#like those 3 days I was supposed to be bleeding came back all at once

[honeybadger-hibachi]

🪔

[strawberryya]

ghost in the machine

s.coups x reader

synopsis: Secrets can only be kept as secrets for so long, everyone knows this. Yet when 5.C0UP5 came in contact with someone he never should have even known existed this notion seemed as foreign as his own name. Perhaps there exists another way of life even for him, or maybe it was all a dream too big to dream of. 

word count: 20k

genre/contains: sci-fi au, AI-idol au, automaton!seungcheol, angst, smut, fluff, hurt/comfort, found family, afab and gn!reader, general smut warnings for oral and penetrative sex, nothing kinky except being eaten out while talking on the intercoms and some almost being caught moments, big fight

rating: 18+

a/n: this has taken a long time to finish, but it also turned out to be my longest fic to date and I'm a bit proud that i managed to actually complete what i had in mind :> thank you @idyllic-ghost for proof reading and for the banner !!

collab link to read the other amazing fics from @idyllic-ghosts genius collab!

Network tagging: @svthub @cultofdionysusnet @k-labels @kvanity-main

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“100 years ago it was thought that the Earth, as we know it, would disintegrate. That the sun would implode and leave everything in darkness. Miraculously, it didn’t. Due to some external force, human scientists still haven’t agreed upon what it exactly was, none of the planets in our former solar system were ever destroyed. The Earth, along with the other planets, were pushed away from each other and ended up in different parts of the universe. Earth just happened to come to a solar system with alien life. At first, we were cautious, and people were prepared to fight. However, the aliens were welcoming to our planet. Those of us who didn’t die from ‘The Great Journey’ or from trying to fight the aliens, were welcomed into the new solar system. Soon enough, we had integrated completely, and we received materials and assistance from our sister planets in exchange for human labor. What humans knew of technology was very limited, but with the resources of the aliens we created artificial life forms. We named these robots Automaton, and they served as workers when humans couldn’t. Eventually, there was no need for human labor at all. To pay back for the help the aliens gave us, we used Automatons. With the extensive development of these robots, we eventually managed to create artificial sentient life. These Automatons were human-like in looks and had human consciousness, but they could not bleed and were stronger than we ever could be. At the present time, there are even different levels of Automatons. Level 3 robots are the workers, level 2 robots are the caretakers, and level 1 robots are the celebrities. The Automaton music group 53V3NT33N (SEVENTEEN) is made up of 13 members, all very talented, and all representing two human states of mind.”

Pride. It was one side of 5.C0UP5 state of mind, and he felt it often. He felt it whenever he looked at his members, he felt it whenever he performed on stage in front of blinding lights and roaring crowds, and he felt it when he looked at you.

Yet, the other side of the coin of his pre-programmed personality was what crushed him every single day. Everything he took pride in having accomplished, was completely tarnished by a single thought about your lips on his skin. The shame was unbearable. 

You had never been meant to get close to him, he was not supposed to be close to anyone. He knew this better than anyone. As the leader of 53V3NT33N he was the one to keep everyone in check. He was meant to set a good example and be the perfect level 1 automaton at all times. For years he kept his promise to everyone, he continued to avoid all things that could ruin his reputation and go against his lifelong contract which he had become bound to the moment he had been created. It hadn’t been easy, but he had taken pride in being the perfect and flawless leader for his members. 

That guilty feeling in his gut came back once again as he left the dorm with his manager. “Lookin’ good,” he heard the voice of one of his members play in his ear. J30NGHΛN stood, next to some of his staff members across the lobby, curiously looking at 5.C0UP5. “Going somewhere fun today?” he said and pushed the communication device on his chest, letting 5.C0UP5 hear his every word. 

“You’re too curious J30NGHΛN,” he said with a smile, “We’re just gonna get some pictures at a café for this week’s posts.” It was one of the few things he did a couple of times a year, even under the strict surveillance of his company and its staff. No matter what, he had to sell the fantasy of himself to millions of people all around the universe. 

“Oh, I see… have fun,” J30NGHΛN said with a tone that made 5.C0UP5 feel his fingers, the chirping sound of his voice making him conscious of his own existence in a way he despised. the damn wink didn’t help. It was as if he knew something. Maybe everyone knew? 5.C0UP5 shook his head and began walking towards the exit along with his manager. He felt his members’ curious gaze following him as he left. Maybe the secrets were beginning to take their toll on his mind. He knew he was supposed to keep his emotions in check, the overpowering of one of his programmed human states of mind would be his demise. They had told him that much. Yet again, he told himself the same words he had spent so many days and nights telling himself. Nobody knows. 

Luckily, the café that had been chosen for today was only a couple blocks away. The cold sweat that ran down his back went unnoticed by the staff accompanying him in the shuttle used by the members whenever they needed to go to filming locations and individual shoots.  

“Let’s order some smaller stuff and get the shoot over with, we don’t have all day,” one of the managers announced, making 5.C0UP5 nod with a forced smile before he went back to looking out the window. His hand fell to his side, feeling the hard outline of his phone in his pocket. 

Entrusted to him by the company, he had been allowed to have a small flip phone. It was ancient. They used to have them in the old world, but even by the start of “The Great Journey” the technology was seen as outdated. By the current standards, however, the phone he had been granted was not worth much more than the shoelace on his sneakers. To him though, it was priceless. 

He was nervous now, his hands felt clammy, and his shoulders were tense as he walked into the café along with the staff members. One of them hurried off to the counter and placed your orders while 5.C0UP5 and two others made their way towards the corner table. The young couple currently sitting at the table were quickly removed by the staff members. It was routine, nothing more than a sentence informing the couple of why they needed to get up was given before they were chased off by the staff members threatening presence. 

He would never get used to that, the way others were treated around him as he stood by, powerless to intervene. Every time he felt ashamed of being the reason the rest of the population had to accommodate whatever his company, his owners, deemed profitable. It didn’t matter if it was evacuating an entire city block to film a music video where the buildings crumbled around the members, or something as insignificant as taking over a table at a popular café. The guilt was always there. 

The young couple hastily gathered their belongings and one of the waiters came over and cleaned up the table, apologies for the mess constantly pouring from their lips. Level 3 automatons could get fired for something like this, but at the same time, 5.C0UP5 couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy as he watched the worker get back to his place behind the counter. Maybe life would be better if he too was a lower-level automaton, he found himself thinking as he sat down and was served the beverage and piece of dessert that the staff had ordered for him. He would be freer in a way…

“5.C0UP5, let’s go.” 

He picked up the drink in his hand, the cold from the iced drink bringing his mind away from his thoughts and back into reality where a staff member had just fixed the collar of his shirt and fixed his hair which had been ruffled by the wind. “Look over there,” the staff said as another one snapped hundreds of pictures as he moved around on his chair. The rehearsed smiles, the sip of the drink, and the way he leaned toward the camera all satisfied the staff it seemed. He was good at his job, and acting like a down-to-earth boyfriend at a café was just another part of his job. 

What wasn’t part of his job, however, was when he felt a buzz in his pocket and without a second thought spilled half his drink across his thighs, the fabric covering his knees now the color of his drink. “Oh!” he shouted, “I’m sorry. I’ll go clean up real fast and we can continue like nothing happened, I’m so sorry, I’ll fix it!” he hurried to say before any of the staff members could even comprehend the situation he had just created. Hastily, 5.C0UP5 rose from the chair and left his staff confused and shocked at the table. “Fuck- someone go watch the door, no one else can be in there at the same time he is.” he heard them say behind his back as he hurried off towards the door to the bathroom. 

There were multiple doors inside the bathroom, each leading to a small bathroom. He didn’t know where to go, he didn’t know where he was supposed to be. He didn’t need to look very far because as he approached the second door to the right it opened for only a moment and a hand pulled him forcefully through the opening. “Finally,” a person said with a smile before they kissed him passionately in the low light of the lightbulb attached to the dark mosaic tiles above the sink. 5.C0UP5 entire body heated up from within as his lips pressed against those familiar soft lips he knew belonged to you. 

He had dreamed of those very lips every night since he first got to kiss them all those months ago. “Hi,” he whispered and let the corners of his mouth turn up in the most genuine smile he had had all day. 

“Hi…” you answered and giggled softly, feeling his warm hands on your cheeks as he held you and kissed you once again, softly and as if to make you feel how much he had missed you as he held your lips locked against his. 

“Are you meeting up with that secret fuck buddy of yours?” Lana joked as you scrambled to grab your phone and keys on your way out for lunch break. 

The office supply store was empty at this hour, and you had thirty minutes until you had to be back again; the perfect amount of time for a quick meetup with Cheol. You had to be back in time to release Lana, your co-worker, and close friend, from her shift and let her take her own lunch break since your boss had deemed it necessary to have the store manned at all hours of the day. 

Or, well, 5.C0UP5 if you were fussy about things like that. That was his real name, his legal name. To you, however, he was Seungcheol. It had been months since you had called the wrong number in your hurry to order a pizza after work, starving and sleep-deprived as you were at the time you hadn’t been looking too closely at the numbers you were putting into the keypad on your phone. Luckily for you, the craving for pizza that night had led you to discover something new that you soon began craving much more and much more often - him. 

His enchanting voice had caught you off guard that first night, and his confused and cautious “Who is this?” had, incredibly enough, been the starting point of you two talking every chance you got since then. Late nights chatting away on, what you have to admit were very sketchy websites, and the occasional call which was made with hushed voices and both of your hearts pounding away, had been most of your relationship. It sometimes felt like an imaginary relationship, since no one could know who he was, and even more importantly -  know who you were to him. 

“He’s not my fuck buddy, he’s…” you retorted. 

“See, do you even know what he thinks you two are? You won’t even show me any pictures of him, is he super ugly or something?” Lana shouted as you hurried towards the back door. 

“Shut up! I’ll see you later!” you yelled and the door slammed shut behind you. The back alley was filled with trash and scrap metal. The teenage boy from the large family who lived atop the store was smoking as he kicked bolts around on the ground. He looked up as you passed, and an uncomfortable feeling in your gut appeared as you felt him watch you while you exited the back alley and went onto the bustling street. Your phone buzzed in your back pocket and you fished it up. 

Unknown. 12.31.

“I’ll be there in 10, leaving now.” 

It was from Cheol. You wouldn't be getting any more updates from him until tonight, at least he had confirmed that he would be coming. Quickly you deleted the text from your phone and put the phone back into your pocket as a strange sense of being watched made the skin on your neck prickle. You looked around, moving your shoulders as if to shake the feeling away. 

You hurried away and towards the café, the uncomfortable feeling still haunting you as you entered the café and headed straight to the restroom. 

Would he come this time?

You could never be certain. He always did his best to keep his promises, but if the circumstances wouldn’t allow him to leave the group of managers that always circled him whenever he stepped outside the shiny company doors, keeping you a secret was more important. It didn’t hurt any less whenever he stood you up though. 

Knowing that his reasons for acting as he did were because of his status as a level 1 automaton had shaken you to the core at first, but it had also been a relief. He had told you who he was after a couple of weeks when you had become convinced you had accidentally begun an affair with a married man, he had been forced to confess his real identity. At least you weren’t a home wrecker, was the thought that helped you reconcile with the fact that he would never be free to live a normal life with you. 

Now you were seated on the toilet seat cover, your ear pressed to the door, your hand on the handle ready to pull it open. Time moved slower than usual, but your heartbeat was racing along with your mind. 

Then you heard him, it was undeniably his voice that made its way past the music, chatting, and the coffee machines. He was coming to you. You could barely hear when he opened the first door into the restrooms over the sound of your blood rushing in your ears. Without a second thought, you opened the door enough to register the man you had thought about all too often lately and pulled him by the arm inside the small bathroom you had occupied. His biceps tensed as you pulled him and your body lit on fire because of it. God, he was so wonderfully big. Everything from his biceps to his cock was just so perfectly huge, and you went mad any time you thought about it. You kissed him in a passionate kiss, pressing your entire body against his. You fit so well together, his hands on your face and yours wrapped around his body. 

You wanted more, you wanted all of him, all the time. You wanted to cry because you knew you couldn't have him. With tears pricking your eyes you let Seungcheol pull back to look into your eyes. 

“Hi,” he whispered and smiled. You said hi back softly before the excitement and the giggles overtook your lips. You kissed him again, this time he saw to it that it was a soft and gentle kiss. A small wince left your throat, making Seungcheol quickly turn on the faucet, hoping it would drown out any noises. “Sorry,” you mumbled against his plush lips. 

“Don’t worry, it’s partially my fault,” he said pridefully. 

You were about to laugh, but instead, you pushed up his shirt, exposing his perfectly sculpted upper body to your touch. “Fuck you,” you said under your breath. 

“‘Fuck me please’ is what you meant, yeah?” he cockily corrected you without missing a beat, flipping you both so you stood with your back against the wall he had been facing away from. You gasped as he lifted you off the ground with the wall helping to pin you between his stiff cock and the cold and hard wall. 

He was right, even though you hadn’t allowed yourself to get your hopes up, you had been feeling unusually needy lately. The thoughts of him filling you up in any way constantly on your mind, you were already turned on as you entered the café with the small promise of him setting foot in there to meet you later. 

“Please, fuck me,” you gasped out, feeling your arousal soak your underwear at the thought of his girthy cock inside of you. “I need you to be quiet,” he mumbled against your lips. 

At this, you nodded fervently. Finally, you would feel him stretching you open again, bruising your insides with the force of his strokes like you had dreamt of after every single time you had managed to get together like this before. The moments were rare, but you made the most of the short time you had, to say the least. 

His tongue quickly found yours as he ground you on his erection, eliciting a low moan and making you open your mouth for him to enter. Warm hands wandered your body, his gentle touch making you swoon as he held you with so much love, while the promise of him fucking you like the slut you were hung in the air. 

A knock on the door, and both of you froze up, his bulge pressing right on your clit making it unbearable not to move. You winced only slightly as Seungcheol’s lips left yours, deciding to put your now lonely lips to use, kissing down his jaw and neck with soft little pecks and nibbles. “What?” Seungcheol asked over the sound of the water running, his tone a bit more agitated than he had intended. Not that he was at fault, he had a soaking cunt begging to be fucked right above his cock, and lips that made him go insane on his neck; someone disturbing him right now was not what he needed. 

“How much longer do you need? We don’t have all day to wait around for a pair of pants to dry up.” the staff member on the other side of the door said, earning a sigh from Seungcheol. 

After a moment of silence, he groaned and shouted towards the locked door. “Yeah, yeah, you’re right, I’ll be right out.” 

No, you thought, your limbs holding onto the man who you had just only gotten a taste of even harder than before. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. 

“I need you to be patient for me until next time, can you be good for me and wait?” he mumbled against your hair, your lips still attached to the skin right below Seungcheol’s collar. “Yes,” you said against his neck, letting go of his skin in favor of burying your face in the warmth of his chest. He put you down on the floor, his arms releasing the back of your thighs and instead wrapping around your body. For just a moment he held you close until the buzzing of the dryer died out and he loosened his hold on you. 

You pressed your body against the wall as Seungcheol unlocked the door and disappeared through it just as quickly as he had been pulled in through it. 

“Sorry, it didn’t come off.” you heard him say through the doors. 

“We can’t get the shots if you’re all messed up like this, let’s tell the crew that we’re going back instead. Come on 5.C0UP5.” The staff member who had been just a few steps away from you two while they waited outside the restroom door responded as the voices got fainter and blended into the sounds of the café. 

You sat in silence with your hand on the door handle as his voice disappeared completely. In the beginning, you had enjoyed the thrill and noncommitment of him not being able to be there to be an actual boyfriend because of his work and position in life, you recalled as you felt all the emotions in your body dissolve into nothing. 

A small pain in your chest was the only thing left. The late-night thoughts you whispered in the dark, and the messages you had sent each other that contained your deepest yearnings and your worst fears. They had gotten to you, and it didn’t help that whenever you got a taste of having him physically there with you, you rarely- never- wanted to let go. But you always had to. 

“Enough wallowing, this isn’t changing anything,” you mumbled as you wiped your face from the wetness that had seeped from your eyes without you noticing. You needed to hurry back to relieve Lana from her shift you realized as you checked your watch, seeing that you were already supposed to be back at the store. 

You didn’t waste much more time after that, hastily making your way out of the bathroom, checking behind you as you left the café to make sure nobody had paid any attention to you. Like a punch in the gut, the feeling of being watched returned as your eyes landed on a dark-clad figure staring at you through the shop window. He had no reason to follow you with his gaze as you hurried across the street, away from the café, away from the gut-wrenching feeling that something was awry. 

He wasn’t looking at you, right? You were just getting too paranoid, that’s all, right? 

5.C0UP5 had been daydreaming the entire way back to the company, his mind taking him back to the moments he could hold you in his arms. His body couldn’t ache for you, but his mind almost had him believing that he did. Some days, he almost believed himself to have a heart. A heart that broke each time he had to leave you behind. 

It wasn’t until he got back to the dorms where he got a glimpse of his members, and friends since he had been put into this world, that he finally felt himself come down back to reality. They were everywhere, some he saw in the lobby along with their hoards of staff members just like his own. Some were in the dorms, sleeping, or at least in a state of being that looked like sleeping as they charged. 

Others were nowhere to be found, not that he went looking. They could mind themselves, he knew they would never do anything to make him less proud of them. To 5.C0UP5, he was the bigger worry. 

He was just about to let himself rest and recharge, to try and forget the pain in the back of his mind, haunting him even as he saw his members wandering the dormitories and the company hallways. You were always in the back of his mind, no matter what he did to try and forget. Somehow, he had accidentally let you in, and now you were half his world. The hidden side of the moon, the side which should always remain in darkness, no matter how closely you look. 

A staff member who had left him just minutes ago as they entered the guarded company building came back, not even bothering to knock before they entered the room in which 5.C0UP5 sat on his bed. “5.C0UP5, you need to follow me, the CEO has something to talk to you about.” 

It had happened before, he met with the CEO every once in a while. After all, he was the spokesperson for the group, even if they didn’t have many (any) rights, they still needed to have someone to be their voice. This time, however, the meeting wasn’t scheduled. The CEO wanted to have an impromptu meeting with him… his hand unconsciously fell against his left side pocket, worry filling his mind even though he tried to make sense of why he had been called in to talk to the management. 

Even as he entered the large office of the CEO he had been in more times than he could count, something felt off. People he had never met sat in chairs all around the walls. Guards stood at the door, looking more tense than he had ever seen them before, and the CEO himself had the strangest expression he had ever worn. 5.C0UP5 waited until he was spoken to, as he had been instructed so many times before. Honoring the one who made sure he had the comfortable life he currently had was something he had been taught from the very first day he had opened his eyes. 

“Hello 5.C0UP5.” the suit-clad man in the dark chair said. He spoke calmly, but not kindly. 5.C0UP5 picked up on his tone immediately. 

“Hello, Sir,” he answered and bowed his head ever so slightly, his eyes never leaving the man in front of him. The room was dark, but the photos splayed out on the desk in front of the CEO finally caught 5.C0UP5’s eye. He could recognize them even at this distance and brightness. His head worked ceaselessly to find the moment it had begun, the moment they had found out. Because in front of the CEO, he could spot hundreds of pictures of the one person he wished they would never even see: you. 

All that went through 5.C0UP5’s mind when he realized what had finally happened was fuck.

“I understand that you have been seeing this human for a while… did you think we wouldn’t find out?” the CEO said, almost laughing at him as he sat in his chair looking over the pictures, each one containing your face, at work, at the café from earlier that day, at home. They had you right under their nail, ready to remove you from the planet at any second. He wanted to scream. 

The CEO cleared his throat before he threw the photo he held in his hand on the glass desk in front of him. “Now, unless you want us to eliminate this problem of yours, you will be rebooted first thing tomorrow.” 

5.C0UP5 knew he wasn’t supposed to protest, he wasn’t even supposed to think anything other than “Yes, Sir,” but before he could stop himself he spoke his mind. 

“Please, no… Why would you do that? It doesn’t make any sense. If I’m found breaking the rules, I’m to be demoted, not- not this!”

“Seventeen is currently the galaxy’s top band 5.C0UP5, and you are their leader, you have an image to uphold. And since you failed at doing this, we want to reboot your system, that way you will be able to stay and your group members' reputations won’t be tarnished, and most importantly. This little issue will be resolved because you won’t even remember this little human.”

The CEO wasn’t smiling as he had thought before, the CEO had never once smiled. His eyes were dead, nothing more than a ghost of a human left inside of him. At least 5.C0UP5 felt something, at least he could smile, at least he could love…

He could love. He had felt it. So why was he about to get punished for something his management swore he couldn’t feel? Hoped he couldn’t, might be more accurate, 5.C0UP5 realized. 

“How did you know?” he asked, the glare he received was enough that the management had begun running out of patience for him already. 

“Does it matter? We know everything about you.” the CEO answered curtly. 

Just like that the pieces fell into place, they had known all along. He felt the piece of metal that clung to his chest like a stone, stuck in his body and destroying him from within. They had known all along… The upcoming release of their new comeback was what they were worried about, he soon realized. They had hoped he would stop of his own free will, after all, he had the personality trait of shame. He should’ve already ended whatever he had with you. 

However, he hadn’t. And now it would become an issue if they didn’t handle it quickly and quietly. 

Despite that, the thought that overpowered all others at that moment wasn’t about how small he felt as he realized the true power the company had over him, or how much he loathed the people who thought they had a right to control him. He could love. That was the loudest, and he wanted to scream it, make everyone hear him just this once. It made him proud, he could do something this human was incapable of, and now they wanted to take that away from him. No. There was no way he was going to let them do that to him as well. He clenched his fist at his side, should he fight? 

“You can return to your rooms, they will come to get you soon,” the CEO declared and pushed the photos on his desk off the table, straight into the trash can underneath. 5.C0UP5 fists relaxed a bit, a new plan forming as he turned to leave the room with the stern guards following along. “Oh,” he heard the CEO say, “and leave the phone, you are no longer trusted to keep it with you even in case of emergencies. I hope you understand… you won’t need to understand in a bit.” 

His jaw was frozen in place as he took the phone from his pocket and threw it towards the CEO. The guards jumped forward to grab his arms as the phone crashed into the table and tipped over a cup of metal pens that scattered all across the floor. “Leave us,” said the CEO without even flinching. 

5.C0UP5 didn’t feel any shame as he was dragged out from the dark office, suit-clad strangers watching him with cold eyes as the doors slammed shut behind him. He was dragged until they were in the hallway where the crossroad between freedom and forever forgetting you were. “I can walk by myself,” he said with a growl he had never heard in his voice before. The guards let him stand alone, watchful eyes on him as they began walking again, one in front of him and one behind him now. It’s now or never, he thought, taking the shot as he saw it arise in front of him. 

His mind barely registered the hands that tried to grab onto him, all his focus lay on the doors in the lobby and on getting there. He ran with all his might until he crashed into the doors that were too slow to open. The crack widened and he pushed himself out of the glass doors that opened just in time for him to keep staying ahead of the guards. Bright lights in all the colors of the rainbow lit up before him as he began running down the crowded streets. His eyes watered because of the wind, and the lights blurred into a kaleidoscope of light. 

His body was designed to be agile and strong, he was designed to keep moving. Right now that felt like the biggest blessing he had ever received in his cursed life. 

From the back of his mind, two things arose. The first was your apartment, he had only heard about it, you had described exactly how to get there in one of the late-night calls you had whispered to each other weeks ago. The second was those twelve faces which were all he had known for so long; his members would be left to deal with it all when he was gone. He knew them so well, and yet, none of them had even had a chance to become someone to get to know. He wanted to give them a chance. As he ran he shouted out the word “Run!”, pressed that button he had used so many times before in the middle of the device connected to his chest, and began tearing the peace of metal from his body. It took him a few tries before he managed to rip the entire thing off of his skin. It hurt more than he had imagined, the pain was brain-numbing and overwhelming. He almost had to stop, the pain making it hard to focus on making his legs move forward. 

Nevertheless, he was free, the tracker was gone from his body, and with it was his only connection to the only family he had ever known. 

He ran, and he didn’t stop running until he arrived at your apartment. They would know he was here, they knew everything. He needed to be quick. He ran up the stairs to your apartment, knocking aggressively on your door, shouting as loudly as he dared for you to open the door. It wasn’t long until the door swung open and he was close to tears as he saw your very shocked face looking back at his panicked state. The thing you had imagined, but since you had found out his true identity, always known would never happen, had happened. 5.C0UP5 was tired, but he needed to get away, and he wanted you to come with him. 

“We need to leave, they’re coming for me. Please come with me,” he pleaded, his eyes begging you as his hands held your arms desperately. 

“What did you do?” you said breathlessly. 

“They were going to make me forget, make you… erase the issue… I couldn’t let them take this away from me too.”

You were speechless. “You ran.” He nodded. You didn’t even bother to say a word as you ran into your apartment, leaving 5.C0UP5 at the door. He had no idea if you were trying to find somewhere to hide or looking for something as he heard crashes and your voice shouting curses from further inside your small place. He needed to get out of there, but maybe… holding out hope was worthwhile it turned out. Minutes later, which felt like hours for 5.C0UP5, you reappeared at the door, backpack in hand and sweat gracing your hairline. You were running with him. 

It wasn’t a hard decision, you weren’t close to your parents, and Lana would understand eventually… at least you hoped your coworker, and only close friend at this moment of your life, would understand if you ever survived to tell her and apologize for leaving without a word. 

A small pain stabbed at your heart, leaving everything for an automaton on the run. Everything you had ever known for this man… It felt insane at the moment, and it felt even more insane as you felt Cheol squeeze your hand which you had been holding since you took it, and began running towards the docks. You sat in the cold of the night on a hard bench next to Cheol. In a bit, a ship would arrive. Crowded places felt like a good idea at first, but now, the paranoia set in. Was that old man over there looking a bit too long at Cheol? Didn’t those surveillance cameras follow them as they walked onto the docks? 

The hand in yours pressed gently against your skin, helping you stay at least a bit sane as the weight of what you were doing was already beginning to tug at your strength. You thought it best to focus on the plan instead. 

“Let’s get on this ship, hop off at the airport, and get on another ship there. That way we can get off this planet because the sooner the better right?”

“Yeah, but don’t you think they will be looking for me at all the docks and airports?” Cheol said quietly. 

He was right of course, they would be looking for the escaped automaton at all the exits of this world they could think of. 

“Maybe if we…” You tried, but you didn’t know how you would get away if his company's staff members were to hunt them down anywhere on the planet. “Damn. Do you know that it’s incredibly difficult to go on a trip with you?” you deadpanned. The moment was horrible, but also perfect. It made Cheol smile, something you hadn’t seen the entire way from the moment you opened the door until now. 

It helped keep your mind off of the horrible situation and the impending doom. 

“It is,” he chuckled, “I never thought it would become an issue though.”

“But here we are,” you said and sighed. Cheol leaned against you, his large arm pushing against your side, making a smile split across your face. 

“I don’t think we should get on one of the commercial airlines… we need something more private,” Cheol mumbled.

“How would we get a hold of a ship of our own? We don’t have the money for that…” 

“We’ll figure it out…” 

“We have a lot to figure out from now on, Cheol,” you said and let your head fall against his shoulder, resting your heavy mind on his strong frame. He hummed, the sound comforting you even while you thought about all the ways you could get killed while on the run. 

The submarine came soon enough, and you both got on without a hitch. If you were being followed, they weren’t coming out of the shadows just yet. The cold light from inside the ship lit up the dark water around the underwater tracks that held the boat in place as it brought commuters across the sea each day and night. Under the high waves had turned out to be much easier than above them, especially nowadays. The storms had become worse in the last couple of centuries. Every other day there was another tropical storm on the seas. A side-effect of the universes coming closer together was what the scientists had concluded when it first began happening hundreds of years ago after the end of The Great Journey. 

You looked out the blurry window into the empty waters. Cheol and you were sitting by the back of the ship, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. You had managed to throw a cap into your backpack, which now helped hide Cheol’s face from any surveillance cameras while you used the hood of your sweatshirt to somewhat hide your face. Being a petty thief seemed like the least of your current issues. 

Neither of you spoke the entire ride, only communicating and comforting each other through a hand in the other or on their thigh. If you weren’t panicking you would probably be craving his touch in other places. That would have to wait though. A safe place was probably the priority, you decided in the back of your mind. You noticed his other hand, the one which wasn’t holding onto you like his life depended on it, continued reaching towards his neck. He seemed to be in pain. Did he get hurt? You hadn't had the time to even think about asking him how he was feeling or if he had gotten hurt by the guards or even the staff. You made a mental note to ask him later, placing your head against the rest behind you instead of his shoulder. You didn’t want to cause any more pain by resting against him. 

It was getting rather late as you left the submarine station you had gotten off at. Your heart wasn’t calming down anytime soon, you weren’t equipped to handle this kind of stress. Day-to-day, normal life stress was enough, this was something else entirely. 

“I want to live out the rest of my life in a very peaceful manner, far away from all of this crap,” you whispered as you walked the short walk from the submarine station to the spaceport welcoming hall. You wanted to be on a warm couch, not thinking about how to run away without being arrested. Right now, the idea of a living room seemed too far out of reach. All around you were tiny shops, suitcases, and the cold and unnatural light that lit up the entire spaceport’s welcoming hall. Ships that were boarding sounded out through the air, the comfy couch was as far from reality as you could get. 

Cheol scoffed, “I agree, wholeheartedly. I am never running away again after this, it’s too much work.” 

You tried to hold your laugh in, “Yeah, too much sneaking around for my taste. Let’s just run away this once, and then stay put and become that old couple on the hill that no one dares to visit.” Cheol nodded. “I would do anything for that…” Suddenly you noticed a small melancholy feeling in his words. You were just about to ask what was on his mind when he stopped your walk into the large welcoming hall, ushering you both into a small tourist shop. All you saw were miniature Earths, mugs with stupid prints, and keychains with different tourist attractions. You did not like it. For a second you were worried that he wanted to do some last-minute shopping, but your worries changed as you saw his terrified face. He had seen someone he knew. 

