#love! truth! beauty! the bitch is coughing up blood!!!!!

[giantkillerjack]

Moulin Rouge: a man obsessed with his love for a sex worker is shocked that she would engage in sex work and also somehow misses that the woman he loves has tuberculosis until she literally dies of it.

[welcometothejianghu]

Welcome to another round of W2 Tells You What You Should See, where W2 (me) tries to sell you (you) on something you should be watching. Today's choice: 莲花楼/Mysterious Lotus Casebook

Mysterious Lotus Casebook is a 2023 drama about a beautiful twunk who just wants to die of his chronic illness in peace, except that neither the dumbass purebred dog of a man who has decided they're best friends now nor the jock begging him for a rematch are going to let him go without a fight (in the latter's case, literally).

Also they ride around in a magical bamboopunk RV.

I have referred to it elsewhere as "the CW presents: Nirvana in Fire," and I stand by that assessment. (I orginally called it Tiger Beat Nirvana in Fire, before realizing that Kids These Days will not get that reference. Shout out to the other elder millennials in the audience!)

There's been a lot of English-speaking fandom buzz about this show, to the point where if you're in these circles, I'm sure you've heard about it before. I know I had by the time I started watching -- which left me largely unprepared for the actual viewing experience, because the parts of the show that fans talk about are not a representative sample of the show itself.

This drama can be a good time. It's fun to watch. It has some hilarious beats and also some emotional moments. It spent its not-huge budget very smartly, and as such is generally quite lovely to look at. As my League of Nobleman rec will attest, I appreciate raw materials, and this is a show that has some fascinating raw materials.

(Or some materials that need to get rawed, take your pick.) (Also, it's not my fault they didn't do a dramatically lit Fang Duobing shot so I could round out the trio here.)

You'll find some people out there who've gone real hard for this show, doing some deep analyses and getting really emotional over it. I don't want my gentle ribbing to give the impression that those silly fans are delusionally talking like the show's a five-star restaurant when it's really just a fast food joint. Not so! There's a reason it's captivated a whole lot of people! And in case you might be one of those, allow me to give you five reasons you should consider watching it.

1. This bitch

The main character, Li Lianhua/Li Xiangyi is probably 50% of the show's appeal all by himself. He's fascinating. He's gender. He's fashion. He's been afflicted with a substance we called "bitch poison" the whole time we were watching. He has many emotions. He cries a lot. He coughs up blood every other episode. Cheng Yi is putting his whole lianhuassy into this performance, and it shows.

I made the Nirvana in Fire comparison earlier, and I stand by it for a lot of reasons, but the truth is that he's actually much more Opposite Day Mei Changsu: Li Lianhua wants all this stuff to fuck off and leave him alone forever. He is not seeking vengeance, nor does he particularly want to Do Schemes, but Circumstances keep dragging him back into the thick of all this nonsense he thought he left behind when he (mostly) died ten years ago.

The thing is, he used to be a real dick back when he was a kid. And I mean a real dick. He was a dick to his chronically insecure adoptive older brother. He was a dick to his girlfriend with the personality of wet tissue paper. He was a dick to the handsome loser who liked his girlfriend. He was a dick to his followers. He was basically just a cocky little shithead who thought he was the best at everything -- and he actually was the best at everything, which just made it worse.

Li Xiangyi used to think everything (especially himself) was sooooo important, and now that life has massively kicked his ass, Li Lianhua had come around to the position that nothing is actually that important, so let's just all chill and grow vegetables. He doesn't want a rematch. He doesn't want to retake his rightful place as the head of anything. He just wants to pay his respects to the dead before he joins them.

Now will everybody please just stop moving into his house.

2. goof-ass jianghu nonsense (affectionate)

As I mentioned earlier, everything I'd seen about the show on Tumblr had still left me absolutely unprepared for what a silly ride it is. Because it's silly. Hoo boy, is it silly. My wife dubbed it "lace front Phoenix Wright," just to give you a metric for how silly we're talking. Ace Detective Fang Duobing never cross-examined a parrot, but I feel he came close.

This show has some serious goof-ass jianghu nonsense -- you know, the sort of stuff that's impossible and ridiculous, except everybody’s going to treat it like it's just a normal part of existence. Here's a short and certainly inexhaustive list:

mind-controlling bugs

other bugs that control the mind-controlling bugs

ex-conjoined twins

a grown-ass man who can compress himself into bitchy third-grader

grave-robbing societies with secret brag language

so much nonconsensual qi-blocking performed by poking people in the boobs, that can't be safe, everybody wear thicker shirts

magical crossdressing powers

a bad guy who looks like this

a princess who can get abducted and sex-trafficked and, like, nobody really notices? huh.

healing childhood paralysis by the power of believing in yourself

a ... hallucination pit? what was that, anyway?

so. many. mechanisms.

the equivalent of the "he's only mostly dead" business from the Princess Bride

a gradually lethal bookshelf

the strange amnesia everyone suffers from where a dude can cover maybe 30% of his face and render himself immediately unrecognizable to long-time friends and associates

The thing is: I think this goof-ass jianghu nonsense is a legitimate selling point. I found it so fun. I turned off my need for show elements to obey little things like the laws of physics, and I had a good time. It can be a very funny drama, in part because it knows how silly a lot of its shit is, and it chooses to go full speed ahead with a sincere heart. If you are down for some shounen absurdity, you are in for a treat.

However:

2.2. goof-ass jianghu nonsense (derogatory)

I'm granting myself a sub-point here, because this is an important qualifier for the previous point.

I'm going to assume, based on what I've seen from fan responses, that many of the people who really like this show actually don't like the goof-ass jianghu nonsense. They are here for the BL vibes (after all, there are three cute boys who alll have some intense emotions about one another), and therefore downplay all the parts that aren't that. I want to make it clear that this is not a bad thing to do. There are many, many properties where I myself fixate on a single element and toss the rest into the sea. No judgment here.

However, since this is a post written to convine you to watch something, I want to make it clear what you're going to get if you dive in. If you're one of those people who skips scenes and/or entire episodes when your ship of choice isn't onscreen, you're probably going to be doing that a lot here. (I mean, I can't imagine doing this, but Tumblr has taught me that fandom is a rich tapestry.) The bones are good, but the connective tissue can be questionable.

The main thing I wish I'd known before starting is that the mysteries are not the selling point. They are the celery that gets the cute boy peanut butter to your mouth. You, the viewer, absolutely cannot solve them; you're never given enough context or information to keep up with the detective lads, much less get ahead of them. Everyone does everything in the most convoluted way possible, to the point of comic absurdity. Finding out whodunnit is rarely that satisfying, because too often the culprit is Jianghu Steve, You Know, That Guy Over There With The Superpower The Characters All Know About But You'd Never Heard Of Before Thirty Seconds Ago.

The goof-ass jianghu nonsense feels like the place where the show I see fans talking about least lines up with the show that actually exists. And I think that's a shame, because I think the show that actually exists is actually a good time! It's just, you know ... silly.

3. Whenever Di Feisheng's not onscreen, all the other characters should be asking, 'Where's Di Feisheng?

This drama gets sold like it's the adventures of three guys together. (Hell, I kind of did it myself in the intro.) This is not the case. This is the tale of two guys who do most of the plot stuff near one another, and their occasional third, Di Feisheng.

This is a 40-episode series and I swear this guy's onscreen for maybe 15% of the time -- and for half of that, he's just off doing his own thing anyway. He disappears entirely for huge chunks of the series, which is a crime, because he is my absolute favorite.

He is the rare grumpy himbo. He doesn't just have resting bitchface, he has bitchface for all occasions. He somehow has bitchface even during the rare moments he actually smiles. He's got a whole traumatic backstory, but the traumatic backstory is not the reason for the bitchface. He's Just Like That.

(Important to note that the actor himself only slightly has a resting bitchface. Xiao Shunyao can look normal and indeed quite pleasant. He has simply leaned into it real hard for this grouch.)

The one -- one -- reason I can accept his being gone for so ding-dang much of the show is how often he re-emerges with perfect, hilarious timing. Thank goodness the show realizes how much comedic potential his character has, because his unexpected entrances are some of the best laugh-out-loud moments of the series. If the show had taken Di Feisheng as seriously as Di Feisheng takes himself, he would have been unbearable. As it is, he's an unmitigated delight.

While you losers were being heterosexual, he studied the blade.

He makes the perfect foil for both Fang Duobing, who's the human equivalent of a puppy trying to gnaw an elephant to death, and Li Lianhua, who just wants to be excused from this narrative. Di Feisheng and Fang Duobing are basically two dogs fighting over their favorite toy, and their favorite toy is Li Lianhua, who really wishes he weren't. Some of the most compelling and fun moments of the series are when these three losers are all together.

And these three losers are barely all together.

This show is Not Danmei. It's so Not Danmei that I had a tremendously difficult time while making this post finding either official images or screencaps with even two of them in frame at the same time, much less all three. It is, however, a Danmei Starter Kit. I mean, the tag on AO3 has, at present, 742 works in it (283 in English). That's just since July! There are years-old c-drama shows that have a fraction of that fan output! And I'm willing to bet a big reason why is how little the very intense boys with ridiculously compelling interpersonal dynamics actually interact onscreen.

But, I hear you asking, why would less of what the fans want equal more fan goo? Well, friends, that's exactly what the fan goo is for: filling in the blanks. And this here show has a lot of blanks. Look, I've made a very scientific diagram (that many people seem to agree with) about how this all works:

The Hump of Compelling Mediocrity is the place where the amount of stuff worth thinking about far outpaces what the show actually contains of said stuff textually. It is the ideal location for imagination adventures.

Di Feisheng and Li Lianhua's relationship in particular lives right in the middle of that hump, what with the huge gaps in their backstory and all. They are a pair made entirely of unanswered questions. What the hell is going on there? What's their whole history, beyond the big fight? Why are they like this about one another? The show refuses to say. Whatever you imagine, you're correct. Now go tell AO3 about it.

interlude: God's perfect dipshit

I feel like I'm engaging in Fang Duobing erasure in the rest of this post, since he's not at the tip of any of the points I'm making, so I'm going to add a picture of him here, because I love him and want to pinch his perfect little cheeks.

You know what I am shocked by? How the MLC/DMBJ reincarnation fics apparently have not taken hold yet. I give it another two months.

4. IT HAS A DOG

FOX SPIRIT, MY SWEET BABY

'You mean the dog gets a whole selling point to himself' yes the dog gets a whole selling point to himself, because he is a very good dog and a very good boy (and his actor is a very good girl)

Apparently he has a whole backstory in the novel that never gets included in the drama, including an explanation of why he's named "Fox Spirit," if you feel like going and reading up on that.

Sadly, Fox Spirit is in the show even less than Di Feisheng is, and that is a crime, because he could have solved all these silly human mysteries in thirty minutes flat, Wishbone-style.

Dogs are so good.

5. One bad, bad girl

Do you like an unhinged villainess? Someone who's been sucking down Crazy Juice since beat one? Because oh boy, this show's got one of those for you.

Jiao Liqiao wants two things: to rule the world, and to make Di Feisheng her pretty little housewife. And whomst among us does not understand these two impulses?

She's not even the Big Bad! She's mostly just Di Feisheng's personal nightmare. She is the type of woman for whom the phrase "he's just not that into you" was coined. You've got everyone around her telling her, honey, I don't even think I've ever seen him look at a pair of breasts, while she's already planned their whole wedding menu and reserved the venue.

She has spent the last ten years of Di Feisheng's extended vacation making sure she's the one who's actually in charge, functioning as the point person for all the other evil schemes going on. Instead of handing over the reins upon her himbo boss' return, she's just going to keep doing what she's good at. As long as he keeps doing exactly what she wants him to do, she's gonna let him do it. If he gets out of line, well, there's always Plan B (the B stands for Breaking all of his tendons and making the world's surliest RealDoll).

I love the fact that she's so obviously evil, and he can't see it. To a certain point, it's not his fault -- everyone who serves under him is pretty obviously evil, so that doesn't make her special. But she's real evil even above and beyond that, and his dumb ass can't stop thinking about Li Lianhua long enough to notice any of the hundred or so knives she's aimed right at his back. He's so uninterested in her constant advances that he doesn't register how wanting to fuck someone and wanting to overthrow someone are not mutually exclusive desires.

(Was I bothered throughout most of the series by how her lipstick should be a little more crimson and a little less coral? Yes, but I'm not going to hold it against her. She's busy doing evil stuff. She'll get over to the nearest Jianghu Sephora and restock one of these days.)

While the show occasionally sidelines or straight-up forgets about a lot of its supporting characters for several episodes at a time, it never forgets to check in on what Jiao Liqiao's up to. Claws out, hair done, she is at all times a constant glorious, scenery-chewing menace with excellent taste in terrible men. Absolute legend.

Bonus: These two sluts

They don't get to be a full point because they're not nearly in the show enough, but just look at them. This is peak male character design. Slutty undone hair and slutty bare forearms, be still my bisexual heart.

Going to give it a try?

iQiyi's got you exclusively, baby.

Have I sounded a little defensive in this rec? Yeah, probably. It's just that I know there's a big and pretty intense fandom out there for this already, and I feel like a jerk coming in and being like "sure, it's fun!" when people are posting about how it made them cry for weeks. I want to be clear that that's not a bad reaction to have, while at the same time also being clear that that's not the reaction I had.

I might not even have written this rec, had I not been nudged to -- not because I don't think it's worth watching (I clearly do!), but because I don't know how much help it needs from the likes of me. There are plenty of other evangelists out there that'll give much more enthusiastic recommendations (like this one).

But the truth is that not every show has to be a heartbreaking work of staggering genius to everyone. I watched the show, and I liked it, and I had a normal time.

I also think there's something to the way I watched it, which was: one episode per day, schedule permitting, such that it took nearly two months for me to finish it. (And before you think I singled MLC out for this, this is actually how I watch most c-dramas.) I bet binging it is a way different experience, one where what rises more readily to the top is the tragic throughline of Li Lianhua's whole deal. If you're inclined to skip things not immediately germane to your points of interest, this is definitely the show to take at a solid run.

I actually paused in the middle of making this rec and made the one for the Blood of Youth, because the two invite comparisons: jianghu tales with chronically ill protagonists, some imperial bullshit going on, pretty boys with swords being weird about one another. Mysterious Lotus Casebook did not grab me as hard as the Blood of Youth, because MLC went for a more understated take on all its nonsense, instead of shooting completely over the top, which is how I prefer my nonsense (as the record will show). If you take your silliness with a subtler flavor, this could be the perfect thing for you.

Maybe you'll wind up being one of those people who gets their whole insides totally ripped out by this drama! But even if you don't, you're probably going to have a good time watching it anyway. And really, what more can you ask for from a show than that?

Peace, nerds.

[atlas-of-a-human-soul]

Draw your swords, pt. 6

Summary: Losing someone can make you realize what was already there and the Darkling is about to find that out the hard way.

Warnings: angst, violence, swearing, bit of fluff

Part one // Part two // Part three // Part four // Part five  

=================================

Five days have passed and the Darkling had never stopped looking for his wife. His men never saw him rest, sleep was simply never on his agenda. He barely ate at all, merely giving time for the rest of them to gather their strength.

He was restless, constantly questioning how this could have happened. No matter how he looked at it, the Darkling felt guilt consuming him. Without his rage, he worried the guilt would have paralyzed him. Had he not went on a pointless hunt for something that’s likely a tale, she would have been right by his side, antagonizing him.

It’s been hundreds of years since he felt this way, as if his heartstrings are being pulled by someone other than himself. In this search for Y/N, he realized she is consuming. After all, she might have been right – a part of him may actually care for her. He cursed that part of himself over and over again as result.

They’ve tracked her toward Fjerdan borders. Every now and then, they would find bodies on the road, their throat cut or stabbed right through the heart. Sometimes, he found them alive still. He never refrained from calling on his shadows, trying to draw useful information to close in on their whereabouts.

Y/N never saw him use his shadows before. He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d disapprove of the means he’s using to find her. After all, she called him a demon on their wedding night. She would never accept him as he is, he had no doubt about that.

Did she want to be found by him?

The first body they found, the Darkling smiled. He didn’t question it was her hands who have taken the man’s life. There was no concrete proof, but he was certain of it. Every body found felt like her own version of breadcrumbs.

Closing his eyes, he exhaled heavily. If she managed to set herself free so many times to leave what was now five dead men behind, he couldn’t help but worry for her safety. What was the price of each crumb she left?

It wasn’t just the exposure to snow he worried about – and he did worry as she got cold too quickly and he was the one to warm her up before. Who’d warm her up now?

The darkness of the forest gave him cause to worry too – she may have tried to hide it, but he knew she was afraid of the dark. He realized it when her breathing turned shallow and fast their first night together just as she extinguished the candlelight. The next night, he left his candle to burn long into the night.

Something stirred inside him, a beast has awakened. Despite the war his heart and mind waged, he wondered if he’s his own worst enemy. Maybe it was time to let someone in. For too long, he had been alone in the shadows of his past lives.

Why is he repeating the same mistakes?

How can he be afraid when he married a woman who never blinks in the face of danger?

His heart was ice and stone until she came and now the ice has started to melt. All he’s done is hurt and destroy, but he wanted out of the loneliness that clings to him.

She was right, as hard as it is to admit it. He’s a demon, a devil that walks the earth and he cares. Because of her he hopes he might love again and he can’t let anyone take that from him – hope is the only thing stronger than fear. And when a devil falls in love and discovers hope, it’s the most hauntingly beautiful sight. They should fear him as he will go to the depths of hell to protect her.

While his eyes may have been closed, his heart jumped as a bright flash forced him to open them again.

He was never given a chance to be soft. His hands had to be bloody, to have people fear him. Only when they feared him, they wouldn’t hurt him. Now was the time to show them just why they fear him.

“Where?” He growled out, looking to Ivan and Fedyor who were looking at the sky.

“East”, Fedyor replied hastily, ready to follow Kirigan who set off in said direction without a second thought. He didn’t order anyone to follow, but they did.

Ivan and Fedyor walked two steps behind their general, alert as the flash had awakened them from a deep slumber. They weren’t the only ones shaken, unsure what they’re walking into but none showed fear as their general lead them straight to the source. Their loyalty, their belief in general Kirigan runs deep.

Except for David. He was afraid. He didn’t want to be in that forest and he didn’t want to be in danger, but he trusted Kirigan. Besides, Y/N was nice and Genya seemed to like her. So he came along too.

Kirigan walked in strides, the snow didn’t slow him down. His hands formed fists, his face twisted in anger, but his heart pounded in his chest as he had no inkling what he might find. All he knew was that he had to get there, fast.

As if made of darkness itself, the Darkling emerged on what looked like a battlefield. The trees surrounded a small clearing covered in snow that melted under the spilled blood – still warm as it poured from the dead surrounding her.

She’s on her knees, two Fjerdans chaining her up as if she’s a wild animal.

“You think you’re scary, huh?” She spat at the Fjerdan’s feet – a crimson liquid, Darkling realized. She’s bleeding.  

