#part of it is that like. previously I was trying to like. force myself to comply with some loc game aspects

[bravewolfvesperia]

/ so I finally updated my rules and verses pages to reflect current activity and such since they were a bit outdated. if you haven't checked them in a long time, pleeeease at least skim them again! I think I mostly got everything, but I'd realized I hadn't properly updated them since shortly after I made this blog. 🙇‍♀️

[glitter-stained]

Jason Todd Meta Masterlist

With all the misconceptions and (frankly insulting and at times sexist) assumptions I've seen about Jason Todd fans, I've decided to make a post gathering the meta I could find that helps make sense of why he's my (and so many other people's) favourite character. (Spoiler: it's not because I'm shallow, it's not because he's hot, not because I love guns and the death penalty, and not because I think he's secretly a woman.) This list is incomplete for a bunch of reasons: I haven't read all the meta that exists, if there's a good meta with like one sentence I disagree with I usually don't include the meta, there's a lot of meta I disagree with, and if there's a very good meta analysing dynamics or characters based on a comic I really hate, I will simply not include it (for example i've seen good analysis of Nightwing Brothers in Blood, unfortunately it's one of the worst comics i've ever tried to force myself to read so I can't include any of it in Jason analysis without betraying a fundamental part of myself). This will include some serious analysis commentary, some lighter/trivia stuff, and there's also a part dedicated to some misconceptions I've seen running around and posts that address it. Some of this is jaybin analysis/appreciation, some of this is red hood analysis/appreciation, some of it fits for both, and there's nuance here due to the fact I'm very critical about many parts of red hood's writing, so some jaybin posts might be red hood critical, but they're still parts of the reasons why I like jason so I'm including them. If you have suggestions for more meta posts to add, feel free to share them, though be warned that I may not be able to edit and include them all due to reasons previously mentioned! (And do not be afraid to share your own meta we love self-promo in here).

With all that said:

if you're a Jason fan looking for more meta, a comic fan who doesn't understand the hype and is genuinely wondering what people see in him, a fic writer determined to do his character justice, or new to fandom and wondering if it's worth it getting into him, this post is for you! And of course if you don't like him I'm not arrogant enough to assume I can change your mind, you're perfectly allowed your taste, all that I ask in return is that you do not try to police mine.

Now let's get to it!

Mental illness

So, this meta is kinda organized by how important those points are to me, and it turns out I'm a complete freak about psychopatholgy (the study of mental disorders). Now, is Jason a good depiction of mental illness? Eeeeeh... Compared to my other favs with stories building up around trauma like Mia Dearden or Jill Carlyle, he has a lot more material to sink our teeth into due to sheer number of appearances, and there's loads of interesting stuff in that, but he also often falls victim to dc's classic love for demonising metal illness. So what makes Jason's mental illness compelling to me, someone who loathes the Joker's character so much? That's a complicated question I attempt to answer in here. Now this is an ongoing compilation of different psychological analysis meta (we're playing meta masterpost matryoshka!! Yay!) and doesn't have all the answers yet because I need time to write this shit but anyway, if anything, it's a good opportunity to learn about psychology through Jason, and I think how much I love sinking my teeth into those depictions already shines into it. So basically: The depiction of Jason's mental illness, despite often very flawed, is extremely compelling to me.

On victimhood

Now say it with me: you can like several things at once. Jason's character isn't the only one who is a victim, and he isn't the only one where victimhood features as an important theme, and none of that diminishes the fact that the way victimhood is portrayed and handled in Jason's story is compelling both for its meta commentary on the narrative and the catharsis it can bring. Here are some meta that analyse Jason's character in relation to victimhood:

-Jason and Joker's other victims

-How Jason's story resonates with victims of SA

-Jason and childhood sexual abuse

-How Jason is blamed for his death

-Jason's UTH monologue is sincere, and he has a right to his anger

-Jason's point isn't about the villains, it's about the victims

-Victimhood VS Survival

Philosophy

Now when it comes to this section, a lot of people associate ethics (for instance what Jason considers right and wrong) and politics (what solutions/actions he thinks should be taken as a result of those ethical beliefs). Of course that makes sense with the way those concepts intertwine, but they're not the same question (crucially, you can agree with his position on one without agreeing on the other) so I've tried to separate the posts into those two categories the best I can.

Ethics

I couldn't find a jaybin post that was only on ethics (though the political jaybin posts cover it a little) but some of my favourite stuff about Jason is the discussion of ethics. Honestly I consider it much more enjoyable than the political part of the discussion, it has my preference for sure.

On love and Red Hood

A reading of UTH as an invitation to incorporate emotions into our ethics

Pragmatics vs sanctity? Jason does value human life

Politics

I'm subdivising this one again because Jaybin and Red Hood wouldn't agree on everything here (I don't think the gap is irreconcilable, but it would require writers to put effort into bridging it which I never see dc do, at least not correctly.)

AS JAYBIN

Ethics, crime, grief and vigilantism

A philosophy of love and care

AS RED HOOD

Does Red Hood valorize organised crime?

Red Hood is a pimp (no, wait, listen)

On the death penalty

Jason's political thesis in UTH: you cannot rule through fear alone

Jason's point isn't about the villains, it's about the victims (yes, this one is here twice because it fits into both categories what do you want me to say)

Symbolism

You know I love me a character with some cool symbolism. I only got two posts on the matter so far but if anyone has articulate meta posts about Jason wrt Paradise Lost, Abraham and Isaac, Orpheus and Euridyce or literally anything else please share it I would love that so much I have so many thoughts about it but not all of them have a meta that develops them. Anyway here's another reason to like Jason Todd: he's got a lot of symbolism to sink your teeth into.

My thoughts on catholic Jason Todd

Jason Todd VS The Bible

Jason & Isaac

Abilities and skills

Now a lot of that was about what makes Jason interesting to me but one thing Jason is that he's also extremely fun. He's just all around an enjoyable character! To me his #1 best fun trait is how witty/funny he is, both as Jaybin and Winick's Red Hood, which is a shame because I don't have a post gathering panels of how funny he is (if anyone has one please feel free to share!). But his #2 best fun trait, to me, is that he's a hyper-competent jack-of-all-trades. And I don't mean a gary-stue! He's probably not one of the world's best at most of those things, but he's pretty good at a whole bunch of things and he's also very resourceful and underhanded, making for great battle scenes because it's always fun to watch pull tricks out of his sleeve! This is especially true for his villain era, because while hyper-competent heroes can become annoying, I find hyper-competent villains/antagonists super exciting. So here are just a tiny tidbit of metas I could find about some of his skills!

"The dumb Robin"

Jaybin is a skilled hacker!

Languages

Marksmanship (amongst other skills)

Jason and Bruce

Warning: if you're here it means you haven't blocked the anti batman tags but like, this isn't a super Batman-friendly blog. The meta in this part doesn't exactly hold Bruce in high regards so like, if you're a fan of him like, be aware of that.

With that being said, I find Jason's story, and the criticism of Bruce/Batman that ties into it, very interesting. I also am personally drawn towards stories around child abuse for cathartic reasons, and DC, albeit unintentionally, draws a very realistic depiction of abusive families within the batfam, which I also find really compelling. So here's a bunch of meta about Jason and Bruce and utter misery! Parenting tip: don't do that.

-Jaybin era Bruce was far from perfect

-Bruce projects on jaybin

-Parentification

-Analysis of Jason's grave

-Can you believe Bruce yellow-wallpapered Jason?

-Jason as a meta character

-Jason's isolation wrt his relationship with Bruce

Jason and Mia

-Green Arrow: Seeing Red makes a great point about victim-blaming

-On defense of jaymia : So, this one requires some explanation. It's kinda funny to include this in a meta masterpost/character manifesto since 1) the ship is not canon and 2) i do not ship nor particularly like the ship (no offence to those who do!). However, a lot is said about these two characters, and as a fan of both characters I have a lot of thoughts and feelings on the matter, and I believe this post is a good breakdown of some conceptions and views wrt these two characters, even outside of the shipping length. I have more analysis about Seeing Red in the works, but it's bound to take a long time to happen!

Some other misconceptions I found interesting to mention

-Jason isn't a loner

-A quick forray into pre-crisis: Jason and Dick's backstories were similar, but they had their fair share of differences! They're far from the same character.

Trivia

And finally, as a palate cleanser after all that stuff, some trivia for your writer's needs.

Jason's taste in food and drinks

Jason's music taste

Books Jason Todd has read

Anyway, shout-out to all these amazing people for all that meta, and please note that just because I included one of their post in my meta and character manifesto doesn't mean they have to agree with everything I said (should be evident but like, just in case. Leave those people alone if your issue is with me.)

I'm leaving you with these comic recs from laufire! and this collection of pretty jason fanarts!

Hope you enjoy ✨✨

[gffa]

JEDI ORDER CITATIONS IN STAR WARS CANON, PART V [A Meta/Reference Guide on AO3] Welcome to my Jedi Culture and Teachings in Canon series, where I collate various quotes from current canon to provide a worldbuilding and reference guide, whether for better fic writing, just general interest in getting to know the Star Wars lore better, or if you want to be able to pull out some quotes when you're fighting the internet on behalf of the fictional space wizards. ;) So, what's here? Basically anything I think would be of interest to people who want to know what the Jedi are like in the canon--any worldbuilding bits (what special abilities do the Jedi have? do the Jedi have art? do they have funeral rites? what do we know about Knighting ceremonies? what are the themes of the Force? are the Jedi telepaths or empaths and what scenes in canon support that? what do we know about Jedi schooling?), any quotes from Lucas himself, all arranged in categories to help you find what you're looking for. Feel free to take this guide or leave it, it's not about telling other people what to do, if you scroll on by, that's fine, I'm not your mom, do what you want. But if you want to know what the Jedi have to say about Force bonds or what kind of clothing they way or everything we know about the main ziggurat of the Jedi Temple, I got you covered, babe. This section is admittedly overly large, where previously I would get to about 25k words of citations and post the next part, feeling that was a manageable chunk for readers. But with The Acolyte coming out, I made a challenge to myself to get caught up on all of The High Republic before it aired and I drop citations in as I'm reading, so suddenly I found myself with nearly 50k of citations and I was feeling in the groove, I had all my references easily accessible, I was getting through my backlog, I had access to some of the roleplaying guides, I was seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, and, wham, suddenly it's ~70k and here I am now. But that's 70k of examples of what the Jedi say and do, my best attempt to give context to show the consistent themes and parallels within the Jedi Order all across this continuity. How to use this guide? Well, you do you, for starters! But I hope you'll read the intros, as often some books need to be put in specific contexts, and if you have any suggestions for future categories or better organization, feel free to mention it! I do this for me, but I format it for sharing, so I'm game! Feel free to check out previous sections for more examples, and just scroll through to skim the bolded sections to try to find what you're looking for, since not everything always fits neatly into a single given category! (Or just ask me! I love being a nerd about Star Wars worldbuilding.) The guide is broken down into seven sections as before:

How the Force Works

Jedi Culture & Philosophy & Teachings

Jedi As a People

Psychic Space Wizards Doing Psychic Space Wizard Things

Jedi Temple (Living Quarters, Training Rooms, Meditation Gardens and Dining Halls !)

Jedi Outreach, Politics, and the Bigger Galaxy

Fantasy Flight Games Are Not Canon But Canon-Compliant Is Close Enough

Jedi, Buddhism, and Everything Else

[honeychamomile1]

Not So Pretty

JJ Maybank x ex!fem!reader

Summary: No one, I mean no one, can be okay after a break up and that is just something that is shown to be proven not told.

Warnings: Light violence, mention of glass shattering, drinking underage (it’s JJ after all), crying, comfort, etc.

Note: Part three of “Pretty” series! I hope you guys enjoy! Also, @sunndroppp this is my apology for being so late! Please forgive me lol. :)

�� Series Masterlist 👈

John B

“John B.” I heard in a sing-song voice, a tiny laugh escaping the person who was trying to disturb my sleep.

I opened my eyes with great effort, eyes fluttering a couple times before I had a clear visual of who was interrupting my slumber.

“Whoah, what the heck, man?!” I blurted, sitting up quickly, pulling the blanket with me to cover myself with its warmth.

JJ Maybank was standing over my bed, his face previously only a couple centimeters from mine. He laughed, mouth opened wide in a smile as he startled me awake.

“It’s nothing personal, I just wanted to wake my buddy up.” He explained, chuckling again.

For a second I almost questioned why he was acting this way; acting like everything was okay after he abandoned the one girl he truly loved, but I couldn’t know how he deals with his feelings, and I didn’t want to ruin his day by bringing it up; the last thing I wanted was to uncover feelings he previously buried.

Instead I only rolled my eyes, reaching up to rub the sleep out of them. My mouth opened in a yawn. “What do you want, JJ?”

He smiled and nudged my arm with his elbow. “Don’t know, you tell me.”

I glared at him. “You’re telling me that you woke me up for no reason at all?”

He smirked but his lips wavered. “Not for no reason, you can still make me breakfast now that you’re up.”

I grabbed the nearest pillow I had nearby and threw it at him, the object successfully hitting him right in the chest.

“Make your own breakfast, Maybank.” I teasingly snarled, and he laughed, walking out of the room so he wouldn’t annoy me further.

When I later went down stairs, I saw JJ sitting on the counter, a beer bottle in his hand. The same hands she used to kiss and hold, guiding him where she wanted to go while giggling at his complaints.

I laughed half-heartedly. “Already drinking somethin’?”

JJ huffed, a smile being forced on his lips as he looked at the glass in his hand, almost like he didn’t realize it was there until now. “Yeah, I guess so.”

My eyebrows furrowed, confusion flooding my senses. “You okay?”

He bit the inside of his cheek, taking off his hat with his free hand, ruffling his hair strands before putting the cap back on. He then seemed to flip his usual emotion switch on, a very forced smile stretching his lips. “‘Course, why wouldn’t I be?”

I felt a look of uncertainty surround my features since I couldn’t help but show it. No one, I mean no one, can be okay after a break up and that is just something that is shown to be proven not told.

“Nothing,” I started, and felt a sarcastic comment come up my throat. “Not like you just broke up with someone or anything.”

JJ’s jaw clenched, giving the impression his teeth were clashing together uncomfortably. It twitched, not seeming to be unlocking any time soon. “Shut up.”

Normally when JJ told me that kind of stuff I would laugh and refuse to do so, teasing him by pushing his shoulder. He would normally give me that kind of come-get-me-grin, testing me once again to see if I’d dare to make my response something along the lines of ‘make me.’

But this was serious, his voice stern as he looked, more like glared, at me. His hands turned white as he squeezed the beer bottle’s neck. For some reason my chest tightened in fear of it shattering, picturing glass particles everywhere like flickering lights. Of course, I knew JJ was strong but not that capable capable to break a glass bottle, but the fear was sitting in me nonetheless.

“Why?” I asked, confusion taking a seat next to the fear in my chest. “I am telling the truth, aren’t I?”

