#roman is in need of medical attention

[raya-hunter01]

Not My Sister's Keeper Pt. 6

Roman X OC(Kara)

Jey Uso X OC (Tia)

Rating: 18+

Warning: Smut; sex, fluff, couple arguing, Jealousy, infidelity, pregnancy

Roamn’s wife recently left medical school and returned home to save her marriage. Upon her return, she finds out things are not what they seem. Her sister is pregnant by her best friend Jey Uso, who is also Roman’s cousin, and her husband is acting suspicious.

What happens when a conversation overhead on a baby monitor blows her world apart?

Six Months Later

Pensacola, Fl

Roman's House

That’s it….Ten years and it’s over just by signing some papers," I said as my mom sat beside me while I looked at a copy of the divorce papers.

“Roman, you messed up and what you did was unforgivable. This is all that should matter to you right now,” my mother said placing Logan in my arms as I sat her on my lap.

Her little smile as she put her tiny fist in her mouth made my heart smile.

 “I know princess, granny needs to hurry up your bottle, don’t she?” I said chuckling as she laughed at the sounds coming out of her mouth as I gently bounced her on my lap.

“Granny only got two hands and she’s coming.”

“I’m just kidding Ma, I’m happy you here and don’t know what I’d do without you and Ma Rebecca. I just hoped that Kara and I could have work things out, it wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

“Son, I’mma need you to snap outta this because this little girl needs her father, and she needs you focused on her. She already ain’t got a damn mama if we keeping it real,” my mom said cutting me deep with her words, but it was true.

I had got Tia transferred to Raw to get her outta my hair, which has been a godsend. She sees Logan whenever the mood hits or she needs something. She still won’t sign over her rights…

“I am focused on her. I’ve gotten my schedule lighter. She going to start traveling with me..I got that part mama; I just need Kara now.”

“Roman! Kara is not going to help you raise a baby that is not only a reminder that you betrayed her, but its mother is her sister! Now you starting to scare me with your delusion. It’s over son and you set this all in motion…

"Mama, I know-"

"Deal with it and figure out a way to get that fool to sign over her rights. Hell, call your lawyer back and tell him you want to go for full custody and don’t give her no money,” she said, giving me Logan's bottle before leaving the room without another word.

“I guess it’s just us, huh, baby girl?” I asked feeding her as she gripped my hand greedily sucking her bottle

Taking my mother’s advice, after feeding Loogan and burping her, I quickly shot my lawyer a text to go ahead with getting Tia served.

Hopefully, he could get it done today before she leaves out for Raw later on today.

After laying Logan down I went on Instagram and saw Jey had posted a live and had pinned it to his page. Being nosey, I clicked on it and instantly wished I didn’t.

Jey was filming the highway, the road almost seemed deserted the Boston skyline in view. I knew it well from the few times I had visited Kara.

As I was about to get off, I heard a familiar laugh as Piece of my love by Guy began playing in the background.

“It's 5 am, we out here Boston! What ya’ll know bout ridin’ round the city, listening to dat good old school music, just vibin’ wit yo’ people,” he said turning the camera on Kara who was driving and dancing in her seat.

“You can have a piece of my love,” she softly sang shooting Jey a quick glance with a smile when she saw he was recording her.  

“It’s waiting for you,” Jey said slyly finishing the lyric without missing a beat as Kara laughed and turned her attention back to the road shaking her head.  

“You ain’t ready for this Mr. Fatu,” Kara muttered under her breath as I growled.

“A’ight now, you know I stay ready,” he said chuckling, turning around showing Trin asleep with her head in Jimmy’s lap. “What’s up ya’ll,” Jimmy said nodding his head to the music.

Damn, I kinda miss the days of my cousins and I traveling and just vibin' without a care. It made the time go by and if I’m honest I missed them all.

“We’re almost there,” I heard Kara say as Jey flipped the camera to show his face. “A’ight, we out ya’ll, we gettin' ready to turn it in. Been a long ass flight, and we bout to all get some sleep,” he said abruptly ending the live.

“Motherfucker,” I whispered trying not to disturb Logan as she slept.

He just won’t give up, what right did he have even being in the car with her? A car I paid for…Sleeping in the house I’m paid for…

Damn, why couldn’t he stay away from her?

---

Kara’s Condo

Boston, MA

Kara’s Pov

“Jey, if you ask me one more time if I really want to come tonight I’mma slap the fuck outta you,” I said as he held his hands up in surrender.

“Aye, I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable. I know Tia gon’ be there,” he said as I shook my head.

“I’m going to watch your Raw debut, I ain’t worried about Tia and whatever drama she got going on,” I said reassuring him as he gave me a hug.

“I’ll see you later,” he whispered giving me a kiss on the cheek

“Ya’ll drive safe, I’ll see you in a bit,” I said as he picked up his bag, heading for the door.

“Sis, you comin’ right?” he asked as Trin smiled.

“Yes, I wouldn’t miss it. I’ll ride with Kara over there,” she said as he gave her a thumbs up before leaving.

“He’s such a goof, should have seen him in the car rental place,” Trin said as I laughed pouring us a glass of wine.

“Trin, he means well, don’t do him like that,” I said as she chuckled.

“I know he does and look at you defending your man.”

“He isn’t my man Trin.”

“You know I can’t wait for ya’ll to finally get together. Especially since you’ve already test drove the merchandise.” Trin said as I coughed, almost spitting out my wine as she laughed.

“I can’t believe you,” I coughed as she shrugged her shoulders.

“Aye, just calling it like I see it. You were riding him like you were at the rodeo weren’t you?”

“It was good too…Ugh, see, I hate I even told you. Now I’m thinking about it,” I laughed as Trin sipped on her wine unbothered.

“I’m just sayin’ if you need that itch scratched, Jey’s a willing participant.”

“Trin, in all seriousness though, I’m just trying to focus on getting back to me right now. I got a lot of shit to process before I even think about being somebody’s girlfriend.”

“I get it, you don’t want to take that energy and resentment into a new relationship,” Trin said as sighed in relief, someone finally got what I had been trying to say.

“Speaking of Roman, these the divorce papers, huh,” Trin said picking up the stack of papers off the table.

“Yep, it’s a done deal. I can breathe now,” I said sitting next to her and sipping on my glass of wine.

Roman and I went through therapy as suggested by our lawyers. It was terrible but I made it through. Roman was upset that I still wanted to go through with the divorce, but he didn’t contest it anymore.

“I can’t believe he sent you flowers,” Trin said reaching over to look at the note that was attached to the bouquet of red and white roses.

“Thank you for trying, I know I didn’t deserve it. Just know I will always love you and I’m always here. Maybe we can be friends someday -Roman.”

“Damn……Do you think you’ll ever forgive him?” Trin asked as I sighed putting down my glass.

“I think I forgave him the moment he broke down and cried in therapy about what happened. The more he talked, the more I realized at first, he was a victim in Tia’s game.”

“I can see that, but what about after the first time?”

“That’s where he has to take accountability, he made some choices that he’s going to have to deal with the consequences of and it’s no longer my problem,” I said as Trin nodded in understanding.

“Now…Tia on the other hand, I’m avoiding that bitch like the plague tonight. I don’t want to go to jail,” I said as Trin laughed.

“I feel you cause even though I got bail money you too cute for jail,” she said as I held up my glass and we toasted.

“Here’s to Jey and a night of celebration,” I said honestly happy for the first time in a long time.

I was going to see Jey tonight and for tonight none of the drama with Tia mattered. This was about Jey and his new beginnings as a singles wrestler.

-----

Monday Night Raw

Jey’s POV

“Man, I can’t believe I’m here,” I said nervously pacing as Jimmy shook his head at me.

“Aye, calm down and enjoy this moment. You gon’ be fine,” he said as I saw Tia coming over.

“Ah hell,” I whispered as Jimmy turned around chuckled. “You already know she gon’ try you.” Jimmy whispered as I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Man, I ain’t got time for this shit,” I whispered as Tia smiled walking past Jimmy as if he wasn’t there. “Well hello to you too, Tia,” he said as she shot him a sly smile before turning back to me.

“Hey, Jey long time no see,” she said with a flirty smile.

“You just really have you no shame,” Jimmy asked as she rolled her eyes at him.

“I’m just talking to him, no harm in that,” she whispered as I looked at her in disbelief.

“Jimmy, give us a minute, Uce,” I said as he got up and left us alone.

“Jey, I just thought since you’re going to be on the Raw brand we could catch up some time,” Tia said as I looked at her like she was crazy.

“Uh, I don’t even like you like that,” I said as she walked closer.

“I’m just trying to welcome you to Raw, I know it gets lonely on the road. Maybe we could reconnect and make some magic happen,” she said touching my chest as I backed away.

“Tia, I think you need help…Like mental help, your obsession with Kara and the people she loves ain’t normal,” I said trying to wrap my brain around how crazy she was.

“I’m not worried about her, I know I’m the better woman and you know it too,” she said trying to put my arms around her as I backed away with my hands in the air.

“Look, don’t ever try me like dat ever again. You know I love Kara and unlike Roman I’m hip to your bullshit. Stay away from me and Kara,” I said as she frowned.

“Kara don’t love you, if she did, ya’ll would have been together years ago,” Tia said spitefully with a smirk.

“Tia tend to your own business, and be a mom to your child. You know the one who hasn’t heard from you in months while you parade on this show and in the streets like a cat in heat,” I said as the smirk fell from her face.

“I have settled that with her father and it’s none of your concern. Still, Kara’s lap log I see,” Tia said as I chuckled.

“Still jealous of your sister, I see,” I said as she slapped me.

“Tia…… Get some help,” I said taking myself out of the situation and walking away from her. “Jey! I’ll see you soon, the road gets lonely!” she yelled as I kept walking.

I needed to get ready for the show and I didn’t have time for her craziness.

“Hey, what was all of that Jey?” Tom, who was one of the higher ups asked, stopping me before I got to my dressing room.

Great, the last thing I needed was him taking this back to Paul causing an issue. I just got here and didn’t need no drama.

“Uh, just some personal stuff, but I took care of it,” I said as he nodded. “Well, that was really unprofessional how she was acting. That was sexual harassment.”

“Look, I gotta get ready for the show. It’s all good Uce, I took care of it” I said trying to get him to drop the subject, but I knew by the look on his face it wasn’t going to be the last I heard about it.

---

Monday Night Raw

Kara’s POV

“Mom, you don’t have to throw me a party,” I said as Trin, and I pulled into the building.

“Sweetie, you got accepted back into medical school. We are celebrating and that’s final,” she said as Trin smiled.

“You know we game for barbecue, yo’ daddy can throw down. I’ll get Jimmy to do that Samoan dish you like too,” Trin added.

“The one with the pineapple chicken?” I asked as Trin nodded… “Oh, I’m there,” I said as Trin, and my mom laughed.

“Thanks for the reinforcements Trin. Sweetie, Logan will be here on Friday, but if you’re uncomfortable Janice can get her,” my mom said as I sighed.

“Mama, I will be fine. I know it’s your weekend to have Logan I wouldn’t do that,” I said as the line got quiet.

“I don’t want you to be overwhelmed baby,” my mom said as I gave Trin a small smile.

“It’s ok mom, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“Enjoy the show baby, and I’ll see you Thursday, love you.”

“Love you too mom,” I said, hanging up and taking a deep breath.

“You know it’s ok to not be ok,” Trin said as I parked the car.

“I’m ok…I just don’t see myself being heavily involved in Logan’s life. Does that make me a terrible person?” I asked as Trin looked at me with a sad smile.

“No, it makes you a person that has been hurt and your feelings are valid, but I also know you.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means if that baby needed anything you would make sure she had it,” Trin said as I bit my lower lip trying not to cry.

“I would, but I don’t see myself babysitting and doing all the other auntie stuff, it would be a constant reminder of everything,” I said as Trin nodded.

“Maybe as time passes you will feel different,” Trin said as we walked towards the talent entrance.

“I don’t think so Trin, even though she’s not to blame for what her parents did.” I said as Trin showed her ID and we got our passes from security.

“Well, let’s just enjoy tonight and worry about everything else later,” Trin said as we headed inside to get ready for the show.

“You won’t hear no complaints from me,” I said happy we could just go enjoy the show. No more Roman, Tia, or Logan talk.

------

Monday Night Raw

Jey’s POV

Man, the crowd is on fire and rocking, but it’s only one face I’m looking for right now and I can’t find her. Finally, after Sami left the ring, I spotted Kara in the third row wearing my hoodie.

Trin was beside her in a ball cap and her reading glasses, I had to give it to them they blended in well with the crowd. I’m glad too because the last thing I wanted was someone to take pictures of them and posting it online.

I can see the headlines now “Roman Reigns ex-wife attends Raw with TNA superstar Trinity.”

Getting out of the ring I signaled for Kara to head backstage as she nodded and whispered to Trin.

Once I saw them grab their things, I slowly made my way up the ramp. Everything was finally sinking in as the crowd continued to sing my music and I wanted to take it all in.

Tonight is something I will never forget, giving them one final wave I went backstage into gorilla and was met with a round of applause.

“Welcome to Raw Uce!” Cody said giving me a hug.

“Thanks, man I’m glad to be here, Uce,” I said looking around for Kara but didn’t see her. Where are they? I know they had their passes.

“Hey, don’t freak out, they made it back. Kara just didn’t want people in ya’ll business. Go down the hall and make a right, she’s there waiting for you,” Cody said as I smiled.

“Aye, good lookin’ out Uce,” I said shaking his hand before going to find Kara.

 Rounding the corner, there she was leaning up against the wall with her hands in her pockets.

“How did I do?” I asked as she looked at me with a smile, running towards me and jumping in my arms as I held her close.

“Amazing, I’m so proud of you,” she whispered against my ear as I sighed holding her tighter.

“Thank you for ridin’ wit me and believin’ in me.”

“E le aunoa ma le faavavau” she said as felt my heart swell.

“Always and forever,” I said as she looked at me with a shy smile.

Our moment was short lived as I saw Jimmy and Trin heading towards us. “Aye, that was awesome Uce,” Jimmy said as put Kara down and Trin came over to give me a hug.

“Alright now brother-in-law. That’s what I’m talking about.”

“Thanks, sis,” I said watching Kara as Jimmy put his arm around her as she welcomed his embrace, leaning her head against him.

 Releasing Trin from my embrace I saw a look of confusion pass Kara’s face for a second before she tried to play it off.

I looked over my shoulder and there in the corner hiding behind the curtain was Tia.

She was watching Kara like a hawk, almost envious. Something was wrong. Something wasn’t clicking in Tia’s head.

“She just won’t get the hint, huh?” Jimmy asked as I shook my head signaling for him to shut up.

“Get the hint about what?” Kara asked as I lightly pushed Jimmy.

“I handled it, why you even had to bring it up,” I hissed as he shook his head.

“Look at that fool over there staring at us, does it look like she understood what you said,” Jimmy countered as I sighed.

“I handled it, Uce.”

“Uh, can somebody tell us what’s going on?” Trin asked as Kara looked at me.

“Look, Tia came on to me, I shut it down, we exchanged some words and that was it,” I said as Kara chuckled, shaking her head at Trin, who seemed nervous.

“Now, remember what we talked about earlier Kara,” Trin said as Kara looked at her with a smile.

“Oh, I remember, I’m just gon’ go holla at her for a minute…. Excuse me,” Kara said walking towards Tia who was smirking.

“Kara it ain’t worth it,” I said as she walked up to Tia. “Hey sis, long time no see, it’s been about what…Six months,” Tia said with a smile.

Kara’s POV

“Yea, it has, and I see your still up to the same bullshit,” I said wanting to smack the smirk off her face.

“What? I just offered Jey a good time, the road can be stressful, especially on the man. You know that better than anyone right?” Tia asked as I chuckled at her lame attempt to rile me up.

“You should know by now offering your services to taken men never works out in your favor though, does it? I mean you get so desperate you let men call you by their wives names while they fuck you.” I said not caring who knew at this point.

“Damn…You get down like that Tia?” Jimmy asked as Trin sighed. “Jurdy, I’ll fill you in later, be quiet," she whispered as Tia had the nerve to look embarrassed.

“He’ll come to me…They all come to-”

“Look, I’mma keep it short and sweet because I don’t have time for your games.”

“Oou lil sis is hot because she knows if I want Jey, I could take him.” Tia said as I chuckled as I felt Jey behind me.

 “Keep your distance, Tia,” I said as she rolled her eyes.

“Oh, please,” she muttered as I felt the urge to knock her ass out.

 “Tia! Come near him again, and that last ass whoopin’ I gave you will feel like a walk in the park…Try me.” I hissed as Jey gently grabbed my hand unclenching my fist.

“Kara, let’s go” Jey said as I refused to move. “I look forward to it,” Tia taunted as Jey shook his head trying to put a little distance between me and Tia.

“Man, gon’ wit dat bullshit, Tia. You done did enough now,” Jey said as I stepped into her space as she nervously bit her lip.

“I’mma stomp yo’ ass in the ground, keep coming at me like you crazy.”

“Aye, Tia, I know you a couple chocolate chips short of a cookie, but you better find you something safe to do. That ain’t the move baby girl,” Jimmy said as Tia growled.

“I hate you bitch!”

“Hate….Nah, you love me….Love me so much you wanna be me and apparently want every dick that’s ever been inside me too,” I said casually as Jey cleared his throat putting his arm around my waist trying to hold me back.

“Been inside you! Twin, you done hit the homie and ain’t said shit!” Jimmy exclaimed as Trin sighed.

 “Jurdy, read the room, keep up, and shut the hell up,” she said as Jimmy got quiet.

“You nasty bitch!” Tia shouted as I smirked at her. “Nah, that would be you and your sour-ass pussy,” I said, as Jey pulled me close steering me away from Tia.

“A’ight, let’s go ma. We need to talk,” Jey said as I looked back at Tia as a stagehand approached her.

“Tia, bossman wants to see you,” he said as Tia plastered on a smile following him.

“I’ll see you soon Jey,” she laughed as I tried to get out of Jey’s embrace.

“Fuckin’ parasite,” I hissed as Jey pulled me into his locker room, locking the door behind us.

“Are you done?” he asked as I rolled my eyes irritated as hell.

“No…..She always is up to something, I just don’t understand,” I said as Jey took off his black jacket, tossing it on the couch.

Damn, he looked fine as hell…Focus Kara, you're mad right now.

“Don’t let it bother you, the stuff she doin’, it don’t even matter.”

“What do you mean it don’t matter? “I asked as a look of determination adorned his handsome face as he slowly came towards me, almost like a lion stalking its prey.

“You ain’t slick, you know what you be doing wit ya chest and tattoos all out,” I said as he laughed. “I'm serious, you can stay over there, sir.”  His smile making it hard for me to stay angry.

“I ain’t doin’ nothing,” he whispered closing the distance between us as I tried to remain strong.

 “Yes, you are, Jey,” I whispered, feeling like my heart race as he caressed my face with his hands. Closing my eyes, I felt the tension leaving my body simply from his touch.

“I’mma need you to realize something important,” he said as I melted even further into his touch.

“What do I need to realize?” I asked, his lips dangerously close to mine. “I only want you; I’ve always only wanted you,” he whispered our lips meeting in a searing kiss.

It had been six months since the last time our lips touched and the

Feeling lightheaded I clung to him as our tongues fought for dominance, with Jey winning in the end as I whimpered in need.

He had me Feenin’ for more as we reluctantly parted to catch our breaths.

“Kara, you ain’t gotta worry about Tia, I ain’t Roman. I ain’t jeopardizing being with you for nobody,” Jey said reassuring me as I nodded.

I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that until now.

“Jey, I don’t want you to feel obligated to do all this. Visting me every week, being there-” I started as he cut me off with a gentle kiss.

“When you’re ready, I’m ready. I ain’t goin’ nowhere,” he whispered wiping my tears I didn’t even know had fallen.

“You ain’t gotta cry no more, I got you….Until my last breath, I got you.”

“I know,” I whispered leaning against his chest enjoying being wrapped up in his arms.

Damn her..Damn me for allowing Tia to rile me up. I was making strides, but everything still had me fucked up.

Damn Tia and Roman for that matter….

“Do you want to go out with us to eat?” Jey asked as I chuckled looking at him. “Nah, ya’ll can go eat, I got to finish an assignment. Someone had me chauffeuring them around this morning before daylight, even had to take them at a rental this afternoon,” I joked as he laughed.

“Aye, we said thank you. But real talk, tomorrow I wanna take you out and spend some time wit you before we leave out on Wednesday,” he said as I smiled, actually looking forward to it.

“I’mma hold you to that,” I whispered, ignoring my vibrating phone in my back pocket.

-----

Kara’s Condo

Roman’s POV

“Pick up the phone Kara,” I muttered dialing her once again as it goes to voicemail.

“It’s your girl Kara, I’m busy so leave your message at the beep and I’ll get back with you.”

“Kara, just please call me back..I..I need to see you.”

Ending the call, I dialed her right back but this time it went straight to voicemail.

“Did you just ignore my call? Are you with him?…..You are…. Your with Jey ain’t you? Is he kissin on you?......Is he holdin’ you like I used too, dickin’ you down like me. Hmm….Hmm…..Answer the damn phone Kara!” I yelled, hanging up trying to calm myself down.

I tried to wait, but she playin’…Pulling out my spare key to her condo I let myself in.

Did she know I had a key? No…. But that is beside the point.

I felt resentful as I took in how she had the house decorated so welcoming.

“My beautiful family tree,” I muttered reading the letters above the painted tree on the wall of the living room. Pictures of her parents, her brother, even pictures of her and Jey throughout the years. Hell, Jimmy and Trin made the family tree wall.

