#now I just feel even more scared and disoriented than before I drank

[necromancy-savant]

I got the medicine the other day but I haven't been able to start taking it because I drank Saturday until yesterday. I hate myself so much

[hold-him-down]

Derek’s Back: Part 2

TW: mostly emotional whump/angst, implied prisoner abuse, implied eating issues, anxiety, referenced med whump, poorly researched international affairs/law

Previous

✥ ✥ ✥

Jack’s eyes had adjusted to the dark hotel room by now. In one hand, he held a now-cold coffee. His other hand was waging some type of war on his brain. His fingers danced over the bruised skin on Derek’s wrist, not touching the faded splotches, but close. He curled them in, pulling back. Although he couldn’t see Derek’s face from his angle on the floor, he knew that he was staring blankly toward the balcony door. The tension didn’t leave his shoulders, and he jumped at every noise. Jack grew to predict it. He was almost glad that he couldn’t see Derek’s face. Almost.

As the hours crawled by, Jack’s mind raced. 

His thoughts bounced between the past and the present in a brutal cycle that he could neither control nor predict. He would watch the way Derek’s arms wrapped around his stomach. And then, as a special treat, his brain would supply every possible reason for it. He would eventually get his imagination under control, and then he would see the way Derek’s legs curled in as tightly as they could.

Jack found some solace in the recognizable pattern of dozing off and waking himself up, over and over, that Derek’s body eventually settled into. Some invisible force would startle him awake. He would scan the room. His gaze would ultimately lock on Jack’s. There would be a brief flash of confusion. He would stare, pupils large, confused and empty, out the window of the balcony. Eventually, his eyes would once more close. Like clockwork. Unsettling, dark clockwork that Jack tried to tuck away.

Needless to say, Jack felt an immense sense of relief when the sky eventually shifted, taking on those familiar hues of orangey-pinks. 

He watched the sun rise in relative silence, not daring to move, for what felt like hours before Derek lifted himself cautiously, disoriented as he took in his surroundings.

Jack opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. He could feel Derek’s eyes on him, and watched warily as Derek clutched his arms tightly. Cold, or scared, or just not sure what to do with his own limbs. They stared at one another in silence. 

He was startled out of the stalemate by a vibration on the table. Followed by several more. Their collective attention was drawn to the phone.

Is he there

Jack

Please tell me he’s there

Jack

Not more than twenty seconds later the phone lit up. 

“He’s here,” Jack said, by way of greeting. “We’ll head over soon.” 

After a quick exchange, he set his phone back down, his eyes slow to meet Derek’s.

“Your mom,” Jack said, although Derek didn’t ask. The silence penetrated the room for a moment too long. “We’ve been working on our friendship in your absence.”

It earned him a smile. A half-smile at best, but he couldn’t hold back his own in response.

“Would you like some water? Or… I do actually have coffee.” Jack indicated toward his own cup as he stood from the floor where he had spent the last several hours, stretching backward. 

“Coffee sounds good,” Derek said, rising with a wince. “Ow,” he whispered, expression tight. In the light of day, with zero minutes of sleep, it was more obvious now than it had been before. His once tan, lean muscle was now pale and gaunt. His once confident stride was now a timid, cautious movement. The stubble covering his chin, the dull hollows under his eyes. “Jack?” Derek interrupted the appraisal of his physique, nodding toward the kitchen.

“Sorry,” Jack replied. He was. For a lot of things. Derek smiled his empty smile and walked past him, opting for water instead. There were pieces of him still there, Jack thought, as he watched his back. If he squinted, he could still see the outline of Derek. Just… a new version of Derek. One that Jack hadn’t even begun to peel back the layers on. Jack stared at his back as he drank a glass of water. Almost greedily. Too quickly, he decided, and immediately compartmentalized it. 

✥ ✥ ✥

“I didn’t know what you would want, so I just... had them send up a few options that I thought would be easy on your stomach,” Mrs. Lewis said, wringing her hands. “The doctor, yesterday, he said your…” She watched Derek, who held his plate tightly, and swallowed. “Well, he said that mild foods are...  probably best for right now.” 

Jack offered a superficial smile; the awkward pauses throwing off the cadence of her speech were jarring. He had never seen her so unsure.

Derek nodded, the slight tremble of his fingers reverberating through the ceramic, his eyes focused intently on keeping it steady as he made the short walk from the kitchen island to the dining table. 

“I hope it’s okay,” she continued, when it became clear that Derek wasn’t going to share his opinion on the breakfast menu. “If you want something different, though, I can run out and grab you something…” Pause. “Anything you want.”

“This is fine.” His voice was low, his eyes trained on the floor. Everyone in the room felt the extended silence, and Derek must have, too, because he looked up, swallowing. “T–thank you.” He forced a tight smile. “Mom.”

Jack registered what was happening just a moment too late, as Mrs. Lewis made a split-second decision to lay her hand on her son’s arm. Derek hadn’t seen it coming and jerked away, his plate crashing to the ground.

He didn’t hesitate; immediately, Derek dropped to his knees, eyes wide. He picked up the broken pieces of dish, tension visible in every line of his shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” he said, a kind of frantic panic settling into his voice, as Jack knelt down next to him. Derek kept his gaze aimed at the floor, his fingers shaking more visibly now as he made a futile effort to spoon bits of egg onto broken shards of plate.

“Hey,” Jack said, collecting as many of the glass shards as he could. He watched Derek’s mannerisms cautiously, a mixture of frenzy and hopelessness deeply ingrained into every movement. “It’s fine.” 

“I’m sorry, I– ” Derek paused as he stood, regarding the contents of his hands, before finally dropping them into the trash can. He looked around himself, his face flushed. Jack could swear there were tears welling in his eyes, but Derek maneuvered around him too quickly for him to confirm. “I’m going to just…I- I’ll go take a shower.” The last part was nothing more than a whisper. “I’m sorry.”

“No,” Jack said quickly, standing too. “It’s really okay.” Derek looked at him then, taking a long breath. “You take mine, and I’ll grab breakfast downstairs.” Jack pushed his plate into Derek’s hands and smiled, nodding toward the table. “I’m going to go take a walk, okay? Grab some coffee.” 

They stood closely, eyes locked. Derek’s were red, tired from a bad night’s sleep plus seven years of who the fuck knew what, with tears threatening to spill over. Jack’s desperate to convey the absolute okay-ness of Derek taking his meal. “Thank you,” Derek finally whispered. It didn’t sound relieved, or grateful, or anything other than anxious.

Jack smiled toward Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, who were seated at the table, all stiff-backed and solemn-faced, as he made his much-needed escape. He walked through the hotel lobby and into the bustling streets of Adana, replaying the scene in his mind over and over; one thought kept poking at him: Derek Lewis was weird about food.

✥ ✥ ✥

Jack, eager to get back to the hotel, didn’t stay gone long. He grabbed a quick coffee and a few groceries, keeping Mrs. Lewis’s words in mind. 

The hell did she mean by mild food? He stayed away from fruits, carefully examining his options. He took a small stock of vegetables, a few cans of soup. He tried very hard to keep his mind off of Derek. His phone, a heavy weight in his pocket, beckoned him. He was under very strict orders not to share this news with anyone, but in the moments where he was successfully not thinking about Derek, the guilt clung to him like a magnet, unwilling to release its hold on him for even a moment.

It had been years since he had spoken to any of their friends. Their closest friend, James, had called him nonstop when he first moved back. It had been painful to hear his voice, but he had tried; he had answered the phone as often as he thought he could, but he found himself sending to voicemail more and more as time passed, and when James, the last person left in his corner, had finally given up on him, the calls had stopped. But even after, James sent him an email and a single text message every six months or so. A plea for any updates he received. And a reminder that he was not alone, no matter how much alone-ness he felt.

Jack forced the thought out of his mind and instead cashed out. The Embassy guy had been clear: until back on U.S. soil, lay low. No phone calls announcing Derek’s freedom. No phone calls at all would be ideal. So, he swallowed back his guilt, and he walked.

By the time he got back to the hotel, he had three missed texts from Mrs. Lewis. He read them on the elevator.

At 10:05: We just finished breakfast. He didn’t speak. He ate, though. :)  

At 10:17: Could you pick up some food for him while you’re out?

At 10:33: Please come back soon.

That last one gave Jack pause. So much has changed in the last two days. He hadn’t even really processed what everything meant. What it would all mean. God, he hadn’t really processed anything.

✥ ✥ ✥

“I brought you some–” Jack said by way of greeting, unceremoniously entering the bedroom after a solid ten-minute internal debate over whether or not to knock. He stopped short, second guessing his decision, the instant he realized that Derek was… asleep? No, not asleep. Derek was on his side, as though he was asleep. And his eyes were closed, as though he was asleep. But the tension in his jaw gave him away. “–soup. And some other stuff, I didn’t know what you’d want but… uhh, I just kind of grabbed a little bit of everything in case you get hungry.”

“Thank you,” Derek responded, his voice more than a little gruff. Jack would have thought it was sexy in another life. He still kind of did, but now he chastised himself for it. Derek spoke, interrupting the war Jack’s brain had declared on itself. What did he say?

“What was that?” Jack asked. 

Derek hesitated, then a little louder, said, “I’m sorry.” At Jack’s obviously bewildered expression, he added, “About earlier.”

Jack stared for a moment too long, then shook his head. He came around the bed, sinking onto the mattress as Derek shifted, making room for him. It was a small gesture, but damned if it didn’t get Jack’s stomach tied in knots. “Don’t be. No harm done.” 

“Right,” Derek replied, slowly sitting. Jack couldn’t ignore the wince that flashed across Derek’s face. Nor was he able to ignore the bruising that was both more apparent in the daylight and darker than it had been. These were recent. Jack took the risk and put his fingers on top of Derek’s, flipping his hand as they both watched, exposing the under-side of his wrist.

“What happened here?” he asked, his thumb hovering the dark splotches. Derek’s eyes met his, sucking in a deep breath.

“I–” A muscle in his jaw tensed, his mouth closed. There was a moment of silence, Jack waiting for Derek’s move, and Derek… doing the thing that he did when he didn’t know what to say. “It’s a long story. What have you been…” His voice trailed off. “What have you been up to?” 

“Sure,” Jack replied, taking the bait. “Yeah. Okay.” He smiled a little bit, regarding Derek in his full form. Loose sweatshirt, buzzed hair. Hollow cheeks, grey-blue eyes. Watching his every move. “God, I don’t even know where to start. Oh, I live in Florida now…”

“Florida?” Derek’s eyes lit up a little bit, the first spark of… anything… that Jack had gotten from him. 

Jack nodded. “Yeah, I got a full ride to the literal crappiest law school in the country, and I landed up in bum fuck Florida with all the red necks and–” Noticing Derek’s face fall, Jack paused. “Sorry. I… it’s not that bad. I just… it’s weird for me. Being there, in Florida. Alone.” 

“Law school?” Derek’s expression was guarded but interested, and given the level of interest shown in the last twenty-four combined hours, Jack wasn’t going to complain.

“Yep, I’m a full-blown third-year law student. By the skin of my teeth. I’ve been in Florida for the last two, just… soaking in sub-par legal knowledge.” Eager to get to an easier topic, he shifted gears. “I’m just a few hours away from Disney, though. When I really want to suffer, I go walk around Epcot and cry. Scare the children. And their parents.”

Derek didn’t ask questions, but he listened as Jack talked. And Jack kept it light. He didn’t talk about law school, or his sexual history, or how thoroughly familiar he was with the taste of hard liquor. He talked about Disney. And the sun. And the ocean. And a life that really, if he was being honest with himself, didn’t quite exist for him.

tag list: @redwingedwhump, @whump-cravings, @crystalquartzwhump, @mylifeisonthebookshelf, @nami-writes 

[simpforsersi]

Deja Vu - Mobius x gn!Reader

Hey look I wrote a thing! Granted, I wrote this thing in between busy moments at work, so there’s little to no plotline. Just a tired Mobius and a supportive reader.

Summary: Pre-the fall of TVA. I’m really unoriginal so this is yet another “Mobius and the reader were a thing before they were brought into the TVA” because I can’t get over that idea. Mobius is tired and has been having weird dreams.

Warnings: I can’t think of any warnings except that I think I used the words “grin” and “smile” WAY too much. Also, this is unedited. 

Word Count: 1.5k

Anyway, I’m clearly very brain-dead and I’ve always been bad at summaries/talking about things I’ve written so just here. Have this.

"Where did you go?"

You glance up from the file you're poring over, concentration broken by the sound of Mobius' voice. He's resting his chin in one hand and muttering to himself, eyebrows furrowed.  

"Who?"

He looks up sharply, startled.

"What?"

You can't help laughing. He's so discombobulated by being yanked out of his intense focus. Maybe pulling him back into reality was for the best, though. His tie is askew, his jacket was shed long ago, and there are dark circles under his eyes.

You could push, try to find out what he's so concerned about in this particular case, but you think it might be for the best to distract him for a bit.

"Want a coffee?"

He drops his pen and leans back in his chair, rubbing his face.

"Coffee might be a good idea," he agrees, and you scrape your chair back and stand up. He pouts at you, and you raise an eyebrow. "I don't wanna get up," he sighs, resting his head against the back of his chair and closing his eyes. "I'm tired."

"I know," you say, trying not to dwell on the soft feelings that flutter to life in your chest at the fact that he trusts you enough to be so vulnerable. "I'll be right back."

"Oh, gosh," he says, bracing his hands on the table and getting ready to pull himself up. "I'm not an invalid. I can get my own coffee."

"I know," you say again. "I'll get it anyway, though."

He looks like he wants to argue, but he doesn't, which proves how tired he is. You offer him a smile and leave to fetch the coffee, electing to ignore the pleasant tingling incited by his answering grin.

Balancing two coffee cups and a plate of cinnamon rolls isn’t easy, but you’re talented.

"Extra strong, because I know you like it that way. Also, I brought -- ”

You look up from the two paper cups you’re holding and lose the ability of speech.

Mobius’s face is buried in his arms, and he’s snoozing on the desk. You set the coffees and the plate down and fight the soft, feathery thing that is fluttering around inside your chest.

You could wake him up, but the poor man is clearly exhausted, and also he’s very adorable like this and you aren’t about to willingly relinquish listening to his soft snores. You sip your coffee and re-immerse yourself in your paperwork, but you end up knocking your empty mug over while you’re reaching for a cinnamon roll and Mobius wakes up with a snort.

“Sorry,” you say, wincing, righting the mug. “Just a clutz over here.”

He smiles sleepily, running a hand over his face and shifting in his seat. his hair is flat on one side and sticking up on the other, and he looks like he’s feeling a little nap-disoriented.

“That’s okay,” he says, voice raspy, and clears his throat. “You brought treats?”

“Yeah,” you say, reeling from his “just woke up” voice. “There was a tray of them beside the carafe, so I thought I’d snag some before they were gone.”

“Good thinking,” he says, reaching for one. He bites into it and makes a pleased noise that has no right doing what it does to your insides. It’s your turn to shift around in your seat. “These are amazing.”

“They’re very good,” you agree. “We should track down whoever made them and get the recipe.”

“Agreed,” Mobius says. He reaches for his coffee and swallows several mouthfuls before rubbing his face again.

“You okay?” you ask. He’s still a little bit off. It’s a different kind of “off,” but he’s not feeling right and that’s bothering you.

“Yeah -- yeah,” he says. “It’s just...”

“What?” you ask, a little too eagerly. You just want to know what’s going on so that you can try to fix it. You’re Mobius’s partner, and you always help him solve his problems. You want to do that now.

“This dream,” he says, frowning. “I keep having it. It’s so... It’s just weird.”

“Oh,” you say, taken aback. He’s been knocked off-kilter by a dream? “What’s it about?”

“You,” he says, and then, blushing a little, “and me. On Earth. Doing... stuff.”

You choke on your bite of cinnamon roll. That brings a lot of thoughts to your mind that you aren’t entirely comfortable with having. Mobius is your partner, your fellow analyst, your not boyfriend or husband or anything. You’re not even supposed to want that. Boy, this is bad, but thankfully Mobius interrupts your internal panic.

“Not... not that kind of stuff,” he says, and his face is bright red. “Just... I don’t know. Cleaning the kitchen. Hanging out in cities. Riding Jet Skis.” He gives you a lopsided grin.

Your heart is beating really quickly. You were not ready for him to say anything along those lines. You could never be ready for him to say anything along those lines. This is...

“Weird,” you manage, trying not to focus on the many and very intense physical and emotional feelings that are happening right now. “What a weird dream.”

“Exactly,” Mobius says, and he has a wild look in his eyes. “None of it happened, obviously -- ”

“Obviously,” you say quickly, grabbing onto this little piece of fact in the middle of all your stormy emotions.

“ -- but it feels like it could. Or it did. Or -- ”

“Woah,” you say, growing more and more uncomfortable by the second. “None of that happened. None of it will happen. This is our life, Mobius,” you gesture at the table, strewn with paperwork and an empty plate and a couple of mugs, “and it’s all we’ve ever had and all we ever will.”

“Maybe not,” he says. “We could go to a city.”

“No, we couldn’t!” you say, panicking. You’ve never heard anyone talk like this. You work at the TVA and that’s... that’s it. That’s what you have. Mobius’s words are scaring you, not least because you can see yourself. You can see it in your head, and it feels familiar, like a movie that you’ve seen a hundred times.

“We could,” Mobius insists. “I’ll throw on some swim trunks, you grab a sunhat -- ”

"It's not like I have sunhats lying around," you interrupt him. “And do you even own a pair of swim trunks?”

“That’s not the point,” he says, sounding almost frustrated. He stands up from his seat and comes around to your side of the table. You can’t breathe, from either his proximity or the things he’s saying, you’re not sure which. “We could go,” he says. “We could just leave. Walk away from all of this and start a life of our own.”

“Mobius,” you say, shocked. You don’t know how to respond.

“What do you think?” he asks. He has a longing look in his eyes that he’s clearly trying to repress for your sake. You swallow hard.

“I think you need to go to bed,” you say, more sharply than you meant to. “I think I need to, too.”

Mobius’s face falls, and you feel the sharp sting of guilt for dashing his hopes like that. But what else can you do? Leave the TVA? That’s not happening.

“Yeah,” Mobius says with a sigh, “you’re probably right.”

You swallow again. You haven’t felt this rattled in a very long time -- probably since you and Mobius had to deal with that particularly unhinged Ultron variant -- and you just want to go to sleep and wake up with all of these strange feelings that are definitely disloyal to the TVA.

“I’m pretty sure I am,” you say.

“We just drank coffee, though,” Mobius points out, looking cautiously optimistic. “We should probably stay here and work until that wears off, right?”

You’re actually feeling very tired, and you’re willing to risk an hour of tossing and turning if it means that you can stretch out between crisp sheets and try to shake off the weirdness that has settled itself over you. But Mobius is wincing a little bit, bracing himself for rejection, and you’ve already shut him down once today.

“Okay,” you concede. “Fine. But as soon as you start snoring again, I’m gone.”

“Fair enough,” Mobius says, beaming at you.

You roll your eyes at him, trying very hard not to think about the many fluttery feelings you’re experiencing, and settle back in. He returns to his side of the table, and you shuffle your papers around until they look a bit more orderly.

“Hey,” Mobius says, and you look up at him. His eyes are tender, and your breath catches in your throat. “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” you return, and he smiles again, kicking your foot lightly under the table.

You force your mind back onto your case, which is hard. It wants to stay where it is: thinking about a kitchen in a city where Mobius rests his hand on the small of your back when he’s reaching for something in the cupboard. You shake your head to clear it of the image, which is vivid enough that you can almost feel Mobius’s hand warm against your skin.

But that’s not your life, and it never will be, and it never was.

Right?

[sinner-as-saint]

You Were Made To Be Mine - 3.

Pirate!Bucky x Mermaid!Reader

Part 3 of this series.

Run-through: Bucky is one of the greatest pirates ever known. Living peacefully in his vast and flourishing archipelago; filthy rich and respected by all those around him. He is the leader of his people and his massive fleet, and is viewed as no less than a king by his crew and the people on his lands. He, however, has a secret that he keeps from everyone. The infamous and brawny pirate has lost his heart to one of the most beautiful creations he’s ever seen – you. Ever since the moment he saw you, he knew that you were meant to be his. But he belonged to the earth, you to the ocean. Could love and resilience somehow find a way to unite two worlds?

Themes: mermaid!reader, mythological elements, pirate!bucky, fluff, slight angst, smut

a/n: This will be the last part of this series. Thank you to everyone who loved this series, and pirate!bucky as much as I did! I love you guys so much!

One week in your absence felt like a thousand years to the heartbroken man you had left behind.

A tragedy of his own making, truth be told.

Bucky was miserable, torn and completely unable to function properly now with you gone. He could barely sleep. And spent most of his time on the shore of the small isle – where he used to meet up with you. Which used to be his favorite place but now the shore and the rocks only reminded him of his terrible mistake. A mistake which cost him the one thing he soon realized he couldn’t live without.

Sat there, on the rock where he had spent countless hours with you in the past just talking and learning about each other and falling deeper and deeper in love, Bucky looked down to see a shiny pearl in the palm of his hand. You brought him many pretty things from the depths of the ocean – shells, pearls, but this one pearl stood out the most to him. Mainly because the color of it reminded him of the many hues present on your tail.

“I miss you, my little pearl. Come back to me. Please.” He whispered under his breath. Sad and sulking, he hadn’t smiled since you were gone. Sometimes it felt like he hadn’t lived at all before he met you and now with you gone, he was just… existing – void of any happiness and love and warmth.

As each wave crashed on the shore and on the rocks, it felt like someone was poking at a wound. Each day he returned back to his island, without any knowledge of your whereabouts, it felt like a defeat. Bucky spent the nights at the isle, then rowed back in the morning – where he slept and sulked all day inside his home and came out at night again to row back to the isle. He was a mess and only you could fix it, but you were mad and broken and gone.

His friends were worried sick but there was nothing they could do. It was impossible to even look for you because they would never find you from the surface. All they could do was wait and pray that you come back else they feared that their friend might die from a heartbreak. He was already in so much pain already.

 Bucky never gave up. Midway into the second week, he was hurting just the same but that didn’t diminish his hope. He would sit at the rock and wait each night. You never showed up, but he never stopped showing up either. He’d sit there at the shore or on your rock and just reminisce the time he spent with you. He’d smile to himself, laugh at the funny things, shed a tear or two whenever the realization hit him and reminded him cruelly that you were gone and it was his fault.

“I’m not gonna make it without you. Please come back.” he begged, looking towards the ocean as the gentle, cool and salty wind caressed his face, reminding him of your touch. Damp and cool but it brought him warmth like no other. And just like always, all he got back as a reply was tranquility and the sound of waves dying out on the shore – much like him.

Yet, just like the waves, he was resilient and he kept coming back hoping that one day you’ll show up. He had faith in the love he had for you, and he knew that you’d be reunited again one day. Sooner or later.

Lucky for him, that day wasn’t too far.

-

 One evening, Bucky felt much better than he had ever felt in the past two weeks in your absence. Which was weird because he’d only been sad and gloomy since the day you were gone. But tonight as he rowed to the isle he was almost, dare he say, excited and more hopeful than ever. He was confused but he felt tingly and warm – like how he usually felt whenever you were around.

And much to his surprise, he had been right. Because as soon as he reached the shore, he felt immediately more alive. And something told him that you were close by.

“Sweetheart? Is it you?” he called out, using the moonlight and the torch to look around as much as he could. He found you and his body froze to the ground.

He found you on the shore, not far from him. You appeared to be unconscious, and as though the waves had washed your body up to the shore. He ran to you, and as soon as he got close enough, his heart skipped a beat or two.

You were… human. With legs in lieu of your lovely tail and fins. Oh sweetheart…

Bucky fell to his knees beside your bare body and wedged the torch to the ground and pulled your body up to him. Bucky immediately removed his thick coat and wrapped you in it, sheltering you from the cold. You whimpered as he touched you, because even when not so conscious, you knew it was him. “Wake up, Y/N. Please wake up,” he cradled you against his warm chest.

He could feel your heartbeat as he held you against him, and that was the only thing keeping him from being hysterical due to all the overwhelming emotions he was feeling. Regret for letting you go in the first place. Guilt for being selfish. Heartache because he had broken your heart in doing so. Happiness for having found you at last. It all hit him right in the face like a harsh punch.

He felt like he wanted to scream and shout and just do something, but then the sound of your voice calmed him down instantly.

“Buck…” your voice sounded hoarse and it ended in a cough. You didn’t open your eyes but you felt him there, holding you. You felt safe.

