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100layersofdaddyissues · 4 years ago

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Angel - Chapter 3

ITS HERE ITS FINALLY HERE IM SO SORRY. UGH THAT TOOK SO LONG.

but there it is chapter three. I literally wrote most of this chapter while i was in the lobbies of among us games.

Warnings: Smut, swearing nothing too bad this chapter.

words: 4.2K!!!!!!!

As the sun rose on the city, your alarm decided to screech its ugly voice across the whole apartment. Why you had decided that waking up at 5am, when you didn’t start work at your new job in Lord Industries at 9am, was absolutely beyond you. You chalked it up to nerves. I mean sure, you were fucking the owner and CEO but that doesn’t mean you’re going to become complacent about this position. Not only were you working in the largest company in most of the country, but you were also Head Marketing for your city’s division.

You started your day as you would any other workday, groaning and convincing yourself that leaving bed was worth it. After that, it was coffee and shower time, and if you were lucky you could throw in a cigarette on the balcony, and since you didn’t need to leave for another 4 and a half hours you thought you might just test your luck with multiple.

Halfway through your shower you heard the phone ringing, you trudged out to the phone wondering who in god’s name was calling at 4:23am. To your great (and welcomed) surprise, it was Darius. “My dearest I’ve been told to inform you that I will be picking you up today, I’ll be at your door by 7:30. So, be ready.” 7:30? That was a whole hour before you were planning on leaving the comfort and security of your new home.

“Darius, I didn’t think we started until 9am why are you picking me up so early?” you queried.

“Well, it seems Maxwell doesn’t want you catching a cab but also did not offer for me to take you both so obviously this means that I will be picking you up first and making me work extra hard.”

Oh. he doesn’t want to ride with you to work. You considered that it was perhaps because he didn’t want to incite rumors, but you found it strange, but nonetheless you told Darius that this would be fine and that you would see him at 7:30. An hour early.

Only you didn’t see Darius at 7:30, in fact you didn’t even see him at 8, it wasn’t until 8:15 hit that you heard any word from him. “Darius I was just about to call a cab you never came? Is everything okay?”

“Well, it seems Mr. Lord has contracted an illness, called a hangover. I picked him up at 6:30 to get McDonalds. I’ve already dropped him at work, I suspect he’s napping in his office as we speak.” you couldn’t help but laugh at the idea of Max laying on the floor of his office completely passed out. “I’ll be down in a moment, just let me pick out my shoes.” you said back to him, “ahh so I’ll see you by sundown.” Darius quipped back in a lighthearted way. If things ever went belly up with Max, you really hoped you could keep Darius around.

The ride to the building was filled with the banter you’d become accustomed to with Darius, until you were pulling up to a big silver building, the largest in the city, obviously. You were in absolute shock and awe when you stepped out of the car, you’d thought for a moment in time, ‘woah, this is what ants feel like.’

“Hello ma’am could I see your ID and security badge please?” were the first words you heard when you walked through the doors to the lobby, you stammered over your sentences confused, you didn’t have a security badge, you didn’t realise you’d need one, Maxwell had never mentioned it. “Thank you, Keith, that won’t be necessary, Miss Y/N here is our new head of marketing, I’ve been tasked by Maxwell to escort her to his office.” Darius said coming up behind you. You hadn’t even realised that he had left the car, but here he was escorting you up the escalators. “Ahh yes, I see, of course.” the security guard, Keith, said with a sly smile and a wink. You knew what that meant, and it churned your stomach to think about. How many times had Max given his one-night stands jobs? If he was willing to do it for you, he was willing to do it for others.

Unfortunately, your question was answered the moment you reached the top floor where Maxwell’s office sat. he had 4, beautiful, well-shaped, pardon your French but devilishly fucking sexy assistants. Why he would need more than one exceptional looking assistant was a question that in itself was the answer.

“You can’t go in there, Mr. Lord doesn’t like visitors in the morning, he’s especially not looking for new, meat.” one of them all but sneered at you. “Holly if you would quit blabbering, I think I’d like to escort your new head of marketing to your boss if you don’t mind. Will that be okay with you?” Darius was on a roll today in saving you from situations with people.

As you walked into his office, Maxwell was, surprisingly, upright, on a phone call, drinking coffee and looking all but exasperated. He opened his eyes for only a minute to point at you and then the chair in front of you, and at this Darius left the room and you had no savior from this situation because Maxwell, well, he looked mad. You were worried you’d already done something to upset you and that’s just what you needed right now. An angry man who housing you and providing you job security and most importantly, orgasm security.

For almost 10 minutes you sat in that chair waiting for Maxwell to be off the phone, never looking up, as to avoid eye contact. When he finally hung up the phone Maxwell stood up, came around the desk and sighed heavily saying, “god I’m glad you’re here,” before all but smashing his lips to yours. Okay. not upset. That’s good, that’s easy to deal with. “I’ve only been here an hour and already I’m just ready to go to your apartment and fuck all my frustration out.” well you weren’t expecting that per se but it’s a welcome surprised.

“Well, stop me if this is too unprofessional, but you have a perfectly good table to bend me over.” you said, looking up at him through your lashes, trying to look innocent.

“God you’re incredible woman.” he said pulling you out of your chair and oh would you look at that, bending you over his desk.

“I really hope you didn’t buy any pants in that shopping haul of yours because having access to your pretty pussy at work is going to work so well for both of us, he said hiking your skirt up just enough so he could pull down your panties, he bent over you until his mouth was hovering at your ear, “you’re going to need to be quiet angel, don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about you now do we?” and before even finishing his sentence his thrust his cock straight into you. It took everything in you to not cry out, but you bit the back of your hand to keep yourself quiet.

“God it’s only been two days and I missed this pussy, how have I fucked you so hard so often and you’re still this tight? You’re fucking magical, aren’t you? You and your magical cunt are going to kill me, you know that? If I could stop sleeping to have more time to fuck this pussy I would if I could starve myself from food and only eat you dear god I would. So, fucking good.”

“I thought you said we had to be quiet?” you said to him, with a small smirk on your face that quickly vanished as he spanked your ass a few times, then started thrusting into you with such force you thought you might slip open, he pulled you hair to bring you up against his chest, “that shut you up, didn’t it, you fucking brat,” he said replacing your hair in his hand for your throat.

Within minutes he was Cumming right into you, he must have realized you hadn’t come yet, only stopping for a split second to pull out, spin you around and replace his cock with his fingers, pushing his cum, back into your cunt, finger fucking you until you were once again about to bite into your hand, when Max switched hands and shoved his cum coated fingers in your mouth to keep you quiet. As you cum around his hand and screamed around the other one, Max could only look at you with lust blown pupils.

“Well, I think this is the best first day I’ve ever had.” you said to him, completely breathless.

“It’s about to get better angel, let me show you to your office.”

He was right, your office did make it better. It was a big, beautiful space, with high ceilings, timber floors and a view to die for, you truly didn’t know how you got so lucky just from a random hookup, but you weren’t but to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“Max this is absolutely beautiful, did the head of marketing get this office too?” you asked in wonderment.

Well, actually no, this was my office, but I’ve taken over my father’s office, I think it’s about time I moved into it and you gave the motivation to do so.” his smile was small, but it was sincere, you think that might have been the first sincere smile you’d seen from Max.

“I’ll let you get acquainted with your new space if you have any questions, my extension is 0204 okay? If any of my assistants give you any grief, just tell them that their bonuses are on the line they’ll smart right up. I promise.” Maxwell gave me a wink and then shut the door. You walked around the room, gingerly touching the walls, the painting, slowly sliding your hand across your desk, you felt a sense of pride wash over you as you sat at your desk, you weren’t really sure what to do first, you searched around your desk for notes, maybe the previous person in your position left.

Just as you thought you’d found them, your door swung open, a woman with burgundy hair and a bright pink skirt suit walked through the door.

“Hello sweetheart, I’m here to help you out, I’m your assistant and Mr. Lord told me that you’d be starting today I figured that he wouldn’t have told you anything, so I thought I’d come give you the rundown, I was the last guys assistant too.” she was really perky, very upbeat for 9:13 in the morning. “Oh, you probably think I’m so rude, my name is Sookie, Sookie Amelia Jersey, it’s nice to meet you?” he hadn’t even told anyone your name yet? Okay feeling less special now.

“y/n my name is y/n y/l/n but just call me y/n, thank you so much I really have no idea what I have to be doing.” you said trying not to sound like you weren’t supposed to be there or that you didn’t know what you were doing. Which you didn’t. But she didn’t need to know that.

“Well then let’s get right to it.” and with that, you and Sookie started talking business.

It seemed like the time was going so slow, that was until the door swung open once again, only this time Darius stood at the door, coffees, and an ominous brown bag. “I knew you wouldn’t have eaten, so I’ve brought sustenance, oh hello Miss Jersey.” Darius really just knew everyone, maybe he’s a wizard.

“Darius you are absolute life saver, I think you might be the love of my life.” you said with utter certainty that Sookie now probably thinks there’s something going on between you guys. Ahh if only she knew.

“And you are mine, dear, but before we begin planning the wedding might I suggest food?” he places the coffee down on the table and what you can now see are croissants. Hmm, 4 coffees, 4 croissants. And as if on cue Darius mutters that he’ll be back as he needs to deliver Max his lunch.

“I didn’t realise you were already in with Darius. That man took me four years to crack, another two for him to start bringing me food, and here you are on your first day on a first name basis? Who did you fuck to get that treatment?” oh god had she caught on? Does this happen a lot? Does Max give jobs to everyone he fucks? Your mind is running a million miles an hour when you sheepishly laugh and tell some lie about how Darius was an old friend. She seemed to buy it as she moved on to talking more about marketing and what you’ll need to do.

Soon it was the end of the day and Darius was back at your door telling you to meet him at the car. You said goodbye to Sookie and apologized for stopping her from working.

You left the building and walked to the car seeing Maxwell in the back of the car. Oh. so now he’s good enough to go home with you but not to come to work with you. You see how it is.

You greeted him as you entered the car only for him to point at the phone, you looked at Darius in the rear-view mirror and you both shared a look between you that said, “here we go.”

Maxwell was on the phone the entire ride back to your apartment, only removing the receiver from his ear to say, “wear something classy I’ll be back at 7.”

What?

Its Maxwell Lord, you decided it would be safer for you to heed his warning and just wait to find out what happens. Maybe he just wanted to fuck someone high class tonight.

As it neared closer to 7 you kept meticulously checking your hair and makeup, making sure there was nothing on the red gown you’d chosen to wear. You really hoped you would figure out what was going on first, so you didn’t need have anxiety waiting to find out.

Just before you could contemplate jumping off the fire escape there was a sharp knock at the door, and a very sharply dressed Maxwell.

“Hello angel, I’m here to escort you to your first lord industries gala. You look incredible and I am definitely going to ravish you later, but we really should be going.” he all but pulled your arm out of its socket as he led you out of your door towards the elevator

“I don’t mean to sound clueless, but what gala? I haven’t been told about a gala?” you said to him, sounding slightly timid.

“Oh? Did I not tell you? We’re having a gala to celebrate the surplus budget this quarter and has my new head of management I thought it only proper to escort you there myself. Plus, there will be some CEOs from rival companies there, I do love to gloat to my competitors.” there was a new air around Max, he looked more pristine and confident. Tonight, was going to be intense you could already feel it. Even on the drive over he was, happier? Maybe he really did just get a kick out of showing off. You understood that. You couldn’t lie and say that it didn’t excite you to be walking in on Maxwell’s arm. To have all eyes staring at you wondering who you were and what you were doing with him.

As you arrived at the gala there was a slew of cameras lining a beautiful gold carpet. “We always go with gold because red is overdone, and Lord Industries is revolutionary. Were made of gold baby.” well that explained it. Not that you were questioning it, he did seem like the type to break the mould when it comes to luxury. I mean he was housing you just for the luxury of having convenient sex. It just seemed to fit Max really.

Exiting the car, the barrage of flashes and yelling hit you like a wall, it was a wonder you didn’t freeze up under the pressure, but you walked next to Max with all the poise and confidence you could muster. The photographers were yelling questions at Max, not at you, but they were all asking about you, you kept your head forward and so did Maxwell. He didn’t say anything while walking past them and up the stairs, his expression only changed after entering the building. He turned to you and praised your level of composure before leading you up to two large doors. On the other side you could hear music and chatter, you wondered why you weren’t entering until you heard an announcer say “Folks, I’m sure were all having an absolute stellar time, but I’d like to draw your attention to the man of the hour, Mr. Maxwell Lord.” his voice rang out over large speakers as the doors opened and Maxwell lead you into the ballroom to polite applause.

You were stunned at how many people there were standing in the ballroom, you stood there feeling quite awkward at the stares that were being passed your way and the slight glares coming from some of the women, (and a few men) in the room.

“My friends and guests, thank you all so much for coming tonight and while I can appreciate that you would all like to go back to drinking my champagne id first like to introduce someone to you, your new head of marketing for Lord Industries, Miss Y/N Y/L/N. I’m sure she’ll fit right in with us and help us continue to be the frontier for this country.” Max had an excellent public speaking voice; he commanded the room, and you couldn’t lie. You got kind of wet seeing him so, for lack of a better word, bossy.

Max leaned in and whispered to you, “go mingle, if you need anything Darius will be floating around.” and then he was gone leaving you to your devices.

Thankfully, Sookie found you almost immediately, “I just knew he’d leave you floundering the moment you got here, he’s probably already in the bathrooms giving one of his assistants a ‘bonus’ doesn’t worry sweetheart I’ve got you covered ill introduce you to the actual important people.” and so she did. Within the hour you’d met the head of sales, Mary, head of finance, Samuel, and their assistants, Lorelai, and June. she showed you (but absolutely did not introduce you to) the head of Human Resources, Marcus, who was (in her words) a total douchebag, the head of purchasing, Manny, who apparently would want to corrupt you, you didn’t want to ask what that meant but you had some idea and wanted to laugh because if only Sookie knew. By the time you’d met Jenny, lady who ran the coffee shop in the lobby, Darius had found you both and you sighed a breath of relief, you loved Sookie, but you still weren’t too familiar with her.

“My dear you look exquisite I told you that you would look amazing in that dress.” Darius said with one of the biggest smiles you’d ever seen him wear. “You’re drunk aren’t you Darius.” you laughed at him; he was wobbling a bit.

“Y/N I am offended that you think I would drink at a work function. But yes, I am absolutely sloshed. Galas are the only nights I can get so drunk I can’t walk, and Maxwell doesn’t fire me, he says it’s good for me to let go, I have no idea what he’s talking about. I am very relaxed all the time, who wouldn’t be working for the prince of darkness. Oh god he’s not behind me, is he?”

“Darius you’re rambling, he’s not behind you, I haven’t seen you since he left me at the start.” you said trying to get him to stop talking so rapidly.”

“Well, my dear he has seen you; he’s been staring at you since Sookie found you.” Darius’ head vaguely pointed to the wall behind him, you stole a glance and sure enough there was Maxwell, talking to someone but not paying attention to them, he was staring right into your soul, it wasn’t a glare or even angry in anyway, but it was intense, like he was trying to read your mind. Somehow you believed he actually might be able to. You gave him a small smile and he nodded his head in your direction. You looked back at Darius, “he’s probably just making sure I don’t embarrass him.” you said trying to write off the fact that he was staring. Trying to convince him it meant nothing. Or yourself that it meant nothing and that there definitely was not butterflies in your stomach.

An hour passed as you and Sookie milled around the room, you lost Darius at champagne number three, with him and Sookie both calling you a prude for not drinking, and you telling them every time that you hated champagne and would much prefer tequila.

Suddenly a hand tapped you on the shoulder, you spun around expecting Max, or Darius or literally anyone else. But not henry. Not your ex-boss Henry Giorgio. “Y/N it’s so good to see you! I was quite surprised to hear that you had left us, but I can see why, head of marketing and you get to fuck the boss? What a steal!” your eyes widened from shock not just at seeing him but hearing what he said, you grabbed his arm and dragged him towards a wall telling Sookie that you’d be back right away. “What do you mean fucking the boss? I am not sleeping with Mr. Lord and I will not have you come here and try to embarrass me just because I wouldn’t sleep with you.” your voice was low but harsh as you spoke you him.

“Oh, please darling, this is Maxwell, every time a new woman under 30 starts at his company everyone knows that it because he’s sleeping with her, but you got head of marketing, you must have really shown him a good time, I mean everyone else just gets assistant jobs, but you, well that must have been a good blowjob.” he was snarky and rude, and you felt like you were going to cry.

“Oh, don’t tell me I’ve hurt your feelings, what did you think was going to happen? Maxwell was going to fall for you. Darling I wouldn’t even waste your breath on that idea, that man has never felt love, his fiancée went missing for god sakes and he came home and went to work the very next week. He doesn’t care about you. You could die and he wouldn’t notice.”

You suspected that Maxwell only hired you because he could fuck you but hearing someone else say it mad tears begin to sting your eyes. You didn’t think you wanted Maxwell to fall for you until that very moment in time. Before you could say anything or think too hard on the subject, you felt someone come up behind you, it was Maxwell, and if you could have tensed up even more.

“Is there a problem here Mr. Giorgio, I should hope you’re not trying to steal back our new member of the team.” Maxwell also sounded tense, but you knew better than to think it was because you’d been upset and not because Henry was his rival.

“No not at all Maxwell, just giving her my good wishes, is all.” Henry’s voice was dripping in the smug tone you’d heard so many times working for Halo.

“Well then if you’re done, I’d like to steal Miss Y/L/N back if you don’t mind.” Henry merely waved Maxwell off but by then you didn’t want to be there anymore, your head was swirling, and you could only feel pity for yourself, you broke away from Maxwell to go find Sookie.

“I need to go home, please I want to go home, now.” you were trying so hard not to cry, tears stinging and threatening to spill over as Sookie led you out of the ballroom, and as you passed Darius, him quickly catching on and following. You didn’t see the confused and hurt look on Maxwell’s face.

After you finally exited, you noticed the cameras had left, and you broke down in Darius’ arms as Sookie called her husband, Jackson, to come pick you all up. Darius gave Jackson the directions to your house, and when Sookie and Darius offered to join you, and take care of you inside you brushed them off giving them a lame apology about going to bed early and that you would see them tomorrow at work.

As you showered and climbed into bed, you were mad at yourself for getting so hurt, this was just a business arrangement. You weren’t special. And you shouldn’t see Maxwell as special either. But you did.

And it sucked.

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justanotherlifeff · 5 years ago

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Levi Ackerman × reader

Genre: Angst, Hurt/comfort, Fluff, matured themes, slowburn

Warning: There's mentions and descriptions of underage rape and suicidal themes and self harm.

(Y/N) POV

We were helping the civilians evacuate when Uncle Erwin suddenly remembered that no one was sent to give the message that Annie Leonhart was actually the female titan to the safehouse at the South of wall Rose. The other 104 training corps soldiers were kept there. "Who do I send there now? Everyone is busy fighting Annie.." he sighed. "May I go there? I am wearing a combat uniform which will get me through the forest that needs to be crossed in case any wild animal attacks and my horse is fast as well" I asked uncle Erwin.

"But you're injured. Are you sure you will be alright?" uncle Erwin asked with a worried face. "Besides, weren't you supposed to protect the commander in case things go wrong?" Levi heichou interjected with a very professional tone. "Heichou, it seems like the military police are helping us now. They could protect the commander if it's necessary as they are in combat uniform too. Besides, I only have a sprained ankle and a cut on my head. Such minor injuries shouldn't stop a good soldier. I will only go if permission is given as someone from the military police could also do the same job. However, I doubt their horses are as efficient as ours. That's all" I replied with an equal amount of professionalism.

If Levi Heichou wanted to pretend everything from this morning never happened, I will do the same. "Okay. Permission granted. Be careful" Uncle Erwin told me with a smile. With that, I got on my horse and galloped out of Stohess district. The cold wind outside of wall Sina caressing my face was a good change from the crowded roads inside the wall. Mikasa, Armin, Jean and I weren't suspected because Mikasa and Armin were Eren's best friends and they wouldn't have to go through so much trouble to kidnap him. Jean wasn't suspected too because he was with Armin the whole time.

However, even if Reiner was with Armin too, it seemed like the female titan knew exactly where to go after her combat with Reiner. It was also surprising that Reiner survived the grab by the female titan. He was suspected to be assisting the female titan. I on the other hand was not suspected because the captain found me injured when the female titan was fighting Eren. They were all kept in that safehouse based on Armin's assumptions under Mike Zacharias's squad. I galloped towards the safehouse trying to ignore the fact that I was hurt by the way the captain behaved.

Levi POV

I was trying to ignore what happened this morning because I wasn't sure what to do with it. I knew this could cause a lot of complications and the last thing we needed was complications. However, the look on (Y/N)'s face when I tried to be professional with her made me regret talking to her like that. I just wasn't sure about how to react. I was staring at Annie inside some sort of crystal she formed around her. The fight was over and she did this to prevent our questioning.

We found out there were colossal titans inside the walls. Apparently pastor Nick knew something about this but was refusing to open his mouth. Erwin was in a meeting with Darius Zackly about the massacre caused inside Stohess district. Suddenly a soldier came on and reported, "Wall Rose is breached. We got news from the safehouse in the south. The titans are approaching from that way". My heart sank when I heard that. (Y/N) went there. Just these three sentences made all my confusion go away. I knew what to do with what happened this morning.

"Does Erwin know?" I asked the soldier. "Yes heichou. He was informed before anyone else. He requests all squad leaders and their teams to be present at the Ehrmich district." he replied. "Okay. You may go" I replied before heading up from the underground facility. I found carts getting filled with all the squad leaders present in stohess for the fight including Hanji who was sitting with Pastor Nick, Eren and Mikasa on a cart. I went over to their cart since I didn't have a squad anymore.

12 hours earlier:

(Y/N) POV

I reached the safehouse and informed squad leader Mike about Annie being the female titan. I also let him know that the 104 trainee corps soldiers are free to go back now, however, it was decided that everyone would leave after lunch. I went up to see how everyone was doing and found Connie and Sasha talking about sneaking out to go to their villages. "Well, I don't think you have to sneak out. We found out who the female titan is and everyone can go wherever they want after lunch" I informed them as I entered.

"But that's gonna take some time," Sasha complained as she kept her head on the table. She suddenly jerked up and exclaimed, "I hear the ground rumbling! It sounds like footsteps." While Reiner was debating about the fact that titans breaking in was impossible, Mike sensed something and sent a guy named Thomas to look around. He came back with news that wall Rose is breached and there were titans approaching us, 500 meters from here. If wall Rose was broken, most of humanity wouldn't stand a chance because Wall Sina didn't have enough space to give everyone food or shelter.