“That’s adorable”, she chuckled maniacally as she held her fierce gaze on the Fjerdan stood before her. They pulled her left hand behind her back and her right hand in front as they tightened the chains that were secured over rope that laid just beneath.

Darkling’s blood boiled. It is fear that brings rage, that hot burning anger that seeks to harm. Once again, he was afraid, not of her but for her.

Four more Fjerdans came from behind the trees, all covered in blood. “Fucking bitch”, one of them kicked her in the ribs and he couldn’t take anymore. He could kill them easily for what they’ve done – he’s killed every one of them he ran into in the past five days without even blinking, regardless if they were involved in her disappearance or not.

“Mister, I’ve seen scary and you don’t have his handsome smile.”

Licking his lips, the Darkling nearly smiles at her remark. There’s no possible way she means anyone else but him. Looking at his Grisha, he found them nearly all in position. They would attack in a minute, swiftly and deadly.

Yet in a moment of carelessness, he missed the Fjerdans realization they’re being watched. Too quickly, more of them appeared. The pitiful human managed to land a few consecutive blows to Darkling’s face before drawing a dagger.

Angry, dark eyes showed the Fjerdan that the Darkling’s brain is in a different mode, that he has switched gears from empathy he had for his wife to cold emotional indifference. Never once has he directed this mode in Y/N’s direction, yet it emerged when he sensed a threat to her life, letting out a part of him that was full on protective.

Grunting, the Darkling’s eyes narrowed at the human who dared to sink the blade into his heart. Despite his immortality, he could still hurt. The pain of a stab wound felt just as it would if here as fragile as the human before him.

But he’s not human at all.

Connecting his hands, the Darkling lifts his head as he summons the darkness that spills from every corner of the forest. “Foolish”, he sneers, “Attacking me in the dark?” The Darkling smirked, walking past the petrified Fjerdan, allowing his shadows to administer a thousand cuts for his transgression.

As he walked toward the middle of the circle, his shadows followed, aiding his Grisha in taking the rest of the Fjerdans so quickly that Y/N gasped.

Looking around in shock, she found Kirigan kneeling beside her.

“You have a knife”, she coughed into her shoulder, “A knife in your chest.”

“I promised”, he gasped for breath as he pulled the knife from his chest. “That I would protect you and I intend to keep the damn promise.”

On the brink of tears, her lips quivered before she laughed. “I thought you’d let them kill me.” Better to laugh than cry, she thought.

Frowning, he shook his head. “That would be too easy”, he waved David over who stood at the tree line, wide eyed. “If anyone’s going to kill you, it should be me.”

Even with tears blurring her vision, she giggled at his stupid remark. She had tried so hard to free herself.

It wasn’t the first time she had been captured by enemies, she knew what to do. But there were so many of them. Each time she freed herself, they would descend upon her. She managed to run, twice, each time they dragged her back kicking and screaming.

Despite his words, Y/N didn’t believe Kirigan would come for her. She had to be her own hero and she tried. In the end, she used everything at her disposal – everything.

Feeling the chains drop, Y/N glances at David, “Thank you.” The ropes were cut as well, but she didn’t move. Truth be told, she wasn’t sure if she could stand on her own and asking for help would wound her. Rubbing her bruised wrists, she reluctantly looked at Kirigan.

“Here”, Kirigan offered his hands. Truth be told, he wanted to carry her, but he knew her pride wouldn’t allow it.

Hissing, she forced herself up despite Kirigan’s offer. “I am perfectly capable of walking on my own.”

He’d have asked her again because she trembled when the wind blew. Her hair was matted with blood, her face red and not from blushing. He could see the damage they’ve done more clearly now as she bent to take a deep breath as if the simple act of breathing hurt her.

Staring at her, he nodded despite his better judgment. Her breathing was ragged, dragging her feet as she walked. She felt his eyes on her, it unnerved her. All she could do is hope her legs don’t give out, but it felt as if they would betray her any moment now.

“Go and make camp ahead”, he ordered his Grisha to speed up as he realized her stubbornness would kill her. Stepping before her, he wrapped an arm around her waist. There would be no asking her for permission this time, he’ll not allow her to deny his help. Hoisting her up in his arm, he held his breath as she cried out in pain.

“I’m sorry”, he whispered, “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

How could he not bring any healers? How could he have been so stupid?

Groaning, she sent him a stern glare yet found no anger in his. His eyes are like the ocean - they have the potential to destroy, yet when the waves reach the shore, they dissipate, leaving soft designs in the sand as a gentle reminder of its presence.

Leaning into his embrace, Y/N let out a gentle sigh of resignation. She’s been caught in the riptide and for once, she doesn’t want to fight it.

“I really thought I’d die”, she admits reluctantly.

Feeling him stiffen as he held her in his arms, Y/N frowned. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said that, or anything at all. This isn’t what they do, they don’t bare their hearts open.

“And when I faced death”, she continued regardless. Tilting her head to look up at him, she let out a shuddered exhale. A shy smile adorned her lips as their eyes shared a gaze so tender, an outsider would believe them to be in love.

“I thought how silly it is that I don’t know your first name.”

Snorting, Kirigan raised his eyebrows, “Really?”

“Yes”, she breathes out.

Looking at her now, the Darkling couldn’t believe this is his wife. The woman who infuriates him so often seemed so small, so fragile in his arms. Her gaze held remains of the horrors she was cast into and yet he never saw her as earnest before.

“I married you and I don’t even know your name.”

Licking his lips, he stops. Truth be told, no one actually knows his name. His name was long forgotten, a piece of his soul he had left behind in the fold. He promised himself he’d never utter it while he lives. He had promised he would never be that man again.

Unfortunately for him, he seems to be breaking his promises lately.

He promised her he’d protect her and he failed, just as he promised himself he’d never care for her and yet he does.

“Aleksander”, he mutters, still unsure if it’s the right decision. He placed one of his greatest secrets in the hands of a woman who’d see his world burn. He gave her power she never should possess and yet he’s not afraid. No one could make him fear anything after the ordeal he was put through since she decided to tear down his defenses.  

Smiling softly, she closed her eyes. Resting her head on his shoulder she felt satisfied. It may be small, but finding out his name felt like a victory. She was born to play this game, it was her destiny. He is her destiny.

Waking up, she found herself wrapped in several blankets inside a tent. Grunting, she struggled to sit up on her own. It seemed to be dark still, but she had a blue light lantern lit inside. She may not know who left it there, but Y/N was thankful. Despite her fear of dark, she found it odd she did not fear Aleksander’s darkness at all.

When his shadows nearly encased her in the clearing, she didn’t fret or worry. She smiled.

As contradictory as it may seem, she wished he was with her now. Her entire body ached and still, she was more bothered by the empty spot beside her. Shaking her head, she bites her lower lip. Would it be so bad if she showed a sliver of vulnerability for a single night? Would making a small concession such as this truly take away her power?

Before she has a chance to change her mind, she’s already outside of her tent. The cold chilled her to the bone, biting every inch of exposed skin. Teeth chattering, she looked to the tent next to hers as it was the only one so close – seemingly intentional.

Trying to open it in the cold seemed impossible as her fingers shook violently. Feeling faint, she wondered why she couldn’t just stay in her own tent for the night. Surely it would have been a better idea than to admit she’s scared to be alone.

A warm liquid trickled down her lip and she nearly laughed at her own idiocy. The darkness and cold and her own injuries have all been fairly good reasons for her to just sleep and try to recover and she still tried to find her husband who showed so much disdain for her in the past.

Just as she was about to give up, a familiar head of hair peaked through.

Shivering, she wipes the liquid from under her nose with the back of her hand. Looking at it, she realizes it’s blood. There’s a slightly dazed look in her eyes, the blood loss suffered over the past days leaving its mark.

Looking up at Kirigan, her lips tremble and she sways slightly as her legs threaten to give out. “I didn’t know who else to go to”, she mumbles meekly before collapsing into Kirigan’s arms.

No…Aleksander’s arms.

Pulling her inside, he wrapped her in his arms as she shivered. Covering her with blankets didn’t seem to help either, but he had confidence it would soon enough.

She closed her eyes, clinging to him and selfishly, he smiled. It brought back memories of the night she climbed atop of him to warm up, he assumed. She didn’t know he was awake then, but she did now. She trusted him enough to seek warmth and as her shivers stopped slowly. That’s when the Darkling realized he would never deny her anything she asked of him.

“Fuck”, he whispers under his breath and her eyes open.

He looked at her in a haunted way, a shadow of a bruise marred his jaw and she reached up to touch it, her chest aching when he nuzzled into her palm. They have never been quite as tender with one another, never so intimate. It felt surprisingly nice.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” She asked, feeling so emotionally raw. Physical pain and lingering fear of impending death must have weakened her for a short while. Surely, she can allow herself a few moments of humanity?

He caught her wrist and pulled her hand down to press flat over his heart. “Here.”

Drawing a shuddered breath, her eyebrows knitted in worry. That’s where the knife was, she remembered with guilt. He could have died for her. Hating him requires too much energy; one she had little to spare. For the night, he can just be her husband and she will just be his wife. What harm can it do?

“Why did you come for me? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t fight for me?” Her confidence wavered as he sighed, brushing his fingers along her cheek. Not only did he come for her, but he murdered men for her.

Blinking slow, half in a daze as a low-grade fever began to grip her too, she had no more strength to deny how beautiful he is or how disarming his charm is. He may never love her, but she could…she could love him. If she ever fell for him, she knew she’d never be able to unlove him. She wouldn’t want to and that…that felt oddly comforting. For once, she was too tired to listen to her mind that preferred to set the world on fire rather than care for him.

As her eyes closed and her face relaxed, he stayed awake. He didn’t understand it, but he embraced the warm feeling spreading in his chest as she fell asleep.

“I’d burn this world for you.”

=============================

Tags: @bruxa0007 @rangotangomango @kaitlyn2907 @thestoryofmylife9 @shelivesindaydreamswme @hxrgreeves @safetyhtom @kaqua @savannah-elliott @all-art-is-quite-useless  @azure23x @girlmadeofavocados @ashdab2611 @acciorudolphx @ladyblablabla @wckedheart @xceafh @sanna2020 @tarkanelima-blog @takethee @mellifluous-cosmos @marvel-ousnesss @tea-effect @starlightofsolaria @p3nny4urth0ught5 @blackbirddaredevil23 @sarcastic-and-cool @slytherinsbiggestproblem @within-thehollowcrown @notthatchhavi @musicconversedance @freakytillthemoon  @lgkoval @honeyofthegods @queenmalhinewahine @misselsbells06  @whatthefluffrichard​

PART 7

[alcinadimitrescuwu]

This Woman's Work VIII (An Alcina x Female Reader Fanfic)

Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII Part IX

You allow yourself a moment. Just one. But then you feel anger and hatred for Mother Miranda swirl within your chest. How dare she. How dare she take your child.

You don’t even bother to put on your slippers. You just head out the door of your bedroom. You almost make it to the front door when you hear Cassandra call, “Maman?”

Damn. You were so close, too.

Cassandra walks over to you with a suspicious look on her face. “Where are you going so late at night?”

You might as well tell her the truth. You explain to her what happened and by the end of the explanation, Cassandra looks as livid as you feel. “That bitch..” she hissed. “I’ve always hated the pull she has over Mother. When I am through with her, she’ll wish she had never crossed House Dimitrescu.”

“Cassandra, I need you to stay here.”

“Maman-”

“Please, Cassandra dearest. Listen to me. We haven’t much time.” You gently lay a hand on Cassandra’s cheek. “The more time we spend arguing, the further Mother Miranda and your sister get away from us. I’m going to get help from Heisenberg. You stay here and figure out a way to wake your Mother up.”

Cassandra looks like she wants to argue more but in the end she relents. “Fine, Maman. But you better come back.”

“I will.” Then Cassandra surprises you by giving you a big hug. Out of all your daughters, Cassandra had taken the most time to warm up to you and she was never the most physically affectionate person. You can’t help but be moved as Cassandra holds you close.

Cassandra finally lets go and you give her a weak smile as you turn to the castle door and head out. She materializes into her bug form to warn her other sisters.

However, you had been lying to her. You weren’t going to see Heisenberg. You were going to confront Mother Miranda herself.

Suddenly a memory comes unbidden to you. Something about resurrecting Eva and a ceremonial site..

Blood roars in your ears as it finally dawns on you what Miranda has been planning all along.

“Fffffffuck.”

You don’t think. You just run. You are just in your dressing gown and it is the dead of winter but you don’t care, even as the impact of the cold snow on your feet sends shivers up your spine. Cracks from the cobblestones cut open your feet and as you run you leave a trail of blood as you run pell-mell through the village to the ceremonial site.

Once you finally arrive, the soles of your feet are a bloody mess and your swollen breasts are burning from not being able to feed your baby. You step inside the ceremonial grounds and you see Mother Miranda sitting next to what looks like a sacrificial altar. Ecaterina is suckling contentedly at her breast.

Mother Miranda looks up and a smile blossoms across her features. It would have been breathtaking if you didn’t notice the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Y/N! I was worried you wouldn’t make it! Please come in!”

You step inside. You have so many things you want to say to her but the words die in your throat. You just make strangled sounds.

Mother Miranda ignores this and turns back to Ecaterina. She is practically glowing as she places a small kiss on Ecaterina’s forehead. “Isn’t she just perfect? My daughter. My Eva.”

Ecaterina removes her head from Mother Miranda’s breast and coos. At the sound of your daughter’s voice, you feel a painful twinge as your breasts start leaking milk. You try to school your features in a smile that you know looks ghastly. “Mother Miranda? May I have my daughter back? Please?”

Mother Miranda gives you a pitying look. “Oh, you poor girl,” she says, her voice dripping with condescension. “Are you still operating under the illusion that this child is yours?”

Mother Miranda gently sets Ecaterina down on the altar. Every fiber of your being is screaming to run and get your child, but you know Mother Miranda is unhinged. You have no idea how she will react and she could very well hurt Ecaterina in the process. You can’t risk that.

“Oh, you brought her into the world, of course,” Mother Miranda continues making her way to you. A beam of moonlight casts a lurid gleam on Mother Miranda’s headress. “And for that I will always be grateful. But she simply doesn’t belong to you.”

Mother Miranda stops in front of you. She suddenly catches her face in between her hands, the claws from her gauntlets digging painfully into your cheeks. “Don’t get conceited, you little bitch,” she hisses. “An outsider like you has no place within this family. The Four Lords and I have a bond between us you can’t even fathom. Especially Alcina.” She gives you a wicked grin.

You wish you didn’t give her the satisfaction as the mere mention of your wife’s name makes you inhale sharply.

“Come now, Y/N,” Mother Miranda says. “You can’t possibly think that Alcina loves you, do you? Not in the way she loves me of course.”

You can hardly breathe as Mother Miranda runs her fingers down your cheek, leaving deep gouges in her wake. “Poor Y/N. Not even realizing that you’re just a placeholder. Alcina’s devotion will always first and foremost belong to me.”

You finally manage to speak as you give Mother Miranda a look of pure loathing. No need to hide it now. “Then why did you drug her, you cowardly bitch?”

“Well, I knew she’d be upset after she knew I killed you and took your daughter, but I think eventually she would see reason and that it was for the good of the family.” Mother Miranda’s features twist in a maniacal grin. “Tell me, has she ever called out my name while she’s fucking you?”

“That is quite enough, Mother Miranda.”

You whirl around and see your wife. Her beautiful face is a mask of rage as she advances further into the room. “How dare you? How dare you take my daughter and threaten my wife?! After all my years of service to you?? After everything I have given up for you?!”

“Oh Alcina, don’t be so melodramatic,” Mother Miranda says with a bored expression. “Besides, is that any way to talk to your mother, my favorite?”

Something seems to snap in Alcina. She stands immobile like a statue and there is a glazed look in her eyes.

Mother Miranda holds out her arms. “Come to Mother,” she croons.

Alcina walks over to Mother Miranda’s side. You feel bile rise up in your throat as you see Alcina take Mother Miranda in a passionate embrace. Alcina’s lips move over Mother Miranda’s hungrily and Mother Miranda smiles against them, chuckling humorlessly.

Alcina this is wrong, you scream silently in your mind. You know it’s wrong!

Finally, mercifully, the two break apart. Alcina’s lipstick is smeared all over Mother Miranda’s mouth and it looks like blood. “Alcina, dearest?” Mother Miranda asks loftily.

“Yes, Mother Miranda?” Your heart breaks at the love and devotion shining in Alcina’s eyes as she gazes down at Mother Miranda.

Mother Miranda waves a lazy hand in your direction. “Dispose of her, would you?”

Alcina turns around to face you. “Alcina?” you whisper as she advances towards you. You see no recognition in her golden eyes as she unsheathes her claws. Before you can say another word, she has rammed her claws into your side. She pulls back her claws as you fall to the ground. Blood is already spreading in a thick puddle around you on the floor.

“Good girl,” Mother Miranda praises.”You’ve made Mother very happy.”

Alcina finally seems to come back to herself. She looks over at your still figure and turns to Mother Miranda in horror. “What did you make me do?” she whispers. When Mother Miranda doesn’t answer, she stalks over to her and shakes her violently. “What did you make me DO?” Ecaterina begins to cry.

“What needed to be done,” Mother Miranda replies with no inflection. She gives Alcina a gentle smile and wipes the tears running down Alcina’s face. “Besides, that girl was standing in the way of our happiness. You know I’ve always loved you best.”

Alcina’s breath hitches in a sob. “I know, but-”

Mother Miranda pulls Alcina close in a hug. “Shhh. She was only temporary, Alcina. We are forever. Besides, with her gone we can finally raise Eva together. Would you like that?”

Alcina nods her head slowly. “Y-yes.”

Mother Miranda holds out her hand to Alcina. “All you need to do is take my hand and we can start a new life together.”

Alcina reaches out and takes Mother Miranda’s hand. With her other hand she rams all five feet of her claws through Mother Miranda’s heart.

Mother Miranda coughs up blood and gives Alcina a look of pure shock. “Alcina- I don’t understand- Why-”

Alcina pulls Mother Miranda closer and Mother Miranda gives out a yelp of pain as Alcina’s claws dig further through Mother Miranda’s back. “I don’t want to see you anywhere near my family again,” Alcina says in a low voice. “Do you understand me?”

“You can’t do this to me!” Mother Miranda shrieks. “I’m your mother!”

“You’re no mother of mine,” Alcina replies flatly. She swipes her claws from Mother Miranda, severing her torso from her midsection.

Alcina watches the light fade from Miranda’s eyes and then she rushes over where you are lying on the floor. Blood is flowing freely from the wound in your side. Alcina tears off strips from her dress sleeves to help staunch the blood flow but there is simply too much. Rags of her dress begin to pile up covered in your blood.

“Alcina? Jesus, what happened here?” Heisenberg walks into the ceremonial chamber and when he sees Alcina holding your still form he rushes over.

Mascara is running down Alcina’s cheeks. “Karl, I can’t get the blood to stop,” she sobs.