“I’m here, my love. I’m right here. Are you okay? What- I need to know you’re okay, please.” He waited, leaning in to kiss your forehead as he hugged you tighter.

You struggled to talk but you managed to mumble out some words, “It’s… I…everything hurts.”

Bucky felt like he was being torn apart limb by limb. “How can I make it better, sweetheart? Tell me what to do.” he sounded frantic and scared and hurt all at the same time.

Your next few words made him shed tears right there on the shore. “Take me home.” He held you, clinging to you like a child and he cried silently. Whispering and pleading and telling you he’s sorry.

-

When Bucky brought you home that night, his friends were surprised but they didn’t question him right away. Thor was the one who knew just what to give you for the pain. Okoye brought you all that a woman could need. And Sam and Steve worked on what to tell the rest of the people when they find out about you.

You were still slipping in and out of consciousness. And no one knew what happened in those two weeks, all they could do was wait for you to wake up.

“She’s alright. She’s here with you now, with us. Everything’s going to be alright, Buck.” Steve gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder and Bucky nodded. “Get some sleep. I’m sure she’ll be fine by morning.”

His friends all left, telling him they were close by and to call for them if he needed help with anything. Bucky walked them till the front door then hurried his way back to you. He had cleaned you and dressed you in a light blue sleeping gown and placed you in his bed, you looked comfortable and at ease. But he wanted you to just wake up already.

There was so many questions he needed answers to, so much he had to apologize for, so much to make up for.

“I love you more than anything.” He whispered and leaned down to kiss your forehead. “I’m sorry, my love.” Bucky stayed by your side the entire night that night. He hadn’t seen you for two weeks, so each glimpse of you now was a privilege that he was more than grateful for.

-

You woke up abruptly in the middle of the night; panicking and panting. You felt warm, and something was clinging to your body. Your eyes were wide open and you felt so hot. Your chest was heaving and you thrashed around trying to reorient yourself and find out where you were. All you felt was dry, silky material wrapped all around you.

Your movements woke Bucky up and he opened his eyes and realized that the candles had gone out so hurried to light them up again. And once he did and turned around, he caught your stare. You were clearly disoriented and scared.

“Hey…” he came over and sat down on the edge of the bed. His hand reached out to touch your cheek and you closed your eyes and relished the feeling of his skin against yours. Oh how you had missed him. “Are you in pain right now?” he asked, there was so much you and him needed to talk about but right now your comfort and health was more important that anything. Besides, now you would plenty of time to discuss things.

You shook your head. You weren’t in any physical pain, not anymore. But your heart hurt. “How did you…” your voice trailed off, your throat suddenly feeling dry and itchy. Bucky figured you needed some water so he grabbed the nearby goblet of water and held it up to your lips. Reluctantly you leaned in, but then stopped.

“It’s just water. You’re thirsty, you need some. Drink,” he cupped your face gently and tipped the lip of the goblet a little, letting some water into your mouth. You drank half of it and closed your eyes and sighed, it seemed to have quenched your thirst.

“Thank you.” you mumbled as Bucky placed the goblet to the side and turned to face you. One look into his pretty blue eyes and your own started watering. It was all too much to bear. The separation had killed you, the heartbreak as well. And now here you were, thousands of unasked questions between you two acting as another barrier, although you had just overcame a major one.

Bucky spoke up after a few seconds of staring into your eyes. “I found you on the shore. You were barely conscious at the time.” He filled you in on the part which you seemed to have trouble remembering. You nodded and he spoke up again. “I’m sorry I let you go.” He scooted closer to you and caressed your cheek. “I love you. Way too much. It’s killing me, sweetheart. I don’t know what to do.”

He sounded lost and vulnerable. Your tears fell, despite how much you tried to hold them back. You let out a quiet sob as you leaned forward and wrapped your arms around him. He hugged you back, tightly securing his arms around you. Your tears were incessant, but you broke into a faint smile as he cradled your head. Your hugs weren’t damp and cold anymore, but warm and comfortable.

When the tears finally stopped, you pulled away and filled Bucky in on what he missed. After you ‘broke up’ you were pissed and dove into deep waters without a care in the world. You made it to where the potion supposedly was, and after spending multiple days looking for it, you managed to find it.

Your memory was messy and scattered after that. You remember feeling pain. A lot of pain, and you remember passing out and feeling like you were being torn in two.

“I must have lost consciousness then. I don’t remember. But the waves thankfully brought me to the shore.” You finished. Bucky listened attentively. God, he felt awful.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.” he apologized, looking down in his lap where he held both your hands in his.

You squeezed his hands. “It’s okay, you didn’t know.”

“I was stupid to let you go.” He argued.

You smiled and reached up to touch his face. “I wouldn’t be here, like this,” you pointed at your lower limbs, “if you didn’t let me go.”

“I love you.”

You smiled and leaned in to kiss him. “And I love you.” you mumbled against his lips.

Bucky spent the whole night just holding you close to him. You were still a little weak and unwell, but you promised him you would be alright in the morning. After all, you were way too excited to explore his island and meet his people and be one of them.

“Will they like me?” you asked, unable to fall asleep. Bucky chuckled and leaned down to kiss the top of your head.

“They’ll love you.” he replied.

-

He had been right.

As soon as his friends came by the next morning, they were all impatient to see you at once. They told Bucky that they would make up a story and tell the rest of the inhabitants of the archipelago that you were found stranded on an island, and that’s where Bucky found you.

“We have to hide the truth, for her sake.” Sam made sure everybody understood and were on the same page. Everyone nodded.

When Bucky came to get you, you wobbled on your feet a little before standing up. “I’ll have to get used to this.”

Bucky chuckled and came over to help you steady yourself. “One foot in front of the other. We’ll take it slow, sweetheart. Don’t you worry, you’ll get the hang of things in no time.” He smiled and led you out of the room.

You struggled to walk initially, but you were a quick learner. By the time you reached downstairs, you were able to walk on your own, but you still let Bucky keep his arms around you and you held on to him just in case. You met Bucky’s closest friend in the foyer. And the men all stared at you like they had never seen anything like you before. The woman however, Okoye – Bucky spoke of her often, gave you a polite smile.

“Welcome to our world.” She spoke, stepping closer and giving you a polite nod.

You smiled at her, her warmth rubbing off on you. “Thank you for the clothes.” Bucky had told you last night how she had made all the arrangements regarding your clothes. She smiled and said there was no need to thank her.

“You’re one of us now. You’re family.”

You almost shed tear of joy at her words. And something told you that you and Okoye would get along really well in the future. She just had that kind of aura around her; fierce and strong but also almost motherly and caring.

Bucky introduced you to everyone else. You recognized Steve from the swords fight. Then Sam was just as Bucky described him. Thor was much taller and broader than you imagined, but he was also the most gentle out of all of them.

Steve spoke up soon after you were introduced to all of them. “We’re so glad you’re finally here. Now someone,” he looked directly at Bucky, “will finally stop weeping and moaning in sadness.” That earned a round of chuckles and a giggle from you.

Bucky shot Steve a glare and had you not been there, he would have showered his friend with insults. You immediately liked them all. And even after they left, you couldn’t stop smiling.

“I can’t wait to meet everyone!” you chirped as Bucky helped you sit down at the stone table for breakfast. He figured you must be hungry.

“I can’t wait either, but it’s time you eat.” His words made you a little nervous, but also excited. Bucky gave you a quick tutorial on how to handle cutlery and you learnt in less than a few minutes. “That’s really good!” he cheered as you took your first bite of food all on your own.

You chewed cautiously, then turned to him with wide eyes. He chuckled, happy that you seemed to really enjoy human food.

-

That was just the beginning, soon Bucky realized that you were no different than a child experiencing everything the world had to offer for the first time. Bucky really enjoyed walking you through everything; and luckily you learnt everything rather quickly.

By the end of the first week, you were able to walk around on your own, dress yourself up and wash and brush your teeth and do your own hair. Bucky was impressed.

Some days later, Bucky decided that it was time to introduce you to everyone. And he meant everyone.

You had always wanted to be part of one of Bucky’s feast but you had never thought it would be this grand, and crowded and loud and cheery. People gathered around the many tables; loud chatter, laughter and clinging of goblets – it made you happy.

Bucky managed to get everyone’s attention. And told them the makeshift story of how he once found you, stranded on an island far from here. He added to the story and told them that he had to keep you hidden for a week or so because you were injured and sick but you were all better now.

“So I’m glad to introduce you to Y/N, the newest member of our family.” He held your hand showed you off proudly. He didn’t have to say it, everyone present at the massive hall could tell that he was madly in love with you. It could be seen in his eyes as he looked at you in pure adoration.

Your introduction was followed by a loud roar of cheer and claps and merry. Everyone was just happy that their mass was growing, and they took pride in it.

All throughout the feast, Bucky couldn’t help but feel more powerful as he sat next to you. He felt like he was on top of the world, like there was nothing he couldn’t do. You completed him. And you were here now, here to stay. Forever by his side.

Bucky made love to you that night. He couldn’t hold back from touching you anymore. All those nights of sleeping beside you, and not holding you or pleasuring you like he so desperately wanted to, had been pure torture.

Not only for him, but you as well. Having to see him shirtless and having his arms around you almost all the time had been making you feel hot and bothered almost always. But you were too shy and inexperienced to initiate anything so you waited. Until tonight.

Back home from the feast, as soon as you walked into your shared bedroom, Bucky grabbed you and gently pressed you against the door once he closed it behind him. He had you trapped between him and the door, and you weren’t complaining.

The look in his eyes spoke volumes. He was hungry and wild, and ready to ravish you all night long. But he knew he had to be gentle with you. He wondered how to ease you into it but you took care of that by reaching up and pressing your lips to his. You kiss was rough and needy, even Bucky was surprised.

Your body trembled in anticipation as he wrapped his arms around you and walked the two of you towards the large bed. His tongue slipped past your lips, and you let him. He stroked the top of your mouth and you found yourself whining and needing more.

Your body felt like it was on fire. One which could only be doused by his touch. Yet as soothing as his touch was, it wasn’t enough. You wanted more, you wanted him. Unrestrained, and passionately. You needed him so terribly you almost begged.

As soon as your back hit the soft mattress, Bucky pulled away and looked down at you. His body hovered over yours, and your hands caressed the back of his neck lovingly. “Make me yours.” You whispered.

Bucky closed his eyes and sighed. “My little pearl…” he was feeling too much to talk. So he decided to let his emotions show instead. He planned on worshipping your body and make love to you until the sun came up.

Bucky pressed his body down against yours. Nothing had to be said, you could both see it in each other’s eyes; the love, the desire and the need. The feral need. That same tingle spread all over you again – the one you got each time he touched you even in the most innocent ways possible. You looked up to see his eyes had darkened a shade. His grip tightened on your body and he dipped his head and kissed down your neck – making you shiver again.  

“I will make you mine. Just promise you’ll tell me if it hurts or makes you uncomfortable. Yes?” he made sure you understood. You nodded and mumbled a ‘yes’.

Bucky took his time and got you out of the lovely dress you were wearing. As much as he liked it, he liked you better naked. So he didn’t stop undressing you until you were bare against his sheets. He looked down at you like you were a meal, and he, a hungry man with an insatiable appetite. You felt no awkwardness, no shame. You were his, entirely and his gaze only made you feel more confident and beautiful.

He went on to remove most of his clothes as well, leaving only his pants on. Bucky leaned down to kiss every inch of your body. Your lips, down your neck, your collar bones and your chest. He paid a lot of attention to your breasts; licking and biting and sucking, letting his hands cup your breasts and taking his sweet time; caressing and fondling. Instinctively, your back arched off the bed and you whimpered under his soft, yet needy touch. Bucky was eager to show you how much he loves you, but he knew he had to take it slow.

He dragged his soft lips up and down your body, making you tremble under his touch. His beard pricked your skin but it also tickled, making your whine end in a giggle. He smiled when he heard the noises you made, he knew it would be his favorite things to hear from now on.

Your body tingled and burned under his touch, and there was nothing you wanted more than have him buried deep in you. But you were also nervous for your first time together, but the pressing need inside you overpowered the nervousness.

His mouth found yours as his hand slipped in between your legs with ease; caressing your inner thighs as he went. The foreign, but very pleasant feeling caused a shiver to run down your spine; you shivered and moaned through the kiss. His knuckles gently stroked your wet folds; making you whimper. He chuckled against your mouth upon feeling just how aroused you were. Wet, and warm and ready – just as needy as he was.

But he wanted to take his time and savour you first. He ran his fingers up and down your folds, gathering and smearing your arousal around as he went. He poked at your entrance with his finger, “Is this okay, sweetheart?” he wanted to confirm. You nodded quickly, eyes shut and head thrown back.

“Yes… please Buck…” you were breathless already. Pulsing and hot, your body wanted him bad. So bad. He chuckled at your reply and pushed a finger into you and you shivered. He messed with you for a little bit; stroking your walls with his finger, then added another; making you whine.

You felt your hole stretch around his fingers as he was knuckles deep in you, slowly slipping his fingers in and out of you. He kissed the side of your face, along your jaw and down your neck as he sped up. Your legs spread further apart naturally, a sign that you wanted more. Bucky smirked.

“You feel so good around my fingers, sweetheart,” he whispered, nibbling at your jaw. “So warm, and wet…” he chuckled and the sound of his laugh was so hot it made your body clench around his fingers. He noticed and slowed down his pace, purposely teasing you. Oh he wanted to pleasure you so bad, but not so easily… “You’re dripping all over my hand,” he noted, seductively whispering and kissing the shell of your ear, “I wonder how you taste…”

You squirmed at the sound of his words, your heart racing in anticipation as he kissed his way down your body again. Quicker this time, impatient to reach in between your legs. You threw your head back and moaned once his lips kissed your inner thigh and his mouth latched onto your core in no time; his tongue teasing your clit softly. He had you squirming and moaning – a complete mess under him in no time.

He kept his fingers inside you, moving ever so gently against your walls. Your body welcomed the foreign feeling. You felt his rough beard scratch in between your thighs but that was the least of your concerns, all you focused on was his mouth on you. Shamelessly eating you out like you were his favorite meal. His tongue licked up and down your slit, diving in and out of your wet folds, occasionally running over your opening where his fingers were snug inside you.

You moaned and reached down to grip his hair. You squirmed and whined and cried out. Your legs trembled in pleasure, and Bucky lifted one of them and placed it over his shoulders, eager to taste you even more, pushing your core further into his mouth and making you cry out of pleasure. His hands locked around your thighs as the lower half of his face pressed down into your wet heat; his lips drenched with your arousal.

“Hmm,” his hum reverberated inside you, making you squirm. “You taste heavenly, my little pearl.” He whispered and placed a loud kiss right on your clit before getting back to eating you out like a madman again.

Your eyes were shut, but you imagine he must be quite the sight. Big and broad and muscular, knelt in between your legs, his face pushed in between your hips as he took your higher… and higher. A couple more strokes of his tongue and your moans got louder and louder, a strange but sweet pressure forming in your lower regions.

“Let go sweetheart, cum for me.” He mumbled. He had you coming in no time; gushing out all over his lips as he lapped up whatever you gave him. The wet sounds erupting whenever his mouth sucked on your sensitive clit were downright sinful. As the waves of euphoria washed over you, you felt him kissing his way up your body; leaving warm, wet kisses all over your skin until he reached your mouth again. Bucky kissed you deeply and his kiss was a little more rough and messy and demanding than earlier.

You were like a drug. And now that he had had a taste, he only wanted more. He needed more. Bucky pulled away from the kiss a few seconds later. Chest heaving, and recovering from your previous orgasm, you admired the man above you, as he lowered his pants, reached down and pulled out his cock; stroking it while he looked down into your eyes.

You lips parted in hunger. You wanted him so bad it hurt. Your walls clenched around nothing as you watched him stroke himself. His size both startled and excited you. You were both nervous and impatient to just have him in you already. Bucky leaned in again to press his forehead against yours again. “Tell me if I hurt you,” he mumbled, voice hoarse and gruff as he pushed his erected cock past your tight entrance. You moaned out loud as he did. He grunted once he filled you up entirely, and he gave you a couple of seconds to adjust.

“You okay, my love?” he asked again, breathless as your walls squeezed him violently. Fuck…

“Yeah…” you were just as needy as him. Your arms wrapped around his shoulders and you buried your face into the crook of his neck as you felt his body flex against yours. His back muscles felt taut and firm under your touch and his hard chest pressed down into you.

You were so full of his thick cock that even forming a proper thought seemed impossible at the moment. You shuddered as you felt all of him. His lips found yours again, attempting to get you to stay quiet while he rolled his hips against yours. Slowly at first, testing and seeing if you could take it.

You moaned as your body welcomed him in, and Bucky got his answer.

He removed himself out of you entirely and pushed himself back into you, and watched in awe how you struggled to adjust to his size. He lowered his face again, and dipped his head into the crook of your neck. You heard him panting and swearing under his breath as he rocked into you. Your nails sank into his skin, around his shoulder and muscular arm; which you held onto for dear life as he pounded into you. He slowed down occasionally, then picked up the pace again; making you lose your mind. Yes… yes…yes. All you knew was that you wanted him there, forever if you could.

You tried matching his thrusts but were unable to; so you simply let go. He kissed you, bit your skin, kissed your open mouth while he rammed into you; and you never complained once. Given his size, he stretched you out completely. And it did hurt, but the pleasure compensated for the pain.  

“I love you so much…” he mumbled against your skin. But you were unable to answer, all you did was moan and whimper and squirm as he pounded into you. Your legs trembled and he lifted them up to wrap them around his waist. This allowed him to thrust deeper into you.

Bucky growled and bit down on your shoulder to keep himself from making any louder noises while he fucked you. He was relentless, as though each moan, each mewl which left your lips only encouraged him to give you his all.

He was sweet and caring as he handled your body, caressing you and kissing you, but he was also animalistic and wild at the same time. His kisses were passionate and deep. His touch was tantalizing, and he didn’t hold back as he made love to you. And you knew you could definitely get used to this. The now familiar pressure was back again, hot and burning. You got louder and so did he.

As he pulled away and looked down at you, you saw in his eyes, the determination, the hunger and the need; matching your own. “You’re all mine.” he whispered as he made you cum again around his cock for the first time that night. Your moans were wanton as your walls clenched around his cock. You felt him fill you up again, with his warm load shooting at your walls. “Mine.” he growled and collapsed into your arms.

 At some point during the night, he took you again. This time he flipped you onto your stomach and pulled you onto your knees by your hips, your ass up in the air.

“You okay, sweetheart?” he asked again.

“Yes.” you replied almost immediately.

He kissed the back of your neck and pushed himself inside you again. You felt his hard body press against the curve of your ass as he filled you up just like he had earlier.

Bucky’s hand found its way to your front and he pressed his palm against your lower abdomen. He liked the wave of excitement which coursed through his veins each time he felt himself thrusting deep within you. He liked how he was the only one who would ever touch you like this, the only one who would own you like this, the only one who would ever fuck you like this.

You moaned at how wonderfully Bucky stretched you out and rammed his thick cock in and out of you rapidly. You felt your walls clench around him, and tightening around his thick member. The sounds leaving his lips were sinful more than anything. And it sent shivers down your spine. He panted against your cheek, kissing the side of your face lovingly.

He didn’t slow down as your walls clenched around him violently, he kept pounding into you as your eyes rolled back and you moaned out loud as you came; hard. Bucky fucked you relentlessly; not even stopping for a second. He panted and groaned at how good you felt and how perfect you felt around him.

Unable to form coherent sentences, you moaned as you felt your release approaching. Your legs were shaking, and your body moved along with his perfectly. You wanted more of what he had to give. You craved him. A rush coursed through your veins as you felt your mind clouding with lust again. He growled under his breath, his lips dangerously close to yours as you whined and whimpered under him.

You came again, walls tightening around his length. He bit down on your lip as you lifted your hips to meet his thrust; chasing your release. Your body trembled under him as you came again. You noticed his irregular thrusts and the sound which left his lips; he came right after you; filling you up yet again.

After he was done, he fell limp into your arms, careful as to not crush you beneath his body weight.

He stayed like that for a while, and let you wrap your arms around him; with his head against your bare chest. He relished the feeling of being in your arms. Until he finally rolled over and pulled you into his side, tucking your head under his chin.

“I love you.”

“I love you more.”

 ---

Days went by in pure bliss.

“Do you miss it?” Bucky asked one night, as you laid your chest on his bare chest. Both of you worn out and tired after having made love to one another for hours.

You closed your eyes and sighed, pressing your face into his warm chest. His smell, his body heat, his soft touch – it was all pure heaven. You knew he was asking about the ocean.

“I do. But I miss it like one missed their childhood.” You explained further. “The nostalgia hurts, but it’s a good kind of hurt. Take yourself for example, you will always miss your childhood; the freedom, the fun and the lack of responsibilities. Yet at the same time, now you’re grateful for what you have now and who you’ve become. You’re wiser and better and surrounded by people who love you.”

You tilted your head up and found him staring down at you, looking lovingly into your eyes. You spoke up again. “It’s the same for me. I will always miss it, I mean I was born there. But this is where I’m meant to be. With you, till my dying day.”

He rolled the two of you over and hovered above you. His long hair framing his face, making him look so handsome and angelic you could cry. “I love you.” he said, his bare body pressing down on you under the covers.

His body heat wrapped around you like a protective cocoon. “I love you more.”

 -6 YEARS LATER-

 You stood on the beach, not too far from home. You smiled as you looked around; right on this beach is where you and Bucky got married 6 years ago. It was a beautiful wedding, and the celebration even more so. You turned around and caught a glimpse of the grand fortress. Stone and concrete, sharp and rough edges but still radiating a sense of warmth and security – much like the man who had it built himself.

Your smile grew at the thought of your husband. In just six years, so much had changed. For the better.

Your little reverie was interrupted by the sound of giggles and shouts of excitement. You looked straight ahead and found your three kids running around and playing close to the water, paying little to no attention to the beautiful sunset behind them. Yes, they were human but very much skilled when it came to diving into the ocean. You often took them swimming, and they all amazed you by how well they could hold their breath under water for surprisingly a long time. They definitely got that from you. And Bucky was proud of that.

You sighed in content at the sight of your kids. They were everything to you and Bucky. Speaking of Bucky, he caught you by surprise by coming up to you and wrapping his strong arms around you from behind, nuzzling your neck.

“Hello, my love.” he mumbled against your skin. You giggled. All these years and his voice still made you weak in the knees.

“Hi.” You turned your head to the side and beamed at him. “How did the meeting go with the rest?” Bucky and his crew were planning another loot soon, and they’ve been busy preparing and discussing these past days.

He pressed a kiss to your cheek, his beard pricking your skin gently. But you had gotten used to the roughness of it, it was almost comforting now. “It was fine.” Bucky went on to give you some details about what they discussed.

Then you were both interrupted by the sound of your kids laughing and yelling in excitement. Apparently their sand castle was now complete, they’ve been working on it for hours. Bucky looked at them and a warm smile formed on his face.

“We should get these little monsters home and get them showered before dinner.” He smiled down at you. You chuckled.

“They won’t listen, and they won’t leave until their feet aren’t hurting from running around too much.” You knew your kids too well. “I’m afraid they’re just as stubborn as their father.” You added, teasing your husband.

He raised an eyebrow at you, smirking. “Are they now?” he leaned down to gently bite your partially exposed shoulder. You laughed, tipping your head back and resting it on his shoulder. He tightened his grip around you and looked down at you in pure and utter adoration and smiled. His wife, at last. The mother of his kids. Entirely his, finally.

Then as he often did, he got emotional just thinking about that night all those years ago, where he was foolish enough to think that letting you go was a good idea. He blurted out, “I’m sorry.”

You turned around in his arms and faced him. You reached up and cupped his face in your hands. “What for?”

Bucky looked down, seeing your bodies pressed together. He let out a dry chuckle. “I almost broke us apart forever that night.” he said and you knew exactly what he was talking about. “I didn’t realize I would be hurting you too. I was so stupid to even think that I would survive without you.”

He often brought it up, whenever he was sad or upset. Or when he’s had a little too much ale. He’s even cried in your arms like a child all night once when you brought it up casually. The guilt had diminished, but it was still there in him somewhere. But you had faith the one day it’ll be gone entirely. You were both working on it.

“It’s been years, Buck. Let it go. We’re here, aren’t we? We’re together and we have a family just like we always dreamt of. That’s all that matters.” You maintained his stare as you spoke. He nodded. “I love you.” you leaned in and pressed a kiss to his forehead. You pulled away and smiled, “Besides, if it weren’t for my fit of rage that day, I would’ve never found the potion. So think of it this way, we had to drift apart for a while, and it happened for a reason.”

