glance, "We can take a sworn statement from you, say it's to keep you safe and anonymous."

"Erena's still out there." Nico muttered.

"She'll be more focused on Tsubasa." Honoka drew a line with her heel, "And me."

"Erena saw me. And Tsubasa knows where my family lives."

"Don't worry about it, Nico. The marshals will take care of your family. And the gang is probably done for the winter, if not longer. Maki's not sure how much brain damage Tsubasa might have suffered. She was awfully close to the explosion."

"You saved lives Honoka." Umi said softly.

"I know but…"

Nico decided not to third wheel. She had an emotional crisis of her own to resolve. "I'll find Maki; you find Kotori."

"Thanks, Nico. You're good people. We won't forget that."

Honoka held out her hand. Nico shook it, surprised at the relief Honoka's simple words allowed her.

###

Maki had to sit. No one thinking sensibly would pick the still warm, burnt out husk of an exploded wagon but Maki was cold, the wagon still had enough sturdiness that she could lean back against it, and at the angle she chose, it protected her from the sight of most of the camp.

She closed her eyes, leaning forward into her knees, her head resting on her arms. The noises had quietened. No shots, no shouts, just distant movement, conversation, things and people being dragged, horses snorting their opinions and requests at any passerbys. She could hear friends, sometimes a voice almost familiar spoke her name, but Maki just drew further into her shell. She had no intention of replying. She did not wish to be found. She'd done good work, saved lives, saved limbs, but after, there came the heaviness, the words trapped in her chest, the energy it took to even listen to a question. She had none for responses.

Boots in front of her. Maki glanced up. It was too dark to see the expression on Nico's face.

"Brought you some food." Nico crouched to hand Maki a tin cup full of what smelled like curry. "Not as good as Nico's but it'll warm you up."

Maki inhaled. Warm. Spices smelled good. Curry over rice; Hanayo had obviously taken over the campfire for the dinner shift.

"Nico's been rounding up the horses, feeding them."

Maki snorted. Maybe Nico should have brought her dinner in a feedbag.

"C'mon, eat." Nico tapped Maki's cup, "Nico's been watching you. You haven't had a break."

Maki forced a spoonful of curry into her mouth, the spicy warmth stimulating saliva and hunger. The cup was gone in less than ten bites.

"Here's a hunk of biscuit."

Maki wiped up the last of the curry.

Nico nodded, and sat herself next to Maki. "So is this a good spot for stargazing?"

Maki chewed. Nico was leaving. She was here to say goodbye. Maki had been listening for the train ever since Honoka had announced its existence late in the afternoon. Surely tired was what was prickling the corner of her eyes with tears, not this last small moment with Nico.

"Nico has some cookies left when we get back to our horses."

"I don't want cookies."

"Of course you want Nico's cookies. You love them, your daughters love them, Nico…"

"Stop." Maki could hear the train now. "You'd better get going. The train's nearly here."

Nico's eyes had adjusted to the low light. She could read the unhappiness in Maki's expression and turned the Doctor toward her, one hand sweeping up Maki's cheek.

"Don't cry."

"Too tired for this. Leave me alone." Maki growled.

"Lean on Nico."

"You're leaving." An accusation?

No response. Nico seemed to be blinking, biting her lip, thinking. Thinking was a rare look for Nico, Maki realized. Moments of honesty and scheming flashed across Nico's face with a rapidity that made any singular mood difficult to catch. Maki could feel Nico's fingers though, a gentle warmth against her cheek.

"Nico can't leave you."

"I am very capable…"

A brusque, bold press against her lips derailed Maki's argument, stealing her breath.

"Nico?"

Another kiss.

"Wait. Please?"

Nico didn't pull back. Maki could still feel her breath against her lips but that was the only pressure. Nico was kneeling, one hand tangled in Maki's hair, the other sliding behind her neck.

"What about your family?" Maki's heart was racing so fast, Nico was so near, practically sitting in her lap.

"Mama will understand." Nico sounded so calm.

"Huh?" How could there be anything calm about this moment?

"Mama" kiss "will" kiss "understand" kiss "Nico can't leave the smart, pretty, kind doctor and her smart, cute, kind daughters." Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.

Maki's eyelids were fluttering, her exhales were three times as fast as she could take in air, Nico's weight everywhere, the sounds and their surroundings starting to swirl…her fingers gripped Nico's back, pulling her in, holding her tightly, Maki's face hidden in Nico's shoulder while she willed her breaths to slow, her face fever hot.

"Maki?"

Nico sat back. There was space. A break of contact. Maki opened her eyes. Cool. Stars. Nico's smile.

"You're staying? Really?" More prickles as tears dropped to cool the fever of her cheeks.

"Nico is right here." Kiss. Again.

Maki sagged, everything that had happened that day a weight of weary that she had expected to carry alone.

Nico deftly altered their position, adjusting so Maki could lean against her shoulder, Nico's arm keeping her close. There was a whisper, both a promise and a demand.

"Nico is taking care of you now, Maki. Get used to it."

So bold. so silly. So presumptuous. So strong. So warm. Maki had no idea how any of this had happened. Or how Nico had managed to wrap a blanket around them.

The locomotive announced its arrival with a whistle. Maki tensed.

"Right by your side. Not going anywhere without you." Nico pulled her closer, Maki relaxing enough to yawn. "Time to rest, Maki."

Questions and conversations would wait. And that first star Maki just noticed could keep tonight's wish. If you could photograph a feeling, Maki would make a print of this moment, right now, to remember this dizzying, intoxicating sensation as the world tilted Nico-ward and Nico caught her.

A/N:

It's been so difficult to get the characters to cooperate. Or maybe I was the difficult one, considering paths that characters would never take. But I like how this arc wrapped up. I'm planning to eventually continue the story using some of this year's Yeehawgust prompts. Thanks for reading!

[loganwritesprobably]

Do you want to write? Here we go! I prefer Law and Luffy with Number 3 and Friendship! H+K if it's possible. If not just H.

Thanks!

Oh anon you wonderful individual, these prompts together are absolutely delicious. Luffy isn't a strong point for me in terms of writing, so I hope I've done your request justice

Content/Warnings: Luffy & Law, angst, hurt/no comfort, character death, Law believes in Luffy, Luffy becomes the pirate king

Law had wanted to be the pirate king. He thought there was nobody better for the job than him, and then there was Luffy. Of course, at first, Law had continued to believe that he should be the Pirate King - this kid knew nothing, and charged head first into danger at every chance, he'd die before his crew could raise their bounties over five million.

Then he helped those kids on Punk Hazard. Then he helped defeat Doflamingo. His first mate survived Mihawk and then King. His cook survived Big Mom. His helmsman was first son of the sea Jinbei. His sniper was the son of a Red Haired Pirate. His doctor was from Drum, the island full of the world's best doctors. His shipwright was raised by the man who built Gol D. Roger's ship. His archologist could read poneglyphs. He was trained by Dark King Rayleigh. His father was the Revolutionary Leader Dragon. He wore the hat of Red Haired Shanks. He survived Akainu. He defeated Kaido and freed Wano.

Luffy would not die before he became the Pirate King, Law knew that now. He kept up the race because it was fun - and if Luffy didn't get there first, then that was his own fault, Law would be there instead. But he'd seen all that Luffy could do, and he continued following his friend ally's career with stars in his eyes.

They met on Lodestar. The final island. Law's crew couldn't take another beating, but the Straw Hats looked as good as ever. Law had lied to his crew - they hadn't believed him, but they'd let him go to do whatever it was he needed. Law was alone, and he faced Luffy like he had on so many islands now.

"I'm here to say goodbye, Luffy-ya." Law said, and he watched as the ears of several Straw Hats perked up, because when did he ever call Luffy by his name? "Why are you running away, Torao?" Luffy asked in return, and Law could only smile. He didn't do it often, but in this moment he knew he and Luffy were on the same page for the very first time. "No more running away. I'm running in, head first. I learned that from you." They held eye contact for a long moment, and nodded at each other. A sign of respect. They both knew, deep down, how this would end. "Good luck, Torao." "For the record, I knew you'd be the Pirate King the moment Doflamingo went down. I was just enjoying the race." Luffy laughed, and only softly, Law laughed with him.

-·—·-—-·—·-

The war was over. Luffy was the King.

His sandals hit the soil of Lodestar island, and there (exactly where he knew it'd be) was Law's hat. He took it in hand while the rest of the crew remained on the Sunny, waiting for him.

Law was dead. He'd sent his crew away to keep them safe, and he'd decided that he would be the last line of defence between the Straw Hats and Laugh Tale. They had important things they needed to do, and Law was going to buy them time.

He'd sacrificed himself to free the world.

"I'm sorry I was too late to save you, Law." Luffy said. He looked down at the hat in his hand, as precious to Law as his own hat had always been to him. He didn't know where Law's body was, or he'd give the man a proper burial. He looked up as footsteps approached, and found Bepo giving him a sad smile, with tear filled eyes. "He saved everyone. He didn't want to be saved." Bepo assured Luffy, and the two wrapped arms around each other. Shachi, Penguin and Ikkaku joined when they landed, the other Heart Pirates taking turns to hug the king, to thank him for all he'd done. "This is all that's left of him, that I could find. We should send him off the right way." Luffy said, and handed the hat to Bepo. The mink nodded, and together they approached the shore of the island, a few paces down from the Sunny.

Upon seeing everyone, the Straw Hats disembarked and joined the group. Everyone was silent as Bepo rested Law's hat on the water's surface, then pushed it out as hard as he could, letting it float away until it began to sink. Tears rolled down faces as it disappeared.

Law was gone, but the world was free.

Requests are open! See below links for my other works, and how to leave requests. I write both canon/canon and canon/reader requests for your enjoyment

AO3 | Fanfic Masterlist | Request Rules | Fic Trades Guide | WIPs

Tags: @claryeverlarkf

[swiftyangx12]

Sniper Training [Valorant SNL Parody #4]

[Synopsis]: Gekko & [A/N] get sniper training by an instructor who may have a little problem.

[Gender Neutral Agent!Reader]

[A/N] = Agent’s name/Call Sign

[TW]: Some cursing.

[Valorant HQ, Shooting Range, 10:30 a.m.]

Instructor: Aright, you newbies! You trained ten weeks for this moment. You want to be great agents?

Gekko & [A/N]: Yes, sir!

Instructor: You think you got what it takes?

Gekko & [A/N]: Yes, sir!

Instructor: Now hear this. You do not fire your weapon, until you hear me give the exact order. Human life is at stake, and you need to be 100% certain before you pulled that trigger. Hundred percent, is that clear?

Gekko & [A/N]: Yes, sir!

Instructor: Locked and loaded!

Gekko & [A/N]: Locked and loaded, sir!

Instructor: Do you have a lock?

Gekko & [A/N]: Yes, sir!

Instructor: Are you loaded?

Gekko & [A/N]: Yes, sir!

Instructor: Then, “tee da shaaa!!!”

Gekko & [A/N]: *Looks up from their scopes and at the instructor* *Both bewildered*

[A/N]: Excuse me, sir?

Instructor: “Tee da shaaa!!!”

Gekko: What?

Instructor: Stand down, both of you. *Rolls over to Gekko’s side*

Gekko: ¡Ay!

Instructor: *Hovers over Gekko* Where are you from, agent?

Gekko: Los Angeles, California, sir.

Instructor: L.A. native.

Gekko: Uh-huh.

Instructor: Well, you better show me what you got, and “tee da shaaa!!!”

Gekko: Excuse me?

Instructor: *Moves closer to Gekko’s face* “Tee da shaa…”

Gekko: I’m sorry, sir. Can you make that order clear? I wanna be sure I’m hearing you right.

Instructor: Then stand down. *Rolls over to [A/N]’s side and hovers over them* What about you, agent? You want to be a great agent?

[A/N]: Yes, I want to protect my home world, sir!

Instructor: You ever sit alone in the dark and let your mind take control of your soul and try to play god?

[A/N]: *Confused by the whole ordeal* I’m sorry?

Instructor: Yes or no, agent?! Are you god? I’ll give you a hint. You are.

[A/N]: Uhh okay.

Instructor: Now, agent! *Leans closer* “Tee da shaaa…”

[A/N]: Excuse me?

Instructor: Oh. I’m sorry. Do-you-need-me-to-enunciate?

[A/N]: Yes I do, sir.

Instructor: “TAE. DA. SHA!” “TAE. DA. SHAAA!!!

Gekko: We can’t understand your order, sir.

Instructor: *Rolls back to Gekko* What the hell did you say to me?!

Gekko: Nothing, sir!

Instructor: But it sounds like you said something.

Gekko: No, sir!

Instructor: Alright, but don’t move. I got to use the John. *Rolls out of scene*

Gekko: *Looks at the instructor and back at [A/N]* He sayin’ “take the shot”, right?

[A/N]: I don’t know. Why is he saying it like that?

Gekko: No idea. It has got to be a test of some sort.

Instructor: *Rolls back in scene*

Gekko: Oh!

Instructor: *Hovers over Gekko again* False alarm! I didn’t have to go. I’m just lying on my bladder weird. What did I miss? Did anyone “tee da shaaa…”?

Gekko: No, sir.

Instructor: Locked and loaded!

Gekko & [A/N]: Locked and loaded, sir!

Instructor: Alright!

Gekko: What?

Instructor: *Hovers over Gekko and rolls over back to [A/N]* *Lies next to them* Alright, agent. Now, I’m just gonna put my hand on the small of your back.

[A/N]: *Feeling uncomfortable* Get your hand off of me before I rip it off.

Instructor: *Retracts his hand back* You know what you can do.

[A/N]: *Getting irritated* What’s that, sir?

Instructor: “Tee da shaaa!!!”

[A/N]: Are you telling me to take the shot?!

Instructor: I’m telling to “tee da shaaa!!!” Now, hold your fire and “tee da shaaa!!!”

[A/N]: Oh my god! Should I hold my fire or take the shot?!!

Instructor: Hold your fire and “tee da shaaa!!!”

[A/N]: What the hell?! This is messed up!

Instructor: Then stand down! *Rolls back to Gekko* Locked and loaded!

Gekko: Locked and loaded, sir!

Instructor: Good. God, you must be addicted. *Hovers over Gekko more* Of doing squats.

[A/N]: Get the fuck off of him!

Instructor: *Moves back in his original place* Locked and loaded!

Gekko: Okay.

Instructor: Enemy target is 70 meters.

Gekko: I got a lock.

Instructor: Do you?

Gekko: Yes, sir.

Instructor: Are you sure?

Gekko: Yes, sir!

Instructor: Then “tee da shaaa”, but hold your fire!

Gekko: *Mildly irritated* Are you tellin’ me to take the shot, sir?

Instructor: What part of “hold your fire” and “tee da shaaa” don’t you understand, boy?

Gekko: All of it, sir!

Instructor: Just take the damn shot, agent! Hold your fire and “tee da shaaa”!

Gekko: I should take the shot?

Instructor: “Tee da shaaa”! Hold your fire! “Tee da shaaa”!

Gekko: I’m taking the shot!

Instructor: “TEE DA SHAAA!”

[BANG!]

Phoenix: OW! Who the hell shot me?!

Instructor: Oops.

Gekko: *Now angry* Oops? You told me to take the shot!

Instructor: No I didn’t. I told you to “tae da sha” and it’s been a slang for “stand down.”

[A/N]: But you also said “stand down.”

Instructor: Yeah, I’m inconsistent.

Gekko: WHAT?! What the hell is “hold your fire”?

Instructor: I don’t know. It’s some voodoo chant I learned in Honduras.

Gekko: WHAT?!

Instructor: Now gets “gwo o’ here”! *Rolls out of scene*

Gekko: *Looks at [A/N]* What?

[A/N]: I’m reporting this to Brimstone for having an incompetent idiot as our sniper instructor.

[Reblogs help creators and creates for more content]

[Tagged]: @hhurric4ne @radianights @l0serloki @mrssabinecallas @theladyheroine

[dreamwritesimagines]

Burn The Witch 15 - Liar Liar [Bucky Barnes x Reader]

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful support and feedback my loves ! ❤ Here’s the next chapter, I hope you like it as well and please let me know what you think! ❤ Thank you! ❤❤❤

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Warnings: Enemies to lovers, fake dating, mentions of blood, sex, violence, death, manipulation, language, guns, knives.

Summary: Dishonesty requires practice.

Series Masterlist

Every spy knew things could go downhill on a mission. Considering how your last mission had ended with your ex, you weren’t exactly unfamiliar with the idea of your cover being blown but—

None of the targets were as dangerous as this one.

For a moment, you thought about pushing that button on your wristwatch and calling your whole team here because there was no way you could take down the legendary Winter Soldier in a fight, but through the haze of panic, a voice in your head told you not to.

It was just a mission.

As long as you kept your calm, you could fix this.

“Bucky,” you heard yourself say, “I can explain.”

He stared at you and the gun in his hand, then raised his brows.

“Okay,” he said, “Yeah, please explain why you have a gun.”

God damn it.

Okay, you had to think. Your cover was the naïve sweet civilian girl so any sentence you formed had to fit the description. The spy in you was already trying to come up with something, you had been taught to lie without even blinking but somehow it felt almost—

Wrong.

You tried to pull yourself together, shaking your head.

“I—it’s—“ you took a deep breath, “Yeah I have a gun.”

“I can see that,” he said drily, “Why?”

Good question.

Why would the small town sweetheart have a gun?

The cover story didn’t have anything like that, so you had to come up with a believable lie based on—

Oh. Bingo.

“I was going to tell you,” you said. “I’ve actually—I’ve had it for weeks.”

“For weeks?” he repeated, “Why?”

You ran a hand over your eyes, then crossed your arms and shrugged.

“I’m going to need more than that, Y/N.”

You gritted your teeth and raised your glances to look up at him. “After I got mugged,” you started, “I told one of my friends back home about what happened and she’s—she came up with this idea that I should maybe buy a gun because I—I don’t know. I don’t know why I bought it, I just bought it.”

“You bought a gun because your friend told you to?”

You tilted your head, “No Bucky, I bought a gun because I got mugged and got shot within the first month of moving here.”

His gaze on you was fixed, as if he was trying to see whether you were lying or not but now that panic wasn’t taking over you, you could think straight.

Bucky was a legend among the espionage world and he was unstoppable and you probably didn’t stand a chance against him yes, but you had one advantage.

Bucky was a soldier, not a spy.

Spies were different. Bucky had the physical training to go after a target, but he never, ever had to manipulate them emotionally. You were one step ahead on that and if there was anything that could get you out of this mess, that was it.

“Listen I know that you’re concerned, but you have nothing to worry about,” you waved a dismissive hand, “The guy at the shop was very helpful, he even gave me his number—”

His head shot up, “What?”

“Yeah in case I needed anything with the gun. Or if I had any questions.”

A shadow crossed his eyes and he scoffed, shaking his head.

“Did he now?”

“Yeah,” you nodded, “And besides, I watched a bunch of tutorials so I think I got it. I’m a very quick learner.”  

“Tutorials?”

“Yeah, videos.”

He blinked a couple of times, and looked down at the gun before looking up at you.

“You watched videos.”

“Mm hm. One of the guys even had a deer head mounted on the wall behind him, it’s very clear he knows what he’s talking about.”

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered to himself and you had to remind yourself not to smile.

“And I know how to take the safety off,” you added, “After that point it’s basically point and pull the trigger, that’s what the video said.”

“I don’t even know where to begin— sweetheart,” he turned to you, “Forget what the video said, I can teach you if you want, but for what it’s worth, I think it’s a terrible idea.”

Hook, line and sinker.

“I hate guns,” you insisted, “It’s just that—Stacey said it’s a big city and after I got shot… I don’t know. I know I should’ve told you, I just didn’t want you to think I’m some kind of a paranoid person.”

He heaved a sigh and reached out to tug you by the hand so that he could pull you closer.

“I don’t think you’re paranoid,” he said. “I just think that you could hurt yourself or someone if you don’t have any training.”

“The guy made it sound pretty easy.”

“Yeah, I don’t think selling it was the only thing he wanted.”

You rolled your eyes at him, “Now who’s being paranoid?”

“I’m just being observant.”

“Jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” he said and you scrunched up your nose

“Right,” you said, “Of course you’re not.”

“So is there anything I should know about?” he changed the subject, “Anything at all? I won’t judge, I swear.”

You pressed your lips together as you looked up at him. What could you say to that?

I’ve been manipulating you all along.

I’m working for the same government that is looking for you to slip and make a mistake.

When this is over, I’m probably going to hate myself much more than you hate me.

Yeah. There was absolutely nothing you could say.

“Nothing I can think of right now,” you shrugged your shoulders, “So, can we go now?”

                                    ***

You could barely remember the last time you had been to a funfair. It didn’t even matter that you already knew where you were going, you were still quite excited despite the earlier panic you had gone through. Thankfully, Bucky seemed to have bought into your story but it didn’t mean you weren’t taking mental notes about what to do by the time the date was over.

Or when you were out of his sight, whichever.

“Thank you!” you said what it felt for the hundredth time as you put a piece of cotton candy into your mouth, enjoying the sweet taste melting in your mouth and Bucky smiled at you fondly.

“No problem darling.”

“No seriously, I haven’t been to a funfair in…I don’t know, forever!” you said, “Wait, so it was a thing back then?”

“Hm?”

“Bringing your date to a funfair?”

He nodded, walking beside you, “Yeah. There wasn’t much to do and you know, lots of people.”

“So no gossip?”

“Lots of gossip,” he corrected you, “But at least—“

“No one’s virtue got damaged.”

“You’re never going to let that go, are you?”

“Nope,” you grinned at him and gasped when something caught your eye, making him turn his head.

“What?”

“Oh my God!” you pointed at the huge neon sign and he followed your gaze, then scoffed a laughter.

“Seriously?”

“I want to try it.”

“Shoot The Ducks.” He read out loud, “You know what, let’s see how good you are if you watched that many videos.”

“I’m going to get that teddy bear,” you pointed at the biggest teddy bear sitting on the top shelf while he looked like he was fighting a laugh.

“Are you sure you can carry that?”

“You’re going to carry it for me,” you said as you handed him the cotton candy, your nose in the air and tugged him by the wrist to lead him to the shooting range. You took a look at the paper ducks with bullseye on them, then turned to the man behind the counter.

“Excuse me, how many of those should I shoot to get that?” you asked, motioning at the teddy bear and the man looked up.

“3 sets, all bullseye.”

“Okay,” you said and reached for your purse but Bucky had already paid the man by the time you could get your wallet out. He gave you the toy rifle and you had to remind yourself you were supposed to be terrible at it no matter how much you wanted that goddamn plushie.

The good thing about being an expert sniper was that you knew exactly how to miss and look like an amateur. So you pointed the rifle slightly to the right and took your shot, and as expected you missed.

“No!” you whined and Bucky stifled a chuckle, but adapted a look of seriousness as soon as you turned around to look at him with your eyes narrowed.

“I said nothing.”

“That was just bad luck,” you insisted, then took your shot again, deliberately missing once more. You lowered the rifle, pouting.

“I’m pretty sure this is rigged.”

“Or maybe the guy with the deer head on his wall had no idea what he was talking about,” Bucky pointed out, “Almost like watching videos isn’t enough to figure out how to shoot, wouldn’t you say?”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this.”

“On the contrary, I am a little terrified now that I know you have a gun," he taunted you, “And seeing this…”

You glared at him and took your shot, missing again and you heaved a sigh, lowering the rifle again.

“Better luck next time miss,” the man said and you offered him a small smile. Bucky heaved a sigh as if he was fighting himself.

“Which one did you say you wanted again?” he asked and you pulled your brows together, then pointed at the huge teddy bear. He nodded at the guy and handed him some cash after giving you your cotton candy back, then grabbed the toy rifle from the man and in only a couple of seconds, he had hit every single bullseye, making your jaw drop.

Okay.

You were so screwed.