JJ’s jaw was still locked, eyes set on a wall across the kitchen, silently asking it a question and waiting for it to answer.

“Aren’t I?” I repeated, trying to squeeze the answer out of him like squeezing the juice out of a lemon, and I awaited the sour response of the truth.

“And what if you are?” He suddenly snapped, blue eyes making sharp eye contact with mine. I didn’t flinch, for I couldn’t do so, and I wasn’t scared enough to do it in the first place. There it was, the sour taste on my tongue.

I am never scared of JJ, and today will not be the time that changes.

So I stood my ground, looking in right back in the eye as he continued his outburst. “That doesn’t change anything, because I’m over it.”

His voice was so straight, straight as a line, not wavering whatsoever. But I knew him, and that last part of what he said had a dip in tone. “Yeah right.”

He slapped his eyes away for mine and back to the wall in front of him, legs swinging softly back and forth. His boots that still covered his feet-the fact alone bothered me a little- softly hit the cabinets below the counter, it closing and opening, closing and opening, closing and openi-

“Stop that will you?” I blurted, gesturing to his feet but instead is stopping he just jumped off the counter all together, setting the beer down on the surface he was previously sitting on and starting right for me.

His hands, the ones she used to hold grabbed me harshly by the shoulders, a face with nothing but rage fight in mine. His eyes darkened, they shined with anger as he dove me to the ground, the harsh kitchen floor beneath me.

A flashback to when we were younger, his tiny body squealing with laughter as he playfully pushed me down, the grass smacking my back as I attempted to wrestle back.

But this moment wasn’t playful, and if I didn’t stop him, I felt the growing fear he would actually hurt me.

“Hey, hey, hey!” I shouted, grabbing his shoulders and pushing him off me. I met his face, his eyes, and saw soft tears laid over them.

“Hey, man, what’s wrong?” I asked him softly, our legs bending to stand up again, my hands still on his shoulders to hold him steady.

“I-…sorry.” He swallowed, his hand lightly pushed mine off him before shooting to his hair, the blond strands being tangled within his fingers. I was worried he was gonna pull his hair out the more he pulled; I could almost feel the harsh tugs on his head on my own.

“Hey, no need to be sorry, tell me what’s going on.” I assured, and I felt my eyes following his body as he walked further into the kitchen, leaning against the counter as he roughly rubbed at his eyes, making the areas red quite quickly.

He then covered both his eyes with his palms, fingers touching both of his ears. “I-I broke up with her.”

This is information we both already knew, but seeing him with this much emotion flowing within him it wasn’t something I didn’t expect. I often believe that this was a stage of healing, of communication about one’s feelings before they discuss what the next step will be. And that part right there, the statement that JJ made, was a topic sentence to ease into the deeper meaning on why he broke up with her, not just the statement of action.

“I was so stupid, B.” He grumbled out, each breath he took seeming to increase pressure on his face with his hands.

I didn’t say anything, I chose not to, for I was worried I would interfere too much with the non-stop emotions flowing through him. So I stayed put, my feet gluing themselves to the ground on their own. I could have stepped forward, touched his shoulder affectionately and attempted to provide some comfort, but that would make him uncomfortable, and that was one of the last things I wanted. So I continued to stay put.

“Breakin’ up with her like that,” he continued to ramble, eyes still covered with his hands as he shook his head, disappointed with himself. “She must be broken, man.”

This time I wanted to respond, swallowing thickly. “Yeah, Pope was talking to her; he said she was crying.”

JJ shook his head harder. “Don’t.”

“Sorry, but it’s true.” I pried, my feet deciding to unstick and step forward, getting only a little bit closer to him. He needed to know the truth; what he did to her.

“I’m so upset with myself.” He said suddenly, clearly wanting to change the subject, and once again the statement is true. Gonna be honest, he was stupid, and he does look upset, so both statements just add to the pile of negative thoughts that are running through his head.

“Why’d you do it, man? Because I know it wasn’t because you stopped lovin’ her.”

“Not like I ever could.” He grumbled once again, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He finally took them out of his hair, I noticed almost right away, his strands left pointing to and fro in the air.

“Stop avoiding the question.” I stated. I had enough. I know I reacted confused and determined before, but now I’m feeling impatience forming within my chest, replacing the previous emotions. I want him to answer me, and I want him to answer me right now.

He sighed. “It’s stupid.”

“Yet stupid things have good outcomes?” I quoted the motto he claims all the time, raising an eyebrow, testing him.

He huffed, right hand coming to his hair strands again. “My dad.”

The words were breathed out roughly, and I was lucky I heard them because I don’t think he would want to repeat it if I asked him to.

“Look, I get it man, but you can’t break her as a way of protection.” I informed, knowing how wide of possible reactions he might have, but I say it anyway. Because not only did it need to be said, but also he isn’t protecting her in the right way.

“I know, but it was the only way I could think of, how else am I supposed to protect her? Let him beat her up like he does to me?”

I couldn’t help but step back at his outburst. My mind was so blank it couldn’t even picture it, the man who called himself JJ’s dad laying any sort of hand on her.

The thought couldn’t help itself but slip into my brain, picturing his hands on her, pure fear in her eyes as she cried for help, begging for her lover that left her broken inside.

“Don’t talk like that.” I ordered at him, forcing myself to erase the image from my mind.

“Well if I haven’t broken up with her, that imagine would’ve become reality. So I left her.”

The fact that he shrugged afterwards, like the answer was that simple; almost like it was normal for him to do that.

“What about the whole time you were together? You weren’t worried about your dad then.”

“Well he wasn’t exactly mindful of her was he? He knows, John B,” JJ almost snapped right back at me.

“Does it even matter at this point, does it, J? I know you’ll do anything to protect her.”

“Yeah, I do!” He blurted. “And that thing I did was leave her. She deserves someone better, someone whose father doesn’t beat them up. Someone who can love her and not worry about his father hurting her.”

I couldn’t help it, I pulled him in towards me and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, bringing him into a hug.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s gonna be okay,” I whispered.

“Y-you were right, I’m not okay. I-“ he paused, a shaky breath aruptintg in his chest. “I miss her,” he breathed out in a soft whimper.

It was a soft moment, a side I didn’t really see of JJ except when we were kids and he scrapped his knee.

He learned to dig it deep down within himself as he got older, but I always knew that certain things made him crack, and she was one of those things. One of those beautiful, precious things that didn’t deserve to be hurt in any way.

“It’s okay,” I whispered again, not quite knowing what to say. I didn’t want to say something and spark any anger in him, so I continued to soothe the best way I could.

It seems to work, JJ’s breathing calmed down as his fingers practically dug crescent moons into my arms.

“…JJ?”

The body I was holding tensed up, stiffened into a board even.

He pulled away, eyes wide with pure terror, and confusion took over me, looking around, but seeing no one. No one at all.

“What’s wrong? You okay?” I asked, his hands sweaty on my arms before he pulled them away, his breathing picking up a bit.

He swallowed thickly, and I could almost feel how dry his throat was.

“N-nothing, I thought I heard someon-something.”

________________________________________

People I wanted to tag!

@immyowndefender @stephstephstephsteph @tairodriguess2010

________________________________________

Like, reblog, and comment to make me happy!! 🫶🏻

[mythosandthemorbid]

❤️‍🩹🔪Depollute Me, Pretty Baby - Chapter 3🔪❤️‍🩹

<- Previous Chapter Next Chapter ->

CW: abandonment issues, Stockholm syndrome (or, foreshadowing for it), hurt/comfort but it’s Ren and Strade so yk it’s gonna be fucked, blood, violence, sadism, rape/noncon, Ren Hana is here to stay (officially a pivotal part of the story), same warnings as the source material, Boyfriend to Death.

Type: Strade x reader, first person POV of the reader

I groaned softly as consciousness slowly returned, the sting of my wounds immediately pulling me back into reality. My side ached where Strade had dug his fingers in earlier, and the dull throb of my arm cuts made every small movement unbearable.

The cold concrete floor pressed against my skin, its harsh chill a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from the blood that had dried over my body. Everything hurt, a constant, nagging reminder that Strade had done something, even if I couldn't remember the details just yet. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to.

"Mmgh... wuz hapenin.." I slurred, trying to piece together where I was. The room was dark, just like the last time Strade had left, and the silence wrapped around me like a blanket. I tried to sit up, my body protesting every movement. Something felt wet, warm... and ticklish. It wasn't right. I blinked groggily, my vision adjusting, only to be startled by a small yelp beneath me.

My eyes shot open. Ren– the fox boy who’d helped me previously–was between my legs, his eyes wide and panicked. "What doing has you?" I tried to demand, but my words came out jumbled, my mind foggy. Every part of my body ached too much to fight him off.

"I... I..." Ren stammered, his gaze darting around, avoiding eye contact. His chin glistened with something I instantly recognized–cum. The realization hit me as I tried to scoot away, but his claws dug into my thighs, holding me in place. The pain from his sharp nails sank into my flesh, intensifying the burning ache from my earlier injuries.

I winced, the discomfort shooting up through my body, but Ren's face contorted into something resembling desperation.

"Don't," he whispered urgently, his voice shaking as he clamped a hand over my mouth. "You'll get us caught," he hissed, his eyes flicking around the room nervously, as though Strade could walk in any second. His panic froze me in place.

His hands went back to my thighs, pulling me closer, and before I could comprehend what was happening, he lifted my legs over his shoulders and buried his face between them. His tongue darted out, exploring my folds with a practiced precision. I let out a small whimper, not sure whether it was from the pain of my wounds or the invasive sensation of his mouth. His tail wagged behind him, and he let out small purrs of contentment as if he couldn't hear the quiet sounds of discomfort leaving my throat.

Each flick of his tongue distracted me from the dull throb in my body. I couldn't push him away, even if I wanted to, not with my wounds. But as he continued, falling into a steady rhythm, I began to find that I didn’t quite mind as much as I thought I would. His grip on my had loosened, and even with his tongue he was being gentle, considerate. So, I lay there, forcing myself to stay still, trying to focus on the good parts. Ren seemed lost in his own world, oblivious to the pain I was in, or perhaps choosing to ignore it altogether.

After what felt like forever, he finally pulled back, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. His eyes met mine, filled with nervous excitement. "I... I'm sorry," he muttered, "but I had to... I know Strade likes you. He has a fondness for you I.. I haven’t seen in awhile, and I think you'll survive… he’ll– he'll keep you." His words came out quickly, a strange mixture of guilt and hope. "I want us to get along. I can tell we're going to be best friends. I just thought... maybe this would help."

I stared at him, my body trembling from the pain. I’d tensed up again and it wasn’t helping at all, not with my wounds. I couldn't bring myself to be angry. I knew he was just as much a victim of Strade as I was. His wide-eyed innocence, his desperation to bond with me—it all made sense in a twisted way. I managed a weak smile, convincing myself I had to show him I wasn't upset. I couldn't afford to make an enemy of him, not here, not after he’d helped me.

He grinned at the smile I gave him. "I knew it," he whispered excitedly. "I knew you'd understand." He leaned in closer. "Strade doesn't know about this, but I think he'll appreciate me taking initiative. Still, let's keep it a secret for now."

I nodded, too exhausted to respond. Ren quickly gathered himself and slipped away, leaving me alone again in the cold, dark basement. My body ached, each wound pulsing with a sharp, relentless pain, with nothing to distract me anymore.

I wondered if I should try to move closer to the pole again. Ren didn’t seem concerned with it, and I had no idea how Strade had left me, so I decided to stay put. Every part of my body ached, and the thought of dragging myself across the cold, hard floor made my stomach twist with dread. The pain flared up with every shallow breath, my wounds pulsing angrily with the slightest movement.

The darkness around me felt suffocating, swallowing me whole. Silence pressed in from all sides, amplifying the throbbing in my wounds and the gnawing fear that maybe this time, I’d been left behind. Forgotten. Abandoned.

The thought brought a fresh wave of tears to my eyes, my breath hitching as I tried to stifle the sobs rising in my throat. I can’t be alone. Not like this. My chest tightened with the fear, with the loneliness, but my body was too weak to even try to fight it off. The tears came anyway, hot and heavy, as I curled in on myself as much as my aching body would allow.

Every second felt like an hour, every small sound making my heart race in anticipation. I needed him to come back—needed—even though I knew he was the one who’d left me here in the first place. The pain and the fear muddled everything in my mind, making it hard to remember why I should be afraid of him. Right now, I just needed someone. I needed him.

My stomach growled loudly, reminding me how long it had been since I’d eaten, but I barely noticed it past the pain. Just when I thought I might scream from the silence, I heard it—the familiar creak of the door at the top of the stairs.

My heart leapt, relief washing over me like a wave as the heavy footsteps grew closer. Strade. He was back. I blinked away my tears, trying to calm my breathing as I waited for him to reach me. The door creaked open fully, and in the dim light, I saw his familiar silhouette descending the stairs.

“Moin, moin, buddy,” Strade’s voice rang out cheerfully, his tone far too bright for the situation. But hearing it, the tension in my body lessened. At least I wasn’t alone anymore. I managed a weak smile, though it barely reached my eyes.

His boots echoed against the floor as he approached me, crouching down beside me with that same carefree grin on his face. “Did you miss me?” he asked, almost teasing, reaching out to brush a tear from my cheek. “That’s a pleasant surprise,” he murmured.

I nodded, unable to hide the tremble in my hands. “I… I couldn’t sleep.”

Strade chuckled, his eyes lighting up with amusement. “Aw, you poor thing. All alone in the dark,” he said, sounding genuinely pleased. “Don’t worry. I’m here now.”

I sniffled, my throat too dry to respond, and watched as he reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a granola bar. “You’ve got to keep your strength up if you’re going to last, ja?” he said, unwrapping it for me. “Here. Eat.”

I opened my mouth slightly, not bothering to reach for it myself. My arms were too weak, my body too tired to even attempt it. He brought the bar to my lips, watching me closely as I took small bites, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“Good job,” he praised softly, stroking my hair once I’d finished. “You’re cooperating so well today. I’m proud of you.”

I didn’t respond, my breath hitching again as the reality of the situation settled back in. Strade was back, yes, but so was the pain. And I knew that was what he enjoyed the most.

“Well, now that you’ve had breakfast,” Strade began, his grin widening, “we need to take care of those nasty little wounds. Can’t have you falling apart on me so soon, rechts?”

I flinched as his hand ghosted over one of the cuts on my arm, a fresh jolt of pain shooting through me. He laughed softly at my reaction, clearly enjoying it. “Ah, so sensitive. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle when I can. Can’t promise I’ll always be able to restrain myself, though...”

He pulled out a small first aid kit, setting it beside him as he started to move me into a sitting position. I whined softly, trying to help him as much as I could, but my body was too weak to be of much use. Every movement sent sharp, burning pain through my limbs, and I bit down on my lip hard to keep from crying out.

Strade hummed happily to himself, adjusting my position with ease, though his eyes never left my face. He watched every wince, every pained expression, his grin growing wider with each one.

