#my left hand had to deal with some slightly pain when drawing him

[sitelenco]

i drew this with my left hand and it turned out so silly i love it xd

will you fite him or nah? ksnkkkdjs 💙💙

[peaky-shelby]

NEW ROMANTICS | MBAPPÉ [6]

» summary: in which an arrogant and talented football player (the best of his time as some say) and a focused and harsh critic of a journalist are gonna have to find a way to co-exist.

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» chapter 6: Poker

» writer's note: well talk about a stressful update. BUT HEY I DID IT. not gonna say a lot up here. See you on the other side. OH if you see Green link, click on them 🥲 my apologies for what you are about to go through.

» Taglist: @moonchildohh @formulahoe @princetongirlll818 @mavieesttriste16 @kiwisa @godessstela @hummusxx @kodzuvk @pink-manz @corbyns-smile @ippid @jayruiewo265738 @blueanfield @mrs-bellingham @sorceresski @sooblovebot @okayymochi @army7g @j-rbps @heli991113 @markhyucksmells @chaotic-taco-collector-blog @i0veless @photmath @http-isabela @rainytelevisionfilmwagon @formula101x @neymarloverxxx @cepolar @freespirit-51 @marialikescherries

PLAY MUSIC

Taylor slipped away from him as soon as Marquinhos called his name. She took away with her the electricity, leaving him with just an unusual sense of emptiness. Marquinhos drew closer.

“What is the matter with you?” He yelled. Kylian was pacing back and forth on the hall, trying to control his emotions while his heart raced in the same rhythm as the havoc of his mind. Marquinhos had to slap his shoulder in order to get him focused because he looked like he had just downloaded 10 cups of caffeine all at ones “Kylian!”

“Je ne sais pas!” he snapped, smacking Marcos’ hands away from him in annoyance “Je ne sais pas! Mais cette femme me rend fou ! Elle ne fait que mentir, elle ment toujours, Marcos !”

“Tranquilles Kylian!” he ordered “I don’t know what your deal is with her but you have to get your shit together quick-“

“Why?” he shouted. “Who is she?” Marcos never answered him so Kylian made a step forward. “Did you know she played professionally? is that why she has you and Galtier wrapped around her finger-“

“Whatever is going on with you, you need to fix it before it’s too late! You hear me?”

“I wanna know the truth!”

“The truth is that she is a smart as hell woman that is trying to help all of us and I’m surprised she’s still here after all the shit you’ve put her through!” he poked him on the shoulder, pointing at him “Look at yourself!” he said the last sentence like he was disgusted “what happened to you? You came back from Qatar a different man- since when do you treat woman like that? Do you even recognize yourself in the mirror anymore because I don’t? What is it? Greed? Insecurities? Jealousy?” Kylian couldn’t look at him in the eye, his gaze kept moving around the room finally settling on a window where he could slightly see his own reflection on. “You’re turning into a madman!” He didn’t like what he saw in the mirror, he didn’t like this version of him at all. He was drunk on anger and desperation, he was high on self insecurity and he could see it in his eyes. “Swear to god, this is your last warning!” he said and left.

Kylian moved back a little, his hand was itching, his fist begging to come in contact with anything and it did. He punched the wall, drawing back quickly in pain. A few moments later Hakimi was by his side, holding him by the arm. He didn’t even know if he had been there the entire time but now he was pushing him back and dragging him from the nearest exit. He practically pushed him out in the balcony and Kylian felt the chilling cold on his skin, violently reminding him who and where he was. He gripped on the railing. And for a while neither of them said anything.

“I’m scared for you Ky!” said Hakimi. “I don’t understand what’s gotten into you. I’m trying but I can’t- it can’t be just her. What is it?”

“Can’t you see it?” he asked, yelling. He looked at his friend “I don’t know how she does it but she always does. It’s her eyes- she looks at you and you feel like the smallest person in the world. I look at her and all I see are my mistakes.” He pointed at his fingers while he spoke “The shot I didn’t take. The pass I didn’t give. The chance I didn’t see. Always down to the detail with her, isn’t it?” Hakimi’s eyes expressed a sort of pitifulness they give you when they know you are being unreasonable. He wanted to help his friend but even he was afraid to draw closer. Watching your friend falling apart right in front of you eyes, it was never easy. “And it’s driving me insane! The way she can play with my mind like that. The way she sees right through it and the closer I let her see, the more she is…” he tried to find the right word “poising me. Turning me into this-“ he stopped “That’s what’s worse! Cause Marcos is right! I don’t even recognize myself anymore!”

This was a cry for help. It’s amazing how much a person can get in your head when you let them. Hakimi went closer, placing his hand on his friend’s shoulder while Kylian looked at the street. He knew that’s all his friend needed for now; silence.

“And then…” his voice trailed off

“Then what?”

Kylian closed his eyes. He imagined her against the wall, her figure in contrast to his. Her skin in contact to his, he made a fist with his hand trying to replicate what it felt like holding her but all he held was emptiness and cold air. Was it poison or just the stinking feeling of alcohol cleaning his wounds? He couldn’t understand.

He turned around to go back to the ‘party’. He wanted to erase every thought, feeling, doubt of the last 20 minutes. Hakimi stepped in front of him to stop him.

“Where are you going?”

“I just need a drink.” He said and moved around him.

PLAY MUSIC ♪

Colorful but dark lights filled the room, smell of smoke and alcohol. Kylian made his way to the bar, passing in between the dancing figures. The room was much more crowded now, everyone was either tipsy or already wasted. Footballers, models, journalists. A dangerous mix. All of them dancing together like they were choreographed.

And she was in the distance, next to her loyal friend Trish and Sergio Ramos. She saw him too their eyes meeting for a split second before she got closer to his teammate, on her tiptoes. He saw her whispering something in his ear, Ramos hand slipping on her lower back, bringing her closer to him just so he’d listen better. He wanted to interrupt, he wanted to get in between them. His eyes glaring at them while every fiber of his being called him to ran to them like she was the ball and she was about to be stolen. The music was like a void in his mind, the room felt like it was getting smaller, trapping him in his thoughts. He made a step forward, he was stopped just as quick. A hand reaching for his. He looked to his side. Hakimi.

“Don’t!” he warned.

A moment later she was exiting the venue with Ramos by her side, whispering something in her ear and Trish on Ramos’s other side. They were leaving together. Why did he care?

He went to the bar, asked for a shot of vodka before asking for the second, the third, before the room started spinning, before Verratti came up to him saying something about taylor and a journalist. He couldn’t follow. Before he danced on the dance floor with a woman he never met in his life. A woman he didn’t have to impress, a woman that was already in awe of him, a woman that reflected his greatness in her eyes and held him like he was gold. Touched him like he was priceless at the back of his car. Kissed him like he was a toy that she’d leave like he was just another number when she was done.

But he wasn’t satisfied by it, he thought he would be but he wasn’t. He was as lonely and as angry with himself as he was before, as he had been for almost a month. And as he laid on the backseats with the random woman on his side, Taylor’s lips still ghosted over his. The picture of seeing her and Ramos together still flickered in his mind. All the things he said to her, echoed in his head and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to throw up by the words he said to her or the alcohol. He thought of all that while He looked at himself on the review mirror, his eyes were so dark, so blank. So unfamiliar to him. What was he turning into?

TAYLOR’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

PLAY MUSIC

Taylor had been silent for the whole ride, while Trish and Sergio flirted like high school kids at the front. She’d always find herself stroking the places that he touched with his skin or his breath. Her wrist, the skin under her eyes. The back of her thumb passed over her lips, the lips that he never kissed but he still somehow managed to make wonder what he’d taste like. She didn’t recognize this feeling, she didn’t like it, it was dangerous.

Trish entered first and went straight to the toilet because as she said she was gonna pee her pants if she didn’t go in.

When she got in the house she sat on her bed and then quickly fell backwards on the sheets, closing her eyes. Then opening them again because every time she closed them all she could see were his black heavy eyes. Trish came out mumbling about something that Taylor couldn’t pay attention in. A few seconds later Trish was sitting on the edge of the bed, slapping her thigh to get her back on earth. Taylor sat up, looking at her friend for some compassion.

“You gonna tell me what’s going on?”

She was trying to form sentence but no one coherent thought would come out of her lips. Where would she even start? “I need a drink.”

“We were just at a party!” Trish reminded her, narrowing her eyes “with free drinks.”

“I need like 10 shots of tequila in a bottle of wine this big” she showed it with her hands and got up. Searching in the cupboards for some alcohol. Trish watched confused, wondering why they even left the party if she was just gonna get wasted here.

“Is this allowed in your condition?”

Taylor laughed, then gasped ones she found the bottle she was looking for. She didn’t have glasses so she used the coffee cups on the counter.

“My condition?” she repeated, still laughing. “You know what’s not allowed in my condition? Kylian, he is the absolute worst for my condition.” She opened the wine aggressively. Poured the wine on the cups and drank hers before she even got the other one to Trish. “How-“ she swallowed “how can he be such fucking asshole? And then just-“ she stopped herself, refilling her cup.

Trish raised her eyebrow, almost smiling at her friend “and then what?” she asked. Trish took pride in her talent of picking on energies and tensions. She knew the moment she laid her eyes on them. Taylor drank the second cup in one breath. Trish had to get up and take the bottle from her, then she helped her find her was back on the bed, making her sit on the edge. Taylor looked blankly at her desk.

“then his eyes.” She finally said, dropping her entire body back on the sheets again. “they’re so dark all the time.”

Trish laid next to her, balancing her elbow on the mattress and her head on her hand. “sexy isn’t, it?”

“Shut up.” She said quickly making her laugh. Trish dropped on her back as well, both of them staring at the ceiling.

“I saw the way he looked at you. Just before you threw yourself at Serg.”

Taylor peaked at her, opening her one eye and raising her eyebrow “Serg?”

“Shush! Not the point. Tell me what happened between you two.”

Taylor shook her head slightly, closed her eyes “I’m not sure.” She bit on her lips, the same haunted memory returning in her head. Was he going to kiss her if Marcos didn’t show up? Did she want him to? “But I have a feeling… it’s gonna get worse before it gets better.”

TAYLOR’S APARTMENT – DAY

Taylor woke up by the morning light. Not the alarm. Which was the first thing that made her feel like something was wrong. She lifted her head from the covers, looking around to realize where she was and what day, month, year it was. She reached for her phone.

“FUCK!” She dropped it as soon as she saw the time. Jumped of the bed and looked around the messy room for her clothes, anything that she could wear. She didn’t even check herself in the mirror. She just let her hair down, hoping it wasn’t that bad and put on her sneakers. Trish woke up by the banging and running around, murmuring.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m late.”

“You’re always late its fine.”

“he’s gonna kill me.”

She grabbed her keys and she left.

TRAINING CAMPUS – DAY

“nice of you to show up Seven!” said Marquinhos.

Kylian’s walk was slow, everything in his body hurt. His eyes, his legs, his stomach. Training was the last thing he needed. He ignored Marco’s comment and took of his jacket leaving it on the benches and walked over to the field. He had changed on the car after leaving the girl he spent the night with at her house. He thank god he had a left over uniform there. He started doing his stretching, raising his leg up to his stomach. Verratti walked up to him, doing his stretches next to him.

“You’re not the only one late.”

“What?” Kylian’s mind was too much of a mess to follow or listen.

“Wilock hasn’t showed up yet.”

Kylian’s eyes lifted in worry. His first instinct was look around for Ramos. He caught him on the other side of the field laughing about something with Messi. Wasn’t he the one that drove her home last night? He started running to him, making it look like he was just jogging for training. He stood in between Messi and him, listening to the conversation while he stretched his arms.

Sergio nodded as acknowledgment “you look like shit.” He laughed. Always a bully.

“had a rough night, Amigo?” Leo joked.

Since when were they Amigos? He was tired of pretending everything was fine after the world cup. Sometimes he straight up just wanted to his him in the face- wait, why was he admitting that. He looked up at Sergio, ignoring Messi completely.

“What about you, did you have fun last night?”

Ramos narrowed his eyes. He was confused. He let out a short laugh, shrugging his shoulders “Had some fun, yes.”

Kylian nodded. Suddenly he had no idea what to ask or perhaps how to ask it. Then the whistle was heard in the distance. Marquinhos gathered the entire team in the middle of the field for the beginning of the simulation. This time, team captains were Marquinhos and Leo. Thank God Kylian was on Marcos’s team with Hakimi and Sergio was with Leo. He took a deep breath and put every single one of his thoughts on pause. Although as fate would have it he fought a lot with Sergio to get the ball from him. He’d always end up somehow next to him, drippling and fouling him even.

“Chill down Man!” said Sergio while he got up after what would be the second time that Kylian knocked him down. Kylian mumbled a short apology while he distanced himself from him and continued to play. Taylor still hadn’t showed up.

GALTIER’S OFFICE – DAY

Galtier was reading her notes. He had his glasses on, silence filling the room while he read. She sat across from him. She kept glancing at him, expecting a reaction, anything that would give away if he agreed with her or not. She already felt bad about being late, she didn’t want to get another strike on the same day. Eventually he took of his glances, leaving them on the desk as well as her documents. Taylor gave him a smile when he looked up at her.

“Group therapy? Is this some sort of prank.”

She didn’t answer.

“You want me to put 20 adults in a room for group therapy?”

“Not all of them. Just 3 for starters.”

“Which would be?”

She hesitated “Number 10, 7 and 30.”

Galtier laughed “you want Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe to have a couples therapy?” She didn’t answer. Smiling weakly, so she wouldn’t offend him. Was it really funny when your entire team was falling apart because of lack of chemistry? “good god you’re serious.”

“Yes, I’m afraid I am”

“Number 7 and 10 are getting better along.”

“Do they? I mean it doesn’t seem like I wanna kill Kylian every second of everyday but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to-“ she murmured under her breath. Galtier only caught half of what she said. Narrowing his eyes. “Point is!” she said raising her voice “their chemistry on the field it’s still messy and when the big 3 can’t get along your team is bound to fall apart. It’s like you have cliques in your team. Hakimi, Verratti and Mbappé. Messi and Neymar. They need to break out of their comfort zone.”

“And that’s all in your reports as well?”

“Yes sir. You’ll have them tomorrow.”

“Finally.” He mumbled “ok fine, bring me the individual reports and we’ll discuss it again tomorrow. Meanwhile you need to give Julie your personal information for the trip in Doha and Riyadh and be here early tomorrow so we can announce your role to the boys.”

“Hm?” she raised her eyes. She had forgotten about that last part.

“You can start coaching them accordingly.” He explained.

“right. Yes. Of course.”

“Listen to me closely Ms. Wilock. The match against Al Nssr is especially important. You understand why.”

“You have three of the best players in the world and you are scared Ronaldo will kick your ass anyway.” She said before she hadn’t even thought that it might have been inappropriate. She still had her habit of saying exactly what was on her mind with no regret.

“That’s not exactly how I would have worded it Ms. Wilock.” He paused, eyeing her closely “but as long as you get the point.”

She smiled “I do sir.”

OUTSIDE TRAINING AREA / TRAINING CAMPUS – DAY

Taylor watched them playing, trying to avoid Kylian on purpose. She’d look at Sergio or Leo, anything to keep her attention away from the guy that had haunted her last night. She smiled as Marquinhos ran to her when he saw her, holding a football on his one hand.

“You wanna join for the second half?” he asked. She didn’t expect that question, she frowned. “We are almost done. I mean you don’t have to pressure yourself but-“ he took a quick look at the boys and then back at her “my team is losing.”

She laughed, letting down all her bags. “Are you that desperate?”

“Come on” he laughed along with her, smiling. “Fabian just walked out. I’m missing a player.”

“Why do I feel like you have something else planned?”

He shrugged “It’s just 20 minutes. What could happen in 20 minutes?”

She thought about it, crossing her arms. Maybe a quick game was all she needed. “Just because you are my favorite one.”

She took of her jacket, dropping it on a set of chairs and lifted her sweatpants up to her knee. She pulled her hair in quick bun while she walked with him back on the field. She took a quick glance at Kylian, catching the tension in his eyes expecting him to say something but he didn’t. He backed away and stood behind Hakimi instead.

“Hey that’s not fair!” Neymar stepped forward “what’s this?”

“It’s a substitution. Fabian is out, she’s taking his place-“

“Hold on you didn’t say we could have her!” said Ramos, stepping forward as well with a smile on his face “I’d have taken her on our team.”

“Wanna fight for me Ramos?” she asked, smirking.

“Damn right I do!” he answered quickly.

“Merde” Kylian murmured behind his teeth, rolling his eyes. Hakimi saw that and pushed him slightly to move away from the crowd. Taylor took a quick look to see which players were wearing the blue flannels that gave away they were on Marcos’ team. She noticed Kylian was wearing one too. Her eyes stayed on him for a while as he and Hakimi were discussing something. He saw her, nodding to her direction and that gave her somewhat of a relief because it wasn’t a rude nod. It was like he was telling her ‘Let’s just focus on the game’ and she liked that. She wanted that too. So, the game started.

She was there mostly as a midfielder, running and stealing the ball from whoever she could. That earned her a few strikes from the opposite team when she would try to tackle them. But the vibe was different from the first time she played with them. Like she was actually part of the team. Marcos’ team was losing 1-2. And her presence didn’t make a lot of difference at first. She and Kylian would look at each other from time to time but there was zero communication between them.

During the last 5 minutes the ball landed on Kylian’s feet and he ran with it from their end of the field to the others. He was swiftly tackled by Ektike in the middle of the field, who stretched his leg out and kicked the ball away from him. The ball was supposed to go to Messi but Taylor jumped in between stealing the pass for herself. Ramos, as a defender ran towards her but she kicked the ball to the left side of the field to escape all the defenders until she realized how close to the net she was.

She calculated the angle, her mind spinning in insane speed, while she counted the possibilities this could down. She counted the defenders in front of her. There was one possibility that she could take the shot and it would land on the net but it was a risk. She looked up, Kylian was on the middle. She kicked the ball up at Kylian and he dropped on the ground, sliding and kicking it for it to go the net just in between the goalkeeper’s legs. He got up instantly, screaming in happiness for his accomplishment while the rest of his teammates ran to him.

