#my girl put in the work to release them from the blood and violence she once participated in and endured

[steadyclips]

The idea that next generation of the Knight-Doberman conglomerate becomes 80% women… tickles my fancy.

[remembrancer-of-heresy]

The Eternal Night (Part 1)

Summary: You ask for protection from the Night Lord in the hope of being saved from other space marines. Not realizing that you yourself walked into a mousetrap.

Jago Sevatarion/fem!Reader

Warnings: yandere, power imbalance, violence, body horror, torture, predator/prey

Word count: 2560

Song: She Wants Revenge - Out Of Control

But then she noticed me glance at her I had no choice but to dance with her

The funny thing is that mothiir just recently released headcanons about the first captain. Today is Sevatar's day.

The very thought of serving on a Night Lords ship was terrifying. Many remembrancers chose Fulgrim or Horus Lupercal. Some ventured to the Conqueror. But as your lady noted, only the bravest and courageous are ready to board the Nightfall.

Stupid and naive, you wanted to tell her. But your mistress was too self-confident, too spoiled to listen to anyone. She justified her reckless action by arguing that the Night Lords were still Astartes, the Space Marines of the Imperium. And you…

What are you? You were her personal maid. You weren't supposed to have an opinion. You kind of missed freedom. But is it better to be a healthy serf than a hungry child? You are already lucky that her kind family took you into their home.

But while cleaning the mistress’s room on Nightfall, you want to return to the depths of poverty. It was dark here. Cold. And scary. No matter how much you smelled the chlorine or your lady's perfume, you couldn't get rid of the smell of blood. It seemed to be absorbed into the ship.

You behaved as quiet as a mouse. Didn’t interfere, didn’t talk too much. Made friends with a couple of serfs without distracting them from their work. Tried not to tremble in the presence of the Astartes passing by. The main thing is to continue to remain invisible. Hide in the darkness and it doesn’t matter what these lords rule the night.

The lady was an easy prey. She just asked to be gutted. You shouldn't think that way, but it was true. The way her knees shook and she sweated out of fear. Although it was difficult not to do so when even in the quietest corners of the ship distant cries of pain could be heard.

“I'm so scared. They look like that, as if a little longer and they will twist my head.” - the lady once complained to you before going to bed.

“You shouldn’t be afraid. This won't happen." - you calmly notice. The girl’s calm face, full of hope, changes to horror and disgust as soon as you continue your thought. - “First they will skin you alive.”

Compared to her, you seemed so gloomy and strange. Weird. The other servants jokingly called you lady crow. Although you didn't understand the humor. Nightfall looked more like a burial ground. How could you want to stay here for even one minute if you are not a scavenger? Besides, you are not a bird, you are a human.

And despite this, your mistress tried to gain respect among mortals who had seen the real horrors of war. And her desperate attempts to personally meet Konrad Curze are akin to a desire to quickly depart to the afterworld.

And she achieved her goal. Even more. The primarch himself decided to visit the chambers of the restless scribe. Either out of idle curiosity or out of a desire to calm down the annoying woman. Just the knock on the door sent a shiver down your spine, and his massive black figure in the doorway sent a terrible feeling of foreboding.

Konrad Curze, in his grim elegance, entered the chamber and greeted the woman. And then he looked at you. Long and drawn out, cold and concentrated. His black eyes probed every piece of your flesh and soul. And then he smiled.

The lips stretched to the ears, revealing clawed teeth. But the worst thing was when he laughed a nasty laugh. The kind that makes your bones crack. He continued to look at you and laugh, putting the lady in a stupor. And scaring you terribly. A gloomy foreboding clouded the little mortal heart, and the words only nailed you more firmly to the floor.

“How interesting~” - the primarch grinned carnivorously while saliva collected in the corners of his mouth. - “The little mouse will offer itself to the crow. And he will only be glad. What's worse? To be eaten by scoundrels or to be protected by a monster?”

He bursts out laughing again, this time quiet. He sighs, disgustingly satisfied. Until he finally pays attention to your mistress. And something in his face changes. You can’t explain it, but it’s as if doom and anticipatory bloodthirstiness have merged into one. As if Konrad Curze saw something terrible. And he liked it.

“Perhaps we should discuss everything in private,” his voice softly envelops you like night. It is impossible to explain how a man turned from madman to primarch. Although no one knows whether the Emperor's son can go mad.

Your mistress nods and with a wave of her hand kicks you out of the chambers. You quickly leave the room, closing the door behind you. The primal desire to hide increased a hundredfold. You rush to one of your secluded places, which you discovered by accident. For the first time in your life, not watching the road and not hiding too much from prying eyes.

You should never give in to fear. You must always be on your guard. A momentary weakness can and does lighten the soul. But you will definitely have to pay later. And you understand this as soon as you hit your forehead on something iron at a turn.

A characteristic sound is heard and you whine and grab your forehead. There will be a bump and most likely a huge one. But the pain just vanishes when you understand where it came from. And especially when you hear an unpleasant chuckle.

He looked intimidating. Outstretched wings of a gargoyle and a skull on a huge armor not intended for an ordinary mortal. The characteristic appearance of the Nostraman did not frighten you. As well as the scars on the eyebrow and lip.

But his smile was scary. How his black eyes filled with sparkle, and the corners of his lips twitched strangely. It’s as if someone is touching the threads sewn into the skin of a corpse, imitating human living emotions. All the sons of Curze were terrifying, their “smiles” were more like the grin of animals. But this one was different.

“Careful, little one. If you had met one of my brothers, you would already be hanging on a hook” - his eyes sparkled with mischief, but nothing more. - “Where are you going in such a hurry?”

You swallowed. Didn’t want to answer, but silence could only provoke.

“My lady is speaking with Konrad Curze.” - the unpleasant meeting still echoed in your brain. It became more uncomfortable. - “I was told not to interfere.”

“Oh, that annoying scribe still managed to snag a meeting with the primarch. Your mistress talks too much and goes where she shouldn't. These usually end up with their guts out.” The man smirked and looked at you. Attentively. Like a carcass ready for slaughter. - “And where are you going?”

That's why you didn't want to get caught by the Night Lords. They played with mortals as if they were food. Important people for the Legion were still protected, but the serfs were meat. One is gone, it’s easy to replace it with a second one. The only thing that saved you was to be the remembrancer’s serf, her personal maid. Although judging by the attitude of the Space Marines towards her, this could only egg them on.

“To the compartment” - you don’t want to say where you’re going, but there’s no choice. In addition, it is unlikely that the Astartes will specify the exact location of your secret home. - “Into the trash compartment.”

A strange range of surprise spreads across the man’s face. Not disgust, but misunderstanding.

“Why the hell did you decide to go there?”

“There are a lot of rats there. They are my friends” - you almost calmed down as soon as you remembered the familiar sounds coming from under the garbage. You almost whisper a confession. - “They calm me down with their rustling.”

It was true. They listened to your stories, entertained you with fights between each other. They were soft and fluffy, although dirty. They were not evil from birth, they simply survived as best they could in such a place. And alas, the rats were much better than some of the people here.

The man just chuckled at these words. Did it seem to you or did a strange understanding flash in his eyes? And curiosity.

“Well then go.”

Not believing your luck, you open your mouth in amazement and blink your eyes. But you obey. While he gives you a head start, you need to run. There is no need to waste your luck. Especially when the one who could easily break you and not notice, lets you go while the going's good.

“And since they calm you down, mouse,” you turn around sharply and notice the same terrifying smile. But this time it's not scared. Something in a man changes when he calls out to you. - “It’s worth thanking them. Bring them meat... and fresh is best.”

Good advice. Maybe you're already used to Nightfall or this Night Lord seems less terrible. Or maybe you should really bring your little friends a well-deserved reward. You'll try to find something fresh and something... not made from human flesh.

You nod and quickly, trying not to attract attention, walk further down the corridor. You wish you could say that you didn’t feel the Space Marine’s gaze on you. But you felt it even when your figure disappeared from his gaze. Dead, mischievous, carnivorous. It was as if he had just found an interesting prey, but decided to let it go.

For a while.

***

You started to notice him. Previously all Space Marines looked alike. You just didn't look closely. Why the hell do you need this if they will torture you almost equally. But he wasn't like that. Or rather, a little more... humane? Kind? No, those are suitable. Wrong. Yes, that's much better.

First captain. Jago Sevatarion. You learned the name and title from one of the local serfs. You immediately became friends with him when you saw him. He was old. That's why you called him grandpa. He lasted a long time. Good sign.

Grandpa said that you were very lucky that the captain didn’t touch you. He did not participate in the local amusements so often, talking more with the primarch. Or keeping an eye on other Space Marines and a Atramentar. But still he was just as sadistic as the others. He killed, dismembered, skinned with grim pleasure. You couldn’t help but notice that he was the most feared of all. Unpleasant vibrations emanated from him.

It seemed like you were scared too. But it seems not. Alas, just as you were strange in childhood, you remains so. Although the local inhabitants even liked it. As if you almost one of them, unlike the other servants of the scribe. But you really couldn’t understand why no one noticed.

His weirdness. How he communicates with a couple of mortals. The same ones. You were sure he was keeping an eye on them. He made sure nothing bad happened to them. And he didn't touch you either. It is unlikely that your “status” would in any way prevent Sevatarion from quenching his thirst for murder. And he didn't laugh at your friendship with rats. Didn't find it disgusting or weird. It was nice gesture.

He also began to notice you. On distance. Didn't come up to you, didn't call you. No need. It’s just that now he knew what kind of new person was running around here. The Astartes began to notice you in the shadows, as you headed towards the rats or the local serfs. You didn’t see, but you were almost sure that at such moments he smiled unpleasantly.

Although probably all the Space Marines smiled when Curze called your mistress a traitor. He said that she decided to steal something and violated the Imperial Truth. You still couldn’t understand the words of the old serf who caught you in the corridor.

Rave. Your mistress was spoiled and annoying, but she would never betray the Imperium. She wouldn't even have such a thought. Is this a mistake or some kind of joke? The primarch could not blame her for something she had not done. Did he really decide to come up with justice just to send her to her death? She was kind. She didn't deserve it.

But a judgment is a judgment. Grandpa wasn't making fun of you. Now you and the other servants belonged to the Legion. But given the way this happened, you are unlikely to stay here for long. Alive.

With a feeling of guilt and tears in your eyes, you look at her mutilated corpse, nailed to one of the gates. They removed the skin from her, and then they squeezed out the body so that all the bones were broken, and most of the blood flowed away. Now her eyeless body, folded like a rag, looked at you accusingly.

Once you said that they would skin her, don't you?

Footsteps are heard behind you. Not lurking, but quiet. If you can say so, taking into account the armor of the Space Marines. You turn around and see Jago Sevatarion behind. The captain looks...tired. It was like he hadn't slept for days or weeks. A little bored. But quite happy with his work.

Apparently he also took part in the verdict.

“Your screaming scribe got into trouble herself, little mouse. You shouldn't mourn her when your life hangs by a thread. You will serve the Legion well and we will not touch you. Maybe." - the man falls silent and looks at you carefully. - “Or are you so used to being a personal servant?”

Maybe. If this world were a little kinder, you would even call your mistress a friend. But the Galaxy is full of horrors, and your patroness has turned into a leather rag. And you will be the same if you get caught. Or if you are not protected...

Grandpa said he was lucky. He had a tattoo. The ink mixed with the blood of the Space Marine he served. And no one touched him. Nobody offended him. Because he was not a “free” serf. He was no one's toy on the road. He had his own tormentor. But it's better than the unknown. Isn't it?

The First Captain raised an eyebrow. Apparently a little hope slipped across your sad face. It’s alarming to ask, scary to beg. But what choice do you have? Sooner or later you will be found and gutted. So you have to take risks.

“Take me to you,” you almost devour the man with your eyes, trying not to cower in fear. - “I will serve you. I'll be obedient. Will not interfere. I'm very quiet. Please."

You didn’t know why you mentioned that you are quiet. It came out on its own. The Night Lords rather like screaming, begging, and crying. The louder the better. But before your eyes was the tired appearance of the first captain. Even now he didn't look his best. Although something lights up in his eyes. For a moment, the walking corpse looks almost alive. A terrible sight.

“Call me Sevatar.” - the voice is surprisingly soft and relaxed. You look at him in disbelief. The man just grins at your funny look.

"This means?"

"Yes."

[gallusrostromegalus]

ok so re: sternritter i gotta ask, whats the plan for my girl gigi? she's a horrible awful gremlin baby but i cannot help but love her immortal tgirl swag.

also, are there any sternritter who got incredibly underused in the story that you've significantly rewritten so far?

As it stands, Gigi gets to live, but she is going to have to sit through a VERY unpleasant lecture about how yes, Gender is Fake, Political Organizations are Fake, and to an extent the 'Line' between living and dead is fake but Bodily Autonomy and Informed Consent are VERY, VERY REAL and you will *fucking* respect them because the Gotei-13 is the home of monsters.

For better or for worse, the person she's getting the lecture from is Tama Nikuya

---

Tama: Sure, you're a Monster too, Miss Gewelle -that's why I like you so much and am even extending you this offer- but I promise there are much worse things serving in the Guard than were dreamt of in your philosophy. Horrors, artificial and natural alike, well within the comprehension of your intellect regardless of gender, but no less awful. Worse, perhaps, because you understand what's going to happen if you put one drop of blood out of line-

Gigi, twitching: Urrgh!

Tama: Don't gurgle at me in that tone! Tama: You do understand, don't you?

(warning for body horror, parasitism, mind/body control, discussions of violence, transphobia and abuse under the cut) (Bleach is a pretty dark series and the Fic is E-rated accordingly)

Gigi, shaking her head as much as she can: Nglk!

Tama: What part don't you understand?

Gigi: Thzzg-? ThhZomg-!?

Tama, head cocked sideways, squinting as she tries to make sense of what Gigi is saying: 'the zog-'? The Zombie? Oh for fucks sake Gigi, we're well past that.

Gigi: Bugh-? Haaauuuu?

Tama: Alright alright, if it will help. The Zombie relies on some of your blood reaching my brain, or replacing a large portion of my own blood with yours, through which you exert your reiki, and thus control my body, right?

Gigi, Blinking Slowly: ... Gigi: Haugh- Haugh gid you vigure thad oud??

Tama, taking a deep, disappointed sigh: Babygirl, it's not that hard. That's very basic Spiritual Dominion magic. Don't get me wrong, you're very good at it and the sheer number of targets you can control is really impressive but as far as techniques go, it's not terribly complex or hard to counter.

Tama, Gestuting at where Gigi is awkwardly kneeling on the floor, paralyzed: Take the thing you've got- that's an enhanced strain of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis- you've heard of Cordyceps, I'm sure- that I've worked with to function inside humans- REAL pain in the ass by the way, Humans are insanely immune to infection and parasitism compared to most organisms-

Akon, holding an extremely large laser gun, not currently cocked but still at the ready: This is your requested reminder to stay on topic, Sir.

Tama: What? Oh, thanks- but Cordyceps is fun because instead of bothering to control the half-assed mess that is a mammal's neural system, it straight-up structurally takes over the large muscle groups! Just suppress the autoimmune response enough by giving the fungus an antihistamine release function too, and that sucker can crawl into every major support structure you have in under a week!

Akon: Yeah, I'm not sure 'Fun' is the right word here.

Tama: Don't knock it until you've tried it!

Akon, debating becoming the server technician for the 9th again: I'll take your word for it, Sir.

Tama, poking Gigi's arm just below where a long spire of the fungus is sprouting out of her shoulder, one of several growing out of her body and impacting her ability to move, including speaking: I'd say you're about 40% Fungus by weight right now, mostly your skeletal muscles, and those do what I say, which is why you're sitting down and listening while I try to change your mind. Tama, giving Gigi an encouraging thumbs up: -And why you still have a mind for me to change! Tama, giving Gigi a comforting pat on the shoulder next to the fungal spire: I have a lot of faith in your ability to make the right choices when presented with all the information, Miss Gewelle. If I thought I had to change your mind for you, I'd have pulled out the Hypomyces lactifluorum!

Gigi, watching Akon visibly shudder behind Tama: ...uhh. Gigi: Bugh. The Zomgee..?

Tama: Oh, right, The Zombie. Yes, yes- Reiki Domination is pretty tough to resist, especially from someone in your spiritual weight class, but, ah- Well, you've run into two big problems here Gigi.

Tama, sitting down on the floor next to Gigi: First problem is the use of blood as an infection mechanism. Tama, cheerfully, as though giving constructive criticism in an introductory art class: Honestly? Not a bad choice! Blood-bourne infections are some of the hardest to resist, and Forigen Reiki is a PAIN to purge from the bloodstream unless you flush the entire system. Most people, as you have seen, are doomed!

Tama, wincing: ...But I'm not most people. Tama, pondering: ... Come to think of it "People" might be a more correct term for what I am, but my situation is pretty radically different from "most" people!

Gigi, still defiant: Whad- Whaddafug ARE yu?

Tama, gesturing to indicate the situation is about as clear as mud, or morphology-based taxonomy: I- Well. It's long and not really all that funny story, but I got stuck on the wrong side of a a version of the Kodoku Bug Thunderdome curse- you know, the inside- for over eight hundred years with a whole mess of Hollows, Obake, and other nasty things and I went to some pretty extreme measures to survive. Tama, with a sad sigh: To make a long story short- I don't have blood anymore. Or a brain. Tama, frowning in contemplation: ...Or I'm ALL brain, it sort of depends on your definition of 'brain'-

Akon: Topic, Sir.

Tama: Thanks Akon! -But from my perspective, your blood is just another snack with a little bit of Reiki spice on top! Which brings me to your other problem.

Tama: You hit hard Gigi! Real hard! And you really should be proud of the degree of concentration you have! But like I said, the Gotei-13 is the home of monsters, and there wasn't exactly a burger joint or an opportunity to farm inside the Kodoku. ...I survived because I kind of literally ate things like you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[There is a long moment of silence as Gigi processes that statement, it's earlier compainion statement about what Gigi's blood was like for Tama, and the general implication of those on Gigi's circumstances]

Gigi: ...Gid I daste gud?

Tama, ears flicking up to listen better: What's that?

Gigi: Uck! Gigi, wide eyed with terror but somehow this situation has not ended in catastrophe yet, and she might be riding the adrenaline as far as it will go: ...Gid I datse good?

Tama: HAH!

Akon, turning around because he can't face this at 7AM without coffee: NO!!

Tama, teasing: Yes, you do taste very good, or at least the aperitif of blood you threw in the thing I use as a face did!

Gigi, giggling a bit in fear like a Hyena: Oh! Dhad'z Good! Gigi, stopping as the rest of the sentence catches up with her: Waid. Gigi: Whad Do you MEANg, 'ting you uze az a fage'? Gigi, with increasing horror: Whag- Whag ARE You?

Tama, giving Gigi a light, encouraging punch in the shoulder: You're a smart girl Gigi! You can figure it out if you put your mind to it! Tama, counting off the datapoints on her paw-pads: I don't have blood, or a brain, I lived underground with nothing but corpses to eat for a few centuries and my go-to restraint method is a parasitic...

Gigi, a horrible new world of possibilities opening to her like the lid coming off a tub of very expired sour cream: ...Mu-Mushgroom?

Tama, giving her two thumbs up: You got it! Tama: "Mushroom" is probably more specific than you intended, but you're not wrong! The part of me standing here lecturing you is more or less the organ I use for sex and sometimes paperwork!

Akon: Speaking of, the division W-2's still need to go out-

Tama: Akon, we're in the middle of an apocalypse. If the council tries to make everyone pay taxes on time this year, the Old Man won't have the chance to burn the government chambers down before the peasants do it for him. Chillax.

Tama, returning her attention to Gigi: It's probably why I'm so cheerful and down to party too! You know. Because I'm a *Fungi*!

Gigi, staring blankly: ...

Tama, wilting a bit: -A. Fun? Guy? A Fungi?

Gigi, starting to cry big, ugly genuine tears: Uh-uh-uuuuuhhhnnn...

Tama, trying to console Gigi with a hug that definitely makes things worse: ...You're right it'd probably be funnier if you didn't have a parasitic fungus rapidly taking over your person and forcing you to sit still and listen to a genuine freak of science tell you about Cannibalism. Tama, giving Gigi a little shake of encouragement: But you see how this makes my point, right? This isn't very fun for you, is it?

Gigi, suddenly locking up like a badly taxidermied fox: ...

Tama, staring blankly: ..? Tama, ears slowly rising as understanding dawns on her face: Oh?

Gigi, face rapidly alternating vivid shades of pink and white as her emotions battle for dominance, before settling on 'Scaroused': -Uh...

Tama, delighted: OH!

Akon, enraged: OH. MY GOD.

Tama, pointing at him and hissing: You are the LAST person who gets to kinkshame anyone young man! Tama, pointing back at Gigi: At least SHE knows how to have fun!

Akon: I'm gonna transfer to the Ninth and never, ever leave the server room again.

Tama: If you think you can withstand the emotional toil of leaving the mass spectrometer in my hands, be my guest.

Akon: :(

Gigi: Uh?

Tama: He's spiritually bonded to a particularly finicky piece of lab equipment that hates me, like how some tween girls become spiritually bonded to giant murderous equines, which also tend to hate me. Don't worry about it. Tama: Back on topic, this does explain a few things. You DO understand that your feelings about this situation are unusual and given that most humans and their spiritually powerful derivatives experience pain and fear from having their autonomy restricted and bodies invaded by parasites, How do you think being made into a Zombie feels for other people?

Gigi: ...Bahd?

Tama, nodding enthusiastically and making her ears flop in agreement: That's right! Bad! Tama, settling down a bit more to explain things carefully to Gigi: See, the thing is- even monsters like us need to get along with other people. Tama: I know a lot, but nowhere near enough to enjoy the benefits of civilization all on my own- I don't know how to fix a toilet, or fill out grant applications or stand in the same room as the mass spectrometer without breaking it, so it's really, really good I've got people Akon over there, who like me, who can, and more importantly are willing to do those things for me!

Gigi, annoyed: Gyou woulgnd AVV to-

Tama: hang on, hang on-

[Tama pokes a few points on Gigi's face and throat, using Reiki to disconnect some of the Cordyceps parasite, then pulls the spire that was developing under Gigi's tongue out. It's much larger than it looked, and makes Gigi's throat wiggle as she removes it.]

Tama: Oh hell, that shouldn't have been there. How were you even talking around that thing girl?

[Tama tosses the fungal spire aside and offers Gigi a water bottle. Gigi takes a few sips before nodding and Tama puts it away.

Tama: Okay, try again-

Gigi: Ugh- You wouldn't HAVE to get along with tall, drak and grumpy back there if he was a zombie!

Tama, disappointed: ... Tama, taking another deep sigh: ...Okay, let's say I zombify Akon-

[Akon cocks and aims the Laer Gun, which whines ominously as it charges]

Tama: WHICH I AM NOT GOING TO DO FOR REASONS I'M ABOUT TO ELABORATE ON, PUT THAT DOWN-

[Akon turns off and lowers the lazer gun, still glaring.]

Tama: Thank you. Tama: I know you're still getting used to how most people have conversations, but that was a normal way to discuss a theoretical scenario and not me about to turn you into a Zombie. Do you understand?

Akon: ...Ues, Sir.

Tama: He used to work for an Evil Clown, don't worry about it- Alright, Let's say I was a micromanaging-type moron, and I decided to zombify Akon instead of just getting along with him. I'd lose all his expertise immediately. No more functioning mass spectrometer or bathrooms.

Gigi, haughty: Mine do.

Tama: Pardon?

Gigi: My zombies keep. most of their skills and personality. At least the ones I make out of corpses. Gigi: Akon could still fix the mass-thingie and if you zombify the Grant Committee you don't even have to ASK for funding.

Tama, intrigued: ...Do they? That's good to know, I'll want to hear more about that later-but that still supports my point.

Tama: Alright, HYPOTHETICALLY I Zombify Akon, and the Grant Committee- well now, the person who's choosing when the mass spectrometer gets fixed and who gets grant money I don't need is ME, and I already have WAY too much work to do, I don't have initiative to spare for them! I got stuff I want to do! I can't micromanage everyone, everywhere all the time! Tama: It's literally easier, more efficient and frankly, way, WAY less stressful to just get along with people and live in a society than to try to DIY one out of corpses.

Gigi: ...I guess.

Tama: So that's my question Gigi. Tama: Are you capable of respecting people's bodily autonomy and personal space to get along with them?

Gigi, frowning and biting her lip: ...

Akon: That doesn't sound like a 'Yes'.

Gigi: It's not though. It's not less stressful to just get along with people. Gigi: That's- That's WHY I learned how to make zombies in the first place. I'd. I'd TRY to get along, dammit! But any time I let people make choices, they chose to get up my ass about my name, or cut off all my hair, or send me off to 'camp', or beat the shit out of me, or- or lock me in the mausoleum and leave me to starve instead of just call me my name or admit they had a daughter- Gigi: ... Gigi: So it was- Gigi: -It was easier with bodies. Gigi: Bodies don't insist you're a boy or call you a freak or take you to a 'private institution' to 'help you get better' where they strap electric paddles to your head and run a million volts through you- Gigi: Dead people are SO MUCH EASIER to get along with! They don't think you're a creep! They don't think at all! Gigi: I mean, why should I-? Why should I try to get along with people who have already made up their minds that they're never, ever gonna get along with me??

Akon: ... Akon: ...I mean, you are kind of a creep-

Tama: -AKON!

Akon: Hang on I'm not done! You are a bit of a creep, but it's not the girl thing, it's the zombie thing!

Gigi: Oh, just because you're scared of a dead body-!

Akon: GIRLIE I'VE BEEN DISSECTING CORPSES SINCE BEFORE I COULD TALK I AIN'T FUCKIN' SCARED AND I AIN'T DISAGREEING WITH YOU- YEAH. IT IS EASIER TO TALK TO A CORPSE THAN A PERSON. I SPENT PRETTY MUCH ALL MY ADOLESCENCE IN THE 12TH DIVISION'S MORGUE BECAUSE TALKIN' TO LIVE PEOPLE SCARED THE FUCK OUTTA ME!!

Gigi: WIMP! YOU HAVE NO IDEA-

Akon: NO, I THINK I FUCKIN' DO! Akon: YOU KNOW WHERE URAHARA HIRED ME OUT OF? Akon: PRISON. Akon: I GOT THROWN IN PRISON WHEN I STILL HAD ALL MY BABY TEETH, *JUST* BECAUSE I WAS SO CURIOUS ABOUT BODIES. JUST BECAUSE I MADE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE! PRISON-PRISON! THE MAGGOT'S NEST, WHERE THEY KEEP WAR CRIMINALS AND WORSE! Akon: YEAH, TALKIN' TO LIVE PEOPLE SCARED THE SHIT OUTTA ME, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO SOMEONE, I LITERALLY GOT SENT TO HELL!

