#so i had to take them to the kennel for their safety and i went to my bros house

[tetzoro]

eeee happy wednesday & good day my friendz ! ! wishing you all the bestest day and i hope you find something that makes you smile :3 !

love this gif sm bc he dances to the beat of almost every song i’ve put on in the last little while lmfaooo

[enbycrip]

Cuddle croissant on my legs ❤️

When we adopted Cynthie just over a year ago the people at the rescue centre asked us “so…are you thinking you’ll take her?” after twenty minutes of careful getting to know each other.

And I stared blankly at them because as far as I was concerned the meetings were for introductions and working out if there were major problems - like if she was terrified of my mobility devices that I can’t move around without and couldn’t stand being around them - and none had arisen. And they told me three former potential adopters had turned her down for “not liking people enough” because she took some time - think 10-20 minutes! - to start getting to know them.

This girl had been horribly abused and neglected, as a puppy too, and had contracted a pretty horrible intestinal parasite it took her months of meds to get clear of, and was clearly finding kennel life tough. And she was curious about my rollator, and within 20 minutes she was snuffling my hands and wanting belly rubs.

And this is her after 14 months with us. She is my sweet Velcro girl.

And it’s not been effortless. She needs three decent walks a day and I’m disabled (luckily my OH does two of them minimum) or she starts getting bored and wanting to chew things. It took us a few weeks to work out the balance of how much exercise she needed minimum, and to work on “these are good things to chew, like toys and bones, and these are *dangerous* things to chew, like cables”.

We took her to Dog’s Trust adolescent puppy training classes to work on chewing and recall so she could get off the lead in the park, and in the meantime we took her to an enclosed dog park we had to drive to as there’s none local to us, and to an indoor doggie soft play place because she *really* needs social time with other pups.

And most of these are things you should do with a puppy you get from a breeder. They aren’t born toilet trained! At least safety training (“drop” for dangerous things and “come” for recall) are essential basics.

Much like kids, and indeed humans of all ages, dogs have needs that will cause problems if they aren’t met. Those needs vary a bit depending on the dog’s size, age, type and personality. Again, like humans.

Please don’t get a dog without making *sure* you can meet those needs. And, if you can, please rescue.

We are in a horrendous dog rescue crisis atm, and a *lot* of that is due to the cost of living crisis. People are losing their homes and temporary accommodation, hostels, shelters etc often won’t take dogs. None of that is anyone’s fault (other than landlords and capitalists ofc).

But I’m still seeing a *lot* of folk spending enormous amounts of money on puppies. And yes, sometimes folk have good reasons for that; a lot of rescues won’t adopt to folk with young children, sometimes people need to train service dogs from early in their lives etc etc. This isn’t shaming individuals; I don’t know your individual circumstances. It’s a plea, if you are thinking about getting a puppy, that you *consider* rescuing instead.

If you’d like a particular breed, the shelters have literally never been fuller of purebred pups whose lives are in imminent danger because pounds and shelters are *full*. If you want a puppy, please think hard about *why* rather than an adult dog, because cute tiny furballs grow up fast and need a lot of training, but you can still ask at shelters about that too. One of my best friends and her partners went to a shelter last year expecting to adopt an older dog and came away with a sighthound puppy from a litter that had been dumped and the shelter had raised.

If an individual shelter is awful to you for disability reasons, please do not be discouraged from asking elsewhere. I was really worried after a friend of mine looking to adopt a dog found a particular breed shelter on social media being incredibly disableist about *autistic* people, for some reason (it was very clear from reading their posts they had very little idea about what autism actually is) and this made me panic horribly that any shelter would see me with my mobility devices and immediately turn me away. Actually the three different ones we checked in with in the process of adopting Cynthie were nothing but helpful and welcoming, and others in other parts of the UK, the US and Australia have been the same in the past year to friends with disabilities as diverse as MS, fibromyalgia and schizophrenia.

Obviously you know your own life and your own circumstances best. This is only a request to *consider* rescue. Right now, you are *very* much saving a dog’s life by doing so.

[ask-dcf]

Am back but… No asks today. Explained below.

So today was the typical day where I went to work and deal with the crazy dogs. Moment I go into the play area (basically where the bigger dogs play in a gym like area) I see TWO OF THE PROBLEM DOGS I’ve known for a bit going at eachother. And not in the fun playful way. Teeth bearing hard barking paw and claw swiping fashion. I tell them to knock it off behind the gate. Once I open gate and get through with the rest of the dogs THEY START GOING AT EACHOTHER AGAIN AND START ATTACKING EACHOTHER. I’m like “ok fucking hell those two need to be separated AGAIN.” And moment I try to pull them off eachother ONE OF THEM FRIGGEN BIT ME. This is the first time I legit got a hard bit that DREW BLOOD yeah this is the last damn straw with these two and I pulled one of them away pissed the heck off. I told my boss and he looked at the cameras and he agreed this was the last straw for those to. He immediately kenneled the two and I had to get some anti bacterial stuff for my bite and bandaged. Needless to say the owners are hopefully gonna get a call from us cuz this was the last damn straw. Naughty dogs are fine but at this point safety is concerned. And so for the rest of the day I had to work with an aching hand. Thank god the rest of the dogs were more chill then those two.

So yeah tldr I’m hurt and can’t do any asks today cuz I’m tired and just want to rest. I apologize everyone. Maybe I’ll do some asks tomorrow… but for now imma just reblog my motivation post to help me calm down. What a month this has been… Also major advice to everyone. Make sure to have lots of bandages on you in case the problem dogs go too far.

much love and bless all. I’ll hopefully be ok. Take care.

[ravenwitch45]

What if Striker adopted a belgian malinois hellhound who trains them to be an assassin not realizing Striker is just using him? The hellhound is a teenager who calls Striker dad as he aims to please him which is kind of a flaw.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/n39Kx11jx0Q

Okay first of all thank you for that very entertaining video you sent with this, what a neat breed of doggos, and second of all oh lord the drama with this idea, the kid thinking of him as a parent but him only seeing them as a tool, kinda gives me Mother Gothel or Emperor Belos vibes, but sure, let's explore what I feel would happen with this.

Striker Adopting A Belgian Malinois Hellhound who sees him as a father, but he's just using them.

It was an out there decision for him, but after enough solo jobs that nearly went horribly wrong, he made the call that it might help to have someone else there to protect him, as well as do other jobs while he recovers from injuries or is just generally busy

Hellhound body guards were a common enough practice that it wasn't tough to find a place, as well as the breed he decided on, figuring the athleticsm might come in handy, but he goes for a younger hellhound in a foster kennel, thinking they'd be easier to train and takes them.

What he's surprised about is the big hug he's given upon actually getting them, not being used to affection and just being surprised in general. Not to mention them thanking him profusely for adopting him.

It's certainly a lot more affection then what he expected, but it's at least clear the kid respects him, so he's not miffed in the slightest. When he first hears them call him Dad on the other hand, his brain short circuits a little, the kid taking the silence badly and apoligizing, before he chuckles, saying it's okay as long as they don't expect him to be all soft about it before walking off. Dad is a term of respect in his eyes so why not.

He starts the training under the guise of teaching them life skills, teaching them how to use guns and a few other weapons so they can hunt and fend for themself while he's away on jobs, which of course they don't know he's killing people, just thinking he's doing errands and stuff.

Eventually when their training has gotten to good point and their atheltics are impressive for his taste, he drops the bombshell of what he works as, and he wants them to join him in.

Considering this is, yknow a child there a little apprehensive but in their desire to impress Striker they just nod their head and go along with it.

There messy and nervous for a good while on jobs, and take a good hearty sigh when it's done, smiling tiredly if Striker applauds them on their work. At least they sometimes get the only thing they find worth from there job, though often times Striker also critiques them too, how they hold their weapons, how much their hands shake, and noting they kinda need to learn that killer instinct he has, though the kid just says they'll try to do better, not sure what else to do.

It's a very onesided relationship of mixed signals, Striker both able to make them feel like a son he's proud of, and also a crushing failure he's disappointed in. So this is not healthy for a child whatsoever.

It get's worse when the truth comes out, cause the entire time the kid thinks Striker adopted them for good reasons, that he wanted to raise them and give them a good life, which is a big part why they sit through all the mixed signals and how bad he can make them feel, for the slight chance they can feel like there paying back his kindness.

But then one job, the target is able to get off a shot with their concealed side arm, wounding Striker though he still kills them and the kid does their best to get them back out to safety. Quickly pulling out first aid to patch Striker up before he mumbles.

"You had one job..."Which starts it, The kid saying they tried their best to keep him safe, him biting back that it clearly wasn't enough given his state, The kid for the first time fighting back and noting he didn't even notice the side arm so it's hypocritical to get mad at them for it. Catching the cowboy off guard who just grunts before berating them for how bad an assassin they are which makes things explode.

"I didn't even want to be an Assassin! You pushed me into it and I only went along with it cause I wanted to help you and make you respect me a little!"

"Well it's the entire fucking reason I got you! So good cause you'd be even more worthless otherwise!"Striker yells immediately knowing he said too much when the kids face freezes in shock before tears prick at their eyes, them unable to stop themselves from sobbing, Striker calling them a crybaby as he looks away, not wanting to admit he feels bad for that.

Eventually the kid calms down enough to patch him up, silently, none of them saying anything and that stays for the ride back to the safehouse, the kid going off to their own little nook and he doesn't stop them, just walks off to drink the night away.

In the morning he goes to see them, and maybe apoligize, but there nowhere to be found, the cowboy only finding a letter labled "Dear Dad, goodbye for now" Which he immediately rips up refusing to read the rest of it, and breaking and tearing up everything they left behind and just storming off afterwards, sulking for a good while before Bombproof gets him to at least calm down.

Maybe the kid goes their own way, or ends up using their acquired skills for their own purposes, but it'd be on their terms not sure, but they live, only thinking back to the only father they knew once in a while. Meanwhile Striker breaks into a bad mood every time he thinks of them in passing, saying he's better off without them even if that's not what he feels...

Okay then! Theres my take on it. Adopting for any other reason then "I want to care for a child and watch them grow and have a good life" is pretty bad in my eyes, so yeah Cowboy suffers and the kid goes off to live their own life. Hope you enjoyed nonetheless, Interesting idea indeed.

[moonlight26posts-blog]

Permission to repost from a shelter staff member who works every single day to firsthand try to save lives. She is one of my heroes:

"I was going back and forth about making a post like this for awhile, but I think Spot (yes, it’s meant to be Spot, but oh well) is a good example to use for this. Shelters and rescues get blasted a lot for not “saving them all,” or “euthanizing healthy animals,” but A LOT of the time people don’t understand the concern for safety that comes into play for behavioral euthanasia. (Disclaimer: pause here as Spot is not “at risk” of euthanasia, take a breath, calm down, read on).

Anyone I’ve worked with knows the pride I take in handling aggressive animals, especially fearful ones. I have never had to fight a dog so hard to get him out of the kennel as I did with Spot. There was a lot of lunging, growling, and snapping before I used a karunda bed to corner him (so there was a physical barrier between us since he was “resisting” being leashed) and lassoed him. Once out of the kennel, he calmed down some, warmed up for some food, and after some time we attempted to muzzle him-which he immediately snapped at. At that point with the behavior seen, Spot was placed on a control pole for extra support of things went south, while also being on a leash, and being fed wet food all for a vet to be able to vaccinate him with vaccines he’s likely never had. That’s 4 people being used to get one exam done. Spot was started on behavior medication to try and ease the transition of being in a shelter, since as a stray we don’t know what his background is.

Today, when I went to get him out, Spot only snapped at the leash once when I went to get him out. While he’s improved in a short amount of time, his behavior still needs to improve to determine his placement. With that said, Spot made a lot of friends today, though he still clearly has trust issues with people (to be fair, same). Spot still needs a formal behavior evaluation-which is still a couple days away-but until then he’ll still be socialized to TRY to get him more comfortable in a shelter setting.

There are still two big things I really want to resonate with people, that behavior evaluation is going to tell if Spot is going to be able to remain in the shelter setting, as the safety of people need to be taken into account when placing animals. Another point, people don’t seem to understand shelters are not meant to be long term placement for animals. Animals can deteriorate in a shelter, and it is not a pleasant thing to see or watch, which is why many are attempted to be placed as quickly as possible. Spot has shown he is still fearful, and aside from some offensive aggression at the beginning, he has shown improvements, but still has not shown his true colors. Staff will continue to work with him, as they try with EVERY animal, but there’s no guarantee he will be considered safe to adopt out.

While overall shelters have gotten better support from the public, but there are still people that don’t understand that people that work in shelters give their all to every animal. Even those that don’t make it out, our hearts break for them. We all get attached, and we all are broken hearted again, and again, and again; but we keep going because there will always be more that need us. We are not the ones that fail them, we will always try to save them, but some are too far gone to turn around.

So for Spot and every other animal in a shelter, we’ll keep going."

Please share this post far and wide, the person who wrote it wishes to remain anonymous, please be grateful for her insight and honor her wish. Thank you!

[juletheghoul]

Burning Hour (Part 3)

This series has completely taken over my life and I am so happy you are all enjoying it so much - thank you for all of the lovely messages and comments - I treasure them deeply.

So - you shouldn't be surprised that this particular moment on the red carpet absolutely inspired a scene in this story and I regret nothing. Hope you all enjoy this fantasy that's keeping me going lol.

Din Djarin x F!Reader (Virgin reader)

Pairing: Din x F!Reader

Word Count: 4.9k

Warnings: (18+ NO MINORS) Angst, pining, slow-burn, implied arranged marriage, language, age-gap (about 10-11 years, legal, reader is of age) Yearning, jealousy, fingering/touching / slight dirty talk (slightly possessive)

Let me know if I missed anything!

reblogs are appreciated

Masterlist Series Masterlist Part 4

—

You floated through the morning.

Your dreams were full of kisses, of declarations of love and beskar glinting under the sun and it was hard to concentrate on anything.

You smiled to yourself as you broke your fast with warm bread and butter, feeling his eyes on you from his place behind your father.

“Your highness-” Your father’s advisor came through the door holding the usual paperwork, things for him to look over, letters to read. “-A letter has come for the Princess.” He turned to you then with a smile. He was an old man, grandfatherly and sweet. He handed it to you and you noticed from the corner of your eye Din’s helmet turn towards you.

It was a small letter and you noticed how beautiful the script was as you opened it.

Dearest Princess,

I would be honoured if you were to join me here at my home for dinner. My messenger awaits your response and if you agree, I will send my personal household guard to accompany you. I also imagine your knight will be in attendance, I welcome him and whoever else you choose to bring at my table. Ruby as well of course.

Hoping you’ll say yes.

Ever yours,

Poe. D.

“It’s from Poe, he asks that I join him this evening for dinner.” You were frowning at the letter, conflicted because you wanted to stay home, wanted to meet Din in the garden again. A tiny part of you however, the tiniest part wanted to say yes - wanted to see how Poe would behave. Part of you wanted him to do something unforgivable to wipe the smiles off your parents faces.

“Oh but you must go!” Your father’s voice boomed through the room and you imagined that you could almost hear Din’s jaw clenching.

“Yes my darling, you must go. What does the letter say?” Your mother held her hand out and you handed it to her. She smiled as she read it. “Din, you must accompany her.” She was smiling big, excited at the prospect of a match having been made. No one bothered to ask if you wanted to go.

“Yes of course, let his messenger know that the Princess will be in attendance. She will go, Din- I leave her safety in your hands. Take you who must.” It had been decided for you, and you had to accept it. You felt Mila’s hand grasp yours under the table in understanding.

-

“Which gown would you like to wear your highness?” She asked sadly as you put on your undergarments and you sighed.

Whichever one makes everyone leave me alone.

“Whichever you think would look best sweetling, I have no preference.” You said the words and they were honest. Yes - Poe was charming and sweet, handsome and in another life you would have been faint with excitement at his interest in you but you were in love with Din. He was the one you wanted to share a meal with. He was the one you wanted to kiss in the open - to have holding your hand as you sat together in front of the hearth. He was the one you wanted in your bed.

“How about this one?” She held out a lovely powder blue gown. You would have said no, something more plain but you had to be seen to be making an effort.

“Yes, that will do nicely.” You smiled but it didn’t reach your eyes. She didn’t comment on it.

“I will tie a blue ribbon around Ruby’s neck to match, and I think you have some sapphires as well.” She brought over a tray of jewelry for you to peruse while she laced up your gown.

Your mind drifted to an interesting place. You imagined you were preparing for dinner with Din and imagined your knight picking out jewels for you to wear.

Would he prefer diamonds? Would he like me better in opals or emeralds?

You had a feeling he wouldn’t mind either way, but it was lovely to pretend even for a moment. She placed a dark blue cloak about your shoulders and stood back.

“You look beautiful Princess, the blue looks lovely against your skin.” She held up a silvered looking glass and you saw the reflection of a happy woman, although why she was happy - no one could know.

“Thank you sweetling, let's get this night over with shall we?” You smiled at her as you both made your way outside.

---

Din, along with five of his best knights, waited for her to set out for Damerons home. Damerons own household guard waited as well, having been sent to accompany her and he surveyed them. They seemed competent enough, he gave them their space nonetheless.

