#ouch my kneecaps

[snowe-zolynn-rogers]

Vim loves sad depressed weirdos. He’d invite Lord Selene and Luna over to play in his dimension in a heartbeat. Lord Infero would allow it because Vim has him wrapped around his finger, but he’d be glaring at them the entire time because being A Moon With A Star puts Lord Selene at the top of Infero’s “potential threat” list.

Honestly, Lord Selene is incredibly pathetic and depressed. He's very much like a kicked emotionally empty puppy. The moment he sees Servant Sun in Lord Infero's dimension, he will cry and Luna will have to pick up the pieces of his Lord on the ground sobbing and trying to grasp tightly onto Servant Sun.

He's very much traumatized and is very, very anxious around strangers, especially those who look like they could possibly be family to him.

Luna, however, is the outgoing happy little puppy to his traumatized pacifist puppy. Luna is usually the one dealing with other dimensions for him and sometimes the subjects of their own dimension and allowing Lord Selene to relax at home with his trauma, which very much isn't healthy but Luna thinks it better than his Lord being retraumatized with all these solar and ecliptic bots in other dimensions.

Luna is very much his right hand, instead of any sort of servant. Luna, in fact, runs the dimension a little more than him. Luna tends to handle all the dirty work with relative ease, dealing with unruly subjects or bad people with a smile and a weapon.

Lord Selene no longer uses his star except when a subject asks for something he doesn't have for them, like a child wants a specific toy that he saw in an old catalogue for a store that no longer exists and the manufacturer also no longer exists.

[astraygenius]

Posts that came directly for my soul

“I don’t know what my goals are, no. Thanks for asking.”

[moss--bug]

my knee cap migrated like half an inch to the left last night just for fun I guess and if these men make me stand all day to take inventory on the big ass shop I'm gonna lose my mind

[intheticklecloset]

Intimate (Black Clover)

Summary: Leo accidentally hurts Yuno during a sparring match. While assessing the damage, he also accidentally discovers something rather adorable about the boy he likes.

A/N: This one is especially for @giggly-squiggily! I must admit, to this day this remains my favorite YunLeo piece I've written for you. I hope you enjoy it as well, friend! 💖

