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writingdevil · 25 days ago

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Tongues and Teeth PT.8 (STP)

The next day,everyone woke up with one mission in mind-Find Hero.

Skeptic and Smitten had been quiet that morning as they extinguished the fire and prepared to set off,but as the day went on,they grew more confident,until they were almost like their outspoken selves again,and Paranoid found them to be leading the search for Hero,which he didn't object to.

"You really think Hero will want to see us?"Broken asked,preening the feathers on his arms for comfort,and Smitten threw the smaller bird a bright smile as he said,"Of course he will!He's our beloved Knight!He's always looked out for us."

But then Skeptic gave them all a more-realistic reply."But we also think something's up with him,so don't be surprised if he's acting weird."

Smitten shot the other a glare for dampening the mood,but Skeptic just shrugged,and looked ahead again.

Paranoid looked over at Oppy from the other end of their group,to find him already looking over at him, and Oppy just gave him a wide and self-assured smile while straightening up,before he subtley shifted the smile to a soft one,which only lasted a second,lifting the mask for a single moment,just for Paranoid.

It shouldn't of calmed him as much as it did.

They kept walking for about a half an hour without any luck,when Contrarian slid up next to him, nudging him lightly as he said,"Hey."

Paranoid looked down at him in confusion."Hey?"

Contrarian smiled,but it looked nervous,and he kept his eyes on the ground as he asked,"So,uh,just wanted to ask-let's say we do find Hero,and it's all 'yay the gang's back together!'and-um-"

"What is it?"

"Well,I was just wondering...what do we do after that?"

Paranoid bit his lip to stop a burst of anxious laughter from escaping,because that was the exact question that he had been avoiding like the plague.

There's nothing Paranoid feared more than the unknown,because it was so easy for something to surprise them,and that was where Paranoid came in-to worry about everything and not trust anybody.It was his job to keep them alert and worried,because nothing made sense in that cabin, and that meant that they were in danger of everything.

Right now,it was just a different predicament with the same worries.How do they stay safe?Who can they trust?What's really going on here?Just because there wasn't an Echo looming over their heads anymore,doesn't mean that there couldn't be another being pulling the strings.

His chant was always in the back of his throat,ready to keep everyone from falling apart and succumbing to the numbness of death.But after they found Hero-would they need to be that scared anymore?

There wasn't a cabin.There wasn't a princess.There wasn't an Echo.

There were still monsters,and there was still the woods with paths to walk,but that didn't answer Contrarian's question,because the truth was-Paranoid didn't know.

He didn't know what to do after they've found Hero, and that terrified him.

It had been easy to ignore at first,when they were busy with finding the others,but now that the flock was almost complete,that dreaded question was rearing its ugly head again,and Paranoid wanted to just run away from it forever.

Contrarian could clearly sense Paranoid's floundering,and just as he was about to speak,Cold came up on Paranoid's other side,silent,but Paranoid's learned to sense his presence.

"Does it matter?"Cold asked,looking over Paranoid's head and down at Contrarian,who was surprised at his words."What?"

"Does it matter what happens afterwards?"Cold asked,"Asking questions like that just seem pointless to me.Agonising over the future takes all the fun out of it if you ask me.Besides,"then Cold looked ahead again and shrugged,"it can't be that awful if we're all still together.We won't find out alone."

Contrarian gazed up at Cold with a blank look on his face,before a bright grin split his face.He giggled as he said,"Yeah,I can get behind that!"

Surprisingly,Paranoid found that he could too.The unknown suddenly seemed less scary when he thought about going into it with his flock as well. Paranoid wasn't used to positivity,but for once,he found that things might not be that bad going forward.

But then he soon realised that positivity was a load of bullshit.

Skeptic and Smitten stopped at a particularly thick wall of bushes.Skeptic turned around and gave Stubborn a look,cocking his head towards the green wall."You're up,big guy."

Paranoid only managed to catch a flash of Stubborn and his manic smile,before he rushed forward,ripping the bushes to shreds with overjoyed laughter.

Skeptic only stopped him when Stubborn began to stomp on the torn leaves,and he had to physically pull him away from the mess.

Skeptic turned back around-and froze-and Paranoid could swear that Smitten was shaking with a look of horror in his eyes.

"What's the hold up?"Cheated asked,as they were blocking the sight in front of them.A nagging fear whispered in the back of Paranoid's mind,as neither Skeptic nor Smitten answered them.

Cheated sighed in annoyance,then pushed himself to the front,until he was shoving the two birds away as he angrily said,"What the hell is wrong with you-"

Until they all saw it.

There was a hill.A tall hill where the sun shone down invitingly on the soft looking grass,practically begging for them to stop and rest.But at the top of that hill-was a cabin.

A cabin.

No.

No no no no no no no!

"Why is there a cabin?"Contrarian asked,pure fear in his voice,despite the frozen smile on his face. Skeptic stammered,for once offering no logical explanation or helpful questions to the conversation.

Paranoid clutched the feathers on his chest, shoulders rising up in tension as he couldn't stop staring at that fucking cabin.

Nobody moved.

Nobody spoke.

Paranoid believed that they were waiting for someone to narrate their next steps.

But then there was a flash of movement from farther away,a blur of black that had Paranoid momentarily come out of his petrified state.

"Hero?"he whispered,and then he saw Hunted's wings twitch as he turned to look at Paranoid,and nodded once.

It was him.

"Hero!"Paranoid yelled,pushing past everyone and effectively shaking them out of whatever blind terror that had come over them.As soon as he passed Skeptic,any and all fear was being mixed with determination to reach their leader,and suddenly there was no cabin,no path,no woods-only Hero.

He ran out onto the field,yelling,"Hero!"and saw the way Hero froze,then looked over at him,only for Paranoid to feel a wave of grief hit him,and tears welled up in his eyes.

God-he looked so much like the Long Quiet that it hurt.

Paranoid pushed past the grief,instead waving his arms out and going,"Hero!We're all here,Hero!"He motioned back towards the others,who had started to excitedly run up to him,all smiling and calling Hero over.

But then Paranoid studied Hero's face,and all he saw was despair.

Their eyes locked,and then Hero sprinted for the cabin.

"What's he doing?"Oppy yelled,but Paranoid couldn't figure it out.All he knew was that he had to reach the cabin first.

So he ran."Heart,lungs,liver,nerves.Heart,lungs, liver,nerves."He said his chant with a biting tone,as if it was a curse instead of a life-saving mantra.

Behind him,he heard flapping and the others screaming Hero's name,pleading for Hero to stop, but he didn't even turn to look back at them.

They had gotten halfway up the hill,with Hero a little ahead of them,when Hunted suddenly screamed,"More danger to the right!"

Paranoid stopped in his tracks,just as a monster burst from the trees,its body a cylindrical shape with arms for legs,but it seemed much better at moving than the first monster they encountered. But the worst thing about this monster,in Paranoid's opinion,were the eyes that covered its entire body.

Immediately,there was that horrible itching sensation of needing to scratch and claw at every inch of his body that those eyes were looking at.He didn't want that creature looking at him.He didn't want people watching him!

He whimpered,running a hand down his face aggressively,when he heard a roar cry be let out, and he made himself to look,as the monster came barrelling towards their group,and Stubborn and Cheated ran to meet it,a fire in their eyes,ready to fight and protect.

Everything erupted into chaos immediately.Skeptic and Cold were quick to shoot into the sky and join the battle,while Broken clutched Hunted's hand, who didn't look like he was going to leave the smaller bird's side anytime soon.Contrarian was in the sky as well,but with a mischievous grin on his face that had Smitten holding him back from the fight,and likely stopping him from making it worse.

Paranoid made the mistake of glancing at the monster again,and he felt his whole body shudder as the sight of all those eyes,and he felt like his body needed to run away and stay completely still at the same time.He didn't know what to do.He didn't know what would keep him from losing his mind.

Thankfully,someone made the choice for him.

"Come on,Jitters!Let's go!"

Paranoid yelped in surprise as Oppy grabbed him and hauled him into the sky,flying straight for the cabin-the same place that Hero was aiming for.

He wanted to turn back around and see his flock, but one sound of that hideous monster attacking kept his head fixed straight ahead.

He felt Oppy squeeze his arms once,then lowered his head to whisper in his ear,"Bring him back to us, Jitters."before letting go.

He grunted as his knees hit the ground,but he just gritted his teeth and made himself keep moving, bolting over to the cabin,which Hero was also making a beeline for.

This close,Paranoid could hear Hero's frantic panting,and see the utter desperation in his eyes. He wouldn't look at Paranoid.

They both ran,closer and closer to the door,until they both shot their arms out.

Hero's fingers curled around the handle-

-but Paranoid gripped Hero's wrist tighter,almost tearing skin with his claws,forbidding him from turning the handle.

They both crashed to their knees in front of the door,practically slamming into the wood,and all there was,was the sound of their panting,and the fight behind them.

He felt Hero wriggle in his grip.

"Do not fucking move!"he snarled,twisting his head to glare at Hero,who was leaning his forhead against the door,a defeated look in his eyes.

They sat like that for a few seconds,catching their breath,until the anger slowly left Paranoid's body, and all that was left was concern.

"Hero,"he whispered,"what's wrong?What are you doing?"

Hero closed his eyes,his face scrunching up in confliction.Then,he said,"I need to get in there."

"No,we can't-"

"I need to see Him again."

Paranoid froze,and when Hero opened his eyes, there were tears threatening to spill.

"What do you mean?"Paranoid softly asked,and it suddenly felt like it was just them in the world now, like how it had been when they faced the Nightmare together.

Hero tried to breathe,but it came out as more of a gasp as he said,"I just need to go into the cabin and find Him again.Then everything will be alright."

"How do you know that?How do you know that everything will be okay?"

Hero's silence gave him his answer.

He felt Hero try to break free,but Paranoid kept an iron hold on his wrist,and he scooted closer and leaned his head down to say,"Hero,we can't risk whatever it is you're trying to do.It's not worth it."

He saw Hero's eyes flash with pain at his words,and he just stared at the door almost longingly for a minute or two,and Paranoid could tell that Hero's mind was somewhere far away,probably somewhere with a path of death and repetition and change.

Hero kept staring at the cabin door,until there were tears falling down his face,and he started to quietly sob,his body trembling in grief.

Paranoid just stared at him as Hero whispered,"I didn't know."

Paranoid opened his mouth to reply,but once he started,Hero didn't stop.

"I-I didn't know.I didn't know He would leave us.I thought-I thought that we'd get to go with Him."

He paused as another sob escaped from him, squeezing his eyes shut as his grip on the handle tightened before going slack,then tightening again.

The tears ran down his cheeks and dripped onto his feathers,letting them sparkle in the light.

"S-So I thought that if I found a cabin,then maybe-maybe I could see Him again.Maybe everything could go back to the way it was before,and we'd be in His head again."

Paranoid's heart broke at the fleeting hope in his voice,until it was drowned out by his crying,and he closed his eyes to press his forehead against the door.

"I just want to see Him again,"he wept,before surrendering to his grief then and there.

Paranoid was at a loss for words.

It broke his heart to watch their kind leader fall apart like this.

Hero was trying to bring the Long Quiet back to them?Even going so far as to bring back the whole cycle?He knew that Hero had been there in His final moments in the cabin-did he believe that he would get to go with them?

How did he feel when he woke up in a completely new body,and not as a voice anymore?Did he feel devastated?Abandoned?Did he think that the Long Quiet no longer cared about him?

After all,what good was a hero without someone to protect?

His thoughts were broken by the sound of the fight behind them,and all of their flock keeping the monster at bay.Every single one of them had taken to their newfound freedom differently.But no matter if they were devastated or ecstatic at the situation-they all found their way back to each other.

Paranoid had been terrified at the start,but the one thing he knew was that he had to find his flock, because he knew that he felt safer-no,happier, walking this path with them by his side.

"Hero,"he whispered,gazing at the other's empty look,but he still slightly moved his head towards him to say that he was listening.

"He is gone...but we're still here."

Paranoid tilted his head up and blinked back tears, his breath coming out shaky before he continued, "He made the decision to leave the cabin with the Shifting Mound.He made that choice of His own true,free will-and you want to take that away from Him?I know you miss Him-we all miss Him so much.But He's free now,and He can finally make His own choices without dying over and over again."

He felt the salt of his tears in his mouth,and he was aware that Hero was weeping again."All we can do is be happy for Him,that He can finally live the life He wants to live,and I know that He would want the same for you,for all of us."

Hero lifted his head properly,and despite the tears, Paranoid could see some light returning to his eyes. Paranoid smiled as he said,"We're not just voices anymore.We can make our own choices now-just like Him."

Hero let go of the handle.

He sat up straight,cheeks still damp,and he finally looked behind him."You all-"he began,voice rough and raw from crying,"-you all came for me?" Paranoid nodded,then took his hand."Of course we came for you.You're our Hero,and you're part of the flock."

Tears once again shone in his eyes,but Paranoid could tell that they were happy tears this time.Hero gave him a small smile and said,"I missed you all too."

Paranoid squeezed his hand in reassurance,and Hero's smile grew bigger.Everything was going to be okay-

"WATCH OUT!"

Paranoid had no time to act,as the monster came rushing towards them,upper half of its body swinging wildly for them.There was no time to move,no time to escape.Its shadow was already drenching them in darkness.

All he could do was let Hero pull him to his chest, angling his body so that he would take the brunt of the blow.