You knew that he was a great super soldier but seeing it was something else. A shiver ran down your spine as what you had read on his file flashed before your eyes. You were right earlier, you had to make sure to avoid any kind of combat with him by the time this whole mission was over.

“Y/N?”

Your head shot up and you tried to pull yourself together, letting out a breath.

“Wow,” you managed to say and the man behind the counter gawked between you two.

“Um— that one please?” you said and he blinked a couple of times, then reached out to take the teddy bear down to put it into your arms. You let out a small squeal of glee, then beamed at Bucky.

“Thank you!” you said, trying to keep your nervousness hidden and he smiled.

“No problem,” he motioned at you and you gave the teddy to him so that you could hold your cotton candy better. You shook your head slightly, distracting yourself with the sweetness on your tongue but a small laughter escaped from your lips when you took a look at the sight beside you.

The scary Winter Soldier holding a huge teddy bear in his arms.

“What?”

“Nothing,” you managed to say, “I’m going to name him Bucky.”

“No you’re not.”

“Fine, I’m going to name him Grumpy,” you said, “Same deal.”

“Hey!” he protested and you giggled, then looked around.

“Come on,” you said, grabbing his hand, “Let’s go to the Ring Toss!”

                                ***

It was as if the time was going faster on your every single date with Bucky. Even after spending hours in that funfair until midnight, you were still quite giddy when you and Bucky reached your building. You let out a giggle as you turned around and took the huge teddy bear from him, hugging it tight.

“Thank you,” you said, looking up at him, “Really. I…I think it was the best that I’ve ever had.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah!” you said, “And now I have to find something equally amazing for a modern date, so no pressure.”

He chuckled, “You don’t have to find anything,” he said, “I’d be happy just being with you, not doing anything.”

Warmth filled your insides and you smiled.

“Really?”

“Really,” he nodded and you put the teddy bear down, then stood on your tiptoes to pull him down to a kiss.

His arm wrapped around your waist and you found yourself sighing as his other hand cupped your cheek. A fire – a very, very familiar fire started burning at the pit of your stomach as you felt yourself melt at his touch, every single doubt about the mission and the strategies and everything else wiping out of your mind until desire was the only thing left. He brushed your hair behind your ear as you pulled back and looked up at him, the same fire burning in his eyes but he was better than you at hiding it so a gentle smile pulled at his lips.

Fuck what the strategy report says.

“Um—“ you took a deep breath, “Would you want to come upstairs for...a cup of coffee or something?”

He looked almost surprised at the suggestion but for what it was worth, he overcame that quite fast. His gaze stopped on you for a moment before he nodded.

“Yeah,” he said, “Yeah I’d love to.”

A nervous laughter escaped from you and you nodded,

“Okay—“ you started but before you could say anything, his phone started ringing. He closed his eyes for a moment and took it out of his pocket to answer it.

“This is not a good time man,” he said, but his frown deepened as he listened to the other line, “Right now? Are you serious?”

You tilted your head and he heaved a deep sigh while the person told him something you couldn’t hear.

“Fine,” he muttered, “I’ll be there.”

Oh God damn it.

“Let me guess,” you said when he hung up, “Change of plans?”

He ran a hand over his eyes and nodded.

“Sam says there’s this group of people in need of help…” he grumbled, putting the phone into his pocket, “But somebody better be dying because if not, I can fix that really fast.”

You let out a laugh, “Don’t be like that,” you said, “It’s fine. I told you, I’m not going anywhere. Go save lives.”

“I’m really sorry darling.”

“It’s fine,” you repeated with a smile and pecked him on the lips before picking up the huge teddy bear. ���But be careful, you hear me?”

“Yes ma’am,” he saluted and you blew him a kiss before walking into the building. You took the elevator, still holding the teddy tight and as soon as you got to your floor you stepped out.

“What the hell is that?” Keith’s voice reached you and you tilted your head to look around the teddy’s arm to see him by his door, as if he was just leaving.

“It’s a teddy bear,” you said, walking to your door to open it, Keith following you into the apartment.

“What’s in it?” he asked, “Weapons? Guns? Knives?”

“…Fiber.”

“Y/N—” he started but you put it on the floor and took a step back.

“Where are you going?”

“General gave me a mission,” he said, “You seriously want me to believe you just got a teddy bear just because?”

“I was on a date.”

“Oh,” he said, “Romantic. It would be a great way to hide weapons though, even you have to admit—”

“Bucky found my gun.”

Keith stopped talking and stared at you for a couple of seconds, “I beg your pardon?”

You rubbed at your eyes, “You heard me. He found my gun.”

“Why the hell did you not alert me?”

“There was no need.”

Keith threw his head back, “Are you serious right now?” he asked you, “This is the freaking Winter Soldier we’re talking about, you’re not supposed to take any chances! For God’s sake, I live next door for a reason!”

“My cover wasn’t blown,” you insisted, “If you or the team got here, all this would’ve been for nothing. I handled it.”

He crossed his arms, “Still an unnecessary risk to take,” he insisted, “Anything could’ve happened, Y/N. You’ve read his file.”

You nodded, “I handled it,” you said, “You should go by the way. You’re going to be late, the General hates that.”

“Do you want me to say anything to him?”

You thought for a moment and shook your head.

“No,” you said, “Good luck.”

“We will talk about this when I came back.” he pointed at you and left your apartment. You took a look at the teddy bear, then grabbed your phone to touch Chloe’s name.

“Hey there!” she answered on the first ring, “How was the funfair?”

“It was good,” you said, “Listen, I need you to make sure my background is solid.”

“What?” she asked, “It is, I made sure of that—“

“Bucky found my gun,” you said, “Earlier.”

She took in a sharp breath, “God damn it.”

“No it’s fine, I came up with this story of buying it from a shop after the mugging, but…”

“You need a document just in case,” she completed your sentence, “Got it. Do you think he would check?”

“No,” you said, “But Wilson might, he and Bucky are pretty close. It would be much harder to trick him.”

“Got it,” she said, “I’ll get the document ready, maybe some footage… And I’ll go over your social media just in case.”

“Great.”

“But are you okay?”

You paused only for a moment,

“Sure,” you said, “I’m fine, I handled it. It’s all going according to plan.”

“Alright,” she said, “I’d better get to it. Be careful!”

“You too,” you said and hung up, then went to the kitchen to grab a couple of knives before going back to the living room.

“Sorry about this Bucky number two,” you murmured as you turned it around, stuck the knife into it and started ripping it, “But you really would make a good place to hide weapons.”

Chapter 16

[aenaxes]

lo-fi

[crosshair & tbb x afab/f!reader] it's been a tough campaign, so you and crosshair decide that the boys in the field can listen in, as a treat.

warnings: unprotected vaginal sex, consensual exhibitionism/voyeurism, polyamory, improper use of comms, crosshair being snide

w/c: 3.9k

a/n: phone sex? broke. comm sex? woke. rip @ u when the rest of the boys get back to the ship :/ (ps: thank u for 130! big mwah)

“Area’s been cleared. No sign of any seppies here,” Hunter’s weary voice wakes you with a start, crackling over your comm as you lift your head off the familiar height of Crosshair’s shoulder. “We’ll set up camp and head back at first light.”

“Better use the ‘fresher when you get back; you’ll stink up the whole ship,” Crosshair drawls back from beside you and evades you with an easy grin as you sleepily jab at his side.

Mean, you mouth at him with a frown, and the sniper simply shrugs back.

“We’ll see you soon. Love you all, y/n over,” you say, leaning over into Crosshair’s comm.

You receive a slightly disoriented chorus of ‘love you, too’s and ‘love you, cyar’ika’s from the brothers in the field, all blended together over frequency static and the sheer exhaustion of four rotations trekking through the marshy Balnab underbrush. Luck on your side, as navigator, you had escaped the dreary fate of noxious swamp gas and heat rashes in the unlikely case that the boys might need a quick exit.

But luckier still, Crosshair had stayed behind with you, citing your very real lack of combat training as grounds to have at least one of the brothers stay behind and stand guard. After all, volunteer corps boot camps could only teach you so much. And donning that trademark grin that made you either want to kiss him senseless or smack him upside the head (depending on your mood), Crosshair had innocently claimed that if he couldn’t see through the gaseous atmosphere, how could he know where to aim, much less shoot?

(You use your karkin’ scope, shitwad, Echo had said with the sickliest smile possible, and even he couldn’t help but join in when you and the boys all erupted into uncontrollable laughter.)

Suffice to say, Crosshair had spent the last two days holed up in the Marauder with you, a couple games of gin rummy, and a few steep new favors owed to his brothers’ grumbling.

For all the cool circulating air and dehumidifier settings in the Marauder’s helm, with the viewport fogged by the greenish atmospheric haze and your only task to wait for either a distress or all-clear signal, the little card games had gotten predictable after the second day. You had been tempted, out of some combination of boredom and fantasy, to prompt a game of strip poker (though Crosshair’s various bits of armour would have given him the indubitable upper hand, even with his horrible poker face).

Tempted, not even tried. You were all too aware of the uneasy stress of the mission outside, that low-lying tension and anticipatory dread staving off any coy desire to take advantage of your time alone with Crosshair.

But now, with the all-clear signal loud and clear through the comms, there’s little holding your inhibitions back when Crosshair reaches up and ruffles your hair after you click off his comm. Regardless of how innocuous his touch may be, heat rushes to your cheeks as you lean into his palm.

“Needy,” Crosshair chuckles, quick to catch on to your preening under his hand.

“I’ve been so patient,” you exhale a grand sigh, your voice carrying the petulant playfulness that never fails to pull Crosshair into the chase. And based on the lopsided grin twisting over his lips, you’ve got him exactly where you want him. “Don’t tell me you aren’t feeling at least a little bit of the same.”

“You’re insatiable,” he snarks. But he’s already rising to his full stature and crowding you back against the nearest surface, his hands firm and insistent over your waist as the backs of your knees meet the cool holotable steel.

“Right,” you retort, lifting your chin and baring your neck to him when he dips his head low to kiss over your pulse. The first touch is always careful—it comes with the territory, sharpshooting, all calculated movements with little space for error—but Crosshair’s intentionality is no less desirous, mouthing over your skin as you feel one hand drag slow and heavy up from your waist to your neck. “I’m the needy one.”

“You’re the enabler,” Crosshair mumbles into your skin, and you can’t help the dreamy sigh that passes your lips when you feel his fingertips knead soft, slow motions over the base of your neck. “I’m just running with the punches.”

“Maker, you suck at talking sexy,” you laugh, brighter still when you feel Crosshair’s soft exhale over your skin as he stifles laughter of his own.

“Then let’s not,” he says and lifts his head to offer you a wry smile. Before you can humor any more dry banter, Crosshair pulls you flush against the hard lines of his chestplate, one hand curled over the base of your head and the other sliding around the small of your back, and swallows any words you had with his tongue.

Second nature, you lift your arms to curl over his shoulders and anchor him close.

Crosshair takes your invitation with ease, pressing his tongue over your lips before he gently shifts you up to seat you on the holotable edge and slots between your thighs. It doesn’t take the firm weight of his hand to have you rocking forward to meet him in a slow grind, and you lift one knee, hooking your calf over the hard edge of his thigh guard and pulling him closer still.

He pulls back, and you respond with a petulant whine, weakly tugging on his hip with your leg. Crosshair laughs, little but a soft huff, but one that has equal parts desire and frustration rising in your chest. Seeming to have caught on, Crosshair only leans forward enough to meet you with a chaste touch of his lips, but, desperate for more, you take the brief window of opportunity to reach up and tug his head to yours.

“Don’t be a fucking tease,” you mumble insistently, punctuating your request with a soft nip over Crosshair’s top lip. You gasp when you feel his gloved fingers grab, twisting your hair tight under his fist and tearing you from his lips.

“Don’t be fucking rude,” he snarks back, his brows raised in playful challenge. “You take what you get,” he snarls, his lips curled up in a sharp grin as he yanks your head to the side and he dips close. You feel his breath fan over your skin, a brief and heady warning before he crowds you close and drags his tongue from the edge of your jaw to the highest crest of your cheek.

Desire, sweet and cloying, curls over your spine as he steps back, leaving you in a dazed sort of stupor as you watch him make quick work of the plastoid secured over him. It takes you a moment to collect yourself, ready to launch a snide remark his way, but whatever you intended to say is far beyond coherent thought, let alone expression. He finally closes that small distance between you, presses the hard lines of muscle and sinew close between your thighs, and your head falls back against the cold tabletop as you sigh.

He’s overwhelming, intoxicating, and you can’t get enough.

It’s different between each of them. There is careful intention with Hunter, playful and boyish glee in Wrecker’s arms, the stern edge of authority when Echo presses you against the wall, Tech’s rosy warmth when he kisses you sweet. But Crosshair offers you the snide challenge, the push and pull of teasing one-upmanship when he shoots you a smug grin, pushes your thighs open, and spits onto your cunt.

“Probably didn’t need to do that,” he says a bit mildly as he brings two calloused fingers up against your cunt and gently parts your swollen sex. You might have mistaken his soft exhale as laughter when you clench down around achingly empty space, but you know better. As he lifts his hand to your lips and pushes your own arousal past your lips, watching you take his fingers deep and suck, you know better. (It’s awe.)

“Fuck off, and fuck me,” you moan around his fingers, gently nipping over his skin.

“Are you really in any position to be making demands?” Crosshair snorts and pushes his fingers down against the flat of your tongue. You bite his fingers a little harder in response, and vindictive justice crows over the haze of lust in your chest when he hisses through a grin.

“Oh, please. You want this more than I do,” you roll your eyes, crinkling your nose as he smears your own spit over your lips before he pulls away.

Catching the slight part in Crosshair’s lips, you ready another snide retort. There’s an art to foreplay with Crosshair’s cynicism. But any coherent thought promptly dies on your tongue when, instead of a snappy comeback, Crosshair kneads one hand tight over your hip, presses the blunt head of his cock up against your cunt, and pushes.

It doesn’t get old—you don’t suspect it ever will—the satisfying burn pooling warm in your gut when Crosshair anchors you to the holotable and stretches you open. For that one, long moment, the clever, biting banter you share has vanished, leaving only slow, hitching breaths and the cresting ache of want to fill its place. You don’t hold the same playful joy of victory over his head when you open your eyes to see him groan, too enraptured by your own pleasure, by the gorgeous picture he presents you, his brows furrowed and eyes fluttered shut, to poke fun at how he bows over the table edge and braces himself over you with a stuttering inhale.

You cry out with him when you finally feel him press as deep as he can, the trembling muscle of his thighs molded up against your skin. Crosshair dips low, close enough that you feel his every heaving inhale brush against your chest, and you only see love, love, love, raw and tender and so, so good when you look through your lashes and catch the warmth in his dark eyes.

That this was it, that you were as good as it would ever get.

“Ready?” he whispers, play hinting at the edges of his voice as he strokes his thumb over your hip.

“Is that even a question?” you giggle.

Silent discretion isn’t necessarily something you strive for, not since the boys heartily accepted your trembling confession that one just wasn’t enough. You’ve long since learned to dismiss any flare of bashful embarrassment that might have you clap your hand over your mouth when Echo pulled you into the nearest room or Wrecker decided that he couldn’t wait for the few quick steps between the armory and the bunk hall. But it’s obscene, the sound that bubbles up from your throat when Crosshair abruptly pulls out of your dripping cunt and shoves himself back in full.

Too high on the euphoria heavy and thick in your throat, you barely register the soft kiss he presses to the corner of your mouth before he rises up and begins fucking into you in earnest. Your eyes flutter open when you feel his rough fingertips dig into the junction of your thigh and hip, trailing low for a brief, uncertain moment before he finds your clit and presses firm over where you part around him. And when you strain your ears above the breathy whines spilling from your lips, when you squeeze down around him with a soft sob, you hear him gasping with you.

This was really as good as you would ever need it to get.

“Wait,” you laugh a bit breathlessly, squirming under his touch. “Wait, let’s call them.”

Crosshair fixes you with something like morbid intrigue, his gentle, firm movements over your clit falling still so he can offer you the unspoken question behind a quirked brow.

“The area’s clear; they’re tired; morale’s low, you know. I think it’d be fun,” you rationalize as a coy smile grows on your lips.

“Is this what you’ve been thinking about this entire campaign?” Crosshair finally asks. Despite the almost disinterested drawl in his voice, you both know it’s a weak cover for the mischievous delight at the prospect of teasing desire in front of his field-weary brothers.

“Maybe,” you breathe, breath hitching as he rolls his thumb over your clit.

“So vulgar,” Crosshair chuckles, rolling his eyes when you blow him a kiss and fall back onto the tabletop.

But he’s already reaching for his discarded commlink and shuffling it back on. He secures the plastoid snug over his forearm, and when he shifts forward to steady himself as the locks snap into place, he shifts up and presses firm against the spot in your cunt that has you arching off the holotable with a low whine.

“Save it for them, yeah?” Crosshair chuckles, and he presses for Tech’s comm.

“Crosshair?” Tech mumbles groggily, apparently having just awoken to Crosshair’s impromptu call.

“So good of you to answer,” Crosshair drawls into his bracer. As much as you’d like to sit back up and swat his audible smirk off of his lips, the snark dies on your tongue when he shifts forward hard, the firm lines of his hips connecting firm against your ass as you sink your teeth into your arm to stifle your sob.

“Is everything alright?” Tech asks through a yawn. And you would laugh at his sleepy obliviousness if you weren’t quite literally seeing stars, blinding iridescent comet trails across your field of vision, when Crosshair slips his free arm under your waist, secures you tight, and pushes his cock impossibly deeper into you. All you can do is bite down over your uniform sleeve and wonder if your high whine reaches the comm feed.

“Fine, really,” Crosshair says with a breezy flippancy that you don’t currently have the mental capacity to find irritating. “Mind telling the others to pick up?”

“Maker, this better be for a good reason,” Echo’s frequency crackles to life, albeit somewhat sourly. Following his voice, you register a hearty yawn from Wrecker’s line, and not a moment later, Hunter’s light quietly blinks on.

“Is y/n on?” Tech asks.

“Mm, she is,” Crosshair punctuates his words with another sharp thrust that has your toes curling in your boots as your legs jerk over his arms. The saccharine tenderness of earlier gives way to the smug tone you have grown to (begrudgingly) adore. “Come on, say hello.”

“H-Hi,” you whimper into your comm, trembling as Crosshair digs his fingers over the soft skin of your thigh and slowly pulls out of your cunt, just until the ridge of his cock catches on your stretched lips. This time, when he thrusts forward there is no measured, careful deliberation—only raw and rapidly unraveling need as he sheathes himself inside you with one smooth motion and crushes up against that soft spot inside you that has you sobbing over your comm.

If they hadn’t heard your soft, muffled noises before, they certainly have, now.

The collective feed goes quiet.

“Holy shit.”

And then all at once, it’s a staticky blend of voices when the realization finally sinks in and exhaustion has all but been forgotten for the night.

You hear Wrecker groan just above Hunter’s gasping, flushed “oh,” and you’re fairly certain you catch Echo and Tech synchronize a low, drawn “fuuuck” as you sigh. But Crosshair gives you little space to register the sudden and raucous desire over the channel when he cants his hips forward and fucks into you deep.

This may have been your idea in the beginning, but whatever control you thought you had has long gone as you scrabble for purchase over the cold holotable top. The teasing game, dangling the possibility of having in front of the boys in the field, is now simply a show out of your hands as you moan into your comm.

“How does she feel?” Wrecker asks, his voice breathy and low.

“So fuckin’ wet,” Crosshair laughs, angling another sharp thrust against the spot that makes you see stars.

You grip tighter to the edge of the holotable with a choked moan. There’s something so indescribably rousing to hearing them speak over you as if you aren’t even there, rutting desperately back against Crosshair’s hips as you sigh and moan into the commlink clutched over your wildly beating heart.

“Our poor little cyar’ika went four whole days without being touched—she’s dripping. Tell them how much you needed this,” Crosshair croons, a mocking sharpness curling at the edges of the gentle tone of his voice. “Tell them how much you need them.”

You tremble under him as his hips meet yours hard enough to knock the air from your lungs, unable to do more than whine as you feel him snake his arm up your chest and curl his fingers around your neck.

“I—I need you!” you manage, your words only soft sighs pulled from what little breath Crosshair affords you through a steady, devastating pace. “Maker, I miss you so much—!”

Eyes squeezed shut, you fight the urge to quell every noise that claws at your throat. As obscene as it makes you sound, your boys are nowhere near as close as Crosshair, able to do little else but close their eyes and dream of you through the modulated channel frequency alone. It’s the least you can do, you think, and you moan as Crosshair shifts his hips up hard.

“He makin’ you feel good, cyar’ika?” Hunter’s voice crackles over the channel. “Pretty baby, you feelin’ good?”

“Mmhm!” you whimper, nodding wildly as if they’re not camped out a few hundred klicks from the ship, as if they’re there, bearing witness as Crosshair pulls you apart with every insistent, heady motion he makes.

“You’re a big girl,” Crosshair sneers, digging his fingers into the soft skin of your waist as he fucks into you sharp enough it punches the breath from your lungs. “Use your words.”

“So—” Your voice wavers over a gasp. “Feels so good!”

“Attagirl,” you hear Echo groan.

You can’t imagine how much of a mess you must look, jaw slack and eyes rolled back into your head, drunk on nothing short of hedonistic joy in its purest form, legs jerking over Crosshair’s arms when he fucks a particularly deep thrust into your cunt. Maybe you’ll try a call over the holo next time.

“Close,” you whimper.

But as soon as the words leave your tongue, you realize your mistake, panic flooding in your throat when Crosshair raises his brows, a wicked grin on his lips, and simply. Stops.

“Are you, now?” Crosshair chuckles, and if you weren’t there, dangling at that precarious precipice, so, so close to the kind of pleasure that wracks through your body so hard you forget your own name, you might have slung some acerbic jumble of words his way. But you are there, twisting your hips for any sort of purchase while Crosshair offers you a knowing smile.

“I’m going to kill you,” you hiss, only to be cut short, your words swallowed by your wailing moan when Crosshair fucks into you, a shallow thrust that pushes you closer, closer to the aching pleasure just out of reach.

“Oh, that wasn’t nice, was it?” Crosshair taunts.

The boys murmur over the channel, all soft laughter while they imagine your flustered desperation, wishing it was them back on the ship, stuck to lookout duty, blessed with the cool air of the helm and your warm cunt fluttering around them.

“What do you say?” Crosshair laughs breathily into his comm, dragging one slow finger over your throbbing clit, firm enough that it sparks want through your chest but too light to do little more than tease. You sob under his touch. “Does our girl deserve to come?”

“Let’s ask her,” Echo rasps, and when you squeeze your eyes shut, your mouth waters at the hazy mental image of the eldest’s lidded gaze, his cock fisted heavy in his hand as he whispers into his comm. “You think you deserve it, cyare?”

“Please,” you gasp. It’s more than a simple response, rather, a plea for something, anything, that little bit of more to push you over the razor thin edge between teasing pleasure and release.

“Gotta answer the question, little one,” Wrecker chokes out past a straining chuckle.

“Maker, you know what I mean—!” you whie, shuddering at the jolt of pleasure that laces up your spine when Crosshair wraps his arm over your thigh and presses deeper than you thought possible.

“Answer it,” Tech breathes.

“Fuck—I deserve it!” you finally sob, and your thighs clench when you hear Hunter groan over the channel. “Maker, I deserve it!”

You’re not sure if it’s your own confession ringing in your ears or the sensation of Crosshair squeezing his hands over your waist that finally tips that delicate balance between your excruciating anticipation and release, stirring wild and devastating from low in your stomach as you arch off the holotable and scream. It crashes over you in an endlessly overwhelming wave, swallowing you whole in nothing but simple, luxuriant pleasure fizzling at your fingertips and blurring your vision with euphoric tears while Crosshair shudders, head hung low as you clench down around him.

