#if you have old money in this country it came from one place almost always.

[visenyaism]

tiktok recommends me all sorts of insane stuff but “we should be proud of and strive to emulate the wealth of the guy who is so deeply and thoroughly burning in hell because his conspicuous consumption of his imperial serfdom blood money was so extreme and ostentatious that it prompted the starving peasantry to storm his palace and kill his entire family” is a level of boot-throat worm-brain behavior i have never before seen in my life

[darnell-la]

Can you guys please do another fic about Logan and the bartender I’m so hooked on your page🫶🏾

pairing: sub soon dom!logan howlett x bartender!reader

warnings: heavy drinking, attachment issues, heavily drink, lots of begging, oral (fem receiving), face riding while standing up, orgasm, overstimulation, dominance, submission, scratching, choking, rough fuck, cream pie, baby trapping, etc.

note: Logan feels like he needs to be more of a man. he’ll get to that after he submits to his pretty girl.

———

Logan and y/n have been in a talking stage for a month now. The man would come to her work every day, bringing lunch and sitting in the building until she clocked out, and then they’d make their way over to the bar across the street.

Getting y/n drunk was something Logan loved seeing. She was so wild, loose, and beautiful. She got along well with Wade, and of course with Vanessa.

Logan thought that maybe he’d pick up his dominance by getting her so wasted, that he could do whatever he wanted to her, letting her know he was the one in charge, and not her.

Even though he loved the way she ducked him dry that night, he felt like he had to be more of a man. He grew up in different generations where being a man was something that he needed to be.

Every single time Wade brought y/n back him, he failed. She was so damn convincing when she begged to ride him or suck him until he saw stars.

At first, he thought he won the dominance title because she’d be the one on her knees submitting to him, but by the end of the night, he was the own squirming around and begging for more or for her to take it easy on him — “please,”.

Tonight’s another night where Logan took the girl home. She’s drunk, but not as drunk as he wanted her to be. Instead, he was the one who drank too much.

“Why won’t you let me move in?” Logan whined as he leaned back on her apartment door, closing it behind him. Y/n giggled as she bent over to take her shoes off, then his.

“You’re the one that said you didn’t want to move in too early. Said you wanted to make more money and move us out somewhere away from people,” y/n reminded the man, but he wasn’t fully thinking right either way.

“Well, that’s stupid! I-I can take the TVA money and escape from this place. With you,” the man said as y/n helped him to her room, which is basically his room as well since he’s stayed over almost every night since they met.

“I told you not to use your hero money on me, babe. They gave that to you to save and spend for yourself,” Y/n reminded him about that as well.

“B-But, I am doing this for me. Wanting you around me all day is way better without seeing you work behind the counter while I’m just fucking- fucking declining Amazon orders like some robot!”

Y/n had gotten Logan a job. An online job since he whined about wanting to be around he more. All the man had to do was decline the few hundred orders that came through every week, but that was too much for him.

The man talked to her about moving out to the country where he could chop wood for a living, and she could watch him do so while drinking coffee or tea.

Y/n felt off about that idea because Logan was a superhero. An old one at that, and he didn’t need to be working, right? Sometimes she doesn’t consider his strength, but at the end of the day, she feels like she should be the one working.

“Baby, let’s just take this slow, okay? You haven’t even gotten your second paycheck — They pay you monthly and you got a good check a few days ago, right?” Y/n asked the man as he finally sat down on her bed where she put him.

“Yes,” he pouted, not wanting to argue about that money he received. He spent a lot of it on y/n already. Buying her new clothes, shoes, cooking objects, and more. He loved her cooking.

“Alright then,” y/n smiled at the man with a shake of her head. He always worried, but he didn’t have to. Y/n felt good where she was at, but Logan had been planning with Wade already.

Wade didn’t see a such thing in a talking stage between them in the first place, so when Logan came to him, planning to move forty-five minutes out to a nice new cabin and getting that wood-cutting job, Wade was all the way in.

“Using all that money to impress a girl you just met — Sounds like a damn good plan, peanuts,” was all Wade could say. He loved this for Logan, and if he had to bully and make y/n feel bad for not accepting it, he would.

“Let’s get you undressed, baby. We’ll shower tomorrow since I have to change the sheets anyway,” y/n spoke in her soft and sweet voice as she undressed the huge man.

He was a big baby, and he’d always think about that. Even now, he couldn’t help it. He loved being taken care of like this. Having a job and providing a cabin is something he had to do eventually, but letting y/n baby him, was something he could deal with.

“Are you gonna undress too?” The man asked, eyes barely being able to stay open a focused on hers. His hands reached up and tugged on the girl's shirt, wanting to help her just like she helped him.

“Yes, I am,” y/n silently laughed at the man and helped him get her undressed. “So pretty, y/n,” Logan said as soon as y/n’s bra came off. The man grabbed her breasts softly, moving them around as she took her shorts and panties off.

“Logan, not tonight. I’ve gotta work,” y/n spoke as his hands traveled the girl's body and his lips attached to a nipple. “Logan,” y/n rolled her eyes but soon gasped at the instant pleasurable feeling.

“Please, just a little,” the man looked up at her, sucking on her toy with need. “Logan, I’m so tired, and you’re too drunk,” Y/n spoke to him like he didn’t understand, but he did. His reaction was just a bit slow.

“Please, y/n — Please,” the man begged with a low growl, fingers digging into her waist. Y/n stood there for a while, looking down at the man who continued sucking, and leaving love marks.

“Fine, but only for a little,” y/n said, thinking of what he could do for her to make her stay up longer than she wished. “Get on your knees, baby,” y/n said as she stepped back.

Logan looked at the woman, confused and a bit sad his mouth wasn’t on her skin anymore. “C‘mon, we ain’t got all night,” y/n said. Logan did as told and got on his knees without thinking.

“S-Sorry,” he said, cussing himself out that he didn’t listen the first time. His girl asked him something, and he just looked at her like a deer in headlights. So fuckin’ stupid.

“Want you to make me cum,” y/n said after she spread her legs right in front of his face. The man looked up at the young lady, eyes traveling from her eyes all the way down to her cunt.

The man slightly whined as he leaned in, not taking another second to dive into her cunt. He instantly began slurping, taking in the wetness she had been hiding tonight.

“Ah- That’s it,” Y/n said, tangling her hands in his hair and then pulling him closer, now rubbing his mouth in the right places. “Mhm hm?” Logan asked muffled, wanting to make sure he was doing good for her.

“Oh, yes, baby — Always eat me so well,” y/n looked down at the older man, locking eyes with him as he kept sucking in the right spot.

You would think y/n would be the one rolling her eyes, but the one doing the rolling was Logan. After making eye contact with the pretty lady, he couldn’t help himself.

His mind was foggy, and he felt like he was drunk. Almost like he was pussy drunk, but there’s no way, right? Fuck it — There definitely was a way. He’s always this drunk for her. He needs her.

“So hot under me — Might take a picture and keep it in my wallet,” y/n said, making the man groan into her heat. Y/n’s knees bucked, instantly making her feel her cunt pulse.

“S-So close, baby — So close,” y/n gave a heads up, only making the man groan more into her cunt. He was going to cum himself. He knew he’d feel embarrassed about it right after, but right now, he needed it.

“S-Shit,” y/n’s legs almost gave out, but luckily Logan wrapped his arms around her, keeping her up and pinned onto his face. “Fuck, Logan, fuck!” the girl tugged on his hair before right as she released on his face.

The man slightly pulled away, making sure her juice would leak right out of her and into his mouth as much as it could.

Y/n’s clit throbbed hard, feeling amazing like any other night as Logan’s vision blurred, cock twitched, and in seconds, he came.

The older man buried his face into the girl's heat, muffling his own moans as he shook from the hard orgasm he didn’t know he could experience.

Y/n cried out, trying to pull the man off, but he was too lost in his own high. “L-Logan!” Y/n cried out with a crack as an aftershock hit her. Her cunt throbbed harder than usual, making her eyes cross in a way that she’s never done before.

The loud moan she let out only made Logan feel the need to do more, so he did.

The man pulled away from the girl and threw her on the bed after he stood to his feet. “L-Logan, fuck,” Y/n said, trying to catch her breath, but it didn’t take long for the man to hover over her.

“Need to fill you,” the man said, now crawling in between her legs. “No, Logan — I-I can’t anymore,” the young lady shook her head as she leaned her head back, trying to rest.

“Well, I can,” the man said before plunging into her, giving her no warning. Y/n’s loud moan filled the room as he groaned in her neck, thrusting his hips at an ungodly paste. He needed to fill her.

“L-Lo!” Y/n cried, overstimulated, but the man couldn’t think straight. He felt so fucking good, and he knew she did too.

Logan’s breathing sounded deep. Deep and animalistic as his hands grabbed the young lady's thighs on the side, scratching upwards until he heard a pleasure cry escape her mouth.

“So fucking good, baby. Need this every fucking day. No breaks!” The man said, one hand now digging into her waist as the other gripped her neck. He finally had her where he wanted.

“So fuckin’ dumb to let yourself be like this. All drunk and overstimulated. It’s my turn to dominate, baby. Mine!” Logan gripped the girl's neck, watching her jaw slack and eyes roll back.

“Gonna buy that fucking land and take that damn job. You’re gonna sit your pretty ass at him or in my truck and watch me. No more working. No more being away from me. You’re fuckin’ mine,”

Y/n wanted to say yes to everything he mentioned, feeling like she had no choice, and she didn’t. He wanted this, so she had to give it to him. She had to and needed to.

“That’s it, baby — Cum,” Logan’s voice echoed through the girl's head as her walls clenched onto him. “Fuckin’ cum,” the man spat, looking down at her as his hips snapped forward. She swears he’s about to break her.

“C-Can’t anymore,” the young girl cried, but who cared? Not him. What he said, goes. This side of being drunk felt good. The horniness after being on his knees for her, was a boost before his cock begged to feel her walls. He needed the second climax to be in her.

“L-Logan — You don’t have a condom-“ y/n tried saying, but her orgasm stopped her. The young girl cried and whined loudly, her voice sounding crackly as she came all over his cock.

Y/n was the one who suggested a condom. She didn't want the man to regret anything. Logan told her for months that he regretted nothing and never will. Night, he'll prove that to her.

“Gonna fill you up, baby — Make you unemployed,” the man threatened, but it didn’t sound too much like a threat to y/n. She wanted it, rather she was drunk on his cock or completely sober through the day.

“Fuck, yes!” The man growled through his teeth, feeling himself get closer with every thrust. “Tell me to cum in you, baby — Tell me!” The mutant man demanded the warn-out human.

“C-Cum,” y/n tried saying as her head moved side to side slowly, trying to gain her vision back, but everything was spinning. “More — More!” He demanded again. “C-Cum in m-me,” she finally got out.

Logan groaned loudly, cock pushing deep inside of the woman as his grip on her waist and neck tightened. She swore she could feel him actually filling her up until she couldn’t take anymore.

“Fuck!” He shouted, slowly pulling out and looking down. His cock was coated with so much of him and her, and she leaked so much of her and him. This was perfect. She was perfect, and now she was staying with him forever.

[bisexualiteaa]

My Heart Belongs to Daddy ❤️‍🔥💕

Sugar Daddy John Price x Sugar Baby Fem Reader (Angst and fluff!!)

CW: established relationship, sugar daddy/sugar baby to lovers, slight deviance from game, mentions of abusive ex, mentions of violence, stalking, self defense, mention of restraining order, mention of trauma/PTSD, mentions of anxiety, implied smut, reader is now safe and spoiled, John is a gentleman, angst with fluffy ending, cursing, possible grammar and spelling errors.

AN: just a random thought that came to me one night and thought it was just too fitting not to write about! Hope y’all enjoy! ♥️

You considered yourself to have it pretty good all things considered. You lived in a house you rarely ever had to pay rent for, with a handsome, older man who happily paid your bills to the point you didn’t even need to work anymore. He asked that you didn’t in fact. Not because he didn’t want you to have one, but because he wanted to spend all of his rare, but hard earned, free time with you when he was home. It wasn’t often that he was home, between missions in other countries, and long hours, he just wanted more time to spend with you. He gave you all the money you could ever need and then some, and took pride in treating you like a princess because in his eyes, you were one. You were his perfect princess, his beautiful girl. You wanted that cute dress from the store up the street? It’d be yours the next day at the latest. You wanted a pretty pair of shoes to go with it? You would find them in a box, with a cute little bow tied on top, on your bed within the week. You wanted to go on a nice date somewhere? He’d make a reservation that night for the both of you and tell you to get all dolled up. Granted, you never actually asked him for much. All of his gifts were usually bought because he watched you inspect them then place them back after looking at the price tag, or simply because he thought that whatever it was would just look so lovely on his precious girl. He would cave into getting you, or doing anything for you, the moment he would hear you speak of it passionately. At the end of the day, John was a simple man, he merely craved to see your pretty eyes light up with joy and that sweet little smile stretch across your lips upon receiving his gifts. All he wanted in return was your company and love, seeing you sport the outfits he bought you was just a bonus.

You had only taken him up on his offer of being his sugar baby in the beginning because you knew him well enough for it to not be weird or uncomfortable. He was a frequent customer of yours at your old job, someone you spent a lot of time talking to, getting to know, and becoming close to. You knew a lot about him, just as he knew a lot about you. You knew about how he was in the military, how he could be gone for long periods of time on missions in other countries, that he was rather lonely despite constantly being around the people he worked with. John is a very nice man, it almost took you by surprise just how nice he was compared to the men you’d been with in the past. He was always polite, always kind and considerate despite the hell he’s seen out on missions. Every conversation you had with him was like speaking to a life long friend, it all came so natural and in the years he’d come to know you at your job, you two had grown to be very good friends. Good friends turned into hanging out outside of just seeing him at your work, which turned into getting each other’s phone numbers to stay in contact while he was away, which turned into late nights at the bar together on occasion and as time went on, it slowly grew into something more romantic. John liked you a lot, which was good for you because you so happened to have the biggest crush on him and you desperately needed out of the house you shared with an abusive ex at the time. It seemed to be something that worked out well for the both of you, and it brought you comfort in knowing that he wasn’t icky like some other men who look for sugar babies were. When John recommended it to you, you knew sex wasn’t the motive. You saw in his eyes the rage that burned like a forest fire when you’d told him about your awful ex and some of the terrible things he’d done, but also the sea of genuine concern and sympathy. So you took him up on it. All he ever asked for in return was someone to occupy and upkeep the house while he was away, and to keep him company when he was home. Of course, you’d come to grow into being more than just his sugar baby over time, but his girlfriend now fiancé, and you both could agree that it’s been a wonderful four years since that day.

The first time this man showed you actual genuine kindness while living with him, you nearly cried. You were so used to living with someone who didn’t give a shit about you or your well-being, that when John asked you things as simple as what things you would like from the store if he was out grocery shopping, or if he was out getting something to eat from somewhere, how he would offer to bring you back something or stop somewhere you liked to get you food, it left you completely floored. He was super protective of you as well, hardly letting you out of his sight when you were out together in new places you’d never been before or in overly crowded places. John always had a protective arm looped around your waist, both as a way to show you off to the world because how could he not? But also to keep you close to him should anything unsavory come about while you’re out together. He of course walks on the outside part of the sidewalk too. He treasures you, adores you, and he always wanted to make sure you were safe and happy. He didn’t care what lengths he had to go through to do so, or what hate he would get in the process for being older than you, or for spoiling you, he would do it all in the blink of an eye with absolutely no questions asked. It was the complete opposite of what you were used to while having lived with your ex, and he started to pick up on that within the first year of living with you. He hated the way you would flinch away anytime he would bring down something from the cabinet in front of you, or how you would flinch when he would touch you at first. It pained him to see just how terribly you were being treated to the point that it was a reflex. He knew you were in a really bad spot with the guy, but he had no idea it was this bad. He would never pry however, knowing that the past can be a very traumatic place, and all he wanted for you was to be happy and healthy and know that you were safe with him now. He would be there for you in your moments of need, kiss it better, be a shoulder to cry on, assure you that you were protected and never have to worry about that asshole ever again. Whatever you needed, he would have it there for you. Taking him up on this whole arrangement had been the best thing to ever happen to the both of you.

He was always awake before you, even on the weekends and his time off, he was up between six and seven am almost on the dot, on his way to make himself a cup of tea to start the morning off. You felt it as he stirred from his sleep, between the dips in the mattress as he leaned over to kiss your cheek before rolling out of bed, to the shift of the covers being placed solely over your naked form to keep you warm whilst he was no longer beside you. It was what eventually had pulled you from your sleep, not that you really minded too much. You were never a morning person, but you strongly disliked the way the bed got cold without him there with you, and you’d much rather enjoy spending time in his company than sleep all day anyway. You gave a yawn as you finally peeled your eyes open, hearing him chuckle. You hated being up early, but he made early mornings far more tolerable over the years. “G’mornin’ sunshine” he spoke, his already deep and gravelly voice having an even deeper rasp to it when he first woke up. You gave a hum, always loving the sound of his sleepy voice, paired with the way he was in nothing but boxers was even better. “Good morning indeed” you answered through soft giggles as you sat up and drank in his form before he slipped on his robe. He chuckled at your disappointed whine in response to him covering up. “Clearly I didn’t do you in as much as I thought I did last night if I’m gettin’ a response like that” he joked, snagging your robe from the back of the bathroom door and helping you slip it on as you climbed out of bed with him. He kissed your cheek sweetly as he did, making you blush and smile up at him before offering him an actual kiss. “Oh no, my legs are absolutely wrecked, but it certainly is never a hard sight when I’m looking at you, love. Can’t help it but want more” you replied, your tone dripping with lust as you giggled into the kiss that was already starting to get a little heated. He could feel your hands roaming beneath the fabric of his robe, cascading along every inch of his skin you could reach. The way your soft but smaller fingers danced along his chest and stomach lit his every nerve ending on fire, making it harder and harder to not obey the throb setting in between his legs. “Careful sweetheart, y’ know how I get in the mornin’s” he said into your kiss, making you giggle then let out a sound almost akin to a purr. “Oh I’m well aware, daddy” you replied suggestively, tacking on the title at the end, something you only ever used in the bedroom or when you were in a mischievous mood, making him chuckle again as he continued to kiss you. “You say that again and I’m not responsible f’ what happens next, luvie” he replied in warning, his hands soon resting on your hips, keeping you close to him as you grinned up at him, eyes full of mischief. “Do your worst. Daddy” you challenged in a teasing sing-song tone, making him grin as he picked you up, throwing you over his shoulder effortlessly, knowing it would catch you off guard but he also loved the way it would make you laugh so giddily. You squealed and giggled in surprise, kicking your feet and playfully demanding him to put you down as he tapped your ass with his hand. “I tried warnin’ ya, love” he replied, bringing you back to the bed and plopping you down onto it as if you weighed absolutely nothing. You laughed softly, yet excitedly, as you looked up at him, watching him confidently strip himself of his robe with a smirk and a pleased whistle from you. “Oh hush and c’mere you” he said with an amused grin, leaning down over top of you and kissing you once more.

Needless to say, it was definitely a great start to the morning for both of you.

As you both ate breakfast at the dining room table a little while later, you heard a buzz come from his phone. “Shit” he said softly to himself as he read the notification. “What’s wrong? Everything okay?” You asked, your face filled with concern, hoping it wasn’t work telling him he needed to come in on a weekend and steal him away from you when you two made plans for the day. “Nothin’ bad sweetheart, just got an appointment today with the doc I forgot about. Gonna have to rain check on coffee today love, I’m sorry” he said, guilt lacing his tone as he got up, laying a kiss to the top of your head in apology before placing his dishes in the sink and cleaning them. “It’s alright! I needed to run to the store anyway” you said as you got up as well. “I don’t know how long I’ll be, luvie. Would hate to see you sit in the car for hours all bored waitin’” he replied as you pushed your chair in. “Oh, well…I can always go on my own you know. I still know how to drive” you joked harmlessly with a giggle, and something wrenched deeply in his chest at the idea of that. Of you being out and about without him by your side for once, without him to protect you, and who’s to say he would even be able to get to you if you were in trouble. It was unpredictable, dangerous even. He didn’t like it, but he hated the idea of him limiting your freedom even more. “Are you sure…? You haven’t been out and about by yourself since y’ moved in” he replied as he washed the dishes. “I can handle it, honey! I promise. I’ll be in and out super quick! Just the grocery store, then coffee, then home waiting for you!” You said cutely, coming over to him to place your dishes in the sink as well before running your hand along his arm, trying to offer him some comfort. “I’ll be fine baby, really. I always carry my self defense stuff on me and I’ve got you on speed dial. it’s just a small grocery trip! Pleeeaasseee?” You asked, batting your eyelashes up at him all cutely and he certainly could never say no to you like that. “Alright, alright. But if you so much as feel even slightly off, you call me. Don’t care where I am, or what I’m doin’, you remember the code word, yeah?” He asked, making you shake your head yes. “I’ll be sure to use it if I need it, I promise. I’ll be okay, I’m a big girl” you said, offering him a sweet smile before you hugged him in thanks. “But I always appreciate the way you look out for me and want to keep me happy and safe” you added, placing your hand on his cheek as he held you close to him. “I couldn’t live with myself if you ever got hurt, you’re too precious to me” he replied, his larger hand coming to rest over the back of yours, making you giggle softly. “It’s one of the many things I love about you, John. The way you look out for me and care for me. How you’d drop everything in a moment’s notice just to make sure I’m safe. I’m the luckiest girl on this planet to have you” you said before kissing him. “I’m a damn lucky man to have you, love” he replied, resting his forehead against yours as you both closed your eyes to enjoy the sweet, heart felt moment together.

A few hours passed before John had to leave, allowing you both to sort of get ready for the day and tidy up the house a little before both of you would be gone. The idea of you going anywhere alone still put an ache in his stomach that just would not go away, but he pushed it aside the best he could in favor of staying positive. He didn’t want to limit your freedoms, didn’t want to tell you that you couldn’t go without him, that would make him no better than your shitbag of an ex in his eyes and he swore to you that he would never be anywhere close to that. So when the time came for him to leave, John gave you a sweet, soft kiss before heading out the door, reminding you to be careful and to contact him should you need anything. You told him the same, watching as he got into his car, then waving as he pulled out of the driveway before running back upstairs to get changed into a cute outfit to go to the store in. It was a rather warm summers day, so you went for something a little more fitting for the weather. You decided on a cute crop top, skirt, a set of tights, a pair of converse, and the cute hoop earrings, necklace and bracelet set that he bought you one year for Valentine’s Day before you did your hair and makeup. You posed cutely in the full body mirror that mounted the wall next to your shared bed for a few minutes, taking all sorts of cute pictures to send to him. Along with a few more explicit ones to tease. You grabbed your purse, throwing in your phone charger and wallet before grabbing the keys to the other car, and a pair of sunglasses before you finally headed out the door. You made a pit stop at the coffee place first that you and John were supposed to go to together, getting your usual order to get some caffeine in your system to help you fully wake up and start your errands. All in all, still a pretty good day despite the minor change in plans due to an appointment.