“We’ll get help. Where’s the little rugrat?”

Alcina points to the altar and aside from a little blood spatter from you or Miranda (it’s hard to tell), the baby is otherwise fine.

Your eyes flutter open suddenly. “Alcina?” you say sluggishly. “Why are you crying?”

“Oh, my dearest darling,” Alcina’ voice breaks as she takes your hand and holds it to her cheek. “What have I done to you?”

Heisenberg returns with the baby in tow. “Alcina we have to go. Now.”

“Karl?” You look over at Heisenberg as Alcina gathers you up into her arms. Your eyelids begin to flutter closed. “I’m so sleepy…”

“No, no, honey, don’t close your eyes just yet,” Karl pats your cheek affectionately. “We’re going to get you some help. Just hold on till then, ok?” “‘Kay,” you say as you fall into a deep sleep in your wife’s arms.

[fumingspice]

kiss me hard before you go

Pairing: Billie Dean Howard x Reader

Angst because someone (not naming any names) *cough* @lilypadscoven is too happy to write angst. Such a strange excuse, i know. Like whose even happy anymore? That’s so 2014, Freya.

Warning: Angsty as shit! I think. Idk im usually a happy person. Mentions of cheating, mentions of smut etc. 

Requests are open!

taglist: @sarahp-stan @jumpoffabridge-t @sarahpaulsonsoftie @definitelynot-a-writer @bottom4delia @delias-bitch-craft @creepingwolfberry @thesapphictimelady @goodeday2u @that-fucking-error @saucy-sapphic @sarahp-stan @winters-witch-bitch @rainbow-hedgehog @pearplate​

You frowned to yourself, flicking through the endless posts on Instagram. It was some godforsaken hour in the morning and no matter how hard you tried or how deeply you tried to ease your restless mind you could not fall asleep. You scrolled on social media endlessly. 

God, what time could it even be? 04.27.

You gave a defeated chuckle. Even time was in on the universe’s cruel joke. She exited Instagram and went to messages. You couldn’t count the number of unsent messages and thrown out speeches you had started and couldn’t bring yourself to finish.

Billie Dean Howard.

The contact had found itself hidden deep in the archives of old messages. You hadn’t contacted her since December when you had walked away. 

Walking away was better that being the one left behind, or so you had tried so hard to tell yourself. In hindsight, the truth was that Billie Dean was going to end up leaving you anyway. Was it courage of conviction or just the simple knowledge that you couldn’t live knowing that the only person you had ever opened your heart to was going to leave you?

What was the last thing she said anyway?

Goodnight :(.

Always with those stupid text faces. Those stupid, adorable text faces. How did she have such a powerful effect on you that you could see Billie’s face in a colon and a bracket? Why hadn’t you blocked her yet? What was left to hold onto other than movie-like memories that had slipped away like the changing of seasons.

You slipped from beneath the covers, Your hair tickled Your shoulders. There was no one beside you for you to reach for in your infinite loneliness anyway. It wasn’t infinite. Why did it feel infinite? Why did you allow one person to waltz into your heart and make you home there? You reached for an unopened bottle of wine and paused. Billie had left this bottle there. You never drank unless it was around Billie. 

“Dom Perignon,” Billie told you. You were never interested in the details of fine wine. All you knew was that the older it was the more people liked it.

“Isn’t that expensive?” The brunette asked, reading the label.

 Billie nodded with a throaty chuckle. “Only the best for my girl. I thought I would save it for a special occasion.”

A special occasion. You chuckled in spite. The occasion in question was supposed Billie’s birthday. A party with many guests. One too many. The house was brimming with sets of both of your friends. You could recall reaching for the same wine all too well before being stopped by your friend’s girlfriend. Erin took you by the wrist and guided you out to the garden. 

“No one’s out here,” you protested. Erin’s face was almost forlorn. 

“I’m so sorry, Y/N.”

Sorry for what? You snapped out of your confusion. You could see the side of Billie’s body. Pressed against the wall beneath someone else. The anxiety had somehow eased when you watched Billie kiss another, fading into nothing because you knew that there was quite literally nothing that could get even worse than what you were watching.

You pursed her lips. When you imagined these moments, you had always imagined screaming bloody murder. You imagined punching and yelling. You couldn’t move. No tears. Hell, you couldn’t even feel. Erin grabbed your arm and trailed you back, but not before the sight of you, heartbroken in a red dress. had registered in Billie. She barely had time to pull away from her kiss and have the shock of what she was actually doing register. 

It was always a red dress. Red dresses end up in heartbreak. A goddamn blaze in the dark.

Now, you found yourself standing at the window that looked out into the garden. Looking at the spot where you had seen her lover betray every bit of trust that you had. What would have happened if you didn’t see? What if you had seen but Billie didn’t? Would you have said anything? Would Billie have said anything?

It doesn’t matter anyway.

Billie was wine. Aromatic, warm in her stomach. She was a magnificent swirl. She was the impossible to hide stain on your favourite white dress.

Every inch of this house had Billie in its essence. She was inescapable. 

It got even worse when a buzzing noise brought your attention to your phone. “Who the fuck could that be?” you asked yourself. Your heart dropped at the contact.

Billie Dean Howard is calling...

Your world collapsed for a moment as you stared at the phone buzz. Your head told you not to answer, your heart launched for it like a desert oasis. You let it ring a moment too long. You barely managed to blurt out a cracked, “Hello?” when Billie hung up. Presumably giving up.

You bit your lip. Your thumb hovered over the redial button as you fought with yourself. Maybe she’ll call again. That’s a huge maybe. Your finger jolted down unintentionally. Billie picked up on the third ring.

“Y/N?” Her breath hitched. “Y/N, can you hear me?”

You swallowed hard. “I’m here,” you stated flatly, “I can hear you.”

“I didn’t think you’d answer.”

“Honestly,” you replied. You felt no need for warmth. “I don’t think I meant to.”

“Oh. Uhm, how- how are you?”

“What do you want, Billie? It’s five in the morning,” You cut off. You could hear Billie’s breath falter a little.

“To be honest, I just wanted to see if you would pick up.”

You shook your head, cursing how well you knew the medium. “Don’t lie to me, Howard.”

Billie chuckled. “How can you tell?”

“You were the medium, but I was the human lie detector.”

“You’re a lawyer with an Irish mother and Scilian father. It would be more shocking if you weren’t one.”

You smiled, before catching yourself in an eyeroll. “Don’t change the subject.”

“I’m in town. I wanted to see you.”

“It’s five in the fucking morning.”

“You’re telling me that I actually woke you up? You were sleeping when I called?”

You bit your lip. “Yes.”

Billie chuckled again. Like it was a fucking game to her. “Well, now who’s lying?”

“What do you want, Billie?” You scoffed.

“I already told you. I want to see you.”

The audacity of the last sentence. The fact that you knew Billie Dean would come whether or not she was invited boiled your blood.

“Why.” It was more of a flat remark than a genuine question. Why. Why now.

Billie was silent for a moment. “I just want to see your face.”

Your groaned internally, another eyeroll coming into play. You scoffed. “You know the address. Find your own way over.”

And she did. The door knocked almost immediately.

You opened the door so quickly that it creaked aggressively.

“You have some fucking nerve. You know that right?” You snapped. The medium’s eyes widened in shock.

“Nice to see you too.”

You stepped aside and ushered her in, cold from the whipping air. Refreshing if you weren’t standing in shorts and a cardigan.

Billie turned around to face her. Tension grew, like insulation keeping everything in. You could choke on all the words you never said. 

“You look beautiful.”

“Je vais te tuer avec mes mains nues et dormir comme un béb�� après.”

“I’m flattered.”

You groaned and walked away from her and into the kitchen. You didn’t know if you would slap her, kill her, or kiss her. You were just as prepared to strangle her as you were to fuck her hard on the kitchen floor then and there, kissing every single freckle and mole on her skin. “You have three minutes,” You muttered, pouring yourself a cup of coffee to stop yourself from looking in Billie’s direction. Your heart raced at a thousand miles a second.

“I just dropped in to say hi.”

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

You were unamused. “Is that it? Are you going get out of my life again?”

Billie frowned. “Am I? Y/N, you left me.”

“Because you fucking cheated on me, Billie Dean! What? Did you want me to pretend I didn’t see it? Pretend nothing happened? Do you want me to pretend that you didn’t rebuild my ability to trust people just so you could knock it down yourself?” You shouted. The words were coming out thick and fast now apparently.

“I was so drunk, Y/N,” Billie whimpered, her eyebrows furrowed. She was in genuine pain, you could see the guilt right in her brown eyes.

And you couldn’t give a shit.

“I’ve heard this a hundred times.”

“How many times do I have to say sorry for this?”

You raised your mug to your lips. “You can say it until I’m dead.”

You met the medium’s gaze. Brown eyes waterlogged with tears. Billie dipped her face in her hands. “I don’t know if I can go through with this again.”

You snapped again. “Good,” you said. “Because I’m done.”

“You can’t be serious.”

The pair met, closer than you had in months.

“No matter what stupid, thoughtless, selfish, idiotic, drunken things you said or did. No matter how many times. I have never stopped loving you. I’ve never fallen out of love no matter how many times I told myself I had. I haven’t gone to sleep without imaging your goddamn mouth on my lips and hands on my body and I fucking crave to hate you for it,” you spat, venom on you tongue and tears spilled down your face. “I don’t sleep, Billie. I don’t sleep because I know your arms aren’t there to hold me when I’m still awake at four in the morning. Because I can’t reach across the bed no matter how angry I am at you and feel your hair. I fucking love you goddammit. You threw that away. Not me.”

 Tears streamed down Billie’s face. “I regret what I did every. Single. Fucking. Day. I miss coming home and seeing you writing those stupid fucking reports that I know you hate writing because I know you hate your job. I miss seeing your face when you’ve won a case that has been scratching you for weeks,” she inched forward once more, her hands close to Mallorie’s face. “I miss seeing you reorganising the goddamn silverware every few weeks to keep the Fair Folk happy in the same way I miss seeing the way your mouth curls when you come.”

 You scanned Billie Dean, searching despreately for a bluff, something that would give way to the fact that this was all a lie; a gimmick for a one night stand so that you could just shut her out and go back to hating her. Hating the person you love is so much easier than having your heartbroken again. You couldn’t find that bluff. Even your gut-instinct that panged you when someone lied to you wasn’t alerting anything. Billie’s words were as genuine as her tears and it was killing you to see that Billie loved you. The lawyer had hoped- prayed even- that the medium’s words had been bullshit, sweet nothings that could be whispered into the ear of any lover that had fallen into her bed. But you weren’t just a one time fling that had walked into a casual meet. You had walked into her long-term girlfriend with her tongue down another’s throat. You had stashed that little red box with a diamond engagement ring inside even further into the closet that night, and that’s what had hurt you.

A raw truth in her words soaked into you. Refreshed you. They were the words that the ocean screamed back at you when you stood on the cliffside begging for a reason to go on.

And so you gave in. Almost, at least. You stepped forward into Billie and allowed her storm to engulf you. There was no calm here. There was a raging appetite for destruction and creation. What was that lyric? A tornado has met a volcano. Her lips ravaged yours to the point of being rubbed raw, the type of sting that bothered virtually every moment of your waking day, one that went on for days. You bit down on her lips, her tongue, her chin and cheek. Whether in was in spite or the desperation to seek and find every single piece of her that you could was unclear. 

Those fateful memories crept back, and you pushed hard against her chest. Billie’s lips, now red, white and swollen, pressed against yours again, retracting when there was no return.

“I’m sorry,” you lied. “I think there’s a possibility that I don’t love you.”

Billie’s eyes resembled a broken mirror, or maybe the view of a dying star. The thing about dying stars is that they died a very long time ago and you only notice years later. She nodded with a weak smile. “I understand,” she whispered, pressing her head against yours. She picked up her bag and turned to leave.

You stopped her. What on Earth were you doing? Let her leave so you can hate her in peace.

“Kiss me. Before you go,” you pleaded. “Hard.”

Billie shook her head, her face scrunched before throwing her face at you. The force drove you into the counter sending a glorious shock of pain up your back. Billie was doing what you had asked.

“Fuck you,” you pulled away and muttered, as if she had gonr too far in teasing you.

“What did I do?”

You raised your hand and slapped her face, lightly. “Fuck you for proving that I still love you.”

A rush of relief knocked Billie, visibly. She returned to your lips, much more gently this time, as if she were savouring every part of you.

“I told you to kiss me hard,” you whispered, although not necessarily opposed to Billie’s touch.

“I’ll do anything you really want,” she replied.

You paused for a moment. “Anything?”

Billie smiled. “Anything.”

You kissed her once. Soft. Tentatively. “Fuck me. On the table.” 

[isnt-it-loverly]

little birdie (3)//five hargreeves

Warnings: blood, poorly written fight scenes

Summary: When Five lands in the Sparrow Academy, he must convince one of them to help him reset the timeline. 

Word count: 1600

Author note: super short and not the best. This week i got some pretty rough news so updates may not happen as often as I want them too. I do have a plan and its officially going to be a series now! I’m going to try to get an update out at least once a week. Thanks again for all the love on the first two parts it means a lot!!

Part one, Part two , Part four, Part Five

There was a loud bang that awoke Five from his restless slumber. He grumbled groggily as it felt like he had just fallen asleep. He wondered what the hell you were doing out there. There was another crash and Five decided that it’d be best to check on you. Pulling himself out of bed was hard as he was now incredibly sore. He half expected the door to be locked again, he was wrong. Another one of your flaws, he noted, you were far too trusting. 

He pulled the door open quietly as to not to give himself away if there was trouble. Unfortunately, his fears were confirmed. Ben has you pinned to the wall, tentacle around your neck, and hand over your eyes. 

“Where are they, I know you’re helping them!” He yelled. Five watched silently as he watched you struggle, trying to pry yourself out of your brother’s grip. He gulped in fear that you would break and tell Ben all that you knew. 

“I- I don’t know,” you choked out. You were trying everything to get him to let go. Kicking, squirming and digging your nails into his skin. 

“You’re lying, I know you didn’t go on patrol yesterday. You’ve been spending a lot of time down here. Something you do when you’re hiding something,” Ben snarled. He squeezed harder and you felt all the breath leave your lungs. You gasped and coughed trying to get any air at all. Five grumbled to himself, knowing full well what he had to do. At least now you two will be even. 

“Hey asshole,” Five yelled with a cheeky grin, “looking for me?” 

“I knew you were lying, you little bitch,” Ben growled as he quite literally threw you across the room. You felt like all the air had been knocked out of you, and there was a high pitched ringing in your ears. You looked to Five but there was nothing but black dots dancing across your vision. You decided it might be best to give yourself a minute for everything to stop spinning.

Five looked to you worriedly, you definitely had taken a beating. This version of Ben was much more ruthless than his, and if he was being frank, it kind of scared the shit out of him- especially in his weakened state. He flashed in front of Ben and landed a punch square in his jaw. The Horror stumbled back, surprised that such a little guy packed such a powerful hit.

“Your family will be dead by nightfall, too bad you won’t be there to see it,” Ben roared before releasing the beast within him. A tentacle reached for Five, but he blinked out of the way. However one managed to strike him down

, and another pinned him into a wall. He looked down to see the blood seeping through the clean shirt you had given him, shit this was not good. He heard his brother yell out in pain and the grasp on him loosened. There you were, arms wrapped around Ben’s neck and bringing him to the ground. Five watched in amazement as you fought, it was like you were dancing. He was impressed, you were amazingly trained- even by the commission’s standards.   

Going toe to toe against your brother was not a simple task, especially when he had a giant octopus monster coming out of his stomach. All you could do was dodge his swings until you could get close enough. You manage a kick right into his jaw, and you watched with pride as he stumbled back with a bloody lip. You felt guilty for doing this. All over a boy, you had met less than a day ago. There was truth behind Five’s words, you knew that the apocalypse was coming and that your family was the spark that ignited it. You knew the consequences, you had to get him back to the umbrellas, whatever the cost. You landed another hit before that royally pissed him off. He came rushing at you, right into your trap. You knew that he’d be blinded by rage. Ben grabbed you by the neck and hoisted you into the air. 

“Rookie mistake,” You muttered while looking directly into his eyes. Just like that, it was over, Your dimwitted brother was much easier to take over than Five. In Number One’s body, you carefully set yourself down. You looked over to Five and rushed to his side.

“(Y/n), please tell me that’s you because I really don’t think I have it in me to kick his ass at the moment,” Five muttered clutching his stomach. You grimaced and you lifted his hand to see the fresh blood. You don’t know why but you hated to see him in pain.

“I’ll fix you up, but not here. It won’t take long for them to realize Number One has gone missing,” you explained while helping Five his feet. He looked exhausted and you were determined to keep him safe. Nothing was going to happen to him on your watch. 

“Now,” you looked Five dead in the eyes, “how hard can you punch?

“What?” He responded with a quizzical look on his face. 

“Like on a scale of one to one hundred, what would you say?” You asked with a small smirk. 

“I don’t know, 94?” He replied. 

“Perfect! I need you to knock me out,” You instructed nonchalantly. 

“Fine by me, but it’s not gonna hurt you right? I’m punching Ben not (Y/n),” Five questioned as he prepared his stance. 

You nodded to let him know that it was okay. Sure you’d feel it but he didn’t have to know that, besides a little white lie never hurt anyone. Five really went for it, all the angry built up in one hit. You stumbled back, closing your eyes tight. When you opened them you found yourself back in your own body and Number One splayed on the ground.

“Ninety-four my ass, that was like a 200,” You complained. You rubbed your jaw slightly trying to ease away the pain that had transferred over. Five mumbled a small apology. You just shook your head and rolled your eyes. 

“Come on,” you said in a hushed tone, “sleeping beauty won’t stay down forever.”

You pulled him along as fast as the both of you could move. You were definitely sore, two big fights in the span of 24 hours was draining. Rest was not a luxury either of you could afford right now. Slipping out of the basement and into the corridor, head whipping as you did. The coast appeared to be clear. Before you could move Five pulled you into his chest, with a hand over your mouth. 

“Now, I’m gonna trust you. Which I don’t normally do. If, for even a second, I think you’re gonna double cross me and my family- I will kill you,” He whispered in your ear harshly. You pulled his hand away gently and looked into his eyes,

You could tell he was searching your face for any signs of deception but he wouldn’t find any. All he could see was a severely pissed off (Y/n).

“If I wanted you dead, I would’ve let bleed out the first time my brother kicked your ass,” You snapped back. You pulled away in anger, after all you did for that little shit. If any of your siblings found you, they’d kill you- didn’t he realize that you were on his side. That you had already lost everything to reset the timeline and stop an apocalypse that may not even happen. You looked around the corner again and signaled for him to move. He followed you closely before grabbing your shoulder. 

“Hold onto me tight,” He instructed. You did as you you were told and held on to his arm for dear life knowing exactly what he was about to do. Five did a quick run forward and suddenly the both of you were outside in the courtyard. You covered your mouth and bit your lip to keep from vomiting everywhere. 