I started panicking at the thought but calmed myself down as squad leader Mike instructed us to evacuate and let all nearby villages know that titans were coming. We decided to split into four teams. I was assigned to the south team because that was the most dangerous route and I was one of the most skilled soldiers out here. Connie was supposed to lead us to his village. As we galloped away from the safehouse, the titans suddenly started running. They would catch up to us if they ran this fast.

Just as I was thinking this, squad leader Mike said "Gelgar! Take command of the south team!" and ran off towards the titans. I had heard that he was the second strongest soldier of humanity just after Levi heichou so I didn't question him. The thought of heichou came to my head. He was inside wall Sina and safe. At Least someone I cared about wouldn't die today.

9 hours later:

We warned several villages on the way and they all evacuated. Connie's village was the last one left. As we came near it, Connie's horse sprinted towards the village even if others told him to slow down. As we entered the village, we found broken buildings. The village was completely destroyed by titans. Suddenly we came across a titan who laid down on a building.

I went to check on the stable to see if the horses were there or not along with one of the Mike Squad soldiers. The stable was surprisingly full of horses. Does that mean everyone got eaten? We didn't see anybody on the way nor did we notice any half eaten corpses. We went back to that titan that couldn't move because of its small limbs. It was surprising how that titan came here. Many questions were coming to my mind but we made it clear that there was no one left in the village. With that, we followed Gelgar out of the village. Reiner and Connie took some time talking to each other but caught up with us soon enough.

2 hours later:

It was dark. We used torches to move forward now that our sole aim was to find the hole in the wall now. Suddenly we found ourselves facing the west team. Krista and Ymir were there with them. "Did you follow the wall here, too?" Gelgar asked. A soldier from the West team answered, "Yeah, so, where's the hole?". It seemed like there was no hole in the wall. But in that case, how and where did the titans come from? The number of questions kept increasing in my head.

As I was thinking about the whole scenario, Krista mentioned how tired she was. I remembered that I, too, was tired from riding a horse for 11 hours. Just as someone mentioned that some moonlight could be good, the moon appeared out of the clouds and we could see the ruins of a castle in the distance. No one knew there was a castle so close to the wall but everyone was happy to find a place to rest. Everyone was talking as we went inside but I decided to make use of whatever time we had to get some sleep.

An hour later:

I woke up to the shouts of a female soldier from the west team. She was instructing everyone to head to the roof. I didn't waste any time and went up. As soon as I reached up, I saw a huge amount of titans flocking up near the castle. Small titans broke the door and got inside while there was a 17 meter class abnormal titan with hair all over it which headed towards the wall instead. Suddenly a titan charged at the tower trying to break it. I looked at the soldiers from Mike's squad and they nodded at me letting me know that we would fight now. One of them told the others to stay put as the five of us switched to 3DMG. The fight just started.

Krista POV

The Mike squad was fighting a few titans near the castle but in case of (Y/N), I could only see what seemed like almost a blur and titans falling down. It had been about five minutes since the fight started and (Y/N) alone killed about 6 titans. The titans still kept swarming in. The lady from Mike's squad came up and told us to give all we can. We had to stop the small titans from infiltrating the castle.

(Y/N) POV

I was on my 15th kill when suddenly something threw a huge boulder at the Castle. The stable was destroyed killing the horses. A second boulder was thrown and it hit the tower. We flew towards the damage and saw two of the soldiers were killed. We took the bodies to the roof and as Connie pointed out, we saw the beast titan was the one throwing the boulders from top of the wall. As we looked back at the forest in front, double the amount of titans came swarming in. My tank was already half empty. At most I could kill about 20 out of the 40 titans coming at us excluding the small ones.

Without a second glance I went down slashing one titan after another down as fast as possible. I made the least amount of movements to save up gas. Even so, I was only able to kill 18 more titans before I only had enough gas to go up. I got up to the tower and saw the other two fighting. Their gases were over in 2 more minutes.

They killed several small titans and 10 titans over 10 meter. Just as I expected them to come up, Gelgar fell down and the other soldier went down to save him and both got eaten. We were gonna die. I was regretting the fact that I wasn’t nicer to Levi the last time I talked to him. I wish I had more time… Even as just a comrade… Just a friend… I wish I had seen Levi smile... A smile etched itself on my mouth. So this is it huh?

I looked at the sunrise. It was so beautiful that for a moment, I felt like death won't be a bad thing. Suddenly Ymir jumped from the tower with a knife and there was a shrill sound of lightning and I saw her turn into a titan and attack those titans down. "Ymir is a titan shifter like Eren and Annie?" I wondered in shock and just as things couldn't get more confusing, the tower started to fall. Krista was shouting encouragement to Ymir and I was too dumbstruck to do anything.

Suddenly Ymir's titan form came up and told us, "Grab on to live". We all did as we were told and she pinned all those titans under the falling tower. As the titans were rising up again from the rubble she rushed back to finish them off. But then she was caught by one of the bigger titans and they started eating her off.

Krista ran towards her saying some stuff about her real name which only added to my already huge list of questions. A titan was going to grab her when Mikasa and the others showed up. I was sitting down on the rock because I couldn't stand. All that flying and falling worsened the condition of my leg. They finished the remaining titans off as I looked at them fighting, for the first time feeling glad that I somehow was not dead.

To be continued...

Taglist: @kingtamakimurder @realityisoftendisapointing

#levi heichou #levi aot #levi ackerman #levi x fem!reader #levi×reader #aot anime #aot fanfiction #aot #aot x reader

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enchanted-prose · 5 years ago

Text

#11 Playing a Game, Solving a Puzzle

I am publishing a chapter featuring thE BIRTHDAY QUEEN, PRINCESS AMARINDA OF BULTAIN!!!!

Word Count: 4,203

Characters: Amarinda, Tobias, Queen Danika’s Inquisitors (Original characters), Ayvar (Original character), Lord Feall (Original character)

Notes: Edited! I hope you really enjoy this one because I HAD TOO MUCH FUN WRITING IT!

ENJOY!

“That’s Falstan Stead, Cornwick, and Riverfront,” Amarinda sighed, crossing three town names off her list. She stretched out her gloved hands. “That’s everything, aside from Drylliad.”

Tobias tipped his canteen towards his hand, and wiped water across his forehead, “I’d be willing to go with you to Tithio if that’s what you wanted.”

A tempting offer, but Amarinda shook her head.

A gusty breeze whisked through her horse’s mane, the trees and their rustling leaves seemed to agree with her thoughts.

The scent of horse and her own unwashed body added to her frustration.

Come to think of it, her frustration was a large, decorative cake. The kind of cake with lines and lines of spun sugar, and tiers and tiers of cake itself. With each inconvenience, Amarinda was quietly adding a decoration to her frustration creation.

Oh how she longed to be rid of it; the cake had become extremely distasteful early on.

Fatigue was threatening to overtake her.

It was time.

It was time to return to Drylliad. Time for a hot bath, something with cream, and a few minutes of frustrated emotional release. She’d be prepared to handle all other situations after that.

Time to throw away her gaudy frustration cake.

Her riding boots became a little too tight the moment she thought about being able to take them off and walk through the castle lawns.

She’d ridden out with Queen Danika’s seven investigators two days before, and Tobias went with her without hesitation.

Together, they’d combed through every village within a reasonable radius of Drylliad, asking if they’d seen anyone fitting the predicted description of any surviving Thay member.

They heard a wide variety of rumors, but only one of them had enough credibility to almost be true.

Supposedly, Graer Thay had gathered an army, and he was somewhere in Carthya looking for his daughter too.

Too many theories cluttered Amarinda’s head. She prided herself on being perfectly organized, but without a clear path, she’d fallen into disarray. Tobias made her write everything down at one point. It helped, in a way. Having everything out in the open made thinking much easier.

Amarinda spent hours pouring over her decision. Though she’d come to Carthya at a tender age, she still had memories of Bymar. Still remembered learning how to fence with her cousin, Princess Eline, and Eline’s ladies-in-waiting.

Mireldis Thay was one of them.

Too much time had passed since Amarinda last saw Mireldis, she doubted she would recognize her.

The Thays were ghosts.

Rumors people clung to, a scapegoat the sixteen other noble houses dragged around to put their faults on.

A pin was coming loose from Amarinda’s hair. She shoved it back in, but to no avail; the pin only shifted.

Everything was much more enticing than admitting that they’d gone on a wild goose chase. Amarinda studied the patterns on her riding skirts. Studied the creases in her tan gloves. Studied the well kept road that would take her and her party back to the castle.

She’d stepped out on the stage, sang her magnificent aria, and took her final bow. The final encore was playing, it was time to face the music.

“I think it’s time to admit that we’re just chasing ghosts,” murmured Amarinda.

“Sounds like you’re saying Thay are ghosts,” Tobias grinned, eventually breaking into a stifled chuckle.

She couldn’t prevent her own smile. “That was clever.”

“I don’t like seeing you defeated, figured you needed a pick-me-up.”

His ability to notice her distress was comforting in a way. He was too good at making her understand that she was safe with him. “And what about you, Tobias? Are you in need of a pick-me-up?”

“You’re my pick-me-up, darling.”

“If you’re not careful, my blush will match my skirts.”

“I do like seeing you in that color.”

Amarinda shook her head, a laugh falling from her lips. She welcomed the play on words. She appreciated Tobias’s attempts to keep her happy.

But she was wasting time.

Even if the Thays were alive, they didn’t want to be found.

Who was she to take that from them?

The investigators, a little too slouched in their Bymarian uniforms, were waiting farther up the road. Their horses pawed the ground. Not one person called out a greeting.

Amarinda couldn’t blame them.

They were supposed to be scouring the countryside with Feall, not her.

However, she knew her value, and she still deserved to be treated with respect. The hairs on the back of her neck began to rise despite the sun shining on her back.

“Was anything found?” Amarinda asked, guiding her horse to the front of the group.

One of the investigators, a tall woman with pitch black hair, shook her head. “Thay must have known we were coming for her. I’m afraid she might have fled the area.”

“I would’ve fled the country,” muttered Tobias.

Which was probably what Mireldis Thay did, if she was alive. Amarinda was learning that she was ready to let the dead remain at peace. It wasn’t fair to drag memories through the mud.

“I would like a combined report from all of you that I can look over,” ordered Amarinda as she motioned for the investigators to follow her lead. “It seems our quest has failed.”

“We did make really good friendships,” Tobias argued, gesturing to the scowling investigators behind him.

His quiet humor really did manage to bring a lightness to any situation.

“You know, I think it would do good if you spoke to that young woman, Ayvar,” he mused.

“I know, I know. I wanted to participate in the investigation myself before I spoke to anyone. I was hoping we’d find Thay. Too many people are all too willing to impersonate royalty when given the chance.”

Tobias shrugged, “I can’t correct you there, and I’ve been in a similar situation.”

“That was insensitive, I’m-”

“Oh, don’t apologize, it was completely out of your control. Your statement is correct, and I wanted to attest to that. There was an opportunity to impersonate a missing person of power, Jaron, and many people seized that chance.”

“Conner’s gamble played out in Jaron’s favor,” Amarinda wrinkled her nose.

She hated admitting that her mind moved too quickly, hated admitting that sometimes she brought up old memories completely by accident.

Hated that she still said foolish things despite her training.

Hated that she inadvertently made connections.

Patterns were easy to her. She recognized patterns in history, and did her best to incorporate them into the present. Sometimes, Amarinda felt her head split into two sides.

One side was completely dedicated to her friends and family.

The other side was bent on finding every correlation imaginable.

It had taken years of practice to avoid bringing up Darius in a roundabout way in front of Jaron.

And she was still practicing the art of tenderly respecting the horrible game Bevin Conner forced her husband and two dear friends into.

“Now that you bring that up,” Tobias tilted his head. “I can see your concern. Why you would avoid bringing it up around Ayvar.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Oberson was involved somehow.”

“How so?”

How?

So many, many, many ways to usurp a kingdom-state, especially when there was already a family name taking all of the blame.

Bloody ways, stealthy ways, peaceful ways.

Too many ideas. Amarinda had to pick one. “Maybe he’s trying to put a puppet princess on the throne of Idunn Craich, marry her, kill her, and take the land. He’d be king over two kingdom states, it would be easy for him to lead an uprising against Queen Danika and King Norman.”

“Do you think Oberson is really capable of that?”

A direct reference to Oberson’s obvious disdain for physical activity.

People were both predictable and unpredictable all at once. Watching a grown adult behave in a position of power was almost the same as watching a toddler be left in a room with sweets.

“Not exactly, but it is a start. It’s also a coincidence that he’s here in Carthya, don’t you think?” Amarinda rolled her shoulders. “I’m excited to sleep in a real bed again.”

“Ah, I see where you’re coming from, spreading rumors about how much he fears the bloodthirsty Mireldis Thay and then lift her up to become his bride. It would make quite the romantic ballad. A disgusting one at that.”

“Hardly romantic to force a young woman to marry a man the same age as her grandfather.”

“Which makes Oberson’s theoretical plan all the more despicable.”

Amarinda’s skin was crawling. “We’ll put that on the extreme end. I shouldn’t even be judging him.”

“True,” Tobias nodded. “But you also know Bymarian politics better than anyone I’ve ever met, including King Oberson and Lord Feall.”

Warmth spread through her ribs. Spread through the entirety of her body, and burst out through a smile. "You're getting quite good at the game too, you know."

"I do try," Tobias chuckled. His dark hair was flopping across his eyes. "I still think you should speak with Ayvar. I know I will, but it won't be anything about politics. Or at least state politics, more along the lines of, and I can't believe I'm saying this, criminal politics. This is much more Roden's expertise than mine."

"Roden's got a lot on his plate at the moment, you're a good friend to help him out."

"Anything to keep him out of the alehouse. I haven't had to prescribe any tonics for him in almost four weeks!"

"That has to be a lie," teased Amarinda, but deep within her heart of hearts, she was happy to hear the news.

It wasn't her place to instruct a person's life.

But it was her place as a friend to be concerned.

A pair of pink roses bloomed on Tobias's pale face. "No, no, I'm being completely serious. And same with Jaron, as well, he's been doing much better now that he has multiple puzzles to play with. Although I suspect that he may have an allergy pertaining to, ah, Imogen's new feline friend."

"And what can we do about that?"

"Not much, except get rid of the cat," Tobias steepled his fingers, and tapped them against his nose.

The little gesture was all too recognizable. Amarinda pointed to her head, "Have you got a brilliant idea for me, love?"

"I do, actually. Oberson is the cat, and you are Jaron-"

"Hopefully I don't look like Jaron."

"-you're absolutely stunning, and if Jaron were a woman, he'd wish he looked like you, but I have a different point. Oberson is the cat, you are Jaron, who is quite possibly allergic to cats. You're allergic to Oberson.

"Think about it, Ami, we didn't have the Faola to worry about before Oberson arrived. Mireldis Thay was resting in an unmarked grave. Oberson is the one we should be worried about. Nobody ever suspects the older man with a-," Tobias arched backwards, and rounded his hand over his stomach. "I think there's more than what we see. A lot more."

"You're right, you're very right," Amarinda shoved her loose hair pin back into place. "I pride myself on locating similarities but I can't do it right now."

"In your defense, you're a part of the puzzle, not the person putting the puzzle together."

"Thank you, I think?"

As odd as his words were, Tobias's analogy made sense.

If Amarinda was a part of the puzzle, it would be much harder to see the grand picture. Even then, there would still be parts of the puzzle missing, as she doubted the puzzle was put together. The whole ordeal was making her head spin.

Making her head spin with no apparent direction.

Plans were essential. Jaron would argue that point at every turn, despite having plans already twirling around in his head. Things rarely ever worked out in the way people hoped, but plans provided stability.

There was typically an outcome various parties hoped for.

Not anymore. There was no grand ending to plan for.

No end goal.

There was no end goal to even think about.

Was it even there?

Was the end goal not something Amarinda could grasp?

That made her stomach tilt. It was dangerous, keeping harmful secrets. She was beginning to realize that maybe she was being stared in the face by an enemy she’d talked with before.

Perhaps they knew what the end goal was.

Aware of her scowl, Amarinda forced her face to relax. The birds were singing despite the rising heat. Everything was bursting with life, with the promise for a bright, wonderful day.

She clung to that promise.

“Tobias?” Amarinda asked, urging her horse to go just a little bit faster.

He followed suit. “Yes?”

Large stones marked the road, pointing the way to Drylliad for weary travellers. Dozens and dozens of people walked in lines towards the city.

At their head was a large man riding an even larger golden horse. He waved a greeting, and soon turned his attention back to the lines of people.

“I just want you to know that I love you.”

“Have you done something wrong?”

“Why is that the question you ask me?”

“Jaron tells me that he loves me each time he does something he knows I’d get mad about.”

Amarinda’s polite giggle soon turned into a struggle to keep herself from snorting. It made sense, as she’d seen Jaron walk up to Tobias covered in chicken feathers with a declaration of love on his lips. Her battle to contain her ungraceful laugh failed.

“No, no!” Laughed Amarinda, her eyes welling up. She was painfully aware of how her giggles were gaining pitch with each escaped sound. “I just- I just wanted to tell you!”

“I love you too, darling, and I haven’t done anything wrong either,” Tobias’s chuckles were far more contained.

It wasn’t quite fair, Tobias’s perfect laugh.

He was her best friend above everyone else.

Which was why it was so painful to know how close he’d come to harm because of that girl who’d attacked Feall.

So painful to know that no matter how hard Amarinda tried, there would always be something she couldn’t control. Something that would come hurtling toward her, and only damage Tobias in the process.

-----------------------------------------------------

Her skin had been scrubbed of dirt, sweat, and its own top layer. Made her skin smart, of course, but it was better than walking around in a disgusting travel gown with sticky hair.

And it was definitely better than being trapped in a large meeting room, flanked by virtual strangers.

Amarinda tucked her hair behind her ears. Lines and lines and lines of words were beginning to blur into the same excuse.

Tobias sat to her right, holding eerily still. The investigators sent from Bymar to find any living member of House Thay were seated at the same table. Each one of them bore the same black hair and the same royal uniform of blue and white. Not one person said a word as Amarinda read through their report.

“You didn’t find anyone,” Amarinda sat as tall as she could. “In all of your findings, you found no trace of Mireldis Thay or her father.”

“I’m sorry, Ambassador, we searched as well as we could,” said one of the investigators, a tall man with his hair tied back. The pins on his shoulder distinguished him from the others. He was of higher rank.

“I understand, it’s difficult searching for people who’ve grown used to keeping their names hidden. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mireldis wasn’t even here.”

A clatter of opinions burst from the investigators, all of whom were trying to argue that Lady Thay was most definitely in Carthya.

“Did you take a chance to visit the girl who allegedly attacked Feall?” Tobias murmured, he’d reached for Amarinda’s hand beneath the table.

They’d only just gotten back from their travels. Or at least that was the excuse Amarinda had drafted up during her long break before the meeting.

His grip helped her stay firmly planted. Amarinda sighed, “I-, no. I haven’t, I’m afraid of going. . .”

“And seeing the wrong girl there?”

“I’m more afraid of finding the right girl, Tobias. The Thays were good friends to Danika, they were there when I left Bymar for the first and last time.”

“Queen Danika is pushing for their pardon. Or at least that’s what I’ve been able to gather,” Tobias muttered, his eyes glued on Amarinda’s face.

“That’s what’s been said, but there’s no telling how true that is. King Oberson, he, ah, he’s terrified of Mireldis Thay, and it’s very likely that everyone else shares that view. I’ve sent a letter to Queen Danika to prove that she sanctioned this, but haven’t received anything in return.”

The arguing grew louder and louder, much unlike what Amarinda expected from Danika’s representatives. Her aunt ran a strict court, and had no time for gossiping in her presence.

Perhaps the investigators who’d been sent weren’t even members of Danika’s court.

It wouldn’t be shocking if that was true.

In silence, Amarinda and Tobias watched the men and women rise to their feet as they began to yell at each other.

“I know Thay is here! She’s going to slit our throats in our sleep!”

“And how do we know you’re not Mireldis Thay?”

“Because you were with me on that-!”

“You’re fools! All of you!”

Dots were appearing. Dots that needed to be connected. Amarinda shut her eyes for a moment, remembering the days of her childhood when she’d visit Drylliad. When she and Darius were calmly discussing the matters of whether or not fruit teas were legitimate, and he’d begin to fidget.

Just like his brother.

Darius would flick ink all over a piece of parchment, and then begin to connect dots until he’d made a picture.

He could do that no matter how dispersed the dots were.

Saints, Amarinda needed that ability.

She needed to connect these seemingly unrelated dots.

Oberson’s arrival, the rise of the Faola, the rude investigators Danika had sent, the sudden rise of interest in a young woman who’d vanished four years ago.

But how?

“I want to go. I want to go see her right now,” Amarinda decided.

She was choosing to pursue the more likely lead.

Choosing to connect the dots.

Besides, she’d been riding with the investigators all day, she knew what they’d seen.

Amarinda stood tall, Tobias standing ever so slightly behind her. She clasped her hands, “Noble lords, ladies, I appreciate what we’ve done and your efforts. I do believe that our search was thorough despite not finding what we wanted. Please leave your reports here so I can read them. As of now, you are free to return to Bymar.”

“With all due respect, Ambassador-.”

“There will be absolutely no arguing on my decision. My word is final, good sir.”

The silence that followed as she left the room had the power to choke a horse.

Think, Amarinda! Think!

Dots, dots, dots. Put them into boxes. She needed to put them into boxes, organize them by size, frequency, and their first appearance.

Tobias padded along beside her, his hands clasped behind his back as the pair of them began the long descent to Drylliad's dungeon. No words needed to be said.

Amarinda was facing her fears, and deep down, she knew that she would find at least one piece of information before the afternoon was through.

King Oberson, a lesser king from Bymar. Amarinda had met him before while she was a child. She remembered him as being large, kind, and a little afraid. He brought presents to certain children in the court, but always kept his gift giving a secret. Pleasing others was always his priority.

Now Feall.

Feall was unpredictable, Amarinda had barely known him, as he'd risen to power just as she was fully embracing her role as Carthya's future queen. But she'd written to Danika and Danika's daughter, Eline, all about him.

He was a kind man with a strict outline for order.

He was one of the brave cavalry members who'd come to Carthya's aid during the Avenian war.

His presence with Oberson wasn't unexpected. Feall was a noble, yes, but not a king. He provided safety to those who sought it.

However, Feall and Oberson's involvement with Danika's investigators was enough to raise alarms. Amarinda didn't want to confess out loud how much she'd disliked their company.

She was supposed to be kind.

If it weren't for Tobias's steady hand, Amarinda would've walked into a stone wall. He continued his silence as he guided her down the grand staircase.

Then came the matter of Mireldis Thay.