It’s when you make it to the grocery store that your day starts to take a turn for the unexpected, and unfortunately for the worst. You parked the car, then went inside, grabbing a shopping cart as you always did and had out your list of the things you needed. They were simple things, essentials for the house such as milk, eggs, bread, things of that nature, but even you weren’t immune to the occasional pull of something on the side to add to the cart. It was as you were walking down the bread aisle that you started to notice a man from the corner of your eye watching you rather intently, eyeing you as you reached for the specific loaf of bread you were looking for, then following you to the next aisle. You didn’t want to look back at him to raise suspicion, but he always seemed to stay right at the edge of your view so you never got a good look at his face. You felt a chill course down your spine as he continued to follow you down the next few aisles. So doing what you knew was best, you tried your best not to stop the cart as you closed out of the tab for your grocery list and pulled up John’s number in your text messages.

Y/N: Hey babe, I know you’re probably busy but there’s this super creepy guy following me in the store…he was staring at me as I grabbed bread now he won’t stop following me. Something doesn’t feel right.

You text him, and you weren’t sure if it was the spot in the store you were in or maybe that your phone was bugging out, but your texts wouldn’t go through for some reason. You tried to chalk it up to nothing more than maybe coincidence that he’d been needing to go down the same aisles as you, trying to calm yourself down as you started taking your things to the check out to pay and leave as quick as possible to hopefully rid of him. As you made your way to the check out line, you heard the wheels of his cart squeaking behind you, trailing at the same speed you were as he hovered not far behind. That was your sign that something was definitely not right. So when your “SOS” text wouldn’t send through either, you dialed John’s phone number but it immediately went to voicemail. Of course you’d have a problem reaching him when you needed it most. Just your luck. So after you’d checked out, you did your best to explain to one of the clerks that there was someone that had been following you around the whole time, and that you didn’t feel safe, wondering if maybe someone could walk with you to your car. Thankfully, they agreed, walking with you and chatting with you as you unloaded the things from your cart and into your car. It helped calm your nerves some when you noticed the man was no longer following you at that point, hoping that asking for someone to accompany you had scared him off.

Oh how wrong you were.

As you thanked them before getting into the car, you started to drive out of the store parking lot and back towards home. It was enough of a scare for you for today and you just wanted to get home where you could get comfy and wait for John to get back. You tried calling him again in the hopes that he’d be able to sort of keep you company through the drive home, but once again, it went straight to voicemail. Your nerves started to get the better of you again when you noticed that the same car had been behind you for what felt like way too long to be just pure coincidence. Your heart raced, hoping that you were overthinking it and just still a little shaken up from the incident at the store. You tried playing some music to help calm yourself down but none of it worked. It really didn’t feel right when you saw the car trailing you the entire rest of the way back home, through every traffic light, every turn, every stop sign. This was more than just a coincidence. You tried pulling up John’s number again to call him, but once again it was no good, making your heart pound in your chest even harder now. Clearly wherever he was had absolutely shit service seeing as neither your calls nor texts would go through. It became clear that you would have to do your best to handle this on your own.

John was starting to get worried when he hadn’t heard anything from you in a while. He had received your pictures from before you left the house, but he hadn’t heard anything from you after that. No pictures, no “I made it safe” nothing at all for a couple of hours and something told him it wasn’t right. However, seeing as he was sitting at no bars for signal he figured it was likely because of his lack of service in the building he was in. The brick government buildings always were notorious for having terrible service, a safety precaution so that nothing terrible could get in, and nothing important could get out. Unfortunately there was still a twisting feeling resting in his gut he just could not shake. But like you had assured him earlier this morning, you’re an adult, you could handle your own and he had to trust that. If you were in any trouble he knew you’d find a way to notify him, but he couldn’t help but worry about you. He was never the type to let his mind wander immediately to the worst things, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something felt wrong. He just hoped this visit would be done and over with quickly so that he could get back home to you and reassure himself that everything was in fact okay.

If only everything WAS actually okay.

As you drove around the neighborhood, you made it a point that you hadn’t stopped directly at your house just to be completely and utterly sure if the mysterious person was actually following you. You watched as he still trailed not far behind you as you looped around at the end of the neighborhood culdesac, making it apparent now that he was in fact following you, and following you rather closely. Your heart slammed in your chest, you had no idea what to do in this instance. You couldn’t get ahold of John, no one was outside in their yards, you were all alone in this. You had no other choice but to call the police, reporting it to them and hoping that they would be here in time should the situation take a turn for the worst. On John’s end, he swore it felt as if his appointment with the doctor couldn’t have gone any slower. He found himself constantly checking his phone for anything from you, or any updates on your location but the brick house of a building he was in made it nearly impossible to send, receive, or even load anything. It was as he sat in his car once he was finished at the doctors office, that his texts finally sent through of him asking if you were alright and had made it to the store or home safe. He breathed a sigh of relief when he hadn’t gotten anything super alarming in response, placing his phone up on the charging mount he used for roadtrips when he needed navigation on his phone. It was as he was looking at the beautiful picture he had of you as his lockscreen to try and calm his nerves that all of your attempts to get ahold of him finally came through. Seeing your first message that you made it to the coffee place safe, then to the store safe, then his heart dropped upon seeing your text about feeling uncomfortable. Once your SOS message pop up, followed by three missed calls, he wasted no time in starting up his car and pressing on the gas to get home to you as fast as he could. He checked your location, seeing you were in the neighborhood but not at the house, that’s when he figured the man you had told him about that was following you around the store must have followed you home.

You were shaking as emergency services told you that they were on their way, but nothing could prepare you for who stepped out of the car that had been following you for all this time. It was your ex. You routed around through your bag, searching for your self defense key ring that had a light, an alarm, sharp knuckles, and a disguised knife attached but for the life of you you couldn’t seem to find it. “Shit, shit, SHIT!” You said to yourself as you felt your breath start to quicken, catching glimpses of your ex stalking closer to your car from the rear view mirror. Thankfully your hands landed on your taser, you supposed it was better than nothing and something that could keep him at bay until the cops or John arrived. God you prayed that John was on his way and on his way quick. It was right after you placed your taser in your pocket to hide it from him that you heard him tap on your window, and you hated the fear that struck you upon seeing his face up close again. He smirked before smashing the window, unlocking the car from the inside and yanking you out. You kicked and screamed as he did, hoping it would draw the attention of the neighbors or anyone passing by, but it seemed to be no use, in reality you were only making him more upset. “Get the fuck OFF of me!” You yelled, but he only laughed at your fruitless efforts to free yourself. It was then that you saw why John wanted to go with you everywhere, why he felt like he needed to protect you. You weren’t as strong as you thought you were.

“So, this is where you’re living now, huh? Still living with the man whose dick you sucked to get away from me?” Spoke the vile voice of your ex, making a scowl cross your face as he spoke poorly of John while yanking you up to face him. “My new life is none of your concern. I see you still don’t seem to understand the terms of the fucking restraining order” you spat, making him laugh as you attempted to push him away. “Oh but it is my concern, because I distinctly remember telling you, I don’t go away that easy. See, just because you think we “broke up” and you filed a dainty little piece of paper to the government, doesn’t mean I need to leave you alone. I can do as I please” he said, grabbing your hair so that it would not only tilt your head to look up at him, but hurt you to try and pull away. The painful sensation brought back cruel memories of the awful things he’d done to you when you were still living with him. He had always been unpredictable, especially when he was angry and that’s what scared you most in this instance. You had no idea what his plans were or what he was going to do. You knew what he was capable of, and the lengths he was willing to go to. He could kill you right here if he wanted to, and you were terrified that may be his intention. “So when I saw you at the store after four years of not knowing where the fuck you’d run off to, I took it as a godsend. Like it was fate, pulling us back together ooonnee last time. One time’s all it takes sweetheart for me to learn everything about this new life you’re living WITHOUT ME!” he yelled, yanking on your hair even more, making your face contort as you hissed in pain. You did your best to try to rid his hand from your scalp but his grip was locked tight. “Nice neighborhood, wonder which house belongs to that pathetic sugar daddy of yours. Maybe I’ll just have to stalk the culdesac to figure out which one it is. I’ll break every single window in this neighborhood until I’ve broken through the right one if I have to” he said with a disgusting grin, making you pull your keys from your pocket and grip them in your hand while he wasn’t looking, granting you the chance to jab him in the arm. He shouted in pain, his reflexes making him let go to where you could stumble onto your feet and away from him. “You wish, you sick fuck. The cops are already on their way, I called them on your sorry ass ten minutes ago when you wouldn’t stop following me” you threatened as you back towards your car, making him laugh at your threat. “Oh I’m so scared! What next? You gonna sick sugar daddy on me too? Too wimpy to defend yourself?” He asked, inching closer to you and you didn’t like that. “No, but he’ll be pissed when he finds out you were here and followed me” you said, making him grin as he tried to lunge at you, and on nothing but adrenaline fueled instinct, you pull out your taser from your pocket and used it on him. He yelled in pain as he dropped to the ground before you, the sound of jolts of electricity coursing through him only ceasing once you released your finger from the button. “You fuckin bitch…” he slurred as he tried to stand back up, getting halfway before sirens sounded in the near distance, accompanied by the signature red and blue flashing lights. John wasn’t far behind them and his chest grew tight when he saw them turning down the neighborhood, praying it wasn’t for you.

You dropped the taser from your hands, hearing an officer trying to console you that everything was okay, and that they were here to help. You watched as they handcuffed your ex, taking him and placing him in one of the cruisers to bring him down to the station. You were shaken up, there wasn’t an ounce of doubt about that, but you couldn’t have been more relieved knowing he was being driven down to the station and far away from you. Tears finally began welling in your eyes as you saw John’s car pull up behind the police cars and him come running out of it to find you. “Y/N?? Y/N!” He called out, searching all through everyone to find you, and when he did he couldn’t have been more relieved to finally see you and see that you were alright. “Oh thank fuck you’re okay. Are you alright? Did he hurt you? I came here as fast as I could after I finally got your messages and calls” He asked, hugging you tightly after looking you over for any other injuries aside from the few minor cuts and bruises of your scuffle. “I’m okay, just some small stuff but I’m more shaken up than anything else. I’m sorry for scaring you” you apologized with a warbled voice from the sob caught in your throat that you were fighting your hardest against, making him cradle your cheek in his hand as he looked down at you, wiping your tears away with his thumb. “Don’t you dare apologize, you were the one in danger luvie. ’m sorry I didn’t get your calls sooner or I’d have been there immediately. ’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you like I always am” he said, feeling guilty for not being there for you when you needed it, especially when his gut had been screaming at him all day the moment he left that something was wrong. “I knew I didn’t feel right about it, I should’ve just asked you to stay home ‘til I got back but you looked so excited, I didn’t want to tell you no…” he added, pressing his forehead against yours as he closed his eyes, relieved to have you back in his arms and to help calm you down and console you the best he could. “It’s okay, I should have known better. I shouldn’t have pressed you when you had the gut feeling something wasn’t right about it. I know after this, that I definitely won’t do it ever again, if I want to go anywhere, I’ll wait for you and go with you” you said, hugging him once more and burying your face in his neck, craving the sense of security he gave you when his arms wrapped tightly around you, and to drown in the comfort from his warmth and his cologne to calm your racing heart. “I’m proud of you for protecting yourself though. You did good, making sure someone walked you to your car, that you notified someone that you didn’t feel safe, that he didn’t wind up at the house” he praised, smoothing his hand through your hair to try and soothe you some and help fix the tangle left in your hair from his grip on it. “I bet you looked damn good with that taser in your hand, love” he said, making you giggle as he helped you calm down exponentially.

“I love you so much sweetheart. I promise you won’t ever have to feel that way, or go through what you did today ever again. Not while I’m here” he said, warming your heart up even more as you looked up at him with that bright smile he loved so much. “I love you too John, thank you for everything you do, it means the world to me” you replied, arms still wrapped around him tightly before getting up on your tip toes and kissing him softly. “Besides, I learned today that store runs without you aren’t nearly as fun. I like them better when you’re with me” you said sweetly, making him smile and chuckle as he brought your hand up to his lips, kissing your knuckles sweetly. “Me too. C’mon, let’s get you home, yeah? You’ve had one hell of an eventful enough day today, missy” he said playfully yet softly, grabbing your hand and holding it as he walked you to the car, opening your door for you before driving you just up the street. “You don’t have to drive me the few blocks it is back to the house” you said through giggles. “Of course I do, I’m not just gonna make you walk after all that” he replied, placing his hand on your leg as he pulled in the driveway, walking you up to the house and getting you inside. “You wait here, I’ll grab the other car and bring in the groceries” he said, making you go to speak up but he held a finger up to stop you. “No buts, princess. I’ll only be a minute, you’ve had a rough enough day as is” he added, making you huff in defeat. “I’ll be back before you know it, then you get me for the whole rest of the night, how’s that sound?” He asked, and you couldn’t lie, you definitely liked that idea.

[aangelinakii]

ONCE MORE TO SEE YOU.

— lights, camera, action!

summary : when you star in a film with a-lister bruce wayne, you can't help but be starstruck.

note : i was going to make this gn, but i found it difficult to describe the reader in a way that it could go both ways, so the reader will be female described :)

warning : mention of death, but not in detail like at all it's just in passing

when you'd gotten the call-back, nothing could have prepared you for kissing the bruce wayne.

bruce wayne was a-list; no, higher than that, if that were even possible. though, for him, anything was possible. he was not just an actor, he was a star.

and it wasn't like you were unknown, wasn't like you didn't know the role would include a kiss — it was a romance, for goodness' sake! — but part of you felt you shouldn't be here. someone like diana prince, perhaps. she was glamorous. she would fit here.

you weren't born on money, your status was achieved. your place here was deserved. but, beside a man like bruce wayne — status ascribed — you couldn't help but feel small.

yet, despite it all, here you stood before the man, on a set built to resemble an old world war-time train station. films were getting bigger now — bigger and better — and it felt like the platform you stood upon had been made from real brick, and the fake locomotive behind you could have been mistaken for real as it puffed pale steam.

once more to see you focused on a pair of forbidden lovers in the time of the second world war. in the modern day, films struggled to replicate the feel of older, war-time movies, but this picture would change the game. that, you were sure of.

fidgeting with the fuzzy fabric of your green military jacket, running the lines over in your head, you looked over at the man before you, dressed in an old fashioned military costume also, although missing the jacket. his character, charles, would be going away to the front line, whilst your character, emmeline, would stay in your town to tend to the wounded.

today's schedule, after almost three months, you were filming the final scene.

after a long, unwinding love story, charles and emmeline share their first, and possibly last, kiss before charles catches the express, perhaps to never be seen again.

a makeup brush came to blot at the side of your nose, and someone came to perfect the perch of bruce's military cap on his head. both assistants disappeared just as quickly as they popped up, and the director bellowed.

"camera!" and it signalled to you and bruce that the digital camera positioned beside the two of you, stood opposite each other, was rolling.

another assistant stepped into frame, holding a clapperboard. "final scene. take one." snap!

immediately, your posture straightened, and you felt yourself take on the character of emmeline; a woeful lady, distraught, heartbroken. her one true love, as soon as she has got him, will be going away, possibly losing his life in the process.

"and.. action!"

everything in the studio went silent; not a hum, not a sound. not even the extras milling about far in the background spoke.

forehead creasing softly, you took a shaky breath as you looked on at bruce.

"charles, i..." you muttered, words a whisper past your red lips. an unsure step forward was followed by the soft click of your heel. "are you sure? you could always stay here, tend to the wounded by my side."

even as emmeline spoke those words, she knew charles would not oblige. he had a duty for his country.

his bottom lip trembled slightly, so softly you could miss it if you blinked, and then he shook his head, eyelids creasing as they fell halfway down his eyes.

"you know i can't, emmeline." when bruce spoke, he owned the transatlantic accent of the time; one the two of you had taken various dialect lessons to master, and now you sounded like you would fit right in on the set of casablanca. "my name is in the lists. i am fighting for my country."

bruce took a small step closer.

the words clung to your throat for a moment before pushing them out, eyes piercing up into him beneath upturned brows.

"will i ever see you again, charles?"

that line was supposed to be the killer, one quoted for years on end. it needed to be perfect. you would be lying if you didn't say you'd been practicing it the most; in your trailer, in your bathroom, as you got ready for bed, as you made breakfast. just to find the right tone.

hand a tremor, bruce reached up to pull the hat from his head, and clutch it dearly to his chest. he didn't reply.

your pleading eyes remained on him for a moment longer, lines tugging at the corners of your mouth.

after an agonising moment, you tore them away, stepping back gingerly, hands coming up to brush against the material of your jacket. his jacket.

"oh, i beg your pardon," you hummed hurriedly, moving to peel the military jacket from your shoulders. "i should return this to you. if you aren't in uniform, they'll reprimand you."

but before you could remove it, charles stepped closer once more, and tugged the sleeves back up your shoulders, almost too rushed. "no, no, emmeline, i..." he removed his hands sheepishly, stepping back. "please. keep it. keep me with you, whilst i am no longer here. you will forget me, i'm sure, but a part of you shall always remain here. at home. with you."

as he spoke, your eyes widened with each word, in awe, in shock, in adoration.

jaw quivering, you worked to pull your mouth shut.

"i would never forget you." words barely above a whisper, the mics hidden in your clothes aching to pick it up. you shifted, voice slightly louder, more sincere. "charles, i would never forget you."

bruce edged closer, still clutching his green cap to his chest, eyebrows beginning to softly upturn.

ever so slowly, ever so agonisingly, bruce leaned in, until your lips touched, and you melted into the sweet embrace. beside you, you were acutely aware of the way the camera began to slowly move in towards you.

once the camera had rolled forward to the end of the short track, you and bruce pulled apart, lips still hovering inches away from one another, aching to touch again.

"and cut!"

as if you had never been in such an intimate scene, you and bruce pulled away, the characters of emmeline and charles completely dissipating from your statures.

crew milled about, and bruce looked down at you, taking a water bottle from his assistant.

"you okay?" he hummed, and your heart thumped, still starstruck. no longer were you admiring the poster of him in your childhood bedroom, you were gazing up at the real thing.

a small smile appeared upon your lips, and you nodded, grateful. "yeah, you were great."

"me?" he practically scoffed on his mouthful of water. "after the release, you'll be bigger than me, (name). promise."

[appleblueberry-pie]

How would Yan Miggy feel when his S/O has successfully escaped from him and is moved to another country, she also has a child who is five years old and looks like a carbon copy of him.

So one day the kid decided to write Miguel a letter with their address on it and in the letter the kid talks about how reader never mentions him or talks about him, and also wondering if he's the Child's real father. And so the kid invites him to his/her’s birthday. (plus also having an attached photo of the house that they are living in, in the letter).

Reader is now shocked and immediately pulling her child away from him, and angrily asks Miguel how he got their address.

I love your work💕

THANK YOU <3 also i like this ask lol

Miguel sat in his car, anxiety and happiness causing his stomach to tie in knots. The picture applied to the handwritten note and the house he parked in front of were identical. He saw a children's park and a school on the way here, not too far away. It's also the city you've always wanted to move to to raise a family. This has to be the place.

Dear Daddy,

I miss you alot. Mommy tells me that you were mean to her alot so she left to be happy. I am glad she is happy but i miss being with you. My birthday is on xxxxxxxx and i would be very very happy if you came to selebrate with us!! This is what my house looks like. And i can tell you where we live. PLease coem. i miss you.

Every time Miguel read over the note, the more he felt connected to his little girl, and it pained him it had to come to this. So, he'll make sure that his return in her life is more of a meaningful one. Not one full of lies, excuses and useless arguments that led to nothing but more problems. A year is a long time and Miguel is a changed man. He can make this right.

When he shows up at your door, he takes note of all of the beautiful and small garden growing in the front yard, wondering if the two of you worked on that together.

Your car looks pretty nice as well. Did you buy that on your own? Or did someone else help you? It's pretty difficult to find a house, let alone afford living, in a place as nice as this. Maybe that's why you took money out of his account so often. If you wanted to move, you should've just told him so. Well, it's too late for that now.

As soon as he knocks on the door, it flies open, and there's his little girl he hasn't seen in forever. She gives him that big smile he's always loved and remembered, screaming his name. "Daddy!!" He picks her up and holds her close in his arms.

"Oh! My little ball of sunshine! My favorite girl, it's been too long since I've last seen you, how have you been? How's my birthday girl??"

She laughs when he tickles her lightly and puts her on the ground. "I'm really good now that you're here! Wait, let me tell Mommy-"

She takes his hand to bring him inside, but you appeared out of nowhere, breaking the hand-holding and roughly shoving him by the chest out of the front door entrance. You hold your little girl behind you, your face almost unrecognizable from a mix of fear and anger on display.

"What the hell are you doing here?? How did you find us?" Miguel's face drops at your tone and holds out his arms in the most non-threatening way possible. Yet, his voice showed his true colors. So nervous and....almost scared.

"Hi, Y/n," A crooked smile shows on his face, "Mi amor, it's very nice to see you-"

"I'm gonna call the cops if you don't leave." You scramble to try and pick up your daughter, who fights against it. You aren't in the mind to understand that as you continue to try and back away from who once was your captor.

"No, wait, it's not like that. It's D/n birthday today and......I just wanted to come see my baby." He takes a step inside your abode. Slowly, as if trying to not make things worse. "Please."

You thought you did everything right. You didn't leave any traces. You gained his trust in leaving you to the house all for yourself, which took years and years to do. And when things finally clear and you finally found a normal life to live again, he comes to your doorstep. Was he stalking you this entire time?? Why was he being so nice? So open? You definitely couldn't trust whatever he had up his sleeve, and your daughter....

"I told him where we live!!" She tugged on your arm as hard as she could to get your attention. Your head snaps down to her direction. When she saw your face, she hesitated for a moment but kept talking. "I just wanted to see daddy again.......I-....all of my friends at school have their dads, and i really missed mine. If i wasn't ever gonna see him again, then i just wanted to see him one last time."

[I can't color code anymore😭]

You were in disbelief. As mad as you wanted to be at your daughter for doing something so life changing and unbelievable, you couldn't for the life of you put any of those feelings onto her. She deserved the world. And in all honesty, you took most of it from her. Miguel was a great father despite his many flaws, and all you wanted for her was to experience that perfect family.

And you couldn't give it to her. The rest of the puzzle she needed was right here. You didn't know if you were ready to give Miguel a chance again. But did you really have a choice?

Miguel frowned and dropped his hands.

You promise yourself to deal with it for now. The quicker he celebrates, the faster you find a way to get him out again. You bend down to whisper to your daughter. "Go tell daddy where your bedroom is so I can finish with the decorations, okay?"

Her face begins to beam and, without a second thought, nods her head and rushes off to keep Miguel busy. Miguel doesn't have a chance to see your face, as you already got back into the kitchen to deal with the food, and he lets his lips turn upwards at the corner.

[creedslove]

Hello! Love your writing! Could I please request a Pedro x pregnant!reader fluff please?