He smiled and leaned in to press his forehead to yours. “I love you so much it hurts.” He mumbled, making you giggle. Then a thought popped into his head out of nowhere. “I never asked you this, but when you found the potion, did you drink all of it?” he had always been curious about that.

You smiled faintly, remembering the day you found it. “No.” you answered, deep in thought. “I took some, and then I put the rest right back.”

“Why?” he was intrigued. He wondered how come this conversation never came up earlier in the past years.

You pulled away and looked up at him. “I was scared. I saw it and I wondered, what if in the next life the roles are reversed? What if you’re born in the ocean and I, on land?” you chuckled, although your eyes watered a little. “I wanted there to be hope for us even then. I… I can’t imagine not finding you in the next life. Or the one after that, and the one after that.” you chuckled again. “It scares me, when I think about what if our paths don’t cross in another life?” You let the single tear fall, which Bucky caught as it ran down your cheek. “Or what if we can’t be together like this again?”

Bucky felt a weight on his chest at the sight of another tear escaping your eye. You wiped this one away quickly yourself. He couldn’t help but lean in and kiss you on the lips, a gentle, sweet kiss to remind you that he was right here and there was nothing for you to worry about.

“My little pearl…” he whispered softly as he pulled away from you. “All of you, your heart, your soul; you were made to be mine. Don’t you worry, I’ll find you in the next life as well. And the one after that, and the one after that.” His words earned him a teary smile from you. “I promise you, my love, I will always find you. And you will always end up being mine.”

You threw your arms around him tightly and pulled him in for a kiss. You felt him smile through the kiss which lightened up the mood a little. “And I promise to love you just the same each time.” You whispered against his lips.

-

Although neither one of you recalled the promise you made to each other that day on that beach; in each lifetime, you both kept your promises. Bucky kept his word, somehow he always ended up finding you. And you did the same, you loved him unconditionally each time. It didn’t matter when or where you met. Or how your story began or ended. All that mattered was that in the next life, and the one after that, and the one after that; you ended up together every single time.

Bucky had been right; you were made to be his. And him, yours.

[eureka-its-zico]

Half Bitten Part 4

Prologue  Part 1   Part 2   Part 3

A/N: So no one really asked for a continuation of this. I just work on stuff when I’m stuck on other things and I love supernatural stuff. My only hope is that someone out there enjoys this just a little. As always, thank you for reading. Much Love, Jenn

Jimin X Reader (for now?)

Words: 8620

Genre: Vampire supernatural goodness

Warnings: some slight gore

The surge of fear that rushed through you left a sickeningly sweet taste of copper on your tongue. For that brief moment, as your eyes focused in and out on his figure, you wondered if maybe you’d bitten your tongue. A mixture of shock from the wound on your leg and the frigid air making your teeth begin to clatter unapologetically from the cold. That wasn’t even mentioning the blood loss from your wounded leg was starting to show itself: your eyes running over him in doubles when you knew damn well there was only one of him. The spyglass vision made it increasingly harder to focus, and the more you did focus on him the more you felt the absurdity at noting how attractive he was. 

From Jimin to Namjoon and now this guy, they all held on to that otherworldly energy. It demanded to be admired and touched: a dangerous game to hypnotize right before they stroked. A small part of you wondered if there was a convention? A secret meeting place to find the most attractive people on the planet and turn them into vampires. 

It was the worst, most ridiculous, time for your thoughts to shift to the absurdity of looks but it also felt equally absurd that you were running for your life. From vampires. You knew the fear that quickened your blood should’ve been enough to send your feet packing in the other direction. Yet, there you were woozy from blood loss and your limbs on fire from adrenaline. 

You were vaguely aware that your new dangerous stranger was edging his way towards you. Blood soaked eyes smiling to the soft hum of a song he’d originally hummed but was now breathing into the space between you. It was hauntingly beautiful and serene. The words took ages to reach you, but when they did your heart thundered wildly. A scared rabbit caught in the view of a viper. 

“Your scent is so pure. It tastes so rich. You’ll try to hide.  you’ll never get far. I love the chase. I’ll find you wherever you are.”

The words danced sickeningly sweet inside your head. The angelic sound of his voice almost enough to make you overlook the words. But your brain knew something wasn’t right, and it sent you turning on your heels and attempting to sprint away from him. 

You’d felt like a fool. You’d been so starry-eyed as you watched him he’d already begun to pace towards you. A delicate shift of his feet that practically left him dancing and a few feet closer to you than before. 

Your late response to turn tail and run; digging in and shifting you forward, hopefully, as far away from him as your injured legs could carry, felt too late. The sensation was so overwhelmingly it took everything in you not to scream. To yell into the void of the night for a help that would never come. The anxiety of not knowing when his attack would come ripped your stomach apart and your heart nesting snuggly in your throat. 

With every pounding of your feet into the asphalt the nerves in your injured leg sent electrical jolts of pain throughout your body. A screaming reminder that you were wounded prey, and the agony you felt now wouldn’t compare to the future he had in store.

You held on to a dim hope you’d had a chance of getting away, but with the first brush of a body moving past you, faster than your brain could register, you knew that hope was non-existent. You barely had time to register the second gust of movement, now to your right, and you weren’t able to stop the soft yelp that crawled free from your throat. 

His windchime-like laughter resonated around you as if he was impossibly close. Behind you. Beside you. All around you. The playful sound erupted and consumed you until it was the only sound you could hear. 

He kept toying with you, herding you, whichever way he saw fit. The progress you thought you were making to safety dissolved quickly at the realization he had you moving in circles. Your mind was now blaring warnings wrapped up in frantic thoughts that left you dizzy with panic.

He wasn’t safe. He wasn’t Jimin who was there to care for you. He was obviously one of Namjoon’s people. This mystery man who tormented you. 

RUN!

Your brain kept scrambling the words around. The flight of nerves urging you to keep moving not caring that you were attempting just that. The neon of the Chinese food restaurant that’s been on your right now seemed on your left. Had he completely made you do a one-eighty? 

There it was again - that clamoring of panic in your chest. It definitely wasn’t helpful, and it sure as hell wasn’t going to help save you. Just another thing to add to your growing shit show of a day. It didn’t matter if you were going to be able to get away. Realistically, you knew the chances of that happening were narrowing down slim to none. It didn’t stop your legs from tearing to your left back down the street, legs pumping, and started saying a prayer that you’d magically turn into The Flash. If vampires and witches were suddenly real it didn’t seem like too much of a stretch to become a superhero. 

Gosh, how you’d seemed to find a street with literally no one on it seemed horrifically convenient. 

“Silly rabbit,” his voice whispered down your spine and instantly caused a scream to catch in your throat like bile. 

Somehow, it seemed even the buildings were helping him play tricks on you. The acoustics of his voice bouncing around as an endless echo to disorient you from knowing which direction he would come from. That knowledge alone made a soft hiccup of a sob leave you. You weren’t even aware of the tears stinging against your eyes; your only focus on your escape and cursing your legs as they struggled to pick up the pace. You bite down on your lower lip to keep from letting one tear escape. You refused to give him the satisfaction.

“There’s no place you can run that I won’t find you.”

If you were feeling good about your odds, you would’ve told him to go fuck himself. The declaration is already solidly forming on your tongue and patiently waiting for you to send it off. Unfortunately, the odds were never in your favor.

You didn’t have to look back to know he was still giving chase. 

You struggled to stay focused. Your gaze landing on a liquor store - neon lights flashing with the grace of a motel vacancy sign - gave you a destination to strive for. The earlier choice of the Chinese restaurant now a thing of the past. He’d turned you around so much you weren’t sure if it was ever real. 

What you needed now was a home base that would possibly give a semblance of safety if only you could reach it. It felt damn possible. The feeling of the crazy bastard behind you somehow leaving you, but the anxiety of being chased still resided. 

You were mid-run, feet still lifted off the ground, when an arm snaked around your front and collided your back against a hard chest. A flutter of a moment passed, not long enough for his foreign touch to register, before your neck was exposed by a violent tug of your hair and sharp canines sinking down into the soft skin of your throat. 

That sob you’d held down ripped its way violently from your lips. Mixing together with a scream that shook through you and landed like an earthquake around you. His strong arms dominated you with ease, and continued to constrict across your body to keep your arms useless at your sides. 

The sensation was one that reminded you of your time in second grade. Mrs. Mann’s beloved python that sat motionless a majority of the time in the back corner of the class. You never seen it move until it was feeding time - never live bait - but even then you could still remember the abruptness and strength of the way it matched onto its food. The greedy way it swallowed its’ meal whole after its body made sure one last time the bunny was dead. 

This was what you remembered now as his arms continued to pull your body closer; impossibly closer. The hand that held your neck letting go to secure itself on your opposite shoulder. This man was your boa: squeezing his meal until he popped bones and killed every ounce of oxygen from your lungs.

The pressure was so great that it left your mouth hinged open. Your jaw unable to collapse, mostly due to your body howling for air. The flashing twenty-four hour liquor sign was a comical five feet away. The promised salvations hum of  low voltage electricity and spastic red glow turned into a blur. The tears you’d refused to shed now slid effortlessly down your cheeks. 

The only thing you could be aware of was that you weren’t breathing. Your mouth was still wide open, but your lungs refused to take in air. It didn’t matter that your body ached for it. It focused more on the sensation of a hungry mouth that sucked hungrily at your neck. The sharpened dog teeth that were sunk deep into the skin no longer ached. 

There was a moment you felt something hot slide down your neck and you wanted to yell. Your mind registering it as drool; not being able to comprehend it was your blood seeping between greedy mouthfuls as he drank. It was strange that after all this, your body was still aware of the placement of his hands. His arms still holding deathly tight, and yet you were placed securely up against his chest. 

If someone were to walk by all they would think was that you were just a young couple. Your boyfriend casually holding you from behind and laying kisses on your throat. They wouldn’t notice that the way his arms held yours it kept you from reaching out a pleading hand for help. At this point, you were so weak you weren’t even sure you’d have the strength to lift a finger, let alone a hand. 

The sting of his teeth that found their home in the hollow of your neck began to fade. Your mind was now only able to recognize the euphoric sensation that began to dance through every cell of your body. You no longer felt the need to fight him. Why would you when your body suddenly felt heavy and his arms so secure? 

In all the chaos of a few minutes the pain fueled down into an annoyance that went to the backdrop with the sensation of numbing pleasure. Whether it was blood loss, or defeat, your body began to relax against the undead stranger. A quiet urge to allow him to drink you down until you were nothing. You were sinking deeper against his strong chest; the euphoric feeling that coursed through you had now consumed you. 

You were vaguely aware that he was no longer holding you so tightly. An arm had found its way out of his hold and instead of fighting him off, it guided your hand up to his head. Your fingers now laced in his hair and holding on in pleasure. When your fingers dug and pulled against the hairs on his scalp, his arms moved to pull you closer but didn’t remove your hand. His mouth giving a -lord help you - playful bite that sent a thrill to the ends of your toes. 

And just like that, your lungs found air, and fuck - you moaned. 

A part of you hated the sound that escaped your mouth. That hatred growing stronger when you swore you could feel his lips curl into a smile. As fast as it all must have happened; it felt like an eternity. One you loathed and yet, were silently hoping would never end. You were so lost in the fuzziness of your thoughts, the sensation of him, that when you were flung violently from his arms the last bit of air you’d had left was knocked from them. The asphalt catching your body as it came to a painful multiple rolling stop. 

An eruption of a roar you knew came from the one who’d captured you: enraged at having his meal taken away was your only guess at how angry he truly sounded. You were too tired, too drained, to be afraid. The small part of you that was still capable of common sense knew you should’ve been terrified. To be terrified meant to flee but the amount of energy that would take was not something you had at that moment. 

You were barely able to muster enough of it to flip yourself onto your back. Your neck now alive with a bitterness at how rough he’d been. The feeling that was creeping back into your limbs made it inch by aching inch that it was not happy. A groan left your lips as you mustered another fit of strength to move yourself to your side. Your eyes landing on the one who’d rescued you. 

Jimin stood in the middle of you and the man. The other man who, even from this distance, plainly wore your blood smeared haphazardly around his mouth. A small amount decorating the hollow of his neck that he now wiped away in agitation. While he seemed particularly calm, annoyed, but calm Jimin seemed to reflect his opposite. 

Jimin’s body seemed consumed by a rage that reflected in the crease of his brow and the hard set of his shoulders. His jaw tight as he straightened out his body back to his full height. The other man before him appeared to be a few inches taller, but Jimin’s rage made him appear larger than what he was. 

“Jungkook!” Jimin’s voice rang out. The animosity in his voice radiated against your skin like a flame that threatened to eat you alive. “You dare taste her? Mark her?”

Jungkook didn’t give Jimin the satisfaction of answering him right away. Instead, you watched a coy smile spread on his blood-stained lips. His thumb dragging across the bottom and ended with it pressed inside his mouth. His tongue seductively working to clean up the mess you’d made. Jungkook didn’t let his thumb come back out until it was completely licked clean; his crimson eyes watching your face as he did it. The intensity of his gaze left an aching shiver on your skin and the heat on your cheeks enough to tell it wasn’t all completely out of fear. 

Jimin must have sensed it too. His gaze turning back to take you in at your current state, and finding your eyes glued to Jungkook’s position. The hurt Jimin showed wasn’t something that you could fully comprehend. You weren’t his to have. You belonged only to yourself. The person that he remembered, the woman he’d loved so many centuries ago, was not you. You were your own person. 

So why did the pain that rippled across his face make your heart ache? 

“You place an apple in front of Adam, Jimin and ask him not to take a bite.” He tsked him. The same finger he’d used to clean up your blood now teasing him in a tick tock motion. “You should remember: Adam always was a fool for the most delicious delights.” 

“She is not yours to have! You play me for stupid, Jungkook. I know that blood alone is not hers. Did you plan on making her drink from you?”

Your body became rigid as Jimin’s words embedded themselves into your chest. The fear that’d begun to reside came racing back and forced you to look at Jungkook closer now. You weren’t sure what it was that Jimin had seen that you did not. You feverishly scanned him until, there, the sleeve of his shirt that sat on his wrist was stuck to his skin. The blood there was still bright and fresh and only beginning to brown at its edges. 

It was the same side that held your head to him, neck exposed, earlier until he’d let it go. You’d thought Jungkook released you because he’d realized you were no longer going to put up a struggle and now the sickening feeling of knowing he’d meant to do something more ominous left you feeling nauseous. 

Jimin knew what he was trying to do. You knew from Jimin explaining about blood being a conduit that if you’d taken even a little of blood, Jungkook would’ve been able to find you. Wherever you were. No matter what. 

“I was only doing what MY King asked of me.”

“I could kill you for what you’ve done here.”

The playfulness that’d controlled Jungkook from the unfortunate moment you’d met him disappeared like smoke. His features hardened with a sinister look as he gave Jimin his entire focus. 

“You could try, old King, but you will fail.”

Jimin’s squared shoulders seemed eager to do just that until another voice joined the two men. 

“Now, now Jungkook. We don’t need an all-out fight on this beautiful night do we.”

You knew the owner of the voice long before Namjoon - the asshole himself - stepped out like magic beside Jungkook. A friendly hand resting on his shoulder until Namjoon moved to stand a few inches in front of him. But it wasn’t just Namjoon himself that appeared like magic from the curtains of the night. Two other figures joined at the edges of the men, making a symbol of an arrowhead, and one of these new introductions to this wildly fucked up play was holding the arm of your best friend. 

“Alice” 

At the sound of your voice it brought Namjoon’s full attention back to you. His brow creased in a momentary show of confusion at how cute you must have been looking: a bloodied heap in the middle of the road. He only needed to look to the man beside him on his left to understand your current state. Or perhaps he already knew. Jungkook’s earlier words of his orders swimming back to the surface of your recollection. 

Namjoon held you in his vision for breadth longer and moved his eyes over to the form of your friend. 

“You can still change her fate, Y/N. All you need to do is come with me.” 

Namjoon’s eyes held tightly to you: all of them seeming to watch your exhausted frame. Your mind struggled to comprehend what he meant and what it was exactly you’d have to do to change it. You’d barely been able to move up onto your knees. Your palms still needed on the asphalt of the road to keep you steady. Your whole body shuddered in exhaustion, but looking at Alice now, at what he had done was enough to make the exhaustion disappear and icy fury made your body rigid. 

“She won’t be going anywhere with you,” Jimin snarled. 

His comment snapped their attention back to him. You wanted to tell him yourself that you could make your own decisions. Not even he got to make them for you and yet, you couldn’t muster enough strength to care. Whatever you had left in you needed to be used to rescue Alice. Her lights still on with nobody home. 

“Jimin. I don’t think you’re in any place to be making threats, old friend.”

“It is more than just a threat.”

Namjoon took a step forward and splayed his arms out to indicate the men beside him. They were so caught up in their pissing contest. All you wanted was to know what you needed to do to get Alice back. All the way back and out of this trance he’d flung her in. 

“It took you long enough to come to your supposed “loves’” aid.” Namjoon’s words were filled with a sharp teasing; sharpened and dripping with sarcasm. “It took Jungkook using her as a snack for you to finally come running.”

“She enjoyed it.”

The heat in those three words were enough to send your cheeks heating with warmth and your eyes searching for the safety of the pavement. You wanted to shout your denial to Jungkook that he was wrong. Not a single part of you enjoyed what had transpired between the two of you, but that lie died long before it’d ever brushed your lips. 

Jimin must have realized it too, because now his earlier lividity returned. His eyes flickering with a murderous rage in Jungkook’s direction. 

“Hmm, maybe I should give her to Jungkook to finish what they’d started. What do you think, Jimin? Or I could always just give him Alice.”

Your head snapped back on Namjoon’s moving figure. His right hand resting under his chin as if he was stuck in a philosophical debate, and not the fate of an innocent woman. 

“You touch her and I’ll kill you.”

The coldness of your words stopped him short. Jimin, who’d been moving back towards you, didn’t take another step. You couldn’t believe it was you who’d spoken. Your own voice carrying a warning that was swept up in the air around you. Threatening something much darker than even you were able to understand. 

For a moment, you could tell you’d caught him off guard but Namjoon was quick on his feet. The hand that held his chin a second ago now moved to usher forward the man to his right. The one who was holding tight to Alice. 

“Oh, Y/N. Of course, I don’t want to do anything to your dear, sweet, and innocent little Alice. That’s why I’m giving you this choice.” 

The man whose face eerily held an angelic softness handed her off into Namjoon’s waiting embrace. Only taking a single step back; his dark almond eyes transfixed on you as if you were something dangerous, and not the other way around. His eyes speaking plainly: he wouldn’t let you do a damn thing to his King. 

“Stop giving her speeches of fairness. We both know you don’t have a fair bone in your body. All you know is how to do is take,” Jimin sneered. “I know even if she still says no you won’t stop hunting her until you have her.”

A flash of annoyance struck over Namjoon’s features like lightening and just as fast after it came, it was gone. His face smoothed back to its porcelain indifference. The only thing that showed his displeasure was the way his eyes were beginning to bleed crimson. 

“I would rather her to come willingly.” His reply was stated matter of factly. Namjoon’s eyes darting back to where you still sat on the floor and took a cautious step towards you. His hand on Alice’s arm forcing her to move with him. “But make no mistake, Y/N. I will have you. I will take you. One way or another.”

A scream echoed around you, and it took you a moment to realize it was coming from yourself. All the frustration. The guilt. Anger and grief that’d been building in the last twenty-four hours came out in a wave of exhaled air before you could stop it; before it could swallow you whole. 

“What will it take for any of you to get it through your thick stupid skulls! I am not a prize or some reincarnated lost love you two fought over because one was captain steal-your-girl. I’m literally no one! I’m just me.”

Namjoon released the grip he had on Alice’s arm and took another step toward you. His body language stating clearly he did not find Jimin’s presence between you in the least bit threatening. The pity that he showed you now, etched into the fine features of his face, only seemed to poke at the Amber’s of the animosity you felt towards him more. 

Why couldn’t any of them understand that you were not what they wanted you to be? You were yourself and always will be. And, at this point, you were more than happy to be your plain Jane ordinary self. 

He crouched down until he was leveled with your position on the pavement of the road. While he adjusted himself to your height you allowed yourself enough time to push up off your hands. Your butt now sitting on your calves and the pressure of the added weight sent the jagged pebbles deeper into your knees. As uncomfortable as it was you could deal. At least now you were looking him squarely in the eyes: no more cowering. 

“You really don’t understand, do you?”

“Namjoon.”

Jimin said his name as a warning. In return, Namjoon continued to ignore him. His brow furrowed tight at his attempt to intrude on his would-be heartfelt moment. 

“Your great-great-great grandmother is long dead. There is no bringing her back. Jimin and I have long accepted this. However.” Namjoon paused for a millisecond. Long enough to make your skin itch with the desire for him to hurry up and finish it. “The power that courses through your veins, Y/N it’s centuries old. Older than even she was. Your blood is what we are all after and the magic that flows in it.”

“I can’t even make a quarter disappear.”

Namjoon’s eyes sparked crimson to obsidian in a wild dance as he struggled to get his anger under control. While he didn’t seem to find your small joke funny you’d earned a snort of laughter from somewhere behind him. Even Jimin’s titled head wasn’t enough to hide the small smile that lifted his lips. 

“In time you will learn.”

“I don’t want to learn! What part of that aren’t you getting through your thick fucking skull.”

“That’s enough!” He roared. His face was fully changed now. All teeth and bleeding eyes with a power that shook the fabric of the night to its core. Namjoon’s change caused everyone around him to join in, until you were painfully aware you were the most human on of the group. “Either you come with us now or I rip your friends’ head open like a Pez dispenser.”

Your eyes zeroed in on him. The threat he made ruthless but one you knew deep down in your gut he’d meant. 

“I’d like to see you fuckin try.”

A mouth full of teeth smiled wickedly back at you. His feet obliging you by moving the few steps he’d taken away from Alice back to her side. Where she continued to stand patiently waiting like a zombie.  

There are moments in your life that don’t feel that important. These small decisions that you don’t realize put you on a deeper path to harder ones that you’ll have to make. Those small repercussions building themselves into a mountain of a moment.  

This is what it felt like now. All those decisions in your life you’d made suddenly seemed to expand like an endless sea of stars. So many of them that they couldn’t possibly be connected; and yet came together to create this constellation of your life.  

You watched Namjoon house the words you’d spoken in his mind. The way his face contorted into something that was worthy of pure nightmare fuel. The resolve of strength you’d had to tell him to basically go fuck himself was gone in that instant, because you were made painfully aware that the individuals before you were god-like. What could a helpless mortal do in the face of a god? 

Namjoon proved to you the answer to that was nothing. His speed moving him faster than you could process. You hadn’t even realized he’d moved at all until Jimin was simply in front of you; guarding you. He was now completely standing between Namjoon and yourself. Jimin’s hand catching Namjoon’s wrist; his fingertips milliseconds away from the tip of your nose. 

The two of them were locked in a battle of wills. The strength they commanded showing itself in the struggle of a dance of tug-a-war without any rope.  If Namjoon gained an inch Jimin was quick to take it back.  

“Move!” 

Without question you obeyed and were up on your feet immediately. Jimin didn’t give Namjoon another moment to force him back; his free hand shot out in a blur and connected with his chest. The sheer strength behind it sent him flying back almost a dozen feet before he gained back his footing. A snarl cutting through the air between them and Jungkook and the two other companions were at his side. 

Suddenly, you were painfully aware how outnumbered Jimin truly was.  

“Ugh – Jimin.” 

“Not now!” 

He waved you off as his eyes scanned in other bodies appearing from the shadows behind the four. Like a fool, you allowed yourself to hope that maybe some of these were on your side. By the way Jimin was staring at them, however, you knew that was most definitely not the case. 

“Where a little outnumbered here. Don’t you think!?” 

Was that your voice that cracked? No, no. You were perfectly calm. Super calm. 

Out of your peripherals you were able to catch a flash of movement. That flash was all you seen before teeth were inches from snapping in your face. A scream worked its way up your throat and was torn from your lips as foreign hands gripped your shoulders. You moved to block your face in a weak attempt just before those same hands disappeared.  

Jimin was behind him in seconds and ripped him off you. The two of them moved in a blinding speed of punches and blocking until Jimin’s hand exploded out the back of the other man’s back. Your hand flew to your mouth to stop a scream short; the gruesome mess left you feeling a bit lightheaded as you unwillingly noticed pieces of shirt and...other things dangling at the end of Jimin’s hand. 

