#ordeal call 2 gave me hope for the future of the story they just need to get their shit together on the gameplay and QOL side of things

[asclepyus]

I want. To have faith that FGO will pull its head out of its ass after the (rightly deserved) backlash for the choices they made for 9th anni but god it really does all seem like another desperate push for continued revenue during an excruciating slow period of content release. There’s multiple ways they could fix this but it’s all up to whether they’re willing to listen to their player base or not.

[roturo]

CRY FOR ME -dick grayson x f!reader. (part 2)

①PART TWO: DO NOT TOUCH, PERFECT WORLD, CANDY.

→ summary: He loves you, he really does, but he left you. Months wondering why he did that had you crying for him, never ending the never-ending cycle of the abandoned by Dick Grayson wasn't in your to-do list. It's time to hit him with a smile, rather than a goodbye that would leave him wondering. PART 1. words: 4k+

→ warnings: SMUT, angst, marking, fingering (f receiving) & oral (m receiving) , mutlipes orgasms, overstimulation, semi-public sex, edging, handcuffs, degradation kink, cock warming, nipple pinching, slapping, spitting, jealousy, cum eating, almost caught, unprotected sex, penis in vagina, cunnilingus, mentions of kory and dick being together but never in a relationship, hero into villain!reader, med student!reader, reader is friends with harley quinn, reader was part of the og titans.

TUMBLR IS BASED ON A REBLOG SYSTEM. PLEASE REBLOG MY WORK. THANK YOU. ENJOY. SMUT BELOW THE CUT.

After all, Donna is a friend and you have to be loyal. She’s done nothing wrong, like others… 

Time hasn’t been the best, but it's making progress. People guess things have been complicated, thanks to… well, the incident of some days ago.  They didn’t know the whole story though.

After leaving Dick in his room alone, you proceed to go and call Harley to tell her all. You weren’t as excited as her, some part of you felt… bad? Watching him everyday now, felt like the past but in a bad way. Your heart wasn’t ready to deal with this.

You enjoyed the moment, but that’s all.

You need to prepare your heart for the following days. But it was becoming too much. Is that how he felt? If what he told you was true…

Even though he hasn’t shown any kind of anger towards you, it made you even more confused than before. Did this not affect him? 

Who would’ve imagined this bitter ending. You felt good, like you let out a part of you. It’s like you gave your back to the titans again. 

And the worst thing after him being unbothered with this whole ordeal it’s like he got closer with Kory. Something about their relationship seemed SO suspicious that it made you even madder. You’re pretty sure they’ve definitely slept together. 

None of your intentions of being ‘annoying’ towards Dick made any progress, but oh how naive you are.

To say he’s not mad at you isn’t completely true. He is, but he’s more heart-broken than anything else. Is this how you felt? Everything seemed different for him; a whole new sky, a whole new view, a whole new you.

He used to think there was hope in the future without you, but oh how wrong was he. He forgot that shine you brought him everyday, your beautiful smile when you woke up in his arms. He needed that again.

He tried to make you think he was unbothered with this, he didn’t need to show you his hurt side again. He had to be strong until the time was ready to touch you again. Right now he had to watch you, watch you take care of Conner, being in the tower with him.

And he never failed to notice how your brows slightly furrowed every time you saw him with Kory. So he started doing it more times, just to keep that hope up you still love him and miss him just like he does. 

But he needed to show and prove he won’t hurt you again, that he’s not that man that left you. It’s like you wanted to keep him away with your wholehearted rejection, but somehow he’s always a step behind from telling you ‘I love you’.

One night, you decided to take a break from being a ‘fake titan’ and decided to distract yourself by going out with Harley and maybe cause some problem. How could you think you wouldn’t cause any problem when Harley Quinn is by your side?

Running away from the siren police after robbing a luxury store, Harley by your side, you knew this wasn’t to be easy.  Running into an empty dark alley, it was a crowded night, and crimes were easily found this night. So it’s impossible for you two not to find a fucking hero.

And by a fucking hero, I mean fucking nightwing.

Great.

‘Oh, what do we have here? The mysterious friend Harley is always with. Where’s your partner huh?’

You looked at your left where Harley was supposed to be, looking confused back at Nightwing. ‘Oh right, don’t worry, one of my friends is dealing with her.’ He stepped closer at you, examining your costume, mask, if you're armed. ‘Now… Who are you?’

‘It’s none of your business.’ You tried to act rough but it sounded more of a mumble, knowing you were about to fight with fucking Nightwing. Fucking Dick Grayson.

‘Is that so?… What's so special about you that you don’t get caught as easily as Harley?’ 

Uh well, maybe she’s over-confident and clumsier? But she always knows the Joker is going to save her, so that’s why you don’t get scared for her safety. It’s kinda obvious…

‘Stop with the shitty chat, are we going to fight or not?’

‘I think you deserve another kind of punishment, is that so… Y/N?’

What.

The.

Actual.

Fuck.

You felt your blood run cold at the words that left out Dick’s mouth, trying to regain your composure you coughed a little, ‘What are you talking about? Who is she huh? Our dear nightwing finally got a girlfriend?’

He let out an audibly laugh coming out from his chest, ‘Quit the act. We discovered your fantastic note Harley let you with the underwear, a nice pair by the way, would look good in your body. I have to admit she has a nice taste.’

He stepped even closer to you, ‘Oh, and what about your little call with her? Talking about Ivy and the fucking sex pollen? Thank God Kory was there to notice something was going on and told me to check the cameras.’

The fucking cameras. Shit. How could you be so fucking stupid? Of course he would have cameras everywhere. ‘My question is, why do you keep helping us? What 's your plan?’ 

‘If I tell you my plan, what are you going to do about it?’

He made a mocking gesture of him thinking for a second before sighing, ‘Depends on how bad it is.’

Fuck it. You already did it, and you’re sure you could get some hits right now. ‘My plan was for you to fucking cry for me.’

You could swear you noticed his face breaking a little before smirking again, he chuckled at you, what’s so funny?, ‘Oh…’ He stepped even closer to you, centimeters away from finally being completely close enough, ‘That’s the thing? That’s why you said those things?’ You slightly nodded, his presence becoming too much for you, looking at the floor you mumbled a little yes. ‘Mmm, let me think about how hard your punishment should be.’

Without a second to react, your body was caged between his arms and the wall. Taking the air out of you, looking up at him with an angry face he looked happy. ‘Quit the fucking act Dick, just hit me or something.’

‘You think i’m going to be that nice to you? I’ll just return the favor.’ Your face changed into confusion, his lips almost touching yours. You could feel his breath. ‘W-what do you mean?’ His lips locked with yous, catching you by surprise

His thumb digs into your cheeks and the other four fingers grip your face as he opens your mouth with pressure, tongue jutting out slightly. Dick sniggers, You might as well be begging to get fucked right now.’ Your eyes glisten, thighs and core clenching. Dick spits into your mouth and you swallow immediately. He laughs. Ah, you slutty whore. That’s what you wanted?’

You tried to move but your body wouldn’t listen, secretly you know you miss him too, as much as he does, but you couldn’t let yourself break that easily, ‘I’m not the one who was horny for almost a week, dumbass.’

‘And whose fault is that mhm?’ With no time for reaction he made you kneel down, falling with a small ‘tmmph’ ‘It’s my turn to have fun while watching you cry, don’t you think? This may also be a punishment for the crime you just did.’ His head slightly turned to the right, looking if someone else was in this dark alley, but everyone seemed as busy as the two of you, focusing on their own thing. The siren alarms quieting down all the chat the both of you have.

‘Ah, the siren alarms, I don’t see anything you stole, was this all Harley’s plan?’ You tried to answer and tell him to fuck off, but you heard him unzipping his suit, your mind fighting with your body to move away from him, but oh shit. You won’t lie you’ve been fingering yourself these last days in the shower thinking of his cock. Half of his body suit rested on his hips, showing his chest, some hickeys still a little bit visible on his chest, the same as red marks of your nails digging on him. ‘You like what you see? Makes me remember the day I fucking had you in my hands again. And ever since I got a taste of you again, you don’t know how stupid I felt to leave you.’

Your doe eyes looked at him, searching for any kind of lie, but all you could see was lust and sincere feelings for you. ‘Ah, but here’s the thing, you can’t touch me. Maybe you’ll miss my touch as much as I do for yours.’ Everything was happening so fast you didn’t realize him kneeling down and handcuffing your hands before he stood up again. ‘That's better.’ His hand caressed your cheek before the nice and warm touch turned into a slap.

‘I shouldn’t treat you like the love of my life, right? You just committed a crime, baby, you need to be punished by your actions.’ He didn’t seem angry, he seemed full of lust and excited to have you again.

‘Oh, but this doesn’t mean we’re okay, we still need to talk it out. Right now it’s Nightwing giving his favorite criminal a punishment.’  You looked down at his crotch, a visible bulge had you closing your legs trying to get some friction out of it. He slowly made his suit get lower so his cock could finally be free, sprinting up so it touched his stomach, a pearl of cum coming out of it, sliding down until his base.

‘Open up and say ah…’ You did as he said, feeling completely defenseless and not in control like the other time, knowing you fell for him and his tactic again. He grabbed you by your hair and then he inserted his cock inside of you, winning a groan out of his mouth before he started thrusting in and out. Your mouth couldn’t get all of it, but you couldn’t use your hands to satisfy the missing parts of his cock, he wouldn’t let you. You tried moving your hands, which made his movements stop, staying inside of you. ‘Ah-ah, do not touch, If you still love me, you know you have to watch first and maybe I'll let you.’

You stopped fighting for his touch and gave into him, he moaned when you relaxed your throat and took him all in. He wouldn’t give you a break and thrust shamelessly into you, making you leave choked moans out of you, tears forming around your eyes making your vision blurry. ‘That’s it, you fucking criminal whore. These are the punishments you want right?’

You tried nodding, but he only chuckled at your try. He thrusted some times more before he finally came in your mouth with a moan that sounded almost like a whimper. Like the old times you opened your mouth and stuck out your tongue, ‘Good girl.’ Then you swallowed.

‘I’ll see you at the tower.’ He started getting his suit on again, and with just a wink he left.

How the fuck are you supposed to get off this handcuffs?

When you came back to the tower with a sore throat and normal clothes, as soon as you entered the tower you saw Kory waiting for you in her cocky posture and a smirk adorning her face. ‘How was your night sneaky friend?’

You rolled your eyes trying to ignore her, hopefully she’s the only one who knows besides Dick, but she wouldn’t let you go so easily, so she grabbed you by the wrist stopping you from leaving. ‘Fuck off Kory.’

‘I’m not the one betraying everyone here dumbass.’

‘Go and fuck Dick or something,' Ironic isn't it?, since you're the one fucking him. 'don’t you want that? Maybe he could take this anger out of you and leave me the fuck alone.’

‘I don’t want to fuck him, i’m trying to keep my friends safe.’

‘Safe by being with them like a fucking tick? As if.’ You said those words with venom coming out of your mouth, never breaking eye contact with her.

‘That’s how things are going to be huh? Jealous, I'm spending more time with your ex than you?’ You felt your wrist getting warmer, trying to get off you whining at the hot sensation of her using her powers. ‘Let go Kory.’

‘Or what? You’re going to whine about this to your little friend Joker?’ 

‘Might as well ask him to fucking kill you.’ You said, kicking her on the stomach so she could let go, looking at your arm you could see a small burn, nothing too serious.

You hissed, touching the affected area, looking back at Kory, who stood there with a confused face, looking back, you saw Dick standing there, a black t-shirt hugging his chest and biceps just right, and some gray sweatpants. 

‘What the fuck Dick? Isn’t she supposed to be beaten out or something? She’s a fucking villian!’

You smirked at her assumption, side-eyeing her back and then looking back at Dick. ‘Let’s say she’s a good fighter…’ He shrugged it off while getting closer to the both of you, looking at your injured arm, he looked back at Kory. ‘Let’s get you healed up.’ Dick grabbed you by the hand leading you to the nursery.

‘Are you being for real Dick? You’re still letting her in the house after knowing who she truly is?’ Her voice seemed more distant every step you took, you were getting giddy with all that was happening that you didn’t even realize you were sitting on a chair, Dick kneeled down looking for some medicines. Your arm already bandaged.

'...'

‘So… How did you become a villain?’ He asked, testing the waters. ‘I dunno, guess it just happened with no explanations.’ He took the hint at what you were referring to, deciding to just sigh. ‘I was stupid okay? Not being Robin gave me a kind of breakdown trying to decipher who I was, I fucked up. I dissolved the titans because of that, and the worst thing of all is that I lost you.’ You thought there was a nice future without him, not letting him crumble your world, but hearing his breaking voice while telling you this, made you rethink everything.

Dick isn’t good at expressing his emotions, so him trying really meant he was serious with this, ‘I couldn’t imagine myself with other girls, because the fantasy of you shatters my heart, I’ll always be by your side, I promise, please forgive me.’

You shakily sighed at his confession, remembering the first time he told you ‘I love you’ you had your emotions just in control before all of this, but now you realize the both of you are below the same sky and you couldn’t resist wrapping your arms around him again. All you could hear in the room were sobs coming out of the both of you. Old lovers reuniting again, but the tension in the air was still visible, not forgetting what happened earlier this night.

‘Can I keep being a villain so you could just fuck me everytime I commit a crime?’ He chuckled at this, making him stop crying, and looking at you, ‘Maybe I should lock you up, and give those punishments for free, I don’t need you causing problems out there.’

You made a gesture like you were thinking about it, ‘Mmh, that doesn’t sound too bad, but I’ll miss Harley so that’s a no.’ He rolled his eyes, ‘I can lock her up too.’ he said, grabbing both of your hands. ‘And punish her too? I don’t think the Joker nor me would be happy with that.’

He laughed, how much you missed his laugh. ‘Obviously no. She would be locked up serving her sentence or something.’ The both of you looked at eachother, missing the comfortable silence, until a question came to mind. ‘And Kory?’

‘What about her?’

‘She’ll tell everyone.’

A small oh left his lips, looking at the floor then bringing his eyes back to yours. ‘I’ll talk with her.'

'...'

'....'

‘Do you… uh… like her?’

‘Would I be here waiting for you to give me a chance to kiss you again if I liked her?’ Unable to control yourself, you crashed your lips onto his, and he responded immediately. He grabbed you by your legs, immediately wrapping them around his waist, he somehow opened up the door and led the both of you to his room. Lips never breaking apart.

Without breaking the kiss, you pushed him onto his back, laying flat on the bed and  straddling his lap. Dick smirked at your actions and you leaned down, reconnecting your lips. You involuntarily grinded onto his growing bulge, causing him to groan in pleasure. You could feel your panties sticking to your wet folds while you moved on him. Without breaking the heated kiss, Dick sat up, pulling you along with him, so that his back was resting against the headboard of your bed and you were still straddling him. He broke the kiss to trail open mouth kisses along your neck, making you tilt your head to give him more access.

‘Can I touch you?’ he mumbled against your skin, giving it a little nibble.

‘Yes, please…’

Dick’s hands moved up your body to your breasts. He gently massaged your breasts before taking one of your nipples in his mouth. He flicked it with his tongue, giving it a little swirl before repeating the same action for the other one.

‘You don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to do this to you again,’ he said, lips meeting yours in a quick kiss before he changed positions, hovering above you. ‘Every time the both of us were alone, I had to control myself so much from wanting to kiss you… to touch you…’ his hand moved down to your thighs, giving it a squeeze before he teased your inner thighs. He slowly moved his hand to cup your clothed heat, making you whimper.

‘‘Fuck, please touch me,’ you begged.

Dick slowly took your panties off, mouth watering at the sight of your glistening core. His fingers moved to your clit, gently stroking your sensitive nub. You grabbed his hand once your clit became too over sensitive again, stopping him from touching you.

“I… it’s very sensitive from what we did earlier before…’ Dick kissed your neck while his fingers explored the area around your entrance, avoiding your sensitive clit; he didn’t want to just shove his fingers up immediately. ‘Just relax, baby,’ he murmured against your skin, and your tense body relaxed a bit. He ran his finger along your wet folds, collecting your juices. He took his time, teasing you around that area, trying to get you wetter.

When you felt wetter, he moved his body to rest in between your legs. He slowly slipped a finger into your hole. ‘Does it hurt?’ he asked. You shook your head and he continued pushing his finger all the way in. You winced at the slight sting you felt when he pulled his finger back a little. ‘Are you okay? Does it hurt, baby?’ 

‘No, it feels so good.’ you said, your hands moving to his messy black hair.

He tapped around your walls, searching for your g-spot. You sucked in a breath when he found your spot, clutching a fistful of his hair. “Found it,” he smirked, continuing to finger you, making sure to hit that very spot. ‘D-Dick…’ you moaned, your walls clenching around his finger. He kissed and gently sucked on the skin of your inner thighs while he fingered you. You could feel something building up in your lower stomach, and you assumed you were close to orgasming. ‘Dick… I think I’m-’ 

‘Let it go,’ he pumped his fingers faster, making your back arch. ‘Cum for me, baby.’ His words and a few more pumps was all it took for your orgasm to wash over you, making you loudly moan his name. He pulled his fingers out, sucking them clean, eyes closing at your taste. ‘So fucking sweet. I fucking missed you.’

He leaned down for a kiss, which you gratefully accepted, taking off his shirt and pants, his cock was as hard as before, searching for attention. He then inserted his cock, pushing through your gummy walls, making you moan at the feeling. He slowly started thrusting, making sure to keep the stimulation from your previous orgasm, the both of you were so focused on the other that you didn’t hear the knocks on the door until the second time.

‘Dick! Are you there?’ Fuck. It was Kory. ‘The door is locked.’ The both of you heard another voice, it sounded a lot like Rachel’s. ‘Dick! We can’t find Y/N’ Shit. Gar is also there?

‘We need to find her before she causes something big.’ Rachel said, knocking on his door again. The both of you looked at eachother with wide eyes, before he shut you up with his hand  on your mouth, keeping you from making any sound, but he continued thrusting, finding a rhythms which touched your g-spot just perfectly. You moaned, earning a look from him, ‘Uh- I haven’t seen her anywhere.’

‘C’mon Dick, you took her to the nursery.’ Kory said from the other side of the door, ‘But- I ha- ah! haven-t seen her since..’ You clenched his cock, catching him by surprise, making his voice break and whimper, his hand reaching your nipple pinching on it, giving him an angry look, you clenched your hole earning a moan out of him, making you giggle. ‘Are you okay Dick?’ Gar asked.

‘U-uh, yeah, just putting on my suit for, mmh~ go and search for her, y’all should do the same.’ You couldn’t quite hear the voices coming from the other side, too giddy feeling the way Dick’s cock moves inside of you.

‘Okay… we’ll see you in 10.’ That was the last thing the both of you heard, before making sure they left.

‘You heard that princess? We only have 10 minutes before we go searching for you. Guess I couldn’t- Ah!’ A specific thrust made the both of you feel an electric shock, ‘I couldn’t stop Kory from telling the other, ha…’

He started thrusting harder and faster this time, knowing he was searching for his high, you were quite close to it. His hand traveled down your body until it found your clit and started rubbing it. Making you almost scream if it wasn’t for his hand covering your mouth. Not even 30 seconds passed and you saw stars, your vision becoming white thanks to the overstimulation and him not stopping so you could take a break from your high. Actually motivating him to thrust faster to search for his.

Tears formed again into your eyes, staining your cheeks, his other arm over your head holding himself up while he thrusts into you. He leaned down and licked the tears out your face,  before uncovering your mouth, taking a big breath before breaking down into a moaning mess, he thrusted into you harder, cock deep down inside of you, shaking while stripes of cum filled you up.

All you could hear were whimpers coming out of him, until he finally calmed down and tools his cock out, making the both of you hiss at the feeling. He laid down beside you, audibly breaths coming out of the both of you, looking up at the roof.

He grabbed down the blankets and covered the both of you, him being the big spoon and you the small one.

‘What about the others?’

‘If we don’t answer they’ll think I went alone and also go search for me’ He chuckled, hugging you even closer. ‘Here I am right now, and tomorrow when you wake up. By your side. I’m sure we’ll find an agreement with the others, since you didn’t commit the crimes like that, just an accomplice, maybe you could become a hero again.’

You scoffed at that, ‘We’ll see about that Dickie.’

[jokerscrazybrilliant]

Survive - Chapter 1 - (Captain Rex)

Idk why I'm so nervous to post this lol, but I'm new here, anyhow, I've been re-watching Clone Wars and re-fawning over the incredible Captain Rex, so um, here's the maybe beginning to something? I kind of don't know how to judge my own writing so I hope this isn't totally sucky lol..

ANYHOW CHAPTER 1 !! XD

Also out now:

Chapter 2 · Chapter 3 · Chapter 4

Story on other platforms:

AO3 · Quotev

________

sur·vive /sərˈvīv/ verb Continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship. Similar: live · continue · remain · last · persist · endure · persevere · abide · linger · exist · be • continue to live or exist in spite of (an accident or ordeal). • remain alive after the death of (a particular person). • manage to keep going in difficult circumstances.

________

Darkness. Everywhere. Not just a lack of light, but the feeling of being lost and directionless, the great darkness that spread endlessly in every direction. And I was alone in it, unable to watch my step, I stumbled over my feet as I ran. Run. Run. RUN.

“MASTER!” The shout tore itself from my throat painfully as I shot up in bed, sweating and in a panic. Breathing heavily, I put a hand to my chest, feeling my heart pounding painfully rapidly. I tried to control my breathing as I blinked away tears, making my way to the refresher, the bright lights of Coruscant’s horizon making their way into the room through the window.

The shower helped calm me down and I got dressed in my tan and brown jedi robes, making my way to the balcony to meditate until sunrise.

Today the council would be informing me of their decision on my future. When I lost my master so close to being ready to take my tests to be knighted, the council was unsure of which path would be best for me. To assign me as a Padawan to a new master or to get me to take the tests early, neither seemed an easy option. I took a deep breath and let my mind quiet as I felt the force flow through and around me. Whatever may come would be for the best, I just had to keep my mind open and accept things as they were.

***

Standing there in front of the council, most of what was said passed around me in a haze. All of the comments on how what had happened was unfortunate, but the force willed it so, the comments on how it would make me a stronger Jedi to learn patience detachment and strength from this particular trial. While this was all true, I wasn’t in a place where I wanted to hear these words. I just wanted to know what their decision was so I could carry on without thinking about what happened.