Javier Peña x f!reader

A/N: I changed it again, in fact I changed the entire request because I'm a little shit and that's a stated fact. But I changed it for Javi, but not just any Javi, I changed it for asshole!Javi, married lying cheating!Javi

Javier had been married to Lorraine for years when he met you 

In the meantime, she'd gone to Colombia with him when he was first assigned by the DEA, but she quickly hated the country, the weather and the food and took a plane to Laredo 

Which caused him to be a single agent who slept around almost as often as he changed clothes 

He never really got into detail, but he was sure Lorraine also slept around back in town, she was no saint, and he knew that for a fact, after all they got married 

When he returned home, he was seen as a local hero, and it didn't take long for him to get the job of chief of police, which brought him even more status 

And with the status and the money he got from his DEA retirement and his job as a cop, she was more than willing to come back, flash her baby blues and beg Javi for another chance to get back together 

Javi had his fair share of women and he was getting old, besides, he didn't have any hopes of falling in love ever again, so he decided to give it a go 

But it got old fast, he didn't remember Lorraine being so cold in bed, she was all the time complaining of Javier's touches or finding excuses so she wouldn't have sex with him 

And he soon got bored 

So when the two of you met, he felt as if things had some meaning and the attraction was instantaneous 

And it didn't take you too long to be bouncing on Javi's cock, or sitting on his handsome face or being pounded by him from behind 

You kinda felt guilty at first for being with a married man, but anyone could tell Javier wasn't happy with that bitch, and watching the way she was always condescending and rude to everyone, walking into stores as if she owned the place, your guilt disappeared

You and Javi were in too deep to care about anything, your escapades were every time hotter and hotter and you couldn't get enough of each other 

Until you started to feel sick, throw up every morning, and your period was late 

You couldn't believe that possibility was becoming real 

So you went to the drugstore to buy a test, and even if the result came out positive, you still didn't believe it and you went to the doctor 

Who confirmed you were indeed pregnant 

You cried yourself to sleep that night, terrified to what would happen now you were expecting a baby from a married man, you had no idea how Javi would react or what he would think of it 

So you avoided him for a couple of days, until you couldn't escape when he came after you, demanding to know what the fuck was going on for you to be so weird with him 

And then you told Javi everything that had happened 

And oh boy, it felt like his world had imploded. He had never had kids with Lorraine, and he doubted they where would, and there you were, carrying his child 

He was at a loss of words and loss of actions, not knowing what to do as he stared at you with the dumbest expression a human being could display 

Your eyes began watering as you didn't get an answer from him, it all felt so overwhelming as he didn't say anything

"I can't do this, I'm sorry"

It was the first thing he told you. Javi was married and he did have a reputation to stick up to after all, he couldn't just leave his wife for his pregnant mistress 

He saw you walking away from you and panicked, grabbing you by the arm and hugging you 

Javier swore he didn't mean it that way, but he assured you he would pay for all the expenses you would have with your baby, but he just couldn't go public 

You told him to fuck off and never go after you again 

But still, the amounts of cash would appear in your house as the weeks turned into months and one day you got so pissed, you grabbed all the money and drove the police station, returning it all to him 

Though he was afraid of a scandal, he insisted for you to take it welcoming a baby into the world was something so expensive and he wanted to be a part of it, even if it was just financially

It took you a lot of convincing but eventually you agreed, after all it was only fair since he was hiding you and your beautiful baby like a dirty secret 

It killed Javi to see you from afar in the months that followed your pregnancy, he felt a mix of pride to know you were carrying his baby, but also pain, to know he was such a coward who couldn't step in and take care of his new family 

It pained him to see how beautiful pregnancy was treating you, whenever Lorraine talked about how one of her ugly pregnant friends was glowing he always scoffed, but when he saw you glowing, he knew exactly what people meant 

He always went pissed off when he overheard anyone make any comments on you being a single mom. They knew shit and they shouldn't be talking about other people at all 

When you went into labor, he pretended he had a call from the hospital, but couldn't identify who it was, just to pretend he was investigating whoever decided to pull a prank 

But he just paced the hallway worriedly and was only able to breathe relieved when he overheard the doctor say it both you and the baby were alright 

And he nearly died when he found out it was a little girl 

Javi went to your room after hours and watched as you and your baby slept. He wanted to hold her but he was afraid he was too clumsy for that 

You woke up startled at his presence and couldn't hold your tears, asking him to leave as soon as possible as you didn't want your daughter to be attached to a man who couldn't admit he was her daddy 

He asked her name and his heart broke to know her name was Analuz and if he weren't an asshole, she could be Analuz Peña 

Whenever Javi had a glimpse of you pushing down the stroller around town, he would make an excuse to be around you and Analuz 

His daughter was the most beautiful and adorable baby he'd ever seen, and he wanted nothing more than go home to the two of you, instead of going home to Lorraine 

You finally allowed him to hold Analuz, the two of you shocked to find out she would immediately stop crying whenever she was in his arms and he always thought his heart wasn't going to take those beautiful, bright little eyes 

He once got into a real serious fight with Lorraine when she was trying to gossip about people in town and mentioned something about you and your baby, and how people often said your daughter was beautiful but in reality she'd seen far more beautiful babies 

And Javier was pissed 

The two of them had a heated argument which ended up with Javi having to sleep on the couch 

But he refused it and drove to your house in the middle of the night 

You weren't happy to be awoken like that, but he begged you to see Analuz and you eventually gave in 

Javi spent the most comfortable night of his life, sitting in the armchair and dozing off with his beautiful baby sleeping peacefully on his chest, rethinking his life choices and how he wished he could make things right for the three of you 💔

_____

A/N: I'm not gonna lie, besties, I've been daydreaming about being married!javier peña's mistress, there's something so dirty and sexy about it it makes me WANT IT

[mingiswow]

Shackled Freedom | Choi San

Pairing: San x afab!reader

Words: 4,3k

Genre: dystopian, smut, angst if you squint

Content Warning: dystopian world, reader is sold by their family, childhood best friend San, mentions of murder and death, mentions of disassociation and dealing with trauma, mentions of weapons and combat, mentions of prostitution, reader has a vagina, not proofread

Smut warning: oral (reader receiving), unprotected sex, piv, cumshot, I was pretty tamed in this one for some reason lol

⚠ If you’re under the age of 18 and/or don’t feel comfortable reading that type of content, I have a lot of other content here.

⚠ English is not my native language, so pardon me if there are any mistakes. And you can always tell me what’s wrong.

Everyone expected you two to get married. San and yn, the perfect duo. You two grew up together, coming from the same poor survival village, living just a few houses from each other and being one of the few kids that still had dreams of a better future. The freaks, how your neighbors and other kids would call. But you didn’t care, San was your safe place and you were his.

You grew up sneaking from your parents and climbing trees, hunting small animals together, learning how to plant and harvest from old books that survived the virus decades ago. Your families did not stand each other but did not interfere in your friendship, life as an apocalyptic baby was already shitty enough.

But you saw your world turn upside down when the peacekeepers from the president came after you and other kids from your village. Your parents, just like theirs, sold you to the government in exchange for food and a bit of money. Since you were the youngest, and therefore, the only “changeable”, they sold you so they could survive. You did not blame your family for it, not when you saw your older sister die of the virus and the others being forced to work more to bring food and money to your household while all you did was play all day with San.

San. The boy you kept in your mind every single day for the rest of your life. Every night you’d lay in your comfortable bed and wish he was there to tell his stupid stories like he did when you were kids. You never heard of him again after you entered the gates of the main city. You and the other kids coming from all over the country being locked up inside those giant concrete walls.

You went through all the types of tests and training for later being sorted into your positions. You almost ended up as one of the pleasure maids for the president if wasn’t for your misbehavior at one of the practice formals. You were very explosive, usually acting with emotion which to them was seen as a virtue, so you ended up as one of the peacemakers. And soon enough, after a few years and a lot of work, you were nominated as the head of the peacemakers in the 5th area as they called it.

And even after all these years, after many missions, you were still scared and guilty that those people were being executed for crimes that were not even real crimes sometimes, they were just trying to survive. With the passing of the years, the president became less and less tolerable, just deciding to execute people just because he could, because he had the power. You were not like that, never been, but you needed to survive as well, your family, which you discovered received every year a small amount of money from your sale, needed to survive, so you disassociated every time you needed to work. yn as a peacemaker wasn’t the same yn you were as you took your uniform out. Also, you couldn’t complain about the life you took in the main city, you had a comfortable life, a comfortable home, clothes to wear and enough food for you to eat and be strong to deal with the rascals.

There was a new talk in town, a group of young people terrorizing near the main city, graffitiing the walls with their rebellious words, throwing bombs, and recruiting people for their group. Some of the citizens complained that they were disturbing the peace, but most importantly, they were getting adepts even inside the walls, people who were allowed to live there, people who had nothing - apparently - to complain about. So of course the president wouldn’t be quiet and happy about it, sending you and many more of his best peacemakers to hunt them down.

You were currently in one of the many trucks looking for them, your suit protected with bulletproof padding and your face protected with an anti-gas mask, but your mind seemed a little uneasy. Your heart seemed a little uneasy. Something inside of you not allowing you to fully disconnect, fully disassociate and do your work. Nico, your partner, and boyfriend, noticed and held your bouncy leg, squeezing it and giving you a reassuring look from inside his mask.

Nico wasn’t a bad guy, but he wasn’t good either. He was in this grey area between doing what he does for his job and doing it because he enjoys it. But on those nights that you were feeling lonely, he was the best you could get. He pleasured you, sure. But it was not like it was the best. Many of those nights you imagined how would San look as an adult, if he still was that skinny kid you left behind, or if he grew to be a strong man. Or if he married and became just like the other men in the village. Many times you got yourself creating a hypothetical San in your head and imagining how he would be in bed, how would he pleasure you if it was him instead of Nico. Those were the nights you came harder. You felt guilty about not actually loving Nico, but again, you weren’t sure he loved you either or he was with you for the convenience as well.

The truck came to a halt, taking you out of your daydreams, and you heard screams outside the vehicle. You and the others went out and found a few people all dressed in black, their clothes looking like they were a bunch of pieces of old clothes that were sawn together, they wore gas masks too, but you couldn’t see their faces underneath, a black balaclava hiding their identity. You were so out of your usual mindset that when they started to attack each other you were caught by surprise, instantly starting to attack them as well.

They were outnumbered but they still had some tricks under their sleeves, managing to get a lot of your men down, but soon reinforcement arrived and they just couldn’t win. Some of them managed to escape, others were killed, and others were captured to take them to the prison and wait for their execution.

Just when you were leaving you noticed that it wasn’t Nico sitting next to you.

“Where’s Nico?” one of your teammates put his hand on your shoulder and denied with his head and he didn’t have to say anything else, you knew Nico was dead.

For some reason you were envious of him, being dead, free from that duty. You didn’t know if it was for the fact that the guilt from killing innocent people was stronger than ever, if it was from you being tired of doing things you didn’t want to or from this gut feeling that something wasn’t right. All you knew was that you wanted to escape, to live a different life, to go back in time and run away when you discovered what your family did.

When you entered the gates, all the cars went straight to the jail, taking all the criminals to be arrested. Some of your men took them as you excused yourself for not feeling well after the death of your boyfriend. But truth was that all you needed was to be alone in the darkness of your room and try to forget the afternoon events. The intentional cold water falling down your back and making all your pores bristle and your tears get lost as they fell into your feet.

You were almost asleep after crying your eyes out of distress and sadness when the doorbell from your apartment rang. You put on your robe and went to pick up the door, knowing it was probably someone to talk about Nico’s death.

“Captain yln” it was one of your subordinates. You nodded for him to keep talking. “One of the prisoners from today is wishing to speak to you, he says he’s the head of rebels”

“Did he say what he wanted to talk about? Or identified himself further?” He denied.

“He just said he has a message to you and that he wishes to speak to you before dying” you sighed and decided that maybe this was going to get you out of your thoughts.

You didn’t think much, just grabbed your holster, not caring to put it on and followed the man. As soon as you entered the prison chills ran down your spine, the loud chanting of the prisoners felt too familiar even though you never heard it. The screams made your head hurt.

You entered one of the interrogation rooms and sat at the usual chair, waiting while they brought in the inmate.

A tall and honestly very handsome man sat in the chair in front of you, a smirk sat on his lips as he looked at you from top to bottom. You analyzed the man, he looked so familiar. His cat-like eyes, his tan skin, his expressions. It looked almost like…

“Long time no see, munchkin” his voice was velvety, sensual, it ran chills down your spine.

“San?” He chuckled and nodded. “Oh my god, San. I can’t believe it is really you!” You left your chair and moved in front of him, pulling him on his feet and into a hug. He immediately returned it

“Hey… hey… I’m here” he said as you nuzzled into his chest and neck, smelling his musky scent, that even with all the dirt from the combat and years without seeing him, still smelled like you could remember. Tears falling freely from your tired eye.

“That’s exactly why!”

For many many years you imagined San, how he’d look, how he’d talk, how he was, what had he done with his future. And then, with him in front of you, standing tall and beautiful, very real, not a result of your imagination, had you dizzy. Not in a million years you’d imagine that he’d grow to be not only a rebel but fucking hot one. All of the nights you imagined him, none of them prepared you for how he looked in real life.

And the realization hit you. He was going to die. He was going to be executed. There’s no way the mayor would leave him alive. That was the first time you were seeing your friend in years. And it was going to be the last.

“I know what you’re thinking in that head of yours, yn” you were cut from your daydreaming, and tilted your head to look at him. “You’re thinking about the execution” you lowered your head, looking at your feet, how he still knew you so well after so long? He grabbed your hands and squeezed them for you to look at him again. “That’s exactly why I asked you to come here”

“I won’t let you die, Sannie. Not now that you are back into my life” his eyes and his smile felt so soft upon you, his right hand caressed your cheek and his callouses scraped your skin gently. “I won’t”

“I know you won’t, baby. Because you will help us escape and will escape with us” his sentence caught you off guard. “We have a plan but we need your help”

“But it won’t be dangerous having me with you? I mean, I know too much, I’ve been working with them for years. God! I’m the head of one of their security troop”

“Don’t worry about it, we’ve been hiding for long enough to know how to hide you too” you nodded and looked around, trying to see if there was a sign of anyone around that could listen to you. You knew the cameras didn’t work for years now, it was just to pretend to the inmates. “Will you help us?”

“Yes, of course. I… I hate this place and I hate what I do” you stopped, head dropping again. “But my family… they need me… they…” he lifted your chin to look at him, which you gladly did so.

“Your family is long gone, yn. Your parents died many years ago in one of the mayor’s interventions, your older sisters married and left the village, Jongho joined us and Dongho left the village a few months after you left. No one gets money from you being here” your mouth was agape, you should’ve known it was all lies to keep you obedient. But even then you fell for them. For the love of your family.

“What’s the plan?” He smiled at you and nodded. You were about to escape that hell hole with the one true love of your life.

When the clock hit midnight the next day, you were already prepared, all the things you needed packed and safely hidden near the south exit of the town. You headed to the prison, uniform from head to toe, and demanded to talk to the chief of the rebels. A man, not much taller than you, met you at the same room you met San previously and you handed him what was planned, helping him hide the controller on his clothes.

You two staged a fight and demanded him to be taken to the south prison, to divide him from his companions. The officer did as you said, leaving you alone in the place since he trusted you. You took the opportunity and released all the other men locked, including San.

Since the prison was far from the actual city, there were a lot of alternative routes they could take to arrive at the southern gates without being seen and separating themselves not to be caught in a bundle.

You, San and other two rebels took one of the riskier routes but if anything happened and you were caught, you could lie about transferring the inmates to the south.

A few minutes later you arrived at the designated gate, a few more of the rebels already there, only two and the chief missing. When the other two arrived, you proceed to go to beat the southern prison to attack when the officer and the chief arrive.

It didn’t take much longer for the two men to appear and the rebels attacked, killing the officer quickly, mercilessly, no sound spilled. You decided to forget what you saw, since you did much worse to some of them when you were dissociated.

“Everyone’s here?” Hongjoong, which you learned was the name of the chief, said counting all of the rebels. “Good. Everyone’s here and alive, time to leave this shit hole” you all nodded as he used the controller you gave him earlier to open the gate since he was the only one who knew how to use that.

Somehow there was already a big black truck waiting for them outside the gates, how they communicated to the others you have no idea, but you were so glad they did because as soon as you all hopped into the vehicle, some of the mayor’s troops came after you. San and the others started to counterattack, throwing homemade bombs into the cars and destroying them, sometimes even more than one in one go.

You sat quietly praying to watch ever god decided to hear you that you left all well and alive, that you could leave all of this behind and start a new life with San.

It wasn’t long until everything went silent and San returned back to your side, hugging you and kissing the top of your head.

“We are free now. You are free” he said, his voice happy, smile on his lips as if he waited to say those words to you forever. And he did.

You finally smiled and threw yourself on him, not giving a fuck there were more people in the truck, and kissed him. It was just a long peck but it was long awaited for the both of you. Everyone around you cheered, happy for you and for the plan that worked.

The entire trip to their headquarters you and San talked about your life after you left, sometimes engaging in conversation with the others as well, but there was a growing tension between you two. So thick you were sure the others could feel and see it too. San’s hands were gently and almost secretly all over your body. He was wrapping them around your waist, then holding your own, then caressing gently your tight by his side. It was when he put them there and gave squeezes that you felt your breath hitch and your stomach curl.

It was evident that you’ve been so frustrated with your absence from each other’s lives, from what you could have been. You were dying for each other, you could feel that in the kiss. And you knew that when you start you won’t stop.

“We’re here, we’re home” the driver announced as he stopped under a big abandoned building and everyone hopped off.

San held your hand and pulled you with him to the third floor, entering one of the rooms.

“They’re gonna fuck, right?” One of the rebels asked, seeing San pull you away so fast and so eagerly.

And he was more than right. San pulled you into that room and closed and locked the door before pushing you against it and kissing you ferociously. His tongue invading your mouth and intoxicating you with his taste. Hands all over your body, squeezing, feeling, touching, as yours were entangled in his soft hair, pulling the strands as you kept devouring each other.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to do that” he dropped his mouth to your neck, kissing and biting the spot. “How many nights I’ve dreamed of having you to myself” another harsh suck on the skin that made you whine. “How many nights I’ve touched myself thinking about having you even thought I knew you were with that creep”

“Wait” you managed to breathe the word as he kept attacking the sweet spot behind your ear. “Did you know who I was? And who Nico was?”

“I’ve been watching you for so long, yn. We have eyes and ears in those gates, don’t forget that”

“If was anyone else saying this I was going to call them creep but since it’s you I don’t give a single fuck” he kissed you again, smiling between the kiss and biting your lip.

“Good because I am about to give you more than a single fuck” you laughed at him, he hadn’t changed at all.

He finally moved you two to the bed, managing to make you fully naked on the way. You felt your body heating from the way he drank your form, biting his lip and looking like he was about to eat the most delicious meal of his life. You.

He gently laid you on your back and spread your legs open. He started kissing his way to your core, leaving the same love bites on your thighs that he left on your neck. You just threw your head back and enjoyed your touches. Ever so teasing, never really touching the center of your legs.

“Sannie~” you whined, desperate for some contact, some release.

“You want me to eat you out, munchkin?” You nodded eagerly, hand going to his head and trying to guide him but he held himself in place. “Use your words, let me hear you beg for me, let me hear you say the words I’ve dreamed of you saying to me” you writhed in frustration and shyness but you were so needy for him that you just had to say it.

“Please, Sannie. Please. Touch me. Use me. Eat me. Do whatever you want please, I need you”

“God, you’re way hotter than I thought” he gently slapped your clothed core, earning a surprised scream from you. “I’ll give you what you want, baby. Everything you wish” you nodded and he didn’t waste time before diving into your still clothed pussy.

He licked and rubbed on top of the material, the roughness of it deliciously helping with the friction you needed. You moaned without a care in the world. Your mind was full of San and only San. He pulled the underwear out of you, ripping the material, too bothered and eager to take it out of you. To say you weren’t turned on even more by the action was a lie. The way his muscles tensed and the veins popped when he pulled the fabric apart made you weak on the knees, imagining what he could do to you.

San went back to his position, hoisting your legs on his shoulders and finally touching his mouth straight on your slit. Your moan and his satisfied groan synced, your legs tried to close around his head but he held them open as he kept slurping at your wet vulva.

His mouth was definitely skilled, he knew just the right amount of pressure to put, where to tease. You were seeing stars with the way his mouth was devouring you. His tongue moved up and down from your clit to your hole, sucking and licking the engorged nub and prodding your entrance with his tip.

You were a moaning and writhing mess under him, hands not knowing where to go, if they pulled the sheets or his hair, if they intertwined your fingers with his or held your boobs. All you knew was that you never felt anything like that before. It was like San was a conductor and you were his sheet music. He knew all your notes.

But it wasn’t enough, not for him or for you, so he added his fingers to the game, wetting them on his lips and then your juices before slowly entering them inside you. Your walls hugged his big digits tight, and San felt his dick twitching imagining how it would feel around him.

“S-Sannie…” his name, mixed with your moans, was almost a mantra. Leaving your lips without even noticing.

“What is it, baby? Hm? Tell me. I can’t read your mind” he mocked and gave your clit a tiny gentle bite that almost made you cum, hips going up against his face. “Even tho’ I have a little idea of what there is inside of there”

“P-please… just… fuck! I need you, Sannie” he left his spot and hovered over you, face to face with you.

He kissed you and you could taste yourself on his lips, the bittersweetness of it was invading your senses alongside the musky scent of his sweat. If someone asked you what sex smelled like you’d say it was this.

“I really wanted to tease you right now but I am as needy as you so I’ll leave that for another time” he said while he left his spot on top of you to take his clothes off and just then you realized he was still fully clothed. “My dick will burst at any minute if I keep waiting”

“Then shut up just fuck me” you said before you could think properly, earning a chuckle from the man.

He positioned himself on top of you again, grabbed his cock and rubbed along your vulva, collecting as much of your wetness to help him in. He positioned the head on your hole and slowly pushed in, entering you.

You closed your eyes and opened your mouth, no sound leaving. You’ve dreamed and imagined of this moment your entire life. And now it was happening. You had San back into your life. He was real and alive and right there on top of you, taking his time not to hurt you.

San was not only taking his time not to hurt but not to cum right then and there. He also had dreamed for so long of fucking you that your warm walls hugging and welcoming him just like he was meant to be there were like a gunshot. Quick and sharp.

His hips were starting to go erratic within a short time. He knew he wouldn’t last much longer and he wanted to make sure you were going to cum as well, so he snaked his hand between your bodies and started to draw circle eights with the tip of his fingers on your clit, finding the bundle of nerves quite easily.

“Sannie…” you moaned his name, voice coming out way higher than usual, whining.

“Com’on baby, cum for me” San whispered on top of you, his own pleasure getting the best of him. “Fuck, yn! You’re so tight. I’m close too” he increased his speed, hips pistoning in an erratic manner, pleasure taking the best of you both.

“‘M coming” you managed to say before cumming around his cock. Squelching lewd noises of your juices wetting you even more filling up the room as he kept his movements.

It didn’t take much longer for him to cum too, pulling his dick from you and milking all over your belly, some of the gooey liquid falling on your chest.

San took some time to regain his breathing and cleaned you the best he could with some clean cloth he found in the bathroom of the room. He helped you to put back your underwear and put on his shirt, and laid with you on the bed. Your head resting on top of his chest and fingertips playing with his own.

