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bucketbueckers · 4 days ago

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RECKLESS DRIVING

CHAPTER FIVE

content: language, cam is a big fat homo (affectionate), bobby and gatsby are the real stars of this chapter, ap lit mention (iykyk), poorly written hoops, reporters!! journalists!!! men!!!!!!

wc: 8.1k

notes: in honor of the dallas L (fire chris and fire curt and fire whoever hired curt) but mostly in honor of the anon who asked if i had anything for tonight. this one is for you. lowkey kind of a boring chapter i think but we're moving into the season which is rly exciting ‼️ also im so sorry this took forever to get out LMAO but i have a lot of plans and a lot of chaos to create so as always i rly hope y'all enjoy and lmk what you think 🫶

tags: @cowboybueckers @indigo491 @wnba-scotland @volleyballgirlsblog @sillystarv @middyprincess @intoblonde6ftwbbplayers @user1269 @fivest4rbuecks @everyonewatchesuconnwbb @lilpaigeyherbo @simp4panos

Cam has a few memories that she looks back on with a mix of fondness and an ever present, Holy shit. I can’t believe people let me do that.

When she was around seven, she declared that she and Coley were twins – best friends. Something in between yet far beyond their actual sisterly relationship. Because she and Coley were self-proclaimed twins, and because Cam looked up to her like she hung the stars in the sky, Cam made everyone start calling her by her middle name Camille. “C for Camille and C for Colette,” she had said with pride when her parents asked why, because what was wrong with Livya?

For the record – there was absolutely nothing wrong with her first name besides the fact that she wanted to be just like her older sister, as many younger siblings did. Coley never lets her live that one down. But Cam has stuck, so there’s not much of a point in fixing what isn’t broken.

Then, during her sophomore season in the league after she got tired of the whole “being alone in her own apartment” thing, she adopted Bobby and Gatsby. They weren’t brothers, but they were a package deal after Bobby wormed his way into Gatsby’s litter when he was a kitten. To celebrate their adoption, Cam threw a party for them.

Like, buying a cat safe cake party. Like, purchasing a $20 party hat and bowtie set from Amazon and somehow getting her sons to sit still long enough to dress up for the occasion, party. Like, inviting Coley and a few of her teammates and having them sing an off-key and giggled rendition of “Happy Adoption, dear Bobby and Gatsby” party.

Cam loves her sons. But then the cake upset Gatsby’s tummy and he threw up all over a rug that Cam couldn’t be bothered to clean properly, so she just threw it out. She decided that maybe there would be no more parties or cake for them.

Cam thinks that she might be in the middle of one of these fond but what the fuck memories right now, because it’s Friday morning, the Wings are hosting the Lynx at home later in the evening, and she’s currently hunched over her countertop with flour streaked across her face, her brows furrowed in concentration as she carefully squeezes thin, sloping lines of purple icing across a bed of buttercream.

Congratulations, Rook! is what the cake reads when she dots her exclamation point. She steps back to appraise her work. For the most part, her writing is pretty straight and doesn’t look awful. The cake itself is a two layered vanilla covered in the buttercream topping that her grandmother used to swear by, and the edges are lined with dollops of the cream.

It looks nice. Clean.

Cam frowns. She’s a basketball player, not a cake decorator, so she’s not quite sure what else she’s supposed to put on the cake with her limited materials and expertise. With the same purple icing, she carefully expands the dot at the base of her exclamation point, turning it into a larger circle. Then, she adds in laces at the center until the exclamation point is dotted with a basketball.

She looks at it again. Smiles. Then, for good measure, she dots the “I” in Congratulations with another basketball, and immediately sets down the Ziploc-turned-piping bag before she gets too overzealous with the icing and inevitably fucks it up.

Cam is well aware that this entire baking a cake for your rookie thing is a little out of character and completely extra, especially considering the fact that it was to celebrate said rookie’s first WNBA start and her debut. If DiJonai, however, were to ask, Cam would probably add in the fact that this rookie’s hometown has also renamed itself in her honor for the day, so, reasonably, it warrants a cake.

She’s not sure where the urge came from. She was on her morning jog when inspiration struck, which led to her taking a detour to the nearest grocery store and getting supplies. Cam started baking before she could talk herself out of it, and, well, here she was.

Paige was on her way, having asked if Cam wanted to carpool to shootaround before their game against the Lynx. Cam is beginning to see that she truly has a problem saying no – or a problem with not wanting to say no, but teammates carpool to team events all the time! She and Maddy used to, in fact, although it probably had something to do with how they used to live in the same apartment complex before Maddy’s lease expired and she relocated somewhere with cheaper rent.

Either way, Paige was on her way, Cam managed to not fuck up the cake, and the new, more pressing issues were that she smelled like buttercream and her fingers were stained red and blue because, for all of her earthly wisdom, she forgot to pick up actual purple icing at the store.

This entire situation is just such a fucking mess. Cam is a mess – has there ever been a veteran in the history of the WNBA who obsessively baked her rookie a cake the day before her first professional start? Sure, there’s saying congratulations, but there’s also “Congratulations! Yes, I baked you a cake at 10am to celebrate the fact your hometown renamed itself after you. That’s not weird at all.”

Not weird, Cam thinks to herself, sighing when the dye doesn’t come off after two thorough washes with water and three different kinds of hand soap. Just…embarrassingly thoughtful. And also kind of pathetic.

A rustle at the kitchen counter draws her attention, and she turns on her heel to find Bobby sitting on one of the barstools – his barstool, because yes, Bobby and Gatsby have assigned seating. For an orange cat who Cam once watched chase his own shadow, Bobby looks too judgemental and smug, and Cam huffs as she gently places the glass lid over the cake. “Don’t look at me like that,” she mutters, and Bobby just blinks once, staring at her.

And, God, Cam wasn’t sure when she lost her backbone, because she rolls her eyes and reaches into the cabinet to grab her sons’ treat bag as Gatsby flies into the kitchen at the first crinkle. “Biblical gluttony,” she says, although her words fall on deaf ears while she offers one to each of her cats.

Fortunately, Cam hasn’t quite reached the stage in her pitiful, baking induced, gay panic hysteria where she’d mournfully vent to creatures who only seem to understand English when food is involved, but when she glances back at the product of said hysteria, sitting prettily at the center of her counter, she honest to God starts thinking about it.

Cam didn’t think it would get this out of hand. Granted, when she slept with Paige, the issue was that she wasn’t thinking at all, but she tried to reason that the worst thing that could happen following that night was making things weird in the locker room. At best, she’d just think about it at increasingly inappropriate times, like at practice the other day when NaLyssa blocked Paige during a scrimmage, and Paige jokingly said, “Oh, it’s like that?” and all Cam could think about was how that was the exact thing Paige said when Cam told her she needed to say please.

With a resounding clap, Cam smacks her palms against her face, burying her head in her hands with an irritated groan. Bobby and Gatsby look at her in that judgmental, cat way they do, even though they have no room to be assholes because Cam can’t keep track of how often she needs to pry their claws out of blankets when they get stuck and meow at her pitifully until she comes to their rescue.

Cam hates this. She thought that these…feelings would stay physical. That she’d be able to get her shit together, move on from that night, and do her best to help Paige adjust to the league without complicating things between them anymore.

Now, they’re carpooling to practices together, texting late at night when Paige sends her pictures of whatever vegetable-lacking monstrosity she cooks, and Cam just spent an hour on making her a fucking cake and decorating it.

You could argue those were friend things. But Cam knows better. She’s never baked DiJonai a cake a day in her life. She’s blurring the lines between what she and Paige agreed on, and the most damning part of that, the part that makes her want to give in, is the fact that Paige seems to be blurring the lines, too.

Paige drives her around like Cam doesn’t have a car and lives on the other side of town. She looks to her for advice, reassurance, and coaching on the plays she runs or how she could do it better. And Cam still has yet to get over how Paige brushed her fingers so gently across her wrist as she opened up about an injury she’d only ever confided to DiJonai and Coley in, aside from her trainers and her doctors.

She’s doomed. When she dies, she wants her body donated to science and for someone to examine her brain, because clearly all these years of basketball have resulted in some form of irreversible damage to her prefrontal cortex.

Clean is what she reminds herself, even though she’s thinking about how unclean they’ve made things, how she and Paige seem to dance around what they both know to be true, as if refusing to name how they feel means that the feelings don’t exist at all. Like blurring the lines isn’t the same as crossing them fully.

Then, Bobby meows again, licking his lips, and Cam narrows her eyes. Gatsby’s expression is one of pure innocence, but Cam knows her sons well enough to realize when they’re trying to play her for another treat.

She also knows that she can’t say no to them. Begrudgingly, she gives them one more each, then hides the treat bag away safely as a knock echoes against wood. Cam tries to ignore the anticipation she feels, wiping her palms against her shorts, and crosses her apartment to the front door.

Paige stands on the other side, one hand in her pocket and the other holding an iced drink. A smile lights up her face at the sight of Cam, and, embarrassingly, Cam can’t bite back a smile of her own as she opens the door wider for her rookie. “Hey,” Paige greets as she steps through the doorway, her arm brushing gently against Cam’s. The door clicks shut behind them while Paige toes off her slides, having been briefed on Cam’s no shoes inside rule that she’d picked up from her mother. “Happy game day.”

“Happy debut day,” Cam corrects, nudging Paige with her elbow. A sheepish flush creeps up her neck. “How’s it feel to have a city named after you?”

“Like fake news,” Paige says honestly, making Cam laugh. She holds out the drink to Cam, who raises a brow in confusion. “For you,” the blonde clarifies, her smile widening when Cam accepts it. “Iced chai. I noticed during preseason that you always get one before shootaround, so…” Paige’s voice trails off, shrugging a little.

Has Cam ever mentioned how much she hates this? She hopes her cheeks aren’t as red as they feel, but she knows it’s a useless wish.

She clears her throat, willing her wildly pathetic thoughts to go away as she says softly, “Thank you.” Paige’s smile turns tender, the apples of her cheeks popping out, and she just tilts her head like she didn’t need a thank you for looking out for Cam. “I have something for you, too.”

Paige blinks at that, clearly shocked, but she follows Cam deeper into her apartment towards the kitchen. Bobby and Gatsby are still sat on their barstools, with Gatsby meticulously cleaning his paws and Bobby lounging, but Cam’s laser focused on the cake. She sets her iced chai down, shielding the cake with her body, and with a nervous smile, she requests, “Close your eyes.”

Paige huffs out a little laugh, but does as she’s asked, even throwing her hands over her eyes for good measure. “I ain’t know it was like that,” she teases, voice dripping with insinuation, and Cam rolls her eyes to keep her unwanted thoughts at bay.

“Don’t piss me off,” she mutters, closing her fingers around the lid and gingerly pulling it off so it doesn’t fuck up the icing she’d spent an uncomfortable amount of time mixing, transferring to the piping bags, and decorating with. She doesn’t have to turn around to see Paige’s smug smirk, but she positions the cake to her liking so she can read the writing, and she hates how soft her voice sounds as she says, “Okay, you can open them.”

Paige’s hands fall to her sides, eyes blinking open, but her gaze is set on Cam until she notices the cake next to her. Whatever funny comment she had ready fizzles out and dies on her tongue as she reads Cam’s looping cursive, the Congratulations, Rook! and every basketball-dotted letter.

Her entire expression melts, even if her smile widens in disbelief and adoration. Cam’s never seen her look like this before, not when the team gave her (and the other rookies) a round of applause at training camp, nor when Chris and Curt broke the news at the end of camp that she’d earned her roster spot – as if that much wasn’t already obvious. The closest thing Cam has to compare this to was the wide-eyed and stunned excitement that came when it actually sunk in that she’d been drafted.

And, if Cam is being really honest, she really hates how that makes her chest feel warm.

“Cam, you ain’t have to do all this,” Paige says, but she’s still looking at the cake like no one’s ever made this kind of effort for her.

Cam’s first instinct is to scoff, because Paige needs to be so for real. Then, she takes in her expression a little longer and realizes just how much this actually means to her. The cake itself is a small gesture, but it’s a meaningful one. It’s I chose to take time out of my day to make something for you because I wanted to celebrate you.

In a way, it’s what Paige just did for her. Cam knows that there’s not a coffee shop on the way to her apartment from Paige’s place. She knows that Paige not only went out of her way to get her an iced chai latte just because she knows that Cam drinks them before shootarounds, but also she went further out of her way to go to Cam’s apartment to begin with. It’s the intention, the small sacrifices like these, that make Cam feel like she’s losing all restraint and that it wasn’t a battle she was ever going to win.

Instead, she settles on a comforting smile, her voice hardly above a whisper as she says, “You deserve it, Paige.”

Paige’s smile, somehow, becomes softer, and she looks up from the cake to make eye contact with Cam. Something heavy in her gaze settles like she’s seeing Cam in a different light.

Then, she steps closer, and the fact that Cam is leaning against the counter makes it so she’s just slightly shorter than Paige, forcing her to look up at her. Cam can feel her heartbeat in her throat, but she can’t move away. She doesn’t want to.

Paige reaches out gently, her hand cupping Cam’s face as her thumb brushes across her cheekbone.

And then she pulls back as quickly as she’d reached for her. Holds out her thumb for Cam to see, showcasing the white smudge of flour against her skin, dimples popping in amusement and fondness. “You didn’t have to fight the flour sack for me, too,” she murmurs, smirking. “I would’ve been happy with just the cake.”

Cam rolls her eyes with a huff, putting plenty of space between her and Paige’s annoying ass as she moves towards the sink, tearing off a paper towel from the roll and wetting it under the stream of water. Paige is laughing like she didn’t just leave Cam high and dry – but thinking about it, that’s probably the exact same thing that Cam did when she kissed Paige’s knee tape like a fucking freak.

“You piss me off so bad,” Cam comments, wiping the remnants of the flour off her cheek, hoping that she can scrape off her blush, too. “It’s like you–”

But Cam stops dead in her tracks when she turns around, because Paige has moved from one end of the kitchen counter to the other, where she’s cradling Gatsby in her arms like he’s a baby. Like, a human baby. She’s full on scratching his chin with one finger, her eyes bright in adoration, and Cam just... malfunctions.

Bobby and Gatsby weren’t assholes by any means. Well, not in the bite your face off kind of way, but it has been established that they’re judgmental and very treat-driven. They’re both very introverted and usually stay far away from strangers – it took Coley two months to get the both of them to like her.

Paige hasn’t even been inside of her apartment for thirty minutes and she already has Gatsby wrapped around her finger. Bobby, too, who’s staring up at her with the most pitiful expression on his face. Paige drops her hand to pet him gently on his head. Cam can hear his purrs from across the kitchen.

She’s sure that there’s some deep rooted maternal instinct in her body that awakens at the sight of Paige smiling at both of her sons. Bobby and Gatsby have never expressed any discomfort or sadness in having only one parent, but Cam can’t take her eyes off of them, and, honestly, a very unwelcome thought pertaining to whether or not Paige wants to be a step-father nearly makes Cam turn back to the sink and water board herself.

“What are you doing?” she blurts before she can stop herself, wincing at how genuinely shocked she sounds.

“Makin’ friends,” Paige says calmly, the veins in her hands popping as she adjusts Gatsby in her hold. Cam forces herself to look away before she does something really stupid. “‘It’s like I’ what? I was listenin’, I promise.”

Cam doesn’t even know what she’s talking about. She spins on her heel, peering inside the treat cabinet to make sure Paige hadn’t snuck in while her back was turned to bribe her sons, and sure enough, their treat bag is untouched. She closes the cabinet door, crossing her arms in disbelief.

“They’re never like this with strangers,” Cam says, stepping closer to Paige. She peers over her shoulder at Gatsby, who’s curled against Paige’s side in pure contentment. “They hated my mom for three weeks.”

Paige shrugs a shoulder, her smile somehow soft and smug at the same time. Cam hates the way it looks on her face. “Guess the Romans just find me irresistible,” she teases. “Even the ones you haven’t introduced me to.”

Cam bites her lips to curb a smile, not dignifying the first part of her statement with a response. “You’re holding Gatsby,” she informs her, curling her arm around Paige’s to scratch his head. “And the one who looks like he’s about to fall out is Bobby.”

“Okay, Gatsby I kinda understand,” Paige states. “‘Cause he’s a tuxedo, right? And Gatsby always wore a suit?” Cam gives her a surprised look, like she hadn’t been expecting Paige to catch on. The blonde huffs. “Don’t look at me like that. I happened to be good at AP Lit, thank you!”

Cam rolls her eyes. “You’re so dramatic. But yeah. He’s named after a really down bad millionaire. Bobby is just…orange.”

Paige nods solemnly. “Poor guy.”

At that, Cam can’t help her snort, and she checks the time on her watch before sighing. “Okay, petting zoo’s closed. We really got to go.”

With evident sadness and lots of apologies, Paige disentangles herself from Gatsby and gives Bobby one last goodbye pat on the head. She lingers in the kitchen as Cam carefully slices the cake into equal pieces, sliding half of it into a tupperware large enough. Cam pauses, knowing Paige well enough at this point, and she sticks a plastic fork inside the tupperware for when she inevitably tears into a slice at shootaround.

Content, Cam says goodbye to her sons, locking the door behind her and Paige as they make their way to the elevator. She tries her best to ignore the strong, relentless thump in her chest, but it’s no use. She’s in deeper with Paige than she thought she would be, and the worst part is that she knows she can’t give into the feeling of it all.

The Dallas Wings home arena is packed.

It’s a crowd that slowly started amassing last year, but countless fans line the seats from courtside to the nosebleeds. The Bueckers and Ogunbowale jerseys make up the overwhelming majority, although there’s a ton of Roman jerseys that stick out.

That’s one thing that Cam doesn’t think she’ll ever fully get used to – people representing not only her team, but her. It’s humbling in the best way possible and it means more to her than she thinks any of the fans actually know.

Shootaround had gone by with little issue, then everyone was released to go back home and relax before they needed to be back for pregame warm ups. They’d also come and gone quickly, the only real passage of time being marked by the filling of the stands. Everyone was locked in on their warm ups, whether it be stretches, or footwork drills, or shooting drills.

Minnesota would be a tough team to beat, let alone keep pace with. But Cam truly felt as though they’d made a lot of progress during camp together as well as during the preseason games. At this point, she was just hoping for a good game with no bullshit calls and that Phee would have mercy on her from one Lunar Owl to another.

Paige is sitting next to her right on the bench for warm ups with Arike on the other side of them. Arike is locked in a quiet conversation with NaLyssa while the arena gathers momentum to announce the starting lineups, but Cam can’t focus on anything that’s not the incessant tapping of Paige’s foot against the polished wood of the court.

When Cam looks over, Paige’s eyes are unfocused, not really staring at anything but staring blankly into space. She doesn’t know where her head’s at – whether it’s nerves, or anticipation, or just a normal, if not incredibly ADHD way of keeping herself sane for the game. Whatever it is, Cam rests her palm over her knee, not applying pressure, but Paige stops shaking immediately. Her eyes have refocused when she meets the brown of Cam’s gaze.

“You good?” Cam asks, her voice only loud enough for Paige to hear.

Paige nods resolutely. “Just nerves,” she says, and Cam’s gaze softens. “I’ll be fine once I’m off the bench.”

Cam smirks a little. “Don’t get too comfortable out there,” she responds. “Phee’s gonna tap your shoulder and send your ass to the trainer’s room and you’ll be riding the bench for the rest of the season.”

Paige shoots her a look of mock-horror. Then, as if to ward off the bad energy, she taps her forehead, her chest, and both of her shoulders in prayer, which makes Cam snort. Cam moves her hand off of Paige’s knee, but presses their thighs together to offer a little bit of comfort while they wait out the Lynx starting five introductions.

The lights dim, the jumbotron above coming to life with the Wings digital introduction hype video. No matter how often Cam watches them, they never fail to make her smile, and she keeps her gaze trained on the screen until it ends. The spotlight moves over to the bench, and the announcer starts with Myisha. Then Arike. Then NaLyssa. Cam high fives each one of them until it’s her turn to be called.

“A 6’2 forward from Stanford, number seven, Camille Roman!”

She’s out of her seat with a grin, smacking her palms against Paige’s eagerly, and she high fives the rest of her team as she makes her way to line up with Myisha, Arike, and NaLyssa.

“A 6’0 guard from UConn, number five, Paige Bueckers!”

When Paige stands, she pretends to high five an invisible bench, and she’s beaming when she joins the rest of the starters. In the huddle, Paige’s voice doesn’t waver as she reminds them about trusting each other and playing their game. Cam tries to ignore the surge of pride at how far she’s come from camp alone, but she’s smiling anyways.

They all make sure their jerseys are tucked, then they jog to center court for the opening tip. Cam makes sure to hug Phee and Courtney and gives the rest of the Lynx starters respectful handshakes. Phee and NaLyssa stand across from each other from the tip, and NaLyssa wins, sending the ball Cam’s way. She doesn’t waste any time before immediately passing to Paige.

And, well, she gives Myisha a second to get her shoe back on before she calls the play and brings the ball up court.

Cam’s assigned defensively to Courtney on the left wing, and she makes a cut for the baseline while Paige passes to NaLyssa. There’s an immediate foul called on Jessica Shepard while she’s guarding NaLyssa which brings Cam out to the sideline to inbound the ball.

NaLyssa and Myisha are closest to her, but only Myisha gets free. Cam hovers at the perimeter, watching the ball as it is passed to Paige, who draws enough of the defenders’ attention to pass to a cutting NaLyssa. She misses, and Bridget Carleton beats Cam to the rebound.

On the other side of the court, she gets a hand up in time to contest one of Courtney’s signature midrange jumpers, and it bounces harmlessly off of the glass into NaLyssa’s hands. She passes to Paige, dribbling up court until the Lynx defense collapses just slightly. She’s darting through an open hole in their coverage, planting firmly just a few feet away from the hoop, and letting it fly from the midrange. She just barely misses. Cam’s worried that someone’s going to get fouled in the fight for the rebound, but Paige manages to catch her own miss, and shoots it again.

This time, the shot’s money, and Paige’s first official WNBA points are from a tough fight on the offensive boards and a putback. Shamelessly, Cam claps her hands and points at her rook with a grin, who’s trying not to smile as she hustles back for defense.

That’s the tone of the entire first quarter – hard fought plays for rebounds, stifling defense, and a young Wings team doing their best to keep up with the Lynx’s unforgiving gameplan. On their next possession, there’s an off-ball foul on Myisha. The Lynx are tasked with inbounding, and NaLyssa rebounds Napheesa’s fadeaway as Cam gets a hand in the air to contest.

It’s a scoreless few minutes. On the other end of the court, Bridget rebounds Myisha’s miss. Myisha rebounds Phee’s miss, and then Phee fouls Myisha in her attempt to tie the ball up. Cam and Paige help Myisha up, then Myisha is set to inbound to Paige as Cam gets to her defensive assignment.

Paige passes to NaLyssa, who circles the perimeter and passes to Arike. The guard lets it fly from three but it clangs off the rim into Karlie’s hands. She gets into the paint while bringing the ball up, but is forced to kick it out to Shepard, and Jessica blows past NaLyssa for a layup and the and-one. Jessica sinks it.

Paige dribbles up court, using a screen from Myisha to get past Bridget, and she passes to Arike on the wing. Arike circles the perimeter, passing to Myisha who hands it back and screens for her, but they get tangled in a back and forth that leads to Myisha losing her handle on the ball. Cam locks eyes with Paige, a silent conversation occuring between the two of them, and Cam blows past Courtney as Myisha passes swiftly to Paige, who passes neatly to Cam at the baseline, and she lays it in despite two defenders on her back.

Cam points to her in thanks as they both retreat on defense and Paige taps her hip.

Their transition defense is a little too slow, though, and Courtney finds a huge gap at the free throw line to easily sink a jumper. Transition defense had been a huge issue during camp and both preseason games, so Cam knows that Chris and the other coaches are going to drill it into them during their halftime adjustments and later practices.

On the next offensive possession, Paige is trying to find space in traffic while Cam hovers at the perimeter, honestly wide open as fuck, but Karlie’s defense is stifling, so Paige settles for passing to Arike. Arike passes to Myisha, who blocks Bridget with a screen and draws enough of Phee’s attention that Arike squeezes by, drawing NaLyssa’s defender and Paige’s defender, and she kicks out to NaLyssa at the wing, who passes once more to Cam, and she lets it fly.

Her three is money and the arena roars. With a quick and efficient 5 of the Wing’s 7 points, Cam backpedals for defense.

The game is a relentless back and forth – by the end of the first, Dallas leads 21-19, Cam has nine and a few rebounds, and she appreciates the slight reprieve in between the quarters to catch her breath.

The second quarter starts similarly, although Cam’s pulled about three minutes in for DiJonai. She gets a few minutes to breathe on the bench until the media timeout, where Phee is set to even the score off of a foul. After the timeout, Cam subs back in for Ty, watches Phee sink her free throws, and the game keeps rolling.

NaLyssa scores off of an assist from Arike. Phee lays the ball in with help from Courtney and completes the three point play after NaLyssa fouls her at the basket. Maddy subs in for NaLyssa while Phee shoots her free throw; then Natisha fouls Arike, leading to even more free throws.

After that possession, Cam taps the ball out of Phee’s hands, and Arike picks it up as she hauls ass down the court, blowing past Courtney and sinking the shot with a clean midrange jumper.

Throughout the rest of the half, the Lynx don’t let up, but neither do the Wings. They’re tied at 46 a piece heading into halftime after two clutch free throws from Arike and a clean inbounds steal from Cam that resulted in Maddy laying it in. Cam, unfortunately, couldn’t get another inbounds steal, but they head back to the locker room with a ton of momentum.

Chris emphasizes togetherness (whatever the fuck that means) in his halftime speech. As expected, he does emphasize the need for better communicated transition defense as well as better awareness in regards to fouling.

After halftime, they’re back on court and energized, ready for another twenty minutes. The Lynx were ready, too, extending their lead by a lot. By the end of the third, the Lynx lead them 81-66. A collapse like this is nothing short of frustrating, especially since they’d had it tied up at the end of the second quarter.

Cam doesn’t stop hustling until the last three minutes of the fourth quarter when she’s finally subbed out. With the Lynx up 96-75, there was no coming back from a deficit that bad. Cam plops down onto the bench next to Paige, her jersey sticking to her skin a little uncomfortably as she breathes heavily.

Then, she nudges Paige, the barest hint of a smile on her face despite the exhaustion. “10 points, 7 boards? Who you feelin’ like, rook?”

Paige manages a smile of her own. “Like someone who just shot thirty percent,” she states.

Cam huffs. “Do not piss me off,” she mutters. “Double digits. Almost a double double in your debut. You rebounded your own miss while stuck in between two defenders and put the ball back up for your first professional points. If I’m an ESPN analyst, I’m already pushing the Rookie of the Year agenda.”

Paige’s grin widens, tucking her chin into the towel she’s got wrapped around her neck as her cheeks flush. However, despite the clear bashfulness, she still finds it within herself to be a little shit as she says, “You defending my honor? That’s hot.”

Cam wrinkles her nose. “Shut the fuck up,” she says delicately, which makes Paige burst into laughter.

The final buzzer sounds with the Lynx, unsurprisingly, taking the win 99-84. They make their way through the handshake line, then to the locker rooms, where Chris launches into a tirade about togetherness and fighting until the very last second. Cam thinks she’s free when she strips out of her jersey, but she and Paige are both tapped to do media.

Cam briefly considers waterboarding herself for the second time that day while she washes the loss off in the shower, but ultimately decides against it because she cannot leave Bobby and Gatsby for orphans.

Paige, being the annoyingly thoughtful idiot that she is – Cam is beginning to realize that she might be turning her overwhelming feelings into aggression, which doesn’t make her feel any less but it does make her feel a little better about the entire situation – waits for her and they walk to the media room together. Chris is already sitting at the far right end of the table and Cam and Paige slide into the chairs next to him with Paige in the middle.

The moderator kicks things off by fielding questions for the coach and a few hands raise in the air instantly. Cam tunes most of it out as she looks over the stat sheet. Paige, as she’d said, had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block, which was a great statline for her debut. The box score wouldn’t show all of the shots she contested or how well she did defensively, but she was effective on both sides of the court.

Cam herself had an honest 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and the lone steal from the second quarter. She slowed down on scoring after the first quarter, but the team as a whole collapsed after halftime. Their ball movement was stagnant, the shots they did take just weren’t falling, and they allowed too many defensive mishaps. Those were weaknesses that a team as good as the Lynx would exploit immediately.

It was the first game of the season. They were growing – as individuals and as teammates. Success wouldn’t be immediate although Cam would consider herself happy with the first half of basketball they played. They just had to work on, you know… playing a good second half, too, and closing out games, which would come in time.

She hopes.

When it’s clear there are no more questions for Chris, the moderator shifts to fielding questions for the players. Significantly more hands raise this time. Knowingly, Cam shifts her microphone towards Paige, who laughs as the first reporter asks his question. It’s mostly fluff concerning how she’s settling in and what her first impressions of the team are.

Paige keeps it cordial and very media trained, mentioning the go-to lines about still getting used to the weather and being thankful for her teammates as they help her get more comfortable in the league. She fields another question about her performance in the game, saying that she’s happy with how it went, but there’s always more work to do.

Finally, there’s a question directed to Cam, which she was actually happy for because she was getting bored listening to them ask Paige variations of the same question. The reporter introduces himself and his publication, saying, “Cam, we saw during preseason that you and Paige had a very strong on court connection. Can you tell us a little about what goes into that?”

Cam clears her throat, thinking it over for a moment before responding. “Sure. I mean, Paige is an elite point guard, that much has been obvious for like, five years. She has insane vision. Whether I see her or not, she always sees me, so I just do my best to get as open as possible and trust that she’ll hit me if she can, even if I blow a layup or have to pass it away.” She smiles apologetically at Paige, who stifles a laugh. “Sorry for selling your assist. It won’t happen again.”

She remembers the second part of his question. “But, uh, Paige and I have a really good friendship off the court, so that definitely helps. We spent a lot of time at training camp just talking about the plays and our playmaking tendencies. You should have seen her face when I told her I could shoot a three once in a while.”

“Self proclaimed paint warrior, by the way,” Paige comments dryly, and the reporters laugh in that scary coordinated way they do.

Another reporter raises her hand, and the moderator nods at her. She introduces herself and then asks, “Cam, you were a former number one pick who came off an electric senior season championship win. Has that affected yours and Paige’s relationship at all, or have you been able to offer some helpful advice?”

Cam shrugs a shoulder, smiling coyly at Paige. “Whether or not it’s helpful is definitely a question for Paige, but I like to think I’ve done my part,” she answers modestly. “Getting here…for lack of a better term, can be really overwhelming. I think it’s really important to have someone in your corner who, you know, has lived it, especially as a rookie. So…I definitely had some advice for her, but with or without me, she’s doing a great job, and I think her near double-double debut proves that.”

Paige tries to hide her smile behind her microphone, but it doesn’t really work. The mood in the media room is all but ruined by the journalist who raises his hand, introduces himself, and asks, “There are a couple of clips circulating online of you at Paige’s draft party, Cam. Was there any prior contact between the two of you before the night of the draft?”

Cam keeps her face neutral, unwilling to let it show just how much this question bothers her. Not because it’s breaching on something private, but because it’s a bold-faced interrogation and Cam knows she has to play nice. She’s seen this reporter at a press conference a time or two and she knows well enough that he doesn’t stop with one sharply aimed question.

Coolly, she states, “No, Paige and I didn’t speak to one another before draft night. I met her backstage at the draft and we spoke for a while, mostly basketball related. She invited me out and I went.”

She’s content to leave it there, but as expected, he doesn’t let it go. “Do you have any comments on any of the rumors online that say you and Paige left the party together?”

She leans forward slightly, her brows raising in a quiet challenge. Her head cocks to the side. “I don’t have any comments on anything that isn’t basketball related, considering this is a basketball presser and not a TMZ news release. Do you have another question or are we just going to keep wasting each other’s time?”

Cam holds eye contact with the reporter for a few seconds. The conference room falls into a tense silence, but she doesn’t back down until he breaks eye contact, stating, “That’s all I have for you.”

She sits back in her chair without another word, spotting the slightest hint of a smile flickering on Paige’s face. The moderator asks for more questions, but it’s clear that the rest of the journalists have gotten the point. Cam is already standing and heading for the exit by the time the moderator calls it, and Paige is hot on her heels.

The blonde doesn’t say anything until they get back to the locker room, as if able to read the pinched expression on Cam’s face. Her shoulders are tense, and this right here? This was the exact thing she’d been afraid of. She was afraid of the media getting hold of the story and spinning it out of control. She was afraid of losing any sense of privacy she’d been able to hold close to her chest.

Tentatively, Paige clears her throat and asks, “You good?” as Cam slings her duffel bag over her shoulder.

Cam sighs, knowing that she can’t take her frustrations out on Paige. There was always going to be one journalist that ruined it for the rest of them, and the one from tonight was just one of the many who would. She glances at Paige, her features softening. Paige wouldn’t be mad at her for answering the way she did. She knows better than anyone else what’s at stake, especially when the media’s involved.

“I’m good,” she confirms, bouncing on her heels slightly. Paige raises a brow like she doesn’t believe her fully. Cam laughs – she was getting good at reading her. “That journalist – Kevin Langdon – just doesn’t know when to stop,” she clarifies. “He always has personal, out of pocket questions like that. In my rookie year after the All-Star break, he asked me if skipping All-Star weekend had anything to do with the conspiracy theory that I’d been caught bribing league officials for a spot. Which, what the fuck? Bribing the league with my rookie contract? They would have gotten real far with that check, huh?”

Despite herself, Paige laughs, and Cam bites back a smile of her own. “He’s just annoying,” she continues. “And a jerk. And…I didn’t want to give him anything that he could have used to smear you.” Cam nudges Paige with her elbow, her features softening with slight mischief. “But calling him out like that felt really good.”

“Happy to help,” Paige chirps. “...I think.” She falls into step behind Cam as she navigates through the winding hallways, out to the parking lot at the back of the facility. “You don’t have to worry about me, you know that?”

Cam laughs a little. “Yes, I do. I’m your vet. You’re my rook.”

Paige smiles crookedly. “Then protect yourself instead of both of us and let me deal with some of the heat,” she says. “Rookie duties, right?”

“That’s not how this works.”

Paige’s pout is only a little dramatic. “What’s this? Cam Roman making decisions for the both of us? Again?”

And for that, Cam truly has no retort, and her smirk is equal parts exasperated and fond. “You piss me off,” she says.

“Yet you’re still trying to protect me,” Paige responds, although her tone is softer now.

“Yeah,” Cam agrees quietly. Her voice has lost the sharp, teasing edge that it once had. “I am.”

They both fall silent. They exit the facility to a quiet night and an empty parking lot save for the custodial staff and some media members who haven’t finished the day’s work yet. Paige’s Jeep is parked far in the back, and Cam breathes in the cool, evening air.

Paige’s knuckles brush across the back of her hand, but she doesn’t make any effort to pull away. Paige doesn’t reach out for her either – just stuck in this back and forth limbo, the most contact either of them trust themselves to make being the slightest brushes of skin against skin.

Paige opens the passenger side door for her, watching with gentle eyes as Cam slides into the seat she’d all but made home in the past few days Paige has spent driving her around for the hell of it. She doesn’t close the door. Instead, she leans against it, her gaze finding Cam’s.

“You ever think about letting someone else be there for you?” Paige asks her, not unkindly, but tenderly. “Let someone else protect you for a change?”

For that, Cam doesn’t really have an answer. Not one that Paige wants to hear, anyways. But she settles on honesty as she admits, “I don’t know how to do that.” She swallows thickly, watching as Paige’s features soften. “I don’t know how to let go.”