“I’ve seen that woman over there by the kiosk before, she usually helps backstage at our concerts. Fuck, that means they really managed to send people out to the exits,” he grumbled. This was bad. You felt your blood rushing in your veins, panic filling your mind. Had you been alone, you would’ve been frozen right about now. 

“Let’s just go,” he whispered hurriedly, panic visible on his face. “The faster we’re out of here the better, right? Are you with me?” 

“Always. Let’s go,” you whispered, the reassurance being all Cheol needed to grab your hand in his even firmer than before and head right out of the welcoming hall and out the nearest exit leading to the departing spaceships. You were unbelievably lucky as you ended up in the middle of a large swarm of travelers who were just about to board the large ship. Most were workers it turned out, the ship being part commuting area and half cargo space. The both of you managed to sneak onto the ship along with the workers, keeping your heads down as you hoped to anything that would listen that you would be able to sneak onboard undetected. 

It was unplanned, you barely even knew where the ship was headed. It wasn’t until you heard the voice that called out that the ship heading to Specus would depart that you both realized where you were heading. Specus was the mining planet, all the minerals needed for this universe to continue expanding its empire, and for life to continue as it has been until now, were found on this planet. All the people on this ship were workers there, probably coming back from their biannual leave which was granted to all humans and other living beings working there. Automatons was not included in the group of people who got any leave. The laws were clear about that, automatons were not human and didn’t need any form of vacation. 

The laws were bullshit. 

“Specus… I mean it could be worse, right?” you whispered. Cheol nodded, caught up in his thoughts. “Should we look for somewhere else to hide until we’re there?” you asked, trying to catch his attention again. Once again he only nodded, his senses all focused on his surroundings, making sure you two weren’t being followed or watched as he pulled you away from the area with rows of seating for the workers traveling with the ship. You went past the cots, knowing there was no way you could manage to stay hidden the entire way if you tried to stay in there. Instead, you made your way to the lower parts of the deck, the part of the ship where travelers didn’t wander. Here, you would only find crew members, cleaners, servers, and mechanics. The hallways were darker here, the LED lights being used more sparsely on the lower decks. You had a hard time seeing in the low light, but Cheol had your hand in his, a relaxed feeling managing to find its way into your body despite the circumstances.  

You had only managed to get a little way past the third deck when you met another person for the first time since you had left the seating area. “Are you two lost?” the man asked, making you jump and making Cheol whirl around to where the sound was coming from. You hadn’t noticed him in the dark until he spoke. 

“No, we’re just… looking for the bathroom,” you stuttered out. 

It was the dumbest excuse in the book. You knew you didn’t have the man fooled when he began laughing. It was a wonderful laugh, high-pitched and genuine. The figure stepped out of the dark, revealing a handsome man, dressed in a simple gray overall. Over his breast pocket, it said maintenance. You felt yourself growing a bit anxious as to what the laughing man would do next. Would he turn you in? 

“No, but seriously, why are you all the way down here? You two certainly don’t look like the new hires we were supposed to get this week,” the man, who you realized was holding a mop which he was now leaning on, said with a curious tone as he scanned the both of you from head to toe. “You look like a fucking idol, you know. If I didn’t know better I would think you were on the run,” he said with a smirk. 

“I’m Cheol, this is Y/N,” Cheol said finally as he nodded his head in your direction. Even in this light, you could tell he was staring at the stranger with that intense gaze that could make anyone either break down or swoon. 

The maintenance man sighed, “Alright, I’m Wooyoung. Come with me,” he said without explanation.  You didn’t follow him right away. He looked back at you, the “Coming?” visible on his face. 

“Do we trust him?” you whispered to Cheol, who was still watching the man waiting for you. 

“I don’t know about trust, but honestly what choice do we have? It’s not like we can go anywhere now, and it’s a long journey to Specus…” 

You nodded, nervousness made your hand clammy in Cheol’s firm grip. 

This was a risk you needed to take. If he was going to turn you in, it was probably better to just get it over with. At least you wouldn’t have to starve or something if you were locked up until you got to Specus. 

He led you to the lower decks, and surprisingly began introducing you both as the new temps that would help around on your way to Specus. The other crew members nodded, a few glancing rather suspiciously at you both but accepting the half-truth that Wooyoung told them. They hadn’t heard anything about any new temps, but it was none of their business it seemed. Who, and why you were there to help around didn’t matter to them.

Wooyoung led you around the lower decks, being strangely chatty with you two. You hadn’t expected someone so friendly to simply appear in your lives just as you needed it. Was he somehow your savior or was he something entirely else? You hoped he was good news because the alternative was so much worse. 

“Okay, this guy is great, you’re gonna love him. He’s not… too talkative, but he’s very good!” Wooyoung said as he took you down a flight of very narrow stairs. 

“Good at what?” You asked, minding your step so you wouldn’t fall as you descended. Wooyoung didn’t answer, instead flinging a thick metal door open and skipping inside. 

“Sannie!” Wooyoung suddenly shouted as you and Cheol entered a room after him. The room was filled from floor to ceiling with electronics. Screws, bolts, and different tools were everywhere. It looked like a mix of a car workshop and a dentist. The second part was mainly because of the chair in the middle of the room. The only time you had seen one of those was when you had gone to the dentist. By a table, a man sat on a high stool, engrossed in whatever he was doing. A bright lamp shone down on, what looked to you like, a bunch of chords in different colors. 

“What Woo? Did you get hurt again? Or are you just here because you’re bored…” San said as he was turned away from the door where you and Cheol stood, unsure of what to say and do just as you had been for the past couple of minutes. Would this man scrutinize you and Cheol as well, like the other staff members Wooyoung had introduced you to?  It seemed you had managed to bump into the most friendly maintenance member on the entire crew, and you thanked the universe for that because it seemed as if he was the solution to a lot of your current issues. He seemed to know everyone on this ship, and you hoped the friendship between him and the others would somehow be your and Cheol’s way of being allowed into the crew. 

“No… or well, yes, I am always a bit bored when you’re not around,” Wooyoung chirped, “But I’m here to see what you can do for these two.” 

Wooyoung gestured towards the door, finally bringing the new strangers’ attention to where you and Cheol stood. “Well, I’ll be damned. You brought a level 1 down here along with a human?” San said and looked between you both and Wooyoung who smiled brightly at his friend. “Yup!” 

San nodded, “Well, I can guess what happened with you two since you’re here after all… Can you work?” he asked after a moment. You nodded. “Yes,” you heard Cheol say. 

“Great. I’m San, I’m the mechanic around here. Since I’m human, and apparently that means something even in space, these fuckers also put me in charge when we leave the dock. I’ll get you what you need, food for you,” he said and looked at you, he then turned to Cheol, “A charger for you, and enough work to make sure you sleep soundly when you get off your shifts,” San declared. 

“Yay!” Wooyoung shouted gleefully, his cheerful claps making you crack a smile - despite the situation you found yourselves in. 

Cheol wasn’t smiling, but he seemed more relaxed. “How did you know I was a level 1?” was all he asked. You hadn’t reflected on it, but it was strange that he had been able to realize the difference between Cheol and you so quickly. 

San smirked, “It’s my job to know. If I couldn’t tell the difference between you and one of the workers here, I’d really be in trouble as a mechanic.” He was about to return to the mess of chords on his desk, but he looked back at Cheol, pointing towards his neck. “Also, come back here tomorrow and I’ll get that fixed for you.” Cheol’s hand reached for his neck again, the pain from touching the place his tracker had been made him flinch in agony. His shirt had fallen a bit lower while you had wandered after Wooyoung, he had opened his jacket, and now you finally spotted the area he had been protecting this entire time. The piece of metal you had avoided in your secret rendezvous was gone. He had ripped it out, you shuddered at the thought of the strength it must’ve taken to rip something like that from your own skin. You squeezed his hand to comfort and distract him, you didn’t know what else to do. 

Wooyoung came towards you, happily walking away from San who was already immersed in his work, and made it clear that you were to follow him. 

“Thank you,” you said before you left, San looking over his shoulder to give you a small smile and a ‘no worries’ expression in return. But worry was exactly what you had begun feeling, more than anything else. 

You and Cheol got a gray overall each, both saying maintenance over the breast pocket and the back, just like the one Wooyoung was wearing. “Stay in here for tonight, and when I wake you I’ll let you know what you will be doing for the next couple of weeks,” Wooyoung explained, giving you a small room in a long hallway to stay in. Everything was in the same cool metallic shade, and you realized that all you had to sleep on tonight would be a lonely pillow and a blanket that looked like it had seen better days. 

“It’s not ideal…” you stated, looking around in the small space you had been assigned as your room. “But we can make it work, right?” 

“It could be a lot better,” Cheol nodded and looked at you. You had had an affair with a famous level 1 automaton, been found out by some really powerful people, threatened to be disposed of, illegally left Earth, and had just been offered safe passage to another planet by some unexpectedly friendly people. But the room was a bit small and dark. Cheol looked at you, a smile creeping onto his face. You began laughing at the absurdity, “We should probably be more grateful,” he gasped out between laughs. “But it’s so ugly!” You shouted, your laughs getting more and more manic. 

“This is probably the stupidest thing we have ever done,” you gasped out. 

Your eyes welled, which tears that were a result of your laughing, and which were your exhaustion finally setting in was impossible to tell. All your emotions just came out all at once. You were gasping for air, tears running down your cheeks, and all the weight of your decisions crashing right into you. 

“It was, but I can’t make myself regret anything,” Cheol said, emotion welling underneath his words. But he didn’t cry. Instead, he just held you. He let you cry your eyes out, staining his dark hoodie with your tears as you sobbed. 

“Did we make the right decision?” you whispered against his chest, strong arms holding you safe as you questioned what you had done. 

“I hope so,” you heard Cheol say, the sound of his voice echoing in his body. You fell asleep in his arms for the first time that day. Having him to yourself in this way was a privilege, you realized. It was a privilege you had lived without for your entire life. You didn’t even know that you had been missing out on it until you woke up the next day, your head in his lap and his hands holding the blanket to your waist. You looked up at his handsome face, wondering if he had been able to rest where he sat against the hard wall.

It didn’t take long until you had both caught on to what you needed to do around the ship. It turned out that Wooyoung was a great instructor. During your shifts you both ran around, cleaning, and helping the regular crew members when needed. Wooyoung quickly made sure you felt at least a bit more comfortable on the ship by giving you tours around the decks and introducing you to even more of the crew members. 

The best part, however, was when you, after an exhausting day working around the large ship, got to lay down in Cheol’s lap while he charged and slept for a few hours, just feeling the heat that his body generated as you let yourself be swept away from reality. The weeks passed, and you learned the routines of the ship rather quickly. 

You barely had any time to think, let alone feel, how physically and emotionally exhausted you were. Leaving everything on Earth and trying to survive day by day on this ship in the middle of the vast universe was more work than you had hoped when you impulsively decided to leave. Some days you managed to take a moment to yourself, stopping in the middle of your step, and just staring out the small windows on the sides of the ship. The space outside was both so full of life and so empty of anything at all that you found yourself floating away in your thoughts into nothingness for just a moment. 

After a few weeks of almost nothing but work and sleep, the crew began preparing for the landing. Soon you would be on Specus, with absolutely nothing planned for what was to come. This soon changed, however, as you sat down with San to eat dinner. Cheol sat next to you, not wanting to spend unnecessary time apart from you just because he didn’t need to consume any food. 

“But, like, did you like the dancing and all that?” Wooyoung asked, the conversation had ended up being about your professions. 

“I think I did, yeah,” Cheol answered honestly. 

“I always thought I’d be a pretty good idol. If I wasn’t designated my level, I would've given it a shot for sure!” Wooyoung said, “Or well, maybe not under your company… they don’t seem that great from what I’ve heard, with the whole rebooting thing and all… that…” he trailed off. You were all staring at him. The silence was deafening, none of you truly knew what Cheol had been through. He had told you bits and pieces, but not nearly enough to know how he’d react to this. 

San and Wooyoung had become your friends since you had been sharing your meals every day. Most of the time the conversations flowed naturally, and the topics ranged from everything from San’s latest way to fix up bolts that had begun unscrewing themselves to childhood memories. Wooyoung and Cheol had a hard time joining in on those conversations, but they shared their fair share of memories from when they first gained consciousness. 

It was strange to think about it in that way, your boyfriend never had a childhood. Well, you still didn’t have a name for what you two were, and calling him your boyfriend in your mind might be jumping to conclusions, you were simply on the run with each other and had a romantic and sexual relationship with one another, but boyfriend might be going too far- Nevertheless, he had been created just as he was right now. Out of all the parts about AI that you had grown up to accept, the no-childhood part was the one you never quite could get past. He had missed something that was so fundamental to you and all other people who had been born instead of created in a factory. It made you really think about the fact that someone had created him intentionally - not just anyone, but him. 

The silence was still pressing around you as you all waited to see how Cheol would react to Wooyoung’s lighthearted comment about the idol life. Your thoughts were wandering away from you, maybe in a way of escaping reality until Cheol saved the conversation. 

“I think you would've been a great performer. You have the right energy about you,” Cheol said with a straight face making Wooyoung crack a smile. 

You were happy that he seemed okay talking about his experiences. And you were equally happy that the mood hadn’t been completely ruined because of Wooyoung’s thoughtless comment. 

After some time, the conversations died out and San picked up a new one, asking something neither you nor Cheol had any good answers to: “What will you do next?” 

You looked at Cheol. He looked just as clueless as you felt. Neither of you had a plan. “They don’t have any clue,” Wooyoung pitched in with his laugh, that you would remember for the rest of your life. You looked down, nodding slightly. It was true. 

“Where do you want to go? You don’t have any idea of where you would like to be in the future?” San asked, surprised that you didn’t have at least the semblance of a plan. 

“I don’t know much about the universe… but I want to go somewhere safe. I want to spend my life where I won’t be found and won’t be constantly watched,” Cheol answered before looking at you, “…somewhere we can be alone.”

Your heart fluttered. You had forgotten that your life wasn’t just the endless days of work on the ship. It was beyond you how you could’ve forgotten it all so fast,  but the intense look filled with love and pain that Cheol gave you made all the feelings stir up once again. You wanted that too, you wanted a place where you two could just be together. 

You nodded, concurring with what Cheol had just said, “Is there somewhere like that? Where we can stay forever?” 

Wooyoung stayed quiet but San looked at the both of you, something in his eyes telling you both that he did have an answer to what you were asking him. “Lumen. That’s where you want to go.” 

“Lumen?” you asked, never having heard of the planet before. 

San hummed, “It’s right beside galaxy 428B. They say it’s the ‘utopia of the universe’, but very few have ever managed to get there and even fewer have managed to get there and back to tell the story of it.”

“Why is that?” you continued asking, your curiosity piqued. 

Lumen had been a planet much like Earth before the entire shift in the universe had happened. It was a sunny place, filled with forests and unexplored nature. There lived some type of people, San wasn’t sure what they were called. It was far away, and the solar systems that were close together had not deemed it worth the cost of travel to create a way to commute there. If you could get there, you wouldn’t have to worry about anything but creating a way of life, San told you. He had heard about the place from travelers he met in his childhood, people who had been on a journey of their own in search of a safe haven - much like you and Cheol. 

“All I know is that you need to travel as far north from our solarsystem as possible,” he said and went quiet. “I’ve never seen those people after they left in search of Lumen, I don’t know if they ever made it.”

Cheol was deep in thought next to you. Neither of you responded to what San had told you except for a short: “Thanks, I think we should head to bed.” But even as you rested your head against his shoulder that night waiting for the exhaustion to overtake you, not a word came from the man you had spent weeks chatting within just this position. 

If you were going to find out what he thought about your destination, you would need to take the initiative you thought that night.

 “I wanna go, do you?” Your words lingered in the dark room. Silence. Soon you almost began falling asleep, your brain coming to accept that you were probably not going to get an answer out of him tonight. Your body jerked as you heard his deep voice say: “I want to come with you.” Grabbing his hand you nodded sleepily against his shoulder. 

“I love you…” you mumbled before you dozed off, leaving Cheol alone and awake in the dark with your words ringing in his ears. 

The next day Cheol still couldn’t get those three words out of his mind. Only for a moment did he think about trying to make up a plan for what you needed to do now that you had decided where you wanted to go. ‘I love you’… the thought of your sleepy voice whispering to him had him cleaning the same spot for at least twenty minutes.

You had said it first, but he didn’t even know if you meant it in the way he felt it. Did you just say it without thinking while half asleep? Were you thinking of someone else? What if you were mad that he hadn’t said it? 

He was freaking out, rubbing harder with the mop on the laminated floors. He was sure that he had messed it all up. Maybe you didn’t want to go anymore. What if you had just followed him thinking it would be a quick trip and ended up with more than you had bargained for? God, why hadn’t he said it back last night? He felt it, so why did he freeze when he heard those three damn words? 

He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, “Hey,” Wooyoung stood beside him, looking at the only wet spot on the ground around them. “How’s it going with the floor?” 

Cheol looked down, only now realizing how caught up in his head he had been. “Shit, I’m sorry man.”

“No worries. Something wrong?” Wooyoung said, his hand still on Cheol’s shoulder in a reassuring manner. 

He shook his head, “Just a lot on my mind…”

Wooyoung hummed, nodding understandingly. “Go talk to each other about whatever it is, don’t just stand here doing… I don’t even know what the hell you’re doing, to be honest.” 

Cheol looked at him. He was weirdly intuitive, Cheol thought as he looked at the crooked smile Wooyoung was flashing him. He nodded, “It’s ok for me to go?” 

“Dude, just go! I told you to do so, I decide who cleans the floors and you are definitely not helping me do it, so you’re off floor duty.”

Cheol let go of the mop, his legs quickly moving away from the upper decks and down to the lower ones, towards you. He quickly found you in the kitchen, removing plates from the large dishwasher as the servers stacked the hot plates in tall piles - it looked rather dangerous as he glanced at the piles that towered over him. “Cheol?” You blurted out, surprised to see him here when he wasn’t on duty in the kitchen that day. 

“Hi, I… I wanted to see you, and Wooyong he- he said I could go and I needed to…” he paused, he didn’t actually know what he wanted or what he needed. Or well, he did know, he just didn’t know how to make it happen. 

“Come on, let’s go talk then,” you simply responded, making Cheol look at you in awe. He wondered how it had been so easy for you to say what he had wanted to say all along. You on the other hand were wondering why Cheol stood entranced in the kitchen doorway looking at you as if the words ‘let’s talk’ had been revolutionary. 

“Coming?” 

Cheol nodded and followed you back to the small back room that had been yours for the past few weeks. It was dark, but there was enough light coming in from the hallway and the tiny lamp in the corner of the room to light up the piles of clothes in the other corner, the blanket he put over you every night, and the charger that was plugged into the wall next to where he slept with you in his lap. 

The door closed heavily behind him as you leaned against a wall, wondering what it was that he felt the need to talk about, was it Lumen? “Did you change your mind?” You asked hesitantly. 

“About what?” Cheol looked scared for some reason, you didn’t know why but it made your eyebrows knit together. 

“It’s not about Lumen?” 

“No, no I still wanna go to Lumen! It’s not about that… wait, do you… not want to anymore?” 

You shook your head, “That’s not it!” You hurried to assure him. “I just thought, since that was our last conversation… you know.”

Cheol swallowed, he just needed to say what he felt. 

That was easier said than done though. The words all got jumbled up in his brain, his thoughts making his throat go dry, he just wanted you to know without having to tell you. You couldn’t read his mind, but he wanted you to feel it. He wanted you to feel how much, how deeply he loved you. He took a step towards you, your arms wrapping around him without a second thought. You pulled him close, chuckling at the thought that he had just wanted some kisses. 

His lips pressed against yours and his tongue quickly made its way into your mouth, the movements from his touch making you dizzy and tingly all over. Want was already pooling in your lower stomach. Arousal seeped through your folds, you hadn’t felt Cheol’s touch or mouth on you in so long. It kickstarted your system and had you wet after just a couple of minutes of making out. 

“More please,” you mumbled against his lips. 

Cheol’s hand moved down from your waist, below the gray pants you were wearing today. His large fingers quickly found their way through your folds, your pussy now soaked and leaking as he slipped his hand against your clit. His breath was hot against your face as he let go of your lips so he could hear your whimpers as he circled your clit. 

It felt so good, his rough hands knew exactly what to do as they dipped into your cunt, only teasing you before he went back to press on your sensitive spot. 

You were spreading your legs further apart the longer he teased your clit, you wanted to be filled, you wanted him to push his digits further into your body, you wanted to feel him inside of you as you gushed around his fingers. When he did you moaned out his name, the tension from the past few weeks all dissolving as he fucked you on his fingers. 

A loud knock drew you both out of the moment, and an unsure voice came from behind the door. “Uhm, Cheol? I just wanted to tell you that you’re off for the rest of the day… I got both yours and y/ns shifts covered… so you could talk.”

Cheol cleared his throat, “Yeah, thanks Wooyoung!” he shouted back before pushing his fingers back deep inside your cunt. A moan escaped your lips as he hit the right spot within. 

Wooyoung went silent, “Okay fine! Later then!” 

Cheol didn’t bother to answer, and as Wooyoung left you could hear him talk to himself, “You do something nice for someone and all they do is wave you off so they can get their dick wet, assholes!” 

He would’ve done the same, but none of you would ever argue about it with him. You both laughed for just a second before Cheol kissed you gently yet again, making you forget everything about what had just happened. 

You soon came as he thrust his fingers deeper into you while the palm of his hand pressed on your entire pussy. It was heavenly, a white blur was all you could see, and relief swept through your body. Cheol kept you from falling onto the floor when he put down the leg he had helped hold up. You were holding onto his clothing with a firm grip as you came down from the first high you had felt in too long. Cheol was riding on a high of his own, not because he had been allowed to cum but because you had. He felt just as proud now as he did the first time he had managed to make you have an orgasm, and he let the words come as they wished, “I love you, more than anything in the universe.”

Your eyes fluttered open upon hearing those softly spoken words. The words that turned your world upside down, the words that terrified you, the words you had longed to hear. 

“I love you too,” you said, pressing your forehead against Cheols. 

“I know,” he chuckled.

“Wait what?” You said and pulled away your head to try and see his face, “How… oh!” 

Your hand flew to slap over your mouth as you remembered what you had been thinking last night, remembering how the words had sat right at the tip of your tongue before you let yourself fall asleep last night. “I said it out loud, didn’t I?”

Cheol nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. “I hope you meant it because you’re gonna have to spend the rest of eternity with me once we get to our paradise.” 

“Our paradise? You already think Lumen is ours?” You teased. 

“Of course, with my handsome face and your gorgeous everything, how could we not find ourselves in charge?” 

“You’re insane, and I meant it.”

His smile shone even in the darkness and it lit up your heart like the sky on New Year’s Eve. He held you that night just like all other nights, but your mind was calmer than most other ones. You were dragging your fingertips along Cheol’s chest, resting your chin on his pillowy arm. 

“You know what’s funny?” he suddenly asked. 

You looked at him curiously. “What?” 

“My entire life, the people around me tried to convince me that I didn’t have a will of my own - that I didn’t have my own needs that they couldn’t fulfill.”

“...that’s funny?” you asked, shocked at his apparent sense of humor.

Cheol laughed, “No, no, I mean, it’s not really funny… but it’s funny how, as I had begun believing this myself after years of having been told this, it all just collapsed in front of me the moment I picked up the phone and heard this stranger with the most endearing voice ever try to order a pizza from me.”

You stayed quiet, “...again, that’s what you find funny?? I think we need to work on your humor mister.” He laughed more, your giggles joining his after a moment. Living wasn’t easy, but at least he had joined yours, and it was beginning to transform. Nothing was as it had been, and even an unsure future on the run seemed better than the life you had been living so far. At least you had one another now. 

Time moved too fast after that day, the goal of somehow going to Lumen with Cheol made the days on the ship with San and Wooyoung fly past you. Soon you were preparing to land on Specus. San had told you that you could stick with him for a few days before he got back on the ship to make the journey back to Earth. You both accepted, grateful that you didn’t have to figure out where to go by yourselves on this new planet. 

The day you stepped off the ship onto the giant spaceport on Specus you held onto Cheol’s hand, just as you had when you boarded it. Specus was an industrial planet, its main purpose was to mine minerals and metals from deep within the planet. It was visible the second you stepped off the ship that this planet wasn’t like Earth at all. Everything felt like it was a back alley, with pipes, and rust covering every building and vehicle you could see as you followed San through the rundown welcoming hall. There were no shops filled with books or souvenirs, only a ticket shop booth where a robotic arm was visible in the yellowish window. San led you through the hall, not looking at much and saying even less. It was colder here than on Earth. 

“Stop.” San said suddenly, “Look up.” 

Both you and Cheol let your eyes flash up, towards the ceiling, or at least towards what would’ve been the ceiling had there been one. Instead what you both saw was a dark violet sky, not the kind that you had both seen on Earth, but one that looked like it was exploding with tiny stars. “What is that?” You asked as you stood with your neck bent back completely so you could watch the stars moving around above you, faster than any stars you had ever seen before. 

“Specus spins faster.” San explained, “Somehow that ended up meaning it’s always this one color of blue in the sky and the light from the stars in our galaxies all blend to create this kaleidoscope of color and stars.”

“It’s pretty,” you said, tears almost forming in your eyes at your first sight of something other than metal and the darkness of space you had seen in months. You had missed looking up at the sky, you realized, even if it wasn’t the same sky that you had at home. 

Home, where was that? Earth wasn’t your home anymore. Did you not have one anymore? 

Cheol’s hand squeezed around yours and you abandoned the thoughts. They would only hurt you in the end, it was better to focus on the now.

San got you all two rooms at a hostel, the only one on the entire planet it turned out. They didn’t get many visitors except for the few who worked on commuting ships like San, and now you two. It had been so long since you had slept in a real bed that you slept as long as you physically could bear before your stomach was growling at you to get breakfast. San had already retrieved some while Cheol stayed with you, refusing to leave you alone just yet. He didn’t trust the others in the hostel, it seemed, as he continued to be on guard as you both got ready to leave your hostel room. 

That day San took you both on a tour around the town, it was small but busy. Automatons, aliens, and a few humans were wandering around; on their way to work, on their way to their temporary homes, or on their errands for the day. In that sense, it didn’t feel like you were very far away from Earth. But as you glanced up at the violet kaleidoscope sky you were reminded of just how different it all was.  

As the days passed on Specus, you didn’t have a clue of what to do next or how to get to Lumen. San had done everything he could for the both of you, even teaching you some of the most basic routines for checking on Cheol’s health. It hadn’t been an issue you had spent a single thought on, his health being something you took for granted even now. San helped you realize that what you had gotten yourselves into was dangerous not just because of who was after you, but because of who you two were. You needed to know things in case Cheol couldn’t help with telling you what he needed, in case something bad happened. Nobody would be able to help once you were alone. You weren’t handling the realization well. 

Cheol was the one to let you forget about it after you had gotten yourself stressed about what could end up hurting him. He felt guilty about having you worrying about him, and honestly, a little pissed at San for frightening you so much. He knew you needed to learn though, and opted for being your comfort instead. 

He kissed you, gently and lovingly, and he held you close when you couldn’t let the thought of having to use the new skill San had taught you on the man you loved. Seeing the inside of someone in that way had become your new nightmare. Cheol held you each night, shushing you back to sleep if you ever woke up from it. 

Two weeks ended up passing by just like that, nightmares and lessons on Automaton autonomy. You wanted to get off of Specus by the beginning of the third week. It didn’t matter that San and Wooyoung had become your friends, you wanted to leave. The sky was still beautiful but everything around you reminded you of what San had taught you, and you couldn’t think anymore, you didn’t want to think anymore. 

“Let’s find a ship then,” Cheol simply said when you voiced how badly you wished to go somewhere else, to find your paradise sooner rather than later. 

You laughed a bit at that, “Do you really think it’ll be that easy?” 

“Of course, it’ll be easy!” He said with a casual shrug. You flashed him a smile in return for his suddenly carefree attitude. 

“I don’t believe you, but I say we give it a shot!” 

Before you left you said your goodbyes to San, just in case you ended up actually lucking out and finding a ship that was willing to take you both to Lumen. You hugged the mechanic who had helped you both so much during these months. Cheol did the same, with one small difference, he whispered something to San before he pulled away. Something that made San’s face go serious but he nodded in confirmation. What had he agreed on? What had Cheol told him? You tried asking him as you left towards the spaceport but he wouldn’t budge, telling you “You’ll notice if it worked later, I promise.”

The hours passed, and any ship that looked decent had declined you. Every captain had a destination already and none of them had Lumen on the maps. 

You were tired and hungry. Cheol’s chipper attitude was long gone by now and you were both seemingly thinking about giving up for the day. 

“You know what, what if we just steal that ship? If we’re gonna be on one for months or even years we should have a proper one,” you joked and pointed at a large ship by the end of the docks. Cheol looked at the ship, it was larger than the ones you had been asking all day, but not even close to as large as a cargo ship. It was the perfect size for going on a long trip with a few people. 

“Alright,” Cheol said without a hint of sarcasm, which made you look at him surprised. 

“Wait what? You want to steal that ship for real?” You wheezed out. He nodded, a playful smile showing you that he meant to try. 

Fuck it, your mind decided - hunger and the need to leave Specus and all its minerals overtaking your rational mind. You boarded the ship, walking past any guards as if you owned the place. Nobody minded you two, the few people that far out the docks minding their own business. The ship was even more gorgeous inside, modern and so clean you were shocked at how long you had gone since you last saw a floor without mud or rust. 