“ I can’t believe this is all real” you broke the silence, taking a deep breath in and taking in his sweaty musky scent.

“Me neither” he confessed, eyes focused on the ceiling, thinking about so many things but at the same time only about you. “I don’t want to risk losing you. I can’t lose you”.

You turned your face to look at him, pulling his head down to focus on you. His eyes glassy, watery. He was allowing himself to be vulnerable in so many years.

“You won’t lose me. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere” you caressed his face and he closed his eyes to enjoy the touch. “I’m all yours now. Forever”

“Forever” he kissed you one last time before falling asleep with you in his arms for the first day for the rest of your lives.

Masterlist | Requests and feedback

[of-tatooine]

DULCE PERICULUM. | CHAPTER VI - CLEAR

supremest wisdom, and primeval love.

(John Wick x Reader, Santino d'Antonio x Reader)

full work

This was the place.

It must have been. It existed in your memories, the forgotten crumbs of moments laying bare right in front of you.

Through the tinted windows of the backseat in the armored vehicle, an extension of Camorra’s constant protection over you - your eyes staggered momentarily on the grand 18th century wooden doors, encrusted in the brick and stone that stretched for floors upwards.

Hidden in plain sight. Evil, crime and all that was unholy, being led by the seemingly normal, historic building. Did the ordinary pedestrians, many who walked near or across the stronghold every single hour, have the slightest idea of what was transpiring inside? The extent of detail flowing through plans to spill yet more blood or to transport even more drugs? The bourbon and whiskey consumed by men after an operation that paid well?

Would they change their morning commute had they known?

With the amount of corruption running rampant in the city that never slept - people would always go out of their way to blissfully ignore.

It was not much different back in il Bel Paese, and you would be damned to be a hypocrite as a pin of the underworld yourself. Camorra’s limbs extending all over the crevices, stones and doors adorning the narrow streets of Napoli - yet, people still drank on the streets, chanting the songs of their victorious football team, melodies leaving their way into hurled curses on some nights. Almost every restaurant in the town owed something to a Camorra boss somewhere, with money flowing into eventually the lifestyle that you led, but did not ask for. Yet - people still frequented the establishments, ordering the finest the fair city had to offer.

And, to think, this was only where it began.

It often hurt to think just how vast and interconnected this web was, jumping from city to city, port to port. Just how many souls were involved. The notion of Camorra almost seemingly incorporated into real life itself - becoming one with the city, with the population, with the beliefs and the traditions.

It was embedded in the pavement stones of Roma, in the bronze of the angels that protected the holy land. Gleaming in the intricate cuts of pink and green marble adorning il Duomo, ever withstanding centuries. Etched onto the mosaics in their lazy trail across cliffs, into the deep, turquoise eternity.

A sentient presence among all corners of the country, blurring the lines of morality wherever it touched in the outside world.

Until it bled the people dry.

Until men were beaten to a pulp in the dimly-lit back alleys on a cold winter night, limping to get home till morning come - because the count had not been right. Until bullets started whizzing in the air upon a missing kilogram. Until an innocent died at a road ambush in the countryside.

For you, it had not taken years to grow accustomed to the ruthless truth of the source of your estate, the grandeur. Of your place in the world.

It was all you knew, your only version of reality, from the moment you gained consciousness.

Was it rightful? Earned? All you had to do was to be born into it, into the right family with the right connections. At least that was what the Camorra told you, when they took you under their wing.

Sometimes, in this life, there are choices.

Sometimes, they have already been made for you.

Everyone in the underworld was tied to each other by an invisible thread, that would get pulled on or snipped off sooner or later.

Tarasov had been no different. It was the same, when it came to members of the mob, they were all the same - except they were Russians.

Direct, straight to the point. In times, even more ruthless than what your clan could become. A little too reckless at times, yet devout to tradition. To the century-old ways of living and letting die.

Like every crime lord you had the luxury of being in their vicinity in this lifetime - they always got what they wanted, one day or another, late or early.

As the car stalled in the empty space, the chauffeur respectfully waiting - you would take out your phone, nimble fingers typing a quick sono qui to the one who waited for you back at home.

I have made it.

He had briefly mentioned plans to take a couple of days to travel to Piacenza, to his father’s estate, where he resided with the looming sickness, far out in the countryside with an army of doctors and guards. Time had not been on his side, and would never be at his age. As much as Santino wished health on his father - decay was the one thing he could not change, even with all the power and funds he had. It could not be stopped.

Time.

It either healed you, or it broke you down.

“Grazie, amore,” came his fast text momentarily, making your lips curl upwards in a moment of courage.

“Buona fortuna.”

Packing up your tote and thanking your driver, the suited guard on the passenger seat exited quickly to help you down the backseat of the tall SUV. Clicking heels across the concrete took you to the doors, guards giving you a quick once over and opening the gates to the dark, moody entrance covered in the deepest mahogany paneling.

The door closed right behind you in a fleeting moment.

“Welcome to New York,” your escort that appeared out of the shadows would speak in a heavy Russian accent, earning a nod from you. “Viggo had been waiting for you.”

“Thank you,” you responded, walking through dimly lit halls leading up to an elevator. The seemingly short ride up would take you to the top floor, exiting out in a grand foyer with windows overlooking the silhouette of the city, filling in the moody room with slivers of natural light behind crimson velvet curtains. The distant crackling sound of a fireplace echoing in the tall ceilings. Finest examples of taxonomy glared at you from the walnut-paneled walls, doors opening up to you as a known voice welcomed you in. The guard staying right outside, clicking the door shut - sealing you in for the job.

You had been here before, but not like this. Everything felt so familiar, yet so alien. The passing months and years seemed to long, yet it was closer than you recalled. The days had flown by, memories fresh yet forgotten, human beings being lost in the cacophony of everyday life.

The dreams, however, did not cease to remind you from time to time.

Dreams that took place in this very room, a fleeting moment in time, etched onto unknown corners.

Where you had met him.

“It’s always a pleasure to have you in our fine city,”  the older Tarasov spoke in the deep accent, slowly getting up from his vast mahogany desk, polished shoes tapping against the hardwood as he took your outstretched hand to press a fleeting kiss on your knuckles in greeting.

“Thank you for having me,” you offered with a respectful smile as you unbuttoned the coat with a single hand, gesturing the armchairs sprawled across the burning fireplace, the center of his office. “May I?”

“Please. Coffee?” he asked, as he walked to his perfectly stocked personal bar that was places as yet another center of attention, dark walnut and black marble blending in seamlessly, contrasting the bright bottles and glasses.

“Or better yet, as is tradition - some vodka?”

“Grazie,” you would politely declined, even though you knew the jetlag would get the worst of you by the evening as you took your coat off with habitual ease, draping it across the armrest and sat with your legs crossed, waiting on the mob boss to join you for the long-awaited chat.

Business. That was what you were there for. The atmosphere was eerie, in the early lights of the quiet and calm morning, with Viggo pouring a small drink for himself as the glasses clinked. It was always unsettling and intimidating to get into the conversation - after all, with men this powerful, all bets could be off the table. Unpredictability came with the occupation most of the time.

Your eyes would trail to the tall windows, lazily letting in sunlight - now partially covered in thick, velvet curtains. Unobstructed views that many could only wish for.

That had been where he stood as you had stormed in the room, one of the times where the anger had manifested externally.

With his hands in his pockets, deep in thought, his hair slicked back in what you would discover to be his signature style. His dark stare catching you by surprise from the first time your eyes met, it did not matter if it had been a millisecond.

The first time you saw the man behind the rumors, in flesh, in this very room, mere years ago - the details of the snapshot of a moment carved in stone.

There had been no curtains back then.

A man of fine taste, Viggo tended to change things up every once in a while. The furniture had changed, no expense spared - yet the comfort was there. As comfortable as you could get with a mob boss who had districts under his thumb, that was. Your body straightened itself as Viggo took a seat in front of you, setting his crystal glass on the nearby drink table. He had donned a thick gray suit to combat the icy New York cold that morning, complete with a red shirt and burgundy tie tucked into his three piece.

His presence could be felt, just as much as his style and décor choices, as he spoke, albeit his voice was of a leisurely nature.

“Before business, let us be friends,” he offered with a slight smile. “Tell me, how’s life been on your side of the world?”

“As you know - business as usual,” you would start, as old-fashioned as you could be sometimes, taking out a small notebook from your purse. “Trying to help a friend out.”

“Ah, yes, of course,” he nodded, taking a sip of the drink. “I gathered you are here to ask something of me. Must be very important if it had you travel all the way over here.” Tarasov leaned back, sitting comfortably with the glass resting in his hand.

By that point, you had understood the sarcasm slightly laced in his voice, yet you had a feeling it was not targeted at you necessarily - but for what you stood for.

He believed your efforts were futile, a hint of a smirk stretching his lips.

He believed it could not be done.

“Santino requested I help with the fulfillment of task. I need names, Viggo,” you spoke, clear, articulate yet soft, looking to meet his eyes.

“And your word to honor what you promised John.”

The man first looked amused, letting his drink rest on the coffee table, learning towards you. “Now, why would you think I would not?”

“Just covering my bases this time.”

“I am a man of my word,” he added, voice lower, his jaw clenching slightly. “I suggest you do not pry that further.”

The air in the room tightened.

“Absolutely,” you replied with a knowing yet kind smile.

It did not make sense to ever anger a Russian mob boss.

Much to your slight surprise, the man offered a light chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. “I will give you whatever information I have - not that I have much,” he would concede without much of a fight required.

“But, just so we are clear,” he would start, elbows on knees as his icy stare got closer to yours, “ - there is a reason this is called an impossible task.”

“It simply cannot be done.”

Another crackle of the burning wood would echo across the wood paneling, the orange flames illuminating the side of your face, lips tilted upwards as you opened up your small notebook, looking through your lashes as the words flowed.

“Let’s see what we can do, Mr. Tarasov.”

[anonymouschishiyaimaginesandmore]

[Scrubs_MD]

Minors, do not read! Contains mentions of smutty behavior!

MASTERLIST (up-to-date)

This is Part 1 !!HERE!! is Part 2

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Alice in Borderland/Imawa no Kuni no Alice characters or original stories, only the plot of this fanfic. Alice in Borderland/Imawa no Kuni no Alice characters and original storyline belong to Haro Aso, who made the Manga the Series is based on.

Trigger Warning: Explicit Smut Summery: Chishiya x female OC that I gave a Name for this Story

Asana was a good kid when she grew up. She came from a good family with a good background and good parents that just happen to be, you guessed it, good.

And all that stuff stayed that way until Asa, how she preferred to get called, was old enough to start Uni and it just happened to be in Japan’s most populated City, but hey it wasn’t her fault, like her siblings tend to treat it.

It was just that the stuff she wanted to study could be nowhere better archived than there, tho Asa didn’t mind not having to share her room and privacy with the younger ones, so of course she moved. Sadly, the country bumpkin soon had to find out that living in the big City, especially the fancy part of Shibuya was one hell of an expensive place.

Everywhere she looked, prices were bambooing into the sky and Asa didn’t even put the cost of each university year into account. She was constantly running low. Her wallet was dry and empty and the times she did got her twitching fingers on some coin, groceries and other necessities pulled them out again almost instantly. Damn life but meh.

While she did find a cheap place to stay, sharing an apartment with 5 other roommates, money still was tight and the chances to get a job outside of school and work, since all the time she wasn’t spending inside of a lecture hall, was taken by patients in the hospital, running around and demanding her attention while constantly dying, nonexistent.

But Asa didn’t mind it. She loved medicine, it has always been her dream of becoming a doctor so a parttime job had to fill the same gaps of her free time hours and what would be better than Camming right?

One of her Roommates, a girl that already left since she made a good amount of money on the side and didn’t need to share her space anymore, brought up the Idea, splitting the tea and telling poor naïve Asa about all the adventures she had online by showing off her body and moving in sultry ways that were meant to attract horny guys with too much paper in their pockets. And she did.

Since the girl showed Asa the numbers on her account, that just seemed way too unbelievable to be true but didn’t look horrendous enough to forget and asking her if she wanted to join her in a session, things kind of got out of hand fast.

So before Asa could really say what happened, the roommate has left the apartment and Asa picked up where the girl left with her own show, dancing and jumping and flirting on demand.

The roommate has shared some knowledge and Asa was already kind of introduced after a few accompanied sessions, so things did start off smoothy and after a few of her own shows, the young girl has gotten completely used to share her privacy anew. This time with strangers and showing off a lot of skin.

Thirsty Lorelay just started her newest session, come and join her!

Chishiya read the popped-up message at the right side of his screen, while scrolling thru pictures with links to boring Cam shows he already tried but didn’t thrill him in any way.

None of them attracted his lingering desire to get entertained for the night. Not since he dived into the erotic part of the darknet, watching woman undress and moan on his command.

It did have a lot of interesting advantages to tell someone exactly how to behave in front of him, instead of watching already filmed movies where he had no say in how things could possibly turn out and more importantly turn him on. Chishiya has found himself drawn more and more to the forbidden entertainment of online girls.

He was a man after all. The want to get off in a thrilling way came from time to time and it was also a good action to blow off pent up steam.

His dads credit card was the best way to get it and soon Chishiya found himself among other horny people, cheering and promising good money to see more and more of a person, tho he was rather of the silent lingering in a corner type, that overwatched the situation and the people’s reaction to every bit of falling clothing and exposed skin.

The VPN he created at the very beginning of his dive into adventurous streams, made sure to hide his location and that was a precautionary measure he just didn’t want to miss.

In case some hacker would try to trace back his location to frame or blackmail him for payment, Chishiya was safe at least with the newest and best software he could get for his money. No way he would let that happen. Chishiya was too smart of a guy to risk such measures, so he always made sure to hide his IP Adress as good as possible with the newest program and all his might.

However, this action also gave him the wonderful opportunity to watch and explore Cam shows that have been restricted for his location. He knew that some of the girls he watched weren’t dumb enough to pose half naked and then share their identity online, so they could be blamed and found out as the hot but dirty girl the husband or boyfriend or whatever man watched the show, blamed them to be.

People had things to lose. Reputations, their name and their face among family and friends, so, on some occasions, Chishiya turned all other locations off just to see the cam shows that were normally hidden from him.

It gave him the extra kick to know that the girls he enjoyed had no idea he could be their Neighbor or collage or maybe just the guy standing next to them in the underground train.

The show of Thirsty Lorelay asked for 3 000 yen as an entrance fee, but the first 5 minutes were free of charge, so Chishiya decided to take a look what this sinful siren could offer him for his money. His day has been boring. His supervisor didn’t like how much more Chishiya knew about certain aspects the man had to learn more then 10 years ago, so he let him run lap tests instead of joining in on examinations.

What a looser, Chishiya thought. Jealous of a guy half his age. It wasn’t the blond mans fault he was smarter than this old saggy balls neighbor whose wife was probably fucking the pool boy while he had to teach med students how to not kill people the first seconds they entered the ER.

Chishiya taped on his tablets screen that he carried with him everywhere, so he could work and study from the small bistro he liked to enjoy his coffee, all to the library he spends most of his free time in.

The chat took a while too load. Apparently, his newest addition to the list of possible strangers from the street, moaning for him on demand, had a good sum of visitors and Chishiya immediately knew why.

The way the girl, surely not older than him, swayed her hips while laying down on the bed in front of the camera to greet everyone and thanking them for joining her, spoke of someone who was used to this kind of behavior online.

Surely not an amateur and Chishiya smiled to himself, when she read his username, commenting on the nice choice of avatar. It was his upper body, aside from his face. Nude and almost completely hairless with light hints of muscles and a chiseled V-line pointing towards his groin like an arrow.

Chishiya was just not the type to work out constantly, he had to time for it, nor the ambition and his body was showing that, but he was lean, and his skin had a healthy and nice tone with a slightly raised chest and a flat abdomen.

The happy trail showed the dark trimmed hair of his and led down to the black hem of his confinements. That was all he was sharing of himself and with small delight, the blond med student watched the girl bite her lower lip, chewing on it for seconds before releasing it and blowing him a kiss.

One, just for him.

She then went on telling everyone how her day went, unbuttoning her plain boring floral shirt that she probably used to wear all day.

Thirsty Lorelay: “I was shopping” she retold the happening “And there was this guy an isle behind me, watching very obviously how I bend over to get something from the lowest part of the shelf. I felt his eyes on me and I swear I could hear him lick his dry fucking lips.”

She giggled amused while one button followed the next one revealing more and more skin too slow for his liking, but okay, she just started, so the blond man forgave her for teasing him.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Then I thought maybe he was one of you guys and you know what? That totally got me creaming my panties.”

Me too, Chishiya thought, imagining the good-looking patient his collage had today could have been thirsty Lorelay. His flaccid dick twitch under the stiff cover of his pants and the blond man took in a deep breath.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Just thinking one of you could be watching me right then and there, doing my every day and thinking nothing bad could happen”

The last button popped, and the girl slid open the fabric, offering a good view of red lace lingerie that was in no way on the same level of practical clothing like the ugly shirt.

Thirsty Lorelay: “That turned me on so much, I would have loved to know what he was thinking”

“Sure, you did” Chishiya said to himself, scoffing a little too sarcastic. He knew all the girl told him right now, was probably a lie. Maybe she did go grocery shopping this day, but her kind doesn’t tend to view creeps in the wild the same way they did online. After all, why else would she hide her identity if it would be different. The black cotton mask around her eyes wasn’t there to cover possible wrinkles she sure didn’t possess.

No matter, her sultry spoken words indicated something else and the way she turned from a boring no one to a hidden gem right in front of him, was enough to pull him into the fantasy.

Thirsty Lorelay: “The guy sadly did nothing, thought a small bump here and a nice grind there would have been very welcomed.”

The girl winked suggestive and Chishiya slid deeper into his chair. He was at home. The tablet on his lap, hold up by angled legs, watching Fullscreen how an everyday girl told him about fantasies while undressing in the slowest way possible.

Thirsty Lorelay: “What would you guys do if you would met me outside and you knew who I am but I have no idea who you are?”

The shirt slipped over her shoulders while the girl arched her back, titling her head to the side and giving everyone a nice view of just how charming she was.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Would you come over and speak to me?”

Fabric lowered more and more, until her arms were trapped behind her back, hold in place by the ugly shirt she wore moments ago. The round lines of her breasts ended where the fabric begun and even tho it hit so much of precious skin, its tight hugging features also revealed more and more of her wonderful appetizing curves, turning her into an erotic wanking remedy he just couldn’t reach.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Would you tell me how beautiful I am?”

Her chest rose while her voice lowered to an electrifying tone. Dark eyes fluttered shut while her back kept arching towards the camera and she sighed in a hopeless frustrated manner that instantly shot a sign from his brain to his defined dick, still caged between layers of fabric.

Thanks to her behavior, goosebumps raised all over Chishiyas body and he became painfully aware how stiff his neck has gotten over the day, as he leaned forward to get a closer view of the stream unfolding in front of him.

Thirsty Lorelay: “How much you want to drag me out of here and find the next place to ravish me?”

Chishiya watched how her set up posture, sitting back on legs and kept up by knees, parted shameless thighs, promising guilty pleasure but not showing anything besides small pieces of skin he already discovered. He wanted more. Needed it.

To see demanded it now. Growing more and more impatient with every oh so small move the girl far away from him did right now, Chishiya panted now so close against his tablet, fog was building up on the plastic screen, making him realize how much off a fool he was making of himself and sitting back, slightly annoyed at his own want.

She was obviously not willing to let the man in him see what he wanted. Yet. But Chishiya knew that all streams eventually went the same way, and he could wait. Just for now. While a tiny bit of hope raised in him that maybe, just maybe he would have a wonderful evening today after that terrible work he had to endure.

Thirsty Lorelay: “I would have loved that”

With those words, the girl bit her finger and fell on her back, giggling like crazy and wiggling her spine, while her ass slightly raised from the sheets under her, swinging left and right in a playful matter. Then, said finger started its own adventure down her upper body, making every watching person oh so aware of how fast her breath was going.

It begun at her chin and Chishiya gulped, as she drew the outlines of her lips before the small digit withed lower towards her chest and between soft hills of untouched land, to her navel where she drew some rounds, before parting and stopping at the hem of her plaid flat skirt that hid all too well what so many man craved right now.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Where would you have taken me?” she asked further “Your home? To your bed? Or would the situation make you so impatient, that the next ally would have to do?”

The Chat went nuts. Chishiya watched how man after man wrote down sentences of locations, offering way too much of their own information, while explaining what they would do to her if they could get her into their hands.

[SelflessLover69]: I would take my time with you and get you home.

[BigBratThatLovesItHard]: You deserve some nice cock

[HornyDudeNextDoor]: Damn Lory you look so hot

[Masturbator666]: Tie you up and give it to you hard

[Arouse_Me_Mommy]: I bet that sweet mouth knows how to suck good dick

[NaughtyBoy_123]: Shit I could come right over that belly

[AnnonymousGuest]: Be a good girl and you get what you want Lory

[FriskyMe78]: What a sweetheart you are

[RideMyFace]: Baby girl knows what she wants

Chishiya saw plenty of these comments appear. They all tried to outdo eachother and get the girls attention, while she did nothing but tracing her exposed upper body with lost fingers.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Tze tze tze you guys are so dirty” the performer said, shaking her index finger in front of the camera “So impatient” her tongue was pressed against the front of her lips while she moved her head from left to right, smiling all devilish “Your lewd comments alone could make me cum” hips raised to meet the oncoming touch.

Lorelay rose back to sit on her legs. Knees dig deep into the white sheets of her blanket while she sighed in played frustration again, before suddenly her face shifted into a devilish grin with mischievously glinting eyes.

Thirsty Lorelay: “But not today bad boys” she said, reaching for something behind the camera, retrieving it with a purple something in hand and giving the new toy a long, wet and tonguely lick “Today…I want you guys to ravish me with your looks. You think you can do that?” kissing the tip and winking at the lens and everyone behind it.

Again, the Chat went berserk, answering with so many yes’s and pleads, the smaller comments on her appearances got drowned in seconds.

Chishiya watched with raising impressment how the girl that barely undressed in any way already had her crowd cheering in madness, dropping money with wishes and asks for a private chat. But Lorelay ignored them mostly, turning on the vibrating function of her new purple toy and letting it explore her body.

Thirsty Lorelay: “I think” she said reaching her navel anew, the upper part plunging into the way too tiny hole, what made her abdomen flex and retract and forced small gasps out of her sinful throat “Today, there won’t be any penetration.”

[Masturbator666]: Oh no

[AnnonymousGuest]: Why?

Thirsty Lorelay: “I have been such a bad girl, you guys should have seen me at work”

[XXX_SmexyMe_XXX]: Work sucks

[NaughtyBoy_123]: What happened?

[BabyMaker53]: I would have fucked you on my desk if we met at work

[MilfPounder_XX]: You would look so pretty on my cock

[RideMyFace]: Baby girl can ride me all day

Thirsty Lorelay: “My supervisor told me to do something, and I was soouuu bratty” the vibrator moved lower “I didn’t move a finger” right over her hidden cunt “Not a single one” pressing hard against the flesh and eliciting a long desperate mewl “I have such terrible manners” she gasped and Chishiya parted his legs go give his growing bulge more space.