Word Count: 1353

~~~

Leo sprinted toward the heap on the ground. “Yuno! Oh my gosh, did I hurt you?”

The wind mage stifled a groan as he pushed up onto his knees. “Of course not. Takes more than that to knock me down. Ouch!” As soon as he put weight on his right knee, a sharp pain jolted through his body and he rolled over so he was sitting instead of kneeling, gritting his teeth. “I’m fine.”

“You are not! I hurt you!” Leo looked distraught, and it only made Yuno more determined to appear strong for him. The redhead knelt beside him. “Let me see.”

“I’m fine—” Yuno trailed off, his words abandoning him when Leo traced his fingers along his knee in a gentle caress. He swallowed.

Leo gave the tiniest squeeze, trying to determine how bad he’d screwed up, and Yuno jerked and let out a gasp, yanking his leg away. “Gods, Yuno, I’m so sorry. Let me see how bad it is.”

Yuno shied away from him. “N-No! It’s fine! I’m fine, just…don’t worry about it. I can always see Mimosa.”

Something flashed in Leo’s eyes and he frowned. “I want to take care of you too, you know.”

“I…uh,” Yuno stammered.

“Please, let me help.”

Well…crap. The wind mage swallowed again but nodded hesitantly, allowing Leo to grab onto his knee and press in gently, searching for the source of the pain. Yuno grunted and slapped a hand over his mouth, scrunching his eyes shut in a way that made Leo’s heart ache.

“I’m sorry,” the fire mage said again, his voice quieter now.

“I’m fine, I’m really fine,” Yuno insisted behind his hand.

It was only then that Leo noticed how red his cheeks were. “Yuno?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you…blushing?”

“No!” The reply was fast – way too fast.

Leo blinked, and a slow grin spread across his face. “Ooh, I got you flustered? How did I do that?”

Yuno scrambled for an answer. “Y-You…you’re caressing my leg like we’re…” He would not say lovers. He would not. “It’s…kind of intimate…”

“Ah.” Leo withdrew his hand and nodded. “Right…sorry.”

“I mean, I don’t…don’t mind,” Yuno muttered the last words so quiet he almost couldn’t be heard.

“But you said—”

“I don’t mind,” Yuno insisted, grabbing onto Leo’s hand before he could think better of it.

For a moment, they were frozen like that, hands atop one another’s, staring at them like they were foreign objects.

Then Leo’s mischievous grin returned and he let go only to gently grasp either side of Yuno’s hurt leg, caressing with intention now. “You don’t mind, eh?”

Yuno’s eyes went wide and he forgot how to breathe, but he nodded. Leopold gently trailed his fingers up and down his calf and shin, but when he got close to the backside of Yuno’s knee, the wind mage couldn’t help but gasp and try to pull away again.

Leo chuckled, though his smile faltered. “Maybe this is too much too fast, Yuno…”

“It tickles.”

The words were barely a whisper – the softest of admissions – but the redhead heard it, and he stopped, staring. “Say what?”

“I’m not pulling away because I don’t like it.” Yuno was back to blushing furiously, averting his eyes in that way he did when he was nervous. “My knee…it tickles.”

“I thought you were hurt?”

“I…I am. But…”

Leo grinned. “I see. Tickles, huh? But I really did hurt you?”

Yuno huffed. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s not that bad.”

“All right, all right. But your other knee isn’t hurt.”

By the time Yuno realized what he was implying, it was too late. Leo grabbed his other leg and held it firmly in place while skittering his fingers along his kneecap, and the dark haired boy gasped and burst into giggles, unable to help it.

“Nohohoho! Hey!”

“You’ve got ticklish legs? That’s cute,” Leo hummed, slipping around to his knee pit. He beamed at Yuno’s following squeal and harder snickering. “Where do you think you’re going? Can’t get away from me with a bum leg, can you, hot stuff?”

“Y-Yohohohou’re the one whohohohoho’s hohohohot!” Yuno cackled. Then he realized what he’d said and his eyes went wide. “I m-mehehehehean—! Your mahahahahagic!”

“Sure, sure. Just my magic.”

He kept up the light scribbling under Yuno’s knee for a few moments, then switched tactics by slipping between his legs and scratching at his thighs instead. The way the wind mage blushed and visibly sputtered at the intimate move was absolutely everything.

“Stohohohohohop!” Yuno cried, struggling to stay upright at this point. “Leheheheheheo!”

“Aww, someone’s a little sensitive, huh? Tickle, tickle~”

Yuno whined and tried grabbing onto the lapels of Leo’s uniform, but the redhead suddenly grabbed his hips and squeezed and Yuno finally fell back instead, giggling loudly and kicking his good leg in the air desperately. “Nohohohohoho!”

“It’s good to see you laughing,” Leo said seriously even as he grinned at the darker boy, pinching and squeezing his hips and waist mercilessly. “You’re always so serious.”

Yuno clamped shaking hands on Leo’s wrists as he squealed and cackled, shaking his head while that dark blush returned. “Leheheheheheo!”

“You know, you said you didn’t mind that I was being so familiar. I wonder if that means you don’t mind this, either? You sure don’t seem all that desperate to get away from my tickly clutches~”

“You mehehehehehehenace!”

“I’m not hearing a retort~”

Yuno had to admit, he really didn’t mind this. It was embarrassing and his right knee was killing him, but having Leo looming over him like this, making him laugh so freely like this, teasing him like this – he didn’t mind it. Not one bit.

“Plehehehehease!” he whined, still holding the redhead’s wrists but not trying to stop him. “Leo, plehehehehehease!”

Leo smirked and began clawing his way further up, squeezing his sides now. “Hmm? Is that a desperate plea for me to keep going that I hear, Yuno?”

Yuno couldn’t even answer for how his giggling was bordering on laughter now, his mind a happy mush.

“If you’re interested, I can always take it a little further…” Leo teased, leaning down so they were nose to nose. “Gods, I want to kiss that laughter coming out of you.”

“Leheheheheheheo!” Yuno pleaded, then – before he could hesitate – grabbed onto the redhead’s neck and pulled him down so their lips collided. Leo never let up tickling him, though, which was both the best and worst thing about this moment.

“Mmm,” Leo hummed happily, suddenly darting his tickling fingers up to Yuno’s ribs with no warning.

Yuno wrenched his mouth away from his and burst into laughter for the first time, arching into his touch and squirming wildly on the ground. “AHAHAHAHAHA NOHOHOHOHOHO!! NOT THEHEHEHEHERE!!”

“Ooh, not here? Not riiiiight here?” Leo teased wickedly. He latched onto Yuno’s ribs and drilled with a vengeance, leaning down to capture his lips again and silence his pleas.

Yuno screeched and laughed into their kiss, writhing in ticklish agony, able to withstand only a few seconds before tossing his head back to scream, “PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE STAHAHAHAP, LEO!! LEHEHEHEHEHEO!!”

The redhead had moved his kisses to Yuno’s neck, and that did it – the wind mage simply could not take any more. He frantically clawed at Leo’s uniform and laughed his heart out, begging for mercy all the while, and finally – after what felt like hours but was only another minute – Leo let up on his attack.

Yuno collapsed against the ground in a giggly heap, shakily prying his assailant’s hands away. Leo took the opportunity to lace their fingers together and push them above their heads, pinning Yuno in an entirely different way.

“You’re cute,” he said, once again hovering just above him so they were nose to nose.

Yuno chuckled. “Shut up.”

“You’re also hurt.”

“…yeah, I know.”

“So, what do you say I valiantly sweep you up in my arms and carry you to a healer?”

“I can walk just fine,” Yuno retorted, though his grin gave him away.

Leo leaned in even closer, eyes ablaze. “Not after I’m done with you.”

And he kissed him again.

[itsohh]

Ghost and Price Soulmate AU

A/N: G/N reader, posted as seperate fics on ao3 with each specific tag relating.

Warnings: Angst, self-mutaliation, reference domestic abuse

AO3 Masterlist

Ghost

He never believed in soul mates. Not in the matter that most people thought. Sure, they were real, sure there was someone out there destined to be ones other's match. Ghost just didn't believe it meant anything. Not really.

He of course had seen what it lead to.

His mother, destined to be with his father. They were soul mates and yet he treated her just as bad. His father loved his mother, sure, but he loved himself so much more.