It was getting more and more difficult to put the future out of his mind - he knew that the Princess would marry at some point, it was her duty as Queen. She might even marry Poe - he knew that objectively they were a good match but his mind simply couldn’t stay objective. Not when it came to her.

This whole thing was moving faster than he hoped and he didn’t know what he could do about it.

You have to face facts Djarin, you’ll never marry her. You are a knight, she is a Princess, there is no place for you. Maybe you should just let her go.

It was in him to do so, to ignore his feelings for her; to find Gisela and ask her to marry him - have a couple of little ones and pray for things to work out. The harsh words to get her to hate him on the tip of his tongue but they evaporated like dew on a sunny day when he saw her come out to meet him.

She was a gem- a bright, glittering thing that he wanted so desperately to hold onto.

“I am ready Sir, shall we?” She smiled shyly and he nodded.

“Of course Princess, allow me.” He guided her into the wheelhouse, dreading and cherishing every single second.

--

The ride was uneventful, the road was quiet thankfully with nothing to see but long swathes of trees and greenery in the gloaming of the evening.

Ruby was napping softly in your lap but woke quickly when you arrived, her little tail wagging happily at the prospect of exploring.

“Yes my little darling - we are here.” She was in Mila’s arms when you pet her, the two of you waiting for the wheelhouse to come to a stop.

Din opened the door for you, he was helping you climb down when you heard Poe’s voice sounding out.

“Princess, I am so pleased you agreed to come-” He was striding over, his squire on his heels. “-I am happy to see you all. Please - be welcome.” He was smiling big at everyone as his guards retreated, no doubt returning to their posts. He crouched quickly to pet Ruby before approaching you.

“Hello Poe, I thank you for your invitation.” You smiled as you took in your surroundings. His home was a beautiful sprawling estate. He must have been wealthier than you thought. “You must give me a tour of the grounds - I would love to see the gardens.” You smiled at him as he offered you his arm.

“Of course Princess, I will show you whatever you wish after our meal - unless you’d like to go now?” He paused for a moment.

“After dinner would be just fine.” You answered as he guided all of you inside.

--

You weren’t sure what to expect about his home when the letter had come in earlier but it was a pleasant surprise. There were fresh cut flowers everywhere, painstakingly detailed tapestries hung up on the walls as you made your way to the large dining room. Lush carpets and plush chairs, truly a man who enjoyed his comforts.

“You have a lovely home Poe.” You smiled as he led you to your seat.

“I thank you Princess -“ He turned to Din and the other Mandalorians waiting by the table. “-Please, sit with us. I meant what I said, you are all welcome at my table.” He gestured to them to sit.

“I do not wish to intrude, we would be happy to eat with the rest of your household guard.” Din replied, his voice was clipped however.

“Nonsense. I insist, I dare say the Princess would be more comfortable if you were to join us.” He said it with an easy smile and Din hesitated slightly before agreeing. They all sat, lining their helmets up before them.

Din barely spoke.

He had never been one for long speeches - you were unsure whether it was because of the helmet, or just his nature. The other Mandalorians were friendlier and Poe took it all in stride. You could see that he took nothing personal and treated them just as he treated you.

Aside from Din’s cool demeanor and Poe’s etiquette, the dinner went well. The food was wonderful and you didn’t fail to notice some of your favourites on the menu.

“I took the liberty of finding out what you like to eat.” He said it quietly, not wanting to draw attention and you favoured him with a smile. It was hard not to like him, he was very thoughtful.

Once the meal was done, he fulfilled his promise and escorted you outside. It was much more open than the gardens back home - everything illuminated by torches and lanterns. There were flowers and neatly pruned shrubbery surrounding the large building. You noticed a stable on one side, as well a modest greenhouse on the other.

“It’s nothing compared to what you’re used to but I enjoy it. The kennels are just behind the stables and there are flowers and different fruit trees just to the right there - that’s where they get the most sun. I’m afraid the night doesn’t do it justice, it’s much lovelier during the day.” He was walking you through the grounds, your arm tucked under his as your party followed.

“It’s lovely, truly.” You were sincere and you couldn’t help but look up, the sky awash in stars. “I would imagine you must spend a lot of time out here.” You let him guide the way.

“Not as often as I'd like to, but I try. Perhaps when we marry I’ll make more of an effort.” He said it with a wink and you scoffed loudly but without malice.

“Oh is that so? Well then I suppose I’ll have to change some things around since in your mind I’ll live here hm?” Your tone was playful but sarcastic and you were acutely aware of Din following the two of you.

“Oh yes Princess, I am quite sure. My home is yours and you may do with it what you will. I live only to make you happy.” He was just as playful and as annoyed as you were that he was so confident in your union, it was also aggravatingly refreshing to be able to speak to someone so honestly - better yet for them to respond in kind.

You ignored it, Poe was charming, that’s all.

Much to your annoyance, the night was enjoyable. Poe was an excellent host and it was later than you had originally planned when you set off for home. The woods were pitch black in some spots, it made you anxious to ride in the wheelhouse while the world outside seemed like it didn’t exist. The soft light of the moon doing nothing to pierce through the darkness of the road at times.

Reaching the palace had been a relief and you said as much when you stepped out.

“You should have told me Princess, I would have ridden in it with you - if it would have helped.” He spoke as he guided you inside. You had wanted to, but the temptation of having him so close would have been too much - and as much as Mila knew about your feelings towards him - you didn’t want her to see you kissing him.

You patted his arm in silent thanks and he said nothing else.

When you reached your room you hesitated at the door, wanting him to pull you away somewhere but he didn’t - instead he waited until Mila got in. He took his helmet off and you smiled at the state of his hair. Your fingers itched to ruffle through it.

“Princess, if it’s not too late, I would ask you to join me for a midnight ride.” He waited for your answer and your smile widened.

“Of course! Would you permit me to change quickly?” You didn’t want to ride in such a stuffy gown - as beautiful as it was.

“I will wait however long it takes.” He motioned for you to go and you did - urging Mila to help you once you reached your bedchamber.

“The soft linen dress I think - with the long shift and the heavy cloak. I want to be comfortable and warm.” You changed as fast as humanly possible - all but ripping the jewelry off and within a few minutes you were rushing out the door. The two of you making your way towards the stables as silently as possible.

You watched him work deftly, his skilled hands saddling his horse with ease. One horse, not two.

“Are we to ride together?” You looked at him confused.

“Is this a problem for you Princess? I thought it might be quicker to get us to safety should something happen if we were on the same horse. I could saddle you your own if you prefer - we just wouldn’t travel too far.” He hesitated momentarily and your heart leapt at the thought that he would be holding you so closely.

“I trust your judgment Sir, one horse it is.” You kept your voice neutral and he nodded, finishing his work quickly. Once he was done - he helped you up and pulled himself up behind you. The cool beskar pressed up against your back as his arms reached around you to grab the reins.

Your dress pooled up around your thighs slightly, but your legs were covered by your big cloak but it was exciting nonetheless. You felt exposed, with his proximity it excited you way more than it should have. It felt forbidden, taboo and thrilling to have it feel like he was holding you. You couldn’t stop yourself from leaning back into his body slightly but he didn’t complain.

The ride through the forest was quiet except for the sound of the night birds, the crickets and the creatures that prowled at this time. The sound of the horses' steps, the sound of its breathing mixing with yours as well as Din’s. He rode through trees, through the little paths only he seemed to know and after a while you were beside a lake. The soft sound of the water kissing the shore added to the nightsong and you were happy that he had brought you here. He had been silent the whole ride, but you felt him take his helmet off behind you and secure it somehow to the saddle.

“You should know that you looked exceptionally lovely today Princess, blue is your colour.” His breath tickled your neck and you shivered. You turned slightly to look back but you couldn’t fully face him, the angle awkward but he kissed you just under your ear to let you know it was okay.

“I thank you Sir, I hoped you would like it.” You leaned back into his arms to tuck your head under his chin.

“You wore that for me? I thought you wore it for Dameron.” His hands came up to hold onto your arms as he pressed little kisses to your neck.

“I always dress for you.” You left it at that, hoping he would understand that despite everything- he was the one you wanted.

“Can I confess something?” His hand came up to slowly undo the cloak tied at your throat.

“Yes, anything.” You answered almost breathlessly, watching his hands open up the cloak to expose your shoulders, the skin of your thighs poking out where the dress had bunched up even more.

“You might think me wicked but, I thought about what it would be like to kiss you.” His hand trailed down as he spoke, rubbing at your thighs over your dress and you watched them in the low light of the moon, mesmerized.

“You’ve kissed me before Sir, you could kiss me now.” You turned a little more but he stopped you.

“I wasn’t thinking about kissing your mouth lovely girl, I was thinking about kissing you somewhere else.” His hands slowly gathered the fabric of your dress, bunching it in his fist - lifting it inch by inch to bare your legs to him. “May I show you where I want to kiss you?” He stopped but you clung onto his arms around you.

“Yes - please show me.” You felt is other hand join the fray and soon he had exposed your lower half to the cool night air. Your undergarments were damp you knew it - the arousal pooling low in your belly at the thought that he might touch you where you most wanted him to. He didn’t disappoint.

His hand trailed up your inner thigh lightly, slowly, up until he skillfully slid it into your undergarments. He groaned deep in his chest when he touched your bare sex.

“Right here. I long to kiss you, taste you here.” His touch was feather light on the lips of your womanhood, slipping along the seam of you. You whimpered, no one had ever touched you here and you felt the slick dripping out of you as you let him explore. “Would you let me Princess? Would you let me bury my tongue right here?” He dipped his fingers low, parting you slightly to dip his fingers just at the entrance - collecting your arousal onto his fingers before slipping them out and bringing them to his mouth behind you. You moaned at the sound of him sucking you off of them and you nodded frantically.

“Yes Din, I would let you - I’m yours.” You moaned the words and his other hand held you in place.

“And I am yours.” He responded before bringing his hand back to where you craved it, this time he spread the lips of your cunt open wide, honing his middle finger on the pearl of your sex. He rubbed tight, slow circles around it and you moaned - trying desperately to open your legs wider. He chuckled darkly behind you.

“Does that feel good Princess?” He turned your face with his other hand, twisting his upper body enough to capture your mouth in a messy kiss, not quite aligned but it sent a shiver of arousal through you and you felt yourself climbing higher and higher- his finger relentless as he sped up a little.

“Yes - Gods yes - it feels so good Din, I thought about you too.” You moaned the words into his mouth. “I think about you touching me like this, when I do it to myself.” He groaned at your confession, his tongue thick in your mouth when he kissed you again.

His finger dipped low to collect more wetness and the glide of it was just right, just slippery enough to send you over the edge and you almost screamed. Your body seizing up with pleasure as your sex clenched around nothing. He cooed into your ear as you rode it out.

“You are intoxicating my lovely one.” He kissed your neck, as he lowered your skirts.

You watched him, blissed out and boneless as he licked his fingers before grabbing the reins again and slowly making his way back to the palace.

-

Mila was snoring softly when you slipped into the room and you were careful not to wake her and as tired as you were from travel it took you a long time to fall asleep. Your heart full of love for Din and a hunger you couldn’t satiate filled your belly. It was a craving for his body, for his kisses, for physical love a woman shared with her husband. You fell asleep hoping - though secretly knowing- that he craved you the same way.

—-

As happy as you were when you awoke the next morning, it was quickly dampened - your father informed you that Poe was to arrive at the Palace as his honoured guest. That he was to stay for a time as a gesture of good will.

You saw right through it.

Your parents had decided that Poe was the suitor they wanted for you and they weren’t being at all subtle.

They informed you with big smiles on their faces, no doubt in hopes of pushing you towards him. It was exhausting - this constant reminder that you would never be truly free to live the life you wanted with Din.

When Poe arrived, he was happy - taking this as a sign that he was winning you over.

“Greetings Princess, I cannot tell you how happy I am to be able to spend more time with you.” He was all smiles and you had no choice but to smile back.

“It will be interesting for sure.” With the way you felt about Din, the intense desire to be around him was at the forefront of your mind. As well as the way Din behaved around Poe, it would definitely be interesting to say the least.

—

Your father invited Poe to dine at your private table, and he engaged him in conversation almost the whole night. They spoke of the future, of how Poe would help rule if he were indeed to marry you. Your mother smiled silently, happy to let the conversation center around the two of you.

Din stood still behind your fathers chair and you wanted nothing more than to pull him to sit with you. To talk to him, kiss him and feed him from your own plate.

“I would want to help people to be quite honest, extend a hand to those that aren’t as fortunate as us. There are people out there starving and that doesn’t sit right with me.” He was honest, to a fault like he said but you admired that.

“That’s very noble of you my boy.” The king nodded.

“It’s very honourable isn’t it my darling?” Your mother smiled at you and you smiled back, nodding around a bite of your food.

“I’m sure the Princess and I could do much and more to help the people who need it the most, if she would let me that is.” He had a shy, genuine smile for you, tentatively reaching over and taking your hand in his. You couldn’t very well snatch it back but you felt Din’s eyes burning into the interaction.

This could get messy.

“Princess, I would humbly ask that you accompany me for a walk through the grounds - chaperoned by your knight of course.” He asked as the remnants of the meal were taken away.

“Oh I’m sure she’d love to join you wouldn’t you sweetling?” Your mother cooed, and you smiled and nodded.

“Yes of course.” You let him guide you, Din following closely behind.

—

“I hope I’m not intruding - I know that the King and Queen are very keen for this to work between us.” He held your hand as you walked arm in arm and you couldn’t help but sigh softly.

“Yes they are aren’t they.” Your tone came out a little more exasperated than you’d hoped but he was well aware that you were not to be swayed by him so easily, you knew he should expect some hesitancy from you.

“I understand that you aren’t impressed and that I am most likely not your first choice. For all I know you might already have your eye on someone else.” He laughed and you couldn’t help but look over your shoulder at Din. “Regardless of that Princess, I know this must be difficult for you but I beg of you to give me a chance to show you that there is potential here. I believe that in time you might come to love me.” He pulled your hand up to his mouth and kissed your fingers.

“You are selling yourself quite hard Poe, I appreciate that you understand that my feelings for you aren’t where you want them to be.” You looked up at him apologetically, expecting him to have a sad look on his face but he surprised you; he was smiling - content to listen to you speak.

“I know, it’s not in you right now but I believe you will see me in a different light. I have faith.” He left the conversation there.

——

It was hard to find time to meet with Din, Poe seemed to be everywhere and his determination seemingly had no bounds.

Your mother found you as you dressed for the day - she had a note from Poe. He was asking you to accompany him into town to hand out some supplies. You couldn’t refuse him, not when your mother had delivered it herself.

“Will Din accompany us?” You asked it offhand, your voice neutral - your face a mask of nonchalance.

“No your father is going on a hunt and Din will be protecting him, there will be other guards with you.” She said it with a shake of her hand as she searched your wardrobe for an appropriate dress. “This will do nicely.” She picked out an off the shoulder, deep berry coloured dress that was not at all practical for a day out in the city.

It would have to do.

-

He had taken you to an orphanage in the heart of the city. There were kids running around of all ages and the older ones ran towards Poe when you entered - recognizing him. He had a big smile on his face as they hugged him around the middle, all decorum forgotten.

“Poe did you bring us anything?” A boy of about twelve years was eager, looking around you to the entourage of guards waiting behind you.

“Of course, brought all of you some good stuff like I always do.” He ruffled the boys hair before he held his hand out to you, you smiled and stepped forward. “I have someone very special here with me today, this is the Princess. Come on over and say hello.” He called them over to you and you saw some of the little girls eyes light up. They flocked to you, asking you if you were indeed the Princess. Asked you if you had a crown, and most importantly why you were there. They were precious.

“She’s here to help just like I am.” Poe answered for you.

A little girl of about six pulled on your dress and you lowered yourself slightly to be at her level.

“Princess, I like your dress, you’re so pretty.” She was smiling at you, her hair was a tangle but her eyes were bright.

“Thank you sweetling, you are much prettier I must say.” You moved the hair out of her eyes and she smiled wide, her little hand clutching at a makeshift cloth doll.

You helped Poe hand out toys and new clothes and there was food for them to eat. You spent the day playing with them and learning about their lives. The women who ran the orphanage knew him and you saw that all of the talk of helping the less fortunate was real, he had already been doing much more than you had ever even imagined.

It was hard to deny the little spark of something that he held within you.

He was handsome, he was kind and smart- funny and generous and with the way his eyes found yours throughout the day; he felt something for you. His eyes were piercing, dark and mysterious and for the first time, he gave you butterflies.

One of the little ones was showing you his space within the building, his bed and his tiny toy horse. He was waxing poetic about how one day he would be a knight. You were smiling at him when Poe stood next to you, his gaze heavy and it sent a flush crawling up your neck to light up your ears.

The fabric at his neck was crumpled and you couldn’t help but reach up to fix it, your arm extended over to him and his gaze focused on it, reached up to hold it to his neck. He placed a delicate kiss to your bicep and pulled you closer. The act was small, but so intimate it did something to you. Melted a tiny piece of you that up until now was frozen to him and he saw it on your face. Felt it in the way you let him hold you close, your arm still around his neck, his hand moving down to hold onto your waist.

The little boy was in front of you now, asking Poe if he would ever give him a real horse and he laughed, not unkindly.

“One day my boy, one day I will give you a horse - only if you promise to behave and be on your best behaviour. Can you do that?” The little boy nodded sagely promising he would. You didn’t pull your arm away, and you couldn’t pinpoint why.