[BigBratThatLovesItHard]: Such a selfish baby

[Ass_on_Me]: So spoiled

Thirsty Lorelay: “He should have spanked me, maybe then I would have listened”

The vibrator went along her thighs and Chishiya saw the goosy flesh pimpling all over her otherwise so smooth skin. He was already addicted to count each one of them, probably hard before he reached even half.

[BabyMaker53]: I forgive you

[HornyDudeNextDoor]: I would ruin you instead

The girl giggled again, letting out a long mhmm as the toy disappeared under her skirt and Chishiya went back to huff and puff against the screen, fogging it all over again.

Thirsty Lorelay: “But we can still have so much fun”

[ProneBoner]: Take off the skirt!!

[RickSpanks]: Show me some skin

[BabyMaker]: Yeah take off the skirt

[Sir_ Cum_a_lot]: We wanna see some good pussy

[BiggusDickus]: Let the London bridge come down!

Thirsty Lorelay: “You guys want me to take off my skirt?”

The chat started cheering, chanting words repeatedly that told her to yes, take off the skirt. Pleads over pleads all begging for the same thing while all she did was snicker all giddily.

Chishiya, under the username Scrubs_MD couldn't help but chuckle at the desperate commands some man did. His eyes followed the toy as she set it aside carefully, then back to her fingers grabbing the zipper on her right hip, pulling it down agonizingly slowly.

Thirsty Lorelay: “You want me naked so fast?”

Again, many yes toppled the chat.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Greedy boys. So impatient”

But Lorelay did what the chat asked her to do and pulled the zipper down, revealing more lingerie in red scandalous lace. Until now, only her thin waist promised what could await a man if he got lucky enough to do meet her in real life, but now it peaked and giving the cheering mass hope for a glance all over. The skirt fell and Chishiya bit his lip, chewing on the sensitive skin as his cock jumped in joy.

What a tease this girl was. Other performer would have already taken off all their clothes, leaving maybe a bra on or just the panties, but Lorelay was still wearing too much for the blond mans liking. He couldn’t wait to see more and so Chishiya tapped the screen, typing a number that he knew only the girl could see.

And she saw it. The message of Scrubs_MD popped up on Asa’s screen, offering her 7 000 yen if she took of her underwear. It made her smile to herself, knowing how much this guy was thriving to see her most inner parts. To have her all on display and enjoy her looks, while telling her how beautiful she was. Back in her hometown, no one ever told her that.

She was nothing more than a Daisy among others. She was called cute and sweet and on some occasions lovely, but never has any man craved to see more of her, obsessed at the thought what she could hide under baggy hoodies and washed out jeans. This Chat was different. All those men wanted her. Begged for her attention and paid money for the tiniest bit sinful skin that only she could offer.

The blissful moments she gave herself were all situations that those man hoped to see more and more of and here she was, depriving Scrubs_MD of a way too soon end, knowing damn well that it would only make him want her more if she kept playing with him.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Nice try, scrubs, but you gotta have to wait like everyone else”

The skirt fell nonetheless and exposed more delicate slick skin, pristine and unspoiled.

No I don’t, Chishiya thought, typing another number and sending away the offer, sure this time he would get what he paid for.

Asa read the new number looking directly into the camera and cocking her head while flashing a seductive discreed smile only for him.

Thirsty Lorelay: “Nah ah, what a stubborn boy you are”

The blond doctor was sure he had her where she wanted. After all, the numbers had doubled and if he was honest, it was the highest he ever paid to have a girl undress in an open chat, but to his surprise, the girl refused again, what weirdy made him proudly puffing his chest up.

Now that he didn’t get what he wanted, Chishiya couldn’t wait to see what was worth more than 14 000 yen. His eyes scanned the girls body up and down. There was a scar on her waist right above her appendix that obviously has been taken out years ago when she was younger and one on her left side, right where her strongest muscle was beating steady, so Chishiya indicated that she also had a heart surgery long ago, since the scar tissue had paled to a nice ivory tint.

On her left thigh there was a collection of small reddish dots. 5 Moles so close to eachother forming the oddly close form of the constellation Cassiopeia. Chishiya narrowed his eyes, squinting while almost faceplanting on his tablet. It looked exactly like the constellation.

It can’t be, Chishiya thought, leaning back into his chair. No way this was a natural birthmark. The blond man was sure it had to be tattooed on her skin, but the fact that at least 3 of them looked a little frayed, told him differently.

He observed now with higher interest how the female camgirl grabbed her toy again and fell to her side, laying completely down and giving everyone a good look of how Leonardo Di ’Caprio would have drawn this not so french girl.

The Vibration made a comeback and disappeared immediately between her legs, hidden by her thighs side that had the 5 small dots playing with Chishiyas mind. Her back arched upwards as the tip likely traced the clothed part of her folds, maybe even dipping in? Who knows.

The crowd could only speculate on it and so could Chishiya. Looking for signs of her body that could indicate that the pleasure she displayed to have, was real or faked. His eyes took more and more of her every move in, making his own heart race with anticipation.

Then it happened. Her free hand reached for her chest, opening the front clip with skilled fingers and Chishiya catched himself holding his breath, while wait for the cups to pile away, but the fabric stayed where it was, not revealing anything and Chishiya groaned annoyed at cursing the stupid designers of this erotic piece of clothing that again deprived him of the least bit of fun he could have set his eyes on.

[meraki24601]

Hello, Meraki! I hope you are doing okay :)

In case you don’t mind writing something new… How about a traveller whumpee? Just a lonely traveller who wanders around the country, maybe even becoming famous among the local innkeepers, aka the one who never stays for more than one day and almost always leaves just before the dawn (or something like this).

Then, there’s another person, Traveller’s friend. This friend is more… prosaic than Traveller and kind of disapproves the latter’s lifestyle.

I actually had a dream once with these characters, where Traveller got sick and Friend had to take care of them. I clearly remember Friend saying: “You should stop letting wind travel through your lungs and head, one day this will kill you.” I know that it sounds old-fashioned, but… could you please consider putting it it the story🥺

Anyway, thank you for reading all of this) Also, you are more than welcome to refuse to write it if you don’t want to, I will understand:)

Hello, Friend! Thanks for the awesome prompt. I'm not sure if this is exactly what you were thinking, but I hope you enjoy!

The Traveler

-----------*-***-*-----------

Traveler was the reason Innkeeper’s Inn and the ones in the larger surrounding towns began collecting payments as people arrived and before each additional night rather than a collective sum at the end of their stay. Of course, Traveler had never failed to pay Innkeeper what they owed, but it made Innkeeper nervous to hear they had left hours before sunrise while all but the drunkards were asleep. 

They would arrive in the morning or early evening to trade in the market. Their wares were never of the highest quality, nor did they trade for anything of greater value. Instead, Traveler was known for bringing goods from far-off lands. Then, they were gone the next day, leaving only the money they owed behind.

The stranger wasn’t a merchant or trader. Their hair was uncut, their clothes too ragged to be a merchant, and they were too honest to be a trader. In the market, they only traded for things they were interested in and to gather enough money for food and a bed for the night. They never pushed to exchange any item they had brought if the townsfolk seemed uninterested. Tales of distant lands and people Innkeeper and the others in the village would never see spewed from their lips for anyone who wanted to listen. So, the people called them Traveler and flocked to the area anytime word spread that they had returned. 

Innkeeper never bothered to follow the crowd. Theirs was the only Inn for several miles; Traveler would come when the day’s work was done, and with them would come the gossiping townsfolk, ready to drink and eat in celebration of the unknown. Like always, Innkeeper would watch from their place behind the bar, serving and taking in what information they found valuable. They rarely spoke to Traveler besides confirming the cost of a room and the call for another ale. They had no need for adventure or the danger that often came with it. 

As Innkeeper knew it would, as Traveler's popularity grew, so did the threats that came with it. 

One quiet, late evening, nearly three months after the previous visit, Traveler stumbled into the Inn. No enraptured shouts of excitement or herds of people followed after. Traveler was all alone. 

“I am sorry, Innkeeper. I have no money to pay, but might I have some water and bread? Please forgive the rudeness of the question. Whatever your answer, I won’t take up much more of your time or the space at your bar.” Traveler’s voice was raw and barely loud enough to understand.

With a deep sigh, Innkeeper gestured for Traveler to seat themself at the bar and slipped into the kitchen. They recognized the bruise causing Traveler’s left eye to swell and the marks covering their arms where their jacket had been torn. Combined with the flatness of their usually bulging travel pack, Innkeeper had a relatively good idea of what the other had been through. Traveler had brought them enough business. That had more than paid for one of the untouched meals they had prepared and a safe place to sleep. 

Innkeeper brought the steaming plate and a mug of ale back to the main hall to find Traveler sprawled in a chair, head down, at the bar. After confirming that the other was only sleeping, Innkeeper set the meal down and stepped outside to bring Traveler’s horse to the stable. Only the horse was nowhere to be seen. Of the two, Innkeeper had always preferred Traveler’s calm and cooperative horse over its master. It saddened them to see the beast missing. 

Stepping softly back into the Inn, they found Traveler was awake and eating at a frightening pace. “My horse is dead. They killed him.” They called without looking up from the plate of food.

“The bandits at Hilford Cross?” Innkeeper asked, sighing at Traveler’s reserved nod. “Eat. I have bandages to treat your wounds when you’re done.”

Traveler was quiet as they finished eating and allowed Innkeeper to bandage their wounds. Only after Innkeeper refilled their Ale and handed them a room key did the unpaying guest speak, “Why are you being so kind to me? When the traders saw my empty bags, they wouldn’t allow me into the market. I have nothing to give you except maybe a story. Though, I fear you’ve already heard most of them. My recent travels have not seemed to end well.”

“You owe me nothing for this night. Your visits have kept my family fed and comfortable through many challenging months. That is payment enough. Though, you could tell me your name. Through the many months you have come and gone, I have never heard your name, only what the villagers call you.”

Chuckling softly, Traveler’s brow rose in question, “What do the villagers call me?”

Innkeeper’s lips quirked up in an unwitting smile, “They simply call you Traveler.”

This time, full-bellied laughter filled the main hall, leaving Traveler clutching their side against the pain. “Traveler. I have been called many names over the years, though that one seems to fit the most. My true name is one I haven’t heard in a lifetime. It seems the thieving winds that try to blow me away as I walk down the winding roads have swept into my mind and stolen it from me. You may as well continue calling me Traveler, as I have no other name to give you. Though, Innkeeper, I do wonder… If you can give me a new name, might I give you one as well?”

“Perhaps. What name would you give me?” 

“Friend.”

Traveler was gone the following morning. The same as every morning before. They tried to visit the village more frequently after that night. Innkeeper always smiled at Traveler’s mischievous wink as they opened the Inn’s doors to allow the flood of hungry villagers following them to enter. 

One thing that changed was that Traveler began going to their room earlier. They would hide away until the villagers finished their food and drinks, then returned to the main hall to sit with Innkeeper. 

Sometimes, the two would simply sit in companionable silence, Traveler exhausted from the day of travel and evening of entertaining the villagers. Other times, the two would talk. Innkeeper would keep the remaining guests' drinks filled, then linger around Traveler to hear the stories they didn’t tell the others— their struggles, as well as the small joys the crowds would find boring. 

Then came a month when Traveler didn’t come to the village. One month became two, then three, and four. Four months became a year. Each time news of a lone stranger in the town spread to Innkeeper’s small Inn, they prepared a new lecture to give Traveler for staying away and leaving their business to rot without their support. Each time Innkeeper was disappointed when a different stranger walked through their door. 

A year and three months passed, and word finally came that Traveler had returned. It was the blacksmith who told Innkeeper the news between giant bites of his lunch. Traveler was back and telling his stories to all who would listen right in the middle of the market. 

If anyone asked, Innkeeper would deny that they ran all the way from their Inn to the market. They had just wanted to get more fish to cook later for dinner, and encouraging Traveler to bring the village to eat was just an extra incentive to take the opportunity to go. Innkeeper wasn’t worried about Traveler or why they had been gone so long.

If they had been worried, it would have been for good reason. The sight before them was worrisome indeed. Traveler stood on the wall of the well in the middle of the market. Though, standing was a bit of a stretch with how heavily they were leaning against the beams holding up the bucket for drawing water. Their skin was pale and covered with sweat as they told their story with half the enthusiasm Innkeeper was used to seeing when they performed. 

Traveler seemed moments from falling backward into the well, so Innkeeper did what needed to be done. They marched through the crowd and, as they yanked Traveler down from the wall, announced, “Thank you all for your attention. Traveler is needed elsewhere.” It took two tries for them to lift Traveler’s bags onto their back and untie their new horse from the post, but soon they were off with Traveler in tow. 

The walk back to the Inn was quiet. Traveler kept their eyes down on their feet, only occasionally glancing up to find their bag and their horse. They stumbled so much that Innkeeper eventually helped them into their saddle to let the horse carry them for the rest of the short walk. Moments later, they were asleep. 

Hidden away in the inn’s stables, Innkeeper let themselves press the back of their hand to Traveler’s forehead. It was burning up. This close, they could see just how much weight Traveler had lost. The sight was frightening. 

Despite Innkeeper’s encouragement, Traveler could only barely wake enough to stumble along, leaning heavily against Innkeeper as they walked Traveler to their personal room. 

Innkeeper stayed with Traveler through dinner and late into the night. They weren’t in good shape. The sickness had a deep hold on them. The fever was worse and a deep cough in their chest made their body lurch in Innkeeper’s bed. It wasn’t until near dawn that the fever eased, and Traveler opened their eyes. 

“Good morning. If you’re thinking of leaving before the town wakes, then think again. You owe me a little more than what you have in that lightweight money pouch for the room and for nursing you back to health,” Innkeeper whispered as they wiped away the sweat from Traveler’s brow.

“My friend. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m at the Inn then?” Despite the audible sickness in Traveler’s voice, Innkeeper was glad to hear it again. And yet, they found a sudden anger rising in their chest as Traveler attempted to rise from the bed.

“More than a year, you fool. You’ve been gone for more than a year, then come back half dead and still call me friend?” Innkeeper shoved Traveler back down and stood to dump the bowl of water they had been using to dampen their rag out the window and onto the street below. “What happened to you? No stories. Why didn’t you come back?”

“A year.” Traveler draped their arm over their eyes. “The thieving wind. It must have slipped into my mind and stolen the time away. I had no idea—”

“No stories.”

“They wouldn’t let me go. I was just looking for a home. It’s all I want. I thought I’d found it, but they wouldn’t let me leave. Then I got sick… Where is your spouse? Is your son caring for the bar?”

“My son has found a wife and has moved to the town to the south in search of better work. My spouse passed away nearly six months ago. A lot has happened in a year.”

Traveler’s body tensed, but they didn’t move their arm. “I see. I am sorry it has taken me so long to return to you, my friend, but as time has slipped away, wisdom has taken its place. I know now I cannot stay for long. I need to keep looking. I can’t pay you in full for the room, but I promise I’ll pay you the rest when the wind pulls me back to your Inn.”

“You should stop letting wind travel through your lungs and head; one day, this will kill you.” Innkeeper pulled the blankets up around Traveler’s shoulders. “If a home is what you’ve been looking for all this time, can you not find one here? I am an innkeeper. The people who come to see me are always passing through on their path to another town. I could use a friend who will stay around.”

“You would call me your friend?” Traveler’s eyes peeked up at Innkeeper. The fever was back, but their vision seemed clear. 

“I would. If you stick around until tomorrow to let me.” Innkeeper turned down the lantern next to the bed. The sun would soon shine through the window well enough for them to see without it. “Rest, my friend. We’ll talk more when you’re well.”

Part 2

[anxiouslyfred]

Sweepshakes

Summary: Thomas gets an old british game on holiday that causes some headaches when the sides play it. All because of a dice shaker.

Author's Note: I have no clue if Gambler was released in other countries. I do know it's no longer made in the UK as my brother tried to get one this year and it was second hand... and could've saved that money as the one we know about the game from is waiting for one of us to claim. So many fond afternoons at Grandad's playing this game. I'm going to miss them.

My Idea for this fic: Remus would love playing Gambler. The issue is getting him to put the shaker down, ever, at all, not just when there's a sweepstakes or lottery. That man would always be shaking it until Roman or Virgil are starting a fight just to get it off him. Janus is calmly avoiding calling sweepstakes by always trying to roll doubles again until everyone just wants them to move around the board

/\/\

It was an old British game that Thomas had come across on a holiday. Remus had been obsessed when he’d seen it in the shop and Janus was pretty intrigued too. The other sides weren’t as thrilled to see a game called Gambler, but with Logan mentioning that it could have been a game to help people stop gambling and Virgil hoping that would mean Remus might stop trying to convince Thomas to gamble it was brought home.

Logan’s theory was soon disproven but that didn’t matter to the other sides when they now had a new game to play together, even if only four of them could play at a time.

One thing Virgil regretted however was his part in getting the game brought. He still believed that playing Gambler occasionally would reduce Remus’s desires to actually gamble, but didn’t think that was worth the headaches, never ending headaches, that came every time the game was played.

See one thing about Gambler is that for the sweepstakes and the lotteries there was a dice shaker specifically made and it got loud. When it came up in the game that was fine, a moments shake, place it down on the board and everyone can carry on getting their prizes or not and taking their turns.

The rest of the time Remus had a tool left right in front of him that could make a lot of noise, get a lot of annoyed reactions, without him needing to say or do anything besides pick it up and shake.

“Janus, are you having your go?” Logan asked, frowning and clearing having just checked everyone’s positions after the shakers noise got too loud.

Janus shook their head, smug, “Oh I already have. I rolled a double and decided to try rolling a second.”

“Couldn’t give us that moment of peace, could you?” Virgil hissed out, trying not to get Remus’s attention as he rolled. “A horse race. Remus put that down and put money in the pot.” He snapped aloud after moving.

“Oh, Why?” Remus leant over the board looking at everyone’s pieces curiously to see what was happening.

The card was dealt in front of him before anyone explained, Logan, Janus and Virgil already having put their entry fees in already. “We’re betting on the races.” Janus smirked, “And I’m going to-”

Virgil rolling the die cut them off.

“That appears to be my number, Janus, so I believe you lost.” Logan stated, taking the winnings as it had dubbed itself banker for the game.

“And Remus’s go before you reach for that infernal thing.” Virgil forced the dice into Remus’s hand before it could be picked up.

He took that as a challenge to roll two uncontained dice as noisily as he was shaking the five.

“Kiddo’s will your game take too much longer? I’ve almost finished dinner.” Patton asked, looking through from the kitchen.

“Two rounds max.” Janus replied confidently.

“The chances of you rolling four doubles over your next two rolls is 0.00077160370370444. We should be done shortly, Patton. I think at least two of us are halfway to completing the game.” Logan corrected, looking back at the board at Virgil’s snicker.

With a smirk Virgil turned the fortune card Remus had passed him to Janus. “Pay up.”

The hiss they replied with was drowned out by the shaker starting up again.

“The game is over now!” Roman declared, popping up in the room, sword already in hand. “I will slay you for that infernal racket.”

“You’ll never stop me shaking my thing.” Remus screamed in return, leaping onto the game board to twerk while still rattling the shaker

“Yes I shall!”

Logan straightened his glasses, having dodged Roman’s charge. “I suppose Roman was right. We can’t really continue with one of our players leaving and taking an important game device with them.”

[bellarkeselection]

Kayce dutton x reader

Navy reader x war time

Kayce and reader service together reader shoots a kid is having trouble dealing with it

Years later they run into eachother in the states

When War Follows You Home

Moving down the hallway with my gun raised I had Kayce at my side. We were both assigned to the same mission. But what I saw in front of me would haunt me for the rest of my life. I froze not being able to pull the trigger and hurt the mother and daughter that were being held hostage by their own husband/father. "Kayce-" I cut myself short because hr pulled his trigger making them collapse dead burning the image into my memory.

Shooting upright in my bed I screamed grabbing the bedsheets in my fingers. Throwing my hair in front of my face my chest tightened during that time. Bending my head down in between my fingers I gasped. Fumbling for my phone on the nightstand I dialed the only person who would understand. "Kayce, I...I can't sleep."

"Neither can I, darling. Do you uh - want me to come over?" He croaked through the phone where I could tell he was crying.

The words flew out of my mouth. "Yes, please. I need you."

"I'm on my way then." He hung up the phone where I laid my phone down tossing the covers away. Sliding out of the bed I shrugged on one of my sweatshirts heading towards my front porch. Closing the front door I knew Kayce didn’t live very far from my place so I could just sit out and wait.

Kayce and I had joined the navy together. He went in to get money to feed his wife and son. But I wanted to fight for my country more than anything. Yet once we came home after that mission I didn’t realize that I had never been that rattled in my life. Leaning back in my swing I finally saw his truck pull into the driveway. “Y/n!” He called my name, shutting the door running up the stairs.

Flinging my arms around his neck I started sobbing into his light brown jacket. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. "I didn't know who else to call!"

"Hey, hey, I said you could always call me. But it's cold out, let's get you inside." He broke the hug barely to just open the door leading me to the living room couch.

He went into the kitchen while I sat down on the couch. Wrapping the blanket around myself tightly I hugged my legs up to my chest. "I just hate waking up like this. I have to…relive it all over again."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Kayce came from the kitchen handing me a cup of warm milk.

He sat down across from me on the couch holding his own cup in his hands. "I'm not sure it would make me feel better. Does it you?"

"I don't really talk about it with anyone but you." He slumped his shoulders heavily.

This wasn't the first time that I had woken up like this. Kayce and I had done this same night for almost two years now. No matter how much our family's tried to help. They still couldn't understand the torture we dealt with. "Hmm…everytime the nightmare replays in my head. I…I lock onto the eight year old girl's eyes. She just looked so helpless…"

“I see their bodies collapse right in front of you. And I think what if I hadn’t done it-“ Kayce trailed off, beginning to cry wiping tears away with his jacket sleeve.

Reaching across I grabbed his freehand in mine where we met the others' gaze. “Kayce, don’t go there. We didn’t have a choice. They….they would have killed us.”

“But they killed our medic and captain. Either way I failed them. Now…I have to live with that.” He bent his head down sitting his cup on the table stomping over to stand in front of the window.

Sitting my cup down I sighed walking up behind him. “Kayce, the only way you and I can get through this is together.”

He clutched his hands into fists at his sides. He bent his head down croaking through tears. “It torture’s me, Y/n. It puts me in this type of darkness and I don’t feel like I can escape it.”

“Kayce, look at me.” I cupped his face in my hands making him look at me with those brown eyes. He sniffs alongside me when I almost couldn’t get the words out. “You aren’t alone in your nightmares. I feel everything you do….And I will always be there to help you through this…”

He collapsed against me where I grunted, leading him back onto the couch since I wasn’t as strong as he was. He death gripped my shirt in his hands sobbing. “Thank you, Y/n…I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“You’ll never have to think about this alone. War may have followed us home…” I buried my face against his chest needing comfort from the cowboy too. Running my fingers through his hair he sighed in relief finding comfort from it. “But it won’t break us as long as we are there for one another.”