Taylor stood watching them while they all got on top of each other. Laughing and messing around with Kylian. She smiled. She didn’t feel alone, if anything she felt proud while she watched them, these were gonna be her boys no matter what and she came in the sudden realization that it wasn’t a matter of if she’d let go of her blog. There was no chance in the world she could do both things, there was no way she could stand hurting any of them again. She felt a sudden warmth under her eye. It was a tear, rolling down her cheek like a confession. She wiped it away quickly, only then realizing Kylian was coming forward. With an enigmatic expression on his face, she wasn’t sure what she wanted but the closer he’d get the more the memories started coming back. The more she wanted to step away, expecting a wall to be behind her and him trapping her again. Instead he lifted his hand, waited for her to shake it. She hesitated, glancing between his hand and his eyes before finally holding it. The skin to skin contact, lingering a little longer. Suddenly she was back at the roof holding his hand, or in the bathrooms the first day when he grabbed her arm, or last night when he held her wrist. But all these memories and all the bitterness seemed to be replaced by the sweetness and honesty of this moment. Looking in each other’s eye, shaking each other’s hands. Perhaps for a little too long while she tried to decipher the look in his eyes until Verratti came and called him to get back on the game.

Their hands slipping away from each other.

She was swept off her feet by behind by someone. She twisted her head to see who it was, her expression softening when she saw Neymar. He let her down and she turned around, hugging him from his neck. “I’m sorry for that.” She mumbled in his chest.

“Hate it when you play for the other team.” He said, pulling back a little and she looked in his eyes. That’s not what she was apologizing for.

“never again.” She smiled and they both ran back on the field for the last few minutes of the match.

LOCKER ROOMS HALLWAY – LATER

Taylor was so sweaty, all she wanted to do was go back home and have the warmest most chilling shower she could. And she was so tired, her headache getting worse by the minute.

She made a turn to the room with the spare clothes. Puffing and blowing out air from her chest, while she rubbed her temple, feeling the sweat coming from her hair on her hand. When she entered the room she stopped on her tracks. Kylian. Naked from the waist up.

“Sorry-“ she said quickly, closing her eyes and turning on her heel to leave.

“No, no. I’m done.” He said, putting on his shirt and walking to the exit. Taylor turned around again, not knowing that he’d be behind her now and knocking on him with a jolt. She stepped back quickly, her hands barely brushing on his chest. She moved away just as fast, looking at the closets for a spare shirt. He observed her while she tried to choose a shirt that probably fit her. He knew she wasn’t going to talk to him, so he contemplated leaving. He even turned around, ready to leave her alone but it was eating him alive. So, he maneuvered back to her.

“Thanks for earlier. That was a good pass.”

“hm” she said coldly. Picking out a shirt. He hated this coldness from her, he liked it more when she talked back at him or yelled. This was unfamiliar.

“I really didn’t think you’d do it.”

She looked at him when she headed for the exit. He stood on entrance so she was basically forced to acknowledge him. “That’s the difference between you and me, Kylian. You wouldn’t take the shot. I don’t let my personal issues get in the way of my game. Ever.”

He nodded, twisting his mouth and pursing his lips together. He looked at the floor. “Still part of you must have hit it because you hoped it would get on my face.” He tried to lighten the mood but all he got was a sigh and a roll of her eyes. She went around him to leave, he lifted his hand to hold her arm but he stopped midway, pulling his hand back before he touched her. “I’m sorry for last night.” That seemed to stop her. She stood in the empty hallways, examining him. There she was again, making him feel like the smallest person in the world. He couldn’t stand it and the urge to fight her again was coming back but he tried to ignore it by looking away- he failed. “Why you gotta keep doing that?” he snapped, finally asking her straightforward. But she wasn’t sure what she was doing. So, she knitted her eyebrows. And he motioned at her with his hand “Your eyes. You have this look like you are judging everything all the time. It’s frustrating.” She snorted, shaking her head. “Even now im trying to apologize and you’re always just-“

“Just what Kylian?” she asked, topping his voice and walking back to him “what do you expect? An apology is enough after all the shit you’ve put me through ever since I got here?” She stood under him. Her eyes bored into him. Reminding him his flaws, his shortcomings.

“Don’t do that…” he warned in a whisper, looking down at her. How was she the smaller of the two but he always felt falling short around her. He diverted his gaze at the walls, shielding his lips, biting them even. The familiar anger, only she could bring out, was rising. Burning his insides, he was trying so hard not to snap at her again, not to touch her. He had to lay against the doorframe, hold his hands in fists and keep them against the wall just to make sure he wouldn’t grab her again.

“Is that why you were so angry last night?” she asked, searching for his eyes “you couldn’t pretend anymore that I’m just a silly journalist.” She laughed bitterly “it dawned on you that maybe everything I’ve said to you until now, is true. You hate it, don’t you?” she asked the last question in a whisper, bitter voice “You could hide from it while you thought I was a high school player.” His eyes found hers and he saw that they were more brutal than ever. Like she actually hated him. Almost like she was trying to provoke him, see how far she could get him before he returned to his old ways. Like she wanted him to beg for mercy. She stepped closer, tilting her head upward “Can’t hide anymore”

“Defiantly not a high school player.” He agreed but even that came out in a disrespectful way “because you know exactly what you are doing in the field and out of it.” He leaned down, she stepped back and he stepped forward “you know exactly what you are doing to me.” She snorted again, awkwardly, twisting her head away from him. Making another step backwards, only so he’d make another forward “who’s hiding now?”

“Still as delusional as last night.”

“tell that to yourself a couple of times you might believe it” She reached the other side of the door. Her back bumping on it while Kylian kept his eyes as piercing as always. Suddenly he felt himself getting taller. She licked her back teeth her tongue, clenching her jaw. He raised his hands to remind her that he wasn’t touching her, that she could leave if she wanted to. “But I think I have some power over you as well after all.”

“Wouldn’t that make you feel better about yourself?”

“Nothing about you makes me feel better about myself” he spat, drawing closer “that’s the problem.” He confessed “if anything all I see when I look at you is everything I hate about myself—” he leaned down, his face hovering over hers “and I can’t understand if you’re doing it on purpose but it’s eating me alive.” his hands remained in distance but he still managed to shield her by holding on the walls “my failures, the pressure, the anticipation—” he lowered his head even more and for a moment he allows himself to believe that he can have her, he looked at her lips “I always seem to do the wrong thing, say the unforgivable because you push me to my limit without even trying.” Their thighs were touching now, he liked the contact “and I’m always torn between hating you for it and…” his voice trailed off. His last confession falling short. “Parfois, tout ce que je veux, c’est te serrer dans mes bras et te montrer à quel point je peux être bon. Parce qu’aucune femme, dans ma vie, ne m’a jamais fait ressentir ça.”

She had her eyes on him the entire time. The language barrier wasn’t as tall anymore. She had no idea what his words were but somehow, she understood exactly what she wanted to say and her mouth getting drier, the closer that he’d get to her. Realizing that he had shield her again, noticing the darkness in his eyes again. She shook her head, slowly, keeping her face down, to make sure he had no access to her lips. His breathing would fall on her ear now, warming it, because he was that close. “It’s not happening Kylian.”

“Why not?” he said in her ear.

Oh how weak his voice on her ear made her. How many shivers it sent on her entire body. Oh, how she hated it and loved it all the same. She tightened her entire expression, keep her head high but turned at the right side. That way he couldn’t really see her eyes. Not that he cared because all he was looking at was her neck.

And she wanted to tell him: cause I’m your coach, cause I’m JW and I really am the worst liar in the world. Because I would be risking everything just by looking at you the way that you are looking at me. But she didn’t and he leaned even closer, so much so that she could sense his lips moving against her ear. So much so that she had to remind herself repeatedly why this tension should remain unresolved. But a twisted part of her still wanted to touch him, kiss him.

“I couldn’t stand seeing you with Ramos last night” he admitted. “Same way I can’t stand when you analyze my playing, reminding me every time that I’m not good enough.” His lips brushed on her ear; her hair stuck on his lips. She straightened her head, their eyes meeting. Kylian leaned closer, waiting for permission. Their lips so close he could taste it.

“No because…” she whispered. He looked in her eyes. This was it. She’d either say it now or he’d find out with everyone else in the morning. She could be honest, first time that would happen between them, but she could do it. Kylian frowned waiting for her to continue.

Voices laughing coming from a distance in combination with fast steps let them know that the whole team was coming downstairs. They pulled away from each other automatically.

Taylor left before they could see her, sneaking into one of the bathroom stalls and locking the door. She lowered her entire body, holding on her face. “Fuck” she whispered. This was only the beginning of the day and she was scared to face the rest. She wasn’t one to let in her impulsive thinking, she always planned everything ahead. She learned the hard way that things don’t work out the way you want to and you must always have a back up plan but she was out of back up plans.

INSIDE GYM / TRAINING CAMPUS – AFTERNOON

Kylian hid on the gym. He wanted to distract himself, he wanted to stop thinking about her despite the spell that she had casted on him. Verratti came in, calling for him.

“Just hanged up with Ann. She says she’s looking into it.”

Kylian looked at Verratti while running on the treadmill, giving him the same confusing look, he gave him in the morning.

“Who’s Ann?”

“Man were you even listening to me last night?”

“I wasn’t listening to anything last night.”

“she’s a journalist. Says she can find dirt on Wilock.”

“Wait- what?” Kylian pressed the button to stop the thread mill getting down so he wouldn’t fall “you got a journalist into this?”

“Yeah man. She already got some nice information. You told me to go ahead with it, did you forget?”

Kylian closed his eyes trying to remember, he rubbed his forehead. He was surprised by his own Insolence. “She keeps saying she has a theory but she isn’t sure yet--”

“Let it go man!” he said calmly

“What?”

“Just let it go.” He repeated and reached down for his water bottle. “she’ll be gone in a week.”

“I mean it’s a already done now!”

Kylian eyed him. Shaking his head “why would you bring someone else into this? you might get us in trouble.” He asked.

“she’s a friend-”

“She’s a journalist. She’ll sacrifice your friendship for a headline in seconds.”

“She won’t do anything. She says she can dig shit up about JW as well. Kylian, you agreed to do this! What has gotten into you now?”

“I didn’t know what I was agreeing to last night, alright?” he huffed, breathing out curse words in anger “just don’t get me mixed up in this shit-” he grabbed his gym bag and his water bottle. Leaving.

The two kept looking at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Taylor was stealing glances at him while also trying to write her speech for the next day. Drawing over all the sentences she’d start because nothing was good enough. She didn’t even know where to start. The truth about JW or being their coach. Everything seemed wrong like she had betrayed them in the worst way and yet she didn’t want to apologize. Why would she apologize for doing her job as a journalist? She closed her eyes. Ones again lining over what she had written.

Kylian was taking a look whenever he could. The things Verratti had told him in combination of their little moment in the halls were brewing in his mind. He wanted to warn her for some reason, maybe because he knew that if anything bad happened, she was gonna blame it on him. Or maybe because he cared. He could feel her staring sometimes, her eyes practically scanning him but whenever he’d look at her, she’d look away in an instant. He’d notice her expression of lust for a couple short seconds.

Before she left, she came to speak to Marquinhos. At the point he and a few other members of the team were sitting in a circle on the field taking a break. Kimpembe, who was on her team during the game, started clapping.

“Wanna go another round?” he asked, laughing.

She dropped her head, shaking it “wouldn’t last playing another game with you.”

“Ky should be grateful; you saved that one.” Ektike said, being the one that almost ruined Kylian’s shot in the first place. Kylian was sitting with knees close to his chest and his arms laid on his knee bones, playing with a piece of grass in between his fingers. He tried to pretend like he focused with that, not answering to his comment. Taylor looked at him from the corner of her eye, smiling weekly at Ektike’s comment.

“He thanked me enough, don’t worry” she noted “in his way.” Kylian lifted his head to see her. He bit his lips so he wouldn’t smile. He didn’t expect it but she had a teasing grin on her face. “Marcos, can I speak with you for a second?”

“Sure!”

Marcos got up, dusting off the grass from his uniform as he stood. They walked away together, whispering in the distance about something. She looked worried and he looked like he was motivating her, rubbing her shoulder. Kylian stood up, copying Marcos’ movements and dusting away the grass. He started walking over to them, deciding that he wanted to tell Taylor the truth but they were done with their conversation before he could get to them. Taylor went towards the exit while Marquinhos was walking to Kylian’s direction.

“Where’d you think you’re going?”

“I need to speak to her.”

“No, you don’t. You need to finish your training; you have an hour left.”

“It will only take 5 seconds.”

“It never takes only 5 seconds with you. Back on the field now!”

Kylian couldn’t argue. He had already one strike too many with Marquinhos. He backed away, the frustration returning in his mind.

He was doing the exercise of Tiki-Taka with Hakimi, Ramos, Messi, Kimpembe and Neymar. Kylian was in the middle trying to get control of the ball while the others passed it around each other. He was getting tired and not enjoying it while the others seemed to take pleasure in his struggle. Especially Ramos, he was having a great laugh watching him suffer. He had been trying to for a while, his mind unable to focus when he almost had it but then he was pushed on the ground. Falling on his side. It was Ramos that pushed him. It was a gesture that otherwise he would have laughed away in good spirit. They always teased each other. But not today. He got up, getting in Ramos’ face-

“je vais te frapper au visage!” he said in a gruff voice. Ramos was still laughing, giving him a light push like he thought Kylian was messing around. The moment he touched his shoulder, Kylian slapped his hand off. That seemed to alarm Ramos, whose expression darkened and made a step closer to Kylian.

“What’s your deal man?”

“J'ai un problème avec ton visage!”

Ramos lowered his eyebrows “calm down kid—”

Hakimi launched himself forward and in between them to separate them. He pushed Kylian back while he pointed at Ramos like he was warning him “Call me kid one more time!” he yelled. Hakimi shushed him, pushing him on the other end of the field and holding both of his shoulders to keep him still. Marquinhos had seen what happened and was already at Ramos’ side, listening to their side of the story. Kylian knew he was done for, so he moved away and left practice.

When he went on the locker rooms, he found Verratti texting in his phone. Verratti’s eyes landed on him, a smirk on his lips.

“Did you know she played in Chelsea?”

Kylian didn’t sit around to hear more. He left, grabbing his bag and going to find her.

TAYLOR’S APARTMENT / BATHROOM – NIGHT

“Dad says she’s getting bigger.” Taylor yelled from inside the shower. The blue thin curtain separated her from Trish, who was doing her make up on the mirror above the sink.

“What did you expect? She’d stay 4, forever?”

“It’s still weird.” She mumbled “makes me feel older every year on her birthday.”

“That’s because you are actually getting older.” Said Trish while pouting her lips to put her lipstick on. Taylor pushed the curtain, opening it slightly for a second to throw water at her. Trish screamed and jumped, backing away “Goddamn you woman!” she yelled. “if you ruin my dress, I’m stealing yours.” She said and left the bathroom.

Trish started picking her last stuff to put on her bag. Taylor opened the curtain and covered herself with on of her white towels. And picked her hair up with another pink towel. She came out of the bathroom, leaning against the doorframe. She watched her friend getting ready, smiling.

“This reminds me of high school.”

Trish snorted, sitting on the bed and putting her shoes on. “some thing’s never change. No matter how hard I try to. You’re still letting me go to parties alone.”

“Ramos will be there. You’ll be fine.” She sang “You know I’d come if it wasn’t for work. Just be careful.”

“I will.” She sat up, making a spin around herself to show her friend her outfit. “How do I look?”

“Beautiful.”

Trish clapped and walked over to Taylor, placing her hand on her cheek. “You sure you’re gonna be, ok?”

“Gotta starts getting used to these lonely nights, no matter how much I miss you. Dad. Lily.” She smiled “I’ll be fine. But try not to have too much without me.”

“Can’t make any promises” Trish kissed her cheek and grabbed her jacket from the hanger behind the door. “don’t wait up for me. Love you.”

“Love you too” said taylor but she was already out of the door. A silent meow was heard coming from the floor. Taylor looked down only to find Luna pouring in front of her feet, head bumping her while pleading for food. “Gimmie a minute to change angel.” She said and walked back to the bathroom. She released her hair from the towel, her we strand falling on her shoulders, freezing her skin. She patted them with the towel, trying to dry them as much as she could before she used the drier.

Until there was a knock on the door.

She looked at the direction of the bedroom/living room.

She went to open the door. Her hand holding on the doorknob.

She turned it.

Opened it.

“Kylian?”

She didn’t have time to ask what he was doing here because he barged in. Talking about something she couldn’t understand. Like he was trying to warn her. She was trying to catch up with what he was saying but the shock of seeing him there in the first place in combination with the fact that she was naked under the towel made her freeze.

“…I just want you to know that if shit happens, I had nothing to do with it—”

“Kylian!” she tried but he kept going, mumbling something about Verratti and a journalist.

“He told half the team about it—” She looked around for her robe but she found it at her bed. And Kylian was standing in front of it, so that was not an option. He hadn’t even looked at her since he barged in. “She’s brutal taylor—”

“KYLLIAN!” She yelled, holding on the towel over her chest “What on earth are you talking about?” she questioned raising her voice. He finally turned his eyes on her, finally taking in her figure, finally realizing. His mouth fell shut, his mind going blank, he forgot why he was there in the first place. His eyes settled on her bare shoulders. They were slightly covered by her long hair. Not enough to keep him from wanting to touch them. She held on tighter on the towel, feeling his gaze deepening.

They locked eyes with each other, neither of them saying a thing.

PLAY MUSIC

He should have left, just as quick as he came in. he didn’t.

She should have told him to leave. Yelled at him even. She didn’t.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked.

That reminded him. He was here to tell her about Verratti. But that could wait until the morning.

There was a sort of silence that was loud enough for both, like it was saying everything for them while they looked at each other. Speechless. That was a first.

“Oh Kylian” she sighed, but it was more of a beg. She wasn’t sure what she was begging for but she was begging for something. She closed her eyes, leaning her back against the wall, like she was giving in to something. She couldn’t see him but she could feel him getting closer. His shadow covering her whole. She refused to look at him because she knew she’d be met with those dark eyes. His dark haunting beautiful lies that could see right through her. Just like earlier in the morning, every memory she had with him flashed before her eyes, including their moment in the hallways. They had left something unfinished. Twice now they had done that.