It was a devastating wound. One that would’ve killed any normal man, but this wasn’t an ordinary man or a man at all. Jimin’s blow was only meant to wound, not kill, and this perfectly insane stranger was still trying to snap his way towards Jimin. His hands grabbed Jimin’s shoulder and used it to pull him forward. The movement made a sucking noise and made you question if the contents of your last meal were about to reappear like magic. 

Jimin knew the intentions of the other man and quickly drew his arm back. In the same breath, he followed it up with his palm slamming into your would-be attackers chest. The force of the blow sent him back like a limp ragdoll into Namjoon’s growing group.

“We need to get out of here!”

You couldn’t stop the panic dripping from your voice as you watched him narrowly escape another attack. This new body formed itself from the shadows and split free from its darkness with the flash of a blade. Jimin dodged each whirlwind of blows and strikes with an ease that you weren’t sure came from raw power or age. His attacker tried to switch up his attack by sending a flurry of double kicks towards Jimin’s abdomen. This must have been the opening Jimin had waited for. 

Jimin allowed him to land a kick to his side and when the man went to pull away Jimin locked his leg in place with his forearm. Jimin’s fist rushed in a speed of movement to land powerful blows into his exposed stomach and face. When the man tried to stab his blade into Jimin’s back, he easily grabbed his wrist and knocked the knife free from his hand. He was so focused on the knife that he wasn’t aware of the man coming from behind him. Your eyes danced back and forth, in decision on whether to speak or move weighing heavy on you. 

“Behind you!”

You decided on both. Your feet carried you forward as you shouted your warning to him. What you were going to do against a supernatural creature, you had no idea. You just knew you needed to do something. No matter how aware you were that you were incredibly useless in moments like this. Whatever happened when you finally reached him, you knew it was not going to end well for you. And that knowledge made your stomach turn until your body practically vibrated with anxiety.

The man with the blade was now on the floor under Jimin’s boot. Another came sprinting out of the darkness a mixture of snarling teeth and determination. Jimin used the man under him as a soccer ball and sent him flying into the other man. His body turning in a fluid one-eighty to to defend his back against another. 

You weren’t a hundred percent sure what overcame you. Why you felt the need to scream with what you figured was a war cry. The only thing that came out of it was now the singular attention that had been on Jimin now became equally shared between you. A man who’d been heading towards Jimin and the others derailed and was coming straight for you. Suddenly, that new found bravery dissipated and your fear sent the world around in slow motion. Your feet felt stuck in molasses; each step heavier than the last and a silent pleading for you to turn back. But you couldn’t turn back now. 

You braced yourself for whatever was about to happen. One minute, he was two feet from you, and the next he was screaming on the road. A man held on to the collar of his shirt and what was left of his upper body. The rest of him was laid out on the street in a mess of gore. 

The man who’d entered stage right held his own blade that looked more like a short sword. His arm slinging the blade back to whip off the blood onto the street. 

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

You spoke to no one. The words weight no more than a whisper and yet, to you, it felt like you’d been shouting. Crazy sword guy gave you the barest of glances before he was off. That blur of speed brought him to help clear the remaining men off of Jimin until the two of them were standing at each other’s backs. 

“Nice of you to finally make it, Hoseok.”

Hoseok, aka sword wielding-guy, had the grace to look embarrassed. Hoseok’s body bent at a stiff ninety-degrees towards Jimin who seemed too busy dusting off his coat to notice. 

“I apologize that Jin and I were not here sooner.”

Jimin waved him off. His eyes scanned the surrounding darkness and a part of you wondered what it was he saw there. You wanted to ask him, but the possibility of bad news kept you silent. 

“And where is Jin?”

“Waiting.”

What could he possibly be waiting for? You wanted to ask but in no way wanted anymore attention on yourself. A scream that demanded to be found sounded in the night around you. It circled around and asked to be followed. Your eyes locating the origin of the voice in a matter of seconds to Alice. No longer the vacant girl she’d been the last hour and more herself: the terrified edition. The terror in her eyes was enough to make your breath hitch in your throat. 

“V.” Namjoon motioned with a flick of his finger and the man obeyed.

V. He’d been the one who you thought looked Angelic. His eyes were bright, open, and reflected nothing but bad intentions. Pillow soft lips curled up into a sneer of a smile as he stepped forward. He dragged Alice with him pulling her with such force you were worried he would simply tear it from the socket out of boredom. The sounds Alice made to accompany his aggressive movements only solidified your assumption. 

For all the beauty their afterlife had given them, it did nothing to hide the monsters underneath. Even the devil was an angel once.

“Let’s speed thing up, shall we? Either you turn yourself over to me now, Y/N, or I’ll kill her.”

To prove his point, Namjoon reached out to take her from V. His large hand closing around her throat and lifting her up effortlessly. Her dangling feet struggled to kick him, flailing hands scratching at his arm, and to silence her Namjoon noticeably squeezed her tighter. 

“Stop it! Please!”

The words came out in a sob. Your body struggling to take a breath. A fear that if you did, if you moved at all, it would be all he needed to hurt her more. 

“If you want to stop this than I suggest you do as you’re told and get over here. Now.”

The previous cat and mouse coyness in Namjoon’s voice completely vanished. Every word he spoke sent a sliver of fear down your spine. You weren’t going to argue with him as the fight had left you the minute you’d heard her pleading. You moved to take a step forward and found your legs were refusing to move. The more you struggled against the sensation the heavier the feeling of sinking in quicksand became. 

“You aren’t going anywhere.”

The threat in Jimin’s voice was palpable. The anger that clutched his jaw made you want to instantly apologize for even considering leaving. Almost. Your own anger was bubbling to the surface finally and a hushed, “Fuck you,” rumbled free from your chest. 

“Why can’t I move?!”

“Because I’m not letting you.”

There was a split second where it crossed your mind that he had to be joking. You felt so sure it was a sick prank only to see no part of him was joking.

“What does that even mean? You aren’t letting me. I don’t need your permission.”

Jimin’s mouth opened but it was Namjoon’s voice that cut through.

“It means that this is pointless. You didn’t tell me he’d given her any of his blood.”

Why was he saying this towards Alice? Your brow furrowed as confusion began to roll through you in waves. There was no way your brain could comprehend what you were seeing. Namjoon’s arm no longer held her off of her feet. He’d set her down but kept a firm hold of her neck. And Alice. Your best friend. She no longer looked one bit terrified. Instead annoyance had taken residency all over her face. 

“Alice.”

You hated how little your voice sounded. How much it showcased the betrayal you felt. That annoyance that’d wrapped itself around her like a shroud only seemed to grow larger when she glanced in your direction.

“She never mentioned anything to me about him feeding any blood to her. Just that they’d had sex in a dream a few times.”

Heat washed over your face. A blend of anger and embarrassment with you not really knowing which one it was that colored your cheeks.

“Alice!”

Christ. Were you a broken record.

You might as well have been talking to the wind. Alice looked away from you and back at Namjoon. You couldn’t believe what you were seeing. Her eyes were strictly for him. A comical cartoon version with her eyes filled with hearts flashed in your head. And slowly, as you watched her continue to look at him like a lovesick puppy, a horrible realization began to spread. Your chest tight and ready for whatever heart break came next.

Months ago, Alice talked about meeting a guy at a bar. A night when you were supposed to join her, but lied about catching a stomach bug. She’d gone on and on about how he looked. She’d gone into even more detail about the way he’d fucked her. You’d thought he sounded like someone who just wanted a piece of ass. Hated him before you’d even met him. Now your mind was flooding with all the descriptions Alice had ever given.

It had been Namjoon she’d met that night in the bar. The night you’d ditched her.

Slowly, your eyes moved from her hopelessly devoted figure to the man who still held onto her neck. An unseen collar and his arm was the leash.

You never hated someone before. Not really. Sure, you’d said it nonchalantly in passing. Thought you’d understood exactly what it felt like in moments with people that you were sure the only emotion you’d felt was hatred. Looking at Namjoon now – you knew you were wrong.

This hatred was fire in your blood. It threatened to climb up your throat and release out from your mouth until all the air was spent from your lungs. Most of all, this hatred would only be sated by blood.

You hadn’t been aware that your body was moving until you felt a sharpness in your chest. Your hand moved up to clutch absentmindedly at your heart. Was it possible to feel your heart break and be this angry all at once?

“Y/N – stop!”

Jimin’s voice dripped with the command. A command you wanted to tell him to shove his commands up his ass, but your body listened nonetheless. You felt rooted to that very spot. You were too angry to make sense of this. It forced you to close your eyes and attempt to concentrate. No matter what you did you could not get yourself to move.

Jimin walked to where you stood. His body moved to stand in front of you and cut off what little you could see of Namjoon and Alice.

“Out of my way, Jimin!”

“No. You are too angry right now to see this is what he wants. It’s just another trick to get you where he wants you.”

“Well it’s working.”

“You need to try and calm yourself – “

“Fuck you,” you snarled. Your world was narrowing; wilting down to a tunnel vision that only housed enough room for two. “I’m done with being calm. I’m through with being scared.”

A snort of laughter brought your attention through the tunnel and landing on Alice. She was no longer held like a dog on a leash. She stood proudly behind Namjoon at his side. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her eyes stating plainly: you’re a joke.

“What are you going to do, Y/N? All you’ve ever been since I’ve known you is weak. I don’t even know why they’d even fight over someone as pathetic as you.”

Her words stung. Why would she say that? Was he making her say things like this to you?

“Alice. I know this isn’t you.”

Alice shook her head and moved forward. Her arms falling at her side as she regarded you with the same disgust she’d show a piece of shit on her shoe.

“And what do you actually know about me, Y/N? You’ve always known what I wanted you to know.  The person I made you believe I was, is all just someone made up. Imaginary.”

“How can you say that to me? After all the things we’ve been through. The things we told each other. You can act as tough as you want in front of Namjoon, but you and I know the truth.”

“Maybe,” she shrugged. “But how else do you think they found out where we lived? Why did it feel like someone was following you at all your favorite spots? I told him, Y/N. I told them everything I knew about you.”

That fire that’d raged in your blood smoothed into ice. The shock of her words rocked you, and you knew that was exactly what she’d wanted. Alice was not who you thought she was. She’d made that abundantly clear. 

That girl didn’t exist. And all those times you’d come home terrified. Your heart crammed so deep in your throat you’d thought you were going to die from panic. All because you’d thought you were being followed. Alice joked and comforted you into believing it was just your mind playing tricks. When, in all actuality, it had been her doing the entire time.

Alice was a major key player in where you were standing. Surrounded by a pack of wolves.

You were vaguely aware of Jimin at your side. The faded sounds of his voice beside you eventually grew silent. His companion, Hoseok, somewhere off around you. The two of them faced Namjoon and his men. In between making sure they weren’t trying anything, he sent cautionary glances towards you. He must have been able to feel it; sense it.

The flame of your hatred, your betrayal, that had extinguished earlier was roaring back to life. The anger far surpassing what you felt capable of containing inside you. A dark part of you wanted to scorch the earth they stood on. 

Show them.

                                  Burn them.

The softness of the whisper tickled across your ear and raised the hairs on your arms. The sane part of you – what was left of it – knew something wasn’t right. You tried to play it off as just thoughts. The sinister feeling a part of you, a part that all humans had inside them when they were pushed too far. But it whispered again. This time gentler and promising: “Show them the price for a Witch's fury.”

“I don’t know how.”

Your words hung in the darkness of the night as you waited for a reply. The cautionary energy was pulsating now. All eyes wondering if you’d gone insane for talking to yourself. But they couldn’t hear them. The women who felt like friends; relatives.

“Whatever you hear – whatever they’re saying – you must fight them.”

Jimin was back inside your vision. His eyes searching yours to see if you were still with him. You were both present and not. Lost to voices that made you wonder if he could hear them too.

We can show you.

                         We can teach you.

Let

           Us

                         Innnnn…

Your eyes looked back over at Alice. The one person you’d held the closest in your life, second to your own mother. Flashbacks of every moment you’d shared together. From special drinks you’d created on girls’ nights while binge watching ‘The Great British Baking Show,’ and ‘Friends.’ The two of you, drunk, and believing you could easily make a three-tiered cake from scratch. The trips you’d taken. The help you’d given.

All of it had been a lie. A well-crafted play for her just to hand you over to the very monster she proudly stood beside. Looking at her now was enough for you to make your decision.

Jimin must have sensed it. His mouth framed in an unfinished shout that never got a chance to be heard. Silently, you let the sickly-sweet voice know you agreed and suddenly you weren’t the only one in your body.

It felt like dozens of women – yes, women – were housed inside you. Each of them held their own rage at a betrayal they’d suffered. Each deceit seeped into your bones like a cancer.

Jimin’s hand reached out to touch you; could feel the unspoken bound he’d made inside you make a weak attempt to soothe you. It was a warm sensation that moved from your core and up. A ghost of a hug that was only felt by its warmth. 

He was trying to drive whatever darkness you’d allowed in, but your wrath - your hatred - was too strong. It easily pushed back whatever weak attempt he’d tried to bring you back, and sent your hands out against his chest. The force of it sent him flying back; his feet struggling to stay grounded as his feet dragged on the asphalt.

“We are not your playthings.”

When you spoke, it wasn’t just your voice they heard. Your feet that had felt rooted were now moving forward. Your hands that had trembled were steady as they went to the wounds on your throat. The still pulsing wound in your leg. Each hand moved into the aching wounds to release fresh blood in your palms.

A voice inside the chaos came forward. An old oak among raging storms and housed itself there to teach you. All magic flowed through a balance in the universe. You could not give without it taking. This was how balance worked. A debt was owed when you used it for something dark, and this price you would pay with blood.

“Is this some kind of joke?”

Alice no longer looked smug or amused. She looked terrified as she moved to stand closer to Namjoon.

“That parasite will not save you from me, girl.”

Your voice was dry and worn with age. You rode out her fear and moved to kneel in the road a mere feet from her. Your bloodied hands working symbols into the ground as you began to chant in a tongue you did not know.

All you knew was that the fire full of rage that sat deep in your belly would soon consume her. When the last of the words left your lips, a blue flame snacked along the blood you’d spread until it grew and grew; spreading wings to create a small lake of fire between you.

You rose to your feet and looked out among the faces of those that’d wish to harm you. 

                                            Harm us.

You watched as their bodies became tight with anxiety; some of Namjoon’s lackies fear seeped into the air like a sickness. Good. They should be. With an unholy shriek the fire that crept around them spread wide as your arms rose around your head. The only driving thought you had was that you wanted it to cleanse them.

The fire rushed first towards Namjoon and Alice. V and the other broody one you’d yet to learn of his name, quickly grabbed her and were gone. Namjoon offered you a brief look of irritation before he dodged out of the way. The sound of screams brought your attention to your left and watched as your flame licked up, up, and up until it consumed. The vampire with the fist-sized hole in his chest was now struggling to put himself out.

A smile that was not yours curled your lips and a sickening feeling of joy at watching him die made you suddenly grow ill. This wasn’t you. This hatred. This destruction. You didn’t want to be a murderer. The sickly voice that’d whispered reassuringly earlier was now hostile. It wanted to stay.

Your feet began to back peddle away from everyone as best you could. You had no idea where it was you were going, but anywhere that would be safer for them. You turned to start running again and held your hands over your ears as a scream shook across your skull. Only you could hear them and how they pressed hard inside your skull. The pressure overwhelmed you and made you believe at any minute your eyes would be pushed out. 

You’d only gotten a block when your body could no longer take the pain. Your feet caught on the edge of the sidewalk and you went crashing down. The screaming in your head had only grown louder and caused your vision to begin to blur. Maybe your head really was going to explode after all.

You turned your face to look up towards the moon and were greeted by the sight of Jungkook. His fist connecting with your cheek was the last thing you seen before everything went quiet and dark.  

[whumpzone]

Tomas and Rowe - Part 9

hope you guys enjoy as always! I think it’ll be immediately obvious which part I mean, but I definitely only wrote one scene because it gave me such a pleasing mental image. And I’m definitely gonna have to draw something for it when I have the time :>

Masterpost

taglist: @sola-whumping @just-another-whumper @oceanthesarcasamfox @looptheloup @briars7 @black-polarf @zipadeedooda-drabbles @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @rosesareviolentlyread @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @jazz-0307 @kestrelsparverius @whumpsy-daisies @whumpersworld @memoriesneverforget @sky-or-something-idfk @ghostcomit @cupcakes-and-pain @frankieswhump @ihaventwritteninsolong @mybrokenlittletoy @kiretto-laorentze (ask if you want to be tagged/removed! <3)

CW: pet whumpee, violence, descriptions of gore, hospitals

-

It had been several days since the explosive night with Adam. Rowe remembered it all vividly, and for reasons he could not understand he kept returning to the middle of the night, when Master Tomas fell asleep next to him.

Perhaps it was because he had never seen his Master asleep before. It was quite a rarity, as far as Rowe understood, for any Pet to see their owner so vulnerable. Was it another test? Or a display of trust? Master had fallen asleep while holding Rowe, and it felt too odd to be cradled by someone unconscious, so he had gently, gently, laid him on the floor. To even be touching his Master in such a way was unbelievably disobedient, and it made his extremities tingle with nerves. He was terrified that Master would wake up, dazed and disoriented, and beat Rowe for it, but the fear felt strangely- buried? Hazy? It was there, but it didn’t make him lock up like it sometimes did. He still managed to pick himself off the floor and fetch a cushion for Master’s head.

Rowe couldn’t sleep- he had known he wouldn’t sleep ever since Master had threatened to punish him, but he definitely couldn’t risk having a nightmare and waking his owner. Rowe didn’t quite understand what a hangover was, but he knew that it made people want to beat their useless Pets with more severity than usual.

It had taken him several agonising hours before he decided to clean up the mess of bottles. What if Master needs them? He said he would cut me, didn’t he?

But then he would remember that Master Tomas had decided not to punish him, for reasons Rowe didn’t understand. He figured he had better be a good Pet and clean up, and if Master wanted to hurt him in the morning there were plenty of other sharp objects around.

Master hadn’t stirred until around 11am, and when he did Rowe quickly folded onto his knees, calm and obedient, by his Master’s side but not too close, ready to greet him.

. . .

Tomas hardly remembered the night with Adam, and he was okay with that. What he did remember was peeling himself off the living room floor the next morning, stiff all over with a pounding head and a stomach like a choppy sea. He bit back a groan as he turned his neck to look around.

And then he’d seen Rowe, kneeling quietly, his eyes hovering somewhere near Tomas’s face. With his bruised nose, grazed wrists, burnt and battered limbs. Tomas’s hangover suddenly didn’t feel so bad. He gave Rowe a weak smile and Rowe bowed his head to the floor for a few seconds.

‘’Good morning, Master.’’

‘’Morning, pal. Did you give me this cushion?’’

‘’Y-yes, Master,’’ Rowe said, going stiff, like he expected to be berated for it.

‘’Thank you. That was good of you.’’

In the days after, Tomas noticed that Rowe was acting distant, but that hardly surprised him. He had given Rowe quite a scare. If being quiet, meek and staying out of Tomas’s way was Rowe’s way of feeling a bit more secure, then Tomas decided he had to step back and let him.

One morning Tomas was boiling the kettle, snapping his fingers to whatever tune was on the radio.

‘’Master?’’

Tomas turned quickly and- looked down. Rowe was knelt at his feet, having appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

‘’Oh! Everything okay, Rowe?’’

‘’Did you need me for something, Master?’’

Tomas frowned. What did he…

‘’Oh! Because I was snapping my fingers, yes?’’

‘’Yes, M-Master…’’

Tomas felt quite proud of himself for figuring that out. He put one hand on the kitchen counter, fingers splayed, and crouched to rub Rowe’s shoulder.

‘’I was doing it because I liked the song on the radio,’’ Tomas told him gently. ‘’With me, snapping fingers doesn’t mean you have to come, okay?’’

‘’Okay, Master. I understand.’’

‘’Good! That actually reminds me. I have a new rule for you.’’

Rowe’s eyes widened momentarily and before Tomas could decide if it was excitement or apprehension, Rowe caught his misstep and went back to his conditioned blankness. Getting Rowe up off his knees, Tomas continued making tea, making sure to keep everything very casual.

‘’From now on, you aren’t to touch the knives, or any sharp objects, without my express permission and supervision, okay? I know it wasn’t your fault, but that little cut you gave me showed you probably aren’t ready to handle knives yet, and that’s alright. I can do the chopping from now on.’’

‘’Yes, Master,’’ said Rowe quietly. Every time Tomas brought that incident up Rowe looked like he wanted to hide himself away. Tomas gave him a pat on the back of his head and- although he flinched at first- that seemed to help. Turning back to the tea, his face fell as he opened the fridge.

‘’That’s the last of the milk, then,’’ he said, pouring it into the mugs. ‘’I… I really have to go shopping.’’

He’d put it off for as long as he could, but the kitchen was starting to look pretty sad. Rowe gazed up at him with eyes full of worry. Don’t leave me alone. Tomas could have burst with pity, but he steeled himself. This was a chore he couldn’t avoid. The pair drank their tea in silence; Tomas at the table, Rowe dusting the bookshelves in the living room. The radio continued to play.

. . .

Master Tomas left, promising he wouldn’t be long, but it all sounded muffled to Rowe. Everything had gone fuzzy after Master had told him don’t worry, you won’t be alone. I’ll ask if Kasia wouldn’t mind popping over. It all felt like a cruel joke.

Rowe wanted to tell him so badly, to beg and beg and beg that he was telling the truth, but the endless possible outcomes overwhelmed him into silence.

Master wouldn’t care- it was keeping him scared, and submissive, after all.

Master wouldn’t believe him, and ask Kasia instead.

Master wouldn’t believe him, and throw him out.

Master would be horrified that Rowe let another man handle his property without his knowledge, and decide that he didn’t need a deceiving Pet like him.

Master would be pleased, and ask Kasia to help him correct his miserable Pet more.

Master would smack him so hard he hit the floor, and grip his face with all his strength and ask him just who he thought he was, crying about a few beatings, and then he would reconsider whether Rowe really deserved food, and a bed, and he definitely wouldn’t let him speak, in fact, he’d get one of those awful muzzles where the bit cuts into your mouth and he’d strap it onto Rowe’s face until he learnt his place as Master’s property-

And maybe Rowe could handle the hellish meetings with Kasia if it meant he stayed good, and afraid, and in Master’s favour. So when he heard the unmistakable heavy footsteps of Kasia coming up the stairs towards his room, he let himself go limp and pliable. Even when Kasia pushed open the door with a face like thunder. Even when he kept something hidden behind his back as he walked towards Rowe.

-

‘’Oh- oh, god, it hurts! Please, please!’’ Rowe cried, his face shiny with sweat. His hair was sticking to his forehead, and Kasia grabbed a fistful of it to pull Rowe’s face towards his. He stared hard into the whites of Rowe’s eyes.

‘’Bad Pets get muzzled, you know,’’ he warned, and Rowe forced himself to be guttural, to only moan and gasp in pain. He was allowed that, at least. His hands twitched above him, tightly bound to one of the end bedposts. His chest trembled with sobs. But he didn’t speak, and Kasia grunted, returning to his work.

Rowe’s legs were a mess. His skin was barely visible under the blood that rolled down in drops and soaked into the cream carpet. The hammer came down with a swish and a sickening thud. More blood was flecked onto Kasia’s shirt with every circle he battered into Rowe’s flesh.

Each time Kasia bludgeoned him, Rowe would spasm in pain, the thrashing of his legs doing nothing but making the injuries worse. He was scared to look down- his legs, his pretty legs that he needed to kneel on and attend his Master with, they were ruined. What- what was the point of this? This wouldn’t make him better. Rowe’s head slumped back against his shoulder blades, pulling his bruised neck taut. He’s just doing this for fun, isn’t he.

All thoughts were pushed from his head with the next awful, wet crunch of the hammer. Thud thud THUD, faster and faster, and this wasn’t methodical, this wasn’t like his training, this was like when Rowe had smashed his old master’s favourite bowl and he was beaten until old master had spent all of his rage and hatred and made Rowe scream.

Sure enough, Rowe was screaming now, and he was good at just screaming, he knew when begging would get him somewhere and when it wouldn’t. He was beyond proving his obedience. Kasia just wanted a living doll to torment. Rowe risked a glance at his legs- and then his screams were broken up with heavy, wet cries.