Gigi: -!

Akon: Captain Nikuya is RIGHT, the Gotei-13 is the home of Monsters- and the twelfth has got some of the most freakish and frightening ones of the whole guard! Akon: But I'll take the self-vivisecting, species-transgressing, only-barely-human Monsters any day of the week over the maggot's nest because we're all shamelessly, gloriously monstrous together, and the ONE damn rule of the monster's ball is to ASK before you fuck around with someone's stuff, especially their body. Akon: Not "Don't mess with someone's body", Not "Don't be weird", Not "try to be normal". It's "Be freaks and monsters, but also friends."

Akon: God help me if Nemuri ever finds out, but that's why Mayuri is still in that flask. Most of us have a pretty good idea how to isolate his consciousness again, but they way he- I'd have killed him the week after he took over if I had any idea how.

Akon: That's the rule Gigi. No violating anyone's right to live as they are. Akon: That's the difference between a monster- someone people are scared of just for being how they are- and the kind of FILTH that needs to be scrubbed off the earth. Akon: Do you understand Gigi? Nobody gives a shit if you're a girl on purpose or whatever- Fuck, I can think of a few colleagues who'd put themselves on a list for you to reanimate them when they die no matter how much of them actually comes back. It's overwritin' people's minds and controlling bodies BY FORCE. Akon, putting down the gun and patting his coat for his cigarettes: If I understood you right, that's more or less what people tried to do to you, isn't it? Tell you how to act, who you were, by whatever means necessary?

Gigi: ...fuck you.

Akon: Fuck me yourself, you coward.

Gigi: ... Gigi: So what am I supposed to do when someone gets up in my face again? Smile and play nice? Roll over so they can kick my guts out?

Tama: Oh, no- If they violate the "Don't mess with other people's autonomy" rule, all bets are off! That's why when you tried to murder me and Akon a few minutes ago, I was right to infect you with a parasitic fungus to protect myself and stop you! Tama: In fact, the sooner and harder you react to that shit, the less people will try to cross that line, so if anyone tries to fuck with you, you absolutely can and should make an example of them!

Akon, holding up his cigarette to ask if it's alright, and wating for Tama's nod: -If anyone tried that shit with me I'd absolutely turn them into a living educational exhibit on why people need to have skin, but genuinely? Nobody in soul society gives a shit what's in your pants unless they're your doc or fuckin' you.

Gigi, rolling her eyes: Sure, sure-

Tama, laughing: No! Really! It was a surprise for me too.

Gigi: You're lying to me.

Tama, shrugging: Okay, don't believe me, believe your eyes- Tama, ticking people off on her paw-pads: You saw the peacock earlier, he's a seated officer and Baldy is his Husband. Tama: Their boss is the most rampantly bisexual slut I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and the primary load-bearing member of the captainacy polycule-

Akon, starting to giggle: -Yeah I bet he can bear a lot of loads-

Tama, casually plucking off another fungal spire to half-heartedly throw at him: Oh, and the guy who had this job before me IS pregnant with his second child!

Gigi, incredulous: ...The guy with the stupid hat that looks like off-brand Shaggy from Scooby-Doo? That looks more a beer belly.

[Akon: Loud, Snorting Laughter]

Tama: Okay, you're right, it looks more like a beer gut than a baby right now, but PLEASE don't tell him that- He's in the weepy mood swings phase right now, and won't get his sense of humor back until the third trimester. Tama: We' re all placing bets on when Baby Kegger is gonna be born if you want in on the action.

Gigi, Biting her lip and grimacing: I- I don't-

Tama, taking Gigi's hand: -You know firsthand how weird my body is. I'm not properly male or female- I've got at least 21,837 sexes within me because of the insane way I have to metabolically regulate my body. Tama, shrugging: I'm just female in conversation because language hasn't evolved the 12th-dimensional pronouns I'd need yet. But when I brought this up at a meeting, the only question I got from the old man was if my uniform would need altering. Tama: I mean. It did, but that's because I'm 4'6" and i get all my clothes in the children's section, but I'm still amused that that was the captain-general's polite way of asking if I'd need any accomodations.

Gigi: ...Promise it'll be okay?

Tama: I don't know how the war is going to turn out, but if you help us and stop making zombies, I promise I'll do everything I can to make it okay.

[Gigi manages a weak smile]

Akon, wheezing, and doing a terrible Scooby-Doo impresson: Ruh-roh! Rhe Rexperiments Breached Containment, And Raggy's rust Whadder broke!

[Gigi, snorting and giggling in spite of everything}

Tama: See? Now you're laughing. When was the last time a Zombie made you laugh?

Gigi, sniffling a bit as she giggles: ...never.

Tama: So, are you ready to give an alliance a shot?

Gigi: I- I guess?

Tama: You guess? I can't go to the captain-general with a mere hypothesis.

Gigi: ...Yes. Yes, I'm ready.

Tama, grinning: So you're going to be a good girl and keep your bodily fluids to yourself unless asked?

Gigi, turning bright pink: Y-yes!

Tama: Yes, what?

Gigi, going even redder: Yes, sir!

Tama, patting her head and releasing the hold on the Cordyceps, at least for now: ...Very good girl.

Akon, rolling his eyes: Uuuugh....

Tama, helping Gigi up: Hey! You know damn well that positive re-enforcement-

Akon, hefting his Lazer-Gun back onto his shoulder: -is an important part of interpersonal communication, reward the behavior you want to see yeah, yeah-

[Akon is about to turn to leave when a thought occurs to him and he stops and glares at Gigi]

Akon: ...You DO hit like a fuckin' truck.

Gigi, blushing and twirling her hair: Well, I mean-

Akon, pointing accusingly at Tama: I KNEW IT! YOU'RE NOT RECRUITING HER FOR THE WAR, YOU'RE RECRUITING HER FOR THE SHINIGAMI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION INTRAMURAL CRICKET TEAM!!

Gigi: -the what?

Tama: And what if I am? It doesn't matter to you- The Shinigami Men's Association couldn't keep their wickets up if their lives depended on it!

Akon: -Call me when Matsumoto-taicho can bat out of the pitch!

Tama: Yeah, the fact that Rangiku and Hiyori both suck at it and you STILL lost by 203 points to us is not actually helping your case here.

Gigi: Is. Is cricket a sport?

Akon: SPORT? Cricket is an entire EVENT! It's a Way of Life! It's the philosphical ideal of-

Tama: Yes. Tama: It's a very silly sport, and his team sucks at it.

Gigi: Ooh! If we all live through this, I can be a cheerleader!

Tama, causing problems on purpose: Yeah!

Akon, sputtering with fury: I- That's- CRICKET DOESN'T HAVE CHEERLEADERS!!

Gigi, pouting with her index fingers pressed together, rocking her hips: -But I wanted to cheer for YOU Mr. Akon!

Akon, freezing like a deer in front of an oncoming 18-wheeler: -! Akon, turning ever-so-slightly-pinkish about the ears: ...I'll think about it.

Gigi, grabbing onto Akon's arm: Yay! Gigi, hanging off Akon and babbling: What are the team colors? Do you think like Majorette uniforms are cuter or something more like a miniskirt and halter-top?

Tama, letting them get a bit ahead of her as she dials the main camp: Anyone on the horn? It's Nikuya.

Nanao, on the other end of the communicator: Status report?

Tama: Good news! I've eliminated an enemy, found us an ally AND a new batter for the team if we all live to see spring training.

[prefect30]

Little Dove

Instead of Lucy Gray, he got her younger, little sister, Rosalie Jade.

Previous Chapter

Chapter Four

Chapter Warnings: MDNI/18+/Mature scene - consented.

“I’m sorry ‘bout your friend.”

Today was the first “official” mentor-tribute interview day. Conveniently, the day after Arachne’s death. So here sat Rosalie Jade, along with the other 22 tributes, at a small table, where they were hand-cuffed to the table–the Academy didn’t want any more accidents–and each mentor was sat on the other side of the table, facing their tribute.

Coriolanus had already had an idea that Rosalie Jade was not one for violence, but rather peace and serenity. His idea was proven correct when he watched her throw up the food he had gotten her after watching Arachne be murder. It was further proven when he watched her comfort the one girl, who’s name he learned was Wovey, when Arachne’s murderous tribute had been displayed for all at her services, including the rest of the–very much alive–tributes. This was most definitely going to be a problem in the arena, where Rosalie Jade would be surrounded by destruction, violence, and death. She would not be able to hold someone’s hand as their head, and inturn, hers, would be cut off. So Coriolanus made a mental note to himself to make sure to work on getting her used to the site of blood, destruction, and death. How to do that, he would figure out later.

“It’s fine, Little Dove. She was just someone I knew from my childhood.” Coriolanus waved her off, sitting down across from her.

“She was a bitch and needed to die anyway.” Was what Coriolanus wanted to add, but decided against it, knowing how sensitive and fragile his tribute was.

“She was still your friend, though. Still someone ya’ knew Coryo.” Rosalie Jade responded, putting her small finger tips that the cuffs allowed her to, and traced small comforting lines back and forth on his hand.

Coryo. God, it sounded so good, I should have made her call me that from the start. And who knew that someone from District 12 could have such soft hands? They’re like fucking clouds. Can people feel like clouds?

“I guess you’re right. It’s ju-it’s been so different without h-her here.” Coriolanus lowered his head, putting his hand into hers so she was able to put her whole tiny hand on his large one, encouraging her to rub her thumb over his knuckles. Coriolanus would milk this tit all fucking day if he could. The sensations he was feeling from her hands on his just made him feel so comforted, wanted, loved.

“It’s ok Coryo. While I can’t promise you anythin’, just know that things will get better. You just gotta have hope.” Rosalie Jade tried to move closer to him, but a Peacekeeper near them put his hand on his gun, saying not to move any closer to Coriolanus, saying that the tributes were meant to keep a controlled distance away from their mentor. Coriolanus internally groaned at that and cursed Arachne for her stupid antics that now has everyone paying the price.

“Thank you, Little Dove.” Coriolanus smiled at her.

“Anytime Coryo.” Rosalie Jade smiled back at him, squeezing his hand in return.

Coriolanus, instead of doing his job and trying to help Rosalie Jade win, Coriolanus just sat there with a smile on his face that made him look like a teenage boy in love, trying to hold Rosalie Jade’s hand as long as he could, relishing in the wonderful feeling and burst of happiness he was getting from being touched.

“Hey, ah, where were you this mornin’? Everyone else’s mentors were here, but you weren’t. Thought you might’ve forgotten me!” Rosalie Jade joked, releasing her hand from his.

Feeling cold and wanting to get her warmth back, Coriolanus grabbed her hand again, in a comforting way, “Oh, I would never forget you Little Dove. I just had to drop something off for someone at the Citadel.”

It was true, Coriolanus was running late this morning because he needed to go to the Citadel first since he needed to drop off his paper of ideas for Dr. Gaul. The same paper that Clemensia insisted that she help on, which she did not. Since Arachne’s untimely death, Clemensia has barely talked to Coriolanus about the paper, let alone anyone. She seemed to have actually cared about that obnoxious little bitch that was going to try to blackmail Coriolanus. Coriolanus, however, couldn’t give two shits. He never really liked Arachne and when she started showed signs of wanting to blackmail Coriolanus, well that was the last straw. She had to go. But the day of her death, he found himself lying awake at night, not being able to fall asleep. Maybe it was guilt about not being able to save Arachne or maybe it was that her death reminded him too much of his mother’s. It was probably the latter. So that night, Coriolanus stayed awake and wrote the whole paper, putting all of his ideas down messily then fixing it up formally on the final copy. The last two nights had gone into revising the final copy so it would be perfect for Dr. Gaul. He needed this paper to be perfect for her if he wanted any chance of helping Rosalie Jade.

“Oh, ok!” Rosalie Jade smiled, leaning back in the chair as much as it would allow her, releasing Coriolanus’ hands for the final time. “So, whatcha’ got planned for me, Mr. Snow?” Rosalie Jade teased.

“Right! So for your final interview-” Coriolanus started but then was cut off by Rosalie Jade snapping at him, “I’m not talking ‘bout the interview, Coryo. I’m talkin’ ‘bout the Games. What can I do to live?”

“I’ll tell you later. Right now, we need to focus on your interview. That is what will help you.” Corioalnus told her, getting a little frustrated, that she cut him off.

“You want to help me?” Rosalie Jade questioned him.

“Of course Little Dove.” Corioalnus answered.

“Then start thinking that I can actually win.” She said, looking him in the eyes while leaning in closer.

Well, she does have a point there. But she is just so damn small! How can she survive?! Ohh!

“You're right. I’m sorry. When we get the tour of the arena tomorrow, we will look around for somewhere for you to climb or run and hide in. That is going to be your best bet. Don’t go into the Cornucopia right away, it’s just a trap to lure you into your death. That is where most of the deaths happen. We even call it the ‘Blood Bath’ whenever we go over previous Games in class because it is always so brutal and bloody.” Coriolanus tried to give her as much information as he could without overloading her small little brain.

Rosalie Jade didn’t say anything, but rather just stared at him in awe. In a terrified awe. Coriolanus saw as her sky blue almond eyes filled with tears. Other than the Reaping, where she almost cried in front of all of Panem, Coriolanus had never seen Rosalie Jade cry before. She had always been happy, making light of her horrible situation. Now, she sat in front of him with her head in her hands, crying her pretty little eyes out.

“Hey, it’s ok. I promise. My job is to protect you and keep you safe and alive. I intend to do that.” Coriolanus said, grabbing her hand and rubbing his fingers against her knuckles this time.

“I-I’m so-ory. I didn’t want to c-cry, b-but-I…I-I don’t wanna die, Coryo.” Rosalie Jade choked out.

“It’s ok, you don’t have to be sorry, Little Dove. You’re gonna be just fine. Ok? I promise, I am going to keep you safe.” Coriolanus said, taking his handkerchief out of his breast pocket, wiping away her tears.

“Why don’t I tell you what I got you for your interview, huh?” Coriolanus said, trying to distract Rosalie Jade.

“Y-yeah.” She hiccupped.

“I got you a guitar! Remember, just like you asked.” Coriolanus said enthusiastically, trying to cheer her up just like an older brother would do for their little sister.

“Really?” Rosalie Jade said, her tears glistening in hope.

“Yup! And my cousin is even going to let you borrow a dress just for the interview so she can wash your mother’s dress. She promises that she will be very careful.”

“T-that’s nice.” Rosalie Jade said, starting to come back to her normal, fun, light hearted self.

“Yeah.” Coriolanus absentmindedly said, so happy that he was able to make her happy and smile again. But as soon as he got her somewhat to her normal self, he remembered why he was here. Why she was here.

The form.

“Hey, so I need to ask you some questions to fill out this form on you. It’s to help with your interview.” Coriolanus said, hoping that the form wouldn’t upset her again and lead her to cry once more. He didn’t think his heart could handle his Little Dove crying again, this time because of him and not the Games.

Rosalie Jade just looked up at him, drying up her final tears with his handkerchief, and nodded.

“Great. So we have your name, age, District, and you already said that you have one sibling, your sister, Lucy Gray.” Rosalie Jade just sat there, nodding along with him in awe when he remembered her sister’s name, let alone that she even had one. She didn’t think that Coriolanus was listening to her when she had randomly brought up her sister.

“So that just leaves a partner, hobbies, and skills. We can cross off partn-” Coriolanus started but was cut off with Rosalie Jade saying, “Oh! I do have a boyfriend. Quite handsome if I do say so myself.” She smiled up at him, her previous sadness seemingly gone.

What!? Who?

Coriolanus internally growled to himself. Who could this little girl possibly be dating and why?

“Yeah? And who’s that Little Dove?” Coriolanus asked through gritted teeth, trying to keep his composure.

“The baker’s boy of course! Ryder Mellark, but we all call him Rye.” Rosalie Jade said matter of factly.

That’s such a stupid fucking name.

“Why do  you care, though? You jealllllllous?” Rosalie Jade teased, dragging her L.

“W-what. No-o.” Coriolanus turned red at her accusation. He just wanted to know who thought that they were good enough to have his Little Dove.

Rosalie Jade just laughed at him stumbling over his words, “Oh my gosh, relax! I’m just playin’ with ‘ya. I ain't dating no one. Lucy Gray would rather have me hung than have me date someone. Though, the baker’s son is quite cute. Rye, not Corbin, he’s already datin’ someone…”

Coriolanus just let out a sigh of release as he let Rosalie Jade rant. He would let her talk as much as she wanted if it meant that she wasn’t dating someone. But for some reason, her thinking that Rye was cute, irked him.

“What about your hobbies?” Coriolanus cut off her rant as he realized that his time with her today was dwindling down.

“Oh, well I like to sing, but you already know that. I like to dance and swim too. Ooh! Before District 4 became District Four, when we were down there, Lucy Gray taught me to swim, so now I’m an expert! I swim so much down in the lake during the summer that my hands are almost always pruned up! You would like the lake, maybe one day you’ll get to see it.” Rosalie Jade smiled sadly at him, relaxing that she would never see her lake again.

“Or maybe I might visit you after you win and you can show me.” Coriolanus lied, trying to keep her spirits up. To that, she smiled back at him, this time more cheerfully. But there was no way in hell that Coriolanus was ever going to step foot in District 12 of all places.

“So I guess I can put swimming down as one of your skills. Do you have any more?” Coriolanus asked.

“No, sorry.” Rosalie Jade said, looking down, anxiously playing with Coriolanus’ handkerchief.

“Hey, it’s ok. At least you have something.” Coriolanus calmly told her, reaching his hands out towards her, wanting to take it in his hand again, but Rosalie jade took this as him wanting his handkerchief back.

“No, it’s ok. You keep it to dry your eyes whenever you need to.” Coriolanus told her.

It most certainly is not ok. You have no other skills than swimming in a dry land arena. How that fuck is that going to help you me?

“I can’t Coryo, it’s yours.” Rosalie Jade said, continuing to push his hand back to give him his handkerchief back.

Grabbing her hands and looking her in the eyes, Coriolanus said, “It’s fine Rosie Jay, it’s yours now. I have more at home.” He didn’t have many left, but she didn’t need to know that.

She finally accepted the handkerchief, but only in shock of him calling her Rosie Jay instead of Rosalie Jade or Little Dove.

“Alright! Time to go! Mentors, go please exit from the front left door! Tributes, stay where you are until a Peacekeeper comes to move you back into the monkey exhibit.” Coriolanus heard a Peacekeeper say.

He quickly stood up and walked to Rosalie Jade’s left side, giving her a kiss on the head, “I will see you tomorrow, Little Dove. I’ll make sure to bring you food, too.”

“Thank you, Coryo.” Rosalie Jade said, kissing him on the cheek in a sisterly love way, causing Coriolanus to blush and his body to tingle. Once he said goodbye to her, he started to walk away, contently until one of his peers, Festus Creed, started to join Coriolanus on his walk to his class.

“Quite the goodbye, huh.” Festus said to Coriolanus.

“I suppose you’re right. Just trying to calm her down.” Coriolanus defended.

“Right.” Festus laughed as he started to walk away from Coriolanus.

Idiot.

God, my pants are so tight.

Coriolanus was sitting in his seat, listening to Highbottom drone on about past Games and how the mentors could use them to their advantage to get a better chance for their tribute to win. But the only thing that Coriolaus could focus on was his pants. They just felt so tight.

Maybe Tigris did something to them or I outgrew them? Fuck.

Coriolanus kept moving in his seat, trying to make himself comfortable, but to no avail. His constant moving caught the eye’s of some of his fellow students, and Highbottom’s.

“Is there a problem Mr. Snow?” Highbottom raised his left eyebrow towards Coriolanus.

“Yes, I have a question.” Coiolanus said. He couldn’t say he needed the restroom without people thinking that he was about to pee himself.

“And what might that be, Mr. Snow?” Highbottom asked, condescendingly.

“You said that Cassius Heath was the first ever victor, from Two. The next from One, and the next, Two again. It has been a pattern since the start of the Games, with the occasion of one of the lower Districts winning every few Games. I mean, there have only been two winners from lower Districts. So why is it that the higher Districts almost always seem to win?” Coriolanus asked. He had made it up as he went, but as he finished, he heard the logic behind his made-up question.

Highbottom opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He looked stumped, like he didn't think Coriolanus was actually going to ask a question. Finally figuring out an answer to giver him, Highbottom said, “Are you proposing that the higher Districts are possibly preparing kids for the Games? Cheating?”

“I wouldn’t put it behind them. They have the money too, they could train them, maybe even get some to volunteer.” Corioalnus spoke confidently, amused that he had stumped High-as-a-kite-bottom for once.

“Hmm. Stay after class, Mr. Snow. I would like to talk to you more on this idea of yours.” Highbottom said, shrugging off Coriolanus’ answer. Coriolanus knew better than to think that Highbottom was going to actually talk to him about his idea. No, he was most likely going to lecture him about disrupting his class.

“Yes, of course, Dean Highbottom. Also, may I use the restroom?” Coriolanus quickly said.

“Yes, boy, go. I don’t need you disrupting my class any longer.” Highbottom waved him off.

Or maybe he’ll lecture me in front of the whole class.

“You know, that shirt looks quite good on you, Coriolanus.”

Oh fuck off.

“Thank you, Livia.”

Coriolanus was just trying to open the door to the men's restroom when Livia Cardew came up to him, flirting. Why? Coriolanus had no idea.

“Can I help you Livia?” Coriolanus asked, just wanting to try to fix his pants.

“No,” Livia said, bluntly walking up to Coriolanus, “but maybe I can help you with something.” She said, slightly rubbing her hand on his crotch.

Coriolanus immediately turned red, “W-what are you talki-what are you doing Livia?”

“Oh, come on, Coryo. You can't act all high and mighty in front of that tribute of yours, stump Highbottom and expect me to not be turned on. I mean, have you seen yourself. You look like a fucking Greek God. And that's with your clothes on, I can only wonder what you look like with them off.” Livia mumbled the end, continuing her ministrations on Coriolanus’ hard dick.

Coriolanus was about to speak up, to correct her when she called him Coryo, only Rosalie Jade could call him that, when he realized that he could use this situation to his advantage. Livia came from a wealthy family and with what she had said about wondering about him, Coriolanus could only imagine how many times she had gotten herself off to the thought of him. He had caught her on many different occasions staring at him or more specially, his arms, hands, and pants. He had caught many other girls, but Livia was a reoccurring face. What can he say? Coriolanus Snow was a catch.

Coriolanus, composing himself, grabbed Livia's hand and brought her close to him, and in turn his dick, causing her to whimper, “Why thank you Livia, but it seems that you want help from me though, doesn't it?” Coriolanus asked cockily, smirking to himself when he moved his free hand to Livia's waistband of her pants-skirt uniform, toying with it lightly drawing a soft moan from Livia.

God, I haven't even done anything yet and she is already a pathetic whimpering, moaning mess.

Livia just nodded her head as he lightly pulled her into the bathroom by her waistband. He let go of her wrist and locked the bathroom door, he knew no one would be in the bathroom during class, it was almost an unspoken rule of not going during class as it would ruining precious learning time, but Highbottom must hate Coriolanus so much, that he didn't seem to care much about his learning time. How rude.

Coriolanus moved his hand further down into her pants, lightly rubbing his knuckles over her wet underwater, drawing a gasp from Livia.

The second he ghosted his fingers over her clit, he pulled them away, “Too bad you said you didn't need my help. But I do recall you offering your help.” Coriolanus smirked as he watched her face go from pleasurable excitement, to disappointment, and back to excitement again. He continued to smirk as she lowered herself onto her knees in front of him. 

“Good girl.” Coriolanus whispered, as she slowly brought down the lower part of his uniform. He looked her in the eyes as she brought down his underwear, watching his hard dick smack his stomach. He smirked as she gasped at his size and leaned his head back as she gently took his dick in her hand, pumping him up and down.

He closed his eyes in pleasure as she went faster. He let out small grunts and groans of pleasure, but nothing that would make Livia feel praised. She didn't deserve Coriolanus Snow's praise.

She slowly brought him into her mouth, taking as much as she could while jerking off what she could fit. The unexpected warmth caused Coriolanus to buck his into her mouth, making her gag slightly.

Coriolanus, deciding that her bobbing up and down on his length wasn't fast enough, brought his right hand down to her hair, roughly grabbing some of her hair, making her go faster. Livia whimpered from his hold on her head and gagged from the sudden movement.

God. I can't believe that I am doing this. I'm letting this pathetic, little self entitled bitch suck me off during class. But she came onto me, so it's not really my fault. Besides, I was already hard, I needed something or someone to give me some release.

Coriolanus slowly started to buck his hips more into Livia's mouth, causing her gagging to become more frequent.

I still can't believe that I am doing this in school. And right after talking to Rosalie Jade. Oh, Little Dove, what am I going to do about you? There has to be some way to keep you safe, to make sure that you live. That you can go back home to your sister, to me. We could be a family. You're like my little sister. Yes. My singing, fragile, cute little sister. I would protect you just like a big brother. I would do better than your sister did. I would have never let you get Reaped. I would keep you safe, my Little Dove.

As Coriolanus was thinking fantasizing about what to do with Rosalie Jade, he continued to fuck Livia's mouth, his pace increasing giving her mouth no relent.

Maybe I could keep you in the Corso, away from all the dangers of the world. Just like a bird in a gilded cage.

With that, Coriolanus' grip on Livia's hair tightened, keeping her on his cock as he released himself inside of her throat with a loud groan.

He kept her there for a moment, enjoying the warmth she brought that reminded him of Rosalie Jade, and reluctantly let her off to breathe.

Who knew blondes could give good head? I wish her hair was more golden though, like Rosalie Jade’s.

He went into one of the stalls and grabbed some toilet paper, cleaning himself off first, then walking over to Livia–who was still trying to catch her breath–and lifted her chin up with his two fingers, cleaning up her face, focusing on her mouth. He had to seem somewhat kind after he just roughly fucked her face, otherwise she might not like Coriolanus anymore with how he treated her and then he might lose a way to get money. But the lovestruck look in her eyes as Coriolanus cleaned her up told him otherwise.

Maybe she's a masochist?

He looked her in the eyes as he spoke slowly, “You're gonna keep this between us right? Our little secret?”

Livia nodded as she moved herself onto his left shoe, humping it gently, trying to relieve some pressure. Coriolanus quickly moved his foot away, gripping his jaw harshly, “Words, Livia.”

“Yes. Our little secret.” Livia answered, blissfully, for her dreams were coming true. Well, some of them.

Coriolanus just smirked, moving towards the door, exiting with cold words, “Then maybe you should go to the nurse, get an ice pack for your head, wouldn't want anyone getting suspicious of us both going to the restroom at the same time. It would ruin our secret, now wouldn't it?”

“Y-yes! It would. I will! Bye Cory-” Livia started, but was cut off with Coriolanus slamming the door on her face.