“That’s it,” Wrecker croons. Somehow, you’re still able to catch his adoring praise over the frequency, your focus turned to the way Crosshair continues to coax your pleasure, drawing it long and desperate with what thin strands of composure remain.

A final, stuttering thrust, and Crosshair drapes himself over you, burying himself as deep as he can in your fluttering cunt and groaning softly as he fills you with warm, heavy spurts of come. All you can do is whine and pulse around him, losing yourself to the mercy of every passing sensation that sparks delirious pleasure up your spine.

“We’ll be back soon, sweet thing.”

You weakly turn your head to face the blinking comm light beside you, reduced to a blurry spot of red muddled by the lingering tears in your eyes. It’s a miracle you can hear Hunter’s voice over the dull buzz in your ears at all, but even through your exhaustion, his voice strikes want, warm and deep, through your core.

You mumble something unintelligible to your own ears in response, little more than a sign of life as Crosshair steps back and clicks off your comm.

“Quite the show,” Crosshair laughs softly, leaning close to curl his palm at your jaw and thumb at the tears beaded over your lashes. He presses his lips to your temple, and you bask under his touch. “Did such a good job, cyare.”

“When I can’t walk in two days,” you rasp through the dry itch in your throat from your (retrospectively) embarrassing show of being as loud as humanly possible over the comms. “I expect you all to take turns carrying me everywhere.”

Crosshair snorts, tapping the soft skin of your inner thigh to carefully drag his fingertips through the mess of come and slick smeared over your cunt. “Two days? It took them four to get out to the mark.”

And he’s right. The soft, fluvial wetland outside was far from conducive for fast travel, even with a clear mark and sharp navigation. But all things considered, you wouldn’t be surprised if the boys were packing up and leaving camp now, all for the chance to board and throw you onto the nearest bunk a few odd days faster.

“Four credits they’re leaving right now,” you laugh.

“Let’s make it four credits they’ll make it back in two,” Crosshair offers. He dips low and brushes his forehead close against yours, sharing soft laughter as you reach up to stroke over the back of his head.

They make it back in one.

[fific7]

Ticket to Ride - Part 2

Billy Russo x Reader

A/N: Inspired by The Beatles song of the same name. This takes place in my S1 Punisher AU with Arrogant!Billy in attendance, in which he gets a taste of his own medicine.

Warnings: 18+ NSFW due to sexual content, including oral, between consenting adults* in some chapters. Drinking and swearing.

*Irl, please don’t go wild in the country without protection.

(My photo edit)

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟, 𝕪𝕖𝕒𝕙

𝕊𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕀 𝕨𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕

𝕊𝕙𝕖'𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕒 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕖

𝕊𝕙𝕖'𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕒 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕖

𝕊𝕙𝕖'𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕒 𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

The aircraft door opened and you stepped out gratefully onto the air jetty. You weren’t scared of flying, you just didn’t like being cooped up in a flying tube for several hours on end. Up an escalator and along a short corridor and then you were able to see outside through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sky was beginning to shade into the colours it would take on for dusk. It looked like it had been a nice day and you hoped the good weather would continue for your stay.

Karen had texted you while you were sitting on the plane at JFK, waiting for it to push back. Frank had told her that Micro had tracked your phone to the airport so boy, were you glad you’d turned off your old phone and switched to the new one when you did. She’d also told you that Billy had asked him to find out where you were headed, and your heart sank. You knew it wouldn’t take long for Micro’s vast and nerdy computer skills to find you but then again, London was a huge city and they’d have no idea whereabouts in it you’d gone to ground, thanks to your new ‘burner phone’.

You were feeling super-excited. This was beginning to feel like an action movie, with you on the run from the bad guys.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

“London??!!” Billy shouted, making Frank quickly move his phone away from his ear on the other end. “Yeah, London,” he replied.

Billy was back at his usual post by the window. “I mean... obviously I knew she was gonna fly somewhere but I thought it would the West coast, Miami, Seattle, Alaska... somewhere like that. But to go to a whole other continent....!!!!” Frank sighed, “Yeah, Bill, sounds like she’s really not keen to bump into you anytime soon.” “Yeah, thanks for remindin’ me.” “Bill, you brought this on yourself, buddy.” “I know!” yelled Billy, “An’ all I wanna do is get her back and make it up to her for the rest of my life, and all I know is she’s in London! Do you know how big that place is?” “Yeah, I do. And t’be honest... I dunno how you’re gonna even try to find her over there.”

There was a silence on the other end of the phone. “I mean...” Frank continued, “I’m guessin’ you are gonna go over there and try to find her, Bill?”

Billy’s shoulder twitched upwards briefly, and he stared intently out the window at the New York skyline.

“Yeah, Frankie... yeah, I damn well am.”

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

You’d left two of your big suitcases and the backpacks in a luggage storage facility at JFK, travelling with just the one suitcase and a large shoulder bag. You took the overground Heathrow Express to Paddington before negotiating a change onto the Tube to reach Tower Hill DLR station, boarding one of the driverless trains out to Canary Wharf. Settling back into your seat, feeling pretty proud of yourself for managing not to get hopelessly lost.

Your AirBnB apartment was in a part of the city called Docklands, beside the Thames on the Isle of Dogs. It was an area of shiny skyscraper offices and fancy apartment blocks built round the old docks, and your accommodation for the next two weeks was in one of those. You were suitably impressed when you got inside it... open plan, all trendy furniture and gleaming fittings. Big, big windows with views of the river and the tall buildings.

Your phone chimed and you saw a text from Karen on your notifications. Taking your suitcase and bag into the bedroom, you went back out to the main area and sat on the sofa to read it. Oh. Billy now knew you were in London, and had apparently booked a flight over - he’d be arriving tomorrow. Your heart rate sped up; Billy was a sniper, used to finding, stalking, watching his prey. But, you told yourself, he had no idea whereabouts in the city you were and no way of finding you.

Relax.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Billy stepped off the Heathrow Express, looking around for signs indicating where the taxi rank was. He’d been looking at the Tube map during the train journey. Nah, fuck that.

He was too wired to even think about getting to London Bridge on the Underground, or ‘Tube’ as he found out Londoners called it. His brain had been working overtime trying to figure out how the hell he was going to find her in a city the size of London. She’d stay central, surely - she wouldn’t head to the suburbs, he felt confident of that.

Getting into the first taxi in the queue, he drawled out, “The Shard, please.” The taxi driver nodded and pulled away from the station without saying anything. Thank fuck, thought Billy, I can’t be dealing with a talker right now. But just as the thought had left his head, the driver’s London accent said, “First time in London, guv?” Billy sighed, “No. No, it isn’t.” In fact it was, but he wasn’t about to tell the driver that. He’d only end up getting taken on the ‘scenic route’, double the time, double the price.

The driver grunted and turned up the radio... really annoying music could now be heard but Billy would take that over inane small talk any day. He looked out of the windows at the city streets and his mind went back to his mission. Mission impossible. Finally he saw the river and the taxi crossed a wide bridge before pulling up outside the lofty skyscraper that was The Shard. According to the blurb he’d read on some travel website it was the tallest in Western Europe, and while there were taller buildings in New York, the shape of this one made it look quite dramatic.

He paid and got out of the taxi with his expensive wheeled duffel bag, heading to the Shangri La entrance of The Shard and going inside. (It’s one of the priciest hotels in London - of course). Checked in at reception on the 35th floor, he was then whisked up to his room on the 52nd by another express lift. The windows were huge and the views spectacular.

Once again, he was gazing out of a window at a cityscape.

Where is she?

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Your first full day, you occupied yourself with getting to know the surrounding area, doing some grocery shopping and sitting on your large balcony, enjoying the view and relaxing with a glass of wine.

Every time a plane went overhead you wondered if Billy was on it - he was due here today. You shook yourself a little, you’d just have to stop thinking about it. He wouldn’t find you.

Your mind wandered unbidden to his recent behaviour. Knowing Billy was a player from day one, you’d still got involved with him. More fool you. Another old cliché.... you thought you’d be the one to change him. And you thought you had. You’d dated him for a few months, he seemed to have ditched his old hound-dog ways and when he’d asked you to move in with him, you’d agreed without thinking it over too deeply.

Now, looking back, it seems like you’d made a big mistake.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Micro had spent quite some time constructing a query table that he could run against accommodation reservations in London for her arrival day. She had no reason to book under another name and he’d just have to run with that assumption.

When Billy had come directly to him instead of going via Frank to ask that he try and track down her reservation, Micro had been too scared to refuse. Billy still really unsettled him - he always reminded him of a circling predator.

This query would take a while to run. He hit the go button and wandered off to work on another project while it tunnelled its way through layer upon layer of data.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Billy was pacing his swanky hotel room like a caged panther. He’d given up on the idea of roaming the streets of London trying to spot his target, that was just one dumbass idea. He’d never find her that way, much better to just wait on that geeky twat to come up with the answer with his internet wizardry.

He’d spoken to Frank earlier, who had nothing new to report. Billy wouldn’t allow himself to feel guilty at cutting him out of the loop on his recent ask to Micro. He wasn’t stupid enough to believe that Frank wouldn’t mention it to Karen. Much as he loved him like a brother, Frank was a big sap when it came to Karen and he knew he’d give in and tell her, probably sooner rather than later.

However Frank had told him that Madani had called earlier that day, wanting to know where Billy was and why she couldn’t get in touch with him. Billy had figured out that his girl had got herself a new phone, and he’d followed suit. Which is why Dinah hadn’t been able to reach him. “Whaddya tell her?”he’d asked. “That you were on an overseas operation and were incommunicado.” “Good,” nodded Billy, “....that takes care of that little problem for a while at least,” feeling a sense of relief.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Frank cut the call, a grim smile on his face. He hadn’t been completely straight with Billy, but it was for his own good. What he’d told Madani, however, had been the unadulterated gospel truth.

He’d said to her that Billy had hared off to Europe in pursuit of his live-in girlfriend, who’d suspected him of cheating on her and left him. He was absolutely determined to get her back.

He’d taken great satisfaction in the dead silence on the other end of the line, eventually punctuated by an angry snort and the call being abruptly ended.

That ‘little problem’ was hopefully taken care of for good.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Micro looked at his phone as it beeped at him, the notification saying that his query was complete. That had taken much longer than he thought it would. Now he could only hope it hadn’t returned too many matches as he’d thought it prudent to run it on surname only.

He pulled up the results table and was pleased to see that there were only a thousand or so, he’d feared there would be many more. He scrolled through the list and quickly pinpointed the one he’d been looking for.

With a deep sigh he picked up his phone, typed “Wood Wharf, Water St, London E14”, a building and apartment number into a new message, then hit send. It would be the early hours of the following morning in London, so he very much doubted that Billy would leap out of bed and head right over there.

He finished eating his supper, drank a beer and settled down to watch TV when his conscience started bothering him. Should he? He shivered when he thought about what Russo might do to him if he found out.

Popping another bottle of beer open, he sat and contemplated what he should do for quite a while. He suddenly picked up his phone, sending a quick text to Frank telling him about the whole situation and including the fact that Russo now had her London address.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

While you were lounging on your balcony, sipping your wine and watching the world go by, it suddenly occurred to you that this would be a great base to work out of for a while. You messaged the estate agent and extended your stay to one month, with an option to extend if required.

Then, on a whim, you booked a flight to Barcelona early the next morning from City Airport - it was really close to your apartment even if the flights were a bit more expensive. You’d been doing a little research into other destinations to explore, and having a base in London to travel to and from made you feel much more comfortable. The W Barcelona had caught your eye while you’d been browsing for accommodation and as you were only going for a few nights, you’d booked in there.

Feeling extremely pleased with yourself, you got up and went into your bedroom, looking for a folded-up smaller travel bag you knew you’d packed in your luggage. Finding it, you began to choose some outfits for your short trip, thinking what a joy it was that you could now leave your large suitcase here.

But damn, you were going to have to be up early tomorrow. Best to get an early night, you thought, immediately yawning.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Billy shot up in bed as his phone chimed with Micro’s text. When he read the information in the text, contrary to Micro’s belief he did leap out of bed and started pulling on his clothes (Micro had forgotten that this was an ex-Marine he was dealing with here).

He sat back down on the bed and googled the location. Oh okay, East London.... Docklands. Too far to walk and he didn’t think the Tube ran at this hour. Then he pulled up the Uber app and booked an immediate pick-up.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

Walking into the terminal building at City Airport, you were in the middle of a total yawning fit when a text came in. It was from Karen and you stopped, putting down your bag so you could read it.

Karen: Sorry to tell you this hon, but Billy went direct to Micro 🙄 and intimidated him into finding your London accom. Frank’s told him not to do that again no matter how much he’s shitting himself! Please take care of yourself 💋

You: Bastard 👿 thanks for the heads-up, I will do 😘

Picking your bags up again, you hurried over to one of the automated check-in machines to get your luggage tag.

Whoever had said ‘timing is everything’ had definitely got that right.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

“Oi!!!” yelled an irate male voice. Billy turned his head to see a groggy-looking tousle-haired guy, obviously just having been woken up. “Keep the noise down!”

Billy said nothing, just gave the guy his death stare. His head quickly disappeared back inside his apartment.

After pressing the buttons of a few apartment numbers at the main entrance, someone had buzzed him in and he’d been pounding on her apartment door for the last five minutes. But there was no response, and he knew she wasn’t that heavy a sleeper.

He slid tiredly down onto the floor outside her door. Had she somehow known he was on his way over here? No.... how would she know that?

His head dropped down in momentary defeat and he ran his fingers through his hair, groaning.

She hadn’t moved on already, had she?

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

The plane lifted off the tarmac, and immediately you felt a huge sense of relief. You just weren’t ready to see Billy right now - you’d probably kill him if you did, ex-Marine or not.

Now you were off on your next adventure.

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

London

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

@blackbirddaredevil23 @galaxyjane @omgrachwrites @behindmyeyes-insidemyhead @ourloveisforthelovely @swthxrry @odetostep @supernaturalcat7 @obscurilicious @strawb3rrydr3ss

»»————————————-———-　⚜　———————————-————-««

[hrtiu]

Boba/Fennec prompt: Boba really likes Fennec's hair (or her fingers, or some other, very specific part of her body, whatever you like) and can't stop touching/admiring/playing with it, and she goes from confused that he cares so much about that part to irritated that he Won't Leave Her Alone to embarrassed that he's paying so much frakking attention to her ((to realizing she likes it)) to secretly being endeared by his cuteness. Bonus points if she blushes a lot because of all this and he likes that too ;)

Thanks for the prompt! I think I ended up with something probably a bit angstier than you were thinking, but hopefully you'll still enjoy it! AO3 link.

Every morning Fennec Shand sat down in front of her burnished chromium mirror and did her hair. She started with the main braid down the center of her head, then wove together three smaller braids to either side. Once she’d tied off each individual braid, she plaited all seven together into a dark, twisting tail that reached almost to her waist. Then she took a long string of orange-red fiber and threaded it between the braids at the top of her head, tying them down and securing her bangs as flat against her scalp as possible.

“Why do you always have your hair like that?” Boba asked one morning when she came down for breakfast in Old Jabba’s palace.

“I don’t know. Why is your hair always like that?” Fennec said, helping herself to a generous slice of bantha bacon.

Boba let out a gruff laugh and shook his head. “It must take forever.”

Fennec stabbed her bacon with unnecessary force. “I don’t do it when I’m on an assignment, and beyond that I don’t see that it’s any of your business.”

Boba didn’t say anything for a long moment, and Fennec wondered if maybe he was going to apologize. If he did she’d probably die of shock.

“Hmm,” he grunted, then returned his attention to his breakfast.

It was the reaction Fennec expected, but she found herself both relieved and annoyed. Shaking the contradictory emotions away, she finished her breakfast.

---

Living on Tatooine wasn’t all enforcing Boba’s will and collecting tribute. Boba was a benevolent warlord, and Fennec especially enjoyed being a part of his more generous impulses.

Most recently he’d bequeathed a chunk of his land to a tribe of Tuskens who’d cooperated well with him in the past. The Tuskens saw it as Boba returning the land to them, but regardless, they were going to be its permanent, uncontested tenants. Most of the Tusken Raiders Fennec had met seemed to enjoy their nomadic lifestyle, but this tribe was interested in putting down roots—so long as they could do it on their terms. As a show of good faith, Boba was donating three large moisture vaporators and a system for water storage to the village, and Fennec had been looking forward to the day of their installation for months.

Tribespeople clustered around the massive spires dug into the packed earth beneath the dunes, talking amongst themselves and asking questions to the mechanic who’d come up from Mos Eisley to install the thing. The poor translator Boba had dragged along was working doubletime to sort through the confusion.

Fennec stood next to Boba above the dug-out space, just a little outside of the cluster of activity. She wasn’t here to do much besides reinforce Boba’s involvement in the donation of the generators, but she was enjoying herself nonetheless. A small child whose face wrapping kept coming untucked approached the vaporator and turned the spigot, screeching in delight when clean water poured onto her outstretched hands. Fennec couldn’t help but smile.

A group of young Tusken women approached them, their hoods draped over their faces and ornamental collars jangling against their cloaks as they walked. They thanked Boba in sign language, and he signed back his appreciation with short, stilted hand motions. They giggled at his discomfort with their language, and Boba’s scarred face reddened.

“Great,” he grumbled to Fennec. “I knew that protocol droid wasn’t teaching me right.”

“Calm down,” Fennec said, resting a hand on Boba’s arm. “You’re doing fine. Just let them enjoy themselves.”

Boba frowned, but the gesture didn’t reach his eyes. He leaned into her touch, and Fennec felt light and warm.

The girls turned their attention to Fennec, and her contentment turned to unease. One of them pointed to Fennec’s braid and made a twisting motion with her hands, bringing her fingers together as her wrist turned. The other nodded in agreement, adding in a few giggles for good measure.

“Oh, um…” Fennec stuttered, unsure how to respond.

“They’re saying it’s pretty,” the translator from Mos Eisley said, hurrying up the steep hill towards them. “She says your hair is pretty.”

“Ah,” Fennec said. Heat rose in her cheeks, and her tongue felt thick in her mouth. Boba snorted and smirked at her, and she shot him a quick glare before smiling back at the girls. “Thank you, that’s very kind.”

The translator signed Fennec’s response back to them, and they nodded and made gestures of thanks to Boba and Fennec before retreating back to where their tribe clustered around the vaporators.

“So they’re allowed to talk about your hair, but I’m not?” Boba asked, folding his arms across his chest.

“Yes, that’s exactly right,” Fennec said, already heading for the steep slope that would take her down to the rest of the tribespeople. They’d be eating dinner soon, and it wouldn’t do for her and Boba to be late to the table.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It doesn’t need to make sense,” Fennec said. “It’s just what I want.”

Boba rolled his eyes but followed Fennec down the slope, his steps awkward and careful on the slippery sand.

“Always what you want,” she thought she heard him mutter under his breath, but that could have been the whisper of the winds against the sand.

---

“Shand! We’re going to be late!” Boba yelled at Fennec through the thick door of her room.

His booming voice startled her, and one of her fingers slipped before she was able to tie off the last of her individual braids. “Dammit,” she muttered. “I’m coming!”

“I’m not going to look weak in front of Kanjiklub because you couldn’t stop fiddling with your hair,” he said.

The corners of Fennec’s mouth turned downwards and she saw her own eyes flash in the mirror. “We’re not going to be late. Calm down.”

His boots thudded heavily against the floor as he paced back and forth in front of her door. Fennec’s frown morphed into a full-blown scowl and she made sure to take extra care to get her braid right, taking her time with each knot. Boba needed to learn patience, and he needed to learn that she wasn’t some massiff he could train to do his bidding.

She finished up the braid then moved on to weaving the orange thread around each cord, laser-focused on her task but unhurried in execution.

Boba’s fist pounded on the door once more. “If you don’t hurry it up I’m going to cut off that damned braid myself!”

Fennec froze. She pressed her lips together and stood from her chair, leaving her hair weaving half-finished. She stalked to her bed, pulling her boots and coat off as she did so, then fell into her thick, fluffy blankets.

“...Fen?” Boba asked through the door, though this time his voice was softer—almost chastened.

Fennec held her wrist comm up to her mouth and messaged Dilick Wa, the other bounty hunter Boba kept on retainer at the palace.

“Wa? You there?” she said.

“Yep. What’s up?”

“Meet Boba on the landing pad. You’ll be going with him to meet Kanjiklub tonight.”

“...But weren’t you going-?”

“Just do it.”

She shut off the coms.

---

Lights flickered by for every floor they sank underground, each beam illuminating the red-tan-and-white of Boba’s scarred features. Normally Fennec didn’t like being underground, but on Florrum she might be willing to make an exception. Relief from the unrelenting heat and sulfur-infused dust was worth the loss of adequate sniper perches, in her opinion.

“So,” Boba said. “Arawat Ragistar. Anything else you can you tell me about him?”

Fennec forced a shrug. “Like I said: he’s an assassin. He has plenty of other skills, too. He’s tricky and dangerous, but in general he’ll stick to his word if you pin him to specific commitments.”

Boba nodded slowly. “How is he as a business partner?”

“Wouldn’t know. I only knew him as an assassin.” A heavy pause filled the space between them, and several more floors passed in silence.

“He’s a real bastard,” Fennec said, and she wondered if it was some strange trick of the senses that made her voice sound several decades younger to her ears.

“I know you don’t like him, but we need good connections on Florrum.”

“I know.”

The lift slowly came to a stop, and Fennec tensed as the doors opened. A shiny protocol droid welcomed them into the bare, utilitarian bunker that served as Arawat’s headquarters, and they followed it through a series of round vault-style doors. The final door was bigger than the rest, and it opened on a broad audience chamber, at the end of which sat a sleight, waspish Sullustan. Her old mentor.

“The great Boba Fett!” Arawat said, throwing his arm wide, “Welcome! And Little Fennec, you’ve come back home!”

Fennec nodded her head in response, biting back a bitter response. That was what he was fishing for, after all.

“Arawat Ragistar, thank you for having me,” Boba said, moving to sit in the plush chairs across from Arwat’s restrained setup. “You’re not an easy man to find.”

“Of course not,” Arawat said. “What good assassin would be easy to find? Isn’t that right, Little Fennec?”

Fennec pursed her lips. “Right.”

“We’re interested in bringing some of our import routes through Florrum,” Boba said. “It could be profitable for the both of us.”

“Now Fennec Shand, on the other hand. That’s a name I’ve heard of,” Arawat said, as if he hadn’t heard Boba at all. “‘Best assassin in the galaxy,’ I’ve heard. Of course, if anything I’d taught her had sunken in, she’d know that the best assassin is the one you’ve never heard of.”

Boba’s jaw clicked—a tiny motion Fennec doubted most anyone else would notice. “I’m not sure how that’s relevant to our arrangement.”

Arawat leaned forward over his knees and threaded his fingers together, and Fennec’s own stone face stared back at her in the mirror reflection of his shiny black eyes.

“It’s vanity, you know? Pure vanity,” he said, his voice silky smooth. “Like that hair. Do you know how many times I told her to cut it? There is no tactical advantage to long hair—not a single one. The only reason to keep it is vanity, pure and simple. ”

Fennec stared back at him, refusing to look away. Boba had fallen silent at her side, but she hardly noticed him any more in her peripheral vision. She was back 35 years in the past, her reflexes sharp and her body lean, but her spirit broken.

“Couldn’t quite get all the Chandrila out of her after all-”

“We’re through here,” Boba cut Arawat off, standing to his feet.

Arawat finally turned his attention to Boba, his jowls flapping excitedly around his cheeks. “What? But we were-”

“We’ll bring our goods through some other way. Thank you.”

Boba turned to leave and Fennec followed after him, her jumbled thoughts struggling to right themselves as she kept up with his assertive pace. The protocol droid started leading them back, but Boba brushed past him, retracing their steps to the lift with ease. Arawat didn’t follow.