You walked into the cockpit of the ship. If someone were to arrest you right now you were happy to at least have seen this ship before rotting away in Phylaca forever. The prison planet was the one place you never wanted to see even if you weren’t going there for imprisonment. But going to Lumen was all that mattered, so you would need to steal this ship. 

“I think this will do,” you said and smirked at Cheol. 

“What are you two doing here?” The voice made you both jump, and you both looked towards the exit. A man, rather large in his stature, stood confused and agitated in the doorway. He had just stepped inside the ship, the door behind him still wide open with the ramp that led to the dock right below him. You were in shock one minute and the next you began running. But you weren’t running away from the large man, you ran right towards him. A look of panic flashed across the man’s face and then your body slammed into his. You were sure you were going to fall with him, but you never did. A strong grip holding onto your waist. When you opened your eyes to see if you were dead you saw the man on the ground. He wasn’t moving. People around him looked up from their own business to look at what had happened. Cheol pulled you inside, closing the door as you stared out into the void in front of you. 

Had you killed that man? You ripped yourself from Cheol’s grip and looked out of the tiny window that faced the docks where more and more people were grouping around the man. Was he moving? You wanted to think he was moving. The people around him tried to lift his head, he was bleeding a little, but he was sitting, right? Your mind was a mess. You didn’t know if what you were seeing was real, or if it was your mind playing a terrible trick on you.

You gasped as you saw the docks moving. They were moving away from you just as the man seemed to turn and point at you. “He’s not dead! Cheol I’m not a murderer!!” You shouted.

But Cheol wasn’t there, he wasn’t where you had torn away from his grip anymore. He was by the cockpit, hands frantically trying everything he could to get the ship to do as he wished. The docks hadn’t moved, you realized, the ship had. 

Cheol picked up how to steer the ship rather quickly, even understanding how to use the auto control so he could charge at the same time you slept instead of constantly doing shifts. You were happy about that since it meant you got to spend time together on the ship, your days becoming rather pleasant as you settled into a routine. There was plenty of fuel on the ship, both for the ship itself and for you and Cheol. Electricity was easy to come by and there was a rather large supply of food there as well. You had managed to snatch a ship that had just been restocked - it was hard to accept the amount of luck the two of you had been struck by. 

But the best part of the ship was the fact that nobody else was on it. For the first time in forever, you two were alone. Alone with a bed and each other. There was nothing else to do but to let Cheol fuck you in every way he, or you, wanted. And my god you wanted to - all the time. The day had only just begun on your second week on board the ship and you hadn't had the chance to get dressed yet, breakfast in bed having become the norm as you let the ship steer away from everything, hoping it would lead you to Lumen if you just kept the course San had told you about. You simply steered away from — and hoped for the best. After all, you had better things to do that occupied your mind at the moment. 

Cheol could taste the fruit you had just eaten for breakfast, you tasted like what he imagined summer would if he could consume it. In a way he was. He was drinking in the way you looked underneath him with his eyes, he was licking and kissing every inch of you that he saw, nibbling on your skin, making you moan and beg more and more for each day that he learned his way around your body. 

Never before had you been undisturbed like this for days on end. It was pure bliss. He found out each spot you liked to feel his lips on your skin, each spot where he could make you arch your back off the bed, and each spot on the ship where he could drill into your cunt until your legs gave out and your juices leaked out of you. You made a mess of the large bed that had been meant for someone a lot more powerful than the two of you, but none other than you two would’ve been able to use it to its fullest like you had been while alone on the ship. 

Cheol’s fingers smoothed over your thighs as his hot breath caused shivers to spread from your core, goosebumps prickling your skin in the air of the spaceship. You were grabbing fistfuls of his long hair, his gaze sultry and dripping with lust as his tongue flicked over your clit. He was burying his face in your puffy and glistening folds, reveling in your moans and how your entire body was writhing from his tongue exploring your wet pussy. 

You had been at it for a while, but neither of you were finished, orgasms were still left to be had before you would be able to sleep. 

The way he was making out with your cunt would soon send you over the edge if only the muffled sound of a voice hadn’t found its way through the corridors of the ship to pull you out of your pleasure. 

“What the fuck is that?” You groaned, pushing on Cheol’s head a little as if you would be able to hear the voice clearer the further Cheol was from your cunt. This was true, but not enough of a reason to give up on chasing your orgasm, according to Cheol since he simply attached his lips to you again. 

He hummed, meaning to get you to ignore whatever it was. The voice of a person, clearly in a rush, continued to echo in the large rooms from the cockpit. “Cheol I need to check on that. They sound worried, maybe they’re in danger.” 

“Fucking hell!” He groaned out as you pushed on him again. “How is it possible for us to get interrupted right now?! We’re in the middle of the freaking space for goodness sake!” Cheol shouted, his lips leaving your body and his hands stilled. 

“I’ll fix it. Gimme two seconds,” you said with a giggle. He had taken the words right out of your mouth, it was incredible how you could never have sex without someone interrupting you. 

You rushed to the cockpit, only managing to throw on a simple T-shirt. “Hello?” The voice came screeching out of the sound system in the cockpit. You had never used it before, but with a simple push of a button that blinked in a bright shade of red, you were able to answer the person on the other end. “Hello! Can we help you?” You asked in your friendliest tone. 

“Yes, hello, this is the spacecraft Marquise, 4210-CH378,” the voice stated, “We are on course for —- and have discovered your ship on our monitor. We are on a direct collision course with your ship if nothing is adjusted, and based on our estimation of your ship size we are afraid that any living beings on your ship will be crushed as a result of the impending collision.” 

You were speechless, “I’m sorry? We’re about to crash into you?! And die?!” You shouted the friendly tone you had tried to access now long gone in favor of your pure panicked state. 

“I’ll move our ship! Please don’t crush us!” You shouted as you pressed down on the button, hoping to the stars that your actions were the right ones to do at that moment as you simply smashed buttons at random on the control desk. Anything to make the ship away from the larger ship that was already visible in the far-off distance, a star that seemed to move twice as fast as any regular star could. 

You hadn’t noticed Cheol when he entered the cockpit, only noticing him when you felt a kiss on your shoulder, which then became a row of small warm kisses down your back. A small chuckle came from behind you as your body reacted to him, forgetting what you were doing. 

“If you intend to change the course of your ship, we would prefer it happen before you end up in front of us…” the person on the other side of the intercom reminded you. 

You had forgotten, pushing the red button once again, bending forward as you did, giving Cheol the perfect opportunity to push his face back against your still dripping pussy. 

“I’m so sOrry-” you winced, “I’m having some technical difficulti- ah!” 

“Do you need some assistance?” a voice crackled over the intercom. You needed to get the ship on another course or you would soon be nothing but a bug on the windshield of the much larger ship coming right towards you. Cheol’s tongue on your soaking cunt had you trembling where you stood, bent over the control panel, the ship in sight and your mind working against the impulse to give in to Cheol’s magic touch and ignore all your issues. 

You tried to momentarily pull away from his face, but he had you in his grip and you were too entranced by his grip to properly make the effort to get your heat away from his warm tongue. Instead, you pushed on the lever that you had seen Cheol use only once or twice, unsure of what it did but it was the best option. You pushed it as far as it went, and the ship began turning away from your intended course, and by extension, away from the collision course. 

“Thank you. We wish you good luck on your further travels,” the voice from the larger ship sounded through the intercom once again. “No problem, you too!” you managed to say before turning away from the control panel, Cheol’s grip on you only losing for a second as he took his mouth off of you, only to sit you down in the pilot’s seat. This time you weren’t focused on staying on the course however, instead the chair was turned away from the panels and the vast universes outside the ship, instead, you had a very cocky Seungcheol on his knees in front of you. Your cunt was on display and dripping as you awaited his touch yet again. 

“You seemed to be a little distracted just now,” he chuckled. You scowled, but not for long, your neediness taking control of you once again as you pushed Cheol’s face back to your arousal, which he lapped up with fervor, the stress of the moment gone just as it had come, the incident being largely forgotten by the both of you afterward. 

This was one of the biggest mistakes you could have made on your journey. Forgetting where you were going, forgetting that your newly found safe haven on the ship would only last as long as nothing burst your fragile bubble. 

Days passed, and your waking hours flew past you almost as fast as the space around you did. 

A single blip showed up at the edge of one of the monitors in the cockpit. Blinking bright blue, your spacecraft flew closer with each day. Neither of you paid any attention to it. The both of you relied on the autopilot mode to guide you to Lumen, even if your initial direction was based on nothing more than what San had told you months ago. 

The change of course hadn’t made a difference to your daily routine until you saw the desolate planet in front of you. When you had spotted it one morning in the distance, you had presumed it to be an optical illusion. There wasn’t supposed to be much of anything out here, but you could very clearly see a small planet, darker than the surrounding space, with only the lights of ships to reveal that it was anything other than space junk or a meteor. 

Dark and wet, it lay lonely in the universe. Your fuel had begun emptying after weeks of nonstop flying, you would need to stop at one place or another sometime soon. Changing courses away from the prison planet now would only make suspicion arise from the watchtowers on the planet. There was no denying it: Phylaca would be your next stop.

“We need to put on our best act, we fucked up y/n, let’s make it quick…” Cheol tumbled as you both watched the planet becoming bigger and bigger from the cockpit’s large window. “As long as they don’t find out anything about who we are or why we’re here, everything will be fine,” you agreed, the doubt evident in your voice and the way you were biting your cheek to distract you from the sense of doom you were experiencing. 

Docking at Phylaca’s spaceport was unexpectedly easy, the man who had answered the intercom had welcomed you to land on one of the less crowded docks before they could come to meet you. You had worried they would take you as pirates or something worse since you weren’t authorized to be there, but the man on the speaker had jokingly called you out on “not exactly looking like a pirate ship.” You weren’t sure how you should take that, but you were thankful that it had let you both safely land on the planet. 

A guard was coming closer, he didn’t look like most guards you had seen before, he was rather short and his stature was on the smaller side. His presence, however, was enormous. The way he carried himself made you a bit nervous as he approached. You went out to meet him, hoping it wasn’t all a ploy to get you and Cheol arrested, he stayed behind inside the ship, having been convinced that it would be safer if nobody had seen him on Phylaca at all. San had recognized him as a level 1 automaton, even though most people can’t tell the difference at all, who was to say that nobody else would? 

“Hey,” the man said and reached out a hand, “Welcome to Phylaca, the intergalactic prison.” 

You had to swallow hard to not reveal how nervous that made you. “Hey, me and my crew were hoping that we could stay here for just a little while, just until we can restock on some supplies and fuel. We’ll be out of your hair before you can even count to 10!” You rambled, not much thought going into what you were saying even though your brain was running in circles trying not to say anything stupid. 

His features were sharp, delicate in some way, he stared at you expressionless as he listened. 

“That soon? On the run or something?” He said, the same expressionless eyes staring at you suspiciously. 

Fuck, you had already fucked it all up. You would die in prison and they would probably send Cheol back to earth and he would forget everything and you would be left here all alone for all of eternity! You wanted to cry. The guard must’ve noticed, because as he saw the tears trying their hardest not to fall from your bottom lashes his expression let up, eyebrows knitting worriedly together and he reached out a hand, “No, shit, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry!” 

The tears fell, and you wiped them off, pulling back from the hand the guard had reached out for you. “I was only kidding, okay? I’m gonna tell you a secret, yeah?” 

Your tears were gone, you mind a huge question mark as the guard you had been speaking to for about two minutes had 1. Made you cry, 2. Guess your life’s story in two seconds, and 3. Wants to tell you a secret so you won’t cry?? 

Who was this man? 

“You’re not the first person who has ended up here while on the run, and I’ll help if you are! That’s my secret…” he whispered, looking at you with a curious eye. Was he waiting for you to respond to him disclosing what was most likely highly restricted information to you just because you were tired and scared?

“Uhm…” you were speechless, “I’m y/n, I’d love help…” 

“Oh wow, okay that was much easier than it usually is. Hi y/n, I’m Hongjoong,” he gave you a gentle smile now, somehow reassuring you that you would be okay, even if you had just been offered illegal help from what you figured was basically a corrupt guard. 

“What? He just agreed to help us? A Phylaca guard agreed to restock our storage and fuel tank. Just like that?” Cheol was in disbelief, you nodded with big eyes, barely believing it yourself. 

“I mean, it’s possible that he only said he would because I was crying and he wanted some time to get more guards to come and arrest us… but he seemed very nice!” 

He was in shock, and he was scared, you could see it in his face before he hid it in his hands, rubbing away the worries as much as possible. 

“He… did he not want anything in return?” He finally asked. You were silent for a moment. “Y/n. What did he ask you to do in return for this huge favor?” 

His voice was stern, and you would need to tell him eventually anyhow. 

“…he wants us to help one of his acquaintances get off of Phylaca…” you mumbled, a bit scared of how he would react to you agreeing to host strangers on your ship. 

“You invited refugees from a prison to our ship?” 

“…I did.”

He stared at you, his expression hard to read. 

“Can we run before they get here?” 

“I don’t think we should…”

“…Fine, let’s wait for them, whoever they are. But if it turns out they’re literal murderers or something, we should kick them off sooner rather than later,” he said before standing up. You were standing by the door, not having gotten much further into the room created for the kitchen staff on the ship, the room that you had deemed safe enough for Cheol to stay in while you went outside to meet Hongjoong. 

He walked to you, taking your face in his hands, “Thank you for coming back safely, even if this deal might get us killed in the end.” 

You chuckled but was interrupted when Cheol leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to your lips. 

The ship was ready to lift, but the docks were even emptier than you had seen them during the entire time you had been on Phylaca. Hongjoong hadn’t talked to you much since that first day. He had sent notes along with the supplies he had sent over. It was terrifying each time a delivery was made, you never knew if this was the day you would be found out and arrested. But Hongjoong had turned out to be trustworthy, and you had kept your own promise of staying to help out his acquaintances in need too, at least so far. 

“They haven’t shown yet?” Cheol asked when he came back to the cockpit where you sat, prepared to lift the moment your new passengers were on the ship. 

“Nope, Hongjoong said that they would show up about now… should we leave if they don’t come?” 

“I don’t know. Maybe they will come after us if we leave…we don’t know how much we should trust that guard if we break our deal.” 

He was right, you needed to wait; you needed to keep your promise to make it off Phylaca safely. If you had done all this just to get arrested while leaving the planet, it would’ve all been in vain. 

You waited, the silence of the empty-looking planet feeling increasingly eerie. 

Then you spotted them, you gasped, they were running. Two people were running towards you. You couldn’t see them clearly, they were too far away at first. You recognized the jacket on one of them, it belonged to the guard on Phylaca. The other person was seemingly wearing matching clothes. Were they criminals? What had you gotten yourselves into? 

You didn’t call for Cheol to come look, but he noticed the way you tensed up as you saw them coming closer and the way your breath hitched in your throat when you finally saw them. You recognized one of them from the big plasma screens. His face had been everywhere. Even though you hadn’t been looking much at any of the members standing beside the man you had found out was the idol you were talking to in secret, you could recall his face lit up with the cold blue lights in the evening. He was one of the 53V3NT33N members. D1N0. One of the members Cheol had been forced to leave behind when he ran. He was here, on Phylaca. 

Cheol stood frozen beside you. They stopped just a couple hundred feet away, the other person blocking the view of D1N0’s face. Something was happening, you didn’t know what, but when you saw the guards you didn’t even care anymore. You weren’t going to get caught here, not like this. D1N0 had stayed behind. He pushed the other person forward, and simply watched as they ran toward the ship. They ran away from him, away from the guards, and towards you and Cheol. 

They were the acquaintances Hongjoong had spoken of, they were supposed to leave with you. Both of them. But only one of them got on board. Cheol was still frozen, you weren’t sure if he was even there anymore. You couldn’t wait. The stranger that had run on board was safe. 

You left the docks, hearing a faint, “No!” You knew it was Cheol, but the instinct to get you all to safety was greater than his shouts for you to turn back. He could’ve overpowered you and made you go back, but he didn’t even think that far. He ran to the doors that would’ve led him outside. A large bang echoed through the metal hallways of the spacecraft along with a pained sob. You didn’t know if it came from Cheol or your new passenger.

But there was nothing to step onto, only space. The view of D1N0 was soon lost, you didn’t want any of you to see what would happen to him as he stayed on Phylaca. 

You didn’t want to know what you had done as you left without him. 

Cheol was quiet. So quiet. 

He said nothing, he barely looked at you. It felt like a stab in the back each time he looked away from you when you even looked his way or opened your mouth. 

The bang had come from Cheol making a dent in the interior of the ship, wrecking his hand in the meantime. You had looked at his broken hand in horror, the sight of his skin cracked but without a single drop of blood or bone showing made you queasy. 

The stillness of the ship continued for days. Your new passenger having shut themselves away from the both of you, it was different than Cheol, but the silence was crushing anyhow. There was nowhere to go, you were stuck right there, in the middle of the universe. 

You used everything San had taught you back at Specus to help heal Cheol’s hand. With bandages and thread, you sewed and patched his cracked skin over the mechanical workings of his broken self. It didn’t help him deal with his real pain though, you knew that. 

You couldn’t understand either of their pain completely, but you tried. He didn’t want you to try. He was hurt and he wanted you to feel as alone as he did, you knew he just didn’t want to be completely alone in his pain. So you let him stay as he was: quiet and angry. 

He didn’t touch you anymore. He didn’t talk to you. He didn’t even care to respond to a single question you asked for over a week. You cried yourself to sleep each night, and did your best to create a new daily routine now that everything had changed into this still place of pain and dark glances thrown your way. 

You had begun blaming yourself, you had made the choice, maybe you did deserve to be shut out by everyone. 

You waited for days for him to take the first step, to tell you that he was ready to talk about it all, to tell you that he wasn’t mad about the choice you had made. He never did. He didn’t say a word. The solitude continues for all three of you on your lonely spacecraft on your way to a planet that didn’t exist…

It continued until you felt yourself going mad, the days had melted together in a bad way, the only emotion you had felt was gray and sticky and you hated it. You had begun hating yourself because of it. 

“Cheol.” Was all you said to him, startling him where he sat staring into space from the cockpit. You stood a couple steps away from him, closer to the door than to the man who seemed like a shell of who he had been before Phylaca. 

At first, he only responded with silence, but after a moment words formed. “Do you know why I had the phone you called in the first place?”

His voice sounded raspy and repressed as if he was choking on the syllables. You shook your head in response. He didn’t see you, but he continued. 

“I convinced the management that I needed a phone that wasn’t connected to the network so that in case anything bad happened to me or the members, I would be able to contact help even when our communication devices didn’t work.” 

His voice wasn’t more than a choked whisper. The words still felt like a slap to the face. 

“Everything I have ever said, done, and felt has always been meant to help my members, they’re my family. Instead, I used what I had gained in the name of helping them, to ruin everything. I did it all for my own selfish desires. Can you understand how much shame and guilt is crushing me every day? Every minute I spend away from them. Not even knowing if they’re okay.”

You had nothing to say. What could you say? Could any of your words comfort him at all? Could you make him the slightest bit happier right now? Could you ever manage to keep him happy? Distracting him from all the disasters of the universe wasn’t possible, so what could you do? 

Instead, you continued to say nothing. Your body fell back against the cold metal wall behind you. You couldn’t say a single word to help him, but you could let him say all the words he needed to say to help himself. 

He stayed quiet for a while. Your shuffling as you slid down to the floor against the wall told him you were still there. His figure slumped back against the chair he sat in. 

“I just, I can’t believe I actually left them all to fucking deal with all of this by themselves. I don’t even know if they made it out alive.” He began, voice still strained as he tried to hide everything that wished to rip him apart from within. “I was supposed to be there for them, to be their leader who stood by them no matter what. And you know what, I took pride in that, I was so proud to be the one to support those guys even in the situation we were in.”

You stayed quiet. Quiet tears streamed down your face as you listened. 

“How could I just leave? What? Because I was scared of forgetting this? I could’ve stayed, I could’ve figured something out.” He was beginning to sound angry now.

“Cheol, no. You know you couldn’t have. This was the only way… wasn’t it?” You whispered, the tears clouding your eyes as you watched the back of his head. 

“I- I don’t know anymore y/n. Maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly at all, maybe I was actually sick like they said…” he sighed. 

Your heart was in your throat, swallowing hard you decided to say your peace as well. “So… because you loved someone- no, because you loved me, you’re gonna blame yourself for everything that has happened? That feels like you’re actually blaming me, you know?”

This made him turn around. His features were tired and his skin was dull. He hadn’t been taking care of himself at all. 

“Y/n, stop it. You know this isn’t your fault.” He mumbled. Tired eyes looking at your tear-stained face. 

“No, maybe it is. You would’ve never broken the rules, they would’ve never found out and you would’ve never been almost rebooted. And most importantly - if you had never loved me you wouldn’t have had to abandon your family.”

“Please, just stop that y/n.” He groaned and let his head fall back, eyes closed, he was in pain. You didn’t know if it was physical or mental. Nevertheless, you wanted him to listen as well. You were in pain too. 

“What? Am I making you feel bad for thinking it’s me that’s the problem and not the goddamn company that put you through it all from the start? Am I making you feel like you’re making me feel with all of your talk of how ashamed you feel that you left that life behind? Because I know, I remember how out of everything horrible in your life back then, those boys were the only thing that made you happy while you were there… So please, stop beating yourself up, Cheol. The past has already happened, we managed to get out right? What makes you think the others weren’t as lucky as we were?”

He stayed quiet for a while. His silence made your heart drop. You needed to ask him straight up. 

“Do you blame me? Do you hate me?” Your voice wasn’t more than a whisper, but he heard you. It was impossible for him not to. 

“I-” he tried, but his voice broke. The tears welled in your eyes. You wanted to fight for what you two had, but if he blamed you… whatever you had might be too far from saving. 

“It’s okay. I understand.” 

You forced yourself to say it, you couldn’t walk away from him. Even if he hated you, you refused to be the one to leave. 

“It’s not that I hate you, I just hate how it hurts. Because it really fucking hurts. I’m in pain every single second and I don’t know how to make it stop.” His voice was breaking as tears streamed down his face. “But, I… I can’t lose you too.”

You placed the back of your hand over your mouth, trying to somehow hold back the pain that wanted to consume you from the inside. 

“We should’ve tried saving Dino…” 

You got up from your corner, your arms finally letting your legs go, replacing your own arms around your body with Cheol’s. He hugged you. Tightly. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. It was relieving to say it. He had been in a shame spiral for the past few weeks. He just hadn’t noticed. Still, you stayed with him, waited for him, listened to him. He wanted to repay you for all of it. 

Weeks passed yet again. Things got better, slowly but surely. You talked to each other. You were beginning to forgive each other for those weeks after Phylaca. It wasn’t easy. 

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, sleep, and repeat. Small conversations, still trying not to start up another fight. It was exhausting. 

The stranger still wasn’t speaking much, too wrapped up in their own mind to be able to share the pain they kept inside. Not that either of you were sharing your struggles with them anyhow. It was a mutual understanding that all three of you needed some space, even as you were trapped together in space. Galaxies passed you by, and you found yourself passing time by watching the tiny lights fly past the large windows from the cockpit.  

Sometimes, Cheol sat with you. Holding your hand, comforting you without words just like he had been that day when this had all begun. That helped. It helped both of you; knowing that neither of you actually wanted to abandon what you had, even after everything. 

When something finally showed up in front of your ship, only a small planet, not much bigger than the moon of the earth, you didn’t allow yourself to get your hopes up. 

After so many months, this was probably only another uninhabited planet with a poisonous atmosphere. 

“I don’t wanna get your hopes up, Cheol, but this planet looks so much like earth…” you shouted to Cheol who was trying to get your guest to eat some of the lunch from earlier, with very little success. 

If this was Lumen, maybe everything would be okay.

Maybe the void of space you had been traveling through had an end after all, despite the overwhelming feeling of being trapped and that you would all end up wasting away inside the ship on your long journey. 

But if this was it…

You let the ship continue straight ahead. Cheol and your guest joined you in the cockpit after hearing your shouts across the deck. 

All three of you watched as the planet became bigger. You could see water, and green patches everywhere. Clouds! There were clouds and an atmosphere surrounding the small planet. 

You had gone off autopilot, Cheol helping you steer the ship toward the planet. You circled it, trying to draw attention to yourselves through the intercom system. No sign of life was heard until a small voice came through, a child. “Hello! Are you aliens??” The child asked over the crackling of the coms. 

You wanted to shout, there was life here! 

“Hello? We’re outside of your airspace, our registration is BO883628K, and we are requesting permission to land!” You shouted back. 

“What are you doing?!” Another voice could be heard, the small child squealed and the crackling disappeared. You were scared the last shot at landing somewhere had been lost forever, but the other voice came back after just a moment. 

“Hey? Who is this?” 

Your body was tense, nerves firing uncontrollably as you explained your errand yet again. 

“Of course, welcome to Lumen, wanderers.” 

You yelped, “Lumen?! We found it?” You were jumping up and down, laughing and shouting as you felt all your worries leaving your body. Your new home was right below you, welcoming you with a warm embrace and new hope.

“Yes, you found it,” the voice crackled, you could hear them chuckling a bit at your excited yelling. “There are bigger docks located northeast of your current location, go there to land safely.”

You found a house, outside one of the small towns near the docks. You had nothing to give in return for the hospitality the diverse population of Lumen offered you, Cheol, and your newest passenger. 

They didn’t care, they told you that most of the people there had already been through the same suffering that you all had. Anyone who made it to Lumen was treated like family, nobody was to be left empty-handed just because they were strangers to the people. 

“Is this really here? Am I dead or asleep or something?” You said in wonder, grasping at Seungcheol’s arm. You stood in your new kitchen, it was simple, but airy. The view from the kitchen showed the sunny forest lying just behind the garden and the porch. 

“If you’re dreaming I’m dreaming with you.” He laughed hysterically. “But I think it might be real…” 

You jumped into Cheol’s embrace, hugging and kissing him like the past few weeks had all been a bad dream, like this was your true reality and everything bad could be forgotten completely. 

He seemed happy as well, looking around the large house with you, coming up with ways you could improve the place, and how you could make the vegetable garden prosper once again. It was overgrown and run down, everything had been left to its own devices. But it was vacant, and the townspeople had agreed that you two would be wonderful as the new owners of the house. It was a short forest walk back to the town, where you had parted from your quiet passenger, telling them that they were welcome any day and that you would always have a spare room and a shoulder to cry on. It made Cheol happy, somehow trying to make up for the fact that you had lost D1N0 on Phylaca through this person that he must’ve cared about more than his own life. 

“Do you think they will be able to find their way here too? The members, I mean. Like we did?” You whispered, resting your head on Cheol’s shoulder, your hand in his. You watched the dark green leaves swaying in the summer breeze, the flowers following the sun that shone more than it was gone, and the grass on the ground scenting the air you breathed in. 

“I hope so, I think they will know eventually.”

“Know what?” You said and looked at him. 

“That we’re here.”

You tilted your head. “How would they know to find us here of all places?” 

“Remember the secret I had with San on the first ship?” He said and smiled, embarrassed about something. 

You nodded. Not quite understanding what he meant yet. 

“I told him to tell anyone he met that might be related to us. Actually, I told him to let anyone like us know that if we got here, we would offer a home for them to rest at.”

Tears welled in your eyes, he had been thinking of everyone else this entire time. Not once had he let himself be entirely selfish, you squeezed his hand, bringing it up to your lips and pressing a thankful kiss to his soft skin. 

“I think they will come, eventually.” 

The years passed on Lumen. You and Cheol had made a home for yourselves. A home that would be open for any runaways, robot, alien, and human alike. It was safe, happy, and hopeful because one day everything might be absolutely perfect in your new home. 

The spare rooms of your new house would exist for them if they could ever get to their leader. The thought helped him continue, to live life to the fullest until they could join him. It comforted you as well, knowing that he had some hope left and that maybe he could let go of some of the guilt you knew he carried with him each day, and instead let himself be proud of something once again. 

Reblogging and commenting is highly appreciated!! Hearing what you thought is what makes writing and being here overall so much fun! Ty and ily 💕

[navigation post!]

[narenohate]

I FOUND OLD ART FROM THE OLD FIC,,, woulde someone want me to rewrite it? i haev plot in me head :'3 the soul scrolls left behind by the collector's people are perfected into beast-curses that make criminals useful by both breaking their minds and warping their bodies. born anew in confusion, they turn to the emperor's light, and bow for baptism, made holy in their sacrifice.

Summary of what i wanna write...

Luz is a basilisk. This wasn't always the case, but she does not remember what she was before this. She's stopped from pondering when she realizes she knows the guard outside her cell-, one Amity Blight, keen-eyed, rising fast in the coven's ranks, from somewhere. She thrashes, tears her blanket to pieces, falls to the floor. She takes on a face by instinct - it comes to the forefront of her mind and her reflexes, more natural than any mask before it, but belonging not to any sort of witch or demon she knows. Instead, it seems to pertain to fear itself, for the girl outside her cell won't stop screaming. She has an aching heart and a brain that barely recalls the meaning of the words she's hearing, taking its time to process what the girl is repeating like a mantra. Amity cannot kill the basilisk while it wears her human's face, and Luz has eight hours to convince her that they know one another from somewhere, and that if Amity opens the gate, she will figure out how things were supposed to be, and she will snap the status quo back in place. If she just comes a little closer, she'll hold her hand. She'll kiss her knuckles. She'll look like she did when they wheeled her away to the execution chamber, in the dim light. Filthy and glass-eyed. meanwhile, far away, Camila Noceda copes with the fourth anniversary of her daughter's return from a summer camp excursion that ended in disaster, and celebrates that, even if she was the only one, Luz survived. A part of her hates herself for letting her daughter back in, more than for leaving her at that bus stop all those years ago. You see, Camila is growing more convinced each day that what came back to her home after the carnage was cleaned up and every other body was identified… Isn't Luz at all.

nobody knows but. this is for want of a nail: luz and camila went their separate ways with a worse fight, because the bus didn't go to the camp on the same day as it all started. as fights tend to do between family members, it got ugly.

and so, once she crossed the threshold, and just so happened to find herself with a witch a bit sicker, a bit more in need of her help, luz sunk deeper into eda's hold, clung desperate, begged for a way to never let go. so she took the mirror and traced the line on her ear - are you sure this is short enough, kid? right angle? it'll bleed too much to do it twice over.

to learn to walk on her toes as witches do and must, she wore odd heels. the sickness of the isles' food faded. it welcomed her. she became faster with a spring to her step and a room like a nest, teeth just a bit too sharp, gums tinted purple from her new diet.

the glyphs, she burned them upon her skin. it hurt like hell and then felt like her papí's hugs.

she leaned into it, called herself a witch by month three. sash and belt, shawl over shoulders, hair tied back behind a scarf. and if you called her clawthorne, she'd jolt to attention, quick, as if she were used to it.

thus, when belos found her, he did not assume he was facing off against a human.