‘Dangerous territory’ is what Hakimi had called it. That was an understatement, thought Kylian.

She bit on her tongue, leaning her head on the wall, looking down her eyes still closed. Why was he coming closer? More importantly Why wasn’t she stopping him?

He lifted his hand, his fingers grazing over her bare skin, begging to touch her. But he was holding himself back, as much as he was struggling. He made a fist with his hand trying to keep his fingers away from her skin. He looked away, moving his fist slightly against the air.

“Verratti knows about Chelsea. He knows about the incident and you condition. Maybe more…” He whispered. It was all he could explain for now, in the few words that he was left with. Because his mind was a tangled mess. She opened her eyes, realizing how close he was now. She looked up at him.

“That’s why you’re here?” she asked.

“Yeah.” he spoke, twisting his tongue “that’s why I came.”

But the reason he wanted to stay was different. She nodded. He was supposed to leave now. Open the door and go back down to his car. Yet he couldn’t move, it was like she had him tied there and he couldn’t do anything without her permission. He stared in her eyes, tightening his jaw.

“tell me to leave.”

Now that was a beg if there ever was one. She saw it in his posture, in his eyes. Heard it in his tone, his breath, his heartbeat.

“Please god tell me to leave.”

She thought her mouth and throat had gone completely dry; her lips were stuck together. She couldn’t speak.

He stepped forward. Realizing his fingers again towards her shoulders. She watched them, it was easier than looking in his eyes. She didn’t stop him when they got closer, she didn’t stop him when they bruised her skin while pushing her hair away. She took a deep breath in, giving in the tension. Dangerous indeed.

She never said it, so he never left.

He leaned in, lower and lower until their lips were so close to each other there was only one way to go and that was closer. They don’t know who initiated it. They both like to believe it was the other person because that was, they could blame them for the chaos that it would create.

Did it really matter who started it when she was the one pulling him closer by holding his shirt on her fists. Or he was the one gripping her lower back like that. Pleading for access in her mouth. Did the day after matter when she tasted him whole or her hands reached under his shirt, lifting it off him and throwing it on the other end of the room? Did it matter when his hands pulled her up on his arms and allowed her to wrap her legs around his waist, only so he’d drop her on the bed and hover over her a minute later? Did it matter when they looked in each other’s eyes like they knew they were about to taste the drug that would destroy them?

No, it didn’t.

Or if it did. It didn’t.

Cause when he kissed her neck, she gave in. and when he uncovered her body by untangling her towel, he went weak. Was it hate? Is that why hit bit on her skin, just to hear her whimpers? Was it something else? That made her rushing hands reach for his zipper and open it while he left kisses in between her breasts.

She cupped his face, forcing him to look in her eyes again before she became his for the night. In any way a person can be given to another.

GALTIER’S OFFICE – NEXT DAY

When she woke up, he wasn’t there. He was kind enough to leave a note, saying he’ll see her on training. She didn’t think much about it, maybe it was better this way. She got ready, same way she did every day. Mostly pretending like nothing had happened at all.

She packed the reports she had on her bag and she headed for the campus. First stop it was Galtier’s office. She didn’t let herself freak out, she waited to see him first.

She gave Galtier the folder with all the reports. He looked at all of them quickly at first, one by one. Marquinhos stood by her while she watched Galtier, her mind constantly running back to the night before.

“that’s all very nice” said Galtier, Taylor smiled. It was all she could do for now. Everything seemed to be going fine for the time being.

“But there is one missing.”

Her eyes widened; she went pale. She hoped to God she wouldn’t hear his name or his number.

“What about number seven?"

READ CHAPTER 6.1 HERE

did it i leave out details from their night on purpose because we will see more on the next chapter? Yes i did. Did i also cut the scene so you won't know what happened to that goddamn report? Of course i did. Am i proud of myself for creating chaos. Yes i am 🤭 is Taylor about to create chaos in the next chapter too? ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY. Y'all wanted to see her take the lead, step on her villain era and istg that woman is about to burn the entire campus down, and I'll write it while sipping tea ✨ now i want a favor, if you are gonna send as many messages as you did for me to post this chapter, please be decent enough to comment on it, lmk if you still like it because my self-consciousness is driving me INSANE. I love y'all to the moon and back! Dedicating this chapter to my war friend .

[tmntxthings]

Hellooo! :P I was thinking of a request for a moment and I thought, what about an overprotective (and a bit of a cry baby) s/o who gets really upset when Donnie visits her in the night all busted up and bruised after a fight with the foot. Extra, he wouldn’t exactly understand why the reader would be so upset, nor does he understand how to deal with it so he would get upset himself. But all the reader wants is their poor Donnie to be okay :( alas, coming to an understanding with some comfort. Doesn’t that sound so cute?! -soft anon ∩^ω^∩

Pain & Understanding

author’s note: yes, super cute, you’ve convinced me c; i hope my dear soft anon that you enjoy ~~~

warnings: fluff, slight angst, hurt/comfort, unedited

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You sucked in a breath as you watched Donatello wince as he climbed through your window.

“W-what happened?!” You exclaimed, looking at the darkening bruises that littered his green skin.

“The Foot Clan, they used a new tactic-“ his hands flared up as he stood straight, “shocking I know. Usually they just charge in, but low and behold an ambush was in store for us tonight.” Donnie’s tone was his usual, sarcasm dripping like a thick syrup.

You didn’t find it funny as he chuckled to himself. In fact you were out of your bed, grabbing his arm and tugging him over to sit down. “Y/n, I assure you, I am fine,” he said and as if it would prove his point he gave you that handsome smirk of his, trying to ease your worried expression.

It didn’t work. Not when you moved your hand down over to one of the dark bruises on his arm. He recoiled, holding back a wince, not wanting to be proven wrong but his pained facial reaction gave him away all the same. “You are not fine,” you seethed.

“Okay, I am 80 percent fine then, which is a high statistic in general, but it rounds up to 100 nonetheless.” Donnie didn’t understand why you were so upset. He got hurt all the time. It was a part of the job. He was bound to get beaten and bruised. He didn’t enjoy it, but it was a variable that was to be expected.

“I don’t care about percentages Donatello. I care about—“ You broke off, shaking your head as you left the room to get your first aid kit. When you exited the room your eyes started to water. Your emotions were spiking, going from the frustration and anger to now being just upset. You breathed in a shaky breath and tried to keep it together as you reentered.

“As you were saying?” Donatello said, watching you carefully as you rounded the bed and set the kit next to him. “I just care about you. I don’t like seeing you hurt Dee,” you sighed, hoping he would understand. But unfortunately for you, he didn’t. “Y/n, logically I can’t return unscathed after every fight. My talents, as great as they may be, do not make me invincible.” He was becoming frustrated too, his eyebrows drawing together as your started applying medicine on his wounds.

“I know that Donnie.” You felt the tightness in your chest again. No, not right now, don’t cry now. “Then why are you so shaken up?” He inquired, hands catching yours. Forcing you to stop for a moment. You had started to move quicker and quicker. “Because!” You said your hands clenched into fists as you realized you weren’t going to be able to hold back the tears. Your face was tilted downwards and Donnie waited for you to continue.

It wasn’t until he felt the tears drip onto his wrists did he move his hands to cradle your face. “Would you like it, if I came to you all busted up? Bloody and bruised?” Donatello pictured you the way you said and he grimaced. Shaking his head, no, he wouldn’t like it either. He’d be worried and so it clicked. “I see,” he sighed and he pulled you in as the sobs started. “Thank you Y/n, for caring so much about me. I promise I shall be more observant.” He held you close, not minding the slight pain of doing so, really it was dulled now. He wanted to comfort you just as you were trying to do.

His promise made you feel slightly better. If only the fact that he now understood your feelings on the matter. “I’ll always care Donnie, so make sure you come to me, even when you do get banged up again.” You sniffed and kissed gently at his neck. He stiffened, not expecting such a gesture but relaxed seconds later. “But of course, there is no better amateur nurse than you!” It was a compliment, at least in Donnie’s mind. You giggled, he was doing his best.

You continued with bandaging him up from his lap. You had tried to get up a few times reaching for the kit or needing another dab of medicine, but he held you close as his robotic arms grabbed everything for you. “Let’s stay like this, just for a little longer..” He smiled down at you shyly once you were finished. One of your hands went up to his cheek. He leaned down and met your lips in a soft kiss.

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( full picture )

[cheekyowldraws]

Series: Pokemon Horizons

Characters: Main plot: Murdock, Friede, Rockruff Mentioned: Dot, Blanca

Ships: FriedexMurdock also called Capncrunchshipping or Airfryshipping

Summary:

Murdocks little sister and Dot's mother Blanca allowed Dot to stay at the ship and Murdock is glad about that, but he feels that he didn't do much for Dot yet, but Friede and Rockruff are their for him to cheer him up. (Includes kissing <3)

Murdock just finished cleaning up the kitchen, gently carrying a softly snoring Rockruff in his arms who kept him company while he was doing the dishes. Or to be more exact the little puppy tried to stay awake but adorably failed and fell asleep anyways. Of course Murdock told his puppy several time it's okay to go to bed without him, but Rockruff refused this offer so a small giggle left Murdocks mouth. When the chef arrived in his room he gently layed Rockruff down on his pillow to not wake it up and covered the now rolled up fluff ball with a blanket. He kissed the little puppy on it's head, earning a soft yawn as respond. The cook couldn't help but smile at this cute sight before letting himself fall down, now sitting down on the edge of his bed. No wonder his little angel is so fatigued. The chef would lie if he said today wasn't exhausting for him as well. He defintaly wasn't prepared for his sister Blanca to do a surprise visit. He loves his little sister with all his heart, but sometimes she can be a bit hard to deal with, especially when the subject is Dot. At the end everything went well and he felt relieved that mother and daughter finally could have a proper conversation, hopefully understanding each other now. But for some reason he still felt sad and frustrated. The cook tried to shook away those feelings, heaving out a deep sigh when someone suddenly knocked at his door. Murdock was caught so off guard that he wasn't able to respond immediatly. Friede who was standing outside knocked once again adding a "Hey it's me. I'm coming in." before opening the door and making his way inside. What awaits him was a slightly startled Murdock sitting on the bed, staring at him with wide eyes. "Hey Murdock!" the professor beamed a smile at his friend "I figured you are here! Do you mind if I come in?" Murdock blushed a little, swiftly looking away being slightly embarressed "P-please come in. Sorry for not responding right away I got lost in my thoughts...a lot happend to today ya know..." His face turned into a grimasse, awkwardly smiling at the other man, letting out a chuckle while scratching the back of his head. Friede could sense something was troubeling the cook so he decided to find out with a rather unique approach.

He walked closer to Murdock gently grabbing the chefs face to give him a short but soft kiss. He could tell that Murdock wasn't prepared for that, because the cook winced at this sudden action. After Friede broke the kiss he started to delicately open the buttons of Murdocks shirt "I think you need some distraction..." the white-haird man suggested tenderly while purposly getting as close to the other mans face as he could. Murdock on the other hand just closed his eyes not saying a single word in return, letting Friede continue, without becoming active himself. But that just gave Friede the confirmation he needed. Something clearly was bothering his friend to the point that not even seducing him can draw him away from his distressing thoughts so Friede stopped right there. Murdock who still had his eyes closed didn't even realized that the smaller man already pulled back and was now sitting right next to him instead.

"Okay what is it?" the white-haird man asked with a concered voice. "W-What do you mean?" Murdock abruptly replied still being confused. "I'm trying to seduce you here but I don't get any reaction from you, instead you seem spaced out." The professor explains eagerly hoping his friend would open up and tell him what pains him right now. What he didn't expected was that Murdock in lieu just panics, thinking he hurt Friedes feelings, by rejecting him. "I- I'm so sorry...I didn't meant to destroy the mood! I'm gonna be focused now I promise!" With that being said Murdock hastely tried to kiss Friede but was stopped by a hand delicately put on his mouth. "STOP! That's not what I came here for!" the professor shouted, realising his attempt of distracting his friend backfired. "I'm the one that has to apologize! I already could tell all day that something is bothering you, but I didn't wanted to pressure you and hoped you gonna tell me yourself when you feel like it..." Friede paused for a moment, to collect his words to get sure he doesn't say something to upset Murdock even more. "So I hoped I could at least distract you from your distressing thoughts, even if it's only for a short moment...I would never take advantage of you like that! I'm sorry!" Friede explained desperatly with a guilty sound in his voice, now looking at the cook who was just staring at him with his big brown eyes. Friede didn't grasped that he was still covering Murdocks mouth with his hand, until the chef gently grabbed said hand to slowly push it aside. "I-It's okay! Don't worry I know that...it's not that I don't want to...with you...you know..it's just I can't clear my head from those negative thoughts right now and that frustrates me because I know those thought are just silly and..." Murdock didin't noticed that his body started to shake a little and got stopped mid-sentence by a gentle squeeze on his left shoulder. That sudden touch startled him a bit and made him look at Friede out of reflex. His friend wore a soft and understanding smile, making Murdock feel less anxious right away.

The cook now began to fidget with his fingers and took in a deep breath before he broke the silence that had settled over the pair. "I don't know how to explain...I mean the thing is...I'm so happy that Dot and Blanca finally could have a heartfelt conversation. I truly am but..." The chef had to stop again, biting his lip to wipe away a tear and to steady his shaky voice. This didn't went unnoticed by Friede so the smaller man now took Murdocks left hand into his to encourage his best friend to continue. "I'm so thankful that you could animate Dot to come aboard the ship and that Liko and Roy were able to make her come out of her shell more. She finally found such precious friends so I'm sure she gonna be fine now matter what happens. When she talked to me for the first time face to face after months I was so happy. I know that wasn't even a real conversation but still..." Murdock had to pause once again, catching his breath and steadying his voice. Friede got more and more concerned with every new thought that Murdock shared with him, but he doesn't want to interrupt him fearing he might shy away before he hears the end of it. So as much as it pains the white-haird man to see Murdock like that he decides to just keep listening for the moment, sqeezing his friends hand tightly.

After the room was filled again with silence for a brief moment Murdock continue, voice still shaky. "I'm so overjoyed that Dot seems to start enjoy the world outside of her room, that she starts to find joy in eating...that's more I could ever ask for...but...but" he paused shortly to inhale deeply. "I can't stop feeling like I only keep annoying her..." Murdocks voice kept getting more and more unsteady with every sentence and he had trouble controlling his breath but kept going, squeezing Friedes hand back. "She almost blocked me once and I can tell that me worrying about her makes her feel uncomfortable. I understand that but I just can't help it! I can't just turn off those feelings. My sister trusted me to take care of her precious little girl, but I feel like the only thing I do is bothering her and..."

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Without thinking those words bursted out of Friedes mouth, letting his heart speak for him. "The only reason I was able to convince Dot to join the crew was because YOU asked me for help and trusted me to deal with your niece!" "But..." Murdock tried to protest, but got stopped by Friede shushing him "Please let me finsih talking first okay?" the smaller man insisted with a determined face. Murdock couldn't bring himself to argue against it any further so he nodded in aproveal, getting a soft smile in return. Inhaling deeply the professor proceeded with his speech. "You kept making sweets for Dot until you found something that she liked, you always appreciate her feelings, not pressuring her to do things she feels uncomfotable with. You are a worryward, that's just how you are and that's okay, all of us know that, no one blames you for being worried when she wanted to go shopping, you still let her go, even though you were a complete nervouse mess until she made it back safely!" Friede noticed that Murdock looked away in embarressment, avoiding eye contact, but he had to keep going. "Yes it was Liko who had thethe idea how to include Dot to the picnic, but she couldn't have done it on her own and asked for your help to do so right?" "Y-Yes but.." Murdock started to stutter but Friede didn't let him time to come up with an excuse. "YOU only focuse on what others have archieve and keep undervaluing YOUR own efforts. YOU are always there, making sure she has everything she needs while respecting her feelings. If YOU haven't trusted me with YOUR feelings and YOUR wish to help Dot she wouldn't even be on the ship now, wouldn't have found friends and wouldn't have started to have fun outside! YOU are supporting her with all you've got and give her a safe space she can feel comfortable in. She can always count on you and I'm sure she knows that!" Friede hesitated to go on the moment he saw tears started running down Murdock's face "Do..Do you really thinks so?" the cook asks in disbelieve, the words barley leaving his mouth. The professor instantly pulled his friend into a thight hug "Yes I do!" After hearing those words Murdock completely broke into tears, sobbing hard, burrying his face into Friedes shoulder, hugging him firmly while he felt his friend gently rubbing over his back to calm the big man down. It didn't took long until they got interupted by a concerened "Wuff?" Both pulled away from the hug to watch the little Puppy trying to get on Murdocks lap, eyes filled with a worried look. Murdock was still sobbing softly and was busy wiping away his tears so Friede took the lead. "Don't worry your Dad will be okay!" He tried to assure Rockruff while petting it's head, but the puppy still wasn't convinced and now stood up on Murdocks lap, frontpaws pressing against his Dads chest, letting out another concerned "Wruff?" The cook cleared his throat and finally was able to speak again, wiping away more tears before picking up his puppy, gently hugging it. "Sorry did we wake you up?" Rockruff promptly started licking the chefs tears away still being skeptical. "Don't worry I'm okay now I promise." Murdock added and luckily this finally was enough to reassured the little puppy and it started wiggling it's tail in excitement. The three sat there silently for a while when Murdock suddenly let out a heartful laugh, pulling Friede and Rockruff into a tight hug, uttering out a cheerful "Thank you!"

[bookwormscififan]

The Chaos Files, Chapter 2

Read on AO3!

Chapter 1

A/N: Mad and Mare make their debut in the series! Also, some funny to brace for angst.

Warnings: Blood mention, throwing up, innuendo

--

Mare,

Jackie said it, quote, “wasn’t recommended to go outside yet”, so I was hoping you’d be able to come visit? That is, if you can spare a few minutes without your vampire husband.

This whole vampire thing is… harder than I expected, and I really need my twin right about now.

Phan.

Jackie frowned as he read the note, looking at Phantom with sympathetic eyes before folding and pocketing the paper.

“Do you need anything from town?” he asked quietly, dropping his gaze to avoid the pained look in Phantom’s eyes. “Drawing materials, baking stuff, clothes?”

