#stood 7+ hours under the sun to see them

[ckret2]

Above: Bill showing off the messed up things he can make the Nightmare Realm do.

Below: Bill literally an hour later.

Here, have a fic. In which the gods try to figure out what to do about the new omnicidal chaos god who would rather destroy reality than politely exit Dimension Zero so they can arrest him for burning down multiple dimensions.

This is part 7 of a ???9-ish??? part plot about the Axolotl meeting this friendly harmless innocent little triangle in the wake of the Euclidean Massacre and then getting repeatedly slapped in the face with all the atrocities Bill's committed. If you want to read and/or look at the pretty art on the other parts, here's one, two, three, four, five, and six.

####

There was fresh fear amongst the many gods crowded around the site where Dimension 2 Delta had once stood.

The perimeter around Dimension Zero's turbulent border had pulled back dramatically, leaving a barren no man's land between the police cordon and the triangle's territory.

The fires in the 1D and 2D universes, for a moment so close to doused, had returned with a vengeance—and by the sound of some chatter amongst the Apocalyptic Threat Task Force agents, they suspected it was a literal vengeance. The storm cloud heading the ATTF operations had needed to personally visit the burning dimensions again—see which previously contained fires had reignited or jumped their firelines, and see which new fires had broken out so that it could redistribute the available firefighting forces appropriately.

The Time Giant had gone along to inspect the damage and figure out which dimensions could be repaired—provided they ever stopped the fires—and which would ultimately needed to be rebuilt.

And anyone who wasn't actively engaged in trying to control the fires was still trying to process the newest crisis: the leader of the mortals who'd fallen into Dimension Zero wasn't a fellow mortal victim, but an out-of-control new god with the power to move and burn entire universes who didn't seem to understand that he was about to destroy all of reality, himself included.

VENDOR had finally run out of excuses to avoid the media, and was now reluctantly holding an impromptu press conference with the reporters on the scene—and THEY looked so miserable the Axolotl nearly felt bad for THEM. He overheard THEM blurt out, probably far louder than intended, "I will not be remembered as the god who was in charge of the emergency response efforts that got the entire multiverse destroyed!" and he wondered whether VENDOR remembered either that THEY weren't in charge or that, if the multiverse were destroyed, THEY wouldn't be remembered at all. No one would be.

From the conversations he overheard, the Axolotl got the impression that no one, even the most senior ATTF agents on the scene, had ever dealt with a threat to the multiverse this dire. No one knew what to do about the triangle—least of all the Axolotl, who was only here because everybody still hadn't realized that he wasn't supposed to be.

So while everyone else was arguing, privately panicking, or actually doing something useful, he was floating at the cordon holding people away from Dimension Zero.

####

There were a few stars and rocky bodies on the wrong side of the cordon. The triangle's sun—the star that had once shone down on his 2D world before it burned down (before he burned it down)—was still out there. Once again, it was falling toward Dimension Zero.

He glanced around to see if anyone was watching, then swooped under the cordon, scooped up the sun, and carried it back to the safe zone. He opened a portal to his tank, slid the star inside, then shook out his forefeet and inspected the burns on the soft skin. He'd been playing with a lot of fire today.

"Axolotl!"

The Axolotl looked up. He wasn't surprised by the familiar sight of his Oracle's soul emerging from the aether—she'd already come by once—but he was frustrated by it. One more person he had to protect in this mess.

"Something happened—"

"I know." He quickly curled around her, doing his best to shield her from the other gods in case any of the nearby arguments escalated—or the triangle decided to lash out at the third dimension again. "You shouldn't be here now. It isn't safe."

Of course, she ignored him. She wouldn't be the kind of person he picked as one of his Oracles if she weren't the kind of person who ignored gods' warnings. "Our seers heard the whole sky scream in pain, and then saw a vast eye—"

"Over there." He lifted his tail out of the way just enough to let her see the border of Dimension Zero.

No matter where you looked at Dimension Zero, that golden fleck of light seemed to twinkle in the center of your field of vision. The Oracle squinted. "The little flat yellow creature?"

"He was bigger earlier."

"What happened?"

"A showdown with the cops."

The Oracle paused as she tried to reconcile that with the seers' apocalyptic vision. "Who won?"

"He did."

"Good." And she wouldn't have been the kind of person the Axolotl picked for his Oracles if she didn't say that, either.

On most days, he'd agree with her. But after seeing what the triangle could do—knowing what he would do... The cops weren't the answer, but he had to be stopped somehow.

(He could feel the triangle's eye on them. Was he listening to them now?)

"He's shaped like a triangle. Is he connected to the blind seer's final vision?"

The seer who'd seen the sky burn and collapse into a blinding triangular light. "He is. He's the last survivor of the first dimension to burn. His people called him the Magister Mentium; he was a seer to his people, too." It tore the Axolotl's heart to say more than that—but he wouldn't mislead his Oracle. "Somehow, he started the fire."

Before the Oracle could ask him how, a faint voice yelled, "Hey!"

They turned toward Dimension Zero. The triangle was on the border, looking straight at them. He shouted again, "Hey! You with the pink freak!"

"What?"

"How many fingers do you have!"

She gave her four arms a puzzled look. "Twenty!"

"Wow!" The triangle sounded genuinely impressed. "What do you use 'em all for?!"

"Normal finger things?" She asked, "Why's your hat so skinny?"

"What hat?"

She paused. "Never mind!" She turned back to the Axolotl and whispered, "Is the hat part of his body?"

"I don't think so. He didn't have it the last time I saw him."

She kept trying to look at the triangle until the Axolotl curled around her to stop her staring. "That's the seer who's destroying universes?"

He wanted to make excuses for the triangle. He wanted to defend him. "Yes."

She was silent a moment before asking the question she'd really come for: "Is my world in danger?"

"Not yet. Not directly. But... if he isn't stopped, it eventually will be," the Axolotl said. "He's fallen into the center of the multiverse and is trying to build a kingdom there. If he fails, it will collapse and kill him; but if he succeeds, it will destabilize and kill all of reality."

"Wh—?!" She gave him a look of disbelief. "But—that doesn't make any sense! He loses either way!"

"I know."

"So why is he endangering everyone for nothing?!"

"I don't know."

"I'm going to find out."

"Wait—!"

The Oracle's astral projection could be very slippery when she wanted; she was already past the Axolotl and flying toward Dimension Zero. "Hey! Magister Mentium! I want a word with you!"

"Don't cross the border between dimensions!" The Axolotl clutched the police tape in both forefeet as he watched.

After five minutes of shouting and death threats, the Oracle flew back to the Axolotl.

"I think he's stupid," she said.

He smiled sadly. "I fear it's something much worse than that."

He had the skin-crawling feeling that the triangle was staring at him. He forced himself not to turn and find out for sure.

####

The Time Giant was the first to return from the frontlines of the fire. She joined the Axolotl next to the police tape, muttered something about needing to pick up some "stuff" from "a couple centuries ago," snapped out a length of time tape, and returned three seconds later in a different shirt with sleeves rolled up and carrying a folding table, a bundle of blueprints, and an energy drink. She unfolded the table in the void, spread out her blueprints on it, chugged her drink, hunched over the table, and ignored the rest of the universe.

The Oracle gazed up at the Time Giant and instantly fell in love. The Axolotl politely pretended he didn't notice.

VENDOR was the second to float over—slumped forward, lights dim, looking like THEY were returning from a war zone rather than a press conference. Heaving a weary sigh, THEY positioned THEMSELF next to the cordon with the Axolotl and Time Giant; which was the point at which the Axolotl realized he'd accidentally formed a club of people who didn't want to be in charge of this mess but were. "Any change?" 

The Time Giant grunted distractedly. The Axolotl said, "No." The Oracle said, "I accidentally taught the triangle an obscene gesture." 

VENDOR turned toward Dimension Zero.

The triangle sprouted two extra arms and gleefully pantomimed something filthy.

VENDOR turned away from Dimension Zero and sighed even more heavily.

When the storm cloud drifted over, VENDOR said, "Go away unless you have good news." The arrogance had drained out of THEIR voice; what little pomposity THEY had left was a thin mask over exhausted fear. (The Axolotl could sympathize; he felt the same dread weighing low in the pit of his stomach.)

Before the storm cloud had left to check on the other dimensions, it had still been hailing in fear; by now, it had whipped itself up into a furious blizzard. It had to stay back from the group to keep from freezing them too, and even at that frost still crept across VENDOR's glass and the Axolotl had to shield the Oracle from the cold. "Well," it said stiffly, trying to rein in its rage and sounding even colder as a consequence. "Almost all the new fires have already been contained. I'll say one thing for that—" It paused as it mentally glided over what was no doubt a long and creative list of insults, "—guy; at least he's making an effort to be more careful of where he kicks the neighboring dimensions so the damage doesn't spread as fast." It sighed a chilly, angry gust of wind. "Unfortunately, he's gotten more aggressive about kidnapping mortals from other dimensions. He's narrowed his focus, but he's kicking ten times harder."

"That wasn't very good good news," VENDOR whined.

"Sorry. Fresh out," the cloud said. "Fact is, if we don't stop him, we're toast."

Nobody was surprised by that. VENDOR asked, "How much time do we have?" THEY turned to the Time Giant.

While VENDOR had gotten pathetic and the cloud was seething with barely-restrained rage, the Time Giant had only grown more stoic. Her face was set in a stony mask; her jaw was tight enough that she could bite an airplane clean in half. Since she'd come back, she hadn't glanced up from the stack of blueprints she'd retrieved.

It took her a moment to realize the question was directed toward her. She jerked her head up as if ready to snap at whoever had interrupted her; but caught herself as she processed the question. "Uhh, pffff..." She squinted toward the horizon of time, face scrunched up to expose her teeth. "If we get the fires put out? Few years. Couple decades at the outside. Reckon it's more than enough time to jury rig something that'll keep reality propped up while we get in a construction crew to set up a new Big Bang, no problem."

The Axolotl whispered reassuringly to the Oracle, "A couple of decades to us is over a thousand of your people's generations."

"A couple of decades," VENDOR muttered, voice rough, a few stray moons rattling around behind THEIR product dispenser door. "This multiverse was built to last an eternity. To think it could be destabilized enough to collapse within a couple of decades, all because of one..." THEY fell silent. They could all feel the steady staring eye watching them from deep within Dimension Zero.

The cloud said, "And if he doesn't let us stop all the fires?"

She pursed her lips, brows knit tightly. "If the fires keep spreading and that triangle keeps destabilizing things, the whole thing could collapse in a week tops."

"That's still a few years for your people," the Axolotl told the Oracle optimistically.

She swatted his paw. "Aren't you powerful enough to, just—stop him? You're gods." They must have seemed undefeatable to her—living beings the size of mountains and vast world-moving machines and forces of nature. That was how the gods always looked to mortals.

But unfortunately, when you got right down to it, they weren't much more than weirdly big people.

VENDOR muttered, "Well, I don't have the authority to call in the kind of reinforcements that can take that thing down." (More cautious now that THEY realized this wasn't a threat THEY could effortlessly crush in THEIR gears, weren't THEY.)

The cloud said, "The Apocalyptic Threat Task Force can make that call in any situation that poses a credible threat to multiversal safety and security, but..." It asked the Axolotl and Time Giant, "Just how strong do you think he is?"

"Could be omnipotent," the Time Giant said. "Wouldn't be surprised."

The Axolotl reluctantly nodded in agreement. "He doesn't understand what he's doing yet, but he's already manipulating the fabric of reality with his bare hands."

VENDOR made a tiny noise like a malfunctioning motor at that.

Grimly, the cloud said, "I could put in a call to HQ. We have a few higher dimensional types on call. Creator gods and the like. They're probably the only ones who'd stand a chance against an omnipotent god that can make a whole universe do a barrel roll. But if we aren't sure we could win the fight, and fast..."

The assembled group of gods cast a nervous look at the gaping hole into Dimension Zero.

The triangle, smaller than one of the Axolotl's fingertips, stared back from the border. He solemnly spread his arms wide. "You wanna go? Come at me."

They did not want to go. They turned away.

"Bad idea," the Time Giant said. "If the laws of physics are unstable, even the strongest god wouldn't have an advantage. It'd be like putting the fastest sprinter in the multiverse on a racetrack without gravity. And since he's the one running the physics, he could practically hand himself a win."

"And on top of that, any fight down there risks knocking the multiverse down," the cloud said. "It's too dangerous. We can't risk attacking him."

"We'll just have to hope he doesn't attack us first," VENDOR muttered.

The Axolotl's stomach flipped. He knew something they didn't. "Actually, I... don't think he can."

All attention was on him. VENDOR said, "Please tell me you have some actual good news."

"I don't know." He wasn't sure whether it would make any difference. All he knew was that he felt like he was betraying the triangle. He lowered his voice to what for him passed as a whisper. "But, I think... I think his power is limited to the borders of his realm." As he said it, he knew he was telling the truth. Some beings got like that when they were old enough; they could just feel when something was right. "He can't impact anything that isn't touching his dimension. He's essentially harmless to the rest of the multiverse. The only real threat is... well." He gestured helplessly at the frothing chaos. "The fact that the dimension is like that."

Voice hushed, the cloud said slowly, "Hold on. So... he's trapped in the crawlspace beneath reality."

"No—he's trapped in the 'dream realm' he's built inside the crawlspace. He can drag the realm out with him, but... we saw what happens when he does that." They'd all heard how existence had howled in pain. They'd seen how even the triangle had been scared enough to stop.

"So we have no hope of fighting him in his bunker—but if we drag him across the threshold... the fight's over." THEY turned to the two cops THEY'd been leading around all day.

The crab and burning wheels tried very hard to look like they hadn't noticed the conversation at all. 

VENDOR and the cloud exchanged a frustrated glance. Sarcastically, the cloud muttered, "Yeah. Easy."

The Axolotl said, "I'm not even sure we can drag him out of his bunker. I don't know if he won't leave, or physically can't leave—just that his power stops at his borders."

VENDOR sighed, "So we're back where we started."

The Time Giant smacked her mess of blueprints, making the other gods start. "No we aren't! If his influence can't spread outside his dimension, then I've got a fix." She held up a thick binder. "It's a fiddly chrono-construction technique to shore up brittle dimensions. It can work as a stopgap measure to stop him from destabilizing any more dimensions." She looked at VENDOR. "It'll make a lot of extra work for the urban planning committee."

VENDOR's lights flickered off. The Axolotl could see the numbers on THEIR digital display as THEY slowly counted to ten. Then THEY turned their lights back on and said, with an air of forced calm, "All right. I don't think there is any getting out of this without extra work. Tell me the idea."

"Right now, all our dimensions are connected adjacent to each other—corner to corner and edge to edge. It's simple that way. But, if we restructure the dimensions parallel to each other, we can use the pressure of the outside dimensions to press in on the crawlspace and keep its contents in place. It's gonna be a mess. Forget about the Dimension 1, Dimension 2, Dimension 3 system we have right now; by the end of this we're gonna have Dimension 143 and Dimension M and Dimension 6.5 and Dimension -17 and imaginary number dimensions and quadratic dimensions..." She shrugged helplessly. "But if we can't get this bozo out, it might be our only option."

"Parallel universes? It sounds ridiculous." VENDOR let out a low moan of pain, "We'll have to restructure the whole multiverse."

"Yup. Probably."

"Everything's so nice and tidy now. A perfectly arranged planned community. Nice, straight, gridlike dimensions..."

"Parallel dimensions do have some potential benefits over adjacent dimensions," the Time Giant offered comfortingly. "Easier interdimensional travel—"

VENDOR grumbled, "Oh, I know, I know, Municipalitron's been pushing to experiment with parallel dimensions for the past two hundred billion years. He won't shut up about how it would benefit mass transit."

The cloud said, "All I care about is the multiverse surviving long enough to worry about mass transit."

The time giant said, "The biggest downside is that once we've completely closed up the crawlspace, when that dimension he's set up inevitably collapses, there's no easy way to get back all that energy and dark matter. If we ever decide to rip open a rift big enough to drain it out, it could take trillions of years if we don't want the flood to destroy the receiving universe. We might never clear out the rubble. But on the other hand, if it's sealed up well enough, it won't matter if the ruins are left to rot."

"What about the hostages?" the Axolotl asked. "Won't that trap everyone inside?"

"We'll have to leave manhole covers and maintenance shafts, obviously. Until the fabric of reality's finished unraveling, we'll have a chance to get them out," the Time Giant said. "Even that 'Magister' can leave if he decides to surrender himself. Assuming he's willing to leave his construction project behind."

If he could leave it.

VENDOR let a heavy whoosh out THEIR vents. "Balls. Very well, submit your proposal to the committee. I'll vouch for it. But I won't like it." THEY muttered, "Municipalitron's never going to let me live this down."

The storm aimed its sunbeam at the Time Giant. "Can't start construction as long as he's still starting fires and picking fights, though—can we? Unless you can build new dimensions on top of an active inferno?"

"N—Hold on." She squinted toward the future to check. "Nope. Though once I get down a fireproof foundation, we won't need to worry about it anymore. Got a trick called timeline splitting: you reformat a dimension so that the timelines fork infinitely, any time a choice is made. If he tries to burn 'em, they split: one timeline he burned and one he didn't. He'll just add more timelines and thicken the foundation every time he tries to attack the neighbors."

Horrified, VENDOR said, "I've been trying to pass an ordinance to ban timeline splitting for an eon."

"Has it passed yet?" the storm asked.

"No!"

"Great. Then that's our plan," the storm said. "We just need somebody to talk him down long enough to put out the fires and get the fireproof foundation in place." Its sunbeam turned toward the Time Giant. "Maybe if someone explains the stakes to him—?"

She shook her head, expression flat. "I'm a civil engineer, not a hostage negotiator. If he didn't get it the first time I laid it out to him, he ain't gonna get it the second time."

VENDOR asked the cloud, "Isn't the Apocalyptic Threat Task Force trained in talking down apocalyptic threats?"

"Yes, but no," the storm cloud said.

"What does that mean! Just... go up to that thing"—THEY tilted toward Dimension Zero—"and keep him calm."

"Are you kidding? I'm not suicidal!"

"This is your job, you're an apoc cop!"

"Apoc agent!" It raised its voice, "And talking down threats is not my speciality! I was sent because we thought this was a structural issue, not an actively malevolent entity!"

"Hey!" the triangle shouted. "Who are you calling malevolent?! Hey! Hey! Look me in the eye and say that again, I'll kick your base! I'm the most benevolent entity you've ever met!"

They wordlessly avoided eye contact with the triangle, scooted another solar system farther away from Dimension Zero, and lowered their voices again. 

The storm cloud asked VENDOR, "Shouldn't this be your department? We're dealing with the possible genesis of a new god, and his first act was destroying a dimension and destabilizing reality. Sounds like politics to me."

