#like nah i just need everyone alive and gets along thanks

[yourjughead]

Attack Dog pt.2

Sweet Pea X Reader enemies to lovers

-------------------------------------

Hey wait up Brass Knuckles” Sweet Pea easily reached you in a light jog. You gritted your teeth to push down the pain of the spasm in your leg at the end of its contractions. You pulled your hood up before returning an arm to your thigh. 

“So I'm not even gonna get a thank you Princess?” You stopped dead, if even to just give your leg a break from your weight. 

“What do you want a fucking medal?” you shot. 

“Listen, from where I'm stood, you need me a lot than I need you right now, so you wanna maybe try another tone? Let me help you home” You just rolled your eyes at him and began to limp along again. Sweet Pea went to put an arm around you to support your weight only to be met with the palms of your hands into his chest pushing him away. 

“Do. Not. Touch. Me.” You snapped. 

“Okay fine, hobble along, maybe I should go back and tell them where you've gone to or who you are?” You stopped again, your leg sending a shot of warning pain down to your toes. You exhaled loudly before stretching out an arm allowing Sweet Pea to pass beneath it and support your weight with his shoulders. 

“What are you even doing out this far this late?” He didn't leave the silence between you stay that long. 

“Trying to sort through my thoughts”

“Yes I hear punching the leaders of gangs is very good for that” you glanced worriedly at him. 

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean what I said, or is that rain jacket cutting the blood flow to your ears” he threw your early words back at you. 

“I didn't know that's who he was, a weird man grabbed me, it was instinct”

“It's a real shame you hate Serpents so much, that was a very Serpent thing to do” you scoffed at him. 

“Why'd you even help me anyways?” 

“I was in between shifts selling drugs to children” he gave a small laugh and you fought away a smile. You both carried on along the road for awhile without speaking.

“This changes nothing”

“Whatever you say Princess”

“Stop calling me that” 

“Fine, I'll go back to attack dog, seems more fitting now anyways” you didn't care about the pain in your leg, you snatched your arm back from over him and tucked it into your side. Your surroundings started to become more familiar to you as you got closer to the Northside once again. Sweet Pea slowed behind you and you turned, surprised he didn't badger you about not letting him help.

“What?”

“Nothing I just… I just don't like being over there without my friends” Sweet Pea nodded in the direction of where you grew up and you couldn't help but laugh.

“Afraid of the little Northsiders? Very surprising” you teased but he didn't quip back. 

“If anyone asks, you weren't on the Southside alone, I wasn't on the Northside alone, everyone stayed where they're supposed to” you nodded in agreement, happy to forget this night. Your cadence evened as your leg finally relaxed after being electrified. 

“Well….I got it from here, thanks I guess”

“Wow who knew Northsiders had manners?”

“Who knew Serpents even knew the word manners?” He scoffed at you before gesturing for you to keep walking without him.

-

Sweet Pea POV 

Monday morning came around, the junior Serpents were alive with discussions of last Friday night.

“I heard a Ghoulie girl came up and clocked him”

“I heard it was a girl from New York”

“I heard it was his long lost daughter” I buried a smile at my friends and their theories. Thank god no one got a good look at her. Why do I even care? She's so nasty to us. It kept me awake all night. Why did I help her? Why am I still thinking about it? I looked out from my locker to ask Jughead a question to find him staring longingly at YN. I tried not to roll my eyes. Our friends lost in their theories.

“What's up Jones?” 

“Nothing”

“Nah, you're looking at your attack dog more like she's a cuddly Pomeranian” I closed the locker and leaned on it alongside him. 

“She's not like that normally, she just has a lot on her plate” 

“And do you also wanna be on that plate?” Couldn't help myself, he pushed me sideways along the locker smiling.

“Maybe I did once but the way she looks at me now….she hates me”

“No no, she looks at me like she hates me, she looks at you like she's trying to figure out her next move with you. Just give her the time and space to figure it out” his head shot in my direction.

“And you know this because why? You look at her a lot?” If I was being honest I did find my eyes on YN a lot, every class we shared, she was more interesting that whatever the teachers were droning on about. 

“No no, just an observation I made, part of my job to be….. observant” he looked at me like he didn't believe me. I didn't believe me. Lucky for me he didn't speak whatever he was thinking. I took a stolen glance at YN laughing down the hall with her friends. I wish I could make her laugh like that. 

“Right I've had enough, I'm gonna talk to her today, I can't keep going on pretending I don't miss her” 

“Careful Jones, that's not very Serpent of you”

“Yeah…but maybe I don't want to be a Ser-” I cut him off, my temper taking me as I caught his shirt.

“Don't finish that sentence unless you mean it. You're either with us or against us” our friends stopped gossiping and stared at us. I released my grip before pushing off the locker and heading down the hall. I don't like when people use me and my friends. Was he just using us until he got back to here? I met YNs eyes, she saw everything. Good job Sweet Pea I'm sure that'll help the situation. 

-

I sat on the end of bleachers of the football pitch during lunch, the only place I could have a cigarette without a teacher freaking out at me. 

“Yanno that'll kill you?” I turned to find YN sat a little distance from me. 

“Funny, Jones said the same thing about you to me” I hear her give a half-suppressed laugh at me. Not quite the hearty laugh I heard from her this morning but I'll take what I can get.

“What was that with Jughead this morning? Tell him what happened with us on Friday?” 

“Us? Oh no no Princess, you get all the credit for your right hook, all the blame too” I crushed the cigarette into the bleacher before chewing on some gum. 

“You know what I meant” she kept her gaze on the field of football players doing their lunch time training as she spoke. 

“Don't worry I didn't say anything. I was just giving him advice on what you need-”

“-And how the hell would you know what I need!”

“Well I think you need a good fuck cause that's the only thing I think that'll get you to stop being so up tight-” her head shot to me, no longer concerned with who saw us talking.

“-but I settled for the old reliable give her time and space” I watched her chest release the full capacity of air from her lungs before taking another deep breath. She shuffled slightly before zipping up her sweatshirt. Oh shit I was just staring at her chest.

“I didn't…I didn't mean that I want to be the one to….fuck you…I meant …” I didn't know what I meant so I shut myself up and waited for the bleachers to swallow me whole. She scoffed before returning her eyes to the field, watching Archie passing the ball around. 

“I'm not normally like this, I'm just finding it hard to find my feet back here again. So much change here and when I was out moving house every few months the only thing that kept me sane was knowing this place would stay my constant. Now that's changed too” her head dropped down slightly with her lowered tone. 

“I umm I don't know why I just told you that”

“The Serpents are my constant, I know you don't like us but they were the only ones to care about me growing up. I don't like when that's disrespected, that's what the thing with Jughead and I was about this morning” 

“Careful there snake brain, your human side is showing” I grinned at her comment. The lunch bell rang out across the school, sending YN and me our separate ways for the day, the whole interaction not leaving my thoughts for the rest of the week

Part 3

[just-my-latest-hyperfixation]

Eeeeee! Congratulations! You deserve every single one! 🖤

Could I pretty please request:

Am I supposed to be scared now? In a Mafia AU. Vibes and item I'll leave up to your enormous, genius brain.

🖤🖤🖤

Thank you so much, Sam! 💖✨️ Hope you enjoy!

Worth the risk

Rated: E

Words: 992

Tags: Mafia AU; Hitman Eddie Munson; Dark Eddie Munson; Mob boss Richard Harrington; Secret relationship; intrigue; Referenced character death (RIP Tommy); Blood and violence; Knife play; Blood play; Groping; Dry humping

Notes: Previous part | Part 1

Nobody says anything as they make their way out of the Harrington villa, but by some unspoken agreement, they don't part ways yet. They linger in the driveway by the cars. 

Eddie knows better than to speak first. Instead, he lights a cigarette and lets the silence drag on, pretending to be brooding over the night’s events. He knows that somebody is bound to say something sooner rather than later. 

It’s Jeff who does, in the end. 

“Harrington’s losing it.” 

Gareth jumps and casts anxious glances all around himself, like he’s expecting to find the boss lurking somewhere in the shadows, while Frank shushes Jeff with a hectic gesture. 

“Shut up, are you insane?” 

Jeff shrugs petulantly, but he does lower his voice. “I'm just saying what everyone is thinking. That thing with Hagan? That was completely fucking bonkers, sending him to make that deal with the Carvers all alone. It’s almost like he wanted him to end up with a bullet through his head.” 

“Maybe he did,” Gareth says. “Rumor has it Hagan’s been making eyes at the son.” 

Eddie nods along solemnly with the rest of them. 

“All I’m saying is, it’s bad news,” Jeff mumbles. “He believes he’s invincible, that he can get away with anything. It’s dangerous for a man in his position to think like that.” 

“Then maybe he shouldn’t be.” Eddie lets the words linger, waiting until every single face is turned to him. “Be in that position, I mean.” 

Frank scoffs. “Yeah, right. Who’d even wanna do it instead? Junior seems much more interested in lounging by the pool and taking it up the-” 

“Nah,” Eddie is quick to deflect. “We’d need someone capable. Somebody younger, who knows how things work on the street.” 

“Someone like you?” 

“I wouldn’t know about that, Gare,” Eddie lies. “Just putting in my two cents on the matter.” 

Behind the garden wall, a light flickers alive, then dies again, quick as a heartbeat. Eddie grinds his cigarette under the heel of his boot. 

“Shit, just remembered I forgot something. Don’t wait for me, guys.” 

He feels their gazes on his neck as he walks back towards the house and doesn't bother hiding his grin. 

*

The hydrangeas are long past their bloom, decaying flower petals rustling under his feet. He doesn't lament their death, not when he knows that the seeds of something else are slowly taking root. 

The underwater lights of the pool bask the garden in an eerie glow, but he makes his way to the pool house unbothered. He has hardly ducked inside when a key clicks in the lock behind him. 

Eddie’s body moves on instinct and muscle memory. The key clatters off somewhere in the darkness,  and when the crimson veil lifts from his eyes, he has a warm body pressed against the wall, the edge of his knife licking at a shivering throat. A throat covered in the fading marks of his own teeth. 

“Damn, Stevie,” he hisses, retracting the blade and sliding it back into its holster. It leaves the faintest of cuts, tiny droplets of blood gathering against tan skin like dark beads. “Are you out of your mind? You can't just sneak up on people like that.” 

Steve scowls at him, face full of haughty disdain. He's beautiful in the glow of the pool seeping in from outside. He's always beautiful, of course, but something about the pale blue light rippling off his skin makes him look ethereal and downright unreal. Like an ancient deity, like a marble statue come alive.

“Excuse me?” he whispers, wriggling in Eddie’s hold. “What was I supposed to do? Nobody tells me shit, and then I overhear my dad talking on the phone about how one of his guys was killed. I just wanted-” 

“Aw,” Eddie coos. He leans into Steve’s space, scraping a toothy grin against the hollow of that pretty throat. His lips come away tasting like copper, leaving a bloody trail on Steve's skin. “Are you worried about me, honey? Why, I'm honored.” 

Steve pushes his head away with one palm against his cheek, but makes no further attempt at twisting out of his grip. 

“This isn't a fucking joke, Eddie. If my dad finds out about this, you'll be next in line for a bullet through the- Will you stop this?” 

Eddie lets Steve's thumb slide out of his mouth with an obscene, wet sound, nipping at the tender skin at its base as he goes. 

“Am I supposed to be scared now?” he drawls. “I'm not an idiot, I can look after myself.” 

“I know you can,” Steve confesses, tracing Eddie’s cheekbone with his thumb. It's still wet with his own spit, and the touch leaves a thin trail of moisture, cool in the stuffy air of the pool house. “But sometimes, I don't think you understand how dangerous this is.” 

“Believe me, darling, I’m well aware of the danger.” Eddie trails a hand over Steve’s throat, down his chest. The motion makes a drop of blood run from his neck into the collar of his shirt. He watches how it blooms on the white fabric, pretty like a flower, as he slips his hand between Steve's legs. “Good thing we both like it a little, dangerous, right?”

He gives the bulge in Steve’s pants a firm squeeze, and as always, the boy responds like the beautiful, needy little dream that he is. He rolls his hips, grinding himself into the touch, and wraps his arms around Eddie’s neck to slot their bodies closer together. Eddie bites down on that perfect, pink bottom lip and laughs against it when Steve moans. 

“Woah, honey! What happened to being careful?”

“What's life without a little risk?” Steve smiles, looking at him from under his long lashes. “And besides, you made me drop the key, so one of us will end up on his knees anyhow.” 

Eddie finds he can't argue with that.

More celebration ficlets

[kattythingz]

OH that's wonderful.

Honestly, Ling getting there first is not a bad thing if you consider that YJ was supposed to be a stealth based team at first (and at the end, and I'm pretty sure all around, except that they managed to blow something up every single time they left Mt Justice and yeah, they'll get along incredibly well with Ed)

I love how everyone knew Ed as 'The Fiance' but also how much of what they know is accurate? Because Ling could definitely just brag about his Love, who is Amazing and Sweet and Delicate but Strong and then they meet Ed and he's all those things!.. kind of. They've spent all that time imagining themselves someone to match Ling's sappynnes and now they have a short temperamental asshole who thinks Idiot is a term of endearment (it is)

OK now I started rambling, but I couldn't help it!! It's such a good AU I need more!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAH THANK YOU!! That means a lot to me 🥺 When I say I've daydreamed a lot of this au, I've daydreamed a lot. I'm glad you're enjoying it with me!! As a treat, here's a second scene that got out of my hands again. 2.7k, yeesh. I definitely should've been working on Solaris instead, lmaaoooo.

Part 1 here, for anyone new who's curious.

Robin had to admit, just to himself, that stealth wasn’t ideal for a facility like this. The walls were high and sturdy, composed of some kind of resilient metal that didn’t bend much, and the only space to safely follow undetected were the vents along the sides. Normally, he would’ve gone with the ceiling vents, but there were none here. They might’ve underestimated their resident bad guy’s paranoia last time.

He might’ve underestimated Ling too, as he’d chosen to travel by ground instead, and Robin hadn’t seen him again since. It should’ve been impossible in such an open space, but—it was like the guy had just disappeared. He would’ve been majorly jealous, if he wasn’t curious how that even worked in the first place.

The rest of the team were on standby in their own corners, waiting for Robin’s signal to intervene when needed. They’d initially protested the risk of a rescue mission, but Robin knew they all thrived on the same brand of chaos and rebellion; it was what had bonded them as a team. Obviously, they were on board.

He listened intently to the guards’ loud chattering as they walked their prisoner down an unfamiliar direction. The walls were getting darker here, and colder. The jails must’ve been close.

“—mean, it’d be a little funny if that actually happened,” guard one said with a no-doubt ugly grin. What was it with goons and ugly grins? “I’d kill for vacation time, at this point.”

“Talk a little louder, Jared.” Guard two rolled her eyes. “While you’re at it, why don’t you run back to the boss right now and tell him everything you just said?”

“Oh, come on, you’d pay to see it too.”

“I’m not putting my response to that on record.”

“Nah, you should just go ahead and say it.” It was Ed who spoke, and Robin’s eyebrows shot up, already leaning closer to hear the rest. 

He’d expected a lot of things from Ling’s infamous fiance, but a punch to the solar plexus wasn’t one of those things. He wasn’t anything like the team had envisioned. Needless to say, Robin was way curious about the guy.

“You’ve got a pretty shitty boss down there,” Ed continued, “and I’d know a thing or two about shitty bosses. I mean, no vacation time? Talk about a stick up his a—”

He stopped on a yelp—stumbling from a kick to his left leg.

“Watch it, brat,” guard two said. “The only reason you’re still here is because we need you alive to extract your meta gene from. If it weren’t for that—”

“Yeah, that’s not gonna fucking work, lady,” Ed snorted. “Like I keep telling you—”

He cut off again on a sharper, gritted noise, freezing with the visible shock from his inhibitor collar. Guard two smirked, putting away her remote.

“Your reaction to that says otherwise, boy,” she said.

“I’d think”—Ed heaved a clearly pained breath, still not moving. He was leaning most of his weight on his right leg now—“that anyone would react to being—”

He gritted his teeth again, shouldering another click and a shock.

“—fucking electrocuted,” he finished, biting out.

“You should’ve been paying attention before,” guard two scoffed as her friend pushed Ed to get moving again. He did so with an obvious limp now—to Robin, at least. He didn’t think the guards saw it. “That fancy collar doesn’t react to regular folks. If it’s not from a meta gene, then there’s something about you.”

“You mean a brain? I wasn’t gonna say it to your boss, but it’s pretty funny that your so-called head scientist can’t even grasp the basic concepts of, you know, a science. You sure he’s the right guy for the job, or did he just bang his head against the metal walls enough times before—”

Guard two let out a growl, and, oh, yeah, Robin knew what Ed was doing—and pretty damn well too. In the split second that guard two ditched her stance to strike Ed herself, Ed was already moving.

He ducked under her fist, letting gravity do its own work for a second before kicking the back of her legs.

She stumbled in true, and guard one went swinging too.

“You little shit—!”

Ed whirled around, prepared to dodge, but something else moved in tandem.

A shadow, emerged in a blink, striking the guard in the outstretched side.

Ed didn’t miss a beat and kicked out his right to get the guard’s other side. The guard twisted with his broken axis, and Ed got his hips with the knee. 

The guard yelped before toppling back.

“SON OF A—!”

Ed lifted his leg to deal the final blow, but his eyes widened that time when the shadow beat him to it again—kicking with much more force that sent the guard slamming into the metal wall.

Robin winced at the crack! that accompanied.

Well, he was never pissing off Ling again. Yeesh. 

“Holy shit!” Ed laughed when he registered too, though not fully. “You did not have to go that hard. Who—?”

“Ed.”

Ed froze at the breathy call, and there was Ling now. Crouching and just as affected—the eyes of a man to water in the middle of a desert.

Ed’s breath hitched. “Li—?”

Neither of them noticed guard two rising from her spot.

The jig was already up, so Robin didn’t wait to kick out the vent opening and fling a birdarang. Guard two cried out when it caught her in the cheek, disrupting her balance again as she stood. Ed whipped his head to Robin’s landing, mouth dropping in surprise a little when guard two was already down.

“What—?”

“Hey there!” Robin greeted cheerily, cutting him off. “Nice to meet, I’m Robin, can we get moving now? I think we’ve invited a party.”

True enough, pounding footsteps quaked the ground from a distance. Ling straightened up from his position before nodding, turning to Ed in a practiced motion and tugging him forward. Ed’s gaze darted back to Ling and he swallowed, drawing on nothing but air when Ling broke his shackles with terrifying strength.

“Ling,” Ed started again, stumbling, “what—where—?”

“There’s no time,” Ling interrupted hastily. “Do you trust me?”

Ed wavered at the final soft tone, stark eyes melting with uncanny resemblance to Ling’s when he stuttered, “What kind of question is that? Obviously—” 

“Then follow Robin.”

“What?”

Robin snapped to motion without further prompt and grabbed Ed’s wrist, pulling him along down the hall. “This way!”

“H-Hey, wait—! Ling—?!”

“He knows how to find us! Focus on yourself right now!”

Ed kept a good pace for someone spluttering, “I—I know that, asshole! How do you—?”

When he didn’t turn back in a blaze of fury for Ling, Robin released his wrist and focused on pulling up the building’s blueprints again. If they were tracking the right path, then their safest escape route for Ship to collect them was—

There! 

The halls opened for the VIP section of the building, flanked on both sides by large labs that they should’ve thought to explore before pulling this off. None of the scientists inside noticed them, but that was looking too good to be true any second no—

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!

Intruder alert. Intruder alert. 

“Fucking hell!” Ed grunted behind Robin, slapping his hands over his ears. “Could they make that any louder?”

The adrenaline was kicking in now, and Robin let out a laugh. “I know! Come on, this way next! There should be—”

“—a VIP exit. Obviously!”

“You know your stuff!” Robin grinned, slamming the final key on his key-glove to hack the cameras and motion sensors. Sparks lit his periphery vision as the cameras drooped, and he heard Ed’s impressed noise at the unanimous reaction.

“Seems you do too. How—?”

Robin tossed him a smirk over his shoulder. Golden eyes were glittering now, just as charged as Robin. “I’ll show you later, if we make it out.”

“Is that a challenge?” Ed shouted back.

Robin almost answered that—totally—but movement around the corner behind Ed caught his eye. 

A wind whipped past them at the same time, and Robin grinned as they received an eager, “I’ve got this!”

“What the—?!”

“Kid Flash!” Robin said. “Another guy you can trust.”

Wally sped to their stopped side not a blink after, shooting Ed an exhilarated grin and a salute. “Hey! Ed, right? Kid Flash, greatest speedster there is and the coolest guy on this ragtag te—”

“Shut up, man!” 

“What the fuck are you wearing?” Ed blurted, deadpan in a way that clocked Wally flat and had Robin cackling.

“Hey! What’s wrong with my uniform?”

Ed didn’t get to further crush Wally when the announcement changed tunes abovehead.

Initiating lockdown in East Wing. I repeat, initiating lockdown.

BOOM!

Where the hallway once forked ahead of them, a great wall abruptly slammed down. Robin was already pulling up his schematics again, looking for the key to hack security, but—

“Crap! Security runs on a separate firewall!”

“What does that mean?” Wally yelped, eyes darting to the other end of the hall where the rats where gathering again. “And why are there so many of these guys?! It’s just one prisoner! Isn’t this overkill?”

Robin didn’t risk breaking his focus with an answer. Down the hall, guards yelped and grunted indignantly.

“ED!”

Ling’s voice echoed in the metal space, and Ed jerked in his direction

“Ling! I’m right here!”

At the same time, Robin cursed. “Crap! I can’t hack this in time!”

“Well, that’s great!” Wally exclaimed shrilly. “And nobody else’s on this side of the wall either! What do we do now, boy genius?”

“If you can just buy me some time—!”

“Forget time!” Ed interjected suddenly, catching both their eyes. His own glare was set ahead on Ling’s figure dodging guards, cutting his way to them. Something passed over his expression, and he set his brow before whirling on Robin.

“You can hack shit, right? Get this thing off me.”

He pointed at his inhibitor collar, and Wally let out another noise.

“Dude! Greater priorities right now, like us being cornered any second—!”

“Got it!”

Robin recognized a “fuck shit up” look when he saw one. He made quick work of the collar, and the light on it clicked green before snapping open.

Wally’s face twisted further. “Hello?!”

They both totally ignored him as Ed cracked his freed neck with a hand. “Thanks. Now step back.”

“I’d listen to him if I were you!” Ling cheered as soon as he was in reach, smiling wider and realer at Ed than Robin thought anybody had ever seen of him this entire time, and already retreated behind Ed. “Ed doesn’t give warnings lightly.”

Robin didn’t need to be told twice, unlike Wally.

He yanked his best friend back into their little corner, leaving Ed to stand in front of them, a stark silhouette in the low light of the hall against the mass of guards that stopped to blockade the other end of the hall.

“We have you surrounded, boy,” the head guard called with their weapon pointed. “There’s nothing for you to melt safely here, unless you want to cook your friends with the rest of us.”