“More charcoals would be nice,” Phantom mumbled, fiddling with the blanket in his lap. He opened his mouth to make another request, then snapped it shut with a shake of his head as he looked away. “Don’t be gone too long,” he said instead, lips pressing into a thin line as Jackie moved closer.

“You know I’ll get anything you want,” Jackie began hesitantly, reaching out to touch Phantom’s shoulder before dropping his hand. “None of that’s changed, Phan. I’ll deliver your note before I go into town. I shouldn’t take too long.” With a quiet breath, Jackie left the room, and Phantom listened to his retreating footsteps before falling back against the pillows.

It had been a week since Phantom woke up a turned vampire, and things had gotten slightly tense between him and Jackie. He knew Jackie was trying to look after him, but after three days in bed, Phantom was itching to move around. And he was thirsty. It seemed that every moment of his waking days he needed to sink his fangs into something or have his mouth full of blood.

Aside from the ache in his fangs to feed, there was an itching under his skin he couldn’t seem to fix, something settling in his still heart that screamed for a connection he couldn’t place, and it worried Jackie to no end. Finally, Jackie had agreed to deliver a note to Mare asking for his help, promising Phantom that having his twin around could give him the answers Jackie couldn’t, and alongside the relief that flooded him, Phantom couldn’t shake the sour tang of guilt for making Jackie so concerned.

--

“Phan?” He looked up to see Mare standing in the doorway to the bedroom, hands in his pockets as he waited for permission to enter. “How are you feeling?” he asked when Phantom nodded, rushing to his brother’s side and wrapping an arm around him.

“I feel… weird,” Phantom answered, cocking his head to the side before leaning into Mare’s touch. “I mean, I’m dead… everything feels off. My fangs ache to kill or bite something, I’m itchy everywhere, and there’s a weird feeling in my heart like I need a connection, but I don’t know what.”

“The itching is something I didn’t deal with,” Mare started, handing Phantom a mug of blood-spiked coffee he hadn’t noticed was on the bedside table. “The connection thing could be your heart wanting to be mated or claimed, or it could be that you’re feeling weird because we weren’t turned by the same kind of vampire?”

Phantom hummed as he sipped the coffee, adjusting the blanket over his legs before leaning against the headboard, pulling his knees into his chest with a soft groan. He shook his head when Mare moved to check on him, lips a dark red against his pale face.

“Can…can Mad come in and take some blood?” Mare asked, tapping two fingers against Phantom’s wrist. “He wanted to compare how our bodies react to being changed, and he might have some answers about your… weird feelings. He’s just in the hall.”

“Alright.” Phantom tried to push aside the way his gut twisted at the knowledge Mad was just outside the door, lips pulling down as the sour taste of guilt welled up again, and he leaned over the side of the bed to regurgitate the coffee he’d just drank as Mad came inside.

“I’m assuming that’s spiked coffee,” Mad stated as he swept the bucket from the floor and held it to Phantom’s mouth, sitting beside him as Mare patted his back. “You’re still on the dregs of turning, so nothing’s really going to taste or sit right for a bit. Careless of Jackie to leave the coffee there.”

“Not-not Jackie’s fault,” Phantom choked, retching into the bucket as his stomach continued to flip.

“He’s having weird feelings that Jackie can’t explain,” Mare told Mad, concern strong on the edge of his voice. “Do the different types of vampires have different reactions to turning? I wasn’t incapacitated for two weeks when you turned me.”

“You were dead, so the blood just altered your genetic makeup before you came back,” Mad explained, taking hold of Phantom’s arm to draw blood. “From what Jackie told me, the way he turns vampires is by draining them completely of blood. Whatever saliva remains from the bite works to change physical attributes, and the victim is turned within a fortnight.”

“W-Why am I feeling itchy?” Phantom asked, spitting into the bucket before setting it on the floor again. “And my heart feels like I’m missing a connection.”

“You’re probably itchy because you haven’t gone on a hunt yet,” Mad answered calmly, gently placing the vial of Phantom’s blood into the bag on his hip before looking back at the twin. “It’s mostly adrenaline. Have Jackie give you a bath, let him hold you for a while, you should be fine. If the heart thing doesn’t go away from that, come find me. I’ll need to run more tests.”

Phantom blinked a few times before his lips pulled into a crooked smirk. “Are you telling me I need Jackie to fuck me to make the itching stop?” he asked bluntly, letting out a laugh when Mad’s face went bright red.

“Alright, time for us to go,” Mare announced, snaking an arm around Mad’s shoulders and gently pressing his thumb against the claim mark on his neck. “Send us a note if you need us again, otherwise we’ll see you when Mad gets results on the blood samples.” Before Phantom could answer, Mare whisked Mad away, leaving him alone in the room once more.

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

@iamvegorott @brokentimewatch @rattyboyisemo @dungeon-dragons-dragons

[reagan-mclean]

OC Kiss Prompt Day 1: Almost

This is a snippet for OC Kiss week 2024 for the prompt almost. I've never shared these particular OC's before, so I'm a little nervous, but I really enjoyed this piece.

Pain shot through Remys as he shifted into yet another uncomfortable position. Instinctually, he pressed a hand to his side and winced when he’d only made it worse. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself into a sitting position. There was no way he would be sleeping tonight. The pain made him let out a hiss, and he winced waiting to be chastised for not sleeping.

No reprimand ever came. Surprised, Remys blinked a couple times, then looked around to find the woman who’d offered to keep watch. He expected to see her sitting around the fire, making some tea, or writing in her journal. When he didn’t see her, he forced himself to get up. 

He stumbled slightly, the world starting to sway. Still he forced himself to step forward, biting down on his lip not to groan and wake the others. A quick glance around confirmed that both Kol and Anyssa were sleeping in their bedrolls. He knew the last member of their party wouldn’t be far. She took her responsibilities seriously. One of the few things that hadn’t changed. 

Sure enough she was seated on a broken piece of wall close enough to the camp to be aware of any trouble, but far enough to have a moment to herself. For a moment, Remys just watched her. She was humming a soft tune while looking down into her lap. She was bathed in the light from the full moon while the firelight brought the red out in her dark hair. Looking at her like that, he was reminded just how beautiful she was. 

He approached slowly, not wanting to ruin the moment. The short walk from his bedroll to the wall where she was seated, took just about all of his energy. He plopped down next to her with his back to the wall she was seated on, causing her to look over her shoulder. 

“You shouldn’t be awake,” she scolds, wrinkling her nose. 

“If you’re not sleeping, neither am I.”

“Remys, I’m on watch. That’s my job.”

“Technically it’s my watch rotation. You and Anyssa just decided that I can’t keep watch with my ribs wrapped up.”

“It's a serious injury. You need to rest. The last thing we need is you getting more hurt.”

“I’ll make you a deal,” he suggests, looking into her magenta gaze. “I’ll go back to bed, if you tell me what’s causing you to brood all the way over here.”

“First of all, I’m not that far from camp. Second, I do not brood.” She turns back around so she’s facing away from camp and folds her arms across her chest. 

“Aurora, you are a brooding champion. Stop trying to deny it, and just tell me what’s got you staring into your lap.” All the elf does in response is toss a charm she’s holding over her shoulder into Remys’s lap. He picks it up in confusion. “Your necklace charm?”

“Not mine, Ava’s,” she swallows. Even with her back turned, Remys can tell she is trying not to cry. When she speaks again, her voice sounds hollow. “Do you know what that means? It means she was here. She was here and we missed her.”

“But that also means we can catch up.”

“Not likely. Kol said he chose this spot to stop because it showed signs that a party had just left after making camp for several hours undisturbed. That means they’re probably a whole day ahead of us,” she looks back over her shoulder again. “Likely more since we’ll be moving slower.”

She didn’t have to say it. He knew what she meant. If he wasn’t injured, they would have  a much easier time catching up with her sister. He leaned his head against the stone, drawing in a sharp breath. 

“You can leave me, if you have to. Go catch up with her.”

“What?” She gasped. “Why would you ever suggest such a thing? More importantly, what makes you think I’d ever agree to that?”

“The whole reason we came all this way was to find your sister. If you need to leave me to do that, I won’t hold it against you.”

“I can’t do that,” she declared, and Remys almost allowed himself to hope that it was because she still loved him, and couldn’t leave him behind. “What if she’s still with those creatures that kidnapped her. I’d rather face them in a group of competent combatants than alone.”

“If you don’t want to go in alone, and you have proof we’re heading in the right direction, what has you so worried?”

“Why are you so certain I’m worried about something?”

“Because you are by nature a worrier, and you scrunch your face when you’re worried about something. It makes your freckles fold in cute shapes.”

“How much attention are you paying to my freckles?”

“This might surprise you, but once upon a time I used to enjoy spending countless hours admiring your face, and you are avoiding my question.”

She breathed out in a huff. “How can you still know me so well after three years of absence? I am worried. My sister is missing, I’ll be worried until I find her.”

“It’s more than that, isn’t it?”

“What if we’re too late?”

“Then we find a cleric to revive her,” Remys offers, knowing the solution is over simplistic. 

“What if that’s not an option?”

“Then at least you’ll have answers about what happened to her, and we’ll pray about what to do next.”

“That’s not good enough.”

“Auri,” he says, the affectionate nickname slipping out as if it hadn’t been three years since he’d last used it. “I can’t promise you that we can save Ava’s life, but I can promise you that I will do everything in power to help you bring her home. Worrying in a situation like this is natural, but if you worry too much, you’ll just wear yourself out.”

“I know you’ll do everything you can. You never have been able to do things halfway. I’m worried about me. What if I’m not good enough? My whole life has been a series of almosts. Almost gifted in music. Almost a favorite child. Almost the best student. Almost the leader of my cloister. Almost your wife. I can’t afford to turn this into another almost. We may not get along well, but Ava is all I have now, I can’t lose her.”

“Hey,” he whispered, gaining her attention. She leaned over to hear the soft words better, but went too far and lost her balance on the wall. She landed in his lap, and immediately winced. 

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do that, especially with your injury.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he assured, just as soft as he’d spoken before, wrapping his arms around her. As he did so, he worried the gesture would be too familiar for where their relationship had fallen to. Instead she leaned into him. Perhaps out of instinct or a need for whatever comfort was offered, but perhaps she was just as stuck in the past as Remys was, remembering a time when they would sit like this for hours with no uncertainty.

His desire to comfort was so strong he couldn’t keep himself from pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before he continued whispering. “And don’t worry about being not good enough either. You are probably the most competent person in this camp. You’re an incredibly gifted cleric, loved by the god you serve. You put years of dedication into your craft. You’re smart and insightful. Perhaps overly cautious, but only to help you gather information from which you make sound judgements. You may have changed in the past three years, Auri, but you still have all your best qualities, and I have no doubt that your stubborn streak of yours is going to pull us through.”

“Realistically, I know you’re just trying to make me feel better and there’s still a high likelihood that we lost our best chance at saving her, but I actually do feel better,” she admitted, leaning forward to give him a peck on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“I’m here for you anytime you need me,” he promised, more than a little surprised she was still allowing him to hold her. Even she could acknowledge that she needed him in that moment though, even if she may not have wanted him. But he still wanted her. Seeing her so distraught hurt him much deeper than his wounds, and holding her again just reminded him of every happier moment they spent together. She may have poured out a heart full of regrets, but Remys really only had one regret in that moment: the time when Aurora went from his soon to be wife to the woman he almost married once. 

[blue-aconite]

THE NIGHT IS CALLING PART 2!!!! 😍😍😍😍

(Sorry, you knew this was coming 😂)

Vee ♥️ I knew the moment I saw that you had sent an ask that it would most likely be about The Night is Calling and I feel so ashamed that I haven't be able to finish it yet. You've been waiting long enough.

So, the first part left us with a cliffhanger (that I'm very proud of) and the second part will deal with the aftermath and consequences. We will hopefully get some answers to the many questions that emerged during the first part.

Have a new little sneak peek below the cut: CONTAINS SPOILERS

"Jake. Please, I'm just trying to understand. You can't expect me to just accept this without even understanding what you've been through."

She draws a shaky breath, pleading with him to understand her. Jake looks like he's in pain, face twisted as he observes her. Ghost can see his resolve breaking but she's scared to push for more. One misstep and they're back at the start.

Ghost puts her palm upwards, a silent offer, mirroring his earlier actions when Jake offered her his hand in comfort. Unlike how she reacted, Jake grasps onto hers, intertwining their fingers.

His skin is slightly cooler than she remembers, one of the many things that seems different about him.

"I want to tell you -"

"Then talk to me." She interrupts, squeezing his fingers. An idea flashes across her mind and in a dirty attempt of manipulation, she tries to appeal to his old self, the one she fell in love with. "Baby. You can tell me."

Ask me about my WIPs

[yaboyspodcastpalace]

KISS PROMPT 75 JONTIM

75) Kisses Meant To Distract The Other Person From Whatever They Were Intently Doing

hiiii arin sorry for taking two years to finish this 😭 i kinda tweaked the prompt when I started and then ran w/ it, hope you like it still :') ♥

[on ao3!]

Maybe Tim was growing comfortable, yes, what with the increasingly foolish stories that he had to transcript and research everyday washing away the bitter and terrified taste at the edges of his mouth, what with Jon providing some warmth he never thought a man like him could give at first sight, what with their new colleague Sasha inserting herself into their lives proving herself as a good intellectual rival and a great friend. All things considered, part of him (a rare, ashamed one) knew he was getting comfortable, yet whenever he would read a particularly circus-themed and/or skin-prominent statement he would take a deep breath before setting it on a special little pile on his side drawer.

 And maybe his mood dropped slightly once he started piling them on his desk, having outgrown the drawer faster than he could go check on the fake lead. (Because they were always fake leads) (it was a disappointment every time, and an embarrassment for the relief he always felt).

 That day in particular maybe he was a bit quieter than he often was, maybe side-eyeing the static little pile in opposition to the dynamic one on the left a bit too much, or maybe it was something else entirely, because the way Jon approached him to offer some help nearly at the end of the day was almost a kindness. Almost.

 Smiling, the feeling was familiar enough for it to look natural for anyone other than himself, the edge of his mouth feeling almost painful.

 "Didn't thought you liked bad pulp this much." Jon rolled his eyes, pointedly touching the barely dusty folder at the top with the tip of his finger.

 "I don't," He assured him, instead looking over at the last folder on the left followed by the small pile on the right, "but even for you this is a bit much, for a day’s work."

 "Insinuating I can't do it?" He teased, knowing that wasn't it. Jon didn't deal too much with insinuations and double meanings, that was a thing he liked about him.

 "Well, no, but... " The disdain on his eyes turned into something a bit awkward, something softer, despite the twist of his mouth. "I suppose you would probably do the same, and I'm all done with my work, so... I wouldn't mind lending you a hand, is all."

 Tim's smile wavered with a glimpse of genuinity in it, knowing how Jon felt about those fake statements and feeling his chest warm at the offering, but the way he started to pick up a folder from the pile to read at the title brought him back to reality. Standing up to distract him from it he could feel his time closing in as Jon now looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and before any other idea or excuse could pop on his mind he did the first thing that crossed it instead.

 Taking Jon's head lightly he kissed his lips like so many times before. Tim could feel Jon tensing for a second, chest heaving deep against his own and eyes looking behind his shoulder for a few seconds before relaxing against him, kissing him back slowly and certain, and hooking his hand on Tim's back with an acute absence of files that made him sigh with relief.

 Feeling him draw circles on his back with his thumb made him hum, too, and the near imperceptible tug at Jon's mouth made him smile inside the kiss. Taking a breath Jon put on some -yet not much- distance between them without quite taking his hand off his back, looking at his lips for a second before looking at him, a question on his dark eyes beyond the fuzziness at the edges. Tim would laugh, charmed at his attempts of helping and mourning just a second the fact that he simply couldn't, not yet. Instead, he smiled. A small, effortless smile.

 "You're a darling, Jon."

 Jon's face did something strange, then, between a frown and a pout and a smile, as if he didn't know how to take the compliment.

 "I'm a what?"

 "A Darling."

 "Am I?"

 "Yup." His mouth twisted with the pop of that final p, and this close he could almost feel the warm flush of his cheeks, before huffing with faux annoyance.

 "So...?"

 He smiled again, getting giddy just by looking at him, before kissing his nose. He finally let him go, putting himself between him and the desk.

 "As much as I appreciate the offer, it really isn't as much as it looks like. Besides, I’m just leaving it all prepared for tomorrow.” Not a lie, if Tim actually did it. Jon raised an eyebrow, but apparently something on his face dissuaded him enough to nod slowly.

 "Okay… If you say so." Taking one last look at his lips, he nodded again, taking a step back as he circled his own desk. Tim looked at the clock, now realizing just how late it got for them.

 "If you really want to help me, though... I would appreciate if you'd go grab something to eat while I wrap this up. If you're not doing anything later, that is." Jon stood in silence a few seconds, coat already on his hands, before stating with a squint.

 "I refuse to stand at your door for half an hour until you actually show up. Again." Tim barked an embarrassed laugh, politely referring from pointing out (for now) that they've both committed similar crimes, before fishing his keys from his pockets and flinging them to him. Jon managed to caught them in the air with a startle.

 "I promise I'll be there in time."

 Looking down at the keys for a second and back to him, Jon smiled a little smile and took off, none the wiser to his reason to be there.

 Tim waved at him, before letting his smile drop a bit and closing his eyes, throat hurting a bit by the contradicting emotion.

 Tomorrow, he’d take home his entire drawer and a little more, and he’ll look into them on his very next day off. No matter the dread he felt.

 Tonight, he’d have dinner with a beautiful man.

 He took a deep breath, held it, and slowly let it go, before taking the folder on the left with renewed energy.

-

 A thing Jon noticed once they both got acclimated to each other at the very beginning of their friendship was the fact that Tim liked talking. Not that Jon didn't like it, he could spend a good amount of time just ranting about whatever he had read the day before if it was interesting enough, but Tim seemed to just know a little bit of any topic that could came up between them or with Sasha or the rest of their coworkers. Jon respected that. Jon liked that.

