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wardenannie · 3 years ago

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A lot of baby/pregnancy fic tends to focus on the end of pregnancy/the beginning of the baby’s life. But I wanted to do a little character study into Levi, so here he is over the course of 10 hours after learning Hange is preggo~ (mildly nsfw)

Ao3

10 Hours

Hour 0

“So...” She faces away from him. Her single eye locked on the sky beyond her window. Hange Zoe, fourteenth Commander of the Survey Corps, will not turn to face him. She is sat at her desk, hands folded on its top. Levi cannot see her expression, but he expects that it is as grim as her tone.

He braces himself for bad news.

“I’m pregnant.”

The birds beyond the window stop singing. The clouds cease their trek across the cerulean sky. Levi’s breath is stuck in his chest, a painful lump between his lungs.

“Come again?”

This time she does look at him, pinning him to the floor with an emotionless glance over her shoulder.

“Pregnant. Expecting. Vertically impaired bun in the proverbial oven.”

The short joke is lost on him. He exhales sharply, like someone punched him in the gut, “Oh.”

Hange sighs and resumes her staring out the window, “Just think on it. You don’t need to say anything right now.”

Levi swallows thickly and gladly takes the excuse to exit the room. His head is spinning, heart thundering in his chest. Pregnant. It doesn’t feel real yet.

He retreats to the relative safety of his quarters.

Hour 1

Levi punches a hole in his wall with a snarl. Untoward anger radiating through his limbs.

Sheetrock and plaster rain down, dirtying his pristine floor, further incensing him. He kicks a second hole in the wall, shouting with the impact of his booted heel. More debris falls.

He paces back and forth, occasionally tugging a hand through his hair. He’s sweating, he feels filthy.

But he knows that Hange isn’t lying. This is not the sort of sick joke she would pull. But they had been so careful, hadn’t they?

He replays the penultimate moments of their last few encounters over in his head, and quickly realizes that they haven’t been as careful as he’d thought. There is nothing quite like losing himself in the depths of Hange... Commander Hange.

Shit. He curses himself and perches on the foot of his bed, resting his head in his hands.

What the fuck is he supposed to do now?

Hour 2

Eventually he finds himself spread eagle across his bed. His eyes trace along the wooden grain of the ceiling. His head still spins when he thinks too deeply about anything, and a strange ache has settled into his chest, like a fist around his heart.

Does he love Hange Zoe? Would it be fair to bring a child into the world if he didn’t?

They’ve never said the words aloud to one another, but he knows in his heart-of-hearts that he does love her. She anchors him to reality, instills in him a drive to live where there might have only been despair.

His fists clench and unclench rhythmically in his linens. Levi shuts his slate eyes and breathes deeply, trying to calm and steady himself.

He is in love with Hange Zoe. He can admit that to himself now, in what feels like the most dire of circumstances.

But can he love a child? Is there enough room in his heart?

He rolls onto his side and covers his face with a pillow.

It still feels unreal. A bad dream playing out before his waking eyes.

Hour 3

He oscillates back into denial, then anger.

Who are they to bring a child into this terrible, cruel world? An Eldian child, a scapegoat, a martyr for Marley to string up and burn.

She has to be lying. Hange cannot possibly be telling him the truth. No Walls, no Gods, no omnipotent powers could be so terribly sordid as to bring an infant into the world now. Not while they are on the brink of war.

Hour 4

He remembers his childhood; years spent wasting away in a whorehouse. Starving while his mother wasted her ill-gotten wages on booze. Levi was a bastard, fatherless. The only male role-model he’d ever had was Kenny, and look where that had gotten him.

“I can’t be a father,” he whispers into the dying light of his quarters.

He doesn’t know how.

Hour 5

He takes his supper in the mess hall when he would normally eat within the privacy of his quarters. He hopes that the noise might distract, that interacting with his... his kids... might help him to better grasp his current situation.

The irony of it isn’t lost on him as he sits in silence amongst his young comrades. In a way he has been a father to them where their own had become titan food.

He watches Sasha scarf her food with abandon, Connie teasing her between his own hearty mouthfuls. He watches Jean roll his eyes at the two of them, then take a moment to proudly pet the patchy stubble that has begun to grow in around his chin.

Levi listens to Armin excitedly pontificate to Mikasa and Eren about Marlean cuisine and meal customs. Mikasa listens on in contented silence, a small smile on her lips. Eren’s eyes are distant, like he isn’t listening at all.

Levi wants to smack him on the back of his head. The twerp has been acting up a lot more as of late. Secretly, it worries him.

His kids.

Who needs a baby when they have it this good?

He sighs and looks down to his tray, food untouched.

They’re Hange’s kids, too.

Their baby. Theirs.

Hour 6

He returns to his quarters, stomach tied up in painful knots. He remembers Kenny, how the man had taught him the cruel, ruthless ways of the Underground.

He remembers Isabel and Furlan. How he had allowed himself to love so selflessly only to be burned and brutalized in the end. What if that happened to Hange? Hange who he had come to rely on more than anything, anyone. Childbirth was a dangerous thing, everyone knew that. Even with the new, fancy anti-biotics being imported from the mainland the risks were high.

What if he lost her?

Her remembers Erwin who he had loved as a father, a brother, a martyr and a dear comrade. He remembers his Commander dying on that rooftop in Shiganshina. He remembers the blood. Icy blue eyes cold and dead as Hange peeled back his lids.

Levi’s stomach rolls and he flips his upper half over the side of the bed and promptly vomits onto the floor.

Behind his eyes an image has begun to take shape. Hange laid out in bed, naked from the waist down. Bloody, sweaty, weak and dying as a shapeless creatures squalls on her chest.

“No,” Levi rasps, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

He feels so weak, so helpless in the face of this indominable thing. The sleep that takes him is unbidden and restless.

Hour 7

Levi dreams of a cabin tucked away amongst the massive boles of the trees beyond wall Rose. Smoke rises from the chimney, filling the crisp forest air with a pleasant, homey smell.

Sunlight breaks through the canopy and speckles the ground. Everything is bright and beautiful and alive. The simple wooden door of the cabin beckons to him, and he is helpless but to answer its call.

Inside the space is cozy and quaint. The kitchen and living area inhabiting the same space. Hange is waiting for him, sitting on a small, plush sofa. She isn’t wearing her eye patch, revealing the milky iris and silvery scar she usually guards so carefully.

“Levi,” she beams at him. For a moment he is stunned by her simple, unkempt beauty.

He knows he is meant to be anxious over something, but suddenly he cannot remember what it is.

He sits down beside her takes her face between his hands and kisses her.

I love you, he wants to admit the truth. He’s ready. But his lips will not part. The words will not pass his tongue.

When they part Hange’s expression darkens, long shadows falling over her hawkish features.

“Levi...” she breathes.

Shadows begin to creep in from the corners of the cabin. The walls suddenly feel as though they are caving in, and suddenly his peaceful dream has become a nightmare.

“You’re pregnant,” The sound of his own voice is alien and distant in his ears. He feels small. Smaller than usual. Miniscule and helpless. Why can he speak now?

Hange nods and then the pair of them are besieged by shadows.

Hour 8

Levi sits bolt upright in his bed, sweat is gathered on his brow and sharp shivers wrack his limbs. He pants and wipes his face with his palm.

“Fuck,” he curses.

He’s used to nightmares, but more often than not Hange is in bed beside him waiting to soothe them away.

Here, in his quarters, he is completely and utterly alone.

Levi doesn’t want to be alone anymore.

He tugs on his boots and stumbles out into the hallway, not caring how disheveled he must appear to any passers-by. He wants to be with Hange, he’s cursing himself for leaving her alone to begin with.

How selfish does that make him? He’s not the one bearing the brunt of this burden. It isn’t his body and life that are at risk. What must she be feeling now? All alone because her lover left her in a fit of selfish upset.

When he reaches her door he doesn’t bother to knock. It opens with a rush of air and he finds her where he left her; sitting at her desk, gazing out the window. Her elbows rest on the dry ink of a half finished letter.

“Levi?” She spins sideways in her chair, facing him entirely.

He shakes his head and closes the distance between them in two easy strides. He seizes her face between his hands and kisses her roughly, because he isn’t good with words, so he’ll show her how he feels.

“Mmpf!” She makes a noise of surprise, but then she melts into him, hands lifting to rest on his chest, then caressing around to link behind his neck.

When they part she gives a small, sad smile and says, “I didn’t think I’d see you again tonight.”

“I was being an idiot,” Levi grunts, and he helps her to her feet. “A selfish idiot.”

“No you weren’t, Levi. It’s a lot to take in, I know,” her thumb brushes his lower lip. “I love you.”

Hour 9

The words are difficult to speak, so he shows her out he feels. He shows her in the reverent way he peels her clothes from her body, the rough, desperate caress of his touch, the slide of his thin lips over her chin and collarbones and breasts.

He holds her hips and kisses from her navel to her abdomen, and he kisses her there too because despite everything he does want this baby. He loves this baby already, because it is him and it is Hange. The best of the both of them taking shape in her womb.

Levi abandons all gentleness as he makes love to her. It is animal. Primal. His hands will leave bruises on her hips, and his lips suck hers swollen.

When he finishes, just after her, he doesn’t bother to pull out. It doesn’t matter anymore. And as he pumps himself into her he whispers raspy and desperate into her sternum, “I love you.”

The words hurt in such a sublime way. He’s never said them before, not once in his life. But here he is, speaking them, meaning them, bleeding them from his soul into hers.

He loves her, and he’ll love this baby, too.

Hour 10

They lay in bed, Hange’s fingers comb rhythmically through his hair, and she presses the occasional kiss to his crown.

Levi has one arm wound around her waist, his cheek pressed into her sternum, his other hand cupping her abdomen, thumb caressing gentle circles into the skin there.

“I know you’re afraid,” Hange finally speaks. Her voice is soft and loaded with emotion. “I am, too. But I think we deserve this, Levi. It’s a chance for a life beyond the Survey Corps, for a real family.”

Levi tilts his head up and kisses her gently. She’s right, but he still cannot help but remember his vision and his nightmare.

“There’s so much that could go wrong,” his voice is pained. He holds her tighter.

Hange sighs and rests her cheek on his head, “You’re not wrong, but we’ve got eight months to figure things out, okay? For tonight, just hold me.”

Levi sighs and melts into her, shutting his eyes.

In Hange’s arms his sleep is dreamless.

#levihan #my writing

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farfromharry · 4 years ago

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Mini Valentine | Stepdad!Tom fic

Summary: Your valentine’s plans with your fiancé get slightly set back when you get called in to work, leaving Tom to spend the day with your daughter.

Word count - 4,017

Warnings - One brief mention of throwing up, i think that’s it?

Unfortunately for you and Tom, you’d been called into work on the morning of the 14th, based on ‘emergency’. It was all very last minute and caused a lot of stress for your fiancé, even if he tried to promise you that it wasn’t a big deal and he could sort something, but anyone would be stressed while finding out their plans for the day had been spontaneously ruined that same morning without warning.

You originally had plans to go on a family trip to the zoo during the day, wanting to show Scarlett all the adorable animals that she’s never had the pleasure of seeing in person. Then you were meant to be heading to a romantic dinner with Tom at the same fancy restaurant he took you to, to propose. All while his mum watched Scarlett for you so you both got some well deserved time together.

“I’ll just shift the reservation, it’s okay,” he promised you, kissing your shoulder as you tied back your hair to keep it out of your face.

“You’re an angel,” you whispered, making sure to press a lasting kiss to his lips. You could tell he was exhausted, and you didn’t blame him, it was barely even four in the morning and you were already up and ready to leave the house.

You couldn’t leave without making a hundred percent sure he was okay with you heading in, moving over to where he’d tucked himself under the covers again, trying to shield his bare upper half from the cold morning air.

He’d planned on getting some more sleep before your munchkin woke up and decided she needed her stepdad to feed her instantly, something she did often.

“I still feel bad, ‘m sorry.” He shook his head, cupping your cheek with his large hand.

“You have nothing to worry about,” he chuckled, finding some amusement in the idea of you feeling so guilty about something you couldn’t control, especially when the issue was so easily resolved.

You rested your head on his bare chest for a few seconds, just until you really had to leave so you wouldn’t be late.

“I’ll take Scarlett out somewhere, still got to win her over.” You rolled your eyes at his words, pecking his lips one more time before standing up.

“You know she loves you already,” you mumbled, referring to all the moments the two had shared over the few years you and Tom had been together.

“No, she loves my cooking.”

You scrunched up your nose, feigning disgust. “I don’t know why.” Tom scoffed, his heart fluttering when you let out that silly giggle that he adored.

“Y/N?” he called. You hummed. “Happy valentine’s day.”

You placed one more kiss on his lips, taking your time to study his face as you pulled away. “Happy valentine’s day Tom.” You waved goodbye without letting him say anything else, not wanting anymore distractions that could risk making you late, closing your bedroom door behind you.

“Mummy?” You turned your head at the sound of your angel’s sleepy voice, seeing her standing in her bedroom door. She looked like the cutest little thing, hair all messed up from the way she’d slept, in her Disney pyjamas, rubbing her tired eyes with her first while her teddy bear was squeezed as close as possible to her chest.

“What’s wrong bub? You should be asleep.” She waddled over to you, wrapping her arms tightly around your legs. Your fingers threaded in her hair, trying to tame the flyaway strands, tucking them back into her scrunchie loosely.

“I heard you awake,” she mumbled, almost falling asleep in the position she was in. You pouted, leaning down to kiss her head.

“Mummy has to go to work,” you said, seeing the frown forming on her face. “I’ll be back later, but that means we can’t go to the zoo.”

If she had the energy she probably would’ve thrown a tantrum right then and there, but taking into account the utter exhaustion consuming her tiny body, meant she didn’t have the effort to argue. All she could do was flash you her typical pout and puppy dog eyes, but even those weren’t enough to win you over this time.

“Why don’t you go get in with Tom for a bit, get some cuddles?” You were always trying to encourage her to do more with Tom, praying that she would get along with him well enough to accept him. She did at least like his cooking, so that was a start.

She hummed, placing a sloppy toddler kiss on your cheek before shuffling down the hall to your room. You chuckled to yourself, grabbing your keys, jacket and any other necessity, leaving your daughter and fiancé to spend the day together.

Tom couldn’t fall asleep until he knew you were on your way, his subconscious telling him that he couldn’t let you be late by getting distracted with something in the house.

That meant that Tom felt the tiny body that was crawling onto the large bed, climbing under the covers on your empty side.

“Hi,” she whispered, laying her head on your pillow. The man laughed silently, noting how much she was like you with her mannerisms. He asked if she was okay, checking she wasn’t in here because of a nightmare.

“Mummy said I could come get cuddles.” The girl often liked Tom more when she didn’t have the energy to be mean, so at times like this she was often very affectionate towards him.

“Of course, c’mere.” She shuffled closer to him, curling her body into his chest while her head rested on his shoulder. Tom pressed a light kiss to her temple, soothingly rubbing her back until her breathing evened out and he was sure she was asleep.

He wasn’t too far behind her, letting his own wave of exhaustion crash over him until he was back into the deep slumber he’d been in before it was interrupted by your phone ringing.

»»——⍟——««

Tom and Scarlett ended up getting out of bed around 10. He’d sent the girl to the bathroom to do her business and brush her teeth while he made her breakfast, going over some ideas of what they could do for the day in his head.

“How do you feel about going to the aquarium today?” he asked, slipping a pancake onto her plate, letting her decorate it however she wanted. Her eyes widened and she rapidly nodded her head. Tom chuckled, preparing some breakfast for himself, taking a seat next to the girl at the kitchen island.

“Can we see the penguins?” she asked, filling the silence with the innocent question. She let out a squeal when Tom nodded, thanking him with the same amount of energy.

She finished her breakfast quickly, bouncing in her seat as she waited for Tom to tell her she could leave. “Go get dressed, we’ll go in a little while.” She didn’t have to be told twice, jumping down from the seat to run to her room.

Tom left to get dressed a few minutes after her, changing into some jeans, a plain white hoodie and a coat on top.

He waited by the front door for more than a few minutes, confused about what was taking the little girl so long.

Tom didn’t want to impose, he knew she was capable of getting ready herself, but he also didn’t know if something else had possibly gone wrong.

He headed to her room, knocking on the door before pushing it open. “Hey bug, what’s taking so long, you okay?” He could see the tears on her cheeks as she sat in front of the mirror, a hairbrush and a hair tie to her right. “What are the tears for?” He asked softly, bending down beside her to wipe them away.

“I can’t do my hair.” She sniffled, looking up at the man with those big eyes that looked exactly like yours. He was such a sucker for those eyes. “Do you want me to try?”

She nodded, handing him the stuff he needed. He brushed through the strands of her hair as carefully as he could, making sure to avoid brushing any tangles harshly, and apologising if he caught any anyway.

“Ponytail?” he asked. She nodded in confirmation. Tom wasn’t exactly a pro when it came to hair, he’d grown up with 3 brothers, so he didn’t really have anything to do with long hair until he spent those nights when you were drunk. He would always carelessly throw your hair into a bun or ponytail to keep it out of your face when you threw up, receiving a mumbled thank you from yourself.

You’d helped him learn the basics a while ago, teaching him how to do a simple braid and how to do a quick ponytail, but that was all he knew. He was never sure if his versions of the hairstyles would be up to Scarlett’s standards.

He pulled all the strands in, making sure there were no loose ones before wrapping the hair tie around them all, keeping them in place at the back of her head.

“Is that okay?” he asked. She nodded, standing up from her spot. Tom raked his eyes over her outfit, making sure socks were matching and everything was on right before guiding her to the entrance of the house.

She took a seat next to him on the stairs, swinging her legs while she waited for him to pass her, her shoes. She easily slipped them onto her feet, right then left, just like you always did when you were here.

“You think you can tie them yourself?” he asked. She nodded her head, grabbing a hold of the two pieces of white string on her left shoe.

“I’m a big girl,” she argued. Tom raised his hands in defense, muttering an okay.

Her big girl mindset didn’t last for long when she realised she in fact didn’t know how to tie her shoes. Tom tried to hide his smile, knowing this was going to happen.

“Tom?” She asked. He hummed, looking up from where he’d been putting on his shoes. She pointed down to the little converse that were on her feet, the laces messy and undone. “Can you do them, please?”

He tried his best to show her how to do it, but the girl got easily distracted, rambling on about all the different fishies she was going to see. He couldn’t be annoyed, finding it completely adorable how she babbled on.

“Alright, up?” He didn’t want to pick her up if she’d rather walk, not wanting to risk the girl throwing a tantrum so early on in the day. However, to Tom’s surprise, she agreed. She stood on her tiptoes, reaching her hands up to the sky, a signal that she wanted to be lifted up.

Tom scooped her up into his arms, resting her on his hip while he collected everything he needed to head out for the day.

Scarlett busied herself in playing with the chain around Tom’s neck, finding it intriguing for some unexplained reason.

He carried her out to his car, having to follow her instructions on how to get her into the car seat, it seemed to be a struggle for Tom everytime.

Once he was sure she was safely in her seat, Tom climbed into the driver’s seat, sending you a quick text to tell you they were heading out.

At one point during the short drive, Tom glanced through his mirror to see Scarlett quietly singing along to the radio, which he turned up so she could hear better, kicking her legs in her carseat happily.

The aquarium wasn’t too far away, and before Tom knew it they were inside and ready to look around. Scarlett complained about how it felt like it’d taken forever, clutching Tom’s hand with her tiny one as she dragged him towards what she thought looked most interesting.

“Look at that one!” she gasped, pointing to the vibrant coloured fish. Tom nodded, grinning down at the pure happiness on the little girl's face. The sudden vibration in his pocket made Tom jump. He pulled out his phone to see your contact lighting up his screen. He took a few steps back from her, so she was still in his eyeline but her loud squeals weren’t heard in his ear everytime she spotted a pretty fish.

“Hello?”

A smile creeped onto your face just at the sound of his voice, it was all you needed to hear to convince you you could make it till the end of your shift.

“Hi.”

“How are things?” You let out a sigh, glancing around the ward with a bored look.

“It’s okay, I guess, nothing much happened after this morning,” you explained. “How’s it going with Scarlett?” Tom smiled to himself, watching as the girl stared in awe at all the vibrantly coloured fish swimming in the tank.

“I didn’t take her to the zoo because I know you wanted to go, so I brought her to the aquarium you’ve been to before.” Your heart soared. The fact that Tom both listened to your stories about your daughter and respected the things you wanted to do with her were just more things to add to your ‘why Tom is the perfect man’ list.

“Are you having fun?” There was an underlying hint of sadness in your voice that Tom quickly picked up on.

“Yeah, but it’d be even more fun if you were here.” You could hear him quietly talking to Scarlett in the background, something about spotting a certain coloured fish. The girl responded with a squeal of excitement when she found out, gushing about how pretty it looked.

“She sounds happy,” you commented, pulling Tom’s attention away from the girl again.

“I think she is, this is the warmest she’s been with me.”

You bit your lip to try and hold back your smile. You’d both been waiting for the moment she’d decide she was ready to accept Tom as her dad, and it’s been a long journey to get to that point.

“Well, I should go, but i’m glad you’re having fun.”

Scarlett ran over to Tom, clutching his legs and asking who was on the phone. When he responded with a simple ‘mummy’ she decided she needed to talk to you right that second.

She ended up occupying you on the phone for much longer than you’d intended, finding it impossible to get away from the girl while she was ranting about all the different animals and fish they’d seen.

“I don’t want to keep you then, tell Tom to have fun too okay?” She mumbled a quiet okay. Tom was watching her with an amused grin, finding it adorable how large his phone looked pressed against her head. You said your I love you’s before hanging up to continue wallowing in your own self pity.

»»——⍟——««

The picture Tom sent you around 1 was the thing that kept you going, but was simultaneously the thing that almost made you cry in the middle of the hospital.

The two were sitting in the restaurant at the aquarium, the girl cuddling some kind of fluffy penguin teddy that you were sure Tom insisted he buy for her, while grinning at the camera.

He followed it up with a little message afterwards that basically confirmed your suspicions.

‘She loved the penguins and I couldn’t resist, this is Oswald x’

You giggled at the name, an obvious reference to the time Harrison came over and let her watch Batman. You ended up setting the picture as your lock screen, clicking your lock button to see your baby’s face light up your phone screen.

Your eyes drifted up to the clock on your phone, seeing you had at least another 2 hours left of work.

You wish you could say those last couple hours flew by, but it felt like they were never going to end. You spent most of the time being handed more and more tasks to do that you were scared you wouldn’t finish before the time you could go home.

Thankfully you did, wanting to practically scream with relief once you climbed into your car. You felt like you had more energy now that at any point during your day, which was very confusing considering the long almost 10 hour shift you had.

You heard the excited yells of your daughter the second you walked through the door of your home. She’d quite clearly seen your car pull up outside and just couldn’t wait to greet you.

“There she is.” You were almost tackled into a hug by the four year old, the girl beaming at you. Tom helped you slip your jacket off once Scarlett decided to let go of you.

“So, how was it?” She was more than happy to tell you again every single thing her and Tom did, going as far as describing almost each and every one of the fishies in detail.

Tom joined in at random parts with bits of information that seemed to slip past her excited mind. He watched you both with a smile, silently laughing at you when you realised you’d probably be here for days if you didn’t stop her.

“That sounds like so much fun, but you need to go and get ready for when Nikki comes.”

She still hadn’t taken up calling Tom’s mother Grandma yet, but you reassured her that it’d come with time, exactly the same as your reassurances to Tom.

She ran away to her room to do as you said, leaving you and Tom a moment alone before you got ready for your date.

Tom’s hands made a beeline for your waist once she was out of sight, bringing you in close to him until you were pressed up against his chest.

“Hello handsome.” A faint blush creeped onto Tom’s cheeks, the man trying to hide it by burying his face in your neck. He placed soft kisses all over the skin there, earning him a pleased sigh from you.

Your hands trailed up the expanse of his muscly back, eventually residing in his mess of hair. Gentle tugs on the short curls were what brought his attention away from your neck.

He smiled at you, resting his forehead on yours. Your noses occasionally clashed from the close proximity, but neither of you cared enough to pull away. He was the one to close the gap between you, slotting your lips together in a slow kiss. It wasn’t hungry or needy in any way, more so screaming that you’d missed each other.

“We should get ready,” you mumbled onto his lips, unwilling to pull away just yet.

He hummed. “We really should.”

Neither of you made an attempt to move. This time it was you who couldn’t stand not kissing him, placing such a soft peck on his lips that he was sure it almost didn’t happen.

“I love you.” You grinned, rubbing your thumb over his unruly eyebrow, eyes flickered over the tiny features of his face. He took the time to study your eyes while you did so, noticing the little flecks of different colours that didn’t match your overall eye colour.

You finally looked into his eyes, those golden, honey orbs that just made you melt inside everytime they stared at you with just so much adoration.

“I love you too.”

He let you go and get ready after that, pouting adorably as he watched you strut your way to your bedroom. You picked out your outfit before hand, pulling the hanger with the gorgeous silver dress out of your wardrobe, laying it on the bed.

You knew Tom would probably sneak a look at it, but seeing it on a hanger wouldn’t even compare to seeing it on your body.

You took a lot longer getting ready than you expected to, purely due to the long, hot shower you took that felt like a necessity after your work day, and also the fact you hadn’t truly gotten yourself dolled up for something in a while, something that you greatly missed.

Tom was there as soon as you were finished to make you feel even better about yourself, throwing compliments at you left and right that left you a flustered mess of butterflies.

At some point Scarlett had creeped into your room, looking at your pretty dress in awe.

“Doesn’t your mummy look pretty?” She nodded her head rapidly, complimenting you profusely. Your fiancé knew you were getting flustered, trying to cover your face to hide from your own embarrassment. He placed a quick kiss on your head, his hand slipping down to the small of your back to guide you to the front door.

You gave Scarlett a tight hug, telling her to behave, while Tom placed a kiss on her head.

“Thank you again,” you gushed, making sure to give Tom’s mum an extra tight hug before you left. She always told you that she loved taking care of Scarlett, even if she wasn’t her biological granddaughter.

Tom led you out of the house with a lovesick grin plastered on his face, making you rather suspicious about what he was up to.

“What are you so smiley about?” you asked. He simply shrugged, placing a kiss on your knuckles as he told you absolutely nothing.

“Just happy to finally have to myself.”

»»——⍟——««

The small body of the girl barreled towards you as soon as you stepped through the front door. She surprisingly almost knocked your balance, forcing a giggle out of your slightly tipsy self.

You were able to scoop her up, holding her on your hip.

“I know, we’re home,” you whispered, cradling her to your chest. She tucked her head into your neck, trying to not let sleep consume her so she had more time to spend with her favourite person.

While you were snuggling your baby, Tom was once again thanking his mother, telling her a little about the lovely night you had at the restaurant.

Nikki could see in his eyes as he watched you, just how much adoration he felt for both of you. She wasn’t sure she’d ever seen her son look like that.

“Missed you,” she mumbled, muffled by the way her mouth was resting on you. You responded with a simple kiss, noting how her eyes were so desperately trying to flutter shut.

You couldn’t blame her, you had accidentally woken her up at a ridiculous time in the morning and she was still only a toddler who often took multiple naps throughout the day.

“Let’s get you to bed.” She whined in your ear out of protest, shaking her head in your neck. Her head raised, looking around the room until her eyes landed on Tom.

She twisted in your arms so you were only holding her by her stomach. Scarlett made grabby hands at Tom, a sleepy pout on her lips when he didn’t instantly come over.

“Can daddy put me to bed?” she asked, so innocently.

Tom froze, his heart growing in size as he stared at her. You and Nikki shared a look, one that told the other you were happy you could experience this moment.

He didn’t exactly know what to do, becoming a bit of a stuttering mess. He’d been waiting at least over a year since you’d gotten engaged for her to say that one word, a sort of confirmation that she was happy he was there.

You could see the tears lining his waterline as his mind replayed the 6 words she just uttered. It seemed to take him a few seconds to come back down to earth, nodding his head. You helped transfer Scarlett from your arms to his much stronger ones, the male making it look like lifting a feather. Scarlett shifted slightly, sighing as she got comfortable in his hold.

“Yeah, of course, daddy can put you to bed.”