“I can’t believe this shit,” I hissed, walking into Kara’s bedroom, getting even more pissed seeing Jey’s bag beside her bed.

“In my fucking house,” I muttered looking around the room.

That live from Jey rattled me so much this morning, I charted my jet this evening and flew straight here.

He really been in here, layin’ in this bed with Kara…My Kara…. I don’t give a damn what no divorce papers say…She’s still mine.

I needed to know how deep this shit was getting between Kara and Jey and I needed to know now.

Fucking him one time to get back at me is one thing but actually being in a relationship with him is taking shit too far.

 Hearing the door open, I sat in the chair by the bed. I didn’t care who was with her, we were going to talk.

“I’m fine Jey, I just got inside,” she said as I snarled. “I’m going to shower and finish up my assignment. Just bring me back a fry and a ginger ale. I’m not that hungry, it’s late.”

“Really? Oh, he just Mr. perfect, huh. Doin’ late night ginger ale runs,” I seethed quietly hearing the happiness in Kara’s voice.

“Ok I’ll see ya’ll in a few,” she said, ending the call as I heard her moving around the hall.

“That man,” I heard her sigh as I felt the jealousy within me burning deep.

I had to stifle a groan as she opened the door and I saw she had taken off her shirt. “What tha shit!” Kara screamed, covering herself with her shirt as I stood up.

“Kara, where you been?” I asked as she looked at me in confusion. Almost like she thought she was hallucinating.

“What the hell are you doing in my house Roman?!” Kara yelled turning on the light.

“I wanted to see how your little visit with my cousin was goin’ but you ain’t answered my question. Where you been, because Raw ended about two hours ago?” I asked, walking towards Kara as she put her shirt back on.

“First of all, who da fuck do you think you are! We’re divorced, where I am and who I’m with is none of your damn concern. Now how did you get in here?!” Kara yelled pissed off as I scoffed.

“I had this made before the landlord gave you the keys. I mean did you really think, I was gon’ let you be out here and not check in on you.” I said as she reached for the keys, but I put it back in my pocket.

Kara’s POV

“This ain’t checkin’ in, this is stalking. You shouldn’t be here at all! Give me the keys Roman!” I yelled, still in shock I had found him in my bedroom, sitting in here like a fuckin’ serial killer.

“Have you slept with Jey since that night?” Roman asked as I looked at him like he was crazy.

“That is none of your business, give me the key, Roman!” I yelled as he ignored me.

“Not until you tell me, then I’ll give it to you.”

“Have you been drinking?” I asked, smelling the alcohol on his breath as he came a little closer.

“I ain’t drunk, I am in control Kara. I got this shit, I only had a brandy on the plane.”

“I can’t tell you flew from Pensacola to Boston to ask if I’m fucking your cousin,” I said as he rolled his eyes.

“Are you fuckin’ him, it’s a simple question?!” Roman yelled as I sighed rubbing my temples.

“Answer me, Kara.”

“Do you see a ring on my finger..No you don’t because I am single. You made sure I became single when you stuck your dick in my sister and got her pregnant!” I screamed as Roman came even closer.

“Are you fucking Jey? It’s either yes or no Kara.”

“It’s none of your business, just give me the keys and leave Roman.”

“Just answer the question, Kara!” Roman screamed as I looked at him like he was crazy.

“Roman, I’mma need you to calm do-”

“I have tried and tried to get back together wit you and this is the thanks I get!  You out here with him in MY HOUSE that I’M PAYIN’ for!” Roman ranted as something inside me flipped.

“It’s MY HOUSE and I don’t owe you shit! Get out!.....Now Roman!”

His arrogant stance as he refused to move pissed me off even more. He really thinks he can control me..

“I ain’t leavin’ till you answer me,” he said as I nodded in understanding.

“Ok, I see I’mma have to remind you with who you dealin’ wit,” I said leaving the room.

“Where you goin’ Kara, I aint done talkin’ to you,” Roman said walking behind me as I went into the kitchen.

“I told you to get out, but you trippin’. You trippin’ hard but let me help you out, let me get on your level,” I said reaching in the drawer pulling out my large chef’s knife as Roman growled in frustration, but backed up a little.

“Really, so you gon’ stab me Kara?” he asked as I pointed the knife in his direction.

“Roman I promise you, we gon’ be on an episode of The First 48 if you don’t leave the keys and get outta my damn house!” I screamed as he sighed, reaching in his pocket putting the keys on the counter.

“Kara, we need to talk about Je-”

“I don’t want to talk to you…I want you out!” I cried as Roman sighed, turning around to leave. A wave of relief washing over me as I heard the door close.

Trying to control my tears I tried to take a few deep breaths as I looked at the keys on the counter.

He really had keys made to my house and came in here trying to tell me what to do.

Another reason I didn’t want his money everyone was advising me to take. He thinks he owns me.

“Definitely getting the locks changed,” I whispered heading to lock the front door, stumbling back in shock seeing Roman with his hands up in the air being held at gunpoint by Tia.

“Oh, hey sis, come on in and join the party, I mean you are the guest of honor after all,” Tia said as Roman looked back at me. His remorseful gaze pierced my soul as she smiled, pointing the gun at me.

"Oh, my God."

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[overrboarrd]

sanctuary [1]: initium novum

firefighter!roman reigns x azure clarke [oc]

warnings: bodily injury, slight cussing, mentions of a hospital

word count: 3.3k

a/n: we made it to chapter one! just a smooth little chapter to kick things off. pls forgive any medical errors in this chapter, i did research to the best of my ability. but anyways, i hope yall like it! happy reading <3

The mid-morning sun cast a golden hue over the winding suburban streets as Azure maneuvered her car down the narrow lane, the weight of her life packed in boxes behind her. The soft hum of the engine barely registered over the pounding in her chest as she approached her new house in Pensacola. 

She hadn’t told many people she was moving. And only her parents and her best friend, Jade, knew why. It wasn’t as if she could explain it easily. She didn’t even know if it was the right decision. All she knew was that the three years since her husband’s death had felt like drowning, and she was desperate for air. So she had left the life they had built together—left the house that was filled with echoes of their love, the memories of his laugh, the phantom touch of his hand on her skin—and driven away.

A new start. That’s what she needed. No ghosts here.

Her house was tucked in the back of a quiet neighborhood, isolated enough to provide peace but not so far removed that she’d feel entirely alone. As she pulled into the driveway, Azure cut the engine and sat for a moment, taking in the sight before her. The house was modest, a one-story home with a decently-sized porch and a yard that needed a little attention, but it was hers. Or it would be once she stepped out of the car and claimed it.

She didn’t move.

Not yet.

Instead, she let her gaze drift to the rearview mirror to look across the street, where another house stood. It was slightly larger than hers, and there were a couple of cars parked in front of it. Two men, tall, tattooed and muscular, stood on the front lawn, laughing over something while a little girl, no more than five years old, ran in circles all over the grass. A woman stood not too far from them, with a contagiously warm smile and beautiful deep brown complexion. 

Azure smiled faintly. She had always loved children. Being a pediatric nurse had brought her comfort over the years, a way to focus on helping others instead of drowning in her own grief. Maybe in this new place, she could find some semblance of herself again.

 A sudden vibration pulled her from her thoughts. Her phone screen lit up with a slightly graying man holding the 2-year-old version of herself, the name ‘Pops’ with a blue heart emoji sat at the top of the screen. Azure smiled, pressing the answer button.

“What’s goin’ on Tink?” Her father’s deep voice came through the line, warm and reassuring. “You all settled in yet?”

“Hey Pops,” she said, leaning back in the seat and closing her eyes for a moment, chuckling softly at the sound of her nickname before exhaling slowly. “Almost. I checked out of the hotel earlier this morning and grabbed most of my stuff from the storage place. I’m sitting in my car trying to muster the energy to take all these boxes.”

“Y’know, I would’ve been down there in a heartbeat to help if it wasn’t for this damn knee.” Her father’s voice was filled with regret, though she could hear the slight humor behind it. Eric had always been a man of action, being an Air Force veteran, and being stuck in recovery after knee surgery was a particular kind of torture for him.

“I know,” Azure said, a smile tugging at her lips. “It’s okay. I got this. You need to focus on getting better.”

“Well, I’ve got a new knee now, so I’m basically a bionic man,” he joked. “Once I’m fully up and runnin’, you won’t be able to keep me away.”

In the background, she could hear her mom, Anne, laughing.

“Bionic man? Chile, please,” her mom’s voice chimed in. “You’re more like the Tin Man from The Wiz, creaky joints and all. Next thing you know, you’ll need a can of oil just to get out the damn bed.”

“A ki-ki,” her dad replied, mockingly. “I might be old, but m’still quicker than you give me credit for.”

Azure laughed softly, the sound easing the tension in her chest. She could always count on her parents to make her feel better, no matter how much weight she was carrying. And right now, it felt like a mountain.

“How’s Ma doing?” Azure asked, knowing her mom could hear her.

“Surviving this old man, baby.” Anne called from the background, teasing as always. “Barely.”

“Be nice to him now,” Azure said, smiling as she imagined her mom giving her dad a playful shove. “You know you’d be lost without him.”

“Lost? I’d be free,” her mom shot back, chuckling.

“Sure you would,” her dad said dryly. “Anyway, you all settled in then?“

“Yeah, everything’s here. Might go out and grab a few more things later on.” Azure replied, leaning her head against the headrest, watching a couple of kids riding their bikes down the street. The neighborhood was peaceful, quiet. It was almost surreal how different it felt from her old life. “It’s a nice area, though. Feels... safe.”

Eric paused on the line, and Azure could sense what was coming next.

“You sure you’re okay? I mean... all this moving, leaving your job, your friends—it’s a big change. You don’t have to do it all alone, y’know?”

She bit her lip, grateful for his concern but also not wanting to get into the emotions she had been avoiding since making the decision to move. “I’m okay Pops. Really. It’s just... time. Time for something new. I think I need this.”

“I get it,” he said softly. “And you know your momma and I are just a phone call away if you ever need anything.”

“I know.” Azure’s voice caught slightly, but she cleared her throat. “I’ll call you guys later. Give Ma a hug for me.”

“I will. We love you baby .”

“Love y’all too.”

She ended the call and placed her phone in her lap, staring at the house again. Her new life, or at least the next chapter of it, was waiting behind that door. She just wasn’t quite ready to face it yet.

A gust of warm wind brushed against her face as she stepped out of the car, stretching her arms before looking up and down the street. Large trees lined the sidewalk and a variety of plants scattered across front lawns. It was so different from the city bustle she was used to. Azure tugged at the hem of her tank top, adjusting her sunglasses atop her head before taking a deep breath and heading towards the open trunk of her car. She began to place a few of the boxes on the ground, stacking them high enough to where she could carry them. She did her best to try to push the button that would close the trunk, before hearing a bit of commotion coming from across the street. 

“Go over there, you see her struggling!”

“Ow! Damn!”

“A’ight, a’ight! We goin’!” 

“Stop cussing in front of Audrey, Jey!” 

“Mmcht, that’s not even a bad word!”

Just as she managed to finally close her trunk, two men emerged from across the street with nervous yet easy-going smiles. They were dressed casually, both in basketball shorts and t-shirts, clearly enjoying the holiday weekend. The man, with two long cornrows and a wide grin, waved cheerfully. "You must be the new neighbor."

Azure forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as awkward as it felt before setting the boxes on the concrete. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“I’m Jimmy,” he said, extending his hand. “And this is my brother, Jey.” The other brother, with a freshly shaped up mullet, and his twin from what she saw, gave her a small wave before continuing to soothe the side of his arm. “We live across the street... well, technically, our cousin lives there.”

 “As much as we over there that might as well be our house too.” Jey adds. “We just watching our lil’ cousin while he’s on call today.” 

Azure’s brows furrowed slightly in confusion.

“Firefighter.” 

“Yeah, you’ll see him runnin’ up and down the street with his shirt off, flexin’ his muscles eventually,” Jimmy joked, nudging Jey, who laughed along.

“Aye, speak for yourself,” Jey teased. “Uce is way too serious now for all that.” Before Azure could respond, Jimmy leaned against her car with an easy smile. “Need help with your boxes? My wife saw you strugglin’ over here.” He nodded his head towards the front yard where the woman and little girl continued to play. “We could help unload your stuff, we got some muscle.” He continued, slapping Jey’s arm in the same reddened spot Naomi had smacked him in earlier. 

Azure blinked, taken aback by their sudden friendliness. “Oh, you really don’t have to—”

“Nah, we insist,” Jey said, waving off her protest and playfully raising his hand at his brother. “We already out here, and you look like you got a lot of boxes.”

Jimmy nodded. “Yeah, looks like you in for a long weekend. Plus you'll get to meet more people if you not buried under a mountain of cardboard.”

Azure laughed softly, the sound surprising even herself. It had been so long since she’d laughed with anyone besides her family, and for a moment, the tightness in her chest loosened. “Okay, fine. If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate the help.”

Jey clapped his hands before rubbing them together. “Yessir! Let’s get to it!”

She watched as Jimmy jogged across the street to say something to his wife before returning next to Azure’s car trunk. The twins grabbed the heaviest boxes and followed behind her as she unlocked her front door, holding it open as they stepped through. 

“You can just sit them down in here.” She pointed to the bare living room floor. 

They obliged, and the trio spent the next thirty minutes carrying Azure’s things into the house. As they hauled the last box inside, Azure took a moment and looked around. Her new home was still bare, with unpacked boxes scattered everywhere, but for the first time in a long while, it didn’t feel so overwhelming.

“Thanks so much, you guys,” she said, leaning against the doorframe. “I really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Jimmy replied. “We know how it is, moving to a new place and all. Speakin’ of which—” He exchanged a glance with Jey, who smiled before turning back to Azure. “We’re havin’ a uh, small get together for Labor Day in a few days, before the kids gotta go back to school. You should come. Meet some more folks.”

“Yeah,” Jey added. “And I’m grilling. Best steaks you’ll ever have in your entire life.”

Azure hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll think about it. I’ve got a lot to get through with the move, but I’ll see if I can make it.”

“No pressure,” Jimmy said with a grin. “Just good food, good people, maybe a couple of bad jokes from baby bro here.”

“Nah, that’s all you, Uce,” Jey chimed in, shaking his head, laughing. “The rest of us are hilarious.”

Azure laughed, feeling some of the earlier tension in her chest loosen. It had been a long time since she’d been around anyone who didn’t know her story, her loss. The weight of it usually hung in the air, but with these two, it was easy—light.

“Thanks for the invite. I’ll try to stop by,” she said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“No problem,” Jey replied. “And seriously, if you need help, just holla at ya uce!”

They exchanged goodbyes, and as Jimmy and Jey headed back across the street, Azure found herself watching them. The little girl, Audrey, ran to greet them, her small arms wrapped around Jimmy’s leg. Azure smiled again, the sight tugging at something deep inside her. She missed that kind of innocence, the unguarded joy children had.

She sighed, stepping back inside her house, the quiet suddenly pressing in around her again.

The move had been a good distraction, but the moment the door closed, the familiar pang of loss crept in. The weight she carried was never truly gone, even in new surroundings. She could feel it in the silence of the empty house.

But maybe this new place, this new life, could be different.

Maybe.

She removed her sunglasses from her head before putting her curly hair in a low bun, thinking of the cookout invitation. The idea of meeting new people was intimidating, but also strangely comforting.

She exhaled slowly. It was time to unpack, in more ways than one.

The emergency room was buzzing with activity, the usual rush of nurses, doctors, and paramedics filling the air with an almost palpable energy. The sterile smell of antiseptic hung in the air, a constant reminder that Azure was in a place of healing, yet one brimming with urgency. Azure stood beside Bianca, the lead nurse who was guiding her through her first few weeks at the hospital. Though she had worked at other medical facilities, Central Pensacola Children’s Hospital felt different. Everything was new—new routines, new people, and new expectations. The weight of her personal loss was something she carried, but the chaos of the ER was an easy distraction. She’d been a pediatric nurse for nearly five years, and while each day brought its own challenges, today felt different—more charged, somehow. Maybe it was the change of scenery, or maybe it was the lingering weight from the night before. Either way, she couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that had settled deep in her chest.

She glanced at her watch, noting that it had only been three hours into her shift, but it already felt like a long day. Just as Azure was about to take a breather, the familiar sound of an ambulance pulling up to the emergency entrance flooded her ears. Instinctively she straightened, refocusing her attention. Moments later, the doors swung open, and a team of paramedics rushed in, wheeling a stretcher with a little boy whose cries echoed through the hallway.

Azure felt something shift in the air as another man entered the room. His presence was powerful—he carried himself with a quiet, commanding energy, but understated—like a steady flame that didn’t need to burn brightly to be felt. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with long dark hair that was pulled back yet slightly tousled.

Bianca nudged Azure forward as they moved towards the patient. "That’s our guy," Bianca muttered softly, not bothering to hide the slight admiration in her voice. "Roman Reigns. One of the best firefighters in the city. Always brings them in safe."

Azure took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand, but as she approached the gurney, her eyes inadvertently met Roman’s.

Roman’s gaze lingered on her for just a moment longer than she’d expected before he shifted back to the child. "Possible broken arm. Fell off the jungle gym at the park," Roman explained, his voice deep and steady. He had done this countless times, and yet there was something almost gentle in the way he spoke about the boy’s injury. "He’s been in a lot of pain, but he’s stable."

Azure nodded, moving to the boy’s side. "Hey there, little man." she said softly to the boy, who looked up at her with watery eyes. "We’re gonna get you all fixed up, okay?"

The boy gave a small, hesitant nod, still clutching his arm. Azure reached out carefully, making sure not to touch the injured area, and offered him a reassuring smile. Definitely a broken arm. Nothing life-threatening, but enough to send the boy into a fit of tears. Meanwhile, she could feel Roman’s eyes on her, watching her interact with the patient. It was strange—the way she felt under his gaze—not uncomfortable, just very noticeable.

As she stepped aside to let Bianca take over, Roman moved closer to Azure, close enough that she could feel the faint warmth of him. His voice was low when he spoke, almost like a murmur just for her. "You’re new here."

It wasn’t a question, just an observation. Azure glanced up at him, her heart skipping inexplicably. "Yeah," she replied, doing her best to keep her voice even. "Just started a couple weeks ago."

Roman nodded slowly, his eyes studying her for a moment longer before he shifted his attention back to the boy. "You did good with him," he said, his tone softer, almost approving. And then, as quickly as it began, the moment passed. He gave a short nod toward Bianca, who was now checking the boy’s vitals, and walked away from the gurney.

Azure busied herself with the task at hand, helping the little boy get settled in the examination room. But even as she worked, she was acutely aware of the man outside. She didn’t know why, but something about him tugged at her, a pull she couldn’t quite explain.

Minutes later, as she stepped out into the hallway to grab a few supplies, she found herself face to face with him. He was just leaving, handing off paperwork to the desk.

“Hey,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Everything okay with the kid?”

Azure nodded, suddenly feeling an odd flutter in her chest. “Yeah, just a broken arm. He’s a little scared, but he’ll be fine.”

Roman nodded, glancing back towards the room briefly. “Glad to hear it.” He paused, as if considering whether or not to say more. 

He opted against it, and as he walked away, Azure found herself standing there, staring after him for a moment before heading back to find Bianca. She didn’t know him—didn’t know anything about him—but something about the way he’d looked at her, the way he carried himself with a mix of strength and humility. She shook her head, pushing away the strange feeling that had taken root in her chest, but the pull lingered, deep in the back of her mind, refusing to let her go.

Bianca approached her as the boy was wheeled to X-ray, giving Azure a sly smile. "You’ve got good instincts," she said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "And good job keeping him calm. You're doing great, girl."

Azure smiled, appreciating the praise. "Thanks, Bianca."

Just as they began to walk back to the station, Dr. Rollins, the lead pediatric doctor, approached them. He gave Bianca a brief nod before turning his attention to Azure. "Nice work today, Azure. I know things have been pretty fast-paced the past couple of weeks, but you’ve handled it well."

"Thank you, Dr. Rollins," Azure replied, her voice steady, though her mind was still on Roman’s fleeting but intense presence.

Bianca nudged her again, playfully this time. "Looks like you’ve caught some attention already," she teased as they walked toward the nurse’s station.

Azure gave a light laugh, shaking her head. "It’s nothing like that."

"Mhm, sure," Bianca grinned knowingly. "But, hey, I’m just saying… Dr. Rollins's not the easiest person to impress. If he noticed you, it’s something."

Azure forced a smile but didn’t respond. As they walked away from the trauma bay, Azure couldn't shake the anxious feeling of this new beginning.

———

Dear Brother, I hope this letter finds you well as always,  I know it’s been a while, I’ve been real busy lately. I met someone recently, and I don’t know what it is, but… there’s just something that I can’t shake. There’s this… feeling, maybe a good feeling? I don’t know. It's throwing me off. Haven’t felt it before. It’s hard to explain, but it’s not something I can just brush off. I’m not sure where this will go, but I’ll write to you once I know more. I miss you. I think about you often, especially when things get tough. It feels strange sometimes, like I’m starting this new chapter on my own, but knowing you’re out there somewhere, helps me feel less alone. I love you, I’ll make time to write to you sooner. I promise.

[avoxrising]

The Feral One • Ch 16

Finnick x Y/N

Series Masterlist Link

As a thank you for 400 followers here’s a bonus short chapter for tonight! Enjoy :)

Content Warnings - None

The doctors asked you every question imaginable about the treatment you received in the capital; what the medicine tasted like, what it smelled like, how long did it make you sleep for. You did your best to answer their questions but not being a medical professional yourself you honestly didn’t know most of the answers.