—-

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[imagine-this-fandom]

The Rescue: BNHA x Fem! Reader- Newfoundland Dog

She gently placed Izuku into a glass cage before pulling you to a back door labeled "Dogs," the Golden retriever slipping in behind you before you closed the door.

Upon entering, you were greeted by lots of barking, the dogs obviously not using their indoor voices. The wall of sound left you a bit dazed as you took in the activity in front of you.  You were actually surprised by the variety back here. There was a husky, Pitbull, and even a German Shepard. The room was rather large and open for them to interact with potential owners, various dog toys strewn across the floor with the dog kennels to the back.

The animals seemed to have an unspoken respect for Inko. They made sure to get out of the way as she walked or stop playing long enough for her to pass by before continuing their fun. It was amusing to watch. You followed her path with your eyes before she came to a stop next to two big dogs. You paled as she led the bigger animal over to you.

"Here he is, (y/n)! This is Taishiro!"

Inko looked absolutely tiny compared to the behemoth of a dog beside her.

"Are you sure that's a dog? I'm fairly certain that is, in fact, a bear."

You eyed the golden-brown dog cautiously a bit intimidated by his size and the fact that if he so chose, any walk would become a drag with no contest on who was stronger.

Inko laughed and ruffled the fur on his head.

"He's a dog, just a big one. This big boy is a Newfoundland. Sure he can have a bite if he's in danger, but he's really just a big teddy bear. He's a sweetheart."

Tai cocked his head to the side and looked you over as Inko continued to reassure you.  He was skeptical about this whole being adopted out thing but with no foreseeable human future for him, he would have to put his trust in Inko and Nezu. You were obviously a bit intimidated by him, but he hoped he could prove to you that you had nothing to worry about.

You offered him a shy smile that quickly grew as he wagged his tail.

"see! He likes you! I'll go get some gear for you and you can get to know him a bit." Inko patted you on the shoulder before leaving to get supplies from the main half of the store, not noticing or electing to ignore your panicked look.  

You swallowed nervously before looking back at Tai. He was waiting patiently for you to make the first move, not wanting to scare you off. You gave a nervous wave.

"Hey, Taishiro... I'm (y/n)."

He stepped forward and pushed his head into your offered hand, causing you to give a shaky laugh.

"Inko was right, you're not scary... sorry for misjudging you."

You began to pet him and were pleased when he stepped closer so you had easier access. He was so fluffy! He was a brown dog with golden tones in his fur and intense golden eyes. He was quite a big dog, big enough to bowl you over without much effort, but he was gentle with you.

Inko came back to find you sitting on the floor next to Tai, petting his stomach as he laid on his back for you. Your face was scrunched up in happiness as you talked to him, complimenting his behavior and telling him he was a good boy.  All too soon though, it was time to go. She made you promise to give updates over the phone before sending you on your way with the big dog.

~~~~~~~~

Taishiro was very confused when he woke up the next morning. After the accident that transformed him into a dog, he was used to the hustle and bustle of a crowded dog kennel. He was not used to the peace and quiet of your apartment. Usually, he would have been woken up early by Kirishima to spar, or as close as they could come to sparring in these forms. Still, he much preferred your couch to the kennels that were in the pet store.

"Morning sleepy head"

He looked up as you walked into the room, your uniform from yesterday traded for black shorts, a tank top, and a suspiciously familiar-looking yellow hoodie.

You sat down on the couch next to him and ruffled the fur on the top of his head.

"good morning Taishiro! Thanks for being a good boy and letting me sleep in."

He watched you intently, trying to place what about your outfit stuck out to him. He almost fell off the couch when he realized. You were wearing his merch. His pro hero merch. You had a Fatgum hoodie.

"what's up, do I have something on my jacket? "

You quickly searched the yellow material, a concerned crease between your eyes.

"I better not, this is my favorite hoodie..." You sighed with relief upon finding nothing and smiled back at Tai.

"Good news bub, all is good and my hoodie is safe. "

Had he been human, Tai would have been smirking. You had absolutely no idea who you were talking to and he found that hilarious. He was quite flattered that of all heroes, you had chosen him as your favorite.

You turned on the tv and settled onto the couch, pulling the hoodie close, your hands vanishing in the oversized sleeves. It was a good replica, he had to admit, but his real costume was a lot bigger. He took a moment and imagined what you would look like in it. He snorted lightly in amusement. You would be swimming in it. It would be really cute, but it was just a passing thought, seeing as he was a dog now and couldn't give you that opportunity. The cheerful mood he was in before slipped from him as the thoughts of his new life set in. He sunk onto the couch next to you.

You weren't sure what had changed, but you noticed that he seemed sadder somehow. Now that just wouldn't do. You carefully pulled his head into your lap and focused on petting him while some baking competition played on tv. The day passed in much the same way. You watched tv and made a commentary for him, occasionally looking down at him with a tut and an explanation of how the contestant went wrong.  It was early evening when you decided it was time for your relaxation to come to an end.

Tai was content and on the verge of sleep before you moved to get up. He wasn't having it and moved so more of him was in your lap, effectively trapping you on the couch. He was comfy gosh darn it.

You laughed and started to playfully shove at the mass of fur on your lap.

"Tai, get off me, you big galoot! I wanted to take you on a walk before sunset."

He begrudgingly removed himself from your lap and you skipped to your bedroom to change. As comfy as the hoodie and shorts combo was, it was still snowy from the night before. Tai was surprised with how quickly you had warmed up to him. As anxious as you were yesterday, any doubts about keeping him seemed totally gone. He hopped off the couch and settled by the door to wait for you. You were sweet, and he could see himself enjoying his time with you. Not to mention you obviously had good taste based on your choice of hero.

You emerged wearing Red riot leggings and a Suneater beanie. Tai was in awe of you. Not only were you his fan, but you also supported his protegees. The more he got to know you, the more he liked what he was seeing.

You grinned as you noticed his tail going a mile a minute.

"Ready to go, big fella?"

You clipped the leash onto his collar and took him outside.

~~~~~~ Tai quickly fell into a routine with you. You took him on a walk in the morning before work, Next, you had breakfast and then got ready for work. Tai was quickly learning to hate the time left alone. Back at the store, he was able to talk to the others, especially because he was able to talk to everyone hit by the quirk regardless of species. Now that he was left to his own devices, he didn't have that much to do.

One day while you were gone, he decided to properly explore the apartment. The living room was where he was most familiar, seeing as that's where you had him sleep. He hadn't gone into your room yet because he wanted to give you privacy, but... He was curious. He decided he might as well check it out. He pushed the door open with his nose and looked around with interest. His heart warmed at your choice of decor. You had several Fat Gum posters hanging on your walls as well as a few of Suneater and Red Riot as well. There was a singular All Might poster as well. It was a small room, seeing as you couldn't afford a large apartment. It was cozy though. Your bed was pushed into the far corner away from the door. It had many pillows, some stuffed animals, and what seemed to be a weighted blanket. He hopped onto the bed to get a better view. Your room smelled strongly of your favorite perfume and had a very cozy feeling. He had come to associate the smell of you with relaxation and safety, so it wasn't long before his eyes drifted closed.

When you came home two hours later, you weren't expecting the empty living room. Your first instinct was to panic and you started a frantic search. You scolded yourself internally, walking through your day to make absolutely sure he didn't have a chance to run away. You quickly ran to your room to grab a better jacket to go look for him. As soon as you burst through the door, you froze. He was sleeping, in your room. You gave a tired sigh and smacked your head against the door frame lightly for jumping to conclusions.

"You are so lucky you're cute because you just gave me a heart attack." You muttered to yourself, adrenaline fading. Stepping further into the room you threw your jacket over your desk chair and slipped off your shoes. You faceplanted onto the bed beside your bed, tired from the scare on top of the shift you just worked. What you didn't expect was Tai to feel the shift on the bed and subsequently roll over to cuddle with you. You suddenly had a face full of fur and a near 200-pound dog smothering you. You laughed painfully and shoved him off you, waking him in the process.

"Hey silly, try not to squish me, I still have to get you dinner, you still need me. You can make me into a  pancake later."

He stared at you in sleepy surprise as he slowly woke up. His first coherent thought was that he liked waking up to such a pretty smiling face. And you were offering to feed him? Bonus. Dog food was not appetizing as he still regained his taste from being a human. Still, there wasn't much he could do about it besides stealing human food from you when he had the chance. You would scold him, but he could tell you weren't really mad at him.

You scratched behind his ears and sat up, scooting up further on the bed so you could pet him more easily.

"You had me worried carebear. You usually greet me at the door. I was so scared you'd gone and run away."

You squished his face between your hands and kissed the top of his nose.

"I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you. You're really important to me, you know." You hugged his head to your chest and before peppering his ears and face with kisses.

Tai accepted the affection happily, but a part of him felt guilty for making you worry. Sure he was just your pet, but you really did love him at this point. He didn't like the spike of distress that coursed through him as you told him how upset you had been. He made a silent vow to himself not to make you worry again.

Little did he know that you would turn the tables on him later and he would be the worried one.

~~~~~

You had gotten sick. You weren't sure how, but you were fairly certain that a coworker had given you their cold. It wasn't that bad, but you were still fairly miserable. You woke up on your day off with a stuffy nose and throat feeling of sandpaper. It was far from pleasant.

You carefully slipped out of bed, careful to keep from waking Tai, who had taken to sleeping on your bed after you had invited him the first night when you thought he ran away.

While you would have liked nothing better than to lay in bed and wallow in how awful you felt, there were some errands that needed to be run. Sickness or not, you had to be up and moving today.

You got dressed in a simple Deku T-shirt and leggings before pulling on your fatgum hoodie, wanting to be comfy if you were going to face the masses. Pushing the sleeves up so they no longer covered your hands, you sat on your desk chair and mentally prepared yourself to leave the house. Just as you were putting on your shoes to leave, you heard Tai whine.

You gave him what you hoped was more smile than grimace and patted his head.

"Hey, bud. No walk until later. I don't feel too well. I'll make sure you get a short walk when I get back though. I have to go to the store first."

Tai was absolutely not having it. He could tell that you weren't feeling well by your miserable posture. Hunched in on yourself and wrapped in your comfort items with a red nose and bags under your eyes, you made for a pretty pitiful picture. He wasn't about to let you leave like that! You needed sleep. And soup. He wasn't sure how he would manage the second thing, but he was determined to make sure you took it easy today.

As soon as your hand reached the doorknob, you felt a warm body plant itself in front of you, effectively blocking the door.

"Carebear, I need to run errands. You've got to let me go out."

Tai made a disgruntled noise and stayed put, knowing that it would be a pain to move him and you currently did not have the strength.

You, of course, took his actions to mean something else.

"Are you sour because I said no walk till later? I promise as soon as I'm done with errands I'll be back and we can go for a short walk. If you're really upset about it we can go for a longer walk, but I still need to go run errands."

Tai just planted himself more firmly against the door and looked up at you with defiance shining in his eyes. He was not going to let you leave. Had he been human, he would have simply picked you up and brought you back to bed, but that wasn't an option. He would have to be creative.

Seeing as Tai didn't look like he was moving, you made a decision You stepped back and put your hands up in surrender. You turned around and started to make your way towards the couch.

"Fine, fine, I'll stay..."

Once you saw him trot back into the living room, you grabbed your stuff and booked it to the door, slamming it shut behind you before Tai could catch up. You grinned triumphantly at him through the living room window, cheeks glowing from exertion, but eyes bright with victory. Tai put his front paws against the window sill, staring at you with peeved disbelief. You had tricked him! He was just trying to look out for you. He gave you an unimpressed look before turning around and sitting with his back to the window, effectively giving you the cold shoulder.

You shook your head with a small smile before walking away, determined to go get your errands done quickly. You made a mental note to grab a treat for Tai to apologize for tricking him, he was still a good boy after all, albeit a salty one.

You returned that evening with several shopping bags, your energy all but spent. Slipping into the apartment, you had to take a moment to lean against the door for support. You frowned a little when Tai didn't greet you at the door but you didn't panic like last time. setting the groceries aside, you searched the apartment. Like last time, he was in your room. He wasn't asleep though. He sat in a corner of your room, lifting his head when you entered before standing and turning his back to you before sitting back down again.

"Awwww, still grumpy from this morning? I'm sorry carebear. I just had to get some things done I'm back now. I've got treats for you..."

You tried to coax him out of the corner, but he was resolute in his sulking. You pouted to yourself and headed back to the kitchen to work on dinner, deciding to give him his space.

As much as Tai wanted to be annoyed with you, he couldn't stay upset with you for long. Within ten minutes of your return, he was wandering out of the room to come see you. He told himself it was just to make sure you were alright, but really he admitted that he just missed you.

You hummed to yourself as best you could as you worked on dinner. It was supposed to be a really simple soup, but concentrating was becoming difficult with the headache that had made its presence know while you were out and about. That's why you weren't surprised when you cut yourself while chopping onions. You hissed in pain and instinctively shoved the offending digit into your mouth.

Tai was by your side in an instant, eyes wide with concern and body tensed.  You gave him a sympathetic look and removed the finger from your mouth to show him.

"It's okay boy, it wasn't a bad cut, it just startled me is all. I should have been paying more attention. I'll get it fixed up and finish dinner, then we can relax. Sound good?"

He relaxed a little bit, but you could tell he was still on edge. You quickly sanitized the cut and put a bandage on before finishing the soup and grabbing a bowl.

Once you sat down to eat, Tai was next to you, carefully examining your newly bandaged finger. Once he had deemed it worthy, he sat next to you, leaning against you.

After finishing your soup, you stretched and got up, sniffling pathetically as you started to get your jacket, preparing to take Tai on the walk you promised him.

He quickly hopped up and stopped you in your tracks, gaze fierce. You frowned in confusion and paused, not used to seeing him so intense.

" What's wrong buddy? I promised you a walk."

You were so oblivious sometimes and Tai was so done with being a dog. It was hard to properly convey his worry in this form. He decided since he couldn't outright tell you, he would have to show you. He stepped forward and snagged your sleeve cuff in his teeth before jerking it towards your room. You followed him with a puzzled expression, not quite sure what he was up to.

"Yes, this is my room. What did you want to show me? The bed? Why'd you bring me here?"

Tai released your sleeve and jumped onto the bed before grabbing the back of your shirt and tugging. You quickly lost your balance and toppled onto the plush surface with an undignified squeak of protest.

"Taishiro, what on Earth are you doing?"

He paid no mind to your question and instead grabbed your blanket. He dragged it over your protesting form before laying across your stomach so you couldn't get up. That ought to keep her, he grouched to himself.

You struggled for all of one minute before accepting your fate with a mumbled insult about him being a jerk.  It didn't take long for you to settle down though. Soon enough, you were petting Tai and drifting off. You leaned up and kissed his nose before giving him a mumbled goodnight followed by an "I love you"

Tai smiled tiredly and licked your hand in response before he too surrendered to sleep.

~~~~~

Taishiro was seriously starting to lose it. He had been your pet for five months now and it was starting to catch up to him. It was safe to say at this point that he adored you. He found himself looking forward to spending the day with you. He loved spending time with you, no matter what you were up to. He liked the way you talked to him like he was still human. You were so funny and kind and he was getting addicted to your laugh.

He wasn't foolish enough to mistake what he was feeling. He had fallen for you. Hard. This complicated things. He was a dog. He wasn't supposed to love you. Sure he had been human before and was still a human in his mind, but that didn't change the fact that the situation was messed up. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he knew things had to change.

He was startled out of his ramblings by you rattling his leash. You were wearing his favorite outfit on you since the weather had warmed up. You had on black shorts and a tank top accompanied by the too big fat gum hoodie.

"Hey carebear, up for a walk? The park is beautiful right now!"

He couldn't deny you anything if he tried. He bounded over to you, tail in overdrive. You snorted in amusement as he bumped his nose against your cheek when you clipped his leash on.

"Eager today?" You asked cheerfully, bumping his shoulder playfully with your hip.

The two of you were quickly out the door and on your way to the park. Once you reached it, you closed your eyes and tilted your face towards the sun as you enjoyed the fresh breeze that carried the scent of freshly mowed grass and the sound of happy chatter from the other park goers.

You beamed at Tai as you started along the trail. He was pleased you were so happy. Even though he loved how you looked, you were always a bit shy about how you looked when you went out to the park with him. You had confided in him that the joggers on the trail made you a bit self-conscious. He saw your outfit and attitude today as a step in the right direction. You were just enjoying the nice day and a nice walk, nothing else.

After about an hour of walking, you settled onto a shaded bench, hoodie now tied around your waist by the sleeves due to the heat. Fanning yourself lightly, You sighed in relief.

"We should head home soon buddy, you must be dying in this heat!"

Tai could only pant in agreement, the heat seeping through his fur. Apparently, this breed thrived in colder climates.  He perked up though when he saw an ice cream cart a few meters away. He grabbed the edge of your shirt and whined to get your attention.

You laughed and allowed him to lead you, confused but interested nonetheless. It quickly became apparent where he was taking you. You rolled your eyes and ruffled his fur on his head.

"You want a cold treat, huh bud? Fine. But only this once as a treat."