 There were times, though, that Jon could see something different in the way Tim carried himself when talking about certain topics. There was always something strange on his smile -or the lack thereof- and a weird glint on his eyes whenever he mentioned the works of Smirke (if Sasha's former side comments were to be believed) and for a while Jon thought it was because it was one of his favorite topics, but the more he spent with Tim the more he realized that maybe that was wrong.

 He got into heated arguments and, at times, entire monologues about the man's work, yes, but Jon began to suspect there was something else at play that he couldn't quite get. A missing piece that didn't let him see the whole picture.

 Right now, too, in the midst of their coffee break, and taking advantage of the fact that they were alone to actually sit down and relax, Jon could notice all these little things now that he was paying attention. There was a tension on his posture and on his hand movements that felt so unlike him. He wanted so bad to know the reason for such, and to smooth the creases on his forehead, but he knew what it was to keep something tied tight inside. Maybe one day he would tell him. Maybe one day they both could.

 Instead, Jon listened well past the point where he could add anything to the conversation as he waited for the water to boil, and then as he prepared their respective beverages (plain coffee for Tim, tea with three spoonfuls of sugar for himself, both with a splash of milk), and finally did something Tim did to him when he got wrapped up in a thing.

 "Your coffee."

 Tim blinked a few times at the mug in front of him like it was a strange object, before sighing.

 "Right... Right. Thanks J-"

 As he handed him his mug, once he was sure Tim had a firm grasp on it, Jon pressed their lips together on a brief kiss. Immediately, the vague distress on his features was replaced by surprise, trying to read Jon's face the same way Jon tried to read his, but as his frown softened so did his shoulders, and with only a brief pause to make sure that was okay, Jon kissed him again.

 The silence felt heavy after the past few minutes, yet it quickly diffused as Tim sighed through his nose. Jon heard a clunk on the counter before feeling his warmed up hand against his shoulder, dragging him closer as he kissed him back. Neither of them pointed out the way Tim's hand trembled slightly, anchoring on his flesh with something that felt alien to his person. Desperation, perhaps? Jon tried to ignore it, his own hand wrapping around his back, bodies pressed together in what he hoped was reassurance.

 When they parted, Tim had his eyes closed, only opening them when Jon pressed his forehead against his. When he laughed it sounded tired, yet genuine, and it was a relief to feel the leftover tension drop from his muscles.

 "What was that for?"

 "What do you mean?"

 "Here I was, thinking there was an unspoken 'no snogging on the clock' rule." Jon huffed through his nose, shrugging a bit.

 "We are on a break." Tim's gaze jumped between his eyes, before breaking in another laugh, this time screwing up his entire face with it. Jon felt his chest tighten at the sight, throat hurting a bit by the smile that wanted to join him. He let it pull his lips for a second, before clearing his throat as he disentangled from the other man. "Come on. Before the drinks gets cold."

 Tim hummed, languidly, as any proof of their past conversation was buried under the mixed smell of the coffee and the tea inside the small kitchenette. Jon was glad.

 At least, until another hum, short and deeper this time, echoed in Tim's mug.

 "Too late for that, love."

 Jon grimaced, and Tim patted him in the shoulder with a sympathetic smile. It wouldn't be the first that that either of them drank their drinks past their prime due to losing the track of time, yet it somehow felt more embarrassing to it together.

 Oh well.

A lukewarm cup of tea was well worth to see the relaxed bliss in Tim's closed eyes, he supposed.

[pullakori]

Febuwhump 2023

Day 11. Fever

TW: dub-con, fuck or die

Also, this is a/b/o, if that is not your cup of tea, you have been warned

"He took Charles." Raven's words had hunted Erik ever since he and Darwin had made it back to the destroyed CIA base. The telepath had supposed to come to The Soviet Union with Erik and Moira, but his surpressants had failed and he had to stay behind to deal with his heat. A part of Erik had wanted to stay back too, his alpha instinct demanding him to stay close to the omega he had befriended and started to care about.

But that idea had been foolish. He could do nothing to actually help Charles and he had his mission. So he had travelled to Russia with the others and captured Frost and gained some good intel. But Shaw hadn't been there, so the mission had been a failiure in his eyes. And then hearing that the bastard had been in the CIA base and taken Charles with him when they had left... Erik had been ready to rogue.

But Charles had been right, Erik needed help. He needed a team, and with Raven's instructions they had moved to Xavier estate and with Moira's help, they had trained. It had been difficult, all of the teenagers had tested his patience and the training had been grueling, but when the time came, they pulled through.

Lifting the submarine in Cuba had almost been impossible, his rage struggling to fuel the power he needed. It had been the tought of Charles that had given him the last ounce of power he had needed to pull the sub out of the sea and on to the shore. The peace that he had found with the other man as they had traveled together.

After their plane had crashed, the others had fought with Shaw's henchmen, while Erik had gone to find Shaw in the sub. The other alpha had been expecting him, talking to him like Erik was his long lost son. It had made Erik sick.

"Cut the bullshit, Shaw. Where is Charles?" He had demanded, seemingly surprising the other man, but that hadn't lasted for long.

"Why Erik, I didn't know you were interested in things like that. Always thought your alpha instincts were quite lacking." Shaw had laughed. "And while in any other scenario I would happily give him to you, my boy, his mutation unfortunately makes him quite dangerous in the wrong hands."

'Give him to Erik', 'in the wrong hands', the way Shaw spoke about Charles had made Erik see red, a growl escaping his throat.

"But don't you worry, I'll take good care of him." And that had been the last drop.

"Where is he!?" Erik had shouted, sending a table flying at Shaw by its metal feet. The impact had had little effect on the other man, only making him stumble slightly, before he had turned back to Erik.

"It seems I have to teach you another lesson."

They had fought, though it felt more like Erik had taken a beating. Shaw's powers too much for Erik to match.

It had been then, that Erik had heard Charles' voice in his head.

'Erik!'

'Charles! Where are you? Are you safe?' Erik had spoken, taking an advantage on Shaw's gloating talk and pause in the fight.

'I can't focus for long Erik! You need to get Shaw's helmet! Only then I can help you!' Charles' voice had sounded strained, tired and under it was a sense of panic and urgency.

And Erik had managed to do it. He had used the electric cords that were hanging from the sub's roof to pull the helmet off and a second later, Shaw had frozen in place. For a moment Erik had been blinded by the newfound upper hand. Having Shaw under his mercy had been everything he had wanted and finally the time was there. He had wanted to savour it, remember every small detail of terror in Shaw's eyes.

But he had been snapped out of that trance by the pained scream in his head.

'Hurry, Erik!' Charles' voice told Erik he had no time to lose. And suddenly, he hadn't wanted to draw any of it out any longer. So he had pulled out the coin and with a precise move, pushed it through Shaw's head.

For a moment, nothing happened, but after a second Shaw's body dropped down to the floor and on the same second Charles' presence in Erik's head dissappeared.

'Charles?' Erik thought, hoping to hear his friend's voice in his head again, but when nothing happened, his worry turned into panic. "Charles!" He shouted, moving further into the submarine to look for Charles.

He shoved every door open with his powers and each room with no Charles only managed to make him more agitated. But Charles had to be inside the sub, he had heard him in his head! And finally he found him, deep in the sub, in a room that had been made to look like a luxurious bedroom.

The first thing that Erik noticed was the smell, that reminded the alpha of an overly ripe fruit. The room reeked of it, assaulting his nose the moment he opened the door. Next, it was the noises, weak and distressed. And finally, Erik saw him. Chained by his wrists on the bed, laying on his stomach, fully naked and his skin flushed completely. It hit Erik like a ton of bricks.

Charles was in heat.

But that shouldn't be possible, not so soon after his last one.

"Charles?" Erik's voice was hoarse, his throat suddenly dry. He took slow steps towards the telepath, who was writhing on the bed, seemingly unaware of anything thag was happening around him.

When Erik got beside the bed, he lifted his hand carefully, wary of causing more disterss for the omega, but he had to know what was happening to his friend. He used his power to break the cuffs on Charles' wrists, before trying to turn his head gently away from the pillow, but the omega let out a weak screech and tried to pull away from the touch.

"Fuck!" Erik swore and pulled his hand away. The telepath's skin felt like it was on fire. "Sorry, Charles. I'm sorry, Charles please." He didn't even know what he was pleading for, kneeling beside the bed and staring at his friend. He didn't know what he was supposed to do.

Charles' spiked distress subdided, his fast shallow breaths turning deeper, until he turned his head towards Erik. His eyes were hazy and unfocused, his pupils blown wide, leaving only small sliver of blue in sight. His nostrils flared before he let out a small moan, trying to push himself up on his arms, but they were so shaky that he fell back down on the bed. This was followed by another whine.

He was completely out of it.

"Erik!?" It was Raven.

"In here!" Erik shouted over his shoulder, unable to move from his place beside Charles. That was, until he remembered the other man's naked state and stood up to find something to cover him with. The duvet had fallen from the bed and as Erik lifted it, he could smell Shaw on it. Another growl escaped his throat, every cell in his body telling him to throw the repulsive piece of textile as far away from the omega as possible. But there was nothing else to use, so he forced his arms to work and covered Charles' lower body with it.

The action clearly made the telepath displeased, making him writhe more once again, and no wonder, he was burning from the inside out.

"Erik, we won. Did you find Char-" Raven's words were cut off short when she appeared at the bedroom's door. Hank was with her and they both stared at the omega with horrified eyes. "Charles!" Raven rushed towards her brother, but without even thinking, Erik stepped between them, growling and showing his teeth. The other alpha stopped, but mirrored Erik's expression, redy to start a fight.

It might have happened, if Charles hadn't right then let out a miserable moan and Hank putting himself between them.

"Calm down!" The beta told them, before he moved to Chares, examinig him without touching him. "Why is he in heat? It's too soon." He wondered out loud.

"Shaw's doings, most likely. He said that Charles' power would make him a danger in the wrong hands." Erik pieced everything together. "He must have intended to bond with him." Even saying the words made him sick.

"He would have wanted to ensure that Charles couldn't use his powers against him." Raven summarised and Hank nodded.

"Or even make him use his powers for his own purposes."

The beta started to go through the drawers of the bedside tables.

"He most likely used something to force Charles' body into another heat." He paused and turned to look at the two alphas, before looking at Raven.

"Get one of the Shaw's men, they might have more information." She wasn't pleased with the idea, looking between Charles and Erik.

"But-"

"It's gonna be alright, but we need to hurry." Hank interrupted her and Erik had to admire the beta's newfound confidense.

Raven looked at Charles one last time, before pointing at Erik.

"You keep your hands to yourself." She warned him, before running out of the room.

Hank kept looking through the drawers, but Raven's words made Erik realise something.

"Why am I not more affected by his scent?" Erik asked the beta, who hummed in thought.

"It's not a natural heat, so his pheromones are much weaker." He explained and it made sense. This over ripe scent was not even half as tempting as Charles' pre heat scent in the CIA base had been...

Focus, verdammt!

"Here we go!" Hank proclaimed, pulling a small brown bottle out of the drawer and looking at its label. "Honepeptin. That's good, at leats it's not some illigal drug." He thought aloud, turning to look at Charles and a frown appearing on his face. "But I don't think he should be this out of it, if Shaw used this..."

Erik didn't get a chance to ask, when Raven got back with the wind controlling omega man.

"Janos said he might know something usefull." Raven told them, coming to stand beside Erik, while Janos stayed by the door. It seemed that Shaw's men were somewhat ready to work together now that their leader was dead.

Hank didn't waste any time and started to ask questions.

"Did Shaw use this on Charles?" He began, showing the other man the bottle. Janos looked at it, before nodding.

"Yes, he wanted to use a bond to control him." To Janos' credit, he looked disturbed about the notion. An alpha using a bond to use an omega like that was considered one of the highest forms of abuse. It meant breaking the omega's will and mind, only small pieces of them left afterwards.

"Then why is he in such a bad shape?" Hank asked and Janos glanced towards the bed, where Charles was sobbing against the pillow.

"I can't be sure, but it might be, because this time he used a bigger dosage."

"This time?" Raven asked and Janos shrugged.

"This was the second time he used the drug on him."

"What?" Hank gasped, and while Erik didn't know the spescifics, it sounded bad. "Why? Why would he do that? Let him go through a heat without just bonding with him, if that's what he wanted?" Janos took a deep breath, before he answered with distant voice.

"The first time he fought back." He told them. "And Shaw wanted him to beg for him to knot him."

A shudder ran through Erik. He turned to look at Charles, watching him try to push himself up with his shaking limbs, only to fall down once again. And he finally realised, that he was trying to present. So out of it that he was ready to let any alpha to fuck him.

"Will he be alright?" Erik asked, looking at Hank, who looked too grim for his liking. Raven must have thought the same, as she stepped closer to the beta, her voice almost desperate when she spoke.

"Hank?" She simply asked and he let out a frustrated growl.

"With this high of a dosage it would be bad enough, but this is the third heat his body has been forced into in a month." Hank recounted, distress getting better of his voice and he shook his head, before looking back at Charles. "I don't think his body can take it."

"What do you mean, Hank?" Raven asked, fearful of the answer, as was Erik, who was holding his breath.

Hank sighed, turning to look at Raven with apologetic eyes.

"His heart won't be able to take the stress. If Charles tries to go through this whole heat, it will most likely fail."

No.

No, Charles couldn't die. He was a first true friend Erik had made. He had made Erik feel that his life was worth living, that he wasn't just Shaw's monster and now he would lose him too? No, there had to be a way!

"What if he doesn't go through this heat? What if it's stopped?" Raven insisted, but Hank shook his head.

"The only way a heat stops early, is when-"

"A bond is formed." Raven finished for him and after a small pause, she turned to look at Erik. "Would you do it?" She asked, her eyes pleading. Erik felt his own eyes widening. "Would you do it for my brother?" Erik looked from Raven to Charles, whose breathing seemed to be getting too quick and irregular.

Erik would be lying if he said that he hadn't thought about it, that he hadn't imagined a life with Charles by his side. The two of them as partners, as bond mates. He had made himself a promise, that if he would survive his encounter with Shaw, that he would have asked a premission from Charles to court him. He was sure that he had found his life partner, his soul mate, if there was such things. He wanted to spent the rest of his life with this man.

But this? This was all wrong. Charles didn't have a chance to choose. He couldn't look Erik in the eye and tell him 'yes, I want this'. By doing this, Erik would force Charles to a life with him, wether he wanted that or not.

But surely that was better than to let Charles die?

Erik looked at his friend, weak and slowly burning from the inside out and knew that there was only one option. He would rather take Charles' hatered than see him dead or forced to bond with another alpha.

So Erik turned back to Raven and gave her a single nod. She sighed with a releaf and Hank coughed.

"We should give you some privacy." He said, but Erik shook his head.

"I'm not going to do it here." He insisted. The whole place was tainted with Shaw's scent, there was no way Erik would bond with Charles in here.

"We don't have much time." Hank argued, but Erik had a plan already figured out. He turned to Janos.

"Can the teleporter get us to a manor in Westchester?" He asked and Janos nodded.

"He might need more instructions on the way, but he sould manage." And without further prompting, the omega whistled, summoning the devil looking alpha, who appeared with a puff of smoke.

Erik turned and walked beside the bed to gather Charles into his arms. Sweat was shining on his burning skin, but Erik wrapped him in the duvet regadless. The journey wouldn't be long. It was telling how drained Charles was that he didn't try to fight it more than few seconds, until he settled in Erik's arms. He did rub his nose against the alpha's neck, where his sent glands were. It seemed to calm him somewhat.

The teleporter, Azazel stepped beside Erik, who did his best to keep his calm having another alpha so close to his omega in heat. But Azazel didn't even look towards Charles, putting his hand on Erik's free shoulder instead.

"Now let's get you and your little mouse home." He said and with a strange pull in Erik's stomach, he and Charles were teleported away from the submarine and Cuba.

Azazel had to stop once to ge better idea where he was going, but they were standing in the manor's entrance hall in less than ten seconds. Erik opened his mouth to talk, but the other man beat him to it.

"I'll get the rest, you go and take care of your omega." He said and with a puff of smoke he was gone.

Erik stood there a few seconds, until a small whine from Charles made him move. He hurried upstairs into an empty quest room. His alpha insticts told him to bring Charles to his own room, bit Erik didn't want to overwhelm Charles with his smell. There luckily wasn't too much dust in the room and a swift use of some spare metal helped him get rid of the dustiest cover on top.

He laid Charles gently down on the bed and uncovered him from the duvet, which he forcefully threw out of the room, before closing and locking the door. Charles' scent might not have been strong enough to cause Erik to lose his control entirely, but he needed to make sure that there was no way of someone coming in and disturbing them while they would be so vulnerable.

Charles was breathing shallowly and he had already turned to lie on his stomach. Erik sighed and sat down beside him, stroking his back gently. The omega let out a broken moan and leaned into the touch.

All of this was still wrong, but Erik leaned close to Charles and whispered into his ear.

"Don't worry Charles. Everything is going to be alright."

[nedconte]

Roosmav fic recs vol. 6: Bottom!Bradley favorites

It's no secret that I'm the type of reader to have top/bottom preferences, and in the case of Top Gun, I usually prefer fics with bottom!Mav, and that preference probably shows in my fic rec posts. So, here are some of my favorite bottom!Bradley fics that haven't been featured on my previous rec lists.

As always, heed the tags and possible warnings.

lift me up, draw me close (don't let go) by Lacerta 7k, E, no archive warnings apply spit as lube, miscommunication, getting together

“I can still pick you up easily,” Maverick says, oblivious to Bradley’s internal struggle. “So why did you really start avoiding that?” Bradley fully intends to act normal, or as normal as he can in the circumstances, he has an excuse ready on the tip of his tongue, but then Mav shifts his grip on Bradley to hold him a little steadier – a little closer – and his fingers press harder into Bradley’s cheeks, and he can’t– Maverick freezes, with Bradley’s half-hard cock pressed against his abdomen.

I always enjoy this author's writing, and this fic was really hot. I loved how desperate Bradley is for Mav, and they just wouldn't be them without some miscommunication.

Airstream Blues by Muccamukk 13k, E, no archive warnings apply close quarters, pining

When they headed out to Mojave following the mission, Bradley wasn't expecting Mav's trailer to be the most difficult thing to deal with.

