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feyhunter78 · 20 days ago

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Chapter Twenty - Jon finally is allowed to taste the forbidden fruit.

NSFW content below the cut CH 21

Jon’s feet hurt, he has been given far too many toasts and wishes for a son by men he has never before met. And though he tried desperately to avoid drinking, Robb was still able to force two or three glasses of wine down his throat. He wished to be clear-headed when he took you to the marriage bed, wished for nothing to rob him of his memories or his senses.

When you grab his arm, a controlled look of apprehension and annoyance on your face, he bristles, all the wine and revelry draining from him. Who has upset you? Who has dared to wipe the smile from his bride’s face? Then Tyrion appears, looking as insistent as you, and Jon simply pauses, waiting for you and your father to silently decide who should speak first.

He should not have paused; he was a fool to pause. The call for the bedding ceremony rings out, and you are pulled from him, from Tyrion, swallowed up by a crowd of hungry noblemen. He has no sword, why would he, it is his wedding day, but he is still Ser Jon Dayne, still your sworn protector, he should not have let his guard down.

“Fucking savages. Jon, get y/n out of here.” Tyrion yells over the noise of the crowd, scrambling out of the way as Jon pushes away from the noblewomen who have flocked to him, eager to tear the clothing from his body. His tunic rips as he wrenches himself free, his sleeves being torn from his shoulders, and he lets the fabric flutter to the ground, his arms and half his abdomen exposed to the cheering onlookers.

It is chaos, and he remembers how Lady Catelyn used to fawn over his uncle’s words even a decade later. His proclamation that there would be no bedding, for he did not think it right to break a man’s jaw on his wedding day. But Jon has no such qualms, and you are not Lady Catelyn. He shoves men aside, elbows, trips, punches, throws them away from you, his knuckles bloody when he breaks through the circle of lechers and grabs you. You, who fights like a lioness, your claws bloodied as well.

You startle, ready to claw his eyes out, then recognize and cling to him, yelping when he throws you over his shoulder and continues on. The two of you leaving the noblemen to fight amongst themselves, unsure of who hit who, blaming old rivals and new enemies.

Jon has done this twice before, glad of his strength that allows him to swiftly take you away from danger. Though he laments the fact that his blood will stain your gown and skin, his busted knuckles dripping red onto the marble floors. He makes it to the nearest opening, a balcony overlooking Lannisport, and sets you down gently, in the corner, the climbing ivy shielding you and him from the doors. It is quiet now, the roar of the crowd muffled, the bright candlelight dimmed, the wind cool as it tumbles down the Rock and onto the city below. “Are you hurt?”

You look down at your gown, pure white painstakingly embroidered by Sansa and Myrcella with threads of gold and precious gems. It is torn, dirtied, stained with drops of his blood and the blood of others, and your hair has fallen from its intricate updo, gathering about your shoulders. “No, but my gown is ruined.” You say in a small voice, clutching your skirts tearfully.

Jon gathers you in his arms, resting his forehead against yours. “You still look beautiful. The most beautiful bride in the Seven Kingdoms.”

You release a shaky breath and smooth your hands down his arms, leaving small streaks of red. You must have gotten a few good scratches in as you defended yourself. “My father invited the fucking dragon queen to our wedding.”

His mind stalls, akin to a wheelhouse stuck in mud, then it lurches forward free of the muck. “Has he gone mad?”

You shrug, still dragging your hands up and down his arms, a soothing gesture he believes is more for you than him. “Perhaps.”

“He cannot think to overthrow the king here, The Rock is all but impenetrable, and will not fall to dragonflame.” Jon’s fingers splay across your back, and he shakes his head. “We swore an oath to the king.”

He feels your head raise, your lips brushing against his own as you speak. “You swore an oath to me, a stronger one, as I did to you. That is the only one that matters.”

There is an ache in his gut, an unease crawling up into his chest and making a home. “I have already broken my oath to the crown two times over…”

You nod, your hands on his back now, one moving up to tangle in his hair, resting at the nape of his neck. “They were not fit to rule, you did what was necessary for the realm.” Your voice is soft, barely above a whisper.

“You would ask me to break my oath again?” He asks, his nose bumping against yours, your eyes a dark forest green in the shadows of the night.

“I…” The word is tinged with uncertainty, and he silences you with a kiss.

You lean into his touch, tightening your grip on him, nails scraping against his scalp as you pull him closer. Your body melds to his, soft and yielding, the taste of honey and cinnamon on your lips—from the cake made specifically for the wedding—your breath warm against his, mingling, the feel of you, the taste of you intoxicating beyond all measure.

“How many kings must I fight against to have you?” Jon breathes, trailing his hands down your sides, fingertips finding where parts of the fabric has been ripped away, exposing your skin to the night air.

“You already have me.” You say, shivering when his hands ghost over your hips, your breath catching in your throat when he slowly lowers himself to the ground kneeling before you.

Jon looks up at you, and swears he can feel his pupils expanding, desperate to take in as much of the sight before him as he can. Bathed in moonlight you are a goddess, and when he rucks up your skirts and presses his lips to your core, his tongue desperate and eager, the sound you make is truly divine. Jon wants to hear it again, needs to hear it again, so he pulls your small clothes to the side, and feasts, your skirts draped around him, hiding him from the world. His hands grip your thighs, easing them apart, and when your hips shift, he realizes you have leaned back and gripped the stone railing, opening yourself further to him.

“How many kings must I fight to keep you, then?” He asks, cock beginning to stir as he rolls his tongue over your bud, parting with you only momentarily to nip at your thigh, marking you as his own.

“Jon, oh gods, please.” You beg quietly, the skirts on his right side bunching up from where you have gripped them.

He lazily laps at your core, nose pressed against your bud, smirking when your breathing picks up. “I do not know that number.”

You let out a flustered, strangled sound, but rock your hips against him. “You have me, you may keep me, even if you do not fight another king.”

“Is that so?” He hums, watching as your thighs clench in response to the vibrations.

“Do not tease, Husband.” You whine, sounding so desperate that he debates giving up his line of playful questioning.

“How can I deny My Lady Wife anything she desires?” Jon eases a digit in careful as he knows you are still a maiden, and he never wishes to hurt you.

You tense for a moment, and he freezes. Then light floods in, and he finds himself looking up at you. You hold out your free hand to him, and he takes it, intertwining your fingers, chuckling softly when you throw your skirts back over him.

Jon curls his finger experimentally, biting back a groan when a small moan slips past your lips. He adds another, his thumb circling your bud slowly, waiting to hear or see any signs of discomfort.

“Jon…” You gasp, and he hears the diamonds on your sleeves clatter against the railing, your core pulsing around him. “More.”

He curls his fingers, searching for that sensitive spot within you, his lips attaching to your bud, tracing nonsensical shapes as his fingers coax you closer and closer to the edge.

Moans spill from your lips like music, and he cannot help but echo them, tongue joining his fingers in their devouring of you, mouthing at you like a man starved. Finally, he rips your small clothes free, slipping them in his pocket, to allow himself the use of both hands.

Jon shoves your thighs apart, offering a silent apology as his beard scratches against the sensitive flesh of them, too enraptured by the taste of you, divine and delightful, just as you are. His cock aches, straining against his breeches, desire driving him mad.

Your high comes abruptly, and his eyes nearly roll back into his head at the way you drip around him. Your arousal running down his hand, mixing with the blood still sluggishly flowing from his broken skin.

You pull him up and grab at his breeches, freeing his cock from the restricting fabric, as you whine, “now, Jon, I need you now.”

He leans forward, gripping the railing, forcing his lust back, attempting to regain any semblance of control. “Y/N, we should go to our chambers, anyone could come upon us.”

“I cannot wait any longer.” You grip him tightly, thumb grazing the head of his cock as you pout up at him, lightning shooting through his body, your touch burning to the point of pleasure pain. “Please, Jon?”

He backs you up against the railing, swearing under his breath, and pushes in, head falling forward as he is engulfed in your walls.

You make a stifled pained sound, and he curses himself, raising his head to press chaste kisses to the plains of your face. His hand moves between your bodies to your bud, stroking you softly as he waits for you to adjust.

“Breathe y/n, breathe.” He urges, his free hand leaving the railing to brush the hair back from your face, his thumb smoothing along the apples of your cheek.

You take a deep breath, then another, and he feels your muscles relax, but your bottom lip is caught between your teeth, and your eyes will not meet his.

Jon presses a kiss to your temple and pulls out slowly before tucking himself back into his breeches.

You blink at him, a frown marring your perfect face. “Jon?”

He cannot do it, he will not take you here, in the open air where he cannot calm you properly. “I will not risk us being caught.” He takes your hand in his and presses it to his lips. “We have a fine bedchamber awaiting us, let us make use of it.”

Jon should feel bad, he knows he should, sneaking you past all the guests, your family, his family, the servants. All while he salivates like a hound over the thought of you bare before him on the silk sheets of your shared bed.

It is not right to take you like this, spread out, his body above yours, your gown, his clothing discarded, the windows open so that all can hear. You are a lady, his lady, his Lady Wife, he should act with decorum and honor, but it is so very difficult when you beg and praise so perfectly.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck, how—gods, how are you so good at this?” Your breasts are heaving with each breath, your words broken up by moans.

Jon chuckles, tweaking your nipples, ravishing your throat with his teeth and tongue, his cock driving you higher and higher, his hand in your hair, keeping you from turning you head and hiding from his gaze. “I dreamt of this, of you, I practiced many times in my dreams.”

Your back arches and your core pulses around him, liquid fire filling his veins.

“My starlight.” He coos, his free hand groping your perfect breasts, groaning at the feel of your soft skin. “My wife, how beautiful you are.”

“Jon, oh gods, I do not underst—” Your words are cut off by a desperate moan, your emerald eyes glazed over with lust, your pretty lips parted as you frantically take in air.

“Trust me, I have got you. You need only enjoy, can you do that for me?” Jon asks, caressing the curve of your cheek, admiring the way the candlelight plays across your skin. He has claimed many of your firsts, and he intends to be the last to do so.