“I’m gonna be sick,” you groaned. 

 “You can do that after we’re far away from the academy,” Five said in a hurried tone. He grabbed your wrist and begun pulling you along into the street. To be honest, most everything looked the same to Five. All of the shops were the same, the people looked normal, nothing except the academy was out of place. 

“Do you know where West Street is? There’s a place where we can hide out. Its safe, I promise. Clean clothes and fresh food too,” You asked with hope in your voice. 

“There's no time for comfort, Ben knows where my family is. We have to find them first,” Five said with determination. 

“He was bluffing, I checked. They have no leads,” You confirmed, “ and on top of that, two kids in bloody clothes will raise too many questions.”

Five looked at you wearily, You hadn't lied to him so far so why would you start now. He knew that you were right about your appearances, they’d be a dead give away. He sighed in defeat and told you he knew the way. You smiled and slipped your shades on, ready to take on the next chapter of this adventure. 

“Here,” You said while slipping off your blazer. You handed it to Five and he gave you a quizzical look. 

“To cover up the blood, you look like Carrie after the prom,” You joked. Five slipped it on, it was snug yet it felt very familiar. The material was the same as his old one, just red. He sighed and ran his hand over the emblem, that bird did not belong there. You noticed his discomfort but decided not to press it. The faster you got to West Street, the better life would be for the two of you. 

[obxcunt]

Love bites || (7)

pairing: jj maybank x reader [eventually] || rafe cameron x reader

warnings: cursing, typos, violence, angst.

summary: it was supposed to be a good summer for you, the last one in the obx before going to college, the last one with your friends and family. Unfortunately, a sudden and mysterious death is about to completely change your life, pushing you directly into a brand new world and into a very sexy vampire’s arms.

A/N: I LOVED WRITING THIS PART! HAVE FUN READING IT! LOVE YOU GUYS!

part six || masterlist || part eight

“Shut up, JJ!” You screamed, entering the Chateau. “What’s going on?” Kiara asked, looking at her friends with confusion. “What happened guys?” She added. “He’s just being dramatic, again.” You said, crossing your arms. “Right—” He laughed nervously, walking up to you. “Her boyfriend—” You groaned, rubbing your face. “He’s not my boyfriend!” You snapped, face to face with the blond vampire. “We have more important things to talk about guys.” Kiara said, sensing the tension growing between you two. “Exactly! Ward thinks you’re suspicious, we need to do something about it.” You continued. “You might be in danger right now.” He shook his head. “You’re constantly defending him, are you in love with this asshole or something?” JJ asked, the question making you sigh. “He’s my friend! This is not about love or anything. We’ve been friends for years, JJ!” He clenched his jaw. “Tell me, are you jealous?” He laughed nervously, raising his hands. “You think—” He scoffed. “I’m not jealous, only worried.” You frowned. “You’re too attached to him, you could betray us.” Your eyes widened, your hand automatically raising itself to move against his cheek: the action releasing a loud sound. “Y/N!” Kiara gasped, jaw dropping. “I— Fuck you, JJ.” You murmured to him, ignoring his blank expression. “Guys, calm down!” Kiara said, watching you walk away from them. “Wha— Wait!” He shouted, following you to the front door. “Where are you going?” You opened the door without looking at him. “Far away from you.”

It’s been three days since you left: which already felt like an eternity to him. He wasn’t expecting it: the emptiness, the guilt, the craving and the pain. Obviously, everyone knew it, everyone could feel his distress every day and night, because his happiness disappeared at the same time as you did that night.

“... Too dangerous.” Marcus said to Kiara, giving the brunette another book of spells. “Hey, what’s going on with him?” He whispered to her, glancing at the lonely boy on the hallway. “Did something happened?”

“She, happened.” Kiara smirked, focusing on the book. “He pretends to be okay, but—” She sighed, briefly glancing at JJ. “It seems like his life isn’t the only thing he lost last year, his balls are missing too.”

“Fuck off, Kiara.” Marcus chuckled at the kids. “I’m right here, which means i can hear you guys.” JJ added, sighing as he stood up to join them in the messy office.

“Oh shit, really?” Kiara asked, pretending to be surprised, closing the book with one hand. “Might as well remind you that you’re an idiot then.” He rolled his eyes. “You should’ve said the truth, JJ.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said, shrugging his shoulders and swallowing hard his own lie. The brunette’s jaw dropped, and she threw the old book at him. “Hey! What the fuck?” He asked, moving out of the way.

“Exactly, JJ!” She shouted. “What the fuck?” She asked back, crossing her arms. “We all know, don’t lie it’s unnecessary.” Marcus remained silent, looking at the them with confusion.

“Alright!” JJ said. “And how, huh?” He asked, looking straight at her. “It’s too late! I can’t do it anymore, she hates me.” Kiara rolled her eyes: dramatic, she thought. “I don’t even know what to say or where to start. I’ve been in love with this girl since high-school, i’ve been thinking about her for years, i’ve been working at Topper’s every summers just to see her.” He looked exhausted, frustrated by his own emotions.

Kiara’s features softened at his honesty. “It’s never too late.” She said, trying to reassure him. “I saw it, JJ! It’s meant to be.” The blond laughed, not convinced. “She likes you, it’s an evidence.” She sighed. “And—”

“It’s too late for me.” He said sadly. “Because at the end of the day, she’s still a mortal Kook.” Marcus pursed his lips together in sad smile. “And, i’m a vampire.”

“JJ...” Kiara murmured, approaching him.

He turned around, hearing the familiar ringtone of his phone from the living room. He left the office, ignoring them both as they kept shouting his name. He shook his head, clenching his fists on the way to the couch, grabbing the cellphone rapidly. And suddenly, a smile appeared on his tired face at the sight of your name on his screen.

He licked his lips, shaking. “I— Hey!” He said with excitement, running a hand through his hair. “I mean— What’s going on, Y/N?”

“Hey.” He couldn’t believe it, smiling at the sound of your voice. “Tell me, isn’t it a bit late?” He frowned, looking at the dark hallway. “If you came here to apologize, you’re three days late, JJ.” You laughed alone, the blond remaining confused.

“Wha— What are you talking about?” He asked, walking back to the office. “I’m at the Chateau with Marcus and Kiara, we are working on the Ward situation.” They both looked at him with confusion. “What’s going on, Y/N?”

“Shit.” You murmured, going down the stairs. “I— I thought it was you!” You walked to the front door, making sure it’s locked. “There’s someone in front my house.”

Marcus frowned, nodding at JJ. “Wait, what?” The blond asked in worry. “Stay away from the doors and windows, Y/N!” He rubbed his face. “You’re safe, don’t worry, he can’t enter the house but—”

“My parents, they’re both gone.” You interrupted, walking around the house. “I’m home alone, JJ.”

“Calm down, Y/N.” He said, walking out the office, followed by Marcus and Kiara. “I’m on my way, don’t worry.” He hung up, looking for his keys.

“What’s going on, JJ?” The witch asked. “Is she okay? What happened?” He ignored her, searching everywhere. “Hey!”

“He’s at her house!” He shouted at her, pulling on his blond lock as he looked around. “We need to kill him, we need to do something.” He finally found the keys. “I need you guys, i can’t do this on my own.”

———————————————————————

“What the—” You murmured, hearing a loud noise from downstairs. You swallowed hard, opening the bedroom door, walking to the stairs: noticing the front door wide open. “No, no, no, no.” You cried, walking down the stairs in a rush to close it. “Shit.” You turned around, driven by paranoia.

A loud silence occupied the empty house, the cold atmosphere and fear eating you alive. You didn’t know what to do, cursing yourself as you remembered forgetting your phone on your bed.

You needed to tell JJ, you needed him here. “Dumb bitch.” You whispered, running back upstairs, panting through the panic. “Wait, what?” You asked, not finding it. “No, what the fuck—”

Another noise interrupted you, a scream escaping your trembling lips: which made the intruder smile to himself. You walked down the stairs in a rush, determined to leave the house since it wasn’t even safe here anymore. Unfortunately, as soon as you tried to open the front door: someone grabbed your waist, turning you around to slam you against the door as you screamed loudly.

There he was, the monster who killed Kelce a few days ago, the one who’s been chasing you ever since. The brown-haired boy around your age smiled, his dark eyes searching for yours. “You’re not going anywhere, my dear friend.” He looked different, the dead side showing up through his cold features. “The party just started.” He added with sinister smile, making you cry. “Shhh, shhh, shhh.” He murmured playfully, caressing your cheek with his dirty hand, your body shaking against the wooden door. “It’s okay—“

“Don’t touch me!” You cried, placing both hands on his chest as you tried to push him away. “Please— You killed my friend!” He chuckled, choking you lightly. “Stop— They’re gonna kill you too.”

“I’ll make sure you’ll die first.” He replied calmly, tightening his grip. “But we’re gonna play a little bit together.” You sobbed in silent, searching for a solution in your head. “Even though, it’s not okay to play with our food.”

“Why— Why are you doing this?” You asked, trying to gain more time by distracting him. “Please— Let me go.”

“It’s natural!” He exclaimed with enthusiasm, smiling awkwardly. “Damn, look at you…” He examined the veins in your neck, then your face attentively. “You’re beautiful, probably delicious as well.” He removed his hand from your throat, laughing as you started coughing. “I’ve been waiting for this moment—“ He paused, hearing something outside. “Shit—“

You noticed the concern on his face, the opportunity to escape as the tall man took a step back. “Fuck you!” You shouted, punching him across the face with all the strength you had before running towards the kitchen, whining in pain as you couldn’t feel your hand anymore.

“You’re gonna regret it!” He yelled from behind as you pulled out one knife, turning around and stabbing him in the stomach in a second. “Fucking bitch—“ He laughed at the action, noticing the blood on your hands and the disgust expression on your face. He pulled it out himself, throwing it away. “You’re gonna need way more than that.”

You remained silent in shock. “I’m— I’m sorry.” You mumbled automatically as JJ screamed your named from outside. You glanced at the hallway in panic, wanting to answer but as soon as the intruder turned around you panicked. “Don’t hurt him!” You added, grabbing his arm. “Don’t—”

He instantly pushed you away, straight against the counter, the impact making you whine in pain. His hand move to the back of your head, to pull on your hair. “You need to shut that pretty mouth.” He added, before roughly slamming your head against the wall.

———————————————————————

“Shit!” JJ yelled. “She’s not answering anymore!” Marcus was driving fast, the brunette witch sitting in the back and trying to calm him down. “If something happened to her—”

“Don’t say that!” Kiara said, the crew arriving in the quiet street. “She’s in the house, which means she’s safe! Maybe— Maybe she fell asleep or something.” She said, not very convinced by her own words.

“I— I can’t.” He said, clenching his jaw. “I can’t loose her, especially like this—” He hit the seat with a clenched fist. “I promised her—”

“You need to calm down, kid!” Marcus told him, focusing on the road. “I know it’s hard, but—” The blond boy couldn’t wait anymore, jumping off the car as they approached the house. “JJ!” He shouted, stopping instantly.

JJ ran towards the house, knocking on the front door like a maniac, shouting your name hopelessly. He tried to calm down, focusing on the sounds surrounding him: sighing in relief as soon as he heard your voice. Unfortunately, the joy left instantly as he heard the other man’s voice and the fear in yours emerging as your heartbeat increased.

Kiara and Marcus parked in the driveway, both running to the front porch, approaching JJ. “What’s wrong with you?” The older vampire asked. “Wha—“ He paused, looking at the door, sensing the other vampire’s presence. “He’s inside the house.”

“Wait, what?” Kiara asked. “Okay, let me—” She tried to enter, opening the front door, but Marcus and JJ both pushed her back.

“It’s too dangerous, you’re gonna get killed!” Marcus said. “It’s time to use your powers, i’m sure there is a spell for this.” Kiara frowned, unprepared. “I know it’s very stressful for you but—”

“I’m begging you!” JJ shouted, losing his mind. “She’s in danger, please do something. We need to enter this house before—” He paused, suddenly losing the ability to hear your voice and heartbeat. “I— I can’t hear her anymore.”

“I’ll go to the back!” Marcus said, disappearing instantly.

Kiara sighed. “Let me try something.” She said, pushing the blond out of her way. “I need you to stay calm, i need to concentrate.” She started murmuring inaudible words, breathing in and out.

“Kiara…” JJ murmured, looking at the inside of the house with clenched fists. This was a real torture for him, the worst scenarios popping up in his mind. “Kiara!”

“It’s done!” She shouted back, opening her eyes. “It’s— I think it’s done, you should be able to—” He didn’t let her finish, entering the house. “Be careful!”

———————————————————————

“...Be careful!” The intruder smirked to himself, looking at your unconscious body laying on the kitchen’s floor before exiting the house by using the back-door.

JJ smelled something that worried him even more as he walked in: blood. He ran towards the kitchen, kneeling down next to you as soon as he saw you, feeling like crying at the terrible scene. He pulled you closer, taking you in his arms and grimacing at the sight of your bloody nose. He caressed your cheek, calling your name again and again.

“Kiara!” He yelled. “Please— Wake up, Y/N.” He repeated again, holding you tight. “Why— I can’t hear her heartbeat!” He almost cried as the witch walked in. “Fuck—” He used his thumb to wipe the blood under your nostrils.

Kiara sat down next to you two, grabbing your wrist. “Wait.” She said, trying to concentrate to find your heartbeat. “She—“ JJ was panting, filled with anger and sadness as he held you close to his own heart. “She’s alive.” Kiara murmured, smiling in relief. “She’s alive, JJ.”

The blond boy closed his eyes, tears emerging from the corners as you coughed and blinked a few times. The brunette couldn’t stop smiling, catching your gaze as you opened your eyes slowly.

“Kie—” You paused, confused and coughing again. You blinked, moving one hand to JJ’s arm, smiling at him. “I—” Kiara stood up and left, wondering where Marcus was. “Hey…” You murmured, looking straight at him as kept holding you.

“Hey…” He said with a weak smile, almost breaking down. He pressed his forehead against yours, closing his eyes, repulsing the urge to cry as he kissed your skin. “Don’t— You scared the shit out of me, Y/N.” You chuckled, your hand moving to his cheek. “I’m sorry for the other night.” He added, pulling away to look at you.

“Me too.” You admitted, still feeling guilty for slapping him and running away. “I—“ He didn’t let you finish, pulling you into a tight hug, making you whine. “JJ— I can’t breath.” You laughed against his neck, his hand resting behind your head. “Are you— Are you crying?” You asked, hearing him snif.

“Never.” He said, holding back the tears. “Shut up, Y/N.” He added, hearing your giggles. “Fuck— I thought you were—“ You pulled away, resting your head against his chest, surprised to hear his own heart beating so fast.

“I’m okay, JJ.” You said, your body relaxing against him. “I’m okay…” You sighed peacefully, cuddling him in the silent kitchen, every dark thoughts and fears magically disappearing.

———————————————————————

tag-list: @prejudic3-deactivated20201112 @thestorysofargone @ifilwtmfc @callmeimpetuous @katiaw2 @iccyyyybitch @agirlwholovescoffee @hvrcruxes @mayybankz @magicwithaknife @obxmxybxnk @lus-shh @bibliophilewednesday @k-k0129 @acvross-the-universe @thestorysofargone (tumblr won’t let me tag some of u guys!)

[sixfanficsarchive]

Soulmates AU

Anne Boleyn/Catherine of Aragon

Colour by Reign_of_Glory

Colour. It's such a profound concept, full of so many meanings. For Catalina, she knows she's likely to never see any colour other than what she's been told is yellow. She's one of the lucky ones, she supposes, because she can also see shades of orange and red. However, she does wonder what she's missing. She's married, and still unable to see the full beauty of a rainbow, of a promise that everything will be okay.

The Glow by PikaPals16

The glow happens when you share a significant moment with your soulmate, not necessarily first touch but you know, sometimes it is.

Two Queens and A Crown by immortalbibitch

Everyone is born with a tattoo to symbolise their soulmate, but not all soulmates are mutual and reincarnation can be a bitch.

Hanahaki disease:

sunflower by khowardishere (esoterpsi)

Anne is also 17 when she begins to cough up yellow petals.

Places We Won't Walk by a_slightly_cracked_egg

It took her another month to realize just how screwed she was.

Catherine of Aragon/Jane Seymour

Truth by CinderSpots

When you're around your soulmate you have no fliter.

Single(ness) by sixsclassic

Jane is a single mother to two year old Katherine. She’s finally finding herself again, where she meets the one, in a pub on a Tuesday night.

Hanahaki disease:

Heartbreak and Oblivion by Um_Lol

“I love you.” written in blood on her desk. And flowers, everywhere. Aragon felt more guilty than ever, and wished she realised sooner. But it was too late.

Katherine Howard/Catherine Parr

Bookmarks by Please No Portraits (GothAlbinoAngel)

Now, Kit and Cathy want to go about getting to know one another, even as the marks on their arms tell them they're bound for someone else. 

i might not believe in fate (but i believe in you) by the_glare_you_see

A person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.

Anne Boleyn/Catherine Parr

My dumbass soulmate by The_Names_No_One

Cathy meets Anne when Boleyn gets her hand stuck in a vending machine.

our shared marks (And the bruises on you) by Not_a_healthy_human

Whenever your soulmate gets hurt, a mark of your soulmate's favorite color appears over your skin. Cathy is always covered in marks, and fears for her soulmate.

Day One by CsjLam

There’s a timer on your arm which indicates how much time you have left until you meet your soulmate.

History, a mystery and reincarnated Tudor Queens by Multifandom_wreck

Cathy Para and Anne Brooklyn both have secrets. Neither of them know it, but they could be about to find one of the only six people in the world who know what it feels like to be a Tudor Queen living in a modern world.

time stands still by lessix (scrxamitout)

Parr and Boleyn fall in love in every universe.

[detectiveinchicago]

Sparks Fly: Chapter 10

Chapters list here

Note: Hi guys! I’m sorry for taking so long with this chapter. I had problems with chapter 9 too, Tumblr deleated chapter 9 idk why. Thank u for all the comments and reviews, you are amazing. If you want to be tag in this story please let me know. English is not my first language. Enjoy xxx.

DISCLAIMER: GIF IS NOT MINE.

WARNING: Bad language, mental illness, PTSD and drugs mentions. 

What smell was that? Lemon maybe? Caitlyn could feel her head throbbing. She was going to need an urgent Tyrol. Why did her eyelids suddenly feel so heavy? How long had she been asleep? Light. Why was there so much light? Couldn’t someone turn it off? Even with her eyes closed, she could feel the white light. She opened her eyes slowly as she concentrated on the beeping of the machines.

“You’re awake.” Why was Kenny even talking to her? God, was last night a dream? Judging by the pain in her shoulder, she could tell it had been real. She finally finished blinking and turned her head on the pillow to see him. He had a bruise on his jaw she was sure he hadn’t in the warehouse. 

“Who did you fight with?” Caitlyn asked in a raspy voice, “What happened to your face?”