The lift opened for them and Fennec followed Boba in, holding her tongue until the doors sealed shut.

“Are you crazy? We need his cooperation,” Fennec hissed as the lift zoomed upwards. Her eyes darted to the corners of the lift, searching for the holo cameras she knew must be somewhere.

Boba bristled. “I’m Boba Fett. I don’t need anybody except-” He shut his mouth. “We don’t need anybody.”

The lights from the lift illuminated his face at regular intervals, but the open emotion he’d shown down below was gone. Back was his stoic warrior’s face, the one she’d grown to respect but couldn’t fully trust.

“Fine,” Fennec said after a weighty pause. “Mustafar should work, anyway.”

“Mustafar?” Boba asked incredulously.

“Just get a few heat-resistant vehicles and you’re golden. That hostile environment is its own security.”

Boba grunted in agreement, and the lift continued upward. They fell into a companionable silence, and though the tension in Fennec’s shoulders gradually fell, she still ran her fingers nervously up and down the end of her braid.

---

The last time Fennec had been to Naboo it had been for a hit. The beauty of the planet hadn’t been lost on her at the time, but the elegant promenades and magnificent waterfalls didn’t look quite the same through a scope. This time she and Boba were here for a business deal and she had a chance to truly appreciate Theed’s splendor.

She leaned against the stone balustrade bordering the balcony and closed her eyes, letting the faint mist from a nearby waterfall gather on her face. Heavy footsteps sounded behind her, but they were the comforting, familiar gait of her partner, and she paid them no heed.

“Hiram agreed to our terms,” Boba said from her side. “Production can start next month.”

“Hmmmm,” Fennec hummed. “Sounds good.” They’d thought negotiations would last longer. That gave them three whole days to relax before their shuttle was scheduled to depart.

The breathtaking vista before them occupied all of Fennec’s thoughts. In the distance threads of water laced their way down verdant green cliff sides, and elegant copper-colored buildings stood above the cliffs like sentinels on watch. The waterfall closest to their villa roared as thousands of gallons toppled over the edge every second, and Fennec could feel the power of it through her feet and into her bones. She closed her eyes in appreciation. Beauty and power—the ultimate combination.

Boba leaned on the balustrade next to her, bringing him into her orbit. “I ordered dinner,” he said.

Fennec hummed again. Dinner in their private villa overlooking the waterfalls sounded perfect.

Boba stepped to the side then his warm breadth was at Fennec’s back, enveloping her like a thick cloak. She tensed, her instincts screaming at her to bolt. But maybe this time, she didn’t want to run away.

With a sigh Boba rested his chin on Fennec’s shoulder and his hot breath tickled at the loose strands of hair that had escaped their bindings by her ear. She shivered.

Boba leaned further into her and rested his cheek against the side of her head. He took a long, slow breath in and turned his face more towards her, his nose catching slightly against her braids as he moved his head up and down in what could only be described as a nuzzle.

Fennec’s breath caught in her throat. “Boba…”

“Easy,” he murmured. “I’m just enjoying the view.”

Fennec couldn’t help a soft snort at that. “Nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“Maybe,” he said, his breath heavy and thick in her ear. “But I don’t usually have a chance to relax and enjoy it.”

His hands slid up to her arms and he pulled her gently backwards, stepping behind them until he reached a plush daybed set near the back of the balcony. He sat down and she went with him, allowing herself to be tugged into his lap.

She didn’t think. She just let her senses bask in his warmth, in his sturdy, fierce presence. She reclined against his front, her ear pressed up to his unarmored chest. His heartbeat thudded clear and strong against her cheek—a steady, constant presence she was only just realizing how much she cherished. He rested his chin on top of her head and held her loosely around the waist.

Water tumbled over the cliffs of Theed and time passed, but Fennec didn’t notice either. All she felt was an unfamiliar sense of peace and security. Maybe, after all these years, she wasn’t broken after all.

“...We could always extend our stay,” Boba said, his voice a gravelly rumble through his chest.

“Hmmm.” Fennec closed her eyes and let her fingers cling to the fabric of his tunic.

“Or visit other planets. Maybe even go to Chandrila.”

The distant blare of alarm bells sounded in Fennec’s mind, but she did her best to ignore them. It was nothing. She was fine. She was at peace, and she trusted Boba.

“I’ve never been there before,” Boba continued. “You could show me around.”

The alarm bells shrieked, and the peace shattered.

Fennec hauled herself out of Boba’s lap. She stepped back to the edge of the balcony and ordered herself not to look back. It was colder now, but the chill was familiar. “We should leave as we planned. I need to check in with our supplier in Mos Eisley.”

“Fen, come on-”

“I think I’ll call it a night.” There was a courtyard of space between her room and Fett’s, but maybe she’d stay someplace else for the night.

Boba got to his feet and followed her across the balcony, but he made no move to touch her. “You wear Chandrilan braids every day. You can’t tell me you hate the place-”

Fennec rounded on him. “I may be in your service, but that does not mean I have to tell you anything about my personal life.”

Boba grabbed her by the wrist, the snarl he usually reserved for his enemies rising to his lips. “Shand, can we leave the carbonite bitch act behind for once?”

Fennec wrenched her arm from his grasp and shoved him back. “Touch me again and I’ll kill you.”

She whirled around and fled the balcony, making first for her room before turning instead towards the villa’s entrance. How far away could she get for the night? It might be an interesting challenge to see.

---

She came back the next morning. She was a professional, and she trusted Boba to understand the line he’d crossed. And just as she’d expected, he didn’t mention anything about the previous night’s blowup. Two days later they returned to Tatooine, and life continued the same as ever.

Boba’s business ventures on Tatooine were actually fairly legitimate. He built up the local economy, gave loans to entrepreneurial spirits, increased imports and exports exponentially, cracked down vigorously on (unsanctioned) crime, and generally made the miserable ball of dirt and sand that was Tatooine a more tolerable place to exist. That being said, nobody could be successful in the Outer Rim while working completely above board.

Which was why it came as no surprise when the Hutts sent assassins after him for co-opting a chunk of their spice territory.

Fennec squeezed off another round from her perch on one of the palace’s domes and allowed herself a smirk of satisfaction as the target dropped.

“Last intruder down,” she said into her comm.

“Good job,” Boba said from his safe room below. “Let’s give it a half hour to see if anyone else crops up. Then regroup in my study.”

“Copy that.”

Fennec waited patiently in her perch, her sharp eyes staring through the scope for any sign of additional assailants. She was reasonably confident she’d dispatched them all, though, given the size of their transport and typical Pyke Syndicate strategies. Fennec snorted to herself. The Hutts must be really strapped for cash if they were resorting to hiring Pykes.

After the allotted time had passed with no sign of other hostiles, Fennec climbed down from her perch and made her way to Boba’s rooms. Boba was neither sentimental nor high-maintenance, but the comforts of the past few years had led to him accumulating a certain amount of personal belongings to display in his quarters. Mandalorian relics, his father’s old helmet, a Clone Wars-era DC-17—that sort of thing. Fennec walked past his mementos and met him at his armchair near the back of the study.

“All clear?” he asked, looking up from a datapad streaming updates from his security system.

“As far as I can tell. Hutt enforcement really isn’t what it used to be,” she said.

“Not the only thing around here that’s getting rusty, it seems,” a soft voice hissed behind her ear.

Fennec’s eyes widened and she twisted around, but before she could move a cold, slimy hand had her by the hair and a vibroblade pressed up against her gut.

“Tsk tsk tsk,” Arawat’s hateful voice whispered near her ear. “Little Fen still has so much to learn. What did I tell you about our work? The best assassins are unseen.”

Fennec’s heart seized in her chest and with each breath her stomach pressed against the vibroblade. For now it was cutting through her coat, but soon enough it would be her skin.

“You might want to rethink your position,” Boba said, slowly rising to his feet. “There are two of us and only one of you. One way or another, you’re not getting out of here alive.”

“Ah haha, the mighty Boba Fett. You know, if you were your father I would be afraid right now. Old Jango wouldn’t hesitate to let a subordinate die to get ahead in a fight. But you’re not like that, are you?” Arawat said. With each word his fleshy jowls slid along Fennec’s neck, making her skin crawl.

Boba bared his teeth and the divots and crevasses of his scars almost turned his expression inhuman. “Care to test that theory?”

“Yes, I think I do,” Arawat said. “Put your weapons down, or I’ll gut her like a fish.” The blade pressed further into her stomach, drawing the tiniest sliver of blood.

Boba met Fennec’s gaze, and an understanding passed between them. Something Fennec had always known somewhere in the back of her mind came to the forefront, and she set her jaw. She trusted Boba. She trusted him more than she’d ever trusted another living person. She trusted him more than she trusted herself.

She didn’t know what he was going to do, but something in his eyes told her to prepare. She slowed her breathing, diminishing the blade’s contact with her flesh, and moved her hand just the slightest distance closer to the vibroblade she always kept tucked into her belt.

Boba moved to disarm himself, one hand going slowly for his blaster while the other stayed up and opened for Arawat to see. Then the thrusters of his jetpack activated, and he barreled right into Arawat and Fennec.

For several chaotic, terrifying moments, Fennec’s world was a tangle of clattering metal, unidentified limbs, and confused violence. Somehow, Arawat managed to maintain his vice like grip on her braid, and while momentum threatened to pull them apart, Arawat held onto her hair with a vicious tenacity. When they landed in a heap on the other side of the room, he yanked her to him again. Boba made a lunge for Arawat’s blade, but he wasn’t going to be fast enough. Fennec needed to get away. As she was, she was a liability.

She pulled the vibroblade from her belt and cut behind her, severing the thick braid right at the base of her skull. She flung herself away from her old teacher, and by the time she looked back Boba had already shot the Sullustant in the chest.

Arawat Ragistar was dead, and she and Boba Fett were both alive. It was a win.

She lay panting on the floor, her heart racing and blood still oozing from her side. As the adrenaline faded, her awareness tunnelled on the length of coiled black hair still hanging from Arawat’s limp hand where he slumped against the wall.

Strong arms pulled her to her feet and inspected the cut to her side, but Fennec hardly noticed.

“Hey,” Boba’s gruff voice cut through the haze. “Go see Pershing and get this stitched up. Then get some rest.”

She nodded numbly, then went to do as ordered.

---

Pershing gave her a few stitches, then added a thick bacta patch for good measure. Fennec didn’t feel anything, and Pershing’s complaints about not being a medical doctor and his demotion to glorified nurse slid easily in and out of her ears. Eventually he was done and her feet found their way back up to her rooms. She shut herself inside and sat down at her desk, her head feeling strange and floaty without the familiar weight of her braid.

Fennec stared at her reflection in the mirror, her face unchanged but somehow unrecognizable in its new frame. A soft knock sounded at the door, and she didn’t bother to shout the intruder off.

Careful footsteps sounded around her room, and Boba’s mangled face appeared above her in the mirror, the softness of his expression completely incongruous with his scarred visage.

Slowly, gently, without a word, he reached for her hair. He ran his fingers through their short, chopped length, sifting the strands carefully from side to side.

“You’re beautiful,” he said.

Fennec stared into his eyes through the reflection of the mirror, her body frozen in ice. Leaving her plenty of time to protest, Boba’s calloused fingers gathered up several hanks of hair from the crown of her head and started braiding. She’d never let anyone see her process before, but that didn’t stop him.

She barely had enough hair to reach the nape of her neck, but still he braided a short rope down the center of her head, then three smaller ones on each side. Then he picked the orange thread up from her desk and wove it between each braid, the extra support of the thread maintaining the seven braids’ integrity despite their length.

The last person to braid her hair for her had been her mother. Fennec could still remember the feeling of her thin, deft fingers in her hair, could still hear the sound of her soft, gentle voice cooing at her while she worked. She couldn’t remember her mother’s face, couldn’t remember her name, could hardly recall even the vaguest impression of what Chandrila was like. This memory was all she had left.

Fennec’s shoulders shook, and with a start she lifted a hand to her cheek and realized she was crying. The braids now completed, Boba let his hands fall to her shoulders, where their generous warmth helped hold her together.

Boba turned her chair around to face him and knelt down in front of her, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. “It will grow back. But even before then, you’ll still be beautiful.”

She turned around in her chair and slid her arms around him, burying her face into his stomach. He sank down to the floor and pulled her down with him, holding her and murmuring unintelligible sweet nothings as he stroked her hair.

“I don’t want anyone to see me like this,” she said, her voice raspy with tears.

“I’ll never let anyone see,” Boba said. “I’ll close my own eyes if it will help.”

Fennec chuckled, her body shaking against Boba’s solid torso. “No, I think it’s alright for you. But only you.”

“Hmmm,” Boba hummed. “It’s a deal, then.”

Fennec rolled over onto her back, then tugged Boba on top of her. “It’s a deal.” She threaded her fingers together behind his neck and pulled him down to her.

[mwolf0epsilon]

Febuwhump Day 5 - "Let me see"

Summary: Every battalion views scars as marks of pride. The Coruscant Guard sees them as a sign of inadequacy.

Warning: Scars and stitching up wounds.

[Dogma is a very loyal and devoted brother. It makes sense that he'd help with some of the medical work if he knew that the Guard's medics were overworked.]

[THIS STORY IS NOW ON AO3]

---

---

In the GAR, scars are considered as much of a mark of honour as the paint on a clone's once blank kit. You earned your scars in the heat of battle. You lived through something that left a permanent mark on you. You got to show off and tell the tale behind how you survived.

There is an exception to the rule: The Coruscant Guard. There, scars are seen as nothing more than marks of terrible inadequacy. As something shameful that one must hide from the world. Because earning one's scars was always a tragic and gruesome affair...

Dogma wasn't without his own dents and chinks from the frontlines, even if he'd only been a part of one singular campaign. But Umbara had been a gruelling cruel planet with a severely hostile landscape. And when it wasn't the flora and fauna biting and scratching, it was the Umbaran soldiers getting lucky potshots that didn't quite hit their mark. At least not in a way that mattered.

His right shoulder had an ugly splattered-looking burn scar from a sniper round hitting the space in between the platting of his vambrace and pauldron. The left knee still ached from the impact of a shot against his armour, whenever it got cold. The rest of the marks he'd gotten on planet were long since faded bruises, from tripping and tumbling in the dark. Just memories that still ached in his dreams.

He'd never thought of his scars as anything to feel proud about. The Kaminoans had marketed clones as perfect soldiers. Getting damaged in battle was anything but deserving of such a prestigious claim. So he'd felt shame. He'd felt disconnected whenever the others flaunted the proof of their errors. Just another way he didn't fit in with his first battalion. His first family.

But the Guard wasn't like the 501st. Or the 212th. Or any of the frontline battalions for the matter.

They thought like he did. They looked at their scars with revulsion, not reverence. They understood how he felt.

Especially the commanders who shouldered so many terrible burdens that left them maimed and disfigured.

The Infirmary was usually packed. The Guard lacked more than a tiny handful of medics, and those that were available were often overworked and in need of recuperation of their own. The Corrie medics saw unspeakable evils inflicted upon their brothers and had no one to turn to themselves, so it wasn't a great arrangement for them. That's why everyone pitched in to help whenever they could. If someone had a wound that was relatively easy to deal with, they could go to another brother for simple first aid. The serious life saving stuff was reserved for the trained personnel.

Today, Dogma was on medical rotation before he began his shift at the Archives. Today, Fox needed stitches because he'd been lightly stabbed with an illegally concealed weapon.

Out of all the commanders, his ori'vod took the worst beatings. Not out of incompetence, Dogma knew, but purely because he didn't want anyone else to take licks from the senators and chancellor after a meeting went terribly wrong.

The so called diplomats were ruthless. Insidious creatures of politics. And they didn't fight fair. Didn't seem to know how to. One of them brought a knife this time round.

"Let me see." It'd be easier to get it over with, if Fox weren't so stubbornly trying to conceal the mess of scarring his body had become since he'd been assigned to Coruscant. The shame permeated the air so thickly that Dogma could almost taste it in the back of his throat. A gross sour flavour that burn his oesophagus like bile. "Please sir..."

"It'll be fine." The iconic red bucket was angled so that Fox couldn't look him in the eyes. Likely knowing he wouldn't be able to say no if it came down to a staring competition. Dogma was stubborn like that when he wanted to be. Wouldn't back off when he had his mind set to a specific task.

"It will get infected. And then you'll need surgery." Dogma insisted. Practically pleading for his brother to see sense. "Let me take care of you, sir. Like you've taken care of all of us."

"That's not your job." Fox pointed out.

"No, but I want to care for you ori'vod."

It took some coaxing. Fox's scars were not a light topic to touch upon, and his hesitance was perfectly understandable. Trust was precious to the Guardsmen's chain of command. Love and dedication were like the most valuable of metals. So Dogma showed it to his brother in the best way he knew how to.

And if anyone wondered why he was stitching up his superior officer while topless himself, no one deigned to question it out loud. Not when it seemed to relax their ori'vod enough that he was accepting medical care without a fuss.

Besides, it was nice to see some fat begin to collect around Dogma's abdomen. Everyone had been lending a hand to get him back to a more healthy weight since he'd been "unconventionally reassigned" to the Guard.

It was the littlest of signs of healing and it helped to forget the terrible shame and sadness that each scar brought them. Something to revel in before they returned to the grim horrors of their daily lives as the Coruscant's punching bags.

[greaterawarness]

ARC Training Program CH. 1 "Cadets"

(Timeline is going to get a bit messy with this one. Fun fic where Alpha-17 decides to train some young cadets in his ARC Training Program.)

Alpha walks through the pristine hallways of Tipoca City. After facing battle, it was odd to return to a place so quiet. He stops to peer down at troops eating in the mess hall. He lets out a deep Hm.

“Alpha, you wanted to speak with me?” A voice pulls him from his thoughts. Shaak Ti stands with her hands folded in front of her.

“Yes, I was hoping to talk to you about the future training of the cadets.” He starts as they walk down the corridor.

“You think their current training is inadequate?” She asks. He shakes his head while placing his hands behind his back as he walks.

“No, but it worries me that with all troops learning to follow orders that they may be hesitant when the time comes to make the difficult decision themselves. We don’t just need mindless soldiers. We need leaders.” He explains. Shaak Ti lifts a hand to her chin.

“I understand your concern. Then what do you propose we do?”

Alpha stops so he can face her.

“I want to take the best cadets and train them myself. These cadets will go on to not just fight in the army but lead it.” Alpha says. Shaak Ti gives a soft smile.

“I see no harm in that,” She starts before eyeing him. “But these troops must be willing to follow their Jedi Generals. I understand you yourself have had issue with this in the past.”

Alpha gives a laugh deep in his throat.

“Don’t worry about that. They’ll be loyal.” He says. She raises her version of an eyebrow at him before they continue walking.

“Very well. I will compile a list of the highest ranking cadets.”

“Thank you.” He says making Shaak Ti glance at him.

“I believe that is the first time you’ve ever said thank you.” She grins.

“These are strange times.” He says giving her a small smile. When they reach the end of the corridor, they leave each other to prepare.

The Kaminoans were kind enough to give him his own training room for his cadets and their own barracks to set them apart from the rest. He spends the rest of his time going over his plans. Despite all his training he wasn’t sure if he was prepared to actually teach. When the doors to his room open, he lets out a small grunt when Fordo walks in.

“I didn’t think it would be true but here you are.” He says. He leans against the doorway with his helmet under his arm.

“Someone’s got to do it. Jango isn’t here anymore so it falls on us to make sure these cadets are trained properly.” Alpha says while shuffling some papers around. Fordo walks further into Alpha’s room and places his helmet on the table.

“So, you’re really going to train a bunch of cadets? I’m sure some of the Mandalorian bounty hunters wouldn’t have a problem doing it.” Fordo crosses his arms.

“You know they all cleared out after Jango died. Now it’s just regular bounty hunters who just want to get paid.” Alpha leans back in his chair. Fordo stares at the ground thinking.

“Then I wish you the best of luck.” He says finally. He takes his helmet before slipping it back on his head. Just before walking out of the room, he turns back over his shoulder and says “You’re gonna need it.”

Alpha stares at the doors a moment longer before returning to his training plans. By the time Shaak Ti has summoned him he’s already inspected all of the gear and training room a couple times over. He can’t keep feeling like he was forgetting something but chalked it up to just being his nerves. Alpha never got nervous when it came to battle. But this? This made him uneasy.

When finds Shaak Ti, she’s staring at a datapad deep in thought. She smiles when she sees him.

“Find me some cadets?” Alpha asks when he joins her. She motions for him to follow her.

“I have,” She says as they walk down a corridor looking down at different batches training. “The first cadet is CC-2224.”

They stand next to the window looking down at a cadet running through the simulation. Alpha watches the boy take out the training droids. He was impressed.

“Though, I would like to mention that he can be a bit…” Shaak Ti starts before the boy has his blaster shot out of his hands. Alpha stiffens when the boy continues to charge and lands a punch on the chest of the droid. The boy lets out a painful scream before cradling his wounded hand and ultimately being shot. “… reckless.”

“Let’s move on.” Alpha says still unable to take his eyes off the kid that thought punching the metal droid was a good idea. Still, he was impressed. They walk over to the next window.

“This is CT-7567.” Shaak Ti says. At first Alpha couldn’t tell which cadet he was supposed to be looking at until Shaak Ti points towards a pillar. A cadet climbs up the side before dropping down on top of a droid. While steering the droid into the other training droids he manages to hold onto his blaster taking out a sniper droid. Alpha lifts a hand to his chin as a smile creeps on his face. With the droid beneath him the only one left he leaps off it and fires a single shot. The droid falls to the ground. His batchmates cheer for their brother. The cadet wears a proud smile before turning and walking straight into a pillar. Alpha frowns.

“We can work on that.” Alpha says when Shaak Ti gives a worried expression. They move on to the other cadets listed. When they’ve inspected each cadet, Alpha goes over the list. He decides to only pick eight for now. No reason to start too big. He might not succeed in this after all.

“Have you decided which ones you will be taking?” Shaak Ti asks after a moment. They now sit in a room used for meetings.

“I have.” He says sliding her the datapad. She looks over the list and nods in agreeance.

“I will have these cadets report to your training room immediately.”

When she leaves, Alpha feels jittery. What he was about to do could make these boys into the most capable and feared soldiers in the army. He could possibly make them the most useless soldiers anyone has ever seen. He decides that he can’t think like that now. He makes his way to the training room. He paces on one of the platforms while waiting. When the doors open, he stands tall hiding any sign of insecurity. Shaak Ti leads the eight cadets into the room. They stand in formation at attention.

“CC-2224, CT-7567, CC-3636, CC-1138, CC-8826, CC-1010, CC-4477, and CC-1004,” He says already agreeing with the Skywalker kid. They need normal names. Not just numbers. “You eight have been the first selected to undergo the first ARC training program! Here you will not just be trained as soldiers but to lead soldiers!”

The boys are good. They show little to no sign of excitement or shock. Alpha places his hands behind his back.

“Now I’ve seen what you could do with your batchmates. Show me what you can do next to the other elite cadets!” He says. They are given training blasters before he and Shaak Ti clear the training course. They stand at the top looking down from the railings. He notices Fordo on the other side watching as intently as he is. He gives the signal for them to begin and holds his breath.

It first starts out well. They take formation and appear to be follow directions well. Until Alpha gives out the next set of orders. Each cadet is used to being the leader of the batch. Now in a group of eight equally competent cadets they started bumping heads. Literally. CC-1010 and CC-4477 run right into each other while trying to advance. They fall to the training room floor before breaking out in a fight. CC-2224 tries advance past the fighting cadets only to dive for cover when CT-7567 tries to commandeer a droid similar to the way he did in his last training course. This time he’s unable to take control of the droid.