“Can we do a brain scan?” Johanna asks. “There has to be something to explain all this!”

“Miss Mason,” the doctor states. “We do not have the technology for that but based on all of our available tests we have performed and the discussion of the treatment I think she’s fine.”

Suddenly there is a knock on your door and Plutarch enters.

“I’m sorry to interrupt but Miss Y/L/N is needed in command,” he states. The doctor allows you to leave, much to Johanna’s protests, and you walk with the older man towards command.

“Don’t stress it’s just wedding planning,” he explains as you walk the long halls of District 13. “The whole district is very excited!”

You are met with the faces of Coin, Effie, Katniss’ prep team, and Katniss herself when you enter command. The prep team seems scared of you but you give them a gentle smile and take a seat next to Katniss. You can’t help but notice the way she subtly shifts away from you.

“Well my dear I am so excited for you,” Effie chimes. You give her a quick thanks and she continues to blabber on about ideas for the wedding. She talks about everything from which flowers to decorate the tables with to how the guests should be seated.

“Oh and I almost forgot!” she chimes. “Katniss has agreed to take you to twelve to pick out a dress for your wedding! She has some of Cinna’s designs there and we could make alterations so they fit!”

“Are you sure?” you ask Katniss, surprised she agreed.

“Of course,” she responds. “We can go this afternoon if you would like.”

You return that evening to your hospital room, having picked out your dress. It’s a sage green gown that flows eloquently from your shoulders like water. It’s simple, which is exactly what you wanted. The prep team brought back some of Peeta’s suits to fit Finnick with as well.

“Hey Y/N/N,” Finnick grins as he enters your room. “What did you get up to today?”

“Not much,” you shrug. “Johanna made the doctors run a bunch of tests on me cause she thinks I’m crazy, then I sat in on a two hour long wedding planning meeting, then Katniss took me to 12 to pick out a dress.”

“Sounds busy,” Finnick sighs, sitting down on your bed next to you.

“Finn?” you ask, catching his attention. “What is it that I’m not remembering? Everyone seems to know but me.”

He turns to you with worry covering his face.

“I don’t want you to remember,” he states. “It was something very bad that happened to you. It’s for the best that you don’t remember.”

“If it happened to me then I should know!” you exclaim, frustrated that nobody would tell you.

You would get your answers, you would just have to find them elsewhere.

Repeat end quote bc I didn’t have one I liked for this chapter lolz

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[inagetawaycarxo]

can you do a jey uso x fem reader where jey gets badly hurt from a match with roman. you can decide the rest, thank you 🫶🏽

Nerve Wrecking | Jey Uso

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢꜱ: Jey Uso x F!Reader

ꜰᴇᴀᴛᴜʀɪɴɢ: Jey Uso, Roman Reigns, Y/n [Reader/You].

ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ: The only time Solo defies Roman is when Roman threatens y/n his S/O.

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: fluff, kissing, injuries, errors I missed.

AUTHORS NOTE: I DO NOT give consent/permission for my work to be copied and pasted on other platforms. However, I highly encourage feedback, likes, reblogs, and comments.

I wrote this before Jimmy betrayed Jey. Plus, I lowkey didn’t want to rewrite it again! Lowkey being delulu and pretending Jimmy didn’t betray Jey.

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 530

Your heart clenched in pain at the sight of Roman beating up his cousin, Jey, (your boyfriend). Jey got the upper hand a couple of times, which was still nerve-wracking to watch.

You pretty much zoned out the noise of the crowd. Your attention was on Jey. Every time Roman would get the upper hand he would make it his personal goal to torment you while beating the shit out of Jey. You had to look away a few times because the sight of Roman hurting Jey was too much to witness. Stopping yourself from crying.

Eventually, Jey got the upper hand and pinned Roman again, picking up the win. You could tell Jey was in pain. His body did sustain injuries.

Jey rolled out of the ring and walked over to you. His face contorted into pain with each step. It broke your heart to see him in pain. Your eyes welled up as he finally reached you. Jey wrapped his arms around you. You wrapped your arms around him gently. 

Jey buried his head into the crook of your neck. Breathing heavily. His whole body was covered in sweat, not that you cared.

“I am so proud of you, baby,” You spoke softly. Hugging him tighter.

“Can you come to my locker room with me?” Jey asked you in a muffled voice.

“Of course, baby,” You responded. Jey pulled away from you.

He helped you climb the barrier. Wincing in pain as he helped you out. Once you were on the other side of the barrier, he wrapped his arm around you. Leaning against you, the two of you walked to the ramp at a slow pace. Every step was painful for Jey.

Jey kept looking back in a panic to see if Roman was following. Which he wasn’t. But that didn’t ease his mind.

You helped Jey through the curtain, pulling the curtain back, as you assisted him. A medic personnel rushed towards Jey, but Jey grunted in disapproval. Waving them off.

“Maybe, you should let them check you out,” You spoke. Jey shook his head from side to side frantically.

“I want to go to my locker room,” Jey stubbornly demanded. Making you roll your eyes. You gave the medical personnel a sympathetic look, and a smile, before walking away with Jey.

It was a painful sight to see the man you love dearly, limb his way back to his locker room. At least you were supporting half of his body weight.

Every time a backstage worker or colleague of his came up to him and you, and asked if he needed help or medical attention Jey would snap at them.

After taking small breaks here and there to stop and take a break, Jey and you finally reached his locker room.

Jey opened the door. Both of you enter his locker room. You closed the door with your foot.

Jey’s arm unwrapped from you, as he rushed towards the couch Landing face first. He let out a groan. Closing his eyes.

You quickly walked over to the couch. Crouching down beside where Jey’s head was. Your hand reached towards his head. Your fingers threaded through his hair, as you massaged his scalp with your fingertips. Jey let out a moan of pleasure. Turning his head to look at you. Smiling softly at you. you smiled back at him.

“You should go get checked out,” You spoke in a concerned tone. Jey Scooted closer to the edge of the couch.

His hand reached out and cupped the side of your face.

“I…really…should…do…this,” He spoke, drawing out his words. As he leaned closer to you. your heart fluttered. His lips ghosted over yours. His eyes glint with a mischievous look.

Jey’s eyes closed as his lips pressed against yours. Your eyes fluttered closed. Gripping his hair tight, as the kiss turned heated. Jey’s other hand slipped from the side of your face. Grabbing your forearm. He pulled you towards him, while he rolled onto his back. You ended up on top of him.

Jey’s hands grabbed the side of your face tightly deepening the kiss. Both of you let out a moan. One of Jey’s hands slipped down to your waist. His hand snaking underneath your shirt. Travelling up to your bra. His bulge growing.

Before he could cup your boobs, you pulled away from the kiss. Sitting up slightly.

You silenced him as his lips parted by putting your index finger to his lips. Making him arch an eyebrow instead.

“Not before you get checked out first,” You spoke. Getting off him. Jey let out a groan.

“Seriously, you gave me a boner,” He whined. Making you let out a chuckle.

“A cold shower will help, I am going to go get a medic personnel,” You spoke. Winking at him, before you left. Jey let out a groan of annoyance in response….

[bradshawsbaby]

Si Vis Amari Ama

IV. Kissed by Fire

SERIES MASTERLIST

Pairings: Rooster (Roman Name: Gallus) x Female Reader (Roman Name: Sabina), featuring Hangman (Roman Name: Carnifex) x Phoenix

Summary: A girl whose freedom was stolen to pay her father’s debts. A gladiator enslaved for the entertainment of Rome. A love they never thought possible.

Author’s Note: This chapter ended up being a beast to write! It’s very Hannix-centered, so that you can have a little bit more context and background regarding Carnifex and Phoenix’s relationship. But fear not, for there are hints of Gallus and Sabina as well, and we’ll be back to our main protagonists in the next chapter!

Word Count: 11k

Warnings: 18+ ONLY. Explicit sexual content, slavery in the ancient world, gladiatorial training/combat, discussion of minor injuries, brief language, slight angst, idiots in love, alternating point of view.

She hadn’t meant to get tangled up with him. She really hadn’t. Yet here she was.

Phoenix prided herself on being a rational, intelligent, level-headed woman. Perhaps it was her Greek heritage, or maybe it was the fact that she had learned long ago that the less you said and the more you listened, the better off you would be in this world. Either way, in the years since she had been robbed of her freedom, she had learned to rely on no one but herself, save for a few trusted friends for whom she would gladly lay down her life. She didn’t expose herself to unnecessary dangers, and she didn’t enmesh herself in anything that would make life harder than it already was. She avoided complications at all costs.

Until him.

She hadn’t been able to stand him from the very first day he’d entered the ludus of Atticus Cornelius Juventus. A great champion, Dominus had called him while gloating about his latest acquisition during a dinner party. A mighty warrior. The only gladiator he had ever seen who could give even Gallus a run for his money.

Phoenix knew then who he was speaking of—Carnifex the Gaul. He was the opponent who had given Gallus the scar on his shoulder, the one whom her old friend detested so wholly and complained so bitterly about whenever they were pitted against one another.

She only had to know him for a day before she understood the sentiment.

Carnifex, the man so named because he had somehow managed to survive the hangman’s noose when his village in Gaul was put to Roman flames, was the smuggest man she had ever known. And that was saying something, considering she’d spent the better part of her life catering to the whims and fancies of some of the most spoiled men the Roman Empire had to offer. He was arrogant. Obnoxious. More in love with himself than Narcissus, and quick to throw all his fellow gladiators to the lions if it meant more fame and glory for himself.

He made her blood boil.

And what was worse? He knew it.

Almost from the moment they first met, Carnifex seemed to make it his personal mission to get under her skin as often as he possibly could. Whether it was winking at her from across the training grounds while she was working around the ludus, making disparaging comments about Gallus and the others when he knew she was within earshot, or smirking skeptically when she came to assist Titus with the gladiators’ medical needs, he seemed to know all the ways to make her grow hot with a rage so potent she almost thought it would choke her one day.

“Has he always been so unbearable?” Phoenix huffed in annoyance as she bandaged one of Gallus’ hands one day after a morning training session. Carnifex stood about twenty feet away from them, bragging to the younger, more inexperienced gladiators about his most recent victory.

“Always,” Gallus muttered darkly, frowning in the other gladiator’s direction for a moment before shifting his attention back to her. “Trust me, he hasn’t changed one bit since his arrival here. If anything, he’s only gotten worse. Keep your distance from him, as much as you can.”

Phoenix knew without having to ask what Gallus really meant when he shot her a pointed look. It was no secret among the household slaves that Carnifex was notorious for bedding the prettiest slave girls. And because he was a Pugio, one of Atticus’ champions, he got his pick of the litter. He never lacked for any willing volunteers either. She couldn’t count how many times she’d witnessed giggling, simpering girls tiptoe out of their slave quarters in the middle of the night, only to return a few hours later with hushed, breathless stories of what an incredible lover Carnifex the Gaul was. The others may have listened with bated breath, but Phoenix just covered her ears, shut her eyes, and tried to block them all out.

“After all these years, do you really think so little of me that you suppose I would fall into bed with a man like him?” Phoenix demanded, tying off Gallus’ bandage with a little more force than was strictly necessary.

Gallus winced slightly, a chastened expression in his dark eyes as he looked at her. “No,” he replied firmly, and she knew he meant it. “It’s him I’m wary of, not you. I just don’t want him getting any ideas in his head where you’re concerned, thinking that he can—”

“He won’t,” she cut him off, glancing over her shoulder at where Carnifex stood, having moved on from regaling his captive audience with tales of his conquests in the arena to tales of his conquests in bed. She felt the distaste on the back of her tongue like sour milk as she turned back to Gallus. “Trust me, he suffers from no lack of female company in this household.”

Gallus didn’t look so certain, but he let the matter drop.

His rivalry with Carnifex, however, was not as easy to let go of. Even as the months wore on, the two of them couldn’t seem to let go of the deep-seated tension and competition that had marked their relationship for as long as they had known one another. Being members of the same ludus, they no longer competed against one another for the crowds, but within the training arena, it was another matter entirely. Phoenix watched each day as they brutally battered one another, two powerful men refusing to cede the upper hand.

On a few occasions, however, the battering went beyond mere combat training. Brawls weren’t uncommon among gladiators—they were basically an occupational hazard—but between Gallus and Carnifex, they had a tendency to turn ugly and to turn ugly fast.

Atticus greatly frowned upon disorder in his ludus, so whenever a fight broke out between two of his greatest champions, everyone else was quick to step in and stop it. Magnus, Pollux, Felix, Caius, even Titus, were always on call to tear the two of them apart when things got too vicious.

On a few occasions, when she’d been near at hand, even Phoenix had gotten involved. No matter what had happened, or who had done what to whom, she always gave Gallus her attention first.

“Sure, take his side, like you always do,” Carnifex spat one day, nursing what was sure to be a black eye.

She was startled by the heat in his voice. As much as he seemed to love tormenting her, his tone was always teasing and borderline playful. But today, it sounded like there was something akin to anger in it. Hands still resting on Gallus’ shoulders, she turned to look at him and didn’t fail to notice the way his jaw tightened when he looked back at her, his eyes flickering down to her hands and then flitting back up to her face. Something burned in those green eyes of his that she couldn’t quite name.

“Forget it,” he snapped, kicking aside his sword and shield as he pushed past the others and stormed back to his cell.

She cursed herself for not being able to get that encounter out of her head for days afterward. What had upset Carnifex so deeply? Why had he looked at her like that? And why did it seem that his eyes now followed her whenever she was around the ludus, especially when she was talking to Gallus?

He drove her mad. 

Truly. She must have been going mad. That was the only reason she could come up with to explain why such an infuriating, insufferable man as Carnifex the Gaul was taking up more and more space in her head. At night, when the other girls giggled about his smile, she couldn’t help but recall the way it had touched his eyes when he’d turned it on her after his training bout. When they whispered about his muscles, she couldn’t fail to remember the way the sun glistened off his slick skin as he trained, his muscles rippling as he hefted his sword and shield with an ease almost too great to be believed. And when they gossiped about his talents in bed, she burned with an ache that settled deep in the pit of her stomach, pooling between her thighs until she squeezed her eyes shut and forced her traitorous body to go to sleep.

This was Carnifex they were talking about. Cocky, selfish, arrogant Carnifex. She would not allow herself to become another one of his playthings.

Yet each time she was around him, she realized with horror, her defenses seemed to crumble more and more. One afternoon, while she was handing out water to the men, he even managed to coax a smile out of her.

“Look at that,” he whistled softly, taking a satisfied gulp of water. “I finally managed to make the Grecian goddess smile.”

She flushed at his words, mentally kicking herself for it all the while. “I am capable of it, you know,” she shot back, arching a dark eyebrow as she gazed up at him.

“Perhaps, but I’ve never seen it,” he returned evenly, his green eyes sparkling in the midday sun.

“Maybe that’s because you don’t do anything to make me smile,” she offered, rolling her shoulders back and standing up straighter.

He leaned in a little closer, his breath tickling her cheek as he whispered, “Until now.”

She couldn’t help it. She blushed. And he smiled.

Damn him.

He got under her skin and he knew it. He enjoyed it.

From that day on, the two of them danced around each other, sparring with words the same way he and Gallus sparred with swords. And though she would never admit it out loud, Phoenix enjoyed the challenge of matching wits with Carnifex. He kept her on her toes, always pushing back and eliciting her own competitive streak as she strove to outsmart him.

Whenever Pollux or Felix or Caius or Gallus shot them sideways glances, eyebrows raised or silent looks exchanged among them, she always scoffed and brushed it aside. There was absolutely nothing going on between her and Carnifex, and there never would be.

Or so she thought.

She hadn’t intended to be over at the ludus that afternoon, too busy helping to prepare the household for a banquet that Atticus and Aurelia would be hosting in a few days time, but Titus was currently tending to Atticus’ ailing mother and had asked her to look to any injuries the men sustained during their training bouts.

As she approached the small arena where Gallus and Carnifex were training, she could feel the tension pouring off them in waves. They were both sweating and grunting, looking the worse for wear but unwilling to yield or admit defeat.

“Give it up, Gallus,” Carnifex growled through gritted teeth, bringing his sword down sharply against Gallus’ shield. “One of these days, that good fortune of yours is going to run out.”

“Maybe so,” Gallus snarled in return, lunging at Carnifex and aiming his sword at his exposed side. The other man quickly parried, jumping back to avoid the disastrous blow. “But not today.”

Phoenix felt her heart squeeze inside her chest as she watched the two of them go at it, viciously swiping and pouncing at each other. She noticed, with a stab of fear, the way that Gallus was starting to slow down, his breathing growing more labored as he tired out.

Carnifex noticed it, too. Not failing to take this rare opportunity, he lunged forward and expertly knocked Gallus’ sword from his hand, kicking it across the sand so that he would be unable to retrieve it. Smirking, he held his own sword up and aimed it at Gallus’ throat.

Chest heaving, Gallus just stared down his opponent, his shield still strapped to his arm as he realized that there was no way out.

“And so Carnifex the Gaul bests the Barbarian from Britannia,” Carnifex crowed triumphantly, slowly edging closer. He threw his sword and shield down, as they always did at the end of their training matches. “Looks like Rome will get to cheer for another dead Briton.”

Phoenix froze at his words, a feeling of dread sinking into her bones as she looked over at Gallus. Her friend’s eyes darkened in an instant, and she knew that in his mind’s eye, he was seeing his mother and father, and all of his people who had been slaughtered at the hands of Rome. She watched as something inside him twisted and snapped, and then he was on Carnifex in an instant.

“You son of a bitch!” Gallus roared, lunging at the other man and knocking him to the ground with a loud crash, quickly gaining the attention of everyone else on the training grounds, who immediately came running.

Carnifex made an admirable effort to fend off the blows, but Gallus was in another place altogether as he punched and kicked at his rival, landing one harsh hit after another on the other man’s exposed chest and legs.

“Get the fuck off me, you fucking barbarian!” Carnifex thundered, trying to hit back. It was difficult for him to do so, however, considering Gallus had him pinned to the ground. “Get off me!”

“Gallus! Stop!” Pollux exclaimed, he and Caius rushing forward to try to put an end to the violence. Even with the both of them pulling at him, however, Gallus wouldn’t be stopped.

His eyes had clouded over, and Phoenix knew he was in that place, that place deep inside his mind where he retreated during his fights in the Colosseum, when every decision and every move he made meant the difference between life and death.

But this wasn’t a matter of life and death. At least, not for Gallus. But if someone didn’t do something, it might be a matter of life and death for Carnifex.

“Gallus!” Phoenix shouted over the din of the restless crowd of gladiators, pushing them out of the way as she ran towards the fray. “Gallus!” she screamed again, louder this time, crouching down on the ground behind Carnifex’s head, right in front of him. “Stop!”

The sound of her voice seemed to penetrate that dark place inside him because as he looked up at her, blinking slowly, his fists came to a halt. Gasping for air, he gazed down at a bruised and blooded Carnifex, swallowing when he realized the magnitude of what he had done.

Everyone was silent as Gallus rose on unsteady feet, breathing hard and staring at his bloody knuckles. Phoenix saw shame wash over her friend, and she felt a stab of empathy for him, but she continued to kneel beside Carnifex as Gallus looked from the other gladiators, to her, to the man lying on the ground at his feet.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered brokenly, turning away from all of them without another word as he stumbled towards his cell and slammed the door shut behind him.

“That damn savage,” Carnifex muttered angrily, slowly starting to sit up and wincing as he did so.

Instinctively, Phoenix reached out her hands to support his back, her eyes quickly scanning to assess for injuries, the way Titus had taught her.

Pollux, Caius, and Felix were quiet, even as the other gladiators began murmuring loudly among themselves, questioning aloud what had happened to set Gallus off so tremendously.

“Back to work!” Magnus shouted, corralling all of the less experienced men back to their training. “There’s nothing more for you to see here.”

“You’re hurt,” Phoenix muttered, running her hands over Carnifex’s tender and swollen flesh.

“I’ll be fine,” he insisted, tensing under her touch.

“You don’t know that,” Phoenix shot back sternly. “Gallus really did a number on you. I have to check you out and make sure you’re okay.”

Normally, she was sure he would have made some ridiculous comment in response to her words, but today, he just looked at her and frowned. “No,” he said flatly.

“Yes,” Phoenix told him stubbornly. Two could play at this game. Turning to her friends, she said, “Felix, Caius, can you help me get him to his cell?”

As they stepped forward, however, Carnifex held up a hand and slowly rose to his feet on his own. “I’m not an invalid. I can get there myself.”

“If you see Titus, let him know what happened,” Phoenix called over her shoulder as she began walking with Carnifex, albeit a bit slowly, across the training grounds and towards his cell.

Once they were inside, Phoenix took charge. Tossing her dark braid over her shoulder, she closed the door behind them and ordered, “Sit,” pointing at his bed in the corner of the small room. She’d been in his cell countless times before, to serve him meals or tend to his wounds, but never by herself. She had never been more aware of that bed.

Carnifex frowned again, but did as she said, taking a seat on the edge of his bed and spreading his large hands out on his thighs, trying not to think too much about the pain that was throbbing in his limbs.

“How are you feeling?” she asked him in a calm, cool voice, stepping closer to him and carefully examining the discolored marks that would soon be bruises all over his body. “And tell me the truth.”