“What a gentleman, thinking about my head.” Livia said, dreamily as she got herself ready to go to the nurse.

“And why would you think this, Mr. Snow?”

Had Coriolanus known that Highbottom was going to tell Dr. Gaul about his “question,” he would have tried to at least prepare himself a little better. Instead, he stood across from a curious Dr. Gaul and a smirking Highbottom.

Fucking bastard.

“Well, while I know that the Games are still young, it seems that there has been a victory pattern. The higher ranking Districts seem to almost always win the Games, with the occasion of a tribute from a lower ranking one” Coriolanus was trying to make himself sound as serious as possible since he was now presenting his “question” to Dr. Gaul. Had it just been Highbottom, then Coriolanus would have been looking for ways to get Rosalie Jade food by now. He wasn't going to listen to whatever the incompetent man had to say.

“Are you suggesting that there is some sort of cheating going on in the Districts, Mr. Snow?” Gaul asked, with an eyebrow raised. Had she missed something? Was that why the ratings have been going down since the seventh Games? Were the people of the Capitol getting bored of seeing the same few Districts winning?

“I think there has been some sort of training going on in certain Districts. That they are preparing their tributes for the Games,” Coriolanus started, “That they are choosing certain boys and girls before the Reaping so they have a better chance of winning. The boy tribute last year even volunteered.” Coriolanus finished.

“But why, Mr. Snow? Why would a District go through all that trouble to just win back the same person they sent to die. They don't get anything else in return.” Gaul countered, getting more intrigued by the minute.

“For the sake of being the Victor. It is the only thing that they can win back from the war other than a kid they sent to die. But they can only be the Victor for a period of time. And that's what I wrote about in the paper you assigned Clemensia and me. I think that if there was something for the Districts to win other than the person back, they would be more inclined to try to win. To play our games.” The whole time Coriolanus was saying this, Highbottom was just watching the two of them, scowling in disgust.

What is his problem? He was the one that caused this. The Games and this conversation.

Gaul just looked at him in delight. She had a feeling that Coriolanus and her were going to get along just right.

“Yes, the paper. I read it and was very impressed. Please get Clemensia and I would like to see the both of you in my office at the Citadel in exactly 10 minutes.” Gaul answered, completely ignoring everything Corilanus had said except for the paper.

Coriolanus smiled as he nodded, his eyes watching Gaul leave the room. When he went to grab his damaged and decaying satchel, he heard Highbottom speak for the first time since this conversation had started.

“You are just like your father, you know that boy?”

What?

“How did you know my father?” Coriolanus asked, confused.

Highbottom just chuckled to himself and smiled at Coriolanus, “Some things are best kept a mystery.”

Coriolanus just stared at him, perplexed. He realized that this conversation was going nowhere, so he started to leave when he was yet again stopped by hearing Highbottom's rough voice.

“Hey, good luck with that little songbird of yours. You're going to need it.”

Fuck off. 

“Thank you.” Coriolanus decided to keep his thought to himself, seeing as he didn't want to get another dermit.

“Coriolanus, know that I will do everything in my power to keep you from winning that Plinth Prize.” Highbottom said, calmly as he watched the boy continue to walk away from him, seemingly ignoring him.

“And know that I will do everything in my power to win and keep Rosalie Jade alive.” Corioanus told the man as he closed the door on him, giving Coriolanus the last word.

However, what Coriolanus didn't know was that Highbottom had been watching him during his interview with Rosalie Jade. How he couldn't seem to keep his hands to himself, how he was getting closer to her. He didn't like that and feared for poor Rosalie Jade. For he was worried terrified that Coriolanus was more like his father than he originally thought. And that Rosalie Jade would suffer a similar fate to Juliet Snow, Coriolanus’ late mother.

“Could you at least give me a run down of the paper so I won't be completely clueless?” Clemensia pleaded with Coriolanus.

Had you done it with me, we wouldn't have this problem.

Coriolanus had got Clemensia just like Dr. Gaul had asked, and they were walking to the Citadel to see her. But since Clemensia had blocked herself off from what seemed to be the entire world after Arachne's death, she didn't write a single word on that paper. So Coriolanus was just informing her the basic gist of the paper and key points he wrote about.

“I can't believe you actually were able to even write anything or do anything for that matter after her death. I-I wasn't able to even sleep. I couldn't seem to do anything.” Clemensia said, looking down at her feet as they walked up the stairs to the Citadel.

“Well I couldn't sleep, that's how I was able to write it.” Coriolanus told her, not wanting to sound like a complete dick for not being sad over someone wanting to blackmail him, die.

Clemensia just hummed at him in response, keeping her head hung low as they followed someone to Dr. Gaul's office.

Maybe they were closer than I thought?

As the woman who guided them to Gaul’s office opened the door for them, Coriolanus quickly realized why the woman left them so hastily. Gaul’s office seemed to be more of a mad scientist lab rather than an office. It was covered from head to toe with odd and crazy looking animals, mutations, and in the far right corner there was a large case filled with some sort of fluid, holding what seemed to look like a human.

Its body looked mutated, its bone’s piercing through the skin, eyes bulging out of their sockets, holding onto dear life like the nerves trying to hold onto a young child’s extremely loose tooth. There were bald patches all over its body that showed signs of chemical burns, but where there was hair, feathers could be seen growing out of its body, giving it a hunched back form from the heavyweight of them. But its mouth. Oh its teeth had been melted into sharp fangs, blood stuck on the corner of its mouth. And as if there were invisible strings, it was smiling right back at Coriolanus. Looking him straight into his eyes, into his soul. As he got closer, he could see the pain and misery in its eyes. And that when he realized that it had no tongue.

It's an avox!

Bang!

“Ahh!”

Coriolanus quickly turned around at Clemensia’s shriek. She had gotten too close to one of the mutations and it had banged its head against the glass, scarning her. She hurried over to Corioanus and grabbed his arm, “I don't like this Coriolanus.”

“Neither do I.” He responded, holding her hand in an attempt to comfort her. While Coriolanus Snow wasn’t fond of many people, Clemensia Dovecote was one of the very few people Coriolanus tolerated being around, even though she had her moments.

“There you two are,” Gaul’s voice boomed. They both turned around quickly to see Gaul smiling creepily at them, “Follow me please.”

As they walked up to her, Coriolanus got a better look at some of the other mutations. The others are animals, or at some point in time, they were. There was a bird that had the body of a mauled lamb, and sharp claws like a lion. It was a bloody, disgusting mess.

“Do you like my mutts?” Gaul asked Coriolanus, catching him looking at them longer than Clemensia could stomach.

“What?” Coriolanus ask, confused.

“My mutts. Isn't it marvelous how something simple can be turned into something so beautifully dangerous?” Gial asked, dreamily.

Coriolanus simply nodded, not understanding how something so horrible looking could be seen as beautiful.

“Speaking of beautifully dangerous, I read your paper, and I must say I am very impressed by you two. Your ideas brought up good points, and gave me a new perspective of looking at the Games. How we can help the tributes, reap the rewards, and let them figure out the inner themselves. Individually, you both are good students, but together you show incredible potential.” Gaul said, smirking at them.

But right as Coriolanus and Clemensia went to thank her, she cut them both off, “You did both write this, correct?”

Shit.

Coriolanus knew that lying to someone as powerful as Dr. Gaul wouldn't go over well, so right as he went to confess, Clemensia interrupted him, “Of course we did, Dr. Gaul. Like I said on the day you assigned this paper to us both, we are partners, we always work better together.” 

No, you idiot! Don't lie to Gaul!

Coriolanus went to say something, only to yet again be interrupted by Gaul, “Wonderful. However it seems my incompetent assistant put your paper inside my new creations home,” As she said this, she pointed over to a beautiful, large, tall case, holding rainbow colored snakes, “You wouldn't mind getting it for me, would you Miss. Dovecote?” Gaul asked, tilting her head, lightly pushing her and Coriolanus towards the case and up the stairs.

Clemensia just looked at the snakes in horror, asking, “Is there a point to the color?” To this Gaul laughed, stating, “Oh there is a point there to everything my dear. For them, I found that having the victims of their bites see a rainbow of color before their death, giving them a false sense of hope, is more amusing than watching them just die.”

Clemensia just looked at the mad woman in shock, not knowing how to respond.

Because the only thing more powerful than fear is hope.

“Now, are you going to retrieve your paper or not?” Gaul asked, tilting her head amused.

Clemensia gulped, “But how is this safe. I don't want to get bit!”

“Oh, relax child. You won't get bit, it is completely safe.” Gaul told her, reaching her own hand in, letting a snake coil around her arm. So Clemensia slowly started to reach her shaking hand in.

“Oh course if they have your scent, which should not be a problem because of your paper. But, if they did not, well once might not want to stick their hand in there.” Gaul told her, and just as Coriolanus put the pieces together, he was too late, again.

“Ahhhhh!” Clemensia screamed in pain, falling backwards onto the ground with a harsh thud.

Coriolanus quickly ran to the edge of the railless staircase. “Clemmie!”

“So it was your sweaty palms who wrote the paper?” Gaul asked him, nonchalantly as Peacekeepers quickly came in and put a shot into her neck, carrying her away.

“What, yes, is she going to die?” Coripanus asked her frantically.

“Depends on how hard she fights. Now your ideas, I liked them, all of them. I have already talked to my team about incorporating the sponsor idea and how to get them food and water there, but your other ones might take more time. The betting will happen this year though and it shall be the pinnacle of this year's Games.” Gaul continued, not caring about how one of her own students just got bit by one of her own creations.

Coriolanus, still in shock from what had just happened, almost missed what she had said.

She liked them, all of them. And she is going to move forward with them, some of them this year! This Is it. This is how I help Rosie Jay!

So he answered with the only thing he could get out of his mouth, “Ok. Thank you.” Gaul just looked at him, amused. “You may go now, Mr. Snow. I wouldn't want you to be late to your next class.”

With that, he turned on his heel and started to leave rather quickly, wanting to get out of this lab from Hell. But as he reached the door he was stopped by Gaul's voice, “Coriolanus, in the future, don't ever lie to me again. It will not bring you anything good.” She said, all amusement gone.

He just nodded.

Last night had brought much stress to Coriolanus, he had to somehow find extra food that he didn’t have, and bring it to Rosalie Jade. He would worry about getting the guitar and dress to her later. But once he came home from the Academy last night and was given time to himself, the event finally sunk in. He had watched Clemensia get bit by a poisonous snake that Gaul made and let bite her. She let one of her own students get hurt and possibly die by one of her own creations, and didn’t give a flying fuck. He watched, yet again, another person he knew get hurt when he could’ve saved them. This is the second time and Coriolnaus wouldn’t let it be a third time, not with Rosalie Jade. He needed to save her because she would save him in more ways than one. 

So here he was, walking up to the zoo as he heard something lovely. 

“Down in the valley, the valley so low 

Late in the evening, hear the train blow 

The train, love, hear the train blow

Late in the evening, hear the train blow.” 

It was Rosalie Jade. 

“Go build me a mansion, build it so high 

So I can see my true love go by 

See him go by, love, see him go by 

So I can see my true love go by.” 

She was singing again. 

“Go write me a letter, send it by mail 

Bake it and stamp it to the Capitol jail 

The Capital jail, love, the Capitol jail 

Bake it and stamp it to the Capitol jail.” 

Good girl. 

“Roses are red, violets are blue 

Birds in the heavens know I love you 

Know I love you, oh know I love you 

Birds in the heavens know I love you.” 

“You have such a beautiful voice, Little Dove.” Coriolanus told Rosalie Jade as he walked up to the cage. 

“Why thank you, Mr. Snow. You as well.” She giggled. 

Coriolanus laughed, “Thank you, Miss. Baird. My grandma’am kept me up all night practicing to make sure that I hit all of my notes.” 

“Well I think you did an awful good job.” She smiled at him. 

Awful good?

Coriolanus just smiled back at her and to her backwards way of talking. “I brought something for you.” He finally said, reaching into his satchel to give her the food. 

“Ooh, yummy.” She said, making grabby hands at him in a cute way. 

“Here you go.” He said, laughing at her childish actions. He watched as she split it into halves. Thinking it was for him, Coriolanus got ready to put his hand out to take it, but instead, Jessup came up from behind her. He crouched down to her level, whispering something into her ear, and taking the other half of the sandwich. As Coriolanus watched in shock disgust as Jessup took his food, he noticed something on the boy’s neck. A bite mark. 

He watched him walk away in confusion. 

What bit him and when? 

He looked back at Rosalie Jade, who was content eating her peanut butter and jelly sandwich, “What was that mark on his neck, Rosie Jay?” He asked her. 

“Hm? Oh, Jessup? Yeah, he got bit by a rat on the first night here. They put rat poison around the cage, but the rats know to not go near it. He just came over to get some food and say thanks for letting him use the handkerchief.” She told him, finishing up her sandwich. 

“Oh.” He just responded. 

She let someone else use the handkerchief I gave her?

Rosalie Jade looked up at him, sensing his disappointment, “Sorry, it’s just that I didn't really need it and it would have helped Jessup more than me at the time.” 

Didn’t need it? 

“It’s okay, Rosalie Jade. I just thought the sharing ended at the food, my bad.” Coriolanus pettily replied. She just looked up at him, feeling guilty now that she had seen Coriolanus was upset with her actions. Coriolanus, while feeling bad that she felt guilty, felt powerful that she felt guilty because she had upset him. That she felt bad because she disappointed him and he felt amazing about that.

“So what song are you going to sing for your interview?” Coriolanus asked, changing the topic, not wanting her to feel too bad. 

“Oh, I uh, have a good one picked out.” She said, looking down. 

Shit.

“I’m sure whatever you sing is going to be amazing, just like you.” He said, racing his hand through the cage to lift her chin up to him.

“You really think so?” She said, her eyes tearing up.

“Of course I do, Little Dove.” He told her, smiling softly. She smiled back.

“Alright, let's go!” A Peacekeeper said. It was time for the mentors and their tributes to see the arena for the first and only time before the Games.

“I’ll see you there, Little Dove.”

He could have her feeling bad for a little longer. She gave away his gift to her, she needed to be punished somehow.

“Enjoy the show!”

As all the tributes and mentors walked in, the phrase, “Enjoy the show!” was heard. This was because the arena used to be a circus before the Dark Days, a circus where Coriolanus would occasionally go to before the Dark days.

Coriolanus and Rosalie Jade were near the end of the line, with Lysistrata Vickers and Jessup behind them. As they walked through the dark tunnel, Rosalie Jade grabbed Coriolanus’ hand, holding onto it for comfort. He held her hand back in a tight grip. And when they reached the final entrance to the arena, where there was light and cameras, she went to let go of his hand, but he held on tighter, not wanting to let her go.

She just looked up at him as the two of them went to their own area away from the others.

 As Coriolanus was looking around the arena, trying to find places for Rosalie Jade to hide, he felt her wrap her arms around his waist, nuzzling her head into his chest, crying, “Don’t leave me die in here, Coryo. Please.”

He quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her impossibly closer to him, whispering sweet nothings into her ear in an attempt to calm her down. When he realized that wasn’t working, he reluctantly pulled her away from his chest, “Hey, hey. Look at me Rosalie Jade. You’re not going to die in here, ok? I promised you that I was going to  get you home and I plan on keeping that promise. I’m not going to let you di-”

BOOM!

And just like that, the world seemed to stop.

Bomb time.

During the Dark Days, whenever bombs were going off, Tigris and Coriolnaus had named it Bomb Time. And that’s what  this is. Somehow, someway, bombs had gone off in the arena. Coriolanus had gotten flung away from Rosalie Jade and had no idea where she went.

“Rosalie Jade!” He yelled, only getting screams as a response, but no her screams. He kept looking for her, trying to find her to get her out. She would not be the third.

CRASH!

“Ahh! Help!” Coriolanus yelled. He was currently getting crushed by something and that something was on fire. It was burning through his clothes, burning his skin.

“Ahhhh!” He groaned. He kept trying to move it off of him, but to no avail.

This is it. I am going to die.

Just then, he saw a flash of color.

Rosalie Jade!

She had come back to him, but there was someone trying to pull her back, away from him to safety. It was Marcus.

“He wouldn’t save you! Go, get out while you can!” He yelled to her.

Of fuck you.

But Rosalie Jade pushed him away and went to Coriolanus, trying to lift the piece of rubble off of him. He knew by herself, she wouldn’t be able to get it off, so he started to push again. And after a few good moments of pushing, they got him free. He went to reach for her, to get her out of here, but she was quickly taken by Peacekeepers.

“No! Rosalie Jade!” He yelled, but then quickly collapsed from the pain and exhaustion just as a Peacekeeper came to get him.

“Shh, look. He’s waking up.” Coriolanus heard someone say.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Sejanus and Tigris hovering around him.

Where am I?

“Hey, Coryo,” Tigris gently spoke while caressing his face, “I was so worried about you.”

Oh.

“You missed Bomb Time.” Coriolanus told her, slightly joking.

“Yeah.” She just told him, laughing lightly as a single tear rolled down her face.

“I’m ok, Tigris. I promise.” He told her, looking at Sejanus, wondering why he of all people was here.

Promise.

“R-rosalie Jade, is-is she-” He struggled to get his words out, in fear that something had happened to her, and Tigris noticed this, swiftly cutting him off with, “She’s fine, Coryo. I just dropped off the dress and guitar for her interview.”

“They are still going on with the Games? Wait, interview? How long have I been out for?” He asked, wincing as he sat up with the help of Tigris.

“You’ve been out for almost three days, Coryo. And I know, it’s ridiculous, I can’t believe that they are still continuing with the Games. Hell, Felix is laying on his deathbed right now.” Sejanus ranted.

“Was anyone else hurt?” Coroilanus asked.

“Yes, many. A handful of tributes died, as did some mentors. The Apollo twins, they, um, they died. Most everyone else just got injured. One tribute got away. Mark, I think was his-” Tigris choked out, only to be cut off by Sejanus saying, “Marcus. His name is Marcus.”

Your tribute. The one that tried to get Rosalie Jade away from me.

“Right, Marcus. Sorry.” Tigris said, apologetically to Sejanus. No one knew what was going to happen to Marcus when he was inevitably found, but when he was, they knew it would be bad.

“And now, for our last interview, please welcome Rosalie Jade Baird! Get up here you little songbird.” Coriolanus looked up at the T.V. hanging on the wall when he heard Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman's annoying voice. And that’s when he saw her, or rather, the dress.

It was meant to be a 12th birthday gift for Coriolanu’s unborn baby sister, for when Tigris found out her aunt was pregnant, she was so excited and was just learning how to sew. She had sewn dresses for each of the unborn baby’s birthdays up until 21 years. She didn’t think much about measurements back then, she just wanted to sew and show her love. But when his mother and baby sister died, the Snow’s ended up burning them for warmth or selling them for food. However, Tigris couldn’t part with the 12th one or the 1st. Both were a beautiful, white dress made out of silk and tool. The represented what the Snow name was meant to be, what it had been. Beautiful, elegant, rich, and pure.

“Hello Capital, Districts. I wrote this song for some people back where I’m from and I hope they hear it.” She said, as Coriolanus walked closer to the T.V. with the help of Tigris. She looked beautiful, like a true dove. But the second she started singing, Coriolanus finally figured it out.

“My father never talked a lot

He just took a walk around the block

'Til all his anger took a hold of him

And then he'd hit

My mother never cried a lot

She took the punches, but she never fought

'Til she said, "I'm leaving, and I'll take the kids"

So she did.”

Watching her up there on that stage, wearing his unborn baby sister’s dress, golden wavy locks shining in the lights, making her look like an angel, he finally figured out what she reminded him of on the first day in the zoo.

“I say they're just the ones who gave me life

But I truly am my parents' child.”

She was what his baby sister was supposed to be like. She was what Coriolanus was supposed to protect from the world. She was his little sister.

“Scattered 'cross my family line

I'm so good at telling lies

That came from my mother's side

Told a million to survive

Scattered 'cross my family line

God, I have my father's eyes

But my sister's when I cry

I can run, but I can't hide

From my family line.”

Everytime someone had told him, “Good luck with that songbird of yours” or “Your tribute,” they were right. Rosalie Jade was his tribute. His girl. His Little Dove. She was his.

“It's hard to put it into words

How the holidays will always hurt

I watch the fathers with their little girls

And wonder what I did to deserve this

How could you hurt a little kid?

I can't forget, I can't forgive you

'Cause now I'm scared that everyone I love will leave me.”

He had let her down, according to her song at least. He let his baby sister feel hurt, get hurt. And he was so angry at this. Why would her own family hurt her, hurt someone, something beautiful and pure?

“Scattered 'cross my family line

I'm so good at telling lies

That came from my mother's side

Told a million to survive

Scattered 'cross my family line

God, I have my father's eyes

But my sister's when I cry

I can run, but I can't hide

From my family line

From my family line.”

He had let her down. He had let her get hurt in this horrible world, and he wasn’t going to let it happen again. Ever.

“Oh, all that I did to try to undo it

All of my pain and all your excuses

I was a kid but I wasn't clueless

Someone who loves you wouldn't do this

All of my past, I tried to erase it

But now I see, would I even change it?

Might share a face and share a last name, but

We are not the same.”

He heard a sniffle from his right, and looked over his shoulder to see Tigris silently crying. Then he looked around the hospital and realized that it wasn’t just Tigris who was crying. No, all of the nursing staff was. The audience on the screen was crying and that’s when he saw her donations. He was so focused on her that he didn’t even realize that her donations were way past 1,000. The singing had worked. She had gotten the hearts of the Capital, of Panem.

“Scattered 'cross my family line

I'm so good at telling lies

That came from my mother's side

Told a million to survive

Scattered across my family line

God, I have my father's eyes

But my sister's when I cry

I can run, but I can't hide

From my family line

From my family line.”

“Well, ding, ding, ding! We have reached a record high donations for the evening. See what happens when you do stuff?” Lucky joked, walking back into frame, quickly wiping his tears. Rosalie Jade wearily smiled at him, wiping the stray tear that had fallen from her cerulean, doe eyes.

“Now I don’t love your odds, but may they be ever in your favor.” Lucky told her as he pulled her into a gentle hug that Rosalie Jade visibly relaxed into. She needed a good hug and the last time she was given one, she had watched her mentor be blown away from her.

Don’t touch her.

He let her go and flicked a coin into the air, stating, “I’m Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman, the Capitol’s weathercaster and amateur magician. This was the first ever Hunger Games: Tribute Interview.” He finished, catching the coin, and then the screen went black.

“Thank you for being here. Both of you.”  Coriolanus told Tigris and Sejanus, which was answered with Tigris giving Coriolanus a light reassuring squeeze on his shoulder and Sejanus saying, “Of course, it’s what friends are for.”

Coriolanus just ignored the friend's part because he was thinking about how he needed to pay his little sister a quick visit, as well as the newly destroyed arena.

“Rosalie Jade!” Coriolanus called out, softly.

“Rosie Jay!” He called again, but for no one to come out. He went to call out again, only to see something move in the darkness in the cage.

Oh thank God.

“Coryo! Oh, you’re safe!” She whispered, quickly  coming over to him and reaching her hands through to take his. He saw how her hands had some burns on them, but they seemed to have been treated with something.

“Yes, yes I am. Here I have something for you,” He told her, keeping one of his hands in hers and the other to pull out his mother’s compact, “Here, take this for the arena. It was my mother’s. I wanted you to have it so you can have something to remember me with. It always calms me down when I have something to look at that was someone’s who loved me.”

She smiled, but shook her head, “Thank you, Coryo. But I can't, it's too fine.”

“Please, take it. I will feel better knowing that you have this on you,” He told her, but quickly realized that she wouldn’t take it because she didn't want to take it from him forever, “Think of it on loan. When you get out of that arena after winning, you can give it back to me, ok?” He told her, trying to change her decision. He just wanted something that she could remember their mother by.

“Besides, you can use it to help yourself in the arena.” He told her, subtly shifting his eyes to the rat poison that was within reach to her and her slim arms.

She looked him in the eyes and nodded, getting the hint. He continued to look at her, not wanting to leave her just yet. Not again. He had already lost his sister once, and he wasn’t going to lose her again.

“Is this real?” He asked, eyes starting to water at the thought of losing her.

She nodded her head, “Yes, Coryo. This is real.” She might have meant it in a different way than Coriolnaus, but right now, he didn’t care. 

“Listen to me. I went back into the arena and looked around. The bombs completely destroyed it, meaning you have more places to hide. There is a vent system underground that you can hide in, it’s near the back right hand side of the arena. Get there by yourself, alone. Promise me. Promise me that you will get to safety the second that bell rings.” He asked her, to which she hesitantly nodded.

He grabbed her head and kissed her forehead, whispering, “I promise that I am going to get you out of the arena alive, back to your family, safe.” Which family that was, well she didn't need to now.

She just hugged him back and they stayed like that until he had to leave.

“I'll see you soon, my Little Dove.” He told her, walking into the darkness of the night.

“Alright, everyone, smile. It’s why we have teeth!” Lucky yelled, energetically to all the mentors.

Coriolanus just sat in his chair, anxiously. He was watching as all the tributes were walking into the arena. He watched as Wovey took Rosalie Jade’s hand, comforting her. How they smiled at each other only to be ripped away from each other by Peacekeepers.

“Ok, we are going live in 10, 9, 8…” Lucky told everyone, but Coriolanus was too concentrated on Rosalie Jade, who was walking up to her spot.

“Hello. I am Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman, your Capitol news weathercaster and amateur magician. And I am very pleased to tell you that I am hosting the Hunger Games for the very first time. Exciting, right! Now, cameras have been placed inside of the arena so we can get all of the action!” He said, happily talking to the camera while he flipped a coin into the air, catching it after her finished talking. He then pulled out an envelope, stating, “Here in this envelope, I have predicted the winner of this year's Hunger Games and I will reveal it after the winner is announced.”

10

9

“Oh, it's starting! Let's watch together, shall we?” He quickly said, allowing the camera to go off of him and transfer to the cameras in the arena.

6

5

Coriolanus had one and only one thought when he heard that bell ring.

3

2

1

May the 10th Annual Hunger Games begin.

RING!

Run.

Next Chapter

[reidslovely]

When My Time Comes

Content Warnings: Graphic depictions of:gun violence, murder, blood, throwing up, and panic attacks. Suicidal ideation, and a few swear words. Reader goes by the name 'Angel' throughout the story. Slightly supernatural/horror I'm not sure how to take it. Very different than anything I've written before please just hang in there lol. It's also unedited because I wrote it in a one day and wanted to get it out as fast as possible before the inspiration left me.

Pairing: Mob!Peter Parker x Fem!Reader/OC

Word Count: 5k

Genre: Angst with happy ending

I told y'all Mob!Peter was making a comeback..this is his rebirth. Thanks to Hozier's Work Song.

