#managed to tease out a lot of ship thoughts i have been having in one form or another in this post

[fuckyeahisawthat]

Fully prepared for this to be a minority position but I am deeply emotionally invested in Paul and Chani not getting back together in Dune Messiah. Not just because I love angst and tragedy (I do) but because I don't think there's a way to do it without undermining the narrative and character arcs that Dune Part Two executed so well.

Paul and Chani's relationship in the Villeneuve films exists on a totally different foundation from what's in the books. It's a political love story and you simply cannot separate out the politics from the romance. Their connection starts with the politics and the love is built on top of that.

It's not just that they happen to fall in love while fighting together in an anti-colonial guerrilla war; that is why she falls in love with him. Because he is willing to take the same risks as her in fighting for her people's liberation. Not by trying to impose himself as a leader (at first) but side by side with her as comrades and equals. Let me fight beside you. That's all I'm asking. He is quite literally willing to put his body on the line for a struggle that's been with her all her life, that she cannot escape, but that he could walk away from if he chose. And in fact he proves himself to be an asset and not a liability in this struggle and they start winning. And yeah that shit's romantic as fuck!! Kudos to whoever on the writing team was like actually direct action solidarity is sexy af because they were right and they should say it! There clearly is some attraction or at least interest in Paul on Chani's part from fairly early on, but it's only after he's proven his political worth, in battle, that she allows herself to trust him on a personal level enough to begin a romantic relationship with him. (And it's only after Paul takes off the Atreides ring, the symbol of the fact that he came there to rule over her, that the narrative permits him to advance to this point.) They could have been comrades but not lovers, but never the other way around, because there's no other version of Paul that this Chani would have fallen in love with.

It's important that they meet in circumstances where Paul has no structural power over her. Chani never would have trusted the Paul who stood in the colonial palace and pledged to "honor" Stilgar by offering him hospitality on his own fucking planet. Because she would have known, just as Stilgar did, that such an offer of fellowship, no matter how genuine and well-intentioned, is not made on equal terms. It's only once Paul has been forcibly separated from his colonial privilege that they have even a chance to approach each other as human beings. (And, in a sort of dark irony, that violence becomes a bridge that connects them. That Paul is driven not by abstract power games among the Great Houses but by real grief and anger over the violent death of people he loves at the hands of the Harkonnens must surely be something Chani understands. And it builds a level of trust and empathy between them, that she doesn't have to explain the stakes of what they're fighting for. He knows it in his bones.)

It's not a coincidence that all their explicitly romantic moments are shot through with politics. Their first kiss is wrapped up in a conversation about what it means to be Fremen and I would very much like to be equal to you. (Yes, he's flirting his ass off with that line, but I do think he is sincere.) Their single post-coital scene has I'm no messiah, I'm a fedaykin of Sietch Tabr--not just a commitment to her people and her home but to her specific form of political struggle in which he is joining her. Throughout their whole relationship, the personal and the political are so interwoven as to be indistinguishable from one another.

This kind of commingling of emotional commitment to a person with political commitment to a culture/people/cause could have very easily slid into something tokenizing or fetishistic, but the writing manages to avoid that by sticking very strongly to a couple of guardrails. One, Chani is not some passive prize to be won, but an active agent of her own liberation, whether Paul is in the picture or not. She is the Fremen liberation struggle within the political allegory of the film; she is its voice and embodiment from the moment we meet her. On a character level, she is doing her thing and it's up to Paul to either follow or get out of the way. Even though we know he is afraid of her dying, he never once suggests she leave the front lines of armed struggle (can you imagine?) because that struggle is such a fundamental part of who she is and what he loves about her.

Two--and this one is important for what comes next--the narrative never trivializes the political side of their relationship in favor of the romantic. The second Paul reaches for any kind of power over the Fremen, over Chani, the trust between them is broken and the romance cannot continue. She might still love him as a person--you don't just turn that off--but she cannot be in love with him as the Lisan al-Gaib, fulfillment of a false prophecy she hates; as the Duke of Arrakis, her colonial overlord; or as the Emperor of the Known Universe, overlord of her overlord. As soon as he pulls that shit he is just another colonizer and she's done with him.

And like, kudos to the narrative for being absolutely uncompromising on that point! That's what makes both the political allegory and the personal tragedy hit so hard! Paul, bro, you fucked that one up good and now you are Experiencing a Consequence! I LOVE that in the end, love isn't enough. All the love in the world isn't enough to keep Chani from walking out at the end of the film, because the foundation that love is built on is broken and cannot be repaired.

(I do believe that by the time he is declaring himself Emperor, Paul thinks he has no choice, that this is the only way to save the people he loves from any number of worse fates. But that, too, is a betrayal, of a kind I don't think Paul fully understands. Because either you think the Fremen are capable of governing their own planet or you don't. Deciding unilaterally that having a "friendly" imperialist in power is the best you can hope for is a profound denial of the agency of the people Paul claims to be doing this in the name of. It's either paternalism or despair, and neither are acceptable modes of thinking for a serious revolutionary. Chani would tell you as much.)

The thing with making a bold writing choice like that is that...you cannot then walk it back in the next film with Chani choosing to forgive Paul or coming around to seeing the world his way and understanding that yes it's politically unsavory and he's manipulating the people he said he was in solidarity with but this was the only way! If you do that then the whole framework of what the first two films are trying to say about power and imperialism and resistance and solidarity collapses into incoherence. On a thematic level Dune Messiah is all about the consequences of Paul taking power the way he did and these are the consequences.

And on a character level...I just don't see any way to come back from such a deep betrayal. Even if some part of Chani still loves him. Even if she's pregnant with his child(ren). (We have like, zero information about how movie Chani feels about family and pregnancy and childrearing that would indicate that she would care one bit about her children's biological father being involved in their lives when he is otherwise busy being a space dictator.)

There are several categories of scenarios I can think of to get Paul and Chani interacting again (she goes back to him as a spy/assassin; she's brought back to the palace under some sort of duress, "for her safety" or even as a political prisoner) but none of them involve them being genuinely together as a couple. I could also see them not interacting at all for most of Dune Messiah. What I cannot see is any scenario in which she genuinely forgives him or ever fucking trusts him again. That shit is over and there's no getting it back.

[5sospenguinqueen]

The Wrong Bull | Mark Webber x Interviewer! Reader

Summary: Mark was enjoying a private relationship with his favourite F1 interviewer. Until the internet started shipping you with his biggest rival

Warnings: Malaysia 2013. A lot of fabrication ie made up insta names. Swearing. Suggestive content. Indulgent blurb because who doesn’t like the idea of needy/possessive Mark. 

Requested: No

F1 Masterlist

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its_yn just posted

liked by markwebber, f1 and others

its_yn happy malaysia grand prix weekend! i’m very happy to be in the paddock this weekend bringing you the insight on how our eleven teams are doing

6,622 comments

danielricciardo can’t wait to see you. always bring me the most interesting questions

→ its_yn and you always bring me the most random answers

user1 my fave interviewer. i love the way she lovingly bullies the drivers. they’re always so engaging with her

jensonbutton now that’s a handsome man

→ its_yn thank you, i try 

→ danielricciardo but i’m the one with random answers?

user2 i’m so happy you’re in the paddock. you have the best rapport with the drivers and always have the best interviews with them

skysportsf1 when all the drivers beg for you to be there, we can’t say no

→ its_yn aw, you guys. i knew you loved me really

→ sebastianvettel of course. the prettiest interviewer we have

→ user3 oh, well then, get in there vettel

→ user4 sebastian making his move

user5 vettel winning on and off the track

user6 no way he bagged the hot sky sports presenter

user7 okay but the way she was smiling at him

→ user8 and the way he looked at her? talk about heart eyes

user9 if they need a third or a dog, i can bark

user10 ngl i thought jenson button was going to win her over

user11 okay, let’s chill a second guys. they just entered the paddock together

→ user12 we might be seeing the beginning of their relationship! how can any of us be calm. used to pray for times like these 

→ user13 yes but we don’t want to scare them off before we get confirmation

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Back resting against the wall of Mark's driver room, legs curled beneath you, you flipped through your notebooks. Going through your notes, you occasionally jotted something down, deeming it worthy of potentially mentioning during any interviews later. The sound of the lock turning had your head snapping up in time to see Mark's tall stature fill the doorframe. His eyes landed on you instantly, and he wriggled through the small gap he had created, blocking you from view of whoever was on the other side. A few short sentences later, Mark had managed to provide an adequate excuse to be alone. The door shut with a quiet click and Mark assured you it was locked.

"What are you doing here?" Mark questioned, the soft smile on his face assuring he wasn't opposed to the sight of you in his room. "Shouldn't you be out bothering more important people?"

"More important than you?" You shot back. "I've been put in charge of the post-race interviews today so I've got a bit of a break."

Mark took note of your jacket hanging on the back of his door, and your shoes at the foot of his massage table. His things surrounded by your things. And he was warmed by how comfortable you were here. In an endeavour to find some peace admit the chaos of the paddock, you took refuge in his room. The notion stoked the little fire of possessiveness within him.

"So, you're just going to hide out here until the race?"

Your pile of snacks, the circle of papers around you, and his jumper hanging from your frame told him all he needed to know. He just wanted - no, needed - to hear you say it. Especially after he'd overheard some of the drivers teasing Vettel during the Parade. About you, and the internet's speculations. And how if the German ended up on the podium, then how could the "pretty interviewer" say no to a date. So, regardless of the fact that it was his name and number splashed across your body, he still needed to hear you say it. To confirm that you were his and his alone.

"Until I'm needed, then yes," you smiled, watching as he slowly approached.

The white fireproof clinging to his muscular arms flexed as he placed them on either side of you. His race suit was wrapped around his waist precariously, looking ready to fall apart with a slight tug.

He angled his head down towards you, cheeks dimpling when he grinned. "And if I say you're needed right now?"

Your arms looped around his neck, pulling him down to close the small gap he had left between you. "What exactly am I needed for, Mr Webber?"

His eyes darted down to your mouth, watching as your tongue darted out to wet your lips. Before you could register that he'd moved, his mouth was on yours, moving against you and swallowing your surprised squeak. His arms wound themselves around your midsection, pulling you closer. The warmth of his body pressed into you instantly, and you melted into his touch.

Sliding your hands into his hair, you tugged at the short strands so as to pull him off you in order to catch your breath. As he didn't need oxygen more than he needed you, Mark's lips continued moving. His lips moved across your jaw, under your ear and down to the fluttering pulse in your neck, leaving a fiery path as he moved. A whimper was pulled from you when he sucked gently, your back arching into him. Paper crinkled beneath you when he lowered you onto the bed.

"Mark," you moaned, "you don't have time."

"Shh," he whispered against your skin, crawling atop you, trapping you between his body and the massage table. It gave a groan of protest but he paid it no mind.

Not when your hands slid under his fireproofs, stroking the heated skin of his abdomen before trailing lower. With one pull, the knot of his race gave way, removing the cushioning that had prevented his hard length from pressing into you. A throaty groan escaped him when you rolled your hips against him.

Mark chuckled at your sudden eagerness. "What happened to not having enough time?"

"You shouldn't be so tempting."

Knowing that you craved him as much as he did you had Mark reconnecting your lips, moving with more fervour. Your lips parted, allowing his tongue to slide against yours. His hips jerked against you when you pulled his bottom lip into your mouth, sucking gently. Mark's hands slid down your hips, reaching around to palm your ass and pull you flush against him. The throbbing in his underwear intensified.

Two sharp raps on the door made your eyes snap open, fear flitting across your face when the door handle rattled. Mark pressed closer to you once more; not in lust but worry that someone would see you in the dishevelled state he had created. That was a sight for his eyes only.

Another knock came before a deep voice called out for the driver. "Christian wants to see you for a pre-race chat."

"What, now?"

"Yeah."

Mark groaned before looking down at you. Lipstick smeared, cheeks flushed and blotches darkening on your neck. He wasn't sure he could go outside. The image of you like this would stay with him, making him strain against the fabric of his suit.

"Go, my love," you whispered, tying his suit back around his waist, ensuring the arms carefully concealed the problem you had created. "And try not to collide with your teammate."

Well, the mention of his biggest rival this year was one way to soften him.

"You'll still be here when I get back? Before I jump in the car?" He pleaded.

He knew the answer. Of course he did. The routine had been the same for the past two years but, as before, he needed the verbal reassurance.

"And why would I do that?" You teased, snickering when the 6'1 man in front of you started to pout.

"Because how else would I get my pre-race kiss?"

"You could always ask Vettel."

The look on Mark's face turned from faux sadness to something much darker. You yelped when his teeth sunk into your neck before he pressed a soothing kiss on the mark he'd left (yes, I laughed at that). Shooting you a wink, he dashed out the door, and you were left alone once more.

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user1 seb really turned on the charm with this one

→ user2 he got away with defying team orders, won the race, and decided to win the girl 

user3 they would make such a cute couple though

user4 idk how yn managed to keep her calm, interviewer face on because if 3x wdc winner sebastian vettel spoke to me like that, i’d be giggling and twirling my hair fr

user5 okay i wasn’t a fan of the sebastian/yn train earlier but this interview may have convinced me 

user6 i love how she’s trying to stay unbiased but you can see that she’s impressed with vettel’s racing today 

→ user7 i actually thought she was a bit short with him for a change

→ user8 no i agree. her energy felt off. usually she laughs when they’re flirting

user9 did anyone else see webber watching them in the background?

→ user10 vettel needs to sleep with one eye open

user11 everyone talking about sebyn but i swear she kept looking behind him at mark

→ user12 mark defo smiled at her when they made eye contact 

→ user13 bfr, she’s clearly into seb here 

f1 just posted

liked by its_yn, redbullracing and others

f1 and it’s a 1-2 for red bull! oh, sorry, was that meant to say 2-1? 

9,222 comments

redbullracing that’s our bulls

→ user1 i didn’t realise we celebrated defying team orders

→ user2 oh please. sebastian was faster. mark needs to just accept that 

its_yn well done, team red bull

→ user3 it’s okay, sis. you can say well done to the love of your life for winning 

→ user4 vettel getting a celebration better than a champagne shower later 

user5 f1 is foul for this lmao 

→ user6 love how they used the pics where mark looks the most pissed off

sebastianvettel very good race. well done, team 

→ user7 he sounds so polite like he’s not a certified track terror 

user8 i’m in love with admin today. they knew what they were doing with this caption 

jensonbutton has anyone heard from mark since the podium?

→ fernandoalonso he’s yapping my ear off until all the conferences are done

user9 poor mark. he looked ready to throttle seb when they were doing interviews

→ user10 omg was that the one where seb was flirting with yn??

→ user9 yes! webber was stood behind him looking murderous. so hot 

user11 not to be one of those but i saw yn comforting mark after the race

→ user12 before or after her flirty interview with seb? 

→ user13 not fans trying to push yn and webber based on their 3 interactions when all this seb and yn content is right there

user1 sorry but no one can convince me that she didn’t just have a celebration romp with vettel

→ user2 yes! got to celebrate his win properly haha

→ user3 when he asked if she had plans later knowing she’d end up in his driver’s room

user4 dishevelled clothes, messy hair and her red lipstick from the morning gone? did someone say driver’s room sex

user5 she really does look like she got dicked down good 

user6 it’s the fact that almost everyone from the garage has left and she still got caught, bless her

user7 no because imagine angry sex with mark webber after that race

→ user8 oof, i never saw mark that way before but his face on that podium has me feeling some kind of way 

→ user9 i love how everyone is thinking of seb and your magnificent brain thought of mark

→ user7 i’m just saying, if i had to pick between the blonde twink or the angry, tall aussie, i know who i’m going with 

user10 okay but imagine it was mark’s room she snuck out from. seb stole his win so mark stole his crush 

→ user11 revenge, hate sex 

user12 did anyone else see the two marks on her neck during the interviews earlier though? i don't think post-race was the first taste miss thing got today

user13 damn, i always thought vettel would be good but he looks like he did a number on her 

markwebber just posted

liked by redbullracing, danielricciardo and others

markwebber please can you stop "shipping" her with the wrong bull. she’s mine

7,012 comments

its_yn and has happily been yours for two wonderful years

→ user1 they’ve been together for two years?!

→ user2 excuse me, two years and they kept it from everyone?! 

fernandoalonso does this mean i lose elite status as the only one who knows?

→ jensonbutton you knew! 

→ lewishamilton of course he knew. although i feel a little blindsided 

user3 no because i was fighting in the trenches for mark and yn whilst y’all were pushing the sebyn agenda

user4 who taught him to take the most romantic photos ever

→ markwebber yn did

→ its_yn i trained him good, ladies, so back off

redbullracing members of the garage have asked that you keep any noise in the driver’s room to a minimum. please and thanks

→ user5 so she did get her back blown out after the race by angry mark

→ user6 living my dream

→ its_yn i see you. he’s not for you anymore

jensonbutton genuinely did not see this coming. ngl, i was convinced yn was with seb

→ redbullracing so did we. we got sucked into all the twitter theories. they made a convincing case

→ its_yn @/redbullracing we had to disclose our relationship to you?

→ redbullracing i know. that’s how convincing they were

→ markwebber @/christianhorner how do i file a complaint about admin

user7 the height difference between them 🥰

→ user8 the height difference between them 🥵

danielricciardo well, there go my chances 

→ markwebber you’re too young for her, mate

→ danielricciardo yes but clearly she has a thing for aussies

→ its_yn just the one ;)

user9 no wonder he was angry. seb stole his win and then poor mark had to watch him flirt with his girl

→ user10 and watch as the entire internet shipped his girlfriend of two years with that win-stealing man 

sebastianvettel oh

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requests are open. i promise your requests are on the way. i'm just slow haha

tag list

@peachiicherries @rosecentury @c-losur3 @heavy-vettel @evie-119 @raizelchrysanderoctavius @lilorose25

[demonpiratehuntress]

brother's keeper

Portgas D Ace x F!Reader

summary - you meet Luffy's brother in Alabasta, the very pirate that you may just have the biggest crush on. he spends the entire journey hogging your attention, both purposely and unintentionally. part 2 here.

warnings - none

a/n - i cannot plan a fic to save my life...whatever comes from my head is usually different to what i plan...for instance, i did not plan this to be a two part fic, but it just might be...

While you were not surprised that Luffy had failed to mention his brother, you were definitely surprised by who said brother was. A man that you had, and you'd take this secret to your grave, fantasised about on more than one occasion.

Because how was your carefree, slightly insane captain who got by on sheer luck related to such a powerful, intimidating pirate??

You could not meet his gaze.

Ace had made friends with most of the group already - he was surprisingly friendly, which you hadn't expected from someone even Marines feared. But you were too flustered to make eye contact, let alone utter a single word to him.

And this didn't go unnoticed by the Whitebeard Pirates commander.

Maybe it was the fact that he was shirtless. Maybe it was the fact that he had a huge bounty on his head. Or maybe it was just the fact that you wondered if his kiss would be as fiery as his devil fruit power.

"What's wrong, (Name)?" Nami asked you, pulling you away from the boys. She had this knowing smirk on her face that made your face flush.

"Nothing!" Your voice came out an octave higher than you planned. "Why would you think there's something wrong?"