So when that fated day came, that one when a bullet hit Ghost directly on his thigh, he couldn't help but be a little relieved.  The nurses had been so sympathetic, the doctors too. They hadn't been able to save the soul mark. Now replaced with a gunshot scar. A blessing in disguise. It was a weight off his shoulders.

Escaped. He had escaped destiny.

-

Legs rather comfortable on Soaps lap, you hand your arm over your eyes while you quietly rest. "How'd you get this one?" He poked the scar just under your knee. If anyone else had asked, you would have given them a piece of your mind. Asking about a scar wasn't a line that everyone could cross.

"Some dude tried to go for my kneecap and missed."

"Ouch."

"Didn't even hit me hard enough to shatter my kneecaps regardless of his shit aim."

The door clicked open and you heard the quietest of footsteps enter the room. "Sergeants." Ghost.

"Hey LT, what's the sit'?"

"Price's put us all on mandatory vacation leave." Your arm lift from your face at his voice as you stared at him.

"For real?" You asked, disbelief written across your face.

"Two weeks." You heard a huff from his voice as he sat down opposite to you. There was almost a relief in his eyes. He had been working hard. Too hard.

"Well gives the pair of you a perfect amount of time for a honeymoon huh-" Soap's tease was cut off by your kick but only made him laugh harder. Your relationship with Simon wasn't a secret, not to Soap anyway.

"Alright, alright I was joking. Shite."

"Perhaps you could use that two weeks to learn how to be funny." Your eyes narrowed at him.

"You wound me." He jabbed a finger next to a scar. "Speaking of wounds, How'd you get this one?" You looked over to the exposed skin just under your shirt.

You froze for a moment and your eyes didn't go to Soaps, but to Ghosts. The pair of you had never brought up the matter at hand. Soul marks, it never seemed important. So many people so dedicated to finding that person that the world designed for them, it just didn't seem to matter for you. You loved Ghost, you didn't want to know it was because of an outside force. You loved him and nothing would change that.

"That's my soul mark."

"Damn, that's rough. Not a pretty one." Soap looked down at the nasty scar.

"No, I mean it was. Alright, so when I was a kid I was totally in love with this girl at school called Lilith."

"Oh yeah?" He raised a brow while Ghost continued to watch.

"But she had a different soul mark than mine and wouldn't even look at someone who wasn't her soul mark. She was only gonna date her soulmate."

"What happened?"

"I figured I couldn't have the same one as her but maybe she would date me if I didn't have one. Like how would she ever know if I lost it."

"So you burnt it off?" Soap looked at you with slight horror.

"Cut actually. It uh, really fucking hurt but man she was really pretty." Soap straightened his back slightly and you swallowed.

"I presume it didn't work out."

"We started dating happily and were together up until right before I joined the military. Until her actual soulmate showed up."

"Ohhhh, rough." He gave you a look of sympathy.

"At the time? Was not happy. But I think everything worked out okay." Your eyes locked onto Ghosts for a moment.

"Cute. What about this one?" Soap asked and you looked at the scar on your hand.

"Think that was when I burnt myself making an omelette." Soap barked out a laugh and you could have sworn you saw Ghost's eyes squint from a smile.

"For fucks sake, Soap!" A grumble turned into a yell and the pair of you froze at Price's voice. In all honesty, Price didn't shout like that very often, especially at one of you. Normally it was more akin to a tired sigh.

"Whaddya do this time?" You removed your legs from his lap.

"Better go find out." He jumped up and cracked his neck. "If you don't hear from me in three hours then I want stripers at my funeral." He gave you a wink and headed out the door. The fact he locked the door after him wasn't something you missed.

Silence settled between the pair of you. Eventually, Ghost spoke up. "Can I see it?" Your eyes lift up and met his. You knew exactly what he meant.

"Sure. It's just a scar now, nothing special." Ghost stood up and towered his way over to you. He replaced Soap and your feet settled on his lap. Carefully, Simon removed the mask from his face and placed it on the coffee table next to you. You watched as he bit the top of his glove and slid it off his hand for it to join his mask.

His hand gently grazed the old scar. "Do you regret it?"

"No. Not really, to be honest after things didn't work out with Lilith I didn't think I would date again."

"Why did you?" His brown eyes settled on yours while he continued to stroke the scar.

"Well, we spent what like three months skirting around each other?"

"Four."

"Mmm, I mean you're an attractive man Simon. Enough to make someone change their mind."

"You couldn't see my face."

"What can I say, I'm a sucker for tats." You grinned and he raised a brown. His curled lips betrayed him and you let out a small laugh. "Honestly blame Soap, dunno if he did the same to you but god fucking dammit was he a persistent wingman. I enjoy your company and he didn't let me forget that."

"Hmm, seems he played matchmaker for the pair of us."

"Are you really surprised? It's Soap, he loves to meddle."

"Probably why Price is ripping him a new one," Simon muttered and his eyes sent back to the scar.

"Does it bother you?" Your voice was small, quiet and concern drew across your face. "That I don't have a mark anymore. That we will never know if we were made for each other." Simon paused and then suddenly got up from the chair only adding to your uncertainty. He placed his leg on the coffee table and started to pull up his trouser leg.

Confused you watched him until he pointed to a particular scar. "See that there?"

"You got shot?" You raised a brow.

"That there's where my mark god before it was shot. Lucky bullet. Can't be upset with you an't having one if I don't have one now."

Simon let the trouser leg fall and sat back down on the couch. This time he grabbed your legs and pulled you up onto his lap. It was a swift movement that had you automatically let out a small laugh. He had that adoring look on his face. The corners of his lips all crinkled up. Now with you in arm's reach, his bare hand caressed your face. "Couldn't give a flying fuck about that shite. I'm with you because I want to be, not because some destiny bullshit tells me to. But because I choose to love you."

Price

It had been a completely innocent moment that he saw it. That mark on your torso. A cropped singlet showed it off while you played netball with your squad. A particular game that Gaz had joined. Price wasn't even supposed to be there, he was only getting Gaz. Yet he froze when he saw that mark. The one that was identical to the on his wrist. Just under his watch.

Gaz forgotten about, Price had a call he had to make.

"Look, Kate, doesn't need to be somewhere safe or dangerous just anywhere but where I am."

"John I can't just have people reassigned for no good reason. Are you trying to sabotage their career? Is this a personal thing?"

"No, fuck, I'm not trying to fuck with their career. I'll be compromised around them, it's not a problem now but it might be in the future."

"Are you in a relationship with this person? Or were you?" Kate asked and John let out a sound of slight frustration through the phone.

"They're my soul mate Kate. They don't know it but I saw it." The line went silent. John eventually heard a sigh on the other end of the line.

"I'll do what I can."

-

After that phone call, John hadn't heard from you again. Despite the desire for companionship feeling deep down inside of him, he knew he did the right thing. It wasn't your fault and it wasn't his. Yet he had decided to override date, to override destiny.

Laswell never told him where she sent you. On any other day, he would have said that was for the better.

Any other day.

Gaz sprinted alongside him, guns firing about near them. "Fuck!" He could hear Gaz as the building nearby crumbled down into dust, a building they had just come from.

The pair of them were overrun and for a moment he looked at Gaz and regretted bringing him to his death. There were just too many from too many directions. With no proper cover, the pair of them were fish in a barrel. Bullets came from in front of them but not at them. By some miracle, a door opened while gunfire continued to cover them.

The door promptly shut behind them as both Gaz and Price fell to the ground in their hurried movement.