“Watch it!” CC-2224 yells before the droid lands a shot stunning him. CT-7567 steers the droid into the wall knocking himself unconscious. Alpha winces when the kids hits the ground. CC-3636 and CC-1004 are the only two who seem to be capable of working alongside each other. They work along side each other but seem to not want to outdo the other. Alpha rolls his eyes when they pause not wanting to shove past the other resulting in getting stunned by a droid they failed to see. Alpha turns his attention to the last two cadets who have managed to get closer to the citadel then any of the others. Unlike CC-3636 and CC-1004, these two act like it’s a competition. They shove each other in attempting to be first. Alpha shakes his head when they break out into an all out fight. Alpha rubs his face tiredly. He can hear Fordo’s laughing from across the training course.

“It appears you have your work cut out for you.” Shaak Ti says giving him a light pat on his shoulder. She leaves him to stare down at four stunned cadets and four in all out fist fights. He lets out a painful groan before muttering to himself:

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

[cathrrrine]

RUN | Pietro x Reader

Originally from my Wattpad

CHAPTER 15 - GHOST

----

[2009.]

Cold, unforgiving metal met the tender skin of my arm as I blocked his punch. That's going to leave a bruise. His blows were getting stronger, faster. He was testing my skills, they wanted to see how far I could be pushed. Although I wasn't far from the edge, I wasn't going to let myself fail today either.

"Focus!" He yelled.

I grimaced, ducking under his arm and landing a punch to his gut. Rookie move, but it was all I had at that moment. He grabbed my arm, quick as lightning, and dragged me by the chin so he could look me in the eye. My fists were still clenched but the exhaustion was starting to take a toll on me. I panted heavily as I tried to mask how drained I was.

With my arm still in his grasp, he said, "Who are you fighting for?"

It was almost a mantra that I was forced to reiterate every single time I fucked up. "Hydra."

He said it again, louder this time, his grip on my hand growing tighter. He could break my wrist if I didn't deliver. Hell, he could break every single limb I had. I couldn't fail.

"Hydra!" I scoffed. I belonged to them. I had to die for them. Hydra ran through my blood, and if it was ever spilled one day, it would be justified in their name.

That's what they told me.

Who was I to question them? I was nothing but a vessel, a weapon for these people. If I failed to deliver what was asked of me, I'd be killed. How ironic was that? To kill or be killed.

I hated it.

As soon as he let my arm go, I thrusted the top of my head into his face. I heard what sounded like his nose breaking and true enough, as I regained my balance and faced him, I found him wiping blood from his nose with the heel of his hand. It was satisfying, to say the least, to see that I finally made a dent.

"Perfect." He nodded.

God, it wasn't over yet.

He pulled his knives out of the holsters he wore, spinning them in the air and catching them both flawlessly. It was his signature trick. Honestly, I thought it was a bit too dramatic. But what can I say? Hydra loves their drama.

"Pay attention." He pointed the tip of the knife towards me. "Or you'll bleed."

He pounced, spinning his knives like they were toys and not murder weapons. He thrusted his right knife in the vague direction of my shoulder, I took a half-step back and circled around so I was behind him. It only took a second for him to whip around again, but I expected that move. So, I threw my leg up as soon as he did and I kicked the weapon out of his grip.

The knife spun around threateningly in the air before falling onto the concrete across the room with a thump. He didn't seem to pay any mind to his fallen weapon. That's when I remembered he had another. He twirled it around his fingers before gripping the handle and thrusting his right arm with full force, the gears of his metal arm whirring as he did so.

I thought I had it. I jumped back so he wouldn't catch my rib, but he was quick to calculate my movements. I should have known.

The pain was searing.

Blood oozed out of the newly-made wound on my calf, the knife buried to the hilt. I screamed uncontrollably as the pain of it kicked in, my body going limp immediately.

"That's enough, soldat."

Tears were falling down my face against my will. You know how sometimes your body does things you don't want it to do? I know, logically, tears were just how your body reacted to certain things. For example, being stabbed in the goddamn calf. But I knew, despite literal fucking science, the people around me took it as a sign of weakness. That's how messed up in the head they are.

But I wasn't weak. I just got through 2 hours of intensive training with the Winter Soldier while they just watched.

I'd like to see the lot of you fight him and manage to not get killed.

One of the medics went over to my side and helped me up. The Winter Soldier stepped aside and watched me with disdainful eyes. I knew I disappointed him. That alone could have fucked up my assessment. How did I not see it coming? How did I miscalculate that movement?

The Commander leaned in to talk to him as he watched me limp away. I made eye contact with both of them. The Commander's lips were moving but I couldn't make out a word of what he was saying.

Through pain-ridden eyes and a half-delirious mind, I could almost make sense of what the conversation was about.

Girl...Mission...Out...Threat.

Next thing I know, I was being treated by Dr. Nolan in the Medical Room. I don't think I processed anything yet. My brain felt numb. My eyes were glued to the knife — now on a metal tray — that I failed to dodge.

My mind flickered through all the different scenarios that I could have went with. I was beyond frustrated with myself and with my complete and utter failure. What were they going to do with me now? They couldn't really kill me...could they?

My mind reeled back to the conversation I saw that the Soldier and the Commander had earlier. What were they talking about? Did they finally decide what to do with me? The defective agent?

I wasn't perfect. I tried to be, but I wasn't. Somehow I always found myself disagreeing with their rules and their missions, even if I carried them out anyway. Although, sometimes I couldn't help but protest. I had to. Even if the consequences would hurt me. If they knew that I'd gone against more than just a few of their regulations, there's no doubt I'd be dead within the minute.

Footsteps came through the corridor, yet I didn't even think to look up.

"Your mission." The familiar faded black of a case file was thrown into my lap carelessly, the papers crinkling in protest as it landed. I looked up to see an annoyed expression that was attached to the face of one of the high-ranking agents.

"Mission? I thought I failed the assessment." My thumbs flicked through the papers almost automatically, scanning through the details quickly. I didn't miss the red stamp on the front. This wasn't just any mission.

He–David, I think–shrugged, "The Commander asked me to hand this to you. You're leaving in an hour."

"What?"

I was...thrilled and appalled at the same time. The whole point of the assessment was for them to see that I was worthy enough to be placed on important missions like these. If they trusted me with it, that means I succeeded.

"In an hour?" Dr. Nolan chipped in. "She hasn't fully recovered from her stab wound yet. You need at least two to three weeks of rest."

The red star-shaped stamp looked even more brighter in that moment, even if the room was poorly lit. "I've had worse. I can survive a limp."

"You won't even be able to walk." He raised an eyebrow at me in disagreement. Somewhere deep down, I knew I should listen to him. I wasn't in the best shape for a fight, let alone a mission like this one.

David huffed, "Orders are orders."

Then my brain clicked back into place. David was right. I nodded once. "I'll be at the hangar in 30 minutes."

"You better gear up by then. They wont wait up for you."

Dr. Nolan sighed and shook his head before wrapping my leg up with bandage. "Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you."

———

Snow was blowing in my face. The cold seeped through my coat, prickling my skin like tiny little needles made of ice.

"Any minute now." He spoke through the earpiece.

We were supposed to ambush a S.H.I.E.L.D operation that was a threat to Hydra. I wasn't entirely sure why I was sent along with the Winter Soldier, but I wasn't in the place to argue. Not when I just barely survived the assessment.

"Get in position." I crouched down, trying to smother a whimper that threatened to escape my throat. My calf was burning, but that wasn't a priority right now. Everything was always burning somehow, and I learned to ignore it overtime. I scanned the area through the scope of my sniper rifle. As soon as a car came into view, I steadied my hand on the trigger.

"Now."

Four continuous shots for each tire. Every single one blew out and the car spun out of control, spinning from left to right. It was a narrow road, the plan was bound to work to our liking. After a few nasty turns, the car swerved off the cliff, leaving nothing but dust and debris in it's place.

"They're not dead yet. Keep an eye out."

It was quicker than I expected, but I spotted two figures climbing out of the wreck after a while. Their movements were slow and staggered, but alive nonetheless.

"Target acquired."

I watched through the scope as he stepped out of his position in the shadows. One of the figures moved in front of the other, shielding them with their own body. I knew it was useless. He'd kill them both anyway.

A single shot rang out. I could picture the bullet going through one body to the other. They both dropped to the ground, dead.

"Target eliminated."

"Roger."

He didn't say a word. I didn't hear the usual rustle of his movements through the earpiece. Silence engulfed me. Usually, I wouldn't be so unnerved. He was always silent. But this time it felt...strange. I stayed where I was, unmoving. Something in my head told me I shouldn't move, shouldn't speak.

It seemed too easy.

I don't know what it was, but I didn't take my eyes off him. Something about this whole thing seemed...off. He could have completed this mission alone.

Why did they ask me to go with him?

He turned away from the bodies and faced me. I gulped, hands trembling as I held my rifle reluctantly. What was he doing?

"Sir?" I managed to say. Everything was telling me to RUN. NOW.

Slowly, he raised his gun and pointed it towards me.

Girl...Mission...Out...Threat.

My whole body trembled at the sight before me.

"Take the girl on your next mission. I need you to take her out. She's a threat to us, soldier. She's defective. Eliminate her. "

I was right.

Bang! The sound of a gunshot snapped me back to reality. It was real. They wanted to kill me. The Winter Soldier was standing ten feet away from me with a gun in his hand, ready to kill. To eliminate the threat.

Out of reflex, I pulled the trigger of my rifle that was pointed to his head, only to find it empty.

Four bullets. They only gave me four bullets and nothing more.

Without thinking, I ran. I dropped the rifle and ran as fast as my legs could take me. I heard another gunshot, closer this time. That's when I started to feel a strange sort of stinging at the back of my leg. The pressure felt strenuous as I continued to sprint in the snow.

Oh, God...Dr. Nolan was right.

I could feel the pain taking over once more as my stitches started to pop. Warm, thick liquid ran down my leg and seeped through the pants of my uniform as the wound on my calf bled out. Between the stinging cold and the stinging pain, I was starting to feel hopeless. I couldn't possibly go against him.

Bang!

Closer this time. I was running blindly into a vast, wide-open landscape of infinite snow. Not only that, but I was also leaving behind a trail of blood behind me. Deep scarlet upon stark white. What a contrast. Was this Hansel and Gretel or some shit?

"You cannot run forever." His voice was crisp, threatening. I couldn't take the fear that ran cold through me. If I stopped running now, I wouldn't ever get up again. He was the embodiment of fear, and he was chasing me.

I tore off my earpiece and threw it behind me. How could I have been so foolish today? Of course they sent him out here to kill me.

All along I thought I was playing the part perfectly. But, maybe I didn't hide my doubts of Hydra as well as I thought I had. Did they find out about everything I've failed to do?

How could I have killed those innocent children? How could I have murdered that innocent family? Or that innocent man who just so happened to stumble across a Hydra operation?

I was fine with the blood and the gore. I was used to that. The only thing that never sat right with me was when the innocent had to be slaughtered. The first time I went through with it, they haunted my dreams. Their animalistic cries for mercy, their howls of pain...I couldn't live with myself.

They were right. I was defective. I didn't have the makings of a Hydra agent. I wasn't as ruthless as I should be.

I ran and ran, hoping that he was far behind me. The snow was getting thicker by the minute, it was getting harder for me to see and to navigate.

I ran until my aching feet hit the pavement of a road that led to a small village. It looked homely, with houses and shops lined up along the road. Lanterns hung from roof to roof, providing light in the heavy snowfall. If I didn't know any better, I'd try to hide there. But I knew he would only tear it apart and kill everyone on sight just to eliminate me.

Then I sensed footsteps behind me. There was no time to think. It was my only option.

I sneaked through the worn paths of the area, trying my best to lay low. It didn't help that I was sporting a mean limp and bleeding all over the place. People saw me and they avoided me. I started to wonder why I thought heading here would help me. I scanned the area for anything, anything that would help. A weapon, a car, a spot that I could take shelter in...

Then, out of nowhere, I bumped into a woman.

"Oh!"

I held onto her arms as I tried to keep us both from falling. The woman was wearing a niqab. Her piercing green eyes looked right at me, distracting me from my original plan for a moment.

"Are you alright?" She asked, gently.

I must have looked horrible. Sweaty and bloody with panicked eyes. I didn't notice that her arms were still locked on mine, keeping me upright.

That's when I felt it, the surge of energy suddenly coursing through me. It was a peculiar sensation, but I welcomed it. Her green eyes widened. I knew she felt it too.

"You're-" she gasped, trying to pull away from me. I held onto her tighter, not wanting to let go just yet.

"Please." I begged. "It won't hurt."

I had to go before he came.

I heard gunshots behind me. I couldn't let him get to me, not when I just found the key to my escape.

"Who are you?" The woman whispered, struggling against me.

"Someone you’ll help escape death." I looked into her eyes, trying to let her see how desperate I was. I didn't want to take anything else from her but this.

Her eyes jumped from mine to behind me, before flickering back to look at me again. "You're like me, aren't you?"

"You don't need to do anything." I assured her. "I just need to leave."

It took a second of hesitation for her, but slowly, she nodded. She opened her mouth to say something, but I never heard what it was. Because that's when the screaming erupted.

I closed my eyes and teleported myself the fuck out of there.

[study-coffee-chicago]

Stars on your Sleeve (A Ranger! Jay imagine)

Not a Halstead sister fic, just Jay and the reader as a child. (Sort of daddy! Jay)

The rain drummed down on Jay's tan helmet, the sound soothing him as he focused his eyes across the dark of the Tabernas Desert. Despite it being cold and wet, his focus was razor-sharp. He looked through the scope of his sniper at the sparsely vegetated, and sandy yet rocky terrain. He kept his eyes peeled for anything or anyone out of the ordinary, most notably Los Rebeldes.

Los Rebeldes (The Rebels) had thrown over the Spanish government and turned it into a warzone. Anyone who went against them was instantly killed. Anyone who refused to serve in their army had their families taken away. Jay didn't care much about the politics of the matter. All he cared about was making sure that no more innocents were harmed because of some fringe group getting their way and wanting to keep it that way. It wasn't Afghanistan, but it was the same goal.

When the war broke out, he knew he had to come back, to fight and protect. So, when Mouse had mentioned that was going to reenlist, Jay had been right behind him, despite Hailey arguing with him. They had been married for a year at the time and she didn't want to lose her husband to the gruesomeness that was battle. But, he told her he'd be safe. He told her that he had Mouse and all the other platoon members that would keep him safe, just as he would do the same for them. And now here he was, three weeks left of his deployment, still safe, and as ready as ever to get back to his wife.

As he looked into the scope, something being swept across the land caught his eye. And then, the wind died down, stopping it. He moved his sniper to be directly looking at it close up. Wet and matted, covered in dirt, but no doubt had it been loved by a child for many years. Then, he saw something out of the corner of his eye and moved around once more.

The feet were small, wet from the rain. He couldn't see much else because the rest of the body was hidden behind a bush. If he could get closer, he'd be able to see that the toes were starting to turn blue. It hadn't dipped below freezing, but the rain made it feel like it had.

"Mouse, I see something on my nine. Does that look like a kid to you?" Jay radioed.

Mouse turned his gun from where he was fifty feet away from Jay and zoomed his scope in as close as he could. "Oh my God."

That was all the confirmation Jay needed. "Mouse, I need you and Logans to cover me. I'm going to get them."

"Halstead, you can't--"

"Logans, I can and I will. It's a child, they're defenseless and last I checked we're here to protect them, so cover me."

He spotted the teddy bear still laying on the ground about one hundred feet away from who they presumed to be the child.

Jay held his gun in front of him, using the light from his sniper to guide him toward the child. Mouse was right behind him and Logans was a few yards behind them, walking backward to watch their six.

Jay stopped. "What are you doing?" Mouse asked as Jay reached down.

"I think this belongs to them." With his gun still trained in front of him, he grasped the sopping wet teddy bear. He noticed it was missing an eye. And then, he continued walking, boots heavy against the ground.

Jay continuously checked his three and nine as they got closer and closer to the child. For all they knew, this could be a ploy to take the three of them prisoner. But, there was no one.

"I'll run ahead, go check to make sure there's no one there," Logans volunteered.

"Copy," Jay answered, a few feet away from the child. Logans ran up ahead without even glancing down at the child, his main mission to make sure his fellow brothers in arms were safe.

Jay swallowed as he saw what lay on the ground in front of him. A girl, no more than ten, lay on the cold ground only wearing a dress and a small locket, which were now sopping wet. Her fingers and toes were a pale shade of blue and her lips were cracked and purple.

"All clear," Logans said as he ran back behind Mouse to watch their six once more.

Jay swung his gun behind him and took off his helmet. "Jay, what are you doing?" Mouse asked.

"I don't want to scare her if she wakes up, Mouse."

He leaned down and pressed his fingers to the girl's neck. "I've got a pulse. It's slow. She's probably slightly hypothermic, but it's there."

Jay balled his hand into a first and placed it on the girl's chest, rubbing hard and fast, hoping to warm her up.

You woke with a start. You widened your eyes as you saw someone crouched above you, brown hair, freckles, and green eyes with water dripping down his face. You tried to back away, but you couldn't feel your fingers, and that made it hard to push yourself up into a seated position.

The man took his hand off you and then held both his hands up in a sign of surrender. "This is Halstead to base, patch me through to Diaz," the man spoke into something like a walkie-talkie that was strapped to the band in front of him.

"Copy, Halstead. Patching you through to Diaz."

You jumped, not knowing where the second voice was coming from and Jay noticed. "Hey, hey, estás segura, cariña, estás segura." He used one of the few phrases he could say in Spanish to tell you that you were safe.

Upon hearing your first language, you relaxed a little. Then, you noticed the patch on his sleeve. It was the one with the red and white stripes and the stars. Your mom had always told you that if anything happened, to look for the men with the stars and red stripes on their sleeves because they would help you. That was one of the last things she told you five years ago and you were glad you had remembered.

"Diaz," you heard.

"Hey, Emilia, I've got a little girl here, signs of hypothermia, can't be more than ten. I got her to wake up. I have no idea if she speaks English, so what do I do?"

"First off, ask her her name. I know you know how to say that."

"¿Como te llamas, cariña?"

"Y/N," you answered.

"Y/N. Me llamo Jay." He picked up the teddy bear beside him. "Diaz, how do I ask her if this is hers?"

"¿Es tuyo?" Emilia answered.

"¿Es tuyo?" Jay repeated, his horrible Spanish accent showing.

You nodded and Jay held out your teddy bear to you. Slowly, you reached your hand out and took it from him and then, despite it being sopping wet, hugged it tightly to your chest.

"¿Hablas inglés, Y/N?" Jay asked.

You nodded, telling him that you did in fact speak English. At the orphanage you and your older sister had been at, the workers spoke both Spanish and English. And, since you had been there for five years, you had picked up most of the language.

"I'm Jay," he told you once more and then motioned behind him. "That's my friend Mouse and way back there is my friend Chad. I promise we won't hurt you. Now, can you come with us?"

"Stars on your mangas. Yes, I come," you answered. Despite having been around English for five years, you were bound to make mistakes sometimes.

"Diaz, help me out here. Mangas?"

"Sleeves, she said you have stars on your sleeve. I think she's talking about the American flag patch."

"Thanks. Can we get a truck to our location stat? I don't think we could carry her all the way back there seeing as it's a three-hour trek. She might get worse."

"Copy. Pulling location and sending emergency trucks your way. Want me to stay on the line?"

"That'd be great. Thanks, Emilia."

Jay took off his heavy coat and held it out you. You nodded at him and he wrapped it around your small body. "What's your bear's name?"

"Osito."

Diaz chuckled on her end. "Translates to teddy or little bear," she told Jay.

"Thanks for the info."

Despite the heavy jacket, you shivered. Jay wrapped an arm around you. "Help will be here soon, Y/N. For now I just need you to stay awake for me, can you do that? Diaz, how do I tell her not to sleep?"

"No despierte," she answered.

"No despierte, Y/N, no despierte."

"Halstead, emergency's thirty minutes out," Mouse told him. "It's your call. Go back to where we were or stay here."

He looked to you. He didn't want to move you if you weren't comfortable. "Wait here or wait somewhere else?" he asked you.

"Here," you answered.

"You heard her boys, we're staying here."

***

You didn't know how long it had been, but the nice soldier, Jay, had let you drink out of his big, round water bottle. He told you it was called a canteen. You had never heard that word before. He had helped you hold it since your hands were still numb and blue from the cold. Once you took one sip, you didn't stop until it was all gone.

Jay didn't mind that you had drunk the rest of his water, which was only half full when he had given it to you. You probably needed it more than him anyway; he had no idea how long you had been out in the desert without anything to drink.

You heard a truck motor in the distance, causing you to jump. "This is Halstead to Base," Jay started, "is there a truck heading towards our current location?"

"There is," the voice on the other end answered. "Do you see them?"

"I see them!" Logans yelled to Mouse who relayed the message to Jay.

"Copy, yeah we see them."

The noise grew louder and you squeezed your eyes shut. "Diaz, you still there?" Jay asked.

"Still here. What's up?"

"Can you tell Y/N that the truck is just to help her and then we're taking her someplace safe? I know she understands English, but I thought it might be a little hard for her to understand since there might be some military words mixed in there that she doesn't know. She looks pretty scared to me."

"Yeah, I can do that."

Over the soldier's radio, you heard a woman, who introduced herself to you as Emilia, speaking Spanish. She told you that there was a big truck coming your way and inside were a doctor and a nurse who would help get you better. Then, they'd take you back to a big house with lots of people where you could rest and eat some food. She told you that you'd be safe there.

"She seem calmer to you, Jay?"

"Actually yeah, she does."

"Halstead, truck's here!" Mouse yelled.

"Copy!" Then, he turned to you. "Hey, I'm gonna pick you up now and carry you over to that truck." He pointed ahead of him. "More of my friends are in there and there's doctors who can help you get warm. Are you okay with that?" You nodded, understanding most of what he was saying. "Okay, up you go. One, two, three."

He picked you up as the doctor and nurse jumped out of the back of the truck.

"A kid? How'd you find her?" the nurse, Ava, asked.

"I saw her teddy bear on the ground and then I looked and there she was. I don't know what happened to her. All I know is that she's showing signs of hypothermia and her name's Y/N."

"Okay, let's get in the truck and we'll take a look at her in there. That way me and Colin can actually see what we're working with."

"Copy," Jay answered. He climbed into the truck behind Ava and Mouse and Logans followed.

Jay went to set you down on the stretcher that sat between the two benches of the truck, equipped with an IV pole and other medical supplies, but you held onto his shirt. You didn't know what these people were going to do to you. The other guy didn't have stars on his sleeve. He could be bad.

"¡No! !No, lo tiene una bandera! ¡No me voy!"

Jay looked at Nurse Ava and Dr. Collins, seeing if they understood what she said, as you put your face into Jay's shirt. When they just stared back at him with a blank expression, Jay wanted to kill whoever decided not to send a bilingual nurse or doctor. If they couldn't send one of them, the least they could've done was send a translator with them.

"Mouse, get Diaz on your radio. I won't be able to hear her through mine since Y/N's covering it. Diaz, you can still hear us though, right?" Jay asked.

Jay heard muffling from underneath him and he took it as yes.

"Diaz, it's Mouse. You hear me?" Mouse asked, moving closer to Jay so they could both hear and speak into his radio.

"Loud and clear. Need me to translate?"

"Please," Jay replied.

"Okay. What she just said was that she doesn't want to go to him--I'm assuming him means Dr. Collins--because he doesn't have a flag on his sleeve," Emilia Diaz answered.

"Okay, let me try something."

"Oh God," Mouse muttered.

"Y/N," Jay started, causing you to move your head to look up at him. "This is a doctor. I know him. Es amigo."

"¿Su amigo?"

"Sí," Jay answered, confirming that the doctor was in fact his friend.

"He will not hurt me?" you asked.

"I promise he will not hurt you."

You looked at Dr. Collins and he smiled at you. "Okay," you said.

"I'm gonna put you down now."

He set you down on the stretcher and spoke loudly so that it could be heard through Mouse's radio. "Diaz, I'm gonna need you to translate this stuff because I doubt she knows medical stuff in English."