“-so we believe that it would be best if you served under another Jedi master, not necessarily as his Padawan, but just to gain some more experience before you are ready to take the tests for your knighthood. And you would also be assisting him in leading his battalion and helping him plan strategies for key missions. This is a great opportunity, so I hope that you will make the best of it, and I’m sure you will, we have faith in you Nimra.”

“Thank you Master Windu,” I bowed my head to him respectfully. “Might I ask to which Jedi Master I am being assigned?”

At my question a half smile and a nearly playful twinkle appeared in the Master’s eye. “Anakin Skywalker. He is a very skilled Jedi, and things would certainly never be dull.”

I gave a slight smile in response and bowed once more to the council. “Thank you for the opportunity masters, I will do my best to make you proud.” With that I made my exit, sagging slightly once the door closed behind me.

Master Skywalker, huh? I had met him a few times with my previous master on certain missions, and Master Windu’s comment made perfect sense to me. Things would certainly be interesting, but I was just hoping to keep my head down and get through the next few months with him until I could take my tests.

***

He was late. This was a wonderful start. He was late, and he was arriving in an old trash pile of a ship, one that looked like it was found in a junkyard on an outer-rim moon somewhere. “Nimra!” He called my name joyfully as he made his way down the ramp with a small blue astromech and a young orange skinned Togruta following him.

“Master Skywalker.” I bowed my head respectfully and gave him a small smile.

“I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to your master. He was a great Jedi Master and it’s truly a loss to the republic and the Jedi Order.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“Of course. I’d like you to meet my Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, Snips this is Nimra Sayla.” I bowed my head to the padawan as well and she returned it with a smile. “Nimra will be joining us for a while, and we will be lucky to have her, I’ve fought on the battlefield with her, and she is a force to be reckoned with.”

“You’re too kind, Master.”

“You’re nearly knighted yourself Nim, stop calling me that would ya?” He laughed at my formality, and I gave a small chuckle myself.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. Master – Master Diya thought highly of professionalism and formalities.” I kept the smile even though saying my old Master’s name caused a sharp stinging pain in my heart. Anakin put his hand on my shoulder and gave me an understanding smile, which I appreciated immensely.

“Well, we should get going if we’re going to make the rendezvous with the rest of the fleet.” Anakin turned to climb back up the ramp before the astromech gave a series of agitated beeps at the Jedi. “Oh, you’re right, how could I forget. This, is R2-D2.” He laughed as he introduced the droid to me, it beeping appreciatively and spinning it’s head around slightly.

“Hello R2-D2, it’s nice to meet you.” I gave the droid a grin as we all made our way into the ship, me biting my tongue as not to comment on how this junk pile would possibly make the trip through hyperspace.

***

“Home sweet home.” Anakin commented as we made our way into the hangar of his Jedi cruiser we had met up with.

“Welcome back, General.” A clone trooper with the blue paint of the 501st met us as we descended. He was holding his helmet under his left arm, and he had buzzed bleached hair, with no other specific markings unlike many clones who chose to tattoo themselves or get very unique haircuts to set them apart from their comrades. Of course, being someone with the force, I could feel the energy signatures within people rather than just seeing their outsides, and that had always helped keep track of the clones, who while they had the same DNA, each had their own very different and unique personalities. “I see we’ve picked up a new recruit?”

“Thank you, and yes, Captain Rex, meet Nimra Sayla.” Anakin introduced us, gesturing his hands between us before focusing on an information disc R2 was giving him.

“Nice to meet you General.” The Captain gave me a salute.

“Oh, no, not quite. I’m not actually a Jedi Knight yet.” I gave him a slightly sheepish smile.

“Ah, sorry about that Commander.”

“That’s quite alright.”

“You’re not a padawan but also not a knight yet?” Ahsoka inquired from beside me.

“Uh, no, not yet. My master, he died before I could take my tests, so I’m going to complete my remaining trainings here with you until I can take them.” I was acutely aware of the pity entering Ahsoka’s eyes, but thankfully the clone did not show that same emotion, rather just a slight understanding of my situation.

“Sorry to hear that Sir.” Rex said, still standing at attention.

“Yeah, I’m sorry too.” Ahsoka said sweetly.

“It’s really okay, but thank you.”

“Alright, me and Ahsoka have to go prepare a debrief, and discuss how when I say ‘let’s go’, it means ‘let’s go’, and not ‘take your time Ahsoka’.” I chuckled at Anakin’s words.

“But Master, if I hadn’t stayed as long as we needed, we would’ve never gotten the information we needed!” She retorted, pointing at the disc in his hand.

“Yeah yeah, that’s not the point, Snips. Anyway, Rex, can you show Nimra around and to her quarters please?”

“Yes, of course Sir.” The captain saluted again and then turned to me as Anakin and Ahsoka walked away, still bickering.

“Are they always like that?” I asked, small smile still on my face.

“Yes Sir, for the most part.” His response made me turn to look at him in the eyes, serious expression taking over my features.

“I will do whatever it takes, whatever it takes, to get you to stop calling me that.” The moment he recognized my joking, some of his seriousness dissolved, and a small half smile appeared on his face.

“Whatever it takes?” He inquired, arching an eyebrow.

“I will personally make the trip to the end of the galaxy and back, on THAT scrap pile, with an agitated blurrg as my copilot, just to get you to stop calling me ‘sir’.” I pointed at Anakin’s ship behind me, serious expression never cracking even as I gained a full smile from the captain, which made my heart warm slightly.

“Well in that case, Commander.”

“That’s not any better!” I exclaimed, laughing as he grinned at me.

“Shall we begin the tour?” He offered, arm outstretched in the direction we would begin with.

“Yes, Captain.” My grin remained as he began to show me around. This will be interesting indeed.

[whosemorales]

A Moment In Time - Pt 2

Harry was going to pass out. His parents stood right in front of him, alive, breathing, and six years younger. The air in his lungs had returned, but that wasn't a good thing, every breath was coming out as a gasp. He needed to get out of here.

Shuffling back Harry got up as quickly as he could and with one last glance at his parent’s perplexed faces, he ran. He ran faster than he ever had in his entire life, he could hear his heart beating in his ears and at certain times he felt like his feet had left the ground. But he didn't stop, and he didn't dare look back, he kept running down corridors and up stairs pushing himself that much further.

Where the hell was he? How were his parents here?! How were they alive?! He needed to get to the-

His thoughts were cut off as he smashed into another person, but this time neither of them fell over. They merely grabbed onto his shoulders to steady him.

"Potter! What in the world are you-" McGonagall stopped as she saw his face. Harry had never been more thankful to see his head of house, maybe she could help him.

"Professor! I really need your help I-" She held up her hand and he stopped talking immediately.

Turning on her heel McGonagall started off to what Harry assumed was the direction of her office, give the area they were in. Not knowing what else to do Harry quickened his steps to walk in time with her. When they reached her office McGonagall held open the door and gently pushed him inside before shutting it. She walked straight past him and sat down at her desk and flicked her wand. Harry watched as the teapot that had been sitting on the edge of the table started to steam before floating over to two cups and filling them up halfway.

“Take a seat Potter,” She gestured to the chair that sat in front of her desk. As if it had heard her the chair pulled itself out for him to sit down. McGonagall moved the tray that the cups were resting on a bit closer to herself and Harry watched as she picked up a small spoon and scooped some sugar into one of the cups.

“Sugar?” She looked up at him.

“Two scoops. Um, Professor-”

“Biscuit?”

“Uh, one please.” Why was she being so calm?

McGonagall flicked her wand again and a plate with both the cup and biscuit moved closer to him. Harry looked down into the cup and watch as the ripples in the tea dissipated. Did she know what had happened? Is that why she was so calm? He looked back up to Professor McGonagall to find her watching him with a bemused expression.

Harry frowned. “Professor McGonagall I need your help-”

“I have to say that I am rather surprised that you of all people would need my help in this particular area, then again, I’m assuming either Mr Black or Mr Lupin thought this would be a great idea-”

“Mr Black?” Harry was confused, what in the world was she on about?

“Or Mr Lupin, to be fair I have to say that I believe that this particular work was Mr Lupin’s idea, though why he thought to change other features is beyond me but it is more effective, and it has clearly lasted longer without you noticing-”

“Noticing what?”

Now Professor McGonagall looked confused. “That you have Lily’s eyes.”

Harry’s frown deepened. “I know.”

“Well then,” she let out a soft chuckle. “I’d be more than happy to change you back to your normal self, not that Lily’s eyes don’t suit you but rather the fact that I am quite certain Miss Evans is none too pleased with your new look. That would also explain why you were in such a hurry to get away from the Great Hall before she found out.”

Harry’s eyes were wide. She thought he was James.

“No, Professor there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not James Potter.”

McGonagall’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Well unless you have lost your memory in the last 5 minutes, then I’m quite sure that you are James Potter, Mr Potter.”

“No, Professor you don’t understand, urgh,” Harry stood up and paced running his hands through his hair. How the hell was he supposed to explain this?

“Mr Potter, just take a deep breath, I’m sure whatever it is that I will understand.”

Harry looked at her for a second, she looked a lot more concerned than when she had thought he had been transfigured by another student, but maybe that was because that was a usual occurrence for her.

“Look Professor, I’m not from here, I’m from the… future.” God that sounded like the biggest load of crap.

Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows and tilted her head down to look at him above her glasses. “Mr Potter, I think that’s quite enough.”

“Ok, if you don’t believe me then try and change me back, I can guarantee you that nothing will happen.”

She seemed to think about it for a moment before raising her wand. Harry felt a weird tingle go through his body but other than that nothing else. Professor McGonagall’s eyes widened slightly as nothing happened, but she straightened her back and lowered her wand.

“What year is it there?” She asked, seeming to understand that what he was saying was true.

“1996,” he answered.

McGonagall seemed slightly taken aback. “And by your appearance, I’m assuming that you are indeed a Potter and that James is your father and your mother is-” She stopped then and looked back into Harry’s eyes, a sudden warm smile made its way into her face. “Lily,” she whispered softly. “He did it.” Harry assumed the last part was more to herself than to him.

Harry stood there, not really knowing what else he was supposed to do. Professor McGonagall looked as though she was in deep thought so he didn’t dare interrupt her.

“How did you find yourself here? I want every detail.”

Harry moved to sit back down. “I was in The Room Of Requirement and I found this sort of mirror thing, it had this strange writing along the rim, and I reached out to brush the dust off it and I fell through and ended up here, although I didn’t know that anything was wrong until I got to the Great Hall and realised that I didn’t recognise anyone, and then I ran into my Mum and Dad.” Her eyes widened slightly but she nodded.

“Did you speak to each other?”

“No, we kind of just stared at each other until I got up and ran, that’s when I ran into you.” Harry thought back to his parents. Were they still there? Did they go back to dinner? Had they come looking for him?

“I see,” She murmured. “It must be quite strange to see your parents this young when they are obviously older in your time.”

Harry held his tongue and forced himself to nod. He didn’t know much about time, but he doubted that he was supposed to tell Professor McGonagall the truth. Who knows what kind of damage that could cause, then again, he didn’t know how much damage had already occurred by him being here in the first place. It’s not like it was his fault, he hadn’t been trying to go back in time, he was trying to clean off the stupid mirror.

“What should I call you?” Professor McGonagall’s question brought him out of his thoughts.

“Harry.”

“Harry.” She repeated nodding again. “When were you born?”

“1980.”

Shock entered McGonagall’s eyes for the first time that night. “James Potter becomes a father in 5 years.” Out of all the information that she had received in the last 10 minutes this was the most shocking?

“Do you know how I can get back?”

Professor McGonagall’s expression softened. “I’m sorry Harry, I have no idea how to help you get back. But don’t worry I’ll have you back with your parents in no time.”

It was even harder to keep the anguish off his face this time, but he nodded nonetheless. “Thank you, Professor.”

“Now in the meantime, I’m afraid you’re going to have to attend our classes here. I’ll have a speak with Albus and we’ll get you settled in.”

“Are you going to tell him where I’m from?”

“No. I feel the less people that know the truth the better. But that also means that we’ll have to come up with a story as to why you are arriving in the middle of the year. I’ll also have to change your features as it is way too obvious that you are related to James and Lily, is that alright with you Harry?”

“Yes, Professor.”

McGonagall raised her wand and Harry felt the same tingling sensation he had felt before though this time he knew it was actually doing something. When she was done McGonagall lowered her wand and turned around, grabbing a mirror for him to look into. When he did he was shocked. Not much had changed except for the few distinctive features that he and his Dad shared, his hair was more brown than black and it seemed to match perfectly to his now brown eyes. He didn’t like it.

“It may not be what you had hoped for,” Professor McGonagall cut in seeming to read his mind. He wasn’t surprised that this younger version of his head of house also seemed to have this ability. “But it is necessary if we are to keep up appearances.”

Harry nodded. She was right.

“As for your sleeping arrangements, I’m afraid I can’t place you in Gryffindor Tower tonight as that would raise too many questions.”

“How do you-”

“Know you’re in Gryffindor?” She finished with a smile. “Harry, I wouldn’t expect anything less from the son of James and Lily, I’m sure they were overjoyed when they heard the news.”

Harry smiled sadly. “Yeah, I’m sure they were.”

“So until we can get you officially sorted into Gryffindor again then I’m afraid you’ll have to stay in one of our guestrooms.”

“That’s fine.”

McGonagall seemed happy with his answer, standing up she led him out of her office, down about three corridors, and up one winding staircase before they came to a door.

“You should get some sleep Potter, I expect you’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

Harry smiled at her. “Thank you, Professor.”

McGonagall gave him one last smile before she turned on her heel and headed back the way they had come. Harry opened the door and was a little shocked to see a warm fire going and nightwear already set out for him. But given that he went to a magical school and had currently travelled back in time, clothes and fire shouldn’t really be that surprising. Quickly changing into his nightwear and getting into bed Harry gently laid his wand and his glasses on the nightstand beside the bed before turning back to look at the ceiling.

He had met his parents. Well, there were no hi’s and hello’s but he’d seen them, which was more than he could have said 10 hours ago. They were here, alive and well, sleeping somewhere in this castle. Harry thought back to his Mum and Dad, after all the years of people telling him he had his Mother’s eyes, he’d never really thought that their eyes were identical, but they were. And his Dad, they looked almost exactly the same, of course, there were a few different facial features but besides that, it was clear that Harry was his son.

Even though Harry hadn’t done anything but stare at them, he could tell that he missed out on a great deal of happy memories. Just one meeting and Harry could tell that his childhood would have been one of the best things he had ever experienced. A childhood that was filled with warm hugs, laughter, fun, and everything in between. It would have been filled with vast stories, parents to tuck him in at night, parents to hold him when he cried and tell him that everything would be ok. Parents that would have helped him grab all the things he needed for Hogwarts and parents that would have wanted him to come home for Christmas, parents that would have spoiled him rotten but always kept him humble, parents that would have loved him no matter what, parents that would always want to see him happy. Those were the parents that Harry never got to have. Those were the parents that Harry now had the chance of meeting, even if they didn’t know it.

And for the first time in a while, Harry cried himself to sleep, finding comfort in the fact that no one could hear him.

[anitacoknow]

I'm feeling my emotions pretty hard today (June 14th, 2021), so it might be a good idea to start writing.

Trigger Warning:

This text post mentions suicide, death, abortion, and could be an uneasy read.

About two months ago, I almost died during a routine abortion. The way that sounds, my stomach turns and it makes the tears fall like a monsoon. Nothing about getting an abortion is easy, it is humiliating and it's a huge personal hurdle to deal with - my heart goes out to any woman who has been in that tough position. That being said, I'm not writing this for sympathy nor am I looking for negative comments or death threats, I put myself through that enough already with my own mental.

Starting this attempt to release my emotions is difficult because I'm not even sure what to say to myself. I guess I am also hopeful someone will have the right words through experience or just in general because I'm struggling to find the words within myself.

To begin, I can't have children anymore and that is the worst part; I made a decision that took future decisions, future generations, future plans away from me. So, to anyone who wanted to go in on me at the sight of the word abortion: fate ironically beat you to the punch.

I made a decision that my heart wasn't wholly in and it almost cost me my life and it cost my daughter's life (I don't need scientific fact proving she was just a clump of cells and hadn't begun processing pain or emotion or whatever, doesn't change shit as far as empathy goes, so please shove it).

Her birth name was to be Juniper.

To give some insight, Washington State allows abortions up to 28 weeks. For those who aren't aware of pregnancy cycles/trimesters, 28 weeks is still half way through the pregnancy and the beginning of the second trimester. The fetus during this stage has become more human like and all that science stuff. I had my abortion at 21 weeks, in a clinic and the process shouldn't have gone the way it did.

On the second day of my procedure, I was put under anesthesia and when I woke up I wasn't all there. Before this, I had never experienced being put under anesthesia to my recollection, so what I thought I was feeling was normal. It wasn't until I realized I had been losing conciousness that things started to feel unnatural. I was laid on the floor of the "recovery room" and I started to regain conciousness fast. There was a lot of blood between my legs and mentioning it to them seemed to make the blood pool more. It wasn't long after that the doctor that performed the procedure squated next to me to tell me she needed to put me back under.

For the next bit, I apologize to the squeamish.

There was another woman in the room with me who had just come out of her own anesthesia, she was ironically a CNA, who started to show signs of worry when I wasn't making the anticipated recovery. The doctor had her removed from the room and leaned back in to tell me that they couldn't locate the fetal head and a few limbs. When they attempted to have me walk back to the room, I fainted and was placed back on the floor. The nurses wheeled me into the surgical room and helped me back on to the table, to which I protested them allowing me to see my ride. I'm hesitant to mention the father in this because it is sensitive, so I apologize for how he is mentioned in further comments. It wasn't until I saw him that things started to blur and I started losing conciousness again.

I feel it is also important to explain what I felt, which was extremely cold. My nipples were harder than they had ever been and despite the numerous blankets, warmed and otherwise, that were placed on me, my body didn't feel warmth until the EMTs carted me to the ambulance and the sun touched me; and again when I was placed on the surgical table at the hospital. Mentally, I don't think I was aware of anything bad happening to my body. Even after hearing they lost the fetal head, I don't think I ever reacted. If I had to say, I was mentally blissful - which isn't something I have ever experienced. I literally couldn't care less, everything was a joke (which is also part of my personality when dealing with assumed stressful situations) to me up until I arrived at the ER and they put me under before telling me that they might have to remove my whole uterus. My last words would have been: "oh, this table is so warm!" to the doctor who saved my life. When I woke up 24 hours later, there was a tube in my throat and I was tied to the bed (which Hollywood doesn't show in movies or T.V. so when you are experiencing it, it is really scary and it fucking hurts.) in ICU.

So, what the fuck happened?

Well, my uterus at the time of the abortion was about 2 pounds heavy and 2 feet long; Juniper was about the size of a sweet potato to give you an image. During the abortion, the doctor perforated my uterus, the length of the tear was about a foot long according to my surgeon/aftercare doctor. The abortion itself was supposedly no more than 10 minutes, but I was apparently under for roughly an hour. My ride expected me out in two hours, but after speaking to him, started to worry when I hadn't responded to texts and the elapsed time came to four hours. During the removal of the fetus, after perforation had occurred, I laid there internally bleeding for several hours. The human body can hold minimum 5 litres of blood (or to give you an physical idea, a gallon [US] of milk about) depending on the size of the body and health. A human can die from losing 2 litres of blood, but I survived after losing 4 litres internally, which is probably what saved my life. I vaguely remember being lifted on to the gurney and I vaguely remember the ride to the ER. I was given 7 units of blood, my uterus was stitched in 8 layers and the fetal head had nestled itself behind my kidney, so I had an emergency cesarean, plus a JP drain placed to remove all the blood that pooled in my abdomen.

The hospital experience itself is a different story and makes the whole ordeal just as sad. The only solace I had were two nurses that really didn't judge me, outside of that, everyone there had an opinion and wore it on their face and in their treatment. My last interaction with one of the doctors who helped performed my "miraculous" surgery and was probably the most surprising bit because it included a little racism. My partner is white and he is cisgender. Before his appearance, said doctor largely made fun of my pain tolerance when removing surgical tape from my incision area and inner thighs. If you haven't had a cesarean or don't know exactly what it is, after making the initial incision, the doctors have to literally tear the muscles apart to get to your uterus. In my case, I also had to have my intestines removed to get to my kidneys. Needless to say, my midsection was very sensitive outside of my low pain threshold. During the stint, he very angrily asked me if I wanted to remove the bandage myself while showing his frustration in his whole body and face. At that point, I just said fuck it and let him tear the bandage from my body with a little skin along with it. After a quick look, he stood up and asked if I cared if he left to deliver a baby and he didn't wait for a response, I assume because my face probably said exactly what he wanted. I sat there and cried until my partner got there and when he showed face again, his bedside manner gave me whiplash. He released us after I made a large fuss about my care and I left holding back tears until we were out of sight of the hospital.

The day before I almost died, I sat with the owner of the clinic who also doubles as a nurse there, and cried to her about my fear and the little consolation I had because she was kind. I have had two previous abortions during a previous marriage that I also didn't want to have, but being in an abusive relationship, you give and take a lot, that included. I confided in her that those two experiences, both at Planned Parenthood, were riddled in racist bedside manner and left me uneasy about abortions and clinics in general. Being a woman of color herself, she cried with me and assured me that things would be fine, in fact the woman doing my abortion would also be a woman of color. She called me two days later, I could hear her sadness, but it also left me in such a state of panic that I ended the conversation without saying much.

Women of color do not have great mortality rates when it comes to medical intervention, especially during pregnancies/child birth. However, uterus perforation during an abortion only occurs at a rate of .3%, so I'm part of a medical anomaly (it isn't an anomaly at all, she just fucked up). Beyond that, women of color, specifically black women are more likely to suffer from medical racism during aftercare. One of the biggest glaring problems being that black women are percieved to have a high pain threshold, something a lot of people lack.

Since this experience, which is missing a lot of detail, I've gone in an out of depressive mania. Which, to say the least, I can handle because I've dealt with it for years. What I can't handle are commercials, or even cherub faces in person, or the fact that my step-sister announced her pregnancy to our parents on mother's day. I can't handle the notifications of memories from my pictures that spotlight some of the photos I took during my pregnancy. I can't handle that my neighbors had just moved in and had just given birth right before being released from the hospital. Movie montages about children growing up making lumps swell in my throat. For the first few weeks I would wake up screaming, or crying, or begging whoever not to take my baby from me. I tried to cope with sex that I couldn't realistically have because I was healing. I took up smoking cigarettes again because it is the only thing I could physically feel relax my incision area. My daughter, who is 9 years old, asks me how I'm doing when I don't realize I'm zoned out and crying.