Swallowing back the lie he’d been about to tell, Carnifex sighed quietly as his green eyes searched her face. “I’m in pain. Mostly in my shoulders and my side,” he admitted, although reluctantly. “I might say a lot of things about Gallus, but the man knows how to throw a proper punch,” he grimaced, wincing as Phoenix pressed down on a particularly tender spot on his chest.

“Sorry,” she murmured, trying to be more gentle as she prodded and poked at him. “You said your side? Here?” she asked, resting her hand on a spot midway down his body.

He shook his head, reaching up and placing his large, calloused hand over hers. “No. Here,” he clarified, taking her hand and moving it downwards, until it rested just above his hip.

Somehow the room, already quite small to begin with, seemed to grow much smaller as the air between them grew heavy.

Clearing her throat, Phoenix carefully ran her fingers over the spot he had indicated, feeling for any swollenness that would indicate an internal injury. Thankfully, she found none.

“Well, luck seems to be on your side,” she murmured, glancing up and realizing with a slight start that his face was much closer to hers than she had first thought. “No broken bones and no deep damage, from what I can tell, though I’ll make sure to let Titus know to check you out. You’ll just be sore and have some serious bruising, but nothing you’re not used to.”

He was quiet for a few moments, absorbing her words as he continued to stare at her. “Why are you helping me?” he finally questioned.

“What do you mean?” Phoenix asked, taken aback. “That’s what I do. It’s one of my jobs.”

“You know what I mean,” he said in a low voice, which made her lean in even closer to be able to hear him. “This isn’t an injury I sustained from training. It’s because of a stupid fight I got into with Gallus. And you always take Gallus’ side when we fight. So why are you here, and not with him?”

“Gallus will be fine,” Phoenix murmured. She didn’t want to point out the obvious, but he had fared much better in this fight than Carnifex had. “You were the one who bore the brunt of it.”

“Which was my fault, right? Because of what I said? I’m sure that’s what you’re thinking,” he said, his green eyes boring into her brown ones.

Phoenix took a breath, trying to organize her jumbled thoughts. “What you said—it wasn’t kind, but Gallus shouldn’t have reacted the way he did. I know why he did, but he shouldn’t have. He could have really hurt you.”

“He would have, if you hadn’t stopped him,” Carnifex pointed out, his expression indecipherable. “He listens to you.”

“We’re friends,” Phoenix said, as if that explained everything. “But just because we’re friends doesn’t mean I can’t admit when he’s done something he shouldn’t. He shouldn’t have hurt you like that. But you shouldn’t have said what you said either. Gallus has known more pain than you can imagine.”

“I have known pain, too,” he replied sharply, a trace of bitterness creeping into his tone that she had never heard before.

“I know,” she whispered. “As have I. As have we all. You and Gallus have far more in common than you know, if you would just put aside this petty rivalry.”

Carnifex just waved his hand and turned his face away from her, staring at the wall.

Sighing, Phoenix went to take a step back, but suddenly Carnifex’s head was whipping back around again, his eyes trained on her.

“Are you leaving?” he asked, looking oddly bereft at the thought.

Her mouth felt dry as she looked back at him. “Is there some reason I should stay?”

He didn’t say anything in response to that, just wrapped his fingers lightly around her wrist and tugged her towards him until their chests were pressed flush together. Her breath caught in her throat as his gaze flickered down to her lips. And then he kissed her. With one hand still wrapped around her wrist and the other cradling the back of her head, he kissed her with a hunger and an urgency that she could feel radiating through her body.

But before she could even process exactly what was happening, and what it was making her feel, he pulled back and released her, eyes wide. “I shouldn’t have done that. I—”

She cut off his excuses as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, her fingers raking through his hair, the hair that reminded her of the sandy beaches of home. It took only a second before she felt his arms snaking around her waist, holding her tightly as their mouths melded together, desperate for a taste of the other.

As the kiss deepened, he reached up and buried his fingers in her thick braid, tugging fiercely at it until her beautiful dark hair came loose, cascading down her back. She let out a soft moan at the feel of it, and that sound alone seemed to unlock something feral in them both.

Rising from his bed, Carnifex wrapped his arms more tightly around her small body, pressing her to his chest as the two of them stumbled backwards in a lust-fueled frenzy, grasping at each other as they fell back against the wall on the other side of the room. Another moan of pleasure slipped from Phoenix’s lips as she felt the rough stone against her back, Carnifex’s thick fingers buried in her hair as his kisses began trailing from her lips, across her jaw, and down her neck.

“Phoenix,” Carnifex gasped, peppering her skin with hot, open-mouthed kisses. “Oh, Phoenix,” he groaned, running his hands up and down her body as she gripped his hair and brought his lips crashing back down onto hers. “Been dying to taste you for so long,” he panted against her mouth, nipping at her chin as she angled her face upwards.

“And?” Phoenix murmured, her brain fuzzy with wanting as she trailed a hand down his naked chest. “Was it worth the wait?”

He chuckled despite himself, despite the circumstances. “Yes,” he nodded, lifting a hand to her face and brushing his thumb over her lips. “Most definitely yes. Need to taste more of you,” he moaned, latching onto her throat and sucking softly.

“More,” Phoenix echoed breathlessly, her eyes fluttering as her entire body pulsated with desire. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this was crazy. She should leave before they crossed any more boundaries than they already had. But though the rational part of her knew that that was what would be best, she couldn’t force herself to do it. She couldn’t force herself to leave.

“More,” Carnifex whispered, his mouth covering hers as his hands slid up and began gently massaging her breasts through her thin tunic. He kneaded and caressed until her nipples hardened to sharp buds, standing out distinctly against the fabric that covered her. Pulling back just enough to look down and meet her eyes, he raised his eyebrows in silent question.

“Yes,” she moaned in reply, nodding her head slowly. “Yes.”

In an instant, his hands were on the knots at her shoulders, untying them with deft fingers, while she quickly discarded the cord around her waist. With just a gentle push, he sent her tunic pooling to the floor at her feet.

Naked and exposed, she stood before him and watched as he took the full measure of her. His eyes glowed with appreciation and she felt herself grow flushed under his scrutiny.

“You really are a goddess,” he whispered hoarsely, reaching up to cup her bare breasts in his hands. A shiver ran down her spine as he brushed his thumbs over her aching nipples. Eyes still on her, he lowered down slightly so that he could take one into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the bud as he hummed softly.

Her breath hitched in pleasure and she reached up to rest one hand on the back of his head, her other bracing against his shoulder. Her eyes fluttered shut as he continued to suckle gently, releasing her breast with a wet pop before moving to the other one. He repeated the process once more, eliciting soft mewls of arousal from her. She could feel herself growing slick with desire for him, a fire kindling deep inside her belly.

Grasping her hips in both hands, Carnifex slowly lowered down to his knees, kissing his way down her stomach and nipping lightly at her smooth skin. She hoped he couldn’t feel the way she trembled beneath his touch, the way her entire body quivered with delight at every kiss.

When she felt his hot breath between her legs, her hips bucked slightly and she let out a strangled gasp, immediately opening her eyes and looking downwards.

“Carnifex, what are you—?”

“Sh,” he murmured, pressing lazy kisses to the front of her thighs. “I wanted to taste you, remember?”

At any other time, she would have been mortified by the moan that escaped her lips at his words, but at that moment, she was too far gone to care. Reaching down and burying her fingers in his hair, she let out a short gasp of surprise when he lifted one of her legs and draped it over his shoulder, supporting her with a hand still on her waist.

“I’ve got you,” he winked, turning his head and smothering her inner thigh with slow, sensual kisses that already had her seeing stars. How would she possibly survive what else he had in store? Heart pounding inside her chest, she watched as his kisses began to trail inward, closer and closer to her center, to the place where her body was crying out with need for him.

When he finally reached the thatch of dark curls between her legs, he reached up with an almost breathless reverence and parted her with his fingers, prompting a small cry to fall from her lips. “Fuck, look at you,” he said quietly, almost to himself, as he slowly trailed a finger downwards. “Already so wet for me.”

“No games,” she gasped out, fighting the urge to press his face between her thighs. “Just….just…oh,” she moaned, her knees going weak when he began tracing the tip of his finger around the tiny bud at her center, the one that made it hard to think or move or breathe when he was touching it like that.

“Just what?” he asked, looking up at her with faux innocence as he pressed a kiss between her legs. “Hm?”

“Just keep doing that,” Phoenix sighed, her head falling backward against the wall. She reached up to run her hands over her breasts, overwhelmed by the sensations suddenly overtaking her body.

“Whatever you say,” he smirked, suddenly leaning forward and diving facefirst, his tongue tracing a trail up and down her soaked opening. Spurred on by her cries of pleasure, he wrapped his lips around her bud and sucked, feeling a surge of triumph when she began tugging on his hair and babbling out his name. Feeling that she was close, he gripped her thigh more tightly and teased her entrance with two fingers, coating them with her slick before slowly easing them inside her tight walls.

“Carnifex!” Phoenix practically screamed, biting down roughly on her lower lip to keep from being overheard. She felt so full, his large fingers stroking her walls as his tongue worked over the source of the most exquisite pleasure she had ever experienced. Unable to stop herself, she pressed her hand against the back of his head and began grinding herself against his face, chasing the high that he was giving her.

“That’s it. That’s my girl,” he praised her, lapping up her wetness like a starving man. “You’re so close, I can feel it. Just let go. Let go,” he encouraged her, squeezing her thigh and increasing the speed of his fingers.

“I—I—I’m—oh, oh, oh!” Phoenix gasped, the fire inside her belly building and building and building until it felt that surely she would be consumed by the flames. But she wasn’t. Instead, that burning sensation came to a feverish crescendo, and then suddenly there were white spots floating in her vision as her body rode out the waves of pleasure that crashed through her, making it impossible to catch her breath.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, do you know that?” Carnifex almost growled, rising and lifting her into his arms. She was glad for it, because she was suddenly certain she wouldn’t be able to stand on her own. He kissed her then, despite the fact that his mouth and chin were drenched with her nectar, and she found, surprisingly, that she wasn’t at all offended by the taste of herself on his lips.

He laid her down on his bed, and when she looked up at him, she could see his arousal clear as day in the front of the short tunic he wore wrapped around his waist. Sitting up on her knees, she crawled towards the edge of the bed and reached for his waistband, looking up into his eyes.

“Seems unfair that I should be the only one undressed here,” she told him, undoing his belt and pushing his tunic down to the floor, followed by the small cloth he wore for modesty while he was training.

He now stood before her, as naked as she was, and it was her turn to look him over with appreciation. She had known that he had a good body, of course, from watching him train and patching him up. And she’d heard from the girls in the slave quarters that his other assets were more than adequate as well. Apparently, for once, they hadn’t been exaggerating.

“Like what you see?” Carnifex asked with a small smirk, noting the way her eyes widened when she took in the size of his hardened length.

“Very much so,” Phoenix nodded, licking her lips as she felt her desire ratchet up once more. Not wanting to feed his already inflated ego too much, however, she quickly added, “But don’t let it go to your head, gladiator.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he assured her smugly as he pressed her down onto his small bed, clearly designed with only one occupant in mind, and mounted her.

If her body wasn’t craving this forbidden pleasure so badly, she would have been more than happy to smack that self-satisfied look right off his face. But as it was, his lips landed on hers once more and she was able to concentrate on nothing beyond the feel of his bare skin pressed against hers.

Moaning softly into his mouth, she hooked one leg around his waist and buried her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer as his fingers danced across her skin, tracing the contours of her body with a grip that was shockingly gentle, but which hinted at the power and strength that lay beneath the surface. She shivered at the thought of those rough hands, those hands that had ended the lives of so many nameless, faceless opponents, digging into her skin and marking her flesh—marking her as his.

His kisses were everything and nothing like she thought they would be, all at the same time. He kissed her with a bruising intensity, sucking and nipping at her lips as though he wanted her to know that she was his and his alone. Yet at the same time, his tongue was soothing and gentle, tracing the seam of her mouth with an almost painful tenderness. His kisses tasted sweeter than honey and finer than even the best wine their masters served at their fancy banquets.

If a girl wasn’t careful, she could get addicted to those kisses.

Groaning under his breath, Carnifex began muttering to himself as he ground his hips against her, his stiff, pulsing length burning her skin as it rubbed against her thigh. It took her a moment to become conscious of the fact that she didn’t understand the language he was speaking. It must have been the language of his people.

“What are you saying?” she asked, curious despite herself as their mingled pants and moans filled the air.

“Just how fucking crazy you make me,” he confessed, burying his face in the crook between her neck and her shoulder. As he began peppering her shoulder and collarbone with searing kisses, his hand slid down between their bodies, finding the apex of her pleasure once again and rubbing it slowly.

“I like it,” she whispered, running one hand over the planes of his handsome face, her back arching up off the bed as he stoked the fire inside her. “Your language.”

“The Romans find it savage,” he grunted, dipping a finger inside her while he nipped at her jaw.

“I’m not Roman,” she said firmly, spreading her legs wider beneath him and biting down on her lower lip as she felt that burning sensation filling her body all over again.

“No,” he replied, resting his forehead against hers, their noses bumping together as they stared into each other’s eyes. “You’re not.”

Wordlessly, Phoenix reached between their bodies and wrapped her hand around him, drawing a sharp hiss from deep inside his chest. She stroked him softly, feeling how rigid he was with need. Need for her. In that moment, he longed for her just as much as she longed for him. Something about that realization caused a chasm of yearning to open up inside her chest.

Still grasping him firmly in her hand, she drew him closer to her entrance and then released him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to kiss him once more. He hissed again, but this time it was in pain. Pulling back, she realized with a wince that she had pressed down on one of the tender spots from Gallus’ beating.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, heat rising to her cheeks. “Would you rather we didn’t—”

“Phoenix,” he cut her off, silencing her with a finger to her lips. “The gods themselves could not keep me from you right now.”

He smothered any further arguments she might have tried to make with a heated kiss, cradling her face in one hand as he lined himself up to her entrance with the other. For all their frenzied passion, he took his time about it, teasing her soaked folds with the tip of his length until she finally let out a small grunt of frustration.

“So impatient,” he smirked, slowly pushing himself into her, just an inch or so.

“Oh,” Phoenix moaned, fisting his roughspun blanket in her hands as he gripped her hips, watching himself sink further and further inside her, the both of them gasping at the sensation.

“Fuck,” he grunted once he was fully seated inside her, stilling his hips for a moment and just gazing down at her.

“Don’t stop now,” she told him in a breathless voice, reaching up to trail one hand down his chest and stomach. “Please.”

That little beg was all the encouragement he needed. Resting his hands on either side of her head, caging her within his grasp, he began to rock his hips against hers, her gasps and moans of ecstasy spurring him on until he was pistoning inside her, the sound of his naked body slapping against hers filling the small cell.

“Fuck, fuck, yes!” Phoenix cried out, her dark eyes screwing shut as she clung to him, her nails biting into the thickened flesh of his back, hardened from years of enduring the whip. “Yes, yes, yes, keep going!”

Grasping her jaw in one hand, he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against hers, and told her, “Open your eyes. I want you to look at me. I want to see you when you fall apart for me.”

Her eyes flew open instantly at his words, her pupils blown wide with lust and desire as she gazed up at him, seeing the same feelings reflected in his green irises. She knew she must be close to falling over the edge once more, for she could feel that same all-consuming fire burning in her lower belly, causing her legs to tremble and her breathing to become more shallow.

“Carn—Carnifex,” she groaned, digging her nails into his shoulders while her hips continued to thrust upward, aligning herself with his unforgiving pace as he chased her to higher and higher heights of pleasures. Aphrodite herself would envy her, she was sure of it.

“I know, I know,” Carnifex panted, letting his body drop down on top of hers and pressing his face into her neck. “I can feel you. Oh, you’re so tight. Let go. I want to feel you let go,” he whispered, sucking at the pulse point just beneath her ear.

She was right on the edge, dancing dangerously close to the precipice of no return. Her skin burned with a white-hot fire that he had started inside her, a fire that only he could extinguish. Somewhere in the hazy back of her mind, she couldn’t believe she was here, couldn’t believe she was in the arms of this man who had been the bane of her existence since she first laid eyes on him. And yet, somehow being here also felt so right. Her body felt so alive, every part of her tingling with a newness and a vibrancy that she didn’t understand, but never wanted to let go of.

Tears pricking the corners of her eyes, she cupped his face in her hands and pulled him down to her as she fell apart, her entire body quaking as the flames engulfed her, consuming every part of her until she felt like nothing more than ash and bone. She lay back in exhaustion, her chest heaving and sweat dripping down her body, not a single coherent thought in her head.

She only became aware that he had pulled out of her when she felt a strange emptiness between her legs, a soft, unconscious whimper escaping her lips at the loss.

“I’m here,” Carnifex told her, groaning as he pumped himself above her. “I’m right here.” Sweat poured down his chest, his skin flushed and hot to the touch as he reached his own finish, his seed spilling forth and landing on her stomach. Spent, he collapsed down beside her with a low grunt, struggling to catch his breath just as she had.

They lay side by side like that for several minutes, neither of them saying anything. As they slowly came down from their high, the magnitude of what had just transpired between them sunk in and the air in the room shifted.

Carnifex suddenly reached for her, opening his mouth to speak. “Phoenix, I—”

“I have to go,” Phoenix told him quickly, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of his bed. “They’ll be wondering where I’ve gone. Aurelia is probably looking for me.”

“Phoenix,” Carnifex said again, gripping her arm and sitting up beside her. “Please don’t just—”

“I have to,” she insisted, hurrying to grab a rag in the corner of the room and clean herself up. Without looking at him, she combed her fingers through her tangled locks and, fast as lightning, rebraided her hair, reaching for her discarded tunic and pulling it over her head. She’d gotten used to preparing herself quickly over the years, and within a couple minutes she already had her tunic knotted at the shoulders and the cord wrapped around her waist like before.

Stepping towards the door, she knew she should have walked through it without a backwards glance, but she couldn’t do it. Freezing in place, she turned and looked over shoulder, meeting his eye. He was still sitting on the edge of his bed, watching her. He hadn’t moved to clean himself up or get dressed. His eyes were simply fixed on her.

“We shouldn’t have—”

“Don’t say that,” he rasped, what looked to be pain flashing in his eyes. But maybe it was just a trick of the light. “Please don’t say that.”

“I have to go, Carnifex,” Phoenix murmured, regret coloring her voice. But what it was she was regretting, she couldn’t be sure. Was it falling into bed with him? Or was it the fact that she had caused that wounded expression on his face?

He didn’t say anything in response, just stared at her with those big green eyes until she finally turned away from him and slipped out of his cell, shutting the door firmly behind her.

If only she could shut the door on what had happened between them so easily.

But even as the thought entered her mind, she knew it wasn’t true. She would never be able to erase what had just happened, and the reality was, she didn’t want to.

She had never meant to get tangled up with him, but now she had.

And there was no going back.

He had never meant to fall in love with her. He really hadn’t. Yet here he was.

He should have known from the moment he first laid eyes on her that she would be trouble. She was the most infuriating, difficult, stubborn woman he had ever met. She was also the most beautiful, with those big brown eyes and that dark hair that reminded him of the wings of the ravens that used to nest in his village back in Gaul.

She didn’t like him. He could tell that right from the start. Those pretty eyes of hers always narrowed whenever he was around, her mouth, with those lips that he wanted to taste more than anything, puckered like she had just eaten something sour. She was always by Gallus’ side, so no doubt he had poisoned her against him.

And yet, despite the obvious disdain she felt for him, he constantly found himself caught in her orbit, like a moth drawn to a flame. She might not have offered him smiles or flirtatious giggles like the other slave girls in the household, but he found that the more she pushed him away, the more he desired to be by her side. She might have been infuriating and difficult and stubborn, but she was also witty and cunning and sharp. Every time she lashed him with her tongue, or put him in his place with her quick words, he found himself even more enamored with her.

He ached with need for her, particularly in the moments when she tended his broken body with those skilled, agile hands of hers. Of course the old medicus had chosen her to be his assistant in the ludus. There was no one more capable or intelligent.

There was no one he wanted more.

But she loathed him. She made that clear whenever she was in his presence. And so he chased his pleasure elsewhere, sought to satiate that ache that rested deep within his bones by bedding every simpering slave girl who batted her eyelashes in his direction. They adored him, praised him, coddled him, and begged to be his forever.

But they weren’t her.

Even he had enough shame left within him to feel disgusted with himself on the nights when he closed his eyes and pretended that the girl twisting and moaning beneath him was her. He’d turn his back when he was finished, disappointed when he opened his eyes to find it wasn’t her, and ashamed of himself for thinking it could ever be otherwise.

They never seemed to mind, the endless stream of women who came to his bed. To them, it was enough to have been bedded, even once, by Carnifex the Gaul. That was all he was to them. That was all he was to just about everybody.

He wanted to be more. He wanted to be more to her.

He hated himself for feeling the way that he did. Feelings like this, especially for a woman who couldn’t even stand the sight of him, were dangerous. Love made men weak, and he couldn’t afford to be weak, not when his very life depended on being the best of the best in the arena.

She was a distraction.

She was a stumbling block.

She was a thorn in his side.

She was everything he had ever wanted.

And just when he had been convinced that she was everything he would never have, somehow, by some miraculous intervention of the gods, she had ended up in his arms. In his bed. And for the first time, he didn’t have to close his eyes and pretend, imagining what her body would feel like or what her lips would taste like.

She was real.

She was there.

She was his.

At least, for that brief moment in time. But it wasn’t enough. No amount of time with her would ever be enough, not unless it was eternity.

She dodged him for days afterward, pointedly avoiding his gaze whenever she was working around the ludus, and conveniently finding ways to get around having to tend to his injuries after his training sessions.