“You don’t need to hold back,” he murmured, reaching for a bottle of rubbing alcohol. “Go ahead, let it out. Scream if you need to. I love it when you scream for me.”

He poured a generous amount of the alcohol onto a cloth and pressed it to one of the deeper wounds on my side. The pain was immediate and excruciating, and despite my best efforts, I let out a choked yelp, my body jerking involuntarily.

“That’s it,” he cooed, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Gut gemacht. I knew you had it in you.” His hand lingered a moment longer on the wound, applying more pressure than necessary, as if savoring my agony.

Tears welled up in my eyes again, but I didn’t fight them this time. It was pointless. Strade wanted this. He wanted me to cry, to scream, to suffer for him.

As he continued to clean my wounds, occasionally slipping into German, his tone almost affectionate. I gave him an hesitantly appreciative look, despite not knowing what he was saying exactly. “So mutig,” he whispered, “so schön,” as his fingers brushed over the raw skin. His touch was soft at times, but it never lasted long before the pain returned, sharp and unrelenting.

The strangest part was that, despite the pain, despite everything, a part of me was still relieved he was here. He had a way of making it feel like I wasn’t completely alone, like my suffering mattered to someone. Odd as it was, it was better than the crushing silence.

“There, all done,” Strade finally said, standing up and wiping his hands clean. “You did so well, liebchen. I’m proud of you.” He leaned down, planting a kiss on the top of my head.

I blinked, the exhaustion from the pain overwhelming me as I tried to process everything. My body trembled, but I couldn’t help but feel the faintest warmth at his words. I hated how much I needed his approval, but right now, it was all I had.

Strade smiled down at me, his eyes glinting with slight amusement. “You’ll be perfect for me, you know. Just the way I like you.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked up at Strade, my body aching from the wounds he’d inflicted. The silence had gnawed at me, filling me with the unbearable fear of being forgotten, left alone. “A-are you going to do something?” I asked softly, almost hopeful that he would, if only to keep me close.

Strade looked down at me with a broad grin, his expression far too cheerful for the situation. He tilted his head, pretending to consider my question before laughing. “Oh, no, not today! I’ve roughed you up way too much for that right now. Can’t risk breaking my favorite toy, can I?”

My heart raced, a strange mixture of relief and disappointment flooding through me. I didn’t want him to hurt me, but the fear of being left alone again made my chest tighten.

He crouched beside me, lifting my chin with a rough hand, his touch almost playful. “But don’t worry, I’m not gonna leave you alone.” His eyes gleamed as he added, “I’ve got plans. I’m in a really good mood, so I’m going out to find some new toys to play with.” His tone was light, as if he were talking about nothing more serious than running errands.

I blinked, the words catching in my throat. New toys. Right… I wasn’t going to be part of that. A small wave of comfort washed over me, but it didn’t completely chase away the anxiety gnawing at the edges of my mind.

Strade ruffled my hair, his grin widening. “You’ll be staying in the side room while I’m out. It’s cozy in there, you’ll like it. And hey, this way you don’t get jealous when I bring someone else back to ‘play with.’ Wouldn’t want that, would we?” He winked, clearly amused by his own little joke.

I forced a small smile, not wanting to upset him. “No… I wouldn’t.”

“Good.” He stood up, offering his hand. “Now, up you go.”

I reached for his hand, but my muscles screamed in protest, making it impossible to stand. Strade chuckled and tugged me up just enough to get me crawling. “Go on, that’s it. Crawl your way to the side room. Don’t worry, I’ll help a little.”

He supported me just enough to keep me moving, but it was still humiliating, the feeling of helplessness sinking in deeper with each painful movement. The ache in my body was overwhelming, but I focused on getting to the room, desperate to not be left behind in the cold, dark basement.

Finally, we reached the side room. It was warmer, with a couch, a small TV, and a table with snacks and drinks—almost homey compared to the rest of the basement. Strade helped me onto the couch, letting me collapse against the cushions with a sigh of relief. My body still throbbed, but at least here, it felt a little more bearable.

“Now,” Strade said, pulling a metal shock collar from behind his back (how long had he had that for?), “just so you don’t get any funny ideas…” He fastened it around my neck, the cold metal biting into my skin. The click of the chain connecting me to the wall echoed through the room, sealing my fate. I winced at the weight of it, knowing that I wasn’t going anywhere.

“There. All set.” Strade gave the chain a light tug, testing its strength, before standing back up. “I’ll leave you with someone so you don’t get lonely, though.”

Before I could ask what he meant, the door creaked open, and a boy with wild orange hair and wide, curious eyes stepped inside. I recognized him immediately—Ren. He seemed much more relaxed now, though, his tail wagging slightly as he looked between me and Strade.

“This is Ren,” Strade introduced cheerfully, clapping a hand on Ren’s shoulder. “He’ll be keeping you company while I’m out. You two should get along just fine.” His smile widened as he glanced down at me. “Ren’s got his own collar too, but he’s earned the privilege of moving around without a chain.”

Ren smiled at me, his excitement clear. “Hi! Strade said you’re new here. Don’t worry, we’re gonna get along great!” His eyes sparkled with a strange kind of enthusiasm, and it was clear he didn’t share my anxiety about the situation. He was doing a good job at pretending we hadn’t met before, too.

Strade gave me a final pat on the head. “Now, don’t go causing trouble, yeah? Ren’ll help you out with anything you need—food, drinks, whatever. You’re too beat up to do much on your own right now, but you’ll get better.” He smirked, his voice softening into a mockingly sweet tone. “I want you nice and healed up for when I come back. After all, I can’t have you getting in the way while I break the fresh meat.”

I nodded weakly, still trying to process everything. Ren seemed eager, almost too eager, but at least I wasn’t going to be left completely alone. That was something. The last thing I wanted was to be abandoned, left to rot in the dark.

Strade gave me one last grin before turning on his heel and heading for the door. “Be good, both of you! I’ll be back soon, and don’t worry, I’ll have plenty of fun stories to share when I do.”

As the door creaked shut behind Strade, the silence weighed heavily in the room. I glanced at Ren, who was fidgeting, his tail twitching behind him as if trying to keep up with his restless energy. His eyes flickered between me and the floor, his nervousness palpable.

“I’m, uh… sorry,” he mumbled, breaking the silence. His voice was quiet, almost ashamed. “About… everything.”

For a moment, I didn’t respond. The ache in my body and the fear of being abandoned still loomed large, but Strade had reassured me—he’d be back. I just had to hold on to that. And Ren… maybe there was potential there. If I made myself important enough to both of them, maybe I wouldn’t have to worry about being left behind again. That thought was enough to ease some of the tension in my chest.

“It’s okay,” I whispered after a beat. “We just have to… make it through this.” My voice was weak, but sincere.

Ren looked up, his ears twitching slightly. He gave a small, hesitant nod, but then his entire demeanor seemed to shift. He perked up, a sudden excitement flashing in his eyes. “Yeah… yeah, you’re right!” His tail wagged a little, his nervousness melting away. “We’ll make it through this. And hey, at least we’ve got each other now, right?”

His newfound enthusiasm was almost contagious. I couldn’t help but feel a small bit of relief—it was better than being completely alone.

Ren sat up straighter, clearly trying to make the best of things. “So… what do you want to do? I mean, there’s not much, but…” He trailed off, then grinned as if struck by inspiration. “Wait, I know! How about I put on something fun? We could watch my favorite anime.”

Before I could respond, Ren hopped up and grabbed the remote, flicking on the TV with an almost childlike excitement. The screen flickered to life, and he quickly found his favorite show. “You’ll love this one,” he said, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm. “It’s got action, cool characters, and… well, you’ll see!”

He hurried over to the small stash of snacks and drinks, gathering a few things and setting them down on the table near me. “Here, I got us some stuff.” He popped open a bag of chips and offered me a drink, his energy so vibrant that it was hard not to smile.

I shifted slightly, wincing at the pain from my wounds. Ren noticed immediately and frowned. “Hold on, let me help with that.” He moved over to me, his hands gentle as he carefully repositioned me on the couch, mindful of the aching spots Strade had left behind. His touch was much softer than I expected, a stark contrast to Strade’s rough handling.

He settled back after a moment, glancing at me with concern. “Better?”

“Yeah… thanks,” I said, offering him a small smile. It wasn’t forced this time. Ren might’ve been part of this twisted world, but at least he wasn’t hurting me. In fact, he seemed to want to help.

“Good!” Ren grinned again and settled next to me, though his focus remained on making sure I was comfortable. “You’ve been through a lot… but don’t worry, I’ll take care of you while Strade’s out. Promise.”

He shifted again, his hands moving to gently massage my shoulders, careful not to aggravate my injuries. “I can tell you’re stressed,” he murmured. “Just relax, okay? I’ve got some painkillers too. You’ll feel better soon.”

His hands moved in slow, soothing circles, and despite the pain, I felt myself relaxing more than I thought possible. The TV played in the background, but Ren was the main focus—his care, his attentiveness, his effort to make me feel less alone.

I sighed softly, letting the tension in my body ease as he continued his gentle ministrations. The pain was still there, but it was muted by the growing sense of comfort. Ren wasn’t just some mindless follower; he was trying to make this bearable, and I could work with that. I needed him to see me as someone worth keeping around, someone irreplaceable.

As Ren kept chatting about the anime on TV and the snacks he’d picked, I found myself warming up to him more. The forced smile I’d worn earlier started to soften into something genuine. I laughed a little at his enthusiasm, the sound surprising even me.

“See? I told you we’d get along!” Ren beamed, clearly pleased with my reaction.

I nodded, leaning into his care. “Yeah… I think we will.”

And for the first time in not just the past few days, but in awhile, I didn’t feel so alone.

[especially-obsessed]

It's 3 in the Mornin' - JJ's Ending

Summary: JJ attempts to deal with the consequences of his actions.

Pairing: JJ Maybank x reader (previously)

Warnings: depression, implied SH, anger (this one gets pretty dark)

Word count: 600

Masterlist | It's 3 in the Mornin' | JJ’s Playlist

a/n: Sorry, this one is a little fucked up but I felt it necessary to get JJ’s POV after their so-called ‘closure’

JJ POV

The moment the door shut, I froze, standing there in her yard, unable to move. It felt like my entire body had been struck by lightning, paralyzed by the finality of her decision.

I could hear her voice echoing in my head; cold, sharp, cutting through me. "You lost me when you walked away." It hit harder than anything, and I could feel the weight of it sinking into my chest, suffocating me.

I didn’t move. Didn’t say anything. I just stood there in the dark, staring at the door like it would somehow open again, like she'd take it all back and let me back into her life.

I should’ve known this was coming. I always fuck it up. Always. 

The words swirled in my head, louder now, a constant buzz I couldn’t shake. I wasn’t surprised, not really. I’d been expecting it for a while. She’d been slipping away from me, and I just... couldn’t stop it. The harder I tried to hold onto her, the more I felt myself slipping, too.

But I couldn’t move on. I couldn’t let go. And God, that thought felt like a fucking anchor in my chest, dragging me down with every breath.

Finally, I could feel my feet move. I turned away from the door, each step heavy, dragging me further into the pit I’d created. But something in me didn’t want to leave. Part of me wanted to break the door down, force her to look at me again, hear me out, make her understand. I could almost feel the fire in my gut, that wild instinct to push against everything, even when I knew it would only burn me more. 

She’s better off without me. The thought didn’t sting anymore; it felt like the truth, cold and undeniable. But it didn’t stop me from wanting to break something. Anything. Even if it was myself. Maybe it would stop the gnawing ache in my chest, the ache that made me feel like I was suffocating. The ache that started the moment she closed that door.

The silence was unbearable. And yet, I couldn’t find the strength to walk away from it.

Maybe I deserved to feel this way. Maybe I deserved the emptiness gnawing at me. Because I had nothing left.

I felt my fingers twitch, an impulse to hurt, to lash out, anything to feel something that wasn’t this unbearable weight in my chest. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. Not here. Not with her behind that door, moving on while I stayed stuck, consumed by all the things I couldn’t take back.

The world felt distant. Cold. As I stumbled to the edge of her yard, I could almost physically feel the dark thoughts creeping in. The ones I’d been fighting off, pushing down, because I knew if I let them in, they might take everything I had left. They might consume me whole.

I could feel the edges of it now, though. The sharp, bitter urge to disappear. To fade into nothing. It wasn’t about her anymore; it wasn’t about us. It was about the weight of the mess I had made, the weight of myself. And maybe that weight would be too much to carry for much longer.

I didn’t know if I’d make it through tonight.

But as I walked down the road, I couldn’t escape the thought: maybe it would be easier if I didn’t try.

Masterlist | It’s 3 in the Mornin’

a/n: <3

Likes, reblogs, and follows are never expected but greatly appreciated! These let me know I should keep on doing what I’m doing! (:

Taglist: @pogueslandia @milkiane @strnqer

[vadersassistant]

Hiiii

wo dering if you could do an enemies to lover anakin imagine. kind of like friends to enemies to lovers or something like that and it ends in them making out o whatever you are comfortable with.

Anyways thank youuu

Denial One Shot (Darth Vader x Reader)

Summary: After venturing into a Sith Temple to try and find an edge on the current war, (Y/N) meets her enemy, Lord Vader, the man who killed her best friend and secret lover. He has been hunting both her and her alias down for months, following her across the galaxy, but little does she know, he has no plans to kill her. Takes place in the temple seen in the Star Wars Rebels season two finale. Reader was previously a Jedi and is in hiding due to order 66.

Warnings: Make out session

A/N: (Y/N) does not know Vader is Anakin, and Vader does not know (Y/N) is the Fugitive he has been searching for. This is once again a mix of suited Vader and nightfall Vader. In which, Vader wears the suit and mask, but he can take it off and looks like the Anakin we know and love.

The temple was eerie, an odd feeling passing by with each step you took. It was the opposite of the one I grew up in, representing everything I was told to dislike, and yet I was here anyways. I had made up my mind to fight instead of continuing to run from the problem. I wasn’t a rebel, but I wasn’t an imperial either. I was the middle ground, a former Jedi with a new identity, a mask to shield my face so that I could live freely, but the saber still gave it away. I was good, too good to be a civilian having fun with an old relic, even though some still used them publicly. Some, as in him.

The Jedi fell and Lord Vader rose out of thin air. There was no preface, no foreshadowing, he just came, and everyone bowed their heads.

To outsiders he was a military leader trained in combat, who happened to use an imaginary power. To force users, like Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and I, he was a Sith. We all knew it the second he began hunting us down. He wanted the Jedi dead and made it clear when he began searching for my alias as well. Everyone knew who she was, I was put on every single imperial security watch available, but I evaded it all I could. I forged a new saber, so that they couldn’t track me that way, and told people about how the female jedi on the Holonets from the clone wars died. The only people who truly knew were Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, since they too had done something similar. He was Ben, she was Ashla, and I gained the name Fugitive, a mask being the only way to keep track of my identity.