Delicately, the Axolotl said, "I don't think THEY're the best choice."

"I'm certainly not. I handle the urban planning committee's budgeting," VENDOR said. "I deal with accountants, not terrorists! The only reason I'm here is to provide planets for those flat refugees, and I am sick of being at every humanitarian crisis in the multiverse just because I vend planets—"

The Axolotl had taken all of VENDOR that he could. He rounded on THEM, snarling, "Why are you even in politics, if it's not to help mortals? Is that not why you accepted the title of 'god'?" He flared his gills and his eyes glowed in rage. "Because it's why I did! I wish there was more I could do to help! And you, you can do more than anyone, and you're complaining about it?!"

VENDOR jerked back from the Axolotl. For a moment, the whole group was stunned silent. The Axolotl's eyes stopped glowing. He had to fight the urge to shrink back self-consciously from their staring. His Oracle patted his side comfortingly.

And then VENDOR's lights brightened. "You know how to talk to mortals like that. This triangle is just like the omnicidal monsters you represent every day." THEIR camera whirred as THEY sized him up. "If you want to help more, then why don't you?"

Ah. The Axolotl paused to swallow his anger. 

He glanced down at his Oracle, who had been hiding in his shadow as she took notes and attempted to surreptitiously ogle the Time Giant. He said, "I think..."

She nodded. "I'll wake up." And then she faded out as her spirit sank back down to a lower plane.

The Axolotl tried to avoid looking at VENDOR—how could someone without a face look so smug?—and focused on the Time Giant. "What do you need me to get him to do?"

####

Biologically there was really no such thing as a god, in the same way that botanically there is really no such thing as a vegetable. Tomatoes are fruits; spinach is a leaf; carrots are roots; broccoli is an unfinished flower. The word "vegetable" just indicates the cultural role a plant performs in the kitchen.

The word "god" indicated the cultural role an entity performed in cosmology: a god was anything that people considered powerful enough to be worth worshiping.

A trillion trillion priests and philosophers and theologians and politicians had attempted to pin down a firm definition—but any definition was only ever valid to the worshipers who agreed it was right. The simple truth was that a being who had created a universe could be called a god, and a particularly impressive tree could be called a god, and a con artist who used clever stage magic to convince people he could teleport and raise the dead could be called a god, and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, to prove than any one of them "really" was or wasn't a god, no trait that universally separated the false gods from the true. If other gods thought you were a god, or if enough mortals worshiped you that the other gods had to bow to public pressure, that meant you were a god. 

Different beings honored with the title "god" handled it in different ways. Some, unsurprisingly, developed a god complex. Some picked up debilitating scrupulosity in an effort to be perfect enough to be worthy of their people's worship, and their people developed scrupulosity in an effort to live up to their god's perfect example, and so it went in a vicious cycle until somebody finally got therapy. Some printed their titles on the party invitation flyers they tossed out on busy streets. For the Axolotl's part, he thought it was a useful designation to help with networking, but mostly it was a pain that meant he was put up on a pedestal for doing his job.

The Axolotl was a god of justice. Not the god of justice, but one. He held dominion over an abstract concept; over millions and billions of years, his words and decisions slowly, inexorably altered the idea of "justice" on a multiversal scale. Mercy, retribution, punishment, rehabilitation, equity, equality, fairness, and righteousness were like multicolored clays he could twist, squish, sculpt, and blend in his wet little salamandrine grip, permanently altering what those ideas meant to the mortals they affected.

Which was to say: he was a lawyer.

He was also known as a god of rebirth. Which was to say: he specialized in afterlife law. Before going into law he'd only been a psychopomp, but after having to escort too many despairing souls to afterlives he felt were too severe for their sins, he'd decided he wanted a say in where he took his souls. For a while, he helped clients get their charges reduced so they were eligible for a higher-tier reincarnation, or got their purgatorial sentences reduced. Though for a long time he'd steered away from damnation cases. He didn't always win—and those ones were too depressing to lose.

And then he'd thought he should be doing more. It wasn't enough for him to help his clients get the best option available under the system to which they were subjected; he wanted to change the system. He'd started pursuing bigger cases.

Now, he had a reputation.

For the past few centuries, he'd been working on a damnation case. He was defending a supervillain who'd developed a weapon that could slice open the fabric of spacetime so severely it could rip clean into another dimension—a mortal who'd committed an interdimensional crime against reality. The villain had died in the jurisdiction of an afterlife that had legalized eternal damnation.

Case law had long established that, unless other arrangements had been made premortem, the dead were to be sent to—in order—the afterlife of their birth, their death, or their choice, provided that the afterlife in question accepted them; and that they would be judged and sentenced by that afterlife's laws.

But if this villain had been extradited to his home world, the heaviest sentence he could have faced was a thousand years purgatory with an option for early reincarnation for good behavior after a hundred years.

So the jurisdiction he'd died in had summoned up some bureaucratic red tape to dismiss his native afterlife's extradition request, and he'd been sentenced where he'd died. Crimes against reality were often handled differently from regular sins; and the gods of vengeance in the domain where he'd died would love to see the courts declare that the gods who'd brought down a criminal against reality could call dibs on punishing him, rather than hand him back to his motherland. They hoped they would get away with it just for lack of anyone protesting the move. After all, everyone involved would much prefer that a mortal wicked enough to damage spacetime and obliterate multiple populated planets receive eternal punishment.

Everyone involved except the Axolotl. 

Taking this case hadn't made him many friends. He didn't care; he had his principles. Let an interplanetary supervillain be dragged away to a foreign afterlife just so that he can be forced into damnation, and next it'll be a planetary dictator; let a dictator be dragged away, and next it'll be a murderer; and next it'll be a burglar; and next it'll be a jaywalker that a psychopomp has a personal grudge against. If the Axolotl could establish that even the most undeserving mortal imaginable still deserved the right to be sentenced in his home afterlife, then he could ensure that everyone less evil received the same right.

If he had anything to say about it, in two or three trillion years he'd see eternal punishment outlawed completely; but until then, he was not going to sit idly by and let this flagrant abuse of interdimensional law become the new meaning of justice! He would get that supervillain out of eternal damnation, personally escort him to his native afterlife, and see him reincarnated on his own home world; and mark his words, he would rain so much bureaucratic hell on the judges and psychopomps that had let this abuse of justice take place—he would wreak such vengeance upon the vengeance gods who had tried to claim his client—that no god would dare keep a soul from its rightful afterlife ever again, or he wasn't the Axolotl!

All of which was to say:

Yes, unfortunately. This triangle was like the omnicidal monsters he represented every day.

And so he was appointed hostage negotiator.

####

(Thanks for reading!! If the art lured you in and this is the first chapter you read, this is part 7 of a probably-9-part fic about the Axolotl in the immediate aftermath of the Euclidean Massacre. I'll be posting one chapter a week, Fridays 5pm CST, so stick around if you wanna watch the Axolotl almost fucking die.

It's ALSO chapter 67 of an ongoing post-canon post-TBOB very-reluctantly-human Bill fic. So if you wanna read more of me writing Bill, check it out. If you're not sold on the idea of a human Bill fic, I've also got a one-shot about normal triangle Bill escaping the Theraprism if you wanna read that.

If this is NOT your first time here and you already knew all of the above: okay THIS is now probably the least cosmic-horrifying chapter of this arc. Which is a necessary interlude, because NEXT CHAPTER is the big climax woohoo!

Even if not much horrifying happens this chapter, I like the worldbuilding in it. The section on what being a god of justice means to the Axolotl was one of the first things I wrote for this arc.)

[crushpunky]

college!reader goes to joe’s game

masterlist

haven't wrote for joe in a hot minute, so enjoy :)

Joe had warned her that the game was going to be overwhelming, but she wasn’t quite expecting this.

Y/n was almost sure she was going to have a migraine from how loud the stadium was before the game had even begun. The Louisiana sun was unrelenting as she climbed the stairs of the stadium, overpriced water in hand as she repeatedly checked the ticket Joe had gotten her. He didn’t get her one in the student section, knowing she hated the intensity and insanity of the fans, and had instead opted to get her one just behind LSU’s bench.

“Joe.” Y/n scolded him under her breath as she noticed how close (and probably how expensive) the seats were. She glanced around, looking at all the fans that watched the opposing team warming up on the field excitedly. Y/n felt a smirk spread across her lips as she noticed that many of the fans wore #9 jerseys, Joe’s last name splashed across the back. Little did they know, though, that she was the only one wearing a shirt directly from the man himself.

Y/n sat down in her seat, rolling the oversized sleeves of one of Joe’s LSU football shirts he’d given her. Suddenly, music began blaring through the stadium and the crowd grew impossibly louder. The people around y/n sprang to their feet, clapping and jumping as the football team burst from the tunnel out onto the field opposite from where y/n sat. Y/n hesitantly stood, finding herself joining in on the cheering as the team ran over towards them.

Y/n scanned over the crowd of football players, looking for Joe’s tall frame and quaff of blonde hair. Once she finally found him, their eyes locked, Joe already looking at her with a smile on his face. Y/n waved at Joe, causing his grin to grow impossibly wider.

She hadn’t seen him since last night when he left her dorm at 7 pm, heading back to his dorm to start his night-before-game routine of falling asleep by 9 pm. Y/n bid him goodnight and goodluck, knowing she probably wouldn’t see him until the game was over. She knew how seriously Joe took football, the 24 hours before a game whittled down to a science y/n didn’t even bother to test.

So, y/n was very surprised when Joe began jogging past the bench over to her. The fans sitting around her clamored, squealing excitedly as the quarterback made his way to the first row of seats where y/n sat.

“You’re here.” Joe smiled, flipping his hair back to look up at y/n. His cheeks were flushed from the sun and running over here and his smile was so wide it caused his dimples to pop. Usually, Joe was “Mr. Cool” before games, locked in and no-nonsense, so y/n was shocked to see him looking so lively. Apparently the fans sitting next to her were too, clamoring to get out their phones and take pictures of the football player.

“I’m here.” Y/n laughed, leaning against the banister to look down at Joe. He reached up, resting his hands on the bar she stood up against.

“I’m very happy.” Joe chuckled.

“I can see that.” Y/n teased, causing Joe to shake his head before looking back at the bench. With a sigh, Joe turned back to her.

“I’ve got to get going, but it’s good to see you.” Joe murmured, eyes flicking over y/n as she peered down at him. Suddenly, Joe hauled himself up onto the railing, his face inches away from y/n��s.

“Good luck, Joey.” Y/n whispered, moving her hand to cup Joe’s cheek before pressing her lips to his. The people around them erupted in hoots and hollers before they eventually pulled apart. With one last cheeky grin, Joe lowered himself back down to the field before jogging off to the bench.

Y/n slowly sank back into her seat, biting her lip. The fans around her quickly hounded her with questions: “are you Joe’s girlfriend?”, “how long have you been together?”, “how did you meet?”. Y/n answered them all, her heart swelling with pride to hear how loved her boyfriend was.

With flushed cheeks and a flustered grin, y/n realized that maybe she could get used to going to Joe’s games.

[hughjackmansbicep]

Delicate

a/n: hi friends!!!! im hoping to make this into a multi part series, got lots planned for this mini fic :))))) this is kind of the prolouge to the real deal, needed to get the setup for it started before we divulge. expect lots of twists n turns my friends!

Pairing: Logan Howlett X F!Mutant!Reader

Warnings: uhhhhh none lol

Word Count: 2.4k

Summary: The government has successfully began the eradication of all mutant species in the United States. Lucky for you your dad has taken careful precautions to protect you from the evil that lurks in the streets outside. Tucked away in a concealed basement you sat and rotted away clinging to your old life and dreams. What happens when one day you've got a severe hankering for some ice cream and he ran out of beer the same night? Both finding yourselves in the right place at the right time.

The world as you knew it was slowly coming to an end. Mutants everywhere were dropping like flies after the government slowly started poisoning everyone's food. Unless you were an off-grid loner living off the land, you succumbed to the same fate as everyone else, 6 feet under. Lucky enough for you, your father kept you pretty sheltered. Tucked away in your fully renovated basement, the world is ignorant of your existence. It was safer this way; I mean, sure, you missed going out to bars and seeing your friends; hell, you even missed those 8 a.m. bio classes you used to take. But this was safer; at least that's what your father always preached. “It’s safer down here, away from all those evil people.” He'd remind you every day, “You're to never leave my site, kiddo, and never step outside those doors.” Not like you could anyways, while your mutation allowed you to control the atoms around you and morph them into anything your heart desired, you had one weakness, adamantium. Your house was coated in it; every doorknob, lock, and even the goddamn windows were coated in the shit. 

It was 3:00am, no one was home, and you found yourself craving ice cream. It wasn't uncommon for your dad to leave you to your own vices. He still had a job he'd have to attend to, and that more often than not led you to solidarity on his trips. And here you were in the middle of the night, the light from the fridge illuminating the dimly lit kitchen, tearing your freezer apart hoping to magically find a pint of Ben and Jerry’s buried deep in the frost. You groan, sinking down to your knees, met with disappointment and an ever-growing craving for the sweet, delicious taste of The Tonight Dough. Sure, you could've totally put in an Uber Eats order, but where would the fun in that be? You stood in front of the adamantium-cladded door, using all your strength to melt it to the ground, but to no avail. The only thing between you and your Jimmy Fallon-adorned ice cream was some space metal, and to hell if your dad really thinks that's going to curve the urge.

For the next hour, you ran around the house like a lunatic looking for a weak point. Maybe your father missed just one spot—one tiny spot in this prison he calls a home. A small hole fit for the size of a mouse teased you. Sure, you control all the atoms around you but your own? You'd never even attempted to entertain that idea, although the worst that could happen is you turn your body into a permanent pile of slop. That didn't sound too terrible when compared to being a basement dweller for the last 7 years. And it turns out it wasn't as bad as you'd thought; you melted your body down into a pile of liquid, slithering your way through the walls of your house before you were spit out from a hole in the bricks. The air on your skin cascaded goosebumps along your body; you honestly couldn't remember the last time you felt wind grace your skin or the sun illuminating off your shoulders. 

You skipped happily toward the corner store, taking in every sound around you. The sound your feet made when they hit the pavement, the distant chatter of the locals crowding down the sidewalks, even the obnoxious sound of a car horn brought a smile to your face. You finally understood the saying, ‘the city that never sleeps.’ You reached the corner store, swinging the door open and prancing inside as if it were Disney World. Your happy fantasy faded as the man behind the register yelled at you to put some shoes on before walking into his store. You looked down, wiggling your free toes, with all the excitement of liquifying yourself to get a taste of the outside world, common societal rules had slipped your mind. “I um.. Just came to grab a pint of ice cream; I’ll be really quick, I promise.” You pleaded sheepishly, offering him a quick smile to butter him up a bit. He simply rolled his eyes in disgust and turned his back to you, mumbling something under his breath.

You made your way around the convenience store towards the dairy section when something, or rather someone, caught your attention. He looked tall, and even with a leather jacket on, you could tell he was huge. He had some silly-looking facial hair and even sillier-looking cat-ear-like hair, but man, he still looked good. Your eyes slowly traveled down his arms to his pants. Cute butt, you thought to yourself. He stifled a laugh before turning in your direction and saying, “Thank you.” He grumbled, turning back towards the beer cooler. “What?” You ask, heat rising to your cheeks once you realize you'd accidentally said that out loud. He didn't acknowledge you, just went back to scanning the cooler. You took that as a hint to keep moving, finally landing in front of the ice cream section and grabbing the last pint of your favorite ice cream. Carefully looking around to make sure nobody was watching you, you pulled the lid off and used your mutation to pull out all the atoms belonging to the anti-mutant poisons that were mixed in with the delicious sweet treat. Floating above the ice cream, you cautiously manipulated them into a different container of food and made your way back towards the front. What you didn't know was that the unfortunate corner store owner had been watching your freak act on the CCTV cameras the whole time.

Turning around one of the aisles, you had spotted two men in suits talking to the man upfront. You couldn't make out what was being said as they whispered, but watching him point to you using your mutation on the TV screen explained enough to you. You backed up slowly, trying to even your breaths out before you had a panic attack. You felt someone grab your shoulder, spinning you around into them. It was Mr. Cute Butt; he must be working with those suited men too. Your eyes go wide as you focus all your energy on him. You were attempting to melt him, freeing yourself from his grasp, but it wasn't working for some reason. He just stared at your brows laced together, trying to figure out what in the fuck were you doing. “You're going to shit yourself if you keep straining like that.” He whispered a low chuckle, following after.

You froze, looking up at the man with pleading eyes. “Please don't hurt me; I just wanted some ice cream. Please i'll leave right now, sir.” You rushed out searching his face for sympathy or remorse something in hopes he'd release his grasp on you. He looked confused at what you were saying to him as if you were speaking some foreign language, but that didn't last long once you two heard footsteps approaching you. “C’mon kid.” He grumbled out, dragging you by your arm, ducking in between the small isles towards the exit. “They're over here!” The man upfront yelled, and the mystery man beside you just groaned before scooping you up into his arms and rushing you out of the store. You both quickly fell into the crowd, blending into the sea of people that populated the streets of New York. As soon as you two were outside, he'd set you on your feet, his arm still gripping your wrist, dragging you through the city with him.

“I need to go home, sir; please don't hurt me. I'm so sorry.” You cried, tears adorning your cheeks as you pleaded with him; if your father knew what was transpiring at this very moment, you'd be toast. Absolutely never allowed outside your basement ever again; you could kiss the sun goodbye because you'll probably never see it again once he gets home. He ignored your pleas though as he pushed through the crowds to a parked motorcycle on the road. “Oh no, I am not getting on that thing.” You halted your movements, digging your heels into the ground. “Suit yourself, sweet cheeks.” He laughed at you dryly hopping onto the bike, “They'll find you eventually.” He kicked the stand up, revving the bike on. You looked through the crowd behind you, worry etching onto your face. Maybe he's right; maybe I should hop on that bike and ride it into the sunset with this beautiful specimen, or he's no better than those suited men and could ultimately be leading me to my death. “Just get on the fucking bike.” He growled at the sound of sirens roaring closer to you two.

Begrudgingly, you hopped onto the back of the bike, plopping the helmet latched behind you on your head. At this rate, your sure your dad is going to skin you alive and hang you up to dry. “Hang on tight, princess.” He turned around to smirk at you. You snaked your hands around his torso, and he took off, the force causing your face to smash into his back and your grip on him tightening. You were sure if you had been gifted some form of super strength, you would've popped his torso clean off his legs with how tight you were squeezing him. You attempted to give him directions back to your house, but he couldn't hear you and kept heading in the opposite direction. He totally could hear you too, but he was ignoring your requests to return you home.