Mireldis, daughter of Graer Thay, a man who'd earned the title of vagabond with his frequent travels. The Thays had been dear friends of the crown for generations following a marriage of two people from years and years ago. Their loyalties ran deep enough that the Thays frequently provided their children to pose as decoys for the crown's heirs.

Amarinda had known Mireldis.

They'd played together with imported dolls, fabricating elaborate stories that rivaled the dramas of court.

It had taken much on Amarinda's part to finally figure out what happened.

She could still remember the night that she read Eline's letter, explaining that the Thays knew about Avenia's plan to ravage Carthya, but didn't say a single word to Danika.

The Thay's kingdom-state was pillaged while Danika's soldiers were in Carthya.

The entire castle had been gutted, members of the family butchered, save for Graer's wife. She managed to rebuild as much as she could.

Rumors spoke that she'd kept Mireldis alive, but when Danika came to find out the truth for herself, she'd been informed that Mireldis died; murdered by those who hated her family.

Grief didn't pick and choose the people it affected.

Amarinda hadn't seen Mireldis in more than a decade, but her heart still broke.

Her heart broke that night knowing that there was no proof of what had actually taken place that merited the slaughter of a family.

The torches guiding the way down to the dungeon flickered. A shiver ran down her spine, and she gladly took Tobias’s hand when he offered it.

Four guards had been posted at the outmost door. Only one spoke, asking minimal questions before letting both Amarinda and Tobias in.

Sunlight poured into the dungeons in patched gaps. Several of the prisoners inside only moved their heads as Amarinda and Tobias reached the bottom step.

A figure was already standing outside of the last prison cell.

The cell belonging to the supposed Mireldis Thay.

Heart in her throat, Amarinda forced herself to step forward. What would she say if it was Mireldis?

How could she apologize for the atrocities of the past?

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” Feall said. “Not that I don’t welcome your company.”

“We’ve just returned from searching for Mireldis Thay,” Amarinda stood tall. “There was no sign of her.”

“I can imagine it was surprising when word got out that Mireldis was here in Drylliad.”

“Is it true?”

Feall stepped aside, “See for yourself.”

Amarinda inhaled, clasping her hands behind her back as she looked over the girl in the cell.

Long red hair, bright green eyes, freckles that rivaled the stars. Her face was perfectly devoid of scars and blemishes. She wore trousers and a long black shirt. There was something fiercely confident in her stance.

This girl knew her value.

“It’s-,” Amarinda began, releasing the breath she’d been holding.

Feall was nodding. “I know.”

Was it wrong how relieved her heart was?

Was it wrong that she was happy for the answer she’d been given?

“Is it what you wanted?” asked Tobias.

Amarinda squeezed his hand. “That’s. . . That’s not Mireldis Thay, love.”

“Somebody recognizes it,” the red haired girl wrinkled her nose. “I keep telling everyone my name is Ayvar, and they don’t believe me.”

“People thrive on gossip, I’m sorry for the mixup.”

“I don’t mind, I’d be a fool to get angry about being mistaken for a princess. . . And I’d be a fool for not being angry about being locked in here.”

“Banditry and attempting murder is-,” Amarinda began, but Feall shook his head, stopping her argument.

“Ayvar knows the man behind the attack.”

“And?”

“And she was innocent,” Feall gestured to Ayvar. “She is the Faola who fought with me against my attacker.”

Tobias nodded in agreement. “He’s telling the truth, there was one who broke away from the group to help him.”

She nodded, “And what do you propose?”

“I haven’t run this by Captain Harlowe yet, but I think it’s unfair to Ayvar to be trapped here despite being innocent of what she was arrested for,” explained Feall as he crossed his arms. “I’d like to promise freedom to Ayvar if she helps us capture the bandit who came after not only me, but your husband, a noble regent, might I add.”

A noble proposition indeed.

And yet, Amarinda was still unsure of how she felt about relying on a criminal for information.

People would do anything to get what they wanted.

#dun dun dun #the intrigue is so spicy #princess amarinda #tobias #the ascendance series #the false prince #fic friday #fic Friday and its actually a friday #also holy cow the ascendance tumblr tag is bouncing today guys #that rocks #happy birthday to my darling ami #id die for her

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shinyportalsandthings · 6 years ago

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The Error of Your Ways - a Shang Tsung x Reader story

Seeing that Shang Tsung’s Mortal Kombat 11 design is based on the actor who portrayed him in the movie, I got very inspired. Thus, here’s a story for those of you think Shang is The Hot Stuff (note that this is based on a merging of the MK11 and movie versions and he may be a bit...more gentle but still stabby). If you like sassy, powerful sorcerers, this one’s for you.

Summary: You had an invitation and you showed up to the destination. The invitation was meant for someone else and the destination...another planet entirely. You are now a combatant despite having no martial arts ability and your only hope is to figure out a way to open the portal back to earth. That sorcerer, Shang Tsung, has your attention...and you, his. Can you use that to your advantage? Should you?

Warnings: Some violence, language, naughtiness. But it’s not SUPER naughty. Female protagonist.

* * *

The smile was cruel, practiced; it did not reach his dark eyes which were fixed unnervingly upon you. He stood with perfect posture, hands behind his back, long black hair pushed behind his ears. "A mistake?" the low voice rolled out. The ornate gold and plum armor did nothing to hide muscular arms. Surely those arms had throttled many a sarcastic warrior.

"Yes," you steeled yourself, willing your hands not to shake - at least for the moment. You gestured to the glowing doorway that, even now, slowly dimmed. "I was just…I was helping my friend, you see. He was the one who got the invite. I have it here." You unfurled the scroll and held it up. Truthfully, your best friend bribed you to see what the invitation was about as he was - shall we say - indisposed with his partner. Though he'd made it sound like they were on the brink of a love session, you know they were likely just watching Netflix and binging on ice cream after your friend won the state martial arts championship. How far away his cozy, nerdy apartment seemed now…

"Well," Shang Tsung said, "You possess the invitation, therefore, you are admitted to the tournament."

"But I don't want to be admitted to the tournament!" you yelped. "I don't practice any martial arts!"

His smile widened, showing teeth. "Well, then, this will be a short contest, will it not?" His eyes twinkled with dark amusement.

You already knew this was unlike any tournament on earth - the portal alone gave that way, as well as the strange warmth of the invitation's paper. Was it paper? Or leather? Difficult to tell but the ink glimmered unnaturally even when held still.

"But I'm not Darius," you said, waving the invite around.

Shang Tsung stepped towards you and held out his hand. You placed the invitation in his palm and his brows rose. He held it up, inspected it from all angles, and then rolled it back up. "I see no reference to the name Darius anywhere. Or any name at all."

You stared at him. "Shit." Thoughts whirling, you pointed to the portal, now a faint circle. "Can't you just throw me back?"

"Oh, I think not," he said, shaking his head. He placed one edge of the rolled invitation below your chin, tilting your head up to meet his gaze. "But I'll make you an offer."

His eyes held yours as you nodded slightly. "Ok, what…what kind of offer?"

"You may be the final combatant. Perhaps watching the others battle will give you some sense of strategy. And after that, you will fight…me." He smiled, lowering the invitation from your chin.

"I can't fight," you said quietly, heart hammering in your chest. Your curiosity had melted away to fear.

"Then I suggest you start learning." He laughed low, turning away and raising his hand in a half-wave.

* * *

"Are you..taking notes?" The tallest of the two brothers asked, pausing with his foot outstretched to his brother's face.

"Yes, yes," you nodded, hastily scrawling down the series of moves that got them to that position. You'd attended enough martial events that you had a general idea of most movements though never experienced the timing yourself.

The brothers looked scary in the traditional sense, with dark red claw marks on their arms (reminiscent of blood) and sharp armor protruding from their shoulders and knees. Their masks hid the upper portion of their faces, short metal horns protruding at the top. They knew your situation - in fact, everyone did. One woman scoffed openly at you and a tall, masked warrior said he looked forward to watching your skin melt. Thankfully, the brothers had been reasonably friendly.

The brothers in question looked at each other for a moment, then motioned you to join them. You eagerly set down your scroll and quilled pen (what was this place, evil Hogwarts?) and bounded over.

"Yeah, writing won't do you no good. Gotta get in there," short brother said. "I'm Gim. This here's Arch. You can call him Archie."

"No she can't," Arch groaned. "Stop it. It's Arch. Like Arch-Nemesis!" He struck a fanciful pose, one knee raised and his arms akimbo, chin raised and head turned to the side.

Gim sighed. "Yeah, anyway, heard about what happened. Sucks. Lemme show you some moves."

"Oh I bet you will," a voice said from behind them. In unison, they turned to see a shirtless, smirking warrior. A smooth metal patch covered the right side of his face, a softly glowing red eye punctuated the menacing look.

"Fuck off, Kano," Arch said, "Get out of here."

Kano grinned, then nodded to you. "See you later, sweet cakes. I'll be the one to fight you." He turned and sauntered off while the brothers glowered at his back.

"Stay away from that guy," Gim said.

"Don't have to tell me," you replied, shaking your head. "Bad vibes."

As if on cue, you glanced over to a hill and there upon it was Shang Tsung, eyes trained to you and the brothers. He stood perfectly still and kept staring until you lost your nerve and looked away. When you looked back, he was gone.

"Hey," Arch said, waving a hand in front of your face to get your attention, "Let's do this thing."

The brothers did their best to give you a a rough overview of moves…but time was not on your side.

* * *

There was no small amount of food: fresh fruits, flavored waters, skewered meats. The festive platters and decorative ferns belied the nastiness of the situation: Most of the tournament battles would end in death. Oh, there was a choice, but according to the brothers, most of the combatants chose a fatality for their defeated opponent. Ruthless.

The tournament itself had already begun, though you did not attend the battles. Two warriors down already, many more to go. You heard the cheering just over the hill.

"So this is it? This is how I go?" Your fingers brushed over one of the island's flowering bushes.

"Perhaps," a voice said behind you. You spun around and came face to uncomfortably close face with Shang Tsung. "Or perhaps not."

Scowling, and feeling particularly gutsy, you jabbed a finger at his chest. "You're a cruel monster!"

He glanced down at your finger, then back to your face. "Is that so?" he asked, but the voice carried no malice. Just amusement.

You really, really wanted to punch his stupid smirk. Instead, you jabbed his chest again. "Yes! You know full well I can't-"

His fingers wrapped around your hand, pulling it away from his chest. "Please don't do that." He said simply. "I'd not have the other combatants think such behavior is appropriate."

"What." Your face flushed as your gaze flickered to your hands, then back to him. He had not yet released your hand. "I, uh," you stammered, then yanked your hand from his grasp. He was handsome, dangerously so, and that only made the embarrassment worse.

His lips quirked into a smile, which made your face burn even more red. "It would seem you haven't watched any of the matches. A shame, it's quite entertaining."

"For psychos!" you barked louder than intended.

"Please," he drolled, "tell me what you really think."

Your hands balled into fists. You would not be treated so cavalierly, certainly not when there were men and women fighting for their lives (though Arch said many fought simply for glory and power). Gim had successfully taught you a punch move which you had perfected to the best of your ability (such as it was). You decided to use that newfound power and threw a fist directly at Shang's face.

So fast you barely registered the movement, Shang's hand caught your fist, twisted your arm behind your back, and yanked you close. Your eyes widened as your chest pressed to his.

"I think you need more practice," he said with an infuriating smirk as he looked down at you.

"Let me go," you said, mouth dry.

"As you wish," he replied, releasing his grip.

You rubbed your arm though it did not hurt, and took a few steps back, glaring, waiting for him to speak. Your anger had cooled significantly.

"Join me," he smiled slightly and held out his hand, "as I watch the next battle. I think you'll find it most invigorating."

"Do I have a choice?"

"Of course," his brows rose. "There's always a choice, my dear."

You placed your hand in his and allowed him to lead you towards the tournament site.

* * *

Your breath caught in your throat as Kano circled Arch, whose armor had done little to thwart the rough kicks and powerful punches. The brother was down on one knee, now, and struggled to stand.

Kano wiped some blood off his nose, grinning. "Got you right where I want you, fancy boy." He kicked at Arch's face, sending the helmet flying and Arch falling onto his back.

Arch's eyes held fire as he looked up at the bigger man. "Kiss my entire ass."

With that, Kano's upper lip curled and he raised his fists for the killing blow.

"STOP!" you yelled, leaping to your feet. Shang Tsung remained seated, slowly turning to watch you. You froze, unsure what to do now that you had the attention of Kano, Arch and the entire crowd. "Please! Don't kill him," you said more quietly.

"Are you fuckin' kidding me?" Kano barked. "It's my right!"

"Please!" You held up your hand and squeezed between some benches as you approached the men. "You don't…you don't have to kill him," you said. "He's beaten. It's over." Once, a long time ago, you'd talked a friend out of violence using this same tone of voice. It worked then, surely it would work now?

It would seem not. Kano laughed, full and loudly, then brought down his fists.

You did the only thing you could in that instant: You launched yourself at him, plowing into his dense form, and managed, through sheer luck and surprise, to knock him over. The spectators let out a righteous yell, some booing, others cheering. Kano immediately leapt up, trying to kick at you, but you rolled away, then scrambled to your feet. He snarled, then launched himself at you - only stopped, at the last moment, by a firm hand on his chest.

Shang Tsung shook his head. "It's over, Kano. You won. She is not your opponent today."

"Like hell she ain't! I'm gonna tear her hair off and shove it up her-"

"Quiet," came Shang's command. Kano glowered at you, chest heaving, looking rather like a rabid dog straining against its collar. He backed off, however, and was declared the victor.

Shaking, you turned to watch as Gim helped Arch to his feet. They both looked your away and nodded their thanks as Arch dragged his foot behind him; surely it was broken. Lots of him was broken but he was alive. Gim might not be so lucky.

The crowd slowly disbursed, some looking at you and whispering to each other. A few shook their heads in disappointment for the lack of bloodsport. You sunk onto a bench and looked at your hands; they trembled.

"Here," came Shang's voice. You looked over to see he had produced a kerchief. "For your wounds."

Wounds? Oh yes. Skinned knees and elbows. You took the kerchief and winced, brushing away the grit and slight blood. "Thanks."

He sat beside you and leaned over, watching you. "A very brave act for someone who claims she has no fight."

You opened your mouth to say something rude, then thought better of it. Perhaps he had brought you to that fight to help somehow, or perhaps it was just chance. Either way, he hadn't let Kano pummel you to death. "I have fight, I just don't FIGHT-fight." You sighed and closed your eyes. "I like the brothers, they're nice. I couldn't let him die like that." You opened your eyes and looked at Shang for a moment, then continued. "Here," you said, offering the kerchief back.

"Keep it," he said, holding up his hand. "You might need it again." With that he rose, put his hands behind his back, and strode away.

You tucked the cloth into your pocket and sat for a while, alone, and listened as the wind moved softly through the plants and reeds. After a little while, you rose and found that the scratches on your knees and elbow had healed.

* * *

Four days. Four days you'd been at the tournament, eating your fill and sleeping fitfully in the dark castle-temple. Each combatant had their own room but there were no true doors. Surely some shady business occurred from time to time.

And just how did time work in this strange place? Four days here could be four minutes on earth…or four years. There was no way to know except to ask someone and the only two friendly faces were nowhere to be found.

You tried to make a new friend. "Excuse me, ma'am? Miss?" With her back turned, you couldn't tell the age. The woman slowly turned, eyes blazing red and mouth filled with monstrous teeth. "Do…you…know…when uhhhh the next battle is?" Surely it wouldn't do to run away in fear.

"Nnnnnow," the mouth said, jaw moving strangely and fangs glimmering in the light.

You nodded and stepped backwards, managing to wheeze out a "thanks" before hurrying around a corner.

Pushing your hair back, you meandered through the halls, at last arriving to the conclusion you were frightfully lost. The building hadn't looked this large from the outside but this was, probably, the least surprising thing that had happened so far. Well, time to backtrack-

A hand gripped your throat like a steel vice and slammed you against a wall. One glowing red eye blazed against the wane light, a sneer on Kano's lips as he leaned in close. "Gotcha."

You couldn't yell, could barely breathe as you clawed at his hand. He smelled like blood, though his face was clean.

"See, I thought all day what I should do to you." His fingers tightened their grip, "And then I thought…yeah. A shiv would be nice."

With that, he released your neck but even as you gulped down air, your eyes widened. A sharp, cold sensation entered your abdomen, followed by a searing pain you had never before experienced. You looked down to see a knife sticking out of your side, your own blood seeping down. Kano released the handle and grinned at you. Your knees wobbled, then gave out entirely and you fell to the ground.

"You look good in red, sweet cakes." He tapped his chin with one finger, a little of your blood staining his skin. "Think I'm gonna see how much red you got."

There he paused, however, the smug expression melting off his face as though he'd seen a horrific creature just beyond your edge of vision. He slowly looked down and put his hands over his stomach, where five blades emerged. He coughed, blood spurting forth from his lips, eyes wide with surprise. As he crumpled to the ground, Shang Tsung stood behind him.

He took a deep breath, then said without humor, "Fatality." With that, he scooped you up and proceeded to walk steadily and speedily down the hall.

The pain made your vision hazy but you knew full well that it wasn't safe to be in this position. Each step he took also caused the knife to jostle, bringing fresh sensations. "Put…me down," you gasped; talking was almost enough to cause you to pass out entirely.

"Nonsense," he said. "That is not a simple blade, it is magical and we must treat it with magical means."

"Magical," you whispered, "What, how?"

"It will leave a scar. Consider it a gift of survival."

"Please…" you started to say but the world fell dark and you could speak no longer.

* * *

You awakened with a gasp. You were yet clothed in the same outfit (desperately in need of a wash) and lay comfortably on a chaise in a reading room. The shelves were lined with books of many shapes and languages, most you did not recognize; did most cultures have the concept of a book?

The wound! You lifted your shirt - indeed, there was a bright pink scar a couple inches from your bellybutton. If Kano missed your intestines, it was luck. If he hadn't, and you were healed, it was certainly magic and skill. You felt none the worse for wear and sat up, then hopped to your feet….

…much too quickly. White dots flickered in your vision and you stumbled. Strong hands grabbed your shoulders and guided you back down to sit on the chaise.

You looked up at Shang Tsung; his eyes didn't seem to hold any worry or concern but his hands lingered on your shoulders overlong.

"Did you…" you waved vaguely at your abdomen.

"Of course not," he said sharply. "You may think me a monster but no real man would-"

"No, no, that's not what I meant! I meant, heal. Heal this. Me."

"Oh. Yes." He sat down beside you. Instead of his usual golden armor, he was clad in a long, black leather jacket, simple black shirt and dark plum pants.

"Thanks."

"I've brought you clothing," he said, and gestured to a folded pile on a table.

"I'm not going to wear one of those ridiculous skin-tight bathing suits."

His lips quirked into a subtle smile and an eyebrow raised. "I would expect not. No, I think you'll find these suitable though they are to…my tastes."

You were very curious as to the clothing - black and grey it would seem - but sat still for a little while longer. "Kano, he…" your voice drifted off.

"He was an evil man and died fittingly." Shang's shoulders lifted in a shrug.

"I feel like I should say thanks but you're also the one that brought him here." You looked at him pointedly.

"I did, yes." His eyes flickered briefly over your face.

"Why do you do this?" Your voice was soft; you genuinely wanted to know.

He seemed to choose his words carefully. "I have no choice."

"You said there's always a choice," you pointed out helpfully.

"Not for everyone. Not for me." With that he stood and held out his hand. "Come, you should rest further in your room."

* * *

You admired yourself in the mirror. While he might be mysterious and terrible, Shang Tsung certainly knew how to select an outfit. The sleeveless shift held leather panels at the front and back, which arched over your shoulders. The cloth was soft, black and came to a pointed V in the back, right at the midpoint of your calves. The bodice held a V though not nearly as daring as you might have liked. You smiled a little at the reflection, turning this way and that. Slightly intimidating, certainly comfortable and very-

"Breathtaking," came Shang's voice beside you.

You startled, turning towards him, having heard neither footfalls nor movement.

His eyes trailed slowly over you. "I'm glad to see it fits so well."

Cheeks turning a particularly vibrant shade of crimson, you turned away from him and to the mirror. "I like it, I have to admit."

"You'll find that the cloth provides more protection than you might expect." He reached up, tracing a finger along the edge of the leather at your shoulder. He didn't touch your skin, but he might as well have for the shiver it gave you. "Magical, of course."

"Of course." You wondered if he'd truly let you die at the hands of a combatant. Perhaps not, since he saved you from Kano, and yet…there was much to consider. Not the least of which was the sensation you felt when he stared at you. "I should go," you said awkwardly. "To watch the contestants." That made them sound like they were in a pageant. You winced slightly and pivoted on your heel - the boots were also new, black, and delightful.

You felt his eyes upon you as you left.

* * *

"I heard he killed 100 men and drank their blood!"

"Nah, he's not a vampire."

"You sure?"

The combatant shrugged. "I'm not."

You smiled, listening into their conversation. You couldn't be certain Shang wasn't a vampire but their conversation gave you an idea. The next battle, you would sneak into his bedroom - assuming you could find it - and see what information you could find. That was, of course, even assuming he didn't invite you to sit beside him for the battle.

Fifteen battles, now. The stakes were becoming higher. You'd lowered your guard but hearing the guttural sound of someone's life being choked out of them, well, it had a tendency to bring everything back to laser-like focus. Your only chance now was if Gim was your opponent - or maybe that slightly friendly, monster-mouth woman.

"Are you looking for something?"

The voice startled you from your thoughts and you spun to see one of the bare-chested, masked helper warriors. They didn't seem to have names. Maybe you'd give this one a fun name, like Bob.

"Yes," you said, feigning confidence. "I'm looking for Shang Tsung's room." You paused, then added, "I'm going to leave a present," and gave your best lewd wink.

Though you couldn't see the warrior's face, you had the distinct impression he looked confused. After a moment's hesitation, he replied, "Yes, this way."

He led you down a hall that seemed to go on for a mile. At last, you reached the end and gazed upon two ornate wooden doors. A dragon and a cobra were carved into the wood, interlocked in some eternal struggle. The warrior gestured to the door and gave a slight bow.

"Thanks," you said as you planted a hand on the doorhandle, then added, "Oh, you can go. Now. You can go now. Thanks."

Instead of leaving, however, something quite miraculous and terrifying happened. The warrior's form shifted, as though a mist was blowing away, and there before you stood Shang Tsung.

Your stomach gave an uncomfortable heave and panic trickled up your spine, coursing its way along every nerve. Your jaw dropped, eyes widened.

"Tell me," Shang said nonchalantly, inspecting his fingernails before looking up to meet your gaze. "What of this present?"

