#like i am trying to find a place and a job more out towards mount pleasant

[eternatuslesbian]

i think i need to bite the bullet and start fundraising for a new car

[revolversandlace]

The Dangers of Summer

Dutch/Arthur/John x f!Reader

Warnings & Tags: Explicit, Smut, Swearing, M/M/M/F, f!Reader, Plot? What Plot? DubCon, No Y/N, Minors DNI

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: Dutch asks you to rob a homestead, unfortunately the loot isn’t what you expect. 

A/N: I’m sorry I got horny and this happened. It is what it is.

AO3 Link

You’d been with the gang some weeks now, and not a day had gone past without the men trying to break you.

You weren’t even sure why they brought you into the fold, except for them to tease you with dead end goose chases or some impossible challenge even they couldn’t complete.

One day after the other, you were just as keen as the last to prove yourself fit for the gang. And just when you thought you were on a job to prove yourself, it turned out to be another waste of time.

‘Miss,’ Dutch called, beckoning you to his tent, the dramatic classical music playing softly in the background and he puffed on his fat cigar.

You marched over, as your boots crunched over the leaves.

He leaned back in his chair, hands folded behind him, watching your every move. You could feel his eyes boring into you. His face was impassive but his gaze held you in place. You stared back at him, throwing your hands in the air.

'What is it now, Dutch?'

'It'd pay you to show some more respect around here, Miss.'

You pursed your lips taking in a deep breath. 'I'll try my best,' you said coolly.

He nodded slowly. 'Good girl. Now I have a job for you.'

You arched an eyebrow. 'Another one? I'm getting tired of these endless jobs that don't go anywhere.'

'This one will be different.' He took off his hat and placed it on the table. His hair was disheveled, falling over his forehead and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. 'It's a homestead in south Leymone, not far from Braithwaite Manor.'

'Am I supposed to find anything there or will it be like the last one?'

Dutch laughed, a low and filled with danger. You really were beginning to think that perhaps this gang wasn't the right fit for you. But then again if you didn't want to join them maybe you shouldn't have come along with them in the first place.

'I expect there to be the usual wares. Jewellery... Cash,' Dutch waved his hand dismissively. He reached to the inside of his waistcoat, pulling out a silver pocket watch. 'If you leave now, you might make it for sundown.'

'Is that all?' You asked surprised. You felt like you should have been doing something more than stealing jewellery and money.

'That's enough for now,' Dutch said looking at you intently. 'Now gear up and let me see what you can do.'

You did as he instructed, quickly putting on your hat and grabbing your gun belt from where it hung in your tent. As you walked towards your horse, Arthur stepped in front of you, blocking the path between you and your mount.

'Finally got a job, I hear.' Arthur said, his smug smile plastered all across his face. Since being within the gang, Arthur had barely said more than four words to you, usually opting for silence and grumbles.

'Get out of my way,' you sighed, already exhausted with the men of the gang.

'Not until we talk about how you're going to repay us for saving you from those bandits.'

'You saved me? That's news to me.'

'You know we did,' Arthur snorted, placing his large hand on your shoulder and leading you towards your horse.

'Arthur, if you've got any issues, take it up with Dutch, okay?' You said, your voice tight as you shook his hand from you.

'Oh I will,' he said with a smirk, tugging at the brim of his hat as you hoisted yourself onto your horse.

You rode away without another word, wanting nothing more than to get out of there. You were sick of their constant teasing and taunting and wanted to be left alone. You didn't care much for Arthur but at least he was easy to deal with compared to the others.

You rode hard, reaching the homestead just before sundown. The sky turned to a bright orange hue, bathing the trees in a golden light as the birds began to sing their evening song.

Hitching your horse and throwing a sack over your shoulder, you checked your revolver and opened the barrel to see six rounds nestled in the metal. You flicked the gun with your wrist, closing it back up and you made your way to the house.

One by one, you checked the windows to make sure the house was empty. You heard nothing and saw even less, as you rattled the back doorknob and pushed it open.

You raised your gun and you pulled up your bandana over your nose and mouth, your skin prickling with excitement. Finally, a job where you could show your worth to the gang.

You checked the drawers, every cupboard you could see and a pair of pearl earrings and a wad of cash later, you made your way from the back room into the hallway.

Just as you were about to open the door to the next room, you heard an unmistakable clatter.

Shit.

Walking slowly towards the room that the sound came from, you lightly put one foot in front of the other, as your hand gripped tighter around the gun.

You tried to listen through the wall but couldn't tell what was happening. Was someone still there? Or was it just some noise from outside?

You took a deep breath and held it in your chest as you slowly opened the door.

What you saw however, was the last thing you expected.

'Told ya she didn't know the shortcut,' Arthur said, sitting in a chair with his foot on his knee, rolling a cigarette between his fingers.

John was sitting beside him, with a wide smile.

'I'm surprised she made it at all,' he said

'What the fuck is going on?' You said, searching both of their faces as you pulled down your bandana. 'What's this all about?' Your voice rose as your heart began to speed up in your chest.

They said nothing, as they stared at you with boyish grins on their face.

'I don't have time for this,' you said, turning away from them.

'Don't worry about her,' Arthur called after you. 'She'll come round.'

'You can say that again,' John laughed.

You stopped in your tracks, your temper rising.

'I can't believe you've done this again! Why can't you just give me a job and leave me be?' You waved your gun at them, in half your mind to shoot them where they sat. They both laughed, clearly not as threatened as you'd thought they'd be. Although if you were expecting anything from either of them by now you were mistaken.

'We're sorry darlin' we didn't mean to scare ya,' Arthur said, standing up and putting his hat back on. 'But you know how it is with us.' He smiled down at you.

'Yeah, I do. You're real shits you know that.' You said, folding your arms across your chest. 'Wait until Dutch here's of this.'

The men looked at each other smiling as you heard a laugh from behind you. Spinning round you nearly collided with Dutch as he towered over you, his black mustache twitching.

'Who's ideal do you think it was?' He said and you slowly took a step back. 'Now, missy. I've had a word with these two and they both agree. You're attitude is...'

Dutch licked his lips hungrily, staring down at you as your chest became tighter.

'Unwelcomed.' He said, his face turning to a near snarl.

You didn't know what was happening, but you didn't like it. You felt uneasy and you wanted to get out of there but you knew that would only make things worse for yourself. So instead you remained quiet, staring at Dutch.

'You need to learn your place,' Dutch growled, stepping closer to you.

You could feel his hot breath against your neck as he whispered, 'You belong to us now.'

You swallowed hard as he grabbed hold of your hair, pulling you off balance. He turned you around to face both John and Arthur, who looked at each other with excitement.

You tried to struggle from Dutch's grasp but his fingers just dug further into your scalp.

'Now we won't hurt,' Dutch said into your ear as he marched you towards the table, 'as long as you behave.'

You were scared, but not as scared as you should have been. You would have been lying if you said you weren't excited at the thought. You'd thought about the men before, although not at the same time, in the late hours when your hand would drift lower to pleasure yourself.

You didn't want to admit it but even then you were curious about the way they treated you. The way they talked to you and the way they acted around you.

Dutch let go of your hair as the back of your thighs met the edge of the table as all three men stood around you. You could feel your cheeks burning red as their eyes roamed over your body like a pack of wolves.

Arthur stepped forward and lifted you up onto the table, placing himself between your legs. He pressed his hands against your breasts, kneading them roughly.

'Now boys, take good care of her,' Dutch ordered as he pulled out a half-smoked cigar, lighting the thick end.

'Get her ready for me,' he nodded, pulling a chair away from the table and sitting down to watch the show.

You swallowed hard, as Arthur's large, rough hands worked over your body as he made his way to your shirt buttons.

'Make sure you share, Arthur,' Dutch said, leaning back as Arthur started to unbutton you.

John joined him, kissing your neck and running his tongue along your skin. You moaned at the sensation as the two pairs of hands continued to roam over you. Your cunt was throbbing, as you ran your leg up Arthur's side, whilst John continued to kiss you.

Helping Arthur shrug off your shirt, the cool breeze hit your nipples as he took one of them between his thumb and index finger, giving it a pinch.

'You like it rough girl?' He growled as you whimpered, all words caught in your throat. All you could give him was a weak nod as he applied more pressure on your nipple as your wetness grew.

'Good,' he grunted, squeezing harder on your breast. 'This is going to be fun.'

He released your breast as both he and John began to work at your trousers, unbuckling you and pulling the jeans and your boots from you as you sat on the edge of the table completely naked.

Arthur pushed you back onto the table and kissed you roughly, pushing his tongue inside your mouth as you kissed him back, feeling John's hands run over your thighs and towards your sopping wet heat.

You gasped as you felt a finger slip inside you, making you buck your hips as Arthur continued to work his tongue in your mouth.

'She's already wet, Dutch' John said, pumping his fingers into you, stretching you out as you moaned into Arthur's mouth.

Arthur pulled away from you, his lips glistening with your saliva as John continued to bury his fingers in you, curling them around deep inside of you. You continued to moan, and rock your hips.

'Think I'm gonna use that mouth some more,' Arthur growled, as he began to undo his belt.

You looked up at him with mewls falling from your lips as he pulled out his thick cock. Giving it a few pumps, he grabbed the top of your hair, and pulled your head onto his cock, and shoved it into your mouth.

You sucked hard, taking it deep as you tried to swallow it. You gagged and choked as you tried to keep up, as the other two began to laugh.

'You're going to have to learn to take it all,' Arthur grunted, as he pulled your head away giving you a second to breathe.

'I'm sure she will,' Dutch said from the chair, watching you intently.

'Open up, darlin', and try and take the whole thing,' Arthur said as you forced yourself harder onto John's fingers, the coil already beginning to tighten in your lower stomach.

You nodded, opening your mouth as Arthur shoved his cock back into your mouth with no mercy. Using his grip on you, he moved your head roughly onto him and you tried your best to breathe as your throat became fuller and fuller.

'Come on, girl,' Arthur grunted, 'take it all.'

You tried your hardest, but you couldn't. You could feel his balls tighten and his cock swell as he continued to thrust into your mouth.

You gagged and spluttered, but he didn't stop. You kept your mouth open as he used you, whilst John pushed another finger into you. Moaning onto Arthur's cock, you felt your own orgasm building.

You were desperate for release; you needed it badly. His cock was too big for your mouth, and it wouldn't stay still. It seemed determined to stretch you to breaking point. As he pounded your mouth mercilessly, his breathing picked up as his grip got tighter on your head.

You felt John remove his fingers from you, as you looked down, he pulled his cock from his trousers and shoved the thick head into your dripping cunt.

You moaned again, both your holes filled as the men ravaged you. You felt your toes curl as you arched your back, your cunt growing tighter around John's cock as he thumbed at your clit.

It was almost too much as a wave of pleasure crashed over you as you screamed onto Arthur's cock whilst John fucked you harder. You came quickly as your orgasm ripped through your body leaving you weak.

Arthur withdrew his cock from your mouth and grabbed hold of your hair, forcing you up onto your feet as you felt your legs struggling to hold you up.

'Think she's having a good time, Dutch' Arthur mused as you panted, desperate for air as the bliss tingled over your skin.

'It does appear that way,' Dutch said, nodding as he stood. You could see John stoking himself as Arthur grabbed you by the wrist, pulling you on top of him onto the table.

'I wanna see you how tight you are,' he said, his hands digging so hard into your hips you know they'd leave bruises for days.

He speared his cock into you as you mewled again, your eyes scrunched tight as Arthur fucked himself into you. You felt John's thumb circling your asshole, as he spat onto you letting the liquid drip down.

'Please,' you whined, as you felt the head of John's cock push into your other hole, the pain and pleasure melding into one.

You were full, stuffed and revelling in ecstasy as the two men fucked you.

'I can't last much longer,' John groaned, pressing his hands against your hips and rocking his hips forward as you cried out loudly.

'Don't let me interrupt you gentleman,' Dutch said, making his way over to the table removing his hat as he removed his belt.

'Why don't you come see how a real man tastes,' Dutch chuckled, stepping out of his trousers and wrapping his hand around his hard cock.

You wasted no time in obliging, wrapping your lips around him and now every single one of your holes were filled. Dutch pumped himself faster into your mouth while his hands played with your breast.

He leaned in close and whispered, 'good girl,' as he slapped your cheek.

You felt his hot cum splash across your tongue and into your mouth as you gulped it down greedily. You could hear him panting above you, as he pulled you from his cock. You felt John thrust faster into your ass, bruising you further as he grunted, his cum filling you and spilling out, dripping down onto your cunt.

Arthur wasn't far behind, as you continued to bob on his cock, the last drops of cum dripping down your chin as Dutch wiped his brow.

John pulled himself from you as you now felt empty, except for Arthur who continued to pummel you hard. The familiar feeling rose again, as you ground your hips into Arthur, as the slaps continued to fill the room.

Another orgasm erupted, as you screamed into the air, the pleasure almost unbearable as Arthur, unrelentingly chased his own as you were filled up one last time.

Arthur stopped, holding himself deep within you as you collapsed onto the table next to him panting. You rolled onto your side, looking at the mess you made and seeing the satisfied smile on each of their faces.

Covered in cum and sweat, the men dressed as you lay there on the table, legs shaking and the pain of having three men inside of you started to settle in.

'That was certainly an experience,' John smiled, picking up his clothes from the floor.

'I certainly think Miss here will behave herself from now on.' Dutch said, as the three men left the homestead leaving you there naked and beyond content. 

[broadcastbabe]

We try to rest our voices at least one day a week by not speaking out loud. It’s amazing how well you can communicate your thoughts…and desires without actual words. You have planned a few activities for the day, to stave off any possible boredom and insure our relentless intimacy throughout the day. I am awakened by the sunlight as you greet me with deep kisses while you cradle me in your arms. Soon, I am carried from the bedroom and into a warm bath you have drawn for me. Fragrant flowers float on the surface, so I barely notice my nightgown is still present, but now reduced to near transparency in the water. You sit at the edge and watch me toy with the soft ties. My mischievous grin is playful and has a come hither element. I pull the bodice aside to reveal myself completely. The hem catches on the stiffened nipple and I drag it back and forth to increase the friction, sighing at the stimulating result. I crook a finger to beckon you closer for help, You respond slowly, dragging your fingers through the surface of the water to cause the ripples that ebb and flow around my exposed breasts. Your fingers meet the nipples and pinch them the way I like, causing a gasp of pleasure. Flattening your large hand against the mass of one, you grasp the full flesh and massage it with increasing roughness. I’m rendered breathless from the sensations, then again when the other is given the same treatment. My eyes roll and reach towards my throbbing core to self-soothe, only to find your other hand there having anticipated my remedy by seconds. We work together, kneading my responsive nub and synchronizing our breathing as it escalates from our excitement. Your index finger enters me first and leads the way for mine to join yours. It no longer matters whose finger has found the g-spot we were seeking in the tight space, as I begin to tremble with the sensations. You lean closer to kiss me deeply and telepathically encourage my surrender to the imminent cumming. I do and thrash about in the sloshing water as you stroke my inner thighs until I return to a satisfied calm. I am hoisted by a dead lift from the basin and carried outdoors to our enclosed patio. Dripping with the water and a few stray flowers, the nightgown clings to my body as I am gingerly placed on a low chaise lounge. I look up into your eyes as you hungrily tower over me, until I nod and peel a swatch of limp fabric from the  swollen lips that still pulse from my recent climax. I want so much more of what I just experienced. As do you. You pull your pajama bottoms down your muscled legs, and I gasp at your full-growth readiness, obviously swollen from delay and restraint. You mount me with an urgency and lust that matches my own. When I have enveloped you completely and you are nested deep inside me, we pause in the frenzy. Delicately pulling the clinging negligee from my damp figure, you marvel at the sight of my glistening skin being revealed. I feel you throb inside me as I am laid naked for your eyes. You probe me with precision that brings me to the edge of yet another orgasm so soon. You explode first with me not far behind, mostly with low moans of relief…so as not to alert our neighbors on the other side of our tall fence. I hold you inside me until you are too soft and small to fill the void you stretched with your previous magnitude. You switch to another chaise to gather some sun and recover. I am first on my feet and drag you to our close-quarters outdoor shower. I suds you up from head to toe while you play grabass with my slippery body. There is an obligatory hand job as I cleanse you until the soap cascades to leave you squeaky clean. We rub against each other relentlessly, my rump cheeks are pulled apart so you can glide yourself in the groove for further friction. Your hands wrap around my tender breasts to hold me close as we both enjoy the frottage. We return to the lounge chairs to dry off in the warm air. You apply sunscreen as an excuse for more massaging opportunities and I return the favor to gift you with yet another hand job as my own arousal demands a substantial stiff staff to scratch the itch you awoke earlier this morning.  I insist you lay back so I can impale myself upon you. You watch intently as you disappear inside me while I thread you into my depths. I swear the visual makes you grow exponentially and I am all the better for it. I leverage myself up and down like a pole dancer upon yours. Not much exaggeration is needed as it is as exhilarating as my gestural dancing would imply. Any other time I wouldn’t be suppressing my screams of joy, but this is our silent day and there is some secret sauce that comes with our wordless joining. The look in your eyes validates an imminent climax I’m feeling. I decide to edge you as you have done to me for your own indulgence. Catching your attention, I direct you to witness your exit from me as I pull up and away. Puzzled, you accept my kisses as I circle your distress and delayed gratification. I bend over and glance back towards you, near tears from the restraint. Knowing you will grow with an enjoyable new demonstration, I straddle you backwards to wag my derriere seductively before I lower myself onto the warmed familiar upright flesh. You groan at the delectable vision as you gradually vanish inch by inch. I feel the most extreme stretching of the day and glory in the sensations that course through me as I solidly seat myself, having taken in the whole of you. You are delirious and near hyper-ventilating once I begin my gentle bouncing in place. I gyrate for effect, but without looking I can tell my bouncing derriere is your jam. I am close too, so I raise my arm like a bull-riding cowgirl to signal the go ahead. The geyser nearly unseats me, but my own spasms tend to bear down with a reflexive clenching strength. I look up at the sky and shield my eyes from the approaching noon day sun.

[friendandphoe]

TWO DAYS LATE BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY @ahbonjour I LOVE YOU HAVE SOME NEW MOVIE HOUSE BRAINROT

also @museumlad and @creativeskull95 you may also enjoy this have fun

David calls Donnie at 2:37 pm on a completely nondescript Tuesday with a brisk, "I have a proposition for you," in lieu of a hello.

"Shit, babe, let me grab the condoms and the lube, I can be at your place in fifteen." Donnie says, because his mouth moves faster than his brain and both of them hate him.

David's eye roll is practically audible over the phone, but so is his smile when he responds, "I'd literally rather fling myself into the fires of Mount Doom than get anywhere near your dick ever again. No, doofus, I've got a work thing. Interested?"

"God, yes." Donnie groans. Thank someone David Peterson is his best friend before his anything else and is used to the shit that comes out of Donnie's mouth. "I told you about my new set, right?"

"I thought you said you didn't have anything."

"Because I don't, Dave. The new set is a whole lot of nothing. I've been tearing my hair out for weeks trying to think of stuff, my brain is, like, fully fried at this point."

David snorts. "What, our breakup didn't give you any material to work with?"

Donnie blows a raspberry, flinging an arm over his eyes even though Lark's been gone for, like, a week doing some business bitch shit and isn't around to see his dramatics. "Do me a favor and be more of an asshole so I can actually pull something out of it. There's nothing funny about an amicable break up."

"Statistically, between the two of us, you're more likely to be the asshole about it." David points out. "Write a joke about how you jumped on the chance to fuck as soon as you heard my voice."

Donnie has. Many of them. None of them have lived to see the light of day. "You propositioned me, motherfucker. You literally said, 'I have a proposition for you' and expected me to not take that in a fucky direction?"

David snorts again. "Go get laid and then maybe we can progress past two sentences without you thinking I want to bone down."

All half-formed jokes about this conversation immediately fly out of his head. "David," Donnie begs. "I will literally pay you whatever you want to have you never say the words 'bone down' in reference to sex ever again."

"I am only ever going to call it boning down from now on." David says immediately, because he's an asshole. Not enough of one to use as material for a good comedy set, but to be honest, Donnie thinks he can live with that. He’ll gladly settle for missing out on comedy gold because of a peaceful breakup if it means he gets to keep his best friend. "I think you should bone down so that you stop thinking that I'm trying to bone down with you. I’m just an innocent business boy trying to do my job—"

Never fucking mind, this man is terrible and Donnie hates him. "Oh my god."

"—and here you are sullying my good-natured intentions with thoughts of boning down—"

"Stoooop."

"—when all I've ever tried to do is live by the eternal words of our lord and savior Britney Spears. I just want to work, bitch. All my long nights at the office, all my running around trying to find you, my dearest friend, a well-paying gig, because even though our amorous relations have since ended I still hold you near to my heart, and yet! You scorn my kindness with advances towards boning down.”

"I'm dying. Literally dying."

“Distasteful behavior, truly. Horrendous. You’re a rake and a rapscallion and I shan’t do business with you anymore if you’re only going to lust after me the whole time. ‘Tis a futile endeavor, Donaldo. Your feelings are simply unrequited. I daresay you have transformed into what is known in some circles as a simp. Do you know what a simp is, D? I learned that one like a week ago. You’re down bad tremendous, as the kids might say. Bone down tremendous, even."

"I'm gonna — I'm hanging up, Peterson."

"Alright, fuck you then, I don't have a job offer for you."

Donnie whines. "Nooo, Davey my Davey, I didn't mean it, let me pay rent this month."

“Are you going to listen to me talk about internet slang.” David says, punctuating each word with a clap.

“No, because it’s, like, basically all AAVE and I bet you literally anything that Lark and my mom have been saying that shit for years.”

David snorts. “I would pay good money to hear your mom use the word ‘simp’ in a sentence.”

Donnie laughs. “Pay up, then, that’s Black 90s shit."

"Goddammit, internet," David mutters, and Donnie's phone chimes.

"Goddammit, internet," he agrees, pulling away to check whatever notification just came in. Venmo: David Peterson paid you $30. — Reparations — Your Venmo balance is now $30. "Alright, you're forgiven."

"God bless and goodnight," David says dryly. "Can I give you this goddamn job offer now."

Donnie waves a hand airily. David will sense it through the phone. "See, if you'd started with that instead of 'I have a proposition'—"

"Donnie."

"Shutting up now. Blow me away, Peterson."

David clears his throat and puts on his Business Professional voice. "Donnie Frasier, on behalf of Love Productions USA, I would like to formally offer you a position as presenter on the reboot of The Great American Baking Show."

Donnie jolts up, eyes wide. "Shut up. You're joking."

"I am not."

"DAVID."

"Mhmm." David hums, smug as hell. "We're location scouting right now, but once we have that settled we'll fly you in so you can get acquainted with the crew while we're holding baker auditions. Once we've found our twelve and they're signed on, you'll stay on-location for an additional ten weeks while we're filming. You're looking at a period of about, uh, maybe fifteen to sixteen weeks total? Just the one season for now, but, y'know, contract is open to renewal depending on ratings and reception. Food and board are included, and we're probably working with your regular rate, but I'll have to double check our budget with Jay. Obviously you know Lark has already signed on as a judge, we just got George Fox of 'the Corporal Cooks' on as the other judge—"

"DAVID!"

"I'm producing, natch, James Matsuki is with me on that — him and Fox have someone in mind for, uh. Shit, either floor manager or director, I don't remember, but Lark and I wanted to recommend you for presenter. We're trying to get Mags Taylor to go on with you—"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP."

"—provided you accept." David finishes, like it would ever cross Donnie’s mind to refuse. "You wanna hear who else we have for crew? I've actually worked with a lot of them on other projects, they're good people."

"Absolutely fucking not, I'm in, I'm in, I was already in as soon as you opened your beautiful perfect mouth! David!" Donnie hollers, scrambling up and out of bed and down the hall into his kitchen, flinging his laptop open with feral desperation. "Did you — I have to — does Susan know, I have to email Susan —"

David huffs. "Who do you think I am? I emailed Susan about it like three days ago, she said to go to you directly."

"THREE DAYS?"

"Jesus fucking Christ, Donald."

"YOU HELD OUT ON ME FOR THREE DAYS, DAVARIAH?" Donnie bellows, whipping through his inbox. There's a handful of offers from venues to host him for shows, an update on the ongoing thread from his tour manager — there! The sacred s.geller@vnsgrv.com, nestled right underneath what might be a fan that somehow got a hold of his professional email address.

"Tell Susan to respond to me faster, then." David says mildly, rustling something on his end of the call.

"Leave my poor sweet Susan alone, she's done nothing wrong ever in her life and it's not her fault you never loved me." Donnie fires back, scanning through Susan's summary of the offer — same shit David was telling him, minus any name dropping, thank you best friend/ex-boyfriend perks. He replies with a very enthusiastic ABSOLUTELY HELL YES, which will not surprise Susan in the slightest. "Not even Susan can warm the frozen tundras of your heart."

David sighs, long and heavy. "You're such a fucking drama queen. I'm going to write a guide for your next partner, so they know how to deal with you."

"That's — fair, honestly. Make a note on my fabulous ass and sparkling personality, though."

"What sparkling personality," David mutters, but clears his throat back into Business Professional. "So, Donnie Frasier, do you accept the offer?"

Donnie pauses. "Am I allowed to have 'fuck yeah' on the record?"

David hangs up on him.

~*~

They've only been separated for three weeks, but Lark's airport tackle makes Donnie feel like he's returning from World War 2.

"You're in!" Lark screams, ignoring the affronted looks they're getting from the other people meandering out of baggage claim.

Donnie squeezes hard around her waist and pulls her up, spinning her around twice for good measure. It never hits him just how much he misses his sister until they're reunited. "I'm in!" He yells back, and relishes the scandalized cough they get from the white lady brushing past them.

Somewhere off to their right, someone laughs. "Twinth, huh?"