The quick 15-minute drive felt like an eternity with how utterly petrified you were. Matter of fact, you were so scared, eyes clenched shut, arms squeezing all the oxygen out of his lungs, you hadn't even noticed that you'd arrived at your mystery destination. He pried your arms off him, causing you to open your eyes; you were in complete shock. A gorgeous castle-like building stood before you, surrounded by trees, and a long gravel driveway trailed in front of it. A voice broke you from your thoughts, but this sound didn't come from the man sitting in front of you; no, it appeared like it came straight from inside your head. 'Logan, would you please introduce me to your new friend? The voice sang through you, your head whipping around frantically to find the owner of these words. “C’mon, I got someone for you to meet.” The man in front of you finally spoke, helping you off the bike and placing the helmet back in its spot on the rear. He guided you through the mansion all the way to the back, stopping at two huge double wooden doors.

“Come in, please.” Rang the same voice you heard earlier, the double doors slowly opening before you to reveal a small, bald man sitting in a chair. “And who might this be, Logan?” He questioned, looking towards the big man next to you. Logan, huh, you thought to yourself, cute name and a cute butt. Logan awkwardly shifted beside you, the bald man sending a booming laugh throughout the room. “Oh my God.. Did I say that out loud?” You whispered heat rising to your cheeks once again. Ignoring you, Logan started explaining to the bald guy, whose name you quickly learned was Charles, what happened earlier. Logan had seen what you were doing in that small store—how you made some substance float out of the ice cream and back into another pint. He assumed you were attempting to do something similar to that when he had grabbed you, and you began shaking like a Chihuahua, yet all you could think about during their discussion of the previous events was how you never got to eat the ice cream you risked your whole life for. “So,” Charles spoke, directing his attention to you. “What can you do exactly? What were you doing with that ice cream?” He hummed his eyes, raking you up and down, studying all your features. hoping they might tell him about who you are.

You were fairly normal-looking; I mean, to the average human eye, they couldn't tell you apart from another human. You felt like a deer in headlights right now, though; you'd never been asked or questioned about your mutation. You never dared to speak about it aloud; hell, your dad wouldn't even let you use your powers ever; it's like he was ashamed of you. “I can... manipulate things, i guess.” You spoke quietly; it felt taboo to you to speak about this, like this was some intimate, inappropriate topic to discuss. “And what do you mean by that?” He mused, deeply interested in your mystery. “I’m not exactly sure, sir. I just know I can do this.” You focus your eyes on the pen sat upon his desk, watching it quickly fall into a liquid puddle. “Fascinating.” Charles smiled up at you, “Can you change it back?” You trained your eyes down on the mess you created, quickly blinking as it slowly morphed back into its original shape of a pen.

Charles laughed in amusement before clasping his hands together. “We have much to discuss, little one, but for now Logan will show you to a room you can rest in. We'll talk more tomorrow.” He nodded at you before Logan had turned around out the door. You took this as your sign to follow, doors shutting behind you both. He guided you up the stairs, stopping at a random white door and handing over a towel and toothbrush he'd picked up on the way to your room. “Just try and get some sleep.” He shoved his hands in his pockets as he spoke. “I’m just up the hall if you need anything, i guess.” He nodded his head in the direction of his door. You just smiled, turning around into your room and softly closing your door. 

You had no clue where the fuck you were or what these strange men were planning to do with you. You've heard the horror stories from your dad about how the government would poke and prod you if anyone knew what you could do. you'd be a test subject for rich white males to toy and play with. You'd set the towel and toothbrush down on a chair in the room you were assigned and slowly stalked your way to the bed. As you crawled into bed attempting to get some shut eye all that you could think to yourself was, "Man my dad is soo going to fucking kill me when he finds me."

[purinminmin]

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆ TWIRLING WARMTH -> sae itoshi !!!

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ dancing with my phone by HYBS

synopsis; in which sae decides to unwind by using a tip you gave him cw: fluffy/crack fic , ldr , sae misses you , dancing , very ooc oh my god let me believe sae is secretly a massive lovefool , sae has a facetime auto answer feature (does that exist) , use of amor , gn! , unproofread + lowercase

"dancing, i'm all alone . figuring out how i can get you home"

living in his apartment without you was easy.

or so he thought.

he was currently sprawled across his bed, his arm stretched out automatically to make space for your warmth; which was unfortunately located a thousand miles away from madrid at this moment.

sae groaned, snatching his hand back immediately when he snapped out of his trance. how pathetic, he thought. he can't be caught wishing for cuddles like some lovesick fool, he should exercise more self-control than that!

naturally, he reached out for his phone to text you, like a normal person who doesn't yearn for his long-distance girlfriend would do:

[i miss you, amor.] 7:08 pm

[coming home soon, can't wait to see you.] 7:30 pm

yes, he really had impulsively booked a flight just to see you. yes, he was still definitely nonchalant. god, what have you turned him into?

it's only been an hour, but you still hadn't replied. he had to fight another dejected groan that threatened to erupt from his throat. but whatever. it was late in your place anyway, you were probably sleeping.

however, the fact that you would soon wake up to find his little suprise, calling him almost immediately, sent a little comfort to his sore bones. he really wanted to hear your voice.

ugh, seriously. what was in the air today?

frustrated, he exited the chat box and scrolled through his playlists. he reached a certain one that you and he made the last time he was with you.

he decided to listen to the music in there instead, that always relaxed him.

─── ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ ───

"sae, when are you coming home?"

your pretty voice came out warped from the speaker. he scoffed silently, the phone could never catch your beauty properly.

"sae."

"huh, what?" "i said, when are you coming home?"

"never. don't want to." "not even for me?" "especially not for you."

"ouch, sae."

he chuckled softly under his breath, the sun filtering through his room and in turn illuminating his eyes. you had ample time to observe his face which, thankfully, wasn't pixelated.

"you okay?"

"of course. why wouldn't i be?" you rolled your eyes. well, duh, he'd deny everything. your boyfriend was capable of many things. admitting he needed to cool off was not one of them apparently.

you hummed for a moment, thinking off into space as you watched sae rummage around for a blanket. then it clicked.

a sneaky grin spread across your face, oh yeah, he'll like this idea.

you set down your phone on the table, adjusting the camera so it showed your full body. then you grabbed your laptop and started playing music. was that.....pitbull???? mr worldwide???

sae watched you with disbelief. this was rare. he was never caught speechless. he blinked slowly as his eyebrows creased ever so slightly.

"what are you doing?"

"im dancing, sae. you should join me, it'll help you relax, you know?"

he saw you swaying side to side, twirling, bobbing around your head to the beat of the song, all with the biggest and goofiest smirk on your face. he scoffed, shaking his head at your antics. there was no way he was going to dance. ever.

"you look stupid. i'm ending the call right now."

"wait, no!"

─── ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ ───

a smile tugged on the corner of his mouth as he recalled that memory. he wasn't much of a sentimental person, but he can make exceptions sometimes.

he just....stared at the phone for a few moments, gaping at the turning disc on the screen as he hummed absent-mindedly.

fine. he'll try dancing once. he'll see if it lived up to the hype.

he disconnected his headphones and raised the volume to max as he stood up from his bed. he scrolled through the playlist again, settling on his favorite. he felt awkward, so he tried to tap his foot to the beat.

hey, this was actually really fun.

soon, small taps of his foot moved to infect his shoulders. pretty much once the song ended, he was full on dancing. just as you had shown him to do. even that stupid twirl-hand wave (?) thing you did. he couldn't even explain it, but it was entertaining to do. he'll never tell you that you were right.

but unfortunately for him, you saw him already. he had left his laptop open, whose camera was perfectly facing straight ahead on his being.

you never wanted this to stop. you were having a blast. finally seeing your boyfriend have fun in what......months now? what a blessing. and so you remained silent, captivated by the incredibly awkward but endearing dance moves. stifling your laughs took so much of your restraint though.

sae should really turn off the auto-answer feature.

"dancing with my phone, thinking about you"

a/n: this came to me in a dream and is dedicated to my dearest sae luvr ILY ELO also the song he was dancing to was suisei - tofubeats (kariya seira) which according to the wiki is his fave IT IS SUCH A BOP BTW I LUV IT can uu tell i got lazy at the end hekp

[billys-pretty-babe]

Come Here, Dressed In Black Now

Pairing : Older!Billy Hargrove x Fem!Reader

Summary : It was rare that Billy dressed up, but when it comes to attending weddings, it was his specialty.

Warnings : Smut {oral - both receiving (69), unprotected piv, creampie, throatpie, talks of anal (doesn't happen)}, Swearing, Aftercare, Age gap (Billy is 38, Reader is 28)

Word Count : 3,490

A/N : Took a hiatus to get my life together but I'm back! Requests are open

The Hagans, Tommy and Carol, had decided to have a traditional wedding twenty years after being eloped right after their high school graduation. Billy was dressed in black slacks and a black dress shirt with two buttons undone and his hair was messily pulled back out of his face. His beard was trimmed but still full as the gray hair peaked through.

The two of you walked into the venue, his hand on your waist as you walked beside him. You didn't know Tommy or Carol but you had seen a picture of them with Billy in his house at their high school graduation. He guided you to two seats and he sat beside you before leaning into you to whisper, "You look beautiful." You smiled, thanking him. He kissed your cheek and held your hand as they rested on his thigh.

The doors opened as Tommy walked down the aisle before his groomsmen walked with Carol's bridesmaids, his best man walking with her maid of honor. The doors opened again as Tommy and Carol's daughter walked with the basket of flowers before she stood with the bridesmaids. Carol's dad walked her down the aisle and she stood before Tommy.

Everyone's chatter quieted down as the officiant began speaking and Billy tightened his grip on your hand a little. The wedding didn't feel long because before you knew it, Tommy was dipping her as people applauded. Everyone left the venue to go to the reception and you followed your boyfriend, keeping close to him so you wouldn't get lost in the large crowd of people you didn't know.

Tommy and Carol greeted Billy when they saw him as they walked to the two of you and Tommy looked at you before looking at Billy. "I don't think we've ever met," Tommy said, putting his hand out to you. You cautiously shook his hand as he introduced himself to you and you told him your name. He raised a brow, "No Hargrove?" You shook your head.

Billy rolled his eyes at his friend, "Stop asking when I'm getting married. I'll do it on my time." Tommy put his hands up in mock surrender before whisking Carol off to dance. You sat at a table with Billy, eyeing the little bit of chest you could see. You crossed your legs, putting your hands in your lap and he looked at you and he smirked as he saw the look in your eyes.

"Guess I'll have to dress like this more often if it gets that reaction out of you." You scoffed, "I have no reaction, I'm just hot." He hummed, looking at you as he nodded, "Yeah you are." You laughed, rolling your eyes as he laughed with you, throwing his arm over your shoulders before he leaned to your ear, "Give it an hour and we'll leave." You nodded, leaning into him.

He smiled and kissed the top of your head. The two of you mingled for an hour before he decided to leave. He let Carol and Tommy know, blaming it on bad eyesight that the two of you had to leave before the sun went down. Tommy laughed, "The youngest out of us but can't see shit, how ironic." Billy rolled his eyes before hugging his friends, congratulating them before ushering you out of the venue. He opened the passenger door, helping you inside before he went to the driver's side.

He began driving, his hand on your thigh as he moved it under the fabric of the dress. The metal of the ring felt like it was burning into your thigh, not because it was cold, but because he was gripping you. Billy had a deep need for you, nearly feral for you. You were the same, if you could, you'd have him 24/7, 365 days a year, but life didn't work like that.

He sped just a little, needing you three hours ago when he first saw you putting the dress on. "Baby, your dick isn't gonna fly off. You can slow down a little." He glanced at you and eased up on the gas pedal a little. "According to you I'm old so I might get erectile dysfunction all of a sudden." You laughed and looked down at his pants, his bulge pressing against the zipper, "Yeah, I don't see that happening anytime soon." He laughed, patting your thigh.

Soon, the house was in eyesight, and he pulled into the driveway, using the garage opener as he pulled the car into the garage. He killed the car and shut the garage door and he got out of the car. He walked around it, letting you out as he practically pushed you into the house. You laughed at his eagerness as you put your clutch down. You gently grabbed his face and kissed him. He hummed, holding your waist as he pulled you close. His hands moved to your back as he moved them down, grabbing handfuls of your ass and squeezing, making you moan a little into the kiss.

He blindly guided you down the hallway, kicking his shoes off as you did the same. One hand went down to undo his belt as he dropped it, the metal of the buckle ringing out throughout the hallway. His hand went to the zipper on the dress and undid it before he opened the bedroom door as he guided you inside. The kiss was messy, filled with love and lust as it smudged your lipstick onto the both of you. He kicked the door shut and finally pulled away, the two of you breathing heavily.

He spun you so your back was to him as he gently pulled the straps of your dress down, so it pooled around your feet. He whistled softly as he looked at your figure, the only thing on your body was a pair of black underwear and the necklace he had gifted you with his initial on it. You turned around, your fingers finding the buttons to his shirt, and he laughed at your haste.

You undid the last button, and he shrugged off the shirt, his chest hair and necklace now being shown as well as the tattoo on his ribs and his collarbone. His shoulder tattoo had faded slightly but it still looked good. His body was decorated with different pieces of ink, and you had your favorites, but you'd never tell him what they were.

Your nails ran down his tones stomach as he let out a needy breath when your nails caught onto his pants. You unbuttoned them and unzipped them, your tongue between your teeth. "Why the fuck do they put fasteners and buttons?" Billy laughed at your slight frustration at the hook and eye fastener. He undid it for you, calling you impatient with a slight tease in his voice. His black boxers showed, and you laughed, "We're matching." He laughed, shaking his head at you.

He pulled you close, your chest on his as he kissed you again and your hands went to his hair as you took the hair tie out of his hair, letting it fall to his shoulders, a few shorter pieces falling on his forehead. "You're so hot," you whimpered when you pulled away from his lips. The corner of his lip tugged upwards, he was cocky and you were feeding his ego. "Let's get you on that bed, baby." You nodded and he moved you to the bed, laying you down as he moved so he was hovering over you and he kissed down your body, starting from your jaw until his lips ghosted over your underwear, making your knee twitch.

He grabbed the waistband and looked at you, "Can I take these off?" You nodded, "Yes." He nodded and took them off, watching as strings of your arousal broke off, "So needy and I've barely even touched you." He dropped your underwear to the floor as he kissed your slick thighs and you stopped him. He looked at you, looking in your eyes to see if he could detect discomfort or uncertainty. "I wanna suck your cock." He laughed, "Yeah?" You nodded and he stood up, stripping his boxers off. His tip was nearly dripping precum as it hit his stomach. A long vein ran on the underside of his shaft, right below his tip.

He moved you and laid his head on the pillows before he maneuvered you so you wouldn't kick him in the face again, like the first time you had tried this position with him. "Back up just a little, baby." You backed up a little and his hands grasped your thighs. "Oh yeah, that's good." You looked back and his eyes were admiring your ass. You gently slapped his thigh, scolding him as he laughed before diving into you, licking a fat stripe from your clit to your entrance.

Your nails dug into the meat on his thigh before you grasped him in your hand and licked up before licking his tip. He moaned against your clit, the vibration going through your body, making you moan around his tip. He grasped you tightly like you were going to run away or vanish. You moved your lips down, taking him into your mouth further until he hit the back of your throat. You used your tongue to drag it on the skin as you moved your mouth. Your left hand grasped the last few inches, twisting.

He sucked on your clit before swiping two fingers through your slick as he gently pushed them into you. Your toes curled as you moaned as they stretched you. His fingers were thick, and his fingers paired with his tongue were a deadly combo. You pulled off of his cock, strings of saliva connecting you to him. You took a few deep breaths before you tapped his tip on your tongue, feeling him moan against you.

His fingers held your thigh tighter, and you knew there would be bruises by the end of the night, but you weren't too worried about it. You closed your lips around his tip before taking most of him back into your throat again. You took in more than you meant to as you gagged, her stomach lurching. His hand left your thigh as he rubbed your back before he finally pulled his mouth away from you.

"Easy baby, easy." He was breathless as he moved your legs a little wider and he whistled, "Bingo." You were completely spread open for him, there was no hiding how wet you were and how swollen your clit was from him sucking on it. "So fuckin' pretty, you hear me," he asked as he palmed your ass before laying a smack to it, making your body jolt forward.

He watched the way your head moved, your throat taking him as best as it could. He felt the way your saliva dripped down his cock, down to his balls and into the curls around his base. His head fell back against the pillow as his left hand continued to pump two fingers into you. He curled them and your body tensed at the sensation, and he smirked, knowing he just hit your g-spot.

He continued to drag his fingers across that spot before he put his mouth back on you again as he licked your clit. It was sloppy and messy but he didn't care, he needed you, every single part of you. Your hand continued to work over his saliva coated cock, your hand occasionally meeting your lips. You licked the slit on his tip and his hips jerked up.

He was twitching in your mouth, and you worked a little faster as he moaned against your pussy. You felt his face try to get closer as he tried to pull your ass down. You pulled off of him once more, laying your head on his thigh as you used your hand, using your other to cup his balls and you squeezed a little.

Your legs tried to move closer together and he took his fingers out of you, holding both of your thighs apart, caging his ribs as he continued to work his tongue and lips on you. "Billy," you moaned, tightening your hand on his cock and he moaned again. Billy loved eating pussy, if he could do it all day then he would, especially if it was your pussy he was eating.

He let go of one of your thighs, gripping your lower back as he tried to bring you closer, but you were as close as you could get. He let out a sound of displeasure, wishing he could flip you over and fold you up so he could get closer. He knew he'd come in your mouth before you came in his as he tried to plan out how he'd flip you.

You put your mouth back on him, doubling your efforts and soon enough, his seed coated your tongue, and you swallowed it down, suckling his tip before you pulled off, holding his thighs. He rolled you off of him and you raised a brow. He grabbed under your thighs as he moved your legs so your knees were touching your chest and he moved so he was laying on his stomach as he licked at you. Your head fell back, touching the side of the mattress and he looked up, snickering before moving you so you wouldn't have to strain your neck.

You reached down and pulled his hair and he sucked your clit, his teeth barely grazing it as you cried out, back arching up. He licked from the bottom of your entrance to the top of your clit before dipping down as the tip of his tongue dipped into your entrance and he hummed as your slick entered his mouth. Your breathing got heavier, your moans were closer together.

He knew how close you were but he stayed at the same pace, not wanting to speed up and ruin your impending orgasm. "Baby, please," you begged. His eyes flicked up, they weren't the blue you saw in the mornings, they were darker, feral and needy. He took his hands off of your legs before grabbing your own so you could hold your legs up.

"Good girl," he murmured, and you shivered. Two fingers moved through your slick before he carefully pushed them in, feeling your walls clench. "Oh baby, you're close huh?" You nodded quickly before feeling his fingers hook up as his thumb rubbed your clit. "There you go, just feel it baby, don't fight it." His voice was enough to make you let go of the tension in your lower stomach as your orgasm came in waves. He continued to use his fingers and added his tongue to lick up your arousal, humming at the taste.