That’s probably God’s honest truth – one that Cam had been too afraid of admitting. Not just now, but her entire life.

When she was younger, morphing herself into something that someone could be proud of. That meant keeping a lot of what made her Cam close to her chest because there was always going to be some part that wasn’t enough.

When she let her rookie year and the noise shape her into who she is, into someone who’s so afraid of losing her privacy that she stopped getting close to anyone that she’d hate to lose.

Paige is someone that she’d hate to lose. She’s sure that the both of them know that. The both of them also know of the price that comes with being who they are – athletes who have spent longer in the limelight than they have spent time outside of it.

For all of Cam’s wisdom, her experiences, all of the years she spent trying to unlearn and take care of the parts that are still her, she’s still so afraid of losing this little fragment of peace in her life. She’s scared of losing Paige.

But for whatever reason, that desperate urge to give in anyways still flickers brighter than any star in the night sky. The feeling of closeness, of want. It’s like she spends days constantly at war and trying to push down what she craves because she’s learned that the easiest way to protect something important to you is to keep it hidden away from people who don’t deserve to see it.

Maybe the easiest way of protecting the important things – or the important people – wasn’t hiding them. It was showing them the scary parts, the parts that didn’t quite make sense, and letting them choose you anyways. It was keeping them close and letting them protect you, too.

The blue of Paige’s gaze shines under the golden lamplight in the parking lot. “Will you try?” she murmurs, her voice barely catching above the rustling of the wind. She clarifies. “To let go. To let me protect you.”

Cam doesn’t look away from her. She can’t. She’s so earnest, so raw and so real, that daring to look at anything else feels like an admission of cowardice. Cam feels nothing short of vulnerable when she finally responds, “I’ll try,” because that’s all she could truly promise Paige.

A small smile curves loose and free over Paige’s lips anyways. Her hand raises to cup her face, her palm cool against her flushed skin, and her thumb traces the slope of her cheekbone, just as it did earlier that morning. “That’s all I ask,” she whispers.

Paige’s hand falls, brushing her knuckles in a way that would otherwise be accidental if Cam didn’t know any better, and she gently shuts the passenger door to make her way to the driver’s side seat.

Paige gets in. Starts the engine. Hits shuffle on the playlist that Cam has probably listened to three times in full since she’s been doing whatever this is with Paige. She drives down the empty Dallas roads, humming along to SZA like she hadn’t just changed Cam’s entire life philosophy with one single request.

When she pulls as close as she can to the front entrance of Cam’s apartment complex, she gazes at Cam like she’s hoping for her to finally give up on their stupid agreement to keep their relationship clean.

But Cam doesn’t. She’s not ready – not yet, her heart thrumming against her ribcage like it’d fly away completely had she not ensured that it was locked, and hid the key in a place that Paige only needed a few days to find.

So Cam says goodnight instead. And Paige says it, too, her expression impossibly fond and full of understanding, because she would never force Cam into something that she wasn’t ready for.

Paige doesn’t drive off until Cam is safely inside her building. And as she watches her headlights disappear, melting into the night, Cam gets the sickening feeling that she’s been lying to herself in more ways than one.

#paige bueckers #paige bueckers x oc #paige bueckers x reader #dallas wings #wnba x oc #wnba

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breadbrobin · 2 years ago

Text

lavender roses

luke castellan x reader — percy jackson and the olympians

[fem!daughter of persephone reader]

summary: everyone thinks red roses are synonymous with the perfect love. you believe that lavender roses deserve more love, and luke believes that you’re worthy of all the love in the world—you’re both just bad at communicating it.

warnings: kissing, swearing, suggestive content, mentions of weapons, idiots, miscommunication trope but it’s cute dw, seriously they’re both so stupid and oblivious, besties to idiots to lovers

word count: 3.3k

(y’all i’m losing my mind i can’t stop writing but this might be one of my favourites ever)

(also i might put together a luke taglist and a clarisse taglist so lmk if you wanna be put on either of those and i’ll get to work on it 🤩)

———————————————

“i’m free february fourteenth,” you said nonchalantly.

you were sitting with luke at dinner and he’d just asked you if you ever had a day off working. as a daughter of persephone, you lived in the hermes cabin, but spent most of your time working in the strawberry fields. you spent every free moment there, soaking in the sun, helping the plants grow and picking flowers to put in vases around the cabin and infirmary.

he nodded as chris choked on his food beside him, coughing hard. “okay, we should hang out then.”

you weren’t sure if he knew what was going on. was he messing with you? playing a joke? really wanting to hang out with you on valentine’s day? or was he having a lapse of memory and he forgot that day had any significance at all?

either way, you nodded. when you spoke, your voice was slightly higher pitched than usual. “sure.”

“we can have a picnic. we haven’t done that in a while.” he was nodding still, looking into his food with a thoughtful expression.

the air nearly left your lungs. you nodded back, though he wasn’t looking at you, and exchanged a wide-eyed look with chris across the table. sure, you and luke used to go for picnics occasionally, but that was before he’d gotten unfairly attractive overnight and you’d developed the most annoying crush on him. “yeah, sure. it’s a date.”

if you could have jumped into tartarus you would have.

what the fuck. why would you say that?

chris was staring at you in shock.

your mouth was dry.

and luke was smiling like nothing was wrong. were his cheeks red? or was that your imagination? “yup! it’s a date.”

when he got up from the table to leave after dinner, he kissed your cheek. this wasn’t too far out of the ordinary, per se—it happened occasionally—but it sent a rush of adrenaline shooting down your spine and set your cheeks aflame.

chris’ eyebrows were raised. “what was that?”

“i have no idea,” you breathed.

“do you think he knows?”

your voice was even softer as you shook your head. “dude. i have no idea.”

valentine’s day couldn’t come soon enough.

you could hardly think of anything else. zoning out in the fields, losing focus while sparring, getting distracted by luke’s shoulder muscles while he was drawing back his bow, sending your arrow flying off to the side.

he laughed at you with everyone else, coming over to stand by your side. “you good there? need any help?”

you shook your head, your quaking fingers drawing the string back once more, pulling it taut. archery wasn’t your best skill, but you weren’t terrible at it.

you could feel his eyes on you, judging your form, analysing your aim. it put you off.

your arrow barely hit the target.

luke winced. “that was… better.”

you sighed and lowered the bow. “you’re distracting me!”

he laughed. “i’m distracting you?”

“yes!” you huffed, frowning at him. his eyes were lit up with amusement. “you are.”

“well, then i’m very sorry.” he raised his hands and took a step back, dipping his head too. “as you were, milady.”

you rolled your eyes with a smile and drew your arrow back, aiming and firing, but it still didn’t do well. in fact, every arrow that you shot pierced outside of the black rings. you were starting to think there was either something wrong with the bow or that you’d been cursed by one of the apollo kids, when someone’s hand lowered your elbow.

you looked over to see luke. he wasn’t watching your face. he was guiding your elbow down so it was more level with your arrow’s line and gently pulling your shoulders back so they were more even.

“pull back a bit more,” he coached quietly.

“i know what i’m doing,” you protested.

“i know, but today you look like you need a reminder. do you want my help? or do you wanna keep missing?” he finally looked you in the eye. he was sincere, you realised.

you sighed and draw the arrow back a little more.

he nodded happily and continued guiding your stance until you were perfect, his hands hot on your body and his breath on the back of your neck. he stayed behind you as you lowered the arrow and took a few deep breaths.

you were still watching him over your shoulder. his lips quirked as he reached out and gently turned your face away to look at the target. his hand was calloused and rough, but the tough was soft. you could barely breathe.

“focus,” he said softly. “eyes on the prize.”

you’re the only prize i want, was all you could think, but you didn’t say anything. you drew the arrow back, your fingers brushing against the corner of your lips. you felt better—more powerful, more confident—in this stance. and maybe luke’s presence behind you was helping with that too. you could feel the slight ghost of his hand on your waist. it kept you grounded. it stopped you from floating away.

your arrow pierced just beside the bullseye.

luke’s hand tightened on your waist, squeezing proudly. “that’s my girl.”

your heart fluttered as you smiled. “thanks, luke.”

he patted your lower back as he stepped away. “that’s what i’m here for. go kill it.”

then he was gone, and there was a fiery pit in your stomach that grew with each passing day that told you that—oh shit—you were in fully love with luke castellan.

february fourteenth arrived in a flurry of pinks, reds and whites. hearts adorned the camp, courtesy of the aphrodite cabin, and you and the demeter cabin had been tasked with growing what felt like hundreds of red roses. personally, you didn’t understand the hype surrounding red roses. after all, the lavender ones were the prettiest. they even meant love at first sight—far better than plain old love.

but with all the love in the air and the aphrodite campers swooning left and right, luke was sure to figure out his mistake and call off the picnic. it made you feel sick with anxiety, and your hands shook as you tended to the roses.

“y/n, hey!” luke’s voice came right next to you.

you flinched and the rose bush sprouted ten feet in the air with new flowers springing into existence left and right.

“whoa…” he said, looking up at it in shock. “i don’t think we need that many.”

“i don’t think anyone needs that many.” you muttered and took a deep breath, bringing the bush back down to size. “what are you doing here, luke?” your heart was in your throat. he didn’t look upset, but he’d always been good at hiding his emotions. was he about to tell you that he didn’t want to meet up later? or that he hated you for tricking him? thoughts started spinning like tops in your mind as you sunk into worse scenario after worse scenario.

“i just wanted to make sure we were still on for this afternoon? and to let you know to meet me by the lake.” were you imagining things, or did he look almost… nervous? his cheeks were red and he wasn’t meeting your eyes for more than a few seconds at a time. was he? really?

you nodded. “oh, uh, yeah. we’re still on. i’ll meet you…?”

“at two?”

“at two.” you smiled. he smiled back and you ignored the flutter in your chest. a strand of hair blew in front of your face.

his hand twitched by his side, like he wanted to push it back, but he just nodded. “okay. see you later.”

“later,” you nodded as he walked away. “can’t wait!” you called after him. he shot a grin over his shoulder, and once he was gone, you buried your face in the rose bush with an exasperated groan.

at 1:45, you still didn’t know what to wear.

your friend becky had dragged you into the aphrodite cabin and was shoving various outfits into your arms to try on, since you didn’t have many nice outfits of your own, but nothing was right.

even though you were the same size as her, nothing seemed to fit you as well as it did her—some aphrodite’s daughter bullshit, you guessed.

she sat down on her bunk next to you and sighed. “i hate to say it, but… we’re out of options.”

you groaned and flopped backwards, covering your face.

she swatted your hands away. “you’ll smudge your makeup!” she then sat back and sighed. “honestly, hun, you might just have to go naked.”

“i’m sure he’d love that!” one of her brothers called from across the room.

you threw a pillow at him, but it dropped halfway there.

then becky froze with a gasp. “oh, my gods.”

you sat up. “what?”

“wait here.” she got up and dashed away, peering into the depths of her wardrobe.

you watched absently, kind of worried she’d pull out some sexy lingerie, as she felt around at the very back, in the corner. then her face lit up. she pulled out a dress. it was white and floaty, with tiny pale pink flowers on it and the most flattering neckline you’d ever seen. she held it out to you and then dragged you to the designated changing area beside her bunk.

you changed slowly, not wanting to rip the delicate material, then looked at yourself in the mirror.

holy shit.

becky stuck her head around the corner and gasped. “perfect! ugh, i feel like a proud mother.”

you laughed, smoothing the floaty fabric over your thighs. it was kind of staticky. “yeah, thanks, mom.”

she grabbed your arm and dragged you out, showing you off. “siblings! my magnum opus.”

as whistles and cheers came from the few people in the cabin, you smiled.

“he’ll love it,” becky whispered. “you look hot.”

“it’s not even a date,” you protested. “it’s just a hang out.”

“sweet cheeks, its a picnic on valentine’s day.” she tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. “it’s a date. now go. you’re gonna be late.”

you slipped on your white sandals and the light green jacket you always wore, let silena slip a white headband into your hair, then stepped out the door.

it wasn’t a cold day, exactly, but you were grateful for the jacket.

you rushed down the lake and got there two minutes late.

luke was no where to be found.

great, you thought. he was messing with me the whole time.

just as you were considering leaving, you heard footsteps running up to you.

“y/n! i’m so sorry, i could figure out—oh, wow...” luke stopped in his tracks as you turned around. his eyes were wide and his cheeks were red as he looked you up and down. he cleared his throat. “i didn’t know what to wear.”

he’d settled on a navy blue crew neck sweater and black jeans. his hair was messy, like he’d been running his hands through it, and he looked good. really good.

shit. that would make things more difficult.

“it’s okay,” you smiled. “neither could i.”

“well, you look… you look amazing.” his voice was soft, almost reverent.

gods, you didn’t think you’d ever be able to stop blushing. this was torture. “thanks,” you said though, pretending your heart wasn’t climbing up your throat and threatening to jump right into his hands—like suicide. “should we—“

“oh! yeah.” he nodded and stepped forward, placing a hand on your back (just low enough that it made your heart stutter, but high enough that it was innocent) and leading you towards the strawberry fields. “this way, milady.”

your heart was sinking a little as the fields came into view. everyone went to the strawberry fields. there were at least seven couples there already. it was the standard date spot. you had to remind yourself this wasn’t a date.

but he led you past the fields and into the forest.

great, so he’ll just murder me instead, you thought bitterly. it was like you were searching for a reason that it wasn’t a date now. at least i won’t have to deal with the embarrassment of everyone seeing.

you snapped out of your thoughts as his hand gently slipped into yours and you nearly fell over. he looked back at you, amused. you shot him a thumbs up as he set down a familiar path.

you knew where you were going.

there was a clearing in the woods where you went. it was you own personal secret garden, hidden deep in the forest behind a thick hedge that you’d grown yourself. it had taken weeks to get it thick enough to keep your space safe, and weeks again to regain enough strength to add any other plants to it. in the last year though, you’d been going there often, coaxing a few new plants to grow. you’d learned that forcing growth was hard and near impossible, but encouraging growth was easy.

you’d shown luke the garden one day a few months ago, just before you developed that pesky crush.

he pulled you gently in front of him to enter the garden first, through a magically shifting gap in the hedge, so that he could enter too, and stepped aside to pick up a hefty bag hidden just off the path.

you stepped through the hedge, your hand still linked with luke’s, and into your garden. it was the same as last time you were there, around a week ago; filled with flowers and bees, with a patch of clear grass in the middle, linked to the hedge by four paths, running north to south and east to west. some of the flowers growing were out of season, but as a daughter of persephone, you had a certain level of influence over things like that. bees buzzed lazily around your head as you entered, happy to see you again. everything seemed to get happier, healthier and brighter the second you stepped into the garden. it was your favourite thing and your favourite place.

you looked back at luke to see him smiling at you. “you know me too well.”

“i knew you wouldn’t like to have everyone around,” he shrugged. “and i wanted to see this place again. it’s better than last time i was here.” he looked around in wonder.

“well, last time you were here, i’d just gotten over the flu, so i was still pretty weak. all of my hydrangeas wilted.” you pouted and crossed the garden to your hydrangea bush, blooming in all ranges of colours. soil acidity and pH didn’t matter if you were the daughter of persephone.

luke laid down a plaid picnic blanket as you murmured a few words to some of your weaker looking plants, breathing life back into them. you could feel his eyes on you as he sat and waited, but you didn’t feel rushed or observed. more than anything, you felt admired.

finally, you sat next to him. he’d set out some food and water bottles for the two of you. he was prepared. that was one thing about luke castellan: he was prepared, always two steps ahead. which is why this didn’t make sense.

as you started eating, you found yourself staring at a lavender rose bush. love at first sight, you mused. if only.

you’d fallen for luke after a whole year of friendship. that made it worse. you’d loved him already, platonically, then, without warning, those feeling shifted. the way you looked at him changed in a matter of moments. when he’d gotten cherries on his plate for dessert after you were told you couldn’t have more, then he’d given them all to you, claiming he didn’t like them (even though you knew he did), you fell stupidly, irrevocably, in love. but the way he looked at you never changed: always soft, always kind and always the same.

you were drawn to look at him. you always were. the sharp lines and soft curves of his face. those dark eyes that made your heart flutter never wavered as they met yours. never shifted, never darkened, never clouded with anger. never. they were as constant as time, as reliable as the tide, as predictable as the full moon coming around again.

and he was looking at you now. “what?” he asked.

you blinked and looked away, watching as two bees clumsily bumped into each other and went on their way. “nothing.” would that be you and luke? two bees bumping into each other briefly, then going on with their lives? unlikely to cross paths again? you couldn’t let that happen.

“you know it’s valentine’s, right?” you asked before you could stop yourself.

luke lowered his apple, resting his hand on his knee. his forehead was creased in a confused frown. “yeah, why?”

“well… then why… why are we hanging out today? i mean, this isn’t a date.” you paused. “is it?”

his eyes widened. “wait, you don’t think—“

“it’s fine, luke.” you shrugged, pretending your heart wasn’t crumbling. “it’s my fault. i shouldn’t have brought up valentines. it was a silly joke, and—“

“a joke?” he frowned again. “this isn’t a joke.”

you looked at him. he looked earnest. “what?”

“it’s not a joke. why would i joke about going on a date with you?” he swallowed tightly and put his apple down. “did you… did you just think it was a joke?”

“no! well, yes. but i didn’t want it to be.” you exclaimed. “did… you want it to be?”

“no!” he exclaimed, turning to face you. “why would i want that? i thought we’ve been dating for three weeks now!”

“you, what?”

he took a deep breath. “you’re telling me that i’ve been assuming we’re dating for three weeks, and you’ve been assuming i’ve been joking for three weeks, because we’re both a little bit fucking stupid and can’t communicate our feelings properly?”

you stared at him, wiping your sweaty palms on your dress. the static crackled like the tension in the air. “i guess so.”

“huh.” he said, turning back to face the flowers. he was silent for a moment and you almost thought he’d leave, but then he started laughing.

“stop laughing,” you protested, pushing him lightly, your cheeks flaming hot. “stop it.”

he didn’t.

soon, you weren’t able to stop yourself from giggling, then you were both laughing uncontrollably. your stomach hurt and you had to lean on each other to avoid falling over. your faces were close—too close. your laughter died as you felt his breath on your face. his fingers brushed your hair behind your ear. his breath hitched as he did, like he’d been waiting to do that for months.

“i’ve liked you for months,” you whispered.

“i’ve liked you since the moment we met,” he cupped your face in his hand, his other one resting on your knee.

you could see the lavender roses behind him. love at first sight.

the two bees that had bumped into each other settled on the same flower.

fucking hell.

you kissed him before you could talk yourself out of it.

the kiss wasn’t like fireworks. it was more like the first flowers of spring: fresh, exciting and pure. his lips were soft. yours were probably rougher than his from your long hours in the fields. you figured he didn’t care, because he kissed you like you were the only air he needed to breath for the rest of his life. you could feel flowers blooming around the picnic blanket—daisies and dandelions in the grass. the plants in the gardens were going wild. he was like a drug; some kind of amplifier for your powers and your heart rate and gods, you never wanted to let him go. his hand slid to the back of your neck, pulling you closer against him. your hand rose to his cheek and static electricity jumped from your skin to his.

he pulled away with a gasp, his hand on his cheek. then he laughed, and kissed you again.

and again.

and you were infinitely glad for the privacy of your own secret garden.

#luke castellan #luke castellan x reader #luke castellan x you #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #pjo #pjo tv show #pjo x reader #charlie bushnell

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sshnzsr · 1 month ago

Text

strangers.

warnings: cannibalism (don’t like it? don’t read it), murder, death, manipulation, toxic relationships, self-blame, unhealthy obsession, lmk if I missed anything.

wordcount: 1.3k

masterlist | strangers - ethel cain

The basement air hung heavy, thick with the stench of smoke and damp rot. You woke again, if waking was even the right word anymore. Your body lay still, cold, sprawled across the concrete floor, yet your mind churned, trapped in a haze of regret and bitter irony. A small silver tray sat nearby, the food on it untouched. Mold crept along the edges of the bread, the meat congealing in its own grease. You never ate it. You couldn’t. Not when you knew what he was capable of.

The doorknob twisted, a sound that sent a shiver through your lifeless form, though you had no nerves left to feel it.

The door creaked open and there he was. His silhouette filled the frame, sharp jawline catching the dim light from the single bulb swaying above. His dark hair fell just so, framing those piercing eyes that once made your heart race for all the wrong reasons.

He looked handsome, disgustingly so and the thought made your stomach twist, or it would have, if you still had one to twist. How could you still find him beautiful after everything?

It made you sick, this lingering pull toward him, this love that refused to die even when you did.

He stepped closer, his boots heavy against the floor, each thud echoing in the hollow space. You watched him through eyes that no longer blinked, your thoughts a jumbled mess of love and loathing.

You were nothing now, just a body, a thing for him to use.

And yet, you couldn’t stop the memories from flooding back. those fleeting moments when you thought he loved you, when his touch felt like salvation instead of a trap.

You’d been warned, hadn’t you? Don’t talk to strangers, they said. But Sunghoon wasn’t a stranger, not really. He’d smiled at you, listened to you, made you feel seen when no one else did. And you, desperate for love, had fallen right into his hands.

Now, here you were, or what was left of you. Your body, stiff and unyielding, was his to do with as he pleased.

He knelt beside you, his fingers brushing against your cold skin and you wondered what he saw when he looked at you.

Did he see the girl who loved him, who believed in him? Or did he just see meat? The thought made you laugh, a soundless, bitter thing in the confines of your mind. Tough, you thought. That’s what he’d find when he tried to take a bite. Not the weak, spineless girl he’d manipulated, the one he’d mocked for being too soft, too trusting. No, your flesh was tough now, rigid with death, hard to chew, harder to swallow.

You found a grim humor in that. All your life, you’d never been strong, never resilient. But now, in death, you were giving him trouble, making him work for every piece of you he took.

Sunghoon’s knife glinted as he pulled it from his belt, the blade catching the light. He hummed softly, a tune you didn’t recognize, as he began his work. The sound of the knife slicing through you was distant, like it was happening to someone else. You couldn’t feel it, not physically, but each cut carved deeper into your soul. You wondered what he thought as he ate. Was it good? Did you taste as sweet as he’d hoped? You wanted to ask, your voice silent but screaming in your head.

“Do I make you happy now, Sunghoon? Is this what you wanted?”

You thought back to your life, to the girl you’d been. You’d tried so hard to be good, hadn’t you? You’d followed the rules, loved with all you had, even when it hurt. You’d given pieces of yourself to people who didn’t deserve them.

Your mother, who never noticed when you were drowning.

Your friends, who turned away when you needed them most.

And Sunghoon, who saw your desperation and used it like a weapon.

You’d wanted love so badly, you’d let him destroy you for it. And now, here you were, dead and still loving him, still wanting to be enough for him. It was pathetic and you hated yourself for it.

He took another bite, his teeth working through the tough meat of your arm. You imagined him grimacing, struggling to chew and it made you laugh again.

Tough. That’s what you were now.

Not the fragile girl he’d broken, but something harder, something that fought back even in death. You wondered if he’d get sick from you, if your body would turn in his stomach, make him retch and regret. The thought was oddly satisfying. You had no grave to turn in, no headstone to mark your name.

Your grave was his stomach, your body churning inside him, making him ill. It was a twisted kind of justice.

You thought of your mother and the ache was sharp, even without a heart to feel it. She’d never know what happened to you. You’d run away, chasing Sunghoon’s promises and now you were gone. She’d be left with questions, with grief, with a sick feeling in her gut that something terrible had happened. You hated that you’d never see her again, that you’d left her with nothing but silence.

Crime scene photos, a cautionary tale. No funeral, no closure. Just a girl who loved too much and paid the price. That’s all you’d ever be.

Sunghoon paused, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked at you, or what was left of you and you wondered what he saw. Did he feel anything? Did he ever love you, even a little? Or was it always hunger, possession, control?

He leaned closer, his breath warm against your cold skin and whispered, “Baby, if it feels good, then it can’t be bad.” His voice was soft, almost tender and it made you want to scream.

How could he say that? How could he make this sound like love, like something beautiful? But maybe, in some sick way, you believed him. Maybe you wanted to believe that this was love, that being consumed by him was the closest you’d ever get to being wanted.

“And I never blamed you for loving me the way that you did,”

you thought, your words echoing in the void of your mind. You didn’t hate him, not really. You hated yourself for falling, for staying, for letting him twist your need for love into something so ugly. But even now, as he tore you apart, you couldn’t stop loving him. It was pure, unconditional and it broke you all over again. You wanted to be good for him, even as he destroyed you. You wanted to be enough.

He kept eating and you kept watching, your thoughts spiraling into the dark. You were gone, but you were still here, haunting this basement, haunting him.

You’d never leave, not really. You were in his blood now, in his bones. You were the sickness in his stomach, the ache in his chest. You were the girl who loved him, even when it killed her. And as the smoke curled through the air and the bulb flickered above, you laughed one last time, a silent, bitter sound.

Tough, you thought. Let him choke on you.

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cloversnstrawberries · 2 months ago

Note

YOU LIKE LABYRINTH????? I love love love David bowie since i was little and loveeeeee anything with him with(人´∀`)♪

Please feel free to post anything you feel like about it!!! Imagines or full works or whatever, you wrote jareth so well💔💔💔

Have a good night:D🏝

"metamorphosis" platonic!yandere!jareth & past runner!new fae!preteen!gn!reader [oneshot] ! !

masterlist !

description; You were once a runner of the Labyrinth, one of the many that failed to complete the challenge in time-- but in a desperate plea to save your younger sibling from becoming a Goblin, you volunteered to stay in their stead. Too old to become a Goblin, you became a 'guide' meant to lead runners astray; the Goblin King should've known better to think you would've actually helped him in that way. Of course you'd disobey him, but for some reason, he doesn't seem all that bothered about it.

additional notes; heeey... how ya'll dooinnggg... I accidentally took a bit of a break because i was having seizures and needing to be hospitilized!! whoopsie!! even though i don't post on ao3, the curse still hit me. but i'm better now!!! and i finally finished this!! i hope i did well!!! i also literally lOVE david bowie, i also love 80s, dark fantasy, jim henson & jennifer conneoly and i blame it all on Labyrinth. or most of it at least. YIPPEE

warnings; possessive behavior, jareth being cryptic, jareth is non-human therefore does not abide by human culture/morals nor understand it fully, past kidnapping, reader took the place of their younger sibling after failing to complete their run, non-consensual body modification (reader unknowingly becomes a fae), restraints (reader's wrists/hands are tied), and if there's anymore i miss, please lmk!!! once i write something, i seem to instantly forget it </3

w/c; 4.1k

It was supposed to be a little joke-- you wishing your sibling away to The Goblin King. It was just a story, obviously; you'd said it to scare them, that's all.

You never thought it could actually be real, otherwise you wouldn't have done it. It was just a fairytale--! but you found it rather difficult to cling onto that idea when The Goblin King appeared before you, in the flesh; telling you to either run his Labyrinth or give up right then and there.

Go back to your life without your sibling, that he'd use his magic to fill the gap they left in everyone else's mind. Wipe their chubby little face from family photos, make it seem like their school desk was always empty; their half of the room would be gone, and it'd seem like it was always just your room.

But you'd still know, even if The Goblin King tried to wipe your memory or whatever, you know that, deep down, you'd still feel like something was wrong. A nagging itch in the back of your mind, that there was something missing.

It'd drive you mad, not knowing what that something was. But even more-so, if you did remember them, it'd drive you insane. The idea that you could've saved them from your stupid mistake, but didn't take the chance.

13 hours seemed like plenty of time to get it done; but The Goblin King played dirty. You should've known, that he wouldn't make it easy for you. When the clock chimed 13, appearing in front of your face, a pit formed in your stomach.

In a last ditch effort, as The Goblin King appeared before you once again, stood beside the intricate golden clock-- you begged, pleading that there had to be another way.

By the end of it, you traded places. Your freedom for your younger sibling's, who got to return home under the impression that this was all one big dream. Got to come home to their own room, no traces of you left; got to greet your parents as their only child.

Like it'd always been that way.

Obviously, you weren't so lucky. In place of your little sibling getting turned into a goblin, you were now tasked with being a 'guide' for the new runners.

You were supposed to guide them away from the Labyrinth, convince them that it wasn't worth it to continue on. That whoever they wished away was a lost cause, and there was no point in trying.

The Goblin King should've known better than to think you'd go along with it. You know that he's watching your every move, he has eyes all over-- in form of his subjects, the creatures lining the Labyrinth, his crystal balls, and probably some other means that you aren't yet privy to.

There's no solid way to tell how long you've been here, but you keep track of it by how many runners come and go. Time works strangely here, you're sure of it. Why wouldn't it? The Goblin King was already capable of so much more.

So far, you've encountered 7 runners. 3 of which claimed to be from the past, 2 who didn't speak any language you knew, and one that was from the near future. The 7th was eerily close to you, in a similar spot as you'd been.

Her name was Sarah, and she, by far, had been the one to make it the furthest. From what you've heard, she made it. She did what you couldn't, and saved her little brother at no expense to herself.

You wouldn't know, since you got a bit too bold in your way of helping her; you were 'deactivated', in a way. You just collapsed suddenly, on the groups way to the Goblin city. Fallen into a deep sleep,

One you, realistically, should not have woken up from. You weren't dumb, you knew what happened to those who disobeyed The Goblin King past the point of his own amusement.

And you knew that, at least on some level, he must've known you were helping the other runners. But he must've found your efforts entertaining, didn't see it as a real threat.

Not until you succeeded in what you thought was a pointless kind of endeavor, and actually helped a runner succeed where so many others had failed. You can't take all the credit--

But you're going to take the brunt of the punishment for it, you're certain. Yes, Hoggle had also been a large help to Sarah; so had Ludo, Sir Didymus, and Ambrosius;

In The Goblin King's mind, though, you were different. You were not his subject, you were not a creature of the Labyrinth. Before you arrived, he'd never had any issues like this. With his subjects defecting like they had,

You were the perfect scapegoat, you realize now. Sat in front of The Goblin King's throne, legs criss-cross-apple-sauce and your arms bound behind you with... vines, you believe; you've come to expect the worse.

For a while now, The Goblin King has been sitting in his throne, staring at you. Studying you, like you were the most interesting thing in the world. The throne room was eerily silent, only faint, very faint, sounds from outside could be heard from here.

And for a while, you'd been zoned out. Eyes on The Goblin King, but not looking at him. Eyes glazed over, hardly blinking-- off in another world. A world where you didn't do this to yourself, still living happily with your parents and younger sibling.

"Human's are stubborn little things, aren't they?" Is what broke the silence, and you jolted in place at the suddenness of it. Quickly, you blinked away any residual dryness from your eyes, before casting your eyes to the ground.

It was interesting, the stones were uneven and different colors. Some where more sparkly than others, some were a normal gray while others were fantastical shades of purple, or green, or something of the like.

You weren't here to admire the floor, though.

A few beats of silence passed, before you realized he wanted a response. Voice croaky, throat dry from fear, you quickly agreed "...Yeah." You don't know what he wants from you, in any sense of the word.

He leaned forward in his throne, arms folded and braced atop his knees. On reflex, you look up at him to see how his hair fell around his face, framing it like you imagine a halo would to an angel, in a tangential kind of way.

Which he very much isn't, but he was ethereal like one. That's how Fae used to lure in weary travelers and lost children in the woods, yeah? Their beauty?

He studied you for a few moments more, before suddenly saying "You've began to change." Well that was-- cryptic. And you should knew better than to prod, you really should--

And you do, but that doesn't mean to you heed it.

"How?" Something you couldn't quite name curled deep in your gut, a primal kind of terror that you've never felt before. Not like your are now. The Goblin King didn't respond immediately, and you feared the worse.

You feared that you'd ticked him off even more than you already did, with how you (supposedly) paved the way for a runner to conquer the Labyrinth. Something that didn't happen very often, you've been told.

It should've brought relief, when he opened his mouth to speak-- and didn't seem angry. But you can never tell with him, you think. Fae are tricky like that, or so you've heard. Despite being in his... employ(?) for however long you've been, you don't interact with him much.

This would be your... 4th, maybe 5th if you're being generous, time meeting with him since you failed your run at his Labyrinth. You don't have much to go off of for his behavior, and for all you know, he could be livid right now. Masking it-- you aren't sure.

In a shocking turn of events, he decided against what he was going to say. Instead, he closed his mouth and reached forward-- it took all your energy not to violently flinch back, as he cupped your cheek with his hand.

Tender in a way you didn't think he could be, especially not to you. it's a trick, something in the back of your mind hissed. he's tricking you.

But you can't do anything about it, so you just sit impossibly still-- like a statue, as you try to keep your trembling under check. Staring into the eyes of your inevitable end, like you were, was bound to make you nervous.

Slowly, gentle in the way you'd be gentle with something fragile-- like he was handling a priceless porcelain doll, delicate and easy to crack with one wrong move--, the Goblin King guided your head to the left.

He kept you in place for a bit, studying you-- he had no care to disguise what his intent was, so you caught on rather quickly. You aren't sure how long you two stayed like that, until he gently guided your head to the right.

what's the point? you think to yourself, swallow past the lump in your throat. what is he getting out of this?

The relief you felt when he pulled his hand back was almost crushing in its weight, you felt like you could collapse from it right then and there. But you knew that the worst has yet to pass, as you chance a glance up, and catch the Goblin King looking lost in thought.

Reclining in his throne once again, elbow propped on an arm of the ornate chair, chin propped up against his hand-- he simply stared at you. Hands curling along the hem of your shirt, you dare to ask "What are you going to do with me?"

You reason with yourself, that it can't already get worse than this. The Goblin King despises when people 'talk back to him', when they don't play along with his tricks and games. Acts amiable until you become a disturbance to his ever-important amusement,

But really, you must already be at rock bottom with him. You're a scapegoat, you'd figured that out quite some time ago; the quicker this is over with, the better.

The stone floor wasn't the most comfortable surface to sit on, and your muscles began to ache from sitting in one position for so long. Being as tense as you had been for the last... however long you've been stuck here. Again, not very easy to tell the passage of time in a place like the Goblin King's realm.

And to your blatant shock, the Goblin King didn't immediately snap at you for interrupting his thinking. Instead, he... smiled, and it made your skin crawl. Scared you more than if he'd just straight-up yelled at you, or turned you into a toad or whatever.

"That's what I'm deciding on, little one." He's called you that before, little one, so that's not what caught you off guard. Not as much as the tone he said it in,

Usually, he was mocking about it. Like he couldn't bother to even remember your name, let alone use it; it lent him an air of superiority, the inherent power dynamics to that of an elder and a younger.

It sounded almost fond, not entirely devoid of what you could interpret as mocking, but softened to the point where it could pass for some friendly teasing.

A part of you wanted to push him, to tell him 'well decide faster, i'm getting bored' just to get it over with. The anxiety of it all was awful, waiting for him to come to an agreement with himself. In the end, he was probably well aware of it,

He just wanted to drag your torment out even further. Wring the last few drops of entertainment from you before tossing you aside-- you'd more than ran your course. You were an outsider, something strange between a runner and an inhabitant of the Labyrinth.

But you didn't tell him to get on with it, for one reason or another. You continued to sit there, staring up at him-- hoping he'd come to a conclusion soon. Whatever he did, it wouldn't be pleasant for you.

Execution? Banishment to the Barrens outside of the Labyrinth's walls? Sentencing you to become a punishing bag/training dummy for the Goblin warriors? Leave you to rot in an oubliette?

Really, the options were endless. maybe that's why he was having such a hard time choosing between them.