When the pain finally let him rest, finally pulled him into a thick sleep, Rowe was so, so grateful. As the gory scene blurred before him, all he could think about was the feeling of the bedframe against his back. I’m with my old master. He’s letting me sleep at the foot of his bed. I must have been good. I’m so happy…

. . .

Tomas clenched his teeth as he hurried up the street to his door.

[Work called, I had to run. Left him in his room, he seemed fine.]

[What???]

Fuck’s sake, why now, why now? He had needed Kasia to keep an eye on him, he needed him! The house was silent as he pushed open the door and set the bags down heavily, running up the stairs.

Nothing could have prepared him for what he saw when he opened Rowe’s bedroom door. Tomas gasped, inhaling sharply, and then he couldn’t breathe. Rowe was lying on the floor, passed out, his wrists tucked together under his chin and his shirt thrown carelessly in a corner. Oh fuck. Everything below the knees was a mess of gore, there was blood everywhere, holy fucking shit, and a god damn hammer lying nearby. His calves were so battered Tomas could hardly look.

‘’Oh god, oh god, oh god! Rowe, Rowe, oh Rowe, my Rowe, oh god, oh fuck, oh fuck fuck fuck!’’ Tomas panicked. Rowe didn’t stir and Tomas thought he might pass out as well. ‘’What the fuck did you do?’’ he cried, ‘’Rowe, wake up, what the fuck did you do?’’

Tomas’s knees buckled and he collapsed in the doorway, fumbling for his phone with trembling fingers. After a few seconds he managed to steady himself enough to dial 999.

‘’Ambulance service, is that patient breathing?’’

‘’Ah,’’ Tomas choked out. He was barely breathing himself. He forced himself to crawl over to Rowe and check his pulse.

‘’Hello?’’ drawled the operator.

‘’Yes, yes, he’s breathing, fuck-‘’

‘’Describe exactly what’s happened for me.’’

‘’I just got home, and I, he, oh my god!’’ Tomas started to cry desperately. ‘’I just got home and he’s upstairs and there’s blood everywhere-‘’ his voice cracked ‘’-and his legs are all smashed up wi-with a hammer and please, you have to help, you have to send someone!’’

‘’Stay calm for me sir, who is it that’s had this injury? How old are they?’’

‘’It’s- my Pet, I don’t know his age.’’

‘’A Pet?’’ the operator asked, in the same collected, monotone voice. ‘’Sir, we can’t waste ambulances on Pets, you’ll have to bring them in yourself if you want medical help, okay?’’

‘’What- but wait, it’s bad-‘’

Click. They’d hung up.

‘’Fuck!’’ he breathed, his phone almost slipping from his hand. ‘’Fuck, Rowe, Rowe, wake up! Wake up!’’

He didn’t mean to hurt him, but he needed Rowe to respond, and before he knew it he had smacked him across the cheek. It only made Tomas cry harder, but sure enough, Rowe stirred.

‘’Rowe,’’ Tomas gasped. ‘’Rowe, Rowe, oh my god, what the fuck did you do?’’

He didn’t answer, but he did moan in pain. Tomas lifted Rowe’s face up, but his eyes were rolling back into his skull. He had lost so much blood.

‘’I’ve got to get you to the hospital.’’

Rowe’s mouth opened a tiny amount, and Tomas bent close.

‘’C…c-collar…’’

‘’I… fuck, yes, Pets have to wear a collar outside, okay, okay, I’ll get one. It’s gonna be okay, Rowe.’’

Luckily, Tomas had never got around to throwing out the collar he’d bought for the animal he’d been expecting. It was made for a dog, and slipped around Rowe’s tiny neck just fine.

‘’Can you breathe?’’

Rowe twitched his head in a nod, but his eyes had fluttered closed once more. Tomas stumbled into the bathroom and took two towels. As he lifted Rowe’s left leg to slip one underneath, he screamed in agony. Tomas cringed, trying to stop crying.

‘’Please, please Master,’’ Rowe whimpered, and Tomas just wished he was dreaming. This was too horrifying, he must be dreaming, surely.

‘’I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’’ he sobbed, pressing a hand now wet with Rowe’s blood into his hair, doing his best to stroke him with his trembling fingers. ‘’They’ll stop the pain soon, I promise.’’

As soon as he’d slipped Rowe’s legs into the towels, Tomas wiped his eyes on his sleeve, hauled his broken Pet into his arms and carried him downstairs.

‘’I don’t- have a car,’’ Tomas explained as he gripped Rowe with one arm to lock the door behind him, ‘’but you’re so small, I think you’ll just about fit. I’m sorry, this is so fucking stupid, I’m sorry. But I’ll get us there quickly. Quicker than a taxi.’’

Rowe didn’t struggle as Tomas lowered him into the basket attached to the front of his bicycle. His wrapped legs dangled freely, and his arms wrapped around his waist like a hug. Tomas slung himself into the saddle and pushed off down the hill.

-

‘’Do you- treat Pets, here?’’ Tomas asked the receptionist timidly. Looking around, he didn’t see any other Pets. The receptionist barely even glanced up, even though Rowe was gently dripping blood onto the linoleum floor.

‘’Try the other reception. Down the hall, you’ll see the sign. We have a separate ward for Pets.’’

The second receptionist was far more friendly, scarily so.

‘’Hello there, sir, what’s the issue?’’

‘’My Pet- his legs are definitely broken, and he’s lost a lot of blood. He’s unresponsive.’’

‘’Okay,’’ she said as she typed something into her computer. ‘’And what’s your name, please, sir?’’

‘’Tomas Grzegorzewski.’’

A few more questions and then Rowe was lowered into a worn wheelchair and taken away. Tomas watched him leave with a heavy weight in his stomach.

He couldn’t sit still, he still had Rowe’s blood on his sleeves and if he had to just sit and think about what had happened he knew he was going to have a breakdown right there. So instead he marched outside, charmed a cigarette off one of the smokers outside, and called Kasia.

‘’You all good, mate?’’ Kasia said coolly.

‘’I am not fucking-! I am not all good,’’ Tomas hissed, remembering to keep his voice down.

‘’Did something happen? Look, I’m sorry I had to leave.’’

‘’He fucking- oh my god, I might throw up if I even describe it. He took a hammer to his own fucking legs.’’

‘’Oh, shit,’’ Kasia said. Nothing ever seemed to phase him. Tomas supposed it was his line of work. ‘’Why’d he do that?’’

‘’Kas, I asked you over for a reason! I don’t know, he goes off the rails every time he’s left alone,’’ Tomas snapped, trying and failing to keep his voice level.

‘’I’m sorry, okay? Don’t have a go at me, mate. Work called, I was doing you a favour and you know I have a busy schedule.’’

Tomas sighed. Kasia was right. ‘’Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I just… I got really scared when I came home. I’m sorry, I know it’s not your problem.’’

‘’Yeah, well, I know you’re upset, but I couldn’t have known he was gonna pull some crazy shit like that.’’

‘’Yeah. I’m at the hospital right now,’’ Tomas said, dragging on his cig. ‘’I’m gonna go back in, it’s fucking freezing. See you later?’’

‘’Yeah, let me know if he’s alright.’’

Back in the waiting room, Tomas put his head in his hands, raking his fingers through his curls. He couldn’t stop seeing Rowe’s legs. The way he’d just been lying there, letting himself bleed out. And where had he even found that hammer? He must have really wanted it. And Tomas hadn’t been there to stop him.

A woman called his name uncertainly, and Tomas stood up. He suddenly felt desperately tired. She gave him a delicate smile and he followed her into the belly of the hospital.

[just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi]

Tired - Nik

[Everyone thank that Anon for this lol. Some out of context Nik Comfort!] 

CW: Disoriented whumpee, feeling weak. 

[Nik Masterlist]

Warm, something – something was on his forehead. Something warm brushing hair out of his face. It felt like a hand.

Nik’s brow twitched slightly. He was still so tired, breaths labored and quick. Everything was sore, was dead weight he didn’t have the strength to move. Even his eyelids felt like lead, barely twitching.

There was definitely a palm against his temple, thumb brushing along his hairline. It wasn’t rough or taking anything from him, just soft movement of a calloused thumb.

Why wasn’t it taking something? He was conscious, a little, so there must have been some for it to take.

His memory was still so hazy. He had been in the vivarium, he knew that for sure. He was always in the vivarium now. And then, and then – then what? He couldn’t quite remember, everything growing fuzzy and disjointed.

It didn’t matter anyway. Maybe it wanted something specific. His next breath stuttered out from deep inside his chest. Please no pain. Please no fear. Just, just magic, please. Just take it how it is.

“Hey there, you awake?”

Nik’s brow furrowed all the way. It was a man, but not one he knew. A soft voice, low and concerned. Who was that? His heart dropped for a moment as he dug around in his memory, trying to remember. It was useless, in the end.

His curiosity was getting the better of him, and Nik tried to open his eyes. They fluttered for a moment, feeling pathetically weak. He blinked them open, trying to focus on the face above him.

It was a man, probably around mid-age. He had dark hair and a short wiry beard. Nik had never seen him before.

“Hey hey hey, you’re okay. I’m sure your scared out of your mind – breathe, okay?”

Nik searched his face, waiting for it to morph into the Sorcerer, to disappear completely, something, anything other than this man he had never seen before.

Suddenly, his lungs started to burn. He took a quick breath, realizing belatedly that he had stopped breathing.

“There, that’s better. You’re okay, we’re not going to hurt you. I –“

“Is he awake?!”

Nik flinched when another head appeared, and the motion felt like too much. His heart was beating out of his chest and he was breathing faster, but his energy was draining away too quickly. He was struggling to even keep his eyes open, vision going a little blurry.

The man’s head jerked to the side, looked at the smaller head over his shoulder. “Yes James, but don’t crowd. Go help your mother.”

The boy pouted. “Mama and Emma are making bread. They don’t let me around the flour anymore.”

The older man laughed lightly. “Fair enough. You can stay, just don’t crowd. Hand me the water pouch if you would.

Nik couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore, and they slid closed. He shivered, focused on breathing again. Maybe the man was taking, just very little at a time. The movements had stopped, but the hand was still laid on him. He could feel a little more of his body now, confused at the soft feeling under him, of the light pressure on top.

There was sound small footsteps and a little rustling.  A moment later, something was raised to his mouth.

“Just water,” the man said. Nik’s thoughts felt impossibly slow and simple. Just fear, tired, why, water.

He drank a little and scrunched his face up. He hadn’t realized how empty he felt until he had drunk the water. Somehow, it just made him thirstier, hungrier, stronger, and weaker all at one time. Overall, he was simply tired.

“There we go, you’re okay. You’re safe here, we’re not going to hurt you. Go back to sleep, I’ll explain later.”

Nik drifted away to sleep, not entirely sure the interaction had happened after the hand left.

~

@welcome-to-the-whumpfest @as-a-matter-of-whump @thehopelessopus @luminouswhump @lonesome--hunter @pepperonyscience @insanitywishes @redstainedsocks @rippedjeansandfadeddreams @whump-me-all-night-long @susiequaz12 @mnmlover2002 @whumpeesblog

 [Pls let me know if you want to be added or removed from the tag!]  

[guiltysecretpasttime]

we NEED more ✨soft/protective✨ Lin!! Maybe taking care of Tenzin after he’s hurt or something- reverse the roles!! ❤️👄❤️

Note: Here’s another response to a prompt from @altheasideas. Another Linzin AU.

Title: Respite

One-shot. Let me know what you think. :)

There is a shortage of recent Lin/Tenzin stories so I figured… why not? I feel like this might have been done already but here’s my spin to it following the prompt I received. Hope you enjoy.

--

 Chief Beifong knew there will be a lot of work to be done once they land at Republic city. But for now, she grabbed the opportunity that her sister presented her (“I’ll take care of all the coordination for now – take care of your family.”). It was not often that Suyin offered help without any hidden agenda, but Lin was far too exhausted to think of the ramifications of this decision and opted to take it at face level.

Two down, one more to go, she thought as she pressed the button that closed the door behind her. She pushed forward the cart she got from the airship’s kitchen. There was only one food tray left; she had already delivered the other two meals and then some. Her equanimity was not left unscathed though.

It was perturbing to help the normally capable Bumi bandage himself as he barely cracked a grin at her (he had cracked ribs after all).

It was similarly disorienting to assist the usually limber Kya in changing into more comfortable clothes that would allow better movement with her crutches.

She knew there was a few more hours before they reach Republic City. This gives her enough time…

Taking a deep breath to ready herself for what lies beyond the last metal door, she pushed the button to slide open the door.

“I said I’m not hungry.” A cranky and hoarse voice imposed from the middle of the room.

“That’s too bad,” Lin entered, carrying the food tray and a small medicine bag. “You don’t really have a choice, Tenzin.”

Contrary to popular belief, between the two of them, it is the airbender who is a difficult patient.

She could see the man lying prone on the bed, propped up by several pillows, squinting at her. “Lin.”

It is the first time that husband and wife had been alone since they separated in Ba Sing Se.

Chief Beifong had seen a lot of blood and death in the years that she had been serving in the force. She was no stranger to injury as well (she’s a Beifong, no one would have expected any different).

However, nothing could have prepared her to see her pacifist husband bruised, bloodied, battered and the brink of death.

He had leaned heavily on her when he got down with Mako from the bison. He was vacillating between wakefulness and unconsciousness at the time.

It was jarring to see him in that condition. He had always been her pillar of strength, someone she sought to rely on whenever the going gets rough. For him to need to depend on another person… it was unthinkable.

As someone trained for the police force, she made sure to tamp down any emotions or worries at that time to focus on their task at hand – which was to retrieve the airbenders and hunt down the Red Lotus. She knew that if she let her emotions take over, she would have probably committed something worse than the fate that had befallen the combustion bender. There would have been no going back from that – it could have jeopardized their mission and it was probably something that Tenzin might hold against her. Never mind that she did it for him.

At present, she pulled up a chair at his bedside, placing the food tray on the nightstand.

Finally summoning the courage to address her husband directly, Lin sat down and swallowed drily.

Lin was thankful that all the grime and the blood had been cleaned off Tenzin. On the other hand, it further highlighted each bruise and each cut that littered his face and skin.

She leaned over, gently running her fingers at the lump that that formed near the blue arrow. “You gave us quite a scare.”

You gave me a scare.

“How are Bumi and Kya?” Tenzin evaded addressing the comment.

“They’re in no better shape than you,” The metalbender leaned back, one hand carefully cupping the airbender’s cheek. “They, however, could feed themselves, which is more than I can say for you.” She felt Tenzin lean into her touch. “Don’t even try saying you’re not hungry.” She ran her thumb on her husband’s chapped dry lips. “I know for a fact that you sent out the last staff that Su sent with food.”

Tenzin rolled his eyes but did not refute her.

“Drink some water first,” Lin opened the water bottle she brought. “Please?”

Gingerly, she helped the airbender ease himself to a better sitting position, not missing the several winces the man made while doing so.

Even if Tenzin opened his palm to ask for the water bottle, Lin curled her hand around it, not drawing attention to how his hand shook as he took a sip.

He lowered the bottle and their hands, smacking his now wet lips. “There, does that satisfy you, dear?”

Lin shook her head and twisted to remove the cover of the soup bowl. “Finish half of this, at least.” The appetizing aroma of the lentil spinach soup wafted from the bowl.

“I’m not -.” He began to say before his grumbling stomach interrupted him.

On any other day, Lin would have teased him. On any other day, Lin might have glared at him and probably out of childishness, taken the entire bowl and drank the entirety of it in two gulps, leaving none for him. On any other day, Tenzin might have attempted to wrestle the bowl from her and then feed her himself.

Today was not one of those days.

Instead, Lin threw him a concerned glance as she unfolded a cloth napkin which she placed on his lap.

Tenzin sighed across her, a sound of acquiescence, of defeat.

She blew lightly on a spoonful of soup. She edged closer to draw the spoon to his reluctantly opened mouth.

They repeated this several times in silence before Lin had the strength to voice out her fear.

"We could have lost you."

I could have lost you.

"I had to hold them off." Was the stilted reply, voice cracking from exhaustion and lack of use. "The kids…" He trailed off.

"I know you did," Lin looked down at the bowl, biting her lip, scraping soup stuck at the sides. "They're okay now, both of them."

Their two children, one airbender and one earthbender, had both been at the Air Temple at the time of the attack.

The couple had reasoned that it would be the safer alternative to travelling around the Earth Kingdom with the Avatar.

Lin could not help but think what that decision had almost cost them.

"I don't know what I would have done if you -." She choked up, grip loosening and the spoon clattering on the porcelain.

She quickly turned away, busying herself in tidying the food tray; one hand in a tight fist, a sign that her husband knew to mean that Lin was grappling with containing her feelings.

Tenzin did not fail to notice his wife's red-rimmed eyes when she entered the room. He knew she was trying to keep it together for his sake. Thankfully, Lin thought, he knew better than to bring it up.

The crinkling of foil echoed in the quiet room as Lin inspected the rest of the food tray. "There's also sweet mung bean bun for dessert. Would you want to eat it now?"

Without waiting for a reply, she tore a small piece and bumped the bite-sized bread to his mouth.

As Lin was about to get another piece, Tenzin reached out to grasp her wrist, keeping her hand against his lips. He landed a kiss to her palm while maintaining eye contact. Angling himself painstakingly, he patted the side of his bed.

Come here, the action implied.

Lin could feel her neck heating up.

The action brought to mind a different time and a different place, when their positions were reversed.

I need you with me. Please.

Make me forget what we almost lost.

(Truth be told, that might have been when their youngest was conceived.)

The earnestness in her husband's tired gaze was enough to remove her reservations in joining him in bed.

Lin thanked the spirits for her presence of mind in having the burns from P'Li treated earlier before checking on her in-laws and husband. There was no way she would have been able to hide those injuries from Tenzin.

He did not know about the confrontation with the combustion bender - and Lin wanted to keep it that way.

She fluffed his pillows and lowered the back of the bed.

With cautious and measured movements, Lin climbed in beside him, taking prodigious care not to jostle the airbender or unnecessarily hit his injuries.

Her husband smiled gratefully at her, he tried to circle an arm around her shoulder but found it too painful to stretch.

Instead, Lin pushed herself closer, close enough for their heartbeats to sync. She could feel his hand still shaking as he lightly carded his fingers through her hair in a bid to reassure her.

There was almost no part of him that was not rubbed with salve or wrapped with bandages so Lin had to tread carefully where to place her hand. She settled for a section above his ribs and she reached up to place a kiss on his collarbone.

She did not react to the drops of moisture she felt on her skin, which could only come from the silent tears of the airbender. She recognizes that he needs this, to grieve unobtrusively.

There would be a world of disorder that awaits them. But, just for now, just behind the closed metal doors, they can breathe.

[artemuerto]

Shelby Household Manor

Pairing: Thomas Shelby/Male Reader

Trigger Warnings: None. Unnecessary fluff.

Autor Note: You can take this as the original bonus, because while i was doing some research for a new story this idea got stuck in my head, it seems like the Shelby House won't let us go just yet.

Read on AO3

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Leisure

Bonus #2

—7—

His presence was easily known by the man even with his eyes closed. The Shelby’s stayed outdoors for the clear and cloudy mornings were the weather wasn’t freezing. He walked with a slow pace and soon rested his tray on top of the table and while the young servant served the seemly napping Shelby, he could hear the easy, happy giggles from Charlie who was riding his new horse with mister Johnny. The fading clicking sound of the teacup alerted Tommy enough to tilt his head and looked at his servant. In response, the young one smiled brightly and gave the man a cup of warm black tea, it lacked sugar and milk and would never come close to the comfort Tommy felt from whiskey, but the head of the house found himself willing enough to at least indulge his servant into healthier beverages, at least, in the mornings. Later on, would said servant reach out for a bottle and a shiny glass to please his master.

Tommy accepted the cup with a soft lingering touch. Their relationship had grown in the long passing nights turned spring with the breeze of fresh air and blooming of flowers; Tommy was drawn to small, comforting touches that reassured him, his boy was alright. A brush of fingertips when delivering, short glazes in a room full of people, a fleeting hand on a shoulder for a request or the ghost transitory feeling of knuckles behind his back after leaving a room. Mister Shelby’s grown affection was not overbearing but always welcome, it made the boy feel safe. The boy was about to give Tommy another cigarette when Charlie demanded their attention.

Charlie was running toward them, they could hear him as the youngest Shelby scream for his father and later on for the boy standing besides him; Charlie had grown close to the boy to the point where he would only listen to the servant opposite to his father, the rest of the Shelby’s fought over that fact but also loved to tease the poor boy who flustered in shame, muttering apologies. In Charles’ eyes he was part of his family and the Shelby’s not only knew it but accepted as well. Charlie rested in his father’s arms only to beg moments after to be put on the boy’s arms later, even if he was growing tall for the touch to be comforting anymore, Charlie was never denied in cares.

“Dad! I’m able to ride the whole course.” Charlie informed showing his proud smile. The boy had been struggling to stay on his horse long enough to finish his ride around the stables, the animal is not wild but restless, listens to Charlie with a sharp intelligence that only makes Tommy glad but between his boy’s eagerness and the horse’s need to move freely, they have a lot to work on yet. “You should come ride with us.” Charlie said the servant making Tommy have a sip from his tea and wait for a positive answer. The boy smiled not reaching his eyes and shook his head no.

“I don’t ride.” Charlie instead of being sad from that statement looked more perplexed.

“Why?” By now, Tommy’s curiosity was peaked, he didn’t know the answer either.

“I don’t know how to ride a horse.”

And so, of course, that meant both Shelby’s were on their way to teach him how to be on a horse. They didn’t use Charlie’s horse, the poor boy still getting used to Charlie’s way to put him through all that all over again with another person. No, Tommy used one of his own, one horse he used to ride but not for the races, one of the couple he thought truly keeping for himself and finally doing so. The servant followed in awe as his master rode the animal with grace and expertise. Thomas came close to dismount the beast and walked guiding him by the hand so his servant could have a better look. The boy looked strangely afraid and Tommy had to ask.

“Are you alright?” The boy nodded fast and short but Tom was not convinced. Thomas held a hand for his young boy and waited until said boy was braved enough to comply. He could feel the younger one trembling hand.

“I’m scared of horses.” The young one confessed feeling silly for showing such fear in front of a man who could tame them in a heartbeat. Thomas hid a smile for the honesty in his boy’s words and shook his head resting importance to those words, there was nothing wrong with the boy for showing his fears and concerns. Tommy led him to animal and made him touch it first.

“It’s ok, love. He won’t hurt you. All you have to do is know him.” The young boy blushed feeling embarrassed at the dotting manner mister Shelby had, it was not common but not do far fetch and still made him feel odd. The sweet kindness and the share comfort was something he had troubles getting used to, however, mister Shelby never called him on it.

The boy touched the horse’s head and slowly caressed feeling the smoothness of its fur shinning in the morning sun, the animal seemed to catch on his uneasiness and stood still as if waiting to be inspected.

“Hello, beautiful.” The boy continued to feel the horse, slowly getting accustomed as the animal waited and watched, looking pleased to be pampered.

They kept walking around discovering each other under Tommy’s watchful eyes, never he left the servant alone even when Charlie wanted his attention, wanted to play and also ride. Johnny came close after hours stating Tommy was needed in a family meeting. Charlie walked with him by his hand and Tommy on the other side as plans were made for more mornings to come.

—8—

The afternoon sun was dying behind their backs. The young servant had had troubles finding his way and footing closer to the horse but both animal and owner had been patience with his fears, shaky limbs and concerns; by now, the young boy could sit with a saddle on, the first tries had been without one and the boy joked about being a gypsy superstition for his master but after the cold overpowering stared he had for doubting the man’s belief, servant stayed silent accepting his order. Mister Shelby took pity of him and his seemly sadness at not believing his master’s intentions.

“I told you before. You have to know him.” Tommy said placing a comforting hand on his back, low enough to reach the boy’s waist. “If you use a seat right from the beginning, he won’t trust you.” He drank his master’s words and relaxed his shoulders, his whole body turned to the man as his expression let away all his secrets. I’ll trust you no matter what.

He could not lie, the feeling was odd, after struggling to stay on the horse without a saddle, now that he had one —even knowing it should help him now—, he found himself thinking it felt way better being without it. Tommy as if sensing his train of thoughts laughed at his back. For moments, the boy forgot how close they where, mister Shelby convinced him to take a detour as he controlled the horse, riding next to Johnny and Charlie; the young Shelby had been static to know he could keep up with his riding by now, after weeks of practice and a couple of jump scares when he lost control.