"Gotcha, doc," Diaz replied.

"Y/N, I have to tie off your arm and then put a needle in it so that warm saline gets into your body. That way, you'll warm up and your toes and fingers won't be cold anymore."

He waited for Diaz to translate and waited for your expression to change when she mentioned the needle to you. It did.

"I promise you'll only feel a small pinch."

"And you can squeeze my hand really, really hard," Jay added.

Diaz translated and you looked to Jay who had stretched his hand out towards you. You took it and the doctor counted down from three, in Spanish, but on one he stuck the IV in your arm and you squeezed Jay's hand as hard as your numb little fingers could.

You relaxed once the needle was in, starting to feel warmer.

Nurse Ava looked at your locket and whispered something to Dr. Collins. Jay knew what was up. They needed to take your necklace off right away and then put it in a bag to be looked at by tech so that they could be sure that there were no cameras or microphones in it. Nobody would put it past Los Rebeldes to use kids to find out what American soldiers were doing.

"Sweetie, we need to take off your necklace," Ava said. "We just need to look at it and you can have it back tomorrow."

"No. It is mine," you answered.

"I know it's yours, which is why you'll get it back tomorrow." She wanted to say that she had to take your teddy bear too, just to make sure that there were no microphones or cameras in there as well, but she could only fight one battle at a time.

She turned to Jay and spoke really fast so that you couldn't understand her.

"I know. I'll handle it." Jay crouched down next to you. "Y/N, we know that this necklace is yours," he spoke slowly, so that you were able to understand, "Because of the stuff the doctor put in your arm, you're gonna warm up fast. And, sometimes if there's metal on you, it can burn you because you heat up too fast. ¿Entiendes?"

"A little," you answered Jay's question of if you understood what he had told you.

"Diaz, can you repeat what I just told Y/N about her locket?"

Diaz translated what Jay had told you into Spanish, and he watched as you nodded in understanding and reached back to undo the clasp of your locket. But, you couldn't get it. Ava reached over to undo it, but she couldn't get it either.

"The clasp is so rusty that it's stuck," Ava said.

"Let me take a look," Jay said and moved behind you. He gently touched your neck as he grabbed the chain of the locket and then looked at the clasp. Ava was right. There was no way this was going to come off easily.

"Y/N," Jay started. "Ava's gonna pull the necklace a little bit and when she does I need you to sit really still, okay?"

"Okay," you answered.

"What are you doing?" Ava hissed so quietly so that you couldn't hear as Jay reached into a pocket of his cargo pants.

He pulled out his pocket knife and flicked it open. "It's our only option. I'll just go right through the clasp because it'll be easiest."

"Fine." She pulled on the chain of the necklace, moving it so that it was far away from you, but not so much that it was choking you.

"Y/N, I need you to stay really still."

You nodded and then you felt the necklace fall off, the heart-shaped charm falling on the floor of the truck.

"You broke it!" you yelled.

Your sister had given that to you when she heard people coming into the orphanage two days ago. She had quickly clasped it on you and told you to hide in the crawl space under your shared bunk bed. Inside the heart-shaped charm was a picture of your dad on one side and a picture of your mom on the other. Your parents had given it to your sister for her tenth birthday and she always let you look at it when you missed them. You had gotten the teddy bear and she had gotten the necklace. But, now you had both, the only picture of your parents inside that locket and now it was broken.

Jay rushed to pick it up before it bounced out of the truck. "Got it!"

"But you broke it!"

Jay laughed at how you thought it couldn't be fixed. "No, we just need a new chain to put the necklace on. It's okay."

"You can fix it?"

"Yes, I can fix it." He knew that if he could get his hands on a chain and a clasp that he could, but he wasn't going to tell you that. All you needed to know was that it could be fixed.

"Do not lose it," you told him.

"I will not lose it, Y/N. I promise."

You yawned, the tiredness of the last few days finally taking over you as you started to warm up. You were safe and the stretcher was softer than the ground you had previously been on.

Jay moved his jacket from behind you and placed it over top of you like a blanket. "You can sleep. It's safe. You're safe." he told you.

You clutched your teddy bear as you snuggled into Jay's jacket, allowing the sound of the truck and the quiet whispers around you to lull you to sleep.

***

"You are not taking her teddy bear!"

"Halstead, we have--"

"Listen to me! You do not have to do anything. That girl was cold, terrified, and alone when I found her. That stuffed animal was probably her only comfort item, besides that necklace, which we have already taken away from her for the night by the way, so there is no way in hell I am letting you take it away from her!"

"Mmmm, ¿Qúe estaís haciendo?" you asked, rolling over and trying to remember where you were.

Jay shut his mouth the minute he heard you talking. "Emilia," he said.

"She asked what we doing," she translated, as their superior officer stared at the two of them.

"That's a damn good question," Jay said, crossing his arms and glaring at his superior officer. "Care to explain what you were going to do, Captain?"

"I'll handle this," Emilia mumbled, knowing that a fight would just break out and Jay could get in trouble for going up against a superior. She, not as much though since she was just a translator.

Emilia explained to you that you were in the hospital part of the big house she had told you about over the radio earlier. She asked you how you were feeling and you said good, warm. You also mentioned how the bed was soft and she smiled at your innocentness.

Then, Emilia asked if you wanted to take a bath, a warm bath. You said yes. She asked if she could take Osito and give him his own bath, make him all nice and clean for you. You agreed and handed her the bear, causing Jay's eyes to go wide.

Emilia called for Ava and said that you wanted to take a bath. You looked up at Jay. "You come, too?" you asked.

"Where are we going?" Jay asked as enthusiastically as he could.

"I get a warm bath! So does Osito!" you exclaimed.

Jay chuckled at your cuteness. Even though you were eight, you still spoke like a five-year-old since English was your second language. But, he didn't mind; knowing two languages at your age was an accomplishment in and of itself. After all, he could only speak English.

"I'm sorry, but I can't come with you," he answered, squatting down so that he was eye-level with you. "But I'll be here when you get back."

"You keep Osito safe?"

"I will," he answered.

You nodded and took Ava's hand and headed out of the room in Med Station to take a bath.

"What did you tell her, Diaz?" their captain asked.

"I just asked her if she wanted a bath and that we'd wash her bear for her. That way, we can check it out while she's gone."

"Good thinking. I'll leave you two to bring it to security."

"Yes sir," both Jay and Emilia answered.

"That's not all she told you was it?" Jay asked as they made their way through the compound and to the security sector.

"She uh, she said she's never had a warm bath before, that the water was always cold at the orphanage," Emilia answered sadly.

"So she has no family?"

"She mentioned a sister, but when I asked where she was, she didn't answer, and that's when I mentioned giving the bear a bath. Something had to have happened there for her to leave and walk across the desert all alone."

"Poor kid," Jay sighed. "Now, where are you gonna wash her bear?"

"Me?" Emilia asked. "Oh no, Halstead, that's your job. I'm gonna go look for some clothes for her. Figured I'd be better at that than you."

"So you just want me to walk into a barracks full of grown men with a stuffed animal?"

"Precisely," Emilia smiled. "And, if I recall correctly, you still owe me a favor."

"Yeah, from when we were sixteen and my car broke down and you gave me a ride home!"

"Favor's a favor. Now get going. Don't want Y/N to think that you stole her bear. After all, you did promise to keep Osito safe," she laughed.

Jay rolled his eyes as he continued walking towards the barracks and Emilia went to the left to try and find you some clothes that might actually fit you.

He walked into the barracks and then into the communal bathrooms. He turned on one of the sinks and put your teddy bear under the cold water and wrung it out, not so hard that he'd rip it, but hard enough that he could get all the dirt out. He repeated the process for ten minutes until the water finally ran clear.

"The hell you got there, Halstead?" a fellow soldier of Jay's asked.

"I found a little girl when we were out last night and we have to get it checked for mics and cams, so to get it away from her, Diaz promise that the bear would get a bath...which meant that I gotta wash it," Jay answered, grabbing some paper towel to dry Osito off as best he could.

"I bet she'll appreciate that," he answered.

"Yeah," Jay agreed and then left to go bring the bear to security.

As expected, there were no microphones or cameras in it...which Jay could've told them that. Then, he walked back to Med Station just in time to see you walking back in your room along with Ava.

"Osito!" you exclaimed, running up to Jay.

"Here you go, cariña. All nice and clean." He handed you the bear and you hugged it to your chest.

"Look! My dress has bears on it!" you exclaimed, referring to your hospital gown. Somehow, someway, the nurses had children's gowns on the base. Jay wondered if they had expected more child casualties here and the thought made him internally shudder.

"I can see that. How are you feeling?"

You pursed your lips, trying to think of the word in English. "Clean!" you answered.

Jay laughed at this. "I'm glad to hear that. Now, I'm gonna be right back okay? I'll be right over there." He pointed out the door to the nurses' station.

"Okay, Jay."

Jay. His heart swelled when he heard your little voice say his name. And at that moment, he knew he'd do anything and everything to protect you. He didn't know what you had been through, but he knew that he'd make damn sure that you wouldn't get left behind again.

***

Jay was abruptly woken from his sleep by Dr. Collins. "Whoa, whoa, Halstead. It's Dr. Collins," he quickly said, putting his hands in front of his face in a protective position as Jay started to swing.

Jay shook his head and slowly lowered his hands. "Sorry, habit."

"No big deal. I suspect most people here would do the same. Now, I need you to come with me."

"Why?" Jay asked, slipping his feet into his boots.

"The girl you brought in--"

"Y/N?"

"Yeah, her. She keeps asking for you. She woke up and she won't go back to sleep and she said she wants you."

"But why me?" he asked as they exited the barracks.

"You were the one who found her, correct?"

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with it?"

"What did you say to her when you were there?"

"I told her that she's safe, told her my name, and then asked if she wanted to wait where we were or somewhere else. She said she wanted to wait where we were, so that's what we did."

"I see," Dr. Collins started, "you gave her some semblance of control."

"What?"

"You asked her if she wanted to stay there or go somewhere else and actually did what she wanted. She feels safe with you. She trusts you, Halstead."

She trusts you, Halstead.

They entered Med Station and then walked to your room. Jay heard your quiet sniffles before he saw you.

You were clutching your bear to your chest, Ava was next to you trying to get you to sleep, but you just shook your head back and forth. It was too dark, too quiet. You wanted your sister.

"Hey, cariña," Jay whispered, crouching down in front of the bed.

"J-Jay," you stuttered through tears.

"Yeah, I'm here. What's wrong?" he asked slowly, making sure that you could understand.

"I can not sleep. Miss sister."

"You miss your sister?" he asked. You nodded. "I miss my brother sometimes, too. And my wife."

Wife. You didn't know that word. You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. He pointed to his wedding band and you understood what he meant. He had a princess at home. Your dad always told you that your mom was his princess and she always said that he was her prince. And, the rings were to make sure they stayed prince and princess.

"¿Princesa?" you asked.

"She is my princess, yes."

"Is she pretty?"

"She is really, really pretty."

"You cry for her and your brother at night?"

Now that, that question took Jay off guard. But, he did occasionally do that...like when he missed their wedding anniversary because he was overseas. "Oh, yeah," he answered. "Adults cry too and it's okay."

"Really?"

"Really. Now, how about we go to sleep and you can tell me about your sister tomorrow. I will tell you about my brother and my princess tomorrow, too." He made a conscious choice not to use contractions when talking to you because, if your speaking was any indication, you hadn't picked up on those yet. But, wow, he was still impressed by your English skills.

Ava stood up and turned off the light. She went to leave but was stopped. "Too dark," you said.

Jay reached into one of the many pockets of his cargo pants and pulled out a flashlight. He clicked it on. "Better?" You nodded. "Now, how about you go to sleep?"

"You stay?"

Jay wasn't planning on staying, but when you asked that, he knew he couldn't say no. "I will stay."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Jay hadn't broken any of his promises to you so far, so you expected him to still be here in the morning when you woke up.

***

It had been a week since Jay and the others had found you and your strength was finally back up to where it normally was. Jay had introduced you to his wife, Hailey, over a Skype call and he was right, she was pretty. When Jay told a joke, that you didn't understand, Hailey laughed, which caused you to laugh, too. And, before Jay knew it, he was laughing as well.

From that call, Jay had learned how old you were because Hailey had asked you. You were eight and your favorite color was purple. Your favorite animal was a bear and your favorite food...well you didn't really have one because all your food at the orphanage was boring and bland. You were fed for survival there, not enjoyment.

Stateside, Hailey's thoughts were littered with the little Spanish girl that Jay had saved. She'd be lying if she didn't see a connection between you two. How much you trusted him and how he looked at you with the light in his eyes that was only ever seen when he was at home. During these months on deployment during their weekly Skype calls, Hailey had only seen that light once: the call when you were next to him.

"You seem happy," Mouse pointed out as Jay was tying his boots the next morning, about to go grab breakfast from the chow hall.

"They said that Y/N can go outside and play now. She's been asking to go outside for the past three days. And now she finally can."

"You really care about her, don't you?"

"She's just a kid, man," Jay answered. "And the way we found her, what she must've gone through. I just want to make her feel safe."

"I get it. Just don't get too attached. You gotta go out one more time before you leave."

Mouse was right of course. He did have to leave the base and go into no man's land one more time to stand guard with Mouse, Logans, and a few others before the end of his deployment in two weeks.

Jay slumped his shoulders. "What if something happens to me when we're out there?"

"What?" Jay had never spoken like that before. His focus was always on the task ahead of him. His best friend had never heard him ask a question like that before in their three deployments together or during risky raids back in Chicago as part of the Intelligence Unit.

"What if they find us and we don't come back? What's Y/N going to think? That I abandoned her? That I broke a promise to her?"

"Jay, man, you are getting way too close to this kid. If it's gonna affect the way that you do your job, you gotta take a step back."

"I know that. What if I-- you know what? Forget it."

Jay stood up to go brush his teeth, but Mouse followed him.

"C'mon, Jay. Talk to me."

Jay sighed. "Fine. But not here. Let's go grab our guns."

After grabbing their guns, the two walked to a secluded space on the base, a place where they usually cleaned their weapons. And, since it was so early, no one was around they could talk freely. But, they had to make it look like they were here to clean their weapons, which is why Jay had his sniper rifle on the table, already unscrewing it, ready to clean the barrel.

"What if I didn't go?" Jay asked breaking the silence.

"Go where? What are you talking about?" Mouse asked, taking apart his gun as well.

"What if, the next time we have to leave Base, I didn't go. What if I just stayed behind."

"You can't do that! One, Smith would find out pretty damn fast. And two, you can be dishonorably discharged for insubordination for going against the orders of a superior officer! Are you crazy?"

"Smith's got kids, right?" Jay asked, referring to their captain.

"I think so. Why?"

"Maybe if I talked to him and told him the reason that I want to stay back is because of Y/N, then maybe he'd let me."

"You know you wouldn't be getting out of this unscathed, right? You'd be on kitchen or latrine duty for the rest of the tour."

"I know that," Jay groaned.

They worked in comfortable silence for a few minutes until Mouse broke it. "You really have a soft spot for this girl, don't you?"

"Yeah, yeah I do." Jay paused, putting his gun back together. "I just, I wonder where she's gonna go after she gets better. She was at an orphanage before we found her, a place that was supposed to keep her safe, Mouse. And, the way we found her, they obviously didn't do their jobs."

"You know who might know where she's going?"

They both looked at each other and nodded. Diaz.

"Emilia," Jay said in a sing-song voice as he saw Emilia round the corner in the chow hall with her breakfast.

"Oh, no. You only use that voice when you want something," she said as she headed to her table.

Jay and Mouse sat down across from her. "Well, you're not wrong."

"The number of times I heard that voice in high school when he wanted to cheat off my homework was astronomical, Mouse," Emilia said.

"In my defense, it wasn't cheating. It was checking my answers." Emilia raised an eyebrow. "Fine. It was checking my answers and changing them."

"That's better. Now, what do you two want?"

Mouse held his hands up in surrender. "It's all Jay this time."

Emilia turned her attention to Jay. "What do you want?"

"I know that you're on good terms with basically everybody here, so I was wondering if maybe you'd know where Y/N is going once she gets better?"

Emilia sighed, knowing the attachment Jay had to you. "Last I heard is that she's gonna go back to another orphanage."

"Any idea when that might be?"

"Maybe a month, month and a half at most."

"So, we'll essentially be getting her to feel comfortable and safe here and then she'll just up and move again."

"When you put it like that, yeah. I'm sorry, Jay."

"Yeah, thanks." He turned to Mouse. "Let's go grab some breakfast."

***

Jay walked into Captain Smith's office, nervous as hell. "Captain," Jay spoke with a curt nod.

"Halstead, what can I do for you? I've been meaning to tell Diaz that that was a good idea on how to get the little girl's bear away from her."

"Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to pass that on to her."

"How is the little girl?"

"Doing better, sir. She's been asking to go outside and play, so I'll probably stop by later to take her outside, maybe start a soccer game."

"She'd probably like that. Now, I can tell that you didn't just come in here to update me on how she's doing.  Would I be correct?"

"You're correct, sir. I came to ask you if there is any way that I don't have to go out on my next scheduled guard post."

"I'm assuming that I don't have to tell you that if I tell you that you have to go and you refuse, that that would be grounds for insubordination."

"No, sir."

"Can I ask what prompted this?" Captain Smith had heard stories about Jay's time in Afghanistan and the man in front of him never backed down from a fight.

"It's Y/N, the girl I rescued, sir. She feels safe with me and I don't want to leave her. I don't want to be another person who leaves her." Jay hoped his captain understood the unspoken words that the sentiment conveyed.

"Halstead, I understand where you're coming from. I have kids of my own and I'd be lying if I told you that whenever I have to go off base in combat, that they aren't at the forefront of my mind. But, it's what we signed up for. I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do.

"I understand, sir. Thank you for your time."

***

"Hey, cariña," Jay said happily as he walked into your room just before ten o'clock. "Did you get new clothes?" he asked, overexaggerating his surprise.

"Yes! Emilia give them to me!"

You were currently in a pair of shorts and a way too big t-shirt that was made tighter by bringing the back together using a hair tie. Emilia had taken a pair of shorts she had with her (no doubt to be used on one of the rare days when they got to go into the city) and had cut and sewn them so they were smaller.

"She did, did she?"

"Yeah!"

"Are you ready to go outside?"

You jumped out of bed at that. "Go outside! Go outside!"

You grabbed his hand and practically dragged him out of the room. Who knew you could have so much strength in that little body of yours? Jay could barely stop and tell a nurse where you were going. But, then he laughed, seeing as you were going in the wrong direction.

"Wrong way, cariña," he laughed as he stopped walking.

"Oh." You scrunched up your eyebrows. "You go first."

"Okay, I'll go first. Do you want to keep going mano a mano so that you don't get lost?"

Your eyes lit up when he spoke the bit of Spanish. You nodded and Jay continued to hold onto your little hand as he led you outside.

When you and Jay got outside, you were met with a big group of soldiers, some women, but mostly men. One was holding a soccer ball. Jay put his fingers in his mouth and let out a shrill whistle to gather everyone's attention.

The one holding the ball turned to face them. "Can you guys add two more?"

"I think so. What's her name?" the soldier asked Jay.

"Her name's Y/N."

"Hi, Y/N. Do you want to be a captain? You get to pick who's on your team."

You looked up at Jay as if asking for his permission and he nodded. "Okay! But, I want Jay and Emilia."

"We can do that." Then, he turned back to the group. "Hey, whoever wants in on this game, line up! Me and Y/N are captains. And, she's already got dibs on Halstead and Diaz!"

A few grumbled, they knew Jay was one of the best at soccer having played in high school, and kept it up as a hobby after that. Everyone lined up and you started picking teams. Jay mouthed something to the other captain and he nodded, knowing that they were going to let your team win and not put up a fight when you went to score goals.

***

"Hey, Halstead!" Logans yelled to Jay once he had dropped you off to your room for lunch...and a bath seeing how dirty you had gotten playing soccer in the sand.

Jay turned and raised his eyebrows. He hadn't expected to see Logans right now. But, he didn't mind. The two had grown close just because they had to go on missions together.

"Few of us are going into Seville, wanna tag along?" Chad Logans finished.

"Uh, yeah, sure. Mind if Emilia comes too? You know, for translation purposes."

"Yeah, for translation purposes," Logans mocked.

Jay laughed. "Dude, you've got it all wrong. We went to high school together and one time we got dared to kiss each other, and it was like I was kissing my sister."

"Talkin' about me, Halstead?" Emilia asked, sneaking up behind him.

"Jesus Christ!" Jay jumped. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Aw, the man who plays with big guns is scared of a little translator. I'm honored."

"Shut up," Jay retorted, rolling his eyes. "So, assuming you didn't hear the first half of our conversation, you wanna head into Seville? Apparently, there's a bit more room on the truck."

"Sure, why not. I'm off for the rest of the day anyway."

"Good, because we're getting Y/N's necklace fixed and I need you to translate."

"And make sure you don't get ripped off."

"That too."

***

"What about this one?" Jay asked Emilia, holding up a silver chain.

"Jay, I know you're a man, but Jesus, I thought you were smarter than this!"

"What? What did I do wrong?"

"Take out the locket and look closely at it along with the chain. Go."

Jay pulled the locket out of one of the many pockets of his pants and held it next to the chain. "So? One's silver and one's gold."

"Exactly. You can't have a silver chain go with a gold locket. We need to find a gold chain. C'mon, put it back and we'll keep looking."

"Women," Jay scoffed.

"I can almost guarantee if you said that to Hailey that she'd have your balls in a blender so fast, Halstead."

"It's why I married her. Strong, independent, beautiful, and not to mention she's the one who calls me out on my shit almost daily."

"As she should."

"You should come around more often when we're both Stateside again. I think you and Hailey would get along really well. Also, you can see Will."

"Would you stop trying to set me up with your brother? He's not my type, we've been through this, many, many times actually."

"But, if I remember correctly, you do have a thing for doctors."

"It was my freshman year of college and he was a med student. Don't blame me for liking guys who are a few years older than me. They're more mature for one."

"Will's older than me," Jay pointed out.

"If he's anything like you then, he sure as hell ain't mature."

"That hurt, Emilia, that really did."

"Shut up. Now, let's keep looking, we only have a limited amount of time here in the city."

The two friends continued to walk through the cobblestone streets of Seville and look at all the small booths. Jay had bought some hard candy, despite Emilia telling him that he should save his money for the chain. To which he replied by saying that he had more than enough money and that Emilia was here to make sure that he didn't get ripped off after all.

"You're not gonna eat your candy, Halstead?" Emilia asked.

"They're not for me. They're for Y/N."

"I should've known when you got the bear-shaped ones and got a mix of flavors. I know you don't like grape-flavored stuff."

"Who does? It's gross! Tastes like medicine."

"I like it!"

"Of course you do, if my memory serves me correctly, the day we took the ACTs junior year, you came to school high on that nasty grape cough syrup."

"I was not going to reschedule that test and put myself through that panic again. So, yes, I came to school when I probably shouldn't have. But, I was not high!"

"Whatever you say."

"I still scored higher than you. There was no I would've been able to do that if I was high...or maybe there was. You weren't the brightest crayon in the box back in high school."

"Crayon in the box? What are you? Five?"

"Yes, now c'mon, let's keep looking for that chain before that candy ends up melting into a big ball of multi-colored goo."

***

"What about this one?" Jay asked, holding up a gold chain.

"You know, that one might work. Just let me talk to the seller for a second to see if we can slip the charm on it to see if it looks good and if it fits."

"Go for it. That's why I brought you, isn't it?"

"Shut up."

Emilia started to talk to the woman who ran the small jewelry booth and asked her if they could slip the locket on the chain to see if it fit. At least, that's what Jay assumed they were talking about...he barely spoke Spanish save for a few key words and phrases.

"What do you think?" Emilia asked as she held up the chain with the locket on it. "I think it looks good."