"Twins," David agrees, and clears his throat. "Y'all ready to go?"

They're not, but Donnie knows how to compromise. He sets Lark back down in her feet and wraps an arm around her shoulders, grinning wildly at her as they set out. "Look at you!"

"Look at me!" Lark agrees, beaming back. She looks great — she's switched out her locs for twists and her blue sundress pops against her dark skin, and yeah, that's great, but underneath it all, she's glowing. She looks happy, she looks proud, she looks like a big fuckin' dead weight asshole has finally been kicked to the curb, thank God. There's a bounce in her that he hasn't seen in months, that he — and he would never say this out loud to anyone ever, not even their mom — worried she would never get back.

He loves her so much. He's going to vomit in all her shoes.

"Tell me everything," he demands, graciously letting her pull his suitcase out of his hands. "Did he cry? Tell me he cried."

David, whose relationship with Donnie overlapped the middle of The Brandon Saga, chooses this moment to start very loudly debating directions with the dark-haired guy he brought along. Donnie will give him the most platonic of high-fives for it later.

"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy." Lark says airily, which means not here, not now. "How's it feel to have a big boy job, though?"

Donnie is a mature, upstanding, tax-paying adult and refrains from sticking his tongue out at his beloved twin sister. "I actually turned down Netflix to come do this dinky lil baking show with you, Birdie, so you better be fuckin' grateful."

"I've been blessed by your presence," Lark says immediately, bumping their shoulders together. "You should be on Netflix, by the way, it's total bullshit you're not. Like, I'm so glad we're doing this together, but—"

"No, you know what?" Donnie cuts in, giving her a little squeeze. "I'm excited about it. I'm taking a comedy sabbatical and I'm gonna do nothing but eat cupcakes and make you miserable on set and it's gonna be great. Netflix can eat my entire ass, honestly."

Ahead of them, David's friend snorts, breaking off the direction debate to walk backwards through the revolving door. Donnie is thoroughly impressed. "From what I heard, Netflix is more of a 'no lube no aftercare' kind of lover. Executiveth, you know? They jutht wanna fuck you over and then roll over and go to thleep." The guy eyes Donnie up and down in a way that makes him roll his shoulders back and stand up straighter. Lark what the fuck taps him in the ribs and he shut the fuck up bumps her knee. Sue him, he’s a disaster bi and weak to authoritative gazes. She knows this already. “Your work’th incredible, though, I thaw one of your thows a couple yearth ago and I wath crying laughing. If Netflix doethn’t want you, that’th their loth.”

Donnie responds in the only reasonable fashion: he fans a hand in front of his face and swoons heavily against Lark, who cheerfully ducks out from beneath his arm and lets him stumble into a trashcan. “Keep talking like that and we’re going right to the bathroom, stranger.” He purrs, and they laugh, clear and pleasant. “Normally I make people buy me dinner before rawdogging me in public, but I can always make an exception.”

David suddenly whirls around from where he'd been leading the procession, brows furrowed tightly behind his glasses. “I fully forgot y’all don’t know each other.” He says, like it’s inconceivable to exist in a world where his friends don’t all run in the same social circles.

Donnie shrugs and holds out a hand. "I just assumed you kidnapped someone with a bigger car, T-B-H. Donnie Frasier, he/him. What's up?"

The stranger takes his hand and shakes, but keeps a severe facial expression. "I'm actually airport polithe, I'm here to inthpect your luggage for ilithit thubthtanthes," they say seriously, holding Donnie's gaze for two, three, four beats before cracking a grin. "Ethan Thtone, altho he/him, head of wardrobe and rethident big car boy."

"Fuckin' rub it in," David mutters, and lets Ethan swat him.

"I don't wanna hear anything from the man who dethided to thqueeze hith theven-foot ath into a clown car." Ethan says, cementing his place as Donnie's new favorite. “Go be useful and get Karen, I wanna thmooze. My car,” he answers as Donnie’s opening his mouth to ask the question.

“Why?”

“Because she’s old and white and complains the entire time!” David yells over his shoulder, disappearing into the parking lot with Ethan’s keyring.

Ethan makes an affronted noise. “He’th thuch a jerk,” he mutters, but there’s something fond tugging at the corners of his mouth as he says it.

“He’s single, you know,” Donnie blurts out, because his mouth continues to move faster than his brain and they both continue to hate him. He lets Lark smack him in the arm with a gleeful “Donnie!” because yeah, fair.

Ethan goes bright red, and he laughs nervously. “Oh, uh  — yeah, I know. We, uh, actually worked together while, uh, y’all were thtill — a thing? Tho, uh. I know. I jutht think he’s cute, though, I’m not trying to, like, move in on anything—”

“God, please,” Donnie laughs, patting Ethan on the back. “He’s my best friend, but like. That ship done sailed, my dude. No hard feelings over here if you wanna, y’know.”

“Mount. Climb aboard. Cast off.” Lark supplies helpfully, grinning gleefully as Ethan turns redder and redder with every word. “Thank fuck you’re here now, Ducky, I felt like I was losing my mind watching them try to flirt.”

“We weren’t flirting.” Ethan protests weakly. Lark raises an eyebrow at him. “Honetht! I’m a terrible flirt.”

“So’s David,” the twins say in unison. Ethan groans and buries his face in his hands, muttering something under his breath that might be “abtholutely fuck me”.

Lark ignores him. “I’ve been telling him that Davey is available, too, he kept insisting he didn’t want to make things weird with you coming onto the project—”

Donnie emphatically waves his hands. “Fuck no! I mean, I for sure wanna get some popcorn and watch the show, but, like, from the point-five seconds I’ve known you—” 

“Yeth, pleathe, let’th talk credentialth,” Ethan says desperately.

“What? No.” Donnie says, gesturing at Ethan’s everything with a raised eyebrow. “You’re cute, you dress well, you like my jokes, you don’t let David intimidate you even though you like him, I trust you already. You’ll be great, I’m excited to work with you, blah blah blah. Like, feel free to stop me if you’re legit uncomfortable, but—”

“Remember what I said before, E?” Lark interrupts, patting Ethan’s back. “About Donnie being a professional meddler?”

Donnie nods in satisfaction. “I am a professional meddler. Please let me meddle, we’ll bond and become best friends and ruin David’s life. It’ll be so good.”

Ethan looks up at the sky. Donnie doesn’t know why; if anyone’s up there, they know better than to mess with Donnie Frasier when he’s on a mission. “If I thay yeth,” he says uncertainly, and the twins immediately swivel like sharks smelling blood. “Can we at leatht be thubtle about it?”

Lark winces, looking at her brother. “Tall order, Ducky. Think you can handle it?”

Donnie flips her off with one hand and holds out the other for Ethan to hesitantly shake. “Ethan Stone,” he says solemnly. “This is going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”

Ethan still vaguely looks like he wants the earth to swallow him whole. “I mean it, though, I’m really a terrible flirt.”

Donnie looks at his sister. “Vibe check?”

“Drama club Peggy circa 2016.”

Donnie stares in horror. “Please tell me it’s not the same vibes.”

Lark claps three times. Donnie throws his head back and cackles. Ethan looks like he’s about two seconds away from climbing into the sewer and living his best ninja turtle life. “It’th not  — I don’t even know what that meanth, I’m not, like  —  thtop — thtop laughing, I’m theriouth—” But he’s grinning despite himself, because Donnie’s never once been able to hold a mildly uncomfortable conversation with someone without making them laugh, and he’s not about to break his streak now with all these fancy new TV people to impress.

“Ethan,” Donnie sighs, wiping imaginary tears from his eyes and slinging an arm over his new best friend’s shoulders. “I’m going to hook you guys up so hard. I cannot wait.”

A white Toyota pulls up in front of them, hazards on, and David climbs out of the driver’s side, half-jogging over to grab Donnie’s bags and shove ‘em in the trunk. “Everything okay?” He asks, mostly to Ethan, who’s beginning to match the color of the beret David used to wear in college. Donnie wonders if Ethan knows about the beret. Donnie desperately needs Ethan to know about the beret.

“Fine,” he and Ethan say at the same time, in wildly different tones of voice.

David gives Donnie A Look. “What are you doing to my wardrobe head?”

“Irreversibly changing the course of your lives,” Donnie says cheerfully, rubbing Ethan’s shoulder.

“Fucking delightful.” David sighs, rolling his eyes. “C’mon, I wanna get back to the hotel by five and you’ve still got a shitload of people to meet. Do not let Donnie bully you into anything you don’t wanna do,” he says to Ethan, just loud enough that Donnie can reasonably make a comment about it.

And he will. “You’ll thank me for this one day, boyos.” He says haughtily, and Lark laughs loudly, shoving him into the backseat of the Toyota and climbing in after him. She squeezes his hand hard as they’re settling in: I missed you. He squeezes back and grins at her. Missed you more.

David buckles himself into the driver’s seat and meets his gaze in the rearview mirror. “As long as you keep whatever shenanigans you’re planning off Jay and Alexa’s radars, I’ll do whatever you want, dude, I don’t give a single shit.”

Lark pulls out her phone to text someone. “Kinky,” she comments, grinning as David sputters in the front seat. “In front of Ethan and the entire airport and God, too? Fuck it up, my guy.”

“I’m in hell.” David deadpans, and pulls out towards the airport exit.

[writersbloxx]

Haunted House Part 1

Prompt: Good news; That ‘haunted house’ you just snuck into to hunt ghosts? It’s definitely haunted! You have a very talkative ghost right in front of you! Bad news; the ghost only died about 1 hour ago, and the killer is still in the building. You can’t find the exit.

Part 2 

It’s sweltering. The sun is sitting over me, completely unobstructed, producing the kind of heat that makes the air feel heavy. I swipe across my brow, unsurprised at the moisture my wrist collects from it. The street isn't quiet, or deserted- it rests adjacent to our town’s train station. At this time in the afternoon, people are coming home from their jobs in the city. Cars are parked up and down the road; the parking lot by the station was never enough. I see walkers, bikers, and commuters loosening their ties while shielding their eyes from the sun as their keys jingle in their hand, ready to embrace the air conditioning of their car.  

And then there’s the house. It wasn't abandoned recently- for as long as I can remember nobody lived in that house. However, this vacancy and the “haunting” rumors morphed the house into a popular spot for drinking, smoking, or just hanging out among other highschool students. 

It was a fairly large house, with numerous windows overlooking both sides of the street. A spacious wrap-around porch, and a large front yard to compliment it. The off-white paint wasn’t peeling or warped. There wasn’t mold or overgrowth accenting the shutters. No broken glass or faded tiles- it looked like any other house.

So what am I doing here? There's apparently a ghost. There are bound to be ghost rumors when it comes to abandoned houses, but there's something about this house that just fascinates me.

I gather the will to cross the street and make my way across the grass. Mounting the stone steps to the porch, I note to myself that the grass is surprisingly well kept- ignoring the dehydrated, tannish color of most of the lawn. In this heat wave, that's to be expected. 

The front door isn't unlocked, that’d be too easy. There has to be a way in, I furrow my brow in thought as I step to my left, attempting to open the windows next to the door. Nothing. I try my luck with the ones on the right. No dice. I contemplate trying the white door under the porch, standing before the steps. It most likely leads to the basement. I walk to the other end of the porch, noting a couple more windows on the right side of the house.  

Stepping towards the first one, I place a sweaty palm on the glass while snaking the fingers of my other hand at the trim of the window and pull up. Miraculously, it's unlatched. It slides open with ease and there's no screen behind it to push past. 

I could just leave right now. I could go home and nothing would become of it. Something in my bones is screaming for me not to go through with this. 

I gather myself and enter through the window, my left leg going through first, ducking my head under the frame, and my right leg trailing behind me.

[sofiaaaaaaaa03]

Chaotic Foundling

Paring: Din Djarin x teen reader (GN)

Word count: 1,908

Rating : PG

Summary : Din's foundling is a wild thing and poor him has to do his best and parent them.

Warning: I am not really that wild so I did my best to show that they really don't have any boundaries in life lol. I hope you enjoy :)

It only took Din a day after taking you in to realize how much of a handful you would become. Sure, he thought that you were just a little on the hyperactive side…. He was quickly proven wrong.

“Stay put. Stay quiet.” Din sat you on the co-pilot’s seat of the Razor Crest. He was making last minute preparations for their departure off-planet. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” You hummed, swinging your legs in the chair as he walked off.

He made his way over to the sleeping quarters to check on Grogu. The Mandalorian was unable to make a proper check up as the ship suddenly jerked, tripping Din over his feet and face first into the floor. His armor rang loudly in his ears, disorienting him for several clicks before he managed to make a proper stance and run to the cockpit. There, he found you sitting in the pilot’s chair, his chair, a wild grin on your face as you gripped the controls.

You made a disappointed grunt when Din tried to pry your hands off of the controls.

“No!” You swatted at his hands in an attempt to stop him but he overpowered you quickly, landing the razor crest in a fast manner. The pit was silent except for the occasional beeping of machinery.

Din suddenly turned to you. “What was that?”

“You took forever!”

Din paused a moment, seemingly in disbelief despite not being able to see his face. “I was gone five seconds.”

----------

“Y/N! Stay put. I’m coming to get you.” Din stood at the base of a dune, staring up into the sky where you were. He had turned away for one second the next thing he knew was you got nabbed by local thieves who’d made a surprise attack, taken up into the air by one of them mounted on their cruisers as others surrounded him.

“No shit!” Your voice rang from above.

Din was quick to overpower the group around him. They were equipped with menial weapons that were nothing compared to his beskar. After throwing the last of the men to the ground, Din made a move to activate his jetpack when a body fell to his feet. He paused a click, seemingly unaffected by the sudden crack the body made and looked up at the cruiser where you sat alone.

To say that Din was proud would have been an understatement.

“Good job kid,” Din beamed underneath his beskar. “Sit tight, I’m- hey- wait- NO.”

Without giving Din a chance to finish his statement you dove into the air. You had no parachute or jetpack on your own. Instead you dawned a crazed grin on your face and a light in your eyes as you fell closer and closer to the ground. Your mouth opened to yell in joy, but instead made an “oof” sound when Din caught you midair.

“STILL ALIVE!” You exclaimed, dangling upside down from the way Din managed to catch you.

“Maybe if I drop you you’ll have some sense knocked into that head of yours.”

-----

Din thought that after the endless lectures you’d come to realize that you were to stay put where you were told as he went into battle. He quickly realized he was wrong when amidst the soldiers was speck of (H/C). He paused for a moment, unsure of what to think as he scanned the area for whatever it was he saw. Blasters grazed his helmet and hit a droid behind him, Din quickly straightened up and turned to the fallen droid before diverting his gaze back to whoever shot the fire.

There you were, carrying a blaster almost twice your size with Grogu swaddled on your back. And you were… laughing?

“Y/N” Din began marching towards you too.

“I wish I could have seen the look on your face.” You wheezed, jumping up and down. Din worried for the blaster in your hands and whoever was unfortunate enough to receive the next shot, most importantly whether it was to be on purpose or not. “Guess you weren’t ready for me to save your butt just now. You’re getting slow Din!”

A blast shot out of Din’s weapon as a soldier advanced toward the two children. You barely made a reaction as you were in the middle of spinning in joy.

“Where did you get that? I- Y’know what- nevermind. Go back to the ship. We’ll talk later.”

“But we like it here-”

“Now.”

You looked at Din a moment with a small frown. It quickly concerned Din when he saw that frown turn into a toothy grin, but before he could say anything a cruiser zoomed past him and all he could do was watch as you somehow mounted the vehicle mid-air, laughing with a wild glint in your eyes,

“No. Kid get off. No, no- Y/N! Hey!” Din broke into a run and followed the cruiser as you taunted him by sticking out your tongue and shooting the blaster recklessly.

---

The Mandalorian was assigned to hunt down a Bosa that had been terrorizing a peaceful farming village. After leaving you and Grogu to the care of the villagers, he spent the next several days tracking down the beast before he finally found it. What he was not expecting to find was you taunting the trapped beast with a metal pole and a blaster by your side. How you managed to trap it, Din didn’t know. He didn’t even want to know how long you waited before sneaking out of the village. But he turned to find Grogu nearby watching, giggling wildly until he fell over.

Din tried to call for you, but you didn’t hear as the beast roared loudly at you. You bore a crazed grin and screamed back at the creature, your face unnecessarily close to its mouth, and laughed wildly as you poked the creature with a stick. Just as the creature was about to try and bite you from it’s trap, Din picked you up and carried you and Grogu away from the creature.

“Can we cook it??”

----

With the amount of trouble you’ve caused for Din he’s learned to do a routine checkup to make sure that you had all of your limbs intact as they should be. With the amount of trouble you went into, from taking big falls and getting hit by a dewback -long story- he realized that checkups were a necessity as you probably had more mishaps and adventures than you let on.

“YOU’LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE.”

“You need the bacta kid,” Din was hot on your tail as you ran away from him and the bacta spray in your hands. He quickly put you in a corner. “Aha. C’mere, it’ll only sting a little.”

He took some steps forward and knelt down, opening his hand so as to invite you to allow him to put the spray on your arm. For a moment, he saw your eyes soften and thought he finally got through to you.

“SNEAK ATTACK.”

Seemingly out of nowhere you smacked a metal breastplate against his helmet and made a run for it as he was disoriented.

---

For obvious reasons, Din had to find a lock for the armory. He took you and Grogu with him to the local market close to where they were given room and board for the night.

“Put it back.”

Your hand froze, holding a blade in your hand. You quickly stuffed it out of sight even though Din was ahead of you and wasn’t looking in your direction. “Put what back?”

Din stopped after a few paces, his attention turned to a fruit stand and began to pick up some and check to see if they were ripe. “What happened to the credits I gave you?”

“I lost them.”

A sigh. Din wasn’t surprised. “How?”

There was a pause.

“Gambling.” The largest smirk spreads across your face.

Din whipped around. He blinked for several moments and enunciated each syllable, tone almost sarcastic and defeated as though he was trying to not believe what you’d said “Gambling?” You nodded enthusiastically. With a sign, Din decided that he didn’t want to deal with any interrogation and cause a scene, instead he grabbed your arm to lead you in front. “We’ll talk about it later. For now, you in front until we get to the ship.”

The clan made their way down the marketplace until Din steered the troupe to a vendor with an array of weapons on her stall. You were left admiring the pieces as Din made his business. He needed some information regarding his next bounty and thanked the vendor afterwards, paying a little extra for her cooperation before turning to you.

“What?” You stared up at him with widened eyes.

Din held his hand out, “C’mon.”

You stared at his hand for a moment before sighing, fishing a small bomb out and placing it in his hand. The vendor watched wide eyed but said nothing as Din returned the ware to her and returned his gaze to you. “All of it. I wasn’t born yesterday.”

A moment. Then a sigh as you find that you had no way out of it. You pulled out all of the wares you’d stolen from the stand alone, putting them all on a considerably big pile on the stall while the vendor quickly retrieved them to put away.

“There.” You huffed, crossing your arms and turning away from Din.

“Thank you.” Din’s tone was sarcastic.

“Yeah, no problem rust bucket.”

Din shook his head and turned to the woman, “I’m sorry. My foundling hasn’t broken their habit of stealing. I hope you can understand.”

After he made you apologize to the vendor he took you by your arm and walked you back through the streets and towards the ship. He sighed, “I don’t know why I bring you to the markets. If you don’t stop this you’ll end up stealing from the wrong hand. And then what will you do?”

“Die probably”

---

Din knocked on the door of your sleeping cot. It was early morning and he needed you to help him with some preparations for the next trip off planet.

“Y/N. I need you to help me out with inventory. Can you come out?”

The door made a hiss before opening and you bounced out of the hull and zoomed off, ready to tackle the tasks. You were usually ecstatic to go off-planet, despite Din’s dismay as he knew it meant you’d find yourself into more trouble. He chuckled a moment and was going to walk off when the datapad on your bed caught his attention. He picked it up a moment and gazed at the screen.

You perked up at his voice while you were on your way to the storage below the floorboards. “Kid, what’s this?” He had the screen facing you, showing detailed maps of star destroyers and other military projects.

You gave the screen a glance before disappearing under the floorboards, your voice echoing louder from beneath. “I was just messing around a bit with some channels and found that.”

Din stared at the pit where you were for a moment before walking off into the cockpit, falling into his chair. He found himself facing an unprecedented predicament in which he was faced to call for Bo-Katan to inform her that his foundling had hacked into the Empire’s system.

Tag list:

@kiara-is-gay @sagedgeek

[viking-raider]

Southern Generation - Part IV

Summary: Sy wakes up in Lily’s arms and shows his gratitude for her comforting him. The mysterious caller is revealed, causing Sy to get extremely protective.

Pairing: Captain Syverson/OFC

Word Count: 7,178

Rating: M - Language, Protective!Sy, Domestic Kink, Stalking, Harassment, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Angst, Confession, Smut - Nipple stimulation, intercourse, orgasm, cream pie. 

Inspiration: Always wanted to write a Sy fic and this is a re-work on an old fic I wrote several years ago.

Author’s Note: Thank you for all the love and support, @wondersofdreaming​! Your ideas, suggestions and encouragement mean the world to me, and my stories.

Sy woke the next morning wrapped around a warm body and a steady heart beat in his ear, he tipped his head back and was met with Lily's sleeping face, his head pillowed on her breasts. He smiled, hugging his arms snugger around her waist and sighed, comfortable and peaceful, nuzzling his face into her chest.

Lily moaned softly, making Sy smile against the fabric of the night shirt she was wearing, her hand moved against the broad expanse of his back, fingertips sleepily caressing his spine, unconsciously soothing him, before moving between his shoulder blades, tickling the nape of his neck and rubbing the back of his head with her palm.

He vaguely remembered her calling his name and holding him after his nightmare, whispering into his ear that he was safe and at home, with her. Lily made the choice to bring him to her bed, comforting him even more, until he fell asleep, and for the first time in years, Sy actually dreamt about something other than war and endless spaces of bloody sand.

Reaching up, Sy brushed his fingers through her bangs, smiling. “My Angel.” He whispered, not wanting to wake her.

Carefully unwrapping himself from around her, Sy slipped out of bed and gingerly covered Lily up, before tip toeing downstairs to the kitchen. Scratching the back of his head for a moment, Sy moved about the kitchen, setting up the coffee maker, pulled out the skillet and started making breakfast. He figured she had been making him breakfast every morning for the last several months, it was time for him to return the favor.

So, Sy went all out, once he had everything made, he brought it upstairs to her.

Lily took a deep breath and moaned, stretching and rolling onto her back, but found Sy was no longer in bed with her. She sat up, panicked that something had happened to him, and was about to get out of bed to look for him, when he appeared in the bedroom door, relieved he was all right.

“Morning.” He smiled, finding her sitting up.

“Did you make breakfast?” She frowned as he approached her side of the bed.

“I did.” He nodded, setting her steaming cup of tea on her bedside table. “I thought, since you always make me breakfast, that I'd make you breakfast this go around.” Sy explained, setting the tray of food over her lap.

“What's better than breakfast in bed?”

“Nothing currently comes to mind.” Lily smiled, a soft blush on her cheeks, actually pleasantly surprised at this change of events, touched at Sy’s sweet gesture.

“I didn't think so.” Sy chuckled, pulling up the chair that was at a small desk in her room and sat down, balancing his own plate of food in his lap.

“So, what's on your agenda today, Captain?” She asked, taking a sip of her tea and was surprised to find it was exactly to her liking.

“I think, it's time I started working on the roof.” He replied, bringing his fork to his mouth. “I want to at least give it some temporary patches, before the weather turns.” He told her, after swallowing. “It'll also give me a chance to find out what all the problems with it are, and if I'll need to re-roof it.”

“I hope not.” Lily frowned, washing down some of her food with a gulp of tea.

“Well, from what I've seen on the ground, it looks to be the original roof that was put on when the house was built.” He chuckled at her, setting his empty plate on her nightstand. “That was nearly a century ago.”

“Unless, you know about it being replaced since then?” He asked her, tilting his head.

“The realtor didn't mention it to me.” Lily replied, searching her mind for any scrap of memory of the day she bought the place.

“That's all right.” Sy assured her, gently touching her hand. “I'll get it done, don't you worry.”

Lily smiled at him, turning her hand to thread her fingers with his. “I'm not worried, since you're the one on the case.” She replied, softly.

Sy grinned at her, bringing her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers, before letting go and collecting their plates. “You know, what would you say, if I managed to install a dishwasher for you?” He asked, pausing in the doorway of her bedroom.

“I have a dishwasher.” Lily giggled, holding up her hands and wiggling her fingers at him.

“You know what I mean, sugar butt.” He laughed, smirking even broader at her.

Lily shrugged, still giggling at him, her cheeks coloring at his nickname. “I don't know, Bear. I've never had one before.”

“Well then, Angel, I'll riddle that one out for you.” He promised in a soft voice.

“I believe you.” She whispered back, giddy, and not for a dishwasher.

“I'm going to check the mail.” Lily said, drying her hands on a dish towel, after washing the dishes from lunch.

“All right.” Sy nodded, still sitting at the table.

Sy had stood to refill his coffee cup, when the phone rang. Biting his lip and glancing out of the kitchen, he saw Lily was too far down the driveway to call her back to answer it, so he picked it up instead; clearing his throat.

“Moore residence.” He spoke into the receiver.

“She's a sweet thing, isn't she?” A sinister voice asked from the other end.

“Excuse you?” Sy barked, a flash of hot anger bursting through his body.

“Oh yes.” The voice chuckled, incredibly delighted. “She is sweet as a Lily, so pure and good.”

“Who is this?” Sy demanded with a deep growl, his teeth gritted and bared as he gripped the handle of the phone even tighter in his hand.

“She's mine, you know.” They growled back at Sy, breathing heavily, their own anger mounting. “She's always been mine and she will always be mine.”

“Not anymore.” Sy hissed back and slammed the phone down in its cradle.