It drove him mad.

She drove him mad.

Finally, just when he thought he couldn’t possibly stand it any longer, he managed to catch her while she was on her own, leaving the bathhouse after delivering fresh linens.

“Why have you been avoiding me?” he demanded, cutting straight to the chase as he snagged her around the waist and tugged her into a private alcove.

She looked startled, uneasy, her dark eyes shifting nervously back and forth, as if expecting some hidden figure to jump from the shadows. Not wanting to cause her such anxiety, he let go of her waist, but continued to stand in front of her, blocking her exit for the time being.

“I haven’t,” she lied, shifting back and forth as she blatantly refused to meet his eye. Even she couldn’t possibly believe the words that had just come out of her mouth.

“Phoenix,” Carnifex breathed out, leaning in closer, the tip of his nose bumping against hers as he angled his head downward. He knew the longing was evident in his voice, but he didn’t care.

“Carnifex, we shouldn’t,” she told him in a hushed voice, her breath catching in her throat as he reached up to cup her jaw, his rough thumb brushing against her skin.

“But we did,” he countered, his lips hovering above hers, waiting for her to push him away. When she didn’t, he closed the gap between them, slotting his mouth over hers and kissing her slowly, gently.

“This is foolish,” she rasped when they finally broke apart, her dark eyes turned upward to meet his gaze. “Someone could see.”

“So let them see,” he insisted, cradling her face in his hands and leaning in to kiss her again.

“No,” Phoenix shook her head in frustration, pushing him back. “No, it’s a terrible idea.”

“I want you,” he confessed, keeping a distance between them so as not to upset her further. What he felt for her went so much deeper than mere wanting, but he knew he couldn’t tell her that. Still, he had to try to make her understand. “And I know you want me, too.”

He counted it a victory that she didn’t deny his words outright.

“What does that matter?” she snapped, crossing her arms firmly over her chest and turning her head to look away from him.

“It matters,” he said firmly, taking one small step closer to her. “It matters because Rome has taken everything from us for her own pleasure. We deserve a little pleasure of our own, don’t you think?” he murmured, running one finger down her bare arm. He didn’t fail to notice the way it made her shiver, though she tried to mask it. Resting one hand on the wall behind her head, he ducked his head low and whispered against her ear, “I know I gave you pleasure.”

“What do you want from me, Carnifex?” Phoenix demanded, something catching in her voice as she tilted her head to look at him. It was the first time he had ever caught that look in her eye, that hint of sadness and brokenness that he had seen in the faces of so many others. He didn’t want to see it in her.

“I want you. Just you and nothing else,” he said simply, twisting a loose lock of her dark hair around his finger. “Whenever you’re able, come to me. Let’s find what pleasure we can, in whatever time the gods may grant us.”

“I won’t be your whore,” she told him sharply, recoiling from his touch. “I’m not your plaything that you can command to come and go.”

“Don’t you ever call yourself that,” he retorted, his voice just as sharp, his green eyes flashing. “You are not…I would never…” He took a breath, trying to collect his thoughts. “You’re free to come and go as you wish, whenever it pleases you. I would not hold you to anything.”

Phoenix swallowed, gazing downward for a moment as she seemed to contemplate his proposition. After several beats of silence, she lifted her head and raised one dark eyebrow. “It would be for pleasure and nothing more?”

By the gods, how he wanted so much more with her. But how could he ever expect that, with the lives they led? So swallowing past the lump in his throat, he merely nodded. “For pleasure and nothing more.”

She was quiet again, but this time she kept her eyes on him as she cocked her head to the side, thinking. Finally, she spoke.

“Alright.”

“Alright?” he repeated, eyes widening slightly. He was shocked she had actually agreed.

“But don’t expect me to always be available at your beck and call, gladiator,” she insisted firmly, poking him in the chest. “It’ll be when I’m good and ready.”

Carnifex couldn’t help but smirk at her words, a satisfied expression slipping onto his face. “How about tonight?”

“We’ll see.”

But she did come to him that night. And for many more nights that week. And then the week after that. And the next one after that, until eventually months had passed.

“We can’t tell anyone about this,” she panted one night as she rode atop him, her nails digging into his chest as he lay with his hands behind his head and admired her beauty. “It’s safer that way. For everyone.”

He knew she was right, but that didn’t mean from time to time he desperately wanted to shout from the rooftops that the most beautiful woman in all of the Roman Empire spent the majority of her evenings in his bed.

Especially when the others questioned him about the scratches on his back or the love bites on his chest.

“You need to keep it down at night, my friend,” Caius complained during one morning training session. He had the misfortune, as he often called it, of occupying the cell directly next to Carnifex’s. “Some of us actually try to get some sleep. Who was that girl you had in there last night anyway? The two of you could have woken the dead.”

Carnifex just smirked in response, though his eyes couldn’t help but slip towards Phoenix, who was hanging freshly washed tunics just a few feet away. He could tell from the ruddiness of her complexion that she had heard Caius loud and clear.

She made sure to keep her voice down that night, much to his amusement.

He loved each and every moment that she spent in his arms, but he hated what came afterwards. Even after months of their secret arrangement, she still refused to stay with him during the night, always grabbing her tunic and fleeing his cell as soon as the deed was done.

“Why won’t you stay with me?” he asked her one night, her body still pinned beneath his as he pressed lazy kisses to her neck and shoulder.

“You know I can’t,” she replied, matter-of-factly. “I can’t be caught in here with you, and it would be too suspicious if I spent the whole night away from the slave quarters.”

Damn her and her rational mind.

“Then stay with me just a little while,” he insisted, pecking the corner of her mouth. “Don’t run off as soon as it’s over.”

“Why?” she asked quietly, running her fingers through his hair absent-mindedly. He loved it when she did that.

Knowing he couldn’t give her an answer that wouldn’t scare her off and send her running for the hills, he simply shrugged, allowing that smug, overly confident mask to slip into place. “You help keep the bed warm.”

She seemed aggravated by his response, but he noticed that after that night, she wasn’t as quick to get up and go, sometimes lingering for up to an hour or more after they finished.

Tonight, she seemed more exhausted than usual, curling up against his chest and closing her eyes as he traced his fingers up and down her spine, enjoying the feel of her heart beating in tandem with his.

“You seem tired,” he voiced his observation out loud, glancing down at her and brushing some of her dark hair out of her face.

“I am,” she admitted, fighting back a yawn as she swirled her finger around his chest in lazy patterns. “Aurelia’s been working us like dogs lately. Except, I think she might actually treat dogs better than she treats us. Stupid bitch,” she muttered darkly, her hand stilling as her body tensed with resentment.

“Hey,” he murmured, nudging her gently until she looked up at him. His brow furrowed in concern, noting the dark circles under her eyes. He should have been paying more attention. How had he failed to notice them? He knew there was no love lost between Phoenix and their domina, but her voice held a particular trace of venom this evening. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“It’s nothing,” she deflected quickly, then let out a heavy sigh. “It’s just…she treats Sabina so badly. And it makes me so angry. She’s the last person on earth who deserves it, and I just want to be able to protect her.”

Carnifex hadn’t failed to notice how much you had come to mean to Phoenix since your arrival in the household a few months prior. He had never seen Phoenix interact with any of the other slave girls until you came along, and now you two seemed as close as sisters. And though he didn’t yet know you very well, from all the interactions he’d had with you thus far, he could at least say that he understood the impulse to look out for you.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured sincerely, stroking her back with a comforting hand. “I know how much Sabina means to you, and how much you already can’t stand Aurelia to begin with,” he added with a grimace. Was there anybody in the household who could stand Aurelia? He doubted even Atticus could.

Phoenix sighed again, rubbing at her eyes and sitting up slowly. “Speaking of Sabina, I should get going before she starts to worry. I promised her I wouldn’t be gone long.”

“Where does she think you go at night?” he asked curiously, reluctant to let her go.

Though their tryst had started before you had even entered the household, and though you and Phoenix had become as thick as thieves since your arrival, she maintained that she didn’t want to burden you with the responsibility of knowing what was going on between her and the infamous Gallic gladiator.

“It’s better that no one knows, Carnifex,” she often told him, whenever he insinuated that their closest friends might be piecing things together. “That way they won’t have to be responsible for lying for us, if it comes to that. Besides, it’s just sex, right? Why does anyone need to know?”

He pretended that those words didn’t cut him to the core.

Sitting up in his bed, Phoenix twisted her dark hair into a loose knot at the nape of her neck and glanced down at him. “Sabina is a smart girl. She doesn’t ask too many questions. And she knows I help Hrodebert with the accounts sometimes. I just let her believe that’s where I’m going,” she explained. “But I know she worries about me, and that it’s hard for her to sleep until I get back, so I have to go.”

“Gallus cares for her,” Carnifex said suddenly. He wasn’t sure why he said it, to be honest. It wasn’t his business, and Gallus’ love life was none of his concern, but perhaps he hoped it would keep Phoenix in his arms just a few moments longer.

She stilled at his words, leaning back for a moment as he draped an arm around her shoulders. “What makes you say so?” she asked, arching an eyebrow as she looked over at him.

“Is having eyes in my head not good enough?” he chuckled, running his hand up and down her bare side. “His eyes follow her everywhere she goes, at least whenever she’s in the ludus. Though I’m sure he wishes he could watch over her in the villa as well. He already made us promise that we’d ensure no harm comes to her.”

“He asked Hrodebert and I to do the same,” Phoenix nodded, recalling the worry that brimmed in her old friend’s eyes when he’d made the request. “I have to say, I’ve known Gallus a long time and I’ve never seen him like this before. It’s like she’s unlocked something inside him. He’s quite attached to her.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so concerned for another person before,” Carnifex agreed, though he frowned slightly as he looked at her. “Except maybe you.” His voice was edged with jealousy as he spoke the words aloud.

As if he hadn’t disliked Gallus, his old rival, enough when he’d first arrived at the ludus, he’d been even more frustrated to see the bond that he and Phoenix shared, a closeness that he could only dream of having with her.

“There’s nothing between me and Gallus,” she told him firmly, placing a hand on the center of his chest as she looked deeply into his eyes. “Nothing except the love borne between a brother and sister, between two people who have survived the worst together. We’ve known each other a long time and we look out for one another, Carnifex. That is all.”

When he didn’t respond, just shifted his gaze moodily, she leaned forward and pressed a long, slow kiss to his lips. When she finally pulled back, she couldn’t help but smirk a little bit. “And as you’ve already so astutely pointed out, he seems to have eyes for no one but Sabina.”

Just as Carnifex only had eyes for Phoenix.

She frequently teased him about how the other girls grumbled in their quarters at night, complaining that he no longer called for any of them the way he used to. It hung unspoken in the air between them, the implication that he now only sought her company in his bed, and what that meant.

“I have to go,” Phoenix whispered, kissing him one last time as she slipped out of his bed and reached for her tunic. “Get some sleep. Magnus has been working you all extra hard lately.”

“Be careful,” he murmured, climbing out of bed as well and wrapping his tunic around his waist as he walked her to the door of his cell. Touching her cheek lightly, he couldn’t resist the urge to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

“I will,” she promised softly, squeezing his hand once before she was gone.

She took a piece of his heart with her, every time she left.

Tiptoeing on quiet feet, Phoenix checked her surroundings to make sure no one was in sight before slipping across the training grounds, trusting the darkness of the night to shield her from anyone who might have been observing from a distance.

Once she was beyond the gate of the ludus and within the confines of the main villa, she breathed a little easier, knowing she would be able to come up with a simple enough excuse should anyone catch her out of the slave quarters.

What she hadn’t been expecting, however, was for Hrodebert to suddenly appear before her, candle in hand as he stepped out of the office where he did most of his accounting work.

Gasping, she slapped a hand over mouth, her heart jumping into her throat as she stopped short in the hallway.

“Phoenix?” Hrodebert asked in surprise, lifting up his candle to better see her face. His eyes were red-rimmed with exhaustion and from his rapid blinks, she could tell they must have been aching from hours spent reviewing numbers and accounts. “What are you doing out here?” he questioned, raising his candle further and glancing over her shoulder.

“Oh, nothing, I just needed to return some things to the kitchen before I went to sleep,” she fibbed, biting down on her lower lip. It would have been easy to lie to a random slave or steward. It was much harder to do so to Hrodebert, who had been one of her closest friends for years now.

“At this hour?” he countered, raising a skeptical eyebrow. He glanced over her shoulder once more, then lowered his voice significantly. “You wouldn’t be coming from the direction of the ludus, would you?”

Her heart sank like a stone inside her chest as her eyes widened. “How did you—?”

“We’ve known each other a long time, Phoenix. I know you better than you might think,” Hrodebert said softly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “But you need to be careful with him.”

Much to her surprise, Phoenix felt a surge of protectiveness course through her at her friend’s words. “He’s not as terrible as some people think he is, you know. He wouldn’t intentionally try to—”

“I’m not warning you about Carnifex,” Hrodebert interrupted, prompting another shocked look from her.

“I never said that it was—”

“You didn’t have to,” he told her, a small smile playing on his lips. “My eyesight might be poor, but I’m not completely blind, you know.”

She blushed deeply at his words, wondering if anyone else had figured out what she and Carnifex had been up to. “But if not Carnifex, who—?”

“Aurelia,” Hrodebert whispered in hushed tones, glancing over both his shoulders. “You know what she’ll do if she finds out he’s attached himself to you. You need to be very careful, Phoenix. Please.”

She could hear the worry in his voice, and it made her stomach drop.

“Don’t worry, Hrodebert. I’m always careful,” she assured him, reaching out to pat his arm. “Go get some sleep. I promise I’ll come help with the accounts tomorrow night.”

“Good night, Phoenix,” he nodded, heading in the opposite direction toward the male slave quarters.

A few moments later, when Phoenix finally laid back down beside you, thankful to find that you had already fallen asleep, she tried to shut her eyes and shake away the sense of foreboding that Hrodebert’s warning had cast upon her.

He was right, and she knew it. What Carnifex and her had, whatever it might be, was dangerous. She had known it from the start, and she had been foolish to allow herself to become complacent. She needed to talk to him, needed to let him know that her visits to his cell would have to become less frequent. They couldn’t run the risk of Aurelia finding out and ruining both their lives.

Months ago, Carnifex had told her that they should try to snatch moments of pleasure when they could, that they deserved it. But had she not been a prisoner of Rome long enough to know that that could never really be possible?

She and Carnifex stood no real chance at happiness, and she needed to accept that.

Fighting back the tears that suddenly threatened to engulf her, Phoenix wrapped her arms around you and fell into a fitful slumber, promising herself before sleep finally claimed her that she would do whatever she had to do to protect those she cared about most.

[hughiecampbelle]

Succession Preference: Taking Care of You When You're Sick

Connor is very attentive. So much so it borders on smothering. He brings you blankets and medicine and keeps the tv turned into your favorite channel. He makes you soup and brings you ginger ale and crackers. He makes sure you're comfortable and checking in on you every half hour. He has to stop himself from waking you up when you fall asleep. The least of his concerns is if he gets sick. He just wants you to be okay. He had heating pads and ice packs, depending, and popsicles as a treat. If nothing good is on, he might even read to you from his own small collection. He doesn't let you make any calls or send any emails. He makes sure it becomes a no-work-zone. He can't stop himself from fretting over you. It's the big brother in him coming out. It's too strong an urge, a job, to shut down.

Kendall does not want to get sick. He can't afford to. Not in a mean way, but rather a cautionary way, Kendall keeps his space. He gets the best doctor on call, en route, to you. He makes sure they make house calls. He feels woefully unprepared for this. He was never taken care of as a kid or even as an adult. He just had to deal with it. That was cruel and so much like his father. It scared him. He had to be there for you, offer you soup or an extra pillow, anything, he just couldn't be Logan in this situation. He couldn't be emotionally close either, choosing to let other people handle it and put the responsibility in their hands. It was easier for everyone that way. He hoped it was, anyway.

Shiv knows what to do. Of course. She's not gonna pamper you like Connor does. She doesn't panic like Ken. She's rational and logical. She doesn't want to hear any whining and moaning or groaning. She schedules a doctors appointment and takes you to it without any fuss. And by take you to it, she takes a car with you where she's on her phone and rescheduling your meetings and sending out emails that you'll get back to everyone in a few days. She's efficient. There's an endgame here, and that's getting better. She's not a medical professional, and she doesn't exactly trust the home remedies the way her brother does, but she also won't avoid you like Kendall does. She has enough faith in her immune system that she won't get sick. It's never wronged her before.

Roman has no idea what to do. He panics. He's at a total loss. You're the one assuring him that it's just a cough, that it'll go away in a few days. You're the one walking him through everything. Medicine and tissues and blankets. He just moves, grabbing everything you need. When you have everything he makes, you scoot away on the couch so he can sit beside you. You watch trash television together. He asks you how you're feeling in his own Roman way and falls asleep with you. He makes jokes about how contagious you are and whatever this mystery disease is (a cold). If it kills him, he'll make sure the family sues. Mostly, he's there to take your mind off things and does a pretty good job at it.

[starlightshadowsworld]

Who do you imagine as Jason's father if it wasn't Zeus? Jupiter did not return to Beryl but she caught the attention of another god or goddess.

Sticking with Roman mythology, and those that have shown up in the series. And excluding the rest of the big 3, because why not make this a bit more intresting.

I have a few thoughts about who I'd choose, and how they'd fit Jason thematically.

Because Jason has always been defined by his parentage. I've narrowed it down to 3, I got way to carried to with this I'm sorry 😅.

Jason as a Son of Auster (Minor Roman God of the Summer and South Wind.)

He's someone Jason frequently interacts with during House of Hades. A diety who reminsces on the old days when he was both feared and beloved.

And someone Jason finds kinda annoying, preferring his Greek counterpart.

Definitely fits his whole identity crisis.

And I just love the idea of Jason both loving his father but also two seconds away from wanting to punt him across the sky.

Jason keeps his wind and storm abilities and gains a power over heat and flames.

Which, would definitely add another layer to the identity crisis, because what are you Jason? The storm or the fire?

He bound to service but it's in his nature to be free. And wanting the forgotten to be remembered.

Than we have Jason as a Son of Terminus (God of boundaries and protector of Rome.)

Jason being expected more than any other to be Camp Jupiter's sworn protector and defender.

He wants to see the world but he's bound by duty. And well Terminus is rather strict so Jason's not exactly well liked by other campers.

He'd also clash with his father at times because Jason wants to end traditions while his father lives and breathes by them.

But Terminus is also a kind diety and loves a good loop hole and I think he'd genuinely be proud seeing Jason speak out and follow the rules, in his own way.

The Quest of the 7 is probably Jason's first time leaving Camp and learning that the world operates on different rules.

Jason has his father's abilities of being able to snatch weapons (making him one of the few that can take Riptide from Percy like his father does) and teloport.

He has some control over the earth, mainly stone and he's built a lot more durable and tougher because of it.

During the Titan War, Jason and his father were Camp Jupiter's final line of defence.

And finally, Jason as a Son of Apollo. Even disregarding trials of Apollo I just find it an interesting idea.

Beryl was a performer, she was a star and Apollo kinda has a type.

Jason would belong to both Greek and Roman Camps. He'd have a lot more of a rivalry with Octavian because he's a demigod and he's a legacy.

Keeping with the theme that Roman demigods have different abilities to their Greek counterparts, (See Hazel and Nico).

And that the Romans seem to get the short end of the stick.

Jason's abilities while including archery are more medical based than combat based. He's had to work hard to get to where he is.

He's a good healer (I mean his name does mean to heal) but what many don't know, is that Jason's a lot more profiecent at giving diseases and causing pain.

It's one Beryl and Lupa was particularly fond of, both thinking he could use it against their enemies.

It's not a power he likes to use, and frankly tries not pretend doesn't exist.

But denial leads to negative emotions and next thing he knows he's given those around him the cold.

Granted, he can heal it but now he's considered an ill omen.

It causes some tension between him and Frank at first because Frank really wants to be a son of Apollo and Jason's like yeah... No you don't.

It also gives him a neat parallel to Will, who's abilities are also mostly healing based. And I feel like the Apollo kids would just adore Jason.

Jason shows up at Camp Half Blood and wonders into the infirmary all curious because he's mostly banned from his camps infirmary, unless they really need him.

And Will is just like hey newbie.

Also Jason not knowing Apollo, thinking his dad wants nothing to do with him but defending him infront of the entire Olympian Council, is so him.

Like I said, a lot of thoughts.