But neither of them ended up getting hurt.

"PARANOID!"

He turned,just in time to see Oppy dive in front of them,instantly getting thrown and slamming into a huge boulder in the distance.

He didn't get up.

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watatsumiis · 1 year ago

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(A soft, fluffy continuation to this post about Xiao's reading and writing skills (or lack thereof)

Teaching Xiao how to read and write would be a tedious and difficult endeavour for everybody involved. He may not catch on to what you're doing at first, but once he does he'll do everything in his power to try and avoid it. He's super embarrassed at how far behind he is, and he doesn't want to be perceived as weak in any way, shape or form, especially not by you, someone he's sworn to protect.

It may seem like he's pushing you away at first, and eventually an intervention needs to be staged - whether you bring in Zhongli and some of the other adepti to help explain it all, or confront Xiao on your own, he'll respond better once you've been open and direct with him about what you're doing and why.

Though he is genuinely trying his best, Xiao simply isn't accustomed to sitting still and trying to learn. He's hard-wired for vigilance and combat, so it's nigh on impossible to get him to stay in his seat. He's up and about, wandering the area and trying to keep an eye out for any possible danger, no matter how much you assure him that there's none to be found. You can only get him to sit down for five or ten minutes at a time before he needs a break, or else he starts to get destructive.

Once he's settled a bit and started to write, it comes out stiff and awkward - he always holds his brush like a weapon, no matter how much you try to teach him otherwise. You can say it as often as you like, but Xiao simply cannot pull himself out of combat mode. To him, this is a battle like any other, he's just conquering worksheets instead of demons.

He always makes an utter mess of the inks and chews on the writing tools when you take your eyes off of him - he likes the texture of the wood splintering between his teeth.

His embarrassment and shyness also mean that he finds it really difficult to speak up when he's having trouble with something, no matter how much you reassure him that it's okay to ask for help. He also does well when you're working alongside him, even if it's on something else.

Teaching Xiao these skills is an arduous task, but he retains the information well, even after long gaps between lessons. You may find that occasionally rewarding him with little treats may also boost his productivity somewhat. Not necessarily food, but small trinkets, head scritches and hair brushing tend to be great bribes to coax Xiao into working towards a goal.

He'd never tell you, but one of the main reasons he said yes to your teaching proposition is because he wants to be able to read and enjoy your favourite books alongside you. He even ends up spending some extra time around others so that he can ask them for the definition of words he's not sure about as he slowly but surely progresses through the book during quiet restful periods of time.

One day, you'll find that he's speaking in an awkward, stilted sort of way, perhaps saying things that don't exactly fit into the context of the situation. How quickly you realise depends on what your memory for quotes is like, but you come to the conclusion in the end anyways - he's quoting your favourite books to you, trying to tell you that he read them without outright saying it.

He's secretly really proud of himself for being able to make it through an entire book. Though he may not fully understand certain parts of it, and the deeper meanings still elude him, he's just delighted that he was finally able to share something so special and meaningful with you.

You may even start to receive mysterious, unsigned letters on important dates and holidays - rolled up in pretty, loose ribbons and covered in blocky, awkward handwriting. Unsigned, but filled with love nonetheless.

Please don't repost, steal, copy or otherwise plagiarise my writing! I do not consent for my works to be translated and posted elsewhere, or copy - pasted into bot or AI technology

#xiao #xiao x reader #xiao x you #alatus #alatus x reader #xiao genshin #genshin xiao #xiao fluff #x reader #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin imagines #genshin self insert #my writing #genshin headcanons #genshin fluff #platonic genshin x reader

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hahaifolded · 6 months ago

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The Siren, the Cook, and the Sister (0)

Sanji x PirateHunter!FemReader (Masterlist) Prologue: The Tavern in the Storm (Next Chapter)

A bellowing storm swallowed the island whole, forcing its residents to stay inside. Rain and harsh winds filled the quiet streets as all life came to a pause. Every business closed its doors, aware that no one would be outside as long as the storm raged on. However, one particular business stayed alive thanks to a certain crew getting caught in the rain.

Inside, a jolly tune danced in the air with laughs and giggles accompanying it. Various tables stood near the piano, far from their original placement. Those who pushed them, despite being told no, sat next to one another, enjoying the drinks, warm food, and shelter that the tavern provided. The tavern owner looked at the group with amusement as she realized that the rumors of the Strawhats’ knack to party were true.

“MORE MEAT!” yelled Luffy. Piles of plates sat in front of the boy as his stomach touched the table’s edge. Chopper giggled while Usopp and Sanji groaned with disappointment at their captain’s insatiable appetite.

“I’ll ask if they can re-open the kitchen… again,” assured Robin, standing up from her seat. However, before she could step away, the archeologist was signaled to stay put by Nami. As the rest of the crew enjoyed dinner, Nami looked over the ship’s finances and came to a familiar conclusion.

The navigator took in a deep breath and announced, “Luffy…STOP EATING ALL OF THE CREW’S MONEY!” The boy’s eyes widened, scared for the incoming scolding. “At the rate you’re going, we’ll only be able to buy enough supplies to last the Sunny…” Nami paused to look over over her notes, “3 days!”

“Dearest Nami is an angel. She’s looking out for me and the Sunny.” Hearts adorned Sanji's eyes. (Chopper quickly shot up to study the phenomenon.)

“More like a demon,” muttered Zoro in his raised cup. A foot immediately shot towards his face. The swordsman swiftly blocked it.

Before a fight could break out between the two, glass shattering rang through the air. Brook stopped playing as everyone looked at the bar. Shards of glass laid near a large man and a trembling tavern owner.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED?” roared the man. Another glass was chucked to the floor. Anger clouded his dark eyes as water dripped from his brown beard and navy coat. “Do you know who I am?” hissed the man, “I am Guerra the War-Summoner, one of the most powerful pirates of the New World… do you realize the damage I can inflict on this island, on this little tavern of yours…” Guerra paused to get in the owner’s face, “to you?” Before the owner could react, she was lifted over the bar by the angry pirate.

“Oi, that’s not very hard boil of you,” warned Franky. He rose from his seat, ready to defend the owner. He wasn’t the only Strawhat to rise; Sanji stood up, lighting a cigarette, Robin stared ahead, arms raised. Even Usopp lifted his slingshot.

However, before anyone could move, the tavern doors snapped open. Rain smacked the floor as a gush of cold wind rushed inside the tavern. But to everyone’s surprise, nothing could be heard. Not even the doors hitting the wall, the rain, or wind. Silence and suspense filled the room.

Disturbed by the silence, Guerra demanded for answers. Or at least tried as his voice was also silenced. Before more questions could be made, something shot through the door towards the large pirate. In the blink of an eye, a dark figure stood next to Guerra, the bar owner sat on the floor, and Guerra’s right arm laid in a red puddle.

Word Count: 609

Masterlist - Next Chapter

Author's Note: AHHHH... can't believe this is available for people to read - this has been living on my laptop since January 2024. This is the first thing I ever wrote for this story. Low-key doesn't really fit in the story (well it does but perspective wise, it's off) but I worked so hard on this that I felt like I had to publish it. Therefore, it became the prologue (which honestly I'm not sure if it is one really but oh well).

#sanji x reader #vinsmoke sanji x reader #one piece x reader #strawhats x reader #one piece fanfiction #black leg sanji x reader

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citrus-moonlight · 1 year ago

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Woven

- a Bringin' Home the Rain Interlude -

"Bringin' Home the Rain" Series Master List: [ Part One ] 🌹 [ Part Two (WIP) ] Fandom: MCU - Age of Ultron, Black Panther Pairing: Ulysses Klaue x F Reader Chapters: 1 of 1 Word count: 3.9k Rating: Explicit

Summary: As winter begins to settle in, the darkening days are unexpectedly brightened when you end up with the chance to spend a little more time with Ulysses Klaue.

Summary: Explicit! Rating, Fluff, Christmas Fluff, Smut, Public Teasing, Semi-Public Touching, Yes There's a Bed and Breakfast, Hotel Sex, Dirty Talk, Praise Kink, You Have to Be Quiet, Klaue is Still a Menace But He's a Soft Menace, Fingering, Being Held Down, Reference to Edging, Unprotected PIV, Creampie, Multiple Orgasms, Overstimulation

A/N: So I seem to have written some fluff, and holiday fluff, no less. I mean, it's still smutty fluff, and while I did go back and forth a bit with this, I really just wanted soft!Klaue, and finally reminded myself it's my story and I can write what I want (and apparently in whatever order I want 😂).

Also, yes, this this falls between the next two chapters of "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well" that as of this telling haven't been written yet. However it doesn't affect the rest of the story, it's more of a very self-indulgent interlude, and while I may come back to edit in a few details once chapter two is published, it doesn't change the narrative.

[ETA]: Chapters two (and an accidental chapter three, lol) have now been published, so this can now be read in order! As well there is a second interlude that comes after this but before chapter four, which I am currently in the process of writing, and hope to have completed very early next year!

As always thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this slightly late holiday fluff. ❤️

Header by me, banners/dividers by the lovely @saradika-graphics. ❤️

[ Read on AO3 ]

Shades of early December silver and grey are rapidly setting over the landscape, the dark even faster.

Although the sun doesn’t set much earlier than it would if you were in New York City (ten minutes to be exact), being in the mountains makes it seem as though it does, and as the days tick by you find yourself craving a bit of light.

The holidays are coming, so you take the excuse to drape a strand of lights over your dresser, the soft glow helping to warm the nights a little.

Still, you’re quickly becoming bored of winter, and it's only exacerbated by the new loneliness that works its way between your ribs when Klaue is gone - which is, of course, most of the time. You can only fill your days with so much work, and now that snow is settling into the mountains your options for distraction are growing limited.

Among your searches for things to occupy you, holiday festivals come up, and after a little more investigation you discover that Bucharest has a Christmas market that happens to be the largest winter festival in Romania, with the opening night and tree lighting ceremony this coming weekend.

Klaue wasn’t supposed to be getting back for a couple more days and while you’d mentioned your plans to him, when you step onto the train platform you nearly trip over your boots when you recognize a familiar form.

Your stomach flips and something else swirls lower when you see him standing among the other passengers, hands in the pockets of a heavy black wool coat.

He hasn’t seen you yet so you make your way over to him, staying just behind his shoulder.

“Come here often?”

Klaue turns with a start, appearing as though he’s about to say something but his words falter when his eyes catch on your bundled form.

A coy grin slowly curves your lips at catching him off guard.

“Got in a little early, came here straight from the airport to see if I could catch you.” he finally explains “I’ll still need to make some phone calls, but I’ve freed up the rest of my day. If you’d like some company. But if you- ”

“Of course, yes!” You assure him, a newly familiar warmth in your chest that he met you here, that he’s offering. “How could I not take advantage of you being back early.”

As eager as you are, there’s still a layer of uncertainty.

It’s the first time you’ve spent any time with Klaue outside of the compound. Not to mention that very little of the time you have spent together has passed while you weren’t desperately wrapped in one another - certainly not a full day.

Though maybe it’s better this way; less time to overthink, less time to anticipate, simply having to adapt to a new situation. You’re good at that, you remind yourself.

It doesn’t mean that your thoughts aren’t tinged with frustration, because even though he’d only been gone a few days this time your body is already humming with desire as you board the busy train and settle into your seats against the window.

You manage to watch the scenery for a while, focusing on the mountains and the forests interspersed with other, smaller cities as you approach the capital, but your gaze is steadily drawn back to Klaue while he works across from you.

Your eyes drift to his mouth, the memory of his growl when you nip and tug at the pouting curve of his lower lip leaving you shifting in your seat.

The motion draws his eyes to your hips before sliding up your body with a knowing look.

The full train douses any chance of much more than heated glances, but as you look around you, you note that the passengers across the aisle seem to be thoroughly engrossed in their own conversations and devices.

And you get an idea.

Appearing to casually adjust your things, you move your coat to your side facing the aisle, bunching it so that it blocks your legs from the view of anyone not standing over you.

Or sitting across from you.

Klaue’s posture stiffens when he catches the movement of your hand along the seam where your crossed legs meet.

You keep your arm still so that just your wrist slowly flexes, shivering as your fingers sweep up and over the place between your thighs that’s already warm with arousal, before retracing the path back down again.

He's utterly still except for the muscles tensing in his jaw, eyes intent on the slow drag of your fingers.

When he licks his lips your breathing becomes shallower. The gentle tingling in your nerves spreads through your thighs to swirl deep in your core, and you realize you’re rapidly becoming more aroused than you anticipated, and as much as you had thrilled at a chance to tease him you’re going to need to stop.

You hand stills and you take a slow breath to collect yourself, reaching into your bag for your phone hoping to distract yourself for the rest of the ride. But even before you can unlock it a message notification pops up on your screen.

>Who said you could stop?

Your eyes widen, finding Klaue’s gaze sparking blue and expectant when you look up at him.

Patiently waiting for your phone to disappear back into your bag.

For your fingers return to their activity.

Clearly pleased that your tease has been turned on you, a smug grin on his lips when your eyelids flutter.

The light touch isn’t enough to get you close, but it’s enough to make you ache, to leave you fighting to suppress the shivers that roll through you with the slick clench of your cunt as you watch his eyes darken.

Glancing down between where his hands rest on his broad thighs you can see the fabric beginning to strain there, the ache deepening at the thought of his stiffening cock, but you’re satisfied at least that he’s not unaffected by your state.