“Sy?” Lily frowned, coming into the kitchen as he hung up the phone. “Who was that?”

“I don't know, you tell me?” He replied, turning towards her, brows drawn together.

“I'm not the one that answered it, Austin.” She countered, shaking her head, confused by his anger.

“It was some guy, said you were his, always had been and would be.” Sy told her, pushing his jaw forward.

Lily's eyes glassed over, letting out a shuddering breath and started trembling. Sy blinked at her, his anger at the caller's words melting away to alarmed concern. He took a step forward, reaching out for her, but Lily stumbled away from him, tears finally spilling free.

“Lily.” He whispered softly, his chest tight. “Easy.” He cooed at her, licking his lips.

“I'm not his, not anymore.” She whimpered, shaking her head. “Why can't he just leave me be.”

Sy blinked at her, frowning harder. “What?”

“Nothing.” Lily mewled, biting her lip.

“No, come on.” He coaxed her, resting his hand on her arm and gently pulled her against him. “Tell me.” He whispered, gently rubbing her back.

“I thought I got away from him.” She sniffled against his shirt. “Thirteen hundred miles away from him. I was so careful—so careful.” She mumbled, hands clinging onto the sides of his shirt. “I don't-I don't know how he found me—unless...”

“Unless?” Sy frowned, still slowly rubbing her back and trying to process what she was telling him. “Sit down.” He said, moving them towards the breakfast table and pulled out a chair for her, before bringing the other one around from the other side to sit beside her.

“Start at the beginning.”

Lily cleared her throat and stared down at her hands, folded in her lap. “I was born and raised in Middleburg, Virginia. You know, that I'm an only child and that my mom died, when I was born. I was raised by my grandparents, because my dad was in and out of my life, before just finally disappearing from it, when I was nineteen.” She explained to him, licking her lips.

“He blamed me for my mom's death.” She added, quietly.

Sy reached out and rested his hand on her thigh, squeezing it gently, and gave her a sweet smile.

“When I was seventeen, I met a boy at church, Jak.” Lily continued to explain to him. “It was the only time I really got to interact with others, my grandparents were strict, homeschooling me and only really letting me out of the house, unless they were with me, which was usually only for church on Sunday.” She fidgeted, shyly. “He was the only boy to show any interest in me, which didn't and did surprise me. The little house on the prairie dresses my grandma made me wear, and the glasses I had back then, you could see the moon through them.” She chuckled, cheeks colored.

Sy smiled back at her, even picturing her as a little girl like that, he still found her beautiful.

“But, Jak didn't care, or at least he didn't say or show he did. I would sneak out at night to meet him in the apple orchard my grandfather grew. It had been in our family since the Revolutionary War, the land was given to my, how many times, great-grandfather as payment for his service in the war.”

“I bet it's beautiful.” Sy commented, warmed at the thought.

“They are, so many of the trees are the original ones that were planted.” She smiled back, picturing the orchard in her mind. “The first one that was ever planted, after he cleared away the land, is still there and yielding, there's a plaque staked by its roots, and people come from all around to see it and the orchard, the Warren Apple.”

Sy rested back in his chair. “Your family owns the Warren Orchard Company? You're one of those Warrens?”

“I am.” She nodded, smiling proudly at that fact, but it vanished.

“Anyway, Jak and I would sneak every moment we could to see each other. He even got a job, during the summer, in the orchard, so we could see each other even more.” She took a deep breath, letting it out softly. “But, a year after we met and started being sweet on each other, my grandparents lodged a missionary for his two year mission in our ward. Jak thought he and I were getting close, that my grandparents had actually brought him to live with us, so he and I could court and marry.”

“He grew jealous and possessive. I was stupid, naive and young, I didn't know what was happening, that he was being abusive, until it was almost far too late.”

“What happened, that caused you to realize it?” Sy asked, tilting his head at her.

“I met Jak in the orchard one night, when I was twenty, the day after the missionary went back home to Michigan, because his two years were up. When I got there, Jak was pacing, already angry. Livid. When he saw me, he started yelling about how he had seen me kissing the missionary, how we practically ate each other's faces on the back porch, while everyone else was in the house, during his farewell party.” She said, glancing out the window behind the breakfast table.

“Of course, I hadn't been. Matt, the Missionary, and I had been on the back porch together, I had gone out there to get away from the press of all the people and he went out there to check on me. We had hugged, only the once, since doing so isn't really acceptable, two not courting, unchaperoned kids. But, we did nothing more, before going back inside. The truth didn't matter to Jak though, he had his version of what he saw and it was unchangeable.” Lily bit her lip and gripped Sy's wrist as his hand still laid on her thigh. “He lost his temper and hit me, but in my love sick stupidity, I didn't break it off there or tell my grandparents about it.”

“Instead, I enrolled in a university for Photography and Web Design, moved out of my grandparents' place and into one with him, like an idiot.”

“You weren't an idiot, Lily.” Sy told her, shaking his head and slipping his hand into hers. “It's more common than you think.”

“I know it is.” She sighed, clinging onto his hand.

“He only got worse and it got harder for me to get my school work done, with him accusing me that I was sleeping with my project partners, even teachers.” She huffed, shaking her head at his allegations, that now sounded so ridiculous. “The straw that broke the camel's back was,” She paused, biting and licking her lips, fighting down a bubble of emotions and memories. “One of my project mates called to ask me about the faux website we were designing for a fake company we had to make up, cause she wanted to know what time was good for us to meet up, and Jak answered the phone, claimed he heard a guy in the background, throwing the phone across the living room and went ballistic, saying I was having her call me to set up a time for me and the guy he heard, to try and fool him.”

“He spent the next hour going to town on me.” She said, glancing up at him, the hint and meaning in her eyes.

“Afterwards, he went to work and I packed a bag. I had some money from the family orchard business, so I took a good portion of it, bought a greyhound bus ticket to a cousin I was close to in New Jersey, Maggie, and stayed with her, knowing he wouldn't find me there, my grandparents wouldn't think I'd go there, and she wouldn't ever rat on me. While I was there, I petitioned for a name change, from Liliana Warren to Lily Ana Moore, and finished my degree, then found this place and moved out here.”

“So, how do you think he found you?” Sy asked, worried about her safety and angry that this asshole had the audacity to hurt her and wanted to try and hurt her again, but he kept a lid on his temper, not wanting to frighten her anymore than she already was.

“I've been keeping tabs on my grandparents, mostly through my cousin.” Lily answered, biting her lip. “She called me a year ago, to tell me that my grandmother had a stroke, a pretty bad stroke at that. She's apparently wheelchair bound now. Maggie went down there to visit them, and my grandfather was talking about how he needed someone to work on the company website, when Maggie let it slip that I have a web design business.”

“Oh.” Sy let out, eyes wide.

“Yeah.” She nodded back. “So, of course, they got upset, understanding that Maggie knew what had happened to me and where I was and all that. She called afterwards, apologizing up and down to me for it. She didn't tell them where I was or anything like that, just that I was safe and fine, and if I wanted to contact them, I would.”

“Did you?”

“I did.” Lily sighed, voice tight. “I figured after four years, I owed them a call.”

“So, do you think they told Jak?”

“I don't know.” She shrugged. “But, a week after I called them, I started getting hang up calls, then calls where no one would say anything for a few minutes, before hanging up. Then, two months ago, I got a call that was different from the others, he said something to me, and a month ago, he said something being soon.”

The wires connected in Sy's brain. “That's what caused you to take all those pills.”

Lily gulped and bit her lip, eyes burning, as she nodded her head. “Ye-ah.” She choked, fear and anxiety starting to mount inside of her again.

“Hey, hey.”

Sy cooed, wrapping his arms around her and pulled her into his lap, hugging her against his chest. “It's all right, Lily. It's going to be all right, I promised to protect you and I will. You are safe with me, you will always be safe with me, whatever the cost.” He whispered in her ear, holding her close and planning ways and means to protect her.

“Sy?” Lily called from the open door of her bedroom, just as Sy stepped out of the hall bathroom, in nothing, but a pair of black boxers.

“Lily?” He replied, rubbing the towel over his head, and looked up at her, lifting a brow, inquisitively.

Lily rested her hand on the handle of her door and stepped sideways, giving a little motion of her head into her room, a soft and offering expression on her face. Sy blinked at her, surprised, then down at Aika, who sat in the doorway of his room, feeling like he was picking what lady to sleep with for the night.

He tilted his head at Aika and gave her a sympathetic expression.

“Sorry, Girl.” He whispered to the Shepherd, turning towards Lily.

Lily chuckled at him, smiling and shaking her head as he passed by her and into her room. “You can come too, Aika.” She called to her, then turned into her room.

“You're cool with this?” Sy asked, eyes motioning to her bed.

“It was my idea, wasn't it?” She smiled at him, then stepped inside her closet for a moment and came back in a t-shirt-like nightie with Mickey Mouse on it, before pulling down the blankets and crawling into bed.

“It was.” He nodded, then laid down with her, covering up.

Lily scooted closer to him and Sy draped his arm over her waist, tucking her against him and she let him lay his head on her chest, stroking his arm. She was comfortable with the warm weight of his body against hers, the clean scent of his skin and hair from his shower. She felt Sy's body slowly melt into hers as he fell asleep, it had been her plan. Lily knew there was a high likelihood of Sy having another episode or nightmare, but figured, if he was there, with her, already safe and comfortable in her arms, he wouldn't have it.

That was her deepest hope, at least.

But, the next thing Lily knew, she was being jerked roughly off the bed and pinned underneath Sy's mountainous weight, his heavy and hot breath puffing against the side of her face as he blanketed her with his body, clearly startled and on high alert. The room lit up with a quick flash of lightning and the furious sound of rain beating on all parts of the house filled the bedroom around them.

“Austin.” She gasped, grasping the back of his arms, nails digging into his sweaty skin, thinking he had been set off by the noise of the sudden storm. “Aust-”

“Ssshhh.” He hushed her, lips brushing her temple, the hairs of his beard tickling her skin. “Stay here.” He whispered into her ear, then moved off of her and out of the room, Aika sitting in the open doorway and growling into the darkness of the hallway after him.

Lily sat up on her elbows, knowing that what was happening couldn't have been from one of Sy's nightmares or the storm, because Aika wouldn't be acting like this, she was angry, like she was daring something Lily couldn't see to try and cross her. But, nothing came, not even Sy, and Lily was starting to get worried. So, getting up, she edged around Aika and tip toed downstairs, jerking at another boom of thunder and crack of lightning, until she found Sy standing in the entryway.

“Austin?” She called out to him, over the sound of the rain, which sounded much louder downstairs.

“I told you to stay upstairs.” He barked, not looking back at her.

“What's wrong?” She asked, knowing there had to be something, by the tone of his voice.

“Nothing, just go back to bed.”

Narrowing her eyes, Lily stepped closer to him and her eyes grew wide, seeing what had caused Sy to wake up and react like he had. The large bay window in the den that faced out onto the porch and the front of the property was smashed, the glitter of the broken glass shined in the lightning strikes and left the outline of the brick amongst them, the cause of the broken window. Lily's eyes snapped out the living room window, expecting to see someone, not just someone, but Jak, to be standing out in the yard, staring back at them. But, there was no one, but her and Sy's cars. Her heart started to race and pound, making her feel dizzy and lightheaded, trembling so hard she almost lost her balance, but caught herself on the back of the couch.

Sy turned and grabbed her, picking her up in his arms and carried her back up to bed. “Stay here.” He ordered her, pointing a stiff finger at her, then went back downstairs.

Going out back, Sy grabbed a large piece of plywood he had bought in preparation for repairing the roof and instead used it to board up the broken window, until the storm passed and morning came, so he could find a piece of glass to replace it, leaving him and the den floor mostly wet. He moped the den floor and laid out nearly every towel Lily had in the house in hopes the old floorboards wouldn't warp under the water damage.

He stepped out onto the porch for a moment, glaring into wet dark. “This is my house now.” He growled, knowing Jak was still out there somewhere nearby. “My girl.” He hissed, before turning back inside, going up to the guest room to change into a dry pair of boxers and joined Lily back in her bed.

“It was him.” She mumbled, hugging her pillow to her chest. “It had to be him.”

Sy sighed softly, locking his arms around her waist and hugged her to his chest, curving his body around hers. He didn't know what to say to her, they both knew it had to be Jak, who else would have thrown a brick through someone's window in the middle of a storm like this one, especially after all the other incidents over the last several months; all the lines drew back to Jak on his unhealthy, possessive rampage to reclaim Lily as his own. Sy was afraid that if he verbalized his agreement with her, it would only inflate her already inflamed fear of the obvious.

So, he just clutched her tighter to him, pressing his lips to her shoulder and squeezing his eyes shut against the bright flashes of lightning.

“Lily, I'm going to go to town, I have something I need to pick up.” He told her, searching the living room for his car keys.

“I thought you already ordered the new windowpane?” Lily called back, appearing out of the kitchen, where she was washing the dishes.

“I did.” He nodded, he had found a shop that he could order a replacement windowpane for the den window that morning, but it wouldn't be ready until the next day. “This is for something else.” He told her, finding his keys under a magazine on the coffee table.

“What are you going for, then, Bear?” She asked, tilting her head at him.

Sy paused and regarded her. “Don't worry about it, Angel. I'll be back in an hour.” He told her, then, went out.

“Okay.” Lily frowned, glancing out the living room window, the thunder and lightning had passed during the early morning, but it was still raining cats and dogs.

Sighing, Lily turned back into the kitchen, taking a bucket and mop out of the utility closet, filled the bucket with warm water and soap, before getting down to mopping the floors, with nothing else to do in the current weather.

Sy rushed out to his truck, but was still almost half soaked by the time he settled himself in the driver's seat. Turning on the car and cranking on the heat, Sy pulled off the property and headed towards Celina. He pulled into the small parking center the small town had, scanning the rain blurred signs, looking for the one he was heading for, before opening the door and rushing towards it, pulling open the door, with an electric ding, announcing his presence.

“How can I help you?” the shop owner asked, coming out of a small room in the back and stopped behind a long glass case.

“Yeah, I'm looking for something specific.” Sy replied, stopping on the other side of the glass case, a look of understanding in both men's eyes.

“What specifics would that be?”

“Taurus, PT111 G2, 9mm.” Sy rattled off with familiar ease.

“Do you have a license and ID?” The store owner asked, eyes scanning the case between them.

“Then, some.” Sy laughed, pulling out his wallet to show the man his qualifications.

“You're a retired Captain.” The man noted, seeing Sy's military ID.

“That I am.” Sy chuckled, grinning with some pride.

The store owner got Sy squared away with the weapon he wanted, a secure case and a couple rounds of ammo, while also chattering about the military, being a retired Staff Sergeant himself. Getting back into his truck, he put the case under the passenger seat, pausing to stare at it for a moment,emotions and thoughts brewing inside of him, then shook them off. Satisfied, Sy went back home to Lily, finding her dusting the living room, when he came in, carrying the case and sat it down on the coffee table.

Lily paused, dust rag poised above the mantelpiece, staring at the case. “Is that what I think it is?” She asked, finally looking up at him.

“If you think it's a gun, then yes.” Sy replied, sitting down on the couch and tugging on the soaked laces of his boots.

“Why,” She gulped, arm dropping to her side. “did you buy a gun and bring it here?”

“Because, I wanted to and as a precaution.” He answered her, yanking his boots off.

“A precaution?”

“There is a fucking asshole out there.” Sy barked, jerking his arm up and finger pointing out the window. “Trying to hurt you.” His finger moved to her, in emphasis. “I am a big man. I'm a strong man. I've killed and subdued more than one man with my bare hands, but a personal cost.” He explained to her, standing and jerking up his shirt, showing her a couple of scars on his sides and chest, some were round and puckered, gunshot wounds, others were stripes, like stab wounds.

“If that prick decides to come into this house, to try and put his hands on you. That,” He pointed down to the gun case. “is going to be the first thing he wants to meet, because if he has to get close enough to me, that I need to put my hands on him, then they will be that last thing he will ever feel.” He told her, chest heaving as he got worked up over the situation.

Lily gulped at him, biting her lip, a flash of fear in her eyes at his passionate words, seeing a vein of rage that Jak had also been capable of.

“I just want to protect you.” He said softly, taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself down; seeing he had scared her.

“I know you do, Austin.” She whimpered back, gulping, eyes shiny. “I know you do.”

Sy moaned, something cold pressing into his neck. “Hm, Lily.” He chuckled, scrunching his head and shoulders together, grinning as the cold and wet touched his bare chest, making him grunt and wiggle away. “Why are you so col-” He started to laugh, opening his eyes, only to meet the soulful and tawny colored eyes of Aika.

“Aika, what are ya doin' here?” He frowned, and sat up, finding it was just him and the German Shepherd in the bed, Lily nowhere in sight. “Lily?” He called out, turning his head towards the master bathroom, but it was empty.

Panic filled Sy as he yanked the blankets back and pounded down the stairs into the living room, then the den. Sy squeezed his eyes shut, taking deep breaths and clenching his hands in and out of fists, trying to keep himself cool and calm, before going into the kitchen, hearing the screen of the back door knocking against the door frame, and found the main back door was ajar.

“What is she doing?” He whispered to himself, biting his lip and looking back, considering the option of going back upstairs and getting the gun, but something in his gut told him he wouldn't need it.

Opening the door, Sy stepped out onto the back porch, a shiver wracking his body as a strong gust of rainy wind rushed by him. He narrowed his eyes, scanning the drenched backyard, the tall, unruly and uncut grass bent from the pelting of the rain and gusts of wind, he caught a quick movement to his left and turned in that direction, stepping off the porch and followed after it, towards the barn, just catching the billowing fabric of Lily's white nightie, vanishing inside.

“Lily, what are you doing in here?” He called out, pushing open the barn door a bit more. “Lily?” He called again, frowning as he crossed the barn and found her huddled in one of the old horse stalls. “What are you doing in here, Angel?” He cooed at her, shaking his head, droplets of rain running down both of their faces, and watched her melt into the corner.

Lily panted, her back pressed against the warped and worn wall behind her, arms pressed to her chest, her nightie so soaked, it was almost see through. Sy bit his lip and gulped, slowly crouching down. He knew what was going on, he had seen and suffered things like this a million times over the last ten plus years. She was having a PTSD episode, running away from the terror that was inside her head, trying to hide and find somewhere safe from it. Everything over the last several months with Jak stalking and harassing her was really starting to affect her, finally breaking her it seemed.

“I'm not going to hurt you, love.” He said softly, keeping his voice soft and low. “Come here.” He gulped, opening his arms to her and biting his lip with apprehension. “It's all right. You know, you can trust me, Sugar.” He whispered, nodding his head as she slowly unfolded herself and crawled over to him.

“Hey, Angel.” Sy cooed, sighing softly, and closed his arms around her, pressing his lips to the top of wet her head. “Ssshh.” He hushed her, rubbing her back and cupping the back of her head, feeling her tears add to the raindrops on his chest.

“I c-can-can't ta-take it an-anymore.” She sobbed, trembling in his arms, overcome with emotions and cold.

“We'll get through this, Angel.” He whispered to her, cupping her chilled cheeks in his hands and tilted her head back to look up at him. “We will get through this. You and I will get through this together. Everything will work out.”

Lily shook her head, her pale lips trembling. “N-no, it wo-won't. He-he always g-gets what h-he wants. All-always.” She mewled, whining. “I don't kn-know why I-I thought I c-could ge-get away.”

Sy's expression was hard for a moment, before he brought their faces together and kissed her, deeply. Lily stiffened against him, taken off guard by his kiss, but she didn't pull away or push him away. Gulping, she shyly returned his kiss, resting her hands on him, feeling the skin of his sides jump and react to her icy touch.

“I've wanted to kiss you.” Sy said, pulling back. “For such a long time.” He admitted, looking into her eyes. “Since that day on the porch, when you woke me up.”

“Since, you gave me your hoodie at the fair.” She whispered back, licking her lips, the warmth of Sy's still lingering on them.

Sy leaned forward, kissing her gently and brushing his fingers through her dripping hair, Lily pushing forward to deepen it for a moment, letting out a breathy whimper. Sy smirked, then looked down at the floor between them, it was still strewn with decades old hay and dirt. He held up a finger and stood, bumping around in the dark barn before a scratching sound sounded among the patter of rain on the metal barn roof. A moment later, a teeny glow filled the space and Sy approached where Lily was still kneeling, holding an old, beat up, oil lantern he knew was in the barn from his many searches of the space, hanging it up on a bent and rusty nail on the stall wall, then disappeared for another moment.

“Stand up.” He said, motioning her out of the stall, holding something in his arms.

Lily frowned at him, but stepping out of the stall and out of his way, catching a glimpse of what it was, it was one of the drop clothes he bought for when he painted the house, keeping the paint off the new porch. Sy unfolded the drop cloth over the dirty hay and stall floor, making sure it was comfortable, then turned back to her.

“How gentlemanly.” Lily complimented him.

“I am a Southern boy.” Sy chuckled, letting his Southern drawl deepen, and wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her against him. “Who's in love with Southern Lady.”

Lily blushed as Sy kissed her again, hugging her against him and up off her feet, turning around and slowly dropped to his knees, gently laying her back on the situated drop cloth. Lily wrapped her arms around Sy's neck, moaning softly against his lips, feeling the fabric of her nightie rub against her cold hardened nipples as Sy moved to kiss down to her neck, sinking his teeth into her delicate skin and let out a loud moan, pushing up against him.

“Austin!” She cried out, pressing her cheek to his ear as he continued to bite and suck on her neck, his beard tickling and rubbing against the skin underneath her jaw, leaving it red and sensitive.

Sy chuckled, loving the sound of her calling out his name with the metal patter of rain, his hand gliding over the soaked material of her nightie, bunching and hiking it up out of his way, pressing his palm against her side, rubbing his big hands all over her exposed body, grunting and growling into her neck, like a wild grizzly bear, finally getting his claws on his prized catch. His big mitts were on her plump breasts almost instantly, squeezing and kneading them, rubbing the rough pads of his thumbs over the sensitive nubs of her nipples, making her moan and whimper, fidgeting beneath him and rubbing her legs together, adding to the growing slickness between them.

“You sound so sweet.” Sy moaned back, pulling away from her neck, a set of dark teeth marks left behind, dipping his head for a moment to swirl his tongue around one of her nipples.

“Sy.” She whined, gulping down a moan. “Sy, please.”

“Oh.” He smiled, impishly. “You like that?” He asked, flicking her erect nipple with the tip of his tongue and watched her partially melt. “Your sweet, sensitive, little buds.” He cooed, then closed his lips around one of them, suckling gently, rubbing and rolling his tongue against it.

“Ah, shit!” Lily gasped, gripping his shoulders, eyes rolling and fluttering back into her head, heels digging into the fabric of the drop cloth. “God damn it, Austin.” She snapped, pressing her palms to the back of his head, holding his mouth to her breasts, her moans and whimpers filled the barn, pushing against him, egging and begging him to keep going, her breathing growing rugged and labored, moans becoming more urgent and reckless.

“Ah, fuck fuck fuck.” She cried out. “Suck them harder.” She coaxed and demanded. “Oh shit! Please, Austin!!” She gasped suddenly, body going rigid with a soft tremor.

Sy pulled away from her and dripped a hand between her trembling thighs, finding an extremely wet patch there. “So, you come, when you get your pretty breasts sucked.” He grinned, fully turned on and impressed, licking her juices off his fingers and palm.

“I've also never heard you say such naughty words.” He added, teasingly.

Lily chuckled, slowly recovering and smiling shyly up at him.

“Oh, it's too late to get shy now, Angel.” Sy laughed, leaning down and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Your secret is out.” He continued to tease her, playfully bouncing her boobs in his palms.

“And, I'm not letting you off.”

“I'm going to regret this, I can just feel it now.” Lily huffed, shaking her head, but her smile gave away her true feelings.

“Yes, you are.”

Sy chuckled, his hand dipping back between her legs, rubbing her still dripping folds with his calloused fingers, melting her into a puddle of weak and vulnerable whimpers. “You're so sensitive and sound so sweet.” He cooed at her, licking his lips and watching her face. “So, so sweet.” He panted, mouth slightly ajar, slipping his free hand into his damp boxers, curling his fingers around his thick and rock hard shaft, giving it a few shallow strokes.

Lily's eyes drifted down the length of her sweaty body, watching Sy work his cock inside his underwear and felt herself shiver in want and anticipation of it. She licked her lips and looked up at him, their eyes in a silent communication of what they both wanted. Sy shifted, yanking off his boxers to kneel between Lily's legs, wrapping them around his waist, her hips and bottom resting atop his thighs, with the small of her back lifted off the drop cloth beneath her.

“You're sure?” Sy panted, gulping thickly and already breaking out into a sweat, staring at her with wide eyes and blown out pupils.

“Yes.” Lily sighed, nodding her head vigorously at him. “God, yes.” She moaned, squeezing her legs around his waist.

Sy smirked, pressed a hand to her hip, pushing it up her side to palm one of her breasts, squeezing and rubbing it, while taking the base of his cock in his other hand, pumping it a few times, rubbing the fat and cut tip against her still wet pussy, slowly slipping between her folds, brushing her entrance and pushing inside. Lily let out a moaning sigh through her nose, feeling his wide girth stretch her open far more than she had ever been before. Her toes curled and squeezed his hips between her calves and thighs, back arching and hips shifting against the nearly uncomfortable burn of his length being buried ever deeper inside her core. Sy tilted his head at her, bracing a hand on the drop cloth, beside her head, and leaned over her, causing Lily to let out a raspy gasp as his cock changed angles inside of her, and kissed her, slow and passionately, still pushing his hips into her.

“You are so beautiful.” He rasped against her lips, nibbling on her pouty bottom lip.

“Austin.” She whimpered back, breathy, hooking her arms under his arms and pressing her palms flat against tense and sweaty back, nails digging into his cool skin. “Austin.” She chanted, softly, rubbing her nose against his.