Oh god the PINING. Bradley is so in love and so thirsty. There's an angsty undercurrent to this fic that I really love, and the writing is fantastic.

i and love and you by notyourwinter 4k, E, no archive warnings apply soulmates, crack treated seriously

From the time he’s very young, all Bradley wants is to find true love—the kind of all-consuming, soul-satisfying love he hears about in his mom’s stories of his father. And it is, perhaps, the greatest injustice of his life that he’s pretty sure he’ll never get that. It’s hard to build any sort of meaningful relationship with someone when everyone you fuck finds their true love almost immediately after.

This was such a sweet and fun fic, I loved the slightly cracky premise. Truly a joy to read.

the life you save may be your own by hazelmotes 3k, E, no archive warnings apply established relationship, porn with feelings

“Ask me, sweetheart, c’mon.” Pete started working his thumb against a bruise he’d sucked into Bradley’s collarbone, leftover from a few nights ago when some ensign had had the gall to hit on Bradley at the Hard Deck. “Ask me for what you want.” “I don’t know how,” Bradley said on a gasp, arching into the pain, into the hand of the man he belonged to. “That’s alright,” Pete said. “I can tell you how.”

This is so beautiful and intimate, with some very hot possessiveness and codependency. I'm in love with their love.

(don't) hold back by nastneast 6k, E, underage watersports, accidental pissing, humiliation, mildly dubious consent

A joyride in Mav’s P-51 left the two with more than just sweat to clean up. or the one where Bradley desperately needed to piss but Mav refused to land the damn plane. (AKA, the three times Mav made Bradley piss himself).

This author writes almost exlusively bottom!Bradley, and I could have picked pretty much any of their fics for this list, but… This one is my favorite because of sicko reasons. (No underage sex in this one, but it's implied that Maverick was into 17-year-old Bradley)

the house of wicked dreams by secondhandgloves 7k, E, rape/non-con hurt no comfort, horror, mild gore, dark!maverick

“You bought a place without scoping out the basement?” Maverick grins, sipping his beer. “You’ve seen enough horror movies to see how this’ll play out, especially around Halloween. It was nice knowing you, Bradley.” In which, Rooster buys his forever home without doing his research and Maverick visits him at night, in haunted dreams.

I'm not usually a big fan of horror, but this was just the right amount of spooky for me. This fic is amazing, but it's pretty intense, so I'd recommend opening a fluff fic in another tab to read as aftercare. :D

[that-gay-bitch-lily]

TBB Fanfic

This is not exactly a typical fanfic, but it does explore Phee and her emotions in dealing with Tech’s death (or supposed death).

I want to explore several different ‘versions’ of Phee’s potential reactions to Tech’s death. In this version, I have told her reaction as if she is someone who has had experience with loss in the past. Tech’s death still hurts her, but she is more rational with dealing with the hurt, and does her best to accept it, though some lost hope still lingers.

Setting: Several months after Tech’s supposed death, what remains of the batch returning from yet another mission. Phee has made it a habit to always be there when they land... Just in case.

Part 1 

“Hey Phee!” a voice rang from outside, accompanied by a sharp wrap on the door. Which was a little useless, seeing how it wasn’t even closed all of the way.

Phee looked up from the stone she had been examining. It was not a genuine, like her informant had said, which was unfortunate. It hasn’t been easy to obtain. Still, it was to be expected.

“Phee!” the voice called again.

Phee huffed a small sigh, but tried to appear contented as she stood from her place on the floor. “Coming!” she called.

She walked over to the door, and drew it open the rest of the way. The outside light was far brighter than that of the room, so Phee had to squint a bit. She raised her hand to sheild her eyes from the setting sun.

Just outside the door stood Shep, the mayor of Pabu. She saw him often, but he didn’t typically make house calls. It could only mean one thing.

“The Marauder just commed in,” Shep said, confirming her suspicions. “They said they’re a little ahead of schedule and should be arriving before the next rotation.”

Despite already knowing what he was going to say, Phee still felt her stomach turn. She tried to disguise it. She smiled.

“Thanks,” she responded as she leaned against the doorframe, her attempt to look calm and collected. Hopefully it was working. Probably not, though. Shep knew what she was thinking about.

It had been 74 rotations. 74 rotations since….

Phee tried to push it from her mind.

“Of course.” Shep responded. “You know, if you ever want to talk about anything…. you know where to find me.” He gave her a smile, but she could tell it was more sympathetic than genuine. Regardless, she returned it.

“I’ve been held in the jaws of a Rancor and made it back in time for dinner. It’ll take a hell of a lot to stop the great Phee Genoa!” She winked.

“Of course,” Shep replied. But Phee could still see the doubt lingering in his eyes. “My guess is that they’re about an hour out. I’ll see you around, Phee.”

Shep turned to walk away. Phee watched him go for a moment, before drawing herself back into her house. She left the door slightly ajar, and let the smile slide from her face as she turned back to the scattered assortment of stones and metal trinkets littered across the floor. She knelt down, and began to pick them up.

Any mention of the Marauder or its crew always sent her mind to one place, and even though she tried to push the pain away, it knawed at her all the same.

Tech was dead. She knew it by now. Painstakingly, she had accepted it. Come to terms with it? No. But accepted it as true? Yes.

That day… that day the Marauder had returned with only half its crew… it still haunted her. It was all a blur… the excitement, the anxiousness, the shock, the denial, the hatred, the agony, the pain, oh, the pain….

And then had come the numbness. The slow, sad, and lingering ache settled deeply in her soul. As much as she tried to ignore that, as much as she tried to mask it and act just as she always had, it still throbbed as hard and as strong and the beat of her heart.

She didn’t know why she always showed up whenever the Marauder landed. She knew there was no chance, she knew he was dead and gone and that nothing was going to change…..

But she kept showing up anyway.

Once phee had gathered all of the objects, she stood to place them in a cabinet across the room. The cabinet was filled with wonderful treasures, nothing worth much monetary value, but special to Phee all the same. Ever since Tech’s death, however, Phee had had a difficult time seeing the shine she once had in ‘liberating ancient wonders’. Everything seemed to have… lost its thrill. 

Phee took her time organising the objects in their proper places in the cabinet. She had a lot on her mind, and she welcomed the distraction from her thoughts. Once they had all been put away, however, Phee once again found her mind wandering right back to where it always did.

Tech.

“You stop that,” Phee scolded herself out loud. “Pining time is over.” 

She walked back to the door and once again drew it open.

The sun had since set, though the glow of the horizon still left it quite bright enough to see. She stepped out, shut the door behind her, and began walking. 

***

Let me know what you thought of that!(assuming you didn’t get so bored and not finish it, no judgement there haha) 

I *might* write a continuation of this…. It all depends on if you like it and want to read any more!

I know it doesn’t make for the best of narrative lines, but I do want to explore the range of emotions Phee would feel if I had Tech step off that ship. (Under the assumption that he had been rescued by his brothers :)) We’ll see!

[lieshot]

A frown had crossed his lips as Bucky began to speak of his time with HYDRA. Returning back to sit on the cot, cigarette between his lips, blue eyes were focused more on the floor than the other man. Here he had been expecting some sort of speech on how much Clint cared about him, just like everyone else that had spoken to Barney in his time in the cell. But a trip down goddamn memory lane straight back to HYDRA wasn't something Barney had anticipated nor anything he wanted to hear about. Teeth bit down slightly on the filter of the cigarette as his jaw clenched as Barnes continued.

It wasn't something Barney liked to think about. If he tried, if he wanted to, he could remember most of his time there. Maybe a couple years worth missing, but the rest were there. Willingly left untouched in the farthest recesses of his mind. The darkest corners left to ROT and collect dust, Barney hoping one day for them to fade entirely. But it was a monster waiting for him one day, one that he would rather not DEAL with and just leave it all in the past. To not recall where each scar came from during that time. To not recall how he had practically wished for DEATH in those days and it constantly eluded him. How he tried to just lock them AWAY where he could start some new life in the aftermath.

It wasn't what he had before. It never would be again, he wasn't interest in the HEROICS anymore but it was a life of FREEDOM, right? At least he could go where he liked, even if he found himself constantly looking over his shoulder for THEM again. At least now he had choices rather than the pain day in and day out. Better than what he could have been facing.

Better than staring into the dead eyes of the Winter Soldier and wondering if that was what they wanted to turn him into.

Apparently the man was just full of surprises today. First the offering of cigarettes, and now an apology. Barney was just teetering on the edge of his own SANITY when Barnes had said it. Doing everything he could not to fall into that pit of memories as they were dredged up. Even punch, kick, near DEATH at the hands of the other. He was also trying to remain as COMPOSED as possible. As if the words weren't having an effect on him. So he managed a snort with a shake of his head, pausing to take a drag of the cigarette before speaking to the other man, ❝ If you're looking for FORGIVENESS, that's always been my brother's thing. Not mine. ❞ Barney would keep swinging, even when his opponent was down and OUT sometimes. Get hit, hit HARDER.

Regardless of who Bucky was now, he had said it himself: It had still been his own hands. It had still been that same face Barney would look up at from on the ground before the handlers would INTERVENE and lead their Soldier away. There was no looking at him without recalling those eyes, dead as they were, and so ready to draw blood. Barney had gotten better over time, sure, enough to hold his own. But that didn't make up for every other damn time. He still hadn't BEAT him yet. But Barney would get his pound of flesh in time.

He was wrong. Completely wrong. Barney scowled slightly, inhaling smoke and tobacco into his lungs as the continued words continued to piss him off further. Wrong, wrong, WRONG. ❝ You think they were just setting me up to go after Clint? ❞ Barney scoffed. It wasn't that. He'd had every member of the Avengers' files pushed in front of him. It had gone BEYOND just Hawkeye, studying their history, talents, weaknesses, watching footage of them in action. It was so much MORE than just his brother and, in Barney's eyes, PROOF that Barnes was full of shit. ❝ I saw all of them in the files. Supposed to go after ALL of 'em. ❞ Though, in the end, there was no interest in any of the others.

They were just those that might get in his way, nothing else.

He wasn't under their control, he had to firmly believe that. That he'd come out on top, that he WON in the end. This was all just some trick because he happened to be pissed as his brother. This was nothing more than actual brainwashing to get rid of all that built up ANGER. A trick, a trap, and he wasn't about to fall for it. His vendetta against Clint was of his OWN volition and nothing more, there was no one else in his head. ❝ I know it's hard to believe, but it's all me up here. No one else. Just cause you want to be all buddy buddy with people you knew doesn't mean I do. This is a grudge a lot OLDER than HYDRA. ❞ Just him, only him. ❝ And it ain't just jealousy. You had someone actually LOOKING for you. I didn't have that luxury, now he's gonna pay for it. ❞

But there was a thought that occurred based on Bucky's words. Taking another drag, eyes moved from the floor to the other. He mentioned taking out their 'nests'. ❝ ——You goin' after them? ❞ Barney asked. After HYDRA, picking off what was left. They were pests, hidden away in the shadows. More TARGETS he had besides Clint, having been doing his own clearance.

Bucky watched the man carefully as he got up and approached.  He kept his face neutral, though he was impressed that he was brave enough to come over.  Even more impressed when he was knocked to the ground and threatened.  Not worried, though, there was a risk with that lit cigarette, Bucky could easily overpower Barney if needed.  If he went to try and burn him, Bucky would just need to catch his hand with his prosthetic and squeeze, and it would shatter every bone.  But Bucky didn’t think he’d risk that.  Not when there was the potential promise of more cigarettes.

He was right.  Barney let him go and moved back, and Bucky got back up, straightening out the chair and taking a seat again.  “You’re right.  We’re not in HYDRA anymore.  I gotta admit, my memory of that time is a little -” he rocked his hand back and forth.  “Never like admitting weakness, but the number they did on my head.  I’m pretty sure it’s all there, but sometimes it just feels that little bit out of reach.  They really made me their little lap dog though.  They said jump, I didn’t even ask how high before I’d put everything I had into the leap.  There were these moments - maybe I’d get a knock to the head, maybe I’d see someone or something that triggered a memory from who I used to be, maybe, I’d just been left out of cryo without being reset for too long and the real me would start oozing into the shell, and I’d become aware that this was wrong.  What I was doing was wrong.  What they did to me was WRONG.  And they’d beat the absolute hell out of me and put me back in my place, and then they’d wipe me again, and it’d start from scratch.  But I do remember one time, I had a handler who felt bad about what they were doing to me and he tried to let me go.  I killed him.  Didn’t even think twice.  He was breaking orders so he had to die.”

He shook his head and tossed the rest of the cigarettes to Barney.  “Don’t wanna deal with the repercussions of leaving you with a lighter too, so you’ll have to see if any of the guards or agents will take pity on you and light you up from time to time.  Be nice to Phil and he might.”

He let out a breath and shook his head a little. “That is to say, I didn’t remember you much.  Just vague memories I have of all the training sessions they put me on. But hearing you just then, that brought it all back.  I beat the living hell out of you.  I mean - I’ve done worse in training sessions.  Some of my handlers were real fucking sadists and they didn’t really want me to teach, so much as break the person in every way a person could be broken.  Those are the ones I really try not to think up.  I’ve emptied my guts the few times those have come back to me. But it’s not a competition.  I fucked you up. And I am sorry about it.  I know you don’t believe that.  But I am.  People keep telling me it wasn’t my fault.  I wasn’t in control. They really don’t get it.  Yeah, maybe if I had any control of what I was doing I would have fought back.  I know I did to begin with.  It’s why they kept me the way they did. There was no value to me if I remembered who I was.  But it was still me.  My body.  My fists.  I remember doing it.  I did it.  And I wish I could change that.  So all I can say is; I’m sorry.  And if you wanna come over and have a couple of free hits, if that’ll make you feel a tiny little iota of justice, I’ll give it to you.  But let me tell you this right now; if you get out of here, which I don’t doubt that you can do, and you come for Clint, or any of the people he’s close to, I will personally show you all the things I can do.  And if you think the Winter Soldier was bad, he’s nothing compared to me when I’m trying to protect the people I love.”

He huffed and shook his head.  He flicked an elastic band around his wrist, letting it snap against this skin, as he tried to draw his focus back to the point he was here to make.  

“Look.  Here’s the thing.  I do remember.  I remember what they did to you, and what they were trying to do to you.  They used me to beat you into submission so you’d get more and more angry that you weren’t good enough to stand up to what they had.  They fed you all that stuff about Clint to feed your natural jealousy you already felt for him.  Where I had no value if I remembered being Captain America’s kid sidekick, you had no value forgetting it.  What good is some guy who’s good at archery but not better than the person they want him to take out?  Unless he remembers how that target was always putting him down and putting him in the shadows.  They wanted you to remember.  You might think that you got away from them by killing them all, which - thank you for that, saves me one nest I don’t have to clear out -  but you’re now doing exactly what they trained you to do.  They wanted you to take out an Avenger.  That was their sole goal.  If they made you so angry at your brother, they could just let you go and just like a little wind up toy, you’d run off and do as much damage as you could until you took out Hawkeye and then got put down.  If you don’t let the people here help you with that, they win.  They do.  Killing them won’t matter.  Cut off one head, and two more take its place.  They don’t care that you killed a bunch of them, as long as you also kill Hawkeye.  They win.”

[uwuberdriver]

It worked. He was free..

And all it took was a plate of cookies and a lullaby. 'See,' Blaise told himself as he finished stepping through the mirror into the nevernever, 'I still got it..'

But what was left was merely a tiny bit. He knew his limits, and even just the walk to the bathroom mirror was so much.. Now he had to travel in the nevernever like this?? He took a deep breath, and jabbed the syringe into his thigh with a hiss. Something he would definitely pay back later, but he was going to be given it anyway before bed- so he didn't feel TOO bad about stealing it.

The morphine would get him through and back to Chicago, which he thanked everything was usually a safe passage so long as he avoided the crowd heading to Undertown.

"Should be easy enough. My connections.." A deep breath, as his eyes changed to silver and his skin glowed ever so slightly. "Should be useful there if I get in a sticky situation."

He exhaled, and started on his way. The Nevernever wasn't everchanging, and he had been on this path once before. A mess of swirling colors, some fae dining with a poor human they caught in a deal, a hound or two off on a hunt. All left him be. The fae in him helped, and the white court was known for traversing this place fairly recently, really.. The biggest danger was running into another of the white court.

Luck was on his side this time, though, as he stood by the entrance to the deep red line subway, he breathed a sign of relief and checked what was left of his smart watch. The poor thing lit up blearily at his taps and displayed the time as best it could over the cracked surface. 6:40 cst. Perfect.

A few more steps, and he was stumbling into the noise of the subway above, rattling the rails. Loud. It hurt his ears when he was drawing on his power, but he couldn't let up- he needed it to keep himself awake amidst the morphine. Phone out now since his watch was basically unuseable, he dials a number.

Three rings. A breathless hello.

"Hey.. Blaise. Can we meet?"

"Blaise? It's dinner time, I'm-"

"Please. This is important.."

Maybe it was the desperation in his voice, maybe she could sense the pain in his words- either way she agreed, a meeting time and place was set, and they both hung up. The usual spot.. This was it. He checked his watch again. 6:45 and the meeting was at 7:15. Plenty of time to get more than just a patient's gown on.

----

He stood in front of the elevator to his apartment. He hated this thing with a passion, but there was absolutely no way he was taking the stairs.. So with a huff, he got inside and pushed the button. It made such a horrible noise when it started going up that he was sure after avoiding all sorts of forms of death in the nevernever, this was how he was going to die. But, no. It got him up safely, and he exited as quickly as possible before it changed its mind.

There was no hesitation then to run inside his apartment, step over the dead body that was still there, and begin getting ready. This was it. This was so so important.

---

And so now he stood, early this time, in their usual meeting spot. Nerves were off the charts, and it didn't help he stopped drawing on his vamp powers for this. Sammy always had an eagle eye for details, she'd still notice the glow even with the flourescent lights bouncing off his pale skin. He was so tired. This was so worth it.

Sammy arrived not too shortly after he did. She wore a green plaid scarf and an orange pea coat. Blaise wore a green pea coat and an orange scarf. His heart could only swell more.. She was perfect. She was also narrowing her eyes as she got closer.

"Blaise.. What happened to your hands? Why are you-"

Before she could finish, Blaise had her in a chokehold of a hug. His eyes held tears that he so desperately kept in.