The servant boy had fallen not many occasions but one was too many for Thomas’ heart. The Shelby had gone mad in pain seeing how the fragile body of his boy flied seconds before reaching ground with a dry sound, luckily the scared animal had run away from the lying body instead of causing more pain. Tommy had screamed his name in shock and held him in his arms checking he was, in fact, free from harm. The servant was disoriented and his lungs screamed internally for air, but other than bruises, the boy was fine. He had tried to convinced mister Shelby he was ok to walk but the man had refused to let him go, deciding to hold in in his arms and walked all the way back to the house in a steady pace.

He came back to his senses with the strong feeling of Tom’s arms flexing underneath his weight, his warm breath and the beating heart that claimed the servant as his one desire, and the whispering of his master asking whatever deity he believed for the boy to be ok. Needless to say, Charlie stood by his side all night after he went to sleep. What the boy wasn’t sure it was a sleepy dream or a blurry reality was the touch of Tommy’s dry lips on his forehead as he bedded goodnight and a promise of never letting anything happen to him again.

Taking a ride in the afternoons had become a new hobby for the family, Johnny took Charlie while Tommy rode with him, usually letting him practice by taking a hold on the animal and with each passing day, the boy seemed to be getting only better, Charlie used to ask for the servant to ride with him on the way back but Tommy found himself missing the comforting warmth his boy gave to his chest. It was on one of those rides back home where Tommy felt bold enough to make a move.

Feeling the boy shiver due to cold breeze, Tommy made him stay closer, covering him with his coat, he felt the boy melt in his touch and soon, talked in murmurs low enough to make him tremble in a new sense of anticipation. The careful touch of Tommy’s hand through his back, all the way until it rested on his waist, spoke of promises to come.

The slow and smooth steps of the horse only served to make more prominent the sensual touch as they moved as one and finally stood in front of the barn, the sky tainted with dark orange and fading reds. The boy moaned after Tommy left his hands rest on top of the other’s thighs, giving him the freedom to decided, the boy could move away, take Tom’s hands aside and any thought would be forgotten with the sleeping sun, or could let Tommy invaded him forever, made a home for himself within and live under his skin.

Tommy didn’t even try to hide his smirk when his boy’s cheeks lighted in crimson but surprisingly so, his boy retaliated with a kiss.

An innocent touch that connected their lips in a simple brush and took both of their breaths away. Giving Tommy the taste of something so sweet and pure. And his.

[pynches]

for @non-platonic-murphamy​ aka the best girlfriend in the world! happy birthday my love, I hope you like it <3

People deal with pain differently. Some lose themselves in the bodies of others, others crop up the pain inside until it becomes unbearable, threatening to explode and taking everybody with it in its vicinity, but in Ronan’s case, alcohol had been his biggest helper.

He didn’t drink before his father’s death, always saw it as something grown-ups did, a category he definitely didn’t belong in at fifteen. But there he was, a dreamt up id-card in hand, his curly hair replaced by a buzzcut and the angry lines of a fresh tattoo tangling around his neck. He bought his first beer then and didn’t stop.

Adam never saw the beginning, how Ronan was before his father’s death and how he dealt with it right after. He was, however, there to see the end of it. How Ronan learned to cope in a healthier way than getting himself wasted and the self destructing tendencies that followed. He was proud of how much Ronan had grown since then, how much happier and calmer he seemed now.

That’s why, when Ronan announced that he was going to the bar with Blue who had just returned with Gansey and Henry from their big road trip, Adam was a bit apprehensive. Not because he didn’t trust Ronan or because he thought Ronan would cheat on him in a drunken stupor but because he was afraid Ronan would fall back into his old tendencies if he started again. The only drunk Ronan he knew was one of self-destruction and anger and he wasn’t keen on seeing that side of him again, not with the progress he had made over the years.

Of course, he told him to go, have fun, say hi to Blue for him.

Adam stayed at the Barns himself, alcohol only reminded him of his father and he had an early morning at Boyd’s the next day since he had been all too happy to have Adam back for the summer holidays so keeping an eye on both Blue and Ronan wasn’t an option for him even though he desperately wanted it to be.

His cellphone was placed next to him, the notification sound on to the highest volume in case Ronan needed him. He nearly jumped when he heard his phone go off, picking it up with shaking hands and scolding himself for his anxiety when he saw it was just a snap from Blue.

Adam put his phone away without responding and turned on the tv, hoping it would settle his nerves at least a little bit. He wanted Ronan to have fun and live his life but the thought of losing him because he drank too much and did something stupid like pick a fight with the wrong person made his stomach feel tight.

He sat through one episode of a random tv show he barely followed before he got another notification, this time from Ronan himself.

Adam couldn’t help but smile a bit, feeling more rested now that Ronan was still sober enough to send coherent text messages. Though it had scared him at first, he was now happy that Ronan knew him well enough to send something like that to ease his mind.

Adam put his phone away.

And so the night dragged on.

Adam went from watching tv to doing homework he didn’t even had to do until later that week. He stayed up longer than he had since St. Agnes where he often dedicated those precious sleeping hours to the mountains of homework he had to go through, that being the only time he had for it. Now that he studied at Harvard on a scholarship and didn’t have to work more than one job anymore, he had a much more regular sleep pattern and he felt healthier than ever before.

Some things, though, were hard to unlearn.

He easily stayed up until Ronan finally texted him he was coming home, or well, he thought that was what he was trying to say.

Ronan typed like he was absolutely smashed and it didn’t ease his mind one bit but he trusted Ronan to know what he was doing. Ronan had always made it safely back home, even when he didn’t like life as much as he did now.

He wanted to message back so many things. Please be careful. I can’t lose you. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.

He eventually went with: Okay, I’ll see you soon.

To take his mind off the worry he felt, he made his way upstairs and got himself ready for bed. He had just turned off the lights and gotten into bed when he heard someone stumble through the door and it would’ve worried him if not for Ronan’s familiar cursing ringing through the quiet house.

Ronan made his way upstairs, punctuated by the sound of his heavy boots on the creaky staircase. He opened the door of their bedroom and started to undress himself without even uttering a word, his movements sluggish and clumsy.

Adam watched him in slight amused, raising an eyebrow at him when he just stood there in the dark, seemingly staring at him in mild confusion.

“Are you coming to bed?” Adam asked, muffling a slight laugh at the fact that Ronan didn’t even recognise him. Though, he was curious to see what Ronan would do. Ronan didn’t do casual and Adam knew Ronan was utterly devoted to him, but if he really didn’t recognise Adam in the dark and thought it was a random guy, then how would Ronan even respond to that.

“No, thanks,” Ronan said, his words a bit slurred. “I’m sure you’re lovely and all but I have a boyfriend.”

And with that he dropped to the floor and promptly went to sleep. Adam couldn’t help but laugh quietly at Ronan’s words, how he seemed more polite drunk than sober, a vast difference from how he used to be. He also felt a warmth spread through his chest at how Ronan still thought about him, even in his completely wasted state, how he went to sleep on the floor without even thinking twice. It reminded Adam of those nights at St. Agnes when they used to sleep like this all the time, both still too scared to admit what they were really feeling to each other but to themselves as well.

Adam went to sleep with the ghost of a laugh still pulling at his mouth and woke up to a disoriented Ronan trying to get into their bed.

“I cannot fucking believe I didn’t recognise you,” Ronan said, his voice still gruff from sleep. “My back is fucked now.”

Ronan plastered himself against Adam’s back, throwing an arm around his waist, and Adam automatically leaned into his body heat. “You used to do that for me all the time,” he pointed out with a laugh. He couldn’t help but feel a little bad that he made Ronan sleep on the floor so many times, though he wouldn’t have been able to sleep if Ronan was next to him, pressed against him like he was now.

“Yeah, well, I was younger then. More resistant against floors.”

“It was last year!”

Ronan dropped a kiss to the back of his neck, Adam thought he could feel him smile too.

They laid there in comfortable silence. Adam was already slowly sinking back into sleep, his body fully relaxing now that Ronan was lying next to him, when Ronan spoke up again.

“I behaved,” Ronan mumbled into his skin. “Didn’t fight anyone, didn’t mess up.”

“I trusted you,” Adam said defensively, though he knew he didn’t fully. He put his hand on top of the one Ronan had curled around his waist. Ronan stayed silent, it felt expectant. “Okay, fine, maybe I was a bit nervous but I won’t be anymore.”

“That’s better,” Ronan said with a sharp grin before turning Adam around so he could look at him properly. “I’ve changed,” he said and Adam could hear how much it cost him to admit it to himself, to feel good saying it.

“I know and I’m proud of you,” he replied, tracing Ronan’s sharp jaw gently. “I’m sorry I didn’t before.”

“I understand why,” Ronan said softly, taking Adam’s hand in his own and kissing his palm. “But you don’t have to worry.”

Adam nodded and let Ronan play with his hands, enjoying Ronan’s ever gentle touches. “How did the others do?”

“I had to carry the maggot home, I think, and Noah got stuck in a tree.” Adam opened his mouth to fire off a round of question but Ronan shook his head. “I have no idea what happened either but maybe I will after some painkillers. My head fucking hurts.”

Adam nodded and cradled Ronan’s head close, dropping a kiss on his forehead. It would take him a while to get used to this, Ronan slowly enjoying his young adult life more with the sometimes drinking that came along with it and the fear Adam still possessed for strong liquid, having seen the possible effects of it up close and personal. But Ronan wasn’t like that and it was something he had to learn. Much like everything else, this was something they had to grow into together and Adam had no doubt in his mind that they would succeed in that.

But for now, teasing Ronan on the internet was a good way of dealing with it.

[johannstutt413]

(requested by calligomiles)

“Hey, General, can you try something for me?” Gummy came home one day with a box from the kitchen. “My friend made a cake, and it’s really good, so I brought you a piece.”

“Huh. Thanks, Rada.” Zima took the box and the fork the chef provided and popped it open. Inside was a rather...strange-looking slice of cake. The form itself was essentially perfect - two layers of cake with some strawberry jam or something like it gluing them together and evenly frosted along the outside - but the deep shade of purple on everything was rather disorienting. What flavors were the components supposed to be? Were the black flecks in the cake itself fruit or chocolate? Nothing in Ursus, or even Rhodes Island, looked like this…

Still, she knew better than to take appearances at face value, and if her gourmand friend thought it was good, who was she to refuse trying it? Sonya stabbed into it, pulled off the front corner, and took the bi- WHOA. “Your friend made this?” She asked, coping with the rapturous delight with her usual composure.

“Yeah! Do you like it?” Gummy came back from putting away her vaul- shield and fighting pan, but as soon as she did, she knew the answer. “I’ve watched her cook, and I don’t know how she does it. It’s like nothing else, right?”

“...I want to meet her. Who is she?”

Rada smiled, but it was rather strained. “Um, well, I think you’ve probably heard of her...Blue Poison, the Sniper?”

“The toxicologist?” Zima looked at the fork in her hand and swallowed. Hard. “She bakes?”

“Yeah, and she’s really sweet as a person, too. I don’t get why people are so scared of her...well, I guess there’s rumors that go around, but they aren’t true.”

The general thought about what she’d heard, for the first time from a critical perspective - that her saliva was a critical component in her darts’ poison, that she coated anything she touched in toxins that could kill a person in moments, that she asked people to touch her so she could eliminate her competition and finally be with the Doctor...and realized just how much bullshit she’d accidentally swallowed without thinking about it. “They couldn’t be, and even if they were, I’m sure the baking takes care of any lingering toxins. I want you to introduce us - invite her over for dinner or something before the end of the week.”

“Yes, General!” Rada’s smile brightened; she loved when she got orders she was going to act on anyway. “If she’s free tomorrow, would that be too soon?”

“No, if she’s free, that should be fine. Thank you, Rada.”

The chef saluted her. “Конечно, товарищ генерал!”

“...Is this whole slice for me?” Zima looked at the rest of it, wondering if Anna or Rosalind might want some. “There’s enough to split.”

“As you wish, General! I’ll go ask them.” With that, Gummy went off, leaving Sonya to her thoughts...and another bite of the cake. It was given to her first, after all.

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

Blue Poison sighed, watching the dessert table with the normal degree of disappointment. Usually, only two or three portions were taken from her contributions - those being the Doctor’s, Gummy’s, and Glaucus’ - which meant she often had leftovers, and it always made her dream of the days her cakes barely lasted half an hour after she made them. One of a few things she missed from home, if she was honest, but there was no point in thinking of going back there…

There was a tap on her shoulder, and she jumped. “Oh, Gummy. Sorry, I was just...thinking. Do you need something?”

“I took a piece of your cake to my friends like I said, and they all loved it! Leto and Istina had to go on a mission, but the General and I were wondering if you’d like to eat dinner with us tonight. I’m making waffles!”

“Waffles for dinner?” The Anura smiled; Gummy had a way of making that happen. “That sounds delightful. What time are you expecting me?”

She shrugged. “I’ll start cooking 1800ish? But really any time after work is fine; if you come earlier, it’s just more time for us to hang out!”

“I think I’ll head over after I change out of this...Have I met ‘the General’ before?”

“I don’t think so.” The Ursus replied. “I’m pretty sure she’d remember meeting you.”

Blue raised an eyebrow. “You think so?”

“You remind me of her favorite UFC fighter, so I think you’d stick in her mind pretty easily. Oh, actually, I also came back here for some scones. Gotta run, talk to you tonight!” And there she went.

“Hmm...Dinner with Gummy and her friend.” The Anura looked at her muffin tin before nodding to herself. “I know just what to bring.”

A few hours later, after helping with dinner and heading to her room for a change of clothes, Blue Poison found the USSGG’s suite and knocked. A bright Ursan voice called from beyond it, “I’ll be right there!” Sure enough, Rada was less than a minute later. “Hi, Blue! I’m glad you showed up sooner rather than later~”

“It’s been awhile since someone’s invited me somewhere, so I got kind of excited. Is your General-”

“Hey, Rada, is she-” Zima emerged from the back room, already in her pajamas, and standing in the doorway across from her was one of the most beautiful women she’d ever seen. “...Evening.”

Blue waved with her fingers, as there was a tray of cupcakes in her arms. “Good evening. I hope I’m not overdressed.”

“Oh, it’s fine! The General doesn’t really have anything else that’s really casual-”

“Rada, could you take the cupcakes to the table for her?” Sonya, in spite of herself, was blushing from the combination of awe and embarrassment. “Do you want something to drink, Miss Blue?”

She nodded. “Water will be fine, General.”

“You can call me Sonya; I’ve told Rada she doesn’t have to call me that anymore, but she insists.”

“You’ll always be my General, General!” Gummy sing-songed. “I’ll get the drinks; feel free to sit anywhere, Blue!”

After standing awkwardly for a moment, the Anura sat on the couch. “Thank you. My friends called me Azure back home, if we’re using first names here.”

“Azure, huh? That’s a pretty...cool name.” For some reason, Zima found herself leaning into the tough girl persona she’d perfected in her school days. Maybe once dinner started, she could let it drop.

“Thank you.” Now they were both blushing. “Sonya is, too. Gum- Rada said you liked my cake?”

Thank God, something to talk about. “I’ve never had something so sweet that tasted so natural. Most of the desserts we had back home were just fruit, but chocolate and strawberry together was something I’ve never tried. I’m glad you brought more with you.”

“Guests usually made dessert for the evening where I’m from. It’s how I learned to bake as well as I did.”

“I imagine so,” she agreed. “You seem like someone who’d have a lot of friends.”

Azure sighed. “I did, but...some things happened.”

“Ah...” Shit, she’d made it awkward.

“I have water!” Gummy emerged from the kitchen with glasses for each of them. “Oh, and something a bit stronger, too, just in case!”

The general blinked. “Rada, isn’t that the vodka Natalya got you for your birthday?”

“Yep! I thought tonight was as good a night as any to try it, don’t you think?”

“Vodka?” The Anura looked from one Ursus to the other. “That’s a popular Ursan alcohol, yes? I’ve never tried it before.”

The chef set the tray she was holding down, opened the bottle, and poured each of them a shot. “Yep! It doesn’t do a lot for us, but apparently other people think it’s really strong!”

“Interesting...Cheers.” They clinked shot glasses, and Blue drank it like a normal drink - which meant she very quickly started coughing.

“Are you okay, Azure?” The name really did roll off her tongue...hmm. Come to think of it, didn’t Anura have- No, brain, not the time to think about that. “The idea is to get it as far back into your throat as possible so it burns less.”

She nodded, downing half a cup of water soon after. “Guh~ I’ll know for the next one.”

“You want another?” Gummy cocked her head, already filling another round.

“I do.” Azure lightly slapped her face on both sides. “But only one more.”

Clink! Round 2 went down much better, although she immediately felt it as Rada went back to the kitchen to start cooking. Zima noticed when she picked up her water and was visibly shaking. “Feeling okay?”

“Mmhmm. Just a little woozy...”

“Alright. Let me know if that changes.” The general stretched her arms above her head and yawned. “So uh...” Damn, what to talk about?

Blue was already two steps ahead, apparently. “Gummy told me that I look like your favorite fighter. ‘Zat true?”

“She said that? I don’t think so; your hair’s similar, but outside of that, not seeing a resemblance.”

“Aww.” The Anura pouted. “That’s a shame. I thought you’d think I was cute.”

...Sonya only had one response to that. “I never said you weren’t; you just don’t look like Jolanta.”

“So you think I’m cute?” Azure leaned towards her, holding herself up with her arms and tilting her head to one side. It definitely looked like a frog poised to jump.

“Yeah?” Sticking to her guns. “I like your pigtails.”

She giggled. “Thanks~ You’re pretty cute, too.”

“Well, that’s a first.”

“Whaaaat?” As it turned out, Blue held alcohol about as well as a sponge as it’s being squeezed. “Your girlfriend hasn’t told you that before?”

Sonya shook her head. “She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Oh...Does that mean you’re single~”

“I’m not dating anyone.” The Anura hopped towards her. “Azure, what are you doing?”

More giggling. “Your voice cracked.”

“Hey, do you guys want your waffles thick and fluffy or flat and crispy?”

“Flat!” Both called back in unison. Blue hopped forward again, now only a cushion away. “Just like us~”

Zima sighed. “Look, Azure, you seem nice and all, but I’ve known you like five minutes, so slow your roll.”

“You don’t like me?”

“What? No, I do, I just think this isn’t the way to start.” The Anura retreated, hopping backwards. “Azure...Come back.”

She did. “I just want a hug~ Is that too much?”

“No, a hug is fine.” The Ursus stood up, and Blue leaped to her feet and into her arms.

“Yay.” Azure rested her head against Sonya’s shoulder. “You didn’t ask if I was gonna poison you~”

Zima smirked. “I know that’s a bunch of bullshit.”

“You do?” Her arms settled a little lower along the general’s back.

“It’s obvious you wouldn’t.” One of the Ursus’ hands found its way to Blue’s hair. “You’re not the type to endanger your friends like that.”

Azure nodded. “I’m not...You’re so sweet, Sonya~”

“I’m just being honest with you.”

“Yeah, but...” A tear found its way to Zima’s shoulder. “I miss having friends to hug.”

The general patted the back of her head. “Well, you know where to find us. Rada’s a hugger, too.”

“Mmm. You’re willing to share?”

“I-” The approval caught in her throat. “I...hmm.”

Blue’s eyes, still a bit watery, lit up at the hesitation. “Is that a no?”

“...Maybe. You don’t mind, do you?” She smelled the way a candle called ‘birthday cake’ would, somehow.

“One’s enough for me.” The Anura pulled back to look her in the eye. “Sonya...”

The Ursus smiled back at her. “Yes, Azure?”

“Waffles are ready!” Gummy called from the kitchen.

“...I’ll tell you after dinner.” She poked her nose with a finger. “Shall we?”

Zima let go of the embrace, but immediately after doing so she took her hand and led her to the dining room, both smiling more brightly than they had since arriving at Rhodes Island.

[wastelandcth]

idk if you write angst but could you write an angsty piece of the reader and cal fighting? cal is the dude to not fight and talk it out but maybe they have a fight they never really had before and it kinda goes to shit? the reader leaves for a few hours, leaves her phone at home so she can’t call anyone when she realizes it’s too late and cal calls the boys/girl’s to help find her and it results in seeing the reader a mess bc she thinks her and cal are over but they’re not and it ends in fluff?

okay this was one of my favorite things i’ve written lately so i hope you like this! also...maybe smut?? idk it’s probably not smut but also alluding to smut so 🤷🏻‍♀️

Movie Moments

"Hey man...have you or your missus heard anything from her? I...she hasn't come back home yet and it's getting pretty late." Calum mumbled into the phone as he rubbed his face, leaning back against the couch, "I was thinking maybe she'd gone over to talk to one of the girls but Ash and Mike said they haven't seen her today and neither have their girls. I just, I don't know what to do at this point." he sighed, looking over as he heard Duke whimpering at his feet, the old dog sensing his worries.

Thinking about it now, it had been a stupid fight. A fight that had been bubbling up for days now and Calum had the chance to nip it in the beginning but he was too stubborn of a person to be the first one to break again. He felt like it was always him fucking up and having to apologize for a disagreement. This time it wasn't even that much of his fault, to begin with. So their week began with a rocky start, both of them tiptoeing around each other as they tried to keep the impending fight at bay.

It started when she had left her laptop on the couch again. It wasn't anything intense, just her laptop on the couch. But Calum had gotten home exhausted from the studio and landing back onto the laptop didn't improve his mood, his backache the next morning just adding to his bad mood. Then when he'd left his running shoes near the doorway and she'd tripped and almost fallen on the ground, she couldn't help but utter out a few curse words, kicking the shoes back into the bedroom. But it didn't matter, because when she'd walked out the door at the end of their dumb fight, Calum knew he'd fucked up just as much as her.

"I just don't understand why you're so stubborn and won't accept the fact that I'm trying to help you out here! It's all I ever want to do, help you!" Calum winced at the own harshness of his voice, the thunder in the background making them both jump, "I want to make sure you're okay and that you don't do something stupid!"

Her life felt like a movie sometimes. Sometimes it felt like a teen coming of age movie when she and Calum were driving in the car with the windows down and some upbeat song came on to remind them that they were alive and together in this crazy world. Sometimes it felt like a romance movie, whenever she and Calum kissed and her world stopped because when Calum kissed her she felt like it was just her and Calum in the entire universe. Sometimes her life felt like a shitty romance movie, where the couple gets into a big fight and one of them gets stuck in the rain trying to deal with their feelings.

"I just don't understand why you're like this sometimes! Like, am I not enough for you?! I've tried, I've tried to become the best person I can become and you still treat me like I'm this...like I'm some dumb child who doesn't know how to take care of themself. I'm not a child, Calum! I'm a fucking adult, yeah I may be younger than you and you've seen more of this world than I can ever possibly imagine but you're no better than me. Deep down your just like me, you're just a fuck up who's scared to admit it and I'm just...I'm sick of having to tiptoe around this." her hands were shaking at this point, her hair sticking to her forehead as the rain kept falling around them.

Calum watched as she walked back inside of the house, the storm outside dulling into a sprinkle, not that it mattered much since they had both been soaked already. He watched as she grabbed her bag and her keys off of the counter and made her way towards the front door. He could've stopped her, he knew that if he went in there and apologized that she wouldn't leave, that they'd be able to talk things out. But Calum was being stubborn and he wasn't going to defend himself for wanting to take care of her, it wasn't like he was telling her she wasn't capable of doing so.

She was lost. The winding streets of the city leaving her confused and helpless. She really wished she had remembered to bring her phone when she had stormed out of the house but in her haste to leave, she'd left it. She could imagine it too, the clear case showing off the yellow phone and the polaroid picture of Calum and Duke that she had put there a few months ago, sitting on the coffee table where she had set it down before they'd walked outside to talk. It was probably dead by this time too, since she hadn't charged her phone since the night before. But now she had no way of knowing where she was or how to get back, the moonlight being blocked by the rain clouds that seemed to be mocking her. She could've walked to Ashton's house, maybe even Luke's since they were nearby their own house, but she couldn't face them, she couldn't face anyone at the moment. She'd decided on walking, to clear her mind, and try not to ruin what she had with Calum by saying something she didn't mean while angry. But the rain disoriented her and now she was sat on the curb, her jeans wet, her shoes soaked, and her tears being hidden by the raindrops falling around her.