... she did not re-learn her name was luz until a coven guard dully uttered it, nauseous at the sight of her after so many years.

[midnight1nk]

EPISODE CONCEPT #8

What if… SMG3 had to make the hardest choice?

[more under cut]

For context, this is the third and final part of the dubbed "goop!4" arc (my version at least)!!! As I do for all requests, I gotta tag: @bowlolol here's the part 3 that you asked for! :) [Part 1 here, Part 2 here] Enter into my mind palace, oooohhhh very scaryyyyy~! It's also available on Wattpad and AO3. Now, without further ado...

CW/TW for blood/violence/gore/murder

What happened to you?

Pixels. Just a bunch of tiny colorful squares.

It's unnoticeable at first, until you look at them up close. There they are. If you stare at that screen for too long, its glow blinds you. A vision left to blur, like TV static.

Once, there was a horrible idea. A horrible, twisted idea.

The control fell upon his grasp, and a part of him took it. A part that he had sealed away for years. Gone were the chains that held him back, he snapped. Pleads of mercy have filled the room, his mind didn't catch up. There was still so much left to do, so much to prove. If only that man would just shut up for once and listen to him. Shut up. Shut up.

Before he knew it, it all went quiet. No fits of rage, no crying pain. Just silence. The grip on his father's fragile neck loosen, his hands and breathing shaking. Reality started to settle in as he stumbled back, looking at the chaos he caused.

His father laid limp against the couch chair, still. He was pale, the light in his eyes long gone. Empty. The marks along his neck were sure to turn purple.

Winston looked down at his hands, stunned. The world began to sway under his feet and he stumbled once more down a hallway, heading toward the bathroom. The single lightbulb hanging overhead flickered occasionally as he lifted his heavy head to the mirror, the sink being the only support of this upsetting balance. Forgetting what he did the garage half an hour ago, Winston expected his face. His human face, that is. Instead, there was a glitching TV screen staring back, imitating the facial expression he would've made.

He touched it out of disbelief, perhaps a hint of curiosity. There was still a staggering trail of blood rolling down his neck. Did... did he really did this? Glancing from the mirror and hallway, one thing became clear:

He just killed his father.

His hands balled into fists, blood boiling. He just killed him. That damn creative vision, he was close to proving he had it to his father. So close, and his old father had to die. He punched the mirror, his knuckles soon bleeding from the cracks. There was naturally rage and desperation inside him, and yet there was a ghost of a smile. His father is dead, the thought sang in his mind. For the first time ever, he... felt free, from torment and suffocating paranoia. Awaken. He lets out a maniacal laugh, descending to a spiraling madness. After all, patience was a virtue and good things come for those who wait.

Two people died that day, a father and his son named Winston. And, out of the gasoline-fueled flames of the burning house, emerged Mr Puzzles.

A new evolution indeed.

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

There is no such thing as an end—except for something absolute to stop it.

Military-grade trucks circled the Pit, forming a secure base of operations. Volunteers in heavy gear moved like ants, carrying weapons, crates of supplies, and tools for whatever task lay ahead. Near the edge of the Pit stood SMG3, glaring down into the living abyss. The void stared back, pulsing and grumbling with a low, guttural sound. Its rim was lined with jagged, uneven teeth, and the disgusting blend of flesh and stone that bordered it twitched unnaturally. A mutation within itself.

He hated this place. No—he loathed it.

He never thought he'd find himself back here, not after the first time when they came searching for the Power Star. That ordeal was supposed to have been left in the past. But last week changed everything. Learning that the inky goo from the 'perfect' incident had returned. Learning that SMG4 had died because of it—and because of Mr. Puzzles.

Three closed his eyes. A breeze swept past, brushing against his face and hair. For a fleeting moment, he swore he could hear Four's voice, his laugh—an echo of a memory, faint and bittersweet.

He opened his eyes and steadied his breathing. In his hands, he held the "Ultimate Virus," its weight both literal and metaphorical. His USB key was already slotted in, ready for use. Four's USB dangled around his wrist, catching the first light of dawn as it glinted off the metal casing.

Nothing lasts forever.

"We're in position," a voice crackled over his radio.

Meggy approached from behind. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her expression firm but compassionate as she handed him a parachute pack.

"SMG3, you ready?"

He exhaled slowly, nodding as he took the pack from her. "Let's finish this." Adjusting the weapon against his side, he secured the chute and moved toward the edge.

Unbeknownst to them, Mario lurked nearby, watching from the shadows. He had slipped into gear, determined not to be left behind. Three would kill him if he found out—but hell, Mario wasn't about to let them go through this.

Three had locked him inside the Castle, claiming it was for his safety. But Mario didn't need to be a genius to figure out the truth. The tone in Three's voice had given it away—fear, not for Mario's safety, but something deeper. Something personal. Thankfully, Three seemed to have forgotten one important fact: Mario could phase through walls.

Now, with Meggy and Three already leaping into the Pit, Mario seized his chance. Grabbing a shield from the weapon crate and strapping on a parachute pack, he dashed toward the edge before anyone could stop him.

The descent was suffocating. The Pit grew darker and colder with every passing second. Three's heart pounded as he caught sight of the red, monstrous form around them. Its rocky foundation fused with countless staring eyes, it almost seemed like it was greeting them.

And yet, as a former villain, Three understood why Horus would be here of all places. This was where everything had started.

Four might never have admitted it, but Three could feel it—his partner carried guilt from the 'perfect' incident. He could sense it from the cosmic link they shared. The Pit wasn't just a place of nightmares; it was a reflection of failures, of pain buried too deep to surface. And when the team had tracked the trail of Horus—the goo splatters leading straight to the Pit—Three's suspicions were confirmed.

This was where it all began. And now, it would be where it all ended.

Project Horus, also known on the Dark Web as "Failed Subject #18," began as a government experiment in 2022 aimed at exploring the Great Beyond. Inspired by the SMGs' unscathed return to their universe, researchers sought to create an organism that could merge seamlessly with technology and act as a symbiotic host, attuned by raw emotions.

The project quickly spiraled out of control. Every volunteer left the testing chamber gravely injured, and the experiment seemed doomed. Then, during a security breach, Horus escaped. While the federal facility lost track of it, Three didn't.

Word of Horus spread rapidly across the Dark Web, and criminals captured it, taking it to an underground lab for unethical experiments. Pushed beyond its limits, Horus was tortured into becoming nearly indestructible, controllable by a simple keyboard command. Enraged by its mistreatment, it lashed out, killing every test subject it encountered. Mysteriously, the lab exploded, leaving no trace of the experiments.

Three believed Horus had escaped again, only to fall into the hands of the black market and eventually into the possession of Winston—well, Mr. Puzzles. But this was where the trail ended.

Horus wasn't the government's only creation. Its twin, Ra (Subject #28) was a red tentacled monster with large eyes. Unlike Horus, Ra succeeded, seamlessly bonding with hosts, albeit reluctantly. Both creatures, along with the keyboard, ended up in Puzzles' possession. It was Ra—completely loyal in both body and mind—who became his perfect companion.

The scientists, criminals, and Puzzles—all of them wanted to play god.

As they neared the bottom of the Pit, Three and Meggy deployed their parachutes, guiding themselves down toward the fleshy, rocky walls. With practiced precision, they latched onto the surface using grappling hooks, securing themselves to the side as they prepared to climb downward.

But they weren't alone.

"Mario?!" Three's voice erupted in frustration as he spotted the red-capped figure joining them. "What are you doing here?"

"You can't stop me!" Mario started climbing downward, ahead of them.

With a groan, Three activated his radio. "Team 1 to 5, initiate phase one," he ordered before focusing his full attention on Mario. "You're still my Avatar, and the universe collapses if you die. That's why I told you to stay at the castle!"

"Bullshit," Mario said without breaking stride. "We both know SMG4's alive. You just don't want to see it."

"He's dead, Mario! And Horus isn't going to hesitate to kill any of us! Me, in denial? You must've gone crazy again."

"No, you're the one who's crazy!" Mario shot back. "Revenge this, revenge that. He's alive but no one believes me. Not even Meggy!"

Meggy remained silent, her gaze focused ahead, her expression unreadable.

Mario threw out his hands in exasperation. "See?" His voice softened. "I get it. You're hurt, and yeah, maybe it's a long shot. But for once in your life, could you just trust me?"

Three paused, a flicker of something—hope, doubt—surfacing in his eyes before he forced it back down. He shook his head, steeling himself. "This needs to end. I don't care if I'm seen as a hero or a villain. I have to set this right. It's what he would've wanted. I was his guardian partner."

"And I'm his best friend," Mario replied, sounding more like a plea, as he reached the bottom of the Pit. Unhooking his climbing rope, he turned to face them as they followed. Once both had landed, Mario pulled a small, folded piece of paper from his pocket. It was 'Best Friend Award' drawing he made for Four from MAR10 Day.

"SMG4 is my best friend, I'm not leaving him like this," he said, holding the paper out.

Three stared at it, the memories rushing back like a sudden flood. For a moment, he said nothing, his expression unreadable. Then, with a heavy sigh, he looked back at Mario.

"Fine," Three relented, his voice quieter now. "But you follow my rules. Stay close and don't get in my way. Got it?"

Mario nodded reluctantly, carefully folded the paper and tucked it back into his pocket. Reaching for the shield he had brought, he held it up like a promise.

That was all Three needed.

At the bottom of the Pit, they remained hidden by the jagged walls, weapons gripped tightly in their hands. It was a far cry from the last time they were here. After securing the Power Star, they had sealed off the tunnel leading to the cavern. Now, only Horus could be lurking in the smaller tunnels and cracks.

"Never knew you had a death wish, SMG3. You should've told me sooner."

Three's grip on the rifle tightened. The voice, familiar yet twisted, sent a chill through him. A creeping tension filled the air, his heart pounding in his chest.

"And you got a new toy. How flashy." The voice sneered. "I don't see the point, though. What, pretending to be a hero? Please. You were the one who tried to kill us when you had the YouTube Remote. Then again, you do love rubbing your ego in everyone's faces."

Shadows danced across the walls, fueled by the rising fear of the trio, their eyes darting to track every movement. Three raised a hand, signaling them to move to one of the nearby corners.

"Well, let's have some fun, shall we? Go on, stop me. Because, no matter what I do, I'm too stubborn to die."

They moved into a shallow alcove, readying themselves. Three exhaled slowly, steadying his nerves. He whispered to himself, "I'm ready."

"...Are you?"

A low growl resonated behind them. Before they could react, Horus emerged from the shadows of the hole and lunged at Three. Surprised but quick, Three managed to roll out of the way, just as Horus crashed into the Pit, landing with a resounding thud.

Meggy immediately stepped forward, distracting the goo creature, while Three radioed in: "Release the canisters."

From the jagged edges of the cave, dozens of metal canisters were launched, each one bursting open upon impact with the ground, releasing a thick, suffocating gas that filled the air in seconds. The trio quickly slapped on their gas masks as the toxic fumes spread.

Struggling to breathe, Horus rose, its gooey form expanding, but was immediately met with a hail of bullets and explosives. The creature recoiled, its attention now drawn to the hidden crew members and operation volunteers positioned along the edges of the Pit. Enraged, Horus charged toward one of the shooters.

"Now!

In an instant, the team activated the noisemakers. A high-pitched, bone-rattling frequency pierced the air, causing Horus to writhe in pain. Its body twisted violently, the goo bursting outward like jagged spikes and writhing tendrils. Several operatives were struck, thrown into the air by the force of the impact. Though fortunately, none were killed.

Unable to endure the pain any longer, Horus plunged back into the gas, desperately digging through the closed-off tunnel to escape into the cavern beyond. It slipped through the gap, but the trio was quick to follow, knowing they were one step closer to cornering the monster. All according to plan.

Three radioed in. "All teams, bring up the injured. The rest, guard the tunnel entrance. We're going in."

In the depths of the cavern, they squeezed through the cracks Horus had created, making their way toward the ruins of Peach's castle. The air was thick with tension as they carefully entered, each watching the other's back. But Horus was faster. With lightning speed, it snatched Mario from the shadows of the ceiling. Mario struggled, squirming to break free, his gaze locked with the creature's single glowing eye.

For a moment, Horus hesitated. It lingered, as if something was holding it back. Something... human. But before the moment could last, Three and Meggy opened fire, the bullets tearing into the creature's form. Horus dropped Mario with a howl, sending him crashing to the ground.

Mario gasped, struggling to push himself up as he locked eyes with the creature. "He's in there," he whispered, breathless.

Meggy rushed to Mario's side, helping him to his feet, while Three engaged Horus in a brutal one-on-one fight.

"Red, are you okay?" she asked, but Mario barely heard her, his attention consumed by the creature.

"SMG3, don't hurt him!" Mario pleaded, his voice desperate.

But it was no use, vengeance have clouded their minds. Three threw a bomb directly at Horus, a clean hit. The explosion rocked the cavern, but Horus quickly regenerated from its injuries, its goo reforming in seconds. In retaliation, the creature slammed Three into the ruins, sending a shockwave of pain through his body. Despite the agony, Three shook off the blow and activated his personal noisemaker, sending a high-pitched noise that made Horus recoil in torment.

The goo spread across the cavern like a living tide, quickly consuming the space around them. Horus tackled Three to the ground, its limbs acting like bars of a cage. Three fought back, pushing with every ounce of strength, but Horus ripped the gas mask off his face, leaving a deep, bleeding scratch across his brow.

Seeing this, Meggy fired, drawing Horus's attention away from Three. "Go help SMG3!"

"No, hold on," Mario shouts. But Meggy was already running, the monster hot on her heels. Mario rushed to Three's side, grabbing him by the arm to help him up. "SMG3, listen to me," he said, his voice urgent. "It's him! SMG4—he's still alive."

Three struggled to catch his breath, his voice rough. "He's dead."

"No, he's not!" Mario insisted.

They heard Meggy cry out from across the cavern, backed into a corner by Horus. She desperately slammed her gun against her hand, trying to unjam the barrel. But the creature was already closing in, ready to strike. Without thinking, Mario dashed forward, stepping between Horus and Meggy, using his shield.

Horus froze, its glowing eye fixing on Mario. For a brief moment, it didn't move. The creature's form trembled, a guttural roar rumbling in its throat. It clutched its head, as if fighting something buried deep inside it.

Meggy's eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. Mario had been right.

The ground shook, and a new figure emerged from the ruins. To their surprise, it was corrupted Peach, recognizing her from their last adventure. Without hesitation, she launched herself at Horus, tackling it with raw, primal force. The two monsters collided in a violent, savage clash, claws and teeth tearing into each other.

Mario turned back to Three, who had managed to regain some composure. He was inserting Four's USB key into the rifle, and the device hummed to life, its red lights casting an ominous glow.

"SMG3!" Mario called out, his voice louder now, filled with urgency. "He's in there! You have to believe me!"

Three glanced back at Mario, then at Meggy. Both of their faces were etched with desperation, their silent plea hanging in the air. Horus swiped at Peach, sending her crashing into the ruins, knocking her out completely. Three turned his attention back to Horus, raised the rifle, and aimed.

Three never lost sight of Horus through the scope. And yet, there was a spark in his mind, unlocking a bottled hope. As he inhaled, he closes his eyes, the seconds becoming minutes. Time plays in his hands.

His blood boiled by the mere sight of Horus throughout this whole operation, as if that monster was mocking him. Horus killed Four. He was admittedly tired of this game of pretend, Three could simply not let Horus stain Four's memory anymore. A steady finger hovered over the trigger. All it takes is one move for the Ultimate Virus to pierce through Horus.

Let it all end. Just... end it.

Then, there was the promise he made. As much as he was told to deny it, deep down, he held on to that hope that Four was still in there. That Four was alive. What he wouldn't do to see those blue eyes again. If he shoots, it'll be Four's blood in his hands. Four would truly be gone, along with everything associated to the man. Their guardianship, the Showgrounds, Beeg4. All of it, gone. Forgotten.

He opened his eyes, seeing Horus charging at him. The choice he'll make, it'll be a risk regardless. If he pulls the trigger, he'll unknowingly lose Four to a second death—from soul to mere existence. If he doesn't, that goo will forever be burned in his memory. One bullet, one choice. It all falls on him.

"SMG4, if you're still in there somehow, show me a sign."

Three exhaled, a sense of calmness settling over. Minutes returned as seconds, the ground shook by Horus' charge. His choice was made. Slowly, he lowered his rifle and let it slip from his hands, a light thud.

"And I won't shoot, I promise."

Steeling himself, Three dared to face Horus, who pounced through the gas towards him. Eye to eye, this was the same old song-and-dance, only their roles were reversed. Who knew it would come to this? A low rumble of Horus' growl rhymed with the accelerating beat of Three's heart, played like a drum. Not of fear, it never was. Gentleness crossed over Three. I promise.

"Four!"

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Four's eyes shot open, adjusting to the soft glow of the stars scattered above him. A few blinks sharpened his senses, though his thoughts remained hazy. He could've sworn he heard someone call his name—a voice laced with familiarity. As he sat up with a groan, the scene around him became clearer. He was in their secret spot: the field of white lilies he and Three shared.

Memories slowly poured in; the card reading, Mr Puzzles, the pain. As the details solidified, so did the emotions: frustration, anger, and hurt swirling together like a storm.

He growled under his breath, clenching his fists. "When I get my hands on that damn TV..."

"You aren't the only one with grudge against him."

The voice startled Four, his head whipping toward the source. A figure stood at the cliff's edge, silhouetted against the shimmering stars. It looked just like him, yet its form was entirely composed of black, inky slime. The goo shifted, its voice mirroring his own but it sounded sympathetic. Almost... guilty.

Four narrowed his eyes, cautious yet curious. "Who are you?"

"Horus. That's what they called me anyway."

"They?"

Horus lowered their gaze, defeated. "You deserve an explanation," they said. "Do you remember when you and your friends went to defeat Zero? Well, the government grew curious about the Great Beyond. They wanted something capable of surviving its dangers to a living host. So, they created me. An organism fused with technology."

"Like an astronaut suit," Four said.

Horus blinked, clearly not expecting that metaphor, then gave a small nod. "Something like that. They ran experiment after experiment, trying to make me 'perfect.' When I escaped, I thought I'd left that torture behind. But then some Dark Web scientists found me. They were worse—obsessed with immortality, desperate to make me their key to invincibility."

Horus's frame shuddered, memories flashing like scars on their being. Drowning in chemicals. Endless needles. Surges of electricity. The pain of those moments, the crackling laughter of their tormentors, echoed in their voice.

Four's stance softened. He could feel the pain radiating from Horus, could sense it through the connection between symbiotic creature and host. Slowly, he stood, though his guard remained partially raised. "Mr. Puzzles said you were his creation."

"Since when anything he did was original?"

"...Fair enough."

"No idea from anybody is original, SMG4."

"Ok then. What I don't get is, if you wanted to be free, why choose me?"

The question made Horus visibly flinch. The goo rippled, their form trembling as if wrestling with the answer. Finally, they calmed down.

"Mr Puzzles was the one who bought me after the lab explosion. I was a new prosthetic to him but I instead gave him... a warning of sorts, like I did to those selfish rats. They were all the same. Then, I met you," Horus's voice cracked, trying to hold back tears and finally facing Four. Their face was nothing but a pair of pink glowing eyes. "Your dreams in bringing happiness to others, ideas bursting in creativity. They were... beautiful. You were the first host I wanted to protect, to live.

"You were hurting, holding it all in. I just wanted to let you express yourself, to release your inner thoughts. But he had to come in, saw I failed to kill you, and..." Horus looked down at the faded scars that peek in between Four's left glove and sleeve. They looked away. "I should've done more."

Four followed their gaze, tracing a finger over the scarred lines on his wrist. Cracked like a porcelain doll. He wasn't ashamed of how his scars looked, he never was. Rather, they were a secret because it was a constant reminder of what he had done in the 'perfect' incident, how he hurt his friends back them. Despite being consistently reminded that he was under a possessive state, he carried the blame like a thorned crown. Full of empathy, Four walked over to their side.

"It wasn't just the incident," Horus continued, their voice cracking. "When I saw him again at the carnival, everything came rushing back—the experiments, the pain. I wanted to destroy him, but I was so blinded by my anger that I ended up hurting you instead."

Four's thoughts clicked into place. He recalled the burning sensation in his scars and how Horus, in their goo form, had surged over him—not to harm, but to rescue him. "So, that's why..."

"I lost control," Horus admitted. "I pushed too far, and all I've ever done is make things worse. How can I be anything if I'm not perfect?"

Four reached out and put a hand on Horus' shoulder, gentle enough to not startle them. "Before you came into my life, I thought people only cared about me because of my videos—because I was 'SMG4.' I thought if my content wasn't good enough, I wasn't good enough. You're not the one who hurt me, Horus. Mr. Puzzles did that. And even if I didn't see it at the time, I know now—you were trying to save me and my friends. I wouldn't be here without you. So... I forgive you."

Horus blinked, their glowing eyes wide with disbelief. "After everything I've done? Why?"

"Because perfection isn't possible, and that's okay."

Without hesitation, Four pulled Horus into a hug. For the first time in their existence, Horus felt something unfamiliar—comfort. No needles, no pain, just warmth. Pink tears streaked down their face, glowing faintly in the starlight.

"You have good friends," Horus whispered.

Four closed his eyes, memories flooding back: meeting Mario, the Crew's wild adventures, the chaos and laughter. And then, Three—his partner—sitting with him under the stars. Nothing could ever compare to the love they built in their friendships, of the family they chose.

"We do," Four agreed. "We really do."

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

"SMG3?"

Mario clutched on Meggy's hand as they pushed through the dense and swirling gas, his words swallowed by the eerie silence. His eyes darted around, straining to find any sign—of Three, of Four, of anything. His heart pounded in his chest as he recalled where he last saw Three. He had to be here. They had to be.

He tried again, his voice cracking into fear, "SMG3?" The echo that answered was faint and hollow, offering no comfort. A knot tightened in his chest. To whatever god happened to be listening, Mario pleaded that he hadn't sent a friend to their death.

Through the haze, something shifted. Shadows, blurred and vague, just ahead. Mario's heart leap, instinctively taking a step forward, but Meggy stopped him with a firm tug. Her wary look said it all, it might not be Three.

Mario hesitated, giving her a small nod. Together, they proceeded, every step mixed with precaution and hope. The gas began to thin, slipping away through unseen cracks in the cavern walls, and the shape began to sharpen.

Then, they saw it.

Against the jagged wall, Three knelt, cradling Four in his arms as if he were made of glass. Four's body, though seemingly intact, glitched faintly with tiny digital squares of pink and cyan, flickering around like fireflies. Glitching pixels. Despite being unconscious, his face was almost peaceful.

Three raised his head, his expression serene. His free hand reached out toward them, palm open as if to reassure.

"You're right," Three said to Mario. "You really are his best friend."

Those words were all it took to break the dam. Tears welled in their eyes before spilling uncontrollably—quiet or loud, they didn't care. Mario and Meggy rushed forward, collapsing into an embrace around the meme guardians. While mindful of Four's fragile state, their collective joy was barely contained.

Their friend was alive. Alive. That was all that mattered.

Eventually, Mario and Meggy pulled away, giving Three the space he needed to examine Four's condition. He pressed two fingers to Four's wrist, counting softly under his breath.

"His pulse..." Three said at last, his voice steady despite his fatigue. "It's weaker than it should be, but he'll pull through. He always does."

He brushed a stray strand of hair from Four's face, his expression softened. His fingers curling gently around his partner's hand, squeezing it as if willing him to respond.

If Four could just open his eyes, even for a moment, it would be enough to relieve Three's quiet plea for him to come back.

"What a heartwarming reunion, such a shame it has to end so soon!"

The red creature that slumbered between the cavern cracks began to stir, slithering away towards the remnants of the old castle. A moment of tense silence hung in the air before an oversized, gloved hand suddenly emerged, gripping a fallen wall. Then another. The sound of mucky flesh and cracked bones filled the cavern as Mr Puzzles made a grotesque entrance, towering over the group.

But it wasn't his voice or size that sent chills down their spines.

Mario, Meggy, and Three narrowed their eyes, vengeance fueling their resolve.

His legs were missing, torn away to leave exposed wires tangled with red monstrous tentacles. What was left of his old self was the twisted, multicolored grin fixed at the corners of his screen.

"Ah, I see you have found my new friend," he said in regards to the unconscious Four, his voice crackled in madness.

"New friend, my ass." Without hesitation, Three quickly let go of Four, rose to his feet, and fired the "Ultimate Virus" directly at Mr. Puzzles. The "bullet" burst with energy as it sailed through the air.

But before it could hit, as if he were catching a child's toy, Mr. Puzzles caught it in his massive hand, unfazed. Shocked expressions flickered across their faces as he laughed. "Aw, did you really think this would work on me?"

He crushed the "bullet" in his palm like it was nothing. Their last hope was gone. Mr. Puzzles's face twisted into a bloody red mask, with realistic eyes and a gaping mouth—more corpse than machine or human. His body swelled, limbs and neck contorting in horrifying ways as if they were being torn apart and hastily stitched back together.

"The new evolution to perfection," Mr. Puzzles sneered, his voice resonating with the maddening certainty of his own destiny. "Body and memory, I am infinite. I cannot be denied!"

Nor would he give them the chance. A red tentacle shot from his body, lunging at the group with claws and teeth bared, as if desperate for prey. Unstoppable, there was no time to run. Mario and Meggy instinctively huddled together, protecting each other with their arms. Three shielded his partner, while Four's hand twitched. Just as all seemed lost, they closed their eyes and braced for the attack.

Except, it never came.

Confused, they looked up to see a protective barrier of inky goo pushing against the monstrous tentacle. Their gazes followed the source back to Four's outstretched arm, shaking but resolute. His open hand clenched into a fist, the goo mimicking him, grabbing the tentacle and tearing it away from Mr. Puzzles' body. The TV screeched in pain, its distorted image flickering. The ink slipped back into Four's body as he slowly moved to his knees.

"Four," Three breathed, relieved despite the lingering worry.

"I guess I was right about one thing," Four winced, his body glitching but shined in confidence. "I am too stubborn to die."

The realization hit Puzzles like a lightning bolt. Horus. Anger boiled within him, sending him into a rage. "After everything I've done for you... you ungrateful little brat!"

The cave shuddered with his outrage, giant rocks crumbling like hail around them. One, particularly large and dangerously close, threatened to hit the group.

"We need to get out of here," Three shouted over the chaos. He pulled out the USB keys from his rifle, fastening one around his neck and the other around Four's wrist. Wielding the rifle in one hand, he swung Four's arm over his shoulder, supporting his partner who was too weak to walk on his own. "Four, don't push yourself. I got you."

With that, the group sprinted as fast as they could toward the only exit. Meggy spoke urgently over her walkie-talkie. "All teams, evacuate immediately! It's Mr Puzzles!"

Hearing the sound of Puzzles' maniacal laughter echoed off the stone, Mario asked, "What about him?"

"The Virus failed," Three said grimly. "We don't have anything stronger that could defeat him."

Four stumbled to keep up, his legs still adjusting to running. From his hypersensitive senses, he picked up every tremor in the cave walls, every shift of the rocks overhead.

They're not going to make it in time.

Four cursed to himself, knowing that it was true. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glint of golden light—a small one from a nearby rock. And he knew exactly what it was. There was a chance after all.

Four looked at Three with bittersweetness, there was no turning back now. "Three, I hope you can forgive me."

"What?"

Before Three could do anything else, Four yanked the USB key from around Three's neck and grabbed the rifle. Freeing himself, he bolted back towards the chaos. Mr. Puzzles, sensing what he was planning, lashed out with the tentacles in a desperate attempt to stop him. If only he had known better.

Two can play that game.

Four dodged the attacks effortlessly with his quickstep, using the goo as a shield when needed. He moved with incredible precision, staying just ahead of danger as pink light from his eyes traced his path like a shooting star. Leaping from falling boulder to boulder, he snatched up what he was looking for: the perfect video, still sealed in its USB package. In one fluid motion, he loaded it into the rifle's barrel like a bullet.

The perfect bullet.

Three's eyes widened in horror—he knew exactly what Four planned to do. He spun around to save that idiot, but Mario and Meggy held him back. "No! I'm not losing him again!" But the Crew couldn't bear to lose another friend.

Four charged forward toward Mr Puzzles with pure determination. During the 'perfect' incident, when the video was upload to the USB, it created a lock—only its creators could open it. Well, except if you happened to be lucky. With steady hands, he slotted both keys into the rifle—Three's and his own.

"Four!" Three cried out as Mario and Meggy dragged him toward the tunnel.

Heartbroken, they knew there was nothing they could do. The rifle crackled to life as Four reached the final platform, coming face-to-face with Mr Puzzles. Standing this close, Four could see every pixel on the screen. Despite the danger surrounding them, the sight was mesmerizing.