"Well, I'll be damned, long time no see Gaz." You held a hand out for him and Price watched as you pulled Gaz off the ground.

"Hey, Lieutenant! Didn't expect you to be here." Lieutenant? Price never knew you were promoted. Then again it's not like he wanted to hear about you, it was easier pretending you didn't exist.

"Yeah well, not the worst place to be at. I presume you guys are here due to the attack three days ago?"

"Affirmative on that." Price finally spoke up, he could pretend at least now that you weren't his soul mate.

"We have been here since then, then you two were running through dead man's land."

"Are you guys stuck here?" Gaz asked while you lead them over to a table with a map on top.

"Of course not. We have an underground pathway in our access. But they don't know that. They think that we are stuck here, they tried to push a could of times but Katey up in the best keeps taking them out."

"Are they hoping to starve you out then?" Gaz asked and you nodded.

"Yup in the meantime we have been setting up."

"Setting up what?" Price asked and you gave him a big grind.

"Fireworks show of course. The tunnels below here are far more extensive than everyone originally thought. It goes directly under their set up so we are going to hit the supports."

"Have it crumble from beneath them." Gaz breathed and you nodded.

"Only problem is that there's a high chance that our tunnels will collapse too, we are right on a cliff face so it's gonna be close." Your Sergent popped up next to you.

"This is Sergeant Lawyerson. Demolitions and structural expert."

"The idea is we will evacuate everyone first. " You explained.

"Speaking of, we should get to that. I onto have one set of charges left."

"Right we have to be quick then, when they realise that we don't have people at their posts they might push."

"I'll go get them in place now. Captain, Sergent do you mind looking after my men? There's a side path on the mountain we need to take, it goes from tunnel to straight cliff face. It's pretty risky but KitKat knows the way."

They both gave you a nod and started to work with the squad to leave. Yet Price's eyes lingered on you for a moment. You were a storm, not one to be trifled with. You spoke with certainty and confidence. The perfect leader for your squad. He could see the trust in their eyes.

"Lieutenant!"

"What is it, Katey?"

"Fuck, they got a tank out here!" Price watched as you froze for a moment then sprinted to the exposed gap then swore.

"Right, everyone evacuates now. KitKat eyes front."

"What about Attorney?"

"I'll get Lawyerson, the rest of you go." Price was swept up with the small crowd and followed KitKat down a tunnel. He only had a glimpse of you before you ran down a different path away from him.

"Captain, this way." KitKat had a kind smile on her face but he couldn't help but feel the pit in his stomach form. Was this a result of the bond? Or was this a gut feeling? He couldn't tell.

With Gaz in front of him, he was led through the path until he reached outside. It was an old climbing path, the bridges were old and wooden while the actual path was thin. It didn't allow for fast movement.

A few minutes later his head whipped around to see you following your Sargent. "Blow it." You commanded as the pair of you expertly hurried down the path. Far faster than everyone else had. He couldn't help but wonder how many times the pair of you had travelled it in the last few days.

"We're too close to the blast!" Price's eyes went to the entryway as more voices started to echo down.

"We can't let them reach here else everyone's dead. There's no cover here."

"We can handle some!" She protested.

"Some, not a goddamn army." You were right. She glanced at you over her shoulder then hit the detonator.

A rumble echoed it as the pair of you continued to sprint. Echos of your enemies' screams carried through the tunnel and out into the open. True to Lawyersons suspicions, the tunnels on your side had started to collapse too.

Unfortunately, not all your foes were caught. A brief area by the exit was reinforced rather well and they survived. Meanwhile, the path around you started to crumble. Gaz lit up his gun in an attempt to cover the pair of you.

Price snapped to action just in time for the wooden bridge to collapse under both you and Lawyerson. She managed to barely leap over to safety but your jump, slightly further back didn't make it.

But he caught you.

Price's hand found yours as he dove prone to the side. With one hand off the side, you dangled to his hand. "I got you." His eyes bore into yours as the pair of you tried to pull you up. Yet the wood that you used cracked under your weight and all progress was lost. Lawyerson recovered and went to help pull you up but a bullet in her leg had her cry out.

A curse left John's mouth as a gunshot hit his shoulder. They were getting lit up trying to save you. Your eyes turned to see the small group that had survived. They were aiming for the three of you.

"Let go, you need to leave." Your voice came and for the first time in a very long time. He froze.

"I'm not leaving you."

"You will die if you stay and I'll die regardless. Don't water your life like this. " He felt your hand go limp against him and he used all his strength to continue holding on.

"I can't."

"They always said you were such a level-headed man. Let go. Don't put the weight of your death on me. Lawyerson will need help with that leg of hers. Save her."

His eyes glanced at the small mark on his exposed wrist, your eyes followed him and you gave him a weak smile. John couldn't say it out loud, that he was your soul mate. A man you only knew from word of mouth.

"I already knew. Gaz showed me a picture of the pair of you, your wrist was showing." His lips parted.

"You didn't say anything."

"Love wasn't an option for me. Soulmates? That's a fantasy for civilians to have. Not us. But for what it's worth, if there was anyone worth being cosmically tied to, your a pretty damn amazing man to be it."

He shouted your name and with your free hand, you pried yourself from his grip. "Go!" So John watched as you fell, a love finished before it had even started.

[fandomhungryuwu]

‘I thought my kneecaps had burst into flames’🔥 💥👹👹👹

‘(But I was actually overreacting a little)’☺️✨🎀

here is an ai generated ballad about hamilton and Jefferson from like 4 years ago uhhhhh

'that white trash secretary of state and me'😭

[littlemissclandestine]

Why I think Russell Adler is going to make a comeback in COD 2024

WARNING⚠️: Contains spoilers for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Disclaimer: This is all just speculation on my behalf of course. I've just tried piecing stuff together for fun because Russ is one of my fave BO characters even though he's a bitch but i need more Adler content stat. <33

Let's get into it peeps. HEAR ME OUT.

Buckle up. Gonna be one hell of a ride folks 🤪

We'll start off with some random/background info.

Russ was born on February 12th 1937 so that would make him 53/54 in the Gulf War era. This actually isn't that old because if you think about it, Woods was about to turn 51 in 1981 during the Cold War campaign. What's a few more years?

We last saw Adler in action post-campaign in Warzone 1.0 cinematics but we've been kept in the dark about Adler's whereabouts post-1984 (after being brainwashed and killing Stitch LOL).

This meanie in a beanie wasn't forgotten about, oh no. He appears in the new cinematic intros on startup for both MWII (2022) and MWIII (2023). See below:

He was also featured twice in the 20 year anniversary video for Call of Duty whereas COD Ghosts didn't even get an appearance (ouch): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eL_w5HmxsPI

I personally believe Adler was a great addition to the Black Ops roster and is essentially the new Black Ops 'cover boy' now. Would be such a shame and a missed opportunity not to include a character like him in the upcoming COD. One who is morally grey, does whatever he deems necessary to get the job done - a bit like Cpt. Price in MW. Got the COD fans riled up about him brainwashing and pulling the trigger on Bell too - he's already got the spotlight in both a good and bad way.

Now, let's explore my main reasoning as to why I think Mr Shades 2.0 is most likely coming back in late 2024...

🎖️First up: Gulf War mission list 🔫

Here are some of the campaign missions that will be featured in Black Ops Gulf War. Obviously, this is subject to change, however, going off what we have, look closely...

Credit: @MWIIINTEL on Twitter/X

Safehouse guys...SAFEHOUSE. Takes you right back to Cold War, doesn't it? Ugh the potential.