I couldn’t count how many storm-troopers I had killed by now, just that I did. I was forced to, to keep myself alive, because he wanted me turned in. I was always told to run, to flee from Vader because of what he’s done, but all I wanted was for the man to wind up dead. A lust for revenge had developed ever since I learned what he did to my best friend, Anakin Skywalker.

I don’t even know how he could have killed a warrior like him, but he did and now he’s gone. Slaughtered like any other while trying to save people in the temple, something someone with his character would have done naturally. The worst part is that everyone he was trying to save is dead too, and that he could have escaped with us, had he not done what he did. He had a wife, Senator Amidala, a good friend of mine, who also died that night, although I wasn’t sure if they ended on good terms.

The two had been arguing for a while, he believed she was cheating on him with Obi Wan, although she continued to deny it along with everyone else. I was the only one who he talked to about his problems willingly, even Kenobi would have to go through reading his mind to talk about personal issues. It was only when Anakin died that the truth came out, that being that Anakin was right, and she was seeing Kenobi.

I hadn’t recognized him after that point. I knew he was afraid he would be kicked out of the Jedi order if we found out he was dating another woman. Even further, the fact he knowingly was allowing the affair to happen, but it occurred anyways, and he lost everything with it. That was consequence enough, he didn’t need me to yell at him any further for going that far.

Still, I was angry, because I cared about Anakin.

And also loved him.

I denied it for years, the helpless prodding’s from Ahsoka when the two of us would spend hours upon hours with each other. We carried out the entire war effort, working extremely close together on missions. It was no surprise that I liked him, he had even mentioned subtly what things would be like if he hadn’t met her. It sounded like he regretted it, but I had no clue, due to us being force users.

I now stood in front of the man who took him away, the one that gutted him in the chest like a fish with no care whatsoever. The man that had been hunting me down under both my names since the night of the fall, the one that was known for murdering everyone in his path. I don’t know how he found me, I had a feeling we were being followed, but I didn’t care. We needed the Holocron inside of the temple, and Ahsoka now had it in hand. I could sense their distraught, both behind me looking at the Sith in front of us. They didn’t want to fight him; they were afraid to fight him. I felt differently, looking at his mask through the visors of my own.

“It was foretold that you would be here, our long-awaited meeting has come at last."

“This meeting is over,” Ahsoka said.

“Are you so sure?” the Sith questioned through the modulated voice his mask provided him, as I stepped forward.

“What are you doing?” Obi-Wan asked me, his breath becoming short.

“Leave."

“No," he shook his head. "Don’t do this."

“Leave. Now.”

I looked up at the temple’s ceiling as the walls started to drop down. It was collapsing on itself, since the Holocron had been taken from the Obelisk. There wasn’t much to do, but I knew I didn’t want to pull them into this. I turned around and outstretched a hand.  

Ahsoka screamed as I force pushed both her and Obi-Wan back while the temple’s walls crashed down. I saw her figure fly back just before the drop and felt her gently land. There was a ship, they could leave, I would worry about myself after I killed him.

“We’re finishing this here,” I said. "I know you've been hunting me for the past months."

“You are courageous, unlike your friends,” the Sith mused. “Hateful.”

“You killed my best friend," I pointed out. "I want you to experience that same pain."

“Revenge is not the Jedi way,” he reminded. "Your confidence dilutes your ability to make rational decisions."

“I am no Jedi.”

“Then who are you? Your saber is unlike any I have ever seen, an identity successfully hidden behind a helm.”

“That’s none of your business, why have you been hunting me?” I asked. I felt the pressure of the Dark Side creeping against my mind's barriers, he was trying to invade.

“You would make a wonderful apprentice in the dark side,” Vader said. "You have already abandoned your training as a Jedi."

“I don’t side with murderers.”

“And yet you are one. I have seen your way of fighting Fugitive; you have killed countless of our troops and inquisitors.”

“Your Inquisitorious is an embarrassment, and I will never join you, not after what you did,” I called my saber to my hand, igniting it.

“Then you will die.”

There was this feeling of fear that attempted to wash over me, like he was attempting to throw me off, but I wasn't thinking about it anymore.

I ran full speed at him, force pushing myself up off the ground and into the air to try and put myself on the offensive. My blade met his right over his helmet, as he angled me back and I landed behind him. My automatic response was to try and swing for his legs, a move he evaded but had been surprised by. I knew I needed to be careful with how I played things. He would try and tire me out by just playing the defensive, but I also didn’t get that tired frow much stamina I built up during the war. Vader was also bigger, and stronger, meaning I’d need to use his weight to my advantage. I was quick, less stable, and grounded, and more agile in my movements.

We continued to take shots at each other, as he seemingly began to test me. It was a constant switch from the right to the left, bashing at each other from different angles and walking along with it. It was something Anakin and I always did, and it almost felt familiar. For whatever reason, I could feel myself getting into the rhythm Skywalker and I got into when we would train every day. After a certain point I would always switch my grip and force him to back off, and I did it purely out of muscle memory, shoving the Sith back.

“Your anger focuses you,” he commented. “Join me and I can enhance that power.”

“You killed him, the man I loved, do you truly believe I would ever consider that?”

“He is gone for a reason,” Vader said.

“He was the chosen one!” I shouted, interlocking lightsabers in a pursuit for power over the other. "You know why he lost his life?! Because he was trying to save everyone else, instead of actually caring for himself for once."

“(Y/N)."

I stumbled back immediately, hearing that name leave his mouth,

"What?"

My eyes widened beneath the visors, letting my guard down for just a moment.

It was all he needed.

I felt his immense force break through my walls and invade my mind, clawing through my memories and thoughts like a file. Not only that, but he immediately took me to the ground. It was quick, as he now straddled me, muscular thighs resting over my lower waist. Both my arms were pinned to either side with by the force, my saber in his hand.

I grunted, struggling under him and thrusting against his cod piece hoping it would make him budge but it barely made a difference. I couldn’t do a thing, as the Sith reached for my mask and pressed down on the sides. I felt it depressurize, as his gloved digits lifted it off my head, and I looked into his mask with my own eyes.

"How do you know my name?" I asked angrily as I fought underneath him to free myself.

There was no way of telling what he truly felt in that moment, holding the helm silently, breathing being the only indication he was still alive. I continued to try and do everything to get out of his grasp, but the Sith only sat there and took me in, his body heat lingering over my own. I felt like a mess, wondering where Ahsoka and Obi-Wan might be right now, realizing why Anakin lost his life to this man. I didn’t know how he knew my name, my real name, the one that no one had called me in months. I was fully pinned down, not giving up until I saw him reach for his own helmet.

"What are you do—"

My throat ran dry, amber eyes piercing through my body like a blade.

"Anakin."

It was him, with brown hair that held golden streaks just above his armor.

"(Y/N)."

Hearing his voice sent a shiver down my entire back, as I shuddered underneath him.

“I thought you died—they said Vader killed you—" there were tears welling up in my eyes, looking up at him.

“I am alive."

“Why did you turn?"

“The Jedi council was using us, Obi-Wan lied to me about Padme (Y/N), they were having an affair. But you know that already.”

“Obi Wan told us,” I trailed off.

“I know.”

“Do you plan to kill me?”

“No, that was never my intent," he emphasized lowly.

“So, what will you do?” I questioned.

“After separating myself from the order, I reflected much upon it,” Anakin started. "And came to terms with several of my mistakes."

“What mistakes?”

Still straddling me Anakin leaned down, placing his hands by either sides of my head and lowering himself to my ear.

“I was blindly dating filthy senator, when I had the love of my life right next to me the entire time."

"What do you mean?" I emphasized each word, my abdomen tensing as he got so close to me.

"There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of my future and imagine you by my side. I told myself it was our strong bond causing me to think of you constantly, due to the amount of time we spent together, but now, I feel completely different."

"Anakin," my heart was racing, as he continued to whisper into my ear.

"Maker, I missed you so much."

He was just trying to be friendly, that's all this was.

"Now, I know you are not that naive," he let out a deep chuckle, reading my mind.

"Is this your way of coercing me into joining the dark side?" I said softly, trying to play it off.

"There is no need to coerce you (Y/N), your heart is already doing all the work," Anakin told me. "All there is to do is to make up for lost time."

"No.."

"Continuing to deny it is only stalling the inevitable," he spoke in a playful way. "Your hatred towards the one you believed to be my killer only proves it more."

"I—" I cut myself off, as Anakin moved his head, now right over mine.

"What is it?" he asked me, his golden eyes flicking from my lips up to my eyes in quick fashion.

I gave in, nodding to his silent question and feeling the force lift off my hands.

Anakin pressed his lips to mine as I lifted my head up and met him midway. His robotic hand came down to my waist, the other combing through my hair as he helped hold my head steady. It was delicate and prepared, goosebumps crawling over my skin as his weight pressed me onto the cold temple floors. He was an expert in the way he worked around my mouth, the first time I had ever kissed anyone to begin with.

To think such a sacred place would be ruined due to our own shenanigans.

A Jedi and a Sith, making out in a temple with no care for sentiment.

His lips were chapped yet soft, and the more breaths we took between kissing the more swollen they became. Anakin didn’t seem to care though, continuing to go down on my neck allowing me to breath. He wasn’t going too far, but it was enough for the occasion, leaving marks I that wouldn’t leave for days.

It was madness.

Everything around us screamed in pleasure, the force happily chiming along with the two sides agreeing on something, even if it wasn’t an argument. Anakin had changed, and I couldn’t decide if it was for better or for worse.

If only those two could see me now, making love to the man that we had been running from for months. The copious amounts of rage had turned to attraction in a blink of an eye, rejoicing in his presence as my hand pressed against his tunic and I felt his abdomen underneath the fabric. He was such light and yet the darkness itself, drowning me in it as we sunk into a pool of ecstasy.

The cold stone floors were soon heated, as the temple grew humid and we both simultaneously agreed to take our tops off. It was the definition of multitasking, as I took off his armor and tunic, leaving behind a black pair of pants, and his boots. With the force he slipped my top off, gaining access to my collar bone and gracing it with his mouth. There was a possessive feeling in the air, as he took in my body for the first time with his own eyes as I did to him.

"You are so beautiful, it is intoxicating."

I felt myself smiling, sitting up and wrapping my arms around his neck, the both of us kissing deeply. This was it, holding our breath as we enjoyed one another, but the force was warning the both of us.

The temple shook, I almost forgot it was collapsing.

"We need to escape before we become trapped inside," Anakin said. "My ship is outside."

"And you assume I'm coming?"

"I know you are."

I laughed, acknowledging his foresight. We put on our clothes hurriedly yet thoroughly, as someone trained to handle life or death would. In truth, that was what we stood for, as Jedi and Sith both came together as one, in ways that would be frowned upon.

Except we didn't care.

We weren't denying it any longer.

Back in business since the recent Ahsoka episode. Hope you all enjoyed!

[ckret2]

Tfw Wasting Away in the Goldilocks Zone is so thorough and well written that a lot of other “Bill Redemption” content kinda starts falling flat…I know not everyone has the stamina to write a 60+ chapter canon compliant magnum opus, especially if it’s art-heavy, but I can’t stop being like “nooooooo this is going way too fast his ass would not genuinely be trying to make things right yet!! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE PART WHERE YOU FIND OUT THAT HE’S SECRETLY CONTACTING HIS DEATH VALLEY CULTISTS WHILE BEING NICE TO THE PINES’ FACES—“

lmao thank you!! tbh that's exactly the reason it's going so slow: because I have to convince myself it's reasonable for him to be changing at this pace, and I've got very high standards.

And if he's gone a trillion years without making a change, I can't believe that it's because he's never, in all that time, been shown genuine kindness or compassion, or never see how he impacts the victims, or never run into somebody he genuinely cares about before... If he's capable of caring about someone in less than a month in a redemption fic then he was capable of caring about someone in less than a month before now; and if he wasn't capable of caring about someone before now, for a trillion years, then he wouldn't suddenly be capable now.

If he is capable of caring about others, then he has cared about others before now... and if he didn't change for those people, why would he change for these people?

He's got defenses built up against being pushed to change! He's heard the arguments, he's been given the reasons, he's lost things he wants to keep and destroyed things that mattered to him and he's got justifications for why he shouldn't change anyway.

You can get away with a decent amount just by going "if he's now powerless and trapped, that forces him to dwell on things he could have previously avoided with a magical snap of his fingers"... but you can't get away with everything like that. I doubt there's any way to really truly "realistically" write the entire redemption of a guy who's had the same bad beliefs/habits engrained for 1,000,000,000,000 years; but at the least you've gotta try to address the fact that none of the moral quandaries he's facing are new to him, and first and foremost he's gonna try to default back to handling them the way he's always handled them.

[anincompletelist]

2025 wips!

hi all! :D

very low pressure tag to everyone (open tag as well!) to share what you're working on in 2025! I've hit a bit of a wall and need to get organized, and even though most of my fics are impromptu 4am ramblings, I figured I'd hold myself accountable here and make it into a game of sorts for anyone who might be inclined to do the same.

I hope you've all had a lovely new year so far! x

*obligatory slightly nsfw warning*

ex-marine henry

after being dishonorably discharged from his position in the royal marines that he never truly wanted in the first place, henry finds himself adrift, hoping to start anew in the states. he meets alex, a younger, freshly divorced lawyer with whom it appears at first he has nothing in common with, but soon finds much more than he bargained for as they embark on an at times tumultuous but ultimately fulfilling fifteen-year relationship, navigating the threads of vulnerability, grief, friendship, and love.

rejected soulmates support group

the world has begun to move past the singular thinking that one is incomplete without their soulmate. henry knows that many people live long, fulfilling lives on their own or with a partner that might not have been fate's first choice for them. but at heart he's always been a hopeless romantic, and when fate decides to take his soulmate's life before they've even met one another yet on the tail end of the still-raw grief of losing his father, it feels as if the world is against him. lonely and lost, henry reluctantly seeks out support in the form of a small group that meets once a week, each member bringing their own perspective of loss to the circle. he'd thought he'd decided on staying alone for the rest of his life, but alex, a kind, curious empath with plenty of baggage of his own, might be the fresh perspective he needs to give love another try.

the simple life au

as part of their damage control tour, alex and henry are forced to take part in a reboot of the show 'The Simple Life' with a twist -- they'll spend five episodes between texas and washington and five in the uk, taking turns learning what each other's day-to-day looks like. between the press junkets and lazy rivers in the states and the ballrooms and etiquette training in london, both of them find themselves with more empathy for the other than they'd anticipated. the cameras capture not only their fast friendship but the beginning of a burgeoning, unexpected romance as well, defying their initial objective and sparking tentative optimism for a previously impossible future. they're still far from free, though, as both countries have their best interests in mind and full control over what narrative is aired to the world. it's going to take a leap of faith to make it work, but alex is more than ready to show henry how to jump.

speak easy

alex, a computer science major, has never met a number he didn't like. until he starts failing the poetry section of his mandatory english course. encouraged to seek out a tutor, his professor points him toward henry, a known writer and fellow student that always seems to evade alex's attempts to get to know him more deeply. henry leads him through his own self-proclaimed five step program to becoming a 'poet', strengthening his voice and ultimately helping him pass the course. but finding his voice means visiting parts of himself that alex had previously kept locked up tight or hadn't even known were there in the first place, and sharing his realizations with henry forms a bond between them that not even the journals-full of prose passed back and forth can scratch the surface of. that won't stop him from trying, though.