Caught. Completely and utterly caught in the act. He was no fool, surely he knew what you'd planned. You wracked your brain for some meager excuse. "I was..just…" you gestured futilely to the door. "Cleaning! Going to clean your room. Bet you didn't expect that." You smiled broadly, hoping the bead of sweat that trickled down your brow wasn't evident.

"Is that so," he said, then planted a hand beside your head, against the door, locking you in. He leaned closer. "Why would you do that?"

"As thanks. You know, for healing me. I assume you're a bachelor, I mean, there aren't a lot of women here who won't try to kill you, so you probably have a very messy room." Far, far too much babbling. Keep it simple, stupid.

His lips quirked into a small smile, eyes crinkling with delight. He said nothing.

"And I just thought well, I can help! I can do that." STOP TALKING. "You know, to….yeah." Your voice trailed off.

He took a deep breath, then laughed once, straightening and dropping his hand from near your head. You felt both relief and disappointment in equal measure.

"Well, you're neither a good thief nor a good liar. I hope you have another plan," he smiled slightly.

"Fine," you said, "Fine, I was trying to get into your bedroom to see if you had some documentation about the portal. OK?"

"You might have simply asked."

"Asked for the documentation?"

"Asked to enter my bedroom." His lips quirked; truly he enjoyed watching you squirm.

"I," you started and looked away, "wouldn't know how to ask that." The hallway had become unbearably warm all of a sudden. Didn't they have A/C?

He laughed again and turned, gesturing for you to follow him back down the hall. You fumed at his response, marching after him, hands balled into fists. Neither of you said anything as you exited; you sped past him and he grinned after you.

* * *

He had a silly name, The Shockening, but his attacks were devastating to his opponent. He seemed to evaporate into the ground, then reappear behind - what was his name? oh yes - Bexas, pummeling him with a flurry of fists.

Bexas' main weapon was a magical chain. It appeared to do his bidding when he whispered to it - sometimes it behaved like a javelin, other times a lariat. Shang seemed particularly interested in the weapon, eyes following its every move.

Unfortunately for Bexas, the chain, however magical, was still comprised of metal. The Shockening let loose his namesake power, sending a ferocious bolt of electricity up the chain and to Bexas' hand. He convulsed, but did not let go. The Shockening grabbed the chain and whirled it up, sending Bexas flying directly into the crowd.

His smoking form landed at your feet - you were far too annoyed at Shang to sit next to him this time - and he lifted his head. You leaned down, a little afraid to touch him as a few tiny bolts of electricity trickled off him.

"Th…the name," he rasped quietly, "Wind…Windwillow." And with that, he gave his last breath.

You blinked, staring at his form, then looked up as Shang gleefully declared a victory…and fatality at that. He picked up the chain and roped it around his arm.

So, the name of the magical chain. You tucked that away in case it might be useful. What a lovely name for something so violent.

The crowd roared its approval and The Shockening paraded around the circle, arms held high. The nameless warriors quickly came to retrieve the body at your feet.

"I trust you are unharmed?" came Shang's voice.

You nodded. "He didn't land on me. Thankfully." You watched the warriors walk away. "Why do you do this? Really, Shang. Please tell me." You turned your gaze to meet his.

He took a deep breath and sat beside you. "Power. I wanted it so desperately."

"That doesn't really answer my question." The crowd had filtered out. You were alone with him now.

"There are powers well beyond that of human understanding," he said, looking over to the temple. "Events set into motion for millennia, every small decision an adjustment to the cogs."

You shook your head "I don't really get it but can't you just…leave? Stop doing this?"

He smiled slightly though it didn't reach his eyes. "Leave all this?" he gestured to the expanse of the island. "Whatever for?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

"Ah. It is not so simple," he said and turned to look at you again, "for me. I made my choice and this is my…" his voice hesitated.

"Punishment?"

"Trajectory," he said, then patted your hand. "I appreciate your concern."

"Well, I could be very wrong but I don't think you're nearly the monster you pretend to be," you said quietly.

You then sucked in your breath as his fingertips traced over your knuckles. Your cheeks again reddened.

He smiled lightly, arching a brow. "Are you certain?"

"N-no," you stammered.

His hand came to rest over yours, fingers interlocked. You cleared your throat, pretending not to notice. It did no good. "Maybe you just need a nice hug and you'll come to your senses," you joked.

He stood. "Is that your present to me, then?" That smirk, back again.

You stood, too. "What? No! I was kidding."

"I wasn't," he said. His eyes twinkled with delight, a more real delight than he seemed to exhibit at the end of gruesome matches.

"Fine," you said, cursing yourself for wanting to go through with it. "Maybe it will help." You stepped up in front of him and, before you could lose your nerve, wrapped your arms around him.

His hands alighted on your bare arms, then slid along and up them until they were solidly around you. He felt warm and far, far too good in this position. You rested your head against his neck and hoped he couldn't hear the hammering of your heart. You felt, rather than saw him smile.

"Is it helping?" you asked quietly after a little while, not yet ready to pull away.

"It may be," he replied and tightened his grip ever so slightly. His hands rested chastely at your back though your mind betrayed you terribly with thoughts of where they might go. Where you wanted them to go. Obviously, it was time to release him but you…couldn't yet bring yourself to do so. He was solid and warm, his cheek now resting against the top of your head and you felt your body might melt into a puddle.

His hand slid up to rest on the back of your neck. You pulled away a bit then, looking up at him, alarmed, confused, and uncomfortably aroused.

Blessedly (or cursedly), your eyes caught sight of movement off to the side: one of the warrior minions come to give a report on something of importance.

Shang's upper lip twitched in annoyance as he released you to deal with the intrusion.

"I should…I should find Gim! Make sure he's OK!" You immediately regretted your outburst but hurried away before you had to answer to Shang's incoming question.

* * *

Gim, as it turns out, had been training hard. He, too, knew the odds were not in his favor, and with his favorite sparring partner unable to spar (with seven broken bones, no less), he resigned himself to exercising constantly. He'd thanked you, grimly and profusely, for saving Arch. He told you he was filled with regret it hadn't been him - he was convinced if he interfered, Arch would be killed anyway. Afterwards, he survived two matches against truly vile opponents. You made another acquaintance, a woman, blond and strong but reasonably kind.

This, in turn, filled you with regret. What had you been doing with your time? Fraternizing with the enemy? Maybe even…flirting? You needed to remind yourself that he was, for all intents and purposes, truly wicked. Probably.

Eleven combatants left and no more would be arriving to the island. This was it. If there was a move to make, it had to be now.

* * *

You had a plan. No, you had five plans. Plan one: sneak into Shang's bedroom by climbing on some ledge (somewhere) from some other open window. Plan two: bribe a combatant to distract him; though he could change shape, he couldn't be in two places at once (that you knew of) and if you kept your eyes on him while bribing someone, well… plan three: some variation of plans one and two. Plan three: ask to go into Shang's bedroom and clobber him over the head. OK, you had two plans.

None of this prepared you for stepping out of your room and being cornered by Shang. He walked up to you, and you retreated until your back hit a wide column.

"Enough," he said and, before you could ask what he meant, slid his hands to either side of your face and leaned down, pressing his lips to yours. You were completely unprepared for the ravenous kiss he bestowed, the way his hands flowed down your face, over your neck, grazing your breasts, and encircled your waist to pull you close. You were also unprepared for how your body reacted of its own accord, returning that kiss with just as much passion, fingers curling around the lapels of his jacket. You lifted your knee slightly and his hand whipped down to catch it, pulling it up and pressing you against the column. You felt him, from lips to chest to shin, felt his hunger and need pressing to you.

You pulled back slightly, broke the kiss, and stared at him momentarily, panting. "Bedroom," you whispered.

He didn't even nod, but you felt a cool mist along your skin and the area around you seemed to speed by. So that's how he got around…. in just a moment, you both alighted inside his bedroom.

You'd expected sumptuous bedding, skulls and candles, but only one of those was correct. Indeed, the circular bed, pushed up against the wall, was adorned with a red quilt. The headboard was simple: bars that held up a plain, rounded, thick wood board. The walls were decorated with a few sparse tapestries and many, many bookshelves. The far wall displayed weapons of various types, presumably from fallen warriors. A table nearby held a couple blades, including the one used to stab you, and Bexas' chains. No candles but instead magical lights that floated in place, dimming now.

After glancing around, you looked back to him. He seemed to be waiting…perhaps for you? You answered him by grabbing the front of his coat and shoving it off his shoulders. He smiled momentarily, shrugging off the fine leather and throwing it onto a chair. His hand found your jaw, holding you still for a moment as his eyes trailed over your features. He then leaned to your ear and whispered, "Magnificent," before nibbling at your earlobe.

You giggled, ticklish, and squirmed against him, which he clearly found delightful. His lips then found your neck - not ticklish there - causing you to gasp and then let out a small, unexpected moan.

"Yes," he whispered to your neck, hands fiddling with the bindings of your shift, "You will be mine."

Emboldened, you pushed him towards the bed but just before it seemed like he would fall backwards upon it, he spun you and pushed you down gently, hands planted to either side of you. He smiled lightly, legs between yours as his gaze trickled over your form. "Again, and again." He placed a finger at the demure V of your bodice and pulled down lightly. Apparently, it held some secret, for it gave way at his touch, his fingers trailing over the space between your breasts, pulling it down all the way to your bellybutton. You were surprised…but delighted.

He did not push the shift apart, so you reached up to work his shirt out of his pants and tug it upwards. He obliged, pulling it up and off, revealing what you already knew to be true - he was exceptionally built. Lean, hard muscles, a few interesting scars, and all his attention focused on you.

But there it was: The chain, catching your attention on the table, beckoning. You didn't want to, wanted instead to simply enjoy time in this most primal of dances. But this was it. This had to be.

You sat up and planted your hands on his chest, guiding him to the side and rolling him onto his back. He looked surprised, eyebrows raising, but offered no resistance. You grabbed his wrists and pinned them above his head - obviously no danger to him but he also clearly liked where this was going. You put a finger to his lips and then held up the finger while you hopped off the bed and grabbed the chains.

He looked quite surprised indeed but remained as he was even as you returned and clambered onto the bed. The chains were much lighter than you feared, making the next part of this easy - from the physical perspective.

You pulled away and turned, just barely whispered "Windwillow" to the chains. The flickered with light. With that, you wrapped one end around his wrist. He started to sit up, so you sat on his hips - again, certainly no challenge for him but quite interesting. He smiled, one brow quirked, as you looped the chain through the headboard and brought the other end back through.

Here, you hesitated. This isn't want you wanted, not really. You undulated a little on his lap while you worked up the nerve to bind his other wrist. He hissed, pushing his hips upward and you genuinely considered giving up the plan and having your way with him right there.

And yet.

Swallowing hard, you created a chain loop around his other wrist, effectively keeping him in place. You leaned down and kissed him - hard. Soft. You slowly pulled back up.

"Whatever you want," he whispered hoarsely.

You hesitated only briefly. Then: "Tell me how to open the portal."

"What?" he said sharply, going still.

"The portal. Tell me how to open it. Please. After I do it, I'll come back and let you go. I promise." Even knowing he'd probably kill you for it.

His lip curled into a snarl. "Is this a jest?" He yanked hard on the chains but they would not budge.

"No. Please tell me." You felt tears stinging your eyes.

His lips pressed firmly together before he snarled, voice low, "You will pay for this. I assure you."

You nodded.

And so he told you the words to whisper to the portal to take you back to your world - at least you assumed it was your world. Surely you couldn't stay here regardless.

"I'm sorry," you said as you slid off him, fastening your shift. He looked completely enraged, unsurprisingly, laying there prone and painfully aroused. "I promise I'll come back."

You hurried away and dared not look back.

* * *

Well, it was done. You told the other combatants they had the option to leave and return to their respective worlds - six took you up on the offer, including Gim (carrying his brother), the blond, and the toothy woman. Five stayed behind, excited to claw their way to victory.

You returned to Shang's room and were only slightly surprised to find a broken headboard and no sorcerer. The chains were also missing. This sent a feral surge of fear along every nerve. You hurriedly made your way back to the portal, looking around every moment, wary.

Of course he would wait until you'd whispered the opening words to the portal and the destination. Of course he would.

You heard the crunch of footfalls on rock behind you. Slowly, you turned. He stood with his hands behind his back, face stoic except for the slight frown-sneer. Goosebumps rose on your arms.

"You betrayed my trust," he said.

You nodded. "I did." There was no arguing it.

You stared at each other for a while until at last you broke the eye contact and looked away. "I'm sorry. I really am. I wasn't…I didn't intend for it to be that way but I had to save them."

He snorted.

You looked back to him. "Come with me." You held out a hand, inviting.

His eyes dropped to stare at your hand for a moment. Then, he let his hands fall from his back and rest at his sides. He slowly stepped towards you, not unlike a predatory animal approaching its prey.

Your hand trembled slightly. "You can start over. With…..with me." Why? Why offer that to him? Surely these few meager days weren't enough to justify such an offer. And yet.

He raised his hands and put them on the tops of your shoulders. His grip was strong. You weren't sure if he was going to draw you into a hug or reach up and throttle you so you let your hand fall to your side.

Without another word, he shoved you backwards, into the portal and the last thing you saw was his scowl.

* * *

You awoke with a start. Where-? There on your couch, morning seeping in through the blinds. You let out a slow, shaky breath. In your hand, a crumpled flyer with crude lettering: Mortal Kombat!!! Fight and win!!! Come to the arena at Central! Personalities welcome.

So….so that was it. A dream, a nightmare, something. Had to be it. Had to.

You slowly rose and trudged to the bathroom to take a shower, stripping off your shirt and shorts. Looking in the mirror, your breath caught in your throat: There, on your side, a pink scar line, freshly healed where none had existed before.

* * *

Three months passed.

Darius proposed to his partner, won three more championships, and thought you were a complete nutso but loved you anyway. The season edged towards fall. You sorted your scarves and fall clothes, started to box away the skimpiest of summer clothing. The scar faded to a faint, angry white line.

Now you sat at a sushi bar, poking some edamame and considering your food options. The tea had long since grown cold.

Someone sat two stools down. You glanced over and gave a nod of acknowledgment, then did a double-take: By the Gods, he was a doppelgänger for Shang. The hair was shorter, pulled into a ponytail, and the build a bit lighter, but the face? The face was the same, the posture the same, even the slightly-arrogant eyebrows…the same. He wore dark pants and a fine, light grey collared shirt.

You gasped and stared brazenly.

He ordered a tea, then set about looking at the menu. Still, you stared. At last, he set down the menu and turned to look at you. "Hello, miss. Can I help you?" The voice was similar - not entirely the same, but so very close.

"I'm…I'm sorry," you started. "You looked like someone I know. Knew." You glanced away.

He must have felt sorry for you because his eyebrows raised. "Oh? How disappointing for you if it makes you look so sad."

"No," you held up a hand, "not at all. Sad yes, disappointed no. It's hard to explain." You considered your options - sound a bit crazy or a lot crazy. You opted for both. "I had an elaborate dream and it's bonkers. There was a man in the dream who looked just like you."

The Not-Shang smiled a little. "Oh? Well then, tell me about it. I'm very curious now." He swiveled fully on the stool to face you.

You took a deep breath. Hey, it's not like you'd ever see this guy again, maybe it would do some good to get this off your chest. You didn't dare truly explain to your friends. "I accidentally took the place of my friend in a martial arts championship on another world. Yes, I know, why another world? No idea. Dreams, am I right? Anyway, the man who ran the tournament knew I couldn't fight. I thought I'd die, then I thought I might not die, then I realized that I….well, I was drawn to him. We started to become intimate, and.." you paused here, clearing your throat.

The Not-Shang arched a brow and waited for you to continue.

"I tricked him. I tricked him and opened the portal and while I saved some of the warriors, I think I hurt him more than I realized."

"Oh, I see," he said simply.

"And, I think I really…came to care for him." You looked away, at the cup of cold tea. "I wanted to save him, too, but he wouldn't let me."

"That's a very sad dream," he said. "I can see why it stayed with you."

You nodded, feeling a surge of embarrassment. "Right," you blurted and slapped your hands on the bar. "I should go. Nice talking to you." You stood and gathered your things, then dropped some money on the plate.

"Hmm," he said, "As long as you're here, why don't you come to dinner with me, [Y/N]?"

You froze in place. "I didn't tell you my name."

"Oh? Well, how interesting. Lucky guess, I suppose."

You slowly turned and stared at him, unsure what to do or say.

He stood and smiled slightly. "One hour, I'll pick you up." With that, he turned, leaving you confused and alarmed.

* * *

The doorbell rang. You'd hoped he'd sweep you into his arms but no such dramatic event occurred. He was probably still mad and had questions or concerns. Still, he arrived dressed to impress in a black suit, black shirt and dark red tie. You'd rightly assumed he'd use the occasion to dress up so you chose a suitably sultry dress, one that draped low in the back and skimmed above your knees.

His eyes trailed over you and you felt your skin prickle. "A lovely dress," he said, brows raising.

You smiled a little. "Thank you."

"But not," he continued, "the kind one wears for very long. Shall we?" he extended his elbow and you wondered if you were overthinking his meaning.

He did not have a car, which was probably just as well since he wouldn't likely know how to drive it, so you took a taxi to a nearby restaurant. It was cozy, dimly lit, and provided a modicum of privacy.

You felt strange asking him about what happened so left that off your conversation. He asked you about Darius, and you told him, asked about your job, and you explained it.

Too much small talk. You brushed your leg against his calf. His eyes raised from the plate before him and held your gaze. Your lips quirked. "Oops. Sorry."

He nodded, then steepled his fingers and leaned in. "Tell me more about this dream. You say you came to care for the man?"

Your fork clanked on the plate with surprise. "Yes. I didn't know him long but I liked his company. A lot. Liked his spirit."

You glanced away, then, before slipping off your shoe and sliding it up his calf. "And of course, I enjoyed the way he looked at me."

"I see," he said, seemingly ignoring your ministrations. "Perhaps he was fond of you, too. However, from what you say, you betrayed his trust."

Your foot dropped back to the floor. "Yes," you let out a slow breath. "I did. That wasn't my plan at the start. I was going to…."

He raised his brows, awaiting your answer.

"Have my way with him."

Likely-Shang chuckled and lowered his hands to the table. "How bold. I can see why he liked you."

"Yes," you said, "maybe so, but he still shoved me back to earth."

"Maybe he didn't know what to do with you. Perhaps he wishes he had not done so. Perhaps he is still learning to tame his brash decisions."

You felt his foot slide along your calf.

"I think," you began, "he should still make some brash decisions."

Likely-Shang's lips quirked for a moment and he flagged down the waiter. "Check."

You kept your hands off him on the ride back to your apartment. He kept his hands chastely on his lap. As soon as your door was closed, however, he grabbed your shoulders and pushed you to the wall. He slid a knee between yours. You could feel the heat emanating off him. You still had questions, many of them, but your head was fuzzy with his nearness and all of those thoughts could wait.

"Shang," you said, eyes flickering down to his lips and back up to his gaze.

"Yes?"

"Is this revenge?" you managed to say, placing your hands on his chest.

"Absolutely," he smiled and leaned down, kissing you with that familiar hunger as he slowly eased the dress off your shoulders.

And he did enact his revenge, several times, in fact.

* * *

So it was that you took the time to know him quite well after indulging your desires, and found that he was an equal match for you in most respects. But time was never on your side and soon enough, you would need to help protect him from those who claimed him as their own.

The End…for now

#Shang Tsung x reader #Shang Tsung #Mortal Kombat fanfiction #stupid sexy sorcerer #Mortal Kombat #that voice though #shinyportalswrites

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fox1656 · 5 years ago

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Shadow Chronicles 17 (Intermission)

Memoirs for Trouble

Eliot Parks was your average teenage boy. He was of average height for his age. His hair was slightly long, and brown. He had hazel eyes, and a very kind nature.

At the present, Eliot was sitting on his bed, texting his friend Rachel, but she was not texting him back. He was getting very worried about her, because she had been talking to him, and then in the middle of their conversation, she just stopped texting him back. It had been an hour since he had received the last message from her, so he decided to go visit her and see what was wrong. Eliot was at home alone, but he knew his parents wouldn’t mind if he went and visited his friend to make sure she was okay, so he went downstairs to the desk where the family computer stood, got a spare piece of paper and scribbled a note to his parents on it, saying that he had gone off to see Rachel, and that he’d be home before nightfall.

Eliot walked out the back door, down the path to the lake, and along the path that ran alongside the lake. He was only walking for a few minutes, before he noticed some strange footprints that trailed across the sand and into the forest which ran along the shore of the lake. He could hear strange whispering voices coming from the trees. The voices seemed to be talking about him and calling his name. Eliot was of course curious, so he decided to investigate the strange voices. He walked into the woods, and before he knew it, he could no longer hear the lapping of the water against the shore of the lake. Although Eliot had gone a long way into the forest, he still had not found the source of the voices, and they had not grown any louder either. Eliot soon realized that he was deep in the forest. He decided that since he had not found anything that he should go back to the lake shore so continue on his way to Rachel's house. He followed his own tracks, which was very easy for him, because he was a very good tracker by nature. He once tracked his neighbor's lost dog and brought it home for them. They had insisted on paying him, but he refused to take payment for finding the dog. He said it was fun for him, and that he didn’t think they should pay him for finding the dog. Suddenly, the tracks stopped. Eliot looked right, and he noticed that the tracks were coming from that direction, but there were woods on both sides of the tracks. What had happened to the lake? It was just here a minute ago, but now it was gone. He also noticed that the sky above the trees had changed color, and the trees had also changed. The leaves were now each made of emerald, thinner than any human could cut them. The trunk and branches of each tree was made of carnelian. Eliot later thought that it had looked as if faeries had cut the leaves and elves had shaped the trunks and boughs. Eliot decided to continue on his way to Rachel’s house, and see if it was still there. He started in the direction he was going, and then he thought ‘what if her house is no longer there’. He continued on his way none the less, hoping her house would still be there.

Eliot walked on for about twenty minutes. When he came to the place where Rachel’s house should be, there was only a small cottage sitting there where her house used to be. ‘What in the world?’ Eliot wondered to himself. ‘Well, I might as well go and see if anyone is home.’

Eliot walked up to the cottage and knocked on the door. It was a few minutes before the door was answered. A girl about three feet tall answered the door. She smiled when she saw Eliot, and she stepped up to him and hugged him as if he were an old friend. The girl was very attractive. When she let go of him, she stepped back and said, “Hello, Eliot. Please come in.” She waved her arm as if in welcome, and Eliot stepped into the house. When he looked around, he noticed that the house was very cozy. Small but cozy. It was mostly one room, which was broken up into a kitchen, a sitting room, and a dining room all made into one. There was a doorway beside the stove that led into another room. Eliot looked at the doorway, and suddenly a figure appeared there. It was a boy of about the same height as the girl. The boy smiled when he saw Eliot, and he ran over and threw his arms around Eliot. “Welcome,” the boy said, “My name is Darius. I see you’ve met my sister Theresa.” Darius smiled, and then he continued, “As you may have guessed, we’ve been waiting for you. We are also elves.”