She could've knocked on the door of whoever’s curb she was currently sitting on, ask them to use their phone to call Calum or one of her friends, but the idea of being kidnapped by them or worse would just prove Calum right and even in her panic she didn't want to deal with him saying 'I told you so' at her funeral. So instead she sat in silence, her body shaking from the cold as she tried to come up with a plan. She could've gone to the main road, tried to find a payphone, but it was late and she didn't really want to bump into the crowds of partying tourists and college students who flooded the night clubs during the weekends. She had been walking for what seemed like hours, she could've been in an entirely new city for all she knew, her sore feet protesting as she stood up to keep walking.

Bright headlights made her eyes squint as she made her way down yet another hilly neighborhood. Her body stiffening as she noticed the car flashing their lights at her and pull up next to her. Her breathing quickened as she prepared herself to bolt, her blood going cold as she imagined the worse. Calum really would've been upset at her funeral if she died like this. Relief flooded her as she heard a familiar Australian accent, watching as Luke parked the car and stepped out, his arms wrapping around her tightly and murmuring how he was glad to find her.

"You want to talk about it?" Luke asked softly as he glanced over at her while he drove them back home. It had been a few minutes since Luke had seen her walking down the steep hill, a few minutes after he'd called Calum and told him that he'd found her and she was safe. She found herself sitting in Luke's passenger seat, the seat warmer doing wonders for her shivering body. She shrugged, looking down at her hands as she thought about what she could say to the blonde.

"I'm not the best with directions, LA is stupid big and I got lost. I personally blame whoever made this city with so many hills and houses that look alike," she mumbled as she looked out the window, smiling weakly as she heard Luke scoff, which she hoped was more of a laugh. "Big cities are the worst. How is he?" she asked as they pulled into the driveway, her eyes landing on Calum who was stood outside of the front door waiting for them, his shoulders relaxing as he saw the car pull in.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled as she stepped out of the car, not expecting to be engulfed into Calum's arms the second she was out. Her arms wrapped around his body, her eyebrows furrowing as she felt his body shake and his uneven breathing on her neck. "C-Calum? I'm okay, I promise. I just got lost and...you were right. I can't take care of myself I'm sorry..." she rambled nervously and held him closer to her, her hand rubbing his back as she tried to calm him down. She'd only ever seen him cry a handful of times and it had never been because of her, the guilt rising up her body as Calum led her inside, thanking Luke as he got back into the car and drove off, giving you both the space you needed.

She followed Calum inside, the quiet house they'd both become accustomed to felt suffocated. The tension heard in their footsteps and in between Calum's sniffles. Her eyes looked towards the coffee table, a sigh leaving her as she saw her phone. She watched him as he walked around the kitchen, getting them both a glass of water and turning off the lights, something he'd do every night before bed. She followed him down the hallway to their bedroom, watched as he set the glasses down on the bedside table before he walked into the bathroom. She slid off her shoes as she heard the shower turn on, walking in to find Calum sliding off his damp shirt. His skin felt like fire against her cold fingertips, helping him slide the shirt up his torso before it fell to the floor with a thud. His eyes met hers, both of them tired and full of sadness as his fingertips played with the hem of her shirt, slowly pulling it off to join his on the floor.

The bathroom had steamed up by the time they'd both stepped into the shower, soft apologies whispered in between kisses. Her back was against the wall, her hands gripping his hair as she gave herself to him. His hands squeezed at her soft skin, the warm water enveloping both of them as they drank each other in. They moved as if they were made for one another, one of his hands holding one of hers above their heads as he left a trail of kisses down her jaw, his mouth whispering against her skin the words he only mumbled to himself when she was asleep. Her free hand tugged on his dark curls, soft moans leaving her as she listened to him, her body on fire as she wondered how she could have ever doubted that this was what she wanted for the rest of her life.

Laying in bed, the rain outside was different. It no longer felt like a movie moment to her. She was no longer stuck in a shitty romance movie. She was lying in the arms of her lover. Listening to his soft breathing as his chest rose and fell with sleep. No, her life no longer felt like that movie anymore, it felt like a dream she didn't want to wake up from. It felt like a poem she never wanted to stop reading. It felt like home, it felt like Calum.

[that-one-fandom-vore-blog]

Accidental Vore 👀

OH I LOVE THIS OKAY BUCKLE UP! May or may not turn this idea into a full fic later. Thanks for the request!

In her defense, it hadn’t seemed like trying to steal a cupful of beer from Adam was a bad idea at the time. It wasn’t like he would’ve noticed. After all, his cup was so damn big, and right fucking there— he’d barely even touched it, and it wasn’t like the massive lightweight would miss the half sip of liquid it would take to fill Kelly’s own cup, right? He’d left the cup unattended, too, on a rickety coffee table, next to a rather easy-to-climb looking stack of books.

It was damn near foolproof.

Damn near being the key part of her little plan. She should’ve seen it coming. She had never been much of a planner— and while close to shitfaced? Her limited decision making skills only slipped further from her grasp.

How the hell was she supposed to have known that he’d drank just enough that she wouldn’t be able to skim her cup over the top without all but doing a yoga pose? How was she she supposed to have predicted that some drunken fuck was going to pick that exact moment to bump the table? She’d barely even managed to cry out before she’d tumbled completely into the barely sipped at cup, the lukewarm liquid sloshing around her in a way that was nothing short of uncomfortable. Shit. Her phone was in her pocket.

This wasn’t something she’d planned for.

All of those thoughts of being able to get back to the party at hand completely left her the second she dipped fully under. This was bad. This was actually really bad. It wasn’t like she couldn’t swim or anything like that, but as she scrabbled uselessly at the sides of the cup, nails dragging across the plastic, she was starting to realize that getting in had been the easy part. Getting out was going to be a fucking ordeal.

Shit.

Taking a moment to properly breathe— it wasn’t like she was drowning (not that drowning in a cup of cheap beer wasn’t a pretty stellar sounding way to go out)— but she needed to think clearly. She just needed to tip the damn thing over, or maybe get someone’s attention... no. That wouldn’t work. The music was thumping through the floor with a volume that was sure to deafen anybody listening in— hell, even the people on the other side of the giant’s neighborhood weren’t going to be exempt from hearing damage.

Tipping it seemed risky, too. It was all the way up on a table, and if she fell from that height, she could end up with some broken bones for sure, but what other option—

The cup jolted. Kelly barely managed to get in another breath of air before she was submerged again, the disorienting sensation of being lifted whilst in a cup not entirely lost on her. It made her insides feel like water. Her kicks seemed to do no good against the rocking motions at all. Gravity didn’t even feel like it had a constant pull— shifting and changing every couple of seconds.

When she reached the surface again, she gave a loud gasp, looking up at—

Oh.

Oh no.

Oh hell fucking no.

There was no mistaking that stupid mess of halfway curly hair, nor the blue baseball cap hiding the worst of it. Shit.

Sputtering for a moment, trying to find her words, Kelly opened her mouth to call out, to cuss at him, to do anything other than uselessly flounder around like she was, but—

Her words caught in her throat.

She’d never found Adam to be scary. She’d met scary giants before, she knew what they were like, but Adam? Adam was on the opposite end of the spectrum. He was a dork. A total and complete loser. One of the few games he could play was checkers, he couldn’t hold his liquor, and he was disgustingly sappy when it came to one Samantha Brown. None of those things were scary— nothing about him was— but as Kelly felt gravity shifting again, tipping her forward—

She was terrified.

Unable to do so much as scream, Kelly was forced to watch as a mixture of fear and alcohol made everything seem slow despite the fact that it was still happening far too quickly for her to stop.

Having Adam pick up the cup was fine— but Kelly had forgotten one thing. What people do with cups at parties.

A set of jaws were opening up to greet her, the alcohol she was soaked with eagerly pushing her forward and toward them. The gleam of teeth were hard to ignore, but beyond that, she could see the damp surface of his tongue, and in the very back, the dark passage of his throat.

She was stunned speechless, though when the wet noise of a swallow caused the level of liquid around her to drop considerably, suddenly, everything seemed to snap back to a proper speed. “SHIT!”

Her cry went unheard. Her legs kicked out frantically in an attempt to keep her from slipping any further— fuck, why had he picked now to start drinking? Breaths coming in quick, sharp bursts, she tried desperately to gather enough air to cry out to him to stop, but it seemed that every time she took a breath in, it was stolen from her by fear, stolen until—

One of her hands clipped up against his teeth.

“ADAM!”

A blast of hot air— his breath— hit her face. Something faintly warm and wet sagged under her weight, and when she went to scrabble against it, it only flexed and forced her forward with a torrent of alcohol that suddenly seemed like it hadn’t been worth trying to get.

No.

“ADAM— A-ADAM, WAIT! ADAM, IT’S KELLY! IT’S ME!”

This couldn’t be happening, this couldn’t be—

The sensations alone were enough to make Kelly painfully aware that it was happening. All of it. She was fully in his mouth. Her heart was thrumming in her ears, loud and unrelenting in its frenzied rhythm, though it was muffled by an all-encompassing gulp.

Kelly fought hard, but in the end, it only forced her into his throat faster. The muscles around her rippled and squashed her little form without pause, and certainly without slowing. Another heavy swallow forced her deeper, and although she was squirming as hard as she could manage— it didn’t feel like enough. It wasn’t enough.

Gasping for air in the tight confines, Kelly kicked against the downward pull, the noises of her cries completely drowned out by the thundering sound of his heartbeat. She could feel it around her at this proximity, and it only served to make her aware that her seconds had to be numbered. Her clock was running out of sand. Out of all the ways to go out, swallowed by her best friend’s boyfriend wasn’t one she’d even considered, but the possibility was quickly becoming a reality.

A reality that was made worse the second she splashed into his stomach, the sudden drop enough to make her suck in a breath of stale air. Her back connected with a slick, soft surface that she all but slid down before she was reunited with the lukewarm beer that she’d been so concerned about drowning in.

She couldn’t move. She couldn’t see. It was pitch black— maybe for the better— in Adam’s belly, and try as she might not to open her eyes and confirm her fears, she knew it didn’t matter. Fear kept her glued to the spot as another swallow from above brought down more shitty alcohol that soaked her to the bone.

It was only when a low, deep gurgle sounded that Kelly found enough energy to attempt standing. It wasn’t worth it. She couldn’t keep herself upright for more than a second— the fleshy walls around her bending under her weight and sending her to her knees. Could he feel this? Did he even know he’d—

God, she couldn’t even think it.

“ADAM!” She tried, her hoarse voice ringing out in her new, living prison. “THIS ISN’T FUCKING FUNNY! LET ME— SP-SPIT ME OUT!” Would he hear her? Would he care if he did? Kelly didn’t know, but at the sound of another heavy gulp, she knew one thing for certain. She was not going out like some fucking snack.

With a terrified, guttural cry, she flung herself at the nearest wall and dug her fingers in. Hard.

He gagged. She heard it from where she was, heard a couple of choking noises that only egged her to attempt continuing until her space was suddenly folded in half. No. Fuck. Fuck! This couldn’t— was this digestion starting? Panic surged through her, and when she ended up flat on her rear in a puddle of liquor, she kicked as hard as she could against the intruding force, hoping, praying that he’d—

“I f-feel kinda... kinda sick... give me a... minute...”

The words buzzed through her, vibrating the fleshy confines she was trapped in. He’d felt it. Good. The fucker had felt it— felt her best efforts, though before she could attempt adding to them, everything started to sway and churn. His footsteps were unsteady. Lurching. Struggling not to get any more wet than she already was, Kelly gasped for breath at every chance she got, borderline hyperventilating.

It was only when the rocking of his footsteps stopped and the music seemed quieter than it had been that something around her shifted, probing at her— his fingers from the outside.

She wasted no time in slamming her weight hard against them and giving a shout. “ADAM!”

If the noise of his breath hitching above her didn’t tell her that he’d heard, his reaction sure did. “Kell—“ he started to say, though he interrupted himself with a hiccup that made everything jolt in place.

“YES, IT’S FUCKING ME! YOU’RE SUCH AN ASSHOLE, YOU KNOW THAT?” Her voice was wobbling as she slammed her fist against where she’d felt his hesitant touch. Fuck how scared he’d sounded. Fuck the noise of his racing heart. Kelly wasn’t going to stop. “YOU FUCKING ATE ME! I— YOU DIDN’T— I TRIED TO STOP YOU AND YOU JUST—“ She broke off into a borderline wail. What little traction she had gained left her when she threw herself against his hand once again, leaving her to collapse in a trembling mees.

“Shit,” came his voice around her, “I didn’t— I didn’t know, I didn’t— oh, fuck— I th-thought I tasted something funny but I didn’t even think that it was—“ He hiccuped again. Kelly winced as everything sloshed in the dark and weakly hammered her fist against his hand again.

“You’re SUCH a fucking ASSHOLE!” Despite the fact that she couldn’t see anything, she glared upward as though he’d feel it. “You— I thought I was going to—“

“You’re n-not, I... I didn’t even— Kelly, are you hurt? D-Did I— did I bite you or some shit?”

Kelly opened her mouth to spit absolute venom his way, though she was stopped by a new sensation. The walls around her were trembling, which meant that... Adam was too. Fuck. Biting back the remarks, Kelly shook her head despite knowing that he couldn’t see it. “No. I’m fine, except for the fact that you fucking swallowed me.”

It was more sarcastic than truly angry. When he pushed at her again, she bit her lip and pressed back.

Silence fell, save for the noises echoing around Kelly in the dark, and not just from the stomach holding her. Adam’s heatbeat and breathing were painfully audible, still a little too fast to be considered calm. God. He was fucking panicked.

For reasons she couldn’t quite place, the thought made her giggle. She could feel Adam’s confusion all around her in the form of tenseness and a questioning prod, but it only made her laugh harder. Her back slid down one of the walls. Was it panic setting in? Probably. All the adrenaline was leaving her as her body went slack, save for the gales of laughter that were wracking her frame.

“Kelly, what— what’s so funny? I— I ate you! I— th-that isn’t okay, it’s not—“

“First off,” Kelly wheezed, “you drank me, dipshit, and second...”

She paused to get her breath back before finishing, barely able to contain her somewhat frenzied giggles. “What the fuck are we gonna tell Sam?”

[bailey-whalieee]

Super-Soldier Snuggles

(summary- y/n finds herself having sleeping problems after her parents death and  her two super-soldier boyfriend's are there one step at a time.)

✮

Six months and five days. Every liquor bottle in the house had been empty since then. Her shoulders were slumped, her eyes carried pain that everyone feared would never go away. The young girl had bags underneath her eyes.

And when the two super-soldiers came rushing through the door that night, every bottle of alcohol in the fridge had been drank. The liquor was gone and their girl was on the road to alcohol poisoning.

But, it's six months and five days later. She was sober, not on her deathbed, and learning to grieve with the death of not one, but both of her parents. It was a long road to get where they were now. No matter what though, Steve and Bucky stayed with Y/n. Even when, she broke down in the car because their favorite song came on or the time she came home from work in hysterics because she had a hard day and wanted to call her mom.

Now, things were getting better. Y/n was seeking comfort in her two husbands and a grief counselor, that they begged her to see.

Grief was a tricky problem, because she fought it off daily. It was hard wrapping her mind around the fact that her childhood house wasn't her's anymore or how her children aren't going to have grandparents.

Y/n had found clever ways of hiding the problem. Staying up late watching stupid sit-coms only to silently sob half-way through them when Steve and Bucky were finally asleep. Driving around the block she used to live on as a kid. Suppressing the memories down with vodka and prozac.

It was easy for Steve and Bucky to tell she wasn't fine. There's only so much someone can do to hide the potent smell of vodka on their breath or on their lips.

Sleep wasn't much of an escape either. Hell, Y/n had got down on her knees and begged for the man above to rid her of the torment in her dreams. She dreaded it. It was just another chore. Steve had been awoken by her harsh movements and breathing during the nights many times, so was Buck.

She usually woke up in short pants checking to make sure they were both still asleep-of course they weren't- and then Y/n would drag her aching limbs out of bed and into the kitchen where she would stay. Then eventually, she would fall asleep with her cheek pressed against the cool counter and one of the men would come scoop her up and back into bed she would go.

It was painful for them to watch her go through this. She was struggling but refused the help. The counseling sessions stopped, the opening up stopped, Y/n stopped. Their girl had fallen within herself and nothing was helping.

Steve and Bucky were sitting in the living room after a long search through SHIELD files for details on their next mission. Y/n headed off to bed ages ago and from what JARVIS was reporting back, she was actually getting adequate sleep.

A long sigh escaped the captain's mouth, making the man next to him look up from the file.

"What's on your mind, Stevie?" Bucky put the file on the coffee table, giving his attention to his husband.

Steve's brow creased with worry and there were a million thoughts shooting through his mind. He was anxious. Bucky sensed it the moment Y/n uncurled herself from the chaise longue sofa and bid her short goodnight. He was worried about their wife.

"I'm really worried about her Buck. I mean, when are we going to stop beating around the bush and tell her we know she's not okay. I don't want her slipping back into alcoholism and refusing to open up to us.. I don't want her to get that bad again. I just, why did this have to happen to our girl? She doesn't deserve this, Buck," Steve spilled.

Tears were welling up in the blonde's eyes as he shook his head. Bucky paused before deciding to answer his husband.

He knew what Steve meant. The recovery process was in no means linear, but when Y/n lost them, they watched her life become heavily involved around alcohol and escaping. She had gotten so drunk that she was just drunk all the time for the first month after their deaths.

Bucky and Steve were quick to catch the forming addiction and put an end to it. Y/n went to a rehab therapist, sought out help for the oncoming addiction and got better. It didn't mean that stopped her from slipping up a time or two.

"I know. I'm worried too, Steve. I just wish there was something we could do about it-" his answer was cut off short when JARVIS chimed in above the two men.

"Mr. Barnes, Mr. Rogers, Ms. Y/n seems to be having a nightmare. Her breathing is erratic and her heart rate is climbing, you should probably check it out sir's."

They both let the files hit the floor and they rushed with urgency to their shared bedroom. Y/n had nightmare's, but they were never this bad. She was thrashing and pleading in the heap of covers that were shoved on top of her.

Sweat glistened on her skin, tears flew down her cheeks rapidly. Small, "no, please, no, no," were escaping her mouth.

Y/n was not familiar with the room she was currently in.

Blurry and soft ivory whites met her vision as she glanced around. It did not feel right being here. A loud ticking clock clouded her hearing. Angel sculptures were littered around the pristine room. Her movements were light and airy as she moved around the room.

She was brought into another room filled with several large clocks.

"What the hell is going on?" she whispered out.

The sound of two voices startled the young woman. They sounded so familiar and missed to her ears. Her head whipped in every direction trying to figure out where or who was coming. The woman soon realized it was the two people she missed more than anything.

Her mother and father.

"Mama! Papa!" she cried out running into their arms, where she was welcomed and loved always.

Tears were overflowing from her eyes as she held onto her parents. "Why are you crying sweet child? You have nothing to fear, for we are right here," her mother cooed patting down her hair.

"I love and miss you guys and I have so much I need to tell you and ask-"

Her father smiled before quieting her rambling, "we must leave now."

Y/n's face dropped, and sobs attacked her ribcage. "Wait! No! Please! No! Mama! Papa! NO! PLEASE NOT AGAIN!" she sobbed, falling to her knees reaching out for her beloved parents once more. Images from memories much like this one, scattered her brain.

"Doll!"

"Y/n, baby come back to us! You're okay, sweet girl!"

Her eyes snapped open and immediately she sat up. Disoriented and confused, Y/n tried to make sense of the incident she had. All she was met with was two very worried husbands that were on either side of her.

Her shoulders slumped back and her soft lips quivered. Choking out small, feeble sobs Y/n crumbled into their hands. "Sh-sh-sh.. You're going to be okay, doll," Bucky coaxed.

She completely broke in Steve's arms, suffocating on the sobs that clawed their way up her throat. Y/n shook and trembled in the captain's arms clutching onto the thin grey shirt he had on. Bucky peered up to his husband, Steve's face held a solemn expression as he tried to calm the hysteric woman.

"Hey, hey, hey.. You're okay, Y/n. Babydoll you gotta breathe," Steve reminded, smoothing down the mess of hair that stuck to her cheeks due the amount of tears spilling from her eyes. Bucky gently grasped her shoulders and forced her to sit up, allowing her airways to be less constricted

Y/n gasped and sputtered on air, “I can’t. I can’t do this. I don’t wanna do this anymore!”

Bucky’s hand fell upon her cheek and she leaned into the embrace. Steve did the same, hoping maybe the touch would soothe her. Still, she fought the air that was trying to force itself down her throat.

“Y/n, baby, sweetheart, you have to breathe. I need you to focus on breathing, can you do that for us honey? Hmm?” Bucky encouraged rubbing his thumb over her crimson tinted cheek. Her eyes darted all over their room as she tried to focus.

Her mind was far too scattered to focus on taking deeper, slower breaths. Y/n grew frustrated with herself.

“Doll, look at me. C’mon look at me,” she clenched her eyes shut ignoring Steve’s soft commands. She wanted to at least prove she could calm herself.

“Baby, please look at Stevie. Let us help you,” Bucky urged, gripping her shaky hand.

Y/n finally unclenched her eyes, locking them with Steve’s. “In through your nose and out through your mouth, baby. I know you can do this. Bucky and I aren’t going anywhere, I promise. We are going to stay right here as long as you need us, Y/n. Just need you to breathe, okay?” he hushed.

She reached out for his hand and interlocked it with hers, never failing to keep her gaze with Steve. “Baby, you remember the time that you saw that Corgi in the park and practically begged Buck and I to buy one ‘cause of his fluffy butt? Or the time that you were making a birthday cake for me and you completely forgot about it so it was practically burnt to ash?”

Her ragged breathing stopped and a small giggle tumbled out of her mouth. “Atta girl, look at how beautiful our baby is, Stevie!” Buck gushed causing the captain to chuckle and Y/n to blush.

She wiped her irritated eyes and mumbled out, “thank you..”

“Now, do you wanna tell us what caused you to get so worked up? You really scared us there, doll.”

She tensed at Bucky’s words  and looked down at her hands. “Buck, Stevie.. I-I’m not okay. I’m really not okay. And I- I just.. I didn’t want to tell you guys because I was doing so good, but I really wasn’t. I’m still hurting. Everyday. I just- I can’t do it. I can’t believe it, I don’t want to,” she ranted, a few tears slipping out, “and I can’t sleep. I keep having nightmares. I’m sorry I lied.. “

“Awe, Y/n listen to me. Bucky and I are never going to fault you for missing your parents. That is all natural. Grieving is not going to lead you down a straight path, dollface. You’re going to have days where you can’t get out of bed and days that you can. Honey, you just need to take it one day at a time, yeah?” Steve smiled softly, kissing her forehead.

Y/n just couldn’t contain it, she threw her arms around Steve. He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her, tightening the hug. “Come’ere Buck, join us,” Steve opened one of his arms to welcome him into the hug as well.

Bucky snickered enclosing the gap between the three of them. He allowed his shin to rest against one of Y/n’s shoulders. They all stayed like that for a minute, basking in the love and contentment of one another.

For once, Y/n felt at peace. All she could feel was the warmth of being smashed in between the two super-soldiers. Bucky moved from the hug, hearing soft snores coming from the woman. “I think we wore out with all the snuggles?” he snorted, moving pieces of hair away from Y/n’s face.

“I guess so. Let’s hit the hay, Buck. It’s getting pretty late,” Steve glanced over at the clock. Two-thirty am shined brightly on the digital clock.

He let Y/n hit the soft king bed curling up into both Bucky and Steve’s arm. Before they knew it, they were out like lights, and Y/n didn’t disrupt from sleep the rest of the night. She found comfort from the snuggles they showered her with.

✮

[scnreiis]

Friday 16 October 2020; Evening. You arrive at the Olympus Strip to find your manager waiting for you at the door, a worried expression on their face. As they lead you to the back they inform you one of your female dancers is acting strangely. Not only has she been extremely aggressive since arriving, her pupils are dilated and whites of her eyes appear more grey than white. Your manager thinks she may be high on Stallion but when you see her you’re not too sure.

You know this woman is very poor with her money management and is a gambler at heart. You think she may have drank corrupted water and ended up infected. If so, this will be the first real case of corruption seen in a humanoid in Kadeu.