Wrapped up in the haze of sensation you start when the conductor’s voice comes over the speaker to announce that you’ll be coming into Bucharest in less than ten minutes.

Hitching a sigh, the world around you filters back in, and you bite your lip at the realization of what you had been doing, of how easily he once again had you giving in to him, even here.

Eventually you take your phone back out, trying to calm yourself down before you reach your stop.

It’s late afternoon by the time the bus drops you off at the outskirts of the market grounds, only a brief glimpse of sun left as it slides between the clouds and the horizon, but you still have plenty of time to explore before the tree lighting.

Making your way through the busy streets you take in the festive decorations, a popular restaurant absolutely dripping with evergreen boughs and giant candy canes, innumerable strings of lights already illuminating the streets as dusk settles over the city

As you make your way through the streets, you begin to think that it might have been a better idea to book a hotel room rather than taking the late train back tonight, but it’s too late now, everything is likely booked solid in the area.

If it had just been you then you would have figured something out, found a cheap place on the outskirts of the city, but since Klaue is with you you’re hesitant to ask. On top of not wanting to be presumptuous of his time, while you’ve spent as much time together as you could since that first night, you haven’t woken up next to him before.

You don’t dwell in your conflicted thoughts for long, though, because you nearly get taken out by a group of Hora dancers as you round the corner of a cobblestone street.

Klaue quickly maneuvers you out of the way of the oblivious dancers lost in their steps, your arms instinctively reaching to tighten around his waist as you laugh at your lack of awareness.

“I've got you,” he chuckles, not letting you go. “Are you alright, darling?”

“Yeah, no, I’m good.” You assure him. “Apparently I need to pay a bit more attention around here. ”

Being pressed against his body warms you and your eyes can’t help but flick to his mouth again, startled by how badly you want to kiss him right now.

But you’ve never kissed him when you weren’t, well, naked - or about to be. A heated press of lips when you have to say goodbye, sure, but although you’ve both opened up a bit you’re aware this isn’t exactly the kind of relationship (not that you’re sure you could call it that, exactly) that allows for moments of casual affection.

So instead you smile and tip your chin down, and both of you take a wide berth around the circling dancers.

But your heart still races when he doesn’t let you go, keeping you tucked against his side as you approach the bustling Square.

The delicious smells of festival food wafting over you are a quick reminder that you haven’t eaten since breakfast, too distracted on the train to think much about it, so as soon as you arrive you make your way to food cottages.

Spiced kebabs for him and a steaming vegetable stew for you, followed by plum dumplings and papanasi, a kind of cheese donut that has no right to be as good as it is, and the time you’re standing in the square awaiting the lighting of the tree, you’re warm and satisfied.

A light dusting of snowflakes begins to swirl as the crowd counts down, one section briefly faltering until with a rousing cheer they all light up with the rest, glittering bright.

It’s bright and beautiful and exactly what you needed, but when you glance up to see Klaue’s reaction you find yourself wishing for a little less light, your cheeks growing hot against the night air when you see that he’s looking at you instead, the glint in his eyes perhaps not entirely a reflection of the lights that surround you.

Afterwards you peruse the eclectic mix of Christmas ornaments, stoneware and other handmade items, sharing a little about your days as you wander between vendors.

You describe a type of welding certification you’re thinking about getting, even though you’d really only need it if you were working in aerospace tech, and Klaue mentions to you that he’ll be away for most of January, in part because of a conference in Vienna.

Disappointment jabs between your shoulder blades at the fact that he’ll be gone for longer than you already expected, but there’s a sense of relief, too, that he’s still letting you know about his plans - as much as he can, at least.

You hadn’t really planned on making any purchases tonight, but at a cottage selling embroidery and needlecraft a crocheted patchwork blanket catches your eye, the woven pattern making you think of tea and honey, of coming in from the cold and being made warm on a dark winter day.

After collecting your find, Klaue makes a phone call while you double back one more time to pick up some handmade cards to send to a few friends, pocketing the device as you make your way back towards him.

“Ferris wheel, then?” He asks, tilting his head towards the brightly lit ride.

“Yes! Oh, wait..” Pulling out your own phone you check the time.

“Oh,” you deflate a little. “Actually we should probably start heading to the train station, it’s getting pretty late. Can’t say I’m looking forward to how busy it’ll be.”

“Well, if you wanted to - everything near the market is full, but there’s a place on the other side of the city that has a room available.”

You stare at Klaue for a moment. Having already dismissed the idea of staying somewhere in Bucharest tonight you’re unable to hide your surprise that he’s suggesting it. Still fighting the thought that you’d be imposing on his time, you mentally point out that he wouldn’t have bothered finding something if he didn't want to.

He raises an eyebrow.

“You really don’t want to take the train back tonight, huh?” You try to joke in an attempt to disguise your eagerness.

He steps slowly toward you, leaning in until the scruff of his beard brushes your cheek.

“I really don’t want to wait much longer to make you come, darling.”

He must hear the hitch in your breath as you shudder at his words, pulling back to give you a knowing grin.

“Ferris wheel it is, then.”

**********

The glittering view as you start to rise is stunning but neither of you manages more than a few cursory glances out the window before you’re moaning into his mouth and he’s sliding a hand between your legs. A pleased sound gritted from his throat when you rock eagerly into his touch, his lips tasting of frost and spiced wine when your tongue slips between them.

Your own fingers tighten around the heavy fabric of his coat to steady yourself, one hand sliding above the collar to brush over the warm skin there, short shorn hair prickling beneath your fingers when they curl around the back of his neck to pull his mouth more firmly against yours.

Unfortunately it feels like no time at all before the wheel is slowing and Klaue is reluctantly removing his hand from your now aching sex, your hips bucking when he gives you one last firm caress as you come to a stop at the bottom once more.

“I’ll call us a taxi, then?” He breathes against your lips.

“God, yes.”

A gentle but steady snow is falling by the time you arrive at the small bed and breakfast, the thickening blanket of white softening the glow of multi-coloured lights on the trees outside.

The owners quickly realize that you have no bags with you, and they’re kind enough to offer some pajamas for you to borrow in the form of sweatpants and shirts.

Unfortunately on the ride over Klaue had received a call about something that requires his attention for a while longer, so you’re currently still clothed and sitting next to him on the bed, your new blanket draped over your legs,

You’d picked up “Jurassic Park”, the only english book on the small shelf in the common area, and you try to read a bit while he wraps up his business, stealing the occasional glance at him while he works.

When a hand slides over to squeeze your thigh you shift instinctively into his touch, able to feel the heat of his palm even through the woven fabric.

“Patience, my darling.” He hums, his teasing smile deepening the creases around his eyes.

“Oh, you have no idea how patient I’ve been, Ulysses,” you reply, biting your lip at the soft growl that betrays his own restlessness has you biting your lip.

As antsy as you are, and while it’s unlikely you would have been able to name it, exactly, you also feel content. Lulled by the shape of him at your side, the sound of Romanian Christmas choir music drifting through the walls, and the electronic tapping from his phone.

Your eyes wander around the room, amused by the volume of kitschy knick knacks and holiday decorations spread across the shelves, including a candle in the form of three Victorian carolers that looks to be many faded years old, yet seemingly never burned.

While you’re wondering whether the tiny bust paintings hanging by the door are family of the owners or just thrift store finds, Klaue shifts to face you.

Lifting the edge of the blanket he nudges you over so that you’re both lying on your sides beneath it.

“All done?” You ask as his arms wrap around you, pulling you against him, letting out a pleased sigh when you feel the already stiff ridge of his erection against the swell of your ass.

“Finally.” The word vibrates through you as a hand slides down between your legs, curling around your clothed mound.

You immediately arch into him, reveling in the twin sensations of his fingers pressing damp fabric against your cleft and the slow grind of his hips behind you.

“Even like this I can feel how warm your cunt is.” Klaue rumbles softly. “You’re wet, too, aren’t you?”

“You know I am,” you sigh, trying to keep your voice low. Aware that if you can hear music through the walls it won’t take much to be able to hear you.

“I should take my time with you. Especially after your...bahaviour on the train.”

HIs hand finds its way under your shirt, and you note the jut of his hips against you when his palm slides over your bra to cup the soft swell of your breast, thumb and forefinger plucking at the stiffening peak of your nipple beneath the fabric.

“Should run my fingers over every inch of your body,” he rasps, an urgency filtering into his movements, into the rough, whispered rush of his words as his fingers reach back down to tug at the waist of your pants.

Quickly you move to unbutton them, working them down along with your panties as you feel him shifting behind you, and then the hot length of his cock is sliding against your folds, slicking himself with your arousal.

“Should tease this needy little pussy until you're ready to beg.”

Klaue bites back the last word as he presses the thick head of his cock against your entrance.

“But fuck, I need to feel you come.”

Normally so thorough with you before letting his control slip, Klaue’s bare need has you unraveling and your moan is deep and unexpected when he suddenly sinks into you, a response to the sweet desperation in his voice as much as from the relieving stretch of his cock.

“I know how much you love to make pretty sounds for me,” he pants in your ear, his large hand kneading the flesh of your hip and thigh. “But you’re going to have to be quiet tonight. Can you do that for me, darling?”

Half-stretched and aching, you somehow manage to swallow your moans, taking a few deep breaths to steady your voice enough to speak.

“Yes.” You finally breathe in a low, half-whisper. ”l’ll be good.”

He nudges deeper and you bite your lip to hold back the sounds that want you to make, that he draws from you so easily now.

“Yes, you will.” Klaue hums against your neck.

The only sounds in the room now are your panted breaths intertwined with the slick sounds of his cock slowly thrusting into you, the gentle creak of the bed frame beneath your shifting bodies.

Suddenly pulling the blanket off of you he grips your ass, pressing you open so that he can see where your tight hole is stretched around him, and while he normally takes his time to relish the sight he only lasts a few more deep strokes before he’s shifting you onto your stomach, his weight and his cock pressing you down into the mattress.

With your pants still bunched around your knees Klaue impatiently nudges your legs apart as best he can before working a hand beneath the curve of your hip and you buck, a squeak slipping from your throat when his fingers find your clit.

His chest heaves against your back, the tight, circling pressure of his fingers firm and insistent as your body swiftly draws taught beneath him.

Instinctively you try to respond, to roll your hips into his touch as you chase the rough crest of your orgasm but you’re trapped, the broad warmth of Klaue’s body holding you in place as his fingers relentlessly work your clit until your muscles begin to flutter and tighten.

”There you go” A rough whisper clenched between his teeth. “Let me feel you. Come on, darling, squeeze my cock.”

You try to stay quiet but you can’t help the tremulous whine that escapes your throat as your climax surges through you, Klaue letting more of his weight press into you as your body spasms beneath him, every muscle trembling as you clench hard around his cock.

“Christ you feel so good, you’re going to make me come, oh fuck- ”

The tight grip of your cunt seems to be all that he needs tonight because with a sudden hard jerk of his hips you feel the blissful throb as he comes, muffling his own moan against your shoulder as spends himself helplessly inside you.

Klaue continues to grind into you as the pulsing of his cock slows, making sure his cum stays plugged deep in your cunt exactly where he knows you want it, the stroking of his fingers not letting up even as you twitch and gasp beneath him.

“One more, Mot. Please. For me.”

Your clit flutters at his pleading words, and barely able to hold back your cries, your hand flies up to cover your mouth as he continues to work your swollen bundle of nerves, his hand slippery with your release that leaks out around where he stays buried in you.

Aching and breathless, feeling the muscles of his forearm flexing against your hip, your body finally succumbs to the needy slide of his fingers, muffling your half-swallowed whimpers behind your hand as he expertly coaxes a second, softer orgasm from your oversensitive sex, gravelly praises whispered against your ear as you stiffen and shudder beneath him.

Klaue stays pressed against your back as you both slowly recover, the weight of him warm steady, calming the tremble in your limbs as you float down through the afterglow.

Eventually you let your fingers fall away from your lips.

“I’m sorry…I couldn’t- I tried to be quiet,” you stammer. “Wanted to be good, I- ”

“You’re always good for me, darling.” Klaue soothes, pressing his words and lips against your neck, behind your ear. “Always.”

**********

After a quick shower you both change into your makeshift pajamas, then turning off the bedside lamps you settle back under the knit blanket, the lights filtering through the curtains casting a warm glow on the walls of your room.

“Come with me.” Klaue mumbles into the crook of your neck.

You were almost asleep, and it takes a moment to realize that he’d spoken.

“Come with…where?”

“The conference. Vienna. There’s a gala.”

“Are…are you awake?”

“If you’re asking whether I’ll remember this in the morning, the answer is yes.” Klaue chuckles softly. “You said you’d never been. Beautiful city. Wear a beautiful dress for me.” His voice drops as he pulls you more firmly against him.

You pause, considering, unable to ignore the soft thrill in your chest that he’s willing to share this with you.

Another strand of your life intertwining with his, invisible threads looping over one another and knotting tight, tugging together into a pattern you’re still trying to bring into focus.

“Alright.” You sense a notch of tension release from Klaue’s body when you finally give him your answer. “I’d like that.”

It’s difficult for you not to overthink, especially when thoughts of what you’re going to do when your contract ends are becoming more persistent every day.

But knowing that you’re going to have to return to reality tomorrow regardless, right now you allow yourself to relax against him. With the tops of his thighs fitting against the backs of yours, soft music floating at the edge of your consciousness and his hand resting warm against your hip, eventually you find yourself caught in a net of sleep and dreams.