🕵️ Next up: The campaign for COD 2024 will dive into the CIA's role/the Black Ops timeline 🕘

I took the following snippet from this official article.

From this, we know there will be a huge focus on the CIA and who's a CIA clandestine special officer? Mhm, you guessed it - Russell Adler.

Now, according to the events of BO2, it's evident which characters have the possibility of returning out of our original BO trio - Jason Hudson, Frank Woods and Alex Mason.

💫 Alex is presumed dead after Frank shot him so he's out the picture in '90/91 until 2025 when they canonically meet again.

🪵 Woods would be in his 60s during this time too so I'll let you decide whether that's too old for him to be in GW.

Edit: Woods got SPAS-12'd in the kneecaps on Dec 20th 1989 by Raul Menendez so uh...yeah

🧊 Hudson died on Dec 20th 1989 at the hands of Raul Menendez.

Feel free to check out this website (Call of Duty Wiki) for an outline of the events after CW to remind yourself. Here's a link to the Black Ops timeline from there.

➡️ Gulf War being a direct sequel to Cold War and what that could mean 💉

That brings me onto the rest of the safehouse crew. Since GW is a direct sequel to CW, it would make sense for some characters to carry over if possible:

We, as the player/Bell, get to choose whether Park or Lazar die (or both lovebirds) in 'End of the Line'. It's highly unlikely they'll return unless the devs make one decision canon maybe.

There could be a chance we see Sims again given his bond with Adler (Da Nang etc.), his age (late 40s in GW) and his status (alive).

That leaves the man himself, Russ. Everything from his age to the fact he's CIA and was the deuteragonist in COD 2020's campaign just makes sense for him to have at least a lil cameo or even a larger role, don't you think?

📱Finally: Hints from official posts 🔎

This post from Call of duty's official Instagram account kind of sealed the deal for me.

Oh lookie - they dropped syringe-lover's famous line in a zombies post. Why would COD just drop it so casually like that without a reason and years after CW came out? They could've said absolutely anything else but no, this was purposeful.

And that's all for this episode guys and gals!

Thank you for reading!! 🫂

Do what you will with all this information but I have concluded in my silly little brain that scarface is coming back.

How he's only in one game is beyond me. Won't get a character like him ever again. Seems like a cliché war dude at first glance but dig a little deeper into the details of the CW campaign, peel back the layers and get into his psychology and WOWZERS.

Am I delusional? Most definitely.

But the possibility he might be returning...that little bit of hope is enough for me and i won't shut up about it.

This will age horribly if he isn't in GW. Forgive me for feeding your delusions too in that case. Please?

What are your thoughts? Feel free to share them! 😊

------

EDIT: Y'ALL IT'S HAPPENING 😭😭

[mrhaitch]

Mr Haitch I saw you had an injury, ouch! I don’t know what part of you that you injured, but has recovery been going well? <if you feel comfortable sharing>

I’m a below knee amputee since my teen years and I tore my mpfl (ligament holding kneecap in place) in December on the same side. 🥴 had to get a donor ligament and emergency reconstruction surgery- don’t recommend it. But through lots of hard work I’m walking about 100ft at a time so far!

I’m a bit socially awkward so I’m only bringing my situation up to express a little extra empathy for your struggle, I don’t have children but I imagine it’s difficult to recover and rehab with little ones running around. I hope you’re being kind to yourself about it and giving yourself grace.

Do you accept dog pictures as a form of encouragement and comfort? If so, this is Drumstick: We’re missing the same leg, his favorite hobby is friendship and his favorite food is everything.

I absolutely accept dog pictures, regardless of intent or purpose - they're the only form of currency I respect. Love their pyjamas.

I'm sorry to hear about your injury, but that is amazing progress you're making.

My injury was far less severe: an incarcerated umbilical hernia. At some point (back in May) I overdid it on the weight training and tore a hole in my abs about 0.5cm in diameter, but enough for some of the fatty tissues behind the muscle to peek through and then got stuck. Within hours of finding it, I was in surgery.

The recovery process has been long and uncomfortable - I was practically immobile for two weeks, and when I was up on my feet I could only shuffle around like an old man. I'm most of the way better {about 98% I'd say).

[halt-kun]

Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 255 - The decisive battle in the uninhabited, demon-infested Shinjuku (27)

Once again ready to see a man I love to hate seriously hurt people I love

Ooooo there is hurt nipple guy too

he must be the token straight guy

Hahaha Miguel is serving Gojo realness right here

best cosplay of Gojo for now

I swear if JJK happens to be a prequel to Godzilla, I'll personally go and kick Gege

I wouldn't say Japan is the least racist country, it's definitely not the best place Yuta

Time for a private talk between the two Suguru groupies

I'm not sure what's opinion would be about the cursed godzilla but maybe he would have Gojo's back in that fight

Good luck being flashy in front of Sukuna and after all the cool people that faced him

I truly hope this will be fun before Panda joins the fight

Nice condition but will Sukuna keep being unable to use his domain for much longer ??? (looking at you Gege)

A cornered rat can be very dangerous, be careful

also POP HIS KNEECAPS

This looks like one of the Zen'in techniques !

it doesn't seem like the technique that saved Ui ui though

OUCH

didn't do much

Is he breakdancing ?????? Or doing capoeira ?????

Nice dodge Larue, weird techniques but it's nice the damage isn't transferred equally

like the Zen'in techniques

well he can dance, cooool

he's a bard

Thanks for calling him out Miguel, I would have done it if necessary

Yes Gojo is afraid to dance with other men since Geto

it was a very bad breakup

Well Gojo, what did we say about stereotypes ?????

CHOSO IS HERE

it didn't do much but nice

YUUUUUUUUUJI YAYYYYY

the bros are back

WHO CUT HIS HAND ????

Maki ? Yuta ?

Of course she can tank a blackflash and that means no more world cutting dismantle for you my boy

also your hand will be hard to heal since she damaged your soul, like your heart

Well I don't feel good about this

he could do another binding vow, more restrictive, although it'd be hard to meet the requirements facing this lineup

Well shit again

bye bye Larue, we still don't have an explanation of Sukuna's techniques too

we need it before he croaks

this chapter was better than expected

[pondslime]

Which slasher do you think has the worst dick game? (Jk ik its between Michael Myers and Lester Sinclair 😞)

SCREAMING 💀 NOOOOOOO poor les!!!

I feel like lester has.........average dick game. michael myers is like........getting fucked thru a bush @ the speed of light by a metal piston or smthn. just like. impassionate methodical dick. unrelenting robot dick. ouch. oh and now there's a knife in ur back. great.

imo, on a scale of worst. it's definitely billy lenz. just. the most erratic jittery slobbery bizarre HORRENDOUS dick game. and that's if he can even manage to get it in & doesn't. idk......end up feverishly trying to fuck ur kneecap

also feel like bby boy brahms is on that list. genuinely feel like he could v easily get better tho. bc he's soggy and eager to please. but in the beginning? oh my god. thoughts and prayers.........

additionally, I'm so sorry to give this controversial hot take. so feel free to avert ur eyes. but u cannot tell me billy loomis doesn't have the most tedious pretentious dudebro dick game. u cannot.

stu, on the other hand, fucks. but we aren't discussing that @ this time

my inbox is v much open if any of u wanna have a weird n deranged sleepover convo w/me

[djevelbl]

MMmMmMmMmmMmmMMmMmMmnMMmMMMm I'm gonna *blow my kneecaps off istg (they hurt bc I sat too long on my pc editing the one-shot. ouchie ow ouch)

[just-a-queer-fanboy]

God gives his strongest soldiers (me) his hardest battles (patellar instability) and I must suffer in silence (ouch ow oof my bones)

(This is patellar instability btw. That is my kneecap I'm moving around)

[yourlocalmissingtexture]

Oh yeah, feeling like my femur’s split along the side? I’m sure that’s a normal sensation.