"It's fine. Listen, Sammy.. I have something I need to tell you. It's important."

She struggled to get free, hands on her hips.

"Never one for formalities, are you? Can you at least tell me what happened to your hands first?"

The noise he made was between impatience and more desperation, but he couldn't say no to Sammy.

"Fine.. It's burns, I got hurt a bit ago but I'll be okay. Listen.."

An eyebrow raised. He could tell by the way she tensed that she wanted to check his hands. He moved them into his pockets to avoid that. This was his time. This was the big moment.. If he could admit this to her without burning himself...

"Sammy, I... I love you."

A beat. Nobody says a word and Blaise doesn't set on fire. A giddy smile covers his face, and he races in to continue. This.. Feeling in his chest. It was something he had never been able to feel before, it was new and it was amazing.

"Since we were in highschool, but I couldn't.. You have to understand, I couldn't be in love, I-"

The look in Sammy's eyes makes him stop. His train of thought gone.

"Sammy..?"

She closes her eyes.

"Blaise.. I'm getting married in less than a month. You know this. I'm happy.."

There's stuttering, but Blaise finds the strength to still get words out.

"But- but Sammy you don't understand he's-"

"A wonderful guy, Blaise. He was there for me after you went off for who knows where. Ireland?"

"It-It- Sammy I couldn't-"

"Maybe not, but I moved on. I had to.. I'm sorry, Blaise." She paces then, while Blaise does his best to hold on to something and not pass out.

"He's dangerous, Sam. He'll hurt you. He's-"

"A vampire?" She interrupts, and Blaise could swear he was free floating now.

"He.. He told you?"

"He told me. Friday, actually.. I'm still wrapping my head around it, but I've come to accept it already. My fiance is a vampire. He explained all the courts to me today. I know you know about it too, Blaise. Were you going to tell me he's a monster? That he wants to turn me into a monster too? Did you ever stop to think that you aren't the shining white knight you think you are?"

She stops and winces a bit.

"I'm sorry. I know you care, I just get so tired of hearing that my fiance is a bad guy. I hear it enough from my mom. The truth is, Blaise.."

Sammy puts her hands on her stomach, and offers a small, but real and true, smile. "The reason why he even told me was because I found out I was expecting thursday."

"But- But- What- There's- red court can't.."

"Red court? No, Blaise. He's white court."

No, yeah. He was definitely falling now. Sammy manages to catch him, and helps him move to a bench a few paces away. He doesn't know at this point what to say.. White court? He was so sure.. Was *he* the actual monster here? He blinked out of it as Sammy wiped a tear from his face with her sleeve.

"At one point, I think I loved you too. Back in highschool, I thought you were the coolest person in the world. You just wanted to help everyone, even when we did set out to commit crimes. I see some things never change, even if the person you were trying to save didn't really need it."

He had no words anymore, only tears. She let him lean against her shoulder, and took one of his bandaged hands into hers gently.

"Please let me walk you home, Blaise.. You're hurt. You can't hide that from me. I think out of the two of us, it's me needing to be your knight. Eh? Sorry. Guess this is no time for jokes, I just.. Hoo. What else do I say."

Words formed. Finally.

"You.. Still want to help me? Even after I-"

"Yes. I can't just leave you here, it's supposed to storm again soon- and look at you. You don't even have your glasses on. Can you stand okay?"

"I- I'm sorry.. It hurts."

---

They stood in front of Blaise's apartment door, the elevator making another dying noise as it closed.

"Think I'm gonna take the stairs back down.." Sammy started, watching it close with a look on her face.

"Don't.. Blame you." Blaise got out. He was tired and hurting and his throat was so scratchy.

"Well.. Guess this is it. I don't really know what else to say, Blaise. Other than you're stupid for dragging yourself out like this to see me."

That hurt. She continued.

"I don't know what you were expecting.."

He didn't either. Not this. Never this.

"Are you going to be okay?"

His answer was to say nothing. He couldn't lie and give her the answer she needed to hear.

"Alright.. Get some sleep, okay?"

"Sammy.." Blaise whined, but she just shook her head.

"I'll maybe text you soon. Take care of yourself."

And then she was gone. And Blaise was left truly alone.

[white-poppie]

Eyes burning in the Sun

Request: can you please do a Kurapika x reader. the reader helps Kurapika fight the phantom troupe and even ends up fighting one of them. (This is my first time I'm sorry if I mess up on anything I also read the rules multiple times.)

A/N: Ohh nonnie, don't worry you didn't mess up anything!! I am so happy that you read the rules ahaha ( you are so adorable omg my heart-) Hehe like I would leave any opportunity to write for 'pika dearest.

Genre: Friends to Lovers! (first-time writing non-established relations xo) Warnings: extreme violence--be warned, reader is a specialist, too mush floof

"I am going on the hunt with you this time!" you slammed the door, causing him to flinch and spill his green tea on his shirt. You were the one always lecturing him about taking care of himself and yet you disturbed one of his only moments of calmness.

"The what, now?" he blinked, dazed.

"I wanna help you in hunting the phantom troupe this time," you huffed causing Kurapika to drop the tissue in his hand and look at you concerned, he walked up to you before any questions left his mouth.

"Absolutely not!" he commanded.

"I won't be any hindrance to you!" you pouted making his resolve tremble ever-so-slightly.

"It's not about being a hindrance, Y/n!" he paced around his room, "its about your safety, I can't let anyone else dear to me get hurt, no, not again!"

"Kurapika!" you kept your hands on his shoulders, "I am fine, stop worrying, geez!"

"Oh-I" he quickly fixed his tie and cleared his throat, "I apologize."

"Please let me help you," your eyes softened, "I am concerned about you, that is why I want to accompany you, I think you are fully capable of handling them by yourself, but my mind is restless--please let me come with you."

He gulped and averted his eyes, "fine, you may."

"But if any situation comes where you are in danger, flee immediately!"

Kurapika should've known better than to trust you to flee in the face of danger.

"Twenty meters and Sixty degrees clockwise from your current position," chided through the device, "Machi, she is alone, you can catch up to her."

Kurapika rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt and looked at the direction you pointed. You were hiding behind some alleyway, a device in your ear and binocs in your hand, spying at the troupe.

"Isn't it suspicious how only one member is there?" he mumbled.

"It is..." you whispered, narrowing your eyes and before one could say knife, there was a hand around your mouth. Your eyes widened in fear and a muffled shriek automatically left your throat.

"Y/N?" Kurapika asked concernedly, but before one could say knife, he was struck by Machi.

"Focus, chain bastard," she hissed and he had no choice but to oblige. First he had to deal with the issue in his hand and then look after you.

You looked around to see a short man holding your mouth, eyes widening in fear as you recognised him to be the cruellest member of the troupe: Feitan.

You did the most reasonable thing anyone could have done.

Scream? No.

Cry? No.

Beg for mercy? Absolutely Not.

You...bit his hand.

Now listen, it might not be the most ethical tactic, but as long as it works, right?

Feitan hissed as he realized his grip from your mouth. You kicked him where the sun doesn't shine and made him double up, gasping in pain.

"You bitch!" he snarled wildly, landing blind hits on you, which you were able to dodge. You took advantage and twirled him till he was facing the wall, in his weakened state, you grabbed him by the back of his neck and slammed his face into the wall.

His head hit a gross splat and you were sure it was enough to keep him unconscious for a while.

Making an escape from the alley, you ran towards Kurapika.

You weren't shocked to see Kurapika and Machi having a fair fight. Her strings were invisible when they wrapped around his forearm, drawing blood from them as he hissed in pain.

And you swore to heavens you never wanted to shave someone's hair off so bad in your life.

You took a pocket knife and snapped her string, giving Kurapika enough time to wield his chain of justice and pierce it through her chest.

That was what you thought...until your head was hit with something cold, forcing you to fall on all fours, groaning in pain as warmth trickled down your head.

You turned your head to see Feitan smiling sadistically, your vision tunneled from the impact.

"Y/N!" Kurapika shouted. God, it was their plan to make him unable to move. He was driven between killing Machi and saving you from Feitan.

Heh, you knew better than being a hindrance, "k-kill machi," you stuttered out, "I'll hopefully buy you enough time until then."

"Y/N-" his voice died in his throat as he shook his head to rid of the haziness.

You got up hesitantly and stared into his dark eyes, how menacing.

"Why do always attack from the back?" you asked, crossing your arms in front of you. He blinked in surprise at the casual conversation you were channelling in the middle of a fight. You looked at Kurapika, he was holding out quite well.

You slowly moved a little towards the alley while glaring at him and the poor guy didn't know how to react. You leg finally came across the metal rod you were looking for, instantly grabbing it, you charged at Feitan but he was quick to dodge.

You huffed as you swing again, landing a clear hit on his arm. It might have seemed like an unneeded move, but it was necessary to connect your nen-channel on his arm, one of the weakest points of the body.

Your nen was concealed through In, but your ability was versatile, you could connect your aura through a bullet and fire it and it would successfully attach to the person, or you could use a knife and stab, even physical attack worked as long as you make contact with the target, one way or another.

But Feitan was cunning, he knew you motive and was ready to cut your aura nodes. You panicked and quickly and uttered the command, "Kaze!"

A sharp gust of wind snapped his arm in half...the scene reminded you of Heaven's Arena when you were watching the fight of Hisoka.

He groaned in pain as you looked over to see Kurapika, win as Machi retreated from the fight. He groaned in anger as she ran away, but his legs gave in due to tiredness.

You turned to face Feitan but he was gone too. Groaning in irritation you walked up to Kurapika and sat on the ground with your back on a wall.

"Hah, they ran away," he ran a hand through his gold locks, shutting his eyes tightly in despair, only to be met with a soft weight on his shoulder.

You kept your head on his shoulder, knowing well that you would die of embarrassment when you snap back to reality, but right now you wanted nothing more than his embrace.

"I am so glad you are alright," you laughed hoarsely, "I was so scared when I couldn't see you, I thought maybe-maybe-something might go wrong on your side or mine."

He leaned onto your touch, pushing back your hair from your forehead with dried-up blood.

"You promised you would run away," he moved away and looked at you, gently holding your hand and bringing it to his face. Heat rushed onto you as you bit your lips.

"I am sorry, I cannot leave you alone, can I?" He smiled and kissed your knuckles and you couldn't help but embrace him tightly.

He was quick to melt into your touch, "so uhm...do you want to go on a date with me?" He asked hesitantly and your tightened hug was all that he needed for an answer.

IM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO WRITE THIS AAAA

Im sorry nonnie, hope you are not mad at me, I was having such an intense burnout TwT

I love pika shoo mush ommg uhuhuhu

Tags: @denkis111, @jazzylove, @lordmypantsaresocool, @futuristicallykawaiiturtle, @kristaline2dmensimp,@rintaroubby @nanaseishiro @innerpurple,

𓏲 🥀  Occasional Critters ▒ Wonderland's citizens ▒ The red king's rules    

Hunter x Hunter (ハンタ x ハンタ)

[phantomenby]

Shitlings chapter four

Immediately no, immediately no.

At some point you had fallen back asleep, curled up against Michael as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. Your chest had begun to ache again, and being squished against your brother was more suffocating than comforting. Nudging him you tried to wake him, he only rolled over in response but you were free from his grip, it was pointless trying to get him to get up when he was determined to sleep.

The pull of the sun was becoming stronger and you could tell it was affecting him the most, he could sleep for now. In a couple of hours, the sky would darken and his nocturnal nature would set in.

As much as you wished to join him in his slumber you had decided to still try and be productive with the little day you had left. If what Star said was true then you had to move quickly, the blood curse that came with vampirism was always a pain to deal with, but it can be cured in a few ways.

You had gone into Lucy's room to seek out her own little library, full of books on healing and curse breaking, it was her specialty and Sam's too. Reaching to the top shelf you grasped a thick leatherbound text labeled 'Blood curses and the mystic realm', an eye watched you from the front of it, granting you access once it confirmed you were a friendly presence. Flicking through you came across the familiar pages, tales of great beasts and forbidden spells.

The pages on how to handle blood curses were further back, vampirism was complicated, the turning could take just a few days or up to a year depending on the sire's influence.

Based on the itchiness in your throat the boys had placed you under something strong, you could only wonder if Michael felt the same. Though it was likely he had consumed something slightly different that had been prepared before you had even stepped into the cave.

It would be easier just to let him turn maybe then he'd stop being such a pain in my ass

Shaking your head you got back to your research, he was still your brother and you still felt responsible for him, you would have to tell mom soon either way. As you changed you would become more aggressive and stressed, there was only so long you could go without feeding on the blood of a human or the blood of your sire and there was no way either of you would be seeking out the boys anytime soon.

Three hundred pages in you came across what you needed, it explained how to end the curse in simplest terms, you could kill your sires. Your heart ached at that thought, the bond which had begun to form making the idea unbearable. You didn't even know if Michael had the same sire as you, it could all be for nothing.

There were other ways of course through both ritual and spells, one required the drawing of the blood you had consumed out of you, it was brutal and the illustrations in front of you were difficult to process. For now, you would have to enchant come jewelry to stop the growth of the curse. You wouldn't go through with anything without consulting the rest of the family.

Sighing you grabbed some paper and began to make notes, it would be easier to solve if you did most of the planning now. By the time the night had come Lucy would be home and you could all meet to discuss things.

-

It was nearing eight PM and there was still no sign of your mother, Sam was singing away in the bath while Michael brooded in his room. He hadn't talked to either of you and you weren't sure if he was even awake. You were beginning to worry, no matter how much you read on the problem it wouldn't be easy to determine when the worst of the effects would begin.

Honestly, you just wanted to go out into the woods where mom had talked about a small spring she used to collect moon water from growing up, you hadn't brought many supplies with you from Phoenix and it was driving you insane to not have a good stock of potions and poultices on hand.

Bug?

Looking up as the top of the stairs creaked, seeing Michael watching you, his eyes were dark and his pale skin looking grey and flushed.

Mikey?

He ignored your response and turned to where Sam was belting out lyrics to some song on the radio, hands twitching as his upper lip lifted into a snarl, he walked closer like a monster stalking its prey. You followed him, watching worriedly as you tried to figure out his next move.

Nanook had taken a similar stance, growling at your brother through the bathroom door, you couldn't imagine the stress the pup was under feeling the threat of an unfamiliar predator in their home.

You had worried about this, Mike was being lured in by something, it took you a moment to realise he was going for your brother. A growl was building low in his throat when you lunged at him, pulling him back, unfortunately, you hadn't thought this through and your action sent you both tumbling down the stairs. Crying out as the hardwood steps battered your spine. The sounds of pain coming from you were enough to knock Mike out of his hypnotic state, he wrapped his arms around you as he pulled you up into a sitting position, looking over you worriedly.

"Bug?" You whined, feeling a deep bruise forming along the left side of your body, you could only hope that whatever was running through your veins would speed up the healing process, lest mom tries to feed you one of her rank healing drinks.

"Don't worry I'm good, no blood bub," Michael still didn't let go of you, trying to think about what had just happened, he didn't remember much after he left his room. Something sweet was in the air, like the finest wine he could imagine, looking upstairs he realised what it was. Sams blood.

Never before had such terror struck his heart as he realised what he had almost done, he had almost attacked Sam, he was sure Nanook would have destroyed him as soon as he entered the room but he feared what could have been if you weren't there to subdue him.

You held your brother as he sobbed into your shoulder, shushing him as you ran your fingers through his soft curls. He wasn't a killer, none of you were, but Michael and Sam were both big softies. As were you but there was an edge they lacked, you were Lucy's baby but Michael had been her eldest and Sam her youngest.

It took a couple of minutes for him to calm down enough to pull away, he couldn't look you in the eye as you held his face in your hands, holding him like he was a piece of glass about to break.

"Michael..."

Meeting your eyes he leant forward, pressing his forehead against yours and breathing slowly. The bloodlust was passing, he just needed to focus on your heartbeat. After a moment he met your gaze, there was a new resolve behind his eyes as he looked at you, a silent conversation passed between the two of you.

Soon after your moment together you were both in the kitchen, preparing a bowl of blood your gramps kept in his liquor cabinet. It wasn't human blood but rather that of a lamb, one was chosen each spring and its blood was used to ward off evil, the remnants of it were saved in case any additional incantations needed to be done before the next spring season.

You muttered the words you needed to softly under your breath as you moved around the house, swiping symbols onto the windows and doorways as you went. Michael was doing the same along the fences outside, there were only two gates and so soon enough he was back inside and watching as you moved.

By the time you were done, there was a slight shake throughout the house like it was taking a deep breath, expanding as it inhaled, and finally settling with a slow exhale. It brought Sam out of his room, he had seen you drawing something on his window but he had no idea as to why and didn't bother to ask you in the moment, far more interested in fluffing up his sandy curls.

"Mike?" You both turned to him, looking worse for wear as he awaited an explanation. Neither of you wanted to be the one to break the news but you most of all, and since it was Michael's fault you decided to nod your head towards him before walking back to the kitchen to tidy up. Before you could cross the threshold you heard Sam gasp and run down the stairs to the two of you.

"Y-you-you're"

"Sam?" Placing a hand on his shoulder you looked at him worriedly, not understanding what had stressed him out all of a sudden, it wasn't until he pointed behind you and towards the mirror did you realise your mistake.

Your body was translucent, if the room had been darker you doubted you would even be able to see yourself. Reaching up to your face you still felt solid but the incomplete reflection told you otherwise. Sam, being a new connoisseur of all things supernatural due to his adventures in Frog-land, knew exactly what this meant.

"Y-you're vampires! My own family, god damn shit sucking vampires! Oh, you wait until mom finds out buddy! She's gonna ground you for an eternity now - literally!"

Michael chased after him, stopped by Sam holding a spray bottle of holy water at his face. You knew it would do nothing more than sting his flesh, but Mike didn't and wasn't going to risk marring his beautiful features.

"Sam, c'mon I'm your brother-" he raised his arms over his face as Sam squeezed the trigger, casting a thin mist over your brother, "Sammy! Stop!"

You were still frozen in front of the mirror, watching the scared creature staring back at you as they tried to feel for the person fading in front of them. Knowing it would happen was one thing, but seeing it was another, your chest ached painfully as the scary reality hit you. Even now as the night went on you noticed how much more aware you were, your body adapting to the darkness a primal side of you called home.