Jay looked at it. The chain was definitely cleaner than the locket. The locket had some dirt and grime stuck in its little crevices, but he figured once it got cleaned the colors would probably match up nicely. He figured that you'd just be excited to get your necklace back, no matter whether or not the gold from the chain and the gold from the locket matched perfectly.

"Me too," Jay agreed. "Just tell me how much it is."

She spoke to the shop owner one more time and then told Jay how much it was and he paid for the chain.

"Do you think she'll like it?" Jay asked as they continued their walk through the town.

"Jay, stop second-guessing yourself. She'll love it. Where's all this coming from? I know kid cases used to hit you hard, even when you worked for the police back in Chicago, but I've never seen something like this hit you this hard."

"You know I did two tours before this, right?"

"We've been best friends since high school, kind of hard to forget something as big as that."

"Right, sorry. Uh, on my last tour, there was this- there was this eight-year-old girl. She uh, she had a beautiful face, dark skin. My nine--the bullet from my gun--it went through a combatant and then through a doorway."

"Jay, you don't have to justify this. If it brings you back there, I don't--"

"No, it's okay. You deserve an explanation." He was quiet for a moment. "Anyway, the bullet went through the doorway, and then it uh, it ripped open her neck." He closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself not to cry. "She didn't die right away though. I sat there, with her. I held her hand, told her that she wasn't alone. Sometimes, I still have nightmares about it."

"So, when you saw Y/N, you thought that you could save her because you didn't save that little girl?"

"Exactly. What makes it worse is that she's the same age as that girl was when I, when I--"

"Jay, you didn't shoot her. You had no intention of shooting her. It was an accident. I know I can't erase what happened, but it was not your fault."

They walked in silence after that, neither knowing what to say.

"What do you think about me bringing Y/N home with me when I leave?" Jay asked after they walked in silence for ten minutes, just looking at other booths.

"Like adopting her?"

"When you put it like that, yeah I guess."

"I think that you and Hailey share one brain."

"What do you mean?"

"Hailey asked me the same thing. And before you ask how I talked to her, remember that I work with computers, Jay. And, Mouse knows how to hack said computers."

"So, you called her?"

"Precisely."

"And what'd you two talk about?"

"The usual, how you were doing, how she was doing. She also said that she hasn't seen you this happy on base in a long time. She wants the same thing you do, Jay. Even though she's only seen it through one video call, she knows how good you are with Y/N and understands how much it will break her when you have to leave."

"So, she wants to adopt Y/N, too?"

"Yes, dummy! But, you guys need to have a conversation about that because I don't think I was supposed to tell you."

"You think it could happen? Us adopting her even though I'm in a different country right now?"

"I'm sure there have been other scenarios like this one before. But, you'll have to talk to Hailey about this, because she probably has some connections who can work with you Stateside on this because of you two being Chicago cops and all that. But hey, if it does somehow work out, you and Hailey seem like you'd make great parents."

***

Jay and Emilia barely made it back into Base before their names were being called.

"Halstead! Diaz! We need you to Med Station now!"

The minute Jay heard Med Station mentioned, he took off running.

"What's going on?" he asked the nurse who stood in front of your room.

"Did she go outside today?" she asked.

"Yes, we played soccer. Why is she screaming? What's wrong?"

"She was bitten by a tick and has what we call tick paralysis. Even though we got a translator in there to explain what was going on, she won't let us remove it. And, we need to give her some antibiotics as well, which requires an IV and she won't let us do that either. She just kept asking for you."

"You want me to get that tick off of her and plunge that needle into her? No way!"

"Jay," Emilia started, "it might be the only way to stop the paralysis and to get her to calm down. She trusts you. I know it's gonna suck because you're scared of needles, but you have to do it."

"Can't you do it? Please Em."

"She's asking for you."

Jay sighed. "All I have to do is get the tick off and then push the meds?"

"Yes, that's all."

"Okay."

He entered your room and to say that you were distraught would be an absolute understatement. You had tears running down your face at an alarmingly fast rate and your cries had reduced to panicked whimpers. You were staring at your legs, willing them to move, but they just wouldn't.

"Hey cariña," Jay said gently.

"J-Jay?" you asked, looking at him.

Jay crouched down next you and took your little hand in his. "Hey, hey, it's okay. Is it okay if I help you feel better?"

"How? I no want an aguja," you whined.

Jay looked to Emilia. "Needle," she translated.

"Y/N, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I don't like agujas either. But, they have special medicine in them that make you feel better. And, once I get the insect off of you and give the medicine, you'll feel all better."

"You promise?"

"I promise. And, I have a surprise for you, too."

"You do?"

"I do. But you have to let me give you the medicine and then you can get it, okay?"

"Okay."

"Can someone get me some gloves?" he asked.

A nurse came back with a pair of blue surgical gloves for him. "Would you like some help with this?" she asked him.

Yes, Jay had seen needles inserted into IV lines dozens of times, but he's never actually done it. "Please," he answered.

The nurse helped guide Jay's hand to where he was supposed to put the needle into, but you were intently watching his every move.

"Miras otro lado, cariña," Emilia said and you proceeded to look at the wall on the other side of you instead of looking at Jay putting the needle in.

"3...2..." Before he got to one, he pushed, causing you to let out a small whimper that absolutely broke his heart.

"She should be out soon," the nurse said. "And then we can remove the tick and she'll be back to normal in no time. Good work, Halstead."

"Thank you ma'am."

Jay was about to leave, when he remembered something. "Where was the tick?"

"It was on her foot."

"Because she didn't have shoes on when we were playing soccer earlier," Jay stated as he put the pieces together, once a detective, always a detective.

"You can't blame yourself. You didn't know there'd be a tick."

"Jay," Mouse said as he entered the room. "Hailey's on the phone for you."

He looked at Emilia. "Promise to come get me when she wakes up?"

"I promise."

***

"Hey, Hails."

"Hey, Jay. What's wrong?" she asked, immediately concerned at how down Jay looked.

"It's just that, me and Y/N went outside and played soccer today, and then I got back from going to Seville with Emilia to get stuff to fix her necklace, and then she got bit by a tick. She had tick paralysis. She couldn't move her legs, Hailey. She was so scared. I had to push the needle into her and I felt so bad because I know it hurt her."

"Oh, honey. It's okay. She's gonna be okay and she'll love you for fixing her necklace that she won't even remember how much that needle hurt."

"Thanks, but that doesn't make me feel any better. I was the one who hurt her."

"No, you made her feel better. Without that medication, she probably would've stayed paralyzed. Don't beat yourself up here Jay, you're trying your best."

"But what if I'm not?"

"Jay, listen to me. That little girl loves you. You're the happiest I've ever seen you when you're with her and when you're talking about her."

"Emilia told me you'd say that."

"Because it's true. Wait, what else did she tell you?"

"Hey, don't be mad at her, but I like the idea of adopting Y/N, too."

"Really? You don't think it's too sudden or that it's the wrong choice?"

"Not at all. I think it's the right choice, actually. They were gonna send her to another orphanage in a month anyway, so if we can get everything set up somehow and get the paperwork in order, I think it would work," Jay answered.

"I'm pretty sure Voight has some contacts at DCFS who know how these types of international adoptions work. I'll reach out."

"Awesome. Think you could convince Ruz to help you paint the guest room purple?"

"For Y/N's bedroom? You're getting way too ahead of yourself, soldier. Let's just get the paperwork sorted first."

Jay talked to Hailey for a few more minutes and then started to walk back to his barracks to change and have a shower. After being out in the heat of Seville in the middle of the day, it was very much needed. But, he stopped when he saw Captain Smith approaching him.

"Halstead."

"Captain," Jay said and then stood at attention.

"At ease. I heard you did a good thing to help Y/N with that tick paralysis scare she had a bit ago. You really care about her, don't you?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"About that change in position you asked me about earlier, after seeing how good you were with her, I think I can take you up on that. That is if you're still okay with it."

"I am. Where am I needed, sir?"

"Report to the kitchens at 0500."

"Thank you, sir."

***

Jay was almost asleep in the very uncomfortable chair in your hospital room when he heard your soft whimpers. You hadn't woken up yet after being given the antibiotics and the sedative, but it was nighttime and Jay didn't want you to wake up and he not be there, since it was dark. He didn't want to you wake up and be scared all alone.

"Y/N, cariña, what's wrong?" He turned pulled his flashlight out of his pocket and turned it on to be met with your tear-stained face.

"I-I scared."

Jay moved his chair to be closer to you. "Why are you scared, cariña? Maybe talking about it will help?"

"I scared of not feeling my legs. What if happens again?"

"Oh, cariña. The reason that happened is that an insect got on your leg. But, the doctors took it away so it can't bite you and hurt you again."

"You sure?"

"I am very sure. Now, I don't know if you remember, but I told you I had something for you before I gave you that medicine earlier. Do you remember that?"

"A little bit."

Jay reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the necklace. He had locked the candy in his trunk back in his barracks so that his body heat wouldn't melt it and so that no one would steal it.

"I told you I'd fix it," he said as he held up the necklace, the locket spinning in small circles.

"You did it! You did it! Thank you, Jay!"

"You're welcome. want me to put it on you?"

"Por favor."

Jay unclasped the necklace and carefully put it on you and then secured the clasp. The minute it was on, you opened the locket and looked at the two pictures in there, you looked at your mom and dad, at your mami and papi.

"Is that your mommy and daddy?" Jay asked carefully.

"Yes, my mami and papi," you answered, still looking down at their pictures. "I miss them."

"I miss my mommy and daddy, too," Jay answered.

"Your mami and papi in America? They see you when you come back?"

"No. Actually, uh..." God, he really hoped you knew the word dead in English because he didn't feel like trying to explain it to you. "They died. I don't have a mommy and daddy either."

"You do not?"

"I do not. But, I know they still love me. And I know yours still love you."

"Because they are always in my corazón." You pointed to your heart, your actual heart, not the locket.

"Yes, they will always be in your heart, that's right."

"When I couldn't sleep, my mami or my papi would lay next to me and tell me a story. Will you do that, Jay?"

"You want me to lay next to you?"

"Yes, please," you said. Jay started to get on your bed, but you stopped him. "No!" He abruptly froze. "You have to take your shoes off. Mami always said no shoes on the bed."

"You know what? You're right! How could I forget that? My mommy always told me the same thing."

Jay removed his heavy boots and then got into bed next to you. You immediately laid your head against his chest, just like you had done when your mami or papi was in your bed about to tell you a bedtime story, which shocked Jay.

"Okay, cariña, what kind of story do you want?"

"How you meet Hailey?"

"How'd I meet Hailey?" You nodded excitedly. "Well, I was policia in Chicago and so was she, but we didn't work together."

"Why not?"

"We were in different units."

"Like how you a sold--" you furrowed your eyebrows as you tried to remember the word in English, "--soldier and how Emilia es intérprete, like how she speaks English and Spanish?"

Jay assumed that intérprete meant translator, so he nodded. "That's exactly right! You're so smart! Me and Hailey were in different units, so we didn't work together. But, one day, my unit got called to a robbery. Do you know what a robbery is?"

"Where they take something that isn't theirs and they do not pay for it."

"That's right. Hailey got called to that and tried to take it away from me, but we had to work together."

"You no like her at first?"

Jay chuckled because no, he did not like her at first. But, he had to admit, her commanding the attention of everyone in that bank, well that was hot, it was really hot. "No, I didn't. But, then I saw how good of a person she was and we got really close."

"Like you and Emilia?"

"Kind of. But, we met in school. And, we don't kiss."

"Just amigos."

"Just amigos," Jay confirmed.

"Then what happened? With you and Hailey?"

"It took me a while to actually kiss her," he admitted.

"How long?"

"Almost four years."

"That's a long time! Why it take you so long?"

"Because I was scared."

"But you big and strong. You no get scared. Only kids like me get scared."

"That's not true. Adults get scared, too." You cocked your head to the side. "Oh yeah, adults get scared, too."

"When are you scared?"

"I was scared earlier when I had to put that needle in your arm to make you feel better."

"But why? You didn't have it go in your skin. It didn't hurt you."

"I was scared I was going to hurt you. I didn't want you to not like me because I had to poke you with a needle because I don't like them either."

"So you scared of n-needles, too?"

"Oh yeah. When I was little and had to go to the doctor's, my mom would always have to give me ice cream to make me get needles in my skin."

"Like how you promised me the necklace?"

"Exactly."

"You tell me another story?"

"What do you want to hear?"

"How you meet Emilia?"

"Oh, now this, this is a good story. When I was a little older than you, probably twelve, I was at the park with my big brother, Will, and we were playing soccer. Emilia came up and she wanted to play, too. I told her that she couldn't because she was a girl. I know, mean right? Then, Will told me that she could play and that I was being mean and she beat me at soccer. She played so much better than me..."

He looked down to see if you were paying attention or if you were confused because he hadn't stopped to check for your comprehension, but he was met with the cutest sight in the world that made his heart swell out of his chest. You, were asleep on his chest, one hand gripping your locket and the other holding his army green t-shirt in your little fist.

***

"Hey lunch lady, how's it going in there?" Emilia asked as she held your hand and you two made your way into the cafeteria a few days later.

"Technically, it's breakfast and I'm a man, so it's breakfast man to you."

"Fine. How's it going in there, breakfast man?"

"It's fine. But good god, if I thought the barracks required a lot of cleaning, this place requires a fu--"

"Jay! Little ears!"

"--A lot. This place requires a lot more cleaning than the barracks."

"So, what's on the menu today?" Mouse asked.

"Same old, same old." Jay shrugged. "Oatmeal, eggs, and sausage."

"And coffee."

"That too, obviously."

"I want that bowl of oatmeal," Mouse stated as he tried to reach for it, but Jay pulled it back towards him.

"Nuh-uh. Get your grubby hands away from this. This is for Y/N."

He handed the bowl to Emilia who passed it to you. "It's got bananas in it!" you exclaimed excitedly. "But, what's this stuff?"

"Mantequilla de cacahuete," Emilia aswered you in your first language. "How did you get ahold of extra peanut butter, Halstead?"

"A chef never reveals his secrets. Now get outta here. You're holding up my line."

"Don't forget about the call with Hailey today," Emilia reminded him.

"I can't ever forget about those. But for this, I'm counting down the minutes."

***

"Hey Hails," Jay greeted as he answered his video call with his wife. "Is everything alright? You missed the call last time."

"I know, I'm really sorry. I was just trying to get all this paperwork in order and I had to find all your information and had to get references and-- I'm sorry, I'm rambling, aren't I?"

"Hails, it's fine. I'd listen to you ramble all day when I'm out here. I just love to hear your voice."

"You're so whipped, Halstead."

"As are you, Mrs. Halstead."

"I love it when you call me that."

"Mrs. Halstead, do you have any update about the Y/N situation? I didn't mention anything to her yet because I didn't want to get her hopes up."

"Actually, that's the main reason I'm calling you...and because our calls are scheduled. But, everything's in order. I just finished the home inspection literally five minutes ago."

"So that's why the house is so clean."

"Shut up. Anyway, everything's in order. She just needs to get a few documents in order, which Emilia is helping me with since we need Y/N's picture. She also got me in touch with your captain and he reached out to someone he knows who works in some office or something for foreign-born orphans near where you guys are to get a passport for Y/N. They'll just need to interview you a few days after you get home, but they said unless you're not the person you say you are, that we should be able to keep Y/N."

"You're serious?"

"100%."

"Shit, Hails, this is- this is amazing. I love you, you know that? We're gonna have a daughter."

"It's amazing isn't it?"

Jay's eyes began to tear up. "Yeah, it is. And to think, if I would've just glanced over that teddy bear like it was nothing, then she wouldn't be coming with home me, home to us. I know I haven't even known her for three weeks yet, but I just want to do everything in my power to keep her safe, to make her feel loved."

"That's what a dad's supposed to do."

That's what a dad's supposed to do.

"I'm gonna be a dad," Jay realized. "And you're gonna be a mom. What if I'm no good at this, Hailey? What if I mess up like my dad did? What if--"

"Jay, listen to me. You are going to be a great father to that little girl. You know how I know that? Because you're not even her dad yet and that girl loves you. She loves you, Jay. She loves you so much."

"And I know she's going to love too, Hailey Halstead." The phone binged, telling him that he had only one more minute to talk to his wife. "You're going to be a great mom, Hails. Now, I have to go tell Y/N the good news. I have to go tell our kid the good news."

***

Emilia was sitting in front of you on your bed and your tongue was slightly hanging out of your mouth in concentration as you focused on braiding her hair. "Emilia teaching you how to braid, cariña?" Jay asked.

"Yeah! I know a little before, but she helping me."

"That's good. Maybe you can braid Hailey's hair at home."

If you weren't holding Emilia's hair, she would've whipped around to face Jay. She knew what that sentence meant.

"Are you almost done, Y/N? I think Jay needs to tell you something," Emilia said.

"Are you leaving?" you asked, turning towards him and letting go of Emilia's hair altogether. Whenever people said that they had to tell you something, it was almost always bad news. "I do not want you to leave! Please stay!"

You jumped off the bed and grabbed onto Jay.

He crouched down to your height. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm not leaving you, I promise."

"Jay, let me take it from here, okay? It might be better if I explain it to her in her first language."

"No, I should do it. You're not gonna be with me all the time back in Chicago. I'm gonna need to stop relying on you at some point."

"Okay, but I'll stay here in case she gets confused."

"Y/N, do you know what adoption is?"

"¿Cómo adopción?" you asked. The word sounded similar in both languages, so you hoped you and Jay were talking about the same thing.

Jay looked to Emilia and she nodded. "Adopción, sí," Jay confirmed. "Me and Hailey talked and we want to adopt you. Do you want that? To come home with me when I leave and live with me and Hailey?"

"You be my mami and papi?"

Jay knew that he was going to have to answer this question eventually, but he didn't want you to feel like he and Hailey were replacing your real mom and dad. "Um, yeah, we would. But, you don't have to call us that," he added quickly. "You can call us Jay and Hailey if you want. We don't want to take the place of your parents because they're very special to you."

"And they always be in my heart?"

"That's right, they'll always be in your heart."

"But, you and Hailey be my parents in real life and not just in my heart and I go to Chicago with you and see the snow?"

"That's right. If you want--"

You hugged him, which took him off guard, but he wrapped his arms around you and held you close.

"Thank you, te quiero."

Emilia put a hand to her mouth and held back tears after you said that.

"What? What did she say?" Jay asked anxiously.

"Jay, she said she loves you."

And, before Jay started to cry, he barely choked out, "Me, too. Te quiero, cariña."

***

The flight from Spain to Chicago went surprisingly well for you and Jay. The flight was late at night because, before finding you, he had hoped he'd be able to sleep on the flight home. But, you had never been on a plane before, so during the entire plane ride, Jay stayed awake just in case you got scared or your ears popped and started to hurt.

Jay had saved the hard candies that were shaped like little bears for the plane ride and you both ate them. He told you that they were all for you, but you insisted on sharing them. But, whenever he'd get a grape-flavored one, he'd hand it to you since he hated that flavor. You didn't like the lime ones very much, so you gave him those ones. But, both of you had the same favorite flavor: strawberry.

During the flight, you ate candy and Jay showed you all the places in Chicago that he would take you to from the flight magazines. He showed you Navy Pier, the Bean, the Chicago theater, Gino's East, Miracle Mile, and all the other things in those touristy magazines. You had never gone on a Ferris wheel before, but from the picture in the magazine about the one on Navy Pier and from Jay's description, it sounded super fun!

The fasten seatbelt sign came on as you were starting to descend into Midway airport. Despite all the bad memories he had here with Keyes kidnapping him all those years ago before he reenlisted, and before he even met Hailey, he knew that this new happy memory, of bringing you home, would outweigh that horrible memory.

He looked over to make sure that you had your seatbelt on and snapped a picture of your sleeping form. You were using Osito as a pillow and had a blanket messily draped over you, and one hand lazily rest on Jay.

Luckily for Jay, you didn't wake up when he maneuvered himself to be able to put his seatbelt on. But, the minute you hit the runaway, your eyes shot open.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Jay reassured you. "We're just getting on the ground again."

You grabbed the hem of his shirt and squeezed a little bit until the bumpiness died down and you came to a slow roll at the end of the runway.

"We here? In Chicago?" you asked.

"We are. Welcome home, cariña."

A/N: This has sat in my drafts for a longggg time. But, I got inspired today and ended up writing 5k words to finish it up. I'm thinking of writing a part 2 to this when the reader is in her teen years. What do you think? Side note, daddy! Jay and big brother! Jay are my two favorite Jays if you couldn't already tell! Please reblog/like and comment and tell me what you think! Also, if you want to be added to my taglist, just comment and I’ll add you!

taglist: @theambracer88 @virtualreader @kelelas-life @celyndavies @brookerz122493 @musicismyescape27 @anotherfan07 @thexplosivegirl @dreamingwithlens @xoxmariaxox

[januaryisnotanartist]

KanSang Week Day 05 Wang Clan! Liu Sang

Pairing: Kan Jian/Liu Sang (established, past, future)

Genre: Angst, sad boy hours, angst with a hopeful ending Trope: sad boys in bathrooms, letters from away, things get worse before they get better Author Notes: in my head as I wrote this there was far more ugly crying going on Word Count: 2,470 ish

-

Kan Jian and Wang Sang had been kinda-sorta dating for years. They'd met by chance while Wang Sang was in Hangzhou for an interpreter job, translating for a foreigner looking at a business merger or something. (Kan Jian had been listening when Wang Sang explained it, it's just that that level of business doesn't interest him enough to understand it.)

He'd talked about Wang Sang to his Laoban a lot, about how smart and funny and pretty Wang Sang is. It was his Laoban who helped him figure out that he was in love with Wang Sang, because everyone was just so easy to love, it took a more objective eye to realise there was a difference in the way he loved Wang Sang.

Their date tonight was an anniversary, Kan Jian was going to Wang Sang's for dinner. He didn't know if he'd be staying the night, he had clothes in Wang Sang's place but...

Kan Jian was going to ask, he was going to start the discussion, it was time. He was going to ask if Wang Sang wanted to move in together. Either of their apartments or a new one, Kan Jian hadn't really thought that far yet, but he knew Wang Sang was it for him. He was certain of it.

Or maybe it was just that the one year anniversary of defeating the Wang clan was coming up and everyone was feeling pretty pleased and positive.

-

The fact that Kan Jian had to knock on the door meant something was wrong. He didn't know how Wang Sang did it, but he'd always known when Kan Jian was there and opened the door before he could reach it.

“Wang Sang?” he called through the door, trying to hear any sound beyond, “Sang-ge? Are you there?”

Kan Jian was just about to use his own key when the door opened slowly.

Wang Sang didn't look date ready, he actually looked sort of awful. His pretty hair was lank and greasy like it hadn't been washed recently, Wang Sang's face had the shadows of sleep deprivation under his eyes.

Something from deep in the apartment smelt burnt.

“Babe?” Kan Jian reached for his boyfriend, but stopped when Wang Sang flinched. “What's wrong, are you hurt? Sick? Can I help?”

Wang Sang sniffled, and Kan Jian realised Wang Sang's eyes were bloodshot not just from lack of sleep, but because he'd been crying.

“Ca-” Wang Sang's words caught in his throat, he sounded like he was about to cry again. “Can you come in, I need to- I need to talk to you about something.”

Kan Jian nodded, because of course he'd go inside, of course he'd talk with Wang Sang. He followed through the familiar entryway, past the familiar kitchen, an unusual amount of mess on the stove, traces of smoke still wafting from one of the pots.

But Wang Sang didn't stop there, he lead Kan Jian all the way to the bathroom where a small hand-towel was sitting by the sink.

Wang Sang tipped it in over the edge and turned the tap on hot, letting it gush down onto the towel.

In the back of Kan Jian's mind, something started screaming. It was like a ringing in his ears so loud that between it and the running water, he almost couldn't hear Wang Sang.