Ling’s chuckle sounded before Ed’s—though the latter rang louder.

“Yeah, about that,” Ed snorted.

He clapped his hands together, and electricity hummed in the atmosphere, like every time Wally had tried and failed to speed through walls. Several guards tensed at the feel and Ling particularly grinned with more teeth beside Robin.

“Melting isn’t the only thing I can do.”

The head guard straightened, holding their weapon higher. “Boy, I’m giving you a chance here—”

“That’s funny,” Ed said. “So am I.”

He slammed his palms to the ground, and, all at once, the walls convulsed around them. Electricity zapped down the metal seams, quaking the ground with a mighty, unseen shifting in the cogs.

There was a split-second pause, as Wally whispered, “What the hell was that supposed to—?”

The walls exploded.

One by one, like endless dominoes left and right and up and down, metal branched from every which way to SLAM between Ed and the guards, shaking the ground with tremor after tremor, until, in a manner of seconds—

The entire distance had disappeared. 

Where a great hall once sat between them and the enemy, now stood a wall no more than a few feet from Ed’s nose.

Wally and Robin both gawked that time.

“God, that felt good,” Ed announced, wiping his hands from a job well done. “Fucking idiots. As if all I could do was melt shit.”

He turned to the stunned group of them, absurdly nonchalant for a guy who’d just molded the walls like playdough, and Robin seriously couldn’t help it.

“Holy shit,” he said, and Ed cracked a grin.

“Watch your fucking language,” he replied. “Not so bad yourself, kid.”

Robin was going to answer that, but a certain blur zooming past beat him to it.

It wasn’t Wally.

Ed yelped when he was abruptly lifted in a hug—a noise that ended in a squeak when he went spinning too. His face erupted in red as he slapped Ling’s shoulder, stuttering, “Hey! Your friends are right there, you idiot prince—!”

“You’re calling me that name again.” Ling’s voice came out muffled into Ed’s chest, and he halted his wriggling to look down wide-eyed at Ling. “You’re—you’re really saying it, and you’re yelling at me again—you’re really here. Ed, Ed, yáng’er—”

“Ling—” Ed started a little faintly himself now.

“Ed,” Ling choked out, so much and so suddenly like a prayer, Robin tore his gaze from the sight when Ed’s breath hitched too. Wally did the same in his periphery, and they both heard rather than saw the click of Ed’s boots touching the ground softly again.

“Ling…” Ed’s murmur, however low, reached them anyway. “Hey, don’t—”

“Don’t ask me not to make any faces now,” Ling said thickly over him. “You were an entire world away. An entire world—wěidà lóng, I couldn’t—”

“Babe.”

Robin shifted at the soft tone, really feeling like he was intruding now. There was a brush of skin on skin, and a soft tap.

“I know,” Ed whispered. “I—I missed you too, fuck. You have no idea how… when I heard from Lan Fan that you were missing—” A shuddering inhale, and an exhale. “What were you thinking, you idiot?”

Ling’s laugh sounded like a frozen breath in the air.

“I might not have been thinking at all,” he murmured, “if I’m being honest.”

“Of course not.” Ed mirrored the laugh. “That was a rhetorical question, dumbass.”

“Hey…”

The protest was absolutely nothing, and it hung the moment for a long, awkward beat on Robin’s part.

He was just about ready to burst when activity blessedly thumped behind the safe wall.

Ed and Ling looked up from their tangled position—oh, god, they had been touching foreheads, gross—Ed going a little wide-eyed when the gate was forced open, by none other than—

“Miss Martian!” Robin cheered fast with his relief. “Boy, am I so glad to see you!”

Superboy raised an eyebrow from the ground level along with Artemis, and Kaldur totally wanted to do the same but refrained. He had that Look on his face that spelled it out.

“We heard you required back-up,” Kaldur said, as close to smug as his politeness got, and Robin rolled his eyes good-naturedly. 

“As if,” he scoffed. “We had it totally handled.”

“Well,” Ed’s chuckle drew the team’s attention back to him, where he’d finally detangled himself from Ling, though they still had one hand on each other. “More like I had it handled. But you guys helped, I guess.”

“‘I guess’?” Wally squawked. “Dude, who took out half those goons earlier?”

“Definitely not you, kid idiot,” Artemis said with a smirk.

Ling hummed, “I must agree there. And, on that friendly note—” He glanced aside fondly. “Ed, these are—”

“Your friends?” Ed drawled, and Ling flushed—actually flushed! Robin didn’t think that guy had ever blushed around them before, that was priceless. “Yeah, no shit, babe.”

Artemis chortled at that, and even Kaldur and Megan were looking amused now at this new side of Ling. Ed caught all their fondness in a single sweep, and grinned.

“Yo. I’m Edward Elric.” He stole his own warm peek of Ling, and smiled. “My friends call me Ed, though.”

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[popcornforone]

Handling the Situation

A Dave York Fan Fic

Damn it Dave… why are you the best person to write. I mean I’m not complaining. I enjoy it, it makes me feel good. But I always think I take forever now to write him as it needs to be right. So here we are on another Dave York Saturday, getting our fill of our favourite stabby murder daddy.

Synopsis:- You are Dave Yorks handler & have been for 2 years since an injury meant you couldn’t be an assassin anymore. You both have mutual feeling for each other which neither of you have decided to explore until now.

Work count:- 7200

Warnings:- DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE UNDER 18! DAVE YORK COMES WITH HIS OWN WARNING! Lack of consent, unprotected sex, boss employee relationship, mutual pining, stalking, murder, assassin stuff, car jacking, PIV, masturbation, cum tasting, fingering, swearing, cheating & adultery. Dave being controlling but what’s new there 🤣.

Yea this was something to right. I hope you all enjoy peoples. Thanks for the read.

“Wait a second” Dave York scowls as he looks at the Mismatching maps he’s got in front of him . One on his screen, & one as a hard copy. “This map is dated from 1998, why do I have a copy of this” his big brown eyes dart between the two. You let out an exasperated sigh.

“Mr York if you’d have let me finish my sentence…” you start before he interrupts.

“Is it hard being the smartest person in the room?”

“I wouldn’t know, is it?” You scoff back & get up from your chair on the other side of his desk & make your way over to him. He would have rolled his eyes at your comment but after 2 years of you being Dave’s handler you’ve both got bored of it. Even though you like the little smirk he pulls afterwards. There’s mischief deep inside this killer. You get to his computer screen & stretch the map. A small sniff of his cologne always arouses you. His warm breath filling your personal space. Your hand grips his over the mouse. It still makes you shiver but not as much as it used to. “Now hold the old school map up to the screen Mr York” Dave does as you requested & you then turn the screen into dark mode. It’s clear now why you had provided him with the older map.

“Are those tunnels?”

“Yes from where they built the subway network” you look at him & he nods. “A third exit should you need it & Thompson isn’t alone or there’s other interested party’s, if you follow this one…”You point & explain that it will lead him a mile away to a power plant.

“Clever girl” he says & he smacks your bum. You try to not moan. Dave flirts with everyone, because he is the best assassin he gets away with it, also his job does require some intimate work from time to time but he has never seen you more than the best handler for him. You used to be an assassin as well until someone sliced off half of your trigger fingers nuckle . But you always planned your own missions before that, so when you decided to become an analyst & handler, Dave practically begged for you. He knew you’d keep him alive. You know what he needs to do to stay at the top & in one piece.

You both then finalise the next few bits of next Wednesdays mission so you can type it up this afternoon for him. It should then be approved on Monday & then the two of you(well mainly you) can get everything in place for Wednesday to take Thompson out. Dave is always impressed with your dedication to the cause he does wonder if you ever switch off. As you remove the usb stick from his computer, along with his signature on the initial report, so you can proposes the final changes, you head to his office door.

“Anything else I can help you with Mr York” you say in a chirpy tone. He usually will say nothing or just ask for another coffee.

“Nah your alright…” but then as you go to leave Dave then chirps up “… weekend plans?” Dave’s never asked you about your weekend plans before. You a little bit stunned. You both keep home & work separate hence you only call him Mr York.

“Erm yes… I do” you turn back to face him gripping your lap top. “My boyfriend wants to take me out for dinner for our 1 year anniversary” Dave looks shocked at this.

“A boyfriend? You kept that quiet”

“You never asked” you giggle “also we’ve actually been together 20 months, but he says it wasn’t official until he’d met my parents & my parents live in Texas”

“Hmm man’s got principles I guess, what does he do”

“He’s an accountant” you say with a sigh ”boring I know but safe, no one’s gonna look for an assassin or a handler with a boring jobed partner.” You say. You know Dave is married, Carol you believe from what you’ve found online about her, that she works as a manager at the big grocery store out of town.

“True, you hoping he asks the question, so you can be more committed” Dave asks. You can’t help but blush at that.

“Well every girls dream is to say I do & walk down the aisle in a white dress so why not,”

“You’d say yes”

“Absolutely, I love him” you suddenly realise this is the most Dave has asked you about your life in the 2 years you’ve been by his side. Pinning for a man you know is unavailable in both your worlds. No sex with coworkers you have always had that rule & keep work & home separate. “What about you Mr York”

“Work & I might watch the golf, might even go up to the cabin I haven’t decided yet” he reply’s he picks up his phone & his lips bite the side of it. He does this from time to time. It always arouses you & you try to not let it affect you. “I genuinely do hope he asks you, I hope he deserves you”

“Thank you Mr York, have a nice weekend yourself” you then do a little smile & leave, once his office door is closed you sigh & calm down. Dave was genuinely nice to you & made you feel seen. You’re angry at yourself for getting aroused while he was being polite. You shake your head & walk back to your desk, this proposal won’t write itself.

*

Dave sits there in his car, watching. He’s been following you for the last 6 months, since you wore that daisy dress to work when you were going out to a birthday afterward & he saw the real you, you let your guard down that day at work & were care free & happy. Dave’s wanted to get to know the real you from that moment. Since then with his own skills he’s followed you around. At a safe distance of course & cleverly. After all Dave is the best assassin in the world he easily goes undetected.

He sits there outside Donatello’s the Italian restaurant, a place you & your other half often frequent & he’s looking at your face. You seem bored & disinterested in the conversation. It’s also not just you as you had said to him on friday, there are friends around you, but by the looks of it mostly his friends. You politely laugh back & smile but the look on your face as you dig into another okayish carbonara says a million things. This should have been your special night but no it’s turned into him & 6 of his mates & 2 of their partners around the table too.

Dave can see your eyes show no emotion in them. You’re not giving anything to this. This was not how you thought your Saturday night would go & neither did Dave. He is half tempted to get out the car, walk into the busy restaurant, March up to you lift you over his shoulders with no explanation to anyone, put you in the back seat of his car & fuck you there & then. That’s what Dave wants. That’s what he’d do in this situation & he now pretty sure from the look on your face that you’ve not cum in months. Obviously standard & safe isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

*

“Fuck” Gus moans as he fills the condom up & rolls off you. You’ve not cum it’s been months & he keeps persisting on using a condom. You like that he practices safe sex but it would be easier for you to be on a birth control that was half decent. He had said no & actually went with you to the doctors to say that you wouldn’t be going on it unless it was injections. You’re seeing the doctor on friday for your next round.

“Well baby that was a decent day” he says & he softly kisses your lips & gets out of bed tying the condom of his already limp penis as he put his boxers on. “& you as always were so good then”

“Yea it was good” you lie to Gus, today had all been about him & his mate Harry. He bumped into him when he was on his morning run & suddenly a day you thought might be romantic & passionate turned into a lads day. You like his friends but today should have been about the two of you & what is happening right now proves it. He’s getting dressed.

“You know you can stay Gus” you say as you scoot along the bed & massage his shoulders to help him relax & start to kiss his neck. “Maybe I want morning cuddles maybe I’m not done yet”

“Baby I’ll be surprised if you can walk after what I just did to you, you’re clearly in a sex haze” you are glad he can’t see you roll your eyes. 9minutes that’s how long he lasted before he came, you clit was neglected & he just humped his way through it. When you do cum it does feel good but it’s been lacking a lot recently. He’s not the sex god he takes himself for.

“So why are you leaving? Why can’t you stay”

“Work starts at 6am on Monday but budget meeting at 8am, so I can’t have distractions tomorrow I need to be at mine”

“But baby it’s…”

“Shhh go to sleep beautiful & I’ll let you know I get home safe”he doesn’t even kiss your lips. It’s your cheek & he heads out of your apartment. You know safe & boring is best but you can’t be doing this for the rest of your life. You need 1 last adventure before you settle down & Gus isn’t hitting the spot in lots of ways at the moment. Once you hear him lock the door behind him, you get out your newest vibrator, & build up the settings as it pleasures your naked body as you rhyth in bed. As you climax on your favourite setting, you giggle at the name that escapes your mouth. You hand & toy are coated in your slick as you moan the name “Dave!” As you reach the best high you will have this weekend.

*

“Morning Mr York” you announce as you walk into his office with his usual black coffee & information for him on the missions approval. It’s the usual Monday happy patter from you. If you start off happy it might rub off on the moody Dave. You notice him in his light blue shirt scrolling through his phone perched on the edge of his desk, deep in thought.

“Morning” he reply’s not looking up. Lost on his phone. He briefly looks up as you shut the door & then he stops & looks up again. You’re in a very nice floral green dress which is buttoned all the way up & stops just above the knee. Your hair is in a messy bun & you have a small heel on. Dave has a double look, your shiny legs sticking out as you hand him his coffee.

“What Mr York, can’t I put in a bit of effort from time to time” you say as he keeps looking you up & down as you hand him his coffee.

“Obviously, it’s just there’s something different about you today,” he says with a smile & then bites on the corner of his phone trying not to think about what he would do to you. “But I notice something hasn’t changed..” he, once he’s put his coffee down, grips your left hand stroking across your fingers “… I see & feel no ring unless your picking one together” Dave sees your face drop a little, your chirpy mood moves on as you sign.

“Yea, turns out my boyfriend wanted it to be more of a friends thing for our anniversary than just us” you say “I still had a nice dinner…”

“& a good fucking?” Dave interupts & you turn bright red straight away.

“Mr York!” You shriek.

“What? You’re a woman you have needs, just like all men & women have needs” he says with a smirk. The hand that was holding yours now brings the coffee cup to his lips, always looking so plump. His phone is on the desk as he strokes his thigh. “So I’m guessing you didn’t have a moment of pure passion then”

“Mr York, there’s a reason we keep our work & private lives separate, I don’t think I want to talk about my sex life with you”

“What if I as your boss asked you to?” He says & winks before slurping more coffee.

“& here I was thinking this was going to be a normal Monday meeting to approve a few things before Wednesday” you scoff & smile. “Let’s just say that my man thinks he gets my needs met but once he’s happy that’s that”

“Damn, a man should always look after his woman first, preferably with oral or fingers strumming her cunt open”

“DAVE!” He pulls a face as you shout this at him “sorry… MR. YORK!” You shout again & then both laugh.

“don’t worry about it sweetheart, I’m amazed you still formally call me Mr York, I’m not gonna murder you for a slip of the tongue like that”

“I’d like to see you try” you respond back instantly.

“Oooh fighting talk, I like that” he says with a devilish smile. “& if I’m honest you’d give back as well as you took” somehow you now know this isn’t talking about fighting talk. Your minds gone dirty.

“Well what can I say, I think all things should be equal, giving & receiving, don’t you?”

“No I like to be in control” he says abruptly almost cutting you off. “I like to know where I stand with everything, so that when I give, it’s given good”his hand forcefully grabs your wrist . “That’s why you’ve not applied to be an Assassin again.” You look dumb struck at him.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business Mr…”

“But it is my business, your my business.” He tugs you towards him as he stands up his right hand grips your chin, firmly. “Imagine if we were a team, 2 assassin working together, the world we could create the missions we could achieve, doesn’t that sound good to you” he whispers all of this in your ear seductively. Your breathing has hitched. You feel his hand start to drift yours to his bulge.

“Dave… I”

But before your hand makes contact & you do something you might regret, the phone in the office rings.

“Fuck” Dave basically launches you out of his personal space & leans over the desk to grab the phone. His moody tone is there. “York, this had better be good” you stand there awkwardly while he berates someone on the phone for not doing the vehicle clean at the weekend for Wednesday. He then smirks at you & says down the phone. “I’m sure my handler can handle the situation, she likes all things being equal” before he slams the receiver down.

“I’ll go deal with that then Mr York, here’s the files for Wednesday” you say & don’t even really look at him. Had he sexually harassed you before that phone call? You hadn’t kissed or touched him. Was it his power over you? As much as he knows you can do what he does, does he enjoy those moments.

It’s not long after you sit behind your desk sorting out the last few things that for Wednesday’s mission that you get a message from him.

We good? Y

You smirk & reply.

Nothings changed Mr York, let’s concentrate on the mission

Glad you’re handling all of it so well. He reply’s

*

Dave lies in his bath on Tuesday night. He always has a bath the night before a mission. It calms him down. Carol always moans that he takes too long, but she lets him off, she knows he has “an important client” tomorrow. He should have asked her to join him in the bath, get his frustrations out on her, but he didn’t instead he’s got the last 5 days cctv from work of you, watching you bend over to pick up files, that little giggle you do with the tech guys & then he watches all the interactions he’s had with you. His length is pulsing, throbbing in his hand as he listens via his ear pods, a few suggestive things said between you both.

“Fuck baby” he growls as the bath water which was starting to get a bit too cold, now has lashes of his cum added to it. He almost knocks his iPad into the bath, as he jerks away mumbling your name.

*

“Coms check” you say as you get out of the car to set up your own radar to do the mission on Wednesday afternoon.

“Loud & clear sweetheart,”

“Good, although we should still use the code names Boss, not sweetheart, no matter how nice that sounds” you say as you look roughly at the spot he will be setting up his sniper rifle. It’s a clear day, not as many people about as you thought & Dave should have a clear shot to take the target out. Everything is going to plan, a little too well to plan you have in the back of your mind. You slip into the back seat of your Audi with the blacked out windows & connect the additional radar to your set up so you can monitor everything as the doors lock.

“Well I’m okay with calling you Hand if you want, I mean I am the boss,” he jokes back to you once he sees you are safe in the back of the car & looks through his site at the building 2 blocks away from you. “But what would you really like me to call you” he says & you can heart his breath hitch in your ear piece. Is Dave flirting with you on a mission?

“Boss, I’m gonna call you Boss” your trying to keep focused, it’s your job to keep other things entertained while Dave does his killing & to let clean up know when he’s done & to also check for possible complications.

“Well I’ll make sure you do call me that on every occasion, & I can hear your eyes rolling” Dave chuckles. His tone then changes. “Package has arrived” you’re always so amazed that Dave can switch it on & off so quickly. The target has arrived in the building & that’s now his main objective. You & carol could be scissoring in front of Dave right now & he wouldn’t notice at all. You’re glad he’s back in the zone.

“Traffic is good, from what I can see his next lot of security should arrive in 11mins, but oooh no” you click 8 buttons to cause lights to go Green & cause 2 traffic collision “looks like they will be delayed by 6mins taking the alternative route.” You click your timer for 18mins & so does Dave, you hear the beep from his watch down the phone. You both know that being 2 blocks away means you can get back to Dave before that time, but Dave’s got to make sure he doesn’t get spotted & if he needs to additional hits need to happen.

“Copy that” Dave says & you hear the clicks & snaps of the rifle ready to take aim.

“In your own time Boss” you say & then you hear one of your favourite things in the world. You’d never tell Dave this but it’s the way he breathes as he slows his heart rate down to get the perfect clean shoot. It’s not all bang like in the movies. Dave can do that, obviously with all the drama & can kill at close range & get into a fight if he has to, but him sniping someone & the way those lips softly part at each exhale, it’s so attractive. His eyes dilated in concentration too. You enjoy it for a few seconds you get to hear it before the burst of noise. Dave makes the shot after only 2minutes after the timer started.

“Clean, precise, call clean up” Dave declares down the radio.

“Confirm?”

“Confirm target down”

You then switch to your clean up squad who are on the ground floor of the building (hence why tunnels were needed on your map originally, but they were a final back up for Dave) & you tell them to move in with their timer set for 5mins there’s 4 of them so they can do it that quickly. You can hear Dave packing his gun away.

“Estimate?”

“4 no 6minutes, the lifts not working”

“Copy” you quickly leap out the back seat of the car & get back into the drivers seat & put your foot down. This means Dave expects to be coming out of the back door of the rendezvous at that exact time. Your car should be there so he can get out of the door & into in it 10seconds before you drive off. Your sat nav is linked to the set up in the back of the car for the best route, to avoid all the issues you set up with traffic earlier.

“Clean ups just confirmed clean & identification Boss” you say to him with you being 2 minutes out. Dave doesn’t reply, if he’s got that many stairs a to run down, he’s conserving energy. You eventually approach the building next to the one Dave took his shot from & slow down to do a reconnaissance loop, everything is clear, so you put the car in reverse ready to go & collect Dave. You pull up 20 seconds early & hit the unlock button to the car door, when suddenly the door flys open & two large hand drag you out.

“Fuck” your scream grabbing the keys & putting it in down the back of black leggins.

A burly face looks at you but your now more concerned that there is cold steal of a barrel now against your forehead.

“Keys now” a voice screams from the side of you. You realise that you’re about to be car jacked. It’s the second man who screams this. & you just shake you head at them, as your eyes fill up with water. These guys must have seen you do a loop & waited for you to pull up. They can’t have this car for so many reason.

“Seriously gents, you’ve picked the wrong day & car to Jack. Just walk away & it won’t cost you your life” you say calmly, but you gulp. they both have masks covering their faces but you can see their eyes. The one with the gun pointed at your head his hand is slightly shaking. The one who has you gripped against the door frame is much firmer, but you can tell my his eyes & hair he’s no more than 19. You don’t want Dave to have to kill these two who have just got lucky today in your 3 second lapse of concentration. It’s most unlike you. You’re also speaking very clearly because you know Dave will be picking this up.

“Ha” the one holding you cackles. “& what makes you think we won’t shoot you & take the car anyhow” you quickly side eye the barrel & realise they are blanks which will still hurt but won’t kill. You can also hear Dave counting down from 20 in your ear, he’s clearly waiting for his moment.

“Because” you stutter as the grip around your neck gets more as your hand reaches to the back of the car seat which has a small knife in the head rest. “Your amateurs…”

“We’re pros” click. Dave has snuck up to the one holding the gun behind him his gun firmly against his head. “& you picked the wrong day to do this”. The other man looks in shock his grip lessens. It’s enough time for you to wiggle slightly & grab your knife, in all of 4 seconds its plunged into the man with the guns thigh. The scream he lets out is ear piercing.

*

“Where the fuck were you?”

“Why were you early?”

“Why did you not tell me there were people near?”

“Why the fuck didn’t you check for blind spots & randoms?”

Dave & you have been going back & forth for all the way back to HQ since the incident.

Luckily you were both covered enough by your faces that you didn’t need to kill the two kids. Taking them hostage was never plan. Instead you took the two of them who you both injured & dropped them near an emergency room. The smell of piss & vomit you get used to, but it’s still not nice, the car valet will not happy that they have to deal with that. But they were just kids trying to car Jack with a fake empty gun. Anyone else would have given in but they just happened to go for you.