“Lily.” Sy moaned back, finally flush inside of her, and rocked into her, taking his time and enjoying her heavenly warmth wrapped around his cock, like a toasty sleeve. “I love you, Lily.” He whispered into her ear, kissing her jaw and cheek.

Lily blushed and let out an airy chuckle, hiding her face in his neck and broad shoulder, hugging her arms and legs tighter around his body, clinging onto him for dear life and squeezed her eyes shut, taking in the sound of Sy's heavy breathing and loud moans and groans, grunting, and sighing out her name, the still steady pitter-patter of the fat raindrops on the old, rusted tin roof and sun-kissed wood walls, all mixed with her own sounds of pleasure.

“Sy?” Lily whispered, after their shared climax, still feeling the euphoric and relaxing pleasure it gave both of them, as she laid on the drop cloth, half tucked underneath Sy's body for warmth in the drafty barn.

“Hm?” He hummed back, nosing her hair and took a deep breath.

Lily smiled, feeling the vibration in his chest, nuzzling back into him. “I love you too, Austin.” She whispered, turned her head to look back at him.

Sy lifted his head and looked down at her, a smile slowly pulling across his lips, an excited and giddy feeling in the pit of his stomach, reaching out to gently brush her hair out of her face, picking out a few bits of straw that happened to get stuck in it from earlier; before oh-so-tenderly kissing her.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me, Angel.” He murmured against her cheek.

“I'm guessing as happy as it makes me, Bear.” She chuckled back, kissing the tip of his nose.

Lily softly stirred just before dawn, cradled in Sy's arms as he carried her out of the barn, the rain finally letting up, and into the house. He carried her upstairs to her room and gently laid her down on her bed, letting him help her out of her still damp nightie and tossed it through the open door of her master bathroom, before crawling into bed with her.

Both of them were out cold before the blankets settled around them, unaware of the audience they had a good deal of the night.

[szchaql]

Giyu x Reader (part 2)

Part 1

Darkness.

That’s the only word that shows the situation I’m in. Everything is dark. I’m surround by darkness. 

‘Where am I? What is this place?’

I try to walk, searching for light. 

Feels like forever until I find it. I close my eyes since it’s too bright. But when I open my eyes, I’m greet by my family. 

Mom, Dad and (b/n). 

“(y/n).” Dad calls me as he approach me first.

“Dad?” I look at Mom dan (b/n) before looking around. I’m in my house and it still the same as before demon killed my family. The warm place in the mountain. 

“We are sorry that we had to leave you behind... “ I cried hearing those word from my mom. I never had the chance to say goodbye to them. Mom, Dad and (b/n) all hug me. 

Warm.

‘Oh, how I miss this hug. This warm presence of my family.’

“We are so proud of you.. You do a great job, (y/n)” I hug them tighter, don’t want to let them go again. 

“Sis.. even though we love to see you again but this isn’t your time yet....” (b/n) looked at me with sad eyes. “Someone is waiting you there...” 

Someone? Who?

I look at them. “Why? I don’t want to separate from you again..” 

Mom smile softly at me. “Not yet, (y/n).. Not yet..” 

“Don’t worry, (y/n). We are always with you and protect you.. We never leave you. We always stays in your heart. So, go back and continue your life to the fullest. You are more needed in there rather in here.” Dad consoled me as I cry in my Mom shoulder. 

Separation is always hard. Not to mention, between two different world. 

After my Dad said his words, everything blurred and again, I’m surrounded by darkness.

When I open my eyes, I’m in a bed. My body is hurt, everything is hurt. 

‘Where?’

“(y/n)? You are awake!” I look at my left and see Giyu with tears in his eyes.

‘Am i dead? Why is he here?’ 

“Where am I? What are you doing here? Are you dead too?” Giyu only look at me as if I was crazy. 

“I think I have to call Kocho...” He then stand up and walk to the door to call for Shinobu. I just lay there, looking at the door.

Soon, the door is open and Giyu comes in with Shinobu. “Ara ara.. (y/n) you finally awake.” she walk toward my bed and check my wound.

“Are you dead too?” Shinobu look at me for awhile before laughing. I stare at her ,confused. “Why are you laughing?”

“(y/n). You are not dead. I managed to fix you. Your wounds are no joke. Glad that we could save you on time...” 

Oh.. I survived.. 

“But.. isn’t my stomach..” Before I can finished talking, Shinobu chuckle.

“Yep.. But I managed to fix it.. with the help of Tamayo-sama..” 

“How long was I out?” 

“3 months.” This time, Giyu open his mouth. “You don’t know how worry I am that you would died at any time..” 

3 months? No wonder I thought I was dead when I saw him earlier. 

“I will prescribe your medicine.. Don’t move to much for the next month.” I nod at Shinobu. “Now, let her rest, Tomioka-san..” She turns to Giyu, who avoid her stare. 

I look at them both, wondering what happened. 

“Tomioka-san never leave your side, (y/n).. from the moment at Mount Natagumo. We tried everything, even for taking a bath or eat. But he never listen. Until Oyakata-sama stop him from taking a mission until you recover and to keeps an eye on you both.. hah.. both of you are pain in the ass sometimes.” Shinobu chuckle, remembering how the Hashira tried to drag Giyu to do his missions. Even Sanemi and Iguro help too. 

I look at Giyu to demand for an explanation. Sensing that both me and Giyu need some times alone to talk, Shinobu bid her goodbye. 

“Is it true? “ Giyu nod as he sit down beside my bed. “Why did you do that? Not taking missions?”

“I couldn’t do it.. I can’t leave you fearing that you will die the moment I leave you... I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you sooner that I love you.. If I told you sooner, this won’t happened. I could come with you to the mission..” Tears pool in his eyes, he look down at his hands, didn’t dare to look at me.

“Yuu-kun...” Hearing me call his nickname, Giyu look at me. Tears already flowing down his face. “It’s not your fault.. Don’t worry about it.. I could have killed him, but I made a stupid mistakes that leave me like this.... I’m glad that you came to help me.. Thankyou for being there for me...” I smile at him.

Giyu sniffle before wipe out his tears. 

“Oh, and one more thing...I love you too.” His eyes widen at my confession is the last thing I see before darkness consume me and I fall asleep. 

---

It takes me 6 months to finally can sit down and do small things, without having pain in the stomach. Throughout those months, Giyu never leave me. We also start dating 2 months ago and everyone congratulate us. Even Oyakata-sama send us gift. He said that we finally confessed to each other and he almost forced us to confessed. I can only rolled my eyes to his statement.

With another 6 months, I can fully do my routines. But still can’t training. I decided to retire and enjoy my life, but everyone totally against it. 

“Guys, please.. I almost dead and my stomach even had a hole..” I look at the angry Hashiras in front of me. 

“Nope! We can’t let you retire, (y/n)!” Kyojuro said with his signature voice. 

“We will chase you to the hell if you dare to retire, (l/n)” I rolled my eyes at Sanemi. 

“Okay, okay. I won’t retire. Good?” 

“Good!” Everyone scream making me close my ears. This guys are crazy. 

I look at Giyu and smile. He smile back and reach for my fingers to intertwine our fingers. 

“I won’t let you get hurt anymore, (y/n)..” 

“I’m sure of it, Yuu-kun.” We look at each other and smile.

Some people can easily confess their love. Some of it need encouragement. But for me and Giyu, I think we need dangerous and life threatening situation to help us confess our love to each other. I always pray and hope that we can survive this war and live happily together. Having family and growing old together. 

The End.

[morganayenneferburnham]

Have I Known You 20 Seconds or 20 Years? – Nikolai Lantsov Series

Chapter 1: Devils Roll the Dice, Angel Roll their Eyes

Chapter 2: You Did a Number on Me

Chapter 3: You Could Call Me Babe for the Weekend

Chapter 4: The Best of Times, The Worst of Crimes

A very short summary: Y/N has been working with the crows for a few years. Her life feels complete until she meets the insufferable Nikolai Lantsov. She finds herself forced to work with the King of Ravka on one of Kaz Brekker’s crazy schemes.

Word count: 2.5k

A/N: I finally finished chapter 4. It is a bit longer than the others. I should probably mention that I have never picked a lock or broken into a safe before so it might not be accurate. I tried my best, though!

Chapter 4: The Best of Times, The Worst of Crimes

“So, how often do you break into councilmen’s houses, exactly?” His curious voice resonating, barely louder than a whisper, in the dark empty corridor.

She was crouched down in front of the office door, kneeling on the thick burgundy carpet. Her nimble fingers, holding the picks she’d slipped from a hidden pocket of her dress, working quickly to get the door open.

She smiled, “Often, enough.” Does he disapprove? She wondered. Probably not. He’s breaking in as well, after all. The lock finally clicked. She let out a deep sigh of relief. Kaz may have trained her well, but she knew he was a better lock pick than she could ever hope to be. He was always so calm. Unfortunately, her nerves threatened to get the better of her every time she had to use this particular skill on a job. She was glad the first hurdle was behind her, but she knew cracking the safe would prove to be even more daunting.

“Let’s go,” she said, standing up and placing the picks back in her hidden pocket.

The door opened silently revealing an elegant office. Ornate woodwork decorated the lower half of the walls. Tasteful art pieces were scattered around the room. Kaz would love this, she thought, looking appreciatively at a DeKappel mounted on the wall behind the cluttered desk. If we have enough time, I’ll take a quick peek at these documents. There might be something interesting in there.

“According to Brekker the safe should be behind that bookcase” Nikolai gestured to a tall bookcase in the left corner of the room before swiftly making his way to it. “There should be a mechanism somewhere…” He was looking for it, moving his fingers around the back of the piece of furniture. A loud click resonated. The bookcase swung on its hinges, revealing the door to a steel safe. Nikolai turned back to her, wearing a wide grin. “This is fun! Maybe I should take a page out of your book.”

She raised a questioning brow, looking in his direction, making her way to the safe. “What do you mean?”

He let out a low chuckle. “I think I’ll start breaking into Zoya’s room, move stuff around. Maybe leave a note or two. It’d be a good way to annoy her.”

“Why would you risk your life like that? I mean I don’t know her well, but I have a feeling she’s scary when pissed off.” She thought of Zoya’s blazing blue eyes. She must be gorgeous too.

“You have no idea how absolutely terrifying she can be” he mused. “but a King needs entertainment.” His grin was utterly wicked. Y/N felt her heart skip over a beat.

She smiled back. The idea of Zoya trying to murder the king amused her to no end. “Well, it’s your funeral,” she replied, shrugging her shoulders. “Now be silent, I need to focus.” She took a seat on the floor facing the safe.

She reached for the combination dial, gently resting her fingers on it. She breathed in deeply. Contact points. This is the easy part. She slowly spun the dial listening for the telling sounds. Click. A bit more. Click.

There we go. Park the wheel. Okay. Now I need to figure out the number of wheels. Sankta Lizabeta, please, don’t let there be too many.

She started turning the dial slowly again. First turn. Click. Second turn. Click. Third turn. Click. Fourth turn. Nothing.

She let herself breathe again. Three wheels. Three numbers. Six possible combinations. She could do this.

She quickly turned the dial to the right, letting it complete multiple turns before stopping at zero. She rolled her shoulders. No time to waste, she thought, here I go. She spun the dial slowly to the left. Click. More. Click. She repeated the process over and over, starting from a new number each time. She knew lock manipulation was time consuming but Saints this was taking way too long.

She found herself wishing she’d brought paper with her. This would’ve been a lot easier if she could’ve graphed her findings as she went instead of having to memorize them. Wylan is brighter than I am. He should be in here, helping.

She finally narrowed it down to three numbers: 12, 13, and 89. Six possible combinations. She was already behind schedule. She had to try them quickly.

She tried the first combination holding her breath. It didn’t work. She could feel Nikolai’s gaze on her. She heard him fidgeting by the door.

Saints, it would’ve been so much easier if I could’ve just drilled through this damn door. We’re screwed if I can’t get it open in the next minute.

“Fuck, I wish Kaz had sent Jesper in.” She was starting to panic. Second combination? Not this one either. This was taking too long. She was too slow. She was going to fail Kaz. Even worse, she was going to fail Nikolai.

She tried the third combination to no avail.

“Why would a sharpshooter be useful right now?” He sounded mostly confused, somewhat curious, and maybe a bit anxious.

Her fingers worked quickly, turning the dial following the sequence of the fourth combination. She groaned. It hadn’t worked.

“Well, a Fabrikator would be a lot more efficient at cracking a safe,” she said simply. Only two combinations left to try. This has to work.

“Oh, thank the Saints!” she exclaimed leaving no chance for Nikolai to reply. The penultimate combination had worked. 13-12-89. This Saints forsaken sequence of numbers had finally opened the safe. She had been lucky the safe wasn’t one of the more recent models. This one had already been difficult enough to crack.

She grabbed the blueprints, quickly rolling them up. She pulled her skirts up her right thigh and slid the precious documents in the sheath safely tied there. Nikolai closed the safe’s door and locked it. They were already late. “Come on. We have to go.” She was moving towards the door as soon as her skirts had fallen back into place.

Nikolai followed suit, quietly closing the door behind them. He quickly moved aside, giving Y/N access to the lock once more. She was already holding her picks.

Her hands were shaking slightly making it difficult to lock the door. She could’ve sworn the small click of the lock was the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard. She had never been more relieved. She rose quickly. She was ready for this night to be over.

Footsteps rang out in the hallway. Someone was coming up the stairs. It would be hard to explain what they were doing in the deserted hallway. They couldn’t be discovered here. She looked around hurriedly but there didn’t seem to be a good hiding place anywhere close.

Nikolai turned back towards her, “Do you trust me?”

“I –” Nikolai hadn’t given her a chance to answer, his lips already pressing against hers in a passionate kiss. His fingers gripping her waist tightly. She felt her back hit the wall with enough force to knock the breath out of her lungs. Nikolai deepened the kiss, tilting her head slightly to the left. His lips brushing against hers, his tongue sweeping her bottom lip. Her lips parting slightly into the kiss. His hands were moving up her back, pulling her closer to him. It felt like his hands were everywhere. His pleasant, intoxicating smell filling her nose, dulling her brain. His body was now pressing her hard against the wall, the doorframe digging painfully into her back. Her fingers, now tangled in his chestnut locks, had somehow found their way to his hair. She felt is fingers caress the skin at the back of her neck. All rational thought was completely erased from her mind. It was too much. It wasn’t enough. A small moan escaped her throat. Her heart was racing or maybe it was Nikolai’s? She couldn’t be sure.

A small cough reached her ears.

His lips left hers, drawing a plaintive whimper from her, only to attach themselves to her neck. She was fully aware of the next moan that escaped her, loud and breathy.

Someone cleared their throat next to them. A guard was standing there, staring at them. He looked somewhat amused but mostly uncomfortable.

Oh, it dawned on her, Nikolai is giving us a cover. It felt like a cold bucket of water had been poured on her head. She tried pushing him away, but Nikolai didn’t release his grip on her waist. Her cheeks were still flushed. She had to find a way to get her wits back. She was Ainsley Ó Ceallaigh. Not Y/N Y/L/N. It hadn’t been Nikolai, King of Ravka, kissing her. It had been Eoin Ó Ceallaigh, her husband.

“My apologies. I certainly don’t mean to interrupt” the guard was sporting a crooked smirk “but this part of the mansion is closed to the guests.” He didn’t seem to suspect anything was amiss.

“No need to apologize for doing your job, my friend,” Nikolai told the guard, his tone warm. “This is all my fault. You see I just couldn’t resist my wife’s beauty.” He pulled her in to place another kiss on her lips. Nikolai was playing his role to perfection. “We’ll go back to the party. Wouldn’t want to inconvenience you any further.” Nikolai’s hold on her waist loosened, his palm sliding to the small of her back. He used it to push her gently towards the stairs.

“Have a good night” the suggestive tone of the guard’s voice sent a fresh wave of blood to Y/N’s cheeks.

They heard the door rattle as they started walking down the stairs. The guard was checking it was locked. He would be able to report to the councilman that no one had entered the office. By the time Van Verent would realize documents were missing, Ainsley and Eoin Ó Ceallaigh would be long gone.

-----

Nikolai kept his hand pressed to Y/N’s back. She hadn’t said a word since he’d kissed her.

He knew most Grisha in Ketterdam were indentures. He had even seen the pleasure house tattoo on her left arm. Kaz had told him she was now exclusively working for the dregs but her tattoo from the House of the Blue Iris was still visible. “She keeps it as a reminder” Kaz had said. A reminder of what, though?

He’d probably crossed a line by kissing her like that. Not even giving her a chance to consider his plan. Time had been short. They didn’t have any other options. He only hoped that he hadn’t caused too much harm.

Nikolai guided her through the crowd, smiling and nodding at various dignitaries until they reached the doors leading to the garden. They should be meeting Jesper and Wylan by the porcelain cabinet, but he needed to make sure Y/N was alright first. He could feel how tense she was, her muscles stiff under his palm.

The cold air seemed to bring her out of her daze. “What are you doing? We shouldn’t be here. We should –” he could hear the insecurity in her voice.

“I know exactly where we should be.” He rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Are you alright?” he couldn’t quite keep the concern out of his voice.

“I’ll be perfectly fine once we get back to the plan” she spat at him. He was surprised to see how quickly she had gone back to acting as if he was the bane of her existence. He had really thought they were making progress and had almost become friends. At least, that’s what he had hoped.

She needs time. “Fine, let’s find Jesper and Wylan.” His voice was cold, perfectly controlled. He offered her a hand. He didn’t want to push, but they still had to play their part. He felt her cool fingers close around his hand.

------

Wylan’s eyes were wide, probably in surprise. They were late and they weren’t supposed to be coming from the gardens. She only hoped her lips weren’t bruised from the kiss. She didn’t want Wylan to think they were late because they had been unprofessional. She knew he’d have to report it to Kaz. Wylan was by far the worse liar of the crew. He couldn’t keep anything from their boss.

If Kaz thought Y/N was compromised, that she couldn’t do her job… She knew he wouldn’t send her back to the Blue Iris. Or did she? Kaz was known to be ruthless after all. If she fucked up the job? If she wasn’t useful anymore? She’d been with the crows for a long time now. She thought of the crows as her family. But did Kaz really think of her that way too? She’d like to believe Kaz loved her the way the same way she did. She couldn’t be sure. She was spiraling. She had to get a grip. They still had to play the part.

Jesper raised a questioning eyebrow at her. She ignored it and plastered a smile on her face. “Hello,” she had to keep herself from grimacing. Her voice had been all wrong, way too high. She tried correcting it. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

She saw the look of absolute confusion in Jesper’s eyes. Wylan looked more concerned than confused. This is bad. “Ketterdam has the most surprising weather, doesn’t it?” Wylan smiled. This was the phrase they had agreed upon to convene the success of their operation.

-----

The party had settled down about an hour later. The number of party guests dwindling steadily. Jesper and Wylan had taken their leave about 15 minutes before Y/N and Nikolai, keeping up the pretense of only having met that night.

They were now safely back at the Hendriks’ house, standing around the table in the dining room, examining the blueprints.

“Everything go according to plan?” Kaz inquired.

“Kinda” her voice was unsure. She knew it was better to tell Kaz now. She fiddled with the hem of the tablecloth.

“What do you mean ‘kinda’?” His face would’ve been unreadable to most, but Y/N could see the apprehension there.

She felt Nikolai tense up by her side. Her mind kept travelling back to the feeling of his lips on hers. She needed to focus. “It took me too long to open the safe. We were behind on the schedule and a guard came back to the hallway before we could leave.” She met Kaz’s eyes. “Don’t worry, the door was locked.”

“How did you explain what you were doing in a part of the house clearly closed to guests?” Zoya sounded curious.

Nikolai was the one to answer her, “What could a handsome man and his gorgeous wife possibly be doing in a deserted corridor in the middle of a party?” The sarcasm that laced his voice painting the picture clearly for everyone.

Y/N lowered her eyes, the blueprints suddenly very fascinating to her. She felt her cheeks flush once again.

“Quick thinking. The guard believed it?” Kaz didn’t sound mad. She risked a peek at him. He was looking directly at her. From the look he gave her she knew they weren’t done talking about this.

“No need to worry, Brekker.” Of course, Nikolai couldn’t leave it at that. He had to make it worse. “We made it believable.” He winked. “Also, Y/N is way too modest about her acting abilities.”

tagged: @power-of-words23

[triptuckers]

Two Homes (part 7/7) - Nikolai Lantsov

Request: no Pairing:  Nikolai Lantsov x reader Summary: after realising you can have two homes, you rush back to ravka Warnings: none Word count:  3.5K A/N: aaa the last part!! if you’ve read all of the parts I just want to say thank you so much for reading my work, it really means a lot to me! enjoy reading :) PREVIOUS PART  TAG LIST (two homes and/or all grishaverse fics): @godsofwriting@im-constantly-fangirling @ayushmitadutta @mrs-brekker15@dancingwith-sunflowers @thegirlwiththeimpala @parker-natasha @story-scribbler @romanoffstarkovs @daliareads @meiitanoia @itsnotquimey @sanktaesperanza @whymyparentscheckmyphone @aleksanderwh0r3 @ilovemarvelanne1 @marlenaisnthappy (if your name is in bold it means I couldn't tag you) add yourself to my tag lists here 

The trip back to Ravka seems to take longer than the trip to Ketterdam. You kept taking out the tiny watch you kept in your pocket, only to find out no more than a few minutes had gone by. Saints, couldn’t this boat go any faster?

While it is in the middle of the night, you can’t sleep. There’s too much energy in your body. 

On the ship, only a handful of crew members are awake, needed to make sure you were still heading toward Ravka. The rest of the people on the ship are below decks, probably fast asleep.

You’re pacing the ship, your mind running at an alarmingly speed. You think about the crows, and Ketterdam. And Nikolai and the palace. Would he be angry you left in such a hurry? Would he not accept your apology? Or worse; would he send you away? 

Technically, he could. He’s the king after all. You didn’t think he would do it, but if he wanted to, he could make sure you never set foot in the palace again. What if you traveled back to Os Alta, only to be banned from the city?

You’re so lost in thought, pacing around, you don’t see one of the crew members looking at you. Only when he speaks up, you stop pacing to look at him.

‘Hey! You!’

He’s sweating as he’s pulling on the ropes, to keep the sail in place and making sure you sail toward Os Kervo and don’t end up somewhere in Fjerda.

‘If all you’re gonna do is walk around, you might as well help. Get over here.’ he says.

Without even thinking about it, you walk over to where he’s standing. After all, he was right. You might as well help. And it might take your mind off of everything that’s going on. 

You roll up your sleeves, but keep your hood down to hide your face.

‘Grab this rope.’ he says, extending one of two ropes he’s holding to you. You firmly grip it with two hands. ‘And make sure to pull hard. Can you do that?’ he says. You nod and pull harder. 

Immediately, you feel the pull of the wind, and you plant your feet firmly on the wooden deck. For the rest of the night, you make sure the rope doesn't slip out of your hands. 

You get to talking with the other crew member who asked for your help and when you see the first rays of light and the city of Os Kervo in the distance, you realise you haven’t thought of Ketterdam or Os Alta for hours. 

The crew member tells you you can let go of the rope and once you do, you feel your muscles relax. You hand him back the rope and walk over to the edge of the ship, to look at the city slowly creeping closer.

Despite the early hour, it’s already busy on the docks. Fishermen are walking around, loading and unloading their ships. People are waiting for your ship to arrive, probably welcoming home loved ones. 

‘You ever been to Os Kervo?’

You look to your side and see the crew member. He looks young, about your age. 

‘Once.’ you truthfully say. ‘But only passing through.’

‘And today?’ he says.

‘Also passing through.’ you say.

‘Traveling to?’ he asks.

‘North.’ you say. You didn’t need him to know exactly where you’re going. 

‘Ah.’ he says. ‘What’s your name?’

‘Nina.’ you say, blurting out the first name that comes to mind.

He holds out his hand to you. ‘Nice to meet you, Nina. I hope we see each other again.’ he says.

You shake his hand. ‘Likewise.’ you say, but in your head you hope you never see him again. If he would recognise you, and the story would get out that the queen of Ravka illegally passed the True Sea, it would not be very pretty.

Thankfully, you’ve arrived at the docks and can get off the ship, quickly leaving the crew member behind. 

You walk around the city, trying to find some kind of transport so you could get to Os Alta. Normally you’d hitch a ride on a carriage, but it seems too risky. So instead, you head for the small cottages and farms on the edge of the city.

At the oldest, shabbiest looking farmhouse, you stop. You walk around the property, and spot a horse. 

You walk back to the front door and knock. It takes a while for someone to open. An old lady opens the door to you. 

You smile at her. ‘Good morning, ma’am, sorry to wake you at this hour, but I was wondering if your horse is for sale?’ you ask her. 

‘He’s not.’ she says.

‘That’s a shame.’ you say. ‘Your house looks very old. Couple of broken windows, wood rot. You could fix that with a generous amount of money, get someone from the city to help you out.’

‘I don’t have that kind of money.’ says the old lady, already moving to shut the door, but you plant your foot in front of it.

‘I can pay handsomely for the horse.’ you say. ‘I don’t think you ride anymore, do you?’

‘No, I don’t.’ she says.

You pull out a bag and shake it, making the coins inside clash against each other. 

‘You get this, I get the horse.’ you say. ‘It’s enough to fix your house.’

She eyes you suspiciously. ‘Why would you give me this much money?’ she says.

‘Because I’m in a hurry. And I need a horse.’ you say. 

‘Alright, then.’ she says. ‘Give me that money and you can fetch the horse.’

You hand the bag to her and thank her, heading around the farmhouse to the horse. He looks like a strong, healthy horse. You would be able to ride fast, cover a lot of distance. You thank the lady again, and mount the horse.

Without another look at Os Kervo, you start your journey to the palace. You ride for hours without stopping, constantly ushering your horse to go faster. Luckily, he’s a young one, and he can indeed go very fast. 