+

detroit become human inspired au

henry and pez run a safe haven for those who were once machines, deemed faulty for having developed genuine humanity and facing imminent decommission if found out. the next evaluation is in less than 24 hours, and alex's humanity is at 94%. luckily, he makes it to henry just in time.

midnight cowboy

alex, the lead singer of the widely known and highly acclaimed band midnight cowboy, is henry's biggest guilty pleasure—which is saying quite a lot. as a professional escort for the rich and elite, almost none of his pleasure is guilty these days. it feels like a fever dream when he gets the request from alex himself asking to spend a night together. he's long since being anyone's experiment, but with alex, unfortunately, henry finds he enjoys the idea of being some kind of first. (is 'only' too much to ask for?)

gynecologist henry

alex has done the college thing. the dream job thing. the casual, short term relationship thing. on paper, he has everything he ever said he wanted. it'd just be nice if he had someone to share it with sometimes. it'd be even nicer if his sister would stop trying to set him up with her gynecologist, who evidently finds himself in the same position.

+1 for the let's talk about sex! series

henry attends therapy in brooklyn once alex has moved in and things have slowed down a bit. it's predictably difficult but for the better, until they begin to cover the topic of his past relationships -- more specifically, sex. facing realizations that can no longer be shoved away, henry confides in alex and they reevaluate what intimacy might look like for them in the wake of healing from trauma.

+2 for the let's talk about sex! series

henry has to switch antidepressants and worries that his decreased libido will cause issues with his and alex's active sex life.

+3 for the let's talk about sex! series

henry arrives home early one night to find alex touching himself, which prompts a conversation about alex's past partners, misplaced shame, and self-pleasure within intimate relationships.

chauffeur alex

alex is the personal driver for henry, secret writer and infamous royal who'd abdicated and come to the states in his 20's to live freely and to marry his husband. now in his near-forties, the glamour and novelty of his story having long since worn off alongside his failing marriage, henry finds that alex is the only one he can confide in without fear -- and who is convinced that henry deserves so much more than he's getting. the last thing either of them need is to get feelings involved, but neither can say they tried as hard as they should've to have stopped them.

+

texan slang +1's

henry's been learning spanish already for the last few years in an effort to connect more with alex and his family. he did not, however, prepare for the myriad of texan-ism's that he encounters once they're back in austin, which is beginning to seem like a language all its own.

aftercare (+4 for the let's talk about sex! series)

neither alex nor henry have been in a serious relationship before and are unfamiliar with aftercare since it isn’t something they had with their previous partners. after a particularly intimate and intense round of lovemaking, they find themselves both feeling a little lost and restless, leading to a conversation about how they can best be there for each other after sex going forward. 

bottoming 101 (+5 for the let's talk about sex! series)

alex wants to bottom for the first time post-canon. henry walks him through the process—even the not-so-glamorous parts—and alex experiences a newfound appreciation for the previously unknown efforts that they go to to express their love.

dom bottom alex

self explanatory, really.

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plus probably a lot of random ideas and/or add-on's to current series!

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.

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tags (no pressure!):

@kiwiana-writes @rmd-writes @everwitch-magiks @run-for-chamo-miles @firenati0n

@zwiazdziarka @miharaikko @littlemisskittentoes @judasofsuburbia @anchoredarchangel

@suseagull5914 @porcelainmortal @nocoastposts @clockwrkpendrxgon @sophie1973

@iboatedhere @getmehighonmagic @smc-27 @cha-melodius @tintagel-or-cockleshells

@caterpills @eusuntgratie @inexplicablymine @happiness-of-the-pursuit @sparklepocalypse

@hgejfmw-hgejhsf @wordsofhoneydew @cricketnationrise @whimsymanaged @myheartalivewrites

@junebugclaremontdiaz @hypnostheory @blueeyedgrlwrites @futureseaempress @ninzied

@tinyarmedtrex @dizzymisslizzie @clottedcreamfudge @kj-bee @largepeachicedtea

@miss-minnelli @bananzie @starrypiscesao3 @fairflowered @4rthurfox

+ OPEN TAG please feel free to join in, and also if you're an artist feel free to modify it to include what art you're excited to make in 2025!

see you all soon! x

[lu-is-not-ok]

In the roadmap of this season, the new .5 shown is one seemingly related to the sweepers. Given each of the .5s/second .5s were ones that setup for their next cantos I am wondering what sort of info you wish to glean from it?

I myself am rather interested in sweeper lore generally, so more about that, and perhaps the dynamics between them will again parallel Gong Lu's family. I wonder if Dante’s autotranslate for distortions will allow them to speak with the sweepers, they do seem to be standing in front of them in that teaser image.

I am. So excited anout that intervallo.

So here's a brief list of things I'm excited for, plus maybe a few silly predictions cause why not:

Since we're dealing with Sweepers, we're likely going to be in the Backstreets of whatever District Canto 8 is gonna take place in. I'm really excited to learn more about the worldbuilding for the Backstreets. Plus you fucking know Rodya is gonna have some shit to say about the class disparity, as is often the case.

Sweepers are in this interesting place of having Family-like structures, but having them work in a similar way to Bloodfiend Families - in that one can choose to become part of a Sweeper Family rather than being forced into being born into it. Considering how Fanghunt Hong Lu is the way he is, I hope facing that idea of choosing one's own Family so directly will elicit some sort of reaction out of Hong Lu.

An introduction to a new faction. I doubt they can make Sweepers into IDs (they're not like power armor where you can have the helmets be conditional, nor are they like prosthetics where you can only have a part of the face be replaced), so if they go with Event Identities we're gonna need something else for those. I'm personally hoping for a Syndicate because I like em.

Partially related to the above, I'd love to see a plot that at least partially parallels/references the Sweepers chapter in Distortion Detective. For those who don't know, there's a short arc in DD where Moses and co end up stuck out in the Backstreets during the Night and are forced to weather the waves of Sweepers while looking for shelter. Moses is able to tell they'll be unable to survive through all three waves of Sweepers, so they try to get the people already in hiding to let them in. Eventually, someone does - a group of Thumb members, causing Moses and co to have to make a deal with them to stay overnight. I'm hoping the Intervallo will have some sort of parallel to that, where the Sinners will be forced to make a deal with someone (potentially the faction used for Event IDs hopefully) to survive the night.

In general, some sort of Hong Lu nuclear bomb is inevitable. Something with the same dramatic impact as the Don Quixote being a Bloodfiend reveal at the end of Warp Express. My bet is on a proper reveal that he's a runaway, and that his previously stated reasons for leaving home (alongside perhaps some other things he's said) were a complete lie all along.

Which, speaking of Hong Lu being a runaway. Here's my silly prediction for what setup they could use for the Intervallo's plot that I've been rotating in my head for a bit now. Imagine, if you will, Hong Lu recognising that the District the bus is heading into is his home District. Imagine the panic that would stir within him. What if, in the middle of the night, Hong Lu does what he's tried once before and attempts to run away again. He disappears from the bus, and similarly to that one mini episode where Heathcliff almost got lost to the Backdoor, Faust is immediately concerned over retrieving him. Especially if being turned to liquid by Sweepers is one of those things Dante might not be able to rewind.

[void-detective]

Impending Doom

((GIF NOT MINE!! Dividers made by cafekitsune))

Authors note: There's no fics for this man so I took it upon myself to do a service. This is my first reader x story 😭 I'm sorry if it's a little awkward!

Warnings: teasing, slightly suggestive(?, and simping

Word count: 1,229

Edited 4/23/24: Part two here!

Summary: With your soft spot for dominant heels in the industry, it only seemed inevitable that he would eventually get to you. Although nervous at first your friend helps encourage you to approach the Intercontinental champion, hopefully it goes well.

Day 639 of Gunther's Intercontinental Championship run

You always had a soft spot for heel wrestlers, whether it be Miz or someone like Pete Dunne. You always enjoyed loving the bad guys over the good guys when I came to wrestling. So you really shouldn't have been surprised when you ended up liking Gunther, right? No one matched the pure strength and dominance of the when it came to being a force to be wreckin with.

You were seated with Rollins backstage to watch a match between Jey Uso and Gunther for his Intercontinental Championship. You had a hunch on who was probably going to win even if you knew everyone adored the Main Event, Jey Uso. You leaned back in the seat watching Jey finish up his entrance and peered over at Seth who was leaned back holding his own championship close on his lap while watching.

As soon as the lights went out in the area and you heard the first few notes of Symphony No. 9, you were inching closer to the edge of your chair. You ignored the look Seth gave you as you watched Gunther walk out in front of the titantron, lifting his head at the cue of music as the Imperium graphics lit up the screen. With his hands folded behind his back and the gold secured around his waist, Gunther walked down towards the ring.

He stepped up the stairs and made his way to the apron where he wiped his feet back and forth before going under the ropes. Once in the ring, Gunther raised the championship before looking at Jey across the ring with a smirk. He walked across the ring holding the title towards his face and turned to hand it off to the referee with a bit of a scowl.

Each chop delivered across Jey’s chest sent an echo through the arena and you found yourself sitting at the edge of your seat as Gunther picked him up. With a slam into the middle of the ring, Jey was sent down from the powerbomb before the champion went in and pinned him.

The three count ended as Gunther retained and released a breath you didn't realize you were holding as you relaxed your shoulders. You heard Seth chuckle and looked over your shoulder at him as you raised a brow.

“I never seen you so tense over a match Y/N.” Rollins chuckled in amusement as he leaned forward and raised a brow at you in question. “So it's Gunther now? I guess I'm not surprised.” The architect snorted when you scowled at him and waved at you in a dismissive way.

“Have you ever spoken to the guy?” You leaned back in your seat to look more directly at Seth as you tilted your head curiously. You knew he had previously spoken to Gunther in a promo while injured but that was as much as you saw.

“Outside the ring? Nah, but I heard he's a pretty chill guy behind the scenes though. I'd still be careful though, the rest of the Imperium followed him everywhere.” The champion added with a frown as he propped his leg over the other with the hurt one on top. His face showed mostly amusement and curiosity as he watched you stand up.

“Thanks Seth, I'll be careful.” You nodded in agreement as you patted your friend's shoulder as you moved further backstage. You moved past other superstars as you glanced at the people standing around the hallway.

You kept searching till you recognized the black ring attire of the two main Imperium members, along with the large figure of Gunther. You bit your lip feeling your nerves wrecking up all the sudden as you took a deep breath and approached the stable slowly, trying to appear as friendly as possible.

Ludwig immediately took notice of you and raised a judgemental brow as he moved in front of Gunther along with Giovanni stepping to his side with a stiff looking glare. “Can we..help you lass?” Kaiser questioned with a suspicious tone as he folded his arms behind his back.

“Uh, yeah I was wondering if I could talk to Gunther?” You whispered trying to not sound intimidated considering most of them were a lot taller than you. Your brows furrowed in betrayal of your attempt to appear collected as you curled your fingers in your jacket out of habit. You felt like your heart might as well beat out your chest and you might die on the spot but you tried to retain a calm and confident look.

The pair exchanged a look as Kaiser raised an eyebrow before peering over their shoulder at the leader of Imperium. Gunther was removing the tape from his wrist and only gave you half a glance over his shoulder before simply nodding. The other two members moved aside, giving you accusing looks as you slowed inched past towards the Intercontinental champion.

You swallowed hard and stopped just a few feet from him looking up at him as you smiled folding your hands in front of yourself. Please don't let me look like a nervous wreck. You thought to yourself as the Ring General turned to look at you with an unreadable expression crossing his features.

“How can I help you Y/N?” Gunther frowned as he rubbed his face with a towel so he wasn't sweating as much as he looked back at you, not giving much of an expression like the other two had.

“Oh uh, I just wanted to say I thought you were an amazing heel and that you really deserve to be the longest reigning champ. I really admire your work and I uh..I've been watching a lot of your matches as of late.” You chuckled before feeling your cheeks heat up noticing you basically gushed and rambled to him and looked down at the floor as you fidgeted with the jacket.

God damnit.

Gunther only chuckled in an amused way as he smirked and raised a brow seemingly getting a boost in his ego and both prided being praised so openly. His arms now folded over his chest as he seemed to almost size you up only making you feel smaller.

“Really? I'm not used to getting compliments from female superstars but I appreciate the admiration.” He couldn't hide the pure amusement in his tone as he furrowed his brow leaning down slightly to your height. Maybe he could take advantage of the opportunity just to mess with you, your reactions only fueled his amusement anyway.

“But I'd be careful.” His austrian accent became more noticeable in his low, almost dangerous tone. His eyes glimmering in a condescending and mocking way as he stared you down even at this height now. “Running around getting involved with me might just get you..in trouble.” Gunther muttered and let out a small chuckle at the way your cheeks burned brighter.

Giovanni and Kaiser came into view at either side of Gunther while the General watched you like a predator about to take down prey. The other two men smirked too as they exchanged a knowing glance then looked back at the leader of the stable. The last words of the bigger male wrestler left a shiver up your spine when he spoke again in a low tone.

“I would hate to break something so fragile.”

[hayden-christensen-verse]

⋆｡˚୨ Oh Force ୧˚｡⋆

synopsis: anakin is away on a mission and (y/n) is back home on coruscant and feeling lonely and what better way to cure that loneliness than to force fuck you husband

warning: SHIT WRITING, reader is apart of a species that can has both reproductive organs that can be shifted between (kind of like the stew-john obi wan au), force phantom hands, dick, mouth. ghost cum lmao think force ghost, Anakin is ascending to another plain, consensual somnophilia, reader has a muscular body due to also being a jedi. this makes absolutely no sense lmao

here pookie @bimbo-baggins17

no ones pov

the shuffling of sheets are heard in the quiet bedroom upon the Venator-class Star Destroyer. Anakin tosses and turns before laying on his belly and letting out a huff, finally starting to drift off to sleep, his tense muscles relaxing unbeknownst to him his darling wife has other ideas

(y/n) pov

i lay on me and Anakin's bed in our home on coruscant, the longing and lust for the pretty jedi increases as i shift around on the firm bed. sighing i throw of the blanket off and run my hand down my chest, giving my boobs a nice squeeze and pinch and pull on the bud. i continue my way down my body i slide my hand under my panties and rub my clit in tight mild circles, tossing my head back in a breathy moan. i part my legs wider to slip a few fingers into my moist hole and slowly stretch myself open, after i loosen up i start thrusting my fingers faster and adding more fingers. i feel my climax approaching as i bite my lip and let out a load moan as i squirt drenching the bedsheets. i pant heavily as i calm down and i begin to think and remember something that Anakin did to me during a council meeting a few months prior. a wicked smile makes its way onto my face as i shift my cunt into a cock, one that matches Anakin in size and width, giving it a few strokes i begin my plan and Anakin is in for a surprise~

Anakin's pov

i lay on my belly in a deep sleep completely unaware of what's about to happen. i wake up still dazed to something spreading my cheeks open and something wet tracing my hole. puling off the blankets and seeing ghostly form of my wife as she holds my cheeks apart and her ghostly tongue lapping at my hole, i lets out a soft moan as i become more alert. i feel an tingling in my head then i hear her voice in my head saying this is pay back for what i did months ago. slowly she pushes her tongue into my hole, stretching me out. i grip the sheets as she eats me out, she reaches up and puts her ghostly fingers Infront of my mouth to suck, i part my lips and take her fingers in and suck and lather her fingers in my spit. she pulls her fingers out and brings them down to push into my ass and stretch me open. after a few minutes she takes the out and flips me onto my back and throws my legs over her shoulders, putting me into a mating press.