“Because I did so I did my slow loop & came back to your exit, & in the time after I’d checked the back mirror & unhooked my seatbelt to come & open the door he’d sprung up”

“But from where” Dave demands.

“I don’t fucking know Dave okay!” You snap back, a little too harshly.“Another door or behind a bin or over the fence, I don’t have a clue, but the car wasn’t stolen & we completed our mission”

“& to think I was…” Dave then pauses & rubs the back on his head his black beanie hat coming off as he does it. He the looks you up & down. You’re sat on his desk in your black skin tight leggins, black vest top & you still have your own beanie on. Your jacket hanging off the door.

“Say it Dave” he knows your as pissed at him as he is with you. You’ve used his first name twice now.

“No it will just piss you off even more”

“Well I’m already angry & moody so you may as well…”

“I was gonna fill out you application to get you license back!” He interrupted abruptly & the room falls silent, those words hanging in the air.

“Dave, you… you were what…” it a soft tone that leaves your mouth for the first time in about an hour.

“I was going to apply for you to be a full time assassin again.” He shrugs “but if your gonna get jumped by some kids maybe your not up for it, maybe you have lost your game & nerve” he’s rubbing his neck as he says this. His chest is heaving. That skin tight black tshirt is stuck to him. He’s taken off his Kevlar vest & is looking mighty fine, everything clearly defined, including the outline under his black cargo trousers.

“Dave I… I don’t know what to say, thank you & also fuck you for saying I have lost my nerve”

“Well if I’m honest…” his voice trembles “…I’m not sure I can have you being my handler anymore” that shocks you. You freeze, time stops, you don’t breath, your heart doesn’t pump. You eyes fill up.

“What!” You panic. This job means the world to you, if Dave doesn’t want you as his handler something must have happened. He stares at the floor. “You can’t just say that Dave & not fully expect me to understand without an…” you don’t get the word explanation out of your mouth. Dave marches across the office & grips your chin before his lips vigorously clash with yours. You lean on the desk, stuck in the spot, you minds tell you no for so many reasons but it only takes a second for your hand to trial down his side & rest of his hip. His own hands are holding & caressing your face. Kissing you like his life depended on it. You feel alive for the first time in a while at someone’s touch & you instantly feel arsoual taking over.

“Dave” you mumble as you push him back slightly. “We can’t, for so many reason. You’re my boss I’m your handler, I have a boyfriend you have…”

“When did he last make you cum?” He says bluntly.

“Erm…”

“Exactly” you aren’t wearing a belt his hand slides straight down your leggins under your panties & straight for your clit. He smirks that it is so slick. “Good girl” you gasp, as he calls you this the friction has started.

“Mmmmmm fuck” you moan before Dave’s lips find yours again, he nips a few times at your bottom lip while he sees to you, his tongue more than welcome inside your mouth.

“Dave… stop I’m gonna … i… I…”

“Let go sweetheart let Dave handle the situation for a change” you then feel two long fingers slip inside you & the friction is intense.

“Oooooohhhhhhh fucking fuck” you gush & cry as he makes you cum harder than you have done at any point in the last 3 months with Gus. He is delighted how quickly he got you off as you are perched there panting. “Fuck Dave, we we shouldn’t. Your married”

“It’s not technically cheating as long as I don’t cum inside you”

“What!?” You say in shock, before he lifts you up & he pulls you leggins & panties down in one movement, his eyes light up at the mess you have both made.

“Oooh fuck baby” he growls before he Burries his head between your thighs lapping away at the wetness dripping down.

“Dave stop”

“Why?”

“We shouldn’t”

“You really want me to stop? What does your body tell you?” He lifts his head as he removes your shoes so everything comes off from the waste down. It gives you a few second to think.

“My body is enjoying it & my head says I deserve it, but my heart…”

“Gus doesn’t deserve you, you’ve been miserable, let me take care of you”he says as he strips off his black skin tight tshirt. You know the man is Broad & well built but this is a feast for the eyes. You lick you lips expectantly.

“Wait…” you pause”how do you know my boyfriends name”

“You don’t wanna know” he says with a smirk before he unbuckles his belt. You’re not sure if you should move in pure fear or consent to your boss fucking you.

“Dave I…” but he grips your chin as his belt slides out through his other hand.

“Sweetheart the only words I want from you are your consent & your moans, don’t make me shut you up with this belt.” He hits the desk with the buckle. His eyes fully dilated full of desire. Those black cargo pants are not hiding his erection to well. you softly nod. “Vocally sweet heart “ your head is lifted more.

“Promise not to cum inside me”

“Promise, let’s get your uncorking situations sorted.” Dave’s lips meet yours again. He lifts you up & carries you to the sofa in his office. His hand gripping your arse so hard as the two of your mouths feast on each other. He lays you down & you go to shimmy off your top but Dave rips it if your body.

“I might have needed that Dave”

“Bollocks to it” the long noise of his fly unzipping has you rhything “ooh baby I don’t even have to touch you to see that body desperately craving a real man’s touch.” You fling your bra across the room. You no longer care that you are about to cheat on Gus. Your fantasy that you’ve had for the last 2 years is about to happen. Dave York your assassin your boss is about to fuck you until you can’t move.

As he drops his trousers & boxers your legs part more. The site of his long girthy penis sends shivers down your spine. He’s definately going to pinch.

“Impressed?” He says as he slips in between your thighs, he licks his fingers & they start to strum your sex making you moan.

“Fuck”

“God I’ve wanted to do this for a long time” he groans, as he teases your clit with his cock. The pre cum dripping mixing with your own arousal. “Gonna make you realise your worth sweetheart” he moans before he fully in one long deep push goes balls deep inside you first time.

“Oooh my god, fuck oooh fuck” you moan grabbing the grey sofa materials. The sting feels magnificent. You feel like any movement he makes your gonna cum straight away. He’s looking at your erect nipples on your breasts, your chest & tummy heathing, the little sweat beads forming on your head & then he slowly starts to move his penis out. “‘Mmmmmm ooooh”

“Take it that’s good”

“Fuck yesss Dave… oooh god” he slams in again & hits the spot, everything tingles & your senses are exploding.

“Does Gus do this?” He says as he does the same move again. You shake your head.

“No mmmmmm” you can’t stop moaning each time you mmm or ohhh Dave smirks. He’s getting naughty noises out of your mouth. He wondering would that small mouth of yours take his cock. How far could he ram it down your throat.

“Man doesn’t know how to make a woman feel good, doesn’t deserve ooooh fuck” Dave feels you clamp around him. Almost milking him if his seed at this early stage. “Hold off a bit longer sweetheart please” he lifts your leg & puts your left foot on his shoulder & then he finds his rhythm. He’s in the zone.

“Oooh my god god my god oooh fuck” you don’t know what you’re moaning. Even though Gus isn’t the best lover none of your other lovers or partners before him have felt this good. Dave’s working & rolling his body. The happy trail from his belly button down to the base of his length due to his hip action, is hypnotic. The man can move. He concentrating so much but you can also hear from his own moans that he is getting pleasure out of this too. “Oooh baby”

“Fuck oooh come on girl give it to me,” one arms stretches while another caresses your breasts. He wipes the sweat from his brow with the hand not holding your leg in place before he returns to your neglected clit. As the friction grows you can’t hold on anymore.

“OOoh shit shit shit” you cry “fuckkkkk” you scream as you climax, drenching Dave inside you. Dave look on in wonder as you scream, he’s sure people know he’s fucking you. He doesn’t care.He looks as you lie there spent but he’s not done yet.

“Oooh sweetheart we can do more than that” he says as he quickly withdraws then flips you onto your front.

“Fuck” you scream as he lies on top of you, his balls already banging as he’s deep inside you again. You go to turn your head to look at him but he pushes it into the sofa.

“Fuck your even tighter baby.” He snarls, his rhythm is unrelenting.”how bad is your boyfriend”

“Mmmmm” is all you can get out muffled as he fucks pounding away. He fees so good. You can feel the next orgasm approaching already.

“Fuck fuck fuck Dave” you groan, it leaks down your legs your cum, you know this sofa isn’t new but it’s going to have stains on now.

Dave’s a machine, fucking you hard for over an hour all sorts of positions. You enjoyed it each time he withdrew & covered your arse or belly in ropes of his cum. He was being true to his word. He wasnt cumming inside you. He didn’t care what you thought anymore & actually neither had you. He was giving you the pleasure you had craved for the last few months. Boring Gus with his very safe sex wasn’t going to cut it anymore.

As you bounced up & down in the cowgirl position, Dave licked his lips. You’d been exactly what he had hoped for. He knew what he was doing was wrong but with you being so willing to give it back to him he was enjoying pleasure too.

“Gonna cum once more for daddy” he asked, sweat covering his body.

“Mmmhmmm yes boss” you say still calling him the code name.

“Think you can handle me”

“I always do”

“That’s my girls” he slapped & then grabbed your arse cheek & this made you clamp around his cock so hard. It made him moan “fuck” he did it again & again. Each time you moved more, each time the slap was harder, each gasp you made was more erotic. He’s struggling to control his urge.

“Oooh Dave, more more more” if anyone was recording this it would be a blur At the pace he is going. He’s hitting the spot each time, your previous arousal leaking out. It’s too much. His moves, your pants, the way your boobs jiggle. You’re both gonna explode.

“Oooh fuck baby”

“Yes just like that” you whimper as he sticks two fingers in your arse, he’s not claimed that but it’s enough.”yes yes yes yessss yesss oooh fuck Dave!” You scream & cum, eyes rolling into the back in your head. Squeezing him with all your might.

“Oooooh fuck fuck fuck!” He cry’s, he can’t withdraw in time. He cums & fills you up, painting every inch of you. Both your slicks mixing together inside you “fuck yes” he growls before he kisses you firmly. Neither of you have realised what Dave has just done. Your both on a come down, slowly rocking into each other, panting & giggling in between kisses. Sweat from you dripping onto his chest. He sucks your left breast to calm down before he slowly & delicatly unseats you & puts you on the sofa as he goes into his desk drawer for some wet wipes, for you to both clean up. It’s only as he starts to wipe his dick, his face drops.

“We… oooh fuck” he stumbles upon his realisation.

“Yea we’ve both been unfaithful Dave”

“I’ve never cum inside someone before, other than a girlfriend or my wife, on missions I cum in their mouth or on their tits, why couldn’t I stop with you?”

“Well you did the first few goes…” he then abruptly interupts.

“Your on birth control right?” Your face drops it’s Friday you see the doctor. He freezes”you are right”

“My period ended yesterday & im getting my birth control shot on Friday” you say which is a partial lie, you begin ovulating tomorrow, Dave could have just got you pregnant. You both glaze over, Dave at the fact that he’s cheated after years of being “careful” with lots of targets for information & you for the fact that your Boss could have impregnated you. You both stay silent as you get dressed unsure what to say your relationship no longer the same. Once dressed you put on your jacket & do it up so that when you leave his office you aren’t just in your bra. You stand up & stroke his face.

“Is there anything else I can do for you mr York?” You say as if nothing haa changed but everything has. You sound sad.

“No, I’m all good” he doesn’t even make eye contact with you & you leave. You head straight to the women’s bathroom & throw up, sick to your stomach at what you just did, even though it made you feel to good.

*

You sit in Dave’s office on Monday morning waiting for him. You’d tried to work together on Thursday & Friday but it was awkward. The genie was out of the bottle, the dynamic different. You’d then been to the doctors & then spent the weekend assessing your life. You’d come to some decisions that would change a few things, but you thought it was best to be truthful with Dave first. When he walks in he’s shocked to see you waiting.

“Morning”

“Morning Mr York we need to talk” you say. Your sat on the sofa you consummated your passion on & Dave comes & sits beside you. He looks white. On the table by the sofa is both you coffees some paperwork & a little box. Dave looks at the long thin rectangular box suspiciously.

“Can I…” you nod & he unpacks the box. There is the pregnancy test you took before the doctors. He sighs deeply. “Thank god for that” he says looking at the negative test.

“I took a morning after pill to be safe as well Dave” you then hand him the envelope. “That’s for you too” Dave without hesitation opens the envelope. His head is still processing that you aren’t pregnant. It takes him a few minutes to realise. He grabs your knee straight away when the realisation hits.

“No!”

“No”

“I won’t allow it”

“What”

“Youre the best handler I’ve ever had, I can’t lose you, not over a couple of hours of sex”

“Dave… I”

“No you can’t, it’s stupid”

“Will you let me explain” you shout. Dave looks shocked. He’s never heard that tone before from you. “I spent the weekend thinking things over, I want to take my license again, I want to be an assassin, or at least a full time driver or back up & I want….” You gulp “& I want to do it with you” Dave’s face is stunned. His face then lights up & he hugs you.

“Ohhh really, you want to go back to this, you want us to be a team a real team”

“We always were a team Dave, I just need to stop living the safe life, see where I belong, get back to what I’m good at, I was holding myself back, but after that mission & then when it almost went wrong & the the rush & the passion, I can’t give that up”

“& Gus…” he asks

“Well let’s just say safe isn’t for me.”

“& I am” he asks raising an eyebrow, “you know I’m married right”

“I do Dave”I then smirk”but it’s not cheating unless you fill me up with cum” he laughs back at that.

“Naughty bitch” he scoff “you’ve got the grips of this whole situation havent you?”

“Isn’t it good to be the smartest person in the world?” You ask.

“I don’t know does it?” He can’t hold back & his plump lips crash either yours, his hand goes up your skirt & he’s amazed when he realises you aren’t wearing any underwear. “You tease” he says as that large flat thumb starts working your clit. You moan instantaneously.

“Only for you mr York, only you”

[the-cult-of-russo]

Just Beneath The Flames (Part 2)

Pairing: Billy Russo x Reader

Warnings: cursing, smut at some point probably lmao, zombie shit, typical canon violence. You know the drill.

A/N: I just wanna thank everyone for the love of this story so far! I love that you guys like it so much and I hope you continue to love it! 

—-----------------

The walk back to the camp was a lot less tense than the walk before. You were feeling a little more relaxed knowing that at least for the time being, you had one less problem to worry about. The men spoke in hushed tones to each other, looking like they were riding a slight high after all the violence. You really couldn't bring yourself to care though, not when they’d helped you with the assholes and also given you food. They may have just saved your life twice over. When you finally got back to the camp, Karen rushed over, whisking Frank away as she hugged him, clearly happy he was unscathed. Billy went over to who you now knew to be Micro and Curtis, now awake, as you just stood on the periphery of the camp, feeling very much like the outsider you were. You hovered uncertainly, waiting to be taken to the hunting store. You knew there was one around in the area but since you had no vehicle and it wasn't super close, you’d never ventured that far. You’d traveled around for far too long and you’d finally set up base. You didn't want to have to travel and get caught out there, especially when the assholes were still alive. You knew you’d have to move again eventually. The food would run out, the stores picked clean and probably another group of crazy people would turn up. It was just how it was now. But you liked where you were and you wanted to stay there as much as possible. It was hard traveling all the time, not taking any roots. It left you feeling unsettled and all over the place. 

“Hey, we haven't met yet. I’m Curtis,” the man smiled as he approached you. You hadn't met all of them yet although now you knew their names due to Frank. You hadn’t spoken to Micro’s wife or kids, not that you blamed them for keeping the weird stranger who had been planning to rob the camp from meeting the kids of the group. You wondered how hard that was. Having a group was stressful anyway, having others to look out for, to keep safe. But kids were a whole other ball game. They were more likely to make mistakes, being kids and all, and more likely to draw attention to themselves. You were glad your old group hadn't had kids, especially since everyone ended up dead. 

“I’m Y/N,” you said with a polite yet slightly awkward smile. He opened his mouth to say something but Frank came over so he gave you another smile before moving back over to the main camp.

“Alright, Bill’s gonna take you up to the hunting store,” he muttered with a nod. You’d hoped it would have been Frank or at least he’d have been there. It was a little easier to talk to him given he was the one doing most of the talking. Billy was just cold so you knew it would be uncomfortable. 

“Okay. When I’m done, I’m just gonna get him to drop me off near my camp,” you murmured, hitching your heavy backpack up a little. You wanted to make it clear you wouldn't be coming back, it almost felt rude to just vanish after going to the store without at least telling him. He nodded, looking thoughtful as he rubbed his chin a little.

“You sure I can’t convince you to join us?” he asked, giving you a tentative smile. You snorted and shook your head.

“Nah, I’m good. I wouldn't be averse to seeing you guys around again at some point though. Maybe we could look out for each other,” you replied softly, making him nod.

“Yeah, we could do that,” he smiled. You weren't quite sure what you could do for them if you were honest, maybe just tag along if they needed an extra person to help with something. You were mostly thinking of yourself, you had to in this world. It would be good to know you had a group of people to have your back if it came to it. 

“You want me to tell the other’s you’re leavin’?” he asked and you shook your head rapidly.

“No… I’m just a stranger, don’t need to make shit weird with a goodbye speech,” you snorted ruefully.

“I get that,” he chuckled, glancing over at the others for a moment. Karen was saying something to Billy who was putting his sniper away before checking his handgun.

“Well… It was good meetin’ you, Y/N,” Frank muttered when his eyes drifted back to you.

“You too,” you smiled. It was nice meeting people that didn’t want to kill you, it felt like a rare thing these days. He gave you a light tap on the arm, walking back over to everyone and talking to Billy briefly. Billy then sauntered over to you.

“Ready?” he asked, not sounding too happy about being the one to take you. You wondered if Karen had forced Frank to stay after him going out there and putting himself in danger like he had. 

“Yep,” you replied.

The ride in the black van was a little tense and uncomfortable. You knew he didn’t trust you, not that you blamed him. You didn’t fully trust him either. But the air was thick and you shifted in your seat, watching out the window as he drove. The world looked the same yet completely different. It was weird. It was still dark outside but the moon was full and bright. The only beauty left in the world.

“So… what d'you do before all this?” he asked after the longest silence in history. Your eyes moved from the window to him. He wasn't looking at you, looking out at the road, but at your silence, he glanced over at you. You wondered if the silence had been bothering him too.

“I was a veterinarian, not that it matters anymore,” you snorted sardonically. You’d loved your job with everything you had. You’d known from a young age you wanted to help animals.

“Nah, I don’t believe that shit,” he huffed, shaking his head.

“You don’t believe I was a vet?” you asked, sounding amused. He looked at you, a slight smirk on his face.

“Not that, that it doesn't matter anymore. Me and Frank, we were Marines. I’d say it helped quite a bit with the way shit went down. And Curtis was a medic, somethin’ pretty valuable now. I’m guessin’ being a vet… you got a lotta medical knowledge that helps too now,” he shrugged.

“Right… If your cat has a cough or your dog needs neutering, let me know,” you muttered with an eye roll and a snort.

“Nah, you know what I mean. You know some shit most of us don’t, probably even helped out with your old group ‘cause of it,” he mused, his dark eyes boring into you as he raised a brow. You looked away from him, eyes once again looking out of the window yet this time unfocused. You had tried to use some of your knowledge and training to help your old group, but that was the issue. Because no matter what you did, it didn't help and they wound up dead anyway. And while a part of you knew it was probably inevitable, that even a person with all the medical knowledge in the world probably couldn't have helped them, you couldn't help but feel like you failed them all. The drive once again became silent and tense, with Billy probably sensing your souring mood and deciding not to make further conversation. It didn't take too long after that though before you saw the row of stores, one of them being the hunting store. Billy didn’t park up front, not that you expected him to. Every move you made now had to be cautious, worrying about the living as well as the dead. Who knew what others resided in these parts none of you had met yet? 

He pulled around the back and once parked, you opened the door and hopped out, grabbing the knife from your thigh. Billy came around the van too as you both started walking around the stores to the front silently. The street was eerily quiet and you weren't sure it was a good thing. Right now it was, it meant you didn’t have to fight through a sea of the dead to get what you wanted. But the absence of any roamers on the street only made you worried that a herd was somewhere. They liked to do that you noticed, bunch up into a group. It made it dangerous when you saw a pack of them. It was harder to go around undetected and they were ruthless, they could tear down a house if the group was big enough. Billy ended up walking in front of you a little, his dark eyes sweeping around much like yours were and you wondered if he was having the same observations. You both stopped outside of the door for the hunting store and Billy, holding his knife too, tapped on the glass a few times. It was a trick you’d also picked up, to gauge what mess awaited you inside. There were a few groans and you tilted your head a little.

“What you think? Two or three?” Billy asked quietly, his eyes turning to you.

“Three I think. Two in the front, maybe one in the back,” you replied as you listened and tried to gauge where you were hearing the noise. Billy looked slightly impressed for less than a second before he nodded and opened the door, clicking on a flashlight in his other hand. Billy went to the right so you went left, straight at one of the dead who stumbled around a shelf. It was dark with no electricity, but your eyes were used to the darkness now, you’d adjusted to being able to see better than you had before the world fell apart. Billy’s flashlight was pretty bright too and it spilled over to your side of the store. You didn’t hesitate to shove your knife right through the dead one’s eye socket, pulling the knife out roughly as it stopped moving and making noise. It hit the floor with a heavy thud. At one point, you’d hated having to do this. Back when they still looked like people and weren't so badly decomposed. It was harder that way, to look at someone and think of who they used to be. To see a person. But most of them now looked like the monsters they were and you didn’t see any humanity when you looked at them. It was easier that way. When you looked over at the other side of the store, Billy was wiping his knife on the shirt of the dead guy on the floor. He stood back up, his eyes meeting yours for a moment as the last one still groaned. As you thought, it was coming from the back room.

“I got it,” he muttered, twirling his knife gracefully in his hand before he strolled off to the back room, most of the light going with him. 

You looked around, shoulders slumping a little now you were finally taking in the place. It was picked clean, nothing good or useful left. You felt disappointment settle like a stone in your stomach as you heaved a large sigh. You jumped when a sharp whistle pierced the air, your head whipping to the open back room door to see Billy. He gestured with his head to come over before he disappeared. Your first response was to bristle at being whistled at like that, like you were a dog. But you realized it seemed to be how the group communicated with each other and it was probably second nature to him. You walked over and walked inside, the backroom a little brighter with Billy's flashlight. Your eyes darted around the room, noticing the dead man on the floor before looking at some of the things in the back room. It wasn't full of supplies but it at least had something. Both you and Billy started to rifle through the boxes and you hoped you'd find what you were looking for. Billy let out a low whistle like he was impressed and when you looked over, he had a large machete in his hands. He unsheathed it, grin on his face as he looked at it. Both the blade and handle were black and it was pretty hefty looking. He chuckled, putting it back in the sheath before attaching it to his belt. You moved around closer to the back end of the room and stopped when you saw a box. There staring at you was a Hoyt Torrex XT Compound Hunting Bow. it wasn’t a fancy one by any means, more of a budget model, but you knew it was good and it would certainly do the job. You’d been without a bow close to a year now and with food getting harder and harder to get, you knew this would be the difference between being able to eat and starving to death. You grinned, all but ripping the bow out of the box and grabbing it, weighing it in your hand. It felt good, you almost felt like you’d got a lost limb back. You rummaged around more near the area, pleased to find a bunch of arrows. You could always make them if you needed to but they wouldn't be as precise as ones like these. You found a quiver nearby, putting the arrows into it and shouldering it. It would be a little annoying with your backpack which was currently left in the van, but you’d figure something out another time. You turned to Billy who was shoving stuff in his bag. You weren’t quite sure what and you didn't care too much either.