But eventually, you have to stop. Not only to give the horse some rest, but also because your stomach had been growling loudly for the past hour. And now that the sun is up, it’s getting hotter and hotter. You can feel it burning in your neck. 

You roll up your sleeves and take off your hood. When you’re riding in the fields, you could allow yourself to be a little less afraid someone might recognise you. And after all, you’re in Ravka now, not Ketterdam. You could only hope word of your absence hadn’t spread too fast throughout the country. 

You leave your horse just outside a small village. After finding a bakery, you buy some bread and water with the money you have left. The village is old and charming. Once you finish your bread, you walk back to your horse. You drink half of your water and give the other half to the horse. You then mount the horse again and take off. 

The sun is still hot in your neck but you don’t slow down. You needed to get to Os Alta as fast as you could. Sweat drips from your forehead to your neck. You still had a long way to go.

Hours later, you finally see the city of Os Alta appearing in the distance. It had since gotten colder, and it’s late in the evening. At the outskirts of the city, you leave your horse and find a place to wash up.

After washing off most of the sweat, you run your fingers through your hair and roll your sleeves down. You pull your hood further down and resume your way on foot. 

Most of Os Alta’s inhabitants had retired to pubs or their homes. A few people still walked the streets, on their way home or loudly singing songs, smelling strongly of alcohol. 

You feel relieved when you see the palace’s gates in the distance. As you approach the guard who is stationed in front of the closed gates, you lower your hood.

The cool air feels more than good after you’d kept your hood on for the biggest part of your journey. You smile as you walk up to the guard.

‘Hi.’ you say. 

He doesn’t say anything, he doesn’t even acknowledge you. This makes you frown.

‘Are you going to let me in?’ you say.

Now, he does look at you. It feels a bit weird to have him look you up and down and scan your face. 

‘No, ma’am.’ he eventually says.

‘No?’ you say. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean no, I am not going to let you in.’ he says.

‘Do you know who I am?’ you say, thinking he was new on the job and you hadn’t been introduced to him yet.

‘No, ma’am.’ he says.

‘I’m Y/N.’ you say. ‘Y/N Lantsov, I live at the palace.’

He raises a single eyebrow at your words. ‘And I’m the king.’ he says.

‘You don’t believe me?’ you say. ‘Go and get Nikolai or someone else to confirm it’s me.’

‘King Nikolai isn’t present at the palace at the moment.’ says the guard. ‘And how do I know you’ve not been tailored to look like the queen?’

Your mouth falls open in surprise. You knew Nikolai made sure the guard are well trained, but this seemed like he’d done too good a job at it. 

‘Saints, this is going tot take forever.’ you mumble to yourself.

‘Problem?’ says a familiar voice suddenly behind you.

You turn around and see Nikolai on his horse, accompanied by Zoya, Tamar and Tolya.

‘Nikolai.’ you say gratefully as you walk up to him. 

He smiles at you and holds out his hand for you to take, but Zoya speaks up.

‘Wait.’ she says. ‘How do we know you’re really Y/N? She left in a hurry. You could be anyone pretending to be her.’

You look at her. Zoya did have a point. You turn back to Nikolai, who is still smiling at you.

‘When was our first kiss?’ asks Nikolai.

You feel yourself blushing. Of course he would have to ask a personal question to confirm it really is you. But this felt a little too personal for your taste. 

‘Right before our wedding.’ you say softly. ‘Because I was nervous.’ 

When you look up at Nikolai he’s still smiling down at you. ‘It’s her.’ he confirms. You finally take his hand and mount his horse, sitting behind him and wrapping your arms around his waist.

The guard finally opens the gates, and you enter the palace grounds. Nikolai is silent as he heads to the stables. He doesn’t even say anything as the two of you get off his horse. 

Even during the entire walk to your shared rooms, Nikolai is quiet. You want to ask him if he’s okay, if he’s okay with you being here, but a part of you tells you he needs this walk to clear his mind. 

Once you get to your rooms and you shut the door behind you, you barely have time to turn around before Nikolai pulls you in his arms. 

You’re a bit taken back by his actions, but are quick to embrace him. You feel how Nikolai drops his head to your shoulder and shuffles even closer to you. You smile as you hold on to Nikolai.

The two of you stand like that for a while. Just holding each other, glad to be reunited. 

When Nikolai pulls back he smiles at you, and finally speaks up. ‘You came back.’ he says.

‘I did.’ you say. ‘Kaz talked some sense into me.’ 

Nikolai blinks in surprise. ‘Kaz Brekker was the one to talk sense into you?’ he says.

‘Yes. He made me realise I can have to homes.’ you say. ‘And we need to talk about that.’

‘Okay.’ says Nikolai, taking your hand and walking you back to the bed to sit down. ‘What exactly do we need to talk about? Because I can think of a few things, but I want to hear you out first.’ 

‘I thought I’d be happy once I got back to Ketterdam.’ you say. ‘And I was, for a while. It felt so good to see all of them again. And, uh, help them out every now and then.’

If Nikolai knew what you had really been doing during your life in Ketterdam, he didn’t show it. He didn’t say anything, waiting for you to continue.

‘It really felt good to be home in Ketterdam. But the more time passed, the less happy I got. I missed the palace, the life I built here, but most of all I missed you, Nikolai. Kaz was the one to tell me I can have two homes.’ you say.

Nikolai smiles at you after you finish talking. He brings your intertwined hands up and kisses your knuckles.

‘I missed you.’ he says. ‘I thought you weren’t happy here, so when you said you wanted to go to Ketterdam, I felt like I had no choice but to let you go. So I did. But I really am glad you’re back, Y/N. The palace felt a lot bigger without you in it.’

‘How boring were the meetings without me?’ you ask him.

Nikolai sighs deeply. ‘Very.’ he says. ‘I didn’t have to make sure you stayed awake, so I had no choice but to listen to every little detail they said.’ he says.

You chuckle, thinking back to the countless of times Nikolai had to keep you awake during the meetings. 

As you look at him, it’s like you’re seeing him for the first time all over again. You let your eyes roam over his face, taking in every detail. You had really missed him.

‘Nikolai?’ you say softly.

‘Yes, sweetheart?’ he says.

‘While I was in Ketterdam, I realised something else.’ you say.

‘That the food here is better?’ says Nikolai.

‘They don’t have Ketterdam waffles here.’ you point out. ‘But no.’ 

You look at him, taking your time once more to take in his face.

‘I realised that over time, all those days we spent together, I’ve grown to love you. I don’t want to leave you like I did ever again.’ you say.

You watch as Nikolai’s face breaks into a huge grin. ‘You love me?’ he says.

‘I do.’ you say. You hold up your hand, showing him the ring. ‘This should be a pretty good reminder of it.’

Nikolai grabs your face with both of his hands, pulls it towards his and smashes his lips onto yours in a passionate kiss. You can tell he’s still smiling. And when he pulls away, there’s indeed still a big and proud smile on his face.

‘I love you.’ he says. ‘I should have never let you go like that. I should have gone with you, or made sure you had reason to stay. I won’t let you leave again, Y/N, you’re my queen, and I love you.’ 

You smile, leaning in to press a kiss to both of his cheeks.

‘We can make this marriage work, Nikolai. I want to make it work. On one condition, though.’ you say.

‘Name it.’ says Nikolai.

‘I promised I would visit Ketterdam every summer.’ you say. ‘To see all of my friends and spend time with them.

‘That seems like a fair deal.’ says Nikolai. ‘Then I’ve got a condition as well.’

‘Anything.’ you say.

‘You have to accompany me on every boring meeting, otherwise I will fall asleep during every single one of them. And we go for a walk through the gardens every evening.’ he says.

‘Deal.’ you say. 

Nikolai smiles and rises from the bed, offering his hand to you. ‘Shall we go on a walk then?’ he says.

You smile and gladly accept his hand and get up. The two of you walk the familiar route to the gardens, and you can’t help but to sneak glances at him. It was already dark outside, but somehow there was still a twinkle in his eyes, and his blonde hair seemed to glow. 

‘Are you trying to remember every detail of my face by looking at me so many times, love?’ he says after a while. ‘I’m flattered, honestly. But you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life, you can spend plenty of time looking at me.’

‘I know.’ you say. ‘But I missed a few days, I’m catching up on lost time.’

Nikolai chuckles and pulls you closer, pressing a kiss to your cheek. ‘You’re truly adorable.’ he says, making you blush.

You reach the gardens and automatically walk to your favorite spot. When you sit down on the bench, you look at the familiar bush in front of you.

‘I’m on time.’ you say.

Nikolai looks at the bush as well and nods. ‘You are. David says Summers Week will most likely bloom next week.’ he says. ‘And when it does, I’ll get you a new flower, to keep with the one I got you last year.’

You turn to smile at him. ‘I can start collecting them.’ you say. ‘One for each year.’

‘One for each year.’ Nikolai repeats. ‘I really am glad you’re back, Y/N. It felt weird, not having you around. I felt like some part of me was missing. Maybe because it was.’

‘Well, I’m here now.’ you say. ‘And I don’t plan on leaving soon.’

‘Except for your summer trip to Ketterdam.’ says Nikolai.

‘Except for that trip. You should come with me, I bet they’d love to meet you some day.’ you say. 

Nikolai smiles. ‘Some of them have met me.’ he says.

You frown. ‘They have? They didn’t mention it when I was there.’ you say.

‘That’s probably because they didn’t know it was me.’ he says. ‘They also met Genya and Zoya. They were accompanying me but I wasn’t, well, me.’

‘I can’t tell if you’re messing with me or not.’ you say, suppressing a yawn.

‘Oh, darling, I’m not. One day I’ll tell you the story of Sturmhond.’ he says.

‘Sturmhond?’ you say and Nikolai nods. ‘Why not tell me now?’

‘Because you have been trying to hide your yawning since we came here, and I think it’s time you went to bed.’ says Nikolai with a chuckle.

‘You’re right, I should. It’s been a long day.’ you say. ‘I left in the middle of the night and only stopped once when I got to Ravka.’

‘You only stopped once? Saints, Y/N, how come you didn’t collapse on a bed once you got here?’ says Nikolai.

‘Because I wanted to talk to you and spend some time with you first.’ you say.

Nikolai’s features soften and he smiles at you. ‘I appreciate that. But now please let me take you back to our room before you fall asleep in the gardens.’ he says.

You get up and intertwine your fingers with his once more, and you start walking back to the palace. When you walk the halls, you run into Genya.

She looks surprised but happy to see you, as she shoots you a warm smile. You briefly let go of Nikolai’s hand to hug her. She must have noticed your tired state, because she tells you that you’d catch up tomorrow morning. 

You’re grateful when you get to your room. After taking a quick bath to scrub the sweat and dirt off of your body, you change into a comfortable night dress. When you get back to the bedroom, you see Nikolai is fidgeting with a piece of rope.

He shows you the small boat he made when you approach the bed. You smile and take it from him, placing it on your nightstand. 

The second you lay down under the covers, you feel your body already dozing off. You close your eyes and feel how Nikolai lays down on his side of the bed. You knew the bed was big enough to keep your distance, but you didn’t have to anymore.

You move closer to Nikolai, cuddling to his side. He wraps an arm around you as you lay your head on his chest. Nikolai softly traces shapes on your bare arm. 

He moves his head to kiss your forehead and mumble a very soft “goodnight, love”.

You feel yourself drifting off to sleep, a very faint smile on your lips. It feels good to be home right next to Nikolai. And you’re glad that you have two homes now. Ketterdam, with your crows. And Os Alta, with your king.

A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rules Here’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Marit

[gaaavin]

Edmund Lowry Jr.

Hiya! I've had another idea and wanted to write something for it, too. It’s inspired by / based on that serial killer in RDR2. Feel free to give me feedback or whatever you'd like. Anyways, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it!

Pairing: Arthur Morgan x gn!reader

Words: 4.9 k

Summary: You thought it'd be an easy job with a nice prey at the end of the evening, until everything took the wrong turn.

Warnings: angst, mentions of torture but nothing too graphic, kidnapping, thoughts about death but with a happy ending

Finally, some green around you. That was your first thought, after you and the whole Van der Linde gang had arrived in Horseshoe Overlook. It was a lovely camp with a beautiful view. You sure could stay here for a longer period this time, hopefully. The constant moving took a toll on everyone just as much as the running from the law. Before finally settling into your current camp, all of you had to flee from Blackwater. A job there had gone terribly wrong and there was talk about Dutch losing control and shooting a woman. You hadn’t been there at that moment but you just couldn’t imagine that something like this would ever occur. The Dutch you knew would never harm any innocent folks. This escape resulted in an overhasty departure for the mountains – Colter had been the place of refuge up there. It was cold and you almost had no supplies. You generally liked the cold weather and snow but the storm up there you all had to endure was way too much to enjoy it at all. For now, though, you tried to push the negative thoughts away, instead concentrating on your new surroundings.

About a week after all things had been unpacked, you decided to go into the nearest town – Valentine. Dutch was right about all of you needing money urgently and you of course wanted to contribute, too. You saddled your mount up and rode out, but not before telling Karen where you wanted to go. “I’ll check, if I can find anything interesting in Valentine. Do you need something from the store while I’m in town?” you asked her. Her response coming promptly. “Some candies would be nice, would make these days here a lot more enjoyable.” As she concluded her answer, she winked at you earning her a small laugh on your part. After nodding, you spurred your horse and went into town.

The first thing you noticed was the smell, even before you entered the city at all. The second thing was the auction yard. Well, that explains it. No wonder it smells like horseshit everywhere around here, you thought as you entered the city. The people seemed friendly towards you, greeting you here and there. Although, you knew that you shouldn’t get on the town’s bad side. Some of the guys from your camp had caused trouble in the saloon some days ago and let’s just say that they aren’t as welcome in there anymore.

One of the boys was Arthur, your- well, you didn’t know what exactly the two of you were. Back in Blackwater your friendship slowly turned into something more intimidate, even romantic, with it peaking one drunken night around the campfire when you shared your first ever kiss. The sparks flew through the air and you felt like you were on cloud nine, being the happiest you had been in months. Since then, though, it felt like Arthur was avoiding you. Or maybe you were just imagining things. After all, you two hadn’t had much time after all the fighting, shed blood and the running after that. You had a special bond with Arthur like you’ve never had with anyone before – even before your relationship went to some sort of next level. You could communicate without words, understanding the other in more than one precarious situation. Currently, Arthur was away to get Sean back from those bounty hunters – that’s at least what John had told you earlier. You tried to push the thoughts of Arthur to the back of your head, trying to focus on the task at hand – find a lead or somebody to rob.

As you finally arrived at the saloon across the gunsmith, you hitched your horse and entered the facility. You were greeted with warm, liquor-filled air as you headed towards the bar, letting your eyes wander around. Drunk men were an easy prey. Before leaving camp, you had put on nice clothes, that were quite revealing. For you, that was the best way to gather information about anything or to rob someone. You mostly played either the damsel in distress or someone looking for some night company and most of the men fell for it every time, letting you close enough for you to relieve them of their valuables or information. Either was welcome.

After some time, your eyes landed on a stranger, that was looking directly at you. Bingo! You tried to approach him with your best smile. “Hey stranger.” You said, earning you a small smile from him. He had something odd to him. You couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but something about him put you off and gave you goosebumps all over. For now though, you tried to ignore your gut feeling. You were experienced in the things you did on an almost daily basis. Even if he could possibly be some sort of danger for you, you would definitely be able to defend yourself. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time some drunk feller had inappropriate thoughts about you.

“Hey there.” He grinned at you. As you took a real first look at him, the thing you noticed right away were his eyes. You were a firm believer that the eyes displayed the door to the soul and his were just so… dark. Not just the color but also their aura. They had a strange glint to them and there was something deeper hiding behind them. Something bad maybe? Nonetheless, you offered him a drink and ignored your gut feeling again. After all, you wanted your camp members to have something to eat or rob in the future. “You seem lonely tonight. May I offer you a drink and maybe my company?” you asked him while fluttering your lashes. He seemed to think about his response for a moment, before finally saying. “Sure, that would be very kind of you. Thank you. Name’s Edmund Lowry Jr. May I ask yours?” You smiled innocently at him, before telling him a fake name.

Unfortunately, Mr. Lowry declined every further offer of you to buy him another drink. It would make things definitely more complicated if he didn’t want to get drunk. Quickly thinking of a plan B, you ultimately decided that you could just knock him out with the revolver hidden under your clothes if you’d be able to lead him to a more secluded area somewhere outside. He had told you earlier that he was a rich man and owned some land outside of Valentine, so the prey was too rewarding to not at least try to rob him. Although your plan was pretty dangerous, you put it into action by asking him if he’d mind joining you for a small walk outside. “The air in here is really getting to me and I think I need some fresh, new air.” He grinned almost devilish at you, before offering you his arm to lead you outside.

Taking a stroll in the streets, you tried to steer him towards the stables. This terrain was secluded enough for you to hit him and flee without causing much of a scene or getting caught. He guided you towards the fields in the back of the stables, let go of your arm and took a step forward, facing the wide area behind Valentine. This was your moment. With his back to you, you reached under your clothes to grab the revolver but just in that moment he turned rapidly around and pointed towards the theatre. Out of sheer shock your revolver slipped from your hand. Damnit! You tried to drown out the clattering of your weapon with an awkward cough. “My dear” he started and you turned around to follow the direction of his finger. You now stood one step ahead of him and couldn’t see him. “Would you like to visit a show with me?” In that moment you heard him shuffle behind you. Bewildered, you turned around and everything went black.

Arthur came back to camp after successfully rescuing Sean from those bounty hunters in Blackwater with Charles, Javier and Trelawny. He was dead tired and just wanted to eat something and go straight to bed. As he dismounted his horse, he went directly to get some stew and grab a bottle. Along his way, he was greeted with a well done here and there. Arthurs eyes wandered around camp, searching for you but you were nowhere to be found. It wasn’t strange for you to be absent; you often went to look for jobs and therefore were away for some days. Nevertheless, he was a bit disappointed to not be able to talk to you. The both of you hadn’t really had the chance to properly speak, especially not about your situation. He was so goddamn afraid of what was to come, of what you had done to him – he had opened his heart for you unwillingly and wasn’t sure if he could handle another proper relationship. What if you left him? What if one day you woke up and decided that he wasn’t what you wanted anymore. He couldn’t deal with another heart break.

After Arthur finished his stew, he went directly to bed. This night a welcome party for Sean was set to be celebrated and he just wanted to close his eyes a little bit before that. After some hours of more or less peaceful sleep – after all the party was being prepared and people were rummaging everywhere in camp – Arthur finally got up and let his eyes wander around camp in search for you again. “They aren’t here. Karen told me earlier.” Arthur looked to his left from where that characteristic voice came from. “Marston.” Arthur greeted him before John continued. “They went to scout for any leads in Valentine.” Arthur furrowed his eyebrows. Was it really that obvious to others? He decided to play dumb in hopes that he’d eventually be left alone. “I don’t know what you mean. Am not looking for anyone.” John smirked knowingly as he countered. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Don’t you dare to think I’m stupid. I have eyes, Morgan and I know you pretty well.” Arthur sighed, slightly nodding. “Yeah, whatever.”

The celebration was pretty fun. Almost the whole gang was gathered around the campfire, singing songs away happily. These were the times in which Arthur almost forgot that they were actually running from the law. Of course, they had done that before but it never seemed as bad as it was now. Blackwater left a stain on everyone in one way or another, Colter wasn’t much better for regaining strength. His rock, though, has always been you. Since he’s gotten to know you, you always were able to calm him down, ease his nerves and see right through him no matter how inaccessible he tried to appear. You weaseled your way right into his heart. Although your way of life was a dangerous one, he knew deep down that you two were somehow meant for each other – understanding each other on a level he’s never had with anyone before.

As the night went on, Arthur’s mind always wandered back to you. He just wasn’t able to get you out of his head for even one goddamn night. Soon, he said his goodbyes and went to his tent, writing down his thoughts first before finally retiring to bed. By midday the following day you still weren’t in camp and Arthur started to worry, a bad feeling creeping up on him. Should he go search for you? No one knew how long you’d be gone. But even if you were just at the saloon or wherever it wouldn’t hurt to check in on you. Maybe you two would even be able to spend some quality time together after everything that has happened.

Soon after, Arthur mounted his horse and rode off, shortly after arriving in Valentine. Where should he start to search for you? Maybe the saloon? After all, it was so to say the heart of the town. If here was going on anything, he’d find his answers in there. After arriving at the facility, he immediately recognized your horse. So, they’re here, he thought to himself. Relieved, he finally swung the doors open and headed towards the bar. His eyes roamed the room, but found you nowhere. That struck him odd. You wouldn’t ever leave your horse behind somewhere. Just as Arthur sat down at the bar, the bartender spoke up. “Oh no, not you again mister. I don’t want any more trouble in here.” Arthur sighed, before replying. “I’m not here to cause trouble mister. I’m actually looking for a friend of mine. Have you seen them?” Arthur gave the man behind the bar a brief description of you and looked at him expectantly after he finished. The bartender seemed to think about it for a moment, before saying “Oh my memory isn’t the best, Mister. Maybe a little tip of yours could help it.” Arthur groaned and rolled his eyes while reaching in his bag to throw some coins towards the man behind the bar, adding “Now spit it” with gritted teeth. “Thank you. Well, I have indeed seen them in here. Yesterday they spoke to a man, seemed pretty cozied up, flirting the whole night. They left together, too. Seemed to go towards the hotel.” “Anything else?” Arthur asked. “No, not really. It’s just… That man that was with them yesterday seemed fairly strange. I didn’t have a good feeling with him. I can’t explain it really, but he was rather sinister.” Arthur thanked the man, before heading outside to try and track your footprints. He knew that you wouldn’t go with a man into his hotel room just like that, at least not to actually engage with him. You just weren’t the type for something like this. Hopefully, Arthur could track you down quickly. He didn’t have a good feeling in this.

As you slowly came back to your senses, your head practically screamed at you. It hurt like hell. What happened? You forced your eyes open and although the room was dimly lit, you tried to take in your environment. Where am I? So many questions came crushing down on you all at once as you tried to comprehend what you were seeing around you. While examining your surroundings, your eyes landed on the wall. There were many reports of missing persons. Where the hell am I? Letting your eyes travel further, the next thing they saw was blood. A whole lot of blood. Everywhere. And was that… a corpse in the corner? I need to get out of here immediately. You thought terrified and tried to move, but didn’t get away. You were tied up. God damn it! Your movements seemed to attract the attention of something or someone else in there. So, I’m not alone in here. You didn’t know whether that soothed your nerves or made everything worse. Just in that moment a voice from somewhere near sounded. “Oh good, you’re finally awake.”

Arthur finally arrived near the stables where your tracks ended, your horse in tow as well. Hmm, seems like someone was dragged from here to a horse. He examined the surrounding ground as he suddenly saw something shiny near one of the barrels. As he got closer to the object, his mouth fell slightly agape while his brows furrowed simultaneously. It was your revolver, he recognized it immediately. It had a special engraving he bought you while out in Blackwater. You two had to grab some ammunition for a job beforehand and as you saw the engraving you were thrilled. It looked so pretty. Seeing you all excited, Arthur wanted you to have something nice reminding you of him that you always took with you – no matter where you went. So, it was even more concerning finding it laying here with you nowhere in sight. What happened to you?

You knew that voice. This couldn’t be… Or could it be the man from the saloon? Just as you tried to recall the events from the night before, the man came into sight. You turned your head to look at him, letting your eyes wander from his face further down to his hands. They held something shiny in them. Finally recognizing that it was a huge knife, your eyes widened in shock and you gulped audibly, starring at him blankly. “Lowry.” You managed to get out between gritted teeth, your voice sounding too hoarse to really sound mad. “Welcome to my most favorite place in the world. Save yourself thinking what is about to happen. Now, I’m not going to lie. It’s not going to be nice… and fun. I mean, it will be fun for me, but it won’t be nice for you. At least, no one’s found it nice so far. Maybe you’ll be the first.” Lowry laughed maniacally, before he continued. “Do you like pain? Is it your friend? It’s about to become your very close friend. Very close. But when it’s over…release. Glorious release. Now, there’s no point fighting. You might as well try and relax a little bit.” Lowry approached you slowly, looking almost peaceful while you wanted to scream, scratch his eyes out, just do anythingto escape the upcoming hell awaiting you. As Lowry moved the huge knife slowly closer and closer towards your torso, a thought came to your mind. It was one single thought that hadn’t occurred to you up until now; you weren’t going to make it out alive of here and you wouldn’t ever see your family or Arthur ever again. You were tied up too strong to escape. As the realization hit you, you let your desperate tears fall freely – hopefully he wouldn’t stretch it out too long and you didn’t have to suffer too much.

Arthur had a bad feeling, a really bad feeling about this. Something just wasn’t right. Things weren’t adding up. You’d never leave your two most precious things somewhere voluntarily. Something had happened to you and Arthur was determined to find out what that was, to find you above all. Hopefully alive. He thought to himself but pushed that thought away quickly. He couldn’t stand to think something like this. After all, you could handle yourself pretty well, right? Arthur had seen you many times shoot yourself out of a dicey situation. You were smart, not taking too many risks. But no matter what he knew about you, he knew just as certainly that this time something went the wrong way. He tried to track the hoofbeats up to a door on the ground. Maybe an entrance to a cellar? He thought to himself with his stomach dropping to the floor.