I’m sure it’s a weirdly positioned nerve or something but fuckin ouch. Outer side of right kneecap up to the right hip feels like it’s connected with a tendon of pain. Not agony but just pain.

This is my sign to quit my job and start writing I think, anyone wanna come go Annie Wilkes on me pretty please? Aim for the right thigh please, and bring plenty of gauze.

[ardienothesieno]

Ouch

here have it back

if theres one piece of the events missing

then pooka hasnt answered yet

oh. um. thanks? i guess?

i guess i wont steal your kneecaps anymore...

but if my parents are still mad then i'm blaming you >:)

[rantingoverbadfic]

Armor of foam

This one is not even a really bad fic, just mostly clumsy, with a great deal of enthusiasm and flickers of interesting ideas. But the author relies too much on showy visuals while using the writing as a medium. I am constantly cringing when Din Djarin is

wiping his tears from his eyes while his helmet is still on. You do realise that this is not a medieval helmet that he is wearing, for kriffs sake, you even mentioned the HUD in his visor, where was he supposed to qvetch his sausage fingers through to wipe his eyes? Or do you think that there is give under the lower edge of it? Mando helmets are supposed to have atmo seals. You have zero understanding how helmets and anatomy work together, whether scifi ones or medieval ones;

falling to his knees in full armor. Good god, kid, you are probably pretty young and still think that it looks romantic, because this is the kind of exaggerated emotion an anime would feature, but my knees are howling in sympathetic pain. Do you have any idea what a man of Din Djarins size would do to his kneecaps if he hit them with the kinetic force of that upper body onto one of the strongest alloys? He would be immediately in need of a trained doctor, a hospital and a wheelchair;

constantly brushing his fingers through a kids hair. No, not Grogus sparse hair, an actual human kids hair. Kriffing hell, have you forgotten that he wears metal gloves and gauntlets? Do you have absolutely no mercy for the poor child whose hair is going to be caught between finger joints and what not and torn out? Ouch.

falls into a pile of sleeping children to sleep, while Still! Fully! Armored! Congratulations, that pile of children is now a children slushee. They are dead, and those who aren't, wish they killed the motherkriffer when they first laid eyes on him, bc they don't have anyone with enough medical training to help with broken bones and spines;

also have you no mercy on his spine? I know that Mandos are supposedly a mix of all kinds of sentient races, only mostly human looking by chance, he is still a middle aged man. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable and cold it is to sleep in the armor lying down? I mean, it is uncomfortable and cold no matter the position, but while sitting you have at least a minimum of comfort. But lying down? Torture.

finally, unrelated to armor - all this 'swelling rage' and 'crippling fear of punishment and rejection' one after the other after the other has to be fucking emotionally exhausting. He is one of the most feared, successful bounty hunters after Boba Fett's time of glory, and while we all know that he is not exactly emotionally healthy and stable, if he were this kriffing fragile, he wouldn't have lasted on the job even a day. And it would have been much more realistic if a trained soldier like him, when presented with a mission, would suppress his emotions in favor of it, instead of falling apart emotionally. PTSD is at its trickiest when you are safe and the body's adrenal response isn't pushed to its limit. but for some reason, the author insists on transforming Din into a pretty pretty emo goth girl.

he doesn't want to traumatize the kids fighting on his side, but when confronted with a single opponent indoors, he goes for some flashy pirouette shit with the lightsaber, parting him in the middle. Wow, you completely failed at keeping it non-graphic AND efficient. But then, when he has to fight against a group of several opponents outside, knowing that other small groups are following - that, for some reason, is the moment when he chooses to go for hand-to-hand combat? For kriffs sake, your priority here should have been dispose of them as fast as possible and don't get entangled too much in an altercation with every single one of them, a lightsaber would be the perfect weapong to keep them at an arms length and not get injured during the fight? Or better yet, considering that you are wearing armor and they are not, just shoot them down with a blaster???

the first thing I would have threatened a weapon that has a mind of its own, talks to me in voices and doesn't understand the concept of stealth would be telling it that I am going to melt it down in the first available industrial grade plasma smelter. Din didn't want the Darksaber anyway and he wasn't indoctrinated with its significance as much as compared to the armor. And even the Darksaber will have a hard time to withstand being thrown into a supernova of a sun.

In conclusion, that plot armor must be made not of beskar, but of insulating foam or bubble-wrap, the way it apparently weighs nothing and doesn't hurt the wearer when something hits it; it is always exactly as cushy and flexible and secure as the author needs it. Also, those scenes look great when drawn in an anime, but they are bitch to take seriously when written down, because they make absolute no sense.

[hearts-hunger]

You often caught yourself at the loneliest of moments, rubbing your thumb over Sam’s hidden shirt. You’d sewn a small, yellow heart to the fabric, and secretly hoped he could feel your love from where you were being kept. FUCKING????? OUCH????????

When you met his eyes, you could see a cold disappointment behind the sympathetic mask he wore. damn okay this josh is SO COOL like as a character he is so fun to read because up until now i've been enjoying him in a sexy mysterious way but he's really just so cold and unflinching beneath it and seeing his true colors is really really engaging and fun

AN OFFERING?? EXCUSE ME????

“If she’s not the goddess I saw, then she’ll be the sacrifice to bring her to us.” KAIT??????????

oh FUCK josh talking about petal as if she's just "some girl" is SO DEVASTATING because despite all of this she's wanted to please him and be with him and he just holds her in contempt if she's not useful to him

danny oh baby i want to trust you so bad but i don't know if i can

your eyes scanned him, looking for any sign of deceit, as if you would recognize any. OH BOY??? what gut punch that is??? because you thought you could trust josh and jake but look where that got you. not being able to trust your own intuition or the relationships you've built is scary and it adds such a gripping element to this fic

“You make my best friend happy, Petal.” he smiled down at you. “And you make Molly happy. And you’re my friend too. Repayment isn’t necessary.” danny baby i love you :((((

why the fuck is josh still charming UGH kait i love the way you write him. why do i still kind of want to like him

there was a small part of you that was still thrilled that he was praising you. The bigger part made you feel sick, and you turned away from him. YEAH NO LIKE I KNOW THE FEELING

SAM!!! HI SAM!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

oh man him trying to comfort you with talking about your farm when he's so angry and scared :(((

YEAH DANNY YOU CAN COME WITH US kait if you break my heart now that i'm thinking about sam and petal and danny and molly on the farm together im coming for your kneecaps

Summer in the City - Part Twelve

Part Twelve

Masterlist

Pairing: Mainly Sam x Female Reader, but uh…things happen.

Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI!!, mentions of pregnancy and symptoms, mentions of death

A/N: Shits starting to get real, so buckle up. We only have a few more parts to go, and I'm going to be sad when this story is over, it's been so much fun to write! But I have a few other projects in the works, and I'm excited to share those with you when the time comes!

Taglist (let me know if you’d like to be added!):  @streamsofstardust​ @myownparadise96​ @sing-against-the-sky​ @mannick​ @screechesincoherently​ @garagebandvanfleet​ @theweightofstardust @hearts-hunger @allieboop @gvfrry @c4nc3rsimpp @a-bouquet-of-lilies @celestialfauna @doodle417 @heatmyfleet @trplshotofdopamine @age-of-nyahh @vader-kai @s-u-t  @parizonefourfour @acb0116 @saoirsemaeve @jakekiszkasleftnutsack @graygvf @oliverreedswhore @jakesgrapejuice