You smiled and walked over to the vendor and purchased a scoop of vanilla icecream for Tai and (Favorite flavor) for yourself. Content with your purchase, you hurried back to the bench. Tai was dancing from foot to foot, elated to be getting ice cream after such a long time without the frozen treat. It was just as heavenly as he remembered. Setting the paper bowl on the ground for him, you settled back on the bench and ate yours.

All was going fine until a jogger stopped in the shade nearby. You gave her a polite smile and she nodded in response. Her gaze was friendly enough until it drifted from your face to your frozen treat. She grimaced and looked you up and down before giving a disapproving tut and continuing on.

The sweet taste of the ice cream quickly began to become bitter in your mouth as her look of judgment flickered through your mind.  You bit your lip as tears began to sting the corners of your eyes. Setting the bowl aside, you unknotted the hoodie from your waist and zipped it up to your chin. Tai was surprised to see your transformation when he looked up from his clean bowl.

Giving a tight smile, you threw away both paper bowls.

"I think we should head home, carebear. It's been a long day."

Tai trailed after you with uncertainty, not liking this muted version of the (y/n) he loved. You were subdued, smile there, but clearly fake.  He quickly found the source of your discomfort when the original jogger passed with a friend, whispering about you and the ice cream. You wouldn't have been able to hear the cruel words, but being a dog did not afford Tai the same deafness. What he heard made him livid.

How dare they? How dare they talk about his gummy bear like that?! You were perfect to him and they were putting you down as if they had any right. He couldn't help the deep growl that left his throat as he bared his teeth at the two.

You whipped around at the sound, having never heard so much as a threatening whine from him before.

"Taishiro! What's gotten into you?" You worriedly tugged him away, hastily leading him back towards the apartment.

Once you reached home, you dropped to your knees in front of him, cupping his face with your hands as you looked him over.

"What happened there, bud? You doing okay?"

He was touched by your worry, but truly he was more worried about you. He knew you were never the most confident in yourself, so to see someone so cruelly tear that away from you made him angry. You deserved the world and he was not going to stand by while someone hurt you. He licked your cheek in an effort to calm you, reassuring you that he was alright now.

Throwing your arms around his neck, you happily buried your face in his shoulder, taking comfort in his soft warmth. After a few minutes of just snuggling against him, you stood and unclipped his leash.

"Go on bud, I'll be there in a sec."

You removed your shoes before heading to the kitchen. You fed Tai and hesitated in front of the fridge before going to your room. Tai was not going to let that slide. He quickly followed you and grabbed the edge of the hoodie to drag you back to the kitchen. Once you saw the destination, your face pinched in annoyance.

"it's okay Tai, I'm not hungry tonight. You eat up. I'm going to head for bed."

As you started to head for your room again, Tai once again snagged your jacket.

"Tai, I said drop it." Your tone was firm this time, not in the mood for his antics. He repeated it once more time, this time he growled to punctuate how serious he was taking this.

"Taishiro, let go. I am going to bed, and that's final."

When he held fast to the hoodie, you had had enough and unzipped the article of clothing. Letting it fall limp in his grip, you went to your room and closed the door, eliminating his chances of getting you out, what with the lack of thumbs.

Had you known how to speak dog, you would have heard some fairly colorful language on the other side of your door. You did your best to ignore it though and got ready for bed.

While Taishiro was impulsive and determined to solve problems, your stubbornness was easily a match for him. He paced anxiously in front of your door before he heard you rap your knuckles against your side. He waited for the telltale twist of the knob, but he was disappointed.

"Goodnight Carebear. I love you, be a good boy out there, alright?"

He was beyond frustrated now. You refused to listen to him and had isolated yourself with your thoughts and he couldn't get to you. He fumed silently, his heart breaking for you as he tried to come up with ways to encourage you to feel better about yourself. He eventually settled down with a discouraged huff and hoped he would have a clearer mind in the morning.

He did not end up sleeping until morning. In the late hours of the night, he woke to a strange feeling coursing through him. Tingles and warmth spread through his limbs like fire through his veins. He shut his eyes tightly as he weathered through the sensation. The last time he felt like this was when he was hit by that godforsaken animal quirk that got him into the whole mess.

Once it felt like it had reached its peak, it vanished altogether with a quiet pop. The relief was immediate. Tai carefully opened his eyes before pausing in confusion. The room looked completely different. He was seeing it from an all-new perspective. When he tried to move, he was stunned to discover the reason for his new line of sight. He was human again. He gasped and immediately pinched himself, pleased to find that this was not in fact a dream.

He was elated. However, something important had not come back with the transformation. His clothes were missing. He briefly considered waking you up to ask for help, but quickly vetoed that idea. That was a good way to traumatize you and get arrested. He decided his best choice was to call his agency. They had plenty of his spare costumes and clothes and were actually fairly close to your apartment.

He snagged your phone from where you had left it on the counter in your haste to escape to your room. He took a moment to marvel at the size difference between the two of you. Though he was in his skinny form, he had gotten to know you from the perspective of someone smaller than you so the shift in perspective was disconcerting.