Arthur examined the door closely, eventually discovering the locket on it. He took a steadying breath, before attempting to crack it. His hands were shaking, he was so afraid of what he’d find behind that damn door. Just as he leaned closer towards the door and the lock to start cracking it, he heard a bloodcurdling scream from inside the cellar. Was that your voice? Oh damn, yes, that sounded definitely like you. His first thought was that he’d kill that bastard causing these sounds to escape from your lips. His second thought, though, was Thank God, you’re alive. As he finally was able to enter the room, he could hear heavy panting. He didn’t waste any time looking around, heading straight towards the source of the sounds. As you saw him, your eyes widened, shaking your head frantically. Your mouth was stuffed with some sort of white cloth, so you couldn’t speak to him. This is a trap! You wanted to scream at him. Arthur looked at you with a deep sadness in his eyes – and adoration. You looked like a complete mess. Everywhere on you was blood. Lowry cut along your torso and beat you, resulting in a black eye and a burst open lip. But nonetheless, Arthur had that look on him that he just gave you – a special soft one. It let the tears well up in you even more than before, now crying desperately.

Arthur couldn’t believe it. You were alive, but only barely. You looked like you went through hell and you probably been there for the last hours. How long have you been down here? At that thought, guilt overcame him completely. While he was in camp sleeping, partying with his family, you were being tortured and bearing unspeakable torment. How could he have been so dumb? He should’ve listened to his gut feeling, searching for you earlier. He sprinted towards you and wanted to free you from your bonds, beginning with your mouth. “Are you alright?” He asked you concerned, before looking you up and down for any deep wounds. “It’s- It’s a-“ you tried to answer him, but your throat was sore from all the screaming and the lack of fluids.

Arthur heard something behind him, a slight movement, but enough to cause him to turn around pretty quickly. Too quickly for Lowry, who hadn’t expected that. Lowry stumbled slightly back, hitting the wall with his back. Arthur took advantage of the confusion of his opposer and hit him hard, once, twice. Arthur was so furious. How dare that man to do something like this to you? How dare he touch you at all? All these thoughts were crushing down on him, altogether with his guilt about not being able to protect you. He beat him up, again and again and again. It was almost as if his fists moved alone by now. “Arthur, stop!” He heard your raspy voice, breaking with every syllable and it brought him back to reality. Lowry was knocked out and didn’t move anymore. Arthur shook his head as if shaking all those thoughts off for now. He tied Lowry up quickly, before rushing to you to finally free you for good. As you were finally free, you basically fell in Arthurs arms and just started to cry. It was a mixture of everything – pain, fear, but also relief and gratitude. Arthur helped you up the stairs and lifted you up on his horse. After that he sprinted back to get Lowry and loaded him on your horse and finally mounted behind you in his horse.

The way to the Sherriff’s office was quiet. No one said a word. You were sniffling and resting against Arthurs body with your eyes closed, while he soothingly rubbed circles and held you close so that you wouldn’t slip off his mount. “I’m gonna bring him in and tell the Sheriff where to find that damn cellar and after that, I’ll finally bring you home. Just wait here a second. I’ll be back in a moment.” You nodded slightly, hoping it wouldn’t take too much time. You just wanted to head back to camp and sleep it all off.

After a short time, you heard a shot from the office. Your eyes widened in shock and your heart started to thump heavy in your chest. What was happening in there? After a few moments, Arthur finally came out again. “That bastard tried to kill the Sheriff. I had to shoot him.” You just nodded, sighing relieved, while looking him up and down for any injuries. “I’m fine. Now, let’s get you back home.”

The last few days have gone by in a blur. After you arrived back in camp, Ms. Grimshaw tended to your wounds and you were on a good way. Arthur hadn’t left your side all this time – bringing you stew, a coffee or just keeping you company. He wouldn’t even sleep in his own tent, always staying with you on a chair next to your kot. Today was the first time in days that you felt like you could walk around a bit – and you desperately needed it. Being trapped all those days in camp was making you go crazy. “Arthur, would you mind taking a walk with me?” you asked him. He seemed to contemplate for a moment. Shouldn’t you go easy a few more days and rest? “Arthur, please. I’m gonna go mad if I have to stay here for another day. Just a small walk along the shore. You’re with me, so what could possibly happen to me?” That question stung a bit. He couldn’t protect you before, why were you still feeling so safe with him? Nonetheless, Arthur finally agreed, offering you his arm to support you just in case you felt weaker again.

As the two of you arrived at the little beach, you held tightly onto his arm. You never wanted to let go. Coming to a halt, you two turned to watch the water. So peaceful. “You know...” you started, breathing in and out. “When I was trapped back there in that cellar, I really thought I wouldn’t make it. I thought that the last things I’d ever see would be blood on the walls and that bastards face with that devilish grin. I was so mad at myself for not listening to my gut feeling, for being so goddamn stupid, that I kinda felt like I deserved it. I thought that the last thing I’d hear would be that maniac’s laugh or my own screams. I thought that I’d never see daylight again, flowers, my family or you. Before that happened, I thought you were avoiding me or that you maybe thought that this kiss back in Blackwater was a mistake.” At that his head snapped towards you, watching you intently before you continued. “And I had regrets. Not about the kiss, of course, but about not telling you how I truly felt about you Arthur. I love you; I really do. I couldn’t bear not seeing you again. It broke my heart.”

Tears welled up in your eyes as you thought back to your personal hell, Lowry’s most favorite place as he called it. This thought struck a nerve inside you, his voice echoing those exact words. Your tears started to fall freely by now and a chocked sound escaped your mouth. “I really thought I lost you, Arthur. I thought I lost against him. After all this time running, it would be a failed lead that had the power to end me.” You cried and just couldn’t stop. Arthur embraced you, pulling you tightly against him as if he never wanted to let you go again. While holding you like this, he said. “When I came back from rescuing Sean, I was disappointed you weren’t in camp. When you weren’t there for the welcome party I started to worry. But when I saw your horse outside of the saloon and you weren’t nowhere in sight, I panicked and freaked out. I knew you’d never leave him behind. I was so desperate to find you and just so goddamn afraid. Afraid, I’d never see you again. That I’d lost you while I was back at camp relaxing. I wasn’t able to protect you, eating and sleeping while you were being tortured. That image of you tied up, covered in blood just won’t leave my mind. Maybe if I went to look for you earlier, you didn’t have to endure all this. I couldn’t protect you and I’ll never forgive myself for that and I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

You slightly leaned back to look him in the eyes that were filled with so much sorrow and guilt, it made your heart ache. “Arthur” you began, while cupping his cheek with your hand, the other still holding tightly onto him. “This wasn’t your fault, do you hear me? There isn’t any chance in the world you could’ve prevented this. You know I normally can handle myself; it was a job gone terribly wrong. If anything, you saved me. You saved my life – I owe you my life, Arthur. Don’t you dare put this burden on your shoulders. I never asked you to come along with me, I went alone and I knew that something could happen. Believe me, this wasn’t your fault, not at all. Lowry did kidnap me, not you. He mistreated me, not you. He used his knife to hurt me, not you. Even if you had been there earlier, he still would’ve had more than enough time with me alone. Please believe me when I say, that there is nothing I have to forgive you. And there isn’t anything you have to forgive yourself. You couldn’t have changed this in any way. I should’ve listened to my sentiment. He had something strange about him from the beginning. But he told me that he was rich so I went for it nonetheless. “

Arthur still wasn’t fully convinced, but seemed more at peace – at least for the moment. “I really thought I lost you and I never want to lose you again. Back in Blackwater, I was so damn afraid of what we had but now I can’t get into my head how foolish that was of me. I love you, too, so damn much. And if you’ll still have me, would you want to be mine?” You were smiling through your tears, as you nodded and finally kissed Arthur the second time in your life. This time, though, with more certainty than ever before.

[randomshyperson]

Wanda Maximoff x Reader - Land of Thieves - Final Chapter

Gif is not mine and i probably used before but here it is.

Summary: When you were a child, you swore that no matter how high the reward in your head, she could always count on you. Life as an outlaw in the west is not easy, but you believe that train robberies are still easier than asking a pretty girl to dance. Land of Thieves, also know as your love story with Wanda Maximoff in the Wild West.

Complete Work at AO3> Land of Thieves // Click on the tag "Land of Thieves for complete work here on Tumblr.

Warnings:  18+, explicit language, explicit violence, slow burn, childhood friends to lovers, cursing, blood.

Marks> @mionemymind @wandamaximoffpuppy

You wake up completely entwined together, Wanda lying next to you as you hold her around the waist. You grunt against the back of her neck as you feel the sun's rays on your face, and Wanda stirs a little, turning toward you and sinking her face into your neck as she mumbles softly.

You know you have to get up, because you have a job to do. But to have Wanda like this against you is delicious.

You let her fingers slowly travel up your back, and Wanda smiles against your skin.

- It tickles. - She murmurs sleepily. When you stop, however, she mumbles softly.

- We have to get up. - You say, opening your eyes.

Wanda grumbles again, making you laugh slightly.

- I'm sleepy. - She mumbles, and you bite your lips.

- Let me wake you up then. - You whisper as you run your fingers down her back again. You turn your face in Wanda's direction, kissing her as you ask for passage with your tongue. She responds lazily, sighing against your mouth, as your hand moves down her waist to her ass, squeezing the flesh.

You are already turned on again, and feel Wanda's wet pussy against your thigh is helping it. Then you sink into the kiss as you move on top of her, your naked breasts pressing together making you moan together in the kiss.

Wanda's legs move along against yours, and then she spreads them so that you are in the middle, and locks her legs around your waist.

You leave your hips together and try not to get lost in the sensation of your pussies rubbing together as you kiss.

Wanda lets her hands run down your arms to your shoulder, and pushes you slightly for breath, you take the opportunity to move your kisses down her jaw and neck, and as you pull and suck on the skin you also move your hips down against her, and she is moaning breathlessly with her eyes closed.

You lower your kisses again, slowly and lingeringly down Wanda's skin to her breasts. When you play with her nipples on your tongue, she arches her back and digs her nails into your arm. You smile against her left breast, sucking and licking until Wanda whimpers.

Then you kiss her belly, and move your kisses down her hips. You know that Wanda is dripping wet, so you don't torture her, and move right down to where she wants you.

Wanda lets out a loud moan as you kiss her pussy. The smell is intoxicating, and you sigh against her. And then you feel Wanda's hand in your hair, encouraging you to taste her, and you give her exactly what she wants.

Starting with shallow yet long licks on her clitoris, you feel Wanda's fingers move through your hair. And when she sighs, you penetrate her. The tightness in your head changes immediately, and Wanda moans loudly. You smile, tasting her again. And when she starts to move her legs, you bring your hands to her thigh, to keep her open for you.

You kiss, suck, and lick the sensitive flesh, inhibited by Wanda's taste as she writhes and moans breathlessly, the tightness in your hair holding you in place.

Then Wanda begins to whimper, and her body is shaking in spasms, and you keep a steady rhythm inside her.

It takes three more deep strokes for Wanda to spill against your tongue, and she lets out a loud moan, her whole body shaking, and you sigh against her pussy. She tastes so good.

The grip on your hair loosens in the next second, and you finish drinking her juice, depositing long kisses on her swollen clit as she calms down.

Then you move up the kisses along her body, and when you reach her face, Wanda brings your mouths together, sighing as she tastes herself on you.

- Good morning. - You whisper as you part, Wanda bites her lower lip, smiling.

-morning. - She says in a hoarse voice. You think you have just fallen in love with her even more.

When you two finally get up, and are properly dressed, you carry your mattress back to the camp, Wanda at your side.

You have barely taken a step into the tent area when Nat appears in your field of vision, a coffee in her hand, and a mischievous look in her eyes. She doesn't even have to say anything and you are already blushing and pushing her out of the way.

You and Wanda don't have much time to talk after that, everyone in the camp seems frantically excited about the scam.

When you go to your tent, Tony is awake, with his hand on his head complaining of pain.

- Good morning, Stark. - You tell him with a smile and he looks at you.

- How did I get here?

You're rummaging through your dresser, looking for a shirt. - God you really did drink it all last night. - You play lightly, and then leave the shirt on top of the dresser, raise your hands toward the small bottle of water you usually leave there, and pour a glass for Tony. - We'll talk later, I have a job now. - You say, handing him the glass. He smiles in appreciation, drinking the water quickly. - But I want to thank you for what you have done for Wakanda.

Tony is surprised for a moment, probably not remembering how you found out about this. But then he smiles and shrugs his shoulders.

- I thought I would do something decent for once in my life. - He comments and you smile as you take the empty glass back.

- Try to eat a little, my friend. - You say, taking the item to the dresser as Tony gets out of bed. - You will wait here at the camp with Bruce and Potts.

- That's fine. - He says before leaving your tent.

After you put on your work clothes, you join the small circle of people in front of Steve's tent.

- Good morning everybody! - he says with his hands resting on his belt. - As you know we have a big job today. And if everything goes according to plan, we will be back home in a few days.

The camp lets out an exclamation of contentment, and you smile at Wanda who is at the other end.

- I want everyone to be careful when we are on the Braithwaites' property. - Steve continued seriously. - Hold the position as we have planned. If anything gets out of hand, and we have to shoot our way out, we will protect each other and not the gold.

The gang lets out an exclamation of agreement, and after going over the last details, Steve releases you all with a nod.

You walk toward the fire, wishing you could eat some before you have to leave.

Pietro jumps on your shoulder just as you are reaching for some food, and you almost knock over the bowl, grumbling softly.

- I am so excited to be rich! - He announces with a smile that makes you laugh.

- I imagine you are. - You scoff slightly as you finish serving yourself. You walk toward the fire and he follows. - Aren't you going to eat?

- No, I don't like to be on a full stomach before a shooting. - He says and you shrug. Pietro doesn't sit down, he just rests his leg on one of the logs that are used as a chair. - By the way, I can't wait to get back to New Austin. It is very cold here.

You laugh lightly as you eat, without answering. Pietro doesn't mind your silence, though. Natasha joins you next, sitting next to you, also carrying a bowl of food.

- I hear that Steve is going to buy land for us. - She announces and you and Pietro look at her in surprise, but she smiles. - Who knew we would become ranchers at the end of it all.

The three of you laugh lightly, and you are distracted as you think about the possibility. It seems like a very unlikely dream to happen.

- Can I make a comment about you and Wanda or should I wait until you finish eating? - Natasha asked ironically a moment later, and you held back your laughter because you didn't want to choke on your food. Pietro looked at you curiously, and noticing his expression, Natasha let out a wry chuckle. - Pietro, Pietro, you cannot tell me that you did not notice that your sister did not sleep in the tent tonight?

Pietro blinked in confusion, and then he understood and let out a surprised exclamation.

- My God, I'm going to be an uncle!

- Shut up, boy. - You mumbled awkwardly, while Natasha laughed. Pietro also laughed. Then Wanda joined you, accompanied by Monica, and the girls looked at you curiously.

- You guys are happy today, huh? - Monica commented with a smile. You exchanged a look with Wanda.

- Pietro is an idiot, and Nat thinks it's funny. - You clarify when they both stop laughing. Monica smiles at you before sitting down. And then Wanda is turning around the trunk, and sitting on your lap. You ignore the uncompensated beating of your heart and the insinuating glances you receive, putting the bowl down and kissing her on the cheek.

You eventually embark on a conversation about your latest heists over the next few minutes, until Steve is calling everyone out.

Your friends get up first, and when you are alone by the fire, Wanda gives you a kiss on the mouth that takes the air out of your lungs.

- Be careful, okay? - she says as she lets go, and you just smile and nod as she gets up.

Then you walk towards the whole group at the entrance to the camp. Steve signals for you all to get on your horses, and you all hurry to do so.

When you are mounted on your mare, Pietro mounts the sorrel beside you.

- What's up, partner? - He asks with a smile, and you nod.

- Care to place a bet, partner? - You reply with a certain irony and Pietro assumes a thoughtful expression.

- I bet I can find more gold than you can. - He declares after a moment, making you laugh. But before you can respond, Steve is ordering you to ride, and you just exchange a glance with Pietro before galloping off.

It doesn't take long before you reach the mansion area, and you turn your head back to observe Steve, Peggy and Nat riding at a distance, and then turning the corner, as they would enter through the secondary entrance. And then you exchanged a look with Wanda and Monica who came up behind you before putting on their masks and dismounting from the horse.

You patted Pietro on the shoulder as he got off, signaling for him to be quiet, and then you led your horses by the reins through the terrain.

A few moments later you came within a good distance of the mansion, and tied your horses to the trees in the garden area.

And then the four of you entered the house quietly through one of the windows on the side. You looked around the room, it was absolutely gorgeous. But then Monica signaled for everyone to be quiet and you heard voices. Exchanging a look with Pietro, you went off in opposite directions and then attacked the guards in the front room afterwards, silently knocking them out.

- Does anyone know where the chamber is? - You heard Pietro whisper to you, but then you heard the sound of gunfire, and turned your head quickly in the direction behind you.

Running to the door, you let out a surprised exclamation as you noticed Steve, Peggy and Natasha riding at high speed from the back grounds, their guns drawn as they fired at the guards, who fired back.

- I guess so much for the element of surprise. - You comment, and then exchange a look with the other three. - All right, split up and search every room.

The group nods and then you are running in the wide area of the mansion, doing your best not to get lost. The exchange of fire continues intensely outside, and you draw your own pistol since you no longer have to be silent.

You look at least three empty rooms before something catches your eye. It's a huge painting at the end of a corridor, the image of a stern-looking woman staring back at you. You run your fingers over the phrase "We prosper" painted at the top of the painting and frown slightly.

- Apologies to the artists. - You comment softly as you pull out your knife and stick it into the painting, tearing it apart. You eventually realize that you could have pushed the item, because when you tear the canvas, there is a false base. And you lean your fingers on the frame to pull, and you end up revealing a vault the size of the painting in the back.

The glint of gold bars makes you let out a surprised exclamation. And then you reach out, touching the items to make sure they are real. There were at least ten gold bars, along with several shiny jewels and papers that you guessed were property titles. You really had made it.

Whistling to reveal your location to the group, it took a moment for them to join you, and you smiled, making room for them to see the small inventory. Pietro let out an excited exclamation as he hurried toward you, pulling the bag he carried on his back, while Monica did the same.

While they were carrying the items, you and Wanda moved in the opposite direction, keeping watch. Eventually two guards appeared, but you shot them quickly.

- All set folks! - announced Pietro, turning to you with a smile, and then you nodded, moving toward the exit, where the shooting was most intense.

You and Wanda hid behind the entrance pillars, trying to look around. You noticed Thor at the entrance crouched down and exchanging fire with three other guards, while Steve and Peggy were further away, still on their horses and being followed by other guards. You had no view of Natasha, but judging by the sound of gunfire, she must have been in the opposite direction from Thor.

- Everything okay there, Odinson? - you shouted to the blond man a few meters ahead of you. He let out a laugh before shouting again.

- Everything under control!

And then you were shooting, and you managed to hit one of the guards who was holding Thor's position. And he exclaimed in thanks, getting up only to hit the last one.

- We need to get to the horses before the reinforcements get here! - Thor said as you ran up to him. You nodded in agreement, following him in the same direction as you had come, and Natasha joined you halfway.

When you finally reached your horses, at the moment extremely agitated because of the gunshot noise, Thor asked you all to hurry. And then you heard a gunshot, and an exclamation of pain. Turning your head quickly to the side, you held Pietro before he fell to the ground.

A guard had come out from inside the mansion, a rifle in one hand. But Thor hit him next, and then you were looking at your friend.

- Wow hey, I got you. - You said, trying to keep him steady. You didn't know where the shot had hit. He whimpered breathlessly, becoming very heavy and falling to the ground beside you. - Pietro! Pietro, look at me!

And then Wanda was beside you, touching her brother on the chest. You looked down at his torso, and noticed the pool of blood on his belly, and let out an exclamation. But then Thor was running up to you, and caught Pietro, throwing his arm around his shoulders and waving you toward the wagons at the end of the lot.

- Don't stop. - He said as you stood up, ignoring the trembling of your hand and helping Wanda to stand despite her shock, and ran toward them.

Monica and Natasha hit the last guards there, and while Thor put Pietro in one of the wagons, Steve and Peggy rode up to you.

- There is a group of them approaching from the south. - said Steve. - We have to get out of here.

- My God, Pietro! - exclaimed Peggy as soon as they got close enough to see you guys. But Thor waved.

- He'll be fine if we get him out of here. - He said, moving in the wagon to take up the rear. - Get after your horses.

He told you, but you and Wanda both denied it with your heads.

- We're going to stay with him. - You said, climbing into the wagon and helping Wanda up next. Thor let out a sigh and sped up the horses. Nat waved at you lightly before turning in the opposite direction.

The rocking of the wagon seemed to cause Pietro even more pain, but Wanda was pressing on the wound as you held his hand. The boy was pale and sweaty, but had a faint smile on his lips.

- Hey. - he called breathlessly. - Don't worry girls. I'm going to be the best man, remember? I can't miss the wedding.

You laugh lightly, holding back the tears in your eyes. Pietro let out a grunt of pain, and you asked him to stop struggling to speak. And then you turned your head to Wanda, and placed your free hand on top of hers.

- We're going to be all right, love. - You said. - We take care of each other.

Thick tears streamed down Wanda's cheeks, but she smiled.

- And you and I take care of Pietro. - She replied, looking away of you to look at him for a moment, as if begging him to get better.

It didn't take long to reach the camp again, and then Thor was hurrying to get out and carry Pietro.

Wanda followed him toward the medical tent, where Thor placed her brother on the first empty gurney, while you ran to call Tony and Bruce to help him. They looked surprised, but hurried to accompany you.

They were quick to assist Pietro, and asked the three of you to leave the tent so they would have room to work. Wanda was trembling when you reached for her hands and gently pulled her out.

- Wanda, he'll be okay. - You told her, and then she was nodding, thick tears streaming down her cheeks. You sighed, looking down at your bloody hands. - Let's get you cleaned up.

Wanda looked like she was in shock, so she just nodded. You gently pulled her toward the supply hut that had a makeshift sink. You took a wet cloth to wipe the blood from her hands.

When you were finished, she looked up at you.

- What am I going to do if... - She choked on a sob. - He can't die.

You felt your heart race, and rushed to wipe the tears from her face. And then you hugged Wanda tight, hoping she would relax. - It's all right, love. He'll be all right.

It took a few minutes for Wanda to calm down, but you kept your embrace tight against her.

- Thank you. - She whispered against your skin, and you smiled without letting go.

- Anytime.

When Steve returned to camp with the rest of the group, he ran to where you and Wanda were sitting in front of the medical tent. Bruce and Tony still had the tent closed, and you had an arm around Wanda.

- So? How is he? - he asked with concern. Natasha squeezed your hand gently as she came to your side.

- He is going to be fine. - Informed Thor who had already wiped the blood from himself. - Stark and Banner are stitching him up.

Steve let out a sigh of relief, and then he assumed a serious posture.

- We can't stay here. - He said. - Not after robbing that family. We need to move as fast as possible before-

- Everyone knows that. - You cut him off with irritability. - Can you at least pretend to be concerned about Pietro?

- That's not what I meant. - He retorts seriously, and you think about answering, but Nat is squeezing your hand gently, and you don't want to fight now. - I will prepare everything with Potts and Wilson. When he is ready, we will leave.

And then Steve walked toward Pepper's cabin, and Peggy followed him. You sighed impatiently.

Fortunately, a moment later, Stark opened the tent. He smiled at you, and you felt your body relax.

- It's okay, everybody. - he announced. - He just needs to rest now.

Wanda let out a sigh of relief, and you released your arm from around her waist as she walked toward the tent. Bruce left as she went inside. You thought it best to give them some time alone.

You decided to help the others dismantle the camp while she was in there.

In the final adjustments to stow the tents in the wagons, you heard the sound of galloping approaching. Bucky was back, and he looked happy.

- So, how did it go on the reservation? - You asked as soon as he had dismounted and walked over to you, helping you to carry one of the boxes to the wagon you were in.

- It was fine. - He said with a smile. - T'Challa sent you a thanks gift by the way.

You blinked in surprise, and as soon as he finished loading the box, he went through his pockets. And handed you a small package. But you didn't even have time to look, Steve rushed you out loud the next second.

And then you returned to the medical cabin, and Pietro was getting up with Thor's help, he was clearly in pain, but forced a smile when you walked over to him.

You helped Thor carry him by the shoulders to one of the wagons you had, where you were able to set up a makeshift bed for him. And he was grateful when you left him there.

You returned to the medical hut to help Thor dismantle it, and when you were finished, you walked toward Pietro's cart.

- I'll ride behind you guys, okay? - You told him and Wanda, who was sitting next to him. - We can't fit all three of us in there.

Wanda smiled and moved in for a slow kiss on your lips, which made your stomach turn with anxiety. But she pulled away and sat back down.

You turned back toward your mare, which one of the gang members had brought back, and mounted.

Taking one last look at where the camp used to be, you began to follow the caravan.

The caravan was riding at high speed, and at some point Maria began to sing, and it didn't take long for the other members to follow her. You smiled slightly as you murmured the song, and then you remembered T'Challa's gift.

Rummaging through your pockets looking for the package, you held it carefully in your hands. There was a small piece of paper next to the small package, and you took it first.

"This was on your family memorial. Longevity on your journey, outlaw" was written in cursive letters. You smiled, opening the package. You let out a low exclamation of surprise when you noticed the small Indian jewelry. It was a bronze ring, with something shiny, maybe a small diamond in front. It was very beautiful. You put it back on for fear of dropping it while riding. Ignoring the feeling that you would like to put it on someone else's finger.

You rode for many days towards New Austin, and it was extremely tiring. The rare moments that you caught a glimpse of Wanda were during the stops for bathing and resting, where you were surrounded by other members. You missed touching and kissing her, but you also missed just her company. You couldn't wait to get home.

Just as you were getting tired of mentally complaining about the distance, Steve whistled announcing for you all to stop. You cocked your head to the side to look beyond the wagons and caught a glimpse of the entrance to the Blackwater region. It took a few more minutes, but the caravan finally stopped in a deserted but very beautiful lowland area.

You smiled at Wanda before riding up to Steve.

- I need to talk to you. - You told him as soon as he waved the direction for the caravan to stop, and he shook his head in understanding. You rode a little way past where the wagons had stopped, and dismounted from your horses.