"you ready pretty boy, ready for me to breed that pretty little ass of yours~?" she whispers out, i nod and let out a garbled moan as she prods against my puckered hole before pushing in. i throw my head back loudly moaning as i grip the sheets tightly, my back arched into the air. she slides in fully and stills waiting for me to adjust to the sudden intrusion. i give a chocked out 'move' in between light cries. she starts thrusting and picking up the pace as i loosen up for her cock, pounding my ass repeatedly. the wet and sticky noises of fluids bounce of the walls along with grunts, moans and cries from the both of us. she leans down and captures my lips into as kiss as she reaches between us and grasps my cock, finding out that its rock hard and dripping pre. she pumps my cock in tandem with her thrusts, causing me to squeal in pleasure at the dual stimulation as i squirm wildly trying to escape. my climax rapidly approaches as does her seeing as she's going faster then she was previously. throwing my head back, eyes rolling into my head, mouth open as scream cumming in her ghostly hand and my abdomen, i feel her cumming in my ass as she slightly rocks her hips to prolong our orgasms. she ghostly form pulls out, smirking as she watches her ghostly blue cum dribble out of my fucked hole, she scoops it up and pushes it back in as she lowers my legs from her shoulders. she peppers ghostly kisses on my face along with praises before disappearing leaving me alone in my room. I'm thankful that the rooms are sound proof and nothing can be heard, it would be awkward to explain the sounds. i lay there lip, in a fucked out haze, my hole twitching and leaking the semi transparent blue cum onto the sheets as i think of what the hell just happened as i pass out into a deep slumber knowing im gonna be sore in the moring.

(y/n) pov

I pant as I lay on my bed, letting out a giggle with a lopsided smile on my lips, as I push my hair out of my face. I know I'm definitely getting it when he returns home for this little stunt, and I can't wait

[drazenarts]

*ੈ✩‧₊˚𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕝𝕤: ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙! ੈ✩‧₊˚

Pairing: Lensless! Invincible x Reader.

Warnings: Drinking, Spy with conflicted feelings. Smut build up flirtation. Same as last time.

Tags: Dubcon, Drinking, DrazenArtsFic (I myself an

the NSFW).

Word Count: 3,356.

Chapter Links: Prologue,

A/N: Here is chapter 1 as promised. I hope you all enjoy. Ngl I haven’t even started on the smut for next chapter so I have no idea when you can expect that, apologies. But I’m sure the inspiration will come to me eventually! 💙💛 Anyway enjoy reading and see you next time.

P.S. Divider in the middle of the text is for when our goat actually shows up.

“Tonight is the night.” You mutter to yourself as you zip up your black dress while looking out the window of your small, cramped city apartment. It had been 3 months since you’d arrived on Earth. You like to think you've managed to integrate quite nicely. Your disguise watch? It’s a fitness bit. Your family? They live on the other side of the country. You’d even managed to make some friends on Earth and a job that allowed you to rent this small apartment. Thanks to your sewing skills from helping your mom out with projects, you’d gotten hired helping a small business owner at a pricey boutique in the city center. And although you were enjoying your time on Earth despite some mishaps, you knew it wasn’t really why you were there.

No, you were here to free them from Viltrumite conquest, or at least try your best to foil whatever sick plans they had for this planet. It had been 5 years since the takeover. Most cities had given in and bent the knee in hopes of returning to some sense of normalcy. Most heroes who fought for the resistance were killed or in hiding, and their numbers would thin everyday. As far as you knew, you were able to find out about large resistant movements left in less than 10 nations, most running out of resources to fight back by now. As for where you were conducting your operations? The new US capital, Invincible City, apparently the asshole had renamed it after himself not long after he and his father took over.

As you finish the last few details of your outfit, you get ready to head out to the party. You’d managed to receive some information that he’d be there, finally the chance to study him firsthand had come. You’d been reporting back to the coalition on a weekly basis, but it was hard to provide useful reports when the target was of high status, considered the ruler of the city and the world for the most part. He liked to call himself a king if you weren’t mistaken.

You take the train, a high-speed advanced railway that had been built in the new capital since the takeover. As you do so, you feel a pit of anger, perhaps even rancor, forming in your chest. This was just a sour reminder of how Viltrum was able to build such things by stealing the life force from planets they conquered, including yours. You do your best to keep a neutral face expression on, and it doesn’t take long for you to arrive at the large building the event is being hosted at. It looks like it was previously a government building but has been turned into a nightclub at the request of the new leader. You stand amongst the large crowd and eventually get to the front of the line using the invitation the resistance had helped you acquire after you’d explained how you were their best shot at infiltration.

“Welcome, Miss Astor.” Your pseudo identity for the night. You smile and thank the man as you walk onto the main floor, where most of the public who was invited would stay at tonight. The building had a total of three floors, each having a higher clearance requirement than the last, so you’d already deducted Mark must be on the third floor. You had second floor clearance with the identity the Resistance had gotten for you, so it would be up to you to get that last clearance level. You waste no time on the first floor blending in behind what looked to be like a large group of friends and following them to the elevator to get to the second floor. As you do so, another guard scans all of your badges, confirming all of you have clearance. And although you do your best to act normal, you can’t help but gently tap your foot on the floor as you wait for the doors to open, impatient to know what you’re working with.

Upon reaching the second floor, you finally relax your shoulders a bit. Finding someone with third floor clearance should be easy, the second floor was still rather packed. You just had to lie and wait, and so you do just that. You take a seat at one of the many bar areas and casually sip on a drink, slowly, meticulously even. You see, whatever this alcohol substance was on Earth, it was different from your version back on Paradis V-4, much, much stronger. You find the slight haze makes you feel more relaxed and probably helps you blend in by slouching your posture a bit more to what is considered normal for humans. As you lounge around, guests come and go, and you make sure to glance at every badge but have no luck finding a level 3 badge.

That is until he sits near a man with a pink cyborg head who is arguing rather loudly on the phone. “Listen, I told you already! Tell him I’m on my way! Well, no I don’t have Isotope working today it’s his day off!” The man yells angrily into the phone, clearly arguing with someone. You waste no time quickly swiping the badge off of his lower coat and tucking it into your pocket. You just needed to briefly switch into him long enough to get in. And so you go to the bathroom, leaving him to continue arguing at the bar.

As you go to the bathroom, you read the name on the badge. ‘Machine Head.’ If you’re not mistaken, he was some criminal big shot until the Viltrumite takeover, now he works for Invincible, helping him manage the shadier parts of the city he’s more familiar with.

You copy his appearance with your useful watch gadget and walk out towards the elevator once more, swallowing nervously as you approach the guard, doing your best to imitate Machine Head's demeanor as you approach the guard. “Hey, dickhead.” You raise your finger, crudely pointing at him. “Hurry it up and scan me already! Don't you know I’m late already.” The guard quickly scans your badge clearly, quite nervous himself, and lets you through. Thankfully you get the elevator ride to yourself and are able to pick out one of your random human disguises not your usual, but something slightly altered for the mission.

As the doors open, the third floor seems to have a bit of a different atmosphere, it’s significantly less populated, but there are still quite a few celebrities and people of similar caliber who were brought in to lighten up the atmosphere of the place. Everyone is having fun, with some ‘heroes’ chatting business amongst themselves at some of the tables. Deciding you’d grab a drink and hit the dance floor to try and blend in, you begin making your way towards the only bar area on this floor, only this time you’re stopped by something, or rather someone.

“Hey sweetheart, haven't seen you around before. Are you a model or something, because you sure look like one.” Your shoulder is grabbed by a yellow fingerless glove you recognize all too well. And although you feel an almost painful mix of rage and disgust inside, you’ve trained for this to tolerate him putting his filthy hands on you if it came to that. “I-Invincible.” You pretend to stutter as if you are some random, meek woman who would be impressed by his presence. “Yes, I’m new to the modeling industry. My first big break is getting published next month.” You exclaim, faking a closed eyed wholesome smile, as you turn to face him. He pretends to be impressed by your accomplishment. “Oh, really? Wow, you must be so talented. And quite a lucky woman, I must say. First you finally get your first big break, and now you’re here having drinks with me.”

You open your eyes, getting ready to truly face him face-to-face, and slowly gaze up. As you do so, it feels as if time freezes. You don’t particularly feel anything as your eyes meet for the first time, at just finally taking him in, taking in his presence, for the first time. He still looked the same as his pictures, it seems. Even though he’s in charge, he’s been keeping in shape just in case anything happens. He doesn’t look much older, probably due to his ridiculously long life span. And of course he’s wearing that stupid hero suit without eye protection like a psycho. The way he’s looking at you is definitely a lot of curiosity and interest, but there’s something else there, something that makes you feel unsettled even if you can’t quite read it. His eyes in general seem to be quite the paradox warm, yet the way he stares leaves you with an eerie feeling. Even so, you play it off, keeping a small smile on your face as the two of you converse.

“Oh, really? I get to have drinks with you? Are you sure? I’d hate to keep you from the others it’s your event, after all.” You mention politely trying to get him off your back, you were here to observe him and gather intel, not interact with him so personally, dammit! He doesn’t seem to get the hint, however smiling like a bumbling idiot as he throws an arm around your shoulder. “Nonsense, what’s the point if I can’t spend my night with a pretty lady, hmm?” He winks at you confidently. You bring your hands up to laugh politely as if you find him cute, but under the cover of your hands, your fake smile fades for a second and one of the corners of your lips twitches in disgust. You didn’t understand how he could just be so carefree after everything he’s done. Was he unaware there was probably more than one person in this room besides you who would murder him if given the chance? Still, you can’t afford to concentrate on that right now. Slowly you pull your hands off of your face, your fake smile back on it as the interaction at hand continues.

“Can I get you anything to drink, beautiful?” He asks as he waves over one of his waiters. You order your favorite drink, and he gets some kind of cheap beer. A bit strange for a man of his status, but you don’t question it, his whole personality is a contradiction to the power he holds, after all. While you wait for your drinks, of course he keeps trying to eagerly make conversation prying you with questions. “So where are you from?” He asks. “Oh, you know just the other side of the country.” You say quietly, trying not to bring too much attention to it before attempting to change the topic. “It must be pretty great to get to relax like this sometimes, right? Especially for someone of your status.” You mention trying to lighten the mood. He takes the compliment in stride, leaning forward closer to you. “Yeah, it’s pretty great. I’ve really been needing a break,” he admits. As your drinks come, he begins to pull you aside towards the terrace. “Come on, let’s go somewhere we can really talk.” He says as he lets the door close behind you both.

It’s a bit cold outside with the night breeze, but his arm around your shoulders provides some warmth as you lean into him. ‘It’s just for warmth, it doesn't mean anything.’ You think to yourself. As you glance up at him, he raises his beer bottle, holding it up, wanting to make a toast with you. “To tonight!” You clink your glass with his, repeating his words in a softer tone, trying to play along. As you sip your drinks, you gaze at him with suspicion, wondering what his angle is. He seems not to notice this, that idiotic smile still pressed on his face. “So doll,” he begins. “What brings you to the city? I mean, what are your goals?” As he asks, he gazes at you with more warmth, no it must be the warmth of the yellow city lights reflecting in his eyes, you convince yourself. You make up something about how your dream is to be a fashionista or open a business of your own by learning from your friend's boutique. As you speak, he can’t help but shake his head in disappointment, clicking his tongue. “You know you’re kind of disappointing me, doll. I thought you’d be more interesting, but so far everything you’ve said is so surface level, so vanilla.” He retorts with a cocky smirk on your face.

This causes your expression and entire mood to shift. For a moment you lose your composure and forget yourself. “I’m not boring, I just don’t want to answer your lame ass questions. I don’t want to talk about myself!” You scream, ending the last part with a scoff as you attempt to regain some semblance of yourself. Shit, shit, shit, you blew it! As you stand there terrified of what might happen next, you try and at least put on a neutral face, but what transpires next is shocking.

This man starts laughing. It's a choked snort at first before he’s full on laughing, the kind that makes it so you have to bend over and hold your stomach from how hard you’re laughing. As he does this, he points at you with his other hand, only half holding his beer, the bottle threatening to slip from his grip, he stomps his foot on the floor maniacally, uncontrolled, as if he can’t stop it. He continues pointing at you even as the laughter subsides, an amused grin remaining on his face. “There she is! That’s the side of my beautiful doll I wanted to see. The rage, the frustration you hold back because you’re just supposed to be pretty and smile.” You can’t help but give him a baffled stare as he says this. You’re not sure if it’s the combination of alcohol and nerves or the whole situation, but you end up blurting out what you’re thinking. “The fuck is wrong with you!”

Mark gives you a low toned cool chuckle before standing straight and taking a step towards you, attempting to close the distance once more. He grabs your chin, making you gaze up at him as you give him a slightly defiant look, your brow furrowing. “Well sweetheart, I’m afraid it’s going to take at least a few dates and a lot more alcohol to open up about what’s wrong with me. But I’m glad we’re getting somewhere tonight and that you’re not just a beautiful face.” Something about the way he says that last part sends shivers down your spine, a small blush appearing on your face. He chuckles, noticing your blush. “Getting shy on me now? I didn’t peg you for the shy type normally girls like you are bubbly.” He admits while trying to somewhat compliment you.

You soon move his hand off your chin and cough gently. “Worse, in the dry and sarcastic type.” Now it’s you who smirks at him, feeling a little more confident in your conversation. “Oh really?” Mark seems amused as he questions you. He then raises his hands at the side of his head, waving them frantically as he kneels down slightly to your height. “Oo, so serious and scary.” Mark mocks, clearly not scared. You can’t help but wonder if he’s on something from the way he twitches when his movements become shakier, his eyes bulging and red. Before you can question him, however he goes to stand behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist firmly, causing you to tense up.