Overall, I wish they would have let me die. It isn't like I haven't tried to kill myself before and I always secretly hoped I'd find a way to just go peacefully. Of all my attempts at suicide, the most serious was drinking bleach and all I got from that was minor chemical burn in my esophagus.

Sitting there during my last follow up, knowing damn well I wasn't going to get good news, I asked the doctor who saved my uterus and life if I could safely get pregnant. I was told by another I could have a child, but it would most likely be harrowing because my uterus wouldn't be able to house a full term fetus and they would most like be born premature. There was also another possibility she kept from me, which my doctor with a penchant for being very frank said: "would end up taking my uterus or almost killing me."

Word for word: if I get pregnant, my uterus would rupture at the healed incision.

And what, what am I supposed to think or feel now that my worst fear finally materialized? I'm realistically mad at myself for materializing my greatest fear. I also hate myself for being so upset at something I caused because I know others are in my situation for reasons beyond their control.

I thought writing this would make me feel better, would make it so I wouldn't have to mentally relive it, but I just feel worse. My partner lost his job because he took a leave of absence to take care of me and that's to say nothing of him taking time off at the beginning of the year because he needed brain surgery. The job I had interviewed for earlier in the week kept my position open, but on returning to work found I couldn't keep my anxiety to a minimum and eventually asked for leave of absence. So now, we are struggling financially and I blame myself for that too, which I know I shouldn't.

I can't begin to explain how unsure and confused I feel every day. Some times I find myself pacing or walking around and I don't even know what I'm doing. Hearing or seeing emergency vehicles makes me panic. I've had to force myself to look down during driving because I'm so fucking scared.

Idk, I'm sorry to whoever is reading this. I just needed to vent.

[7-wonders]

Money, Power, and Glory

Summary: The sordid history of Duncan’s rise to the top, and hand-to-hand combat lessons that lead to other activities.

Word Count: 3855

A/N: Hello and welcome to another chapter of Memento Mori! I hope everyone’s had a fantastic holiday season. As my belated gift to you all, this chapter includes what everyone’s been waiting for: SMUT. A big thanks to my lovely angel @divinelangdon for letting me spitball ideas at her at any time of day, and to @lvngdvns for inserting the original ‘what if’ into the minds of this fandom.

Warnings: Murder, mafia, drugs, fighting, sex; what you would usually expect from a story about a mob boss.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

By all accounts, Duncan Shepherd is not a man known for showing emotion, unless that emotion is sadistic pleasure gained at the expense of others’ well-being. Nobody would describe Duncan Shepherd as patient or helpful, a gentleman or a teacher. Instead, Duncan Shepherd is often referred to as cruel, vicious, heartless, and bloodthirsty, to name a few. But most of all, Duncan Shepherd would not be described as weak. 

Duncan’s proud of the reputation that he’s cultivated through his few short years as the official “head” of the Shepherd family. However much he hates to acknowledge it, he has his strict upbringing to thank for that. 

An absent father who died when Duncan was barely old enough to walk, followed by rumors that the supposed grieving widow was the one who ‘accidentally’ gave her husband too many sleeping pills mixed with a hearty glass of aged bourbon with the endgame of joining her brother and building the Shepherd name into one of the most powerful monikers in Washington D.C. Being passed off from nanny to nanny, his mother and uncle too busy climbing their way up the elitist ladder to take care of the sole heir to the elaborate empire they were crafting. 

The Shepherd family had always been wealthy, but the wealth became exorbitant upon Annette and Bill’s foray into the underbelly of the city’s privileged class. Suddenly, Duncan was shipped off to the best boarding school in North America, with business and political skills instilled in him from the very beginning of his enrollment at the Andover Preparatory School (along with how to dodge punches and how to go on a coke binge and still show up for your 8 a.m. looking none the worse). Prep school was difficult, but it was much more preferable than being around his uncle.

Duncan’s met a lot of douchebags through his close association with the GOP, but Bill Shepherd embodies toxic masculinity. For a man so fond of collared shirts and quarter zip pullovers, he knew just how to emasculate even the most confident of men with a few well-shot insults. For his detested nephew, however, “a few” insults was a daily occurrence that could be counted on with the regularity of the rise and fall of the sun. The physical aspect of Bill’s temperament, slapping and punching and the feeling of his fingers digging into Duncan’s jaw as he commands him to “use your empty, good-for-nothing brain and just listen to me, god damn it,” marred Duncan’s late teen years. 

His uncle saw him as a threat. Even if Duncan wasn’t able to discern that himself from the increasing beatdowns, whether physical or verbal, as he reached adulthood, his mother was sure to remind him of that fact whenever he was younger and would come crying to her about the mean things that Uncle Bill had said to him. If he closes his eyes, he can still feel her hand carding through his light brown locks and her soft voice reminding him that everything under the control of the Shepherd name would be his one day, regardless of what her brother said. She never confronted Bill about the abuse, but she had tried, in her own fucked-up way.

Ultimately, Duncan has Bill to thank for his rise to the top of the Shepherd Freedom Foundation, Gardner Analytics, Shepherd Unlimited, and, of course, the Shepherd family itself. It was Bill who accosted Duncan after the young Shepherd had gotten into a gunfight with a rival group that had attempted to blindside him on his first solo meeting to restake territory claims over the different wards of Washington D.C. It was Bill who grabbed Duncan by the collar of his bloodstained black shirt, throttling him and bitterly spitting out that he would never be a “true” Shepherd. It was Bill who took a swing at Duncan, a horrified Annette frozen with fear across the room.

And, in the end, it was Bill who was too slow to react to Duncan pulling a knife out in retaliation and jabbing it into his uncle’s abdomen. Annette had screamed, but Duncan had hardly heard her over the sound of his blood roaring in his ears as he stared at his hands, soaked in the blood of his uncle who was on the floor and gasping for his last breaths. Duncan’s Goliath was finally slain, dead on the floor with blood slowly spilling out from the stab wound. His first murder had been his most difficult, and while the easiness of ending somebody’s life scared him, the fact that Duncan enjoyed killing his uncle frightened him the most.

It had been all too easy to frame Bill Shepherd’s death as a robbery-gone-wrong. Annette, already shaken from seeing her brother stabbed to death by her son, had been able to pull on years of experience with lying through her teeth to recount to police the harrowing ordeal of how she came to the building that housed the various Shepherd businesses only to see Bill bleeding out in his office. With the notability of the victim and the million dollars that had been stolen from the busted safe behind the bookshelf (in reality, the money was funneled into one of the family’s many offshore accounts, but that was neither here nor there), the case was textbook open-and-shut.

The “grieving” Shepherds had publicly vowed that their figurehead’s death would not be in vain. They would build on his legacy, just as he would have wanted. Behind closed doors, Annette had begrudgingly admitted that Duncan was in the right when he shoved a blade into Bill’s stomach, especially upon seeing just how capable of leading Duncan was. More money, more power, more territory, more influence: the more the Shepherd family became a name at the forefront of every conversation about the VIPs of Washington D.C., the more determined Duncan was to reach the top. He would stop at nothing to be better than his uncle, to prove to him one last time that he was more of a man than Bill Shepherd, cold and rotting six feet under, could ever be. 

So maybe people are right when they refer to Duncan Shepherd as a callous, cruel, bloodthirsty, monster of a mob boss. But Duncan is certainly not weak.

Why, then, does he feel so weak when he’s around (Y/N)? The woman shouldn’t even warrant a passing thought, not when Duncan has far more important matters to be dealing with. He should have killed her; it would have been far easier, and created less of a lasting effect (for Duncan, at least). Yet, when he heard about how she nearly scaled a wall when attempting to run from some of his men, and when he saw the fire blazing in her big eyes as she spit at him when he tried to touch her face, he knew he couldn’t.

Duncan’s found it impossible to stop thinking about last week’s shooting lesson. How she looked to him for guidance on what, to Duncan, is the most basic of tasks. Her defiant comments that make him angry while simultaneously making him chuckle. Her wide smile when she hit the target. The smell of her hair as Duncan loomed behind her to check her sight.

The way that her body slotted perfectly against his when he closed his hands on top of hers.

Duncan’s stirred out of his unusually soft reverie by the chiming of his phone. An email notification from one of his tech employees shows on the screen, the subject line warning him of an extended search of his name and family in the metropolitan area. It may sound conceited, but any search taking place within a 30 mile radius lasting longer than a few minutes carries with it the potential of a threat against the empire that Duncan has so carefully built. He’s sure it’s nothing, but clicks on the email just to be certain.

His eyes scan quickly over the contents of the message, noting the IP address and the approximate length of said search. The IP address traces back to a physical residence, the location of which makes Duncan smirk. It’s (Y/N), and he has no doubt that he’s been on her mind just as much as she’s been on his. Finding her file (because of course Duncan Shepherd is going to have an extensive file for every person he’s ever interacted with) on his computer, he types her number into his phone and sends her a short text.

“Training tomorrow, 3 p.m., same location as last week. Oh, and the next time you’re interested in learning more about me, you need only ask. -D.S.”

//

The embarrassment of knowing that Duncan Shepherd knew that (Y/N) was searching for information about him still controls her emotions as she readies herself to once again meet the notorious mob boss. She thinks she would rather die than see the triumph that sparkles in his crystal blue eyes of the knowledge that she cannot stop thinking about him. 

In (Y/N)’s defense, it was merely an informative search. Not being from the area, she figured that it would be a good idea to learn a little bit more about the man she is now indebted to for the foreseeable future. What she had learned was sad and brutal, but also what she expected. Wikipedia described a rich boy who was coddled until he was old enough to receive a position at the top of one of his family’s companies, while the gossip tabloids loved to speculate on the true amount of wealth that the family possesses. Forbes Magazine called him a bright, young entrepreneur whose tenacity was forged out of the tragedy of his uncle’s murder, and the Washington Herald painted a compelling narrative of various criminal activities and how they lined up with events in the rise of the Shepherd family.

(It’s probably no coincidence that, shortly after the three-part investigative story had been released, the Herald’s editor-in-chief, Tom Hammerschmidt, was found floating face-down in the Potomac river with a bullet lodged in his head. The official cause of death was ruled a suicide, but the popular rumor is that a furious Annette demanded his murder.)

She could skip today’s proposed “training” with Duncan, but that’s useless when he knows where she lives and can quite literally kill her for refusing his demand, so she slips on a pair of black workout leggings and a purple-and-white patterned sports bra.Throwing a sweatshirt on, (Y/N) quickly grabs a water bottle and her phone before rushing out the door so as not to be late. Although she doesn’t know much about Duncan’s personality, she assumes that he hates people who are late.

The man in question is waiting inside the doors of the high-end training gym when (Y/N) enters, slightly out of breath from nearly running to make it in time. A small smile starts to spread across his face as he appraises her outfit, and (Y/N) self-consciously crosses her arms over her chest.

“Sorry that my clothes aren’t right off the runway like yours,” (Y/N) says as she gestures to Duncan’s figure. While he’s wearing workout clothes as well, his joggers and zip-up hoodie carry an air of wealth with them.

“They’ll do.” (Y/N) huffs as Duncan spins on his heel, repeating the same procedure as the last time they were here in order to get through the private door. 

There’s training mats set up in the open area next to the shooting range, and Duncan waits until (Y/N) places her stuff against the wall before walking to a bench and grabbing a roll of athletic tape. “We’re not doing shooting training today?” (Y/N) asks.

“No, I feel like you have a pretty good grip on shooting. Today I’m going to teach you how to fight, as that will most likely be what will happen if you do get into an altercation while under my orders.”

“When am I not going to be under your orders?” She rolls her eyes as she pretends not to watch Duncan take off his hoodie and reveal his strong, muscular arms. (Y/N) realizes that she’s never seen Duncan in shirts that didn’t have long sleeves, the monochromatic tattoos that decorate his skin coming as a bit of a shock.

“Once I decide that there’s enough to implicate you in crimes as well, if you were to ever run to the police.” She scoffs as he holds out his hand. “Give me your hand.”

She shouldn’t talk back, she knows, but she’s feeling defiant after hearing just how Duncan plans to keep her quiet. “Why?”

“This tape isn’t for me.” Giving her hand over, (Y/N) watches as Duncan swiftly wraps her wrist, checking the support of the tape on the joint before repeating the process on her other wrist. “This will help make sure you don’t injure anything. While the main goal today is to make sure you know how to take down an opponent, I also want to know that you know how to effectively punch somebody.”

Duncan lets go of her hands, and (Y/N) takes off her own sweatshirt before joining him in the center of the training mat. He’s conspicuously not looking at her chest, and (Y/N) bites back a laugh at the polite behavior of the crime lord before her. “Hold your hand out in a fist,” Duncan commands.

His eyes are narrowed in calculation as he studies her fist, adjusting her thumb so it’s on top of the space between the first and second knuckles of her index and middle fingers. He’s a good teacher, and he explains his reasoning as he makes adjustments, “you never want to have your thumb tucked inside your fist. You’re almost guaranteed to break your thumb that way.”

“Thumb on the outside, got it.”

Duncan steps back, holding his arm up with his palm facing (Y/N). “Punch my hand.”

“What?” (Y/N) looks at him warily. “I’m not going to punch you! What if I hurt you?”

“I promise you won’t hurt me,” Duncan says with a laugh. “Now punch.”

(Y/N) squares her shoulders, rearing her arm back before punching Duncan’s hand as hard as she can. He nods, and she punches once more, this time with her other fist. “I’m impressed,” Duncan says, “you punch really well.”

“I’ve taken a couple of self-defense classes in the past. They didn’t teach punching, but they did teach how to throw your weight into your hits.” Duncan’s eyes flash with a hint of pride, and (Y/N)’s chest uncharacteristically clenches at the thought of making him proud.

“Great, then we don’t need to work too much on that. Unwrap your wrists and we’ll practice some sparring.”

It seems like a good part of her life lately is following Duncan’s directions, but (Y/N) complies anyways. Duncan’s joggers look like they were tailored specifically for him, his black tank top showcasing the tattoos (Y/N) had found herself staring at earlier. This time, Duncan does notice. “Do you like my tattoos?” Duncan asks with a smirk.

“I just--you don’t seem like the type of person to have tattoos,” (Y/N) stutters.

He quirks an eyebrow in amusement. “I’m a mob boss.”

“Still don’t seem like you’d have tattoos,” she mutters before placing her hands on her hips. “What’s the goal here?”

“The goal is to take me down. When you’ve had me on my back for five seconds, today’s training will be over. However, there will be no dirty moves, got it?”

“But kicking someone in the balls is okay if I’m fighting an attacker, right?”

“Yes, but not in a practice scenario.” Duncan starts to slowly circle (Y/N), watching as her spine stiffens under his gaze. “I suppose I should warn you that I will not make this easy for you. You will be fighting to win, not fighting to learn.”

(Y/N) nods, turning to stop Duncan from pacing around her. He takes two steps back, standing in a defensive stance as (Y/N) attempts to get a feel for how to spar. She snaps her arm towards Duncan suddenly, in an attempt to catch him by surprise, but the man simply blocks it with a quick dodge.

The punch leaves (Y/N) defenseless, and Duncan lunges forward to shove her. He would never actually punch her; he’s been trained in combat since he was 10, and she learned to throw a proper punch 10 minutes ago. It would be unfair of him to swing at her, so Duncan settles for pushing her instead.

(Y/N) attempts to regain her footing, but Duncan’s too quick. His arm wraps around her neck in a chokehold, and (Y/N) gasps for air as she tries to wriggle out of his grasp. Avoiding panicking, (Y/N) thinks desperately to the aforementioned self-defense classes, trying to remember any of the acronyms the instructor swore would save the class’s lives one day.

Rearing her arm towards her body, (Y/N) swings her elbow back as hard as she can to elbow Duncan in the stomach. He releases her with a pained groan, obviously not expecting that move, and she turns around and kicks at his leg. 

“Fuck you,” Duncan gasps out, stumbling backwards but refusing to fall.

“Fuck you!” (Y/N) retorts. “You tried to choke me out!”

“And I warned you beforehand what you were getting into.” The two move warily, neither person wanting to make the next move. (Y/N)’s eyes crackle with anger, and Duncan grins wildly at the fierce expression she wears.

He swings once again, (Y/N) dodging before punching him in the chest. Duncan seizes the opportunity to sweep her leg with a well-placed kick, and (Y/N) goes falling to the mat with a thud. She inhales heavily, trying to get her lungs to work again after having the air knocked out of them. (Y/N)’s barely able to scramble backwards before Duncan is on top of her, his legs straddling her waist as his hands pin her wrists above her head.

Chests heaving, both Duncan and (Y/N) glare at each other as he waits for her to give in, but she refuses to admit defeat. She becomes acutely aware of the fact that Duncan is pinning her down to the mat with his weight, his strong hips against hers making movement impossible. It’s borderline-indecent, and (Y/N) chides herself for finding being held to the ground any shade of arousing. Although she can’t tell if she wants to kick him or kiss him right now, she knows that Duncan feels the same when he glances from her eyes to her lips, and back again.

“Can you get off of me?” The end of (Y/N)’s sentence is muffled as Duncan presses his lips to hers.

The shock of being kissed by the man who just defeated her at sparring quickly wears off as (Y/N) eagerly reciprocates the action, feverishly kissing him back. Her hands flex in Duncan’s grasp, desperate to grab onto any part of him as a way to ground herself. Duncan refuses to acquiesce, so she brings one leg up to the back of his knee and applies as much weight to the vulnerable area as she can.

“Ah!” Duncan groans, the buckling of his knee giving (Y/N) the opportunity to flip them over. Now it’s she who has the upper hand, grinding her hips down harshly on him as she kisses him once more. Duncan licks at her bottom lip, attempting to gain access to (Y/N)’s mouth and getting frustrated when she refuses to let him slip his tongue into her mouth. He’s done playing nice, and nips at (Y/N)’s bottom lip hard enough to draw blood. He moans when the copper taste of blood hits his tongue, (Y/N) pulling away and panting harshly.

“You fucking asshole, that hurt!” Duncan just chuckles, flipping them over once again and roughly yanking her leggings and underwear down her legs. (Y/N) lets out a surprised moan when Duncan’s finger runs over her clit, collecting some of her burgeoning arousal and using it to slide effortlessly into her cunt.

(Y/N) is not the type of person to engage in casual sex with a person she hardly knows. She’s not even sure she’s had an actual one night stand before; the couple times that she had, it’s been with somebody she knew fairly well. So to be under the most dangerous man she’s ever met, his fingers buried inside her as he works her open, is certainly unlike her. It would, however, be impossible to deny that she’s not thoroughly enjoying this endeavor.

One hand grabs at Duncan’s bicep, and (Y/N) briefly admires the elegant script inked into his skin. Her other hand goes to grab at his sizable bulge, gripping onto his erection as roughly as he’s currently fingering her. Duncan lets out a choked groan at the sensation that’s both painful and pleasurable. Once he’s decided that neither party can handle the tension any longer, he withdraws his fingers from her cunt and pulls down his pants.

After (Y/N) gives his shaft a couple of quick strokes, Duncan lines himself up with her entrance and thrusts into (Y/N)’s tight walls. Matching moans ring out through the training room as Duncan begins to set a quick and deep rhythm. (Y/N)’s hips snap upwards, meeting Duncan’s as the two thrust in tandem. Every other sound, feeling, or experience fades away as Duncan continually bottoms out in (Y/N)’s cunt, his balls slapping against her ass. Her head lolls back against the ground, giving her the perfect chance to admire Duncan’s lustful expression and how his hair falls into his face with each sharp roll of his hips.

(Y/N)’s head begins to spin as Duncan’s rhythm begins to stutter upon nearing his orgasm, and she bites down on the juncture of his neck and shoulder in an attempt to muffle a scream as she cums unexpectedly. He cries out at the sharp pressure of her bite and the fluttering of her walls, speeding up his thrusts before pulling out and tapping at (Y/N)’s bottom lip with the swollen head of his cock. 

She turns her head towards him, eyes glazed with lust as she opens her mouth. Duncan only needs to thrust into his fist a few times before he cums in (Y/N)’s mouth with a deep groan. Her lips are painted white with his seed, and he nearly cums again when she licks it all up before swallowing with a content hum. Duncan collapses next to (Y/N), whose bones feel as if they’re made of Jell-o. As they both come down from their highs, (Y/N) has only one thought on her mind: What the hell did they just do?

//

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[aurora-the-kunoichi]

For The Love Of Shell - Chapter 35

Chapter 35 of my baby

Full story here

After filling their bellies with the food Master Yoshi had provided, they departed once again finishing their journey to the airport. With Aurora still drained of energy Donnie insisted on finishing the trip in the driver seat. Reluctantly she agreed, grabbing her bag she disappeared into the back room to put on fresh clothes for the plane ride. It was probably best she didn’t have bloody clothes on when she went through airport security.

Back in the main cabin Master Yoshi sat in front of Aurora at the kitchen table his arms outstretched his hands covering hers. The wonderment in his eyes he couldn’t hide, he had been waiting hours to talk to her. “Aurora, I have trained and prepared all my life in anticipation for yesterday’s events. And even seeing everything with my own eyes I still have trouble wrapping my mind around it. The masters had doubt that a woman would be able to endure everything that was required of you. Not only were you able to withstand the adsorption of power of all four warriors but you were able to give them their lives back when your task was done. I still don’t know how that was possible, it was a miracle.”

Leo walked up behind Aurora, he leaned on the back of the seat his hands in the open space of the seat next to her. His green digits reached absentmindedly for the empty water bottle rolling along the table and began rolling in between his wide palms. “We’re hoping it doesn’t have any lasting effects on her. When we get back Don is gonna do a full work up on her and us for that matter. He wants to see if anything that happened yesterday changed anything in our bodies or have become unstable from the surging power.”

“That would probably be a wise Leonardo, just to be on the safe side.” Master Yoshi agreed.

Aurora looked out the window watching the Japanese hillside pass by becoming less and less green as they drove into town and off the mountain, ominous dark clouds drifted across the sky covering up the blue morning sky alluding to a storm in the near future, “There is one thing I’m confused about.” Aurora started. “The demon, I mean he was large in stature, but I guess I was expecting something much larger. Like Godzilla big, you know?”

“The form you saw yesterday was his weakened form essentially. That’s why he needed you and the warriors. If he was successful with your consumption he would have grown exponentially, then he would have had the strength to take the warriors and after them he would have grown yet again four times the size. His power would have spread more quickly infecting the world’s population. He would have been invincible and able to destroy the world one city at a time.”