"You and I, we're entertainers."

Four raised the rifle and channeled all the goo's power into it. Both he and Horus knew they needed to go all out. The bullet reacted wildly to the surge of power, rattling with excited anticipation, ready at Four's command. Through the ringing in his ears, he could hear Three calling his name—but the anguish in that voice tore at his heart. He silently apologized. Despite the thousand painful glitches wracking his body, Four pushed through and looked through the scope. His eyes flashed pink for a few seconds.

"And the world awaits."

He took a breath, waiting for what this so-called destiny had for him, and pulls the trigger. The world flashed to white.

And nothing will ever be the same again.

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Silence. Just silence.

The dust and chaos had settled, the red monster withering into lifeless lumps. Three's eyes fluttered open, his foggy mind clearing up with each blink. A low groan escaped his lips as he struggled to sit up, fighting against the nausea and headache. Gradually, the world came into focus. The sound of shifting rubble nearby drew his gaze—Meggy was helping Mario to his feet.

It all came rushing back; the red monster, the perfect video...

"Four? Where's Four?"

Mario and Meggy watched as Three scrambled to his feet, a frantic energy overtaking him. He stumbled through the wreckage, pushing fallen rocks and the remains of the monster. None of it mattered. He had to find his partner. He had to.

But as the seconds dragged on, the silence was starting to pull on his heartstrings.

"Four!" Three's voice cracked, his voice slipping in fear.

No response. His chest heaved as he struggled to breathe. No. No. He couldn't do this again. He couldn't grieve for Four—not this time. The real thing, the final loss, would shatter him completely.

Then, a sound.

Three's head snapped toward it, hope igniting like a spark in his chest. From across the rubble, a familiar figure emerged. Four, pulling a severed tentacle from his back, stumbled forward from beneath the fallen debris. Bruised, battered, but unmistakably alive. He turned toward Three, his eyes meeting his partner's.

"Three?"

"Four!"

Without hesitation, Three bolted toward him as Four limped forward to meet him, weary smiles spreading across their faces. When his foot caught on a loose brick, Three was there in an instant, catching him before he could fall. The two clung to each other in a desperate embrace, afraid that some sick illusion would rip them apart. Four's head rested against Three's shoulder, and Three's hand combed through his partner's hair, knocking the blue cap to the ground.

He's okay, they nearly wept in relief.

The rest of the Crew rush in from the tunnel and seeing the sight, relief merged into triumphant cheers. Hugs and victorious high-fives were exchanged, while Meggy and Tari shared a longing kiss in the background.

But their moment was cut short as a harmless Princess Peach, half-human and half-monster, rose from the wreckage alongside Puzzles, dizzy and now reduced to a Leggy-like state: just a TV head on two tiny feet. They all quickly went over to deal with that.

Three and Four, still clinging to each other, broke apart reluctantly. But as Three stepped back, he froze, his ruby eyes widening—not with fear, but with awe. Almost admiration.

"What?" Four asked.

The Crew went over to join them and seemed to notice what Three was seeing, more of confusion than anything else. Mario scratched his head as his mustache grew comically. "Woah, what happened to you."

"Okay, now you guys are starting to freak me out."

Three picked up a shard of shattered glass and handed it to Four. "See for yourself."

Hesitant, Four took the makeshift mirror and peered into it. What he saw made his breath hitch. His right eye was its familiar blue, but his left... was a vivid magenta.

"Oh god, did I turned into a damaged OC now?!"

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Four pushed passed the bushes, the buzz of cicadas played along with him humming the Super Mario theme song. Knowing the route like the back of his hand, he took a sharp right at a familiar pine tree, the goo around his feet slithering forward to clear fallen branches from his way.

Ever since what happened, Four and Horus had come to a deal: Four would keep his glitch-like abilities, and in exchange, Horus would be free to roam from time to time. Just as it's doing right now, Horus didn't want Four to go through the whole puking-my-guts-out ordeal again. Four was okay with this arrangement. In fact, he often joked that Horus was his version of "Venom". Though Horus corrected him with "symbiote", he at least gets it.

This wasn't the only resolve Four went through. He made amends with Princess Peach, apologizing extensively for what she had endured. While they didn't see eye-to-eye on everything, he felt guilty all the same. To his surprise, she forgave him. Although half her body remained in its monstrous form, she saw it as an opportunity for personal change while receiving treatment from SMG1 and SMG2's meme powers. Besides, she'd already gotten her revenge with that punch earlier—and it felt so satisfying.

Then there was Mr Puzzles. The "perfect video" had stripped away his creative control powers and the red tentacle monster that slithered within his wires, leaving him practically harmless. As much as Four and Horus wanted to punch through his screen, vengeance can't be mistaken for justice. The Crew settled on imprisonment with occasional therapy sessions. According to Horus, there was a child caged in his mind, wishing for closure. Whether Puzzles chooses to change was up to him. Forgiveness, if it ever came, would take time.

The trees thinned as Four entered a familiar clearing, the stars welcoming him. There, sitting within the field of white lilies, was Three staring out at the horizon. His purple cap laid nearby.

Without needing to look back, Three shook his head. "You should be resting, Four."

"And miss this view? Not a chance." Four approached, settling beside him. "So, what's on your mind?"

Three sighed, leaning into the shoulder Four offered. "It's been bothering me since that day. Had a nightmare... one where I made the wrong choice."

Before pulling the trigger, Three has seen a vision—a glimpse into a where he'd gone through with it. Where Four died. Three would've felt their cosmic link sever, the universe losing a Meme Guardian and he would know too late he made the worst mistake. Four's body would've vanished, along with every memory their friends had of him.

Three would've forgotten everything too—their adventures, their friendship. He would've waken up in his old design, alone in the Internet Graveyard, starting over as a Meme Guardian with a new partner.

And what about the Crew? Without Four, Mario might've lost his goofy charm. The friendships they'd built wouldn't have existed. Everything about Four, gone by a single shot. Three would've lost everything and nothing at the same time because, how could you lose something if you didn't it existed?

He shuddered. "I was this close to killing you, and..."

"But you didn't," Four interrupted gently, taking Three's hand and runs his thumb over the tense knuckles. "You kept your promise."

"It literally happened a week ago."

"Three, look at me."

He obeyed, ruby meeting the mismated blue and magenta. Four smiled. "Am I here?"

"...yes."

"Do you still remember me? Our friends? Your café? The kids?"

"Yes."

"Then remember us just as we are now. And here." Four pressed a tender kiss to Three's temple. "If anything, I feel bad for hurting you guys."

"You shouldn't," Three countered.

"See my point?"

Three opened his mouth to argue but faltered. His shoulders relaxed, a weight lifted at last.

"Don't blame yourself," Four continued, playing with the white ribbon tying back Three's hair. "You saved me... again."

Three smiled faintly, bringing Four's hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to it. "Always. But seriously, how many times have we done the whole 'willing my sacrifice my life for you' thing? By all the memes, I've lost count." He earned a laugh from Four. "Still not used to the new look, though," Three pointed out.

"Oh, come on! We match now!" Four gestured to his outfit. His overalls now sported a glitch-like pattern stitched at the hems—cyan on one leg, magenta on the other. The black-cuffed gloves bore the numeral "4" on the back of each palm. And of course, his star earrings. "You can't be the only one looking cool."

"Still not as handsome as me though."

"Hey, you're the one who said I looked pretty with my new eyes."

"I-I said you looked nice," Three stuttered, a blush creeping up his face. Looking away, he mumbled, "What else you wanted me to say, you baka?"

"That you love me just as much as I love you."

Three turned to him with a deadpan expression and blinked. "Okay, one, that was cheesy. And two, what I said felt completely appropriate."

"So, you do love me," Four teased again, leaning closer. Three rolled his eyes and pushed him back playfully. They didn't need to say it; they both knew. "I still remember your clip."

Four pulled out his phone and played the postcard video the Crew made, how fun it must've been. Their joy lit through the tiny screen. For the man dressed in blue and his wish to bring happiness, this was all he could ask for. At the very end of the video, there was Three's voice—the most earnest he has ever been.

"Hey, scrub. You must've seen what the others had done while you were gone. I don't really know what to..."

He paused, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"Um, y'know our spot? Out there, with the lilies? While you were gone, I went there one night—and no, it wasn't a nightmare this time. Don't make that face, I can already tell. I'm okay, the kids were with me. I've been thinking about us... about you. I never realized how much you mean to me. And I guess I'm wondering what you think. Four, we've been beating around the bush for years, it's getting ridiculous at this point, so I'm gonna risk it all."

Another pause. His past self gulped, mustering up whatever courage he had at the time.

"When you get back, I'll be waiting for you at that field. There's... something I have to tell you. Just... whatever happens between us, I'll still be your partner. Always."

[END OF PART 3 || Part 1 here, Part 2 here]

[seventh-district]

Dying Star

In the back of your mind, you recall something you once heard, something about light, and time, and distance. Space. Something about... how you can still see a star that's already burnt out, because its light hasn't reached earth yet. The ghost of a star that's already died. Only still perceptible thanks to time, and distance.

You remember Sam's words, once whispered to you on this very roof.

"Whatever your choice is... I'm not gonna live forever. I made that decision a long time ago."

You think about dead stars.

You think about time.

- - - - - - -

Sam’s words have been weighing heavy on your mind ever since you discussed your shared future and the various forms it could take. You didn’t realize just how heavy they were until it all came spilling out of your tired mind on a late night spent together beneath the stars.

Pairing: Sam x Darlin' / Reader

Word Count: 4,053

Contains: [angst] [a dash of humor] [a hint of chubby!Sam bc i like 'em strong and soft] [crying] [cuddling (dub-con cuddles with Quinn in the past & consensual ones with Sam in the present)] [emotional hurt/comfort] [implied/referenced dub-con sex (nothing graphic) (in the past between Darlin' and Quinn to be specific) (refer to my Ao3 notes for further explanation)] [mentioned Quinn] [not quite Dissociation i guess but Darlin' does zone-out/get lost in thought more than once] [pet names (Darlin' (obvs.) and honey)] [Reader is Darlin'] [Sam wears a cowboy hat bc i said so] [some passive suicidality from Sam if you squint (hell, maybe you don't even have to squint)]

A/Ns: Well, well, well, here I am, the person who said they wouldn't write any Redactedverse fanfic. I recently felt a mighty need to expand upon the blurb I wrote in this post, and I'm braving my fandom anxiety by sharing it here. pls be nice 2 me abt it

Timeline-wise, this fic takes place sometime after the ‘Talking About the Future With Your Vampire Mate’ audio but sometime before their presumed eventual departure from the house that William gave Sam, given that they've already had the 'turning' discussion but are still on the same roof in this fic.

This is a songfic, inspired by and quoting verses from 3 songs. Those being:

‘Dying Star’ by Ashnikko feat. Ethel Cain

‘Fix What You Didn’t Break’ by Nate Smith

‘No Plan’ by Hozier

The roof of Sam’s house is far from a ‘cushy’ place to relax. But as you lie here next to him under the stars, a knowledge settles within you that you wouldn’t trade the rough shingles beneath you for the softest mattress in the world. Not if it meant there’d be anyone other than him lying next to you.

Some people might counter that it’s an easy thing for you to say, given the number of nights you’ve thrown a balled-up shirt onto one end of a worn-out couch and called it a bed. But some people don’t know you as well as they think they do.

You’ve known luxury. Quinn might’ve been just as content taking his fill on a seedy motel bed as he was wrapped in silks at a Hilton, but he knew how to play up the luxe when it served him to do so. And in the early days as he worked to lure you in, it did. Plush sheets and expensive drinks helped to soften the preordained blows and dull the imminent pain that your nights with him held.

Once you’d latched onto the bait though, he let the act drop one piece at a time, like props collapsing on a stage. After all, what was the point in all of those frivolities when you both knew what you really came to him for? It wasn’t to be wined and dined, it wasn’t to be dressed up and shown off, and it wasn’t even to be slowly stripped of it all, laid out across the rolling clouds of a pillowy mattress.

It was to be used. Tranced. Restrained. Bitten. Drank from. Choked. Hit. Edged. Denied. Made to writhe and whine and bleed and plead. Plead for more, for less, for nothing, for anything. Anything to quiet your mind and fill the ever-expanding void inside you where you suspect love was supposed to live.

That’s what you both really wanted.

At least, that’s what you told him you wanted.

That’s what you told yourself.

You only got what you asked for.

To your right, Sam stirs, stretching gently with a yawn. The soft noise he releases as he does so reminds you of where you are, and you trace back through your thoughts to find how you got so lost.

…Right. Luxury.

While your relationship with Quinn certainly changed over time, you never forgot what it felt like in the beginning. 

You remember nights laid next to him, body sore, mind quiet. Quinn’s idea of aftercare was lacking to say the least, but you had nothing better to compare it to at the time, and you’d take what you could get. At least your head felt empty, and the bed was soft. Exhaustion would pull you under soon enough.

The mattress, sheets, and pillows enveloping you were likely worth more than you even made that past month. ...Or several. You found that display of luxury hard to be impressed by though, when it wasn’t the type of comfort you’d been seeking.

As Quinn shifted in his presumed sleep, pulling you in tighter, you didn’t fight it. You found yourself unwilling to fight anything he did, like his mere presence was enough to drain the fight right out of you. You told yourself that you were okay with that. Because you wanted it.

Lying there with your head on his bare chest, you took a deep breath and told yourself that you liked the stench of cheap cologne, poorly masking the cigarettes and alcohol on his breath. You silently told yourself that you liked everything. You liked the pain that he chased with hints of pleasure. You liked the loss of power, the way you couldn’t fight back if you wanted to once he looked you in the eyes. You liked all the things he said, no matter how much the truth might hurt.

He was right, you supposed. Your desires, the things you craved, the depravity that you so enjoyed, wasn’t normal. It was uncommon, unusual, and in the eyes of some, unfathomable. To possess such dark desires, there must be something truly broken inside you.

How lucky you were, to have found someone willing to indulge you. Someone that could give you everything you wanted, and be so kind as to keep it a secret too. He promised that word of the things he did to you, the things you let him do, would never get out. You remember the way he held your hand as he told you, falling for the guise of sincerity in his eyes. You remember his warm smile, and his razor sharp teeth.

You remember seeing that exact same smile on his face through one-way glass as he sat across from Sam and told him everything.

You stood in that room and thought back to those nights of luxury. To the feeling of his nails ghosting over the freshly healed punctures in your neck. To the way he held you against him. You remember laying there, lifeless, feeling like prey playing dead. Afraid to move, afraid to disturb him. But why? He hadn’t threatened you. He never told you that you had to stay. He never said that you couldn’t move, or pull away. So why did you feel that way?

As you stood, helplessly witnessing hours of his slander in that interrogation room, you understood. Your rose-tinted glasses had long since shattered, and you saw that smile for what it was. It was the smile of a man playing a dangerous game, brimming with satisfaction, thinking he’d won.

The radio near you begins to crackle, static obscuring the hosts voice as they announce the upcoming song. Sam doesn’t even open his eyes, just raises a hand and reaches out, blindly adjusting the antenna of the old device.

You’ve teased him for holding onto it for so long, as he is wont to do with damn near all of his possessions. But as you watch him deftly extend and angle the antenna with practiced care, the response he once gave you proves itself true once again.

“I don’t wanna replace it, Darlin’. It’s not broken. It just needs someone who knows how to make it sing again.”

The static clears, and music flows through the radio’s old speakers once more.

You watch Sam return his hand to its prior position beneath his head, acting as a makeshift pillow of his own. The way he’s lying has his hat pushed forward, and it’d be doing a damn good job of shielding his face from the sun if it weren’t somewhere around midnight at the moment. Still, it suits him somehow, despite its lack of any practicality. All he’s missing is a stalk of wheat between his teeth and a tree to lean against and he’d be the spitting image of the cowboy he swears he isn’t.

His other hand rests on the soft curve of his stomach, rising and falling again as he breathes. He’s the image of peace in moments like these, and you’re drawn to it like a moth to flame. Maybe one of these days you’ll find some of your own, but for now you’re more than content to bask in his.

As you admire him, he takes a slow, deep breath and you mirror it on instinct. The grounding practice helps you leave your mind and return to your body, if just for a moment. In doing so, you realize just how tense your ruminations have made you.

You relax your hands, releasing the blanket beneath you from your iron grip. You brush your palms over it, worried that you’ve torn the fabric once you realize that your nails had halfway shifted to claws. You don’t fret much over damage to your own possessions, but this blanket is Sam’s and you’d hate to ruin it. Though, you suppose he doesn’t prize it too much or he wouldn’t have laid it out here across the roof in the first place.

“If I buy somethin’ it’s because I wanna use it. Now quit frettin’ and get over here.” You recall what he told you earlier as he patted the blanket next to him in invitation, and you smile.

Doing a small stretch of your own, you release the tension in your shoulders, turning your attention back to the stars above you. For a while, you let the soft music wash over your tired mind.

“I asked him not to kill me politely. He drained my magic core, bottled up at the source. I washed up on the sea glass shores. I’m nobody's captive.”

In spite of your best efforts to relax, you’re still subconsciously futzing with the loose threads of the old blanket beneath you.

You’re made aware of it when Sam reaches a hand down, gently laying it over yours and effectively stilling your anxious motion.

“Burning like a dying star, invasive weeds rooted in my heart, set in a crooked trajectory. The journey here was hard, I was almost pulled apart. Trying to leave his orbit took what’s left of me.”

You flip your hand over beneath his so you can hold it properly, lacing your fingers together.

For reasons beyond your understanding, emotion tightens your throat, the threat of tears pooling in your eyes.

…You must be more tired than you thought.

As minutes pass and one song fades into another, your gaze dances across the blurry, scattered points of light in the dark sky.

“You were the star in the pitch black, shine the way on the way back. Out of nowhere, answered all my prayers.”

Sam’s always been so much better at identifying stars and finding constellations. But as the music plays, you begin to see one of your own.

“Picked up the towel that I threw in, took in a heart that was ruined. Showed me the past ain’t a tattoo, loved me even when you didn’t have to.”

“Sam.” You squeeze his hand to get his attention.

He squeezes back in acknowledgment. “Hm?”

“I want you to look at something.” You swallow back the emotion that tries to seep into your voice, but it catches his attention all the same.

He leans up and lifts his hat from his head, setting it aside near the radio. He then reaches to turn a dial back, lowering the music’s volume to give you his full attention.

You release his hand, raising yours up as he turns back to face you. You don’t say anything at first, nearly too lost in your own mind to realize you need to actually voice your developing thoughts.

"What—what're you pointin' at Darlin'?"

Your hazy focus is trained on the brightest star visible in your line of sight, arm stretched out to the sky above you. "That really bright one, to the... to the left."

Sam does his best to follow your less-than-specific directions of 'to the left', your pointed finger doing little to help given the difference in perspective. Luckily, after all these years, he knows this stretch of night sky like the back of his hand, so it isn't hard to locate the brightest one. Ghosting his fingers up along your exposed wrist where your sleeve had slipped back, he takes your hand in his again and brings it back down to earth. "Okay, yeah, I see it now. What about it though?"

"That's you." You say, matter-of-factly.

"That's me?" He questions, humor in his tone.

"Mhm." You nod with finality, blinking slow.

Sam considers the odd statement for a moment before gently correcting you. "I'm uh, I'm pretty sure that's Sirius, actually."

You scoff. "I am being serious."

Sam stifles a laugh. "No—no I mean—like... what's another name for it... Oh, it's also called the Dog Star."

"C'mon Sam, at least call it the Wolf Star if you're trying to turn this around on me..."

He shakes his head and readies himself to explain further, but you cut him off before he can start. "But no. No, this isn't about me. That's you."

He decides to play along, finding something endearing in your overtired nonsense. "Okay... then would'ja be so kind as to explain to this confused old man just how, or why that star is me?"

Your frown is audible in your voice as you latch onto the wrong part of his sentence. "You're not old, Sam. ...Do I need to tell Asher to kick the jokes down a notch?"

He smiles at your over-protectivity. "There'll be no need for that, now. Was just a joke, honey, I promise."

You huff, but begrudgingly shift focus back to the prior topic. "It's... I dunno. It's just you, Sam. It's... bright. Light. Something warm, out there in the cold dark. Standing out amongst all the rest. Calling to me, stealing my attention.”

Sam’s brow furrows as you continue to explain, realization setting in that you really are being serious.

“I... I didn't come out here looking for it, but there it is. ...And there you were. In the dark. The only bright thing I'd seen in... fuck, in years. Years of chasing fleeting warmth, tripping over myself in the pitch black, falling into... places and people that I shouldn't have. You were the light in that darkness. Even there, at Wonderworld, surrounded by the ghost of him. Your warmth, your presence, your aura—even with all of your walls up, you outshone it. Your warmth didn't hurt. I didn't have to squint when I looked at you. You weren't the blinding sun. You were the brightest star I'd ever seen. You guided me home."

In the back of your mind, you recall something you once heard, something about light, and time, and distance. Space. Something about... how you can still see a star that's already burnt out, because its light hasn't reached earth yet. The ghost of a star that's already died. Only still perceptible thanks to time, and distance.

You remember Sam's words, once whispered to you on this very roof.

"Whatever your choice is... I'm not gonna live forever. I made that decision a long time ago."

You think about dead stars.

You think about time.

"...-lin'? Darlin'?" Sam's calloused hand squeezes yours tight, his urgent tone pulling you out of your thoughts. "There you are. Think I lost ya' for a minute there... you good?"

You look up at Sam, concern creasing his features, faint shadows cast across his face from the light of the dying stars above him.

You reach out, pulling him down into you. He falters for a moment at the sudden proximity, but quickly embraces you in turn. Burying your face into his collar, Sam's concern grows when he feels it saturate with tears. A human might struggle to hear your words, muffled against the thick flannel, but his hearing catches them just fine.

"Don't burn out too quickly. Please. I still need you here. I don't—I don't wanna be left in the dark again. Please, please Sam. Don't leave me here. I'm not selfish enough to ask you for forever, but please. Not yet. Not yet. Not yet."

The words feel like a weight being lifted from your shoulders, but with it comes a flood of emotion they’d been holding back. You cry harder into him, and as much as it pains Sam to witness, he lets you feel it, for as long as you need.

Your fear of losing him manifests itself physically, nails curling and sharpening again. When he feels them prick his skin through the fabric of his shirt, he calls your name but doesn’t pull away. Instead, he leans further down into you, letting his weight ground you. “Darlin’, I am right here. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

As you eventually cry yourself out, enough wherewithal returns to you to realize that you should probably release the poor man from your grasp, and the awkward position you pulled him into. When he pulls away enough to see your face, you notice a string of snot running from your nose to his shirt collar. Quickly batting it away out of embarrassment, you cringe, voice thick as you apologize. “Eugh, gross. Uh… sorry. About that.”

He shakes his head, laughing good-naturedly as you wipe at your nose with your jacket sleeve. “It’s completely fine, honey. After all, I’ve been covered in plenty of your, uh… various fluids before. When you come from my line of work, this is child’s play.”

He leans to his right, reaching back and pulling—of all things—a handkerchief from his jeans’ left back pocket. You laugh at his words, and at the sight, but with how congested you are it turns into more of a hacking cough than anything. Accepting his offering, you blow your nose into the black patterned fabric.

As soon as you can speak somewhat clearly, you can’t stop the teasing remark that slips out of you, gesturing with the wad of fabric in your hand. “You know, you really aren’t beating the cowboy allegations with stuff like this.”

He rolls his eyes but his soft smile remains. “It’s a practical thing to have on me, ‘allegations’ be damned.”

You shake your head with a smile of your own, but don’t disagree. As you’re visibly unsure what to do with the dirtied fabric, he takes it from you, setting it aside. “I’ll toss it in the wash when we go back inside. Along with my shirt, and…” He eyes you for a moment. “…that jacket of yours too, given how long you’ve probably been wearin’ it.”

Normally you’d argue that it hasn’t been that long, but come to think of it, you actually can’t recall when you last washed the thing.

Reaching up and rubbing your temples, you already regret your crying fit as a headache begins to set in. “Fuck, Sam... I’m sorry for… whatever that just was. I don’t know what came over me.”

His expression falls into something serious again. “You never need to apologize for feeling. And it certainly seems like… you needed to feel that.”

You nod quietly, but don’t elaborate, prompting him to question you gently. “Darlin’. What was that about? The—the askin’ me not to leave. Are you… afraid that I’m gonna leave you?”

You close your eyes, weighing out your response. “…Not in the sense that you’ll break up with me or something, no.”

His gaze narrows and his head tilts as he rolls your answer over in his mind. “If it ain’t that, then—” He remembers how you mentioned ‘forever’ and cuts himself off as the puzzle pieces start coming together. “Oh. …Oh, Darlin’, no.”

You open your eyes to watch as he shifts from leaning next to you, moving to sit up beside you. “Is this about what I told you, when we sat up here and had our uh… turning discussion?”

You hate to admit it, but you nod in confirmation. “…It’s your choice, Sam, and I never want to take that away from you. I shouldn��t have said what I just did, I—I don’t want to make you feel guilty, or like you have to stick around for my sake. But I’d be lying to you if I said it hasn’t been playing on my mind. The thought of you… leaving. Like that.”

He reaches up, running a hand through his hair. “I… think I maybe should’ve been a bit more clear, when I said that. Because I wasn’t talking about any time soon. I didn’t want to give you the false impression that I plan on sticking around for centuries, but… I also wasn’t trying to imply that I’ve got plans to do it next week either.”

You bolt upright, voice cracking. “Next week?! I sure as shit hope not!” You grab your head, pain flaring and suddenly dizzy from the quick shift in position.

He places a hand on your shoulder to steady you. “I’m not, honey, I’m not. Did you catch the rest of my sentence? I’ve got no plans to leave this world any time soon. I promise.”

You groan, head pounding. “I heard you, I did, I just—fuck, I don’t even wanna think about you leaving so soon. Here I am, stressing, thinking I’ve only got—I don’t know—some odd years left with you, and…” You sigh, trailing off.

Sam stays quiet for a minute, letting the crickets sing.

Eventually, he interrupts their chorus. “…Can I get closer to you?”

You nod. “…Please.”

He closes the gap between you, carefully wrapping a strong arm around your curled shoulders. “You’ve got way more than a couple years. I promise you that.” Your tension begins to ease a bit as he clarifies. “You… you’ve helped me find a life that I actually feel like livin’ again, for the first time in a long time. And I want to experience it with you for as long as I can.”

“…Really?” Your voice sounds so small, so unsure, so… unlike you when you question him that he wants to kick himself in his own ass for the role he unintentionally played in making you feel this way.

“Yes. Really. I mean—” His voice takes on an edge of humor. “If you decide to set your sights on the year 3,000…” He shakes his head. “I don’t know about that. But as far as the 21st century is concerned? …I think I’d like to see it through. For as long as you’re there to see it with me.”

His words cause fresh tears to well up in your eyes, and you sniff in an attempt to hold them back. The sound catches his attention, and he leans forward, thumbing across your warm cheek. “…I’m makin’ you cry again…”

You shake your head, clearing your throat. “No—No, it’s okay. It’s good. They’re… they’re good. It’s… relief.”

He breathes out a relieved sigh of his own. “Yeah?”

You nod, leaning into him. “Yeah.”

As you rest against each other, breathing in the cool night air, you nudge him with your shoulder. “Can we… lay back? For a bit?”

He squeezes your arm in gentle confirmation. “Of course.”

He twists and reaches back to straighten the wrinkled blanket beneath you, before laying out across it himself. The radio crackles as he turns the volume back up a bit. Watching him with tired eyes, you smile at the sight of him patting his chest in habitual invitation.

“Sit in and watch the sunlight fade. Honey, enjoy, it’s gettin’ late. There’s no plan. There’s no hand on the reign. As Mack explained, there will be darkness again.”

Curling up against his side and laying your head on his chest, you release a heavy sigh when his hand comes up to rest on your shoulder. As his fingers press rhythmically into the tense muscle beneath them, you breathe in his scent. Black coffee and wildflower honey… he smells like home.

“Your secret is safe with me, and if secrets were like seeds, when I’m lyin’ under marble, marvel at flowers you’ll have made.”

You reach your hand out across his broad chest, slipping beneath his open flannel and sliding down to rest on his waist. He sighs, relaxing further beneath your touch.

“My heart is thrilled by the still of your hand. That’s how I know now that you understand.”

Yeah, you’ll take this over ‘luxury’ any damn day.

“There’s no plan. There’s no race to be run.”

Laying there with him, listening to the low hum of the radio, the moment grows so comfortable that you almost hesitate to break it.

“The harder the pain, honey, the sweeter the song.”

“…Sam?” You whisper into the night.

His hand sweeps across your back before returning to your shoulder. “I’m here, Darlin’.”

“There’s no plan. There’s no kingdom to come.”

You smile. “I… I’d like to be there, to be here, to see it through with you, too.”

It takes him a moment to recall exactly what you’re referring to, but when it hits him he hums a low understanding tone, clearly pleased. “Then let’s see where it takes us, yeah?”

“But I’ll be your man if you got love to get done.”

He presses a soft kiss to your temple. “We’ve got plenty a’ time.”

A/N: Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed. You can find my extensive notes and commentary on this fic right here on Ao3. My Sam & Darlin' Playlist My Sam Playlist My Darlin' Playlist My Sam & Darlin' Moodboard My Sam Moodboard My Darlin' Moodboard Header Image Credit: Gage Smith on Unsplash

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Flufftober Day 3: "You Love me?" "I Always Have"

Fandom: Daredevil Pairing: Daredevil x Detective!Reader Word Count: 2277 words Summary: You’re the lead detective on the team hunting down the vigilante known as Daredevil. You have no leads, until your boyfriend stumbles through your front door, half dead, and wearing that damn suit. 