Suddenly, he broke the silence by cryptically asking "Have you noticed anything different?", and it was far too vague for you to even know where to begin "I... pardon me?"

His laughter sounded like bells, light and airy and chiming-- it felt more like a funeral toll than church bells. Slow and damning, a sentence of your demise in-of-itself. "Ah, excuse me for being so general about it. Allow me to specify,"

Leaning forward from his throne once again, the Goblin King's smile resembled that of a wolf. It took everything in you not to lean back--Jesus, you'd never noticed how sharp his canines were. It was disturbing. Lending him more of an uncanny feel than before,

"Have you felt any different, as of late?" Waving his hand aimlessly by the side of his head, he was begin listing different examples of these 'differences' he was looking for. "Maybe you can see better, you don't need to sleep as much, can go longer without food or water...?"

Cautiously, you nodded your head. But that's just an affect of the Labyrinth, isn't it? Even when you were running it, you didn't feel tired or particularly hungry during it.

Then again, maybe it was the fear of your situation and desperation to reach the castle in time that kept your mind off of those subjects. The human physiology can do funny things under immense and prolonged amounts of stress, you know that much.

Grin stretching impossibly wider, his teeth on full display-- almost like he was baring them, making it even more difficult to stop from shaking under his suffocating presence-- he leaned back into his throne, head thrown back,

And he laughed. The ones he'd done before paled in comparison to this one, like comparing the fire on a matchstick to the one of a forest fire's. Full bodied and winding, almost like a hyenas. Edging on hysterical, like this was the funniest thing he'd ever encountered.

You don't know if that meant something good, or something terribly bad for your fate. On one hand, maybe you were so entertaining he's decided to let you live-- but then again, he could be tricking you.

It's hard to tell with the Goblin King, with any type of Fae, as you've come to learn. Even the lesser sorts, like the little Fairies that reside just outside the wall of the Labyrinth that communicate only in squeaks and other vocalizations-- are tricky sorts of creatures.

Ethereal and beautiful, you'd expect them to be kind and benevolent. Not to take any chance they get to sink their awfully sharp teeth into your palm; not to eat, maybe just to cause needless harm. Giggling about it after the fact, taking joy in the distress they cause.

And you had half the mind to stand and try to run-- your hands were bound, but your legs were not. It's not like that'd make much of a difference, because either way you can't escape whatever the Goblin King has planned.

But still, some part of your pride remained. Made your gut twist in discomfort as he laughed right at you, not a care in the world-- why was he laughing? It irked you, more than if you'd known what exactly he was laughing about.

When he was done with the hysterics, his head tilted down as he delicately wiped a tear from the edge of his eye, you felt something... shift. Practically saw it, in the strange emotion(s) he held in his gaze when he opened his eyes to look at you again.

"Do you know how long you've been here?" And this you can answer completely honestly, shaking your head slowly. Refusing to take your eyes off of him now, afraid that if you do, he'll do something when you aren't looking. Then you'll never see anything again.

"You've been here... hm, I suppose it's been a decade or so by your standards." No-- that can't be it. He's lying! Or-- well, Fae can't lie, but he certainly has to be stretching the truth.

But time works differently in the Labyrinth, so that can't be much cause for concern. Despite that explanation, you can't ease the worry, or the fear curling around every part of your mind.

Leaning forward again-- good god, this man doesn't like to stay still, does he?-- he puts his hand on your head this time. If he noticed your flinch when he did so, he didn't comment on it.

Didn't do anything further, just kept his hand atop your head as he continued speaking "I'm not one to keep track of those sorts of things; but it's odd, now that the fact has come to my attention. You stopped aging shortly after you began your... tenure."

He sounded far too smug, calling your semi-involuntary stay in his realm, under his control-- as a tenure. Like this was some run-of-the-mill office job.

Jackass.

When he doesn't continue, you grow bold as time drags on in silence. Asking in a biting tone "So? The Labyrinth handles time weirdly. That doesn't mean anything." He snorts "My, you act as if you know my Labyrinth better than I do."

You bit your tongue on that one, it felt too much like bait. Like he wanted to coax you into a greater offense, just so he could snap at you for it. But that would be too logical for him, if he wanted to be mad at you, then he would've already done so, yeah?

The Goblin King hummed, his fingers began to card through your hair in what you assume was meant to be a reassuring gesture, but it only put you more on edge.

"But no, it does mean something." You don't know how to feel about it, when he takes his hand away from your head just to stand from his throne. Beginning to pace around the room, you try to follow his movements all the while.

The sly smile on his face let you know that he was more than aware of that fact. He must be basking in it, your unease. Your fear of what was to come "Do you know what it means, since you seem to know so much about my Labyrinth?"

Yeah, he was definitely baiting you-- but for what? Surely not to get mad at you, because, again, if he wanted to do that than he already would have. what was the point of this all? You asked yourself before responding.

Not like you had much choice, either way he'll get what he wants. Whatever that may be, well, you'll just have to wait and see.

"...I'm becoming apart of the Labyrinth?" That made the most sense. it didn't scare you nearly as much as it should, the idea that you're becoming apart of this realm-- because for all intents and purposes, you may as well already be apart of it.

An outsider in technical terms, still far too human to be a formally regarded resident of the realm; but you know you're never going to leave here. Not alive, at least-- and you'll never be back to your actual life.

Becoming apart of Labyrinth might be a blessing in disguise, really. Hopefully you don't lose yourself to madness, though. You'd like to keep as much of your mind as possible.

Maybe he'll spare you because you're becoming one of his subjects. Perhaps he thinks that means you'll have to obey his every whim--

Suddenly, he stops dead in his track-- facing away from you at first, he slowly turns, that wide, wolfish grin still on his face as he tilts his head to the side "Hmm, not quite! Closer than I thought you'd be, though."

Heart pumping faster than it ever had before, your vision blurred as the Goblin stepped forward. The click-click-click of his heeled boots made your heartrate spike, and just as your ears began to ring; your felt his hand tuck itself beneath your chin, pull your head up so you could truly look him in the eye.

"No, darling little nestling." ...Well, that was new! Miraculously, you held back a frown at the, uh, pet name(?). For now, at least. "Something similar, though."

Why does he hate being straight-forward? Does he always have to drag it out like this-- seriously, it was beginning to get on your nerves. It always did, but then again, your meetings with him were never this long, so you were never exposed to it in large increments.

He pouted, overdramatic and obviously fake "Aren't you going to ask me what I mean?" You want to stay quiet for once, not give him what he wants. The way his fingers ever-so-slightly dig into the flesh of your jaw, however, makes you grit out a "What do you mean?"

"Hm." He said, like he was going to comment on the tone you used, but he didn't do anything further like you thought he would. His grip loosened up, but his hand never stopped holding your head in place "The Labyrinth's taken a liking to you, supposes I've been lonely as of late."

You always found it strange, how he speaks about the Labyrinth like it was a living thing. And maybe it was-- you couldn't be sure, of course the Goblin King would know. So it probably is sentient, at least to some degree, but to what degree? You don't know.

There's some other evidence to prove that the Labyrinth isn't entirely inanimate, piecing it together lends truth to the idea that it isn't just some building or piece of land. That it was an entity, one that the goblin King supposedly had a close bond with.

"You have the Goblins?" You couldn't stop yourself from saying it, quickly shutting your mouth after saying it-- like that'd do anything to undo what you just said. Luckily (or maybe unluckily, you can't be too sure), Jareth didn't take it to heart. He just huffed, and raised one brow "And you think they'd make good company?"

"How can you be lonely with so many creatures-- The Goblins are always hanging around you." You're done for-- or maybe not. The Goblin King is so weird, never know if he'll be angered when talked back to, or if he'll find it entertaining and let you off the hook.

He rolled his eyes, before crouching down-- now at eye level, he seemed even more intimidating than before, believe it or not. "None of them are like me, all too simple minded for me to truly consider them company."

"I'm not either. If I was just a bit younger, I would've been a Goblin." You aren't too sure about the cutoff range for a Goblin was, but you'd guess around... 7 or 8 at the oldest. Bit of a reach, 'just a bit younger' was, but it was still kind of true. There was no set meaning for 'just' after all, could mean whatever you wanted in the moment.

His grin faltered for a moment-- you almost missed it, too focused on your throat closing up from fear in the moment, but happened to catch it by pure coincidence. It was reinstated just as quickly as it'd began to fall, but you know you saw something.

"But you aren't. You're becoming a Fae," His hand shifted from holding your chin to cupping the side of your face. Too familiar, too kind-- gentle, warm, like he actually cared for you. "I can't just toss you out after that, can I? It's quite obvious that you'd make a fantastic heir when the time comes."

You're just so lost that you don't even bring up why you were here in the first place-- you helped a runner to the end. If anything, you'd be the worst fit for an.. an heir!

"I'm not--" You try to argue, the Goblin King frowns and scoffs, snapping his fingers. Suddenly, your mouth shuts so quickly that your teeth click together with the force of it. "Hush. Nothing you can say will sway me on this,"

Other hand cupping the other side of your face, he shook your head side-to-side for a moment, grin back on his face as he continued to observe you. "Yes, I think you'd do quite nicely. You'll be the most spoiled child in the realm-- can't have anything less for my heir, now can I? How does that sound?"

awful. you think to yourself, but you find yourself unable to speak against it.

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lovelettersfromluna · 2 years ago

Text

Supercut

Summary: “In my head, I play a supercut of us.”

an: halfway through writing this I decided that this isn't technically the finale hehe, more of cam girl!Ellie come, this is just the end of them being stupid. mwah mwah love you all more than you know.

Warnings: SMUT!! 18+, MDNI, angst, cam girl!ellie, Ellie is a real idiot in this one tbh, arguing, hurt/eventual comfort, toxic!Ellie, tribbing, making out, pet names, this one is a little short im sorry, lmk if I missed anything!!!

Read part 1 here, and part 2 here!

You know that gross feeling you get whenever you look back at old pictures or videos? You know, the one that you feel at the pit of your stomach, and it makes you really happy but also really sad? What's that called again?

Oh, right. Its melancholy

It's that feeling where you have a specific memory, and you know that no matter what, that time is gone. You can't replicate it, and the only place that it will live is in the confides of your own mind

And it sucks, because you don't even know when those moments are going to be made. There's no warning in your brain that the day you have planned is going to be so impactful to your life, that you will constantly chase that feeling, trying to replicate what it was that made that time so blissful so that you can feel that same warmth again.

You don't even get the chance to savor it while it lasts.

It almost makes you feel like you never wanted those times to happen to begin with, because you would have been fine without them. Sacrifice one of the times of your life so that you wouldn't have to spend countless nights laying in bed, only hoping that you will experience something that can even come close to how it all felt in the past.

Most of the time, it's easy to simply look back at those memories, feel that disgusting mixture of happiness and sadness, and then move on.

But for some god awful reason, you can't seem to do that this time.

This time, it lingers. It sits there, knocking at your chest, demanding to be acknowledged, to have all of your undivided attention, giving you no choice but to think about how fucked up this all is, how all of this was a complete and utter mistake, and how you have no way in taking it back.

It makes you wish time travel was real, yearning for some mad scientist to come out and say 'look everyone! you can reverse the mistakes you've made in the past!'.

But that doesn't happen, and you have no choice but to live with the icky feeling that settles at the pit of your stomach, and refuses to go away.

You weren't entirely sure what would happen after that night with Ellie, the night that she laid her weight on top of you, fucking you into her mattress over and over again, whispering the sweetest words into the nape of your neck, holding you the entire night through once you were finished, silence overcoming the space as you both fell into a blissful sleep.

It was hard to really tell where you both stood, but you weren't an idiot.

You knew, that you and Ellie had made love that night.

It was truly like nothing you had ever experienced. It was like you were constantly in that delicious state before sleep, where the world is soft, and everything is so comfortable right before you reach the point of unconsciousness, and everything feels so utterly perfect.

That's what it felt like, and you knew that from the moment Ellie had pulled you against her chest, and pressed a soft kiss to your head before you both fell asleep.

It happened, but God....you really wished it hadn't.

Because now? Things were so much fucking worse.

The feeling Ellie gave you scared you, and it made the ugliest thoughts fill your head when you woke up. You felt wrong, the skin on your body feeling filthy for doing something so intimate with her, with your roommate. You felt like you were taking something that wasn't yours, something that was never meant for you in that way.

So you ran.

Not far, of course. You were lucky enough to wake up before Ellie, gently peeling yourself from her body, your stomach sinking whenever she mumbled something gently in her sleep, her hands mindlessly reaching for your body before she fell back into her deep slumber.

You stood over her for a moment, watching as her eyes flickered in her sleep, lips parted as she snored gently. The feeling you had when you watched her sleep scared you, because you felt...like you wanted to stay with her, protect her, hold her in your arms and ignore the reality of how much this was fucking with your head, ignore the fact that she had simply wanted help with her work.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

You inhaled deeply before you left her room, closing her door gently before you quickly went to your bedroom, tugged on a t shirt and jeans before you grabbed your jacket and left the apartment.

You stayed out in the city all day, that day. You were like a ghost, trying to sort out the feelings that were settling in your chest, opting to simply ignore them instead. You made sure to leave your phone at home, knowing any texts from Ellie wouldn't do you any good with how you were feeling.

You didn't return home until later that afternoon, the sun setting, slowly casting the familiar darkness of night onto the city that you had come to know. You wished you could stay out longer, avoid the situation more, but it was only gettin colder, and you knew you had to go back to your apartment sooner or later.

When you got there, you were greeted by silence. You don't even hear Ellie's usual music playing from inside her room. You frowned softly, looking around a bit for any signs of the girl there. You looked down, finding that her leather jacket and helmet weren't where they usually were.

Ellie had left too.

You should've been happy at that, giving you even more time away from the girl than planned, yet you can't ignore the ugly tinge of sadness and annoyance that lingers at the back of your throat at the thought of here simply...leaving.

When you got to your room, you quickly grabbed your phone, wishfully thinking that there would be a string of messages from your roommate, asking you where you've gone, and if everything is okay between you both.

But when you unlock your phone, there's nothing there.

Not a single call, or a single text.

And you suddenly realized, that great minds think alike.

So, that's how things go with you and Ellie after that. There isn't a grand scene of love, where you both confess that you had both felt that way from the moment you set eyes on each other, there isn't a happily ever after where you become her girl, and she becomes yours. There isn't any of that, you two simply go from being friends, to barely being roommates.

You guys never speak about it. There's never a conversation that happens to even clear the air, pretending as though that night in her bedroom never happened.

There's a sense of hostility that follows after all of it happens, because Ellie won't even fucking look at you now, let alone stand in the same room as you. If you're in the living room, she's in her bedroom, and if you're in the kitchen, she leaves the apartment to go eat somewhere else.

It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, because you can practically feel the hatred she has for you radiating off of her body whenever she's around, and it's a shock to you that you two are still even living together. The Ellie that would once sit in the living room with you, practically tugging your body to sit on her lap, has succumb to someone who barely even exists to you anymore.

And it doesn't even end there.

Ellie never really had girls in and out of the apartment before, even before you and her started filming and having sex. She was pretty strict about letting others into her space, only ever bringing around girls she was dating long term, or her designated filming partner. You never had a problem with it, letting Ellie know time and time again that the place was half hers, and she could bring whoever she wanted.

But that seemingly changed after you and her happened.

Because suddenly, there's a different girl at your apartment every night, and Ellie is fucking them ten different ways into the next month.

And it always happens to be on the nights before you have to wake up early to go in and open the record store.

She becomes relentless.

You first noticed it happening when she breezed past you on a Friday night, clearly dressed up for a night out. You couldn't really ignore the way your core tightened at how fucking good she looked, the feeling quickly overshadowed by the way she yet again left the house as if you weren't sitting right there.

After getting yourself to bed for some much needed shut eye, you were rudely awakened by the sound of your front door slamming open, followed by the sound of tumbling and soft giggles..

Which then slowly turned into the sounds of Ellie fucking a girl in her bedroom that was directly across from yours.

And it kept going, night after night, the sound of Ellie pleasuring another woman was all that you were left with. Not even your headphones on full volume could drown out the banging of Ellies headboard against the wall.

You have never been a jealous person, especially when it came to Ellie and her sex life. However, after what happened between the both of you, and the very clear fact that Ellie was indeed doing it out of spite..

You really couldn't ignore the fire you felt at the pit of your stomach whenever you heard some random girl moaning out Ellie's name to the top of her fucking lungs.

It was then that you came to terms with the fact that enough was enough.

And you had to move out.

It wasn't long until you wouldn't leave your room.

You seriously couldn't stomach the way it felt, being ignored by Ellie, her constant avoidance a reminder of how much of a bad idea it was to agree to filming with her in the first place. If that wasn't enough, constantly seeing her leave the apartment to go meet up with another girl started to hurt even more.

And you really didn't want to face the truth behind that.

There was something unsettling that came with the feeling it gave you, because how could you go from not even batting an eyelash at Ellie walking out of her bedroom with Julia, to feeling tears prickle at the edge of your eyes every time you heard her fucking someone else across from your room.

Because it's cruel, and you know you were wrong to leave her the way you did, but she left too. You knew that what you did was wrong, but surely you didn't deserve all of this? And why would she even want to hurt you like this in the first place? Surely you were the only one that felt this ridiculous conflicting feeling that only brought you stress.

And yet, you only found new ways to torture yourself.

It happens one night after work, you're tired and all you want to do is peel off your clothes and hop into bed.

Opting to grab your laptop, wanting to watch some mindless video on the internet to lull you to sleep, you are suddenly faced with something that had been waiting to haunt you.

A link to one of your videos with Ellie was still on your browser.

She had sent it to you a while ago, wanting to show you how well it was doing, and all the positive feedback that it was receiving, you meant to watch it at the time, but never got around to it. Now, it was sitting there, collecting dust until you decided to open it.

And you knew you shouldn't have, because that chapter of your life has closed, and you intended to keep it fully closed.

But curiosity did kill the cat, didn't it?

You didn't think twice before opening it, the link quickly flashing across your screen and taking you to Ellie's page. The thumbnail is of the two of you, the last video you guys had filmed. Its you, straddling Ellie on her bed, her strong hands gripping your hips, probably forcing you to grind down on her lap.

You feel your core tighten at the sight of it.

You don't look at it much longer, or read the comments either, because you know they will all be asking where you've gone, and whether or not you were coming back.

Instead of closing your laptop and going to sleep like you should have, you kept scrolling through Ellies page. You come to find the usual, seeing that she had been live the past few nights, as well as posted a few videos for her viewers to catch up on, none of it out of the ordinary.

Something does catch your eye however.

Its a video that was posted a few nights ago, and you can barely make it out, but you can see a thumbnail of Ellies tattooed hand pushed between a girls thighs, doing what you can only assume to be fingering her.

And that girl is definitely not you.

She had found herself a new partner.

It’s no shock that she did. She’d been actively fucking other girls, someone in and out of your apartment almost every night, something that she had made sure to make very clear to you…

But there was just something about actually seeing it that hurt like hell

You slammed your laptop shut, a bit too hard, but you were suddenly filled with something foreign to you, something that you hardly felt for anyone.

Quickly grabbing you blankets and tugging them over your body, you squeezed your eyes shut to try and erase the image of Ellie with another girl from your brain, the image slowly tainting the deepest corners of your mind so that you won't ever be able to do just that.

You couldn't do this anymore.

Ellie was just as bad at talking about her feelings as you were.

Because the morning after you and her had sex, she wanted nothing more than to wake up with you, kiss you, hold you, move on from this agonizingly slow phase that you two were in, where she was allowed to do the things that she always wanted to do, just conditionally.

She wanted to wake up, and move forward whatever the fuck you and her were stuck in.

But you didn’t. You simply woke up before her, and left, leaving Ellie to feel like a fucking idiot.

Because maybe she read into the entire thing wrong, maybe you didn’t feel anything for her, maybe you really did only see her as your roommate and nothing more than that….

Maybe that look in your eye that she was sure she saw when she was fucking you, was all in her head.

So when you ran, she did too.

And soon, Ellie’s sadness turned into anger, and all she wanted to do, was hurt you the same way that you hurt her.

She wanted you to hear her with other girls, she wanted you to see her with other women on her streams, she wanted you to see what it was that you’d lost, what you’d stupidly lost when you decided to run away from her the morning after it all.

But maybe she’d taken it too far.

Because Ellie’s anger turned into something that she didn’t want, because no matter how much noise she made, how good she tried to look whenever she was getting ready to go out with some random girl, no matter what she did to make you jealous, you never batted an eyelash her way, you never once reacted to anything that she did that was directed at you for the sole purpose of getting your attention.

And not only did it further prove to Ellie that you didn’t give a fuck about her, but it also made her so much more frustrated with you.

Did you seriously not have a fucking soul? Could you not even acknowledge her? Hurt for her? Feel hurt by her? Why wasn’t it working? Why weren’t you…..why couldn’t you just…..

Why couldn’t you just fucking want her.

Ellie was truly at her last straw, because being with other women was something she already didn’t like doing, but it was slowly eating away at her, picking away at her insides and making her feel hollow inside, a shell of who she used to be when she was with you.

And when she didn’t think things could get any worse, she found you doing something she only saw in her nightmares.

She hadn’t really noticed it at first, but slowly, your belongings began to disappear from the apartment. Particularly in the living room.

Your stack of blankets would get smaller and smaller as the week went by, the dorky little figures you had littered around different shelves and the tv stand started to disappear too, little parts of you started leaving, one by one, and Ellie was too far up her own ass to even notice.

Maybe if she had, she could’ve convinced you to stay.

In all honesty? Ellie probably wouldn’t even have realized you were leaving until it was too late, the girl far too consumed in her little revenge streak to notice the slow but sure disappearance of you, the way the remnants of you slowly began to leave one by one.

It just so happened that on a day that you were packing up some of your boxes, you had left your door cracked open, thinking that Ellie wasn’t home.

She was passing by your room when she heard a soft huff, the sound quickly catching her attention as she slowly walked towards your door, catching sight of the various opened boxes scattered around your room that was already looking sparse due to packing it all the way.

That. That was the straw the broke the camels fucking back.

Because suddenly, Ellie is pushing your door open, the force from her hand making it slam against your wall, the loud sound making you flinch to look over in her direction with wide eyes.

“Ellie?” You question softly.

The sound of her name rolling off your tongue makes a shiver run down her spine, because god….had she missed the way you said it.

Her eyes are angry, eyebrows furrows together as her eyes scan your room, looking at the boxes, your half empty closet, your empty book shelf.

“What the fuck is going on here?” She spits out, her tone making you wince slightly. It’s the first time you’ve heard her speak to you in almost an entire month and it’s so fucking hostile, so pointed.

This really wasn’t how you wanted this to go.

You let out a soft sigh, bringing your palm up to ran along your face as you look down at the boxes as well, heart sinking at the thought of going.

“Look…Ellie…I was planning on telling you…I just-“ she’s quick to cut you off, walking further into your bedroom as her eyes scan the walls, watching as they began to grow emptier and emptier the further in she looked. She scoffs, her green eyes finally landing on yours, her smoldering grip enough to take your breath away.

“Bull-fucking-shit. You weren’t going to tell me anything, and you know that” she argues, nostrils flared as she stares at you with eyes filled with that same glare of hate that you saw every time she’d glaze over you within recent weeks.

And she was right. You had no intention of telling her anything. She would learn that you were gone once you were gone, because that’s what you did.

You always ran.

You let out a sigh of defeat before you step away from her, fully intending on continuing packing. You didn’t want this to stop you, or put anymore obstacles in your way of leaving. This was what you had to do, and you knew that.

“I can’t stay here anymore, Ellie…things are fucked up between us and I just…I won’t deal with it anymore” you mumble out, your voice tired, weak. A clear indication of how you felt towards the entire situation. It was draining you, and you knew that for your own well being, you had to get out.

The sight of you packing as if she wasn’t in your room, trying to figure out why you were leaving, makes her even more upset. It blinds her from your words, from the weakness in your voice, in your appearance. She ignores it because the anger she feels is much easier to indulge in.

"So that's it? You're just gonna leave? Without saying anything to me?" she barks out, her tone making you feel worse than you already do.

And then it all stops, because why the hell are you feeling bad when this isn't even your fault.

You slowly turn to Ellie, your eyebrows furrowed as you stare at her in disbelief, cocking your head to the side slowly before you start to speak.

"Are you listening to yourself right now, Ellie? Do you ever stop to think for one second that not everything is about you?" The tone of your voice is so calm, words so slow and articulated, it barely even sounds like you're mad.

And it scares you, and it scares her.

You don't stop there, you couldn't even if you wanted to.

"This wasn't my idea, none of it was. I agreed to help you because you asked it of me, and I clearly have no fucking sense of boundaries. I get that what I did was wrong, and I shouldn't have left you that morning, but no one is fucking perfect" You defend, your own breath become more shallow the more you speak, your anger and frustration finally rising to the surface.

"This isn't good for me. You aren't good for me, you've been fucking different girls every goddamn night just to hurt me, and you're a fucking liar if you deny it." you spit out, making Ellie wince slightly, yet her eyebrows never unravel from how furrowed they are, and the frown on her lips is still there.

When you said it out loud though, she realized just how bad it was.

"I did it to get your fucking attention...not to hurt you" She barely whispers, staring down at you. You can't help but laugh softly, scoffing at her words before you give her a gentle sigh.

"Oh it got my attention, Ellie. It got it so much, that I can't bare for you to have it anymore..." you mumble out softly before you turn away from her, unable to stare into her eyes for any longer.

"I don't know what happened between us that morning...but I want nothing more than to just..forget about it all" You let out meekly, feeling yourself reduce to that small ball of insecurities once again.

And Ellie finally softens when she sees it, because you never let your guard down this much.

She inhales deeply, taking a step towards you, trying to get closer to you. You don't step back, or flinch, you simply ignore her, carrying on to pack your things as if she wasn't there, standing above you.

"You hurt me too...you know" she mumbled out, her voice finally dropping that hostile tone that she had when she first walked in. You're quick to turn towards her, spinning around to set your eyes that were quickly growing redder by the second.

"And Im sorry!" you shout, your voice going the loudest it had yet, it makes Ellie flinch.

You sigh out tiredly before you bring your hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. "If I could go back and do it differently..I would..but too much has happened, Ellie...I don't..." you trail off, struggling to find the proper words before you sigh softly, finally speaking again.

"I don't see you the same way, anymore" you mumble out.

This makes Ellies heart seize up, because what do you mean by that? What are you trying to tell her?

You move to sit on your knees, you bare legs coming in contact with the cold, wooden floor as you begin packing more things in a different box. There's no more fighting, there isn't anymore arguing, or anger, it's just silent, the occasional sound of your clothes hitting each other when they hit you settle them in the box. You don't even bother to turn around and yell at Ellie, or even tell her to get out.

And maybe thats what's hurting her the most. You never yelled, you didn't cry or beg, you didn't do anything when she knew you heard her, saw her with those other girls. All of them were nothing to her, sorry attempts at trying to grab hold of your attention again, get you to show just a little bit of fucking anger, so that she knew you still felt something for her, so that she knew she still had you.

But it was clear to her with the way that you disregarded her after it all, as if she didn't even matter, that she didn't have you anymore.

Did she ever? Did she ever have a chance with you? Was she all in her head? Were you simply just a good friend? A decent roommate who promised to help her out when she needed help? Was all of it just....

Pretend?

She feels like she's running out of options, because she assumed that if anything, you two would fight and end up in a heated, passionate love making session where you two would admit what you had felt all along.

But Ellie was slowly coming to the conclusion that she was being fucking delusional.

Her decisions didn't let up thought, because soon, she's on her knees next to you, grabbing your wrists gently in her hands and pulling you to face her. She feels her heart break when you refuse, trying to pull away from her grasp, mumbling soft complaints of how you needed to finish packing.

When she finally tugs you a bit harder, forcing you to look at her, she feels the weight of her mistakes finally settle on her chest, because you're crying. Your eyes are puffy and your cheeks are stained, and it's all her fucking fault.

She bites back a whimper, tugging her bottom lip into her mouth as she feel her own throat burn with tears.

"Hey...look at me...come on...where's my pretty girl...come on.." She tries over and over again, voice breaking, making you whimper as you try tugging your arms from her grasp.

"Don't you see how fucked up this is, Ellie? We were just screaming at each other and now...now you're calling me your girl" you plead with her, the words bubbling past your lips as the mere sight of here forces more tears from your eyes, making it harder and harder to talk.

Ellie can't talk her way out of this one, not with you. She knows there isn't much she can do, or say, and she feels like she's all out of options, because you're right. All of this is so fucked up, and it makes her insides burn because she's hurt, and you're hurt, and it feels like there's nothing she can do to fix it.

She does the only thing she feels will work. She kisses you.

It's filled with everything. Passion, longing, happiness, sadness, anger, everything that had been pent up between the both of you is poured into the kiss, and it's enough to make you feel dizzy.

But you don't pull away, you melt into her, just like you always do. She feels it too, feels the way you let you defenses down, taking it as a chance to tug your wrists up and around her neck, her own arms resting on your hips as she pulls you closer, her lips working against yours.

"Im....fuck...im so sorry, baby....never meant to hurt you" She mumbles against you, her words coming out as a breathy sigh against your lips, making you moan softly against her. She pushes her tongue into your mouth, giving your waist a soft squeeze.

"M'sorry too..Ellie....shouldn't have left..." You whine against her, and she's quickly shaking her head, gently tugging you up to stand with her before she's pulling you too your bed.

"Just...lemme take care of you..alright" She hums against your lips before she gently pushes you back to lay on your bed, her own body crawling over yours, resting her weight on your body as she goes back to kissing you.

It's so slow, and sensual, and it feels like the entire world is quiet, like you're fading into her, and she's fading into you, and you both are becoming one. It feels so fucking right, and the hole that had been growing in your chest is finally filling up, the essence that is Ellie slowly acting as the medicine that you needed all along.

Ellie rolls over, gripping your hips and tugging you to straddle her waist as she lays back against your bed. Her green eyes eat you up, strong hands already running along your hips and thighs, giving you a squeeze before her hand creeps up your t shirt, pushing it up a bit before it slips under, grasping your boob and massaging it in her hands.

"Fuck...look at you...missed you so much, pretty girl....you can't even imagine.." She sighs softly under her breath, eager hands roaming your body hungrily, as if they've deprived of you for so long, missing the way your skin spilled out from under her hands, always so responsive for her.

You tug your bottom lip between your teeth as you watch her practically worshiping your body with her hands, a soft whine leaving your lips as you rest your hands on her hips, pushing up her t shirt a bit as your thumbs rub small circle into her pale hips.

Her hands rest on your hips, forcing you to grind down onto her lap, making you whine softly, the feeling her her sweats bunching up right at your core, your cotton pajama shorts leaving much too room to be exposed by her touch.

She sits up, grabbing the hem of your shirt before she tugs it off your body, groaning softly as her lips immediately latch onto your nipple, biting and sucking. You moan softly, arching your back a bit and forcing more of you to her mouth, hands wrapped around her neck, toying with the hair at the nape of her neck.

Ellie pushes you back, resting you to lay down before she tugs your pajama shorts and panties off in one go. You promptly spread your legs for her, letting her settle between them, the small gesture making her groan, her strong hands gripping your thighs, grinding against your bare pussy.

"Fuck...such a good girl for me..." she sighs softly against your lips.

You whine, reaching down and tugging at her own pants, fumbling with the waistband of her shorts that hung oh so fucking low.

"Off..wanna feel you.." You moan softly against her, resulting in a soft chuckle from her. She presses one last kiss to your lips before she nods.

"Whatever you want baby...fuck" she mumbles softly under her breath when she pulls back to start tugging her own clothes off, catching a glimpse of your soaking wet pussy and naked body in the dim light of your room.

She looks so fucking desperate, nearly tripping over her sweats as she tugs them off, tossing them somewhere else in your room. It's like she can't get the clothes off quick enough, immediately settling between your legs again once she's naked, groaning softly a the feeling of your pussy against her body.

Her eagerness makes you giggle, and Ellie feels like she's on cloud fucking nine when she hears it, so soft and gentle. She pouts softly, staring down at you while she's already moving to position her pussy over yours, tossing your leg over her shoulder.

"What are you laughing at...hm?" She questions softly, her hips slowly moving against yours as she lets out a soft moan, eyes never leaving yours.

You can barely get the words out, eyes rolling to the back of your head as you feel her slick pussy against yours, clits bumping together in a way that has you nearly salivating.

She chuckles above you, a soft groan following the noise as her lips graze along your calf.

"Thats what I thought...fuck....your pussy is too fuckin good, princess' She moans out softly, her hips moving slowly against yours.

You moan loudly, your hand coming to grip her thigh as you move your hips in tow with hers.

"F-fuck, Ellie....you...that feels so good" you babble out, your other hand gripping the sheets beneath you as she fucks her pussy down onto yours.

Ellie smirks softly as she watches you, watches the way you fall apart beneath her.

"Thats my fuckin girl....you're the only fucking one I need...fuck...." She groans, turning her head a bit to kiss your calf again before her teeth sink into you, biting and sucking your skin, making you moan loudly.

You feel her speed up, hips growing desperate as she chases both hers and your orgasm, making your head spin as your nails dig into her thigh, sure to leave marks in the morning.

"Im....god...Im close Ellie.....fuuuckkkk....dont stop" you gasp out, low, lust filled eyes staring up at her as she continues bullying your pussy with hers, both of your arousal squelching together, making the most explicit noise you've ever fucking heard.

"Come on baby...want you to cum for me...can you do that? Fuck...I feel it too....that's it, pretty girl.." Ellie is babbling too, her lust clouded braun barely uttering words that are comprehensible.

You see her eyes squeeze shut, her moans getting louder and more high pithed, sounding so fucking pretty above you.

You feel like you'll explode, your back arching as the familiar feeling settles in your core, your pussy getting wetter and wetter as you feel your orgasm grow closer.

"A-ah! Ellie!" You scream out as you come undone beneath her.

And she isn't far behind, leaning down and crashing her lips against yours, forcing you to swallow her moans as she cums hard against your pussy, the both of you breathing hard as her hips sputter, pussy sliding around sloppily against yours as she becomes so fucked out, that she loses her rhythm completely.

And just like before, she lays there, on top of you, trying to catch her breath, face tucked against your neck, hands keeping you close, as if you'll disappear in thin air at any given moment.

There's so much going through your head, trying to figure out what it is that happens from here, where you and here go, what steps to take after, all of which come up with blank answers whenever you try to figure out what to do.

You assume she will fall asleep on you as she did before, knock out immediately and leave you to lay there with your plaguing thoughts.

She doesn't, though. You hear a soft hum from her lips, her hands squeeze your waist gently, before she speaks against your neck.

"I love you...so much.." she sighs out, her voice breaking a bit as if shed break down at any given moment.

You aren't sure what you'll do from this point on, but you do know one thing.

You won't run away from Ellie, ever again.

#ellie williams #ellie williams smut #ellie williams x y/n #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x you #ellie tlou #ellie x y/n #ellie the last of us #ellie x you

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noonew1lleverask · 2 months ago

Text

Among the Words I’ve Written to You

Backstory/Intro: You left, and you regret it every day. After your kidnapping, your mind was steadily decaying, yet Spencer stayed steady by your side. Well, as steady as he could be. But steady could only keep you afloat for so long. After a case gone so horribly wrong due to your building psychosis, you ran away, left with just a letter on Hotch’s desk. Your apartment sold, your desk cleaned, and no trace of where you were and where you’d be going. It devastated the team, but Spencer? Spencer was ruined. Two years later, you only returned because of Spencer’s imprisonment, and rejoined the team. The aftermath of everything is… awkward.