Please reblog and/or leave a comment instead of liking or hearting this post! Thank you.

There’s an uncomfortable frigid feeling in the room. It’s like that moment when giving a class presentation and everyone is looking dead at the person. Waiting for them to drop because they can tell the speaker doesn’t want to be here, and that they’re waiting for the worst to happen and the other shoe to drop. 

“Angel-” 

Felicia’s voice carried throughout the room. The legs she stood on grew wobbly, her vision narrowing. A mix of bitter bile and anger grew in her throat as she shot the platinum haired girl a heated look. 

“Don’t call me that. Don’t call me-” She shouted, pointing an accusing finger at her. “This is your fault!”

 It wasn’t. But it was easier to blame her, the person delivering the blow than it is to blame others. 

Harry’s hands grabbed the distraught girl from under her armpits, to keep her from falling and approaching Felicia any closer than she already was. Harry tucked her into his arm, hand flattening out against her back, trying to soothe the heart he knew was breaking. The smell of the iron on his shirt flooded her nostrils, and only provoked more tears. She fought against Harry, who only held tighter. 

“I wanna see him. Let me see him. I-”

“Angel, that’s not a good i-”

“Let her, Harry. Let her.” Felicia’s words were soft yet firm. Her lip was tucked in between her teeth as she wiped at her face. Harry looked between the two women, and at Miles who was standing in front of the door. He was fighting his own losing battle, and denying her would put him in his own grave. Once he released the girl, she ran as fast as she could and wobbled up the stairs to the bedroom all the way at the end of the hall. Vision so blurry from anxiety, and tears that she couldn’t even make out May, who'd just left the room shutting the door behind her. 

“Angel, you can’t go in there. You shouldn’t. Pete, he wouldn’t want you to see him like this. Just stay out here for a li-”

Usually she’d respect May’s wishes, and listen to her wise words. Angel knew deep in her heart of hearts that she was right. That this was an event that would stick with her for life and couldn’t be treated so loosely. But, her husband, Peter, was sitting on the other side of that door and you needed to see him. 

Pushing May aside, nothing, absolutely nothing, could prepare her for what laid on the other side of that door. 

“Pete.” Her words faltered seeing his entire torso bandaged, a deep red of blood already seeping through the clean white color of the bandages. Angel carried herself as far as she could before dropping to her knees, crawling across the floor to the bed. 

“A..Angel.” 

Peter’s eyes wouldn’t open, but his voice was somewhat there. Tired and strained, her hands grasped his, as she bowed her head against the memory foam of the death bed. He wasn’t dead. Not yet. 

“Shhh, I’m right here.” There was a sense of dread crawling into the bed with him. It’s the same bed they’d shared for years, but it’s different now as he lays dying. Out of pure reflex her hand reaches out, resting on his torso. He’s too weak to even flinch, her hand soaking with his blood. They’d been trying for hours to stop the damage the attack did to his insides.

“It happened all too fast and there were..too many. His body isn’t healing as fast as it usually does.” Felicia’s explanation came back to her. So much for being superhuman. Angel’s head pressed against his temple, as tears trickled down her cheeks hitting his bare collarbone. 

“Oh Angel..” Peter whispered, pressing his head back against hers. “Don’t cry over me.” 

She shook her head. “‘M not crying Pete, cause you’ll be fine. May gave you more of your blood, and your body is gonna speed up its process. And..and you’re gonna be okay.”

“I’m dying, Angel.” 

‘Shut up.” 

“No listen okay.” He used what strength he had to open his eyes, looking at her through half lidded eyes. “I am going to die. I know it and you..” 

He coughed, blood splattering out of his mouth. “You kn-kno-know it.” She wiped the blood off his mouth letting tears fall. 

“I love you…so much. You have been..the best part of my life.” She opened her mouth to respond. He closed his eyes again. Bringing his hand to hold her side close to him. “Just..just lay here with me okay?” 

His chest rattled with a shaky breath, she hiccuped choking on her sobs. Laying her head against his cold one. She'd always pictured dying in this bed with him. But she thought she’d be older, thought she’d at least have had some kids- some grandkids. Thought it would be both of them on a quiet, average night. One where she’d go to sleep and just never wake up. 

Never did she think Peter would be lying here dying at only 31 one years old. Angel knew what Peter did for work was dangerous, deadly even. It killed her father, it killed his uncle. Both knew these actions had consequences.  Yet, Peter wasn’t human like everyone else. He had altered DNA from being studied as a kid, from being bit by a spider at seventeen that gave him powers that he used to climb his way up the ladder of organized crime. Yet, those same powers and abilities were what had him lying here fighting to keep going. 

“Peter..” She whispered against his cold skin. “Peter.” Nothing. She put her hand over his heart and felt nothing. No warmth, no movement, nothing. Her hands shook, looking around in panic for anything..anyone. 

“Peter!” 

The yell was louder this time. One that burns the lungs. She shakes him, and shakes him trying to get him back. Starting to attempt her own CPR screaming for him to come back, to not leave like this. Being so engrossed with her own grief and anger, she doesn't even process everyone rushing in. Harry and Felicia pull her off of him kicking and screaming, as May calmly pulls the sheet over his head, before kissing his forehead. 

Angel hated her. She raised him and she’s not even fighting for his life right now. 

Not her, not Harry, not Felicia. None of them. 

“He’s gone.” Harry spoke sitting on the floor with her, holding her as she screamed through the sobs. His legs pinned hers down rocking up back and forth. The smell of the iron from the blood on Harry’s shirt and her body wafted through her nostrils. Between the smell of her dead husband's blood and the pure panic seeping through the body she couldn’t hold back any longer. Angel’s body hunched forward on reflex as vomit spewed out of her mouth and onto Harry and the floor. 

The blonde man didn’t even flinch, rubbing her back as you slumped forward and cried. A part of her laid dead on that bed with her husband's cold body. 

-

The days lingered, in a still limbo. None of it felt in order. Felicia fed her some cocktails of sedatives, to keep her sane as they both helped May plan the funeral. “He didn’t want a shiva.” Angel spoke from the couch, biting down around the cuticle of her nail. 

“I know we aren’t giving him one, just a wake and funeral and a remembrance party.” Felicia spoke, her hand reaching out to hold the woman's leg. Her free hand pulled her fingers out of her mouth. 

“A fucking party?” She spat. “Is that what his death means to you? Some fucking excuse to get shit faced, so you can live with yourself for walking him into that fucking warehouse.” 

Felicia bit down on her cheek, and took a deep breath. She could almost feel Peter’s hand on her shoulder and his stern yet soft demand for an apology to Felicia. 

“I’m sorry. I should-”

“It's fine.” Felicia says, pulling the widow into a hug, letting her head rest on her shoulder. Angel thanked Felicia for her patience, because at this point she had none left. May’s shaky hand covered her own mouth holding back a sob, Angel pulling her into the hug, the three of them taking a moment to cry. 

-

Harry and Miles had dealt with the dirty part. Harry had come home with a bag of medical supplies the night Peter died. He and May injected him with more of his blood that Harry had altered at Oscorp, both hoping for some last resort. Angel sat on the chair in the corner watching them. She had volunteered to wash and dress him before the coroner took him away. The man, Mr. Weekes had dealt in Peter’s dealing before, and he was listed specifically as who Peter wanted to treat him post mortem. 

“Your death wishes list in your will is super morbid.”

 She spoke in a low monotone voice, washing the blood off his arms. It was weird to see him like this: cold and still. Not bantering back and forth with her. “I appreciate it though, I just wish you’d told me about all this sooner. You’re demanding even in death.”

She washed his face next, and stitched up some of the wounds on his chest before dressing him in some of his more comfortable casual clothes. 

“If only you’d tell me what suit you wanted to be fucking burried in. Planned everything else out..” 

Shuffling through his suits, she started fighting back the tears as she came across his wedding suit. Again, feeling his hand on her back, trying to talk her through it. He always knew this was happening before she did. Angel pressed the palm of her hands into her eyes as she started to cry. Heartbeat racing, it felt like it was crawling up her throat and getting stuck. It felt like choking on nothing, causing her to gasp for breath. She dropped herself down into the soft green chair in the back of the closet, crying and gasping for air as she progressed. She started walking herself through it the best one could. Putting a hand on her chest following the breathing techniques, she tried to alter her breathing as much as she could. Once she started coming down, her vision settled back into normal. She looked up at the racks of clothing and let out a shaky, yet normally paced breath. She had settled on the grayish green suit he’d worn only a couple days before. Slamming the closet door to the closet behind her, she shoved the suit into the bag wanting to be done with it all.

“I shouldn’t hate you..” She started, sitting on the bed with him. Putting his watch on him and staring at him. “And I don’t..I don’t think I do. I’m just so..fucking angry. At everyone, at myself, at you. I shouldn’t have let you go, I should have gone with you.” 

Angel laid next to him, his body cold and their sheets still slightly stained in blood. Maybe it was gross and fucked up. However, next to him, was the only place she felt peace. There was a brief staring contest with the syringe filled with some  liquid that laid on a night stand. One stab to the heart would make everything go away, she could be with him again. Maybe the cocktail of sedatives everyone kept feeding her would do it for her at some point. 

“Mrs. Parker.” Mr. Weekes says walking in, rolling the gurney in with him. Harry and Miles in tow behind him. “I have to take him now. Is that okay?” 

“Angel..” Harry’s voice sounded pitiful, she felt her heart squeeze as she sat up.

“Yeah, yeah.” She sighed, scurrying out of the bed. Flattening out her clothes, watching Harry help Mr. Weekes transfer Peter to the gurney. Miles comforted her, his arms wrapping around her rubbing her back. Harry nodded his head towards the door, telling him to walk Angel out of the room. He followed directions sitting her in Peter’s office downstairs, both sat in their grief. 

“Why does everyone call you Angel?” Miles asks, wanting to take her mind off Peter. Funny enough, Peter was the reason why she even had the nickname. 

“When Peter and I started dating he brought me home and everyone was there with him at the time. They were ready to meet me if they didn’t know me already. Him, May, Gwen, Felicia, pretty much all of us…he walks me in and he goes "everyone this is Angel, Angel this is everyone.” 

Shr laughs, and Miles smiles. “Everyone just kept calling me Angel till he realized about 30 minutes later that he’s called me Angel instead of my real name. So it was just a pet name that became a nickname. So everyone, including my own mother, calls me it now.” She watched Miles walk around Peter’s office taking in every piece of him. 

“I’m really gonna miss him. He taught me so much, he helped me and my mom. I just..he was like a brother to me.”

“He thought a lot of you too. He cried on your 21st birthday, talking about how much you grew up and how proud he was of you.” She looked at Peter’s will open on the table, her and Harry had gone over it earlier. “You should head home Miles.”

“Are you gonna be okay? I can stay here.”

“Yeah, I have Felicia and May..and Harry.”

Miles nods, engulfing her in a hug. Angel smiled sadly, hugging him back, sliding an envelope from Peter’s desk into his pocket. “No questions. It’s what Pete wanted you to have. There's a note in there you should read it.” 

Miles nodded and patted his pocket, taking the keys off the desk and headed out the office doors. 

-

Grief was a funny thing, it’s a terrible gutting feeling one minute that had her laying in the bloodied bedsheets with your dead husband one minute, and sitting in the bathroom with her high school best friend laughing at memories another. Gwen had flown in from London the moment she heard, she helped get Angel out of bed and bathe her for Peter’s funeral seeing as she could barely bring herself out of the guest room.

 “He really loved you.” Angel whispered, her head resting on her knees as Gwen sat by the tub with her. Gwen tilted her head to the side laughing, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder. 

“He loved you more.” Gwen says. “I remember when we broke up and I told him if he didn’t ask you out I was going to do it for him. And I think that terrified him more.” They both laughed. “I knew he was going to marry you before he knew, before you knew even” 

“Yeah?” Angel asked, smiling at her, tears rolling from her eyes. 

“You two were made for each other. And I was lucky enough to love both of you.” Gwen whispered, taking her hand. “Let’s wash your hair, yeah?” 

“Okay.” Angel nodded leaning back in the tub.

-

Standing by his coffin was awkward; she felt like a little girl at her daddy’s funeral again. Not knowing how to stand next to the body, not liking the way the pity filled stares felt, so she focused on his body. There was a rosy tint to Pete’s cheeks, and he almost looked alive. She rubbed his cheek looking at the gifts lining his coffin, stuff people wanted to lay to rest with him. “It’s only been five days, and I’m losing my mind.” Her voice whispered to him, her hand holding his.

 “I don't know if I can do this without you.” She flattened out the white shirt under his tux and took a deep breath. 

“Let's sit dear.”

 May sniffles, holding her side reassuringly. Angel nodded, wrapping an arm around May, rubbing her shoulder. No one knew her pain like May Parker. She’d become her rock in the haze of grief. She had lost her husband and her nephew who was more her son than anything. She’d been staying at the house with Angel and everyone, she’d even climbed into bed with her most nights like a child seeking comfort from her mother. She was thankful for her and thankful Peter had brought May to her. They were the two most important women in his life and bonded like no other. 

-

“Peter Benjamin Parker was the love of my life, and he was an amazing man.” Angel spoke into the mic standing before friends, family, and acquaintances. She looked down at him in the coffin, and smiled at him, already wiping away tears. 

 “I know to many of you he was frightening, and strong. He seemed unforgiving, cold, and inhumane on occasion but he was my best friend, and my soulmate. He was a complex human and that…is what brought his life to such a short stop. I’m no good at public speaking. I'm sorry, this was always his thing. He was so charming and knew how to talk to you all, and I stood behind him every step of the way. But in the last few days, I discovered he was actually the one standing behind me every step we took together, and he also stood behind many of you and helped you all in numerous ways. I think he left a part of him in all of us, and I hope we can all be half the person he was one day..I- I’m sorry. Harry..Har-.” 

“I got you go, go.” Harry ushered Angel off the podium covering her crying frame from onlookers. She sniffled, wiping her eyes stepping off the podium into Gwen’s arms sitting back down between her and May. May kissed her head, assuring  that it was all going to be okay. Her hands comforting and cradling her face as Angel tried to quietly bawl her eyes out. She stared at the casket in front of her during Harry’s speech, slowly turning everything around her out. 

-

“Angel.” Eddie Brock smiled as she stood outside watching Peter be lowered into the ground. She smiled at him in return, letting him engulf her in a hug.

 “Oh I’m so sorry, Peter was such a good guy. Kind of scary..but..good.”

Angel laughed sadly, squeezing his shoulders. “I know he meant a lot to you Ed.” 

“He did, he really saved my ass more than once. I don’t know what I’ll do without him.” 

She tilted her head, and tried her best to smile at him. “Hopefully stay out of trouble.”

Eddie shook his head back and forth, giving a smirk that said ‘We’ll see.’

They exchanged sad goodbyes and she watched him leave heading towards his car. She was thankful that Peter’s death was kept out of the headlines, it took some begging and bribing Betty Brant but it was worth it for such an intimate and private time. 

She watched the grave diggers starting to fill in the dirt, and she contemplated staying the night on the bench. But May came, wrapping her arms around Angel, a jacket you immediately identified as Peter’s from smell alone. 

“Why don’t you come home with me tonight?” May offered, pushing hair from the girls face. 

“That’d be nice, yeah.”  Angel whispered. “How have you not lost it yet? All I want to do is crawl in that hole with him.”

“I know you do. I was there once, it’s a terribly awful feeling Angel, I know.” May frowned, holding her arm with hers as they walked together to the car. “Peter, bless him. I love him, he was my son no matter what anyone said he was my boy. But because of that I saw every side of him and Peter had been ready to go since Ben died. And I find peace in thinking that they are together again, and that he is safe and protected..and- I’m sorry” May’s voice broke and she fanned her face. “And they are here in any way we want them to be.”

There was quiet for a moment before Angel let out a soft, yet grief riddled laugh.

“I need what you have.” You laughed sadly, both of you crying now. 

May let a teary laugh burst from her chest. “We’ll go make some tea and talk about it.”

That's what they did. The two had a girls night with Gwen and spent it remembering Peter in their own way. About twenty minutes in She had wandered off into Peter’s old bedroom. Smiling as she stood in the doorway, and she knew grief was a funny thing because she could see the two of them about fifteen years younger dancing in his bedroom practicing for prom. 

“Ouch that was my foot!” She yelled out. Peter dropped to his knees dramatically, grabbing her leg inspecting her foot playfully. 

“Not broken.” He placed a kiss on the top of her foot before jumping to his feet. Watching her smile and scrunch her nose.

“I didn’t say it was.” 

‘Well I had to make sure I didn’t hurt my girl.” 

She shook her head in response, rolling her eyes. Hands rubbing his shoulders, placing his glasses on the top of his head. “Are you gonna do that at our wedding too?” She teased. 

Peter pulled a face laughing, racking his head back and forth thinking. “Maybe! But since when are we getting married? What have you and Gwendy been planning, mhm?”

Angel looked over at his desk where she’d found her engagement ring tucked away only a couple years later. 

“I couldn’t find the blue quilt but I found the gray one and everything is set up and ready when..”

They both froze looking at the green velvet box in her, now shaky, hand. 

“Shit I knew I should’ve put it in the safe. My girlfriend is so nosey.” He laughed it off taking the green box from her hand. “You just couldn’t wait a couple weeks till your birthday mhm?” He laughs, kissing on her face. Angel could feel warmth wash over her face and body, tucking her hair behind her ear. 

“I was just looking for those pictures from our trip upstate you had processed.” 

Peter smiled tugging up his gray sweatpants, dropping onto one knee. 

“Angel, my sweet girl. I have loved you for years, for far longer than I remember. Ever since we were in middle school, and I got lucky enough several years ago to have you want me. Maybe we are a little young to get engaged, but I know I want to be with you forever. I’m not asking for a wedding anytime soon, I just want to know that eventually in-”

“Yes.” You cut him off excitedly, hands cupping over your mouth. “Sorry, sorry.”

Peter scrunched his nose, standing up as he slid the ring on your finger twirling you around. 

“She said yes!” Peter yells throughout the house, the announcement bouncing off the walls and making a home in its fixtures. 

May’s excited cheer could be heard all the way up the steps. You laughed, wrapping your arms around him as he spun you. 

Walking towards the perfectly made bed, she mentally thanked May for never changing it. For keeping it the same all these years later. She took her shoes off, crawling into the bed closing her eyes waiting for sleep to wash over like a wave. For just a second she swore the other side of the bed dipped down, and in instinct made room for his tired frame to crash beside her. 

-

“A distraught man was seen walking up around the streets of Harlem this morning, the man was described as looking dirty. Wearing a green suit, and was seemingly distraught and confused, mumbling to himself.” The anchorwoman spoke, reading off her cue cards shocked by the news herself. Angel scrolled on her phone wrapped in one of May’s quilts as she made breakfast.

 “Witnesses say the man seemed distraught, and in a rush. Looking like he had climbed out of a hole, his suit askew and ran past anyone who offered help. Seemingly not wanting to be seen.” 

She switched the channel before she cared to hear the other stories, not thinking she could handle the grief of another depressing story right now. Angel wrapped the blanket around herself, walking to the kitchen to talk to May. Her phone pinging, the front camera at the house notifying her that motion had been detected. 

“I’ve gotta get to the hospital after I eat, are you gonna be okay getting home? I know it’s not that far of a wal- everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I actually should get a cap and head that way. I just got a weird notification I need to check out.”

“Okay yeah. Do you need me to go with you?” May asked.

“No, no. I, I don’t know what it is. Could be nothing or an error on my end.” Angel says, pulling herself out of the chair rushing towards the door. Quickly calling a cab she climbed into the back refreshing the ring app trying to get it to load. The dark screen freaking her out. She had called Harry, bouncing her leg in the back of the cab watching the houses fly by. 

“I was just about to call you.” Harry’s panic was evident from his voice. “Someone dug up Peter’s grave. Kicked the headstone over and everything.”

“You don’t think it was Fisk’s guys do you?”

“Could be..could be anybody. I love Pete but he had a lot of enemies.”

“I got a notification that there's motion at the front door, but it’s not loading now. It's a network error.” She spoke as the cab pulled into the neighborhood, already unbuckling her seatbelt waiting for the sudden stop. 

“Okay listen to me.” Harry says starting the car. “I’m thirty minutes away, there’s a gun hidden in a fake drawer in the table by your door. It’s loaded, and I know you know how to use it. Let’s just be prepared for the worst.”

“Yeah..” Angel nodded, rubbing her forehead wishing Peter was there to talk her through this. “Okay I’m heading in. I’ll let you know.” 

Angel handed the driver a hundred that she had on her and hung up the phone, tucking it into the pocket of the pajama pants she’d been wearing at May’s. The front door was left ajar and slightly off its hinges. She looked down seeing a track of dirt leading from the front walk away all the way into the house. 

Quietly she found the gun Harry was talking about, leaving the safety on till otherwise needed and slowly following the muddy footprints. The fridge was left ajar, food and drinks sitting on the counter. Whoever broke in was pretty hungry, having pulled out the pastrami and other gatherings for a sandwich. A soda poured into a glass and half gone. She checked Peter’s office, his file cabinets open and a couple files pulled out. As she went to open the files to see who it was research on, she heard the water upstairs turn on. Slowly and as quiet as possible she snuck up the steps, and through her bedroom. Her jewelry box was left open but nothing was taken out, everything in the closet was practically untouched except for a couple of Peter’s items thrown onto the floor. Taking a deep breath she pushed the door to the bathroom open, and nothing could prepare her for what stood on the other side of the door. 

“Angel..”

The voice nearly caused her to drop to her knees. She knew grief was a funny thing, because Peter Parker was standing before. Dirty and clearly sore, his voice strained from not using it for a couple days. Her knees fell out from under her, Peter using his reflexes to catch the gun and her all in one go. Smearing mud and blood lightly on her as he caught her. He placed the gun on the counter away from them as he slid down onto the floor with her. 

“Shh, shh I know. I know. It’s scary. It’s okay, Angel. Breathe okay. In and out.” 

She couldn’t even find her voice to scream, she reached out hitting him trying to get him away from her. A ghost from her nightmare.  The harder she hit though, the faster she realized he was real..this was all real. 

“You’re dead.” 

“I was..technically. Kind of yeah.” 

“Not technically, legally.”

Peter laughed shakily holding her, tears starting to pour out of his own eyes. His lips pressed against her forehead letting out a gasp of air. 

“Spiders..play dead when they sense danger. Meaning their bodies shut down completely out of their control, as a way to replenish and prepare to attack and prevent further damage.” She watched intently as he explained his mad man ramblings. 

“I guess when I got bit that’s something my nervous system developed the ability to do. I read about it all those years ago after I got bit. It just never happened until I took so much damage. So, yes. I was..I did die. However, the amount of my own blood that Harry and May pumped into me. Helped me heal in that shut down state.” Peter laughs hearing himself. He sounded fucking crazy. Angel reached her hand out cradling his face, gasping at his warmth. His heat radiating off his body again. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she lunged forward holding him in a hug sobbing happily. 

Harry’s feet pounded against the hardwood floor as he yelled for her. 

“Oh fuck.”

“Hey Harry.” Peter laughed awkwardly. “Long story.” 

Harry, in shock, stumbled out of the room immediately making phone calls. Letting out a scream of shock and awe.

“Angel..” Peter whispered. “I need to shower okay. You can stay with me though if you want.”

So she did, she washed his hair and body. Rubbing her fingers over the held wounds that once littered his chest now just scars in their place. So much for being superhuman.

“We’re never gonna have a normal life are we?”

Peter shook his head, kissing her head. 

“No, no we won’t. But we’ll have each other, and no matter what happens. No grave will hold me down.” He laughs holding them together, making her look up at him. “I’m coming back here, back to you everytime.”

 She shook her  head holding him close listening to the beat of his heart, finally feeling that piece she lost crawl back home into her chest.

I know that was different...I hope you guys liked it. I really wanted to bring Mob!Peter back but I'm nothing if not dramatic..so :)

tags: @helloheyhihowdyheya @sincericida @a-lumos-in-the-nox @moonyslove78 @messymissy @adhdhufflepuff @toomanyfictionalboyfriends @ateliefloresdaprimavera @eevylynn

If you'd like to be added to the taglist, please check my pinned post!

[madamemystery90]

When the Night Runs Cold- Twilight Fanfiction. Witch OC x Jacob Black Imprint. Introduction

"With Darkness comes the shadows of nightmares"

So this obviously is my first post, but a few things to be aware of are trigger warnings, mentions of violence, and possessiveness.

As the night thickens with smog, Catherine stands with heels planted like roots into the ground. A buff of air is released into the darkness as she ignites a cigar, her scarlet-tinted lips staining the cigar as she rests it between her lips, inhaling, before releasing it around her. Standing on the cliffs of Forks, she watches with darkened eyes as her crow rests on branches around a particular human. There she watched through their eyes as Bella lay heartbroken in a forest of Forks; her beloved Vampire had just broken her mind and bond as she fell with a weak cry, curling up into a tight ball; Catherine scoffed with humour and disgust as she witnessed through her crow's eyes.

"How beautifully pathetic..." she smirked with sinful intent.

Would it be perfect for flying her crows around to start digging their perfect talons so deep into her beautiful, pale, and alive skin, tearing her limb from limb until that rich scent of hers filled forks, her blood running through the soil like many before her?

That sweet, thick, fresh blood of hers, Catherine ground her teeth with impatience. She needed that blood more than ever. She knew there was a pesky little redhead flying about her, though she knew she would be of great use to her; however, they both had different intentions.

Whilst Victoria wanted her dead, Catherine needed her alive, breathing and suffering as she tortured that poor girl lying so helpless in the wet and cold forest. Her dark magic flowed deep within her chest, aching and clawing at her heart, making her hiss angrily. The cigar was no longer working on her pesky curse; she had to thank her deceitful sisters for that. Trust was a very fragile thing for Catherine; her coven betrayed her with that; she didn't choose to have these gifts... she didn't choose blood magic to flow so deep within her veins, but boy, did it feel good when her pathetic humans were drained every last drop leaving them like a husk to join her army of undead. She would've succeeded if her coven hadn't fought her every step of the way; it was a shame she didn't get to kill all of them. However, this human may just be the cure for that.

She sighed as a crow came to rest upon her arm, and she hushed its crocking beak.

"Now, now, my beautiful, not yet, you will smell them soon", she spoke as she nibbled on her bottom lip, dropping the cigar down onto the soil beneath her heels and putting out the ash. The only thing that concerned her the most now that those disgusting vampires left these lands was to make way for something even more threatening to her.

Werewolves, or more to say, the Quileute tribe of LA Push.

She ground her teeth as her cloak flowed behind her with gloom. She didn't have an issue with this tribe; however, her sisters had made very good bonds with them, sharing ways to control their inner beast unannounced to her. She never tried to control her inner hunger for magic and dark wielding, and many wolves went crazed after how short-tempered they were. She decided to watch for now as one of the tribe members picked up the helpless human, making her crow chip.