"Okay, then go talk to Ace-"

"No!" You interrupted her, eyes wide with panic. "I can't do that!"

Nami let out an unnecessarily loud laugh, "I can't believe it. Is this really the girl who keeps yelling at the boys on our crew and calling them stupid?"

"Actually, that's you. But this is different!" You protested, covering your face.

Unbeknownst to you, the commander had actually heard the entire conversation. At first, he was a little offended, but as he heard more his lips curled into an amused smirk.

That is, until he saw the death glare your crew's cook was giving him.

A few minutes later, you were washing some of the dishes from lunch - Sanji was occupied with chasing Luffy around the ship because of how he'd been washing them. You were lost in your thoughts, thinking about what to say to Ace if you could gather up enough courage to talk to him, and didn't hear someone come in behind you.

"Need any help?" Ace's voice filled your ears, amusement barely hidden in his tone.

You tensed, your eyes wide. For a moment, you panicked and didn't know how to respond, making him chuckle behind you. He came all the way and leaned on the counter beside you, his eyes scanning your distressed face.

"Have I offended you?" He asked softly, knowing the answer but curious to see what you'd tell him.

"No, not at all," you managed to answer, stopping yourself from speaking any further in fear of making yourself look like an idiot. The last thing you wanted was for him to hear you stutter and stammer like a child learning their first words.

"So is there another reason that you've been avoiding me?" He teased. "I've spoken to everyone on your crew, except for you."

"You're speaking to me now," you offered meekly.

He laughed, the sound washing over you and loosening all your tense muscles, "I suppose I am."

You hesitated for a moment, then lowered your voice, "I didn't expect Luffy to have such a-"

"Charming brother?" He finished, his eyes glinting with the same mischievous light that Luffy's often did. "I got that a lot today."

You laughed at his words, and his lips quirked up into a smile at the sound. He took this as permission to move closer, satiating his puzzling need to be closer to you. He was, for some reason, drawn to the girl on his brother's crew that seemed to be doing everything to avoid him.

"I suppose you could say that," you smiled.

Ace opened his mouth to say something else, when Luffy and Sanji burst in through the door. The blonde had his foot raised to kick the captain, when he saw you and Ace standing there, closer than he'd have liked.

You didn't get much time to speak to Ace after that, which was both a relief and disappointment to you. Vivi guided Nami to dock in a hidden spot when you reached Erumalu, before the crew was unwittingly the target of creatures that looked like a cross between a turtle and a seal.

"Luffy, don't-!" Vivi tried to warn your captain, but it was too late.

You face-palmed, Ace huffing out a laugh next to you. Though you weren't sure if that was because of your reaction or his brother's antics.

The walk through the desert was not a pleasant one, but you managed. Again, you subconsciously avoided walking beside Ace, and he was amused by this. To tease you, he intentionally kept moving to walk with you, holding back laughter each time you tensed or blushed even slightly.

It was cute.

"So how did you meet my brother?" Ace asked you, standing so close to you that you could feel the heat radiating off his body. You tensed a little at the memory, and he quickly apologised, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"No it's okay," you shook your head, "I'm past it. I was actually unwillingly working for Kuro at the time, who was disguised as a butler for Usopp's, uh, friend. Luffy was...actively recruiting," you laughed, "so when he beat Kuro, I joined his crew."

"He must be convincing if he managed to recruit a former pirate hunter," Ace's eyes drifted to the green-haired swordsman.

You hummed in agreement, "Once you see some of the strongest pirates fall by Luffy's hand, you figure you'd rather be on the side of the crazy, unhinged rubber boy than against him."

Ace chuckled at your description, and as you walked he told you stories of Luffy from their childhood. Most of which did not really surprise you.

"Thanks for putting up with him," he finished, smiling warmly at you. "I know he can be a handful."

"Maybe," you looked at Luffy, who was fighting with Usopp over water. "But he's fiercely protective of his friends. And probably the most persistent, loyal person I've ever met. He's a good captain, even if it's not in the traditional sense."

Ace smiled at that, and the two of you parted to help set up camp for the night when the group stopped to rest.

Later that night, however you couldn't sleep. It was icy cold outside, and even being inside the tent didn't do anything to keep you warm. Shivering, you hugged yourself and exited your tent, only to see Ace sitting just outside it.

"Can't sleep?" He looked up at you, his eyes sympathetic.

"Nope," you sat down beside him - something you never thought you'd do until he had made you feel more at ease around him. "It's so cold."

Ace watched you for a moment, silently debating, before opening his arms.

You saw this, and your eyes widened, "What-"

"Hug me," he grinned. "You look like you could use it."

A fierce blush crossed your cheeks, butterflies blooming in your stomach, "I-"

"Oh come on," he chuckled, "Don't get shy on me again. Come here." His hand gently wrapped around your forearm, and he pulled you closer to him, sliding his arm around you.

Your face burned, but you slowly leaned against him, getting more comfortable - and more confident, by his gentle encouragement to relax on him and let him warm you up.

Eventually, you drifted off to sleep, but you don't remember when.

You jerked awake to shouts and cries the next morning, looking around to find the source of the commotion - which was just Vivi telling Luffy not to eat a scorpion. You sighed, sitting up, only to be stopped by Ace's arms. You turned to look at the commander, who was laughing at his brother, and your cheeks heated up again.

"Oh, you're awake!" Ace grinned, turning to look at you. His warm eyes gleamed with affection, making you blush more.

"Morning," you greeted, "And yes, that's how we wake up most mornings. Someone always shouting at your brother."

Ace laughed, finally loosening his grip on you but not letting go completely. His touch was electrifying, and most of you didn't want him to let go. But a small part of you knew that he had to at some point.

The group continued trekking across the desert, but by now you were much more comfortable walking with Ace. The two of you lingered at the back, behind the rest of the bickering Straw Hat crew, fingers just barely brushing against each other's with how close you were.

You couldn't help it, especially because your attraction to Ace had been there before you'd even met him, and found yourself falling for the charming raven-haired commander.

Though you knew that there was no way he could possibly feel that way about you, so you kept that to yourself.

He was so easy to be around, that you'd forgotten about your initial nervousness. Talking to him, being around him, felt as natural as breathing. He was just that kind of person, you realised, and suddenly you were upset you wasted so much time being too nervous to talk to him.

The crew was forced to stop once again when Luffy had practically handed all your things to a bunch of avian bandits, then proceeded to chase after them across the desert.

Ace settled on a nearby rock, watching in amusement as Zoro, Usopp and Sanji complained about your captain's antics. He apologised for his brother's behaviour, before his eyes travelled to where you stood with the other girls. He stared at you for a moment, his own feelings for you stirring.

Would it be wrong to ask out one of his brother's crewmates?

[blainesebastian]

ocean in a glass

word count: 7,093 ship: Nick Leister x reader rating: R (language) summary: The last thing you expected was for Nick to offer to be your fake date for the night. notes: continue to appreciate all of you who send me comments, cute asks or even just like or reblog my fics. thank you!!! 🥰 notes 2: gifs are from here, masterlist is here!

It’s not that you want your ex back, you don’t. You’re just pissed that he managed to actually hurt you. Your relationship wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but you thought you were happy. At least most of the time. It’s not like you have a lot to compare it to, you’ve only been in a handful of relationships, and this past one was the longest and most serious. No, it wasn’t always easy, it took a little bit of work. But that’s…you didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. Relationships aren’t always what they seem like in books, or movies. Sometimes you need to put time and effort in. 

Regardless, you never thought your ex would cheat on you. 

Even if things had been off for a week or so, even if you thought that you might have been falling out of love with him anyways, the action itself stings. Didn’t you respect one another enough to talk about what wasn’t working? Didn’t you both care enough about eachother to be honest? You had been building up the nerve to have a conversation…and then this whole thing just blew up in your face. 

You’re angry it hurts, you’re upset that your social circles have been tainted by him acting like you never meant anything in the first place. You’re not…totally put off that people talk, some consider Evan to be an outright dick anyways. But that worthless feeling that sits in your chest sometimes? That ‘what if’ that lingers that maybe you somehow deserved this, that you weren’t a good enough girlfriend to keep? 

You hate that he put those doubts there. Because you know, inherently, that they're not true. 

Except you haven’t been able to get rid of those feelings, sometimes they hang around, like ghosts. 

Evan’s got plenty of people he’s interested in, he’s a free agent that’s taking advantage of being single. You’re not jealous about that or wishing his attentions were turned towards you. You do, however, hate the sickening feeling that you’re alone in all this. You’re not saying you need to jump into another relationship but the break-up does a number on your self-esteem, your self-worth. Jenna teases you that it’s time to get over Evan by getting underneath someone else, and you get the sentiment, but that’s the last thing you’re interested in. Casual or otherwise. 

You just…want to stop feeling like garbage, hate that he’s coiled that emotion deep within your chest, like weeds sprouting. You know that one day you’ll be okay, that those feelings will pass, that you know Evan wasn’t worth all the time and effort you gave him. You’ll get over it. But maybe that’s what fucking stings too…the fact that you gave so much when he gave so little. 

Leaning against the kitchen counter in Jenna’s kitchen, you smile when Lion leans over and presses a kiss to her temple. You then glance away, the action somehow making your chest hurt.

“C’mon,” Jenna grins at you, and you tap your fingers on the table, “You have to come, I want you there.” 

Nick comes around the corner into the kitchen, just arriving, the scent of his cologne wafting past you. It’s not overwhelming, though, it’s comforting in the way you know a person, that feeling of safety that being close to someone can provide. You give him a small smile when he rounds the counter, his eyes meeting yours for a brief moment, a tug of his lips. 

“What are we talking about?” 

You sigh dramatically, rolling your eyes before shaking your head. Jenna gets up off her stool, “I was telling Y/N that she needs to come to this party tonight, that she can’t sit around and stick her head in the sand.” 

“She is sitting right here,” I reply, letting out a soft laugh. You glance towards Nick, your eyes briefly running over his form—pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, silver chain resting on his chest,  leather jacket. The soft blonde in his curls looks almost darkened gold underneath the kitchen lights. Handsome without even trying. “I’m not interested in going to a party that my ex is at.” 

Jenna crinkles her nose, “Never?” 

“Babe, maybe let her be.” Lion gently squeezes her side and you force a smile you don’t altogether feel. You get that Jenna is trying to help and in general? You do agree that moving on is a good idea, you’re just…not ready for that yet. 

“No, it’s okay,” You assure, glancing towards Nick when you can feel his gaze. You’ve known him a long time and yet it’s always been difficult to get a good read on him because he rarely wears his emotions on his face. Unless he’s pissed. You like the moments where he smiles with his eyes, you wish he did it more often. 

“I just don’t feel like being around him right now.” 

You don’t admit why, but you’re sure your friends can guess. Evan has been throwing into your face that he’s been flirting with basically anything that moves. It’s not that you’re jealous or even care about him, not anymore. Not like that. But you hate that he thinks he’s getting underneath your skin. It also just speaks to the fact that your relationship wasn’t worth…anything to him. And that, for reasons you can’t fully express, is embarrassing to you. 

Jenna hums, moving around the counter to plant a kiss to your cheek that makes you laugh before she says she’s going to get ready. “Whatever you want babe, long as you’re okay.” Lion follows in tow, skittering behind her to pick her up in a way that makes her giggling echo down the hallway. 

You’re not okay yet, not exactly, but…you’ll get there. 

Shaking your head, you reach for a glass of water that you poured, your eyes slipping to Nick. “You going tonight?” 

He nods, a small smile on his face as he leans against the counter, “Someone doesn’t watch Lion he’ll end up thinking he can hula dance.” A laugh bubbles up in your chest at the mental image. 

“Wouldn't wish that on anyone.” 

“No,” Nick agrees with a soft smirk, straightening his shoulders before taking a longer look at you. His eyes travel along your form, as if he’s drinking you in, attempting to read words printed underneath your skin. You resist the urge to squirm. “So definitely not going?” 

You blink, “What? Oh,” You curl your hair around your ear, “Nah, not even just with the Evan thing but I don’t think I’d be very great company right now.” 

He moves to stand near where you are, leaning his hip against the counter so he can face you, “I doubt that.” 

A small smile tugs the corner of your mouth, your stomach dipping in butterflies. You lift your hand to playfully poke at his chest, “You’re sweet.” 

Nick catches your wrist, his fingers moving to squeeze your own. You expect him to let go after that but he doesn’t. Instead, he runs his thumb along your knuckles, “I’m not,” He replies, “Not really.” 

You hum a little, not believing him for a moment. Maybe he’s not exactly the warmest person to everyone, but to his friends? The people he cares for? He’s one of the sweetest people you’ve ever met. Thoughtful, caring, protective. You love that about him. 

Part of you considered going to this party just to let off steam, but that other part of you feels weighed down in molasses, unsure of how to pull yourself free from that. You watch the way Nick’s hand travels along your own, dipping your thumb to press against his, a soft smirk as it almost becomes a war. He covers yours, shaking your hand a little and encouraging you to look up. 

“He’s an absolute shit for hurting you.” He says and you…you don’t need anyone to tell you that, but it means something for him to say it. 

You swallow over an emotion in your throat, shrugging your one shoulder, “I feel stupid that he did,” You admit quietly, “Like I should have seen it coming.” 

Nick shakes his head, “What he did isn’t your fault.” 

Letting out a soft sigh that tilts your head back a little, you don’t say anything. For one, you don’t want to end up doing something embarrassing like crying. That jerk does not deserve your tears. But also? It’s hard to accept those words as truth. You're trying to, but it’s not easy. 

“I think he thinks I’m stuck up on him,” Your eyebrows draw together, “That’s the last thing I am.” 

Nick licks his lips and you can tell for a moment that he’s mulling something over, chewing words and slipping them under his tongue before he says, 

“I think hiding gives him that impression.” 

The words hit an open wound, even though they’re not meant to. They dig into a place in which you’re utterly vulnerable and you hate that Nick’s exploited that spot. Or maybe you’re just ashamed that he’s right. You are hiding. 

You chew on your lower lip and Nick soothes his thumb up your hand and over the inside of your wrist, as if apologizing. But you don’t want him to say he’s sorry, he doesn’t owe you that. He’s right—he’s completely right. 

“What…should I do instead?” 

Nick purses his lips, a swirl of amusement and mischievousness amongst the brown of his eyes. Your heart ticks up behind your ribcage, “I think you should come to the party tonight. And I think you should let me be your date.” 

—

It wasn’t often that you, Evan and your friend group had hung out around one another. Jenna had never been a fan, but respected how you felt, supported you despite getting ‘those vibes’ that Evan was trouble. You should have listened to her, but love—or what you thought was love, is not only blind but apparently deaf and dumb as well. 

The few times Nick and Evan were around one another, it never ended well. Evan got on Nick’s nerves from the very moment that he didn’t get your birthday right. It seemed, at the time, like an honest mix up, a confusion of a few days, but ever since then? It didn’t take much for Evan to get under Nick’s skin. 

You remember this one instance that you were all hanging out at Jenna’s, eating food, chatting, debating whether to head to the beach over the long weekend. Evan picked up a fried olive and tried to feed it to you—

You scrunch your nose, “No, I’m good.” 

He scoffs, “C’mon, trying to be romantic here. Granted it’s not as sexy as a chocolate covered strawberry, but—” 

A small smile tugs the corners of your mouth but you shake your head. You appreciate the sentiment, but, “I’m good. You eat it.”

Evan opens his mouth to say something again when Nick interrupts, his voice hard around the edges, making his accent appear deeper, “For fuck’s sake, she doesn’t like olives.” 

You remember a soft swoop in your stomach at that, that something so trivial and simple could have such a big impact. It’s not like you’re not vocal about things like that—you hate raw onions, you don’t like olives, and you’re allergic to shellfish. It should have been obvious, easy to remember. Just like your birthday. And yet. 

Maybe you should have realized it then. Because it felt like Nick was trying to point out—you really shouldn’t be with someone who doesn’t know you or worse, care to remember. 

—

You pace, back and forth, in the inside of your walk-in closet for a few moments, wondering what the fuck you were thinking. 

When Nick mentioned he should be your date, your fake date, you had let out a sharp laugh that kinda lingered until you realized he wasn’t kidding. 

What? 

Look, you can show everyone that you’re not hiding out, stuck up on that fuck-face. And who knows, maybe you’ll actually have a good time while you’re at it. 

You have no idea why you said yes. Actually, no, that’s a lie. You know exactly why you said yes—because Nick’s an instigator, for one, but also? He’s right. You do want to head to that party and have a good time and prove to everyone (and yourself) that you’re not as hurt by what Evan did as what’s assumed. You’re not saying it’s not okay to feel terrible about what’s happened…but you shouldn’t let it break you, either. 

A deeper part of you has also thought about Nick, has considered the possibility of more than just friendship. Sometimes gazes and touches linger, and you wonder…

You wonder. 

But you’ve never allowed yourself to go beyond that. You were with Evan and even when you weren’t, Nick always felt like someone just out of reach, unattainable for so many reasons. So tonight, the promise of being able to tuck yourself in close, to brush your lips against his own, to pretend—it’s too alluring to pass up. 

I’m going to be miserable, you said. 

I can take it, Nick teased, it’s part of your charm. 

So now here you are, pacing in your closet, trying to figure out what the fuck to wear like you’ve never attended a party before. Everything feels too tight, or too short or too uncomfortable. It’s all in your head, you know that, and yet you rip another dress off and toss it into the corner to lay with the rest of what you’ve already tried on. 

Like a little cemetery of party clothes. 

Nick purses his lips from his spot on a stool near your shoes, “I kinda liked that one.” 

“You’ve said that about all of them.” It doesn’t bother you that you’re wandering around your closet in front of him in your bra and underwear, your bathing suit has covered less skin. Nothing he hasn’t seen before. You are bothered, however, that you can feel his eyes on you as you move about the space. 

It’s making you feel a little stir crazy, like bugs underneath your skin. 

“I have nothing to wear, I can’t go.” 

Nick’s lips twitch but he doesn’t smile, knows better than to do that, standing instead and running a hand through his curls. He steps over dresses on the floor and fingers through ones that are still on hangers. Not for long, if you’ve got anything to do with it. You’re about to call it quits, for real. He tugs on a denim one—it’s an overalls mini dress, made for something to go under it. You’ve worn it over bathing suits before, long sleeves with tights underneath in the winter. 

“Wear this.” 

You crinkle your nose, “It’s plain.” 

“Not on you.” 

You feel your cheeks heat and travel all the way down your neck, “You gotta stop saying stuff like that.” 

“As your fake date, I’m obligated,” He grins, taking the dress off the hanger. His eyes brush over your bra and then he turns, tugging open a drawer that’s half open that has lace bralettes sticking out of it. He plucks a black one between his fingers. “This underneath. Let me see.” 

You blink at the selection but sigh, taking them. You then twirl your fingers in a circle, “You’re going to have to turn around for this.” 

He smiles, leaning his shoulder against the one wall of your closet, “I’ll be on my absolute best behavior.” He crosses his heart and you shove his shoulder, making him laugh. He then covers his eyes with his hands. 