“Yes, yes, I can, I can.” You say, and he bites back a groan at the way you look up at him, so trusting and eager.

“Good girl.” He praises, brushing a kiss to the corner of your lips as he thrusts into you, harder, faster, finding that spot within you that makes you sing and focusing there.

You whimper in response, squirming in his hold, hips rolling to meet his incoming thrusts, warm walls clenched around him, making him lightheaded.

“Jon, Jon, Jon, please, please do not stop.” You beg, nails digging into his shoulders, your eyes screwed shut.

“Never.” He promises, releasing his grip on your hair to trail his fingers down your bare body until he comes upon your bud, setting a cruel rhythm that makes your body tremble, cries of his name growing louder and louder.

He wants the whole of The Rock to hear you, to know you are his, to keep their filthy hands off you.

“Swear it to me, swear you will never let anyone separate us.” You say desperately, your eyes open now, pupils blown wide, but there is a clarity within them.

This has been your fear since King Stannis took the throne, one he has not been able to banish from your mind. “I would fight the gods old and new to stay by your side, none shall tear us asunder, I swear to you.”

“So would I, Jon, I love you, I love you.” You say, pulling him closer to you, smashing your lips to his hungrily as if you cannot get enough of him.

“And I love you.” He whispers, nipping at your earlobe, liquid lust and pure unfiltered adoration raging in his veins.

Jon TL: @mostclevermiss, @solacestyles, @2valentines, @sharknutz, @idohknow, @bdudette, @pluraldoggo, @legolastheleafyelf, @faerie-film, @wifiatthetrainstation, @duskypinki, @tartine-de-pain, @rebeccawinters, @taylorsfemalerage, @rax-raxus, @certainwonderlandperfection, @nymeriiiia, @burkgolden, @drewsivy

#meg's writing #jon snow x reader #jon snow x y/n #jon snow x you #lannister!reader #jon dayne #jon snow imagines #I even won't lie I straight up forgot to post these bc they've been finished on AO3 since September I'm so sorry y'all

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thejudeduarte · 9 months ago

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🌿My favourite the queen of nothing moments🌿

(Spoilers ahead 🙃)

The grima mog fight (she's an icon, she's a legend, and she IS the moment)

Cardan recognizing his wife ON SIGHT <333

That scene 😉😉 (chapter 21)

Jude wearing Cardans shirt

Nicasia and Jude's convo while cardan is a snake

Cardan confessing his love MY HEART ❤️

Cardan ✨she is my wife✨ Greenbriar

Locke being dead lmao

And Cardan not giving one loll

Oak and suren crumbs 🥹

Jude looking so badass in her dresses

Cardan cleaning Jude's wounds

THE BOMB AND THE ROACHH 😭😭🫶🫶🫶

#The queen of nothing was an emotional journey #jurdan #tfota #cardan greenbriar #jude duarte #jude x cardan #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #tcp #twk #tqon #the folk of the air #high king cardan #high queen jude

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reyreadersblog · 3 months ago

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Others: the cruel prince trillogy is YA, with no spice.

Me reading chapter 21 of queen of nothing:

#“jude?”#“go ahead”#“crawl to me”#when i first read that i was screming WHATTTTTTT #the cruel prince #the queen of nothing #cardan x jude #cardan greenbriar #jude and cardan

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glitcheslikeslego · 6 months ago

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Show Me Your Moves! (Chapter 22)

AO3 STORY

Chapter 21 : Defend Order

Defend Order is a non-damaging Bug-type move that increases the users defence and special defence stat by one. It is one of the signature moves of Vespiquen.

After Pigsy and Mei argued against MK for allowing Red Son to tag along, we somehow ended up with having to go to the Celestial Realm.

As Red Son readied the portal, he was muttering about the semantics of travelling between realms, you barely listened to him about it.

Red Son finished the mark he was drawing on the floor of the ship, and after lots of yelling and discourse, Red Son activated the portal, and the ship zoomed through. Everyone was screaming and hanging onto each other, and at some point, you swore it was going on forever until Red Son stood before the pile you all collapsed onto.

“I did say it'll melt your brains.” He said snarkily, and everyone got up and was in awe.

The show really didn’t do this place justice, it was ethereally gorgeous, and you were only snapped out of your stupor when Tang began explaining the ingredients for the antidote and where they were.

Mei and Red Son ended up teaming together to get a peach of immortality. Pigsy and Tang teamed up to get the pills of immortality, and MK went on his own to go and find the Trigram Furnace. Leaving you and Sandy alone on the Dronecopter.

“...I hope they’ll be okay.” You say worriedly. “I should have gone with them.”

Sandy placed a comforting hand on your shoulder. “They’ll be fine, remember what I said about trust?”

You nod sheepishly, and Sandy smiled. “Good. Trust them to handle it. In the meantime, you can help me check up on the Dronecopter to make sure nothing was jumbled up. How’s that sound?”

You agree and Sandy immediately hands you his toolbox. The two of you spend the majority of the time with Sandy performing maintenance, and you were handing him the necessary tools.

“Can you hand me the wrench?” Sandy held his hand out and you gave it to him, you continued sitting in silence before Sandy spoke up.

“Everyone is powerful in their own right.” He began, and you looked at him curiously. “I know that your first reaction is to worry about everything, but you gotta have more faith in your friends.”

“I know, I know.” You say in exasperation.

“I know, I just thought you’d need to hear it again, considering how much of a worry wart you are.” Sandy said with a smile, and you nod slightly. Now beaming, Sandy returns the wrench to the toolbox.

Before he could ask for anything else, there was a shout from the distance. “SANDYYYYY! START THE SHIP!” It was Pigsy! Him and Tang were running from one of Spider Queen’s goons, holding a fancy looking glass bottle.

“What about MK and the others?” He asked as you and him helped the two onto the ship.

“SANDYYY!!!!!!” That was Mei, carrying a screaming, flaming Red Son. “START THE SHIP!!!” She tossed Red Son onto the ship before jumping on.

“What about MK?” Sandy asked again.

“SANDYYYYYYYYYYYY!” Okay… this is just getting ridiculous. “START THE SHIPPPPPPPP!”

At this point, Sandy started up the ship. It began flying, making MK have to jump onto the ship, the Trigram Furnace rattling the Dronecopter.

“Go Sandy!” You yell, noticing how the Spider Demons and the Celestial Guard Dogs began getting closer. The Dronecopter took off, leaving the Guard Dogs to attack the trespassing spiders.

“Okay, where now? We need to find somewhere safe.” You say.