She tilted her head with curiosity as the face of this particular wolf was shadowed. How peculiar it was that her crows would usually notice the faces of many...though again, she stiffened slightly as she caught the energy of something rather large behind her, stalking with territorial rage. Ah...she had forgotten, this is exactly what she misstepped though what fun is hiding in plain sight. She smirked as she turned around, her hood covering her face as a silver-haired wolf stalked towards her, growling with two more behind it.

"How magnificent..." she spoke with a deep tone, her voice laced with light humour; the crow flew from her arm as she smiled with sickened poison. With one step, she fell backwards off the cliff into the rippling waves below her. Paul and the others trod towards the cliff's edge, huffing with confusion. The smell of her scent made their noses flare and itch. She wasn't ordinary and surely wasn't human; her scent confused them and filled them with so much death that their chests tightened.

"Fill Sam in on everything, tighten security around our territory in Forks... we have another problem, " Paul said within their mind link. They were supposed to be looking for the red-headed vampire but instead found an unsuspecting invader upon their lands.

Neither of them knew just what chaos she was about to bring to Forks, all for one particular human.

Isabella swan.

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

Hello everyone, I am Mystery! I hope this first introduction to my story was eventful as written; this piece takes place during the New Moon and Eclipse to transform the narrative of danger for Bella, help with Jacobs's toxicity towards Bella and also create a greater sense of danger with Victoria as I felt Victoria wasn't as dangerous in Eclipse as she was made out to be, though I have very exciting plans made for her "Insert evil laughter here"

I will be predominantly sticking towards the films for it to be an easier flow; however, I shall create more of a twilight universe in which there are still many weaknesses for our supervillain Catherine Blackwall.

Also, to help out with the strange imprinting situation with Renesme

Anyway! Please let me know if you'd like to be tagged for the next part, and I'll keep you informed.

Note: I can take requests, but they will be limited.

Thank you again! Mystery Signing Off.

Face Picture:

Catherine Mcquoid = Katie McGrath

Jacob Black = Taylor Lautner

[xxnashiraxx]

With Stars to Fill My Dream (7) - From Now Our Merge is Eternal

I'm releasing chapter 7 early!!!! ❤

Please have my girl in her new hard af fit, about to be traumatized next chapter. Lets goooooooo.

I'm setting up Ofelia's and Astarion's relationship, just the bones, it's so hard to write these two idiots sometimes. Forgive any grammatical errors I really tried to proofread this a billion times first. :")

Thank you guys!

Summary: A street-smart, musically inclined human girl with a tragic past gets abducted by a nautiloid after her painfully average shift at a retro singing diner. What's worse- putting your all into Olivia Newton-John and Travolta for lousy tips, or getting your guts ripped out by a gnoll? Or worse- getting turned into a hideous humanoid squid? Ofelia Montez will have to see if she can survive long enough to find out.

Pairing: Astarion x female!Tav

Warnings: 18+. Mentions of past abuse and trauma. Canon-typical violence and gore.

Word Count: 8,238

Opening below the cut!

Sparks of red and gold flash behind his eyes as Astarion sits against a tree, the breath that fills his lungs and pushes outward again makes him feel almost alive. Every scent feels more powerful- even his sight is sharper. He can see the individual feathers of a hawk circling above, looking for its next meal.

He’s chosen a view of the sunrise today, and whether it's his freshly sated appetite or something else, it looks more beautiful this morning than ever before. Granted he hadn't had the chance to see it before these last few days in as long as he can remember, but still… Ofelia’s blood has made him feel like himself again. Maybe more than he has since he’s been dead.

No flush colors his cheeks when he thinks of their union- he does regret the intimate nature of the bite, but even knowing its troublesome side effects, he’d have done it all again just the same, perhaps aside from not properly asking her first.

She’d been so willing, and that fact wasn’t lost on him. Why? He can’t fathom it. No matter how hard he pours over her every word and subtle expression, he doesn’t know why she’d said yes. Stupidity? Curiosity? Some strange notion of compassion? Pity?

He grits his teeth, though he can’t find it in himself to stay irritated. He can’t stop thinking about the taste, the warmth in his skin now, all of it. How can he secure this strange partnership between them? She isn’t like his usual marks. She’s intelligent but stupid. Kind, but petty. Soft, yet tough. She doesn’t seem to be receptive to his more flirtatious remarks, but perhaps he isn’t trying the right kind. All he’d had to do before was bat his lashes and flatter his prey, but with her it’s different. Her keen eyes search for something deeper- a connection.

The kind she looks for isn’t something he has. Mutual trust? Banish the thought. He’d sooner flee their odd little group of misfits than confess to Ofelia a genuine emotion of his. Or thought. She’d find some use for it, no doubt- keep it stowed away for her benefit someday. She’s just enough of a wildcard that if he yields a sliver of control to her, she may see the opening and go for his throat. He’s smarter than that.

Perhaps he’ll manufacture lies for her? Pretty ones? She’s young and impressionable- perhaps she’ll be swayed by them. He can feed her some truth, just enough to gain her trust, and perhaps secure future feedings and a warm bedroll. Astarion’s nothing if not a master of deception- the scores of victims trailing behind him speak for themselves. He’ll resort to the one thing he knows best- luring with his looks to keep her hooked so he can stay fed and safe while he figures out how to remove his old master from the equation.

After that’s through, he’ll be rid of her and the parasite.

He ignores the odd little twinge in the back of his mind- likely the worm. When he stands, his limbs stretch, and his muscles flex, the breeze coming off the river balmy and carrying the promise of another hot day. He’ll go find her and thank her, see if he can begin this dance he’s set out before himself.

And hide her marks from the rest of their companions…

[naviamin]

𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐎 + 𝐋𝐘𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓

𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐎 + 𝐋𝐘𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓 ★ “SINISTER”

✿ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆: graphic depictions of violence, mentions of gore/blood, vomiting, mentions of vomit, panic/anxiety attack, manipulative arlecchino, mentions of betrayal, upset lynette, no mentions of lyney and freminet, lore accurate arlecchino, implied mentions of pedophilia (not directed at lynette), slight implications of misogyny/weak woman.

✿ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: hihi! my first ACTUAL writing based post on here, hope you enjoy TvT. But before we begin, I wanna say something this is not a ship one shot AND this is not in the genshin impact verse! also ty to @theshinazugawaslut for helping me edit this 🤍 go check out their works and show them support! that’s all for now, i hope u all enjoy <3

Lynette is still. So still. She stands and watches her father—no, a monster— take the life of a man. It's a selfish act in and out of itself. To kill someone.

Lynette is aware that the man is not the greatest of men; he is a man who worked hand in hand with evil. The man is a coward. The lowest of the lowest. He is happiest when hurting people, innocents; especially young women. Woman like Lynette. Women of small stature, women with nimble fingers, women with thin legs—women that could fit perfectly in the palm of his hand; the size of a snack, something to eat. Something to rip apart with teeth so sharp that-

Girls like Lynette are entertainment to him. Pretty little things to suck the blood right out off when there was no water. Just so he could watch them cower, watch them shrivel up beneath his feet.

But...

Lynette never knew someone could go grey, never knew what it meant to become a corpse, never knew what grey meant until today.

She watches the man writhe and scream in pain that went beyond simple agony.

The torture just went on and on. Endless.

At some point, beyond this grey expanse of time, the man begged to be released.

Arlecchino seemingly got upset with this simple request, and so she snatched his eyeball right out of his eyesocket. She even made a show to crush it between her black fingers, all until the eye was split into two parts of mush.

Lynette watches as the man held the empty space that once held his eye, letting out a shriek so loud—it sounded inhumane, the sort of sound a dog would make; like a dog being ran over. Lynette swore she had heard a crash of some sort. The man is hurting and... and all Lynette could do was just stand there.

She couldn't focus, she didn’t know what to focus on. The crimson blood staining her father’s once pristine white shirt? The thick, foggy haze of scarlet, like misted blood spray? All the different shades of red she could count from just one man?

The sight is grim, gory, and absolutely wretched, and seeing her saviour, the woman she calls—called—her father standing above it, was just... despicable.

Though at the time, she would've just said stammered and told you she was scared.

And the sounds she is making... Eerie.

Eerie in the way that Lynette could not put a finger on it, just wrong.

They sounded wrong—the sadistic glint in cruel eyes as Arlecchino’s actions ooze from her monstrous noises.

Like an animal.

She growls as she rips the flesh of every last bit of her prey. Greedy, like a lone wolf; she enjoys every piece of meat that she rips of the bruised bone, malice hot against her teeth.

This was all so wrong—a woman, a woman?

No...this was different.

The sounds were so terrible—they were so wrong—like a clock going the wrong way, maybe a fork scratching across a glass plate.

Each sigh, each grunt, each god-awful noise that came out her lips was nothing but a sound of murder amongst blood-curdling screams.

Arlecchino is malevolence herself.

A great, natural evil.

A natural disaster—like a the fiery depths of a volcano or the deafening sound of a merciless tsunami.

She is a great sinister.

A true embodiment of the word villan.

To be the antagonist. To be the bad guy—anything disastrous, anything twisted, anything utterly sick and inhumane—Arlecchino simply is.

She is vile, so vile, and so sickly that she began to smell putrid... the acid in Lynette’s stomach starts to churn—thicken—like a witch brewing a nasty spell in her cauldron.

Her stomach begins to growl, almost scratching against her inner skin. How awful. It's an odd feeling that Lynette hasn’t had for quite a while.

She last had this feeling when... when... oh... She was gonna be sick.

Lynette felt herself go green, acidic, felt her skin grow sick from the sight.

She knew she is a colour that no human should ever be. She grew more ill as she hears the snap of a vein. It's disgusting. She had to look away then. She hears it again—a loud snap, then a bang—and when she looks at the horror in front of her, she couldn’t quite comprehend what the man had lost this time.

Was it a limb?

Or perhaps... oh.

Oh.

No... no... no... it couldn’t be... no... this wasn’t her father. This wasn’t her father. This wasn’t her father. This wasn’t her father.

(And at this moment everything made sense. This isn’t Lynette’s father).

All those emotions, all that fear, that rage forcefully ripped its way out of Lynette, ejecting out foul somethings and bile from her mouth.

Lynette fell to her knees, looking at the gooey puddle of her own vomit below her. Rotten.

Sweat clung to her forehead as she groans. Her throat felt as if it had been shredded apart. Left panting on the floor, she listens to sounds of screaming. The screaming now sounding a little distant; far, far away. Perhaps that was better. A cold distance. A nice, cold distance.

(A nice, cold distance. A distance like the shadows beneath you. Nice. Unreachable. Black. Even though it wouldn’t last long, Lynette enjoyed the moment, the pool of sick below her entwined in such a horrible memory.)

Then it started all over again. Lynette gasped for breath as she felt her sweat become solid against her forehead. The sounds of skin clashing, scratching becoming sickening.

The distance closed in. Gone.

What a sad existence... Lynette thinks. Her father, brutally torturing someone a few feet in front of her while she cowers and shakes in front of her own... self... her vomit. Doesn’t her father know how much Lynette hates to vomit? Has she forgot? No... but Arlecchino would never forget. She promised... she had promised! Why must Lynette hang her head over her own... why must life be unfair?

Why is life so unfair...? Is the world shaped—made—to make woman feel inferior? Why did that man come near Lynette; near other young, sweet, innocent girls. Why must this happen? Why...?

Lynette’s head is a even bigger mess than that of the man before her, though perhaps such a thought is cruel.

Her vision even worse than the eyeless man. Black, splotchy dots fill her vision. Focusing then not. An array of bright colours controll her sight; grey and then becoming a kaleidoscopic rainbow. Like those sweets Lynette used to eat as she layed upon... nevermind.

Lynette’s arms go weak. They snap. The floor comes to her first, crashing mercilessly into her face. Her sick bubbles against her cheek, in front of her lips as she breathes against it. And the smell.. oh. A nauseating stench that burnt her nostrils.

Oh, she really hates vomit. She really does. It’s so... smelly and has bits in it. Oh, she doesn’t wanna be sick again. And that man won’t stop screaming... why won’t he stop yelling..?!

Lyentte has to speak. To tell her father... Arlecchino... that sinister to stop. To make it stop. Like she did all those years ago. Maybe she’ll cradle her, and sing songs to her. Oh, those beautiful memories. They aren’t distant... maybe Lynette can still reach them, if she reaches far enough...

Lynette’s brusied lips tear apart as she tries to scream. Her lips won’t divide, won't open.

They... they’re stuck! Her teeth chatter with cold fear as she tries to speak. The only sound she manages to make is a small cry, that even Lynette herself almost couldn’t hear. A swarm of wasps collects at the back of her throat. Buzzing. Loudly. Lynette despises wasps. Her throat full of ants, roaches, bees. Biting and stinging. Rendering her useless. Rendering her useless.

With each choke, with each failed whisper the anxiety rides up her spine like electricity.

Each breath, each sigh felt like a shock straight to her brain. The vomit acting like the water to the electricity riding through her body. Though riding was a soft word, perhaps obliterating was better.

(Opposites attract, her ass; they don’t, she knows that now. Arlecchino hasn’t even noticed her. How foolish was Lynette to believe a woman with eyes made of tar, deep, red crosses engraved in her eyes to show her sins, lips that stretched into such a large smile—how did Lynette think a woman with features like that could ever be trusted?)

“What is this...?”

It is like Lynette’s brain spoke for her. Because she doesn’t quite know how her vocal cords suddenly came to life after surrendering a long time ago.

For the first time in a while, a silence resounds in the dark room. But it isn’t a nice one. This silence speaks of untold horrors, of terrible outcomes, and of Arlecchino. The silence stretches out uncomfortably long.

Lynette feels herself cringe, her arms tingling, going lax. She takes a long, deep breath, coughing when she feels some of her vomit splatter against her. She breathes again, she forces herself to.

She doesn’t like this silence. Even if it can be broken by her shaky breathing, it is better than standing between reality and Arlecchino.

Lynette stops breathing loudly when she hears the shuffle of clothes. A loud clack resounds in the room; ear-piercing.

Arlecchino’s footsteps sound thunderous as she begins to approach Lynette. Like, she grew extra legs. What was just the clacking of heels against a marble floor, felt like an avalanche of feet. A stampede of frightened animals, running away. Lynette is the the only one left, laying on the ground as the others run in fright. She is left to face the ultimate predator by herself.

Arlecchino’s voice is gentle when she speaks but to Lynette, it feels more like a shriek. “Lynette...?”

Lynette doesn’t know why, but she sighs. Sighs so loudly, it clears her vision. She sighs again, feeling this awful feeling leave her body.

An abrupt sob rips through her throat. Unexpected tears roll down her eyes, mingling with vomit-stained floors.

Her sobs turn loud, booming.

Lynette begins to scratch against the floor, against her vomit. She feels the filth sink in between her thin fingers, beneath her once clean nails. Her cries turn so loud that the whimpering of the abused man turns inaudible. Her throat tears with each scream, but she still cries. She cries to her hearts content. Her whole body, her whole soul cries and screams with her. She screams like a toddler, she screams like a baby. She bangs her fists against her floor, watching her sick fly everywhere. But she doesn’t care, because, for once, crying feels relaxing.

Her cries speak for her, telling the story of her irritation, her agony, her betrayal. Lynette has no idea if Arlecchino is even listening, but the silence in the room is only filled with her despair. (So, Arlecchino must be...)

Lynette writhes in her own sort of pain. And she does that for what feels like centuries, but only a couple seconds actually pass. She brings herself to her knees, away from her sick. A few minutes ago, she would have loved that. But, not anymore.

“Why must you—why did you...” Lynette rasps, she breathes hard as she hangs her head back. Her chest heaves painfully as she gasps greedily for air. “Why did you hurt that man under my name?”

Lynette doesn’t even recognise her own voice. She sounds... different? Like... someone she knows.

“Because...” Arlecchino finally responds. And Lynette hopes she doesn’t finish, because she knows what exactly Arlecchino will say.

Don’t say it. Don’t say it.

Nononononono... don’t say it.

Please please please... no... no... don’t say what you’re going to say.

“You’re my daughter.”

Lynette can practically hear the evil grin that Arlecchino wears on her face. She can picture that unforgiving smile—lips stretched into a wide grin, too large for a human face. The blood prior from the mans torture running down her face, her skin... the skin that Lynette used to kiss and poke...

When did times change?

When was Arlecchino ever so malicious? Lynette doesn’t remember. All she remembers are the hugs, the kisses, the word of affirmation. Those kind words that dripped with the sweetest honey, the kind of words that felt like walking through a field of pretty flowers. Every day with Arlecchino felt like receiving a bouquet of stunning red roses. Since when did the moment of now spent with Arlecchino feel so... sad? Were they always this lonely?

Lynette recalls any memory of good, but at this moment, she can’t. She just can’t. All she could do is cry. And she did. She cried for God knows how long.

She cried until she felt Arlecchino’s cold hands hovering above her head. Arlecchino’s hands, despite dripping with thick blood and other unknown substances, were soft and gentle when pulling Lynette’s head down.

Lynette lazily looked at her father... or whatever... before her. She didn’t know what to say or do, so she blinked.

The expression on Arlecchino’s face was unreadable. No one knows what she will say, what she will do. So, Lynette sat still, let her head rest against Arlecchino’s hand as she waited for the surprise.

Arlecchino smiled. It didn’t reach her eyes. It was fake. Maybe real. Who knows? But, it was probably fake. Knowing her.

Arlecchino took a deep sigh, and then her smile grew larger. She exhales roughly, and then bought her other hand to rest against the other side of Lynette’s face. Then she spoke. What it meant Lynette did not know, but she hopes it isn’t as bad as it sounds.

“You’re next.”

© 2023, NAVIAMIN

[amaryllisenvy]

The Ties That Bind

Part One Billy the Kid x OC

Hello, Dear reader.

I've been out of the fanfic game for some time, but tom blyth has me in a chokehold. His performance as billy the kid has become my muse. Hopefully this fanfic is as cathartic to you all as it is to me. I did not proofread this yet, so errors will be present.

WARNINGS: SA, blood, violence, guns, smut, and so much more. I will try to put warnings, but please read at your own discretion. MDNI!

Part 1: November 1st, 1876

Smoke billows in clouds around the candlelit room. It was grating. The smell of cigars made the girl in the darkest blue dress, the color of the deepest trenches in the seas, grimace. The stench of male sweat mixed with spirits sticking to the floor. It was loud. Much too loud for Amaryllis’ liking. And the man who sat beside her at the table was much too close for her liking. 

“As I was saying,” The man wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into him. She felt his cracked lips graze her ear, could smell the stench of alcohol, and she tensed imperceptibly. “Me and you cut our losses and go somewhere more private an’ have some fun.”

Her sugary sweet smile was enough to make scholars believe she was genuine. “As handsome as that offer sounds, I do believe I have yet to lose anything. If you can’t tell by the smile on my pretty painted lips, I am having fun.”

She extracted herself from his grip but held onto his forearm with feigned womanly affection. His eyes darted down and he noticeably sat up straighter with more confidence. The sickening smirk on his face told her all she needed to know about this man.

“You must be a silly bitch. I wasn’t askin’.” He stood up and swayed drunkenly before he grabbed her small frame and forced her out of her seat. Facing away from him, she could see the other men at the table openly laughing at their buddy’s antics. The man’s grip on her was bruising and the wind was knocked out of her as he shoved her through the saloon door.

The crisp air felt relieving as she filled her lungs greedily with it, finally not feeling smoke fill them instead. Her eyes shot to the sky and she saw the moon peaking from behind the clouds. Were they moving, or was her head just spinning?

“Stables.” The man grunted and gave her an albeit lighter shove but still a shove nonetheless.

She rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth before turning toward the portly gentleman whose face was set in a snarl. She only needed a second to study him before determining that she would need to be more insistent. 

“While I would love to indulge a fine man such as yourself, I am already taken, sir.” She pulled the fingertips of her gloves, revealing her wedding band. “I am afraid you will need to take your interests elsewhere. God’s plan was for me to be married and loyal to my husband, and that is what I shall be.”

“Enough with the talking. Your husband don’t need to know about nothin’.” He grabbed her by the elbow and began pulling her over to the stables.

“Sir, I’m afraid I must insist. You deserve a fine woman who is not already taken.” 

“I ain’t looking for nothing but a piece of tail. Now get inside.” He gave her another cruel shove. 

Straightening herself from nearly falling onto the floor. She faced away from him and heard him clamoring with the door to the stables. She rolled her eyes, and then her neck. 

“Sir, I’m asking you one final time.”

“Shut your goddamn mouth and spread your legs.” He shoved her against a stall, the black filly inside whinnying in alarm.

Her body released all of the tension and went slack in his hold, giving up fighting.

He fumbled with the clasps of his breeches and she heard him pull his pants down. His rough hands lifted her dress and she heard the distinct rip of the expensive fabric. Motherfucker. Amaryllis pouted at the work she would need to put in to mend it. At least he made it easy for her.

In one movement, too quick for the drunken man to notice, Amaryllis grabbed the hilt of her dagger easily now that he had exposed her lower body. There were no gowns to get caught in.

With the force of the great steel beasts that ride the railroad, she jammed the dagger into the man's inner thigh. The yowl he let out sounded like an injured barn cat, not a man. She ripped from his thigh up into his groin. She felt her dagger slice through his skin easily. Her companion fell to the floor, clutching his leg that was spouting out blood. It was his back that was pressed to the wall of the stables now. 

His screams of agony rang out through the silent town she watched him writhe before she bent to his eye level. She took her blade and wiped the blood off of it on his shirt before smiling at him.

“You won’t stop bleeding. I severed your femoral artery. You don’t come back from that unless you are really lucky.” Amaryllis groaned as she stood and slid her dagger into its sheath at her thigh. Her other hand rubbed her lower back at the soreness she felt there. She was way too young to have back problems.

She pouted at the man. “However, if we take your performance at the table tonight as a reference, I wouldn’t say you have much luck at all.”

Amaryllis straightened her skirts and reached for a nearby rag that she dipped into the horses' water bucket. She made quick work of rubbing the little blood she had gotten on herself off. She swayed her way back to the saloon to earn back the money she just lost because of that douchebag.

___

November 8th, 1876

Her ears rang from the firing of a gun. She hated guns, and always preferred knives. However, she understood their practical purposes. 

Amaryllis remembered her father’s old saying keenly. “If you hear a gunshot, that means you are still alive. Dead men can’t hear the shots that kill them.” 

She was alive.

She was alive.

Perhaps she wished she wasn’t when the agony set in. She looked at the boy next to her who held his gun with his mouth open in shock. He began shouting something. She stared into his eyes in the silence in her head that only followed an act so devastating that the world stopped.

Something warm bubbled in her mouth and dripped down her dress. Yllis looked down at herself just as the first drop of blood stained the pure white of her gown. She remembered how stark it looked. All of the darkest red staining what was once pure white. Just as the contrast between the two was beautiful, she recalled the bluest eyes she had ever seen on a boy with black hair. 

His eyes were the only thing she remembered as she became lightheaded. She felt faint and sunk onto her knees. She watched as his mouth moved, but she couldn’t hear a word he said as the excruciating pain started again. When the corners of her vision faded, it was a relief when she fainted.

_____

The sky was a cloudy shade of gray and the wind that whipped through Amaryllis’ hair had a chilling bite to it. She suspected she had another thirty minutes before she would be soaked through in 8.89oC(48oF) weather. She rushed into the saloon with her shawl wrapped tight around her. 

For once, maybe she could appreciate the stuffy bar for the warmth it brought to her bones. She was a fan of cold weather and she hated to be hot, but this might have been a little much. She quickly found the same seat that she had been occupying during her time in town. 

She was up almost five times what she had put in. She studied the men across from her as they tried so hard to hide their expressions. She just always went with her gut and she was right most of the time.

“Want one?” The elderly lady across from her offered her a cigarette from her clutch. 

Amaryllis gave her a genuine smile at the sweet gesture. “You’re so kind. I will have to pass. I’m afraid I have what doctors call a breathing sickness. Any smoke tends to make it worse.”

The old woman’s eyes widened and she stopped just before she lit her smoke. 

Amaryllis laughed at her expression, “You’re alright! I would hardly be in a smoke-filled watering hole if it bothered me too much.”

The two women who were on opposite ends of the spectrum shared a moment. They simply smiled and acknowledged one another as a kind human being. So young and so old, both had the commonality that strangers have. With a final smile, another round began.

She bit her lip and looked at the men across from her. She studied their reactions to their hands, laughing internally at how obvious it seemed. 

After quickly wiping the floor with the boys, she won another round. The next was just about to start, but she paused.

“Excuse me?” She whispered to the older woman. “I need to sit this round out and use the washroom. Can you point me in that direction?”

Just as she thought, the old lady instantly offered the answer. After checking with the dealer, she made sure she could safely leave her bag in her spot. 

She had been drinking as much water as she could to keep her health up. She couldn’t afford to get ill. However, this meant needing to pee so often that it was a nuisance at times. 

She washed her hands as best she could with the clean water she had. When she gazed at her reflection, her stomach twisted into a nervous knot. 

Amaryllis made it a point to examine the anxieties she felt at any given time. Once she found the source, she was often better equipped to find a solution. That’s why this one confused her. There wasn’t any reason to be anxiety-ridden at the moment. She shook it off and soon made her way back to her seat.

Having already set aside savings for her trek home, she found herself wanting to revel in the rush of betting and the uncertainty of whether she would win or lose. Gambling is something she had gotten from her father. However, she was able to tightly keep herself on a lead. She only ever bet money that she could live without.

As she approached the now entirely filled table, she was relieved to find her things exactly as she left them. She didn’t carry her money in her clutch, so anything stolen wouldn’t be too dearly missed. Plus, the house had all of the money she brought with her on the table already. 

As she went to pull out her chair, she was startled and looked wide-eyed at the boy who did it for her.

“Good evening, ma’am.” The young boy took off his hat and bowed slightly to her. 

A little surprised, she smiled at him. “You’re quite the gentleman. Thank you, sir.”

“Come on! Deal.” The gruff voice of the older man who now sat in the elderly lady’s spot moments ago spat out.

Before sitting, Yllis gave him a cold glare. “Place your bets.”

Yllis quickly took in the men at the table. “Mary? I think I am done playing tonight. I do want to watch these fine gentlemen play, though.”

The dealer gave her a warm smile and slid her back her cash. The glare she received from the man made her uneasy as he hungrily leered at her winnings. She could see him gritting his teeth. 

“Esta loco, ignóralo.” She smiled at the two boys and their conversation.

She knew only a few Spanish words from her time spent traveling across America with her makeshift family. When she left on her own two years ago, she didn’t think she would survive the world without them around her. But then she trained until she was sure of herself.