A/N: I was looking a little wistfully at all the lovely holiday fics that were coming out, and thinking that I didn't really think I had anything that would really work. Then I got to playing around with a mood board and accidentally inspired myself with Christmas market thoughts, and now here we are!

Thank you for reading, and I hope you get through the remainder of the holiday season with as much light and little stress as possible. ❤️

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all you lovely people!

#ulysses klaue x reader #ulysses klaue x f reader #ulysses klaue x you #ulysses klaue smut #ulysses klaue #x reader #bringin' home the rain series #salvation is a deep dark well fic #woven #holiday fluff #fluffy smut #mcu fanfiction

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creeky-cricket · 1 year ago

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How the Freds react to you calling them your 'boyfriend' in front of the others for the first time

+ sun and moon >:3

slower updates cause lack of motivation, but rest assured ill get back on these as soon as I can >:3

Normal Fred: I feel with him, if you were to ask him if he was comfortable with it he'd say he was pretty much indifferent, or that he didn't care if you chose to. and in ways that's true, but I don't think he ever actually thought about it. he just knew that that's what was supposed to happen. However, when he actually heard you saying it to the others for the first time from the other side of the main area, he couldn't help but get distracted from what he was doing, letting his attention glide over to you. Only turning back when you catch his eye. This also gives him a huge ego boost, so don't be surprised if he saunters over and starts teasing you about calling him your 'boyfriend but really he couldn't feel more special.

Toy Fred: He'd cry seriously? I think he'd be one of the most emotional. Not going as far as to cry per se but definitely getting close to it /hj no matter who you’re saying it to he'd probably gush to them later, telling them how cute you were and how lucky he was. Not bragging, just being appreciative.

Withered Fred: like Freddy, he'd seem indifferent, but for him, he genuinely didn't really care. if it made you happy to call him he wouldn't be averse to it. if he was honest he started calling you his 'partner' shortly after you started dating, he just loved to know that you were his and vice versa. However, when he does hear you call him it for the first time, he'd walk over and wrap an arm around your waist/shoulder and just stand and listen to you. I mean, you're one of the only reasons he comes out of parts and service anyway. but this just makes it so much more special.

Funfetti(FT Freddy): he'd probably be the first to call you his 'partner' in front of the others, feeling obligated to make sure they knew that you were his. not in an overprotective way, but an overprotective way if you get what I mean - He doesn't want to overwhelm you he just doesn't want the others to think they can get away with hurting you. He also just really likes to see you flustered. With that being said, the first time he actually hears you refer to him as that I don't think he'd hold back in expressing how he felt, gushing over you cause 'nnaawwwhh cupcakeee! That was so cute!'

Penny(Rockstar Freddy): I feel like he would be very on edge with it at first. 'what would the others think' sort of thing. 'what would happen to you? what if they take you away?' he didn't want you to get hurt from this. but, eventually, he'd cave. finally telling you that it would be okay, but only if you were sure. By this point, a lot of people already knew about you two dating so it wasn't really untamed waters, but in his mind, it was better to be safe than sorry. But, the first time he hears you call him that, to Bonnie who honestly didn't even really care that you two were dating his ego kicked in big time. but not before he took a moment to just appreciate you. a small smile on his face before he walked over.

Lefty: I think his reaction depends on who you’re saying it to, if it's to one of the other workers, he'd do what he normally does, stay away and stay quiet. If it was to one of the other animatronics that he didn't really talk to? He'd just hang around, maybe a little bit awkwardly, he just wanted to be somewhere near you. And then, one of the animatronics he did talk to? He'd already be near you as you said it, a smile spreading on his face when you did. Looking down at you with a look of fondness. and if it was just Penny you bet your ass he’d be rubbing it in his bitchless face /hj

Glamrock Fred: He would be indifferent to it, but not in the way original and withered are. he just genuinely wouldn't mind if you were to call him that. it would probably take a while for him to stop calling you by your name, even if you did start. Though, the first time he heard you call him your boyfriend he seemed normal in front of others, maybe a little more clingy. Once you were alone, though, he'd begin to gush about it. telling you how much he loved you, and how cute you were. However, this is definitely the start of his cheesy boyfriend puns era. 💀

Sun: The others? What others. They never visit him, so why should it matter.

moon: he's barely ever out of the daycare to hang around with the others without you there anyways, I don't think he's the type for pet names in front of anyone else anyways, but if he were to hear you call him your boyfriend (for the first time especially), whether he was just on his rounds or he was there beside you his reaction would be the same. a mischievous grin, standing up straight facing you, looming over you before leaning down and speaking to you with a low tone. best part? he didn't really care if the others saw, or heard, he just wanted to fluster you for the fuck of it. and, if you were lucky, you could end up being taken back to the daycare where Moon would set you down on a pile of blankets and cuddle you while you talked

#fnaf #cricket_hole #five nights at freddy's #funtime freddy #glamrock freddy #fnaf headcanons #fnaf lefty #lefty #rockstar freddy #penny #withered freddy #ft freddy #funfetti #toy freddy #fnaf 1 freddy #sundrop #moondrop #fnaf daycare attendant

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wufflesvetinari · 1 year ago

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ok FINE, some things about my half-orc cleric tav whom i love so very much

Lash grew up with her trying-his-best dad in Baldur's Gate (mom stayed with her orc clan). she had no lucrative skills and no exceptional cunning--between this and the default perspective of her as barbaric, she internalized a bunch of stuff, joined up somewhere, Saw Some Action, got good at killing people. like, really good. "her services were instrumental in leveling several towns including civilians and she got a commendation for it" good.

this did not feel good, and mid-personal-crisis about murdering strangers on someone else's orders, she deserts and saves one goddamn monk and ilmater calls her to his service. she regards this as a baffling mistake on his part.

illmater is a god of compassion, gentleness, self-sacrifice. his clerics are basically non-combatants, known to only use violence as last resort. goblins etc. see a cleric of illmater on the battlefield and avoid hurting them, because they know they are willing to heal both sides if they can.

lash is not like this. lash starts as a blunt instrument who is only good at violence. but she wants to do good in the world, finally, and if ilmater wants to throw away his famed gentleness to compromise on someone like her, who is she to argue?

she spends her first years training in a temple, but she doesn't have the head for scripture. neither does she have the conviction or creativity for complete non-violence, instead developing a world-weary acceptance of it as a tool to reduce suffering.

she's sent on dangerous pilgrimages repeatedly instead of being assigned to minister to ilmater’s followers, confirming to herself that her calling is a compromise on ilmater’s part: he needs a blunt instrument so that others can carry on the work of being gentle.

what she doesn't realize in this time period is that she is slowly becoming gentle. moreover, becoming wise. clergy and laypersons approach her for advice on a world they are sheltered from. she has a way of speaking that cuts to the heart of things, and she's a comfort in quiet moments. she is rarely misled by self-serving justifications and moralizing. her kind of wisdom is drawn from her knowledge of the world and its flaws instead of from scripture.

she still kills. she's still blunt, and quietly sarcastic, and not entirely at ease with her god. but gods, she wants to be kind.

i think that astarion seriously considered seducing someone else for his plan in act 1 (wyll or something lmao) because, based on a "clerics with wooden stakes" comment he makes at camp at some point, he thought letting a good-aligned cleric guess his nature would be extremely dangerous for him. he especially has a bunch of anger towards the god of compassion, because he "prayed to every god" and nobody saved him.

but it's hard for him to see lash as a cleric? i mean, yes, she has a way of staring at you that makes you squirm and feel Too Known, and she's stupidly self-sacrificing, and she's hilariously incapable of trickery.

but she's funny, in her own reserved way. she's a world-weary soldier, good with a story, disgustingly rustic, a good cook, with the habit of cussing out her own god without getting in trouble for it somehow. and she mostly says the right type of kind thing, not the type of kind thing that make him want to curl up somewhere and grow spikes. and...maybe it's not terrible, feeling like someone Gets your deal instinctively? someone quiet but self-assured, who doesn't push for more?

(and, like, she's hot? she's strong and a little distant. devious plan aside, he finds that hot)

i am only in act one. i think, in her "worst" (but also kind of sexiest) moments, she thinks of herself as a mechanism, and even frames it as such out loud: if someone has committed unspeakable cruelty, she's here to end them for it. action and reaction. no hesitation, no mercy, because her being brutal allows everyone else to be kind. a necessary evil.

but she's in the midst of a years-long process of learning to see herself in a...kinder light. and as their relationship develops i think astarion will prod her a lot about how she makes more complicated ("and fun!") choices than that all the time, you idiot. why else would she be traveling with such a bunch of assholes?? why else would she be good to him?

#CLERICS!!!#i ADORE the potential for cleric-specific dynamics in the Astarion romance (especially a cleric who surprises him personality-wise)#and i have nowhere else to put these thoughts #bg3 #astarion #I know very little about dnd deep lore keep mind. I got my info on ilmater from a wiki #lash the half-orc cleric

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datastate · 1 year ago

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do you have any hcs about mishima and nao?

SOOO MANY! BUT for now, i'll stick with a small one on their beginning friendship :D

nao used to be very quiet in a lot of her classes; a nice person, certainly, and easy to talk to! but rather closed off unless you tried to pry, where even that would just be rude and she'd say as much.

but of course, there were small things here and there she'd share with her friends should you happen to overhear. usually, it'd be anime/manga that she'd recommend to others (usually horror with interesting concepts, though she wasn't immune to well-written 'slice of life's) - which resulted in hana (her best friend) actually buying her a keychain for her bag!! nao doesn't usually wear/buy merch, as she fears she'll lose/damage them, but... since her friend got it, she felt she'd be disappointed if she didn't show it off.

&...! this is the spark for professor mishima to actually prompt her on her interests; one of the few things she'd end up rambling on about... and he has enough context to keep her going!

it was nice getting to see her actually relax a bit, if a bit surprising to realize that she liked horror so much... and of course, it was when she inevitably brought it back to art (she was inspired to become an artist from such a silly thing, though mishima assures he understands) that she started getting nervous again; as much as she loves it, she can't draw it well. it doesn't feel like it could fit her style much at all - she intimidates herself out of drawing it.

however! mishima does not lose hope so easily. he encourages her to keep trying & experimenting with her art. after all, art is something she should have for herself if nothing else...

although mishima doesn't typically work with horror, he does have plenty of pointers on how to incorporate characters into a backdrop (it provides variation + reflects his current views too... people being a part of something larger, connected through means they don't quite realize); he had a similar start to nao in that he often relied heavily on portraits/character focus, but for that reason can help lead her along into slowly branching out.

a lot of what nao likes is the eerie - something that you have to really look at to realize how off it is. working on backgrounds such as these definitely helps with integrating characters in a more natural manner! and helps improve her work altogether, too...!! she's having more fun than she used to with her personal projects, where she previously felt stagnant but couldn't pinpoint why (and felt guilty to ask hana, as the response would always be a well-meaning "but i like your art! i don't think that at all" rather than critique she wished for), so it was...!! really nice for her to have <3

and... getting to show a trusted adult that, too, made her very happy. her parents didn't often see art as something that'd work out... but she finally felt pride in her work, and had something else to look forward to when it came to classes, rather than simply skirting by day-to-day. it took about a year and a half of school to get here, but... it makes it feel worth it.

it's also around this late time of the year, too, that mishima casually mentions he's trans.

one of the other students is complaining about the cold, and he agrees a bit too personally that skirts are awful in this weather before offering his usual advice... and it's this moment that stays in nao's mind. combined with previous comments here and there about the dysmorphia in horror...

despite this near-confirmation... nao waits until the very end of the year before she admits to the professor that she's trans. she hasn't really socially transitioned yet, only a few friends know, and she's still a bit afraid she might've misunderstood that he's trans... but it all turns out well by the end of it <3

however, since she's about to enter her last year with people who mostly knew her as a boy, it's only when she graduates that mishima offers to help put word in to adjust her uniform; which she greatly appreciates... also, throughout her last year, they get to actually discuss how it is to be mixed & that is when he offers to learn arabic with her. she was never taught it, and is too embarrassed to ask her parents, so he's taken it upon himself to help her with that too... here and there, still as her mentor and friend even after their time in school :'D

#i kind of digressed toward the end but <3 i love them...#i have. so much to say. but at this rate it 'd be a whole ass timeline...!!#ask #mutuals #zomplush #yttdposting #yttd hcs

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aureatescars · 7 months ago

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Despite a twinge of embarrassment at the comment and the implications Leon speaks into the space between them, Sasha isn't willing to let him get away with deflecting anything this time either. If Leon has the right to call him out, Sasha will do the same in turn. But it's not spite that motivates him in this moment —even though he can't help but bristle slightly at the way Leon is still trying to push his buttons.

He breathes out in a sigh. The offer is beyond all else born from him having to come to care about Leon a great deal. He would be lying if he said it wasn't so.

That doesn't mean Leon makes it easy to care about him. Not when he makes it seem like he is doing Sasha a favor by staying here rather than simply taking comfort in something simple as another's company when they both know that comfort has come in short supply lately for the both of them.

Sasha watches Leon ease himself down onto the mattress and has to bite back a smile when he sees Leon's tension ease somewhat, features softening, although there is still something rigid to his posture when he comes to lay on his back. Something stubborn to his demeanor, as if he doesn't quite want to admit defeat.