MK hummed and thought for a moment before a lightbulb went on in his brain. “I got it! Sandy, set course for Flower Fruit Mountain.”

~~~

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talonabraxas · 6 months ago

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1. Had! The manifestation of Nuit.

2. The unveiling of the company of heaven.

3. Every man and every woman is a star.

4. Every number is infinite; there is no difference.

5. Help me, o warrior lord of Thebes, in my unveiling before the Children of men!

6. Be thou Hadit, my secret centre, my heart & my tongue!

7. Behold! it is revealed by Aiwass the minister of Hoor-paar-kraat.

8. The Khabs is in the Khu, not the Khu in the Khabs.

9. Worship then the Khabs, and behold my light shed over you!

10. Let my servants be few & secret: they shall rule the many & the known.

11. These are fools that men adore; both their Gods & their men are fools.

12. Come forth, o children, under the stars, & take your fill of love!

13. I am above you and in you. My ecstasy is in yours. My joy is to see your joy.

14. Above, the gemmed azure is

The naked splendour of Nuit;

She bends in ecstasy to kiss

The secret ardours of Hadit.

The winged globe, the starry blue,

Are mine, O Ankh-af-na-khonsu!

15. Now ye shall know that the chosen priest & apostle of infinite space is the prince-priest the Beast; and in his woman called the Scarlet Woman is all power given. They shall gather my children into their fold: they shall bring the glory of the stars into the hearts of men.

16. For he is ever a sun, and she a moon. But to him is the winged secret flame, and to her the stooping starlight.

17. But ye are not so chosen.

18. Burn upon their brows, o splendrous serpent!

19. O azure-lidded woman, bend upon them!

20. The key of the rituals is in the secret word which I have given unto him.

21. With the God & the Adorer I am nothing: they do not see me. They are as upon the earth; I am Heaven, and there is no other God than me, and my lord Hadit.

22. Now, therefore, I am known to ye by my name Nuit, and to him by a secret name which I will give him when at last he knoweth me. Since I am Infinite Space, and the Infinite Stars thereof, do ye also thus. Bind nothing! Let there be no difference made among you between any one thing & any other thing; for thereby there cometh hurt.

23. But whoso availeth in this, let him be the chief of all!

24. I am Nuit, and my word is six and fifty.

25. Divide, add, multiply, and understand.

26. Then saith the prophet and slave of the beauteous one: Who am I, and what shall be the sign? So she answered him, bendingdown, a lambent flame of blue, all-touching, all penetrant, her lovely hands upon the black earth, & her lithe body arched for love, and her soft feet not hurting the little flowers: Thou knowest! And the sign shall be my ecstasy, the consciousness of the continuity of existence, the omnipresence of my body.

27. Then the priest answered & said unto the Queen of Space, kissing her lovely brows, and the dew of her light bathing his whole body in a sweet-smelling perfume of sweat: O Nuit, continuous one of Heaven, let it be ever thus; that men speak not of Thee as One but as None; and let them speak not of thee at all, since thou art continuous!

28. None, breathed the light, faint & faery, of the stars, and two.

29. For I am divided for love's sake, for the chance of union.

30. This is the creation of the world, that the pain of division is as nothing, and the joy of dissolution all.

31. For these fools of men and their woes care not thou at all! They feel little; what is, is balanced by weak joys; but ye are my chosen ones.

32. Obey my prophet! follow out the ordeals of my knowledge! seek me only! Then the joys of my love will redeem ye from all pain. This is so: I swear it by the vault of my body; by my sacred heart and tongue; by all I can give, by all I desire of ye all.

33. Then the priest fell into a deep trance or swoon, & said unto the Queen of Heaven; Write unto us the ordeals; write unto us the rituals; write unto us the law!

34. But she said: the ordeals I write not: the rituals shall be half known and half concealed: the Law is for all.

35. This that thou writest is the threefold book of Law.

36. My scribe Ankh-af-na-khonsu, the priest of the princes, shall not in one letter change this book; but lest there be folly, he shall comment thereupon by the wisdom of Ra-Hoor-Khuit.

37. Also the mantras and spells; the obeah and the wanga; the work of the wand and the work of the sword; these he shall learn and teach.

38. He must teach; but he may make severe the ordeals.

39. The word of the Law is THELEMA.

40. Who calls us Thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into the word. For there are therein Three Grades, the Hermit, and the Lover, and the man of Earth. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

41. The word of Sin is Restriction. O man! refuse not thy wife, if she will! O lover, if thou wilt, depart! There is no bond that can unite the divided but love: all else is a curse. Accursed! Accursed be it to the aeons! Hell.

42. Let it be that state of manyhood bound and loathing. So with thy all; thou hast no right but to do thy will.

43. Do that, and no other shall say nay.

44. For pure will, unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect.

45. The Perfect and the Perfect are one Perfect and not two; nay, are none!

46. Nothing is a secret key of this law. Sixty-one the Jews call it; I call it eight, eighty, four hundred & eighteen.

47. But they have the half: unite by thine art so that all disappear.

48. My prophet is a fool with his one, one, one; are not they the Ox, and none by the Book?

49. Abrogate are all rituals, all ordeals, all words and signs. Ra-Hoor-Khuit hath taken his seat in the East at the Equinox of the Gods; and let Asar be with Isa, who also are one. But they are not of me. Let Asar be the adorant, Isa the sufferer; Hoor in his secret name and splendour is the Lord initiating.

50. There is a word to say about the Hierophantic task. Behold! there are three ordeals in one, and it may be given in three ways. The gross must pass through fire; let the fine be tried in intellect, and the lofty chosen ones in the highest. Thus ye have star & star, system & system; let not one know well the other!

51. There are four gates to one palace; the floor of that palace is of silver and gold; lapis lazuli & jasper are there; and all rare scents; jasmine & rose, and the emblems of death. Let him enter in turn or at once the four gates; let him stand on the floor of the palace. Will he not sink? Amn. Ho! warrior, if thy servant sink? But there are means and means. Be goodly therefore: dress ye all in fine apparel; eat rich foods and drink sweet wines and wines that foam! Also, take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where and with whom ye will! But always unto me.

52. If this be not aright; if ye confound the space-marks, saying: They are one; or saying, They are many; if the ritual be not ever unto me: then expect the direful judgments of Ra Hoor Khuit!

53. This shall regenerate the world, the little world my sister, my heart & my tongue, unto whom I send this kiss. Also, o scribe and prophet, though thou be of the princes, it shall not assuage thee nor absolve thee. But ecstasy be thine and joy of earth: ever To me! To me!

54. Change not as much as the style of a letter; for behold! thou, o prophet, shalt not behold all these mysteries hidden therein.

55. The child of thy bowels, he shall behold them.

56. Expect him not from the East, nor from the West; for from no expected house cometh that child. Aum! All words are sacred and all prophets true; save only that they understand a little; solve the first half of the equation, leave the second unattacked. But thou hast all in the clear light, and some, though not all, in the dark.

57. Invoke me under my stars! Love is the law, love under will. Nor let the fools mistake love; for there are love and love. There is the dove, and there is the serpent. Choose ye well! He, my prophet, hath chosen, knowing the law of the fortress, and the great mystery of the House of God.

All these old letters of my Book are aright; but [Tzaddi] is not the Star. This also is secret: my prophet shall reveal it to the wise.

58. I give unimaginable joys on earth: certainty, not faith, while in life, upon death; peace unutterable, rest, ecstasy; nor do I demand aught in sacrifice.

59. My incense is of resinous woods & gums; and there is no blood therein: because of my hair the trees of Eternity.

60. My number is 11, as all their numbers who are of us. The Five Pointed Star, with a Circle in the Middle, & the circle is Red. My colour is black to the blind, but the blue & gold are seen of the seeing. Also I have asecret glory for them that love me.

61. But to love me is better than all things: if under the night stars in the desert thou presently burnest mine incense before me, invoking me with a pure heart, and the Serpent flame therein, thou shalt come a little to lie in my bosom. For one kiss wilt thou then be willing to give all; but whoso gives one particle of dust shall lose all in that hour. Ye shall gather goods and store of women and spices; ye shall wear rich jewels; ye shall exceed the nations of the earth in spendour & pride; but always in the love of me, and so shall ye come to my joy. I charge you earnestly to come before me in a single robe, and covered with a rich headdress. I love you! I yearn to you! Pale or purple, veiled or voluptuous, I who am all pleasure and purple, and drunkenness of the innermost sense, desire you. Put on the wings, and arouse the coiled splendour within you: come unto me!

62. At all my meetings with you shall the priestess say -- and her eyes shall burn with desire as she stands bare and rejoicing in my secret temple -- To me! To me! calling forth the flame of the hearts of all in her love-chant.

63. Sing the rapturous love-song unto me! Burn to me perfumes! Wear to me jewels! Drink to me, for I love you! I love you!

64. I am the blue-lidded daughter of Sunset; I am the naked brilliance of the voluptuous night-sky.

65. To me! To me!

66. The Manifestation of Nuit is at an end.

Nuit, Egyptian Star Goddess by Talon Abraxas

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drsteggy · 20 days ago

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Uneasy Lies the Chosen of Farore (Revised)

Chapter 21: Tossing and Turning

That’s how, a few days later, he finds himself back on the porch of the Lurelin barracks, sharing a stout with Mikal and watching the sun set.

“Traveling with the Queen. You have moved up in the world, Link.”

“I’ve moved somewhere, for sure.”

“Still feeling doubts about your sword?”

“Sometimes.”

“Celia had a little boy.”

“That’s nice. I’m happy for her.” He feels nothing, his voice flat. “Mikal, you’ve been here a long time. Have you ever heard of a place called Koholint Rock?”

“It’s hardly a place. It barely sticks out of the water in high tide.”

“But it is a named place?”

Read on AO3 (must be logged in)

#legend of zelda #legend of zelda fanfiction #my fic #Zelda AU #Uneasy lies the chosen of Farore

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angelasscribbles · 4 months ago

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Heir Apparent Chapter 21: Not According to Plan

Series: Heir Apparent.

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Drake x Riley, Liam x Riley (past)

Rating: MA

Warnings: Mature themes, language, Depression

Word Count: 2,307

Everything else: Master List.

In the months following the press conference, things settled considerably with Liam. He had stopped pushing the idea of a Cordonian Arrangement and had been nothing but solicitous and courteous with both Drake and Riley.

All of them continued with therapy and progress had been made. Liam and Drake gradually fell back into the patterns of their lifelong friendship as the tension between them eased.

Riley and Drake agreed to relocate temporarily to the palace as they awaited the birth of Cordonia’s heir. While things had calmed between the three of them, the press had only ramped up their frenzy over the impending birth.