»»——⍟——««

tom holland taglist - @seutarose @lmaotshollandd @photoshopart15 @hopelessly-harry @bvttercupbby @call-me-baby-gir1 @fallinfortom @strawberrytom @siriuslyslyslytherin @musicalkeys @itstaskeen @icyhollands @tpwk-grande @zspideyy @chrisosterfield @givebuckyhisplumsnow @lowkey-holland @hollandcrush @wizkiddx @sannie-san-shine @sonnydoesrandomshit @hopeless-romantic-baby @dummiesshort @itsbieberxholland @lillucyandthejets @piscesparker @mymilliefrommarketing @spideyspeaches @kujokura @l0velyevans @jess-holland23 @holland-parkers @earthlyholland

#tom holland #tom holland fluff #tom holland imagine #tom holland imagines #tom holland oneshot #dad!tom #stepdad!tom

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themaribatpit · 3 years ago

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Jasonette July Day 20: Then Perish

Written by: The Maribat Pit @jasonette-july-event Prompt: Then Perish (Part 1) Rating: M (violence, minor character deaths) A/N: We wanted to finish Jasonette July with a bang. The second half will be posted tomorrow for the Saturday Challenge. We’ve appreciated all your comments and kind words, we really do read every one. It genuinely means a lot to us and encourages us to continue writing together. As a fandom you have been nothing but kind and supportive, and we enjoy bringing you fics great and small with a wide variety of genres, dynamics, and iterations. Also blame DC fanboy for the memes in this fic. Marinette loved to travel, she had traveled all over the world from New York to Shanghai. Today, she traveled with her parents to Gotham City to visit her parents' friends, whom they had not seen in many years. Sabine was initially afraid to visit Gotham City, due to its crime rate and ever-growing list of criminals. Tom reassured his wife, saying that his big stature would scare any would-be criminal from harming them, that the trip would be short and they would visit Metropolis afterwards. Marinette wore the Ladybug Miraculous, just in case something were to happen. As the family got off the taxi at Park Row, everyone felt something was off. "Park Row really has...changed." Thomas muttered. Sabine held on to both her husband and her daughter, "I think we should leave." she said. Soon shadows began appearing around the corner, then came the yelling, and soon after came the gunshots. Thomas grabbed his wife and daughter and ran to find shelter from a hail of bullets. Marinette looked back to see many civilians, men, women and children caught in the middle of this gang war. She needed to be a hero, her father could take care of her mother, she needed to save those in danger. She freed herself from her father's grasp and ran behind a corner, she whispered "spots on" and transformed into Ladybug. Diving and flipping across streaking bullets everywhere, she flung her yo-yo to drag any unfortunate bystanders into an abandoned building. While in a building with innocent civilians, she peeked her head out the window to see a monstrous man. Wearing a blood red helmet and wielding two pistols, he systematically killed everyone before him. His flips and kicks were graceful yet brutal, the cries of pain and pleas for mercy made her shudder. She couldn't fight him, no, she was afraid to. It would be best to find her family, she did all she could and got bystanders to safety. She quietly transformed back into Marinette and went to look for her family. She ran back to where she last saw them, she scoured the streets shouting "Maman! Papa!" hoping that using her French would help her parents find and identify her. She soon ran into the Red Beast, as she began to turn and run back before she saw the two people at his feet. “<No, no no no, please god no.>” she whispered to herself, tears building in her eyes. There lay her parents, in a pool of their blood with bullet holes between their eyes. Marinette dropped to her knees, silently crying. The Red Hood either didn't see her, or chose to spare her and decided to walk away. Marinette ran to her parents, grabbing them both and shaking them. "<Don’t leave me, please don’t leave me>” she wept. Later, she was picked up by the GCPD. They escorted her on the flight back to Paris along with the remains of her parents. When she arrived, she was approached by the Aide Sociale à L'enfance (ASE). They told her that she'll be staying at a nearby orphanage until after her parents' funeral. Then she would then be sent off to live with her only remaining relative, her Great-Uncle Wang in Shanghai. On the night before the funeral, Marinette was unable to sleep. She curled her legs to her chest while she sat on the mattress. She has spent the past few days researching the mysterious Red Hood, crime boss and self-proclaimed Prince of Gotham. She read article after article of his meteoric rise to power, first conquering Black Mask, then The Penguin. Nightmares plagued her whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the Red Hood tower over her parent's lifeless bodies, covered in their blood. She was worried about being sent off to a foreign country tomorrow evening, while barely even speaking any Mandarin. All the while knowing that once she is on that flight to Shanghai, her parent's killer would without a doubt walk free. Morning comes, yet Marinette still thinks of what she should do. Could she really go to Shanghai to start her life anew, not knowing the language and allowing her parents’ killer to go on unpunished? At the funeral, while standing over her parents’ graves, she remained silent. The priest, ASE agents and her friends all came to pay their respects. Each of her friends approached her to give their sympathies, but she did not listen to a word they said. The Red Hood weighed heavily on her mind, and she made her fateful decision. To run, run and never look back. She had prepared a backpack containing the Miracle box with all the Miraculous, along with a few essential supplies and money. She turned into Multimouse to sneak on board a passenger aircraft to make her way to Gotham City. Jason knew, better than Batman, that fighting crime sometimes meant getting your hands dirty. What started as a petty squabble between two rival gangs grew into a bloodbath. He missed Roy at times like these, Artemis and Bizarro were still missing, but he held out hope that they would one day return to this Earth. A teenage girl with an impressively sturdy yo-yo had burst onto the scene, trying to get civilians to safety. He was a bit too preoccupied with the battle to get a good look at the girl. Knowing Bruce, the next time he’d see her, she’d be under his wing. Sadly, there were two civilians that neither of them could save, a large, burly looking man and a tiny woman. The person who shot them with frightening accuracy had got away, moments later a teenage girl had arrived on the scene. There was a brief flash of fear in her eyes when she saw him, and she would have just scurried away if only he hadn’t been at the very spot where her parents lay dead. The girl was inconsolable as she fell to her knees and wept, pleading with them in French. Red Hood walked away, thinking it would be best to leave her to grieve. There wasn’t a whole lot he could say in English that would make her feel any better, never mind in French. He watched from a distance as the GCPD arrived to pick up the pieces, Red Hood watched from the shadows as police officers and an interpreter tried to get the girl’s side of the story. From what he gathered, the girl’s name was Marinette Dupain-Cheng and her family owned a bakery in Paris. Her next of kin was a relative in Shanghai, and it sounded like the best option for her would be to go and live there. The plan was to ship her and her parents’ bodies back to Paris, and let child services take it from there. He would have probably told her to get as far away from Gotham as possible, away from the clutches of a certain someone who was also orphaned in Crime Alley. He saw her cradle what looked like a small pink doll to her face as she wept, before he turned and walked away. A week later, Jason had a break in the case. This was all caused by some low-level members of the Falcone and Maroni families continuing their decades-old battle. As far as everyone knew, the crime families swiftly executed the men responsible and went about their business. Two crime families were unable to keep their lackeys in check, and now the people who weren’t lucky enough to be whisked away by Yo-Yo Girl, were now either dead or wishing they were. He thought back to poor little Marinette, wondering where she was now. Bruce confronted him at the Iceberg lounge shortly after the incident, to which Jason explained that the perp had got away. He had killed people before, and that wasn’t stopping anytime soon, after all it wasn’t that long ago that he tried to kill the Penguin. “This may surprise you Bruce, but the Red Hood isn’t the only one who uses guns in Gotham '' he snapped. There were some lines that even he did not cross, lines that he had drawn for himself. Judging by the accuracy of the gunshots, this was no accident. Their daughter was probably starting a new life, probably on the other side of the world. Still, he wished he could have said something to the girl, a simple “Hey, it’s gonna be all right” probably would have sufficed. Little did he know that Marinette was making her return to Gotham City. She would have her revenge on the Red Hood, and this time she had nothing to fear and nothing to lose. After her very uncomfortable 10 hour flight from Paris to Gotham City in the cargo hold, Multimouse quietly sneaked out of the crowded airport without alerting anyone. Marinette wandered around Chinatown, thinking of her next step. She was thinking about how she would have to go through the city with a fine tooth comb to search for a lead, likely starting small with his men in the streets. Before she could put the earrings back in her backpack, Tikki begged her to reconsider what she was doing. “Please Marinette, you need time to heal, to grieve,” she pleaded, but Marinette didn’t need the powers of healing, luck and creation. If and when she encountered the Red Hood, she wanted to bring him death, misfortune and destruction. After all, that was exactly what he had brought her. With a stroke of luck, she overheard someone getting a beatdown. "You get your ass outta here, this is Red Hood's turf. If you wanna sell that shit, you gotta give the boss his cut." Marinette whispered "Plagg, claws out" and transformed into Lady Noire, before sneaking up behind one of the Red Hood’s men. He released the person he was beating, and chased him out the alleyway. She took this opportunity to swing her staff, hitting the back of his neck and sending him face first into the ground. He immediately tried to stand up, as he stood on wobbly legs he took out his knife from his jacket. "Oh shit, Catwoman?!" he yelled. Lady Noire used her staff to sweep him off his feet and slammed her staff onto his face. "Where is the Red Hood?" she growled. "Screw you bitch!" the goon retorted. Lady Noire had a feeling that he wouldn’t tell her the location of the Red Hood, so she decided to try a different approach. "Fine then, why don't you give your boss this simple message…" Before she could finish her sentence, she heard the telltale click of a gun being loaded. She turned around and started spinning her staff, creating a grey shield to deflect the storm of bullets that were being fired at her. She moved her hands at a rapid pace, and frantically pushed back against the hail of bullets. As the bullet storm subsided she looked up and saw, up on the fire escape, was the Red Hood with an assault rifle. The Red Hood casually tossed his gun aside and asked "So, what's this message you have for me, Catwoman?" He gracefully did a forward flip and landed in a crouch. "Wait a minute..." he said, the first thing he noticed was that this person was tiny, 4’11 or maybe 5’ on a good day. Her eyes were a bright acid green with dark slits like a real cat’s pupils. "You're not Catwoman, you're too short to be her, for one thing.” he remarked “also she usually has a whip instead of a staff, who are you?" Lady Noire gritted her teeth, "You killed my family" she answered with a low growl. "Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down Kitten?" Red Hood's taunts made her snap. She screamed "YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!" The Red Hood stared at her, as he crossed his arms. "I don't even know who you are, what's your beef with me?" He asked, Lady Noire lunged at the Red Hood with her staff, she swung wildly to try and hit him. He dodged most of her strikes with ease, “Is that the best you’ve got? You’re gonna have to try harder than that.” Where she might have lacked in skill, she made up for in determination. She wasn’t pulling any punches, he had to give her that. He caught the staff under his arm, and punched Lady Noire with his free arm. As he went on the offensive, he slapped her staff aside, and came at her with a series of punches and kicks. “So, what do you want Kitten? Money? Jewels? A very big ball of string?” he joked. “All I want is revenge,” she spluttered. “Get in line Kitten, you’re in the city that runs on vengeance” he retorted. Marinette was lucky that the suit gave her enhanced speed, strength and endurance. She always loved how the Lady Noire suit felt a lot lighter compared to the Ladybug suit. Though she shuddered to imagine what her opponent would do with this power. He raised his leg to end his combination with a forceful downward kick, Lady Noire raised her staff up to a horizontal block to stop the kick. Upon contact with the kick, the staff split into two, and then Lady Noire launched into her counter attack. She was striking the Red Hood with a flurry of blows with both halves of her staff. "Escrima sticks too? Looks like we have a Nightwing fan here” he smirked under the mask; this new girl was just full of surprises. He brought his arms to the sides of his head in a defensive posture, blocking the onslaught of strikes from the escrima sticks. Red Hood then grabbed Lady Noire by the back of her head, placing her in a Thai clinch. He launched a powerful knee to her face and sent her reeling back. He drew his pistols and fired a torrent of bullets at her. Lady Noire had to dodge, weave and use her staff to deflect incoming bullets. One bullet even grazed her cheek. She then pointed her staff at the Red Hood and extended it with so much force it slammed him against the wall of a nearby building. Without giving him any breathing room, she then retracted the staff. She launched herself towards him and then dropkicked his face straight into the wall. His helmet cracked against the tremendous pressure. "It's now or never” she thought, as she cast Cataclysm and swiped at one half of the Red Hood’s helmet. She saw the helmet dissolve and reveal the target beneath. She noticed that underneath the helmet he wore a red domino mask, not unlike the one she usually wore. She would have time to think about how overly dramatic that was later, as she used her other hand to pick up the knife on the ground that the other goon left behind. She jumped on top of the Red Hood, “Now perish!” she cried out as she thrusted the blade towards the exposed part of his face. Red Hood recovered quickly and caught her hand holding the blade. As the two struggled for the knife, Lady Noire tried to swipe at him with Cataclysm again. Suddenly, she felt the power of 50,000 volts coursing through her, as the Red Hood activated the taser hidden in his chest piece. She powered through, running purely on anger, grief and adrenaline. She was only able to struggle for about a minute, before passing out from the pain. Red Hood flipped Lady Noire’s unconscious body aside, before he took off his helmet to inspect the damage. "The hell?." he pondered, "So, indestructible staff that can do double duty as a shield, and the ability to disintegrate things with one touch. Let's find out who you really are." He slowly stood up and looked down at her unconscious body. He tried to peel away her domino mask, yet it would not come off. He tugged on the mask, even to the point of lifting the unconscious girl off the ground. He released the mask, and let the body drop with a small thud. The Red Hood began talking to himself "She either superglued the mask on or it’s something else. Considering all that she can do, I'd say 80% chance it's magic and 20% a lantern. Either way a 100% pain in my ass". He heard a small beeping noise and gingerly lifted her hand up off the floor. As it emitted black and green energy, he noticed that she had a ring on. The beeping came from a small picture of a paw print, which was missing a few pads. If she was a lantern, that ring was going to run out of charge any moment now. He took out his phone and called the Iceberg Lounge. He requested that they send for a van to pick him up and his new guest. He requested that the Su Sisters get her cleaned up and ready. He needed to find out who sent her and who she worked for. He took out the special handcuffs that Batman designed when dealing with metahumans. As he walked towards Lady Noire about to cuff her, he heard some more beeping, followed by a bright light surrounding her. Her suit and mask disappeared, leaving behind a small girl in pastel pink clothes who was probably no older than 15 or 16. Her long braid changed back into a couple of shoulder-length pigtails, and she had a pink backpack on her back. Jason looked inside the bag, there were a few sets of clothes, a wallet and an antique Chinese jewelry box. He wondered if that ring was just one of many tools in her arsenal. Jason's eyes widened, he recognised her as the girl he saw a few weeks ago when the turf war in Crime Alley broke out. "What’s she doing here?" he said to himself aloud, “ Idiot” he muttered. He remembered following the girl and her GCPD escort to make sure she boarded her flight back to Paris. She was supposed to be with her remaining family. Yet she came back to, no, ran away to Gotham City. All for revenge. He checked her wallet and saw the name printed on it, he sighed, this just confirmed that she was the same girl. When she had her revenge, what would she do then? He wasn’t the undisputed master of thinking things through, but even he thought she was a fool to come back here. Gotham City didn’t have the best track record dealing with orphans. He knew this from personal experience, but there was that time where many were rounded up and sent upstate to juvie, for the crime of trying to survive on the streets. He would have been in the same position, had it not been for his own fateful encounter in Crime Alley. He shuddered to think what her other option would be in a place like Gotham City, becoming a Robin. Part of the reason he wanted her out of Gotham was so that Bruce wouldn’t get any ideas about taking her in. When the car arrived, he scooped up the girl in his arms and carried her towards it. Marinette woke up with her heart beating frantically in her chest, the first thing she saw was a bright light. She was dead, she had to be, the last thing she remembered was confronting the Red Hood and now he had killed her. She slowly sat up, she looked down to find that someone had changed her clothes, she was wearing light blue pajamas. She started to look around, to her left there was a large floor to ceiling window where she could see a city at night with bright twinkling lights. On the table next to her was the Miracle box, she quickly grabbed the box and looked through it. She gave a sigh of relief when she saw that all the Miraculous she brought with her were still there. Suddenly, Marinette heard someone clear their throat. At the foot of the bed, stood a rather large woman who had a bundle of clothes in her hand. Next to her was a blonde woman with pink highlights who had a tray of food. “Oh good, you’re finally awake” the large woman said gruffly, she set the clothes down on the edge of the bed. The blonde girl set a tea tray down in front of her, along with a couple of pastries. Marinette’s heart sank at the sight of the croissants, they reminded her of her parents and their bakery. “Eat up and get dressed, the boss wants to see you later” the blonde woman told her, before skipping to the larger woman’s side. Just as the two were about to leave, Marinette piped up, “Um, where am I?” she asked, “Who is your boss?” “You’re in the Iceberg Lounge in Gotham City”, the large woman told her gruffly. “The name’s Suzie, this is one of my sisters, Candy. Our boss is the owner.” Marinette gave an awkward wave as they left, and Candy returned it with a more cheerful one. She took a bite out of the croissant, it tasted cold and dry. However, if she was going to defeat the Red Hood, she’d need all her strength. She put Plagg’s ring back in the box and reached for Ladybug’s earrings; she needed a new tactic. When Tikki appeared in front of her, she also quickly looked around the room before looking back at Marinette with a concerned look on her face. “I couldn’t do it,” Marinette explained “he managed to stop me and I ended up back here”. Tikki’s eyes were sympathetic as Marinette held her closer to her face, “Are you sure you still want to go through with this?” Tikki asked. “For now, I have to get changed and go upstairs to meet the boss. Maybe he’s the one who found me after the fight was over” Marinette theorized as she gave Tikki the cookie from the tray. While Tikki quietly nibbled at it, Marinette stood up and walked over to the edge of the bed. Inside the small bundle of clothes were a simple white blouse and black skirt. They were a little big, she would probably hem it if she had her sewing machine. Moments later, a tall woman with dark hair led Marinette into the penthouse, a large room with a desk in the corner. A tall man in a suit stood with his back towards the door, overlooking the sparkling city skyline. She slowly stepped inside, looking around the room as she walked towards the man. “Um hi, who are you?” Marinette asked as she apprehensively walked towards him. She couldn’t help but feel small in that grand high-ceiling room. “I am the owner of the Iceberg Lounge,” he explained. “I guess the question I should be asking is…” he turned towards her and Marinette saw he had a domino mask over his eyes and a red half mask covering his nose and mouth, “who are you?” He threw something at her and she caught it. She looked down and saw the Red Hood’s helmet, half of it looked as though someone tried to tear the metal open. Then she remembered everything she had researched about the Red Hood, and the fight that took place not long after she arrived back in Gotham. “You…” she hissed. To be continued...

#jasonettejuly2021 #jasonette #maribat #ml x dc

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bbaronpiper · 4 years ago

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Other side of him

I wrote another fluff/smut for you guys. it’s nothing much but I just wanted to post something out. Hope u like it thooo. some parts were @fullweaselbandithero ‘s idea. Thank you bb! <3

19. “God, you are so fucking cute.”

32. “No one has a romantic bone in their body anymore! What happened to playing songs outside windows, glitter and sparkles on handmade Valentine’s cards, dancing in the rain!? What happened?!”

gif not mine. credits to the owner

Arón x reader

Standing in front of the mirror, your hands run from the curves of your waist to your hips, you wore a simple black strappy straight neck bodycon dress, examining yourself, quite undecided weather to wear this or the one hanging on the side of the mirror.

“Which one do you like?” you asked your boyfriend who’s about to lose his shit, growing impatient. You can tell by the way his leg bounced up and down, looking at you sternly while you get dressed. He was supposed to pick you up at 7pm to attend his friend’s party. It was now 7:15pm and you haven’t decided what to wear yet.

“Arón?” waving at him holding the spare dress on your other hand.

He hummed. Confused look plastered across his face, not a single clue on what you calling him out for.

“This one?” you pointed on the one you’re already wearing. “or this one?” you waved the dress you were holding.

He didn’t answer. He just kept on looking at you with his chin on top of his fist and his elbow rests on his knee.

You laughed a little. What is up with this idiot. “Baby, if you don’t help me choose, by the time we get to the club, all your friends would be drunk as fuck”

He then stood up and walked closer to you. his gaze never leaving you. “Try this one. Let’s see what it would look like on you” he pointed to the dress hanging on your hand.

You let out a small “okay” as you turn around to face the mirror again, hanging up the spare dress just to take off the one you’re currently wearing. Your innocence never once questioned his reasons even the looks he was giving you until you grab the hem of your dress and pull it up over your head. Exposing your black lacy underwear. You then saw Arón from the reflection on the mirror, bit his lower lip trying to stop a smile.

“You little shit!” you exclaimed as it all hit you. The silence and the looks he was giving you had a reason. You turned back around to face him and threw the dress you just took off right on his face. He wanted you to try the other dress just so he can see you naked.

He burst out laughing now. Unable to control the laughter he’s been holding the second you grabbed the hem of your dress.

“hmm. I like this better” he was still laughing but the look on his eyes gave it away. Your boy is horny. Again. He walked closer to you and pulled you to him by the waist. You were pressed against his body now. You weren’t wearing a bra and you were lying if you say the feeling of your boobs touching directly against his shirt didn’t turn you on because it definitely did specially if you can feel his cold silver chain necklace hanging around his neck against your skin.

“Umm Piper, just in case you forgot, we have a party to attend” you cleared your throat. Getting nervous as the tension built up not that you didn’t want to fuck him. You do, but you’re also dying to get some alcohol down your system. You then pushed him off of you and proceed to wear the black dress you were wearing moments ago. You liked it anyways.

“Such a tease” he murmured while smirking.

“Horny avatar!” you spat back as you finished getting dress and put on your heels. You and Aron loved teasing each other, throwing comments and insults like little kids. You didn’t mind it since you both knew your limitations when it comes to the insults.

“Take that back Y/N!” he then slapped your ass and grabbed your hand as he led you out the door. You just gasped in return at the sudden feeling of his hand colliding on your ass.

“Really? You gotta touch a fine lady on her bumbum?” giving him a sad look that’s obviously fake. “No one has a romantic bone in their body anymore! What happened to playing songs outside windows, glitter and sparkles on handmade Valentine’s cards, dancing in the rain!? What happened?!” you continued to half rant.

Arón on the other hand, being Arón, he didn’t say a word he just chuckled. He slipped his hand on your back gliding up until your neck which by the way sent you chills all over your body, and stopped when he reached the side of your head, pushing it closer to him so he could give you a kiss on the side of your head.

“That’s all I get? Really, Arón?” Now, you really are sad. Not to sound clingy but you missed your man. You both quarantined away from each other but facetime everyday and once the quarantine is lifted, he starts going to clubs and beaches. Of course, he had asked you to come but you refused saying there’s still a virus and it isn’t safe. Arón on the other hand being the stubborn ass that he is, still went and you were never the type to restrict your boyfriend on things he wanted to do but now that he’s back, all you wanted is to spend time with him.

Just before you both reached the door, he stopped, leaned his head down to your level and gave you a kiss on the lips. It was one of his passionate kisses. He was never the one who gave little pecks. The man mastered the art of kissing like he’s making up for the time you weren’t together, a reminder that you’re his home and a promise that it’s you who he loves dearly. He pulled away smiling down on you while you smile back at him with cheeks blushing. You were so happy you skipped away to the door until the parking lot like a little school girl, his hand intertwined with yours. He laughed at the sight of this and shook his head. Probably regretting the fact that he’s dating a grown ass woman with a 10 year old child inside of her.

The second he starts to drive away, you zoomed out. You always loved car rides more than the destination itself. The feeling of sitting comfortable on the passenger’s seat while your boyfriend plays his jam and softly sing along to it gives you the happiest feeling. Not to mention your amusement every time you look out the window and enjoy the view; the streets, the people walking around and the sky. The smile you had on your face slowly disappeared as you heard Arón announced that you arrived to your destination.

You frown a little, confused. It didn’t look like a bar. You turned your head around to the driver’s seat only to see it empty. He was already walking around the car to open up the car door for you. damn this boy for making your heart flutter every time he gets the chance. You happily got out of the car and he immediately took your hand in his.

“Where are we? I thought you said-?

“Shush. You’ll see” he cut you off and shoot you a wink.

He then led you inside the building into the elevator and pushed the button for the very top floor. Only to reveal this (see photo below)

photo not mine. got it from pinterest.

Your mouth hung open once you had a glimpse of it. On your mind, it was still his friend’s party you’re going to and not to this, leaving you confused. First of all, how can a fancy building have this garden set up in its rooftop, second, where is everybody? And lastly, Arón really did this for you? you love the boy dearly, and surely, he does love you as well but he was never the romantic type. Your dates are mostly just dinners or drinking at the bar or staying home for a long cozy night but never this.

“Close your mouth, baby I just saw a flying insect flew in.” he laughed while he touched your chin with his thumb. He then led you further and into one of the seat. “Sit” he demanded

“Asshole!” you muttered. Tears of joy starts to build up in your eyes. You felt like you were the luckiest woman ever. “You didn’t tell me you were setting me up with your friend for a romantic dinner” you joked.

He laughed loudly this time. “You’re crazy! Why would I give you away to somebody else. Huh?” He grabbed the remote on the nearby table and play the movie he chose the night before.

“So, no? Damn, I’ve been eyeing Marco for a while now” He quickly snapped his head back at you, glaring. The look on his face made you burst out laughing. It was a mix of shocked and jealousy. You can’t believe he bought what you said. “Gosh Arón, I was just kidding. I’m yours” And pecked him on the cheek which seemed to work since his facial expressions softened. “But really, No Marco tonight?”

He rolled his eyes at you “Not funny” and exhaled a little “hmpf” then pouted at you. Pouting men should be automatically kissed right? And so you did. He refused to return the kiss at first, cos you know people with Aries star signs are fucking stubborn but not for long as you tried to deepen the kiss by licking his lower lips and that’s when he finally gave in. He parted his lips slightly enough for you to insert your tongue in his mouth as his danced along with yours. His hand traveled down your thigh caressing it with his thumb. He was about to slide his hand inside your dress when you heard the elevator open and made you both pull away.

You watched as the waiters served your food along with your favorite wine. You both giggled at each other embarrassed that someone caught you during an intimate moment.

“Did you like it?” Arón asked you referring to his surprise.

“I loved it” you grin back at him “You rented the whole floor?”

“Yeah, so you wouldn’t whine about the virus. I can’t have you spraying alcohol at random people!” he said shaking his head before taking a bite on his food.

You spent the whole dinner talking about random stuff trying to catch up on each other’s lives these past few months. You love listening to Arón’s stories, your favorite part is when he’s telling you something funny and he couldn’t even finish the sentence ‘cos he’s laughing too much which cause you to laugh as well. The sound of his laughter completes your day, you love making him happy and he sure does make you happy as well.

“Did I tell you, you looked beautiful tonight?” he said while wiping the side of his mouth with a napkin. “god, you are so fucking cute.” He shot you a cheeky grin.

“Did I tell you, thank you for this” motioning around the place “and that I love you so much?” you challenged back.

“Yeah, you did. But I believed the word you used was ‘asshole’” He laughed to himself as he stood up and walked over to you side asking for your hand. “and I love you more”

“What, now?” you looked up at him, not sure what he wanted you to do.

He scrunched his face at you trying to suppress another laugh. “Y/N, has no one ever asked you to dance before?” this sassy ass will be the death of you. He wiggled his hand in front of you asking you to take it. you did. He led you to the middle of the floor, his hands on your hips and yours around his neck. You both swayed slowly, enjoying each other’s company while the cold air of the night softly blew into your skin. There’s no music playing, all you can hear is the sound of your breaths, your thumping hearts and the faint sound of the movie playing on the background. This was all new to you and it kept you wondering what has gotten into him to do something this special. You’ve been with Arón for more than a year now but you never seen this other side of him before.

“What’s up with you? are you breaking up with me?” you blurted out of nowhere. His gestures tonight made you overthink. Is he doing this like a goodbye thing? Just to leave a good memory?

He looked down at you with eyebrows furrowed. “No, where did that come from?”

“uhh, nothin’.. it’s just.. you’ve never done something like this before. It makes me wonder” you shrugged. Your arms tightened around his neck afraid he’ll slip away.

“Exactly. That’s why I’m doing this” He gave you a reassuring smile. “’’cos I’ve never done it before.” He caress your cheek with the back of his fingers, staring deep into your eyes. “I feel like I haven’t done enough for you yet.” He brushed the tip of his nose on your forehead first before placing a kiss on it.

Your heart was beating so fast and hard you feel like Arón can feel it through his chest too. Butterflies in your stomach are too much for you to handle. This man makes you feel so much emotions to the point that your knees get so weak and you suddenly forgot how to breathe. You stared into each other’s eyes for a while before you tip toed and reach for his lips, giving his pouty ones a kiss it deserved.

Arón pulled away after a while just to press his face at the side of your head and whispered “Let me show you how much I love you” before kissing your exposed neck, his fingers played with the strap of your dress while waiting for your answer. This simple gesture was enough to make you wet.

It took him a soft nod from you to pull down the strap from your shoulders and kissed the skin below it. your hand gripped tightly at the back of his neck as he lightly sucked the skin on your shoulder and giving it a kiss before moving to another spot and repeat the same step, earning soft moans from you.

His huge hands traveled from your hips to your ass and taps it lightly. It was a signal for you to jump onto him. You obeyed. He walked toward the nearest couch and laid you there. He kissed you in every part of your skin that’s exposed; your face, your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your hands up to your legs. Arón lifted your dress up but you stopped him once the cloth reached your stomach.

“Someone might walk in on us, baby.” He nodded in understanding and let the dress sit up to your stomach before discarding your panties. Revealing your already dripping pussy.

“Fuck, you’re so wet for me” Arón muttered at the sight. The feeling of his hand touching your thighs is enough for you to moan out his name. you reached for his shirt’s button one by one opening it. your hand automatically went to touch his chest, your fingers tracing his sun and moon tattoo.

“Arón, baby please” he smirked knowing you’re just eager as him. Reaching for his pants button, he quickly opened it and pull his trousers down along with his boxers. He went back to hover over you pressing his lips on yours leaving wet and hard kisses.

“Arón, please.. please..” he always make you beg when making love. Fucking Aries. Always the dominant one. You tried to thrust upward to meet his rock hard dick but he moved slightly away from you.

“Not yet baby” he said in between kisses. You of course didn’t like this and whined. Once he heard this. He covered your mouth and quickly slammed into you making you scream. Thankfully, Arón’s hand was on your mouth making the sounds muffled. He didn’t move an inch until you moaned. It was his way of knowing that you had adjusted on his size already.

He started slow movements, pushing in and out of you gently making you both moan in unison. Arón was now thrusting at a steady pace. You loved it. it’s been a while since he fucked you like this. It was always hard sex or the needy sex. Soft Arón turned you even more than the wild version of him. He thrusts into you a few more times before sitting up. He was still inside you when he snuck his arms under your back pulling you into sitting position in a swift. The sudden movements made you moan out loud as he shot a cocky smile towards you.

His smile was replaced with an O shape and pulled his head back, grunting as he felt you clenched around him. “Ride me Y/N”

You did as you were told. You moved up and down on him slowly like he did to you. his name rolled out of your tongue over and over again getting louder in every thrust. He pulled down your dress a bit further to reveal your right boob. He then wasted no time and put it in his mouth. Nipping and sucking on it. while his other hand reached to grab your left boob. You felt your orgasm building up. Arón must’ve felt it too ‘cos your thrust are getting sloppy.

He stopped what he was doing and left you a wet kiss on your lips. “I’ve got you baby” he then lied you back down on the couch again. He positioned himself and pushed your legs wider apart before gripping on your waist and start pounding into you. hard and fast. You held tightly on his forearms like your life depended on it. your moans turned into screams not once caring if someone heard you.

“I’m so close, Arón” you reached for your clit and starts rubbing it in circles. Arón saw this and slaps your hand away, taking over for you so you can go back to gripping on his arm.

“That’s it baby, come for me” Arón grunts and pursed his lips together. Quickening his pace. The sight of him with little beads of sweat forming in his forehead, grunting and moaning your name drove you straight to orgasm. You came. Arón not long after you. screaming each other’s name.

He collapsed on top of you, careful not to crush you with his weight. His head laid on your chest as you both catch breaths. Both of your chest heaving. You rest your chin on top of his head, your hand running softly against his hair just above his neck. Enjoying the view. It was nice to make love under the night sky with the boy you love with all your heart.

“Let’s go home, princesa. Let me fuck you properly.”

Ohhh and the night is not yet over.

“so, more surprises for me huh?”

#aron piper imagines #aron piper #aron fanfiction #aron piper x reader #aron x you #aronsmut #aronfluff #aron piper oneshot

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translations-by-aiimee · 3 years ago

Text

Dig a Grave to Dig Out a Ghost - Chapter 3

Original Title: 挖坟挖出鬼

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Yaoi

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Chapter 3 - Mortuary

There were always one or two friends in your life who you're never afraid will scold you or hang up on you in the early morning hours, even if the reason is because you had a nightmare about potatoes in your home growing lots of hair. Yin Zhou was this person to Lin Yan. He had two long strands of messy hair on his head, always wore unwashed shirts, and the eyes under his glasses could never focus because of how long he had spent gaming.

They grew up in the same neighbourhood, attended the same elementary school, middle school and high school, and they were each that "brilliant other child" in the eyes of both their parents. Since childhood, Lin Yan, regardless of how hard he worked, achieved the high grades that Yin Zhou could have achieved if he didn't skip class every day. No matter how good his grades were, his parents would praise Lin Yan for his diligent and hard work. After the college entrance exam, the two drank a glass of wine as a farewell and celebrated them parting ways. Unexpectedly, Yin Zhou missed half a page of questions while writing the math papers, but he still went to the same university as Lin Yan, so almost two. So the friendship continued with the constant cycle of loving and hating each other.

Later, they were divided by their majors. Yin Zhou studied electronics and Lin Yan studied history. From then on, there was little crossover with the two majors. Without the pressure of competition, the two of them became much closer, playing games, flirting with girls, talking about politics; there was no end to their activities.

The 'regular place' referred to the bar.

When Lin Yan walked in, he saw Yin Zhou shooting his shot with a girl at the bar unsuccessfully. Lin Yan called his name several times before he turned around. Yin Zhou opened a bottle of beer and his eyes widened: " Yo, you weren't responding to any of my calls or texts. Were you on a date?"

Lin Yan drank half the bottle in single breath, and said calmly, "I've got lost and was going around in circles."

"Got lost?!" Yin Zhou stared at him for a long time. Seeing that Lin Yan wasn't joking, he couldn't help but smile and said, "Are you feeling alright? If you're feeling sick, let this brother take you to the hospital."

Lin Yan was in a weird mood because of all the strange events that had happened. Now, his voice wasn't very strong either. He simply put down the beer bottle, put his hands on the table, raised his voice and shouted into Yin Zhou's ears: "I! Saw! A! Ghost!!"

His voice was so loud that most of the people at the bar heard him. They turned to look at him like he was crazy.

Yin Zhou hid his face behind his hand and muttered about how embarrassing it was. After thinking about it, he raised his head and said with a dazed expression: "Was it a female ghost? Was it pretty?"

Lin Yan was at a loss for words and the muscles on his face twitched.

Then Lin Yan explained all the night's occurrences to Yin Zhou in extreme detail, but he started regretting it halfway through. Yin Zhou obviously was eating it up, and a pair of unfocused eyes were shining with an excitement that couldn't be matched in ten thousand years. He rubbed his hands together and stammered when he heard the section of the figure under the street light: "This is too unscientific, or maybe it's too scientific. I'll apply to use one of the labs tomorrow, maybe I can figure this out!"

Lin Yan wanted to smash the beer bottle on his head.

"You seem busy, I'll head out first."

Yin Zhou caught him before he walked away and scratched his head: "Alright, alright. I'm just kidding. Have a drink first and we can go back to my place afterwards."

"Let's be optimistic. If that thing is a guy, then you've got to get rid of him immediately. If it's a woman, then she should definitely get down on her knees to see what is under your jeans."

Lin Yan was actually very grateful to him when he drove Yin Zhou all the way to his house. He thought that unreliable people would have unreliable benefits. No matter how weird things were, he would really listen to them, but he immediately regretted it once they reached his apartment. The reason was simple: Yin Zhou's room was dirty and no living person would ever be found in this room.

The sight that Lin Yan was faced with when he stepped in the door made him scream inside. It's better to go home and be scared to death by ghosts. God only knows how he lives like this. It was a 10-square metre rental with rubbish and clothes littering the floor. There were mountains of instant noodle boxes on the table. Some of them were being used as ashtrays and there were cigarette butts floating in the murky soup. He had no idea how long they were left there, but they were exuded a rancid smell.

The laptop was thrown on the bed, and there was a line of characters moving across the screen. Yin Zhou rushed to take a look, and groaned: "It's been going on repeatedly. The program has to be changed." After he was done talking, he didn't pay any more attention to Lin Yan. He leaned against the headboard, flipping through his notebook and clicked to stop debugging, tapping on his keyboard with his long fingers.

"There is food in the cupboard. If you get hungry, grab something to eat."

Lin Yan opened the cabinet and inspected Yin Zhou’s selection. Various brands of instant noodles, rice vermicelli, pickled mustard greens, a large number of ham sausages that were about to expire. . . If this guy croaks one day, the number of preservatives in him would help him survive for at least thirty more years. If ancient people had eaten things like this, it could've saved conservation historians so much time.

"Do you have any clean clothes? Mine are soaked from the rain. Could you lend me some dry clothes first."

"There's some on the ground. Grab those."

After feeling Lin Yan's murderous glare, Yin Zhou reluctantly got up and slowly opened the wicker basket at the foot of his bed: "Yes, yes, my mother comes to wash my clothes once a week, and the clean ones are here."

After speaking, he threw him a graphic t-shirt.

"You earn so much from your projects yet you live in such a shabby place. You don't even own a washing machine, and that quality of life is catching up with you. Aren't you afraid that your arrogant old man won't give you money to marry a wife in the future? Lin Yan took off his shirt, stretched the t-shirt over his head and put it on. With the shirt over his head, he asked in a muffled voice: "Help me find a pair of pants."

Yin Zhou threw his hands up and said with disdain: "You're being so picky. A person uses so much stuff when they are alive but when they're dead, they only need a coffin. Why are you being so particular about this?" After finishing speaking, Yu Guang looked at Lin Yan with a smirk. : "Xiao Linzi's figure is good, the fitness card is not for nothing."

He glanced at Lin Yan with his peripheral vision and gave a sly smirk: "Little Brother Lin is in good shape, your gym membership wasn't bought in vain."

"Don't you dare call me Little Brother Lin, I'll show you want a real man is!" Lin Yan picked up the electric kettle that was thrown by the bed, wiped off the ashes, and smacked his lips.

Lin Yan picked up the electric kettle that was thrown near the bed, wiped off a handful of cigarette ashes, and smacked his lips.

"Disgusting."

Yin Zhou ignored him and spoke to himself as he flipped through his suitcase. "I remember I had a pair of new jeans, where are they going. . . Huh? What's this? Did my mother leave her clothes in here?"

This was. . .

The body was made of red satin, black lining, with loose sleeves that hung down, and there was heavy embroidery around the wrists. Yin Zhou shook it out curiously. Just as he was about to hold it up to compare it to his body, Lin Yan cried out: "Put that down, don't touch it!"

Looking at Lin Yan's pale face, Yin Zhou also noticed that something was wrong, so he threw the red clothes on the bed.

"These are mortuary clothes. It's for the dead." Lin Yan said weakly.

Yin Zhou's face also changed.

"This thing doesn't belong here."

Yin Zhou looked around his room, as if to relieve the nervous atmosphere, he laughed twice: "Is it wrong? How about I call my mother and ask if she left it."

Yin Zhou looked around his room. Trying to break the tense atmosphere, he laughed twice: "Was this a mistake? How about I call my mother and ask if she put it in here?"

Lin Yan looked at the clothes and said dejectedly: "No need, I believe you."

He was getting angry, thinking that this thing was trying to provoke him no matter what, and now it was involving his friend. He was clearly trying to get a reaction out of him.

For a while, both of them were speechless. The room was silent except for the ticking of the clock on the wall.

Under the light of the bright light, the red clothes were laid straight out on the bed like paper. Despite its bright colour, it was gloomy and had a terrifying appearance. The ancient style and the luxurious fabrics exuded such a cold atmosphere that it was like the sun had never touched it.

Ten minutes later.

Lin Yan picked up the car key on the table. He sighed and said to Yin Zhou: "I'm going back home. This thing is coming after me, staying here will only hurt you."

Yin Zhou spat out: "Don't give me that bullshit. It would be stupid to go back by yourself, just stay here."

What Lin Yan wanted to say was interrupted by Yin Zhou: "We're close enough that you're wearing my pants. Won't I be the one that will have to explain what happened to your parents if there's an accident? Don't mess with me. We'll talk about this in the morning."

After talking, yin Zhou searched under the bed for a while. He found another notebook and handed it to Lin Yan: "Do you think a ghost would be able to scare us to death? Hurry up, let's get some kills on Dota!"

Lin Yan was silent for a while, opened his notebook, and said with a smile: "You asked for it, I won't go easy on you!"

The light flickered and dimmed, and the room became more and more gloomy. Lin Yan knew instinctively that something was staring at him somewhere in the room. Maybe it had a pale face, wrapped in a red mortuary, and said sorrowfully: Your death is approaching.

This must be the weirdest night in his 22 years of life, Lin Yan thought. Once the sky begins to get bright, things will be over by dawn.

The red mortuary was like a long, stiff corpse lying on the bed, the sleeves folded across the front as if to remind him that this was only the beginning.

#dig a grave to dig out a ghost #dig a grave to dig out a ghost translation #chinese novel #chinese bl #english translation #bl novel #danmei novel

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itubainaretro · 4 years ago

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In a parallel universe Robbe and Sander met at the scouts summer camp when they were 10 and every year since then they waited for summer to see each other again.

Robbe and Sander were the type of best friends that did everything together and no one could separate them - everyone stopped trying eventually -, so when someone was looking for one of the boys they made sure to look for both of them, because if you found one you’d find the other too, probably up to no good, like that time when Sander convinced Robbe to go to the kitchen at 3 am so they could eat chocolate ice cream when they were 12, or that time when Robbe dared Sander to jump in the lake at midnight even though he knew the water would be cold despite the warm weather and Sander did it, naked, because he was never one to back down from a challenge, when they were 13.

Even though most of the time they were causing mayhem or getting into trouble, people would still notice how Robbe and Sander also took care of each other and treated the other gently, like that time when they were 14 and had an outdoors task and were only allowed to go back to their lodge when they were finished with everything and it started raining and they stayed outside for a good hour before finishing their task and Robbe ended up with the flu. Everyday after that everyone at the camp saw Sander piling up food or making some tea at the dining hall to take up to their lodge because Robbe wasn’t feeling well enough to come down to eat with everyone yet and Sander refused to let him be alone - even though Robbe said countless times it was okay - so he would make sure to grab Robbe’s favourite snacks and balance everything in his arms to knock on their door with the biggest smile ever and say room service arrived.

Or that time when they were 15 and Sander sprained his ankle while hiking and even though Robbe was smaller than him he made sure to give Sander a piggyback ride all the way back to the nursery so he could get his ankle examined and taken care of. After they put a splint on Sander’s ankle and gave him some medication for the pain, Robbe helped him get to their room and after getting Sander to his bed, Robbe looked at him seriously and asked him to never scare him like that ever again and gave Sander a kiss on the forehead, saying he’d be right back with some food. Before Robbe left Sander grabbed his hand saying he shouldn’t be that worried, it was just a stupid ankle and Robbe replied saying it didn’t matter, he hated seeing Sander hurt. Sander smiled and gave Robbe’s hand a thank you kiss and asked for a piece of chocolate cake, since Robbe was being so nice to him.

When they were 16 everyone noticed how things changed between them.

It was no surprise to anyone how close and attached they were, but in that summer it all looked like something more, like something meaningful.

As always they spent most of their time together, only being apart when they were assigned different partners for outdoors tasks, but their dynamic certainly had changed. On the rare occasions they weren’t together it seemed as though they weren’t paying attention to anything until someone mentioned the other’s name and it was enough to bring a smile to their faces, making them keep going with their tasks with renewed energy, as if they remembered that the sooner they finished what they were doing the sooner they would be able to be together again.

Their eyes seemed to linger on one another for longer than necessary and so did their hands when they did simple things such as shoo away a fly from the other’s arm, clean a patch of dirt from the other’s shorts, stained from when they sat on the floor during their break, put a strand of hair behind the other’s ear from where it fell on their eyes or how more often than not they held hands when they thought no one was looking. The smiles they shared seemed to hold a secret only they knew about.

Even the instructors noticed how attached they’d become from the countless times they were sent to their lodge to check on them because both boys were late to some early morning task, just to get there and catch Robbe and Sander sharing a bed, sleeping safely intertwined in each other’s arms. They always pretended to not see anything, not wanting to break their little bubble, and simply left the room, knocked on their door and shouted Driesen and Ijzermans, you have 5 minutes to be ready and outside your dorm, otherwise we’re breaking down the door. They never broke down any doors, they never needed it, because every single time, 4 minutes and half later both boys were stumbling out of the door, laughing and finishing up the knots on their scarves, mumbling how sorry they were and promising it would never happen again. The instructors pretended to believe, shaking their heads and sending them off to their tasks, laughing at them being so ridiculously into their own little world that they were oblivious to the fact that every single instructor had a copy key to all the lodges and no doors would ever have to be broken down.

Their goodbye that year was hard. Both Robbe and Sander knew what they wanted but were too afraid to do anything about it, because they didn’t want to ruin their friendship over some feelings that could or could not be reciprocated by the other, so in the end they did nothing.

On the bonfire night, their last night at the summer camp, they were clingier than usual, almost glued to each other while talking to other people, goofing around and enjoying the last bits of summer together. When they got back to their lodge they went to bed together and spent the entire night talking in hushed voices, tracing random shapes and promises on each other’s skin and sometimes innocently kissing the closest part of each other’s body, hands, forehead, cheek, arm, just for the sake of enjoying their last moments of being in each other’s arms.

On the next day when they went to say their goodbyes they hugged tightly for almost 10 minutes straight, saying how they were already counting the days to see each other again, promising to stay in touch and finally letting go with a kiss to the other’s cheek.

On the bus ride home Robbe found a drawing on his jacket and smiled when he saw himself and Sander smiling at each other by a fire - it was a memory from the day they learned how to start a fire using dry branches and that particular moment etched on a white piece of paper was when Robbe’s fire finally ignited and he yelled in victory, thanking Sander for the help. Sander must’ve slipped the drawing on his pocket when they were hugging and Robbe laughed when he thought about how much they were alike, cause he too had slipped a piece of paper on Sander’s pocket when they were hugging, a little note that said “I love you and I already miss you. - Robbe.”

The year passed by and Robbe couldn’t wait to get back to the camp, but as soon as he got there his world came crashing down when he realized Sander, always the first one of them to get to the camp, wasn’t there.

He spent the whole day waiting for Sander to arrive but he never came. Not after breakfast, not after lunch and not even after dinner.

After some days Robbe gave up on waiting for him and accepted the fact that he wouldn’t see Sander that summer and depending on what life had reserved for them, never again.

So, at 17 Robbe forced himself to meet new people and make new friends at the summer camp. No one was like Sander, but he stopped feeling so alone all the time when he met the brightest scout he’s ever seen, Yasmina, her best friend Zoë and her boyfriend, Senne. After some time their group started getting bigger, when Zoë met Jana and she joined the group, bringing Lucas, her Dutch cousin, with herself. Some days later, when they were used to each other and comfortable enough as a group of friends, Lucas introduced Jens, the other guy who was always with him, as his boyfriend. Everyone cheered up at the news and welcomed him to the group and Robbe was happy for him, he really was, he just couldn’t help himself from feeling a bit sad at the thought that maybe that year it could be Sander and him in that position, but life had other plans.

At 18 Robbe came back to the summer camp and he had a bittersweet feeling when he got there and realized that it would be the last year he would be coming to the camp as a scout, that if he wanted to come back again on the next year he would be coming back as an instructor, to help the little kids, just like he was once helped. He felt a bit sad about it because he loved being a scout and he loved learning something new everyday, so leaving that behind would hurt, but he felt happy at the thought of being able to help those lost little kids that came back every year, full of energy and wonderment at the thought of becoming a scout. He still remembers the feeling of coming to the summer camp for the first time, it was probably the best day of his life.

When he got to the dining hall he was happy to see Yasmina, Zoë, Senne - now a camp instructor -, Jana, Lucas and Jens again. They had lunch together and talked for hours, filing each other in about what had been going on in the lives for the past year.

Later that day, Robbe went back to his lodge and was surprised to see he wasn’t alone. There, on the other bed, with his back to him, was a boy with platinum hair and before Robbe could even think about anything to say he saw a green duffel bag right beside the boy, and Robbe knew that bag, he would recognize it from a thousand miles away. He remembered all the secrets that bag used to hold, from prohibited snacks, cameras, sketchbooks and pencils, to water bottles and only once, cigarettes.

“Sander?”

Sander turned around, looked at Robbe with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes and looked down almost immediately. It was a lot to take in: his hair was different, he seemed taller, older, his face looked sad and tired, like he hasn’t had a good night’s sleep in forever, and as much as that was Sander standing right there in front of him, Robbe still felt like he didn’t recognize him at all. He felt like he couldn’t exactly pinpoint what happened to the boy whose smile was once brighter than the sun, who could make Robbe feel a whirlwind of emotions all at once and at the same time make him feel like nothing else existed besides the both of them and that all he’s ever known was peace when they were in each other’s company.

Some part of him knew that was still Sander, though, the same Sander he’s always loved, but he didn't know what to do. Robbe didn’t know if he could come closer and envelop him in a hug like he’s been dying to do since last summer, if he could talk to him and ask all the questions swimming in his mind, if he could finally say the words he wrote on that note two years ago out loud like he’s been dying to for so long, so much so that he felt like they were itching his lips, or if it was better to pretend nothing happened. Robbe was lost. Sander decided his next move for him, though, and said he was thirsty and left to go grab a bottle of water.

Days passed by and Robbe still didn’t know what to do. Their relationship was obviously shaken and he swore that if he could go back in time he would go back to that day he wrote the note and tear the paper into a million pieces if it meant getting his Sander back now.

He couldn’t stand seeing Sander like that anymore, treating him like he was just some random roommate and not a boy he loved too, because Robbe knew Sander loved him. He didn’t make up the things that happened in the last summer they were together, he didn’t hallucinate those things, they happened and everyone saw it and it was even worse when he saw how people looked at him now, like they pitied him for being kicked aside by his own very best friend.

So one day, after their usual afternoon tasks, when Robbe came back to his room he confronted Sander, in the gentlest way he could, asking him if he wanted to switch rooms or ask for another roommate, because if he didn’t feel comfortable with Robbe there he would be out of the room on the same day. He could spend the night at Lucas and Jens’ lodge, it was not like they used both beds anyway. No one would say anything.

Sander looked confused after Robbe said that, asking why would he ever be uncomfortable around him.

“Because of what I said, actually, because of what I gave you the last time we saw each other? You saw the note, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t come last year, because you don’t feel the same way and didn’t know how to face me? That’s why you haven’t looked me in the face since you got here. I know it’s because of this. It’s okay, Sander, I can take rejection. Just, please, end this because I can’t take it anymore, it’s killing me.” Robbe said all at once.

When Robbe saw Sander looking for his wallet and opening it he rolled his eyes thinking about how ridiculous the situation was, but before he could leave the room Sander grabbed his arm and showed him his wallet, and right there, next to a photo they took on the last summer they were together, on a rainy day when all their schedule was cancelled and they spent the entire day in bed listening to music, talking and taking silly pictures on Sander’s camera, was Robbe’s note.

“I love you, too, Robbe. Always have and probably always will.” Sander admitted with a sigh. “It scared me when I first realized it, you know? But then I also realized that loving you was the simplest and easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Loving you came as natural as breathing to me, so I didn’t have to be scared. I didn’t want to be scared.”

Robbe couldn’t believe the words that were pouring out of Sander’s mouth, so Sander continued.

“I couldn’t wait to come back here and tell you, Robbe. God, I spent so many days thinking about how it would go.” He chuckled. “I had this big plan of telling you on the day it would mark 7 years we’ve met. I’d take you to the lake where we first met, do you remember where it was? We’d have a picnic and I’d tell you then.” Sander’s smile slowly disappeared. “But the end of the year came and some things happened and after months of going to several doctors I was diagnosed.”

Robbe’s breath hitched,

“I’m bipolar, Robbe.” Sander’s eyes were gleaming with unshed tears. “I was diagnosed by the end of spring and I didn’t know if it was a good idea for me to come to the summer camp, and even if it was I didn’t know if I wanted to. I was afraid things would change between us if I told you and I was still getting used to my medication, so I didn’t know if coming here was a smart choice. So I didn’t.” He took a deep breath. “I know I could’ve messaged you but I wanted to tell you in person, it didn’t seem fair to tell you all of this over a text message. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Robbe whispered. “Please don’t ever be sorry. Not about stuff like this.”

Sander sighed.

“Can I come closer?” Robbe asked. Sander nodded.

“Can I give you a hug?” Robbe asked. Sander nodded again.

And when Robbe hugged him he felt like all their broken pieces were being mended together and put in their rightful places.

They stood like that for what felt like forever, with Robbe whispering sweet nothings in Sander’s ear, telling him he didn’t have to carry the weight of the world in his shoulders, that Robbe was right there with him and they would get through everything together, like they always did at camp.

“We’ll take things minute by minute.” Robbe said, finally.

“How can I do that if I’ve spent most of my life thinking about the next summer? Thinking about how many days until I got to see your stupid face and play with you again? About when I would get to hug you and smell your stupid cologne?” Sander asked playfully, but Robbe knew he meant it.

“I don’t know, love. I, too, spent the last 8 years of my life thinking about summer and wondering when I would get to see the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen in my life again, about when I would get to play with your hair - that I still need to get used to it being platinum - again. About warm hugs that felt, and still feel, like home. About sweet smiles that held all the mischief of the world in them, as well as all the love I never thought I was worthy of.” Robbe smiled softly at Sander. “So yeah, I don’t know what it’s like to live life not thinking about the future, but we’ll learn. Together, like we’ve always done. Like that time we didn’t know how to light a fire and we learned here. Or when we didn’t know the basics of first aid and we learned together after I hurt myself climbing that tree. Or when I got sick with the flu and you learned how to make soup. Or when I learned how to put your splint in the right place because you kept doing it wrong when you sprained your ankle. We did it all those times, we’ll do it again. You and I. Together.”

Sander kissed him then.

It felt like coming home.

Later, when they were lying in bed, sharing lazy kisses and soft touches, Sander apologized for the way he treated Robbe during those first days and Robbe told him it didn’t matter anymore, besides he was sorry for the way he spoke to him earlier too. They both agreed they would learn how to communicate better too.

They spent the rest of the day there, not knowing where one boy began and the other ended, talking about everything and nothing, catching up with each other’s lives, drifting in and out of sleep, sharing all kinds of kisses, playing with each other’s hair, knowing they would be fine.

At night, when two instructors came by to check on them because neither boy had come down to the dining room for lunch or dinner and found both boys lying beside each other on Robbe’s bed, hands intertwined and talking in hushed voices, they knew this time was different so they only muttered a Finally, you two, it was about time, and left them a tray of food, shaking their heads and laughing lightly at the two young boys in love.

On the next day they were released from their tasks because they were the camp’s sweethearts and all the instructors had a soft spot for them. They had watched their love blossom through all those years so they decided to let them have the day off to enjoy each other’s company after so much time apart.

Robbe and Sander took the opportunity to finally have their picnic and Sander officially asked Robbe to be his boyfriend. Robbe obviously said yes and they enjoyed the rest of the day basking in each other’s presence, enjoying the food they brought and the nice weather by the lake.

Before meeting everyone by the dining room for dinner, they updated their Instagrams.

At night, when they got to the dining room holding hands, everyone started cheering up and clapping their hands in excitement. Robbe swore he heard some catcalls too and he felt like he would die out of embarrassment. Sander squeezed his hand and told him to just ignore everyone as they made their way to the table where Yasmina, Zoë, Senne, Jana, Lucas and Jens were waiting for them with huge smiles on their faces.

Robbe introduced Sander to everyone and almost had a heart attack everytime he heard Sander introducing himself as Robbe’s boyfriend.

The weeks went by faster than Robbe and Sander wanted to, and when they realized it was already bonfire night they felt bittersweet about it. They spent the entire night beside each other, sharing a blanket and their food, reminiscing about the great summer they spent together and talking about future plans. Robbe was ecstatic to learn that Sander got a scholarship on a university 15 minutes away from where he lived, feeling relieved at the fact that they wouldn’t have to try the long distance relationship thing ever again. Sander felt proud when he heard Robbe and Yasmina talking about how they’d be study partners next fall, choosing to study biomedicine on Robbe’s hometown University.

Sander became the camp’s official photographer and took pictures of everyone all night long, but at the end of the night only one picture mattered to him.

On the last day, after saying their goodbyes, Robbe posted another picture on his Instagram.

Some minutes later he received a text.

From Sander: I love you and I already miss you. Can’t wait to see you again in a couple of weeks.

To Sander: I already miss you too. I’m counting down the days.

At 19, Robbe and Sander came back to the summer camp as instructors and everyone considered them legends. They were everyone’s favourites instructors because besides being great scouts and teaching the kids everything they needed to know, Robbe and Sander were also great at pretending they didn’t see when kids were up to no good, getting themselves into trouble and pranking each other. They wanted the kids to have as much fun as they once had.

Some years later, when they see a couple of girls who seem to be attached to each other’s hip, playing all the time and spending all of their time together, much like they did all those years ago, they only hope the girls don’t take as much time as they did to finally realize what is going on and do something about it.

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

- okay so this was inspired by willem ds’ scout pic when i first saw it a few months ago and willem ds showing off his scout’s skills lighting up a fire some weeks ago on noa’s stories

- if you haven’t noticed i have never been a scout in my life so pardon me for the inaccuracy of things

- thank you for reading it, i hope you liked it! and if you want to: let me know what you think!

- please keep in mind that english is not my first language and no one proof read this so all mistakes are mine!

- this is dedicated to my girls @lightinthed4rk and @ayellowcurtain

- also tagging these babies cause they asked me to: @jxoxsxsxi and @mysterystardust

- thank you again!

#wtfock #wtfam #sobbe fic #robbe x sander

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muselover1901 · 4 years ago

Note

Re: prompts. “Quarantine.” Alternatively, something based off urban legends. Thanks!

Well it took me forever, but hey, the world is crazy and I am just so proud of myself for finishing this Quarantine AU for you! It’s definitely WAY bigger than a drabble (at just over 2700 words) but I had a lot of fun writing it and it really pushed my abilities as a writer. Thank you for the ask! Enjoy :)

Edit: Now posted to AO3

Here With(out) You

“Are you getting close to finishing? It’s almost eight o’clock and we haven’t eaten dinner yet,” Zen says as he plops down beside Shirayuki—well, not exactly beside her, but just outside the orbit of her ever-present sticky notes, journal articles, and scratch-paper lesson plans. She acknowledges his presence with a noncommittal hum before continuing her vigorous typing on the laptop balanced on her knees. Even before the pandemic, it wasn’t totally unusual for Shirayuki to work late—she is a graduate student, after all—but lately she has been spending every waking hour on either her lab’s vaccine research or creating online lessons for her introductory biology students.

Zen’s work-life balance honestly hasn’t been much better, but since most of his work as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff involves writing reports and attending video call meetings, he can turn off his computer at the end of the day and walk away from work. Shirayuki, unfortunately, does not have the same luxury.

His stomach growls, upset at the lack of food this late in the evening. Zen reaches over, guiding a stray hair behind her ear before setting his palm against her shoulder to get her attention.

“I can make us something easy, if you want. You really should take a break to eat something.”

Shirayuki doesn’t respond. He squeezes her shoulder gently and dips his head to try to catch her gaze, but she reacts with naught but a firm pursing of her lips as she scrutinizes her screen even more. Zen gives her a small shake, as if to wake her.

“Hm?” She blinks up at him, broken from her trance, her voice sounding thin and tired. “Sorry, Zen, I really need to get this done tonight.”

She gestures vaguely to the smudged sticky-note to-do list by her laptop keyboard, the usual tasks of exercise, meal prep, and do something fun with Zen and friends crammed between terms he half-recognizes as different types of data analyses.

“We have our Friday meeting tomorrow and I need to have the preliminary results ready to present.”

“It’s fine,” he says, rubbing his hand up and down her arm and offering her a tender smile as she turns back to her spreadsheet. She is such a hard worker, and right now she’s both working to save lives and to educate the next generation of scientists. Now was not the time to be selfish—even though he misses spending time with her, they just have to push through. And if that means Zen has to cook meals by himself, without Shirayuki’s incredible culinary talent for support, then he will gladly put his limited skill to use.

“How about I make pancakes?” he suggests, “I think we still have some eggs that need to be used, so I could scramble them too—if you want?”

Without looking up, Shirayuki murmurs a dry, “Sounds great, thank you.”

Zen stands and makes his way to their kitchen, rolling up his sleeves as he goes. Even after three years of living together and countless Sundays spent chopping endless armies of vegetables as they prepped meals, there are few dishes he trusts himself to cook properly. It’s Mitsuhide and Kiki’s fault, really. When they were his roommates sophomore year, he tried his hand at a simple vegetable stew to feed Mitsuhide’s hockey team at their annual fall party. The final product honestly wasn’t half bad, but he forgot to peel the vegetables, which gave the soup a mild dirt-like aftertaste.

He honestly thought he would be able to laugh it off and learn from such a minor culinary mistake, but it turned out almost no one was willing to let him live it down—even Shirayuki couldn't resist the occasional jab when they cooked together. Indeed, one of the last times they enjoyed quality time together was during a massive day of meal prepping after their first pandemic shopping trip. Hours of chopping and grating and sautéing had driven them a little crazy, and Shirayuki had broken out in giggles while he diligently peeled his seventeenth potato.

It had taken some prodding, but eventually she managed to hold back her laughter enough to snicker, "It’s nice of you to actually peel them this time."

He’d responded with the most convincing glare he could muster before selecting a particularly long piece of peel from the pile on the counter, turning to her with a dangerous smirk, and depositing said peel on top of her head. This only served to bring back her laughter in full-force, the contagiousness of it gripping him and dragging him along until their whole house reverberated with the ridiculousness of it all.

Unlike vegetable soups, Zen had yet to mess up a batch of pancakes in his lifetime, a fact which he was quite proud of. That’s why he’d chosen to make them for Shirayuki the first morning after she stayed the night at his place. They’d groggily rolled out of bed, blushing furiously as they realized that their late-night study session for Advanced Composition had ended with both of them passed out on top of Zen’s covers with their laptops discarded by the foot of the bed. He’d insisted on making her breakfast before she left, partly because he felt bad about their awkward start to the day, but mostly because he’d been smitten with her for months and he just wanted to keep doing things with her.

Zen smiles at the memory as he gathers the ingredients and begins measuring out the flour. Even after all this time, he still treasures every moment together. And now, as they are stuck working from home for the foreseeable future, he misses her more than he did before they moved in together. Although they are around each other nearly all day, every day, they hardly interact outside of breakfast and a kiss goodnight. He sighs and forces his focus back to mixing the batter. Shirayuki is working hard and here he is being selfish again. He should be stronger.

Pushing down his loneliness, he flings himself into scrambling eggs and flipping pancakes with gusto. He quickly finishes the first set of pancakes, butters them, and stacks them neatly on Shirayuki’s plate next to her portion of eggs. For the final touch, he sprinkles a hint of powdered sugar across them and places a little dollop of fruit preserves on top. Hopefully these would look appetizing enough to entice her into taking a break from work to eat. With her plate in hand, Zen makes his way back to the living room and sets her meal on the coffee table.

“Food’s ready,” he announces. “Please don’t forget to eat.”

Shirayuki pauses, tired eyes flicking away from her screen to meet his and offering all the gratitude she can muster. “Thank you, Zen. I promise I will eat as soon as I finish this analysis.”

Zen offers a quick smile in return before heading back to the kitchen to make dinner for himself. He’d better check on her soon, just to make sure she doesn’t get sucked into her work despite her promise—although it is never intentional, her basic needs often fall by the wayside when she is hyper-focused like this.

Fifteen minutes later, Zen returns to the living room with his own stack of pancakes (chocolate chip) and scrambled eggs (sprinkled with his friend Obi’s homemade hot sauce, because the pain was always worth the flavor). And just as he feared, Shirayuki hasn’t touched her food.

“How’s it coming? Are you going to eat soon?” Zen settles into his spot on the couch next to her and cuts into his pancakes with his fork.

“Hm? Oh yes, I figured out why that regression was behaving unexpectedly, I had just flipped the variables.” She bites her lip. “I guess after I fixed that, I just moved on to the next thing.”

Zen reaches out to tenderly place a hand on her cheek and guide her eyes away from her screen and to his own. Her eyelids droop a little, and he notices a small crease between her eyebrows—she looks so tired. He drags his thumb across her cheekbone and her eyes flutter shut as she relaxes into his hand.

His heart skips a little at the intimacy of their position; after all, it had been weeks since they had really shared a moment like this, just comfortable in stillness with each other’s full attention. Eyes still closed, Shirayuki reaches up to hold his hand against her cheek and sighs as she turns her head to press her lips against his palm. With a gentle squeeze of his hand, she releases him and turns to exchange her laptop for her plate.

Although she continues working while they eat, Zen is relieved to see her diligently taking bites between bits of code. It doesn’t take long before she cleans her plate entirely. With a yawn, Zen stretches and rises from the couch before collecting their dishes and returning to the kitchen to clean up. The clock above the stove reads 10:08pm.

How did it get so late? He’d just have to head right to bed after this. Dozing off during his morning call with the Mayor was not how he wanted to start his day tomorrow.

After finishing the dishes and changing into his sleep shirt, he returns to the living room to let Shirayuki know he’s going to bed—apparently she still has a couple hours of work ahead of her, but she promised she’d come to bed as soon as she was done. With Shirayuki resigned to her work for the night, Zen heads to their bed and does his best to get comfortable. As the weight of the blanket settles over him, he melts into the mattress and takes the deepest, most relaxing breath he’s taken all day. Despite his body giving in to its need to rest, Zen’s mind still races with thoughts of the meeting tomorrow morning and of the latest case counts in the city. God, he can’t wait for the day when all of this chaos is over. He and Shirayuki could take a weekend off and hike Mount Koto just like they did senior year after finals. He sighs at the thought.

Visions of them packing their picnic supplies into his old backpack flash through his mind. He’s smiling as he makes Shirayuki’s sandwich with the mustard by the meat and the veggies under the cheese, just the way she likes it. The sunshine warms their faces as they walk along the trail, and Shirayuki is a vision in her button-up hiking shirt and sunhat, all glowing skin and bright smiles. He reaches their picnic spot first, so he spreads their blanket and sets out their food. Shirayuki’s still a ways behind, but she’ll be there with him soon, he tells himself. She will. He busies himself smoothing the blanket and making sure her sandwich is arranged just so with a nice serving of chips and a gleaming red apple.

He’s just about to polish her apple for a second time when he realizes he doesn’t hear the crunch of her footsteps on the trail anymore. Panicked, he shoots up from his seat and runs over to the trail to try to find her, to no avail. Maybe she went off-trail to relieve herself? No that can’t be it, she’s taking way too long, and she would have told him if she was going off trail, right? Oh god—what if she hurt herself and she’s stuck somewhere down the trail? Zen abandons the picnic and runs as fast as his legs can take him down the trail, until—

He hears the faint tapping of fingers on a keyboard. Looking across the trail, he sees the edge of a laptop screen poking out from behind a tree. As he approaches it, the sound gets louder and louder, until it feels almost deafening and Zen has to cover his ears to avoid the incessant din. He looks around the tree’s thick trunk and sees Shirayuki in front of the screen, her hair disheveled and eyes unblinking as she types away.

She’s absolutely overworking herself! Zen can’t let her keep doing this. He should have caught it before it got this bad, he should have pulled her away from work and made her take care of herself. Regardless, he refuses to let this go on any longer. He takes a deep breath, removes his hands from his ears, and reaches out to set his hand on her shoulder as he always does when he needs to get her attention. His hand goes right through her, as if she were a ghost.

He wakes to find her side of the bed empty.

Zen’s sleep shirt is clinging to his sweating chest and the sheets are tangled up in his legs. He kicks them off and rolls over with a groan. So much for getting a good nights’ sleep before the meeting tomorrow morning. He reaches for his bedside lamp, trying to feel the small switch in the dark. It takes him a minute, fingers clumsy and sleep-addled, but he finally finds it with a click and squints against the soft, yellow light. He yawns and drags his phone towards him by its charging cable and groans again when he sees the time. 2:37am.

With little desire to return to the stifling sheets, he decides it’s best to just get out of bed and have a glass of water before trying to sleep again. He shuffles out of the bedroom, and as the door clicks behind him, his tired mind peripherally registers that the living room light is still on. But with water being his body’s primary goal, he drowsily continues on to the kitchen and downs a full glass in three big gulps when he gets there. With his mind cleared from the coolness of the water, he realizes that even though the living room light is still on, Shirayuki’s persistent typing is absent.

When he reaches the living room, he finds Shirayuki on the couch, slumped to the side with her lips parted and a quiet snore escaping her with each exhale. Her laptop is open and teetering dangerously close to the edge of her lap, but the screen has long since shut itself off. There’s still a pencil behind her ear, too.

With as much gentleness as he can muster this late at night, Zen extracts her laptop and moves it over to her desk so it can charge overnight. He removes the pencil from behind her ear and brushes her hair away from her eyes.

“Shirayuki, come to bed.” Her eyes crack open ever so slightly, and she grumbles but does not stir. Zen sighs. Even in sleep—no, especially in sleep—she’s as stubborn as ever.

“I’m going to pick you up, okay?” She mumbles something unintelligible, but’s all the affirmation he needs. He pushes his arms underneath her knees and shoulders, steels himself, and scoops her up. At first, her head lolls to the side, but then she turns and nuzzles against his chest. He can’t help but smile down at her as he carries her back to the bedroom and slowly places her on top of the sheets.

“Shirayuki, you should change out of your clothes,” he says.

She stirs a bit before slurring, “Don’t wanna. Wanna sleep.”

“If you don’t change now, you’ll regret it in the morning. You know you will.”

At this, Shirayuki groans and pushes herself up off the mattress. She insists he help her take off her clothes, which makes him laugh and blush in equal measure.

It’s only after she is changed and settled under the sheets that he finally lets himself sink into their bed again, mind and body finally relaxed with the knowledge that she’s next to him and already half asleep. He turns off his bedside lamp with a click and lets the rhythm of her breathing lull him back to sleep. Just as the last remains of his consciousness are about to slip away, he feels the delicate press of fingers against his shoulder, the tickle of a whisper against his ear, and the softness of a kiss against his temple.

“Thank you, Zen. I love you.”

#musewrites #zenyuki #prompt #akagami no shirayukihime #fanfiction

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thadelightfulone · 4 years ago

Text

The Firm - Chapter 13

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

Summary: Erik has been hired to find an embezzler for an old friend. What happens now that LaNyah is back?

Pairing: Erik x Black!OC

Genre: Suspense

It's Friday morning and business as usual at GBI. No one on the accounting floor knows why or cares that they have to answer to Stacey. Matt’s office was occupied two days ago when he ran from Mr. Green and Mr. Stevens, but now, it is empty. It was cleaned up overnight, door placard removed, and no news from the man himself. Mr. Green dropped by the floor on Thursday to hold a meeting. He let them know that he will be reorganizing the current teams, and Stacey will oversee the entire department until further notice.

Stacey is upstairs at the coffee machine, making her first cup for the morning. She turns as she hears the elevator ding. Ashley and Alex walk in together, waving at her on the way to his office. Finished doctoring the coffee to her liking, she walks back to her desk and sits down as the elevator goes off on the floor again. Stacey looks up to see Erik walk out of the car. He nods in greeting to her before heading into Alex's office.

They all greet one another before settling into seats. Erik is on the couch while Alex sits in one of his desk chairs with Ashley on the arm. They all sit silently for a few moments before Erik starts the discussion.

“Everything was cleaned up and fixed after we left Tuesday night. Nothing is linking us to anything that happened in Gina's warehouse. And all the money will be returned to you within the next two months."

“How did you get that handled so quickly?” Ashley asks.

“The same way I got us the fully loaded SUV.” He shrugs, “I still have connections all over from people I knew back then and even with my line of work now. A few phone calls after discovering LaNyah was missing. Not too hard to do.”

“But a clean-up crew? Was that necessary?" Alex rubs Ashley's back, "You could have let them find the bodies."

“You both know I couldn't do that. Gina needed to disappear completely." He leans back in the chair. "Besides accessing some of her stuff required parts of her or proof of her demise." Waving away their looks of shock, "But it's nothing that you have to worry yourself about. Like I said, it's been handled and will go away quietly."

“Including Matthew?” Erik nods at them.

Focusing on Alex, “I set up a meeting for you and a federal prosecutor for a week from today. Matthew will be offered a plea deal and serve his time for his part in the embezzlement. There will be no mention of Gina. Everything links back to him only.”

“Wow! I wasn’t expecting you to be this damn thorough.” Greens states. “Still covering all bases, leaving nothing to chance.”

“That’s what they pay me to do. You better ask somebody.” They all share a laugh as Erik grins at them. “But yeah, this is done.” He gets serious for a moment. “I need to take some time off before my next job. So, this is it for me.”

“What? You’re headed back so soon.” Ashley asks him. “What about our dinner date?”

“I plan to keep that before I leave Cali. It’s just that I- I-” he stops speaking and looks away.

“Oh.” Ashley squeaks out, understanding what he is trying to say. She turns to Alex. “Kill has to disappear.” Erik looks at them and nods his head.

"We understand, man. You left that part of you behind many years ago." Alex wraps his arm around Ashley, "I am grateful he showed up, though. Now and then."

Erik stands up after that. “Dinner before I head back home. I promise.”

"Yeah, of course." Ashley walks up and gives him a hug. "Thank you for everything, Erik."

"You're welcome, girl. I'm glad I could help you all out." He steps back and side steps towards Alex, clapping him on the back in a bro hug. "It was nice to see you guys again, even if it was like this.”

“Next time, just come visit us.” They both laugh as they release the hug.

"I'm gonna go say bye to Stacey. I'll send my final report and see you soon for dinner." He walks out of the office, headed towards Stacey's desk.

---

“So, do you plan to stay a bit longer?” Stacey asks as Erik leans on her desk. He just finished his meeting with Alex and Ashley. He dropped by her desk before making his exit.

“Nah, my job here is done. A new one awaits me back home.” Stacey makes a face that he can’t read. “So, this is goodbye.”

“Really? Just like that. You’re leaving.” He straightened up at her words, “You know that’s your family in there, right?”

Erik shakes his head. He knows what she is saying is true, but he can watch them from afar as he has done for the past 7 years. He can always come back to visit, maybe. Looking up, Erik watches her expression change. Suddenly, he knows it’s time to rush this goodbye before Stacey changes the topic.

“What about Nyah?” And there it is.

“What about her?” Stacey rolls her eyes at him. “Look, I know everyone wants me to talk to her and settle whatever it is between us.” He exhales his frustration, “But I am not gonna force that on her now. Not with all she has been through in the last week." Stacey opens her mouth to speak, but he cuts her off. "Nah, when she's ready to deal with it, she will. She's strong, and when she wants to talk, we will. It's that simple." He signals for her to get up.

Stacey stands up and comes around her desk. Erik pulls her into a big hug. As she returns the hug, she mumbles into his chest, “I’m gonna miss you.”

“I know. I’ll miss you, too, Stace.” Looking over her head, he continues, “But you know how to reach me. I’m only a phone call away.” He pulls away, holding her hands, he looks at her. “Take care of her for me, ok.”

She looks up at him with watery eyes and squeezes his hands, “Yeah.” He wipes away her tear and kisses her cheek. One last squeeze, and he walks towards the elevator, pushing the button.

Ashley taps Stacey’s shoulder as she and Alex walked up to see him finally go. Erik looks up and nods at everyone as the elevator doors close in front of him.

--- One Week Later ---

Monday morning, LaNyah enters the GBI lobby after being out for the last week and a half. No one was expecting her back so soon. But she decided to come back early. She greets the security guy on her way to the elevator bank. While standing at the elevator, her mind flashes back to when she ran over Erik, trying to get to the office on time. LaNyah smiles to herself as she walks to the open car and pushes the button for the 35th floor.

The elevator chimes, and Stacey looks up to see LaNyah stroll out and make her way to the front desk. Stacey comes around and gives LaNyah a huge hug.

“Oh, I am so happy to see you chick!” LaNyah’s laughs are muffled as Stacey holds her close. She squeezes her one last time before pulling away to get a good look at her. “Does Mr. Green know you are coming back today?”

LaNyah shakes her head, “No, I came up here to let him know.”

“I am glad you are back, but you know he is gonna have something to say about it.” Right as she finishes saying that, Ashley and Alex get off the elevator.

“LaNyah!” Ashley runs over to her, smothering her in a hug. She hasn’t seen her since LaNyah sent her packing a week ago. She spent the night of the rescue at LaNyah’s place, and the next two days observing her before LaNyah put her out. LaNyah assured her that she was fine, so Ashley left. “What are you doing here? Alex gave you two more weeks off, at a minimum.”

Walking towards Mr. Green, LaNyah gives him a side hug, "I know I know, but I can't stand staying in my apartment another day."

“Nyah.”

“No, Ashley. I need something else to focus on. I would rather be here at work. In control of something outside of those four walls.”

"You sure? There is no rush for you to come back to the office." Ashley responds.

LaNyah nods at all three, “Yes, I am ready to be here.” Looking up at him, “I am ready to get back to work, Mr. Green.”

"Well, you know what you can handle. You are free to work part-time until you are ready for your regular schedule." Alex looks down at her as she stands beside him.

“I don’t want to work up to a full day. I am here all day.” She notices all the worried looks, “I promise to let you and Stacey know if I can’t handle it.”

“Good, because I am your new boss until Mr. Green finishes his restructuring of the Accounting department teams.” Stacey beams at LaNyah. Looking down at her watch, “Ooooh, it’s almost time for my first meeting of the day." She grabs her things and directs her next comment to Ashley and Alex, "I'll keep an eye on her. Come on, Nyah.” The two of them walk to the elevator and head down to the accounting floor.

Ashley and Alex walk to his office, “Do you think she is ready to be here so soon?”

Alex sits behind his desk as Ashley drops onto the couch, looking at his wife, “Do you trust that she knows whether or not she can handle being in the office already?”

Meeting his eyes, “It’s hard to believe she wants to be back here.” She sighs, “But if she says she is ready, then I trust her.” She lays on the couch, putting her legs up and stretching out entirely on her back.

Turning on his computer, “Now, when are you gonna go back to work?”

"It's called personal leave, asshole." Alex sees the smile across her face as she closes her eyes. "Besides, all my clients know how to reach me if they really are in need. But my family comes first."

---

“Miss Lady, you up for hanging out tonight?” Stacey asks LaNyah as they eat lunch in the latter’s office.

“What did you have in mind?” LaNyah takes a sip of her water.

Taking another slice of pizza, she answers, “I was thinking movie night at my place.”

Nyah puts more salad on her plate, “Are we baking cookies or just shoveling ice cream?”

“Who says we can’t do both?” She glances at LaNyah, whose eyes grow wide. “Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies with French Vanilla ice cream.”

"I'm in." Nyah bounces in her seat. "I'll bring the stuff for the cookies, and you get the ice cream."

“Deal. Be there at 7:30.” She stands up, “Hate to eat and run, but I have another meeting this afternoon. So, I’ll see you tonight.”

--- 15 Years Ago ---

Killmonger was laser-focused as he entered the house. He was on another mission with a brand new team. He carried the tail as he watched the other guys lead the way. They make their way through, clearing every room and move onto the next one as their mission was to evacuate any stragglers hanging around the town. It was going to be rubble soon, and the powers that be wanted to display some sense of concern even if they were destroying people’s homes.

It had only been a few months since McCoy’s squad was disbanded after what happened to Bridges and McCoy’s death. It was his third team in 6 months. Kill was shuffled around for a while until he landed with this team. Everyone wanted him, and yet no one could handle him. The man was a natural killing machine whose reputation spoke to the core of a soldier. Follow orders, protect the team at all costs, and never leave anyone behind.

Yet, that is not the man who arrived on the last two special ops teams. Something happened, and it was like the killer instinct that he was known for left him. He was working on autopilot, completing all the jobs he was given. But the pride he took in picking up a gun and destroying an enemy was no longer present. Not when he realized the enemy could be looking him right in the face, and on the same side as him.

The whole situation with Bridges had him considering all he has done during his career. Yeah, he is great at what he does, but this can't be it—standing by, letting people get away with shit because the military protects its own. Nah, that isn't him. There are a lot of things he could be doing for the benefit of others then where he is now.

It was a shit assignment meant to bide his time as he contemplated re-enlisting. He chose not to make the decision rocking a desk. He wasn’t made that way. At least working out in the field on random missions overseas, keep him active and his mind engaged if nothing else.

Kill leads the team into the next building, as they were switching off on leaders. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he knew something was wrong. He stalled his entry and signaled back to the guys behind him, guiding them away from the entrance where he was standing. They cautiously retreated, but someone steps into a wooden door leading to a backyard.

Dust flies up near the men as his team is suddenly surrounded by a net lifting up around them. Kill turns around and makes the shooters on the rooftops of the cluster of buildings they just cleared.

"Rodriguez, on your right, up high." Kill yells to one of his teammates as he starts aiming to the left at anyone armed above them. Rodriguez turns towards the direction that Kill told him and starts letting off rounds. Both of them cover the sky while the rest of the team goes low. Their goggles are covered, and visibility is minimal, but they are also listening to the sounds amongst the rapid wind circling the dust around them between the gunfire.

Masked men approach from the North side, walking in a straight line towards the men caught in the net. Rodriguez is running low on ammunition and drops low to switch out rifles. Right as he pops back up, he is shot down by one of the men in the group strolling towards the center of the area where the team is trapped.

From his position, behind a low door leading to one of the nearby houses, Kill wipes the dust off his goggles and peers over it. He watched Rodriguez go down and come back up to a bullet through the skull. He softly whispers a prayer for the family man before lifting his M40A3 rifle. The rest of the men come into view, six men in total, and he knocks them down like he was at target practice.

It goes quiet, and the wind slows down to nothing. The dust storm that kicked up for all of five minutes now is just little tufts passing through the center of the buildings. When it calmed enough, and no movement could be heard, Kill hops over the fence door towards his team. Everyone slowly stands up, cutting themselves out of the net, if necessary. Looking around, they all notice their fallen comrade Rodriguez.

Shaking his head, Kill made his decision. It's time to move on. He couldn't keep doing this to himself. He is one of the first to lean over and pick up Rodriguez; another two guys help him. Walking back to their vehicle, he knows this will be the last mission he ever takes. Killmonger dies here.

Erik startles himself awake. He realizes he is on the couch, a blue screen on the TV. Who knows how long ago that movie ended? He never dreams about his last mission. The one that earned him a medal and leave the military as a hero. Running his hands through his unruly dreads, he swings his legs off the couch and stands up. Killmonger was never supposed to return.

He meant that shit, he never raised a gun with the same intent after that. Even though he was always packing because of his jobs, his ruthless killing days had long been over. Almost 20 years, and yet it felt like no time passed at all. He walks to the bathroom and splashes cold water on his face. The scared expression on LaNyah’s face as she looks at him at the warehouse flashes across his mind’s eye. He looks into the mirror and sighs.

--- Two Weeks Later ---

LaNyah opens her eyes to find herself staring at familiar concrete walls. She’s back in the basement. Running her hands along her body, the same outfit she was wearing the day Gina set up her kidnapping from the parking lot outside her favorite market. She gets up, pacing the floor, hands touching the walls as she makes her way around the small room. LaNyah reaches the window that is too high for her to see outside before hearing the gunfire above.

She turns to the door of her room as a big bang crashes outside in the narrow hallway. LaNyah stands back as she waits for the door to clatter against the wall as he storms in. Erik bursts through the doorway, calling her name and extending his hand out for her to come with him. He patiently waits until she reaches for his hand. She doesn’t wait as long tonight. They walk out of the warehouse together, hand-in-hand.

LaNyah runs her hands across her face before sitting up in her bed. The light blue walls of her bedroom and the early morning sun greeting her once again. It’s the same dream she has had every night since coming home. Sometimes she finds herself in the warehouse, in the first small room without an IV. Then she hears all the gunfire again before the room to the door opens, revealing Erik.

It’s always him, no matter how the scenario plays out. LaNyah is locked up somewhere, no way to get out on her own. Erik finding and bringing her to safety. Each time, every night. There is never anyone else. It is always just the two of them. What does this even mean? Why does she keep dreaming about Erik? LaNyah shakes her head. She doesn't have time to analyze her dreams again this morning.

Rising from her bed, LaNyah prepares for her day. Today, she is meeting up with Stacey and Ashley for lunch. Everything has settled at work enough for them to get together.

---

LaNyah arrives at the entrance to the restaurant at the same time as Stacey. Quickly, they greet one another, and notice Ashley being taken to their table. The two follow behind, shocking the other woman as she slides in to take her seat.

"You two nuts," Ashley calls out to them as they burst into a giggling fit while sharing hugs.

Stacey and LaNyah sit across from Ashley; they all order water before the host disappears.

"So, what's up? How are you two doing?" Ashley starts. LaNyah looks to Stacey so she can answer first. She knows this lunch will eventually turn to focus on her, giving her time to get it together before the inquisition begins. She picks up her menu, pretending to look it over even though she already knows what she wants.

"Busy. You know your husband has never had someone oversee an entire department like this before. Although it's new and exciting, playing catch up has been a bit draining." She smiles, continuing, "And having this lady around has definitely been helpful. That was one team I didn't have to worry about. Since I taught her everything, she knows."

LaNyah bumps shoulders with Stacey. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

Their waitress shows up with their water and to take their orders. The Cheesecake Factory is the perfect ladies who lunch type spot. So, they all splurged for a decadent pasta dish and their favorite drinks off the menu.

When the waitress leaves, Ashley continues. “Nyah. How have you been?”

“Good. I’ve just been helping Stacey adjust to being one of us again. You know that penthouse view had her forgetting basic stuff like running reports.”

"Really, Nyah? It’s like that.”

“You started it first.” Sitting up straight, “I taught her everything she knows.” Mimicking Stacey and laughing at her unimpressed face.

Ashley watches the two of them together. Acting like sisters more than friends. She smiles at this. LaNyah has a friend, someone else that she can count on when she needs help. Hearing about it and observing it are two very different things, but she is glad to have witnessed this.

LaNyah does not appear to be stressed or bothered about anything, and that makes Ashley happy. Stacey has been a significant influence on her during the short time that they have been working closely together. The fact that LaNyah let her in so quickly is a testament to how much she is growing as a person. Sipping her peach Bellini, she lets the two continue to bicker across from her.

“Ashley, you know I’m right.” Stacey grabs Ashley’s attention back into the conversation at hand.

“About what?”

“You didn’t hear what she just said to me?” Ashley shakes her head. “Go ahead and repeat it.”

“Nah, I’m good.” LaNyah picks up her hibiscus lemonade and takes a sip, batting her eyes at the two of them. Setting her glass down, “Oh, Ashley. You will be happy to know that I finally started some self-defense classes.”

"Really? That's great." Smile widening as LaNyah beams with pride. "Just self-defense or something in particular?"

"Self-defense for now. But who knows, maybe I will take on kickboxing or something. It is nice to have a physically active hobby, though." Everyone nods their heads in agreement.

Another waiter arrives with their entrees, so the conversation fades out as they all start to eat their meals. After a few quiet moments of eating and drinking, Ashley clears her throat, gaining everyone's attention. Stacey wipes her mouth, and LaNyah puts down her fork.

"How do you feel about everything that happened earlier this month?" Ashley slowly advances the conversation to her primary concern. She knows Nyah knows it’s for her, watching as she picks up her drink before answering.

“I’m ok.” Ashley inclines her head at her, “No, I am really. I bought another journal so that I could start writing about whatever feelings and things come up from the whole ordeal.”

“Well, that’s good. And especially smart to separate it from the rest of your other journals.” Ashley bobs her head in thought. “Anything that you want to share?”

LaNyah shakes her head, "Not really. I mean, it reads more like any other journal that I keep." Using her spoon, she twirls her pasta onto her fork, "There were a lot of entries right after the kidnapping, but it's kind of dwindled to a thought or two every couple of days."

“So, coming back to work when you did really helped then?” Stacey asks.

"Yeah, it did. Stacey was not trying to coddle me, which made it even easier to get back to the life I was creating before it all happened."

"That's wonderful, Nyah." Ashley takes her hand, "I'm thrilled to hear that."

“Would you ladies care for any cheesecake or a refill?” With big, bright smiles all around the table, they each accept a dessert menu as the waiter collects their plates for bagging and glasses for refills.

Over pieces of fresh strawberry and chocolate tuxedo cream cheesecake, they just enjoy the delicious sweet treat. LaNyah sits back with her spoon in her mouth, watching Ashley, who has become her mother-figure over the years. She killed for her, and she would forever be grateful to her for being a dedicated presence in her life.

Then there's Stacey, who she has known for years; she trained her for her current position. But working together these last few months, they have built a genuine friendship and sisterly type bond. She really does consider Stacey, her best friend. These strong women are who she sees herself becoming as she continues to grow.

"So, how's Erik?" LaNyah's spoon clatters to the table at the question Stacey asked. Both women look her way, as she quietly apologizes and sets the spoon right in front of her.

“He’s fine. Taking some time off before his next consulting job.” Ashley answers.

“That’s good. I bet he needed that after everything that happened.” LaNyah raises her eyes at that comment.

"Everything that happened? Nothing happened to him." She lowers her voice feeling her anger rise. "I was the one used as a pawn in someone’s deadly game of revenge. Not him.”

Ashley inhales deeply before responding to her. "LaNyah, I know, sweetheart. We all went through it while you were gone. Trust me when I say no was more affected by it than Erik."

“Erik. Why are we even discussing him?" Exasperated, LaNyah throws down her napkin. "His job's over, case closed and now he's gone. I don't see the need to bring him up anymore."

“Nyah, are you ok?”

“I’d be better if we could change the topic.” She shakes her head, “Actually, you know what I think I’m just gonna go.”

“Nyah, come on. We can talk about something else. What about the upcoming Paint & Sip, you and I are attending later this week? Maybe Ashley would want to go with us?” Stacey looks at Ashley as they watch LaNyah collect her things to leave.

“That sounds like fun. I would love to go.” Ashley gently touches LaNyah’s arm, halting her movement. “Nyah, you don’t have to go.”

"No, I think I should." She grabs her purse and stands as much as possible. Stacey gets up since she was on the end. "Just let me know my share of lunch, and I will send the money to you." Ashley stands up as well.

LaNyah gives them both hugs and says she will let them know when she gets home. Ashley and Stacey watch together as LaNyah run walks out of the restaurant. They sit back down and share the same puzzled look.

“So, Erik?” Stacey says with her glass of wine up.

“I guess I found out what she hasn’t worked through after the whole ordeal.” Ashley spoons a strawberry into her mouth.

--- Two Nights Earlier ---

Erik is sitting at a back table in the steakhouse that Green brought him to only a few months ago. He thought it would be fitting that this whole situation started here and end in the same space. He lifts the tumbler of whiskey to his lips, taking a sip when he notices Ashley and Alex approaching the table.

He stands when they arrive, hugging Ashley and shaking hands with Alex. They all settle into the booth with Ashley in the middle and the men on her sides. She orders a Washington Apple Martini on the rocks. Alex pours himself a drink from the bottle of whiskey Erik had on the table.

“Feeling better?” Ashley questions Erik.

"Yeah, much more like myself. Thanks." Ashley's drink arrives, and they all place their dinner orders. "So, I finished up my final report and will have that sent to your office.”

“Good. The meeting with Matt went well. So, he pled guilty in court and will start serving his time soon.” Alex responds.

“I heard about that. I assumed it would be a month or so before he was arraigned in court.” Erik returns, then holding his hand out to Alex across the table, "I also wanted to let you know that we are even."

Alex nods his head and takes Erik's hand in a firm shake. The same way they made that unspoken promise so many years ago. It has now been paid in full. “I’ll be expecting your invoice soon.”

Erik looks over at Ashley, “Nah, this was personal. I’m not charging you for anything.”

“Erik-”

“I’m not taking your money, Green.” He waves off his comment, “I was going to, but when I found out it affected all of us. None of that mattered anymore. My main concern was making sure that we all could continue living our lives without looking over our shoulders." Picking up his tumbler, "This was as much for me as it was for you two." Everyone at the table nods in agreement.

Their entrees arrive, and the table goes silent for a few minutes. Wiping off her mouth, Ashley taps Alex on his thigh to get his attention. She nods towards Erik. He shakes his head at her. Her eyes widen in question. Alex touches her arm and points at her plate. She huffs and starts picking at her food. A soft chuckle reaches them from the other end of the booth.

"Go ahead, Ashley." With a caught expression, she looks up at Erik. "You have questions and want answers. So, go ahead and ask."

"What about LaNyah?" Erik smirks knowingly. "I mean, are you going to talk to her before you leave?"

“Only if she wants to speak with me.” He puts his fork and knife down on his plate.

“You don’t think you should do something now?” Ashley sets her napkin to the side of her plate.

“You make it sound like I don’t want to speak to her.” Erik reaches for his drink, “You don’t have her look of pure terror stuck in your head. She didn’t dodge every effort you made to help her once she was safe and sound. She’s not afraid of you.”

“She’s not afraid of you.” Erik rolls his eyes at that. “Erik, she doesn’t know how she feels about you anymore.”

“You are very right about that. Gina definitely made sure that I suffer. I will give the bitch that much.” He raises his glass in salute. “If LaNyah wasn’t scared of me before then, whatever Gina told her before we arrived got the job done.”

“You can’t possibly believe that?” Alex asks.

"What that Gina didn't say anything to her?" He bites back a cold laugh, "I know everyone heard her call me LaNyah's Killer lover. Why would she reference my military moniker except to prove a point? Tell her the only reason I didn't kill her was that LaNyah was there in front of her."

“Erik, we all had our guns aimed at Gina." Ashley states.

“Ashley, I’m a trained assassin. You really think that I could not have gotten a shot off without harming LaNyah?”

Ashley sighs impatiently. “That’s not the point, Erik, and you know it.”

"Look, I know everyone wants this to be tied up in a pretty bow, and that LaNyah will be able to see me for who I am. But I just don't see it happening that way." Exhaling deeply, "I will always be open to speaking with her, but only if that is what she wants. Like I told Stacey, I’m not forcing anything. I fucked up long before we knew she was a pawn and taken to lure all of us. If she never wanted to speak to me again, it would suck. But I would deal with it.”

“You mean, you would watch her from a careful distance?” Alex scoffs.

“Damn right.” Finishing his current drink, Erik tops it off from the nearly empty bottle.

“Okay, okay.” Alex taps Ashley on the leg, “We’ll leave it alone. Just make sure that you make yourself available when she is ready.”

"Of course." Erik picks up his utensils and returns to his meal. They all quietly finish up dinner, knowing that they won't get anything more out of the brick wall sitting at the table. Ashley grabs Alex's hand under the table.

--- Monday Morning ---

Alex calls Stacey into his office. When she arrives, she sees Ashley seated in front of the desk next to him.

"I take it we are not about to discuss the accounting teams today?" Placing her meeting items down on the coffee table. She takes a seat on the couch across from them.

"Not today. We feel there is something more important that we should be doing right now." Alex responds. "The restructuring can wait another few weeks since business is running as usual again."

Stacey picks up her coffee and speaks over it, "Then, our star-crossed lovers?” She smiles into the streaming mug as Ashley's face falls. Alex turns away at her comment.

“That’s not funny, Stacey.” Ashley hits Alex, who is coughing to cover up his laughter.

“Okay, okay.” He clears his throat, “Yes, Stacey. We are concerned about them.”

“You recall what lunch with LaNyah was like. She is holding a lot of anger towards Erik.” Ashley states. “And I’m not sure she has truly dealt with what happened to her.”

"Can you blame her? From what you told me, that scary bitch used her as a shield, and all three of you held guns on them."

Alex nods and shrugs. “That’s true. But Erik also was the only one to put his guns down and offered himself up in her place.” He looks at Ashley, “We never lifted our guns off of them.”

"Well, damn. He really does care about her.” Stacey puts her coffee down. "So, what can we do? Erik's gone back home, and LaNyah doesn't want to talk about him or what happened.”

“Actually, Erik’s still here. We had dinner with him last week.” Ashley says. “Watching her at lunch, I got a real sense of déjà vu,” she rolls her eyes. “He believes that she would be better off without him, and she avoids talking about him. Which lets me know that they both are thinking about the other.”

“We want to get them together to talk.” Alex blurts.

"And you think it's a good idea for them to have this discussion before Erik leaves?" Stacey inquires, and they both bob their heads. "I don't know. Those two are all about control, and they do it in such different ways."

Alex sits forward. “Erik still needs to send me his final report. It would be easy to get him to the office.”

"And you can set up a meeting to talk with LaNyah about her work," Ashley adds.

“So, you just wanted me to know what you have planned.” Stacey sits back into the couch.

“Yes, but we also want you to keep this to yourself until we can get them up here next week," Ashley confirms.

Stacey looks at the both of them, "You agreed to this, sir?”

“We're back to, sir? Ok, I know you feel some type of way about this.”

"Of course, Nyah doesn't like change, remember, and she shut him out for weeks over a slight that she didn't understand. This could backfire in a really big way and hurt them both." Stacey retorts.

“I know, I know. But I think they both just need a little push.” Ashley tells her.

"I want to see them win, too. But I don't feel good about this approach. We really should let them find their way to one another."

“And they can. After they finally face one another and have some kind of chat.” Ashley pleads with Stacey, “Please say you’ll help us.”

Huffing out in frustration, Stacey gets up and grabs her things, “Ok fine. I’m in.” She gets to the door, “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Chapter 14

Taglist: @killmongersaidheyauntie @muse-of-mbaku @panthergoddessbast @youreadthatright @princessstevens @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @stark-red19 @kreolemami @bidibidibombaclaat @iamrheaspeaks @missumuch1918 @simplyyamberr @cheychey10142 @ajspencer1892 @chrismarcs @loosewindmill @sydneebleu @semianta @eyeknowmywrites @alexundefined @itsjustmezari @goddessofthundathighs @guccixcucci @kissmyafropuff @gimmeface @fd-writes @jozigrrl @soufcakmistress @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @shaekingshitup @localtrapgod @post-woke @theesotericqueen

#erik killmonger #erik killmonger x oc #black panther fanfiction #the firm #thadelightfulone

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missmonsters2 · 5 years ago

Text

The Color of You || Part VII

PAIRING: Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader/OFC

Summary: It was another mission Natasha was assigned to. Nothing she hasn’t done before. Same mission, different people. Sent undercover to investigate William Cain, suspect to funding terrorism and smuggling weaponry. Under the disguise of Natanya Rovinski, Natasha is ready for another routine mission. Until she met you, William’s fiancé.

Warnings: There are dark elements to this series. Also, smut later on. Please note this part includes abuse & torture (semi-graphic).

NOTE: This is a pretty dark chapter about reader. Lemme know if you want to be on my taglist for this series, any natasha stories I do, Wanda stories, or everything

PART I || PART II || PART III || PART IV || PART V || PART VI

PART VII of X

Count: 3249

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10 years ago...

Your name was being shouted from a distance. You turned your head, seeing your mother calling you back into the house. Closing your sketchbook, you got up, dusting your pants before making your way back in.

“Really, you shouldn’t be outside too long,” your mother half-heartedly scolded you.

“Why not? We’re in the countryside. There are no neighbors for miles and miles away,” You rebuttal, a little upset that you had to come in.

Your mother merely raises her brow at you. “You’re getting a bit more of an attitude every day, missy. I didn’t say anything when you got your tattoos, but no sass-mouthing me.”

She says it so jokingly that you can’t help but smile along.

“It’s going to rain today,” you say, and your mother seems confused.

“Really? The weatherman said it’ll be sunny all day,” she muses.

“It will rain,” you confirm.

“Best get the laundry in then,” your mother rushes off.

You grin, watching your mother runoff. Your family was wealthy with your father running his own company, but even so, you lived in a beautiful house out in the countryside, away with people and no hired help. Well, you used to have a maid at least, but she had quit saying the countryside was not settling well with her body. Your family paid her a lot of hush money.

Your family adored you, and when they discovered your strange gift, it really worried them what could happen to you if anyone knew.

The worry that people would take you, want to experiment on you, or take advantage of you pushed your parents to make the decisions they did.

So, you and your family took care of your daily things while your father would go run his company, often coming home late at night.

It was a simple life.

Everything was good.

Or so you thought.

“I just...I don’t know what we’re going to do. I may have to claim bankruptcy. We’re hardly making the payments we need to do. The company just keeps getting worse, and I don’t understand why. I had to lay off 80 people today. I’ve closed down many factories in the last month.”

You stood quietly at the door, slightly ajar for you to peer in to see your father in a stressed state as your mother tried to comfort him.

“Should we move back into the city?” Your mother suggests, but your father shook his head.

“No, it’s worse for our daughter out there. You know that. There are too many people and sounds. It triggers the visions.”

Your mother purses her lips but agrees. They sigh stressfully together, your mother’s head on your father’s shoulder.

“We’ll figure it out, darling, we always do.”

It made you feel awful.

That night you stared at the ceiling in bed, praying an answer would come.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

You were in the field again, resting against the tree, sketching the view before you.

It was peaceful, but in the sense that it’s the calm before the storm. You were anxious.

Last night, you were getting horrible visions of a man in a fiery crash. He was stuck in the vehicle, screaming a name you couldn’t hear. The vehicle caught on fire, and there was so much blood.

The crash had disfigured his face, but his expression haunted you.

You weren’t sure what to do with it because you didn’t know who this man, where he was, or when it was happening.

Hell, you couldn’t make out his face without the blood and shards of glass.

A part of you wasn’t sure if maybe you were just having nightmares.

But the same vision kept coming over and over the next few nights. You were getting ragged, and your parents could tell.

They were happening more frequently, with more details each time, but it wasn’t like you had any more understanding.

You spent a day, just trying to mimic what the man was saying in the car before he died. Your mouth followed his movements, but you weren’t getting anywhere.

You felt like you were going to go crazy, watching the same man dying.

It kept going, and going, and going, and going, and going...

Until one day, it stopped.

A part of you was relieved, but there was a drop in your stomach wondering if it stopped because it happened, and it was no longer a future possibility.

The days were peaceful once more.

Well, as can be. You could tell your parents were getting more stressed as they were running out of money, getting closer, and closer to bankruptcy.

You were sure the peaceful days were coming to an end, and you felt so guilty you couldn’t do more.

“--rry, I’m just really lost. How do I get back to the main road?”

You turned your head, stretching to see a tall, handsome man with a couple dirt stains on his suit.

He looked shy.

Your mother merely laughed at his sheepish boyish grin.

“Well, let me draw you a map. Why don’t you come in and grab some tea? Must’ve been some adventure, huh?”

The man laughed and walked inside.

You quietly crawled through the tall flowers, peering inside the kitchen glass door to see the man sit down.

You tilted your head to the side, observing him.

He was obviously wealthy, catching his Rolex watch on his wrist.

You did find it a little weird for someone to get lost here. This was quite out of the way of anything.

He turned his head, and then your eyes met.

He looked shocked, mouth agape.

He actually flushed and looked away.

Since you were caught, you stood up, coming through the side door of the kitchen. Your mother looked shocked to see you. Even a little wary.

“This is my daughter,” Your mother told the man, introducing you.

The man stood abruptly up, coughing slightly as he stuck his hand out towards you.

“I’m William Cain.”

Your mother hummed. “Your dad doesn’t happen to own Cain Holdings, does he?”

William nodded, and your mother gave him a sympathetic smile.

“I heard about the accident. I’m really sorry to hear about him.”

William merely thanked her with a half-smile before looking back at you. You tilted your head down, looking a the map your mother drew and hummed.

Grabbing the pen, you re-drew the path he should take.

“Is it wrong?” Your mother asked.

“No, but...the roads are tricky over there. It is best he takes this route back to the main road.” You quietly say, passing the sheet of paper to him with a small smile. “It was nice to meet you.”

And then you left. Your mother is someone that doesn’t like you meeting strangers, so it’d be best to limit interactions.

She heard small noises from downstairs, but soon, William was on his way.

She thought that was the end of that.

Until he showed up again.

And then again, and again, and again.

The next couple of times, he came with small gifts like chocolate, cookies, or little trinkets, saying it was a thank you for helping him.

The next couple of times, he would come up with ridiculous lies to say he was visiting.

One day, he merely said he wanted to see you.

Then the reasons no longer mattered.

You couldn’t classify that you were in love with William, your heart just didn’t feel that way. But you weren’t unsatisfied to be with him. Especially knowing he could help your father.

Before you knew it, he wanted to whisk you away, back to his estate. He thinks you just have a frail body, which is why you’re in the countryside. He promises your parents of a quiet place for you, where you can still have fresh air, and lots of room to draw and paint.

He promises a partnership for your father’s company.

And with your reassurance, they hand you to him.

“Don’t tell William about your abilities, dear,” your mother tells you as she helps you pack your clothes. “I know he loves you, but you never know.”

You nod, feeling your throat burn as your about to leave your parents.

“We can visit at any time. Heck, we may even decide to move back to the city,” your mother tries to reassure you, but you’ll miss her anyways.

With hugs and kisses goodbye, a final piece of advice, you part ways with your family.

Never to see them again.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

William’s place is quiet.

Much more quiet than you had expected. There are no pictures on the wall, only paintings and trinkets. You meet his mother, who’s just thrilled to have ‘such a young, graceful lady around.’

She seems sweet but also distant. She looks out the window a lot like she’s expecting someone to come home at any time.

William is still finishing university, it was a wonder how he found so much time to visit you. On top of that, he was busying himself to take over his father’s business.

You’re still getting used to the city air. It’s not quite the same as the countryside, but you find that you don’t mind it at all.

William seems to be keeping you a secret because, as the years pass, you never meet anyone new. You’ve visited your parents rarely, and it seems to be getting more infrequent.

There’s an unsettling fear in your stomach, and you don’t understand why. It feels like you’re being tested. William asks your opinion on everything, trying to gauge your reaction.

You’ll purposely choose the wrong thing or say the wrong thing because your mother’s words can’t escape your head.

You’re now having reoccurring nightmares of the man dying in the car crash again. He’s screaming and screaming, but you can’t hear what he’s saying. Waking up in cold sweats and an empty bed, you’re scared out of your mind.

You want to leave.

So in the dead of night, while William is gone, you sneak into the hallways.

Suddenly, you hear footsteps and noises. Panic overtakes you as you scramble through a door you haven’t been through before. You shut the door, leaning against it as you listened to the footsteps and voices walk right past you.

Sighing in relief, you stood up straighter and turned around. It was dark, but the moonlight outside illuminated the room enough for you to see.

You realized that it wasn’t so much a room, but a hallway. Against the wall were portraits lined up side by side. Walking over, you looked at the photos one-by-one. Typically, this was a room you weren’t allowed to enter. William or a maid always led you away.

This must be generations of men in William’s family, you thought.

You come to the last photo. It must be William’s father. You haven’t really seen a big, clear picture of the man before. Even in news articles, they were always taken from afar.

You stood before the large portrait that seemed to loom down on you, staring at you with his clear features and eyes.

A sharp pain shot through your head as you hissed, hand coming to your eyes as the images rush through your head.

It’s the dying man again.

But you can hear everything this time, see more clearly.

“WILLIAM! WILLIAM!” He screams, desperately trying to unbuckle his seatbelt. The car is incredibly hot, a small fire coming from under the hood with smoke. Shards of glass are stuck in his face, and there’s just so much pain.

He can hear a car door shut just a few feet from him. He turns his head to see his son come up to the window.

“WILLIAM, GET ME OUT OF HERE!” He yells, pulling at his seatbelt again. A truck just came out of nowhere, and the fire was starting to grow.

William stood by the driver’s side, careful to not lean too close with the broken glass as he crouched down, his face stoic.

“You don’t understand our legacy, father. You’re going to ruin everything our family has created for generations.”

His father watched as William got up, walking away without even stumbling.

“WILLIAM! WILLIAM!”

He called and called, but his voice was soon drowned out by the sound of the vehicle exploding.

Your head felt heavy as you were gasping in pain. It was like your right eye was throbbing.

“You know, don’t you?”

You whipped around to see William, who just turned onto the hallway, casually leaning against the wall.

You stumble back a little bit, but then your back hit someone else’s. You turn your head to see Evelyn, the last maid you had.

“Evelyn...? What are you--”

“It’s fine, release her,” William cuts you off.

Evelyn lets go of your shoulders, and William walked to stand before you.

“You know what I did, don’t you?” William says to you again, his arms crossed over his chest.

“N-No, I don’t--” You stuttered.

“Don’t lie,” William tsked at you. “I heard from our little rich circle years ago about your parents who had a darling little girl...but something was off about her, she was always predicting things that happened.”

William uncrossed his arms, lifting his hand to caress a strand of your hair. “I paid Evelyn a lot of money to see if it was true. Then I swept you away...keeping you here to see myself.”

“So,” William drawled, “What else have you seen?”

“N-nothing,” you say, and it’s true, at least nothing related to William.

William merely smiles at you.

“I guess we’ll have to change that.”

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

It was dark.

And cold.

You don’t know how many days you’ve been in this...hole.

Evelyn has taken you deep into the basement. You’re sure you’re well beneath the floor in this cell.

They dropped you in here with no way of getting out.

It felt like you were in a well.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

Your screams were echoing.

Arm out as your hands stretched to reach...reach something.

“I don’t like it when you run, don’t you understand that by now?” William’s voice sounded disappointed with you.

The blade he held carved into your skin, and you could feel a warm liquid dribble out and slide down your sides.

“P-Please stop...” you begged with tears in your eyes and throat raw from screaming.

“Don’t run from me anymore.”

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

You were back in the dark.

Knees crouched to your chest, you had your head down.

Evelyn came by, and you were mad at her. Hated her with every fiber of your being.

You want your parents, your parents will know you're missing if they keep visiting and you’re never around.

Evelyn says your parents won’t visit anymore.

You won’t get to see them until you’re dead, she tells you.

You don’t know what to do anymore.

You’ve been in here for weeks. Your back has begun to scab over, but you refuse to give anything to William.

You stare straight ahead, even if you can’t see anything.

You start to wonder if you should give up and join your parents.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

“Still nothing?” William says to you as you’re forced to kneel before him.

He comes up to you and gets down on one knee. Your face is bruised, and he cups it gently like he cares about you.

“I don’t want to treat you like this, you know. I meant what I said to your parents when I said I’d take care of you. You need to let me take care of you.”

You clench your jaw at the mention of your parents, but you don’t say anything.

William moves in to try to brush his lips against yours, but you vehemently turn your head away.

For a second, you think he might hit you again, but he just sighs.

“Evelyn, take her back,” William says, but he turns to you again. “I want you to help me, but if you can’t, I don’t have any problems achieving what I need to without you too. Don’t become useless to me.”

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

Your back rests against the slightly curved wall. Your hair feels matted, and you just feel grimy in general.

William's words keep replaying in your head, but you can’t help but feel hopeless.

You’ve stopped eating the meals Evelyn brings you.

It doesn’t matter anymore, you think.

You stare into the nothingness so long you think you’re eyes have adjusted.

People think that the dark is just black, but it’s not. There are no words to describe the lack of colors around you.

A sharp pain hits your head again as you hiss, bringing your hand to your eye.

The sudden colors are so vivid and bright, it almost hurts you.

You see flashes of red hair, luscious lips, a black suit, and a pair of piercing emerald eyes.

You just see quick flashes of different scenes, but you know one thing for sure.

She’s going to take down William.

“Natasha,” you whisper to yourself as if to test the name on your lips.

It makes you feel warm.

And you get a feeling that you haven’t felt in a long time.

Hope.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷

“Then I got myself together...forced myself to give into William and paved his way exactly the way it had to be to bring you here.”

You feel something wet hit your bare back.

Turning your head as far as you can to see tears falling from Natasha’s eyes and it trickles down her face, hitting your back a couple more times.

You wonder if it’s awful to think she looks beautiful when she’s crying too. You turn your body over, Natasha adjusting herself so you can do so.

With your bare chest exposed to her, you lift your hand and cradle her cheek, smiling a little when she presses herself more into your palm.

“Why are you crying?” You ask her softly, using your thumb to wipe a tear that was falling.

“I’ll kill him,” Natasha says, turning her lips into your palm as she kisses the area tenderly.

You chuckle softly because you’re not sure if she really will or not, but it warms your heart nonetheless.

“Do you want to know something interesting?” You ask, your other hand pulling on her shirt, so Natasha will lean down closer to your lips.

Natasha hums.

“When I saw you...I held onto you. Through every dark night, painful crying, and feeling so wretched...I remembered you.” You whispered as Natasha’s lips got closer. Your thumb stroked the softness of her cheek as Natasha gripped onto your sides tightly, screwing her eyes shut as you told her what she meant to you.

“You’re such a beautiful color, Natasha. You’re the soft blue that comforted me, the yellow that brought me happiness, a pure white that gave me light the darkness, and the green that brought me hope. Do you understand me?”

You’re so desperate for her to understand.

Because without her, you would’ve never made it out alive, and you need her to know that.

Your lips brush against Natasha’s as her body lines up with yours. You shiver, feeling her cover your chest.

“You saved me.”

Natasha won’t let you say anymore as her lips crashes onto yours, but you feel her emotions dripping into you as she kisses you deeply. Her grip loosens as she pushes her arms under your back to hold you closer.

“You’re mine,” is all Natasha can say.

PART VIII

#mm: my fics #series: the color of you #natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x ofc #natasha romanov x reader #natasha romanoff imagine #natasha romanov imagine #black widow x reader #black widow imagine #avengers x reader #Avengers #avengers imagine #Avengers AU #avengers reader insert #marvel x reader #Marvel Imagine #marvel mcu #Modern Avengers AU

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missingartist · 5 years ago

Text

The Witcher’s Mate Chapter Three

Geralt followed the golden-haired Mage with an intense brooding. The sky was beginning to darken, and the streets were almost deserted apart from a few stray stragglers who watched as they walked by, the others were drunks who swayed where they stood, to fascinated with their rum bottles to take notice of the trio. It had been many years since he had last seen Cersi, she had still been at the court of King Lidwig, her lover, it had been many years since his death and her self exile from court life. Hiding in this backwater town, away from the war and the troubles of the outside world. She had led them to a ramshackle building in the middle of a market street; the wood was worn and old, pitted by time and the weather. The smell of moss seeped out the pores of the place, mixed in with the smell of herbs and smoke but all undermined by that sweet smell of apples and the ocean. The mysterious women and her smell. She was here. The woman in the market must be the other healer, Adva, the girl Fagen warned him off of.

Inside was much like the outside. But the scent of sweet and fresh salty water was much more intense it permeated the room soaked into every piece of cloth, every piece of wood, every piece of stone. The hut was a long room, a large fireplace that flickered lowly above a brewing pot of burning herbs filling the room with the smell of rosemary and nettles — poor man purifying herbs, unusual. Why would the Mage’s use these? More importantly, what was in need of purifying? 5 bodies laid inside on campers beds, cramped into the space meant for 2, all sleeping deeply. A man sat on a desk laden with apparatus that has all been pushed careless to make room for an ornate leather book that he was feverishly reading. The man was of handsome feature, soft jawline lined with a thin stubble across his dark skin and dull green eyes. As soon as he saw them, the short man stood and thrust the book into his exotic satchel etched in magical symbols. Geralt narrowed his eyes at the unfamiliar man with interest before his eyes once again rested up against his old acquaintance.

‘Tradi its nice of you have finally taking responsibly for your duties. Tradi of Browdon, Geralt of Rivia. Geralt is an old friend back in my courtesan days, come to sort our beast problem.’ Cersi spoke uninterestingly, cocking her hip to the side as her eyes ran over the patient lying motionlessly in their beds.

‘Ahhh the Great White Wolf, an honour. If I can give you any assistance, my door is always open to distinguished guests. But I fear the beast we had here will be your match.’ Tradi bowed with a flourish and held his hand open to Geralt who remained unmoving.

‘I think you should leave that up to the professionals?’ Geralt huffed out in annoyance.

The male healer snatched his hand back to his body and narrowed his eyes in angry, raising his nose in the air in defiance. ‘I think you will find that I have a good range of experience, for 10 long years I was a head researcher at the Guild Sorcerers for dangerous creatures. I know many creatures and none documented have the power to rip through tissues and curse the blood with toxins without anyone seeing it. To vanish into thin air like it was never there.’

‘Hmmm’ Geralt grunted looking down at the arrogant man in front of him as they glared at each other.

‘The child seems a little stronger today, that’s good the toxic seems to be withdrawing. Geralt this the latest victim found outside her home, father and pregnant mother died. Slashed and ripped, mother died straightway; it was the toxins that got the father. They are powerful magic of some kind, but nothing I have ever come across ’ Cersi called to the Witcher, pulling the rough blanket away from the girl's and loosen the bandages around her wound for Geralt to investigate.

‘Claw marks, powerful beast, one long strike, indicates that the creature was moving when it delivered the blow, fast. Perhaps, a wolf, but the livers and heart were left. No respecting wolf would waste a meal. Hmmm.’ Geralt inhaled deeply, several times, having to struggle through the intoxicating scent of apples. ‘Hmmm, mountain moss. Only grows at the very top of mountains, no way a peasent family from Brightwater could come into contact with this substance, the creature must have tracked it in. Griffin then but never met a Griffin that had toxin in their claws. Not the style for them to attack villages, especially unprovoked. What have you been using to heal this blood poisoning.’

‘At first, we used Swallow, it took the edge off but too slow, healed the wounds but not the toxins going through their system. Nothing we could do but make them comfortable, we nearly lost this child 4 days ago. That is till Adva brew a similar healing potion using, limes, honey, dittany root and wormwood. And doubling the effect by burning rosemary and nettles. It has…’

‘That is something we need to discuss Cersi’ Tradi interpreted angrily ‘letting that simple-minded child lose on these poor devils. Burning rosemary and nettles, I wouldn’t use those herbs to heal an injured dog.’ Tradi huffed angrily.

‘Well they are working, at it not like we have a vast range of supplies, we had no stock. Adva did the best she could with anything she could find. Your just jealous because they are working.’ Cersi glared at the other Mage, with rage in her eyes.

‘Jealous of that orphan wretch. No match for the Great Tradi of Browdon…’

‘If he was so great, then why did he get kicked out of his Kings court.’ Cersi gritted out in pure venom.

‘I will not stay here to be insulted by the Whore of Court…Good day’ Tradi snapped, clutched his satchel to his chest and flouncing off into the distance.

‘Well, that was awkward.’ Jaskier stood wide eyes as the door clattered close.

‘Forgive Tradi. He is a grumpy old twat, but so would I be if I was as untalented as him…so Geralt have you figured out what it is yet.’

‘If I were to put money on, I’d say a Griffin, but never seen on giving of toxin scratches.’

‘Well, whatever it is I am sure you’ll get to the bottom of it. Lord Fagen has sorted out lodging at the Tavern of Carnal Appetites… well, that what the merchants call it. It is at the end of the town, looking over the port, can't miss it. Afraid I won't be able to take you there, one of us has to stay in the hut, and as Tradi has gone off it a hissy fit, it falls down to me. Adva works at the Tavern; she will be able to help you if you have any questions or need supplies. You best hurry, I hear they are putting on quite a little party for you two some of the best whores in the land at your disposal.’ Cersi smoothly sighed, giving a half laugh as the bard escaped through the door without her having to finish her sentence. ‘You have an interesting one there. No good in a fight but I hear the songs are excellent, never heard of a Witcher with their on songwriter before.’

‘Is this going somewhere Cersi? You know I am not one for half-hidden questions and answers.’ Geralt quipped as he folded his arms as he learnt against the stone mantle of the fire.

‘Ahhhhh that is the Geralt I have missed… Let me be a little more straight-edged. I felt what happened in the square; I can sense your questions and your confusion.’

‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’ Geralt shrugged.

‘Oh, Geralt. I am far older than you so don’t try to lie to me, I felt that energy bond being created. I have seen some soul bonds in my time but never with the couple never actually touching or meeting. For a bond link, this to be created is unheard of. From the reaction of poor Adva had must have been a powerful one; indeed, I had to send the sweetling home.’ Cersi was no fool; she had been waiting for this for a long time. Truth and honestly she did not think it would be Geralt, the white wolf that would stumble across the little healer, that was a surprise, not much of one given recent events. It did, however, threw some unneeded confusion into the pot, muddied the water, that was a concern, she would need to rectify that quickly to make the process as smooth as possible.

‘I vaguely seem to recall your friend at the square; she probably inhaled too much rosemary and nettle.’ Geralt face remained impassive, but his golden eyes swirled.

‘Vaguely recall? I’m surprised about that; you didn’t take your eyes off her. At one point I thought you were going to jump off the stage carry her off to your cave.’ Cersi teased, moving over to wash her hand in the basin to the right of the fire and Geralt.

‘As I said, no idea what you are talking about, I think you have spent to much time away from court, you're losing your edge. Witcher’s do not get soul mates.’

Cersi silently observed the Witcher out of the corner of her eye for a long moment as she scrubbed her hands. ‘Well, then, I must be mistaken. You better catch up with your friend. Give my love to Adva; I hear she is making roast lamb.’ Not looking up as Geralt left without another word.

Cersi waited several long moments scrubbing her hands thoroughly before picking up a dagger from beside her and adding a few drops of her own blood to the water, watching as the deep red liquid dissolved in the clear water and a bright light because to ripple across the basin. The Mage waited and waited until a familiar figure replaced her own reflection.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ‘Geralt of Rivia, you are most welcome to our fine establishment. If you require anything, and I mean anything, please let me know… Our Sirens of Brightwater are at you and your friend's disposal. I reserved the best table for you here’ Madam Vivian greeted, fanning herself with a garish fan as she indicated to a velvet-covered table in the middle of the room.

‘Hmmm,’ The hulking Witcher replied as he surveyed his surroundings, scrunting up his nose.

The smell of the room was overpowering, intense perfume and oils to overpower the smell of sex and cum that lingered underneath. Sweat and body odour where another murky smell that offended his nose, he would prefer to be covered in selkie guts again than have to endure the nauseating smell. The only thing that made the room tolerable was the hint of crisp apples and the fresh ocean breeze — an undercurrent of pleasure in a sea of disgust. Ignoring the offered table, Geralt marched off to a bench table in the corner of the room. It had a good view of the bar, which a heavyset man, dressed in beautiful clothes looking very uncomfortable tended to. Hired security doubling as staff, interesting. Geralt ponders as his eyes again searched the room again.

On the opposite side of the room, there was a large hatchway window opening up to the kitchen, the girl from the market flittered around the room tending to two large lambs turning on a spit, basting it with herbs and what smelt like lemon, occasionally she would pass a hunk of meat to the boy turning the spirt who would guzzle it down immediately with a gapped tooth grin. Her skin was pale, but a rose flush dusted across her cheeks and chest. From this distance, even if he didn’t have Witcher's eyes, her eyes sparkled dangerously in the light of the coals, creating hundreds of little stars staring back at him, a gentle smile painted on her lips. Every now and then a patron would wander passed, throwing her a greeting or stopping to chat. She was a short, curvy thing, meaning she would have to learn across the wooded serving platform. Causing the blouse, she had over her bodice to give way a little, and the onlooker caught an eyeful of creamy cleavage. Rage filled his vision as he watched the men jeered and whispered behind tankards of mead with offensive jokes. Part of him, a big part of him, wanted to pull out his sword and slash their throat. Feel the warmth of their blood pool against his skin.

‘This place is amazing!’ Jaskier roared gulping on his goblet of wine, a woman sucking upon his neck already.

Geralt ignored his friend who busied himself with devouring a woman mouth as her hand explored the regions of his pants. Instead, he busied himself drinking mead and watching the young kitchen maid. Her face was partially hidden by the curls that mopped around her head, dark roots that faded into a honeyed blonde; they bounced about her as she dished up plates of meat and cheeses. Geralt amber eyes remained on the figure of the girl as she hummed softly as she worked, but the Witcher saw the dark circles underneath her eyes, and the effort the woman had to put in as she moved. Geralt eyed her with concern as he felt the wavering force of magic filter through the air.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Geralt was on his third mead when the Madam of the tavern reappeared and made her way over to her favourite girls. Nesta and Bela huddled in the corner of the room. Nesta let her hair loose, brushed to a healthy shin, a deep split in her bodice ran down to her navel, showing off her pert breast and slim waist. To her face, she had applied a thick band of charcoal to create a smokey eye, and a faint shimmer of blush to define her cheekbones. Bela was to the left of her, a taller, slimmer woman, dressed in a forest green dress, she was older, nearing her 30s, but still kept an athletic figure, men liked her for the thin body she possessed and girlish charm which she played to her advantage. They had spent the last hour as requested by Vivian watching the white-haired man quietly drinking. ‘How has he been? Has anyone taken his fancy?’ Vivian mumbled from behind her fan.

‘No, he just keeps looking at the wall? Maybe he doesn’t fuck on the job? Maybe he needs to keep his stamina up or something’ Bela spoke is a sultry whisper, pouting at the thought of having to wait. Bela was one of the newest girls, but she also had almost 10 years on the rest, the madam thought it is employing someone more mature might have given her a little more brains, it seems that there was little to be had in her.

‘A Witcher is mutated, has several times the stamina and strength of a normal man. I think one fuck would set him up for a night of hunting. I think perhaps he has a type.’ Vivian purred following the man's gaze. ‘Get Adva to bring the food to the table. Tell her to be accommodating. ’ The madam gave both the girls a big grin, and she grabbed a pitcher of mead and made her way to the table and began to fill the silver tankard without asking, eyeing him discreetly and gave a smile as he eyes never wandered far from the shy kitchen maiden.

Bending down she whispered low into his ear ‘You have a good eye for women. However, that particular girl is just a mere servant…though, I am in the middle of persuading her to sell her virginity. There has been a lot of interest in Adva, such a good-natured girl, gorgeous, especially when out of those rags. Inexperienced, would need someone to break her in. If that is something, I can tempt you with; I would be happy to keep you in mind. I'm sure she would be an honour to accept your offer. I was thinking 50 gold coins’

‘The only thing I want to break in is a leg of lamb.’ Geralt growled lowly, aggressively, through gritted teeth.

Vivian scarlet smile faltered, and an ugly sneer replaced it but as quick as it appeared it disappeared, replaced with a strained smile. ‘Of course,…. Ahh, here it is now. Adva, please give the Witcher extra attention, make sure he has everything he needs.’ Vivian cooed at the young girl before flicking her fan up and swayed away. Leaving the golden eyes and blue eyes to meet.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Adva ached. Her body felt heavy with the want of sleep. It the haze of everything that has happened at the square she had only managed to splash some water in her face before Vivian had put her to work, prepping two full lamb, soup and cakes, she hadn’t even had time to make sense of what occurrence earlier. The connection between the two felt intense, heavy and energetic. In the back of her mind, she was aware that Witchers were the vessel of magical force due to the mutations that their body was put through, since the attacks she had become tender and raw to the chaos around her making her extra sensitive. It must be why he was affecting her so much! It was nothing, she was sure, she doubted the Witcher even felt it, it was paranoia.

‘Adva…Viv wants you to personally bring food over to Witcher. Be nice; I think she has something planned. Tread carefully’ Nesta whispered across the hatch, as she passed.

Panic surged through her as she stared wide-eyed at the opening; she hadn’t been realised that the Witcher was here. That was good right? It meant that everything she felt was it her sleep-deprived head. With her faltering strength, she carved off a leg of lamb and ladled the sizzling juices onto a wooden bowl with the cooked vegetables, wedging that under her arms while picking up another tray laded with cakes and cheeses. As quick as she could she matched out to immediately be hit by an overwhelming scent of spice, wood and mint. Usually the tavern smelt of perfume and lavender, but the smell faded into the background for this wintery warming fragrance. The anxiety seemed to melt away, and her heart slowed, and an overriding sense of comfort as she made her way through the crowd of laughing people. The girls were strategically placed throughout the establishment, Vivian was a wise woman, made it her business to know the indulgence of her customers to please them and ensure they kept spending the coin which is why she was surprised to find the Witcher sat alone in a dark corner. Even before she saw him, she could feel his eyes burn through her, those circles of fire that swirled followed ever her every movement. Vivian was standing next to him, giving her her sternest look before she greeted her and departed to a safe distance to observe.

‘Sir your meal’ Adva tried to smile as she placed the heavy platers around him, her arms sighing with relief as they were unburdened of their bounty. ‘Is there anything else I can get you?’ She tried to smile, but the penetrating stare he held was daunting, unwavering and powerful, which is why his first words surprised her,

‘Dwarven Spit.’

So they finally meet! The next chapter will be there meeting and little action, as requested by one of the readers. How are we finding it? I am trying to stay true to the character of Geralt, but he is damn hard to write. What do you think of the characters? And once again, if you want to see or want me to included anything, just let me know.

Also I am open to request, so feel free to send them through.

#geralt of rivia #geralt smut #geralt x oc #Geralt #geralt x reader #the witcher #witcher netflix

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cyoza · 5 years ago

Note

Dickkory prompt - “Do you even still love me?”

Thanks for the prompt! It was under angst so that’s what I tried to do! I hope you enjoy and it was along the lines with the theme!

send me a prompt!

The dull, intense throb between his eyebrows let Dick know that he’d been sat at the control station for far too long. The words on the computer screen had begun to blur into each other 20 minutes ago but still he forced himself to focus and finish typing up the report.

Becoming Nightwing was a pivotal moment in his life. Putting on the suit felt like the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle of his life had been snapped into place. But now it was difficult to let go of the rhythm so all it felt like he was doing recently was working and patrolling.

However, he could hardly complain. He’d spent too long trying to find his place in the world and figuring out his identity to lose sight of what it was all for.

‘Are you nearly done? I made dinner.’ Kory’s melodic voice sounded from the door, easing some of the tension from his body.

‘Nearly. You get started and I’ll have some later.’ He told her, turning his head slightly towards her but keeping concentration on the screen so as to not lose his place.

‘Of course you will.’ Kory muttered dryly.

Her biting tone halted his fingers on the keyboard.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ He asked, turning to face her but he simply captured a glimpse of her fiery hair as she disappeared into the hallway.

‘Kory?’ He called after her but he was only met with more silence.

So, he stood and followed her into the dining room, his heart plummeting to his feet when he reached it. The room was lowly lit, the only illumination coming from the various candles placed on the long dining room table. At the head of the table were two plates of what looked like homemade pizza and a bottle of red wine between them, half of its contents in the glass in front of where Kory sat.

He took a moment to observe her as she picked up the glass and gulped back a generous sip. Her hair was piled on top of her head, a style that he’d once told her he loved because he reveled in unclipping it and watching it cascade down her shoulders. He could only see the sweetheart neckline of black garment she wore but he recognised it, again, as one of his favourite dresses on her. She’d obviously gone to a lot of effort and Dick wracked his brain to figure out why.

Then it hit him.

Their anniversary.

He’d forgotten their 1 year anniversary.

‘Kory…’ He started with a sigh, making his way to sit at the place she’d laid out for him.

‘Yeah.’ She said blankly, taking yet another sip from the large glass of wine.

‘I’m sorry.’ He apologised, trying to catch her eye but she refused to look at him and instead stared down at the glass in her hand.

‘You know, I’ve been hearing that a lot from you lately and I’m starting to wonder if you even mean it anymore or you’re saying it just because you think I need to hear it.’

Dick didn’t say anything, not really knowing what to say. He’d fucked up big time and a simple ‘I’m sorry’ wasn’t going to cut it this time.

‘Did you know I’ve been waiting here for an hour? Just waiting to see if you’d remember by yourself what today was.’ Kory let out a soft chuckle, devoid of any humour. ‘Throughout the day I gave you the benefit of the doubt, I thought he’s got a lot on his mind, it’s okay that he forgot. Maybe I should surprise him instead. I thought you’d at least remember to come have dinner with me but....’

Dick felt his heart clench at her words, feeling lower than he had in a long time. It was rare that Kory was sad about anything, even with everything that had happened with her family and her sister, she tried to stay as positive as possible. The fact that he was the one who hurt her caused him more pain that he could have ever anticipated.

He leaned forward and removed the wine glass from her hand before setting it on the table. She finally looked up at him then, her emerald orbs glazed over as he took her unresisting hands in his.

‘Kory, I’m so sorry I forgot. I really am.’ He repeated regretfully.

‘But that’s just the thing, Dick. It’s not just that you forgot today. For the last few months, it's been as if the only thing important to you is being Nightwing and I know how much it means to you but it’s getting to the point where I’m wondering if I even factor into your life anymore. All I can think about is how you missed my work fundraiser or how I have to go to teacher's meetings by myself or how I fall asleep in that huge bed alone almost every night. And it sucks, Dick, it really sucks.’

‘Kory-’ He started yet again, but she cut him off.

‘Do you even still love me?’ She asked abruptly, turning her body so she could look at him directly.

Shock coursed through him. How could she even ask him that?

‘Of course I do. You know I do.’

‘Do I? I can’t even remember the last time you touched me. I mean really touched me. Or even when we spent more than 10 minutes alone outside of the times you accidentally wake me up when you get back from patrolling at god knows what time in the morning.’ Kory swallowed, slipping her hands from his to place them back in her lap, her eyes following suit.

‘I don’t know. Maybe we should press pause on this. It’s okay that your priorities are different now. Things change and between the kids and your job as well as everything else, maybe this isn’t the right time to do this. I can’t feel like a last priority anymore, Dick, not when we’re supposed to be equally in this together. Maybe you just focus on being Nightwing for now. I’ll still be here to support you, just not in the same way.’

Dicks heartbeat hammered in his chest, feeling at a loss. He knew he’d been preoccupied but for Kory to feel like this, it had to be bad, really bad. But he didn’t even know where to begin to rectify it. So he started with the truth and hoped it would work itself out from there.

‘Kory, I want this. I want you. I love you.’ He professed and leaned further into her to make sure she was really hearing him, drawing her eyes to his.

But she merely gave him a sad smile and cupped his cheek tenderly, even as the tears spilled over, leaving glistening trails on her cheeks.

‘I’m not sure that’s enough anymore, Dick.’ She admitted quietly, dropping her hand from his cheek and standing.

Much to his horror, his throat clenched and burned with emotion. A part of him knew that if he let her go now, they would never recover. So he gripped her hand as she turned to walk away, stopping her in her stride.

‘Please, Kory. Don’t do this.’ His voice sounded hoarse, even to him. Clearing his throat he spoke again. ‘Please, just - I can’t do this without you. I need you, like this. You’re the first thing I want to see in the morning and the last thing I want to see before I sleep. I don’t want to take a break. I want you. I promise - I promise I’ll do better. Just please..give me a chance to. Please, we can work it out.’ He pleaded, his own eyes filling with tears.

Kory said nothing in response, merely looking down on him as her lower lip trembled. She allowed the moment to stretch on in silence as she searched for something in him. Eventually she let out a sigh and squeezed his hand, settling back down on the seat opposite him.

‘Okay then.’ She let out a tired sigh. ‘Let’s work it out.’

#raejustrae #dickkory #dick x kory #dickkory fan fic #dc titans #prompt list #idk if it was what you expected but i hope you like #ive read through but #anyway ill stop now

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angelkurenai · 5 years ago

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Hurricane - Dean Winchester x Reader (Detective AU) - Part 15 - The End

Title: Hurricane

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Word count: 6,025

Warnings: None

Summary: With one of the most dangerous serial killers on the loose and in your tracks you have no choice but to rely on the help of the police to ansure your safety. It doesn’t hurt that the detective in charge is the one of the most skilled there is and probably, well, definitely the most charming one you have ever seen. Or that his flirting with you takes your mind off the danger waiting for you right around the corner. & Based on: Imagine detective Dean Winchester flirting with you while working on your case.

Read Part 1 here! l Read Part 2 here! l Read Part 3 here! l Read Part 4 here! l Read Part 5 here! l Read Part 6 here! l Read Part 7 here! l Read Part 8 here! l Read Part 9 here! l Read Part 10 here! l Read Part 11 here! l Read Part 12 here! l Read Part 13 here! l Read Part 14 here!

The echo of his footstep wasn't loud, thankfully so, but it was loud enough in his ears. He could attribute the fact to how strong his heart was beating in his chest and drumming in his ears, in perfect sync with said echo, that made the nerves and fear settle in deeper with each passing second. His own breathing had fallen into the same rhythm but if you asked him he could say he was almost 100% sure he had stopped breathing altogether. He gripped the gun tighter in his hands not that it was any more possible at this point, his knuckles had turned white.

The closer he got, the more on alert he felt. They had wasted no time jumping into action and using any and all means of transport to get to the prison which as expected looked more like a bloodbath out of the most gruesome horror movie with all the bodies scattered around. But he didn't have the luxury to spend even half a second focused on any of the bodies – already dead and with no opportunity of saving – when there was a risk of losing you. He had to get to you.

Splitting up might have not been the best idea but until more forces arrived they had to cover enough ground and the prison was one of the most complicated if not biggest high-security facilities. He should know better than anyone after all the times he'd visited it anyway. Part of his brain, a small one at this point with how much on alert he needed to be, still remembered the way. And he was sure it was that small part that led him to her cell even before he could realize it.

“You're late.” the same that had been haunting his dreams for years “I was beginning to think that you weren't going to show up at all. Still, fast at arriving at my old home, but getting all the way here did seem to take up longer.”

She was speaking, it was all Amara, and she was so close that Dean shouldn't have been able to look anywhere but her and yet... yet he couldn't find it in himself to look anywhere but you. It was both such a sweet relief that made his shoulders relax and yet painful sight that made his heart twist in his chest. You had only gotten in this position because of him. Hands cuffed behind your back, gun pressed right at your temple and so close to taking your life away. You were so close to dying, all it took was a second and the wrong move, and it would be your blood on his hands. It brought a sick feeling to his stomach and a painful ringing in his ears, the thought too terrifying for him to take.

“I'm sorry, what?” his confidence surprised even himself when he spoke up “Wasn't really listening. I just really-” he shrugged, hand still gripping his gun tightly “Toned out after the first couple words.”

She only scoffed a laugh “RoLeplay, darling? I was thinking you were going to wait until it was just the two of us but then again... this place does bring up plenty of memories, doesn't it? So many. Where does one even begin? Oh (Y/n) dearest, if only you-”

“Spare me, will you? I've heard the story. Once upon a time there was a psychopath who got mad at her brother for not letting her play with his toys and is trying to found new ways to break them one by one so as to get him back for it.” you spoke with more confidence than you had ever managed in your life let alone in front of a serial killer with a gun at your temple. But you had to say something, loudly and with as much humor and, yet, spite in your words - the right words - to get her attention on them and not on your fumbling or on any sounds that could come from you trying to get the handcuff to open. It wasn't exactly like you had done it before.

“Oh and she has quiet the mouth of course.” there was only a hint of irritation in her voice though.

“Yeah and he-” you emphasized mostly because you were sure the metal was going to make a sound at this point “Loves to kiss it, though he still had to take me out on a proper date so I'm counting on it, honey.” you winked at him and although he was frowning at first he finally caught up and went along with it.

“Sounds good to me. Think I'll get the rest of the month free for finishing up this case.” he shrugged almost smirking at you but it was far from relaxed and true and for that you couldn't blame him.

“I always loved your confidence but we'll only have to wait and see for how long you can keep that smile up. For example-” she smiled at Dean “You like what I did with the place? I've spent so much time in here that I was starting to get sick and tired of the plain grey and white walls. They needed some color. And that- that glass standing between us every time you'd visit, it's so much better in pieces right now. You must have surely noticed how different it is from the last time you came to visit me... that is of course if you can even remember. You were so focused on setting me free, so driven, so determined that nothing else mattered, didn't it?”

“She already knows Amara, there's no point trying anymore.” his voice sounded so gruff that the exhaustion he had been trying to mask was so prominent at this point “I've told her everything myself.”

“And she still wants to live?” she raised an eyebrow “There must be something special about you after all.” the sentence this time came in almost a murmur that made you believe it was directed at you and not Dean. Not that you had the time to duel on it any further though.

“And if you want to speak of determined-” Dean spoke up again, trying to buy you both the time you apparently needed “I was only determined to get rid of you, yes I couldn't agree more.” his jaw clenched and his eyes hardened even more, if it was possible. He was on edge, as were you, and knowing that it could turn real bad real soon for you didn't help at all. For what it was worth, you were good at not showing it to her.

“Get rid of me? Oh Dean, please, we both know you don't need that. You can't even bring yourself to do that. The mere fact that you are here proves my point.” she shrugged, voice disturbingly calm and confident. Or maybe it was so scary because you believed her words yourself. You could play confident as much as you wanted to but when it came to her and Dean, when it came to Dean chosing her or most importantly being only capable of putting her safety first and not yours, you couldn't lie you felt scared for your life. You wanted to have faith in him. You only didn't know if you really could. “You will always come to me, before you even realize it. Why insist on fighting it?”

“It proves no point of yours and you know it.” but the small shake in his voice earned a small smile from her “Let her go before this gets any more ugly. I am here for her... and nothing else.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself, Dean? Because I'll tell you it's not working or helping. Not to mention-” you inhaled sharply when you felt the gun press harder on your temple “In her case.”

“Not helping in her case or yours, Amara? You don't want to hear it but it's the truth. If it wasn't for all the- the fucking reprogramming you tried to pull off on me we both know none of it would have happened. You would be behind bars long ago... if not dead.”

“By whom? You?” she raised an eyebrow “Don't fool yourself, Dean, you can barely point your gun at me-” a glance from the man confirmed it, making him realize what he had not before “Let alone shoot me or kill me. You can't do it, you might want to but you can't. You will always look out for me, take care of me. The route here is a very familiar one isn't it? You came here before you realized it, don't lie to yourself, because deep down you wanted to come here all along. You wanted to come to me, we are connected, can't you see? You say you want to save her but Dean...” she shook her head “Be honest. She doesn't deserve to be lied to in her deathbed, does she? Hope, especially false hope, can be so dangerous sometimes. People forget that and those who remember, well, they prefer to be lied to. Choose false hope even if they know they'll end up getting hurt worse. But you- you don't have to lead her on.You are not going to protect her, you can't hurt me and it's really not your fault. You freed me, you gave me what I've been denied of for so long and you will help me make my brother pay for it as well. That is if he decides to show up.” she sighed “He always cared too much about his own self-interests to do what's right.”

“You- you're going to kill her either way.” Dean breathed out in a hoarse voice, filled with shock as his eyes widened in realization. It was a deep scary one that made his insides turn, this time in a way they never had before. He'd been on the edge many times with this case but none as much as now.

And yet... it felt like a bucket of ice cold water being dumped on him.

“I am, yes.” she said as if it was the most simple thing in the world but Dean's focus was entirely on you. You had been doing a decent job of hiding your fear so far but the shock and fear flashed so clearly through your eyes when she said it, making them glisten with unshed tears that when you met Dean's gaze it felt like someone tore his heart out and stomped on it. Wether you liked it or not, you felt helpless and you were pleading for his help as well.

“See, it's not really personal. Sure, it is more than any other time or with any other... toy, as she put it, of my brother's. But I was going to kill her one way or another. The pain my brother put me through after he chose this life instead of me and he never even apologised for it, he will feel it too. Maybe this time he'll start to feel sorry for what he did to me. All his favorite ones, all his chosen ones, dying. Let's see what it takes for him to show up.”

“No, no we won't.” his tone was even, almost without any emotion but his eyes held a kind of determination that made you act faster on your efforts to undo the cuffs “Let her go, Amara.”

“Or else what? Oh Dean, you can't do anything to me and you can't betray me. You can't even point your gun at me to-” but her words got caught in her throat when she saw his gun pointed right at her head. For the first time you actually saw her hesitate and doubt him. “Why don't you lower the gun before you do something you regret, Dean?”

“Regret?” he raised an eyebrow “Oh I've done many things I regret. Coming back here for your help and not relying on myself and my brother is one of them. Letting you free is another. Hiding the truth, not being as strong as I should have been, letting people I care about down and getting people I cared about die are things I will always regret and blame myself for. But more than anything...” his eyes fell on you and you could see the thin layer of tears that was layering them.

“I regret letting things come to this. Letting them get this far, when I could've stopped them long ago and when I could'veprevented this. If I had then everything would be so different now and- Gosh, I'd even be taking you out to a date right now.” he laughed a bit but it was so pained, as if he too was scared these were the last things he was telling you “And you'd be so beautiful... just like you are now. Just like you always are. And maybe then I'd have more courage to tell you everything I feel, everything I've always felt, without holding back or being scared because of my lies and secrets. Because Gosh, I love you. I love you so much.” the words made your breath hitch in your throat and you were sure you weren't the only one that froze up but he continued “It's all my fault and I'll always feel that way. I only wish that one day you will be able to forgive me for getting you into this because I- I am so sorry for everything, (Y/n).” he held your gaze for a couple seconds too long, so long that you almost forgot where you were and certainly didn't even feel the tear that rolled down your cheek but clearly noticed the one on his face that mirror yours. Finally, his eyes slowly made their way to her, painfully-slow actually as if he didn't want to look away from you, before he clenched his jaw “Let her go.”

“Drop the gun, Dean.” she said, her voice seemingly calm but you saw the moment of hesitation “You won't do that. You can't shoot m-”

But her words were cut off by her own scream that followed only a split second after the shooting sound and a second before your own gasp. Your eyes widened in terror and surprise. You looked down to see the blood ooze from her leg. The bullet had grazed her skin with perfect precision, enough to hurt and make her bleed a lot, that you were sure that if he wanted to – and you were really starting to think he did want to – could shoot her somewhere it would be lethal. But that wasn't the surprise. It was the fact that he didn't hesitate a moment. You looked back at Dean, looking more determined than ever as he raised back up the gun and you instantly knew what it meant.

“Clearly I can kill you with my bare hands right now and I'll enjoy it.” he growled “But for her sake I won't. Now you will let go of the woman I love, take a step back and let go of that gun.”

“Y-you-” her voice was shaking “You betrayed me?”

“No” he clenched his jaw “I betrayed her. But it's a mistake I'll never make again. Now-” he held his gun with both hands now “Let go, Amara.”

A pause followed, her shaky and heavy breathing was the only thing you could hear as you held your own “Clearly that's how things are. Maybe I shouldn't have underestimated you...” you had a feeling she didn't mean Dean but you “Shame... I never meant to hurt you, Dean. You're not the only one with a gun.”

When you felt the end of the gun press hard against your temple and heard a clicking sound of the safety your fingers moved frantically with the handcuffs, sensing the danger. Dean too took a step forward but she warned him against it “Try to get closer, try to shoot me and kill me but know you will be actually killing her. Know it and let's see if you'll live with it.”

“No, no don't do this Amara, don't-”

“Amara!” but this wasn't Dean's voice and it wasn't yours either. It was however the right voice to set everything into motion, the exact person you needed.

“B-brother?” it came barely as a whisper from her but it was as loud as it could get in your ears. The gun was pulled a couple inched away from your temple, which again fell like miles away, and when the much-anticipated click of the handcuffs was heard you almost sobbed in relief. You didn't want to hesitate so with a swift move you grabbed her hand with the gun and pushed it away from you, startling her. She fired but it only ended up in the ceiling and before she had the time to direct her gun back at you, you twisted it entirely out of her hand and had it fall on the floor. You pushed it as far away as you could with your foot. Before you could run away from her she grabbed you arm, and even if you made sure to elbow her in the stomach, she was able to bring you down so hard with her that you hit your head on the chair.

You could almost hear someone yelling for Dean to shoot her and soon another one yelling for him not to, with Dean only saying he didn't have a clear shot, but you couldn't be sure. There was a distinctive buzz in your ears that kept growing louder. Your vision was getting blurry and you were almost unaware of what was happening until you felt the pair of hands wrap around your neck. You struggled and fought but with such a severe hit on the head - you could feel blood running down your temple - and with black spots appearing in your vision, there was only so much you could do. Tears welled up in your eyes as you gasped for air but found none. You choked, grasping at her hands to pull them off you but only in vain. Your throat was beginning to hurt from all the pressure too.

Thankfully the reassure didn't last long as you felt her being pulled away from you. You heard a loud metal sound and then some wrestling sounds, things even being knocked over, but all you cared about was that she wasn't anywhere close to you anymore. You choked and gasped when the air started to fill your lungs but the pain in your throat made more tears fill your eyes. You were so focused on breathing that you didn't even realize how bad your head was when you spotted a pool of blood next to your head that you were sure was not hers.

You could swear you felt a pair of arms around you and a face hovering over yours, familiar and loving, but your vision was so blurry and before you could try to make out who it was, you were completely surrounded by darkness.

~A week later~

“Whoa whoa take it easy. You have to take it easy, yes?” the soft female voice and the small hold on your shoulder were as comforting as they could get when your vision was blurry and all you could see was a blinding white light. The tears that formed because of your aching throat didn't help at all in your case.

You blinked the tears away despite everything and even between whimpers and coughing, you struggled but managed to choke out “D-Dean?” you doubted if she even heard you on second thought, though.

“Try not to talk, yes? Your vocal chords have severe damages and it will take time to heal. There are a few bruises still left but fear not those will fade away too.” the nurse, you could now tell, informed you about your condition “You are certainly in a better condition than when you were brought here but that along with your head injury is not something to be taken lightly of. There was some serious blood-loss which didn't help. The fact that it took you so long to come around proves that the internal bleeding did a number. You are lucky you got here so fast and that the doctors could-”

“D-Dean” this time you repeated with more determination and she seemed to get it or at ease hear it because she stopped her small rambling instantly. It wasn't your condition that you were all that concerned about anyway.

“Oh detective Winchester?” she asked softly before giving you a smile “Good to see you remember him, although we'll have to get the doctor to check you out too. Uhm as for the detective- He's just outside. He was the one who brought you in. He hasn't left your side the entire time, I'm sure he will be incredibly happy to know you're awake.”

“Can I see him?” you asked hoarsely, eyes pleading.

“I will let him in while I call the doctor. But please, don't try to speak. It might damage your chords any further.” she asked and your immediate response was to nod your head, simply too eager to see Dean.

And thankfully you didn't need to wait long when the door opened and Dean was right behind it, eager to enter as fast as possible. The nurse told him something and once his eyes jumped to take a look inside the room, they widened when they met with your open ones. Giving her a fast nod he pushed past her to enter, all-but-rushing to your side only to freein his steps when he was within arm's reach. It felt like for a moment he had a second thought, a feeling similar to guilt flashed over his face.

Deciding to ignore it, and probably the nurse's advice, you broke the silence first “Hey.”

Again he seemed to hesitate but when he saw you extend your hand towards him he couldn't help but crumble down in the chair, taking your hand in both of his and whispering a soft “Hey, sweetheart.”

“How are you?” you mouthed the words and he gave you a sad smile.

“You're asking me how I am? You?” he raised an eyebrow and you managed to give him a grin, albeit small and sleepy.

“Well, you suck at taking care of yourself so-” you shrugged but winced a bit “Seriously, are you alright?”

He only hummed, not giving you a response for a couple seconds as he tried to keep up a smile “You-” he tried to laugh, key word tried, “YOu scared us real bad sweetheart. I know you're too tough to break at this point but I couldn't just help but imagine-” he shook his head “You did good though, you did great. Everyone's outside, waiting eagerly to talk to you by now and the guys haven't left much either.” he said but you didn't return his smile.

“'S not what I asked.” you mouthed, giving him a loo.

He tried not to break but it was getting harder. In the end however he sighed in defeat, too tired to keep it up even if he wanted to “I almost lost it when the doctor said there was internal bleeding. They were scared of losing you. They said you might not-” he took in a shaky breath “You hit your head way harder than we initially imagined, harder than what it looked like. That's why you were out for so long. I- I didn't know if you were ever going to wake up. I couldn't leave your side for a second. I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened and I wasn't here. I was just waiting... praying you'd wake up.” there was a kind of truth in those words that shook you to the core. You squeezed his hand with whatever strength you had left in you.

“So that means you haven't slept properly in seven days then?” you finally asked, and for a few seconds he stood there only blinking at you.

“Is that what you seriously got out of everything that I said?”

“Mhm pretty much.” you managed a smirk “Is all I care about at least. Dean.” you sighed before coughing a bit “You need the rest too, I don't want you to fall down because of me. I'm good, I'm safe and I'm right here. You can rest, surely for just a couple hours at least? Then you can come again and let my admire those pretty eyes of yours again.”

He couldn't help but look almost a bit in surprise at you at the moment. It made him feel for a moment, a crazy moment, that things were back to normal between the two of you. That he hadn't broken your heart in the worst way possible.

“You mean...?” he trailed off, unable to believe let alone put into words he possibility of you forgiving him. He couldn't be that lucky, it was too good for him to believe it was true.

“I mean you'll have to try a bit harder but for most part... it's alright. Everything is alright between us.”

“B-but h-how-”

“After everything you did? Really Dean how could it not be? Besides-” you looked down at your hands for a moment “I- I understand. The risks were too high a-and... well, it wasn't you. I can see it wasn't and for a moment I had not been myself either. So I understand what you went through, what she did to you. That video? What I said to make you come to the prison... it was because of her, all of it, and I didn't realize it until it was too late. Until I put you in danger, you Dean. I would never intentionally do that. I was someone else, it's scary but it's real, so I-” you shrugged, giving him a small smile “I understand you. And I forgive you. You at least did everything you could to protect me. You fought it, hard as it was, but it was something I couldn't do. It was much more than what I could do.”

He stood there for a solid couple seconds, if not minutes, simply staring at you. His liips were parted as if he was in utter shock and he tried to understand if this was real or not. He took in a breath soon afterwards but it came in shaky and you noticed a thin layer of tears in his eyes that he didn't dare let free. He closed his eyes, jaw clenched a bit which worried you until you saw the corners of his lips lift into a smile. He opened his eyes and held so much hope that it made you smile too.

“Thank you.” his voice was low and gruff, shaky a bit, but it was filled with such relief too that made one form on your lips as well “Gosh, (Y/n) thank you so much.” he nearly choked in his words “You don't know what this means for me.” you could swear he was going to break into sobs right then and there.

You didn't blame him. You could just as well. After finding out the truth you had been crushed. You too believed you were never going to forgive him or trust him in the least bit ever again but when you had nearly lost him for good, when you realized there was a chance you'd never meet again, then you were too scared to waste any time on holding grudges. Especially over something he had done for your own good because Amara's control was never his choice. If anything, though, he had proven to you just what you meant to him when he fought her back.

“Think I do. But you don't have to thank me.” you shook your head “'M actually really sorry.” you mostly mumbled this time, gaining his attention again. He had not even realized when silence set between the two of you.

He frowned unable to understand “Sorry? What for?”

“For everything I guess.” you glanced away only for a couple seconds “But mostly- I practically ran away with no explanation. I- I shouldn't have. You must have been worried sick and I-”

“It would serve me right. For one.” he shrugged softly forcing a smile that didn't feel real “Don't. Don't apologize in the least bit. Yu did the right thing, she had found us anyway and you had to protect yourself. Besides- Sweetheart-” he shook his head “Damn. I should be sorry. I got you into this mess, I-” when he looked back up at you again you noticed how his eyes were red-rimmed and how there was a characteristic shadow underneath them “Damn it (Y/n), you could be dead by now because of me. I- I was stupid and I was reckless and an idiot for hiding all those things from you but I was so scared you'd never forgive me and I didn't know how I could live with that. But then I realized how if anything happened to you, I wouldn't be able to live at all and so I-”

“Alright, that's enough.” you said as firmly as you could “Let me stop you right there.” you coughed so you had to pause for a couple seconds “Yes, you are an asshole and a brainless one at that, I get it. To sum up what you said.” it earned a soft although pained chuckle from him “But truth is... I fell in love with you like this. And I can't do anything to change it... nor do I want to. I've been hurting too but it can't compare to the pain I'd feel if I lost you for good.”

“You'd never lose me. Never.” he squeezed your hand before bringing it up to his lips and kissed your knuckles “Which really sucks for you because you're stuck with me for life more than it sucked for-” but he stopped himself before he could complete his sentence. He didn't know if he should even say her name after everything that happened.

You took a sharp breath in, hesitating only for a second before speaking this time in the most clear and steady voice “You shot her.” and it was no question. It was a statement that the both of you could read a thousand things into.

Dean held your gaze before finally nodding his head “I did. And it has never been easier than in that moment. It has never been easier to be in that place, the exact same place it all stated and it all happened, that it all evolved and changed inside me... the place I lost myself, I could almost say. It has never been easier because as surprising as this may sound, it felt like I found myself in that place again thanks to you though. It was easy to speak, to act, to be again even if she was there and it was all because of you. There wasn't even a choice to make, I would never hurt you (Y/n). Protecting you is all that I could ever do and I hate that I made you doubt it even for a second. (Y/n), I-” this time he took a deep breath and stilled himself, saying with all of his honesty “I love you.” he held your gaze firmly for a couple seconds just so that he could make sure you believed him.

“I-” he gave you an almost laugh, looking down a bit shyly “I love you and, again, despite my biggest fears and despite my hesitation you prove to me that saying those words isn't hard. That looking at you and saying what I haven't told another woman besides my mother is... so much easier than I ever even imagined. Guess I'll just keep on learning new things now huh? It feels like I'm a whole new person, even- even breathing feels different... it feels more real and it feels like-” he stopped himself, running his fingers through his hair “Are you going to say something or just let me keep going here like the love-struck fool that I am for you?”

“Eh might let you ramble a bit more. You're adorable to be honest.” you grinned, coughing when you made the mistake to say the words verbally before you continued onto mouthing “Besides, I clearly remember. You pretty much said it in front of the serial killer which was kinda awesome and hot at the same time.”

He squinted a bit as he tried to make out what you were saying before in the end he got it and let out a laugh “Glad that's what you're going to remember and not the fact that you nearly died.”

“Well, I do remember that you also promised me a date. Which you definitely did.” you told him, giving him a look that made him grin before leaning down to kiss the back of your hands again.

“I definitely did, yes.” he whispered “Anything for my girl.”

“And... what about her?” this time you had to ask out loud, although still a very hoarse whisper.

He took in a deep breath and straightened his back “Chuck is going to take care of the issue. A whole prison just for her this time which... will accommodate him too.” his words made your eyebrows raise in surprise “Not exactly what you think. See, the thing was that all Amara wanted was her brother and it was his apology. Which in all honesty he owes to you too.” he ignored you shaking your head “He does! But that doesn't mean I'm letting the asshole near you anytime soon. Anyway, special forces rushed in only seconds after you blacked out, thankfully there was an available helicopter that got us to this hospital before you could get worse.” he squeezed your fingers “But something happened and I'm still struggling to believe it. Now that she's back in prison, a more secure one, she's different. She's much more different thanwhat we were used to. I haven't seen her personally but Cas accompanied Chuck during his third visit to her and she seemed almost...”

“Almost?”

“Human.” the word made you both frown “She had many more emotions that I even thought she was capable of and she let them show. She- (Y/n), she sends her apologies to you. She said all she wanted was her family back, Chuck, a-and his apology. She thought revenge on him was what she was looking for but it made her feel more empty. Him visiting her more, speaking with her and apologizing has changed her. Or so Cas says. And as for me? Maybe a way to fill that emptiness. Whatever the case-” he sighed with a shake of his head “She is somewhere where she won't harm you ever again. Far and I mean it very far away from here. And all of it- It's over now.”

“Over?” there was something about saying the word, even in a weak hoarse whisper that you felt and needed to feel. Dean smiled, kissing your palm and nodding his head.

“It's over, yes. You're safe.”

“So that means I get to go back to my ordinary life after I'm out of here?”

“Yes, yes you get to. As if nothing ever happened... Well, if you exclude me.”

“Are you saying you want to be a part of my life detective?” you smirked, raising an eyebrow and he let a breathless laugh out.

“If you will take me as an addition, yes. Yes, I'd love that.” he gave you a caring look before you saw nervousness flash through his eyes before he asked slowly “You do, right?”

“Why, I thought I'd have to commit a murder and see you again, judging by how busy your schedule usually is, so you bet, detective.”