The mornings and nights were the worst. The basement was freezing cold, and you shivered under the quilts until Josh crawled into bed next to you, pulling you into his arms. It’d been almost a week of you living in the basement now. Danny and Molly brought your meals. Sometimes Jake would, and he’d linger, making sure you ate at least a few bites before kissing your forehead and taking his leave, silently. Josh was gone in the mornings before you woke. You were alone for most the time, trying to focus on your sewing. You often caught yourself at the loneliest of moments, rubbing your thumb over Sam’s hidden shirt. You’d sewn a small, yellow heart to the fabric, and secretly hoped he could feel your love from where you were being kept.

“Petal, you look so forlorn.” Josh tsked at you. You glanced up from the pants you were trying to mend. Josh was sitting across the room in his chair, reading a book you couldn’t make out the title of. He’d lit some jasmine incense a while ago, and as the stick burned down, it filled the small room with a heady, floral fragrance that made your eyes heavy.

“I’m okay, Josh.” you assured him, placing a small smile on your lips. “My eyes are just getting tired.” Josh nodded, shutting his book and placing it on the small end table, along with his glasses. He came over and gently tugged your work from your hands, setting them on the dresser and sat on the edge of the bed next to you, his body twisted to face you.

“Why don’t you let me take care of you, mama?” he murmured, his hand rubbing up and down your calf. “You’re working so hard, you need to be touched.” his hand inched up further, rubbing over your knee and the tops of your thighs. His tongue slowly licked over his bottom lip and you felt your resolve falter. Josh wanted to please you, which meant you were still in his favor. He brought his hands up to cup your face, pulling you into a kiss. You leaned into it, accepting his affection as his tongue lapped at your bottom lip. As the kisses became more heated and passionate, your felt a hollow pang in your chest. Josh sensed your feelings, pulling back and nuzzling his nose into the hollow of your cheek. “What’s wrong?” his voice was raspy as he caught his breath. You thought about lying, saying you didn’t feel well again, but Josh’s whisper to tell him what was concerning you.

“Josh, I miss Sam.” you sniffled. “I’m sorry, I just…” you felt tears welling in your eyes as Josh pulled away to look at you. When you met his eyes, you could see a cold disappointment behind the sympathetic mask he wore. “He is my kindred spirit, like you said. I find comfort in him. Not that you don’t provide me with it. It’s just different.” you watched as Josh thought over your words, calculating his next move. 

“Sam is busy.” he looked up at you. “He’s in the city, running errands for us. Won’t be back for a day or two.” you nodded. “Petal, Sam isn’t right for you. You need someone strong, a leader. You need me.”

“Josh-“

“Forget about Sam.” Josh demanded, his tone harsh. The tears that welled in your eyes stung and you let them slip down your cheek. Josh seemed to soften a bit, reaching out and wiping a tear away. “I can fulfill your every want, your every need. Do you understand that? You are mine. My goddess.” you nodded. “Speak, Petal.”

“Yes, Josh.” your voice trembled. The look in his eyes was fierce, and you felt yourself withdraw further towards the wall. “I’d like to go to sleep now, please? I think I’m getting a headache.” Josh studied you for a moment, almost like the first time he’d laid eyes on you, making you feel small and insecure. 

“Okay.” he murmured. He stood up, moving to his side of the bed, and watching you as you slid under the quilt. He mirrored your actions, scooting over to cradle his body around yours. You laid on your side, and felt his fingers gliding through your hair, sometimes apply light pressure to your scalp as he massaged. He once again was humming Crimson and Clover, and you let your hand slip beneath your pillow, finding the small threaded heart on Sam’s shirt, pressing it into the pad of your thumb as hard as you could, hoping he could feel it.

“Not much longer now.” you heard Jake’s hushed voice. You opened your eyes, the basement nearly pitch black, save for the moonlight filtering through one of the thin windows. “Josh, we need to have a plan if this doesn’t work. She’s not showing any symptoms. Remember when mom was pregnant with Sam? She was sick all the time, always really hungry. Petal doesn’t do any of that.”

“Everyone is different, Jacob.” Josh replied, his whisper showing frustration. “But I suppose you’re right.”

“So what do you want to do with her?” there was a long pause, and you fought the urge to move as you listened for the next part of the conversation.

“If the time comes, and she isn’t with child,” Josh said slowly. “Then she becomes and offering.”

“You mean-“

“Yes.” Josh’s voice was firm. “If she’s not the goddess I saw, then she’ll be the sacrifice to bring her to us.” your blood ran cold. Sacrifice? Was Josh really going to kill you?

“Do we really have to?” Jake asked. “We can’t drop her off in the city? Let her find her way back to her home?”

“Drastic times call for drastic measures.” Josh assured him. “If mediation and manifesting isn’t working, blood will. If she is not the goddess, she’s the sacrifice.” You bit your lip, holding back the flood of anxious, scared tears that were threatening to spill. You tried to keep your breathing even as icy panic swept through your veins. In less than a week, your neck could be on the chopping block, literally. Your face felt hot and your chest hurt from holding back the frightened sob your body so desperately wanted to release.

“It’d be a shame.” Jake sighed, and you heard the creaking of the wooden staircase as he moved on it. “I’ve really come to like her.”

“I agree.” Josh’s voice was farther away now, and you heard their feet moving up the staircase. “But we can’t risk everything we’ve worked for, for some girl.” their voices got quieter as they exited the basement, the shutting of the door followed by the clicking of the lock. Locked in. You were trapped. A bubbling of terror in your stomach had you leaning over the bed, retching what little contents it still had. You didn’t even hear the door unlock, or the steps down to the basement until hands were pulling back your hair.

“You’re okay,” Danny’s voice cooed at you. He held your hair back in a loose ponytail with one hand, the other rubbing your back. “You’re okay, Petal.” your panic dulled only slightly by the soothing voice of your friend. The tears spilled down your face as you righted yourself, and threw your body into his, wrapping your arms around his slender frame tightly. His large hands caressed your back as he tucked you into him, resting his chin on top of your head as you sobbed into his chest. Suddenly you pulled back, ripping yourself out of his embrace, glaring at him.

“Do you know?” you hissed at a shocked Danny. “Do you know what Josh has planned for me?” Danny stared to you as if you were a wild animal. You felt like one, suddenly feral with fright and nearly panting as you stared him down. You wouldn’t have been surprised if you were foaming at the mouth. “Answer me, Daniel.”

“N-No.” he shook his head, hands held up in front of him innocently. “Petal, I don’t know anything other than I’m bringing you food and water. I promise.” your eyes scanned him, looking for any sign of deceit, as if you would recognize any. After a few long minutes, you crawled towards him, nose to nose before you spoke again.

“Danny, Josh is going to kill me.” you whispered. His thick eyebrows furrowed as your words settled in his ears. “He said so himself, if i’m not pregnant, he’s going to kill me.”

“Petal, are you sure that’s what you heard?” Danny asked you. You nodded, the tears still spilling from your eyes. 

“Danny I swear on everything I hold dear.” you urged him. “Please, I need you to tell Sam. We have to leave. I don’t think I’m pregnant and I don’t want to die. Please Danny, please!”

“Okay, okay.” Danny nodded. “I’ll talk to Sam as soon as he gets back form the city. How long until you know for sure?”

“A week, maybe less.” you sighed. “It could come early, it could be late…but I don’t have much time to wait around for it. Josh and Jake have already sealed my fate, Danny.”