“Would you like to trade me seats?” Amaryllis looked between the two young men. “I don’t want to be in the way.”

Sandwiched between them, they shook their heads and declined with polite stranger smiles. Amaryllis watched the game intently.

Finding herself grinning when the younger boys won and the rude man lost, she watched as he got progressively more red and tense. To her disappointment, he calmed down after winning the next round.

Yllis loved to push people to the edge when they were being unreasonable. She loved the power of watching them fall apart so easily, particularly men. She furrowed her brows and placed a hand on her stomach at the roiling feeling she had. Her mouth started to water and she felt sick.

“Win. Win. Lose.”

Her ears started to ring and she felt time slow as she thought of what the hell could be making her feel this way. She looked up in her confusion to reach for her water, but she looked up far enough to watch the old man’s hand slam over Mary’s.

“I don’t lose.”

She knew that look on a man’s face. The old man wasn’t looking at her. Instead, she watched as his arm shifted nearer to his waist where she knew a gun would be. She looked to the boy to her left, the one with good manners and the bluest eyes she had ever seen. When she looked to the right, she knew. 

Amaryllis knew what the feeling was. The man’s mouth was spewing spit as he shouted at the top of his lungs in his anger. She didn’t register the words he spoke, only the way he looked at the Mexican boy beside her. When she looked at the boy, she saw him laughing down at his deck, not even registering the racist gaze of the psychopath across from him. 

The sound of her inhale was all she heard before she was standing. The boy finally looked up at her and furrowed his brows when he undoubtedly saw the color gone from her face. 

Her father always called her reckless, but she underestimated her opposition for the first time in years. Amaryllis had all of the knowledge she had gathered on her short time on Earth with her mother’s books laid out in front of her. She searched for a way out, but she had already moved.

She underestimated her opposition because she didn’t think he would shoot. That was why she stood in front of the dark-skinned boy.

“Sir, I think you’ve had enough. You need to calm-.”

The shot reverberated through her ears as the last words she thought she would ever speak left her lips. 

Bang.

[pure-garbage]

Friends, Mentors And Angry Mobs! Memory Of The Grey Clover

Chapter Warnings: Violence, Sexual Themes

Lana's hunt for her missing friend had never been an organized effort, but the chaos into which her day descended after the citizens of Water 7 recognized her was outrageous.

"Don't these people ever let up?!" she huffed to herself, darting down another dark alley as the mob pursued her, just a corner away from catching up to her. "We didn't even do anything wrong, damn it!"

'Well, that I know of, anyway,' she admitted internally. 'This is bad! No way I can go back to the hotel now! These people are out for blood and I can't lead them back to the others! I'm wanted, Luffy's wanted, and Zoro's wanted... the others don't have bounties or posters, so there's a good chance they're not being chased like this! I have to lose this mob and then-'

"Hey, Lana!"

"Huh?!"

Luffy's voice interrupted her thoughts. Her head spun as she whipped around trying to find where it was coming from.

"Luffy, she's being chased too! They're about to reach the corner, do something quick!" Nami yelled. The sound of her voice was faint and Lana almost didn't hear her over the clamoring of the crowd just a street away.

"Got it! Gum-gum..."

Her friend's voices had come from above. Lana looked up, dread curling in her gut as her captain's hand stretched down from the rooftop, quick as a whip.

"Oh crap!"

Rubbery fingers seized her arm and in the next split-second, she was flying. She didn't even have time to scream as she rocketed through the air, bungeed up a good fifteen feet higher than the rooftop where Luffy, Nami, Zoro and Chopper crouched in hiding.

'I can see everything from up here... wow, that mob sure is angry...' she thought, the observation bordering on nonchalant due to her shock at her sudden ascension.

The crowd surged around the corner into the alley where Lana had just been standing. If any of them had thought to look up, they would have seen Lana reach the pinnacle of her arc through the air, suspended for a fraction of a second as her momentum slowed and took a second to reverse. To the lockbreaker, the instant stretched out into an eternity. She only had one indication that she hadn't spent hours floating mid-air, which was that she didn't have time enough to catch a breath and cry out before falling to the roof. Luffy released Lana and let her plummet unhindered. She landed face-down, haunted by the sensation that she'd left her stomach back up in the sky over Water 7.

"Luffy! You couldn't have been gentle?!" Nami raged while Lana rolled over with a pained groan. "Us girls are delicate! You have to handle us with more care!"

"Ow! If you're so delicate how come you hit so hard?!" Luffy demanded, rubbing his shoulder with a pout as Nami continued to seethe.

"She doesn't break easily. She's fine. Right, Lana?" Zoro put in.

"Fine might be a bit of an overstatement, but I'll live," Lana grumbled. "I guess I should thank you for saving me from the mob. But Chopper, where's Sanji? I thought he was with you."

'Please don't tell me Chopper lost another crewmate!' Lana thought with alarm. 'I know he's young, but if my friends keep disappearing on his watch...'

"I was just about to fill Luffy, Zoro and Nami in on what happened," Chopper informed her. "You couldn't have run by at a better time."

"What can I say, that's just my incredible luck for you," Lana said with dry ire as she settled down at Zoro's side. "So? Now that we're all together, what'd we miss?"

"Sanji and I... we found Robin."

Late The Same Night

The straw hats faced down the mysterious forces working to frame them in Iceburg's bedroom. Lana only had eyes for Robin, barely recognizable in a cloak so oversized it seemed like the garment had swallowed the archaeologist whole.

Despite what Robin had said, Lana refused to believe her friend had turned against their crew. When she met Robin's eyes, all she could think of was the time they'd spent traveling together as friends. The late nights they'd shared with Nami while they did each others' hair and nails, chatting about whatever wacky events had transpired that week. Board games that Robin usually decimated her at, even though the older woman always had one eye on a book. Theories and teasing, bright, happy, carefree moments stolen on the high seas. Advice that Lana couldn't have gotten from any of her other crewmates, solutions to practical womanly problems that Nami was too young to offer her any helpful council on.

"I couldn't help but notice things heating up between you and your swordsman," Robin told her one night, weeks ago.

Lana blushed, a hand creeping up sheepishly to cover the marks at the base of her neck. They were just setting sail after waiting at port for two days for the log pose to set. She and Zoro had spent the entirety of that time hidden away in a little world of their own. Though the entire crew must have known what they were doing with the days they stole, Robin was the first and only one to comment on it.

"Just a little," Lana mumbled.

"Come on, I can tell you had a lot of fun," Robin teased. "You don't want to talk about it at all?"

"Well..."

"It's fine if you don't," Robin chuckled. "But... I have something for you. A gift, of sorts. Consider it a... coming of age present."

Robin handed her a small, latched wooden box with a floral design engraved into the top.

"Coming of age present?" Lana repeated, smiling a little despite herself.

"Well, this gift is very practical. Look inside. Go ahead."

"Tea leaves?" Lana puzzled.

"It's a bitter draught, but I have a feeling you'll find it useful going forward," Robin smiled. "Sex is fun, after all, but... there are consequences to consider if you're not careful."

"Conse- Oh... oh!" Lana realized, eyes widening with alarm. Pregnancy wasn't a possibility she'd even considered, but with a start, she realized it was something that should have been on her mind. Panic filled her, alternate life paths flashing before her eyes like wildfire as she wondered if she'd made a terrible mistake.

"If that's what the two of you want, then by all means, but just in case," Robin went on. "This is a grey clover infusion. A fair warning, you'll feel sick the first few times you drink it, but if you make it routine, you'll build a tolerance. "

"Grey clover... Poison?"

"The dosage is very low. Brewed correctly, it won't seriously hurt you."

"So this is for..."

"That's right. It's especially important the morning after. I used to drink it weekly just to keep my tolerance high enough to avoid getting sick, but I was also engaged in something so... irregular. That's a story for another time."

"Robin, I... thank you," Lana managed. Her stomach started churning with dread while she considered the consequences of her newly sexual relationship with Zoro. It settled now, nervousness dissipating as she clutched the box like it carried her entire future softly tucked into its velvet interior.

"Don't mention it," Robin smiled, warmth radiating from her in a comforting aura that soothed Lana's brief, sudden panic. "Want to come to the kitchen with me? I'll show you how to brew it."

"Okay."

Lana blinked and the memory fled, but its impact remained. She didn't know who these people are or what they wanted, but she refused to believe Robin was with them of her own free will. Something else was going on here. Something sinister they had yet to uncover.

_____________________________________________

<== Previous Chapter

Next Chapter ==>

== First Chapter ==

[lesbrarycollection]

1959: Women in the Shadows by Ann Bannon

🔴 TRIGGER WARNING: Reviewers on Goodreads say astutely that though "it's well written with excellent character work..." it is still a "rough fucking ride. This book deals with alcoholism, interracial relationships, domestic violence in lesbian relationships, corrective rape, marriage between a gay man and a lesbian, and two dogs get murdered (we even get the grisly details of what happened to one of them). I found it impossible to put down, but I can't say I enjoyed it. Read it if you're a completionist going for the whole Beebo Brinker series. If you just want to read a lesbian pulp for the first time, pick up Odd Girl Out instead". "This book in particular includes some god-awful gratuitous trauma that completely ruined some of [the reviewer's] favorite characters... props to Bannon for dealing with some of the darker issues in our community in those days, but it really seemed like she was going for blood with this one." 🔴

- Title: "Women in the Shadows"

- Author(s) / Editor(s): Ann Bannon

-Year 1st Published: 1959

- Year of Reprint My Copy Is (if applicable): Y, 1983

- Publisher: Naiad Press

- Page Numbers: 176

- # in series: 3

- Genre(s): Fiction, Pulp, Classic, Romance

- Is It An Ex-library Copy (and from where?): N

- Author's signature (if applicable): N

- Have I Read It?: N

- Is It On Loan (and to which friend?): N

- Average Goodreads Rating, out of 5 Stars (as of 9/10/2023): 3.35

- Amount of Goodreads Ratings (as of 9/10/2023): 458 ratings

- Amount of Goodreads Reviews (as of 8/10/2023): 51 reviews

- Summary: "Designated the 'Queen of Lesbian Pulp' for her landmark novels beginning in 1957, Ann Bannon’s work defined lesbian fiction for the pre-Stonewall generation. Following the release of Cleis Press’s new editions of Beebo Brinker and Odd Girl Out, Women in the Shadows picks up with Beebo’s relationship with Laura waning, as both women become caught in the cultural tumult (gay bar raids, heavy drinking, gay rights advocacy) that anticipates by ten years the Stonewall Rebellion of 1969. New introduction explains the book’s evolution, including the role Bannon’s divorce played in shaping the lesbian protagonist’s outrage."

[starwalker42]

febuwhump day 28: "you're safe now"

sequel to days 7 & 19 | tw: aftermath of torture, overdose, graphic injury | general audiences

It takes 24 hours to get a full list of possible suspects: anyone in the nearby area who matches Mulder’s rough description, who’s been in prison recently for violence against women or girls. The list is only 13 names long, but that’s still more than the local police can track down and interview in one day, and they’re running out of time.

Scully hasn’t had a vision since the one during the briefing, and she tries not to think about what that means.

It’s 8pm. The police force aren’t willing to send out officers until the morning, even though they have a list of addresses, even though Mulder might be dying, or dead – don’t think about that – and she’s rereading the names again, unable to do much else, when she realises she recognises one of them. It takes her ten minutes of scouring through the casefile before she finds it: one of the first witness interviews, for the first abducted man, before he was found dead, before the FBI got involved.

The man – Marshall Dunn, aged 35, released from prison 5 months ago after serving 2 years for aggravated assault - wasn’t a suspect, hadn’t even been called down to the station. But he’d worked in the same auto repair shop as the first victim. That’s a link.

It’s a hunch. A Mulder-sized one. But it sure beats waiting for another ten hours.

xXx

Less than an hour later, and Skinner’s pulled some strings to get her backup. Ten minutes later, they’re on the road, a ragtag convoy of her sedan and two FBI SUVs, and that’s when she gets another vision.

Mulder isn’t in it.

Instead she watches as the man washes his hands in the sink – his hands, stained red with blood – and pointedly looks up, into the mirror. She looks right into the eyes of Marshall Dunn, and feels her blood run cold as he speaks.

“Come find me. My work’s all done now, anyway.”

The vision fades away, and she pulls off the road, heart pounding so hard that for a moment she worries she’s going to pass out. It takes a minute to even her breathing, and when she raises her head she sees Skinner leaning out the back of one of the SUVs, looking over at her with concern painted across his face. She nods to him, once. Jaw clenched, she forces back tears.

Okay, you bastard. I’m on my way.

xXx

Marshall Dunn is upstairs, in the back bedroom, with an empty bottle of vodka and a pill container that once held prescription methadone. He’s still breathing, shallowly – by the time Scully gets to him, he’s already been put in the recovery position and an ambulance is on its way.

Even though she’s the doctor, and probably has some legal obligation to stay and help, she leaves the room without a word. The house isn’t very big, and it doesn’t take her long to sweep through the few rooms. There’s a bathroom – the bathroom, she recognises the mirror, and the sink is still stained with blood – a kitchen, a front room, but there’s nothing, no sign of Mulder’s presence. She checks the garage last, but even that reveals nothing – there’s no blood, no sign of a struggle, no weapon. It’s not the same room she saw in the visions.

The thought she’s not dared to think creeps into her mind: What if Mulder was never in the house at all?

Then she hears it; a human grunt of pain.

Her heart stops for a moment, relief and shock stopping all higher brain function, before she runs over the corner of the room. There, half-hidden under a tarp, is a trapdoor. It’s locked with a brand new heavy-duty padlock, the implications of which aren’t lost on her.

“Mulder?”

His voice – pained, shaky, but definitely Mulder – replies. “Scully.”

“I’m going to get you out of there.”

No time to find a key. She’ll have to shoot the lock off. It’ll destroy evidence – really, she should wait until someone can photograph it – but right now she doesn’t want to waste any more time. She fumbles with her gun, heart pounding in an echo of the two-beat in her head: Mul-der, Mul-der, Mul-der.

“Mulder, keep talking to me.”

There’s a sound from the other side of the door, one she can’t make out.

“Mulder?”

“Cold,” he whispers.

“I’m coming down there.” She forces her hands steady and takes aim at the lock. “Cover your head.”

The sound of the gun echoes through the garage, and she distantly hears shouts of surprise from upstairs. She should have warned them. Never mind. The trapdoor, now without the padlock, is easy enough to lift. She shines her flashlight into the hole and sees nothing but the floor.

“Mulder?”

No reply. She holsters her gun and drops down.

There’s a crunch as she hits the ground at an angle, her foot twisting awkwardly under her weight, but she grits her teeth through the pain. Raising her flashlight again, she realises that this is it, the place in the visions – the same cold dirt floor, the same breezeblock walls. She turns, orientating herself, and there’s Mulder, hunched in one of the corners, trembling. God.

She limps over to him and crouches by his side, assessing the situation. His shirt is in tatters, torn and cut away from his body, and his chest is covered in bruises and wounds. There are three long, deep cuts across his chest, one of which she recognises as the one she watched him receive. Scully knows they’re infected, too; one in particular is inflamed and still weeping fluid.

Mulder’s hands are pressed into the left side of his stomach, shaking worse than the rest of him; she wraps her fingers around one wrist, and eases it away from his body. Underneath is a mess of blood and torn fabric – he’s tried to stop the bleeding, probably too far gone to realise it wouldn’t help – but she can tell it’s bad. A penetrating abdominal wound, probably with a dirty blade.

Lying her coat on the ground, she eases him down until he’s on his back. He whimpers, eyes opening, and she leans over into his line of sight.  

“Hey, it’s me. You’re going to be okay.”

There are tears in his eyes. She’s not sure if they’re from pain or fear or both; either way, she swipes them away with her thumb, trying to soothe.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Under her hands, she feels his pulse start to calm as his body stops shaking. There’s movement above; she hears Skinner’s voice, shouting for someone to bring the paramedics, but she doesn’t take her eyes off Mulder’s. There’s an emotion in his gaze that she can’t quite label, but it brings a lump to her throat that she swallows down.

“I’ve got you,” she murmurs again, as his eyes start to close. “You’re safe now.”  

@today-in-fic

[winniethewife]

You Can’t Always Save Everybody.

(Miguel O’hara x Spidersona!Scarlette Web)

Chapter 8

Last chapter ~ Next chapter

Warnings: Violence, description of injurys, blood, death

Words: 1019

This was probably the worst fight that Miguel had seen in a long time. The Mysterio variant had released every single anomaly in the containment area. Causing Chaos across the whole of Nueva York. Every spider person on duty was engaged in battle. A distress call had been sent out across the multiverse, every spider available was fighting in this battle. Several anomalies had been brought back to HQ but it wasn’t nearly all of them. But Miguel was barely focused on that. He hadn’t seen Valentine since the fight broke out. He hadn’t heard from her… and that was unusual and concerning.  

“Lyla, track Valentines position.  I need to find her.” Miguel’s voice was full of worry.

“Right away Miguel.” She chirped. When the coordinates come up, he feels his heart start to sink. Alchemax. He knows damn well what’s going on now. He does’t even take a second to tell the others where he’s going. He swings into action. He can’t move fast enough, He needs to move faster.

~

Valentine was trying her best to keep Mysterio busy. She used every kind of tech she had on hand and she kept fighting, she had to keep fighting.

“Just give me what I need Scarlette, it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done something for the wrong side.” Mysterio’s voice echoed through the lab

“Not a chance. I’m not that kind of person any more.” She says as she stands ready to spring into action. It was just her in between him and the vault where all of the research on Multiverse travel is. Where the prototype of the first Gizmo is stored. Where he wants to be. He laughs maniacally.

“You of all people know that’s not how it works. You don’t just flip-flop sides when you feel like it! You’re either good, or evil. And you my dear…you are surely evil. All those people…you couldn’t care less, whatever it took to get his attention right?” He sneered.

“Shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about!” She shouts with anger. How did he know? How did he know about everything? She didn’t know but she wasn’t going to let him win. She won’t let him.

“Oh silly girl. You should know, that I know everything about you. About the Murder, about the device, about your friendships, the ones you love, and most of all, I know about your dead cold husband.” He was getting ever closer, and she was getting angrier.

“Leave.Him.Out.Of.This.” She growls as she takes a half step closer.

“Oh, I see I’ve struck a nerve! How delightful. How charming. How sweet. Still carrying the torch for a man long dead. Its espessialy darling how you keep the love for him alive when, why there’s another Miguel O’hara, Alive, breathing, blood pumping, and he cares for you ever so much…” he taunts and teases. Valentine can’t take much more of it.

“Get his name out of your mouth, you little-”

“Ah, Ah, ah, not so fast. Don’t want to be a bad girl now do we?” and with that she lunges. He dodges her attacks, left and right, shes putting her all into it. When suddenly The window behind her glows red as Miguel slices through.

“Val!” Miguel cries as he spots her.

“Ah there’s lover boy now!”

“Miguel! Get to the vault and take it, I’ve got him!” She looked at him, and even through the mask, He knew she meant it. He went for the vault, hears the fighting continuing behind him. He managed to access the vault grabbing the prototype. He works quickly on the screens to transfer the data back to his personal computer when he hears her scream, an animalistic cry, then cut short. He turns, his blood runs cold. He runs back to the lab, a look of horror on his face as he sees her. Mysterio already gone out the window. And Shes laying in an ever growing pool of her own blood.

“Cariño! No, no, no, no, NO!” Miguel rushes to her side, holding her in his arms as he disengages his mask. “Val, Valentine! Come on…” He pulls off her mask and looks her over, the slashes were jagged and all over, and the long blade of the knife was through her upper stomach.

“M-Miggy…” She coughs and blood stains her lips. “Mig- I…I”

“Shhh…hey, don’t talk, save your energy.” Miguel spoke softly to her as he caresses her face, his crimson eyes looking into her dark ones. He pulls out his gizmo. “Lyla get us help now!” Hes desperate. The holographic woman appears and nods before fizzling out, off to reach anyone she can. Miguel looks back at Valentine as he holds her bleeding body in his arms. “Hey, its going to be okay. They’re coming okay?” Miguel whispers, he wasn’t sure if he was reassuring her, or himself.

“Mig…I…Its really cold…and….I’m so tired.” Her eyelids flutter as she looks up at him, her breathing is getting shallow and uneven.

“I know, Lo sé, cariño, Please, espere por favor.” Miguel pleaded with her. “There’s so much, so much I need to tell you…” She keeps coughing, more blood. He feels tense. Where is the back up? What is taking so long? He watches as She struggles to keep her eyes open. 

“Miggy…you…its not your fault…Its…Its not…” Valintine tries to keep her eyes on his, buther vison is getting hazy and shes struggling to talk. “Mig…I…I’m sorry.” She whispers. She feels the room getting darker, and her body getting heavier.

“No, No Val, Valentine…please. I…I can’t loose you…please… Por favor... Yo... no puedo perderte. No puedo vivir sin ti. Te amo, por favor te amo.”  He cried out as the light faded from her eyes. He held her close to his body. Just then Peter B and Jess rushed in the door. They were too late.  Peter Held Jess back as they watched Miguel cling to Valentines lifeless body, sitting in a pool of her blood as he cried his face buried in the crook of her neck.

“I’m sorry…I love you…I…I love you.”

~

Masterlist

Tag: @femmeanonymelives

Translations:

Lo sé, cariño: I know, dear.

espere por favor: please wait

Por favor... Yo... no puedo perderte. No puedo vivir sin ti. Te amo, por favor te amo.: Please...I...can't lose you. I can't live without you. I love you, please I love you.

[poorwhayfairingstranger]

Oh my God haiku bot commented on my post.

Ok, give me a minute to read through what I already posted.

When I was a little kid. My pastor was going on about the kind of people that first listened to Jesus's teachings. How Jesus's followers were prostitutes and homeless people and the lowest of society. Jesus Cared about the people that no one else did and earned undying Loyalty Because of it. He talked about The first Christian's after Jesus's death. Most sleeping outcasted and ridiculed by more common religions. At the time about how Christianity was something to be hidden and only in later years became big and old consuming. About how the original message behind the religion was genuinely caring about and loving the people around you. That really stuck with me.

I'm not religious anymore. But that core idea has stuck with me through a lot of my life. And I wanted to kind of dude represent that a little bit in my Original characters. That being said, baby me had no idea how governments actually work. I still don't really know how they work. I just know that thousands of people were released from underground cities where they were imprisoned And left with no clear direction in the world that hated them. Of course, they were gonna turn to crime. Of course, they were going to be angry at the people who put them there or the people trying to take the place of the ones who put them there who were now trying to put them back. Some of them took it too far but the vast majority of them I believe were innocent. I think all the enemy armies after Their respective big bad swear repeated deserved peace just like the rest of Ninjago.

So all of the snakes and the skeletons and the Android armies all gathered in the one place that wouldn't turn them away or judge them. A small minority actually were planning revenglish, and when they attacked the ninja into the ninja found out about most of their previous enemies. All being gathered in one spot freaked the hell out.

Come back to years ago when a little girl playing in the Lake with her family stepped on a knife and almost bled to death In the water before they could get her to hospital.

For those of you who don't know if you get stabbed, you shouldn't remove the thing stabbing you until you get proper medical attention. Because taking out the thing stabbing, you will make the bleeding go faster. The Lord of the land knew this fact. But his young son older than his daughter, who was the first to get her out of the water, did not know tyes and pulled the knife before he could be stopped. Hence why she almost died on the way to the hospital.

When everyone finished freaking out and the little girl was unconscious but stable, The Royal guard began investigating the weapon. They had to clean off centuries of mud and grime to find an ancient ritual dagger Inscribed With the words of a prophecy.

This blade holds a power terrific and terrible. Monstrous and monumentous. Not a power of creation but all that came after. Should this blade spill innocent blood its power will be released.

Blood can represent a lot of different things.

Blood can represent harm , Violence ,and anger ,and injury ,and death.

Blood can represent healing, a wound scabd over, a heart beating For the first time, The scar that proves you survived.

Blood can represent loyalty, The family that created you, The covenant that you chose , The promises and oaths that Bind you.

And when she wakes up in that hospital room, she is scared. She is young and scared and filled with a power that has been locked away for hundreds of years without a master to regulate it. She reacts with fear and panic at her own powers and the element. Thinking that its master is under attack reflectively tries to Protect her. The spiky red shield coming out of her arm and pointing directly at the doctor who's just trying to help her does not Diescalate the situation.

I'M GONNA FUCKING PUKE I JUST REMEMBERED ONE OF MY OC'S WAS LITERALLY "THE MASTER OF MOON" AND GOT HER POWERS FROM THE MOON AND HER POWERS WERE LIKE RED AND ALL THAT SHIT... DRAGONS RISING I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!! STOP PLAGARIZING ME LEGO!!! LEAVE YUUMI ALONE !!!

[sinfulspencer]

The Black Dahlia (pt.2)

Prompt: Spencer and Daisy, now named Dahlia, meet again.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Rating: mature (18+, minors DNI)

Warnings: murder, death, blood, violence, the Black Dahlia case

Words: 8.9k

A.N.: Reminder: Reader is a serial killer. There’s nothing romantic in what she’s doing, so please, do not romanticize her character or defend her from her actions. She needs to be held accountable for her manipulative and murderous behaviour, end of the story. Keep in mind that this is a fanfiction: I do not condone the actions of the characters, nor I support them – and I certainly do not encourage such actions. Stay safe! x 

You can find the fic masterlist here. Check my masterlist here. JOIN MY TAGLIST! Share your thoughts/requests here.

The days have passed with no particular events and the team is still stuck in Arlington, trying to find a way to solve the case without causing too much of a fuss. They are all affected by how nothing seems to be giving them a lead - nothing in these women’s lives is weird or off.

They were all loved, no enemies, no fights, no problems at work. 

Nothing seemed to have sparked an interesting starting point.

Unfortunately it was difficult to keep the case away from the media, because someone leaked something - and the whole city turned against each other, creating havoc from one side of the town to the other. 

Neighbours accused neighbours. 

Young teenagers didn’t want to go to school. 

Fights, fake accusations, calls to the local PD. 

“Penelope, you’re on speaker.” 

Spencer puts his phone at the center of the table, putting his hands on the edge of the table. 

“Okay, I found something really, really awful about these teachers. I’m not sure it’s something, but it could potentially be a lead.” - Penelope mumbles, typing something on her computer - “Twenty years ago there was a case, or a situation, of a serial rapist in this town. And guess what?”

Emily raises her brows, crossing her arms to her chest. “These women have either been victims or witnesses?”

David leans back against his chair. “How did we miss that?”

“We didn’t! I had to grab a bigger shovel and dig into the city’s past in order to unseal those files! The case was dismissed because all women were minors when that happened and their parents retracted the accusations.” - Penelope exclaims, agitation in her voice - “They were convinced their daughters were lying. There wasn't enough proof to charge the man, so he was released a day after and the case was shut down. No one ever saw those three women ever again because their parents sent them to a correctional facility here in Arlington for their problematic behaviour.”