He watched and felt you come down from your high and he gently pulled his fingers out before looking at you and you giggled, putting your head on the bed. He laughed and hovered over you, "Good?" You scoffed, "You dick." He laughed and kissed you. You tasted yourself on his tongue and he tasted himself on your tongue. He pulled away first, "You want on top?" You nodded and he sat against the headboard and helped you mount his lap.

He kissed your chest, latching his lips around your nipple before pulling with his teeth and let go. He held the base of his cock before helping you sink down. "Good girl, go slow." You nodded, holding his shoulders for balance as you dug your nails into the skin and muscle. A minute or two passed and your hips were on his. His fingers gripped your hips tightly as he helped you bounce on his cock.

"Does that feel good, pretty girl?" You whimpered and nodded. You were still sensitive from your last orgasm and you knew it wouldn't be long before you had your second one. He brought his right hand to his face as he licked his thumb before placing it on your clit and rubbing small circles. He kept the pressure light so he wouldn't quickly overstimulate you.

You moaned, digging your nails in deeper, "Feels good, really fucking good." He smiled, "Yeah?" You nodded and bounced a little faster. He watched your entire body move before he let go of your hip and began pinching your nipple as well as running the pad of his finger over the peak. You let go of his shoulders, your nails scratching down his chest as you continued your movements on him.

"Fuck," he moaned at the feeling of you scratching him up. It didn't take long before the room was filled with the squelching sound that he was causing your pussy to make. Your thighs clapped against his and the springs in the mattress were creaking loudly, begging you to stop or slow down. "Billy," you chanted his name like a mantra the closer you got to another orgasm.

He pushed your back so you two were chest to chest. He moved so his knees were bent, and his feet were planted into the mattress as he began thrusting up into you. You grasped at him for leverage as he held you tightly. The pleasure was all-consuming as you bit into his pec to keep yourself quiet, not needing the entire neighborhood to hear you two going at it. He hissed in pain and pleasure at the feeling of your teeth on him. He knew you wouldn't break the skin as all of the blood in his body rushed to his dick and balls.

He went a little faster, his balls hitting your ass, giving you a new feeling to enjoy. "Squeezing my dick like a goddamn vice. Let go babe, I'm right here." His voice invaded all of your senses as you held him tighter and his own hands and arms held you tighter, his biceps bulging against your back.

You finally let go, your legs squeezing his body, your pussy contracted around him so he couldn't move. He held the back of your head to his chest as he watched you ride out your high. "There you go, that's a good girl." The aftershocks came soon after, your thighs shaking along with your body. "I'm almost done, baby. Can I keep going?" You nodded and he tsked with his tongue, "Words, come on," he said as he tapped your ass a few times.

"You can keep going." He nodded and kissed the top of your head before he continued his thrusts. They were softer, not wanting to hurt you but they got him stimulated enough that he came inside of you, painting your walls with his seed. His hips kept thrusting as he rode out his high, his breathing was ragged as he kept moaning your name along with swears.

You watched him, his brows were furrowed a tad, his face had a light sheen from sweat, his hair was a mess and you weren't sure how, but most of all, his pupils were blown out but as he came down from his high, you watched the blue slowly restore. His thumb rubbed your back as he looked down at you. "Did I hurt you?" You shook your head, "Not at all." He nodded and brought his hand under your chin as he pinched it to bring your lips to his.

You smiled against his lips before kissing him, squirming your way up his body so you could hold him better. "I love you." You smiled at the whispered confession that you had heard a million times over the past two years. "I love you too, B." He smiled and rubbed your back before pulling away from you.

It wasn't long before the two of you were cleaned up and cuddling on new bedsheets. His fingers traced down your back as you laid on his stomach, your hands beneath your head as you looked at him. "Can I pitch something to you and you shoot it down if you don't like it or don't think you'll be into it?" You nodded, your fingers lazily moving across his stomach.

"Do you think you'd ever be down to try anal?" Your eyes widened a little and he chuckled at your reaction. "Uh I don't know about you sticking your dick in my ass. Maybe a finger or two." He nodded, "Was just wondering." You nodded and moved so you were snuggling up to him. You yawned and threw your leg over his hip. "I'm taking a nap, you fucked me too good." He laughed and kissed your head before patting your back.

"I'll be right here when you wake up." You smiled sleepily, "Promise?" He smiled, "I promise." That was all the confirmation you needed before falling into a deep sleep in the arms of your lover.

[sara-the-wizard]

7 Day Camp Stay. Day: 1

okay, so this is part 2! (I know, this is confusing. Day 1 part 2, huuuuhhhh????)

Again, souly based on my camping trip. Most I changed was I turned into Donnie and minimizing 10 people onto 4.

Still wish I could be making some of this stuff up, but it was what it was. And it was still a good trip all in all. :)

Hope you enjoy Day: 1! (under the cut.)

7 Day Camp Stay

Day: 1

Three times he had woken up last night. But this time the sun was up. Donnie checked his phone for the clock. It was already 10:15. Donnie groaned. It was too cold to get up. He had his sleeping bag all nice a cozy! But what was the point in sleeping away the entire day? He reluctantly got out of his sleeping bag and quickly threw on his coat.

He unzipped the door and stumbled out of the tent. It was sunny, if anything. But the wind was atrocious! It was making the tent go haywire! He looked over and saw the others have had their breakfast. He walked over and stood next to the fire pit.

"I didn't start you any eggs cause you were still sleeping. You know, they would have gotten cold!"

Mikey waved his toungs around. Picking at the charcoal pieces that were still glowing red.

"I can start you some now if you'd like!"

Donnie looked at Mikey, then looked at the coals. The fire was completely out and he didn't want Mikey to have to build another fire just to cook a couple of eggs.

"No, no. It's okay. I'll have something else."

Donnie said as he walked over to the picnic table. He grabbed a couple pieces of bread and put a slice of cheese in between. It looked stupid, but it was a cheese sandwich none the less. Just not grilled. About an hour after having his breakfast, the others were starting lunch. Good-old turkey sandwiches! Without avocado this time.

"Hey, Donnie! Are you hungry?"

"No."

"Okay, we'll pack your sandwich away for later then!"

Donnie ran his finger through the dirt. He felt like he was missing something. Something he forgot to bring. No, it wasn't his lab. It wasn't even technology related. But he was missing it.

Throughout the day, Leo and Mikey were also finding that they had forgotten things they wish they brought along.

"Okay, okay! Fine!"

Raph flung his hands into the air and stood up from his camping chair.

"I can swing by the lair and grab some things for yall, okay? Now, what was it ya wanted?"

Mikey and Leo told him the various items. Raph knew he wouldn't remember all that so he had them write it down. Donnie was still sitting in the grass. Pulling out the grass blade by blade.

"Donnie, was there anything you wanted while I'm back at the lair getting these two guys their stuff?"

Raph knew it was a dangerous question, asking if Donnie wanted anything from home. He could ask for his entire lab, and Raph would have to tell him no. But Donnie seamed oddly quite. He nodded his head.

"Okay? Can you tell me?"

Donnie lifted his eyes to looked at Raph and shook his head.

"Okay then. I'll just bring you back with me so you can grab it yourself! Sound good?"

Donnie stood up and seamed like he was ready to go. So raph took Donnie back in the Taxi rocket to the lair with him. Raph had finished gathering the stuff on the list and went to find Donnie.

"Yo, Donnie! I'm done! Are you ready to go?"

Donnie came out of his room holding something small in his hands.

"Is that it?"

Raph asked because he was surprised Donnie didn't have a truckload of tech in his arms. Donnie nodded.

"... What is it?"

Donnie slowly opened his hands to reveal an Atomic Las action figure. It was silly that something so small and so simple felt like a lot more when you didn't have it near you. Raph chuckled slightly.

"That's all you want?"

Raph asked with a smile.

"Yeah."

"Okay, let's get this stuff over to the campsite!"

Soon they arrived back at camp where Mikey was already starting the fire to make dinner.

"Back so soon I see?"

"Yup! Here Leo, I gotcha your comic books."

"Thanks!"

"What are you making, Mikey?"

"Walking tacos! It's where you take a small bag of chips-"

Mikey proceeded to demonstrate.

"Put some ground beef in it. Put some cheese, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole-"

There was that avocado again. Something about 'guacamole' didn't sound very appatizing that day.

"Close the bag, mix it up, aaaand done! For you, Donnie!"

Donnie took the bag and peaked inside. It looked like a jumbled mess. But I mean, it smelled good! And he was kind of hungry sense he didn't actually eat that extra sandwich they made him. He took his food over to the picnic table and ate there. Mikey proceeded to serve everyone else too.

After they were done eating, Donnie picked up a bar of soap and was about to walk to the restrooms himself, until everyone else decided they had to go as well. So they all walked over to the restrooms. This wasn't so bad. It felt safer knowing his brothers were right there by his side. Mikey, being a typical younger brother, ran to the restroom. Either he was blowing off excess energy, or he really had to go that bad. That was a question only Mikey could answer.

Four entered the restrooms, but only three appeared to have come out. Raph and Leo were chittering there heads off. Donnie looked around and noticed Mikey was not with them.

"Where's Mikey?"

"Probably still in the bathroom."

Leo foulded his hands behind his head. Donnie stopped and turned around to confirm this probability. Opening the door, he peaked inside to see if he was washing his hands. Nope.

"Mikey? You still in here?"

...No answer. Donnie walked in and peaked under the stall doors to see if his feet were anywhere. Empty. Mikey was not in the restroom. He went back outside and checked around the restrooms. He wasn't there either. He quickly made his way back to the camp. Just when he was about to tell the others that he couldn't find Mikey, he found him snuggled up in an orange sleeping bag.

"Oh... Hi Dee! What's up?"

"I could have sworn you had went to the restrooms with us!"

"Oh, I did!"

"...Then how come I didn't see you exit?"

"Cause I was done before you even left the stall."

"Oh, Oh.. okay, I understand now. Sorry to bother you."

Donnie exited Raph and Mikeys tent and walked over to his he shared with Leo. Speaking of which, Leo was already in his sleeping bag and sound asleep! Guess it doesn't take much to run his energy battery down. Donnie quietly crawled into the tent and wiggled into his sleeping bag. The temperature should be warming that night. Somewhat of a relief for Donnie. He did not like the cold, at all.

...

30 minutes later, a horrible dizziness came over Donnie. It made his stomach turn. He shifted his position but nothing was helping. He looked at the tent as it swayed back and forth, back and forth. That didn't help at all! Quickly he scamper out of the tent. He felt like you could throw up at any given moment. His stomach settled down slightly once he was outside. But the wind was still howling. Sending shivers up and down his spine. Donnie decided he'd make a break for the restrooms. He grabbed the soap again and quickly rushed to the restrooms. The temperature was warmer that night by 20 degrees. Then why did it feel like it was freezing? His back tensed up and his teeth chattered so loud he could have woken up his brothers from a mile away!

He made it to the restrooms and quickly got inside. Again, he went into his little corner in the large restroom stall and took deep breaths. If he threw up now, at least he could easily clean it up. His throat felt thick. If he had just a little water to drink, that would fix everything, right? But he left his bottle at the tents. He then started thinking about the food he ate. At that very moment, food sounded like the most disgusting thing ever! Thinking about it made him feel sicker! He took in a few more deep breaths, hoping to calm the storm building up in his stomach. Slouching over made it hard to breathe, but sitting straight made his head spin. It was a lose-lose situation. All he could do was pray that it'd go away.

An hour he sat in that restroom stall. And finally, it felt like the dizziness left. He got up and briefly use the bathroom while he was there. Washing up, he could feel he wasn't so cold anymore. And when he walked outside, the temperature felt better. Still a little chilly, but it was manageable now. Donnie made it back to the tents. Opening up his tent door, he saw Leo, sleepily sitting up. Donnie stared at him, but Leo just stared into nothing. Before Donnie could ask if anything was wrong, Leo settled back down in his sleeping bag and pulled it up as high as it would go. Donnie saw that he looked a little cold sense he wasn't wareing his coat to sleep, as he usually would during camping. Donnie grabbed a small blanket from the side and draped it over. Leo stirred, but looked comfortable. Donnie proceeded to climb into his sleeping bag and drift off into sleep for the night.

____________

Ough boy! That was not a fun night, but I made it through!

If you enjoyed the story, then... yay? Good to know you love ✨️MiSeRy!✨️ (just kidding!)

Hope you have a wonderful day! Lord bless you! ❤️

Last x Next

[sky-is-the-limit]

Title: Inverness.

Summary: At the end of MW3, we see Price, Gaz and Ghost scattering Soap's ashes into the wind because he had no one back home. What if he did?

TW: Mentions of death, Grief, Angst, just pure sadness.

WC: 2.1k

You scrubbed the frying pan with an intensity that would have made your hands bleed if you could still feel them. The sponge grated against the metal but there wasn’t a single speck of dirt left to remove.

It gleamed just as it had every morning for the past five months, yet you kept at it, as if scrubbing could erase the nightmare that had become your life.

You didn’t want to think, didn’t want to feel, so you focused on the pan. This useless, spotless pan that he used to make you both breakfast that cursed morning.

The sound of the clock ticking gnawed at your nerves but you welcomed it. It was better than the silence that screamed in your ears, the silence that reminded you of everything you had lost. The same ritual, the same time, 7:05 a.m. Every single day.

Johnny’s face flashed before your eyes. How he looked that morning. Smiling, though you could see the worry in his eyes, deep into his features. You kissed him goodbye, your hands clinging to his uniform.

''Promise you’ll come back to me.'' You whispered, your voice barely more than a breath and he smiled, that crooked smile that always made your heart stutter, ''I always do.''

But promises were lies and you were a fool for believing them.

You hadn’t slept, not really, not since the nightmares began. Two, maybe three hours a night, if you were lucky. But even then, sleep was just another form of torture, bringing images you couldn't escape.

You saw him in your dreams, his body broken, bloodied in a thousand different ways. And no matter how much you screamed, no matter how desperately you reached for him, you could never save him. He was always just out of reach, just beyond your grasp, dying over and over again.

Then your hand slipped and the sponge clattered to the floor but you didn’t pick it up. You just stood there, staring at the wall, your breath hitching in your chest.

You should eat something, you knew that. You should go outside, feel the sun on your skin, breathe air that wasn’t thick with misery. But you couldn’t. The walls of your apartment had become your prison and you were too afraid to leave, too afraid of what waited for you outside.

Your friends had tried to help, bless them. They had come, one by one, sitting with you in that same kitchen, trying to coax you back to life. But nothing worked. Their voices were just noise, their concern an unbearable weight.

So you pushed them away, retreating further into the darkness, until the only company you had was this cursed frying pan and his ghost.

Turning your face to the side, your gaze drifted to the kitchen table, where the letter sat, still sealed, still untouched. What had arrived in his place, delivered by his Captain with a look that told you everything before he even opened his mouth.

The letter that contained words you couldn’t bear to read because once you did, it would all be real. Once you did, Johnny would be gone, truly gone, and you would be left with nothing but the ghost of a promise he couldn’t keep.

They say grief comes in waves and at first, they’re so overwhelming that you feel like you’re being pulled under. These waves hit unexpectedly, crashing into your sense of normalcy and flooding you with tears you thought you’d left behind.

But as long as the letter remained unopened, you could pretend. You could pretend that he was still out there, somewhere, alive and breathing, just waiting to come back to you.

It was a lie, you knew that but it was the only thing holding you together, the only thing keeping you from falling apart completely.

You couldn’t let him go. You weren’t ready. And maybe you never would be.

That day, life felt worth living, as if everything was falling into place without any effort. The sun was warm, the sky clear and your mind blissfully at peace. Johnny’s return was only days away and the thought of it made everything seem brighter.

You woke up that morning after a full eight hours of sleep and greeted the day with a smile, like always. Work had been the usual, nothing out of the ordinary and the evening was spent with friends, savoring every minute at your favourite corner cafe. There had been no reason to expect anything would change, that it would all come crashing down at exactly 6 p.m.

The knock on the door was unexpected, startling you from your thoughts. For a brief moment, you thought that Johnny would walk in but you paused, puzzled.

He had his own set of keys, so it couldn’t be him. Maybe it was the courier with that package you’d been eagerly awaiting, a little surprise wrapped in lace for when your boyfriend would return and so humming to yourself, you crossed the room.

Opening the door, your smile was ready, friendly and sweet, the kind you always wore when greeting strangers. The very first thing that made Johnny fall in love with you when he first met you.

However, the man on the other side wasn’t a courier or a familiar face.

He was tall, in his 40s if not more, though perhaps it was the untamed beard that added those extra years. He stood there in jeans and a black jacket, a beanie pulled low over his head.

For a moment, the thought crossed your mind that he might be a new neighbour, someone coming to introduce himself.

''Hi! Uh, Can I help you?'' You asked, welcoming, completely unaware of what was coming. He didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he stood frozen, like a statue, his expression a mask of unreadable emotions. Something about the way he hesitated, the way he just stared at you, began to chip away at your mood. Then, the envelope in his hand caught your eye and the world started to tilt.

''My name is John Price, ma’am-'' He finally said, tone low and controlled, though you could sense the strain in it. He paused, as if the next words were lodged in his throat, refusing to come out.

Everything after that moment was fragmented, slipping through your fingers like grains of sand. You faintly remembered him asking if he could come inside, his eyes reflecting a sadness that seemed to share in your grief. But it was not the same.

''I’m so sorry.'' The sympathy was genuine but it was also detached.

For him, Johnny was another soldier, a memory he would eventually leave behind.

For you? Johnny was everything. The beginning and the end of your world, the very essence of your existence. His death was not something you could ever move past. It was an abyss that consumed everything.

Price, was it? His name was Price. He placed a hand on your shoulder and squeezed. He kept apologizing, saying something about the funeral but the words were swallowed by pain.

As the door clicked shut behind him, the world around you fell apart. The room felt like it was collapsing in on itself, the walls closing in, pressing you into the earth.

A cry escaped your lips, raw and jagged, repeating over and over,

''No, no, no-'' The sound was guttural, a plea that couldn’t change anything but was all you could manage.

Falling to your knees, the floor seemed to rise up to meet you. Every breath was a battle, each inhale a ragged gasp that barely filled your lungs. Your hands clutched at your chest with a fierce desperation, gripping so tightly that the skin began to tear as memories started creeping through,

//

"I’m gonna take ye to the Highlands next summer." Johnny murmured and the smile in his voice was so vivid, you could almost see it without opening your eyes.

''Mm?'' The only reply you managed, a sleepy whisper against his skin.