The mention of nightmares doesn't come as a surprise per se, but the pointed nonchalance with which Leon speaks of them does. As if he expects Sasha to throw him out now that he is made aware that Leon might rest fitfully, might wake Sasha in turn if he startled awake later on.

As if Sasha isn't used to nightmares of his own.

He is quiet for a while as Leon settles. Despite his earlier efforts the blanket is still mostly tucked close to his form, leaving Leon with no cover at all. A circumstance Sasha means to change now that they're sharing this space.

"I'm sure it will be fine." He tells him at last. He shifts with no small amount of effort and eventually manages to settle himself onto his side, exhaling slow and drawn out as the pain in his lower back flares up and then only slowly fades back to a more manageable level. Still, he grabs the edge of the blanket and reaches out with it to cover Leon properly with the blanket, too. It doesn't escape his notice just how warm Leon is when he shifts his arm to pay him back for the way he tucked him in before. Any touch to Leon's chest and shoulders is accidental and brief, but also oddly reassuring in a way Sasha didn't expect.

Someone living and breathing next to him, his warmth bleeding into the shared blankets and sheets... It feels nice. Despite the awkwardness that came with the sudden offer and Leon's reluctant acceptance of it. He isn't quite sure how to lable what he is feeling right now, but it is closer to contentment than it is to embarrassment, although he can't quite help the latter. But after yesterday saw him helpless and naked in the bathtub this really is nothing in comparison.

So, Sasha makes an effort to dispel the lingering awkwardness, aware that neither of them would find any rest at all if it persists. Sasha isn't able to really tuck Leon in in the same way as he did with the way he is feeling physically and his current limited range of movements, but he is able to make it clear that this is retaliation for Leon fussing over him but a moment ago by pulling the blanket up to Leon's chin, a slight curl to his lips when Leon gives him a look somewhere between surprise and exasperation.

Sasha gives a one-shouldered shrug, trying to hide just how amused he is by Leon's reaction, or how the opemness of that expression makes something flutter inside of him.

"I'm no stranger to nightmares." He assures him with a smile just this side of teasing. "As long as you don't hog the covers I won't have anything to complain about." Sasha's smirk mellows into a tired smile, a testament to his own state of being. "Just try and get some sleep." He says a little quieter now. He doesn't have the energy to really think about what he has offered, or why Leon took him up on it, and he is far from wanting to delve into what he is feeling about all of it, too. For now he is content to just see it as an attempt at feeling comfort, at settling in to relax, to feel safe even, when it's been too long since they really could.

Sasha has trouble keeping his eyes open now, the painkillers easing his symptoms but simultaneously making him lose consciousness fast. "Sleep well." He mutters, amber eyes now holding a faraway look as his lids grow heavier by the second. His vision blurrs before he closes his eyes, his hand coming to rest in the space between them, just shy of Leon's shoulder.

His heartbeat and breathing slow down, his body loses what tension it still held. The line between his brows disappears and his lips part slightly on the next low exhale of breath. He seems to unwind entirely, feeling warm and content and most of all ... safe.

"You look about as exhausted as I feel." He shoots back, and even manages a wry smile, making sure that Leon knows that Sasha is not trying to pick another fight. "So, yes." But the thing is, he can relate. He may have found sleep easily enough yesterday due to his body being pushed to it's limits throughout its entirety, but that doesn't mean he fares any better in absolute silence. His thoughts get away from him, if left alone for too long. The ghosts of bis past haunt him more easily that way. He wonders if it's the same for Leon, or if there are other things he struggles with when away from immediate distractions.

Whatever it is, remants of it Sasha can see on Leon's face. In his eyes. He isn't sure if Leon's poker face is getting worse with how tired he is or if he is actually getting better at reading him. Maybe it is a combination of both, and while the latter does feel like an accomplishment, the former he isn't willing to let slide.

"What if I do?" He asks, foregoing Leon's question entirely. What if I do worry? His gaze is unyielding as he meets Leon's eyes, his hand coming to rest atop the blanket. He tilts his head at Leon. "What, do you think you're the only one here who gets to call someone out on being self-destructive?" The corner of his mouth quirks higher when Leon in turn narrows his eyes at him.

Hypocrite. Sasha thinks, but there is an odd kind of feeling accompanying that thought. Something almost... fond.

Before Leon can reply, Sasha exhales in a low breath, his tone no longer as confrontational, or teasing. "Would having me close by help you rest easier?" It's an honest question and one holding no judgment at all. He can only speak from his own experience, but during the war it did calm him down even during the darkest and coldest of nights, when he was jumping at shadows, if someone else, someone safe, was near. He is assuming a lot of things, especially whether or not Leon even considers him a safe person to be around, but what else can he offer other than companionship.

"...If so, feel free to stay. If it doesn't help, forget that I asked." He isn't entirely certain why he is offering, but from where he is standing, there is a rather simple solution and the bed certainly is big enough for the two of them. He shifts under the blanket to adjust his position until he doesn't feel as smothered by it anymore. He is sure Leon meant well, or maybe Sasha really did scare him earlier, resulting in this... mother henning of sorts.

If anything, he could even consider this payback for all the times Leon called him out on being an idiot during his recovery at the hospital and now, too. "I didn't ask you out here to play my caretaker." Although he is grateful for every bit of help Leon is offering, even though Sasha has a hard time showing it. "You deserve just as much rest as I do."

#petrokhelidon #post damnation verse

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vintage-marina · 2 years ago

Text

It's you

summary: It's basically little stories about how the reader came up in the box and adjusting in the Glade.

Female reader!

request by: @acupnoodle

hii!! since you write for tmr, could i have a minho and reader fic where she remembers his name when she wakes up in the glade, and no one knows why? maybe she has a locket or sumn he gave her before as well?? one day she has a nightmare and only he can calm her down, and later they find out they used to be together before?? Happy ending please!! sorry if its a bit chaotic 😅 Thanks!!!

wordcount: 5464

TW: nightmares, a bit deppresed, swearing

I changed it a bit, so it would fit in the story! Its angsty but also fluffy

Eyes flewing open you let out a startled shout. You moved your head to scan your surroundings.

Where the hell am I?

"Hello!" you screamed at no one, you tried to tear up the netting. "Hello! "

You were moving up, and it was going fast, what was going on?

This thing where you're in wasn't going to stop, deep down you knew it too.

"Fuck!"

It was then that you knew it would be fruitless, you put your hands in your hair and paced in the little box. Breathing a few times to deep, breathing a few times to shallow while mumbling panicking things.

"Shit!" you kicked a box in frustration. Splinters flew from the inpact and your feet went in the box, while rice spilled out.

Wait, no wait a minute.

You were surrounded by wooden boxes and carefully you pulled your foot out.

A quiet laugh escaped your lips, maybe there is a logo on them. Crouching down you searched for an answer, "Who put me here?" Your finger danced on the wood and you looked. After a few seconds you found it, the bold black letters staring right in front of you.

W.I.C.K.E.D

That's really assuring.

But before you could mull it over the roof of the lift disappeared and you were met with the blasting sun.

You squeeshed your y/e/c eyes, noticing people around you.

"It's a girl.. " someone with a boyish voice said.

"No way!"

"Dipps on her!"

Two boys jumped in the box beside you, quickly you stepped backwards having the wall pressed against your back. You touched the woven chocker that clung on your neck in nervousness, it almost felt natural to do this.

"Stay back!" you hurled, switfly pickup up a lose plank.

"I said-"

The boys lifted their hands in surrender, "Hey we aren't going to hurt you. " The boy had a funny accent, it sounded familiar like you already heared it before.

Another boy with blond hair rolled his eyes and folded his arms, simply grabbing you by the arm and dragging you out of the box. Quickly you grapped the plank even tighter and whacked him a few times with it, the people around you started laughing.

"Shucking hell greenie, you have to do that?"

Despite the fact that you were scared, almost peed your pants in the Box you surprisingly survived the day. Newt, yes that's his name showed you around the Glade with the leader Alby. Supposedly that's what they call it the Glade, you stuck besides them the whole day. They were like water and fire, while Alby was harsh and strict Newt was more kind and no that doesn't mean laidback. You knew after a day they both valued order and following the rules.

It was still sunny, but you smelled the aroma of dinner. The three of you walked away from the animals and the scent of grass filled in your nose.

"So if I got it right, every month new supplies and a new person," they both nodded while continuing walking. "And you guys don't know who?"

"No, we don't." Alby said.

Lifting your brows, "Well I thought it's W.I.C.K.E.D. do you want to know why?"

"No," he said again. "We know that W.I.C.K.E.D is sending us here, but who are they behind the name? That's what whe want to know."

Suddenly feeling utter ridiculous, you looked at the ground. "Yeah, I guess so," the three of you fell in a silent for a bit.

"Do you already-"

"It is really asocial to put people in here without memory, which douchebags does that?"

"Yeah," mumbled the two of them.

"And don't go into those creepy looking, really tall walls where you hear sometimes whirring if you're not a Runner, am I right?"

"Yep."

"Do your part, no time for not doing anything. Never harm any Glader bla bla bla."

Hearing feet pattering on the ground you met with the black eyes of a boy, he looked confused why a girl was in the Maze but quickly he gave a smirk. He ran to the side of Newt and folded his arm around his shoulder and pressed Newt against him. He just came back from the Map Room where he had drawn the route he sprinted during the day and you couldn't help but notice that he was cute, very cute and sweaty.

"Thanks mate, I really appreaciate your sweaty pit." Newt grimached and pushed him away, that earned a scoff from the boy.

"It's the sweat of champions, I would appreciate it too if I were you." He gave a lopsided smile and talked a bit with Alby and Newt. The Homestead was coming closer and after a bit of chatting the boy tore his gaze from Newt and Alby and focused on you.

"You're.." he paused for a moment, not really knowing what to say. Lifting a brow you kept his gaze. "You're a girl," he stated.

"Good eyesight," he couldn't help but notice the sarcasm dripping of your tone.

"Thanks, I have a gift to spot pretty things," with only that the converstation ended. Leaving you spluttered with warm cheeks and him with an amused glint in his eyes. It was like he had the last word. Then his gaze shifted to your neck, a woven necklace from thin rope clung tightly around it. It was worn you could easily see the oldness behind it, it almost whispered the tale why you wore it. Somehow an unfamiliar feeling crept up in his belly, it was confusing. He only knew you for a few minutes, but that necklace felt familiar. He shook his head and pushed the thoughts away, it's shucking ridiculous.

When he tore his gaze off from you, something gnaged at you. Something that you couldn't place. Still, you kept looking at him trying to figure out what was bothering you.

Minho.

As quick as that name went off in your head, as quick went it away. Why did you know his name before he said anything?

"I'm Minho, by the way. Do you remember your name already newbie?"

Wow, you must be really good at guessing people their names, but something deep inside of you raised the alarmbells.

You wanted to answer, but no you still didn't know your name. What the hell, you know your curse words but not even your fucking name?

Panic crawled up from your toes to your throat, licking and burning like it's fire. Alby easily spotted your panic, giving a firm shove at Minho. "It's normal for newbies that they don't know their name, but don't worry it will come back." He said giving his rare smiles at you.

The chattering of the boys became louder and the four of you arrived just in time for dinner! You picked up a plate and scooped hot pulled pork with vegetables on it. The sight from it made you mouth water and you questioned who made this delicious meal. You turned around and your face fell into a slight frown.

The boys were eating disgusting, you grimaced.

The other three already sat down. Scanning the room you looked for a place to sit, insecurity bloomed in your body. Did someone even want you to join their table? Unsure what to do you dwelled on the fact that you felt horribly out of place. You were the only girl surrounded with boys, who wouldn't feel out of place? Shifting from leg to leg, you looked outside into the forest.

But Newt quickly pulled you out of your thoughts and waved you over and you gladly accepted it.

"Bloody Hell, for a moment we thought that you would eat standing. "

You gave a small 'smirk', hoping that they wouldn't notice your doubt.

"Ofcourse not," you casually said while sitting on the bench next to Minho. "I was just admiring the view."

"Yeah the view is absolutely beautiful," rolling his eyes Minho took a bite from his food.

You quickly became familiar with everyone and after a few weeks of trying out the jobs you found out that being a Med Jack and a part timer Garderner suited you the best. You spent most days learning new technics and you even requisted a book about plants from the Creators (that's what the other Gladers called W.I.C.K.E.D I guess.). The 'free' time when there weren't any injured Gladers, you found yourself with your hands in the ground planting and nursing your medical plants.

"You shank!" You pushed Clint away. "You almost made me dropped this!" For extra dramatic purposes you pushed the beeswax almost up to his nose while you heard Jeff laughing.

Your integration went pretty well, you easily picked up the strange curse words and after a few days you learned your name.

Y/N.

Everyone knew the first aid post, it was a large wooden shack that laid near the west wall of the Maze and everyone knew that you worked there. And so in the first few weeks of your career the stream of wounded Gladers kept coming.

"We never have seen so many injuries in such a short time," Jeff noticed. You only had a few seconds to put down your beeswax before he poked at your sides. "They just want to be treated by the oh so pretty Y/N!"

Grumbling some curse words at him you swatted his hands away while Clint made kissing noises.

"Stop it! Both of you!"

"But Y/N, you're so easy to make fun off!" Clint said.

Pushing his head away you walked to the sink to disinfect your hands while picking up two jars. One was empty and the other was filled with calendula oil, after disinfecting the empty one you simply ignored Clint and Jeffs tantics.