“Your brother punch me” Kenny replied

“Oh, God” Caitlyn muttered “I’m sorry” she added embarrassed 

“He’s furious that you didn’t tell him we were married” Kenny informed her, “I think you missed that little piece of information, it was a beautiful family reunion”

“My brother and I are not exactly on good terms” Caitlyn replied with a small cough.

“Were you ever on good terms?” he asked raising his eyebrows, pouring a glass of water and offering it to Caitlyn

“Thanks” Caitlyn drank “FYI, the relationship is worse than ever, did Will intervene?”

“To be honest, he was more concerned about your medical history.”

“Of course” Caitlyn replied, “Did you ...?”

“Yes, no latex, no penicillin, and no opioids” Kenny informed her. Caitlyn smirked, he still remembered it.

“Did Will try to stop Jay?” she asked out of curiosity

“I think he was too shocked to think” Kenny said, “Jay tried to make me his punching bag in the waiting room” He said. Caitlyn lowered her gaze to look at his knuckles and Kenny seemed to read her thoughts “I didn’t hit him, I have my anger under control, thank you very much for asking” replied the annoyed by his gesture.

“I said nothing Kenny” Caitlyn replied

“But you thought about it” he replied, getting up from the chair next to her bed.

“Why are you coming if you’re always going to be mad at me over nothing” Caitlyn rolled her eyes

“Well, even if you haven’t been there for me when I needed you, I’m here for you” Kenny replied dryly before heading out the room. Caitlyn leaned her head against the pillow. Perfect. Yet another problem to add to the list. She closed her eyes. Maybe she should get some more sleep. Her shoulder was killing her. Where were opioids when she needed them?

“Caitlyn! Your husband told me you were already awake”

Dammit. She just wanted to go back to sleep.

“He’s not ... Never mind” Caitlyn mumbled “Good to see you again Dr. Marcel”

“I’d say the same if it weren’t because every time I see you you’ve been stabbed,” Dr. Marcel said and Caitlyn smirked, “And because you altered Maggie’s waiting room”

“Sorry about that” she wrinkling her nose “I’m sure it was a disaster”

“I thought it was going to be worse, to be honest” Dr. Marcel replied as he took some notes from the monitors and a nurse walked through the door “Dr. Choi and I were ready to intervene but your husband never raised a finger” he informed her as Caitlyn raised her eyebrows.

“Really?” she said “We have been separated for almost five years, technically he is my husband but we are not together” Caitlyn commented to the doctor as the nurse changed her bandage.

“Maggie must surely still be mad at Jay for disturbing the order in the ED” The nurse told her with a small smile

“Will told me that Maggie rules the ED” Caitlyn answered causing a laugh from both

“He’s not wrong” Dr. Marcel replied, “You don’t want to mess with Maggie”

“I’ll write that down for future references,” Caitlyn said with a brief smile.

“Since the stab was in your shoulder and provided that no nerves were damaged, you just needed 48 hours in here so you will leave tonight”

“Tonight? I have slept for almost a day?” Caitlyn asked 

“Yes, it’s 6AM so you still need to wait for tonight” Dr. Marcel answered, “You will need to rest Caitlyn for a few weeks and you won’t be able to chase anyone for almost a month until you come back here”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, “I forgot how much I hate to be hurt”

“You guys need to get a hobby” Dr. Marcel answered shaking his head “Cops keep telling me how much they hate to on desk duty”

“I don’t have time for a hobby and all the hobbies I have are sports” Caitlyn told him while the nurse finished taking a blood sample. 

“I would also recommend you to take painkillers” Dr. Marcel added writing something down in her file. 

“Opioids?” Caitlyn asked while he looked at him.

“He told me you have some history with oxy” and by “he”, Caitlyn assumed Dr. Marcel was talking about Kenny “But we have to sedate you to remove the bullet and then we gave you small doses of painkillers” 

“You must have seen my file, I had a lot of things when I was a teenager and I was really closed with oxy” Caitlyn said. 

“Don’t worry but you will have to monitor your pain in case you need them” Dr. Marcel informed her “How much pain from one to ten do you have?”

“Maybe a seven” Caitlyn answered

“That’s not so bad,” Marcel told her, “We can work with that, I will see you next week, if you feel your pain increasing you call me” He finished before getting off her room. 

“Hey “ O.A greeted standing at the door with Jess, Clinton, Hanna and Sheryll.

“Hey guys” Caitlyn smiled briefly

“How you feel?” Sheryll asked, sitting in the chair that Kenny previously occupied.

“As if a truck had hit me” Caitlyn replied sitting on the bed

“You were lucky the guy had such poor aim” Clinton replied, “He was close to the neck”

“Please” Caitlyn replied “I’m a tough bitch, he needs more than a stab to kill me”

“I told you she will say that” Hanna told Clinton.

“What happened with the case?” Caitlyn asked.

“It turns out that this guy was a psychopath as we expected, but he was medicated, sometimes he had these breaks where he went out to kill” Jess informed her about the case “He stopped taking the medication, accumulating the prescribed pills and with that, he drugged his victims “

“We think he started accumulating pills a year ago after his mother died,” Sheryll added.

“I took the trouble to take a picture frame of her mother, look at this” Hanna said handing her a bag of evidence. Caitlyn took it and raised her eyebrows.

“She looks just like Amelia Roberts” Caitlyn observed.

“And similar to all his other victims” Hanna added, “She was an exotic dancer before she became a prostitute”

“We talked to some neighbors, and they lived in the same house their whole lives, the neighbors said that the mother was quite a character and not in a good way” Sheryll informed her.

“How many victims?” Caitlyn asked.

“Fifty-five at the moment but labs are still running” Jess replied.

“And the lipstick?” Clinton added, “The mother had a box full of red lipstick”

She took a brief nap after her friends left, promising to meet them that night for a drink at a bar called Molly’s. They were going to join her brother’s unit for a job well-done celebration. They had discovered who the murderer was and he would spend a lot of time behind bars.

“Hey” her brother Will greet her “Marcel told me you looked good”

“It still hurts though” Caitlyn commented giving him a small smile.

“You and Jay must stop getting shot or stabbed or you’re going to drive me crazy” Will muttered taking a seat in the chair next to her while Caitlyn giggled “Kenny was still here” Will committed causing her to turn to look at him, “I told him to go to rest but he seemed to be angry when he left“ he added curious

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, “He’s always mad at me”

“You know Jay wanted to kill him when he found out, right?” Will added by pouring a glass of water to his sister and handing it to her.

“Dr. Marcel told me, did Kenny hit him?” Caitlyn asked curiously to see what story her brother was going to tell her.

However, Will confirmed Marcel and Kenny’s story.

“He didn’t raise his hand” Will shrugged “Jay was being a jerk, I probably would have hit him if I were Kenny.”

Caitlyn shifted uncomfortably in bed for having judged Kenny too quickly, although she would continue to maintain that her husband had gotten angry with her for no reason.

“So ...” Will began, “Are you going to tell me how this all happened?”

“We got married and then we weren’t married anymore” Caitlyn replied and her brother rolled his eyes “Truth is, nobody ever made me feel like Kenny”

Will raised his eyebrows “That’s a revealing confession isn’t it?”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes “Shut up”

“Why didn’t you get divorced? You’re not together, ” Will asked curiously.

“It was too painful at the time to see us again and then it was just easier to stay married, the taxes and all that” Caitlyn replied distractedly, although she never believed she could have the courage to let Kenny go for good.

“Are you telling me you didn’t get a divorce because of your taxes?” Will asked, raising his eyebrows.

Caitlyn glared at him “It’s harder than you think, Kenny will probably always be my great love”

Will nearly choked on his glass of water, “Excuse me?”

“It’s ... difficult” Talking about her feelings with her brother was harder than she thought “My feelings are complicated; God, I’m doomed” Caitlyn snorted, resting her head on the pillow.

“I couldn’t tell you if it’s bad or not, but he seemed worried about you when you came” Will commented, scrutinizing her.

“PTSD sucks” Caitlyn told him “It’s what ruined my marriage”

----flashback----

Even though Kenny had PTSD he had never had major problems, yes he had nightmares, yes he sometimes had bad and terrible days, and yes he had seizures but Caitlyn knew herself that coming back from the war was more than difficult. That’s why she didn’t judge him. She understood him and tried to give Kenny space when he needed it.

However, they had a case where a veteran sniper with PTSD, a war hero, had killed five people after his best friend, another soldier, committed suicide. Caitlyn knew that her husband was struggling. She had mixed feelings about the case, but Kenny was showing signs of stress. The night before she was sure that he had not closed an eye and he was quiet. 

That night Caitlyn had fallen asleep while Kenny was still watching television. However, she woke up hours later to moans and complaints coming from her husband. When she settled into bed still half asleep herself, she saw Kenny shifting between the sheets and murmuring in his sleep. Caitlyn looked at him carefully. Should she wake him up? That was probably her first mistake.

“Kenny” called Caitlyn moving him by the shoulder and approaching his face “Kenny, wake up”.

Kenny opened his eyes suddenly and Caitlyn received a punch that destabilized her and made her back up before she could even move, Kenny had her arms immobilized to the bed.

“Kenny!” Caitlyn moved to escape his grip “Kenny!” she exclaimed again as he left her arms and started choking her “Kenny is me” she said raising her arms and trying to touch his face as she felt the air escaping from her throat “Ken ...” she repeated unable to finish his name due to lack of air.

When she saw spots in her vision and as her arms tried to touch her husband’s face, she moved her legs and kicked him in the testicles. To which Kenny responded by coming out of his reverie and leaning over on the bed in pain.

Caitlyn crawled out of bed to the floor as she tried to catch her breath. Once she could stop seeing dots in her vision, she got up on shaking legs and locked herself in the bathroom. She slid through the door to the floor and sat there as she tried to get all the air back into her lungs. Caitlyn knew how PTSD worked, she believed that everyone who returned from the war somehow had PTSD, if it wasn’t for the war it was for life.

She didn’t judge Kenny, but she had to admit that being attacked by the person sleeping next to you in bed was scary on another level. You think she would be used to that kind of thing and she was, but not at home, in the place where she was supposed to be safe. She hated to admit it but it was the same feeling she had when she was still living with her father, walking around looking over her shoulder because she never knew when she was going to get a bottle from the back. And she hated to admit it too, but Kenny in that state scared her a little. She knew that in her work she looked fearless and reckless, but deep down she just wanted to feel safe and have someone to hug her at night.

Caitlyn walked over to the mirror and noticed that her cheek was swelling and that her neck had grip marks. She got out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen in search of ice to get high; she sat on the couch while tilting her head, holding the ice.

He had already suggested therapy, a dozen times at least, Caitlyn had begged Kenny to go to therapy for him and when she noticed he didn’t want to do it she asked him to at least do it for her. It didn’t work either. He insisted that he was fine.

Caitlyn leaned back in the chair with her head spinning and fell asleep. The next morning, she awoke to the sound of the coffeepot and as she remembered what had happened the night before, Kenny offered Caitlyn a cup and sat next to her. They both sit in silence, taking the first sips of coffee. Kenny reached out and ran his fingers across Caitlyn’s neck. She just looked at him and pouted.

“I’m sorry” He said finally.

“I know” Caitlyn replied.

“I’m sorry” Kenny repeated “I didn’t come to tell you yesterday because I thought you wouldn’t want to see me”

Caitlyn fell silent and took another sip of coffee.

“You’re good?” she asked after a while.

“Yes,” Caitlyn replied turning to look at him “It doesn’t hurt, but I’m going to report sick for work on Monday, I don’t think the swelling will go down by then” She could tell that he felt guilty, however that wasn’t enough for her.

----flashback----

���Do you have PTSD?” Will asked her.

“Nope, Kenny used to but I think we all have PTSD, if it’s not war, it’s life” Caitlyn answered looking at him “He used to have episodes and he refused to go to therapy” she added “so I left, I didn’t want to repeat cycles”

“Like dad?” Will asked curiously 

“Yes, like dad” Caitlyn answered briefly and Will could tell she was in a bad place “Dad got the worst out of me”

“What do you mean?” Will asked, raising his eyebrows. 

“He made me feel on the edge all the time” Caitlyn answered looking aside “I never knew what was going to happen, he made me feel anxious”  

“Dad was complicated”

“Dad was more than just complicated,” She said “I was just a teenager and he was such a bad person, I was supposed to enjoy the senior year and instead I ended up almost drunk every day”

“How could you…?”

“I ended up in hospitals, a lot” Caitlyn explained “And doctors gave me oxy, a lot”

“At that time I thought you were still going to Stanford” Will whispered “I’m sorry” he added taking her hand into his.

“It’s okay” Caitlyn said, “Truth is; it was easier to explain my injuries since I used to be an athlete, doctors believe me”

“I’m sorry” Will repeated.

“I know, I’m afraid that I will become addict to oxy at any second, the doctor once told me I wasn’t abusing pain killers because I was in real pain because of my injuries” Caitlyn confessed “But I realized know that I was really closed of becoming an addict”

“I saw your medical record, you needed those painkillers,” Will told her “I wished that Jay and I had been more attentive”

“I know you tried, I mean, I have been angry all these years but you are trying now and that’s enough for me to talk to you at least,” Caitlyn said with a little smile “Because Jay is definitely not talking to me”

“He is just trying to do things right” Will added

Caitlyn rolled her eyes “You should have seen how he looked at me when we were working, he hates me”

“He doesn’t hate you, he is just angry” Will told her. 

“If you say so” She answered unconvinced 

“You should talk to him” Will suggested. 

“I will not talk with him, if he wants to talk then he should come to me” Caitlyn answered. If there was one thing Caitlin and Jay shared, it was that they were both stubborn when it came to pride. Will doubted either of them would give their arm to twist.

“You are both so stubborn” Will said, shaking his head.

“Stubbornness is in the family” Caitlyn answered briefly.

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

Tag list:

@proceduralpassion @lovecatystuff @bethii1 @give-jack-a-lightsaber @thevelvetseries @lovingfanofupstead @thetwit @anotheronechicagobog @sadsot @chicagogirl2019 @cpdfan231 @bxrgesses @onechicago-upsteadrhekker​ @slytherinwitchy​ @itsdesiree86​ @halstudandruz​ @hereforthedale​ @cactiem​ @nhcwdw​ @anotherfan07​ @pinkrockstar19​ @rochyu​ @mollyc70​

[rae-sparda]

Dangerous Liaisons

A/N: Hey guys, we're baaaaaaaaaack with another chapter. Yaaay! I hope you like it! Let me know what you think.

Chapter 3 - A meeting with the Devil's Mother

She knocked on the door feeling her undead heart thudding violently against her chest, her fear palpable. Soon enough, the door opened and Finn greeted her, his impassive face shifting to one of nearly happy that she was alone. “You’re alone. Wise choice.” She side glanced at him, resisting the urge to not roll her eyes. Yeah, like I had a choice… Gulping down her fear, she fully entered the room, her gaze falling between Esther’s hands.

“It’s only sage. I’ve spelled It so we can talk freely without fear of being overheard. That would be all, Finn. Thank you.” Dismissing her old son, the two soon were alone, and Katherine tried hard not to bolt after she heard the door closing.  “You must have a million questions for me, Elena. Please.” She gestured towards the sofa and the vampiress gulped, slowly making her way before seating and cursing the Salvatores for making her basically scream that she wanted to die.

“How are you alive? I mean… Are you a ghost or…?

“Not exactly. When I died the witch Ayana preserved my body with a spell. She was a close friend of mine and an ancestor of your friend Bonnie.” Katherine widened her eyes, surprised at the revelation, but knew her doppelganger would never let any information pass. She was as cunning as she could be and still pretend to be innocent. The nerve.

“So that’s why only Bonnie and her mother could open the casket?”

“They complete the Bennet bloodline. I drew power from them and their ancestors with me on the other side.”

“You’ve been on the other side for a thousand years?”

“Nature’s way of punishing me for turning my family into vampires. But there is a way for me to undo the evil I created.” Katherine was caught off guard, her surprise showing openly on her features.

“You’re gonna help us kill Klaus, aren’t you?”

“One thing at a time, Elena. For now, I simply need your help.” Her nervousness was only growing with each second more she passed beside the Original Bitch who was speaking so freely and seemed confident that Elena would help her. No surprises there, they all wanted to kill Klaus. “I understand Rebekah shared the story of my family. How I upset the balance of nature by turning my children into vampires.” Esther said while lit up a few candles on top of a paper that had a few things scribbled down, but Katherine couldn’t decipher what it was from where she was standing.

“She said that you did that to protect them from the werewolves.” By now, Katherine was more than happy to have force shared information with her shadow self, otherwise, she would have stuttered so much, the witch would have seen something different on her.

“It’s true. But in no time at all, they began to feed on human blood.” She poured water into a cup while saying that with such disgust that made Katherine ball her hands into fists to not say anything. They became what they were because of her! How could she not see that they were only children and she was the responsible one for that mess? “They ravaged the town with no remorse. Eventually, Niklaus turned against me.”

Getting closer, the vampire doppelganger still didn’t see how Elena would help her. “How are you gonna kill him? He’s immortal.” She nearly scoffed, but the Mikaelson’s matriarch was so serious and gazing at her intently like she was trying to read her soul.

“It will take time, magic, and your assistance.”

“What do I have to do then?”

“My children believe I’m holding this ball to celebrate our reunion. But in truth, I’ve gathered them together to perform a ritual. The first step requires the blood from the doppelganger.” Katherine widened her eyes and stiffened, feeling overwhelmed. She was going to be discovered and Esther would kill her in a heartbeat. “Only a drop. Its essence will be in the champagne toast later on this evening. Will you do it? Or shall I?” She asked revealing a silver dagger and holding it to her in a twisted way of offering her the chance to help her.

To not raise suspicions, she took out her glove and hold the dagger, pinching her finger before turning it towards the cup full of something she didn’t want to think about. Giving the dagger back to Esther, Katherine quickly put her glove back on, feeling nervous. Would it work? “Elijah is more suspicious than the others, so he may need more persuasion. But they must all drink at the toast in order to be linked as one.”

“What do you mean linked as one?” She was regretting her decision to come at all and was fearing for Elijah. This wench of a woman wanted to kill all her children? With no regrets?

“You said yourself Klaus can’t be killed. But tonight’s spell links all my children together so that if one goes, they all go.”

“What?” Her voice wavered and she suddenly felt the urge to vomit. She couldn’t believe that Esther would do such a cruel thing. And they used to say she and Klaus were the monsters...

“I love my family, Elena... But they are an abomination. I betrayed nature when I created them. It’s my duty to kill them.” Katherine didn’t even have to pretend to be shocked, since she was too struck to pretend another reaction and simply left in a daze.

“So how was my mother?” Elijah’s voice was enough to make her feel her dead heartbeat skyrocket and she gulped, taking a deep breath to calm herself in his presence, the urge to simply spill everything eating her.

“Intense.”