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[ae-azile]

Progression - Chapter 25 Preview

Like his brothers, Kinn has made more of a point to distance himself from his father. He has had to do it more gradually. He has been the heir for almost half his life, and the active head for a little two. His relationship with Pa is different. He may have never been Pa’s favorite - in fact, he suspects that he is likely the lowest ranked in that regard. While Pa had been frustrated by both Khun’s and Kim’s long-term defiance, it earned them a respect that Kinn simply couldn’t obtain. Khun had held that top spot for ages, with his perfect grades, record breaking test scores, precise aim, and a charisma that always worked in his favor, even after his kidnapping and subsequent breakdown. Not bouncing back from that trauma knocked Khun from his top spot of favorite son. But while Khun’s title went to Kinn, his favoritism got passed down to Kim. Kim was still little, yet held more talent in his pinky than Kinn had in his entire body.

Kinn didn't question it much because of that. He had a lot going on in his head, and he is sure the blow ups that happened during that transition year didn’t leave him in Pa’s good graces for a while, especially when Khun was struggling so much after the kidnapping and everything that happened to him during that time. Kinn displaying behaviors on top of that had been unwelcome and likely resented until they stopped. And Kinn made a point of doing that in order to be the perfect son. Sometimes it felt like enough, whenever Pa approved of the changes and praised him. And sometimes, Kinn never felt like he could reach expectations that were never supposed to be set for him in the first place. He has come to understand that they are. He wouldn't have become the head if his position of heir had just been temporary. But even now, he sometimes feels like everything he has done for Pa and their family isn't enough.

Maybe especially now.

“You just haven't been on top of things lately,” Pa says after he explains his decision, the genuine disappointment and questionable concern lacing his tone.

“Business has been good,” Kinn says, “Our stocks and investments are all looking great. We are doing fine-”

“We are plateauing,” Pa cuts in bluntly.

“We’re not,” Kinn tells him, “Just because we aren't currently expanding businesses or taking on new deals and territories, doesn't mean-”

“You and Porsche already decided to step away from the old minor family deals,” Pa continues, “That was enough of a loss. I understand Porsche wanting distance himself from the…less legitimate deals. But they brought in a lot of money that we no longer have.”

Pa being upset about halting their involvement in the weapons trade and the distribution of harder drugs tells him one thing: that Uncle Gun and Vegas had both been telling the truth. That they did the dirtier deals because the major family expected and demanded it. Since Kinn had never demanded it from either of them, he can only assume the demands came from Pa.

“Porsche closed that lucrative deal with the dispensaries,” Kinn tells him, “We are now the sole manufacturers and distributors of marijuana in the country, and it is being sold legally through them.”

That makes him wonder if Pol buys his weed at a dispensary. It would just be easier if he asked Porsche for a bag from the next shipment. It's not something that Kinn should encourage, considering Pol gave a little to Khun at least once, but-

“While that was smart, it is taxed. Products that are available under the law have to be regulated. The products that aren't allow more flexibility because we decide on the regulations. It allows for international trade that is not monitored by the government.”

Kinn purses his lips and looks away, “It also has a history of being more dangerous.”

“We have guards for a reason.”

“And we have lost guards for a reason,” Kinn says, his voice more rough. He doesn't know if pointing that out is a good thing or not. On the one hand, Pa has cared about some of the guards. He has paid for some of their children to go to college, he has let them go with full retirement benefits once they got older, hurt too badly to do everything the job required, or faced psychological repercussions. A few have even been regarded as family by him, Chan being the most recent. He earned a spot in their family plot.

He also ended up in that hole because Pa faked his death and triggered an attack.

“I have actually been meaning to talk to you about the guards,” Pa says, sounding pleasant enough, “I have taken on a couple of my own now that I will be coming out of retirement-”

“Pa, you really don't have to do that,” Kinn says, “Everything is fine and we are safe. We have more money than most do. I don't understand where this is coming from.”

Pa stays silent for a moment and meets his gaze, “You have made questionable decisions. You took three months off-”

“Because Kim was sick, healing, and needed support.”

“And I understand taking those first couple of weeks off to be there for him,” Pa says, his voice gentle, “But you are not his father. I am retired, and Tankhun isn't fit to work. We could have easily handled it without you. I also feel like that amount of time off clouded your ability to effectively do the job. It made you…softer. You lost your edge.”

Kinn doesn't know what to say to that. It just reminds him of that apple analogy Pa gave him when he took that bullet for Porsche. He didn't know what to say back then either.

“The guards don't seem to change their disposition when you walk through a room anymore,” Pa says, “I worried they are losing respect for you.”

“...I don't really think that is it,” Kinn says quietly, “I just think things are…different now. We don't have Uncle Gun coming in and causing tension. Porsche has a good rapport with the guards in both buildings overall, so does Chay-”

“No surprise there,” Pa mutters. Kinn doesn't even know what he means, but he doesn't like Pa’s tone. He lets it go.

“It just…Keeping them safe should be important, especially after what happened,” Kinn says, “We bought the bulletproof vests for everyone despite the lowered risk. But the ones who survived the attack and stayed loyal to us should be reassured that they are valued and cared for.”

“...Sure,” Pa says slowly, “But you have become too casual with a couple of the guards recently. I don't think that's a good idea.”

Kinn swallows and looks away, “I was close with a few guards before what happened to Kim. Before the attack. Big, for instance. We got along really well, and I cared for him.”

Although, not like Big cared for him. Big’s devotion and affection for him was something Kinn purposely never examined too closely. It was only something he really thought about after everything happened and Porsche transitioned into his new role. When it started to bother him and he went to Khun to talk it out, Khun gently but bluntly confirmed his suspicions. He confirmed that Big saved Porsche, all so Kinn wouldn't get his heart shattered again.

While he is so grateful that Big saved Porsche, he wishes it hadn't cost him his life.

They should have had the bulletproof vests before. Why did Pa never provide those for them?

“Your relationship with Big was a lot like my relationship with Chan,” Pa says thoughtfully, “A friendship was present, but the roles were clear. He still served and addressed you formally, as Chan did for me. They both gave their lives for our family’s cause.”

They shouldn’t have had to. But Kinn doesn't say that. He figures Pa probably knows as much anyway, whether he wants to admit it or not.

“However, they have passed, and I am not here to talk about them anyway,” Pa continues, “I was referring to Arm and Pol.”

“What about them?”

“I have heard them refer to you casually recently,” Pa says, “While they have been here for a while, that isn't acceptable. You need to make sure they know that.”

Kinn squirms in his seat, “That would probably be confusing for them, since I told them they could.”

Pa’s expression hardens, “May I ask why?”

“...They're family, Pa,” Kinn says, “They have worked for us for several years, and I knew Arm prior to that. Plus, they are the two guards who actually prefer working for Khun. Previous guards have underminded that position, but not them. They care for him so much and are the closest friends Khun has had in years, considering he struggled with agoraphobia until three years ago. Tay and Time would spend time with him, but-”

“Tay and Time being friends with him is appropriate. Not his guards,” Pa says, “I will admit that his mental health has improved since obtaining Arm and Pol as his guards. I don't think reassigning both is necessary. Pol seems more suited towards a caretaking position, anyway. Having guards such as him is useful if there is an illness in the family, or if you and Porsche decide to have children. Until either occur, I see no need to remove him from your brother’s coverage, and someone experienced with Tankhun’s…challenges should be on his team anyway.”

Kinn breathes out, “Arm is also great with Tankhun. He and Pol make a great team. Pol is good when it comes to empathy and distraction, Arm is good with reasoning and comfort. I think both are suited for him.”

“That may be true, but Arm’s skill set deserves to be utilized elsewhere,” Pa says, “It is very impressive. It was even prior to his recruitment. He should be on one of our teams so it is properly utilized.”

“I disagree,” Kinn says, shaking his head, “I think it's important that he stay with Khun so he is put in less danger. If you were staying retired, then I wouldn't mind the thought of Arm being transferred to your team. But you say you aren't, and he is the guard we should be protecting the most so we don't lose such a valuable employee. Besides, I have offered him a spot on my team in the past. So have you. While he has gone on a lot of missions, provided coverage, and covered plans for security plans and deals, he has declined a permanent spot since he prefers working with Khun.”

“That's why I think the decision needs to be made for him.”

“He is the head guard. We gave him Chan's position. He deserves the first choice on assignments. After everything he has done for us, he deserves to have those choices respected.”

Pa hums, then nods his head thoughtfully, “Maybe under more professional circumstances. But I have a feeling that Arm’s attachment to your brother is not a professional one, nor is your brother’s attachment to him.”

Kinn pauses at that, “What are you talking about?”

“Call it a father’s intuition,” Pa says, then holds up his hands, “I have no solid proof, but some of their more recent actions towards each other is telling me that they are crossing a boundary, one that is in place for multiple reasons. Of course, you have crossed that boundary in the past with Porsche, back when you were sneaking around. But that was different. You are different. If I am right about this and Tankhun is expecting any potential relationship to eventually be treated similarly to yours, then he is mistaken.”

[jeongyunhoed]

The third and final story in the 100-Day trilogy, taking place four years after the events of The 100-Day Relationship and two years since the events of I Do. When the patriarch of the Choi family suffers a heart attack, the entire clan decides to visit the estate in the hopes of getting in his good graces and parts of his fortune before he passes. Seonghwa and Juhyun now find themselves clashing with nosy relatives who threaten to split them up and have her removed from any possible inheritance.

Inheritance 

Member: Seonghwa Pairing: Seonghwa/OC Genre: I’m going to say angst-fluff, drama, intrigue. Things to note: Art Curator!Hwa, a lot of crazy rich stuff again (for real, this will have A LOT), and perhaps some adult-y things.

Watch out!: More drama ahead. Marital arguments, hidden cameras because bitchy relatives and worse exes paired together make a horrible combination.

A/N: I'm so sorry this took so long. I kind of steered away from Kpop for a bit but I managed to unclog my brain enough to be able to write this chapter. Tag list is open as always.

Tag list: @kflixnet , @treasure-hwa    

Masterlist

Chapter 4

The news of the Choi patriarch’s death spread to the news outlets almost immediately, partly due to Daeyoung’s acquaintances at one of the newspaper outlets in both Japan and Korea. The article reporting of the death took up more ad space in the obituary section, much to Daeyoung’s liking. It led to Jongmin and Hyunwoo insisting that the wake and the funeral be held completely private, away from the prying eyes of the media. 

“Choi Hyungsuk, the head of one of the country’s wealthiest families, passed away of natural causes this week. The chaebol is survived by his three children; Choi Hyunwoo, Choi Jongmin, and Choi Seonak, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. The CEO position of the family’s company is now undetermined with the patriarch’s shares up for grabs.” 

Hyunwoo put down the newspapers after reading the article that morning, shooting a glare toward his son, who seemed especially pleased with what he did over breakfast. “Did you really have to make this all a show?” He asked. 

Daeyoung shook his head. “I didn’t write it that way, I just told my contacts the points that needed to be mentioned,” He said. “The shares grandpa owns are public information, father. In every country he’s got properties in.” 

“You do realize that the country we have been living in has inheritance taxes, right? If anything, the only one squandering whatever money we have just so happens to be my only son,” Hyunwoo frowned. “Have those investors of yours been delivering on what they said they’d do anyway?” 

“Father, you sound as if uncle Jongmin is the one who will get grandpa’s shares when we all know that you, the eldest in your family, will rightfully receive all of those, however much grandpa still owns in the company,” Daeyoung pointed out. 

Hyunwoo knew his son had a point, but there was none in trying to explain how he honestly had no care for it. Hyunwoo was always more than happy to receive whatever he could for as long as he had a place in the company – he would always assure his family that having less of those shares meant having less of a burden. His wife, while relieved that he felt that way, always had that underlying concern that one day, Hyunwoo might see things from Daeyoung’s point of view, or even from Seonak’s point of view. 

Despite Daeyoung’s insistence on flaunting their wealth, Hyunwoo and Jina knew that at the end of the day, they are still much better off now than if they got more. Jina, who also came from old money (her family owns one of the country’s major banks that have branches in several countries), knew to teach her children to be content and happy while striving for more purpose in the world. Both Hyunwoo and Jina had even questioned at one point if Daeyoung was really their son and not Seonak’s. 

“I don’t think it’s the right time to think about the family business, it’s important to take some time to grieve properly, isn’t it?” Jina said while taking a sip of her tea. “We must all be present at the wake later, Eunhyung and the rest of the staff are making the preparations while we’ve done all we could for the rest. If there are reporters present, no comment as always.” 

Daeyoung and Hyemin exchanged looks. “But, mom-” Hyemin tried to interject. “With all due respect, I think the people should at least know-” 

“Know what, Hyemin?” Hyunwoo spoke again, making her sit up straight, falling silent. “They know what they need to know. There’s no other news. They’ve already brought up how my father’s shares at the company are up for grabs, that’s all the media circus this is going to get.” 

Soohyuk, who had been quiet this whole time, excused himself and brought his plate and cup out from the dining area, passing it to the helper who was nearby and quickly went down to place it in the kitchen. Having heard what happened that drove Juhyun and Seonghwa to leave the estate and return to the city, Soohyuk returned to his room and packed his things. They were all set to leave the estate anyway until the day they would be called to return for the will reading. 

He had grown to see how his own parents were from an early age, just by observing how Daeyoung treated everyone and how Hyemin was with her own group of socialites that married richer husbands. Soohyuk had also gotten teased for his family’s wealth, but, like his other aunts and his much younger uncle, he shrugged it off. Daeyoung and Hyemin never even knew that Soohyuk worked for a university newspaper and that he was becoming interested in one of his classmates, a girl named Rie Tachibana, whom he got to see in their philosophy and literature classes. 

Soohyuk could only imagine what his parents would say if they found out that he had asked her out. He knew they would grill Rie much like how Daeyoung and Seonak rounded on Seonghwa and Juhyun during the dinner. He took out his phone and glanced at the door before locking it. He didn’t want to be disturbed, much less get caught for now. Maybe when he proposed to Rie, he could, but not for now. 

He sat back down on the edge of the bed and tapped his phone’s contacts, to her number. Soohyuk took a deep breath and tapped the video call feature, seeing it ring. Rie’s sudden appearance on his screen nearly made him fall over in surprise. 

“Hello? Soohyuk-kun!” She said with a smile. 

“H-hi,” Soohyuk smiled back, hoping that his cheeks weren’t red. 

“What’s up? I still have to revise that article I’m doing on the school’s cheerleading squad. I heard you’re in Korea, but you seem to be in some hotel?” Rie asked. 

Soohyuk shook his head. “It’s the ancestral home, but not really,” He said. He looked down for a moment. “I admit, I just wanted to call you after what’s been going on.” 

“Oh-oh yeah, I’m sorry about your loss,” Rie’s tone softened. “I’d visit you if I could. The funeral’s going to be there, I presume?” 

“Obviously,” Soohyuk chuckled. “But I could arrange for you to come here if you’d like.” 

Rie raised a brow. “That’s a weird way of asking me out. We had a nice time before.” 

“Well that was before,” Soohyuk tried to sound cool. “We did agree to another date, didn’t we?” He said, hoping that he wasn’t smiling so wide. 

Rie nodded. “Yes we did. When you get back, maybe we could have dinner again, without talking about the newspaper or homework or any of those lectures,” She pointed out. 

“Deal,” Soohyuk nodded. 

Rie nodded as well. “Must be nice to live like you, huh?” She said, looking a little wistful. “Don’t have to worry about a thing.” 

Soohyuk shook his head. “It seems that way, doesn’t it?” 

There was a knock on the door and Soohyuk could only wave at Rie before hanging up. He rushed to unlock and open the door and saw Sangmin come in, holding his gaming console. “Soohyuk hyung! Want to play some Mario Kart?” He asked. 

Soohyuk shook his head. “Only for a little bit. I’m packing up to leave.” 

Sangmin’s head tilted and he looked at the older male with slight concern. “You’re leaving too?” He asked. 

“Oh, yes, yes, aren’t we all? Shouldn’t you be packing to go home?” He asked. 

Sangmin nodded. “I already did it. I knew we were going to leave the moment Juhyun noona and Seonghwa hyung left the other day.” 

Soohyuk let out an exasperated sigh. “Ah right. You think aunt Seonak drove great grandpa to his death?” He grinned. 

The younger male laughed out loud. “I wouldn’t be surprised. So, Mario Kart?” 

Soohyuk nodded. “Alright, grand prix, okay?” He said, following Sangmin out of the room. He would much rather focus on a confusing race track than have to deal with his own family at the moment. 

~ 

While most of the public took little notice of the Choi patriarch’s passing, the news was arguably the most important among society circles in Korea. Many trust fund bachelors were already making bets as to which Choi family member would take the lead – as Juhyun’s father was the one in Korea and was therefore more public, he was the most obvious choice. Hyunwoo was second place. Seonak wasn’t given a passing thought given that she was based in Switzerland and hadn’t set foot in Seoul, more less Jinju, for years since moving to Geneva. 

Even Seonghwa’s family was aware of what was happening, and in turn, sought to travel to the funeral hall where the wake was being held to pay their respects. Seonghwa’s grandmother, whom had viewed Juhyun’s grandfather as a best friend in recent years since their reunion, was especially saddened yet she wasn’t crying. Seonghwa knew this from seeing her take a lot longer to move to the side after almost every visitor paid their respects. 

It was an all-black affair, with some of the men looking rather tired – many would compare them to celebrities getting into trouble with the law and are in the midst of a court case. Hyunwoo’s comparison was accurate – that the news of the patriarch’s death was followed by a media circus. 

Some politicians – Hyungsuk’s old colleagues or peers – had even arrived to pay their respects and give their condolences to Jongmin, Hyunwoo, and even Seonak. While Hyunwoo and Jongmin were grouped with the tired celebrities in terms of looks, Seonak looked as polished as ever. Maintaining the bob she had not long after the passing along with a full face of makeup. Hyemin of course, took after her aunt-in-law in a freshly-styled hairdo and a full beat. 

Juhyun, on the other hand, looked as simple as she had always been – unintentionally meeting the criteria of what was popularly constituted as “quiet luxury.” Seonghwa knew that she had only thrown on the first things she saw in her dressers. She watched the visitors come up to the front, approach the portrait of her grandfather, then leave, but not without passing all of them to greet them briefly before really leaving the place. 

She wasn’t particularly close with her grandfather over the years. As far as she knew, she only remembered afternoons when he would take her to the local supermarket and buy her snacks to eat for school in the coming week. Juhyun also remembered summers when she was a child, watching him hover over the cooks in the kitchen, not to criticize their way of cooking, but to ask them about it. It wasn’t something her grandmother approved, but the cooks were grateful nonetheless. They would rather have Hyungsuk than her grandmother hovering over them. 

Whenever her grandmother would constantly ask them to pose for photos, the same kind, Juhyun remembered, her grandfather would call her out on it. 

“Again?! We just took a lot of photos a few minutes ago!” She remembered him often saying. 

When her grandmother died, it was still quite a somber affair. But Juhyun remembered Seonak asking who stands to also inherit parts of her wardrobe. Being the only child on her side of the family, Juhyun’s grandmother basically had everything she could ever ask for and more. Naturally, Seonak got most of her wardrobe, including her jewelry. Those never saw the light of day unless she planned on showing off to her friends, which was almost every week. 

The rest of the wardrobe, made up of pieces that Seonak didn’t like or thought was garbage, ended up with Eunhyung. Hyungsuk, of course, did not object. 

It was a tense greeting when Juhyun and Seonghwa showed up that day of the wake. She only nodded in acknowledgment when Jihyun and Bin arrived, only for Juhyun to pull Seonghwa away when they planned to approach them. The conversation at the estate was still fresh in her mind, and Juhyun felt like she needed to stand her ground in deciding that she would not attend the wedding unless Seonghwa was invited too. 

“Do you think they can change their minds about your aunt’s condition of letting them get married in Geneva?” Seonghwa muttered to her as they walked to the side, a little away from the growing crowd and clusters of people stopping to send their condolences. 

“I wouldn’t put it past them, but,” Juhyun sighed. “At this point, I’m starting not to care. If they want to stick with that, then so be it. It’ll save us the time and effort to clear our schedules.” 

Seonghwa reached down to hold her hand, lacing their fingers together. “But Jihyun’s your sister,” He said. 

“But you are my husband,” She countered with a squeeze of his hand. “I married you, which makes you more important than them to me.” 

Seonghwa felt incredibly moved, but it didn’t take away the bit of guilt he felt for Juhyun missing out on Jihyun’s wedding because of him. He also knew Juhyun had a point. They were now more important to each other than everyone in their immediate families. He kissed her cheek and pulled away to get them some water. 

As he approached the water cooler to fill two cups, he suddenly saw Seonak making her way over to him. Seonghwa tensed up, trying to make this as quick as possible only for the older woman to stop him. “Seonghwa, hello,” She said with a smile. 

“Hello.” 

A small smile appeared on her lips. “How are you finding all of this? The frenzy surrounding my father’s passing?” She said. 

It’s a trap, he thought. Seonak’s trying to find his weakness. He needed to be careful. “Somber. He was a good man to have many friends come and see him,” Seonghwa replied, trying to be as polite and as formal as possible. 

Seonak nodded, taking one of the cups of water from his hand and taking a sip. “Walk with me, will you?” She said, gesturing to the nearby hall where there hardly weren’t any people. 

Seonghwa could feel his heart pound as he agreed. The anxiety was growing as he walked alongside Juhyun’s aunt. The very aunt she hated, along the empty hall. Juhyun was going to wonder where he had gone off. He refused to say another word unless she spoke. 

And Seonak did. “You know, you could imagine my surprise when I found out that everyone else was invited to your wedding except for me,” She started, taking another sip of the water that was meant for Juhyun. “That’s quite disrespectful, you know.” 

Seonghwa reminded himself even more that whatever he said next, Seonak may use against him. “Sorry,” He said, still keeping it as formal and as polite as possible. He somehow had a feeling she was anticipating that he get down on his knees to beg for her forgiveness, that he’d squeal. Seonghwa knew not to explain any further and keep it at that. 

“But then again, I suppose it might be out of shame that Juhyun settled,” Seonak said with a simper as they walked. “That girl could potentially have everything, including a high quality husband.” 

“...Excuse me?” Seonghwa blurted out. 

But Seonak only chuckled, as if expecting the reaction. “Juhyun settled with you. She never got it into her head that she could do so much better, aim much higher. For gods’ sake, she was nearly propositioned by the English nobility. We could’ve had a duchess in this family.” 

“What?” Seonghwa was trying to wrap his head around what the older woman was saying. 

Seonak sighed, giving him an apologetic look. “Why even waste your time trying to fit in, Park Seonghwa? If there is one thing you should know, even now that both my parents are gone, you will never be enough,” She said. 

There it was, Seonghwa thought, as he noticed Seonak take a folded wad of paper out of her purse and handed it over to him. “What’s this?” He said. 

“Something for you to think about. I know it’s already been a few years,” Seonak said. “But there’s still time to make things right, let Juhyun be where she belongs. It’s not too late.” 