His face. You could never get over how peaceful he looked asleep. The way his eyebrows smoothed out, and the tense lines around his eyes disappeared. He looked like he had never been worried in his life. Like people weren’t trying to kill him on a daily basis. Like the bruises and cuts marring his beautiful face didn’t exist. 

Like you hadn’t peeled his half dead body out of his Daredevil suit the night before and spent every second since making sure he didn’t die. 

It made sense. Of course it did, but… 

You thought he was having an affair. 

To find out he was the city’s most loved and hated vigilante didn’t make it any better. No, it made you furious and sick to your stomach. You’d been sharing the same bed for weeks now and he hadn’t thought to share this giant secret about himself. He’d let you think all those bruises had come from accidents at work and from ‘just being blind’. Not from fighting mercenaries and killers.

You’d lost track of all the times ‘Daredevil’ had shown up in some newspaper or whispered about at the coffee stand. He was the most talked about man in the city, the man your bosses had tasked you with tracking down—and he was also your boyfriend. 

Clinking and a sudden intake of breath brought your attention back to your room. He was awake. 

You didn’t move as Matt tugged at the handcuffs chaining his wrist to the headboard. His eyes grew round with panic and then pain as he undoubtedly ripped apart some of the stitches you’d worked so hard on. Your heart ached, but you didn’t move to help him. If the articles were to be believed he’d faced far worse than this. 

You hardened your heart. Answers first. 

His head snapped around to you and something clicked in your mind. He stared right at you, like he’d heard the twinging of your heart. And there was something in his eyes that told you he knew it was you sitting across from him. 

But he’s blind! How can he—

You crossed one leg over the other and waited. Waited to see what excuses he’d scramble for. What lies he’d spew. 

“What happened?” he rasped instead, like he knew what you were waiting for. 

Your hands tightened, his mask creaked in your fist and his head turned to it. Again it confirmed the understanding forming in your mind. 

A similar understanding settled on his face. Matt pushed himself up against the pillows, wincing as the movement tugged at his injuries.

“You cleaned me up,” he said softly. “After I came home.” 

“After you fell through the door,” you corrected. “Bleeding and unconscious.”

Matt winced. “You were supposed to be out tonight.” 

You clenched your jaw, your nostrils flaring. “Clearly.” 

“Y/N—” He reached out for you, only to jolt back against the handcuffs and wince at the pain. 

You crossed your arms over your chest and leaned back, settling into silence once more. It was the only weapon you had left, the only thing to shield you from everything threatening to overwhelm you. 

Matt slumped back against the pillows, his face turned away from you. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he murmured. “For you to find out like this.” 

Your nails bit into your palms to keep from replying but silence was impossible. “Were you ever going to tell me?” 

He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to. If he’d been slightly more aware of his actions last night, he would have collapsed somewhere else and then pretended to have fallen asleep at work when he eventually came home. 

Nausea swirled in your throat. He’d used that excuse before; that’s how you knew he would have used it this time. Just last month he’d ‘passed out’ amidst case files at the office, only for him to show up the next day with a cut across his eyebrow—the one he’d said came from walking into a door. 

You wet your lips, your mouth suddenly dry. “Foggy and Karen know, don’t they?”

He nodded and you looked away. Of course they did—they’d probably lied to you every time they made excuses for him. 

How had you not seen this earlier? You were a cop for gods’ sake! How had this man been able to lie to you so easily for all the months you’d known him? For all the weeks you’d been fucking!

Because you didn’t want to see the truth, a small voice inside you whispered. Because it was easier to see the mundane than to see that the vigilante you’ve been chasing for the past month is the man you’ve fallen in love with. 

“They wanted me to tell you. But I didn’t want to put you in danger.” 

You scoffed at that. Right, of course. “You just didn’t want me to catch you.” 

His voice was soft when he said, “I didn’t want you to have to choose between turning me in or lying for me.” 

You threw his mask at him, glaring at him as it bounced harmlessly off his chest. He didn’t even flinch and that just pissed you off even more. “Like that’s even a decision, you idiot!” Your eyes burned with tears. “How could you even think I would turn you in!”

Matt seemed to hesitate. “Because you’re leading the task force hunting me down.”

You rolled your eyes. “And I have made my stance on that very clear! Daredevil—you—have been doing a far better job at keeping the streets safe than we have in years. We’re understaffed ninety percent of the time, and if you’re not on some asshole’s payroll, you’re too exhausted from picking up everyone else’s slack! I’m only on that investigation to make sure you get a fair deal if you’re caught!” 

He seemed to freeze, and an odd look passed over his face like he’d never even considered what you were saying. “You’re…on my side.” 

How fucking dare he doubt that! 

“No.” You smiled sarcastically. “I’m secretly on the side of every capitalist asshole in this town who wants to chop your head off.” You narrowed your eyes at him. “If I wasn’t on your damn side, Matt, do you really think I’d have stayed awake the whole night making sure you didn’t die on me?”

Matt tipped his head back. “Then what’s with the police regulation handcuffs?”

“Because I’m still mad at you, you idiot!” You threw the nearest object—a pillow—at him. “You collapsed through the front door covered in blood and spandex! I thought I was being robbed!” You ran your fingers through your hair. “And then I thought someone had left me a weird-ass fucking present when I realised it was my target, only to have a fucking heart attack when I saw it was you!”

You stood up, chest heaving and breathing fast. “Do you have any idea what it was like to have to check the pulse of the man I love every hour to make sure he’s still alive? To have to peel off his superhero suit and spend the whole night keeping him from bleeding out?” You furiously swiped at the tears suddenly streaming down your cheeks. “My job is the last thing on my mind right now. But since I am still a cop, of course I fucking put handcuffs on you because I want answers before you run away!” 

You spun around to throw that last bit at him, only to freeze in place at the stunned look on his face. 

“You love me?” he whispered. 

Your heart stumbled. “That’s the part you focus on?”

He strained forward in his handcuffs, swallowing roughly. His chest heaved like he was out of breath at just the idea. “You’ve never said it before.” 

“I– you—” you stammered, lost for words as the conversation jumped to another track entirely. You shook your head and pointed at him. “No. Stop it. Don’t try and change the subject! You lied to me!” 

Matt closed his eyes, sobering a little. “I didn’t want to hurt you,” he whispered finally. “Even before you were on the task force, I didn’t want you worrying about me.” 

You stared at him in disbelief. “Are you fucking serious?” 

He swallowed. He genuinely seemed to believe not knowing equaled not worrying your ass off.

You threw your hands up. “You’d come home most days with bruises all over you! Do you really think telling me you got them from bumping into things made me feel better? I was constantly worried about you!” Almost every day you had worried about him walking around the city and getting injured or robbed. “Clearly I didn’t have to worry since you’re out fighting crime!”

You spun on him then, the curiosity burning too hot for you to be able to ignore. “And how do you do that? Huh?” You advanced on him, finger pointing until you were close enough to jab him in the chest. “Are you even blind?” 

“Yes,” Matt said softly, not moving away. “I am.” 

“But?”

Slowly his hand came up to hold yours. When you didn’t pull away, he wound your fingers together. “But I can hear how fast your heart is beating, and I can smell the blood in the washcloths you used to clean me earlier. It forms a…picture in my head of what is happening. So I do see…in a sense.”

“And what? You use that to fight crime?” You let out an exasperated breath. “If you’d just told me that, I wouldn’t have had to worry about you being mugged in a dark alley!”

Matt frowned a little, tilting his head. “You’d prefer me getting in fights than being mugged in an alley?” 

You gave him a pointed look. “I’ve seen you fight, Matt. I’ve seen Daredevil beating up an entire gang with guns and not even getting a scratch!” 

Had he really forgotten the time your team had ‘almost’ captured him a few weeks ago? You’d arrived in time to see Daredevil knock out four muscled thugs with a couple of flips. Sure, if you’d known that it was Matt rather than some random person, you would have been worried for him. But there was no way you would have been even half as worried as you had been thinking he was hopelessly clumsy. 

You have a hell of a lot of grovelling for that, Matthew Murdock. 

He managed to look chagrined at that. “Sorry.” When your eyes narrowed, he squeezed your hand. “I am, sweetheart. I should have known better than to hide the truth from you. I only made things worse.” 

For a moment you were mollified, but then you narrowed your eyes even more. “Are you just saying that to calm me down?” 

The corner of his lips twitched up. You grabbed the pillow and smacked him with it. With one hand still handcuffed to the rail, he reached out to grab it, only to hiss at the pain and so caught the pillow firmly in the face. You swore slightly, but considered it payback for the literally heart attack he’d given you earlier. 

He choked out a laugh, wincing only slightly at the pain. You lowered the pillow and said, “Tell me the truth.” 

“I love you.” 

You dropped the pillow, eyes suddenly burning and chest tight. “That’s not what I asked.” 

“I know.” 

You sucked in a shuddering breath. “You love me?” 

He reached for you with his free hand and entwined your fingers together. “I always have.” 

You sat down heavily beside him, now knowing how he’d felt when you’d said it. Every thought was banished from your brain but those words. I love you. I love you. I love you. 

Neither of you had said it before. And now you’ve both said it while he’s handcuffed to the bed and you haven’t slept. You swallowed thickly and leaned down to press your forehead to his. “Don’t do it again. Please.” 

You knew it was a cop out. The easy way out. He deserved to be reamed out for hours for pulling that shit on you, but in that moment you just wanted to curl up beside him on the bed. 

He loves me. 

Matt pulled back slightly. “I can’t.” You froze. “It’s who I am. I can’t stop being Daredevil anymore than you can stop being a detective.” 

“I meant keeping secrets from me.” 

“Oh.” 

You sighed. “I don’t care that you’re Daredevil. If you’d listened to me earlier,” you squeezed his hands to keep yourself from pillow slapping him again. “You would know how grateful I am for what you do. I accepted the position—as did many others—because I know how much you help the city. I just want you to be safe, Matt.” 

Matt licked his lips. “Yeah?” 

You leaned into the urge and lay down beside him. “I don’t want to change you any more than you would want to change me. Just because we’re in a relationship doesn’t mean we have to become different people. It means we need to trust each other and be honest. And work together. Seriously, if you had just come clean, I could have helped you.”

Matt curled his free arm over your stomach. “Are you saying I have a member of the police on my payroll?” 

You sniffed. “Like you could afford me.” 

He grinned, pressing his lips against your temple. “Then as a favour between allies, do you think you could uncuff me?”

“Not a chance.” You snorted. “Like I’m ever letting you run away.” 

Matt chuckled. “I love you too, sweetheart.” 

Thanks @flufftober for the prompts! I didn't even realise I'd written this one until someone pointed it out to me haha

[humanitys-strongest-bamf]

loving this influx of followers and interacts! <3 pls feel free to msg me and if anyone's interested and i can open up requests so i have an excuse to write more juicy content uwu

actually pls msg me i'm going to run out of oneshot ideas eventually and just be sad

Stay With Me | Canonverse Fluff Oneshot

✧ word count ➼ 1.6k ✧ notes ➼ canonverse, slight divergence from s4 plot (idk i wrote this in the middle of the night ok), just overall sweetness ♡

The sun had just set and you knew you had roughly 10 hours before you had to leave to face both Eren and Zeke, who had full control of the Titans on the island and were leading them down a path of destruction.

You stood outside your tent as you took off your cloak. As your eyes traced over the symbol of the Scouts that was supposed to symbolize the wings of freedom, you felt your breath hitch. Nearly everyone that you had met when you first got initiated into the Scouts all those years ago was gone. It was now literally only you, Hange, and Levi—maybe even less after the battle the following day.

The odds were overwhelmingly against you. The enemy had the ability to transform into deadly Titans. Your ranks have been devastated by just Zeke alone and now you were going to face off against both Zeke and Eren with minimal forces.

Levi was an Ackerman that had a stupid amount of strength when it came to combat. While you could not be fairly compared to Humanity's Strongest Soldier™, you were also a formidable force on the battlefield. However, those factors paled when it came to the Jaeger brothers. Zeke alone, even while injured, brought both of you to the brink of death through a cleverly set trap. If the cards hadn't lined up correctly, both you and Levi would be dead.

A part of you did wish that you had just died so that you could join your fallen comrades, but you knew how much that would destroy Levi.

With a solemn look on your face, you gently undid the buckles around your waist that held your mobility gear in place. As you raised your arms off to pull the harness over your head, you felt a sharp pain on your upper right side and let go of the harness as you lowered your arm, letting out a soft groan of pain.

You took a deep breath as you prepared to lift your harness over your head again.

However, before you were even able to exert any force to lift it, you felt someone walk up behind you and the harness was gently raised off of you. You glanced back and saw that Levi had noticed you struggling and came over to help.

“How’s your wound?” he asked quietly.

"I feel pathetic," you whispered without answering his question, watching as he set your gear down next to your tent. “How the hell am I supposed to fight those two monsters if I can’t even take my own gear off?”

Levi remained quiet as you spoke, lifting up your right arm to check on your bandaging. Seeing that it was starting to come undone, he gently nudged you towards his own tent.