“And for what reason, she needed to speak with you in private?” His reaction seemed nearly funny like he was loving her reaction, from what; she couldn’t tell. Getting two flutes of champagne, the vampire doppelganger forced a smile on her face, glancing sideways involuntarily, meeting Esther’s eyes who showed a coldness even when she smiled at her and Katherine felt she couldn’t breathe. “Elena. Should I be concerned about my mother's intentions?” She snapped her head towards Elijah, glancing at him like he was the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Approaching him, she smiled, getting his flute and turning around to run, exchanging the flutes, and whining at the force he used to stop her. Frowning, she pouted and gave him her flute, her eyes hardened.

“No, Lijah... You don’t have to worry about mother dearest.” He gave her a side smile, approaching the doppelganger slowly, making her walk backward until her back collided with the wall.

“So, it’s true then? She’s forgiven Klaus?”

“It’s true.” She forced a smile on her lips, and Elijah let his eyes linger on her sinful lips.

“You forgot that I can always tell when you lie, Katerina.” Opening her mouth to reply, she was interrupted by the sound of clinking glass.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one. I’d like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers.” She raised her glass and the doppelganger internally panicked. She had switched the wrong flutes. When Elijah got his flute, Katherine simply arched her brows, facing the older vampire mockingly.

“Since you’ve discovered me...” She dryly retorted, stealing his flute and drinking it in one go, just like the rest of his siblings. Before Elijah could try to question what the hell was she doing there, she flew trying to find Stefan to go home. After a few moments where she hid from Elijah, she finally found the younger Salvatore... Only, he wasn’t alone and was discussing with his brother, calling the attention of anyone that was leaving the ball.

“Okay, Stefan, nice one. You surprised me, bro. Good for you, but don’t think for a second that that fucking whore wi-”

“Damon, what are you doing?” Katherine bit out, grazing her teeth, wanting more than anything to break his neck again and burn his body just for fun to see him die. He barely turned when he heard her voice, his anger aimed at his brother.

“Oh, shut up, you little devil. Go away.”

“Damon, please! This isn’t you, what is wrong with you?” Scoffing he turned around to face her and gave a wicked grin, making her frown. Katherine gave a step back, but Damon's vamp sped at her, throwing her at the pool, and everyone stood shocked to see what happened, while she screamed and let herself fall into the water, internally screaming and killing Damon in a million different ways. Not even a second later, she was out, shivering and coughing, her gaze darting around wildly until she was hushed and hugged her savior.

“Go now, mister Salvatore. You’ve done enough this evening.” Elijah dismissed him and heard Katherine’s growl. The only thing keeping her from killing Damon was the way the Original’s body was engulfing her, and he should be thankful for this mercy.

“Elena... I can get you home.” Stefan’s voice was controlled and his rigid posture revealed he was not sure how to react.

“I’m fine... I’ll be okay... Elijah won’t let anyone hurt me, Stefan. You can go.” He nodded, only glancing at her once more before flashing out after his brother and Elijah took her to his bedroom to let her dry herself and use Rebekah’s clothes, much to her annoyance. When they returned to his bedroom, Elijah opened his mouth, but Katherine stopped him, saying they should go to her hotel’s room. “We can’t talk here. It’s not safe.” She whispered and he frowned, both vampires escaping through the windows. After a few seconds, they were inside her room and she bit her lip, messing her hair and telling him about his mother’s plan to kill them all.

“So, she wants to kill us all... And you linked yourself with my siblings... Why, Katerina?” She frowned and scoffed, crossing her arms.

“I have no idea if it worked. I might be a doppelganger, but I am a vampire.”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” She gulped and before she could reply anything, he disappeared, leaving her alone.

@umaficwriter @kalijahx @imgoingtofreakoutnow

[punksarahreese]

Blue | La Douleur Exquise

Nosdecember day 24 | @neworleansspecial

Hanahaki!AU; Sarah starts suffocating on her flowers at work

CW: Hanahaki disease, vomiting/coughing up blood, medical gore, child abuse mention

***

“Doctor Bekker?” Sarah called from where she stood by the nurse’s station. Ava was in treatment one with a patient, though she looked up at the call of her name. She must have excused herself to the patient’s family because soon she was standing in front of Sarah and the resident had to force a polite smile.

“You paged?”

“Oh, yes,” Ava passed her a tablet with a chart pulled up, “A girl came in with an arrhythmia, presumably from an undiagnosed heart condition. She flinches every time I move and is anxiously looking at her father for his consent before speaking.”

“So you’re thinking abuse?”

“Looks that way, I figured a shrink would know best.”

Sarah nodded, ignoring the way her chest clenched a little when the surgeon leaned a bit closer to zoom in on something on her chart. She knew by then that she was suffering from Hanahaki disease, caused by Ava herself, but she hadn’t told anyone. She felt foolish, knowing she should make an appointment with a specialist and schedule a removal surgery. Still, she hadn’t let herself even humour the thought. Removing her flowers would mean tearing out every feeling she had for Ava. She knew this would kill her in the end but she couldn’t bring herself to kill it first, not yet.

“A history of broken bones and her x-ray today showed calcifications on her ribcage that suggest untreated rib fractures.”

“Poor kid,” Sarah mumbled as she looked over the x-ray Ava pointed out, “You want me to speak with her or the parents?”

“I’ll deal with them, take them to sign something. You talk to the girl, just be gentle; she’s scared”

“Of course,” Sarah couldn’t help the sigh of relief when Ava left to go escort the parents to a conference room, feeling the pressure in her chest ebb away. She had quickly learned that the closer she was to the subject of her affections, the more pain her flowers caused. She had done research on the petals she had begun coughing up weeks ago, unnerved by the blood speckling the pink and purple flowers she didn’t recognize. Barberton daisies, google claimed, were native to South Africa. That made sense, especially since Hanahaki was often characterized by flowers significant to the patient’s love interest. Daisies were beautiful, they used to be one of Sarah’s favourite flowers, but now that she had seen far too many covered in her own blood she had begun to hate them.

With Ava out of the room, Sarah had no problem sitting down with their patient. The girl was no older than seven, far too young to be exposed to any type of violence. She was scared, that was obvious, and it took a fair amount of coaxing before she would speak to Sarah. Slowly, the psychiatrist did get her to open up and she hid behind her hands as she told her the truth in a hushed whisper. Her dad got angry, she explained, and mom wasn’t much better. She was punished for many things, pointing out her most recent bruise; a big red welt across the back of her thighs.

“I didn’t finish my dinner…” she admitted softly, as though she was afraid Sarah too would punish her for that. The doctor immediately reassured her that she did nothing wrong, waving in a nurse to call child-family services as soon as possible.

Sarah should have paid more attention, because it was at that moment that the girl’s father returned to the treatment room. He must have heard her ask Monique to make the call, since it wasn’t before long that the room was full of yelling.

“You stay out of my family’s business, bitch!” he was yelling at Sarah, quickly having her backed against the wall. When Sarah cried out because she ran into the sharps container mounted on the wall, Ava had already walked into the room. Mo ran off to call security, all of them worried about what this man was capable of. The patient was in tears, shrieking at her dad to leave the nice doctor alone because it wasn’t her fault. Ava had the guy’s hand pinned behind his back the second he looked ready to hit Sarah, dragging him towards the door.

“Don’t you dare lay a hand on her, Mr. Klein,” she spat, “Or you will be escorted off the premises.”

That had the man shouting more expletives at her, cursing out every female staff member in the general vicinity. Sarah had managed to get away from the wall, thanking Ava quietly as she walked back over to the girl. She was breathing heavily, hyperventilating out of fear, and she looked ready to pass out.

“Hey, Lena, you’re safe,” Sarah promised softly, leaning over to turn up the oxygen to ease her breathing. A quick glance at her monitors had her concerned though, her heart rate was skyrocketing and her oxygen stats only decreasing.

“Ava?” she called, not thinking about the way the surgeon preferred to be on a title basis with everyone but Connor. She was too worried, knowing this father had sent his daughter into a panic attack and maybe triggered something more severe.

Doctor Bekker was by her side in seconds, checking the stats herself and calling for an EKG. Her blood pressure was oddly high for a young child, the child having trouble speaking and grabbing at Sarah’s hand for reassurance.

“Lena?” Ava leaned over her with her penlight, “Can you follow this for me?”

Sarah watched as she tried to complete a quick neuro exam, soon realizing that the child’s right pupil was sluggish and not reactive. In seconds Mo was paging a neuro consult, while Ava and Sarah tried to keep the patient calm and awake.

“A stroke?” Sarah rasped, struggling to breathe herself because of how close her and the other woman had been standing while tending to Lena.

“Something like that,” Ava nodded, “Transient ischemic attack maybe? If she’s been abused for a while she could have had an aneurism or bleed that was missed.”

“She’s so little,” Sarah breathed, giving the child’s hand a gentle squeeze when she noticed her eyes falling shut, “Lena, stay with us, honey.”

Sarah wasn’t sure how exactly she made it through the next few minutes. Her chest hurt more than it ever had before, her breath catching every time Ava leaned closer to check their patient or the monitors. She knew this was bad, it shouldn’t get in the way of her work, but she couldn’t help it. By the time Sam walked into the room, asking her to move so he could check the patient’s cognitive function, her vision was getting fuzzy. Ava must have noticed because suddenly the other woman was taking her hand and dragging her into the hall, which had Sarah’s chest clenching horribly at the minor contact.

“Sarah,” she never used her first name and it made the resident want to cry, “Are you alright?”

She could only manage a small nod, eyes focused on the hand Ava still had in hers. The touch burned, making Sarah want to rip her hand away but not having the strength to even think about doing that.

“Your lips are blue,” Ava pointed out, “And your hands. I think we need to get you into a treatment room.”

“I’m f-fine,” she rasped, “I’ll be okay.”

“If you’re sick you shouldn’t be working; besides, you look like you’re about to pass out. Let me do a quick exam, please? Cyanosis with such a quick onset is a major cardio concern, Doctor Reese.”

That had Sarah yanking her hand from Ava’s grasp, ready to flee. There was no way she would let her do a cardiac workup on her, it would involve X-rays and scans so she would definitely notice her Hanahaki. Sarah didn’t want anyone knowing, but the thought of Ava in particular having any idea about it scared her more than surgery to remove the damn thing.

“I’m fine, Doctor Bekker,” she muttered, taking off down the hall before Ava could say another word. She rushed into the downstairs staff bathroom, sighing heavily when she realized it was thankfully empty. She felt déjà vu hit her hard as she stared at her reflection, the same place she always was during episodes at work, noting that Ava had been right about her being cyanotic. She was breathing harshly, gasping with every inhale because she couldn’t get enough oxygen otherwise. This was bad, she realized, as she felt like someone was squeezing her lungs so hard they would explode.

She didn’t even have time to grab onto the counter before she collapsed on the floor, her legs buckling without her consent. A sound of annoyance escaped Sarah, frustrated with how much pain she was in; all because of Ava. She didn’t blame her though, how could she? The other woman had no idea of her effect on Sarah, she just didn’t love her. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t return Sarah’s feelings, it was Sarah’s own fault for being foolish enough to let it get this bad.

She couldn’t suppress the rough cough that shook her body, ripping angrily at her chest from the inside. It was a watery cough and Sarah knew her palm would be bloodied when she pulled it away from her mouth. She was suffocating from the inside and she didn’t know what to do, cursing quietly when she saw the handful of petals that had come up with her forceful coughing.

Maybe it would finally kill her, she mused bitterly to herself. Dying in the hospital bathroom was not her ideal way to go but at least she wouldn’t have to explain herself to anyone.

[thequeenb]

Our story (part 6)

Surprise bitch, you thought you have seen the last of me

Pairings: KamilahxMC

Amy walked through a void, voices could be heard from all the directions. She felt like she was in another universe surrounded by memories that creeped inside her mind

"I love you Amy, i love you so much" Kamilah said looking at her with pure adoration

"Kamilah!! Can you hear me? Please get me out of here.. please" her voice was pleading but everything stopped as the dark figure approached

The memories faded and she was left with nothing but darkness

"Don't waste your time silly human, no one can hear you" the ancient voice echoed through the void and Amy could swear she heard this voice before

"Let me prove it to you"

Suddenly Amy could see a bright light, a window like memory she could access. As she approached closer she could hear her mother's voice, her father's cries.

It was her funeral.

"No..no i am here! Mother..Kamilah..no" fresh tears ran through her cheeks as she tried to wake up from this nightmare but she couldn't, she was trapped watching the people she loves mourn her.

"Get me out!! Why are you doing this to me?"

The figure laughed simply yet so evilly "You are my access to freedom"

Amy didn't listen, she simply approached trying to snap back to reality. Her screams filled the darkness. She ran, like there was no tomorrow but the memory started to fade away.

Before it disappears she saw Kamilah behind a tree watching from a distance. "Kamilah!!" She screamed with all her will but she was left alone, in the dark.

___

She couldn't bare the sight, she couldn't blend with the crowd and pretend like it wasn't her fault. She knew that her world was too dangerous for Amy, she knew that loving her would have consequences but Amy knew it as well. No matter the danger, the fame, the complications Amy was always there choosing Kamilah over and over again.

She watched as the crowd started to walk away one by one. Her parents were the only ones left saying their goodbyes. Her father was on his knees reaching out hoping he could feel Amy's hand. Her mother was distant, not a single tear was running down her eyes

Kamilah was angry. She was disappointed in herself for letting Amy get hurt, she was angry at Amy's mother for being so heartless towards them. But most importantly she repeated Gloria's words over and over again.

How could she not know? How could she not see the signs? She felt so stupid, so helpless and alone. Lily didn't knew yet, Adrian didn't knew, nobody knew she died. They all saw the news about the accident but they don't know the bitter truth.

When no one was there she approached hesitantly. Every step felt heavier than the last. What could she possibly say? I am sorry i couldn't protect you? I am the one to blame? Even if she said so there was no point. Amy was the one buried underneath dirt and she was here on earth not knowing what to do next.

She held a red rose on her hand, one that doesn't mean anything anymore.

"Do you remember the first time i bought you flowers? You kept them in a vase even when they were ugly and dead" she said focusing her gaze on the flower she held.

"And you said 'they are beautiful because you gave them to me' " she smiled bitterly as she let the rose on the stone, her hand shaking.

"My life.." she said exhaling heavily

"My life was like a dead rose and you just came into it and made it worth living, beautiful"

A single tear fell from her eye but she didn't wipe it, she let it roll down her cheek and it died on her lips leaving a bittersweet sensation in her mouth, just like the life she have to live without Amy.

"Kamilah.." she could have sworn she heard Amy's melodic voice in the distance. She closed her eyes focusing on her sensations.

And there she heard it again..and again.

"Amy.." she breathed out trying to understand the purpose of what is happening.

She turned around only to find Gloria staring at her. Disappointed she brushed off the possibilities of Amy calling her name. She probably miss her to much.

"She wouldn't want you to be sad" Gloria said as Kamilah turned her back on her.

"And what would you know? You never loved her" Kamilah spat out angrily

"I could say the same about you dear" her tone was ironic triggering Kamilah's anger even more but she didn't turn to face her, because if she did it would be her funeral

"Look what loving her did to her"

In an instant Gloria was held by the neck as Kamilah lift her from the ground

"You really think you know what we had but you dont" she said squeezing her throat tighter

"If you didn't tell them where we were she would have been here!!" Kamilah rose her tone more than she intended, filling in the deadly silence

Gloria was gagging trying to take a small breath but Kamilah's hand didn't let any air access her body. Her eyes widened as her face turned blue

"You could have told her the truth, you should had protected her like most mother's do!!"

Unexpectedly she let Gloria fall to the ground as she was taking long deep breaths coughing

"I don't want to see you again because if i do.." Kamilah said kneeling besides Gloria caressing her cheek "i wont hesitate to end you"

Without another word Gloria tried to stand up to leave but she made the deadly mistake to speak "I am glad..you don't..have her"

___

Amy felt her head was spinning, her senses were intense like nothing she ever experienced. She could smell the earthy scent around her. She could feel the heat and the small space she was in but mostly she could feel that devastating hunger that torn her apart.

"Wha..what is happening"

Two pointy teeth poked her lower lip and the realisation settled in she is a vamprire. As soon as she realised what was happening her heart started racing.

She kicked the coffin with all her strength "Open you piece of shit!!" And she kicked again and again until she was free.

She started trying to find the surface and as she did so she realised she didn't had the need to breathe nor felt like she was suffocating. After a while she felt the air hit her hand and she pushed harder getting out off the ground.

As soon as she felt the air access her lungs her senses kicked harder as her hunger grew. She felt out of control, like she wasn't even in her own body but then she saw a figure and she approached stunned.

Her vision was blurry as the need for blood consumed her completely. She could smell fresh blood that wasn't that far away from her. As she walked further holding her self up there she saw her. Kamilah standing before a dead body, her daggers filled with delicious blood

She walked to her direction forcing herself to speak "Kamilah.." she said breathless

Kamilah gazed at Gloria's body, her eyes were red with anger, her heart was filled with loss and pain but then she heard a whisper, Amy whispering her name.

Turning around she saw her before her own eyes. Her clothes were covered in dirt and she was holding herself up with difficulty

"Amy.." she breathed out as she reached for her but the moment she did so she collapsed on her hands

"It cant be.."

Tag list: @kamilah-the-bloodqueen @wildsayeed @samgtt700 @nydeiri @la-guera-69 @thepotatobleh @justastranger-passing @blackphenix9527 @mrskamilxh @onyxgaytrash @scarlet-letter-a0114 @lovestruck-sapphic-choices @sergeant-pepper-loves-choices @justanother-lesbo @justyourlocaldyke @vonda-b-real

[walker-journal]

Dutiful Sons (Adam +Winn)

Summary: After Winn confesses his past murders, Adam feels that the Code allows him only one option. 

Location: Main Street Arena

Content Warning: Gun Use 

Adam had first learned the proper preparation of silver bullets from his mother Leah. Due to its lower density, silver munitions have less overall power than the simpler lead bullet. Likewise silver’s hardness makes it far more resistant to the rifling within a gun barrel, resulting in bullets that are slower and less accurate then standard. This combined with the price of silver and the intense heat required to melt them down for molding made silver bullets a bitch and a half to utilize efficiently without proper training.

Of course, those silver bullets hadn’t been meant for Werewolves. Leah had shown her children how to weaponize silver in order to combat the neverending threat of ghouls and alghouls in the Negev desert. When taking up firing positions with his siblings at chokepoints in lonely wasteland canyons, Adam couldn’t have ever imagined that one day he’d be gunning down friends instead of rabid corpse eaters.

It might seem weird to think holding a position against ravenous packs of alghouls as ‘blissful’, but at least then Adam’s perception of the world was crystal clear.

Perhaps going through garage sales and thrifts stores to pick up cheap silver heirlooms to melt down for bullets was emblematic of what it meant to be a Hunter. Just more sacrifices in a war without end.

So there Adam was, crouched with a rifle just outside a blindspot in the Main Street Arena’s security cameras, prepared to destroy another beautiful thing for the long war.