Eliot stared at Darius as if Darius were insane, but when Eliot looked over at Theresa for confirmation, she just smiled at him and nodded her head. Eliot felt dizzy and stumbled toward the small table, which he now noticed had three chairs placed around it. Theresa was by his side in an instant, and she helped him slowly sit down in a chair. She looked concerned, and when she noticed how pale Eliot was, she turned to Darius and said, “Darius, a word please?”

They stepped over to the door, and Eliot could hear them whispering, “We brought the wrong one,” Theresa whispered.

“No we didn’t,” Darius whispered back, “He’s Eliot Parks, brother of David Parks. David said Eliot would be coming to our world on this day. He said that fiend Kavak told him he would.”

“Well, if he doesn’t fix everything, I’m blaming you. David didn’t do much, but he at least postponed the destruction of this world for a few centuries,” Theresa said, “We only have one more human from that world that can help us. Kathy is trying to recruit him as we speak. She seems to think he will be the one to end all the madness.” Here Theresa paused and looked over at Eliot with a grim expression. Then she said, “She’s been wrong before though. I don’t see why she can’t just agree with us and get it over with. David is the one. I don’t think he could live without his brother though. That’s why he brought him here. We never should have given him that stone when he came back, looking for that castle.” Theresa bowed her head and sighed.

Eliot remembered the lucky stone that his brother had given him a few days ago. Could that possibly be the stone that Darius and Theresa were talking about?

Eliot stood up and walked over to Theresa and lightly laid a hand on her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay,” Eliot said. She turned her head and looked up at Eliot. Her eyes were a very beautiful aqua blue color, and Eliot lost himself in those beautiful eyes. They seemed to say so much. Why he was there, why she was there, what they were supposed to do. Then Eliot turned away. He had tears running down his cheeks, and his eyes were burning.

“I’m sorry,” Theresa said, “I shouldn’t have looked you in the eyes. You’re a human, and humans fall into a trance when they look into an elf’s eyes.”

Eliot noticed that she also had tears running down her cheeks. He reached out and wiped a tear off her cheek, and he looked at the tear on his finger. It was so beautiful that Eliot wanted to place it in something so that he could keep it forever. His better judgment got the better of him, and he wiped the tear off on his pant leg, and then he looked at Darius and noticed that Darius was very attractive also. But he was and elf, so Eliot decided that it must be some sort of elf magic that made him look attractive. Darius smiled at Eliot, and then he said, “Eliot, we know all of your secrets. If you are the Eliot we are thinking of, you have a very kind heart. You have a brother named David, and you will soon meet a teenager named Brian Heartly who will lead a revolution in this world. I’m sorry, but we have to take you to Lord Kavak’s castle. It’s up in the mountains, but it won’t take us long to reach it.”

“Alright,” Eliot said, “When do we set out?”

Darius smiled at Eliot, and said, “Immediately.”

Darius and Theresa prepared the provisions for the journey, and Eliot was asked to go rest, because it would be a difficult journey, and he would need his strength.

It took Darius and Theresa an hour to pack the provisions. At long last, they set off on their way to Lord Kavak’s castle. They hadn’t been walking long before they came to the base of the mountains. Darius said they would have to climb up the side of the mountain, so they climbed.

They were getting close to being level with the clouds, when they encountered a tall tower.

“Is that Lord Kavak’s castle?” Eliot asked.

Darius chuckled, and then he said, “No; that’s just his watch tower. His castle is on the far mountain on the other side of this tower.”

They climbed up to the tower and then hiked around it. When they reached the other side, Eliot gasped in wonder. There on the opposite mountain was the biggest most magnificent castle Eliot had ever seen. It rose far above the clouds, and it had more than a hundred spires and towers reaching for the sky. Although the castle was magnificently beautiful, it was also foreboding. It had a look of darkness about it, which could be seen in its towers and spires. Eliot gazed at the castle for so long that when Theresa laid her hand on his shoulder, he jumped because he had forgotten she and Darius were there.

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” Theresa said, “It used to belong to the king. Kavak killed him many years ago. The king was a great leader. Greater than Kavak will ever be.”

Eliot stood there for a few minutes, looking back and forth between Theresa and the castle, and then he asked the most obvious question, “How are we getting across?”

Darius Looked at Eliot and grinned. “We fly,” Darius said, and then he whistled a long shrill whistle.

Everything was silent for a few seconds, and then Eliot could hear rushing wind; as if giant wings were beating the air and getting closer. It wasn’t long before Eliot found the source of the rushing noise. A griffin was flying right toward them. It landed behind them, folded its wings, and turned its head to stare at Eliot and the elves.

“He will take you to the front gate. But from there on, you are on your own,” Darius said.

Eliot looked at Darius in despair. “You aren’t coming with me?”

Darius looked up at Eliot and simply shook his head. “This part you must do on your own. Be brave; Lady Cassandra will send you back to your own world when you have finished your task.”

Darius walked over to Eliot and hugged him tightly. “Don’t forget us,” Darius said, and then he backed away and Theresa stepped forward and also hugged Eliot. “We’ll miss you,” she said.

Eliot walked over to the griffin, and it crouched down so Eliot could climb onto its back. Once Eliot was in place on the griffin’s back, it stood up, and Eliot said a final farewell to Darius and Theresa. Then the griffin took off. When Eliot looked back, he could see Darius and Theresa shrinking, as he himself drew closer and closer to the castle. As Eliot flew on, he saw Darius and Theresa disappear back into the woods.

The griffin landed in front of the front gate of the castle. Eliot slowly clambered off the griffin’s back and hesitantly walked over to the huge oak doors and knocked three times. The door slowly and silently swung open. Eliot slipped inside and pushed the door closed behind him. The room was very tall and dimly lit. The walls seemed to be made of gray marble, but magnificent tapestries hung on the walls. Eliot slowly walked over to the second set of doors in this room and pushed them open. These doors opened onto a large spiral staircase, which seemed to reach all the way up to the very top of the castle. Eliot started climbing the stairs, slowly. There were doors on his right, but he just ignored them and kept going. He knew his destination must rest at the top. When he reached the top, there was a very tall golden door with a crown studded with beautiful jewels carved on it. Eliot knocked three times on the door, and it swung open. Eliot stepped inside. This room was much more brightly lit than the foyer. The walls were made of white marble, and on the far side of the room there were two thrones of black marble. A very handsome man was sitting in one, and a very beautiful woman was sitting in the other. The two people smiled pleasantly when they noticed Eliot, and the woman waved him over.

Eliot walked over to the thrones and knelt on one knee. The woman stood up and walked over to Eliot, bent slightly at the waist, and lifted his chin with her soft hand. Eliot gazed into her face. She was very beautiful, and she seemed to have put him into a trance more successfully than Theresa had.

“Hello Eliot,” the lady said in a voice that sounded like the most appealing music, “I am Lady Cassandra. This is my husband Lord Kavak. We are glad to finally meet you. I’m afraid that you have come at a bad time though. We shall have to send you back to your own world.” She had a very sincere sad look on her face.

“But I just got here,” Eliot said. “Couldn’t I stay for a little while at least?” He was still enthralled by her voice and her beauty.

“I’m afraid not,” Lady Cassandra said, and she laid her soft hand on top of his messy hair, and uttered something in a strange language. Everything went black.

When Eliot woke up, he was lying on his bed, and his cell phone was buzzing beside his head. He picked up his phone, read the text, which was from Rachel, and then he replied, ‘I just had the most bizarre dream ever.’

#shadowchronicles

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spnsimpleman · 6 years ago

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With the strike of a match.

Dean x unknown Daughter, Sam x unknown niece,

Anonymous asked: Hi this is a weird request so stay with me, I was wondering if you could do a spn x reader series where the reader is deans unknown daughter and when he finds out about her he goes to get her but when he finds her she's nothing like he expected, she would be a cold hearted badass, hopefully a street fighter or gang leader (weird I know) and she knows about the supernatural because demons or something killed her family. Like I said this is weird but I've wanted fine like this forever!Thank you!!!

This will be a short series based on this ask I received a little over a year ago... I think. Sorry anonym, but if you’re still with me, I hope you love it!

Word Count: 1413

Arsonist’s lullaby by Hozier

The strike of a match. A quick inhale of its cleansing fragrance before its fall to the ground. Within those milliseconds, I gazed at that little piece of wood with its tiny flame and marveled at how something so small, so common, when put in just the right environment could tear down cities. The giant felled by a pebble.

How such a big splash could come from such a miniscule thing. A tsunami in the making.

A quiet whoosh accompanies the intensifying sweet smell of my chosen accelerant and then the heat of the slow building flame. It reaches for the accelerant along the ground, the wind helping it along as it devours like the greedy pure soul it is, slithering along the ground following the path I mapped out for it. Pure. Competent. Obedient.

I take one last look at the picture with four smiling faces. Four kids who thought they had the world by the balls. They were the exception. They would be different from all the horror stories. Just four more kids that found out they were wrong. They knew nothing of how cruel this world could be. Nothing ever changes.

There are no exceptions in this world. Not in this neighborhood, at least.

I press my lips to the slippery photo paper already heated by the air around me.

I say my final goodbyes.

“For you,” I drop the photo into the flickering flames in front of me. The explosion of heat from the nearby building barely touches me. “I’ll see them burn.” My insides match the heat but, in this moment, I am numb.

The smiling faces turn grotesque, sneering then melting completely away.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

For a single brief second, soil falling on a coffin dominates my vision and I shake the image away. Not today.

I turn my gaze to the building and wish it could melt just the same, but things built with that kind of workmanship take time. I know a thing or two about time and how much patience it takes to make things right.

“My boys, I love you.” I had thought about carving their names into a wall of the building but I wouldn’t disgrace them that way. Their names deserve a better place and I vowed to give it to them.

I pull my hood up and turn away from the inferno. The roar of the sirens so far away but in eight minutes, they would be in my path. Not enough time to save the building, not with what I’ve done, but they will try because fires spread and the mayor wouldn’t want our trash to spill into his precious streets on the east side.

His deal was quite clear about that.

For Darius and Marco. For JJ and Serenity. After years of work, I was finally ready to rip it all down, brick by fucking disease riddled brick. I will watch it crumble and it will be my hand that caused it. I’ll make sure he knows it.

I may not be the beginning but I will be its end.

Sam Winchester sat in the library of the Men of Letters bunker going through his emails and checking all the alerts that came in overnight. He brought his coffee mug to his lips as he cleared another false alert and questioned his search parameters. He tipped the mug all the way back but still nothing. He looked into it with a sigh and glanced over his shoulder toward the kitchen trying to remember if there had been any coffee left. Dean didn’t always refill the pot but he might have skipped that step this time too.

He rubbed his face, deleted the junk email that somehow got through his damn filters and growled. Today was not going to go his way.

The next email filled the screen, an APB with the picture of a scowling teenaged girl suspected of Arson. “What the hell..?”

Sam leaned forward, placing the mug on the table and skimmed the bulletin. He looked at the subject of the email, thought you might want to see this. It was from a Sheriff they had worked with on a case years ago. But why send him this? It didn’t look like it had anything to do with their kind of work.

Sam frowned and clicked on the connected file. Her arrest record was impressive for a twenty-year-old. He scanned the charges, everything from loitering to resisting arrest to a handful of different drug and assault charges.

He looked at the picture again, not really the face of an addict. There was something familiar about her but he couldn’t pinpoint it. He skimmed the information again and his gaze froze on the guardians listed.

Mother and stepfather deceased- apparent animal attack.

A list of old foster home placements and a final note by the last one. She fled at sixteen.

DNA link: Dean Winchester. Deceased. There was an attachment with his arrest record.

“Holy shit.”

“What?” Dean strolled into the room with a coffee mug in hand, his robe tied around his waist, his slippers scuffing across the floor.

Sam turned wide eyes on his brother, opened his mouth, and closed it. He swallowed then looked back at the screen, scrolled up to the top, and turned the screen toward him.

Dean walked over and leaned down scanning the email. “Damn, girl.” He scrolled down, clicked on the link and whistled. “Kid’s been busy. So, what’s with the arson charge? Changeling? Wendigo?”

Sam shook his head and clicked back to the girl’s information, scrolled until the guardian portion was in the middle of the screen. Then he took the coffee mug from his brother and waved at the screen.

Dean frowned at his mug Sam placed on the table before turning his focus back to the screen. He scanned the info, leaned closer, and then jumped back. “What the fuck is that?”

Sam’s brows rose as he stared at his brother, “what does it look like?”

“Like bullshit, that’s what!” He looked back at the screen, “who the hell does DNA tests for a fucking APB.”

“Well, considering her rap sheet, I’d say it was done before and put on her record for a reason. Maybe the cops really wanted a reason to put her behind bars.”

“Looks like they never succeeded. Most of the big offenses didn’t stick.” He smirked at that.

“Spoken like a proud parent.”

“Shut up! This is obviously some kind of set up.”

Sam quirked a brow, “for who? You think you’re being set up?”

“No, this kid obviously is. Cops are probably pissed because the kid is smart and got out of everything they tried to put her away for.”

Sam crossed his arms over his chest, “yeah. Her parents were killed and she was shoved into the foster system, that she apparently didn’t agree with, and now after years of building a rap sheet, the cops are trying to pin a pretty big arson on her.”

“What the hell are you looking at me for?”

“I don’t know. Guess I’m trying to decide whether to say I told you so or not.”

Dean stabbed a finger at his brother, “I am always careful.”

Sam raised his brow, “hmm… what was that Amazon kid then?”

Dean frowned, “extenuating circumstances.” His hand fell to his side and his gaze veered back to the computer.

Sam shook his head, “condoms don’t always work, Dean.”

“What are you saying? That I should drive there and help this kid who probably doesn’t even know who I am? You really think that kid is gonna give a shit that I was her sperm donor?”

Sam scrolled up to the picture, a mug shot probably a couple years old and understood what it was he couldn’t pinpoint before. “I think she deserves someone to give a shit about her. Whether you like it or not, she’s a Winchester.”

Dean clenched his jaw and looked back at the screen. She had a few of his features and looked a little too much like Mary for him to completely turn away and ignore the DNA as false.

“Fuck!” He snatched his coffee from the table before Sam could drink it and spun away, stalking back the way he came.

“Where are you…”

“Taking a shower and then prepping for a drive. If you’re coming, take a damn shower, you smell like a wendigo.”

Part Two- With a wink and a smile.

#spn fanfiction #dean x unknown daughter #spn x reader #spn fanfic #dean winchester fan fiction #sam winchester fanfiction #spn badass reader #with the strike of a match #any errors are my own

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darealbellabelleoftheball · 6 years ago

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Phantom Rambles

Chapter Twenty Six - The End of the Ghost’s Love Story

(WARNING: Major feels ahead... damn it, even the title is an oof!)

The previous chapter marks the conclusion of the written narrative which the Persian left behind him.

Notwithstanding the horrors of a situation which seemed definitely to abandon them to their deaths, M. de Chagny and his companion were saved by the sublime devotion of Christine Daae. And I had the rest of the story from the lips of the daroga himself.

When I went to see him, he was still living in his little flat in the Rue de Rivoli, opposite the Tuileries. He was very ill, and it required all my ardor as an historian pledged to the truth to persuade him to live the incredible tragedy over again for my benefit. His faithful old servant Darius showed me in to him. The daroga received me at a window overlooking the garden of the Tuileries. He still had his magnificent eyes, but his poor face looked very worn. He had shaved the whole of his head, which was usually covered with an astrakhan cap; he was dressed in a long, plain coat and amused himself by unconsciously twisting his thumbs inside the sleeves; but his mind was quite clear, and he told me his story with perfect lucidity.

It seems that, when he opened his eyes, the daroga found himself lying on a bed. M. de Chagny was on a sofa, beside the wardrobe. An angel and a devil were watching over them.

After the deceptions and illusions of the torture-chamber, the precision of the details of that quiet little middle-class room seemed to have been invented for the express purpose of puzzling the mind of the mortal rash enough to stray into that abode of living nightmare. The wooden bedstead, the waxed mahogany chairs, the chest of drawers, those brasses, the little square antimacassars carefully placed on the backs of the chairs, the clock on the mantelpiece

and the harmless-looking ebony caskets at either end, lastly, the whatnot filled with shells, with red pin-cushions, with mother-of-pearl boats and an enormous ostrich-egg, the whole discreetly lighted by a shaded lamp standing on a small round table: this collection of ugly, peaceable, reasonable furniture, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OPERA CELLARS, bewildered the imagination more than all the late fantastic happenings.

And the figure of the masked man seemed all the more formidable in this old-fashioned, neat and trim little frame. It bent down over the Persian and said, in his ear:

“Are you better, daroga? . . . You are looking at my furniture? . . . It is all that I have left of my poor unhappy mother.”

Christine Daae did not say a word: she moved about noiselessly, like a sister of charity, who had taken a vow of silence. She brought a cup of cordial, or of hot tea, he did not remember which. The man in the mask took it from her hands and gave it to the Persian. M. de Chagny was still sleeping.

Erik poured a drop of rum into the daroga’s cup and, pointing to the viscount, said:

“He came to himself long before we knew if you were still alive, daroga. He is quite well. He is asleep. We must not wake him.”

Erik left the room for a moment, and the Persian raised himself on his elbow, looked around him and saw Christine Daae sitting by the fireside. He spoke to her, called her, but he was still very weak and fell back on his pillow. Christine came to him, laid her hand on his forehead and went away again. And the Persian remembered that, as she went, she did not give a glance at M. de Chagny, who, it is true, was sleeping peacefully; and she sat down again in her chair by the chimney-corner, silent as a sister of charity who had taken a vow of silence.

Erik returned with some little bottles which he placed on the mantelpiece. And, again in a whisper, so as not to wake M. de Chagny, he said to the Persian, after sitting down and feeling his pulse:

“You are now saved, both of you. And soon I shall take you up to the surface of the earth, TO PLEASE MY WIFE.”

Thereupon he rose, without any further explanation, and disappeared once more.

The Persian now looked at Christine’s quiet profile under the lamp. She was reading a tiny book, with gilt edges, like a religious book. There are editions of THE IMITATION that look like that. The Persian still had in his ears the natural tone in which the other had said, “to please my wife.” Very gently, he called her again; but Christine was wrapped up in her book and did not hear him.

Erik returned, mixed the daroga a draft and advised him not to speak to “his wife” again nor to any one, BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE VERY DANGEROUS TO EVERYBODY’S HEALTH.

Eventually, the Persian fell asleep, like M. de Chagny, and did not wake until he was in his own room, nursed by his faithful Darius, who told him that, on the night before, he was found propped against the door of his flat, where he had been brought by a stranger, who rang the bell before going away.

As soon as the daroga recovered his strength and his wits, he sent to Count Philippe’s house to inquire after the viscount’s health. The answer was that the young man had not been seen and that Count Philippe was dead. His body was found on the bank of the Opera lake, on the Rue-Scribe side. The Persian remembered the requiem mass which he had heard from behind the wall of the torture-chamber, and had no doubt concerning the crime and the criminal. Knowing Erik as he did, he easily reconstructed the tragedy. Thinking that his brother had run away with Christine Daae, Philippe had dashed in pursuit of him along the Brussels Road, where he knew that everything was prepared for the elopement. Failing to find the pair, he hurried back to the Opera, remembered Raoul’s strange confidence about his fantastic rival and learned that the viscount had made every effort to enter the cellars of the theater and that he had disappeared, leaving his hat in the prima donna’s dressing-room beside an empty pistol-case. And the count, who no longer entertained any doubt of his brother’s madness, in his turn darted into that infernal underground maze. This was enough, in the Persian’s eyes, to explain the discovery of the Comte de Chagny’s corpse on the shore of the lake, where the siren, Erik’s siren, kept watch.

(So Erik killed a dude... oh well, It’s not the first time)

The Persian did not hesitate. He determined to inform the police. Now the case was in the hands of an examining-magistrate called Faure, an incredulous, commonplace, superficial sort of person, (I write as I think), with a mind utterly unprepared to receive a confidence of this kind. M. Faure took down the daroga’s depositions and proceeded to treat him as a madman.

Despairing of ever obtaining a hearing, the Persian sat down to write. As the police did not want his evidence, perhaps the press would be glad of it; and he had just written the last line of the narrative I have quoted in the preceding chapters, when Darius announced the visit of a stranger who refused his name, who would not show his face and declared simply that he did not intend to leave the place until he had spoken to the daroga.

The Persian at once felt who his singular visitor was and ordered him to be shown in. The daroga was right. It was the ghost, it was Erik!

He looked extremely weak and leaned against the wall, as though he were afraid of falling. Taking off his hat, he revealed a forehead white as wax. The rest of the horrible face was hidden by the mask.

The Persian rose to his feet as Erik entered.

“Murderer of Count Philippe, what have you done with his brother and Christine Daae?”

Erik staggered under this direct attack, kept silent for a moment, dragged himself to a chair and heaved a deep sigh. Then, speaking in short phrases and gasping for breath between the words:

“Daroga, don’t talk to me . . . about Count Philippe . . . He was dead . . . by the time . . . I left my house . . . he was dead . . . when . . . the siren sang . . . It was an . . . accident . . . a sad . . . a very sad . . . accident. He fell very awkwardly . . . but simply and naturally . . . into the lake! . . . ”

“You lie!” shouted the Persian.

Erik bowed his head and said:

“I have not come here . . . to talk about Count Philippe . . . but to tell you that . . . I am going . . . to die . . . ”

“Where are Raoul de Chagny and Christine Daae?”

“I am going to die.”

“Raoul de Chagny and Christine Daae?”

“Of love . . . daroga . . . I am dying . . . of love . . . That is how it is . . . loved her so! . . . And I love her still . . . daroga . . . and I am dying of love for her, I . . . I tell you! . . . If you knew how beautiful she was . . . when she let me kiss her . . . alive . . . It was the first . . . time, daroga, the first . . . time I ever kissed a woman . . . Yes, alive . . . I kissed her alive . . . and she looked as beautiful as if she had been dead!”

(AND HERE IS WHERE MY CRYING COMMENCED!!!)

The Persian shook Erik by the arm:

“Will you tell me if she is alive or dead.”

“Why do you shake me like that?” asked Erik, making an effort to speak more connectedly. “I tell you that I am going to die . . . Yes, I kissed her alive . . . ”

(ALSO HERE)

“And now she is dead?”