“Petal, you have to pretend.” Danny suddenly looked fiercely at you. “I know you’re scared, but you have to pretend like you’re getting symptoms. Eat all of your food, even ask for more sometimes. Every once in a while, say you’re craving something. Nothing big. Berries, carrots or something.” you nodded, listening to him intently. “Make yourself throw up in the mornings. A little after you eat breakfast. You need to keep up the appearance of pregnancy so Josh is content. Sam and I will find a way to get you out of here.”

“Oh Danny, thank you.” you threw your arms around him again, nearly tackling him. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. You’ve always been so kind to me.” Danny pulled back, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your forehead as he cupped your face.

“You make my best friend happy, Petal.” he smiled down at you. “And you make Molly happy. And you’re my friend too. Repayment isn’t necessary.” he pulled you into a hug, cradling you gently before letting you go, standing up. “I should go back upstairs.”

“Wait!” you got up, going over to the dresser and opening a drawer, tearing a piece of contact paper from the bottom drawer. You took the pencil Josh used in his journal and wrote a small note to Sam, folding it up and handing it to Danny. A simple message of ‘I love you’. “Please give that to Sam for me?”

“Of course.” Danny gave you a smile, gentle smile. “Stay safe, Petal.” you nodded, watching him leave up the stairs. You took a few moments to compose yourself again, knowing Josh could be back at any moment. You ate the jam and bread picking at the fruits. When Josh did come back down to see you, he smiled, looking over your plate.

“I thought you liked blackberries.” he mused as he picked one up from the plate, popping it into his mouth. 

“I do, they just don’t taste as good for some reason.” you shrugged, giving him a smile. “I ate a few, and it make my stomach turn.” Josh looked pleased at this, eating the rest of the berries from the plate. “You know what sounds really good though?”

“Enlighten me, darling.” Josh smiled as he laid out on the end of the bed, hands behind his head. You lifted yourself to your knees, crawling over to him. You rested a hand on his chest, scratching gently through his shirt.  

“Honey.” he raised one of his eyebrows curiously, smirking as if you called him a pet name.  “My mom used to make these delicious honey cakes. They were the perfect breakfast on a cold morning, warm, fresh out of the oven. Gooey and sweet with the tiniest bit of lemon.”

“Those do sound good.” Josh reached up, stroking your face gently. “What brought this on?”

“I don’t know.” you smiled down at him, trying your best to look wistful. “All of a sudden, it just hit me. I was feeling a little nauseous, and thought of my mom…and then those honey cakes and how delicious they were.” you put a hand on your stomach absentmindedly. Josh raised himself up onto his elbows pressing his lips to yours, smiling. 

“I'll get you some honey by morning.” he whispered against your lips. “And lemon. Is there anything else you’d need for the cakes?” you thought about the inventory of the kitchen, knowing there was a pan for small cakes in there already. You shook your head and Josh fit his hand over your own that was still on your tummy. “Anything to make you happy.”

“Thank you, Josh.” there was a small part of you that was still thrilled that he was praising you. The bigger part made you feel sick, and you turned away from him.

“Are you all right?” he asked, looking concerned. You weakly smiled. 

“Just nauseous again. I think I just need to lay down.” Josh nodded, shifting on the bed so you could lay flush next to him, head on his chest. As you closed your eyes, you listened to the rhythmic thumping of his heart, wondering how much longer yours was going to do the same.

🥀 🥀 🥀

Molly had brought your dinner down that night, and you didn’t dare speak of the things you told Danny to her, just thanked her when she set the tray down. You watched as she went up the stairs, and sighed. You missed the dinners with everyone. Listening to the chatter, laughing at the jokes or stories being told of the days work everyone did. Sitting next to Sam as the sun set around you all. 

You heard the door unlock, and feet thundering down the stairs. You tore up some of the food on the plate, making it look like you were picking at it, at least. You were getting ready to fake a smile for Josh, turning to greet him, but it wasn’t him. 

“Sam!” you cried, running to him and flinging yourself at him. Sam wrapped his arms tightly around you, his fingers digging into your skin as he held you closely. For the second time that day, tears spilled from your eyes. “Oh Sam.”

“I know love, I know.” he whispered. He pulled back, bringing his hands up to smooth the hair back from your face. “I don’t have a lot of time, Danny has Josh distracted but I don’t know for how long.”

“Sam, did he tell you?”

“Yes.” Sam nodded, his face looking stern. “I’m going to get you out of here. We’re going to leave and never look back.” Your hands fisted in his shirt, holding onto him for dear life. 

“Sam, I don’t have a lot of time. We have to go soon.” you shook your head. “And even if I am pregnant, I don’t want to stay here. I don’t want to be Josh’s brooding mare.”

“I’m not going to let that happen.” Sam promised you. “We’re going to get away, and we’re going to get our farm, okay?”

“Yeah?” your voice was meek as tears welled in your eyes. 

“Yeah. With the cows and the dogs and cats.” he tried to give you a smile, but you knew his anger and fear was outweighing every other emotion. 

“And blue shutters?”

“The bluest.” he pressed a kiss to your lips, and you let yourself melt into it, finally feeling at home for the first time in days as you sunk into this arms. “I love you, Y/N.”

“I love you, Sam.” you answered, kissing him again and again, as many times as you could. 

“I should go before anyone notices I’m gone.” Sam murmured. “I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again, but Danny is going to help us. If you need to tell me something, tell him. I’ll do the same.” you nodded, dutifully. As Sam reluctantly pulled away, you felt yourself start to crumble. He noticed and took your chin in his hand, thumb swiping across the skin. “No baby, you’re strong. And I need you to stay strong for me while we figure this out.”

“I will, Sam. I promise.” you gave him a small smile, and with one last kiss, he was dashing up the stairs, shutting and locking the door behind him. The basement felt colder than it ever had, now that Sam’s warmth was gone. You fought the shiver that still ran through your veins creating goosebumps along your skin. You repeated to yourself that you were strong. You were brave, and that with Sam and Danny, you would make it through this. 

The next two days, as soon as the coast was clear, Danny would deliver messages to and from yourself and Sam. 

“Tomorrow night.” Danny said quietly, lifting up the plate on your tray to show you the small piece of paper hidden beneath. “During the bonfire. Pretend you’re unwell, sick, throwing up. I will volunteer to stay with you, and let Josh lead the festivities as normal. While he’s distracted, I’m to lead you out of here, and to the lake. From there, you and Sam will take the way around to the road, and be out of here. If everything goes right, Josh shouldn’t realize you’re gone until it’s too late.”

“Perfect.” you unfolded the small note, seeing Sam’s messy scrawl confessing his love for you, x’s and o’s littering the paper. 

“Petal?”

“Yes, Danny?”

“I’d like to come with you.” his eyes were full of concern. “This isn’t what we pictured it to be, when we first came here. Sam and his brothers have been my only family for so long, but I don’t want to stay here if violence and death are in our wheelhouse.” you brought up a hand, placing it on his cheek. 

“I wouldn’t leave you behind.” you shook your head. “You or Molly.” Danny smiled, placing a kiss to the palm of your hand. “Does she know?”

“Not really.” Danny shook his head. “I was afraid she’d say something to someone else, and blow the whole thing. Josh has been getting….angrier. He’s snapping at people a lot, jumping to conclusions that someone is trying to sabotage him. He’s paranoid.”

“I see.” you nodded. “Tell Sam the plan is on. Tomorrow night, the four of us will be free.” Danny took the note you wrote back to Sam, slipping it into he pockets of his trousers before leaving to go upstairs. 

You finally felt some relief, knowing Sam had a plan, and it was close to being put into action. The feeling of hope as you devoured your food, suddenly ravenous, filled you with an excitement you hadn’t felt in a long time.

But as they say, the best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew…