#so now she tries to keep ALL their attention to herself. she and chase never got to actually meet each other

[malkaviian]

infodump in the tags about charlotte since she has been appearing more frequently in my thoughts

[downthe-f4ndom-rabbith0le]

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) - Chapter 6

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) Reader Insert: she/her pronouns Word Count: 2946 Warnings: death, violence, fighting, bloody wounds, angst, infuriatingly oblivious love interest, slowburn Spoilers: Young Justice Seasons 1-3 plot partially, but it ended in 2022 so catch up.

Y/N Prince - miracle daughter of Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor - and Dick Grayson - first adoptive son of the Batman himself - have been best friends since day one. They went to school together, trained together, kept each other's alter ego secret from everyone else, and they founded the Young Justice alongside their friends together. 

But as time progressed, Y/N and Dick grew up and Y/N found herself wanting more than friendship with Dick. But he never seemed to indicate that he reciprocated her feelings. And when Wally died and Dick abandoned the team, Y/N realised he never would. So she heads to the one place she knows will help her become a stronger warrior so that one day she can take her mother's place: Themyscira.

Two years after his leave, Dick reaches out to his old friends to help him with a mission. But when he finds out Y/N left too, he chases after her in the hopes to bring her back.

However, when the two finally reunite, it isn't as warm as he hopes. Not to mention Themyscira becomes under siege as they go to war against Echidna, the Mother of Monsters in Greek Mythology, and her army of monstrous children.

Will Dick and Y/N be able to put their past behind them and save the Amazonians' homeland? Or will they fall, unable to tell one another their true feelings?

~~~

'...Starting tomorrow, we prepare for Echidna's war,' Queen Hippolyta announced to those in the War Chamber.

After Echidna's kraken attack, the Queen had called for an emergency meeting in the War Chamber to discuss matters. Generals and their lieutenants discussed the right protocols and procedures they would instruct their soldiers to carry out over the coming days. It was well past midnight now, but no one in the chamber looked as if sleep would come easily when they returned to their own chambers.

'For now, head back to bed. Hera knows we are going to need all of our energy to face what lies ahead.' Everyone simply bowed their heads in understanding and left the chamber. Except for Y/N.

She was staring intensely at the small sculptured map of the entire island - as if trying to commit every stair, every mountain, every grain of sand to memory - when a hand on her shoulder pulled her from her trance.

'You too, my dear,' Queen Hippolyta said gently. 'You have endured much tonight. Go. Rest.'

'What? No.' Y/N shook off her grandmother's hand and stood up tall, but she could not help rubbing her tired eyes as she strained to keep them open. 'We should be preparing now, Grandmother. Echidna will certainly not be resting before she tries to destroy all of Themyscira. I will not let her.'

'I know, dear child.' Queen Hippolyta gently cupped Y/N's face and turned her attention away from the map. 'But what good are soldiers if they do not rest? We have three days - there will be plenty of time for sleepless nights then. For now, I am telling you to rest.'

Y/N had to admit she was exhausted. She had been training all these months, but hadn't been in a real fight with real danger since she'd left the team. Her body was already starting to ache, and so she conceded. 'Is that an order from her Royal Highness?'

'It is an order from your grandmother,' the queen replied with a soft smile. She brought Y/N's forehead to her lips briefly before she finally let go. 'Rest. Our work begins tomorrow.'

Y/N nodded then headed for the War Chamber doors. Now that she'd acknowledged it, her exhaustion was now weighing on her eyes more heavily, and the thought of falling into her crisp linen bed sounded heavenly.

As soon as she opened the door to leave, however, she was met with, 'So what did you talk about?'

Dick Grayson didn't look an ounce tired as he pushed off from his place on the wall and sauntered up to her. Damn, had he waited there for three hours? It didn't matter. All that mattered was getting to her bed and he certainly wasn't going to stop her now.

'Nothing you need to worry yourself about,' Y/N deflected as she made her way down the corridor. She was hoping her stern tone would hint that she was in no mood to talk, but Dick Grayson was not one to read such obvious signs.

'What's that supposed to mean?' he asked, following swiftly after her. 'You woke up every general and their lieutenant to discuss what then? A new uniform?'

'If you want to make jokes about my people's future existence, then we definitely don't have anything to talk about,' Y/N bit back, increasing her pace as she turned around a corner.

'Then what did you guys talk about in there?' Dick insisted. Y/N had to give it to him, he was persistent. 'Look, I want to help. But how can I if you won't talk to me?'

'Just because you caught me tonight, does not mean I am obliged to answer your every question.'

'Catching you? I saved your life! Speaking of which, I think a "thank you" is at least the minimum you can say to me right now. Which, by the way, you're welcome for. But if you won't say it, then tell me why I can't possibly help you with this.'

'Because this doesn't concern you,' Y/N replied, reaching the spiral staircase that led up to floor of her chambers. She started her ascent as she continued. 'This isn't your war to fight. You weren't even meant to be here.'

'So what do I do then?' Dick asked, his tone offended as he still followed her up the stairs. 'Just jump on a sailing ship tomorrow and head back to Blüdhaven like none of this ever happened?'

'Oh, so that's where you've settled down. How noble of you.'

'I'm being serious, Y/N.' Dick grabbed Y/N's wrist with a grip tight enough to halt her charge, but loose enough to let her know she could escape any time. She had just reached the next floor when he did, leaving him two steps below her eyesight.

'So am I,' she hissed back, but her anger was superficial. Her bed was just down the corridor and Richard bloody Grayson was doing everything in his power to stop her from reaching it.

She tugged her wrist out of his grip and looked down at him with a glare so severe she hoped he would catch fire. 'Go home. To your life of freedom and abandonment, to the girl who undoubtedly is waiting for you in your disgusting apartment, to the team, I don't care! Just go.'

The pair stood looking at each for the longest time. The window beside the staircase entrance allowed the light of the full moon to shine onto Dick's flawless, sharp face. The pale light cast shadows under his eyes, hollowed his cheekbones. And for the first time since coming to the island, the cocky glint in his eyes wasn't there.

It was the most serious Y/N had ever seen him, even when they were both on the same team together doing the most craziest and dangerous missions that either of them could've died on.

He was telling her the truth, and that one fact made her soften her glare.

'Why do you hate me so much?' he asked, his voice cracking slightly as if he were on the verge of tears.

This took Y/N aback.

Hate. She'd never used the word in association with Dick. Even when he left, even when he never came back, even when he never spared her another thought or word. She wanted to slap him, tell him he was stupid because how could she ever hate him after she'd spent so much time feeling the very opposite for him?

Y/N didn't hate Dick Grayson, but she couldn't forgive him for what he'd done either.

'You left me,' she finally said, voice low so as not to release all her emotions at once. 'You left all of us behind as if we were nothing. As if we weren't family. You left when we - when I needed you the most. What? Did you expect me to just be waiting for you when you decided to come back? Were you ever going to come back, Dick? Well?'

He had no reply, only a face expressing a full range of emotions. Shock, sadness, guilt, shame.

The last one gave Y/N her answer.

It wasn't until Dick reached for her cheek that Y/N realised she was crying. She was too shocked to bat away his hand as he wiped her cheek gently, smoothing away her tears. Despite the cold night, his hand was warm, and in her moment of weakness, Y/N allowed her eyes to close for just a moment and lean into his touch.

Once or twice she'd dreamed of a moment like this, where Dick would hold her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. But that's all it was, a dream.

Remembering herself, Y/N pulled away from Dick's hand and hastily wiped her tears. His hand hung in the air for a moment longer before letting it fall to his side in defeat.

'I should go rest,' Y/N said after an eternity of silence. 'We start preparations and training at dawn. I will make sure someone sets you on your way early tomorrow. It will be as if you never had come to Themyscira.'

'But I will remember,' Dick said gently. 'I will know what is happening.'

Y/N nodded in agreement. 'But it is not your war to fight.'

Dick stared at her, the blues in his eyes swirling like tumultuous waves as if battling with himself. Eventually he nodded and took a step down.

'We both leave at dawn, then?' he asked.

'So it would seem,' Y/N answered.

'And I will never see you again?'

Y/N hadn't contemplated this, but now that it was out there, there indeed was a high chance that they would never see each other again. Not only him, but the rest of the team, her mother.

Y/N swallowed the lump in her throat and said, 'It is a sacrifice every warrior offers up before every battle.'

It wasn't a straight answer, but it was enough for Dick it seemed as he said, 'Then I wish you the best of luck, Princess.'

Y/N didn't like how distant he sounded when he used her title. It wasn't him, it wasn't her. All of it was wrong, but had it not been herself that insisted he call her by such? To put distance between them? To communicate her anger with him, and make it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him ever again?

She'd dug her own grave, and so now she must lay in it.

'You too, Nightwing,' she managed to get out, and then Dick was descending, leaving Y/N alone with her jumbled thoughts and emotions on the stairs. She'd been exhausted before, but now she was wide awake.

Y/n stayed at the top of the stairs well after Dick's footsteps stopped echoing, unable to move over the threshold of the past into the future. She'd just unofficially said goodbye to her best friend and the love of her life. So much was left unsaid - maybe for the best, or possibly it would be her biggest regrets if she didn't make it through this war.

Y/N finally managed to pull herself away from the staircase at that thought. I must rest now, she told herself as she finally made it to her chambers. Tomorrow, I have a war to try and win.

~~~

T minus three days until Echidna's War

Y/N doesn't remember when she fell asleep, but she does remember taking a long time to do so after her conversation with Dick. All that had been said - all that hadn't been said - had left her tossing and turning for a long time after she slipped into her linen bed.

However, she was very much awake the moment she felt warm sun rays bathe her skin.

Her eyes flew open as realisation shocked her into action. I'm late! Y/N looked out the window briefly and saw the sun high in the sky; it was well and truly past dawn.

Faster than she'd ever done before, Y/N dressed in her warrior uniform, grabbed her sword that she always had on hand in case of an emergency, and sprinted through the palace and down to the training grounds.

The other women were never going to let her live this down if they were to survive Echidna's war, but they were not going to survive by sleeping in. It only appeared to be early morning, but the warriors would've been working for a solid few hours by now. Precious hours that Y/N had wasted sleeping in, instead of training or making blockades or literally doing anything more helpful.

By the time she reached the training grounds, she was the most out of breath she'd ever been in her life. Y/N quickly spotted Calliope supervising a group of young warriors as they practised using monster nets against some wooden dummies.

'Well look who finally decided to wake from their beauty sleep,' Calliope said with a smirk as Y/N approached her.

'I slept pretty bad last night,' Y/N explained. 'And no one came to wake me up. Where is the group I'm meant to be taking?'

Still smirking, Calliope pointed to a large crowd seemingly gathered around one person. Whoever it was, they had to be interesting, as women and young girls were enamoured with whoever was talking.

'Who is that?' Y/N asked, unable to see the instructor through the thick crowd.

'The reason you slept bad last night,' Calliope answered smoothly, and Y/N felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment and shock.

Not wanting to be teased any further, Y/N staunched over to the crowd and forced the women to part so she could reach the front of the crowd. And there in the centre on the ground, pointing at seemingly random points on a map of Themyscira, was Dick Grayson.

'...Now we don't know specifically what Echidna is going to throw at us,' Dick said to the group, 'but my guess is she is going to send big and small creatures alike. With the small creatures, I suggest setting up traps here, here, and here where the passages are narrow and there is only one way out. We'll lure them into the passageway and then take them out from above.'

'What if they can fly?' one soldier asked.

'Then we lure them to places like the caverns on the east side of the island. Or we make nets to secure the creature's exits out over the passages that have no roofs. Let's go scout those areas today and start setting up what we need weapons and equipment wise there. Any questions?'

'I do,' Y/N found herself saying, finally drawing everyone's - including Dick's - attention to her arrival. 'What do you think you're doing?'

Dick stood up and made to step towards her. 'Y/N, I-'

'Give us a minute,' Y/N directed at the crowd, and they all quickly dispersed at her stern tone. When everyone had either started their own conversations or started sparring to kill the time, Y/N finally addressed Dick.

'What in the name of Hera do you think you're doing ordering my soldiers around?' she seethed, though she was more angry at herself still than him. 'I thought I told you to go home. You're meant to be on a ship sailing back to Blüdhaven by now.'

'I was,' Dick agreed, and that seriousness from last night returned to his stupidly beautiful face once more. It made him look older, wiser. He still looked good, much to Y/N's chagrin. 'But what you said last night got me thinking that... that maybe I need to stay.'

'What?' Y/N couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was he mad? 'Dick, this isn't some silly little mission to complete. We are preparing for war.'

'I know that,' he insisted. 'But... all I've done since Wally's death is run away. It's true; I left the team, I abandoned you - all because I was too scared to try and be brave. Brave... like you.'

Y/N was too shocked to respond, so Dick continued.

'You may hate me, Y/N,' he said, and the look in his eyes surprisingly pained her, 'but I want to stay, I want to help.'

'If you're doing this to make yourself feel better, then you can just leave now-'

'I'm not, Y/N,' Dick interrupted her, now looking into her eyes with such sincerity she knew he was telling the truth. 'I'm doing this because it is the right thing to do. I also just can't accept that I will never see you again. You're too important to me, to the world, to leave behind.'

Y/N's breath hitched as Dick took a step closer to her, never once breaking eye contact. 'I won't abandon you. Never again.'

Those words alone almost broke her facade of cool and uncaring. He meant it. He truly meant it. If he had not just said the words, she would've seen it in his eyes for it was there - the same sentiment.

He would not leave her. Regardless of Themyscira's fate, he would not leave her.

Her Dick Grayson was back.

She regathered her composure by taking a small step away from him. He might be back, but Dick would have to prove himself still if he wanted her back in any capacity.

'Just because I was late, that doesn't mean you take over my training,' she muttered grumpily.

Dick chuckled. 'I didn't steal them. I spoke with Queen Hippolyta herself. She thought it would be a wonderful idea if I stayed to help.'

Y/N sighed in defeat. 'Of course she did,' she muttered. She made a mental note to have a word with her grandmother later about this.

For now, she - and now Dick, it seemed - had a training to conduct.

She spun around to the slightly dispersed crowd of warriors and called out, 'All right. Everyone, grab what you need for the scout today. Half of you will go with Nightwing here to the East Caverns and map out our traps there. The rest of you will come with me to the Northern Passages between the mountains. We leave in ten minutes.'

'Yes, Princess!'

'Well, then, Nightwing,' Y/N said as the group dispersed again to gather their equipment, 'are you ready to go win a war?'

Dick flashed her his signature smile, though his eyes had a renewed sparkle and Y/N wondered if it possibly was because of her.

'Always, Princess.'

'Don't call me that.'

'Oh, but I insist, Princess.'

'One more remark and I'll order the warriors to set you up as bait for the monsters.'

'Whatever you say... Princess.'

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

Tag List:

@valiantbouquetcloud | @epicy0n | @resistanythingbuttemptation | @lunaizhere | @nameunknownsthings | @tqrgvryen | @pariahsparadise | @edgycat | @b4tm4nn | @cynwing | @lilylovelyxo | @herondale-lightworm | @animeflower26 | @tiny-marie | @jedigrayson

[megistusdiary]

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪 𝖊𝖓𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖌 𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

dom!succubus yae miko x sub!fem reader

warnings: smut (mdni), wlw content, miko has claws/fangs, she's a bit obsessed with you + steals you at the end

contains: shibari, cunnilingus, pussy slapping, tribbing, orgasm denial, overstimulation

pt. 1 of the succubus au miniseries

word count: 2.0k

miko is the type of succubus to enjoy her prey to the fullest. once she has you ensnared in your very own dream, she holds nothing back. yet something about you taunts her.

each time she seeks you out, she just can't seem to settle on the right time to feed on your lust. she's been watching you for quite some time now. she's always rather finnicky with her food, taking her time to select the perfect prey. but there's something about you that has her curious.

she's usually the type to lure her pretty toys with a few wet dreams. soon enough, they're practically begging for something, anything, without even realizing it's her they want. it only takes her a few days to figure them out, really. once she gets what she needs, she discards her toys, thrown away to find the next docile little thing to sink her teeth into.

she's been watching you for a longer time than she usually wastes on humans. considering she's a succubus, she has the ability to walk in dreams, though she can also walk unnoticed (if she wishes) through your version of reality. miko follows you around, observing your day-to-day activities. she finds it monotonous, trying to find an angle to use to drag you to her.

slowly, she begins to pay more attention. rather than just watching, she starts to notice things about you. the little quirks only perceptive beings would spot. the way you tap your foot when you work, the way you bite the inside of your cheek, the little creases of your eyebrows when you're annoyed. it almost makes her sick how she can actually anticipate your actions before you do them.

miko walks through your life like a ghost alongside you. she's haunted by you, and she doesn't know why. she wants you all to herself. not just for the night, she wants to possess you entirely. she wants to figure out what makes you tick, and then she wants to strip it all away to make you into her perfect pet to please and feed on.

but another part of her, the strange, new, sensitive part, wants to keep you close to her for something she's never felt before. this... feeling is not possessive, no. this is as close to what humans call 'love' as a demon like her could manage, she thinks. she likes watching you laugh. the way your lips curl up in amusement at stupid jokes from your friends. your smile is infectious, and she thinks it cruel that she isn't the reason she sees you smile.

she itches to touch your skin, your hair, to run her fingers down your spine. she wants your body, yes, but she wants to keep you. maybe you could be her pretty little pet, cure her strange obsession for you so she can move on. she's tried before to forget about you, but she can't bring herself to.

yet, she wonders why she hasn't just taken care of all this yet. why hasn't she simply taken you? she never really needs to make her prey desperate for her. that's just all in good fun for bored succubi like her. it makes the chase all the more fun. so, why does she torment herself with watching you and never anything more?

sometimes she catches you at night, playing with yourself beneath your blankets. soon enough, all tuckered out from your little session, you fall asleep. she knows this is the prime moment, but she wants to draw it out subconsciously. it's nearing obsession the way she edges herself with you. her fingers itch to touch you, but she refrains, practically punishing herself.

but then it happens. a night when you've come home exhausted, which, albeit isn't a rare occurrence. something about you seems off tonight, tears pricking at the corners of your eyes. you climb into bed, stripping yourself with one goal in mind, to which miko watches you eagerly.

she's almost disappointed when your session ends with you simply growing more frustrated, tossing the covers over yourself and curling up on your side. her tail stops moving, drooping without her even realizing as her brows furrow. how boring.

well, surely this was her cue?

the logical part of her brain tells her it's merely because your body would still be aroused, still prepared to orgasm.

her heart tells her it's because you were obviously upset, and you didn't even get the relief you desperately chased. poor little human, unable to find pleasure on her own.

she feels bad for you, sneaking into your little dreamworld and seeing the image of you curled up in your bed. she approaches you confidently, a little smirk on her lips as she drags her finger up your blanket-covered body, tapping the tip of your nose.

you wake up slowly, looking up at her with furrowed brows. "is this a dream?" you ask suddenly, and she laughs, turning to the side and covering her fangs with her palm.