Warnings: talk of psychosis, but not specified. mediations but not specified. very brief talks of suicidal thoughts and self harm. small little thing about god (but like ethel cain type beat). not very proofread. reader has a button collection :D. i think that’s it, but if i missed anything lmk baby girl.

WC: 2765

You just felt…wrong. You supposed it was normal to feel “wrong” after what happened to you. It’s what your therapist said— a bureau appointed shrink that scribbled down your problems onto a legal pad each session, and wrote you a new prescription by the end of them. You couldn’t be bitter, truly, you had no reason to be when she was meant to be helping you heal. She was working through your trauma with you, assuring that, yes, it’s okay to sometimes hear your abductors voice; it’s okay to fear the bed you were taken from and feel such revulsion when even passing your bedroom door; thoughts of only escaping the dread through death— all so very normal, and ”all part of the healing process,” she’d say, and place her hand on your trembling knee. “That’s why I’m here— to help you out, Y/N.”

Well aren’t you doing fucking fantastical, a part of you wanted to say.

The larger, more desperate to remain— at least sane by appearance— merely shut your mouth and swallows down the next pill giving you brief reprieve from the nightmare consuming your everyday life. Drawing away friends, corrupting your soul, tarnishing your work ethic— oh, you were fine. You’d be fine, right? That’s what happened, that’s how it worked. You’d be fine in a couple months, with the kidnapping and torture and brutality feeling millions of miles away. Thoughts of self-harm? I hardly know her!

But, oh, you knew her. You knew her calling well; her beckoning. Her pained moans sounded pleasurable to you— in a masochistic way, you craved to mimic her sounds and writhe; if only to divert the pain elsewhere, away from your mind and to something far more substantial; your body. You were already falling apart, what more was there to give up? Hygiene, hunger, hydration, sleep. You’d shunned them by now, like a father, you’d turned your back and left without a word, leaving the needs to fend for themselves, arguing which should be taken into consideration today, as the sun rose upon a new morning. You were not in your bed. You hadn’t slept in your bed in weeks; it was still a crime scene. Somewhere, in some file shoved between identical Manila folders, neatly clipped with a paperclip— pictures of your apartment rested, memories of the blood on your pillowcase and sheets, echoes of the struggle that occurred— a battle you’d lost, you’d so foolishly allowed yourself to lose. And now; now; now; there were consequences. Deep, bleeding, throbbing consequences.

Consequences not even the one you loved most could tightly stitch back up.

Though he tried— Spencer had tried— and he was still actively trying.

You had no idea why. Why he stayed. Why he tried. ‘Why’ sang throughout your head, rapping at the door, tapping at the window. Like that raven in that poem

Why? Why? Why? Why?

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

… … … …

Looking back through your journal entries, you frown. Gosh, you were really losing it then, weren’t you? Your thumb presses into the corner of the small, leather-bound journal, flicking through the pages until it stops near the middle. Your handwriting is messy, but it was so much worse when you were working through trauma. It’s practically unreadable. Except for one line, pretty curly with its flicks;

i’ve come to realize i fear not god, but if he watched who i became, and did nothing

i fear he left me long before i suspected

“Jeepers,” you wince, shutting the broken down book and shoving it to the bottom of the box. You might… leave that one out. Maybe accidentally toss it.

Dust molecules dance in the air, spotlighted by the setting sun’s rays as they fall through the window panes, dousing the room in this romantic orange that kisses the apples of your cheeks and calls you ‘darling’ as it drapes over the back your grey sweater, and drapes over the filled bookshelves, dragging the shadows of crisp paperbacks and stoic hardcovers and crumbling tomes and worn notebooks across the jutting lip of the shelves they’ve been shoved into and told was their home.

You’ve never had a home office before. You’re very excited to have one now, but a part of you— a realistic portion— knows it will become storage for the books you will continue to purchase, and random scraps of junk you swear will eventually be turned into sustainable art projects. In your old apartment, where those haunting memories are now buried beneath an older woman named Gertrude Billows, you usually just used your coffee table for work. This will likely be the outcome again, but a person can be optimistic, can’t they?

A knuckle gently knocks at the doorframe, and you over your shoulder from your seated position on the scratchy carpet to see Spencer leaning tentatively against it. His eyes are wide, drinking in every inch of you like you’re prone to vanishing like the dust particles swirling by your head. You are; in a way.

“How’s it… hanging?” He asks, attempting a more casual stance. Spencer goes to lean his shoulder against the oak frame, but his sweater is too soft and the wood is too slick. He stumbles to the side, and catches himself on your new desk, knocking his hip into the corner.

“Ow!” He hisses, planting his feet down firmly and rubbing the injury.

Gate control theory, your brain supplies. There used to be a time when you’d spit out the psychological term, and watch with delight as his eyes lit up, and his mouth moved of its own accord; releasing facts like a broken dam. You bite your tongue this time, if only to lessen your laugh.

“Are— are you okay, Reid?” You ask, covering your tilting lips.

Spencer looks up, his eyes softening at your stifled laugh. A heaviness weighs behind them, deep and dragging; remorse dancing along the edges of his hazel gaze. It sobers you quite quickly, but your shoulders still quiver.

“I’m, uh, I’m alright.” He clears his throat, and straightens his spine. “How are you? Need any help in here?” Through the doorway, you can hear laughter. You can tell which team member it is based on the laugh. Tara; curving and pleasant like an alto carrying the harmony. She’s no doubt made a cheesy ‘your mom’ joke to Luke. And you’re sure you’d be laughing, too.

You shake your head, and reply with a shrug. “I’m pretty okay. Excited.” Your fingertips still trail the edge of the box filled with your journals. Recollections of your insanity— all twelve copies. When staying with your father, he suggested publishing them.

“Make a buck off your crazy,” he said, scooping honey bunches of oats onto his spoon. They’re soaked in milk. Yours are less soggy. “ ‘S what your Aunt Quincy did, and now she’s talkin’ at brunches.”

“Dad, those brunches are for nursing homes. For the hard of hearing.”

He’s silent for a moment, crunching on his spoonful of cereal, though you’re not sure where that crunch can even come from. “Well,” he begins, “She can’t hear over the money she’s drownin’ in.”

Maybe you should. Label it a psychological study under a pseudonym so no one investigates whether or not you should be allowed back in the bureau. You’re not entirely sure what Hotch did two years ago to keep the bureau from entirely eradicating your ability to rejoin the team— with the proper qualifications redone— but you’re not one to read too far into it. Maybe it’s because you left of your own accord, cowardly dropping off a letter on Hotch’s desk when he was gone, and leaving the next morning— intentionally unaware of the emotional destruction you could potentially bring. How bad could their pain be compared to yours?

You snap out of your head when Spencer’s shadow falls over you. He’s leaning over, looking into the box you absentmindedly trace the edges of. With his hair longer, it falls over his brows and shrouds his eyes from your view, and you’re unable to make out what he thinks of the twelve notebooks filled with your nervous breakdown. All of it, listed here, are the reasons you left him two years ago.

He sighs deeply, wearily— the weight of two years and a wrongful imprisonment on his drooping shoulders— which gives you some insight into his expansive mind. “I should’ve known.”

Here we go.

“I should’ve seen the signs—“

“You didn’t because you were rationalizing, you were trying to maintain peace, trying to keep us—“ You attempt, but he’s quick, and his voice is firmer than you’d expected it to be.

“No, Y/N, I was stupid.” No, he’s not firm. He’s wavering on a foundation that appears strong. Your heart aches, and the instinctual reaction is to touch him, to pull him down and rest his head in your lap, but you can’t. And it’s whose fault? YOURS! Maybe that should be a gameshow, too— Y/N’s Fault or Not?

You look down to the journals in the shadowy box— the sun does not touch them— their dulled covers and cracked spines, edges worn down by time and delusion. On each, white paint labels their number. Twelve journals. You’re not sure how you recovered. Medicine’s a miracle, as a… you don’t know— doctor? A doctor probably said something like that when medication was in its infancy.

Your fingers leave their nervous perch on the edge of the box, and you reach down into the box. It feels like you’re reaching forever, shoving your arm into a pit of quicksand, destined to be sucked in and suffocated. Spencer told you that’s not actually how quicksand works. The buoyancy of quicksand is denser than water, so your body would partially float, not sink. And there’s no real suction, but it’s the only imagery your mind can draw up as you tug your arm back, a journal in hand.

The fifth journal.

Your chest squeezes tightly as you hold it out to him, constricting and shriveling— forcing out air faster than you can take it in. In the back of your mind, a warning screams— blares, screeches; NO! NO! NO!— over and over again, determined to deafen you to your own stupidity.

He takes it.

The siren in your head stops because the threat gone. Because the crisis wasn’t averted.

“I think you should read this one.”

Spencer observes the journal in his hands, turning it over delicately like it’s the most delicate glass— the slightest pressure, and it will shatter into a million pieces. He used to hold you like that. “W-why?” He asks, whipping his head to you. You can see his eyes now, as he straightens, but you can’t read him. Not anymore. Because you’re not sure who he is anymore, just as you’re unsure who you are.

You shrug, attempting nonchalance in a situation that demands emotion. You’ve learned emotion leads to decay. Like rust— if left out in the elements for too long, it will rust, as you have. You’ve been left in the elements for far too long. “I think…” You pause, hesitating. You don’t want to say this wrong— screw it up, as you’ve done since you’ve been back. You stand up from your position on the floor, your knees and backs of your thighs aching from your position. You both have grown so much, for good and for worse.

“You always wanted to understand… why I did… what I did.” He tenses, very visibly, and holds the journal tighter. He used to hold you tighter like that, too, when you’d bring up sensitive topics. “And I feel that might be more cohesive than others. But, I do start talking about unicorns and an elusive narwhal I swore I saw in a dream once.”

That gets a smile from him, and even a short laugh. Your heart lifts, just slightly, and you smile, too. It’s a genuine smile, because he smiled. How pathetic could you get? Maybe that should be a game-show… Spencer’s eyes fall to that smile, the thing more elusive than your dreamed narwhal, and his features soften into what seems to be content. Or regret. You’re forcing yourself to see the former.

“Y/N I… I can’t read—“

“I want you to.” This time, you cut him off, your voice firm. Or trying to be. You’re both on a very unstable foundation— rocking side to side, both knowing you should reach out, but too scared one wrong movement will send you both crashing to the ground.

“It’s only fair after what I did.”

What you did.

You dislike thinking of it often, but it slaps you in the face every morning when you walk into work, seeing him at his desk. He sits more rigidly now, you’re sure, and he takes his coffee black. He takes his coffee darker than the midnight sky, and sips it quickly without wincing. It slaps you in the face when you sit beside each other in the jet, and his arm brushes yours, but makes no more movement than that. It slaps you in the face when he reaches out and stops, just as you do, and you’re both so aware of it. It slaps you in the face when you’re out for drinks and he doesn’t lean over to make up stories about the frequent bar patrons. It slaps you in the face now, and it’s a hard slap when he looks back down to the notebook like it will answer everything.

It won’t, but it will answer as much as you can’t bring yourself to say.

Spencer opens his mouth— pink lips parting— and you want to know what he’s going to say. Force it back or take it with reluctant gratefulness?

You never find out what he says, because Penelope shrieks from downstairs, calling, “Y/N! Luke’s messing with your button collection!”

Luke responds, as if just replying to Penelope, but his voice is raised, too, so it’s obvious he wants to be heard as well. “I am not! Penelope’s trying to steal your cat buttons!”

The bubbly analyst gasps, horrified at the accusation. “I- I am not! Watch yourself, newbie, or I’ll—“

“Agh!”

Assumedly, she swats Luke with some unassuming weapon. Maybe your toilet brush shaped like a cherry.

A familiar laughter falls over you and Spencer, and you look to each other, the tension diminished just slightly. You’ve missed his smile. You’ve missed him.

You hope your journal will communicate as much.

… … …

When Spencer arrives back at his apartment, it’s far later than he suspected he’d arrive. You always draw him in, somehow. Your orbit is strong, and undeniable. Even while you were gone, his planet followed the circle you’d left behind. He knows that’s not how gravity works, but you have a way of changing the laws of nature. At least his laws.

The journal is tucked in the pocket of his coat, and he has not forgotten it. He’s thought of it all night, even touched his fingers to it when least expected, not even realizing he was seeking it out. Maybe it’s a way to touch you again, after so long. If he just… pushed down his anger, his paranoia— maybe one day he can.

Letting out a long-suffering sigh, he unwinds his coat from his neck, his fingers trailing across the purple fabric you used to tug him close by, and he hangs it up. Then his coat. He draws out the journal from the pocket and goes to sit on his couch, sinking down into the creaking leather and huffing.

He stares at it for a long time.

He doesn’t open it. Well, he does, but only to the first page.

i fear not god—

And he shuts it.

It’s violating, in a way, and you want him to violate you? It’s disturbing, and it must be masochistic. But, that determination in your eyes— the very clear and obvious desperation for him to understand why you left him so suddenly and cruelly…

Spencer shakes his head. Tonight is not the night to crack open your psychosis journal like beer. Maybe one day, when he feels less high from your proximity; less manic from your proximity. Standing up, his knees and lower back ache, and he realizes how much they’ve aged since you’ve left. Far too much, it seems.

He takes the journal to his room and sets it down, his fingers lingering on it, on the white painted number on the front; #5.

Spencer isn’t sure what compels him, but he picks up the book and presses it to his lips. A part of him hopes you feel it. A part of him hopes one day he can kiss you again— feel the warmth of your skin and taste your lipgloss instead of dust. Spencer— feeling just as pathetic as before— sets down the journal down again, settled beside the small collection of buttons he’s procured in the last two years, and slips off to bed to be haunted by you.

THANKS FOR READING! YOU MADE IT! Hope you enjoyed, and have a wonderful morning, afternoon, or night. I love you, and you will be okay I promise, and Jesus loves you <3 Again, THANK YOU! Even if you just skimmed it :P

#spencer reid x reader #spencer reid angst #spencer reid x you #criminal minds #x reader #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid x fem!reader #spencer reid x gn!reader #spencer reid #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds x you #criminal minds x reader #post prison reid #criminal minds angst

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if-loves · 7 months ago

Text

saviour

// Yandere Sunday

sum: Sunday firmly believes that only you can save him.

wc: 955

warnings: ooc sunday prob, some description of drowning

a/n: tried to make this as gn as possible, if there’s any use of gendered pronouns pls lmk! and sowwy for not posting!! hope everyone got sunday!!! and happy (early) new year!!!

likes & reblogs appreciated :)

You’ve always been a particularly devoted member of The Family. You cared not for being noticed or rewarded for your efforts, often blending in the background and doing your work behind the countless screens of Penacony. Backstage, away from the suffocating and headache-inducing fluorescent lights and cameras and worst of all the eyes of the audience, was your calling. You liked hiding.

But Sunday has always been a sharp man. He has always noticed the smallest details, the countless people who drifted between the realm of dreams and reality, and the people who kept the delicate peace. He has always noticed you.

With meticulous planning, he orchestrated your many meetings. The first was what he called an accidental run-in, the second a pleasant coincidence, the third a professional meeting with the head of Oak Family. With an innocent smile and gentle touches, he inches himself closer to you, his gloved hands brushing yours as you tell him of the many requests and suggestions proposed by guests and residents.

Sunday thinks he could fall into your eyes and drown in them. He wouldn’t struggle, is what he believes. He’d embrace the water filling his lungs, the feeling of his airway being constricted, and the darkness that consumes him once the flow of oxygen comes to a full halt. Did you feel the same, for him?

You’re good at keeping a professional front. If his light touches are affecting you somehow, you don’t show it, instead carrying on the conversation despite his dry replies. If anything, he thinks you want this meeting to be over and done with as soon as possible. The thought makes him feel sad, if not a little angry.

“And that is a summary of the most common requests and suggestions that long-time guests and residents have made. If you have the time, I would recommend reading them over individually, however I am aware that you are very busy, so I hope that the summary provides you with sufficient information in order to consider implementing the feedback from our guests and residents.” You look at him expectantly, the neatly stapled papers pushed to his side. He wishes you’d look at him differently.

“Thank you for your work. I will be sure to find some time to read over these reports, and you will be the first to know of the feedback that Penacony will implement.” He smiles at you as warmly as he can, but he knows it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Whether you notice or not, or whether you even care, is beyond him, and it fills him with frustration. He’d do anything for a chance to pick you open and study your being, from your beating heart to the depths of your soul, if it meant that he would finally be able to understand even a little bit of you.

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr Sunday. I will be taking my leave now.” You stand and dip your head in respect, and gather your things and leave without a second glance or hesitation in your steps. He stays seated, staring at where you once were, until the sound of your footsteps fade into silence and he is left to the madness of his thoughts.

Would it be so wrong to keep you for himself? Surely no one could understand the desperate desire that has seeped into his veins, that claws at his very being every second of the day, and surely no one could quell the madness that threatens his sanity other than you, and surely no one would miss you as much as he does every waking moment. If he could be greedy just once, could it be for you? Would you let him?

Perhaps having the issue of the memory zone meme isn’t such a bad thing. After all, it gave Sunday the opportunity to take you away. Now, there was nowhere you could run, chained to his bed and confined to his room. He feels like a giddy child as he watches you sleep in his sheets, and he’s almost afraid that he’s the one stuck in a cruel dream.

Removing the glove on his right hand, he hesitantly reaches out to touch your cheek. When your skin touches his, he swears he feels bliss and electricity all the same. A shiver runs down his spine, and he greedily rests his whole hand on your cheek. He thinks he could watch you like this for the rest of time and then some.

When you awake, you find him staring at you, a smile on his face. This one reaches his eyes, and there’s even a sparkle in them. He says it’s the sparkle of happiness, but you’re sure it’s closer to that of madness. Naturally, you thrash and struggle to no avail, and all Sunday does is watch with the same, genuine smile.

Eventually, when you tire of your fruitless struggle, he kneels and takes one of your hands in his. He brings it to his forehead, eyes closed, and you think you see a tear slip down his cheek. The light from the window behind him casts a shadow over him, and to you, he looks like the devil. However, it illuminates you, and he thinks you’ve never looked more heavenly. His saviour, his Aeon, his everything.

“Will you be my Aeon?” He asks, and although he knows that he has forsaken anything and everything holy for this moment of sin, he can’t help the pure happiness that explodes in his chest when you don’t reply. After all, in both your fields of work, no answer might as well be a vote of agreement. You wouldn’t say no to such a devoted follower, would you?

#honkai star rail #hsr #yandere #yandere x reader #hsr x reader #yandere honkai star rail #yandere hsr #honkai star rail x reader #x reader #hsr sunday #sunday x reader #yandere sunday #yandere sunday x reader #yandere hsr x reader #yandere honkai star rail x reader

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nyx-umbrakinesis · 8 months ago

Note

MORNING SEX WITH LUCIFER PLEASE

I know it's not morning sex, it is evening sex... And I've not posted in a while... This is raw, unedited and been in my WIP file for ages lol, I kept going to but my brain just doesn't wanna obey me lately and I really wanted to get something out there so please forgive any errors I literally hate releasing unedited stuff, anyway please enjoy (there were errors as I copy and pasted over from my docs using my phone, I think I fixed the issue but lmk if there's anything else majorly wrong pls)

Lucifer x Reader

Cw: from memory so please lmk if I miss anything, p in v sex, wing kink, slight exhibitionism, appearance of slight non con to begin with, praise kink, begging, vaginal fingering...

Appletini Appetite

“Well aren’t you just ripe for the picking” the smooth voice of the King of Hell himself washes over you smoothly as he sits beside you st the bar, appletini in hand as he eyes you up and down with an appreciative hum at your attire and how it fits your form.

“Oh, hello... Sire” you blush at his boldness and watch as his eyes trail along your collarbone, darkening appreciatively and shifting closer toward you.

“Oh no need for ceremony sweetness, call me Lucifer, ha ha.”

A warm hand brushes your thigh sending shivers up your spine and you take a large gulp of your own drink to compensate, coughing, eyes stinging as you half inhale the liquid.

“You’re adorable Kitten.” The dark purr in Lucifer’s voice has you squeezing your thighs together and you lower abdomen feeling like you swallowed molten lava.

“How about we spend a little bit of time somewhere quieter, more... Secluded?” Lucifer’s hand now resting in your thigh so body you tremble, you don’t know where to look and his burning eyes are just too much of a trap as your heart races anxiously.

“A-apologies, but I’m not i-interested... S-s-si.. I mean Lucifer, I’m just having a quiet evening out alone.” Your eyes are glued to his long dark fingers as they tighten with a pinch around the meat of your thigh and you repress a whimper by biting your lip, eyes darting up betraying you as they meet his and he chuckles at the utter need in your gaze... It had been a while after all.

Lucifer chuckles softly, his hand moving higher up your thigh, brushing against the fabric of your panties now.

You gasp, gaze darting back down. Lucifer’s fingers tease the elastic material, tracing slow circles around the outline of your pussy, liquid heat utterly ruining the garment as his fingers tickle slightly and cause tingles to dance over the damp flesh. His other hand cups your face, tilting your head back so he can look into your eyes directly.

“Don’t lie to me, sweetheart. I can smell your desire radiating off of you like a blooming Flower. And trust me, I’ve experienced most forms of ‘quiet’ evenings out.”

He takes a chance, your breath catching in your throat as he leans in, pressing his lips against yours in a firm, demanding kiss. His tongue darts between your lips, exploring your mouth hungrily as his hand peels your panties aside, exposing your sopping folds to his touch and the chill in the room. You want to argue, to fight back... But fear of being seen in such a compromising state in public no less sends a thrill of fear and heat through your spine.

One deft finger dips inside you, curling and stroking, he groans, feeling your clutching humid walls trying to demand more from him, as the tighten and throb around his fingers.

He pulls back slightly, meeting your shocked gaze with a wicked grin

“Now, shall we retire to one of those private rooms back there, or would you rather we give everyone here a show?”

Your body screams for you to agree, to let him take you wherever he wants right now.

You gasp into the kiss as he presses his warm lips to yours, your body trembling under his touch.

His fingers sliding inside you send shockwaves of pleasure coursing through you in the busy bar, causing your hips to buck involuntarily against his hand.

“L-Lucifer...” You moan softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Mortified.

The idea of giving everyone a show seems outrageous, terrifying even. But the thought of going somewhere private with him, where he could explore every inch of you without restraint... it sends a thrill straight to your core. But then your insecurities flood your again and you’re filled with dread.

Trying to regain some semblance of your sanity and control, you try to break the kiss and his contact with your sex, a thrum of heat running through you.

“you’re rather forward... I’m not that sort of person!”

You whimper taking his wrist and pulling it out from under your skirt, closing your legs, a needy throb running through you.

Lucifer smirks, unbothered by your attempt to push him away. In fact, he seems to enjoy the challenge.

“Let’s go talk somewhere private.” He whispers huskily and before you can protest...

He wraps his other arm around your waist, lifting you effortlessly off the stool and carrying you toward the back room. His hand finds its way back between your legs, slipping your panties completely aside before sliding two fingers into you once more. He begins to thrust slowly, relentlessly, while the other hand trails up your side, cupping your breast through your shirt. A few patron’s notice, whooping at the spectacle your face aflame as you get impossibly wetter, god why were you enjoying this?

Noticing your reactions he replies to your last statement.

“Oh, but I think you are exactly that type of person, my dear. Now stop being coy and let go. You know you want this as much as I do.”

With a growl, he opens the door to one of the private rooms and tosses you onto the bed, following close behind.

Before you can speak further, his mouth is on your neck, sucking and nipping at your pulse point while his fingers continue their relentless assault on your soaking pussy.

His free hand works at the buttons of your shirt, revealing most of your chest to his hungry gaze. He groans approvingly before taking a clothed nipple between his teeth, biting down hard enough to make you yelp and then moan in pleasure, your fingers winding in his hair.

“See? Told you you wanted it.” He says with a cocky smirk, you have to try to not break character as you almost beg him to take you, but that wasn’t the plan for tonight, tonight you’re supposed to be strangers.

You cry out, overwhelmed by the sensations he evokes within you. Each bite sends jolts of pleasure through your body, each thrust of his fingers sends waves of warmth pooling deep in your belly.

“Mmmph-“ Your protests are muffled as he captures your lips in another searing kiss, your mind swimming with lust and confusion. Your body betrays you, arching into his touch, grinding against his fingers.

“No... I mean... yes...” You stutter, unable to form coherent sentences. Your hands move to his shoulders, gripping tightly as if anchoring yourself amidst the storm of desire that threatens to consume you whole.

Your breasts ache for his touch, nipples hardening further under his ministrations. Despite your initial reluctance, you can’t deny the raw need coursing through your veins.

You whimper and moan, your body betraying your mind as Lucifer’s fingers plunge deeper within you, stretching your cunt deliciously. His mouth on your skin, sucking and biting, causes a rush of pleasure that leaves you writhing beneath him.

“Fuck...” You groan, unable to suppress the moans that slip past your lips. Your hands grip his hair tightly, guiding his movements as you grind against his hand.

Your shirt falls further open, exposing your chest further to his hungry gaze. The sensation of his teeth biting down on your nipple again sends jolts of pleasure shooting straight to your soaked pussy, making you writhe uncontrollably underneath him crying out, back arching at the sting.

“No... I mean... We’re just getting to know each other...” You stutter out, but your words come out as nothing more than desperate pleas for more. Remembering your part.

Lucifer chuckles darkly, pleased with your surrender. He continues to torment your sensitive nipples, alternating between bites and licks until you’re moaning unintelligibly.

“We’ll get to know each other better then, won’t we?”

He growls before ripping your shirt off completely, his claw slicing your bra down the middle with ease making you gulp, chills run up your spine as he finishes exposing your tits to his greedy eyes.

His hand leaves your aching pussy momentarily, making you whine, to cup one breast, thumb teasing your hardened nipple while his tongue lazily traces a path down your collarbone, stopping to flick across your other exposed nipple.

His other hand gathers yours pinning them firmly above your head, you moan as it makes your back arch, pressing your tits in his face.

His fingers slide back into you, this time adding a third digit as he starts to pump you faster, harder.

“Such a tight little cunt you have, kitten. So ready for me.” He growls nipping at the skin making you gasp, helplessly writing in his grip, goosebumps litter your skin from the attention and exposure.

“I want to fuck you so bad.”

His voice is rough...

“Do you want that, huh? To be filled by the devil himself?”

Your body quakes beneath him, a mess of need and desire. You moan out loudly as he teases your nipples, his tongue and teeth driving you insane.

“Yes... oh gods, yes...”

The word slips out before you can stop it, your rational mind lost to the pleasure he’s inflicting upon you.

“I mean... I don’t know... I-I shouldn’t...”

But even as you try to resist, your hips buck against his hand, begging for more. You can feel yourself getting closer, your walls clenching tightly around his fingers, your juices coating his hand.

“Please... stop... I can’t...”

Your voice breaks.

His tongue flicks your nipple again, biting down harder and a pinch to your clit, drawing a sharp cry from your lips your pussy throbbing you’re almost rutting his hand not, trying to make him dig in deeper, faster, anything!

You squirm underneath him, trying to escape his hold, his hand strong around your wrists, so it only serves to rub your sensitive nipple against his rough tongue and teeth more.

“Yes... Gods, yes... Fuck me... Please!” You break.

The words slip out before you can censor them, your body betraying your mind once more. Your pussy clenches around his fingers, eagerly, begging for more.

“Please... just... Please, oh fuck... Slow down please.”

You manage to choke out, but the pleading in your voice contradicts your actions, your hips rocking against his hand in time with his thrusts, it’s too much for you, your head thrashing side to side, denial of the rushing intensity coiling and burning inside you, your pussy quivering and weeping as you squeeze your eyes tightly shut.

“Good girl.”

“Ready for your punishment, kitten?” He asks, his voice low and husky, his eyes gleaming with lust and satisfaction.

Lucifer’s smile grows wider as he watches you succumb to the pleasure he’s providing. His fingers continue their relentless pace, feeling you getting closer to orgasm, tilting his hand and fingers, pressing a spot inside you that makes you see stars, instantly blinding you with hot white heat, his thumb running your puffy clit.

“That’s it, kitten,” he growls, his own desire evident in his voice. “Give in to the pleasure. Let yourself cum for me.”

As if on command, your body peaks, convulsing as a powerful orgasm washing over you. Your pussy clamps down on his fingers, sending waves of intense pleasure through both of you. You cry out, your voice echoing in the small room, your body writhing under his touch, squirt gushing out in powerful spurts covering his hand and arms as you cry out, losing control.

As your orgasm subsides, Lucifer slowly withdraws his fingers from your still twitching pussy, a slick, audible sound filling the room. He looks at you with a satisfied smirk, before leaning down to lick the taste of you from his fingers.

“Mmm,” he murmurs, cock twitching in his trousers painfully, his eyes locked on yours. “But you know that was just the beginning, kitten?”

You numbly realise he’d released your wrists.

He starts peeling his clothes off methodically.

You wasting no time clumsily fumble out of your skirt and panties, kicking your shoes off in the process, stockings and garter remaining, the feel of the fabric digging into your thighs, yet his hungry eyes drinking in your exposed cunt almost makes you cum again.

You nod weakly, still recovering from the intense orgasm he’d given you. Your heart races, adrenaline and anticipation coursing through your veins.

As Lucifer undresses, you can’t help but admire the sight of him. His lean, strong frame, his cock standing tall and thick, absolutely dripping for you, the red in his eyes almost glowing. He exudes power and dominance, making you feel small and vulnerable in comparison, this is the Lucifer that made all those panties drop in the past.

You lay there, exposed and wanting, your body aching for him to fill you. As he moves closer, you spread your legs wider, inviting him in.

“Please,” you whisper, your voice barely audible over the pounding of your heart, stretching out further, trying to entice him faster.

Lucifer’s smile widens, his eyes gleaming with untold need and satisfaction at state of you, and your plea, slick coating your inner thighs, even as far as your stockings.

He almost throws caution to the wind wanting nothing more than to dive on there lapping at you, cleaning you up, making you cum on his tongue again and again until you beg him to stop, his cock twitches needily and angrily at his thoughts.

But fuck does he want your pleasure

“This is what you want, isn’t it?” He asks, his voice low and husky, his eyes locked on yours, wrapping his hand around his cock, pumping it, unable to stop his horns from pushing upwards with a groan they feel like their own release.

You nod, your breath catching in your throat, dazzled by the fallen king.

Lucifer chuckles, his eyes gleaming with amusement and desire as he takes in your eagerness. He steps closer, his erection pressing against your thigh as he reaches out to caress your cheek, his thumb tracing your lower lip.

“You’re so beautiful like this,” he murmurs, his voice low and husky. “All flushed and trembling because of me.”

He leans in, his lips brushing against yours in a gentle, tender kiss. It’s a stark contrast to the rough, demanding way he’d claimed your mouth earlier, and it catches you off guard, making you melt into the embrace.

As the kiss deepens, his tongue exploring your mouth, his hand moves down to cradle your breast, his thumb idly stroking your nipple, soothing that sore flesh.

You moan softly, your body responding instinctively to his touch, tongue returning his affections languidly, drunk from your high.

Finally, he breaks the kiss, his breath hot against your lips as he looks into your eyes, you know this is your husband checking in on you. “Are you ready for me now, kitten?”

You nod eagerly, your heart racing with anticipation. Lucifer smiles, his expression a mix of satisfaction and hunger.

Without another word, Lucifer grabs your legs and drags you to the edge of the bed, slotting himself between your thighs whilst standing, his tongue flicking out, unable to resist dragging it down on thigh, moaning as he laps up your juices greedily.

With a satisfied smile, licking his lips lewdly, Lucifer positions himself at your entrance, his cock pulsing with anticipation. He places a hand on your hip, pulling you towards him slightly, adjusting your angle and spreading you wide as he aligns himself with your wet opening.

Rubbing his cock up and down through your labia, teasing the sensitive flesh, smearing his precum into your cunt as you jolt from the sensations feeling overstimulated everytime he hits your clit, with a spasm and a whine.

With a grin at your debauched inarticulate state he lines up his cock and he begins to push inside you, you feel a sense of fullness that has you trying to cling to the sheets for deer life, eyes shut as you try to take him, even after all this time it’s such a squeeze.

His size is incredible, stretching you wide as he fills you completely, causing you to gasp and moan as it burns and your cunt flutters and pulses around him, slick and slippery as it is.

Lucifer’s eyes lock onto yours, watching your reaction intently as he continues to penetrate you deeply, his movements slow and measured, allowing you to adjust to his size.

“Relax, kitten,” he whispers, his voice soothing and comforting. “Breathe through it. You can take all of me, I know you can.”

You can’t respond, head thrashing in denial, forgetting your not supposed to know him you have no script to follow anyway.

As he bottoms out inside you, you let out a final gasping whine, your body tensing as you accommodate him fully. He leans in, his forehead resting against yours as he takes a few moments to savour the connection between you, his breath hot against your face.

“You feel amazing,” he murmurs, his voice filled with awe and wonder. “So tight and warm around my cock, and fuck your so damn drenched for me, I could fall in love with you just from this."

A moment of confusion before you remember your part again, his cock embedded in you, his forearms supporting your thighs, spread for the king, exposed, defenceless, chest heaving as you struggle for sanity.

You nod weakly, still struggling to regain your composure. The fullness of him inside you is overwhelming, the sensation of his cock stretching you wide is almost too much to handle. But despite the discomfort, there’s an underlying pleasure that’s starting to build, a pleasure that’s only possible with him.

“Y-yes,” you stammer, your voice barely audible over the sound of your ragged breaths, and you remember this is supposed to be new... “I’m okay... I can do this...”

Lucifer smiles, his eyes gleaming with pride and satisfaction. He leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to your lips before pulling back, his hands moving to grip your hips firmly.

“That’s my good kitten,” he praises, his voice low and husky. “Now let’s see how well you can take me.”

With that, he begins to move, his hips rolling forward as he pulls out slowly, the head of his cock teasing your entrance before he thrusts sharply back inside you, eliciting a cry of pleasure from your lips as he shapes your cunt to his cock with every thrust.

The rhythm is slow and steady at first, but as the pleasure builds, so does the speed and intensity of his thrusts.

“You okay, pet?” Lucifer check in concern as you seem to only be able to clutch at the sheets, body tense as you moan, eyes closed tightly.

He feels bigger than usual, you even miss you favourite part, his wings had come out to play and you missed it

You nod weakly, still trying to adjust to the overwhelming sensation of him.

He smiles, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction and desire. “Good girl,” he praises, “look at me please pet.”

With effort you open your eyes and your cunt clamps like a vice as you gasp in awe at him, his horns and wings in all their glory.

Each thrust sends extra waves of pleasure rippling through your body, making you moan and writhe beneath him, eyes fixed to his shivering wings as they flutter in time with your pussy.

As he picks up speed again, and it takes everything in you not to fling your head back again, your moans grow louder and more desperate, your hands clutching at the his forearms, nails digging in as you fight to maintain some semblance of control.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” Lucifer growls, his eyes locked on yours as he continues to drive into you. “I can’t get enough of you, kitten, fucking addictive, that’s what you are.”

His words send a surge of pride and desire through you, making you arch your back and press your breasts against his chest. Your nipples are hard and sensitive, rubbing against him with each movement.

As he continues to work away at you, skin slapping skin, balls striking your arse, the coil winds, burning deep within you again, threatening to consume you whole. You whimper and plead, your body writhing under his relentless assault.

“P-please... Lucifer... I’m close...” you gasp, your voice strained and desperate.

He leans in, his breath hot against your ear as he speaks, “Go ahead, kitten. Let go. Show me how much you enjoy being fucked by your King.”

Lucifer’s smile grows wider as he watches you lose control, his own pleasure mounting with each passing second. He leans in, his lips pressed against your ear as he whispers sweet nothings to you, designed to push you over the edge.