Riley couldn’t go anywhere without being set upon by the paparazzi, so she stopped going out. Everything and everyone came to her. It was both a perk and a restriction of being the mother to the heir apparent to the throne.

The baby was doing well, they had collectively decided to wait and find out the gender at birth. They had learned to do a lot of things collectively, everyone was settled and happy, or at least content with the way things were.

Then all hell broke loose.

“Remind me again why I have to attend this ball tonight?” Riley grumbled as she pulled at her dress while frowning at her reflection in the mirror.

She was tired. She was huge. Her feet hurt.

“Because it’s a tradition, καρδιά μου,” Drake told her gently as he grasped her shoulder and turned her around to face him. “And you can stop fussing with the dress. You look beautiful.”

“Well, it’s a stupid tradition,” she muttered with a shake of her head. Her bad mood evaporated as she looked up into her husband’s face. “Can you sneak me out of there early?”

“You know this ball is in your honor, right?”

“It’s in the baby’s honor not mine,” she quipped, “And the baby wants to go to bed early tonight.”

“Okay, okay,” he laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you. And if Bradshaw and Isabella start pushing a marriage alliance again, I might punch someone so be prepared for that.”

“I thought Liam was clear with them that he was abolishing marriage contracts on behalf of minors.”

“He was.” She heaved a deep sigh as her hands caressed her stomach. “That hasn’t stopped them from trying.”

He pulled her tight against him. “Just let me know if you want me to have them thrown out.”

That got a laugh out of her. “If only. But I’m pretty sure that would cause a whole political incident.”

“I’m willing to risk it,” he told her with a teasing grin.

“Stop,” she giggled as she playfully hit his shoulder. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

The grand ballroom was filled with Cordonian aristocracy and a few foreign dignitaries. There always seemed to be a few of them visiting at any given time.

She had agreed to one dance with Liam. She was afraid that was all her feet could take, but the dance was also a tradition. The expectant parents taking one last turn on the dance floor before the little one's arrival.

Of course, that dance was usually between a married king and queen. Not always though. Bertrand had listed seven specific examples from Cordonian history that defied the tradition when she had complained about it. She and Liam were the parents and that was what mattered, and no one seemed fussed about the fact that she was married to someone else.

Riley entered the ballroom on her husband’s arm but quickly found herself whisked away by the king. She stood by Liam’s side as they accepted congratulations from the nobility. When the meet and greet portion of the evening was over, he led her out onto the dance floor. Her eyes found Drake in the crowd. He gave her an encouraging smile and the tension drained out of her body.

She forced her attention back to Liam and smiled up into his eyes for the benefit of the crowd.

She had learned well how to play the game of swaying public opinion.

The smile faltered as she correctly clocked that the grin he was giving her in return was also forced.

No matter her own feelings on the subject, Liam always had a ready and genuine smile for her. Her brow creased in concern. “What’s wrong?”

A look of startlement crossed his face quickly replaced by gleeful satisfaction as he beamed at her. “You know that you’re the only one that can see through my diplomatic façade, right?”

Despite her sore feet, despite the unconventional situation they found themselves in, despite the drama and trauma of the past several months, despite the fatigue that had set in her very bones, she found his simple, pure joy at their connection contagious. The smile on her face broadened and ripened into a true expression of happiness. “Am I?”

“Yes,” he assured her without hesitation as he spun her around the room.

“Then don’t you think you should tell me what’s wrong?”

His face fell as he considered the problem weighing on his mind. “I don’t want to burden you.”

Riley’s heart dropped. No matter what else had gone down between the three of them, she and Liam had always maintained a close friendship. Placing and holding boundaries that needed to be held to maintain her marriage had not always been easy, but she thought they were finally all in a good place. “Liam, please. I’m here to support you. I want to help if I can, even if that means just listening.”

He hated himself a little for the way her simple declaration made his heart start dancing wildly in his chest. She might be carrying his child, and he might be in love with her, but she wasn’t his. Not anymore. He drew in a deep breath as he fought against confiding in her, but he knew he was going to. There was no one else he wanted to discuss this with.

His grip tightened around her as he leaned closer so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Bastien has a lead on my mother’s death.”

“What?” Shock coursed through her. “Since when? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Liam shook his head. “You’ve had so much on your plate getting ready for childbirth, Riley. You’ve been tired and—”

“That’s all true but—"

“The doctor said you should avoid stress.”

The next few minutes were a chaotic haze that she would barely remember later.

Their conversation was interrupted as the dance ended. They bowed politely to the crowd and before she could ask follow-up questions, Bastien had whisked him away.

Drake got pulled into the conversation, leaving her on the sidelines with Max when she was hit by a wave of dizziness, followed by the worst headache she’d ever experienced. She reached out for Max as she struggled to keep her balance. Everything went blurry.

“What is it, blossom? What’s wrong?”

“I….I…..” everything went black. She felt Max’s arms catch her before she hit the floor. She heard the ballroom burst into panicked shrieks and yells. Somewhere in the distance, an alarm was clanging.

When the room swam back into view, she found herself looking up into several concerned faces. Drake, Max, Liam, Hana, Olivia. “What happened?”

“That’s what we want to know.” Drake smoothed her hair as he peered into her eyes with urgency. “Are you okay?”

“Maybe.” She pushed up into sitting, glancing around at the room that had been plunged into semi darkness. The main lights were out leaving only the emergency lighting powered by the backup generator. The music was gone and there was a loud roar coming from the crowd. She swung her arm around the room. “I meant what happened here.”

Every eye shot to Liam. His jaw tightened. “It would appear that Godfrey was behind my mother’s murder. He got away by activating the new security system. Give us a few moments and we’ll get you out of here and to a hospital.”

“Oh, Liam, I’m so sorry!”

He gaped at her in astonishment. “I appreciate that but it’s hardly the important thing at the moment. I’ve waited this long to get justice, I can wait a bit longer. Right now we have to make sure you and the baby are okay.”

Drake and Liam helped her to her feet but the moment she was upright, her vision swam again, and she stumbled as a contraction ripped through her.

Through the ringing in her ears she was vaguely aware of a lot of shouting. Drake was yelling for a doctor, Liam was yelling for security to open the door, Max might have been crying. Hana was definitely crying and Olivia was barking orders about finding the nurse that was supposed to be on duty.

Liam’s voice pierced through her consciousness as he roared, “What do you mean you can’t? You’re the head of palace security how do you not have the goddamn security codes?”

She felt herself lifted into Drake’s arms. “I’m taking her to the hospital wing, someone find the fucking doctor!”

As Drake disappeared carrying Riley out of the ballroom, Isabella materialized at Liam’s side. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

“Unless you can get those doors open or happen to have a doctor with you, I doubt it.” Liam snapped before turning to scream at his personal assistant, “Where is Dr. Russo?”

“You can’t find your doctor? Seems wildly irresponsible on her part, doesn't it? To be missing when Her Grace is so close to her delivery date.”

Liam’s rage trembled, the white hot anger the only thing holding him on this side of falling into the abyss of hopelessness. Both his assistant and the head of his guard had told him that the palace had been searched thoroughly and Dr. Russo was nowhere to be found. Her phone was going straight to voicemail.

“We would be happy to lend you ours.” Isabella purred with smug satisfaction.

Liam’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, you just happen to have an OB with you? While ours is missing. That is suspiciously convenient.”

“Oh, he goes everywhere with us.” Isabella waved her hand dismissively. “He's our children’s personal doctor. We never leave home without him.”

“So, he’s a pediatrician?”

“He’s double board certified in pediatrics and obstetrics.”

“We can also get that door open,” Bradshaw popped up to interject. “So your doctor can get in. Whenever you find her.”

Overwhelming relief poured through him. “Yes, thank you, that would be amazing! We would appreciate it immensely. Where’s the doctor? How soon can you get the doors open?”

“Not so fast.” Isabella gloated. “Before we do either of those things, we need to discuss terms.”

Icy cold dread snaked down Liam’s spine. “Terms?”

“Yes. Our doctor isn’t licensed in Cordonia. But if we were allies—"

“Not to mention,” Bradshaw added, “We can’t just break down your palace doors unless we’re allies. That could be seen as an act of war.”

“No.” Liam’s head shook vigorously. “I’m giving you the go ahead, there would be no—”

“Still. International opinion, NATO regulations, Council rules—”

“Fine!” The fury was back, and Liam could barely restrain it as he tried to push the discussion along and secure help for Riley before it was too late. “What are your terms?”

Two minutes later Liam entered the hospital room to find an unconscious Riley hooked up to an IV and monitors. He sent a silent prayer of thanks that he’d had the hospital wing installed when his father was dying. “How is she?”

The nurse on duty approached him. “Not good. She has sudden onset preeclampsia. She’s stabilized for the moment, but the baby needs to be delivered right away.”

“Can you do that?”

“Me?” the young woman gave him a deer in the headlights stare. “No, Your Majesty. I’m a nurse, she needs a surgeon.”

“Have they found Dr. Russo?” Drake demanded.

“No. But there is another solution.” Liam quickly updated Drake on Isabella and Bradshaw’s offer.

Drake stared at him in disbelief. “This is a setup. You see that, right?”

“I admit that it’s very suspicious, but the fact remains that we need a doctor, and we need the palace doors opened. They can provide both.”

“But only if you affiance your unborn child to their heir! That’s extortion!”

“It is.”

“You promised her you would never do that!”

“I did. But these are exigent circumstances.”

Drake shook his head in denial. “Dr Russo... You've known her all your life there's no way she would just disappear without telling anyone anything! Isabella and Bradshaw are using this to get what they want!”

“They are.” Liam agreed, his voice cracking a little, betraying his fear and pain. “But what choice do we have?”

Drake’s head swiveled from Liam to Riley and then back. “But we can’t agree to what they’re asking!”

“We need a doctor, Drake.”

“She needs her doctor, Liam!”

“Her doctor isn’t here.”

“As her husband, I’m forbidding you—"

“As the father of the baby and the king, it’s my call. You can sue me when all this is over if you want.” Liam spun and headed for the door.

“What if she never speaks to you again? What if she hates you for it?”

He paused for a fraction of an instant with a glance back at the unconscious woman. “At least she'll be alive to hate me.”

Before he made it out the door, Riley’s body convulsed. The nurse pushed some medication through the IV as she yelled over her shoulder, “If you have a doctor that can get the baby out of her, do it now!”