Smiling just a little, you change into the outfit he picked out, looking at yourself in the mirror. Cute, with a hint of sexiness underneath the denim dress thanks to the lace, and above-all comfortable. It’s actually…a really good choice, though you’re not sure you want to give him the satisfaction in saying that. 

“Can I look?” 

Smoothing your hands over imaginary wrinkles, you nod before you realize he can’t see you. “Yes.” 

Nick pulls his hands away from his face, his eyes drinking you in. It’s definitely not the sexiest thing you’ve ever worn but maybe it’s not supposed to be. It’s not about trying too hard, it’s about being confident with yourself. He steps towards you, his fingers adjusting the strap so it’s straight. 

There’s something about the intimacy of having him stand so close, the privacy of the closet that makes that lump appear in your throat again. Your wring your hands in front of you as you look up at Nick, 

“Do you think he regrets it?” You whisper. 

Nick’s gaze swims with empathy, almost to the point where you have to look away. And it’s…it’s not about feeling bad for you, it’s that he’s hurt because you’re hurting. 

“I think he should,” He replies gently. “I think that’s something that can be arranged.” He means tonight. His hand moves to your chin, brushing his thumb along your jawline. 

“But I want you to promise me something.” 

You let out a breath, “Not to join Lion in the hula?” 

He smirks before shaking his head. “That at no point tonight you blame this breakup on yourself.” 

God. He really does see right through you. A smile decorates your face, but it’s not real, too tight, pretending you’re okay. 

“I dunno if I can promise that.” You whisper. 

A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “Alright,” He nods, understands. “Then I can’t promise I won’t fucking punch him.” 

Your hand covers your mouth as a sudden laugh slips out, that smiling with your eyes thing you mentioned happening on Nick’s face. He reaches for your elbows, tugging you forward until he can wrap his arms around you in a hug. And god, you don’t realize how much you need that until it’s happening. You allow yourself to be folded into his chest, closing your eyes for a few moments, listening to the sound of his breathing. 

There is nothing fake about how your heartbeat skips. 

—

You’ve been fidgety since you left your house. 

You send Jenna a text on the way that you’re coming and she’s thrilled even though you feel so out of your element. Like you have no idea how to act at a party even though that’s not what the nerves are from. It’s not until Nick’s hand gently comes down on your knee and squeezes do you realize you’re jackhammering your leg so bad. 

You smile sheepishly, unhooking your shoulders from your ears and trying to relax back into the leather seats. You expect him to pull away, but he doesn’t, only doing so when you arrive and he needs both hands to park. Letting out a slow breath, you undo the seatbelt, the hum of the engine disappearing as Nick takes his keys out. He’s glancing at you, trying to catch your eye, you can feel it—but for some reason you avoid it, getting out of the car. 

Before you can begin walking up the gravel walkway to the house, he catches your wrist, tugging you to face him. When you do, he searches your eyes for something, probably just to make sure you’re okay. When you offer him a timid smile, he brushes his thumb along the tree of veins near your thumb. It grounds you. 

“This being a date and everything,” Your eyebrows draw together in soft confusion, noticing he doesn’t say the word ‘fake’— you wonder if that’s because someone might overhear him. Couples and groups of friends are parking nearby and making their way towards the low thumps of music ahead. Though the longer you think about that, the more ridiculous it feels. 

He continues, “I need to know if there’s anything you’re not okay with.” 

“Like…you mean, touching?” 

His gaze falls to your lips, “Something like that.” 

You smile a little because…Nick is one of the most tactile people you’ve ever met. He speaks with his hands, he always has. Your friendship has consisted of his hands on you, and vice versa—fingers lingering along your lower back to guide you through a crowd, or pressing into your shoulder blades after a long day, up and down your spine when you’re upset. You, in turn, touch him in similar manners. It’s just…always been a thing between you two, the personal space significantly smaller.

Which is why you say, “Yeah, no. I’m okay with everything.” 

He gives a slow nod, “Okay, just checking.” 

You really appreciate that. Appreciate him. There’s still a swirling of butterflies living in your stomach and visiting your individual ribs at the thought that you’re actually doing this with him, as it settles in the forefront of your mind—

And then all matter of thoughts stop dead in their tracks, because Nick is suddenly shifting you backwards until you bump into the driver’s side of the car. A breath catches in your throat, your heartbeat roaring in your ears like an oncoming wave from the ocean, not yet crashing into the shore. Your gaze searches his but he gives nothing away, just the soft comfort of his brown eyes and the gentle quirk of his mouth. 

His mouth. 

Nick cups your cheek, pausing just a moment as he leans in—just in case, you think, for you to push him away if you wanted to. You’ve got no clue what you want but it’s certainly not that. 

He brushes his lips against yours and when there’s such a sharp intake of breath from you Nick fucking smirks. You refuse to let him unravel you, not unless he’s coming with. So you step closer to him, your bodies lined up and pressed together and you nip at his lower lip, surprising the hell out of him. 

It only takes a moment after that for his lips to come crashing down onto yours. 

The kiss is quick, a little bruising, and you feel yourself tilt your head into it, your hands falling to his chest and gathering the fabric of his shirt between your fingers, like you need to anchor yourself in place. Like the last thing you want is for him to step back. Eventually, that becomes inevitable. He teases the seam of your lips with his tongue and a soft moan you’ll deny making later leaves your throat. 

And then it’s over, he takes a half step back, looking down at you with darkened eyes. Or maybe it’s just the trick of the light out here. He smiles, brushing his thumb along your cheek. 

“Just…figured we’d get that out of the way so you could concentrate the rest of the night.” 

Heat pulses from the center of your body and licks down between your legs, lives there for a few moments as his hand finds yours, lacing your fingers. He squeezes, turns to begin walking with you, and thank fucking god you have a few moments to get your head on straight.

Concentrate the rest of the night? Unfucking likely. 

—

Turns out, being Nick’s date to this party is pretty much like showing up as his close friend. Except with a few specific differences. 

He’s always been an attentive person, but tonight he’s looking at you, speaking with you like you’re capable of hanging the moon. The first time you notice it, that subtle distinction is enough to nearly take you out at your knees. Then there’s the touches, which have always been a norm of your friendship, turned into something domestic and intimate. His hand lingers along your waist, your lower back, fingers brushing the top of your ass. It’s also the occasional nudge of his knuckles along your jawline, sweeping your hair over your shoulder, or guiding your chin so that your lips can graze. You don’t even want to get started on his mouth—how his lips feel against your temple or pressing a kiss into your hair. It overwhelms you in the best way—though not only that? It also serves as a distraction. 

Never does it at any point turn into something over the top, something for show. It’s like it’s as easy as anything else for him that requires muscle memory—boxing, racing, breathing. 

You almost forget none of it is real. 

Lining up a dart to the board…or an attempt, anyways, you let it fly across the space towards the destination. And end up hitting the wall. You wince, 

“I hate this game.” 

Nick chuckles warmly, going to pick up the dart from the floor and wander back over to you, “And that would have nothing to do with the fact that you can’t aim, right?” 

You pout, “It’s harder than it looks.” 

He hums, his eyes zeroing in on that lip. He lifts his hand and thumbs over it, pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth. A zing of heat travels straight down your spine. You’re not sure you’re going to last the night. 

When you first walked into the party with Nick, you expected everyone’s eyes to find you, for whispers to start, for Evan to appear around the corner with an attractive girl toeing behind. But none of that happens. The nightmarish drama that you’ve built up around yourself is exactly what it is: just a nightmare. The only one who cares about what someone might think about your breakup with Evan is you, which makes it slightly easier to settle into your own skin tonight. 

While a few girl’s heads turn to look down at Nick’s hand laced with yours, particularly Anna, no one cares that you’re here with him. Not even Jenna batted an eyelash at the fact that you were pressed against Nick’s side when she found you, tossing her arms around your neck and promising to get you a drink. She’s probably somewhere tucked away with Lion right now but that’s okay—surprisingly? You’re having a good time. 

Even though you’re losing this game of darts. 

You wonder if you can throw him off somehow, so you lean over and plant a kiss to his cheek. You try to convince yourself that’s all it is, and not because you just really want to. He raises his eyebrows as you pull back, reading you like an open book. 

“Valiant effort.” He teases, turning to face the board. 

He lines up the dart, tosses, and lands on the 20. You scoff, putting your hands on your hips, “Unfair.” 

“That would have been hitting the bullseye,” He smiles at you, licking his lips, “But I was trying to be nice.” 

You grumble under your breath as you reach for another dart—maybe you just need to try harder. Though you’re not sure if you’re directing that at fixing your aim or trying again at distracting him. You let out a breath, trying another technique at throwing the dart differently…and you hit the board but none of the numbers. Nick smiles, glancing over at you, putting his hands up, 

“I’m not going to say a thing.” But when you pout again, he lets out a sigh, “Want me to show you how?” 

You brighten, nodding, moving to retrieve the darts from the board. You set them down near Nick’s leather jacket and when he takes a step towards you, he leans down and brushes his lips along your ear. 

“I think you should ask me nicely.” He whispers. 

Seems wildly unfair that that causes a full bodied shiver but…you’ll deny that if it’s ever brought up. Because with how close Nick is standing? He definitely felt it. 

You turn your head a little, your lips a gentle pressure on his own, as you make your single request against his mouth, “Please?” 

Nick cups your cheek and kisses you. It’s nothing like the first—this one is far more gentle, done with purpose, with thought, his lips map yours as if he’s trying to memorize how it feels. You melt into him, turning to liquid honey against his chest, sliding your arms around his waist. You don’t even realize that one of your hands have gathered the material of his shirt, that you tug on him to come closer again when he begins to pull away. 

He smiles, his hand closing around yours, giving in to your insistence, and presses a quick series of kisses against your lips. You laugh lightly when his mouth follows yours, even when you turn your head, his arms circling around you and keeping you close. 

This is far too easy for you to get used to. 

When he does pull away, he slips behind you, picking up one of the darts. “Turn your body at a bit of an angle.” He instructs, palms on your hips, gently rotating. 

Nick passes the dart over and you try to ignore how you can feel the long lines of his body pressing into your back when his other hand settles on the one holding the dart. 

“You’re holding on too tight,” He tells you, the one hand on your hip has his thumb tracing circles. Are you really supposed to concentrate like this? “Loosen your hand a little.” 

“Loosen yours,” You grumble, to which Nick grins. You can’t see it, but you can feel it against your back, the way his whole body leans forward, squeezing a bit around your waist. 

“Didn’t realize it’d be so difficult for you to pay attention.” He pulls your arm back and demonstrates how to move to throw the dart forward. It feels different than what you were doing, you at least notice that much. 

A small scoff slips from your mouth, “I find it hard to believe that you don’t know exactly what you’re doing most of the time.” 

The fucker presses an open-mouthed kiss to your shoulder in response. You expect that to ruin any semblance of hitting the dart board when Nick drops his hand and encourages you to throw as he showed you—

And then the dart lands in the fucking bullseye. 

Your mouth falls open, a laugh tumbling out. When you whirl around to look at Nick, that handsome smugness fades away to warm amusement at how excited you are. 

You tell yourself to begin to put some distance between the two versions of Nick that you know—the good friend and the fake date, because at a certain point not being able to distinguish between them is only going to hurt you. 

But since you’re used to living with hurt recently, what’s the difference in piling on more ? 

You throw your arms around his neck, nearly rocking him back on his heels as his hands grasp your waist. You’re both smiling when you kiss again. 

—

Two hours pass without running into Evan and you think you begin to tell yourself that maybe it won’t happen. Maybe he went home early or maybe he was never here in the first place. Regardless? You’re grateful for Nick being there for you tonight, a constant support that you never realized you needed. Once you were able to relax? You started having a really good time. The night is spun together with your friends and Nick and…yes, he’s definitely a separate entity tonight. He’s considerate in a way you never realized he could be, and it makes you irrationally jealous of whatever girl in the future that’s going to be able to call him her boyfriend. 

Her very real boyfriend. 

These are thoughts you try your best to ignore as you dance with Jenna, Nick and Lion until your body begs for water. You lean close to Nick and he dips his head down so he can hear you over the music when you tell him you’re going to the kitchen. Instead of letting you go alone, he nods, his hand snaking down your arm to intertwine your fingers. As if it’s something you two do all the time. 

He guides you through the crowd and the air becomes a little cooler and easier to breathe as people dissipate in areas like the hallway and eventually the kitchen. You hum softly, reaching for a paper-towel as Nick breaks away from you to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. You turn the sink on, dampening the paper-towel in cool water and then drag it along your face, 

“I’m so hot,” You let out a soft laugh, “Think it’s the dress.” Denim was a cute idea until you decided to dance in it, until you were pressed together with a bunch of other people. 

He reaches for another paper-towel, drenching it with water and squeezing out the excess before lifting your hair off the back of your neck. When he sets the paper-towel there, you let out a soft moan of relief. 

“That help?” He asks, pressing an absentminded kiss to the back of your shoulder. You’re not sure if he even realizes he’s doing that anymore. 

You nearly want to lean back into him, it feels so good. You can’t even speak, you just nod as your eyes flutter closed. 

And that’s when you hear him. 

Evan’s laughter spills into the kitchen and you don't even realize that you’ve gone rigid until Nick’s hand begins to gently rub your back in soothing circles. That’s how Evan notices you. 

“Shit—Y/N, is that you?” He asks, voice a little slurred from drinking, “Didn’t think you’d be here.” 

Letting out a breath, you turn a little to glance at him, noticing that he’s alone. No one is trailing in behind him as he wanders over to the cooler near the sink to grab another beer. You wait for that moment in which your stomach bottoms out, in which you realize you miss him because that has to be what all of your feelings should dissolve down to, right? And yet…that moment doesn’t come. You don't miss him, you don’t miss what the two of you had, you certainly don’t love him. If anything, you’re upset with yourself for not breaking up with him sooner. You’re angry that you allowed him to dig under your skin, that he’s kind of doing it now by looking smug and satisfied he’s run into you. As if he’s not the one who cheated. You realize that you can be okay that you’re not together anymore but still be hurt by how it happened. It can all exist in the same space. 

“Why?” You ask, your voice surprisingly even. “I like coming to parties—why should tonight be any different?” 

He raises his eyebrows and then shrugs, smiling against the rim of his beer bottle, “Because I’ve heard you’ve been holed up after our breakup.” Seems like that gossip circle is spinning. Hiding out, just like Nick had said. You hate that Evan thinks it's because you’re torn up over losing him. 

You just wanted to avoid this. 

You bite down on the inside of your cheek, hard, at asking him questions that you know will just hurt. It’s like he’s acting like you were a quick fling that lasted a week, not a year spent together building what you thought was trust, love. You draw in a breath—At no point tonight you blame this breakup on yourself. It’s not your fault, you realize—his inability to take a relationship seriously has nothing to do with you. Nick’s right. 

Evan clicks his tongue off the roof of his mouth, “It’s pathetic really—” 

“Don’t talk to her like that.” Nick interrupts, sharp in warning. 

Evan blinks, like he didn’t even see Nick standing there until he opened his mouth. He scoffs, not put off by him, having another sip of his beer, “It’s cute that you think I’d be bothered by him having my sloppy seconds.” 

A few things happen at once—you can feel Nick tense beside you, and you know him well enough to recognize what’s coming. But before he can even throw a fist, you’re chucking yours. It’s like you’re watching in slow motion beside yourself, your arm arched back and then it pops forward, punching Evan right in the fucking nose. 

You’re not sure whether it’s momentum or fucking surprise but Evan’s head snaps to the side before he begins howling. Your mouth opens a little in shock, staring at your fist and the pain radiating from your knuckles up your arm like they’re not even attached to your body. 

“You fucking bit—” 

“I would stop speaking, if I were you.” Nick states, a clear indication that he will gladly finish what you started. 

Shockingly, Evan clamps his mouth shut, holding his face, the glare he’s throwing strong enough to melt someone on the spot. Nick puts his hand on your back, unphased, and leads you out of the kitchen. 

—

You head outside, the chilly air settling in your bones and cooling your blood, which still sounds like it’s pounding in your ears. Nick slides his leather jacket off, placing it over your shoulders and you’re suddenly enveloped with the heat of his body and the scent of his cologne, laundry detergent, and something purely him. 

There’s a well-groomed yard in the back of this party, bushes and flowers and a greenhouse. To the right of it sits a small gazebo and to the left, a set of swings. You raise your eyebrows, your feet drawing you towards the swingset until you’re sitting down in one of them. Nick stands in front of you, holding onto the metal linked chains for a moment before stretching his hand out to you, palm up. 

You place your right hand there, watching. His skin is warm as he splays open your fingers, checking your knuckles. 

“I can’t believe I hit him.” You admit after a moment, a shocked noise of amusement leaving your lips. Fuck. That was so not intended. 

“I know,” Nick replies, lips twitching, “I can’t believe you beat me to it.” 

You can’t help it, you giggle. The sound escapes until it becomes full-bodied laughter, tears gathering in the corners of your eyes. Nick just watches you with a fond smile, shaking his head as he reaches out and thumbs a tear track created on your cheek. But you’re definitely not sad—you’re fucking invigorated. Eventually that melts into the occasional snicker, Nick pressing a kiss to your bruised knuckles before he joins you on the swing-set. 

“We’ll get you an ice pack or something cold to put on your hand before we leave.” 

You breathe in deeply, tipping your head back to look at the night sky. Rolling your legs forward, you use it as momentum to swing gently before holding onto the chains. Your legs are a bit too long to sweep under you, but you still sway. You’ve always loved swings—can’t remember the last time you were on one. 

Quiet settles between you and Nick, but it’s not uncomfortable, your gaze wandering over to him in his black t-shirt. Your reach out and thumb one of his many line tattoos, skin warm, your stomach bottoming out as you’re met with a very specific question that crawls up your throat. 

You need to know… “Why did you do this for me?” You ask softly, chewing on your lower lip, “The party, the fake date,” The kisses, “Just…all of it?” 

His eyes soften as they lock with yours, as if the answer is obvious, “There’s very little I wouldn’t do for you.” 

The way that sentence hits you is so overwhelming, it feels like you’re trying to hold the ocean in a glass. A shudder works down your spine that has nothing to do with the chill in the air. 

“You can’t say things like that to me.” You whisper. 

“Why?” Nick tilts his head, watching you carefully. 

“Because this…” You motion quickly between the two of you, “This is fake. This isn’t real.” That was the whole point, wasn’t it? 

You expect Nick to breeze past this conversation or maybe…get up from the swing, motion you should head back inside and find your friends, or leave the party entirely. But he does none of that, he just pushes his legs back and forth a little, moving the swing. The chain-links creak under his weight. 

“I think we both know that isn’t true.” 

And fuck, you do know that. You’ve felt it long before tonight but just…never knew how to act on it, never knew you could, never thought Nick would feel the same. Always the wrong time, wrong place. You’re not about to deny that tonight felt right, like two pieces finally figuring out where they connect. 

Evan hurt you, he made you reconsider how you approach anyone you might be interested in. He destroyed your trust and whittled away at your self-worth. 

Yet somehow, within one night, Nick’s managed to begin to heal that. Like he’s picked up the broken shards, regardless that they’re sharp enough to cut his hands, and began to glue them back together. You’re not completely healed, not yet—but maybe you can begin again. 

“So…your thought was…a fake date? That was the solution?” But your voice is warm, teasing. You know when Nick originally came up with his idea that he just wanted to help. And it did help you—it became a lot more than you ever thought it could. 

“Well when you put it that way.” He laughs a little, drawing his legs back to propel himself forward. 

You stick your one leg out, catching his ankle and hooking him closer until your swings tangle together. Practically eye level, he smiles at you. 

“What can I do to fix it?” Nick asks, as if he hasn’t spent the whole night attempting to fix splintered pieces that someone else left behind.

You were just teasing, but you love that he offers. You lean forward, brushing your noses together, “We go on a real date.” You nod—and then, “And you should kiss me.” 

No sooner are the words out of your mouth, he’s cupping your cheek and drawing your lips to his. Your eyes flutter closed and you lean into it, holding onto the chain of his swing, your leg wrapped around his. He tilts his head, deepening the kiss and a shiver once again slips down your spine. But it’s the same sensation as earlier in the night—kissing him feels like something you’ve done a hundred times. Like coming home. 

When Nick pulls back, he smiles, amusement flirting in his eyes and you feel like you’re really seeing him for the first time. And he sees you. That’s the realest thing you’ve felt in a long time. 

[felisidae]

Killer kitty doodle because I'd rather plunge myself into a volcano than finish any of my hundreds of wips + very long and insane Killer ramble because I love this stupid guy

Ramble below, I warn you it's not pretty.

I hate how people write Killer off as a one note character, with his only personality trait being "chaotic murder gremlin", or even worse "Nightmare simp". Ima state now I have a high dislike for Nightkiller, it completely ignores not only Nightmares character as a whole but reduces Killer to a mindless servant. Which he kinda is, but that's not all he is. He is so so interesting and I mourn the fact that I don't see a lot of people explore past a surface level.

In Ground Zero he has more of a mind for himself, though he still wouldn't ever outright disobey Nightmare. Both out of fear and the fact that he really has no other choice, he had nowhere else to go. He doesn't really have a relationship with the other mercenaries, as he is better at solo missions due to how blindly violent he can get at times. Strike serves as an outside perspective, constantly questioning Nightmares authority and Killer's loyalty to him. Killer begins to doubt how much power Nightmare actually has, and how much power he's simply just been giving him in an effort to fill the empty hole of loneliness in his soul.

Chara works more as a voice in his head, they aren't actually visible which I think would really contribute to Killers growing insanity as he begins to doubt if Chara even exists at all. Whose voice was he really listening to when he killed all those people. Chara's voice is less audible at Stage 1 and more audible as the stages progress. Chara is in some part, a part of him. Since their souls literally merged, I thought it would be neat if they like, literally merged together too. But like, in a mental way. Chara is now permanently attached to Killer whether he likes it or not. Rarely is there ever silence in his mind with them around, but he's gotten used to it at this point.

Strike and Killers relationship is more reluctant companions, they love to hate each other. But really, they need each other. Strike relies on Killer to do well, anything. And Killer relies on Strike to ground him and sometimes knock some sense into him when he gets too lost in his mind. Strike is really the first actual friend he's had after everything went down in his universe. Killer doesn't know why he's so intent on helping Strike, perhaps for the possible chance of fighting the guardians again, or maybe a small part of him wants to do the right thing. Letting Strike stay in the castle was also Killers first act of disobedience in a looooooooong while, Nightmare did not like this guy at all. But he managed to find a way to make it work, one way or another.

He and Dream have this weird frenemy relationship. Dream wants to help Killer, but Killer doesn't trust him for a second. Cautious of his true intentions. He does enjoy fighting with the guardian, though he's a little disappointed at how much Dream holds back against him.

He and Bird have insane beef, they HAAATE each other. They love to tease each other when fighting, which only gets them both equally pissed off. Birds hatred comes from protectiveness of Dream, and Killers hatred comes from envy. Bird symbolizes everything Killer is not; he has true freedom. Not only because of his ability to fly, but because he isn't chained to Dream like Killer is to Nightmare. Although they come from similar backgrounds, they both came out very different. (Would it be crazy to say I kinda ship them in a toxic but works somehow way, I'm thinking raptor could work, as it's another name for birds of prey. But I'll work on it I guess)

Coming back to Striller cause I'm absolutely feral about them. They are purely platonic in canon, though Strike does have some underlying affection for Killer. Killer simply sees Strike as an anchor, something to keep himself from going completely insane. But I think it would be interesting to look at them through a romantic lens maybe, if Strike lived long enough it might have actually worked out.

Back to Killer himself. I'm still trying to better understand his character though my own vision of him. He's flirty, he's aggressive and snarky yes but he can also be callous, calculating and cruel (did not mean to make those all start with c but I ball). He's a very tragic character, I hate him sm guys.

I wanna just ramble about all the characters in my au, Bird will probably be next. Oh boy I have so much to say about him, for a character with literally zero story he is so interesting in my own vision of him guys I swear please. (And I WILL be discussing Goldeneagle in gross detail trust.)

[thealtoduck]

Reunion

Cal Kestis x Male Mirialan ex-Jedi!Reader

Warnings: You flirt with stormtroopers…

Part 1: Being a mirialan jedi youngling and getting your kyber crystal…

Y/l/c = Your lightsaber color

Summary: After the fall of the Jedi Order you fled to Raxus Secundus for your survival, 5 years later Cal Kestis and the crew of the Stinger Mantis land on Raxus Secundus with their ship in need of repairs…

——

You walked in to the cantina looking around at the different patrons, you walked and sat down at the bar. The bartender soon showed up in front of you and asked ”What can i get you?”. You thought for a second and decided ”A phattro, please”.

”Coming right up” he said and soon placed a glass filled with a purple beverage in front of you. You took a sip and a familiar refreshing taste hit you. Two off-duty stormtroopers were sitting a few chairs away from you, their helmets placed next to their drinks.

They were looking towards you. You gave them a small smile and raised your glass to them in a little ”cheers”. They smiled back at you and grabbed their drinks and helmets coming over to you, sitting down on each of your sides.

”Hey beautiful, what’s your name?” said the one to your left. ”I’m Y/n, what’s yours?” you said in a alluring tone. ”They call me Red” he introduced himself with a smirk. You turned to the trooper to your right and asked ”And you?”. ”Spikes” he answered cooly.

”How may i be of assitance for the troops?” you asked taking another sip of your drink. ”Well, we’ve had a lot to attend to lately and it can get very stressfull” Red explained. ”Extremely stressfull” Spikes added. ”And we thought a pretty thing like yourself might help us… relieve some of that stress” Red said putting a hand at your waist.

You smiled a flirty smile. ”Oh really, how about we-” you started but was cut off by a sudden feeling brought on by the force, a warning? No. A familiarity, a memory, a very distant one. You stood up and looked around seeing no one. ”Are you alright?” Spikes asked.

”Uh yeah… Sorry i have to go” you said, leaving credits and a tip for the bartender. Red scoffed annoyed and said a snide ”Tease”. You ignored him and walked out on to the streets of Tamwith Bay. The connection you had felt was now lost.

You closed your eyes and tried to focus, reaching out through the force, trying to find the connection again but there was nothing. You were left alone and confused.

As you wandered home you thought to yourself about what or who it might’ve been, a Jedi? Just another force user lost in the galaxy?. Memories of the jedi and your training started flooding your brain as you entered your small apartment.

You had been made a padawan only 4 months before the collapse of the Jedi Order and the Republic. In most cases you would’ve most likely been to young to become a padawan but the Clone Wars had taken a big strain on the order and because of the deaths of many masters and padwans in battle there were a lot of gaps to fill.

You had been assigned to Jocasta Nu, the chief librarian of the Jedi archives. You didn’t earn a lot of battlefield experience from this but your master had shown you some of the secrets of the Jedi temple.

Once the destruction of the Jedi hit in full force you and your master escaped the temple through a secret passage hidden within the temple. Once on the streets of Coruscant she ordered you to get on a shuttle while she had drawn away a group of Clone Troopers.

That had been the last you ever saw of her as the shuttle had left. Sometimes you wondered if she had survived that night and had managed to escape the purge as well but even then they might’ve caught up with her sooner or later.

You lifted a loose floor panel of the ground revealing a box containing your now dusty jedi robes, a hard drive containing Jedi texts and your twin lightsabers. You brought your lightsabers out afraid to turn them on incase someone could here the noise and report it to the empire.

You shouldn’t even bring them out of their hiding spot, you never knew who was watching. But something told you that you would be needing them in a couple of hours. You went to bed that night with your lightsabers hidden under your bed in case of a intruder or sudden attacker.

You were kept allert by the force the next day, you hid your lightsabers beneath a cloak as you ventured out in to town. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so you just tried to go about your business as usual but as evening came, things would change.

You were once again making your way home but saw people running away from the town square, you decided to check it out. Once you got there you were met with a life changing sight. It was jedi, or at least someone carrying a lightsaber who knew how to fight like a Jedi.

He was fighting what you assumed was an imperial inquisitor, you had heard rumours about them but never seen one in person. They were Jedi hunters, sent out to find the survivors of the purge.

You then felt the connection from the day before reignite, you had met this Jedi before… but who was it? Suddenly the Inquisitor used a force push to knock the Jedi in to a stack of crates, knocking him over.

As the Jedi layed among the crates you caught a glimpse of his face, he looked like… Cal Kestis, a friend of yours from the order. The Inquisitor walked menacingly towards Cal, spinnig his double bladed lightsaber.

Without thinking you forced jump up in the air and landing between Cal and the Inquisitor. You faced the Inquisitor and ignited your lightsabers making two y/l/c blades emerge from them.

”Two Jedi, this just got a lot more interesting” the Inquisitor said, his smirk being covered by the helmet. It had been a long time since you fought or even practised with your lightsabers so you begged the force would guide you.

The Inquisitor slashed at you but you dodged, you flipped over his head cutting at him but he blocked. The two of you started attacking back and forward while Cal tried to absorb what just happened. A hodded Jedi had just come out of nowhere and saved his life.

He watched as the Jedi fought, lightsabers skills clearly rusty but skilled. Cal then got of his feet and jumped, attacking the Inquisitor from behind. The Inquisitor managed to block but started to struggle keeping up with the three blades slashing at him.

While the Inquisitor was blocking an attack from both one of yours and Cal’s saber. You managed to get a cut in down the middle of the doublebladed saber, destroying it. You and Cal then force pushed the Inquisitor at the same time sending him flying in to a stone wall which knocked him out.

Cal then let out a sigh of relief at the Inquisitor’s defeat. He then turned to you and said ”You’re a Jedi”. ”Not quite” you said lowering your hood making Cal’s eyes widen as regcognition hit. ”Y/n?” he questioned.

”Hi Cal, it’s been a while” you greeted. Without warning Cal ran up to you and threw his arms around you. You were caught of guard at first but then wrapped your arms around him as well, it didn’t hit you until now how much you had missed him.

You heard troopers approaching and broke the hug. ”Come on, this way” you said and started sprinting down an alley way. Cal followed close behind. You led him back to your apartment, you gave one last look outside before closing the door, making sure you weren’t followed.

Once behind closed doors you find your arms locked around each other in another tight embrace. ”How did you survive? You were on Coruscant that would’ve been the most heavily guarded planet?” Cal questioned in amazement.

”Let’s sit down” you said, you made some tea for the two of you and poured it up in two cups. You both sat down around a small table and you started telling him how Master Nu had saved your life and that it had let you escape Coruscant.

”How about you?” you asked and Cal explained that his master had sacrificed himself for him. He then told you of the events that led him and his crew to land on Raxus Secundus a couple days ago for ship repairs.

”Y/n, you should come with us, we’re trying to rebuild some of what’s left of the Jedi Order, you could help us” Cal suggested. You thought about it for a second before answering ”Cal, I’m not sure how much i will be able to help you, i only just became a padawan before the fall of the Jedi”.

”To us that’s enough, we need to rebuild with what little we have left” Cal insisted. ”I don’t know Cal, i just need some time to think” you told him. ”Alright, you have until tommorow, me and my crew are leaving once our repairs are done” Cal said.

You opened the floor panel and brought out the hard drive out of the box. ”What’s that?” Cal asked. ”It’s a hard drive, it contains a few Jedi texts from the library. It’s not a lot but it’s something, i think you should have it” you said handing it to him.

”Thank you” Cal accepted gratefully. Cal then contacted his crew and let them know about the events of the day. They decided it was best for Cal to stay the night with you as security had tightened because of the reveal of two Jedis in the city and that he should try sneak his way to the ship at the crack of dawn.

”Where should i sleep?” Cal asked, looking around your small apartment, there weren’t many options besides the bed and the floor. ”You can have the bed” you offered. ”And let you sleep on the floor, we can share your bed, wouldn’t be the first time” Cal suggested.

”Alright” you nodded and the two of climbed in to bed together, laying on your sides to face each other. ”This reminds me of when we would sneak out of out temple rooms to have sleep overs together” Cal said making a smile spread over your face.

”I remember that and that one time Master Skywalker caught you on the way to my room but he promised not to tell anyone” you reminded Cal who let out a chuckle. ”Then after you left the temple with Master Tapal, i remember how much i missed you and how lonely i felt” you admited.

”I missed you too Y/n, especially after purge. It was terrifying having no way to know if you had survived or not” Cal said as you gazed in to each others eyes. He continued ”But now we’re both here again and i never want to leave you behind”.

Cal then leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to your lips, from which you didn’t pull back. While attachment was against the Jedi teachings their was no order around anymore to supervise you. You were free.

As you both pulled away from each others lips you brought a hand up to cup his cheek stroking it lightly. ”I’ll come with you, i don’t want to lose you again either” you confessed. You both then fell asleep, hands clasped together ready for the challenges tommorow would bring.

[spctrsgf]

rocks and faulty plans

summary: you and poe make an unexpected stop to a rocky planet. with a broken ship.

-> based off this prompt

words: 1.3k

a/n: heeeeeeeey guys 😅😅 i will be more active soon I PRAY but here is a silly drabble i wrote i miss my silly space pilot :((

You’re not really sure why you even listened to him in the first place. You knew that beside all of his cockiness, he had some sort of planning skills and a desire to not kill the both of you, but it wasn't all that apparent in your current situation.

The rocky terrain of the planet you'd landed on– an unplanned detour– was harder to navigate than you'd thought when you were back on the ship. Despite this fact, your companion was already several steps ahead, trekking along the curve of a particularly large rock.

You groan loudly, hoping he hears your disdain as you tug on the collar of your jumpsuit and double your speed to catch up to him. The burst of energy from your fiery anger is, much to your dismay, hardly enough to last for longer than twenty seconds. A burn in your leg ignites the gravel beneath your feet, sending you stumbling.

“You okay down there?” Calls that ever so taunting tone. You glare up at his figure, backlit by the red sun. Still several steps ahead. “Oh fuck off, would you?” You snap, glancing down at the beads of blood forming along the scrape of your leg. 

He laughs. “It's okay, baby, it happens to all of us. Even me.”

You raise your eyebrows at him. 

He shrugs back. How does he manage to admit fault cockily?

“Using pet names to hide your concern, I see.”

He tuts, but says nothing to dispute your claim, heading towards you. 

“I can get up myself, Poe.” You snarl at him.

“I think the rocks would beg to differ.”

“Would it kill you to not tease me?”

He grins. “In an instant.”

You roll your eyes, but grab the hand he had extended out to you and let him help you up. He pulls you forward, seemingly only letting go of your hand when he realized he had been holding it for so long. The two of you trek together to the top of the rock, not sharing anything but the oxygen during sharp breaths. 

It was a weirdly serene moment with him. Poe wasn't necessarily a man of little or many words, but it wasn't often that you saw him comfortable in the silence. Especially in your current… predicament. You’d half expected him to spend the whole adventure talking your ear off about the ten billion plans you knew he had thought of, but he remained quiet.

You suppose you could chalk it up to the view. It was nothing short of breathtaking. The small town below was bustling about, nestled among the rocks that spiked out of the ground. The light from the sun cast a loving red sheen on the whole scene, cupping the inhabitants and painting them friendly. It was difficult to even consider looking away from. 

Yeah, that was probably Poe’s silencer.

You smile, letting him bask in the scenery before you shove his shoulder, beginning to head towards the town. “C’mon, pretty boy, stop gawking and get a move on! We don't have all day.” He scoffed. “I was not gawking, it's just-” he runs a hand down his face, “it's been a while since I've seen a view like that.”

“Space just isn't quite like this, is it?” 

“Not quite. A lot more black.” He says, finally catching up to you.

You snort. “That's true. It's calming in its own way, isn't it?”

“Yeah. If it weren't for our current situation, I’d spend a couple days here. Nice vacation.”

“You deserve that.” The words leave your mouth before you can take a second to think about them. Shit.

But Poe doesn't tease, he just smiles wide. “Thank you.”

You roll your eyes playfully. “But, back to business-”

“Here we go."

“Hey!” You glare, and he quickly quiets. “What are we gonna do? Just ask one of these people if they can walk however long with whatever tools they need to fix our ship?”

“Well, that was plan D in my extensive list of ideas.”

“Oh, and what about the other ones?” You indulge, curious.

“Well, plan A was to not crash on the planet in the first place, but you can see how well that went.” He grumbles.

“We tried our best.”

“I know,” he sighs, running a hand down his face, again. “Rest of my plans weren't quite as good.”

“Doubt that. Let's try plan E.” You quip, seeing how close the two of you were to the town.

He shrugs easily. “Let's.” 

You watch him gather his confidence and paint it across his face, and with that, the two of you make your way into the town. You trail a few steps behind him, letting “plan E” fall into place. He makes his way into a bar, leaning against the counter and motioning for you to do the same.

As you copy him, he leans over, whispering, “just go with it, okay?” You nod, locking your jaw to stop yourself from yelping when his hand wraps around your waist. “Hey, bartender!” He yells, catching their attention. “What can I get for you today, sir?” 

“My fiancé and I are here trying to get to the next planet in your system, but our ship crashed. Would you happen to have something that could help us?”

The bartender tilts his head to the side. “You do realize this is a bar, right?”

“I’m willing to bet you see most of this town here. So if anyone knows of someone who can help us, it's you.”

“Sure, a lot of people come in here, but I just serve drinks. Can I get you two anything?”

“Sir, please-”

“Listen here, outsider,” the bartender leans over the counter, and you can smell the alcohol he'd surely downed earlier. “I’ve been gracious enough to not kick you two out of my bar as soon as you didn’t place an order, because you and your fiancé seem like respectable people. But this is a busy bar, so if you're not going to buy a drink, get the fuck out of my bar before I have someone make you.”

“All we need is one address!”

“Last chance, sir.” The man gnarls at you two.

“Okay,” you jump in, taking Poe’s hand off your waist and pulling him away from the bartender. “Thank you for your help!”

You drag the two of you out of the bar before either man could exchange any more malicious words. Poe struggles, clearly trying to make his plan work. It was obvious he had more things to say– or do– to the bartender, but eventually he gives in to your pulling, trailing behind you. 

“So much for plan E.” You grumble as soon as you aren't in earshot of the bar. “I could have made that work! He would've listened to me.” Poe grumbles right back. 

“You and I both know that isn't true.” 

He sighs. “Yeah.”

“What is it with him anyways?” You question, making sure your voice was low and there wasn't anyone around before continuing. “He was so much meaner than anyone else we've seen.”

“Bad day, maybe? They could not get many visitors here.”

“Or too many.” You add in.

He smiles. “Or too many. Maybe he's struggling to make ends meet.”

“That's also true,” you sigh in defeat. “But it doesn't solve our problem.”

He shakes his head. "Let's just move on to plan F. F stands for fabulous."

"The way all your other plans have worked out so far, I would assume F also stands for failure." 

“Hey!” He yelps, glaring. 

You giggle. “Joking. Plan F it is! What do you need me to do?”

His smile made what some would call a shit eating grin.

You groan. “Oh no.”

Well, the two of you definitely made it off the planet in record time. With nothing more than you came with, other than a bounty on your heads.

No biggie.

someone yell at me to write my reqs bye

[questionablemorally]

Okay, I lied, I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to do something for a Sebagni fic but I genuinely have no energy…

Instead how about some more Sebagni HCs so I can make up for it? And I will get to ACTUALLY writing a modern au for them… eventually!

So, as always, here’s some HCs for the ship that has my heart currently - warning: this one contains nsfw under the cut so please, please no minors.

Agni is a very affectionate person everywhere - he loves showering Sebastian with compliments and talking about him to everyone, and he’s a fan of PDA. However, Sebastian is a lot more reserved on this - he will absolutely speak well on Agni if he’s brought up in conversation, and he will lean into Agni’s touch, but he’s mainly affectionate in privacy, to maintain his aesthetic. He has no problem teasing the other in public, though.

They barely ever argue or disagree, as they have similar opinions on the things they normally talk about, and what Seb does disagree with Agni on, he is instead shown a new perspective that leaves him thinking more deeply about it.

Saying this, when they do argue (which, again, I couldn’t see them doing often. It would be a very rare and unfortunate occurrence), everyone notices how Agni is a lot more anxious and a little impatient, and Seb is a LOT more irritable and snappy.

Ciel and Soma are like their adopted children. Whenever the two get into trouble as kids do, Sebastian is the one they face lecturing from. Agni makes sure they are okay, but isn’t ever harsh on them, so Seb has to be strict for the both of them.

They are very protective over one another. Agni in the sense that he really cares for everyone in his life, and Seb in the sense that it’s ‘his human’. So if somebody insults/upsets one of them, they should watch their back.

As far as relationships in kuroshitsuji go, theirs is genuinely pretty healthy (or as healthy as it can be). I feel like if Agni did actually know Sebastian is a demon, he might be surprised, sure, but otherwise not really bothered about it. He is of the firm belief that anyone can change and be a good person - just as he did - so, even if Seb is a being of sin, he would still love and protect him.

One time, Soma flung the doors to Agni’s room open in the morning, and was shocked to see Sebastian sitting in Agni's bed, wrapped in his khansama's arms as they had been enjoying the early hours together. The prince may be young and energetic, but he wasn't about to separate the two - who he thought were so clearly soulmates - so he immediately apologised and left.

In terms of their sex life, Agni is really soft. He likes praising his partners, kissing them gently, taking his time, and I could see him doing body worship. Sebastian sometimes manages to convince Agni to be a bit more rough with him but, surprisingly (to himself too), he enjoys the praise a lot more than he’d expected...

Aftercare is Agni’s expertise. He tends to feel really guilty if Seb mentions any pain after their nights together, and is so sweet with him right afterwards - cuddling, bringing him water, cleaning them both up, immediately tending to any wounds… even just light bruises.

Agni loves it when Sebastian rides him. To him, it’s like the ideal position - facing each other, close proximity to allow for kisses or touches, etc. As soon as Seb learnt this, he also found out that, to get Agni flustered and heated quickly, he just had to straddle him. He uses this way too much, and it still works every time.

Sebastian doesn’t have many stand-out preferences, but there are a few that catch him off guard. One of these, Agni learnt, is fingering - especially while kissing. Seb prides himself on his physical self-control, so both were just a little concerned when he started shaking and gasping into the kiss. It also helps that Agni has his blessed right hand…

Last, quick one: Agni often cries in the act, and Seb finds this incredibly endearing.

That’s it for now, thank you for reading and I will write the modern au fic soon! Let me know me if you want it super sweet or angsty or nsfw etc. I don’t mind, I need to practise more lol.

[tickletastic]

The Hawthorne Way

Fandom: The Inheritance Games

Ship: Libby/Nash

Summary: Being dangerously ticklish seems to be the Hawthorne way, and Nash is nothing if not a Hawthorne through and through.

“Lihibby- Libs no,” Nash huffs out, his low, Texan timbre rumbling in Libby’s ear. He’s trying really hard to keep up his whole cool as a cucumber act, but the twitching in his fingers gives him away. His hands, laid flat on Libby’s back, haven’t been still since she started her little game.

“What’s the matter?” Libby asks innocently, nuzzling her face into his neck. Her hands trace the contours of his hip bones under his shirt, fingers dipped under the waistband of his sweatpants. She digs in with a barely-there touch at the top of his hip, and he snorts, squirming minutely. 

“You’re-” Nash grits his teeth when Libby starts to trace her fingers over his stomach, and Libby absolutely revels in it, “you’re a sadist.”

“I might be,” Libby takes her head off Nash’s chest so she can smile at him, blue hair falling in her eyes, “but at least I’m not a ticklish cowboy.” 

Nash had held out a lot longer than Libby thought he would. She’s been a quiet observer for about a dozen Hawthorne tickle fights, and knew by now that his brothers couldn’t hold out for the life of them. Jameson’s the hardest to break of the other three, and all it takes with him is a taser to the ribs and he’s down for the count. Nash? Well, Nash is proving to be much better at this game than his brothers are, and Libby can’t help but realize she’s never seen the other Hawthornes take advantage of their older brother’s ticklishness.

She wouldn’t have gone into this blind, of course. She’s been watching. She’s been waiting.

She had heard the comments the other Hawthornes would make towards Nash when he tickled them. Wait until the three of us get the upper hand on you. You’re just as ticklish. Don’t pretend your ribs don’t make you shriek. All of these taunts aimed towards Nash, it was only reasonable that this would be the conclusion. 

So here they are, midday cuddle session on the couch in one of Hawthorne House’s many lounges, Libby trying to get her cowboy to crack. But Nash is good. He’s really good. Years of being a big brother have helped him develop some defense mechanisms, like holding out for so long that the tickler gives up.

It’s a good thing Libby’s had years of being a big sister. 

She stops teasing Nash, her head returning to its place on his chest, her fingers going still at his sides. She is patient. She knows how to wait someone out. When Nash starts absentmindedly humming and playing with her hair, she waits. When one episode of Grey’s Anatomy rolls into the next one on the flatscreen, she waits. When Nash starts to draw shapes on her back, she waits. She waits until she finally hears the familiar sound of his breath evening out, his fingers relaxed on her back in a way that she knows means he’s on the edge of sleep. 

Libby might be sunny, but she’s never been above being a little bit evil.

With renewed vigour, she claws both hands into Nash’s ribs with her long, freshly manicured nails, and scratches up and down in unpredictable spurts. Nash flinches, and she can feel the way his shoulders tighten, and how his hands on her back spasm. 

He had been lulled into a false sense of security, but he doesn’t have time to complain, or, more accurately, congratulate her on such a slick move.

Grayson was right; going for his ribs does make Nash shriek. 

“Lihihibs!” Nash screeched, squirming underneath her, “noho!” 

Nash is trying to curl in on himself, bringing his elbows to his sides in an attempt to block out Libby’s practiced fingers, but it doesn’t go unnoticed by Libby that he’s not actively pushing her off, that his hands are still gripping her biceps without pushing her away 

“Lihihibby! Bahaby, noho!” Nash squeals when she manages to wedge her fingers, delicate and graceful, between their bodies. The front of his ribs don’t get quite the same reaction as the sides, but Libby thinks she’s getting warmer when her fingers go lower to tickle his toned tummy. 

“What’s the matter?” Libby whispers teasingly, pushing herself up with her elbows so she can whisper it closer to his ear, “a little bit of tickling isn’t bothering you, is it, darlin’?” She drops the ‘g’ in a vague imitation of Nash’s accent, of what he loves to call her, and she notices the way the flush spreads up his neck.

When her fingers finally touch his tummy, Nash arches his back, a choking, sputtered laugh forcing its way from his lips. She can tell from the tension in his hands how hard he’s trying not to squeeze her, he would never hurt her, even when he’s lost his pride to Libby’s incredibly skilled fingers. 

“Plehease babygihihirl! Ihihit- no- fuhuhuck!” Nash makes a sound that Libby’s certain she’s heard from all three of the other Hawthornes at some point while observing their tickle fights– that adorable half-whine half-scream heard only when a Hawthorne is getting their belly tickled. All of them, with their entirely different laughs and personalities, and yet none of them can quite handle that one spot. 

“You Hawthornes,” Libby giggles, skittering her long nails up and down Nash’s sides, “you’re all the same.” 

Nash is giggling in a way Libby has never heard him before. Every time Nash laughs it’s booming belly laughter, deep and rumbly, and almost always brief, or wry. These giggles are airy and desperate, peppered with snorts in between, and they make him sound, and look, a lot younger.

“You’re so ticklish,” Libby teased, her voice a low hum of amusement. “Who would’ve thought? Mr. Calm and Collected, all serious and mysterious, but then… this.”

“Shuhut up!” Nash shouts on instinct, before correcting his own manners “wahait! I dohohon’t mehean that. Sohohorry prihihincess.”

It’s a miracle Nash is managing speech at all in his state– torso now halfway off the couch from his bucking, one hand on the floor to brace for impact– let alone have enough of his senses intact to apologize for responding rudely to Libby’s taunts. Libby kind of wishes he hadn’t; in their entire time knowing each other she has never seen him so out of control, but now she’s seen too much, and she’s addicted to watching him come undone from something as simple as her nimble fingers on his torso. 

She feels high off of his laughter and the image of his red face, eyes closed and laughter lines visible, and it makes her lightheaded, like she imagines the whole thing is making him too. 

Her devious fingers dig into his hipbones, and he warns her seconds too late.

“No Lihihibby nohot there!” There’s an urgency in his voice that she finally understands once they’re suddenly on the carpet, next to each other now instead of her head on his chest, and she digs in again, chasing the just a little bit more.

The sounds of his heels digging into the floor is much louder than it had been on the couch, with the hardwood floors protected only by the thin carpet. He doubles over unsuccessfully, but Libby stops when she can hear his voice getting hoarse, and notices that he’s struggling to get out all of his begs and pleads. 

When her fingers release him, his body relaxes against the floor, chest huffing in and out with leftover giggles. He throws an arm over his face, motioning with the other hand for Libby to come over to him.

She lays her head on his chest, returning to their earlier position, still just as comfy though now on the ground, and she listens as his breathing returns to normal. He moves his arm just a little bit, so he can send her a glare with no heat behind it. 

Libby laughs, and swats his arm, “it’s not like you tried to stop me.”

Nash’s regular lopsided grin returns, smug, self-satisfied, sexy, “gotta let my princess have some fun.”

[cinnbar-bun]

Gentleman- (Brook x Reader) SMUT

Summary: You and Brook have been doing this for a while now, teasing each other and seeing who will make the first move. Ever the gentleman, Brook is happy to play along until you give him permission to go further.

Rating: NSFW

Content: AFAB and GN! Reader, teasing, consensual voyeurism tease, strap-on, handcuffs + restraints, explicit consent, slight temp play, inappropriate use of Brook's DF, Brook and Reader being teases and menaces to each other, missionary, and confessions of love.

Also a bonus ending haha.

Word Count: ~3.1k

A/n: Requested <3 Yes we ARE fucking the skeleton man and god damn it he is the best of the best. No I am not accepting criticism nor will I get therapy. THIS IS FOR ALL THE BROOK STANS WHO ARE THIRSTY FOR MORE. DON'T WORRY, YOUR GIRL IS JUST AS THIRSTY FOR HIM TOO! Thank you for the request, darling, and I hope you enjoy!!! This was a blast to write.

You can read on my AO3 here!

“Brook, are you coming with us to shop?” Luffy asked. Brook took a drag of his cigarette and glanced over to your figure sitting on the deck. He hummed then shook his head. 

“Sorry, Luffy, I’ll have to pass on that today,” Brook stated. The smoke was leaking through his eye sockets and nose, but he could still make you out. He knew you were listening in, and the mischievous grin on your face told him you enjoyed his answer. 

And, well, he had to admit, he quite enjoyed your reaction too. He exhaled another puff of smoke as Luffy shrugged. 

“Okay. You and (Y/n) can watch the ship then,” Luffy waved. The other crew members had gotten off the ship, but Robin was the last to go, following behind Luffy after glancing at you and Brook with a raised brow. Brook didn’t give her an inch, continuing to casually smoke as if everything was well. At this moment, he didn’t particularly care what Robin may or may not have thought. The game was just beginning again, and he had a role to play. 

Today… perhaps today would finally be the day he could manage to win the prize. 

As Robin’s heels clicking eventually got quieter, Brook exhaled again. Smoking didn’t particularly do much for him as a pile of bones, but the few glances you’d shoot at him before looking down again confirmed to him that you indeed seemed to enjoy it. He didn’t take you for the type, but then again, he didn’t take you for the type to do any of things you were doing now. 

He also didn’t think he was the type to play along with it as well. 

It seemed that despite being dead and a skeleton, he was still a man through and through. The thought humored and comforted him somewhat, while also making him feel absolutely ridiculous. 

You kept drinking quietly on your spot in the deck, with a spare cup of tea right beside you. 

Of course you’d make tea. He loved tea. And this little “invitation” of yours would be nothing but trouble, should he accept. 

He strode over to you and picked up the cup. It was still warm, the perfect temperature for him to drink it at. 

“Ah, thank you for the tea, my dear,” Brook said in appreciation, with a hint of the profane beneath that kindness. You looked up to him and smiled. 

“I figured you’d want some. You’re my drinking buddy,” you joke, using the old nickname he gave for the both you. He chuckles and takes a sip. 

“It’s a lovely day outside, isn’t it?” He says, not really caring about the weather. You don’t care about it either, keeping your eyes trained onto his. 

“Mhm. It’s just a bit too hot for me…” you fan your face with your hand before tugging at your tight top. He knows what you’re pulling. He’s a lot taller than you, so he can look down at you as you show off your cleavage by tugging on the top. He doesn’t show any emotion or do anything beyond just sip his tea. He’s not letting you win this one today. 

You’re not impressed with his reaction, as he sees your face falter for a brief second. You arch your back and groan loudly. 

“Oh man, my back is killing me,” you say dramatically. He continues to watch as you stretch, curiously thinking of how you would look on your bed. 

Snap out of it!

“That’s too bad. Perhaps you should try to take it easy today,” he suggests. “Maybe lay down for a while?” 

“That sounds nice but I was thinking about taking a bath right now,” you say as you run a hand through your hair and stand up. Even when you were standing, you still had to look up at him due to his height. You don’t even wait for his reply as you turn around and stretch again, this time bending over so he can take a good look at your behind. “See you in a bit,” you wink. 

Brook can feel the cracks beginning to form in the cup he’s holding. 

“Enjoy your bath. Should I be watching over you just in case?” He asks. It is the game you two have played, but even with his own fantasies, he won’t overstep with you. 

“I’d like that,” you say, giving him permission. “I’ll feel much safer knowing you’re keeping an eye on me.” 

And just like that, you two have folded. You saunter away, making sure to glance back at him over your shoulder. Brook feels the excitement running through his bones. He follows after you, keeping a sizeable distance while you disappear into your room to change. He waits outside, and he’s eager to use his Devil Fruit to take a peek, but that would spoil the fun, he thinks. 

So he waits. He hears the fumbling of your clothes, the opening of some drawers, some metal clinking- and then a small yelp. 

He drops his composure and knocks on the door. 

“(Y/n)! Are you alright in there?” He asks. 

“Yes. I need some help though. Can you come in?” He immediately swings open the door once you ask, and he’s shocked at the sight. 

You’re leaning on your bed, a towel wrapped around you while you hold your knee. 

“Are you okay?” He asks. You nod. 

“I think it might be a small cut. Could you open that drawer over there and hand me a bandage?” You ask, pointing at the small nightside next to the bed. He nods and opens the drawer before another gasp. 

Inside is… 

He closes it. 

“M-my mistake,” he quickly apologizes, the embarrassment obvious in his voice. You click your tongue and dramatically sigh. 

“Oh, stupid me. I forgot that was where I keep my strap on and handcuffs!” You reply, and he glances at you to see you look completely fine while batting your eyes again at him. “I’m just so silly. I hope no handsome skeleton tries to use them with me right now. That would be awful.” 

You lean in closer to him, and he does too, admittedly enjoying how coy and forward you’re being today. 

“It would be a shame. How much would you dislike it if he did such a thing?” Brook asks, letting one of his fingers trail down the side of your face before he grabs your chin. 

“I’d absolutely despise it,” you whisper, and the heat of your breath sends shivers down his spine. 

“Well, fortunately for you, I am no handsome skeleton. Is that okay?” He whispers back as his other hand opens the drawer to bring out the fuzzy handcuffs you had there. 

“It’s more than okay,” you reply, and that’s all he needs before he quickly pins you to your bed and cuffs you. This is the furthest the two of you have gone, and you both relish in the surprise and excitement on your faces. 

He notices the way your face turns brighter, the smile on your face getting larger, and the way your chest rises up a little faster due to your breathing. It’s all so enticing to him. He can’t help but look at you as if you’re the only thing in the world right now. In this moment, you might as well be. 

“We should be quick, yes? I imagine the others will be back soon,” he reminds you. 

“I don’t care, honestly. I’m sure some of them probably figured it out already. Now come on, are you going to fuck me, or what?” You smirk. 

“You’re quite mouthy, darling. I thought you had some manners,” Brook teases your language, and you can’t help but let out a chuckle. 

“Sorry. Please, Brook, will you fuck me, or what?” 

“We’ll get there eventually,” he laughs back. He holds your restrained wrists with one bony hand (geez, was he always this strong?) and lets the other trail over your loose towel. He swiftly yanks it off with one tug, and lets it lay under the bottom half of your body, like the gentleman he is. He is amazed you’re letting your body be barren for him to see- to explore, finally. 

It is a tantalizing figure, as his fingers trace the outline of your body, from your collarbone, over your soft chest, to your stomach. The trembling breath you release is music to his ears, and he can’t wait to hear more. 

“Your body is a work of art, dear,” he says with a soft and genuine tone of voice. It catches you by surprise, as you look up at him with wide eyes. “I mean it. You’re very lovely.” 

His fingers keep stroking over your skin, and he enjoys the feel of it. He wants to remember this moment for decades to come. He wants to indulge in this feeling, of this gorgeous human presented underneath him. In his years of living (and unliving), he hadn’t quite felt so attracted to another. And though he knew what the end would bring, he still wanted to spend a moment with you. To allow him and you the chance to finally be one. 

“May I continue?” He asks. You nod and make another sound of encouragement. His hand cups at your breast, rubbing and squeezing the soft flesh in his hand. It is soft and warm. It’s unlike anything else, really. 

You’re warm all over, and the natural heat of your body makes him long and desire more. 

“Can I try something?” Brook pauses his ministrations and you nod. 

“Go ahead, Brook,” you respond your curiosity peaked. Brook places the hand against your stomach and you instantly gasp when you feel a slight chill where is his hand is. 

“Brook-!” You let out such a delicious moan of his name, and he grins. 

“You like that?” 

“Yes, go on…” you whimper. He gets excited at this, and begins to run his hand along your warm skin, cooling it off gently with his powers. The sensation makes you shiver and let out beautiful sounds he wishes to hear more of. 

Now he’s feeling a bit selfish. He wants to pull more sounds out of you. 

He stops with the cooling touch and instead has his hand travel to your lower region. 

“Ah, you’re dripping wet,” He teases, running a finger through your folds and showing you the sticky fluid on it. It’s almost embarrassing, but you’ve long abandoned shame for this moment. 

“Don’t take so much time,” you whine. 

“Darling, you can’t expect me to see this and not enjoy your body, do you?” At this, he leans down to your ear while his thumb circles your clit and a finger enters your body. The loud exhale you let out was lovely. “Allow me to show you what you have done to me with all that damn teasing.” 

His finger moves faster, before he adds another and you throw your head back. 

“Heh, you’re just upset you kept falling for them,” you cheekily respond. 

“Perhaps. But no more games right now. I want you. I want you badly,” Brook replied earnestly. 

His fingers were stretching you out, and you moaned. 

“And you want me, too,” he adds. You nod. 

“In the drawer… lube in there…” you breathlessly say. He complied and quickly brings out the bottle. 

“Yohohoho! You really came prepared!” Brook laughed. “I guess I should get undressed, shouldn’t I? Although, I’m already naked!” 

You rolled your eyes at another of his bad jokes, but he saw how you had a small smile on your face. 

“Just take them off, Brook,” you chuckle, and Brook slowly removed his fingers from inside you. He removed his jacket and pants, revealing himself fully to you. Even though most of his skeleton was visible on a usual basis, to expose himself like this to you, in this context, was almost… frightening to him. He let you stare for a moment, let you take it in, in case you wished for him to stop. He certainly wouldn’t blame you if you had said so. 

But instead, you tilted your head towards the toy and looked at him with raised brows. 

“You ready?” You asked, confused and sounding vulnerable- as if you were afraid he wished to leave. Brook ran his thumb over your cheeks. 

“Yes. Very much so. I’ve waited a long time for this,” he replied in a hushed manner. With that, he had attached the strap on to his pelvis and applied a liberal amount of lube so as to not hurt you. He held your hips and gently rubbed the dildo across your folds a few times to stimulate you. “Are you ready?” 

“Yes. Go ahead, Brook,” you replied, and with a swift thrust, he sunk into your soft walls. Although he couldn’t feel it, the noise you made was precious. Beautiful. You took deep breaths to adjust, and Brook rubbed your stomach in tender circles to soothe you. 

“Sh….sh… tell me when to go, dear,” he whispered. You swallowed roughly before panting out a ‘go’, and he began to move his hips. Your chest and body bounced with every thrust he made, and he watched in amusement at the way your face contorted with pleasure. 

“Oh, geez, Brook… fuck…” you moaned out loud, freely expressing yourself knowing that none fo the other members were here. 

“Good, good… let it out. Let it all out. Let me hear your voice,” Brook ordered. He moved a hand lower down your body and let his thumb rub your clit again. The sensation of the toy inside you and his finger against your sensitive nub drove you mad, making you scream in joy and ecstasy. 

“Harder!” You yelled, and Brook complied by thrusting his hips faster. He leaned down towards you, pinning your arms again with his other hand. 

“As you wish, my dear. But don’t blame me if you can’t walk after, alright?” You were too focused on the pleasure to respond or care, giving a weak nod. Brook found it almost cute, but he didn’t want to embarrass you or make you feel self-conscious, so he kept the thought to himself. 

The pleasure in you was growing as Brook continued to hold you tighter, squeeze you harder, and fuck you faster. It was almost inhuman how hard he was going, and the attention he was giving to your body made you melt against the bed. You whined, begged, pleaded, and cried pathetically, thanking Brook for the pleasurable experience. 

“You’re getting close, hm? You’re squeezing it so tight and your breathing is getting faster,” Brook hummed to himself. 

“Y-yes, Brook… please…” you whined, and Brook removed the hand pinning you down to stroke your throat. 

“I want to be a bit selfish, darling. I want to hear you scream my name,” he said. “Can you do that for me?” 

“B-Brook,” you stammered. 

“Louder.” 

“Brook,” you stated as his hips hammered into you. 

“You can do better than that,” he commented. 

“Brook!” You cried as he hit a wonderful spot inside you. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head and Brook took it as his cue to get you over the edge. 

“Louder, my dear! I know you can do it! Put your soul into it!” 

The thumb working on your bundle of nerves pressed down and you felt your oxygen being taken away as the coil that had been building up within you snapped. 

“BROOK!” You screamed, orgasming around the toy. Brook slowed his hips down to a halt while he let his his thumb continue to circle to extend your orgasm. 

You shakily rested against the bed, gasping for air and twitching in delight. You felt a cool touch on your forehead as Brook placed his hand and used his Devil Fruit powers again. 

“This should help you settle down and relax,” he explained, and the hot pulse of your lower body combined with his cool touch on top made for a pleasant feeling. 

“Thank you, Brook,” you mumbled, your eyes fluttering in exhaustion. You let out a quiet laugh and had a tired smile, a sign the afterglow was getting to you. He wanted to bask in it for a long time. Brook removed the strap-on and had placed it to the side, taking to settling beside you on the bed as he undid your handcuffs. 

He wrapped his bony arms around you, spooning you against him. It was quiet, minus the sound of your breathing. That was, until you spoke up. 

“I love you,” you stated in a low tone. 

“H-huh?” He gasped, taken aback by your confession. 

“I love you,” you repeated. 

“(Y/n), is this the sex talking?” He joked, unsure if you were being serious. No, it was more like… like he couldn’t believe you felt that way for him. 

“No. It’s my heart talking. I love you.” 

He stayed silent, not certain of how he should respond. You curled into yourself, expecting rejection. Instead, Brook pulled you closer and and rested his chin on the crook of your shoulder. 

“Then, if that is the case… allow me to give my heart to you, as well. Of course, I don’t have a heart anymore but you’ll allow that, won’t you?” Brook asked. You sighed in relief. 

“I won’t mind. Not at all, Brook.” 

“Wonderful. (Y/n), you do have all of me. Even though I don’t have a body or heart, my soul will be yours,” Brook confessed. “I will always treasure you within me.” 

He stroked the side of your body before he heard your quiet snores. He chuckled as he pressed his “mouth” to your head, as if kissing you. 

BONUS: 

“Hey, where are those two?!” Nami cried, lugging back tons of bags from their shopping trip. 

“Some guarding they were doing,” Zoro scratched his head as he threw a large box onto the deck floor. Luffy meanwhile, looked around and frowned. 

“Do you think they ate without us? Meanies,” the captain pouted. Robin glanced to the deck table and noticed the cup of tea you had brewed earlier- or, more accurately, the one you made for Brook- and chuckled. 

“It’s best we don’t disturb them. They probably got tired,” Robin said in a mirthful tone. She had a smile on her face, and Nami recognized that smile. It was the smile that meant that Robin knew something no one else did. Nami raised a brow at Robin before dusting off her hands. 

“Well, since they’ve rested up, the least they could do is help us put all these supplies away!” Nami responded, not even daring to guess what Robin was thinking of. 

Robin nodded. 

“Of course. I’ll go let them know they’re wanted here,” she laughed again as she began walking to the your room. 

[presidenthades]

I wrote 1800 words for Compromise today, and now I’m taking a break by posting behind-the-scenes commentary for Lavender’s Blue Chapter 2.

Usual disclaimer that these thoughts aren’t necessarily canonical to the fic verse until/unless I write them into the actual story.

Considering the rumors about Aegon, it’s a miracle Jace didn’t try to run away at some point. New idea: AU where Aegon and Jace both run away to avoid marriage, and somehow they team up in Essos while at least one of them remains ignorant of the other’s identity.

Rhaenyra is exceptionally jaded in this verse, and for good reason. Daemon ditching everyone after Laena’s funeral was probably the final straw that snuffed a lot of Rhaenyra’s fire. 😢

As the eldest, Jace always has to suffer through the World’s Most Uncomfortable Sex Talk with her mother. 🥲 Rhaenyra probably chills a bit by the time it’s the other girls’ turn.

Rhaenys and Corlys are a love match, but she knows how to manipulate her husband. 👀

“You’ll be happy! You always are when you’re together.” Helaena and her ability to see the multiverse 🔥.

I love dropping references to Jace treating her appearance as a form of armor. If court is a metaphorical battlefield, dressing the part is her basic means of defense. In the bedroom scene, she also treats bedding Aegon as a form of battle where she has to make a calculated sacrifice for long-term victory/peace. But she quickly realizes it’s not as bad as she feared.

Jace is so defensive over her books. Can’t blame her. Books are expensive AF in this era, and she can’t just pop down to Ye Olde Barnes & Noble for a new copy.

It hurts that Rhaenyra thinks so little of Aegon (and men in general) that she assumes Aegon would rough up Jace on the first night. 😢 If only she would actually talk to her siblings.

“I’ll be careful.” This was an intentional juxtaposition with Jace immediately getting railed by Aegon in the next scene. 😙

“She might be getting married soon herself.” Aegon knows Aemond has his eye on Luce. It’s a shame he and Jace don’t yet have a level of familiarity where they gossip about their siblings.

Luce suspiciously eyes the furniture because she suspects it has witnessed sexual acts. 💀

In every universe, Aegon manages to knock up Jace on the first try. 🤭

I kinda want to write scenes of Otto being a Lucemond shipper in this verse LMAO.

Jace has already started correspondence with other powerful ladies in the realm, because she knows the value of that kind of soft power. If Lady Lannister genuinely likes Jace, she’s more likely to convince Jason to play nice with Aegon.

Jace just wants to be in 🎶the room where it happens🎶. Aegon will make it happen one day.

Jace and Aegon have spent the majority of their time together having sex. She knows he likes her in that regard, but this chapter is when they have their first actual heart-to-heart. Big turning point for Jace as she realizes she might be valued for more than sex and making heirs, which has been ingrained into her as her primary life purpose.

Jace figures out very quickly that Aegon prefers the carrot over the stick. She also knows he is very motivated by sex. Obviously, the solution is striptease. 🧠

GRRM writes in the books that the Reach sends grain to KL via the roseroad, but that doesn’t make logistical sense. If you ship by road, you have to feed the pack animals, which eats up a lot of the grain being delivered. Delivering by waterway is more sensible. Just a pet peeve that I decided to correct in my writing. 😛

Aegon is always looking for opportunities to have sex with his wife, so it takes him only 10 seconds to deduce that Jace is strip teasing. 🤣

“I’m never giving you back.” Imagine: AU where the moon tea plot is calculated to succeed rather than purposely fail, and there is growing pressure for Aegon to set aside his seemingly barren wife. 🥺

Jace is feeling very sus about the secret tunnels, and she’s RIGHT. I imagine Larys hiding in the tunnels while he’s a fugitive later in the fic.

“Otto Hightower likes to shove quills up his arse.” Daemon 100% wrote this graffiti while spying on a Small Council session.

When Jace laughs, Larys hears it and is suspicious but doesn’t show it. It’s why he doubles back to the room later, to see if he’s right about someone hiding.

In the real world, sidewalks date back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, but they fizzled out by the medieval era. In the world of ASOIAF, I imagine the Free Cities (which have ties to Valyria) having the raised walkways that Aegon mentions, but they’re not common in Westeros. It’s a free-for-all between pedestrians and vehicles. Also, streets are gross because people throw their literal shit out the window.

Jace and Aegon Pavloved themselves into becoming horny when Aegon acts smart. 🤭 Aegon picks the part of the table in front of the king’s chair as a sort of “fuck you” to Viserys.

When they return to Jace’s chambers, Aegon kinda treats her like a security blanket, as he does in every universe. Sex is great, but he really wants proximity and assurance.

Once again, when she goes to have tea with Alicent, Jace treats her appearance as part of necessary preparations. She dresses modestly to ensure she doesn’t offend Alicent, and she picks red and silver fabric that Alicent gifted her to show a) Jace appreciates her MIL’s gift and b) she is now a Targ by marriage but still has Velaryon roots.

The fact that Alicent has observed the tea is late is the sign of a bad servant…and it’s because Myranda is not good at pretending to be a maid.

Jace reminisces about Rhaenyra wearing mostly blue, because Rhaenyra has thrown in her lot with the Velaryons now that Viserys disinherited her. But Rhaenyra still keeps the red dress she wore on her suitor tour, because it was one of the last times she felt like she had autonomy.

Alicent has no reason to be angry at Rhaenyra in this universe. If anything, Alicent feels guilty for her part in taking away Rhaenyra’s status as heir, even though Alicent believes Aegon is the rightful heir. When the Velaryons were at court for the wedding, Alicent tried to make amends but Rhaenyra wasn’t having it. 🤷🏻‍♀️

After the way Rhaenys, Laena, and Rhaenyra were treated by the Targs, Corlys is pretty fed up with sending his womenfolk to court and getting screwed every time. He agrees to Jace and Aegon’s betrothal because he feels like they deserve a Velaryon queen, but he’s not entirely happy about it.

Myranda immediately demonstrates all the ways she sucks as a maid. 🥲 Even Criston is like “wtf is wrong with you.”

Aegon was very excited to introduce Jace to his kinks. 😂 I feel like he got up that first day after the wedding and ran to the nearest jeweler to get started on the gold manacles.

If Myranda had poured the tea and handed it directly to Jace, Jace would’ve drunk it cold just to be polite. 👀 Elenar had a close call there. Thanks, Granny Alicent!

Although Jace has realized Aegon values her, she still has the lifelong belief that an heir is more important than a wife, hence her reaction and words to Aegon about the baby being safe.

The extra protections around Jace are part of Larys’s plan to gradually isolate her so he can slither in as a confidante. It begins with her not socializing outside of the Holdfast, which prevents her from making friends at court. It’s also kinda depressing when your food intake becomes more limited.

Larys needs a scapegoat for the moon tea plot, and he already has beef with Mysaria because of Vizzy’s notebook. His plan is to frame her, capture her, and swiftly dispose of her, but Mysaria worms away (pun intended). Throwing Daemon into the supposed plot is also a nice distraction from Larys. Picking Myranda as the catspaw also throws Aegon off the trail.

Even when Aegon is trying to convince himself he doesn’t care about Jace, he thinks her scrunching her nose is adorable. 😭

Jace thinks Aegon wants her to shut up about her conspiracy theories, but actually he’s just really upset about the idea of her being poisoned. 😭

Last paragraph of the chapter made me realize I really love sun metaphors for Aegon’s smiles. ☀️

See Chapter 3 commentary here.

[worriedvision]

Here is Part 2 of this Dan Heng fic I did where he was in a private relationship with the reader. Now I was gonna do a happy part 2... but it’s gonna be as far away from that as possible. Angsty, arguably more so than part 1 lol. Gender neutral reader. I know I said I’d do a happy ending but the angst in me shone through oops

--

When the strange person first made an appearance on the ship, you didn’t think too much of it. Thanks to your hiding skills, and your blind trust in the machinery you were in between, you managed to hide from the chaos that came from the enemies. You emerged after most of the evacuees came back to their usual spots, you getting back to work on the tricky piece of machinery that didn’t seem to be acting normally when a your phone pings. Upon seeing the request to report to base, you thought it would be a light scolding for being so risky with your movements. 

Nope, it was the opposite surprisingly.

Your location had been noted by Asta through the whole invasion, and she had been worried you were dead as you weren’t moving from a spot. She let this slip with Himeko, who knew about your relationship with Dan through a secret rumour ring. When she found out you turned out to be an expert hider through this incident, she decided to request you join the trailblazers. 

“But my area of expertise is on the spaceships mechanics, I’m not a good fighter!” You protest. “Plus, I’m certain several of my colleagues would be more than happy to take my place on the ship regardless.”

“But they don’t have your knowledge on the more dangerous areas of the ship. Your colleagues, for the most part, evacuated.” Himeko responds, Asta nodding. “As well as this, you’ve also demonstrated repeatedly your ability to work by your self.”

“Ooh, is this an opportunity?” One of your acquaintances gasps, running over. Immediately you knew she was hoping to get closer to Dan Heng, and you nod before opening your mouth to say she could go instead.

“Yes...However the opportunity is only open to _.” Himeko explains.

“Oh... Well, put a good word in for me.” Your friend asks, you nodding before she walks away.

“I can’t convince you otherwise, can I?” You ask, Himeko giggling before you respond. “I suppose I should take you up on your offer then.” 

Knowing Dan Heng, you knew he would mostly stay in his room if he wasn’t out on an expedition.

--

Thankfully, you managed to get on after Dan Heng. He seemed to be in his room for takeoff, to which you fail to let out a sigh of relief before sitting with Himeko as you braced yourself. 

When you got to the first location, Himeko insisted on you going with Dan Heng, March and the newcomer. March agrees, saying it would be your first trip and you’d have fun before Dan Heng shook his head at March’s words. 

The entire expedition was rather uncomfortable, if you say so yourself. You had opted to be the evidence gatherer in the areas where you could hide, and Dan Heng didn’t seem too happy about this. 

“If you get cornered, none of us will be able to help you.” The trailblazer explains, Dan Heng crossing his arms.

“Have some faith in them guys!” March cheers, turning to you with a beaming smile. “Make sure you’re safe, okay?” 

Dan Heng didn’t actually speak to you at all through the whole thing. The times you saw him, you saw how he and March were acting like an old couple. You were very jealous, but you hide it well enough to get back on the ship where you could go back to distancing yourself from him again. The times your group had to run, you noted how often he instinctively grasped March by the hand as they ran, you having to improvise or get saved by the trailblazer.

By the time you were back on the ship, Himeko had asked you a lot about your trip. A lot more than how much she asked anyone else, and judging by the way she was looking at you, you must have made it clear you still liked Dan Heng. 

“So, do you have an eye on anyone you like?” Himeko teases, taking a sip of her coffee. 

“March 7th is a good friend, and the trailblazer saved me when I slipped up a few times.” You bashfully admit.

“And Dan Heng?” Himeko asks, spotting the way you look away. “I can tell you like him in a deeper way. Please, indulge me.”

“That’s enough, Himeko.” Welt tuts, shaking his head before getting back to working on his tablet.

“It’s fine, really. I guess there’s no point in hiding it now...” You trail off, Welt looking up to listen to you properly. “Back at the Herta Space Station, I had a private romantic relationship with him.” You admit, sighing out before continuing. “I realised I felt very jealous of the people who approached him publicly, and he told me he didn’t want to go public with the relationship.”

“...Sorry, I think I overshared there, didn’t I?” You look up, seeing Welt looking blankly at you. “I think I’ll get over it with time, but I still feel jealous. March is a really good match for him, I can see why he isn’t ashamed of her.”

“Oh don’t be silly.” Himeko shakes her head, holding your hand. “You have your own skills. I brought you here for more than one reason.”

“Could you both promise me you won’t tell any of the others about this?” You request, both Welt and Himeko agreeing before you go silent once again. 

[eirakairos]

Rendezvous Chapter 3

Chapter summary: The girl hears her mother cry many times because of this man who is supposed to be his father. She doesn’t have much information, she just hears a lot that she looks like him. She heard stories of the ships belonging to a bad man, so she thinks her father is bad. But why would her Mama go to a man like him? Why didn't he search for them? Did he forget about them?

A/N: Apologies for the late update, I had a hectic week lol

I was thinking the child would be similar to Anya from SpyxFam in terms of being a bit mature at her age

Words: 3,334

Chapter 4

Tags: Hurt/comfort, character death implied!, MC and Sylus' child, don't worry this is angst but with happy ending, Sylus is a girl dad hands down

You are so thankful to the wisdom of the mothers and the healers in the tribe in raising a baby girl. She is now five years old and is a rambunctious child. You are amused sometimes as she looks like a little Sylus running around and playing with other kids. But it is also a reminder that she is Sylus and your child. For five years, you didn’t hear any news about him. You had accepted that he probably moved on to his ambitions, or maybe to another woman. It hurts you deeply, but you can’t bring chaos to your life anymore, especially such violence and desolation, to your daughter’s life.

“Maybe it's a good time for you and your daughter if it is still in your consideration to return, dear,” the old woman said. “But rest assured that if you do intend to stay longer, it is alright as well,”

“Thank you,” you said. “I have heard news from the warriors that the nearby cities in the far end had been seeing large ships similar to the one you arrived in,” she said. Your eyes widened. Why is Onychinus in the far cities other than in the N109 Zone? “The warriors heard terrible stories about those ships, so we are planning to move to a farther place,” she said. “So this is the right time to decide, so the journey back won’t be much further,” Your mind is swirling in thoughts if Sylus is still the leader of Onychinus or if there is a new management. “They heard stories of the ship conquering city by city, making them do allegiance to their favor,” You know Onychinus, everything it touches will go to chaos, intentional or not. You can’t bring such things to the tribe.

“Mama, can I go with the warriors please?” her daughter approached her. You sighed, your little girl has the rebellious and mischievous trait from her father. She wanted to be a fighter and often hung out around and amazed at the trained men in the tribe. She wanted to go with them and watch them hunt food. “They are hunting and going farther today, so I can’t allow you,” you reasoned out. Your daughter pouted in response. “And no usage of Evol, you promised,” you followed. This is the dangerous part of handling her, she retaliates by using it in any form, especially when she gets hurt. Both of you discovered it when she was being teased for having a different hair color. Next thing you knew, the kid was crying because she broke his toy in a dark red mist. ‘Ugh, I carried her for nine months after a literal explosion and deserted in a field, squeezed her out of my body and looked like a spitting image of her father,’ you thought whenever you remember it.

You sat down beside her. Despite her age, your daughter has the trait of being mature and understanding, again, just like Sylus. “I want to ask you something, dear,” you said. The girl looked up to you. “Do you want to go to another place? It is much better there,” you asked. “We going now?” she asked back. As young as she is, you did tell her the general situation of things, but her appearance made her realize that she is different from the tribe. “Yes, sadly. They are going further for safety,” you said. “We would be much safer and have more access to the city,” The daughter hummed and looked at the fields, probably thinking about what to decide. “It’s okay, I’ll give you more time-” you stopped when she hugged your waist. “Okay, Mama,” she answered. You were surprised at how fast she responded and you are always grateful for having a good daughter as you hugged her in return.

“I heard the city people while trading goods… Someone important arrived in the city,” the warrior said. Your daughter is hearing their conversations as she is huddled in a basket attached to a horse. Before the warriors depart for a hunt, she sneaks in the basket while you are sleeping. “There is one ship that landed near our hunting spot, but it looked harmless. There is only one camp there but there is not much activity around it… There it is,” Your daughter peeked and saw a huge ship. It only has one illuminated bonfire beside it.

The warriors did make a camp to rest. The girl remained inside the basket, hearing the conversations. “That ship… I only saw one man going out there,” one of the warriors said. “He has the same color as hers… White-haired and has red eyes,”

“Do you think they are from the same place?” one asked. “We did find her in the same type of ship.” The little girl’s eyes widened as she knew it was her mother. Despite being very young, she was hearing a lot of things from adults that she knew she wasn’t supposed to hear.

The warriors are sleeping when she is able to get out of the basket, put her hood on her cloak on and went to the direction of the ship. The little girl is curious about the stories she has been hearing, but it all started when she accidentally eavesdropped on you and the healer talking.

“I assumed that your daughter looked more like her father,” the old woman said. You chuckled. “Yes, she is so much like her father,” you answered. “We saw a ship that looked like when you arrived here but it was going towards the city,” You were surprised by this information. “The warriors said they didn’t see any white-haired man with red eyes,” You were saddened, it's been many years but you are still longing for Sylus. “I feel you are missing him,” she said. “Oh dear, we can arrange your travel if you decide to go back,”

“I am aware of that but… She is still young,” you said. “I’m just making sure she is well for the journey,” The old woman chuckled. “Well, she has been going with the warriors a lot, so I think she would be one,” You chuckled as well in response. “Don’t underestimate children, my dear. They have huge potential despite their innocence in the world,” the old woman said.

“I just thought that… He would find us sooner or later,” you said, opening up your long-time anxieties.

“Dear, even if it takes long if he indeed loves you, he will search for you till the end of the world. Though I understand your longing,” she said. “The tribe is in a remote place, yet I’m still hoping you three would meet again,”

The girl hears her mother cry many times because of this man who is supposed to be his father. She pouted remembering it again. She doesn’t have much information, she just hears a lot that she looks like him. She heard stories of the ships belonging to a bad man, so she thinks her father is bad. But why would her Mama go to a man like him? He didn’t search for them, she heard he didn’t even know her Mama had a baby, who was her. Her mother got into the tribe because she was taken away by a ship that looked in front of her at that moment.

Why didn't he search for them? Did he forget about them?

As she hides from the distance, she can see a man being illuminated by the bonfire. She was wondering why the man was alone. Upon looking closer, the man is looking at a small item but it was too far for her to see. The man is tall, wears a cloak, has… White hair and red eyes.

In reaction, she accidentally sat down in shock, making the leaves rustle. Before she could go elsewhere, a force enveloped her, and was dragged from her hiding to the bonfire area.

Red eyes stared at her. She was enveloped in fear more. Whoever his man is, he looks mean. “Someone was being sneaky,” he said in a deep voice. Black and red mists enveloped her more, his right eye turning red. “Stop!” she yelled, mists appearing around her. The mists from the man quickly disappeared, making her fall down and instinctively scooting away from him. The man looked shocked and looked at his hand for a second before going back at her. He tried it one more time and the mist could grab her arm. She yelled and glared at him, her eyes emitting a red glow from the covered hood, black and red mists swirling around her, disabling his hold on her. Her eyes gazed at the man intently, suddenly she was hearing something while gazing into his eyes. She is hearing a familiar name and the desire to see her and their child again. Both are shocked as her powers reach the limit and quickly dissipate, stopping the voice and the mists. The man halts his either, being surprised that she can do that.

Sylus was not surprised that the mysterious little girl in front of him had the same Evol as his, he was surprised that she was fast and strong enough to use her Evol against him at her age. Sylus took reigns and used his Evol to grab her, as she seemed to have reached her limit already. “Let me go, you’re the mean man!” she exclaimed. “You are a kid sneaking up in a vast field in the middle of the night. I’m assuming you have business with me,” he spoke. “I would be the mean man if you continue to thrash… Like a hissing kitten,” he followed. Calling this kid like a kitten reminded him of you, especially when you first met him.

The girl quickly stopped but crossed her arms while being levitated. “This ship scares my tribe! Leave us alone!” she said. His eyebrow was raised before he hummed as he gently set her down. “I guess our business aligns then. Why don’t we have a deal?” Sylus said. The hooded girl looked at him. “I’m looking for someone,” he continued. “If you help me find that person I was looking for, I will leave your tribe alone, even offer protection, if you fancy,”

“No, you will just double-cross me or something, we don’t need you to protect, you bad man,” she answered. Well, smart little girl, Sylus thought. “I uphold my deals, sweetie,” Sylus said. “I might be a bad man, but I do the end of my bargain, don’t worry,”

The girl squints her eyes as if she is thinking hard. She doesn’t have much leverage in this matter. “Okay, but you have to tell me who are you looking for,” Sylus looked in the distance, he held the small item he was holding earlier. The crow brooch. “A woman,” he said. “She was in a ship that crashed here many years ago,” he then proceeded to describe that woman. Her eyes widened when he mentioned the crash but covered because of the hood. The girl thought the description he said, there is a certain longing to that and is very similar to what you look like. She snapped her thoughts as she thought she would protect you. “I might know someone,” she answered. Sylus glared. “‘Might’ is not a good retort,” he said. “I am not here to waste time,” he said as the sound of flapping wings and cawing was heard. A black bird landed on his shoulder. It cawed softly beside him and Sylus listened as if he understood him.

“Mephisto is telling me that there is a group of warriors nearby,” he said. “They are the warriors from my tribe,” the little girl said. “Okay, we will leave them be,” Sylus said. The girl was relieved somewhat to hear that. He looked at her slyly. “Let me guess, you sneaked in by them?” The little girl was surprised and looked away, making him chuckle. “They will leave in the dawn but if we follow them, they will notice,” she followed. Sylus hummed. “Don’t worry, he will fly again to see where we will be heading,” Sylus said. “Okay, but I do know how to navigate back,” the little girl said. “I’ll help to find that person you want. The elders might know that crash,” Sylus glared at her but let her be.

“So his name is Mephisto?” she asked, looking at the bird preening beside him. “Yes, I made him,” he replied. The girl was confused and looked closer, he was indeed mechanical. “Whoa… I thought he was a real bird,” Sylus smirked, basking in the compliment. He lets Mephisto roam the skies again as he flies in his order. “The winds will get stronger tonight, he shouldn't roam long,” the little girl said. Sylus looked above and felt the wind, thinking she did have a sense of survival skills. “You better rest, we have a long day of travel back. It’s not that far,” she followed and lay down, her head resting on the log. Out of nowhere, a bag was thrown at her. “What-” she said, realizing it was a sleeping bag. She looked at Sylus, who was already lying down from a distance. Her eyes squinted, making her wonder how her mother fell in love with such a man. It wasn’t long before she fell asleep from the long travel and anxious thoughts.

Sylus wakes up early and looks at the girl, who is still sleeping in the sleeping bag. He has a hunch of why she sneaked up on him last night, far deeper reasons than the tribe. As he packed up his things, he looked at the small trinket attached to his bag, it was the pouch you gave him when you were stuck with him in the grasslands. He always remembered you wherever he went, bringing something that reminded him of you. He wanted to get to the tribe fast to learn if his intel was true. He stood up and reached out to the little girl to wake up. She gasped before doing so and used her Evol to stop his hand.

The girl looked at him angrily. “Sweetie, it is only me,” he said. “I… Okay,” the girl releases his hand. “Please don’t do that. I don’t like people sneaking up on me,” she said. She doesn’t want her hood to be lowered down. “Oh, but you sneaking up on me last night was alright?” he crossed his arms but smirked. She blushed in embarrassment. “I was going to talk to you! I just don’t know the timing!” she defended. “It’s just… I don’t like someone pulling my hood down. My hair is weird,” she said. “How so?” Sylus said. “Other kids tease me of how weird it looks, so I often wear a hood,” she replied, making a half lie. She does get teased but she doesn’t care, she retaliates even. She doesn’t want him to give other ideas as they look alike. “Hmm, don’t listen to them, as far as I’m concerned, you can confront and defend yourself,” he said as he brought his bag. His statement has a hint of truth, she often does it as she wants to show them she isn’t backing down but something stops her thoughts. “That’s…” she trailed off. Sylus stopped as she pointed at the pouch. “Did… Did the person you’re looking for give that to you?” The little girl asked. Sylus didn’t respond, but the girl knew the answer. “I… I’m familiar with that pouch,” she said. “... My tribe does that,” Sylus responded with a hum. “Well, adds more reason to visit your tribe then,”

Despite the windy weather in the grasslands, Sylus and the little girl continued to travel. The two had been walking for a while now and all they could see was seemingly endless grass. The little girl looked at Sylus while they were staying for a break. He was looking a bit uncomfortable, probably due to the heat. “I didn’t know you had encountered my tribe before, they often are remote,” she said. “It was… An accidental event,” he answered. “And that person you were looking for, she gave that pouch, right?” she said. “You said it was many years ago… Do you think she is still-” she stopped as she felt the intense glare from the man. “She is important to me, far more than you imagined,” he said with a rough, pained voice as he returned his gaze to the food he was cooking. “What if somehow you meet her again?” the little girl asked, anticipating his answer. “Then, the world will be much better again,” She felt the yearning in his answer. “I will make sure she will be mine this time and… Not lose her and our child again,” he continued. The little girl internally gasped, she was surprised but masked it quickly. She felt his gaze again. “I believed they survived. It was… A challenge to find her this time,” he spoke. She felt the pain in his voice as if he had been searching for that long.

There were a lot of thoughts in the little girl’s head, especially him saying “Our child”. “You know, I was curious what the city looks like,” the little girl said. “I’ve been hearing stories, I heard it was scary,” she followed. “A bad man was going around, no one knows him but many people are scared of him,” Sylus didn’t answer but listened to her. “My mother was considering visiting and maybe staying there for good,” she said. “Maybe if you hold your end of the bargain, I can show you and your mother around,” Sylus said. “Why only your mother? Where is your father?” he casually asked. The little girl looked sad in response. “I don’t know, he probably had left us. My mother is still waiting for him to return,” He remained silent, remembering luck was not on his side since, he was still searching for the love of his life and his little one.

They continued to walk as the winds were getting stronger. The little girl looked up and saw Mephisto struggling to fly. “He should be getting down, the winds are howling but it would be temporary!” She yelled as the winds were noisy. “He would be fine, I would just repair him,” he said. She sees Sylus started to struggle in walking. The girl looked above again and saw Mephisto losing control to fly and was thrown back and falling. She ran while looking at the trajectory where the mechanical bird might fall. Sylus was surprised that she would still run for the bird. Despite struggling, she jumped to catch Mephisto, bracing for the rough fall on the grass. She opened her eyes and saw herself floating, with an energy holding around her. Looking back, she sees Sylus with his hand out, using his Evol while holding onto the grass. Mephisto cawed weakly on her hold, she fixed herself, making sure she was still hooded as Sylus brought them back to him.

They continued walking when the winds calmed down. She held Mephisto, who had his wing broken. Despite being mechanical, the little girl is still worried. “I told you, I can fix him later. He is fine,” Sylus reassured. Mephisto cawed in response and was calm under the girl’s hold as if he were grateful for catching him.

Sylus looked at the girl again, remembering the time she was running towards the bird. Her hair was white, and her eyes were red, just like his. But she looks so much like you. Her face, her powers, her personality, her past… He remembered his dreams of holding his little girl. He had the intense urge to protect her in realization, using his Evol to make sure she was safe.

“Look!” she yelled as she pointed at the distance, seeing huts and goats roaming. “We have arrived!”

[starguardianniom]

Billy, Big Daddy and Caesar headcanons

I totally headcanon these 3 as family, with Billy and Big Daddy being Caesar's dads after her parents died. Here are more headcanons of mine with them as family:

Big Daddy was the one who raised her the most between himself and Billy but Billy is the one who taught her how to fight and ride a bike, and also gave her his spare arm when she lost hers, and then taught her how to repair, modify and clean it.

Caesar as a kid saw them as her dads and also thought they were married because she once heard another member of the gang saying that Big Daddy and Billy were like an old married couple, which made her think they were married. Cue her asking them where their wedding pictures were. Billy laughed so hard that he short-circuited and Bid Daddy had to repair him stat. They then had a 3 hours long about how they were not married and just best friends instead while also being boss and employee. Caesar still secretly ships them even to this day, even if she knows it will probably not happen, but she sure likes to tease them a lot for it. Her main argument is "You guys always fall asleep together when you listen to classical music!" and they answer that it's the fastest way for them to go to sleep. Note that they do not sleep next to one another most of the time, but they are still close enough that they fall asleep quickly.

Billy is the strict one between the 2 of them. He is more worried because Caesar is not made of metal like he is so he is less permissive with her than Big Daddy is, because Big Daddy feels that sheltering Caesar and not letting her make mistakes will not help her so he is more hands off and had to order Billy more than once to let her do stuff. That's because ever since Billy gave Caesar his spare arm she developed quite the hero worship of him and wanted to be just like him so she tried to mimic him a lot and followed him around like a lost puppy and doing everything he did. Unfortunatly Billy can do stuff that no humans can do so he had to hide himself a lot sometimes just so she wouldn't dare to try some of his stunts that would kill anyone else who was flesh and bones, like walking up to poisonous snakes or inhaling toxic gaz or taking a dip in boiling oil.

Billy refuses to sees himself as her dad and thinks it's just Big Daddy who's Caesar's dad, and he prefers being refered to as her older brother, but when she was little Caesar swore that she would only call Billy big brother if she outgrew him, she did not so she just calls him little brother out of spite for him being taller than her (the little part is out of spite, not the brother part).

Caesar beats up anyone who dares to refer Billy as "it" or just a machine with no feelings or thoughts to himself. That's because she saw Big Daddy beating up someone who had dared insulted Billy on account of his artificial nature and just imitated him and got into a lot of fights for it with a lot of people, she didn't dare tell Billy about it, but she told Big Daddy, while also telling him that she specifically used Billy's arm to do most of the beatings so it would be like he got justice served by himself, while also saying it was a good practice for her to get used to her arm, Big Daddy just lets her because he has no room to talk as he would do the same in her shoes, so they have a silent agreement about not telling Billy about it.

Unlike Caesar and Lighter, Billy is stronger than Big Daddy which is why he's the Champion. He also never has been defeated by Caesar, no matter how much stronger she got under him, he's the one she can never beat. She did manage to beat Big Daddy in a fight, which is when he decided to retire and let her be the leader.

Big Daddy is the one who got Billy into New Eridu when Billy left, and also gave him The Girls for extra protection.

Caesar still thinks Billy leaving the Outer Ring was a messy breakup between him and Big Daddy that ended up on good terms, but still messy enough that Billy refuses to go back to the Sons of Calydon, it wasn't a messy breakup at all between them it was a very nice send off because Billy asked to retire after the breakup of the Calydonian biker gang into the Sons of Calydon and just kept pushing his leave later until Big Daddy found him a successor in Lighter because it was Big Daddy's condition.