--

When Adrien Harlow had asked Winn for extra practice, Winn had been… hesitant. It wasn’t only the full moon energizing his blood, makin’ him more aggressive than usual, wakin’ him up from the cobwebs and sleep of the past month. No, Winn knew that there was a target on his back, and the idea of puttin’ anyone else at risk for his past… It made him sick to his stomach. But Adam wouldn’t… Winn knew that Adam wouldn’t even think about hurtin’ a human, not for one werewolf.

Not for one friend.

If Winn could just talk to Adam, he could fix things. Adam wasn’t a bad man. Winn wasn’t a bad werewolf. There were shades of gray and, as much as Winn didn’t regret the decisions he had made, not anymore, he knew he wouldn’t make those decisions again. There was a long chain, and it connected Adam and Winn to death. But it didn’t have to. All they had to do was try.

But what if Adam didn’t want to talk? Winn’d turned the problem over in his head. There was running. Winn could do it. It was like breathin’ — so damn easy, so instinctual, that Winn had almost packed a bag. But he’d made promises, and he intended to keep them. No more running. Not from his past, not from himself.

Winn hadn’t been able to tell Noah. There was so much unsaid between them, that it had been easier to say nothin’ at all. His mouth could be put to better uses. He’d woken up, after, to the nearly full moon casting shadow over Noah’s sleeping form. And he’d thought, This is it. This is where I’m supposed to be. There were other things he hadn’t been able to tell Noah. Feelings that scared him with their intensity, feelings that it felt wrong, somehow, to say in the heat of the moment, or even in the afterglow. But there was no question for him now.

The air was cooling, the wind was changing. Winn could change with it. He would change with it. There were people here now, for him. Friends, family, pack. He had so much left to do.

“Hey, baby,” Winn said into his phone, locking up the Arena behind him. He’d sent Adrien on ahead, wanting him to get home before the sun was down. White Crest wasn’t safe. Noah’s phone had gone to voicemail. “Figure you’re sleepin’ off the moon, but I’m gonna hit my dad’s real quick to grab Denny and then head over to you and Kea. If you wake up, text me what you want to eat. Otherwise, you’re gettin’ pizza again. ‘S like a hangover: Carbs’ll make you feel better.” He laughed, gentle, and then, before he could stop it: “I love you.” A pause, a cough. “See you soon.”

If he could get home quickly enough, he could make sure the first time Noah heard him say that wasn’t over voicemail.

--

When in kneeling position with a rifle, you’ll often notice that the scope’s reticle bounces with your heartbeat. Controlling breathing was a critical part of marksmanship, but you also want to fire between heartbeats, specifically the downbeat of the heart when you’ll be most accurate. Adam had been trained by sheer repetition of the years to screen out both fear and eagerness while aiming. He’d been taught a mantra that personal feelings had no place in a Hunter’s duty.

Hatred, revenge, and cruel sport were all impure emotions that tainted a Hunter’s purpose. There was only a duty to protect humanity by whatever means necessary, the act of taking life just one more mission to fulfill.

But even though he’d confirmed that Winn Woods was a threat to humanity, with a confession no less, Adam’s heart was racing. There should be no feeling or uncertainty now. The Code and Adam’s duty were clear beyond the faintest shadow of a doubt. This wasn’t about what Adam wanted anymore. It was out of his hands now.

But the scope’s reticle was bouncing across Winn’s distant face anyway, as if to mock the dissonance of Adam’s body, heart, and mind. If he was so sure, why was he shaking? Why was his heart beating so fast? Why did some part of Adam still wish that Winn hadn’t confessed to him, allowing him some excuse of plausible deniability?

It would be so easy just to walk away. Who would know? Why uphold a Code he’d already broken? Why kill and die for those who’d never forgive Adam if they knew the truth?

Adam’s finger eased off the trigger for a moment as the urge to walk away from everything caused his eyes to grow hot and wet. Winn’s face blurred in the scope.

But this wasn’t about what Adam wanted.

Adam blinked the tears away, there was a silence between heartbeats, and a shot rang out.

[omg-imagine]

⊱ Never Let Go ⊰

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Reader (f)

Request: Heyyyyy! Can I get a Matt Murdock imagine where she’s tortured in front of him? And he’s crying and angst and all pleaseeee! Ily ❤️ - Anon

Words: 2,795

Warnings: Angst, language, torture, and violence

A/N: As usual, I went beyond what I intended to write but I couldn’t help it lol. Hope you enjoy it!

(Credit to the GIF owner)

Your head throbbed as you carefully opened your eyes, only to be greeted by nothing but complete darkness. The heavy and cold chains shackled onto you not only bruised the delicate skin of your wrists but prevented you from moving freely around your captivity.

The last thing you recalled was standing in front of your apartment, trying to fish out your keys from your purse. A man had then snuck up behind you and bludgeoned you over the head with his weapon before you could scream. It scared you not knowing what was happening and you could only hope that if it ends in death, it would be swift and painless.

Jumping at the sound of metal scraping against concrete, you snapped your face forward. When you realized it was a door opening, your eyes focused on the outline of a burly man as he entered the room, switching on the lights.

You noticed the crimson blood splattered all over his expensive-looking suit, which possibly came from the fresh gash on your forehead. In his hand was a sharp knife, and seeing it made your heart race.

“It was simple—all Daredevil had to do was leave me alone,” he spoke with a gruff and menacing voice as he approached you. “But he didn’t listen, and now you pay the price.”

The man’s knife landed on your neck, and he used the pointed edge to force your gaze up to his. You swallowed thickly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. This has to be a mistake. I don’t know who Daredevil is. You have to believe me.”

The man chuckled under his breath, applying more pressure onto the knife that it pierced your skin. You felt the warm blood trickle down the side of your neck as the man stared at you. He wasn’t worried that you saw his face, which meant the odds of you getting out alive were slim to none.

“There’s no use in feigning ignorance, (Y/N). We both know that he’s more to you than just the vigilante who rescued you three years ago. I’ve done some research, used my connections, and deduced that you are the lovely bride-to-be of Daredevil—or should I say, Matthew Murdock.”

You opened your mouth to deny it, but you dared not to say anything further. By this time, Matt should have known that you were missing. He was supposed to meet you at your apartment for dinner. Surely he would realize that something was wrong.

Matt would come and save you just in time. He had done it before, and you had faith that he could do it again.

“You won’t win,” you spoke lowly, shaking your head at the man as his expression shifted into anger. “He’s going to find me, and he’s going to put you in jail where you belong.”

“I do not doubt that Matthew will be here soon,” he began, baring his teeth as he dragged the knife up the side of your torso. You flinched as it scratched your skin through your shirt. “But the question is, in what state will he find you? Alive as you are now or barely breathing?”

You let out a whimper as the man laughed at your weak attempts to kick him away. Then suddenly, he silenced himself when he and you heard gunfire coming from upstairs. The radio on his belt sounded, alerting him that Daredevil was on the premises.

“I told you he would come,” you breathed out, hearing the clamoring outside. You knew that it was Matt fighting his way to you.

“I wouldn’t be optimistic about it,” he said as he tucked his knife behind his back. “We’re just getting started.”

Before you could figure out what he was going to do, the man raised his giant fist and struck a hard blow to your head, immediately knocking you out of consciousness.

You opened your eyes again sometime later, groaning in pain as your sight adjusted to its new surroundings. You were no longer in the same room as before. Your vision was fuzzy, but you could tell that you were in the middle of an empty warehouse, strapped to a chair and bleeding profusely from your head.

Your eyes focused on a figure wearing black sitting across from you, and it took you a few seconds to realize who it was.

“Matt!” You called out, but he was out cold. The mask he wore to protect his identity now laid by his feet. Sturdy ropes were knotted tightly around his body, preventing him from getting out of his seat. You feared that he doesn’t have enough strength left to free himself from his bindings.

“Please wake up!” You tried moving around, hoping somehow you could slither out of your ties but to no avail. “Wake up, damn it!”

Matt finally stirred, and you let out a sigh of relief. You heard him say your name before he cursed at the fact that he was restrained. He struggled to loosen the ropes, and you were worried that he was overexerting himself.

“Are you okay?” He asked as he caught his breath, and you noted that he was injured.

“I’m fine. It’s just a headache, and I’m bleeding a bit, that’s all,” you answered, not wanting to worry Matt even more. “What about you?”

“Broken ribs, bruising, and I think a sprain or two,” he listed off as he moved his head to face you. “Son of a bitch gassed the staircase while I was heading to the basement where he kept you.”

You nodded to yourself as Matt attempted once again to break free. “He knows about you. He knows who you are.”

“I know,” he stated. “Last week, there was a note taped to the door at the office. It didn’t take too long to figure out who it was from.”

“Who is he?” You questioned, your lip quivering at the thought of your captor listening in on your conversation nearby.

“He’s no one,” Matt shook his head. “Don’t worry about it right now.”

“Matthew,” there was that voice again. The deep, sinister voice echoed, and you glanced everywhere around you looking for the source. “Not even married yet and you’re already spewing lies.”

The man walked into the room. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his clothes bloodier now than when you last saw him. You were too occupied observing his movements that you didn’t hear Matt softly calling for your attention.

“I’ll get you out of here, I swear. Stay strong for me, yeah?”

You managed to stagger out a “yes” before the man appeared beside you, standing tall as he studied you and Matt both.

“Another lie from Mr. Murdock, (Y/N),” he spoke while you inched as far away as you could, which wasn’t much. “Matthew, tell her the truth. Tell her the reason why she’s here and not safe at home.”

Matt clenched his jaw as the man goaded him. The unfamiliar sensation of his knife on your throat made you squeal. Immediately, Matt could sense the fear coursing through your veins.

“Answer the question, Matthew,” the man pressed the knife further, drawing blood from your skin. “Who am I?”

“Y–You’re Alex Wayman,” he spluttered. “You’re a well-respected businessman, but you also run a drug trafficking ring on the side.”

���Good,” Wayman stopped his incision from deepening by stepping away and moving to your side. “Go on.”

“I’ve been tracking you and your men for weeks and when I got your identity—”

“I found yours,” Wayman finished. “Even while in jail, Fisk still owes me a lot of favors. He did quite a solid when he shared some insight on the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.”

You sighed deeply as Matt went on. “As I said before, Wayman left a note at the office, warning that I stay back or else I would regret it.”

“And as I told your fiancée, you didn’t listen. There are consequences, Matthew. You of all people should know that.”

Matt tilted his head towards you. “This guy is dangerous. He began dealing with weapons and planned on hurting a lot of people. I had to put an end to it, and I thought I could.”

“That’s the problem, Murdock. You thought you could. Just because you’re a blind lawyer by day who puts down thugs at night doesn’t mean you could win every fight. I blame that arrogance of yours and your belief that you could stop bad things from happening when, in fact, you only make it worse.”

Wayman clicked his tongue. Without warning, his calloused hand gripped you by the neck. You screamed, thrashing your lower body around as Wayman strangled you. “You could have just let me go. It was the easiest decision you could have chosen. Instead, you’ll now have to listen to me torture this beauty until she takes her last breath. After that, I’ll kill you.”

Wayman released his tight hold of your throat, and you coughed out loud as the oxygen returned to your brain. He then slowly crouched down on the floor, meeting your frightened gaze. Flashing you a smirk, he then made a fist with his hand and punched your face once, twice, and a third time until fresh blood flowed from your nose and your mouth.

“Stop!” Matt shouted with a breaking voice. “Let her go! She had nothing to do with this. Hurt me instead.”

“Consequences, Matthew,” Wayman reminded as he struck you in the abdomen. “You have to deal with the consequences.”

Your eyes were swollen from the beating, though you could see Matt with whatever vision you had remaining. He wasn’t able to see what was happening and to be honest, you were glad that he couldn’t.

It wasn’t a sight anyone deserved to see. You couldn’t begin to imagine what it would feel like watching the love of your life being tortured in front of your eyes, and you were unable to stop it.

But all the shouting, screaming, and yelling was overwhelming for Matt. He could hear your weakening pulse and shallow breathing as you fought through the pain. You saw the tears forming in the corners of his eyes and then falling freely down his face as he cried out your name over and over again.

Eventually, the beatings halted, but you knew that it wasn’t the end. Wayman panted as he inspected the damage he inflicted on your body, and he smiled proudly. “You’re hanging on the edge of a very thin thread, my dear. Care to say any last words to Matthew?”

You opened your mouth, but from the strangling earlier, you couldn’t make much noise with the burning inside your throat. Still, you forced out whatever you could.

“Not... your… fault.”

Wayman snorted, loading up the revolver he now had in his hand. “I was expecting ‘I love you’ or something sentimental.”

“He… He already knows,” you rasped as Matt’s chest heaved, slumping back, defeated.

“I’m sorry,” he wept, wishing nothing more than to hold you in his arms and never let go. “I love you. I’m sorry.”

You smiled weakly at him as he repeated his words to you. With the memory of Matt Murdock bent down on one knee and proposing to you as your final thought, you closed your eyes and waited for the darkness to consume you one last time.

~●~●~●~●~●~

…Not today. I’m not losing you today.

Sir, you need to step back. I assure you that we will do whatever it takes to save her...

...Blood pressure’s dropping. We need to get her to the O.R. now!

Please, (Y/N). Don’t leave me...

Your eyes fluttered open, but your body refused to move. Glancing around, you saw the IV needle hooked into you and the machines beeping at your side. You were covered in bandages and had a cast on your arm and your leg. The only source of light in the room was a dim lamp by your bedside, and next to it was…

“Matt?”

Your fiance was fast asleep in a chair not suited for someone his size. Leaning back against the seat, Matt was snoring lightly with one hand crossed against his chest and the other holding onto your hand. His face was littered with cuts and bruises, but nothing compared to what you had endured.

He seemed peaceful as if it was the first time he had slept in who knows how long, and you wanted to let him rest.

However, Matt heard your strained voice speaking out his name, and he quickly jolted up from his uncomfortable position. “You’re awake. Y–You’re finally awake.”

“How long?” You mumbled.

“It’s been five days,” he stated as he leaned towards you. “The doctors were able to stabilize you, but they weren’t sure if or when you would wake up.”

“What happened?”

“Before I went there, I told Foggy where I was headed and instructed him to contact Mahoney if I didn’t check in within three hours,” Matt lowered his head, his mind returning to his nightmare of a reality. “Shortly after you passed out, the cops stormed in and arrested Wayman’s men surrounding the building, while Mahoney took the shot once he got to us inside. That bastard died too quickly. He should have suffered for what he did to you.”

“So, Mahoney knows you’re Daredevil?”

Matt nodded. “He won’t tell. He swore not to.” He then lifted your hand and kissed the inside of your palm. “You were lucky that you survived. Doctors said that it was a miracle you even made it out of the warehouse alive.”

“I’m glad it’s over,” you said, smiling despite feeling the pain all over your body.

Matt let out a short laugh, wiping the tears away from his eyes. “You know, when I wasn’t sitting here waiting for you to wake up, I was at the chapel downstairs. I would go there and pray to God not to take you away. I begged him to punish me instead of you. It’s all my fault since I can’t seem to let things go easily.”

“Matty,” you whispered his name as you moved your hand up to caress his cheek. “Remember what I said to you back there? It wasn’t your fault. I don’t blame you for what happened, and I don’t ever want you to think that.”

“But I should have left Wayman alone. After finding out my identity, it was only a matter of time until he would go after the people I love,” he explained, toying with the engagement ring that he had put back on your finger right after you got out of surgery. “It’s not right for me to marry you. I would only put you in danger, and I can’t stand the chance of you getting hurt again because of what I do.”

“No,” you replied shortly. “I agreed to marry you despite all of the risks with you being Daredevil.”

“But you almost died! What if this won’t be the last time something bad happens?”

You took his hand and rested it on top of your heart. “You feel that? I know you could hear it just as well but do you feel that? It’s beating because of you. I’m alive because of you.”

Matt sucked in a sharp breath. “I couldn’t help you. I felt powerless not being able to break free and keep him from hurting you.”

“Matthew,” you sighed, the tears continuing to spill from both of your eyes. “I’m here for better and for worse. You asked me if I wanted to share the rest of my life with you, and even after everything, I still stand by my decision. I’d say yes a million times over, and there’s nothing you could do that will change my mind. You said it yourself, Murdock. You don’t let things go too easily, and I hope to God that includes me.”

“You’re strong,” Matt said as he squeezed your hand. “Stronger than me.”

“We’re stronger together,” you added.

Matt got up and pressed a kiss on your lips, moving his arms to your sides and gripping onto you for dear life. When he accidentally put pressure on one of your wounds, you winced in pain, and he quickly pulled away.

“The pain meds are wearing off. I think it’s time to call the doctor and tell them I’m awake,” you chuckled as Matt stayed standing by your side.

“Once I let them know, we’ll never have a minute alone,” he pretended to pout, and although it hurt doing so, you laughed.

You reached out and grabbed Matt by his shirt, pulling him down so that you could steal another kiss.

“Save it, Murdock. I’m not going anywhere.”

[bigscaryyanderewriter]

Pitchwoods and Darker Dismay (Part 4 of Dragonshifter Shouto x Reader)

I left a little choice at the end of this part and it is to encourage engagement! I'm excited to see what you will choose, because these choices will greatly alter the path of our story.p

Tw: yandere themes, blood

2.5k words

The mist that hung around clinging to your skin and the humidity thickened with the coming morning. Sero slept and you were left alone after you had calmed down. Denki was sleeping where you had been now, using the spot that you had essentially warmed for him.

At least everyone was getting rest, but it would be best if you woke one of them to help keep watch soon. Mina would be a good candidate. Your eyes feel heavy as you leaned up against the tree you sat by, the roots cradling you a bit. The thorns along the bark couldn't penetrate the cloak as you hummed quietly. The night so quiet and calm.

Then you heard it. It was a pulse, thudding and gushing. Like you were in the heart of a massive beast. Moving to sit up, you saw a movement, a strong smell in the air. Like the trees intensified, like they were oozing and looming. Caging you. It hadn't occurred to you that your breathing was heavier and your eyes were so heavy.

Everything began to feel fuzzy as you saw a dark form dart through the trees. Two forms… Your eyes were playing tricks on you. You tried to shake yourself awake, but it didn't make your head clear. It just made you dizzier as you called out, "Who's there?"

You heard a whisper below the light crackle of dying flames nearby. Quickly turning, you went to the sleeping group, but found nothing there. No fire, no sleeping warriors, no one. 

You looked back out into the forest. Where you finally saw him. The black cloak and purple hair beneath the hood caught your eyes as he came into plain view. His pale hand reaching out to you. When had he gotten so close? How hadn't you noticed...

Your eyes looking down to the slightly sharpened nails before they touched your cheek, trailing to your jaw. His hand grabbed your chin and tilted it up, purple eyes looking beautiful in the night. Bags under his eyes adding complexity to his alluring features. Elven. A dark elf.. 

His mouth was moving, he was telling you something. 