Spencer sits down on the chair with his hands grabbing the edge of the table. He doesn’t like where this is going and he doesn’t like the fact that you’ve hinted him to kill the man before he could get to you. Why would this man get to you again? Why would he touch you?

What were you talking about?

If this has something to do with an old case, it means he has something to do with you and your past. Spencer doesn’t know how you found out about this case, but you’re on the run - maybe you stumbled here in Arlington, maybe you saw the murderer, maybe you know something.

Spencer hopes to find another flower in his bedroom later.

“Okay, so these women were victims of a serial rapist.” - JJ chimes into the conversation, looking at Luke - “Do we think it’s the same man seeking revenge? Were Beatrice, Elizabeth and Zoe the only victims?”

Silence fills the room for a few seconds, then it gets interrupted by Penelope’s disgusted voice. 

“No, unfortunately they weren’t. Three more girls came forward against the same mea and their story matched the stories of our three victims. I’m going to send you all their names and their addresses, if you want to talk with them.” - Penelope says, humming - “They disappeared as well and came back to Arlington a year later from the same correctional facility.”

Spencer is quiet, barely looking at the file. 

He’s lost in his thoughts, trying not to let the anger show through his eyes. He knows he’s being observed by half of his team and he can’t let his emotions get the best of him. Spencer has to protect you from them and from the man you’re so desperately begging him to catch, but what happened?

Did he touch you? Were you one of the victims as well?

What led you to send Spencer a flower and beg him to capture this man? 

Spencer crosses his legs under the table, moving his eyes to the phone. “Penelope, who was the primary suspect? Can we have a name?”

“I’m trying to find it, but it seems… Oh.”

Oh?

Spencer exchanges a glance with Luke, as they speak in unison. “Oh?”

“Robert Y/L/N.”

The whole team goes silent as soon as the surname leaves Penelope’s lips. Spencer is the most affected for obvious reasons, but JJ and Luke are too. They keep looking at their colleague, then at each other. They’re trying to keep him calm, especially Luke who puts both his hands on Spencer’s shoulders - this is not a great situation.

This is dangerous.

“Any connection with Y/N Y/L/N?”

Penelope hums through the speaker. “Yes, he’s her uncle. He used to live here in Arlington until those accusations were made. He had to move away when they were dropped and… Oh wow.”

Do you have something to do with it?

Do you know anything about the case? 

Luke wonders if you’re here right now, if you’re doing this to punish the man accused of raping too many women in such a little town. Is this your way to bring justice to the families? By killing the women and making it look like it’s your uncle’s fault?

Or is it really your uncle’s doing?

It wouldn’t make sense that you’d start killing women. You’ve never even thought about doing that because you have a specific target in your mind, but maybe this is another way to taunt the team.

To taunt Spencer.

Is it, though? 

Are you able to kill a woman without feeling sorry for her? Are you able to kill a woman by severing her body in half, cutting her all over and dropping her body somewhere in a park?

You’re a psychopath, but you have a set of very strong beliefs you’re not going to let go. However, as JJ said, the team has to keep in mind all the possibilities of you switching the victimology to get them off your back - you could be using old cases from your family tree to cover up your tracks, but why would you be so careless? 

Why would you use your uncle’s crimes to cover your tracks? 

Why would you let the FBI investigate something like this? 

Unless you have nothing to do with these crimes and you’re actually innocent, for once in your life.

“When Robert moved to Georgetown, he was quiet for years. He even got married and had a child with a woman named Cecily. They were happy, nothing much happened, until.. another string of accusations were made against him.” - Penelope speaks through gritted teeth. These cases are not easy to read about - “This time he targeted four women in their early 20’s. He killed one of them and was sent to prison for eight years.” 

Luke looks at Spencer for a brief second, noticing how he’s grasping his trousers with one hand and using the other to draw circles on the surface of the table. His colleague is trying his best to maintain a calm demeanour, but his body language is betraying him.

Does he know something?

“Let me guess, he was released a year ago and moved back here.”

“Reid, you… scare me sometimes.” - Penelope chirps, hoping to bring some light with her joke - “Yes, Robert was released a year ago. Initially he went back to Georgetown for Cecily, but she got married again and filed a restraining order against him.”

That’s the stressor.

“Then, Robert came back to Arlington. He was quiet again, and then… He disappeared. No telephone traceable, no home address, no job. Nothing. It’s like he vanished, but we all know he’s not vanished.” - Penelope mumbles, typing something else on her computer - “I’m going to send you everything I’ve found on Robert and his photos.”

“Thank you Penelope, you did a great job.”

Spencer hangs up the call and stands up from the chair, immediately heading out of the room. He feels sick, as if there’s something at the pit of his stomach that begs to get out of his body - hearing the sound of your name coming from Penelope’s lips and how your uncle was accused of such crimes, drives Spencer mad. 

Did you know about what he did? Were you one of his victims? 

Spencer needs to breathe some fresh air or he’s going to go batshit crazy on Robert when he finds the bastard. If he has laid a finger on you, if he even thought about touching you, Spencer is not going to let him leave - he’s going to find a way to make him react during a takedown and he’ll take him down himself.

Whatever it may cost him.

You asked Spencer to find the man before he could get to you. He's not going to disappoint you. 

Luke leaves his jacket on his chair and steps out of the conference room to look for his colleague, worried that this situation might have triggered him into thinking about you - and spiralling. It wouldn’t be the first time a case hits a little too close to home, it’s normal to feel like you’re being targeted - and even if Luke doesn’t know that this is not the case, it’s better than him thinking it is. 

Finding Spencer in the back of the local PD, with a glass of water in his hands, Luke waves at him. 

The other man doesn’t look at him. 

“Hey. You okay?”

Spencer shrugs, chugging the glass of water and throwing it in the trashcan. “I’m fine.”

“I can imagine…”

“No, you can’t.” - Spencer cuts him off, shaking his head and pacing back and forth in front of his colleague - “I didn’t come here to Arlington to let her taunt me. I don’t even know if this is a taunt or not! If she wants to find me, why can’t she just talk to me?”

Luke takes a step back, raising his brows. “Do you think this is a sign from her?”

The young doctor inhales deeply, realising that he has made another mistake. He knows damn well that you’re not sending him a message, unless you count the note still folded in Spencer’s pocket. 

“I have no idea.”

“Do you think she’s behind these murders?”

Spencer shakes his head without hesitation. “No, she wouldn’t change her victimology so abruptly.”

Luke tilts his head, crossing his arms to his chest. “Not even if those women accused her uncle without proof?”

“Come on, Luke. I’m sure those women all had proof, but the parents dropped the charges because they didn’t want their neighbours to talk shit about the family. We know how these situations go, we’ve dealt with them before and this is exactly what’s happening.” - Spencer spits out, his anger easily detectable by the way he’s moving - “We need to find more proof against Robert and put him behind bars before he grabs another woman.”

Spencer runs back inside the local PD, leaving Luke alone with his thoughts. 

Even if he knows that Spencer is angry because Penelope mentioned your name, he has no clue why he’s so passionate about the case - not that there’s anything wrong, it means that Spencer cares about the victims and wants to bring closure to the family, but it feels like there’s something else going on.

There must be something.

Otherwise his behaviour cannot be explained.

Spencer dials Penelope’s number again, walking back inside the conference room. “Can you compile a list of all the women that have accused Robert of his crimes? Every single one of them.”

“Do you want to know if Y/N is one of them?” 

“It’s likely she was.”

“Oh, Spencer... yeah, She was.” – Penelope whispers, noticing his voice dropping lower – “I’ll send you everything I can as soon as possible. I promise.”

“Thank you, Garcia.” 

It doesn’t take long for Penelope to send the whole team the list of all the twenty women involved with Robert, from the first accusations in Arlington to the last one in Georgetown that ended in murder. Spencer is visibly angry when he stops reading the list, focusing only on one name at the top of the paper, and the whole team knows why. 

They don’t say anything, focusing on all the other victims. 

“There were seven women here in Arlington that accused Robert of inappropriate behaviour, four of them were killed in the last few months.” – Emily announces to the team, pointing to the glass board behind her – “We need to contact the last three women and put them in protective custody, they’re probably his next target.”

Spencer barely looks up at the board, reading your name over and over. 

Is this why you wanted to kill your father? Because he sent you to your uncle’s when he got locked up in prison? You wanted to murder him because he sent you to your abuser? Is this why you’re here in Arlington now, sending Spencer flowers? 

The Black Dahlia laying on his nightstand is a clear message, a message he didn't get its meaning at first, but it's obvious now. 

You were telling him that there’s a man recreating that murder over and over, targeting those women who accused him and sent him to prison – and for that reason, he lost Cecily. He’s avenging his loss by forcing those families to lose their daughters, because he thinks it’s their fault he didn’t get the life he thought he deserved with his ex wife.

Well, it’s not their fault if Robert is a fucking monster and Cecily wants to protect herself, but psychopaths have a logic of their own. 

Spencer folds the paper on the table and puts his right hand in his pocket, brushing his fingers against the note you left in his bedroom a week before. He can’t believe he has missed all of this – if he had told the team what you were trying to do, maybe he could’ve speeded up the process of the investigation. Maybe he would’ve caught him sooner and maybe... Maybe you would’ve graced Spencer with your appearance. 

He sounds so fucking crazy right now, he knows it, but he misses you. 

He’s desperate to find Robert because once he does, and accomplishes his task, you will come back to him.

That’s all Spencer wants. 

You, his Daisy. 

JJ closes the door of the conference room, looking at Luke who sits alone at the table, holding his phone. The rest of the team got out to try and talk to Samantha Nolen and Olivia jackson. Luckily, the two women have answered their phone which means they are safe, but JJ or Luke didn't get so lucky with the third woman, Victoria Duncan. 

Since she also hasn't posted anything new on her social media accounts, which is unusual for her, they try to contact her family and friends in a desperate attempt to track her.

“She doesn’t answer.”

Luke shakes his head, dialling Victoria’s mother’s number. “Has Garcia tried to contact her friends?”

“She’s calling her best friend, I’m trying her cousin right now.” – JJ says, bringing the phone up to her ear - “I think Robert got to her before us.”

The two agents keep on calling her friends, asking them if they know if Victoria is at work or somewhere else but nobody seems to know anything. They either haven’t seen Victoria in days or they haven’t spoken to her for even a longer time, which alarms JJ and Luke – they need to consider her as a missing person.

They don’t want to find her body, they want to find her alive and well, but maybe Robert got to her before they could do anything.

Spencer and David are having a conversation with Samantha on the other side of Arlington. 

The young woman has all of her windows and her doors locked, terrified that whoever was looking for the other three women, who lost their lives and were involved in the charges against Robert, might be searching for her as well. She has been inside her house ever since the second woman was murdered, because they remembered each other pretty well.

Samantha was the first woman who ended up inside that mental health facility not too far from Arlington, paid by her parents in order to keep her quiet. David conducted the whole conversation because he saw how agitated Spencer was and he didn’t want his colleague to make a mistake, to upset Samantha even more than how she is already.

It’s normal to be affected by these crimes, especially if they’ve involved you in the past.

“How can you be sure Robert is the one behind the murders?” David asks

Samantha shrugs, looking away from the man in front of her. “Because he threatened us before leaving this town. When we were sent away, me and all the other women, we were forced to have a conversation with him. Our parents thought we could fix things with him, because they didn’t want our family to get a bad reputation.”

Spencer uncrosses his legs, leaning forward with his body. “Why do you think he got to Beatrice, Zoe and Elisabeth first? And not you or Olivia?”

“I have no idea.” – the young woman whimpers, covering her face with her hands – “I was the first one he hurt, then there was Olivia and Victoria. All the others came after.”

David glances at Spencer, tilting his head. “He’s grabbing them from the last one to the first. He’s going backwards."

The young doctor tightens his hands in fists, breathing through his nose. All the proofs are pointing to your uncle and Spencer wonders if you’ve already found him, or at least understood his pattern.

From what the team is gathering from these conversations with Robert’s first victims, is that he’s killing all of his old victims backwards. Elizabeth first, Zoe second and Beatrice third. Which means Victoria is the next, the woman who’s already missing, then Olivia, Samantha... and you.

Spencer is not going to allow him to get to that point.

He’ll stop Robert, no matter what it takes. He can’t let him get to you or he’ll never forgive himself. Spencer has disappointed you already by ratting you out to the FBI and pretending to be caring for you; he was supposed to let you kill your father, but you didn’t. He survived. And now... not only do you want to kill your father, probably, but you want to make sure that your Uncle gets locked up before he gets to you.

Spencer knows that you won’t stop until you find him, but he also wants to prove to you how loyal he is.

Even if it kills him.

“We really appreciated your help, Samantha.” – David says, standing up from the couch – “You and Olivia will be protected until we find Robert.”

Spencer glances at his colleague, then he takes a deep breath. “Can I ask you something, Samantha? Before we leave?”

The young woman nods eagerly. “Yes. Yes, of course.”

“Has Robert ever spoken about someone named Y/N?”

David immediately turns his head to look at Spencer, surprised that he would even think about mentioning you in such a difficult situation. David knows how Spencer is becoming obsessed with you now that you’re out of prison and he understands why Spencer is so nervous, why he’s trying his best to find you, but he can’t bring you up every single time he has the chance to.

It’s a question that can easily make Samantha retract everything.

However, the woman seems to be eager to answer.

“I don’t remember much, but she was with him when he... When he caught me.”

Spencer’s heart drops in his chest. He wasn’t expecting this answer.

“Was she there when...”

David leaves the sentence hanging, not sure if he should use the word in front of Samantha. Not every victim can handle the sound of it so he has to be careful. He doesn’t want to scare her or trigger a panic attack – it can easily happen.

“Yes. I... I don’t remember much, Agent Rossi.” – Samantha says, furrowing her brows and turning to look at Spencer – “She was young, Doctor Reid. She probably was 7 or 8 years old, she was so small.”

You were so young.

A child.

David never felt bad for you because of the actions you’ve done in your present, but he can’t help but think about how you could’ve been different. How a normal family, a mental health counsellor, a psychologist or a psychiatrist, could’ve helped you become... better.

“Did he force her to touch you?”

“No, no. He kept yelling at her to stay back, to stop crying and observe.” – Samantha sniffles, brushing the back of her hand under her right eye – “He told her that one day she was going to end up like me.”

Spencer stands up from the couch in the blink of an eye and, waving at Samantha, storms out of her apartment. He can’t fucking believe what he just heard her saying, how Robert threatened to rape you once you grew older – but did that happen? Did that really happen or did you get away before he could do it?

Even if you did, the fear those words might have struck in you pushed you to become the way you are today.

Spencer wants to find Robert and rip his throat apart. He wants him to suffer, he wants to kill him with his bare hands and leave his body to the weather, to the animals. Robert doesn’t deserve to be brought to justice, he deserves to get killed – in the worst way possible.

In the most painful, atrocious, torturous way that exists.

“I was a child when you did what you did.”

He grits his teeth. “I never touched you.”

“You didn’t. But you told him to touch me, to raise me as his. You told him to love me as one of his children when all the damage was already done.”

Spencer keeps replaying the words you yelled at your father before killing him. You had tears in your eyes, your chest was rising up and down rapidly. You were so angry, so terrified in that moment that Spencer would’ve loved to hug you from behind and comfort you.

You looked so small in that moment, pretending to be a fearless creature when in reality you just wanted a normal family. A family that loved you, that helped you grow up, that showed you how love and courage can turn you into an incredible person.

But no, your family turned you into a monster.

 A monster that, despite the murders, has only hurt people who deserved it.

Spencer hated seeing you like that, with the anger blossoming in your heart and your fingers tightening against the edge of the table. And at first, he didn’t even think about your words. He was so focused on your body language that he actually forgot what you were saying.

“Spencer? What’s up with you today?”

“Nothing, I just want to find this son of a bitch before he hurts Victoria. We don’t know how long she has been taken for and I’m worried she might not have much time.” - Spencer spits out, placing a hand over his gun attached to his hip holster - “What if he gets to Da… Y/N? What if he finds her?”

David goes silent, noticing the third mistake Spencer has made. 

“I’m sure Y/N can protect herself. She’s not stupid and she’s not worried about using a knife.” - David answers him, crossing his arms to his chest - “Did you know he used to do this?"

Spencer shakes his head, heading to the car not too far from Samantha’s house. “No. We didn’t talk much when I was with Y/N, but she hinted at something when she was talking to her father.”

The older agent hums, jumping into the car. “I remember when you said that.”

“She said: ‘But you told him to touch me, to raise me as his. You told him to love me as one of his children when all the damage was already done.’”

David turns the engine of the car on. “If we don’t find him in time and he doesn’t get to Olivia and Samantha, he’ll definitely look for Y/N.”

“That can’t happen.”

Rossi stays silent, noting in his brain Spencer’s odd behaviour.

The day after Spencer’s conversation with Samantha, Victoria’s body is found at Fort Barnard’s Park. Dismembered, like all the others, and in the same exact position – which means Robert struck again, regardless of his knowledge about the FBI working actively on the case.

Spencer couldn’t sleep the night before. 

He laid the Black Dahlia on his pillow and spent the whole night looking at it, as if he was hypnotized. He dreamed about you being there on the bed with him, of him being able to wrap his arms around your neck and kiss you, of him whispering to you that you were going to be safe because he wouldn’t have left you. 

Now, with a fourth body on his back, Spencer knows that he has to be quick. 

It’s been seven days since he has arrived in Arlington, seven days since you’ve sent him that message through your flower – and Spencer is worried you might get impatient. You don’t really like waiting, however you didn’t do anything to Robert – which is why Spencer was confused at first.

Even though he understood that Robert was his test, to prove his loyalty to you, Spencer couldn’t understand why you didn’t want to kill him yourself. Whether he touched you or not, Spencer expected you to get your revenge on him as well – just like you did with your father, but you didn’t. 

Why?

Just to let Spencer prove his devotion for you?

Just to let Spencer prove his desperation to have you or see you?

“Spencer can’t know about this.”

He stops in his tracks as the sound of JJ’s voice captures his attention.

“He has to know, Emily.”

“No, he doesn’t. Spencer needs to stay focused on this case.” – Emily says, her voice stern and not discussable - “I’m not going to jeopardize this investigation just because someone claimed to have seen Y/N around. She’s not the main focus of this investigation.”

Spencer knows very well you’re in this town. You’ve been in Arlington probably even before the team arrived, triggered by the presence of your Uncle and your thirst for revenge over him. You’ve been quiet, too quiet, but apparently now someone saw you.

Spencer knows he shouldn’t be happy, because if that sighting is true, then you’re in danger. What if Emily decides to hunt you down in private? What if she asks another team to hunt you down while they focus on Robert? What if she wants to catch two birds with one stone?

Taking a step forward, Spencer opens the door of the room his team is settled in. JJ looks at him for a brief moment, then she sits back on her chair and keeps working on her file whereas Tara and Emily head out to talk to the head of the police department. They need to speak with whoever has seen you around, they need to make sure that you’re not going to interfere with the investigation.

When Spencer and David came back from their afternoon with Olivia, they told everything to Emily and the rest of the team. 

You’re there to get your revenge over your Uncle’s behaviour towards you. If he can’t get to Olivia and Samantha because they’re being protected by local enforcement, he will have to start looking for you – and knowing you are in town, somewhere they don’t know, he can get to you easily if he knows that you’ve escaped prison.

You probably bragged about him and killing his brother, which could’ve been another trigger or at least a stressor when he found out. 

Penelope didn’t find much on your father’s family, just that he and his brother were separated as soon as they got older. They weren’t bad kids, they were completely normal until your uncle started to touch women without their consent and your father began to kidnap strangers and slash their throats, with no apparent reason.

Your family was weird.

Penelope is not surprised you grew up like that, sick and twisted like them.

However, she felt bad for what happened to you and what she found out. She knows that Spencer asked her to send everything she could find on you, but Emily ordered not to – if Penelope had sent him everything, he would’ve found a way to get to Robert before everyone and choke him with his own hands. 

That’s exactly what you want.

“We don’t have anything.” – David breaks the silence within the team – “People here saw Y/N, but not Robert. How’s that possible? Either he has a house nobody knows about, or there’s something wrong here.”

“Penelope already checked his old apartment with Cecily, but there’s a family living there now. She also checked the warehouse where he used to work in, but it has been turned into a supermarket.” – Luke explains, crossing his arms to his chest – “Both Samantha and Olivia said that he used to take them behind their high school, but we’ve already checked the place and there are cameras there. No one has been seen there.”

Spencer walks towards the window, opening it. “There must be a place he used to be obsessed with. A place where he’s holding all of his victims now and where he probably is now, trying to pick the next target.”

“Do you think it has something to do with his past? Maybe with his family?” JJ asks

The young doctor shrugs, leaning against the wall. “It could be. Maybe an old holiday house or something connected to his family, maybe even connected to Y/N. She was his first victim.”

David scratches his chin again. “The first?”

“Yes. Robert didn’t touch her, but he brought her with him each time he was hurting a woman.” – Luke mumbles, lowering his eyes to look at the files Penelope sent the team earlier – “She wasn’t raped, but Robert threatened to rape her once she got old enough for him. Or so we know.”

Spencer’s nose twitches as he looks out of the window, trying to repress all the anger ready to jump out of his body. It feels like he’s holding back, his hands are itching to choke something and hurt someone, but he can’t. He can’t get ahead of the team, he has to respect Emily’s orders and hope that she lets him be the one to catch him – unless he gets there first. 

Unless he finds a way to get to Robert and put his hands on his neck, ending his miserable life.

“Did she go to the police to report Robert?”

“I don’t think so, otherwise the police wouldn’t have allowed the charges to be dropped.” – JJ answers, dialling Penelope’s number again – “Hey Pen.”

“Office of the Enchanted Oracle, speak and be heard.”

“When Y/N reported her uncle, who did she talk to?”

Silence fills the room for a few seconds as Penelope hums, trying to find the information requested.

“She went to the local church here in Arlington. She used to go there to attend Holy mass every Sunday when she was a child, even after her father was arrested and her mother left her.” – Penelope mumbles, reading from the screen in front of her – “Y/N reported Robert to Father Dylan.”

Spencer gets closer to the table. “Is he still in service?”

“Yes, he is.” – Penelope says – “I’m sending you his address now.”

A few seconds later, Spencer’s phone receives a text with the man’s address. He’s not sure he’s going to find Robert there, but Father Dylan must know something - either about you or Robert. 

This whole situation is a mess and yes, Robert is trying to avenge the loss of his marriage and his family, but he’s also trying to get to you somehow. Spencer feels like there’s something he doesn’t know about, something you haven’t told him because you can’t let him see you. 

What? 

What is he missing?

“I’m going to pay a visit to Father Dylan.” – Luke says, immediately glancing at the young doctor standing beside him – “Spencer, do you want to go for a ride?”

Spencer gives him a smile, nodding. “Yes, please.”

“I have a question.”

Spencer turns to look at his colleague. “Shoot.”

Luke stops with the black car at a traffic light. “Why does Robert want to target Y/N? She was the first one to accuse him, I understand, but is it just because he’s mourning the loss of his wife?”

“Or maybe he doesn’t know his brother is still alive.” – the young doctor tells him – “And he wants to avenge his brother by using his other victims’ as an excuse to lure Y/N here. He knows she’d do anything to protect people who have been hurt the way she has, so...”

“Okay, but the first victim was murdered a few days after he was released, which means luring Y/N here wasn’t his priority.” – Luke replies to his colleague, briefly glancing at him – “Let’s stick to your theory and mine. Robert kills Elizabeth when he gets out of prison, then he gets to Zoe. He finds out Y/N tried to kill her father and she escaped prison.”

Spencer follows Luke’s train of thought. “Robert realises that getting to Y/N will be difficult, so he tries to scare her.”

"Scaring a serial killer will have the opposite effect. What if Y/N is here because she wants to kill Robert?”

Luke can’t know that you asked Spencer to kill Robert for you, so Spencer has to lie to his team again.

“It’s possible. Y/N wants to protect women who got hurt, it’s likely she wants to do the same with the women her uncle hurt in the past.” – Spencer says, unbuckling his belt once Luke has stopped driving - “I think this case is personal to her.”

“Okay, so this means Y/N heard about the murders in this town. How?”

“I don’t know. Maybe after not being able to kill her father, she decided to come back to her roots.” – the young doctor mumbles, closing the car door with a loud thud – “Maybe she just wanted to come back and see if she could start living a new life.”

Luke shakes his head, following Spencer to the entrance of the church. “It wouldn’t make sense. She hasn’t been in Arlington, there are no cases connected to her. Unless...”

“Unless we consider her past having something to do with the whole case.” Spencer finishes the sentence for him

They grow silent as soon as they step inside the church, spotting Father Dylan next to the altar. He’s fixing a vase of flowers right in front of the monstrance, so they wait to approach him until he’s done with his job.

Spencer is growing nervous as the seconds go by. 

He didn’t know anything about your past because most of it was a blur or it wasn’t described in your records. If Penelope hadn’t unsealed your file and hadn’t mentioned you, Spencer would’ve never understood why you were there in the first place. At the same time, why would you pick that specific town and taunt him with flowers if the case hadn’t anything to do with you?

You’re a psychopath and you love to gloat about your crimes, but not to the point of claiming these murders as your works.

Spencer also knows you pretty well by now, he knows how you work. He has studied you, just like his team.

“Father Dylan? SSA Alvez and SSA Reid from the FBI.” – Luke interrupts Spencer’s thoughts, showing the priest his badge – “We’d like to ask you some questions.”

Father Dylan leaves the flowers on the altar. “Anything, Agents.”

Spencer looks around. There’s a strong scent of roses lingering in the air and the Church is covered in bouquets.

“Do you remember Y/N Y/L/N? She used to live here seventeen years ago.” – Spencer lowers his voice, now focused on the priest’s face – “She came to you because she had a problem with Robert Y/L/N. Her uncle.”

The priest looks surprised as he puts a heart over his chest. “Oh, I remember her. I saw her on the news a few months ago. Poor girl, she was troubled.”

‘Troubled’ isn’t even the beginning of it, but Spencer stays quiet.

You weren’t a troubled child, you were traumatised by a man who’s looking for you, who’s desperately seeking revenge for your actions and who has threatened to rape you if you hadn’t collaborated with him. You were just a child and you were forced to see a man humiliating and torturing a woman in the worst way possible, by abusing her body.

You must have been terrified in those moments. Hearing those women crying for help and begging you to do something must’ve been what led you to become who you are now. A monster seeking revenge against criminals who decided that women mean nothing – you decided to turn them into nothing, proving that women are not as weak as men make them out to be.

Spencer is not sure they’re going to find you, or at least that’s what he hopes, but he has to find Robert. He needs to prove he’s worthy of you.