Seonak walked off, tossing the now-empty cup of water into the dust bin. Seonghwa could feel the weight come off him, like the dark cloud had now left and dissipated. He remembered that Juhyun would be looking for him right about now. If anyone told her they saw him walk and talk with Seonak, Seonghwa knew she was going to be curious. 

He looked down at the folded wad of papers she gave him. A nagging thought was beginning to surface in his mind. Seonghwa hoped it wasn’t what he thought it was, while he slowly unfolded the paper. The words printed at the top only confirmed his nagging thoughts. To make things worse, most of the paper had already been filled out with both their names. 

Application for Uncontested Divorce

~ 

The executor of Hyungsuk’s will announced that the reading would be done a month later, and everyone left for their respective homes. In the case of Seonak and her family, she opted to remain in the estate while her two daughters and son-in-law stayed elsewhere. The funeral was held just as quickly and as privately, a ceremony amongst the immediate family that made up the entire Choi clan. The three children of the patriarch had only permitted guests and visitors, to pay their respects at the wake. Seonak especially saw to it that not even Seonghwa’s grandmother was invited. 

Despite the trying time for the entire Choi clan, Juhyun still brought herself to work. Being in the office served as a welcome distraction from the family members she had to tolerate.She insisted on showing up for work even if Seonghwa told her that it was likely going to be fine for her not to show up for that same reason. Her doing so shocked the employees and supervisors that were part of the new division she was put in charge of: Cosmetics. 

A board meeting to discuss the upcoming cosmetic exhibition later, Juhyun returned to her office. Seonghwa was suddenly waiting for her, sitting on the couch. “Hey,” He said, standing up when she closed the door behind her. 

“Seonghwa? What brings you here?” She asked. 

He was suddenly unsure of whether or not to say it. While he wanted to always be honest with Juhyun, what Seonak proposed he do would only cause them both harm. “I just wanted to see you, how you’re doing,” He took her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “It hasn’t been long, how are you feeling?” 

“Fine, really. I’ve had time to process everything. Oddly I’m not so sad,” Juhyun said, looking up at her husband. “What about you? You really worried?” She raised a brow, sensing something different. 

Seonghwa smiled. “I need to talk to you about something. It’s about what happened during the wake,” He said, letting go for them to sit down again. 

“Oh? What happened at the wake? Did aunt Seonak give you another condescending look?” Juhyun frowned. 

He shook his head. “No, it’s something different, actually. She said you were nearly propositioned by an English royal,” He revealed. That much he could say for now, he thought. “Did it really happen?” He was curious. 

Juhyun stared at him for a moment. “She said that to you?” and he nodded. “Did he, really? As far as I know, I was sitting next to the woman he ultimately proposed to.” 

It was Seonghwa’s turn to be confused. “...What?” 

“Lord Oliver Montague of Mayfair,” Juhyun revealed. “I didn’t think he would actually propose to me all those years ago. It was early in college, before Jihan took notice of me. I kind of helped him when he was lost in Sanary-sur-Mer during the summer break, and he thanked me by inviting me to his family home.” 

Seonghwa took note of every detail she revealed about the man, unsure whether to feel insecure or not. “Was he handsome?” 

“He was good-looking, I admit,” Juhyun said, her expression falling slightly the more Seonghwa asked. “But he was more than 10 years older than me at the time, he wasn’t going to wait to start a family if he proposed to me. The woman I sat next to, her name was Monique Rahman, she ended up becoming his wife. Now she’s Lady Montague.” 

“You seem so up-to-date with Lord Oliver’s whereabouts,” Seonghwa noticed. 

Juhyun shook her head. “Not really. He just sends me a message every now and then, telling me what he’s been up to. He’s happily married to this day and good for him.” 

“Oh, oh good, good for him,” Seonghwa nodded. “Sounds like a good guy.” 

She studied his reaction. “Seonghwa…I married you. Aunt Seonak is trying to get into your head the way Rebecca was trying to get into mine,” She assured him, voice low. 

“I know, I know,” He replied. His mind was racing. All he could think about was the wad of paper that he tucked under his desk at the museum. “I mean, we could’ve both settled with them, right? But we settled with each other.” 

Juhyun raised a brow. “What do you mean?” 

There it was, it felt like there was no way to stop what Seonghwa knew he was going to say. Juhyun sensed it too. “I mean, had you settled for that British Lord, and I with Rebecca even if she was the one who left me, we would’ve turned out very differently, right?” 

“Seonghwa,” Juhyun stood up. “Are you hearing what you’re saying?” 

“Loud and clear,” He stood up as well, a sigh escaping his lips this time. “Lord Oliver’s proposal seems too good to be true to pass on.” 

“But I didn’t get proposed to by him, Seonghwa,” Juhyun argued, shaking her head. “I didn’t. Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? Monique Rahman is Lady Montague, not me.” 

Seonghwa felt like he was having a mental breakdown the more he pressed on the aristocrat. “You truly are fucking beautiful, you refuse to see that. No wonder you caught the attention of that British guy,” He said. He couldn’t help it. It was like trying to stop a leaking faucet but to no avail. 

Juhyun was trying to wrap her head around the things Seonghwa was saying. “What are you accusing me of? You asked me about what Aunt Seonak told you, and I told you, there was nothing going on. I did say he was more than 10 years older than me, and he wouldn’t be waiting long to start a family if he proposed to me then and there,” She approached him and held his hands. 

“Is that why you turned him down?”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Seonghwa,” She whispered. “I never had feelings for him. I didn’t look at him the way you think I did. And that was years ago, before I met Jihan. Why are you sounding like I cheated on you?” 

Seonghwa sighed and rested his forehead on hers. “I can’t help but think that maybe you’re better off with someone who’s also old money like you-” He was cut off when she kissed him. 

Juhyun felt her eyes welling up with tears that silently streamed down her face. She slowly pulled away, her forehead still resting on his. “I’m sorry my family’s like this,” She whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

That only made Seonghwa kiss her again. Juhyun didn’t have to apologize, and he knew that very well. But at this moment, he knew that he hurt her, just as much as he hurt himself. She kept whispering apologies as they lingered. 

Juhyun felt like her heart was breaking. It felt like a wound being reopened for the whole world to see once again. She felt like no matter how much she tried to convince him, it wouldn’t do. She was just relieved that no one else was around, or at least overhearing this conversation outside. It was her idea in the first place to pretend that they were in a relationship. It was now making her think that had she not asked Seonghwa back then, things wouldn’t be this painful. 

“It’s just as my fault for thinking that…” Seonghwa whispered against her lips. 

“You wanted to find out if what aunt Seonak was saying was true,” Juhyun pointed out. 

“I’m sorry too,” Seonghwa replied. “I’m so sorry too. You were right about your aunt after all.” 

Juhyun nodded. “I know. She’s a real piece of work, isn’t she? She’s even tried to do that to every single niece and nephew she has, even her own kids. That’s her tactic.” 

Just then, Juhyun and Seonghwa heard their phones buzz. It was an email. 

Subject Line: Choi Juhyun x Park Seonghwa Hidden Camera

They glanced at each other, wondering whether or not to open it. Juhyun felt her heart stop when she went in to check the message itself. 

Married couples should know better. Reputation’s in ruins once this gets out. 

There was no signature, no indication of who it might have been. The sender of the message seemed like an automated one. Juhyun and Seonghwa viewed the video attachment. The video was mostly dark, yet it was in a familiar-looking room. The outlines of two people against the moonlit curtains of the room could be seen on the bed. 

The sounds of a loud tapping soon filled the room alongside heavy breaths and soft whimpers. Juhyun and Seonghwa nearly dropped their phones as they immediately closed the attachments. Just when they thought it could get any worse. 

[regaliasonata]

Can you do a Ziggy or Eric Myers headcanon?

Eric Myers Headcanons

@lies-of-quantum I will do Ziggy eventually don't worry 👍🏾

-Eric's childhood consisted of growing up amongst drug usage, physical and emotional abuse from his father and overall poor conditions for a kid to live in.

-His dad would sometimes try to sell off Eric even for a quick buck just to make a profit, anyone willing to have some kid to be deliver substances and such worked well but most of the time he refused and ended suffering some violence from Mr. Myers.

-Because of his father Eric developed a habit of not being able to trust or accept love from other people. It's a defense mechanism is the idea of not wanting his feelings hurt and to himself from being treated terrible. However deep down Eric just really wants someone go hug and actually see him for himself.

-Despite not being the greatest mother, Mrs. Myers did her best to help Eric whenever she could. Eric was homeschooled until 7 with his mom teaching him how to count and have perfect organization skills, she always wanted him to get out of his father's antics and finally make life away from that monster.

-Shortly after his 7th birthday an altercation happened within their living space and Eric watched as his father killed his mother, he shot the man with a gun and as authorities sorted out everything Eric was almost placed into foster care. However this was halted as Eric was place into a boarding school as it was revealed Mrs. Myers was saving money for her son to be enrolled.

-Wes and Eric met before when they were younger, his father sold substances to some rich people at the country club all while Eric was sent to steal things around the place. Wes saw a the guy stealing silverware and products from the establishment but looked the other way.

-Eric loves reading, he's got a collection of entries stored in many places. One thing he likes to read is history and how things came to be, after becoming the quantum ranger he can no travel to see and experience unsolved mysteries throughout timeline of the world.

-On one incident when the team was having trouble with an really warping enemy Eric went to Taylor for some advice. She was at a nail salon and Eric had to sit next two her in order to converse and had to get his nails painted to stay...with some hesitation he chose a black and red pattern, five red and five black. Silver guardians kind of joked about it but he really jeered into the members, Wes actually found it cool....Eric's not really into this thing but hey, try everything once.

-He has a huge love for pets but fears he night not be able to show it enough kindness that it needs.

-Eric's first kiss was in high school but the guy was only messing with him so relationships are pretty much out of the question.

-During college a guy tried to proposition him and when he declined the dude made up a rumor about Eric, safe to say a black eye and broken arm shut him up real quick....Wes was the one who did this to the guy.

-Before becoming a full in silver guardian or even the quantum ranger Eric was almost recruited into the Thunder Academy when weighing out some options after college. This in return would've made him a ninja storm ranger, though it's for the best considering that team would've drove him crazy.

-Using time travel Eric found a way to utilize stocks and gain dome money though Wes shut that down quickly.

-After the ransik issues Eric did some thinking and worked with the Time Force to release Notacon and have him live with Trip.

-Eric's gay, like very....but he gives off some butch vibes to be honest. Thing is he's was very closeted with these feelings throughout his life, mainly from trying to keep himself out of anyone's range and wanting to avoid being harrased. His dad caught him holding hands with an old friend and while it was harmless Mr. Myers threatened Eric.

-This actually lead into one incident where Wes and Eric were hanging out and the two got into a playful altercation. Eric had Wes pinned down and he kissed him by accident, after that he talk to Wes for about a month in fear of what would happen at their school if word got out, tbh Wes was pretty much oblivious to the implications and just thought it was the heat of the moment. Though when Wes cornered Eric the dude broke down from the incident and explained everything, it's safe to say that after that Wes became a main source for Eric to express his emotions and vent out.

-Eric enjoys play Devil May Cry and has this weird connection to Virgil.

-Video games are one of his favorite hobbies, when obsessing over Pokémon Sapphire and Emerald Wes decided to work with the team and make two oversized jackets themed over Kyogre and Rayquaza for him. He made one of Groudon and give it Trip while Wes wore the Kyogre one and Eric got the Rayquaza jacket.

-He loves go read manga.

-Because of getting into the schools he attended up to college with hard work, Eric was subject to ridicule by some of the rich students who didn't exactly like his presence, even becme a habit of his to make copies or his work when one teacher was bribed off to constantly displace his assignment. The dean shut this down kept a good eye on Eric's progress warning anyone who tried such a thing will be fired or expelled from the schools.

-His favorite type of dates involve going around the city with Wes and just enjoying the scenery, a giant park allows for him to reminisce about Pokémon Crystal with the national park theme playing in his mind plus hanging with Trip as the xybrianshows Notacon some things about earth culture(he had tears of nostalgia when he heard the national park theme in Soulsilver).

-His favorite type of dude consists of guys that are attentive. Also anyone that can give him great hugs and won't get upset over the littlest of things, if a guy starts yelling he'll have to wrap it up from there...after everything with with father Eric can't deal with all that stress again.

-Sometimes the world scared him and he can't help but time travel to the early 2000s when needed to feel happy again.

-Power Ranger wise Eric would've enjoyed being a green or yellow ranger. When he met Taylor the two decides to switch powers for a week to see who had it easier, frankly both teams benefited crazy from the switch up but being unable to resonate with the different members they were hoisted back into regular positions....Taylor almost murdered Eric when she found out the guy tried cooking the eagle zord.

-While checking out the grid Eric found out about the existence of other ranger teams(sentai counterparts), with some inspiration he decided to make a short story that got picked up for a ranger show within Japan, safe to say Eric indirectly crested the aspect of super sentai within his world. Timeranger being the first series technically of the modern era because the show was canceled for about 8 years. The non adapted sentai before MMPR were released in higher quality after Timeranger, Liveman being a very popular series, He met Conner and kept getting pestered for spoilers on Abaranger.

-Eric is a business major but also obtained an art degree.

-During some personal time escapades Eric found a few other zords relating to the quantum powers. Consisting of a long dragon, a sparrow and turtle, all able to combine with the Q-Rex. The long dragon produces gravitational capabilites, the sparrow allows for matter disruption ans the turtle can fully freeze time.

-Eric doesn't like Alex and anyone comparing him to Wes really irks him. The two actually got into an altercation during his visit to the past.

-Erics's relationship with Wes started when they were having martial arts practice, the dojo they were in was locked in during a storm and Eric..doesn't exactly like harsh storms so Wes decided to keep him company for the evening, the two practiced fo a bit and a few things lead here and there....safe to the other members of the dojo wondered why Eric had "mosquito bites" all over his body.

-For Trip the two had a bit of a moment after Notacon's defeat. The idea of someone who was being thrown into imprisonment for only existing really throw the xybrian off guard and he didn't talk to anyone on the team for weeks, really isolated himself. From learning more about things Eric tried to apologize but Trip was very hostile agaisnt the quantum ranger...unknowingly Eric went to the future and stole the capsule that Notacon was placed in. He gave it to Trip but sadly it would take about a year for the capsule to release, this made Trip open up a bit and the two started to hang out, after the fiasco with Alex's arrival and all thr bad experiences flowing through(Check out the trip headcanons if anyone is confused) Eric stood by Trip's side as a loving friend and the two eventually began a thing.

-Family wise if lucky Eric wants to have maybe one or two kids.

-Forever Red was a fever dream tbh for him especially due to getting drunk after Serpentera. He woke up in bed with Wes and Carter completely hungover and tbh the three of them don't talk about the situation, though some memories flow back a little bit and while they have a mutual friendship Carter still cracks jokes during small talk. (Carter: I think you were the bottom... Eric: Shut...the fuck up.)

-He did do a bit of modeling during college and grew out his hair a bit though Eric stopped when joining the silver guardians.

-Eric doesn't really cry all the time but something about children, holding a baby just makes him bawl his eyes out...DON'T GIVE HIM A BABY HE WON'T LET GO OF IT.

-After Carter ran over a demon reputation grew fast amongst the other teams that worked with and Eric uses this as a main way to deal with enemies. Nadira is in the back of his squad car doing drive-by styled rounds on their enemies.

-Nadira and Eric go shopping together clothes all the time and all the trips are filled with wreckless driving. Taylor nearly murdered him when he borrowed her car for a bit and it came back with dents.

[dreamyfanfix]

Chapter 5: Long Gone But Not Moved On

Sorry, I know this is late but I was writing and kept writing and then I had 15K words. I eventually found a stoppage point but it required me to write a bit around some things especially because this chapter and the next are a bit miserable for the pair. It will get better though...

--

Present:

It had been a couple of days since Kate had a near miss with Anthony in the hospital. Learning about how much of a bad time he had been having since they were forced to see each other again was not something she took lightly. Kate barely remembered what happened after her breakup with Anthony. All she remembered was deep pain and then almost being lucid again 5 months later with a puppy named Newton and an urge to do better.

Seeing Anthony again was not easy for her either but unlike Kate, Anthony had moved on and so even though it hurt her to see him with Siena and hear about his dalliances from gossipers, Kate kept her head down and tried to be a good ex-girlfriend.

Kate had gotten messages and missed calls from Daphne and Simon. Kate knew that avoiding Simon would be too difficult hence why she found herself in Agatha Danbury's office this early morning.

Kate had just handed Agatha her notice and Agatha was surprised and irritated, to say the least.

"I thought we agreed you would give me more time to discuss with the shareholders about promoting you," Agatha said sternly.

"We did but things changed. I think it would be best if I moved on," Kate said with what she hoped was finality.

"If this is what that Bridgerton boy said to you at my godson's baby shower then you must know that I gave him and his mother a stern talking to,"

"I don't doubt it but you know I wanted to move more into family law. Do not get me wrong I think we have done a good job rattling the feathers of the elite but now I think it's time I get to work on fighting with the less fortunate," Kate said.

"You are making me regret investing in your friend's firm," Agatha chuckled.

"You won't regret it. Sophie is more determined than me when it comes to this stuff and it will be a challenge but I have always done my best as a solicitor when I was the underdog," Kate said chuckling a bit.

"I guess I have to understand that thought myself," Agatha continued "I accept your notice, Kate," Agatha stood up to shake Kate's hand and Kate stood up to take it.

"Thank you. You have been an incredible mentor all these years," Kate said emotionally.

"Hush now child, you will shine just fine on your own. And if not there will always be a place for you here at Danbury Law," Agatha said.

"Thank you again," Kate said and made to leave but not before asking the question she has had on her mind since she first started at Danbury Law "Why is the firm called Danbury Law?" Agatha turned to face Kate again and looked at her with an arched brow "Why not name it Agatha Law or Soma Law after your maiden name?"

Agatha sighed and then said "You must know I am a proud West African woman but my relationship with my past is not that positive I'm afraid," Agatha took a breath and continued "I grew up in a small village in Sierra Leone, my family did not have much of money, prospects or connections. When I was 8 years old I was attending church with my parents when a man came to town, he was from a village over but he got adopted by a British family and was visiting his country of birth. He took one look at me and proclaimed me the most beautiful girl in the world. Naturally, this is not an uncommon thing I had heard when I was younger but he was hyper-fixated on me, he made me laugh and promised my parents he would come back to marry me... My parents were thrilled," Agatha paused to take a seat behind her desk "From then onwards I was raised to be his wife, he would send letters with his interests, likes and dislikes and my parents would make sure I would know all of these things and submit to his lead. After the death of his benefactors slash parents, of which he received a hefty inheritance, he came back to Sierra Leone and married me, exactly like he promised he would,"

Kate slowly walked back into the room and took a seat opposite Agatha's desk "That seems like a fairytale,"

Agatha smirked "That's what all the society women would say when we came back husband and wife, Lord and Lady Danbury," Agatha sighed and continued "You see back in the eighties people were not that particular about age gaps. I was a 19-year-old girl married to a 42-year-old man. To society I was just indicative of how men crave young flesh and young women are opportunists. They didn't see the possible terrible dynamic I was in... See I was dependent on my husband, Sierra Leone was not exactly the most stable political environment and despite my decrepit husband, and I hope you don't mind my candour here, constant copulating his young wife, I liked England. I liked the freedom that I had and what hindered me because of my race, my new wealth and my title would sort out no problem. I did my duty, I gave him 4 children, 2 sons and 2 daughters, who wished for nothing and lived their lives well-off,"

"So it was a mutually beneficial relationship? Not quite unheard of, especially in my culture, although not as romantic as one might think. I guess your loyalty to your married life is why you keep the name Danbury Law," Kate said.

"Oh no. I may hate my family for pawning off on an old man but I despised the late Lord Danbury," Agatha held her hand up to stop Kate from interrupting her and continued "I loathed the late Lord Danbury, so I use my wealth and influence to fund all things he would have hated when he was alive. My husband was one of those Black people who enjoyed being the only one in the room and hated the idea of educating women and desegregating the classes as well as spent his time fighting AGAINST well-rounded immigration policies particularly people from former colonies which was incredibly awful considering Sierra Leone was one itself,"

Kate took a calming breath while Agatha looked off into the distance "I still don't understand why you would then want anything to do with him,"

"It's not enough to fund movements and bills that would help dismantle everything my husband held dear, no, I have to do it using his name so he will always be associated with it. Most people, like yourself, live their life to honour their families, and make them proud and in a lot of ways I am doing the same. I do what I am doing because it's important to me that wherever Herman is he rots and whatever kind of legacy he thought he was building gets overshadowed by the work I am doing. I want to make sure that future generations including my children, will think of me when they think of Danbury and all the work I have done to dismantle this terrible inequitable society,"

"I think that's an honourable vision," Kate said, feeling emotional and proud at the same time. Lady Agatha Danbury was a badass, it is just a shame that she had to go through so much to be that way.

----

Past:

Anthony was on cloud nine. Kate and Anthony had been together for 5 months and they would be making their first public appearance as a couple, at a benefit being held by Bridgerton Investment Group, and he couldn't be more happy. He looked at himself one more time in the mirror and then checked his watch for the time. He and Kate would be late if he did not check on her soon. She was not good with time but that is why he usually got her going early to get ready because he had timed her preparation times and averaged them out to understand how long she generally needed to get ready.

It was super analytical but he also knew that Kate appreciated being a bit more on time to things so he felt secure in his efforts.

As Anthony made his way to his bathroom, Kate came over to get ready as he was nervous she would back out and she was nervous that they would not look good together.

Anthony was not nervous about this event, he had been to millions of events like these but he knew Kate was feeling nervous because she had never really interacted with wealthy people unless they were on the opposite side of the courtroom. Kate was close friends with Simon but Simon had a way of keeping things close to the chest so there was no way of knowing if she knew the full extent of these events.

He knocked on the door to his master bathroom and entered. Kate was busy with her makeup but Anthony could not focus, she looked incredible. She was wearing a light pink dress that hugged her curves as well showing off her cleavage.

"Uhmmm babe you're staring," Kate said, he had not even noticed she was looking at him through the mirror and slightly blushed.

Anthony walked up behind her and kissed her neck "I was just thinking about how stunning you look," Anthony said nipping at her neck. He took a whiff of her neck and she stopped, he could see the goosebumps travel up her neck and he felt full of himself for a moment.

"If you continue like that we are going to be late," she said trying to sound stern but it came out breathless Anthony chuckled but backed out of the room.

--

The benefit was a success at least Anthony thought it was. He was currently having a drink with his friends, no cigars because Kate hated the smell, and his friends were ribbing him about the fact.

When he and Kate first arrived there seemed to be hesitation in their reception but as they went around the room and said their hellos, many people seemed to relax and commented on how well they complemented each other so he relaxed and eventually he felt confident enough to leave Kate to her mingling and went to catch up with some old friends of his.

Simon finally put out his cigar and Anthony took a breath, even though he was not smoking himself, he knew the smoke in the room could linger on him "So Bridgerton, you and Sharma doing good?" Simon asked.

"Yeah Bridgerton, you seem to be taken completely out of commission these days," Marcus Fife commented.

"What can I say, gents? I'm happy," Anthony stated trying not to blush and shrug.