"My dad’s side’s from Inverness-" He continued, his tone like a soft melody. "It’s so beautiful, lass. Ye hae to see it. I spent most summers there when I was a bairn."

A soft kiss on his neck was your only response, your eyes heavy with sleep.

''I’m gonna marry ye there.'' He declared, the promise as sweet as his voice.

Sleep had already pulled you under, leaving his words hanging in the air. The last thing you felt was the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart and the dream of a future that felt as certain as his arms holding you.

//

Finally, the pan was set aside, the water dripping off your numb fingers. They felt like they were encased in ice after being wet for so long and your throat was parched, having gone without water for hours.

If Johnny was here, he would be furious. He’d lecture you about not eating enough then insist on cooking your favourite pasta dish, all while talking your ears off with his affectionate scolding. He would take care of you, as he always did.

The letter still sat on the kitchen table, mocking you with its presence. No amount of wishing could make it disappear. It was a cruel reminder of what you couldn’t escape. You weren’t sure what was inside. Perhaps a confirmation of his death, or a note from his supervisors but the uncertainty terrified you.

In the quiet, as if Johnny’s presence was a whisper against your ear, you heard his voice, soft and reassuring, ''Dinnae be afraid, lass.. Ye have to open it. Ye have to set me free.''

Tears streamed down your cheeks as you moved closer to the wooden surface and the letter was now within reach, a final step toward confronting the truth you had been too afraid to face. The weight of it seemed almost unbearable before a ghostly encouragement echoed in your mind.

''Ye can do this, baby.''

Listening to him one last time, you reached for the envelope, your heart pounding in your chest. With a deep breath, you ripped it open, pulling out a piece of paper that was clearly torn from a larger sheet. The paper wasn’t formal, it was barely a ragged scrap.

''My Dearest,

I hope this letter finds you well, though I wish I was there to see your smile in person. I miss you terribly.

Every day here in England feels like hell, endless rain everywhere. I swear, the weather’s enough to make a Scotsman lose his patience! I keep dreaming about the day I can sit in that little pub next to our apartment, with a cold beer in hand, and laugh about how much I hate the English… weather, of course.

I wish I could be there right now, to hold you and tell you how much I love you. It’s not easy being away from you, and I’m counting the days until I can see you again.

I know things are hard right now but please remember I’m doing everything I can to stay safe. I have to remind you, though, with this shitty job, there’s always a chance I might not make it back. But I promise, I’m fighting to come home to you.

If something does happen and I don’t make it home, there’s something for you in my nightstand. I was saving it to give to you myself, but if I’m not there, I want you to go into our bedroom and get it.

It’s not meant to hold you back or keep you in the past if I’m not here. It’s a promise—a reminder that I will love you forever, in this life and the next one.

I love you more than words can say and I can’t wait to be with you again.

Yours always,

Johnny."

Sobs wracked your body uncontrollably as you clutched the letter to your chest, desperate to keep your tears from staining its precious words.

With shaky breaths, you began walking towards the bedroom, as if Johnny's voice was gently instructing your every move. You placed the letter gently on his pillow and sat on the edge of the bed. It felt right, a final gesture of love and farewell.

You had to do this, for him and for yourself.

With trembling hands, you opened the nightstand, the drawer sliding open with a hesitant creak. Inside, nestled in the shadows, was a small blue box. Underneath it, a postcard. Inverness.

The sight of it made your breath hitch. You already knew what was inside and the realization cut through you like a knife.

Slowly, with a sense of dread, you opened it.

There it was. A beautiful silver ring, its band engraved with intricate floral patterns on the inside.

With trembling hands, you slid the silver ring onto your finger. The cool metal felt strange but the emerald sparkled softly in the dim light, though you didn't pay it much attention. Instead, you laid down on Johnny’s pillow, you let your tears soak into the fabric. His scent was still there, somehow. Maybe you'd imagined it.

As you closed your eyes, you promised him. You'd carry on, for him and for you. You'd carry on and visit Inverness with him, so he would rest there.

[inky-writing]

Chapter 7: Cato's Return

Cato Hadley x reader

Warnings: sparing, weapons, blood, kills, violence, fear, dictatorship, it’s the Hunger Games lol

Word count: 1,628

Masterlist

<<< Previous part

Cato stepped out of the car and into the quiet stillness of the Victory Village.

It was early morning, the sun just starting to spill golden light over the rooftops of District 2. Birds chirped lazily in the pines lining the pristine cobbled paths. Everything here was perfect—too perfect. The Capitol’s idea of a reward was opulence drenched in silence. Luxury soaked in isolation.

The manor they gave him was enormous.

Larger than his family’s already-impressive home. Two floors taller. Twice the square footage. Marble stairs that gleamed like glass. A dining room that could seat thirty. A stone hearth in nearly every room. The kitchen looked like something out of a dream. Staff quarters—staff, for him. A training room. A private study. A library. A soaking tub that could easily fitting two persons. Polished floors, velvet curtains, a master suite with a four-poster bed too big for even two people.

It wasn’t a house. It was a cage padded in silk.

Cato didn’t speak as he walked through it. The only sound came from the clicking of his boots on tile. His mother and father trailed behind him. His mother touched everything like she didn’t believe it was real. His father said nothing at all, just observed it with a sharp, almost cold stare.

Brutus met him there, waiting in the front lounge like he’d always owned the place.

“Well,” Brutus said, looking around. “Fitting for a Victor.”

Cato didn’t respond.

“You have half an hour. Then we go to the Grand Square. The whole town will be there. And cameras.” His voice lowered as he stepped close. “And remember—keep the mask on. You’re not the boy who fought in the arena. You’re what the Capitol made. Never forget that.”

Cato’s jaw tensed, but he nodded.

Half an hour later, he was in another car, the manor shrinking behind him as the vehicle rolled toward the Square. People were already gathering in droves, the entire place decked in banners of crimson and black, the Victor’s colors. His colors. The Capitol anthem played loud over the speakers. Children waved flags. His name echoed in the air, loud and chanting. Flowers were thrown.

He stood on the stage, lights blinding, watching his district cheer for him like he hadn’t just murdered twenty-three teenagers. Like they didn’t care Clove had died. Like the blood meant nothing because it had bought them glory.

He smiled the way Brutus told him to.

He waved.

He gave a short, fierce speech written by someone else.

And then he left.

That night, the celebration carried on without him. Music drifted into the hills from the town square, the smell of roasted meat and smoke hanging in the air. He sat on the edge of his bed, the window cracked just slightly.

He couldn’t take it anymore.

The silence.

The way they all looked at him.

The emptiness of the house.

The mask was suffocating him, and there was only one person in the world who might make it bearable.

He changed into a dark hoodie and pants, pulled the hood low, and crept down the back hall of the manor. Past the prep room. Past the study. He unlocked the window with the quiet precision that burned into him and slipped outside, boots hitting the ground with a soft thud.

No one saw him.

At least, he hoped not.

The streets were mostly empty. Celebrations still raged in the center of town. He kept to the shadows, taking the long way around the main square, cutting through back gardens and alleys until he reached the neighborhood he knew like his own pulse.

Her house.

The lights were off in the front room, but there was a faint glow upstairs.

Cato stood there for a long time, under the shadow of the trees. His heart was thundering.

Did she watch the interview?

Did she see the truth?

Or did she hate him now?

Did she think he had become the monster he pretended to be?

He didn’t know if she would open the door. He didn’t know what he would even say if she did.

But he stepped forward anyway. He needed her to see the boy beneath the victor. Even if it was just once.

The night air was cool and damp against Cato’s skin as he stood beneath Y/N’s window, the soft yellow light glowing behind the curtain like a beacon.

It was the only warmth he’d felt in days.

He hesitated just a moment, his fingers flexing at his sides, then grabbed the edge of the trellis running along the side of her house. It wasn’t made for climbing, but he scaled it like he’d been born for it. He didn’t slip once.

His boots landed on the narrow ledge outside her window.

He raised a fist, hovered it over the glass for a moment that felt like forever… and knocked.

The curtain shifted.

And then there she was.

Her eyes wide. Lips parted in shock. Her expression unreadable.

For a second, neither of them moved.

Then she unlatched the window.

“Cato…” she breathed, her voice barely audible as she stepped aside and let him climb in.

His boots touched her carpet, and for a moment, he didn’t move. His chest rose and fell like he’d just finished a marathon. The hood still shadowed his face. He was dripping with the weight of everything he had carried since the Arena. Since the night he mourned Clove. Since the moment he raised the sword that made him a killer and a hero.

He looked up at her.

And cracked.

His shoulders shook first. Then a low sound escaped him—broken, raw. Not loud, not sobbing. Not the kind of grief that could fill a room.

The quiet kind.

The kind that buried itself under skin and stayed there for years.

The kind that no one in the Capitol could ever use against him.

Tears slipped down his face silently as he stood there, fists clenched at his sides. He couldn’t stop them. He didn’t want to anymore.

“I couldn’t do it anymore,��� he whispered, voice rough. “I couldn’t—breathe in that house.”

Y/N stepped closer, barefoot, wearing an oversized sweater and shorts, like she’d just been curled up in bed. Her hand trembled as she reached out to him, unsure, scared maybe.

But the moment her fingers touched his wrist, he moved.

He moved forward and wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder like he was desperate for something to hold onto.

And she held him back.

Without words. Without hesitation.

She curled her arms around his back, pressed her cheek into his chest. He was trembling. Hot tears soaked into her sweater.

“I killed them,” he said into her hair. “I watched them all die. I made it happen. And everyone cheered.”

Y/N’s throat tightened, her eyes burning.

“I wanted to tell you,” he whispered. “That night. When you kissed me. I wanted to tell you I was going to volunteer. But I was scared. I thought if I told you… you’d try to stop me. Or hate me.”

She shook her head, her arms tightening around him. “I wouldn’t have hated you.”

“I was so afraid they’d hurt you,” he said, voice cracking. “If they knew. If the Capitol knew how much I loved you… they’d use you. They’d ruin you just to control me.”

Her breath caught.

Loved.

He said it like it had always been there.

Like it wasn’t even a question.

“I kept thinking about you,” he whispered. “Every second in the arena. Every night. Every time I had to act like… like that thing they wanted me to be. I kept thinking about your eyes. Your voice. The way you fight like you were born with a sword in your hand.”

She was crying now too, quietly. No sobs. Just silent tears down her cheeks.

“I hated Selene,” he added, bitterly. “Every time I flirted back, I felt like I was betraying you. But Brutus said it would help. Sponsors. Safety. If I acted like I didn’t care about anything, they’d never see what mattered to me.”

“Cato…” she whispered.

“I didn’t want to survive if I had to become someone else. But then I remembered you. And I kept going. Because I thought… maybe if I survived, I’d come back. And you’d still see the real me. Even after everything.”

She leaned back just enough to cup his face in her hands. His cheeks were damp, eyes red-rimmed and puffy. Still beautiful. Still hers.

“I saw you,” she whispered. “I never stopped seeing you.”

He let out a breath like it was the first real one he’d taken in weeks. He leaned his forehead to hers, eyes closed, their noses almost touching.

“I love you,” he murmured again, just for her this time. “I always have.”

She didn’t answer with words. She just kissed him—soft and steady and sure.

Not like that kiss the night of the party. Not confused. Not impulsive. Not drunk.

But real.

The kind of kiss that says: I waited for you.

When they finally parted, he was breathing easier. The weight hadn’t vanished—but she was carrying it with him now. And that was everything.

She led him to her bed, quiet and small and warm, and he lay down beside her. Fully clothed. Nothing more than closeness. Her hand rested on his chest, right over the scar from the Games. His hand wrapped around hers.

And for the first time since he stepped into that arena...

Cato slept.

Next part >>>

Tag list: @inky-bonnie @russianspy24 @whitlocklibrary @simpingcorner @mischivana @meiisamotherbitch

[thatacotargirl]

Flower of the Dawn Court

Please enjoy this little oneshot 🌼🌸

Summary: It is Thesan's wedding day and all of Prythian seems to have been invited. His daughter's, y/n and Dalia, have played wedding planners ahead of their father's big day; but nothing ever goes to plan when the 7 High Lords come together.

This oneshot is set at the beginning of A Court of Mist and Fury.

Reader's POV

It was a beautiful, warm morning in Dawn Court. The sun had slowly started to rise over the horizon, the birds were singing their love songs quietly, the tune carried by the breeze. You were stood on the balcony of your bedroom, a coffee in hand, enjoying the peacefulness of nature before the day fully erupted.

Today was your father's wedding day. After his experiences under the mountain, he hadn't waited a single second before letting the Captain know his true feelings and the pair agreed to marry as soon as feasibly possible. The wedding was the first to take place since Amarantha was slain and it felt like all of Prythian had been invited to Dawn, including the remaining 6 High Lords.

A door opens to my left and I turn to see Dalia, my sister, appear with a steaming cup of coffee to join me. Dalia and I were adopted by Thesan as babies when we were left on his doorstep. Dalia arrived a few months before I did, but Thesan treated us like we were his own flesh and blood; raising us in Dawn amongst the greats. Rumour had it that Dalia was even next in line to inherit the title of High Lady of Dawn, despite not being a blood relation. I grin at my sister as she reaches out an arm to embrace me.

"I can't believe the day is finally here", she says, pulling me closer into her side.

"He deserves this, every bit of happiness the world can offer him and more". Dalia nods her head in agreement as we gaze out over the gardens, watching the staff begin to set up the arch and the seats for the ceremony.

Turning the my wardrobe, I pull out the dress that was custom made for today. A beautiful shade of deep crimson with golds heels and jewellery to match. Dalia was to wear similar, only hers was a deep shade of blood orange. We looked magnificent.

"Time to get ready", I grin to my sister, as she rushes forward to pull her dress from the hanger.

Several hours later and both Dalia and I were dressed and ready, our hair and make-up perfect. We watched with tears in our eyes as Thesan and the Captain shared their first moment of seeing each other dressed for their wedding, and took more photos than there were stars in the sky as our newfound family of 4. We could hear the hustle and bustle of guests arriving and taking their seats, and soon the bell called to let us know it was time for the ceremony to begin.

"I love you girls with all my heart", my father said, pulling Dalia and I in for a hug. When we finally let him go, he walked to the entranceway and began his walk up the aisle.

Dalia and I were next. Our heritage remained unknown, with neither of us caring too much to know more about the family that had abandoned us, but it was clear from which court's we heralded. Dalia was without a doubt a descendant of the Day Court, her power to wield sunbeams could rival even the most talented magic in her native lands. I, however, was born of Spring; and beheld the power to command flowers. Dalia used to tease me that I had the 'flower power' when we were children, especially when our father was teaching us how to manage our powers and I accidentally caused flowers to bloom from every wall, floor, and ceiling of the Dawn Court palace. One time I even bloomed a flower from the top of my head and couldn't quite grasp my magic enough to make it vanish - leaving me with a real-life flower crown for several days. Thankfully, Dalia and I had mastered our powers eventually, and could put them to good use today.

Arms linked, we walked down the aisle, smiling around to our many guests. Dalia commanded the sunlight to shine down and spotlight our father, with wisps of sunbeams dancing around the garden to the tune of the choir. With soft gestures of my arms, I yielded flowers from my fingertips, allowing them to fall from the sky amongst the seats and along the aisle. As we rounded off to the alter, kissing our father's cheeks as we went, we watched as the Captain appeared at the entrance of the walkway.

The ceremony was nothing short of jaw-droppingly beautiful, and the crowd roared with delight as our father and the Captain were pronounced married. The 4 of us embraced at the altar and we walked hand in hand back down the aisle towards the evening celebrations.

On arrival at the reception, with a glass of champagne in hand, Dalia and I made our way around the guests to welcome them to Dawn. The High Lords had all agreed to attend and many were staying in rooms at the palace tonight, allowing them to indulge in the festivities to their heart's content. Only Kallias of Winter and Beron of Autumn were leaving tonight; Kallias to return home with his heavily pregnant wife, and Beron because - well - he's Beron.

A brief disagreement caught our attention as we turned in the direction of the Night Court table. Rhysand and his Inner Circle were all present for the wedding, as was Rhysand's plus one - Feyre Cursebreaker. It was made public soon after what happened under the mountain that Rhysand and Feyre had made a bargain that she stay at the Night Court for a week per month, and it looked like Rhysand had decided to take that week now, stealing Feyre as his guest to the wedding so that Tamlin wasn't able to. Dalia chuckled, clearly enjoying the drama of it all. Honestly, Prythian was slowly turning into a real-life drama production these days.

We approached their table to greet them, bowing to Rhysand and offering our hand to the Inner Circle members.

"Thank you for attending the wedding, High Lord", Dalia offered, her head still bowed as she addressed Rhysand.

"It was our pleasure, Dalia, thank you for inviting us. The ceremony was wonderful", he replied.

As you made your way around the table, greeting each member, you reached out a hand to greet Feyre. Although she sat with a frown on her face, her body caved inwards and away from Rhysand, she offered out her hand to shake yours.

"Thank you for coming, Feyre", you offered gently. You felt her hand untense in yours as you addressed her personally, and she relaxed her posture slightly.

"It was a beautiful day. Your's and your sister's powers are really something else, I know my sister Elain would love to be able to create flowers at her whim".

You smile as you withdraw your hand and Feyre looks up to meet your eyes. You see her's widen and she quietly gasps. Not quietly enough, however, to evade the notice of everyone sat at the table, who turn to look at you with confusion.

"Is everything ok, Feyre?" you ask with concern, taking a step backwards in case you startled her.

"I'd know those eyes anywhere".

You look at her your face laced with confusion, as you turn to look at Dalia for assistance. She offers you a shrug as you both turn to Rhysand, hoping for an explanation. He, too, however, looks completely at a loss.

"Feyre?", he asks, reaching out a hand to touch her shoulder. The entire table is silent, waiting for Feyre to respond, but her eyes remain frozen on yours.

"Feyre?", you try, crouching down to be in front of her seat.

"I'd know those eyes anywhere", she repeats. "I fell in love with them".

The entire table exchanges confused glances, now becoming concerned that Feyre is speaking in tongues and not making any sense. You stand and turn to Rhysand, about to offer to get Thesan in case Feyre needed a healer, when Amren, Rhysand's second in command, also gasps.

"By the Cauldron", is all she could get out, looking past your shoulder to the crowd behind you.

You turn, trying to find the source of Amren's shock, only to lock eyes with a pair of matching emerald ones that were staring back at you, widened in surprise. Eyes that mirrored yours in every way. Eyes that could belong to no one other than your biological father.

The High Lord of Spring.

[viesanterieures]

𝐓𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 | 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏.

William Killick (The Edge of Love) x fem Reader

next chapter

note: This story is set in May 1936, William is about 27 and it takes place years before the actual movie.

summary: William Killick takes a break from his London life and spends a few weeks at the country estate of the wealthy Hallward family. The family take an instant liking to William and try to get him to marry their beautiful daughter Norma. Also on the estate is the reader, who works as a maid. When William receives anonymous poems, he ends up falling in love with the mysterious writer instead of Norma.

word count: 2000+

warnings: … none!

masterlist

"Excuse me sir, we've reached the end of the line." Yawning, William opened his eyes as he heard a voice behind him and stretched sleepily, curious to see who was speaking to him. A woman in a uniform with a dark skirt and matching hat stood beside him. "Are we there yet... What time is it?" he asked her. "It's just after half past seven, sir," the train attendant replied with a friendly smile. As William straightened up in his seat and then saw that the landscape before him had changed from the brown roofs of London to green hills and beautiful mountain scenery with small lakes. "My God... I must have slept for hours." The train attendant smiled at him kindly and wished him a good journey.

William felt the train slow down and grabbed his suitcase from the luggage rack. Once outside, he set it down on the floor and took a deep breath. The air smelled fresh and the wind blew through his hair. Although he had never been to this place before, he had the strange feeling that he belonged here. He closed his eyes for a moment. The orange light of the setting sun shone through his eyelids. The green hills of the Scottish Highlands stretched out before him, surrounded by a light mist. Green meadows, colourful flowers and streams dominated the landscape. The sky was cloudless and the air smelled of fresh moss. William could hardly look away. It was so different from London. The grass rustled softly under his shoes as he made his way to his accommodation for the next few weeks.

Curious, he looked up at the big building. It was built entirely of stone, with small windows adorned with red, ivy-covered shutters that glowed in the evening sun. William dragged his suitcase up the stairs that led to a wide wooden door. The muffled sound filled the silence as William knocked on the door. It opened with a squeak to reveal an older, very elegantly dressed lady with shoulder-length curly hair.

"Good evening, you must be our new guest, Mr Killick, aren't you?" Her voice sounded friendly and welcoming. "That’s right. And you must be Margaret Hallward, the owner of the estate," William replied. The lady nodded. "I am. Come in, you must have travelled a long way, sir." William followed her into the warm house. Mrs Hallward disappeared for a moment behind a wooden counter and handed William a key. "Room seven is yours. The dining room is in the ground floor and the common room is on the second floor. Breakfast is tomorrow from seven to half past eight. YN, would you be so kind as to accompany our guest to his room? And take some of his luggage."

"Of course, Mrs Hallward," a quiet voice sounded behind them, and William turned around curiously. In front of them stood a young woman in a red apron and white blouse. William smiled kindly at her. "No, wait, I can carry that," he interrupted her when she tried to take the suitcase off. Shrugging her shoulders, she finally gave up and told William to follow her. They walked along a corridor decorated with old paintings and photos of the country estate and stopped in front of a room door with the number 7.

"Thank you so much, Ma'am," he said, putting the room key in the lock. The young woman smiled and wished him a good night before disappearing without another word.

****

William had slept very well that night. It was probably because he was quite tired from the long journey. When he finally entered the dining room for breakfast, it was already quite full. He took an empty seat at a table where an elderly man was still sitting, reading a newspaper.

"Tea, sir?" It was the young woman again who had shown him his room yesterday. "Yes, thank you“, he said. "What was your name again?"

"YN," she said quietly, and poured some tea into a small cup.

"Beautiful name."

William could clearly see her cheeks turning slightly pink at the words. "Thank you, sir." But they were interrupted by Mrs Hallward, who approached the table with a big smile. "Good morning, Mr Killick! Did you sleep well?"

"Very well, Mrs Hallward," he replied. "I don't think I've slept as well as I did this morning for months. So I'm really going to enjoy my holiday."

"I'm glad to hear that." She laughed. "Oh, I'd like to introduce you to someone, wait a moment please " She turned to one of the tables and called out in a loud voice. "Norma! Will you come here, please?"

"Yes, Mother." Another woman joined them at the table, she was about a year or two younger than William. She had white-blonde hair, red lips and was wearing an elegant purple dress with ornate embroidery. She was very pretty, William realised.

"Mr Killick, this is my daughter Norma. She lives in Glasgow at the moment, but is here for a few weeks. She grew up at the country estate. If you like, she can show you around the neighbourhood and the town."

"It would be an honour. How about we meet outside the estate at three this afternoon?," Norma chuckled softly as she twirled a strand of her blonde hair between her fingers. William was very happy about the Hallward's hospitality and gratefully accepted the offer.

"But now we won't bother you any longer, Mr Killick. Enjoy your breakfast," Mrs Hallward said with a smile as she took Norma's arm and led her away from the table. As they walked, he heard them whispering to each other, catching bits of sentences like 'isn't he lovely' or 'he looks like a prince from a fairytale'.

Slowly, William turned in the direction where YN had last been, but she was gone.

***

William spent the morning in the garden of the country estate, sitting on one of the benches beneath a cherry tree. The weather was warm, and the birds chirped softly in the treetops. Eventually, he closed his book and stood up to return to the house. As he passed one of the large flower beds, he paused. He saw a person sitting there, gardening.

"Nice to see you again, Ms YN," he said kindly. She didn't seem to notice his arrival and flinched when she heard his voice behind her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," William apologised immediately. "It’s alright, sir," she said, turning her attention back to the bed.

"Call me William, please."

She immediately looked at him in surprise. She had never expected that. A gust of wind came up and brushed through William's dark hair, and his bright blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

"Shall I help you?" he asked her, pointing to the bucket of weeds. She immediately declined his offer. "No, William, you're here on holiday. Not to work." William shrugged. "Anything where I don't have to be in London is a holiday for me. I really love this city, it's my home. But sometimes I really need to go somewhere else." YN nodded briefly. "I've never been to London or any other big city. I imagine it's stressful."

He laughs and shrugs. "I can't deny that it's stressful sometimes." Slowly he knelt down beside her and began to pluck the weeds from the ground in front of him. "You don't have to do that," she said quickly. "It's okay," William replied quietly, continuing to work.

YN laughed. "This has never happened to me before. A guest helping me with my work. If Mrs Hallward finds out, she'll scold me." William smiled a little. "Tell her I did it voluntarily. "You already have enough work." When they were finished, the young woman smiled briefly, then took off her gloves, stood up and reached for the bucket. "I have to go now."

"Wait, don’t you want to stay here a bit longer?" William asked hastily.

"Sorry, I've still got a lot to do. But thank you for helping me, that was very kind of you." She waved goodbye to William and finally turned round. William looked at her for a moment, a bit disappointed. Then he glanced at his pocket watch and flinched. It was ten minutes past three, Norma was probably already waiting for him.

He quickly grabbed his book that was laying in the grass and hurried to the front gate. Norma was waiting there, her arms crossed over her chest, looking at him with raised eyebrows as he finally greeted her completely out of breath. "Sorry I'm late."

She finally smiled and said in a friendly voice, "It's okay." Her hair was pinned up in an elegant braid, her lipstick was the same colour as the new pastel pink dress she was wearing, and she carried a matching handbag.

"I was in the garden talking to YN. I must have lost track of time."

One of her blonde eyebrows immediately raised again and she looked at him as if he had just said something completely stupid. "You're talking to household staffs? They're working for us, it’s far below our class."

He looked at her, confused. "But why shouldn't I talk to her? She's really nice."

Norma stayed silent, grabbed his arm and pulled him along without a word. She led him through the Scottish Highlands, down a small forest path, until the roofs of houses appeared in the distance. This had to be Tobermory. The air smelled of salty sea and a fresh breeze as they walked along Tobermory's coastal road, lined with colourful houses. High mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks shrouded in a gentle mist. "Wow, it's beautiful!" marveled William.

"I know, right?" Norma replied giggling, taking his hand and pulling him towards a small café.

"My aunt works there," she said. "She makes the best cakes." They entered the café and sat down on a corner bench by a small window. "Norma, how lovely to see you again." A lady with bright red hair came up to them and pulled her niece into her arms, laughing. When she noticed William, she looked him over from head to toe, smiled and turned back to her niece. "And who is that handsome young man next to you? Did you meet him in Glasgow?" Norma shook her head, laughing. "No. He's a guest of Mother's. She asked me to show him around."

"Oh, how lovely. You know, Norma, it's time for you to get married. Can I bring you both some of my Dundee cake?" William frowned slightly when she mentioned marriage. Did the Hallwards already see him as their future son in law?

They spent the rest of the afternoon in the little café, William telling Norma about his home in London, his job, his family, and she seemed to be very interested. But William hadn't forgotten her nasty comment about YN. He was torn by Norma.

After they said goodbye that evening, William went to his room tired. In the corridor he saw Mrs Hallward talking excitedly to YN. "You forgot to fluff up the pillows in Room 9! How many times do I have to tell you?" she snapped at her in a harsh tone.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Hallward, I..." But she didn't let YN finish, because when she noticed William, she put on a big smile again: "Oh, Mr Killick, how nice to see you. Did you have a nice day with Norma?"

"Yes, I did, thank you for asking," he replied. He looked at YN, but she avoided his gaze, holding a white sheet in her arms.

"You know, Norma is still not married and we're looking for a suitable husband for her. Or do you already have a wife?" Mrs Hallward wanted to know. William shook his head slowly.

"She is such a beautiful young woman. But no man has ever met her standards. You're the first one she has shown interest in", the lady explained to him. "Come, YN, you need to get back to work now, the dishes need to be washed."

"Good night, William," YN said to him as he walked past, nodding to him.

"Good night," he replied.

As soon as he entered his room, he took off his jacket and shirt and yawned softly. He intended to read, but he was so tired that he just wanted to lie down in bed. Suddenly he heard something crunching under his feet and looked down in surprise. There was a small piece of white paper under his shoe. Someone must have slipped it through the gap under his door. He bent down and picked it up carefully. It was no bigger than William's hand, made of good quality and written in black ink.

Holding his breath, William began to read:

𝓣𝓸 𝓦𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓶 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮

ℐ𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑔𝒶𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝒹𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝒶 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒.

𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀 𝒽𝒶𝒾𝓇 𝒻𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒, 𝒷𝓁𝓊𝑒 𝑒𝓎𝑒𝓈 𝓇𝑒𝒻𝓁𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝒸𝑒.

ℋ𝒾𝓈 𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽, 𝒽𝑒'𝓈 𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝑔𝑒𝓃𝓊𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒, 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒.

Confused, he turned the letter over in his hands. Was it from Norma? But she had been with him all afternoon, hadn't she? Who else was writing him poems?

****************************************************

Thank you so much for reading! If you want a part 2, let me know! 🖤

[ukulelevillainwrites]

who follows the rules anyway?

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9

final part

pairing: anthony lockwood x reader

word count : 6.3k

note: so here we are, some 8 months later this series is done! having mixed feelings rn but anyway i'm so glad i got to share this with you guys and there's a lot more to come

taglist: @demigoddess-of-ghosts ; @sub-text ; @mothman21 ; @aislinrayne ; @oblivious-idiot ; @neewtmas ; @maraschinomerry ; @bella-rose29 ; @bobbys-not-that-small ; @novelizt ; @fudosl ; @archiveoftara ; @cassiopeiia24

[from Lockwood’s pov]

It was still early when he started to emerge from his dreamless sleep. The few hours of rest he managed to get weren’t enough to drown out the confusion that had taken over his thoughts ever since Barnes had showed up yesterday. The sun wasn’t up yet. Time stood still and everything was quiet. He tossed and turned trying to fall back asleep but the blinking of the ghost lamp around the corner kept lighting up his room in a soft fluorescent light.

After y/n had gone up to the attic yesterday, he had stayed with George discussing new plans. They had spent dinner going over their notes from the previous weeks, their scribbling blackening the white cloth with new ideas. The problem was that they needed to take on new cases and planning for the party had already exhausted them. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that Dufour would have to wait a few more weeks until they were ready to strike again. The plate George had prepared for her was going cold and not seeing her come down, Lockwood had tried to bring it up for her. He had been relieved to find her fast asleep and not brooding about Barnes’ news. Even though she had woken up late after the night they spent at the fundraiser, she hadn’t seemed to be doing so great. He really hoped it was the champagne and not something else.

Thinking back to the night before, it was a miracle she had talked to him at all that afternoon. He had tried from the very beginning to separate work from his personal life. Whatever was the nature of his feelings towards her, whether it be hatred or otherwise, they had to have each other’s back in the field and that was all that mattered. Somehow, she still managed to tear down his walls of defense. Saying he had lost control at that party would have been an understatement. From the moment her lips stained his cheek red, all logic flew out the window. Between his proximity, his jealousy and the few terms of endearment that had slipped his mouth during the night, he had turned their working relationship into a minefield without a doubt.

She had rolled over, interrupting his train of thoughts. He had looked at her with fondness while she stretched in her sleep before settling back on her side. He then had gone back downstairs, thinking that rest would probably do her some good. He hadn’t had the opportunity to bring her even more bad news that night. But now here he was, the following day, with this unpleasant discussion still ahead of him and it certainly wasn’t going to let him fall back asleep. He reluctantly pushed his blanket away and pulled his grey hoodie over his head.

After his usual breakfast tea, and a second mug for comfort, Lockwood paced around the library while he waited for y/n to wake up. He had to tell her she wouldn’t get her revenge any time soon, the sooner the better. But did he really have to? The last time he refused to help her they had one of their worst fights. He certainly didn’t want that to happen again. All he wanted was for them to get along. That was a lie. What he really wanted was for her to look at him with the same fondness she had the night before, even just for an instant. He wanted her to tell him what she had meant when she’d admitted she had let her feelings get the best of her. He wanted to hold her in his arms again. What a mistake this had been. The three of them would go under if they didn’t take on new cases soon. And they would all have him to blame, just because he let his feelings get in the way of his work.

When he looked back at the clock on the wall, it was already 8:30. y/n had been supposedly asleep for twelve hours now. Granted she didn’t look too well yesterday, she still should have been awake by now.

For the third time, he went back to the kitchen for another mug of tea. He ran towards the door when he finally heard footsteps coming that way. He was greeted with George’s disheveled look instead of the person he was expecting to see. His smile faltered and he went back to standing next to the counter without saying a word.

“Good morning to you too…”

He poured his friend a cup of tea as a form of apology.

“Sorry,” he said while handing it to him, “I thought you were y/n”

George stared at him with a torn expression, hesitating between a snide comment or a sarcastic joke. He took a sip of his tea and sighed.

“She’s been asleep for a while now.”

Before Lockwood could share his worry, a knock on the front door interrupted him.

“Did we have any appointments scheduled today?”

“No, the last one I scheduled is tomorrow at 10”

He frowned and went back up the few steps and answered the door. Lucy and Norrie smiled at him, brandishing a dessert box from the corner shop.

“Lucy, you shouldn’t have. We owe everything to you. I should be the one buying you doughnuts.”

“It’s not too late for that!” She winked.

“Did everything go well with DEPRAC?” Norrie asked.

“Well…” He hesitated. “Not exactly. Come in.”

He ushered them inside, explaining the talk they had with Barnes the day before.

“How did she take it?” Norrie asked about y/n.

“I’m not sure…”

Lucy placed the box of treats on the small table in the hall to take off her coat and knocked over some of the items lying there.

Apologizing, she bent down to retrieve them. She put them back and handed Lockwood a camera film.

“You shouldn’t let that lie around out of its wrapping paper, the dust could damage it.”

“What’s this?”

“I don’t know I knocked it over just then.”

He put it in his pocket, wondering where it could have come from, and looked nervously at the clock in the living room. Lucy hung her coat in the hall before taking back the box they had brought and making her way into the kitchen. It took him a second to realize that her coat was hanging in the spot where y/n’s usually was. He looked down and noticed her shoes weren’t there either. Either she had gone to bed with them, or something was wrong. And he had a hunch it was the latter. He didn’t think twice and climbed the steps two by two in a rush to the attic. As he had suspected, her bed was empty. It had been a long time since she had bailed on them, and he thought he wouldn’t have to handle this kind of situation anymore. But apparently, he had failed to see how much this issue affected her. Barnes had told her explicitly to not go look for evidence herself and she had done the exact opposite. Though it would be unfair to blame her for it, he probably would have done the same thing. He rushed back downstairs and stormed into the kitchen.

“y/n is gone.”

The serious look on his face was enough to make the room go silent.

“Where could she be?” Lucy asked, worried.

“Considering this,” he tossed the camera film from earlier to George, “I’m going to guess she went to get evidence herself last night.”

Another silence stretched as they all considered his words. George seemed to shut down. He stared at the table without a word. When his eyes came back into focus, he asked

“When do you think she left?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t hear anything. Did you?”

“I thought I heard something, but I figured it was you. “

“When was it?” Lockwood pressed.

“Around three?” He stood up and pushed his chair back. “Or four maybe?”

She had been gone for over five hours and still hadn’t come home. She could have gone anywhere, she could have met anybody… before he could spiral any further, George got up. He didn’t wait for Lockwood to answer and headed towards the hall.

“Where are you going? We need to think! Where could she have gone?”

“I don’t know but I’m going to find her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

Lockwood had to put himself between the door and his friend to keep him from taking a step further. George looked back at him defiantly.

“George, no. I’m not losing you too because you wanted to play hero.”

“That’s rich coming from you!” He yelled back. “I’m doing this. She’s only going after Dufour because I shared my suspicions in the first place. This is all my fault and I need to fix it.” He mumbled.

“We,” he emphasized, “need to be smart about this.”

“We don’t have time! The last time she wandered by herself at night she got chased by relic men, she could be-”

“I know!” Lockwood shouted.

They stared at each other, considering the unspoken words. The air was thick with tension and panic started to clutch his chest tighter.

“Someone needs to go after her.” George insisted.

“And someone needs to get DEPRAC.” Lockwood stared at his best friend with an unspoken plea. George looked back at him with a furrowed brow, fidgeting with the zipper of his orange parka. Lockwood was used to the researcher’s passive expressions. Sometimes, they could barely be called expressions at all. But now his eyes were filled with worry, a genuine please begging to let him go.

“I… I’ll take care of DEPRAC.”

George sighed in relief and reached for the door once more.

“But you are not going there alone.” Lockwood said, resting a hand on his shoulder before he could run off.

“We’ll go!” Lucy intervened.

“Are- are you sure?” Norrie asked, surprised by her girlfriend’s sudden interest for dangerous missions.

“She’s our friend too, and she needs our help. Where do we begin?”

---

[back to reader’s pov]

The sound of a window breaking jolted her awake. Her head was hurting, an ache pressing on her temples so much her vision was blurry. She released a pained sigh, barely noticing the girl getting up from her fall through the back window who was shaking the last remnants of glass out of her wavy auburn hair. She only noticed she was there when she took her by the shoulders, shaking her awake. It took her embarrassingly long to realize that Lucy was the one coming to her rescue. Before she could open her mouth, the girl slapped her across the face, hard enough to make her lose balance and trip over the edge of the chair she was sitting on. The ties at her wrists and feet kept her in place and the sudden pain from tugging on them woke her up for good. Through heavy eyelids she turned her head to see the back window intact and the room she was in empty.