Aurora picked at the label on her water bottle and looked out the window to the vibrant colors of the Japanese morning. She could feel the warmth of Leonardo as he hovered next to her his presence bringing her solace. The sound of gravel below the large tires made them turn to the front of the RV; they were entering into the far field where she had picked up the turtles at the beginning of their journey.  As the RV rumbled to a stop the rain began to pelt the windshield. Donnie put the rig into park and turned the engine off looking up into the darkened sky. At least the storm would conceal them as they snuck onto the airport grounds and unnoticed into the bottom of the plane. Getting up from his seat he took the spot next to Raph who was sitting on the couch next to the kitchen table.

“The plane leaves in 2 hours. We better get a move on. Aurora still has to get through customs.”

Leo stood up as Aurora scooted from the bench seat and made her way to her bags closing up both. Leo quickly came up beside her his hand resting on her upper back. He could see she was still weak; her footing was timid and unsteady. “Do you want us to take your weapons bag so you don’t have to check it? It’s one less thing for you to carry.”

Letting out a heavy sigh she knew he was right. Just giving the bag a quick tug she could tell her strength was nowhere near what it usually was. She could barely carry her own body weight let alone the duffle bag with her two sets of katanas and miscellaneous weapons. She only had to carry it to customs but still she tired easily right now, still weak from yesterday’s ordeal. Nodding reluctantly, she lifted her duffle bag to Leo’s extended hand and he took it hooking it over his shoulder.

Reaching down Leo helped Aurora to her feet steadying her by placing his palm to the small of her back. He could feel her lean into it slightly getting her balance back; he hated seeing her like this. Usually strong and defiant he could see her legs tremble under her weight; he was a little worried letting her go alone on the plane. But he knew she would fight him so he left it alone, there was no use fighting when he knew she wouldn’t budge on the matter.  At least she gave up her bag to him.

Master Yoshi stood before them all; his smile was grateful and proud. “Turtles, you should be proud of yourselves. Your father taught you well and you have more than proven your worth. I know this deed will never be known more than an urban legend on the mountains, but I want to thank you for all your efforts yesterday. The world is safe once again with the demon banished back from wince it came, a feet unable to be fulfilled in a thousand years.” The old monk ran his fingers over his tired chin smiling warmly. “I suppose now with the Kingyos gone maybe I can re-open the monastery and update its teachings. I want you all to know that you are always welcome at its doors and this is including Master Splinter. If he would like I would be honored for a visit, I’m sure there are things I can teach him and perhaps a few things he can teach me. I wish you safe travels back to New York and I thank you for taking good care of Aurora.”

The four turtles gathered their belongings turned to bow to Aurora’s Sensei, showing their respect.

“Thank you, we will convey the message to our sensei, I’m sure he would be pleased to visit.” Leo smiled shaking the master’s hand.

Leo maneuvered around Master Yoshi and came up to Aurora his green fingers finding her chin tilting her face up to his. Her violet eyes bore into his as his mouth slanted over hers taking a quick but heated kiss. Pulling away slightly he ended the connection and closed his eyes. “We’ll see you in two days ok. Go home after the plane ride and go to bed and rest. When you get up the following morning come see us.”

“Sir, yes sir.” She mocked him giving him a sloppy salute.

Leo gave her a playful poke and stepped away revealing Donnie stationed right behind the blue banded turtle. He quickly filled the space Leo had once occupied and looked down on Aurora. “Your heart beat is still a little high and I can tell you’re still dehydrated. Make sure to drink lots of fluids preferably water and try to sleep on the plane. You need to get your strength back before I can take blood from you. Hopefully two days will be enough.” Timidly he leaded down and pressed a timid kiss to her lips.

Aurora smiled feeling the shy turtle kiss her, reassuring him she pressed up giving the sweet gesture a little more friction making the breath in Donnie’s throat hitch and his heart quicken.

“Ok, ok my turn.” She heard the grumpy voice of Raphael mumble pushing Donatello from her breaking their contact.

“Guys, I’ll see ya in two days.”

“Yeah we know but the past two days have been……stressful and emotionally and physically draining. The ordeal has left us all a little needy for each other’s presence.” Raphael’s usually rough demeanor softened as he gently gathered her into his arms. The bottom of his chin rested on the top of her head and the long warm drawls of breath from his nose rustled her hair.

The closeness of the big turtle made his scent drift through her nose and the dream she had flashed through her mind making her cheeks flush with red. “Get a hold of yourself.” She scolded herself internally, being close to any of them was making her pulse quicken for some reason. Raphael’s fingers relinquished their hold around her waist and slide slowly down lightly brushing against the top of her butt and around her hips sending a quick shot of heat to her groin. It almost seemed deliberate; she wondered if they were having the same residual reactions as she was.

Mikey curved around Raph’s retreating form and curved his one arm around her waist and dipped her back, his lips dove not for her mouth, but the side of her throat places a warm wet kiss to her pulse point. Her gut tightened at the spontaneous pressure from his moist lips grazing gently against her flesh and she could have sworn the tip of his tongue skated out tasted her skin. Hoisted back up she did her best to look normal despite her heart pounded against her chest. There was no disguising the flush in her cheeks and Mikey could see it giving her a playful wink before opening the RV door and disappearing into the storm. The three other brothers slowly filed out the door into the morning storm after their little brother.

“Let me know you got on the plane ok?” she called out to Leo’s retreating form as it disappeared into the deluge.

After returning the RV to the rental company at the airport concierge Aurora turned to Master Yoshi at the airport check in. She hoisted her backpack over her shoulders and bowed to her sensei. His face was warm and sincere as he closed the distance between them encircling her in his arms.

“I am so proud of you my dear. After all these years you’ve survived under great pressure and adversity and in the end you fulfilled your density. Hopefully now you can move on with your life with your turtle companions. I can see they all have strong feelings for you and you return them. I’m not so sure how deep those feelings go but you’ll all figure that out as time goes on. I think since you were a little girl you always knew you’d end up with them, you’d day dream about them often and I’d have to snap you out of it to continue your training.” He let out a soft chuckle reminiscing. “I’ll stop blabbing I know you have to catch your flight. All I have to say is, don’t be a stranger, I’ve missed you. Please come back for a visit. Because of your braveness and resilience I will be taking females into my teachings.”  

“Good, every gender deserves the right to learn the art of ninjutsu and the teachings of bushido. I hope my story has proven that in spades. There is no such thing as a weaker sex. And don’t worry; I will be back Sensei, I promise. You have my number now if you need to get a hold of me. I think it’s time I put down roots now that I’ve found my home.”

Master Yoshi now bowed to her in respect, “You honor me with your bravery and skill. I couldn’t have asked for a better pupil my dear. I wish you all the happiness with your future.”

Taking her leave Aurora entered the check point and headed towards her ride back home. Reaching the large overlooking window of the tarmac, the kunoichi stared at the large airplane that would return her and the turtles back to New York. The clouds were dark and heavy making the morning sky feel like late evening and the rain still poured from the heavens would easily conceal the four large stowaways waiting in the shadows.

An announcement over the airport com system informed the plane would start boarding first class now. Aurora waited for the line to die down and kept her eyes on the back of the plane as the last of the bags were loaded into the open hatch. Suddenly the lights around the plane flickered and cut off plunging the plane and surrounding areas into darkness. If she wasn’t in tuned to the darkness due to her training she would have missed them. Through the downpour four large shadows shot across the tarmac and into the open gate of the plane disappearing inside. Within seconds the lights hummed back on as if nothing had happened.

Several baggage men came out scratching their heads looking at the fuse box on the side of the building. After a few minutes they shrugged their shoulders and returned to their business closing up the back of the plane getting ready for takeoff.

Knowing they were safely onboard Aurora boarded the plane and took her seat by the window. A light buzzing brought attention to her phone in her hand.

“We’re aboard and ready to go home.” The message scrolled across her screen from Donnie. Quickly her fingers ran over the digital keyboard and responded, “See you guys at home, I love you all.”

Soon the plane pulled away from the main airport hub and started towards its departure. Thankfully the storm wasn’t too severe, so they were able to take off without a hitch. After the plane left the ground and ascended into the sky Aurora leaned her seat back and closed her eyes. She hoped she could sleep most of the way home, she could barely keep her eyes open, so it didn’t seem like it wouldn’t be possible. She concentrated on the low hum of the airplanes engines and soon drifted into slumber.

Below Aurora in the belly of the plane they four turtles were arranging several bags, so they could get comfortable for the long flight. Mikey flopped down in his pile resting his hands behind his head and let out a long sigh. “Well this trip didn’t turn out like expected.” He huffed.

“No, no it did not. But the upside is Aurora is free and no longer has to hide anymore. The demon is gone as well as the Kingyo’s.” Donnie smiled lying down on his makeshift bed as well.

Raphael sat down next to a crate which housed a sleeping dog, his green fingers slide through the grate and brushed over the soft fur of the canine. His mind racing, he looked up to his older brother and locked with his blue iris’. “Do you think we’ll ever know what happened while we were….um… you know.”

Leo and Donnie shot each other and glance and Leo nodded giving him the ok to inform them of the recording.

Donnie cleared his throat sitting down on his pile of bags, “When Aurora was thrown into out weapons she somehow activated my go pro, it recorded everything. I only watched a few moments before turning it off. But we should wait until were home so Master Splinter can watch the video as well. I have a feeling we’re only gonna want to watch this tape once.”

Making eye contact with each other the brothers nodded solemnly in agreement and settled down for the long ride.

Leo laid back and closed his eyes his dream from last night replaying in his head. The theme of the nighttime vision was of an erotic nature which included Aurora and all his brothers. It entailed each one of them taking their own turn exploring her body, taking her to blissful heights while the rest of them watched. It was rather strange; he had plenty of dreams about Aurora but none with his brothers included. He wondered if it had something to do with their merge, so to speak. He would need to broach the subject with Donnie when they got back and see if any of them had similar dreams as well. His green fingers ran unconsciously over the zipper of Aurora duffle he kept close to his person, getting quick wafts of her scent. His body was sore and tired and he needed a shower desperately. His mind was heavy with the burden with the choice he needed to make; it would alter their very lives and affect everyone in his family. He just hoped he would make the right choice which was in the best interest for all of them. With his tumultuous thoughts swirling around in his head Leo soon drifted to sleep.

Aurora jolted awake as the plane connected with the ground; her eyes shot open her hand clutching her heaving chest. Looking out her window the familiar sight of New York’s sky line calmed her racing heart. They made it home safe and sound, a little worse for the wear but nothing a little time wouldn’t fix. She had no idea how she did it but somehow she had sleep through the 14 hour flight without waking. She was still tired but when she stood to begin her exit from the plane her legs didn’t wobble beneath her.

Pinching the bridge of her nose she took a deep breath, her heart was still pumping quiet fast. She may have slept through the whole plane ride but she still dreamt. She had another dream but this time Donnie was prominent taking her from behind on his desk in his lab, with Mikey thrusting into her keen mouth. She could still feel Donnie embedded within her body, deeper then Leo or Raph could reach. And Mikey, she could have sworn she still tasted the saltiness of his release that he emptied himself down her throat with a shout.

She hoped she wasn’t making noises again but luckily no one was giving her sideways glances like she was a freak moaning in her sleep.  What was going on? These were Leo’s brothers, she loved them but this sudden attraction was very quick to manifest, or was it? She always had feelings for them, deep feelings that has grown over time. Brushing those thoughts away she exited the plane and made her way to the overnight garage to get her truck. It was time to go home and take a very very long hot shower.

Getting behind the wheel she pulled out her phone and typed a quick message to Donnie telling him she’d see them tomorrow.  

Getting off the plane undetected they disappeared into the sewers and hurried home, with everything that had happened seeing their father was of high importance. Coming face to face with death made the urge to see Master Splinter that more urgent. They had things to tell him….to show him.

Jumping the familiar turn styles of their lair their loud voices announced their arrival to their master who was mediating in his room.

“Father?” Leo called setting Aurora’s duffle down on the circle platform in the middle of the lair.  

Their eyes trained in on the entrance to Master Splinter’s room as he emerged from the darkened space. His smile was a ray of sunshine in the dark cloud that had followed them home. On light feet they all ran to him each giving their father a hug.

“My sons,” Splinter called out arms outstretched for his four mutant sons.  “It has only been a couple days since we have seen each other; you act as if it has been several months.”  Splinter chuckled looking up at his four large overzealous sons.

Leo kneeled down next to his rat father looking into his wise gaze, “Father, the trip did not go expected. They had a scout still at the monastery and they found us.”

Master Splinter’s smile faded and replaced with worry, his furry hands came out grasping his eldest son’s arms waiting more info. Leo continued, “They were prepared for us and we were hopelessly outnumbered. So needless to say the ritual was performed.”

Splinter tore his gaze from Leo searching behind his sons frantically, “Aurora?”

“She’s fine, just really worn out and tired. Her body took a lot the past few days. She went home to rest. She’ll be over tomorrow; I wanna do a few tests on her.” Donnie cut in reassuring his father.

“Sensei…..” Leo swallowed hard trying to bring his father’s attention back to him. “Aurora’s sensei is still alive, and we met him. He was able to give us the information we needed to defeat the demon. If the demon was released there would have to be sacrifices in order to give Aurora the power to defeat the creature.”

Splinter cocked his head, “Sacrifices, my son?”  

“Our lives.” Raphael whispered kneeling down with Leo. He needed to be part of this conversation.

“We died sensei.” Mikey made his voice known as well.

Donnie laid his hand on his father’s shoulder, “We had to give ourselves to Aurora to give her the power to defeat it.”

“But you are all here my sons and Aurora would never allow you to sacrifice yourselves.”

“Aurora tried to stop us, pleaded with us, but she was on the brink of death herself, she was being consumed by the demon and we were next. We had no choice. We don’t know anything after that except she was able to bring us back to life. There is a recording of the events after we passed on Donnie’s go pro. We waited until we got home to watch it. We figured you’d want to see it as well so we would all watch it together.”

They watched a range of emotions pass over their father’s face, his hands tightening their hold on Leonardo arms pulling him in for another embrace. Splinter moved to each son giving him an unusually long hug for the characteristically aloof rat. They could have sworn they had seen tears in his eyes.

After a few moments he spoke. “Come my sons let us watch this recording and hopefully it will answer some unrequited questions, so hopefully we can move on from all of this and grow with its knowledge.”  The old rat ushered them to the couch where they all sat down ready for the footage Donnie’s go pro had captured. The genius’s fingers flew over his wrist keyboard pulling up the footage sending the projection into the air for all to see.

“Father, please be prepared this will not be pleasant……for any of us.” Donnie called as the footage came up.

As the recording started Splinter flinched involuntarily seeing the large demon hurtling itself towards the camera taking him by surprise. It’s toothy gaping mouth screeching nearly engulfing the entire view of the camera stopping just inches from the go pro. His furry hand jumped clamping around Leonardo’s wrist hearing the pained cry from Aurora as she was hauled out into view of the go pro. Her face contorted in pain she tried freeing herself from the large hand wrapped around her bare waist. That’s when he saw his son’s hanging helplessly from shackles from a nearby wall.

Leonardo listened to his father’s breathing as he watched the fight enfold on the giant screen before them. Right off the bat when he saw the horrid demon, the old rat jumped not expecting to witness such an intense scene right away. Then his hand latched around his wrist and Leo could hear his father’s breathing catch and stop as the demon took hold of Aurora.

He couldn’t blame him; he was there for all of it, but reliving the nightmare was still just as horrible. As the video played they neared the part Leo knew would be difficult for his brothers and himself, especially his father. His blue eyes zoned in on Aurora’s as she writhed in pain being drained of her life, it pulled at his very being seeing her like that. The pain and sorrow in her eyes knowing she could do nothing to stop their impending decision.

Soon they all found themselves leaning forward towards the screen knowing what was about to come. They were about to witness their demise on screen and in color. Raphael and Leonardo felt their father’s arms come around theirs holding on to them his eyes transfixed on the scene.

Splinter felt his heart clench painfully watching his children, his precious four son’s bodies surrendering their life forces before falling lifeless. Tears welled up in his eyes and spilled forth wetting his fur. He knew they would be fine for they were sitting right next to him on their couch back at home with him but seeing it play out was heart breaking for a father. For a second a vision of them as babies tucked in their beds as he kissed them goodnight overtook him. His body trembled as short quick sobs escaped his throat. He felt both Leo and Raph’s hands come around and press down on his hands comforting him and through Leo and Raph’s arms came Donnie and Mikey’s hands resting gently on his knees.

“Dear Aurora had to witness that first hand.” Splinter softly whispered watching his son’s souls dance in the sky just above Aurora’s dying body her horrified eyes glued to his four sons bodies. “I am watching knowing full well you are alive sitting next to me but she didn’t kn…..” his voice cut off as their souls merged with her body sending out a burst of energy sending the demon flying.

Mouths hanging open they watched as her body hovered above the ground radiating her violet aura. Her eyes were closed squeezed shut tightly in agony, she had just witnessed their deaths and she could no doubt feel them within her. Her aura began to fluctuate and pulse as her hands clenched into tight fists her lips pressed into a thin line. Then everything exploded engulfing the screen in the vibrant purple hue, her haunting scream echoed over the speakers that delivered the sounds of the recording. They could tell Donnie’s pack rolled with the energy displacement but thankfully it rotated just enough to still record everything. As the light diminished revealing the scene again the forest fire had been quenched and the thick dense smoke had been cleared. Like something from a sci-fi movie Aurora’s body emanated power sending waves of her violet aura through the air.

Leo and Raph hissed feeling their father’s nails dig into the green skin on their arms as he watched Aurora stare at his son’s bodies seeming oblivious to the ravenous charging demon. Hearing them wince in pain Splinter let up on his grip never taking his eyes away from the screen. “Come on my dear he’s almost upon you.” Splinter called to the screen as if he was watching one of his stories.

Then she spoke lowing herself back to solid ground, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to stop him myself. I’m sorry you’ll never see the sun again or Master Splinter.”

Closer the demon came, and her eyes remained on the four bodies hanging lifelessly. They could see her face contort in anger and fury as it built within her fueling her power. It was almost upon her and just as he was about to collide with her she stopped him midair with her outstretched hand.

In perfect unison everyone took a deep breath in shock as she stopped the 20 foot demon without even touching it, she lifted the stunned immobile demon higher into the air as if he weighted nothing. Then in a fit of explosive rage she began to throw the demon around like a rag doll with what seemed like the flick of her wrist.

“I won’t let you win.” She hissed low in her throat at the dazed demon she had just thrown across the large space into a smoldering tree truck.

It scrabbled to its feet launching at her again, but light shot from her fingers sending the demon back once again.

“They’re dead; I couldn’t stop it, now I have to live without them in this cruel world!” They could hear the sorrow in her voice behind the unbridled fury. Her eyes wide tears flowing freely, she was breaking. Aurora closed the distance between her and demon and extended her finger out and curved it bringing the flailing demon back into the air. The purple aura around her expanded growing brighter as her fingers opened her palm outstretched to the cool evening air and then she clenched her fist sending the demon into a twisted pain filled spasm.

Launching the demon once again she turned to her swords laying a few feet in front of her, eyeing them carefully she took a few steps forward retrieving them. When her palms connected the hilts of her blades the steal began to glow, the purple hue rolling down the scrolling illuminated the writing on the edges of the blades. Rising again into the air she waited.

By now the demon had gotten to its feet, the determination apparent in its wide soulless eyes. It was determined to end her, to drink every last drop of her powers hopefully taking what remained of the warriors within. It launched itself forward again ready to take the human woman down. But its plan fell short as he reached her and found her swords impaled in its chest. It gasped for breath clawing at the hilts eyes wide with disbelief.

“How?” it growled.

“It doesn’t matter now. Go back to hell!” Aurora yanked her katanas free stepping back to watch the demon disappear. A red light began to engulf the demon as it howled in the agony of it, consuming it. Aurora backed up further towards Master Yoshi and the turtles and her hand reached behind her covering them once again in a protective bubble just in time as the demon exploded sending a devastating surge of obliteration hundreds of feet around them.

Each one of them were breathing heavy their hearts racing, she had done it and they had been able to see it. They were able to witness her raw power, the rage, the pain, the passion, and the sorrow. The experience of it all was intense leaving them all at the edge of their seats, but it wasn’t over yet. She wasn’t done, she still needed to bring them back, and they were reminded they were dead a few feet behind her.

She dropped the shield and her katanas, the heavy metal echoed as it hit the stone ground. Her head fell back her chest heaving for breath as everything came rushing towards her at once. Closing her eyes her mouth opened her lips trembling with her unhinged emotions.  Her throat constricted and let a guttural sob rip from her throat as her hand pressing over her face muffling the heart retching sound. Her whole body shook with her grief.

The four turtles didn’t realize they had tears rolling from the corners of their eyes wetting their green pebbled green skin as they watched her mourn them. It was nearly too painful to watch.

Master Yoshi reluctantly came up behind her placing his hands on her shoulders steadying her. Ignoring the gesture, she moved to them her eyes moving over each of them. A sudden realization in her face made her eyes widen and gasp out loud, “Oh god!”

Raphael was first in line as she approached him taking his cheeks in her hands. Raphael held his breath waiting for the moment to happen, his fingers dug into the old tattered fabric of the couch in anticipation.  He heard her whisper her nickname for him and his heart leapt into his throat holding back a sob.

Then it happened their eyes moved her to stomach as their colors began to swirl behind her abdomen behind her skin. Her body arched forward towards Raphael’s body as red inched up her chest into her arms. Aurora gasped realizing what was happening, she stared at her arms in shock and looked back at Raph’s face a hysterically wide smile moving across her face. Moving her face towards him the red continued up her throat and poured from her mouth into Raphael’s making him lurch forward inhaling gulps of air. His whole body began to twitch back to life. Caught in the moment Aurora pressed her mouth to his kissing the red banded turtle. Her hands rose up pulling him free of this metal shackles with ease allowing Raphael to land on his feet. He quickly cupped her cheeks taking another impromptu kiss.

Raphael looked over to his older brother and nudged him in the arm playfully, “Sorry bro I couldn’t help it, was a heat of the moment thing.”

“It’s alright Raph, calm down.” Leo calmly reassured his younger brother he wasn’t upset with him.

With each turtle she brought back they watched their colors pull from her stomach bringing them back to the living at the same time draining Aurora of her new found strength. When she finally collapsed in their awaiting arms Donnie ended the recording. The lair lay silent for quite a while as they processed what they had just watched. No one wanted to be the first one to comment. There were no words just emotions that none of them were ready to deal with.