The three of left eachother alone after that and you thanked the Creators that you finally had the time to make the calendula ointment. Picking up the jars you brought them to the stove where you melted the beeswax, it was a calming experience after nursing a lot of boys. After two weeks you noticed that a lot of them did it on purpose and you sended most of them of to Jeff and Clint, "who have much more experience" you told to them with a sly smile.

The creaking of the door pulled you out of your thoughts and a bruised Minho stepped inside. Putting down the stuff you washed your hands again while barking: "Sit!" to him.

While you were surprised that he took your advice, Clint en Jeff shared a look.

The teenager was under the small cuts and blood trickled out of some gashes. The med-box was in no time in your hands and you crouched down, "Do you have any more injuries than just your face?"

"No."

You gave Jeff and Clint a look that said: "Am I the right person?"

They both nodded.

For some weird reason the past few days you couldn't look him in the eyes. Maybe he was to pretty or something and you were still hurt.

He couldn't meet your eyes either, well that was a first. He thought that if he looked you straight in the eye, you could see what he was thinking and yeah that would be really awkward for the both of you. And so he focused his gaze on your woven necklace, the weeks that you lived here he thought about it. The only thing that felt familiar for the first time while he arrived so many years ago in the Glade. He wanted to touch it, maybe then he could figure out why this thing was bothering him so much, but deep down he knew that would be fruitless.

He felt your hand resting on his shoulder to steady yourself and immediately the place went on fire. He coughed in embarrassment and you looked him in the eye for a second before breaking it, feeling a bit shy maybe, no hurt? He didn't know, but he didn't ask, too afraid that you retorted the question back. Last week he came to the realisation that you were pretty and that he wanted to be near you. And so in his logically mind he decided to avoid you.

What an idiot, isn't he?

The stinging sensation brought his mind back to the real world and he mumbled an: "Ow that hurt!"

You were dabbing an cottonpad with some anti-bacterial liquid on it and you weren't really careful with it.

"That's what you getting from ignoring me, stupid."

"I'm sorry but some people have to do actually important jobs", he flashed you a smile.

Narrowing your eyes, you sighed irritably: "Shut up."

"You wish."

But the two of you dropped the subject and didn't mention it anymore.

You were still bothered by it, and you didn't know what to think of it. Why did you know Minho's name before your own? It was weird, really, really weird and to be honest you thought about it daily. You got from W.I.C.K.E.D (no, the Creators) some dark blue dungarees that you put on when you were in the Gardens and instead of whispering some lovingly words to your plants, you were thinking about him.

With his stupid but cute face.

Wait no, with his stupid face.

If someone found out that you thought Minho was handsome than your life would be truly over.

You were still mad at him tho, he ignored you for a whole week! What was wrong with that guy?

Anyways back to the main topic, his name. While you thought about it, the sun was scorching on your back while sweat dripped on your back.

Fuck, it's hot.

No matter how long you thought about it, you couldn't think of an answer and so the logically answer was to annoy Newt with this information.

"So you knew his name the second you saw his face?" he said in disbelief. Holding his hoe even tighter.

You nodded.

"Bloody hell Y/N, how?"

"How am I supposed to know, shank?"

A new Greenie arrived, you were now two months in the Glade.

Stars were twinkling in the night sky and the heath of the bonfire licked at your body. Boys were laughing and chattering and some were even dancing from the high of Gally's stoken alcohol. You couldn't judge them, the beverage was really strong and nursing a glass in your hand you looked at Gally who invited the Greenie to fight.

Ah shit, you thought. It didn't really ended well with the two of you while you wrestled on your Bonfire, leaving you with a bloody nose and a bruised body. While he couldn't see out of his eye for the whole week, oh how you felt so proud to see him with a black eye.

Standing up you walked to the circle while everbody stood with anticipation who would win. Gally was stronger that's for sure, shoving the Greenie towards the outercircle but after a few minutes it was him who laid on the ground while the Greenie supported a small smirk.

Quickly nudging Minho and Newt you gave them a laugh, maybe Gally would finally lose. Then he swiped his leg and the new guy fell on the ground with his head falling hard on the dirt. He groaned for a moment but then a light bulb went off, mumbling something under his breath.

With a look full of disbelief he stood up, "Thomas." Turning around he said it again. "I remember my name, I'm Thomas!"

"Thomas!" Alby cheered and the rest of the boys including you whooped and hollored.

When everything quieted down, Minho and you sat on a wooden bench. It was quiet between the two of you, unable to control the nervousness in your stomach you watched the fire curling up.

"How do you even got that?" He suddenly asked.

"What?" You said back to him, now your gaze resting on his face. The fire gave his skin a nice hue.

"That," he leaned forward and touched the woven necklace that you always wore. His face was a few centimetres away from you and feeling his breath fanning up in your neck made your stomach doing flipflops.

The necklace was made of straw at least that's what Minho thought, by the looks of it the maker wasn't really good but whatever, it was cute.

"I dont know, I wore it since I came up in the box. Maybe it was really important to me before I came here," a whisper, you didn't dare to speak louder than a whisper in fear that he could hear your nervousness.

"It suits you," he whispered while leaning back. "Shank," he said with a grin.

And poof the romantic air was gone, crossing your arms you sarcastically said: "Gee thanks, thought that we had something goin' on."

Your back was pressed hard against the three, the prickly bark against your skin made you feel grounded. In these two months you loved the night scenery more than the day, the sun was just too bright and just a tad more orange than you remembered. It gave you a shiver along your back when you thought too much of it. With the recent events that happened in the Glade, your uneasiness grew and grew (even more than you had arrived.).

Your nails dug in the palm of your hands, while Minho raised a brow.

"Are you okay, slinthead?"

Could you say it to him? What your thoughts were about those recent events, about Thomas? You mindlessy tugged at your necklace.

Would Minho become mad?

The thought about him getting mad maked you sad, but you had too tell him hoping that he would ease your mind and so you spoke with hesitation.

"Something shifted when Thomas arrived here," the two of you had to whisper because the others were already asleep.

Opening his mouth Minho wanted to say something, something to defend Thomas.

"Are you getting on his back now too Y/N?" you could hear the irritation slipping out.

"No! Ofcourse not!"

He didn't look at you, tossing a small rock, "Yeah right."

Shaking your head your thoughts were running lapses, why would he think that?

Standing up the fallen leaves crushed underneath Minho's shoes, "I think I'm going to sleep, enjoy your night." With that he left you alone.

His steps were louder than he hoped, still angry at the situation that happened a few seconds ago. Why are you accusing Thomas for all these things? Whacking the mosquitoes away his mood became worse.

"Shucking things."

"Minho wait!"

He walked further, he could see the outlines of the Homestead. Just a few minutes walking and then he could finally sleep, finally!

"Minho!" your voice was louder and you tucked at his arm. He turned around and met your E/C eyes. "Let me explain," you begged to him.

He didn't said anything but he didn't walk away either and so you talked. "In these few days that he's here with the girl, he became my friend too!"

Oof that sounded a bit too defensive.

"Alright that came out wrong, I care about him and her but I'm talking about Thomas right now. Ever since he got here the dynamic of the group feels off, some like him and some find him suspicious like Gally." taking a breath you continued. "Just because I consider him a friend doesn't mean I can turn a blind eye to what happens here right now!" you kicked at a metal beetle that walked on the leaves and dirt.

He scowled at your accusation but held his mouth.

"First that girl Teresa, then Ben that was stung by those disgusting Grievers and-and," tears stung in your eyes and you took a deep breath. "And a few days ago you, Alby and Thomas were stuck in the Maze, I was.." A few tears fell on your cheeks, hugging yourself you looked at the ground. "I- uh I thouht you were going to die and I was so- I was so scared, Minho."

His gaze softend and he touched your shoulder in comfort. "Well I'm still here, am I?"

You wiped with the back of your hand your tears away, "and I didn't know what to do and I'm scared.." you couldn't even finish your sentence before you started sobbing.

He pulled you in for a hug and you grabbed firmly a piece of his shirt, "I'm sorry," you whispered again and again. Although he was still irritated at your accusation his heart broke after seeing you cry, he petted the back of your hair soothingly and he reassured you.

"It's okay."

He had seen you cry before, he calmed you before and he stood by while your other friends consoled you, you even consoled him a few times but he never saw you so upset like now.

"I'm not blaming Thomas you know," you mumbled in his shirt after a few minutes. "It's just I think somehow Thomas is a piece of something we don't know yet, something bigger than us, something more influential. I think he catalyzed something when he arrived in the Box. I'm sorry I shouldn't have attacked him like that."

"And I should've heard you out, are you good again?"

"Yeah," the two of you let eachother go and the both of you walked to the Homestead.

"Sorry that I cried on your shirt."

"It's alright shank, it's like a little souvenir."

He admired your smartness, in that moment.

The morning came too quick and the day went too slow, you didn't slept for one second that night and Clint and Jeff were doing their best to keep you awake. The three of you took shifts about stacking the supplies, caring for the still unconcious Teresa and Alby.

He was still panicky telling things about the Flare (what is that?) and he told you things about Thomas that made your stomach drop.

What did he mean that you worked with the enemy? It's not like you could ask him, he wouldn't even remember it and so you store the information away for a next time.

You didn't like how this was going at all.

Washing your hands in the sink you watched your appearance carefully, the bags under your eyes growing with the day. A sign that you slept badly, it's not like you didn't want to sleep but you were plagued with nightmared after what happened with him.

Him.

Minho.

You were terrified that day, already thinking the worst. For the rest of the day you couldn't even work only thinking about them. You cried for the first time yourself to sleep that night.

You shifted your gaze away, it was time for work.

You checked the vitals of Alby who stared ahead of him and changed the bandages on the fresh wounds. "You're wounds are healing fine, Alby. How is your neck feeling?"

"Sore," he grumbled.

"Shall I get you an ice pack?

"Yes that's fine."

When you got back he gratefully took it and oressed it lightly on his bruise. The two of you sat in silence for a moment, you shift wasn't over.

"You and Minho huh..-" he said slowly.

"Yeah what's with us?" You shot up out of your chair after almost felling asleep.

"You two were a cute couple."

What, what did he mean by that?

You and him were a couple?

That would be impossible you knew him for two months!

"What do you mean by that?"

"Like I just said!" He didn't gave any room to ask more questions.

He pointed at your necklace and said further: "He woved that necklace for you."

He didn't talk further, but a soft smile graced your feautures.

Everyone laid in their hamacs, the stars were twinkling in the night sky. Some were fast asleep were others were still chatting with eachother, you stared at the stars.

Looking at them gave you in a strange way hope, a new beginning, to be free. Because let's be honest everyone here including you is trapped. But you weren't awake to marvel at the sky, no you were confused by what Alby said.

Minho and you were according to him in a relationship.

That didn't make any sense.

But why did you felt so comfortable around him?

Why did he make you so nervous and so relaxed, like you were high on a kite? High on love, was that possible?

And could it be that you had a life before the Glade?

A life where you were with Minho, did you even had parents? Siblings? Maybe even a pet? Did Minho take you to the cinema? You knew what they were, but you couldn't remember if you ever watched a movie in there. Did you had friends, people who you cared for other than the ones in the Glade?

It made you sad that you couldn't remember one thing from your past.

Did your parents love you?

A deep gnaching hole appeared in your heart when you thought about your family. You didn't even know if you had any.

But what Alby said, if this was true than you knew Alby before you were sent in the Glade. Does that mean what Gally said about Thomas that it was true?

That he couldn't be trusted?

You didn't knew him long, but you could tell that he was trustworthy. Maybe he changed after he lost his memory, because you couldn't no you wouldn't believe that this was for pretend and he was still his 'old self'.

You softly smiled at yourself if it was really true that Minho and you were together, does that mean it can still happen?

You tried to stay awake but with those thoughts you fell in a deep sleep.

It was a sunny day and you could smell the freshky rained grass and the flowers from the Homestead. Today should be a nice day, a good day to take care of your plants. You didn't want to think about what happened yesterday, to the Runner Ben. That boy didn't deserve that fate, but he tried to kill Thomas and that can't be tolerated. You faintly smelled the blood on your flowers, it made you sick.

Hours and hours long you sat still as a mouse by your plants, you only watered them after each quarter. The thick red liquid splashed down on your plants giving them a freshly new colour. The artificial sun set down, that gave your sight a slight blur, it was time for dinner. With blood coating on your shoes you walked to the Homestead, leaving bloody imprints in the green grass.

No one was there, but when you looked at the West Door suddenly you understood. You were there in a second, everyone was huddled in a circle screaming supportive things. Time literally stood still, tears pooled in your eyes. The walls were closing and there he was Minho, holding an unconcious Alby. Looking to the ground a small puddle of your tears were beneath your feet while dried flowers floated in the waters mixed with the blood on your shoes. You could've swore you saw the same blood coated on the walls in the Maze. You looked at them again, the boys next to you were faceless.

They weren't going to make it, Minho looked exhausted with dirt smeared across his face and small cuts on his body but Alby looked even worse. Orange bumps appeared on his body, suddenly the walls were covered in them too and at the same time they were leaking. The ground was slippery and Minho almost fell (or did he trip because he was too exhausted?). Suddenly the orange bumps where gone and before the walls could close Thomas wormed himself to them and then nothing, you couldn't see them anymore.

Everyone was away, you sat alone by the wall. You didn't know for how long, eyes red and puffy you stared blanky forwards.

They were going to die.