“I’m done,” you said, clutching the bow in your hand. He looked up after he zipped his bag, a slightly amused look on his face at the sight of you with a bow.

“Alright,” he nodded, slinging his backpack back on. You both made your way back to the front of the store, Billy cautiously looking out of the door before leaving entirely. You followed him back around to the van at the back of the store, putting the quiver by the bag in the footwell before climbing inside with the bow in your lap.

The drive started off silent once more as he started his journey back. You’d be getting dropped off just a little past halfway back from the store and you couldn't wait to just settle down and get some sleep. You were exhausted from all the drama of the night. 

“You know how to use that thing?” Billy asked with a condescending tone and a condescending smile to match.

“Yep,” you replied vaguely, giving him a wan smile. You could have told him you’d taken archery classes when you were younger, how your parents insisted you and your brother do it along with various extracurricular activities. That you’d been a natural in it and excelled. You couldn't be bothered though, especially with his tone. You still couldn't get a read on him, couldn't decide if you liked him much. He seemed decent enough but he was a little cocky and patronizing sometimes. He rolled his eyes at your answer as he kept on driving. When you got to a more familiar place, somehow recognizing the trees even though they all seemed to look the same, you looked over at him.

“You can just drop me off here,” you said softly. He slowed the van before it stopped and he had a weird look on his face as he looked at you.

“Your camp here?” he asked.

“Around abouts,” you shrugged. He scoffed, shaking his head with the smirk that seemed to permanently live on his face.

“So you know where our camp is but we can’t know where yours is?” he asked with slightly narrowed eyes.

“Basically. Knowing where I’m staying wasn’t part of the deal,” you smirked, opening the van door. You hopped out, grabbing your bag and putting it on one shoulder, the quiver over the other and your bow in your hand.

“See you around,” you said, giving him a rueful smile at his put-out face.

“Yeah…” he muttered, tilting his head. You shut the door and didn’t spare him another look as you walked off into the trees. It didn't take you too long before you felt relief seep into your bones when you spied the tree house. 

You weren't sure who built it out here or why and it wasn’t small either. It was pretty decently sized in a large thick tree. You’d stumbled on it by chance. You made your way over, carefully climbing up the rope and wood ladder, being mindful that your balance was a little off with all the weight you were carrying. Once in the treehouse, you pulled up the ladder like you always did so no one else could get inside while you were there. There was no door which meant the cold was still a problem. You hadn't had a winter here yet but you knew it would be coming soon. You weren't looking forward to it. It was roomy for a treehouse and you had a sleeping bag and pile of blankets in one corner. The other corner that usually housed your food was bare but you smiled to yourself as you emptied your very full bag, neatly stacking the cans and other items you’d gotten. You put the bow, your new pride and joy, just under the window with the arrows. You wanted to go hunting in the next few days. You’d never hunted animals before the turn, it kind of went against your whole thing about being a vet. But it was necessary now and you were always respectful to the animal, never made them suffer. Your body was drained and you lay down, wrapping yourself in your many blankets as you snuggled into them. You'd had a pretty decent night and it made you a little hopeful for the future. 

Two days later and you were stalking through the woods silently, following a deer. When you’d started hunting for food with your old bow, you only ever found small game. Rabbits, squirrels, but never a deer. You were slightly nervous but you made sure your footfalls were as silent as can be so you didn't startle it, waiting for the right moment to strike. You knew it would be a lot of meat and you didn’t want to pass it up, but you also knew you didn’t have a way to preserve it and it would be far too much for just you. You thought about keeping what you could for yourself and giving the rest to Frank and his group. It wouldn’t last as long with the group having many people in it, but they’d get a good few meals out of it. Something more substantial than shitty canned foods and protein bars. The deer finally stopped and you held your breath, aiming your bow as you blew out slowly. You aimed for just below the halfway point in its chest, just behind its front leg. You knew that's where its heart and lungs were and you wanted this to be a clean and quick kill. Not only because you didn't want to go chasing it through the woods but because you didn't want the animal to needlessly suffer. 

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, the light voice carried off in the wind as you let your arrow fly. It struck just where you aimed as the deer ran off panicked as you knew it would. It didn't get far before it collapsed though, now lifeless. You took a shaky breath, a small frown on your face as you walked over to it. You really didn't get any joy out of doing this, it’s just how things were now. You bent down and took the arrow out carefully, wiping it on your pants before putting it back in your quiver. You stroked its soft fur for a moment as you silently thanked the animal. It wouldn't go to waste, it would feed you for a while and Frank’s camp would also benefit from it. You tied its front legs together before doing the same to the back, leaving some twine from the front to the back so you could carry it easier. It wasn’t a large deer but you knew it would be heavy. You grunted as you heaved it up, wearing it almost like a bag with the twine around your shoulder. The extra weight made you a little slower to get back to your camp but you hadn’t gone too far. Once you got back, you set to prepping the meat under the large tree your treehouse was in. You’d already set up a campfire down here for you to cook your food with, not wanting to set fire to the treehouse. 

You weren't sure what time it was when you were done, wasn't sure what time it was at all anymore other than day and night. But it was still light and you knew it was early when you’d gone out to hunt. You mused it was probably around afternoon-ish. You pulled some plastic bags from your backpack that had been sitting at the bottom of the tree. You’d found a roll of them once in a store and decided to take them. You did that a lot, finding random shit and taking it, not knowing when you’d use it. It had proved to be pretty handy. You put in the meat you’d prepped for Frank and his camp, it was a decent amount and depending on how they rationed it, it might last them a few days. You wanted to find a way to preserve meat naturally so it would last longer. It was getting colder these days which would help but it would still spoil far too quickly for your liking. It would be better if you could hunt in advance, knowing it would get harder in the winter. Back in your old group, Derek, an older man, had made jerky because it would last for a long time and it was easier to carry around with you. You thought you still remembered how to do it but it would be hard since it was getting closer to the winter months. Derek had done it naturally by hanging them in the sun and heat of the sweltering summer. You knew salt would help to preserve the meat but you hadn’t been able to find any in your trips to various stores. When you were done getting Frank’s meat ready, you put your own in a bag and then buried it to keep it cooler until you got back. It wasn't perfect but it would have to do. You also buried all the innards in a different hole to avoid drawing the dead to you with the smell. It took a while to get everything sorted and done and you wanted to head out before it got dark. You never really liked being out at night. While you’d adjusted to see better and had somewhat got used to this life, it was incredibly eerie out in the woods at night, especially if the dead were around and groaning in the distance. You put Frank’s meat in your bag, leaving your bow behind as you made sure you had your knife strapped to your thigh and then set out. The camp wasn't too far but far enough that you still felt nice and secluded. Despite going there only once, you remembered the path vividly. 

You heard them talking, although it wasn't too loud, as you weaved through the trees to the camp. You felt a little awkward just showing up like this but you knew they wouldn't be mad since you brought them food. It was just strange for you now, helping others, doing something nice. You’d only had yourself to worry about for so long and in a way you liked it that way after all the shit you’d been through. But a part of you missed the camaraderie of being with others, the safety it gave you in numbers. Just talking to another human and not yourself. Karen was the first to see you, jumping up from where she had been sitting next to Frank at the fire as she made a beeline for you.

“Y/N!” she beamed, making you feel even more awkward as she seemed so happy to see you. She almost looked like she was about to scoop you up in a hug but she seemed to think better of it. Maybe it was your incredibly tense posture. You hadn’t been able to help it.

“Hey,” you murmured awkwardly, a smile toying on your lips.

“It's so good to see you,” she grinned and you looked over at the fire when you saw movement. Frank was now coming your way as the others looked at you.

“Back so soon? Please tell me you're not bringin' bad news about another group,” he smirked wryly, making you snort. You slipped your backpack off your shoulder as you shook your head.

“No bad news but I did bring this,” you replied, pulling the meat-filled bag out of your bag. 

“What is it?” Micro piped up curiously from where he was sitting. While you weren't directly at the campfire, you were within hearing distance.

“Deer, caught it this morning,” you shrugged as Frank took the bag.

“You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kiddin’ me,” Billy huffed with a sour face, making you look at him.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just bitter ‘cause he hasn’t bagged a deer yet,” Frank snorted, making you smile as you looked away from Billy who was glowering at you.

“We really appreciate this,” Frank added, a meaningful look on his face. They didn’t seem like they were struggling for food too much but you knew just as well as they did that it didn’t last long. And for the harsher colder months where fresh meat would be harder to find, the canned goods were best saved for then.

“You didn’t need to do this, Y/N,” Karen murmured. She was smiling but she also looked a little guilty and you knew exactly what was going through her head.

“I can’t eat it all and it’ll just go to waste. Figured you guys could use it. Get some good protein in the kids that doesn't come from bars,” you said ruefully. 

“Thank you,” you turned to look at the sincere voice to see it came from Sarah, Micro’s wife and you nodded at her. You didn’t know how she did it, having kids in a world like this. 

“Do you want some cans or anything?” Frank asked, making a move to go over to where their food was in crates but you shook your head quickly, stopping him in his tracks.

“I’m good. This isn't a trade or anything… Just me being… a good neighbor, I guess,” you snorted and he chuckled at your words. 

“At least stay and eat with us,” Karen insisted, her eyes imploring.

“You don't have to do that, I’ve got meat back at my camp,” you protested, not really wanting to stick around too long. You felt like you connected with Karen and Frank in a way. The way you did when the world goes to hell in a handbasket and you didn't need to know people long before you knew you could count on them. But you still really didn't know the others and still weren't sure about Billy. It was a little uncomfortable for you to encroach on their eating time like this. 

“I don’t care, you're eating with us,” Karen said firmly, snatching the bag of meat from Frank before she strode over to the fire with purpose. Frank barked a laugh and shook his head fondly at her before giving you a look with a raised brow.

“The lady’s spoken, you ain’t goin’ anywhere,” he grinned. You started to wonder who was really in charge here. 

It was far more awkward to just leave now after Karen's declaration so you followed Frank to the fire area where everyone was dotted about. Some of the others smiled or nodded at you, not seemingly minding a stranger in their midst. You weren't quite sure where to sit but the only available spot was next to Billy who was sharpening his knife with some kind of rock. You took your backpack off, setting it on the floor before sitting down carefully. You’d purposely left some space between you and Billy so he didn’t feel like you were crowding him. Karen started cooking the meat and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. No one really spoke to you directly but the conversations seemed to be open to anyone as they all conversed with each other, you’d just chosen not to really engage. You just felt like an outsider. You were. 

“So, where'd you find the deer?” Billy asked after a long while. When you turned to glance at him, his dark eyes were already watching you.

“A little north of my camp,” you explained with a shrug. His lips quirked into an amused smirk, his eyes going back to his knife.

“Right… that’d be helpful if I knew where your camp was,” he drawled mockingly and you smirked to yourself.

“Can’t give away all my secrets, Billy,” you snorted. It made him chuckle and shake his head. He seemed the type to hate not knowing things and you weren't sure why you enjoyed annoying him a little. 

“How’s that bow treatin’ you?” he asked. You hadn't expected him to make idle conversation with you but you went along with it. It would make you look a lot less weird than you just sitting there silently and staring off into the fire. 

“It’s good. Not as good as my old bow, but it gets the job done,” you murmured, making his eyes turn to you again.

“What bow did you have?” he asked curiously. Your lips curled into a wry grin as you pointed to his that was resting against a tree not too far away. He looked over his shoulder at it before chuckling again.

“You tellin’ me you know how to handle that thing?” he asked, that patronizing tone back in his voice.

“Which one of us bagged a deer again?” you asked, brows raised in amusement. He rolled his eyes and sharpened his knife a little more aggressively. 

“Just ‘cause I ain’t found one yet doesn’t mean I can’t get one,” he muttered, sounding like a child and you bit your lower lip to hide your smirk.

“Mhm, sure. You do know how to track, right?” you asked condescendingly, making his head snap in your direction as he glared at you, his mouth slightly agape at your audacity. 

“Here you go,” Karen grinned, handing you the cooked meat on a paper plate. You took it with a grateful smile and then she handed Billy’s to him. The idea of some good meat seemed to take precedence over you mocking his skills as he grinned at Karen and wasted no time in shoveling the food in his mouth. Everyone gathered by the fire as they ate and made conversation. It was going well until someone decided to outright speak to you.

“So, Y/N, Billy told me you were a vet before all of this,” Curtis smiled warmly. You glanced up, mouth still full of food and you swallowed it down, feeling uncomfortable as all eyes turned to you.

“Uh… yeah,” you answered, giving him a polite smile back. You weren’t quite sure what else to say to that if you were honest. It was all in the past, a time long forgotten and none of it mattered anymore. 

“That's good, some good skills there. I bet they’ve come in handy for you since the turn,” he replied and you felt the bitter pang hit you right in the chest.

“If by coming in handy, you mean failing everyone I cared about then… sure,” you gave him a wan smile as you continued to eat, an uncomfortable silence settling over the group at your words and tone. You were thankful when Karen started conversation up again and the group slowly eased back into it. You couldn't help yourself though. You were sick of people presuming because you’d been a vet that you were some kind of healer now. You’d failed, numerous times by now. You didn’t need reminding over and over again. You ate your food and tried to keep out of conversation, but then it turned into the group discussing the lack of dead ones lurking around in the forest. You couldn't help but listen to the conversation as you licked your fingers, not letting anything go to waste.

“That’s a good thing though, right? I mean, if there’s less of them here then we should be safe,” Sarah said, looking mildly relieved as she looked between Frank and Micro who had been the main ones talking about it.

“Not really,” the words slipped out of your mouth before you could even help yourself. You were starting to think you wouldn't get invited to camp again after this for being such a Debbie Downer. All eyes looked at you once more and you shrunk in on yourself a little.

“What do you mean?” Sarah asked, a small frown on her face. You blew out a sigh with a shrug.

“It’s not usually a good sign that there’s not many around. The dead ones are like animals and sometimes, they travel in herds. I’ve seen some up to as large as a hundred. From my experience, when it seems quiet, not long after a big group shows up. You really don't wanna be caught up in that sh-... stuff,” you quickly changed shit for stuff simply because the kids were here too, both of them watching you with wide eyes at your words. You didn’t want to scare people but you knew they had to be safe. Not everyone had seen the dead travel in groups before, some people didn't even know they did. You’d rather warn them in case a herd burst through the area than turn up here one day to find them all dead. Sarah’s concerned face snapped to Frank then and he looked deep in thought before he looked at Billy.

“We need to keep an eye out, see if we can spot ‘em anywhere,” he muttered gravely and Billy nodded, looking a little tense and like he was thinking. You wiped your hands on your jeans, deciding you’d probably depressed them all enough for one day.

“Alright, I’m gonna head back before it gets dark,” you murmured, moving to stand up. Most people in the group started talking over each other, thanking you for bringing the deer and it was hard to keep up with who was saying what. 

“Want me to walk you back or anything?” Frank offered. It seemed like he felt indebted to you or something over the meat but you shook your head with a grateful smile.

“Nah, I’m good,” you said softly.

“Can’t give away your secrets, right?” Billy asked from where he was sitting. When you looked at him, he was giving you that patent amused smirk and you snorted. 

“I’ll see you guys around,” you smiled, grabbing your backpack and slinging it on. 

“Stay safe,” Karen insisted, a concerned smile on her face. 

“I’ll try,” you smirked wryly before turning your back and heading off. 

The walk back wasn’t far and far too quiet, it made you think of what you’d said at the campfire. You never thought you’d dread the days where the dead were scarce, but you knew it didn't always mean good things and it worried you. You were almost home when you rolled your eyes. The whole way home you’d had that weird feeling, the one you get when you know someone’s watching you. When the hair on the back of your neck prickles up. You knew it very well but you’d tried to ignore it thinking you were being paranoid, but when it didn’t go away, you realized you weren’t being paranoid at all.

“I know you’re there, Billy,” you snorted, stopping and turning around. There was pure silence for a beat and part of you started to wonder if you were wrong, but then he stepped out from behind a tree with a lazy smirk on his face like he wasn't even sorry for it.

“What gave it away?” he asked with an impish grin, brows raised.

“You’re not as stealthy as you might think,” you stated flatly. He looked like someone just smacked him in the face and it made you smirk to yourself.

“Excuse me? I was known for bein’ stealthy in the Marines, so don’t give me that shit,” he huffed indignantly. 

“Why are you following me?” you asked, raising a brow. He licked his lower lip looking somewhat amused as he shrugged.

“Wanted to make sure you got back okay,” he answered smoothly, his dark eyes pinning you in place.

“Something tells me that’s a load of shit,” you replied with a smirk and he chuckled, once again shrugging.

“Maybe I just wanted to see where you’re hidin’ out since you’re bein’ so secretive about it. I don’t like secrets,” he punctuated his words with a patronizing smile and you rolled your eyes heavenward.

“I’m not being secretive just because I like being alone,” you muttered.

“Right, well I-” his words cut off abruptly at the sound of groaning, but it wasn’t the sound of one or two dead ones. No, this was a chorus of groaning that suddenly made you feel like someone poured ice-cold water over you. It was like your earlier words had come back to bite you in the ass, like you’d summoned them here by simply talking about them. Both yours and Billy’s heads shot to the side of you, seeing the dead pouring through the trees towards you.

“Shit,” Billy hissed, turning around to head back the way he came. You knew what he was thinking, he was thinking about his people. But instead of making a fast retreat back, he was greeted with more of the dead and you felt your heartbeat skyrocket so much you heard it in your ears.

“We gotta go!” you insisted firmly, moving over to him.

“I can’t just fuckin’ leave! Frank-” he started arguing, his face looking frantic.

“You’ll lead them right to the camp, Billy,” you hissed urgently, seeing the dead getting closer and closer to you. He looked conflicted, eyes darting behind him to where his camp was, where a sea of the dead were cutting him right off from getting back to his people and then to you.

“If these guys came from that way…” his tone was laced with pain but you shook your head.

“They could have come from anywhere and turned up here, we need to go!” you commanded harshly. You didn’t want to leave him here like this but like hell you were waiting for the dead to be too close to get away from. He growled, shaking his head and you felt annoyance hit you like a mack truck. You grabbed his wrist and started tugging him in the direction of your treehouse. At least up there you’d be safe until they passed. While he didn’t seem happy about it, he let you tug him so you knew he saw some sense at least as he’d easily be able to break from your hold if he wanted. You both ran with the dead on your heels, you still gripping his wrists in case his stupidity won out until you got to your large tree. You shoved him towards the ladder and he didn't hesitate to go up it, you right behind him. The pair of you settled on the floor either side of the open doorway and you panted, trying to catch your breath as you looked out of it and quickly pulled the ladder up. The dead couldn’t climb but you weren’t taking any chances. The dead ambled their way past, their groans almost deafening you and making you wince. When you looked at Billy, he was staring outside too with a dark look on his face. You weren’t sure what to say to make him feel better. You meant it when you said they could have come from anywhere but they also could have come right through his camp. You weren't about to tell him everything was fine when it might not be, not with such certainty. You and Billy were both sitting in tense silence, the only sound in the treehouse coming from the roamers below as they walked by. You weren’t sure how many of them there were but it seemed never ending and unfortunately, a small group of them, maybe around seven, must have seen you go up as they lurked around the tree and didn’t follow the others. You blew out a breath and slumped against the wooden wall, knowing you were in for a wait, you just really hoped it wouldn't be for too long, mostly for Billy’s sake. 

Taglist: (if you’ve been asked to be tagged and aren’t here, it wouldn’t let me tag some people.)

@firexfate

@blanchedelioncourt

@ariesbutalibra

@sunshinedaisies-anddeath

@snowkestrel

@music-indie-tv

@idaofinfinity

@sweetserendipity65

@ramadiiiisme

@k-marzolf

@celestialams

@woowwwee

[emmy-dekarios-bg3]

Heart of the Weave - chapter 10

The morning sun arises and it appears Gale isn’t by my side as I’m waking up. I am struggling to keep my eyes open as I try to get up, but it seems nearly impossible; I did sleep well, however. Exhaustion has taken a big toll on me, but at least I know why now. After about five minutes, I manage to stand up and notice everyone is up and ready, eating breakfast at the campfire. The scent of eggs, ham, and roasted fruit is hitting my senses rather abruptly, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I notice my nausea has faded, and I seem to be doing okay with my vision. I feel the most normal I’ve felt in days!

“Ah, there she is!” Wyll says. Him and Karlach are sitting on logs, his arm wrapped around her waist since he’s a bit shorter than her and can’t wrap it around her shoulder.

“Good morning, sunshine!” Karlach says with much more enthusiasm than I could have in the mornings. I smile, stretching my body as I prepare to sit back down to eat. I could just hug her precious self.

“Man… I’m sorry. Of course I’d be the one to wake up last. I was just so exhausted. I feel much better now of course,” I say with a raspy, tired voice.

“You need your rest baby,” Gale assures me, kissing the side of my head ever so sweetly. “Do not apologize.”

“Say, where’s Astarion and Shadowheart?”

“Oh, they took an early start back to Waterdeep. Since we have Wyll and Karlach, we will be alright. I told them to go ahead and wait for us there.”

“Wait, so Astarion was out in the sun yesterday and again this morning. What gives? I thought the fucker would burn to a crisp,” Karlach says. “The nerve of some people. I want him alive though, of course.”

“I was wondering that myself,” I responded, wondering what could be causing this sudden cure to his sunlight exposure. Surely not another tadpole and there’s no way for him to ascend…or is there? I’m starting to question our lives again and if there’s some sort of trickery upon us. Then again, maybe there’s just something he’s not telling us.

We don’t have much longer until we make it back home, and although it’s been a short trip, I’m thankful for all the memories I’m reliving with my closest friends. I sit here, wondering what life will be like in several months, how our lives will change forever. Part of me is nervous, while there’s a glimmer of excitement held within me.

Off we go, on the path again back to Waterdeep. One can only hope and pray that nothing happens between Raphael and those bloody cultists that I thought we obliviated from existence. I can’t help but feel a strange sensation within my stomach, completely unrelated to the pregnancy. It seems to be instinctual. We begin to cross a lovely old bridge that’s about to lead us into another region, and I can’t help but notice the lively and vibrant colors of the lands that were once filled with death and vile atrocities. You would never guess that is what this place used to be if you look at it.

“Oh man, I hope I get to babysit little baby Dekarios or I might just die,” Karlach says. “I’ve been close to death several times but this would take the cake. I’d wait until they’re a little older, though.”

“Why wait? You don’t want to have to handle the glories of regurgitation upon your flesh? The various odors that come along with infants?” Gale asks. “Come on, Karlach.”

“Nah, man. I’m good in that department. I can hold off on that.”

“So roughly when the child is five or six then?”

“Now we’re talking, sport.”