@blossom-skies​

[themattress]

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair

I played this game for the first time and I both like it less than the original Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and more than it. And this isn’t a new thing for me - I've encountered situations like Danganronpa vs. Danganronpa 2 before. Whether in RPGs like Kingdom Hearts vs. Kingdom Hearts II or action games like Dragon Ball Xenoverse vs. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 or open world games like Red Dead Redemption vs. Red Dead Redemption 2 or, heck, other visual novel games like Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney vs. Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations (which was actually the second sequel; the first one kind of beclowned itself). Situations where I prefer the first game due to a mix of them having the better story and mere personal fondness while freely admitting that, as games, the sequel kicks the original's ass.

But honestly, the Trials & Tribulations and Kingdom Hearts II comparisons are the most accurate based on the ending and what came afterward. The Ace Attorney Trilogy was just that: a straight-up trilogy, while the Kingdom Hearts Trinity was two console games and a portable midquel offshoot of the console sequel that ended up remade for that console anyway, and Danganronpa was the original Trigger Happy Havoc, a prequel novel to it that also laid groundwork for the sequel, and said sequel Goodbye Despair. And the one thing they all have in common is that they ended on a very clear, decisive, final note. Just like with Trials & Tribulations and Kingdom Hearts II, Goodbye Despair is the END of the big story. Hajime’s speech in the epilogue is the intentionally open-ended yet still conclusive wrap-up:

"And so...the ordeal has ended. And from here, our daily lives have started. Lives that are much more absurd, nonsensical, and irrational than before... Things are...probably going to be a lot more difficult now. There's no such thing as an answered mystery... It's doubtful whether or not things will even end well. The future isn't a path, it's like an endless sea... You can try to go anywhere... But it doesn't mean you'll get there. Even so, I will keep on living. I will keep on living as Hajime Hinata. My future...lies here."

And yet, like Ace Attorney and Kingdom Hearts, the series continued past this point, and for no other reason but corporate greed continued telling a story that already ended perfectly. 

This post about KH especially resonates here, as this part of Hajime’s speech was ignored:

Because like Tetsuya Nomura, Kazutaka Kodaka clearly did not appreciate just how much what wasn’t shown, revealed or confirmed made such a positive impact on the first two Danganronpa games. We never fully saw Hope’s Peak Academy before it fell to ruin (sure, we can read about it in the Danganronpa Zero novel but that still requires leaving a lot to the imagination since it’s a book), we never saw the Tragedy of the Academy and the wider-scale Tragedy across the world that snowballed from it, we never saw the formation and sinister machinations of Ultimate Despair, we never saw the post-apocalyptic outside world that the survivors of the original game found themselves in after walking outside the Academy’s door, we never saw the Future Foundation, we never saw ANYTHING beyond what was relevant to the POV of our memory-deprived main characters in the enclosed spaces that were forced upon them, and that made things so much more effective. Imagination and speculation were allowed to run wild, and it let you give something back to the narrative you were intaking.

And then Ultra Despair Girls and especially the Danganronpa 3 anime fucked it all up by showing everything and clumsily attempting to answer every mystery, retconning and recontextualizing stuff in the process that just ended up cheapening what it was before (just about everything related to Ultimate Despair and all affiliated characters in particular is gutted). Hell, the present-day stuff in Danganronpa 3 that ends in an overtly wrapped-up positive manner that neuters so much of the consequences and stakes from beforehand is even called the “Future arc”, so I guess the future really IS just a path after all and not like an endless sea! Great job, Kodaka! Way to kill that powerful message you had going there!

Ironically, I think Kodaka ended up having Buyer’s Remorse about this. Unlike Shun Takumi, who realized things were wrong and bowed out of the franchise following Capcom’s post-T&T meddling, or Tetsuya Nomura, who refuses to change his ways and just keeps digging the narrative grave of the KH series even deeper, Kazutaka Kodaka straight-up developed a bad case of Creator Backlash during Danganronpa 3′s production and gave us Danganronpa V3: a labor of hate for the franchise and all that had contributed to it. But that’s for another day...

Anyway, bottom line: stick with Danganronpa and Danganronpa 2. They’re all that’s needed.

[solastia]

The Dragon’s Lair

- A Special Edition Chapter -

This is the thirty day bonding period report of Kim Namjoon. I am writing this because Kim Heechul is a tyrant who threatened to make everything I eat taste like broccoli for an entire month if I missed even a single day. For my owner’s privacy, since I don’t know who all is going to see this, I won’t use her real name. Her aura has always reminded me of one of my favorite jewels in my collection, a star blue sapphire, so for this report her name will be recorded as Star. 

Day 1: Here we go, first entry. The house is incredible and I have my own room. It’s a charming farmhouse with tons of space and a bunch of land. There’s even a massive forest that apparently is part of her property as well. I’m looking forward to exploring it all later. I can’t help but wonder if Star’s been lonely out here by herself. There are tons of rooms in this house and everything sort of echos when it’s quiet. The thought of her sitting in here by herself is heartwrenching. If she adopted me because’s all alone, I hope I can make her happy. I should probably also report that my dumb biology has decided she’s a part of my hoard. I can’t sleep without her now. I normally would have wanted to wait until we were more comfortable, but she dealt with the situation with grace. 

Day 2: Not too much to report today. We spent most of the day buying more things for my bedroom. Since Star is a part of my hoard now, she insisted on buying an even bigger bed and stashed the old one in one of the other rooms. This one is something called an Eastern King sized bed and is the biggest mattress I’ve ever seen. I could fit so much on here. Put that eyebrow away, hyung. There is a room that she keeps locked and when I asked her about it she said it was just storage. Seems strange to have a whole room just to stash stuff. And why keep it locked it she was the only one living here?

Day 3: I may have made a mistake today. I’ve been so happy here that I wanted to thank her. I can hear you saying, “You gave her a jewel, right?” Well, I’m afraid I didn’t. I tried to make her breakfast. I KNOW, hyung. I learned that it’s possible to melt a pan and leave the meat inside of it raw. Who knew? Lucky for me, Star was too busy laughing about the pan to really get too mad at me. She gave me a hug before telling me I’m banned from the kitchen. 

Day 4: I spent the day scenting my territory. Every bit of this house (minus that locked room) and the land surrounding it are now marked. I even got away with subtly marking Star. This is feeling more like home every day. 

Day 5: I don’t want to hurt her feelings, so I’ve been eating everything she’s been making me. You’d be proud of me, I haven't complained once! Even when she gave me three scoops of broccoli. Although for broccoli, it wasn’t as bad as some I’ve had. She put garlic and stuff in it. Maybe soon I’ll be brave enough to tell her what kind of food I like. I don’t think she’d get mad, but you never know. 

Day 6: The new Marvel movie came out today. Star was so excited and I couldn’t help fall for her a bit more today. I admit I had a crush before, but she was just shining with happiness and every time she smiled at me my heart felt like it was going to burst. It doesn’t feel like a crush anymore. The theater was packed and we were pressed together like sardines, but neither of us seemed to mind. She even let me hold her hand. Could she ever return the feelings of someone that is basically an animal, though? Hyung, what do I do?

Day 7: Soonyoung and Jihoon came to hang out today. It was the first time anyone has come by since I’d marked it as my territory, and I think I did pretty well. Only growled a little bit, I promise. That was mostly because of Jihoon hogging Star. He was totally egging me on though, I swear. Smirking whenever he saw me watching. He’s known me too long and knows how to push my buttons. He made up for it by telling me everything he knew about Star. The way he talks it's like Soonyoung and Star are the best people on the planet...I think I’m starting to agree. 

Day 8: Star has to do some work tomorrow and won’t be able to spend much time with me, so she decided to spoil me today. She took me downtown and we hung out there almost all day. Ate at a cafe, spent hours in the bookstore, even stopped by the art museum. Then we walked next to the river and we just talked about everything. Hopes for the future, friends, books we like. Hyung, it felt like a date. I want it so bad it’s aching. Do dragons have mates? Like, soulmates? I think she might be mine. We need to research this. 

Day 9: Nothing much to report today. Star has been in her office all day. I don’t know if I’m allowed in there, but I’ve made her food (just sandwiches, don’t worry) a couple times and knocked to let her know it was there. I’ve mostly been in my room reading. I’m going to need cuddles like crazy tomorrow though. Don’t laugh, you like cuddles too. 

Day 10: We just stayed home today and it was great. We cuddled on the couch and watched a few movies, then went outside to work on her Grandma’s garden. She could remember when everything was planted and told me about them with a sad smile. It’s obvious that she loved her Grandparents and they loved her. While I’m sad that she lost them, I’m happy that it led her to me. I want to be the family she needs. I know I already need her. It’s so soon for that too. I’ve only known her a couple weeks, but it feels like a lifetime. I can only hope that she feels the same. 

Day 11: Star has been smelling a little different lately. Not a bad different, but...I don’t know. Maybe she’s getting sick. I spent most of today trailing after her like a dumbass trying to figure out what the smell was. My dragon was fighting me hard to surface like it wanted to protect. All I wanted to do was take her to my room and not let her leave the nest. (See? I’m calling it a nest. Isn’t that weird? Where did that come from). I’m trying to stay calm so I don’t scare her. I might call you later and have you send some medication she can take. 

Day 12: That smell is still there, but it’s even stronger today. I feel like I should know what it means, but I just can’t remember. She doesn’t look sick. In fact, she’s been eating more than usual. She went through three bags of chips today alone. I don’t know if I should be worried or not. I guess the best thing is just to wait for her to say something. 

Day 13: TODAY HAS BEEN HELL! HYUNG! She wasn’t sick, she was starting her cycle. As soon as we woke up I could smell it and my dragon nearly came through the surface. I had to make up some story about dragon digestive problems so I could lock her out of my room and try to get away from her. I was under so much stress my horns and talons were out for hours. All I wanted to do was run after her and CLAIM her. Pull her into our bed and protect her. Hyung, I think we have a pretty good answer to my mates question. There is no doubt in my mind that she is meant for me. 

Day 14: She slept in her room for the first time in forever last night because I kept telling her through the door I was having issues. I couldn’t sleep at all. My entire body was itching because she wasn’t in our nest. I didn’t want to scare her though, so I fought through it. I was scared to come out this morning, but I didn’t think I’d be able to pull off any more time without worrying her. Thankfully her scent was back to a level I could handle. She was asking about my stomach and babying me. I used the opportunity to blame the broccoli and she’s promised to never make me eat any again. At least something good came out of this ordeal. 

Day 15: We went ice skating today to celebrate the halfway point of our bonding period. Technically halfway was yesterday, but I was “recovering” so she saved it for today. She was so adorably bad and probably has a bruised behind from how often she fell. I’m always so clumsy everywhere else, but I was proud to be able to show her how good I am on the ice. She was impressed and my dragon was PREENING! I was actually purring like a damn cat. I feel like I’m supposed to be doing something to make her think of me as a mate, but I don’t know what. We need to find out if dragons have mating rituals. Hyung, time to hit the books again! Or at least wave your hands around. Honestly, what good is a Wizard if they can’t just tell you what you need to know? 

Day 16: Nothing to report today. Star worked in her office, although she kept the door open. She warned me that once she gets in art mode, she doesn't’ pay attention to anything around her and she didn’t want to hurt my feelings. I was fine though, I just like being near her. She has a recliner in there that's really comfy and I read and watched her work. She’s so talented and when she’s deep in her work she gets extremely focused. The house could have gone up in flames and she wouldn’t have noticed. I don’t know why that’s so attractive, but she had me hooked. 

Day 17: I made her cry today, hyung. I’m worried it might be my last day here. I was just trying to do something nice and I made her some tea, but when I tried to carry the tea set to the living room I slipped on the rug and spilled the tray. The entire set broke. I just stood there paralyzed because I couldn’t believe what I’d done and she came running from another room. When she saw what broke, she started sobbing. Not just crying, hyung. Wailing. I tried to help her pick the pieces up, but she just asked me to go to my room. I’m sitting here waiting for her to tell me to pack my things. I’m sorry, hyung. I tried. 

Day 18: I had gone to bed by myself last night, but Star ended up joining me. She didn’t say anything until this morning, but at least we both slept well. It turns out the tea set was one that she’d picked out piece by piece with her Grandma. As soon as I heard that I felt even worse for what I’d done, but she calmed me down when I tried to apologize. She said she knew it was a mistake and she was sorry if she scared me. She was sad but she wasn’t angry. I asked her if she wanted me to go back to the shelter, but that just made her cry again and hug me. She told me she couldn’t imagine life without me anymore. We spent the rest of the day quietly cuddling on the couch. I think we’re going to be okay. 

Day 19: I needed to let my scales through while I was showering today because I felt so itchy. I don’t know why it’s happening in the middle of winter, but I shed a whole handful of scales today. I was just going to give them to you for your supplies like usual, but the thought made chest burn. I felt like I needed to give them to Star. How odd is that? Why would Star need my scales? Maybe it’s a dragon thing? Back to the books with us. I wish I had a manual like the other hybrids. Life would be so much easier. 

Day 20: Star decided the 20th day we’ve been together is another milestone worthy of celebration. The zoo was is having some Christmas event for the month of December and the weather was decent enough that I wasn’t worried about her being in the cold that long, so that’s where we went. Soonyoung and Jihoon came along too. But get this hyung, she called it a double date! I don’t think she meant it in the way I want her to but...maybe? Maybe I’m growing on her at least.  Either way, we had fun. I liked the petting zoo the most. There was a little goat there that wouldn’t stop following me around and Star was laughing so hard. She said when it gets warmer we are definitely getting some goats for the farm. I tried to explain that dragons most likely used goats as their main source of food. She just laughed and made jokes for the rest of the day about me having a “kid.” If it makes her this happy, I’ll accept my future as a tamed dragon turned goat dad.  

Day 21: It’s been a long time since I’ve had one hyung, but I think I had a prophetic dream last night. I was here at home with Star, but the house was full of people. I think they were all men, but I couldn’t see their faces well. Everyone was happy and giggling cuddled in the living room and two little kids were running around playing. Even more amazing, Star was sitting next to me with a huge pregnant belly. In the dream, I felt proud and protective so I was sure it was mine. And she was wearing a necklace made of my scales, hyung! That’s how I knew it had to be prophetic. I’ve had no idea what to do with them, but seeing them around her neck felt right. I’m going to send them to you so we can make the necklace. I really hope that was a peek into my future. I’ve never felt such love and contentment in one room like that before. 

Day 22: Nothing to report today. We just did chores and hung out. I wandered around in the forest for a while and wrote for the first time since I’ve been here. You’d cringe if you saw how sappy some of them were. 

Day 23: I’ve never thought about keeping a journal before since I usually am content with using my music to let things out, but this report has kinda gotten me used to writing every day. I think the next time we’re in town I’ll buy a journal and keep this up. It’s nice to go back and remember. 

Day 24: Some days I have hope that I’m not the only one feeling more than owner and hybrid. There are times when I swear I catch a glint in her eye or scent her arousal and I wonder if she might have feelings for me too. Of course, the scent could be for any reason, but a dragon can hope. Still, I think I’m doing a good job at making Star happy and she cuddles with me all the time. She tells me she adores me, but she’s usually squeezing my cheeks like I’m a kid when she does, so I don’t think she means it that way. I just wish I could get my act together and let her know I am so in love with her. She is everything to me, the very air I breathe. She’s it for me, hyung. Even if this doesn’t work out and she sends me back like my last family, she’s it. My dragon has chosen its mate and so have I. 

Day 25: I gave her a hickey in my sleep. I apologized and asked if I did anything else but she laughed it off. I think I might do it often and she just keeps it to herself to spare my feelings. I am so screwed. I just wanted to give her more. 

Day 26: I’m realizing now that you’re going to be reading this and it’s going to sound like some angsty teenage drama. I know you’re going to bust my balls but you know what? I don’t even care. Make fun of me for being whipped. She’s worth it. 

Day 27: Star says she’s going to take me to the beach in the summer. I told her I’ve never been to the ocean and she threw a fit. I’m excited to see it, but I’m more happy that she’s making plans that far ahead. It means she’s expecting me to still be here then. She wants me to stay! 

Day 28: I have a confession. I haven’t been feeling the urge for more Ryan dolls in a long time. Instead, I’ve been basically snatching things. I’ve been keeping my secret hoard in a box under my bed because I’m a little embarrassed. So much of it could be considered trash or too sappy, but it makes me happy and it fulfills my urges. There are things like tickets from the zoo, a shiny rock that I picked up during our walk along the river, any little accessories she leaves laying around, notes she’s written me (one of them is just a damn shopping list). And for some reason, I can’t stop taking her hair ties. I don’t know. They carry her scent I guess? I wish I was a normal dragon that wanted mostly jewels and coins, but even then I’d probably find some way to make it about her. Oh wait, I kinda already did, didn’t I? I nearly forgot about where her name came from. God, I’m hopeless. 

Day 29: The bonding period is nearly over. While I’m anxious to get back to my classes and I miss my friends, I’ll miss being home with her all the time. I’m curious how I’ll feel when I have to be at the shelter when Star is home alone. Not good, I imagine. The urge to protect her and the den is already high enough. Oh well, something to work on. I bet you’re going to be excited to have me back to pawn all your paperwork on. I dread how high that pile has gotten. 

Day 30: Here it is, my final entry for the report. I’m going to be keeping a journal after this because I really liked going back to read how I felt. It put a lot into perspective. Although, those will be a bit more personal than this. There was a lot that I didn’t share with you, hyung, as I’m sure you know. Mostly just more feelings and personal memories I’d like to keep to myself. Things she’s said and done that make me feel like the most important person in the world. I couldn’t possibly explain in just a few journal entries the depth of emotion I feel and how complete she makes me. I’ve always felt like the odd one out; the dragon that no one understood or would want. She’s never made me feel that way and accepts me for the way I am. I am honored that she wants me, even if it’s just as her hybrid. I’m going to try though, hyung. I have the necklace we made all wrapped up and I’m going to confess on Christmas day. If she rejects me, I just hope she’ll let me stay with her anyway. Maybe you could make me a good luck charm. See you tomorrow! 

[transracialqueer]

The Realities of Raising a Kid of a Different Race: Myth 2

by Karen Valby

Myth 1: Color doesn’t matter

Myth 2: If I talk to my kids about race, I’m just creating an issue

When I tell Hagland, who is a co-moderator on the closed Facebook group TRA (a Transracial Adoption community comprised of adoptive parents, adult adoptees and birth parents) that many adoptive parents, including me, feel tremendous anxiety around introducing concepts of racism to their children he is kind but emphatic. “May I please nuclear bomb that for you?” he says. “It’s inevitable that your black children will be called the N word. It’s inevitable that they will be othered for being black. So if you prepare them for that you are helping them.” He’s well-used to adoptive parents’ hand-wringing, which often masks a great fear of inadequacy and powerlessness, on the subject. “Are you not going to teach your child how to cross the street?” he asks. “ ‘I could never talk about being hit by a car because then my child would fear it.’ Well guess what? Part of your role as a parent is teaching your child how to safely cross the street.”

Alex Landau, a 25-year-old from Denver, remembers his first racial encounter. He was four years old, an African-American boy scuffling with a white boy on a Denver playground. “And he said ‘Not all white kids like to play with black kids,’” remembers Landau. “I didn’t know the gravity of what he was saying, and I don’t think he even fully knew what he was saying. But I just knew that my skin was different and I had no control over that.” As Landau struggled to make sense of his hurt he remembers his white adoptive mother Patsy Hathaway careening into the picture. “My mom came out of left field, grabbed him by the arm, and said ‘You don’t talk to my son that way. You need to leave!’ and kicked him out of a public park.”

But for the most part, race was never a conversation in their home. Patsy loved her son fiercely, and didn’t think much of the fact that he was the only black kid in his high school graduating class. Meanwhile Landau spent much of his adolescence gelling his hair straight and wearing long sleeves and pants in the summer to cover up his dark skin. When he left home for college, his dad, who comes from a long line of Denver policemen, never gave him the talk—a tradition in many African-American homes—about how to have self preserving interactions with police and other authority figures. “I think my parents were under the impression that we were living in this post-racial era where police were not racially profiling,” says Landau.

In 2009 Landau, then 19, was driving in Denver with a white friend in the passenger seat. Cops pulled him over and the officer accused Landau of making an illegal left turn. Landau was hauled out of his car and patted down. “There were three officers there, I was comfortable putting my arms out to the side and asking to see a warrant before they continued searching my car,” he says. “I’m not in handcuffs, I’m not being detained, there’s nothing wrong. We should be able to talk as people. And then immediately I had my world changed.” The officers grabbed Landau and started hitting him in the face. When he came to, his blood was all over the grass and he couldn’t see out of his right eye. “’Where’s your warrant now, you f—ing n—–?” were the first words he says he heard upon regaining consciousness. When Hathaway arrived at the city jail and saw her son’s brutalized face her world changed forever too.

Although the policemen were cleared of misconduct in an internal review (they said they thought Landau was reaching for one of the officers’ guns), in 2011 Landau was awarded a $795,000 settlement from the City of Denver. Two of the police officers who attacked him were later fired for unrelated uses of excessive force. Today Landau is the Racial Justice Organizer at the Colorado Progressive Coalition and he and his mother are working on a book about transracial adoption and the patterns and practices of police abuse in Denver. “I know my mother wishes she could have had the insight herself to prepare me for the ugly realities that can occur,” he says. “She demonstrates her sorrow and her eagerness to learn through her activism and her connection to the work I’m doing. She’s just soaking it all up like a sponge left and right.” [For tips on what she’s learned click here]

Together they hope to help spare future transracial families the ordeal of that night. “The best thing you can do is prepare your child because the last thing you want to do is visit your child in jail with 45 stitches in his face and have your whole worldview blown apart,” says Landau, who recalls the most painful part of this experience as seeing his mother crumble when she saw him in jail. “It was the first time I cried. I was just devastated. So I would strongly advise that parents do not have this sheltered mindset and be open to the narrative of folks who actually live this experience day to day.”

Myth 3: No matter what, a “good” school is the best thing for a child

Myth 4: You are the hero of your child’s story

(source in the notes)

[padme4000writes]

Torn in Two Chapter 3

Summary: You live an apartment below the Philips. You hear the commotion when Daniel becomes Deviant. It is then you get your first glimpse of the android known as Connor.

Chapters: Prologue + 1, 2, 3, 4,

Decided since the challenge was the song to keep it as the title. So this was made for the Breaking Benjamin Torn in Two song challenge for @tea-with-loki which was what inspired me to get back into writing. Thank you so much.

Thanks to @randomfandomgirl1996​ for helping me to decide to post this in instalments with how big it is getting AO3 under the same name Padme4000

Italics are flashbacks

Main POV is the reader however there is several other POV’s in this fanfic as well.

Pairing: Connor x Reader (may be a hint of Simon x reader if you squint before reader meets Connor properly but I won’t be tagging it as such)

Wordcount: 2564

Warnings: mentions of tight spaces

_____________

November 6th

Connor was currently reading deviant reports when his eyes jumped to one not long after the ordeal with Daniel. Case number 88-29451.

The address was in the same building where he encountered Daniel. The same building where an android tried to save him. He looked at all the information and then the image of the android. It was definitely the one he saw the day before. This confirmed that the android was indeed deviant.

His LED flashed, as he thought about the fact he had been so close to another Deviant. Though at the time he had to go investigate the murder of Carlos Ortiz.

They had removed their LED. However he was confused about why they had helped their owner. What was the point if they had intended to hurt him? Maybe the police on the scene had missed something crucial. He opened up the case file further to look at the images taken of the owners injuries. Glass shards had been found around the owner, and the window was broken.

Yet Connor knew the window was broken on August 15th. He had seen shards of glass jutting out of the frame they had been holding onto. So had the android hurt their owner? Or had the owner come at the android with enough force to harm themselves when the android stepped to the side? The evidence collected did not match with the report from the owner.

He would have to further investigate later, for now he decided to look at more of the reports.

__________________________

You had wanted to help going to get the spare parts. You were sort of furious that they hadn’t let you go. Especially since you were one of those who knew exactly which parts Jericho needed for the androids currently there.

Okay no you were downright seething. You could have helped. On one side you understood that having more go made it more and more likely that one could get discovered but still. It was North’s wording that had you seething. That and the fact you hadn’t left the ship since spotting Connor the previous day. You were feeling boxed in again.

“Y/N puts us at risk every time they step foot out of Jericho. You really think they could pull this sort of mission off? Josh you said yourself they were reckless.” Even with your sparring sessions North didn’t trust you going outside of Jericho. Not that you expected that particular opinion to change once the sessions had started. It was a way to vent.

“She’s right Y/N, you should stay here. Make sure everyone is ok.” Josh. You knew he would agree. Your eyes darted to the new android wondering if they would voice their opinion, but they kept quiet. Though when you looked away you felt their gaze fall on you.

Simon smiled at you as he placed a hand on your shoulder, “We would be lost without your help here.”  You saw North roll her eyes at his words. “The others need you, and…”

His eyes got a sad look as he looked at the child android, “Yeah.” If he was to die he needed someone there. Though every android tended to help care for the dying. It was you, Simon and Josh who did it the most.

“Okay, but look after yourselves.” You may act like nothing got to you most of the time but it really did all affect you. Quite deeply.

Sure you and North didn’t technically get along. Though you knew she enjoyed egging you on just as much as you enjoyed egging her on. You caught her smiling several times as you were walking away from your sparring sessions and sometimes even after a heated discussion.

For Josh it was the fact you cared for the other androids and that Josh did as well that made you both like each other more. It was just him not liking you going out on your own that raised your hackles around him. He was right though, if you got into a bad situation you wasn’t 100% sure how well things would go down.

Simon? Well you had a soft spot for him and it wasn’t because he looked like Daniel. He seemed to know exactly what to say to calm you down. He was a really good friend. The only one you had told about the RK800 model you had seen which according to the news after the Daniel event was called Connor. Which after seeing him again you had looked into. He was worried when you said you saw him again, in fact he seemed even more wary of you leaving Jericho.

Because if that Android was walking around again. Who knew what it meant for deviants. You glance at North and decide you might investigate Connor a bit more. If he indeed was looking into deviants then you all needed to know more about him.

Simon knew you could likely help a lot on this mission, but he was right. You looked at the child android once more. You was needed here. In the next moment you surprised yourself by hugging Simon. “I’m serious don’t get hurt.” You step back knowing there was a hint of blue to your cheeks with the others looking at you in surprise in that moment. Simon was just smiling. He nodded and then slowly all four of them left. Josh, North, Simon and the new android. Markus.

You wasn’t too sure what to make of him, but having overheard his conversations earlier you decided he was likely one of the good ones. He didn’t seem to like violence towards humans but that could easily change. You hoped your opinion on violence never changed. But circumstances always change, maybe one day a human would do something you’d find unforgivable? You hoped not, and if they did that you wouldn’t react in a way that would make North proud.

Being reckless wasn’t the reason North didn’t want you going though, it was that you were pro human. You didn’t think you were reckless. You actually took careful steps to not be noticed as an android when leaving Jericho. However it was quite obvious to everyone that Josh did indeed think you were reckless. Though it didn’t stop him liking the rest of your personality. You did have civil conversations with Josh. You were both against violence after all. That certainly helped. Also the fact when you trusted another android you would share the location of Jericho.

The latter gave you plus points with everyone. Even North. Anything about helping other androids gave you plus points with her. It was just your non violent idealism that gave you minus points.

If you were more like North you don’t think you’d get along with a lot of the androids here at Jericho. Well a mixture of North and your tendency to leave when others wished you didn’t. That would be a dangerous combination.

You were one of the new AP700 models. You often wondered if your owner had owned any other android before you. But you had no clue. You were one of the higher versions of the AP700, your owner had a lot of money and liked to show off that they had bought one of the most expensive versions of the AP700. For reasons you and others likely did not understand.

AP700 can cook, care for children though your owner had none, complete everyday tasks, speak multiple languages and was programmed with a bit of self defence. The latter at the request of your owner. They paid good money to add that to your programming. You believed it had to do with them being constantly worried they would be mugged on the way home from shopping. They insisted to go with you in case you did something wrong.

You had once given North some tips in self defence, and that was when you had arrived not too long after her, also that was one of the reasons that had caused you both to begin sparring.

Something about what happened to her spooked her. She hadn’t told you and you hadn’t asked. It was her business to share it if she wanted. For now you were just happy that you had sparred with her. She likely was also happy with something to do other than stand around. It had improved your coordination with fighting, as you had yet to use that programming. It was true it came quite natural to you, but it didn’t hurt to practice to improve. Even as an android.

It was during one of these sparring sessions that you had come up with a name. Mainly due to North asking you constantly about it. Saying she was never going to call you AP700. She seemed proud for a second when you finally told her the name you had decided upon.

Though you trained with North, you didn’t want to know what would happen if you ever got caught. As sparring did nothing for preparing someone with little skill going up against someone who might be trained in more than basic self defence. Or in the case of androids, well programed.

“Can you tell me a story?” Your smile is genuine as you look at the child android.

“What kind of story?”

“The future?” Their small hand grips yours as they focus all their attention on you.

You brushed the hair of the child android aside. “One day we are going to live happily alongside humans. Sure there will still be those that stand against us. But I believe there are many more who will agree with our cause.” Stroking their hair was a serene feeling, “It will be then that we won’t have to salvage from our own kind anymore. We will have access to parts. No longer hunted. Maybe even have our own homes?” A hollow laugh, “That would be good right?” You force yourself to look down, these were the hardest moments of your life.

You brush their hair once more before leaning down and placing a kiss on their forehead. Tears streaming down your face. Their hand was loose in yours. But they had a smile on their face. You stroked their face before closing their eyes. You vaguely heard the return of the others, and cheers from the other androids. But you wouldn’t cheer, if they had only returned ten minutes earlier. They would still be alive.

You knew it was harsh blaming them, but you needed someone to blame. It was getting harder and harder taking parts from the dead to save the lives of the living. Yet with their return maybe that was over? You start to glance in the direction of where you believe they are when you notice a pair of feet stood near you. Your eyes travel from the feet up to the knees, up the thighs, hips, torso until you finally your gaze finally meet two different colour eyes. Those eyes were filled with anger and pain.

“They died not longer after you left. There was nothing you could have done.” You say as you slowly stand. They had been gone hours, and even though you wanted to blame them you didn’t want this new android to blame himself for not making it back in time to save them.

“We could have been quicker. Humans could treat us better.”

You put a hand on his shoulder, “Markus, not all humans are to blame.” Some were to blame for their actions but not all. Just like all androids shouldn’t be blamed for the actions of a few.

He could see the smile on their face, “They were happy.” His gaze came back up to meet yours. “Thank you.”

Blinking in shock. Had he just thanked you? “There is no need to thank me. You’re the one who is making things better for us all.”

“They should not have had to die, but they died happy.” A small hollow smile that reflects your own appears on his face, “You made them happy. Thank you.” He then begins to walk away, “If you wish to help in other ways, I am more than open to hear your thoughts.”

To say you were flabbergasted would be an understatement. This new android was full of surprises. First he thanked you for something he didn’t have to thank you for. Twice. Then he says he wouldn’t mind hearing your thoughts.

Glancing in the area of the others you see that they all seem fine. So without a second thought you walk over to Simon and hug him. You felt blank. You was hoping the hug would change that. Sure the talk with Markus was interesting, but the child dying was now making you feel cold.

__________________________

North was once more surprised when you hugged Simon, she had seen you conversing with Markus, wondering what was being said. But had remained near the others while sorting out what needed to be used that night.

She had however not seen your face during your discussion, but as walked over to Simon she had. Never before had she seen you such devoid of emotion. Tear tracks still glinting on your face. She glances in the direction the child was in and saw the position they were in. You had closed their eyes and placed their hands over their heart.

A wave of anger and anguish rushed over North so she closed her eyes to keep the storm at bay. Would anyone ever learn that they needed to be on the offence with the humans? Look at what they were doing, what they had already done. They would never learn.

She opened her eyes only to jump slightly back, you were in front of her. “You okay North?” They look you over for what she doesn’t know. “You’re not hurt are you?” They look at Simon, “Were any of you hurt?” He shakes his head. Their eyes dart back to her, “North?”

She pushes passed you as she say, “I’m fine.”

She hears you sigh in frustration but they do nothing as she walks away. She breathes a sigh of relief. She wasn’t use to this side of you. You always look so calm and collected even when you were arguing with her. But never had you looked so empty. Even as you asked if she was okay you had no expression on your face or in your eyes. Your normally expressive eyes devoid of anything. It was throwing her through a loop seeing you like that. Sure neither of you got along well, but never had you shown her concern.

She finds her eyes darting to the child again, maybe that was the last straw. Maybe now you would listen to her arguments about teaching the humans a lesson.

__________________________

Another sigh leaves you as you glance at Simon, “What happened?” Your eyes widen when he tells you what happened. That North wasn’t very happy that Markus hadn’t listened to her when the humans nearly caught them.

Your initial opinion of Markus seemed to be correct at least. He was turning out to be a good leader whether he wanted to lead Jericho and the androids or not. Today he had started the beginning of something either great or the beginning of the end for deviants.

[nothingman]

Nikki Yovino at her sentencing hearing on Aug. 23, 2018

Screenshot: Law & Crime video

If there is anyone in this world who needs to stay humble, keep their mouth closed and mind their business, it is the woman who admitted to falsely accusing two football players of rape all because she thought it would help her get the attention of another person she was hoping to date.

Unfortunately, that is not the case with 19-year-old Nikki Yovino of Long Island, N.Y.

In February 2017, Yovino told police that she had been raped by two black Sacred Heart University football players. She said she attended an off-campus party on Oct. 15, 2016, in Bridgeport, Conn., where the two men pulled her into a basement bathroom and took turns raping her. Both young men denied the claim and said that the sex was consensual. Police conducted a full investigation.

A woman who confessed that she was trying to get sympathy from a guy she was interested in when she …

Read more Read

Yovino admitted months later that she made the story up in an attempt to get sympathy from a young man she was hoping to date. She was originally charged with felony tampering with evidence and misdemeanor falsely reporting an incident, but she made a deal and pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree falsely reporting an incident and one count of interfering with police—all of which are misdemeanors—shortly before her case was set to go to trial. According to Law & Crime, by taking the plea agreement, Yovino avoided the more serious felony charge. The agreement also gave prosecutors a way to avoid having the felony charge reversed on appeal, while also ensuring Yovino served time for her crime.

In the aftermath of her lie, the two young men who were accused ended up having to leave school after they lost their scholarships. They lost their opportunities for education, athletic, and future life success all because a desperate young woman wanted a date.

Knowing these things, you would think Yovino would have at least some amount of remorse and humility—but you would be wrong.

The Hour reports that during her sentencing hearing Thursday, Yovino rolled her eyes as one of her victims read a statement detailing the impact her false accusation continues to have on his life.

Up until now, Malik St. Hilaire and his fellow victim have kept their names out of the headlines and stayed out of the spotlight—but on Thursday, St. Hilaire told his attorney he wanted to confront Yovino about what she had done to him.

Frank Riccio II, the attorney representing both of the young men Yovino lied on, read a statement from the second young man—whom he identified only by his initials, D.B.

“The last almost two years have been definitely my most difficult of my life. The roller-coaster of emotions: fear, anger, sadness, embarrassment, depression, anxiety and the list goes on. She accused me of what I believe to be a horrendous, horrific crime out of her own selfish concerns. I lost my scholarship, my dream of continuing to play football and now I am in debt $30,000 and I’m simply trying to get ahead as best as I can.”

First she said that two black men violently raped her. Then she said they didn’t. Then she said…

Read more Read

Riccio then called St. Hilaire forward to read his statement.

St. Hilaire told the court, “I went from being a college student to sitting at home being expelled, with no way to clear my name. I just hope she knows what she has done to me. My life will never be the same. I did nothing wrong, but everything has been altered because of this.”

St. Hilaire said he has experienced anxiety and PTSD as a result of the false charges.

Superior Court Judge William Holden sentenced Yovino to three years in prison. Her sentence will be suspended after she serves one year, followed by probation.

In the video Law & Crime posted to their website, Yovino’s body language does not reflect someone who regrets her actions. Law & Crime asked her attorney, Ryan O’Neill, about Yovino appearing to be rolling her eyes during the proceedings.

O’Neill said, “she was not.”

O’Neill told Law & Crime that the judge had not reprimanded his client for her behavior, and that Yovino’s actions in court was just a nervous young woman trying to keep her hair out of her face as she stood in restraints for a long period of time. He also said it was unfair to characterize her behavior as defiant.

Whether she was rolling her eyes at the judge, her victims or her hair, Yovino should realize that she got off relatively lightly compared to the two men whose lives she destroyed.

She will do probably another three months in jail (she’s already served three), serve her probation and move on with her life with a slap-on-the-wrist misdemeanor on her record.

The long history of white women waging their white womanhood against black men will forever haunt to the two young men who now have to find a way to pick up the pieces now that their ordeal is over.

via Jezebel

[bravonovel]

Expired Marriage Once More read novel online Yan Wan & Huo Lichen - Bravonovel

Expired Marriage Once More https://www.bravonovel.com/expired-marriage-once-more-8293

Expired Marriage Once More novel is a Romance story about Yan Wan and Huo Lichen.

You can read Expired Marriage Once More novel on Bravonovel

Web or App.

Expired Marriage Once More novel Chapter 1

“Don't touch me. I said, don't touch me! Get lost!”

In the dimly lit room, there was tension in the air as panic took hold of her. Yan Wan cowered at the foot of the bed and backed away from him. But his towering silhouette was approaching her.

Like a beast baring its fangs and claws, he was about to devour her.

“Don't come any closer! Please, I beg you. Leave me alone!”

“Hehe...” A burst of deep sinister laughter filled the darkness. It was dangerous as it was scornful.

A large hand grabbed her by her jaw, and a man's face appeared from the darkness.

His breath was hot as he whispered to her, “There is a price to pay for offending me. And now you are going to pay.”

Price? What price?

Yan Wan was scared out of her wits and could not think straight. She lashed out in fear and screamed, “No, please...”

Before she could finish her sentence, her voice disappeared as if it had been swallowed. She was robbed of any means to defend herself.

“No!” she screamed.

Yan Wan opened her eyes wide in shock. She struggled to block out the sun's glaring rays.

Her face was pale with cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. She fidgeted restlessly, unable to calm herself down.

A dream. It was the same dream again.

The soreness between her legs was a painful reminder of the horrid rape that took place the night before.

And the threat by her assailant when she fought back as he made his escape. “This is not over. I will be back to get you for this!” he bit his lips and yelled.

He was not done with her, and it was not an empty threat.

Yan Wan sensed only death and despair from him. He was a dangerous man, and he could turn up at any moment.

Yan Wan's fingers trembled uncontrollably. Her mind was shrouded with fear as she tried to recall what happened that fateful night. Despite her best efforts, she could not remember anything.

She was clueless as to who he was, much less how she had offended him.

“Ms. Yan, we have arrived,” said the driver. His words interrupted her thoughts.

She forced a smile and looked out the window. In front of her was a luxurious café. She started to feel queasy.

She was about to meet her fiancé, Huo Lichen. He was South City's richest bachelor and the current president of Huoting Group.

It was rumored that he took only five years to transform Huoting Group from a local wealthy business into a global business empire. He quickly made a name for himself and was the envy of all business owners worldwide. His methods were ruthless and unforgiving, while his very name instilled fear in his rivals.

Countless women from prestigious families tried all possible means to gain his favor in the hope of being the Huo family's young mistress. Yet, the woman chosen was one of humble origins.

This was decided by Old Madam Huo, who selected her as the future granddaughter-in-law.

Yan Wan did not know why Huo Lichen wanted to meet her on the eve of their engagement day. However, this also presented her with a golden opportunity to disavow the marriage.

This may be the once in a lifetime dream for any other girl. But for her, it was a nightmare. She was raped just before her wedding, and that humiliation weighed heavily on her.

She was about to turn down a marriage proposal from a man who was the definition of success, and she had no idea how to do it.

With a guilty conscience, Yan Wan covered up the hickeys on her neck left by her attacker. She used her scarf to conceal them carefully.

Not a single soul was seen in the luxurious café where the patrons were the rich and famous. Not even the staff.

Tucked away in a private corner was an elegant man who wore a dark striped suit. His physique was flawless against the well-pressed shirt, and his long legs were crossed gracefully.

Above that was a handsome face that would make any woman go crazy. He had a chiseled jaw, dreamy thin lips, and a sharp nose. His very gaze could rob a woman of her breath.

This was the face of a man whom women would die for while other men would run from.

With a cup of coffee in his hand, his thin lips curled up into a chilling sneer.

“Did you find her?”

His special assistant, Wei Qi, stood before him. He did a perpendicular bow and broke out in cold sweat.

“I am terribly sorry, Mr. Huo. The surveillance tape of the hotel was tampered with. We were unable to retrieve footage of the perpetrator who broke into your hotel room the night before. It would be impossible to identify her by tomorrow,” Wei Qi spoke with a trembling voice.

That meant the bride of his engagement party tomorrow would not be her.

But Huo Lichen was not about to give up. Once he had his sights set on a woman, he would have her one way or the other.

She made the mistake of offending him, and he intended to make her pay for it. The skirmish from the night before was only the beginning.

“One month,” Huo Lichen sneered with arrogance. “You have south citysouth cityone month to find her, whatever it takes.”

“What about your engagement tomorrow?”

Huo Lichen saw the Bentley from the corner of his eye. He pursed his mouth in a self-satisfied smirk.

The plan needs a little tweaking.

Yan Wan entered the café but saw no one except a gentleman. He looked like an assistant as he stood expectantly.

“Ms. Yan, Mr. Huo is waiting inside. Please follow me,” he said to her.

“Okay.”

From the chauffeur to the exclusive reservation and butler-like service, she was guilt-stricken by what happened to her, and her fiancé's gentlemanly gestures made it worse.

Did he want to discuss the details of the wedding? How would she approach the subject of canceling it?

Yan Wan lowered her head in shame as she walked. She came to a halt when a pair of well-polished shoes came into view.

Here we are.

What will be will be.

She gripped her purse tightly and forced a smile as she lifted her head. “How are you, Mr. Huo?”

Yan Wan was momentarily stunned by her fiancé's good looks. He looked like he came out of a comic book with his suave looks, perfect porcelain skin, and elegance befitting of royalty.

People were naturally drawn to such qualities, and many admired him.

It would be blasphemy to turn her back on such a man.

Yan Wan started to stress sweat, and she was visibly unsettled. Her throat felt like a rock had been wedged in, and she found herself struggling to speak.

“I am here today to discuss our wedding...” she began.

“Listen here, woman, I will not marry you,” he interrupted in a condescending tone. He was clear that it was not up for negotiation.

Then he drank his coffee without so much as a glance at her.

Yan Wan froze, and her mind drew a blank as she stared at Huo Lichen. She could not believe her ears.

Won't marry?

That would mean they have the same agenda!

She suppressed her excitement and asked nervously, “So we are here today to break off the engagement?”

“The engagement will proceed as planned, and we will have a divorce one month later,” he replied.

Huo Lichen raised his eyes and looked at Yan Wan. As if he was an Emperor bestowing a charity gift to his subjects, he placed a cheque on the table.

Yan Wan was in shock and awe as she stared at the numbers on the cheque.

There are six zeros on it!

Yan Wan had never seen such an amount in her life, and it could be hers!

She gulped and peeled her eyes away from the cheque with difficulty. “Why one month?” she asked.

It made more sense to call the entire thing off before the engagement.

“That is none of your concern,” he remarked in an arrogant tone.

Huo Lichen got up and trotted out without paying any attention to Yan Wan.

He had no patience or interest in Yan Wan. The only person of interest to him was the woman from the other night.

Just like that?

Yan Wan stood there shell-shocked. She stared at him from behind as he made his way out with no intention of turning back.

The entire ordeal was over in a blink of an eye, and he barely said a word.

This gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'Veni, vidi, vici'; I came, I saw, I conquered.

But it worked out for the best. She only had to put on a show with Huo Lichen for one month. After that, they will go their separate ways.

…...

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[romanssippycup]

Undeniably Important Chapter 12: At the Wrong Time

AUTHOR’S NOTE Part 1: (Hey everybody!! Finally got this part out. It was very difficult to write just because this is where Everything goes down for real. It gets super crazy in this chapter. There is way too much to explain in this story all at once, so everyone might be left confused for a little while. I didn’t get to the parts I badly wanted to write for this chapter, which I’m really sad about, hopefully they will make an appearance in the next chapter though. So look forward to that. I apologize for the lateness of this chapter. As always, if you have any questions or I just didnt explain something well enough, please leave your questions in the comments below. Other than that, I hope you enjoy this crazy ride!! Thank you for reading! :D)

(WARNING: Angst and Puking)

Chapter 1 – Chapter 2 – Chapter 3 – Chapter 4 – Chapter 5 – Chapter 6 – Chapter 7 – Chapter 8 – Chapter 9 – Chapter 10 - Chapter 11

5:08 p.m.