“I tell you I kissed her just like that, on her forehead . . . and she did not draw back her forehead from my lips! . . . Oh, she is a good girl! . . . As to her being dead, I don’t think so; but it has nothing to do with me . . . No, no, she is not dead! And no one shall touch a hair of her head! She is a good, honest girl, and she saved your life, daroga, at a moment when I would not have given twopence for your Persian skin. As a matter of fact, nobody bothered about you. Why were you there with that little chap? You would have died as well as he! My word, how she entreated me for her little chap! But I told her that, as she had turned the scorpion, she had, through that very fact, and of her own free will, become engaged to me and that she did not need to have two men engaged to her, which was true enough.

(AND HERE)

“As for you, you did not exist, you had ceased to exist, I tell you, and you were going to die with the other! . . . Only, mark me, daroga, when you were yelling like the devil, because of the water, Christine came to me with her beautiful blue eyes wide open, and swore to me, as she hoped to be saved, that she consented to be MY LIVING WIFE! . . . Until then, in the depths of her eyes, daroga, I had always seen my dead wife; it was the first time I saw MY LIVING WIFE there. She was sincere, as she hoped to be saved. She would not kill herself. It was a bargain . . . Half a minute later, all the water was back in the lake; and I had a hard job with you, daroga, for, upon my honor, I thought you were done for! . . . However! . . . There you were! . . . It was understood that I was to take you both up to the surface of the earth. When, at last, I cleared the Louis-Philippe room of you, I came back alone . . . ”

(TEARS TEARS TEARS!)

“What have you done with the Vicomte de Chagny?” asked the Persian, interrupting him.

“Ah, you see, daroga, I couldn’t carry HIM up like that, at once. . . . He was a hostage . . . But I could not keep him in the house on the lake, either, because of Christine; so I locked him up comfortably, I chained him up nicely — a whiff of the Mazenderan scent had left him as limp as a rag — in the Communists’ dungeon, which is in the most deserted and remote part of the Opera, below the fifth cellar, where no one ever comes, and where no one ever hears you. Then I came back to Christine, she was waiting for me.”

Erik here rose solemnly. Then he continued, but, as he spoke, he was overcome by all his former emotion and began to tremble like a leaf:

“Yes, she was waiting for me . . . waiting for me erect and alive, a real, living bride . . . as she hoped to be saved . . . And, when I . . . came forward, more timid than . . . a little child, she did not run away . . . no, no . . . she stayed . . . she waited for me . . . I even believe . . . daroga . . . that she put out her forehead . . . a little . . . oh, not much . . . just a little . . . like a living bride . . . And . . . and . . . I . . . kissed her! . . . I! . . . I! . . . I! . . . And she did not die! . . . Oh, how good it is, daroga, to kiss somebody on the forehead! . . . You can’t tell! . . . But I! I! . . . My mother, daroga, my poor, unhappy mother would never . . . let me kiss her . . . She used to run away . . . and throw me my mask! . . . Nor any other woman . . . ever, ever! . . . Ah, you can understand, my happiness was so great, I cried. And I fell at her feet, crying . . . and I kissed her feet . . . her little feet . . . crying. You’re crying, too, daroga . . . and she cried also . . . the angel cried! . . . ” Erik sobbed aloud and the Persian himself could not retain his tears in the presence of that masked man, who, with his shoulders shaking and his hands clutched at his chest, was moaning with pain and love by turns.

(I’M GETTING A TIME MACHINE AND ATTACKING ERIK’S STUPID MOTHER WHO’S WITH ME?!?!?)

“Yes, daroga . . . I felt her tears flow on my forehead . . . on mine, mine! . . . They were soft . . . they were sweet! . . . They trickled under my mask . . . they mingled with my tears in my eyes . . . yes . . . they flowed between my lips . . . Listen, daroga, listen to what I did . . . I tore off my mask so as not to lose one of her tears . . . and she did not run away! . . . And she did not die! . . . She remained alive, weeping over me, with me. We cried together! I have tasted all the happiness the world can offer!”

And Erik fell into a chair, choking for breath: (Me while reading this)

“Ah, I am not going to die yet . . . presently I shall . . . but let me cry! . . . Listen, daroga . . . listen to this . . . While I was at her feet . . . I heard her say, ‘Poor, unhappy Erik!’ . . . AND SHE TOOK MY HAND! . . . I had become no more, you know, than a poor dog ready to die for her . . . I mean it, daroga! . . . I held in my hand a ring, a plain gold ring which I had given her . . . which she had lost . . . and which I had found again . . . a wedding-ring, you know . . . I slipped it into her little hand and said, ‘There! . . . Take it! . . . Take it for you . . . and him! . . . It shall be my wedding-present a present from your poor, unhappy Erik . . . I know you love the boy . . . don’t cry any more! . . . She asked me, in a very soft voice, what I meant . . . Then I made her understand that, where she was concerned, I was only a poor dog, ready to die for her . . . but that she could marry the young man when she pleased, because she had cried with me and mingled her tears with mine! . . . ”

Erik’s emotion was so great that he had to tell the Persian not to look at him, for he was choking and must take off his mask. The daroga went to the window and opened it. His heart was full of pity, but he took care to keep his eyes fixed on the trees in the Tuileries gardens, lest he should see the monster’s face.

“I went and released the young man,” Erik continued, “and told him to come with me to Christine . . . They kissed before me (guys I love you but that’s a bit harsh... ya’ll can wait!) in the Louis-Philippe room . . . Christine had my ring . . . I made Christine swear to come back, one night, when I was dead, crossing the lake from the Rue-Scribe side, and bury me in the greatest secrecy with the gold ring, which she was to wear until that moment. . . . I told her where she would find my body and what to do with it . . . Then Christine kissed me, for the first time, herself, here, on the forehead — don’t look, daroga! — here, on the forehead . . . on my forehead, mine — don’t look, daroga! — and they went off together . . . Christine had stopped crying . . . I alone cried . . . Daroga, daroga, if Christine keeps her promise, she will come back soon! . . . ”

The Persian asked him no questions. He was quite reassured as to the fate of Raoul Chagny and Christine Daae; no one could have doubted the word of the weeping Erik that night.

The monster resumed his mask and collected his strength to leave the daroga. He told him that, when he felt his end to be very near at hand, he would send him, in gratitude for the kindness which the Persian had once shown him, that which he held dearest in the world: all Christine Daae’s papers, which she had written for Raoul’s benefit and left with Erik, together with a few objects belonging to her, such as a pair of gloves, a shoe-buckle and two pocket-handkerchiefs. In reply to the Persian’s questions, Erik told him that the two young people, at soon as they found themselves free, had resolved to go and look for a priest in some lonely spot where they could hide their happiness and that, with this object in view, they had started from “the northern railway station of the world.” Lastly, Erik relied on the Persian, as soon as he received the promised relics and papers, to inform the young couple of his death and to advertise it in the EPOQUE.

That was all. The Persian saw Erik to the door of his flat, and Darius helped him down to the street. A cab was waiting for him. Erik stepped in; and the Persian, who had gone back to the window, heard him say to the driver:

“Go to the Opera.”

And the cab drove off into the night.

The Persian had seen the poor, unfortunate Erik for the last time. Three weeks later, the Epoque published this advertisement:

“Erik is dead.”

Me:

Tag

@angelofmusicsuggestions

@ask-the-angel-of-music

@potoincorrectquotes

@maladypond ��

@summerb4jc

@masksonmasks

@wheel-of-fish

@epwhales

@phantomgraphicnovel

@phantom-of-the-keurig

@phantomofthetrashcan

@phantom-of-the-uhhhpera

@shernoel

@madamedaae

@quill-of-doom

On to the Epilogue...

#Phantom Rambles #POTO #Booklr

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octofamheadcanons · 6 years ago

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Disney Headcanons

This is me being bored and my brother was watching Pocohauntus earlier today, so I decided to do this because why not! It's Disney! I AM IN THE DISNEY ZONE! Oh and I want to hear what you think what Disney song correlates to each character and ship. I'm a curious person. Anyways, let's go!

EDIT: Ok this was being stupid, so I had to rewrite everything some parts again... This still sucks by the way.

Ophilia: Let it Go is Ophilia let's be This is Me is Ophilia's growth throughout the story, starting as a shy girl to a lively person thanks to the other travelers.

Cyrus: Belle is Cyrus. Not to mention that the man is beautiful. Much like Belle, Cyrus is a...peculiar one let's just say. His fixation on books and studying is a lot like Belle's. Plus, the professor oblivious to a T.

Tressa: Almost There is Tressa before she set out on her journey and even while she's traveling. Despite what troubles have been thrown at her, Tressa takes it and fixes it without a sweat.

Olberic: I'll Make a Man Out of You is the definition of Olberic! Same with Go the Distance. While the former is during his travels, the latter is what Olberic was like before he went with the others. He needs to find his calling and what fighting means to him after all.

Primrose: A rose has its thorns and dead petals, but aside from that, it can beautiful and enchanting. Ignoring that the song is about fearing that you'll shame your family, Reflection can describe Primrose's occupation as a metaphor. The dancer can use her appeal and charms as a way to hide that she's really using it to gather information about her deceased father and get revenge on who killed him.

Alfyn: Truth be told, I've never heard of this song until earlier but I digress Before he heads off with the other travelers, Alfyn has a conversation with his mother. Proud of Your Boy can be a parting song, but it can also be a welcome back kind of song as Alfyn tells his mother that he'll be leaving Clearbook, but will be back in one piece. He also tells her that she hopes that she'll watch over him as he ventures into the outside world.

Therion: Scream is Therion's mind battle. Ever since he met Darius again, he has a battle with himself on trusting others or not...so much so that he needs the feel to scream.

H'aanit: How Far I'll Go is H'aanit's story, but replace "water" with "master" and you'll pretty much understand what's going on. Aside from that, in a way, it's like a test to see how far she'll go with her hunting skills.

Theiron x Ophilia: I See the Light describes these two. It can also be a metaphor in Therion's eyes because he believes that Ophilia's the light that he sees and has grown accustomed to. Of course, Ophilia feels the same way. The others are totally not watching from a distance as this goes down.

Cyrus x Primrose: Beauty and the Beast fits these two, especially since Belle was teaching Beast how to dance in that scene (or is it the other way? I can't remember, I haven't seen it in a while). It's a sweet and tender moment for these two, yet Primrose lightly teases Cyrus as it goes along, but he doesn't seem to mind.

Alfyn x Tressa: Love Is An Open Door is for these dorks! These two don't know what love is, and to them, love really is an open door. Though they don't care as it allows them to know more things that they don't know about each other.

Olberic x H'aanit: Never Knew I Needed is what these are. They didn't know how to express their true feelings until they had a little help.

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northsidemarleyrose · 6 years ago

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Lost and Found || HummelRose

WHO: Marley Rose and Aaron Hummel MENTIONS (in alphabetical order): Blaine Anderson, Darius Anderson, Rachel Berry, Bethany Cohen-Chang, Alejandro Hart, Jackson Hayward, Kurt Hummel, Santana Lopez, Jake Puckerman, Nathan Puckerman, Charlie Rose, and Sebastian Smythe, plus Frank Abernathy, Millie Rose, and Natalie Turner. WHERE: Riverdale and Greendale WHEN: June 28, 2019 - July 12th, 2019 NOTES: This covers from the time that Marley took off after being released from the hospital until Aaron finally finds her. TRIGGERS: Mentions of violence, semi-suicidal thoughts? (maybe? but putting it here just in case), heartache galore, mentions of killings/death. WORD COUNT: 13,402

Five days after being admitted into Riverdale General the doctors finally had given Marley permission to leave, with the promise that she’d take it easy. Throughout the morning she had slowly begun packing up her belongings, with the help of Aaron of course, as he really hadn’t left since he’d found out she was in the hospital, minus for his own therapy. The minute she’d woken up and seen him there she’d known there was no way she would be able to argue with him about staying, she’d been far too stubborn about that a couple weeks ago after he got stabbed.

Throughout the past five days she’d felt less and less like herself. Charlie was in a coma because she’d intervened when her father, the actual Black Hood, had gotten his hands on her and she’d been too weak to do too much damage to him before he attacked her. She didn’t know if she could face her mother or her sister outside of these walls, she didn’t know what was going on with Blaine, or if she ever wanted to try and face him again after what he’d done to Aaron. She already felt so guilty. Guilty about not seeing what everyone else had apparently seen, guilty for everything that her father had done right under her nose and for when she was a child, just … guilty, so freaking guilty. She didn’t want to be in Riverdale anymore but she’d been stuck in the hospital until the doctors finally released her, Aaron by her side the entire time, especially when her mother couldn’t be there.

By day three she’d started devising a plan. She knew she was going to be released soon and there was no way she could go back home. Not after what had happened, not after what Frank had confessed, what he’d wanted, what he’d done. Her memory was still a little fuzzy on what had happened but she had a fairly pieced together memory of the evening.

While she knew she had options for places to stay, Aaron’s, Beth’s, probably even Charlie’s, if Darius would allow it, she didn’t want to be near anyone in any sort of capacity. The only reason she hadn’t asked Aaron to leave yet was because she knew he’d fight tooth and nail and throw everything she’d said to him a couple weeks prior in her face, plus, she needed him completely believing she was okay for her plan to work out without any bumps along the way. She didn’t have a plan B here, so she had to put everything into plan A and that included making everyone see that she was okay, even though that was the furthest thing from the truth that she could imagine.

Marley had a friend in Greendale who was currently abroad in Europe for a few more weeks. She’d already been checking in on the house every now and then like Natalie had asked. Going there was the clear choice. It was somewhere people wouldn’t know about or think to look. It was somewhere she could finally be alone, actually alone, not “getting a chance to sit alone in the bathroom for five minutes before someone asking if she was okay” alone. It was somewhere she wouldn’t be followed or monitored or have anyone there to expect things from her. The guilt was absolutely eating away at her, including the guilt of holding this plan in herself.

Her plan was fairly simple, but had the ability to go disastrously wrong of things didn’t happen the exact way she needed them too. Around mid morning she mentioned to Aaron that she could really go for a milkshake before leaving, knowing full well the hospital cafeteria would not have that and he’d have to leave to get it from Pop’s. Luckily he agreed, “anything for you, pretty girl,” were his exact sentiments. Once he’d left the room she scrambled to gather the rest of her things in a slight hurry, not even thinking about the possibility of him turning back for a moment, waited what she assumed was an appropriate amount of time, and then made her way out a lesser used exit, intent on getting to Greendale on a bus. She wished she could drive, it would be easier, but with her broken wrist that just wasn’t possible, plus, Aaron was currently using her car, so the bus would have to do.

Luckily she made it out of the hospital and to Greendale without any issues. The one thing about such a small town was that it always felt like everyone’s eyes were on you, especially nowadays. By the time she reached Natalie’s house she was already exhausted. Five days of basically doing nothing had not been good for her. Five days without a moment alone to really let everything that had happened sink in? That was even worse. The first thing she did when she was securely inside, all doors locked and curtains drawn, was strip everything she’d had on from the hospital and shower, being sure to cover her cast first of course. She hadn’t anticipated how difficult that was going to be and she really thanked god that Frank had grabbed her left wrist and not her right.

After what was probably just over a half an hour just trying to rid herself of hospital smell she found a couple of the items Bethany had brought her, items that weren’t even her own and put them on. Wearing something she had no real connection to and wasn’t hospital wear was actually kind of nice, in a really weird sort of way.

She curled up on the couch, blankets cocooned around her, and finally let go. Let go of the guilt eating away at every fibre of her being. She let every tear that she’d so stubbornly held back finally fall. Second by second feeling more loss, more sorrow, and more guilt than she ever had known could be inside of one person. She’d spent so long pretending to be somewhat okay, somewhat making it through, and now she was finally freeing herself of that pressure, she finally felt how lost she was. She wasn’t herself anymore. She felt an emptiness in her gut, something that hadn’t even been there when Frank left them all those years ago.

Marley wasn’t Marley anymore, at least not in her eyes. As she sat there falling apart, she knew that what had kept her whole all of these years, through every hardship she’d ever been through, was gone. That part of her was destroyed. Blaine had started chipping at it first, with what he’d done to Aaron, but Frank? Frank had taken everything that could be used for destruction and smashed it to smithereens. Slowly, as the tears began to slow down, she felt the numbness creep in. She felt the hopelessness taking over and she welcomed it. Anything was better than the sobs that had been racking her body for hours. As she “calmed” she stared at the home around her, really taking in her surroundings. It wasn’t hers but at least it held no memories of her own home, somewhere that made her sick to her stomach with just a quick thought. Her safe haven, her childhood playground, gone forever, at least in her mind. How could she ever return there? Frank had come so close to killing them both there, and probably their mom too. Her hand found its way to the the stitches she still had in her head. She winced, but she wasn’t entirely sure if it was from the physical pain or the emotional pain of the memory.

Eventually night fell but Marley was so out of it that she hardly even noticed. After a while she checked her phone, which had been on silent, for the time, ignoring the numerous texts and voicemails, mainly all from Aaron or her mother, on the home screen. 1:03 AM. It was way later than she had expected, the only saving grace was that it was technically a new day. She switched her phone off, not wanting to deal with anyone trying to reach her, especially Aaron and his constant trying, texting and calling. She felt awful but she was afraid of saying the wrong thing, of lashing out. Nothing anyone could say would fix this, fix her. This was her truth now, a broken shell of the person she once felt she was.

Part of her wished she wasn’t alone, granted a very small part of her, and a part she knew would never win, she could never let it win, but unfortunately it still existed. Part of her wanted a very particular person around. Maybe if that person had been Aaron or Bethany or even her mother, maybe she could have gone back, but it wasn’t. That person wasn’t even Charlie, even though she’d do anything to know that she’d woken up and was okay. It was Blaine and she hated that, she hated that it was always him, even after everything he’d done. It wasn’t that she wanted whoever Blaine was now, she didn’t even want to look at who he’d become, but it was the Blaine she grew up with, shared so many of her memories with, that she needed. It was the Blaine who’d married her in her backyard just to make her feel a little bit better that she craved. The Blaine who’d told her to try and climb Alejandro like a tree. She longed for the Blaine who would lay on the grass with her in her backyard after a hard day and just hold her hand and let her stay silent. Marley had no idea if that Blaine even existed anymore, and that was something she could hardly bear. Blaine was gone. Marley felt gone. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Eventually, after what felt like hours, Marley fell asleep. It wasn’t a restful sleep, she didn’t know when those would ever be a part of her life again, if they’d ever be a part of her life again, but sleep was sleep, even when racked by nightmares.

The days passed and Marley slipped into a mundane routine. She seldom left the couch, usually only to get whatever single meal she had delivered for the day, only using the cash Natalie left for her as payment. She tried to watch TV but it couldn’t hold her focus. She tried sleeping her time away but the nightmares racked her mind whenever she closed her eyes. She knew she looked a mess, pitying whatever poor delivery person had to see the state she was in ut she couldn’t even bring herself to fix the issue. She turned her phone on occasionally, but would be quickly overwhelmed the minute the texts and voicemails all came through, especially when it was Bethany or her mother or her sister, who had thankfully woken up. The only good she got from seeing that Charlie was texting her was knowing she was awake. She’d gotten pretty used to Aaron’s texts and calls, they were the most frequent, but something about knowing Bethany was crying, Marley could hear it in every voicemail, just shook her too much. It felt like almost everyone she knew was trying to get a hold of her. Darius, if only to calm Charlie down, and Jackson too, for the same reason but with Bethany. Even people she hadn’t expected to care were reaching out too, people like Nathan and Rachel, not that it made her any more inclined to return, it was just more people she was ultimately disappointing. It wouldn’t be long until she’d delete any voicemails and turn her phone back off. She didn’t want anyone around. No one should have to see what she’d become. She didn’t even feel human anymore. Eating only when absolutely necessary, sleeping only when it finally took over, mostly just wasting away. Blaine used to compare her to a flower, well now she was one … just a very wilted comparison to the one she used to be. Too far gone in her own eyes.

Her father was a murderer, a serial killer at that. He had killed her friends and he wanted her and Charlie to carry on his legacy. Legacy, what is a legacy? Was it fate? Was she destined to become as terrible as him, was she already? Was there really a darkness inside her that was passed down from the man for with she had half of his DNA? She could hardly live with herself just knowing about the awful things he’d done. His blood coursing through her veins. When this got out, if it hadn’t already, she knew people would be out for revenge. She’d seen it with Aaron when Burt had been so wrongfully arrested. Burt Hummel had not been the Blackhood. Her own father had, and had been doing it for her? For their family? Wanted her to join him in ridding the town of sinners? None of it made sense. Her father had been a good man, the best dad when they were growing up, that was, until he left, or at least, she’d thought that. Now she knew the truth, the whole truth, and it terrified the fuck out of her. Was anybody really who they said they were? First Blaine, now her father, before anyone knew it, they’d see her true colours too, the monster she would inevitably become alongside them.

Eventually, she found herself wishing she’d never even been born. Her birthday was tainted forever now too, so what was the point in celebrating it ever again? What was the point of anything? Her own father, someone who she thought had loved her more than anything in the world, loved her sister more than anything in the world, could have killed them both. He killed his grandchild, her niece or nephew, Charlie’s child, and he’d done it on purpose, like so many others before. Her anger began to boil over. How could he be like that!? How could she have been so blind!? A scream ripped through her body, like a wildfire finding a clear path after simmering for a while. She grabbed something close, a plate, and threw it at the wall, watching as it smashed into pieces. That wasn’t enough. She looked for something else, a mug, and suddenly it’s pieces were mixed with those of what used to be the plate.

Marley sat there, catching her breath. After a moment she realized what she’d done. Those weren’t her dishes. This wasn’t her house. She really was starting to see the darkness inside of her and it was slowly creeping its way to the surface. She couldn’t be bothered to clean the mess up, not yet at least.

For some reason, unbeknownst to her, she decided to check her phone again and this time there was an unknown number that left had left a message. The minute she heard Blaine’s voice she dropped her phone. How was he calling her? Wasn’t he locked up in the hospital somewhere? She was sure that was what Darius had told her. Aaron actually went to see him, after what Blaine had done to Aaron? She couldn’t possibly mean that much to the other man, she couldn’t, there was no way. He’d never even actually told her about what his feelings were so she had to assume they were still just friends, despite her own strong feelings towards him so he needed to stop trying to find her, to contact her. She listened to Blaine’s message again, and again. She didn’t know why she was doing that to herself, hearing his voice made her want to vomit, but once she could see past that, it also made her feel more at home than she had felt in days. Another call came in when she was about to listen to it one more time, so she saved Blaine’s message and sent the next call, Aaron, of course, to voicemail.