You scrunched your brows and you couldn't help but sobbing again. With trembling hands you covered your whails in the hope that nobody would notice. Newt walked up to you with two warm plates, he himself didn't looked very well either. Two persons crying with eachother while trying to eat their food, that was friendship.

Tears flow in your hammock, the thought of them of Minho being gone made you feel hopeless. Your breathing was to quick and your nose was stuffed with snot. With trembling hand you gribbed at your hair in frustration. Why couldn't you, why couldn't you switch-

"Y/N,"

Someone called out your name, was that Minho's ghost to say goodbye?

"Y/N?" someone was shoving you hard.

"Y/N!"

With a hard gasp you woke up, sitting in a second upright. Startling the chubby boy, he took a step backwards.

"You were-were crying and I had to wake you up. Because you were waking everyone up,"he said with a cheeky grin. He promply got a shove from Newt.

Where's Minho?

Is he allright?

Eyes wide, breathing frantic, you looked around, Only these two were awake and if you weren't in such a state you would say something to Chuck.

"You alright Y/N? Nightmare?"

You nodded still not sure if your voice would be steady, but Minho. Is he still in the Maze? Your sleepy brain forgot that he was already back.

"Minho," you croaked out, your throat feeling like sandpaper.

"He is fine, I promise you." Newt spoke to you, he knew that Minho was important to you. But when he didn't get the answer he was hoping for he walked a way to retrieve him, fuck his sleep right?

Chuck sat next to you on your hammock, mumbling stories in the hope that you would feel okay. You couldn't feel okay, only if you knew if Minho was safe.

"Minho," Newt shaked his shoulder. "Wake up, sleepyhead."

Slowly blinking for a few seconds, he woke up. The sky was still dark and he rolled his eyes at the boy with the accent. "What?"

He pushed himself upwards and sat on his hammock, rubbing his eye boogers away. "This better be important, dude."

"Your girl needs you, you slinthead. She's all shaken up from a nightmare, Chuck is now with her." Newt whispered to him.

Suddenly he woke up, he choose to ignore Newt's words about you being his girl. If he stood still by his words, he would like that but now wasn't the time. He walked fastly through the sleeping boys and his heart broke again when he heard your crying for the second time in the last few days.

Something really has shaking you up and he knew exactly what, he couldn't help but beat himself up for getting stuck in the Maze. Not knowing that it would destroy you. Your hammock came in his sight and he quickend his pace.

"Hey, Y/N," he whispered placing his hand on your shoulder. Chuck seeing his liberation quickly stood up and mumbled a quiet goodnight and walked though his hammock.

You placed your hand above his and a broken laugh and sob came out of your mouth.

"Minho, you're safe."

"I can't leavemy girl behind, can't I?" he said with a small laugh but he quickly wiped his own tears away when you didn't look.

Newt tiptoed away to his own bed, seeing that the situation was under control, a small smirk on his face. Minho wouldn't see the end of it, surely.

You embraced him, that he gladly welcomed. The two of you sitting now on your hammock while your hand sneaked through his hair. Your breathing now normal. "I thought you were stuck in the Maze again," you whispered only for him to hear. "I had a nightmare about that day."

"I have them too after my adventure," he whispered honestly back.

He dropped his head into the crook of your neck and in the heat of the moment you planted a kiss at the top of his head. His body froze and you hoped that he wouldn't reject you, but to your surprise he quickly relaxed again and the two of you cuddled for a few minutes without saying a word.

"Hey Minho," you grabbed his attention. "Do you want to know what Alby told me today?" Looking into his eyes, you searched for an answer.

"Sure tell me."

"He told me," suddenly you grew nervous. What if he didn't like what you are going to say?

"He told you what?" He shook you out of your thoughts and you didn't meet his eyes.

"He told me," you took a deep breath. "He told me we were a couple before all this."

You thought he would laugh, that it would be ridiculous but instead he gave you a warm smile. "Really?" He said in disbelief.

"Really and that you woved this necklace for me."

Oops, he couldn't believe that he tought that his own necklace was ugly. Anyways.

"Alby told you that?"

"Yes, he did."

And before you could say anything again, he hyped himself up and looked at you. You really are beautiful. With his tumb and his indexfinger he grabbed your chin and looked at your lips. "May I?"

"Yes, you may."

He gave a sweet but short kiss on your lips and after the two of you departed you felt your face become hot. "Now sleep," he demanded. "The last few days you look like a zombie."

"So kind are you," you shot back but you didn complain. Instead you were laying down and you pulled him with you. "Only if you stay," you said with a cheeky smile.

"I couldn't even climb out even if I wanted to."

The two of you laid down and quickly fell asleep with the soft snoring of the other Gladers as background music. The two of you were going to be bullied relentlessly, but you didn't care.

Your fears were now calmed down even if it was for a bit, but you couldn't ask for more.

Comments are appreciated!

#the maze runner #tmr minho #tmr minho x reader #minho x reader #the scorch trials #thomas tmr #newt tmr #the death cure #teresa tmr #gally #thomas tmr x reader #the maze runner minho #tmr minho imagine #tmr minho one-shot #tmr minho x you #minho x you #newt x reader #thelongestficthativeeverwritten

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aphrodict · 3 years ago

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hello ari! greetings! i see your request is open and if i may – zhongli and kaeya separately comforting gn reader who thinks they're not incompatible with the guys and started to distance themselves? main reason is because reader has an opposite personality, for example kaeya's s/o is introverted, reserved, insecure of their appearances and doesnt drink meanwhile zhongli's s/o is not knowledgeable, playful and childish. so the difference in their personality makes s/o wonder why in the first place the guys are attracted to them, when they can easily find another partner who has the same personality and interests so their life would be more entertaining. i guess this is angst with comfort? thank you and sorry in advance!

“ no matter what, i love you “

tws // mentions of insecurity, slight angst but mostly fluff!

pairing // zhongli,kaeya x gn!reader

genre // hurt/comfort

authors note // hello hello!! apologies this is quite late, but here u go :>> as they say, opposites attract! also what are u saying sorry for?? its fine, whatever it is! have a good day anon <33 im so sorry if this was ooc or not what you wanted, I tried my best since im new (??) to writing kaeya! wc: 0.5k

zhongli was confused why you had been distancing yourself for a few days now, you aren't usually the quiet type. you’ve asked him several times if he found you annoying and he said no to every single one of them. once he decided to confront you about it, his heart broke into a million pieces! he’s disappointed in himself, what did he do wrong to make you think that you're not special to him? the first thing he did was give you a hug to assure you that, no, he does not love anyone else but you. you’re special to him, and he picked you since the very beginning. zhongli would tell you everyday, starting from now, that he loves you over everyone else. that you’re the only person he enjoys being with, and that no one could replace you. if that doesn't help, he would spoil you with affection every single day. that means zhongli would be clinging around with you, he would hold your hand outside, talk to you when he sees you’re alone, and give you more kisses when you two are at home. he tries his best to gives you everything you want, just to make sure that feeling would be removed from you. zhongli may be the complete opposite of you, but that does not mean he wont stop loving you.

kaeya was slowly figuring it out, connect each piece with another. until you asked him about it when you two were cuddling during the night. it was a fine day for kaeya, but most likely not you. he was shocked! why would you feel that way? he sees you as the most beautiful person in the whole entire teyvat. when you deny this, he would constantly say its true, peppering your face with kisses. he’s trying his best to be nice to you! he stops his teasing to you for now, and he brings home some gifts for you every now and then. kaeya would buy your favorite food and stay in with you much more often. but he cant push away his duties as the captain, so he brings you with him to his office. whenever kaeya is really busy though, he asks klee and albedo to take care of you and distract you from your thoughts. you’re glad he did that! klee was adorable and you had so much fun playing and laughing with her, since albedo wasn't quite the social person, you never felt the need to talk to everyone in the room. instead he just watched over you two while doing his experiments, occasionally bringing snacks. if you’re lucky, kaeya would join in as well. spending time with your friends and your boyfriend’s affection managed to make you realize that, yes, kaeya does love you. and he loves you more than anyone else.

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petra-creat0r · 8 months ago

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Gasp! Its The Neighbor and Bellamy the Dinosaur! (Also thank you for narrowing it down, you have a lot of secret bosses.)

Alright, alright, let's see...

Prediction Bosses

Bitsy - Can I just say I love the variety of secret bosses even for the same supposed chapter? It's also interesting how both Bitsy and the Neighbor's light world items are both VHS tapes yet they're so different. Regardless of how off put Bitsy may be at the Neighbor's more... violent tendencies, she also understands a bit. (Sometimes you can almost forget she's basically a cartoon creepy pasta). As well, Bitsy knows how to be a good neighbor! That was half the lessons in her programming when it was still airing, so why would she be rude? Only time she would break that is if the Neighbor tries to bring harm to children, which he wouldn't be so stupid to do, right? Right? (The Fun Gang don't exactly count. They're teenagers. But Bitsy is nothing if a bit of a hypocrite.) Bitsy would probably berate the Neighbor about kindness like Bellamy does though. Though she might not be as forgiving as Bellamy if he ignores her. Otherwise I think Bitsy would love to be his friend!

Elymas - Elymas does NOT know how to be a good neighbor. Both the Bible and whatever text the religion of Deltarune follows might be big on "loving thy neighbor" but Elymas is a pretentious little prophet. They wouldn't even be able to spare a cup of sugar because of their whole "holier than thou" mentality, which they feel even more assured in due to the Neighbor's murderous and demonic tendencies. For as big as Elymas talks though, they are also very weak out of their undying form, and so they better learn to shut their beak and be quiet unless they want to be plucked.

Veratus - This rat idiot would fight the Neighbor. He sees the machete and pulls out his rapier and yells "ENGARDE!" This is a mistake. Though this is Veratus's way of a friendly introduction and he best get's to know people in the heat of a spar, I don't think the Neighbor would take kindly for a fight. Yet if he does, who knows? I doubt Veratus would win, and he would likely commend the Neighbor's strength and resilience, but Veratus. Veratus please, I'm sure the posters say not to fight him for a reason. You stupid rat you're going to die. For the last time you aren't in a war anymore stop fighting everyone you see, your plants can only do so much against freaking blood magic, Veratus. Veratus! - After the fight, if Veratus survives and the Neighbor doesn't straight up kill him, then the Neighbor will have earned Veratus's loyalty and respect, meaning Veratus will be willing to do anything for the Neighbor. --Another little thing I noticed after writing Veratus's blurb here, both Veratus and the Neighbor are mask buddies.

Fool's Fate Bosses

Dorothy - She'd be intrigued by the blood and violence surrounding the Neighbor, yet be empathetic as she learns more of his backstory. Prior to meeting the "strange someone", Dorothy didn't have an identity, and to learn that the Neighbor forgot his own? She'd feel sorry for him. Which would quickly turn to her getting angry at the universe and stabbing or pounding the nearest object with her hammer. (This ragdoll doesn't do well with emotions) Dorothy does know how to be a good neighbor, like Bitsy. Even if she's prone to anger and can be rude and violent, she's not so rude to not lend a neighbor a cup of sugar.

Poly - I think Poly would be afraid of the Neighbor. That blood and creepy smile? Yeah, Poly's staying away. Far, far away. Does Poly know his power and how his game has driven many, including himself to insanity? Partly but that doesn't matter, he's staying away. If the Neighbor comes near him, I imagine Poly getting so scared he no-clips into a wall or something. Fine, Poly can try to be a good neighbor and give the Neighbor a cup of sugar, whatever keeps that maniac away from him!

Casper - In the little kitty cowboy's eyes, the Neighbor is a bad guy. And bad guys need to be brought to justice. Does this mean Casper is going to make the same mistake as Veratus and try to fight the Neighbor? Possibly. I kinda see Casper trying to talk first and only bringing out the guns if the Neighbor attacks him. I still don't see this panning out well for Bandit Casper, the kitty cowboy, even if Casper ends up blacking out and Rattler takes over. Someone please keep this kitty away from the Neighbor. I doubt he can tell when something is an act anymore and doesn't realize that he is not actually the western hero he plays.

Noir - Detective Noir is ever curious about mysteries, but is also polite (and smart) enough to know to try and get a neighbor a cup of sugar when he asks for one. Would this stop the detective from trying to uncover the Neighbor's backstory and mysteries? No. He's still going to snoop and try and solve the Neighbor's story. For better or for worse. Perhaps it's a good think Detective Noir is able to slip into the shadows and sneak around.

Gonna reblog this with my bosses' reactions to Bellamy in a bit as well as think about which of my doodle ideas to go with.

((People should send me their secret bosses.

Both to draw and describe how mine would react to them.

That'd be cool

#deltarune #deltarune secret boss #deltarune oc #bitsy #Elymas #veratus #dorothy #poly b. user #detective noir #bandit casper #rattler #the neighbor deltarune #bellamy the dinosaur #creepa-bOt-inc

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hugheshugs · 3 years ago

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bestie i feel like we need to talk about dad!quinn

the way i got this message right after i read that dad!quinn imagine u reblogged 😭 he'd be the best dad ever and my hearts exploding. lets discuss <3

• i feel like he's a total girl dad. like, totally.

• but then again, i also completely see him with a son too.

• obviously gender doesn't really matter but i feel like he would be so cute with a daughter.

• maybe a son and a daughter?

• either way, he'd be an amazing dad. he'd take up all the responsibilities — feeding them, bathing them, changing them, you know it. he'd just love being a dad.