“Sounds like you need to lighten up.” He says it as if he’s taking this as a challenge. He begins to lift you up in the air, causing you to wave your arms in the air frantically trying to escape his grasp. “Mark? Mark!” You scream, panicking, forgetting the formalities of using his hero name at that point! “Stop struggling, I don't want to accidentally drop you, or don’t it’s your funeral, babe.” He says as he continues to lift you before taking off at full speed with you in his arms. At first, diving down just a bit giving you a view of the skyscraper windows being lit up at night. You remain more still but stiff in his arms as he flies through the city. Within a few minutes he makes it out to the lake, and you can’t help but roll your eyes at the cliché, a small smug smirk on your face. ‘He really thinks this will work on me?’ “Hey, don’t look at me like that. Watch.” Mark says, noticing the smug look on your face. He brings you close to the water, and you can see both of your reflections in it. Amused by the image just for a moment, you reach out your hand and touch it. As you do, Mark begins to lift you up and takes you back into the city. He’s flying a bit slower than the initial takeoff now, causing you to finally relax in his arms.

There were many things your people could do, including altering your body composition slightly to squeeze into tight spaces like jelly, but flying was not one of them. A small smile forms on your face as you wave your hand through the air, feeling the wind course through it. “Nice, right?” Mark comments as he begins to close in on the large building you took off from, all you can do is nod for a second. “Yeah, I suppose it’s nicer than I thought. Can’t say I’ve ever been flying.” Mark laughs as he goes to set you down carefully, your heels landing with a click. “How’d you like it?” He asks as he turns you to face him, still holding you close. The wind flying in his hair gave him a dark but romantic look. You pause, not liking that he can not only look human for a moment, but good even. But you quickly remember your position and answer him. “It was neat.”

Mark laughs a bit. “Neat? Just neat. You know how many people beg me to take them flying? I have a waiting list.” He shakes his head with a slight smile on his face as if not believing it. “You know I like you, _____. You’re a tough nut to crack.” You play along, smiling. “I like you too, Mark.” He then gets a bit more serious for the first time, leaning in and kissing you. As his lips press with your own, your eyes widen. At first you consider kicking him off, but you play along for now, kissing him back softly. You feel tingles through your body as you kiss, enjoying it and forgetting about your worries just for a second as you soften up in his arms. After a moment he pulls away, brushing your lips with his thumb and gently speaking in a lower, more considerate tone now. “Will you come home with me?”

You consider the implications of his words as they echo through your ears. Sleeping with him could be beneficial, it would allow you to gain access to information no one else in his life is privy to. Yet there’s something else, something outside of your objective prying at you, telling you to run because it’ll only grow if you keep interacting with him, and yet you push the sentiment down, telling yourself you’re being ridiculous you know yourself. You never could fall in love back home whenever you went on dates, so why would you fall in love with this monster of all beings in the universe? It was fine there was nothing to worry about. And so with that in mind, you gently nod and mutter back a soft yes, letting him fly off with you in his arms, once more this time to wherever he considered home.



[friendlyrandomperson]

Nice to meet you again.

Part twenty six!! This is longer than a bit of the chapters so far! :)

New things give Eddie quite a fright at first, and it takes a few minutes for him to warm up to it.

Oh, but this? This is something new, and he does not like the fact he is warming up because of it. His face, his heart, everything.

“I’m burnin’ up an’ I know I ain’t sick!” He says, mindlessly stirring his tea in repetitive counterclockwise motions. Poppy softly laughs, covering her mouth with her wing and giving Eddie a knowing look. Eddie stops stirring, placing his spoon down and sipping on his tea.

“Dearie, who makes you feel this way?”

Eddie raises his eyebrow and sets down his cup.

“Frank, why?” Poppy snickers, shaking her head softly.

“I think you may have feelings for him, Eddie Dear. No pun intended.”

She smiles that gentle, sweet smile everyone in the neighborhood knows. That smile like a mother, loving and kind. Like raindrops on the windows, a warm embrace of a blanket in Winter when one craves the warmth the outside lacks, a laugh that feels heartfilled and not forced.

“Well o’ course I do! He makes me feel happy.” Poppy sighs softly, not in a tired way, no, in a calm way. “Oh, dearie not that kind of feeling. More of a…” she lifts her wing and shakes it, ruffling the feathers. “Fluttering?”

Eddie’s eyes widen just a little bit in understanding.

“Oh!”

“Oh.”

Eddie looks at his cup as his cheeks warm up, in that familiar way they have been, in the way they do when Frank smiles, when he sees that lightness in his expression, the way his eyes crinkle at their edges and the way his laugh carries so beautifully, like a melody. With a flustered, sheepish smile, Eddie glances back at Poppy.

“I.. s’pose that’s ‘bout right.”

💌🦋

New things, whether physical or emotional, never phased Frank before. He has always been able to navigate through the unfamiliar with logic, with reasoning.

This feeling, however, this pounding in his heart, this pooling heat in his cheeks and this warmth in his chest, is far more unsettling than anything Frank has experienced or dealt with before. It scares him, all reasoning failing to explain.

What is it, why is it here, why is it only around Eddie?

Julie has not been any help, she has simply been giggly and simply saying “Oh Frank, you really have no clue”, turning the subject away and leaving Frank more confused than before he asked her for help. Not only that, but she has been finding ways to keep the two men together, whether that is partnering them in a game or having Eddie take her role momentarily to, quote, “Show me how it’s done”.

Frank shakes his head as he closes his book, looking up and seeing the Sun is long gone, the moon giving a soft glow to the neighborhood.

“Oh, again?”

He sighs, standing up and walking inside.

⏳⌛️

"Mailman— Mr. Dear, could you stand a tad closer to Franklin please? I need you on the right, not in the middle."

Sally, with one arm still crossed, points at Eddie and wiggles her finger side to side. Eddie nods, stepping to the side and folding his hands neatly in front of himself.

"Juliet could you step forwards towards Franklin, darling?"

Julie skips over, a little farther away than Eddie but much closer to Frank than before. She folds her hands behind her back and rocks on her feet, back and forth, toes to heel to toes to heel.

"Hmmm... Mister Dear could you switch with Juliet for me?"

"I-I'm sorry, what?"

"Switch with Juliet, now."

"Okie dokie then."

Eddie looks at Julie, who looks as confused as he feels. They both shrug and switch places on the stage, both standing the way they had been previously.

"No, no, no, switch roles, Mr. Dear, do not make me repeat myself again! Juliet, give him your script."

Knowing exactly what Sally is doing, Julie hands her script to a confused, slightly nervous Eddie.

“Okay, let’s try this again. Mister Dear, if you will be so kind, start us from the start of Julie’s dialogue.”

“Wait a min’, she ain’t done nothin’ wrong, why are we switchin’?” Eddie squints at the script as if the ink will tell the truth the neighbors remain silent about.

“Oh, simply a change of pace.”

Suddenly, a loud crack of thunder rings through the auditorium, accompanied by a startled squawk from Poppy, a yelp from Eddie, and a “Woah!” From Howdy.

“Oh no, no, no!! Everyone, out, out, go home!!”

The frantic star ushers everyone out, keeping her girlfriend behind because she “cannot have a star so radiant be dulled by a storm”. Frank covers his head with his arms and is about to sprint before a darkness surrounds him and the rain stops above his head, raging around his body yet never reaching him. He glances up and sees a deep navy blue covering, two large arms around it.

“What in the— Eddie?!”

“C’mon, the Post Office is closer! Everyone’s already gone home!!”

Usually, Frank would argue that he could go alone. He is fully capable of doing so, he has even gardened in the rain because of the convenience of skipping the step of watering his plants.

Right now, all he wants is Eddie to be out of the rain, warm, safe, and dry. Frank just nods, letting Eddie guide him through the pouring rain, their feet splashing onto the ground and the wind roaring around them.

Eddie pulls open the door, welcoming both men into the pleasant, warm atmosphere of the Post Office. By this point, Eddie’s jacket has soaked through and did not provide any cover for Frank, so both men appear as if they had gone swimming.

“Heh, c’mere, I’m sure I’ve got somethin’ that you can change into.”

“Eddie, it’s really not that big of a—“

“Oh, please, you’ve got more water on ya than a fish! The least I can do fer ya is give you somethin’ dry ta have on.”

Eddie wanders off to the back room, Frank following close behind. The door opens with a slight creak, a click of the light switch revealing… darkness.

“My ‘pologies, lemme turn on those whatchamacallits.”

Eddie walks into the room unbothered, connecting two ends of fairy lights and bathing the room in a candle-like golden glow.

The room itself is moderately sized, enough to live in but not comfortable by any means. Eddie’s desk is a deep purple, a stack of construction paper stacked in the top left corner by the entrance. Little paper cranes, flowers, and butterflies are on the surface, specks of color like stars against a deep night sky.

Opening a few drawers, Eddie’s eyebrows furrow, and he puckers his lips slightly. His hair drips onto his broad shoulders, frames his face perfectly. His cheeks are tinted red, rosier than usual if you pay attention.

“That’s cute. What- no stop that. But he is really cute when he’s focused… no!”

Frank shakes his head, cheeks burning against the cold of his skin, clothes, and hair. He turns to the little origami projects and rests his hand on the desk next to a paper crane.

“Eddie, did you make these by yourself?”

“Hm?”

Eddie turns his attention towards Frank, noticing the origami he left out and blushing even more.

“Oh, that’s uh- heh that’s just somethin’ ta pass the time, ain’t half as interestin’ as yer butterflies.”

Eddie waves his hand, turning back to his drawers and sifting through some clothes.

“None o’ these are gonna fit ‘im.” Eddie sighs, pulling out a pajama set, long sleeved and collared top with a pair of pants, both white with blue vertical stripes, handing it to Frank.

“My ‘pologies in advance, these are gonna be pretty big on ya.”

Frank takes the set, the men’s fingers brushing together and setting their faces aflame.

“Thank you Eddie, I will be perfect- cough perfectly fine, thank you.”

“Oh no, you ain’t catchin’ a cold are ya?”

“No, no I’m fine. Where is your restroom?”

“Phew, alrighty then. Right over there, ‘s the door that don’t got a sign.”

“Thank you.”

Frank gives a polite smile before walking into the bathroom, closing the door and turning the lock with a gentle click. Glancing at the pile of clothes, his cheeks burn.

“Our hands just touched. That’s all. He was giving me clothes.”

Not just clothes, butterflies as well.

Frank chooses to ignore the flutter of his heart as he takes off his uncomfortable clothing, not soaking wet anymore, just slightly air dried.

Slipping on the warm, dry clothes, the soft smell of Eddie’s cologne wraps around Frank’s figure, a hug without a body to hold.

He smiles at the familiar scent, walking out of the bathroom and making his way back to Eddie’s room. He walks back in to see Eddie in a pair of matching pajamas, only his is short sleeved with shorts.

“Heh, sorry ‘bout that. I wish I had somethin’ more suited for ya.”

Frank chuckles slightly, shaking his head. “Don’t apologize, thank you for the clothes.”

The fairy lights click off, a loud crash of thunder following closely. Eddie goes to the lights and tries to click them together, exhaling through his nose when the lights would not turn on. Listening closely, he notices the lack of the hum from the heater and the florescent lights in the main part of the Post Office.

“Well, ain’t that lucky. We got no power.” Eddie turns to Frank, a shy smile on his face. Frank smiles back, glancing at the origami pieces on the desk as his eyes adjust to the sudden light change. He nervously picks up a butterfly, hands holding it like a real insect, tender and sweet, careful not to mess anything up.

“I could teach ya, if you’d like me to.” Eddie’s voice is low, hesitant, a slight quiver. “How? The power’s out.” Frank holds the butterfly to his chest, examining the delicate folds of the paper, a beautiful craft. Eddie walks over, shyly placing his hands out to take the butterfly. Frank carefully places the butterfly in Eddie’s hands, watching as he sets it down and gives Frank a piece of paper instead.

Eddie takes Frank’s hands in his own, gently moving the other man’s hands and fingers to fold the paper correctly, slow and smooth movements.

The rain and wind dance with a haunting melody of disarray, the clouds thick and allowing no light to shine through.

Usually, Frank would ignore the howling winds with a lamp, or if the lights went out, a nice candle, and a book to read. Thunderstorms never bother him unless he is overstimulated or about to be.

Eddie, on the other hand, usually hides during thunderstorms, curling up in his blanket with a flashlight and a nice, happy book to ignore the rain with. He tends to doze off sometimes, waking up tangled in a blanket, his flashlight on the floor with the beam pointing at a random spot in the room, and his book either on the floor or somewhere on the bed with no reasonable explanation for how.

Spending this time with each other, both sitting on chairs now, knees and hands together, feels right. A steady, pleasant rhythm both could get lost in for ages. The warm, firm guidance of Eddie’s hands against Frank’s, gentle verbal corrections and praises in between.

“And then, you fold it right here.”

With one last fold, the butterfly spread out, a small yellow paper butterfly.

“You did it, Frank!!”

“No, technically you did.”

“I helped you, that ain’t the same.”

Frank shakes his head with a soft chuckle, cradling the paper in his hands, the ghost of Eddie’s touch still around him.

“Thank you, Eddie.”

The room falls into a comfortable silence, the raindrops pattering on the glass of the Post Office entrance. Eddie stands up, walking over to the window and using what little light there is to check his watch.

“Goodness, look at the time!”

Eddie looks out of the window, glancing at the sign on the door. He sighs softly, flipping the sign around to say “Sorry! We’re closed ‘till (5:30 am)!” Instead of “Come on in!”.

“Well, Mister Frankly, looks like you’re stayin’ with me tonight.”

[taylormarieee]

Unspoken Feelings...

part 5.

social media au: Charlie Bushnell x Fem!Actress!Reader

Previously on Unspoken Feelings...

Your sitting there contemplating on whether or not you should really answer Charlie or not. You finally turn back on your phone and see a whole bunch of worried and missed calls from Walker, Dior, Leah, and Charlie... Oh god what have you done... Just as you were about to call them back you hear a knock on the door... Who could that be?

Now...

You get up and open the door seeing a worried Dior standing at the door.

"Oh thank god your ok!" she yells ut hugging you. You stumble back from the force of her hug a little bit and hug her back.

"I'm sorry. I just, I don't know how to tell Charlie." You say breaking down into tears again.

"Shhh... It's ok girl. He's on his way here. You have to just push through for now. You've got an interview coming up in a few hours so get some sleep and we'll figure it out later ok?" She says trying to reassure you in the best way possible. "I'll stay with you tonight, I love you!" She says lastly before guiding you to your bed.

"Ugh I love you too. What would I do without you?" You say smiling weakly. Your eyes flutter shut and you let sleep overtake you.

The next morning has arrived and you wake up. You don't see Dior next to you anymore so you assumed she went back home to tell her dad that she's ok.

You get up and brush your teeth and do your whole face routine before going back to your nightstand to pick up your phone.

You still see all the texts from Walker and Leah, and Charlie... You decide to call Charlie first. You press his name and listen to the phone ring.

When you feel like he's not going to answer you decide to hang up the phone but your thumb is stopped by the sound of his voice on the phone.

"Y/N!? Are you ok??? P-Please tell me your ok." The phone breaks up a bit but you hear his worried tone.