"oh, aren't you adorable." she coos, pinching your cheek. she leans down, cupping your jaw and puffing your lips out. "you look so tired, little one." she glances off, her hand taking a more gentle touch than she would with any others.

she can see you eyeing her tail curiously as it sways, curling up behind her body. her thumb gently strokes your skin, and she smiles almost wickedly. "you're so cute, i could just eat you up..." her eyes trail down your blankets, falling on where your waist would be. "you're lucky i like my prey a little slutty." she pinches your cheek, giving you no time to react to her words. "you're practically dripping, i can smell it."

she yanks the blankets off, revealing the wet patch on your panties and your surprised little face. you can't even manage to hide it before she's pushing your thighs open wide with clawed hands. they dig into your skin, leaving little indentations in your thighs as she leans in. you swear her eyes glow in the darkness of your room, focusing on your panties.

her clawed fingers trace over your clothed cunt, teasingly scraping the sharp points over your clit, feeling you squirm from the light sensations. she laughs, leaning up and suddenly bringing her palm down over your pussy. it's a dull thud and a slight pain that makes you yelp, thighs struggling to close as she keeps a firm hold on one.

"so sensitive too. what a little treat, and all for me?" she slides her free hand up to your jaw, tilting your already glassy eyes up to hers. "all for me?" she repeats, lightly squeezing your jaw.

and, really, you're not quite sure what takes over you when you respond with a meek little, "yes, all for you." slightly muffled by her hold on your face. she pats your cheek, satisfied as she settles back down between your legs.

she rips your panties right off you, tossing them away haphazardly, grinning up with sharp fangs. she nips your thigh just to hear you gasp for her before she licks a slow, fat stripe up your cunt. her tongue is skilled as she circles your clit, teasing your sensitive nerves as you begin to squirm.

you just can't help it. she feels so good, and your hips move on their own, grinding on your tongue. and then, once more, she slaps your pussy. considering it's your bare flesh now, it stings more, and she delights in your whiny little cry for her.

"bad girl." she chastises. "keep still for me." she warns, biting your skin again before diving back in.

you do your best to stay still, trying not to move your hips, but when she slides her tongue into your dripping hole, your hips jump. she suddenly lets out an almost disappointed sigh, pulling away. your slick still coats her lips and part of her face as she stares down at you.

"no! please- please wanna-"

"you're a disobedient little thing." she tuts, ignoring you. "you're lucky i like little brats." she drags a hand up your jaw, booping your nose before summoning ropes in her hands. it all happens so fast, and suddenly, you find yourself completely tied up.

intricate red rope knots cover your body, keeping you all tied up in a way she has easy access to your pussy, but one where you can't move at all. you struggle against the ropes, whining at her and she grins. "what's the matter?"

"'m sorry!" you whimper and she shakes her head.

"aw, but this doesn't have to be a punishment, does it? it's not so bad, being all tied up for me. you're much cuter when i don't have to keep reminding you of the rules." she covers her smile with the back of her palm. she leans back down, eyeing your dripping pussy. "you're wet enough, i'd say."

she sits up, making you watch as she slowly, teasingly strips. she unties the delicate strings holding her outfit together, revealing her breasts first. she lets the fabric slide down her stomach before she pulls it away to reveal her bare body. she cups her own breasts, seeing your desperate gaze.

"wanna touch, please?" you ask her and she sighs, teasing her own nipples with a wicked grin.

"if you're a good girl, maybe i'll let you. that's something you have to earn." she answers, positioning herself over you. she spreads your thighs, her cunt hovering over yours. "now, be a good little toy, and stay very still while i use you."

she slides her pussy over yours, her clit rubbing against yours as you mewl loudly for her, already sensitive from being edged earlier. she laughs wickedly, grinding more firmly. her grip on your legs is harsh, but the pleasure from her rubbing against you is sending your mind reeling.

"ah, sweetheart- you're drenched. you feel so good." she muses, head falling forward as she uses you entirely for her own pleasure. she drinks up your pathetic mewls and whimpers.

"close, i'm close, please, please-" you begin to babble, tears forming in your eyes as you desperately beg for her.

"go on, cum for me like the little slutty human you are." her ears flick, the jewelry in them jingling as she uses your body.

she feels your release against her, making it even more slick. you sigh with relief, only to whimper and cry when she keeps going. she grabs your face, shutting your mouth. "i didn't get to cum yet, don't be selfish. besides, you were begging me just a minute ago to cum. i'm letting you cum as many times as i decide. isn't that so generous of me?" she nods your head for you, patting your cheek and continuing to grind against you.

once she's wrung two more orgasms from you, she's sat herself right onto your face, riding your tongue as her clawed hands destroy your pillows. she uses you like you're nothing more than a toy to her, grinding her clit on your nose and completely suffocating you.

all you can feel, smell, hear, see, and taste are her.

she coos at you, so condescending as she cums on your tongue. "drink it all up, it's all for you. so strange that such a filthy little thing like you can get me so worked up. ah, looking after you had me pent up for the longest time." she smiles down at you, untying the knots as you lay limply on the bed.

she cups your cheek, her heart skipping a beat when you nuzzle into her palm like a little kitten.

"oh, it's a shame you're so cute. i almost feel bad for what i'm about to do. almost." she pets your head, letting you fall asleep in your dream.

she sneaks back out into the real world, picking up your sleeping body, carrying you off to her dimension. perhaps you'd be an interesting pet for her, indeed.

after all, miko wasn't quite done with you yet. she just can't help it that she's the possessive type ♡

[lizpottersworld]

ੈ✩‧₊˚ PRETTY ISN’T PRETTY (sirius black x reader)

summary: you can’t help but question yourself with the beauty standards that Hogwarts upkeeps. especially being with Sirius black, as girl’s from all around the castle question your deserving of him.

“i bought all the clothes that they told me to buy, i chased some dumb ideal my whole fucking life.”

being a teenage girl wasn’t easy, all these expectations and standards that you expected to uphold or to even care about. it’s not that girls want to question their looks, or to worry about how they look in the mornings, it’s all beauty standards. it affects everybody. even, y/n, who always considered herself pretty. and it’s not like she wasn’t, she was beautiful, just not enough in some peoples eye’s.

some people in Hogwarts cared very deeply about it, how they were perceived, who they spoke to, the clothes they wore, how perfect their hair or makeup was. even you, who never used to worry about how you looked but the girl’s around you in Slytherin had been awfully judgmental since you started dating sirius black.

he was one of the most popular boys in school, the fuck boy who had a reputation of having many girl’s following behind him. some of his girlfriends still refused to accept his now taken status, taking their pent out frustrations out on his lovely girlfriend.

lazily remarks or whispered comments about how her hair looked one day, or how she ate the next. she couldn’t help but feel like she had to change these things. now getting up early to style her hair and put on an obscene amount of makeup she didn’t even want to wear. how she begged her mother for money for new clothes, that she didn’t even like. all to hush their complaints that had nothing to do with them.

even the strongest can’t help but feel saddened by fellow classmates opinions, all she wanted to was to feel better about herself.

“and none of it matters, and none of it ends, you just feel like shit over and over again.”

even after the changes, the effort, there was still something to always say, and even as she relentlessly tried to meet those every time it was only a matter time before it felt worthless. her boyfriend had being fairly worried about her, aswell as her friends, telling them it was all fine and she just felt like doing a change. they never believed her.

“darling, i’m just worried about you—“ sirius caressed her cheek as she huffed, certainty in her face. sirius softened lovingly, “listen, if its about some things people have been saying,” he began and she cut him off immediately.

“what are people saying?” instantly asking, was my hair not good enough today? was there something in my teeth? lily sighed beside the two, with a frown on her face at her friend’s response, knowing the things people said did affect her even if she wouldn’t admit it.

lily put a hand on your shoulder with a solemn frown, “honey, why do you listen to their horrible words?” her eyebrows furrow, “you know they’re just self reflection, right? you are the most kind, beautiful girl in the whole of hogwarts, they’re just self conscious.” she smiled, her motherly words softly echoing through your mind as she pulled you into a grounding hug. breathing for the first time in a while, thinking for yourself for what seemed like ages.

peace. something you hadn’t felt for a long while.

“no, it’ll never change, pretty isn’t pretty enough, everybody’s keeping it up, pretty isn’t pretty enough, pretty isn’t—“

sirius kissed your forehead, wiping the hot tears from your face. “its okay, my love.” he whispered, pulling you closer to stumble into his embrace. only then did you cry, falter even for a minute.

“i’m tired of changing everything just to be who they want to respect and pay attention to.” you sobbed, “i didn’t ask for any of this, for the criticism, i just wanted to feel loved.” you cried as Sirius cooed, his heart aching.

“i know, i know,” he kissed your cheeks repeatedly, “and i’m so sorry. you don’t deserve any of it, you’re the prettiest girl in the world to me.” another heartbreaking sob lurched through the dorm.

“but thats not enough.” you managed through the crying.

“maybe to them, but to everyone else..” he continued, moving the hair out of your face, “how you are perceived by yourself is more important than everyone’s perception of standards, you are enough. you are you. don’t let them take that from you.” he mumbled, the comfort of him holding more importance now to the words of others.

if sirius thought you were enough, then why does the world’s opinion matter. he’s the only one who truly knew you. they didn’t.

even if the whole of Hogwarts desperately grasped to the idea of being accepted and standards, you held onto something stronger. the warming love of your friends around you, they liked you for who you were. not for who they made you be. thats all that mattered.

[jarofstyles]

Illicit 5

Here's Illicit part 5.. It's a fun one for sure hehe

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Illicit Masterlist

WC- 3k

Warnings- exhibitionism(?), Voyerism(?), Really mean H, Cheating (H w Y/N), spit play, smut etc

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

It was safe to say that Brant was not pleased in the slightest that his daughter had tricked Harry. While he wasn’t pleased with the fact that it had come to that in order for them to spend time together, his company took precedence over his daughter’s relationship. He had apologized profusely to Harry, telling him he would speak to his daughter and make sure she knew how inappropriate her actions were. That wasn’t what he was looking for. 

He wanted this contract terminated. 

Perhaps, if he hadn’t met Y/N, he would have a bit more tact. Suffer in silence and just roll his eyes at her antics, let her do what she needed to get him off of her back. But he did. He met the love of his life and this girl was standing in the way of what he wanted. That never turned out well for anyone, really, but this girl had pushed his last straw. He needed her to break up with him so this agreement was void. The moment she told him it was done, he would perhaps just for joy. It was exhausting. The annoyance he used to feel for her had built up into a sweltering hatred, a loathing. Every little thing she did pissed him off and put her higher and higher on his shit list. He needed her gone, and fast. He couldn’t keep hiding Y/N.

Katherine on the other hand, only wanted to chase harder. She was livid with him for speaking out loud, letting people question their relationship. Sure enough there was a grainy video of a pissed off Harry growling at her from across the table, throwing cash on to the table. The articles had come out in droves.

Trouble in Paradise for the New IT Couple?

UnStylish Dinner- Waitress Tells All

Rocky Road for Heiress and Mogul 

Is THE Couple Calling it Quits?

Tantrum at the Table? Katherine Brant EXPOSED!

Needless to say, she was twitching and angry. Her carefully curated brand had been tarnished. She’d put in months now of effort, building up their story. Letting herself sit aside while Harry was busy but getting her head bitten off when she wanted a bit of attention. Her crush on him was obsessive. It wasn’t just getting his love anymore, it was building their relationship up to legendary levels. Give them a ship name! Katrry? Hatherine? She was fine with either, but she wanted that influencer reputation. The wealth itself wasn’t enough. She wanted attention, damn it, and Harry was ruining her plans. 

When Katherine had originally gotten this deal, she was ecstatic. She was convinced she could get the ‘emotionless beast’ as people around there called him, to love her. She knew she was pretty, funny, she had a lot to offer. Her plan had been foolproof, or so she thought. Thinking about how they could rise up and be the perfect power couple. New money and Old coming together and ruling over the city with a golden fist. 

They had been ruined, however, when he didn’t give. They had sex 2 times, she gave him oral once, and the man had barely said anything to her except ‘shut up.’ He was selfish, using her as a mere fleshlight to get off on. No praise, no words besides a grunt when he came. He’d demanded her face down, ass up, and to keep quiet. Bite the pillow if you need, your voice is annoying.  It hadn’t been bad, his cock thick and hitting the right spots, but he showed no interest in her. No affection. Simply slapping her ass and getting up to shower alone after he was done. He’d asked if she was good, but that was about it. She’d thought maybe using sex to get to him would work, but after the second time he straight up denied her. No phsycial contact.

There was no way he was normal. He didn’t have emotions nor morals, it seemed, but she didn’t need those in order to have a happy life. Giving up on the affection, she’d tried to perfect the image, manipulating photos, planting people to see things at certain angles. Making people think she had done the impossible- she had turned the mottled, charred heart of Harry Styles into a blooming forest, just for her. But obviously- things were not turning out her way. Katherine was used to getting her way. 

So she devised a plan. An intervention of sorts, one that had her stomping into his office only to be told he had taken the day off. A direct lie he had told her just an hour earlier, saying he was busy at work all day and not to bother him with silly things. Like her feelings. She was fuming and irrational, knowing what she had to do. It would perhaps get people fired, maybe get her in big trouble with her father, but she wasn't thinking clearly right now. All she wanted to do was to yell at him. Give Harry a taste of his own medicine, damn it. He acted so high and mighty, so above her, and it infuriated her. 

Knowing it wasn’t smart and the back of her mind reminding her of how much he valued his privacy, she knew it was dirty. But seeing her opportunity with a new doorman to his building, proving their relationship status with his phone number in her phone and photos of them together, she got the spare key to his place. 

Her heart was beating in her throat as she pushed the front door handle down, heels clicking as she walked inside the foyer. The place was quiet, really, except for a faint sound coming from the upstairs of the penthouse. Naive, she assumed it was the television. Harry hadn’t allowed her here more than to meet her in the hallway, so part of this was saving her curiosity as she saw the large panoramic views of the city in this high rise, floor to ceiling windows. His step down living room with a half one puzzle on the coffee table and a U Shaped couch, she walked past it and towards the grand staircase to make her way up to where he must be. 

It was nerve wracking, really. Being here, knowing she wasn’t supposed to be, but the rage simmering under her skin was too hot to make sense of it. Each step clicked, bringing her closer to the sound she still couldn’t quite make out. 

“Oh, fuuuuck.” A feminine voice let out, faint but loud enough to make her throat tight. There was no way. Each step closer gained another sound. A grunt, a smack, a whimper. A manly cooing, the sound of flesh slapping together and hushed words that only got clearer as she neared the door that was ajar. 

“S’good, baby?” It was Harry. Harry Styles, with his low crooning voice. A tone she had never heard before, making her stiffen up and her eyes blink hard as the deep words continue. “S’so good for me. Always so fucking good, swallowing me up.” A weak whine sounded in reply. Tip toeing closer, her curiosity got the best of her again as she peeked inside. 

On the plush bed, the blankets were crumpled and wrinkled. A starkly naked, almost faceless woman was laying on her back, fingers clutching the broad expanse of Harry’s bare, tanned back. The pearly pink of her demure manicured nails digging into the skin, making a groan Katherine had never imagined the man capable of falling from swollen lips. She was getting a side view, a real pornographic image playing in front of her face. Frozen, like watching a car crash as she looked at the couple. 

He was fucking another woman. A woman he was treating much differently than she had ever treated her. His hand scooping under her neck, cooing down at her as tiny repetitive whimpers left her lips. “I know, M’Love. I know, I’m getting that spot, aren’t I? S’my spot.” He brushed her nose with his own, fucking into her deep and concentrated. The sweat glistened on his skin as she watched her supposed ‘boyfriend’ fuck into the cunt of another woman. He called her ‘his love.’. She was shaking, face pale as she couldn't seem to uncement her feet from the carpeted hall. 

“Yes, yes, right there. Right there, H.” The woman panted. Desperation was clear in her tone, her legs pulled up and on his shoulders. H? She was allowed a nickname and Katherine wasn't? “I can’t stop, m’gonna cum, m’gonna cum I-” A needy squeal sounded in the room as Harry leaned down, spitting over her cunt and smearing it in with his hand. Unashamed and passionate. He was being filthy, but the way he looked at the woman- it broke her a little. Whoever this was, she had gotten her dream. She was the one standing in the way of it, she was the one who had ruined her plans. She’d hypnotized him with sex, somehow managing to get her goal of unfreezing his heart. Just the way he handled her made Katherine well aware of the fact that he was in love. 

“There we fuckin’ go, my love. Soak my cock.” He hissed through his teeth, eyes looking up from Y/N to follow his gut feeling, eyes meeting Katherine’s in the doorway. Instead of stopping, of growling at her, instead of making her presence known, he simply laughed, turning his attention back to Y/N and let her watch. His thrusts increased in tempo, a hand placed on her tummy as he worked harder. Like he was trying to prove something. “S’my perfect girl. All mine, let go all over my cock. S’all yours, baby.” He hummed. “I can feel it- fuck, you’re trying to milk me. Y’want it, sweet girl?” He mumbled down at her. “Want my cum again?” 

Her eyes betrayed her, looking down to find that his cock was indeed bare. Something she knew he was notorious for never allowing. It solidified a lot to Katherine, knowing that he was fucking this girl raw, that she was the one that had beat her to him. Anger and shame bubbled inside of her as her face stays red, watching his slick pick drive into her, spreading her open with each pass. Creamy at the base, like this wasn’t their first round, maybe a third. Bitten skin and scratch marks, her breasts with pebbled nipples arched up as begged for it, unashamed at her pleas as Harry stared down at her with pure love and lust. It seemed to be his undoing, dropping down her legs and finding himself on top of her, deep and hard thrusts as he pressed his nose to hers before his face contorted in rapture. A deep growl, his hips stuttering as he pushed in one final time and the wet sounds of sex ended. Only then, he took her mouth with his own while he stayed balls deep, humping into her and kissing her hard, more passion going into that one kiss than he had given her the whole of their relationship. 

His expression hardened as he pulled away, looking up at Katherine with a single warning mouthed to her by his swollen, spit slicked lips. ‘Get the fuck out.’ 

—---------

“I love you.” Harry mumbled into Y/N’s neck, peppering it with kisses. He wasn’t going to ruin this post orgasm bliss quite yet, ignoring the woman standing with a gaping mouth at their bedroom door. “So much. My sweet angel.” He stroked the messy locks from her face, their second round on his day off being usually one of his favorites. This time, it was again, but for a much more nefarious reason. 

Harry wasn’t one to tell someone they were wrong if they called him cruel. He was. Y/N, his nieces and his family were the only ones shielded by his gray morals, but there was a sick part of him that was relieved. Excited, even, that Katherine got a glimpse. Saw that she could never compare, that he was a taken man and was only with her. Maybe now, she would get it through her impossibly thick skull. Only, it seemed she was stupider than Harry had originally thought, standing like a deer in headlights as Harry gently pulled out, using his fingers to curl inside her cunt and the other grabbing the blanket to cover up Y/N. 

“Can you not read lips? I said to get the fuck out.” He said coldly, fingers pressing the cum further into Y/N’s cunt as he looked at Katherine. “You come in here, invade my privacy? More so, my girl’s privacy? Not fucking okay.”

“Are you kidding me?” Katherine squeaked. Y/N had been clued in and felt herself curl in on herself, hiding under the blanket as her thundering heart didn’t take the second to calm down. It only got worse. “I’m your girlfriend! Not this, this-”

“I’d choose your words very fucking carefully.” He snapped, eyes darker than she had ever seen. He was naked as the day he was born, cock wet and filthy with another woman's orgasm mixed with his own, and he was more threatening than she could have ever imagined. “This is the woman who will be the mother of my children. You, Katherine, are a means to an end. An end I’ve been trying to work on and you’ve been too pathetic to catch a clue. Or stupid, actually, considering I’ve told you I’m here because you whined to your father who was dumb enough to add a personal matter cloud his judgment. I didn’t want you then, and I don’t want you now.” He pulled his fingers from Y/N, licking them clean without breaking eye contact with the wicked witch. He hoped it made her sick.

“You are a monster.” She whispered, face paling. “You don’t care about anything! Any of the effort I put in, it’s because you’ve had a whore on the side-”

“Watch your fucking mouth.” He interrupted again. “She’s not the whore. If anything, you’re the one on the side trying to desperately prove to people who don’t care about you that you are important. It’s pathetic. I tried to help you by treating you like shit, but let me spell it out for you.” He stood up, giving Y/N’s forehead a kiss before crossing his arms. “You are nothing to me. You’ve never been anything to me. She has been my everything since the day we met. I have been dreaming of marrying her, impregnating her, keeping her. You and this fucked up deal have been an inconvenience since day one. And don’t even think about running to your father crying. There is no clause saying I need to be loyal to you. No monogamy, no fidelity clause. Your father’s company was a welcome inquisition to my empire, but it means nothing to me now. You mean nothing to me. Your time is worthless.” 

Harry was harsh but real. Y/N had her hand over her mouth, watching the exchange in horror. She wasn’t pleased about being seen, as it felt extremely violating, but she couldn’t lie and say she wasn’t feeling that weird sense of satisfaction over finally being seen as his one and only. It was a weird juxtaposition of feelings swirling in her gut, blinking as she watched the girl’s face fall. Harry was being ruthless, trying to cement the facts in her head. 

“I’ve been as kind as I can be given the situation. I went along with your little schemes but I’m tired. Frankly, the things you care about are vapid, stupid, and you will fall out of public favor in seconds once the next heiress with a camera pops up. But you’ve fucked up massively, Katherine.First, wasting my time and business hours. But this? Breaking and entering? Are you really that pathetic?” He sneered. It must have been a sight, seeing a stark nude Harry Styles sneering at a shivling excuse of an influencer who was standing in his doorway. “And here you are now, wasting my time with my love. I was going to continue this agreement and let you continue whatever social media posts, but this is too far for me. No deal is worth a psychotic woman breaking into my house and making my woman feel unsafe.” 

He crossed the room to grab his phone when he heard her sputter. 

“Wait! No- No, don’t call my dad.” She said shakily. “Please don’t call him. I’ll do anything. He’s going to kill me.” Katherine, above all else, couldn’t stand the threat of being cut off. That’s what he threatened the other day for using his phone to trick Harry. Katherine was used to her lifestyle and if that was taken away, she didn’t know what she would do. 

“Call off the contract.” He said. “That’s the only way I’m not telling your father and ruining your life. Break up with me, do your silly influencer thing and call the paparazzi. Call me an asshole, I don’t give a fuck. But break this contract. I want out of it and I want to be rid of you.” He found his briefs, pulling them up his legs. This was the one thing he wanted. To be honest, part of him did want to ruin her life- but he didn’t want to be held responsible for all the other shit that came with it. So for one final time, he gave her a shot. “And get the fuck out before I call security.”  

If she didn’t take this warning seriously, he’d be happy to show her what kind of monster he could be. 

[notanactressyay]

— ༉‧₊˚. 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞

— ₊⊹ 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 . Natasha Romanoff x reader

— ₊⊹ 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 . Natasha always patched herself up. she never even allowed anyone near when she's hurt. you, on the other hand, made her a bandage and even discovered a little more about who she was.

— ₊⊹ 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 . implied violence, bullet wounds, blood, bruises, talks of the red room, cursing, emotional moments, caring for baby Natasha.

— ₊⊹ 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔 . finishing that a year later. yup, that's me. but that's just too special for me to drop it.

fic started: july, 08, 2023, 1:06pm. | finished: june, 23, 2024, 9:29pm.

dividers belong to: @saradika-graphics — ₊⊹

you're at home, reading a book as you usually did. the day was calm, tranquil, and it didn't seem like anything bad would happen. the sun rays came in from the gap between the curtains and shone right onto your face.

little did you know what was going on out there. the avengers were looking for the Winter Soldier, and well, the search wasn't going really good. cars crashing, civilians injured. and the target out there, no signs of him.

your best friend, the Black Wid— Natasha, had been as reckless as she always was, and attempting to protect a citizen, she took a bullet on the shoulder. and instead of getting immediate medical attention, she used her bleeding arm to fire a shotgun and throw a few more punches here and there.

Steve wanted to get her to a SHIELD facility, but she knew their usual procedure — they'd have her arm cut open to remove the bullet, stitch her up, and keep her in observation. she didn't want any of that. too much physical contact for her liking.

so she thought of the only smart way she could make this play. she couldn't simply go to her house with a criminal running around, in the middle of a mission. and her team would go looking for her there. not a smart choice. so she went to you.

not that she wanted to be taken care of. not that she needed to be taken care of, due the intense amount of pain going through her system. she'd just go to your house to hide, yeah.

the knocks on your door sounded heavy and urgent. you placed the book down, walking to the entrance and looking through the peephole — finding yourself in front of a bleeding, broken Natasha Romanoff. the door almost flies open, and she doesn't give you time to ask questions, stumbling inside and kicking the door shut.

"shh, keep your voice down." the redhead whispers weakly. regardless of the pain, she tries to be sarcastic. "don't be too loud or they might find me."

"your arm!" you whisper-yell, ignoring everything she had said. you ran to grab a cloth, pressing it against the wound. Natasha hissed loudly. just then you realized it was a bullet. "holy shit, i'm so sorry."

"i'm good." she weakly reassures, grabbing the cloth from your hand, taking a step back. she applied pressure to stop the bleeding — but she was barely standing. "just a tiny scratch,"

"shut it." you shake your head and carefully lead her to the nearest couch, helping her to sit down. by now, you'd have already called an ambo. but like she said, she was being chased. "spit it out, c'mon."

"mission went wrong." she sighs, allowing her eyes to close for a moment, then opening them again. when she feels you sitting down next to her, she instinctively scoots over, as if to create some distance. "the most of it is classified. but it went wrong. that's all i can tell you,"

"alright, Natasha. but you got to go and see a doctor." you chuckle humorlessly, pointing out the obvious.

the redhead was sweating, expression showing clear pain. even if the bleeding on her shoulder had stopped, she was still weak. it didn't matter she was trained for that. she was still a person.

"i can handle it." she tries to smile, but feels the uneasiness again. her eyes feel heavy, and she wants to close them. but she knew that meant passing out, going to the hospital. "just get me a first aid kit and i'll be okay."

"god, you're stubborn." you murmur. you'd probably give her a speech, but not now. "hang in there, i'll be right back."

you quickly went to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit from the cabinet, placing it on the living room's coffee table. you also grabbed a water bottle and a bag of cookies you had, in case she wanted to eat later.

you just didn't expect her to push you back when you reached out to touch her arm.

"just give it to me," she extends her hand towards the kit box, coaxing a small, incredulous laugh out of you.

"you expect me to let you do it yourself? in that state?" you ask, genuinely concerned now. you sit down by her side once again, slowly. she gulps.

Natasha was your elusive superhero friend, so you never really had that much of physical contact before. you didn't know about her past, either. you didn't know her fear of people touching her. her fear of being vulnerable. because back then, she wasn't allowed to be vulnerable.

widows never failed. widows never got sick. if a widow had an injury, that meant victory. she'd have to heal herself and focus back on the mission. so simply putting, Natasha didn't know what it was to allow someone to care for her.

but now... she was almost passing out. really. she also knew damn well you had no intentions of hurting her, nor reasons to do so. or else, she'd have distanced herself a long time ago. so she sighs in defeat.

"... just make it quick, okay?" she shifts, allowing you in her personal space.

you sigh as well in relief, opening the first-aid kit box and grabbing a wipe, putting some hydrogen peroxide on it. the blood under the cloth had long dried. you carefully unwrapped it from her arm, setting it aside. you examined the wound closely. the bullet went through, it was good, somehow. you wouldn't have to magically learn how to make a surgery.

Natasha's eyes followed your hand, as it wiped away the blood covering her arm. she was so tense at the beginning. but time went by, and her brain slowly registered the fact she didn't have a reason to be tense. her shoulders visibly eased up.

"the bullet's not here," you whisper, throwing the dirty wipes away and grabbing the ointment, the antiseptic, and the bandages. "i'll patch you up for now, but Nat, you seriously need some stitches."

she's relieved. the pain is still strong, but she's relieved, with you. only if you knew how bad she was trying not to cry right now. her voice quivers, as she points to something inside the box. "i-is that aspirin?"

you frown, stopping the movements. "it is. do you want some?"

"mhm." the russian hums, unable to stop the little tear from rolling down her cheek. with your help, she takes a couple of pills and swallows it with the water you grabbed earlier. "thank you,"

"you're welcome." you murmur back, softly smiling at the sight of Natasha's tender side starting to show up. you continue, applying the ointment on her skin and carefully spreading it.

"i never had this before," Natasha says, almost inaudibly. her head lowers itself to your shoulder, surprising you. "did you know that? because back then, getting hurt was a good thing. they made us believe that, i mean."

you listen to her soft rambling, humming to let her know you heard. you finish wrapping the bandages around her arm and shoulder, and put some band-aids to keep it secure. in response to her leaning against you, you carefully, gently wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"i'm glad you know that's not true anymore." you comment, and she nods. her lips quiver more. my, she looks so.. broken. and you'd do anything to fix her. at least try. "you can cry, Nat. let your pain out."

she sniffles, her one good arm circling you as she weakly buried her face on your shoulder, allowing the tears to flow freely. her body trembles, so you hold her closer, tighter. your body heat comforts her.

after a while, she certainly doesn't want to talk. her sobs quiet down, and she tries to cuddle up against you. " 'm tired, wanna sleep."

"i know." you say, pressing the back of your hand against her forehead. she surely had a fever. but the aspirin she took before would help, in a few hours. "you can take your rest now."

Natasha whimpers quietly — which was supposed to be a yawn — and allow her eyelids to finally shut. she clings to you tightly, as if genuinely scared you would disappear if she let you go. but you never would.

not after seeing such a thing. she did something major today. and you treasured it with your whole heart. you pressed a kiss on the top of her head and held her — having no idea if the SHIELD spies would come after you. nah, probably not. Natasha knew what she was doing.

[andypantsx3]

fingerprints | 9 | todoroki x reader

pairing: Todoroki Shouto / Reader

length: 3.9k of 38k words | 9th of 9 chapters

summary: When you’re outed as pro hero Shouto’s soulmate on national television, there are really only two sensible things for you to do: blame someone else and run.  

tags/warnings: romance, soulmate au, fluff, pining, not actually unrequited love, aged up characters, eventual smut

fic masterlist

“Momo!” An enthusiastic cry went up from the Class A table.

You watched, a tiny thrill of anticipation zinging down your spine, as Momo smiled and approached your hightop. She was even prettier in person, her dark hair shiny and her features so prim and pert. Even her movements were charismatic and sure.

Mina shoved over to make room between herself and Jirou, and Momo gracefully perched on the stool, accepting the drink Jirou had apparently had waiting for her. Like Shouto, Momo was also treated to a round of fist-bumps which she returned with a soft smile and perfectly manicured hands.

Chatter quickly resumed all around you, Kaminari seizing your attention to show you a trick where he opened his beer with his forearm, looking pleased with himself. Then Shouto wanted to try, and your heart rate ticked up as he shrugged off his sweater in favor of the gray tee shirt beneath, his biceps cording with the movement.

You swallowed your own drink wrong, and Mina had to pat you on the back as you coughed, smirking knowingly. Your eyes briefly met Momo’s as you looked back, and she waved, a dainty little swoop of her fingers.

It took a few minutes for Shouto to learn the trick, as he didn’t seem to have enough fat on his forearm to manage it neatly, and had to push the bottle against the muscle a little more firmly. Once he had managed the cap twist perfectly, however, he presented you with the beer proudly, and you grinned at him.

Those mismatched eyes glittered in the dim light of the bar, dipping to your mouth as you took a sip. Heat pooled low in your stomach as he leaned in, watching you carefully.

You were somewhat startled to notice that his gaze was fixed solely on you, as though he had no thought for anyone else in the room. You realized, quite belatedly, that other than a nod at Momo as she approached, Shouto hadn’t shown any specific reaction.

In fact, come to think of it, no one had seemed to assume that Momo’s place would be by Shouto’s side when she came in. And Shouto had gone right back to opening a beer bottle for you, watching you drink it, looking like he wanted some reaction from you.

You again had the thought that he was unlike anyone else–so watchful, so kind, so unbelievably good down to his core. So unbelievably good to you, down to the smallest thing. He was your soulmate—yours, and he had tried so hard to keep you in his life ever since you had first met. Had dedicated so much of his time and attention to you since then, had made you feel so precious, special, cherished.

Despite all the shit people were saying on twitter, despite the fact that the entire world was on the verge of finding you out for sure. He had never cared. There was only one person he had ever made you feel like he cared for—

And suddenly, just like that, in a tiny, nothing moment, with Shouto’s eyes on you in a dimly lit dive bar–you realized.

Shouto had never been Momo’s.

Shouto had never been anyone else’s. Not in the permanent sense.

Shouto had chased after you. Shouto had been spending all his time with you. Shouto had bought you an entire animal rescue, and was even now sponsoring its refurbishment with miles and miles of security apparatus.

Todoroki Shouto had always, always been yours. And the reaction of his skin to your touch proved it, more definitively than anything.

And you had been so fucking stupid this whole time.

“Are you alright, love?” Shouto asked in his low, soft tone, and you blinked up at him, realizing you’d paused over your next sip.

His face was so stupidly perfect up close, his lashes so long and pretty, his mouth so soft and full. In the dim light, the edges of his scar were softened, a dusky pink against the rest of his skin. You’d always wondered if that part of him would react to your touch too. Before you even realized what you were doing, you reached up and gently pressed your thumb just under his eye.

Color bloomed under the pad of your finger, and Shouto blinked curiously, his fingers coming up to take your hand. Color blossomed under his touch too, staining your skin like watercolor.

You could have leaned in and kissed him right then, but something held you in place.

When you chose him, for the first time, you wanted it to be just between you two. Just for a few moments. Because the entire world would find out as soon as the Todoroki Agency made its statement, only a few days from now.

But you wanted this one thing to be just yours at first–the way Shouto was. No one else’s but yours.

You shot Shouto a grin and finished the beer he’d given you, telling him it tasted better for the cool factor his trick had put into it. You stifled a laugh as he tried not to look smug, and wondered how you could have ever, even for a minute, doubted Shouto’s feelings for you.

The rest of the evening was a blur, a haze of rowdy chatter and a rapidly escalating competition of drinking tricks. Pro heroes could apparently put away a ton of alcohol, and couldn’t resist showboating as they did so. You felt yourself grinning ear to ear, and then found those ears flushing with heat when Shouto’s hand found your hip as he watched his classmates get sillier alongside you.

Fetching your final drink of the evening–just regular soda water, considering you wanted to be clear headed enough to talk to Shouto when you got home–you ran into Momo at the bar.

She leaned in immediately, pulling you into a hug that felt like cashmere and smelled like some light, expensive perfume.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you ever since Shouto first showed up at our agency looking for you,” she said, a little bit of a flush on her cheeks. “I know we haven’t met formally but I feel like I know so much about you already.”

You smiled up at her. “Same to you. Shouto’s told me a lot.” Then you paused, curious about what she’d just meant. “Wait, he showed up at your agency looking for me?”

Momo blinked, then looked embarrassed. “Oh! Yes. Um, I hope you don’t mind. Jirou and I run our own agency and her quirk has to do with sound, you know.”

You nodded, curious where this was going. “Well, she’s excellent at long-range intel gathering and we’ve shaped the agency largely around that. We have a lot of heroes with quirks useful for that kind of thing, and civilian employees who specialize in data-gathering techniques as well,” Momo said. She sounded a little proud. “Um, so when Shouto needed to find you…well…”

A smile crept across your mouth. You remembered all those months ago when Shouto had neatly dodged the question of how he’d found you. “A friend ran video footage,” he’d said evasively.

So Momo had been a friend–the friend–all along.

He must have gone straight to her after the rescue, considering he’d shown up in your animal shelter the very next day. And that itself was a dead giveaway.

God, how could you have ever believed he didn’t want you?

“I will never be able to convey how grateful I am that you helped him find me,” you told Momo sincerely. “But, um, I’d love to buy you a drink as a symbol of my thanks.”

She flushed prettily again, but accepted, and you managed to obtain her drink of choice–an unexpectedly no-frills whiskey on the rocks. You would have to remember that for future nights out. There would never be any amount of drinks that could truly give back to her what she’d helped give you, but you could at least try.

After a little more idle chatter, Jirou came looking for Momo, and you thought you understood things even more clearly when you saw Jirou’s tiny, fine-boned hand slide possessively around Momo’s waist. And then you felt a much larger hand touch yours, and you turned to find Shouto lingering over you, watching you carefully.

And you knew, right then, that you couldn’t wait to tell him any longer.

“Hey,” you said in greeting, feeling pleased and bold and shivery with nerves all at once. “Wanna get out of here? I have something I wanna tell you when we get back.”

Shouto blinked, clearly mystified, but murmured his assent. You collected your coats and bade goodbye to everyone and then started the trek back to Shouto’s place, the night air cool on your skin.

“I like your friends,” you told him as you walked. “They’re good people.”

Shouto’s smile was small and pleased and toe-curlingly charming. “I have no doubt they liked you as well.”

“They just like that I made an idiot of myself on national television,” you said. “They like that I gave you a hard time.”

Shouto politely did not mention how prolonged that hard time had been, given that you’d actually been misunderstanding him for months. He told you instead about all the times Class A had made idiots of themselves on national television too, murmuring stories about their first sports festival in his hypnotically low voice as if to calm and reassure you.

You liked him so much.

When you finally made it through Shouto’s door, and Shouto had replenished Princess’s food and water, you knew it was time to tell him for real.

You drew in a nervous breath, then stepped close to him. “I think…I have decided what I want the Todoroki Agency statement to be,” you said.

Shouto’s mismatched eyes went wide, and you watched as he schooled his features into that classically blank expression, as if he did not want to influence you.

He was so, so, so unbearably good.

You had planned to say more but all of it was lost in that moment as you watched him wait for you, watched him try not to push you. It was what he’d been doing this entire time, you realized. Making his intentions clear, giving you everything he possibly could of himself, but never, ever pushing you into something you did not think you were ready for. Like he’d waited for you that day outside your apartment, holding still, letting you make the final move.

You were finally feeling bold enough to do it.

You leaned up, and, heart in your throat, you pressed your mouth to his.

And it was like the entire world snapped into alignment.

You didn’t know how else to describe it. As soon as your mouth met his, it felt like everything was finally right, a wave of something like relief washing over you. Shouto shuddered like he felt it too, and then his hand came up to catch your chin, cradling your cheek.

He kissed you back fervently–scorching one moment and tender the next. He tasted like the sweet fruit and soft tang of his drinks, sugary and delicious. An electric warmth lit you up inside, roiling in your stomach, every single one of your nerves buzzing.

His other arm came around you, gathering you against him, pressing you tightly to him. You clung to him, desperate.

It was a long time before he let you go, and you clutched the collar of his jacket, feeling a little weak-kneed.

“I hope–” Shouto started, sounding a little dazed. He blinked down at you, then tried again. “I hope that was not a farewell…”

You shook your head, gripping his coat even tighter. “No. No–Shouto, I am in love with you. I’m sorry it took so long for me to get my head out of my butt. I have had the most insane crush on you since the second I met you, and I’ve only fallen deeper the more I’ve gotten to know you. I could never, ever give you up for anything—not my privacy–nothing. I choose you.”

The most stunningly gorgeous smile you had ever seen broke out across Shouto’s mouth, luminous in its delight. “You choose me,” he echoed quietly, as if to himself.

Your heart did a weird flip in your chest at how utterly and insensibly handsome he was in his happiness.

You smiled back, feeling giddy. “Yeah. You’re my soulmate.”

Shouto’s fingers tightened on your chin, and then he was tilting your face back up to his and slotting his mouth against yours once more. It quieted every single word in your head, all the months of self-doubt, the stupid shit people had been saying about you online, the worry about what people would say in the future. All you knew, all you could think of, all you could feel was Shouto’s body pressed against yours, Shouto’s mouth over yours, Shouto’s breath filling your lungs–Shouto, Shouto, Shouto.

His thumb traced over your cheek, and Shouto pulled back, watching the motion of the pad across your skin, doubtlessly tracking the streak of color left behind. “Mine,” he said, more than a little smugly.

It startled a laugh out of you, the childish straightforwardness of it. You supposed he was allowed now, considering he’d behaved so carefully, so gentlemanly all throughout the previous months.

“All yours,” you promised.

Shouto seemed to like the sound of that very much. You heard your jacket being unzipped and suddenly it was being tugged off of you.

Shouto’s mouth found its way to your throat, and his fingers crept up under the hem of your shirt, sliding over the bare skin of your waist. “Y/N,” he breathed. “I almost thought I might never have this. I want to see you, all of you…” All of what’s mine, went unsaid.

You nodded, dizzy with the feeling of his mouth in the hollow of your neck. “Yes–I–me too—want to see you…”

You barely managed to scrape together enough brain cells to successfully pull your shirt off, and Shouto let out a low, appreciative groan, guiding you back to the wall with his hands. You watched as he stared at you, dragging his hands over you. Shivers wracked you at the sight of his dilated pupils following the streaks of color left by his fingers, like he could barely control himself over the thought that you were his.

He really, really wanted you.

Shouto’s mouth back on yours distracted you from thinking much more. Your fingers tangled in his hair as he pressed himself against you, shuddering when you felt his hardness press against your stomach.

His hands came under your thighs, boosting you up against him, and then that hardness was slotting right between your thighs, exactly where you wanted him. Your head made a dull thud against the wall as you threw it back, Shouto’s hips hitching to grind himself harder against you. His breath came harsh in your mouth, and you realized you were no better, letting out little puffs of air, squirming against him.

“Shouto,” you managed between kissed, “Shouto, I want—I want—”

“Yes, love,” Shouto said, even as his hand pressed down against your hip, grinding you harder into him. He let out a shuddering breath, eyes fluttering closed.

“I want you, please—” You gasped, accidentally digging your nails into the meat of his shoulder as another cant of his hips pressed him firmly but indirectly to your clit through the fabric of your pants. “Shouto, Shouto, please—more—”

“Anything you want, love,” he said. “I will give you everything.” And then suddenly he was stepping back, and you mourned the loss of heat against you, frowning.

Before you could get a word in, however, he was dropping to his knees, in front of you, tugging down your pants. Your hands seized his shoulders as he took one of your calves in hand, gently helping you step out of them, pulling your leg over one broad shoulder. He pressed a fluttering kiss to your stomach, and then your hip, and then lower, and lower, and lower, until his fingers were pulling aside your panties, and his mouth pressed directly to you.

Your head made another dull thunk against the wall as you threw it back. This is not what you had meant—!

“Fuck–oh my god—Sho–!”

Shouto groaned deeply, then licked over you more firmly. “Yes, pet?” he murmured, before doing it again.

You produced an embarrassing little squealing noise in place of words. You could feel his mouth shift into a smile against you, which was so weirdly hot, and then he went back to work on you, murmuring his appreciation.

His grip on you was firm, holding you in place as you shook with each delicate suck, each curl and swipe of his tongue. When you finally managed to look down at him, those heterochromatic eyes were staring back, drinking you in carefully, sliding over every spot his fingerprints had left his mark on you. The sight of him so wrapped up in you pushed you right over the edge, and he licked you right through your first orgasm, looking so utterly wrecked himself.

You didn’t have a single second to recover before Shouto was surging up, covering your mouth with his again. He caught you by the waist, and herded you urgently towards the couch, his mouth never leaving yours for a second.

You spilled over the side of it, Shouto’s heavy weight bearing you down to the cushions. You practically tore your panties off and fumbled with his belt, desperate to get Shouto inside you. He seemed to know instinctively what you wanted, slotting himself between your thighs.

His cock was predictably just as gorgeous as the rest of him, long and full, and he slid inside you with a low groan, fisting the cushion beside your head.

“Fuck, love,” he uttered, those long, pretty eyelashes fluttering. The sight of him so instantly undone–the furrow of his brow, and the almost-pained twist to his mouth–almost sent you right over the edge again.

He bucked his hips again, burying himself deeper inside you, and launched into an almost desperate pace, like he couldn’t bear to slow down now that he had you. You didn’t know what it was–if it was the fact that he was your soulmate, or if it was just the fact that he was Shouto–but he fit so right within you that you thought you might be driven insane with the feeling.

He held himself up over you with one hand, and the other dragged over every part of you, cupping your face, thumb sliding across your mouth, then slipping down to circle a nipple. You could see the fingerprints left all across your skin, and Shouto’s eyes seemed torn between your face and those bold streaks of color.

Shouto’s mouth only added to things–he was keeping up a stream of praise in that low tone, rough with feeling. “Fuck, love—that’s it. So good, you’re so perfect. Made for me, like we were made for each other. Mine, you’re mine.”

You could only pant out his name in return, writhing underneath him with every expert twist of his hips. “Yes, Shouto, please–!”

“Wanted you–from the very first minute I saw you—” he groaned. “Want you forever—”

The praise, coupled with the slap of his hips against you, the slide of him inside you immediately became too much.

Something inside you seized up, and you were thrown straight back over the edge, biting off a shout into the muscle of Shouto’s shoulder. The clenching of you around him made him groan, and he picked up, his thrusts became faster and looser, like he was losing control. He reached up, pressing his hand high on your chest, leaving a full set of fingerprints on you like a brand over your heart.

And then he was cumming too, flooding your insides, his hips jerking against yours uncontrollably.

You clung to him, sweaty and flushed and so unbearably full of love for him. He smiled down at you, that charming, half-moon grin, looking so incredibly smug and deeply pleased all at once.

“Did you really want me from the first minute you saw me?” you asked curiously, unable to help yourself now that everything was finally, finally on the table.

Shouto nodded, his hair falling into his eyes as he adjusted himself over you, leaning back on his haunches, pulling himself out of you. “Even before you left your fingerprints on me,” he said. “When I saw you–even though you were less injured than the others, it was like all I could focus on was getting you out of there. I had to force myself to prioritize the way I was trained.”

You blinked, feeling strangely flustered. “Really?”

His smile went charmingly crooked. “Like that, do you, love?”

You could practically feel your face fill with heat thermometer-style, like a cartoon character. “I just–to think we could have had this sooner, if I hadn’t been so stupid.”

“Yes,” Shouto agreed, and you tried not to pout.

“In fairness, you never made any moves on me!” you said.

Shouto’s eyes flickered over you assessingly, and he smoothed back some of your hair away from your face. “I was waiting for you to choose me,” he said calmly. “I know what it is to be the family of a pro hero–what it is to not have a choice about being publicly known.”

You warmed at the mention of family. “I’d pick you whatever the circumstances, Shouto,” you said, giddy with the boldness of actually voicing it out loud.

He leaned back in and took your mouth again, a kiss which grew rapidly more interested as Shouto laid himself out over you once more, his fingers sliding into your hair.

Except, as he did, there was a slight rush of air over you, and a light patter along the top of the couch.

You peeked an eye open to see Princess looming over the two of you, looking extremely put out with the goings on in her domain. You sputtered out a laugh as Shouto looked up too, his expression embarrassed and fond at all once.

“We’ve disturbed her majesty,” you said.

Shouto huffed out a small laugh, then gathered you up his arms. You suppressed a squeal, watching as Princess suddenly grew much farther away.

“We will have to take this elsewhere,” Shouto said, carrying you into his bedroom and shouldering the door closed. “As I’m not finished with you yet, love. We have many months to make up for, as you’ve said.”

You couldn’t help the laugh that left you as he deposited you onto his sheets, climbing over you once again, looking so handsome and mischievous and perfectly yours.

“I’m going to leave my fingerprints all over you,” you promised, leaning up and kissing him again.

“I have wanted nothing more,” Shouto said, smiling into your mouth.

And then you did—you marked him so thoroughly as your soulmate, the way you should have done from that very first day.

And Shouto let you, looking pleased—yours, as he always had been.

[shepherds-of-haven]

please i need to know--how would the shepherds fare in a bakery AU?

Hmm, interesting question!

Blade: don't hire him. he would drive the customers away with his very presence. just imagine some dour black-clothed man looming in your charming bakery amidst the smells of custard buns like

truly disgusting stuff

Trouble: I think this would be manageable at first, but not ideal! he's really game to try any line of work for as long as it can hold his interest, and baking could appeal to him if you pointed out its scientific/chemical qualities! Aesthetically his cakes and desserts would look like this

...but his bread would be the absolute bomb! and he'd have such a friendly and casual attitude when you walked in that I feel like people around the neighborhood would fall in love with him lol. imagine him working a wood-fire oven!

Tallys: she would be an efficient worker who made delicious pastries with homegrown or foraged ingredients--very Great British Bakeoff in essence, where they're always talking about making their own pestos or growing their own tomatoes for things or whatever--but her personality is cool and courteous enough that people would feel slightly intimidated by her, like you can't just go to her and ask for your a Shrek cake for your son's 5th birthday party, she's an artisan and you have to treat her as such! (even if she never says so explicitly herself)

Shery: this is my dream for her. She's thriving, she has her own cozy bakery with all of the pastel sweets and cute little character macarons you could ever ask for, she constantly smells of sugar and vanilla and smiles warmly when you walk inside! she is the most successful in this AU of them all and eventually goes on to go viral once people discover her quaint little bakeshop!

Riel: he's an angel investor. he gave shery seed money to pursue her dream of being a baker. she parcels him up treats and petit fours and cookies and sends them to his house once a week, or he'll stop in on his way home from work (or send his butler to go get it when he gets a craving). but in no universe are you getting him to work in a bakery, lol. and nor would you want to! the man has no instinct for cooking or baking. all of his food ends up looking like this

the best you'll get out of him is that he makes every display in the bakery extremely, painfully symmetrical...

Chase: you're probably better off hiring him as, like, the greeter or sign spinner or flyer-distributor to get people into the bakery. like, he'd be great at charming customers into your store, but I highly doubt you'd want to trust him to do anything else in the bakery. he doesn't have the patience to be cooped up behind the register all day. he'd get distracted by all the fun ingredients in the kitchen if you tried to get him to follow a recipe and bake some cakes. heck, he'd probably be distracted thirty minutes into the whole venture and would just wander out of the shop, never to return! he might accidentally turn out something tasty now and then, but it's not enough to justify having him in your bakery lol

Red: i feel like he could have helped out in a family's friend bakery for a summer as, like, a favor and a seasonal high school job, lol. would he have enjoyed it? probably not, he'd rather be doing other things, but he'd be competent and attentive enough to keep things running at a decent clip! he'd be great at running the register and service end of things, or doing the numbers or deliveries, but only so-so at the baking/kitchen end of things. he'd make great coffee!

Ayla: she'd be fairly decent at this! I think if you put her in the kitchen and gave her detailed instructions on what to do, she'd resist it at first--scowl, scowl, this is dumb, this is boring, why am I cooped up back here like a slave??--but once she got into the rhythm of things, I could see Ayla enjoying slinging dough and cranking out simple things like cookies, biscuits, and bread. No finicky decorating or delicate stuff like frosting cakes--that's how you get cakes being smashed in fits of temper--but "one-and-done" products would be great for her!

Briony: she's brilliant behind the register, cheerily calling out greetings and wrapping up your pastries in their nice little boxes while making chitchat with you. she'd be a sunny presence that made everyone feel happy and welcome in the bakery. she might be able to help out in the kitchen as an assistant now and again, but it's probably not worth the trouble... she's just as likely to trip and knock over an entire shelf of flour, or accidentally squash a cake under her elbow when going to lean on a table, that it's probably just safer to keep her out of the kitchen altogether...

Lavinet: naur... maybe if you want her to be your hot cashieress, but even in an AU, I feel like there are a lot of jobs she'd take over working in a bakery or any kind of food service! flour? in her hair? i don't think so, darling! while she enjoys food and sweets, she has absolutely zero interest in how it's made or selling it, so this would not be a good fit for her at all!

Halek: baking isn't his passion, but he's obviously second-best at this bakery thing after Shery! I think he'd be one of those weird, elusive, sort of temperamental artist-bakers, the ones who are only open from like 4 AM-9 AM, you have to line up outside and stand on the sidewalk for like 20 minutes before you're allowed to buy up to 3 bagels because he only makes exactly 200 every two days, but once you finally get the damn thing, it's the best bagel you've ever had in your life! oh and he only offers plain and veggie cream cheese or an egg and sausage sandwich, no other options!

[kookies2000]

A Smile Behind the Crown Chapter 2

Wonderland Au created by @endomentendo

I'm actually very nervous about this one because I wanted their interactions to be as wordless as possible. So, let me apologize if it's slow. I just hope you guys at least like it! 💜

Jax was told when he was just an itty bitty kit that he one day would find something that would want him to stick his feet to the ground. Jax dismisses that as nonsense because being not tied to the ground is the base for any Chesire worth their stripes! Him? Settle down? Don't be crazy!

He never finds something,

He finds someone,

But this someone doesn't make him want to steady himself in the ground, no. He wants to float higher than ever before. Take this one with him,

And wouldn't you know it, this someone also likes to go up with him. Even if the people around them look at him funny and not haha-funny, just... weird funny. But this one, his person, his one. Smiles at him so widely, she could pass a Chesire herself,

~ ( peice written by @it-came-from-an-orchard )

Since the day he was born, he craved something more than just contentment. The woods was his home for crying out loud! An entire field of chaos and tricks to play. Sending travellers to whatever direction he desired, not really caring if they made it to their destination. Because let's face it, who knows where they're going, really? Do you? Where are you right now? Are you happy? Where are you going? You sure you want to go that way? How about that way? Or behind you, maybe you'll prefer that path you just passed by. Maybe if you keep walking, you'll find a different path you prefer than your current one. No? Yes? Maybe? Well, at the end of the day, there's one thing to say.

If you don't know where you want to go, it doesn't matter which path you take.

And that's exactly what he saw in this little doll. Her little feet crunch on every leaf she found. She didn't seem bothered that the moonlight was her only way of seeing through the thick woods. She was just smiling and laughing as she chased the hat in the wind. Smiling just as wide as the smile behind the leaves.

“Come back!” Ann giggled and tried to tackle the hat. Nope, she missed it by a few inches. She hopped back on her little feet and didn't even bother to dust off the dirt. She just kept her smile on and chased after the hat. The glowing smile behind the leaves glowed even brighter at the sight. She didn't care where she was going, what turn or path she took, her mind was set on this one goal.

Second, after second, she finally caught up to the hat, the wind finally slowing down. She spread her arms out, ready to trap it into a hug. The moment she closed her arms around it, the hat flew straight up into the trees. She gasped in surprise and watched as the hat flew higher and higher, landing on a branch.

“Not fair!” She pouted and crossed her arms. She was so close to catching it! Oh well, she thought. Climbing trees was nothing new. She gripped onto the trunk of the tree, pulled herself up with her hands, and pushed with her feet. The smile among the leaves was amused by the sight. A little doll tearing up her dress on the branches. Not caring about how high up she went or how dirty the work was. She wanted this hat, and boy, was she gonna get it.

She reached the branch and crawled across it. Holding on tight like a cat in a tree. She reached for the hat and snatched it up quickly, holding it against her chest. She gave a loud cheer of success as she climbed back down. The smile behind the leaves couldn't help but give a small chuckle that caught the doll's attention. She gasped and looked above her, trying to see what it was. Nothing but the moonlight between the trees. She shrugged it off and skipped her way back with a chest full of pride. Only for that pride to be replaced with fear when she suddenly stopped and looked around the dark woods. What path did she come from? They all look alike, she thought. She turned her head to the left to see it was just as gloomy as to the right.

“Oh……. Where do I..….. um.” She couldn't find any words to comfort herself. She placed the hat over her head for comfort. She held onto it as she slowly kept walking forward.

The woods were silent with nothing but the sound of the wind playing with the leaves. Her heart was beating hard against her chest, creating an echo in the woods. She took a deep breath in and continued to walk, doing her best to put on a brave face. Only for it to turn into fear when she heard a snap of a twig. She gasped and looked to her side, her eyes scanning left and right. Nothing. As she walked, she felt her feet start to shake. The smallest sound of an animal was enough to make her jump. The feeling of the wind felt like it was pushing her around, making her more lost. The darkness only hid everything from her. Everything was making her heart skip in fear. Even the sound of a little giggle in the leaves.

That little giggle made her freeze. She could no longer feel her legs or feet. Her little hands clutched onto the hat as her eyes again looked to the side. Still nothing. How could there be nothing? There must be something. And that something has to be the source of that giggling. She slowly turned her head to look behind her, still nothing. Fear had taken over by now. If there was nothing to her left, right, or behind her, then where?

She slowly pulled the hat lower to hide her face, but a sudden force yanked it out of her hands. She loudly gasped, and her eyes went wide with fear. A golden light was shining on top of her. She hadn't noticed it with the hat on, but she can now see just how bright it was. She looked at her doll hands, examining the light, a hint of curiosity hitting her. What was it? It then flickered as if it blinked. It was alive! And giggling! That's when she realised she had never looked up.

With a racing heart, her head slowly lifted itself and faced the sky. And the moment she did, her sight was filled with a warm light that almost blinded her. She squinted and tried to make out what she was looking at. One, two, three, balls of light forming something. When her eyes adjusted, she was able to see it wasn't just a light but a smiling face. Her eyes fluttered in confusion, her fear slowly being taken away by curiosity.

The smile above her had the hat on what she assumed was his invisible head. She gave a small chuckle at the sight of a smile wearing a hat. She tilted her head, to which the smile mirrored. She giggled even louder and tilted her head the other way. Again, the smile tilted her direction, causing her to laugh. She had forgotten about her fear at that moment. Instead, her mind was locked on this mysterious sight. She moved her feet to slowly spin herself. To her delight, the smile did the same and followed her spinning. Her small lips formed a wide smile, almost matching his. She spun a little faster, and the smile above followed the speed. Her lips parted to reveal her baby teeth, smiling just as brightly as the one above her.

The woods were filled with giggling from the little girl as she spun and spun. The speed increased until she was in a dizzy dance with the smile above.

The world became a blur, and nothing seemed to matter at the moment. Until her toes tripped over a rock and broke the dance. The moment she landed on the ground, a cloud of dirt covered her sight. The light went away and dropped the hat over her face. She sat up, letting the hat fall on her lap. She looked up at the sky to see the smile was gone.

Disappointment filled her heart when she looked around and didn't find it. She looked back down at the empty hat and shook it as if she was spilling cookies out of a jar. Nothing came out. She turned the opening towards her and stuck her face into it as if she was trying to enter it. Her eyes were filled with a bright light casting a small gasp. She felt a little pressure against her nose, slowly pushing her head out of the hat. Her eyes widened at what she was looking at. She moved her head back to get a better look.

It was a rabbit head, a blue and purple rabbit in a hat! Her eyes looked at him in surprise before her laughter filled the woods. She kicked her feet in excitement and flipped the hat upside down. The rabbit let himself flop onto the ground, his ears covering his face for a moment. He stood on all fours and shook his ears back up, causing the doll to giggle even more. Before she could even say anything, the rabbit stood on his legs and grabbed the hat. He pulled the hat up high as she held onto it. She felt her feet leave the ground, making her legs dangle in glee.

The woods echoed with her squeals of joy as this rabbit lifted her higher. She didn't even realise that she was about 5 feet off the ground. Or she was too busy swinging her legs to even care. She looked down to see the light smiling up at her. Her eyes dilated in amazement, wondering how he was lifting the hat and below her at the same time. Before she knew it, she felt a hand grab the collar of her dress and flip her over.

She found herself sitting on the floating hat, slowly rising up. She looked up to see the branches coming closer to her. She excitedly nodded and reached up to grab the leaves. Once they were in reach, she grabbed a flower that was blooming and plucked it off. She happily looked down at the blossom that filled both her hands. She looked around to see she was still rising. Most kids would probably be scared and screaming for their parents by now. But she didn't mind one bit. She only reached out for more blossoms. Plucking them off the trees one by one. Until she had a colorful bouquet in her arms. She stuffed her face into the blooms and let the beautiful scent fill her nose.

Soon enough, she felt a bunch of leaves and branches press against her as she finally made it above the trees. She shook the leaves off her hair, a single leaf falling on the top hat. She looked down at it to see a little slug had gotten caught on the hat ride. She smiled down at it and cuffed it in her hands. Her eyes then traveled from the little one to the view ahead of her. Her eyes widened in amazement, and her mouth fell open. The little slug slowly turned as well and looked as amazed as her. The stars decorated the dark sky, creating a grand light show with their twinkling. The moon shined so brightly in a world of darkness that it was enough to make her smile. The hat rose even higher, bringing her closer to the stars. She could almost touch the birds that were taking off.

She reached her hand up, trying to grab the stars and feeling the moonlight. Her smile widened so much it nearly hurt but she didn't give it a second thought. The joy in her chest was everything at that moment. Soon enough, she felt the hat fall, causing her to grab on and hold the slug to her chest.

The wind blew against her hair, nearly ripping her bow off. She started to worry as she watched the trees below get closer and closer. She gulped down and listened to her heart racing. She shut her eyes tight and held onto her flowers and slug for safety. Suddenly, she felt a change in gravity. Her doll-like body felt lighter and the hat felt like it was flying.

She opened her eyes to see she was gliding above the trees, spinning in circles and moving up and down like a roller coaster. She didn't dare let go of the hat for she knew if she did she would fall. But at the same time, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of the trees racing below her. She was moving so fast that the blossoms in her hands left petal after petals. Creating a trail of flowers behind her.

Her gaze went from the trees to in front of her. She was greeted with that light smiling at her again. She smiled along with him as he looked at her with a mischievous grin. He studied her expressions carefully. Looking for any sign of fear or crying just like the other kids who've gotten lost. All of them screamed for help or wailed. So why wasn't this one doing the same? He tilted his head in curiosity, still keeping his smile as he raced across the air with her. The doll responded with a giggle and kept her eyes on him. He seemed taken back by this but only for a moment.

His surprise was replaced with happiness when he saw her close her eyes and focus on the feeling of the wind on her skin. She looked so happy and free, he thought. The complete opposite of every other kid he's ever met. A feeling of glee filled his chest before he disappeared and let her glide down with the hat. She let out a scream of joy as she entered the trees again and slid down the branches. The little slug in her hands raised their arms and enjoyed the ride as much as the doll.

The doll's giggles hiccuped as the hat bumped against the tree branches. The hat slid off a branch, launching the laughing girl into the air. She and the hat glided into a bush and landed safely. Ann couldn't help but fill the woods with her laughter and gasps. She kicked her legs up and swung herself into a sitting position. Her head popped out of the bushes and nearly bumped into the rabbit's head. Her smile was glued on and didn't show a single sign of falling off. Something he absolutely loved seeing.

The little rabbit boy looked behind the doll to see the hat was still in the bush. He stretched a hand over her like a cartoon and grabbed the accessory. The doll gasped in amazement and clapped at the sight of this soul's abilities. The rabbit took notice of this and decided to have some more fun. He popped the hat onto his head and gave her a wink before disappearing with the hat. The doll happily rolled out of the bush with a flop on the floor. She stood on her feet and looked around the dark woods for this new creature she found. No, creature wasn't the right word, maybe a new friend? Friend, he can be her friend! Her eyes lit up at the thought of that. She hopped out of excitement when she saw cat-like footprints near her. She knew right away they belonged to him and wasted no time in following them.

As she ran away in search for more fun, the little slug laid in the leaves, looking up at the trees. Their eyes wide with amazement at what they had just witnessed. They needed to see that again. Who knew there was a grand world beyond the woods.

The same woods that should've been eerie to the running doll. But the rush of joy she was feeling made the woods a beautiful place. The moonlight was peeking through the trees as if playing peek-a-boo. The wind was singing her a song as it rushed against her ears. She can get used to this. When the foot prints stopped, she looked up to see they traveled up a tree where the hat rested. She gave a cry of victory and started climbing, not caring that her dress was torn up.

Waiting at the branch, the rabbit peeked from under the hat and chuckled. She was so energetic, so happy, so full of life, and her smile was strong, like a wildflower growing in the fields. He liked this one, the one that showed no fear in getting her feet off the ground. The one who was mad enough to take a path many were scared of.

She had made it to the branch and tiptoed towards the hat. She lifted it up to be greeted by that smiling light again. She released a cheer so loud it traveled to the farthest part of the woods. The rabbit hopped on his feet and let out a cheer as loud as hers. He took the hat again and flew off.

Her squeals and his laughter decorated the woods. Bringing it to life as little animals peeked their heads out to see what was all the ruckus. Little moles were nearly kicked by the doll's soft feet as she raced after her new friend. Birds were knocked off their branches by a pair of rabbit ears, some on purpose just so their feathers could fall into the doll's hair. She giggled and collected the feathers in her hands before throwing them up with a chime of glee.

The night seemed endless to the two as they tossed the hat back and forth. The doll caught it in mid air and ran off laughing, knowing the rabbit was chasing after her. She jumped into a hole in a tree trunk, almost squishing the little owl inside. She smiled sweetly at it and signaled it to be quiet. Her hiding spot didn't last long when the hat was yanked out of her hands, almost pulling her out of the tree. She gave a joyous scream when the rabbit revealed his bright smile to her. She hurried out of the tree and let her hands clasp into his. Their fingers entwined as he floated her back down to the ground. She snatched the hat from his head and made a run for it.

Though her little legs didn't go far before she felt him grab the hat again and pull her back. She laughed and tugged back at the hat only for him to pull it back. Their voices filled the empty spaces between the trees, reaching the ears of anyone that might be around.

“Ann!” A familiar voice echoed in the woods. But it fell on deaf ears as the doll was laughing too much to even hear.

She spun in circles with the rabbit, both of them holding onto the hat. She happily held on tight when she felt him lift her off her feet again. She screamed in sheer happiness as the wind they created kicked up the leaves and petals around them. Creating a soft tornado of pure magic and fun. She locked her eyes with bright ones, both of them enjoying their time together and hoped it would never end.

“Ann!” The voice echoed closer. The rabbit released the hat and let the doll fall back on the ground. The little girl gasped when she landed on her feet and watched the light disappear into thin air.

Her smile didn't leave for one moment. She looked around and watched the wind die down. She expected to see cat prints, a light, or some sign of him. But nothing came. Her smile lowered a bit when she realised he was gone for sure now. She opened her mouth to call for him but was quickly swept off her feet by someone else.

“Ann!” Her father sighed in relief and held her tight. She could feel his heart beating in fear but her mind wasn't on the near heart attack she gave him. She pulled away from her dad and looked around the woods for her smiling friend.

“You found her!” her mother came in and sandwiched Ann into a hug with her father. Her mother showered her with kisses and took her into her loving arms.

“Don't run off like that, Ann,” Her father kneeled down and picked up the hat. The parents walked back to the castle with their doll in their arms. Ann didn't show any reaction to their concern. Instead, she reached up to the branches, waiting for the rabbit to take her hand again. Her hand held nothing but air. She sighed in disappointment as the castle came to view, and she went back into those walls.

“Oh good, you found her!” She heard her aunt cheer in relief. She felt her aunt's hand squeeze her shoulder and nuzzle her hair, “Oh Ann, you scared us.”

“We found her in the woods.” Her father spoke as he took her inside the castle where the party was. Ann was seated down for a feast next to her father and mother. Her aunt and grandmother sat not too far away letting Ann see her aunt's disgusted face.

“Woods, dreadful place. Filled with nasty creatures just waiting to kidnap the innocent souls that dare to wander in there.” Her aunt scoffed. She sipped her tea while the mom shook her head disapprovingly.

“The woods are home to many beautiful creatures, Susan. What about the Wonder Bug? The Blazing Bird? The Chesires!” Ann's mom chimed. The aunt, Susan, only rolled her eyes in response.

“Chesires, they're the worst of them all. Always causing trouble to others. I'm telling you, the sooner they finish building those walls, the better!” The aunt claimed.

“Oh don't be that way, Susan. Cheshires are just a bunch of children's tales. No one has seen one in the White Kingdom in centuries. Besides, if they're as bad as you say they are, they've probably been banished at the Red Kingdoms forest.” Her father debated back calmly.

Ann didn't seem to be paying attention to the adults talking. Her eyes were locked on the open doors, waiting, hoping he came in to join her. Nothing came for the entire dinner or for the rest of the party. She gave Chatter his hat back, but even he noticed Ann's sadness. Her heart felt empty for the rest of the night.

In her sleep, she could still see that smile engraved in her brain. She tossed and turned in her bed. Reaching her arms out as if trying to grab something in her dreams. Her feet kicked slightly, trying to run to what she was seeing.

She didn't stop whimpering in her sleep until the sun came up. The moment the rays hit her face, she gasped and woke up. She kicked the blankets off and ran to her balcony. Her heart was racing with hope that he was there. She pulled the curtains away to find nothing again. Just a beautiful sunrise and birds chirping. She gave a small whine of disappointment before her mom opened the door. Same routine again.

Clean, sweep, wipe, rinse, dig, eat, sleep, repeat. Day after day, it was the same. Sometimes, she had time to play with her hatter friend, but something seemed off.

“Ann? Are you ok?” Chatter served her some tea in the garden. Ann only gave a small nod with her eyes looking into the woods. It had been weeks by now, and he still hasn't shown up. Was he lost? Did he not know where she was? She only sighed in defeat and looked down at her tea cup. The rabbit had to find her at one point. Maybe he needed a little help.

She looked up at Chatter all of a sudden, her eyes locked on one thing. Chatter was taken back by her sudden stare and looked around nervously, “Is…… is something the matter, Ann?”

Ann didn't respond with words. She snatched his hat off his head and ran off. Chatter didn't even get mad. If anything, he was curious what she was doing. He ran after her as fast as he could. He almost lost her when she zoomed up the stairs of the castle and slammed the door open to her room. Ann wasted no time and ran to her balcony. She grabbed a scarf on her way out and tied it around the hat.

“What are you doing?” Chatter watched the little doll throw the hat as high as she could. Only for it to glide down and off the balcony. She grunted in disappointment and pulled the hat back up with the scarf. She threw it up again only to gain the same results. She did it again, and again, and again. Until her arms felt numb and the sun began to set. Chatter was fast asleep on the couch in her room, snoring away. The door to Ann's room opened up, and her aunt peeked in to see her niece on the balcony.

“Bedtime sweetie.” Her aunt chimed gently. She picked her niece up, causing her to let go of the hat.

Ann kicked her feet, trying to get set free, but her aunt didn't budge. She placed Ann in her nightgown and set her down to tie her hair with a bow. Ann just sulked in her chair, not even daring to look into the mirror. Her aunt took notice of this and sighed.

“Ann, is something wrong? You've been like this for almost a month now. Sulking around and looking up as if waiting for something to drop from the sky.”

Her aunt looked at the girl's face through the mirror, but she still didn't look up. Susan could only sigh again, gently wrapping the ribbon around her niece's brown hair. She felt a cold wind enter the room, almost brushing the curtains against her back.

She shivered at the feeling and glanced at the mirror for a moment. Only for her eye to widen and glance back up. A small shadow was peeking through the curtains from the balcony. The aunt's heart raced, and she looked at her niece, who was still looking down. In a panic, her aunt lifted Ann off the chair and placed her into her bed, trying to act calm.

“Good night, sweetie.” her aunt smiled and kissed her forehead. Ann smiled up in response before fluttering her eyes closed. Susan looked down at the little girl with her own smile for a few minutes. When she was sure the girl was asleep, she got on her feet and rushed to the balcony. She swept the curtains open. Nothing was there.

She hummed suspiciously and looked around, not leaving a single inch of the balcony unseen. Once sure it was empty, she closed the glass doors and shut the curtains. Only to feel her heart sink down to her stomach when she saw the little shadow behind the curtain. She opened the curtains to see there was nothing there again. She closed them, and this time, the little shadow was gone. She didn't understand what she had just seen, but she wasn't gonna dwell on it.

She shook her head, thinking it was a trick of the moonlight, and locked the balcony door. She laid down on a cushion chair and drifted to sleep, not planning on leaving her niece alone tonight.

After an hour or so, the doorknob to the balcony jiggled. The soft sound filled the room but wasn't enough to wake anyone up. Eventually, the jiggling stopped and left the room in silence. Soon, a new sound filled the room.

Tap……. tap…… tap

The light sound danced in the air to a rhythm.

Tap…. Tap… tap

The sound came a little faster.

Tap, tap, tap

And even faster, causing the three inside to squirm in their sleep. The tapping suddenly stopped as if trying to avoid waking all three up. Soon, the curtains in the room parted, letting in what seemed like nothing. Though the moonlight on the ground revealed a rabbit-like shadow walking around the room. The shadow stood beside the sleeping aunt for a good moment, as if studying her every feature and movement. A light giggle was heard before the shadow disappeared into a dark corner where the desk was. The ribbons and brushes moved aside, and drawers opened as if looking for something.

After a while, the bed with the sleeping girl shook a bit. The blankets covering the girl's face and shoulder were pulled off gently, leaving her cold. She shivered a bit and turned from her side onto her back.

Only to suddenly feel something land on her face. The force was enough to wake her up and sit up from her bed. Ann looked at her blanket to see that the hat was the culprit of waking her up. She tilted her head, confused at how the hat even got into her room. That's when she heard it.

Her little feet swung off the bed, and her arms twirled in the air at the sound. A little tap at the glass window. Tapping over and over again, followed by a small jingle he did when he nodded his head. Her thin lips smiled at the sound. She instantly knew who was outside her balcony. He had found her, winning their game of hide and seek after a month of waiting.

She pulled open the curtains to see nothing, but she knew there was something. She unlocked the doors and swung them open before running onto the balcony. Her smile was back on, and her heart was racing in excitement. She looked to her left and right rapidly, trying to find him. She still didn't see him but she knew he was here. She could feel the light breeze he caused when he was around. She could hear his giggling! He was here!

She breathed in and out of excitement. She would've fainted from excitement if she didn't notice one thing. The light shining down on her. Her eyes widened in joy when she noticed it. She gazed up at the stars, and just like last time, his smile greeted hers.

“Found you.” he spoke to her. A small, playful voice belonging to a trickster. A voice that filled her heart with joy and excitement. A voice she wanted to hear every night.

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

Jesus!!! 5k words!!!!

[deliciousangelfestival]

Frosty Affection | Bucky Barnes

Character: College!Bucky Barnes x College!Reader

Summary: Y/N a cheerful student chases Bucky Barnes, the cold Student President's heart. Will her efforts warm him up?

Words Count: 1,022

Main Masterlist || support: Ko-fi

Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more. 

Drabble, Meet The Barnes , Homecoming , Jealous , Sick Boyfriend

In a bustling university campus, a quiet student named Bucky sat with his friends at the campus canteen. His striking appearance drew the attention of many, but his demeanor was as cold as the ice in his drink.

Y/N, on the other hand, sat with her friends at a nearby table. Their conversation was lively, but her eyes kept drifting towards Bucky, who was the Student President.

As they chatted, Lisa, her best friend, nudged her and whispered, "You know, you can't hide it. Your eyes keep wandering towards Bucky like he's the only thing in this cafeteria."

Y/N blushed and tried to play it cool, "Oh, come on, guys, I'm just people-watching, that's all."

But her friends exchanged knowing glances, chuckling among themselves. They couldn't help but tease her about her ongoing fascination with the enigmatic Student President.

It's not a secret. Everyone on the campus knew cheerful Y/N had feelings for Bucky, who could freeze the fire with his glance. 

Their combination is like ice and fire. 

Y/N had a massive crush on Bucky and couldn't help but admire his dedication and leadership. So, she often found reasons to be near him, whether it was joining clubs he was a part of or attending events he organized.

Her feelings for Bucky didn't go unnoticed, but he never seemed interested in her beyond polite nods and thank-yous. 

The situation continued for months, with Y/N's relentless pursuit and Bucky's polite indifference. 

That was until one fateful day when Bucky arrived at the university, only to find that Y/N was nowhere to be seen. Puzzled, he inquired with their mutual friends but received the unexpected news that she had left for a family vacation.

"Where's Y/N?"

One of Bucky's friends was surprised when Bucky asked where Y/N was. 

Sam chuckled. "Now you're looking for Y/N? Geez, Bucky you can be honest that you like her."

Bucky rolled his eyes and then went back to his table. He looked at his watch. Usually, at this hour, Y/N will come to the student council room and tell him, “I bought cookies/drinks, and the cashier gave me extras. Do you want some?”

Without Y/N's constant presence, Bucky felt a strange emptiness. He began to notice her want more than he ever saw her presence. He missed how she would brighten his day with her infectious enthusiasm and cheer him on from the sidelines, even if he never asked.

As the days turned into a week, Bucky's irritation grew. He couldn't understand these new emotions that were bubbling up within him. He found himself longing for her company and wishing she would return.

Y/N, on the other hand, had taken her vacation as a chance to reflect. The break allowed her to reassess her feelings for Bucky. She realized she had been pursuing him relentlessly without considering whether he truly reciprocated her feelings. She decided it was time to move on and focus on herself.

When she finally returned to the university, she noticed that Bucky seemed different. He was no longer bothered by her presence, but rather, he appeared genuinely happy to see her. 

After her return from the vacation, Y/N couldn't help but notice that Bucky's attitude had changed. He was no longer bothered by her presence, but his words remained guarded.

"Y/N," he began, his voice sounding distant, "Where have you been?"

Y/N was taken aback by his cold tone but replied, "I went on a vacation with my family."

Bucky, much to her surprise, murmured only he could hear, "I thought you had decided to move on."

Y/N blinked in surprise as Bucky's words caught her off guard. She had expected him to maintain his usual indifference, but here he was, initiating a conversation. Her eyes widened as he continued, "Y/N, there's something I've been wanting to discuss. I want you to be my secretary. It might be useful to have you around."

Y/N couldn't hide her astonishment at his offer. She stammered, "You... want me to be your secretary?"

Bucky nodded, a hint of warmth breaking through his icy facade. "Yes, I think it could work."

Unbeknownst to Y/N, Bucky had seen a holiday photo of her on social media with another man during her vacation. It had ignited a surprising feeling of jealousy that he couldn't quite comprehend. As he made his offer to Y/N, the image of that photo lingered in the back of his mind, adding to his growing confusion about his own emotions.

Y/N was pleasantly surprised by his unexpected gesture, and she couldn't help but smile as she replied, "I'd be honored, Bucky."

Honestly, Bucky doesn't hate the attention he got from Y/N. However, his strict upbringing to be the next leader in the underworld business made him realize the word 'Love' doesn't fit him. But now he felt irritated seeing Y/N smiling with other men from her holiday photo. 

Perhaps, sooner, he could understand what ‘Love’ means.

**********

Months had passed, and Bucky and Y/N's relationship had grown stronger. They had been working closely together, and their connection had deepened despite the initial complications.

One sunny afternoon, sitting in a quaint café, Bucky leaned closer to Y/N and whispered, "You know, there's something I haven't told you."

Y/N raised an eyebrow, skeptical yet intrigued. "What is it, Bucky?"

Bucky paused dramatically before revealing, "I'm the next leader of the underworld business."

Y/N burst into laughter, thinking he was joking. "Oh, come on, Bucky. You're quite the comedian, aren't you?"

Bucky chuckled and admitted, "I'm serious, Y/N. My family has a complicated history."

As they sat there, the reality of Bucky's secret life began to sink in. Y/N may not fully believe him yet, but one thing was sure – she loved him regardless of his hidden identity, and she was ready to face whatever challenges their relationship might bring.

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[whatsthethinking]

A Father's Promise

In which Jake gets a harsh reminder that he’s raising sons, not soldiers.

▹Word count: 3.9k

▹Warning: Angst?? Neteyam’s had enough, my boy is tired and he’s acting completely out of character. Mentions of illness and injury, Neteyam says fuck once. Jake feeling guilty.

▹Note: Barely proofread, I wrote this in one go (kinda). Anything in italics is English. No y/n, this is about Sully family dynamics.

Neteyam had never pictured himself in this situation, walking through the forest with only his hunting knife as protection. If any creature was looking for a late-night snack, Neteyam was practically offering himself up but he didn’t care. His head was throbbing, he felt hot, his skin felt clammy and sweat gathering on his hairline. Neteyam let out a shaky breath as he pushed a low-hanging branch from his path. He started to think about how the day progressed which led him to walking aimlessly through the thick forest. Eclipse had come and gone, his only source of light was the glowing plants around him. He had no idea where he was going but turning back and going home wasn’t an option right now, no matter how sick he felt.

– 

Neteyam’s day started somewhat normally. He woke up with Tuk tucked under his arm, he visited his grandmother who had given him something for his slowly growing headache. His grandmother advised him to have an easy day, to not strain himself and get some rest, so that’s what he was going to do. Kind of. 

He returned to his family’s tent and tried to get some more sleep which was proving to now be successful since the smallest noise would make his eyes shoot open, so where was he going to get peace and quiet?

The sky.

So that’s where he went, he saddled his ikran and slowly ascended making sure to stay level and just above the trees. He was having a peaceful flight, taking in the sights, and seeing the different animals making their way through the forest in their families. He saw members of the clan hunting and foraging for food.

The more he flew, the more tired he felt so he decided that it was time for him to head back. Circling back, Neteyam was fighting to keep his eyes open, every blink becoming slower than the one before.

In the distance, Neteyam heard a faint scream but he ignored it, telling himself it was probably some kids playing around. Until he heard it again, much closer.

“Help me!”

Tuk?

Forcing his ikran to dive through the trees, he followed the sounds of his sister's cries for help. 

Once landing high enough in the trees, Neteyam dismounted his companion in his usual manner but his legs shook causing him to almost fall over. He quickly steadied himself, grabbed his bow and ran toward where Tuk was screaming.

He soon spotted his sister gripping onto vines as viperwolves circled below her, waiting for her to fall. Neteyam tried to steady himself as ran across a thick, winding branch. His swift movements grabbed Tuk’s attention almost immediately. 

“Neteyam!” She yelled in relief seeing him getting closer. Neteyam managed to reach his sister just as one of her hands slipped. Breathing heavily, Neteyam pulled Tuk up and onto her feet. Tuk instantly wrapped her arms around his waist in gratitude. Neteyam ran his hand over the back of her head to try and soothe her.

“I tried catching up with Lo’ak but he was going too fast. I wanted to call him but then they started chasing me.”

“Lo’ak was here?” Neteyam questioned her in disbelief. He knew the two siblings had their differences but Lo’ak wouldn’t just leave her to fend for herself.

“No…” Tuk stepped back slightly, her head down looking guilty. “He doesn’t know I followed him.”

With the added commotion, the viperwolves became more alert. Now snarling, the viperwolves started to creep up the base of a neighbouring tree slowly.

Neteyam urged Tuk to run ahead of him back to his ikran. He managed to draw his bow and shoot one of the viperwolves which managed to slow the pack down for a millisecond before they all lunged forward, snapping at the young warrior, barely missing him. The more the pair ran, Neteyam felt himself getting light-headed from all of the adrenaline rushing through his veins. Clumsily, he assisted Tuk over a fallen tree trunk before raising his hand to his throat.

“Mum! Dad! Anyone! I need help! I’m with Tuk and-”

A viperwolf swiped at his feet again, which caused Neteyam to stumble and it sent him and Tuk falling off the tree branch. Neteyam wrapped his arms around his sister to cushion her fall as they hit the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of him for a brief moment.

Tuk scrambled up, trying to pull Neteyam up with her.

“Neteyam! Come on! They’ll find us!”

Neteyam groaned, nodding his head. He slowly stood up, making sure he had his bow. He screwed his eyes shut as his vision momentarily blurred

A lone viperwolf crept forward, trying to sneak up on the pair, Tuk screamed as the viperwolf leapt forward swiping at her, Neteyam swung his bow knocking it away and fired an arrow, killing it instantly.

He spun around as he heard a sob behind him. Tuk stood there with her ears flat against her head and lips in a pout as she held onto her upper arm,  blood seeping through her fingers.

For the first time in his life, the sight of blood made him feel nauseous.

“Hey, hey. It’s okay,” he tried to reassure her, “you’ll be okay.”

Tuk nodded along to her brother's words, looking down at her arm.

“Neteyam?!” Neytiri’s voice cut through the air.

“Mama!” Tuk cried.

Soon after, Neytiri broke through the trees, a panicked look on her face. Jake a second behind.

Neteyam slumped against a tree, finally able to catch his breath.

–

As the family made their way back through the camp, Neteyam could practically see the smoke billowing out of his father’s ears. Neytiri broke away, taking Tuk to the healer’s tent.

When he entered the tent, he spotted Lo’ak standing in the corner, his eyes trained on the group. Immediately telling him that his younger brother had already gotten his scolding.

“Dismissed,” Jake said gruffly, glancing at him quickly.

Lo’ak looked at his brother, a worried look on his face. Neteyam nodded tiredly, telling Lo’ak that it was okay to leave. Lo’ak nodded back before he slowly walked past him, consistently turning back before leaving fully. Neteyam closed his eyes and took a deep breath in preparation for whatever his father was going to say. He felt himself slowly sway to the side. If Jake noticed, he didn’t point it out.

“What the hell happened out there?” Jake questioned, his voice firm.

“I don’t know,” Neteyam whispered.

“You don’t… Know?” Jake asked somewhat sceptically. Neteyam not knowing is practically unheard of.

All Neteyam could do was shake his head while wincing,

“How did this happen?”

“I don’t know,” Neteyam whispered again, his voice firmer.

“How do you not know? What are you saying? You don’t know how Tuk got out there? You were with her Neteyam.” 

“I know but I only know what Tuk told me,” Neteyam mumbled

“Which was?” 

“She was following Lo’ak without his knowledge and then lost him.”

“So how did she manage to get hurt? She said it got her and then you killed it. How did you not see it coming?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is that all you can say? ‘I don’t know’?”

Neither spoke, leaving a lingering silence between them. Jake stepped forward, with his hands on his hips.

“Neteyam. What the hell is going on with you?” Jake started, his voice slightly raising but Neteyam struggled to focus on his father’s lecture, every word felt like it was continuously striking a raw nerve.

“As the older brother, it’s your job to-”

“Why?” Neteyam questioned, cutting his father off, irritation clear in his voice.

“What?” Jake questioned, his voice quieting in confusion. Neteyam had never spoken back or interrupted during a lecture.

“Why is it my job?”

“You’re the older brother and I expect-”

“So being the firstborn means that it’s my job to watch my siblings all the time? If I’m not training that is.” Neteyam rolled his eyes which took Jake by surprise. “That’s not fair, they’re not my children. They’re yours.”

“Netey-.”

“No!” Neteyam exclaimed, “Why is it my job? I am their brother, not their babysitter. Every time they fuck up, why is it my fault? They’re their own people. Lo’ak makes his own decisions trying to match your expectations and Tuk is too damn curious. That’s not my fault! I try so hard and yet it’s my fault?!” 

By now, Neteyam's voice had gotten louder. Jake didn’t know how to react. He had never seen this side of his eldest. He noted the way Neteyam used the palm of his hand to massage his forehead before he paced back and forth a few times. This behaviour is completely foreign, all Jake could do was watch.

Neteyam stopped pacing, facing his father again, wringing his hands together.

“It is not my fault that Tuk followed Lo’ak! It is not my fault that Lo’ak didn’t see her! It is not my fault that she was hurt! I tried my best! She got herself into trouble, she knew the danger and yet she went anyway. It’s not my fault and it’s not Lo’ak’s. It’s Tuk’s! Why not give her the speech on being responsible?!”

By now, Neteyam was waving his hands around wildly. If this was any other time, Neteyam wouldn’t even imagine pushing all the blame on his youngest sister but right now he was fed up. He was tired of getting the blame any time his siblings got themselves into trouble. He just wanted a day to himself but he couldn’t even have that.

“I know, I understand.” Jake said in the softest voice he could muster, “But I need you to take a deep breath and calm down.” 

But his father’s words went over his head, he couldn’t calm down. It was like a flip had switched in his brain and all of his emotions were flooding to the surface.

“Why didn’t you notice that she was no longer in your sight? Huh?! Why can’t you take some blame? I am so sick and tired of taking the blame. I’m tired of getting blamed for every time they mess up. I’m tired of trying to be perfect. I’m tired of trying to reach your impossible standards. Why do I always have to be perfect in your eyes? Why can’t I ever make a mistake? Once. Just once, I wish you would act like an actual father and not just the clan leader. I am your son, not one of your soldiers.”

Neteyam stopped abruptly, facing his father with tears welling in his eyes, “I just want you to see me!”

An awkward atmosphere fell between them, all that could be heard was Neteyam’s heavy breaths. Jake opened his mouth before closing it quickly. Not sure how to react. As he stepped forward to try again, Neytiri marched into the tent, confusion spread across her face.

“Do you want the whole clan to hear you two? What is going on?”

Looking between his parents, Neteyam wiped his eyes angrily, slipping out of the tent. Once he was outside, he started marching towards the forest, on his way, he passed Lo’ak and Kiri but ignored their calls for him. Just as he was to step into the foliage, his father’s voice crackled through his earpiece, demanding he return. With one swift movement, Neteyam ripped off his microphone and took out his earpiece, throwing them both to the floor, not caring where they landed. 

–

The more he walked, the more guilt he felt about his outburst, he had never spoken like that to anyone and he shocked himself by speaking that way to his father, someone he looked up to. Neteyam tried to think of anything and everything to keep his mind off of his throbbing head and the sadness in his chest but nothing seemed to be working. All he felt was guilt.

Coming to an empty clearing, Neteyam looked around him with squinted eyes. Not sure where he was, which was another first for him today. As he stood there, watching the space, his body began to feel heavy.

He swayed slightly, stumbling to stable himself against a nearby tree but he misjudged it, which sent him plummeting to the floor. Closing his eyes, Neteyam felt too exhausted to try and get up.

—

Jake didn’t hesitate to follow after his son but was stopped by Neytiri demanding answers as to why her son was upset. Jake tried to rush his explanation.

“Ma Jake, you need to stop being so hard on him. He’s trying.”

“I know, I know. I’ll get him back. I promise.”

Jake kissed Neytiri’s head, rushing out of the tent in the direction Neteyam went.

Jake walked carefully, tracking Neteyam’s footsteps which wasn’t too hard since after a while, his light footprints turned into deep drag marks.

The deeper he got into the forest, the more worried Jake got. Just watching his outburst concerned him, he had never behaved that way before, none of his kids have. On top of that, from the moment he and Tuk were found in the forest, Jake noticed the way Neteyam tried to support himself on the tree and the way he walked back to the tent like he was not confident on his feet. The way he swayed, the way sweat was gathering on his brow the more upset he got. It was clear that Neyetam was sick and that worried Jake even more.

From what Jake had experienced, the Na’vi rarely got sick. Sickness is mainly seen in young children or in the elders. Jake felt the guilt piling up, he was starting to think that whatever was wrong with Neteyam was from his side. His human side. It was this human side that he knew he had to tap into to sympathise? Empathise? With his son. He had to strip back the many hardened layers that had built up while on Pandora. Strip back his title of being Olo'eyktan, Toruk Makto or being a marine. He had to be the person before that. The caring boy from Earth who felt deeply for others.

“Shit.”

Jake had lost Neteyam’s trail. Had he taken a wrong turn? He stepped into the clearing, eyebrows furrowed. Should he turn back and try again? Looking off to the side, deciding where to go next. Jake spotted a crumpled heap at the base of a tree. Neteyam?

Jake slowly walked over, gripping his tomahawk tightly in his hand, the last thing he wanted to do was sneak up on a sleeping viperwolf or young ​​thanator. 

Jake’s heart started to beat faster once his brain registered that the heap on the ground was not one of Pandora’s predators but his son. He slowly rolled Neteyam onto his back, noting that the boy felt like dead weight, his body not resisting the movement. He could feel Neteyam’s clammy skin under his hands and his breathing was shallow. Jake’s hands frantically hovered over Neteyam’s body, wondering what to do.

“Neteyam?” No response.

Raising a shaky hand to his throat, Jake waited for a crackle in his earpiece. He first got through to Neytiri, explaining Neteyam’s condition to her. At first, Neytiri refused Jake’s suggestion of getting medics at the lab, adamant that Mo’at could cure him but after Jake explained his concerns, Neytiri reluctantly agreed. 

Jake cradled the side of Neteyam’s head once the boy began to respond to his name, trying to get his attention but the boy's eyes were unfocused.

With some difficulty, Jake managed to manoeuvre Neteyam onto his back. Making sure his son’s arms were secure over his shoulders and that Jake’s arms were secure under Neteyam’s knees.

—

Jake dabbed the lukewarm cloth across Neteyam’s forehead, down to his neck. Glancing to the side and out the small window, Jake could see the sun beginning to peek out from behind the high trees. He had been with Neteyam all night, not leaving his side for a second. Jake put the cloth back into the bowl before leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His knee began to bounce anxiously. Jake’s head dropped with a deep sigh thinking back to his conversation with Max. 

“These symptoms Jake, they’re quite serious.”

“Do you know what is it? What caused it?”

“From what I can see, his symptoms are showing me that it could be hypoglycaemia, but I’m not sure if Na’vi can get it. I won’t be sure until Neteyam wakes up and tells me how he’s feeling. But whatever this is, must’ve been brewing for a while for it to get to this point. Has he been acting out of character for the past few days? Off his food or hungrier than usual?”

Neytiri gripped her mate's arm anxiously as Jake combed through his memory to see if he could pinpoint anything different about Neteyam’s daily habits. 

“Last night he was tossing and turning in his sleep for a while and he skipped breakfast,” Neytiri started, “my mother told me he visited her, complaining that his head was hurting.”

Max nodded, noting down what he heard. Jake thought back to the day before. He had taken his sons out for target practice. Jake had noted almost immediately that when Neteyam was drawing his bow, his arm was shaking slightly but that wasn’t stopping him from hitting his target. But Jake did take a mental note of it. Jake told this to Max, a solemn expression on his face. “He picked at his dinner last night and barely ate anything.”

How could this happen?

—

Max and Norm had come in to check on Neteyam as the day went on. Max had set up a drip for the teen since he had noticed that he was rather dehydrated. They had brought food for Jake but he couldn’t bring himself to eat. Kiri, Lo’ak and little Tuk had joined Neytiri in the afternoon to check on Neteyam. Tuk had been blaming herself for what had happened, no matter how much everyone around her told it wasn’t. Lo’ak had heard his brother's outburst and felt very apologetic for all the times Neteyam had taken the blame for his antics. Making a note to apologise to him as soon as he was able to leave the lab. Kiri felt so sorry for her older brother. Growing up, Neteyam had taken on so much responsibility when he didn’t have to and it broke her heart to know that all the pressure may have contributed to his illness.

—

The sun was slowly setting and the lab was growing quiet as the scientists made their way to the small cafeteria to have dinner. Neteyam’s state hadn’t changed and Jake was becoming increasingly concerned.

Letting out a sigh of defeat, Jake lazily leaned towards the small table where the plate of food had sat all day. He smiled a little bit at the sandwich that Norm had crafted. Just as he was going to take a bite. He heard shuffling beside him. Dropping the sandwich back on the plate, Jake watched as Neteyam slowly eyes fluttered open, squinting at the light above him. Jake felt his breath hitch as Neteyam’s head fell to the side and they made eye contact.

Bending down to his level, Jake brushed his hand on the top of his son’s hair.

“Dad?” Neteyam questioned, his voice groggy, trying to sit up. “What happened?”

“Sh sh sh, stay still for me, okay?”

Neteyam nodded, releasing a shaky breath and closing his eyes again.

—

Jake notified the rest of his family of Neteyam waking up. They immediately rushed over, showering the boy with love which Neteyam received with tired smiles. Neytiri had gotten him to eat something small, and the drip was removed. Soon after it was clear that Neteyam was ready to sleep. 

“Dad, can you stay?”

Jake looked at Neytiri briefly before nodding, “Yeah, yeah, of course.”

Neytiri kissed her eldest son’s head before ushering the rest of her family out of the room and out of the lab. Jake sat back in the chair next to Neteyam’s bed. The pair sat in silence for a few minutes, Neteyam shuffling uncomfortably before he spoke.

“I’m sorry.” Neteyam’s voice wavers, “I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”

“No, no. You do not have to be sorry, okay?” Jake reassured, leaning forward

“I was rude,” Neteyam stated, looking at his father briefly before he looked down at his fists resting on his lap. 

Jake’s heart clenched, not sure what to say. Not sure where to start. I paused trying to gather his thoughts. He reached forward, taking Neteyam’s hands in his.

“Neteyam.” He sighed, “I am so, so, sorry.” 

Even though he has spent 16 years on Pandora. Learning and speaking the language. Jake was not sure he had enough vocabulary to express himself clearly.

“You never have to apologise for how you feel.” Neteyam’s ears twitched at the language change. “I don’t even know where to start. I am just so sorry, and I am a fool for not realising this sooner. It was never, ever, my intention to make you feel the way you have been and I feel like shit knowing that I have caused you pain and sadness. In terms of Tuk, that was not your fault at all. I understand that you tried your best and it was mine and your mother’s fault that we didn’t notice she wasn’t in the camp. It was a coincidence that you were flying overhead, who knows what would’ve happened if you weren't there. You were right. Yes, you’re my eldest child. Their brother. It is not your responsibility to watch out for them consistently."

Jake moved forward in his seat, getting closer to his son as he continued to say whatever came to mind, hoping it would make sense.

“You were also right in saying that I should be acting like your father, not the leader of this clan. I need to separate the two and I will. I promise you. It is wrong of me to expect you to live up to the expectations I pushed onto you due to my own fears. I have been so harsh on you without considering your feelings. I don’t know when things changed. When I started to see you guys as squad members. I have been so focused on pointing out what was ‘wrong’, that I never praised you in the way you kids deserved. I’ve never let you make your own mistakes without being lectured.”

Jake sighed, running a hand over the side of his face.

“I know that just saying this won’t change anything but I will take steps in the right direction to prove that there will be a change. That I will change. For you and your brother. I want you to know that I am so proud of you, Neteyam. I will always be proud of you. No matter what. And I do see you. I have always seen you. I see you so clearly.”

Neteyam bit his lip, nodding and looking down as the corner of his eyes began to burn with tears. Jake leaned forward, pulling his son into a tight hug. Neteyam buried his head into his father’s shoulder as the tears began to fall. Jake smiled, the corners of his mouth as tears began to well up in his eyes.

The door to Neteyam’s temporary room slid open, causing the hug to end, Lo’ak’s head peeking around the corner. Jake smiled softly, motioning him to enter the room. He cautiously walked in, pretending he wasn’t outside eavesdropping the whole time. Neteyam patted a place on the bed. Lo’ak sat down stiffly. 

Jake took a hand in his, giving it a squeeze causing Lo’ak to look down shyly. 

Things will be different. 

Note: When I started writing this, I was just throwing symptom after symptom at Neteyam, just thinking of things that may seem unusual to the Na’vi population but humans may be familiar with. My medical knowledge goes as far as my mum’s nursing books. Out of curiosity, I did Google these symptoms and I was given hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Obviously this isn’t an accurate representation of hypoglycaemia and it was not intentional.

[stir-knee-oh-low]

cold yet? || matt sturniolo

matt and izaria weren't exactly friends, but they'd had their fair share of moments. it was never about love— something they convinced themselves of.

to them, it was all a game of back and forth sarcastic comments with teasing smirks and empty flirting. they lived for the chase. to anyone else, it was easy to assume they loved each other’s company, but to them it was just “fun.”

they went to a party together, but as the night went on, the temperature dropped. it was matt who subtly showed he'd been paying attention. he didn't ask if she was cold; instead, he broke her to finally admit it and then just so "happened" to have one in the back seat, pretending like he hadn't thought ahead. it was a small gesture, but the meaning behind it was clear: he cared more than he'd ever let her know.

content: fluff, banter, and flirting, flirty!matt x stubborn!reader

“so… you comin with?” his blue eyes, lazy yet expectant, staring back through the screen. there was no urgency, no rush— the dim glow of his tv casting different shadows on his face highlighting his cocky tilted smile, like he already knew the answer.

lounging on her bed, with her own tv on playing different voice in the back she replied “please... you'd be bored without me” matching his tone, knowing full well he liked having her around, more than he'd like to admit.

“yeah ok” he rolled his eyes, already hearing the sarcastic remark in her voice before she even said anything. almost as to say don’t get too confident now. “just don’t forget your jacket. might get cold later” but she might’ve scoffed a bit too loud because who was he to tell her what to do, she thought. except beneath her actions, a small part of her wondered did he actually notice more about her than she realized? "i'm sure i'll be fine" iz responded, regardless of those small feelings, still being a little too confident. "whatever... i'll text you when I'm coming to pick you up later" "alright" the call ended, leaving her alone to figure out what outfit would get under matt’s skin the most

matt was in iz's driveway waiting and as izaria walked closer to the door and opening it he couldn't help but glance briefly at her outfit as she climbed in on the passenger's side. a mini skirt and small top that basically covered nothing. "c'mon iz... you really didn't bring a jacket?" he genuinely wanted her to bring a jacket but he knew her all too well. her stubbornness was granted and he knew she’d pull something like this. holding back from smirking, he knew it’d only make the night more amusing " 'm not taking advice from the guy that wears the same outfit every time we go out" she bites back with a smirk. all matt does was shrug, keeping his eyes on the road and grinning before slyly replying "not my fault I look good in it, right?" shooting her a sideways smile, she rolled her eyes in pure disbelief "whatever" iz was annoyed at how it seemed like he always got the last word. and she hated how effortlessly he could flash his smug grin, knowing she'd never call him out on how much it got to her. but even then, he never heard her deny it.

as the night went on, the air got colder and began biting at iz’s skin, sending sharp chills down her spine. and as much as she hated to admit it her thin strapy top and a skirt that hung only a few inches beneath her waist was a cute outfit but a bold, yet stupid move nonetheless.

now that she was actually outside with the cold air mockingly brushing her skin, it was beginning to seem like an obviously bad choice as it wasn't exactly helping her prove her point. stubborn as ever, she wrapped her arms around herself and tried to act like the cold didn’t bother her.

however matt noticed. of course he did. she could feel his eyes on her from across the yard, even while he laughed at something one of his friends said. he didn’t approach her immediately, though—he waited, letting her sit with her pride for a little too long before noticing her give in, sliding the back door open and sneaking inside the house.

“cold yet?” matt’s teasing voice caught her off guard as she didn’t realize he had followed behind her. leaning against the counter, water bottle in hand, smirking like he’d been waiting for this moment.

iz turned to face him, “i’m fine,” she said oddly calm, though her shivering betrayed her.

“sure you are” he knowingly responded, taking a sip of water “the whole freezing-to-death thing kinda suits you though.” she glared at him, hugging her arms tighter. “i’m not freezing. I’m just—”

“cold?” he interrupted, his smug grin widening.

iz sighed heavily, rolling her eyes. “your impossible to be around , you know that?”

“and yet, here you are.” iz narrowed her eyes at him, refusing to let the smirk on his face get under her skin. before she could come up with a sharp comeback, matt pushed off the counter, his tone shifting slightly.

“come on,” he said, nodding toward the door. “let’s get out of here before it gets even colder. i’m tired anyway.”

her first instinct was to refuse, to stay and prove that she didn’t need him to rescue her. she opened her mouth to argue, but somehow could think of anything to say. almost like she was somewhat out of comebacks

“fine,” she muttered, trying to make it sound like she was doing him a favor. “fine,” matt copied her with a grin, already heading toward the backyard.

they said quick goodbyes to their friends, gathering their stuff before stepping into the chilly night. as they walked through the different cars in the driveway to matt’s car.

“oh,” matt said casually as he unlocked the doors, “i think i might’ve left a jacket in the backseat the other day. you can grab it while the car heats up.”

iz paused, one hand hovering near the door handle. something about the way he said it felt off—not in a bad way, just... calculated. she opened the door and spotted the jacket right away, neatly folded like it had been waiting for her.

matt watched her pull it out. he had planned this. of course he had. he’d thrown the jacket into the car earlier, convincing himself it was no big deal. just in case. no harm in being prepared, right? but now, seeing her hold it, slip it on, he wondered if it was too obvious.

“really?” she asked, turning toward him, her voice skeptical as she slid her arms through the sleeves. “so this just happens to be here?”

it was easier to fall into old habits, to tease and deflect, than admit he’d thought about her—about her being cold, about her maybe needing him. “what, you think i brought it here just for you?”

her brow arched, the fabric of the jacket soft and oversized on her. “i don’t know, matt. you don’t exactly strike me as the ‘just in case’ type.” matt’s chest tightened for a second. he could tell she was trying to figure him out, and the thought made him nervous in a way he didn’t like to admit.

“just feels convenient,” she muttered, though the bite in her tone had softened.

“or,” matt said, stepping closer and lowering his voice just enough to make her heart skip a beat, “maybe you’re just reading too much into it.” matt had no idea why he was nervous—this was iz. teasing her was second nature, messing with her was even easier. but this wasn’t that. not anymore. being so close to her it made the atmosphere feel off balance.

the way he looked at her then—like he was daring her to call him out, like he knew she wouldn’t—made her stomach flip. she wanted to laugh it off, to roll her eyes and call him insufferable again, but the words wouldn’t come. instead, she held his gaze a second too long, long enough for the air between them to shift.

she simply looked up at him, innocent and confused, and for a second, matt forgot how to breathe.

iz felt it too. the weight of the silence between them, the way her heart pounded in her chest, the way the cold no longer mattered. she hated this—realizing he could easily make her feel things she didn’t want to feel.

matt pulled back, his smirk returning, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes this time. “come on. get in the car,” he said, his voice quieter now. “before you overthink it.” yeah— would want that now would we? she thought. she climbed into his car unable to shake off the tension that she just experienced.

val’s notes 💌

pt 2?? guys plss😭 i literally said i was gonna post this weeks ago and then i got caught up with school. good thing is that i have exams next week and then im free to hopefully post more!! but pls lmk if this was good. ill post pt 2 soon (actually this time. at most in 2 weeks😭) sorry!! but anyways hope yall liked this one!!

OMGG ALSOO the first person on my taglist!! ⬇️

TAGLIST: @bibbleisking

def let me know ig you want to be apart of the taglist by commenting or sending me an inbox!! and if you want to be taken off also let me know through inbox or comments!!🩷🫶

[bookishdream]

Stained Floors

Rafe Cameron x Fem!Reader Synopsys: Reader gets injured while running from Singh's men and Rafe helps her Warnings: blood, cursing, guns Disclaimer: Rafe is so much out of character in this one. Also I have literally no knowledge of biological aspect of a gun shot injury, but I tried my best.

The sun was setting, when y/n made her way to the patio that overlooked John B’s garden and a little marina that was a few yards away from the Chateau. She brought a mug with lukewarm tea closer to her lips while drinking in the last rays of the sun, before it would finally vanish. She loved the golden hour, the moment when the sun was meeting the horizon and the moon was making its way higher and higher. The day was incredibly hot and all she needed was the cold breeze that would be brought with the night. However, her moment of peace and silence was about to end in any minute now, since the rest of the Pouges were coming back from whatever mess they had gotten into. 

“Y/n!” She heard Kiara’s voice coming from the distance. She rolled her eyes and made a few steps towards the railing to see why her friend was yelling. When she laid eyes on Kiara and Sarah running for dear life, chased by two dangerously looking men, she dropped the mug and started running herself. Her feet hit the ground when she heard the first shot. Goosebumps raised on her bare arms, but she didn’t pay it more attention and put all of her will into moving her legs closer and closer to the marina, as to hide from the men. Kie and Sarah quickly caught up with her. Y/n heard another shot, this time nearby her. Then there was a third one, and she felt her body screaming in agony. Pain made her hesitate before taking the next step and Sarah had to grab her hand so that y/n wouldn’t fall. They found John B’s boat and fastly untangled the knot that kept the boat by the pier. Kiara as fast as she could, started the engine and soon they were putting more and more distance with their oppressors.

“Shit, shit, shit” The blond murmured, quickly assessing the seriousness of the wound. “Shit,” 

“Fuck, Sarah, what happened?” Kiara questioned when she motioned for them to get down on the boat’s floor. Y/n turned her head as much as she could in order to see the position of the two men. She couldn’t see them on the pier, which was a bad sign, but all she could care about was how fast she was bleeding out. 

“Y/n got shot,” the young Cameron replied, taking off her shirt and keeping the pressure on y/n’s hip. The shot girl hissed through her teeth at the sudden pain. “Oh, please, you survived worse than that.”

“Sarah, for the love of everything holy, I’ve never been shot,” 

“No, but you’ve kissed my brother and, in my books, it’s worse than getting shot,” Sarah remarked, trying to divert y/n’s attention from the pain of her shot wound. 

“Will you ever let me live that down?” y/n played along, because no matter how stupid it seemed, talking about something that wasn’t her blood getting out of her system was a nice distraction. 

“Hmm,” Sarah trailed off, “No.” With her last word, she pressed the clothing even harder to the other girl’s hip. 

“Fuck, you could’ve warned me,”

“Y/n, are you okay?” Kie asked, briefly looking into her direction, “Where should I dock?”

“Close to the city, I know someone who can help,” y/n replied, propping herself up on the side of the boat. 

“I could help you,” Sarah offered, her eyes gleaming with worry. She was chewing on her lower lip, just like she did whenever she felt stressed. 

“Sarah, love, you were the one being shot, not the one helping to patch you up,” y/n said, clenching her hand on the shirt and pressing even harder. She was still conscious, so that meant she could walk those miles to Tanneyhill.

“What if you drop dead on your way to this person?” Kiara asked, stopping the boat close to the pier. 

“You won’t get rid of me that easily. Go find the others and call me when y’all are safe, yeah?” she said, smiling slightly to mask her own worry for her state. “Now help me out,” 

Both Sarah and Kie took one of y/n’s arms and hauled her up out of the deck. “Be careful,”

“Always am,” she saluted and slowly made her way towards Tanneyhill. And towards Rafe Cameron, which she considered her last resort. 

“Bullshit,” she heard Kiara’s answer, however she didn’t bother with reacting in any way. 

Her steps were slow and she needed to pause her walk every so often. Her head started spinning from relief when she glimpsed the Camerons’ house, which she knew shouldn’t be occupied by anyone other than Rafe. Her steps faltered, but she still made her legs do those few steps that separated her from the house. 

When she reached the main entrance, she raised her hand to knock. Y/n started to think whether it was a good idea to come here and basically beg Rafe to help her. But she got her, in her state and she wasn’t about to turn around. Praying that the door would be open, she pushed it, leaving a bloody mark on it. She cursed, promising in her mind that she would get the stain off when she got better. 

“Rafe?” she asked, her voice echoed in the hall. Still pressing the shirt down to her lower abdomen, she made her way upstairs to Rafe’s room. Hoping he would be there. “Rafe?” she reiterated, opening his door that was slightly ajar. She looked around his room that looked as neat as it could; the bed was made, no clothes were laying on the floor and the window was slightly open, letting in the cold breeze from the outside. 

“One time I need him and he’s not here to get on my nerves,” y/n muttered to herself and immediately after congratulated herself on going crazy that fast. She heard a quiet tap and when she looked down, she noticed her blood had soaked in Sarah’s shirt and started dripping onto Rafe’s bedroom’s floor. She made her way into his bathroom, grabbing a bottle with whiskey on her way and undoing the button of her shorts. The bathroom was kept in light colors, white tiles and white marble counter with golden details. Y/n cursed again when she saw the open wound and blood leaking all around it. She took off her shirt and started looking around the room for a first aid kit. 

She quickly made a mental list of every step she needed to take, so she wouldn’t die of blood loss. First, she needed to take out the bullet and she was thinking clearly enough to take the longest tong in Rafe’s kit and spill some alcohol on it. How Rafe would have medical tongs in his possession, she didn’t know. She was grateful, though. She sipped the whiskey, counted to three and put the tongs into her wound. Tears sprung free from her eyes and she grabbed the counter with all the force she could dig. The curses were flying free out of her mouth as soon as she realized she couldn’t take out the bullet by herself. 