“You’re mine, kitten,” he growls possessively. “My perfect little pet. You were made for this, for me, fuck you feel so good, clutching desperately around my cock, it’s like you never want it to leave, and believe me sweetheart, you’ll be feeling it for a very long time, so... Fucking... Tight... So... Fucking... Perfect... Pretty... Little... Cunt...”

His words send a shockwave of pleasure through your body, making you moan louder, your pussy clamping down on his cock as the orgasm crashes over you.

“Oh... Oh... Fuck! Lucifer!” Your body convulsing as wave after wave of pleasure wash over you, cunt spasming, gripping him so tight he can’t move, his hands stroking your shaking thighs as your body is wracked with waves you pleasure, your squirt hitting his pelvis again and again as you drench him, the sensation making him moan.

Lucifer’s own climax is close now, he can feel it building, your pussy releases enough of it’s grip as you slip and he has to cling to your thighs to keep you from slipping from his grip as he fucks into your limp body.

The pressure mounting with each thrust. He leans over you, cock sliding in deeper causing you to twitch and gasp for breath, he reaches behind your head, grabbing a fistful of your hair and pulling it with forceful control, tilting your head back, forcing you to look at him as he comes.

“Look at me, kitten,” he commands, his voice low and guttural. “Watch me as I claim you.”

Your eyes fly open, meeting his gaze as he continues to thrust into you relentlessly. The intensity of his eyes, the dominance and possession in them, sends a shiver down your spine and increases your pleasure tenfold.

As you watch him, you can see the signs of his impending climax – the strain in his face, the sweat on his brow, the rapid rise and fall of his chest. And knowing that you’re the one bringing him to this peak of pleasure fills you with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, admiring his wings once more, every thrust a shockwave down your spine.

“Yes... yes... Lucifer... I’m here... I’m yours...” you whisper, your voice barely audible above the sound of your combined breaths and moans.

With one final, powerful thrust, Lucifer buries himself deep inside you, his cock throbbing as he reaches his peak. His eyes lock onto yours, holding your gaze as he lets out a deep, primal growl of satisfaction, his entire body shuddering with the force of his orgasm.

Hot jets of cum spurt from his cock, filling you completely as he claims you as his own. You can feel each pulse, each twitch of his cock as he empties himself inside you, his cock throbbing and twitching as he reaches his peak. His eyes locked onto yours, the intensity of his gaze matching the ferocity of his orgasm.

“Fuck!” He cries out, his voice echoing throughout the room. “You’re mine. Every single inch of you belongs to me.”

His grip on your hair tightens, holding you in place as he rides out the waves of his orgasm, his hips jerking sporadically as he pumps every last drop of his seed into your willing body.

You can feel his hot cum filling you up, overflowing and trickling down your thighs, the sensation making you moan and shudder beneath him. His grip on your hair loosens, and he leans down to capture your lips in a fierce, passionate kiss, his tongue exploring your mouth as his cock continues to throb inside you.

Finally, he pulls back, breaking the kiss and releasing your hair. He looks down at you, his eyes softening as he takes in the sight of you, flushed and panting beneath him, his cum leaking out of your well-fucked cunt.

“You’re incredible, kitten,” Lucifer pants, his voice filled with genuine affection and admiration. “Absolutely incredible.”

Finally, spent and sated, he releases his grip on your hair, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to your lips. His cock softening inside you, but remains buried deep within you, a tangible reminder of his claim over you.

“You did so well, kitten,” he murmurs, his voice filled with warmth and affection. “I couldn’t have asked for a better partner tonight, or any other night.”

Withdrawing slowly, you groan at the feel of him slipping out of you, he kneels between your legs, his eyes roaming over your naked form appreciatively. His hands trace lazy patterns over your skin, fingers dipping into your cum-filled cunt, admiring his seed inside you, making you squirm and whimper sensation.

“I think you deserve a reward for being such a good girl,” he purrs, his voice low and seductive.

Without warning, he dives between your legs, his tongue lapping at your sensitive flesh, licking up every drop of his cum that’s leaking out of you. His fingers continue to play with your pussy, teasing your swollen clit as he cleans you up with his mouth.

You moan and writhe beneath him, your body still oversensitive from your previous orgasms. But Lucifer doesn’t relent, his skilled tongue working tirelessly to bring you to the brink of ecstasy once again, arms locking around your thighs, holding you in place.

Just when you think you can’t take anymore, he pulls back, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he gazes down at your flushed, panting form.

You arch you back invitingly, smirk on his face as he plays with your garter straps and decides to tease you, and play dumb.

“What’s wrong, kitten?” He asks innocently, fingers lightly tracing the edges of your garter belt, a devilish twinkle in his eye. “Did you want something else?”

He knows exactly what he’s doing, the bastard. He’s toying with you, teasing you mercilessly, loving every second of it.

“Or maybe... you're not done yet?" He muses, his fingers dancing dangerously close to your aching clit, making you squirm and gasp, your body instinctively seeking out his touch.

"Please... Lucifer..." you beg, your voice hoarse and needy. "Don't stop... I need... You."

He chuckles, his eyes gleaming with amusement and desire. "Well, since you asked so nicely..."

With that, he dives back in, his tongue circling your clit as his fingers plunge into your soaked pussy, curling and hitting that sweet spot inside you, using every trick he knows to bring you to a rapid peak so as not to pain you with too much overstimulation, his name falling from your lips like a prayer, over and over again as he brings you to the edge once more, licking sloppily at your cunt, diving his tongue in to taste more of your combined fluids.

You nod frantically, your body already tensing in anticipation. “Yes, oh fuck, yes yes yes yes yes yes.”

Lucifer grins, clearly pleased with your response. “As you wish, kitten.”

With renewed vigour, he attacks your clit, his tongue flicking and swirling over the sensitive bundle of nerves. At the same time, his fingers continue their relentless assault on your g-spot, each stroke bringing you closer and closer to the edge.

You can feel the familiar tension building deep within your core, your muscles coiling tightly as you brace yourself for the inevitable explosion. Your hands find their way into his horns, gripping tightly as you grind your pussy against his face, humping him shamelessly, lost in a sea of pleasure.

“Lucifer... I’m gonna... I’m gonna cum...” you warn, your voice breaking.

In response, he doubles down on his efforts, his fingers pumping faster, his tongue lashing against your clit with increased fervour, sucking on it with just the right amount of pressure. The combination of sensations is too much to bear, and with a final cry of his name and a thrust of his fingers, you tumble over the edge, your orgasm crashing over you like a tidal wave.

Your body convulses, your back arching off the bed as wave after wave of pleasure courses through you, walks clamping and pulsing around his fingers as your pussy erupts but this time he swiftly withdraws his fingers.

His mouth sealing around your hole, tongue diving in as he devours your offering, a sacrifice to the devil, one he covets, gluttony wasn’t his sin before but as his cock throbs as he drinks you down, it might just be now.

As your orgasm subsides, Lucifer finally lifts his head from between your legs, a triumphant grin on his face as he gazes down at you, his chin and lips glistening with your juices. He crawls up the bed, carrying you with him from the edge and placing you down gently.

Settling himself beside you, his arm draped possessively over your waist as he pulls you close, wrapping his wings back down, pulling you against his chest.

“You did so well, kitten,” he murmurs, his voice filled with warmth and affection. “I’m proud of you.”

You snuggle back against him, your body still humming with the aftershocks of your orgasms. His closeness is comforting, his presence a reassuring weight under you.

For a few moments, the two of you lie there in silence, basking in the afterglow of your shared experience. The room is filled with the scent of sex and the sound of your combined breathing, gradually slowing down as you both begin to relax.

Eventually, Lucifer breaks the silence, his voice soft and gentle in the quiet room. “How are you feeling, pet?”

You turn your head to look at him, your eyes meeting his in the dim light. Despite the intensity of your encounter, you can’t help but feel a deep sense of contentment and satisfaction, your body thoroughly ravished.

You smile weakly, still trying to catch your breath. “I feel... amazing,” you admit, your voice barely above a whisper. “Exhausted, but amazing.”

Lucifer chuckles, his hand coming up to stroke your hair gently. “That’s my girl,” he says, his voice filled with pride and affection. “Get some rest, kitten. You’ve earned it.”

You nod, snuggling closer to him, your eyelids growing heavy as the exhaustion sets in. His arm tightens around you, holding you close, safe and secure in the arms of the Devil himself.

As your eyes slip closed, you can hear Lucifer’s soft, steady heartbeat in your ear, a comforting rhythm that lulls you into a deep, peaceful sleep. And as the world fades away around you, the last thought that crosses your mind is a simple one:

With that, he reaches over to pull the covers up over the two of you, cocooning you in a warm, safe bubble. His arms wrap around you, holding you close as you drift off to sleep, the steady beat of his heart a comforting lullaby in your ear.

As sleep claims you, you whisper.

“I love you, thank you Luci.”

As the whole idea of going to this bar and pretending to meet for the first time as though your weren’t married was your idea.

Lucifer smiles, his eyes softening as he listens to your sleepy confession. He presses a gentle kiss to the top of your head, his arms tightening protectively around you.

“I love you too, kitten,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. “Always have, always will.”

With that, he settles down beside you, closing his eyes and letting out a contented sigh. The room is silent except for the soft rustle of the sheets and the occasional crackle from the fireplace.

As the hours pass, Lucifer remains awake, watching over you as you sleep peacefully in his arms. His mind wanders back to the events of the evening, replaying each moment, each touch, each kiss. He can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction and contentment, knowing that he’s managed to bring you such immense pleasure.

After a while, he finally allows himself to drift off to sleep, his dreams filled with images of you, your laughter echoing in his ears, your smile lighting up his world. And as he falls into a deep, peaceful slumber, he knows without a doubt that he’s the luckiest man in the universe.

Because he has you. His kitten, his pet, his everything. And he wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.

He’s made his home yours, and in turn you made it his.

After all, home is where the heart is, and your heart belongs to Lucifer.

And his heart belongs to you.

(as usual sorry I nearly forgot to add the taglist)

Nyx's Nymphs!

@ustulia @redvexillum @sirens-and-moonflowers @alastorthirsty @6esiree

#hazbin hotel #lucifer x reader #lucifer hazbin smut #lucifer hazbin #hazbin lucifer #lucifer hazbin x reader #lucifer hazbin hotel #lucifer smut #hazbin hotel lucifer #hazbin lucifer x reader #hazbin lucifer x y/n #hazbin lucifer x you #lucifer hazbin x you #lucifer hazbin x y/n #lucifer hazbin x reader smut #hazbin lucifer x you smut #hazbin hotel lucifer morningstar #hazbin hotel lucifer x reader

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newkatzkafe2023 · 3 months ago

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I want something to do with portal-portal2 but my brain cannot think of anything that could put wukong into it 😭😭

If it springs you any ideas like of Y/N that is either Chell, Weatley or even Glados I'll take it 😆

GLADOS IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS I LOVE HER ATTITUDE DISPITE BEING AN A.I🤩

(Lmk Wukong) When you first met during the journey to the west, is when Wukong took note of your passive aggression. You were harsh and cruel to everyone around you and had no problem putting others in danger, and almost killing people. That caused you to clash with Wukong alot who was learning to be a better person, until he accidentally got a glimpse into your life. Which he started to understand and tried to help you overcome your personal trauma, though it took a long time and well you started to see him as somebody hard to kill and Wukong decided to change your mind.

(NR Wukong) Well.....you know the term test monkey because that's what you do alot, and it took him some time to notice. You would think this pissed him off and it did....at first, but this is probably the most attention he's ever got from you. It was super easy to trick him and it felt like all you had to do was tie a beer bottle to a rope and dangle it infront of him. However Wukong is also intelligent in his own right and mostly turn your dangerous puzzles into fun mini games, and excise routines basically patronizing you. You would low-key growl and huff as you would leave him with your test notes, Wukong finds it adorable how his cold wifey-poo tries to kill him with science and household items your marriage has never been so lively.

(MKR Wukong) My god, the sarcastic remarks you both would exchange would make everyone go crazy. You're both bitter, irritable, cold, violent, and gentle in neither of your vocabularies. How you would make passive-aggressive comments and mildly harsh insults towards each other, not to mention how neither of you are against killing your enemies. However, you both do little subtle acts of affection and kindness for each other, like Wukong sharing his food, and you would bake little peach cupcakes for him to eat. You both are dangerously protective of each other, and with that, you both became less of the deadly couple and more of a passive-aggressive, tsundere married couple.

(HIB Wukong) Oh goodness your relationship looks kinda toxic, from the outside looking in but it's not the case really. It's just..before you both got together you both had treated each other coldly and harshly, only cause Wukong had put up his walls and your dry cutthroat insults and sarcasm. It wasn't until Luier and Silly girl had entered your lives and you both had to put aside your bullsh*t to take care the kids. Your gentler side comes out when you bonded with Luier over puzzles and knowledge, so you would make kid friendly test for them to do. Over time you both learned to love each other with the help of your unusual little family.

(Netflix Wukong) Ohhhhhhhhh man I feel he would be the most passive aggressive Monkey on this list, so their will be alot of back and forth. Your harsh monotone Voice brings back bitter terrible memories, but what's interesting is that you don't judge him nor rebuke his bad behavior. However you still passive aggressively insult him and comment on his acts and Impulses, you would also roll your eyes at best. Though you do have a gentler side to you as you would act as a listening ears and would bake him a cake as an act of remorse for when you get out of line for him. In otherwords you love Wukong it's just you have a....funny way of showing it.

(BMW Wukong) Oh boi you admittedly picked the wrong one, especially when he can mouth off to you without hesitation. He had heard about you from Erlang Shen about you were offing people in the form of tests or puzzles, and well....the after math was.....messy. When Wukong finally were a little manipulative and incredibly dangerous, as you only saw him as another test subject and took him to your test sight. However Wukong either breezed though the tests or completely destroyed it, and it really tried your patience. It guess worse when you dubbed him as difficult to kill and called him a genocidal armored lunatic and told him never to comeback, oh if only it was that easy....

(Destined one) First of all who the hell do you think you are???🤨 the Destined one would not take your bullsh*t at all, like all you do is try to trick him into doing tests like a god damn lab rat. Then you would have the gall to go and passive aggressively insult him to his blank face, like you seriously get on his nerves and that doesn't happen very often. Now he won't ever fight you but he will be spiteful when it comes to your little tests, and if the Destined one ever spoke. I feel like the Destined one's insults and harsh comments would cut deeper then yours ever could, and that's probably why your interested in him and you wanna know what makes him tick. You never expected to marry him though, but that's a different test result for another time.

(Lotmk Wukong) Now i feel he wouldn't ever notice your cold monotone murderous and tricky disposition, and he naturally loves and cares about you without condition. Everybody would usually go mad trying to figure out why Wukong would look at you like you hung the moon. He also loves listening to you talk because he thinks your voice is pretty, even when you're currently roasting him. Though you would show your affection for him by singing soft opera songs to him and baking a cake for him............ it must be nice to have rose-colored glasses glued to his face.

FEEL FREE TO REBLOG🤖

#monkey king x reader #monkey king reborn #monkey king netflix #nezha reborn #monkey king hero is back #lmk monkey king #x female y/n #black myth wukong #the destined one x reader #glados #portal #portal 2 #scary women #Deadly women #aperture science #glados portal #Lotmk 1999

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staybabblingbaby · 3 months ago

Text

Soulmate Garden AU Ch.5 (Verbena)[Chapter ending] a1d1

[Caution: These are not full fics, or even full parts of fics for some, these are part of my writing progress archive!]

Concept: Growing up, you knew Soulmates weren't all that they cracked up to be. So when, on your 18th birthday, your skin is painted with a garden of flower buds, you resolve to hide it from everyone. Who had ever heard of someone with 8 soulmates, anyway?

Or; Reader has 8 soulmates and no issue avoiding all of them. It's up to SKZ to show her that while every soulbond might not be made of fairy tales, theirs certainly could be.

Word Count: 1,076

TO THE UNAWARE: THIS IS A PROGRESS UPDATE OF A CHAPTER NOT REMOTELY CLOSE TO DONE! PLEASE DON'T EXPECT A FULL OR POLISHED PRODUCT HERE

Notes: This is the ending for Ch. 5 as of now <3 She has no middle lol this is just how we roll o7 I've been writing these in spurts of sleep deprived inspiration i can't wait to read them back lmao what kind of hot mess am i making of this chapter rn?

Dividers by @saradika

Warnings: She/Her Reader, There are many vague things that could need warnings but i'm not sure they do? lmk

Leave me comments or questions or anything! Love hearing from folks <3

Masterlist <3 | Main Part (Unfinished </3)

You don’t know why you don’t cry to Taylor as soon as you get home. He’s more invested in all of this drama than you at this point, but still. You don’t tell him. You decline his invitation to eat dinner and listen to the latest gossip from his work, heading straight to your room.

Well, you say you don’t know why, but you do. If you’d stop to think about it for more than half a second, you do.

You’re tired of unloading on him. The two of you were close, but the past few days had really put you in each others pockets in a way you didn’t think you were quite comfortable with. You were used to working through your troubles on your own, and you didn’t like to trouble Taylor when he already did so much for you, but you couldn’t stay quiet around him either.

Something about being prodded made you explode every time.

So, you smiled at him, pretended nothing was wrong that he didn’t already know, and fled to your room. Ran away like you always do.

It’s fine.

Instead of taking comfort in your best (and only, a mean little voice points out) friend, you dig around your room for a while, looking for the really nice noise-canceling headphones your sister had given you for a birthday forever ago.

Your sister had always been something of an audiophile, on account of the whole music snob thing, so she’d taken personal offense to your best headphones being a cheap pair of earbuds that had probably survived more than their fair share of accidents.

In the single most touching move anyone had ever made on your behalf, she’d saved her own money for months to buy you this pair, presenting them to you with the proudest grin you’d ever seen, insulting you with every breath but so, so caring beneath it.

You’re slammed with the memory of her toothy grin when you finally find the headphones, tucked carefully away in the bottom drawer of your desk. You couldn’t describe the feeling the memory leaves you with. Regret, affection, guilt, love.

The wonderful storm of a sibling, you supposed.

‘She doesn’t know about my soulmates.’ you muse as you turn the headphones in your hands.

In the end, you do nothing about that. You just clamber into your bed, bury yourself in far too many soft things, and jam the headphones over your head.

Your relationship with music is, like most things, complicated. You could live and breathe music, you rarely let a moment be truly silent. You don’t think you could stand it if you did.

And yet, you never rarely listened to music either. Not truly, not deeply, not the way some people let it consume their air in their lungs and burn the blood in their veins.

Maybe because you knew full well how deeply you felt it, when you allowed yourself to. You’d spent many nights as a teen laying in bed, not feeling real, letting music explain your emotions to you.

It was a habit you’d stopped when you’d accidentally freaked your sister out. One night you’d been far too overwhelmed, far too done with life, far too ready to fade away into oblivion. Your sister had come to bother you about something or other, as she always did, and as you always let her (because before her there was nothing to be bothered about, anyway).

Except, that day, for whatever reason, you’d taken your astral projecting to some banger playlist or another a bit too far. She’d tried calling for you, tried shaking you, pinching you. She’d waved her hand in your face, tugged at your hair, pulled out your headphones, anything she could think of in that moment.

Eventually she’d started crying, calling for your parents, and crying harder when no one responded. It was her wailing cries that had finally roused you, and she’d gone from sorrow to rage so quickly you’d gotten whiplash.

The way your sister tells the story, you’d looked halfway dead. Eyes half-lidded and vacant, breath shallow and slow, as still as a corpse. Her first thought had been drugs, but there’d been no trace of any when she’d ransacked your room after. She’d been the one to do the research, to badger you into therapy, to force you to live.

So yeah, you hadn’t really indulged since.

But tonight- tonight you had an agenda. Tonight you were going to get to know your soulmates. Exposure therapy or whatever.

You were especially looking for insight into 3Racha tonight. You knew they were the producing unit of the band, that they wrote, composed, arranged, and produced a majority of Stray Kid’s songs. You held a deep belief in being able to know someone through how they created.

You were of the firm opinion that one couldn’t hide themselves in art. No matter how far art diverged from the artist, one would always leave a piece of oneself behind in their work. From the way writers told their stories, to how painters chose their colors, to the melodies that emerged from a musician. Every word, every color, every note, it all held a bit of their creator.

It was a philosophy you’d been reminded of at the museum today. In every painting you’d discussed, throughout all the differing opinions you’d held on their meaning, their stories, their emotions, you could eventually tell which artist had made what painting.

Even before properly analyzing the techniques and subjects, after a while there was a certain vibe about a painting and, sure enough, when you checked it was the artist you thought it was. It was probably a consequence of spending far too long studying far too many paintings for a chance to talk to (who you know knew was) your soulmate, but still.

Even for a fraction of a moment, you’d been connected to the artists. You’d known them then, even in the vaguest of senses.

As you scroll through the Spotify profile of your soulmates, you figure they have plenty of material around for you to get to know them in this way.

With this resolve in your heart, you hit shuffle on the “This Is Straykids” playlist, pull up the details with the song credits, and settle in to study.

And, if the music carries you away to somewhere softer, somewhere warmer, somewhere less scary, well. You could use the help.

The 'Everything Always' Tag List: @chancloud8 , @sh0dor1 ,

Beloved Betas <3: @brbwritingfanfic , @lazyfacecowboy

The Petal List (aka, SGAU update tag list <3): @4ng3l-ch1ld , @sunfk88 , @kaleigh-2002

(If you'd like to be added to a progress taglist, comment below for this series or on this post for any of my other series <3)

#w.i.p fic #w.i.p #stray kids x reader #baby writes #skz x reader #skz fic #skz fanfic #sgau #soulmate garden au #skz soulmate au #writing progress

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myysaints · 2 years ago

Note

saw your requests are open so i’d like to request something! something angsty because this came to me after listening to ‘cherry’ by harry styles :p reader is danny’s ex but they broke up, few months later he’s dating someone else and reader is now in a (new/fresh) relationship with another driver, max/charles i couldn’t decide so i’ll let you do that! ♡ just something angsty like him realizing how much he misses her but she’s moved on and happy 🫶🏼 hope this makes sense? ah, love your stuff btw!!!

thank u anon you're so sweet! and ughhhh this request was IMMACULATE cherry is one of my favourite harry styles songs. wasn't sure if you wanted a socmed fic, if u did lmk and i'd be happy to adapt it into one! but i hope you enjoy nevertheless :)

I, I just miss I just miss your accent and your friends

Daniel stares down at his phone.

What a cruel twist of fate it is that the moment he opened his Instagram, he sees you.

You’re laughing in the picture, your hand looped around none other than Max’s neck. You’re sprawled on the Red Bull driver’s lap, and there’s a giddy grin on both of your faces, Max’s arm wrapped protectively around your waist. It feels bittersweet, seeing that familiar sweet smile of yours, only now it’s pointed at another man.

It’s only one photo in a carousel of others posted by your best friend. Why Daniel still follows her, he has no idea. But he stares at the photograph of you for longer than he’d like to admit.

There’s a shuffling noise from the kitchen, and Daniel’s new girlfriend pokes her head into the room. “Danny, we still going out for dinner?”

Daniel can only stare at her for a moment, too caught up in the memories of you and him to reply.

He knows what he’s doing is wrong. He knows he shouldn’t be leading this poor girl along. He knows that all this relationship is to him is a way to distract himself from what’s really eating at him. He knows that she’s just a replacement for you.

But the quizzical smile his girlfriend sends has his heart aching in guilt, so he manages a feeble nod in response, quickly shutting his phone off and throwing it onto the bed, before making his way to her smiling face.

The guilt eats him alive as he makes small talk with her over dinner. He would never admit it, but sometimes he can’t stand to look at her; to roll over in bed and see someone other than you laying beside him.

Did you know I still talk to them?

Everything changed after Zandvoort.

Daniel was partially to blame, he knew that. The crash in free practice had taken a toll on him, not just physically but mentally. The season in AlphaTauri was his one shot at proving that he still had it in him to be a class Formula 1 driver - to the world, to Red Bull, and to himself.

You were supportive of him all the way. From the moment he entered talks with Red Bull and AlphaTauri to get back into F1, to when he first got in that white and blue car at Hungary, you were always there, by his side.

But Zandvoort changed things. Zandvoort changed him.

He started to push you away. The comments from the media, from fans, from people everywhere, all around him, were starting to get to him. Did nobody believe in him anymore? Was he really not cut out for Formula 1?

Was his time really up?

The weeks of recovery were dark for the both of you. For him, most of it was spent in bed, his mind fuzzy from the painkillers and medicine, too tired and too beaten to do anything. For you, it was utter torture. To see the man you loved, the man whose laughter and mere presence brought so many smiles to those in the paddock, the man who never knew when to give up, look so futile and disappointed? It hurt.

But he hurt you more.

Does he take you walking round his parents' gallery?

It’s funny. Fate, he means. How it has a way of testing him, how it has a way of bringing his mind and him back to you. Always you.

“Has anyone seen Max and Y/N? They were supposed to arrive a while ago, are they late? ”

Instinctively, Daniel turns. It’s almost pathetic really. How just the sound of your name catches his attention and has him whipping around, his eyes searching for you. How you unwittingly made him into your own lapdog.

You aren’t there, though, so he keeps his head down and ignores the questioning look his girlfriend sends him.

In the final few weeks, and perhaps even months, of your relationship, Daniel hadn’t been kind on you. He became bitter, spiteful, even jealous. To him, you just didn’t understand the weight on his shoulder, the pressures he had to face. But how could you? Despite all your protests and pleading, he was shutting you out of his life, bit by bit.

Every time you came over, it ended with screaming matches and you leaving with tears in your eyes. Daily visits from you turned into weekly check-ins. He started to turn his head away from you when you tried to kiss his cheek. Those turned into brusque hand squeezes. His texts, too, became sparse and dry. He recoiled from you when you were around.

He could still remember the heartbreak on your face when he told you he wanted to break up. "It's for both of our own good," he mumbled. "I need to focus on racing. You should have a life outside of me."

It was a bitter end, and to this day, Daniel still regrets not putting up enough of a fight. How stupid he had been, to think that without you, he could give his 100% to racing. How stupid he had been, to think of you as a distraction.

He can’t imagine how stupid he must appear to you now, showing up on Sunday with a new girlfriend on his arm.

Don't you call him baby

“You sure you’re okay?”

You smooth down your dress for the umpteenth time, breathing out a nervous sigh as you smile back at Max, who glances at you in slight concern. His press officer is fussing over the both of you, the paddock entrance looming both terrifyingly and excitingly ahead.

It’s about to be your first public appearance with Max, and your first public appearance at a Formula 1 grand prix since… Well, since your relationship with Daniel ended.

It’s been a rough few months. It took time, getting used to Daniel’s absence. You hadn’t realised just how much of your life had revolved around his being; it became painful to even step foot in the paddock, to even switch on the television to catch up on the latest grand prix.

Even worse was the public scrutiny. You and Daniel had always been open about your relationship, frequently sharing bits and pieces of your life together on each of your social medias. So it was no wonder than when you both stopped posting each other, and when you took down all your posts with him, that fans knew something was up.

Things hadn’t been easy. But Max had made it better. What started as a friendly reaching out turned into a heartachingly romantic and sweet courting, and now, he was your boyfriend.

You smile at Max, reaching up to press a gentle kiss on his cheek. You can hear a flurry of cameras snapping away, and you resist glancing at them, choosing instead to focus on your boyfriend. At your peck, Max ducks his head, as if suddenly shy despite the two of you having dated for going on 3 months now. Still, the small grin on his face tells you all you need to know.

“I’ll be fine,” you say as you slip your hand into his, and give a nod to his press officer. Max’s thumb smooths over your knuckles, and you finally feel yourself relax. You look into his eyes, and in this moment, you know: You’re happy.

“Don’t worry ‘bout me, baby.”

We're not talking lately

Everyone notices when you enter the paddock.

Not only because it’s the first time in months that you’ve appeared at a Grand Prix, but because you have Max Verstappen beside you. With his arm around your waist.

“What’s happening?” his girlfriend asks, craning her neck to peer at the paddock entrance. “Did someone just arrive?”

“It’s Max,” a passing journalist calls, as he hastens towards the paddock entrance himself. “With Y/N!”

Daniel can’t help himself. Really, he can’t.

It happens before he can stop himself. He’s getting up and pulling his hand from his girlfriend and his feet are taking himself over to you as if they have a mind of their own. As if they still remember that it's where he’s meant to be. By your side.

The crowd doesn’t part for him. Not anymore. He finds himself standing on the outskirts of the gathering group, watching from afar as you bashfully smile for the many snapping cameras, and cling onto Max a little tighter, as the Red Bull driver nods politely at the journalists swarming you.

“Alright, alright, let us through, please,” he hears Max say, “Let my girl have some space, yeah?”

Something akin to jealousy rears its ugly head.

Then the horde of people are moving, and some are finally beginning to notice Daniel.

“Danny!” “Daniel, over here, please!” “How’re you feeling today, Daniel?” “Daniel, how does it feel that Max is dating your ex-girlfriend?”

The question has him reeling, and he can only stare at the waiting journalist incredulously. What a ridiculous fucking question. He has half a mind to charge at the dickhead and throw a punch that will send the cunt into a coma for weeks-

“Look, mate, leave us alone, yeah? Daniel, how’re you doin’?”

Max claps a good-natured hand on Daniel’s back, steering him away from the throng of journalists and photographers, who groan before turning their attention to Fernando, who’s just gotten out of his car.

Max’s friendliness momentarily stuns him, and all he can manage out is a half-convincing “Good, good” in return. This seems to satisfy Max enough, though, because then he’s smiling and nodding and rubbing Daniel’s shoulders.

It’s at this moment Daniel realises you’re still here.

He glances back at you, trailing behind him and Max.

You’re just as pretty as ever, he thinks to himself. It’s almost as if nothing had changed. Like you’re still the one he walked into the paddock with, like you’re waiting for him to finish a conversation with Max, not the other way around.

You don’t even look his way.

“…so then I told Charles, ‘No way, there’s no way you’re convincing Carlos that!’, and then, you know what he said? Really, it’s hilarious, he-”

Max stops his rambling midway, leaning down to listen to something you whisper in his ear.

“I’m gonna head to the garage first, okay?” Daniel hears you mumble, “I’ll see you later, baby.”

Then Max tilts your head up and presses a kiss on your mouth.

It’s at this moment that Daniel can’t help but feel a little foolish. Actually, more than a little. He feels stupid, downright idiotic standing here with his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Trying to pretend like everything was alright.

The worst part of it all, is that you don’t seem fazed at all. To you, it’s like he’s just another driver you bump into ever-so-often. You don’t seem to care about him. It’s like he and the weight of your shared history don’t even exist. Like it never did.

The sight of you walking away from him – again – pains him more than he thought it would. He can’t bear to lose you again, not when he’s still so fucking in love with you.

Soo he darts his hand out and grabs your wrist, and you whip around, eyes wide and stunned, and Daniel feels Max halt beside him, watching him intently.

And you’re looking at him now. Finally, you’re looking at him.

His eyes roam yours, trying to find a hint of familiarity, hoping desperately that he’ll find the same yearning and aching he feels for you reflected in your eyes.

“Don't you call him what you used to call me,” he whispers. Pleading with you.

Something in you seems to soften, and there’s a flash of pain in your eyes, but it's one that is quickly replaced with anger.

You wrench your hand from his grip and shove him away, storming off as Max follows you, casting an indecipherable look at Daniel in the process. Daniel watches as Max catches up to you, and he watches as you let him cradle you in his arms.

But it’s not your anger that hurts the most.

It’s the fact that you never once looked back at him.

#daniel ricciardo x reader #max verstappen x reader #formula 1 x reader #f1 x reader #f1 fanfic #formula 1 #f1 imagine #max verstappen #daniel ricciardo #daniel riccardo imagine #f1 #red bull racing #max verstappen fanfic #˖⁺‧₊˚ 📂 ── my writing #꒰ ⁺‧₊˚ [🏁] formula 1

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diaryujin · 1 year ago

Text

𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍

summary: Sunghoon has never felt any spark in his heart, none of that silly love he’s read about in novels in his free time. No one interested him, and it wasn’t like his father, the king, would let him have friends, male or female, for fear of being betrayed or developing feelings for them. He lived a life of isolation, excited for nothing – neither the idea of being married to a pretty princess nor becoming the next ruler of the Park kingdom. He most certainly did not expect you, his new guard, to change all that. He did not expect you to brighten his days and light up his heart.

includes: death, murder, war/battle, attempted murder (kinda), breaking in, royal au, romanticized medieval setting of sorts, forced marriage/proposal, a lot of time skips so it moves somewhat quickly, brief mention of a toxic ex, death by illness, joking mention of jumping off a balcony, blood, wounds, denial of death kinda, graves, lmk if i missed anything!

genre: angst

pairing: prince! sunghoon x guard! fem! reader

word count: 8.1k (woah)

taglist: @kflixnet @kpopslays @jvjsssnaa a/n: it’s finally here! i sacrificed sleep for this and i do not regret it at all. this fic has two milestones for me - being my longest fic + a fic i’m kinda proud of. i hope you all enjoy it as much as i did writing it <3

PLEASE REBLOG/COMMENT IF YOU ENJOYED THIS FIC 🫶

Sunghoon was reading over some papers pertaining to the kingdom’s matters when he heard a knock on the door.

“Enter.”

One of the guards came in, before bowing upon seeing him.

“Sire, his Majesty wishes to see you.”

He nodded and set the papers in a neat stack. He then put them in a drawer and locked it for security. He then stood up and followed the guard, maintaining a neutral expression.

His mind was working much faster than normal though.

His father was very strict, and the slightest mistake meant an extremely harsh lecture. He flicked through his memories, trying to remember what he could have done wrong, and what he should say as his apology.

He pursed his lips as a thought crossed his mind - was his recent trip to the colder regions made known to his father? He had gone for administrative work, but he couldn’t resist spending some time there ice skating, which the king always considered useless since it benefited only the person skating, not the country. He had done his best to keep it under wraps, but maybe one of the guards reported this to the king. Damn it.

He mentally slapped himself for using such crude language. Those were the words of peasants and did not suit a prince like him. Holy moly…buckling barnacles, great heavens…such lengthy words to express frustration, he thought. ‘Damn it’ was only two syllables.

As he snapped out of his reverie, he entered the Throne Room. His father was seated on the grand throne at the end of the airy space. The seats where the ministers sat were empty. Court was always in the morning, and it was probably lunchtime by now - the prince wasn’t sure.

He stood a few feet away from his father. The guard bowed and left, and Sunghoon made eye contact with the old man in front of him. He didn’t seem angry, so the younger relaxed a bit, letting out a sigh.

“Why have you called me here, father?”

“I’ve received some proposals from other kings. They’ve sent me paintings of their daughters. A lovely selection of princesses, I must say.”

Sunghoon had to physically hold himself back from rolling his eyes.

“Father, I’ve already told you this. I am not ready for marriage and I am not interested in this topic.”

“Yes, but it’s good to start early. Maybe you’ll change your mind after-”

“I’m sorry to interrupt you Father, but why have you actually summoned me?”

The king narrowed his eyes at his son but didn’t say anything more about the topic.

“Well, I’ve decided to get you a personal guard. There have been many threats of attacks on the palace, so it’s better to take this precaution.”

“Interesting. Will he be with me all the time or-”

“She.”

“What?”

“Your guard is a female.”

To say he was shocked was the understatement of the century. His father? Hiring a woman? As his bodyguard? What if he-

“Are you serious?” “Yes. She is very capable and I’m sure she will protect and serve you well. I trust you to keep your relationship with her strictly professional.”

It wasn’t like he knew how to have a non-professional relationship with anyone outside of his family anyway.

“Yes, Father. Will she be with me at all times?”

“Indeed she will, except for when you are sleeping. At that time, she will stand outside your door and guard you.” “What about her food and sleep?”

“That is not your concern.”

“But-”

“Silence!”

He immediately bowed his head slightly as a sign of remorse for stepping out of line. This was going to be interesting, he thought. He had little to no interaction with women outside of his mother and sister, and the small talk he made with princesses and duchesses of other kingdoms was always awkward. Now he was having someone of the opposite gender, a woman, watching over him nearly 24/7.

He slowed down his train of thought. Why was he thinking like a teenage boy ogling over a girl? He was the crown prince, he was better than that. It was going to be a new experience, that was all.

“May I meet her now?”

“Of course. She’s arriving as we speak.”

Just then, the door opened, and you entered, a male soldier on either side. Sunghoon’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, but nothing came out of it.

He was having a cultural shock of sorts. All the women he had met were all dainty, graceful and poised - the epitome of perfection. You, on the other hand, had an air of authority about you — rough and firm. A few scars were on your face, probably from battle. You bowed the full 90 degrees, and he could only respond with a small nod.

Oh fuck, you were gorgeous.

And he used foul language again. Stupid Sunghoon, he reprimanded himself.

He didn’t take back what he said, however. Your beauty wasn’t the type written in books or sung in ballads, but it had to be known to the world, somehow. He was almost tempted to write one himself.

Hold on, why was he thinking all this? His father had just told him to not think anything about you that crossed the lines of professional, and thinking about how pretty you were was not within those lines.

“This is your new personal guard, Y/N.”

You came over to him and bowed again, although at a smaller angle than before.

“N…Nice to meet you, Y-Y/N.”

Did he just stutter?!

“It is an honor, my prince. I swear to serve you to the best of my abilities.”

“I’m sure you will.”

He managed a small, formal smile, looking completely pleasant and unfazed.

Which he very much was not. He wanted to jump off the nearest balcony when you said ‘my prince’. He didn’t know why - you weren’t the only one who addressed him in that manner. You might’ve even learned it from someone in the palace, so why was he so hot and bothered with the way you said it?

“Your duties start today, guard.”

“Yes, your Majesty. I will not let you down.”

He was going crazy. You were just his new guard. Nothing less, nothing more. He would just have to rein in his thoughts and get it all together. Not a difficult task at all.

As you stood behind him as he walked through the kingdom’s streets a week later, he seemed to keep a little distance from you, which was unsafe. Anything could happen within a few meters.

“My prince, you must slow your pace.”

He turned his face to look at you as he stopped walking.

“Oh? Why is that?”

“There’s a gap between us, and anyone could attack you with that.”

“Ah. I see. In that case…you can walk next to me. Or something.”

You stood next to him now. He quickly looked at the fruits a vendor was selling, trying his best to avert his gaze so that you wouldn’t see his reddening cheeks. It was unknown to him as to why he was so flustered. You were only doing your job, and that was it.

“Our kingdom seems to produce good crops.”

“Indeed they do, my prince. The farmer and the cultivators work very hard. It always seems to go unnoticed for some damn reason, though.”

He heard the angry tone in your voice and the curse word you said. This seemed to be a sore topic for you. He was curious, so he decided to ask more.

“What do you suggest, then?”

“We export more crops so that they get more revenue and in turn, they get paid as well. Increase the demand.”

You shrugged before turning your attention to a little kid who was clinging to your leg. You leaned down and patted his head, smiling a bit. The kid laughed and ran away. Sunghoon watched this interaction with interest and it dawned upon him that you cared about the people and their welfare, like a good ruler.

Wait, why was he thinking about you being a ruler? You were only a soldier, and with the hierarchy now, there wasn’t much chance you could become more.

It did make him wonder, however, what you would do if the people rebelled. He shook his head, not wanting to think so dark. Your suggestion was smart, though. It made more sense the more he pondered over it. He’d mention this to the old man and see what he’d say.

“Shall we move on, guard?”

You stood up properly before nodding.

“Yes, my prince. Apologies for slowing you down.”

He dismissed you with a wave of his hand.

“Nothing of the sort. Come, let’s go.”

You both continued your stroll and for some reason, his heart was beating very unnaturally. He only had this issue when he was agitated, but there was no reason for him to be scared now, so why was this happening?

It had only been two months since you became his personal guard, yet you were his closest and most trusted friend. He took all your ideas seriously and told them to the king who somehow accepted them, and called him ‘ingenious’ for supposedly coming up with them. He hated taking false credit, but he knew that he couldn’t tell his father that you were the mastermind of them all — he would then question Sunghoon as to why he was talking to them in the first place, which would lead to you being removed from your post and replaced with a boring male soldier.

He didn’t want to lose you, not when he finally found a change in his monotonous life, someone to brighten his dull days, someone to call a friend, even though it was only known to the both of you and no one else. He couldn’t bear to have you gone.

He was sitting underneath a tree, looking up at the sky in the comfort of the gardens reserved for his family and visitors alone. His father never came here out of his own accord - he always considered it a waste of time. His mother was in her room, and her sister was in another kingdom discussing alliances. This was a moment very rare, just you and him, with no one to interrupt or catch you two slacking.

You were sitting next to him, only a few inches away. The wind was blowing gently on his face. He closed his eyes and smiled, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Your presence next to him was oddly comforting. He opened his eyes again, turned his head, and looked at you, wanting to ask you something.

“Guard, you know how I always give your suggestions to the king and how he always says ‘I’ did a good job thinking about them?”

Your face tightened the same way it did every time he took credit for your ideas in front of his father. He sighed.

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, I wanted to apologize for that.”

You tilted your head at him, clearly not understanding two things - why he was suddenly saying sorry, and how you doing that simple thing made him go insane. You took over him, body and soul. All he could think of when he tried to sleep was you. It was just two months. Two months, and he was already attached to you. He was convinced, however, that it wasn’t love or anything stupid like that. No, it was simply him forming a close connection to the first person who cared about him. Not everything was romantic affection. He had never tasted this emotion, obviously, but he’d say that he knew enough about it to confirm this wasn’t it.

“Why now, my prince? I’m sorry- I just didn’t expect you to, y’know…actually apologize. Never met a royal who’s done so. They’re all usually stuck-up snobs who think their shit is worth the entire kingdom.”

He snorted at that. It wasn’t like you were wrong, most of the royals he met were indeed very arrogant. He didn’t dare anything about it though, simply doing his best to not behave like them.

“It’s not right of me to take credit for something I don’t even have the brain for. I don’t mention your name for your security. If my father knew I was talking to you about matters like these, then…”

He made a motion of him cutting his own throat, complete with the sound effect. You grinned a bit, which was enough for him to be over the moon, but then you laughed. Not just a ‘teehee’ or a ‘haha’ - an actual, proper laugh. His heart swelled, maybe his jokes didn’t suck that much. Your laugh was indescribable. It was a delightful sound to listen to. It was short, but he wanted to hear it every day at least once for the rest of his life instead of those ballads that were sung in the court all the time.

The way your eyes formed crescents, the way your face was half in the light and half in the shadow, the way the wind put an orange leaf in your hair like it was an accessory - it was making him sick in a good way. He rarely saw you smile, let alone laugh like this. He knew that you had to keep your expression serious all the time - all the soldiers had that training - and this was a proud moment for him to see you loosen up. He couldn’t help the small smile on his own face.

“My prince, is he really that harsh? I’m aware that he is super damn strict to us soldiers, but that’s expected since we have to be toughened up to protect the land.”

His smile faded before he shook his head in agreement.

“I’d say so. It’s for my good- I am the next in line, after all.”

“I don’t think forcing your child to have no friends is how you raise him to be king. He won’t know how to have proper social interactions.”

There you were again, hitting the mark accurately with your observation. He sucked at interacting with other people. Slowly, he was starting to dislike his father more. The faults he never saw in him earlier were becoming visible, the saint-like image he had of the king since childhood fading away. Was this meant to happen? He wasn’t sure.

“Right. I’m living proof.”

You shook your head in alarm.

“Oh shit- please don’t be offended by my idiotic statement, my prince…I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, really-”

He chuckled at how you were panicking and made a motion with his hand for you to calm down.

“It’s okay. I didn’t take it that way.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

He saw your body relax as he rested his head against the bark of the tree again. He gazed at the sky, eyes fixated on the clouds and the way they moved in the direction of the breeze. Two questions lingered in his mind, and his mouth suddenly blurted one out.

“Do you ever sleep?”

It was random, sure, but he had to know. He was concerned for you. He never saw you leave his side, except for when he was asleep, and he already knew what you did then. You were still staring at him, but he didn’t notice.

“I do. I’m a normal person, my prince, I can’t function without food and rest. That’s impossible.”

“When?”

You let out a slight laugh at his curiosity, and his heart started pounding faster again.

“You don’t notice, do you? That means I’m performing the stealth part of my job well. When you’re in the dining room or a meeting surrounded by the best soldiers. That’s when. I also don’t stand watch for you every night. I alternate with another guard.”

His mouth formed an ‘o’ shape in understanding. He didn’t notice it at all, which meant that either you were a master of stealth, as you said, or he was just blind. It was most likely the former since he had no doubt in your abilities.

“I see. I was very worried for you, honestly.”

“I’m honored that I was an object of your concern, my prince.”

He scoffed at your slightly surprised expression.

“Of course, I would. You’re my personal guard, what reason is there for me to treat you inhumanly?”

That stupid fucking slip of his tongue.

Shit, he just cursed.

Damn it, again.

His tutor and family would go crazy if they could read his thoughts.

Of course he had to refer to you as his, like you were property. Of course he had to emphasize on that word as well. You were making him loosen up too much. It shouldn’t have happened, not at all. He couldn’t continue like this, what if he accidentally cursed in front of people? He would never be heard of again.

“I’d say I had expected that, but you’re different from other royals, so not really.”

“I understand. Also, you don’t have to call me ‘my prince’ when we’re alone. Just Sunghoon is enough.”

Your eyes widened in astonishment.

“My prince, I wouldn’t dare to-”

“Really guard. It’s fine.”

“But his Majesty-”

“He doesn’t have to know. Our secret.”

“If you say so…it’ll take me time to get used to calling you by your name, princ- I mean, Sunghoon.”

“Already getting there.”

“I guess so. In that case, you can call me by just my name. No need for ‘guard’.”

“Your wish is my command, Y/N.”

This was new. Not referring to someone by their title was disrespectful. He learned from a ripe young age that if he didn’t call someone by their title, he could end up with his head on a guillotine block in some places. Were you seriously making all his long years of education unravel? Silence fell upon the two of you before he spoke up again.

“What do you think love is like?”

You must’ve been taken aback, and he expected to see such an expression on your face. Instead, when he stole a glance at you, it was something else. Wistful? Longing? He couldn’t name it exactly.

“Books don’t give it justice. Neither do ballads. It’s…more than that.”

He was intrigued by your response. He raised an eyebrow, signalling you to continue.

“Oh? You’ve been in love before?”

You stared at him, a sad smile forming on your lips, a look flashing in your eyes. One of remorse, he recognized.

“Yeah. It was depressingly…beautiful.”

His chest tightened at your words for some reason.

“Heartbreak?”

“Kind of. We fought a lot…our personalities were very different. Then when we finally reconciled…he died. An illness took him away.”

Your eyes were filled with so much hurt, it almost made him cry. This was his first time seeing you emotional, vulnerable, and while he was honored that you trusted him enough to show you this side of yours, he wondered how much you were hiding away. All he wanted was to protect you so that you would never have to go through something as painful as that. He made a resolve to make sure that he was never the cause of the agony in your eyes.

“I’m so sorry that happened.”

“It’s fine. It was just- unexpected. It’s been a year anyway.”

“I hope this doesn’t bring back memories you buried, but…how would you describe love?”

You rested your chin on your palm, thinking for a bit.

“Love isn’t only about the physical signs. For me, love is always wanting to be by someone’s side, being so head over heels for them that even the littlest things like…I don’t know, something stupid, makes you remember them. It’s being their biggest supporter, but also telling them when they’re wrong. Love is wanting to keep them safe from all the bad in this world. It’s when even the simplest thing they do brightens your day, like a smile or a small act of kindness. Love is when you put their needs and wants above everything and everyone else. There’s obviously more, but that’s my personal experience.”

Holy moly. Sunghoon was in love.

He was in love. That emotion many desired to feel at least once. All his previous notions and confidence about it being platonic flew out the window. He very clearly did not learn enough about this feeling. He didn’t know whether he wanted to be happy that he could say he had loved once in his life, or scream in frustration that he fell for someone out of his league and not some princess who he was supposed to want like this.

God, he hated himself.

“Pri- Sunghoon, are you okay?”

Your voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He couldn’t let you know, he was a hundred percent sure that you didn’t feel the same. Plus, he was the prince, and if you both were caught, it would mean bad for him and catastrophic for you.

“I’m fine. Come, let’s go. We might get caught if we stay any longer.”

He stood up immediately. You were confused but followed his orders. What he said, you obeyed.

It had been eight months since you became his personal guard, and half a year since he realized that he was in love with you. He tried to distance himself, but one look or word from you and his resolve faltered. He was so deep in this pit, and he didn’t know whether he wanted to dig deeper or climb out. He wanted you to stay away and he also loved the way you destroyed every single one of the walls he built around himself subconsciously.

He matured, and he was no longer the shy boy who didn’t know how to talk to someone of the opposite gender. He was a confident and charming crown prince now, the man of many’s dreams. You were the only one on his mind though.

His father was now eager to get him married off, and he had to comply with his wishes, He was no longer the king who served the people anymore - he was corrupted, only thinking about power. Sunghoon did his best to undo the damage inflicted on the population, but the situation was getting tense, and he knew it. Rebels were raising their heads and it was his job to keep them in check. It was difficult, but you helped him through it.

Presently, he was sitting in the dining room with his family, the king, queen, princess, and officials of the Hwan kingdom. This was the proposal his father liked the most because the Hwan kingdom was rich in resources, and this alliance hidden as a marriage would give the Parks access to those coveted precious stones. He was hoping, however, that the other king would say no for some reason and he’d be free.

He had no interest in the princess, however. She was too boring for him. They had zero common likes, and the only thing they related to each other on was the struggles of being next in line. This was probably the worst match he had ever met. She seemed like she wanted this much less than he did. She was at least trying, he had to give her that.

You stood behind him on his right side. He so desperately wanted to turn around and see your reaction to all this. Your face had to have no expression now, obviously, but you both shared secret looks with each other in odd situations, and he was sure you’d find this amusing. The chatter across the table died down suddenly, and all the attention was on the two kings in the room.

“We’ve agreed on this marriage. Prince Sunghoon and Princess Hyeju are now betrothed!”

Sunghoon’s hands, which were tapping the table, stilled. He froze in shock, every voluntary muscle in his body stopping movement.

No, this couldn’t happen.

This was a nightmare, a terrible dream. He pinched his thigh underneath the table and ended up proving to his dismay that he was wrong.

This was the worst day of his life.

His father droned on about the details of the wedding. He tuned it all out. He tilted his head just a little to see your face and noticed that you were gripping your spear much tighter than necessary. You knew that he didn’t want this, not at all. Maybe you were angry on his behalf.

He couldn’t do anything about this, however. This was just his fate, and he resigned to it immediately.

The meeting ended, and everyone, including Sunghoon, stood up and exited the room. You followed him as he went straight to the gardens to clear his head. His family would be occupied with entertaining the guests and making more plans, so it was just you and him. Again.

He sat in his usual spot underneath the same tree. He buried his face in his hands, frustrated. He heard the sound of you sitting down next to him, before feeling your hand lightly grip his shoulder.

“Hey, Sunghoon?”

“You don’t have to say anything. It’s fine.”

“I know how much you don’t want this. Trust me, I don’t want it either.”

The second sentence was uttered in a more quiet voice, and he moved his hands away from his face to look at you in confusion.

“What do you mean?”

Your lips formed a thin line, your body language making it clear that you were saying this with hesitation.

“I don’t want you to marry her.”

You removed your hand from his shoulder. You looked down at the grass, fresh and green from the new spring season.

“Why? I mean- other than me not wanting it personally, there’s no reason you should hate it…this is an amazing opportunity for the people and the kingdom! We will prosper-”

“Fuck the people and the kingdom- I want you, dumbass.”

His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.

“What…do you mean.”

“I love you really badly. That’s what I mean.”

He couldn’t believe it. You, the very person he always desired desperately, his forbidden fruit, loved him back? Wanted him? This wasn’t real. He must’ve been knocked out after the marriage announcement and slipped into a pleasant dream.

“I don’t believe you.”

“You want me to prove it?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t know what to expect, but you grabbing his face and crashing your lips on his was the farthest from his vague idea of what might happen.

It lasted for a few seconds before you pulled away suddenly. You noticed his dazed expression and started to panic.

“Shit, shouldn’t have done that, please don’t kill me, I-”

Your voice snapped him out of his haze before he placed his hand on your waist and pulled you in for another kiss. His hand tucked one strand of hair behind your ear and you melted into the action, calming down instantly. He was so gentle, so careful, he was holding you like you were a delicate object that was to be treated with utmost care at all times. When you both parted, his face wore a lovesick smile, his eyes sparkling like stars.

“I feel the same.”

“Yeah, it was obvious.”

He chuckled at your comment, before frowning.

“You know this is dangerous, right? We shouldn’t be doing this.”

Your shoulders slumped at his words, knowing that he was completely correct.

“I do. I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess. I just didn’t…know how to tell you.”

He shook his head. To him, you could do no wrong. It was his fault. He should have gotten rid of you so that he could nip the blooming flower in his heart from the bud. He shouldn’t have been such a coward.

“I understand what you mean now. I don’t know how to stop it, though.”

“That’s…fine. Just knowing you feel the same is enough for me.”

It wasn’t. Neither for you, neither for him, and you both knew that. The fact that he couldn’t be yours and you couldn’t be his simply because of both of your duties was like a nasty, sharp torn ledged in the soft flesh of his heart. You and him were not meant to be. Your romance was only a fantasy, to be never fulfilled.

“Precisely. This is all it’ll ever be.”

It was night. He had one week until his wedding with the Hwan princess, and he was dreading it. Seeing your face became unbearable for him sometimes — you reminded him that he had everything a commoner could only dream of, but even the poorest of poor could love and he couldn’t. He was ready to throw his entire life away and disappear with you, but his fear of what would happen next to the country held him back.

He stared out the window in his bedroom which gave him a perfect view of the private gardens. The place where it all started and ended. The moonlight shone on the trees and flowers, giving it a peaceful aura, different from the cheery one it had in the daytime. Even in the comfort of his silk night clothes and soft blankets, he was in a state of unrest. He wanted to run, wanted to be free, wanted, wanted, wanted. He lay down, resting his head on his pillow as he waited for sleep to find him while he closed his eyes. Thankfully, the night was kind to him, and he dozed off almost instantly.

Sunghoon was rudely woken up by you frantically shaking his figure, pleading with you to wake up. When he came to his senses, he heard alarms sounding in the palace and immediately understood that it was an emergency, although what might’ve exactly happened was beyond him.

“Y/N, Y/N, I’m up. What’s going on?”

He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes and slapping his face for good measure.

“Rebels. Come, we need to run.”

The first word was enough for him to be fully alert. He foresaw them coming, so it wasn’t a big shocker for him. He put on his slippers and looked at you with determination. He was actually trying to mask his fear, but you didn’t need to know that. You grabbed his arm and ran out of the room. He was a bit startled at your speed at first, but quickly matched your pace. When you both reached a corridor, you slowed down, wanting to be careful of surprise attacks.

“Hide your face to the best of your ability. I’m not sure if they’ll recognize you in non-prince clothes, but it’s better to be safe. They’ll aim for me instead since I have the palace uniform.”

His chest tightened. You were ready to give up your life for his. He knew that was protocol for all soldiers - royals over their own lives. He knew, but you were different. He didn’t want you to die, he couldn’t imagine a life without you. You were his oxygen, he’d suffocate if you were gone.

Suddenly, he noticed a flash of light. He heard a whoosh and he saw the way your hair moved in the direction of the sound. He assumed it was a gust of air along with the lights of the palace shining weirdly, but then he looked at the wall in front of him and realized what it was - an arrow. It was embedded in said wall, and you had missed it by a hair’s breath. Literally. It had scratched your face, but other than that, you were fine.

You pulled him down to remain on the floor, before you stood up and ran to the rebel that shot it, your hands gripping your sword tight. You engaged in combat with her. She was rather buff, and even though she only had a bow and an arrow holder on her, she was slowly gaining ground in the fight. She was blocking your thrusts with her bow, catching your moves with its string. She landed a harsh blow on your chest, and he gritted his teeth seeing your sharp flinch. He had to do something and fast.

He crawl-walked across the floor, making sure to stay unnoticed. He moved to stand behind the rebel before forcefully grabbing her neck. She was gagged, and the sudden lack of air caught her off guard. You took the opportunity and struck her in the heart, and he let go of her.

You both ran off, eager to get to the safe room specially built for situations like this. Barely some distance away, he raised his head, neck aching from the constant strain, when you suddenly pushed him to the ground and covered his mouth with your hand. He was about to protest, feeling kind of hot and bothered with his position, but then he decided against it. You definitely did this for a reason, and he could repress his feelings for a while.

Your head turned as you stared at a rebel passing by, praying he wouldn’t notice you both. He was blind to your movement thankfully, and as soon as he left, you got off of Sunghoon, pulled him up, and ran. You pushed the door of the safe room which was behind a cupboard open with your shoulder, and he then realized that he was the first one to reach. The door closed, and he glanced at you, relief and gratitude clear in his eyes.

You gave him a thumbs up and turned to leave to assist the other soldiers with getting the rest of his family to the room when he suddenly grabbed your wrist. You looked at him with confusion, and you opened your mouth to ask him what he was doing when he placed his lips on yours. You let out a soft gasp when he held you closer, one arm around your waist, the other hand on your back, holding you close. This wasn’t like the last time you kissed — this was desperate, filled with emotion. He let go of you too soon, eyes shining with tears.

You both knew that there was a chance you wouldn’t come back to him, and this could be the last time he saw you.

You squeezed his hand in an attempt to reassure him. He just nodded at the door, knowing that you had your duty. You bowed and left as he watched you in fear, praying that you’d make it.

After the attack by the rebels, there were always new questions about the palace’s security floating around. Quite a few lives were lost. None of them were you or his family, but Sunghoon still grieved for them mentally. He couldn’t imagine the agony their families must’ve been going through, and he managed to convince his father to give all the deceased’s close relatives compensation.

The wedding was called off for now, much to his delight and his father’s despair. The old man had accused him of doing something to sabotage it, but he had grown a thicker skin, thanks to you. All efforts were now being put into strengthening the forces of the kingdom, and the actual matters of state were being ignored. This would lead to more rebellion, but his father didn’t seem to care. At this rate, he could die if he stepped out of the palace grounds — the people hated him that much. Sunghoon was already preparing to become the next ruler since that future would become a reality pretty soon.

A surprise attack was inevitable, but he didn’t expect the aggressor to be the damn Hwan kingdom.

They must’ve heard about the damage inflicted on the palace from spies and knew that the Park kingdom would be focusing its efforts on repairing it, thus taking advantage of the situation. It was smart of king Hwan, Sunghoon would give him that.

He rode his horse while inspecting the soldiers preparing for battle. None of them were properly ready for this. Many veteran soldiers were on break and were called back suddenly. They all did come, and he was grateful to them for that, even when they had the right to refuse. The troops were arranging their positions quickly, and a little bit of his anxiety relaxed. Their army was strong, they could face this.

As he rode back, he saw his father, who was seething with rage at being betrayed, Sunghoon’s brain was in overdrive. Many of these brave soldiers would sacrifice their body and soul for a stupid fight that wouldn’t bring much to the land that could have been easily prevented. He knew it would happen, but didn’t do anything that was enough to fix it. He couldn’t keep falling short of what was necessary, that wasn’t what a future king would do.

Not wanting to talk to the old man, he rode a little further where you were on your own horse, surveying the battlefield. He relaxed a bit more upon seeing you and moved to be next to you.

“This will be a tough fight, Sunghoon.”

“I hope it remains a fight that ends today and not a war that stretches over days.”

“Where we are victorious.”

“Obviously.”

“My- Sunghoon, what will you do in case your father…is killed?”

The slip-up and the way ‘my Sunghoon’ rolled off your tongue so perfectly made him miss your actual question for a moment. He let out a soft giggle, before manning up to think. He hadn’t considered that possibility at all. If that happened, then he would automatically become the next king. He’d rule the land and hopefully lead better than the previous king and his reign would be peaceful. He’d make sure of that.

“Be the next ruler, of course. I’d promote you to my personal advisor.”

You cracked a small smile at that.

“Not enough brain. Plus, what if I don’t make it?”

“Won’t happen. You’re too sexy to die. Your abilities are top tier too, you’ll survive.”

You laughed now, and he smiled fully at you. This was a situation unheard of — right before a whole battle, he was here flirting with you and laughing. So very serious.

He leaned his head closer to yours, hair falling over his eyes. They were pleading silently with you to steal one last kiss, one last secret gesture of love before you both left to fight, one last chance to hold you. You shortened the gap, about to comply, when the war horn sounded, signaling the start of the battle. He frowned, angry at the lost chance, but quickly kissed your forehead. You pecked his cheek in return, before putting on your helmet and riding off.

The sound of hooves hitting the ground and the sight of dust flying from them brought him back into the moment, and he rode in the same direction as his own army, intending to lead the fight. His father was weak and made dumb decisions, so it was up to him. He moved directly to the frontlines, pulling out his sword from its hilt as an enemy soldier charged at him. He fought with ease, and soon a dead body was on the ground.

He should have been desensitized now upon seeing gore and corpses, but it still disgusted him. He gritted his teeth and averted his gaze as he parried with more enemies. Soldiers were dropping left and right from both sides. Blood splatters were on his own face from fighting so fiercely. It was a miracle that he was still standing with only minor injuries, the Hwan soldiers were vigorous.

Time was passing quickly, although for him it felt like an eternity. He just wanted to go back after all this ended. He didn’t care if he had to marry the Hwan princess, all he wanted was for this bloodshed to end. The sound of arrows being shot, horses neighing, grunts of hurt and dying soldiers — it was all too much for him.

All of a sudden, a more experienced soldier was attacking him, he could tell by the moves. His entire focus was on fighting back because this guy could actually kill him, that much was clear. He didn’t notice the other soldier charging towards him from his left with a spear until he heard a clang.

His eyes darted in the direction of the sound for a second, only to see you had blocked the attack and thrown the soldier off his horse. He was impressed and inspired by you, and with renewed strength, he killed the veteran. He gave you a thumbs up, before looking to his right as someone else ran to replace the deceased soldier. He was ready to fight that person and everyone else with you and for you.

Then, tragedy struck.

An arrow was heading in his direction. Occupied with the current fight he was in, Sunghoon was in no position to dodge it, and you took the blow. Pushing his horse with your own, the arrow lodged in your chest instead. The only reason he noticed it was because of the sound of pain you made. He finished off the man fighting him, and then turned his head to look at you. Your head was drooping slightly and your grip on the reins of your horse had faltered.

No, no, no, this can’t happen!

You were supposed to stay with him, you were supposed to be by his side forever, he was supposed to get more chances to love you, even in secret, not just lose you like this.

He immediately shoved his sword back in its hilt before grabbing your torso to steady you. You were very faintly there, you just had to keep going a bit more for him, and he knew you could.

“Y/N, hold on, okay? Don’t close your eyes, please.”

“Try…ing.”

Fuck, your voice was so weak, you really were trying. He’d end your suffering soon, he promised silently.

Coincidentally, the war horn sounded once more, signifying the end of the battle. It was his kingdom’s, which meant he had won, just like you wanted.

But you weren’t conscious enough to realize it.

He promptly sat you on his horse in front of him, one arm around your waist holding you close and tight. He galloped fast to the palace medic, the best one in the entire region. He ignored the weird looks and the shouts of his name, traveling with urgency. He had to move fast for your sake, and also for his own. He’d lose his shit if you…no. You weren’t going to, he was sure of it.

“Try to not focus on the pain, we’re almost there.”

That was stupid advice, but he had to say something, anything to save him.

“This doctor will fix you up, I swear. Just- don’t give up yet, Y/N. I beg of you. It’s all I’ll ask for this badly from you.”

Your head was now tilted back, and it rested on his right shoulder. You opened your eyes slightly to look at him, which he took as a good sign.

Then you spoke.

“I won’t…won’t make it. It’s…no point…denying it…my…Hoon, I…love you.”

At your words, Sunghoon’s lips formed a thin line as he squeezed his eyes shut for a few seconds to force his tears to stay back. He could feel the blood running from your wound and collecting onto the sleeve of his suit, but he refused to accept it. You would make it, you couldn’t die.

“Shut-Shut up. You’re not dying, not when I’m here. Look, we’ve reached- you’ll be okay, I swear.”

He got off the horse, your limp body in his arms bridal style.

He wished he could be holding you like this in a different, more happier situation.

The doctor rushed out of her house and knew that it was urgent upon seeing the prince at her door. She took you in and he waited outside, pacing around nervously. He was so certain you’d survive, but the wound could be a major setback for the rest of your life. He’d have to make adjustments to accommodate you at the palace. He wouldn’t mind though, it was for you after all.

The doctor came out after a few minutes, and he waited for her to say something along the lines of ‘she survived, but ___’. Not to see her shake her head with a soft sigh.

“I’m sorry. She didn’t make it. She was gone when you came here. We tried our best, but…the arrow was poison tipped, which reduced her chances of surviving to zero.”

No. No no no no no. This lady was old and wrinkling, she was probably cuckoo and playing an unfunny prank on him.

“Can I see her? Alone?”

“Of course, sire.”

He rushed inside immediately, expecting to see you on the bed bandaged up and smiling at how well the prank worked on him-

She was right. You really were gone. You took your last breath in his arms. Your arms rested limply by your sides. The arrow was removed, but the blood stains were on your armor as evidence that the fatal injury did indeed happen. Useful reminder for a delusional ass like his. Your helmet was off your head now.

He sat down on a chair next to your bed and held one of your hands gingerly. It was already turning cold, and he hated it. He felt freshly made cuts and bruises along with older scars on your palm. His gaze fell on your face. The scratch you got from the rebel’s ambush was still partially healing. He took in your features with intense concentration, engraving them in his memory. He despised the fact that you looked so much at peace right now – when you just left his entire life in turmoil. He needed so badly to shake you back to life or something, but he knew that there was no point now. He lifted your hand up to his lips, kissing it in a tender manner, a weak replacement for the one you both missed maybe an hour or two before.

Just when he let go of your hand, the doctor rushed in with news.

“Sire, his majesty has passed away due to a…similar poisonous arrow shortly after victory.”

Both the people he knew wanted to win the most were dead just after it happened. Ironic, he thought - this was worthless now.

King Sunghoon walked through the cemetery for soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the country. He stopped right in front of one which had many flower bouquets, a lot of them from his own previous visits, all of them your favorite flowers. He got on his knees on the right side of your gravestone, head bowed in respect and hands folded in his lap.

“Hello, Y/N. I know I’ve come to see you many times before, but I can’t help it. I miss you so much. You left too soon. I still believe that I should have taken that arrow instead of you…although it was for the better in hindsight. At least your last memory was of me and your pain ended quickly.”

Silence. He quickly wiped his eyes.

“I love you, Y/N. I still do, so much. I should move on by now, but it’s hard. Not when you meant so much to me, not when you changed me. A little for the worse, mostly for the better.”

He laughed dryly, looking at his hands. An expensive ring gleamed on his ring finger.

“I married a queen who I liked a lot. Not the Hwan princess, although she and I keep in touch often. We’re allies now. Kind of ironic, since I lost you and the old man in a war against that same kingdom’s old ruler.”

He wasn’t willing to let himself break, what if someone walked in on him sobbing over a dead soldier's grave? What would they think? He poked his eyes with his fingers, still in misery. No matter how much he tried, everything in his brain led back to you. While he didn’t want you to fade or leave his mind exactly, you were only meant to be a guest, visiting occasionally, not a permanent resident, not someone he still needed. When he calmed down, he quietly lifted his crown off his head and put it on top of your gravestone. He placed a solemn hand on it, closing his eyes. “This is a love stained crown, tainted with you and I, along with all our memories. Your affection will never wash away, no matter how much I try. I miss you and I love you, and I hope you’re doing better, wherever you are.”

#mallow’s works #mallow’s oneshots #divider by fairytopea #enhypen #enhypen x reader #enhypen royal au #enhypen angst #sungoon #park sunghoon #sunghoon x reader #sunghoon angst #sunghoon royal au #enhypen fic #sunghoon fic #sunghoon prince au #sunghoon enhypen #kflixnet

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aetlasx · 11 months ago

Text

prologue

pair: eddie munson x witch!reader

summary: Ah, memories. You journal your first day of high school, but things quickly take a turn just a few weeks later.

tw: menstruation, pad/tampons, bullying, name calling (pls lmk if there’s anything I missed)

a/n: just stick with me lol. he’ll be in the first part. Also, this is an AU!! For spooky season!! thank you so much for reading!!

*the chat font is the diary entry and it goes back to normal at the end*

August 22nd, 1983 It's been a few months since i've written in this thing. I thought it'd be a good time to start now since I finally made it to high school!

You know what that means? Four more years till I leave this shithole!! Better than five. June was actually waiting by the door when I got home, she really wanted to hear every detail of how it went. I told her about my classes, I have Jonathan in two and Nancy in several. I told her how the school and people were so different from anything I was used to. But, it doesn't take her long to find something wrong with the way I think. She started with her usual warnings and advice, all the things I need to avoid, all the mistakes I shouldn't make. I know she's just trying to protect me, but it feels like she can never have trust in her little sister.

On the other hand, at least Teddy asked if I had fun. He's always been the one who knows how to lighten the mood, especially knowing how his wife is. He asked about my teachers and any clubs that looked cool enough to join. He even asked about Jonathan and Nancy.

Jonathan was definitely not as excited as me. He's quite, but he's always been that way.I know that his mom was excited for his first day of high school, she even convinced him to bring his camera. Right now, I'm trying to convince him to join the newspaper but he just shrugs me off. And Nancy, well, although it's been one–girl is practically glow. Within just 8 hours of the school day, she was able to meet a boy. She kept gushing about him and is pretty excited for the rest of the school year here. I'm genuinely happy for her.

Before June could add her two cents, I interrupted her with how I stopped by Aunt Claudia's after school to see how Dustin's day went. He was already sprawled out on the couch, 'exhausted' from fighting with his new math teacher. It had been a bit since I had seen them, I slaved away my summer at my job so stopping by, I felt grateful that they weren't even mad. I'll have to start hanging out with him again.

Anyways, I’m determined to make the most of freshman year with my friends. I’m ready to prove that I’m more than just a product of this stupid town.

Wish me luck!!

September 16th, 1983

I think I lied. I don’t know where to start…but a four year wait is too long. I don’t know where it all went wrong but it started over the weekend.

Sometimes I’d like to think that if my mom was still around, this wouldn’t have happened. Hell, June is like my mom, why did it happen. I’m talking about mother nature’s gift. It seemed as though no on thought to inform me that a girls first period would be this chaotic.

Nance and I had a movie night planned. I hadn’t really talked to her much, only in class, because her new boy toy or whatever—Steve Harrington, was taking up most of her time. I thought this would be a good time to just catch up and gossip, I was wrong. That Friday was horrible. I ended up throwing up, getting the chills, my body ached to no end. But I was still determined to make movie night happen, especially since June and Teddy were gone for the weekend.

As I was dying on the couch, Nancy finally showed up. But to my disappointment, it was only to cancel. Her and Steve were going out on their first date. I don’t know if it was how hot I was feeling or my intestines twisting, but black spots started clouding my vision. I just remember her screaming for Steve and once I knew it, I woke up in the hospital.

What I’m about to write, I’ll say with confidentiality…probably because I’m the only one reading this. Whatever.

A period is probably normal for all females. What’s not normal is having to go to the hospital and having your best friend’s boyfriend make fun of you because the doctor called you a late bloomer. I mean, she apologized but, if I could’ve just died on that bed, I wouldn’t be here.

Even June lectured me when I interrupted her weekend getaway. The whole ride home she kept complaining and saying ‘how could I not know’ and ‘you just gave us another unnecessary bill’. Like, sorry my baby’s natural response has ruined something for you.

Fuck. That’s not even the worst part. When Monday came back around, everyone was looking at me when I walked in. I know how cliche it sounds after what had just happened but knowing how popular Harrington was and who his friends were, he had already told the whole school by now. During gym, Carol and a few other girls threw pads and tampons at me. I got called ‘Bloody Mary’ and ‘Leak Freak’ in the hallways, at lunch, and anytime anyone had the chance. I tried to stay strong, I even hoped Nancy would say something to me during class or at least when she saw me but she just looked at me with sympathetic eyes. It’s just hard to believe that a few weeks ago, everything was fine. We were making fun of our teacher, gossiping with Barb, and even went shopping but I guess things change. Now when I look at her I’m just consumed with rage.

Jonathan has been supportive, though. The evening I got out of the hospital, he had actually brought over some of my favorite snacks and listened to me cry all night. Even when the mocking was bad, he’s stuck by my side. He’s told some kids to fuck off, walks me to class, and I’m grateful, don’t get me wrong but knowing that I have to wake up and go through it again doesn’t really ease my pain.

I feel like my chances of making friends and actually joining some clubs are ruined. When I try talking to some new, they give me dirty looks. When I go to ask about different clubs, they turn me away. I’ve lost hope. Thought this was suppose to be a fresh start but I guess not.

And just to add more salt to the wound, I haven’t been able to sleep. Every time I close my eyes and drift to away, I’m met with such an unsettling environment. The atmosphere is thick, groggy, red. It’s coated in fog, but a man I’ve never seen before always walks through it. He says his name is Henry, he starts talking about my worries and pain. It’s always the same—he says he’s ‘there to help me’, he’s there to ‘take away the pain because he knows what it’s like’. I truly don’t know what has caused my subconscious to create things like this but I guess I’m just tired of feeling like shit.

I don’t even know why I bother keeping a journal around. Sometimes I feel like I won’t even be here in the future to reminisce on the shitty days like this. Why would I even? I guess it’s just easier to write these things down than having to say them out loud. I thought I’d be able to make my sister, aunt, cousin, and friends proud, but I’m starting to think I’m just not cut out for this.

Closing the diary, the blonde places it back in the shoebox you hid it in. Pushing it back under your bed, standing from the place he sat. A satisfied smirk on his face.

He’d been following your turmoil closely, knowing that this was just the turning point. Your struggles were feeding into his plans. This entry was straw that broke the camels back—your vulnerabilities, your fears, and your desperations. It was almost too easy.

“Your suffering is almost poetic,” Henry said to himself, walking out of your room, your house, determined to take action now. He planned to finally confront you, to force you to acknowledge the full extent of what your destiny could be with his help—with what he had to offer.

#eddie munson #stranger things #eddie stranger things #witch!reader #witch!au #eddie munson fic #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson x reader #eddie x reader #eddie munson x you

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ellswritings · 9 months ago

Text

No Place Like Home

Derek Morgan x reader

TW: Mentions of sexual assault on reader, murder, blood, violence, regular criminal minds stuff, angst with a happy ending, this gets very dark at some points so please read at your own discretion, I think that’s it. Lmk if I missed anything.

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

Baraboo Wisconsin.

Y/N L/N’s hometown. The one she left the second she turned sixteen and never looked back. Baraboo is a quaint little place, beautiful views and fun places to go if someone knows where to look. It’s a tight-knit community that’s for sure. Where everyone knows everyone and whatever secrets someone has also belong to the rest of the town. It can be endearing at times but also make an individual feel claustrophobic.

She never planned on coming back here. She graduated college at fourteen and worked her ass off to save enough money to leave by the time her sixteenth birthday rolled around. In fact, that was her birthday present to herself. To get the hell out of there.

Y/N’s father died when she was six years old. He was a hero, a firefighter. He died saving a family of six from a burning house. He was the only one who didn’t make it out alive that day. He managed to get every person out with minimal injuries. Just couldn’t seem to save himself.

After he died, Y/N’s mother, Lisa L/N, was a mess. Completely ignored her daughter after her husband’s, started drinking. Y/N practically raised herself. Until her step father came into the picture. Adrian Cole. The name itself gives her sickly chills just thinking about it.

Y/N continued her studies after getting her first bachelors degree at fourteen. She ended up with a doctorate and three masters under her belt by the time she turned eighteen. The girl is what most specialists would consider a “high potential intellectual.” She has advanced cognitive abilities that contain superior pattern recognition, enhanced situational awareness, an eidetic memory, advanced deception detection, superior deductive reasoning, mental simulation/scenario building, and advanced problem solving.

She’s rather valuable to say the least.

Y/N has had the world at her fingertips since she was born. She’s smart, cunning, calculated. She knows exactly how to get what she wants. Unfortunately, she doesn’t screw up from time to time.

Hence why she got arrested for petty theft when she was eighteen.

She had been working odd jobs for her entire life. Bouncing around from city to city, trying to find a place she could make her home. She somehow ended up in Quantico Virginia, a random bus stop on a long list of places she could go. But it had been a couple months since being there, and one week she didn’t make enough to get herself some basic grocery supplies, so she thought it wouldn’t be the most terrible thing to snag a loaf of bread on the way out of one of the many grocery stores in the city. She didn’t think they’d truly care about one loaf.

Clearly, she was wrong. They apparently needed that bread way more than she did.

And that’s how she ended up the in police station. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience at first. Most of the officers just thought she was some punk kid who got a kick out of stealing. She didn’t even bother trying to explain why she did what she did because they wouldn’t believe her in the first place. And it’s not like they could put her in the system, she was eighteen.

However, as they were processing her, she noticed some of the detectives talking about a murder investigation. They had a man who was found dead in his living room, and the prime suspect was the wife who mysteriously disappeared after it happened.

The thing about having advanced cognitive abilities, is that it’s easy to get stuck inside the many wrinkles of the brain. She also has a compulsive need to correct everything she sees is wrong, and that is why she interrupted their conversation by yelling across the station that the wife is actually a second victim, not the perpetrator.

Of course, most of the detectives thought she was full of crap and didn’t have any idea what she was talking about. The commander however, seemed to have a different opinion. She asked Y/N what made her think that the wife could be a victim in the case.

That led to her explaining that the photos in the crime scene board indicate that there was a third part, and that’s who killed the husband and kidnapped the wife. She pointed out how there were microfibers on the legs of the chair in the photo and that shows how someone had been tied to it with duct tape. And it clearly couldn’t have been the husband with the way there was no ligature marks or redness on his skin.

Needless to say, they found the wife and the person who killed the husband. Turns out it was his best friend who was having an affair with their son’s school teacher. The husband knew to much and threatened to tell his best friend’s wife which led to his demise. Who would’ve thought?

After that case, the commander offered her a position as a consultant on their cases. It gave Y/N the first feeling of stability she’s had in a very long time. She was even able to save enough to buy herself an apartment in the area, and put herself through the FBI academy. Her coworkers at the station were sad when they found out she had been recruited to one of the most elite units in the agency, but they knew her potential was to great to be stuck at the precinct for the rest of her life.

That’s why she’s currently back in Baraboo, the ripe age of twenty-five, with the rest of the Behavioral Analysis Unit team. The leader, Aaron Hotchner, and the rest of the group: David Rossi, Jennifer Jareau, Emily Prentiss, Doctor Spencer Reid, and the one and only… Derek Morgan.

From the moment Y/N met Derek, they clicked. They both have very similar traits but differ in the most important ways. They somehow manage to understand each other on a level that the rest of the team can’t comprehend. The two of them share flirty and playful banter constantly. Everyone in the office thought Penelope and Derek were bad, at least until Y/N sauntered in. She distinctly remember Spencer having to leave the room, his face flushed red after hearing a conversation between Derek and Y/N.

The two always brushed it off as a joke, or something they do to cope with the darkness of the job, but there’s always been a little something more lying underneath it. Neither of them have been able to acknowledge it out loud, but it’s not hard to see.

“How does it feel to be home, Princess?” Derek asks with his signature golden smile, full intention of getting a flirty reaction from her. He cracks his back as the rest of the team gets off the jet, getting ready to split up and head to the station or to the most recent crime scene.

Y/N keeps her eyes trained in the distance, her face cold, hard almost. “This hasn’t been my home for the past nineteen years,” she replies stoically before walking off to join Hotch and Rossi by one of the SUV’s.

Derek is taken aback by her demeanor. She’s never been one to turn down an opportunity to flirt or be witty, especially with him. Y/N has always been a bit closed off, but in the same way Derek is. She doesn’t tell anyone about her past, and she’s never asked him about his. It’s one of the many things he loves about her. She didn’t push when she knew not to. In fact, the most they knew about where the other came from was home towns. Now he did share some about his family because they’re important to him, and so is Y/N, but he never delved too deep. That is until about last year when he was arrested for murdering three boys back home.

Y/N was the only one who tried to help without digging to deep into the things Derek didn’t want found. It killed her a little bit to see how Derek broke down when confronting the real perpetrator, Carl Buford, who also molested Derek as a child. That particularly made it a rough case for her, for more than one reason.

“Reid, JJ,” Hotch calls out to the two. “I want you guys to head to the station with Rossi, see if you can nail down a geographical profile.” The trio nods before heading over to their own SUV. “Prentiss, you come with me to talk to the most recent victims family. Morgan, L/N, head to the crime scene. Sheriff Mills will meet you both there to discuss the rest of the details.”

Y/N nods silently before turning back to Derek. She gestures towards the third black car waiting for them, walking past him and over towards the driver’s seat. Derek grabs her wrist gently as she tries to open the door, “Babygirl, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Following orders,” Y/N answers like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“Uh-uh,” Derek shakes his head. “Get your cute little ass in that passenger seat right now.” He demands.

“Derek, we don’t have time to argue over who’s gonna drive the damn car,” Y/N snaps, completely out of character. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

His eyebrows shoot up into his nonexistent hairline, “Whoa,” he puts his hands up. “I didn’t mean to upset you, sweetheart. I just like driving you around, that’s all. I thought it was like a little silent agreement we had. You being my passenger princess.”

Y/N’s face softens, but he can still see the anger behind her eyes. There’s definitely something wrong. She’s never been like this without a reason. A small sigh escapes her pink lips, “Okay…” she mumbles, very cutely in Derek’s opinion. “You can drive.”

Without another peep, Y/N climbs into her designated spot besides Derek. He casts her an unsure glance, wondering if maybe she’ll open up to him on the way to the scene, but unfortunately the entire ride was quiet. Apart from the playlist playing in the background. They both had created it for when they were partnered together on a case.

They pull up to the scene, no words uttered between them. Y/N stares out the window, sucking in a deep breath. Her knuckles are a pale white as she clutches onto the door handle. He wants to ask her what’s going through her mind, but knows better than to push when she’s like this.

She steps out of the vehicle, the gravel crunching beneath her feet, Derek following closely behind. As soon as they near the crime scene, she spots Sheriff Mills standing by the perimeter tape, arms crossed but eyes bright when he recognizes her.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Y/N L/N!” Mills calls out with a smile, his voice booming across the lot. “You’re a sight for sore eyes. How long’s it been?”

Y/N offers a small, genuine smile, feeling a rare sense of warmth. “Hey, Sheriff. It’s been a while. Nine years, I think.”

“Nine years,” he repeats with a shake of his head. “You disappeared on us, huh? Look at you now.” He glances over at Derek, curiosity sparking in his eyes.

Y/N glances between the two men. “This is Derek Morgan, one of the best profilers at the BAU.”

Derek steps forward and extends his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

“Likewise,” Mills replies, shaking Derek’s hand firmly before turning back to Y/N. “You always had it in you to do something big.”

Derek watches the brief exchange with interest, noting how Y/N seems more at ease around the sheriff. There was history here, but also a quiet sense of trust. The sheriff gave Y/N a comforting nod before stepping back to let them work.

They cross under the yellow tape and into the scene, where the victim’s body lay partially covered. Derek’s voice is low but steady. “What are we looking at?”

Y/N knelt beside the body, her jaw tightening as she takes in the brutal injuries. “Ligature marks on the wrists and ankles…looks like she was tied up, maybe tortured before…” She let her words trail off, her eyes lingering on the deep gash across the victim’s neck. “The unsub wanted control, dominance. But there’s rage here too.”

Derek nods, crouching down next to her. “The way he escalates...it’s personal. There’s something he’s trying to prove with each kill. Could be revenge or a power trip.”

Y/N swallows hard, her breath hitching for a moment as she takes in the scene. She stands, brushing her hands on her pants as if trying to rid herself of the heaviness in the air.

Derek stands too, noticing the slight shift in her demeanor. He narrows his eyes, stepping closer to her. “You alright?”

Y/N hesitates, casting a glance back at the body. The familiarity of it all—the victim, her face—was a knife in her chest, twisting cruelly.

“I knew her,” Y/N finally admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “Her name’s Claire. We…we went to high school together.”

Derek’s brows furrow, concern flashing across his face. “You didn’t mention that at the briefing.”

She shrugs her shoulders, jaw clenching. “I didn’t think it would be relevant. I haven’t spoken to her in years.” Y/N turns away, looking out into the distance as if trying to find something to balance herself, her mind.

Derek’s hand gently rests on her shoulder, his touch grounding her in a way she wasn’t expecting. “If this is too much, you don’t have to–”

“I’m fine,” she snaps, though the sharpness in her tone is more for herself than him. She looks at Derek, the vulnerability showing through her usual hard exterior. “I just didn’t expect this.”

Derek softens. “You don’t have to be fine, Y/N. Not here, not with me.”

For a moment, their eyes locked, a silent understanding passing between them. But Y/N quickly broke away, determined to stay focused. “Let’s just…get back to work. We have to find this guy.”

They both turned back to the crime scene, their focus shifting back to the task at hand. But the air between them was heavier now, weighed down by the past that had resurfaced with a vengeance.

“Whoever did this,” Derek says quietly, “they knew how to get close. Claire trusted them.”

Y/N nods, her jaw clenched tightly. “He’s not a stranger to any of these women. He’s someone who knows how to blend in. And he’s getting more comfortable.”

Derek meets her eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. They have to catch this unsub before anyone else suffers the same fate. But now, more than ever, Y/N had a personal stake in it. And Derek was going to make sure that, whatever happened, he’d be there for her.

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

The police station is humming with quiet intensity, the kind of buzz that always fills the air when the team is piecing together fragments of a case. They’ve been working nonstop, and the weight of the victims is hanging over all of them. Every detail matters now, every tiny revelation could lead them closer to the truth.

Hotch stands at the head of the room, looking over the maps, notes, and pictures strewn across the table. JJ, Reid, and Rossi are gathered around, quietly talking through the geographical profile they’ve been working on. Emily leans against the wall, flipping through her notes from the victimology interviews. Derek and Y/N, just back from the most recent crime scene, stand a bit apart, their body language tense but focused.

Hotch looks up from the map, his expression sharp and business-like. “What did you find at the crime scene?”

Derek steps forward, his eyes catching Y/N’s briefly before he speaks. “The victim was restrained before she was killed. Ligature marks on her wrists and ankles. She was tortured—cut up pretty bad across her torso. He took his time with her. Cause of death was strangulation, but the wounds came first.”

Reid frowns, looking over at the crime scene photos pinned to the board. “That suggests control. He didn’t just want to kill her, he wanted to inflict pain, assert dominance.”

Rossi nods in agreement, his tone grim. “He’s trying to break them down before killing them. Likely projecting some internal conflict, something personal.”

Y/N stands a little off to the side, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She hasn’t said much since they got back, but Derek knows that look. She’s running the details over and over in her mind, trying to process everything.

Derek glances at her again before continuing. “He’s gotta be in his late 40s or 50s. Strong enough to overpower, but methodical enough to take his time with them.”

Emily pushes off the wall and approaches the table. “We’ve seen it before. Someone with deep insecurities who compensates by dominating their victims. There’s probably a sexual element involved, even if it’s not immediately obvious.”

Hotch is quiet for a moment, taking in all the information. Then he asks, “Was there anything else? Anything personal about her?”

There’s a pause. Derek hesitates, his eyes flicking over to Y/N again. He’s been waiting for her to say something, but she’s been holding back. She looks tense, almost like she’s somewhere else entirely.

Y/N clears her throat, feeling the weight of Hotch’s attention on her. “The victim... her name was Claire.”

Hotch raises an eyebrow. “And?”

Y/N shifts slightly, her voice a little quieter. “I knew her. We went to the same high school.”

That draws everyone’s attention. Reid, JJ, and Emily all look at her with surprise. Rossi’s eyes narrow in thought. Hotch’s expression shifts from curious to stern in an instant.

“You knew her?” His tone is sharp, almost accusatory.

Y/N nods, though it’s clear she’s uncomfortable. “Yeah, but... we weren’t close. I hadn’t seen her since high school. I didn’t even realize it was her until we were at the scene.”

Hotch’s jaw tightens, clearly frustrated. “And you didn’t think that was something we should’ve known?”

Before Y/N can respond, Derek steps in, his voice firm and protective. “She didn’t know until we got there, Hotch. This isn’t something she was hiding. It just hit her at the scene.”

Hotch’s gaze shifts to Derek, his expression still hard, but he doesn’t argue. There’s a beat of silence, the tension palpable in the room. Y/N looks down at the floor, her jaw clenched, clearly battling with the emotions bubbling beneath the surface.

Reid, ever the analyst, chimes in. “If Y/N knew the victim, that could mean the unsub has a connection to her past as well. It’s possible he’s targeting women from the same community.”

JJ nods thoughtfully. “If the victims are all from the same area, it might explain how he’s able to blend in so easily. He knows them, at least in passing.”

Y/N swallows hard, feeling the pressure of everyone’s eyes on her. She’s never liked being the focus of attention, especially not when it comes to something this personal. She hates how it feels like she’s under a microscope right now.

Derek steps a little closer to her, his hand brushing her arm lightly, a silent reassurance. His voice softens, just for her. “You okay, babygirl?”

She forces a tight smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”

Rossi taps the edge of the map in front of him. “If this unsub is blending in with his victims, he’s not the type to stand out. He’s attending social gatherings, getting close to them before striking. He’s comfortable in these environments.”

“That’s how he’s avoiding detection,” Emily adds. “He’s slipping under the radar, appearing harmless.”

Sheriff Mills, who’s been standing quietly in the back of the room, finally speaks up. “You think he’s been attending community events?”

Rossi nods. “It’s likely. He’s integrating himself into their lives without raising suspicion.”

The sheriff frowns, thinking for a moment. “Well, Diane Cole—one of the most prominent women in town—she hosts a weekly Sunday luncheon. Half the community shows up after church.”

Y/N’s entire body goes rigid at the mention of the name. Her breath catches in her throat, her heart pounding suddenly in her chest. The rest of the team doesn’t miss the way her expression changes, the way she seems to freeze in place.

Hotch notices it immediately, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Y/N? Why does that name mean something to you?”

Y/N tries to keep her composure, but it’s slipping. She feels exposed, vulnerable, like the walls she’s spent years building are crumbling around her. Her voice comes out strained, barely above a whisper. “Because Diane Cole is my mother.”

The room falls silent. No one says anything for a moment as they process what she just said. The different last names had kept them from connecting the dots until now, but the revelation is staggering.

Rossi’s eyes soften with understanding, but Hotch’s expression grows darker. He takes a slow breath, his frustration evident. “You didn’t think to tell us that your mother hosts one of the biggest events in town? One that our unsub no doubt plucks his victims from?”

Y/N shakes her head, her voice cracking slightly. “She and I... we haven’t spoken in years. I left home when I was sixteen, Hotch. It’s not like I’m going out of my way to connect with my mother. She’s not—” She stops herself, not wanting to open that door. “She’s not apart of my life. We’re not close.”

Hotch is clearly irritated, but before he can say anything else, Derek puts his hand on Y/N’s back, his voice low and calm, but with a protective edge. “Look, Hotch, this isn’t easy for her. She’s not keeping things from us on purpose. Let’s just focus on what we know and move forward.”

Hotch stares at Derek for a long moment, clearly weighing his words. Finally, he nods, letting the issue drop for now. “Alright. The luncheon is our best lead. Y/N, Derek, Emily—you three will come with me and we’ll see if anyone stands out. We need to be cautious. We don’t know what this guy looks like yet, but he’s dangerous.”

Y/N swallows hard, nodding along with the rest of the team. She feels Derek’s steady presence beside her, his hand on her arm again, grounding her. She meets his eyes for a brief moment, grateful for his unwavering support.

“We got this,” Derek murmurs, just for her. His voice is soft but full of confidence.

Y/N takes a deep breath, steadying herself. “Yeah. We do.”

As the team breaks off to prepare for the next steps, Y/N lingers for a moment, the weight of what’s to come settling heavily on her shoulders. She’s about to walk back into a part of her life she thought she’d left behind for good, and the thought terrifies her. But with Derek by her side, she knows she can face it. She has to.

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

The drive to Y/N’s childhood home is filled with a heavy silence. Derek occasionally glances over at her, but she stares straight ahead, her face unreadable. He knows she’s shutting down, retreating into herself as the memories she’s been trying to bury claw their way to the surface. The tension in her body has been there ever since they received word that the unsub might be attending her mother’s Sunday luncheon, and it hasn’t left her since.

As the car pulls up to the house, Y/N’s stomach knots. The familiar two-story building looms in front of them, looking almost exactly the same as it did the day she left nine years ago. The white picket fence, the flower beds her mother used to tend to religiously—everything looks frozen in time, untouched by the years she’s been gone.

Derek cuts the engine and turns to her. “You sure about this, princess?”

Y/N swallows hard, forcing a small nod. “Yeah.”

She isn’t sure. Not even close. But she’s here for the case, and that’s what matters. She can’t afford to let her emotions get in the way of the investigation, no matter how much being here is already tearing her apart.

They step out of the car, and Derek moves beside her, a steady presence as they walk up the path. Hotch and Prentiss are already ahead, scanning the area as they approach the front door. Y/N’s eyes flick around, taking in the familiar sights—the swing set that used to creak with the wind, the porch steps she used to sit on every evening, staring at the stars. All of it feels distant, like a life that belongs to someone else.

As soon as they step onto the porch, the front door swings open. Diane Cole, Y/N’s mother, stands in the doorway, her face lighting up in a wide smile. “Y/N!” she exclaims, her voice filled with warmth and hospitality as if no time has passed at all. “Oh, my goodness, it’s been so long!”

Y/N’s body tenses as her mother wraps her in a tight embrace. The scent of her perfume—familiar, suffocating—fills Y/N’s nostrils. She stands stiffly, arms at her sides, not reciprocating the hug. She can feel Derek’s eyes on her, the weight of his concern palpable, but she doesn’t move.

Diane pulls back, her hands still on Y/N’s shoulders, beaming at her. “Look at you! You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman.”

Y/N forces a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Hi, Mom.”

Diane doesn’t seem to notice her daughter’s coldness or, if she does, she ignores it. “Come in, come in!” she says, ushering them inside with a wave of her hand. “Everyone’s already here. We were just about to start lunch.”

Y/N steps inside the house, the familiar creak of the floorboards under her feet making her stomach turn. The smell of roast chicken wafts through the air, mingling with the sound of chatter coming from the dining room. It’s all so painfully familiar, like stepping back into the life she left behind.

Hotch and Prentiss follow them in, their eyes scanning the room, already analyzing the guests milling about. Derek stays close to Y/N’s side, his presence grounding her, but even that isn’t enough to quell the anxiety bubbling up inside her.

As they move into the living room, Diane can’t seem to stop talking. “It’s so wonderful to have everyone here. We do this every Sunday, you know. Just a little gathering after church. Keeps the community close.”

Y/N nods absently, her eyes flicking around the room. She’s searching for something—someone—though she’s not entirely sure who she’s looking for. The unsub is here. That much they know. But standing in this house, surrounded by people she hasn’t seen in years, feels like walking through a minefield.

Diane turns to Derek, her smile still plastered on her face. “And who’s this?”

Diane’s smile widens. “Oh, it’s so nice to meet you, Derek. Please, make yourself at home. We’ve got plenty of food, and if you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Derek replies politely, though his attention is already back on Y/N. He can see how tense she is, the way her eyes are darting around the room, scanning faces, assessing the crowd. She’s in work mode, but there’s something deeper, something more personal eating away at her.

As they move further into the house, Diane continues to chatter, offering drinks, asking about their work, pretending as though she hasn’t been estranged from her daughter for nearly a decade. Y/N barely listens, her mind racing as she takes in every detail, every face.

As they began to split up, Y/N felt a wave of relief wash over her. She’d always preferred to keep her distance from the noise and chaos of family gatherings, and today was no different. “I’ll check the backyard,” she suggested, hoping to create some space between herself and the tension inside.

“Be careful,” Derek said quietly, watching her with concern as she slipped outside.

Once she stepped into the backyard, the sun was almost too bright, illuminating the vibrant flowers in the garden but doing nothing to warm the coldness settling in her bones. She leaned against the wooden railing of the porch, breathing deeply, attempting to ground herself.

For a moment, it was quiet. The chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves filled the air, allowing Y/N to momentarily escape the chaos inside. But just as she started to relax, the back door creaked open. She turned to see Adrian, her stepfather, stepping onto the porch. The brightness of the day dulled as he approached, his confident demeanor wrapping around her like a shroud.

“Y/N,” Adrian said, his voice dripping with feigned warmth. “It’s been a long time.”

Y/N stiffened, her pulse quickening. “What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her tone steady despite the rising tide of panic.

“I came to check in on you,” he takes a silly step closer to her. “You’ve grown up so much,” he said, his eyes scanning her with a mixture of familiarity and something more invasive. “You know, your mother is worried about you. You should visit more often.”

Y/N felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. “I’m fine. I don’t need checking on,” she replied firmly, trying to keep her tone from betraying her nerves. “And I have a busy job. I don’t have time for trivial visits.”

“Really? You’re fine? Because you look like you’re about to bolt. I thought we were past this.” Adrian’s voice turned sharper, an edge of annoyance creeping in as he crossed his arms over his chest.

At that moment, Derek stepped out onto the porch, instantly sensing the tension in the air. He glanced between Y/N and Adrian, picking up on the shift in Y/N's posture—the way her shoulders were tense and how she seemed to shrink back.

“Y/N, are you okay?” Derek asked, concern lacing his voice.

Adrian turned his gaze to Derek, sizing him up as if trying to gauge his intentions. “And who might you be?” he asked, feigning curiosity but with a hint of challenge.

“I’m SSA Derek Morgan with the BAU,” Derek replied, his tone neutral but his stance protective. “We’re here to investigate.”

“Investigate?” Adrian scoffed, his eyes narrowing. “What do you need to investigate in a place like this? It’s just a house.”

“Everything in here could be important,” Derek replied evenly, maintaining eye contact. He felt the tension simmering in the air, aware that any hint of aggression could escalate quickly.

Adrian took a step closer to Y/N, invading her space. “Well, Y/N and I have a lot to discuss, don’t we? Family matters are important. So I think it would be best for you to continue your investigation inside.” There was an underlying threat in his tone, one that made Derek’s instincts flare.

Derek shifted forward, placing himself between Adrian and Y/N, his presence a solid wall. “She doesn’t seem to want to talk,” he said firmly, glancing back at Y/N, searching for reassurance in her eyes. “I think you should give her some space.”

Adrian’s demeanor shifted slightly, his confidence cracking as he tried to reassert himself. “Space? I’m her stepfather. I have every right to speak to her.”

“That doesn’t mean you have the right to make her uncomfortable,” Derek replied, his voice steady but edged with authority. He wasn’t here to play games—he needed to protect Y/N, especially if something felt off.

Adrian’s smile faded as he took another step forward, his eyes darkening. “You’re just some guy, aren’t you? An FBI agent trying to play hero. What do you know about family?”

Derek squared his shoulders, refusing to back down. “I know that family should support one another, not intimidate. And from what I can see, you’re not doing that.”

Y/N felt the tension spike, her heart racing as she sensed Adrian’s irritation boiling beneath the surface. Derek was standing his ground, but she could see the way Adrian’s demeanor shifted—his posture becoming more aggressive.

Adrian’s gaze flicked between Derek and Y/N, and she felt the weight of his scrutiny. “You don’t know her like I do. I’m trying to help her,” he said, his voice lowering as he leaned closer to Derek, trying to assert dominance.

“Help her?” Derek echoed incredulously, his tone clipped. “By pressuring her? You’re not helping anyone but yourself.”

“Watch yourself,” Adrian warned, his voice turning low and menacing. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with here.”

Derek’s jaw tightened, and he took a step closer to Adrian, matching his intensity. “And you don’t know who you’re threatening. Back off.”

Just then, Y/N felt the walls closing in around her. Adrian’s words were wrapping around her like a vice, squeezing her heart and pushing her instincts into overdrive. She could feel herself being pulled in two different directions—Derek’s protective stance grounding her but also reminding her of the past she was trying to escape.

“Y/N,” Adrian said, his tone shifting again as he turned back to her, that familiar manipulation creeping into his voice. “You don’t have to listen to him. I’m just looking out for you.”

She shook her head, the memories crashing over her like a wave. “I don’t need you to look out for me,” she said, her voice firm but low, trying to keep it steady as her hands trembled at her sides. “I’m done with that.”

Derek shot her a glance, noticing the shift in her demeanor. “Y/N, you okay?” he asked, concern thick in his voice.

“I’m fine,” she insisted, but the strain in her tone betrayed her.

Adrian smirked, the kind of smile that sent a chill down Y/N's spine. “Look how protective you are of her,” he said to Derek, his voice dripping with mockery. “Isn’t that sweet?”

“Enough,” Derek said sharply, stepping further in front of Y/N, his body a shield. “You’re crossing a line.”

Adrian’s demeanor darkened, his posture becoming more aggressive as he looked back at Derek, trying to assert his dominance. “You think you can just waltz in here and play protector?”

“Believe me man, I’m not playing,” Derek replied, his voice low and steady.

That was when Y/N felt the weight of everything pressing down on her. She couldn’t stand it. Adrian’s presence, the memories flooding back, and the way Derek was standing up for her—it was all too much. Without another word, she turned and walked briskly toward the front door, needing to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

“Y/N!” Derek called after her, but she was already moving, her heart pounding in her ears.

She rushed through the living room, her mind racing. She felt a wave of anxiety surge as she stepped outside, the sunlight hitting her face, but it felt distant, almost cold.

“Y/N! What happened?” Prentiss shouted, following her outside. The concern in her voice echoed in Y/N’s mind.

“I just... need a minute,” Y/N replied quietly, trying to control the tremble in her voice.

Hotch stepped outside, his brow furrowed as he assessed the situation. “What’s going on?” he asked, his tone serious.

“Nothing,” Y/N breathes heavily, her chest heaving from anxiety and anger. “Nothing, I-I I’m fine.” She didn’t want to relive it; she didn’t want to talk about Adrian or the past. “I don’t want to discuss this.” She shakes her head rapidly.

“Why are you upset?” Prentiss pressed gently, her eyes filled with concern.

“I said I don’t want to talk about it!” Y/N finally snaps, her voice slightly rising as she felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She turned away from them, needing to find a way to breathe, to think without the weight of their gazes on her.

“Y/N, please,” Derek said softly, stepping closer but remaining respectful of her space. “Talk to us. We’re here to help.”

She shook her head, feeling the panic rising within her. “I can’t do this right now,” she said, her voice breaking. “I just– I cant. I’ll jeopardize the case if I go back in there. And I can’t do that to those women. I can’t mess this up.”

With that, she turned and strode toward the SUV parked at the curb, the need to retreat overwhelming her. She climbed into the back seat, shutting the door firmly behind her, pressing her forehead against the cool glass, desperately trying to find calm in the chaos that had erupted.

“Y/N!” Derek called again, but she didn’t respond, her heart racing as she stared out the window, willing the memories to stay buried and the present to fade away.

The team gathered outside, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern as they exchanged worried glances. “What do we do?” Prentiss asked, glancing from Hotch to Derek.

“We give her space,” Hotch replied, his voice steady. “She’ll talk when she’s ready.”

Derek clenched his fists, frustration coursing through him. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he knew that pushing would only make things worse. “I hate this,” he muttered, his gaze fixed on the closed door of the SUV.

As the minutes ticked by, Y/N closed her eyes, willing herself to breathe, to find calm in the chaos swirling around her. She couldn’t let Adrian’s presence ruin everything she had worked for, everything she had fought to build. But deep down, she knew the shadows of her past wouldn’t let her go so easily.

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

Walking back into the police station, Y/N managed to get the entire teams attention without even speaking. The unfortunate part about working with such observant people is that even if she breathes a little too heavy, they can tell exactly what she’s thinking. And let’s just say her breathing is way different than what they would consider her “normal.”

Spencer, JJ, and Rossi all watch with concerned eyes as Y/N practically storms into the designated room they have for the case, slamming the door behind her. The glass windows shake from the force and she places her hands on the table before zeroing in on the case board in front of her.

Hotch, Emily, and Derek walk in, their own cautious gaze setting everyone on edge. Rossi looks at the trio, pointing back at the fuming agent in the other room. “What happened there?”

Hotch states after his younger agent, tilting his head as he tries to gauge whether she’s more upset or angry from beyond the window. “Something set her off at the house,” he answers.

“Not something, someone,” Emily corrects with a worried sighs. “As soon as her stepfather showed up, it was like her entire world stopped. And not in a good way.”

“Stepfather?” JJ furrows her eyebrows.

“Adrian Cole,” Reid answers for them, causing everyone to look at him confused.

“And how did you know that?” Hotch questions flatly.

“When she mentioned Diane was her mother, I did some digging and asked some of the other officers about her,” Reid admits with a harsh swallow as he notices Morgan glaring in his direction. No doubt for probing into Y/N’s life. “Diane got married to Adrian when Y/N was eight years old. Three years after her father died. He’s currently fifty-two, eight years older than Diane. I guess everyone was pretty surprised to find out they were seeing each other,” Reid reveals. “Sheriff Mills told me that it was the talk of the town when it originally happened. Adrian was kind of a recluse, not approached by many, kind of a ‘creep’ as described by the deputies,” he gestures over in the other direction. “So it was surprising to find out that Diane ended up with him, especially since she married her high school sweetheart, Y/N’s father, Daniel L/N.”

“So she kept her father’s last name,” Rossi points out, glancing back over to Y/N. “Shows how much she truly wanted to distance herself from her mother. Not taking her new husband’s last name.”

“Or maybe she was just closer with her dad,” JJ suggests.

“Or maybe her stepfather never got over his ‘creep’ reputation,” Emily scoffs out. “Gotta admit, if he was my stepdad, I wouldn’t want his last name either. I mean, the way he walked up to Y/N… it was almost predatory.”