An all-too-familiar feeling becomes a reality and I know exactly what it means now.

“Something’s wrong,” I say, observing the area around us. “We’re being watched.” An unsettling growling sound can be heard nearby and it resembles a creature from the Hells we’ve fought before. Unfortunately, I have the sounds of those creatures memorized. Whatever it is, it seems to be invisible, but the sounds are close enough to be aware it’s close to us. By close, I mean a couple feet away, and that makes this entire situation so much worse. Being out of potions and only a cleric, lacking any spells to view any invisible beings.

“Shit. Do any of you have a ‘see invisibility’ potion or spell?” I ask. “A creature is lurking near us. Little shit is spying.” It’s unsettling that we’re being spied on, more than likely by someone sent by Raphael for whatever reason.

“Hold on – I have Faerie Fire.” The spell radiates from Wyll and suddenly the flying demonic creature can be spotted. The flash of the spell startles it, causing it to panic for a brief moment. Its large wings stretch behind its back while it raises its dagger-like claws. The creature stands rather tall, and now I notice it’s a Horror, a type of undead that we fought at the Last Light Inn before.

“Well, that’s certainly no imp,” Wyll comments. The Horror slowly creeps toward me, eyeballing me like I’m sort of a meal to be devoured. Gale, Wyll, and Karlach immediately rush in front of me to keep me protected.

“Stay away from her, I’d rather you get me instead,” Gale threatens with a stern voice behind his gritted teeth. His brow is furrowed, like he’s flustered and ready to attack this monster. My heart is racing rapidly like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and what I really want to do is fight this creature back with all the strength I have, but shortly realize I can’t. The Horror flies over Gale, trying to snatch me with the gigantic claws, but Wyll’s Eldritch Blast pushed the demon several meters away right before it could take grip of me. Karlach then dashes as quickly as she can toward this heinous creature, bashing in its guts with her battle ax. Blood squirts violently from the bowels of the Horror, splatting on Karlach’s crimson flesh as she finalizes the gruesome death of this demented beast.

“Whew! By the Gods… At least that’s taken care of,” Karlach says. “Where the fuck did that come from?!” Gale turns to face me, a look of distraught and worry expressed on his face.

“Are you alright?” he asks me. I nod, but I’m speechless, trying to process what just happened. You’d think I’d be used to this by now, but being pregnant has me on edge and full of fear all the time. I just don’t want anything happening to the baby, and Gale clearly doesn’t either. While he’s always been very attentive and comforting, he’s been extra protective and it’s brought me a sense of comfort.

“Yes. I wish I could help. I want to do something. I feel useless.”

“NO,” Karlach, Wyll, and Gale all say simultaneously before I could say anything else.

“We appreciate you wanting to help, but we can’t risk it. You aren’t in a state where you should fight right now,” Gale says, and I hate how right he is. I sigh, but still give a light smile. I won’t lie though, the urge to fight has been consuming me lately. I’m sure it will be much more intense once the baby is here.

“That…thing…was trying to take me rather than kill me. Why? What the hells?!” I shout, feeling frustration overwhelm my body. I take a deep breath, trying not to let it take over and stress me out more than I already am.

“Raphael won’t stop at anything to have you, all because of the damn orphic hammer and the crown,” Gale mentions. “Sometimes I almost wish we never got involved.”

“Note to self: don’t try to steal tools from someone’s house. Got it,” Karlach says, jumping around and shaking her hands, as if she’s warming up for an intense exercise. Brutal acts of violence seem to get her hyped up for another round I’ve noticed.

“You helped us steal that hammer.”

“You win this round, Gale. Fine. I know not to do it again. Love you guys, though.”

The adventure back to Waterdeep surely is a doozy so far, and I only imagine it could get even more intense from here. What other horrors will come across our path? What will Raphael do? We begin to pass the building that was once the House of Healing, which seems to be fully restored to an actual hospital, cleansed of the evil chaos that once lived there. How many survivors affected by Ketheric Thorm are within that building? The Waning Moon has turned into a lively bar and entertainment facility. “Live music, dancing, and Stand up Comedy” the sign says.

“So much has changed,” I say, observing the new structure of the area. The entire area is unrecognizable and it’s so pleasant to look at. Every crushed and destroyed building and architecture is fully restored to what it looked like before the shadows corrupted, as if nothing happened to them at all.

“Wait, are we even going the right way? I don’t remember seeing any of this before,” Karlach says. “You know, on our adventure back to Baldur’s Gate.”

“Yes, honey, we are. We just didn’t have time to take it all in before,” Wyll assures her, a half-smile on his face as he tries not to laugh. He just adores her so much and it shows. She shrugs and continues to prance her merry way with us along the path.

As we continue walking past the bar, I hear a familiar male voice saying my name in the distance. His voice is deep, with a hint of enthusiasm as he spots me.

“Emmy! Emmy!” The voice is getting closer, and to my very surprise, it’s Halsin. The handsome, kindhearted druid Elf that got rid of the Shadow Curse. A true friend of mine who always wanted peace for everyone, an advocate for the children and helpless, and a spirit of nature. Someone who I always aspired to be. We rescued him from the goblin camp, where he was going to slowly be tortured and killed by goblins and their drow leader Minthara. Ever since, we’ve been great friends. I turn around noticing him approaching us, smiling brightly as he sees us. It’s so nice to see another familiar face, I was worried something may have happened to him.

“Halsin? What are you doing here?”

“I was just checking in on the lands. I’ve been helping regrow the plants and trees in the area.” He inhales the fresh air, smiling as he exhales. “My, it’s so good to see you. Last time we spoke was at the reunion six months ago.”

“Yes, you are correct. Wow. I love how you’ve helped restore these lands. This place is so beautiful.”

“Thank you. I do what I can, when I can. How have you been?”

“You might want to grab some popcorn,” Karlach chimes in. That caused Halsin to raise an eyebrow, and he seems to be very invested in what I am about to say. This is still news I’m not used to saying out loud.

“Well… Long story very short, Raphael is after me, I live in Waterdeep with Gale, Shadowheart, and now Astarion… Oh, and Gale and I are having a baby.” His jaw drops, but with a smile as he does so. He laughs but in a very excited manner, not to be rude. He appears to be ecstatic.

“Other than the issue with a heinous devil, that’s great news! Oh wow. Parenthood is beautiful. I’ll have to visit you very soon, and more often for sure. I adopted Arabella, Yenna, and Thaniel. They’ve been a handful for sure.”

“We’re only having one. I can’t imagine having three. Props to you!” Gale tells him.

“Thank you. It’s been quite the journey. Trying to keep three children entertained can be hard, but luckily they all love being outside. I am glad I ran into you all. I’m going to finish getting this place restored, but once I’m finished I’ll come visit you all and we can catch up. I’ll be there for you if you need it. Congratulations and if you need any help with Raphael, just say the word.”

“I appreciate you, Halsin,” I say. We hug, more than grateful for his unconditional friendship and compassion, and a huge weight is off my chest knowing he will still be there for us when we need it.

“I never really knew Halsin well,” Wyll chimes in, “but he’s so kind. I’m glad to see him doing well and getting rid of the evil past of this place.”

I take a deep breath, thinking it really may end up being okay in the end after all.

[seedclan]

Year 1 - Moon 3 - Greenleaf

Havenbramble travels to SeedClan to solve some personal disputes.

It had been some time since Havenbramble had come to visit. As the only Mediator there was, he usually had a lot to talk about when he stopped in. The golden and white tom was capable of chattering faster than a beaver's teeth, and yet Kestrelstar always had a patient ear for him.

"...and so that's why Plummoon is having a tough time adjusting. He's a hard worker, but Ryestar and him don't see eye to eye. Barleytail was always good at keeping up with the ol' guy, not to mention willing to speak a bit louder so he could hear."

"Havenbramble, please tell me you are not telling every clan leader this," Kestrelstar grumbled, eyeing the CoyoteClan cat with a dismayed expression.

He waved a paw and chuckled. "Nah, just you. I know you wouldn't prey on Ryestar's weaknesses like that. Not like Whisperstar. Oh, but I could tell Chivele- I mean star that you know too so we can all chat again and-"

"No, no, no! Don't. Havenbramble, we've talked about this. Our clans have recovered from the war, and that means we cannot talk and be as close as we used to be. Now did you have anything important to talk about, or not?"

Flattening his ears for but a moment, Havenbramble would slowly smile, flicking his tail as he leaned in closer. "Fine. I was hoping to lighten the mood with some good news first," he whispered.

Her pelt bristled just faintly, narrowing her eyes with intrigue.

"You see," Havenbramble started. "I could smell Maplefern in your camp. If she's here, Whisperstar isn't going to like that, Kestrelstar. You're aiding a code-breaker, and we all agreed to stay out of trouble as we rebuild. You don't want to get pulled into another war," he warned. His blue eyes shone true with concern, pelt brushing against hers as he gave the gray she-cat a small nudge. "Ryestar turned her away when she came asking for herbs, because despite being old, he knows having Whisperstar's eyes on his clan is bad news."

Kestrelstar couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her lips curled back as she glared at the golden tom. "Am I hearing right? Havenbramble is telling me to give up on another cat? If it weren't for you then Chivestar wouldn't even be alive to lick his wounds," she hissed. "Havenbramble she has kits."

Blue eyes brightened as the Mediator straightened up. "Kits? She didn't even tell us that," he murmured in alarm. "The code says to protect kits, so that certainly helps. But Kestreltail, I just don't want to see anything bad happen to you."

"That isn't my name, Havenbramble." Kestrelestar's voice was cold. "Chiveleaf is leader now. I am leader now."

"And I'm a Mediator," Havenbramble argued, frowning at the gray she-cat. "And if you're not going to let me mediate, then I might as well have been killed along with the others that day."

"Don't ever say that!"

Kestrelstar quickly interrupted, turning on the tom with wide eyes. "Don't... Don't say that..." she murmured, voice softening as she lowered her head, pressing it against his side. Havenbramble's stiffened body seemed to relax, lowering his head to nudge hers back up.

"C'mon, don't do that. It's not your look," he murmured reassuringly. As the gray tabby looked to him with wet eyes, Havenbramble softly sighed and nodded. "...Look it was the right thing to do. And you know what, as Mediator, it's my job to prevent conflict. I'll keep things smooth with Whisperstar. Ok, I promise."

Kestrelstar sniffed, sighing as she quickly pawed at her face. "Thank you Havenbramble. But you are CoyoteClan's Mediator, not ours. Though we do need one... All of us do."

"Well until then, everyone has got me. And they need it. The Gathering is going to be... tough, Kestrelstar."

Just when she thought things seemed to lighten up, another stone fell to rest at the bottom of her chest. She pricked her ears, listening as she nodded for him to go on.

Havenbramble seemed to not be quite as quick to share, as if more conscious now from their initial talk. "...We're all losing cats, Kestrelstar. And you better be careful. If not, then you might be next."

[metalbvcky]

hey I dont want to be super weird but you know that post you reblogged about Steve knows his greatest weakness with the 2012 fight scene? You said in the tags you read a fic about that, and I was wondering what that fic might be? I really want to read it. Thanks, awesome blog btw :)

Hiya!! Oh its no problem! In fact, I love it when people read my ramblings in tags. I do that a lot lol.

I reblogged a post about it before but it got buried lol its a road less traveled by Claudia_flies & zilia. Also the fanart post I reblogged

I’m been reading a lot of angsty fics lately and this fic is a breath of fresh air. Its basically 2012 avengers but in reverse with bucky/stucky. There’s stucky of course but also a good mix of avengers just living in the tower. And its 75k! 

AAAAH THANK YOOOOU. That means so much to me :3 

[joyfulfxckery]

Headcanons for Swiss falling for a small, shy, seemingly innocent reader thats always making sure everyone is okay both mentally and physically, all that mom friend stuff- but, as soon as they get comfy they're a (loving) MENACE to society. like chaotic, and a little pervy?

Bonus if they become best friends with Dew

(If you write kinda nsfw stuff, no smut but maybe how he'd respond to them being flustered if he matches their pervy energy? Absolutely okay if you don't!!)

Please and thank you!!

In my head, this is like his perfect match.

If your shyness is anything like mine, you don't go up to anyone unless they look like they could use help, like cheering up or groceries, or moving stuff.

So he'd notice you over time; either in the same hallway walking with your friends and laughing, trying to cheer up a fellow brother/sister of sin who didn't have that sparkle in their eye, helping someone who is carrying cleaning supplies or a whole bunch of paperwork or all these grocery bags.

He's a ghoul, a demon, he can totally carry all these bags by himself but he sees you in the hallway and he just automatically needs help. 

Like "Oh my lucifer these are so heavy. Y/N! Can you help me please?"

The smile behind his mask as you help him without thinking about his unnatural strength is huge.

He'll make conversation while you help him, asking questions, anything to get you to talk really.

He'll go searching for you afterwards. Every day. Even just to say "Hi" or do something to make you laugh.

If you say, "It seems like you search me out now, haha"

He'll reply with, "You make everyone smile, I wanted to do the same with you."

Whenever there's no Clergy business he's with you so you two get closer and he sees more of your personality come through, there's no hope for him, he'd fall, and within a few months, you two would be together.

With his playfulness, you'd both pull pranks on others, but also each other. If a prank you both pull happens to be on one of the Papa's (all of the papas are alive in my world) and you get caught, it's like Scooby and Shaggy trying to hide behind each other until he runs away. 

And if it's on either one of you, there's no "It's one prank and you both laugh about it." Nah it's "This means war."

If by a "MENACE to society" you mean an absolute brat to everyone you're close to, like me, then he's always chasing you around trying to get you back for something you did. 

He's calmly drinking his beverage and you come along and move the arm he's drinking with making him spill his drink, you can tell he's giving you THE LOOK under his mask.

Run far, fast, do zigzags, climb and if he doesn't get you, be cautious, be very cautious. 

You two are always around each other which means you are also around the other Ghouls, you've gotten to be friends with a lot of them but you and Dew, ya just get each other. 

He's the one that helps you prank Swiss. He comes up with ideas if you can't think of anything and destroys the evidence.

Always flipping each other off when you pass in the hall, you with a smile or, if you're feeling it, with your tongue sticking out.

I can see Swiss pouting when you go to spend time with Dew, he'd hug you and you'd have to push yourself out of his hold or call Aether or Mountain to pry him off you.

Like you're a funny pain in the ass, but you are HIS funny pain in the ass.

Dew teases him on it too, it starts one of those girly slap fights that always make you fall on your ass laughing.

You watch a swiss TikTok that's just him shimmying and for a minute you think it's a good idea to Shimmy him so you can see his reaction.

Bad idea.

He shimmies back, and if you blush, the shimmy gets harder till you cover your face which makes him laugh while he wraps you up in his arms, "You can't out shimmy the King, baby."

He'd honestly fucking love you.

~ Ghoulie 💜

Hope you like it Anon!

[ghostssweetgirl]

crazy over you ~ simon ghost riley x reader slow burn/enemies to lovers

description: y/n gets transferred to task force 141 and quickly becomes friends with soap and gaz, but her and ghost "hate" each other for the first part. warnings: mentions of violence and death (duh), alcohol intake, smoking (at some point), nsfw (at some point), subtle flirting with soap. i'm new to writing? so don't expect this to be the greatest. this is not in line with the game campaigns or missions. the only characters i included are y/n, soap, gaz, price, & ghost. i have no knowledge of the military this is just creativity disclaimer: i do not own modern warfare or any of its characters.

chapters: next [payback] last

Two days went by slowly. You were concerned about Ghost, but quite frankly didn't dare to ask about his condition yet. As you came down from your adrenaline high, you started thinking more about the mission. You didn't think twice when it came to saving his life, even if he's been an ass to you, you did for him what he did for you. You acted right then and there. Not obeying his order when he told you to abandon him, the consequences didn't cross your mind.

 It's illegal to disobey an order. Fuck, you were going to be dismissed already. Your pride told you fuck that - if you had to be dismissed over saving someone - your superior's life, then so be it. You'd rather be dismissed than leave someone like that. Plus, he saved your life, too. 

Price did call you into his office for a meeting, and your heart nearly dropped. You expected to be dismissed but felt it was still wrong. Would they understand your thought process?

--

While you explained to Price about the situation, what occurred and how you acted upon instinct, he understood.

 "Disobeying a superior officer's orders is illegal, mate. Legally, I should dismiss you. But you hold value to our team," he sighed. "You got fire in ya, I'm starting to see it. I like that. You did what needed to be done, and got it done - well."

You nodded while you had trouble maintaining eye contact, ready for him to just drop the bomb.

"I ain't gonna dismiss ya, kid," he shook his head. "Matter of fact, not gonna put it in the books or on record."

You breathe out a sigh of relief, "S-shit - thanks, cap."

He smiled at you, bright blue eyes crinkling as he blinked at you.

"How's Ghost?" you finally asked.

"He's... alive. In the hospital. Should be transferred to on-base medics soon," he informed. "Have a good day, y/l/n."

--

You go about your days as per usual. Training, shootin' the shit with the guys. It was different without Ghost around, admittedly. Word says he'll be on base tomorrow, so everyone talks about visiting him and if you guys should get him gifts.

"I'm going to get him a card and balloon..." you spoke up.

"Thanks for saving L.T., y/n," Soap thanked you, sincere evident on his face. "Some balls to not follow an order by him."

"Yeah," you chuckle. "Thankfully captain isn't dismissing me."

"We knew he wouldn't," Gaz smiled. 

--

You traveled off base and bought a 'get well soon' card along with a skull balloon. Fits him well, you thought. 

Arriving back, you sat at your desk thinking of what to write. You're welcome for saving your life. You made it. Glad you're alive. Sorry for not following your order.

No. You were stumped and finally settled on something.

You saved my life, so I guess this is payback. Get well soon. -Diamond.

Good enough. 

You walk to the medic station, hopefully not too late as everyone else was leaving.

"Sorry, I'm late..."

"Nah, not too late," Price said. "Go on in. He'll be out soon, though."

--

As you walk in through the tent, you peek through the curtain. 

"Ghost?" 

He groaned.

"Hi..." you mutter.

He sighed as he opened his eyes at you. "What is it, kid? You know that what you did is illegal, punishable, and could, probably will, get you dismissed?" he scolded weakly. 

"I already had a talk with Price about it. But I made a call and saved your life. If that gets me dismissed, then so be it. I wasn't going to let you die," you retorted with fire in your throat as you placed the card and balloon beside him on the table. "You know... Most people just say thank you... for saving their life."

Yeah, you used his own line against him. The fuck was he going to do about it?

Making your way to the door, and turning the handle, you heard shuffling and his grunts. He'd sat up, sighing. "Bloody hell. You're... right. Thanks... Diamond."

"Yep," you nod at him, hands behind your back, shifting on your feet as you become nervous, sharing eye contact with him, the way he looked at you was different. You click your tongue, thinking in between the awkward silence.

"Well, let me know if you need anything, sir."

He blinked slowly, head tilting down. "Simon."

"Oh..." you nod slowly, head running rampant at the fact he just told you his name. "Okay, Simon. I'll check on you soon."

--

Soap offers to take you out for drinks that night, and you don't hesitate to accept the offer. You were stressed. Hell, your whole body was stressed. You didn't even have the energy to get out of your uniform and told him you'd be the one driving as you didn't plan on getting plastered. 

Arriving there, you and Soap find seats at the bar. You order y/f/d [your favorite drink], while Soap orders a whole pitcher of beer - expectedly. 

"Ghost's warming up to ya," Soap chatted. "'S a good thing, bonnie. I know he's pissed atcha, but he's thankful for it, deep down."

"I know," you smiled, sipping on your beverage. "He told me."

He choked on his drink, "L.T. said thank you to ya?"

"Aye," you laughed while mocking his accent.

"Quit that."

You take a final swig while you request one more from the bartender.

"Steamin' bloody Jesus..." Soap checked you out. "Yer a maise." (Scottish Gaelic for 'beauty').

You look confused and ask what the hell that means. But you've discovered you had a thing for accents. Holy shit, Ghost's accent rang through your ears smoother than silk, paired nicely with his deep, gravel voice. Soap's was charming and made the Scottish language sound... honestly, sexy. No, you're not going back and forth between who you may like more, but you have to appreciate their attractiveness. Thinking of your captain and Gaz these ways would be weirder, as you've grown close to them like family. 

"Yer a beauty, lass," he chuckles as he finishes off his second pitcher already. "Cannae help t'notice it."

Blushing, you thank him. 

"I know ya like Ghost, though, lass," he squinted at you. "Don't think no one's noticed."

"What?!" you deny, even though the heat on your face gives it away.

He laughs in response.

"Soap, what the hell?"

The more you tried to defend yourself, the deeper you dug your hole, so you gave up. Whatever. 

--

You two drowned out the night in long conversations, banter, and stories. You were too many drinks in and decided you couldn't drive anymore. Soap was pissed drunk at this point. You absent-mindedly tried to outdrink him, not knowing the consequences.

Gaz and Price came to pick you guys up, Price drove you guys back to base while Gaz drove your vehicle back. 

"Christ, you two're pissed," Price laughed. 

--

You don't remember the ride home, or how you got in your room, but you passed out cold, and still in uniform. Thankfully you have no missions tomorrow.

[mulletmitsuya]

Bonten groupchat

Warnings: swearing, suggestive, mentions of drugs, dark humour

Takeomi: uhm

Takeomi: someone's porn is connected to the living room speakers

Takeomi: could they turn it off please

Takeomi: .....it's getting louder, guys please

Kaku: yeah guys I can hear it from here I didn't wanna say anything but😟

Sanzu: it's not me I only watch porn at night

Takeomi: didn't need to know that but thanks for the confirmation i guess

Kaku: it hasn't stopped

Mikey: sorry that was me, disconnecting now

Takeomi: ....oh, thanks

Kaku: Mikey what are you doing watching porn in the middle of the day, it's 12pm😕

Mikey: I'm a little high rn I wasn't paying attention didn't know it was day

Mikey: why are you all in my apartment anyways

Sanzu: Mikey-kun you don't need porn when I'm a room away 😋

Koko: you're shameless

Sanzu: don't talk to me about shameless

Koko: ??

Sanzu: why are you always starting smth with me? 😕

Sanzu: you always get hella mad when I retaliate

Rindou: guys..don't

Koko: oh please you're the one always bitching, then you get mad when they're consequences

Sanzu: not today Hajime

Sanzu: I'm not the one

Koko: what are you gonna do about it

Koko: go hangout with your other junkie friends idk just leave me alone

Sanzu: Koko has an only fans account

Sanzu: also, him and Inupi are seeing each other

Sanzu: he says he's doing work but they're actually fucking around

Ran: ONLY FANS???? KOKO??

Ran: DROP THE LINK

Takeomi: Inupi??? as in Seishu??

Sanzu: I know you're like 40, but try to keep up

Koko: you bitch

Koko: I'll kill you, Sanzu

Sanzu: square up gay boy

Sanzu: if you don't learn to silence yourself I'll send everyone the link

Kaku: I wish we could all get along

Sanzu: I don't get along with WHORES on high horses

Mikey: no fucking infighting

Mikey: I'm just trying to enjoy my trip in peace

Mikey: this is the first time I've felt anything other than numbing emptiness in years, don't ruin it

Kaku: Mikey maybe you should find another coping mechanism, that's idk, healthier?