The call to his agency took longer than he hoped it would. He had to give a short summary of what had happened before promising to give a full account the next day. It was tiring, but he was soon dressed and comfortable. He decided he would let you sleep and spring this whole thing on you at a much more decent hour.

~~~~~~~

Without any clue of the mess that was soon to be, you dragged yourself out of bed the next morning. You were decidedly crankier due to your favorite cuddle buddy being locked out of your room by yours truly. You were starting to regret your tantrum and resolved to yourself that you shouldn't have let the incident at the park get to you. Rubbing your eyes with a yawn, you stepped out into the living room only to freeze as a heavenly smell grabbed your senses. Picking up your hoodie from where Tai had left it by your door, you slipped it on and followed your nose to the kitchen.

You froze for the second time in the brief time you had been awake. There was a man in your kitchen. But not just any man, the man you had been crushing on since you had first seen him in action shortly after you had moved. Fat gum was in your kitchen, and... cooking breakfast?

You concluded that this was simply an elaborate dream and walked in to stand next to him.

"Whatever you're making smells amazing."

He turned around so quickly that you almost got whacked upside the head with a spatula.

"(y/n), gummy bear, you're awake!"

His smile was absolutely radiant and your cheeks quickly retaliated with a dusting of red.

"Y-yeah. Good morning. "

He pulled a chair out at the counter for you and you quickly complied, sitting and watching him with awe.

"I just made french toast. I hope you don't mind."

He placed a plate in front of you with the prettiest breakfast you had ever seen on it.

"Best dream ever," you mumbled to yourself before taking a bite, almost melting at the taste.

Tai grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"It's, uh, not a dream sugar. I'm actually here. Have been for a while actually. It's pretty hard to explain."

You listened patiently before shaking your head and pointing your fork at him.

"Yeah, no. There's no way this isn't a dream. There isn't a single realistic thing in this whole sequence. The man of my dreams makes me breakfast? Yeah, a nice domestic fantasy, but just that. A fantasy."

You made a vague gesture with the fork between the two of you.

"Besides, you are so far out of my league."

He frowned and stepped forward, flicking your forehead lightly.

"Now you cut that out. I am perfectly in your league. Don't you dare badmouth yourself again, honey."

You pouted and clutched your forehead in pain before realization started to dawn, pout fading into a look of pure shock.

"You can't feel pain in dreams..." you murmured absently.

"And I told you, it's not a dream. Now eat your breakfast and I'll explain."

You nodded dumbly and shoveled another forkful of the french toast into your mouth as Tai looked on encouragingly. He leaned on the counter.

"So, I was hit by a quirk roughly six months ago. This quirk was suped up on an experimental quirk enhancement drug. "

he frowned as he remembered getting caught in the blast of gas that had formed after the criminal's quirk went haywire.

"This quirk turned me and several others into animals. The pros tried everything and weren't able to reverse it. Those of us struck by it had to resolved ourselves to spending the rest of our lives as animals."

You nodded along, thoroughly invested in the story

"Eventually, we were relocated to a pet store for care from a trusted parent of one of the heroes hit by the quirk. You may know her as Inko Midoriya."

At this revelation, you nearly choked on your food.

"WAIT! YOU MEAN, ALL THIS TIME... you...My dog Tai, That was you?" Your voice rose in both pitch and volume as both horror and embarrassment took over.

Tai simply laughed and took your hands, rubbing soothing circles on the back of them.

"It's alright gummy bear, it all worked out. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to have taken care of me in such a vulnerable state. Sorry if I scared you."

You looked from his hands holding yours to the yellow sleeves of your hoodie before you quickly snatched your hands back and buried your face into them.

Tai had the nerve to laugh.

"sorry to fluster you. But I'm glad I could finally tell you the truth."

He had to lean in close to hear your muffled response.

"My crush was my dog!" You wailed into your hands, face alight with a bright blush.

He carefully moved your hands away before tilting your chin up tenderly.

"We can talk about this later if you want, maybe over coffee?"

You looked at him in disbelief.

"Are, are you asking me on a date?"

He grinned and kissed your nose.

"I most certainly am. I'd be a fool to not after all the time I've spent falling in love with you."

Taglist:

@witch-o-memes

@nightlygiggless

[wthtorke]

I read your "Swimmer's tide" fic and I'm absolutely in love with your writing style. Here because I got worried about you not updating it for a while, and hoping that things get better for you. Thank you for writing such a delightful fic that made my morning ~

Hi Anon, I haven't updated that fic since literal June of last year-, but your comment made me happy, so I wrote one more lmao hope you enjoy it, thanks for being sweet ❤

Swimmer's tide, chp 6.

Shaking his head at the, yet again, passed out human in his hands, AP walked at a steady pace back to the ship. He would be in a hurry if he had doubts of his mate's health and safety, but he knows what a human that's sick looks like, just as he knows what they look like when they black out from fear, and this was just the case.

So, he had come find him, eh? Brave little thing. Stupid, very much so, but brave. He wouldn't accept any less for a mate. The man was...a man, and that alone already put him at a disadvantage. Fuck, if he wasn't so -interesting-.

AP had been taught from a very young age not to play with his food. He was taught to eat it while it was fresh, while it was hot. Not to waste it. To savor it. 

All his plans of savoring his mate went down the drain with his decision of coming to find him. 

Nothing that a little talking wouldn't solve, though. As ironic as that sounded.

The only talking he ever did to humans was taunting, threatening and then laughing at their dismay. It sure was going to be interesting.

A soft mumble made AP look down at his arms again, to the limp figure resting against him as he walked. His face was a mixture of confused and troubled, even asleep. AP couldn't blame him, he knew he was terrifying. He liked it that way.

But you couldn't be terrifying to your own mate, could you?

Well, not to a human one, anyway.

As much as AP wanted to feel bad for acting on his instincts and seeking this human out, he didn't. He changed this man's life forever and he couldn't find it in him to feel guilty, he was selfish.

And possessive.

Decades and decades for him to finally find connection only to leave it behind? Because his mate happens to be human and lives in a shithole? With a shitty society? Not happening.

AP could and would give him anything. Any material possessions, anything he wanted killed, skinned, dead. Anything. And, he could also be soft for him, just for him.

The whole package. 

Who could say no? 

As AP neared his ship, he clicked a few times, his dogs running inside, straight to their kennels. AP himself lazily strutting inside, tapping the close button on his way in, not looking back as the door closed behind him.

Focusing on the human at hand, quite literally, AP walked over to his resting chamber, lowering him to his bed. The backpack was strapped to him, which AP quickly set to work, claws easily pressing against the rather primitive 'lock' that connected both strap ends on his chest, hearing a rather satisfying 'click' as it came undone.

AP held him upright as gently as he could, pulling the backpack from him, carefully taking each arm out of the loops, resting them on the bed again. Looking for any reactions, AP laid him out again, looking at the backpack in question one more time. 

Shrugging, AP unzipped it, going through the contents in it as his mate had yet to wake. He found water, his "cellphone" communication device and a medkit, no food.

No food? 

AP looked back at the sleeping form, eyebrows set in a questioning, mean look. No wonder the idiot fainted. 

Shaking his head, AP dropped the backpack to the ground, uninterested in it now. Resuming his waiting time, stretching before making himself comfortable. 

Hours later, he stirred. Feeling his head pulsing with pain, he moved a little, feeling around before daring to open his eyes.

He laid on something soft, surprisingly soft, considering he'd been taken by a monster. Oh God, the monster. Slowly cracking an eye open, just barely, he surveyed his surroundings. No monster on sight. No moving, no dogs, nothing. Just him and in a very big room with very big very, oversized furniture.

Sitting up, he looked around, taking in all the details. He was sure whatever took him was an alien now, everything was so strange, so otherworldly. The metal on the walls, the reddish hues from the lighting, the foreign feeling fabric underneath him, so soft but sturdy as he pulled on it. 

He should be panicking, he really should. But his backpack wasn't with him, he had no means to call for help, to say anything to anyone, it was just a matter of time until the thing knew he was awake and came for him. He had seen too much, now in the gut of the thing's ship. Was he even on earth, still? What alien would take the time to take him to space just to kill him, right?

The more he thought about it, the more puzzling it was. The thing had been stalking him, that was clear, from watching him at the pool to breaking into his house, to watching him at the pool again-, and almost give him a heart attack, and a bruised knee-, to now make him all nice and comfortable on its -own bed-, what the fuck was going on?

Head snapping back as a fizzing sound came around the corner, he saw the end of a metal like door slide up, some smoke coming off of the other room. Swallowing dryly, he watched as the thing's leg came into view, muscles flexing as it walked inside its own room. Gaze running up, he locked eyes with it, watching as its expression somehow resembled one of satisfaction. Like it was waiting for him to come to.

"Shit." He moved up on his knees, the thing taking a step forward, making him stumble back into the bed, crawling backwards until his back hit the cold wall behind him, the creature stalking towards him.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck-, no, no, no! Stay back-, stay where you are!" He yelled, standing up on wobbly legs, pressing against the wall behind him, trying to either fuse with it or go through it like a ghost, god knew he looked like he'd seen one, "Holy shit-, you're a big bitch, fuck-" He rambled, his brain doing whatever it could to talk a not-from-here being into stopping dead in its tracks.

It somehow worked, it stopped, only for it to start….laughing. At him. 

Big bitch? He called him a big bitch, first thing after waking up. After realizing he was alone in his very ship, nowhere to run to. AP laughed in a way he hadn't in a long time, shoulders shaking and tresses covering the sides of his face as he did. This sure was going to be interesting.

-

Yall can read the other chapters on my ao3 (and somewhere in here, too) but the links here and on my bio, along with the other stuff-,

[openheart12]

Heal

A/N: Set during The Conjuring 3. Also contains dialogue from the movie.

Summary: Lorraine is by Ed’s side throughout his entire time at the hospital.

WC: 2,830

It had been hours since Ed had been taken to the hospital after the exorcism at the Glatzels where he had been gasping for air on the floor, his pulse weak and barely there. 

The waiting was torturous for Lorraine, concern and fear had taken over her entire body. She barely acknowledged Judy when she arrived, not even knowing she had been called. She assumed it was Father Gordon who made the call, but she was grateful. Her daughter was the only other person who could comfort her besides Ed. 

The three of them sat on one of the hospital benches, it was cold and hard and left Lorraine’s back aching. She was trying to be strong, for herself, for Judy, for her husband. Almost thirty years of history was replaying in her head. She both welcomed and hated the memories. 

They reminded her of what she had and what she might be losing. 

She unconsciously played with the rosary wrapped around her hand as she prayed for Ed’s health and safety. She’d plead with the devil himself if that’s what it took. 

“Mrs. Warren,” the doctor called as Lorraine shot to her feet. “He’s stabilized. We’re gonna transfer him to the coronary unit.”

“So, it was a heart attack?” Father Gordon asked the dreaded question. 

“Yes,” the doctor confirmed. “And not a minor one, I’m afraid.” Lorraine’s shoulders visibly sagged. Oh what she wouldn’t give to trade places with him right now. 

“Can we see him now?” Judy asked.

“Not yet. We’re gonna put a stent into his artery, try to get blood flowing back to his heart.”

Lorraine had been quiet, taking in the information about her husband intently, trying to hold her tears at bay. Exhaling, she tried to steady her voice before asking, “so, is he gonna be alright?”

“We’re gonna need to run a few more tests before I’m comfortable answering that. I’m sorry,” the doctor said before leaving. 

Lorraine turned to Judy who had tears in her eyes and pulled her in for a hug, taking comfort in her.

“It’s okay, mom,” she whispered, hoping that it would be. Judy knew this would absolutely destroy her mother, if he wasn’t okay, especially since she was there when it had happened and would no doubt blame herself. 

Lorraine held onto her tightly as tears silently streamed down her face until she abruptly pulled back, wiping her cheeks with her sleeve. 

“I need… I have… I’ll be right back,” she stammered, running off to the nearest bathroom she could find, emptying the contents of her stomach in the toilet. 

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. He was alive. He was breathing and she couldn’t ask for much more, but seeing him laying on that floor, it replayed through her head. If she had gotten to him sooner maybe there was something she could’ve done. The what ifs were just as bad as the memories haunting her. 

She splashed some water on her face, begging her mind to just stop. Stop thinking, stop churning. She headed back out to the waiting area where she found Judy waiting for her who told her that Father Gordon had to leave but he would be back to check on him. She took a seat beside her daughter who laid her head on her shoulder and Lorraine grabbed her hand, squeezing it in support. 

When they were finally able to go back to Ed’s room, her breath hitched upon seeing him lying there in the hospital bed, different tubes and wires connected to him. The color had returned to his face, but he still looked weak. 

She stood in the doorway, taking in the sight of him for a few minutes. She was afraid to get close to him at first, in fear that this was some cruel dream and when she’d wake up, he wouldn’t be there anymore. Tentatively, she made her way towards him and placed a kiss to his forehead as she grabbed his hand, rubbing small circles on his skin. She sat down in the chair beside the bed and just watched the rhythmic fall and rise of his chest. 

Judy watched her mom, noting how tense and afraid she looked. Ever since she was a little girl, she always watched her parents. She saw the love and adoration they had for each other and the different ways they showed it. She grew up in a house full of love, she was always surrounded by love; the love her parents had for her and each other. She couldn’t remember a time where they even so much as argued, at least not in front of her, and it made her want a relationship just like theirs.

It was remarkable really, the amount of love and happiness that was in the Warren household considering what her parents did as a living, where they were constantly surrounded by horrible things, but they always managed to keep it out of their lives at home. 

And right now, it had never been more clear to see the love her mom had for her dad and it was evident in her actions since he had been admitted. But Judy could see the toll it was taking on her, she was exhausted and the bags under her eyes were already beginning to worsen. 

“I’m going to get some coffee, do you want some?” She asked softly.

“No, I’m good, thank you,” Lorraine smiled half-heartedly. 

After Judy left, Lorraine turned her attention back to her husband. Her eyes began to grow heavy and she decided to close them for a few minutes, resting her head on the bottom half of his legs as sleep overtook her exhausted body.

Judy came back to the room to find Lorraine fast asleep and decided to head to the house to pick up a few things, asking the nurses to call if anything happened while she was gone before leaving. 

An hour passed when Lorraine was woken up by a knock on the door and she turned to see Father Gordon walk into the room.

“It was nice seeing Judy again. Will she be staying long?”

“I don’t know, um, it depends if…” she trailed off, looking at Ed.

“The nurse says that you have been sleeping in that chair. Ed would understand if you went home for a little while.”

“Did I ever tell you the story of how we met?” She asked, changing the topic away from her. 

“No, I don’t think so. Just that you were young. In high school, wasn’t it?” 

“Yeah,” she said smiling, “we were seventeen. I went out with my girlfriends and he was an usher at the movie theater that we went to. Afterwards, we went out for ice cream. He took me out to the park, but then it started to rain. And we stood under the gazebo until it stopped. That was thirty years ago. I could go back to the house, Father, but my home is here with him.”

Father extended her stay to about thirty more minutes, making light conversation with Lorraine as she talked about memories that were so near and dear to her heart and her spirits were raised a little bit. But when he left and she was alone with Ed again, her mind started to spin again. She was grateful for the time she had to herself, just being in his presence brought about a peace within her storming head. 

Judy made her return a few minutes later, she had gone by the house earlier to pick up some clothes for both Ed and Lorraine and some toiletries they might need with his stay in the hospital, however long it was going to be. 

The two of them sat in silence while each holding one of his hands, Lorraine didn’t even remember falling asleep until she heard her name being called multiple times. 

“Lorraine. Lorraine. Lorraine,” she heard someone calling her voice weakly, waking her from her slumber. 

“Daddy!” Judy called out, jolting Lorraine from her seat as Judy pressed the button to alert the hospital staff. 

“Oh, Ed, thank God.” She cupped his face in her hands, stroking his cheek gently.

“Lorraine,” he tried again, “you have to call the Glatzels.”

“She just called, you’re fine-”

“The Glatzels. We have to warn them, it’s got the kid.”

“No, it’s fine, it’s over. David is safe, the demon is gone.”

“Arne. It’s got Arne!” He said as her eyes widened in realization. 

Lorraine went to the first phone she could find, dialing the local police. “This is Officer Thomas,” someone answered. “My name is Lorraine Warren. I know how this is going to sound, but there’s going to be a tragedy at the Brookfield Boarding Kennels.”

All they could do now was wait. Ed was in no position to handle this case right now and Lorraine wasn’t going to leave his side when he needed her the most. 

When she walked back into his room, the doctor was in there checking him out and going over some medications he wanted Ed to take, starting with nitroglycerin, a type of vasodilator to help with increasing the blood and oxygen supply to his heart. The doctor left after saying he would send the prescription to be filled and they could pick it up in a couple hours. 

“How are you feeling, hon?” She asked, moving to sit on the edge of his bed.

“Tired,” he replied as he yawned. “What did the police say?”

“They’re going to send a car over there to check it out.”  

“That’s not sufficient,” he argued.

“It’s out of our hands now, Ed. You need to rest.” He took a few deep, calming breaths before letting out another yawn. She leaned over and planted a kiss on his forehead before starting to stand up when he reached out and grabbed her hand, stilling her movement. She raised her brow, asking a silent question.

“There’s enough room for both of us,” he said slyly, moving over to make room for her as he patted the now vacant space next to him. 

“Ed,” she laughed, “I am not sleeping with you.” 

“Please,” he insisted, tugging her arm so that she was closer. “I don’t bite… unless you’re into that.”

“Ed!” She laughed, swatting his arm playfully. 

“Come on, I’m tired and I can’t sleep without you. Remember our ‘never sleeping apart’ promise?”

“You’re impossible,” she said, rolling her eyes playfully before relenting and climbing into the bed next to him. He wrapped one arm behind her back, resting on her waist as his other rested on his chest. She nuzzled into his side, placing one hand across his chest over his heart so she could feel his heartbeat. 

“Love you,” he whispered, kissing her temple before drifting off to sleep. 

“I love you,” she whispered back, relishing in the feel of his arms around her, something she feared wouldn’t be possible again. 

She was awoken an hour later by the nurse who said she had a phone call. She carefully slid out of Ed’s embrace, trying not to wake him and made her way to the nurses station where she picked up the phone, “hello?” She answered. 

“Lorraine, it’s Father Newman. Arne is being brought to the prison, he killed someone and I need you and Ed here as soon as possible.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible, Father. Ed had a heart attack and he’s in the hospital. The doctor said he needs to take it easy so we might have to take a step back from this case,” Lorraine explained, feeling guilty. 

“I understand, but maybe even if you could just come and talk to Arne, see if he was possessed or not would be extremely helpful.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” she said before hanging up the phone with a sigh. She wanted to help Arne, but with Ed’s health, she didn’t think it would be possible. She headed back to his room where she found him awake and seemingly waiting for her.

“Where’d you go?” He asked.

“Father Newman called, he said that Arne murdered someone and they need to find out if he was possessed when he did it, but I told him we might have to stop working on the case until you’re better.”

“We can’t do that, Lorraine. It’ll be too late by then.”

“Then it’ll be too late. You’re in no position to be working on a case right now anyways. The doctor said you need to rest and you don’t need to put any extra stress on your body which is exactly what taking on this case would be doing.”

“But-”

She cut him off, “no, Ed. I’ll go to the prison in a little while to check on him myself, but I’m not risking your health.”

“Lorraine, he needs our help,” he said, slightly raising his voice. 

“No.” 

“We promised to help the family and we don’t break promises,” he tried reasoning with her.

“No.” She said, her answer remaining the same.

“Dammit, Lorraine, will you stop being selfish for a minute and think of what this poor boy is going through,” he said harshly, instantly regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth. He didn’t mean them, he was angry and frustrated at the situation at hand, but he didn’t mean to take it out on her. 

“You could’ve died!” She shouted, her voice breaking. She turned her back to him, wrapping her arms around herself as tears slid down her cheeks at a rapid pace. She had never cried so much in one day before and she hated it. 

He had no doubt she had sat by his side the entire time he was in the hospital, she was there as soon as he woke up and guilt was already eating away at him. He could only imagine how scared she must’ve been, he remembered seeing the fear in her eyes as he laid on the ground earlier and she was probably exhausted, much like he was already. 

“I’m sorry, hon, I didn’t mean that,” he apologized. “Lorraine… look at me, please. I’m sorry,” he repeated, making an effort to get out of the bed to go to her. 