"Morning Charlie. I'm ok, I turned off my phone. I'm sorry for making you all worried especially you." You say feeling the tears come up in your eyes again.

You sniffle and try to get the words out but Charlie is quick to say something first.

"Pretty girl? Why are you crying?" He asks his heart feeling hurt as he hears your sniffles on the other line.

"I-I just, I don't know how to deal with all these feelings I have. The feelings I have f-for you..." You mutter out.

"You have feelings for me too? Cuz I also have feelings for you. I was scared to tell you because idk, you were giving me mixed feelings i guess. One minute were flirting and he next I feel like I'm in the friend zone again. You know what I mean?" He says as he paces around his hotel room.

"Yea, I know what you mean. The only reason I did that was because I always overthink things. I never knew if some days you were just flirting with me or just being nice. I never knew which one was happening so some days I would flirt and other days I'd shut myself out. I'm sorry Charlie."

"It's ok pretty girl. I love you yn. With all m heart. Your my future and probably the love of my life." He says chuckling into the phone.

That causes you to giggle and you feel all flustered. "I guess I'll see you at the Interview?"

"Yea, I'll see you there."

"Bye Charlie."

"Bye baby."

Your mood suddenly lifts at his voice. At the way he called you baby, pretty girl and the way he comforted you. God what did you do to deserve a man like Charlie.

You decide to text the groups chat and let everyone know your ok. Finally you check the time and start to get ready. You ordered some breakfast and indulged while you watched some TikTok.

| Y/N |

♡💬 Liked by aryansimhadri, leahsavajeffries, dior.n.goodjohn and others.

y/n- Me and Charlie on our way to an interview!!!

roseyposey- eeeeeee can't wait to watch it!

loveydoveydove- Oooooooo so excited! Glad everything's ok!

leahsavajeffries- You look gorgeous!

↪y/n- Thank you pooks.

walker.scobell- Hey gremlin:)

↪y/n- Hey waterboy;)

iamcharliebushnell- Stream the 7th episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians now!!!

IlovePJO1- I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE FINALE!

↪y/n- YESSS! ME TOO! I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU GUYS TO SEE IT!

| Y/N |

♡💬 Liked by walker.scobell, leahsavajeffries, aryansimhadri, and others.

y/n- No, I didn't forget Walker! This post goes out to my favourite little boy! WALKER SCOBELL! I love this little kid sooo much! He's so funny, incredibly kind and very mischievous! I loved being on set with him it was honestly just an amazing time with everyone! I love you so much Walker! Your so talented and the closet boy I call a brother. Love you Walker💕 My little son of poseidon🪸

walker.scobell- I LOVE THIS! THANK YOU! I love you too! And for you information I AM NOT MISCHIEVOUS! You little gremlin!

↪y/n- Ok waterboy! Keep telling yourself that!

dior.n.goodjohn- Little bro! This is so cute! Love you @ walker.scobell

↪walker.scobell- Love you too Dior!

leahsavajeffries- LUV YOU @ walker.scobell

↪walker.scobell- LUV YOU TOO WISE GIRL!

iamcharliebushnell- I WITERALLY WUV YOU @ walker.scobell

↪walker.scobell- and I WITERALLY WUV YOU MORE CHARLIE

aryansimhadri- YOU MY ROMAN EMPIRE WALKER!

↪walker.scobell- WUV YOU!

| iamcharliebushnell |

♡💬 Liked by y/n, walker.scobell, dior.n.goodjohn, roseyposey, and others.

iamcharliebushnell- It's official! Me and @ y/n are together. I love her so much and these are some of my favourite memories with her this week. I love you so much my love, and don't worry, we can do this.💕

y/n- I love you so much Charlie. I'm going to miss you so much when you leave. I'll be calling you everyday and thinking about you non-stop. I love how kind and caring you are bubba. I love you my little hermes boy! My mischievous thief:) Mwah!💋

↪leahsavajeffries- AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

↪walker.scobell- There literally so cute OMGGGGG!

↪dior.n.goodjohn- LITERALLY MY ROMAN EMPIRE!

roseyposey- THEY LEGIT TOLD ME HOW SINGLE I AM IN 30 LANGUAGES!

Loveydoveydove- AHHHHHHHHHH! THERE FINALLY TOGETHERRR!

↪roseyposey- THERE SO CUTE RIGHTTTTT???!!!!!

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A/N: Heyyyyy! I'm extremely sick but I thought I'd pop out with this! Idk when I'll be able to get around to the fic because I'm almost finished writing it but I just lost motivation to finish it. I believe it's because I'm so sick but idk! Hope you all enjoy!

~COMMENTS AND REBLOGS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED~

[gushhyyy]

Lights off

Previously Next

The usual warnings this one is kinda short at least for me I want this to be 6k words but I wanted to get this out since I haven’t posted in a long while

Aaron finally gets the moment he had longed for over a year and a half

3.04k words

-

Aaron pov

I wasn’t sure what I expected when I walked onto set that morning.

Maybe I thought this day would feel like any other—a new project, a fresh script, another role to throw myself into. I had trained my mind to see work as an escape. If I buried myself in enough lines, enough action sequences, enough on-screen chemistry with someone who wasn’t her, then maybe I could silence the thoughts that had haunted me for the past year.

But then I saw her.

Maryn.

She stood in the center of the room, poised in a way that only she could be—effortless, regal, and still herself, stunning. She had always moved like that, how she didn’t like the attention all that much and tried to fade into the background but she couldn’t. She was something to behold. I could see this wasn’t The Maryn Queen, she had seemingly abandoned that persona.

The moment my eyes landed on her, I forgot how to breathe.

I had convinced myself I was ready for this. That I could handle being in the same space as her again. But nothing could have prepared me for this—her. She looked different. Her hair was shorter, darker, the softness I once ran my fingers through now sharpened into something sleeker. But her eyes were the same. Hazel with flecks of gold, striking and intelligent, scanning her surroundings like she was already a step ahead of everything.

She turned, introducing herself to everyone in the room, greeting them with a small nod, a warm smile here and there, her voice like honey poured over glass. She took her time, made sure to repeat their names, to let them feel seen. That was Maryn—thoughtful, present, always making space for others.

I could smell her, the heavenly vanilla she was coated in. I could smell her before she even spoke. Vanilla, warm and sweet, the same scent that had clung to my sheets for weeks after she left. The same scent that used to calm me, pull me in, make me forget the world outside of her.

“Hi Aaron I’m Maryn I’ll be April.” She said holding out her hand those beautiful eyes locked into mine. She was acting as if we hadn’t made so many memories together. Her voice was so steady, so smooth, like we were nothing more than polite strangers meeting for the first time. I stared at her hand, the one I used to hold, the one that once fit so perfectly in mine. Then I took it, carefully, like it was something fragile, something that could break at the slightest wrong move.

“Hi, darling,” I murmured, my voice lower than I intended, quieter, rougher. “I’m excited.” And then, because I couldn’t help myself, I pulled her into a hug.

It was instinct, muscle memory, something I didn’t even think about until it was happening—until I had her in my arms again, just for a second, just for a breath.

Her gaze smoothed over, her expression shifting into something polite but distant. Unfamiliar in a way that gutted me. She had every right but it still hurt. With our rhythm we’d probably would’ve been engaged by now. If I had chosen her. She smelled the same.

Felt the same.

I wanted to hold her there, to freeze the moment, to pretend she wasn’t pulling away before I was ready. She met my eyes fully, and I swore I felt the ground shift beneath me as we began our table read.

I watched her from a distance, trying to collect myself, trying to force my heart back into a rhythm that made sense. She hadn’t seen me yet, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Part of me wanted her to see me, to acknowledge me, to tell me that I was an idiot for what I’d done. And the other part of me—well, the other part was terrified that she wouldn’t.

I knew what I was doing was cruel, but in that moment, it felt like my career had a grip on me—one that I couldn’t escape. I had to make the choice, right? The choice that would keep me relevant. The one that would protect my future in Hollywood.

But now? Now, it felt like the worst thing I had ever done. Leaving her when she needed me most.

Finally, she turned. Her eyes met mine, and for the briefest of seconds, as she delivered her lines.

“Why did you do that? I almost had him! We were so close to solving this.” April said

“I had to! He was going to hurt you! I couldn’t just stand by when the-“ Hal was cut off his suit sopping with water rolling off of the smooth leather, a reminder of what had almost been lost.

April was too close to the truth, and it nearly got her killed. A journalist chasing a murder case, kidnapped, tossed into a harbor, pulled out only because Hal had realized too late how much he needed her. And now they stood here, in his apartment, heated words flying between them, warmth creeping into something that neither of them could ignore.

I watched her lips move as she spoke, her expression alive with the weight of the scene, her passion making it impossible to look anywhere else.

She was stunning.

She had always been stunning.

She was fire and ice, warmth and steel, everything I had loved and everything I had lost. And when I spoke my next line, I wasn’t Hal anymore.

“I have you! I need you! You are more important than any lead, case, or story.”

Hal said stepping through the kitchen leaving the pot still warm and filled with Aprils favorite soup. Stalking his way to her grabbing her hands as her normally intimidating eyes now double their size and filled with possibilities.

“I love you, I am in love with you, I can’t live without you.” Hal said looking down on her with all the love in the world. The words came out too raw, too real, and for a split second, she faltered. Just for a moment.

Then she was back, the script pulling her away from me again.

[they share a passionate kiss]

“Beautiful, I absolute love it so I want everyone to know schedules will go out five pm today and we are on track to have a show stopping movie.” The director Al said a simply put rich, wacky, British man.

I didn’t want to fall back into reality.

Not yet.

Not when she had looked at me like that, her gaze sharp and unreadable, but her presence still as intoxicating as ever. I could still feel the weight of the moment pressing against my ribs, the echo of my own words hanging between us like an unfinished sentence.

She wasn’t thinking of me. I knew that.

She was thinking about the character, about the scene, about the perfect delivery of every line that had come out of our mouths. But I wasn’t just reading lines. I wasn’t just acting.

I meant them.

Every word.

I had you. I needed you. You were more important than anything else.

It was the truth I had buried for too long, the truth I had forced myself to forget when I convinced myself I was making the right choice. And now, after all this time, I had finally said it out loud—to her, to the universe, to the space between us that felt impossibly wide.

But she wasn’t listening.

Or maybe, she had already stopped hearing me a long time ago.

"That’s it for today. By the way, I love the chemistry between you two," Al said, his voice slicing through the fog in my brain, bringing me back to the present like a slap to the face.

I barely registered his words as he gathered his things, his assistant trailing behind him with the usual hurried efficiency, the rest of the crew filtering out behind them. People were talking, laughing, moving.

I wasn’t.

Maryn was still here.

She hadn’t left yet.

I watched her move, my eyes tracing every familiar motion—how she tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, how she adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, how her fingers glided over the edge of her script as she collected her things.

Every movement was deliberate, effortless, like a slow, practiced rhythm only she knew.

She wasn’t rushing.

She wasn’t hesitating either.

I told myself she was waiting for me.

That was the lie I clung to as I stood there, frozen, stuck somewhere between wanting to say her name and being too afraid of what would happen if I did.

Then she turned.

For a split second, I thought maybe—maybe—she was going to look at me. Maybe she was going to say something, anything.

But she didn’t.

She just moved, her footsteps light against the polished floor, her exit as smooth as her entrance had been.

Too busy taking in her face, too caught up in the pull of something I could no longer reach, I blinked—

And she was gone.

My chest tightened. I spun on my heel, eyes darting to the door just as it clicked shut behind her.

No.

I took a step forward, then another, my pulse hammering like I had just finished a chase scene.

She was leaving.

She was leaving and I was standing here like an idiot, watching her disappear like I hadn’t already lost her once before.

Panic clawed its way up my throat, my instincts screaming at me to move, to go after her, to do *something*.

I shoved the script under my arm and hurried out, my feet moving before my mind could stop them.

Left or right?

I scanned the hallway, heart racing, eyes flicking from one end of the corridor to the other.

Nothing.

No sign of her. No trace.

Like she had never been there at all.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. The ghost of her scent still lingered in the air—vanilla, soft and warm, just enough to drive me insane.

She was slipping away from me all over again.

And this time, I didn’t know if I had the chance to stop it. But I’ll be damned if I didn’t try. Searching though the halls using the scent of her perfume to find her going to door after door, before I found her in the parking lot seemingly looking for her trailer judging by her scrunched face and her looking back and forth from some papers and the trailer lot.

“Maryn can we talk? Please!” I begged seeing her pause then slowly turn around like a caught child.

“Sure”

-

Maryns pov

I knew we would be having a conversation sooner or later but I didn’t expect it to be so soon. Those first few months without him felt like torture, I wanted to reach out and ask for a why but I knew the why. I’ve always known why. It didn’t stop it from hurting more, falling from the sky where I had been floating to feel the thundering deflated place where hope that we’d be together had once been.

“Hi, Aaron what’s up?” I said looking at his tall figure. My eyes tearing themselves away from devouring his every spec, he looked better.

“Are you seriously not going to talk? Act like we don’t know each other?” His accent I replayed in my head saying simple things, and having full lives. It wasn’t as thick but he still sounded like himself.

“What’s to talk about?” Truly, where we stood was made crystal clear.

“I miss you!” He rushed. It seemed like he wanted to take it back the second it left his lips. Like the words had rammed against his inner mouth until they finally spilled.

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to rush back into his arms. The ones I knew I should’ve never left.

“Why are we doing this Aaron?”

“Doing what?”

“This! Nothing has changed over the last year. You’re still one of the biggest actors in the world right now.”

“And?”

“And what you left me because you needed to focus on your career, right? So why would we get back together or whatever that was.”

“I just thought- you-u, you didn’t miss me?” of course I missed him but i had finally gotten better and that was more important to me.

“Yes I missed you but things are different it was nice seeing you but I have to go.” I tried to ignore the pull I felt to stay, to reach out and grab his hand in mine, to attach myself to him like I want to live in his skin.

“Is it because- it’s not because of that I mean it I forgive you but I have to go.” I interrupted and went to leave and this time I was successful.

Hearing my heels meet the gravel as I weaved out of the trailers. My heart wasn’t heavy I felt a little lighter and most importantly I was proud that I held up.

“So Maryn what time is he coming sweep you up and off your feet?” My friend and costume designer Asia.

I meet Asia on my trip she was the one to introduced me to the director who was looking around for someone to play April.

“He isn’t but we talked and I forgave him but I don’t want to jump back into whatever we had.” I explained knowing she’d be dramtic and she comically dropped the hangers in her hand and her jaw.

“Now why would you do that?” She asked as she sat beside me on the couch.

“I want to be by myself for some time I’ve always been with someone or having somebody so centered in my life. I want to have fun and explore myself more.” I told her.

I’m coming first from now on

-

What do we thinkkkk? Sorry again for the wait.

We got Aaron’s POV,

Maryns explanation for not wanting to get together?

Comments are always welcome and wanted so is feedback love yalll💕

🏷️ @cherrybeedotcom