Liam's eyes flicked briefly to Drake who was openly weeping. “Do it,” he whispered hoarsely, “Do whatever you have to.”

#trr #the royal romance #the royal romance fanfic #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week #liam rys #drake walker #angelasscribbles #choices #heir apparent

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halothenthehorns · 2 months ago

Text

Chapter 21: MY PARENTS GO COMMANDO

Percy looked entirely traumatized at the new chapter title Thalia read and very likely would have traded back all of his freshly regained memories to not hear whatever this was.

They weren't even entirely sure if it was the fear of his mom running around sanes underwear for some unknown reason, or the worse implication of her joining in the fight.

"What are the odds my dad just shows up and one accident leads to another where his shorts get ripped off?" Percy groaned with his face in his hands. Better that trauma than anything to do with his other, mortal parents!

Annabeth took his hand, and he knew he could get through this. He'd won over Kronos. He had to. His family depended on him...no matter how it got to that point...and he'd keep telling himself that until he could barter a better deal about what horrible images were put into this book.

By the time we got to the street, it was too late.

"Too late to what?" Alex clarified.

"Stop it from getting worse," Percy said darkly. He did not do well being cornered.

Campers and Hunters lay wounded on the ground. Clarisse must've lost a fight with a Hyperborean giant, because she and her chariot were frozen in a block of ice.

Jason made a guttural noise of surprised pain. Had that blessing of her fathers worn off already? Was she okay?!

"Don't worry, we got her unthawed," Will said in exhaustion how much chipping had been done. He'd warned Nyssa they should start from the bottom up, but no, nobody ever listened to him and Clarisse had run her mouth the entire time of course.

The centaurs were nowhere to be seen.

Either they'd panicked and ran or they'd been disintegrated.

Both depressing options. This was absolutely nothing new for Percy's life.

The Titan army ringed the building, standing maybe twenty feet from the doors. Kronos's vanguard was in the lead: Ethan Nakamura, the dracaena queen in her green armor, and two Hyperboreans.

Magnus's skin twitched in disgust at the idea of standing side by side with monsters to kill someone. He frowned to himself though as he realized Tyson and Mrs. O'Leary and a lot of Percy's allies weren't 'normal' but brushed that aside. Monster, then, in the sense that Ethan was standing with creatures that had no regard for life. That would sooner kill him as much as who they were charging at.

I didn't see Prometheus. The slimy weasel was probably hiding back at their headquarters. But Kronos himself stood right in front with his scythe in hand.

The only thing standing in his way was . . .

"Chiron," Annabeth said, her voice trembling.

"Time for the after party?" Magnus tried to say as he watched her bite her lip so hard the skin around it went white.

"Then the VIP after-after party," Alex immiedtily joined in.

"Guys, we were the life of the party at that point," Percy reminded, exhaustion in every syllable. He didn't know how else to explain there were no more tricks, no more strategies. Their teacher was down to his last straw.

If Chiron heard us, he didn't answer. He had an arrow notched, aimed straight at Kronos's face.

As soon as Kronos saw me, his gold eyes flared. Every muscle in my body froze. Then the Titan lord turned his attention back to Chiron. "Step aside, little son."

Hearing Luke call Chiron his son was weird enough, but Kronos put contempt in his voice, like son was the worst word he could think of.

"Maybe because his own children participated in cutting him up and throwing him in super hell?" Nico offered. "Just a thought. Kronos isn't an emotionless statue in the museum, he knows that family turning on each other cuts the deepest." It was plain as day in Annabeth's eyes the entire time she'd been in here with Luke's name on the edge of every page.

Percy grinned at him in agreement. He was feeling less and less guilty about telling him to stay back in the Underworld if he could get through to his dad with stuff like that, like he just had for Posideon.

"I'm afraid not." Chiron's tone was steely calm, the way he gets when he's really angry.

"When have you ever heard him really angry?" Will asked in quiet surprise. He couldn't say he'd ever heard that tone, and he'd heard Chiron shout at the Stoll brothers half his life.

"Never," Percy agreed, which is why it had shocked him so much. Chiron, standing alone to protect all of them while they'd been frozen in place. The knowledge that he could have died and their Camp would never feel the same. He'd finally failed to do something that even Heracles had triumphed in.

It really had been a moment frozen in time Kronos had been glorifying in.

I tried to move, but my feet felt like concrete. Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia were straining too, like they were just as stuck.

"Chiron!" Annabeth said. "Look out!"

The dracaena queen became impatient and charged. Chiron's arrow flew straight between her eyes and she vaporized on the spot, her empty armor clattering to the asphalt.

Chiron reached for another arrow, but his quiver was empty. He dropped the bow and drew his sword.

I knew he hated fighting with a sword. It was never his favorite weapon.

Alex had some half-assed remark up her sleeve about the trainer needing more training then, but she couldn't make herself say it. She'd never even liked Chiron that much before all this, but the fact that right now he was showing he was as good as his word and standing against all those monsters completely alone without hesitation finally did make her realize he was willing to stand up to anyone to defend those kids in his camp.

Kronos chuckled. He advanced a step, and Chiron's horse-half skittered nervously. His tail flicked back and forth.

"You're a teacher," Kronos sneered. "Not a hero."

Percy had vague memories of passing posters in his school that had teachers on top of mountains holding flags with corny slogans like 'teachers are the real heroes' and junk. He usually stopped to offer a fresh marker to kids who were doodling mustaches on them.

Chiron hadn't always been a great teacher, often treating him like many others. He'd felt isolated and like a child more often than not in his presence.

But he did care about him as a friend. Chiron was a hero just because he was patient and kind and gave kids a home as he gave the same speech over and over about how the gods were and how they'd at least be safe there.

Plus, Paul was a good guy too. He'd at least crack Kronos over the head with a textbook for making the teacher thing sound like an insult.

"Luke was a hero," Chiron said. "He was a good one, until you corrupted him."

Thalia made a deep noise of disgust she must have learned specifically from the hunters. Annabeth watched in dismay she really didn't believe a word of that now because she hadn't spent the years in Camp watching Luke take every new kid under his wing in the Hermes cabin whether they stayed there or not, watching him become a master swords men and never brag about it. Thalia only remembered the worst of him, it was no wonder her hate ran so deep.

Annabeth wished she had some magical plan up her sleeve to fix this. Holding onto hate wasn't ever going to make the hurt go away. She stiffened her shoulders and pushed the idea of magic aside, she didn't need it. She would come up with something.

"FOOL!" Kronos's voice shook the city. "You filled his head with empty promises. You said the gods cared about me!"

'Me,' Annabeth had instantly noticed, her breath caught in her throat. He'd said, 'me.' Gods she'd wanted to rip Kronos out of there molecule by molecule with one hand while throttling Luke with the other for everything he'd done. To Silena, to Thalia, to her, to everybody who'd believed in him culminating in this moment where there had been no half-bloods left standing with the monsters. Either dead or eaten by now.

If the gods didn't care about them enough to intervene and prevent all this happening to their children, then they should at least care about each other enough to have never let it go this far.

"Me," Chiron noticed. "You said me."

"He certainly did," Thalia muttered, but the others had looks of delayed shock on their face as they played those words back in their head while she and Annabeth exchanged a miserable look. Luke was still fighting in there. Not that Thalia had a single shred of caring left, clear in every word she spoke.

Percy heard it anyways. She hid well the look on her face behind the book, dampened with time that had been on full display that day. Not the same devesitation on Annabeth, but something that wasn't just flat hate either.

Kronos looked confused, and in that moment, Chiron struck. It was a good maneuver—a feint followed by a strike to the face. I couldn't have done better myself, but Kronos was quick. He had all of Luke's fighting skill, which was a lot. He knocked aside Chiron's blade and yelled, "BACK!"

A blinding white light exploded between the Titan and the centaur. Chiron flew into the side of the building with such force the wall crumbled and collapsed on top of him.

"I really hate it when those Titans do that," Percy seethed, white-hot anger coming off of him in waves, almost literally for a moment as the water around him began to steam before Annabeth slipped her arm through his without fear. It all faded back as he took a breath, but the rage building up did need a release eventually or he'd wind up beaching whales and giant squids soon from messing with the temperature down here.

He kept wishing that had been him. He could have stood up from that rubble and walked this off. What had Chiron been thinking?! They still didn't even know Kronos's weak spot!

"I know," Annabeth whispered beside him, holding his hand tight. The worst of it was Chiron would just get up and do the exact same thing again for them.

"No!" Annabeth wailed. The freezing spell broke. We ran toward our teacher, but there was no sign of him. Thalia and I pulled helplessly at the bricks while a ripple of ugly laughter ran through the Titan's army.

"YOU!" Annabeth turned on Luke. "To think that I . . . that I thought—"

She drew her knife.

"Annabeth, don't." I tried to take her arm, but she shook me off.

She attacked Kronos, and his smug smile faded. Perhaps some part of Luke remembered that he used to like this girl, used to take care of her when she was little. She plunged her knife between the straps of his armor, right at his collar bone. The blade should've sunk into his chest. Instead it bounced off.

Annabeth doubled over, clutching her arm to her stomach. The jolt might've been enough to dislocate her bad shoulder.

Nico had once thought he'd been on the receiving end of the worst of her anger. He knew that look that had been on her face and wasn't surprised in the slightest Luke, Kronos, or whoever hadn't a chance to deflect that incoming attack.

And it just made him sad how well he understood that pain. Of looking into the face of someone and not even recognizing them as you lashed out.

Percy's hands twitched, to pull her back to his side, to hold her close. She saw that and leaned into his side without hesitation. She was taking this harder the second time than he was. It had been confusing and soul-shattering enough the first time. Now sitting here, clincally sorting through every mistake she'd made with an audience...gods even her mom couldn't have whipped up such a specific torment to punish her for the past few months of happiness she'd had. Hades couldn't have ripped this torture out of her head because she never would have guessed how bad it hurt until she was living it. Every mistake she'd ever made just up in plain bold letters now inescapable if she ever wanted Percy back.

I yanked her back as Kronos swung his scythe, slicing the air where she'd been standing.