Michael screamed as Sam pulled the trigger again, squeezing his eyes shut in agony. You turned, looking at your younger brother's tense form as his finger tightened around the trigger again, holding your hand out and trying to bring it over to you.

"Sam!" He looked at you, now aiming the weapon in your direction but unable to pull the trigger as your mind overpowered his, you could tell he was resisting at his face grew irritated in his struggle to spray it at you. "Let it go, Sammy, please."

He scowled, throwing the bottle at you, finally deciding to let it free from his grasp. A flash of remorse crossed through him as he noted some reside falling onto your skin, making you jump back with a yelp and rub your now scorned hand.

It was silent for a moment, then another, and you all turned to meet each other's eyes. You tried not to let your sadness show as you looked up at your baby brother, sending him a pleading look to stay, hoping he wouldn't fear you.

-

The three of you had moved to the kitchen, the bottle of holy water laying on the floor in the living room since both you and Michael refused to touch it and Sam was still a little shaken up by everything. The last thing you needed was him attacking you again.

"You good Sammy?" He shrugged, avoiding Michael's eyes as he went to dig through the cupboards, pulling out a jar of smooth peanut butter and one full of mom's homemade strawberry jam. He grabbed the loaf of bread still unopened on the side and placed everything on the island counter, reaching into the draw behind him to grab a knife before ripping open the bread bag and beginning to passive-aggressively make sandwiches.

You sighed, pulling a stool over from by the door, placing it across from him, and holding your head in your hands.

"Sam..." Michael tried again, pleading with his brother as he reached for him. You both flinched as Sam thrust the knife into the counter, just missing Mike's hand as the two of you stared at it in shock.

"What Mike? Hmm?" He glared up at him, skin flushing as he became flustered, trying to keep his breathing calm, "what do you want me to say to you huh? They warned you, I could see it a mile away, you hadn't even known them more than ten minutes before you went to their nest! You have no self-preservation and now- now..."

Sam bit his lip, taking the now half-empty jars and shoving them back into the cupboards he had retrieved them from, taking the bread bag and spinning it so it was closed up. You didn't speak, knowing he would need to compose himself and figure out his words, simply chewing on your thumb as your eyes glazed out of focus.

He continued, "mom taught you better than that, she taught us all better than that," he pointed an accusing finger at Michael who gulped, feeling the anger behind his brother's words, "you're the oldest Michael, you're supposed to do better."

Your older brother didn't respond, letting his face fall and choosing to reach forward and grab one of the sandwiches Sammy made and took a large bite, chewing slowly as he thought on the decisions he had made over the past twenty-four hours.

"Mike..." you placed a hand on both of your brother's shoulders, looking deep into their eyes, "I can fix this, we can fix this."

The three of you at your sandwiches, your brothers listening intently as you explained what you had learned so far about blood curses and vampirism. When you had read through the chapter on the various species of 'Drac' as they were so oddly named, you had discovered that the branch the boys were made from was reversible. It wouldn't be easy and you would have to do some research into their history, along with trying to find their sire.

You didn't mention how you had an inkling you and Michael were sired differently since you weren't able to see the source of the blood you consumed.

In reality, the hardest part would be telling mom, gramps could be kept out for a good while, he would probably be able to smell it on the two of you soon but until then Sam could keep him distracted with hunting trips and the widow Johnson.

"Wait," you looked up at Sam, whose heart had picked up considerably, "how are we gonna tell mom?"

You and Mikey shared a look.

You're the eldest

But you're the favourite, aaand the strongest, if she hits you with something at least you'll know how to fight back

That doesn't mean shit, last time she hexed me I was stuck with something invisible in my eye for a week

Well we could

No...

He is the youngest...

"Stop doing that, you know I can't get through those stupid shields you put up."

Michael looked at you, nodding before you both looked at Sammy who had just taken a large final bite of his sandwich.

"Well..." you began, weaving your fingers with his.

"We were just thinking-" Michael placed a firm hand on Sam's shoulders, giving him his infamous puppy eyes.

"That since you're the favourite-" Sam smacked your hands away, spitting crumbs at you as he began to reject your notion.

"Oh immediately no, immediately no. I'm not the ones who got turned into creatures of the night, I'm just an innocent angel who was home reading his comic books and making PB and J's."

"C'mon Sammy," you pleaded with him, "you said it yourself, you're her 'innocent angel'. All you gotta do it break the news while me and Michael-"

You were interrupted by the sound of your mom's car pulling into the driveway, the lights beaming through the window.

"Shit!"

Both you and Michael looked at Sammy, pleading silently with him.

He groaned, stomping his foot and raising his hands in the air, "fine, fine. But you two owe me BIG time, I mean it, I will hold onto this for an eternity."

You kissed his cheeks, thanking him and letting Michael drag you up the stairs and into Sam's room, hiding you both in his large closet.

"Shhhh, I think she's inside," Michael held his finger up to your lips, cupping his ear as he tried to listen to what Sam was saying to her, you didn't hear much more than mumbling but your mother's loud exclamation of 'WHAT?!' and the loud thumping of her feet up the stairs told you that you were both in deep shit.

We're so dead

Ya think?

Shit, I think she can smell us, quick if we go to the window-

"Are you two seriously hiding in the closet?" Lucy stood in Sam's doorway, hands on her hips and a tired look on her face.

You looked at Mike sheepishly, nudging the door open slightly and squeaking out a small "no."

-

"So...you're telling me that the two of you, rode all the way up to the cliffs with a bunch of boys, who had chased and harassed both of you and then let them lead you towards your death. And then you used your magic in front of them. AND THEN YOU WENT INTO THEIR NEST?

You and Michael gulped in unison, now sitting together on the couch while your mother paced in front of you both, reciting back to you what you had told her about your night out with the same kind of creatures you knew to avoid.

"At what point did it occur to you that maybe, just maybe, that was a bad idea? I mean, what is the matter with you! We have been here for less than a week and already you have ruined the balance. God, do you even know how hard it'll be to turn you back?"

She stopped to stand in front of you, arms crossed and lips pursed, "and you even made your poor brother tell me, he wasn't even there!"

"I'm sorry 'ama," your eyes were tearing up slightly, you hated making her mad, Michael grabbed your hand, looking up at her.

"We are really sorry mom, if I had known-" she held her hand up, refusing to let him speak further.

"I raised you to know Michael, your sibling knew, now you're gonna fix it."

It was then Sam decided to speak up.

"Wait- mom, where were you?" The three of you looked at her as she avoided your gaze, biting her lip before stumbling over to a deep-seated armchair and placing her hands in her lap, Sam continued, "you said you would be back after work, even Gramps told us where he was goin'."

She sighed, nodding along before explaining herself, "I was on a date, with my boss."

"Come again?"

Mike shoved his face in your hair to hide his smile, enjoying the sight of Sam stood in front of your mother with his hand on his hips, interrogating details of her night out with this mystery man.

"Wait that tall guy with the glasses?" She looked at you smiling and holding her hand out, nodding as your approached and pulling you into her lap as she smoothed her fingers over your cheeks which had become slightly damp with a few fallen tears.

"Mhmm, he was really sweet about it, but ugh!-" she placed her chin in her palm, gazing into the distance as she recalled the odd events earlier in the night, "he was just so, odd like something felt wrong about him."

"Did he hurt you?"

"No Michael, he's not like that, I think."

Michael nodded, wrapping his arm around Sam as he came to sit beside him, pinching his cheek and squeezing him close.

"I think I need to feel him-"

"Ew, mom!"

"Gross"

Sam and Mike shuddered in unison, the former putting on a display of sticking his finger into his mouth and making a gagging motion, in response your mother threw a box of tissues at them.

"Oh hush, you know what I mean, oh don't do that!" She pinched your sides as you wiggled your eyebrows suggestively, flicking your nose before continuing, "I think he's something, but I can't quite figure out what. He breathes but his heart, I- I couldn't feel it when he hugged me."

You froze, sharing a look with Michael, he had seen the book in your mind, he knew what was on those pages.

"Mom, I think you need to see something."

She looked at you confused before the book appeared out of thin air in your hand, flicking to the page you had read earlier on, showing her the answers you had found.

Her eyes widened, mouth hanging open in an O shape, taking the book into her hands as she flicked through. You thought for a moment she had become catatonic, her eyes focusing on one page reading it over and over again as she tried to process what she was seeing.

"Mom?" Michael had stood, both your brothers looking at her in concern, she was still for another minute before her eyes looked between the two of you. And then, Lucy Emerson for the first time since you had left Phoenix, swore.

"Oh shit."

[kshira]

—filthy rich

a bet//making you cum//rich boy sakusa//that’s it//that’s the tweet

18+ content//minors dni

wc: 2,066

18+ content, cursing, f!reader, blushy sakusa, fingering, soft dom sakusa (?), alcohol consumption, mentions of alcohol, reader slightly buzzed, smut in general

+ this is my piece for the rich boy collab, i thank @bakugohoex for letting me join & be sure to check out the rest of the wonderful event!

//“wanna make a bet, pretty boy?” atsumu grins, raising his glass to his lips, raking his eyes over the crowds of people until he makes you his target.

“the bet being?” sakusa says, meeting eye contact with you then bashfully taking the gaze away.

“well i’m bored, a little horny and that pool girl over there looks pretty fuckin’ hot” atsumu takes the glass gulping the last of the whiskey before slamming it back down.

sakusa shutters when he hears the glass crack at the metal table, his nerves are building but the alcohol soothes it—somewhat.

lavish cars fill his garages, endless expensive clothes pack sakusa’s closets, and the infinity amount of money suffused his bank account.

yet sakusa doesn’t understand why he feels numb, his money attracts everything and anyone—his bed never stays empty neither does his wallet but his soul—hollow.

“lets see who can fuck her first but more importantly who can make her cum first” atsumu wipes the brown liquor from his lips before giving sakusa a little push “you first omi.”

sakusa stumbles forward but takes the stride into your path around the pool, slowly walking in your direction watching you scoop the towels from vacant chairs and wiping down tables as you go.

“you do an exceptional job.. as a pool girl..fuck why did i say that, hi hello” sakusa covers his pink covered cheeks, eyeing the way your hips sway a certain way as you finish wiping down a chair.

“is this your way of hitting on me?” you chuckle, turning around to face the unknown force behind you—unexpectedly he wasn’t an old creep this time.

sakusa was in no doubt a beautiful man but where to start? that was what your eyes kept doing.

you started with his hair, the way he certainly tried to mask the curls in gel but the summer heat brought them spiraling down over his face, his pale skin adorned his muscles carved within and the most catching part you found about him was those beauty marks perfectly placed on his face.

“what time do you get off?” sakusa avoids your eyes when he mutters the words out, of course he knows he’s attractive but rejection never settled well with him.

“mm, well if you rub me just right i usually get off pretty quickly” you try to conceal the smile you have watching sakua’s eyes widen by your bold statement, you notice it doesn’t take much to get a reaction from him—you wonder that with other parts of him.

“j-just give me your number and text me when you get off— off work” sakusa coldly states and turns around as quickly as he got there leaving a confused look from you and a hysterical atsumu in the background.

you had seen this famous sakusa before, anybody flocked to him at every social event you unfortunately attended for the filthy disgusting rich, cleaning up behind them and taking their harsh coated words just for the sake of a little bit of money.

sakusa was placed in this group by his fame nonetheless and the staggering amount of money he’d collected through his growing career, so fuck it you think, might as well play this game he’d started—eat the rich instead of them devoring you for a change.

your text to sakusa left unanswered for a brief moment to give you some time to unwind and relax including a well deserved bottle of expensive champagne and a hot shower.

but as the alcohol finally started soaking in your phone lit up and the engine of a car in your apartment complex turned off.

kiyoomi sakusa was here, with all that fame and glory.

he was casually leaning on a ferrari, typical you thought for him to pull up in a car more expensive than anything you owned all together—filthy rich with the looks to double the amount.

“come in” you wave him into your apartment, watching him check his phone again and stride to your spot right inside your home.

“interesting..place” sakusa grunts, taking his shoes off and the door and shyly walking closer to the living room before planting his heavy body down on the couch.

“not up to your standards i guess?” you joke, crawling beside him on the couch, your fingers grazing his chest for stability—he’s nervous with a sweat beading around his dark curls and that tint of pink on his cheeks you’ve started to like on him.

“enough of the small talk, you know why i’m here we texted enough to get on first name basis and for you to know i’m not a creep or anything but—“ sakusa pauses to watch your expression, wide eyed and full of curiosity it kind of pains him to explain further.

“go on” you hum, swiping a piece of hair behind your ear scooting closer to him and to add a little bit of spice your hand stays dormant on his thigh.

“it was a bet to sleep with you but that’s something that we don’t have to do or anything like that—the other part of the bet is useless to talk about but i just had to make it look like i was actually doing the bet so i wouldn’t get ragged on by my friend..” sakusa is afraid to look at you, his eyes staying down at the floor memorizing the patterns of the hardwood floor.

“the bet.. what’s the other part?” you’re genuinely curious but if anything the fact that this rich boy is wanting to walk away in shame and defeat has you wondering—tasting for something else.

“to..make you.. c-cum and i was chosen to go first” sakusa leans back on the couch, wanting to melt into it entirely from embarrassment.

“is that so? i did say it didn’t take much to get me off” you smile back, peeling his large palms from his red cheeks to see a sly smile hiding under it.

“it’s been awhile for me so don’t have great expectations” sakusa chuckles interlocking his fingers with yours and moving inches closer till your lips can just almost touch.

there wasn’t time to take in his kiss when his tongue already started gently touching the walls inside your mouth, the sweet liquor still lingered and mixed with the champagne you had drunk; it was a divine taste.

sakusa went first taking his clothes off, starting with his shirt that colored your old wooden floors, his upper body was on display and fuck did it look good.

the ridges that filled his stomach formed remarkable abs, his skin flashed an ivory stain and those beauty marks created mini constellations all over.

an idea had tainted your mind for awhile, his beautiful body so clean and pure— needed something on it.

“do you mind if i pour this champagne on you?” your finger taps on the glass whilst your other hand draws circles on his bare chest.

“if you clean up the mess you’re going to start” sakusa holds his bottom lip between his teeth as you’d already started pouring the golden liquid all over his stomach.

“i planned to” your tongue drags away the champagne, licking all where it flows but never leaving his skin—you can feel sakusa’s body tremble at every lap you place on him and the bulge under your ass keeps growing bigger.

you gaze up to see him and a hazed lustful sakusa groans back at you, his cheeks dusted pink all over again with that growing bulge under you throbbing at this point.

“do you want me to go further? since you haven’t done this in awhile i can—“ you wince when sakusa pulls your face up by your cheeks, his palms practically swallowing your face whole.

“i said i haven’t done this in a while not that i don’t know how to fuck you” he takes you in another kiss, devouring your lips with his own swirling his tongue around the champagne laying shallow in your mouth.

sakusa decided the sweet taste isn’t enough, he’s growing tired of his hardened dick just rubbing under you, he needs release soon.

“tell me, how does a pool girl like you have chardonnay champagne?” sakusa smirks, pulling your flimsy shirt off to reveal your tits; you shake from the exposed air fluttering to your skin leaving your nipples perked to a draw.

“i think compensation like expensive drinks are well deserved after dealing with rich fucking pricks all day” sakusa leans down listening to your reply, kissing your bare skin till he reaches your breasts.

“this rich fucking prick is about to fuck you though, you pretty little thing” his tongue wraps around one nipple sucking so slightly, you dance your fingers through the strands of his curls—the moan that escaped from your throat define that sakusa is in command.

“f-fuck feels good” you squeak, your voice stays rippled in your lungs—you don’t want to feel this good by a lick or a touch but the way sakusa is treating your body it’s a reflex now.

sakusa moves on to the other perked nipple, treating this one with more attention and while you’re caught up in the pulses your pussy is vibrating he slowly slings his hand down to your shorts, slipping them off and sinking one finger in.

“fuck—so wet, wet for me huh?” he groans into your tits, taking action in your messy hole, scissoring and moving with ease he’s already able to slip another one right in.

you want to answer him but you just don’t care too, you’re so caught up feeling his tongue trace a rotation on your perked breasts and his fingers plunging in your velvet walls that whatever you want to say fills right in with the orgasm you’re about to pull out.

sakusa feels you clamping down on his thick fingers, he knows you’re about to cum and he could walk away right afterwards with his winning bet but with your mouth agape, eyes glossy from the pleasure and you moaning for nobody but him—he wants inside of you.

you're reaching the top of your peak fast, your flowing essence tingling down your toes all you think about is him, his thick fingers and when you start to cum all on his fingers now you’re thinking about his dick.

“taste so good, so fucking good” sakusa pulls away from your cunt, his fingers soaked with the tips of them dripping in your cum and going right in his mouth.

god, did he have to do that?

“want you—want you in me now” you plead, palming at his pants and rubbing at his still stiff cock; you’re no one to beg but fuck you’re doing it now.

“such a good girl for me letting me make you cum, this time i’m gonna cum with you, yeah?” sakusa places a kiss on cheek trailing down your neck while he slips the rest of his clothes off and with the last drop of his clothes off you feel his knees dip in on the couch around you and that first stroke in.

of course measured with his height you’d known he’d be big but that soothing burn into your soaking pussy was the pure, uneducated guess he’d be this big.

but fuck did he reach that spot you couldn’t touch with your fingers, the way he’d bend your knees straight to your chest to get right at your cervix and you’d be goddamned if his dick didn’t rub right in your clit for safe measures.

“i’m not going to last when you feel this good but fuck i wanna” sakusa heaves, bringing his chest flushed to your knees, pressing down harder so he’s so balls deep he’s connected one with your soul.

“you gonna cum so soon huh? cum in this pussy” you moan out, digging nails in him and clenching so hard it’s cutting the blood flow down below on him.

“yeah? that what you want? fill this messy hole with my cum? god you’re so something else” sakusa fucks you faster till his balls are slapping at your wet thighs and his breathing matches with his speed.

“i’m gonna cum, i can’t hold it—fuck!” he bites down on your shoulder before stalling to fill you entirely up.

with a bet like this, you wonder how his other friend is going to fuck you//