[vanmarkus]

Hi I'm back having now watched the episode and oh my god it has been a very very long time since an episode of TV made me this emotional - i don't cry in general but this came very *very* close. Also no one I know is watching it so I hope it's fine that I'm just ranting in your inbox XD

I know you said it was good and emotional and yet it was even more than I expected?!? I think what is striking me so strongly about Brilliant Minds is that you can feel that everyone in the room just /cares/ so much about the characters and the stories they're telling? There's a tenderness underlying all of the character beats we've seen so far, from Oliver to the interns (Dana and her backstory especially comes to mind) and now to John Doe. Having that whole storyline expand over multiple episodes, building up anticipation, finallly meeting him (and oh the dialogues! Playing chess with Dana! Thanking Jacob! Aaaaah). I also really love and appreciate how they've addressed assisted dying, the ethical and emotional quandries that come with it, how your medical team might react to that... So so good. (On another note, I don't know if you're much of a podcast listener, but the very first Invisibilia episode deals with another Locked In syndrom patient - with a happier ending, though - and I couldn't stop thinking about it throughout the episode)

Honestly unsure how they're going to continue/top that in the following episodes, but I'm just so glad I'm along for the ride.

hiii, i'm glad you enjoyed it, i was trying hard not to give away just how mindblowingly good it was agxvgss

as you said, you can just tell that the creators and the writers and the actors and everyone cares a lot for the show, but they are also just there to have fun and it frees them up creatively, i mean i think that much is visible on the show and in the bts stuff they post!

but the show goes out of its way to humanise people with neurological and mental disorders instead of just magically fixing them up and sending them on their way, which is frankly so rare and even rarer to have it this well done. actually, i couldn't really bring up another example at all.

the way they broached the topic and the way they handled it was amazing. i mean... this person was locked in and he had someone who would've cared for him until the end of both their lives, doctors who cared about his wellbeing, his quality of life and him receiving help and love and they all cared enough to respect his wishes and let him die in a peaceful manner anyway, where he was surrounded by people who cared for him, who went out of their way to make it a genuinely good experience (as good as dying can be a good experience, anyway).

clearly my mind is blown, but all that and the way they shown the interactions between Roman and his boyfriend and the interns and Wolf and Carol and just... it was beautiful, painful and skillful storytelling.

it was everything i never knew i needed to see on television.

and i agree, i absolutely love how they just drop some info-nuggets and then let them be, until they expand on them in later episodes, be it the backstory of the interns or Wolf or any of the patients, they don't rush things that don't need to be rushed and get things done quickly to make a point when that serves the narrative better (the latter be more at play in the next episode, but no spoilers).

(also i don't know that podcast, but it does sound interesting for sure!)

in any case, i don't mind that you went long cuz so did i and this episode and this show certainly deserve the attention, so i think it speaks for itself how invested we both are agxvsgs

i'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for sharing your thoughts with me <333

[candied-peach]

ao3: "hazardous to my health" rating: T warnings: prinxiety, allergic reactions genre: hurt/comfort description: Virgil has an allergic reaction on the way home. Roman isn't panicking about it at all, why do you ask?

The soap bottle's label is green.

Virgil squints at it suspiciously. Roman's washing his hands at the next sink, blissfully oblivious to the war waging inside his partner. Virgil hates not being able to wash their hands. Hot water doesn't feel like it's enough. However-

Gingerly, he picks up the soap bottle, peering at the label. It proudly lists 'with aloe' like it's some kind of accomplishment, and Virgil drops it like he's been burned. No, thank you. Hot water, it is. He looks around for a paper towel dispenser, not realizing his eyes have just scanned right past it.

"Well, that's a no," he grumbles to Roman, as his boyfriend finishes up washing his hands. Roman looks at him curiously, grabbing a paper towel from the other dispenser and handing it to Virgil.

"What?" Roman asks. Virgil points at the soap while drying their hands.

"It has aloe in it," he explains.

"Oh no," Roman says, dismayed. Virgil glances down at the damp paper towel in his hands, then back up at Roman.

"I hope that doesn't bite me in the ass later," Virgil says. "You washed your hands with it-"

"Virgil," Roman says, looking distressed. Virgil shrugs as he balls the paper towel up and throws it out.

"I've never reacted before to something like that," Virgil reassures his boyfriend. "It'll be fine." To prove it, they lace their fingers in with Roman's as they leave the gas station restroom. Roman needs coffee to make it the rest of the way and Virgil wanders the aisles a little bit, trying to find something he might want to eat. He's not having much luck, though. 

As Virgil buckles himself back into the car and rearranges his Mothman blanket around him, his hands start itching.

It has to be psychosomatic, Virgil thinks, trying to reassure himself. I'm just freaked out by the fact aloe is everywhere, trying to kill me. I didn't even wash my hands with the soap. It'll be fine. 

Five minutes later, Virgil knows it is most emphatically not fine. He itches everywhere. He doesn't see any super dramatic outbreak of hives, but he itches and there are red splotches on his hands that weren't there before.

"Virgil, I'm sorry," Roman says, glancing at him every few minutes out of the corner of his eyes.

"It's okay," Virgil says. He glances at the dashboard. They still have an hour to go. He doesn't have any allergy medication on him. Oh no. A cough breaks free before they can stifle it, but they don't pay any attention to it. The weather's cold, and his asthma always plays up a little in cold weather.

"You're worrying me," Roman says bluntly.

"I'm okay, I swear," Virgil says, scratching his scalp with both hands. He coughs again, muffling it in his sleeve. The sun glares down at them and the snow-covered landscape.

"I'm so sorry," Roman says. Virgil shakes their head.

"It's okay," they say again. "I didn't think I'd actually react to that. It's never been that bad before." Another cough interrupts him.

"You haven't coughed this entire trip," Roman points out. Virgil opens his mouth, ready to defend his asthma, when the words sink in, and panic flares to life.

Because they've stopped before. It's been this cold, or colder, at their previous stops.

And Roman is right.

"I wish I had Benadryl or something," Virgil mutters. His throat feels...weird. Not like swelling shut or anything, but breathing feels weirdly laborious in a way he doesn't want to think about. He coughs again, scratching his arm through his jacket. 

"Drink something," Roman implores, and Virgil grabs his Mountain Dew bottle out of the cup holder, twirling off the cap and taking a deep swallow. It soothes his throat a little. 

They pass a dollar store and Roman pulls into the parking lot. Virgil stares at him in mild confusion, absently scratching one cheek.

"I'm gonna get you allergy stuff," Roman promises. "Do you want to stay here?" Virgil nods. Roman locks his car door behind him, leaving the car running, and Virgil nearly reaches over to unlock it again. Worry strums his nerve endings. The anxiety is not helping him breathe. He googles aloe allergy symptoms and ends up glaring at his phone when it tells him that true aloe allergies or sensitivities are very rare, and promises him multiple articles on how to use aloe to treat allergies.

"Fuck off," he grumbles, shutting off his phone screen and leaning back in his seat. They cough again, and he glances at the store doors every time they open, praying to see Roman come rushing back out. Two people come out before Roman does, and he promptly unlocks Roman's door, giving him pleading eyes as he tries to scratch a particularly itchy spot on his back.

"Benadryl extra strength?" Virgil reads, ripping the box open after glancing at the directions. This one said only one tablet, so he follows the instructions, swallowing one with another sip of his Mountain Dew.

"Yes," Roman says. "And I uh, tried to get you some other allergy stuff?" Virgil peeks in the bag to see some kind of wipes. He glances at the ingredients list, just to make sure, and dissolves into creaky laughter.

"Roman, these have aloe in them," Virgil points out, wheezing in his laughter. Roman looks at them in dismay.

"I was panicking!" Roman explains. "I'm sorry, I didn't see aloe on the ingredients, I-"

"It's okay," Virgil assures him. "I always knew you wanted to kill me and make it look like an accident," he teases. Roman turns red.

"I'm sorry, I just- and I looked at so many, too, but they all had aloe," Roman laments. "I thought those would be okay since they're for babies."

"I guess they hate babies," Virgil says solemnly, making Roman snort despite himself.

"It'll be okay," Virgil adds, as Roman pulls back into the street.

"I'm still tempted to look up the nearest hospital," Roman says. Virgil shakes their head.

"I don't want to," he admits.  "Not- not yet? Give the Benadryl a chance to do something. But it will probably make me sleepy. Benadryl always knocks me out."

"That's okay," Roman says. "As long as you're okay."

Virgil still itches, but his cough has slowly started to go away. His chest still feels weird in a way he doesn't like, but he privately decides he won't say anything yet, not unless the Benadryl has fully gotten a chance to work and it's still there. Fatigue weighs him down, pressing him into his seat. They only got a few hours of sleep the night before anyway, deciding not to take their sleep meds just in case, because they didn't want to oversleep and miss check out time at the hotel.

Virgil slips in and out of a doze, listening to the miles unspooling beneath the wheels and the road trip playlist softly blare on the speakers. The sun slips below the horizon by the time Virgil opens his eyes properly, relieved to feel that the heaviness in his chest has dissipated.

"How are you feeling?" Roman asks, noticing him stir.

"Better," Virgil says sleepily. "How far now?"

"We're almost home," Roman promises them. Virgil nods, drowsy. "Just about ten or fifteen more minutes. We need dinner. Want me to go through Taco Bell or something?"

"Yeah, okay," Virgil mumbles, eyes struggling to stay open. "Sounds good to me."

Virgil perseveres through the next several minutes, relief flooding them when they see familiar landmarks and road signs. Being with Roman is always good, but he's glad they're nearly home.

"You should take a shower when we get home," Roman says. "Make sure you don't have any aloe residue or something anymore."

"Okay," Virgil agrees. "Help me?"

"Of course," Roman says softly. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Virgil says. He still faintly itches, but it's easy to ignore now.

"And I'm washing my hands with different soap before I hold your hand again or touch you," Roman says firmly. Virgil's bottom lip pushes out into a pout.

"Roman," he wheedles. "Come on..."

"No," Roman says. "I'm not giving you another allergic reaction." Virgil crosses their arms over their chest, pretending to sulk.

"You're so mean to me," he jokingly complains.

"I'm sorry I don't want to kill you?" Roman says, as he pulls into their driveway. A smile blooms on Virgil's face before they can stop it.

They're home.

[preciouslandmermaid]

"as the tides turn" (c.m.)

summary:

The BAU, joined by Emilia Wren, are called to Florida to investigate a case where the unsub drowns their victims and then dumps their body at a secondary location. Can they locate and stop the killer before it's too late?

This story was written using the "showrunners challenge", so at the end of each chapter, I rolled a D12 and followed whatever prompt was listed...which resulted in only minor hiccups.

cw/tw: mentions of drowning. it's a case fic, so they're talking about murder and unsubs and all the usual things that happen during a CM episode.

(read on ao3) || fic has 5 chapters

CHAPTER ONE: "as the tide rolls in"

“What would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark? It would be like sleep without dreams.” - Werner Herzog

Florida's oppressive, wet humidity ran its sticky fingers down the middle of Spencer’s back and cupped the nape of his neck in clammy rivulets of sweat. He shifted uncomfortably and swatted away an errant gnat that flew into his face. The rank of low tide and the sound of crying gulls surrounded the team, though he suspected they would soon be overwhelmed by white vans and clamoring reporters. This was, ironically enough, their few seconds of peace before the storm hit.

“Man was out walking his dog and saw her,” Deputy Roman said, “called it in right away.”

Hotch asked, “No other witnesses? And he didn’t approach the body?”

Roman shook his head. “I think it’s pretty obvious she’s been here awhile,” the deputy said while lifting the yellow police tape for Spencer and their newest member, Emilia, to enter the crime scene. Although considering Emilia was barely five feet tall, she didn’t need to duck as much as he did to cross the line. They maneuvered past crime techs taking photographs of the beach, and the body, and collecting samples of sand and seaweed.

“The unsub has familiarity with the tides,” Emilia said as she crouched next to the body, her short dark brown hair swaying in the seaside breeze, “he knew when to dump the body.”

“So, the unsub wants the victims found.” Hotch’s dark brow furrowed.

Spencer shot a glance toward Emilia, though his attention was swiftly drawn to the deceased—murdered–woman on the beach. She was Caucasian, likely in her early to mid-twenties, with blonde hair and dark roots. Her cheeks were puffy and ashen, and he could see her eyelids' delicate, blue veins. The deputy said the body had been here a while, but that couldn’t be accurate.

“A coastal area like this one would experience two tidal bulges,” Spencer said, “and it takes about six hours and twelve and half minutes for the water to go from high to low tide.”

Morgan crossed his arms and looked at the tall, blonde-haired deputy. “This is a small beach for residents only. How many go through here in a day?”

“This time of year? Not many, I’m afraid.” He rubbed his mouth. “Most of the residents in this area are snowbirds. They start flying to their second homes by mid-June.”

“Her body has started to bloat which means she’s been dead for at least seventy-two hours,” Emilia cut in, “and based on the tidal bulges, as Reid said, there’s only a six-hour window before the sea would’ve swallowed her.”

“We need confirmation from the medical examiner,” Spencer said, “humidity increases the decomposition rate.” He met Emilia’s honey-brown eyes framed by long lashes clumped with mascara. She tilted her head slightly in acknowledgment but said nothing more. A surge of relief swept through him. He had lived with himself long enough to recognize that sometimes his instinct to fact-check or correct, could rub people the wrong way, and put them on the defensive, and thankfully that had not happened with Emilia. Not ever, actually, now that he considered it. Usually, she’d reply with a soft and pensive ‘thank you’ whenever he’d share an anecdote.

Hotch said, “Either way, it’s clear the unsub killed her and then moved her here.” He took his phone from inside his blazer pocket. “Reid, head back to the station and start the geographical profile. We’ve got two bodies and two different dump sites that are miles away from one another.”

Spencer nodded.

“Deputy Roman, I need your people canvassing the area. If there’s a chance any of these homes are being rented while their owners are away that means someone could’ve seen something.”

“I think if someone saw or heard a woman being murdered then they would’ve called 911,” said Roman smugly.

Spencer opened his mouth to reply, but Emilia beat him to it.

“Our suspect likely drives a van or truck, considering they were able to transport a body,” she said, “have your guys ask about suspicious or unfamiliar vehicles within the past week or so.”

“Week?!”

“This unsub is organized and would’ve vetted the area beforehand.”

“Garcia,” Hotch said into his phone while walking toward the car, “we need catastrophic incidents in the area within the past five years.”

“I shall wave my magic wand and return with your wish granted, sir,” Garcia said, as chipper as ever before disconnecting.

“Wren–” he looked at Emilia, “I want you and JJ to interview the first victim’s mother.”

“Yes, sir.”

Spencer slid into the backseat next to Emilia. The leather interior stuck to his palms, though he was grateful for the rush of air conditioning that expelled in a rush from the vents and tousled his light brown hair.

Morgan twisted in the passenger seat, his sunglasses pushed up onto his head, and his attention on Emilia. “Nothing like returning to your hometown, huh little bird?”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes and Spencer’s body went taut and quiet. Hometown?

“First of all, we lived fifty miles upstate,” she said while leveling Derek with a flat, intense stare. “And it hardly constitutes a ‘hometown’ when I lived there for a mere two years when I was fourteen.”

Derek smiled. “Fourteen is an impressionable age. You could’ve been a lifeguard instead of an FBI agent.”

Her lips quirked. Derek had that easy-going charm to him that most – especially women – found either irresistible or endearing. He scanned her face, checking for the telltale signs of attraction: dilated pupils, quickened breath, flushed cheeks, or mirroring body language. It was instinctual to him. He had to consciously turn off the parts of his brain that profiled and analyzed. But, Emilia leaned into her seat, crossed her legs, and replied to him with a casual, and straightforward tone.

“I think my innate sense of morality and justice would’ve put me on this path one way or another.”

“Nature versus nurture.”

Spencer found his moment to chime in, “John Locke said that ‘the mind is like a tabula rasa, a blank slate, which is later filled by experience,’ and that we, with the freedom of our individuality, must fill our lives with experiences to gain knowledge and understanding. If we follow Locke’s philosophy, then we wouldn’t be born with a sense of justice built in, but rather experience hundreds to thousands of different moments and memories that shape our perception towards the world, our interpersonal relationships, and our relationship to the concepts of justice, morality, and ethics.”

“Says the boy genius with an 187 IQ,” Morgan teased.

“Hey, his mom was a professor,” Emilia said, rising to Spencer’s defense with a light smile which in turn made his chest glow with warmth.

Before Morgan could make a counter-argument, his phone rang and Garcia’s bright voice sang out over the speakerphone. “Hello, my beauties. I’ve got the deets on our first victim, Mary-Anne. She was majoring in fashion design, although, she took several of her general education classes at the local community college before transferring.”

“Nice work, baby girl,” Morgan said, “how’s the staff look? Has anyone fired or filed grievances in the past six months?”

“No terminations, although one professor was put on academic probation.”

“Keep digging, Garcia,” Hotch said, “until we identify our Jane Doe, Mary-Anne is the only link to the unsub.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Chapter Two ->]

Some general housekeeping if you are curious: 1) Every roughly 1k words, I end the chapter and roll my d12 to see what happened next. 2) I told myself that this fic would take place over a single case and would end once the investigation did (much like the in TV show). 3) credit to this challenge goes to Runawaymarbles (also sorta by sprintingowl) on Tumblr 4) I'd love to hear any feedback considering this was my first time writing a challenge :,) Enjoy!

I rolled my D12 and got the number 3 which reads: Fan favorite. Your most recently mentioned character (or named object) is now beloved by the audience. You must give it a bigger part in the story, a special destiny, or an important new romance or friendship. If you get this twice for the same character or object, the adoration cools and you must go back to treating the character or object normally.

[all-risejd]

This isn’t judgement day related but can you possibly write a public sex involved scene for Roman Reigns x Rhea Ripley?

I know you requested public sex, my friend who wrote this (this page is made up of multiple peoples writing, with one person running the account) had ideas and just went with them. I hope you enjoy it. We are only taking requests for headcannons at this time but we still did this one because her sister demanded it. Warnings: violence for the sake of violence, face-fucking, face-sitting, rough sex, slight degradation (insults), fem-dom, responsible sex (never thought I would use that one), cheating ... (consensually?)

Please comment/reblog and let us know what you think.

Fiends Not Friends

The arena should be empty by now - almost everyone is gone for the night, and most of the stage hands have started packing up the travel stages and pyro hooks. Rhea had meant to head out with Damian, Finn and Dominik - but she’d ended up stuck in a meeting with Charlotte about the upcoming transition - she was taking the belt off the older woman, which was more than fine with her, she’d earned it in her opinion, but it held a certain level of required notoriety which… as a heel she assumed would be fairly easy. She moved along the empty staging area toward the locker room when a series of crashes caught her attention. “At this point in the horror film the idiots check out the noise.” She reminded herself, before heading toward the noise in question. She half expected to find stage hands, but instead as she peaked into one of the should be empty locker rooms, she caught sight of Roman Reigns, not dressed for the ring, but in just black basketball shorts tossing anything within grabbing range around the room. For a moment she considered walking away, this was a whole lot of not her problem, but the irritating bastard was bleeding. 

“Hey, Chief.” She called, sounding a lot more sure than she felt. He whirled to snarl at her, “Your hand is bleeding, and you’ve already wrecked this room. If you're going for the whole rockstar thing, you should probably wreck a few more.” She suggested, as she moved to lean against the doorway, watching the man as he openly paced, he’d paused long enough to look down at his hand, a frown etched on his face - almost like he hadn’t realized he’d done it. “Look, I’m not trying to get into your… business, or whatever, but cuts aren’t good for business.” She ventured, nonplussed, “Do you want me to look at it, so you don’t have to go to medical? I mean I know they’d have to do some sort of write up…” Roman shot her a more than irritated look, “You know what, fuck it, I tried, you clearly have whatever this is, well in hand.” She pushed off the door and turned her back on him, intent to grab her shit and change.

“Ripley, wait.” He called, sounding just as shocked as she felt to hear him. “That, uh, that would be nice.” He decided after a moment, her eyes narrowed in on him, taking in the form of the biggest name in their business, he looked off like something was bothering him, but that pointedly wasn’t her business, either. “If you still wanted to look at my hand?” He held his left hand up, the palm bloody, head cocked slightly to the side. Rhea bemoaned the fact that every remotely attractive older man in her life was somehow both adorable puppy and complete dick in the same go. She hadn’t interacted much with Roman Reigns, outside of their legitimate lanes, they just weren’t written in the same vein. She nodded her head at him, and took a few steps toward him, casting her eyes around the room. Roman had more than wrecked it. It looked like every single emotion the man could fight out of him he had. 

Carefully she took his hand, the cut wasn’t deep but it did need to be cleaned off, “No stitches.” She observed, “Sit down, there should be a first aid kit in your bathroom.” She shoved on his shoulder, momentarily forgetting this wasn’t Damian, Dom or Finn - this man didn’t like to be touched as far as she knew. He flinched away from her, but took the seat she motioned to all the same. She moved around him, checking his face over to make sure he was one going to stay put and two not going to pull anything that might be considered stupid. Digging through the bathroom - which mercifully hadn’t been attacked by the Tribal Chief - she snagged the kit and headed back to find him sitting where she had left him, only now he was cradling his injured hand in his right hand, head downcast, his long hair falling forward to cover his actual face. 

When she first came up from NXT she’d thought he was beautiful, in an abstract and chaotic sort of way. He’d terrified her in the good ways, she wanted to be powerful like him and struggled for a handful of months trying to figure out if she wanted to be with him, or wanted to be him. She’d ultimately decided she wanted to be better than him - and had set herself on the path to do so, but now, now, he looked alone. What was it that her grandmother used to tell her? Ah, it’s lonely at the top. “I’m back.” She declared when his head didn’t rise at her approach, “You know, Chief, I run around with a quasi-rockstar, and when he wrecks rooms he somehow manages not to break his own flesh.” Roman muttered something under his breath, “I didn’t catch that.” Rhea grumbled even as she deposited the first aid kit on his lap, and moved to ruffle through it to get to the alcohol wipes. 

“I hit the locker door.” Roman sounded defeated and he wouldn't meet her gaze. She wasn’t in the mood to ask him about his personal problems, so she set about cleaning his cut and bandaging it. “You know, I don't know how you four do it.” He offered, lamely, “The whole, found family thing, with no real leader, you look like you're having fun.”