Derek stands off to the side, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He listens to the conversation but doesn’t say anything yet. He’s been watching Y/N closely ever since they walked into her mother’s house, noticing every shift in her demeanor, every tell-tale sign that she was far from okay. Now, hearing the others discuss her like she’s some puzzle to solve only makes his jaw tighten.

“We can’t just sit here and talk about her like she’s not in the other room,” Derek’s voice breaks them out of their conversation. “We shouldn’t be discussing and probing into her life without talking to her first.”

“She doesn’t exactly look like she wants to talk, Derek,” Emily points out. “She kind of bit our heads off when we originally tried to get something out of her. We’re just trying to get an idea so we can help.”

“Well maybe instead of talking about her we should be talking to her,” Derek says snippily. “Then we might actually be able to get her to open up.”

Hotch raises an eyebrow, “You think she’ll open up?”

“To me? Oh, I know she will,” Derek nods his head confidently. “She trusts me. If anyone is going to get through to her, it’s me.” He says, his voice steady, though there’s an edge of protectiveness in his tone.

Without waiting for anyone else to respond, Derek heads toward the room where Y/N disappeared. The others exchange quick glances, knowing Morgan has a point. He’s closer to Y/N than anyone else on the team, and if she’s going to talk to anyone, it’s him.

Inside the room, Y/N stands in front of the caseboard, her eyes scanning over the photos and files without really seeing them. Her mind is racing, and it’s written all over her face. Derek walks in quietly, closing the door behind him. He watches her for a moment, his eyes softening as he sees the tension in her shoulders, the way she’s gripping the edges of the table like it’s the only thing keeping her grounded.

"Princess," he says softly, using the nickname he knows she responds to when she’s upset. "You okay?"

Y/N doesn’t turn around, her voice coming out strained. "I’m fine, Derek."

He takes a step closer, his tone gentle but firm. "No, you’re not. Talk to me."

She lets out a shaky breath, still not looking at him. "It’s... it’s nothing. I just—there’s too much going on. I need to focus."

Derek’s not buying it. He steps closer until he’s standing next to her, he gently places his pointer finger under her chin, lifting her head up to him. "Y/N, look at me."

Reluctantly, she allows him to lovingly adjust her head, her eyes meeting his. The moment their gazes lock, Derek can see it—the fear, the anger, the confusion. She’s holding it all in, trying to keep herself together, but it’s a losing battle.

"You don’t have to do this alone babygirl,” Derek says softly, his voice full of concern. "Whatever’s going on, you know I’ve got your back."

For a second, she looks like she’s going to say something, but then she shakes her head, turning away from him again. "It’s just... I don’t know, Derek. I don’t know what to do, what to say,” she huffs frustratedly. “Things are a lot more complicated than everyone thinks they are.”

He watches her, giving her the space she needs but staying close, his presence solid and unwavering. "You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just talk to me."

Y/N’s breath hitches, and she suddenly steps back from the caseboard, running a hand through her hair as she starts to pace. "It’s not just about Adrian, okay? There’s... there’s something else."

Derek watches her carefully, his eyes tracking her movements as she starts to unravel. "What is it?"

Y/N’s mind is moving a million miles a minute, pieces clicking together as she starts connecting the dots. She stops pacing and stares at the board again, her heart pounding. "I found the connection," she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

Derek’s brow furrows. "What?"

Y/N swallows hard, her hands trembling slightly as she starts flipping through the files. "It’s me,” she admits shakily. “I’m the connection,” she rushes out, throwing files left and right. “The girls. I know all of them. I guess I haven’t been processing faces until now, trying to block out the memories I have here, but I can’t do it anymore. These women…” her hands tremble as she moves. “They’re dead because they knew me.”

“Whoa, whoa, sweetheart, slow down,” Morgan places his hands on her shoulders gently to get her to stop rambling. “What do you mean you’re the connection? You haven’t been here in over nine years.”

Y/N squeezed her eyes shut, letting the warmth of Derek’s hands try to slow her mind. It works momentarily, but does nothing to slow her racing heart at the realization that she could be the key to this entire case. And she did exactly what she promised she wouldn’t. She jeopardized it. Ignored the fact she faintly recognized each victim. Ignored the nagging feeling in her brain that something was off. Thats why the team has been struggling to track the unsub, because they’ve been missing one key element. The connection between the victims. Why he picks them.

“They were all part of the same support group I was in when I was a teenager.” She swallows thickly, rubbing her now sweaty, nervous hands on her slacks. “All of them. That’s why I recognized Claire... and the others.”

Derek steps closer, his voice low but urgent. “A support group? For what?”

Y/N’s chest tightens as the memories flood back, memories she’s tried so hard to bury. "For survivors of abuse. Sexual abuse."

There’s a beat of silence as Derek processes what she’s just said. His jaw tightens, his protective instincts kicking in even harder. "Y/N..."

She doesn’t give him a chance to say anything else. Her eyes dart across the files, her mind racing as she speaks faster. "This isn’t just random. He’s targeting them, Derek. The girls from the group. I don’t know why, but he’s going after them. And now... now it’s happening again. They went through something so evil and vile as kids and now… now they’re being killed for it.”

Derek takes a step forward, his hand reaching out to gently grab her arm, grounding her. "Hey, slow down. We’ll figure this out, okay? You’re not alone in this."

“Derek, what if that means I’m next?” She asks him. “We have five victims, and there was only six people in the group. I’m the only one left.” She moves back to the case board, trying to see if any new information will reveal itself after this epiphany. “And it-it’s not like a lot of people knew about it…” she mumbles. “It was a private group, very secluded. It was us and whoever we chose to tell about our experience.”

“Babygirl…” The way Derek calls out to her, she can already tell exactly what question he’s going to ask next. Which is the main reason why she didn’t tell him sooner. She’s been trying to avoid the answer to this question for her entire life.

“Who did this to you?”

Y/N freezes, her eyes traveling down to her feet. She fights off the tears welling behind her eyes, needing to stay strong. This can’t have a hold over her anymore. She can’t keep living like this. In terror of returning to the place she used to call home.

“Adrian,” she says, her voice cracking. She doesn’t even have to turn to Derek to know his fists are clenched. She can feel the anger radiating off of him at the revelation. It all makes sense to him now. Why Y/N’s been acting off since getting to Baraboo, why she was uncomfortable in her childhood home, why she looked like she wanted to run and hide the second Adrian approached her. He violated her in a way no person should ever be violated. In a way that he understands all too well.

He manages to get ahold of his fury, walking closer to her. He sits down in the chair directly next to her body. He reaches out, grabbing her hand and rubbing his thumb over her soft skin. “How long?” He asks, a pained tone in his voice.

She keeps her eyes trained on her shoes, “Ten to fourteen,” she says barely above a whisper. “I went to the support group until I left for college at sixteen.” Y/N sits down next to him, almost hiding within herself. “Most of the other girls were older than me,” her eyes barely graze over the crime scene photos.

“Babygirl, this went on for four years? Did you tell anyone?” Derek wonders, not judging because he didn’t say anything either.

“I tried–” her voice cracks again as she chokes back her tears. She clears her throat to regain her composure, “I told my mom,” she admits quietly. “But she didn’t believe me. She told him I told her and that’s when things went downhill. She called me a liar, told me no one would believe me. Adrian played the victim throughout the whole thing, but the same night he came into my room and–” she sucks in a deep breath. “He told me it was my fault. That he was being so nice to me for doing what he was doing. Told me I wouldn’t make it without him or his help. And I was just a kid,” she sniffles. “I was scared out of my mind. I couldn’t defend myself because I believed him. And my own mother didn’t even think I was telling the truth. How could I tell the police?”

Derek doesn’t say anything but moves forward to pull her in for a hug. He holds her tightly and she slowly melts into his chest. They both can feel the eyes of the team on them, but choose to ignore it. “That’s why I went to the support group.” She continues, slightly muffled by Derek’s chest. “Because they were feeling the same way I was. Even if the people who did it to them were caught and put away, they still understood what it felt like.”

“Sweetheart, I don’t want you to have to relive this, but I gotta ask… Who else knew about these meetings?” He lifts her head up, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Anyone that you can think of. If you truly believe you are the key to this case, you’re the only one who would know.”

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Y/N says honestly. “Whenever I would go I would say it was for tutoring or book club. I didn’t want them to know I was looking for help. But the other girls could’ve told someone. I don’t think they did though. When we went it was for us. To help us cope. We didn’t feel the need to tell anyone else because we had each other.” Her forehead creases as she tries to think of someone who could’ve been aware. “I guess the only other person who would’ve known is the girl who facilitated it. She graduated five years before I even got there. Got a degree in psychology. I think she actually became a therapist here.”

“Would she have told anyone?”

“No,” Y/N shakes her head. “She was big on confidentiality. That’s why we all trusted her.” She thinks back to try and remember any detail she could. “Her name is Candy Brown. Dark hair, a couple inches shorter than me, real organized, had set schedules and certain ticks. Like borderline OCD. She would have to click her pen three times when moving onto a new person while taking notes.”

“She kept records?” Derek’s face suddenly morphs into one of extreme concern. “Y/N, if she wrote down everything you guys ever told her, someone could’ve easily found the notes and that’s how our unsub got his information. That’s how he could’ve figured out who was in the group.”

“We need to tell the team,” Y/N looks out the window towards the group of people who haven’t moved since Derek came to talk to her.

“Baby–”

“No,” she shakes her head, using her right hand to cup the side of his face. She looks him in the eyes genuinely for the first time since arriving in Wisconsin. “It’s okay,” Y/N reassures him. “This is information that pertains to the case and can help catch our unsub. They need to know.”

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

After telling the team all about her past, Y/N felt embarrassed but overall relieved. She could tell they were heartbroken for her, but none of them went too overboard with it, knowing it would make things worse if they coddled her over it. She was grateful to have Derek with her. She wouldn’t have been able to get through it without having a panic attack if he wasn’t holding her hand all the way through it.

Hotch sent her and Derek to find Candy and ask if she had lost her notes in recent months while him and the rest of the team delivered the more updated profile. Now that they had all the information, they could get a better idea of who this guy is.

Y/N was almost in awe of how large Candy’s building was. Sheriff Mills had given her and Derek the directions to get there, and it was almost refreshing seeing someone from that time in Y/N’s life flourishing. Especially since the other girls didn’t even get the chance to.

Walking into the office, Derek and Y/N flash their badges at the receptionist, informing her of who they are and why they’re here. She quickly guides them to Candy who is fervently writing down information.

“She just got done with a patient,” the receptionist whispers. “She’ll be done any second now.”

Suddenly the dark haired woman’s head shoots up, but not before clicking her pen three times. The same thing she needed to do when trying to move on from person to person.

“Candy Brown,” Derek begins, walking up to the woman to respectfully shake her hand. Y/N follows after him, her hands folded neatly in front of her. “I’m SSA Derek Morgan, and this is–”

“Y/N L/N,” Candy finishes, a mixture of shock and confusion in her voice. A small smile crosses her face as she takes in the now adult woman in front of her. “Wow,” she breathes out. “I haven’t seen you in–”

“Nine years?” Y/N finishes.

Candy nods, “Yeah.” She furrows her eyebrows, looking in between her and Derek, “What’s going on? I know your guys’ team is here investigating the murders, but why are you here?” She asks curiously.

“You remember the support group you created when I was here?” Y/N immediately jumps into the conversation, not bothering to beat around the bush.

“Yes?”

Y/N takes another step forward, analyzing the room around her, “I don’t know if you realized, but all of the victims were participants in the group.”

“Of course I realized,” Candy says. “That’s why I was so surprised to hear that you not only came back but are also working on a case where you could be a potential target.”

“And you weren’t worried about being a target?” Derek asks, brow quirked.

“No,” Candy answers with a small shrug. “After he killed Laura-”

“The second victim,” Y/N adds for clarification.

“Yeah,” Candy nods. “After I found out she was killed, I knew it was a matter of time before the others went.”

“And how exactly did you come to that conclusion?” Derek folds his arms, not understanding how she has so much intel on the case.

She swallows thickly, looking around and avoiding eye contact with the two agents. Y/N tilts her head, narrowing her eyes which makes the shorter woman squirm. “Candy…?” Y/N says expectantly.

“I thought they would’ve told you by now,” Candy starts. “I had a different office before this one. My old one burned down after it was burglarized.” Her explanation makes Y/N’s stomach twist in multiple different directions. Her and Derek make eye contact, knowing exactly where this is going.

“Let me guess, this all happened around two months ago?” Derek sighs when he watches Candy nod her head.

“Yeah. So someone did tell you?”

“No,” Y/N corrects. “That’s just when our unsub started killing.” She looks at Candy with a serious expression, “Listen, I need you to think long and hard about who could’ve had access to your office. Who also might’ve taken too much of an interest in the work you do with sexual abuse survivors.”

Derek elaborates more on the profile, “He should be a white male, late 40s to early 50s. He acts confident as a way to overcompensate for his past failures. He can be a bit of a creep sometimes but tries to cover it up with a facade of charm. He’s become an influential member of the community, but he wasn’t always that way. He had to claw his way up.”

Candy’s brows are furrowed in thought as she thinks deeply about what they’ve said. Her mind goes over the different people that were employed with her, those who spoke to her about her work, who showed interest. That’s when her eyes light up. She looks at Y/N, her lip quivering.

“What?” Y/N asks, immediately noticing the shift. “Candy, what is it?”

“The only other person who could’ve had access to my office in the other building was the cleaner I hired,” she answers. “I hired a third party to come later at night so my day janitors and custodians could go home earlier during the day.”

“Do you remember who this third party is?” Derek asks urgently, getting ready to phone Hotch.

Candy’s face falls, “It was Adrian,” she reveals quietly. Y/N feels like she’s been shot in the chest when the words leave her old friend’s lips. “He’s had this free lance cleaning business for some time now. It’s been pretty successful with all the small businesses around here. He was always asking questions after my meetings, but I would never tell him much. You know I wouldn’t betray Doctor-patient confidentiality like that.” Y/N nods along with the statement. “But after you left, the girls continued to see me. We met in group settings until I built my practice and then they started coming individually. Just for someone to talk to.”

“Did you still keep handwritten notes?” Y/N questions.

“Yeah,” Candy nods. “It’s the most efficient way for me to keep my thoughts organized. But there was one evening I remember that Claire came in and she was telling me how she felt isolated from the community. It was something all the girls had been hinting at, but I didn’t take it seriously until I realized all of them had said it. I was frustrated that I didn’t see them all asking me for help. So when Adrian came in that night, I just said that some of my clients felt alone.” She mentally facepalms, “I know I shouldn’t have even engaged in conversation, but he was just being so involved and nice about it. That’s when he told me to invite them to your mom’s luncheon.”

“And did they go?” Derek questions.

“Yes,” Candy nods. “I encouraged them to go together as emotional support. They all went to the same one.”

Y/N sighs, realizing they’ve already spoken to their unsub and let him get away. “And let me guess, it was the Sunday before your office was burglarized?”

Candy rubs a hand over her face, “And their files were the only ones unaccounted for.”

“Y/N, we need to call Hotch,” Derek tells her seriously. “We’re gonna need backup.”

She nods, a more than determined expression on her face. “Let’s go.”

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

Rolling up to her mother’s house twice within the span of a day was unexpected for Y/N, but she’s determined now more than ever to make sure this visit leaves an impact. The woman is the first one out of an SUV, darting towards the door with her gun ready in her hands. Derek follows closely behind, accompanied by Hotch and the rest of the team.

Diane’s car is in the driveway, so Y/N knows this isn’t going to go as smoothly as she desires. If she could just go in and take Adrian down, she would. But she knows her mother is going to try and fight it.

Hotch gives the signal, and Derek pushes the door open, stepping in first with Y/N close behind. The rest of the team fans out, guns at the ready, but Y/N’s focus is singular: Adrian.

Diane is in the living room, flipping through a magazine. She looks up, startled to see them. “Y/N?” she says, her voice warm with surprise. She stands, smiling tentatively, “What’s going on? What are you doing here?”

Y/N’s throat tightens as she looks at her mother. The warmth, the confusion in Diane’s eyes—it almost feels like any other visit, except this time, it’s not. “We need to talk to Adrian,” Y/N says, her voice steady but distant.

Diane frowns, glancing at the rest of the team behind her daughter. “What’s going on? Why do you need to talk to him?” Her smile fades slightly, but there’s still an air of disbelief as if this can’t possibly be serious.

Hotch steps in, his voice professional, calm. “Where’s Adrian, Mrs. Cole? We need to speak with him.”

Diane looks between Y/N and the team, her confusion deepening. “He’s in the bathroom. But what’s this about?”

Y/N feels the familiar dread creeping in, the same doubt her mother always carried. She avoids Diane’s gaze and nods toward the hallway, signaling to Derek and Rossi. “Go get him.”

As Derek and Rossi head toward the hallway, Diane’s tone shifts, becoming more defensive. “Wait, Y/N, what’s going on? You can’t just barge in here—”

Y/N feels a knot form in her chest, but before she can respond, Derek’s voice calls out, sharp. “Adrian! We know you’re in there. It’s over!”

There’s a clatter from the bathroom, followed by silence. Y/N’s eyes dart toward the hallway, tension crackling between them all. She can’t breathe, waiting for the door to open, for Adrian to step out.

Diane’s face hardens now, the warmth fading. “Wait, you think Adrian had something to do with these murders you’re here for?” she asks, her voice incredulous. “This is absurd. He hasn’t done anything!”

Derek reappears at the doorway, his eyes locked on Adrian as he exits the bathroom. Adrian’s face is calm, too calm, but there’s an edge to his voice as he looks from Derek to Y/N. “What’s this about?”

“We know what you’ve been doing,” Y/N says, her voice breaking the silence, though her throat feels like it’s closing in on itself. The weight of her past is crashing down all at once. “We know you found out about my old support group and have been preying on the women.”

Diane’s eyes widen in shock, her voice turning sharp. “Wait—what? This is what you’re accusing him of?” She turns to Y/N, disbelief clear in her expression. “You can’t be serious, Y/N. You’ve always had it out for Adrian—”

“Mrs. Cole, stop,” Derek interrupts, his voice firm as he steps between Y/N and her mother. His protective instincts kick in, but there’s a bite in his words now as he faces Diane directly. “You didn’t believe her then, and I get that you don’t wanna believe her now, but this isn’t a game. He’s connected to multiple murders.”

Diane’s face turns pale as the words sink in, but she shakes her head, her hands trembling slightly. “You’re wrong,” she says, her voice breaking. “Adrian wouldn’t—he didn’t do anything.”

Y/N feels the sting of her mother’s disbelief. After everything, Diane still won’t accept it. Derek glances at Y/N, his voice lowering but full of fire. “She’s your daughter. You should’ve protected her. Instead, you’re defending him.”

Adrian looks like he’s about to speak when Diane steps in front of him, as if shielding him. “Y/N, this is insane. You’re arresting him for murders? You’re destroying our family—again!”

Y/N snaps, emotion flooding into her voice, “Do you even hear yourself? Do you understand what’s happening right now?” She doesn’t want to raise her voice, but it’s like years of anger are bubbling to the surface. “He hurt me. He manipulated me, and now other women are dead because of him!”

Diane looks at Y/N with wide eyes, as if she can’t process what she’s hearing. “You’re lying,” she says quietly, her voice shaking. “You’re making this all up. You always blamed Adrian for everything—”

Y/N’s heart twists painfully in her chest. Even now, her mother doesn’t believe her. Derek’s jaw clenches as he steps forward, practically growling now. “She’s not lying. She’s been through enough, and it’s time you started listening to her instead of defending this monster.”

Adrian, sensing that things are slipping out of his control, sneers at Derek. “You don’t know anything about me.”

Derek’s eyes are sharp as he glares back, full of unspoken anger. “I know enough.”

Hotch steps in then, signaling Spencer, Rossi, and Prentiss. “We’re taking him in,” he says, his voice calm but decisive.

Diane stumbles backward as Morgan pulls Adrian’s arms behind his back to cuff him. “You can’t do this!” Diane cries out, her hands shaking as she reaches for Adrian.

“Ma’am I’m going to need you to step back,” Prentiss warns, her voice firm but not unkind.

Diane turns to Y/N, desperation in her eyes. “Please, Y/N. Don’t do this.”

Y/N’s throat tightens again, the pain almost unbearable as she looks at her mother. “I didn’t do this. He did.”

As they haul Adrian toward the door, Derek stays by Y/N’s side, his hand gently resting on her arm. He leans in, his voice softening just for her. “You alright?”

Y/N can barely nod. “I just… I need this to be over.”

Derek squeezes her arm gently, the tension between them unspoken but palpable. “We’ll make sure it is,” he says quietly. “He’s not gonna hurt you anymore.”

As Adrian is led out, Y/N watches him disappear through the door, the weight of everything she’s carried for so long finally starting to lift. Derek stays close, his protective presence like a shield around her.

“I should’ve seen this sooner,” Y/N whispers, her voice full of regret.

Derek looks at her, his eyes full of something deeper, something he hasn’t said yet. “This isn’t on you,” he says, his voice steady. “We’ve got him now.”

Y/N takes a deep breath, her heart pounding, but there’s a strange sense of relief starting to creep in. Maybe, finally, this part of her life is coming to an end.

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

In the interrogation room, Adrian Cole lounges in his seat, his cocky smile never wavering as Hotch and Derek sit across from him. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a cold, sterile glow, but Adrian is undisturbed, clearly enjoying himself. His eyes flick between Hotch and Derek, and there’s something calculating in the way he looks at them, like he’s already planning his next move.

Hotch keeps his voice steady, professional. “Adrian, we know about your connection to the women in the support group. Candy Brown confirmed that you used to work for her, that you were asking questions about the survivors. You were studying them, weren’t you? Figuring out how to get close.”

Adrian leans back in his chair, chuckling lightly. “Questions? You mean me being polite? Curious, maybe? Come on, Agent, that’s hardly a crime.”

Derek’s jaw tightens, but he remains composed. “You fit the profile. We know you’ve been stalking these women. We know Y/N was your real target all along.”

Adrian’s smile grows wider, his eyes shifting to Derek. “Oh, Agent Morgan. I see why you’re here now.” He leans forward, the playful tone in his voice turning darker. “This isn’t about the profile, is it? It’s about her. You’re here because of Y/N.”

Derek’s gaze hardens, but he doesn’t take the bait. “I’m here because of what you did.”

“What I did?” Adrian raises an eyebrow, mockingly confused. “You mean what you think I did. You’re just mad because you know I got to her first.”

The air in the room seems to thicken with tension as Adrian watches Derek’s reaction, clearly enjoying the game he’s playing. Hotch tries to redirect. “This isn’t about Y/N. It’s about the six women you killed.”

But Adrian’s eyes stay locked on Derek. “Six women… sure, that’s bad. But you know what’s worse, Derek?” He leans forward, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Knowing she’ll never be yours. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try to protect her, you’ll always be too late. You can’t fix what’s already broken.”

Derek clenches his fists under the table, the muscles in his jaw working as he forces himself to stay calm. Adrian’s words are cutting deep, hitting exactly where he intended.

“You’re wrong,” Derek growls, barely keeping his composure. “She’s stronger than you think. And you’ll never touch her again.”

Adrian’s smirk doesn’t falter. “Strong? Sure. Strong enough to get away from me last time. But the thing is, Derek… people like her? They always come back. It’s just a matter of time.”

Derek leans in, his voice deadly quiet. “You’ll rot in prison before you ever get that chance.”

Adrian sits back, casually crossing his arms over his chest, his grin widening. “We’ll see.”

Hotch, sensing Derek’s rising anger, stands up. “We’re done here.”

Derek hesitates for a split second, his eyes still locked on Adrian, but then he rises as well. Adrian chuckles lowly and his eyes follow Derek as he moves toward the door. “Leaving already, Derek?” Adrian’s voice drips with mockery. “Y/N must have told you everything by now. How she couldn’t resist, how much she used to like it when I—”

Derek spins back around, his anger breaking through for just a second. “You need to shut your mouth.”

Adrian’s smile only widens as he leans forward, reveling in Derek’s reaction. “Touched a nerve, did I? Guess it’s not just Y/N’s mind I wormed my way into, huh?”

Before Derek can step closer, Hotch holds out an arm, signaling him to back down. He knows Adrian is trying to bait Derek into losing control. “We’re leaving,” Hotch repeats firmly.

As soon as the door to the interrogation room shuts, Derek finally lets the anger show on his face. “That guy is a real piece of work,” he mutters under his breath. He paces, trying to rein in his emotions. Rossi, JJ, Prentiss, and Spencer are waiting, their expressions tense.

Hotch nods, his expression grim. “He knows how to manipulate, how to get under people’s skin. That’s why he’s dangerous. But we need a confession.”

Derek shoots him a look, his voice hard. “You’re not seriously thinking about sending Y/N in there.”

“She’s the only one he’ll talk to,” Hotch replies, his tone even, though there’s clear discomfort in his eyes. “He’s too focused on her. He won’t crack for us, but with her, he might.”

“She doesn’t need to be anywhere near that psycho,” Prentiss adds, backing Derek up.

Rossi nods, his arms crossed. “He’ll try to manipulate her, Hotch. He’ll push all her buttons. You know how dangerous that could be.”

Hotch looks around at the team, his face unreadable, but resolute. “He’s not going to talk to anyone else. Y/N’s the reason this is all happening—he’s fixated on her. If we want a confession, we need her.”

Derek is still pacing, shaking his head in frustration. “Hotch, you know what he’ll do. He’ll tear her apart mentally.”

“Derek…” Y/N’s voice cuts through the tension as she steps forward, her face calm but determined. “I need to do this.”

Derek looks at her, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. “No, Y/N. You don’t have to do this. Let someone else handle it.”

Y/N meets his gaze, her voice steady. “It has to be me. He won’t talk to anyone else, and you know it. I’m the one who has to end this.”

Derek runs a hand over his face, still conflicted, but he knows she’s right. He can see the resolve in her eyes, the same determination that’s been driving her since this case started. After a long moment, he nods, though it clearly kills him to do so. “Fine. But I’m right outside the door. The second you need me, I’m coming in.”

Y/N gives him a small, appreciative smile. “I know.”

With a final glance at the rest of the team, Y/N walks into the interrogation room. Adrian’s eyes light up the moment he sees her, his grin returning.

“Well, look who it is,” he says, leaning back in his chair like he’s just been handed a gift. “I knew you’d come.” His eyes flicker with amusement as he takes in her demeanor. She’s calm. No sign of fear on her face, making his fists clench. “You always were a clever girl, Y/N. Smart enough to know what you wanted but never strong enough to follow through. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? You think you’ve won.”

Y/N narrows her eyes. “I didn’t come here to win anything, Adrian. I came here to end this.”

He scoffs, leaning forward again, his tone dropping to a darker pitch. “End what? You think locking me up will change anything? You’ll still be thinking about me. You’ll always be connected to me. You and I, Y/N, we’re the same.”

Y/N’s lips curl into a tight smile. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m not like you, Adrian. I’m stronger because I don’t need to control anyone to feel powerful. You? You’re nothing. You never were. You thought you had control over me, but really, you were just a pathetic coward trying to feel important.”

Adrian’s jaw tightens, but Y/N can see the flicker of anger behind his eyes. She presses on, her voice dropping to a cold, cutting tone.

“You couldn’t control me, Adrian. That’s why you went after those other women. You thought by killing them, you’d finally feel like you had power over something. But deep down, you knew the truth. You’re impotent. You can’t control anyone, least of all me.”

His hand twitches on the table, and his smirk falters. Y/N knows she’s hit a nerve.

“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” Adrian hisses, his voice venomous. “You think you’re untouchable? I killed those women because they were weak! They were nothing compared to you! But I did it for you. Every one of them, Y/N! Every one was for you, to remind you of what I can do.”

His face twists with fury as he leans in, practically spitting the words now. “I did it because I knew it would bring you back to me. And guess what? It worked. You’re here. And when this is over, you’ll never forget me.”

Y/N doesn’t flinch, her eyes cold and unwavering as she meets his gaze. “You’re right about one thing, Adrian. I won’t forget you. But not because I’m scared or because you have any hold over me. I’ll remember you as the pathetic, cowardly man who couldn’t even face his own failures. You killed those women because you couldn’t handle the fact that I got away from you. That I beat you.”

Adrian’s face is red with rage now, his fists clenched as he glares at her. He’s lost his cool completely, no longer the charming manipulator he was trying to be. He’s exposed.

Y/N stands up slowly, looking down at him with calm, cold eyes. “You wanted me back in your life? Well, congratulations, Adrian. You’ve got a one-way ticket to prison, and the only time you’ll see me again is when you’re rotting behind bars.”

She leans in just a little, her voice dropping to a near whisper, her words like ice. “I won. You lost. And the worst part for you? You’ll spend the rest of your miserable life knowing I never belonged to you.”

Adrian’s face twists in a snarl, but he doesn’t say anything. Y/N doesn’t need him to. She’s already shattered his delusions.

As she turns to leave the room, she pauses in the doorway, glancing over her shoulder one last time. “Enjoy prison, Adrian. You’ll be surrounded by men just like you. Maybe they’ll remind you of what real powerlessness feels like.”

She walks out without looking back, leaving Adrian sitting there, fuming and defeated.

Outside, the team watches through the observation window. Derek’s eyes never leave Y/N as she steps into the hallway, her expression unreadable but victorious.

As soon as she’s out, Derek moves toward her, his voice low and full of quiet admiration. “You were incredible in there.”

Y/N gives him a small smile, but it’s bittersweet. “It’s over.”

Derek steps closer, his voice softening. “You did it, Y/N. You took him down.”

She nods, but before she can respond, her mother’s voice cuts through the moment. Diane, standing at the end of the hall, her eyes wide with shock and regret, had heard every word of Adrian’s confession.

“Y/N…” Diane’s voice trembles, her face pale as she takes a tentative step forward. “I didn’t know. I didn’t believe you and I’m—”

“Stop,” Y/N says, her voice sharp but not raised. She turns to face her mother, eyes hard. “I forgive you, Mom. But I’ll never forget what you did. Or didn’t do.”

Diane’s face crumples as she stares at her daughter, tears welling in her eyes. “Please, Y/N. I didn’t understand. I didn’t know how to—”

Y/N cuts her off again, shaking her head. “It’s too late. You had years to believe me. Years to help me. I’m done waiting for you to care.”

Diane reaches out, but Y/N takes a step back, her face unreadable. “Take care of yourself, Mom. I don’t need you anymore.”

With that, Y/N turns and walks away, the weight of years of pain finally lifted from her shoulders.

Derek watches her go, admiration and sadness flickering in his eyes. He catches up to her and without a word, pulls her into a tight embrace, holding her like he never wants to let go.

“You did good babygirl,” he murmurs into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. “You did real good.”

Y/N lets out a shaky breath, leaning into him. “It’s really over,” she whispers, and for the first time, she truly believes it.

₊‧ʚ ﹆・︵︵ ₊˚๑ ᕱ🌿ᕱ ꒱✦ ₊ ︵︵・₊﹆ɞ‧₊

Y/N stood in her kitchen, stirring the lavender tea she had made for herself, hoping the soothing scent would calm her nerves after the intensity of the past few days. The warmth of the mug seeped into her hands as she glanced at the clock—it was late, and for the first time since they wrapped the case, she was alone. It was a rare, precious quiet. She wore her comfiest pair of sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt, her hair thrown into a messy bun as she padded over to the couch.

She sank into the cushions with a sigh, trying to let the exhaustion slip away. Just as she curled up, ready to embrace the quiet, a knock came at the door.

Her brow furrowed. Who could it be at this hour? A part of her tensed, but when she peeked through the peephole, her face softened.

Derek.

A smile immediately spread across her lips as she quickly unlocked the door and swung it open. "Derek," she said, warmth filling her voice. "What are you doing here?"

He stood there, dressed casually in jeans and a fitted t-shirt, but the warmth in his dark eyes was what made her heart flutter. He held a small box in his hands, the edges of a smile tugging at his lips.

“I couldn’t let you be alone after everything,” he said softly. “And... I brought you something.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, eyeing the box with curiosity. “Oh? And what’s that?”

Derek stepped forward, holding the box out to her. “Carrot cake. Figured you could use a little sweetness after the last few days.”

Y/N’s smile brightened, and she laughed softly, the tension of the case beginning to melt away. “You remembered it’s my favorite.”

“Of course I did. I remember everything about you,” he said, his voice low and teasing, but there was an underlying sincerity in his words.

She took the box from his hands, shaking her head in amusement. “I think I need something sweeter than carrot cake, though.”

Derek cocked an eyebrow, that signature smirk playing at his lips. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

Y/N met his gaze, her voice soft but playful. “You.”

The smirk on Derek’s face softened into something more tender as he watched her, his dark eyes flickering with a mixture of admiration and something deeper. “Is that right?”

She stepped aside, motioning for him to come in. “Come on, might as well share the cake if you’re here. I’m not letting you leave just yet.”

Derek chuckled as he stepped inside, glancing around her cozy apartment before his eyes landed back on her. “I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”

They moved to the living room, and Y/N placed the cake on the coffee table, her heart lighter now that Derek was here. The weight of the last few days seemed to lessen in his presence.

“So,” Derek said as they sat together on the couch, their knees brushing. “How are you holding up?”

Y/N exhaled, leaning back against the cushions. “I’m... okay. Honestly, I’m better now that you’re here. But it’s been a lot. I didn’t think I’d ever have to face him again, let alone...”

She trailed off, and Derek reached out, placing his hand gently on top of hers. “You don’t have to explain. What you did back there? Y/N, you were incredible. You stood your ground. You faced him head-on, and you came out stronger.”

Y/N looked at him, her heart swelling at the tenderness in his voice. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she said quietly. “You were right there the whole time, and knowing that... it made it easier.”

Derek’s hand slid up from hers, his fingers lightly brushing her cheek before he cupped the side of her face. His touch was warm, grounding. His voice lowered, filled with awe. “Y/N, I’ve always been in awe of you. Always. But after this... what you just went through? You’re the strongest woman I know.”

Her heart fluttered as his thumb softly stroked her cheek, his eyes searching hers. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the space between them charged with something unspoken but undeniably strong.

Y/N’s breath hitched slightly, and she let herself lean into his touch. “Derek...”

Before she could say more, Derek’s eyes flicked to her lips, and in a soft, almost tentative movement, he leaned in and kissed her. It was tender, a kiss filled with emotions that had been building for so long. Her hand found its way to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her palm as she kissed him back, letting the warmth of him pull her in.

When they pulled away, their foreheads rested together, and Y/N smiled softly. “That was...”

“Long overdue,” Derek finished for her, his lips brushing hers again in a whisper of a kiss before he pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. “You’re amazing, you know that? I’m proud of you. And I’m not just saying that because of this case. I’ve always been proud of you.”

Y/N’s chest tightened with emotion, and she bit her lip to keep her smile from spreading too wide. “You’ve always been my rock, Derek.”

“And you’ll always have me,” he said, his voice low and certain, like a promise.

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, Derek still holding her close, and Y/N couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in days. She rested her head against his shoulder, her fingers still lightly touching his hand.

Derek wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer as they sank deeper into the couch. Neither of them felt the need to speak anymore, the warmth of their closeness enough.

Eventually, the exhaustion from the case caught up to them. Their breaths evened out as they lay together, bodies intertwined on the couch, the world outside fading away as sleep overtook them.

For the first time in days, Y/N finally felt at peace, knowing she was exactly where she was meant to be—in Derek’s arms, where everything just felt right.

#derek morgan #derek morgan imagine #derek morgan x reader #criminal minds #criminal minds imagine #aaron hotchner #spencer reid #emily prentiss #jennifer jareau #david rossi #penelope garcia #quantico #love story #mature story #read at your own risk

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