“Do-don’t get out of bed,” her trembling voice said. She sniffed a few times, cleared her throat and turned around towards him and the sight that met him made a lump rise in his throat. Her eyes were red and swollen with tear stains across her cheeks and her hair was coming out of the bun it had been in. 

She looked like she’d been to hell and back and he assumed that’s how she felt. He knew that’s how she felt and then he had to go and call her selfish after not doing anything to him. He felt like a complete asshole. 

“I-I’m sorry,” he repeated as his own tears filled his eyes. “I didn’t mean it,” he promised. 

“I’m just worried about you,” she said quietly.

“I know, sweetheart and I’m sorry for what I said.” He held out his shaking hand to her which she took and he pulled her close so she was standing next to the bed. She sat on the edge of the bed, looking into his eyes and she could see the remorse and it made her heart ache for him. She knew he didn’t mean it. 

“We’ll help him,” she said eventually.

“No, we don’t ha-”

“No, Ed, you were right. We made a promise and we don’t break them. But I’m not willing to let you put your health at risk either so you have to take it as easy as possible and you have to take the pills the doctor gave you.”

“I will, I promise.” 

“You will be staying here for the night though, no debating.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said with a small smile. He’d do anything for her and this was the least he could do after what he said. “I won’t even complain about the hospital food,” he said laughing.

“It’s not much better than when you cook at home,” she teased lightly.

“You’re gonna give me another heart attack,” he said, feigning hurt as he placed his hand across his chest. 

Laughing, she laid down next to him. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“Trust me, I know. I love you so much,” he said, turning to lay on his side as he placed his arm across her abdomen, pulling her closer by her waist. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he added.

“You’d probably starve to death,” she smiled against his neck, trying to conceal her laugh.

“Very funny,” he said, rolling his eyes. 

“It’s a good thing we won’t have to find out.”

“Indeed,” he agreed with a smile as they both laid in the bed, content with each other’s company and soaking in their time together. 

[a-pirate-my-hearties]

“My hobby is making fun of you when you talk.” or “We’re not going to steal someone’s dog.” with Colonel Tavington?

#69. We’re not going to steal someone’s dog

Ship: Colonel Tavington/Female Reader

Words: 946

Warnings: animal abuse

"This is ridiculous.”

Tavington crossed his arms, displeased expression on his face, lips pressed into a thin line. He had enough trouble with his subordinates’ behaviour without Y/n’s wild ideas. Somebody has been insolently stealing food from the kitchen, one of the army’s messengers has gone missing two days ago and now this? He could not stand all that chaos.

"Y/n, that’s one of the most irresponsible things you’ve ever t – "

"Tavington, save yourself all that patronizing talk, alright?”, said Y/n in a raised tone. She was fuming. She knew Tavington will be obstinate, as he’d usually be, but this time she won’t let him. "There’s an animal suffering out there. I saw it.”

"We’re not stealing someone’s dog!”, Tavington hissed, almost losing his composure. Little did he know, it was more about his concern for Y/n’s safety than the actual decision she wanted to make, however responsible or not. Y/n hasn’t been the British army’s spy for long, but she was one of the best, though still almost a child, barely eighteen. Her brazen, open, honest personality in contrast with the discreet, dangerous work she was doing. Tavington wasn’t sure why, but he… was quite fond of her. She was one of the very few people who actually dared to speak openly to him, not caring for the societal expectations nor his reputation and though most would find that dangerous or stupid, he found it admirable and courageous.

But he’d rarely admit it.

He watched Y/n drawing a deep breath before she spoke.

"William, listen”, she said almost pleadingly, "I saw that dog being mistreated the other day. Kicked, downtrodden like a useless puppet.”. She swallowed hard, eyes suddenly downcast. Then she looked Tavington in the eyes with a newfound courage.

"I know how you feel about your horses – were somebody to touch them without your permission, harm them, you’d give them lashing in no time. How’s a dog any different?!”, she finished with passion, waiting for his answer.

There was a moment of silence before Tavington spoke, gathering his words.

"Y/n… a well cared-for horse in the army… is a necessity. It’s not quite the same.”, he said, drawling every word carefully. Nothing could quite escape Y/n’s observant eye and that was beginning to annoy him. He saw her opening her mouth to speak. "But then I guess”, he continued in a quasi-annoyed tone, "I can make an exception for you. Only this one time.”

Y/n gasped in glee and clapped her hands and made a move as if she wanted to hug Tavington, but he only cocked an eyebrow at her, giving her an amused expression and she nodded, staying in place.

"Thanks William.”

"But be discreet. If anyone sees you, I don’t know you.”

Y/n smiled. She knew it was not true. The last time she had trouble coming back from her mission, he sent four of his best men after her.

"Don’t worry about me.”

He shook his head and smirked. "Now go.”

~*~*~*~*~

Y/n knew how to be invisible, swift and quick. She decided to move in by the dusk, luckily the house she was aiming for was not far from the quarters the army was staying in.

Treading carefully behind the trees, she saw the little dumpy cottage. By the cottage there was an equally miserably looking kennel and by the kennel layed the thinnest, dirtiest dog one’s eyes could have ever see. Even though Y/n has seen him before, her heart still squeezed in pain and sympathy towards the neglected animal. She had to hide further beneath the tree when one of the inhabitants of the house went outside to spill out the hogwash on the already dirty, muddy ground.

"What are ye lookin’ at, ye useless, dirty parasite!”, the man shouted at the dog, kicking it in the ribs and spitting on the ground before returning to the cottage. The dog whimpered pitifully and tucked his tail between his legs.

Y/n was furious, but she remembered she had to be quick and quiet. She picked out a piece of juicy meat from her pocket and started slowly approach the dog with her hand outstrechted towards him.

"Here, doggy doggy!”, she whispered in an inviting tone, smiling at the dog, then looking at the windows of the house, controlling the situation. It took her a moment to pique the dog's attention, for he was so beaten and tired. But the smell of the meat made his ears point slighlty and his foggy stare focus just a little bit. He stood up and looked around for the source of the smell.

"Here, doggy doggy, such a good dog”, whispered Y/n, moving backwards towards the trees, the dog slowly following her now. It took only a few more moments and they both were in the safe distance from the cottage.

"Got you! Such a good boy”, Y/n said, petting the neglected animal, that looked at her with pleading, glassy eyes. "Here boy, eat. I have more for you at your new home.”

~*~*~*~*~

"Good God, what is that creature?”, Tavington asked, partly disgusted, partly pitying the animal.

Y/n simply glared at Tavington before going back to feeding and pettting the dog. "You will be so beautiful soon, he’ll see, we will take such good care of you”, she talked to the dog in a low silly voice, earning a groan from Tavington.

"Another mouth to feed. Splendid.”

"You let me do it, Tavington, now deal with it.”

He let out a heavy sigh. "I suppose I did. What shall we name him?”

Y/n looked up at Tavington, feigning the expression of deep thought.

"I think… we shall name him Bill.”

***

Before anyone says anything about the reader’s age here, I see their relationship in this particular drabble as more of a brother/sister kind of relation? It made more sense for this request :) I hope it’s ok! :)

Also this is obviously not the height of my writing abilities and I’m sorry, but I hope you can still enjoy it 😅

[pamphletstoinspire]

July, The Month Dedicated to the Most Precious Blood

THE SIXTEEN CARMELITE MARTYRS OF COMPIEGNE

The French Revolution reveals the titanic struggle between good and evil. During the terror, over 40,000 Frenchmen were executed just for holding fast to the Catholic Faith and objecting to the worst excesses of the Committee of Public Safety. The blood lost in the years of 1792-1794 staggers the imagination even in the retelling and the campaign against the Church was as diabolical as it was cruel.

Contemplative religious communities had been among the first targets of the fury of the French Revolution against the Catholic Church. Less than a year from May 1789 when the Revolution began with the meeting of the Estates-General, these communities had been required by law to disband. But many of them continued in being, in hiding. Among these were the community of the Carmelite nuns of Compiegne, in northeastern France not far from Paris -- the fifty-third convent in France of the Carmelite sisters who followed the reform of  St. Teresa of Avila, founded in 1641, noted throughout its history for fidelity and fervor. Their convent was raided in August 1790, all the property of the sisters was seized by the government, and they were forced to discard their habits and leave their house. They divided into four groups which found lodging in four different houses all near the same church in Compiegne, and for several years they were to a large extent able to continue their religious life in secret. But the intensified surveillance and searches of the "Great Terror" revealed their secret, and in June 1794 most of them were arrested and imprisoned.

They had expected this; indeed, they had prayed for it. At some time during the summer of 1792, very likely just after the events of August 10 of that year that marked the descent into the true deeps of the Revolution, their prioress, Madeleine Lidoine, whose name in religion was Teresa in honor of the founder of their order, by all accounts a charming perceptive, and highly intelligent woman, had foreseen much of what was to come. At Easter of 1792, she told her community that, while looking through the archives she had found the account of a dream a Carmelite had in 1693. In that dream, the Sister saw the whole Community, with the exception of 2 or 3 Sisters, in glory and called to follow the Lamb. In the mind of the Prioress, this meant martyrdom and might well be a prophetic announcement of their fate.

Mother Teresa had said to her sisters: "Having meditated much on this subject, I have thought of making an act of consecration by which the Community would offer itself as a sacrifice to appease the anger of God, so that the divine peace of His Dear Son would be brought into the world, returned to the Church and the state." The sisters discussed her proposal and all agreed to it but the two oldest, who were hesitant. But when the news of the September massacres came, mingling glorious martyrdom with apostasy, these two sisters made their choice, joining their commitment to that of the rest of the community. All made their offering; it was to be accepted.

After their lodgings were invaded again in June, their devotional objects shattered and their tabernacle trampled underfoot by a Revolutionary who told them that their place of worship should be transformed into a dog kennel, the Carmelite sisters were taken to the Conciergerie prison, where so many of the leading victims of the guillotine had been held during their last days on earth. There they composed a canticle for their martyrdom, to be sung to the familiar tune of the Marseillaise. The original still exists, written in pencil and given to one of their fellow prisoners, a lay woman who survived.

Give over our hearts to joy, the day of glory has arrived, Far from us all weakness, seeing the standard come; We prepare for the victory, we all march to the true conquest, Under the flag of the dying God we run, we all seek the glory; Rekindle our ardor, our bodies are the Lord's, We climb, we climb the scaffold and give ourselves back to the Victor.

O happiness ever desired for Catholics of France, To follow the wondrous road Already marked out so often by the martyrs toward their suffering, After Jesus with the King, we show our faith to Christians, We adore a God of justice; as the fervent priest, the constant faithful, Seal, seal with all their blood faith in the dying God....

Holy Virgin, our model, August queen of martyrs, deign to strengthen our zeal And purify our desires, protect France even yet, help; us mount to Heaven, Make us feel even in these places, the effects of your power. Sustain your children, Submissive, obedient, dying, dying with Jesus and in our King believing.

On July 17 the sixteen sisters were brought before Fouquier-Tinville. All cases were now being disposed of within twenty-four hours as Robespierre had wished; theirs was no exception. They were charged with having received arms for the emigres; their prioress, Sister Teresa, answered by holding up a crucifix.

 "Here are the only arms that we have ever had in our house."

They were charged with possessing an altar-cloth with designs honoring the old monarchy (perhaps the fleur-de-lis) and were asked  to deny any attachment to the royal family. Sister Teresa responded: "If that is a crime, we are all guilty of it; you can never tear out of our hearts the attachment for Louis XVI and his family. Your laws cannot prohibit feeling; they cannot extend their empire to the affections of the soul; God alone has the right to judge them." They were charged with corresponding with priests forced to leave the country because they would not take the constitutional oath; they freely admitted this. Finally they were charged with the catchall indictment by which any serious Catholic in France could be guillotined during the Terror: "fanaticism." Sister Henriette, who had been Gabrielle de Croissy, challenged Fouguier-Tinvile to his face:

"Citizen, it is your duty to respond to the request of one condemned; I call upon you to answer us and to tell us just what you mean by the word 'fanatic.'" 

"I mean," snapped the Public Prosecutor of the Terror, "your attachment to your childish beliefs and your silly religious practices."

"Let us rejoice, my dear Mother and Sisters, in the joy of the Lord," said Sister Henriette, "that we shall die for our holy religion, our faith, our confidence in the Holy Roman Catholic Church."

While in prison, they asked and were granted permission to wash their clothes. As they had only one set of lay clothes, they put on their religious habit and set to the task. Providentially, the revolutionaries picked that "wash day" for their transfer to Paris. As their clothes were soaking wet, the Carmelites left for Paris wearing their "outlawed" religious habit. They celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in prison, wondering whether they would die that day.

It was only the next day they went to the guillotine. The journey in the carts took more than an hour. All the way the Carmelite sisters sang: the "Miserere," "Salve Regina," and "Te Deum." Beholding them, a total silence fell on the raucous, brutal crowd, most of them cheapened and hardened by day after day of the spectacle of public slaughter. At the foot of the towering killing machine, their eyes raised to Heaven, the sisters sang "Veni Creator Spiritus." One by one, they renewed their religious vows. They pardoned their executioners. One observer cried out: "Look at them and see if they do not have the air of angels! By my faith, if these women did not all go straight to Paradise, then no one is there!"

Sister Teresa, their prioress, requested and obtained permission to go last under the knife. The youngest, Sister Constance, went first. She climbed the steps of the guillotine "With the air of a queen going to receive her crown," singing Laudate Dominum omnes gentes, "all peoples praise the Lord." She placed her head in the position for death without allowing the executioner to touch her. Each sister followed her example, those remaining singing likewise with each, until only the prioress was left, holding in her hand a small figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The killing of each martyr required about two minutes. It was about eight o'clock in the evening, still bright at midsummer. During the whole time the profound silence of the crowd about the guillotine endured unbroken.

Two years before when the horror began, the Carmelite community at Compiegne had offered itself as a holocaust, that peace might be restored to France and the Church.

The return of full peace was still twenty-one years in the future. But the Reign of Terror had only ten days left to run.

Years of war, oppression and persecution were yet to come, but the mass official killing in the public squares of Paris was about to end. The Cross had vanquished the guillotine.  These sixteen holy Carmelite nuns have all been beatified by our Holy Father, the Pope, [Pope St. Pius X, 27 May 1906] which is the last step before canonization.

Blessed Carmelites of Compiegne, pray for us!

[myhusbandsasemni]

Rescuing the Main Attraction

I’m late to the party. @flashfictionfridayofficial

Warnings for human trafficking and some form of mind control. 

WC: 1687

......................

Underground was starting to get alarmed by the amount of shady circuses he’d disbanded due to human trafficking or slavery. Not only were there an unholy amount of circuses doing that sort of thing, they were all creepy. He already had a list of excuses he was going to use if anyone tried to ask him, as Silas and not as Underground, to go to a circus with them. Not that he actually socialized with anyone other than active or retired heroes who would also be avoiding circuses for whatever their own personal reasons might be. 

Underground hung out near the back, his mask off and his hood on. He hoped no one would recognize him as Silas. Then again, if they did, he would just be a retired hero here enjoying his retired hero pay. No one would really imagine that he had retired only to hide the fact that he was becoming a different hero. Well, except for the conspiracy theorist college students living on coffee, ramen, and the last dredges of their childhood dreams. But he wasn’t too worried about running into any of them here. There was quite the expensive entrance fee to pay to get in.

Underground waited, watching the real performances of trapeze artists and lion tamers. He winced at the obvious animal abuse and muttered to Foxfire, who was wrapped around his chest under the hoodie he was wearing, to send a message to a hero who specialized in animal abuse cases. 

The acts were still beautiful and choreographed perfectly, but something felt off in the background. The dancers smiled, but their faces seemed like masks rather than flesh. The animals called out, but their screams were made of tin. The ringmaster laughed, but no sound left his mouth. Or so it seemed.

Foxfire burbled as she did as he asked. Underground went back to waiting for the main attraction. It took much too long to come. He nervously picked at his fingernails as the minutes ticked past slowly, his gloves tucked in his pockets. The biggest performance was heralded by music and dimmed lights. Underground straightened, tugging his gloves back on and staring down at the ring. The ringmaster addressed the crowd, seeming to whisper into the darkness to make everyone really quiet down and listen.

“Ladies and Gents,” the man said conspiratorially, though there was no emotion in his eyes. 

Silas took that as his signal to slide his mask onto his face. It sealed there comfortably and he watched through the one way material, ignoring the calculations and other things Foxfire was running on the inside. 

“We thank you for coming to our tents today,” the ringmaster continued, his cape swishing as he stood up straight, poised like a snake about to strike. “Now we come to the main attraction, as we always must. Please keep as silent as you can during this part, loves. For the most enjoyment.

“There was a race of people, they say,” the man continued, the lights changing to rainforest hues, “That could curse or bless, bewitch or enchant, amuse or horrify. All with just a vibration in their throats. Just one song and you would have to trust that they wouldn’t steal from you, or kill you. Of course, they were hated, hunted, and silenced. Now, there are precious few left. I have here, among my little family, a descendant of that race. And, as always, she has agreed to sing for you.”

Shrouds of gaudy fabric fell from where they had been obscuring the center, showing a woman in a bird like cage. She was dressed in a feathery outfit, draped across lush pillows. She was a beauty, though, she seemed even more off than the other performers.

Foxfire enhanced the view and Underground could pick out the fear in her eyes and the bags under them. There was a metal cuff connecting her to the bottom of the cage, carefully hidden with feathers and decoration. 

The rest of the victims were brought out. There would be others besides these three. All of them were dark haired beauties. The woman in the cage started to sing. The three beauties started dancing as if they were being forced to, performing moves altogether too in sync. This was a secret part of the human market. The most beautiful ‘exotic’ women were gathered and sold through this circus. Three at every performance. Underground could see the Ringmaster watching the crowd, communicating with potential buyers through signals and looks. Underground sneered from underneath his mask. He was all too happy to clean this all up. But first.

Underground slipped from the tent and prowled among the others. The performers ignored him, most thinking he was one of them due to his grey mask with blue stripes. He started getting looks as he neared the tent he was looking for. He walked up to the two guards of this tent, nodded silently, and knocked them out with perfect jabs to their necks, pressure points pressed with a bit of help from his slight electro manipulation powers. 

He stepped into the tent. It was dark, but Foxfire fixed that by letting a piece of herself roll out from under the hoodie and glow in the dark. There were a set of cages and Underground saw four more ladies in kennels not even fit for dogs. 

“I’m here to get you out,” Underground said softly and warmly to the women, who were understandably afraid. He crouched and undid the locks, quickly opening the cages. He helped the last one out and looked around to all four of them.

“Are you all okay to walk?” he asked, concern in his voice. 

The oldest one, a woman of about 21, nodded. He nodded and pulled masks and cloaks out of his bag. “Put these on, they should keep the performers from noticing us.”

“How do we know if we can trust you?” asked the woman with hard eyes.

Underground nodded. “I’m a hero, though that is never a true proof of trust. I want to protect you and get you to safety.”

“Would you die to complete it?”

Underground paused. This was indeed a question. 

“That is hard,” he sighed. “To die would be noble, but if I am dead then I will not be able to protect other women like you and rescue them as well. So, how about I get you out without any of us getting dead or captured.”

The women seemed a bit surprised by this answer. They looked at each other and nodded. 

“We will go with you.”

With the costumes donned, Underground rushed them through the tents again. The performers didn’t seem to care. They all seemed tired and sick in a way that Underground couldn’t put his finger on. Sort of.. Apathetic. 

“There are friends waiting for you there,” Underground whispered to them as they came to the top of the rise on the edge of the circus. “They’ll be in cop cars and will be able to show you their badges. I have to go back for the others.”

As Underground turned, one of the women grabbed his arm. “Please save the bird woman. She is being forced to do those horrible things,” she said, fear in her voice.

Underground nodded as solemnly as he could. “I was planning on it. Just.. be very careful.”