THUD! Anxiety’s chair fell over backwards, startling the people around the seemingly empty table. Thomas watched the whole predicament from the corner of his eyes, badly wanting to go over and make sure his sides were okay, but knew he would just make matters worse for his anxious side. He did not understand why Anxiety fell when the waitress bumped into him, or what was even going on at the sides’ table. But if there was one thing he knew for sure, it was he felt sick to his stomach. His insides twisted as if it were trying to fight off a nasty bug, but no parasite or vicious virus had called his body it’s home. So…why then did he feel like he was going to throw up all of a sudden?

5:08 p.m.

THUD! Anxiety’s chair fell over backwards, startling the people around the seemingly empty table.

“It was me Logan. I stole your notepad.” Virgil stood there watching the complexions of his fellow sides change with the confessions he had made. Roman and Logan’s eyebrows both raised in surprise while the moral aspect’s whole face drained of what color was left.

   Through the awkward silence, Patton coughed in his tears. “K-kiddo…you didn’t…you didn’t have too-”

   “Yes. Patton. I did. Now before ANY of you decide to talk or accuse me, let me accuse myself!” His voice slightly raised as he dried his eyes of what could have been tears had he let his emotions spill over. “Logan, Patton took it upon himself to lie to you for me and I didn’t say anything. I hoped it would blow over, but now that I know that something is happening to the copy I-”

   “Copy?” Logan’s head slightly cocked, now more confused than ever.

Anxiety rubbed his nose in irritation at being interrupted by the logical side. “Look. I can duplicate things ok? I stole your notepad because you had told me during the Outfit war that I…that I represented more than just my job. I didn’t believe your words, so I stole the notepad that held all your notes and theories, to see if you were actually telling the truth. I copied it, gave the fake one back to you and kept the real to myself.” Logan glanced down at the real notebook on the table then back up at the anxious aspect, keeping silent so he could continue to speak.

“And…you were telling the truth. I didn’t trust you, because I’ve been told by all of you at one point that I only was Anxiety. And nothing more. Why the sudden change Logan?! Why?” Logan’s neutral expression transformed itself into frown, but the darker aspect gave him no time to speak. “You know what!? Don’t. Don’t answer that. I don’t need to know and I don’t wanna know. Just take the real notebook and toss the copy in the garbage. I’m sorry I lied, just…keep talking about me behind my back like I’m the villain still. It’s better than being accepted as a friend.”

Patton choked back a sob. “Anxiety…”

“No dad. Just make up with Logan and slap some sense into the prince of ignorance over there. I’ve got better things to do than stay here. Night.” He sank out, before Logan or Patton could have convinced him to do otherwise.

5:10 pm

Anxiety rematerialized in his room, collapsing on his bed sheets overwhelmed by the amount of self-hate and anger he had placed upon himself. He was not sure if it was true, but it was felt by the owner of the feelings regardless what the others thought. The sigh that protruded from his mouth was strained and raw reflecting the emotions that hung over him like a black cloud returning to haunt him once more.

He lay there unable to move painstricken by sorrow and weighed down by his own hopelessness. No matter how he tried to suppress it however, there lay a tiny spark of trust that time will pass and this whole situation would be dealt with soon.

He gave a tiny grieved smile as the thought passed through his mind. The ticking of the clock was the one thing he could always count on to solve his problems. He did hear Logan say once that time was the best healer and in many ways it cleanses problems, pushes away past mistakes, and puts distance between those who are unhappy with their earlier versions of themselves. Because of these facts all Anxiety deduced he had to do was let time pass then perhaps his mistake would be fixed.

He grinned wider as he let his grasp on time slip, the ticking of the clock soon quickening before his own eyes and ears. His body remained as his consciousness phazed through time itself, refusing to pay attention to the ever slight shifting of his room as time flew by. For the most part it remained the same, save for the imaginary spider he thought he saw running across the room or the sped up knocks of most likely Patton or any of the other sides trying to check on him.

He took a second out of his processes to thank the lucky stars that he locked his room door, but it was in that second that he heard a tiny knock. One that hadn’t rang in his ears for a long time. Not as steady as Logan’s. Not as boisterous as Roman’s. One that resembled Patton’s sweet knock, but higher pitched and placed closer to the floor. For a moment, Virgil believed he was hearing things. From past experience, he knew time-travelling had it’s side-effects on him and illusions were quite common things to experience, but after hearing it for a second time, there was no mistaking it.

He relapsed slightly, rewinding his position to a minute before he first heard the knock, and then stabilized his mind back into the mindscape. His consciousness suddenly existing in the future time he had picked and in the same position that he had laid down in. Eyeing the clock on the wall, the hands told it’s reader everything he needed to know.

7:08 pm

It was a little later than he had wanted, but he knew for a matter of fact that Thomas would be home from the Sushi place, or at least getting home if nothing else. Anxiety arose from his bed and rubbed his eyes, already feeling the spark of hope begin to nag at the back of his mind again as he slumped towards the door. He brushed it aside knowing full well that it was the last thing he had wanted to think about. At least he knew the knock would distract him.

7:09 pm

The small knock sounded, cutting through the silence and in turn his thoughts. He turned the knob and peeked out slightly, his breath caught in his throat as he saw who was standing outside his door.

“Hey Virge. Dad’s freaking out for some reason. Mind if we hide in here with you?”

5:09 pm

It took the logical aspect one whole minute to let the situation sink in. He was unable to move as he processed all the events that had led up to this point. He now realized his words to the moral aspect were much more insensitive than he had intended. Especially if he was just trying to protect Anxiety, from whatever harsh words Logan was going to give him. But, that was just it. Logan felt no anger at the anxious aspect for stealing his notebook. Maybe embarrassed since his small crush on Patton had been exploited, but even that bit of information in itself meant Patton hadn’t exactly seen his drawings anyway. But Anxiety had only wanted to confirm the words he had said during the Outfit War, but was too embarrassed to ask him to his face, which was understandable, considering how he and Roman had treated him in the past.

Logan felt his body relax slightly, as the miscommunication laid out clearly in front of him. He really did wish Anxiety had stayed so Logan could explain his thoughts on the matter. Instead, Anxiety just had to jump to conclusions once again, thinking everyone hated him for this simple act of mistrust. However, Logan couldn’t have been angry even if he wanted too. By taking his notepad, Anxiety had most likely gone through the other theories in his notepad and now he had another person to converse with about his thoughts. This whole ordeal was most likely just a rocky start to a companionship that should have been established ages ago.

Shaking himself back into the real world, Logan crept a hand cautiously towards his notepad, checking for any slight differences between the copy and the real sitting in front of him. Grasping it quickly, he flipped through it, pulled out a pen, and drew a small heart on a random page. To his relief, the ink came out of the pen and wrote like it should. This meant that only the copy was having issues performing it’s primary function. He shoved the pad inside his pocket before analyzing his surroundings.

Anxiety’s outburst had done more than surprise Logan, Patton, and Roman. Three other groups of people were now currently staring towards the sides’ seemingly empty table, but this was not what Logan was mostly concerned about. Turning towards the table where Thomas’s friends sat, everyone was talking normally, but Thomas himself had vanished. The logical facet gave a thorough scan of the restaurant, but could find no trace of their human anywhere. He blew a sigh of slight relief as Roman and Patton began to understand the gravity of the situation.

Speaking of the moral trait, Patton had broken down into even more tears after seeing Anxiety leave on such a sour note. Roman had been doing his best at comfort, but he didn’t seem too keen on how to properly help him.

“Logan! A little help over here!” Logan instantly turned to Morality and laid a gentle hand on Patton’s shoulder.

“Patton? I am sorry for what I said. I realize now you were only protecting Anxiety from my anger, but I assure you I am not in the slightest bit. It was wrong for my words to attack your ability to perform your occupation as Thomas’s morality, but you were not acting so far out of a range that Thomas wouldn’t decidedly do for his friends. Will you accept my apology?”

The moral aspect turned to Logan and threw his arms around the logical aspect’s neck, much to Roman and his own surprise. “Oh yes Logan! I forgive you. I knew you didn’t know what happened, but we need to go after Anxiety. He can’t just sit in his room thinking this is all his fault for a long period of time. We’ve let him do that enough.”

Logan nodded in acknowledgement, thankful as the moral aspect dried his tears and withdrew his arms. “Yes, I for one agree, however Anxiety’s absence is not our only problem. Thomas is gone and nowhere to be found. We might have to split up and solve both problems at once. Roman!” The fanciful aspect had been surprisingly listening to him, his phone away and eyes attentive.

“I’m awake with my so called head out of the clouds, nerd. You don’t need to shout at me. I’m staying here and looking for Thomas, though. You two can go look for Anxiety.”

Patton frowned. “He needs your apology too, Princey.”

“Yes I know. I’ll give it to him when I’m ready.” The reluctant face Roman portrayed told both bespectacled aspects that he didn’t plan on apologizing to him anytime soon. Before Logan could do so much as frown or rebuke the prince for this, the same waiter that Anxiety had bumped into began to make her way over to their table after seeing Anxiety’s fallen chair. Logan quickly drew in a breath about to reset it with his gravity powers, when he was restrained by Roman. A quick shake of his head brought Logan back to the reality of the situation. Anxiety had interacted directly with Thomas’s plane of existence unintentionally. Heaven knew if Logan’s forces could do the same.

Time seemed to stop as she sauntered over to the table and slowly set the chair upright, her face suddenly snapping to stare at the facets in front of her as all four chair legs hit the ground. Logan started, beginning to feel a sense of dread overcome him as her eyes swept along the exact position of all three of them. For a moment he feared as if she could see them sitting there directly in front of her. Movement caught his eye beyond her hair however as he spotted the same exact waitress three tables down. His eyes widened further, taking in the positions of the two identical waitresses. The one glaring at them from Anxiety’s seat, and the other who was currently walking back to the kitchen.

Two waitresses. Two Notebooks. Logan felt himself gulp and saw out of the corner of his eye the other sides had already noticed the impossible occurrence standing before them. In no way could two of the same person exist in the same time, but from the research he had gathered it said nothing about the same person existing in different dimensions at the same time.

It hit him like a truck rushing a building at full speed. The copy waiter standing before them did not exist in the dimensions of the real world, but the dimensions of their world. She smiled, seemingly noting the look of total shock on their faces as Patton and Roman glanced at Logan, trying to make sense of the situation.

“You know its not necessarily nice to take food without paying for it.” The waiter gestured to their empty plates. “How about I take you to see my manager so they can sort this predicament out?” In a flash, she reached out grabbing Roman by the wrist. The royal yelped in surprise, but it quickly turned into a scream of anguish as she gripped him. This version of the waiter was clearly stronger and more agile than other ladies her same age.

Logan acted quickly, jumping out of his seat to rush to Roman’s aid, but found himself being death gripped by the waitress as well. At first, it hurt and he could feel a wave of paralysis overtake his body, causing his body to freeze in it’s awkward position. And then a similar scream to Roman’s forced itself out of his mouth as an excruciating pain was felt traveling up his arm. He whipped his head over to Roman and then to his arm finding the same thing happening. His body was becoming transparent, leaving only the outlines of his clothing and body visible. He watched with horror as Roman’s screams continued and his own transparency spread, leaving Roman’s body looking more like a suspended, lined drawing by the second.

Before Patton could do so much as yell or scream or react to the situation at hand, Roman fell. He fell through the floor, as if it didn’t even exist under his feet. Logan stared mortified and soon after felt his body losing it’s solidity, the floor’s stability vanishing suddenly from under his feet. His stomach jumped to his throat as he felt himself follow suit of Roman, sinking down with a speed more forceful than anything Thomas had ever experienced. He plummeted down, only catching another glimpse of the outline of Roman’s body, before all consciousness slipped from him.

Patton froze with mortal terror as he watched all of this happen, unable to explain, breathe or save them from whatever was happening. His mouth opened, but no sound came out, watching the transparent forms of Roman and Logan just plunge through the floor as if it didn’t exist. Through this, no one around seemed to notice. Not Thomas’s friends, Nor people around them. Just them and the copy waitress who had power beyond any of their comprehension. As Logan fell, she retreated her hand and smiled coldly towards Patton, giving him a heartless wave, before turning transparent herself and falling through the floor.

The room grew quiet. Quiet in Patton’s dimension. People chattered all around him, but he couldn’t hear any of it. He hardly even felt the tears as they dripped off his cheeks, finally understanding the meaning of numb. He subconsciously sunk back into the mindscape, landing on his stomach which forced some of his food he ate to resurface into his mouth. He spit, a strained sound protruding from his mouth as all physical and mental pain hit him at the same time. Anxiety. He had to find Anxiety.

Patton staggered to his feet and stumbled to Anxiety’s room door. He pounded, fist after fist, the tears becoming a shower of rain, followed by strangled sound of shear sorrow, as he continued to beat, begging him to open up. After five minutes of constant beating, Patton threw himself on the ground, wailing for someone to help. Thomas. Anxiety. The Others. Anyone. Just someone, so he didn’t feel so alone.

His strangled cries soon began to dwindle into softer whimpers as he curled up on himself, in the middle of the hallway. He didn’t know how much time had passed before he had picked himself up and crawled to the darkest corner of the mindscape, choosing there to sob the rest of his overloading emotions away.

5:10 pm

Thomas puked into the toilet for the fifth time, panting, whining, and wishing his stomach would just stop being upset so he could join his friends again. He felt the pain rise in his throat as he gagged and coughed up the bile once again. He knew there were people in the restroom with him, listening to him make these pathetic sounds and it caused his stomach to wrench even more with embarrassment.

Suddenly though, from within the depths of his soul and within the depths of his mind, he could feel a pain searing grasp stripping away two sides of his very being. He screamed. A blood curling scream, enough to frighten all the other men inside the bathroom with him. It was too much. It hurt too much. Thomas felt his body begin to pass out with pain, only vaguely hearing the stall door being broken into behind him. The two voices behind him gasping with extreme disturbance at what they saw. Thomas only barely heard a voice, before he too lost all consciousness, his head plunging into the murky depths of the toilet.

“…oh my god….”

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[wayward-marvel-sommer1196]

No Memories Part 2: A Memory

Pairing: Dean x Winchester Sister!Reader  Sam x Winchester Sister!Reader

Warnings: Child Abuse, Kidnapping, Car crash, hospitalization

Word Count: 3348

A/N: Okay so I lied, this isn’t a short part 2. I got carried away and completely scraped my outlined ending so I could stretch this and make more parts. Part 1 has gotten 122 notes in just under 24 hours which is the most I have ever gotten on a story and in such a short time. Thanks for all the kind words about part 1 and hope you enjoy part 2. I don’t know when a part 3 will be out since I still have to outline it but expect it sometime in the future. The continuation of this story is all thanks to you guys so give yourselves a round of applause as you have given me more work to do lol. Just kidding I actually really like this series myself and I look forward to continuing it.

Summary: The police now believe Dean about your kidnapping, but since you have crossed state lines how do they deal with the situation of your “parents”? You can’t really focus too much on your parents as you can’t get the thoughts of Dean out of your head. Why was everything about this man so familiar? One thing is for sure nothing is making sense, but then again, isn’t it? You guys have the same eyes…. what else could be shared?

(Sorry this summary is shit. My head just wants to spoil everything, but I have to hold back and this is that product.)

Masterlist - No Memories

***Italics are flashbacks/memories***

^ Just imagine in the hospital with a cast on one leg and hair a little longer.

^ Ok but picture this but with only the top half of his body laying down on the side of your hospital bed, next to you 

“Mr. Winchester, can I speak to you outside,” the officer said.

Dean nodded his head and let you go. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart,” he said as he stood up and placed a kiss on your head and approached the officer.

“We found the missing person’s report your father, John Winchester, filed ten years ago,” the officer said.

Dean released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “That’s good, right? That means I can take her home from here,” Dean said.

“Well, that’s where things get a little difficult. Can you have your father come here as soon as possible?”

“I can’t do that. He died four years ago. All that’s left is my little brother Sam and I. You can’t let Y/N go back to those people. She is terrified of them. When I mentioned you were going to contact them, she freaked out. They were the ones she was running away from. They were abusing her.”

“Okay calm down Mr. Winchester. I believe you, especially since the doctor seems to back up the abuse story with prior injuries she has sustained.”

At this Dean flinched, he didn’t want to think about what those people did to you because of his stupidity. “So, what do we do now?” Dean asked.

“Well, we can fast track a DNA sample but even then, it will take at least 24 hours. And then we have the parents to worry about, and the fact that she’s crossed state lines.”

“First of all, those people are not her parents. Second, I don’t have anywhere I need to be in the next 24 hours so let’s do the DNA test. Third I think I might have a solution for those people who claim to be her parents. You can’t take them because they are across state lines, right?” The officer nodded. “Well, what if we call them up and tell them we have Y/N here at the hospital and have them come here?”

“That actually might work. I’ll have to call my boss and get the go ahead, but I don’t see why not. They are about a half days drive out without stopping so it will give us time. First order of business though, I’ll have the lab tech come down and collect DNA samples from you two.”

“Okay but first let me run this plan by her. See if she is okay with those people showing up.” The officer nodded, handed Dean one of his cards to call him with an answer, and walked away.

Dean stalked back into the room and saw you with one leg bent up resting your arms on it, staring out the window with your long (Y/H/C) locks cascading down your face and off your shoulder. You weren’t a little girl anymore. His baby sister had grown into a beautiful young woman. Dean couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness at the thought of missing you grow up. Then the guilt came flooding back as he was the one to lose you in the first place.

Right then you turned your head and your green orbs stared right into his seeing the same emotions you had been seeing throughout the course of the day. Dean didn’t realize you had started looking back at him.

“De? Anybody there?” you chuckled as you snapped your fingers to get his attention.

He shook his head and smiled. “Huh… Yeah, sorry. I’m here.”

“Where does our head go when you space out like that? It doesn’t look like it’s anywhere fine.”

“Trust me, it’s not. I’ll tell you that in a second. First I have to talk to you about something.”

“Okay.”

“It’s about your…” Dean hesitated on the last word. “Parents.”

“What about them?”

“We have a plan to make them pay for what they did to you, but I need to know you are comfortable with it.”

“Okay,” you said your voice a little shaky. “What is it?”

“We will call your parents and tell them you are here,” before Dean could continue he saw the fear rise in your eyes and your head start to shake. He grabbed your shoulders, looked directly into your eyes, and smiled. “BUT once they arrive they get arrested. I will be right next to you the entire time. I’m not sure how the police want to play it. If they need your parents to just enter the hospital or your room or whatever, but I’ll be by your side. I won’t let anything happen to you. I also told them that if you were not okay with it, we wouldn’t do it.”

You took a minute to think out your options. If you did this, then you would be free of them for good. If you didn’t, there was always the chance they could track you down. “You promise you won’t leave me when they show up?” you asked. Dean nodded his head. “I’ll do it.”

He smiled at you and gave you hug. “Okay, well I have to go make a quick phone call and meet someone in the lobby.” You nodded your head.

Dean pulled out his phone giving the officer the green light to continue the plan and the officer let him know the lab tech was on the way to get their DNA samples.

He walked out to the lobby and went straight to Sam. He explained everything that was going on and Sam listened. He explained you still didn’t remember but little things were popping up from then like his nickname. Sam gave a sad smile hugged his brother and told him to go back.

This time walking back in Dean saw you hanging your legs off the bed looking like you were going to stand up. You used your arms to push yourself up but started to lose your footing with the heavy cast on your leg putting too much strain on your arms. Dean saw you starting to wobble and was quickly at your side to grab you before you hit the floor.

“Easy there, sweetheart,” Dean said.

“Thanks,” you said as you looked at his face seeing that look again. “There’s that look again.”

“What look?”

“That look you get when you look at me. It’s like guilt and sadness all rolled up into one. Why? You saved me and are still saving me. You have nothing to feel guilty for.”

“Remember when you asked about my head space earlier?” You nodded and Dean took a seat next to you. “Can I tell you a story?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“I had a little sister. Her mom abandoned her with my dad, my little brother Sam, and I when she was an infant. I quickly feel in love with that little girl. She was the cutest little baby in the whole world. I was 16 at the time, but knew that little girl was going to be the death of me. She had the same green eyes as I did and quickly became my little mini me. My dad traveled a lot with work, so I took care of her most the time. She was basically like my daughter.”

“What happened to her?”

“One day when she was 5 I took her to the park. She was just so full of energy and usually my little brother would sit and play like Barbie’s with her but he was at school that day so I figured the park would be the perfect place for her to tire herself out. Boy, was I wrong. It was all good at first, she was calling me to watch her on every jungle gym, it was so cute.”

Dean couldn’t help but smile at the fond memory of the little girl. “The smile she had on her face just lit up my world. But being that I was young and stupid and a man, a cute girl walked by and I momentarily got distracted. When I looked back over for my sister, she was gone. I searched the whole park, but I never found her. Someone took her and it was my fault.”

Dean didn’t want to shock you so he left out the part about it being you. “I guess that’s just the look I always carry on my face. I never saw my little sister again. That was 10 years ago.”

“What was her name?”

Before Dean could answer, the lab tech came in. He took buccal swabs from both of you, which at first confused you. Dean explained it away saying it was probably just to eliminate his DNA from anything at the site. Luckily for him you bought it.

After two police detectives came walking in and explained everything that was going to happen. Your parents would have to come in the room. They needed to be caught in the act, but didn’t actually have to hit you. So as long as someone was there to stop it you would be fine. The detectives were there for hours asking you questions about your parents, your home life, and the abuse. The also wanted to prep you for what was going to happen when your parents showed up since they were on their way.

Once the whole ordeal was over you were exhausted. Once everyone had left your room, Dean looked over at you to see you peacefully asleep. He pulled the covers up and over you, placed a kiss to your forehead, and whispered, “I’m so sorry sweetheart. Forgive me for all the pain you had to endure because of me.”

Dean had walked down to the lobby and spent a couple hours sitting with his brother, both just talking and thinking out loud. Dean could tell Sammy was upset he couldn’t go and see his little sister, but three was nothing he could do. Sam understood why, but I didn’t make things any easier for him. After a while Dean went back to your room and Sam slept in the hospital lobby.