Once he’d left her yet another message she listened to it. His voice cracked and she could feel her own tears falling onto her lap. “Stop,” she said, even though he wasn’t on the other end of the line. “Stop calling. Stop trying. Please stop, for the love of God, Aaron, please stop.” She saved that message too, even though she’d already deleted so many voicemails from him before, and everyone else that had tried to get in contact with her. She didn’t know what to do, she was hurting people by isolating herself, but going back, talking to someone, well that just wasn’t an option. Not right now, and she had no idea when it would be an option. She still had a lot of time before she even had to realistically think about it, Natalie was gone for a while still. After a while she laid down and closed her eyes, squeezing them shut really, not able to look at the destruction she was capable of with not a single thought. She willed sleep to take over, and for the first time since she’d arrived, she got something she wanted.

When she woke it was yet another day. Another day of emptiness. Another day of fear. Another day of nothing. Marley went about her day as usual, a lot of nothing. Eventually she got up and attempted to clean the mess she’d made the previous night, but her hands were so clumsy with the cast that she ended up slicing her palm decently. Moving the quickest she had in days she dressed the wound. She managed to get the injury dealt with in a timely manner, much to her own surprise. She felt like she couldn’t do anything right, not even attempting to clean up her own mess. If that wasn’t a sign, she didn’t know what was. She sat down on the bathroom floor and pulled her phone out and turned it on again, but she didn’t really know why. Marley knew there would be texts and voicemails and she knew she wouldn’t answer them. It’s not that she didn’t care, she cared more than she was willing to admit. She missed everyone. She wanted to see Charlie more than she ever had in her whole life. She’d never gone this long without seeing her mom. She knew she was hurting those she claimed to love so much, but she couldn’t help it. This was who she was now. She was a broken shell of the person she used to be and no one deserved to be exposed to that. Of course Aaron texted again, right then in that moment, and she just shook her head. Why couldn’t he take a hint? She was gone. She might as well be dead. He needed to give it up, give her up.

Before she could realize what she was doing, she was typing a response. She needed him to leave her alone. She needed to not have to worry about him worrying. She had it out with him right there, their first communication in days. She didn’t sugarcoat a thing. She did everything she possibly could to get him to forget it, forget them, whatever they were, she wasn’t the same person and there was no way he’d want her in any capacity anymore and he needed to realize that. She didn’t hold back and it was new to her. Sure, Aaron has heard the harsher side of her before, but nothing like this. Time passed and she eventually grew tired of arguing with him, he was exhausting. She should have known he would have tried to make this about him and how much he was hurting. Couldn’t he just get the fact that she was broken, that she didn’t want him to find her, that she was just … done. She turned her phone off again, not caring if he responded or not.

That night was a hard one, possibly the hardest night she’d had since she’d arrived. Marley sat and kept thinking about her conversation with Aaron, feeling guilty, even if she didn’t want to. In all reality, she knew he didn’t deserve that. He was good, the problem was, she didn’t think she was good anymore. She was broken, lost, and a shell. She didn’t recognize the person who looked back at her in the mirror. Aaron could do better, easily. For the first time in a while, she began to cry. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she missed him. She missed her mom and her sister. And as much as she would never admit out loud, not after everything she’d recently learned, she missed Blaine. She missed Beth and Alejandro. But it was better this way, it had to be.

Marley didn’t end up sleeping until the wee hours of the morning and it wasn’t something she would have called particularly restful. She’d grown used to the nightmares but these were extra awful. When she finally woke, Marley realized she hadn’t eaten a thing the previous day. She went over to the kitchen where she’d been keeping the cash she had left and realized she didn’t have any left, well, anything more than three dollars and sixty-seven cents. She sighed loudly, annoyed. Shrugging to herself she knew that she needed to eat something so she dug out her credit card and logged onto Natalie’s computer and used that to order food.

When she heard a knock at the door, she didn’t think anything of it, despite that it was louder than any of her previous deliveries. Slowly she got up. “I’m coming,” she shouted through the door. “Have some damn patience…” she then mumbled to herself when the pounding didn’t stop. When she opened the door, it was not who she had expected, the last person she’d actually been expecting to see. Her breath caught in her throat and she froze before quickly trying to shut the door again.

Aaron had been going crazy looking for Marley, and he finally got something. She was in Greendale, and he didn't wait before driving there. He had been looking for her for what felt like forever, and he finally could see her again. Once at the address, he started pounding on the door, hearing her voice made him keep the pounding up, she was here and he was finally going to see her again.

He only stopped when she opened the door, and just had to pause for the smallest of moments because there she was, he was really seeing her again. Before she could shut the door all the way, Aaron moved his foot into the doorway, "Marley, wait. Wait. You think shutting the door is gonna make me forget where you are?" He pushed through to get in the house, not letting this chance go to waste.

Marley instantly backed up when Aaron pushed his way past the door. She needed space. Aside from the delivery people, she hadn’t been in actual contact with people in so many days that she’d actually lost count.

“I thought I told you to leave me alone,” she managed, trying to sound as put together as possible. She looked around at the house around her, suddenly embarrassed at its disarray, even if she didn’t want him here in the least. “You should forget. You should go. Leave!”

The place did not look good, was she really staying here? Trying to avoid everyone by using a couch as a bed and smashing dishes? “No!” He didn’t move in towards her, not yet at least, “I’m not leaving, I’m not forgetting. You ran away and I couldn’t find you, now I have and there’s no fucking way I’m just going to leave.”

Marley could feel herself getting red, but for once, with Aaron, it was out of anger. What right did he think he had to be here? What right did he have to be angry when she told him to leave her alone? He was completely out of line.

“Turn around and go home, Aaron. You shouldn’t be here,” Marley replied, with a lot more force than she thought she had in her. Sure, it was taking every ounce of fading energy in her body, but she meant it, or at least she thought she did. “I don’t want you here. I don’t need you.”

“I don’t fucking care if you think you don’t want or need me here, Marley!” Aaron didn’t want to yell, but he couldn’t leave, he didn’t know how he had managed without her being in Riverdale with him. “I need you. I want you. I don’t care if I shouldn’t be here, I am, and I’m not leaving you here.” He could ignore the force in her voice and he could ignore her words because there was no way she was getting rid of him now.

Tears began to burn Marley’s eyes and she tried to will them away, but like most of her efforts to do anything as of late, she failed. She didn’t even bother to wipe them away as she turned away from Aaron, retreating to the couch and the safety of her blankets. She sighed before she said anything. “You think you need me,” she answered quietly, not even sure if he’d hear her. “Just go before I ....” She couldn’t finish the sentence, she didn’t even know where she was going with that, she just wanted him to leave her be.

This time he moved, he moved towards the couch and sat down. “I don’t think I need you, I know I need you. You can ask anyone, I’ve been a mess looking for you, I didn’t know how to function right when I had no clue where you were.” That was true, he’d been a complete mess since she ran from the hospital, “You’re not getting rid of me. I’m not leaving unless you leave with me.”

When Aaron sat down she moved herself the furthest she could away that the couch would allow, legs pulled up to her chest. She didn’t want to hear about him hurting. Despite everything she’d said to him recently, she knew she still loved him. She sat in silence, not knowing what to say now that he was clearly not mad anymore and probably only reacting to everything she’d been giving him. She wiped her face and stared at the floor, not sure she could actually look at him.

“I can’t go back.”

Aaron didn’t move closer, if she wanted to keep this space then he’d let her. “Why not?” Though, he kind of figured why, a lot had happened and he understood running away, but he needed her to come back with him. “You can’t run away forever, you need to come back. Otherwise you might need to make space of your couch bed because both of us staying on it might get a little crowded.”

Those were the only options she was getting, either she comes back to town or he stays here with her. Either way, he wasn’t going to just forget that Marley was in Greendale avoiding everyone.

Marley fidgeted with the bandage around her right palm, not that that was an easy distraction given her other wrist was in a cast, but it was easier than looking at Aaron.

She didn’t like her options here. She didn’t like that she knew it would be easier to just give in too. She couldn’t go home. Not yet, even if she wanted to see her mom that badly.

“Because,” she said, still fidgeting. “I just can’t. I don’t want to face ... anyone.” The tears didn’t stop and they were definitely picking up their own pace. If she had the courage in her to just close the gap between her and Aaron, maybe she could find some sort of calm, but even that small task seemed too much.

Since she didn’t seem to be angry now, Aaron finally moved over on the couch, getting closer to her and put his arm around her. He hated seeing her cry, it hurt more than anything else that had happened to him in the recent past. “You don’t have to face anyone yet, but you do need to come back to Riverdale. You can try to semi-isolate yourself there, with me. But you can’t stay here, Marley.” He told her, trying to calm her down in any way he knew how.

Marley almost hated the way she melted into him. This was the first physical contact she’d had in a while, since she’d taken off. She shrugged, not willing to give in yet. He shouldn’t want her, not after everything she’d put him through. She was toxic. She wiped her face again, a feeble attempt really. “I’m fine here,” she lied, knowing full well she was lying and pretending he wouldn’t notice. “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

Did she really try saying she was fine here? Like he didn’t know that ”fine” was a bullshit word between them? “Yes, yes you do.” He told her, “You can come to my place. And that’s obviously 20 times better than staying on a couch with a smashed plate across from it.” There was room, and if worse came to worst, they’ve shared a bed more than once.

“I just can’t leave you here. I can’t go back to town and pretend everything’s okay when you’re here and not there, with me.”

“And mug,” Marley added under her breath. She sighed, still not ready to give up. She sat up a little, turning towards Aaron for the first time, but not yet meeting his eye. “Even if I agree, which I’m not right now, I have a lot to do here before I can even think about leaving.” She wasn’t leaving her friends house a mess, even in all her toxicity, she had some manners.

Would she go with Aaron? She hadn’t decided. It was safe here, she was safe and everyone else was safe from her. But she knew she’d missed him, more than she was willing to admit.

"We can clean up and go." Aaron said easily, he wasn't going to give up. "You can't stay here. I'm not letting you stay here by yourself." There wasn't a choice now, not since she said 'if' because that worked like a 'yes' for him right now, he was going to get her to come back to Riverdale, and to stay with him for however long she needed, or wanted even. "Please, Marley, I'm not leaving without you." He missed her too much, and he couldn't handle the thought of going back to town without her by his side.

Aaron had never cleaned a day in his life, at least to Marley’s knowledge. “What’s the point, Aaron?” She challenged, anger starting to brew in her gut again. “Why do you care so goddamn much!?” She hated that her emotions were being so unpredictable, it made her feel out of control, which to be fair, she was. She pointed to the smashed dishes in front of them. “That’s what I do now! I break things. I’m broken.” She was weak and broken and he needed to see that, and the sooner the better.

"Because I love you!" Aaron said before he even realized it. He never liked using 'love' when talking about anyone except Elizabeth or Kurt. But even having Jake back in town and sleeping with him again, which he had missed a lot, hadn’t stopped him from realizing that what he felt for Marley now was love. And her thinking that smashing some dishes was going to make him stop caring was ridiculous.

"I love you, and I'm not going to let you sit here and think you break things or that you think I shouldn't care because I do. You're hurting, and I get it, but isolating yourself is only going to make things worse and I can't just sit here and let you do that! You've been there for me through everything I've been going through recently so I'll be damned if I let you go through shit and do nothing."

Marley snapped her head up the minute she heard the word love. She stared, frozen. She couldn’t react. Why now? Why the fuck would he say that now? Who gave him the right to turn her on her head like this. “Shut up!” She shouted, starting to panic. She was hyperventilating and she couldn’t stop.

She couldn’t stay sitting so she got up, escaping at least for a moment to the kitchen, trying to tidy to distract herself. He shouldn’t be here. He needed to leave. He needed to not love her. He didn’t know her, not anymore.

Tidying was not helping the panic but she didn’t know what else to do so she kept at it.

Of course this wasn't the best timing, but that seemed to be Aaron's specialty. But her telling him to shut up and leaving was not what he had expected her to do. "Marley, wait!" He got up and followed her to the kitchen, "Please, just calm down, I'm sorry, that wasn't the best thing to say right now with everything in your head but it came out and just please, calm down." He watched her move around, he couldn't just leave, especially now.

Marley ignored him as long as she could, which admittedly wasn’t as long as she’d like. Eventually she turned around, out of things to actually tidy up in there, and faced him again. She looked for words, not used to not having them. “...how?” She asked quietly, really meaning that. “How after everything I’ve done recently, how can you say ... that?” She hated that she still had tears in her eyes but she couldn’t be bothered to try and hide it from him anymore.

He stayed silent while she ignored him, and had to think about her question because...what did she mean? "You haven't done anything, Marley. I can say that because it's true, I’ve known I liked you for a while. I love you because you're amazing and wonderful and just...incredible. I don't think there's anything you can do that will make me change my mind on that."

Marley felt her legs weakening beneath her. Her lip began to quiver and she slowly sank onto the floor. Once sitting she shook her head. "I'm not," she tried to insist. "I'm not amazing or wonderful or incredible. I left you. I tricked you and left you. Purposefully. I left Charlie and my mom. I'm just like ... him." She couldn't bring herself to say his name or call him Dad. "Not only did I leave you," she continued, on a roll now. "But I was awful to you when you wouldn't stop trying. You can't deny that, Aaron. I'm gross. I'm awful. I'm not the same person. You love the idea of me."

Aaron watched her sink down, and moved down to sit across from her, trying to keep his tone as calm as possible. "Marley, you are nothing like him. He is an awful, awful person, he wanted me to stay away from you, he hurt so many people, you were just trying to do what you thought was right for everyone. You thought we'd be better off without you, you thought isolating yourself was better." He moved a little bit closer, "I love you, Marley. You're not gross, you're not awful, you're human. Sure, what you said hurt, but clearly it wasn't the worst thing because I couldn't stay away. I'm sure Charlie and Millie will understand, we all make crazy decisions when something bad happens but it does not make you a bad person. So what if you're not the same? People don't stay the same, that's how life works, no one can expect you to stay the exact same after something like this."

Marley didn't know if she'd ever heard Aaron say so much in such a short amount of time before. She also didn't remember the last time she'd been crying for so long, wondering for a brief moment when her tears might just stop for good. She let him move closer when he did, not moving further away like she so badly wanted to. He loved her. She loved him, she knew that. They weren't even together but now it was out there, they loved each other.

"I'm scared," she managed after a minute, meeting his eyes.

He shook his head, "Of course you're scared. I would be too, but you can't let yourself sink like this. You'll just feel worse about yourself and it won't end well for you, but you're not alone anymore." He moved closer again, carefully resting his hand on her arm, "I'm here, and I'll always be here for you. You were there for me during all of that shit, and now it's my turn. Please come back to Riverdale with me." Aaron said, wanting her to agree even if she was scared, because he knew he could try to help her like she had helped him.

Almost out of reflex Marley covered Aaron's hand with her own and squeezed, finally accepting him after all this time. She nodded after a moment. "Okay," she finally relented. "After I clean up, but ... I can't go home." She didn't know how this would work, but she knew that was as much as she could give right now. She'd need clothes and items that she didn't know if she could get, but she was agreeing for Aaron.

Aaron almost let out a sigh of relief when she squeezed his hand, glad she was finally touching him back and agreeing to come back. "Yes, after we clean up and get back to town, we'll avoid your place if that's what you want." He told her, "You can consider my place your own until you don't want to anymore."

Aaron was a better man than Marley knew he'd ever admit. She got up and walked over to the living room again, avoiding the dish mess for the moment. The amount of tidying needed could keep her distracted for the time being, she hadn’t exactly kept up cleaning while she’d been here. She looked over at Aaron, who was being surprisingly helpful. "Be careful over there," Marley joked quietly, motioning at her bandaged hand.

He followed her to the living room, helping clean up where he could to ensure they'd be able to leave as soon as possible. Hearing her joke, he grinned, "I'm perfectly fine, pretty girl. I can handle some smashed dishes, I mean, look at me, I'm clearly invincible." Aaron gestured to his own scars on his stomach, which were healing from his 'big Blaine betrayal', but he was glad that she was joking around. It was a sign that she was at least a little better than she was when he showed up.

Marley rolled her eyes as she folded the blankets on the couch. "Invincible, sure," she replied. As the living room started to resemble the room she'd arrived to so many days ago she felt her gut dropping. ’After we clean up and get back to town...' and now the room was much cleaner than it had been. Her few items were gathered, the same items she'd gathered with Aaron when he was supposed to drive her home the first time.

Aaron was glad when they finished, now they could go back and she'd be with him until she decided otherwise. He could help her. "Alright, are you ready to go?" He asked, looking over at her with a soft smile, "Or if you're hungry and still need a little time to psych yourself up before going back to town, we can find a place here and eat. I don't have anything to do." Pretty much all of his free time has been spent looking for her, so people probably weren't expecting to see him for hours if at all.

Marley nodded, even though everything in her was screaming otherwise. She still had more apprehension than she wanted to tell him. "I just need to ... double check that I have everything and things here are perfect." She began to dote around the house, into the different rooms, including the bathroom, shutting the door just to try and breathe.

He nodded and watched her walk away, deciding to give her space and not follow her. Plus, he didn’t have much of a reason to think she’d just leave or something, she just wanted to make sure everything was fine and prepare herself to come back.

Marley moved a few things around before sitting on the edge on the bathtub. She evened out her breathing as best she could. After a few minutes she stood, fixed her hair in the mirror, wiped her face with a damp cloth, trying to even out the redness. After another minute she finally emerged from the bathroom and grabbed her bag and faced Aaron. "Ready," she breathed out, faking a trademarked Rose Fake Smile, something she'd learn to master from her sister.

“Awesome. So food or straight to my place?” Aaron asked, sticking his hands in his pockets and grinning at her. He was trying to not overwhelm her, but he was getting more and more excited that she agreed to come back with him. And now she knows that he loves her, even if that’s most likely low priority with everything going on. It was still out there. “Either works for me, you know I can always eat no matter the situation. Maybe I’ll even try a vegetable just for you, since I convinced you to come back with me.” His tone was light, trying to keep things funny and almost like they aren’t in Greendale and just seeing each other for the first time in what felt like forever.

Marley couldn't help but notice Aaron's apparent excitement; it was almost too much. She'd missed him, a lot, despite everything she'd said to him over text the previous night or what was said when he’d shown up. "I haven't eaten yet," she answered quietly, shrugging. "I thought you were the food I ordered, but I guess it never showed up." She barely even noticed his comment about vegetables, something that would have never happened before. She still felt hollow, terrified to go back to Riverdale.

Her quietness was a little concerning, but he nodded anyways, “Then let’s go find you some food.” Aaron moved to leave the house with her, unlocking her car and slipping in the driver's seat. “If you’re really worried, I won’t tell anyone you’re back yet. It can just be you and me in a little bubble for a bit, let you adjust to things before announcing your return or something,” he told her.

Locking the door to the house, Marley put her bag in the back seat of her car and slid into the passenger seat, not something she was used to doing at all. She always drove if they used the car. It hadn't even occurred to her that Aaron would have technically still had it and the keys. She fiddled with the fingers in her lap as Aaron backed out and spoke. "Maybe," she answered. Marley didn't have a plan so she didn't really have a choice but to go along with Aaron's. Being at his place without telling anyone wouldn't be all that different, unless someone showed up. "I don't really know where any food places are around here," she admitted after a second. "I only really ordered in."

"No worries, been here enough times while looking for you and in the past for other business, I know places to eat." Aaron said, starting to pull out of the driveway and onto the road. "There's a pizza place if you're up for that, all depends on what you're in the mood for, pretty girl." He told her, trying to keep his eyes on the road and not on her to make sure she was okay.

Marley nodded. Pizza was as good as anything. Marley could feel Aaron glancing at her every so often and she hated that she hated it. She felt self-conscious. She knew she probably looked a mess and she certainly felt a mess. It was also weird being a passenger in her own car. "You shouldn't have spent so much time looking," she said quietly after a moment. She wasn't looking at him, opting to look out the window instead, taking in the unfamiliar town.

At her nod, he started going to the pizza place he was usually at whenever he was visiting Greendale. And even if she was trying to be quiet, he still heard what she said and frowned. "Of course I should have. You freaked me out by leaving, you freaked a lot of people out, I needed to find you."

Marley shrugged, shaking her head. "I needed to be alone, Aaron," she somewhat snapped, instantly regretting her tone. She sighed and looked forward, a step towards actually looking at him. "I'm sorry..." Marley trailed off. "That was uncalled for." She could feel herself starting to get mad again and Aaron didn't deserve another outburst. She was going to lose her shit eventually, she shouldn't have left the house, she shouldn't have let Aaron convince her to go, she should have worked harder to lock him out.

Marley could feel her hands fidgeting again, flicking her fingernails, wringing her fingers. She couldn't stop, she was going to lose it.

Aaron nodded, "And I get that, I really do. But I also needed to find you, since you weren't texting anyone and Charlie mentioned something that made me freak out more. Just in case it went from wanting to be alone to you getting hurt." Her snappy tone wasn't much of a bother to him, he's heard worse and he got why she was upset. He looked over at her, ready to pull over if it seemed like she needed it, and it was starting to seem like she did.

Something Aaron said caught her attention. Charlie had no right freaking Aaron out. She shook her head, annoyed at her sister, knowing it was completely unreasonable. Her leg began to bounce, a really old nervous tick of hers. "I was fine," she replied again. "I wasn't getting hurt." Though, that was technically a lie, because she had cut her hand.

“I see that, aside from you cutting your hand by smashing dishes, you’re physically fine.” Aaron knew she wasn’t mentally fine, that was obvious and he wasn’t expecting her to be anyway. “But I wasn’t sure when I was looking. And then with those stupid fucking anonymous assholes coming at me every 5 seconds, I couldn’t stop looking for you.”

Marley looked down and swallowed. She should have expected Aaron to get flack for her disappearance. The anons used everything they could to hurt people. She would not cry again, not when they were supposed to go eat and pretend everything was okay. Her feet suddenly got very interesting. No tears. That’s all she needed. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She would never be able to justify her selfish actions. She had no idea why he even forgave her.

Aaron glanced over at her again, she definitely did not look okay. More so than expected. So he found a spot and pulled over, not super far from the pizza place. “I don’t blame you for running, Marley. Not after everything that happened.” He told her, “I was never mad about it. Terrified, sure, worried, absolutely, but never mad. I need you to know that.” He added.

When Marley felt the car pull over and they weren’t in front of a pizza place she knew a speech of some sort was coming and slightly braced herself. Aaron has seemed to be taking a page out of Blaine’s book recently, talking so much at her. She listened and she nodded, doing her best to look at his face, as face she really had missed. “Okay,” she said quickly, trying to get this speech over with. “I get it. You weren’t mad.” Even if you should have been, she added in her head.

She ran her bandaged hand through her hair. “I’m okay,” she breathed out. “You can keep driving.”

He wanted to argue her being okay. Because she obviously wasn’t. But he didn’t want to go around in circles before they’re even back in town. So with a bit of reluctance, Aaron went back to driving. “So, my brother came back into town.” He started, trying to change the subject until they can get back around to Marley and what’s going on with her. Because if the positions were reversed, he’s almost positive that she wouldn’t let him off so easily.