Sanzu: Kaku, sometimes drugs are the only way, let him be

Ran: stop enabling him, he needs help💀

Sanzu: we should go kill people to let off some steam

Rindou: can we go back to Koko please???

Koko: no

Ran: send the link babygirl

Koko: get off my back

Koko: go pronounce someone else dead or something

Ran: why would you bring that up

Ran: how was i supposed to know he was alive

Koko: maybe check a pulse dumbass

Mikey: shut up stop talking

Mikey: if I concentrate hard enough I can try to remember what happiness use to feel like

Kaku: Mikey...

Takeomi: maybe we shouldn't be in each others presence

Takeomi: I think we all need a break from each other

Takeomi: that also means on the chat

Rindou: I don't object. bye

Ran: I still want the link 😕

Koko: I hate it here

Mikey: I hope the next breath I take will be the last

Mikey: bye

Ran: should we be worried

Rindou: nah he's fine

[emerald-chaos]

Touchdown

*gif not mine, credit goes to the owner*

I just want to take a moment to say thank you for the love on my last fic! It made my lil ole heart swell to see that peopled enjoyed it enough to leave a like or reblog.

This is just something special I had in my arsenal that I wrote for a friend a few months ago. I touched it up a bit and added a few things here and there. It all started when we were talking about how much we loved when Chris' accent got heavier after he'd been drinking, and well, I couldn't help myself lol. I hope you enjoy the fluff! xoxo

I apologize for any grammatical errors, I tried to proof-read but am also a little exhausted lol.

Pairing: Chris Evans x Reader

Word Count: 2844

Warnings: I don't think there's anyway? Mentions of being drunk/drinking alcohol, cursing, and illusions to sexy times, but that's about it.

You hadn’t noticed how furiously your knee was bouncing up and down until the person sitting next to you on the subway got up to move seats once the train squealed to a stop. You sighed and ran your hands down the front of your thighs. Normally being a little late didn’t bother you as much, but tonight you were meeting him.

You flipped your wrist over to check your watch. 8:30pm. In all honesty, it had probably been only thirty seconds later than when you checked it the last time. Another deep sigh escaped from your lips as you started to become hyper aware of the train remaining still at the current stop. What could possibly be taking so long? You knew he wouldn’t care if you were running late, but the time the two of you had together already felt so minuscule. You wanted to capitalize on every second you could.

The train began moving again and you slumped back into your seat, feeling only a small amount of relief. It was becoming painfully apparent that you needed to try and relax. You could feel the sweat building up on your body, the sting on your palms from where your fingernails were pressing in with a vengeance moments ago, and you could hear your heart thumping in your ears. Your hand dug around in your purse for a few moments before finding the small case you were looking for. Opening it, you slipped your headphones into your ears and let your head rest on the window behind you as music intertwined with your thoughts.

Once upon a time, you made fun of people who decided to go to grad school. What kind of a clown would spend thousands of MORE dollars and go BACK to school?? Not to mention the stress of the assignments, the due dates - it was not for you...or so you thought.

Now here you are, a regular booboo the fool.

NYU’s graduate program for design and merchandising wasn’t necessarily part of your 5-year plan, but when the opportunity landed in front of you it was difficult to pass up. NYU was a school you had only dreamt of attending back in high school. When you were a senior in high school you were able to tour the campus and fell in love immediately. Hours upon hours were spent researching grants, scholarships, and all sorts of ways to try to make it happen. However, the dream ended as most teenage dreams do - crushed. There was no way you or your parents could afford the loans that it would surely wrack up to attend the out of state university, and there was no way you could ask your parents take on that kind of debt just so you could go to college. UMass was the way to go - close to home and familiar. Not to mention you were able to obtain several scholarships and grants that helped bring down the cost tremendously. Little did you know, boring ole UMass would bring you one of the most important things in your life.

Applying for graduate school wasn’t an easy decision and one you couldn’t really take all the credit for. A smile crept across your face as you reminisced on the night you nervously brought up the idea to your long-term boyfriend.

“I think you should do it,”

“I know, right?” you scoffed, “it’s insane, why would I do something so stup...wait, what? You do?”

“Of course I do. This is something you love and that you’re passionate about. Do you know how many hours of my life were spent listening to you ramble about NYU?” he questioned with a grin.

“It will open up so many doors for you. We can make things work,” a chuckle escaped from those beautiful lips as he saw your dumbfounded expression. He wrapped his fingers around your waist and pulled you close, “What? Did you expect me to forbid it? Cmon, baby, what kind of guy do you take me for?”

You didn’t have a lot of wins in your life, but you did have Chris.

When you got accepted, he took off a week from work to drive you 3 and a half hours south to help get you settled and moved into your temporary new home. The two of you ate a disgusting amount of pizza, moved a ridiculous amount of heavy furniture in the middle of a summer heat wave, and enjoyed each other’s company before the long-distance thing would set in. Chris spent that week encouraging you every step of the way, talking you off the ledge when you were convinced you had made the wrong decision, and made sure to help you christen every possible surface of your new place in the most deliciously sinful way.

You bit your lip slightly at the thought and a warm feeling spread across your face. Chris was one of the most incredible people you had met in this world. Kind, caring, funny, intelligent, passionate, and god was he sexy. The connection the two of you had was scary at first, but now you just couldn’t imagine spending your life with anyone else.

The robotic voice came over the loud-speaker in the subway car and you were rudely ripped back to reality as it pulled into your stop. You hurriedly scooped up your bag and jogged off the train.

It had been a promise between the two of you when you moved that there would be equal effort when it came to visiting and keeping in contact while having good, open communication. Long distance was hard but the two of you were determined to make it work. FaceTime calls, hours upon hours of texting, and even as far as writing the occasional letter back and forth (because your boyfriend was a hopeless romantic and you loved it so much). This weekend was your turn to come home to visit, and of course your last class had to go longer than anticipated. Fuckin’ Tiffany and her stupid ass questions.

The muscles of your calves burned as you kept up your hurried pace, weaving through the crowds of people gathered on sidewalks outside of various clubs and restaurants. It was a weekend night and the Patriots were playing, which meant the city was more alive than usual. New York was it's own beast, but it was a different type of hustle and bustle. Nights like these made your heart ache for home - the thick Massachusetts accents, the rowdy voices of bar patrons arguing about the game, the hugs shared between family members as they parted after dinner, and the faint smell of nicotine and alcohol that hung in the air.

As the neon sign that hung in the pub window came in to view you felt your heart dip down into your stomach. Last weekend’s visit had to be cancelled due to some stuff coming up with Chris’ work and a surprise assignment for you, so you hadn’t seen your boyfriend in 2 weeks. With a deep breath you swung open the door and scanned the crowd for him. He told you that he would be there promptly at 7:15pm for pregame shenanigans with his friends - which actually translated to how many pitchers of beer could they suck down before kick off.

“Aw, come ON! That is such a bullshit call!”

You heard him before you saw him. Of course. A grin spread across your lips as you shook your head. The thought of leaving to avoid secondhand embarrassment crossed your mind briefly before you picked up your feet and made your way through the crowd toward the sound. A room full of people from New England and you would still recognize that voice anywhere.

Everyone else seemed to fade away as you saw the outline of the tall, dark haired man standing at the bar. The slight freckles that spattered the back of his neck, the Brady jersey that he spent WAY too much money customizing, and the signature backward ball cap were ingrained in your subconscious memory. Not to mention if you didn’t recognize his outline or his voice, you would definitely recognize that ass anywhere.

You loved how passionate he got about sports and the way his Boston accent seemed to get thicker with each beer he consumed. Growing up in the area, you wouldn't think the accent would send a tingle down your spine the way it does, but it was different - it was Chris. Not to mention the sparkle in his eye when he would watch his favorite team or the way he would get in to arguments whenever someone tried to say something negative about them. You loved your big, handsome, over-sized toddler man so damn much.

A light tap on his shoulder made him whip around, his slightly opened mouth from his interrupted conversation curved upwards into a wicked grin as he made the connection of who was finally standing in front of him.

“Hey there, handsome. I don’t see a ring on your finger. You single?” You grinned, feeling your entire body fill with warmth as Chris leaned back and grabbed his chest as he erupted in laughter.

“Nah, nah, nah, unfortunately for you I am taken” he responded as he snaked his arms around your waist, sliding his hands into your back pockets as he pulled you into his figure.

“That is too bad,” you tsk'd, running a finger down his toned bicep, “she’s one lucky girl.”

“I think I’m the lucky one,” he grinned. He leaned down to meet your lips in a kiss. You sighed into it, allowing your body to mold itself so perfectly into his. The taste of beer on his lips and the smell of his cologne was intoxicating - it was home. You immediately allowed him entrance as you felt his tongue glide along your bottom lip. Your body felt small in his strong grip and you couldn’t help but laugh a bit as he gave your ass a firm squeeze. Normally, this type of bold, public display of affection would make you cringe away but at this point you were lost in Chris that you had absolutely no shame. Each time the two of you embraced had always felt like the first. Your heart still fluttered and your knees still got weak, like you were a 16 year old being kissed for the first time.

In the middle of your reunion moment, however, something happened in the game that made the entire bar erupt in boo’s and curses. Chris lifted his lips from yours to look over his shoulder and inspect what he had missed. You laughed and shook your head as you pushed him back towards his friends and took a seat in the bar stool he had been standing behind initially. His large hands found a natural place on your shoulders. While his eyes remained glued on the TV he began applying a moderate amount of pressure to your neck and shoulders. You didn’t realize how much your body craved that touch, his touch, until you immediately melted back into him.

The bartender slid a beer in front of you with a wink and you mouthed your thanks. You felt a twinge in your heart as you looked around, taking in the atmosphere of the bar. This was a typical weekend night for the two of you whenever you were living together. Football, drinks, pub food, and friends. If it wasn’t this pub it was your living room, just a couple blocks away. You didn’t even mind that it was your first night back and you weren’t alone, spending it immediately wrapped up in your satin sheets. The atmosphere, the people - it was so warm and familiar that you really wouldn’t rather be doing anything else. Plus, being wrapped up together in the sheets was sure to follow.

“I missed you,” hummed a pair of lips as they placed a kiss on the shell of your ear. A shiver shot down your spine at the sensation of his warm breath fanning over your neck. You reached up a hand and connected it to the nape of his neck.

“I missed you too,” you replied, turning your head to plant a kiss on his stubbled cheek.

His arms changed position as he wrapped them in front of your shoulders and crossed them, resting his chin on the top of your head. Your hand absentmindedly rubbed his forearms as you nursed your beer and placed your focus onto the game for the first time tonight.

The laughter seemed to escape from your chest naturally and effortlessly the entire night, as it always had a habit of doing when Chris was around. The camaraderie between him and his buddies during a game was something you’d grown to enjoy over the years. Chris’ competitive nature and the way his jaw clenched when something wasn’t going the way he wanted was always kinda...hot. All of his friends were huge assholes, but in the best way. It was always entertaining to hear them jab at each other and do what they could to rile someone up. They were the life of every party you had ever attended and they had a way of making a boring night a lot more interesting.

Thankfully (for the integrity of the bar) the Pats won the game with a surprise touchdown in the last 30 seconds of the game. Chris, being the guy he is, bought a final round for his friends and a nearby group they had been going back and forth with all night. You couldn’t help but laugh as he drunkenly leaned across the counter and slurred his order to the bartender.

“I need a round for m’friends and for these assholes over here who thought Tom Brady was anything but a winner!” the group started yelling in protest and he simply waved them off and started sliding beers down the bar.

The group eventually moved to a bigger round top so everyone could shoot the shit and banter about the outcome of the game. You were tucked into Chris’ side, hands intertwined as he was passionately discussing the importance of Brady’s legacy with a stranger who made the mistake of stopping to talk to him. Your eyes followed the motion of your thumb as it traced small circles onto the back of his. Your other hand under your chin, holding up the weight of your head as your exhaustion started to catch up with you. Chris, although slightly drunk, picked up on your body language and raised your hand to his lips for a kiss.

“Alright, fellas,” he said as he stood up from his seat, pulling you up with him, “the lady and I are gonna call it a night. See you boys next weekend”.

“Chris, we don’t have to go,” you began to protest as he tucked his jacket around your shoulders.

“Mm, ‘course we do,” he replied with a soft smile, “you’re so tired, baby. I can see it in those beautiful eyes”.

You could feel your cheeks turn a light shade of pink as you rolled your eyes at his attempt at laying it on thick. After what felt like a proper 10 minute goodbye session, the group said their final goodbyes, hugs included, and you walked out of the pub hand in hand.

The walk home was filled with the sounds of cars passing by and conversation of what each other had missed in the week prior. Small talk typically felt like such a chore, but with Chris every conversation came naturally. Even when he had absolutely no idea what you were talking about, he would listen intently and ask all the questions as if it was the most interesting conversation in the world.

The lock on the apartment door clicked as you pushed it open and entered. You smiled as you stopped into the middle of the living room, taking in the home you missed so dearly. A soft tapping of toenails against the hardwood made your heart soar as you met the eyes of your sweet pup, Dodger. A squeal left your lips as you squatted down to give love to the sweet boy. Chris always made fun of you when you came home, saying that you always seemed to miss Dodger more than you did him and I mean, he wasn’t entirely wrong about that statement.

Once again lost in your own world, you didn’t even notice Chris leaned up against the wall watching you with a smile.

“Oh my god,” you gushed, standing up, “do you like...like me or something?”

Chris grinned as he crossed the room and caught your belt loop with his finger, pulling you into him slowly.

“Yeah,” his voice had dropped down an octave, “you could say that”.

“Mm,” your tongue swiped across your lower lip and you wrapped your arms around his neck, “care to show me how much?”

The look in his eyes made your core burn. The tension building between you two became too much to handle as you crashed your lips into his. The kisses were messy and you could feel the sense of urgency between you two. His beard scratched against the column of your throat with a delicious burn as he left wet kisses across your jaw and down the side of your neck. Chris’ hands found their way back into the ass pockets of your jeans as he started walking you back towards the direction of the bedroom.

Soon, there was a trail of clothes leading to your bedroom and you felt very sorry for your neighbors. It had been a long time, but Chris always had a way of welcoming you home.

[missblissy]

Hello! I hope you are doing okay! Could I please request alastor x reader headcanons of them getting married? Thank you!

(( *girlish squeal* @u@ Yes. Enjoy.))

How could he be this nervous? He was never this nervous. Not ever. Not even when he proposed to you, and that was probably the most terrifying moment of his life but he still held his nerves and controlled himself. So why couldn't he do that now?

"Relax Al... Your face looks like it's about to fall off." Relax? How? How could he relax? He looked at Charlie in the reflection of the mirror, then at Angel. They both looked unsettled by him. Maybe he did look a little too... unnatural with the way his smile seemed to almost tear his skin. Alastor took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, "What if she changes her mind?" He asked.

Angel laughed at that, "Nah. Not her." Somehow that didn't help "If she wanted to leave your ass she would have by now, dude." Okay... that helped a little. Charlie smacked Angel's arm and waved him away, "Everything's going to be fine," She said, "Vaggie and Nifty are with here right now. And you have to go out soon- before her."

Okay... Okay! He was getting married today, to the woman who once literally stole his heart. I guess a perk of being dead is you don't really need a heart, but he was glad you were the one who stole it figuratively and literally. He's never done anything like this. You were his first for everything on the list of firsts. So maybe he was nervous because deep down inside he knew he could fuck this up. That was the last thing he wanted.

He took in another long and deep breath, but this time as he exhaled he bestowed a smile on his face, opening his eyes with a glimmer of a red hue glowing to life. He could do this, "Let's get this show started."

You sat still and fought the urge to sneeze as you felt the dusting of a brush polish the last of your makeup. You half-listened to Vaggie and Nifty's conversation. Something about how beautiful the hotel was. Something else about how this was probably the most informal wedding ever. No one wore white to this wedding. Black and red only, with gold here and there, at your request of course.

"G-guys- I think that's good on the-" You tried saying, but Nifty hushed you quickly, "Stop! I'm almost done! You have to look perfect!" Did you though? This whole thing was supposed to be small and simple but somehow somewhere along the lines from then and now... Well, that didn't happen, "Alastor has never been married before. At least you had that when you were alive!" Wasn't this supposed to be the bride's day?

You finally got to open your eyes and take in your own form. It was easy for your to say you were most certainly more beautiful than when you were alive for your first wedding. You thought how ironic that was seeing as you were a demon now. But it was the dress the really sold you on it all. The entire length of it was black as night. You felt like a princess with how long the tail of the dress stretched behind you. The dark and exquisite embroidery laced up your arms and down your dress.

"You can't forget these," Vaggie said, she stood at your side as she handed you your bouquet. You laughed quickly, you had forgotten. There was one exception for white. You reached down and let your fingers trace along with the white petals of the flower. You giggled again and thought, Alastor will get a laugh at these. The soft but bright glow of the yellow within the Poet's Narcissus complimented their white outer petals. Otherwise known as a very fancy daffodil. The poor man was named after the damn things, after all. There was s reason he didn't like to share his full name. His mother would be at the wedding too, as well, so the bouquet might also win a few points with her, "Are you ready?" Vaggie asked. You took in a deep breath, brought the flowers to your nose, and soaked their scent in. As you exhaled you looked to her and nodded your head, "I'm ready."

Everything was perfect, at least for the two of you. It didn't really matter to either of you that anyone else was there. Every moment was picture perfect, from the aisle to the ceremony, the I'do's. Even the part where Alastor was hesitant but more so shy to kiss you in front of all those people. For a man who loved living upon a stage, he sure was nervous of the crowd and all the eyes on him for once. But you found that endearing, and honestly adorable as well. Now there was supposed to be a reception, very modern ya' know. It's the 21st century, people do those things. Everyone was on their way there... but not you. Nor your husband. Like I said, you were supposed to.

But very much like Alastor to be stuck in his era, he found a way to convince you to run away with him, "We gave everyone the ceremony. We don't need to go to some silly party and listen to people talk about us. I just want it to be us, we can go right now. Anywhere you want, I will take us there." You were standing beside him, just outside the reception hall. You could hear all the guests inside waiting for the two of you. You thought over what Alastor said. An idea sparked in your mind and you gave him a coy look, "Can you... take us to the surface?"

He raised a brow but still smirked back at you, "Is the pope catholic?" He jested, that was his way of saying yes. Then he gave a snap of his fingers. The two of you were masked in human forms, "Where to, my love?"

Alastor held his arm out to you. With a smile you curled your arm around his, linking them together, "Have you ever been to Paris?" You saw the interest flicker on his face. He tipped his head slightly and grinned, "No, but I will be soon, care to come, my dear?" You laughed as he gave a wave of his hand. Ruins filled the air to form a circle the tore open a portal. With shared giggles, the two of you left just in time before anyone could ever find you.

[emmy-dekarios-bg3]

Heart of the Weave - A Baldurs Gate fanfiction

CHAPTER 10

The morning sun arises and it appears Gale isn’t by my side as I’m waking up. I am struggling to keep my eyes open as I try to get up, but it seems nearly impossible; I did sleep well, however. Exhaustion has taken a big toll on me, but at least I know why now. After about five minutes, I manage to stand up and notice everyone is up and ready, eating breakfast at the campfire. The scent of eggs, ham, and roasted fruit is hitting my senses rather abruptly, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I notice my nausea has faded, and I seem to be doing okay with my vision. I feel the most normal I’ve felt in days!

“Ah, there she is!” Wyll says. Him and Karlach are sitting on logs, his arm wrapped around her waist since he’s a bit shorter than her and can’t wrap it around her shoulder.

“Good morning, sunshine!” Karlach says with much more enthusiasm than I could have in the mornings. I smile, stretching my body as I prepare to sit back down to eat. I could just hug her precious self.

“Man… I’m sorry. Of course I’d be the one to wake up last. I was just so exhausted. I feel much better now of course,” I say with a raspy, tired voice.

“You need your rest baby,” Gale assures me, kissing the side of my head ever so sweetly. “Do not apologize.”

“Say, where’s Astarion and Shadowheart?”

“Oh, they took an early start back to Waterdeep. Since we have Wyll and Karlach, we will be alright. I told them to go ahead and wait for us there.”

“Wait, so Astarion was out in the sun yesterday and again this morning. What gives? I thought the fucker would burn to a crisp,” Karlach says. “The nerve of some people. I want him alive though, of course.”

“I was wondering that myself,” I responded, wondering what could be causing this sudden cure to his sunlight exposure. Surely not another tadpole and there’s no way for him to ascend…or is there? I’m starting to question our lives again and if there’s some sort of trickery upon us. Then again, maybe there’s just something he’s not telling us.

We don’t have much longer until we make it back home, and although it’s been a short trip, I’m thankful for all the memories I’m reliving with my closest friends. I sit here, wondering what life will be like in several months, how our lives will change forever. Part of me is nervous, while there’s a glimmer of excitement held within me.

Off we go, on the path again back to Waterdeep. One can only hope and pray that nothing happens between Raphael and those bloody cultists that I thought we obliviated from existence. I can’t help but feel a strange sensation within my stomach, completely unrelated to the pregnancy. It seems to be instinctual. We begin to cross a lovely old bridge that’s about to lead us into another region, and I can’t help but notice the lively and vibrant colors of the lands that were once filled with death and vile atrocities. You would never guess that is what this place used to be if you look at it.

“Oh man, I hope I get to babysit little baby Dekarios or I might just die,” Karlach says. “I’ve been close to death several times but this would take the cake. I’d wait until they’re a little older, though.”

“Why wait? You don’t want to have to handle the glories of regurgitation upon your flesh? The various odors that come along with infants?” Gale asks. “Come on, Karlach.”

“Nah, man. I’m good in that department. I can hold off on that.”

“So roughly when the child is five or six then?”

“Now we’re talking, sport.”

An all-too-familiar feeling becomes a reality and I know exactly what it means now.

“Something’s wrong,” I say, observing the area around us. “We’re being watched.” An unsettling growling sound can be heard nearby and it resembles a creature from the Hells we’ve fought before. Unfortunately, I have the sounds of those creatures memorized. Whatever it is, it seems to be invisible, but the sounds are close enough to be aware it’s close to us. By close, I mean a couple feet away, and that makes this entire situation so much worse. Being out of potions and only a cleric, lacking any spells to view any invisible beings.

“Shit. Do any of you have a ‘see invisibility’ potion or spell?” I ask. “A creature is lurking near us. Little shit is spying.” It’s unsettling that we’re being spied on, more than likely by someone sent by Raphael for whatever reason.

“Hold on – I have Faerie Fire.” The spell radiates from Wyll and suddenly the flying demonic creature can be spotted. The flash of the spell startles it, causing it to panic for a brief moment. Its large wings stretch behind its back while it raises its dagger-like claws. The creature stands rather tall, and now I notice it’s a Horror, a type of undead that we fought at the Last Light Inn before.