The sun was up now. She wasn’t quite sure how she had ended up here but clearly her suicidal plan, if anyone could even call it that, had backfired in the worst way. She vaguely recalled leaving the house in the middle of the night with nothing but a camera in her bag and heading towards Fittes. The rest of the night was a blur. She guessed from the ache at the back of her head that she had found who she had been looking for but they had found her too. Their identity became clear when she heard voices coming from the corridor leading to the room she was held in. She pretended to be unconscious and listened as their steps echoed closer.

“I’m not in the business of knowing what he’s up to. I sell him the sources he asks for and move on. But with that DEPRAC audit, I’m losing my biggest client.”

“What do I care?” A man’s voice asked dejectedly.

“No clients for me means no payment for you, you idiot. We need a new buyer and we need them now!” A door slammed, making her jump. She kept her eyes closed, listening to the voices becoming less muffled with each step.

“Can you find me a contact in the Society, or do I have to ask someone else?” Dufour asked, as pleasant as she had known her when she got fired.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Yes, you will.” The two of them entered the room she was held in. “And watch her, make sure she doesn’t cause any more trouble. You know what to do if she does.”

Despite the shudder running down her spine, y/n remained still. She would not let the ominous threats break her spirit. She would not give into her fear. Time stood still when the door closed, leaving her alone with who she could assume was a relic-man armed to the teeth. She listened to his footsteps pace the room while trying to keep her breath steady. However, she could not help flinching when the footsteps stopped a few steps away from her, the sound of heavy boots resonating in the room before stopping in an even louder silence.

“You can stop acting, you’re really terrible at this.” Said a familiar voice.

She had expected a low, menacing voice but instead it was El’s sardonic tone that made her open her eyes. To her surprise, the first thing she saw was in fact a relic-man standing menacingly a few steps away from her. El was leaning against the wall on her left, playing with a pocketknife.

“So… I see you’re still terrible at making decisions.”

“You really think you’re better when you have me tied up in a basement?” The pounding in her head made it hard to think.

“This isn’t a basement and we wouldn’t have had to if you had just minded your own business.”

“Where are we then?”

“You really think you’re that clever? You’re not subtle. The only thing you can do is mess things up!”

“You mean keep you and Dufour from dealing relics you stole from your clients? I won’t let you get away with it that easily, no.”

“You ruined everything.” Their voice sounded final, decisive. A few nights ago they had threatened her without shame. Today, it was a death sentence.

“What did I do to you El? We were friends. Then, out of nowhere you trick me to get me fired and you get murderous tendencies?”

“It must be nice remaining so unaware all this time.” They sighed dreamily, however their face remained stern.

“What are you talking about?”

“Before coming to Fittes, you worked at Tendy’s, correct?”

“How did you-”

“My uncle died seven years ago. My cousin took it hard, and I’d always been close to them, so it wasn’t easy for me either. He came back, and they had to hire someone to fix it. Tendy’s agents came by, messed up the case. They couldn’t find the source so we had to watch them take every last thing that belonged to my uncle to burn it in the furnaces. Grieving wasn’t easy after that. Those stupid kids took every last memory we had of him because they were incompetent. Then, a few years later, guess who happened to be my new roommate?”

y/n stayed silent.

“Not only did I have to live with you but I had to see you succeed and get promoted above me when we both knew perfectly well how unfit you were for the job.”

“I was thirteen. I followed what my supervisor told us to do.”

“You didn’t get any better at making decisions later on! Listening to you and your amazing cases working with Kipps, saying how much you wanted to climb the corporate ladder of the Fittes organization. Not on my watch. You didn’t deserve it then and you certainly don’t deserve it now.”

“And getting me fired wasn’t enough?”

“Of course not! When I applied to get the spot I deserved all along I got denied because Kipps took your side! I had to work with Dufour because of you!”

She eyed Dufour’s arm man, wondering if El’s words were going to put them both in danger.

“Believe me if you had worked with her longer, you would know that Rasler won’t stand up for her.”

She sent them a sorry look. Despite the ties around her wrists and ankles, she couldn’t help the guilt that rose in her. She vaguely recalled the case El mentioned but not enough for her sympathy to sound genuine.

“It’s not too late. I can put in a good word for you with Kipps, you can join his team!”

“None of it matters now. All I want is to make sure you won’t cause any more trouble.”

They turned their back to her and nodded to Rasler. The man loomed over her with a menacing stare, taking out a knife to execute orders.

“El please! I swear I can make it up to you!”

They ignored her, only turning around to enjoy the view with a sly smirk.

“Please!” She begged, tears filling her eyes.

Rasler was upon her, the blade resting against the crook of her neck, the cool of the metal sending shivers down her spine. She shut her eyes, waiting for the fatal moment. Before her executioner could finish what he had started, the sound of a window breaking resonated in her ears. She didn’t know if she was hallucinating again or not, but one moment the knife was pressing down her neck and the next it was gone. She tentatively opened an eye to see if she was dreaming. Lucy was holding the man down, disarming him of his weapon. Behind him, Norrie and George were keeping El from escaping.

They tripped Norrie who cried out in pain and used the distraction to slip out. George ran after them. In the commotion, Lucy lost focus long enough to give her adversary the advantage back. He reached for the knife he had dropped. Lucy lunged to reach it before him, tackling him in the process. y/n couldn’t do anything but watch the scene unfold as she pulled on her ties to try to help her friend. She should have known that her previous hallucination meant Lucy was coming to her rescue. It had been right before. The least she could do was return the favor, but her ties wouldn’t let go. She yelled at Lucy to watch out when Rasler caught the knife that was inches away from his fingers. He swung the blade at her face making y/n flinch. When she looked back up, Lucy had gotten away. She grabbed the first thing she could find, in this case a steel chair lying around, and hit the relic-man with all her strength. The man went down instantly. She grabbed his knife and cut y/n loose. Her wrists were burning from the tight rope that had almost cut all circulation in her hands. She thanked Lucy, tears filling her eyes again, but before she could hug the girl, she shouted

“Come on! We have to catch the other one!” and left the room in a hurry. y/n followed closely to find El stuck, their back under George’s knee. He had a tight grip on their arms and was holding them down on the ground. The look they sent her way made her blood run cold. Norrie came rushing back, saying how she had lost track of Dufour. Her friends were already planning their next move, but she still hadn’t registered the fact that they were here. They were all here to save her even though she had walked into a death trap of her own volition. She was still dizzy from the blow she must have received on the head and the adrenaline wasn’t mixing well.

“Are you okay?” Lucy placed a hand on her shoulder, stabilizing her spinning head. y/n wrapped her arms around her shoulders, hugging the girl close and taking her first deep breath in almost an hour.

“Thank you for coming.” She said between tears.

Caught up in the moment, she didn’t realize the commotion and the noises getting closer to them. The doors flew open and five or six DEPRAC agents stormed in, relieving George and handcuffing El. As soon as he stood up, she hugged him tightly too without letting go, even when she spotted Dufour in DEPRAC’s custody in one of their vans. George had never been one for physical affection, but he didn’t let her go either.

“How did you find me?” She mumbled, her mouth half smashed against his shoulder.

“Don’t ask me it was all Lucy. She led us to you in record breaking time.”

“Really?” She parted from him and looked at the girl with a questioning stare.

“I don’t really know I just… had a hunch.” Lucy replied. They exchanged a complicit glance.

“You know,” George added in a lower voice, “I think she could be a great addition to the team. You two seem to complement each other quite well.”

“I agree.” y/n smiled.

“I’ll talk to Lockwood once this is all over.”

“Wait, speaking of, where is he?”

George didn’t have to answer. She spotted him outside the warehouse, right at the entrance, talking with inspector Barnes. The discussion seemed to be heated. She threw another glance towards her friends, thanking them again for saving her from her idiotic mistake.

“Don’t worry about it.” Norrie said. “We all make mistakes.” She paused, noticing y/n’s insistent stare somewhere above her shoulder. She looked back and smiled.

“You should go see him, he’s been really worried.”

y/n smiled back at her before heading towards him.

“This is not what we agreed upon!” Lockwood retorted, losing his usually impenetrable composure.

“Keep complaining and I make it three.”

Lockwood sighed, looking away in anger. Whatever they were discussing, he did not seem pleased. He crossed his arms, his jaw clenched. Suddenly he froze, noticing her approaching. He did not hesitate and walked over to her in two short strides, holding her close before she could say anything. She hugged him back, his familiar scent enveloping her in a comforting embrace. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, but she could feel his was too.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I’m so sorry, Lockwood.”

He held her closer at those words, leaving a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes and leaned into him. One kiss turned into a second, then a third at the corner of her eye, on her cheek, her jaw. His nose was practically touching hers. She thought she might start to levitate further and further away from the ground. He stared into her eyes, determination highlighting his sharp features. Her heart sank to her stomach and took flight at the same time. The sudden feeling surprised her yet made her feel light as a feather. She smiled so much her cheeks hurt, and she couldn’t help her eyes dropping to his lips with anticipation.

“I can’t blame you for being a little reckless now, can I?” He smiled and everything was right again, nothing else mattered now.

“Lockwood!” Barnes shouted after shutting the door to the van taking El to Scotland Yard’s headquarters. He straightened up and took a step back, startled by the inspector calling his name. “I’ll see you three on Monday. Don’t be late.”

He looked down and frowned, frustration slowly turning to resolution.

“What is that about?”

“Let’s get you home now.” He defiantly ignored her, his usual wolfish grin proudly trying to win her over.

“Lockwood…”

“I’ll make you tea!” He added to convince her.

She would let it go… for now. The only thing she wanted more than honesty was going back to Portland Row, back home, back to safety.

The five of them went home and settled around the Thinking Cloth to finally enjoy the treats the girls had brought earlier that day. The tea tasted particularly sweet now that this whole case was finally put to rest, relieving everyone’s mind. The group was cheerful, happy to share a moment of peace. After the first round of doughnuts, a comfortable silent fell over the kitchen, the only noises coming from the clinking of mugs.

“I need to thank you all again.” y/n said.

They all smiled warmly at her.

“I wouldn’t be here without you, you saved my life. Lucy you came in just at the right time.”

“And I’d do it again.” The girl answered without a trace of doubt.

“I thought you wanted to stay as far from the field as possible?” Norrie asked, surprised.

“Well, that wasn’t really a case…”

y/n sent a look to George who was already staring at her, the same thought probably crossing his mind.

“George, thank you for giving me a home.”

“I’m the one who got you in this mess… I’m the reason you got fired in the first place.”

“El would have found a way to get me fired no matter what you did. None of it is your fault.” She reached out and squeezed his hand.

“And Lockwood, thank you for letting me stay.” She concluded. She looked back at him. He simply smiled. The intimacy of the moment they had shared a few hours prior brought heat to her cheeks.

When the box of treats was finished, the girls got up and y/n hugged them again, still overwhelmed and grateful. The five of them walked back into the hall, agreeing to spend a day together soon to get their minds off work, whatever it may be. When y/n opened the front door to usher the girls out she found herself face to face with Quill Kipps.

“I just heard about Mrs. Dufour!” He said, panting. “I’m glad you’re okay! This is all behind you now.”

“Yes, it is. Thank you for checking up on me, it’s very sweet.”

“Well, actually I come with news. Dufour’s arrest means that Fittes is considering offering you your job back. As your team leader the final decision is mine to make, and I think you know what I’ve decided. The question is, would you like to?”

“Come back? To work at Fittes? With you?”

She couldn’t help but look back into the hall, where George and Lockwood stared at her expectantly, waiting for her answer. She looked back at Kipps who waited with the same anticipation.

“Um I-I…”

“I’ll give you time to think about it. We can always discuss it over coffee, you still owe me one.” He winked. “I’d love to work with you again.” He climbed down the few steps in front of the door before turning back into the street.

This offer was the last thing she had expected that day. She hadn’t even considered the possibility of Fittes wanting her back if she managed to prove the truth about Dufour. But now the dream she had pursued most of her life was rising up from its ashes and Kipps had dropped this on her like it was a regular everyday decision. Norrie and Lucy smiled as they walked passed her, patting her on the back before leaving her to it, not uttering a word as to not disturb the tumultuous contradicting thoughts flooding her mind. She shut the door and turned around to see George still staring at her. Lockwood was gone.

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t… know. I mean… It was my dream until a few months ago. But I’ve moved on. I’m happy here with you guys. But if I don’t take it am I missing out? What should I do?”

“I can’t tell you what to do, but I’ll support you no matter what you decide.” He looked up towards the landing. “I’m sure Lockwood will too.”

She looked in the same direction he did with a sad smile and slowly went up the stairs. On the first floor, she heard shuffling coming from Lockwood’s room. She got closer and saw him pacing around his bedroom. He stopped when he caught her eyes looking through the half-open door. He tried to smile at her, but Kipps’ offer definitely had an effect on him.

“I don’t know what I’ll do yet.” She tried to reassure him.

“You should take it.” He said, his tone definitive, like he had made the decision for her.

“I’m not sure.”

“Yes, you are. It’s what’s best for you. I can’t offer you what he can. Not the same wage, not the same reputation, not the same freedom…”

The last criteria made her chuckle slightly.

“I’m pretty sure I’m still more free here than at Fittes.”

“Not anymore…”

“What do you mean?”

He stayed silent.

“That conversation with Barnes…” She understood. “What did he say.”

“Lockwood & Co. is under a tutelage of sorts. We can’t work on any case that Barnes didn’t assign and without his supervision…”

The terms seemed extreme. She couldn’t understand why all of a sudden the inspector would apply such restrictive conditions to the small agency.

“Why would he do that?”

“Because otherwise he refused to help me.”

“Help you?” It took her a moment to register. “Oh… Oh! I am responsible for this?”

“No! This isn’t your fault.”

“But if I hadn’t gone through with my mediocre plan and gotten into that much trouble then none of this would have happened!”

He took a step closer and looked down at her with a stern look.

“This is not your fault. His terms could have been twice as bad and I still would have agreed to them.”

She looked at him with a matching intensity, unable to argue. No matter how much she wanted to apologize again, promise she could make it right, she couldn’t find the words.

“The next two months will be hard, but it’s worth it.”

The sentiment was sweet and the intention behind his words was enough to make her heart leap but laughter was all that managed to escape her mouth.

“Two months? You’re being that dramatic for two months of supervision?” She laughed harder, holding on to his arm. “I’m sure you’ll be alright.” She smiled at him, softened by how ridiculously attractive he looked when he took offence.

“I still think you’d be better off with Kipps.”

“No, I don’t think so.”

With a confidence she had never expressed before she closed the gap between them. Her hand was still on his arm, her grip tighter to bring him close. His lips were soft against hers but she could feel how he froze at the unexpected contact. She didn’t insist and drew back, apologizing for her sudden inappropriate behaviour. He caught her hand before she could take a step back, his intense stare still set on her with a determination she had only seen him exude in the field. It was his turn to close his hand firmly around her arm to bring her back to him. His other hand found the back of her head. The awkwardness of her apologies was quickly forgotten when he brought his lips down to hers, the need to be closer to him overpowering everything else. She brought her hands up behind his head, fingers buried in his hair while he wrapped his arm tighter around her waist. She forgot where she was, barely noticing the wall he was pressing her up against. Nothing in the world mattered anymore. The lack of sleep, the hostage situation, Kipps’ offer, everything seemed a mile away. All she wanted was to feel his breath and his lips against hers as long as possible. They didn’t want to let each other go. When he pulled away for air, she barely gave him time before kissing him again and when she pulled away, he chased her lips like it was his reason to live. Each kiss grew hungrier and more passionate than the last. She bit his bottom lip on a dare and the response she got made her want to do more. The noise that escaped his throat as he breathed into her made her knees buckle and she sighed with desire. He slid his tongue against hers, his hand holding on to her neck tighter, his strong fingers making a mess of her hair. Just like he had done earlier that day, he drifted from her lips to her jaw before kissing down her neck, leaving marks here and there.

“Please stay.” He begged. She had rarely heard him so vulnerable.

“Of course I’ll stay.” She said. “I could never leave you.” She wanted to add, but he was already kissing her again, thankfulness mixed with something more.

“Lockwood-”

He looked up into her eyes, leaving her neck for a moment.

“Please, call me Anthony.”

She was caught off guard by the request. She had never used his first name, not even once. It felt strangely intimate using it. She kissed him softly, touched by his trust.

“We should probably discuss how we’re gonna work together if we’re a thing…”

“Yes definitely.”

There was a silence, neither of them knowing where to start. He was still holding her close and her arms were still around his neck, the proximity filled with unresolved tension.

“Maybe we could… take it slow? Sleep on it and see how it goes tomorrow?” She offered hesitantly.

“Yes that’s… that’s a good idea.”

They remained a while longer, gazing into each other’s eyes. Reluctantly, she slid her hands down, stroking his shoulders and chest before letting go. He unwrapped his hand from her waist and she instantly missed his touch.

They didn’t look away from each other as they walked out towards the door to his room. They must have looked ridiculous but she didn’t care.

“George will probably call us down for dinner any time now.”

“I’ll see you then.” She said with a small smile before heading towards the attic.

None of it felt real. Once in her room she realized that she didn’t even know why she went there. Mechanically, she picked up her hairbrush to untangle the mess done by Lockwood’s hands. Anthony’s. She corrected herself. Her lips were still tingly and soft purple marks started to show on her neck. George would have a lot to say about that. George who was probably preparing something delicious downstairs and who would call her any minute now. She wasn’t hungry though and didn’t know if she could eat anything after a day like that. Guilt crept up on her when she realized she would probably skip dinner, but it was quickly replaced by an overpowering feeling from deep inside her. A different kind of hunger.

She climbed down the stairs leading to her room and opened the door to find Lockwood already standing there.

“I don’t want to take it slow.” She said and he smiled instantly. He obviously had similar ideas.

She led him up the stairs in a hurry. The few minutes they had spent apart felt like she had been stuck underwater and she was finally coming up for air now that his lips were against hers again. From the moment they first met she had loathed his confidence and how pretentious it made him. But now that he slid his hands under her shirt, their warmth spreading across the skin of her back, she had to admit that she was rather fond of it. She traced his jaw with her fingers and lowered them down his neck until she reached the collar of his shirt that was getting in the way. Slowly, she untied the knot of his tie, and she could have fainted from the noise he made. His tie hit the floor and was quickly joined by her shirt, the two of them collapsing on her bed blissfully unaware of the warm plates waiting for them three floors below.