“Come, I’ll swap out your gauze.”

~~~~~

You sat on the floor of Levi's tent with your arm raised, staring at the door with a blank expression as he unwrapped the old bandaging and began replacing it with new ones. You frowned as you saw the fresh blood that had begun to stain the old set of bandages. Levi had said that your bandages were becoming undone, but it seems that the wound had started bleeding again as well.

You looked over at him, grief entering your heart as you thought about what the most likely outcome was for tomorrow's battle that was rapidly approaching.

Once he was done, you both got out of his tent and saw that the majority of the remaining Scouts had gone to sleep in their individual tents. You turned towards him without quite making eye contact and spoke quietly.

“Big day tomorrow.”

"Yeah?" he replied, matching your volume.

"We might not survive this battle," you said with your voice devoid of emotion.

“I know.”

“He already fucked us both over when we least expected it. We should be prepared for anything.”

"I know," he repeated. He knew what you were trying to say. He knew about the thoughts that were running through your mind about not surviving the upcoming battle.

You sighed tiredly as you began to turn and leave for your own tent, unsure if you were going to be able to get any sleep.

"Wait," Levi said before placing his hand on your arm to keep you from turning further. His voice was so quiet it was barely audible.

You stopped turning, but frowned.

“You going to take me off the mission again?”

“No,” he said before pausing, as if he was thinking about how to choose his words carefully.

As you watched him, you realized you knew where his train of thought was going. You felt your heart pounding harder and harder as you slowly looked up at him, staring right into his steel blue eyes.

It was agonizing for the both of you to stand there, wondering what the others' next move was going to be. You both knew what you wanted, and what the other other was offering. You've known it for years at this point. You knew when you brought it up the night before the battle of Shiganshina. You knew when you brought it up at your camp a few weeks ago before Zeke got away. You've known, but by the time you were ready to address it, disaster had struck and you ran out of time.

As a result, Levi felt incredibly pressured on this final night before a big battle. You both had a very close call where you lost nearly everything. It was a miracle that you were still alive.

Before you could think of a proper response, he pulled you into a gentle kiss, relief soaring through his body as he felt you relax into him. He knew why he had latched so hard onto the idea of protecting you. He knew why his mind became murky and cloudy upon the idea of you being in danger. He knew why he was absolutely devastated when he saw your state after the explosion. He had loved you all along, but was too scared to acknowledge it.

You stood there for a few seconds before he slowly pulled away, resting his forehead on yours.

“Keep this between us,” he whispered. “And don’t-”

“-die on me, you idiot.” 

You finished his sentence for him with a small smirk before pulling back and looking up at him. He had noticed that you were slightly blushing and he found himself in one of the rare instances in which he was smiling and sustaining it for more than 5 seconds.

“I’ll see you tomorrow…Levi.”

You shot him another smile as you said his name.

He felt his own smile fade away as you shuffled around, preparing to turn and walk away. His grip on you tightened a bit, signaling you to stop turning. The idea of being away from you placed a strong pressure on his chest that was making it hard for him to breathe properly.

“Stay with me tonight.”

"Hmm?" you said quietly, looking up into his eyes again.

“If we might not live to see tomorrow, then stay with me tonight.”

Your gaze softened as he spoke.

“What happened to keeping this between us?”

"I'm sure I'll think of something," he said as he gently nudged you and you both walked back into his tent.

You were both short enough to be able to fully stand even inside the tent. For the first time ever since you first met him, you felt nervous around him, suddenly aware of the weight that your words now mean to him. Given Levi's past, you recognized that it likely took every ounce of strength he had in him to make that first move.

You saw him begin to take off his own mobility gear and you slowly moved your arm up and down to try to ease the newly wrapped bandages in.

He noticed your movements and walked over to you, gently placing his hands on your shoulders and turning you around to face him.

"Don’t move around too much or it’ll open again. We’re going to run out of bandages eventually."

"Well, I'm not going to be able to sit still while in battle, am I?"

He gave you an exasperated look.

"At least make it so that you don't bleed out in your sleep. You'll stain the sleeping bag."

You had to stifle a chuckle at his comment. Even in this very post-apocalyptic scenario in which you were surrounded by death and destruction, Levi Ackermann was still a neat freak.

"You know, I'm surprised you're even okay with a sleeping bag, given how dirty it can get sleeping on the ground," you teased, a playful grin showing on your face.

"I'm not, but it's not like we have much of a choice."

Just as you were about to retort with some ridiculous, unrealistic method to maintain his need to be clean despite being in the middle of the woods, he had pulled you into another kiss, although you weren't sure if it was just his way of shutting you up.

Regardless, you didn't mind. You shut your eyes as you pressed your body up against him.

Even if you might not survive to see the day after, even if disaster continued to strike, even if you might never see him again, you acknowledged that you at least had him here now—embracing you and loving you like nothing else existed except for the two of you in this very moment.

A/N: yes you can probably tell they're going to do the naughty but it's sweet uwu-vibes naughty

[hellishattempt]

all is fair in love and war. . . jason todd.

it is four in the morning but this idea of the joker kidnapping jason's girlfriend, and hurting her in front of him, has been keeping me awake so here we are.

of course this is going to include violence, blood / gore, descriptive injuries, kidnapping, and other things of that likeness. will also include mentions of hospitals / hospital machinery and leukemia so if you are sensitive / easily triggered by those categories, this is not for you </3

summary : you are the resurrected jason todd's girlfriend, living with your mother and little brother in the crime ridden city of gotham. whenever there is danger near you, the red hood immediately swoops in to save you. this has not gone unnoticed by one particular clown of gotham. so he decides to use you to get to the red hood. && this kinda goes along with the arkham knight route of jason's past.

also i kinda hate how i represented the joker in some parts so bear with me. and this is really long. like. way longer than i anticipated. so. sorry?

with that all being said and done, off we go into this delirious one shot.

        "i'm sorry" tears were falling from the girl's eyes. "i didn't have a choice."

        the boy scoffed. "there's always a choice." he had been led here, sold out by someone he loves once again. first it was his mother, who cared more for her drugs than she did her own son. now, it was his lover. the two women in his life who he was supposed to always be able to trust. and they were the two who had betrayed him. the irony was suffocating. 

        "he took my brother. he took him." the girl was struggling against her bonds, tied to the balcony above him. her fresh bruises and the cut above her eye showed she had put up a fight. "he's only a boy."

        "so was i," the boy's voice cracked. he was twenty - two now, but it was only six years ago when he was trapped in a warehouse much like this one. he was tortured, beaten and abused endlessly for days, weeks, months. a video was taken over the span of the boy's time away. it was sent to his father. the boy's father had done nothing. he was the most powerful man in gotham, and he did nothing. he watched. when he finally did something, it was too late. the boy was dead. the clown had won. 

        "you would've done the same if it was any one of your brothers."

        "i know. it's okay, i'm not mad," his voice sounded distant. she was right, of course. all of his brothers could take care of themselves, and could be scary sometimes, but the boy loved them too much to let them be hurt in any way, even if he doesn't show it. 

        "i'm sorry," she whispered once more. 

         from the shadows, that same maniacal laughter from all those years ago rose up from the balcony. the boy faltered, falling into the arms of two large henchmen, who held him tightly. the clacking of the clown's shoes came closer. "ah, young love. so pure. so innocent." he stepped into the light. "so . . . fragile." there stood the clown prince of gotham in his purple suit and bright green hair combed back neatly. his face was painted snow white, accented with his trademark blood red smile. the red looked so much like fresh blood the boy stole a glance at his girl. the cut above her eye had not stopped bleeding. he became sick to his stomach as the thought of the clown's smile being painted with her blood. joker's green eyes were staring down into the boy's deep blue ones. "hello, jason."

        the room got smaller. it became harder to breathe. it felt as though he had been slammed into a brick wall. he could still hear it. the scrape of the crowbar. the ticking of the bomb. the crunch of his bones. he could feel the metal breaking him again and again. the ties digging into his skin. the iron taste of blood on his tongue. he had spent six months being abused and tortured by this very villain. it took all of his strength not to just shoot the clown down where he stood. 

        "it's so good to see you again, little birdie. how's your back? healed nicely after i broke it, i hope. did you get my flowers? i made batsy promise he'd bring them to your grave." the word grave made jason suck in a breath. he had died. and it had been this clown's fault. now he was here, at the mercy of the joker once more.

      the joker circled the girl, and crouched down to her level. he ran a gloved hand down her arm. "such a beautiful girl."

        "don't touch her!" the red hood shouted from below, struggling against the men holding him. 

        the clown ignored him. "do you want to hear a joke?" the girl nodded, terrified. she could feel his hot breath on her cheek. "good, good. so, what's red and bad for your teeth?" he grabbed something from the dark with one hand, the other caressing her face. "a brick!" laughing his heartless laugh, the brick came crashing down and slammed into her face. the girl fell to the floor, her scream echoing through the abandoned warehouse.

        "(y/n)!" jason's vision rimmed red with fury. he snapped. he wrenched away from his captors, taking both down easily. more of joker's goonies filed into the room. without hesitating, jason killed every single one of them. he would burn the joker down to the ground for hurting her. another scream came from the balcony. jason looked to where she was. the joker had hit her again. distracted, he was easily overpowered. the joker had his people strip him of his utility belt and all weapons. he was helpless. 

        "now, now, birdie, let's not get too excited here. i know you're just dying for your turn, but don't worry. my crowbar is stored safely away, waiting for your return." the joker walked to the edge of the balcony, tossing the brick between his hands. it dripped with her blood. 

        "let her go, joker. it's me you want. not her. leave her out of this," jason pleaded. 

        "ah, ah, ah. sorry, birdie, but no can do! she here is the key to your obedience." the joker just shook his head. he turned back to the girl, "this might sting." the joker continued to hurt her, and jason was defenseless. she grew quieter with every strike, and jason began to worry the joker had pushed too far. 

        "(y/n). . ." jason breathed. the joker had forced her to stand, and jason got a look at all the damage that had been done. her face was swollen and scratched. the smooth skin now rough and uneven. her hair stuck to her sweaty forehead, matted in knots mixed with dirt and blood. her eyes flitted open and jason got a glance at her irises. one was red from the cut above it. her eye was trying to push the blood out, so it looked as though she was crying bloody tears. her white shirt had been ripped open, revealing her lacy black bra. it was jason's favorite of hers because of the way it defined her features. the lace was torn, and the straps were fraying, slipping from her shoulders. right under her collarbone was red and irritated. the joker had written something on her, much like the "J " he had branded on jason's face. jason tried to make out what it said, but the word was too bloody and too rough to see what it was. her side stained the shirt red, the mark spreading to her stomach. the joker had hit something, and hit it hard. her black flared skirt hid the dark stains of blood well, but jason knew they were there. her long legs were scarred from both the beatings and the jagged floor beneath her. her wrists and ankles were bound by a thorny rope, the material digging into her skin. jason prayed to whatever god what out there that the rope didn't cut too far, for fear of any one of her veins being opened. her bare feet were being stabbed by the jagged iron floor beneath her. blood dripped in a steady stream to the floor below her. the joker had hold of her arm, and it was clear he was the only thing stopping her from falling. 

        "isn't she so pretty? such a pretty, pretty angel." joker grabbed her face. "wait, now hold on a second. she needs a smile." joker pressed two of his fingers against the wound on her side. evangeline winced, losing her balance, while joker raised the two fingers to her lips and painted a smile on her face. "look, we're matching!" he showed off her smile of blood to jason, his trademark smile right next to hers. 

       jason couldn't look. his love, his one, his person, was in this mess because of him. she was bloody, broken and bruised because of him. if he had just stayed away, she wouldn't have gotten hurt. but she was so intoxicating. her voice, her laugh, her tendencies and quirks were things he couldn't live without now. it all started in that damn library with that damn book. pride and prejudice. they had tried to check it out at the same time. it was a cliche meet-cute, but jason wouldn't ask for anything better. he had let her check it out, and when it had been returned a week later, (y/n) had left a slip of paper bookmarked on the first chapter. on the note, it read her phone number. "this is a bit risky, but there's no way in hell i'm passing up a hot guy who reads jane austen. call me! xx (y/n)". that was over six months ago.

       of course jason called her. she had been so damn beautiful when they met. her hair was half up in a knot on her head, the other fell down in cascading waves. her loose clothes hung from her frame, revealing nothing about the shape of the body beneath it. her lips were slightly chapped, and you could tell she bit on it as a nervous habit. her hands had been cracked, dry from the cold weather outside. she had been standing in the sun, so her blue light glasses reflected across those eyes, and they shone in response.

       they set up a date. they were going to meet at the local coffee shop, just across from the library. again, it was cliche, but jason wouldn't have had it any other way. they sat in that coffee shop until closing, having been there for over six hours. they talked about everything: their families, their likes and dislikes, past pets, childhood, and even their most embarrassing moments. when the baristas kicked them out for closing, neither one wanted the night to end. jason wanted to stay with her forever, wanted to hear her lustrous voice for eternity. she invited him back to her apartment, and he smiled so wide as he accepted. they stayed up all night- well, jason did. (y/n) fell asleep on the couch at around four am, three fourths of the way through the six hour pride and prejudice movie.

       now here stood the same girl, still just as beautiful, but her beauty was marred by blood and grime. (y/n) looked so helpless in the joker's arms. her broken body was like a ragdoll, limp and lifeless. the sight made jason want to cry and scream and vomit all at the same time. she was so precious and didn't deserve this.

       "please," red hood pleaded once more. the psychotic clown just smiled back at him. "i'm begging you. i'll do anything. just don't hurt her anymore."

       "my, my. you didn't even beg for your life, but you'll beg for hers?" the joker mused, studying jason. jason was on his knees on the floor below him, his hands bound behind his back. he had been stripped of his utility belt and all weapons. his mask was broken and scattered across the floor, and the domino one wore underneath had been removed. his comm link had been ripped from his ear and crushed. no calling for help now. it was just jason and the joker's army.

       "she's all i have left." the words were a whisper, laced with ruin and defeat.

       "then i will take her from you, too." the joker pulled out a shiny revolver from behind his back.

       "no!" jason called out, tears staining his vision.

       glass rained from the ceiling as canisters of smoke gas filled the room. somebody was attacking the warehouse.

       a gunshot rang out. a female voice cried in a silenced scream. a body fell to the floor.

       "(y/n)!"

       just then, four vigilantes landed in the warehouse. the joker screamed out, fleeing from the scene and taking the still body of the girl with him. more goons filled the room as the vigilantes prepared for a fight. the henchmen holding onto jason had let go of him, but he hadn't moved. he was delirious, in shock and unresponsive. a comforting hand was on his shoulder.

       "jason? jason, are you okay? are you hurt?" it was dick grayson, aka nightwing and jason's older brother. "come on, jay. we gotta get you outta here." he hauled his younger brother to his feet, slinging jason's arm around dick's shoulders. jason vaguely took in the scene, seeing spoiler, robin and red robin all fighting off men twice their sizes.

       "she's gone," jason muttered, mostly to himself. "i couldn't protect her, and now she's dead."

       "it's okay, little wing. you're safe now." nightwing's voice was calm. "oracle, red hood's been injured. i can't say how bad, but there's blood all over the warehouse. the joker got to him again. you got to get us out of here." a muffled voice responded to dick's call for help. soon, the batcopter was hovering over them, releasing a ladder for the vigilantes to grab onto. "spoiler, robin, let's go! red robin, come on! we got red hood." the other three nodded in response, running for the swinging rope ladder. but jason's weak body began fighting against dick as he hauled him up.

       "no! i won't leave without her!" he thrashed.

       "without who? come on, little wing. there's bombs rigged all over the warehouse, we got to go."

       "(y/n)! i have to save her. he took her. the blood, it's hers, not mine. please, dick. she's all i have."

       dick ran a gloved hand down his face. "shit. jason we can't do anything now. the joker's gone. we have to get back to the batcave first, then we can start looking for her."

       jason wasn't happy with that answer, pushing himself off dick. nightwing made a motion to robin that he didn't see, and something sharp was in his neck. his body slowed, becoming numb. dick grabbed him once again. they drugged him? hurt flashed in jason's heavy lidded eyes.

       "you bastard. he's gonna kill her," jason croaked. but nightwing just shook his head. then the world went black.

       jason awoke some time later, strapped down to a cot in the batcave's medical bay. dick and bruce were in a heated argument a few meters away, while alfred was tending to jason's wounds. tim and damian were spectators to the argument, but it was clear they were on dick's side. cass, steph and duke were no where to be seen. barbara was at the batcomputer, running back the tapes of the previous night's events. jason turned back to his brothers, where it looked like bruce was about to give up. he caught a few words, but couldn't hear much.

       "-not stable-"

       "-locked up, bruce! he's a hu-"

       "it's not safe-"

       they were arguing over him, jason could tell. sighing, he looked away, staring at the ceiling.

       "master bruce is concerned for you, master jason," alfred's soft voice spoke as the man cleaned his supplies. "you keep running off to track down the joker, and he doesn't understand why. perhaps you should talk to him." the butler left without another word.

       he doesn't understand? how could he not? i had to save (y/n), surely bruce understands that. i failed her yesterday, but i won't do that again. i'll find the joker, and i'll kill him like i should've all those years ago.

       thumping footsteps pulled jason from his thoughts. it was bruce. he took the seat alfred had just occupied. dick, tim and damian had left the room. jason didn't look at his adoptive father, just kept on staring up. no doubt it was bruce who ordered jason be chained down like a rabid animal.

       "jason-" oh no. he was using his tired dad voice. "why did you go after the joker like that yesterday? no one is ever supposed to face him alone." that was a rule bruce had implemented after jason died the first time. dick had nearly murdered the joker when he found out about jason, and bruce had to stop him from going too far. he had already lost one son to the joker, and couldn't lose another. one of the first things he told tim was to never try and face the joker without bruce or someone else there. even then, bruce didn't like the idea of any of his children taking on the clown prince, no matter how many stood against him. the joker was just too unpredictable.

       "i had to save her." his voice was dry.

       "save who, jason?"

       jason said the answer as though it was obvious. it was to him. "(y/n)."

       bruce's sigh could be heard halfway across the world. "jason, how many times do we have to go over this? (y/n)'s dead. she died three months ago."

       the memory played in jason's head without his permission.

       (y/n), lying in a hospital bed with a forced smile stretched across her lips. the heart monitor next to her was slowing, as was her breathing. the girl's cold hands were clasped firmly in jason's warm ones. it was just them in the room, the doctors had left to give them privacy. they were supposed to be saying their goodbyes, but no words could be spoken. she had been diagnosed a few weeks before they met, but had abstained from telling him until a couple months ago.

       "say something, please." her voice was barely above a whisper, but that was all the strength (y/n) could muster.

       "what's there to say? you're going to die tonight, and i can't do anything about it." jason didn't know how to process his emotions, so he had just turned them off. he felt like he was suffocating in this stupid room. "we were supposed to have the rest of our lives together. i had plans for you and me, you know? i was gonna build us a pretty yellow house, far from here. i was gonna marry you, give you a couple of kids, you know? i was ready to drop everything for you. give up my life as a vigilante for you. but now you're gonna die. you're dying right now."

       his words hurt her heart. she wanted that life with him. she wanted kids with him, she wanted to marry him. "i wanna marry you, jailbird." jailbird. it was her nickname for him once she learned he was former robin and now red hood.

       "yeah? really?" he picked up his head, to meet her starry, watery eyes. she sniffled and nodded. jason smiled a little and pulled a box out of his pocket. he got down on one knee and opened the box. inside, was a beautiful wedding ring, given to him by his stepmother, catherine todd. she was a shitty person, and he didn't care for her at all, but the ring was the only thing she left him when catherine died. "(y/n), i love you more than i've ever loved anyone. i didn't even think it was possible to have all the feelings i have for you. please, will you marry me?"

       her tears rolled down her pale cheeks. "yes, of course, baby. of course i'll marry you. i love you so much, jason. i love you so goddamn much."

       (y/n) died hours later.

-----

&&. okay so tbh i didn't know how to end this, and then when i decided i wanted the reader to end up being dead i didn't know how to do that either. so the last like eight paragraphs are kinda just a disaster. oh well. hope you enjoyed and i always take requests! i write anything and everything having to do w dc / batfamily, so don't hesitate to ask for the wildest of things. xx atticus

[weirdcat1213]

volume 9 you say....hmm

i fear for my life to be completely honest

anyway HERE WE GO HERE ARE THE THOUGHTS

chap 1:

-geesus no pls no i dont wanna read anymore

-FLASHBACK TIME :D WIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

-3 days of crying is nothing when youre a trigun fan, am i right people :'D

-no im not fucking suffering cuz while all of that is happening the only thing on his mind is young livio NO IM FINE I SWEAR-

-lmao yeah wolfwood call him out >:D

-"you cant understand how i feel" my brother in christ YOURE SURROUNDED BY ORPHANS

-hmmmmmmmmm i mean im not sure if that applies here but who am i to tell him how he feels, sure buddy. happy for you

-geesus man not the dog, like....WHY THE DOG (i think ik why but still)

-tbh i would also go and ask for an explanation

-nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :c

-ah shit so we're here now oh fuck oh shit okokok cool

-ah yes, sweet bait actually, makes me cry every time

-"once this ark scare is over we'll be living the high life" yeaaaahhhh....about that.....

-YO LEAVE THE ORPHAN ALONE DAMN

-thanks livio :3

chap 2:

-about his age i think hes on his 20s mentally but he looks like hes on his 30s, so hes still an adult but yknow...younger

-oh his eye :0 i love that tiny window between his glasses and his face where you can see his eyes, makes me sad every time

-the coolest mf

-"worse" you say...i wonder who did that to him...

-fuck off, take those fucking tears somewhere else old man

-OOOOOOHHHHH THAT PANEL!!! SO GOOD SO GOOD

-THANKS AGAIN LIVIO (livio's good actions counter: 2 so far) BUT FUCK THAT OLD MAN

chap 3:

-:c

-HES THERE AND HES COMING I PROMISE

-STFU I SWEAR SHUT UP WOLFWOOD PLS JUST ENJOY YOUR STUPID CIGARRETE

-oh ok yeah here we go

-GEESUS MAN, i hope someone kick you ass later

-aw livio noooooo :c

-NAH NO PLS NO BROTHER FIGHT NO NO

-damn

chap 4:

-no that fucking title while theyre bleeding holy crap no stop it nightow stop it

-leave my man alone plsssssssssssssssss

-OH I FUCKING FELT THAT. WOLFWOOD REACHING FOR ANOTHER MAGAZINE AND LIVIO SHOOTING AT THE SAME MOMENT. I FELT THAT

-oh thats...thats kinda hot actually (i say while wolfwood fights for his little life)

-i love nightow taking his fucking time. yes sir i will enjoy a page of the vial dropping from his mouth without any dialogue, thank you sir

-PAIN :D

-SHUT UP OLD MAN

-"please survive"................................im gonna need a million years

chap 5:

-VASH BABY WHERE ARE YOU I NEED YOU

-demon....while hes killing his bro.....i have a limit thats all im saying

-ITS CALLED LOVE BITCH

-HE GIVES A FUCK ABOUT THE HONOR HE JUST WANTED TO PROTECT HIS HOME WTF

-STOP TALKING AND KILL HIM MAN CMONNNN

-oh....he looks so pretty tho. likes he came back to life and is surrounded by his servants....damn that goes hard...

-oh yeah, that arm that had no explanation whatsoever. its ok tho, nightow gets a pass

-ah fuck.....hes here...

-yeap, you could say thats a demon ig

chap 6:

-AH YES SAD FLASHBACK IN MENTAL PALACE MAKES ME GO BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. ONE OF THE BEST THINGS EVER IM TELLING YA :D

-im sorry

-im jumping through the window idc anymore. poor livio man

-"fortitude".........yeah.....

-yeap that is scary as hell RUN WOLFWOOD GET TF OUTTA THERE

-DONT SMILE LIKE THAT YOU FREAK

-NONONONONONON SHUT UP WOLFWOOD SHUT UP

-STOPPPPPPPPPPPP

-STOPL PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE

-DIOS IM NOT STRONG ENOUGH

-orange if you animate this i will punch you but also kiss you in the lips

-i wonder what he means with that bell thats supposed to be tolling. hmmm. maybe its like a "hey come back to reality" kind of alarm thats not sounding

nightow you amazing bastard

[thevampirediariesuniverse-1864]

Edward cullen x reader mate

Ur a new student at forks , you moved from your home town if some no where town in Alabama lol ,and it was your first day of school at forks ! You got dressed in jeans and a t shirt , you looked over your tall body 5”10 and your broad shoulders and hips and the soft squishy stomach you had , you walked out the door grabbing your brother saying “come on y/b/n, we need to go don’t wanna be late”

He said “okay Yn ,let’s go “ your brother was a year younger than you so he was in the 9th grade your a 10th grader this year . Once you two got to school you were greeted with curious on looks , I mean who wouldn’t want to stare at the chief of police’s redneck hillbilly kids .

Soon people ran up to you “ hi ! I’m mike ! It’s nice to meet you !” He said , “ oh hi I’m Yn and this is my brother y/b/n”. Mike said “ we’ll it’s nice to meet you ! Do you guys know how to get to your classes ?” You chuckled “ honestly ! Not a clue ! I could find you a giraffe on this compass but the class I’m supposed to be in …. But a chance “ mike started laughing …

That’s the first thing Edward noticed about you , you were funny , he overheard you conversation I mean your the new gir everyone’s a bit curious but when he chuckled to himself at your remark he turned to look at you … and it hit him like a time of bricks !! His mate !! He found his mate ! He looked at your you were tall … very nice he loved tall women! And your thighs!! Ughhhh he was salivating !! You were THIC !!! And that’s just how he liked his women !! Tall and thicc!

So naturally he followed you around that day , without any of your knowledge of course . The more he saw the more he loved ! How bubbly you were !! It’s like you had no filter you said what you thought at that exact moment , I mean you couldn’t help it ! And your accent was so cute !! All the y’all’s and aints and southern talking ! It’s was quirky and cute !! Just like you !

But somehow on the first day your brother made some enemies. And when break rolled around those jocks cornerd him and started beating on him ! He held he’s his own but there were 3 of them and one of him . Thankfully you came by and saw what was going on. Edward watching closely to protect you . You ran to your brother “ hey get the fuck away from my brother ! You bitch !! “ a look that Edward can only describe as death and as on your face. Grabbing one guys by the back of the shirt slamming him to the ground and got on top of him laying punch after punch.

The guys nose was bleeding and your brother finished off one leaving you and your brother against one jock . That boy hose straight for you but you swerve and mis the punch . Kicking him in the balls, you and your brother stare at tje 3 severely injured bitches that tried to beat you up . “ you fuck with my brother you fuck with me “ and with that you and your brother walked away .

Edward was in pure amazement at you . Your strength your loyalty your love ! He knew you were perfect ! And his . He couldn’t stop telling his family about how you beat those jerks up and how hot you were ! Rosalee already loved you because she heard how you beat up 3 guys ! Girl power ! Boss!! And so did emmet same reason but just because you were strong . Alice thought it’s was sweet if you to defend your family like that. Jasper was impressed as you reminded him of a warrior like himself .

Edward saw you walk in the lunchroom and almost lost his shit ! You had a black eye and bloody knuckles ! You were so fucking hot ! “ she is mine ! She is mine !!! “ edward though over and over again !! Rosalee said “ if you don’t ask her to sit with us I will !” She teased . Edward said “ yeah , good idea rose “

he got up and walked twords you “ hello yn , I was wondering if you would like to come sit with me and my family your brother too of course “ you looked over to your brother who nodded “ of course I would love to “ “ I’m edward by the way “ “ we’ll it’s nice yo meet you Edward I suspect we’ll be fast friends “. Edwards heart was racing .. well it would if it beat , but he could swear he could feel his heart racing his chest tightening love … that’s all he could explain it to be

At that you went and got a tray with your brother and came back to edwards table who pulled the chair out for you sliding it back in to when you sat down . “Thankyou Edward “ “ of course Yn … this is jasper rosalee emmet and Alice “ “it’s nice to meet you all” you said shyly , “ you too dear “ Rosalee said making you blush

You handed your tray to your brother , allowing him to eat it as you always did “ are you not going to eat anything Yn ?” Edward asked “well I’m not that hungry but y/b/n is and he is family “. Emmet mused you on “ family is that inportant to you “ you give him a cold look “ yes it is .. always and forever family above all a vow I swore many years ago “ edward knew he would become your family and one day you would say that about him

Rosalee said “ I like this one ! She’s a fighter ! She loyal and absolutely gorgeous!!! Like look at this woman !! She’s perfect ! “ you blushed so hard “ no please !! Look at yourself ! Your everything I’ve ever dreamed of being and more !! So pretty !!! Like you look like a Greek goddess “. She too blushed too ,Edward became jeleous of you two .

“ what do you enjoy Yn ?” Edward asks. “We’ll I like horse ridding art music and reading and writing “ Edward was really impressed with you “ wow that’s amazing yn “ edwards thiygys trailed away from the conversation as he thought about how he wished he could just take you in his lap and hold you petting you .

Lunch bell rang and you said your goodbyes . School eventually was out and it was of course raining . Because you and your brother had to walk home . But of course Edward came to the rescue ! “ yn , love would you like a ride home “ he asked and opened his passenger door of his Volvo “ my little passenger princess” he thought to himself with a smile “ ummm .. sure yeah it’s cold I have a new found will to live so I’ll take that ride “ edward laughed at that comment and said “ hop in “ edward took your school bag for you dropping it in the back for you and your brother got in also with the rest of the Cullens it was as full car

He drove and the car was full of laughter at your hilarious jokes or comments you were just bubbly and could make anyone laugh and fell completely comfortable ! And you truly loved everyone ! Jasper found it a bit strange how kind and loving you wer but soon saw it wasn’t just an act and you were truly on of the kindest people he’s ever met

You arrived at Charlie a house as Edward walked you to the door . “ I truly enjoyed your company today yn, I hope you eat with us tomorrow “. You smiled “ of course Edward ! I’d love to !” At that you walked in the house closing the door as Edward smiled .

That night Edward became restless at the thoughts of you so he just decided to go and watch you sleep . And so he did . He watched your large chest rise and fall your giant breasts moving . How he loved your body ! How he loved you !! He couldn’t resist and slowly crawled into bed cuddling into you just holding you as you slept protecting you

The next morning came you felt as though someone was watching you .. protecting you . You woke your brother for school to realize he was really sick so you cooked him soup and told him to drink plenty and just reheat the soup if he got hungry .

You set off to school . Arriving you were greeted by Edward who handed you a biscuit. “Picked this up for you while we were at the dinner this mornin thought you might be hungry “ you realized in the first bit this wasn’t a normal dinner biscuit it was a salted ham biscuit your grandparents called them a southern delecasy and no one else’s ate them it was a southern tradition and you couldn’t be more greatfull “ awww Edward !! THANKYOU so much !!! My grandparents made my these biscuits back in Alabama I haven’t had them is so long !!” Edward said “ of course ! It’s no trouble “. “ thankyou Edward really “ you said softly wrapping hi. In a soft hug . He quickly hugged back ! Tightly .

Sadly you had to go your separate ways . But you met up for break and ended up just laying In the grass talking and laughing as you played with his hands . He realized you were probably cold so he wrapped his jacket around you “ Thankyou Edward “ as you cuddled into him . He took in every moment and memorized it by heart .

But of course the bell rang and you had to return to class you tried to give Edward back his jacket but he refused “ no love it looks to good on you “

At the luch table edward asked if you wanted to leave and go somewhere for lunch you said yes and Edward walked you out to his car opening the door for you helping you in .

Lunch was amazing Edward was the perfect gentleman and treated you so nicely paying for the whole thing you went back to his car sitting there for a moment

you ended up in his lap and him stroking your hair as you fell asleep like a little kitten .. his little kitten

[not-quite-girl-nor-quite-boy]

@hanniballecterkinnie well I wouldn’t usually post two fics so quickly, I didn’t think I would write a second part so quickly frankly I didn’t think anyone would care enough to request a second part but I suppose the prompt motivated me but anyway, here you are.

Mafia boss AU pt.2 I might make a part three depending on whether anyone cares or likes this enough to request a part three. If someone does ask for part 3 rest assured it will be much more whump for Castiel. Anyway, have fun @hanniballecterkinnie <3

Slowly dean came to consciousness, the shining warmly on his skin, he shifted slightly frowning gently at the sorness of his arm. He felt the cool smooth panneling on his legs and on his bare arms. He slowly blinked his eyes open seeing his stiff arm with a pale white band around it, seeing it was bandaged the events of the previous day came flooding back. Startled he shot up looking immediately over at cass noting that they were asleep on the floor covered in the blanket from the bed. His eyes shot to cass who was tiredly laying next to him eyes still closed chest rising and falling slowly with the deep breath that always seemed to come with sleep. The sunlight gracing his features like an angel, the golden glow illuminating his skin and making his features look carved by god himself and highlighting his husbands perfect and immense beauty. He smiled running his hand through the raven locks and smiling more as cass nusseled into his hand shuffling towards him only to wince, eyes still closed, at the motion. Dean frowned at that. He stood up slowly ensuring that cass was still wrapped and covered.

He walked down to the kitchen and poured out a large glass of water and orange juice while scrambling eggs and frying some bacon before putting it all on the plates and putting those on a tray. As he returned to the bedroom he heard cass shouting his name and started running up the stairs towards the room.

"Dean?!" He shouted.

"Hey, hey, hey, cass. Its alright, im here youre fine." He smiled walking over to him.

"Why did you do that?! It wasnt funny dean i was terrified. What if the cops had come and taken you away?" Cass exhaled hurriedly.

"Its alright, I'm sorry cassy. I didnt think you would be awake you lost alot of blood yesterday. But hey, breakfast!" Dean smiled sitting down next to cass.

"You cant solve every problem with bacon dean." Cass said.

"But it can solve this one right?" Dean suggested with a cheeky smile.

"You're lucky i love you." Cass smiled back.

"I know." He said. "Now shush. Eat, better yet, drink, i wasnt kidding, you blead all over my car. Replenish your fluids." Dean said pushing the wooden meal tray towards him. Cass just looked at him, his face showing a stark frown.

"I'm so sorry, I'll go and clean it." Cass went to stand.

"Cass, cass no thats not what i meant." Dean immediately comforted at the lack of his husband's stopping, he pulled out the big guns. "Castiel sit down." Cass looked at him owlishly having not heard his full first name from him in ten years, he knew he was in trouble then.

"Im sorry cass, ypure in no shape to be cleaning anything, eat something, drink something. I just meant you were bleeding alot and you need to take care of yourself. The care dosent matter." Dean explained.

Cass still looked sad and guilty but jerkily nodded once and picked up the water and downed it greedily. Dean fought the urge to smile smugly.

"What do we do now?" Cass asked worriedly.

"What do you mean?" Dean asked.

"I mean, what about my job? My partner saw you pick me up and carry me off the scene." He asked.

"Uhh im not sure cass. Dont worry we'll figure something out. Just focus on healing for right now, alright?" Cass sighed and nodded.

~~

Anna glared at cass as he exited their C.O's office.

"Hey Novak!" Anna shouted. "Breakroom." Cass looked around awkwardly before following her to the room.

He closed the door behind him uncomfortably.

"Um... yes?" He asked the redhead.

"I hear youre getting a medal of valour for getting shot in the line of duty." She asked aggressively.

"Yeah apparently. I didnt want them to-" cass said confusedly.

"Seems weird to award someone for jumping in front of a bullet meant for a murderer." She said.

"What's the problem here?" Cass asked.

"I dont believe your convinient little story. A little too convenient if you ask me." She stated.

"Excuse me? I got shot and kidnapped, on your watch as my partner for the record, and this is your reaction? Wow. Why am i surprised you always were cut throat."

"We both know youre lying so tell me the truth or I'll go to uriel." She threataned. "What is your connection to winchester? Why did he care that you were hurt and why did he let you go?"

"No no no you and i both know you have already gone to Uriel, you went to Uriel the sevond i was taken. He thoight you were being crazy. Well you were. Newflash anna, i didnt jump in front of a bullet, i dont have any connection to Winchester, and i have no idea why he let me go." Cass explained patronisingly.

"I know you jumped in front of that bullet. I know it." She recited unsure of if she was convincing him herself cass cut her off.

"No i didnt Milton."

"I know you did because i fired it! I was the first shot before S.W.A.T. i squeezed that trigger. I know it was aimed for Dean Winchester. I never miss." She explained, snapping in the heat of the moment.

"Alright, you have succesfully made it worse." Cass chuckled. "To summarise, simply since we entered the breakroom you have accused me of gross misconduct and of being corrupt with no evidence other than your petty suspicion and you have since admitted to shooting me. Whos threatened by the concept of Uriel finding out now?" Cass asked. Anna swallowed compulsively knowing she had revealed far too much. "Oh and of course, since you didnt ask ill just let you know that coming out of Uriel's office he was telling me i was getting assigned a new partner since ypu were confined to desk work thanks to internal affairs investigating you under suspicion of planting evidence and police brutality. Looks like it wasnt the first time you got a little bit caught up in the moment huh? Youre a bad person and youre a worse cop. Its about overdue for you to face punishment for your actions." Cass taunted at the deranged officer. She was right of course and he was in kahoots with dean, obviously, but he hadnt had anything to do with the evidence planting nor the police brutality but thwy both seemed entirely like things Anna would do having worked with her for years.

He opened the door and strode out of the breakroom walking boldly into Uriel's office.

Anna knew she had a choice to make. She stay and plead her case, she would lose, she was guilty and she knew it, nobody understood though, it was a means to an end. She got results. She had the second highest arrest numbers of anyone in the precinct, second only to that perfect Novak. Either way she knew he would take his side over hers. As long as Cass' numbers stayed high he would be the favourite. So she left. She picked up her jacket, her purse and phone and she left the precint without a word. She got as much cash out at the nearest ATM as she could on each card and she went home. She figured the police would come looking sooner or later and she liked preparedness.

~~

Castiel told Uriel everything Anna had said. Since half the nosey precinct was listening there were plenty of witnesses to back him up. So he was believed. Cass went home that evening and simply collapsed onto the couch into his husband's loving arms.

"I got Anna fired today." He mumbled sleepily.

"Oh good i never liked her, what did she do?" Dean asked loving it when cass relaxed on his chest and let him stroke his fingers through his black hair.

"Police brutality, planting evidence, she accused me of being in kahoots of you and admitted to being the one who pulled the trigger on you, well, me. So i tattled, but she had run, she's been fired and if she ever is found she'll be arrested." He murmered eyes sinking heavily.