The women silently nodded and were off to the roads that Underground had pointed to. He took a soft breath and turned to go back to the tent. He checked his watch. The performance was quite a long one to account for the sales of women, but he was cutting it quite close now. He threw off the hoodie and stormed in, Foxfire proudly displayed as a stripe on his chest, taking the steps down and counting out guards armed with guns hiding in the shadows. The ringmaster was so caught up in the sales, he didn’t notice the infuriated hero until Underground decked him across the face.

…………………………

Underground leaned to help the bird woman up. He hissed slightly at the bullet wound in his shoulder, but that would heal. She took his hand and stood unsteadily. She looked around wonderingly at the unconscious guards and empty seats. The place had cleared out pretty fast after the first guns fired. The police outside made quite the racket as they captured known criminals, though there were too many people to grab them all. The only people left were the unconscious ring master and guards. The three dancers had already been gone with the police. 

“Let’s get you out of here,” Underground said, helping her down respectfully.

She clung to him, her legs weak and wobbly. She probably didn’t get to spend much time walking. “Saved,” she muttered. “Saved. Saved.”

Underground nodded. At the entrance of the tent a police officer was waiting with a shock blanket, which Underground took and wrapped around the bird woman. She thanked him softly as the police officer offered the woman her arm.

The victim took her arm and walked off into the crowds of officers, careful of where she put her feet.

Underground leaned on a support, almost exactly where he’d been standing before the whole rescue. He was tired and disgusted, but glad he’d managed to get all the victims out. Still. There were many other people that needed his help and he knew that, despite the abundance of heroes, they wouldn’t get to them all. He watched the police slap handcuffs on the unconscious men in the ring for a moment before pushing off the support and slipping out to go home for the night. He’d have a report to finish for the police and have a quick check in with his medic before he could go to sleep, and goodness knows, he was weary. 

“We did it,” a soft voice said in his head.

He smiled and rubbed his fingers over Foxfire’s cool surface. “That we did. Thank you.”

“No, thank you, Silas. You made my dream a reality.”

Silas smiled. “We made the dream a reality.”

Underground Hero Taglist: @doubi-ixi @my-dump-of-whump @thethistlegirl

[snxwboarder]

//Hey friends. I’m back.

I’ve got an update on the situation I talked about a few days ago. Honestly writing the post I wrote last time really helped me, so I want to do it again. Just to put my thoughts down and allow myself to process.

If you’re going to read (which you’re welcome to!) please make sure you’ve read the trigger warnings in the tags.

But, just a tldr for anyone possibly concerned about my safety: I’m at my parents place now with all 5 of my ferrets and most of my stuff. I feel safe and loved and free. Still scared. Still sad. Still hurt. But very hopeful of the future.

Here I go

Like I said in my last post, I didn’t think I was in an abusive relationship. I was struggling to see it. Even when my friends pointed out the gaslighting and the manipulation, I always had a reason for why he acted the way he did. An explanation for his actions forever engraved into my system because I have always been the one to be there to save him. To excuse him. To forgive him.

It changed last night.

Abusive relationship.

Not something I thought I was in.

Until, for the first time since my dad pushed me out of the room so he could hit my mom when I was 11 years old, my partner became physical.

My boyfriend, of 7 years, who I reassured my friends, not even half an hour earlier, would never lay a hand on me.

Got physical.

I worked a full day yesterday, left the house before he got up. I fed the ferrets before I left, giving my senior ferret her twice daily lifetime medication 2 hours earlier than I normally do because I worked the morning shift - and I knew he wouldn’t wake up to do it.

We still hadn’t talked. Not much. How many days does that make it that he hasn’t spoken to me... 5? I lost count.

Our conversations consisted of me saying “have a good day at work” and his grunt in reply. A short “I’m going to my grandma’s house” because I needed to get out. 

It wasn’t talking. Not really.

There was a time I think he wanted to talk. He came into the bedroom on the 4th night of us sleeping apart. He sat down, didn’t say much. I know he was trying to get me to ask what was wrong, if he was okay, what I could to do help him. But I didn’t say anything.

Which was.... hard.

Really hard.

I’ve spent 7 years being trained, like a collared bitch that comes to it’s masters call that when he’s upset, I find the solution. When we fight, I ask for forgiveness. When we can’t decide, I compromise. 

7 years of training. 

This time I didn’t do it though. No matter how tight he pulled the collar around my neck, the mumbled phrases he said to lure me in:

“I’m so tired...”

That’s what he said. He’s tired. 

Him.

He didn’t ask how I was, he didn’t ask what I was thinking. He just sat there. Staring down into his lap. Breathing. Waiting for me to beg for forgiveness for a fight he started, for words he said, for a relationship he molded. 

“What’s wrong with you?”

That’s the last real thing he had said to me and it still rings back and forth in my head. 

4 days he left me with that.

20 minutes, give or take, that’s how long he sat there waiting. But I didn’t say anything. If he wanted to talk about the fight, I was ready to talk, but I knew it would end in a breakup right there and then at 1am. Not the ideal time. But... ideal times don’t really exist.

He left though. Wordlessly. Closing the door behind him just like the walls he always put up so that I could work to tear them down and make it right. 

The next morning I went to work.

And while I stared into our empty store, my new coworkers that I’ve only known for 2 days standing around me. I made the choice that it was over. I was done sitting here with an infected bandage waiting for it to heal itself. I wanted to rip it off. Let the air sting against the cut he had caused so it could finally get a chance to breathe. To heal.

We were done.

I came home from work with determination in my steps and the most stomach turning anxiety in my gut. 

We were done.

I entered the house. Silence. I go to his office. He’s playing fortnite. 

He doesn’t notice me at first because he’s talking to his friends. His mood is different. He’s happy, I know it. I move towards him and he recognizes that I’m there. 

“How was work?”

It was like nothing was wrong. 

I’m still confused about that part but I didn’t focus on it for too long. “Can we talk when you’re done your game?” I said. 

He agreed. I left the room to go downstairs.

I didn’t take my work uniform off thank god I didn’t take my work uniform off. My car keys were in my pocket because I didn’t stop to put them down. The ferret travel cage was in the car, not because I had it there as a “just in case” but simply because, like the keys, I had forgotten to put it away when I brought them inside after a vet appointment last week. 

I text my friends to let them know that it’s happening. I had talked to my mom on the phone on the drive home from work to give her a heads up that tomorrow they’ll probably need to get me. 

Tomorrow. I can’t believe I thought he’d let me stay the night.

He called my name when he was done the game. We never use each other’s names. Always pet names when we’re alone. So it was odd.

I went upstairs to his office and stood in the doorway.

He asked if I wanted to take a seat.

I said I did not.

The conversation that follows is not something I’m ready to fully bring myself back to, not yet, maybe not ever. I was clear in my intentions, firm with when I was leaving, and as factual as I could be. I explained what I felt he deserved to know, and allowed him to take the silences he needed to take.

A broken man sobbed in front of me, begging me to stay. Saying, for the millionth time, that he could change if I needed him to despite how I’d never seen the evidence of it. Said we could stop having sex for good. Said I was all that he had and without me he was completely alone. Said I couldn’t leave because if I did he would be by himself in a house with no one.

And then he remembered the ferrets.

“Are you taking the girls?” He asked me, breaking again in front of me.

I gave him a very clear, very hard “yes.” 

Because I was.

I was leaving him and I was taking my ferrets with me.

More so than the conversation we just had, the following 30 minutes of my life are the worst 30 minutes I’ve ever experienced. I highly doubt I’ll ever be able to remember those 30 minutes and feel at peace.

It was when the abuse turned from emotional to physical. As he fought me for my ferrets. My girls. 

My hands still hurt from where I grabbed their cage and my voice is still sore from yelling that he needed to let go.

I had my car keys in my pocket because of luck.

I had the kennel in my car because of forgetfulness. 

I grabbed all 5 of them in my arms and I ran.

I ran.

I’ve never moved so quickly with my heartbeat hammering in my ears and my chest so tight with fear and anxiety, moving completely on gut instinct above literally anything else. 

I got them into the kennel and I locked the car.

He could have the house. He could have the furniture. He could have the damage deposit and the subscriptions and the money that he owes me and my virginity that he stole and my broken beating fucking heart I don’t give a fucking shit about any of that useless garbage but he is not taking my girls. I brought them into this house because I wanted one fucking thing to keep me sane and moving and loved and I wasn’t leaving unless they were in the back of my car.

He lost his chance to say goodbye when he grabbed me.

He lost his chance to hold them one more time when he threatened to leave with them.

He lost his chance to a normal breakup when he stood by the door with rage in his eyes telling me that even though my parents were on their way to save me from the hell he trapped me in, he would not let them into his home to free me from the hold that he had so easily trapped me in.

But I stayed firm.

The keys were in my pocket.

I had my girls. 

He moved towards me and I was scared but he grabbed his car keys and his wallet and stormed out of the house.

“You’re a selfish bitch. Fuck you.”

That’s the last thing he said.

And I sobbed in the doorway of my front door until my throat was raw and I couldn’t breathe. I sobbed because of how long I had been trapped. Because of the lies he told me. Because of how many times he said he’d change and never did. Because of all of the signs I missed. Because of all of the excuses I gave. Because of all the fighting and the compromising and the unhappiness. I sobbed because I was so relieved but so fucking terrified about everything that this changes and everything that this puts to an end. I just sobbed.

I don’t know when my step dad showed up but I assume he found me in the doorway shaking with my knees to my chest and my heart broken on the floor.

He held me for longer than he ever has. I don’t know what I said to him. I think I told him about the ferrets but I probably just kept mumbling “they’re in the car they’re in the car the girls are in the car” hoping he’d understand. I think he did. I don’t know.

My mom and brother were there in her van moments later and we packed.

Everything we could fit between 3 cars we packed. We started with the important stuff: my computer, the ferret cage, my sewing machine. We sacrificed the stuff that I didn’t have room for: my cosplay gear, half of my clothes, my fish tank (which breaks my fucking heart all over again please just take care of my fish I told them I was so sorry when we left but I just couldn’t take them). 

It’s hard.

To watch the home you had just finished setting up be torn apart so quickly because you aren’t sure when he’s coming back to demand that you stay.

It’s hard.

But we did it.

My mom, my brother, my step dad, and me. We tore the home apart and I got my stuff. 

I sobbed the whole drive away from that house. My brother drove with me, which I will never stop being thankful for. I sobbed because I was scared, still am, that my ex was going to kill himself. I was worried that that’s why he left. My eyes were on the highway and my heart was being left in broken pieces along the side of the road with each kilometre we drove. 

And then I stopped crying.

About half of the way to my parent’s house.

Just.... stopped crying.

My brother and I talked about anime, one of our shared interests. He just finished watching SK8 with his wife and we were talking about our favourite parts, agreeing that Langa was best boy, making jokes about the silly bits and discussing our favourite scenes. Just talked with my brother about anime.

So I’m here now. In almost the same position I was in when I made a post like this last week, rethinking all of the reasons I had to leave. I’m at the kitchen table. I have a cup of tea that’s 3/4 full and completely cold because this post distracted me. I’ve been crying. A lot. My eyes are constantly puffy and red.

But about 30 minutes ago I went to walmart. 

Stupid thing to give you hope, I suppose, a trip to walmart. I needed to get a sheet for my new bed though and I didn’t want to put it off. 

A solo trip to walmart.

The same walmart that, exactly 1 week ago almost on the hour, I had been in with my ex (”ex” still feels odd to say). We had stopped by to get groceries after a couples counselling session. He was in a bad mood. We argued. In the car I apologized and he did not. 1 week ago I hadn’t realized everything wrong with us. 1 week ago I cried by the george t-shirts because he left me there in a rage after I said we needed to cross the store to get duct tape. 1 week ago I went to the mcdonalds in that walmart to get us burgers and the boy at the till was cute. 1 week ago I slipped into a 15 second daydream where I was with someone I found attractive. 1 week ago I felt guilty for the thought. 1 week ago I was just as brave as I was yesterday, but I didn’t know it yet.

I’m with my mom. I’m with my step dad. I’m with my ferrets.

I’m safe. I’m home. 

When I sat at the red light on the way home from walmart, I felt the relief my mom had told me about 5 days ago. Not the wave that she described, nothing that “washed over me” like she had told me it did when she left my dad; but just a spark. A tiny little glimmer of “this is what’s right”, “this is what’s good”, “this is what’s better”. 

My throat is still sore. My hands are still numb. And my heart still aches. But those pains go away eventually.

He goes away eventually.

[specialagentlokitty]

Melendez x reader - Never again

hi! if you’re taking requests for fics could i get a neil melendez x reader that’s kinda angst but ends with some fluff?? nothing crazy (no one dying or nothin @ david shore) but just some good old fashioned angsty lovers?? - Anon❤️

Neil watched with sadness in his eyes as you angrily stuffed clothes into suitcases and bags, he made no attempt to stop you.

“Please darling, can we just talk this out?” He asked.

“What’s there to talk about?” You scoffed, “you told me to leave, so I’m leaving.”

“No, no, I didn’t mean it. I.. I was angry, i was tired, I didn’t man it please don’t go.” He begged.

You sighed, turning around. Sitting on the bed, you pat the spot next to you, Neil rushed over and sat with you, his eyes hopeful as they watched you.

“Look... I know you’ve been tired... but we’ve been arguing too much lately... that’s not a relationship I want Neil.”

“I’m sorry, I can fix it, just let me try.”

Laughing softly, you shook your head.

Standing up, you placed a hand on his cheek, heart fluttering at how he placed his hand over yours and leant into your touch.

“I think we should take a break, and in a few weeks when we’re both well rested and calm talk, Okay?”

Neil swallowed his sadness down and nodded his head in agreement, he placed a kiss to your palm and stood up, wrapping his arms around you in a hug.

“Alright, let me help you pack?” He asked.

“Sure, only one case though the others can go back.”

Truth be told, you didn’t want to break it off with Neil, you loved the man. But for the past month you’ve been arguing about everything, he was stressed and being overworked by Andrews, you knew that, and you were stressed with the amount of animals people were surrendering to the shelter after Christmas.

Taking a break would do you both good, you would come back in a few weeks and things would hopefully be calmer.

“Where will you go?” Neil asked pulling away.

He pulled a case over and dumped all the clothes out, then folded them neatly before putting them back in.

“Not far, the shelter need someone to stay overnight. There’s an apartment for above the place for workers to stay, I’ll sleep there.”

“You’ll be safe?”

You laughed softly, of course he’d be worried about that. You’re taking a break from the relationship and he’s not worried that you won’t come back, he worried about your safety.

“Yeah, I’ll be safe.”

In silence the pair of you finished up and he carried the case to the door while you grabbed your phone, keys, charger and a few other bits.

“Do you want a lift...?” He asked softly.

Turning to him, you saw a warm smile on his lips and you couldn’t help but smile back.

“Sure.”

Neil took your case to his car, and you followed behind, climbing into the passengers side, placing you backpack at your feet while he climbed into the drivers side, did his seatbelt and started to drive.

“Can we still talk?” He muttered.

“Oh love, of course we can. We’re just not going to see each other for a few weeks, we can still talk.” You said gently.

Neil smiled a bit bright, both of you making light conversation until you reached the shelter.

He stopped the car and both you got out, Neil grabbing your case and placing it at your feet, the pair of you stood there staring at each they.

You broke first, you threw your arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug, one he more than happily returned, his hands settling on your waist.

“Please don’t do this...” he whispered.

“It’s best for both of us...�� you replied.

You felt Neil nod and he pulled away, placing his forehead to your, he kissed your lips softly and pulled away completely.

“I’ll see you soon.” You smiled.

He gave a pained smile and nodded his head, he watched as you walked into the animal shelter and sighed heavily before he took his leave.

Every day he checked in with you, and every evening you’d tell him about you day, although he couldn’t see you, it was good enough for him.

Neil was at the hospital waiting for you to text him, when his phone went off he eagerly checked it. It was from you, his smile widened but it quickly fell when he opened it.

Fire, send help

Neil dropped his phone and ran out of his office, calling to his team as he did.

You watched the burning building, ash and dirt covered your skin, your lungs burned from running and smoke.

“Two more..” you raspeded out.

You could hear sirens getting closer, but what broke your heart was the crying of scared dogs.

“Don’t be stupid!” Abby hissed.

She grabbed your hand and spun you around, fear shining in her eyes.

“I can’t leave them in there! They’ve been through enough!”

Ripping your hand free, you covered your face with your shirt and ran back into the building, the smoke was suffocating and it burnt your eyes, you were sweating and gasping for air.

The fire burnt all around but you kept going, heading in, you reached the last kennel with two puppies.

You scooped them up and started to run back towards the door, dodging flames and debris. You could see flashing lights outside and as you burst through the door, breathing in fresh air, you stumbled, but you were thankfully caught.

You looked around through hazy eyes and stumbled towards Abby, passing her the puppies before bending over, hands on your knees.

“(Y/N)!”

A body all but crashed into yours, he lifted your head to face him and searched you over.

“Come on, come on.” Neil rushed.

He took you straight to the ambulance and sat you down, passing you an oxygen mask, he shined a torch on his hand before checking you eyes.

“How’re you feeling? Tired? Nauseous?”

“Just a bit out of breath..” You rasped out.

Neil but he torch away and cradled your face between his hands, you saw his worry and fear in his eyes.

“Never again.... never again... promise me...”

Taking the oxygen mask off, you placed your hands over his and closed your eyes.

“I’m ready to come home.” You said softly.

Neil chuckled lightly and kissed your forehead, he helped you up and into the back of the ambulance.

“Yeah. Yes of course, of course you can darling, right after we get you looked at properly.”

Neil gave you the oxygen mask back and closed the doors, then he took a seat on bed with you as the ambulance started to drive.

You rested your head on Neil’s shoulder and he wrapped his arm around you waist, resting his head on yours.

Never in his life had been so scared, not until he got that message from you, and he was going to be damn sure to make sure anything didn’t happen like that again

[yoongi-sugaglider]

Forget Me Nots

A wealthy young man falls overboard while vacationing with friends only to find himself with amnesia and a pretty young wife who seems determined to remind him what hard work and dedication really mean.

Warnings: Strong language, angry Min Yoongi inaccurately portrayed based upon the writer’s imagination,angst, eventual super fluff.

Pairing: Eventual Min Yoongi x reader

Word count: 2911

A/n: So this one came out a bit longer than normal hehe. But like, it’s time yall. To wrap this bad boy up and say goodnight to this series. The next chapter with be the epilogue!~ It’s been a real pleasure writing even thoguh I had some very serious writer’s block going in. But it’s just gotten so much love and that alone made me want to come back and write it. Y/n and Yoongi have had quite the journey yeah? Anyway! Hope yall enjoy!

<<Chapter Nine---Epilogue>>

She glanced up, eyes widening at the zombie like figure that stumbled from the employee exit of Rose’s restaurant. She’d set out from home at the end of his shift, knowing he wouldn’t want to take public transit to get home but fully not expecting the sight that shuffled towards her now. His once navy work shirt was now stained and darkened from all manner of food stuff and his once minty fluff of hair was plastered half haphazardly to his forehead.

Shaking herself out of her stupor she moved to get out of the car but stopped when Yoongi yanked open the passenger door with the last of his strength and toppled into the seat with all the grace of a limp mannequin.

“Sh...are….are you okay?” She stared down at the soggy pile of rags, startling when a single eye stared up at her through his sweat stiffened bangs and mumbled a single word.

“Home.”

“Right…” Shifting in her seat she turned the key in the ignition, waiting patiently for Yoongi to close the door and put on his seatbelt before pulling out of the parking lot and into the busy evening traffic.

The atmosphere in the small vehicle was strained. Though she was pretty sure that it was mostly just her. That single exhausted stare had reminded her far too much of the first moment they’d spent together.

The anger and disgust he’d displayed when speaking to her was such a contrast to the sweet man that’s made dinner for her and asked about her day. Frankly she was terrified that despite the bonding they’d managed everything would go out the window the moment she said the wrong thing.

She glanced over at the young man curled up in the seat beside her when traffic paused at a red light. He’d tucked his legs beneath him somehow, head resting against the glass of the window as he stared out at the hustle and bustle of the street outside.

Their gazes met for the briefest of moments in the reflection of the window but she quickly averted her eyes and refocused her attention on the red light.

They still hadn’t spoken by the time she pulled into the driveway, each lost in their own quagmire of thoughts and emotions as she unlocked the front door. Luckily she’d let the dogs out into the backyard before she’d left so they weren't there to greet them when they walked inside.

She stepped to the side as Yoongi brushed past her at the door. He only paused long enough to kick his shoes off before making a beeline straight for the hallway leading back to their bedroom, presumably with the intent of taking a long and much needed hot shower.