“There is something about me that I need you to know," Wang Sang spoke with uncharacteristic hesitation, "because you can't not know, and I can't, I can't keep... I don't want to lie to you anymore, because I'm not even sure if it's real or not. If it's just a lie I've been telling myself since-”

The speed of the water was faster than the towel could take and the excess filled the sink, spilling over with a loud splash, startling them both. Wang Sang lunged for the tap and turned it off, and both of them stood there listening to the odd sounds of the water slowly draining through the towel and into the pipes below.

“I don't understand,” Kan Jian said, a hollow widening in his chest.

“Yes you do,” Wang Sang replied, his voice barely above a whisper, he sounded tired. “You aren't stupid Kan Jian.”

“What was the first lie you told me?” It wasn't the thing Kan Jian should have been asking, but it was what came out.

“I wasn't a freelancer when we met,” Wang Sang said as he picked up the towel to squeeze the excess water free.

'That made sense,' Kan Jian thought, because of course Wang Sang wouldn't have been a freelancer, but that was a lie he would have told anybody.

“Why me?” Kan Jian regretted asking, because he didn't want to know.

“Because we'd met,” Wang Sang flattened the towel and began taking off his shirt.

“What?”

“The first three times we met, I had no idea who you were in the grand scheme of things,” Wang Sang set his shirt down on the driest patch of sink he could find and picked up the towel, turning to Kan Jian. “I just thought you were cute and that I could get away with pretending my cover story was my real life for a few drinks. Then my handler saw you, and they figured, I already had an in, so you became a mission.”

Wang Sang's voice turned bitter towards then end, and he held out the towel with a shaking hand.

Kan Jian didn't want to take it, he wanted to pretend this was all just a joke gone horribly wrong. He took the towel, it was so hot it almost burned, and he pulled Wang Sang into a hug as he reached around to press the towel to Wang Sang's right shoulder.

He didn't know what to ask, what to say, but Kan Jian opened his mouth anyway and hoped something coherent came out.

“How much of you is real?”

“I don't know.”

If he waited until the towel turned cool, if he didn't see the tattoo, then it wasn't real. Kan Jian didn't want this to be real.

He couldn't let the lie linger, and peeled back the still warm cloth.

The Phoenix tattoo is a brilliant mark across Wang Sang's shoulder.

The world was gone from beneath his feet, Kan Jian didn't know how to breathe.

“Did you ever love me?” He didn't mean to ask it.

“It would have been easier if I hadn't, it would have been so easy to stay if it was just a role to play.”

Kan Jian's ears were ringing again as the implications seeped into his brain. He held Wang Sang tighter.

-

Wu Xie felt like an asshole. Something was wrong with Kan Jian and he hadn't noticed until he'd stuck his foot in it.

He'd been so happy to have Xiaoge back, that he hadn't even realised Kan Jian and his boyfriend had broken up.

“Everyone's coming to the 'we beat the Wang's' anniversary party,” Wu Xie had wrapped an arm around Kan Jian, full of jubilation, “even Li Cu and his friends are coming, this would be a great time to invite your mysterious Wang Sang, finally let everyone else meet him.”

Kan Jian had gone from fine to crying in the space of a breath.

Wu Xie learned, through ragged breaths and sobbing tears, that Kan Jian and Wang Sang had broken up. Kan Jian wouldn't say why, insisted that Wang Sang wasn't at fault. He got angry when Wu Xie offered to track Wang Sang down. Kan Jian had never been angry at Wu Xie before.

Wu Xie apologised and pulled Kan Jian in for a hug. Kan Jian continued to cry, his sobs and words muffled by Wu Xie's shoulder.

It was like a bucket of ice pouring down his spine when Wu Xie picked out the words “I don't care who he was, I just want him back.”

Wang Sang.

It was a coincidence. Surely. There'd never been an information leak that could be traced back to Kan Jian, Wang was an entirely common name.

Just to be safe, Wu Xie sent out a few enquiries looking for this Wang Sang, but who ever he'd been before, he was a ghost now.

-

The first letter came while Kan Jian was on a job. He'd been a little more vicious than normal, his heart was still hurting and he'd let that leak out. It always surprised people when he was violent, like they had no idea it was in him. Way down deep and sleeping, sure, but it was still there.

They forgot because he used a slingshot, but Kan Jian was still a sniper.

He almost did what the letter's opening line advised, heart-sore anger making him want to abide “you can burn these letters if you want.”

But he didn't, because he still missed Wang Sang.

Kan Jian had made his way through the emotional fall out, moved from anger to worry over whether it had been hard on Wang Sang to play the part of boyfriend. Had he secretly been repulsed every time Kan Jian had touched him? Kissed him? Kan Jian had moved back to anger, then to aggravation at the idea that nobody could have scripted all their interactions, had torn himself up trying to figure out what had been training and what had been real reactions.

Real feelings.

In the end it was mostly hollowness and aching that left him grumpy and sharper when his edges showed.

But he wanted to know, so he read the letters instead of burning them.

-

Wang Sang had always spelled his name as 王桑, with the Sang for mulberry.

The letters weren't signed at first, though Kan Jian knew who they were from. He learned a lot about the letters' author, because the author was learning a lot about himself as well. Kan Jian had no way to reply, but he kept every letter in the hope that one day, he could talk to the other man about his journey to figure out who he was when he wasn't being told who to be.

Kan Jian had known that Wang Sang had a brother, but it's not until the third letter, when Wang Can is mentioned, that Kan Jian understands what that means.

He wonders which of the dead had been Wang Can.

He wonders if he'd killed him.

-

The eighth letter is signed.

刘丧

Liu Sang.

Sang, for bereavement.

But the letter says it's the name he'd been born to, the one he'd chosen to take back, so Kan Jian is less worried about Wang... about Liu Sang's mental state, and more about the parents who'd named their son like an omen.

-

Kan Jian almost burned a letter.

“I kissed a boy.”

He shouldn't feel betrayed, but he does.

Until he managed to calm himself and read the following lines, because Liu Sang hadn't been able to do anything but compare this stranger to Kan Jian and find him lacking.

-

There's an excitement in Liu Sang's next letter, somehow contained in every character. Kan Jian doesn't understand exactly, but he feels excited too as he reads about the new teacher Liu Sang has found, how he's training his hearing.

Kan Jian remembers hours later, as he's lying in bed, the hearing servants of the Xin Yue hotel, and suddenly a whole lot of things start making sense.

-

Kan Jian's life didn't stop, didn't become nothing but heartache and waiting for each letter. They made it easier to crawl out of the empty place in his life where Wang Sang had been, they reminded him that he had things to figure out too.

He made new friends, he moved on.

(He kissed a stranger or two as well, but they don't make his soul fizz with excitement like Wang Sang had. Like Liu Sang's letters do.)

-

Years slipped by.

There was jobs and friends and parties, and the occasional hospital visit of varying degrees of seriousness because of jobs and friends and parties.

And then there was the Sea King tomb, and Kan Jian was sent to pick up some sonar mapping expert from the airport. He and two others waited on the hood of the truck, and Kan Jian was beginning to wonder if the master they were picking up had missed the plane when:

“Hey, look at that guy,” his friend said, and Kan Jian looked over.

His first thought was: “what kind of excavation master dresses like a real estate agent?”

His second thought was: “how the hell did I forget how attractive he is in person?” Because walking towards them with a rolling suit case in a well fitted suit, hair radiant in the sunlight, was Wang Liu Sang.

The suitcase was shoved towards one of Kan Jian's companions and Liu Sang's gaze is directed at him.

“Wu Erbai sent you to pick me up?”

Kan Jian managed to nod, and not say out loud 'your voice is amazing.' But then Liu Sang was frowning, and turning away and leaving. Kan Jian followed after him because he couldn't lose him again.

-

Kan Jian felt a little bad about stomping on an innocent man, but as they watched the car drive away, Kan Jian was more concerned about Liu Sang, who looked like he was dying inside.

And Kan Jian knew, from whispered words years ago in the dark, and from ink in letters more recent, he knew why Liu Sang had reacted that way.

“'It's better to be wrong like this,'” Kan Jian said, one hand reaching for Liu Sang but not making contact, “'than ignoring it and being wrong the other way.'”

Liu Sang looked at Kan Jian, scared and bare as he recognised his own words, “you could have burned them.”

Kan Jian shrugged, “well, I didn't. I kept every one I got.”

Liu Sang flushed, somehow even more embarrassed than he'd been a moment before. He was anxious, Kan Jian could see it, so Kan Jian took a gamble.

“We don't really know each other very well,” Kan Jian said, and Liu Sang looked startled, his eyebrows scrunching in confusion. “Since we'll be working together for a while, let me introduce myself. I'm Kan Jian, I like slingshots, and my laoban, and your hair and I'll be your driver today.”

Liu Sang pushed his glasses up his nose, but Kan Jian could see the smile he was clearly trying to hide.

“It's nice to meet you, I'm Liu Sang, I specialise in sonar cartography, I like meerkats, and your smile, and my ouxiang Zhang Qiling. I look forward to working with you.”

Kan Jian grinned... and lasted all of twenty seconds before he asked “wait, did you really get the tattoo?”

[dreamwritesimagines]

Burn The Witch 7 - After Midnight [Bucky Barnes x Reader]

A.N: Thank you so much for your wonderful support and feedback my loves ! ❤ Here’s an extra chapter, I hope you like it as well and please let me know what you think! ❤ Thank you! ❤❤❤

Warnings: Enemies to lovers, fake dating, mentions of blood, sex, violence, death, manipulation, language, guns, knives.

Summary: Missions require stealth.

Series Masterlist

For a spy, working at unusual hours was nothing new. During your training at the academy they would wake you up at ungodly hours to drag you to exercise just so that you would get used to being ready to fight anytime.

So technically you weren’t supposed to be this tired, but you hadn’t gotten any sleep last night. To your surprise, at around 5 in the morning you were assigned to a new mission to capture and bring another member of HYDRA in. It was unexpected because your superiors had told you earlier that earning Bucky’s trust and getting information from him was the priority, and they hadn’t sent you after any target for days up until this morning. You weren’t exactly complaining anyway, other missions weren’t your priority.

Even if you kept telling yourself what you were doing was just business, somehow talking to him didn’t feel like it.

“God damn it,” you muttered to yourself when the sight of your reflection in the elevator mirror caught your eye, making you heave a sigh and push the button to your apartment. Your shirt was stained with so much blood that you could hardly see the white and you licked your thumb before trying to scrub off the dried blood on your cheekbone. The elevator made a small noise before the door opened and you stepped outside, dragging your weary self to your door.

“What’s up neighbor?”

You jumped out of your skin and turned to Keith who was watching you with a grin on his face, holding a cup of coffee.

“What the fuck?”

“Likewise. Why are you covered in blood, you normal civilian you?”

You opened your door and stepped inside with him following you suit.

“Mission.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, “Young lady, look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t kill the Winter Soldier.”

“What? No!” you made a face, “I could never- it was another kind of a mission.”

“You already have a mission, didn’t you tell them you’re supposed to focus on that one?”

“The target was heavily protected and it needed my expertise.”

“Nobody likes a brag.”

You rolled your eyes, “Keith, General literally told me that before sending me there.”

“You’re not supposed to get close to targets anymore,” he reminded you and you shifted your weight from one foot to other, biting inside your cheek.

“It got out of control,” you murmured, making him sigh.

“Y/N.”

“It’s not like I wanted to!” you defended yourself, “It was just necessary, that’s all.”

“If you get in close combat with a target you might end up with visible injuries, and that would compromise your cover as a civilian and tip Barnes off.”

“I know, I know…” you murmured as you walked to the sink to wash your hands, then switched the coffee maker on.  

“Do you?” he insisted, “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re looking for trouble.”

You grabbed a cup from the shelf and turned to him.

“I just wanted to get it over with,” you said, “Okay? I have other things in mind.”

He pulled his brows together, “Like what?”

“Like…” you waved your hands, trying to find the words, “Like other stuff. Like my main mission— by the way I couldn’t ask the other night, why did they locate you here?”

“General said your relationship with Barnes is progressing well. It’s better to have another agent close by, just in case he decides to make a late night visit.”

The innuendo wasn’t lost on you and you raised your brows, “I feel like I’m working in a dark alternate version of a matchmaking system where they hook you up with a date you can’t trust.”

“So every dating app out there?” he asked, making you laugh as you sipped your coffee.

“Speaking of dates,” you started, but was cut off your phone beeped and you checked the time, then cursed under your breath.

“What?”

“I can’t believe I’m working at a stupid milkshake shop,” you grumbled, “I need to take a shower and get to work, see yourself out.”

“You know, you could bring some milkshake home,” he said as you walked to the bathroom, “That’s what a good neighbor would do.”

“Goodbye Keith!” you called out and closed the bathroom door.

                                    ***

You really, really needed something to snap you out of this sleeplessness. Preferably coffee, preferably in an I.V. or something because you had a feeling drinking it wouldn’t be enough at this point.

“Thank you and bon appetite!” you smiled brightly at the customer after serving them their milkshake, then dropped the smile and pulled the small apron off your uniform.

“I’m going to take a break and get some coffee,” you told your coworker “You want anything?”

“No thank you,” she said and you fixed your hair before walking outside to make your way to the coffee shop.

Keith had a point. It was stupid to get in close combat with a target, especially now. General had sent you there with clear orders of you keeping your distance and using your sniper rifle, not your dagger and in the heat of the moment, you had decided to go after him when you couldn’t get a clear shot.

“Hi, can I get a hot red eye please?” you asked the barista, “Actually no- make it a black eye, largest cup you have.”

She smiled slightly, “Long night?”

“You have no idea.”

She swiped your card before giving it to you and you walked to the waiting counter to lean against it, nibbling on your lip.

You really, really wanted to believe that your sour mood was a result of you not getting enough sleep, but deep down you knew it wasn’t like you to take unnecessary risks.

It was the fact that you had been too distracted to take the shot at the right time because you were looking down at your phone when the target had walked out of his building.

But after all, it was your main mission, wasn’t it? You had to make sure to get Bucky’s attention to get closer to him. Maybe two missions at the same time had these kind of disadvantages, but it wasn’t as if you could walk there and tell them not to give you side missions.

If you wanted to be a handler, you had to prove yourself.

You took the lid off the cup, the scent of hot liquid filling your nostrils and you grabbed the sugar packets before tearing the top off to pour sugar into it. You dipped the thin stir stick into the beverage to stir it, then put the stick between your lips but as soon as you turned around and saw who had just gotten his coffee, you held your breath.

“Hi!” you said breathlessly, pulling the thin stick off your mouth, “Um- Captain—Captain America sir.”

“Oh God no, please call me Sam.” He offered you his hand and you shook it.

“Hi Sam.”

“It’s Y/N, right?”

“Yes!” you said, “Yes, it’s wonderful to see you again. Under much better conditions where I haven’t been shot at.”  

“Bucky just went to that uh….” He paused, “Milkshake shop right? He just went there to see you.”

You scrunched up your nose, “Oh no, I literally just went on my break.”

“That’s alright,” he said, “He’ll be back here. Would you like to sit down?”

Nope.

Nope, you did not want to sit down.

You had planned a whole strategy to pull the wool over Bucky’s eyes, but Sam’s file told you that he was an excellent judge of character, much better at reading people than Bucky. Everything that you had told Bucky to manipulate him had worked so far but persuading Sam wouldn’t be that easy.

Seeing that any small sign could tip him off, you had to put even more of an effort into the illusion.  

“I’d love to!” you said and followed him to the nearest table. You sat down and pushed your hair behind you ear, smiling up at him.

“I never got to say thank you,” you said, “For saving me back there.”

“Don’t mention it, really,” he said, “How’s your arm?”

“It got better,” you said, “I thought I was dying but as it turns out, it was just a graze. Only thing that’s hurting right now is my ego.”

“Oh it happens.”

“Even you have to admit, that was a bad first impression.”

He grinned, “For what exactly?”

“For—um… for a first—first impression. In general,” you stammered and sipped your coffee while he sat back.

“So how do you find New York?” he asked, “Bucky mentioned you just moved here.”

“It’s been a month, yes,” you said, clearing your throat, “I like it so far. I mean, aside from getting mugged, I enjoy it. It’s very different than where I grew up in but like— it’s very new.”

“Yeah, especially if you’re from a small town…” he mused, “Where did you say you moved from by the way?”

“Cannon Beach, Oregon.”

“I love small towns,” he said, “Very peaceful.”

“They are!” you said, “I mean sometimes a little too peaceful with nothing to do but…”

“You know, visiting Oregon has been in my list for a while now,” he said, “Any advice on where to go if I end up visiting there?”

Oh he is good.

If you weren’t a trained spy, you wouldn’t have even noticed that he was trying to see whether you could be trusted or not. Bucky, being secretive himself hadn’t even asked anything about your so called hometown but Sam knew exactly what to ask to see if you were hiding something.

You thanked Chloe for making you read everything about your file the other day in your mind before you pursed your lips, deep in thought.

“Well my hometown doesn’t have much to offer but— do you like hiking?”

“Sure, why not?”

“We have a state park,” you said, “I think you’d enjoy it. Natural view, all green and peaceful. Back in high school, every semester break my friends dragged me there and the there was this one time we were all there, I got stung by this huge wasp and it was just before the school dance and I ended up not getting asked out by my crush—anyway, it’s a long way of saying I don’t hike anymore.”

That made him chuckle and he seemed to be convinced that you were sincere, thankfully.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said as his eyes went over your shoulder, making you look up and gasp.

Jesus, as it turned out you weren’t the only one with a mission who required you to get in close combat.

“Oh my God.” You covered your mouth with your hands, staring up at his bruised face half hidden by his hat. Sam pushed his chair back, clearing his throat.

“I should probably step outside,” he said as he stood up, “Gotta make a call, I’ll see you later.”

“Thanks man.”

“What happened?” you asked as Sam walked out of the coffee shop and Bucky sat down across from you to the seat Sam had just left. He tried to offer you a small smile.

“It’s nothing.”

“Bucky it doesn’t look like nothing…” you mumbled, your brows pulled together “Does it hurt?”

What?

“Does it hurt?”

You weren’t supposed to ask that, you were supposed to gather info on where he went and what he was doing on missions of his own.

“Not at all,” he assured you and you took a shaky breath.

“What happened?”

“There’s this thing me and Sam are working on,” he said, “Don’t worry about it. I went to the milkshake shop to see you but…”

You wanted to ask for more details but something told you it could create a problem to insist this early so you decided against it.

“Just tell me you’re safe?”

A soft light crossed his eyes, “I am,” he said, “I promise.”

You paused for a moment before you pushed your hair behind your ear. “I gather you’re kind of used to getting hurt then?”

“A little,” he admitted, “That’s why I couldn’t call you or anything. I got caught up in something.”  

Ah. He wasn’t giving you any details even if he thought you were a civilian.

He could like you, but he still couldn’t trust you. Maybe it was a precaution, maybe he wanted to keep you away from his mess, but either way, it was very clear that he had trust issues.

You took a mental note to put it on your report for General and shook your head.

“Of course,” you said, “You don’t need to explain anything, I’m just glad that you’re well and safe. Bruises aside.”

“Looks that bad huh?”

“No!” you said quickly, “No I wouldn’t say bad. Not by a long shot, you’re still pret—uh…dashing. Cute as a bug’s ear I’d say. Looking—looking aces. Dynamite even!”

He pulled his brows together, keeping his eyes on you.

“I may or may not have checked some early to mid 20th century slang just in case,” you admitted, making him tilt his head in confusion.

“Just in case of what?”

“Just in case you said something and I didn’t understand on the second date,” you said, “And let me tell you something, you guys spoke a completely different language back then.”

“You’re joking,” he said with a small smile and you crossed your arms.

“You don’t believe me?”

“Say one more term and I will.”

You thought for a moment, “Fine. Are you ready for this?”

“Absolutely, bring it on.”

“I will….” You trailed off, searching your mind for the right words you had checked online the other night, “I will snap my cap if you spook me showing up looking like you were about the buy the farm last night.”

A clear laugh escaped from his lips as it lit up his whole face and that was when you realized how rare it was to hear him laugh out loud. A warmth filled your stomach and you raised your brows, your nose in the air.

“See? Told you,” you pointed out and stole a look at him, “Was it—was it good?”

“It was great,” he said when he could pull himself together, “Absolutely perfect.”

“Why thank you,” you sipped your coffee as he cleared his throat.

“Speaking of the second date…” he said, making you bite down a smile, “Any chance you’re free tonight?”

“I am,” you said, “But you’re not.”

He pulled his brows together, “Hm?”

“Have you seen yourself?” you insisted, “You look like you—you almost died or something!”

“It wasn’t a big deal, really.”

“Well, those bruises say otherwise,” you said, “You need some rest. How much sleep did you get last night?”

He averted his eyes and waved a hand, “Some. Enough.”

“Bucky,” you said, leaning in slightly, “How much?”

Everything the government and your division had gathered on Bucky suggested the same thing; The Winter Soldier was basically created for war. He was the perfect soldier, and there was no way anyone could get any information from him. There was a reason why they had sent you into this mission, trying to get intel from him by force was absolutely impossible.

Even the government knew that.

But the same unstoppable soldier who would probably die before saying anything to the enemy caved in when you batted your lashes.

“Two hours.”

Your jaw dropped and you shook your head, “Nuh uh.”

“It’s enough, it’s more than—“

“Nope,” you cut him off, “You’re going to rest at home and—eat soup and watch garbage TV, mister. No dates for you on two hours of sleep.”

A soft smile pulled at his lips, “I can function with two hours of sleep darling.”

Your heart did not skip a beat at that, it was just you being very focused on your own cover and that was it.

“Well I don’t want you to just function,” you mumbled, “You need to take care of yourself too.”

Judging by his expression you could see that he wasn’t used to hearing that and you put your coffee on the table, then reached out to gently put your hand over his vibranium one. His hand twitched like a gun recoiling in your hand, even if you knew it was involuntary and a look of disbelief crossed his features, as if he hadn’t expected you –or anyone to touch that, as if he was afraid that you would be scared.

But of course, that was the spy in you speaking. Your cover wasn’t supposed to notice anything of the sort.

“How about…” you trailed off, “We have a date tomorrow? You go and get some rest tonight, and I’ll pick what I’m gonna wear for tomorrow and spam my friends with outfit ideas.”

“You sure?”

“Of course,” you said, “We have all the time in the world for dates. And I happen to live here, you know? It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

He smiled and turned his hand to entwine his fingers with yours, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles.

“Good,” he rasped out, “I like the sound of that.”

                                         ***

You should’ve known your superiors wouldn’t make it easy for you. This time, you were allowed to take your team with you because as it turned out, the right hand of the target you had brought in last night had gotten away, so now you had to take him down for your superiors to cut a deal with the target.

The first part of the mission had gone splendidly. He was alone and in hiding, so setting your gear up on the rooftop and pulling the trigger hadn’t been difficult whatsoever. You watched as a couple of agents burst through his door so that they could retrieve his body and fixed your ski mask before starting to dissemble your rifle to carry it easier.

“Anyone wants to grab some dinner?” Keith’s voice reached your earpiece and you yawned.

“Nah,” you said, “I’m going to go home and sleep for a year or something.”

“Deleting the security cam footage of the building right now,” Chloe let you know, “And I want dinner, I’ve been running on multiple cups of coffee.”

“You got it.”

“Are you buying?” one of the agents in your team asked, “If you are, we’re coming too.”

“Yeah man, I’m buying. Tacos?”

“Sounds good, just let me check—“ Chloe started but then gasped, “Shrike, get out of there right now!”

It was almost instinctual. You grabbed the small pistol out of your boots and turned around to point it at the person behind you but as soon as you recognized who he was, your heart started pacing.

Bucky had decided not to rest at home after all.

“Hi soldier,” you managed to say, “We have to stop meeting like this.”

Chapter 8