- What is it, child? - he asked tenderly as you walked together around the plain.

You sighed wearily, and when you reached the edge of the cliff, you spoke.

- I can't do this anymore Steve. - You told him, and he frowned in confusion. You swallowed hard before you clarified. - Seeing Pietro like that, just made me realize how tired I am of this life. I never want that to happen to Wanda. - You say. - I don't want to be in danger all the time anymore, I want to rest. And I want a home, and a quiet life.

Steve looks at you for a few seconds, and then smiles, looking away briefly. Then he puts his hand on your shoulder.

- I understand perfectly what you say. - he says with a smile. - I'll tell the gang about it, okay? If they accept, we'll buy land and live together. If not, you take your share of the blow and go live your life with your wife.

You nod, blushing slightly, and then hug Steve. He hugs you tightly back, and when you let go, he pats your arm before walking back to the wagons. You take a deep breath, getting used to the temperature of the area.

A few minutes pass while you are admiring your surroundings, and then someone hugs you, startling you slightly. You smile when you realize that it is Wanda's arms around your waist.

- Hey. - You greet her with a smile, turning your body to kiss her lightly on the lips.

- Hey. - She says back with a smile as you let go. - What's on your mind?

- You. - You tell her by placing your hands on her cheeks. She blinks in surprise, blushing.

- Is that so?

You make a noise of agreement, kissing her again. Wanda smiles against your lips. And then you pull away, swallowing your nervousness.

- I told Steve that I can't be an outlaw anymore. - You say, and Wanda looks at you in mild surprise.

- Really? - She asks and you nod, then she frowns. - Are you... Are you leaving?

You giggle, raising an eyebrow.

- Maybe... - You say and start stroking her cheek with your thumb. Wanda blinks in concern. You ignore the uneven beating of her heart. - I told him I wanted to live a quiet life. With you.

- Oh. - Wanda exclaims in surprise, blushing and then smiles, biting her lip slightly. - Are you serious?

You smile, nodding, and then Wanda kisses you. Slow and delicious. You feel your face heat up. She breaks the kiss soon after, however, and you are nervous, but you let the words escape as your foreheads are pressed together.

- Marry me.

Wanda lets out a sigh, and her hands squeeze your waist. She kisses you again, but it doesn't last long because she is smiling, and then laughing, and you follow her, feeling that your chest is going to explode with happiness.

- Of course I'll marry you. - She declares, kissing you quickly and then depositing several kisses on your face, which makes you smile and blush. And then she is hugging you tight.

You stand like this for a few minutes, and then you hear Steve calling to you from a distance. You separate from Wanda with a groan, and she laughs, giving you one last kiss as you walk back to the wagon area together.

- Y/N, I just talked to everyone. - Steve says as soon as you arrive, and he looks pleased. - We have agreed to buy land in Hannigan's Stead area or somewhere in the New Austin area. Maybe a small ranch, but big enough to fit all of us. - He told you, and you smiled wryly, feeling very happy that your family was going to be on your side. Seeing your posture, Steve walked over to you and put his hand on your shoulder. - We stay together, kid. Always.

You smiled, and hugged him. And then the other members were letting out a chorus of happiness, and joining you two in the hug.

Steve and Peggy went to the town of Blackwater to buy the land while you stayed temporarily in that area. When they returned with the certificate of purchase, you had to ride again for a few more days.

You think you were smiling the whole way, but you didn't care.

When you finally arrived in Hannigan 's Stead region, the caravan was parked in the lowland area, it was a good spot, and had a lake a few yards away.

- Okay, I guess this means that we will have to build our own personal house. - Steve commented with a smile, dismounting from his horse. The caravan was parked in the corner of the lot and you had a very large empty space.

- We had enough money to buy the materials and if we follow the pre-assembly, I think we will be fine. - Peggy said.

It took a few hours for the material wagons to get from Blackwater to where you all were but when they finally arrived, you got to work. Pepper and Monica set up a small temporary camp in the caravan area while the ranch was not ready.

For the next few weeks, you spent your days helping the gang build a house, while dividing your time between sharing a tent with Wanda, playing and swimming in the nearby lake, and spending the afternoon lifting wooden pillars and hammering.

When the ranch was up, you had a party. And you danced with Wanda all night long.

Pietro was up the day before the ranch was finished, and he made you guarantee that he would have a room with a nice view in the window. You threatened to throw the hammer down on him if he kept bugging you.

You knew it would take time for things to work out properly, but as long as you had Wanda by your side, you were satisfied.

You married Wanda in the spring, a few weeks after you built the stable area next to the ranch. She wore a wreath, and you placed your family ring on her finger while she wiped your tears with her free hand. Steve and Pietro were also crying at the ceremony. When Nat joked that Pietro was a crybaby, he said he was just thrilled at how handsome he looked in a suit, and everyone laughed. You and Wanda escaped to the lake area during the party, and she kissed you until all the air was out of your lungs.

- Are you happy? - She asked a moment later, when you two were hugging laying the grass.

- You have no idea how much, dear. - You answered with a smile, leaving your hands on her waist. - And you?

- Yes. - She confesses a little breathlessly. - I love you.

- I love you too, Wanda.

And you kissed her, you two smiling against each other's mouths. You think her hand was dangerously slipping down your back, but she was your wife now, she could do as she wished.

[foodieforthoughts]

Sand and Stars - Chapter Ten

Series Summary: After the water pump being blown up, the insurgents in Baqubah are taking a hold of the food supply to the village. Camp Warhorse is in dire need of reinforcements. It has been eight months of submitting countless requests when the High Command commissions Sergeant Olivia Ross to take her group of men and women and help Captain Syverson and his team to restore a semblance of normalcy. But with the war raging, does it get two hearts closer too?

Pairing: Captain Syverson x OFC x OMC

Word Count: 3.5k

Warnings: 18+, angst, mentions of war, military technicalities, character held fugitive

A/N: Heya everyone! The update to this series took too long. I had kind of lost my muse, but I'm back at it again. Third-last part to the series really. Lots of things happening in this chapter, you might even hate me a little. 👀

And as always, big thanks to @thelastsock for beta reading this series. I love you so so much babe 💖

**divider by @firefly-graphics

<Chapter Nine

Title: Chapter Ten

Liv looked from one captain to another, her hands behind her back as she was commanded to stand at ease. The tension in the room was palpable. Standing to her one side was Pepps, watching the cold exchange between his superiors with his hands resting on his vest. While on the other side, Liv’s and Alex’s second-in-command stood with a straight face.

“He cannot be trusted.” Alex banged the table with his hand, the cup of coffee placed on the metal surface shook with the impact.

Sy looked pissed. He was glaring at the maps and pictures strewn on the table, his face descending into a frown. His lips pressed together and his nostrils flaring the longer he stared. Liv knew something was wrong. She had seen Sy get angry before, but today he seemed like he was hanging by the last nerve.

“I say we grill him until he squeaks.” Alex stood up straight, looking at Liv for a split second before he averted his gaze. “You should have been more careful when you approved of the insider info.”

Alex’s words were laced with absolute venom, the caustic cut of his statement caused Liv to stare at her feet. His tight grip on her arms last night had left bruises on her skin which throbbed on hearing his words. She took a deep breath and looked up again, trying to avoid looking at Alex and concentrating on Sy’s face. Mahmoud was their friend, she was left perturbed by the intel blowing up, but she never second guessed Mahmoud's intentions about helping them.

She thought Sy would disagree with Alex. Sy knew how much effort she had poured into helping the Special Forces to combat the militia. There had been days when she had voiced her feelings to him about staying back at the camp. The sole purpose of her coming to Warhorse had already ended. They had been lagging behind on the food truck retrieval, with her chopper destroyed, her best friend dead, the only thing keeping her in Baqubah was Sy.

"No one touches a hair on that man." Sy's voice was authoritative. Looking at Alex with narrowed eyes glinting with ferocious vexation, Sy spoke again. "You want to stir unrest amongst the people who decide to help us. I am not going to allow that."

"It was you who asked for assistance. Wasn't it because you knew you failed?"

The air in the room vibrated with challenged machismo from both Captains when Alex questioned Sy's ability to handle his job. Liv could see Sy was suppressing his fury, letting his hands hang to the side. She had to ask herself in that moment, was she the reason why they were in disagreement or was it her guilty conscience?

"What do you suggest?" Sy asked with gritted teeth.

"We go to the leader's holding and attack. Cut them at their roots."

Like her lips couldn't stop themselves, she stepped forward and blurted out, "We shouldn't do that."

Two sets of fiery eyes looked at her in that instant. She gulped as she glanced from one man to another. Sy averted his gaze to look to the side with a scowl that pierced her heart. It affected her deeply, confused her even, but she had an important issue at hand.

"Sir, we don't know whether the locals would help us or not. And ambushing the militants, with their last known residence in the city, I don't think we should endanger-"

Her sentence was cut short when Alex covered the distance between them and stood over her. She took a step back, heavily reminded of how small she felt, how she cowered away from him last night.

"You do not speak out of turn, Sergeant. Have you forgotten how this works?"

"Alex…" She whispered, feeling weaker than ever under his piercing stare. Liv met Sy's cold stare over Alex's shoulder and felt dispirited with the lack of support in the room.

"You're dismissed, Sergeant." Alex spat out the words, glaring at her with his sea green orbs.

She spared a glance to her second-in-command and nodded her head, trying to avoid the creeping sensation of inferiority rearing it's head. Her eyes quickly flicked between Alex and Sy before she walked out the door, resisting the urge to look back.

***

Liv grabbed her gun and slung it across her shoulder. Picking up her helmet from the table, she strapped it to her chin, securing it tightly to sit on her head.

"Go ahead. Mount up the ammo, I'll be out in a moment." She told her men who ran out with the boxes of ammunition to load up the Humvee. On her way to Sy's office, she came across soldiers from other units, walking in hurried steps as they were about to roll out.

After she was asked to leave, Sy and Alex had come to the decision to ambush the militant leader. She had been ordered to ready her unit as they were to attack the enemy with full force. She had her doubts but after how Alex treated her, she knew her opinions meant nothing. She had gone off to find Mahmoud's whereabouts and was informed that a team had been sent to bring him to the camp.

Liv reached Sy's office and stared at the door for a long minute. She had to talk to him, ask him if he was okay. She had to see him before they left for the desert which was about to turn into a warzone. Knocking at the door, Liv entered the small office and found Sy putting on his combat vest with a sulk on his face. He looked up the instant she crossed the threshold to the room, staring at her for a moment before going back to his task.

"Sy," Liv closed the door behind her, covering the distance between them and latching onto his back for a hug. She breathed in his scent, feeling warmth at the contact, only then realizing she had missed him tremendously. "Is everything okay?" She whispered, trying to keep the calm of their shelter intact, away from the chaos outside.

Sy did not respond, detaching himself from her embrace to grab his holster from the table. Liv watched him with confusion, feeling the coldness that was emitting from him.

"Sy-" She began but he spoke before she could finish her sentence.

"It is Alex, isn't it? The friend who you screwed up with?" His voice was sharp like the edge of the sword, cutting into her heart with each syllable. "Is that what you do, fuck your Captain where you go?"

Liv's heart sank, his words burned like hot metal on her skin. She stared at the back of his head, going over his words over and over again in her mind. Sy turned around to look at her, eyebrows scrunched, and an infuriating gaze accusingly boring into her.

"What?" She could only ask, left stunned and hurt.

"I saw you both last night, up on the roof. Is that what you wanted me to see? Let me know subtly that you didn't love me?"

"No." She asserted. Taking a step forward, she reached out her hand to hold his but he pulled back the instant her fingertip grazed his skin.

"You take me for a fool? You think you can string me along like that?"

This time Sy stepped forward, walking until her back hit the opposite wall. Liv could feel the sting of tears in her eyes. She could see the hurt, anger, scepticism in Sy's flaming blue orbs and she wanted nothing but to tell him what the truth was. But he caged her in with his arms on either side of her face, leaning so close to her face that his breath washed over her skin.

"I told you I love you, I asked you so many times if there was anyone else in your life. I gave you my everything." Sy closed his eyes taking in heavy breaths for a moment. "And this is how you reward me. Seeing you in his arms…"

Liv was rendered speechless. Her tears had overflowed, trickling down her cheeks in a hot trail. She brought her hand to grab onto his shirt when, shaking her head to deny his accusations when he pulled back.

"When we are done today, you leave for Baghdad, Sergeant." Sy grabbed his gun and his pistol from the table and walked out the door, slamming it behind him and tearing Liv's spirit to shreds.

***

“Sergeant?” Liv heard the gruff voice of her private speaking from above her. She opened her eyes, clutching her head in her hands as a buzzing noise reverberated in her ears. The hot desert sun blinded her eyes as she took in her surroundings. Looking at her arms she noticed her skin was matted with a thick black concoction of sweat, dirt and blood.

“Let me help you.” The private said, putting his hand on her back and gently pushing her to sit up. Liv shook her head when she sat erect, blinking her eyes several times until everything came to focus.

The compound was abuzz with people, soldiers in a hurry to mount the cars with ammo. She saw a few of the men sitting on the ground with injuries visible on their skin. Some were being given water and helped to stand up, while others were just lying on the ground, groaning in pain and agony.

Liv ached in several places with her head fuzzy from the hit she had taken to the side of her face. But even in that incoherent haze, she could figure out which vehicle had not made it back to the compound. She refused to believe he was dead. But her blood ran cold when she thought it was a possibility.

The last Liv remembered was running towards Sy’s unit with her men flanking her sides. The RPG had barely missed Sy’s truck but was close enough to overturn it on impact with the ground. Their envoy had stopped to cover fire Liv and her unit, while they made their way towards the upturned car lying on its side. Everything was only a few feet away when the militants had ambushed them from the side, forcing them to take shelter behind the remains of blown-up vehicles.

Gunfire had raged everywhere. Bullets were hitting the rusted metal parts of the car’s frame, missing Liv's body by inches. Liv had advised over the comms to cover her as she saw movement behind the smoky remnants of Sy’s truck. She could hear Alex’s commands over the other voices; he was sending the rest of them back to the camp, saying how his unit was only a few clicks away from her location and they would be there to assist her team. She could hear them trying to get anyone from Sy’s unit to respond but all they got in return was deafening static.

Liv could feel her heart beating in her ears with the fear of losing Sy and with the probability of dying herself. She had run behind a boulder, taken cover and waited for her troops to join her. She had looked up from behind the stony mass when all of a sudden, the back of a rifle had come from the side and hit her temple, knocking her out cold.

Groaning at the memory, Liv’s hand instinctively went up to the place of impact on her forehead. She felt the crusted ruddy line dripping down the side of her face, winching when her fingers touched the sore spot. Bracing her weight on the outstretched hand of her private, Liv stood up from the ground on shaky legs. She thanked the private for his help, dismissing him to look after others needing assistance. She watched him jog away when her eyes spotted Alex with his Lieutenant.

She had no idea what brought on the rage inside her, but her insides boiled when she looked at him. She stormed towards Alex, throwing her helmet to the side. She briefly took note of her men staring at her wide eyed, halting their activities to watch her figure cross the length of the compound with furious eyes and heavy steps.

Pulling at his Kevlar vest, Liv turned Alex around to face her, ignoring the shock on his Lieutenant's face at her disdainful behavior. Feeling lost, scared and angry at the one person who had fucked up the sanctuary she had built with the one she loved, Liv wanted to ask him only one question.

"Did you leave him on purpose? Did you leave Sy to die?"

“Sergeant! You better watch your words.” Came the Lieutenant’s order, coming to stand in front of her face. But Liv did not pay him any heed, she looked into Alex’s eyes, searching for her answer.

Alex clenched his jaw; his lips were pressed tightly in a thin line. Liv waited for him to answer, listening to Alex’s heavy breaths and keeping her eyes fixed on his. He scrunched his face, the lines near his nose deepening, until he moved to come closer to her. Liv had to crane her neck to look him in the eye, but she held her ground.

“Sergeant Ross, you do realize you are talking to your Captain?”

The anger in her was dissolving and was getting overcome by fear; fear of losing Sy. She felt her hands tremble as she balled them into fists with her eyes beginning to sting with the forming tears.

“We have to go back to get him, Alex.” She spoke in a raggedly calm manner. “We don’t leave our men behind.”

Liv hated him for many reasons, but right now all she needed was a friend. She spared a glance to the Lieutenant and then at the others standing behind them. Alex let out a heavy breath and momentarily closed his eyes before tapping her on the shoulder.

“Get to the medic, you’re bleeding.” He bluntly instructed, before turning to talk to the Lieutenant and walking towards the building which housed the office. Like on command, a trickle of blood trailed down Liv’s eyebrows, hanging onto her eyelashes before she swiped her hand over her forehead.

Fresh crimson liquid on her hand glistened under the sun, the metallic scent of blood lingering in the dusty winds. She felt her eyes blur for a second, her footing became unsteady until a set of strong hands came to hold onto her arms.

“It’s okay, Sarge, I got you.” She had no idea who it was, only that it wasn’t her friend or her lover.

***

No one could stay calm after returning from the warzone. No one could rest.

Liv had passed out again on the makeshift medical center’s bed. The docs said it was because of the blow to her head and the bleeding coupled with heat, but Liv wanted to add a few more things to the list. Topping everything else was the fact that it was almost night time and they were yet to find out if Sy was dead or alive.

She watched the rusty old blades of the ceiling fan whirr with metallic creaks. She looked to her side and noticed the groaning man beside her. He had his arm bandaged and his eye looked swollen shut. She recognized him to be from Alex’s unit, one of his privates maybe, someone who was out in the warzone for the first time.

Taking a deep, shaky breath and willing herself to sit up, Liv slung her legs from the edge of the bed. She touched the bandage on her forehead, dabbing at the bump of the material on her skin. She grabbed her shirt hanging from the metal railing of the bed and started putting it on over her t-shirt.

“You okay, man?” She placed a gentle hand over the private’s shoulder, nodding her head at him when he replied with a weak ‘yes’. She was about to ask him if he needed anything when the ruckus from outside the window pulled her attention.

Liv was staring wide-eyed at the commotion through the infirmary's window. Someone was being dragged by the collar of their shirt into the centre of the compound to where Alex and his men stood. Without wasting any time, Liv buttoned her shirt and ran out the infirmary, ignoring the protests of the doctor present in the room. She rushed down the stairs towards the exit, out into the yard to find Mahmoud pushed to stand in front of the men.

“Mahmoud! What is happening?” She ran to stand next to her friend, holding onto his arm as he stumbled forward. He had scrapes on his face and his nose was bleeding. His camo shirt was disheveled, the buttons on the front straining against their holes.

Disregarding her question, the man from Alex’s unit turned his scowling face towards the Captain. “We found him making his way to the camp. He refused to come with us as a fugitive and when he resisted-”

“You hit him?” Liv looked towards the poor man who had been nothing but helpful all this time. Sy always counted on him, he always told her how Mahmoud was like the beacon of hope for restoring some sort of peace to this place. “Sir, Mahmoud has been helping us all along. He has been important for everything that we have accomplished here.”

Alex crossed his arms over his chest while regarding Liv with contempt. “This man and his intel have led to my men getting injured. He was the one who set you up with the insider who betrayed you and now, your Captain’s missing. And yet you trust this guy?” He nearly spat out the last words to her, anger flaming in his eyes as he stared at Mahmoud’s form.

“Believe me Sergeant, I did not know about the boy. I did not know he would betray you.” Mahmoud held onto Liv’s arm, quivering in his place as he spoke. “I am not lying. I saw him myself. Captain and his men are alive and they’ve taken them captive.”

“How do you expect us to believe you?!” The man from before bellowed, grabbing Mahmoud’s collar again and yanking him backwards. Liv was quick to react, holding onto the soldier’s arm, grasping it tightly and pulling it away from Mahmoud’s shirt.

“Stop it! That is not how we treat them!” Liv turned to look at Mahmoud, ignoring the wild thumping in her heart. Her hands were beginning to tremble again, but she was also filled with the warmth of relief in finding out that her Sy was alive. “Mahmoud, please do not lie. You know Sy trusted you, more than he trusted anyone from around here.” She took his hands in hers, looking the man in the eyes with a pleading gaze. “Is Sy alive?”

“Yes, Sergeant. But-

“But what?” The beating of her heart was so loud in her ears, she was certain everybody could hear it. She had a sinking feeling in her gut, that whatever Mahmoud was going to say next would move the ground beneath her feet.

“They-the leader, he plans on executing the Captain and his men… make an example of them. To show what happens to anyone who helps the Americans.”

Blood drained from Liv’s body the moment those words left Mahmoud’s mouth. He went on to describe things he saw, but everything was a blur after that. Liv took a few staggered steps away, looking at the ground under her feet and feeling dread seeping into every fiber of her being. She had to pull in trembling breaths through her thoughts to finally calm her nerves.

Sy was hurt, they had beaten him. They were going to execute him.

Liv just wanted to crumple to the floor, lose all semblance of sanity, her mind fixated on how they had ended things. But she closed her eyes and willed herself to focus on her training. She had to save him or die trying. She loved the man and now that she knew he was alive, she had to give her everything to bring him back.

“Sir,” She said with a renewed fervor. Alex and his men looked at her at the same time. She could be reading wrong, but it seemed like Alex’s eyes had softened, the fury in his eyes was replaced with concern. “If you could hear me out sir, I have a plan.”

🌟 Series Masterlist 🌟

Chapter Eleven>

[solinarimoon]

Fields of Wildflowers, Chapter 12

Fields of Wildflowers 

Chapter 12

A Sihtric x OC story

AN: My timeline for events during the siege in Winchester is different from the show.  I almost combined this chapter with the events for the next one but they would have been too long.  The moodbaord was made for me by the lovely @serasvictoria. You can find my master list here.

Warnings: Trauma from past rape.

Word Count: 3666

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

Eight days. Cwen and Eadith had been inside the walls of Winchester for eight days. Without any success in finding their people. 

The ladies had been able to narrow down the possibilities and were almost entirely certain they were being held somewhere in the palace. 

It had been relatively simple to slip in among the kitchen maids and find odd jobs and help that was needed there.  A large Danish woman, Frig had taken over commanding the kitchens and she barked orders around to anyone who would take them.

When asked where they had come from or who they were, Eadith would reply that they were former kitchen maids for a saxon lord and only sought to be of use to avoid being taken as a slave.

Various of the other women in the kitchens had similar stories, seeking to avoid becoming a Dane’s property so instead found usefulness in the kitchens. Quiet, useful, and out of the way.

This was how both women found themselves bringing stale bread and water to the armory.

The jail cells at the armory were full with low born Saxon’s now to be sold as slaves.  

Cwen and Eadith had quite the time ferreting their way around there to discreetly check faces and make general inquiries. 

“They haven't put any royals in here with the likes of us, girl.”

The old crone had shifted her eyes up and down, taking in Cwen’s appearance. 

“You’re quite lovely. Don’t look like you’ve had too much wear and tear on ya. Haven’t needed to live the hard life have you, missy?”

The woman’s words were cruel and her tone scornful. 

Cwen shifted her gaze towards Eadith who was speaking to another prisoner down the hall, “nor her neither. What are you even doing in here? Asking about this for?”

Cwen searched for an answer to the woman’s prying. 

“I… we…” she stammered feeling herself begin to panic. 

“We need to be going.  We’re wanted back in the kitchen before long,” Eadith swooped in to take Cwen’s arm.

Leading her friend away from the woman’s hard stare, Eadith quieted her friend's worries.

“It will be alright.  That old woman was just being rude.  She doesn’t know anything about us.  Not a threat.  It’s ok.”

Cwen sighed, frustrated. “I know.  And we shouldn’t need to go back to the cells any longer now we know they’re not there.  But still, she could tell someone we have been asking questions.  That two kitchen maids are nosing about.  Then they figure out it is two imposter kitchen maids.”

Cwen sighed, scanning their path for watchful eyes as they walked before she continued. “Did anyone you spoke with seem to have any ideas where they might be keeping them?”

“One man told me his lips might release information if they were reminded what a kiss felt like…”

Cwen stopped in her tracks to look at Eadith with a shocked expression.  As her shock faded, both women let out loud guffaws, feeling some of the tension and worry ease from their shoulders.  

They continued their walk towards the kitchens in the rear of the palace.  

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

The women slowly walked the perimeter of Winchester, looking for any sign of a way in, not guarded or any news of the location of their friends.  

The weather had grown hotter in the past week since they had gone inside the walls.

Most of the inhabitants of the town were finding shelter underneath roofs and in shade to try and stay cool.  Tensions had been building and occasionally Cwen and Eadith would see squabbles break out among the bored and sweaty Danes.

“So Cwen,” Eadith started as they slowly meandered along the wall, “was Sihtric not happy with you for coming with me into the city?”

Cwen stopped in a huff, placing her hands on her hips and looking at the ground before meeting Eadith’s eyes.

“No.  He was not.  But…,” pausing, Cwen shifted on her feet and searched for the words.  

“But…?” Eadith prodded.

The women continued their route, eyes scanning the wall before Cwen found the words she wished to speak.

“It was odd.  When I said I could not sit by and do nothing, his reply was to say that may be better than doing something foolish.  His words were harsh. His tone, I mean.  But so were my own.  I pulled away from him.  But he did not argue further.  Made no pleas.  Just gave me a knife and showed me how to use it.”

“Would you rather he had argued?  Made more of a fight against our plan?”  Eadith had stopped to look down an alley before looking forward and taking more steps to catch back up with Cwen.

The question caught Cwen off guard.  

The way that they had left, with the last words spoken between them being bitter and harsh had been weighing heavy on Cwen’s heart.  

“In truth,” Cwen looked at Eadith as she caught back up with her, “I do not know what to think about it.  On the one hand, yes.  I wish he had fought with me.  Argued with me. But it would not have changed anything.  I would have still come.  So maybe I am glad he did not?” Cwen’s voice questioned the thoughts running through her own mind.  “I think he knew his words would not change my mind.  So is that not better then?  That we did not argue, say things that are hurtful only to then be separated?”  Cwen looked to her friend for some guidance.