“Then I'm all yours this time.”

~~~

A/N: I’m not crying, I promise I’m not crying... it’s raining on my face T.T I’ll probably remember this series forever as I hope you do. Hope you enjoyed it!

@getlostinthedark @cap-just-said-language @catwithyellowwings @word-scribbless @carryon-doctor-lock @nightriver99 @timelady1140 @spideyxstan @cookiechipdough @alltimekp @a-dorky-book-keeper @givemebooksorgivemedeath @skeletoresinthebasement @sammy201d @akshi8278 @amandamdiehl @hobby27 @deans-baby-momma @musiclover1263 @feelmyroarrrr @sofreddie @skymoonandstardust @babygabrielle-blog @woodworthti666 @gunpowder-and-smoke-inofficial @erule @lizwinchester16 @itslunabitches @itsquies @justkending @fiftyshadesofrebel @love-my-not-natural-babies @outsider-underwater @kaylinfayezink @x-waywardaf-x @keshaia @moonlight-on-her-skin @happy-little-winchester

#supernatural #supernatural imagine #supernatural fanficiton #supernatural one shot #supernatural x reader #dean #dean winchester #dean x reader #dean winchester x reader #dean imagine #dean winchester imagine #dean fanfiction #dean winchester fanfiction #dean one shot #dean winchester one shot

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vydante · 5 years ago

Text

Restart | Avengers x Male! Reader | 9

Fandom: Marvel

Pairing: Avengers x Male! Reader (romantically: multiple)

Plot: Dr. Strange said there was only one possibility of winning the battle against Thanos.

But when (Name) is forced into the past and into his younger body, he’s suddenly given the chance to start over and prevent the future from happening again.

So which route are you going to take? Are you going to risk the future and take preventative measures, or live life with the Avengers for the next 4 years, knowing what will soon come?

A/N: Long- 5.29k words. Lmao did y’all miss me? Also, completely in POV of future timeline, so no actual (Name) ‘till next chapter. Granted, next chapter we get to meet someone pretty chill, so there’s that. So... yah.

It's safe to say that it's been a complete shit storm on Earth, Carol muses behind her cup of coffee.

Of course, it's not just Earth that's undergoing complete mass hysteria from the reversed blip. Other planets and societies beyond the Terran solar system were facing the after-effects of what had happened, too- and it doesn't help that Earth was so cut off from the intergalactic systems, so nearly everyone else didn't know of what had happened.

So least to say, she was quite busy trying to maneuver her way through the galaxies (with help, of course) to try and spread the word of what had happened.

Regardless though, she'd thought that after weeks and weeks, perhaps maybe the news would've slowed down a little bit. And it seemed to have, just a little bit, but for every time news slows, another wave comes in.

The first wave was about, obviously, the reversed blip. Of course, that one didn't have enough time to slow down as the next wave came around. The death of Tony Stark was announced a week after the fight- just so his family and friends had enough time to mourn in privacy. Then the next one about the sacrifice Natasha Romanoff made- though it was a smaller wave, it was one that still had a huge impact. And for a while, it seemed like that was that- weeks pass, and just barely had the craze around the reverse blip (Lord, there's got to be another name for this, Carol thinks) lessened.

And then (Name) Stark is pronounced dead.

To say the headlines erupted once again in a mad-dog-like frenzy would be an understatement. Hell- Carol would even dare say that it was almost as talked about as his father's death. Of course, it was in part due to, well, (Name) fucking Stark being pronounced dead. A man of his status was bound to capture the headlines with his passing for weeks, just like his old man.

But it was also in part credited to something else: the timing and nature of his death, or lack thereof.

Carol remembers watching the SI press conference a couple of hours ago, just as it finished broadcasting. She was a few light-years away from Earth as she heads back for check-in.

(New message, 3 hours ago: Maria R.

'Hey, I think you might wanna watch this before you come back to Earth. Just broadcasted. It's about (Name) Stark.'

Carol pauses, midway through drying her hair as she's about to put her uniform on. She'd be lying if curiosity wasn't eating at her, so she still clicks on the link Maria had sent her.)

(Name) was... A prominent figure within Earth's society. Being the CEO of Stark Industries (a massive company, so she's been told), a superhero/ Avenger, and the world's 'longest-running most eligible bachelor' (Carol scoffs- why is that one of the main things the public likes to point out so much?) definitely lands you underneath the people's microscope more often than not.

They'd pick at every nitty-gritty detail one by one and shred into it without mercy.

And even in his death, they did the same thing. Unsatisfied, they practically crucified Stark Industries and the Avengers after SI’s press conference.

She glances around her, the local tavern loud with nothing but one word on their lips: Stark.

'Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he died from like, an inside job or something.'

'Died too young, man. The kid had so much potential to be great... May God rest his soul.'

Carol shakes her head. They weren’t wrong- from what she’s seen working with (Name), he was a hard worker, that’s for sure. Sighing, she left a tip at her table and quietly left.

Hopefully, for Earth, they’ll come to find some peace soon.

"You okay, punk?”

'No,' Steve fiddles with nail absentmindedly, 'I'm not.'

That's his honest answer to the question. He wants to scream and shout to the world that no, he is not okay whatsoever, but he knows that's one of the many luxuries he'll never get to have anymore- even to the people closest to him. Too much of a burden no one would want to carry.

So, instead, he smiles at Bucky with more teeth than necessary, face straining ever so slightly.

"Sure thing, Buck'. Are you?"

The brunette offers him a small, sympathetic smile back. It's not the same as Steve had remembered- it used to be confident and relaxed, but nowadays it's always tense and careful. But then again, it wasn't like Steve was the same man either, so he'd be hypocritical to expect the same man from his memories from his old pal.

"I'm managing."

It was always something along the lines of that. Never an okay, never a not okay. Just... managing. Short and simple.

It's scary how much Bucky's reserved presence reminds him of how Steve himself used to be, back when he was wide-eyed and naive to what the world has become without him. He didn't really feel like he was actually there and knowing how separated he and the rest of the world were made him want to close in on himself.

On one hand, he'd never wish that feeling of emptiness on anyone. But on the other hand, he's almost relieved he's not the only one who's felt so completely alone in this world anymore.

Almost.

Steve doesn't say anything as Bucky comes over to where he was in the living room and sits adjacent to him on the couch. For a brief moment, they say nothing as the TV plays the news station. Steve pretends to watch the news, but he can't find the energy to care about what's going on in the news. It's all the same thing nowadays: Blip, Blip, Avengers, Blip, Starks...

Settling down in his seat, he lets his mind drifts off other places instead.

It drifts to a cramped, moldy apartment that was too small and cold for the average person, but just enough for him.

It drifts to an ugly tower, placed right at the epicenter of one of the most beautiful yet terrifying cities he's ever been in. Charming, and in every way a wonderful representation of the future.

It drifts to the loud yet comforting hum of the inside of the quinjet, sailing ever so smoothly into the night sky after a successful mission. Bruised, but satisfied.

It drifts to a sly redhead with one too many daggers slipped around her person, sitting next to a tired brunette wrapped up in blankets. Deadly, yet delicate. Open, yet intimate.

It drifts to a mystical long-haired blonde and an erratic billionaire, sitting together and joking about as if they hadn't just fought neo-nazis no less than an hour ago. He remembers a rush of fondness glossing over him as he passively observes them.

It drifts to a pair of warm, mirth filled eyes as they listen attentively to Steve ramble on and on about the war as if he had hung the moon. He relishes in the spotlight of their monopolized attention.

It drifts to the nights where life's not as unbearable as it usually is, as he sits across from a usually aggressive young adult quietly chatting about books they've read together: their own secret club. Warm, he reconsiders, comfortable. Content.

It drifts to quiet nights where he tries to focus on the ceiling rather than the erratic beats of his heart, images of his own teammate grinning tiredly at him, lips bruised, split, and inviting. Guilt courses through his veins, but so does heat.

Steve's mind drifts through lots of things before Bucky murmurs into the air nonchalantly.

"It's about Stark, isn't? The son?"

Steve holds back a flinch, praying that Bucky doesn't notice the red crawling up his neck. He wouldn't have been embarrassed if Bucky had meant Tony- of course, Steve misses him dearly- but for Bucky to go straight to you instead is mildly humiliating, to say the least. He can feel Bucky's eyes burning holes into his skull. It'd be no use trying to deny it, so Steve conceded with a reluctant nod.

"That obvious?"

"It's written all over your face."

Steve doesn't offer to say more, so Bucky continues, quieter this time.

"He seemed like a great kid."

Steve huffs with a small amused smile. He thinks back to when you two spent Valentine's Day together- not as a couple, obviously, but you claimed that the two loners on the Avengers team should have each other's backs. He chuckles absentmindedly. You two did nothing but watch movies and critique them all night.

Granted, it was more one-sided as he spent the whole night listening to you go on and on about how objectively, the Hunger Games books were far better than the movies, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. It was nice to hear you talk, especially when it's about something so trivial but important to you.

"One of the best," Steve half-heartedly offers.

"Tell me 'bout him." Bucky isn't looking at the TV anymore as his eyes are trained on Steve's.

Steve shrugs with a sigh.

"What more can I say that hasn't been said already?"

Ever since the SI press conference, countless of people came out to say great things about you, as they did with Tony. Countless of people praised you, especially with your efforts to help society get back on their feet ever since the blip. Even random people gave their one anecdote with you, whether it be a barista that had served you or folks at Morgan's daycare center whenever you picked her up.

Nothing but words of praises and kindness for you.

Bucky hums, understanding what he means. It wasn't like he hadn't looked at the news as of recently, either. For every 10 headlines that are published, chances are 9 of them have at least one mention of a Stark, whether it be the senior or junior.

They sat in silence once more, something Steve noted as a reoccurring theme between them. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it did make Steve's skin crawl, hoping for the other to say something just once.

"... You were sweet on him, aren't you?"

Though, maybe this was the one time he wished Bucky would've just stayed silent.

It would be horrifying to hear someone accuse him of being in love with his own (ex-) teammate if he hadn't already come to terms with it. Still, it's unnerving to hear someone pinpoint his feelings within a matter of a week or two when it had taken him up until it was too late to figure it out.

"Did it matter?" Steve runs a hand through his hair, almost as if it were a defense mechanism, but he insists it's not, "It's not like he was interested in me, anyways... Not especially after..."

Steve laughs quietly, almost bitterly so. If he thought he had any chance with you before, he sure as hell threw that chance straight in the garbage the moment he locked eyes with you at the airport. And it sure as hell didn't help when he had practically rag-tag teamed up against your own dad.

"Besides... He's a man of the future, Buck. He's so... so bright compared to everyone else. I can't- I don't have much to offer. I'm just- all I'm good for is fighting."

He sighs, and he'll deny it if anyone comments on how resigned it sounded.

"Not to mention, there're other people that he'd be happier with. People that wouldn't- wouldn't hurt him," 'Like you did,' his subconscious bitterly reminds him. And he wasn't wrong- there were other people you could be wonderful with.

You and Queens already had some chemistry, from what Steve's heard in the air. There was never anything substantial, but he'd pass by a few newspapers mentioning you and Spider-Man spotted together more often than not. You two would've been cute, Steve reluctantly admits. He wouldn't even be surprised if you two were dating.

Then there were a few others, too. Surprisingly enough, he saw you and King T'Challa, of all people, together too often in the New York Times, and even Wakanda's own news websites. His Highness' explained it was only ever about the Accords, but Steve wasn't so blind as to not notice how much more genuine T'Challa's smile seemed when you were brought into the conversation.

There was also Thor, too. You stopped talking to the rest of the Avengers save a select few after the initial blip in 2018, so there wasn't any new thing between you and Thor, but Steve reminisces when he'd catch you joking around with Thor and teasing the poor God. If not lovers, you two were most definitely good friends. Steve hates the fact that he's exceptionally happy at the prospect of you and Thor being just friends.

Not to mention the other seemingly boundless amount of people who you'd make a great couple with. Maybe it was just Steve being excessively attentive when it came to you, or maybe it was because everyone's eyes just seemingly happen to gravitate to you, no matter if there's hundreds of people in the room at the same time.

Bucky sighs and mutes the TV. Steve gives him a questioning look, but Bucky only raises an eyebrow back as he looks at him straight on.

"Those just sound like excuses. Never took you for a coward."

Steve bristles.

He'll admit that he's a lot of things. Frustrating, thick-headed, and quick to anger. And knowing other people, they have a whole list to add on to those too, whether it be positive or negative. But one thing he's never been was a coward.

"I'm not- look, I just know a lost fight when I see one, okay? He just- wasn't interested in me, and that's fine. Hell- he's probably not even into men."

Steve's mind lingers back to a picture lying in your old room, back when he used to come visit you just to say goodnight, or to ask you to join him in his morning jog. He never brought up the picture, rationalizing that it was too invasive of a question. You were with a girl- both of you seemed quite young- but it was obvious that you two were more than friends judging by the way you held her and the very obvious hickey on your neck.

His ears burn, and he's not sure if it's with embarrassment or envy.

"But you don't know that, though, do you? You ever asked him any of that? If he was into fellas? If he was into you?'"

Steve tears his eyes away from Bucky's stare, feeling his eyes burn into his skull.

Sure, he never asked you outright anything Bucky had mentioned, that much was obvious. And sure, even entertaining the (pleasant) idea that you were into men, it didn't take a genius to guess that you absolutely loathed Captain America. It was obvious, too. Especially ever since the 'scandal' of you deleting any tweets or photos you had uploaded that Steve was in.

(Of course, you deleted any photos the Rogue Avengers were in, but that didn't make the stinging hurt any less when Steve had found out.)

Bucky sighs and turns the sound back on. There was a tension in the air between them, but Bucky beat Steve from saying something as he speaks up.

"And the whole thing 'bout you knowing a lost fight when you see one?"

Steve raised an eyebrow. Bucky half-smirks.

"Not the Steve Rogers I know."

He gently punches Steve's shoulder and ruffles his hair, much to Steve's amused annoyance.

"The Steve Rogers I know would've charged headfirst into a battle, even if it was just him against the world. Oh wait- you already tried doing that."

Steve rolls his eyes and playfully shoves Bucky. The amount of razzing he had gotten from Bucky- and others, too, like Sam and Bruce (his heart curls, knowing that Natasha would've been among them as well, telling Steve off for trying to pull a 'bull-headed' move)- was more than enough for Steve to feel bad anymore at this point.

"Shut it." Steve jests.

They fall into a comfortable silence again, though this time Bucky turns back on the TV to a low volume. Steve glances at Bucky, who's got his chin rested absentmindedly on his hand.

"You know... You're taking this awfully well."

Bucky pauses, peering at Steve with a raised eyebrow.

"Taking what?"

"Me bein'," Steve pauses, trying to find the right words before giving up, "Er, into ladies and fellas."

Bucky doesn't say anything for a solid minute, and before Steve was about to start rambling, trying to just get Bucky to say anything, the brunette speaks up, but timidly so.

"It's... not somethin' I ever thought about, y'know? You bein'- bein' into guys, I mean."

He sighs and runs a hand through his shaggy hair. He keeps his eyes glued onto the TV with a soft gaze, so distant that Steve wants to know what he's really thinking about.

"We just... Never talked about it. Never... Never gave it a thought. I'd be lying if I said I was 100%, er, up to speed with it."

Bucky pauses mid-sentence. He waves his hands and flickers his attention to Steve for just a split second, almost as if he's nervous about what he's saying.

"Not the bein' gay thing, or whatever. Just... How open people nowadays are with that stuff."

Steve unclenches his jaw, not even realizing it had been clenched this whole time. It wasn't something that Steve had thought would be new to Bucky, and he almost feels dumb for not realizing it sooner. Hell, even when Steve himself had been defrosted, it shocked him that something as gay relationships were accepted now. Not that he was against it- but to see that the world had progressed like that without him made him hurt less whenever he thought too hard about the old times.

"Oh, Buck..."

Steve places an encouraging hand on Bucky's shoulders, and he almost seems to sag into it.

"Back then, you'd practically be crucified if you were caught."

Bucky's eyes are unfocused, lips pressed in a firm line. Steve doesn't say anything since he doesn't even know what to say to that.

Bucky, seemingly haven snapped out of it, smiles; though, it looks more like a grimace in Steve's opinion.

"Just- give me some time, 'kay? I'll come round sooner or later. Just... It's all still a lot, even after years of bein' here..."

'To the 21st century,' the words lingered on his tongue. Steve sure knows how that feels, to be overwhelmed by the new world. It's almost suffocating, knowing how much you've missed out on, and how different everything is now. It's like drowning, really.

Surrounded by so much, too much, and at one point it even feels like Steve's being dragged down further and further away from the surface no matter how much he tries swimming up. There's no one there to save him, either. No one to dive their hand down into the waters, no one to hold onto as they pull him back up to the surface.

It's just Steve, alone, in a bottomless ocean, drowning. And it's constantly filling up and up and up and God all Steve just wants to do is get away from there and be able to breathe.

Steve pats his shoulders, pulling him in for a side-hug as Bucky returns the gesture. He playfully ruffles the blonde's hair, much to Steve's annoyance, and gives him a lopsided smile that makes the tension in Steve's shoulder loosen.

"B'sides, you're still my Stevie. Not like you've sprouted horns and started killin' people."

Steve rolls his eyes but doesn't comment on that. Once again, they fall into a comfortable silence, though Steve's shoulders feel unexplainably lighter than it has in days.

The sun's almost gone by the time Steve gets home from the group therapy session he was at. It was the same old, same old. Go in, talk about your feelings, and listen to other people afterward. Sure, it helped, and it felt great to empower people to get back up from a great fall, but it just...

It doesn't really fulfill him nowadays.

Hell, he's not sure what can fulfill him now.

Settling in, he notes that Bucky's room is dark; chances are, he's probably out right now. Before, Steve used to be worried about him, but now it's not uncommon for Bucky to be gone every now and then. Steve doesn't really ask where he's going, so long as Bucky doesn't tell him. One day, maybe he'll ask.

Regardless though, Steve rummages around in the fridge to see what he has to work with in terms of dinner. But before he could even take out anything, his phone buzzes with a notification.

Taking out his phone, still halfway into the fridge, Steve glances at the display name.

It's from Rhodes.

Raising an eyebrow, he taps on the notification. It's rare that Rhodey texts, and it's even rarer for him to text Steve of all people. Nowadays, other than any Avenging business, they don't really talk. Granted, Steve also never finds the energy to talk to anyone these days, save a select few and those at the group therapy sessions, but that's beside the point.

So if Rhodey is texting him, it's gotta be important.

And judging by how fast Steve had bolted out the door and onto his motorcycle, it sure as hell was important.

From: Col. James Rhodes.

To: Capt. Steve Rogers, Dr. Bruce Banner, +3 others.

"Dr. Strange's back. He has new information about (Name), and it's major. He's not staying for long. - James."

Pepper doesn't want to be here.

There was no going around it- as composed as she was and had to be, she knew she could only take so much before she would snap. And sitting in the compound once again, she wouldn't be surprised if what she was about to hear would be the final straw.

She had plans today, too. She was supposed to take Morgan to go see the neighborhood fireworks festival, and she remembers distinctly looking forward to taking Morgan on the ferry-go-round, too. And yet, here she is, at the compound which once used to be lively, but only whispers of her husband and son echo in the hallways.

She had already been sitting in here for an hour before Steve had finally made it. By then, Bruce and Strange had already explained why they were here.

Just like Tony and Natasha, it seemed like your fate had already been set in stone the moment Stephen had spared the time stone for Tony's life.

But that wasn't what they were called in here for; or at least, in a way that Pepper had initially thought.

Bruce was talking, and as if he was concluding his monologue, he spares a sympathetic glance at everyone in the room, especially at Pepper. She just wishes he'd stop throwing glances at her as if she was a fine piece of China ready to tip over from the cupboard at any moment now (She knows she almost is, but she'd rather be caught dead than to have an emotional breakdown at a time like this. What was it- Stark men are made of iron?)

"And besides... We've retrieved video recording of what happened that day. From DAHLIA."

The only thing in her vision is red. But she doesn't raise her voice. ('Am I going to have to watch it?' She thinks) She doesn't move from her spot as she stares at Bruce, eyes dilated ('Yes, of course, you want to know what happened,' her subconscious betrays her). Her ears are pounding and she doesn't know whether she wants to laugh or cry.

"And why did it take you so long to get the recording?"

She watches like a hawk as Bruce and Stephen grimace. They glance at each other with uncertainty, but it's Bruce who bites the bullet and speaks up.

"Because, ah... We didn't think about it...?"

Suddenly, all she wants to do is scream. Lifting a shaking hand to her head as there's now a pounding at her skull, she clenches her eyes shut.

Breathe in, breathe out.

She opens her eyes and boy, does she hate the way that everyone's avoiding her gaze. Even the ever so elusive Sorceror Supreme (In her head, she knows he's not at fault. In her heart, she wants to spit on his name.) pretends to be busy, but she knows.

She knows.

She sighs, ignoring the tremble of her lips, and dismissively waves her hand at Bruce.

"Just play it. Please."

Bruce silently nods and pulls up a recording. It's dated back to the day of the reversed blip, a quarter past afternoon.

Pepper crosses her arm, praying that no one sees her hands quake as the recording starts.

It's dark and decrepit, with a good portion of the screen glitching out. There are charts and tables everywhere, and Pepper now recognizes them as his health stats. The walls all blur together as she tries to bite back the tears.

There's rubble everywhere. In the distance are lights from fires, but you're so far down there's barely any light at all. Your face isn't in view, and rather what she sees makes her heartache even worse than before.

A gleam of metal jutting out of your stomach is front and center of the camera. It's huge- about the width of her thigh- and it's stained red. Your breathing is labored and short, obvious signs of a panic attack as the sounds of you gasping echo in the room. No one says a thing as an Australian voice speaks up in a frantic.

"Doll! Doll, I need you to breathe! You're going into shock!"

There's no response from you as you continue to hyperventilate. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees Steve's jaw clench and Bruce covering his mouth. She doesn't react to Rhodey's hand squeezing her shoulder as they all watch on.

There's a weird sound coming out of you. Pepper's heart clenches, and at this point, she doesn't even care that she's crying now- because she knows what that sound is.

That's the sound of you hiccuping.

You're crying.

You- one of the strongest men she knows, an Avenger, a hero, her baby- are crying, alone, and she was none the wiser to your suffering.

You're moving- oh God, your arm- and the video feed pick up scuttering and growling. Her stomach drops even further. Chitauri.

Your other arm grasps all over your lower body, barely gliding past your wounds (oh God, please tell her that's not a steel beam) and into your pockets. There's an orange tint, barely there, but in your hands as DAHLIA speaks up again.

"Don't move! You've been impaled by a steel beam and your prosthetic arm has been dislocated- any more movement will result in an increased blood loss! I am attempting to contact Mister-"

There's the sound of glass shattering before the video camera shuts off. The charts suddenly spike unnaturally, going practically haywire as the only thing left coming from the screen is the sound of DAHLIA's voice glitching.

"-er-er-er!"

It was a horrific way to go if Stephen's being honest.

Of course, as both a doctor and Sorcerer Supreme, he's seen- and even experienced- his fair share of gruesome injuries and deaths. It was par the course, so it wasn't enough to make him want to empty his guts.

But he'd be lying if he said that he didn't at least feel his stomach curl in when he had to witness your 'death' the first few times.

Seeing you crushed under debris, your prosthetic arm hanging by a few strings, and literally impaled by a steel beam wasn't a pleasant sight whatsoever. Add on watching your scared form hyperventilating and hearing your A.I. trying to calm you down with heartbreakingly real panic in her voice, and it was downright unbearable.

And that was the best of it: there were ones where the steel beam had sliced through your skull or where you had been straight up mauled by the Chitauri as you didn't have your suit on hand, for whatever reason. There were other scenarios where the chitauri had mobbed-up your decapitated head, and Thanos had presented it to the older Stark, just as he was about to grab the stones. That one move proved fatal for everyone, as even Stark had lost his composure at the sight of his dead son.

As much as Stephen doesn't want to say it, he knew that what had actually happened to you was the best possible route that had been chosen for you.

The video ends, and the Captain leans away from the wall he was positioned on.

"What the hell happened? One moment- he was trapped under rubble, the next, nothing? Suddenly we lose all contact with him? What- did he just- pop out of existence?"

He's frustrated, angry. Stephen would be lying if he didn't feel an inkling of the same emotions as him. Stephen runs a shaky hand through his hair.

"You're not entirely wrong, Captain. What happened to him was similar to that of St- Tony," He corrects himself prematurely, "and Romanoff."

"You telling me he was meant to- to die too? Like Tony and Natasha?"

Stephen shakes his head, ignoring the seething anger in the captain's voice. In the corner of his eyes, he sees Rhodes wrap his arms around Pepper, who's sat still in her chair, staring blankly at Stephen. It's almost as if she's seeing past him for a split second as if she's looking at someone else behind him.

There's only a wall next to him. He ignores her, skin prickling at her unwavering attention, yet eery silence.

"It's a means to an end. I can't pick their fates, Captain. That's not how my powers work."

'Though, it would've been better for the sake of everyone had it did work that way.' Stephen bitterly remarks.

"Besides that, I never said he's dead, Captain. Or, shouldn't be, anyway." Stephen carefully avoided answering if it was a necessity that you were to go.

Stephen internally sighs, knowing immediately that wasn't the right thing to say judging by the 'oh God' Pepper just muttered.

Rhodes speaks up with a clenched jaw. He had been silent this whole time, but Stephen wasn't foolish enough to not recognize how even he had been bothered by the film. Whether it was because of the gore, emotional connection, or both, Stephen doesn't care enough to ask.

"Then what exactly are you saying?"

Stephen, once again, ignores how confrontational his tone is. He doesn't blame Rhodes for his frustrations; being a doctor, it's inevitable that he'd come and get used to people like this.

'They're mourning,' he hears imaginary Christine chiding him.

Stephen sighs. He's not even sure how to break it all to them, as even he's not too sure of what has become of you after the film. But regardless, Stephen reels himself back in and composes himself.

He pulls back the need to add any fluff words and says what he's been inching to say ever since he had attended Tony's funeral.

"Stark's traveled back in time; the only problem is, is that we don't know when and where."

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Tagged: @unsolvetheheckoutofit

#avengers #avengers x male reader #avengers x reader #male reader #male reader insert #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x male reader #male!reader #stephen strange x male reader #bucky barnes x male reader #carol danvers #pepper potts #james rhodes #rhodey #bruce banner

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who-is-olivia · 5 years ago

Text

Track 10. From the Dining Table

Harry Styles x OC

Harry struggles with loneliness after Olivia refuses to answer his calls. [2.4k]

Genre: angst

Warnings: substance abuse, sexual language

December 2016

He calls her one more time. It beeps, beeps, beeps and it ends up on mail. It must be the tenth message he sends but he does so anyway.

“Hey love, it’s me again. We haven’t spoke since you went away and I hate this silence, if you don’t want to talk to me can I at least know why?” he begs to the cold phone, hunching over his knees with a hand holding back his hair. “I know I was an asshole, I’m so so sorry, but I want to talk. Can you please call me? Even if it’s just to shout at me and call me names? I love you”

He wipes the corners of his eyes, not in shame, just to avoid his mates asking what’s going on. Harry leaves the waiting room and walks in the studio where Ryan and Mitch are tweaking his recording of Two Ghosts. The album is almost done, they only miss a couple more songs to close the set. As he sits beside Mitch, he notices his friend’s worried gaze as if he could hear his failed attempts through the acoustic protection.

“Nothing?” he asks.

“Just silence” Harry sighs and Mitch pats his leg in comfort.

“Why don’t you go to New York?”

“I don’t know if she’s there, she could be with her grandma in New Orleans or Rio, she could be in London, I wouldn’t know”

“She’s not answering my texts either” Mitch replies. It’s as if, overnight, Olivia vanished from the face of the Earth. “Not even Frank”

He leaves the studio late and walks back to his hotel. A few fans stop him on the way, he’s not on the mood to be his usual cheerful self but he still obliges when they ask for pictures. One of them has a t-shirt with her album cover, when he looks up he’s almost speechless.

“You okay?” she asks, a mix of elation and awkwardness.

“Yeah, you just... remind me of someone”

“Olivia, right? I get that a lot” she laughs, “There was a time I copied her braids, people stopped me in the streets for pictures”

This time, he chuckles as well. Oli loves taking pictures, it appeals so much to her vanity it’s exhausting. She’s not a very sympathetic person when it comes to interacting with strangers, but she always made her fans an exception. “That’s crazy”

“Can you send her a picture of me? I’m a huge fan”

At her request his weak smile falters. He’d love to send her a picture but she won’t notice it, she won’t reply, she won’t care. “Of course”

He politely takes a picture with her and pretends to send it to Oli. “Thank you so much”

“Do you live nearby?”

“No, I’m staying at the Hilton, I’m actually from Mexico”

“So am I! I mean, staying at the Hilton, I’m quite British” she laughs at his clumsy excuse, “Do you want me to walk you back, maybe get a few drinks?”

“Sure!”

He tried to forget her, he tried to drown away his sorrow and sleep with someone else to fix the problem but he failed pitifully. His drunken haziness only caused him to sob over someone, and looking at her likeness made it even worse. He wasn’t struggling for the lack of sex, that’d be easy to fix, he misses her entirely, body and soul. He misses her company, her weird insights, her particular taste for rom-coms and the strange foods she smuggles from her hometown. He misses her touch, the texture of her collarbones and the way her hair smells in the morning, he misses the stargazing and the way her eyes shine like a dark sky with a single star...

When he wakes up the morning after, her twin fan is sleeping on his bed while he gets up from the couch. She’s dressed from head to toe, only her shoes are stored nicely in a corner. By the time, he’s already missed a fine amount of working hours in the studio. A text from Mitch begs him to stay at the hotel and try to work himself out, better than sniffle over his shoulder while he tries to work. He works his dizzy way to the bed and pokes the young woman.

“Oli... I-I mean...” he steps away, trying to recover her name somewhere in his drunken mind. “Luna?”

“Hm?” she rubs her eyes open.

“Hey” he strokes her arm clumsily, “Morning. I might need to leave in a few minutes, you’re a guest here right?”

“Oh, yes” she gets up in a stretch. “I’m so sorry”

“It’s alright, thank you for last night”

“It was nothing” she recalls him laying on her lap bawling his eyes out as she tries to comfort him the best she can. “I hope you figure yourself out��

“Thank you” he pulls her in for a friendly hug and walks her to the door.

Now that he’s alone, he takes his phone again to no avail. She won’t answer, she won’t even listen to his voicemail. He then googles her name to search for recent news, the most recent one is about Frank’s new affair and his sister’s approval, the last one indicating her location is three months old, when she joined him in Jamaica. He checks her social media, Frank’s, all her former bandmate’s but when he least expects it, he finds a clue.

Her friend Matty, who he hasn’t seen in months, posted a photo wearing one of Harry’s old t-shirts, a white one he wore to a Burberry fashion show. Without a second thought, he reaches out.

“‘ello? Who’s this?”

“Hey, it’s Harry, Harry Styles” he immediately regrets the call. It is a stupid idea, he shouldn’t be intruding.

“Oh, hey! Sorry, didn’t recognize your voice”

“I’m sorry... listen chap, I need to ask you something and you might find it weird but when was the last time you saw Olivia?”

He ponders for a moment, “She came by when her tour began last year, but we haven’t talked much ever since” Harry sighs in defeat, “But I saw Frank last weekend when I was in LA”

“Weird, I just saw a picture of you with a shirt just like mine-“

“It probably is, I got it from Frank” he shuts his eyes in realization. Of course, Frank is like a damn vampire, only he takes his peer’s clothes. “He stole a shirt from me, thought I’d do the same to him”

“Did he mention anything about Oli at all?”

“No, she said she’s just fine... but he was weird about it, I could tell” Matty confesses, always prizing his truthfulness.

“I see... cheers mate, sorry for the weird questions”

“No problem, let me know if you need anything”

Another finished phone call, another silence. He hates the silence, all that’s left in silence are his troubled thoughts. Slowly he falls back to sleep thinking about her, dreaming of their home in New York, Oli waking up early to water the plants as he played the guitar in the garden, making dinner together, napping together at their studio’s couch after a long day of work. He wakes up a bit lost and finds his writing journal few inches away from a pool of wine he accidentally spilled last night. He hoisters the journal carefully but lets something fall in that puddle: a map.

“No, no no no” he picks it up and runs to the bathroom pressing the white towels against the paper. He unfolds the thing and stares in slight relief as the whole thing wasn’t too affected. That map of New York has so many precious memories recorded on it, her handwriting is all over the place. He finds the spot east of Central Park where she marked with a circle and wrote ‘home’.

He wants to go home, he wants to relive their good moments and make new ones. Every piece of poetry in that book somehow reminds him of her. There’s the one describing how he felt after their vacation in Rio, when he got to see her interacting with the place she grew up on. She was so fulfilled, so joyful... He had then rented a penthouse across the street from the beach where they could see the whole coastline. They’d wake up in bliss, make love all morning and spend hours just on pillow talk. Then he’d take her to the sea and hold her legs around his waist, leaning to kiss her between the waves, her touch light on him. He called the poem “Waves in Her Eyes”, he never felt like making it a song, just a good reverie.

One of his favorites, “Spotlight”, is about watching her perform. She feels so in sync with her music, it’s like she’s possessed by it. He always idealized her when he saw her onstage, after all she looked other-worldly beautiful, but coming off stage that side of her disappeared and she was just Oli: playful, simple, charming Oli. He remembers watching her practice when she’d spend the weekends in his flat in London, one earpod giving her the playback as he could only hear her powerful low-pitched voice roaring the melodies.

He dozes off quite often, waking up randomly to read another poem, drink some wine and doze off again. When it’s noon, he picks up the phone to no messages of her.

“Hey Oli, it’s me again. This is getting old, but I just want to talk to you... You’re so fucking complicated, ay? Why won’t you ever say what you wanna say?” he spits bitterly but immediately regrets it. “Sorry, in your defense, that side of you never stopped me from loving you. I do it almost like breathing. But now... I know I’ve fucked up, but so did you. I’ll never give up on us but I’m tired of apologizing to silence, maybe one day you’ll call me and tell me that you’re sorry too... who am I kidding, you never do, do you?”

He loses track of the days he’s spent in the hotel room. One evening, Mitch comes around with his guitar to play something he’s working on but Harry barely clocks in.

“This is a bunch of shit” Mitch groans, looking around the place.

“Sorry mate, I’m not really in the mood for it”

“By the looks of it, your mood is only self-pity and wine. I could agree with wine but self-pity isn’t cool”

“I’ve never felt less cool, Mitch” Harry sighs.

“Fuck’s sake... Harry, go to New York”

“She might not be there-“

“She might be” he counters, willing to play cup half-full if it gets his friend out of this mess.

“I have to finish the album”

“You’re not finishing the album like this”

“I’ll write you something, I promise” he insists, the album is the last string he has grounding him to her world, he needs to finish it.

“Don’t force yourself to it, do what you want whenever you want it. I’ll be right here pal”

“Thanks Mitch”

He doesn’t remember when he left, nor how he came to the hotel room in the first place, but now he finds himself at the dinning table staring down a blank page of his journal. There’s so much he feels but very little he can put into words. In his haze, he thinks about writing about a particularly steamy night they spent together. It started with them making out on the couch, but slowly their touches became more daring and things got heated. He can’t take the pen to write as he’s too busy playing with himself.

He feels disgraceful, unable to work, to leave the hotel or do anything but feel sorry for himself. But suddenly, his phone rings. In a room so doomed by silence, his ringtone feels like a needle piercing his eardrums. “Hello?”

“Harry?” Frank asks from the other end of the line, “Is that you? Are you ok?”

“How the fuck you think I am?” he answers in a fickle tone, “Why didn’t you answer my texts, I’ve been trying to talk to you for days”

“I know man, I feel awful about it”

“Where is she?” his anger simmers to a small whimper.

“She’s in New York”

“Why won’t she answer my calls?”

Frank dallies with his words trying to find the best ones for this situation, “Harry, there’s something she needs to tell you but she doesn’t know how”

“What is it?” he begs.

“I can’t tell you, I swore to her I wouldn’t”

“Ain’t that precious: she can’t tell me, you can’t tell me, I might as well just fuck off”

Frank feels the full weight of his heart-break, which is in part his fault as he couldn’t talk Olivia through her silence, but this is his only chance to atone. “Tomorrow we’ll play at Jim’s to celebrate the band’s anniversary, 9:00 pm. Your name will be on the list. Don’t miss it”

Without further ado, he ends the call.

Harry leaps up in a burst of energy and starts packing his stuff. With everything packed, he looks at the mess he left in the room. If Anne was in this hotel room, she’d bash him up for his behavior, so in honor of her education he makes sure to leave the place spotless. After that, he texts Frank an apology. They both fucked up, but Frank never deserved this treatment. Years of friendship have made him look at his in-law through Oli’s lens, her undying love for him is contagious.

“Hey love, if you haven’t heard any of my voicemail you won’t hear this either, but I’m coming home. What I’m doing here without you doesn’t make sense. I hope when we get to see each other we’ll figure ourselves out, ‘cause this small taste of life without you is quite miserable... anyway, we’ll sort ourselves out. I love you”

He books himself an overnight ticket to New York and leaves, spending the whole trip trying to justify his absence to Ryan and the other producers. He can't work until he's got Oli back, or at least until they're sorted out.

He arrives at Jim's pub almost at the end of the show, calmly strolling down the snowy streets. The doors open to a crowded hall, he has to squeeze between the guests to find a privileged spot. Once he gets it, there's nothing between him and Oli. He sighs and smiles until her eyes find his beneath the spotlight.

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