Rhea shifted to sit beside him on the hard bench, first aid kit between them, the couch that had been in the room was flipped on its side, and the cushions missing from her immediate vantage. “We are having fun.” She offered, “Four friends who get to be absolute villains and do pretty much whatever we want, while also interacting with Superstars we might not have otherwise?” She rolled her shoulders, “We are having fun. But sometimes it’s hard, cause like all of us are different people in our own rights, I think it would be hard…” She admitted, “If any of us were the leader, since you know, we all kind of share that role and responsibility, so it’s not so heavy on our shoulders.”

He grunted, “I didn’t want Sami to leave.” He said evenly, “Creative took him away, and yeah, he’s still my friend, but I wanted the story to last longer, and I think they are rushing it. The twins are… eager to be back on their own, and Solo just wants… Well, he wants to be me.”

Rhea laughed, “Everyone wants to be you to a point.” Roman let out another grunt of sorts, but Rhea wasn’t listening to him anymore, she’d figured out the problem, “Everyone wants to be at the top, not everyone is strong enough to do it for almost three years, you have to be tired.”

“I’m not tired.” He snapped, and rocked up to his feet, giving her a rough glare.

Rhea rolled her eyes as she stood, “Yeah, and I bet you're not lonely either.” She shot back at him, before pushing around him, no longer worried about making him uncomfortable by touching him, “I don’t acknowledge you or you're kingdom of bullshit, lie to yourself if you want, but… you look like shit, and this room looks like you threw a temper tantrum like a spoiled brat.” Roman made a move to grab at her but she dodged him, “Fuck off, I’m sorry I even tried to help you.” She shoved the rest of the way out of the room and headed back to the room the Judgment Day had been using earlier in the night, muttering under her breath about ungrateful bastards the whole time. She made quick work of her showering and changing, not wanting to loiter around any longer than necessary, after she packed up her gear she checked her phone, there were messages from her boys, all asking where she was. 

She shot a quick text back letting them know she was leaving the arena soon, reminding them she’d had a quick meeting with Hunter and Creative, as she stood to grab her stuff a knock sounded on the doorway. She turned sharp, alarmed that she’d overstayed some sort of welcome, and ready to apologize to whatever staff member or arena worker she’d held after their allotted work hours by staying in the arena too long. Instead, it was Reigns, again. He was at least dressed now, with his own travel bag over his shoulder, “I was an asshole.” He said evenly, “I am lonely and tired, and I miss my family.” He offered, “Can I… look, it’s late and I’m wired, and you look like you aren’t going to rest anytime soon, so would you maybe consider the gym or coffee? I’m alone more than I’d like to admit.”

Rhea cocked her head to the side and studied him. This was a unique opportunity. As much as she loved the Judgment Day, she and Dom would eventually need some sort of backup plan, as much as Damian was the older brother she’d never really had, she couldn’t always live in his shadows, as much as Finn elevated her and Dominik by his sheer amount of ring awareness and knowledge, even the best teachers didn’t know everything. The Bloodline was… powerful in different ways than the Judgment Day, their legacy would last longer, and their family would always be on top in the entertainment world. “That’s fine.” She offered, “You can pick.” She added, evenly, “I don’t have any plans, just need to check in with the boys.”

“The boys?” Roman sounded amused.

“My boys.” She countered, before shooting off a text to them that she was going to run some late night errands to get her energy worn down, and to remind Dominik not to latch the door lock at the hotel, since then her key wouldn’t work. She grabbed her gear bag and made a motion for Roman to lead the way, he shot her a raised eyebrow, before he turned and headed down the hallway, she trailed along after him, most of the arena lights were off now, and most of the stage crew had disappeared. The dark colored SUV was a signature she at least knew he would have, as she tossed her bag into the backseat and climbed into the passenger seat, and odd silence settled over them, “Look, I shouldn’t have overst-”

“I’m sorry for being a dick.” They spoke at the same time, cutting one another off.

“Well, this shouldn’t be this awkward.” Rhea muttered, irritated at her apparent social awkwardness when it came to Roman. He snorted, harshly. “What I said earlier about everyone wanting to be you, when I first came up to RAW I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be you or somehow wanted to be with you, it’s just… who you are.” She shrugged, “I decided I wanted to be bigger than you, somehow.”

“You're on your way.” Roman offered, as he started the SUV and headed them out of the parking lot, “I assume we are all at the same hotel?” They quickly confirmed the location, with Rhea double checking her phone - Dominik had promised not to lock her out, both Damian and Finn had encouraged her to get some sleep and not spend all night in the gym. “Those boys of yours, they really love you, you can tell, in the ring and backstage. Sometimes it makes me miss the Shield.” He ventured, as he turned them toward the hotel, “The hotel gym is nice, and at this point everyone should be in bed-”

“Damian and Finn are working out, if you want to just talk to me, the hotel isn’t going to work.” Rhea had already started looking for other gyms nearby that were open all night, which is how twenty minutes and a county over, they ended up in a Gold’s Gym. The only other occupants of the gym were the bored man behind the counter who was watching Netflix and a woman happily riding an exercise bike toward the left. Roman immediately headed them toward the sparring room, Rhea followed, more than curious about how this was going to go - Roman was stacked and while she was strong and could destroy men in bursts or flares of energy… she didn’t know if she really could take him or Solo. “Are we sparing?”

“Nah.” Roman dropped his duffle on the first mat, toed his shoes off and promptly laid down on the floor, looking up at the ceiling of the sparring room. He stretched his arms over his head, before tucking both hands into his hair, and exhaling, “Do you ever just get so fucking mad at the world you need to break something, make something bleed?” Rhea dropped her duffle, toed off her own shoes and joined him with a noncommittal hum. “I’m just, so fucking pissed. I’ve got all these… extra things to worry about.” Rhea realized how carefully he was using his words, there were no doubt secrets that he had to keep for the brand. By and large most of the worst kept secrets in the WWE were in relation to Roman and his cousin. Rhea contemplated what to say, but was stopped by Roman hitting his fist against the sparring mat with enough force that it vibrated under her body. A reminder of his sheer power. Roman shouted then, a loud thundering explosion of emotion that reminded Rhea of what Damian did when he was losing a match.

Rhea waited for him to get the burst of noise out, “You need a healthy outlet of some sort.” 

“I hit people for a living, that should be the outlet.”

“You aren’t in the ring week to week anymore, you need something else. Don’t the twins or Solo spar with you?” Rhea asked, now a bit worried about his mental health, their kind - the ones who sought violence for the sake of violence - didn’t do well being asked not to talk with their fist, or to sit back and let others take care of their problems. 

“No.” 

Rhea let the silence fill the room for a long stretch, there was something both eerie and nice about laying in silence with a sort-of-enemy, she decided, something that was markedly different than laying in contemplative silence with battle-ready brothers. “We could spar.”

Roman let out an impatient rumble, “I don’t hit women.”

“Maybe you should.” She ventured, and chose her next move very, very carefully. She had always been quick, even with her semi-shitty knee, she sat up and rolled her whole body toward Roman, swiftly straddling him, he looked posed to throw her off or say something, when she punched him hard in the cheek, “Fuck, you're bones are ridiculously hard.” She shook her hand, wiggled her fingers, the hit had jarred her wrist. Roman’s nose had flared, and his eyes narrowed, “Not too different from me, huh?” She observed, as she hauled off and hit him again, this time with her other fist, he didn’t stop her, instead she managed to land two more solid punches before he caught her wrist and snarled low at her. 

“What are you doing?” He snapped, as his hold on her wrist turned painful, her bones aching in protest, Rhea however only glowered down at him, and with her free hand, slapped him hard across the cheek, “Ripley.” His voice had changed, his pupils expanded, and his whole body seemed to electrify, Rhea knew she was playing a dangerous game, Damian was always warning her about getting burnt, this time she might as well have doused herself in gasoline. “What. The. Fuck.” Now that he had both her wrists in the tight hold, he looked almost pissed again, like when she’d first stumbled upon him.

“You don’t want to spar with me.” Rhea stated calmly, “You don’t have anyone to spar with, you don’t like the idea of hitting a woman, so I thought why not hit you.” She tilted, using his hold on her, to pitch herself forward, looming over him, “There are other ways to get your anxious energy out, Mr. Tribal Chief. Violence for the sake of violence can happen in the ring or the bedroom.”

He made a sharp noise of complete irritation, “Learn that from Priest?”

“I’ve learned a lot from him.” She gave him a flirtatious wink, “His tips and tricks are endless.” She added, “Would you like to learn some of them?” Roman frowned at her, his brow knitting together like he was in deep, deep thought. “Or not.” She acted like she was going to stand, using his hold on her wrist to push herself away from him, but his hold tightened if possible, and he refused to let her move far away. “No one takes care of you, huh?” She purred, “They want you to take care of them, and that leaves absolutely no time for you to just relax.” Rhea might also rather enjoy having power over Roman, not that she would use it for evil or anything, Damian might though, once she told the boys about this. He was after all the sadist who planned most of their big game plans. “No one lets you be babied, huh?” She squeezed her knees in tight, hugging his ribs, where she was still straddling him. He looked confused, a bit alarmed, but his pupils were still blown and he didn’t seem like he was going to push her away, “Can I take care of you, Chief?” She asked, with a bit of a purr, Dom was going to be jealous, but he’d get over it.

“What uh, what does that mean?” Roman asked after a beat.

Rhea laughed, “You like being in charge, being the top dog, right? Well, let me be in charge, let me call the shots.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him, “Let me help you release your violence.” Roman frowned, Rhea watched him work somethings out in what she was going to graciously call his big beautiful brain. Slowly, carefully, he released his grip on her wrist, and nodded his head. “Words, Rome.” Rhea ordered, sharply. He looked confused, “Don’t tell me no one has ever called you Rome, it’s literally in your name, low hanging fruit.” She grumbled the last, while rubbing her wrist, “Words, you need to tell me yes or no outloud.”

“Rhea…” He tried her name out, and honestly she didn’t think she’d ever heard him refer to her as anything other than Ripley or Brutality, “Help me release my violence.” He sounded so small, and fragile, and like he’d rather be asking her literally anything else. It brought a smile to her lips, she liked turning big powerful men into her own little pets. Not that she thought she’d get to keep Roman, realistically whatever this was, would fall into the category of a one-off. “Please?”

She realized she’d been admiring him for a bit too long, “Don’t worry, Rome, I’m going to help.” She cast her gaze around the sparring room, “We can’t do this here, though.” A frown pulled at her lips, “Are you in a single hotel room?” He nodded, “Cool, let’s go.” She shuffled off of him, then helped him stand, “Grab my bag, too, give me the keys.” Roman took well to being bossed around, she grinned as he did what she asked, “Rule number one,” She pushed the door open that led to the main floor of Gold’s Gym, “Violence is allowed, and welcomed, I asked that you don’t hit my face, due to recent injury.” She waved goodbye to the desk clerk (who had wide eyes and had not so subtly been watching the sparring room camera she would hazard to guess), as she pushed open the exit, “Two, you have to communicate with me if you like something or if you don’t.”

“I understand one and two.” Roman grumbled, “Normally I’m the one making rules.” 

“I know.” She shot him a wink over her shoulder, “That’s why it’s so fun, let me have control.” She headed for the driver's door and wrenched it open to climb into the driver's seat as he loaded both their bags into the back, “What room number are you in?”

“892. Why?” Roman demanded as he climbed into the passenger side. Rhea didn’t bother to answer, choosing instead to text Damian that she needed a couple things out of her and Dom’s room, and to let the younger boy know that she would not be coming to their room tonight, she paused long enough to hear back from Damian with an affirmative. “Rhea?”

“I need some things from my room.” She said evenly, “Now you do not get to freak out when we get back to the hotel.” She started the SUV and pointedly drove them quickly and efficiently back to the shared hotel - WWE preferred they all be in the same location accommodation-wise. Roman, blessedly, did not talk when they arrived at his room, with Damian in just tight black boxers leaning against the door, scratches down his chest, and a red travel sized bag in his hands, it looked small, but that was largely due to how big Damian was, “Thank you.” Rhea offered, when she took the bag from him, Damian looked pointedly at Roman, before he ducked closer and kissed Rhea’s neck, “Go away, Priest, I’ve got someone to fuck with tonight that isn’t one of you three.” 

Damian laughed, hard, then cast Roman another dubious look, before he headed for the elevator, he paused to call back, “Dominik is gonna want details in the morning, Rips.” With that he climbed onto the elevator, and headed down - their set of rooms was located on the sixth floor. 

“What the fuck?” Roman muttered, clearly confused.

“Don’t be judgy.” Rhea pushed his side, “In the room we go.” She made a motion to get him to open the door, he did as she asked, “There is absolutely no way in hell you’ve never just causally fucked you're friends, like I’ve seen you, it’s impossible.” She muttered mostly under her breath as she followed him in. He dropped both their bags, as she tossed the red bag at the bed, without warning (and really she was going to have to think Finn for teaching her the subtle art of sneak attacks) she slammed into Roman from behind, knocking him half into the wall, before they both crashed into the floor between the wall and the bed, this time instead of straddling his hips, she straddled his chest, “This ok?” He nodded, a bit wide eyed, “Been a while since someone knocked you on your ass huh?” He shrugged, she grinned wildly, bright like a Cheshire cat, before she moved so her nose was about an inch away from his.

“Are we gonna kiss now?” Roman sneered, Rhea lunged, biting his bottom lip hard enough to bring blood, immediately Roman attempted to toss her off, only for her to fight back, “I don’t want to hurt you-” He stopped when she headbutted him, “You know what-” He moved to push her off, his hands going to her ribs, and gripping tight, she countered by softly kissing his now bleeding lip, he let out a whiney sort of ‘omph’ before returning the kiss, admittedly with a bit of hesitation, like he was afraid of being bitten again, Rhea made a mental note not to bite him as hard the next time. Rhea tugged on his shirt, which seemed to give him the idea, it was a flurry of movement, ripping and pulling at each other in a way that echoed Roman’s need for control and Rhea’s need to be brutal, the undress isn’t her favorite part of this anyway, so the pile of shredded clothes they leave by the bedside table is absolutely nothing for her. 

It’s in their genetic makeup, she swears, for them to tossel and grapple like they are in the ring - almost like a no disqualification match. It only takes her nails raking up either side of his spine and a softer but still sharp bite to his stomach for him to react. The first streak of pain that lights up her neurons comes from his grip on the back of her neck, his thumb and fingers digging in deliciously as he yanked her away from his stomach, his chest heaving minutely as he shot her a glare before turning the tables and flipping them, Rhea let out a tapered moan as he smashed her back into the headboard and bit at her neck and collarbone. His bites, while tentative, are different. It’s difficult for her to conceptualize, but her body knows Damian’s teeth, knows the slap of Finns’s hand, knows the heat of Dominik’s talented tongue - Roman is new, uncharted territory as his bite melts to kisses, his hands loosening on her shoulders to grip harshly at her sides. From his low grunts and harsh exhales she could tell he was thinking about something, the resounding slap to her right hip wasn’t what she thought, but she arched back into it, letting out a filthy little pur all her own. 

Whoever Roman is - and she is sure this isn’t even remotely his normal behavior pattern - he underestimated his strength. She fights him for dominance, but it’s a futile effort, until he allows her to roll them again. Sharp and bright she smiled at him before she bit at his Adams apple. “Tell me…” Roman started as she licked and kissed and scratched and bit her way down his frankly ridiculous chest. “Do they hurt you?” It’s a loaded question, one that Rhea had absolutely no patience for. Instead of answering him she licked at his hip bone and tugged harshly at his happy trail, it was his turn to arch his back and let out a series of curses before he fisted a hand in her hair and tugged, “They do and you like it.” The darkness in his gaze was predatory to a point but tonight wasn’t about him getting her to release a demon or two. No, Rhea was going to give the Chief what he needed for the betterment of the whole company. She pulled away from him, eyes looking over him as she sat between his spread legs. He and Damian were built differently with muscle mass and weight distributions. Roman if possible had aspects of all three of her boys bodies, he wasn’t as big as Damian in the duck department, his chest wasn’t as hard as Finn’s, and what little baby fat rested around his midsection wasn’t nearly as cute as Dominik’s but all in all - she could work with it. 

“We hurt each other.” She finally offered as she grabbed the red travel case that Damian had brought. She plopped it down on his stomach and watched him frown at how deceptively heavy it was. She dug out what she wanted - flavored lube and a condom, dropping both on the bed by Roman’s hip, he was hard, achingly so already and just from a little bit of play. She wondered what it would be like to really take her time with him. Maybe someday she will get that chance. Tonight, however, wasn’t that. “I’m going to let you fuck my face.” She explained, “Then I’m going to sit on yours until I’ve cum at least twice.” His eyes widened, “If you do a good job with you're tongue I’ll let you fuck me, but I want it hard, fast and painful.” 

“If I don’t make you cum twice,” Roman rubbed at his chest, where Rhea had left behind long scratches. “What happens?”

“Obviously then I teach you how you should eat a partner out and I fuck you.” She tilted the red travel case forward to show off one of the smaller dildos that always traveled with her, about five inches long and maybe an inch thick. It wasn’t something she used often, but it was always good to have around. He gave her a snarl but nodded his head, “Words, Rome.” She pinched his nipple, hard enough he swatted at her, “See you're learning.”

“I agree, now I believe you said something about me fucking you're face?” Leave it to Roman Reigns to be a cocky bastard, she shot him a heated look before she grabbed the lube, without warning it up in her hands she poured the cold coconut flavored lube over his cock making him wince. “God you're a bit-“ his insult was cut off by her fisting his cock and pumping her hand up and down his length twice to spread the lube down his shaft. His hand shot to tangle back in her hair, yanking her forward by her dark locks. She let him guide her mouth to the tip of his cock, before she pinched his inner thigh, hard. He bucked up, pushing his cock head against her lips, she rubbed her closed lips over his head, making him snarl low in frustration. 

Roman pushed her short hair out of her face with his other hand, before he tugged again, this time Rhea opened her mouth, letting him slide the head of his dick into her mouth, she eagerly slurped her tongue around the sensitive head. She’d been choaking on dicks for as long as she and Damian had been fucking around, and personally she loved the moment cocks hit the back of her throat, she loved rough thrust, she loved the dizzing lack of oxygen - now if only she could come up with a way to convey that to Roman. She tucked her hands under his thighs, pressing up until she could grip his ass cheeks, then pushed her mouth down, the harsh hold he had on her hair only serving to make her wetter, as she also pushed his ass upwards. He let out a string of jumbled words and sharp cries, as she swallowed around his meat, taking him as far down her throat as possible, inhaling proudly as her nose was as tickled by his dark curly public hair. His grip on her head changed, to almost soft before he was tugging her back up and thrusting his hips up to chase the wet tight warmth of her throat. 

She’s sloppy at it, always letting spit dribble from the corners of her mouth, it’s easy for Rhea to get lost in the sensations, in the delicious drag of cock past the back of her throat and down, of the explosion of salty precum against her taste buds, of the punishing tangle of hair pulling and her lack of oxygen when her partner gets overzealous and holds her head down, forcing her nose against dark curls. She has to remind herself that as much as she is enjoying the rough throat fucking that Roman is providing her, this isn’t about her. She’s generously helping the leader of the Bloodline relax. His grip while punishing, is honestly the one thing grounding her, as he pulls her completely ip and off his cock, her saliva leaving a spit trail, “Fuck you're a goddamn slut.” Roman sounded like she felt so, insult aside, she licked her lips and opened her mouth again, sticking her tongue out. He wasted no time dragging her back down, “Bet you fucking love taking cock, fuck men up at ringside all the time when all you want is to be fucked like the little whore-“ she pressed her teeth in just a little near the base of his cock, his hips shuddered, oh he liked that. She sunk her nails into his asscheeks and resumed sucking his cock like the little slut he apparently thought she was. Even though he doesn’t let her breathe as often as she would like, he starts a rhythm of ducking into her mouth while also moving her head so that her mouth and throat are angled to where he wants them. By the time he’s exploding down her neck, thick cum and tasting saltier than her boys, his hands were cradling the base of her skull and he’d planted his feet on the bed to properly thrust down her throat. She deployed what she could, then pulled off as his hands fell away, she let her mouth stay open so some of his unswallowed cum could run down her chin and drop on his cock. 

“Seems like you like slutty little whores, Rome.” She countered as she climbed up him, he was still panting as she crawled up the the head of the bed, and turned on her knees, before looking down at him, “I’m so fucking wet from you throat fucking me, Chief.” With that she sat down on his face, smiling as his hands immediately flew to her hips and she felt the first exhale against her pussy lips. She was being nice, if it were Dominik or Finn beneath her she’d have smashed her pussy directly onto his face with no regard for his need to breathe, but. She shivered as he just breathed for a moment. 

“Fuck you smell good.” His voice sounded wrecked, but before she could check on him for real, his tongue slid between her outer lips and dipped into her core. She rocked her hips just a little, trying to encourage him to tonge fuck her, instead he gave her what amounted to kitten licks before he used his grip on her hips to shift her enough he could get at both her swollen clit and her slit. She gasped as his eager tongue went to work, his sharp teeth scraping against her clit when he got too excited chasing a taste, her moans only seemed to push him to work harder to get more and more of the creamy goodness out of her. He alternated between fucking his tongue in and out of her slit, and harshly sucking on her clit or scraping his sharp teeth over her swollen clit. She rocked her hips to get his tongue and teeth where she wanted them, her first orgasim sneaking up on her, she clamped her thighs hard around his head, letting out a long groan of her own, before stretching out down the front of Roman’s body, her head resting against his hip bone, as she exhaled and inhaled, Roman seemed to understand that she was a bit sensitive, occasionally the monster that led the Bloodline would tease her with an exhale that ghosted over her sensitive clit. 

“You gonna be able to handle a second one, Nightmare?” Roman sounded smug.