She fought me and screamed, "I HATE you!" I wasn't sure who she was talking to—me or Luke or Kronos. Tears streaked the dust on her face.

"A little of all three at that moment," Annabeth muttered only for him. She'd hated everyone, everything in the world in that moment as she'd thought Chiron dead. Percy holding her had been the only thing stopping her from crumpling to nothing at that moment and she'd hated it, would have welcomed oblivion at that point.

"I have to fight him," I told her.

"It's my fight too, Percy!"

Kronos laughed. "So much spirit. I can see why Luke wanted to spare you. Unfortunately, that won't be possible."

Percy still found it harder to believe every day what a gullible idiot Luke had been for falling for this crooked way he was being used. The lies felt so obvious, Kronos's careless demeanor towards everyone to get to the top felt so obvious to him.

How desperate Luke must have been to find some way to change his lot in life...

He raised his scythe. I got ready to defend, but before Kronos could strike, a dog's howl pierced the air somewhere behind the Titan's army. "Arroooooooo!"

Magnus still shivered instinctively with hatred for knowing that sound all to well. For picturing glowing eyes and hulking bodies with distinct shapes stalking forward.

But Nico grinned. The kind of smile that lit up his face and made him lean forward in his seat with excitement they rarely saw in here for something that might be good happening to him.

Magnus tried to be a good sport and push his problems away and not shrink into his seat in revulsion as that sounded like a herald of death to him...before he blinked and realized that might be exactly what it was for someone else. Well at least that was a nice change of pace.

It was too much to hope, but I called, "Mrs. O'Leary?"

The enemy forces stirred uneasily. Then the strangest thing happened. They began to part, clearing a path through the street like something behind them was forcing them to.

Soon there was a free aisle down the center of Fifth Avenue. Standing at the end of the block was my giant dog, and a small figure in black armor.

Nico grumbled at the word small. He'd just parted an army with sheer power like Percy had once done on the ship of Kronos's deck and still he was called small! If he didn't get a growth spurt in the next year he was hunting someone down for sport, the only question being his dad or Zeus.

"Nico?" I called.

"ROWWF!" Mrs. O'Leary bounded toward me, ignoring the growling monsters on either side. Nico strode forward.

Nobody had really been in doubt it was him, in fact they were smiling as bright as Nico for Percy calling him in for backup.

It just didn't lessen the tension in the room by a single breath as the loan soldier appeared without the God for backup. One more kid in black armor to wade through another sea of monsters.

The enemy army fell back before him like he radiated death, which of course he did.

Will was really starting to get tired of Percy constantly saying that too as much as Nico probably was. Yeah, but it wasn't the only thing he radiated. He'd just showed up there to help, he was powerful but that had always stemmed from a place of love like all the others at Camp.

Through the face guard of his skull-shaped helmet, he smiled. "Got your message. Is it too late to join the party?"

"Never for you my friend," Alex chuckled.

"Sweet, permanent free pass to be late," Nico grinned.

"Son of Hades." Kronos spit on the ground.

"That was just disrespectful. And rude." Jason frowned. "What did you do to him to deserve that?"

"Existed, apparently," Nico shrugged without concern.

"Do you love death so much you wish to experience it?"

"Haven't heard great things about it honestly," Magnus scoffed.

"Would not recommend," Percy chuckled from a little to much personal experience dancing around it.

"Your death," Nico said, "would be great for me."

"Tell me you did an awesome pose Nico?" Alex smirked. "Drew your sword and held it in front of your face or pointed it at him or something."

"My voice didn't crack when I said it," he offered.

"Eh," she huffed.

"I'm immortal, you fool! I have escaped Tartarus. You have no business here, and no chance to live."

"He only got two of those four statements correct," Jason sniffed. "Every Greek hero has business being there right now."

"Well no one was going to suggest he start being our next math teacher thankfully," Annabeth chuckled.

Nico drew his sword—three feet of wicked sharp Stygian iron, black as a nightmare. "I don't agree."

The ground rumbled. Cracks appeared in the road, the sidewalks, the sides of the buildings. Skeletal hands grasped the air as the dead clawed their way into the world of the living. There were thousands of them, and as they emerged, the Titan's monsters got jumpy and started to back up.

They hadn't been the only ones. Percy hadn't been thrilled to see an army of the dead again considering A) how easily he'd beat them and B) he'd been seeing to many of his friends joining that kind of entourage lately.

But the way Thalia had released a low whistle, impressed with that kind of skill and control, and especially how Annabeth's breath had gone back to ragged rather than gasping, he'd felt an immense surge of gratitude for Nico all the same for his great timing.

"HOLD YOUR GROUND!" Kronos demanded. "The dead are no match for us."

"Words I hope he can't live to regret," Will scowled. Just because Percy had been able to dismantle them all didn't mean anyone with the curse could. Luke wasn't a hero the same way Percy was. They could bathe in the same Styx, but Kronos could never make Luke's body have Percy's heart, the reason Percy had jumped in. The very force that activated Percy's ability to fight like a demon.

The sky turned dark and cold. Shadows thickened. A harsh war horn sounded, and as the dead soldiers formed up ranks with their guns and swords and spears, an enormous chariot roared down Fifth Avenue. It came to a stop next to Nico. The horses were living shadows, fashioned from darkness. The chariot was inlaid with obsidian and gold, decorated with scenes of painful death. Holding the reins was Hades himself, Lord of the Dead, with Demeter and Persephone riding behind him.

"One of these days you're going to have to explain to me how you did that," Percy managed to tell him among the others whooping with excitement.

"Pretty similar to what you did actually," Nico grinned as he tipped his head in thanks. Just all casual-like between them now. "Just did my best to remind my dad of what was important besides himself without getting blasted."

"Lucky for you two it worked," Thalia smiled fondly, even if there was a deep bitterness in her wrapped around her heart promising she probably couldn't have managed the same. If she'd dared try to get Zeus to do something he didn't want to she'd be vaporized for sure, and Arteims likely wouldn't be able to stop him. Perhaps just take revenge on some other child of his.

Hades wore black armor and a cloak the color of fresh blood. On top of his pale head was the helm of darkness: a crown that radiated pure terror. It changed shape as I watched—from a dragon's head to a circle of black flames to a wreath of human bones. But that wasn't the scary part. The helm reached into my mind and ignited my worst nightmares, my most secret fears. I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide, and I could tell the enemy army felt the same way. Only Kronos's power and authority kept his ranks from fleeing.

Hades smiled coldly. "Hello, Father. You're looking . . . young."

Alex snorted in delight. "Chiron and Kronos cheating death by the centuries and refusing to share their secrets."

"Please stick to his tail curlers instead of the body possession," Magnus sighed.

"I'll consider both backburners if I have to ponder my mortality," she promised.

"Hades," Kronos growled. "I hope you and the ladies have come to pledge your allegiance."

"Can we just stop for a moment and appreciate this though," Will smiled lovingly from the book to Nico. "Percy's been trying to get an Olympian there since all this started, and Nico show's up with three!"

"One, and two-ish," Annabeth politely corrected. Will ignored her.

"I'm over here laughing he called them ladies. Didn't know Kronos had a polite bone in his body. Probably had to steal it from Luke," Magnus chuckled.

"Yes, yes, the kid's persuasive and deserves a purple plastic crown you can build him in arts and crafts when we get back," Thalia sighed. "We're almost done with this one, can we please focus just a bit more?" Percy's memories were nearly fully restored and they could finally stop talking about Luke and move on to Jason's life, a win win to her as far as she could see.

"I was focusing on important details," Will protested, but Thalia kept reading since his point was clearly made and Nico gave his hand an affectionate squeeze to encourage him letting it go. He really didn't want Will to start hanging banners or something crazy over everything he did. This was more than enough attention for him.

"I'm afraid not." Hades sighed. "My son here convinced me that perhaps I should prioritize my list of enemies." He glanced at me with distaste. "As much as I dislike certain upstart demigods, it would not do for Olympus to fall. I would miss bickering with my siblings. And if there is one thing we agree on—it is that you were a TERRIBLE father."

"Priorities," Percy said in delight before snorting with laughter.

"We take the wins we can get around here," Annabeth chuckled along.

"True," muttered Demeter. "No appreciation of agriculture."

"Mother!" Persephone complained.

Hades drew his sword, a double-edged Stygian blade etched with silver.

"Oh great, he did finish that," Thalia voiced her mild disgust she'd held in at the time.

"You know, to be fair to him," Alex offered, "at least he decided to show it off now when he was least likely for the other gods to have a fit over it."

"I guess," Thalia agreed it had still been a terrible idea on Persephone's part.

"Did anyone ever thank you for design rights on that?" Will asked Nico in amusement.

Nico gave a sardonic laugh as answer and Will wasn't even surprised.

Annabeth at least knew of this story, Percy had given her a brief summary anyways about the potential problems in his next IM, but the fact that they all seemed to know about it made her eyes dart again with envy to the other books she'd missed out on. The jealousy that they all knew parts of Percy's life better than her when she'd held that position for so long before Rachel had seemed to push her out.

She knew in her head it was ridiculous and unfounded to feel this way, but she still tightened her hand in Percy's and sighed in relief when he returned the feeling.

"Now fight me! For today the House of Hades will be called the saviors of Olympus."

"I don't have time for this," Kronos snarled.

"He'll make time," Jason said viciously. Nico and Pluto had been ignored to long. He felt a burst of pride and was restraining himself from hugging Nico for managing to do this.

He struck the ground with his scythe. A crack spread in both directions, circling the Empire State Building. A wall of force shimmered along the fissure line, separating Kronos's vanguard, my friends, and me from the bulk of the two armies.

"What's he doing?" I muttered.

"Sealing us in," Thalia said. "He's collapsing the magic barriers around Manhattan—cutting off just the building, and us."

Sure enough, outside the barrier, car engines revved to life. Pedestrians woke up and stared uncomprehendingly at the monsters and zombies all around them. No telling what they saw through the Mist, but I'm sure it was plenty scary. Car doors opened. And at the end of the block, Paul Blofis and my mom got out of their Prius.

Percy's heart crawled into his throat. He wished Nico would return the favor right about now and jab a sword into his throat, that would feel less painful than this. How Paul would have looked around and seen their home destroyed, much like Percy had once done to his school. He'd know immediately this was all Percy's fault, because he hadn't been able to stop this.