Marley focused on making her breathing steady when Aaron pulled back onto the road. She was okay. He needed to believe that. She raised a brow at the mention of Kurt. “Kurt came back?” She asked, her curiosity peaked for the first time in a while. “When? Why?”

“The 2nd. Apparently Burt called him to beg for help and as usual, Kurt’s a better person than I would be.” Especially if he was out of Riverdale and living his dream like Kurt was, he wouldn’t come back because their dad was begging for help after being arrested. “Which was honestly awful timing, came back when I was accused of being a murderer by anonymous people who think they’re the next Sherlock Holmes or some shit.”

Marley really needed Aaron to stop bringing up that he’d been accused of something so heinous. Marley had already felt more guilty than she’d ever felt in her life and this was just making it worse. She’d messed up. Royally. And now she was going to have to live with the consequences. Pushing that down, she nodded. “Wow. That must have been a lot for Kurt. I hope he’s doing well though,” she answered, really meaning it. She had no reason to have any negative feelings towards the older Hummel, Aaron only ever said good things about his brother.

Aaron nodded, “I think he’s doing fine, can’t really do much about assholes thinking I killed Blaine beyond just believing that I didn’t.” After a couple more minutes, they pulled into the parking lot and he got out. “What kind of pizza do you want? You can pick.” He asked while they walked in, enjoying the familiar smell of pizza while doing so. He hadn’t eaten an actual meal while looking for Marley, aside from when Ryan brought him food, so this was going to be a nice change.

Marley scanned the menu and shrugged. She knew she should eat, but her nerves about going back to Riverdale completely overwhelmed any appetite she might have had. “Something with chicken?” It was more of a question than a suggestion or a choice, but she was trying. She thanked whatever higher power there might have been that the restaurant was fairly empty, she didn’t know if she would have been able to handle a crowd.

He looked over the menu himself and nodded, ordering something with chicken, because even her phrasing it as a question was better than not saying anything at all. "I'm sorry," he blurted out, "I did start to make a lot of you running away about me, which was stupid and unfair because you were dealing with shit I can't even pretend to imagine and understand." Aaron was usually okay with just moving past hard conversations involving emotions, but he just didn't seem to be able to wait to blurt out an apology to her.

Marley breathed out a sigh, really not wanting to cry right there in a stupid pizza joint in Greendale. She really didn't want to go back to her fight with Aaron the previous night. Not after yelling at him again just not that long ago. Normally, she didn't regret much of what she said, she was careful. But she had been cruel to Aaron and he hadn't deserved it. "No," she shook her head and moved closer. "You didn't do that. You weren't the person who was unfair. I was." She blinked back tears, successfully for the first time in a while. She took a breath before continuing. "You were scared, and I understand that. I should have handled everything better and the fact that you're not mad .... That's more than I deserve."

Aaron listened to her response, he did still think he was unfair yesterday, but he wasn’t looking to argue with her right now. “I was mad that you thought no one needed you. But when I tried thinking about what I’d do if I went through that, I’d probably run away too. Though I mean, I ran away because Burt got a busier job, clearly I’m not the best at deciding when to run.” As usual, a joke to negate the emotional and real words he was saying before. It helped him a bunch to avoid breaking down all of the time.

Marley still didn’t think anyone needed her but now was not the time to bring that up. She cracked a small smile at Aaron’s comment. Comparing something he did as a child to what she had done just recently was a little different but she appreciated the effort. “Guess we’re more alike than either of us thought, huh?” She continued, looking at him.

For the first time since he’d arrived she really looked at him. He had bags under his eyes and just looked worm out. She did her absolute best not to let the guilt take over, but it wasn’t easy. All she could do now was make sure he started sleeping and go from there.

He was glad to see a smile from her, even if it was small, it was better than how upset she’d been. “Seems so, pretty girl.” Aaron looked away from her after a moment, knowing he probably looked pretty shitty and not really wanting to make her feel worse than she did. And just as a general rule for him, he tried to avoid anything that would make people worry about him.

When their order came, he started eating pretty quickly, not that it was unusual for him, but it was like he was suddenly realizing how hungry he’s been and now it was like it was coming all at once.

When Aaron looked away, Marley averted her eyes, afraid of making him uncomfortable and crossing a line.

As Aaron scarfed down his food she grabbed a slice and ate it slowly, happy to leave as much for Aaron as he wanted. "When was the last time you ate?" She asked as she watched him eat. The idea of someone, especially Aaron, not taking good enough care of themselves on account of her selfish actions was a burden that she knew she had to bear right now.

Aaron paused mid-bite to think about the question, because if she was really meaning actual food, it’s been a bit. “This morning. I had some chips before heading out here, wasn’t in the mood for breakfast.” He kept eating after saying that, though he was doing his best to remember to leave some for Marley. “Don’t worry about it, I’ve been taking care of myself.” That was a lie, and he’s sure it was an obvious one, but they didn’t need to focus on him.

"Chips aren't food, not really," Marley replied, rolling her eyes. Not that she was really one to talk, she had been eating maybe one meal, of take out, a day since she'd taken off. It was getting clear to her that they were both a bit of a mess. Out of fear he'd try and turn the conversation about food on her, she decided to drop it as she grabbed another piece, stomach starting to settle.

"So..." Marley said after a second. "What have I missed?" It felt weird coming out of her mouth, awkward. She didn't know if she actually cared, but she didn't know what else to say to fill the silence.

He was about to say something back, ask her how much of the food she was getting delivered was really food. But before he could even open his mouth, she was eating more and asking what she missed. Which was definitely a hard question to answer. He didn’t want to mention Frank, not after everything.

“Besides Kurt coming back and people thinking I killed Blaine? Not that much.” More people thought he killed Marley than Blaine, but he didn’t mention that. Making her feel like shit was the opposite of what he wanted. “Santana came back to town too, so there’s that.”

Marley nodded along, slowly eating her pizza. She felt so disconnected, numb from the town still. She had no idea what she was going to be walking back into, and she wasn't ready. She had a sinking feeling in her gut that her welcome wouldn't be all that welcoming. The news about her father had to be out now and she was terrified of any sort of backlash she, and her sister would receive, for who knows how long.

She finished her second slice and left the last piece for Aaron, not wanting to overdo it. She started pulling at her bandage on her hand, under the table, hoping Aaron wouldn't notice. It was only a matter of time before they'd be leaving.

Aaron ate the last piece once it was clear that Marley wasn’t going to eat it. “I do want to tell you, since the whole ‘I love you’ thing is out there now, not that it matters that much but I’m sure it’ll come up from someone at some point as another ‘Aaron’s awful and you should stay away from him’ thing,” Aaron stopped for a moment because he realized he was rambling a bit more than necessary for something that really didn’t matter that much. “I broke my “no more sleeping around” rule and slept with Jake.” He didn’t want to mention that it was on her birthday and he kicked him out of his house once Millie texted him but if it came up, he won’t lie to her. He’s done doing that.

Marley had no idea where Aaron was going when he spoke. He was rambling and while she related, she wanted him to get to the point. That was, until he did get to the point. “Oh,” she answered, kicking herself for a dumb response. She quickly tried to recover. “It’s fine. I kind of dropped off the face of the Earth, right? Plus it’s not like I have a claim. We’ve gone over that. You’re a free person who makes his own choices.” Marley didn’t know what was worse, her own rambling now, or how she was feeling.

This was worse than Sebastian. This was worse than Blaine. This was worse because she caused it. She left. How could she even be mad about it? There was an easy answer, she couldn’t be. And she wasn’t. Hurt, sure, but not mad.

He bit down on his lip, because it was before she dropped off the face of the Earth and though it would be easier to just go along with it and pretend it was because he was lonely from her being gone or whatever, he shook his head a bit. “It was before you ran.” It almost felt like his voice was quieter, because he was now feeling really bad about it. This was different from when he told her about Sebastian, the timing was worse, they both knew she loved him, honestly if she wasn’t at least a bit pissed at him, he’d be very surprised, because if their positions were switched, Aaron couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t be at least a little mad.

Marley blinked. It was before? And she was pretty positive it wasn’t when she was in the hospital, he’d only left when it was for therapy and he couldn’t have lied about that. She really hoped not. And before that she’d been with him most nights ... minus one.

She plastered a smile on her face, probably the worst fake smile she’d ever worn. It couldn’t even be considered a trademarked one. She nodded and began wiping her hands in an effort to get out of this stupid pizza place.

Aaron loved her. He’d said that and against her better judgement, or at least it felt like that right now, she believed him. She loved him. But it didn’t seem to matter or be enough, no matter what either of them did, they seemed to hurt each other. Continuously. Maybe... She stopped herself. She didn’t want to think about the possibility that they should give whatever they had up. She shook her head softly, as if to physically rid the thought from her head.

“We should go,” she remarked, looking at Aaron. Maybe, just maybe, they could avoid talking about this ever again.

Aaron wasn't usually very good at picking up on clues, but he was getting better at picking up on Marley clues. Especially when it was that fake, "I'm sorry," was all he could say for a moment. Though it didn't feel like that was enough, though what could be enough when he had sex with his high school hookup on her birthday while she was having the worst family dinner ever?

But at her comment on going, he nodded and paid for the pizza. He knew he wouldn't sleep around anymore, not when he'd told her that he loves her. That's so much worse than when he was just telling other people he likes her, even if that was still shitty, at least she didn't know then. That made him feel better.

He got back to the car and slipped into the driver's seat, "I'll make sure to make some space in my room for you, don't want you drowning in the mess that is my bedroom." There was a moment he considered that Marley wouldn't want to stay with him after his admission, but he tried to get that thought of his head. That's what those anonymous assholes would tell him, not what he should tell himself, especially right now.

Marley nodded when Aaron apologized, not trusting herself to speak. She followed him out to the car silently, not knowing what even could be said at this point. Once he finally broke the silence she nodded again. “Okay,” she agreed. Sure, his room was messy but she hadn’t exactly minded before but if that made him feel better about her invading his space, she’d let him have it.

She was tempted to ask Aaron why he chose to sleep with Jake, she really was. But she was terrified of most, if not all, of the possible answers he could give her. She opened her mouth to speak a couple times before talking herself out of it.

Aaron wanted to find a way to break the silence that wasn't a dumb comment or something. But he had nothing, he could see out of the corner of his eye that Marley kept opening and closing her mouth and he wished he could have known what was going on in her head. "If you want to say something, you can say it, y'know." He was expecting it to be a question or an upset comment about what all he'd told her, or maybe a question about Frank or Charlie. Or even a concern about going back. Honestly, there could be so many possibilities right now, so many things seemed to be up in the air.

Marley turned to look at Aaron when he spoke. Of course he could tell what she was battling, he seemed to be able to read her as well as Charlie ... or Blaine could. She took a breath, trying to calm her nerves before she spoke. “Why?” She questioned him. “I’m just confused.” Confused might be true, but there were other words she was definitely avoiding a few different choice words.

That was a very good question, one that he wasn’t entirely sure he knew how to answer. He knew the real reason he slept with Jake, the guy was his former kryptonite. His first guy, his regular fuck buddy, his stupid high school crush. “I haven’t been known to say ‘no’ to Jake Puckerman.” Aaron turned his head to look at her for a second before putting his eyes back on the road, “He was the first guy I slept with, my main hookup back in high school. Then he left after graduation and I thought he’d never come back. But, he did, and he was convincing enough that I said yes.”

Marley had to take a moment to take all that in. Of course there was someone back in town that Aaron couldn’t say no to, that was just lovely. Maybe this was it. And as much as she’d nearly been begging him to forgetting about her and whatever they had, this dug deep. Whatever Aaron had with Jake went back since long before they’d met or even started ... hanging out. “So what now?” She asked to her own surprise. Maybe this was a good thing.

“What now?” Aaron asked, wanting to make sure he heard right. “I take you to my place and tell no one where you are until you’re ready.” He tapped on the steering wheel, realizing that’s probably not what she was talking about. “If you mean about us, I don’t know. Up to you. You love me, I love you, usually people that love each other date but I know we’ve both had a lot of shit thrown at us recently.” Date, what a weird word for him. Seemed so...real and official. “But either way, I’m not going to sleep with him again. Or anyone, for that matter. Clearly every time I sleep with someone else while having feelings about you, bad shit happens.” Though he was talking about Sebastian liking him and Marley getting hurt while he was with Jake, Blaine’s words went through his head again and he had to grip the steering wheel tighter to snap himself out of it and so he wouldn’t lose control. “Ball’s in your court as long as you want it to be, pretty girl.”

Marley couldn’t help but laugh, even if it was quietly, at Aaron’s slight obliviousness. He did catch on to what she meant after a moment and she nodded. What he was saying was true and it’s not like they hadn’t entirely not been dating, just with no official title. The reassurance that he wouldn’t sleep with Jake, or anyone again was something she knew she’d wanted to hear but wasn’t ready to admit it. “So ... we’re going to have to stop denying it every time I get called your girlfriend and vice versa?” Marley played out, almost as if she was trying out the words for herself.

She had no idea what she was doing here and it was pretty clear to see that Aaron didn’t either. It was the blind leading the blind but, maybe it would work in their favour. Nothing about them had ever been exactly conventional, Marley knew this, so why should it all of a sudden be perfect? He was here and she was here too, albeit completely reluctantly.

They would, and Aaron didn't seem to hate the sound of that. "Yep. Next time someone says something about you I get to say 'shut up that's my girlfriend'." Saying it out loud was also a little strange, because the closest he'd come to using relationship terms with someone was when he was joking about it with Jackson or Sebastian. But even just saying it in regards to Marley felt so much more real. And while it was a little scary, it seemed like it wasn't as bad as he thought it'd be.

"Does that I mean I get discounted or even better, free, onion rings from Pop's?" He grinned at her, "Because if so, I would've told you how I felt a long time ago." Another joke, because joking was easier to do in an emotion heavy conversation like this. At least for him.

Girlfriend. He’d actually said it. The same Aaron Hummel who had spent so long insisting he didn’t do feelings had just openly called her his girlfriend. Despite every negative emotion still clawing at her, she turned red and ducked her head when he’d said it. At the mention of onion rings she looked over at him and cocked an eyebrow. “Really?” She asked, amusement in her tone. “You’re the reason we’re afloat,” well that wasn’t true but it was funny. “With all the onion rings you get and you want me to give you more free onion rings? You get enough.”

He laughed, glad this ride home was going significantly better than the ride to the pizza place. "Come on, I deserve some boyfriend privileges." Okay, calling himself her boyfriend was a lot weirder than calling her his girlfriend, "How about once a month I get free onion rings? Does that work?" Honestly, Aaron didn't care if she agreed, because like she said, he gets enough.

Marley couldn’t believe him, well, she could but that wasn’t the point. She shook her head. “No, Aaron,” nothing more than you already get.” She didn’t even know when she’d even work next. She hadn’t talked to her mom since the day she’d left, and she still had the cast and her ribs were still healing. Thinking about her mom brought her down from her momentary high. They were getting close to Aaron’s and everything was getting familiar.

Aaron sighed dramatically but nodded, "Fine, guess I'll just have to deal with paying for my food." He bit his lip while they drove back into town, hoping Marley was still okay but not wanting to put too much attention on her and make her uncomfortable by looking. They soon pulled up to his apartment and after parking, he got out, he'd barely been home himself since she went missing so it was going to feel strange for both of them. He unlocked the door and opened it quickly so no one would see Marley and know she's here. "Here we go, home sweet home."

Marley rolled her eyes at Aaron's dramatics. When they got to Aaron's apartment Marley could feel her heart begin to race. Sure, she'd agreed to this but actually being here felt ... scary. She followed Aaron in quickly, not wanting to catch any attention. When they were safely confined inside she took in her surroundings. Aaron's apartment was familiar, comforting even. She kicked off her shoes and found her way to the couch. She looked over at Aaron and tried giving him another smile, hoping this one was more convincing than the last she'd tried to fake. "Thanks, Aaron. For letting me stay here for a bit."

He took his own shoes off and smiled back at her, shaking his head a little at the thanks, shrugging it off. "Stay as long as you want. Obviously having you here helps me sleep better, and it's not like you weren't here a lot of the time anyways," Aaron said. "Besides, I dragged you out of Greendale, least I could do is let you stay here." He walked over to sit on the couch with her, still being sure to give her space if needed.

Marley quickly glanced at her cast as she scooted a little closer to Aaron. "You say I help you sleep better, but ... with this thing ... what if I hit you?" She was honestly concerned, she'd bonked her own head a couple times, nothing that had really left a mark, but she figured it could be different when sharing a bed with someone else.

Focusing on her cast was easier than focusing on the fact that she was back and her phone was still off. She knew she should be phoning, or at least texting people she was safe, she should have been doing that all along, but now it was especially evident.

Though he wasn’t going to say anything, he was glad she scooted closer, it was really nice to have her here. At her comment, Aaron shrugged, “Then you hit me, big deal.” He wasn’t that worried, because Marley had been helping him sleep better so he was going to take whatever came with it. “The nightmares haven’t been as bad anyways, I’m sure with some melatonin in my system and a beautiful girlfriend by my side, I’ll be asleep all night.” He was trying to make himself get used to the ‘boyfriend/girlfriend’ title by saying it a lot, probably more than necessary, but it was sounding better on his tongue each time.

Marley raised a brow at Aaron. “You’ve obviously never been hit with a cast before. It hurts,” she warned him.

Marley didn’t know if she entirely believed him when he said the nightmares hadn’t been as bad. Her own nightmares of everything that had happened had been awful and Aaron’s hadn’t been great the last time she remembered. All that being said, she didn’t challenge him, and not just because he’d used the word girlfriend again.

“Well don’t complain if I accidentally give my boyfriend a black eye.”

Another shrug, because he hadn't been hit with a cast before, but he didn't think it could really be that bad. "I'm a tough guy, I'm sure being hit with a cast while we're sleeping isn't going to hurt me that much." He grinned a little at the boyfriend part and nodded, "No complaining, if anyone asks, I'll tell them I got in a fight." He leaned in a bit and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, being sure to be careful of her arm before he shifted back on the couch.

"Uh huh, a fight," Marley grinned, rolling her eyes as she maneuvered her body so she was more leaning on Aaron than the couch. "You know, with your track record, people would probably believe that lie." She knew this probably wasn't the best way to let Aaron clean up his room like he had insisted he was going to, but she was more comfortable than she'd been since before her birthday.

He let her lean on him, the thought of cleaning up his room for her being completely pushed out of his mind now. "Exactly. It's foolproof, no one will suspect that I actually got hit in the face by your cast." She definitely had a point with that, his track record was not the best. "But you'd have to be nice to me if you give me a black eye with that thing, it's in the rulebook."

"Is that so?" Marley challenged. She didn't understand why this was so easy, why after so long spending time without him, without anyone, that this was easy. Sure, she hadn't wanted to come here but she was here now and she couldn't exactly regret her decision. "I guess I'll just have to be extra careful that I don't hit you."

Aaron nodded, “Mhm, one of the first few rules in the handbook, even.” He laughed lightly, “Don’t think you can handle being that nice to me? I’m crushed. I’m a delight to get along with, everyone loves me,” he said.

Marley rolled her eyes. Of course she was never purposefully nice to Aaron. After a few moments she sat up and turned towards Aaron. Despite that she'd only woken a few hours earlier, she could feel the exhaustion catching up to her. She glanced down slightly, hair falling in her face, before looking back up at him. "I think I should try and sleep soon," Marley said quietly. "I didn't sleep much at all last night ... or much at all since ... Aladdin ..."

He could relate to that, even if it hurt to hear that she was having a lot of sleeping problems too, “Sleep’s a bitch, let’s hope it gets better for you soon.” Aaron moved to get off of the couch and held out his hand for her to take. “I guess I’ll have to focus on cleaning up tomorrow, but my bed is clear enough for you to sleep.” He wasn’t sure if she wanted him to stay with her while she slept, but he wouldn’t mind catching some Z’s himself.

Marley nodded as she laced her fingers through his. Sleep was definitely a bitch, especially lately. From the looks of it Aaron probably hadn’t been sleeping much more than she had. “Enough room for both of us, or are you going to have to go clean up now?” She’d never slept in his bed alone before and there was no way she was about to start now. She’d rather camp out on his couch.

He had already forgotten that he said he’d do that, but he shook his head, “I can do it after, the bed’s clean anyways. I’m sure I can spare some time to catch up on my own sleep,” he was sure he needed it anyways “Alright, let’s get you to bed. We gotta sleep, I can make us some food when we get up if we’re hungry.” Aaron started walking with her to the bedroom, which was his usual kind of mess but at least the bed was clear like he said.

When they got to the bedroom Marley easily slid into what she had already begun thinking of as "her" side of his bed. She'd spent so many nights there, not so much recently, but leading up to Aaron's attack and after before the disastrous birthday dinner. For a split second she caught herself wondering if this is where Aaron had spent the time with Jake but she pushed it from her head, it didn't matter anymore.

When he was beside her, she curled up against his body like she usually did, soaking up the warmth he radiated. This didn't feel real. Being here, after being away from everyone for so long didn't feel like it was happening. Ever since her birthday her life had drastically changed and she had no idea how to cope with it, even if the dilemma in the current moment was only finding a comfortable way to lay on the bed with her stupid cast.

Marley had so many more questions about things she'd missed. Was Blaine still locked up? Was Bethany okay? How was Charlie? Did Aaron think people would forgive her? One, for dropping off the face of the Earth, and two, for everything her father at done.

Before she got herself in a downward spiral of overthinking she turned slightly so she could look at Aaron. "I love you," she said just loud enough for him to hear. She wasn't sure if she'd said it yet, not since everything and he needed to know, just to be sure.

After stripping off his shirt and taking some melatonin, he climbed into bed next to her and put his arms around her. Having this again felt amazing, even if it was going to be hard to pretend that he didn't know where she was until Marley was okay with telling people, especially to Charlie and Bethany, but he'd have to manage.

Hearing her say that she loved him, in person, and not just over text, made Aaron grin. "I love you too," he responded, kissing her head softly before closing his eyes.

Marley pressed a kiss to Aaron's cheek after a second and rolled back onto her side, finally finding a comfortable-ish position, despite her cast. She'd have to worry about making her grand entrance back into Riverdale tomorrow. Trying to fall asleep, and hopefully not giving Aaron a black eye was her only priority right now. Well, that and just generally hoping the nightmares wouldn't be so bad, for either of them.

As she closed her eyes sleep eventually took over and she was grateful.

#para #aaron #charlie #blaine #bethany #alejandro #sebastian #rachel #//no *jake* is not getting a fkin tag #nathan #jackson #darius #santana #kurt #tw violence #tw death #tw semi-suicidal thoughts #//yes it's finally fucking finished

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