• quinn got your son skating as soon as he learnt how to walk. you were against the idea because you were scared he'd get hurt but quinn assured you he'd be safe.

• quinn would also be extremely careful with both them.

• i feel like he'd be so hesitant to let anyone near them and you'd have to help him calm down before he's just kinda like okay, fine. but if anything happens it's on you.

• and obviously nothing happens but he still stays very protective of them.

• especially the girl because she's his quiet baby. the boy's kinda rambunctious and also a bit of a mommy's boy so it works out perfectly.

• (that doesn't mean he loves him any less, no, it's quite the opposite)

• they both have him wrapped around their tiny little fingers.

• "daddy, can we get some candy please?" your daughter asked, looking up at him with doe eyes. how was he supposed to say no? so of course, he bought her all the candy she wanted and he regretted it that same night when you put him on bedtime duty.

• "can we go skating, please daddy?" your son jumped on the balls of his feet. quinn sighed, setting down the bag of groceries. he loved how much his son loved hockey but sometimes all he wanted to do was take a break from it. however, of course, he ended up at a rink nearly half an hour later.

• his daughter would bring him in for show and tell... yeah. she wouldn't even tell him about it, she'd just ask him to come pick her up from school a little early and quinn wouldn't even question it.

• she'd see him standing outside her class through the tiny window on the door and run outside, dragging him in by his hand. her little hand could only hold two of his fingers, it was adorable.

• "sweetie, what's going on?"

• "for show and tell, i brought my daddy; quinn hughes!"

• his face would be so red and she'd force him to take a seat on the stool in front of the class while he's sending the teacher an apologetic look. but even though she tricked him, he was still proud of her for coming out of her shell simply because she was excited to show off her dad.

• and his son, don't even get him started on that boy.

• he uses every chance he gets to flaunt quinn, especially in front of his hockey team. he never wants you to pick him up from practice, it's always his dad who has to. and even then, he always requests quinn to bring a special guest, like his uncles brock or elias.

• "woah, brock boeser's really your uncle?" his teammate asks in disbelief.

• "mhm," he nods excitedly, looking around for them. "here they come!"

• he quickly skates towards the glass where the pair stands, their eyes widening as more of his teammates follow suit. he does this every time yet quinn never gets used to having the attention on him. brock simply laughs as the little kids bang on the glass, waving at them.

• all in all, they're a pretty crazy trio. him and his kids are like three peas in a pod and he wouldn't have it any other way.

#quinn hughes #quinn hughes blurb #quinn hughes headcanon #dad!quinn #nhl blurb #hockey boy blurb #hockey blurbs #canucks blurb #riri's blurbs

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writeforfandoms · 3 years ago

Text

Not the Villain 2

Find my masterlist and series masterlist

Here we are back with chapter two! We’re finally getting a bit of information here, some new characters, and some things to chew on for next time.

P.S. This story still won’t give me much piece - I’m writing chapter 5 currently.

Also yes I am aware that villain names are both Roman and Greek. I promise I know.

Marcus Moreno x f!reader

Warnings: Past violence, past abuse mentions, mentions of illegal activities including deforestation and dog fighting, allusions to death, paperwork, tempers flare.

Word count: 2.2k

The trip back to HQ was silent and a little awkward. It was unusual to take someone back with them, let alone a captured maybe villain. Marcus stayed next to her the entire time, partially to make sure nobody heckled her, and partially to make sure she behaved. But she was quiet and meek, content to stare out the window.

The team scattered once they were back at HQ, clearly content to leave him with Alecto. Marcus huffed a soft laugh but escorted her without fuss to a holding cell. Fortunately, they did have a few of those.

"I have questions, if you feel up to it." He spoke softly, hoping not to scare her.

She looked at him, clearly curious. "Just questions?"

"For now, yes."

She shrugged and then winced. "Go ahead."

Marcus surveyed her for a few moments. "Who hit you?"

Her eyes went wide in surprise, and she blinked at him, clearly caught off guard. Her mouth opened once, closed, and opened again. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'd like to know." Marcus leaned back in his seat, content to give her time to think over her answer.

"Clymene."

Marcus nodded slowly. Clymene was known for having a nasty temper. "Why?"

That question earned him a blank stare.

"Why did she hit you?"

"I mean, why not? She always wants to. Well. Wanted too, I guess is more accurate now. Since they were leaving me for you anyway, Jupiter didn't bother to stop her."

There was so much wrong with that explanation, Marcus didn't even know where to begin. He let out a slow breath, trying to think through this.

"Jupiter protected you from Clymene?"

Alecto tensed up, frowning at him, her shoulders high and tight. "Where are you going with this?" she asked. "If you're looking for weaknesses to exploit, you'll find none from me."

Marcus's heart ached. She was loyal to them still, even after they had literally left her to die. Even still. Even after one of them had beaten her. And he had a feeling this wasn't the first time, or the only thing she had suffered at their hands. But even still she was clinging to them.

"That's not what I wanted," he murmured, voice low and soothing, hands held palms up towards her. "I'm just trying to figure out what happened to you."

"That doesn't matter." She crossed her arms over her chest defensively. "Stop asking about me."

Marcus nodded once. "You've had a long day," he agreed, standing. "I'll make sure someone brings you some food.*

She looked blankly at him, hints of suspicion still in her eyes.

Marcus just smiled a little, forcing himself to remain calm. "You won't be hurt here," he assured her. "Try to get some rest." He double checked that the door to the containment cell was locked tight before he left.

He had a lot to think about, and he still had to write up a report.

Paperwork was easily the worst part of this job. It was tedious and boring, and he usually bore the brunt of it for the team. Normally he didn't mind as much. But this?

This required a whole stack of paperwork.

Barry Hall stopped by his office not even an hour after Marcus had started in on the paperwork. Barry had taken over for Grenada, after the Incident.

"Heard you brought in a villain," Barry started, pulling out a chair across from Marcus.

"We did." Marcus set down his pen.

"Alecto. Don't have a lot on her." Barry shrugged. "Sounds like she's a stubborn one, though."

"Seems to be." Marcus kept his voice neutral, waiting for Barry to get to the point.

"Think you'll be able to get info out of her? She could be our chance to finally get to Jupiter."

Marcus considered for a moment before he shrugged. "It's hard to say. They left her for dead, so I don't think she knows anything all that current. But maybe she'll give us other information."

"Other information?"

"Seems Jupiter only has so much control of the team, they don't necessarily all get along. We might be able to use that to help."

Barry nodded slowly. "And what's your long term plan here?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Long term. Those holding cells aren't meant for permanent habitation. We could turn her over to the Feds after we've gotten what we need."

Marcus swallowed down his initial indignant response. She was a human, not just a bargaining chip or an information source. "I am waiting to see how well she cooperates before I decide on a long-term course of action," he managed instead.

Barry chuckled. "Of course, Moreno," he agreed, getting to his feet again. "Well, when you finish up those reports, I've got a couple people pulling all our reference files on Alecto, so we'll review that. I expect you to come check in once the paperwork is done."

Marcus nodded. He wanted to get his hands on those materials, anyway. "Sir," he murmured as Barry nodded and showed himself out.

He took a moment to pinch the bridge of his nose, trying to quell the tension headache he could feel brewing. This whole op had been nothing but problems, and didn't look to be anything helpful, at least not for a while.

He didn't have any other interruptions until he finished his paperwork. The reports were successfully scanned and sent to the appropriate people, and he stretched his arms out in front of him. A quick time check showed that it was just after 5 - Missy was supposed to be going home with A Capella for a sleepover. So he didn't have to rush home.

He stood and stretched out his back, grimacing briefly. He was getting too old for these extended hours at a desk.

It took almost no time to get down to Barry's office. Since he often hosted meetings, Barry's office was large, with a wide window to let in plenty of natural light. A large wood desk made a sort of barrier - Barry behind the desk, everyone else in front of it. A large screen set on the wall was active, bits of footage flashing across it. Barry was turned to look at the screen, with one of the research team holding a tablet to control the TV. Another research team member had a tablet on her lap, scrolling through data.

"There you are," Barry greeted, turning his head to shoot a quick smile to Marcus. "We've pulled everything we've got on Alecto. She's been pretty elusive, no big dramatic speeches like the others."

Marcus nodded, pulling up another chair. "So what do we know?"

"We're still running facial recognition," the research tech told him. "So far we've only found a handful of clips."

"Most of the data we have on her comes from the group," the other researcher said, never looking up from her tablet. "Her name has been attached to every big group incident for the last five years, and half a dozen individual ones."

"What are the individual ones?"

The tech pointed silently to a third tablet sitting on the desk, and Marcus picked it up. There were exactly six incidents listed specifically under Alecto, and he looked through them quickly to remind himself.

An incident destroying equipment that had been used in illegal deforestation. An incident involving a workers rebellion that the media had latched onto - apparently the conditions had been near slavery. An incident blowing up a factory that had been dumping toxic chemicals into the local water supply, causing both people and animals to get sick. An incident of threatening and terrorizing an exploration group, that seemed to be an outlier. (No evidence had come forward, but Marcus had a gut feeling that the exploration team had been doing something harmful.) An incident involving a man accused of serial rape, found dead. (More women had come forward after his death saying they had been threatened with violence to never talk about it.)

And then most recently an incident involving a dog fighting ring. Marcus had to swallow hard at the pictures - the men in charge had been killed. Brutally.

If not for the killing and the company she kept, Marcus would have called Alecto a vigilante rather than a villain.

"Interesting, huh?" Barry shrugged. "Not exactly like the rest of the group."

"Not exactly," Marcus agreed, voice quiet and thoughtful. He set the tablet down, thinking. There was a lot of information to go over here. And he had a feeling there was even more they didn't know.

"So, what's your play here?"

Marcus pulled himself out of his head. "I think I'll give her tonight to rest," he murmured. "We know she got a bit roughed up - I want to bring her up to medical to make sure there aren't any injuries we don't know about."

Barry nodded. "Fine, do it. Just keep a close eye on her."

Marcus nodded and stood to go retrieve her.

"Oh, and Moreno?" Barry waited until Marcus was looking at him to continue. "See if you can get her to talk."

Marcus nodded and walked out of the room. He had a lot to do.

Alecto was still sitting in the holding cell. Her eye had swollen fully shut, blossoming a brilliant purple, and she looked to be breathing rather slowly. Carefully. Bruised ribs, possibly. She lifted her head to watch Marcus approach, functional eye narrowed.

"I'm taking you up to medical for an exam," he told her, punching in the code to open the door.

"Why?" She looked almost nervous, hands fisted at her sides.

"To see what injuries you sustained." Marcus opened the door, watching her.

She stayed rooted to the bench, swallowing hard twice in a row. "I'm fine. Just the eye."

"And your ribs?"

She was quiet for a few long moments, tense and uncomfortable. "Nothing's broken."

"I would like to confirm that assessment with our doctors." Marcus kept his voice level.

She swallowed again, gaze darting from his face to his hands to the open door and back to his hands. "Fine." She stood carefully, a little unsteady. But she scowled when he reached out a hand to help her.

Marcus walked her up one level to medical in silence. She didn't try to go anywhere, didn't put up a fuss. She walked quietly, head ducked, though she did look around carefully.

She was every bit as meek when the medical team took her inside, shutting him out. Marcus had to admit he felt a bit antsy at that. But rules were rules, and he had to wait outside.

A nurse ushered him into the doctor's office, and he fidgeted nervously.

"What can you tell me?" He asked, meeting the doctor's gaze.

"Her ribs are bruised, she's a bit dehydrated, and she'll be in pain for a bit as she heals. But she's not badly hurt. No internal injuries, no broken bones." The doctor shrugged. "She was polite and quiet."

Marcus nodded, shoulders relaxing at the news. "Good. So she'll be fine to stay here for a few days at least?"

"Of course. The longer the better, actually. Give her swelling a chance to go down." The doctor shrugged. "I gave her two Advil and an ice pack."

"Thank you," Marcus murmured. That was one less thing to worry about, at least.

Alecto was waiting for him, a nurse standing next to her. The nurse nodded to them and left, bustling off to continue working.

"Heard you're okay," Marcus offered, a little cautiously, even as he started back towards the cell.

"Told you." She didn't smile, but her shoulders were a little more relaxed. "Just bruised."

"Some dinner and sleep will do you good," Marcus told her. "Like I told you. You won't be harmed here."

She nodded, the motion a little easier than last time. "I assume you have been tasked with getting information from me, as you are the leader."

"For the moment, yes."

She nodded again, more slowly this time. Considering. "And if I do not tell you anything?"

"Hadn't gotten that far," Marcus told her easily. "But I imagine you'll be turned over to the Feds to stand trial for your crimes."

"My crimes." She laughed, only once, short and sharp. "I see. Thank you."

Marcus eyed her carefully. Her sense of humor was… odd. Skewed. But he didn't say anything else until she was back in her cell, still docile as a lamb.

"You can talk to me," he offered, the door still open between them. "I will help you if I can."

Her teeth bared in a sudden show of aggression all the more startling for its sudden appearance. "Help me?" She asked on a snarl. "You think you can help me? You Heroics are so conceited. So full of yourselves. You think you are so clever, offering your help and your smiles and your open hand, so that no one asks the price. No one questions why. I am not so easily fooled, and I do not need your help." She lunged forward, fingers closing around the edges of the door and pulling it closed with a sharp yank, and a click.

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#not the villain #marcus moreno x you #marcus moreno x reader #mind the warnings

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