And his mom...gods his mom had finally crossed the line right into his world. Last time she'd been face to face with a monster, it had been Hades to drag her down into his domain in a shower of gold. The Minotaur showing up yesterday, then Hades showing up now, it was all coming back a little to easily. Like he should have felt the rain pounding down around him and Grover bleating for food.

"No," I said. "Don't . . ."

My mother could see through the Mist. I could tell from her expression that she understood how serious things were. I hoped she would have the sense to run. But she locked eyes with me, said something to Paul, and they ran straight toward us.

Percy was shaking his head slowly from side to side, wishing he could deny those words existed, that if he closed his eyes long enough he could imagine them getting back in their car and driving away to safety with no more dents in it thanks to him.

I couldn't call out. The last thing I wanted to do was bring her to Kronos's attention.

Fortunately, Hades caused a distraction.

"I think I finally forgave your dad at that moment," Percy tried to mutter loud enough Nico could hear, but he knew how faint his voice sounded. The blood rushing through his ears made everything seem quieter.

Nico heard him and smiled. Maybe next time Percy wouldn't try to lop off his head if they needed to visit the Underworld again.

He charged at the wall of force, but his chariot crashed against it and overturned. He got to his feet, cursing, and blasted the wall with black energy. The barrier held.

That was still pretty terrifying on many levels, Magnus decided, only minorly pleased he wasn't shaking in a ball of fright at that much power being thrown around. It helped to remember that they, at least their kids, could use that power for good. That Hades was actually trying to help.

But still his skin crawled and he rubbed his hands together at the idea of how much power Kronos had put into that holding Annabeth inside. Had Luke ever stood a chance once the Lord of Time decided he'd found his host body?

"ATTACK!" he roared.

The armies of the dead clashed with the Titan's monsters. Fifth Avenue exploded into absolute chaos.

Mortals screamed and ran for cover. Demeter waved her hand and an entire column of giants turned into a wheat field. Persephone changed the dracaenae's spears into sunflowers.

Thalia couldn't help a laugh of revenge for those two turning that power on the right enemy. It wouldn't stop them doing it to her again in the future if she ticked them off, but it was nice to know they didn't reserve that for her.

Nico slashed and hacked his way through the enemy, trying to protect the pedestrians as best he could.

It was such a small detail for Percy to notice during the melee, but Will smiled that he had. Not that Nico was just fighting the monsters, but that the was ducking in the way of the people running, to get at certain monsters and keep their attention.

My parents ran toward me, dodging monsters and zombies, but there was nothing I could do to help them.

"Nakamura," Kronos said. "Attend me. Giants—deal with them."

He pointed at my friends and me. Then he ducked into the lobby.

"He what?" Jason demanded, looking as offended as if someone had ripped his shirt away. "He, delegated out, that's not, he-"

"If Percy wasn't going to kill him before, he definitely will now. Boy hates to feel dismissed," Thalia chuckled in agreement.

For a second I was stunned. I'd been expecting a fight, but Kronos completely ignored me like I wasn't worth the trouble. That made me mad.

"Yep, there it is," Annabeth smiled along as Percy clutched his pen and looked as likely to throw it at Luke's head as he would lop it off as Riptide.

The first Hyperborean giant smashed at me with his club. I rolled between his legs and stabbed Riptide into his backside. He shattered into a pile of ice shards. The second giant breathed frost at Annabeth, who was barely able to stand, but Grover pulled her out of the way while Thalia went to work.

She sprinted up the giant's back like a gazelle, sliced her hunting knives across his monstrous blue neck, and created the world's largest headless ice sculpture.

"A very niche talent I'm sure you'll find a market for," Alex chuckled.

"I'll ask Sally if she knows any places still looking for morbid pieces," she grinned.

I glanced outside the magic barrier. Nico was fighting his way toward my mom and Paul, but they weren't waiting for help.

Percy had never given someone such a grateful look in his life. Nico just dipped his head in understanding. He could count on one hand the amount of mortals he knew. He'd defend Paul and Sally as he would any of those people fleeing on the street, but just as he knew he'd instinctively throw his power around Will again if he sensed danger, he'd go out of his way to keep an eye on two people that had shown him such rare kindness.

Paul grabbed a sword from a fallen hero and did a pretty fine job keeping a dracaena busy. He stabbed her in the gut, and she disintegrated.

"Going commando indeed," Alex murmured in appreciation in the deafening silence of the room. How did things always keep managing to get worse around here that made her feel better, high on that kind of chaotic power?

"Paul?" I said in amazement.

He turned toward me and grinned. "I hope that was a monster I just killed. I was a Shakespearian actor in college! Picked up a little swordplay!"

Magnus had a very intense look on his face as he waved his hands around for a moment. If that wasn't the sign for 'mental pain,' it should be.

"What did he think he stabbed if not a monster?" Jason asked in droll amusement.

"Acting apparently teaches you a hell of a lot more interesting skills than I ever thought," Nico chuckled.

"Hence the plays are such a big hit, the kids really get into those sword moves they practice," Will beamed.

Percy groaned and flipped Will off while Magnus just jabbed at Jason that had been his personal ire here and Annabeth smiled fondly for them. She had a pretty good guess what mortals saw in place of monsters, and it was usually bad enough they didn't want their normal kids around it.

I liked him even better for that, but then a Laistrygonian giant charged toward my mom. She was rummaging around in an abandoned police car—maybe looking for the emergency radio—and her back was turned.

"Mom!" I yelled.

She whirled when the monster was almost on top of her. I thought the thing in her hands was an umbrella until she cranked the pump and the shotgun blast blew the giant twenty feet backward, right into Nico's sword.

"Team work!" Will whooped with joy, nearly crushing Nico's neck he jumped so much in place.

"We really should look into putting a gun range around camp or something, that thing worked like a charm, though it was a bit to loud to be practical in our line of work," Nico smiled as he wrapped his fingers securely around Will's arm to relieve the pressure but keep him there.

"Chiron's going to invest in my catapult idea one day, slingshot them at minimum after this," Alex nodded with confidence.

"Nice one," Paul said.

"When did you learn to fire a shotgun?" I demanded.

My mom blew the hair out of her face. "About two seconds ago. Percy, we'll be fine. Go!"

Somehow that made it more terrifying and hilarious as Annabeth slumped over in her seat laughing like she hadn't been able to. Percy put his arm back around her and shook his head in exasperation. Next chapter of his life his mom might teach him how to be the Lone Ranger and he'd feel the same about that as he did now. At least Annabeth would get some bonding out of it. If she wasn't worried about this, than he knew he'd come back down from that building and his parents were going to be okay.

"Yes," Nico agreed, "we'll handle the army. You have to get Kronos!"

"Come on, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth said. I nodded. Then I looked at the rubble pile on the side of the building. My heart twisted. I'd forgotten about Chiron. How could I do that?

"Considering the last five seconds of your life," Annabeth promised as she gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, "I don't think he'll think less of you for it."

He nodded and smiled for a moment as she leaned her forehead against him before taking a breath as he watched the last page in Thalia's hand run out of words. Gods, after all this time, he still didn't feel ready to deal with what was coming next. A final confrontation, one way or the other.

"Mrs. O'Leary," I said. "Please, Chiron's under there. If anyone can dig him out, you can. Find him! Help him!"

I'm not sure how much she understood, but she bounded to the pile and started to dig. Annabeth, Thalia, Grover, and I raced for the elevators.

"I finished," Thalia said with regret as she looked over to Nico to hand it over to him.

He frowned, hesitating to get up and take it. He'd have to drop Will's arm, though he'd put it right back when he sat down like usual.

He'd have to read about Kronos dying, a perverse pleasure he'd enjoy from anyone but him. He was already so very tired of the cosmic joke where he would apparently continue to keep getting the chapters where everyone died.

PJOPJOPJO

Not a long chapter, but easily one of my favorites of the series. Nico, Thalia, Chiron and Sally all getting such badass moments, the chaos, I really do just eat this up and come back craving more.

#pjo #Percy Jackson #Thalia Grace #Jason Grace #Annabeth Chase #percabeth #nico di angelo #solangelo #will solace #alex fierro #magnus chase #fierrochase

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abhainnwhump · 1 year ago

Text

I'll Make You Mine Masterlist

Read on Wattpad and AO3

NIGHTMARE is a sadistic bastard, that's just a fact. His goal is to corrupt Dream's soul and prevent the Doodlesphere from feeling positive emotions ever again. He has a new plan to do it. His brother is smart enough to know his games, but one of his friends isn't.

INK doesn't know what to think of the letter on his nightstand. It only added onto the strange missing things and nightmares he's been having. Was Nightmare asking him on a date? Pfft, that was ridiculous, there was no way- wait. When did he get so pretty? When did Nightmare get so perfect?

DREAM has the hope of the entire multiverse in his hands. With their best friend and Protector of the Doodlesphere missing, they have to do both Ink's job and their own, along with making sure no one else goes missing. He's stressed and exhausted, but he can't rest now. Come on Dream, stay . . . awake . . .

Content warnings:

- Abusive Inkmare

- Gore

- Graphic body horror

- Medical experimentation without anesthesia; we die like half the characters in this story.

- Physical and psychological torture

- Traumatic events

- HEAVY brainwashing/conditioning

- Stockholm Syndrome/Lima Syndrome

- Dehumanization/objectification

- Major character deaths

- Specific warnings I will put on the chapters that need them.

Chapters:

1. Sadistic Experiment: Nightmare

2. High on Sweetness: Ink

3. The Puppeteer's Warning: Nightmare

4. Nightmares Don't Mean Anything: Ink

5. Last Minute Preparations: Nightmare

6. Let's Get This Over With: Ink

7. Should've Could've Would've: Dream

8. Lure into the Darkness: Nightmare

9. True Colors . . . Or Lack Of: Ink

10. Every Action has Consequence: Dream

11. Perfect Backup: Nightmare

12. Make Me Your Masterpiece: Ink

13. Killer's Twisted Surprise: Dream

14. Behavior Modification: Nightmare

15. Toys Don't Talk: Ink

16. Candy Corruption: Dream

17. The Battle for Birdtale: Nightmare

18. Guardian of Nothing: Ribbon

19. Rainbows Over Shadows: Dream

20. Stitch by Stitch: Nightmare

21. Welcome to the Show: Ribbon

22. Mind Sickness: Dream

23. No More Denial: Nightmare

24. A Night to Remember: Ribbon

25. The Final Star Sans Standing: Dream

26. Backstabbing Crash: Nightmare

27. I Can Fix Him: Ribbon

28. New Ally New Plan: Dream

29. For Our Future: Nightmare

30. Captive to Queen: Ribbon

31. Into the Castle of Night: Dream

32. Restore the Balance: Nightmare

33. Better Late than Never: Ribbon

34. A Darker Lie: Dream

35. Heart Made of Lead: Nightmare

36. Pastel Redesign: Ribbon

37. Nightmare's Labyrinth: Dream?

38: Final note

Art:

Ribbon's (Doll!Ink) Reference Sheet