Her fist curled around her keys as she stood in the entryway for a moment longer rationalizing his silence. Rose has promised the shift was going to be an easy one, though nothing was ever easy in the restaurant industry, or predictable for that matter.

With a sigh she kicked off her own shoes, making her way into the kitchen and tossing her keys on the counter as she busied herself with the motions of making dinner. There was no point in dwelling on it now. What was done was done and she’d just have to deal with the fallout when it came. And hopefully it wouldn’t be nearly as bad as she was expecting it to be.

***

They still hadn’t spoken by the time dinner had been made and consumed and the dishes had been washed and put away. The living room was silent as they sat tucked into their respective corners of the couch. She scrolled through social media on her phone, eyes glancing over to his partially snoozing form every now and again to check on him.

The frown between his eyebrows had eased up slightly, though the tension in his shoulders was a long way from easing up. She couldn’t help but to sigh. Every cell in her being was  screaming for her to speak. Ask if he was okay, ask how his day went or if he regretted any of it.

Before she could say anything though her thoughts were interrupted by a whine from one of the dogs laying at their feet, followed by a massive crashing boom that rumbled through the tiny house and rattled some of the dishes in the cabinets.

Yoongi jolted awake at the sound, wild eyes seeking out her frantic form as she bolted down from the couch to grab a hold of Champ’s harness. The three legged dog was in a full panic, struggling so harshly against the harness that had he been in a collar he’d have surely choked himself to death.

“Shh baby. I’m here.” her soothing tones seemed to calm the dog for a moment but another resounding thunderclap shook the house, followed by the roaring hammer of raindrops on the roof. The cacophony of sound sent the dog into such a frenzy he was climbing into his owner’s lap in a desperate attempt to shield himself from the sudden onslaught of sound.

Yoongi stared on in confusion, unsure on how to help and yet reaching out an unsteady hand just in case there was something he could do.

“Hey…” His fingertips brushed against her shoulder and her head whipped around, eyes filled with panic. He held his hands up in surrender until the panic faded slightly from her eyes. “Is there...is there anything I can do to help?”

After a calming breath she nodded, shooting him a hesitant smile over the trembling mass of fur in her arms. “In the laundry room is a kennel. It’s folded flat beside the washing machine under a pile of blankets. Could you bring it and the blankets here?”

Yoongi nodded, jumping to his feet and making his way down the hall to the laundry room. It took him only a moment to find the kennel in question, a massive metal monstrosity folded flat and leaning against the wall with a large pile of blankets on top. Carefully he lugged it to the living room, wincing at the scraping sound when he almost lost the blankets tucked under his arm and the kennel dragged slightly on the hallway floor.

“Where do you want it?” He huffed, leaning it against the arm of the sofa as he waited for further instruction.

After pointing out a spot for it she began giving him instructions on how to set it up, telling him in quiet tones to pull Kaia’s bed into the huge expanse. The second the bed was in place Champ was scrambling from her lap, shoving past Yoongi to curl up in the bed. He tucked his snoot beneath his tail, eyes shut tight with the tiniest of whimpers as Kaia climbed in calmly after him.

Thunder rumbled through the room, causing the two humans to flinch and yet in the safety of the kennel Champ was quiet.

“Just toss the blankets over the top. But keep the door open, that way they can come out once the storm is over.” Y/n sighed, bracing herself on the side of the sofa as she stood and nodded in approval when Yoongi created the perfect dark cave for the two pups to cuddle within.

“Huh...that actually worked.” Yoongi wondered aloud as he made a few final adjustments to the blankets before returning to his corner of the sofa.

She nodded, joining Yoongi in tucking herself in and shooting him a tired smile. “I think it’s an instinct thing. Wolves usually hide out in caves during storms. Or at least I think they do. Some call to their ancestors or something like that. Either way Champie boy’s terrified of storms and this is the only way he stays calm.”

“Ah...that explains why your friend Rose called him Thunderchicken at work today when she asked about him.”

She snorted,a soft smile curling her lips as she stared lovingly down at the kennel. “He’ll protect me from every dark shadow and passing car at the drop of a hat, but come rainy season he’s nowhere to be fun.”

Yoongi couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought, reminded of the few moments he’d spent alone with the dogs and the shepherd had gone charging at the windows anytime a car honked or a person walked by. “We all have our weaknesses. Man and beast alike.”

She tilted her head,nose crinkled as she grinned in his direction. “Oh? And what’s your weakness oh great Man Beast?”

His laugh came out almost as a bark, catching her off guard and sending her into a tizzy of giggles that had him grinning from ear to ear.

“Honestly? A good strong cup of coffee and a nap. Nothing gets me weaker than a good long nap.” At that he yawned, though it was quickly interrupted by a flicker of the lights.

“Oh...well…” Y/n began to speak but the moment the power went out and the house went dark she yelped, launching herself across the sofa and right into Yoongi’s surprised grasp.

He sat, motionless, afraid to startle the trembling form in his grasp any further. She sniffed, clutching his clothes desperately as another rumble shook the house.

“Looks like Champ’s not the only thunderchicken huh?” Yoongi mumbled, clutching her closer as she struggled in his grip and smacked him weakly on the chest. He chuckled, fingers carding through her hair as she eased up in her struggles and collapsed back into him.

“Stupid…” She mumbled, face radiating heat that she prayed didn’t transfer through his shirt and into his skin to alert him to the effect his proximity was having on her.

They continued on like this for the rest of the night. Even when her breath had slowed to an even rhythm and her body had relaxed fully into his he refused to move. His heart pounded against his ribs though his mind refused to admit the effect she was having on him. Eventually though it slowed, along with his breathing as well. As the final distant rumbles sounded in the far off distance the house was still, and all its occupants slept.

*** The next day dawned bright and clear. Yoongi groan, stretching long and hard in his place on the sofa, eyes blurrily trying to take in his surroundings. His nostrils twitched, catching the scent of heavy wafting towards him and dragging him from the remaining depths of his sleep deprived mind.

He rolled to his side, eyes greeted with the sight of a glorious steaming cup of black coffee. He grinned, bouncing himself into a sitting position as his long fingers curled around the mug and pulled it in to allow the steam to cascade over his face. He spotted a sticky note that’d been held in place on the table by the mug, grin spreading from ear to ear as he read his wife’s beautiful flowing handwriting.

“Went to the grocery store to grab some stuff for breakfast. 

I could tell your day at work yesterday was tough so I let you sleep in. 

Hope that’s okay 

~y/n”

Champ hobbled over, pulling a grin from the man as he reached out a free hand to scratch absentmindedly at the pup’s head and ears. “Hi there buddy, feeling a little better after last night I see.”

The dog titled his head, goofy shepherd grin on his face as he sat at Yoongi’s feet and leaned in for more scratches. Their bonding though was interrupted by a knock at the door and a sharp bark from Champ who bolted towards the door, barking his head off as his tail wagged a mile a minute.

“Alright boy, easy. I’m coming, I'm coming.” Yoongi grunted as he shoved himself to his feet, regretfully leaving his cup behind as he moved Champ out of the way and eased the front door open.

“Excuse me Sir. I don’t mean to disturb you.”

Yoongi shook his head, a hesitant smile forming at the police officer’s apologetic gaze.

“No officer, it’s alright. But is there anything I can help you with?”

“Ah yes, I was assigned to the assault case of one y/l /ln. We were investigating the crime scene when we came across this phone. Once the case was closed we tried to get in touch with her to return the phone but haven’t had the ability to reach her.” The officer rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as he held out the phone in question.

“I figured I’d try at her home but, it seems like since you’re home so I’ll just be able to give it to you.” He smiled kindly as Yoongi took the phone in hand.

“Thank you officer. I really appreciate it.”

After saying their goodbyes Yoongi shut the door and made his way to the sofa in the living room. His fingers curled around the familiar object, unsure why its weight felt so strangely right in his hands.

His fingers swiped across the dark screen, eyes going wide at the amount of missed calls and messages that scrolled across the screen. 

47 missed calls, as many missed text messages and 4,762 missed emails. His eyes widened as he scrolled through the messages, names registered under the missed calls that at once felt familiar and strange when he uttered them out loud.

Tapping on one of the voicemails he inhaled sharply as twin voices boomed out of the phone’s speakers.

“Hyung!”

“Hyung!”

“Shut up Tae I got this!”

“Hurry Jiminie!”

“Yoongi hyung! It’s Jimin! We’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days!”

“Hyung we miss you!”

“Tae come ooonnnn!”

“Sorry oppaaaa.”

A groan sounded through the speakers and the voice started up again. “I know you weren’t looking forward to the trip but you really should have come. It’s honestly been the most relaxing thing we’ve done together.”

“Oh yeah! Namjoon hyung tracked down the lady that you threw overboard!”

“Aish Tae don’t say it like that!”

“Namjoon hyung! What was the lady’s name?”

A third voice grunted out, though further back than the other two had been.

“Her name? I mean I didn’t really track her down, she works for the company we rented the ship from. But...her name is y/n.”

A high pitched screaming began in his ears as he looked up at the named woman that’d walked through the door at that very moment.

“Yoongi?” Her arms were laden with bags from the grocery store. She pushed past the dogs, giving him a hesitant smile that quickly faded at the look of rage on Yoongi’s face.

“When..were you going to tell me?”

“I’m sorry?” Placing the bags in her hands on the sofa she took a step towards him, though he jumped up from the sofa and backed away a step as he glared at her in sheer and utter disgust.

“I remember. Everything. When...when in the fuck were you going to tell me??”

"Yoongi please, let me explain.." She reached out as if to touch him but he quickly jerked his arm away.

Stumbling backward he blindly moved towards the kitchen, rage and confusion filling him as he tried desperately to make sense of what he'd learned.

"You lied to me. Day in and day out, you fucking lied. About who I am and what our relationship is." He growled, the high pitched whine beginning to sound even louder in his ears as he braced himself against the counter.

A throbbing began to form between his eyes and he growled again as he sensed her presence behind him.

"Yoongi please, I didn't want this to happen. I swear I didn't want to lie. About you...about us...any of this." 

She reached for him again but he turned quickly to glare her down.

"You didn't WANT to lie!?! How's about telling the fucking doctors you weren't my wife? How about admitting to me that I'm some...fucking idol or some shit?" He shook his head, trying desperately to clear the spots from his eyes so he could focus on the betrayal that was her desperate gaze.

" I know, and you're right. At any point in time I could have stopped this. But you were in such a delicate state. The doctors were afraid the damage to your memory was permanent! That it would only get worse over time! And I just...I wanted to take care of you. I needed to. To thank you."

"To fucking thank me?? For what? And fucking how?? Again, you fucking lied to me. You let me believe I was some...some stay at home worthless piece of shit of a dish washing husband. You...fucking Christ woman you let me fall in love with you…"

He shook his head again, willing the words to continue to spew forth, hoping the anger would keep him on his feet. And yet, the buzzing in his head continued to grow. The black spots became clouds that grew to surround the edges of his sight. And once again he was falling.

Once again his vision was fading to a single pinpoint. Her face. The worry and regret and fear in her eyes.

The tiny forget me not earrings nestled snugly in her ear lobes.

At first there was only sound. And then….nothing. 

[fanficshiddles]

Caught in his web, Chapter 8

Chloe wasn’t entirely surprised the following morning when she was given breakfast along with the morning after pill again.

But this time it was Loki that had brought it to her.

‘Won’t it harm my body if I keep taking these?’ She hissed, looking at him like she wanted to murder him.

‘It’s only short term, darling. I have a trusted doctor coming to see you next week to discuss options for protection.’ He grinned and sat down on the edge of the bed, waiting for her to take the pill.

Him calling her darling made her skin crawl. She wanted to use the spoon that came with her breakfast and gouge his eyes out with it. If that was even possible. Though she would certainly like to give it a try!

‘Take the pill, Chloe.’ Loki said in warning.

She grumbled but reluctantly swallowed the pill. Her entire body tensed up when Loki reached out and trailed a finger down her cheek, then down the side of her throat, and down to her chest. He stopped just at the top of her breasts, where her night gown started.

‘You are such beauty... I’m going to need to keep a very close eye on you when you go to college. Wouldn’t want the idiotic boys touching what is mine.’ He growled low.

For some weird and twisted reason her stomach flipped in a good and bad way at what he said. Of course, being told she was beautiful was nice to hear, but she wasn’t so sure if it was nice to hear it from Loki…

‘I’m going to be out for most of today. But when I return this evening, I don’t want to hear any bad reports of you. Samuel will be around, so if you need anything go to him.’ Loki grabbed a bit of fruit from her plate before standing up. ‘Tania, the maid, will be around too if you want anything specially made for lunch. But I want you in the living room at six pm sharp. Naked and kneeling in the middle of the room, waiting for me.’ He looked her dead in the eye. ‘And you better be there.’

Chloe’s mouth was agape, she had no idea what to say. Like hell she would do that!

Loki had a feeling from the look on her face that he would have to punish her this evening. But he never quite realised just how badly she would behave while he was away…

After wolfing down her breakfast, Chloe waited by her window until she saw Loki’s car leaving. Then she jumped into action. She rushed into her wardrobe and got dressed, picking jeans and a top. She went downstairs and looked around for a while, to map out the best way.

There was a bathroom downstairs, a spare bedroom, a room that she knew was Loki’s office but it was locked. The living room and the kitchen/dining room.

The maid, Tania, was bustling about in the kitchen. So Chloe decided to try something first.

‘Hi, it’s Tania, isn’t it?’ She smiled.

‘Yes, that’s me.’ Tania smiled brightly at the girl. ‘Do you need anything?’

‘Uhm, no, thank you. I was just wondering how long you’ve worked for Mr Laufeyson?’ Chloe asked, leaning on the counter of the island, Tania kept cleaning while they talked.

‘Oh I’ve been working for Loki for around three years now. He’s a brilliant man.’ Tania said, still smiling.

Chloe frowned. ‘Really? Does he… does he treat you well?’

It was Tania’s turn to frown when she looked at Chloe. ‘Of course. I know he can be a difficult man sometimes, but he is kind and fair. He pays me very well, gives me plenty of time off too. He also paid to get my daughter through University, covered all the fees. I couldn’t have asked for a more generous and warm employer.’

Chloe really didn’t know what to say to that. Was she serious? Why would Loki do that?

‘He… he did? That was… nice of him.’

‘You look surprised, dear.’ Tania stopped cleaning and went over to stand next to her. ‘Do you not know of everything Loki does for the city?’

‘What do you mean?’ Chloe raised an eyebrow.

‘Come with me.’ Tania motioned for her to follow. Which she did.

Tania took her through to the living room, Chloe shuddered when she walked in. Thinking about Loki’s request for his return. The maid motioned to a bunch of newspaper cuttings that were inside a glass cabinet on the wall.

Chloe took a close look and was surprised. It was news articles about various work that Loki did for the city. Donating large sums to charities, helping fund various places like the local hospitals and also funding a dog shelter so they could make a new kennel block to save more dogs. He opened up a new library in the Camden area last month. It said on the article that he’d paid for most of it to be built, so it could be finished quicker.

Chloe couldn’t believe her eyes.

‘He does so much for the city. He really loves London.’ Tania smiled and gave Chloe a pat on the back before leaving her there.

It took Chloe a while to come to grips with it all. Part of her thought was Loki really as bad as she thought, were the rumours really true? But of course they had to be. He had kidnapped her for crying out loud. And she had overheard her father talking about him to her mother, saying that he was not someone to be messed with.

Could Loki really put up such a good façade that the city would turn a blind eye, or just didn’t want to know about what else he did?

It took Chloe a while to get over the news articles. But she pushed them to the back of her mind and concentrated on what he was doing to her. Then decided she had to still try and escape.

She went to the bathroom on the bottom floor and opened the window as wide as it would go. She was able to squeeze through it, just. And it was out to the side of the house, the side that her window looked out onto. She completely failed to notice the security cameras that Loki had installed at every corner of his home.

-

‘Do you want me to call Samuel?’ Ethan asked, grabbing his phone. But Loki put his hand out to stop him.

‘No. Leave it. I want to see how far my little adventurer gets. Tell Pete to look the other way, make her think she’s getting away with it. But have Ralph follow in the car, I don’t want her in any danger.’ Loki said, watching the screen on front of him closely.

He couldn’t help but smirk while he watched his new pet scramble over the fence into the neighbours’ garden.

-

Chloe’s heart was pounding in her chest when she ran across the neighbours’ garden and out onto the street. She looked over her shoulder, but it looked like she had gotten away with it. There was no one coming after her.

The adrenaline was pumping through her veins as she ran as fast as she could down the street. When she came to the end, she stopped and breathed a sigh of relief. It was a busier street, with people and plenty of cars going about.

She carried on, not really sure where she was going. But she recognised the area a little, having probably been through it on the bus or something. She had a feeling there was a police station nearby, so she asked a few people in passing and eventually someone was able to point her in the right direction.

When she got there, she went straight in and over to the reception.

‘Please, help me. I need to get back to my parents.’

‘Are you ok, love? Come through and take a seat, we will help you out.’ The policeman said and he opened a side door to let her through the back.

‘Thank you, thank you so much.’ She felt so relieved. Finally, she was going to get some help. I mean, if the police couldn’t help her, then who could?

She sat down and the officer got her a drink of water. He then called for a few more people through to speak to her. There was a woman who wasn’t in uniform and another man who was.

‘So, did you get lost from your parents?’ The woman asked, slightly confused because she looked like a young adult.

‘No. I was… kidnapped.’ Chloe said and looked down, fiddling with her hands.

‘Kidnapped? By who? How did you get away? Tell us everything you can and we will help.’ She said kindly and took out a notepad.

‘My father, he was due Mr Laufeyson money. Loki Laufeyson. And he couldn’t pay him back, so handed me over instead. Loki took me to his home, he wouldn’t let me leave. And he’ She was cut off when she looked up and saw the woman looking to the officer, who excused himself.

‘Wait here, Chloe. We need to make some calls and we will get someone to come and pick you up.’ The woman said and she put her hand onto Chloe’s shoulder before leaving too.

Chloe frowned, confused. What the heck was going on? Did they know how dangerous he was and were going to get her to safety now? That had to be it… Surely…

A few minutes later, the male officer returned with another officer, a female.

‘We are going to take you home, Chloe. You’ll be safe.’ The female officer said and motioned for Chloe to go with her.

Chloe nodded and went along with them both, happily thinking she was going to be taken home.

‘What about my parents? My father especially. I think he will be in danger, Loki said he would be if I was to go home.’ Chloe asked the officers once they were in the police car and on their way.

But neither of the officers said anything, they just kept quiet. That made Chloe a little uneasy. Then she realised that instead of heading across town, where her parents lived, they were heading back in the direction of where she’d just come from. Even though she gave them her address.

‘Excuse me? But this isn’t the right way. I live near Kentish town.’ She said, her voice high and panicky.

They still didn’t answer her. Then when they turned down Loki’s street, she went into full blown panic mode. She tried to open the door, but it was locked. She started crying hysterically and banging on the door, but by that time they’d pulled up outside the house.

Pete came down the path and opened the car door. Chloe tried to make a run for it, but Pete caught her arm and held on tight. Samuel then came down the path too and took over, taking hold of her he led her back up to the house. The officers followed.

That’s when Chloe noticed that the head of the household was standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets and looking as terrifying as ever while he glared at her. But then he smiled sweetly at the officers.

‘I can’t thank you both enough, officers. For bringing my Chloe back to me.’ He reached out and put his arm around Chloe in a really restricting hold that made her cough.

She looked to the officers and started begging for their help. But they just ignored her completely.

‘Hush, my darling. Don’t be rude.’ Loki chastised her and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

‘What the hell? What is going on!’ She screeched.

The officers glanced to her then looked back at Loki. ‘Glad we can be of service, Sir. We hope you have a good day.’ The female officer said and tipped her hat at Loki.

‘You too, thank you.’ Loki flashed her a dazzling smile and a wink, Chloe noticed her cheeks turning slightly red.

You have got to be fucking kidding me? Chloe thought.

But then her thoughts turned bad when Loki dragged her inside and slammed the door shut behind them. She tried to make a run for it to her room, but he grabbed her hair tightly and yanked her back into his body.

‘You’ve been very naughty, Chloe. And do you know what happens to naughty girls? Hmm?’ He whispered harshly into her ear.

‘You’re an evil monster!’ Chloe yelled at him as she tried to escape his clutches.

Loki chuckled darkly and kissed her cheek.

‘Well, I guess it is time that you find out what monsters do to bad little girls.’