“Possibly.  But now you are left with this weight hanging over you.  As I am sure he is too. Are there words that have been left unsaid, Cwen?”

Cwen did not immediately reply.  Instead the friends continued walking in silence.

Suddenly, a loud commotion resounded to their right at the north gate of the city.   

Cwen and Eadith ran along to meet a cross street seeing Danes come from across the city to meet the sound.

Shouts could be heard from many of the passing men, “It is their king!” “It is Edward!”

Cwen glanced at Eadith to see the woman staring at the tumult.

She placed her hand on her friend’s arm, “Now is our chance, Eadith!”

Her words startled Eadith  and she turned to look at Cwen.

“Chance?”

“To slip inside the palace, try to find them.”

“You mean while everyone is distracted by this attack?”

“That is exactly what I mean.  Let’s go.”

They slipped through the side streets, avoiding the wave of movement towards the gate.

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

Using the kitchen entrance, Cwen and Eadith followed along corridors, glancing in rooms and keeping eyes out for any sign of a room being guarded.  

Cwen sighed when they rounded a corner to find another long hallway with no guards.

“Why do they need so many hallways!” Eadith grumbled.

“We’re going to run out of time,” Cwen worried. “Wait!  Oh I should have thought of this first!  We need to check the chapel!  I bet that is where they would hold them!”

“Why there?” Eadith questioned as Cwen began leading the way along another corridor.

“For one, it is situated near the center of the palace so they’d not easily be able to slip out.”

“Or us slip in, I imagine then.”

“Yes, unfortunately.  And then two, it would be rather upsetting to be held captive and have lost Winchester only to deal with that while literally staring Alfred in the face.”

Eadith watched Cwen, expectantly as they marched along.

“Alfred’s entombed there.  His remains are enshrined.”

“Oh,” the redhead nodded in understanding.

Their footsteps echoed as Cwen navigated old passages from her girlhood.

Rounding a corner, they stopped short seeing a lone guard leaning against the wall across from a large door.

They slowed their pace as they approached, Cwen whispering, “That is the chapel.  They must be in there.  Follow my lead.”

“Hey, what are you two doing here?”

The Dane’s voice was rough, clearly surprised to see the two women approaching him.

“Oh, we were sent to collect the tray and plates from the prisoners.  See if they need more water.  Frig sent us.  From the kitchens.  But what are you still doing here?” Cwen questioned the man, not a note of uncertainty in her voice.

The guard stared at Cwen and Eadith, clearly not understanding the woman’s final question.

“And where should I be, if not here on duty?” 

“Well everyone, all the men are rushing to the north gate.  We heard something about all men needing to assemble.  That Edward was here and mounting an attack on the walls.  I just assumed any man, any warrior would have gone. Apologies.”

Just at that moment, another Dane appeared on the opposite end of the hallway, marching at a quick pace.

“Leiv, Edward’s at the gate!  We’ve got to go!”

“But the prisoners,” the guard, Leiv, protested.  His nose had wrinkled and he gestured in frustration towards the doorway across from him.

“They’re locked in tight.  And they don’t have anywhere to go.  Come on!”

Groaning and clearly conflicted, Leiv pointed his finger at Cwen, “If you need to get their plates, you’re going to have to come back later.  Door’s locked and it’s staying that way until I get back.”

With that final word, Leiv ran off to join his friend down the hall.  Within a few seconds they were gone, out of earshot.

Cwen and Eadith glanced at each other before moving to stand in front of the doorway.  

“Aethelstan! Lady Aelswith!  Stiorra! Are you in there?  Can you hear us?”

They waited. Then after several moments, they heard something on the other side.

Muffled and hard to understand, but clearly a response.

“We’re going to have to be loud to hear anything through that heavy wood,” placing her hand against the door, Eadith chewed her bottom lip. “I’ll go to the end of the hall and keep watch.  They’ll want to be speaking to you,” She placed her hand on Cwen’s shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze before moving along the way Leiv and his friend had disappeared.

Cwen watched her friend retreat before she turned back to the door.  Scanning the door before her, she crouched down to peer at the keyhole.  

“Hello! Lady Aelswith? It’s Cwen! Eadith and I are here.”

“Yes, yes we’re here.  Cwen! Thank God.  Thank you, God!”

Cwen rested her forehead on the door and breathed a sigh of relief before she brought her mouth back, close to the keyhole once more.

“Are you alright?  We’ve been looking all over for you.  Uhtred and his men are outside the walls of the city.”

“Yes, Cwen. We’re fine.  Our feathers are ruffled and these heathen brutes insist on demeaning and belittling us.  But we are alright.  But Cwen,” Aelswith paused.

Cwen strained her ears to listen.

“They took Stiorra.”

Cwen froze as she felt the breath catch in her throat. 

Shaking her head, Cwen managed to pant out, “took...took her? What? Where? Where did they take Stiorra?”

Lady Aelswith’s voice came back tight and measured. “We don’t know where they took her.  Lord Aethelred’s man, Eardwulf is here.  With the Danes.  He recognized her and told them she is Uhtred’s daughter.  So they took her and put us in here.”

A pulsating buzzing sound began to rise in Cwen’s ears.  She stepped back from the door staring but not seeing.

She was startled back to her senses by Eadith running to her side. 

“I'm starting to hear people.  We need to move.”

Cwen stared for one more second before she shook her head and brought her mouth back to the keyhole. “We have to go.  But we will try to get back and check on you all.  And we’ll find her.”

Eadith took Cwen’s arm and the two women quickly retraced their steps back to the kitchens.

“Find her?” The hushed question left Eadith’s lips as soon as they rounded the corner of the hall.

“Stiorra.  They know she is Uhtred’s daughter.  They separated her from the others.” 

“So we’ve found Aethelstan and Lady Aelswith but now we have no idea where Stiorra may be?”

“That’s right.  But Eadith,” Cwen paused, placing her hand on the friend’s arm to slow her.  “Your brother is here.  He recognized Stiorra.  He gave her up to the Danes.”

“Eardwulf is here?” Eadith grasped onto Cwen’s hand holding her arm.. 

Taking a shaking breath, Cwen met Eadith’s eyes and nodded.

“Alright,” Eadith spoke while formulating what their next course of action should be. “Alright, we’ve found two of our three people.  Now we must continue the search but remain even more hidden unless my brother find us.  Do you have any ideas where Stiorra might be?”

“No.  And I don’t dare keep looking right now.  We have to try again another time.”

“Let us return to the kitchens then and figure out a plan.”

The two women continued on to the kitchens where they casually made themselves useful amongst the other kitchen maids.

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

It was a few days later when the chance arose for one of them to find Stiorra.  The Dane woman in charge of the kitchens barked an order out at Cwen, who happened to be closest to her, that Sigtryggr had ordered food and ale be brought to the prisoner girl being held in the war room.

Cwen immediately knew the girl must be Stiorra, but had no idea what room the war room would be.

Carefully, she questioned the woman further. “Pardon, but which room is the war room? I've not brought that prisoner food yet.”

“It’s the room with all the scrolls and maps.  Large room at the end of the hall in the south corridor. Now get to it, girl.”

Cwen grabbed the tray of food and ale jug while making sure she caught Eadith’s eye.

Eadith had been pulled into kneading dough for the next day’s bread. Cwen gave her a short nod before leaving the room.

It must be King Alfred’s old study.  It was in the south corridor and had mountains of scrolls and books. Cwen mused to herself as she walked the halls.

When Cwen found the room, the set of double doors was closed, but not latched.  One door easily swung open when Cwen pushed on it with her hip.  

A young woman was sat at a long table facing away from the door, most of her long brown hair hanging down her back while some of it was piled at the back of her head in braids.

Hearing the door and Cwen’s footsteps, Stiorra turned and then gasped with shock to see her friend.

Quickly, Cwen placed her tray down and embraced the young girl.

“Oh thank the Lord I have found you,” pushing Stiorra back by the shoulders, Cwen took in her appearance, looking for any sign of distress or maltreatment.

“Are you well?  Why have they separated you from the others? We’ve been looking for days.”

“We? Who has been looking?” Stiorra questioned.

“Eadith and I,” Cwen replied. “But are you alright?” Raising her voice to talk over the older woman, Stiorra spoke, “I’m ok, Cwen.  Really, I am.  They’ve treated me kindly.  Sigtryggr removed me from the others so he could speak with me freely.  He has treated me well.” She finished with a small smile.

Cwen, albeit shocked, smiled back and embraced Stiorra once more. “Your father and his men are outside.” “And Edward too. I know,” Stiorra interrupted Cwen once more.

When Cwen stared at her questioningly, Stiorra replied, “Sigtryggr has told me.  He does not tell me all things, but,” smirking again, Stiorra continued, “we talk often.”

Cwen searched her friend’s face and saw no lie or hesitation. “I am glad to hear it.  The others, I fear, are not treated as kind.  Whenever the walls are breached, know that your father will find you.  We will find you.”

“I do not think Sigtryggr wants a fight, Cwen!”

“What do you mean he does not want a fight?  He has besieged us and…”

“Sigtryggr is different, Cwen.  He thinks.  He wants to understand Saxons.  I think he wants to be at peace with them.”

Cwen scoffed, “Well this is a strange way to go about bringing peace.”

Stiorra chuckled lightly while taking a seat, pulling Cwen to sit alongside her on the bench.

“I know, but would Edward have sat down with him before this?” When Cwen did not reply, because the answer was obvious, Stiorra continued, “I believe he wishes for land to settle and a peace to be reached.  He is trying to do something good for his people.  He does not seem to seek glory.”

“Such is your assessment of him?” Cwen asked.  Seeing Stiorra nod, Cwen paused to observe Stiorra once more. “And he has treated you well.  I can see it.  And I am glad, my dear.” Cwen rose to stand and Stiorra rose with her.  

“Now I must go before I am missed.  Eadith and I are here.  One of us will try to come back in a day or two to see you again.  Stay safe, Stiorra.”

“I am, Cwen,” Stiorra spoke while hugging Cwen once more tightly.

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

 It had been three days since Cwen had rejoiced with Eadith after finding Stiorra and learning she was safe. 

Another opportunity to speak with any of their companions had not presented itself though. Cwen and Eadith had needed to be content with helping out in the kitchens and continuing to look for weaknesses from within the walls. 

It happened while scouting along the southeast corridor for the third time. Cwen’s hair at the nape of her neck had stood on end and her heartbeat had become erratic before her eyes had even registered what they were seeing. 

That pulsing buzz returned to her ears and she had to sink back around a corner and slide down a wall, clutching at her legs and pulling them close. 

Luckily Eadith had been several paces behind Cwen and saw her collapse in fear.

Dropping to her friend’s side, she did not even have time to ask what had happened before Cwen was clutching at her and whispering, “Hide. We must hide.”

“Hide? From what?” Eadith replied in equal tones of panic.

“Eardwulf.  He comes this way.”

At that moment, footsteps and a lone voice became more pronounced approaching from the street.

“Come,” Eadith clutched at Cwen’s arms and stood, pulling her to stand and turn, abruptly walking back the way they had come. “Come now, just walk away.  That is all.”

Cwen allowed herself to be led away, but her breathing became more ragged. 

“He has not seen us.  We are just two more souls walking the streets.  Keep moving and breathe, Cwen.  We have to breathe.”

Eadith had begun talking to herself as much as to Cwen. 

They did not stop until they reached the courtyard outside of the kitchens where they both sat against the wall of the palace.  Crouched small and low.  Breathing hard.

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

That night, Cwen dreamed while she and Eadith lay huddled together in a small alcove of the kitchens.

She dreamed she was back in the fields outside of Saltwic.  

The golden and orange yarrow were waving in the breeze and purple and blue coneflowers joined the dance.  Small insects flitted about in the setting sunlight.  Dusky shadows were slowly stretching their arms across the field.

A man was standing watch over her, his shoulders broad and his feet firmly planted.  His head continually turning and searching, scanning the surrounding woods.

Sihtric turned to meet Cwen as she approached him, leaning her body into his and gripping tightly to his tunic. Her fingers fisting into the material, Cwen felt her teeth grind together and her shoulders tense. Her brow furrowed.

Turning her face up to look at him, Cwen could not hear a sound.  His lips were moving and he was speaking to her but the sounds never made it to Cwen’s ears.  His eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

The crease between Cwen’s brow deepened and she began shaking her head, pushing on Sihtric’s chest.

He brought both of his hands up to gently hold her neck and Cwen stilled as Sihtric rested his forehead against her own.

The gesture, one that was so intimate, so meaningful for Sihtric, would usually bring her peace.  Calm the raging bird, beating against the cage in her chest.

But this time, the dread and insecurity did not dissipate.

Cwen pulled back to find his eyes.

But was met with the dark, menacing eyes of Eardwulf.

His face was haggard and whiskers grew on his cheeks.  His eyes held the most danger.  They were tormented.  And they held anger.

Cwen felt the hands at her neck slowly shift to grasp her throat.

Eardwulf sneered through his teeth as he choked the life from her body.

Cwen’s sobs woke Eadith and the woman shook her friend awake, cradling her and whispering soothing words while feeling her friend shiver.

It took a long time before Cwen was able to regain control over her breathing and allow her body to relax.  Sleep did not come easy for the remaining hours of the night.

To be continued...

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

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[lostbetweenvampiresandmusic]

"Home of the Lost: Chapter 29"

Let me know what you think!

-------------------------------------

"Elle?" Paul's voice echoed through the empty basement. "Nora, are you alright?"

"You know you're safe here, right?"

"No I'm not!"

The muffled voice came from inside the coffin.

"You are when you're with us," Marko said, slowly opening the lid. "When have we not kept you safe?"

Eleanor didn't know how to answer that. She looked at Paul. "It followed."

"What?"

Eleanor was about to close the lid to her coffin again, but Marko stopped her. "Love, come on. You need to come with us, back home. You can't stay here."

"I know," Eleanor sounded small. Scared. "It will find me no matter what."

"Max will bring your coffin later on tonight, alright? You're going to stay in our room, and we'll stay with you, no matter what happens," Paul said, brushing his hand through her hair. Only now did he notice the drastic change in colour, from brown to grey. It was all the proof he needed. The underpainting really was here.

Michael was starting to like the move. Santa Carla was not like he remembered, but it surely was better than he expected. Star, the girl from the night before, had been wonderful. She was kind and funny. She had something mysterious about her, something that was luring him in to know and learn more about her. He could hardly wait to meet up with her again tonight. Surely it would be even better than the night before. Looking in the mirror, he decided he was ready to go out. He left his room, knocking at his brother's door. "You need a ride into town?"

"We're going to the boardwalk?"

"Yeah. Mom's already there, looking for her job, you can go back home with her."

"You have a date already?"

"Yep."

Sam looked at him in disbelief before quickly putting his shoes on. He really hoped the comicbook store would be open tonight.

Max couldn't help but feel delighted when he saw the woman enter his store. The way she'd helped the lost boy, the way kindness just seemed to radiate off of her... Yes, she was wonderful. When she asked for a job, he couldn't help but say yes - he wanted to keep her close - even though he had no place for another employee. Maybe he'd have to permanently remove one of his other employees, but if it meant that she - Lucy - would be there, what did it matter? He smiled at the thought of seeing her again the next night, finally having found an answer to his problems. With a mother figure around, David might become a bit more like his old self again. And if not, at least Max would have a companion.

Star smiled as she saw Michael. He was looking rather interested at some earpiece-stand, obviously contemplating whether or not he should get some. "If you want your ears pierced, I'll do it," Star looked at him.

"You pierce ears?"

"And I make earrings. We'll find you a pair that suits your style."

"You seem confident."

"I am. So, what do you want to do tonight?"

"Do you want to go for a ride?" Michael asked, already leading her towards his Honda. Star smiled. "Absolutely."

Of all things that could've happened, she didn't expect David and Dwayne to show up. She also didn't expect David to play the asshole card.

"Where are you going Star?"

"For a ride," she said, noticing Paul and Marko also showed up, a very scared and sickly looking Eleanor behind Marko. "This is Michael."

"Star," David looked at her, making it very clear that whatever she was about to do, driving off with Michael was a very, very bad idea.

"Star? Let's go," Michael was ready to mount his bike, and was surprised to see Star getting on behind the leader of the group. He hardly listened to whatever it was the boy was saying, only paying enough attention to realise he had been challenged to a race.

"I can't beat your bike."

"Well. Try to keep up."

The boys were off, Michael following shortly behind, trying to keep up. They were fast. They knew the roads, the paths, they knew how hard they could go and how far - Michael didn't. He just had to trust with every fibre in his body that following Star would not lead to an early demise. He hoped that seeing the fact they had two girls with them, they would drive in a way to keep them unharmed. If they did, and he matched their driving style, maybe he would be unharmed to. Maybe. Hopefully.

Star was feeling uneasy. David had always been a bit of a bitch, true, but to pull the "I'm the big bad leader and everybody listens to me" card was not something she expected to see that night. She had hoped to have a fun - normal - night with Michael. Dinner and a movie, maybe another concert? Not a race. Not a life threatening activity, like this. She knew why David did this. He wanted to show her that no matter what she did, he would always know and always be able to control her. He wanted to show Michael that whatever happened, Star would never truly be his. Star sighed, hoping above all hope, that Michael would be smarter than David. Mentally she was yelling at him - don't go to far, don't let David win, don't listen to his taunts! But she knew it wouldn't help. After all, how could Michael listen?

As early morning came around, Max began to close the store. He had gotten rid of one of his oldest employees - Maria, the poor thing had been stuck as a half since the fifties as a punishment for the magical problems she caused - and it was about time she'd be released of these punishments. Besides, Max thought as he wiped the corner of his mouth, halfling blood had a nice taste to it. He locked the door, putting the key in his pocket, when a gust of wind blew into him. He gasped for air before standing up straight, a darkened aura surrounding him.

[five-rivers]

Secret Saturday prompt? Van Rook ties up and gags Zak then stuffs him into a satchel.

Zak was skilled.  He was knowledgeable.  He was powerful.  

He was also twelve, and, despite his best efforts, not terribly tall.  

As such, it wasn’t terribly difficult for Van Rook to knock him out.  Now, separating him from his family and getting the drop on him?  That was difficult.  Whatever other cryptid abilities the kid had, enhanced senses had to be one of them.  Or perhaps some form of ESP.  

Anyway, one dart to the shoulder, and Zak was out.  Van Rook, with skills honed over a lifetime, soon had him disarmed, securely tied, gagged, and in the bag.  He put the boy’s weapons into a separate bag.  He wasn’t like his ridiculous ex-apprentice, who’d leave the potentially valuable magic weapon in the bag with the magic cryptid child.  

Feh.  

Now. Delivery. Most amateurs would expect this to be the safe easy part. Not so. In fact delivery, particularly to first-time clients, was the most dangerous part of the job. Van Rook couldn't count the times a client tried to kill him to get out of paying for bounties or services rendered.

He couldn't suppress a smile at the memory of the last man who tried to backstab him in that particular way.

He set the plane down lightly, next to the ruins. Well, if this client didn't pay up, there were plenty of other people who would. This particular guy just happened to sit at the sweet crossroads of 'good pay' and 'no apocalypse.'

There was a faint squeak from the bag strapped into the seat next to him. He raised an eyebrow. Kid should have been asleep for another half an hour.

He might have to add resistance to drugs to the list of freaky things about the kid.

He reached over and pulled the zipper down slightly. A pair of faintly glittering amber eyes stared up at him from a flushed face. The kid tried to mutter something around the gag, but failed to produce anything intelligible. Van Rook pulled the zipper back up. This was met with a muffled shout and thrashing.

No skin off Van Rook's back if the kid decided to exhaust himself.

Calmly, he went through his post-flight check before unstrapping the bag and making his way off the small plane.

His client was already standing there, on the grass, sweating and mopping his forehead with his sleeve despite the relatively cool weather, flanked by bodyguards. His face lit up when he saw Van Rook, and even more when he saw the bag.

"You have it, then," he said, excited.

"Of course," said Van Rook.

"Well, hand it over, then," he said, reaching.

Van Rook held up his hand. His client stopped with an affronted look on his face. "First," said Van Rook. "Money. Second, I have, maybe, one, two scruples. You say you need him to control this cryptid? Show me the cryptid."

"Scruples?" said the man, taken aback. "You were advertised-"

"Yes, yes, I know, everyone thinks they want this, this man with no scruples. But they don't. They trick themselves, see? A man with no scruples... a man with no scruples, is a man who wouldn't think twice about just taking the money any way he could. You see?"

The bodyguards had their hands on their weapons. Posers. Van Rook had never taken his off.

"... and, the other scruple?"

Van Rook smiled, nastily. "What do you think? I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. You tell me to sell you a twelve year old. What am I supposed to think?"

The client had gone very red in the face. "I assure you-"

"Assure me with money. And the cryptid," said Van Rook. "Words can't buy me dinner."

"Very well, then."

The man turned and waddled into the ruins. Electric lights had been strung up to illuminate the darker areas, and there was a significant amount of digging equipment. Someone had been excavating. Most likely less than legally. Van Rook wondered how long it would take the other Saturdays to find this place and mount a rescue. Not that it mattered. The hell family would cease to be his problem as soon as he was paid and away. The client got to deal with them then.

He noted the kid had gone still. Worn himself out, maybe? Or perhaps the conversation with the client had spooked him. Kid might face off against the likes of Argost, but he was still only twelve.

They climbed down several flights of stairs that ultimately terminated in a large, only half-lit cavern. However, the ligting was good enough for Van Rook to see both the massive pile of treasure and the gnarled giant that guarded it.

"A spriggan," said the client, whispering. "All this way, and we can't make the damn thing move." Then he laughed. "There's your payment, for you," he said, waving at the treasure mound.

You know what? thought Van Rook. Screw this guy.

On the other hand, this had been hard work, and he did very much want to get paid. He had expenses.

Van Rook set the bag down and unzipped it, dodging a sloppy attempt at a kick from the kid. He had to give him credit for guts and even getting into position while tied up.

Van Rook hauled him into a sitting position. The client reached down to grab his chin. And forced him to look up.

"My, his eyes really are yellow, aren't they? Except for those, he almost looks human."

The kid growled, deep in his throat. It might have been one of the few sounds available to him around the gag, but it didn't help his case. The client laughed nervously. "Of course, the disposition... haha."

Van Rook rolled his eyes. It wasn't like the client would see behind his visor.

"Now, uh, make the monster go away."

The kid continued to glare.

"I think you'll have to be more specific."

"The spriggan. The giant. Make it leave. Make it go far away."

Still nothing. No magic spooky nonsense, no glowing eyes, no screaming cryptids, nothing.

"Let me, sir," said one of the bodyguards. He leaned down and whispered something lengthy in the kids ear, one hand gripping his shoulder. As he spoke, the kid's breath grew ragged and his skin took on a sickly cast. He tried to pull away from the bodyguard (towards Van Rook, for incomprehensible reasons), but despite the man's shortcomings in the bodyguard department, he could restrain a bound preteen who was probably still recovering from a dose of knockout drugs.

When the man let go, the kid was shaking. Although, that could easily be explained by their surroundings. He'd picked the kid up in Bermuda, and he'd been dressed for it. Now, they were in Cornwall. Much colder.

"Well? Go on, then," ordered the bodyguard.

The kid tried to say something around the gag and was promptly backhanded.

"Hey, hey," Van Rook said grabbing the bodyguard's wrist when he went in for another strike. "Let's hear what he has to say, huh?"

He untied the gag and tugged it from the kid's mouth, only allowing himself a second to be disturbed by how the cloth tore against his teeth. The boy worked his jaw up and down a few times and licked his lips before he tried to speak again.

"I can't actually do what you want me to do," he said, scowling.

The client's face turned thunderous. "Excuse me?"

"Well, to begin with, I'm out of range, and even if I wasn't, my powers are pretty limited without the Claw." He looked at Van Rook with ill-disguised hope.

"I'm not giving you your magic weapon, but nice try."

The kid's face fell back into a scowl. "Beyond that, I don't know who told you my powers were mind control, but they're not." He didn't elaborate. "I can't make that spriggan leave."

"But," said the client, hands fluttering, "magic-"

The boy pulled his lips back in a snarl, revealing too-white, too-sharp teeth. "Just because it's magic doesn't mean it doesn't have rules, idiot."

The list of things Van Rook was truly scared of was short and topped by his own empty wallet and whatever was going on with Argost. Zak Saturday didn't come close. But in ten years... Well. Van Rook would be retired by then, one way or another.

And, to be frank, the kid being stubborn right now wasn't his problem either. "So," he drawled. "I brought you the kid. Where's my money?"

The client's furious expression turned meek in a heartbeat. "Well, you can see-"

"Either pay me now, or I'm leaving with my merchandise."

"But-"

"Not my problem. Pay. Me."

"Well, I-"

Across the cavern, the giant roared something that almost sounded like language.

"He'll pay you," said the kid.

"What?" chorused the adults.

"He'll pay you. The spriggan. The spiggan will pay you, if you can get these guys to go away leave him alone. Double."

Van Rook looked at the kid, then the cryptid, then the massive pile of treasure the cryptid was sitting on. He shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

"You can't be serious!"

"I'm always very serious about getting paid."

.

Zak sat next to the spriggan, arms around his knees, and tried not to breathe too deeply. Van Rook had left a while ago.

"Thanks for letting me wait here with you," he said. He meant it, and the cavern really was much more pleasant once the spriggan cleaned up Van Rook's work. "Mom and Dad should pick me up any time now." He glanced at the entryway and shuddered. It wasn't like he'd never seen blood before, and it wasn't like he'd never been kidnapped before, but...

The spriggan dropped an ancient, ratty fur coat around his shoulders. He looked up with a weak smile.

"Thanks."