Rhea didn’t give him a chance to be smug for long, she pushed herself back up and resigned herself to treat him like Dominik and Finn, rutting against Roman’s face, not sure if he could breathe or not, she gave him a break to breathe, then went back to rubbing her cunt against his face, hoping to soak him down with her cum. “I can handle more than you could even begin to think about.” She groaned, as Roman worked to lick and nip at her, as she took what she wanted from him, chasing a second orgasim. Her second orgasm was rushed, which was fine for her, the hectic need of something more, something bigger was racing up her spine. Panting, and loose limbed, she climbed off of him, and sprawled out on the bed, both of them were sweaty in a way that working out never seemed to get them. Roman had pressed up from the prone position he’d been laying in, to manhandle her to where he wanted - with Rhea’s head in the center of the bed, and her butt barely on the bed. 

“My turn, right?” He roughly rolled her onto her stomach, and forced her to bend her knees. 

“That’s right.” Rhea laughed, “Fuck the worries away.” She shot him a smile over her shoulder.

He dipped to kiss her lips, biting at her lips, and forcing his tongue into her mouth, even as he moved one of the nearby pillows to rest under her lower stomach, raising her hips of the bed just enough that with him standing upright behind her he wouldn’t have to bend his knees too much to fuck into her. She allowed him to force her legs apart so he could settle between them, she heard the rip of the condom foil, and the hiss of Roman’s discomfort at rolling it on, then the snick of the lube cap opening, she wiggled a bit to get more comfortable, as she crossed her arms to rest her head on, he re-gripped her hips. “Are you sure?”

“You're going to ask that after we made each other cum?” Rhea gave him a rude look, “Just fuck-” She yelped as he did exactly what he asked, slamming his hips forward, and sinking his cock into her, balls deep, in one swift thrust. “Oh my fucking…” Rhea trailed off as she shifted, to move her hips so he could piston in and out of her the way he wanted.

Roman’s thrust were powerful, enough so they rocked Rhea forward slightly, he sunk in as deep as he could, and reached for her hands, pulling her arms back, and ordering, “Hold you're ass.” Rhea did as he asked, spreading her asscheeks apart, so he could watch himself fuck in and out of her, Roman moved his hands to her wrist, securing her hands, his grip made her bones ache in the perfect way, as he savagely started pistoning in and out of her, again, his hipbones hitting her hard enough she was sure he was going to bruise her, the thrill of it only served to make her hotter. Roman’s thrust drove him deep enough into Rhea, she swore she saw stars, the delicious drag of his cock against her inner walls sent ripples through her whole body, Rhea was sure she was making the unholy noises that drove her boys crazy, as Roman continued his assault. Roman released his hold on her left wrist, to drape himself over her body, and force his pointer and middle finger into her mouth, the position change forced his dick to strike her g-spot, on thrust in, she wasn’t sure what she was even trying to saying (since Roman’s fingers curled against her cheek and pulling harshly limited her ability to form actual words) but it had Roman chuckling darkly, as he not only speed up his thrust, but angled them to perfectly line up and strike her g-spot over and over again, she felt the tears start, as Roman yanked on her cheek, his fingers pressing against her tongue. 

She could feel the presure building, and tried, aimlessly to swat at Roman to let him know, but he didn’t slow down even as she clinched around him hard, new tears starting on her lashes, as he shifted yet again, and released her right wrist, to force his right index and middle finger into her mouth as well, he couldn’t thrust as deep or as harshly with this new position, but he was still striking her g-spot, and rubbing everything inside her just fucking right, even as Roman seemed hellbent on stretching her mouth open as much as he could, sniffling, Rhea moved her hands to hold Roman’s wrists, as his hips stuttered, and he let out a long, loud, “Rheeea.” He pulled his fingers free of her mouth, and pretty much collapsed on her, she wiggled her hips and let out a little growl - he was heavy, she was overstimulated, and coated in sweat. 

It took a good twenty minutes before Roman was ready to move significantly, he’d mercifully pulled out of her, and rolled onto the bed beside her, allowing her to climb onto the bed, and attempt to get comfortable. “Do you feel better?” Rhea asked, face down in the comforter they hadn’t bothered to take off the bed before fucking around.

“Actually, yes.” Roman laughed, “But now I feel disgusting.” He admitted.

“Best way to fix that,” Rhea shakily sat up, her legs tucked under her body, “Is to carry me to the bathroom so we can both shower…” Roman, who had been covering his eyes with his left forearm, moved his arm to shoot her an amused look, “You're the beastly man, I’m the dainty woman, do the thing.”

“Nothing about you, Rhea Ripley, is dainty.” Roman smarted, but he did as she’d asked, standing on his own shaking legs, to haul her up and over his shoulder, to the bathroom - the clock on the bedside table read almost four in the morning, Rhea shook her head amused, the pair showered together, and after a bit of pushing and shoving, agreed to crash out together, in the large king size bed (Rhea didn’t want to risk waking up Dominik, he wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep). “Good night, you little nightmare.” Roman muttered, just as sleep started to pull her under, she swatted at him, instead of responding.

Rhea had thought about slipping out of the hotel room unnoticed, but the near-pounding at just after nine in the morning woke not only her but Roman. The pair shared a look of pure terror, as Rhea attempted to grab her discarded clothes and Roman wrapped himself up in a blanket, he tossed the door open - Rhea grinned as her boys pushed their way in, Dominik holding a tray of food that obviously was not from catering, Finn had clean clothes for Rhea in his arms, and Damian was bringing up the rear with a gallon a orange juice under one arm and a six-pack of gatorade dangling from his free hand, “Morning, Mami.” Dominik skipped over to kiss her lips, quickly, “Damo said you needed breakfast, and that we should bring the Tribal Chief something, too.”

Roman glanced around them, eyes wide, as Damian kicked the door shut, “Morning, Reigns, Gatorade or orange juice?” Roman gave Rhea a wide eyed look, as Finn kissed her quickly on the cheek, and Damian moved to settle breakfast down on the bed, “Man, Dominik got some of the best breakfast, there was a little diner over by Gold’s Gym…” Rhea smiled to herself as her boys rattled off their nighttime and morning activities, slowly Roman moved to join them, Dominik passed him a fork, and nudged a bit of eggs toward him.

“Mami was good to you, right?” Dominik asked, as he snagged a piece of bacon.

Roman choked on the eggs he’d just shoved into his mouth, Finn let out a sharp whistle, “Dom, you can’t just ask people how well Mami fucked them.” Rhea couldn’t help but laugh, as Roman looked mortified, “Just fucking with you, Chief, we know how great she is in bed.” Roman cast his eyes back toward Rhea, who shrugged.

“Thank you, Rhea.” He offered, with an almost-blush on his cheeks, “Uh, does this make us friends?” He asked the group at large.

Collectively the four members of the Judgment Day answered, honestly, “Nope.” 

[crip-writing-shit]

More essay

did you really think I would only over analyze and project onto Doctor who? If so you have been sorely mistaken. Behold my latest creation! Roman Sanders is a surprising good representation of a sibling abuse survivor! Like to ao3 chapter here or continue reading here

head up for non specific talk of child abuse and neglect

I will be trying to write this drawing from cannon only however I have been in the Sander Sides fandom for quite some time and so not all of my characterization will be completely accurate, I am aware that Remus and Roman did not have conventional childhoods with parents as they are only metaphysical but due to the nature of humans dysfunctional sibling relationships occur within a greater family and society with all that said and done let’s get into the meat of it.

A “glass child” is a term used for a sibling of someone with higher needs than themselves and thus the glass child receives very little of the caregivers attention leading to them feeling see through like glass. Glass children most often have medically complex siblings but in cases where a child’s behavior is so dangerous or undesirable that preventing it or limiting damage takes allot of focus and effort from the adults around them the sibling will often end up being neglected, in some cases the glass child will have to assist in caring for their sibling. Roman is very clearly desperate for attention from the other sides, he wants to be praised and looked at and admired. His ego is very fragile perhaps do to his being put aside in order to deal with Remus. When guardians are trying to protect the glass child they may end up keeping things from them because “they are too young to know” or leaving them out of the conversation. We see this in Roman in the beginning of “Dark Side Of Creativity” desperately asking his fellow sides to tell him what is happening and then refusing, he is then knocked out and unconscious for the entire discussion including its resolution, and at least on screen no one thinks to clue him in as to what all happened with his brother.

Sibling abuse is often dismissed and a rivalry or spat but when one sibling has more power over the other out of age, strength or, fear it is known as abuse. Sibling abuse like any other abuse can be Mental, physical, emotional or, sexual in nature and because society doesn’t recognize most cases of sibling abuse the protections in place for abused children let victims of sibling abuse fall through the cracks. Many of sibling abuse cases are what’s called “out of parental control cases” meaning that the parent is not the abuser and cannot stop the abuse easily. These cases are a conundrum because most often putting one or both siblings into foster care would only traumatize them more and so children are forced to remain in unsafe homes, “doesn’t sound like a very fun house” as it was put. Growing up with an abusive sibling we couldn’t discuss what happened during there episodes for fear of the guilt triggering another episode and so I was left out of the loop as Roman is through the episode. Logan wasn’t seriously hurt by Remus while Roman was not only because of belief but because Remus has power over Roman, Roman is cannot be safe from his brother the way the other sides are and with that in mind who do you think Remus takes the frustration of not being able to hurt the others out on? It’s no wonder Roman is so scared of becoming like his brother, is so desperate to rip off anything he has in common with Remus, even though they are family, due to their nature they have more in common with each other than they do other sides and that fact haunts Roman.

Patton prefers Roman. Roman is praised more often in “ The Dark Side of Creativity” more often than most any other episode in the series, but most of those compliments are just because he’s not his brother. “Roman is good!” Unlike Remus “Roman is brave!” Unlike Remus “Roman’s function is important” unlike Remus’ Roman is desperate for praise and yet the strongest praise he gets is when he’s asleep and used to hurt his brother. Roman is the favorite because Remus is the least favorite.

Being abused by a sibling especially one close in age leaves you abandoned by the protections for other abused children, it leaves you isolated from you family while still carrying the burden of being “the good one” it can leave you terrified of becoming like your sibling and sets you up to continue being in abusive relationships.

[bacchant-of-dionysus]

ABOUT @BACCHANT-OF-DIONYSUS

hi! I’m Dorian, the person who runs this blog. My main account is @neuro-die-virgin so my follows and likes and PMs and asks come from there. I have a patreon linked in my bio where I post exclusive Dionysus related content.

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[mako-neexu]

If they let Kadoc in the summer event this year the Barbie meme is exactly how it would go down. Actually the Barbie meme, is basically also Goredolf and the rest of Chaldea.

Oh and not related to the Barbie meme, but an Au where Kadoc also survives the explosion in the beginning. The angst/hijink potential of that in a Kadoguda would be amazing. Kadoc self esteem getting worse because here is this nobody being the best master while he struggles. Ritsuka and her imposter syndrome because yes the servants love her but she feels like she stole Kadoc's place. Kadoc slowly falling for her but not saying anything when he notices her crush on Romani. Kadoc getting hunted down by every servant because they're jealous because one day they'll get unsummoned but he'll stay by her side. Kadoc nearly combusts with the Halloween/summer/Christmas events and by the lostbelts he still thinks he's the only sane man but Goredolf tells him he is very much not, because what you mean you tried to convince Liz to become a Rock idol instead.

how did you manage to include all my interests in one AU WHO ARE YOU WHO ARE YOU

BUT youre so CORRECT WTH please send papa goredolf to the spa to the relax XD XD but enma tei can still be a very chaotic place sakjfnskjdbkjdb

THAT AU!!! I WANT TO WRITE IT SOMEDAY!!!! ive been really thinking about an Au like that and i saw there is kirsch version with gudako in ao3. its interesting!

i think kadoc would be crippled for a few months...almost a year? but physical therapy with the medical team can help! and yes, i think in-singularity events would most likely be the same, ONLY!!!

ritsuka has kadoc's advices and tips.

at first, of course he doesnt like it, he feels useless already. he's bedridden for a few months, for some unknown reason his circuits wont work, his faily crest is still there though, his sirius light is there but it doesnt feel like its really there, so he feels hopeless with nothing but da vinci, dr roman, mash to visit him and treat him like glass... and the newbie who suddenly rose to the top all because she managed to avoid the explosion. what luck.

fujimaru calls him "senpai" as mash always did to the girl. as hes stingy, he refuses, constantly guilt trips this happy go lucky idiot, hes constantly envious of their position, he watches the records of the singularity, how clumsy and stupid she is, and why the hell does she keep befriending sentient weapons capable of annhilating half a country. hes pretty surprised fujimaru hasnt died yet in the first singularity...

but then-

he hears his favorite rock music blasting loudly in fujimaru's earphones while excitedly talking to nightingale, who was in charge of the infirmary.

"oi, shitty kouhai," he parts the curtain to catch the red-haired girl's attention. like lanterns in the night, her eyes brightened, "ah! senpai! what's up?"

ugh. he needs to hear that song again and see the last update his second favorite band made. after all, they released a song on the day of the explosion. just when he planned to privately see their livestream after the rayshift test was over. it was seriously unfortunate that he was out cold for almost a month.

soon enough, just as he asked to hear what fujimaru was listening to, she lit up at the prospect of him being a rock music fan. and yes, he begrudgingly admitted it but at least it got him her phone (which she gladly lent. jesus christ she really is an overly trusting idiot) which was nothing but hundreds of songs in different genres, which surprisingly had some of his favorites in it. and unable to help himself, he took a look at her gallery, and again, had nothign but pictures of her bonding with the servants, and mostly mash, da vinci and then...

huh, in all of the doctor's pictures, all of her shots are taken at really good angles.... he skips all that and huffs, opting to enjoy listening to the music as he studies and recovers in bed, half-hoping that the idiot would come back soon so he could merely ask her about the true names of the servants in her gallery and why she doesnt have any pictures of her family friends or siblings and relatives prior to her life her at chaldea

wait I HAVE TO STOP i will ramble about the idea at this point!!!!!!! thank you so much for kadoguda AU idea T-T its so good!!!!

and i love to give kadoc a stroke and maybe some tumor so he will witness a lot of Bullshit in many events that he will become incrasingly tired instead of building of immunity. his peaks of stress is visibly seen, as you said, in halloween, christmas, and summer, all of which he intends to lock himself in his room but gets dragged along with ritsuka becase he certainly is Not Weak when it comes to her

i think i wanna have kadoc also summon anastasia though! he deservves to see her again no matter the AU imo TvT

i think kadoc would be a tiny bit jealous with romaguda! especially if its requited! kadoc would maybe call gudako from afar while shes talking and laughing with romani, or maybe theres also a hint of reverse...? now i want to see jealous romani lmao

if that happens, i think maybe it would be in a scenario where kadoc and ritsuka are having their moment, and romani suddenly appears out of nowhere and says, "Would you mind if I talked to Ritsuka for a little while?"

MAYBE just MAYBE he emphasizes how he is on first name basis with her while kadoc refers to her on last name basis.... so ahHHHH my feels!!!! jealous romani is seriously good if you put him in a certain situation!!!

anyways, thank you for ask! i didnt expect it but it made me happy!! someday i will write kadoguda with romaguda in it!!!

[electronickingdomfox]

"The Galactic Whirlpool" review

More like the galactic infodumping.

A novel from 1980, by David Gerrold. It's not a bad book per se, but I found it quite tedious. At times it seems you're reading one of Scotty's technical manuals, at times a historical encyclopedia article. It's almost as if the author didn't want to write a Star Trek novel, but rather build a sci-fi universe from scratch, and thus the need for such detailed descriptions. The 21st history, as presented in the book, largely ignores the events established in "Space Seed", like the Eugenic Wars and Kahn's rule.

This "not-quite-Star-Trek" feel is further emphasized by the choice of Lt. Kevin Riley (a background character from a couple of episodes) as the hero, which gives the author much more freedom to build a new character. Not that Riley has a lot of personality here, anyway. On the other hand, the characterization of Kirk, Spock and McCoy is rather shallow, or downright weird. Kirk is the responsible, brilliant Captain. But for some reason, he mutters "Tiberius" every time he becomes impatient, to remind himself not to be like his namesake Roman emperor, which is... odd. Spock is logical and veeeery long-winded. And stops his discourse to tell a folk Vulcan legend in the middle of an important conference (???). And McCoy is a doctor, and racist towards Spock, and that's all. Possibly, the moments when Kirk teases Spock about his lack of emotions are the ones which feel more like the series. But the rest of the time, these could have been any other characters. And despite being a novel by the writer of "The Trouble with Tribbles", humor is quite absent in the story.

All in all, and using a similar expression as Chekov, "I survived this book, but I didn't enjoy it".

Spoilers under the cut:

The Enterprise finds a giant generation ship that seems to contain a civilization. The whole crew is in awe and really surprised by this, but I don't know why, since the same has already happened in at least two other books by now. It takes like ten chapters just to establish that they should beam aboard to investigate it (yes, this novel is really, really slow). Riley and some other redshirts find hostile humans inside, and are forced to attack them. A woman is gravely injured, so they beam her to the Enterprise to receive medical attention. The woman, Katwen, is shocked at finding other humans, as so far she thought her ship to be the whole world. At first she refuses to believe she's in a different ship, refers to the crew as "demons", and thinks they're tricking her. It's only when they bring her in a shuttlecraft, so she can see the Enterprise and her own ship from outside, that she starts to believe them. Katwen develops a friendship with Riley (that means, a romance).

After consulting with the Enterprise's historian, it turns out the generation ship is actually "The Wanderer", a ship that established its independence from Earth in the 21st century, and has been wandering ever since, in search for a new world. Lacking warp speed, entire generations have died and been born inside, without ever knowing anything about the rest of the universe. As a note aside, the Wanderer is a really famous ship of historical importance, so I don't understand why nobody (not even Spock) had identified it until now. The way I see it, it's like finding a XVII century galleon at sea nowadays, and not realizing that's a galleon...

Anyway, the Wanderer is in serious danger, since it's heading straight into two orbiting black holes, known as the galactic whirlpool, and everyone will die if they don't correct the course immediately. The problem is that the society of the Wanderer was split in two factions after a civil war: the rebels, who live in poverty in the lower levels and control the engines, which they disabled long time ago; and the regular citizens, who live upwards and control the ship's navigation. There are echoes here of the episode "The Cloud Minders", which was based in one of Gerrold's story concepts.

Katwen and Riley beam aboard the Wanderer, to convince Captain Frost of the need to cooperate with the rebels, to save the whole ship. Frost, however, is a dogmatic zealot who refuses to believe their story, and condemns them both to death. The rebels save Riley and Katwen at the last moment, and then they meet their leader, who's actually the real Captain: Gomez.

In the end, the Enterprise designs a plan with Gomez, to invade the Wanderer from below and seize the ship's control from Frost. While Scotty brings the engines back to life. There's a sort of final battle between the rebels and the Enterprise crew on the one hand, and the men from the upper levels on the other. As a result of it, Frost dies, and his successor is finally willing to cooperate and correct the ship's course.

Spirk Meter: 0/10*. Considering Gerrold's opinions on K/S, it would be weird if there was anything... Unless you want to count Kirk teasing Spock about his emotional control, but I don't see it that way.

However, there's a little bit about McCoy and Spock fighting so much, because that's how they express their mutual affection.

*A 10 in this scale is the most obvious spirk moments in TOS. Think of the back massage, "You make me believe in miracles", or "Amok Time" for example.

[tyranasauruslex]

How do you see Roman and Lukas acting when they or the other one is sick?

Honestly I think they’re both equally as bad because they both want the other ones undivided attention when they’re unwell but in different ways. 

My mini HC is that Lukas is diabetic due to all the peeing and sweet eating scenes. He has one of those insulin pumps so Roman doesn’t find out until they’re in a “kissing-with-tops-off” type of situation. Due to his dads various illnesses and then death, Roman goes into panic mode the second anyone closes to him has so much as a sniffle, Lukas tries not involve him in his diabetic management. Except when he does find out, Roman becomes militant about making sure Lukas has everything he needs - he’s too young to become a widow. 

Lukas gives the vibe of someone who is very rarely unwell but when he is sick, it’s I-can’t-get-out-of-bed-i’m-probably-going-to-need-to-go-to-hospital type of sickness. Except he’s so used to doing everything himself and not having anyone to look after him he just gets on with it and powers through until he feels better. Secretly, all Lukas wants is to be cuddled and fused over and fed soup until he feels better but he’s never let anyone close enough to look after him. Roman doesn’t make for a very good nurse though and he prevents Lukas from getting any actual rest by constantly poking him to see if he’s still alive. He’s banished to the living room so Lukas can sleep but keeps sneaking back in to monitor Lukas’s aliveness whilst googling various symptoms he believes Lukas has. In the end his tenure as a nurse is short lived when Lukas has to wrestle a thermometer out of his hand. Determined to be useful, Roman piles blankets on top of him and tucks him in, only to find that Lukas rather likes this so he tries a new tactic - cuddling him back to wellness. 

Roman on the other hand takes on the personna of a dying Victorian woman whenever he’s unwell. A sniffle? He’s got pneumonia. Headache? Brain tumor. It’s all born from the lack of attention he received from both of his parents as a child but thankfully Lukas realises that he doesn’t need to buy a funeral outfit just yet. He’s very practical and will administer any medication Roman needs whilst holding Romans hand and assuring him he’s not casket ready just yet. If he actually is unwell then Lukas will work from home and keep a watchful eye over Roman, who will be laying on the sofa convinced he’s at deaths door.