“Well, that’s certainly no imp,” Wyll comments. The Horror slowly creeps toward me, eyeballing me like I’m sort of a meal to be devoured. Gale, Wyll, and Karlach immediately rush in front of me to keep me protected.

“Stay away from her, I’d rather you get me instead,” Gale threatens with a stern voice behind his gritted teeth. His brow is furrowed, like he’s flustered and ready to attack this monster. My heart is racing rapidly like nothing I’ve ever felt before, and what I really want to do is fight this creature back with all the strength I have, but shortly realize I can’t. The Horror flies over Gale, trying to snatch me with the gigantic claws, but Wyll’s Eldritch Blast pushed the demon several meters away right before it could take grip of me. Karlach then dashes as quickly as she can toward this heinous creature, bashing in its guts with her battle axe. Blood squirts violently from the bowels of the Horror, splatting on Karlach’s crimson flesh as she finalizes the gruesome death of this demented beast.

“Whew! By the Gods… At least that’s taken care of,” Karlach says. “Where the fuck did that come from?!” Gale turns to face me, a look of distraught and worry expressed on his face.

“Are you alright?” he asks me. I nod, but I’m speechless, trying to process what just happened. You’d think I’d be used to this by now, but being pregnant has me on edge and full of fear all the time. I just don’t want anything happening to the baby, and Gale clearly doesn’t either. While he’s always been very attentive and comforting, he’s been extra protective and it’s brought me a sense of comfort.

“Yes. I wish I could help. I want to do something. I feel useless.”

“NO,” Karlach, Wyll, and Gale all say simultaneously before I could say anything else.

“We appreciate you wanting to help, but we can’t risk it. You aren’t in a state where you should fight right now,” Gale says, and I hate how right he is. I sigh, but still give a light smile. I won’t lie though, the urge to fight has been consuming me lately. I’m sure it will be much more intense once the baby is here.

“That…thing…was trying to take me rather than kill me. Why? What the hells?!” I shout, feeling frustration overwhelm my body. I take a deep breath, trying not to let it take over and stress me out more than I already am.

“Raphael won’t stop at anything to have you, all because of the damn orphic hammer and the crown,” Gale mentions. “Sometimes I almost wish we never got involved.”

“Note to self: don’t try to steal tools from someone’s house. Got it,” Karlach says, jumping around and shaking her hands, as if she’s warming up for an intense exercise. Brutal acts of violence seems to get her hyped up for another round I’ve noticed.

“You helped us steal that hammer.”

“You win this round, Gale. Fine. I know not to do it again. Love you guys, though.”

The adventure back to Waterdeep surely is a doozy so far, and I only imagine it could get even more intense from here. What other horrors will come across our path? What will Raphael do? We begin to pass the building that was once the House of Healing, which seems to be fully restored to an actual hospital, cleansed of the evil chaos that once lived there. How many survivors affected by Ketheric Thorm are within that building? The Waning Moon has turned into a lively bar and entertainment facility. “Live music, dancing, and Stand up Comedy” the sign says.

“So much has changed,” I say, observing the new structure of the area. The entire area is unrecognizable and it’s so pleasant to look at. Every crushed and destroyed building and architecture is fully restored to what it looked like before the shadows corrupted, as if nothing happened to them at all.

“Wait, are we even going the right way? I don’t remember seeing any of this before,” Karlach says. “You know, on our adventure back to Baldur’s Gate.”

“Yes, honey, we are. We just didn’t have time to take it all in before,” Wyll assures her, a half-smile on his face as he tries not to laugh. He just adores her so much and it shows. She shrugs and continues to prance her merry way with us along the path.

As we continue walking past the bar, I hear a familiar male voice saying my name in the distance. His voice is deep, with a hint of enthusiasm as he spots me.

“Emmy! Emmy!” The voice is getting closer, and to my very surprise, it’s Halsin. The handsome, kindhearted druid Elf that got rid of the Shadow Curse. A true friend of mine who always wanted peace for everyone, an advocate for the children and helpless, and a spirit of nature. Someone who I always aspired to be. We rescued him from the goblin camp, where he was going to slowly be tortured and killed by goblins and their drow leader Minthara. Ever since, we’ve been great friends. I turn around noticing him approaching us, smiling brightly as he sees us. It’s so nice to see another familiar face, I was worried something may have happened to him.

“Halsin? What are you doing here?”

“I was just checking in on the lands. I’ve been helping regrow the plants and trees in the area.” He inhales the fresh air, smiling as he exhales. “My, it’s so good to see you. Last time we spoke was at the reunion six months ago.”

“Yes, you are correct. Wow. I love how you’ve helped restore these lands. This place is so beautiful.”

“Thank you. I do what I can, when I can. How have you been?”

“You might want to grab some popcorn,” Karlach chimes in. That caused Halsin to raise an eyebrow, and he seems to be very invested in what I am about to say. This is still news I’m not used to saying out loud.

“Well… Long story very short, Raphael is after me, I live in Waterdeep with Gale, Shadowheart, and now Astarion… Oh, and Gale and I are having a baby.” His jaw drops, but with a smile as he does so. He laughs but in a very excited manner, not to be rude. He appears to be ecstatic.

“Other than the issue with a heinous devil, that’s great news! Oh wow. Parenthood is beautiful. I’ll have to visit you very soon, and more often for sure. I adopted Arabella, Yenna, and Thaniel. They’ve been a handful for sure.”

“We’re only having one. I can’t imagine having three. Props to you!” Gale tells him.

“Thank you. It’s been quite the journey. Trying to keep three children entertained can be hard, but luckily they all love being outside. I am glad I ran into you all. I’m going to finish getting this place restored, but once I’m finished I’ll come visit you all and we can catch up. I’ll be there for you if you need it. Congratulations and if you need any help with Raphael, just say the word.”

“I appreciate you, Halsin,” I say. We hug, more than grateful for his unconditional friendship and compassion, and a huge weight is off my chest knowing he will still be there for us when we need it.

“I never really knew Halsin well,” Wyll chimes in, “but he’s so kind. I’m glad to see him doing well and getting rid of the evil past of this place.”

I take a deep breath, thinking it really may end up being okay in the end after all.

[therivergirl]

Eda makes an off-handed joke about her arm, but Raine is not always comfortable with her darker sense of humour. They talk it out. Fluff ensues.

----

We need fluff after the King's tide.

So yeah, here everyone is fine and happy, Luz can travel between realms.

----

Full text:

Eda stopped her cart in front of the Owl House and looked at the pile of bags and boxes on it she brought from the market. Luz, King and a few of their friends were on a field trip with Lilith. And they were all arriving in the evening. Along with Camila and Vee who were coming for what was now becoming a traditional weekly dinner. And, as always, she expected more people to appear, because that's how it went these days. So, she got a plethora of food. Should she make it multiple trips?

There were days when she just couldn't be bothered to put her prosthetic on, and this was one of those days. However, sometimes it slipped her mind that missing an arm could affect her life in semi-unexpected ways.

And right now, she was facing the fact that carrying a whole bunch of boxes with one arm was much harder than it used to be with two.

Were these two or even three trips worth of stuff? She groaned at the idea of multiple trips from the kitchen to the entrance. 

"Nah, I can make it in one trip!" she said confidently. She was more than aware that it was just pettiness, that strange type of laziness that resulted in you making your own life harder instead of easier the moment she hooked all the bags on her arm and piled on the boxes.

But, she was determined to make it work and too proud to admit defeat. She was Eda the Owl Lady, she could face beasts, coven heads, fanatic rulers and all-powerful child gods, what was one pile of boxes?

Well, apparently, it was a pain in her butt as she almost dropped it all while trying to open the door. Hooty was asleep. He was doing something the whole night and Eda was both too scared and respectful of his privacy (but mostly scared) to ask what.

As she somehow managed to open the door and hooked it with her leg, trying to get it to fully open, Hooty woke.

"Need a hand?" he asked sleepily. She knew he didn't mean it as a pun, he was too sleepy for it. But boy, considering she was in her current predicament only because her new hand was currently lying at the bottom of her nest it was it hard not to hear it.

She noticed Raine passing by in the living room.

"Nah, don't worry Hooty! Raine should give me a hand, I mean they yanked it away back in the day, it's only fair!" she snorted, catching Raine's attention, "Hey, Rainstorm!" she greeted.

But, instead of laughing back, Raine's demeanour soured, "Yeah, I guess it is only fair," they said, picking up all of the boxes, leaving her with only boxes to carry.

Oh crap.

Oh crap, she was an idiot!

"Hoot!" Owlbert screeched into her ear.

"Oh-oh!" Hooty chimed in.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm an insensitive bitch!" she groused. Apparently, the arm was still a sour topic on certain days.

"Raine," she entered the kitchen, setting the bags on the counter. "You know I'm joking right."

"I don't like when you joke like that, Eda," they said, "like it doesn't matter."

"I'm sorry," she said, approaching them, "I wasn't thinking.".

"No, you weren't," they said, but their voice was soft, there was no real ire in it.

"But I want to reiterate, I don't hold a grudge," she said.

"Well, you should! I'm the reason you lost a limb, Eda! Your life was turned upside-down and-"

"Hey, my life is great, thank you very much! Firstly, I'm actually alive! You're the reason I'm alive, you saved my life that day, quite stupidly risking your own in the process!"

"I should've never even gone with that plan!" they spat, "I still curse myself every day for it! If we didn't go through with it then, then-

"Raine Whispers!" she said firmly and they looked at her, "May I remind you that we went with that plan. I did that willingly. I risked my life, you risked yours. You wanted to protect me, well, I wanted to protect you. And my kids. And my sister. And every other person on these bloody isles! Ok?"

Rain smiled softly and nodded. Titan, they loved her. They made a step closer, resting their head against her chest and she pulled them into a one-armed hug.

"Look, I won't say there aren't days when this," she lifted her stump, "is inconveniencing. But I still like living! Titan, that sounds cheezy, but it's true. I've got you, and King and Luz, and her ever-growing horde of friends and Lilith and Hooty and everyone. And I can still fly and turn into an awesome harpy form. And I wouldn't have any of that if it weren't for you and your stupid self-sacrificing heart," she kissed the top of their head, "ok?"

"Ok. I'm sorry too,” they said, “I’m not trying to tell you how to cope or how to joke about your own missing arm. If you’re over it, I should be too but-

"You aren't," she said, cupping their face, "that's fair. If the roles were reversed, I probably would've done the same and be messed up now myself about it."

"Of course, I'm messed up about it, I hurt you!" they pulled away from the hug slightly. 

"Hey, none of that. I know that in any other circumstance, you wouldn’t touch even a feather on my wing," she said, looking them directly in the eyes, "you saved me. You made a decision that could not have been easy to make.”

“That is the problem,” Raine said, taking her hand between theirs, running their fingers over the back of her hand, “It was easy. I didn’t like it, but it was easy. But just because the decision was easy, it does not mean it was an easy thing to do. I don’t feel guilty about taking your arm to save your life. I feel guilty because you were there in the first place.”

“I know that. And I’m glad you made that decision. And I don’t regret any of mine, ok? And I won’t have you feel guilty or beat yourself up over it, ok? I'll keep repeating that until it gets thought that thick bardic skull of yours. I'll get Hooty to sing it to you,"

This got a chuckle out of them, "you wouldn't..."

"Oh, I would. You know I would. Let me ask what you were thinking at that moment?" she said. To someone, it may sound counterproductive, to keep picking at the wound, but she knew it would work.

The way they looked at her, their smile filled with so much love and admiration was enough to make her melt, "That I couldn't watch you die, that I needed you safe, especially since I had a promise to keep, no matter what.”

"And you did just that, Rainstorm." she lifted their chin and pulled them in for a kiss. "I'm alive because of you. Because of the witch I love.”

"And I love you," they said, "and I'll sort all these messy feelings one day."

“As long as you need. I know all about messy feelings,” she chuckled bitterly, “Don’t have too many about this though, arm or life, I choose life. Besides, this way I’m a wild witch again. And one with a pretty awesome prosthetic that I’m just too lazy to put on on certain days,” she snorted, “really should though, that thing makes me look badass."

“You always look badass,” Raine blushed, “Though, I must ask. While I get that you’re comfortable without it, I’m glad actually, why go to the market without it?”

“Because I was never known for good decisions, and you know that!” she laughed, “I was just too fucking lazy to bother with thinking about things practically it this morning!”

"Eda, language!"

"Hey, what are you, my mother? Kids are not around, I can curse! Unless your ears are too sensitive for it!”

Raine shook their head fondly, “Force of habit, I guess,” they joked. The house was always so filled with kids that warning Eda, and often Darius when he would come around, practically became a tick of theirs.

"Now come on, Rainstorm,  while we have human realm visitors today and this dinner had to be perfect,” she said, looking at the clock "it’s also 11 AM and the dinner is at 6. We got some time.” she walked slowly to the living room, still keeping them in an embrace.

“For what?”

“I don’t know,” she pulled them closer, “a nap? A cuddle? Hooty is here so nothing more than a cuddle…”

“Eda, I should restock my books, and-Whoa!” they gasped as she threw herself on the sofa, pulling them with her.

She let them go, “Ok, go restock books, I won’t keep you trapped!”

They frowned, “You know full well I’m not able to say no to this right now, you temptress!”

“Mmmhm, guilty as charged! I tempted you into taking a break and cuddling on a sofa…”

“You’re the worst” they turned around and kissed her on the cheek. “Mind if I read?”

“Nope. Mind if I do this?” she asked, wrapping her arm and her stump around them, keeping them as close as possible and resting her head on top of theirs.

“You know I don’t,” they said, summoning their violin and only playing a few notes, making a book float from the bookshelf and two cups of tea from the kitchen.

With the book, they relaxed, leaning against Eda, who contently closed her eyes, just enjoying their presence.

It was domestic bliss she never thought she would have, let alone want. But now, with the bard she loved in her arms, well, arm, knowing that the kids are coming home after their field trip with Lilith, she would not change it for anything in the world.

[jenstar1992-2]

Here with You

Pairing: Echo x reader/ Hunter x reader

Warnings: Mentions of nightmares/ trauma, reliving a traumatic experience, Order 66 (because it’s a warning in itself)

Word count: 7,103

A/N: Well, I knew it, it hasn’t been a whole day since I saw the Bad Batch premiere, and I’ve already gotten my first writing idea (yes, this took me like two days to write because I kept getting interrupted). I just couldn’t get the image of my poor baby Echo in that med bay and seeing the trauma those damned Separatists caused him out of my head. All I want to do is hold him and never let go, he deserves the world. This was originally just going to be an Echo x reader, but it turned into a Hunter x reader as well, because I just couldn’t help myself, I love them both, and wanted both of them to get some lovins. Also, I get the sense that Omega is a smart kid, and that she’s pretty well spoken, so I tried to write her as such, while still keeping that childlike innocence, so hopefully it comes across that way.

So much had transpired within the last few days and you were still trying to wrap your head around all of it. The jedi had been almost entirely wiped out in a single day, and while you were certain their had to be other survivors besides yourself, you were unclear as to what that number was. Luckily for you, you had been amongst friends when Order 66 was given, and your men turned on you. If it weren’t for the Bad Batch, you were certain you wouldn’t be alive right now.

As you sat in the cockpit of the Marauder, the memories began to flood your brain, which caused involuntary tears to fill your eyes.

You and your men had been sent to Kaller to aid Master Billaba and her troops. However, upon your arrival, you were greeted with a pleasant surprise. It turned out, Clone Force 99 had been on planet already and had taken out a large amount of the droids before you even landed.

You had worked with this group before and had even enjoyed the experience. While your men thought their tactics and unprofessional antics were unnecessary and even a bit annoying, you found the group to be, for lack of a better term, fun. You had been around stuffy, uptight individuals for so long, it was nice to have a change of pace, and while your men were great, they tended to be sticklers for the rules and rarely wanted to take risks.

You also got along with this team rather well, enough to consider them good friends, but you were especially close with their newest recruit. You and Echo had known each other well before he joined the Bad Batch, even before his accident at the citadel, and had been friends for just as long, although as time went by and you found yourself encountering him more and more in your life, you slowly realized you might feel more for the trooper than you should, more than you’d ever admit aloud. So, when you’d heard of his survival and rescue, you had been elated, and that happiness resurfaced at the thought of seeing him again.

You exited the gunship and saw the rag-tag group of clones speaking with Master Billaba on the now quiet battlefield. They turned as you and your men made your approach. As you got closer to the group, you scanned the faces of its members before you found him, smiling brightly as your eyes connected, he did the same.

You came to stand before their leader, raising your gaze to meet the man’s unwavering stare.

“Sergeant”, you greeted him, extending a hand formally, which he took without hesitation, shaking it firmly.

“General, good to see you again”, he said with a smile.

“You too”, you responded.

You’d always liked Hunter, from the beginning he’d always struck you as a respectable man, and you admired the fact that he could allow his men to be their reckless selves while also keeping them in line, but only when necessary, it seemed. There was something else too, something you hadn’t noticed right away, but after a few more encounters with the man, you put it together, coming to an all to familiar realization, one that brought butterflies to your stomach, while also bringing about a slight anxiety. How could you let this happen, it was bad enough falling for one man you couldn’t have, but two, you were sure the universe was out to hurt you.

“General (L/N), I’m glad to see your trip was a safe one, and better late than never I suppose”, Depa said, drawing you from Hunter’s gaze to hers.

“Sorry Master Billaba, we were assisting Masters Luminara and Yoda on Kashyyyk when we got word of your need for reinforcements, we got here as soon as we could”, you said, then looking around at the desolated droids scattered across the landscape. “Although, from what I can tell, you seem to now have a handle on things.”

“Yeah, thanks to these guys”, Caleb, Depa’s padawan, exclaimed, gesturing to the group of men before you. “You should’ve seen it, they took all those droids out in a matter of minutes, it was incredible.”

You chuckled. “Yes, I’m well aware of the marvel that is Clone Force 99, and they do put on quite the show”, you said, shooting a quick glance Echo’s way. “Incredible indeed.”

Your words caused the trooper to smile shyly at you.

“Yes, well, we’re still glad you’re here, we just launched a counterattack, and the more assistance, the better”, Depa said.

You nodded. “You need us, we’ll stay”, you said before turning to your troops. “Men, a counterattack has been launched, I want you to rendezvous with Master Billaba’s troops and aid in the attack, Commander Roran, you’re with me. Let’s move!”

With that your troops dispersed, leaving you and your commander where you stood. You turned back to face everyone.

“So, how can we help”, you asked.

“Actually, I don’t think we’ll be needing your assistance after all, in fact, this war might soon be over”, Tech spoke up, causing you to give him a confused look.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, according to the encrypted comm chatter, Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi has found and engaged General Grievous on Utapau”, he responded.

“If he captures, or kills Grievous, the separatist command structure will collapse”, Echo chimed in.

“And most likely the droid armies along with them”, Tech finished.

“It can’t be that easy, can it”, you asked, looking to the jedi master.

“While it is an interesting theory, I would not bet our hopes on it, we should focus on the task at hand”, she replied.

“I agree, we should focus our energy on this attack, strike while we have the advantage”, you said.

Hunter nodded. “Any orders, or shall we do what we do”, he asked, directing his words at Depa.

“What do you think General, should we let them ‘do what they do’”, she asked you.

You chuckled and folded your arms over your chest. “Probably our best bet, what do you think Caleb”, you asked the padawan.

“I say we let them, but only if I can go with them”, he responded.

You looked to his master, raising an eyebrow in question.

“Very well”, she said, giving the boy permission.

“Ronan and I will tag along too”, you stated, then looking to Hunter. “Just in case you guys need a hand.”

“Hope that wasn’t a jab at me”, Echo said, coming to stand beside you while simultaneously lifting his cybernetic arm.

You immediately regretted your choice in words and stammered your defense.

“N- no, I didn’t mean, I would never.”

He let out an amused laugh. “I’m just messing with you General, sorry”, he said.

You then scowled at him before poking a finger at his chest plate.

“Not funny”, you said, but couldn’t keep the smile from forming on your face.

“I said I was sorry”, you heard him say as you began walking in the direction your troops had gone. He soon caught up and walked alongside you.

You chuckled. “Well, it’s nice to know you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

“Nah, but I did lose a couple other things”, he said, face turning slightly serious.

You stopped walking and just stood for a moment, a sad expression now adorning your features. Noticing your actions, Echo ceased his movements as well and looked back to you.

“What is it”, he asked.

You went to stand in front of him before you spoke your next words. “Echo, I am sorry for your loss, truly I am, but honestly, I’d rather you be here and missing a few limbs, then for you to not be here at all. I’m just glad your alive, and that I get to see you again.”

He stared at you for a moment with an unreadable expression before smiling and nodding.

“I guess you’re right, and I’m glad our paths crossed again, I…”, he began, clearly wanting to say more, but stopping himself. You caught on though and decided to voice it for him.

“I missed you too”, you said, giving him a warm smile, prompting one of his own.

You both began walking once more to catch up with your comrades.

“You know, I was actually surprised you recognized me, what with the countless differences and all” he said with a chuckle.

You shook your head. “You can change all you want, I’ll still know it’s you”, you said.

“Yeah?”

“Yep, you might’ve changed a lot on the outside, but inside, you’re still the same Echo I’ve always known and loved”, you said, saying the words before they fully registered with your brain, but once they did you nearly froze in your stacks, your face instantly reddening with embarrassment. You quickly tried to back track before he could respond. “I mean, uh, well, y- you know what I mean.” Smooth.

He chuckled, amused at your obvious embarrassment of your less-than-ideal choice of words yet again.

“It’s okay, I know what you mean”, he said, giving you a reassuring smile before seemingly letting the subject drop, much to your relief.

You nodded as you carried on toward the others.

Suddenly, a wave of emotions flooded your mind, and it was as if hundreds of voices were crying out within the confines of your skull. You stopped, placing a hand to the side of your head in an attempt to stop the dizziness that accompanied the voices.

Echo noticed and came to your side, placing a steadying hand to your back.

“Are you okay”, he asked, clearly concerned.

“S- somethings wrong, I feel… death, so much death, I don’t know…”, you began through heavy breathes, but you were soon cut off by the sound of blaster fire.

You both looked to see Master Billaba’s men attempting to gun her down as she deflected their blasts with her lightsaber. Before you could fully process the sight in front of you, you heard Caleb yell for his master, seeing him rush past you, saber ignited and ready to jump to her aid.

“Caleb, no…”, you shouted, but before you could run after him a burning pain in your left arm stopped you.

You grabbed your now wounded arm and turned to see Roran facing you, blaster raised and aimed directly at you.

“Commander”, you said in confusion, but before you could get another word out, he was firing again. You were able to deflect the blasts with your saber, yelling at him as you did so. “Roran, why are you doing this?”

Suddenly, the blasts stopped as Echo came to your aid, wrestling the blaster out of the commander’s hands before knocking him out cold. He then rushed to your side once more, seeing you kneeling and clutching your head.

“General, (Y/N), (Y/N), can you hear me? Say something”, he urged, but try as you might, you couldn’t form the words to respond.