As evening settles over the silhouette of Olympus Strip, it’s owner slips from her fiercest form into the one more accepted by the patrons of her establishment. She coughs a little as she takes her bipedal stance grimacing at the taste of blood left in her mouth from her earlier meal. She always despised shifting so shortly after she’d fed but she was running late on all accounts today and she couldn’t waste time waiting for her food to digest. She had never gotten used to the lingering flavour of some pathetic fool’s aorta on her human form’s palette. It still amazed her how something that was so mouth-watering to her when she looked like her native species was suddenly so bitter and stomach-turning when she wasn’t. She unlocked the backdoor slipping inside and grabbing the canteen and robe labeled with her name from the chest she kept near the back door. Over the past few months, this had slowly become the most expensive little hideaway in the entire building. She swished the liquid between her cheeks and gargled it spitting what was left out onto the pavement before slamming the back door shut and wiping at her mouth with the back of her wrist as she shrugged on the silk feathered garment. It was at a time like this that two things dawned on her: She was lucky to be privileged enough to just waste a precious resource on fixing such a childish pet peeve and she could practically hear her mother’s voice in her head telling her that she was being unlady-like, but that had never been a word that applied to her, anyway. 

For a moment, she was focused on guzzling down half of the remains of the canteen when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see her favourite employee. The manager that she’d hired and instilled a decent amount of fear in. That wasn’t her favourite way to keep up people in check but this guy was so easy to scare that it was comical. She had hired him, of course, for his strength as a Strongarm to keep girls safe but it was their little secret that he was a relatively gentle soul. As she looked up at the man who was nearly twice her size, he bowed gently. Before he was even fully standing, he began informing her of the current tragedy. There was always a tragedy. From dancers slipping and twisting their ankles to starved succubi needing energy before they got on stage and saw men filled to the brim with coursing veins of lust.  The look on his face as he spoke, though, told her that it was something more serious now. His hands were almost shaking as he explained and led her to the private room that the dancer usually began her shift in. The manager had mentioned Stallion and at first, Rei believes him. To say that this dancer doesn’t have the best reputation amongst her co-workers would be an understatement. There were always rumours about her, either from the customers or other dancers so that wouldn’t have shocked her. Her mind begins to doubt, though, as the Manager gingerly swings open the door of the enclose space.

Her first thought? Thank god we got this place soundproofed last month. Why? There’s this sickening loud thwacking in the corner offset by a deep thump. thwack. thump. thwack. thump. It’s almost as if the girl is in a haze, unable to notice the trails of blood now forming on her forearms as her skin breaks against the now splintered and muddied walls of the suite.  ❝ Amneris.... ❞ The Heart empowers her more dulcet tones in an attempt to get the attention of her employee. She’s no fool and part of her immediately knows that this isn’t Stallion and it doesn’t look like any other drug, either. At least, nothing that she’s seen before and being the owner of a strip club and a high-ranking Heart, there’s no drug that exists in Kadeu that she hasn’t seen or tried herself. This had to be something bigger. Despite thinking this is something powerful, maybe even more powerful than her powers could overcome, she tries to appeal to the woman’s looser side, anyway. If seduction didn’t work, there were always other things she could turn to. 

The woman’s ears immediately twitch with an almost inhuman speed, she turns to face Rei. There’s a slight hesitation and for a moment, Rei thinks that she sees some sort of recognition in the woman’s eyes but it’s only slight. Almost before Rei has time to dodge away, the woman lunges at her leaving what looks like a dent in the velvet-lined wall.  ❝ Holy Mother of Hearts, that’s fucked up.... ❞ Baby muttered under her breath. It’s immediately apparent that this won’t be as simple as conjuring some illusion or knocking the woman out. That type of strength definitely wasn’t natural and even worse, it wasn’t something she could fight back against. Strength wasn’t how she won fights. She was quick and skilled at well-placed punches and illusion but sheer strength and what seemed like mind-shredding confusion wasn’t something she’d come in contact with so she didn’t know exactly what to do. Her eyes meet the managers and she nods towards the woman who still seems a little disoriented by her clash with the plywood.  ❝ I’ll distract her with an illusion as best I can but you need to catch her when her guard is down. I’m not strong enough to hold her on my own, ❞ 

A simple nod is all she receives from the man and that’s all she needs. Rei’s eyes close and her body becomes so still, it’s even unclear that she’s breathing. Her ears twitch as if she’s back in her most comfortable form. It was usually her ears that stuck around. The tails and sometimes her claws but almost always her ears. The wiggled back and forth as she focused and then suddenly, her eyes shot open. They had turned from pools of brown to a beautiful pink-ish pearl that matched the fur she was currently missing. This would’ve been so much easier if she weren’t human-ish at the moment. She’d practiced illusion so well to lure men into her grasps as a fox but when she was on two feet, it was never as easy. Still, though, she managed to conjure up enough of her presence to make herself look like she was in three places at once. This mind was a bit harder to effect and this plan definitely wasn’t fool proof but the most she could hope for was that the girl was too far gone to realize that she was being duped. Now, all Rei had to do was hope that the girl didn’t pick the wrong clone.

Just as the thought crosses her mind, the girl lunges at her again and in sheer fear, Rei phases suddenly tumbling across the room and landing in a pile of what looks like black fur and pinkish tails on the ground. She shakes her head a bit as she rises to her paws, there’s still more than one of her and now, the illusions are stronger. They’re more stable for her in this form and she feels lucky for it, suddenly because the girl isn’t sure where to look. She turns her back to the manager for a moment and a shrieking bark leaves Rei’s throat. The ear’s piercing cry seems to drive the woman mad and in that split second, the manager lunges and so does Rei. She pushes all of her force down against her hind legs leaping in the air. While the manager tackles the woman’s body, Rei makes a point of jumping high enough for a well-placed hit to the head and finally, it seems like the woman is down. There’s a small twitch from the woman’s hand that makes Rei take a hesitant few steps back but once it’s clear the threat has been subdued, she shifts back to her human form. As she stands there bare, she looks around the room for her robe that slipped off during the fight and rolls her eyes at the manager.  ❝ Well, don’t stare. It’s not like you’ve never seen a naked woman before. Have you...seen a naked woman before? ❞ She leans over abandoning the thought of the robe for a moment and placing a finger under his chin. She grins as she leans in close, her foot on the dancer’s neck to prevent any unforeseen mishaps, in case, her presence overwhelms the man too much for him to hold the other down.  ❝ Soak it in. I don’t frequent mirrors, but I’m sure it’s quite the view, ❞

Though she plays it cool as she stands straight and struts across the now scattered room for her robe, her mind is reeling. If this girl isn’t on Stallion then that doesn’t leave many options since not many things do...well, this, to a human. She couldn’t be...At least, Rei would’ve been astonished if... Maybe she’s corrupted? But she’d gotten to work without anyone noticing or maybe people did notice and they assumed the same thing that Rei had which was that a human being corrupted was...unheard of. Sure, this phenomenon was new but she hadn’t heard of that before. Still, it was strange and she wanted, no she needed, to know more.  ❝ Restrain her...somehow. She’s unconscious. Be creative. Get kinky or something, ❞ She tied the robe tight as she made her way to her office slinking in and locking the door. Any other disasters would have to wait. 

She pulled out the box that held her Amulet. While it wasn’t exactly a prized possession, as she preferred speaking in person, it was still convenient even if it was so rarely used that it remained in the ornate box it had been given to her in. Normally, she’d have just seen Joui in person and approached him with the woman in tow but the situation was delicate and they weren’t so far from opening time for the Strip. This clearly had to be handled differently and so as she prepared to make the call, she hoped and prayed that this was going to be the first and last time she’d ever have to.

❝ Hey, old man....something’s come up and you’re gonna wanna take a look at this- ❞

[emospritelet]

Communion - chapter 3/4

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4 Ch 1] [Part 4 Ch 2]  [AO3]

81: “Come sit by the fire”

x

Belle was disoriented when she woke, the bed at the inn harder than she was used to and the grey light of dawn coming from the wrong place. It took several minutes before she realised it was Christmas Day, and she ran her hands over her face with a yawn. Going to the window, she could see that fresh snow had fallen in the night, a smooth layer of pristine white over what had already lain on the ground, and she shivered a little. The sky was clear, the sun just starting to rise, and it looked as though the day would be fine, if cold. Perfect for going to see the father of her child to discuss what they were going to do to plan for its arrival. Which according to him included lessons in Latin and the identification of poisonous fungi.

She had slept poorly, mind working through what Gold had said to her about who and what he was, and what their child would be. Shock. It must have been shock at the news. There was no other explanation she could think of for what he had said, other than him deliberately making fun of her, and she hadn’t thought he was that sort of man. Hopefully a night to digest her news would have made him more inclined to have a serious discussion about the future.

Taking a shower made her feel better, and she dressed in a warm woollen dress and thick tights above heavy boots, brushing out clean, shining hair. She was too nervous to feel hungry, but she was aware that the baby wanted food, even if she didn’t, so she ate some toast and butter and drank three cups of tea. The diner was quiet, the only other occupant a stocky man with a bristling beard. He was ploughing his way through a plate of eggs and bacon, a cup of coffee steaming by his side, and had the heavy eyes and surly expression of the hungover. Belle elected not to disturb him.

When she stepped out of the diner, the air was cold enough to make her catch her breath, and she shivered, pushing her chin down into her scarf as she walked. She was surprised to find Gold’s shop locked and silent, and after peering through the windows with no sign of him, chewed her lip in frustration. He had said he would be doing inventory, but perhaps his late start was a nod to the holiday. Or perhaps he was at home, wherever that was, quietly panicking over becoming a parent.

It was too cold to stand around and wait, so she decided to explore the town a little before trying the shop again, and set off at a brisk walk. The street of shops gave way to tree-lined avenues, and a pleasant, snow-covered park. A church poked its steeple out of the trees, a rough stone wall surrounding a cemetery. Belle could see a pretty old building beyond, which she expected was the home of the priest. She pushed her hands deep into the pockets of her coat and walked on.

“Lacey! Lacey!”

Belle glanced around at the sound of running feet, and yelped as a man skidded towards her on the icy sidewalk, tripping and almost falling into her. They grasped at one another to keep their balance, and she found herself looking into an earnest pair of brown eyes in a thin face, brown hair flopping over a forehead creased by lines of worry. The man who had collided with her was dressed all in black, except for a priest’s white collar, and was smiling at her.

“Lacey,” he said breathlessly. “I thought it was you.”

His accent was very Scottish, even more so than Gold’s, and there was an air of excitement about him, an energy that was almost infectious. He was beaming at her, and it made her want to smile back, even if he had mistaken her for someone else.

“Oh, I’m - I’m not Lacey,” she said, and his smile widened.

“You’re going by Belle again?” he asked. “No matter. Your choice, of course. I didn’t realise you were back in Storybrooke.”

“I…” She was about to say it was her first time, but he cut across her, excitement making his words bubble over.

“I just wanted you to know that ever since we met, my life has changed for the better in so many ways,” he said. “I stopped drinking! Just - just stopped, like it was nothing! I never thought I would do that: I was always too scared to try, but ever since - well, ever since—” He pulled a face, looking awkward “—ever since you, I haven’t touched a drop!”

“Er…” Belle was at a loss for words. “Uh - well done!”

“And it’s just made everything so much better,” he went on. “I was feeling so - so lost, like I told you, and it’s like you helped me find myself again!”

“That’s - that’s wonderful!” she said, feeling desperately awkward that he was pouring out his soul to the wrong woman. Perhaps she and this Lacey looked similar, and he had met the other woman while drunk. It would explain why he had them mixed up. Whoever Lacey was, she must have been a force for good, to help this priest find his way again.

“I have to go,” he said, glancing back at the church. “I have Mass at ten.”

“Oh, of course,” said Belle. “Don’t wait around in the cold on my account, Father.”

He grinned broadly, white teeth shining in the morning sun, breath steaming in the air.

“Thank you!” he said fervently. “I mean that, Lacey - uh, Belle - from the bottom of my heart. Thank you!”

He cupped her face with freezing hands and kissed her forehead. 

“Thank you,” he whispered, and then he was gone, hurrying up the street to the church.

Belle gazed after him, brow wrinkled in confusion. This is a very strange town.

She walked on, past the cemetery and towards the edge of town, where the trees grew thick, the bare trunks of birch and maple in amongst thick evergreens. In the distance, the sound of a car engine grew louder, an unpleasant, low roaring in the peaceful morning, and Belle glanced at the road ahead, eyes widening as an old black car she didn’t recognise came swerving into view. There was some sort of rock music blaring from it, which cut off abruptly as it squealed to a stop on the road just ahead of her.

Belle wasn’t sure who she had expected to step out of the car, but it certainly hadn’t been Roni and the blonde woman she had seen in the bar two nights previously. The blonde had a determined look on her face, and she fixed Belle with the light of fervour in her eyes. Roni’s expression, in contrast, was somewhat resigned and wary, and she kept glancing around nervously as she drew nearer.

“Belle,” said the blonde woman firmly. “I don’t believe Roni introduced us the other evening. My name is Emma.”

“Uh…” Belle glanced between the two of them. “Hi?”

Emma smiled warmly, reaching for her hand, and immediately let out a yelp as a spark of electricity snapped between them.

“What the heck!” she spluttered, shaking her fingers.

“Protection spell,” said Roni. “I thought as much. Don’t touch her again, you’ll only hurt yourself.”

“Huh?” said Belle, bewildered. “Protection what now?”

“Belle, please listen to me,” said Emma urgently. “After a great deal of persuasion—” She frowned at Roni. “I managed to find out what happened to you, and I want you to know we’re here to help.”

“Hey, leave me out of this,” said Roni hastily. “I agreed to give you a ride, that’s it.”

“What - what is it you think I need help with?” asked Belle, confused.

“The child you’re carrying,” said Emma. “You know it’s not human, right?”

“I - what?” Belle shook her head. 

“Oh, real subtle,” said Roni sarcastically, folding her arms. “You said you’d break it to her gently!”

“Do you have a better way to tell someone their child is a demon?”

“I don’t know, maybe at least sit her down and make her a chamomile tea first?”

“You think chamomile tea is gonna soften the blow?”

“No, I think a decent shot of whisky would, but you can’t exactly give it to a pregnant woman!”

Emma threw up her hands, clearly frustrated.

“Why did you even agree to come here with me?”

“Because you can’t damn well drive!” snapped Roni. “And you have no idea what subtlety is! Left to your own devices, you’d probably turn up at Gold’s house with a bunch of angels and try to fucking smite him!”

“I would not!” 

“I thought if I brought you here myself, maybe we could sneak in and sneak out without him finding out,” Roni went on. “You seem intent on making everything ten times harder!”

“Roni, you’re being no help whatsoever, do you know that?”

“May I remind you that coming here was your idea?” said Roni. “And that it’s me who’s trespassing in this town? I told you how our kind reacts to territorial incursions, right?”

“Yeah, but I figured you were over-reacting!”

“She wasn’t.”

Gold’s voice, flat and deadly calm, made them all jump, and Belle shook her head in disbelief. He had appeared out of nowhere, a faint mist swirling around his feet as he glared at the two women. There was a faint hint of sulphur in the air, and she could almost see his hackles rise as his eyes found Emma. They were dark with fury, boring into her as she faced him down.

“Get out of this town!” he hissed. “This is my domain, angel!”

“I don’t see your name on it, demon,” said Emma, raising her chin. “There’s a convent here. That gives me equal footing with you.”

Gold let out a hollow laugh, mouth twisting in a nasty smile.

“You think the righteous outnumber the rest of us, do you?” he said. “Please. I could tell you tales about that convent that would give you nightmares. At least I don’t pretend to be a force for good.”

“No, you just pretend to be human.”

“I’m more human than you, dear,” he said acidly. “I came into this world just as any human does. I enjoy the pleasures this world offers, just as any human does.”

“Oh, I just bet you do…” 

“But there again perhaps such things are beneath you, celestial being that you are,” he went on. “Probably survive on nauseating self-righteousness.”

“I’ll take self-righteousness over evil any day of the week,” she said witheringly, and Gold showed his teeth.

“As I thought,” he drawled. “Every bit as judgemental as all angels I’ve had the displeasure to meet.”

“You’re a demon, it’s my job to judge you!”

“Everybody stop talking!” shouted Belle.

There was a moment of silence. All three of them turned to face her, and the look of rage drained from Gold’s face, his expression turning soft and sad-eyed. She put her hands on her hips.

“What the hell is up with everyone?” she demanded. “Is this some elaborate joke I’m not in on? Why the hell are you all talking about angels and demons and good and evil and - and my baby not being human?”

“Belle.” Gold’s voice was gentle, and Emma gave him an odd, sideways look. “I’ve been trying to tell you that. I told you what I was.”

“Stop it!” she snapped. “It’s not funny! I’m - I’m pregnant, and - and it’s Christmas, and - and somehow you’re all making fun of me, and it’s mean!”

“We’re not!” protested Roni.

“I don’t understand what’s wrong with you people!” she went on. “Just - just stop being weird, all of you! Right now!”

Gold sighed, and exchanged a glance with Roni, who shrugged in a defeated manner.

“Show her,” she said, and he winced.

“She won’t like it.”

“You ashamed of what you are, or something?” said Emma dryly. “Because from where I’m standing that would seem like personal growth.”

“Oh, I moved past that a long time ago, angel,” he said, his tone very even. “I’m just very aware of human aesthetics, and I doubt Belle’s idea of the perfect human form includes me.”

“How do you know?” asked Roni. “She went to bed with you, didn’t she?”

“Yes, like this!” he snapped, waving a hand up and down himself.

“Like I said.” Emma curled her lip at him. “Ashamed.”

“Easy for you to pick up on, is it?” he said snidely. “Shame is your stock in trade, is it not?”

“Just as - as lust is yours!” she countered, and Gold grinned.

“Well, I know which I prefer.”

“Would you two stop sniping at each other?” snapped Roni. “Gold, don’t pretend you’re suddenly suffering a crisis of confidence. Maybe you’ve been in human form so long you’ve forgotten how pretty your other form is.”

“Oh, I’m sure that humans are known for their love of wings and tails on romantic partners,” he said sarcastically. “You know as well as I that no one but our own kind finds that attractive.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” muttered Emma, and Roni gave her a sharp look before turning her attention back to Gold.

“I told you from the first that you’re underestimating her,” she said. “Belle is - unique. You saw that about her, right?”

Gold smiled slightly.

“True.” 

“Stop talking about me as though I’m not here!” said Belle petulantly. “And - and stop talking nonsense! Are you all drunk?”

“Dammit, Gold, just show her, would you?” snapped Roni.

“Show me what?”

Belle felt like stamping her foot, her heart thumping with a mix of anger and frustration, and Gold let out a sigh, turning on his toes to face her.

“Belle,” he said gently. “I have to show you something.”

“Yeah, so I hear!” she snapped. “What the hell is it?”

Emma snorted, and Roni gave her a flat look. Gold sighed heavily.

“Don’t be afraid, alright?” he added.

Belle folded her arms.

“I’m not afraid,” she said evenly. “I’m annoyed. Whatever it is you have to show me, bloody well get on with it.”

Gold muttered under his breath, then shrugged out of his suit jacket, tossing it to Roni, who caught it and narrowed her eyes as he went to work on his tie.

“Seriously?” she said. “You’re getting naked in the freezing cold? I really doubt that’s gonna add to the impressiveness of your physique.”

“This is an expensive suit,” he said in an aggrieved tone.

“So just poof it off.”

Gold’s hands stilled.

“Oh,” he said, and glanced over his shoulder at Emma. “Best avert your eyes, angel. I’d hate to tempt you.”

Emma made a gesture that was far from angelic, and folded her arms.

“Just wanting to point out that I’ve already seen you naked,” said Belle dryly. 

“You have,” he said, lifting a hand and spreading his fingers. “But not like this.”

“Like what?”

Gold swept a hand down the front of his torso, and a cloud of red smoke enveloped him, making Belle jump in surprise. Her heart was pounding, her breath coming hard in her chest, and she watched the smoke thin and drift apart, wisps clearing to reveal what was unmistakably Gold, and yet not. His skin was covered from head to foot in tiny golden scales, his fingernails black, his eyes gleaming gold, reptilian and ancient. Two large, bat-like wings unfurled behind him, stretching outwards as though stiff from lack of use, and a long, tapered tail lashed the air. Belle stumbled back, eyes wide with shock, and her arms flailed as she lost her balance and toppled backwards into the snow.

“Belle!”

Immediately he was by her side, cradling her in his arms.

“Are you hurt?” he asked anxiously.

He was himself again, once more immaculate in his suit and tie, his skin as soft and pink and human as it had ever been. Belle struggled in his grip, and he released her, squatting on his heels as she pushed to her feet and backed away from him, her breath coming in rapid, frightened pants. Her heart was thumping painfully, pulse throbbing in her ears and behind her eyes, and her outstretched finger wavered as she pointed at him.

“You,” she said haltingly. “You - you…”

“Yes,” he said quietly.

She shook her head.

“No,” she said. “No. No no no.”

“Yes.”

His voice was a whisper, a breath in the air, and she went on shaking her head, as though that would somehow dispel the strange dream she appeared to have wandered into. Gold rose to his feet slowly, as though swift movements would scare her, and extended a hand to take hers. Belle pulled away abruptly, almost jumping out of reach.

“I can’t,” she said. “I - I can’t…”

She turned on her heel, walking blindly back towards the town, her mind a maelstrom.

“Belle, wait!”

She held up a hand, fingers splayed, a blocking motion shutting them all out.

Gold watched her go, feeling strangely powerless, and Roni inched closer, until she was standing by his side.

“That went well,” she observed, and he shot her a sideways look.

“Are you still here?”

“Looks like it.”

He waited for her to say something, but she simply stood there in silence. It was almost as though she pitied him. Or at least that she could empathise. He glanced over his shoulder at where the angel was looking down her nose at him, and turned his back one more.

“What are you doing hanging out with a bloody angel, anyway?” he demanded.

“Oh, like you cornered the market in cross-species relationships, or something?”

“Yes, but an angel?”

Roni shrugged.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but we happen to share a number of common interests.” She glanced around. “Look, Emma’s probably not gonna leave town until we’re sure Belle’s okay. Is that going to be a problem?”

Gold turned slowly, swivelling on the toes of his shoes. The angel - Emma - raised her chin defiantly, blonde hair gleaming in the winter sun, and he sighed, shoulders slumping. I don’t have the energy for this.

“Just stay out of my way,” he said wearily, and disappeared in a plume of red smoke, leaving behind the faint smell of sulphur.

x

He had intended to spend the day in his shop, but instead he went home to pour himself a glass of brandy and brood. Belle was still in town, he knew that much. He would feel it if she left.

Thinking about it logically, he wasn’t sure what he had expected, but Roni was right: he had seen something different in Belle. He was the first to admit that picking up on human jokes was something he had never been very good at, but his conversation with her in the bar had felt genuine. After all, he had heard countless tales of humans who enjoyed the thrill of bedding a demon, who would willingly let one into their dreams, and later into their beds. He had met many of them himself, over the years. None of them wanted to see the demon’s true form, of course, but they still got off on the danger. He hadn’t thought Belle one of those shallow creatures, but he hadn’t realised that she had thought him fully human either. 

There was something about her, he reflected, something that went far beyond her beauty and intelligence, and her kind heart. Something that held his interest far more than any other human he had met. She was different. Even if she didn’t fully realise it yet. Most humans could sense the darkness in him, and avoided him, even if they didn’t understand why. But Belle had sought him out. Belle had wanted him. Perhaps he simply needed to give it some time. Perhaps she would return.

x

Dusk had fallen when the knock came. 

He glanced up, brandy glass hanging from his fingers, his body grown stiff from the length of time he had been sitting in his chair. The knock came again, and a spark of something like hope took life in him. It wasn’t Roni, and it wasn’t the angel either, he could sense that much. Hopefully they would stay out of his way for the duration of their visit; he really wasn’t in the mood for a showdown. Which left only one possible visitor.

He pulsed out of his chair, rolling his shoulders as he walked to the hallway. The third knock was rapid and insistent, and he quickened his pace a little as he reached the door. 

It had been snowing again, and Belle was covered in a light dusting of flakes, her cheeks pink with the cold. She was bouncing on her toes, looking nervous, but she fell back on her heels as he appeared, her expression shifting between caution and relief.

“Hey,” she said, and he smiled faintly.

“Hey,” he said. “You must be freezing.”

“Yeah.” She sniffed. “I - uh - went for a long walk.”

“And you found your way here?” he said. Belle wrinkled her nose.

“Everyone in town seems to know where you live,” she said. “But they were pretty reluctant to give me the address. Kept telling me to stay away, like I’d suffer some terrible fate.”

“That sounds about right,” he said wearily, and she shrugged.

“Yeah, well, no one decides my fate but me,” she said. “Can I come in?”

Gold smiled, and stepped back, holding open the door.

“Of course,” he said. “Come sit by the fire.”