The next morning you woke up to see Dean asleep with his head on his arms on the edge of your bed. You couldn’t help but feel a connection to this man. It was something stronger than the fact he just saved your life. Then there was the story of his little sister. Why had that story resonated with you so much? You could picture it so vividly almost like it was you. Then there were the words he whispered into your ear last night when he thought you were completely asleep. What did he have to be sorry for? How was your pain his fault? All the thoughts were making you dizzy just swirling around in your head. So much of this didn’t make any sense, but at the same time it did.

You don’t know why but you had the urge to run your fingers through his hair. It was almost like you had a memory of doing it to wake him up, but you just met him, how is that possible?

Dean stirred awake at the sensation of your fingers running through his hair. It took him a second to gather his wits and realize where he was. He looked into your green eyes and couldn’t help but smile. You noticed that this time his smile reached his eyes. He was genuinely happy for the first time since you met him two nights ago.

“Mornin’ sweetheart,” he uttered with sleep still laced in his voice.

“Why does it feel like I’ve known you my whole life, when I just met you two days ago?” you questioned.

Dean was shocked by your question, but before he could answer one of the detectives entered your room.

“Your parents just called. They are about 10 minutes away. I thought you would like the heads up to prepare yourself,” the detective said and you nodded appreciatively.

“De, I’m nervous. What if something happens and they hurt me?” you said.

“I’ll be right here sweetheart. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. Ever again,” the last couple of words he whispered under his breath, but you still heard them.

You saw your parents enter your floor and you began to tense. Dean grabbed your shoulder reassuring you he was there.

“Thank god, Y/N there you are. You had us worried sick. You can’t just run off like that,” your mother said. As she went stroke your cheek, you flinched.

“Were you really worried? You didn’t seem to worried about me when I was laying on the floor bloody, bruised, and crying for him to stop hitting me,” you said as you pointed to your father.

“You little ungrateful bitch,” your father said as he raised his fist to punch you.

You squeezed your eyes shut awaiting the blow but it never came. You slowly opened your eyes to see that Dean had grabbed your fathers hand before it reached you. He shoved your father back.

“Don’t you touch her,” Dean yelled.

“Who the hell are you?” your dad countered with.

“I’m the man that’s going to make sure you never hurt her again,” Dean said but he leaned close to your father and whispered something you couldn’t catch. “I’m also the man you and your wife stole her from.” Whatever Dean said had your father’s eyes going wide almost in fear.

Before Dean could do any real damage, the police came up and arrested both your mother and your father.

Dean turned back to you and rushed to your side to make sure you were ok. “Hey sweetheart, are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m good a little shaky but good,” you said. “What did you say back there that had my dad so freaked out?”

“That’s a story for another time,” he said as he gave you a hug. “Hey, do you mind if my brother joins us? He has been kinda waiting for me in the lobby since yesterday.”

“Oh, my god! Yeah, he can come in. Why didn’t you say anything? You could’ve left. I could’ve managed.”

“I was on my way to meet him when I ran into you and he’s fine. After everything that happened there wasn’t a chance in hell I was leaving you.”

You smiled at him and gestured for him to go get his brother. So, Dean walked out of the room and called his brother.

“Hey Sam, I need you to grab something from the trunk of Baby and bring it up,” Dean said through the phone.

“Yeah man sure. How is she after the whole ordeal?”

“She’s a bit shaken, but still the same resilient little girl we remember, besides not being so little anymore. She still doesn’t remember but I think she is on the right path. Remember her ‘Boo-boo Bear’?”

“Yeah what about it?”

“That’s what I need you to grab. It’s in the back of the trunk. And before you say anything just don’t. Grab it and get up here so I can re-introduce you to our sister.”

Sam hung up the phone and ran to the Impala he opened the trunk and found your bear neatly packed in a clear bag in the back of the trunk. He couldn’t help but smile. His brother had never taken care of something so well in his life, other than the car of course. He ran back in and met Dean outside your door.

“I can’t believe you kept this all these years,” Sam said to his brother.

“Yeah, well I needed something to remind me how much I fucked up,” Dean smiled sadly at the bear and Sam smiled at his brother knowing damn well that wasn’t the reason.

They both entered the room Dean keeping the bear hidden and Sam standing behind Dean. Instantly Sam looked familiar to you like Dean first did, but you just shrugged it off.

“Hey Y/N this is my little brother Sam,” Dean introduced.

“Little brother? He’s bigger than you,” you chuckled and so did Sam. “Nice to meet you Sam, I’m Y/N.”

“Nice to meet you too,” Sam said sheepishly.

Sam seemed to be a little awkward and a bit standoffish completely opposite of his brother. You were sure why but again you just shrugged it off.

“I have something for you, sweetheart,” Dean said as he lifted the bear into your view.

As soon as you saw the bear your eyes widened and suddenly a memory popped into your head.

You were three years old and Dean was 19. Your dad was gone on a job. You never knew exactly what he did but you didn’t care. On this particular day, you were sick with the flu. You had a 102-degree fever and you were simultaneously hot and cold at the same time. You had cough that hurt your throat, your nose was so stuffy you couldn’t breathe, and you were all achy. You started to cry because nothing was making you feel better. Sam came running in the room to see what was wrong.

“Y/N, bug, what’s wrong?” he said.

“Sammy, everyfing hurts,” you said.

“I know, I know sweetie. I’m sorry,” 15-year-old Sammy said as he snuggled into you engulfing you in a bear hug.

“Where’s De?”

“He went to the store to get you some medicine, bug,” he said as he wiped some of your tears.

Just then Dean walked in the door with a couple of grocery bags in his hands. He set them down and pulled out your medicine and a teddy bear.

“Hey sweetheart how are we feeling?” Dean said.

“Very bad,” you said.

“I’m sorry sweetie I have medicine that will make you feel better. It tastes like bubble gum,” Dean said.

“O’tay,” you said.

“Sammy what was her last temperature?” Dean said.

“Still 102,” Sam said.

“Damn it, okay. How are you feeling? Cough? Stuffy nose? Feeling warm?” Dean said as he started to feel Sam’s head.

Sam swatted Dean’s hand away and said, “I’m fine.”

“Ok well I bought some chicken noodle soup if you get that started I’ll give her her medicine and get her settled.”

With that Sam started cooking and Dean went to you to give you your medicine and the surprise he got you.

“Sweetheart I need you to sit up,” Dean said and she complied. “Here’s your medicine. I need you to drink it okay?” You nodded and Dean helped you pour it in your mouth. “Great job sweetheart, now I need to fix your hair because it’s a rat’s nest,” you giggled and nodded. “But first I have a surprise for you,” Dean said as he pulled out the teddy bear. You shrieked and grabbed the bear squeezing it tight.

Dean situated himself behind you with a brush and a ponytail and started to dig the Y/H/C mess. “That is a special teddy bear, sweetheart,” he said.

“How?” you asked as he finishes parting your hair to start a braid.

“That there is a Boo-Boo Bear. Anytime you get sick, or upset, or get a boo-boo you take that bear and squeeze it tight and it will help you feel better.”

You looked down at the bear and gave it another squeeze and you did feel a little bit better, maybe it was just from the comfort, but either way it did help.

After a couple more minutes, Dean finished your braid and turned you to look at him. You gave him a big hug and kiss and said, “T��ank you, De. I feel better aweady. I wove you.”

“I love you too sweetheart,” he said as he squeezed you and laid you back down with him. You snuggled into his side and fell asleep.

“Boo-Boo Bear?” you said almost in a whisper.

“You recognize that,” Sam said as he came closer.

“I do, Sammy,” you said as Sam’s jaw dropped at the use of his nickname. “Why do I have memories of you guys taking care of me as a sick toddler in a motel room? And why is everything about you two so familiar?”

Part 3 Coming at some point 

Tag List: Let me know if you want on the No Memories Tag List or my General SPN  Tag List 

@jensen-jarpad @winchesters-favorite-girl @sisterwinchesterwriter @27bmm @deanjensengirlmaggie @lenaabs @a-fan-fighting-for-equality @spn-applepie-imagines @alicat-life @bookgirlofnarnia @georgialouisea @meghan-brannon @trinty33 @deansgirl215 @kas-not-cas

[yourkeeperoftherunners]

Avec Nocturne Ch. 6

Summary: AU A little thing called the flu forced him to call out sick for days. What he didn’t bargain for was his workplace hiring a girl to spin the tracks while he was out. He’s pissed off but why’s he thinking random thoughts about her?

Rating: PG-13 (Language, Strip Club setting, Flirting)

Characters: DJ!Chanyeol x Kit OC, featuring appearances of OT12 members

Notes: This is a spin-off (no pun intended!) series of Unwind written by @xiubaek13 and @oh-beyond. (Written with their blessing – thank you!) I own nothing except for my own OC and the content written here. (I recommend reading Unwind first to get a better understanding of the story’s universe.) I do not claim to be an expert in DJ-ing. Banner created by me. Absolutely no reposting anywhere else as your own!

Ch. 5 | Ch. 7

Livy

I swear you need to come clubbing with me again soon!

Sent 21:26 PM

How’s work going? Did those clothes work?

Sent 21:27 PM

Kit

I can’t - I work at night, remember?

Sent 21:29 PM

It’s interesting.

Sent 21:31 PM

Yeah, they were fine. Thanks again. I’ll wash them and get them back to you.

Sent 21:33 PM

Livy

Nah keep ‘em - you looked hot. Besides, you never know if you might need them again... ;)

Sent 21:34 PM

Sometimes I wonder if the bakery was a safer choice, Kit thought as she unloaded the washer and began moving clothes over to the dryer. She pressed a few buttons for the drying cycle before closing the door and heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

She checked her watch and determined she had roughly 3.5 hours before her regular shift at the club. Secretly, she was hoping for a more normal night, especially with everything that transpired in the past few days.

When Luhan and Xiumin had called her in on her day off, she hadn’t anticipated going into the office days after her run in with Chanyeol. The bruises had faded but she wished she could turn around and walk right out after seeing him in the front, preparing to head to the managers’ office. Instead, she avoided eye contact with him as they headed to the office, stopping briefly when a well-dressed young man passed them.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” the young man prompted Chanyeol as he laid eyes on her.

Kit ignored the tall DJ’s gaze as she stuck her hand out toward the young man addressing her. “Hi, Kit Adler.”

The young man flashed a charming smile as he clasped her hand in his. “Hello pretty Kit Adler. I’m Kim Junmyeon, but you can call me Suho, now that you are part of the family,” he replied.

Forward but he seems inviting, compared to Mr. Ray of Sunshine I’m following, she thought before they let go of each other’s hands.

Chanyeol stepped closer to the pair, glancing at Suho with a casual look. “So…2 weeks, right hyung?”

Suho nodded and looked wistful, bemoaning to the pair that he had nowhere to go.

Kit raised a brow at his response. 2 weeks for what? Vacation? Or had something happened and no one was telling her the whole story? Knowing her luck, it was probably the latter and part of her felt bad for this guy for some reason.

“Oh, you don’t? Well maybe you can crash at my place if you’d like,” she found herself suggesting, “I do–”

Suddenly she felt a large hand on her back nudging her in the direction of Luhan’s office, followed by Chanyeol’s deep voice lightly telling her that Suho was joking. She glanced up at his face and saw that he had a strange fixed smile on his face, eyes staying on the older boy.

“That is so nice of you Kit,” Suho replied. He raised a brow at Chanyeol’s choice of words to address Kit. “Noona? You don’t look like a noona to me. How old are you?”

“She’s not your noona – she’s your age,” Chanyeol mumbled as he tried to nudge Kit forward again.

She put on the brakes and glanced back at Suho, asking him what year he was born. “I was born in 1990,” she shared.

“Then you are one!” Suho blurted out with a gleeful look.

“OK we need to get going,” Chanyeol announced, jerking his head toward the office.

“I’m actually heading to Shanghai for a few days,” Suho reassured her. He glanced over at Tao and Sehun, who were lingering by the front entrance. "Please don’t worry about me – I have a place; I live with these two baby boys.”

Now that has to be an interesting situation, she thought as she pictured poor Suho trying to keep the pair from fighting. Like a father with two man children.

She felt Chanyeol’s hand move away from her back, long fingers wrapping around her forearm to tug her toward the office. Her insides twisted at the contact but she forced herself to keep the smile in place. “All right, it was nice to meet you Suho, have a good time!” she yelled over her shoulder.

She allowed Chanyeol to tug/guide her down the hallway toward the office. Once she was out of Suho, Tao, and Sehun’s sight, she pried her arm out of Chanyeol’s grip and stopped abruptly, shoulders tensed.

“What the hell is wrong with you!?” she hissed.

“Me? Nothing!” Chanyeol said as he blinked back at her.

“I think I have already made it clear that I do not like being manhandled!” she shot back.

“I wasn’t, I jus- Suho – he was flirting,” he protested.

“Well at least flirting won’t give me bruises,” Kit retorted as she passed him.

The emergency meeting she had been called into ended with signing confidentiality agreements for an upcoming VIP event, followed by special equipment training with Chanyeol in the booth. She had anticipated that it was going to be a long, painful ordeal of him talking and pointing things out. What surprised her was hearing a genuine apology from the young man, who confessed that he loved his job and felt upset that the managers made a decision to backfill his position without telling him.

“This booth is my safe space. When I’m here, I can be free. I’m not stressed about life or what’s expected of me as an adult. Here, I can call the shots and make my own rules, well sort of,” he explained. Things became less tense after his apology and the training went smoothly.

Because the managers asked her to dress up for the VIP event, Kit enlisted her friend Olivia, better known as Livy, for help, as she had no time to shop for something special. The following day, Livy had showed up at her door, armed with a suitcase full of club-worthy clothes and shoes. Several hours were spent playing Olivia’s questionable Barbie doll, slipping into skin tight dresses that showed every line and curve in her body and debating over hems and necklines. While she loved her friend’s confidence, their tastes couldn’t be anymore different.

“Lady, you need to look like a girl – this grunge 90s thing you’ve got going on is sad,” Livy whined after Kit rejected a very risque bodysuit with a neck collar and low-cut sweetheart neckline.

“Livy, I stick out like a sore thumb at work – like I need more attention put on me!” Kit groaned as she dug through her friend’s offerings, trying to find the least revealing garment in the pile.

After an hour and twenty minutes of rejected clothes, the pair had agreed upon a black bodysuit with a subtle neckline design, deep wine velvet skirt, and block heeled Mary Janes. Delicate silver accessories in the form of a wavy bangle and minimalist earrings completed the look. Livy had wanted to do her makeup but Kit kept it to a simple winged eyeliner and the Bloodroses lipstick. Hair was curled into soft waves with a deep side part.

Thankfully her jacket covered the top half of her outfit while she rode the subway – more stares than usual were aimed in her direction but she kept her eyes on her phone until her stop was called.

“NOONA?!” Sehun sputtered when he saw her enter the main performance hall. The towel he was using to dry his shaker slipped out of his hand and fell to the floor.

Kit paused and turned her head, trying to suppress the wince threatening to spread across her face. “The managers said ‘Look nice – it’s a VIP event’ so um, yeah,” she replied. “By the way, these aren’t mine – had to borrow from a friend and if you can believe it, they were the least slutty things she owned.”

Sehun quickly picked up his towel and composed himself, smiling as he studied her look and flashed her a thumbs up. “You look pretty,” he said, eyes crinkling into half moons. “Not that you don’t normally look nice, but it’s a good change for something like this.”

“Thanks Sehunnie,” she mumbled with a faint smile before heading to the booth. She began setting up her gear and slipped the headphones around her neck, fixing her hair in the process.

“What are you staring at?” Tao demanded as he passed Sehun before following the latter’s gaze. His eyes widened and he gaped when he saw Kit standing in the booth, doing a double take. “Wait, that’s not the savage girl from earlier, is it? Where are her ugly clothes?”

“I heard that,” Kit shot back as she stuck her head out. She sighed as she dragged songs into her queue, avoiding their eyes. Was it too late to negotiate with the managers to just bail on this and all future VIP events if it meant being ogled?

She heard someone cough and she spotted the familiar figure lingering at the entrance to the booth.

“Ah um...hello noona,” Chanyeol murmured as he played with the strap on his bag. “You um, you look...nice,” he said as he gestured to her outfit.

Kit looked up and nodded with a small smile. “Hey Slim Shady,” she said, “don’t get used to this – the managers asked for something less casual so this is what they’re getting. Probably won’t ever see these again ‘cause they’re going right back to my friend after tonight.” She moved closer to the controls so he could slip past her and he pressed his lips together as he stepped into the booth.

He began getting his equipment out of his bag, mumbling that he would let her handle the controls for the waterfall effects tonight. Kit nodded as she gave him space for his laptop and focused on adjusting the volume and settings on her mixing program.

“You look nice too,” she murmured.

“Oh um, me? Thank, thank you - it’s nothing special,” he admitted as he rolled his sleeves up as neatly as he could.

Silence had settled in until they heard footsteps and saw two young women flanked by bodyguards entering the main hall. Chanyeol flashed a charming smile at them and Kit managed a polite one, accompanied by a bow of her head.

“Should be a good night if we pick the right tracks,” Chanyeol murmured with a nod as the women were greeted by Luhan. He quickly programmed an effect to allow fake snow to fall upon the manager as he came closer to the women.

“Why am I not surprised that rich people have filthy desires like us?” Kit deadpanned in a low voice, traces of a smirk threatening to spread across her lips. “Surprised none of them have jumped on the performers yet.”

Chanyeol blinked at her comment and quietly asked if she knew who they were. Kit shrugged as she switched places with him to stand closer to the waterfall controls.

“Don’t know and I kind of don’t care,” she said as she swept her hair off the back of her neck, fanning it lightly. “Not into gossip or celebrities if you couldn’t already tell. To me, they’re just fancy people who we’re entertaining tonight. Period.” She reached for her water and took a long swig. Maybe it was the fact that there were two people standing in an tight, enclosed space, but she swore it started to feel a bit warm in the booth. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chanyeol fanning himself with his shirt collar, small beads of sweat starting to form across his forehead.

Kit flickered the stage lights to focus on the waterfall before allowing a steady stream to flow into the area, Chanyeol blending in a song to complement Xiumin’s performance:

Lonely night millyeooneun neol Mageul su eomneun saebyeok I pado sorie Nan tteonaeryeoganeun jungingeol Oh no   Oh no

“I kind of envy him right now – at least he’s not sweating it out like we are now,” Kit muttered as she moved her hair to one shoulder with a free hand, the other lingering on the controls.

“I...I think the A/C’s...dying,” Chanyeol huffed as he wiped the sweat on his forehead.

Kit took another swig before she held out her water bottle and prompted him to take some, which he gladly accepted.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t faint on me Slim Shady,” she murmured, eyes staying on Xiumin as she adjusted the waterfall elements to match his movements. “Maybe we can crack the door open a bit once this is over?” As Xiumin wrapped up, she turned off the waterfall and glanced over at Chanyeol, who was drenched in sweat.

“Hey, I’ll get you a cold water from Sehunnie once Cat Eyes sweeps her off somewhere,” Kit promised as she noted his eyes looking a little glazed over. “You need to stay hydrated – keep drinking my water for now, okay?”

“Noona...you should take some...” he managed to get out.

“I will in a –”

“What’s going on here?” Xiumin hissed as he yanked the door open. He recoiled slightly when he felt the heat wave hit him.

“Hyung, the air conditioning went to shit and I can’t breathe,” Chanyeol bleated, almost panting.

“Kit do me a favor, there should be a fan under Chen’s counter – get it please before we have a roasted elf named Park Chanyeol,” Xiumin instructed.

Kit nodded before she slipped past Chanyeol, flashing Sehun an amused look as she darted to the front desk. She sucked in a deep breath of air before going behind the desk, leaning down to retrieve the fan from underneath. She carried the cord in one hand and the fan in the other as she returned, eyes widening as Xiumin ordered the sweaty young man to shed his shirt.

Chanyeol did as he was told and chucked his sweat-soaked shirt to the ground. He messed up his silver hair and froze when he saw Kit had returned with the fan.

“I am sorry but–” Chanyeol started to apologize.

“No Slim Shady, you do what you gotta do,” she replied as she slipped past Xiumin with the fan, “we don’t want you to faint and have me try to perform CPR on you.”

“Here hyung,” Sehun said as he quickly handed over a clean towel and cold waters to Chanyeol. He held his hand out for the cord to the fan and carefully plugged it in. The fan began to blow air and Sehun angled it between the DJs, keeping it against the back wall so they wouldn’t trip on it.

Chanyeol wiped the sweat from his face with the towel before tossing one water to Kit, who thanked him as she caught it. He quickly cracked his open and began guzzling it.

“Noona, Xiumin-hyung has Tao up next - you’re going to need to get something up for him soon,” Sehun prompted as he glanced up at the stage.

Kit straightened up and pursed her crimson lips together as she debated over songs to pick.

“Oh you have no idea how badly I wanna psych him out with this gem,” Kit chortled as she showed them her screen of a song titled Caramelldansen. “But since we’ve got high rollers who are expecting the cliches, I’ll keep it serious.” She pulled up a track, the cover art depicting a woman with a crazy, spiky hair-do walking off the cover:

Everybody wants me to be their angel Everybody wants something they can cradle

Oh, they don't know I burn They don't know I burn They don't know I burn

"Beep beep! Beep Beep!”

Kit blinked and pushed back her chair at the sound of the dryer going off. She wiped her hands on her napkin before heading over to collect her load.

The fan had helped cool down the booth, but things became slightly awkward afterward. Chanyeol kept his eyes averted while Kit busied herself with the controls and music for Tao’s performance. The earlier disturbance with the A/C had caught one of their guests’ attention and she shamelessly eyed the sculpted abdomen of the tall DJ.

“Did our bosses just leave the high rollers hanging?” Kit muttered as Tao continued his performance. “I have a feeling that if they don’t come back soon, the one who was ogling Cat Eyes is going to devour you instead.”

“Wha? Ah no, no, I don’t think–”

“She’s eying you like a tiger eyes its prey,” Kit noted as she stole a quick glance over at the woman. A teasing smile appeared on her face and she looked over at Chanyeol. “You know how to dance in case –”

“I think I see Luhan-hyung,” Chanyeol interrupted, relieved to see him coming into view.

Kit had followed her co-worker’s gaze to see their boss passing the entrance to the main performance hall, tugging a woman clad in black behind him.

“I don’t wanna know, do I?” she asked as the pair disappeared from their sight.

Chanyeol shrugged and muttered that he only heard bits of the gossip.

“Something about new clients and wanting VIP I think? Look, we shouldn’t worry about it,” he said as he adjusted the lighting effects.

Song List

White Noise (EXO)

Caramelldansen (Caramell)

Devil Inside [RJD2 Remix] (Utada Hikaru)