"Well, then it makes sense curry is the national dish, then? I might get me one of those," Conrad Pemberton remarked.

"Excuse me?" Anthony said as his blood turned to ice.

"Pemberton, Chicken Tikka Masala is the national dish you idiot," Fife exclaimed.

"Okay, so how do I get me one of those Tikka Masala's Bridgerton?" Pemberton said with a chuckle.

Pemberton stopped talking the minute Anthony got in his face, he was angry beyond belief and was shocked at how much his old friends could be so cavalier with their racism "Pemberton speak about my girlfriend or any Indian like that again and I will pummel you just like in sixth form,"

Fife came between the two men and said "Relax Bridge, I know you are going through your Prince Harry phase but eventually, you got to do your duty like the rest of us heirs and marry yourself a Kate Middleton," 

Simon who had left the room to go to the bathroom was back and asked "You all know Kate Middleton is already married, right?"

Anthony was trying and failing at calming himself down and Anthony thought Simon could see his distress but did not comment on it "I was just telling Bridgerton that eventually he's gotta settle down, right?" Pemberton said with a bit of smugness that Anthony did not like and he narrowed his eyes.

Simon looked between Anthony to Pemberton and asked "Is that not what you are doing with Kate? Settling down?"

Anthony knew Simon cared deeply for Kate so he was probably asking more for himself than Pemberton "Of course I am. I would not bring her as my date if I was not serious about her,"

Simon nodded his head "Oh come off it Bridge, this has to be a piss-take. You are a man of a particular taste," Fife said

Anthony was now full-blown seething but asked "What the hell does that even mean?"

"I don't know but we definitely haven't seen you eat an Indian meal before mate so colour us curious," Fife said with his hands up.

"Anthony goes for the women he finds attractive, he does not date based on race," Simon said trying to de-escalate the situation "Maybe, we should change topics?" he suggested.

"Okay fine, but mate let me know if Kate has any friends or a sister, I would love to have a taste of the national dish," Pemberton said chuckling.

Anthony was not sure what happened next but Anthony had to be hoisted off of Pemberton by Simon. Pemberton's face and Anthony's knuckles were bloody and Fife was laughing in the corner.

Simon dragged Anthony into a separate room and left him to cool off, at least that is what he thought until he returned with Kate and his mother.

"Anthony darling, are you alright?" Violet asked "We heard there was a tussle that occurred,"

While his mother stayed close to the door and looked at him curiously Kate came closer to him to inspect him, touching his face and Anthony felt better but also sick with guilt at the same time.

"Well I'm not sure if it was a tussle or more like a one-sided beatdown," Simon remarked.

"Well you don't look injured, so who did you hit?" Kate asked but Anthony did not reply, he could not reply. He just is not sure how he would explain to Kate how his ex-friends spoke about her and women of her race. He was disgusted with himself so he remained silent.

Simon who thought this was a conversation that should not be in public suggested "Maybe we should leave the benefit,"

"We can't leave they have not even gotten around to announcing how much money was raised tonight," Violet said seeming concerned.

"Violet, by now everyone knows what happened so I don't think there will be more or less gossip if Anthony just leaves a bit earlier," Simon said smoothly.

"Anthony, what happened?" Kate asked so gently that Anthony's heart broke all over again.

"It was just some old form mates saying some dumb stuff, Anthony's had a few drinks so he just lost his temper," Simon said trying to help Anthony so he did not have to have this conversation in a room at a public benefit that was still ongoing.

"Well, what did he say, Anthony? What could he have possibly said to excuse your deplorable behaviour?" Violet asked and Anthony stiffened, he knew that tone coming from his mother, it was dripping with disapproval.

"There were some things I did not agree with so I got mad," Anthony said softly.

"Anthony most of the gentlemen here have been your chums for decades, what could they have possibly said that angered you so?" Violet asked.

Anthony stayed silent but then Kate asked "They said something about me didn't they?"

Anthony's head turned to her and she was looking in his eyes not with judgement but with like resolved and sad eyes. Anthony swallowed and nodded his head.

"Well, Anthony boys will be boys. I've heard you and your brothers say some appalling things about women but I do not resort to roughness to correct you," Violet said.

"Well maybe you should have," Kate said in a soft voice but she knew that his mother probably heard her. She remained looking at her hands.

"It wasn't just some misogynistic comments Mother, of which I have aged out of making," Anthony said the last part looking at Kate and imploring her to look up at him but she never did so he continued "There was also a racial aspect to their comments,"

Anthony could feel Kate stiffen beside him and he held his breath. There was silence in the room but just when it felt like Anthony would scream just so someone would say something Kate stood up and said "Good then. It's sorted,"

"I'm sorry. What do you mean it's sorted? Anthony has to apologise to the guests and to the gentleman he hurt," Violet said looking at Kate confused.

"Look Violet, Anthony can make the rounds on his way to apologise for causing a commotion but he does not owe a racist misogynist any apology," Kate said.

"Kate, I know you don't know how these things work but in our society, it's very important that a level of politeness and manners are maintained," Violet said.

"So he gets to make racist comments about his friend's girlfriend but when said friend stands up for his girlfriend, the friend is the one deemed the ill-mannered and rude one?" Kate asked using her solicitor's voice, normally Anthony would be turned on by it but now he felt his mother might not be able to stand against Kate and he was nervous "Violet we are all in the same society just because you choose to interact with only certain members of it does not mean that we are not meant to be held to the same standard. Just like with Mayfair Girls,"

Violet scoffed "This isn't a high school. This is real life and this is just how things are done,"

"Maybe that's the problem," Kate remarked.

"That's enough," Anthony finally said and stood up "Simon, I know you hate these types of things but if you could please find my secretary Freddy and get the numbers for the benefit and give them to Benedict so he can announce them," Simon nodded and left the room "Mother don't worry I will send an apology to Conrad Pemberton and make sure that I will cover any medical and dry cleaning expenses," His mother looked satisfied "Kate, I think we should make a quiet exit out of the back the entrance," He went to grab her hand but she looked at him funny and walked to the door.

Anthony sighed and followed her but before he made it to the open door, his mother spoke "Anthony, I will make sure Freddy gets your jackets and gets the car to come around for you," Anthony nodded his head at his mother and went to follow Kate.

The car ride back to his home was silent but if Anthony was honest, it was a silence he needed. He was busy writing emails and texts. As much as it pained him he had written apologies to Pemberton as well as the board and planners of the benefit for any disruptions and made promises to make it up to them and behave better in the future. It was generic and so insincere but he knew it had to be done.

When they finally got back to his place, Kate got out of the car before Robert could come around to open it and Anthony jumped out to follow her in. Kate's long legs carried her into his place and when he entered a while after her she was already out of her dress and packing her things.

Anthony asked, "Babe, what are you doing?"

"Don't babe me Anthony. Not after tonight," Kate said and she continued to aggressively pack things into her bag.

"I understand why you are mad," Anthony said, he knew the idea of being associated with someone like Fife and Pemberton might decrease her level of respect for him but he hoped she had known him better by now.

"I don't think you do, but humour me. Tell me why you think I am mad at you," Kate said turning to him and folding her arms.

Anthony sighed "Look what Fife and Pemberton were saying tonight is not actually what I think or a reflection of who I am. I barely see those guys I wouldn't even call them friends,"

Kate scoffed "Anthony, let's just say I was able to get over you ordering me about. What about me makes you think I would be okay with you apologising to a racist?"

Anthony sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache was forming "Kate, you don't understand,"

"Actually, I think I understand better than you. It wasn't racist comments made about you or your family so it's fine then?"

"I didn't say it was fine but I should not have lost my temper," Anthony exclaimed. Why did she not understand?

"You lost your temper because you care for me and I hoped that you cared about shutting down racists!"

"I do care!"

"Then why did you spend so much effort and time sending apologies to those racists after the fact?"

"It's important to maintain a level of politeness with important people in society," Anthony said a bit more level-headed.

"More important than defending me and people that look like me?" Kate asked and Anthony noted the tears in her eyes. He tried to approach her but she took a step back "Standing up to your enemies is easy but it takes greater courage to stand up to your friends. Before you sent off your little apologetic emails, everyone at the benefit would have known where you stood on racism, where you stood on us,"

Anthony felt like things were spiralling and he was struggling to keep up, Kate looked hurt and it hurt him "Kate I am against racism. I did stand up for us,"

"For 30 minutes, then you were apologising as if a person being a racist is a minor inconvenience and not something morally wrong,"

Anthony was panicking now, Kate sounded so sad then "It's not like hitting him was going to change the world,"

"But it would have changed my world, Anthony. I'm not a fool I see how people look at us sometimes but at least I thought I was in this with someone who had my back, that we were a team... And now, I just need time to think about what we are as a couple,"

Anthony could barely breathe but as Kate continued packing Anthony went to stop her hands "Kate, please stop. Just wait a minute here. I'm still the same guy, the man who loves you. What can I do to make this right?" The question he asked came out with a broken voice that even he could hear.

"It's alright Anthony, I think I just need time to resolve the kind of guy you are with the one I had in my head," She was full-blown crying now and Anthony sniffed his tears away.

"Okay okay. I will give you some space just... Please know that I do love you, and that... I'm sorry," Anthony said in a small voice.

Kate had her back turned to him and all he could see was her nodding her head as she continued to pack.

Kate called her mother, Mary, to tell her she would be coming home, so she called an Uber. Anthony tried to change her mind but then she told him her mother wanted to track her trip considering the time of night. They sat in silence for 5 minutes waiting for the Uber and Anthony could not stop taking glances at Kate. Her tears eventually dried and she looked resolute and then she was gone out of his home.

The minute Anthony turned around after seeing Kate to her Uber, he looked at his empty apartment and felt hollow. Anthony was used to apologising to keep the peace whether that was at work, with his mother, his siblings or with women. This was the first time keeping the peace seemed foolish. 

--

"Edwina would you give me back my shoe, I'm gonna be late to meet Anthony," Kate shouted at her sister's door while knocking on it.

Even though it was muffled Kate heard her sister yell on the other side of the door "No! Anthony is a dickhead! I don't want you to go to lunch with him and forgive him!"

"Edwina language!" Mary shouted from the living room.

"It's true mama! He let his friends say horrible things about Kate and all Indian women,"

"Edwina you need to stop eavesdropping on the conversations Kate and I are having," Mary said walking into the hallway until she stood side-by-side with Kate.

"Bon, he didn't let anyone say anything he beat him up remember?" Kate said, feeling the need to defend Anthony. It was important to keep her emotions focused on the things he did and not contort the past with negative emotions.

"Yeah, but he apologised to that racist ars- egghead. Relationships should not be so hard," Edwina said.

Kate sighed, she did not want to disillusion her sister "Bon, life is not like those romance books you read, they are hard and require understanding from both sides,"

Mary sighed "Your sister is right, my love. If I steered clear of hard relationships I would not have married your father and had 19 years of wedded bliss,"

Edwina unlocked her door and opened it slightly "I guess you're right," she handed Kate her shoe but before Kate could thank her the doorbell rang.

Edwina immediately sprinted to the front of the house, Kate tried to run after her but one of her shoes was not put on right so she had to stop.

By the time Kate and Mary got to the front door, Anthony was bouncing while holding his foot, like he was in pain. "Edwina, what did you do?" Kate asked.

"Why do you assume I did anything? Did I hurt you, Anthony?" Edwina asked with a fake sweet voice.

"No, and even if she did it's not like I didn't deserve it," Anthony said standing properly.

"As long as we are on the same page," Edwina said as she walked back to her room.

Mary sighed and followed her "I'm sorry Anthony. I'll talk to her," she said before she left.

Kate turned to Anthony and for the first time noticed the flowers in his hands "Are those for me?"

Anthony jumped and handed her the flowers "Yes, although I feel I should have brought some for your sister and your mother," he looked self-conscious for a moment.

Kate took the flowers and sniffed them before making to leave "It's good that you didn't. Edwina is allergic. I usually keep flowers in my room. At first, it was cause it reminded me of India but then it was to keep Edwina out of my room and now it just makes me feel better to see and smell them,"

"You never told me that," he said as they made their way down the stairs.

"It's not a big deal," Kate said as she shrugged. She was feeling nervous as this was the first time she had been alone with Anthony since their fight.

Kate had been a bit withdrawn when she got back from the benefit, Mary knew not to ask questions when she got back and just helped her change and go to sleep. It wasn't until she had gotten angry at Edwina unnecessarily that Mary sat her down to talk. She cried as Mary held her and they spoke about that night and about racism. Mary knew better than anyone what people thought about mixed-race couples as she was the offspring of one but Mary said she felt like Anthony was special. Mary told Kate it was more important that his first instinct was to defend Kate. It might seem like he went back on it later but societal pressure is immense and it can even make it so that the best of people make bad decisions. Mary made Kate giggle when she said Kate came out of the womb with a backbone of steel but others are not as lucky and that it is always important to lead with understanding and grace especially when the other person is trying.

6 days later Kate was still working on it but she finally texted Anthony back. 

As they made their way to the pathway, Kate turned to walk down the street but Anthony looked like he wanted to get to his car. "Oh, I thought we could get a quick coffee at this cafe nearby. It's usually quiet around this time, so I thought we could talk," Kate said.

Anthony looked hesitant "Oh sure,"

"Unless you already had a place in mind," Kate said nervously.

"No, we can go to the cafe. I want you to be comfortable," Anthony said.

Kate nodded and she led him to the cafe. 

Kate was right the place was quiet, mostly because the owners: The Gunningworths were not the most friendly people. Richard Gunningworth was a renowned lawyer who had 3 daughters. The only biological daughter he had was Sophie, a friend of Kate's. When Kate spoke to Sophie about finding neutral ground for her and Anthony to talk Sophie suggested they meet when Sophie was working her shift.

Kate and Anthony spoke. It was stilted at first but when Anthony blurted out that he did not want to break up, Kate was taken aback.

"Anthony I'm not going to break up with you," Anthony nodded and Kate could see his body visibly relax and she felt guilty. Communication with her partners was not something she was great at but she hoped she would be better because she loved Anthony more than any other man she had been with. Kate took his hands and said "I just wanted to discuss why I was so hurt that night," Anthony nodded and she continued "I've spent the last 10 years of my life fighting for a better society for people like me and other minorities. It's not an easy job and even though I know I'm morally and ethically in the right people still treat me like I'm a pariah. Like I'm the bad guy for trying to make the world fair... Even you did at first," Kate put her hand up to stop him before he spoke "I'm not trying to take a shot at you, I'm just trying to be honest. Being right is a lonely place and I have often hidden behind the fact that despite being alone I was right but it doesn't keep you warm at night,"

"You have me. You are not alone. I can keep you warm," Anthony said softly.

Kate smiled even though she was a bit emotional "I want to know that. I want to believe it with every bone in my body but I'm just not sure. You have a set of rules you live your life by and I don't think it's always going to align with the way I live mine but I'm willing to compromise some,"

Anthony's eyes widened "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Just that even though you did apologise to your friends-"

"They are not my friends," Anthony interjected almost growling "Sorry,"

Kate sighed and continued "Even though you did apologise to those guys after defending me, I have to give you grace because your first instinct was to defend me. I just hope it was not just because I was your girlfriend but because what they said was just wrong,"

Anthony sighed and looked down "Kate... I don't- I don't know. I wish I could say it was but I'm not sure... I'm sorry,"

"It's okay. There is no way of knowing anyway. I love you and as long as your first instincts are to protect me then I can't be that mad, can I?"

"I don't want you to feel like you are giving up being a good person to be with me. Not when your strength of character is one of the main reasons I love you in the first place," Anthony said squeezing her hands.

"I know. I'm not. I am just going to adjust to the way things are done in your world," Kate said squeezing his hands back and Anthony nodded.

Anthony smiled "How did you get so well adjusted?"

"My parents and a good therapist. I can recommend one if you like not the one I see but someone who would be next on the list if I ever break up with my current one. Therapy does wonders," Kate suggested.

"I think I'm going to take you up on that offer. I think it will be good for us," Anthony said.

"It will be good for you, and that's what is important," Kate said smiling.

It wasn't this big declaration of extreme devotion and love that most people would expect from romantic comedies but Kate loved Anthony and she was happy to adjust certain aspects of her thoughts and reactions especially because Anthony was always changing for and because of her. In relationships, it was important to meet halfway and Kate was happily back with Anthony so what was the big deal? He was going to go to therapy and work on himself and in the meantime, Kate would give him grace.

---

For the last month and a half, things between Kate and Anthony returned to relative normalcy. Kate had noticed she was still not invited to brunch with Anthony's family but she tried not to take too much offence considering Anthony wanted her there but his mother was in charge of organising it every month. That being said every time she would bump into one of his siblings and they asked her why he did not attend or what she missed out on, she wondered if her and Anthony's relationship was seen as a serious thing to his mother, yet.

Before Kate could bring it up though, Anthony invited her to an event held by his grandmother, his mother's mother, Dowager Lady Ledger. This was a big deal because every one of the Bridgertons and Ledgers was going to be there and Kate would finally meet all of Anthony's family.

It was only fair, right? Anthony had met all of Kate's family. All 2 of them. Kat often thought about what her father would think of Anthony, would he see him as a random rich guy or would he see the caring guy underneath? Kate tried not to get too deep in her What Ifs because they just made her sad.

Kate smoothed down her dress. It was an afternoon event but Kate was still nervous. Luckily Daphne was available for shopping since she had to take a reluctant Eloise, so she tagged along and got herself a very nice dress. A very expensive dress but Daphne said that Anthony was fitting the bill, which did not sit well with her Kate knew there was no way she could borrow a dress like she did at the last big event especially when it was so important she made a good impression. 

So Kate settled on a colour-blocking Versace almost-mini dress. She looked great but also daring. The colours suited her skin tone and showed off her best asset: her legs.

Kate knew Anthony was nervous about this event. She hoped they could avoid drama but she knew that could not control everything. Even when Kate left home, Mary looked on edge.

Kate smoothed her dress while she sat at the back of the car, driven by Robert.

Anthony grabbed her hand and said "The dress looks stunning. You look stunning. Don't worry,"

"Sorry. It's just that today is an important day," Kate said looking at him.

"It's just a party like any other babe," he said.

Kate tried to calm down but before she could reply, Robert informed them that they had arrived.

Getting into the event was relatively more smooth and casual than the benefit and Kate quickly found a group of women to talk to. Some of them were rich and/or titled but the two that Kate bonded with were a doctor and a florist. Jennifer and Rebecca were married and partnered respectively with Fife and another guy named Michael Stirling. Rebecca was by far the youngest and she looked incredibly uncomfortable whereas Jennifer who despite having a similar background to Kate fit in because she was well-respected as a doctor.

Kate spent a lot of time talking with the two women and when Jennifer went off to use the loo, Jennifer leaned in and said "She's not gonna last,"

Kate who was sipping her drink at the time almost choked and asked "Why do you say that? I mean I know they are young but they look cute,"

"They are always cute but Michael does not stay with them for long," Jennifer said.

"Oh that's a shame," Kate said.

"Not really, she does not exactly know what she is getting herself into with these kinds of people," Jennifer said and Kate hummed her agreement. There was a lot of money and prestige flying around the room and even though Kate was not a part of it she had years of experience holding her own around people like this "You look like you got the memo though,"

Kate looked at Jennifer surprised and chuckled "I mean I guess. I don't have to do much,"

"Yeah, but that's good. At the benefit, you were wind up tight and Anthony was the same. Hence all the unpleasantness," Jennifer said casually.

Kate was confused by the remark. She was not sure what she knew "As long as people keep their racism to themselves I'm sure we will all be fine,"

"I mean to be fair my husband and Conrad were complimenting you,"

Kate's blood ran cold "Excuse me?"

"Look I've been there myself when I first married my husband but I realised that you have got to let them be themselves and do what they want so your relationship can be strong,"

Kate stood up and made her face stoic "Just because you are okay with being disrespected by your husband and his mates does not mean that is something I am okay with,"

"You say that as if they are not Anthony's mates as well. My husband, Conrad and Anthony go back years. It only makes sense that they would make up over a little disagreement," Jennifer said smiling and Kate could finally see how arrogant it looked, it leaned more into a sneer.

"Anthony being forced to make civilities with them does not mean he condones their behaviour," Kate said straightening her back to defend her boyfriend.

"My dear, I guess Rebecca is not the only one who is unaware. Anthony did not seem to have issues with My husband or Conrad at last week's polo match or a month ago at the Smythe-Smith musicale," Jennifer took out her phone and showed Kate pictures of the group of men smiling and laughing and Kate's stomach churned.

Kate walked away briskly until she made it to the loo and threw up the contents of her stomach, which unfortunately because food had not been served yet, was not much.

Kate cleaned herself up and looked at herself in the mirror. Anthony had lied to her? Well he had not lied, he merely omitted what he had done. What did it matter anyways Kate, knew Anthony had to make amends with those arses, she just did not know Anthony was having such a good time doing so. She felt like she had been sucker punched. She felt foolish and mostly sad, Anthony had to keep a part of his life from her maybe because he was ashamed but maybe because he did not want to be judged by her. She tried to find the grace she promised to give to him and was resolute to bring it up to him at a later date. Today was about impressing the Bridgertons and the Ledgers so she focused on that.

Kate spent the rest of the night schmoozing and putting on her best personality traits. Eventually, the woman of the hour showed up: Dowager Lady Ledger. Kate could not help but note how she looked old but not frail, stern and a little unfriendly. Kate wondered if it was wrong of her to notice the fact that her smile mirrored a lot of the women in the room: insincere.

Anthony introduced Kate to his grandmother and she remarked "Wow, you are beautiful,"

Kate smiled "Thank you. Of course, the only beauty people have their eyes on today is you,"

"Well thank you for flattering an old lady like myself, dear," she said.

"Is it flattery when it's the truth?" Anthony said and all the women laughed.

Lady Ledger took her hand and put it on his face "What a handsome charmer,"

"Thank you, grandmother," Anthony said "I love you,"

Lady Ledger smiled sweetly and was escorted around the rest of the room by Anthony's mother and brother, Colin.

Kate felt like she could take a breath "That went well didn't it?" Anthony said.

"Yeah, I'm glad she at least thinks I'm pretty," Kate said.

"Babe, you are the most beautiful woman ever. Now I would never say that to her because I fear her but you know that," Anthony said as he kissed the side of her head and Kate felt giddy.

All of a sudden the idea of what had happened with Jennifer earlier seemed like a dream and what she had with Anthony was the reality she needed to focus on.

--

Later as the party winded down and the little sun they had gotten dwindled to dark greys, Kate was happily dancing with Benedict when Anthony cut in.

"Are you having a good time?" Anthony asked as they swayed together to the music.

"Surprisingly, yes. Your siblings are hilarious and I like them," Kate said laying her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," Anthony said.

"For what?" Kate asked.

"For accepting all of this. My family. Me. I know it's not exactly the best example of how to use wealth but it's important to me to maintain our family's name. I hope it's not too much,"

"Anthony, of course. I love you. The rest is just noise," Kate said.

Anthony kissed Kate softly. She could hear some camera's going off but she didn't care for once.

It was then that Violet tapped Anthony on the shoulder "Can the both of you come with me?" she asked and Kate felt dread.