"Tell me, what are you doing in this forest?" His voice commanding you and making you want to just nuzzle against him, tell him all your secrets.

"We're just- just passing through…" The voice that came out of you was hollow, not sounding like yourself at all. Your insides curl in on themselves. The sick ooze within you twisting like worms. 

"Where are you going?" He hummed, his eyes looking down on you with the tired appraising look. Examining you, sizing you up and staring into your mind almost. It left you trembling inwardly. Your inner self shaking like a terrified child.

"Somewhere safe for me, out east. Away from the Todoroki dragon territory." You told him the truth and it horrified you. 

"Interesting… Running from dragons or their followers?" 

"Shoto… A dragon. I need to get away from him..." That small voice from your mouth was quiet and sad. 

"Ah, a dragon. Even more intriguing. I will let you go now, but before I do… Your singing tonight was lovely and I would love to one day hear it again. Maybe you will no longer scream in the night when that day comes. My mentor almost wanted to strangle you when he heard it." The purple haired man chuckled. He was a dark elf. The very faint purple-gray tint of his skin and his pointed ears that sat under the hood. "I hope that you do not die." 

Your eyes stung and a warm tear dropped onto your hand, the spell broke. You jerked away and the purple haired man was gone. Stumbling, your head spun as you twisted to go back to Denki. To the group. The place where the little troupe had been sleeping...

You turned to see no fire, no signs of where you had been. Just the haunting forest. Looming black barked trees. You had to be close… Unless that man had spirited you away. There was never any walking or moving, but you only remembered look at him. Being under his control and focussing only on what he wanted you to focus on. You moved on through the trees, calming a bit, wrapping the yellow cloak tighter around you. It was warm and the lingering smell of the blonde who had lent it to you still clung to the fabric

You feel almost helpless as you walk on, not seeing the camp. A lump in your throat, unshed tears and a wish inside you to just collapse onto the autumn leaves scattered across the ground. 

The longer you walked, the more tired you got and you hadn't been exactly on a fuel tank when you had been whisked away. 

Your stomach growled as you walked on. Feet aching and eventually sweat falling from your face. The cold making you clammy. It was an uncomfortable sensation as you put your hand out to rest against a tree, pricking yourself on the thorns and yelping quite loudly at the pain. 

Blood now trickled down from the palm of your right hand and onto the already blood red leaves. Blending and mixing with it.  

You hissed, but you could taste something in the air. A familiar smell, it made you stiffen. It was smoke.

It was wood burning. You looking through the trees, gauging whether you were going to be walking into a forest fire or not, but you saw no smoke rising in heavy streams towards the sky. Just a single, small string on the blue of late morning sky.

You began to jog, despite your aching muscles that were already proving just how unathletic you were and how used you were to riding in the wagon. It was a bit pitiful. You were weak and you would have to work on getting stronger.

That was when you saw the fireplace built into the base of a tree and a table set for a feast. It would be alarming by itself, but two figures sat at the table. Seeming to have been waiting just for you. Food laid out in a sort of bounty. It all smelled delicious and would probably taste just as good. You knew not to take it immediately. You didn't know these elves.

And you would have recognized that purple hair anywhere. Fuck that guy.

The elf from last night. 

Your blood boiled a bit as you went to give him a piece of your mind and then the other male dark elf spoke.

"Would you like to sit down at the table? You're late. Sit across from Hitoshi." His tone was tired and it was like he was burdened by just being in your presence.

It was this moment that you noticed the large lower half of his body was that of a spider. A drider. Usually they were loners… You had bever met one or seen one, but you feel your blood running cold as you remembered every single horror story that you had heard about the species. Eating people, filling them with eggs, using them as unwilling incubators… Only to have their young hatch within you and eat you from the inside out! Maybe that was not a factual story, but the other things were highly unpleasant.

"I'm… Late!? How exactly does that make any sense? Didn't really get an invite." You growl before marching over to the table, slamming your injured hand onto it in a moment of irrational irritation. Crying out, you saw the crimson staining the white table cloth and you feel tears fall from your eyes. It hurt like a bitch. You regretted doing that, holding your hand close to you as it throbbed with pain. "Good Gods! Fuck..."

Neither of the men got up, but Hitoshi, the purple haired man from the night, looked up before going back to his glass of tea. 

It annoyed you that neither was phased. You moved to the seat and pulled it out. A plate sat at the spot, prepared for you. 

The dark haired man sighed, looking more than ready for you to leave, "Are you always this loud? You're getting blood on the table as well." 

He gestured to the stains on the table cloth, one currently forming beneath your hand. 

"It can be washed anytime, but my hand needs looked or else I may get an infection." You insist, showing the rather deep gash you had gotten from the thorn and the little scratches from others. The Drider looked at it and to Hitoshi. 

"That is a rather deep cut, go get something to help her."

He quickly got up and went to a box on a stump to pull out a needle and thread. The drider poured you a cup of tea as Hitoshi came over to you, reaching for your hand as you clutched it to your chest. Eyeing the needle wearily before he just held his own hand out, waiting for you to hand it over. 

The tea placed by you was the least of your concerns as Hitoshi went to stab you with the needle and paused. "You may want to drink some tea before I do this. It'll not hurt nearly as much."

"Wait, is it magic?"

"It's something."

Smartass.

You eyed it before taking it in your left hand to sniff it. Hitoshi not moving to stitch you until you drank it. It wasn't tea. It had a strong smell, like alcohol. That was definitely not something you put in a teacup. You coughed at the burning in your throat and tried to pull your hand away, but the needle pierced your flesh… You screamed out, the eyes of both men widening quite a lot as you swayed like a too tall stack of dirty dishes ready to shatter on the ground from being neglected to pile for too long.

You blacked out, face slamming into the table. 

When you woke up though...

Your body was on a pile of leaves. Some were scattered on you and late evening sun warmed you as it set in the distance. Groaning, you stretched. Pain went through your hand as you looked at the dried blood on you. On the yellow cloak as well. Guilt shot through you, knowing that you would have to give the cloak back dirty… If you ever saw Denki again. 

You were up with the tree that had been previously serving as a fireplace. And the table that had been there was gone. Only a fallen tree remained and it was littered with small white flowers growing on its dead bark.

Blood splattered part of it. You would think you hallucinated, but your hand was all stitched up. It was good stitching, but the pain was there. It looked like it had been cleaned while you were out and there was only relatively fresh blood on your hand. Liquid and clear ooze coming from the cut, at least you were going to start healing yourself. Sooner or later you would be back to grabbing things without pain. 

If you ever saw any of them again, really. They must be still looking for you. Wasting a day's worth of travelling because you were stupid enough to think you could handle guarding the ones who saved you by yourself. It was stupid to think you could.

The leaves were poking into your back uncomfortably, forcing you to get up. The joints in your legs popping when you stretched them out. It was a relief to have the sensation. A groan softly escaping you. The life in the forest was unseemly quiet as the sun set. It was unnatural. Even on the plateau, there was constant buzzing. Magic or insects, you couldn't tell really.

The sky was red and orange, full of rich color and beauty. Painted by an expert artist as the clouds drifted across the open air. Walking, you found you were lower into the valley than you had been prior to passing out. You could look up and see the looming ridges in the distance. Snow would cap them and ice would form over the creeks and streams. They would melt in spring and flow into the valley. Watering the inhabitants and blooming new life. 

It would be behind you before you knew it. You would be free. There was going to be an ending to this adventure and you hoped you never saw another dragon again. Something deep within you twisted with sadness at that thought, knowing that it was unlikely. An awful sensation within yourself at the idea of being doomed.

The trees were smaller as you went, less intimidating and ominous. More greenery littering the landscape as you left the pitchwoods. Black trees looming in the distance, foreboding as you would soon be forced out into the plains. Wide stretches and no coverage for you to use for protection. 

No more dark elves or driders, just lovely green forest. More pines going north as you changed your direction a bit, adjusting as you saw large rocks. Three in a semicircle and a couple stacked together. It looked like it had been built rather than formed naturally. Still, it was a relatively interesting sight. Curiosity overcoming you as you went to it. It could make a good camp for the night if nothing else.

You moved down to the rocks and your foot slid along the pebbles. Sliding down, you barely manage to keep your balance as you swiftly move to catch yourself with your uninjured hand the large rock on the edge of the forest. You look to see a small tent. You quickly did a double take. It was a camp. 

There was a campfire and various belongings. Bedrolls and a makeshift roof. Some group was living here. You could hardly stop the shiver that ran through you as you looked a bed laden with knives, all were spotless. Though, you heard and saw the buzzing of flies as they circled something behind the cot. 

A large discarded bowl of meat, uncooked and bloody. It wasn't rotten. It made you shiver at the sight, knowing that whoever had been here was recently cleared out by something or someone. 

A pile of dust got picked up slightly by the wind and it was then that you noticed some of the things were turned over and scattered. No one had cleaned up or they had gotten into a scuffle. 

A torn scrap of bloody cloth sat on the ground, slightly scorched.

You moved over to the fire and made to touch the ashes. They were warm. Now your hand was covered in ashes. Dipshit.

Wiping them on a bedroll, you frowned and stared out at the rolling hills with trees dotted along them. You could could continue into the forest, or you could rummage through the camp… There was a twinge of guilt at the thought of stealing, but you had nothing. The forest was not likely to be as plentiful as this opportunity before you and it most definitely would lack a fire. Plus night was coming. You would need to sleep… Where would you sleep?

Are you going to stay here at this camp? 

Or

Go in the forest with nothing?

[therainroguefanfiction]

🎃 Frightful October Act VIII, #24 ~ Jane the Ripper (Denki Kaminari)

📑 Table of Contents

Genre: Angst, Dark, Fluff, Romance

Word Count: 1,888

Pairing: Slight Yandere/Female Reader x Kaminari

World: Boku no Hero Academia

WARNING: This fic contains depictions of gore and male mutilation. Read at your own risk.

Can I just say how proud I feel to have written this fic with 1,888 words exactly? If you didn’t know, the Jack the Ripper killings took place in the year 1888 and, clearly, this fic was heavily inspired by him. It wasn’t planned and I did not edit this fic to be at that length, it was that length when I finished the fic and popped it into wordcounter and it’s fucking brilliant.

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Jane the Ripper.

Considered a villain by some and a hero by others, Jane exacts revenge against men that cheat on their significant others. If she finds a man that has cheated, she will judge them by stabbing them through the chest to trap them, cut off their ring finger, castrate them, and then drive a dagger through their heart. Since she cropped up three years ago, the rate at which men cheat has drastically reduced, but there are still those that must be judged, must be punished.

And Jane won’t rest until every single pig has been slain.

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You were a student of U.A.’s prestigious hero course, part of class 1-A. To your peers, you were a nice person, if not a bit reserved, but no one hated you, not even Bakugo. The truth was that you had no interest in being a pro hero. You came to U.A. for one reason – to watch over your boyfriend, Denki Kaminari. It’s not that you didn’t trust him. You did, to a degree, but it was impossible for you to fully trust anyone. That fact that he was a super flirt didn’t help your trust issues, either.

“Hey, Kaminari, you wanna join us for a milkshake?” Ashido asked, her voice full of excitement. She motioned towards the door where Uraraka, Midoriya, Jirou, and Iida stood, waiting patiently while she gathered more people.

“Sure, sounds fun!” his cheerful expression toward her really pissed you off. He turned his beautiful yellow eyes to meet yours. “You’re coming, too, right, Y/N?”

You hid your anger behind a bright smile. “I’d love to.” ‘Only so I can keep an eye on that bitch.’

Mina Ashido had no interest in your boyfriend, she was just a cheerful, outgoing person, but you didn’t care. Interested in him or not, she shouldn’t be getting so close to someone that belonged to you.

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It was just after midnight, the full moon bathing the town with a bright, almost ethereal light. The quiet night was broken by a masculine scream, echoing through the streets. Dogs started to bark loudly, trying to alert their owners to something very wrong.

A middle-aged man ran down an alleyway, breathing heavy as his sneakers pounded the pavement. He was terrified, crying out for someone to save him, but all of the pro heroes were too busy elsewhere, just as planned. There was no one around to save him.

Laughter echoed around him as a blur of black rushed overhead, stopping to kneel a few feet before him. He screamed, stumbling back onto his butt. You stood up tall, cape billowing around you in the chilly autumn wind. A wide grin split your face, red eyes glowing from behind a masquerade mask.

“Kian Onizuka, you have been judged,” you took slow, deliberate steps forward, sliding a knife from your sleeve and into the palm of your left hand.

“W-W-Wait, Jane!” The man scrambled back across the pavement, holding his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t cheat on my wife, I swear! We didn’t do anything!”

“The punishment for infidelity… is death!” you threw the blade, propelling it forward with your telekinesis. It slammed into the center of his chest, the force knocking the wind from him as he fell back flat against the cement. The blade cut clean through his body, digging into the cement before two hooks sprung out from the tip, securing it in place.

The man screamed, his hands flying to the hilt. He tried to pull it out, but the spikes prevented any movement.

You chuckled darkly at his futile attempts, a blade falling into your right hand. You kneeled down beside him, your free hand gently rubbing his stomach before moving toward his crotch. He stopped struggling, eyes locking with yours as you slowly unbuttoned his jeans. His breath was coming out in small clouds and you could see his penis starting to enlarge, pushing against the fabric.

Your lips curled up in disgust. “This turns you on, you filthy pig?” You grabbed his dick tightly, squeezing it tightly. He yelped in pain, trying to pull your hand away. You cackled and, with one clean slice, you cut his dick from his body. He screamed, body thrashing wildly as blood splurted from the room.

“May you suffer for eternity in hell,” you snarled, grabbing the hilt of the first blade and tugging it up, the spikes demolishing his insides and piercing his heart in the process. You picked up his hand and sliced through his ring finger.

He coughed up blood, gasping for air, but his body stilled, the life fading from his eyes.

You dipped your white gloves into his blood, writing a warning for all to see on the wall beside his corpse. With another disgusting look, you turned on your heel and disappeared into the night.

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“Did you see the news last night? Jane the Ripper claimed another victim!” Ashido announced as she slammed her lunch tray onto the table.

Sero shuddered, holding himself. “I can’t believe a villain goes around castrating men.”

“This chick clearly can’t get any!” Bakugo laughed loudly before stuffing his face.

You glared down at your lunch, stuffing a spoonful of rice into your mouth to keep yourself from speaking your mind. ‘Those damn fools. I am cleansing this world of filth for them. They should be grateful.‘

“She only attacks men that have cheated on their partners,” Jirou added before smirking. “Kaminari is the only one in danger at this table.”

Your head snapped up, eyes narrowed at her. Did she know something that you didn’t?

Denki scowled at her. “What kind of person do you take me for? I would never cheat on Y/N!”

“I bet you know all about such things, don’t you, Y/N?” Monoma approached the table with a smirk. You snapped your angry gaze to him but held your tongue. This only made his smirk grow.

“What are you talking about?” Ashido asked.

“Oh, Y/N didn’t tell you?” he clicked his tongue, his eyes never leaving yours. “Y/N’s dad was a man-whore that slept with anything that had a pulse. His wife was so ignorant, it took her years to figure it out, and when she finally did -” he made a slicing motion with his finger. “She castrated him while their five-year-old child watched. Poor thing, ne, Y/N~”

‘How does this bastard know all that?!’ your eyes were wide, fists clenched so tightly that your nails broke the skin. The table was dead silent, everyone’s eyes on your shaking form. The silverware began to shake violently as you stood up, eyes flashing. “That fucking bastard got what he deserved. He cheated on her for years without remorse, even in our home! All men are fucking pigs that deserve to be punished for their sins! Jane the Ripper is my hero!”

Gasps and murmurs broke out across the cafeteria, eyes following you as you stalked out of the room, surrounded by floating cutlery. You had worked so damn hard to keep your secret hidden, to hide the dark past in which you suffered on a daily basis. You tried so fucking hard and that bastard ruined it with just a few words. Your hands fisted into fists.

‘No man can be trusted.’

You left the school that day, skipping the rest of your classes. Denki had a bad feeling settling in his gut. How could he have known you for so long without knowing how much anger, how much hatred you harbored toward men? Why didn’t he recognize your pain, your cries for help?

He felt like a failure as your boyfriend.

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Denki stood outside your apartment door, his hand hovering over the doorknob. Swallowing his nerves, he pushed the door open and slipped inside. You were sitting on the couch, cleaning an assortment of knives and daggers.

You didn’t bother looking up.

“You’re not coming back to U.A. are you?” he asked, softly, hovering in the doorway.

“Nope.”

“Why?”

Your eyes slid to meet his, softening a bit. “You know why, Denki.”

He took a shaky breath. “You… you’re Jane the Ripper.”

You smiled, holding up the blade to the light as you inspected it. “That’s correct.”

“You hate men.”

“No,” you pursed your lips. “I don’t trust men.”

“But you trust me…” he stepped closer, his eyes pleading with you. “Don’t you?”

You placed the knife on the table and approached him. You expected his body to tense up, for fear to shine in his eyes, but you only saw pain and love. You rested your hand on his cheek, which he covered with his own. “No matter what happened, you’ve always been by my side. Do you… hate me?”

“I could never hate you, Y/N! I just… it hurts,” his hand tightening around yours as tears sprung to his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me? About your parents, about what you were feeling? I could have -”

“Saved me?” you raised a brow with a bitter smile. “Afraid not, my love. You’re going to be an amazing hero someday, Denki,” you tried to pull your hand away but he refused to release his grip.

“Don’t leave me,” he whispered, free hand grasping at your hip. “I had everything planned out for us. Getting married after graduation, buying a house, having kids… I can’t picture that with anyone else!”

Your heart seized painfully and you lowered your head. Your entire life, people looked down on you for what your mother had done. They looked at you with pity. You couldn’t remember a time when you didn’t feel like a monster. No one ever showed you love or treated you like a human being until the day you met Denki. He was an angel that you didn’t deserve.

He moved his hand from your hip to lift your chin, his lips claiming yours in a kiss full of love and passion. You could feel the desires of his heart and it made you feel more guilty than you already did.

You tugged yourself away from him, turning your back. “Go be a hero, Denki. Forget about me, you can do better.”

“I’m not leaving you,” his words were firm.

You scowled at him. “A hero can’t date a villain.”

“You can still be a hero!”

You scoffed, sitting on the side of the table with your elbows on your knees. “Do you even know how many men I’ve killed? I’m not just a villain, I’m a serial killer. There is no hope for me anymore.”

“It’s never too late to change!” he kneeled down in front of you, taking your hands into his. “Please… promise me you won’t kill anyone else. Focus on me and only me. I will never betray you, Y/N.”

You could see the sincerity in his eyes.

Denki reached up, wiping away the tears from your eyes before they could slide down your cheeks. He pressed a chaste kiss on your forehead before bringing you into his arms and holding you against his warm chest. You gripped his waist tightly, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart.

“Denki?”

“Yes, love?”

“You’re the only man I’ve ever trusted. I… I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.”

His grip tightened as he rested his head against yours. “I won’t fail you, Y/N.”

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