"Not if i find her first. She wouldnt live to see the sun again." Dean said angrily.

"Oh relax darling. Shes gone now. We're both alright and we'll both be fine and thats all that matters." He said his breaths levelling and eyes closed. Dean noticed his husband going heavy on him gently slowly. Dean chuckled quietly, pulling a blanket off the back of the sofa onto cass, he may be a wanted criminal but he still had interior design taste and thus had put blankets all over the place, that and cass had always run cold.

He kissed his husband's head and resigned himself to sleeping on the sofa under his loved one once again. Happy to do that he smiled and shifted down somewhat to lay his head on the arm of the chair.

So yeah, Cass is a bit gaslight gatekeep girlboss in this, but I kinda love it, anyway hope it was what you were expecting hanniballecterkinnie and as always, hope you had fun <3

Part 3 upon request only :)

[chryslerisdead]

Pt 3. of my writing so far

---

Afternoon sun filtered into the room cascading bright spots from the windows leaving perfect cat napping spots that were waiting to be filled by two tabbies roaming the living room space while their owners had locked them out of the other rooms for reasons their adorable brains might not know about yet. One tabby generously stretches as he found his ideal spot by the rear window that not only had sun, but open space for the nimble creature to lay comfortably on the window ledge cozening in a ball. Across the room the other tabby tried to find a spot suitable as he finally landed on a sunny patch by the floor as rainbow reflection mingled with the striped fur as he stretched resting on the floor finally comfortable. Though not all was quiet in the house, no noise came from the kitchen nor the living room outside of the cats; upstairs was much the same with the bedroom and first office to the left quiet as well leaving the farthest room in question. There was a quiet bleed of noise coming through the door with soft sounds of talking, which sounded like murmuring of someone in a light conversation. (This is from a WIP I started months ago.) 

---

The street lights shimmering against the rainy puddles as each droplet ripples into the cobble streets causing small reflective halos to shine going rather unnoticed. Shadows and movement muddle up the angelic lights with two figures standing facing each other seen in a large window shining those same lights onto their heads as the illusion of their being ascending into realms above. If only that was the truth, the only thought coursing in the mind of the shorter person was how gorgeous their now rueful ex looked with tears streaking the once beautiful face that bought them joy. One could say it was cruel, but to them this was the ideal, a regretful bastard that looked even better sorry, almost groveling on the floor for the shorter person to take them back. Gods it made them want to do the worst, it made them want to take them back to break down those barriers again shattering the remaining bits of the excuse they had for heart doing the same done onto the feeling once harbored. Holding back the laugh and sadistic thoughts as the neutral expression doing wonders on letting the worm know the depths of how much they wanted suffering and karma coming around. A soft smile graced their face, one that their ex loved and was never able to say no to ever, not even on the worst days during the three years of the relationship. Gods, it was delicious seeing their experience of the pains they have, but tenfold with how much they left unspoken whilst both stood under the veranda of the place where they were supposed to eat and celebrate another year of their union. After a long while of silence, they looked at their ex as gentle as possible, reaching up to touch those lovely cheeks stained with tears kissing each new droplet before walking away for good. Letting their ex wallow in the misery of losing someone who had held love, but they would never forget how much more angelic, beautiful, gorgeous their ex was broken and in deep despair with their own actions.

[haikyuu-boys-headcanons]

𝙷𝙰𝙸𝙺𝚈𝚄𝚄 𝙱𝙾𝚈𝚂 - 𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙰𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝙴𝚇 𝙼𝙾𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚂

hehe, i’m back at it again with one of these long ass posts but this idea’s literally been in my head all day long so here you go !! obvious nsfw warning :)

tw: this whole post is just nsfw and embarrassing to read so read at your own risk >:)

𝙳𝙰𝙸𝙲𝙷𝙸 » during a super intense and loud session, his voice cracked as he asked you “does that feel goOD- good baby?” to this day, he still prays that you couldn’t hear him over the sound of your own moans

𝚂𝚄𝙶𝙰𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙰 » you were riding him and he went to slap your ass, but something went wrong either because you were riding too quickly or he was shaking too much, boy ended up slapping himself in the balls. you’ve never heard that boy scream that loud in your life

𝙰𝚂𝙰𝙷𝙸 » literally pulled out in the middle of sex to get up and rush to the corner of his room to flip around his childhood teddy bears. your just laying there with your tiddies and coochie out waiting for asahi to shield the eyes of mr. wiggles

𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙰𝙺𝙰 » you two were having pretty intense shower sex until tanaka did the number one thing your not supposed to do during shower sex; this muthafucker slipped while holding you. long story short, y’all were okay but just ended up having nasty shower floor sex??

𝙽𝙸𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙾𝚈𝙰 » this tiny ass 5′2 man was unconsciously humping your leg while you were both asleep?? his presumably pleasurable wet dream had turned into a sudden nightmare when you literally had to KICK him off you to stop the humping. bad nishinoya, bad!

𝙺𝙰𝙶𝙴𝚈𝙰𝙼𝙰 » came WAYYY too early inside you, but he was too embarrassed to say anything so he just... kept going. sadly, no one had warned kageyama of the intense effects of overstimulation. he was shaking and whimpering so badly behind you to the point where you had to ask him to pull out and bring him a glass of water to calm down

𝙷𝙸𝙽𝙰𝚃𝙰 » the first time you squirted on him, he just blatantly asked you these exact few words that left you feeling mortified: “did you just piss on me?” nuh uh hinata, this water fountain ain’t yours to drown in anymore >:( 

𝚃𝚂𝚄𝙺𝙸𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙼𝙰 » kei was hitting it from the back pretty hard this time, so hard that you were suddenly... on an angle? suddenly, now you two were much closer to the floor than before. the bed ended up collapsing, yes literally collapsing due to kei’s powerful thrusts. worst part is, nobody got to finish since kei dragged you to ikea to grumpily buy a new bedframe. but hey, he bought you ikea meatballs; that shit hits so different

𝚈𝙰𝙼𝙰𝙶𝚄𝙲𝙷𝙸 » one super duper intense night, he passed out the SECOND he came. no matter how much you flicked the temple of his forehead, yamaguchi was dead asleep. you had to literally slap him awake to get him to clean up, you ain’t risking a ranky stanky UTI puthy in the morning

𝙾𝙸𝙺𝙰𝚆𝙰 » kept calling himself a sex machine during the act. i don’t know if it was due to the 6 tequila shots he had beforehand or just his inner ego revealing, whatever it was it was about to make your pussy close

𝙸𝚆𝙰𝚉𝚄𝙼𝙸 » this one time, he kept going in at a weird angle which caused you to repeatedly queef for 7 minutes straight. every time you told him to pull out and go in properly, he laughed and kept going in at that one weird angle!! was your embarrassment a turn on for him?? maybe!! but were you mortified? absolutely!!

𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚃𝚂𝚄𝙽 » i’m sorry to have to be the one to announce this, but this man had the worst case of full blown bush you’ve ever seen. like, he didn’t even try to manscape or anything at all. you ended up begging him to trim just a tiny bit because you weren’t gonna risk choking on a pube whilst your going down on him

𝙷𝙰𝙽𝙰𝙼𝙰𝙺𝙸 » rubbed your left labia thinking it was your clit. and he kept doing that. the whole. fucking. time. even when you subtly moved his fingers towards your clit, he just kept going back to the left lip.

𝙺𝚄𝙽𝙸𝙼𝙸 » had the most dry and dull dirty talk you’ve ever heard. like, it’s not even dirty talk at this point; it’s just clean talk. there’s no passion when he talks! he uses the same tone he would use for anyone else at any other moment. to paint the picture, imagine riding kunimi and he’s just there with a furrowed expression like “yup, that feels really good”

𝙺𝚈𝙾𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙸 » tried to pull one of those unexpected anal scenes that he saw from a porno, without telling you beforehand. life lesson here; if you party at shit's house, don't be surprised if shit's at the party

𝙺𝚄𝚁𝙾𝙾 » you two were looking to get a little more kinky in terms of BDSM, so kuroo watched like 30 tutorials on youtube on how to safely tie you up so you won’t fall or anything. this bitch ended up tying rope knots that were practically impossible to undo, which resulted in you hanging from the ceiling for approximately 2 hours pussy-ass naked while kuroo tried to cut you down with a kitchen knife

𝙺𝙴𝙽𝙼𝙰 » wanted to spice things up with some dirty talk, like the real nasty talk they use in pornos but not the normal pornos; the shitty company ones with horrific acting. he really ended up announcing that he was going to “fuck your fucking fanny off, you twat”

𝙻𝙴𝚅 » got super excited while he was opening the lube since he hadn’t gotten to fuck you in a WHILE, which resulted the lube leaked everywhere and a giant 6′5 man slipping and hitting his head on the bed frame. worst part is; he had to go to the ER with a hard on that refused to go away

𝙱𝙾𝙺𝚄𝚃𝙾 » speaking of boners that wouldn’t go away, let’s not forget that one time bokuto took two viagras when you texted him to come over for a special occasion. he horribly misinterpreted the ‘special occasion’ text, because he showed up to your house with a huge buldge in his pants as your parents stand before him holding anniversary cards, completely horrified

𝙰𝙺���𝙰𝚂𝙷𝙸 » wanted to make valentines day sex as romantic as he could, so he did the classic lighting candles and giving roses. everything was beautiful, until he accidently knocked one of the bigger candles over during missionary. this not only caused a huge ass fire in your bedroom, but he came right as the fire began to spread. boy was debating on whether his orgasm was to die for or not

𝙺𝙾𝙽𝙾𝙷𝙰 » had a nose bleed when he was going down on you and you both were immediately horrified, you thinking it was your period and him thinking he just ate coochie blood. yet as you went to go clean up, you realized his face had much more blood on it than your coochie did. to this day, he still blames it on your period 

𝚄𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙹𝙸𝙼𝙰 » threw you onto the bed and your head went through the wall. he didn’t even bother to ask you if you were okay, he just sighed and went “well, now i have to make a call to the construction guy. excuse me” and he left you and your concussed ass head sit there once again, pussy ass naked

𝚃𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙾𝚄 » during a blowjob, he held your head down right as he was coming causing the cum to shoot up your throat and somehow pour out of your nose. by the time he pulled out, he could barely breath from laughing at you. sure, the classic ‘milk shooting out of nose’ thing was funny at first until you got a sinus infection and had to breath out of your mouth for the next three days

𝚂𝙴𝙼𝙸 » always insists having sex in the most inconvenient places?? like he would pull you to side while grocery shopping and start grinding up against you as you pick which brand of cheese would be better??

𝙶𝙾𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙺𝙸 » he kept getting frustrated that his bangs were clouding his field of vision, so he irritably grabbed a hair tie and frantically tied up the sides of his bangs while he was fucking you. you immediately burst out laughing since he looked exactly like boo from monsters inc. 

𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚄𝚂𝙷𝙸𝙼𝙰 » got so drunk that he ended up fucking the couch. like he was just there on top of you, and his dick was just sliding between the folds of the leather couch. you decided to let him finish like that

𝚂𝙰𝙺𝚄𝚂𝙰 » had a really bad reaction to one of the products he used while shaving and ended up getting super irritated down there so he kept having to pull out in-between thrusts to itch his crotch. to make things worse, you joking suggested that he looked like he had syphilis and he got so disgusted at the idea of that thought that he literally had to pull out and take a breather 

𝙾𝚂𝙰𝙼𝚄 » drizzled ‘warm’ chocolate down your chest and was about to seductively lick it off until you screamed in pain and horror as the chocolate was literally burning your skin off. osamu panicked, obviously not knowing what to do if chocolate was burning his partners skin off so he just... frantically licked it off. you still had to go to the ER afterwards to get treated for mild burns

𝙰𝚂𝚃𝚄𝙼𝚄 » didn’t know what a hymen was until the first time he tried to have sex with you. no matter how much he tried to shove his schlong in, it really just wasn’t working + “yer puss is broken”

𝚂𝚄𝙽𝙰 » pinched your nipples so fucking hard to the point where you started crying. he thoughts these were tears of pleasure until you literally had to kick him off you. but hey, he gave you ice for your sore nipples and mcdonalds! what more could a girl possibly want :)

uh the end lol

also, this idea was inspired by the first haikyuu headcanon i ever read, “awkward sex moments” by @bbytetsu <3

[that-one-lilith]

Double Blessing, Double Curse (1)

Thanks to @nicebonescomrade for this title suggestion!

As you can see, this will be a whole series. Three parts for sure, after that I'll have to see if I am going to continue it.

The first part is relatively soft, but I promise...it will not stay that way. This is going to be pure angst in the future.

It's also inspired by one of @chocoenvy 's works. Not gonna say which though because that would be a spoiler for the next part. ;)

And one last thing: This is a Female Reader story!

Happy reading! <3

Word count: 2.7k (i think)

Warnings: slight bleeding, nothing more; a bit of a mental breakdown; manipulation if you read between the lines

Teyvat was created by one God. It's a known fact.

Statues and temples have been erected in their honor and to show their ultimate respect to them. Many more secret, personal temples stayed hidden in homes, in which people prayed to themself and wished for their God to listen.

Everyone knew their God's face.

A woman so serene, so beautiful, so absolutely ethereal. Two halos crowned her head and sometimes glowed, although they were made of nothing else but marble. It was said that those little signs of life indicated that she was watching in that moment.

The Creator was loved above all, even by the Tsaritsa, who's cold heart has long forgotten what it was like to cherish. As long as the God looked upon her still, a small spark of her former self would remain.

Thus it was no surprise that, once the day came that the Creator's light vanished for months on end before a human resembling her appeared, that they proclaimed her coming all across Teyvat.

The Human Goddess was weak and didn't harbor any of the memories or powers the Creator was said to have. Yet her appearance and the outstanding warmth she exuded spoke of the divine essence she still had. It didn't matter what state she was in. She was their God and they welcomed her that way.

The poor young woman didn't understand the situation. She'd just been ripped out of her own world and found herself somewhere she thought to be a game and nothing more. The spark of euphoria in her heart didn't stop the anguish and fear. To find oneself alone and in a familiar yet strange world was no easy thing, even more so when she's being called the creator of said world. It's what the loyal, beloved acolytes didn't take into account. They had expected a Goddess that knew, that remembered.

The very moment she was left alone in a expensively decorated and furnished room in Dawn Winery was the moment the Human Goddess escaped. She didn't care about the injuries sustained from the fall out of the second floor, nor did she mind the calls of the guards posted all across the ground outside. She bolted as if her life depended on it, mind in a frenzy.

The acolytes yearned to follow, but they knew better than to scare their poor God more. They felt guilty for not having seen your fear and distrust before. Weren't they supposed to make her feel welcome and safe? How is it that they were able to disregard her palpable emotions with such ease then?

It was unanimously decided that the Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius would follow their God and try and calm her down. Albedo was known as one of her favored vessels, often being guided across the various lands, her heavenly light surrounding him.

It irked the Archons that it was not them she had taken as vessels as much as him. They were far better than that fake of a human would ever be, much stronger, too. And they had served the Creator for much longer. In spite of their resentment and jealousy, they stood back and waited for the alchemist to return.

Albedo didn't take long to fulfill his word of doing it fast. The Human Goddess was slow and left behind clear signs of trespassing in the areas she went through. He caught up to her and came to a halt a few meters in front even, forcing her to stop unless she wished to collide with him.

Her wide, teary eyes gazed at him and she shook her head, backing up several steps. "Please, let me go. You've got it all wrong, I'm not your God. I beg you, please-"

He held up a hand, the movement ceased her begging. "Don't be afraid, Your Grace. We just want to help you and protect you. Why don't you come back with me? We'll talk back in Dawn Winery and explain the situation to you better."

He spoke softly and full of raw admiration. His body felt warm underneath her gaze. The same warth that had surrounded him as her vessel. That was all he needed to feel to confirm the undeniable truth.

Still - his God took another step back, only to trip over a branch on the ground. The fall was harsh and her hands, which she'd thrust out in order to catch her body, burnt. Tears now fell freely, running down her pale cheeks. She sobbed. "You've got it all wrong, I'm human, I'm not a god!"

Albedo was quick to rush to her side, kneeling down by her side. He clicked his tongue in dismay as he picked up her hands to inspect the possible wounds she'd attained. She flinched and tried to pull her hand back, but his strong grip stopped her. "Your Grace, you must be careful. You..."

His voice trailed off, voice dying in his throat. She watched as he pulled her hand closer, inspecting the palm and the blood she felt running out of the scrapes.

"Your...your blood." The alchemist sounded amazed and awed. "It's..."

He had no words.

In legends and stories of old, authors often spoke about the differences between the Creator and the humans that had been created in their like. One spoke of them having golden ichor run through their veins. Another spun the tale of tears holding the universe. A third said they were taller than this world, arms capable of hugging their creation to their chest.

It seemed as if all of those were just myths, or maybe their human body was different from their god one.

The blood that started to pool on her open palm was red, albeit darker than that of a true human. Golden swirls mixed into it, moving around even when the blood didn't not, and small stars faded in and out of existence all over it.

"Look", he spoke softly, his fingers caressing her wrist. He felt her pulse beating fast, the heartbeat a sound so oddly familiar to him. "Your blood proves that you're our Creator."

The Human Goddess stared at her own blood in confusion. "But...but I remember bleeding red. Real red. Not this", she whispered.

Albedo took out a roll of bandages he always carried around in case of failed experiments and started to wrap her hands up. He took note that he had to clean it later, make sure to disinfect it. It wouldn't do good for his God to get sick. The tips of his fingers graced her soft skin occasionally and her breath hitched. She did not stop staring at her hand, even as the wounds were covered up.

"A goddess...", she repeated to herself, the word feeling weird in her mouth. Her, a goddess? She was human, she had to be. She remembered her world, her family, the red blood she bled.

Then how was this possible?

Albedo left her to her thoughts, intertwining his fingers with hers. A shiver ran down his spine and if he had any blood running through his veins, he was sure he'd be blushing right now. His palms fit perfectly against hers. Perhaps this was why Gold had made him. To be with their God and help them in this time of confusion and need; and not to find the limits of alchemy as she'd told him all those years ago.

A homunculus whose sole purpose it was to serve their Creator.

"Your Grace", he cooed, searching her face in case she was tempted to dart off again. He tightened his hold on her a bit, hoping his touch reassured her. "The others worry for you. We should go back."

The Human Goddess looked away from her hands at last and into his azur eyes. The reverent smile on his face was different compared to the stoic expression his in-game model had held most of the time.

But this wasn't just a game anymore, was it?

The pain she felt, the ache in her limbs from falling to the ground, it was all too real.

If she went with him, she'd be safe. He was strong, capable of protecting her, and maybe he could even help her get back to her own world.

However...

Would he even help her leave Teyvat behind?

They called her a God, the Creator of this wonderful world she'd come to cherish despite it being a work of fiction. It was clear that they wished to have her close. If it was in hopes of gaining favor or just basking in a godly presence, she did not know.

She didn't even know if she wanted to know the answer to this question.

Albedo saw the moment she shut herself off and he panicked on the inside. She had to come back willingly as he didn't want to knock her out, but if the progress kept going this way, he'd have no other choice.

He held onto her even as she tried to wiggle her hands out of his grip. He pulled the Human Goddess close until her head bumped lightly against his shoulder. Letting go of her hands, he was quick to wrap his arms around her in a what he hoped was a comforting embrace.

She sobbed again, fighting against his hold on her, but he didn't budge. Instead he placed a hand on the back of her head and buried her face in the crook of his head, right where the star decorated his skin.

"It must be so hard, not remembering anything." Albedo looked into the distance, all too aware of the seething people watching him from the shadows. "We just want to help you and appreciate you. I promise by my life. If it helps you, I'll stay by your side all the time unless you request otherwise. I'm yours to command."

The Human Goddess shook her head. Words failed her and she just cried, shedding the tears she'd held in ever since coming here a week ago.

Alone and separated, half of her soul missing.

What he offered was what she'd wanted this whole time. A warm place to sleep, care, comfort. Someone to confide in.

She reluctantly accepted, lips moving against his skin as she muttered. Albedo hummed, eyes sparkling in satisfaction. Together they went back to Dawn Winery, Albedo happy and the Human Goddess tired to the bones. Halfway to the manor, he picked her up and carried her on his back, her head lolling and nuzzling back into his neck.

The acolytes were happy to see her back safe. Some disliked the fact she got hurt, although even they were happy to hear that they hadn't been wrong, her starry blood proving her godhood.

Once the Human Goddess got proper rest, she was sat down on an armchair, the Archons standing in front of her in a semi-circle. They all vowed to serve her until she ascended back into her heavenly plane, ignoring her requests to just treat her like another human being.

Only the Cry Archon didn't come, opting to send an envoy in the form of a Harbinger instead.

Albedo stayed true to his words the whole time. He only left her side in the bathroom or at night as she slept, opting to either wait outside her room or in Diluc's study. He lacked any motivation to continue his alchemical experiments and even as he tried to read a book, his mind always wandered back to her.

The Archons made her have hearings, during which she'd be forced to listen to people's worries and fears, and hopes and dreams. Her helplessness was clear and at first one or the other whispered the right words to say into her ear until she got the hang of what they wanted to hear. She didn't know it, wouldn't believe it if she ever found it, but sometimes her words came true.

A farmer crying to her for help after rain destroyed his most recent harvest was said to have grown new plants in less than a week after his visit to the Human Goddess.

An infertile woman begging for a child had a healthy baby growing in her belly two months later.

Little miracles, but miracles nonetheless.

The hearings and forced conversations with the ever greedy Archons drained her.

At night, before she went to bed, she'd sit beside Albedo on a couch, pressing close to him and hiding her face in his side. The alchemist enjoyed these peaceful moments the most, treasuring them and drawing them later as a means to remember them far into the future.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

The Archons were jealous. They didn't like that their God clung to one person so much. Weren't they made just as their Creator wanted them to be? Why didn't she spend time with them? He was a low homunculus, lesser than a human. He had no right to bask in her presence this much.

They started to pester the Human Goddess about meeting up with some of her acolytes to spend some time outside the house. Albedo was a busy man, for sure he'd appreciate the reprieve of going back to Dragonspine and continue his research.

What about Chongyun? The poor exorcist had been hoping to have her accompany him on one of his missions.

Or maybe Klee? The little girl would love to go fish-bombing with her.

Perhaps she'd prefer someone like Thoma? He could take her to festivals, watch Yoimiya's firework shows.

The constant nagging wore her down. The pressure was too much for her and she caved in, on one condition.

"Of course, Your Grace! Whatever you want." Venti grinned at her.

The Human Goddess worried on her bottom lip. "I'd like to meet the Traveller."

All these weeks she's spent holed up in Dawn Winery, she never once saw them. She didn't even know who was where in this world. Though she understood. The Traveller Siblings came from a different world, they would have no reason to bow to her feet as the whole of Teyvat did. Passerbys, that's all they were.

Her reasons to meet up with the good sibling were different though. Something that she hadn't even told Albedo. She'd been careful about what she said to the alchemist. He may do his best to keep the Archons at bay half of the time, but he was still an acolyte. The moment she'd talk about wanting to go back home was the moment all hell would break lose. She saw it in their eyes, in their devotion.

A day after her request, Lumine stood in the Winery's salon, Paimon floating by her side and complaining about being hungry. Both didn't understand why they'd been called.

She had heard the stories of a so-called Creator descending to Teyvat as a human, of course. It was impossible not to. People were happy and even the monsters and animals responfed to their presence.

But she was still an outlander, not from this world.

It didn't seem to matter to the Human Goddess. The moment she spied Lumine from atop the stairs, she raced down the steps, ignoring the concerned voices of her acolytes telling her to be careful. She flung her arms around the Traveller and shocked the ones in the room into silence. Lumine's arms automatically came up to catch her, too stunned to speak at the familiarity she was greeted with.

Only to grow sad upon hearing the words whispered fast and quiet into her ears. She hugged the Human Goddess tight, the two sharing each other's pain in silence.

If the Archons had thought her connection to Albedo was bad, this certainly was even worse.

Lumine and the Human Goddess were inseparable, always whispering in each other's ears about things noone else was allowed to hear. They tried to bully the Traveller into telling them what their God was speaking of, but that only caused Lumine to glare and stomp off, disgusted by their blatant disrespect for her privacy.

Not even Albedo, who returned from Dragonspine a week after his departure, managed to get her to tell him the things she told Lumine. It hurt. He was replaced and couldn't do anything about it. The few times they spent alone were not enough to ease the ache in his heart.

It was all the Archons' fault. Had they never pressured the Human Goddess, she'd be holding onto him still, finding comfort in his presence, not Lumine's. Yes, it really wasn't her fault.

Days turned into weeks and soon, the Human Goddess grew easier to be around. She'd spent time with more people, even if she came back to Lumine at the end of the day. She visited the various nations and greeted the people, always listening to their problems and pleas.

Teyvat's nature wanted to bloom in response to their Creator's happiness.

Yet something was missing and it found itself impossible of showing their God's state.

Three months after the Human Goddess's arrival, news of a human male resembling their beloved Creator reached their ears.

The Archons rallied hunting parties, angered by the thought of someone daring to impersonate the Human Goddess now that she was finally here. And a man no less!

They made sure to not let her hear the news, thinking it better to leave her in innocent bliss.

Which would prove to be their downfall.

[lanaroff]

Into the unknown.- Part 10

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Reader, Parent!Wanda Maximoff x Parent!Reader

Summary: what happens when a baby boy is found in a hydra facility? what would you do when you find that is yours and wanda’s?

Warning: angst, swearing, unplanned parenthood, fighting, sad reader, sad wanda.

A/N: part 10 here! enjoy <3 -lana

*not my gif*

You were good at pretending. You were trained to be an incredibly good liar who could pretend to be someone you were not. You were good a pretending not to have feelings that you were sure you had. In the end, you had spent most of your life pretending. So it was not supposed to be difficult you thought. But you started to think that you were wrong.

You were currently pretending that you were fine. Sure, your face didn’t look like it between the bleeding nose and eyes full of bruises, but you put on a mask that showed a cocky smile. So everything was fine on the outside. To them, you were just a stubborn but strong agent that they couldn’t break. But inside you were dying. You were dying to know if they were fine. You were dying because it hurt that you couldn’t feel your son or Wanda. You were dying because for the first time you were scared that something out of your reach may happen. However, even if it hurt like hell, you had to be strong for those who needed you most. So when the same tall man came into your cell to drag you to the same old room, you didn’t complain.

You had lost track of time. You no longer knew if it was daytime or nighttime if you had been there for 2 days or 5 months. All you knew is that every day was the same thing. They would torture you physically for some time, then they would ask you some questions, the same old ones. And then they would beat you up to then throw you back into the cell.

But, as you were being dragged through the halls you noticed that they didn’t stop where they always did. Instead, they took you to the end of the large hall, where you were met by an unknown room.

The unknown room seemed to be a sort of operating room that hadn’t been used in a long time. It was empty and the only visible thing was a chair with chains and an old tv. You were forced to sit in the middle of the room with the old tv placed in front of you, and immediately chains were set on your wrist and ankles. It was weird, they hadn’t beat you up yet, and it seem like you were not going to. As you were about to ask what was all of that about, a familiar face entered the room holding a cassette and a folder.

“After we lost the Maximoff twins we realized that there was so much yet to be discovered. Sure, they were a great loss, but we realized they were far from being the perfect and loyal subject.” Hoffmann said as he walked the room with steady steps. “So we spend years trying to figure out how to create the perfect specimen. A subject that had no feelings about the outside world, one that showed no remorse, but also one that was more powerful than the strongest avenger.”

You carefully looked at every action that he made. You didn’t trust the way that he walked as he simply told you a story, he was up to something, and the fact that you didn’t know what was making you nervous.

He slowly made his way to the old tv and he placed the cassette. Images started to appear on the screen. At first, they were random scientists, but then the images became more specific.

“965 times we attempted to create the perfect subject. 10 specimens were convicted, however only just one survived. And you took him away from me.”

“Why are you telling me this?” You asked disgusted and confused. You felt sick by thinking how someone could treat innocent lives as simple test subjects. But you also felt sick thinking about him putting a hand on your baby boy.

“Because I know that I may never break you physically. But I will break you here.” Hoffmann said tapping the side of your head. “And once I do, I’m going to make you retrieve your ‘Pietro’, and I’m going to make you watch me turning him into a weapon.”

“Fuck you! You better kill me now, because there’s no way you are touching my son while I’m alive.” You said as you tried to break the chains that had you stuck at the chair.

As you effortlessly moved back and forth another scientist entered the room with a machine connected to a bunch of wires in hand. He immediately made his way next to you and stabbed you with a syringe. As the liquid entered your body, you realized that it was harder for you to move. With your body paralyzed, you watched him place the wires in your head and chest. You couldn’t control your body but you were conscious of your surroundings.

The moment the scientist turned on the machine you felt waves of electricity running through your body. It was unbearably painful but it was different than the other physical tortures. This one felt as it was also messing with your head not only your body.

Screaming the pain out you felt as if your head was about to explode, you started feeling weaker than ever before. You felt as if they were burning you alive from the inside. Definitely being drowned and beaten all day didn’t feel as bad as that machine made you feel.

Exhaustion hit your body as you battled with your foggy vision and aching body. You tried as hard as you could to stay awake, but it started to feel as it was impossible. Just as you were about to give up a loud explosion was heard and suddenly the machine stopped.

You couldn’t hear what was being said around you. Your mind was too tired to comprehend a word. All you felt was your body hitting the ground as another explosion took place right in front of you. Lying on the floor, you saw a familiar silhouette quickly approaching your way, but you were far too tired to keep your eyes open to see who it was.

You slowly opened your eyes adjusting them to the burning feeling of the light. You were confused as you found yourself laying on a hospital bed. The last memory you had was you dropping unconscious still tied to a chair. However, every negative feeling and thought was put aside the moment you saw one of your friends sitting next to you.

“Sam? Where am I?” You asked as you started to remove the wires connected to your body.

“You are awake!” He said as he jumped to hug you. “God, you scared the shit out of me.”

“Where’s Wanda?” You asked again.

“Oh, she went to put baby Pietro down for his nap.” He said helping you to sit in the bed. “She was really worried, and mad”

“I need to see her.” You said growing impatient by the whole being in bed situation.

You needed to get the hell out of that bed and see if your family was fine. So despite having a really annoying Sam telling you not to, you slowly and painfully limped your way out of the medical bay.

After a couple of suppressed whimpers and small stops to catch your breath, you finally were outside Pietro’s room. The second you entered you saw a sleeping baby laying on Wanda’s chest as she sat at the rocking chair. It was adorable, you wanted that frame that scene. They both looked so peaceful in their sleep, but most important, they looked safe. As you slowly grabbed your son and placed him on his crib. Upon not feeling her son, you felt how the redhead quickly woke from her small nap.

“Y/N?” She asked you whispering so she wouldn’t wake up the baby.

After kissing the baby’s head you grabbed Wanda by the hand and pulled her out of the nursery.

The second you two were back at the hall she removed her hand from your grip and started walking towards her bedroom. Sam had warned you that she was mad, but you thought that she at least would be happy to see you.

“Wanda talk to me” You said limping your way to her room.

“You should be in bed.” Wanda said without looking at you.

“I know, but I needed to see you.” You said reaching for her hand again.

“You needed?” She scoffed walking away from you. “Where were you when I needed you?”

This time she looked at you straight in the eye. Her eyes were full of tears, and you could see that she was biting the inside of her cheek.

“You were in Italy playing hero! Guess what Y/N, you are not invincible. You were reckless, arrogant, and stupid, and you almost got yourself killed!” Wanda screamed at you. “What were you thinking? Do you even realize how stupid your actions were? You almost die, and you almost left your son without a mother. You promised me we were going to do this together and you almost left me!”

You didn’t utter a word. You couldn’t bring yourself to say anything, you just stood there, frozen. Wanda was expecting you to give her one of your lame excuses, she was expecting you to argue back, but you didn’t say a word. Without saying anything you just walked toward her and hugged her as tight as you could. You hugged her as if she would vanish from your embrace.

Wanda was shocked by your reaction. You were crying on her chest as your arms were around her body. She felt her heart twisting hearing your sobs. It was the first time she saw you being vulnerable, it was the first time she saw you broken.

“I’m sorry, I was so scared.” That was what Wanda heard between your sobs and sniffles.

Reaching for your face, she pulled away from your embrace to cup your face so she could look you in the eye.

“What matters is that you are alive and okay.” She said and watched as your eyes begin to fill with tears.

“I just wanted to protect you and Pietro, I don’t want to lose you.” You said fighting the urge to cry. However, it was impossible and tears started pouring out of your eyes again.

“Oh Y/N, you are not going to lose us.” She said hugging you tightly, this time Wanda being the one pulling you closest to her.

And you stayed like that, Wanda hugging you as you allowed yourself to cry as much as you needed. It wasn’t after you stopped crying that you realized that her shirt was wet from your crying.

“I’m sorry.” You said slightly laughing to yourself as you tried to clean her shirt.

“It’s okay.” Wanda smiled. “You should get some rest. You can use my bed.”

You smiled back at her and slowly laid your head back on her pillow. You were exhausted, both emotionally and physically drained from all the fighting. So you allowed yourself to relax as you started drifting to sleep.

Wanda slowly and quietly stood up and turned to the door walking so you could have some rest. She wished she could stay and hug you while you slept, but she knew that she couldn’t do it. However, before she could go any further, you grabbed her wrist making her stop to look at you.

“Please stay.” You mumbled with pleading eyes. “Don’t go, Wands”

And that was all she needed to hear before laying in bed next to you with her arms around your body. She didn’t care if she was crossing any boundaries, all she cared was that you needed her as much as she needed you.

taglist:  @siriuslydestiny​ @blinkmuch​ @chickennugget468​ @wandanatfan​ @genzwomensimp @youre-a-wanker-number-9​ @romanoffomixam​ @kacka84​ @unexpected-character @immathinkerg​ @scqrlettwtch​ @nicolesangel​  @infrunamix​ @lordesolddepression​  @diasnohibng​ @wandzsstuff​ @lorsstar1st​ @how-to-disappearrr​ @super-lena​ @marrymemcgrath @iminlovewitha @nosfera1  @swiftdazer

[bestfriend491]

🌅REDEMPTION🌅

The Prelude

A love story that comes in 6 parts,

Condemnation: A story of a forgotten child

Aspiration: A story of young love

Tribulation: A story of escaping

Revelation: A story of longing

Realisation: A story of reality

Redemption: A story of trying again.

Summary: 6 stories related to your life and Okoye's, come together to make a love story worth the wait.

An Extract From Part 3: Tribulation

You walked into your palace headquarters, slamming the door shut as hot tears streamed down your face. 

You stripped the Dora Milaje armour off of yourself with all of your pent up anger, not bothering to mind the open wounds all over your body screaming at the sudden pulls. 

You wanted to leave so badly,  the constant abuse from the Captain finally started to weigh on you. 

The sound of the door opening caused you to turn around, seeing Okoye standing in front of you with supplies in her hand. Clearly she was here to help you take care of your wounds, but you didn't want her to do that.

Every week you and Okoye were stitching up injuries and slashes on your body made by the Captain. 

And despite seeing those injuries up close, every week, Okoye still stood there with the rest of the Dora Milajes as you were abused.

"Sthandwa sam…" She whispered, approaching you slowly. You shook your head at that.

"Don't call me that. Just don't!" 

She stopped as she got to you, reaching out for your hand, but you moved it away.

"Y/n, don't be like that. I'm here to help you." 

"Now you are. Where were you when everyone watched Captain Zoku make an example out of me once again! Oh right, you were standing right there with them!" Your stomach churned as the day's events came back into your head.

"What did you expect me to do? Challenge the strongest member of the Dora Milaje! " 

"I don't know! Maybe if you really cared about me, you would!" You yelled.

She scoffed at this, shaking her head at you.

"That's not fair,  Y/n." She said.

"NOT FAIR. What's not fair is her using a spear much more advanced than mine for combat, and making me her only test subject! I'm a punching bag, Okoye. Every week I'm being tortured like I've committed a crime, in a place that is supposed to be safe." You huffed, as you approached your bathroom, needing to take a hot shower, before cleaning and wrapping your injuries. 

"Being a Dora Milaje is supposed to be a sisterhood. We're supposed to protect Wakanda together, and give each other support, and right now. I don't feel very supported. I don't even know why I signed up for this. I've given my everything to become a great warrior and that woman treats me like dirt!" 

"This journey is supposed to test you, Y/n. It will be worth it in the end."

"Okoye, PLEASE. I will not be deceived into thinking that what she has been doing to me is all a part of the journey. Especially not by you! You're supposed to be on my side!"

"I am on your side!" 

"No, you're not. Because if you were I wouldn't be standing here bleeding from head to toe, while she gets to walk around without a mark on her body. I don't want to do this. I'm done. Becoming a Dora should NOT be this hard. I know that my mother's past actions might still be affecting the Dora Milaje and they might not trust me because I might turn out like her, but I'm done trying to prove myself 10 times more than everyone else."

You entered the bathroom, closing the door before Okoye could even offer to come in with you. The last thing you said through the door being. "I need a support system, and you have always known that Okoye. If I can't trust you to be one, maybe you should achieve your dreams without me."

Allowing the shower to run, you heard the footsteps going further away, before you heard the door reopen, and then close.

It was then that you knew exactly what decision had been made. 

Stepping into the stream of water, you let your body stand there for a moment, just to get the dried blood off of your face and body.

Then, you got to work, cleaning your body as you thought of the best way to get out of there. 

Once you were done, you got into a loose tracksuit, needing something that wouldn't hurt you more. Packing the things that you had in a bag, you decided to call the only person that you knew could help you. 

As her face showed up on your kimoyo beads, relief filled your body.

"Sister, what is wrong?" She asked as tears were now filling your eyes at the sight of her.

"Nakia… I need your help." 

Coming Early 2023...