Caesar calls Billy "lil bro" in public but in the privacy of her mind she calls him dad, but dares not call him that as the one time she did he basically shut down from the mental pain of being called that instead of her actual father who was his boss and that he lost and he never forgave himself for it and doesn't see himself worthy of being called that at all. It took Billy a full week to recover from the shock.

Big Daddy and Billy are the dads of the Sons of Calydon even if Billy doesn't see himself as such, but no one dares call him dad to his face and instead call him brother, but they all think he's their adopted dad number 2, with Lighter, Lucy and Piper especially prefering him while Burnice prefers Big Daddy. BIg Daddy made it clear that if he's not around but Billy is it will be Billy that will be in charge, not Caesar or Lucy and nobody dares to protest that.

Billy and Big Daddy view each other as besties and sworn brothers for life, and about the only thing that can make them get out of their retirement of the Sons of Calydon is hearing about the other having been hurt. Then all bets are off. Same goes for Caesar, they personally are hunting down Lucius for his plot almost getting her killed, Billy is scouting New Eridu while Big Daddy scouts the Outer Ring. Billy also is doing it for free and not as a member of the Cunning Hares, but as Caesar's brother. Also has payback given Caesar was giving Perlman back without anything in exchange, so it's equal exchange in his eyes, and it's the only thing he'll fight Nicole on and will refuse to compromise for.

Big Daddy was Billy's mechanic in the Outer Ring, given Billy was his bodyguard it only made sense to him that for his services he would be personally attended to by him, he didn't trust anyone else but himself when it came to Billy's repairs. He only let Lucy, Burnice and Piper on when he was away or incapacitated, and gave them entire courses on how to take care of Billy.

[nerdieforpedro]

She made me Feel

Din Djarin x plus size female reader

My blog is 18+ MDNI

Word Count: about 2.8k (double the length of the original - because Din thinks a lot)

Summary: The Mandalorian constantly weighs different scenarios concerning the safety of his child and himself. Din Djarin's mind is now riddled with possible ways to interact with you. Can he figure it out?

Warnings: Din is a pile of nervous beskar, Din is also clueless, Peli is a menace to Din, awkward conversations, Din being so soft, mention of blood and injuries, first aid, HANDS, basically fluff (the fluff is back a little?)

Notes: The follow up to He Told Me His Name. Din might be a tad anxious. It's a companion piece to my other fic. I might do one where it shows where they are now. I thought Din's perspective would be good to see. The dividers are by the talented @saradika-graphics

Main Masterlist / Din Djarin - The Mandalorian Masterlist/ Our Journey Across the Star Ocean Series

I wasn’t aware Peli had anyone human working with her, only those damn droids. I first saw her repairing one of them, her hands working skillfully with the wires. I wondered why she was here. Her hands could be doing much more delicate work. She finished with the droid and sent it on it’s way. I asked Peli about her and apparently she normally works with droids and I did state that I only wanted Peli and her approved droids on my ship when I first started getting repairs here.

I couldn’t say then that I didn’t mind if she joined Peli in her work on the Razor Crest. I already can’t deal with Peli’s teasing today as she asks about my interest in her assistant. Grogu has already tested my patience with his tantrums about frogs. I told the annoying woman that my curiosity extended to her because she seems much more sane than you and your army of half-functioning droids. Peli did not take that well. She hit me with one of her wrenches. That will bruise.

When the ship needs maintenance, I keep an eye out for her now and she is always repairing some droid or another. She manages her tools as well, cleaning them, polishing them. Despite the grease and grime, her hands look soft and graceful like the rest of her. I wonder if I should offer to assist her with one of the droid’s repairs? 

Dank ferrnik, Peli noticed me watching her arrange her tools. She’s begun with the comments again… I endured only because Peli agreed to have her work on the Razor Crest now. I don’t give two wookies what Peli says, I have never slobbered like a blerg over anyone. I just…respect that she’s an expert. Similar to me with weapons of my clan. 

This time I managed to say hello. Maker it’s nerve wracking. She may be equally as nervous. She only said hello back and looked at her tools. This is a complete mess. I hunt bounties for a living, talking to a woman is not impossible. Just difficult, small talk is painful. Peli has a smug look on her face. If she wasn’t so well acquainted with my ship and cheap I’d…well I’d threaten to go else where. She is here. I would rather not.

Now we exchange greetings with some pleasantries. About business and droids…the only damn thing those buckets have ever been good for. I was able to say a few sentences to her. She replied with her own. I am unexpectedly happy about this. I want to talk to her longer but not a clue what to talk about. 

Maker, why am I even trying so hard? My only focus should be on my Creed and my foundling. My eyes are always drawn to her, watching her. I thought at first it was similar to one of my bounties. Watching and waiting. I know patience and timing with my jobs as they’re for credits and when I can find it, beskar for our covert but I do not want to wait for her to come over to the Razor Crest. I want to go to her but I realize that a figure clad in armor and weapons head to toe is rather…intimidating. I think I’ll carry Grogu when I go over, that should make me seem less fearsome.

Despite napping, my foundling has proven most useful. We spoke at length about him. For almost an hour, I believe. I find myself less nervous and I believe she is as well. Peli spoke to me outside of the Razor Crest away from my dear mechanic. She’s proposing that I bring her with me. One of the few good ideas Peli has had since I started having this woman repair my ship. 

I waited until my next trip to ask her. I needed to find the right words. I thought I had them but the eluded me after I greeted her and asked how she was. She greeted me with the same smile that she’s given me that last few times I have been here. Maker I hope she’s open to the idea. Seeing her smile daily would be…should…should I be courting her? I feel this strongly about her. I may have missed a few steps in this process. No matter.

“Can I ask you something?” Din is still nervous, but he is slightly less so in the familiar space of the Razor Crest. It’s cold metal echoes his own beskar. The only source of warmth, the woman who he has an important question for. A want, he told himself but was quickly becoming a need. She nods, setting her tools down and wiping her hands on the worn apron she often wears to protect her clothes. He had her full attention. As much as he was worried to have it, he relished in it for a moment before cleaning his throat.

“Sure Mando. What is it?” Thankfully she couldn’t see his face grimace at the nickname. That was for people he wanted to keep at arm’s length, not those he wanted close. It wasn’t something he’d put much thought into as he’d been a Mandalorian since they’d taken him in and been taught their ways. He was certain that only his brothers and sisters in the coven would know his name. His son Grogu had opened his heart to truly caring for another person again. Din had wondered if he was longing for the same type of relationship with her as he saw in his coven between riduurs. Maybe down the line. I don’t even know if I want that now. I just know I’d like her to be with us on our journey wherever we go.

“Would you like to come with Grogu and I? It would be better if we had a capable mechanic with us.” Din stood quietly and waited for her answer. He held his breath and exhaled when she said she would think on it.

“Are you leaving again soon?” She asked him, the delicate hands he watched so often kept folding a corner of her work apron back and forth. He understands the feeling, it’s the same as when he inventories and cleans his weapons and especially his beskar. It’s soothing, he would have found this to be pleasant if it wasn’t his question that had made her need it. A similarity between them, other than a shared soft spot for a certain green child and a large pre-empire craft that they chatted about. “I want to give you an answer but I also want to think about it properly.”

Din nodded and let her be. “I don’t leave again for a few days. Take the time you need.” She didn’t outright say no so there was a chance. As it turned out, she later said yes the day after next. One step forward, she was joining him and Grogu on the Razor Crest. He remained quiet most of the time with her, just happy that she was here with them traveling. 

The small incidental brushes began when they would work in tandem to make repairs to the Crest. The shoulder bumps, her hip bumping his thigh when she would turn slightly to reach for a tool or to maneuver to manipulate wires. He noticed she would move away from him and he was worried that he was crowding her but she mentioned something much worse, “Sorry Mando, I take up a bit of space. I think-“

“No mesh’la you don’t. We just need to figure out a better method to complete the repairs. Please, you are…” I paused. What did I want to tell her? How can I say it? Maker I don’t even know… “You are fine as is. You take up as much space as you like.” Dank Ferrnik….what does that even mean? She turned away from me and I felt like an idiot. This would be the time I don’t bump my helmet on something while fixing this ship.

“Thanks Mando. No one’s ever quite put it like that.” He heard you laugh and his fears were quelled. Thank the Maker you were so understanding. But he worried about what you may have said about yourself. That was when he decided. I don’t think I should hope that we touch anymore. I think I can make it more purposeful. So she’ll know that I find her beautiful and that’s part of courting right? Maybe I should have asked different questions of The Armorer and Paz when I was back on Navarro. No only The Armorer, Paz pisses me off too much and I will not owe him any more than I already do.

At the market, I made sure to touch between her shoulder blades on her back to guide her as Grogu’s pram floated next to us. She didn’t flinch, and I didn’t want to touch lower back because that would be inappropriate. I do wonder…sometimes. But only wonder. 

I began picking up bounties and would need her and Grogu to stay on the Crest to be safe. That doesn’t seem fair, she said she wanted to see the galaxy. I can teach her some self-defense and how to shoot a blaster so I’ll feel slightly better about leaving them alone. Her hands are small in mine, still so gentile, except with a wrench. She was nervous but got the hang of it fairly quickly. We keep practicing until her aim improves. I encourage her every time we make a stop to shoot and she does. I’m trying to make my voice sound softer I suppose, I’m not really sure except outside of Grogu how that sounds. She responds to it and smiles more often, we’ve grown closer and I’m thankful that she’s making progress but it’s slowed some so I can continue to mentor her. 

Maker I have ulterior motives when I do. I can’t think of another good reason to touch her. 

I couldn’t help it. She was holding Grogu and trying to explain the different bolts to him. I bet he was trying to play with her tools while she was sorting them. I placed my hand on her shoulder. It felt like it should be there. She looked up at me and I nodded. I hope she took that to mean that I’m fine with her holding my son. I walked away because I didn't know what to say. She didn’t say anything either. 

I’m lying to myself. I’ve long accepted her holding my son. The Crest wouldn’t be the same without her here. Waiting for me, playing with Grogu, walking through the market, sitting in a comfortable silence in the cockpit. I even look forward to checking my weapon inventory when she’s checking her tools and at the same time. I didn’t think occupying the same space as someone would be so rewarding, well in a different way than my son. Should I tell her any of this?

No. It’s too much and I’m not even sure what this is.

Now wherever we go, I ensure I’m guiding her by her arm, back, or hand. I know I wouldn’t really lose her, she’s clever and would find Grogu and I quickly. The fear is there, I don’t want her to leave, she might want to one day. This life isn’t made for the masses. She’s voiced no complaints. What would I even say if I had to convince her to stay? 

The hunt didn’t take long and this bail jumper is annoying. The only reason I haven’t said I’m putting him on carbonite is that he finally shut up. 

We’re back to the Crest and there’s blood. Too much blood. I put him on carbonite as I spot her and Grogu. He’s a few feet from her, appears to be unarmed. I don’t detect any other life forms on the Crest. The child's scream feels like it will pierce my helmet, I can’t blame him. I too want to scream at the sight. She’s face down and her back is entirely wet with crimson. I ripped her shirt and bra to visualize the wound. It’s large, nearly the entire width of her back, part of her shirt has stuck to the wound. I’ll need to rip more to see, but then her back will be fully exposed and she’s vulnerable as is.

“I apologize for this. I’ll need to cut off the rest of the back of your shirt to clean and apply the spray and…” This is so much different when it’s someone you care for. “It may be easier for me to do if I remove my gloves. They’ve become too slick with your blood. Is that alright?” It feels silly but I need to ask, I need to know it’s okay. I need to let her choose, I already ripped her shirt without asking.

“It’s fine Mando. Do what you need to do. Grogu’s okay right? I didn’t get any blood on him, I think.” She’s worried about my son at this point?! Maker I…I need to focus for her sake. It’s been months since I took off my gloves near another person. I dabbed her back with gauze to remove the residue from what looks to be some local fauna that are quite violent. Their secretions inhibit clotting to weaken their targets and so they can gorge themselves on their blood. Next, I applied pressure to try and get the bleeding to stop enough so the bacta spray will work and won’t wash away in her blood. It appears after a few minutes the bacta spray is holding and the bleeding is slowing further so I apply pressure dressings and make them tight. It may make her a bit sore but the bleeding should stop with this. 

I need to keep watch over her. I placed her in her bunk and wrapped her up tightly. I need her to rest and recover. I want her to wake up and we have more moments, more time. I don’t want her to leave but after this…I can’t blame her. 

She woke up! “You’re awake? Has the pain subsided? I should check-” She shushed me before she sat up. Pulling the blanket back around her should keep her cool. Before I fell asleep beside her, I charted our course back to turn this bail jumper in. I apologized to her. She recalled her training and how she kept Grogu safe. Part of me is proud but she still was hurt badly, I could have lost her. “Mesh'la you were not safe. You were hurt badly. Do…I would not blame you if you wanted to leave.” Words I won’t want to say but do anyway. I want to beg her to stay but it wouldn’t be right. She’s not a warrior like I am. She wanted to see more than the Peli’s garage. I can’t give her that without danger. 

She holds my bare hand and tells me, “I refuse to go. I will not. You’ll have to toss me off. I’ve seen so many things and places and I want to see that much more. You’re stuck with me Mando.” This isn’t the threat she may think it is. “I’m not going to but. I just don’t want to go.” First my son and now… a partner. Someone who wants to be by my side. 

“I am called Din. Please do so while it’s just the three of us.” My thumb stroked her palm and she chuckled. I wonder if I can make her laugh more maybe daily. “You will remain and hopefully I will hear more of your laugh.” Your smile only grows with his answer. “Please rest for now. Our journey isn’t over.”

I told this to her three months ago. Sometimes in the cockpit when the three of us are sitting, I remove my glove and reach across where her warm hand awaits mine as I speak her name. I’m happy to hear my name from her lips when we’re alone. A glove is what I can give her now. When she smiles softly at me I want to give her more, so much more of myself but I’m not sure how. Learning more of her and loving her as the shape of our relationship changes.

I wonder where else she may allow my hand to go. How else she may say my name as we travel and see the galaxy. Will I change the way I say hers? I wonder if I can tell her that she's both my mesh'la and my cyar’ka. Is it still too soon? Maybe as we continue to explore the intimacy we now share, then I can tell her.

Our journey together continues. This is The Way.

Part One. Part Three

Space Buddies 🚀: @linzels-blog @maggiemayhemnj @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @missladym1981 @morallyinept @sherala007 @yorksgirl @daddy-dins-girl @magpiepills @megamindsecretlair @anoverwhelmingdin @theincredibleinkspitter @alltheglitterandtheroar @mrsmando @drawingdroid @harriedandharassed @i-own-loki @lady-bess @pedroshotwifey @thefrogdalorian @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin

[adhd-coyote]

Hi hello! Good morning!

Could I interest you in my Seventeen/Fives agenda and #32? 💜

Good morning, you may indeed! I had a lot of fun writing this one ;3

32 - A kiss while someone watches

-

Fives can’t get his fucking head on straight.

Your head has never been on straight, Fives, the little voice that sounds like Echo’s teases. Fives mentally flips him the bird. He’s having a difficult fucking time right now, alright? His brain is swimming in whatever drugs they’ve put in him, his head is still pounding from fucking brain surgery, and all of Kamino is on high alert looking for him. This is the only time he’s regretted tattooing his number on his forehead. It’s easy to blend into a crowd of people who share your face until you have a marker to set you apart.

He sends a silent apology to the Shiny he’s shoved into a storage closet and slips out, clad in stolen armor. It’s lighter than what he’s used to, missing all of the extra weight that comes with his ARC kit, but it’ll help him blend in, and right now that’s the most important thing.

There’s chips in their heads. Godsdamned mind control chips in every single vod’s head. Gods, Fives feels like he’s gonna be sick.

Keep it together, Fives. You’re a fucking ARC Trooper, act like it.

Easier said — or thought — than done.

Fives forces himself to take slow, even breaths as he marches down the hall in perfect form. It’s difficult, with his foggy head and racing heart, but he manages. Squads of troopers run past him, unaware how close their prey is, and Fives prays to the little gods that they stay unaware.

“Everyone’s looking for you, verd’ika.”

Fives freezes. Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit. Alpha-17.

He should have kept walking. Gods, why did he freeze? He could have played it off, now he’s given himself away-

“The hell did you do to cause such a scurry, huh?”

“Please,” is the first word out of Fives’ mouth. “I’ve- I’ve found something, something important, they’re gonna reconn me, sir, please, you can’t-”

“Easy, verd’ika.” Alpha-17’s large hand cups the back of Fives’ neck. On instinct, the tension bleeds away from Fives’ limbs, leaving him pliant in 17’s hold. He looks up, terrified, and meets eyes that look softer than Fives has ever seen before. “C’mon, let’s get you outta here.”

17’s hand leaves his neck and Fives is left scampering after him as he stalks off. He feels like he’s back in ARC training, trailing behind 17, desperate to prove himself worthy of Rex’s recommendation. “Off-planet? You- You’re helping me?”

17 looks back at him, eyebrow raised. “Did you forget I trained you? You’re a smart one, verd’ika, even if you don’t look it. I knew something was up when they wouldn’t tell us why we were after you. But you’re a long talker, and we don’t have time for that, so I’m just gonna have to trust that you’ve got a good reason.”

“I do!” Fives assures, struggling to keep up with 17’s long strides. Normally, he wouldn’t have any issue, but the drugs have made his thoughts slow and his limbs heavy. Alpha-17 puts a hand to the small of his back and pushes him faster. Fives stumbles, but manages to keep up without falling. He realizes the way they’re positioned is deliberate- Fives is between 17 and the wall, and 17’s bulk hides most of him from view. Not to mention that Fives looks a lot less suspicious walking with him than by himself.

“Here.” 17 drags him into what Fives recognizes as a private hangar. He immediately clocks someone else — General Ti — and straightens, hoping beyond hope that she won’t recognize him, already knowing she does.

“Good, you’re here. I’ve prepared the ship for takeoff, you need to leave right now.”

“Wh- What?”

Alpha-17 rolls his eyes and nudges him forward. “She’s helping, too. Got one of those weird Force feelings or whatever.”

General Ti nods, offering a soft smile. “Yes. The Force wants you to escape. So you must leave, now. 17 and I will stall them.”

“Oh.” Fives swallows around the ball in his throat. “Thank you.”

Alpha-17 snorts. “No thanking, verd’ika.”

He takes Fives’ helmet and lifts it away. Fives doesn’t get a chance to wonder why he’s done that, because suddenly there’s a large hand cupping the back of his neck and lips pressed to his. He’s still trying to process that when 17 pulls away, smirking, and squeezes his neck. “Go on, get going. Don’t get yourself killed, and there might be more of that later, verd’ika.”

“Y-Yes sir,” Fives stammers out, reeling. He’s got so much emotional whiplash right now, and no idea how to handle it.

“Fives.” Oh shit, right, General Ti is still here. And saw that. Shit. “There is enough supplies to last you a week on the ship. Go, now, and hurry.”

“Right.” Fives nods quickly, and with one last look at Alpha-17, scrambles aboard the ship and prepares to take off.

-

Kiss ask game