“Did you have to bleed out on all of my floors?” y/n abruptly turned her head towards the male voice coming out of the threshold. “I followed the dots and found you here, still bleeding.” 

“Shit, Rafe, next time I will be wiping it down as I go,” Rafe rolled his eyes at her words, but his gaze quickly turned serious when he noticed y/n’s state. 

“What the fuck happened to you?” He got closer and smacked her hands from her abdomen. “Are you stupid? Did you try to take out the bullet yourself? Do you wanna fucking die?” 

Y/n closed her eyes and stopped her hand from punching him in his mouth. Her head was pounding and she could feel her conscience slipping. “Just help me, please,”

Rafe’s gaze softened at her words, he crouched and delicately put his palm on her hip to see the wound better. “There’s no bullet here, y/n” 

“What?” she asked faintly, her eyes flattering open.

“No, don’t you dare close your eyes again.” Y/n nodded at his words, looking down at him. Her cheeks blushed at this particular position and she noticed a little smirk playing on Rafe’s lips. “Good, if you have the mental power to remember that, you have enough will to keep your pretty eyes open,” 

“Stop fucking flirting, Rafe. What do you mean there is no bullet?”

“I meant that the bullet hit you, yes, but it only grazed your side. On the other hand, you’re bleeding like crazy,”

“When did you get so smart?” she clenched her fists on the edge of the marble counter when Rafe touched her hip. 

“When I got shot myself,” he replied, taking the rubbing alcohol and a gaze. He soaked the material in the liquid and without any warning he pressed the gaze to y/n’s wound. 

“Rafe for fuck’s sake, you’re just like your sister,” she cursed, nearly kicking him. 

“I would’ve never thought that someone would compare me to her in this type of situation,” he smirked, wiping the dried blood around the wound. Y/n only rolled her eyes and she hissed again when Rafe lifted her bridal type. 

“What are you doing?” she asked, confused. 

“I’m getting you into bed, stupid. You need to rest,” he replied, gently laying her down on his soft, white, sheets. 

“I will ruin them with blood, Rafe,” 

“Let me grab the bandage,” after that he vanished into the bathroom again. Y/n sighed, her head was still hurting but she could see more clearly. When Rafe came back with the ligature, she silently sat up and let him do the work. Cameron put a big patch and stuck it to y/n’s wound then he wrapped her whole abdomen with a bandage and gently pushed her arms down, so she would be laying. 

He put down everything he had in his hands and made his way towards the other side of the bed. Rafe laid down, propping himself up on one of the bigger pillows. 

“I’m sorry I bled out on your floors,” she started, rotating so she would face him. He looked down at her and stretched one of his arms, indicating her to cuddle to his side. She clung to him and put her hand on his chest, inhaling Rafe’s scent. 

“It’s alright, I’m glad you’re okay,” y/n could feel his steady heartbeat under her palm. 

“I will also wipe the door clean,” she said a few minutes after they both fell into blissful silence.

“You bled out on the door, too?” Despite the question sounding serious, y/n could hear a pinch of humor in Rafe’s voice. 

“By accident,” she smiled at him, looking up to meet his blue eyes. She sobered down after a sharp pain radiated from her side. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” 

“Hey,” he used his free hand to lift her chin up, “I don’t care you marked the whole house with your fluids,” he shivered at his words. “I understand,” 

“Thank you, Rafe, for everything,” she came back to her previous position, with her head in the crook of his neck. 

“No problem, gorgeous,” Rafe gently kissed her forehead and with his reassurance, y/n closed her eyes. 

[waterfire1848]

could you do a blind azula with sokkla au

Hello, anon!!!

1. Azula is born blind. No one knows why but she is. Ursa tries to argue that Azula will be a strong child and capable of bending to her full capacity but Ozai doesn’t believe her. Azula is still a strong bender but Ozai thinks that her blindness will keep her from being a real firebender. Ursa, desperately trying to keep her baby alive, gives her away in the hopes that someone else can protect her. Azula is bounced around for a while until she ends up in the South Pole and found by Kya and Hakoda, who take the infant in and decide to raise her.

2. Azula never let her blindness stop her from playing, doing chores or fighting with Sokka. She and him would constantly run around the village, chasing each other with snowballs, and try to out do each other in different chores. Hakoda tries to go easy on the girl when it comes to fishing or carving, etc but Azula doesn’t like it and demands to be treated the same as Sokka and Katara. By the time she’s six, Hakoda gave up on trying to go easy on Azula and gives her the same tasks as the other kids. Kya, for her part, never treated the kids differently except to tell Azula that she wasn’t from the Water Tribe. Since she can’t see, Azula would have no way of knowing Kya isn’t her mother but Kya makes it clear to Azula very early on that she isn’t and her real mother is probably in the Earth Kingdom somewhere (this isn’t done in a malicious way more-so in a way so that Azula knows the truth). Azula also learns to see by “seeing” heat. She can basically see heat sources and therefore knows when people are around her.

3. When Kya is killed, Azula swears off firebending. Mother or not, Azula loved Kya and her death really hits her hard. No matter what Hakoda says, Azula refuses to bend. She keeps that promise for years afterwards even when they find Aang, Azula introduces herself as a nonbender. She even refuses to teach Aang any firebending for a while because she’s dedicated herself to not bending (Actually turns out to be a blessing because Ozai doesn’t identify her as Azula until after the North Pole siege). Speaking of, Azula sees Sokka in trouble during the siege and uses her bending to protect him. (Azula: Sokka?! Are you okay?! Sokka: I’m okay. I’m okay. You…you firebent. Azula: I guess I did. Sokka: To help me. Azula: Oh, no. Sokka: You like me! Azula: No! No, I don’t! Sokka: Azula likes me! Azula likes me! Azula: Hey! Is there any other soldier who wants to kill him for me?!!)

4. Ozai changes Zuko’s mission to instead capturing Azula and the Avatar and gives him Mai and Ty Lee as support. Azula is now using her bending so it’s a bit easier to track her (a blind firebender has got to attract some attention) but they can’t capture her. And, since Azula left the palace when she was a baby, she has no idea who Mai and Ty Lee are and she and Zuko don’t know they’re related. (Of course Ozai twists the story when he tells Zuko and says Azula was stolen from them by the Water Tribe which is why he needs to get her back). Throughout this, the Gaang really doesn’t know any of that and instead are focused on finding Aang an earthbending teacher: enter Toph. Toph and Azula would make every blind joke known to man and are constantly helping each other out with little tricks. (Sokka: Spirits, there’s two of them). Just a Toph & Azula friendship. (Toph: So, anything you want to tell me. Azula: About what? Toph: About you and Snoozles? Azula: What-are you-no. No, there’s nothing to say. Toph: Really? Because if I didn’t know any better I’d say you have a massive crush on him. Azula: I do not! Toph: And you’re heartbeat increasing when you hear him voice, constantly going to his side, sitting right next to him at dinner and holding onto him when you can’t see is all…Azula: Shut up)

5. In BSS, Azula joins Zuko’s side (let me explain) and returns to the Fire Nation with him. She never mastered lightning but the Dai Li does being down a cave on Aang and Katara, believing them dead. The siblings, Mai and Ty Lee return to the Fire Nation and declare the Avatar and his friend dead. Unknown to them, but known to Azula, Toph was right behind them and kept them from being crushed. The Gaang now is able to travel with everyone thinking they’re dead and having Azula as a secret double agent (something Sokka isn’t too fond of but it was his and Azula’s idea). They’re reunited during the DOBS, a time when Zuko tries to tell Azula what Ozai told him and Hakoda, who is there, tells Zuko that some fishermen found Azula and dropped her off in the South Pole—they didn’t steal her—and he pokes a few holes in Ozai’s lie, but Zuko doesn’t want to doubt his father (since he spent most of his time under Ozai’s thumb and all). The invasion force is still captured, while the Gaang escape to the Western Air Temple, with Hakoda eventually being sent to the Boiling Rock. However, this time, he comes across a woman with a very familiar face who introduces herself as Ursa.

[sleepingdeath-light]

yandere hcs + yandere s/o ; grelle

requested by ; anonymous (21/10/23)

fandom(s) ; black butler

fandom masterlist(s) ; hub | specific

character(s) ; grelle sutcliffe

outline ; “may i request a (maybe yandere?) grell x yandere reader pls?”

warning(s) ; mutual obsessive behaviour, unhealthy dynamics, toxic codependency, mutual possessive behaviour, yandere!grelle, yandere!reader, references to murder and other such violence

grelle was someone that was just so very easy to love — as beautiful as she was ruthless with a killer sense of style to boot, really you were doomed to fall for her from the start

… even if back then she was still obsessed with getting the attention of that disgusting demon (even thinking his name was enough to leave a bitter taste in your mouth; that beast was best forgotten now that your love had moved on to better and brighter things)

you’d spent so long trying to capture her attention — even going so far as to start killing people just to catch a glimpse of your beloved reaper and have the opportunity to smother her with all of the affection and praise she deserves

and, bit by bit, your efforts started to pay off as grelle began to seek you out of her own accord and linger long after the souls of your victims had been collected just to be able to spend that bit longer with you

you spoke about anything and everything — well, rather, she spoke and you listened with stars in your eyes, barely able to focus on her words as she mindlessly started to play with your hair and just touch you like it was no big deal — anything from her work struggles to her current assignments to that blasted crush of hers was discussed, and even things beyond that

things more personal

things that made you love her even more

and your worshipping of her very being made her obsession swiftly pivot from sebastian to you — sealed with a passionate kiss over the still warm body of a man you’d slaughtered just to see her and bracketed by her lovingly smearing blood over your cheeks with the pad of her thumb

needless to say she had you wrapped around her little finger and she fucking loved that fact about you

yes the chase is fun, but having someone willing to do anything for you is absolutely priceless — and grelle slowly found herself becoming protective over you and your affections

your love for her was like a disease that spread through every ounce of her being, twisting her and impacting every little part of her life

it had her spatting and battling with other reapers that tried to keep her away from you or reprimand her for her sloppy work (she never really cared for the details but now she finds herself rushing through assignments and goring her cases just to get to you faster)

it infected her with a jealousy so fierce that she ended up mutilating and murdering any man or woman that got too close to you for her liking, even taking the lives of family members and friends that ate too much into the time that should have been yours to share as a couple — though she always made it up to you by spoiling you with attention and affection and praise afterwards

it made her so protective that she resorted to locking you up in a space she’d claimed as your shared home just so you weren’t able to slip away from her and get hurt — but that didn’t stop her anxiety from creeping up on her during her working hours and inflicting her with a debilitating panic at the idea alone of losing you

(she knew you wouldn’t dare abandon her through your own means or even through death, but still she couldn’t imagine living her afterlife without you)

it was undeniably unhealthy, but neither of you cared — in fact you both thrived in a twisted sort of way

you threatening and killing people out of jealousy or just to get her attention made heat race straight to her core and made her all the more attracted to you — meanwhile her murdering your loved ones and any perceived threats to your union only proved that your love was mutual and worth protecting in your eyes

her tying you up to keep you safe was inconvenient and at times deeply uncomfortable, but the way she’d collapse into your bound form with tears of relief streaming down her face as she showered you with affection made all of that worth it — and, besides, you’d do the same to her in a heartbeat if you could

the two of you thought of each other all hours of the day, whether together or apart, and even still you couldn’t get enough of each other

you were obsessed enamoured with her

she coveted couldn’t get enough of you

and you’d do anything if it meant keeping her eyes solely on you and not on her boring boss or that egotistical butler — even if that meant losing everything you’d ever known and ever loved

because she was all that mattered

[sophswritingthings]

PART 13 (studying for finals and trying to figure out my work schedule for my Christmas break is a bitch to do bro 😭😭😭)

Anyways when reader and Mizu find Taigen in that dungeon that had them gollums looking mfs in. Of course reader and Mizu go to help him and get him out of there after finishing the gollum bitches and the fuck that looks like a sumo wrestler, & reader just takes more trinkets from the ground she could add to her gun and weapons (she's like crow istfg (me too)).

And when the place exploded and the three get thrown to the side of the castle which leaves the three holding on for dear life, Mizu just pulling through with Taigen on her back and reader using her Kunai to hold on the side of the building. And when they reach fowler and the other ppl (I forgor the others, all I remember is the twinky sounding guy that hangs around Fowler.) Reader and Mizu go on full force on Fowler. Reader using rope to pull Fowler over like Scorpion and throwing him over to Mizu and beat the shit out of the Irish man.

While reader and Mizu fuck up Fowler, Fowler manhandles reader and reader literally gets shot in the leg and gets thrown across the room. Mizu is ofc very angry and tries to kill Fowler and gets absolutely wrecked by a fucking gun. So last ditch effort, reader manages to shoot Fowler's shoulder with her pistol and Mizu gets Taigen and Reader and flees.

Ringo finds all three of them absolutely dying and brings them sword father 😸😸😸 and Mizu very awkwardly introduces Reader as her wife to sword father and he's just like "👴🏼 kay."

(That's all I can think of lol)

(I ran out of Mizu gifs)

pairing: mizu x fem!apothecary!reader

warning(s): swearing, blood, guns, reader is still kinda high but is coming to 

a/n: TWINKY SOUNDING GUY???? DO… DO YOU MEAN HEJI?? 😭😭😭😭 IM DYING (he.. was kinda 💅🏻)

word count: 1,096 words / 6,013 characters 

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you glanced around, slowly coming out of the high those flowers had brought you to. you were a little freaked out by the terrifying gollum like statues surrounding the room.

mizu grasped you gently, making sure you didn’t entirely flip out.

your eyes landed on taigen, battered and bloodied, probably on the brink of death if you could guess.

“holy shit,” you whispered, a hand coming up to cover your mouth.

you could see a man, large as a boulder, you were sure—stood across the room. mizu approached him, wearily, but she still approached him.

your heart pounded in your chest. he could easily crush mizu, if so desired.

yet you trusted her.

you turned your attention to taigen. you never liked taigen, no, you would probably kill the man given the chance.

but you weren’t just going to let him die now, it felt like a duty deep in your chest to heal. 

along the way you had picked up small trinkets and things you would keep for later.

your main goal was to heal taigen enough so he wouldn’t die, a little pain wouldn’t hurt him. 

when you were done, it seemed mizu was, too—she was heaving, covered in blood and black and blue bruises. 

“come grab him,” you rose to your feet, standing up straight as you could. “we need to get out of here and —-“

your voice is cut off with a loud boom sound, followed by smaller and smaller booms. 

the place was going down, with you three in it. 

a shrill scream left your lips, grasping onto a kunai quickly and plunging it into the side of the building, right beside a framed window.

mizu was grasping onto your hand, still breathing heavy with taigen clasping onto her.

you manage to pull yourself into the window, your heart pounding in your chest as mizu and taigen pulled themselves in behind you.

“ah, so your the mysterious demon that’s been ripping through japan?”

an irish accent bleeds into the room, your eyes wiping upward to see that of a white man. 

the white man mizu had so been chasing.

“you,” mizu said with a deep growl in her voice, slowly pushing herself up onto her feet. 

mizu couldn’t possibly fight fowler on her own, in her condition. 

so you slunk around, grabbing a rope on your way. you slid behind fowlers chair, catching him in the rope by his throat—tossing him over to mizu.

you watched as your wife absolutely destroyed the Irish fuck, smiling a little as you did so.

that’s when you felt a hand grasp your throat, tugging you over into the heat of the battle.

you grabbed one of your weapons, holding it in a shaky hand, as you slowly lost consciousness from your lack of air.

“get your fucking dirty hands off her,” mizu growled.

“oh? okay,” his hands worked quickly, whipping out a pistol, firing the shot right below your thigh. 

you screamed, your scream so haunting, mizu thought it would live in her mind for the rest of her life.

he tossed you across the room, your back hitting the wall as you desperately held your injury—trying to clot the bleeding as best as you could.

a fire, burned in mizu’s blue eyes.

a fire you thought you had never seen before.. pure anger and rage steered her now.

mizu attempted to lunge at him, take his demon ass down, but was hit out of the way with the end of the pistol. 

you still had your pistol, tucked in your kimono.

in a last resort effort, you grabbed it, attempting to point it right at fowlers head.

your shaky hands lead it to his shoulder, though, firing the gunshot right through his shoulder.

it tears the pair apart, mizu falling onto her back and scampering back to her barley steady feet.

she grabbed taigen, rushing over to you and grabbing you, as well.

once outside, you find ringo, looking through the snowy trees.

“.. mizu?” ringo gasps, his eyes traveling to you and taigen, as well. “where have you..”

“fowlers castle, ringo,” she answers hurriedly, her voice raspy and laced with pain. “please, ringo, if.. if she doesn’t get some sort of fucking medical attention soon—she’ll bleed out and.. I.. I can’t..” mizu’s voice cracks, holding you tight to her body. “can’t afford to loose her.”

ringo’s expression softens, a bit. they weren’t on the best of terms.. but seeing mizu so vulnerable lit something within him.

and he quite liked you. he wouldn’t let you die for no good reason.

“okay, master,” ringo nodded, grabbing taigen by his arms so she could properly hold you.

she held you bridal in her arms, her thumbs rubbing against the exposed bloody skin of your hips.

“it’ll be alright,” she whispered, knowing you could somewhat hear her, “you’re not allowed to die before i do, you know.” 

a faint, weak chuckle leaves your lips, “I-I didn’t… p-plan on it..”

you make it to the swordfather’s. you had never met swordfather, before, but mizu had told you about him.

he sounded like a father, to mizu. her only real connection to a loving parent.

and of course, you were meeting him with a gunshot in your leg.

“boy,” eiji greeted, gesturing for her to lie you down. “ringo has informed me of what happened.”

mizu looks up at ringo, nodding to the man thankfully.

she laid you down, sitting by your side and watching eiji’s hands carefully. his hands were old, yet precise in their movements. despite his age, and his blindness, he had the most steady hands mizu knew.

she trusted him to stitch you up, unlike she would trust anyone else.

she grasped your hand as you winded in pain, holding it tight to her chest so you could feel her heart beating beneath her clothes.

your eyes were slightly open, gazing up at her. she nodded to you, ruffling a hand slowly through your hair.

“oh.. I..” mizu whispered, “I never introduced you two,” she mumbled. “this is my wife, (y/n), swordfather.”

eiji scoffed, “hm,” he nodded. “your wife, hm? though you’ve never settled down, on this foolish quest, that has almost killed her?

she sighed, adverting her eyes. she knew eiji was right. she was so foolish, bringing you so close to danger you were shot by a white man.

“yes,” mizu whispered. “I have.”

he scoffed again, “at least you can admit it. now go and get your wife some water, and return after you’ve thought about all of this.”

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

a/n: MIZU GIFS!!!!!! I’ll add them if you don’t have them lmao 😭😭

she’s hot <333