Your head was swimming in a sea of pain, death, and betrayal, most of which you were certain weren’t coming from you, more like from the force itself. You’d felt disturbances in the force before, but none like this, it was all encompassing and soon you found yourself slipping from consciousness from the intensity of it all.

***

When you finally came to, you found yourself laying in a bunk aboard the Havoc Marauder. When you tried to sit up a hand caught your shoulder and gently coaxed you back down.

“Easy (Y/N), you don’t want to push yourself, you sustained a pretty bad injury, you should rest”, a familiar voice said softly.

“Echo, what, what happened… they turned on us, why would they do that”, you asked, looking at him with confusion and sadness mixing in your expression.

“I don’t know, we’re still trying to figure that out ourselves, but you’re safe now, I won’t let them hurt you again, you have my word. Now rest”, he said, trying to comfort you, but knowing it wouldn’t help much given what you’d just been through.

“No”, you heard someone say, the volume of it startling you slightly, and you looked to see that it was Hunter, who had just entered.

“What do you mean ‘no’”, Echo asked him, confused.

“I mean, she can’t stay here, it’s not safe”, he explained, and when you both gave him a befuddled look, he continued, “It’s Crosshair, there’s… something wrong with him. I think whatever happened to those soldiers is happening to him too, but I can’t be sure.”

“What makes you think that”, you questioned, finally sitting up and turning to place your feet on the floor.

He looked behind him, making sure you three were the only ones in ear shot before bending down to your level.

“He tried to kill that padawan”, he said, so low it was almost a whisper.

“Caleb, is he alright”, you asked, fear and concern thick in your voice.

“He’s alive, but other than that, I’m not sure. He ran off after…”, he began, but the words died on his lips.

You nodded in understanding. “So, what should I do, where should I go?”

“Stay here, on Kaller, find somewhere to hide. We’ll go back to Kamino and sort this out, once it’s safe, we’ll come back for you”, he said.

You nodded, agreeing to do as he said, knowing you really had no other option at this point.

Shortly after this conversation you readied yourself to leave, Tech giving you some medical supplies in case you would need to re-bandage your arm before they returned.

Echo ended up accompanying you in your search for shelter, telling the others he wasn’t going anywhere until he knew you’d found somewhere safe to stay. You had resisted the gesture, wanting him to get as far away from danger as possible, but he insisted.

You found a cave a few miles from the ship’s current location and decided it was as good a place as any to crash for, what you were hoping would only be, a few days.

“You sure you’re going to be okay here”, Echo asked, looking into the cold, dark cave.

“I’ll be fine, I’ve stayed in worse places. Besides, it’s the safest place we’ll find in the wilderness, and it’s dark, perfect for hiding”, you said in a poor attempt to lighten the mood, you didn’t know why, force of habit you guessed. Although, all this earned you was a sad smile from the trooper.

“We’ll be back soon, just stay out of sight until then, okay?”

You gave a small smile, bringing your hand up to your forehead for a two fingered salute. “Yes sir”, you said. This actually earned you a small laugh, which at this moment was music to your ears. You lowered your hand and looked into his eyes, taking on a more serious expression. “Just… be safe.”

“I should be telling you that”, he said.

“Yeah, well, I beat you to it”, you said, half grinning.

“I will if you will.”

You nodded. “Then I will.”

Suddenly your body was moving without you telling it to, and you found yourself wrapping him in a tight hug, closing your eyes to keep from crying, and soon the gesture was returned, leaving the both of you in a long embrace.

“Don’t forget me, okay”, you said, the threat of tears evident in your voice.

He squeezed you a little tighter. “Never.”

***

Turns out, you didn’t have to hide out in that cave long at all, as they had returned to retrieve you within two days’ time, with a new crew member, but without Crosshair. You two hadn’t been the best of friends by any means, and the man’s standoffishness really irked you sometimes, but you’d always known that deep down, he wasn’t such a bad guy. So, when the boys had told you what had happened between their return to Kamino and their escape from the planet, it put a surprising strain on your heart. You wanted to be angry with Crosshair for his actions, for attempting to kill Caleb and other innocents, but you just couldn’t, especially after you were informed of the inhibitor chips planted within every clone trooper. You couldn’t be mad at him, you couldn’t hate him, because it wasn’t his fault, it wasn’t any of their faults, they were being used just like the jedi had been, if not more so, and this knowledge extinguished any hatred that had grown in you since the day that order was given.

Thinking back on all of this had you shedding silent tears as you watched the streaks of light pass before your eyes, attempting to let yourself to be swept away in the beauty that was hyperspace. This always seemed to calm your mind, but it didn’t seem to be working this time, so you simply stared and let the tears run down your cheeks.

“Hey, you okay”, Hunter asked from the seat beside you, having temporarily taken over piloting the ship in order to allow the others to rest.

You were snapped out of your thoughts by his words and quickly wiped the tears from your face before answering.

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine, still just trying to figure all of this out”, you replied somberly.

He nodded. “I understand, we still don’t have it all figured out either and with every answer comes new questions”, he said.

You hummed in agreement. “I guess my biggest question is, why now, why did Palpatine wait so long to put this grand plan in action? I mean, he could’ve done it years ago, but no, he waited… waited for us to get close to those who would eventually become our executioners, and worse, he took away their free will to do it. Those troopers, they weren’t the men they used to be, it’s like they were brainwashed.”

“Tech said they were programmed and when the chips were activated, it basically took over their minds, so I guess, in a way, they are brainwashed”, Hunter said, looking back out at the blue glow of hyperspace.

“Those poor men”, you said after a moment of silence.

Hunter turned his head to look at you, an astonished expression over his features, he then let out an amused huff.

“You are truly a wonder, you know that?”

“What”, you asked him, confused by the comment.

“Even after everything you’ve been through, and after what they did to you and your kin, you still feel pity for them”, he explained. “You’ve always been able to see people for who they really are, and forgive them for their faults, it’s commendable, and it’s something I’ve always admired about you.”

“You admire me”, you asked, raising an eyebrow and grinning in amusement.

He gave you a single nod. “Always have”, he said, giving you a soft smile.

The way he was looking at you made your cheeks begin to heat as a light blush covered them, and you turned away in an attempt to hide it, but he noticed, and his smile widened a bit as he looked back out the view port.

“I think you’re right by the way, about Palpatine waiting so long to execute his plan. I think he wanted you all to build those relationships, that trust, with your men, so that, when the time came, he could not only take you all out, but destroy your conviction as well”, he said, his voice lower than before.

“That’s a bit ominous, given our current situation”, you said, only half joking.

He turned to you suddenly, eyebrows raised in mild shock.

“(Y/N), you don’t think we’d… we’d never hurt you, I’d never hurt you, we’re on your side, I promise”, he said, hurt in his eyes. Did you really not trust him?

Seeing his reaction made your heart squeeze, you hadn’t meant to hurt him, you were just confused and scared. You felt as if your whole world had come crumbling down around you, and you were still trying to resurface from the rubble. But you knew you were wrong for thinking, even for a second, that you couldn’t trust Hunter and his men.

“I know, I’m sorry. I do trust you, all of you”, you said, trying to sound reassuring, but it only came out as sadness.

It looked as if the sergeant was contemplating something, his hands reflexively grabbing at nothing as they opened and closed on his lap. You knew he wanted to do something, wanted to comfort you, but he also didn’t want to invade your space, worried that would be crossing a line. So, you took the initiative.

You reached over and took one of his hands from his lap, holding it softly before giving it a reassuring squeeze and sending a smile his way. This prompted him to smile back, and you both just sat like that for a minute.

Suddenly, you heard a commotion from the bunks, and your name being called out by a desperate voice.

Recognizing the voice, you jumped up from your seat. “Echo”, you said, concern in your tone, before looking back to Hunter.

He simply nodded. “Go”, he said softly.

You gave a confirming nod and let go of the hand you’d still been holding, before quickly making your way to the bunks.

When you entered the room, it took you a second to assess the situation before you. Echo was laying in his bunk, breathing heavy, head shaking from side to side, and body trembling, as if he were in a state of terror. All this while Omega stood by the bunk, watching with concern. She looked back to you when you entered, then ran to you.

“I tried to wake him, but it’s not working, he keeps calling for you, you’ve got to do something”, she said in a rush, voice and eyes full or worry for her new friend.

You bent down to her level and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay, I know what to do, you go wait with Hunter, okay? Everything will be fine”, you told her, attempting to quell her worry.

You then stood and made your way to Echo, sitting on the edge of the bunk and looking over him with your own worried expression. You really didn’t know what to do, you’d never been faced with something like this before. He was clearly having a terrible nightmare, and you wanted to help, so you just acted on instinct.

You placed a hand on his shoulder and shook lightly, softly calling his name, trying to wake him as gradually as you could, as you figured startling him awake would be counterproductive. However, this didn’t seem to work, and hearing your voice only caused him to say your name more. Seeing him like this broke your heart, and for a moment you felt totally helpless, but then you had an idea. You moved your hand from his shoulder, bringing it to cup the side of his face, your thumb instinctually beginning to rub soothing circles on his cheek, and you bent down to speak quietly in his ear.

“Echo, it’s (Y/N). You don’t have to be scared, I’m here, I won’t let them hurt you anymore”, you said, gently grabbing his flesh hand with your free one and holding it to your chest. “I’m here for you, I’ll always be right here with you, it’s okay. Wake up Love. Come back to me.”

As you spoke you could see him slowly calm, and with your final request, his eyes fluttered open, finding yours instantly.

“There you are”, you said softly, a smile spreading over your face. You were just relieved that the nightmare was over, and he seemed to be calming more with each passing second.

As he took in your presence before him, he let out a relieved sigh, but then looked to you with a strained expression.

“(Y/N), I… I was back, back with them, back to that day, I… I didn’t know how or why, and I just…”, he said in a desperate rush.

You shushed him, and let your hand continue to stay where it was in an attempt to sooth the frightened man lying next to you.

“I know, it’s okay, you’re okay now, you’re here with me, you’re safe, I promise”, you reassured him.

This seemed to work, and he let out another sigh as he closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing once again, coming back to a steady pattern in no time. When he opened his eyes again, he noticed the position you both were in; you were sitting very close beside him, one hand resting on his cheek, while the other held his hand close to your heart, with his clutching yours in return, like you were his lifeline, which he had to admit, wasn’t far from the truth. You were the one he could trust without question, the one he could confide in, always had been.

You noticed this too and immediately went to pull away, slowly dropping his hand as you did, cheeks now burning. You didn’t get very far though, before he grabbed your wrist with his newly freed hand. “No”, he said, and pulled the hand back towards his head, coaxing you to return it to its previous spot. “Don’t stop… please.”

You stared at him for a moment with an unreadable expression, before finally giving him a tentative nod and continuing your earlier action of rubbing your thumb in circles on his cheek. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the pillow, relaxing easily under your touch, this causing you to smile, glad you could be of comfort to him. You stayed like this for a while before your curiosity got the best of you and you voiced the question that had been on your mind since you first heard him call your name.

“Echo”, you said in a questioning tone. He hummed in response, not opening his eyes. “Why, why me?”

He looked at you then, confused. “What do you mean?”

“When you were having your nightmare, you, you called out for me, I was just wondering, why me”, you explained.

“I did”, he asked.

“Yeah, quite a few times actually. Was I in your dream or something?”

He looked away, a bit embarrassed.

“Not exactly”, he said.

You used the hand that was still on him to lightly pull his head to face you, speaking once his eyes were fixed on yours once again.

“Echo, you know you can tell me anything. What is it”, you asked.

“You weren’t in the dream, technically, and it wasn’t really a dream, more like I was reliving a memory, the memory of the citadel, and…”, he explained, his words dying off as he found it hard to voice them.

You placed a reassuring hand on his chest and gave him a nod in understanding.

“So, you were reliving that day, I’m sorry, I know that can’t be easy. But I still don’t see what that has to do with me, I wasn’t there, if I had been, I would’ve taken that blow for you”, you said, suddenly feeling tears behind your eyes, but you fought them back internally.

His eyes widened and he quickly grabbed your hand from its spot on his chest, squeezing it firmly.

“No, don’t say that”, he said urgently, suddenly sitting up, causing your hand to slip from his face, instead falling to rest at the intersection of his shoulder and neck.

“But…”, you tried to say, but he cut you off.

“No (Y/N), I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, least of all on you”, he said, staring directly into your eyes. You could only nod sadly as you tried to keep your emotions in check, which was getting harder as this interaction continued. He then softened his gaze and let out a long breath. “You were there, in a way.”

You gave him a confused look, about to ask what he meant, until he continued.

“After the explosion, I just laid there for a long time, feeling everything and nothing all at the same time, I was basically just waiting to die”, he told you. Your heart squeezed at his words, as the tears threatened to rise. “But then, I heard someone’s voice calling out to me, your voice. You were telling me not to give up, not to leave you, to keep fighting, and so I did. I bared the pain and rejected the urge to just slip away, even after they took me, I fought through all of it, because I knew that if I survived, then there was a chance I’d make it back to you, and… I really wanted that.”

That’s all it took, his words hit you straight in the chest and flowed through you, causing the flood gates to release and the tears to fall. Echo looked worried then and released your hand, bringing his to cup your cheek, wiping the tears away with his thumb.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you sad”, he said, internally wishing he hadn’t said anything.

You shook your head. “You have nothing to be sorry for, and I’m not sad that you told me, I’m glad you did”, you said, wiping the tears from the other side of your face. “Honestly, I’m just happy your alive, and that you did find your way back to me. I don’t know what I’d do without you in my life. When I heard what happened on Lola Sayu I couldn’t believe it at first, it didn’t feel real, but once I accepted it was… I had never felt true grief until that moment, and the sense of longing was almost unbearable. All I kept thinking was how I was angry with myself for wasting the time I had with you, lying. Lying to you, and to myself.”

“What are you talking about, lying about what”, he asked, sliding his hand down to hook a finger around your chin and turn your face back to face him after you’d turned it away during your confession.

You took a deep breath before speaking next. “I lied to you before, when I acted like that slip up was just a poor choice of words, I meant exactly what I said. See, the truth is, I was upset with myself because I never told you…”, you paused, finding this confession to be much harder than you had thought it would be to get out, “never told you that I…”

After another long pause, Echo decided to take the initiative, seeing as he knew exactly what you wanted to say, as it was the same thing he’d wanted to say to you all that time ago, still did. He used the hand that had a hold of your chin to pull you to him as he caught your lips in a kiss, one that while soft, was full of so much emotion it was almost palpable. You were surprised at first, but soon melted into the kiss, feeling completely content with staying there as long as possible.

Much too soon for your liking, Echo pulled away, but only to place his forehead against yours and let the long overdue words slip from his lips. “I love you too.”

Your smile reached your ears as his words filled you with untainted happiness, which prompted him to smile widely himself. Why had you both waited so long to do this, you didn’t know, but you were glad it was finally happening.

“Why did we spend all that time hiding, when we could’ve just done this”, you asked.

He chuckled. “Because we were both cowardly idiots”, he said.

You hummed in agreement. “I still can’t believe you did all that for me”, you said in a more serious tone.

He pulled back to look into your eyes. “Of course I did… I’d do anything for you (Y/N)”, he told you.

“Anything?”

He nodded in response and you smiled again.

“Kiss me again”, you said, it was more of a request than a demand.

He smiled and pulled you close so your face was mere inches from his.

“Yes Ma’am.”

***

It had been a good fifteen minutes since the cries had stopped and no noise could be heard from Echo’s bunk. Omega was no longer worried, knowing you had it handled, but her curiosity was starting to get the best of her.

“What do you think their talking about in there, it’s so quiet, maybe I should…”, she said as she got up from the co-pilot seat, moving in the direction of the bunks, but she was stopped by a hand grabbing her forearm, causing her to turn and stare at Hunter questioningly.

“Don’t, they’re fine, and it’s none of our business what their talking about, so just let them be, alright”, he said, giving her a warning look, one that wasn’t all that intimidating to the young girl, but she listened nonetheless and returned to her seat.

After a moment she spoke again, not being able to take the silence any longer.

“So, what’s the deal with those two, are they together, or is it some secret that everyone knows about except them”, she asked the sergeant.

Hunter laughed, this kid really was perceptive, not that anyone with eyes couldn’t see the attraction between you and Echo, it had always seemed so obvious to him, which is why he never spoke on his own feelings for you.

“Yeah, there seem to be… unspoken feelings between the two of them, but I’m sure they’ll get their acts together soon enough, especially now that they’ll be around each other more often”, he told her.

She thought on this for a moment before responding.

“I think so too… and what about you”, Omega asked him.

“What about me?”

“Are you going to get your act together as well”, she asked, raising her eyebrow and grinning at him.

“What are you talkin’ about kid”, Hunter asked, wondering if she’d somehow figured it out.

“Seriously, I’ve only just got here and I can see it”, she said.

“See what?”

“That Echo isn’t the only one who has feelings for the general.”

Hunter turned to the young clone, a look of surprise on his face. Very perceptive indeed.

“Why don’t you just tell her, at least one of you should pluck up the courage to do it”, she said.

He exhaled heavily as his features returned to a more neutral expression.

“It’s not that simple kid, there are just some things you’re not old enough to understand. Besides, it’s not reciprocated so there’s really no point, she’s made her choice, and I have to respect that”, he explained, hoping that would be that. However, he wasn’t going to be that lucky.

“Your wrong”, Omega said simply.

“What?”

“Your wrong, those feelings, they are reciprocated, yeah she likes Echo, but she likes you too.” She said it with such confidence that it made him wonder if the statement was true.

“Really, and how do you know that”, he asked, an almost sarcastic tone in his voice.

She shrugged. “Female intuition.”

He raised a suspicious brow at her but decided not to think too much on it.

“Hm, well, even if you are right, she’s still made her choice, and I won’t get in the way.”

“Won’t get in the way of what?”

Your voice made both of them jump a little. You had just made your way back to the cockpit and had clearly overheard the last bit of their conversation.

“Nothing”, Hunter said, watching you come to stand beside Omega, perching your arm on the headrest of the co-pilot chair and leaning on it.

“Really? Didn’t sound like nothing”, you said, raising your eyebrow in suspicion.

Omega suddenly perked up and turned in her chair to look up at you.

“Hey (Y/N), do you think it’s possibly for someone to love more than one person at a time”, she asked.

You were a bit taken aback by the question, but figured you’d answer, seeing as how you were being very honest today.

“Yes, I do, it actually happens a lot more often than you think”, you responded, purposefully avoiding Hunter’s gaze as you looked at the child.

“And what does that person do, you know, when they realize they have feelings for more than one person”, she then asked.

“Well, usually that person then has a decision to make, and they just hope they don’t break any hearts in the process. You see, love can be a tricky endeavor. However, I think if someone does fall for two individuals at once, then there are other options”, you said, rather matter-of-factly, given the topic at hand.

“Like what?”

“Those involved could always enter into a relationship all together, I suppose”, you said, wondering just how far she was going to take this conversation.

“And that would work”, she asked, seeming almost hopeful.

“It’s possible, yes, but only if all members involved are okay with it. They all need to know that’s what’s going on, and there can’t be any secrets”, you explained.

“Huh, I guess that makes sense”, Omega said, seeming content with your explanation. Then another thought seemed to hit her. “Hey (Y/N)?”

You hummed in response.

“Have you ever been in love”, she asked curiously.

“Omega”, Hunter said firmly, giving her another look of warning.

“No, no, it’s fine”, you informed him, not wanting him to reprimand the girl for just being curious. “To answer your question Omega, yes, yes I have.”

“With more than one person”, she continued.

You raised an eyebrow at her and crossed your arms over your chest.

“What’s with the twenty questions, am I being interrogated or something”, you asked, only half joking.

She shook her head. “No, just curious is all.”

“Uh huh, well why don’t you stow that curiosity away for later and go get some rest, it’s quiet now”, you told her.

“What did you do, I mean, how did you get him to stop”, she asked as she stood from her seat.

“I just let him know that he was safe, and that there was nothing to be afraid of”, you said, which wasn’t a complete lie.

“That’s it”, she asked.

You nodded. “That’s it.”

She gave you a look of suspicion but didn’t act on it.

“Okay”, she said, drawing out the word, and made her way to exit the cockpit.

“Sleep tight”, you called after her as she disappeared down the small corridor. You then turned back to the view port and took a seat in the now empty chair, sighing heavily before finally looking to Hunter. “Well, that was interesting, care to tell me what that was all about?”

“Not really”, he said, turning back to face forward.

You raised a brow. “Seriously?”

He shrugged and kept his gaze where it was.

You sighed again and leaned back in your chair. “Alright then, but I think it’s worth mentioning that the kid knows what she’s talking about, you might want to listen to her every now and then, she’s quite intuitive.”

He looked to you then, confusion on his brow.

“What do you mean”, he asked.

You laughed. “I mean, what she said about me is true”, you said.

His eyes widened a bit. “You, you heard that”, he asked, and you nodded in response. “How much of it?”

“Enough”, you said simply.

He looked away again as he spoke. “Then you know it doesn’t matter how I feel, you’ve made your choice, and I’m okay with that, I’ll have to be”, he said, trying to keep up this act of indifference.

You turned in your seat to face him. “You keep saying that, but, what if I don’t want to choose, because how you feel does matter, Hunter. At least, to me it does.”

He turned his head to meet your gaze. “What exactly are you proposing”, he asked.

“Nothing yet, just letting you know that, I know, and that the feelings are mutual.”

He smiled at this and nodded his understanding.

“What about Echo, have you told him yet”, he asked.

“We talked, and confessions were made… finally”, you said with a smile.

You both laughed then, happy to finally air things out a bit, all the pent-up emotions were wearing on all of you it seemed, and it felt nice to not have to hide it anymore.

“How do you think he’ll feel about your non-proposed proposal”, he asked with a grin.

“I don’t know, but we’re all adults, we can sit down and have a civilized conversation about this, and… we’ll figure this all out”, you told him.

He gave an amused huff. “You make it sound so formal.”

You nodded and gave a light chuckle. “At first, yeah, but I get the feeling that once this proposal is made, all persons involved will be… willing to give it a try”, you said, taking his hand and holding it in both of yours. “Then things will get more… informal.”

He smiled. “Yeah, how can you be so sure”, he asked, leaning toward you.

You smiled back and leaned in as well, your faces now only inches apart.

“Female intuition”, you whispered, your smile turning a bit smug.

He chuckled in amusement. “You’re ridiculous”, he said, before closing the gap between you.

The kiss was sweet and felt just as right as the ones you’d had with Echo, and just like those ones, this kiss ended all to quickly, but you were content to sit back and bask in the afterglow, you didn’t want to rush things after all.

You both sat there a moment, leaning back in your seats, staring out the view port, arms stretched as your hands sat, intertwined, between you. Maybe this really could work, only time would tell.

After what felt like hours, but in reality, had only been minutes, Hunter looked to you with a soft smile.

“I’m glad you’re here with us”, he said.

You smiled back and gave his hand a light squeeze.

“Me too”, you said, and you both stayed like that for a long while, enjoying a view you each thought was much better than the one outside the view port.

Little did you know, behind you Omega stood at the entrance of the cockpit, looking on silently and grinning from ear to ear, feeling quite pleased with herself.