“When Robert attended mass here with Y/N, was there a place they used to go?” – Luke says, noticing the priest’s confused expression – “I know this question sounds weird, but we’re looking for him and we can’t find him anywhere.”

“Robert came back to Arlington when he was released from prison. The whole town turned against him: they didn’t want him to find a new job, nobody wanted to rent him or sell him an apartment. He was lost in this town.” – the priest explains, crossing his arms to his chest – “He needed a place to stay, so I offered him a room in the rectory. I don’t live there anymore, so I thought...”

Spencer interrupts him. “Have you seen him today?”

“He was in the rectory less than ten minutes ago, he should still be here.” – Father Dylan says, pointing to the door behind the altar – “He was cleaning the garage behind the rectory. He’s probably still there!”

Luke doesn’t need Spencer to speak up about his plans, because as soon as the priest stopped talking, Spencer started to walk towards the door. In silence, Luke follows Spencer; both of them are holding their guns, ready to shoot Robert if he tries to do something.

The rectory is the perfect spot for Robert, especially if he uses the garage and doesn’t let Father Dylan near it. It’s likely they had this conversation because Spencer could see the fear behind the priest’s eyes at the mention of your uncle’s name, but it wasn’t necessary to ask particular questions. Spencer knew better.

Luke and Spencer walk down an empty hallway.

The stinging scent of bleach is what captures their attention. Why would you use an enormous amount of bleach to clean a rectory? Unless you’ve committed a murder in it and you’re trying to cover up your tracks, so the gentle priest who’s kind enough to let you stay there doesn’t know what you’re up to.

Spencer is the first one to walk inside the garage, hearing the soft sound of a female voice behind the closed door of the room he’s in. It’s not your voice, yours is much more lighter – but it doesn’t matter, because Spencer stumbles out of the garage.

Luke spots Robert not too far away from where they are.

When the man turns around and sees two Federal Agents with their guns pointed at him, he does what every criminal does best: retracts his gun and starts shooting, pushing the woman he was talking to down on the floor. She shrieks, smashing her forehead against the floor.

Spencer starts running towards him, barely noticing they’re heading inside of a cemetery. He doesn’t care, because now he has only one target. A target you begged him to find. A target that deserves to be shot right in the heart, or everywhere else on his body.

He has to get Robert.

He can’t let him get away.

He can’t let him get to you.

Spencer feels his heart throbbing hard in his chest, the adrenaline pumping into his bloodstream and rushing through his body. The blood rushing in his ears and the heaving breaths he’s taking as he runs, make Spencer think he’s not going to stop.

He won’t stop running until he catches Robert.

And when he does, it’ll be over for the man.

Right behind him, Luke is running as fast as he can. There’s something wrong in the air, he can almost taste it – Luke wants to catch Robert because of the pain he has put too many families through, but he knows that Spencer has other plans for him.

Spencer wants to kill Robert.

It’s obvious.

Still, Luke doesn’t stop him – and nobody needs to know.

“Robert Y/L/N!”

Spencer finally grasps the man by his shirt, making him trip on his own feet. Without pulling away, Spencer points the gun right between the man’s eyes. He’s about to pull the trigger, excited by the adrenaline pumping even harder through his bloodstream, when Robert decides to speak.

“You must be the Bee my Daisy is looking for.”

Spencer kicks Robert’s gun away from his hand, crushing his chest with his foot.

“You have no right to mention her name.”

“And you have no right to kill me.”

Robert manages to knock Spencer on the ground, tackling him and using a rock to press down on his throat. Spencer coughs and he can feel the oxygen decrease in his brain, in his throat, in every inch of his body – but he’s not going to stop fighting.

Just because Robert is bigger than him, it doesn’t mean he has to win.

Luke is still too far away from them and he has lost Spencer, probably because he was distracted by the desperate sound of his phone going off in his pocket. He had promised Emily to call her once they knew more about the priest’s story, but the chance to catch Robert was there.

They couldn’t let it go.

Now, Luke almost regrets it.

“You know, I’ve always thought Y/N was a gorgeous girl. Now she’s even prettier, maybe she’d let a real man touch her the way she deserves.” – Robert grits through his teeth, covering Spencer’s mouth with his hand – “Isn’t that right, Agent?”

Spencer can’t bear the sound of his pet-name coming from the man’s mouth. The image of your uncle thinking about touching you, dreaming about owning you the way Spencer had, is too much for him – he has to fight and he has to win for you, no matter what it takes.

Twisting his neck, Spencer manages to feel Robert’s fingers on his tongue – and he bites down on them, making the man yelp in pain. Blood spills out from the broken skin over his fingers and Spence can taste it on his tongue, flooding his insides with that delicious warmth you’ve felt over and over again in the last three years of your active job.

Is this how it feels to kill a man who has hurt people?

Why hasn’t Spencer felt this rush before? And why does it have to feel so fucking good?

Spencer pushes the man off his own body and immediately rolls on top of him, grasping him by the hair and smashing his head on the ground. Robert is gasping, desperately seeking to tear Spencer’s throat apart with his fingers. He tries to grab something on the ground, maybe another rock to smack Spencer with, but he’s not quick enough.

Robert wants to hurt an FBI agent, but that’s not going to happen.  

Spencer grasps his gun from the floor and shoots him.

It’s self-defence, he knows it. Luke knows it, and so do you.

Sitting down on the wooden bench right behind the scene of the collision, you bring the Black Dahlia up to your nose to inhale the soft scent. The soft petals of the flower tickle your skin, but you’re used to it – you can never grow tired of that feeling.

Of that sight.

Of all the blood that has been spilled.

Blood that belongs to a man who has hurt too many people. Who has caused terrible, atrocious pain to an enormous amount of people. A man that can’t kill or taunt anybody else. A man that can’t get closer to you anymore because he’s dead.

It brings a smile to your face and it makes your heart jump in your chest.

You knew Spencer was going to prove his loyalty to you. You knew he was going to understand the message you were trying to send him and it makes you incredibly proud to know that he hasn’t said a single word to his team – otherwise you would’ve been caught by now.

Being in the same town as the FBI, who’s working on a case that involves you, is exhausting and terrifying but you had Spencer there to protect you. And he proved his loyalty again, showing you that no matter what he did less than nine months ago, he’s still your bee.

Your sweet, innocent Bee who was waiting, so desperately, for the spring to come.

Taking a step back from the wooden bench, you gently lean the Black Dahlia where you were sitting and you look back up. Those honey coloured eyes are staring back at you.

The same pair you were dreaming of at night.

The same pair that looked at you like you were the only person in the world.

The same pair that screamed at you how much they loved you.

The same pair you’re going to admire every single day for the rest of your life.

Spencer opens his mouth to say something, probably to call out your name,  when Luke approaches him from behind. The honey-coloured eyes man turns to look at his colleague and then, with fear in his heart, looks back to where you were.

He doesn’t find you.

You’ve already vanished.

“Are you sure you want to be alone tonight?” – Luke asks, climbing inside his own car in the parking lot of the Headquarters – “I’m worried about you, man.”

“I’m fine, Luke. This is not the first time I get attacked by an unsub.” – Spencer mumbles, sitting on his seat and hissing when he involuntarily touches his knee with a hand – “It’s just a scratch, it’ll go away in a few weeks if not less.”

Spencer knows what Luke really means, but he’s not going to say it out loud.

Everyone on the jet was kind enough to stay quiet, ignoring the fact that Spencer Reid had a close-up fight with an unsub that whispered something awful to him. They didn’t know what it was and Spencer definitely wasn't going to tell them.

JJ and Tara fell asleep on each other’s shoulder, while David was busy reading a book. Emily and Luke spent the whole flight watching a movie, but they ended up falling asleep.

The case took a toll on everyone.

Especially on Spencer.

When he came back to his hotel room last night, after getting checked out by paramedics for those scratches on his knees and those bruises all over his neck, Spencer was hoping to find you on his bed.

He opened the door of his room with shaky hands, a smile plastered all over his lips, but he soon was disappointed.

You weren’t there.

Spencer was all alone in the bedroom. No flowers to greet him, no cheeky grin, no cocky smile, no sensual voice caressing him all over.

Nothing, he was alone.

You were there on the scene, looking at him and making sure that Spencer took care of that task you’ve begged him to complete, but then you disappeared. You were supposed to meet him, you were supposed to want him as much as he obviously wants you, but he got disappointed.

Should he still wait for you?

Should he stop obsessing over you?

The rest of the ride home from the headquarters is silent.

Spencer doesn’t want to talk. He just wants to get back home and sleep. Sleep, sleep until he’s tired of sleeping – and then he’ll read until his eyes cross and he falls asleep again.

He knows that Luke is worried about him, but there’s no need to. Spencer is not a doll that needs to be taken care of, unless you are the one to take care of him. Isn’t that what you promised him the same day you kidnapped him?

Well, it wasn’t a kidnapping.

Spencer willingly left with you after you sucked him off, looking at him with those adorable big eyes and cheeky smile. A smile that enchanted him beyond words, a smile that captured his own and broke it when you disappeared the day before.

If the truth ever comes out, what would his team do?

They’d stop trusting Spencer and they’d have every reason to do so, but they would never be able to understand his relationship with you. You might be a psychopath that doesn’t care about anybody, but you – but the way you looked at him in the eyes, the way you kissed him and made love to him... Spencer knew they all meant something.

You’re a good liar, but not a perfect one.

“Thanks for the ride, Luke.”

“No problem.” – his colleague says, stopping the car – “Have a great weekend, Spencer.”

Gathering his backpack and his leather satchel, Spencer climbs out of the car. The fresh air of the night hits him as he walks towards the entrance of his building, headed directly to his apartment. Luke drives out of the parking lot and Spencer turns around, staring at the empty road right in front of him. 

Lying to your best friend is never a good idea, but Spencer can’t let Luke know that he saw you. Luke and the team can’t know that you were at the scene, carefully watching Spencer as he shot the man beneath him - or it would cause a disaster of enormous proportions.

Spencer struggles to walk up the stairs, but he manages to get to the door of his house.

Every muscle in his body is screaming at him to lay down and get the rest he so desperately needs. Spencer pulls out his keys from his coat and yawns loudly, ready to find his apartment in perfect shape and excited to finally launch himself on top of his mattress.

He has missed his bed.

Unlocking the door, Spencer enters his apartment.

All the lights are turned down. There’s no scent of flowers in the air.

Have you left Spencer for good? 

Have you decided he’s not worthy of your time anymore?

Spencer closes the door behind his back and turns the lights in the living room on, kicking his shoes off and leaving his backpack on the floor. He’ll put everything away tomorrow morning, after a good night of sleep - he hopes not to dream of you, since you decided to leave him.

How is that fair?

Spencer killed your uncle for you. 

You should be grateful, you could’ve left him a flower.  

Sighing, Spencer unbuttons his shirt and leaves it on his couch. He needs a shower, but right now he barely has the strength to walk back to his bedroom. He’s too tired, he’s in pain and his throat hurts. 

When the lights in his bedroom turn on, Spencer looks up. 

Something’s not right.

With a hand on his gun and his heart pounding in his chest, he holds his breath. 

Ever so gracefully, you walk out of his bedroom wearing nothing, but a skimpy black dress and a pair of matching high-heels. You’re holding a Black Dahlia in your hands as you lean against the wall, playing with the flower and inhaling the sweet scent it radiates.

Spencer can’t breathe right, and it’s not because his throat hurts.

Your eyes are filled with happiness and your smile is not cocky, it’s sincere. Spencer wasn’t expecting you to be there, he thought you left him. He thought he was never going to see you again, but you’re there. 

You came back. 

“Hey Bee. Did you miss me?”

Spencer lets his arms fall to his sides, admiring you. “Dahlia.”

“That’s my name.” - you whisper, walking up to him until your lips are a few inches away from his - “Don’t you ever forget it, my sweet innocent Bee.” 

And without letting him answer, you close the distance between you.

Please consider liking, reblogging, or commenting on the fic if you are on the taglist.  Otherwise, you are essentially asking me to take an extra step to  include you while offering me absolutely NOTHING in exchange, which is a  pretty shitty feeling.

NSFW taglist: @getyoutmoon ​ @bookishspencer ​ @calm-and-doctor @nazifa94 ​ @srhxpci @aperrywilliams @escapingrealities  @beepbooptoop ​ @lil-stark @muffin-cup  @allexthakatt  @nomajdetective  @gyllord  @pauline5525mgg  @hotchandspencearedilfs  @matthewgraygublerwife  @avocadopenguins  @reidsmilf @bohemianrhapsody86  @joy-soul-gallery @matthew-gray-gubler-lover @raythefaye @starrylang @void-m-stilinski  @alexxavicry  @addievermore  @safespacespence  @enchantedengland @baby-reid  @xsarcasticwriterx  @teenwolfbitches28 @reidsbookclub @this-is-doctor-and-its-calm  @lilibet261 @justreadingficsdontmindme @lolalee24 @trishmarieofficial @kbakery @thatsonezesty13 @thehuntresswolf @honeyboysteezy @gublerscherry @gspenc @luredwithpretzels @bluetreecloud20 @crynroom @thebloomingeagle @lovelyxtom @gettingrailedbyreid @winters1917 @fortheloveofwonderland

[queenshelby]

The Concubine - Part Eight

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warning: Graphic Torture, Blood, Angst, Violence, Loss of Pregnancy, Smut

Words: 2,656

One week has passed since you miscarried and your life had changed quite significantly. You were sharing it with Tommy now and he was very different to Steven. To your surprise, he was gentle and caring and this wasn’t something you were expecting from a man in his position and with his standing.

You knew what he did and what he was involved in. The murders, the killing, the drug trafficking. You weren’t blind and business was always on his mind. In fact, his mind never rested. He couldn’t rest. There was too much to do and he still craved revenge.

Whilst you had never spoken about it again, the beatings and causing you to miscarry, you knew that he wanted to see Steven suffer for what he did to you. But, Steven was nowhere to be found until that very cold Sunday evening where everything changed with a phone call from Arthur.

‘Fucking got em Tom’ Arthur said through the phone and Tommy was quick to put on his jacket and coat, making his way through the door and to his silver Bentley.  

‘Where are you going Tommy?’ you asked surprised as you followed him through the door. He seemed to be in a mad rush.

‘I’ve got work to do Love. Don’t wait up, eh’ Tommy said, turning around briefly to give you a kiss.

‘Tommy, you promised’ you pouted, knowing that tonight was the night your abstinence and hunger for him was to come to end.

‘I will make it up to you, eh?’ Tommy said with a grin before you pulled him in for another kiss.

‘You will?’ you asked, biting your lip seductively. Whilst you were still bruised and hurt, you were desperate for him to take you. You loved being intimate with him.

‘Yes, I will, and you won’t be able to walk straight for fucking days, eh’ Tommy winked before getting into his car, causing you to laugh.

***

When Tommy arrived at the factory building where Arthur and Michael held Steven captive, the anger within him was building and so was his rage.

He knew what Steven had done to you and he knew what he had done to other women, including several working girls at establishments owned by the Shelby family while using an alias.

‘At last, we meet, eh’ Tommy said harshly as he sat down on a chair across from Steven who was bound to a pole with a with rope. A white piece of fabric was tied around his mouth to keep him quiet while he was sweating profusely.

‘It was fucking hard to find you. But now that you are here, your father can go free, get on with business or, more so, start over again because you fucked up, eh’ Tommy said as he removed the white fabric from Steven’s mouth.

‘I haven’t done anything to you. What the hell do you want from me?’ Steven asked, shivering and crying as he did. He was fearful and believed that Tommy was there to kill him.

‘I don’t want anything from scum like you. All I want is for you to pay for your fucking sins, eh’ Tommy growled, pulling Steven up on his shirt as he did.

‘If this is about this whore your brother saved, she fucking deserved it’ Steven then said, unable to hold back his emotion and, just as he did, Tommy pulled off his razor cap and slowly dragged it across Steven’s face, causing him to bleed profusely.

‘Listen to me you little fuck. I have made a deal with your father not to kill you but if you disrespect Y/N again, I will end you in the most painful way possible’ Tommy then said louder as Steven’s screams.

‘She cheated on me and I should have beaten her to death’ Steven growled in anger and pain.

‘He didn’t fucking listen to a word I said’ Tommy observed with a chuckle. ‘Did he fucking listen Arthur?’ he then asked, looking at Arthur.

‘No Tommy. He didn’t listen’ Arthur confirmed.

‘Pull him up, put him onto the table and start with what he did to his fiancée and the whores he visited at our establishments’ Tommy growled, handing one of his men a belt and they were quick to comply with Tommy’s request while Tommy watched.

‘She did fucking cheat on you, didn’t she, eh’ Tommy then said as the tenth stroke hit Steven’s back.

‘Because why would she be with someone like you...’ he went on to say as the twelfth stroke came down, causing Steven to cry in pain.

‘He is enjoying this too fucking much. Hit him harder’ Tommy then instructed before he continued on.

‘Now, I tell you a little secret Steven. The man she cheated on you with was me. Unlike you, I didn’t force her to do anything, treated her with respect and, if it wasn’t for you fucking animal, she would still be carrying my child. You killed my child and you can be grateful that I didn’t know that she was pregnant before she lost the baby, eh. Because if I would have known, you most certainly would die tonight’ Tommy then said, pulling on Steven’s cheek with anger as the 20th stroke hit him.

‘How does it fucking feel, eh? Being treated and abused like this’ Tommy growled when the final stroke came down on Steven’s back and he told his men that this was enough.

‘I am sorry please…please just stop’ Steven pleaded as tears were running down his face.

‘So that you can go back and rape more prostitutes, beat more women or take your anger out on anyone else who is not equal in size to you?’ Tommy asked.

‘I promise, I won’t hurt anyone…please just let me go’ Steven pleaded.

‘No, you won’t. I will make sure of that’ Tommy then said, pulling his face close as the blood from Steven’s cheek-stained Tommy’s clothes.

Then Tommy pulled Steven of the table and, whilst the blood from Steven’s back now also covered Tommy, he forced him to turn around and sit on the chair in the corner.

‘If you come near Y/N, or her family or any of my establishments, I will have you killed and I will also have your father and brothers killed. Do you understand?’ Tommy asked, causing Steven to nod.

‘Good’ he growled before turning around, facing his men.

‘Finish it’ he then ordered before lightening himself a cigarette and handing one of his men a hot piece of metal.

‘This will hurt’ Arthur then said as he followed Tommy to his car and, just as they left the building, they could hear the screams in the distance as Tommy’s men were branding Steven’s skin with the word ‘Rapist’ as a warning for any women who would cross his path.

‘See that the women in our establishments receive compensation for what he has done to them. Also, I am taking a break for two weeks. I trust you can handle matters without me, eh’ Tommy then said to Arthur, causing Arthur to nod.

‘A break? Arthur asked surprised.

‘I promised Y/N a holiday when this is over. And now it’s over’ Tommy then said.

***

It was at around midnight when you heard Tommy’s car pull up in front of the house and, whilst he told you not to stay up, you did and waited for him in the small reading room leading to his office.

‘You waited up, eh’ Tommy said somewhat surprised when he saw you wearing nothing but black and very seductive lingerie as he hung up his jacket and gun holster.

‘Tommy, are you alright? Your clothes are covered in blood’ you said with worry as you quickly walked over towards him.

‘Yes Love, it’s not my blood’ Tommy said, reassuring you before kissing you gently.

‘Then who’s blood is it?’ you asked almost unbothered by it.

‘Steven’s’ Tommy said carefully, leaving you speechless.

‘I wanted to kill him. But I didn’t. Yet, he got what deserved and he won’t be hurting anyone else’ Tommy then said, sighing as he did and, just like that, you crashed your lips onto his in haste.

There was something wrong but yet sexy about all of this, Tommy covered in blood, the man you loved seeking revenge on the man you hated with all your heart.

‘I need you to fuck me, right here and right now’ you said. Your crimson lips curled, taking on a sinful countenance as your ever hungry tongue slithered forth before whispering ‘I need you Tommy’.

‘My clothes are stained with blood Y/N, I should…’ Tommy said, holding back and, before he could finish his sentence, you responded.

‘I don’t care’ you said with urge and Tommy was quick to return your kiss.

You felt small as he towered over you but you drew up to your full height and boldly ran your hands over his chest.

You then stepped back just far enough to let your nimble fingers glide over Tommy’s tie and shirt, unbuttoning his vest and releasing the loose knot of his tie.

‘Fuck’ he simply growled and you watched his eyes crawl from your encased feet, up your stocking legs, to the clasp of the garter...following the garter straps up and noticing what the frame job was doing to your immaculately bare pussy.

You couldn't help but shiver as Tommy took in the sight of your mound. You could tell just how excited he was by your swollen glistening pussy lips and clit peeking out from under its protective hood. Tommy’s eyes only pulled away reluctantly, to continue the sight-seeing journey they started until your eyes met.

What you saw there made your heart skip a beat. Gone was the selfless man that saved you as he once again transformed into a predator ... and you were his prey.

The smile that your face sported grew with a devilish delight. Finally, the week of abstinence was coming to an end and you would get to experience the beast within Tommy again.

You had no time to react as Tommy stepped close, pushing you back against the wall with a resounding grunt, his hands moving to the lace barely covering your breasts and tugged the flimsy material down.

‘Tell me if I am hurting you, alright? Your back is still bruised’ Tommy said caringly and you nodded before pulling him closer again.

‘I need you to fuck me, Tommy. No holding back, please’ you demanded, causing Tommy to chuckle.

Your breasts were fully exposed now with the prickly lace under the tender flesh, your nipples extended and aching. Tommy used this moment to exert his prowess, as strong fingers captured the taut buds, pinching, rolling and tugging them until he heard a familiar moan.

His lips quickly and fiercely covered yours in a consuming kiss, his tongue forcing its way into your mouth, finding yours and battling with it. You knew the demanding kiss was intended to keep you as quiet as possible with the maids around but you couldn't help but return it with equal urgency and demand.

You felt one of Tommy’s hands release your aching nipple and slither down to your fiery pussy. His fingers rough as they worked between the slick folds and against your erect clit. You cried out, his mouth the only thing keeping the sound to a minimum, as your hips bucked against his questing fingers. You ached for those same fingers to worm their way into your seeping hole and give you the slightest moment of relief, but no ... that was not his plan at all.

Your own hands were not still, as the nails of your left hand raked harshly against his shoulder, while your right hand found the buttons of his pants and tore at them. You needed this just as much as he did and were rewarded with little "pops" as the buttons released. You fished your hand behind Tommy’s briefs seeking what you had hoped was his throbbing cock and were again rewarded as your fingers wrapped around his steely member and began to stroke.

Tommy groaned and broke the kiss, panting heavily, nostrils flaring and you saw the darkness in his eyes deepening. His fingers still danced between your thighs and your own hand continued to stroke his hot cock all the while you dared to whisper, ‘I need you inside me Tommy, please’

With each word spilling from your lips, you squeezed his cock in exclamation. There was no doubting your words or purpose.

Tommy needed no other prompting as he pulled his hands from your needy body and worked his pants and boxers down just past his ass, his beautiful cock sprang into full view now, swollen,

Some pre-cum was glistening at the deep red tip and though you longed to tongue bathe that precious organ, Tommy again decided the outcome of this particular adventure.

His hands cupped your ass, lifting you and you wrapped your legs around his waist, your back hard against the wall, your left-hand clutching at him while your right was positioning his cock at your seeping hole. Tommy’s eyes never left yours as he thrusted forward, burying his cock easily into your lava-like cavern.

‘Oh god yes, fuck Tommy’ you moaned before you tucked your bottom lip between your teeth and bit down, wanting so badly to cry out in pure pleasure as Tommy quite literally took you. Each thrust was more powerful than the last and you knew that you would most definitely be sore in the morning.

Tommy’s fingers curled painfully into the flesh of your ass, holding you tightly as he roughly drove his member into your spasming pussy. It didn't surprise you when you felt the index fingers of his hands work their way to your wicked hole and pry before pushing them inside the sinful star.

‘Oh god, fuck’ you moaned as you bit down harder on your lip, tasting blood but managing to squelch the whorish moan that threatened to burst forth.

Tommy worked his fingers in deeper and though you tried, you couldn't gain enough purchase to meet his pounding thrusts. Tommy pulled back just far enough that his swollen tip rubbed the hidden bundle of nerves within you and sent you flying over the edge.

He saw how your eyes widened, how your own nostrils flared and knew you were about to cum. His mouth covered yours possessively again, drinking in the scream of utter bliss and complete orgasmic delight. Your pussy rippled down Tommy’s length, pulling his own release from him.

Your hand left his shoulder and found Tommy’s head, pulling his mouth tightly to yours. It was your turn to devour his guttural growl and devour you did. You drank his pleasure down as his cock spit his precious seed deep into your mound, painting you.

It all happened so fast with an urgency born of intense need. As Tommy’s cock slipped free, he looked into your eyes.

‘Fuck’ Tommy huffed, letting go of you slowly before kissing you again passionately.

‘I missed this Tommy’ you said just before Tommy pulled up his pants and lifted you up.

‘Where are we going?’ you asked as Tommy carried you upstairs.

‘The bathtub for round two, then the bed for round three and I haven’t decided where we will take round four yet, maybe my office…’ Tommy smirked and your eyes widened in disbelieve.

‘I told you, you won’t be walking straight for days, eh’ he then grinned, causing you to giggle.

Tag List:

@lilymurphy03 @deefigs @theflamecrystal @desperate-and-broken @weepingstudentfishhorse @livinginfantaxy @rosey1981 @atomicsoulcollecto @peakyboyslover @nerdy4itall@elenavampire21 @hanster1998@mariapaiva13 @fairypitou @harry-is-my-sunflower @zozeebo @lauren-raines-x @kasaikawa @littlewierdalien @sad-huffle-nerd @theflamecrystal @peakymalfoyscullymulder @themissthang@0ghostwriter0 @stylescanbeatmyback @1-800-peakyblinders @datewithgianni @momoneymolife @ntmynouis @lilymurphy03 @mcntsee@cloudofdisney @missymurphy1985 @peakymalfoyscullymulder @otterly-fey @janelongxox @uchihacumdump @basiclassy @being-worthy @chaotic-bean-of-smolness @margoo0 @chocolatehalo @vhscillian @ysmmsy @littlewierdalien @crazymar15  @stickyknightflowerbailiff @im-constantly-fangirling @goldensunflowe-r  @tellingyouastory  @captivatedbycillianmurphy​  @namelesslosers​  @littlewhiterose​  @ttzamara​  @ttzamara @cilleveryone  ​

@severewobblerlightdragon​  @ysmmsy​  

Cannot Tag (please check your settings):

@l0tsofpennies @trolleydolly @avonlady1985 @chrisevanshoeee @daydreamingnymph @fookingshelby  @thenattitude