Human Ribbon Reference Sketch

Ribbon Apology Doodles

Azurem's Ribbon Art

Shadorio's Ribbon Art

Azurem's Ribbon + Blossom Art

Azurem's Chapter 20 Ribbon Art

Depravitycorner's Ribbon + Blossom Art

Shadorio's "Nightmare Throwing Error off a Balcony in Chapter 24" Art

Azurem's Human Ribbon Art

Artisticauras' Ribbon Art

Artisticauras' Ribbon Profile Pic

Inkedartdragons' Ribbon and FTFO Ink Art

KK_TheAnimator's Ribbon and Nightmare Art on Twitter

Shipanhookq's 'Better than This' Oneshot

Related Asks:

Prompt: Killer wants to hang out with Cross (canon, takes place between chapters 31 and 33)

Prompt: Nightmare is a racist

Prompt: Nightmare misgenders Ink

Prompt: Nightmare misgenders Ink: Electric Boogaloo

Prompt: Nightmare misgenders Ink: The Empire Strikes Back

Prompt: Nightmare misgenders Ink: Ribbon officially becomes goth

Prompt: Nightmare misgenders Ink: Separate the Star Sanses

Prompt: Nightmare tortures Ink and becomes ableist

Prompt: What if Ink asked for help with the letter back in Chapter 4?

Prompt: Dream is 110% Done with Nightmare's Shenanigans.

Prompt: Nightmare Surrenders for Ribbon

Prompt: Possible Cross x Killer x Dream

Prompt: Possible Cross x Killer x Dream 2: Dream is Pissed off

Splatoon Classes

Ribbon's Favorite Song

Headcanon: Ribbon's Seasonal Outfits

Ribbon + Blossom take over Wattpad

Nightmare's Villain Song

No Hope for Ink

Ribbon's Birthday

Chapter 37's Inspiration

Clarification on Ribbon's Happiness

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ghostboneswrites2 · 9 months ago

Text

Doe Eyes || CH4 - Worth Being Sore Over

See CH1 for warnings! || Chapter list || Masterlist

Thirty days had passed. You marked each day in a little notebook, and wrote down a song title for each day. Aside from Beth's occasional singing, you hadn't heard real music in a long time. Music was the thing you missed most from the world before, and you thought it would be a good method to keep music alive. Even if you couldn't hear it, you could remember it. The songs weren't even necessarily songs you likes, just the ones you remembered.

Day 28 - Don't Fear the Reaper ~ Blue Oyster Cult

Day 29 - Nights in White Satin ~ The Moody Blues

Day 30 - 21 Guns ~ Green Day

You guys had a run to make, so you scribbled your entry quickly and got dressed, grabbed a bite, chugged some water, and did a few stretches. You had learned the hard way how sore you could get doing so much labor with no warm up. So, every day you stretched.

The council was wary of you at first. Michonne recognized you from the time the Governor sent you after her with Merle, who you learned some time ago was dead, and she made her concerns known. Brandy stuck up for you, though, reminding them that it was you who hadn't gone after her when you could have. You also reminded them that you were on guard when they broke in to rescue Glenn and Maggie, and you didn't go after them. You asked to prove yourself and you did, taking down seven or eight walkers outside the fence on your own with just a crowbar. It worked, and you got to earn your place. So, when you were called upon to make a run with the group, you didn't protest.

Brandy hated it, though.

"You're really gonna go?" She asked you as you made sure your bag was empty to ensure plenty of space for loot.

"We've been over it." You shrugged. "Every single time, might I add. This is my job. It's how I earn my keep."

"There are so many jobs that need done around here." She argued. "I mean, I'm up to my ears in laundry. Why the hell are there only three of us on laundry duty? There are like a thousand people here!"

"A thousand?" You laughed. "Try again."

"Details aren't the point! Just stay and do a normal job!" She pleaded.

"This is a normal job, Brandy." You told her, stepping past her and exiting your cell.

"No it's not. It's like, betting with your life or something every time you go."

"Come on, stop being such a drama queen. We haven't had a single incident the entire time we've been here." You sighed. When her glare was unrelenting you decided to lay a hand on her arm and offer her a half smile. "Chillax, cowgirl. We're professionals and shit."

She laughed at that and shook her head.

"You better come back in one piece." She scolded.

"Always do!" You chirped as you skipped away before she could protest any further.

----

"Just give it a second." Daryl said after banging on the glass outside the grocery store to lure out some walkers.

"Okay, I think I got it." Zach announced.

"Got what?" Michonne asked, walking up behind him. You raised your eyebrows at him, awaiting his response.

"I've been trying to guess what Daryl did before the turn." He said.

"He's been tryin' to guess for like six weeks." Daryl complained.

"Yeah, I'm pacing myself." Zach defended. "One shot a day."

"Alright, shoot." Daryl sighed.

"Well, the way you are at the prison," Zach began. "You being on the council, you're able to track.. You're helping people but you're still being kind of.." He trailed off for a second, gathering his thoughts. "Surly." He nodded. "Big swing here... Homicide cop."

Michonne started laughing, and you couldn't help but stifle a laugh yourself.

"What's so funny?" Daryl asked defensively.

"Nothing." Michonne shook her head, still smirking. "It makes perfect sense."

"Actually, the man's right." Daryl nodded. "Under cover."

"Come on, really?" Zach asked.

"Yup. I mean, I don't like to talk about it, 'cause it's a lot of heavy shit, you know?"

"Dude, c'mon. Really?" Zach scoffed as Daryl turned his head away and smirked a little. He turned his head back to Zach and gave him a look. One of those 'be fucking for real' type looks. "Okay. I'll just keep guessing, I guess."

"Yeah, you keep doin' that." Daryl nodded.

A walker slammed up against the glass, snarling. You scrunched your nose in disgust at its bloated neck and flaky rotten skin.

"We gonna do this, detective?" Michonne asked sarcastically.

"Let's do it!" Daryl said, strutting toward the entrance.

The group of you cleared the walkers that crowded up inside, hungry for your flesh.

"Alright." Sasha breathed. "We go in, stay in formation for the sweep. After that, you all know what you're supposed to look for. Any questions?"

"Was there any time that you weren't the boss of me?" Tyreese asked.

"You had a few years before I was born." She teased.

You shook your head and smiled at the siblings bantering as you guys filed inside. You pulled your bag off your shoulder and began searching the aisles for hygienic things, like soap, first aid, pads and tampons, diapers, lotions, just whatever. It wasn't long before a loud crash erupted, and you all rushed to find Bob stuck under a shelf of wine. As soon as you all went to help him, walkers started falling through the roof.

"Uh, we should get out of here." Glenn said.

A walker fell down on Glenn but he fought it off and shot it. They just kept coming. You looked around frantically, unsure what the next move was. A walker came up on your side and you whacked it once, then twice, and down it went. Thanks, crowbar, you thought to yourself.

You decided to just keep taking them down, until someone shouted some order into the chaos. You definitely couldn't leave anyone behind. You noticed Daryl and Zach working to get Bob out from under the shelf, so you hurried over to help. When the weight was lifted just enough, Bob slithered out from under it. Unfortunately, so did a walker, and it took a big chunk out of Zach's leg.

You all froze, stunned. Thirty days of good luck, and of course you had to witness the first tragedy in a month. The walkers swarmed him, taking bites from anywhere they could reach, including his face. You gagged at the grotesqueness, but ultimately you all had to go and preserve your own lives. You were teary eyed as you all made your escape.

The ride back was a solemn one. Nobody spoke, and you personally were filled with dread. Who was gonna tell Beth about her boyfriend?

"What about Beth?" You asked, clearing your throat first to break the silence.

"What about her?" Michonne asked.

"Who's gonna tell her? About Zach?"

"Me." Daryl grunted.

----

"His face?" Brandy asked in horror. She shook her head as she passed the wine you snagged back to you after taking a sizeable gulp. You nodded and tilted the bottle back, chugging a few mouthfuls for yourself. You and Brandy shared a cell, partially for space conservation but mostly because Brandy said it would be just like sharing a dorm in college. You wouldn't know, you never made good enough grades for a college.

"Yeah, man. It was sick. I can't get the image out of my head, you know? He was just screaming in agony and we couldn't do anything but run."

"Well, get some rest. We both need it." She sighed. You agreed as you closed the wine and climbed up to your bunk. You didn't get much sleep, though. Your thoughts ran rampant, and you weren't drunk enough to quiet them. You tossed and turned for a while, earning a few complaints from Brandy, but your eyes eventually fluttered shut.

The next morning you woke with a headache. Brandy was still asleep, so you went and found some instant coffee and made yourself some with room temperature water. No sugar, no cream, exactly how you didn't like your coffee, but at least it was caffeine. You were always more of an energy drink person, anyways.

You yawned and took a sip, rubbing your eyes. D Block was always quiet in the mornings. You heard shuffling walking toward you but you didn't look up. You assumed whoever it was, they were just as groggy as you. No need for chitchat. That was, until you heard that familiar guttural hissing. Your head snapped up and your heart dropped.

"Shit!" You shouted. "Fuck! What the fuck!"

You jumped up, dropping your coffee. Quick thinking wasn't always your strong suit. Your first idea was to throw a chair at them -- the two walkers that were headed straight for you, that is -- but of course in a prison they were all bolted to the ground. Your next closest option was a coffee mug, which did no damage when you chucked it at it's head. That was when you realized it was a familiar head, the kid with the glasses that always followed Carl around.

"Shit, man." You breathed. "How'd you die?"

Gunfire and screams followed shortly after. People filed in with guns as chaos ensued, gunning down walkers and being taken down by them. Rick and Daryl rushed in, so did Carol and Glenn, and eventually with their joint efforts the walkers were taken down. Lizzie and Mica's dad was bit, and Carol tended to him. You searched around for Brandy and found her crying on her cot.

"The hell was that?" You asked in disbelief as you plopped down beside her.

"How did they get in?" She cried.

"No clue." You sighed. "If it's not one thing, it's another."

At least I'm awake now, you thought.

----

Patrick died from some kind of flu, that was what started it. Now you were all quarantined to D Block, just in case it spread. How funny was it that a common flu could end a life so quickly. Patrick was fine yesterday, and so was Charlie. It killed fast. You and Brandy decided if you were confined to a cell, you'd finish off the wine and play the uno cards you took from the library.

"Draw four." Brandy gloated triumphantly.

"Asshole." You grumbled, pulling four cards from the deck.

"You know, if I survived all this, just to get taken out by a fucking flu, I'm havin' a personal conference with the big man upstairs when I get there." Brandy said.

"Oh yeah? What makes you think that's where you're going?" You wondered.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" She inquired.

"Didn't you know? All rich people go to hell." You joked. She rolled her eyes.

"You're a real sore loser, you know that?" She said. You glared at her. "Uno." She smirked.

"I'm just sad." You admitted, throwing your cards down. "Thirty good days, and then like ten tragedies within twenty four hours."

"Yeah." She nodded. "That's a loss worth being sore over."

#daryl x reader #twd daryl #daryl dixon #daryl x female reader #the walking dead daryl #daryl fanfiction #daryl twd #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl x y/n #daryl x you

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