---

She poured George his tea and prepared it the way she knew he liked it, trying desperately to make up for the night before. She was sorry they had left him eat by himself, but she wasn’t that sorry if she was honest with herself. She had not stopped smiling since she had woken up next to Lockwood and she couldn’t help it, not even with George insistently staring at her.

“So… I guess you’re staying with us then?” He tried to ask innocently but his smile betrayed him. “Where’s Lockwood?”

“He’s taking a shower.” She answered a little too fast.

“He probably needs it.” George mumbled to himself.

She threw the dish towel at him, making him laugh. She was not going to hear the end of it. But her smile hadn’t left her lips. When they sat down in their usual seats, they heard Lockwood in the hallway speaking on the phone. A few moments later he joined them, his smile matching hers. He kissed the top of her head before sitting next to her.

“So, what do we do now?” George asked.

“Well, inspector Barnes just called to assign us our first supervised case.”

“You seem oddly happy about that.”

Before he could make any other comment, he understood his friend’s good mood was not coming from work but from the girl he was gazing at.

“Is this going to be a problem? We have work to do!”

“No, you’re right.” y/n said, putting distance between her and her now boyfriend. “Please continue.”

With his usual grin, Lockwood settled back into his role as agency leader.

“George, do you know anything about Kensal Green cemetery?”

[cherry-queens-blog]

OVERHAUL FANFIC

Overhaul x Reader

(MINORS DNI)

Summary- You were brought in by Chrono who had witnessed your quirk and knew you would be useful to the shie hassaikai gang. After bringing you in, you are questioned by the big man himself Kai chisaki. After months he takes quite the liking to you and wants you to fully be his and is ready to claim you. Content- Overhaul x reader, shower sex, nsfw, telekinesis quirk, blood spill, violence, consensual sex, killing.

Note- It took me a bit to come up with a start of this and I think reader having a strong quirk that would be of use to overhaul was a good idea in order for reader to join the gang members. I hope you all enjoy the story!. I have a few other stories coming soon involving Dabi or shigaraki, and All Might. This took me a good 7 hours to type out. it was a one shot fic.

YOU'RE MINE NOW

It was starting to get a bit late in the day around 8:34, the sun no longer visible in the sky as Chrono and mimic stepped outside having a chat about the things that had happened today only to have their chat cut short by some noise coming from the alleyway that was next to the shie hassaikai building they had came out of. Chrono and Mimic looked towards each other before looking towards the dark alley wondering if someone was was looking for a way in or something else. They begin to walk over to check it out, Chrono keeping his hand on his gun just in case until his and Mimics eyes land on the scene before them. Through the dimly lit alley they spot a young woman who had her arm extended with a man pressed against a wall by some invisible force holding him firmly against the hard brick wall when she closes her hand into a fist and the man began to yell. "AHHH wait WAIT!" Chrono and Mimic watches as the man yells out, and when she turns her hand and opens it the mans head bursts into pieces, blood splattering all over the wall and getting on the girl. Chrono and Mimics eyes widen a bit at what they just witnessed and honestly thought that, that was rather impressive and would be useful for yakuza. Mimic looks at Chrono who looks back at him. Mimic: are you thinking what I'm thinking? Chrono: she would be a good ally for the yakuza...

Overhaul was sitting in his office going through some papers when he hears a knock on his door, looking up to see Chrono and Mimic walking in with some girl who had some blood painting her which made him feel agitated a bit, A look of disgust forming on his face as he sees the filth on your body.

Chrono: Hey boss I brought someone who might be of interest to you

Chrono says allowing you to step forward. Overhaul glared a bit but he was curious to know why you were here. What was it that Chrono had brought you here for? What was so interesting about you?. Mimic goes over and sits on the arm rest by Kai ready to see how things will play out and if you would agree to join and work under their boss.

“And what about her should be of interest to me?”

Kai asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"her quirk... it's like a telekinesis quirk.." Chrono responded as Kai's interest was now peaked. He set his pen down on the table. He was definitely interested in people that held useful quirks, and this one wasn’t half bad. He stood up, staring over you with an intense gaze.

"A telekinesis quirk hm?"

He questioned a bit now wanting to see it for himself. "Show me then, I would like to see this" He stated and without much hesitation you raised your hand up quickly and Chrono had flew back hitting the wall pretty hard knocking the breath out of him. Kai’s eyes widened at the demonstration and He definitely found that interesting. Useful, even. He nodded, agreeing with Chrono that you would be of use to their plans.

“Indeed. I could see her being extremely helpful.”

He said while returning his gaze back to you with a slight smirk appearing on his face. "What's your name girl?"

"it's Y/N" You respond. answering his question as he took a few steps up to you but not getting to close and keeping a rather appropriate distance since you are filthy and if anything he hates anything dirty. He eventually stopped looking you over.

“I am Kai Chisaki, you can call me Overhaul. I run this business here. And I must say, your quirk is indeed interesting.”

He said, the grin staying on his expression under his mask. Chrono stands up and dusts himself off and looks at overhaul.

"What do you plan to do with her boss?"

He asks Kai who glanced at him with an amused expression.

“I want to take her in. She’s going to be an useful addition for the Shie Hassakai. An asset, if you will.”

He responds casually to Chrono as Mimic watches from the couch quietly. Kai looked at you once more.

“What do you say, girl? You want to work with me?”

He asked you but you did have slight doubts about it, thinking it over and having questions of your own to ask this man in front of you.

"What will I be doing exactly?" You ask him wondering what kind of work he will be having you do. It was a good question to ask him since it would be good to know so you could make up your mind on rather you want to or not.

“You’ll be working for me directly. I’ll have you by my side for various operations and duties. You’ll be trained by me, personally.”

He said with a slight shrug. You think about it more and decide to trust this man and with a nod you agree to work under him. He nods back before looking at Chrono.

"Show her to the bathroom so she can get cleaned up and make sure she doesn’t snoop around and keep an eye on her. Wouldn’t want anything going wrong, now would we?”

Kai demanded Chrono who nods as Kai goes back to his work looking over the documents he had. Chrono takes you out of the office and towards a small room where he grabbed a gown for you to wear for now which looked like something a hospital would make a patient wear before leading you to the bathroom, showing you where the towels were before taking his exit shutting the door and standing by the bathroom door waiting for you to be done. The shower was nice, as the hot water ran down your skin washing away the dried up blood from the guy you killed awhile ago before Chrono and Mimic brought you in to overhaul their boss. When you stepped out Chrono nodded and guided you back to Kai for sleeping arrangements to be made. You sat on the couch across from Kai who looked at you and chrono. Kai was finishing up his work for the night as he glanced over at the both of you. "where will she be sleeping boss?" “She’ll be staying in the room across from mine. She needs to be under close watch - make sure she’s settled in.” "Yes boss, understood"

Chrono agreed give a slight nod as he spoke. Kai turned back to the little bit of work he had left. He then gestured for Chrono to take you to your room that will be across from his own. It was clear Kai didn't fully trust you quite yet but he might eventually if you behave and follow his orders.

Chrono helps you out with getting settled into the room you were put in before taking his leave and letting you sleep for the night. When morning rolled around you sat up in your bed and realized it was around 7:56 in the morning. Tossing the blanket off you stand up and head towards the door opening it and stepping out of the room to see a few men walking by talking to each other. One seemed drunk as all hell holding a bottle in his hand while the other guy was a pretty large guy and pretty buff as well. Kai approaches you while you watch the men walk down the hall. "Did you sleep well?" The sound of his voice had slightly startled you a little bit as you didn't expect him to suddenly appear behind you. Turning around you look at him as he chuckles slightly knowing he had slightly startled you a little. "Oh uh... yeah" You said rubbing the back of your neck while looking down at the ground. Kai narrows his eyes a little feeling displeased that you didn't look him in the face as you spoke to him. "Look at me when you speak to me, That's an order not a request" You lift your head up to look at him seeing the slight annoyance in his eyes as he said that. "Sorry.." You muttered to him making his expression soften a bit as you apologize to him. You didn't know the rules yet so he would have to go over them with you if you're gonna be staying with the yakuza.

"Since you're new and don't know the rules around here, I’ll give you a pass this time, but whenever you speak to me or even address me, you need to look at me straight on. Don’t look at the ground, or at anything else. Only look at me. Understand Y/N?"

He was pretty strict already but you nod your head in understanding of how he would like to be addressed by you.

"Good… Now, I’ll be having someone bring you some clothes today. I cannot have you wearing that all the time, you need something more practical." He stated to you putting his hands in his pockets as he looked down at you with his golden eyes. "Now I'll be showing you what you'll be doing while your hear. Come with me" He ordered you. You start walking by his side as he continued to walk, keeping a slow pace so you could keep up. He was heading towards a certain area in the building, not saying anything as he walked towards that location. He took a glance at you as he decided to speak up again.

“You might be able to tell, but I very much care about hygiene and making sure the environment around me is clean. If I see anything that doesn’t meet my expectations, I’ll make sure it’s gone. So don't be filthy here.. You make a mess you clean it up"

"Yes sir... I understand" "Good, and while you are here you will listen to my orders, and act exactly how I want you too, I am the boss so you follow what I say when I say it. Got it?" "I understand sir"

"Good. Now for right now I'd like to really test your quirk out. See how long you can use it until you reach your limit." You decide to agree to the testing he wants to do as you both step into a room together. It was pretty spacious and empty as if it was made for training or something. When you look over at Kai you watched him pull his glove off of his hand and you started to wonder if training was gonna be an actual fight against him. You weren't worried really since your quirk was strong and you could just keep him away from you at all times which will just be a piece of cake. Kai stuffed his glove into his pocket as he stepped forward towards you calmly bringing his hand up and grazed your shoulder with his finger.

Everything had went black after that until you started to feel an unpleasant amount of pain as if your body was being reconstructed back together. It hurt so bad for a good minute or so as Kai was building your body back up after blowing you to pieces with that simple touch of his finger. Your eyes began to open and you looked at him.

"What the hell was that?" You muttered as he finished up the process of reconstructing you. He smirked a bit as you asked him that. You thought he was just gonna explain what was gonna happen not kill you on the spot then bring you back?. You were confused big time as you laid there on the floor.

"I just gave you a feel of my quirk" He stated as he stood up with hives now on his face.

"Now get up, and don't hold anything back either. Wouldn't want to disappoint me" He walked over to the middle of the room as you stood up from the floor looking at him. Kai definitely wanted to fight you and see what you could do for himself, and get an idea on how long you could hold off against him. Without warning Kai drops down and touches the ground a large amount of spiked rock came at you which surprised you but in a good way. You put your hand up and every single one shatters into pieces and with a swift motion of your hand the rocks fling towards the wall. Kai smirked under his mask knowing this will be interesting and not boring like all his other opponents. This will be harder and more entertaining for him. "Not bad Y/N, But I'm just getting started" He growled out before pulling off his other glove tossing it to the side ready to come at you with everything he's got. Kai placed both hands on the ground now sending out more your way which You react the same shattering the spiked rock, slamming them on the ground before finding the right opening to use your quirk to throw him against the wall only to release him due to your body growing tired and weak already. Kai looks at you and could see an opportunity to strike you down since you were becoming exhausted which showed him you couldn't use your quirk for to long. You lift your head up to look at him just as his hand touched the ground and sent the spiked rock towards you, impaling you in three different spots.

"AHHNGH!"

Your eyes watered up due to the pain you felt, the tears running down your face. Blood dripped onto the ground from your wounds he in flicked on you, leaving the sharp rock pierced through your shoulder, leg, and side. You couldn't help but cry from the pain until he reconstructed the ground the spiked rock fading back to the floor. You drop to the ground, blood coloring the floor as Kai walked over placing his hand on your body and reconstructing the wounds which sucked for you. After that Kai stands up and dusts himself off, the hives still on his skin.

"I need a shower.." He muttered before turning his gaze back to you sitting on the floor drying your tears off your face.

"Were gonna work on that quirk of yours.. I can't have you getting tired after 5 minutes" He stated in a rather harsh tone feeling a bit annoyed at the filth.

"Get up and go shower as well.. You're filthy" He said gesturing for you to following him. You stand up and follow him out of the room. You both go to separate bathrooms to clean up. Once you both finished Kai offered for you to join him for breakfast which you did, enjoying the rest of the morning with him as he showed you around the place, going over everything with you.

Months soon passed and you were able to last for a good hour now using your quirk thanks to Kai himself training you every morning and night every single day and pushing you past your limits none stop. You stood up from the ground as Kai was walking off before he stopped and looked back at you.

"Oh and if you could do so and be a good girl for me, I'd like you to join me in the shower tonight.. And don't make me wait on you, yeah?. It would be a real shame to have to wait on you." He stated making you pick your head up to look at him, a faint blush spreading across your face as he walked away. You were frozen in place for a good minute trying to figure out if you actually heard him correctly. He wanted to shower with you? really? you wondered to yourself though you will listen to him and do as you're told. You head to your room first grabbing some clean clothes and made your way to the bathroom Kai was in and walked in shutting the door, seeing him pulling off his jacket and setting it aside. His hands move up undoing the straps to his mask pulling it off as you sit there just staring at him as if your in a trance just admiring him.

"You know it's quite rude to stare, now get undressed" You snap out of it as he pulls off the rest of his clothing as you start pulling your clothes off. He steps into the shower letting the water run down his body. You step in after him, his eyes roaming over your body with a slight smirk forming on his lips before he grabs a sponge and tosses it to you. "Now scrub yourself thoroughly. I won't tolerate any impurities."

His voice was stern leaving no room for disobedience. You put soap on the sponge and started washing your body with it as he watches you, never breaking eye contact. Once you finished scrubbing yourself down with the sponge Kai grabbed you and pulled you close to him under the running water, bodies touching each other, as he lowered his head to your neck while his fingers tangle in your hair, gripping it firmly as his mouth brushes against your neck. You close your eyes and your mouth falls slightly open as butterflies are felt in your stomach being this close to him like this as the water cascades over the both of you. He kisses up your neck getting up to your ear, taking your earlobe between his teeth and pulling on it till it slips away.

"You're mine now and I'm going to claim you"

He says before pulling away and having you turn around so your back is against him and he places his arm around your neck as he positions his hard member at your entrance before pushing it in. A faint moan escapes your lips as he enters your heat.

"do you like that?. Good" He mutters in your ear as he began to thrust at a nice slow even pace letting you adjust to him.

"mmm.. Kai" You groan out in a gentle breaths. Your hand hold onto his arm as your head falls back resting on his shoulder, lowering his arm a bit until his hand is resting on your breast, gently kneading it as he thrusts into your warm wet heat.

"You feel amazing Y/N" he purrs sliding his other hand around, fingers brushing against your sensitive nub making your body twitch a bit from the contact, placing kisses on your neck.

"I love you Kai" You muttered through slight short gasps as his fingers play with your nub as he thrusts.

"I love you too Y/N"

He began to pick up his pace a little bit making your moans grow a bit louder, your grip on his arm tightening slightly as he pounded his member deep inside your pussy.

"mmm Kai" You moaned, pushing your self against him to to make him go deeper while the water pours down your bodies.

"You feel so fucking good"

He groaned in your ear before placing a kiss on your neck, hand gripping on your breast firmly, finger playing with your nub making you twitch and squirm a bit as gasped moans fill the room with the sound of running water. You started to feel close as your body started to tense up a bit.

"hmm you don't get to cum yet unless I say so" Kai mutters pulling his hand away from your sensitive nub being a tease. He slows his thrusting down a bit as he keeps his eyes on you.

"Kai please.. let me cum to you" You begged him making a smirk appear on his lips.

"Well since you asked so nicely."

He bends you over placing one hand on your waist and the other hand on the shower wall and begins to pick up his pace again being more forceful with his thrusts. You began to gasp with moans escaping your throat, as he pounded into your tight heat.

"ngh fuck Kai.. I'm close" You whimpered out as your body tensed up.

"I am to.. fuck" With one last thrust he spills his hot seed deep inside you as you gasp out your last moan as you hit your orgasm same time he does. Kai keeps ahold of you as he pulls out letting the shower wash away the fluids that dripped out of your pussy. He holds you as he sits up against the shower wall with you in his arms in the shower pushing your hair behind your ear and kissing your forehead.

"That's a good girl"

[crushpunky]

rafe helps kook!reader when she gets stood up

masterlist | kook!reader masterlist

It was humiliating. Sitting in the restaurant, in the beautiful dress she had bought just for this and the hair and makeup she had spent hours doing, just for that asshole to never show. Y/n bit her freshly manicured nail as she took out her phone to check the time, her eyes welling with tears when she realized she had been sitting there alone for nearly an hour.

Hesitantly, she scrolled through her phone looking for who to call to pick her up and save her from this catastrophe. Sarah had dropped her off on her way to the Chateau and her parents were out of town, eliminating the options she would’ve strongly preferred at this time. Kelce was at work on the opposite side of town and Topper had mentioned something about going fishing with his cousins…

“Shit.” Y/n swore to herself, her finger hovering over the contact she had hoped she wouldn’t have had to use: Rafe. Rafe had already made it clear that he didn’t like the guy, calling him every insult under the sun when she even brought up the fact that she was going to go out with him, and she frankly wasn’t up to face his “I told you so” attitude. But, she was out of options. With a groan, she pressed “call”.

It barely rang for a second before he picked up, “hey? You alright?”

“Could you pick me up? Please.” She said, her voice cracking as she spoke into the speaker.

“Yeah, of course, what’s up? Did something happen?” Rafe said. Y/n felt her bottom lip begin to tremble as she held onto the phone.

“He, uh, he didn’t show up.” Y/n whispered, tears beginning to freely fall down her face.

“What?” Rafe said, his tone laced with enough rage that y/n could practically see his clenched fists through the phone.

“Rafe—”

“I’m gonna fucking kill him, y/n. I swear to god he’s dead.” Rafe seethed.

“Rafe, please just… can you pick me up?” Y/n said again, wiping her eye with the cloth napkin resting on the table.

“I—” Rafe took a deep breath, steadying himself. “Yes, I’ll be there. Don’t move.”

“Thanks.” Y/n whispered before ending the call, placing her phone down with a sigh as she reached for the bottle of wine sitting in front of her.

She wasn’t waiting long when the door to the restaurant finally swung open, revealing Rafe, dressed in a navy suit, a bouquet of purple flowers in hand. He quickly scanned the restaurant before his eyes met hers, rushing over to her table.

“Sorry, I came as fast as I could.” Rafe said with a huff, sitting opposite her. His grown out buzz cut was slicked back, the buttons of his white dress shirt unbuttoned to reveal his collarbones and the soft twinkle of his chain in the faint candlelight.

“What are you doing, Rafe?” Y/n whispered, her heart hammering as she looked at the boy in front of her.

“What do you mean?” Rafe asked, opening the menu in front of him.

“W-why are you doing this?” Y/n gestured to his attire and the bundle of flowers that sat on the table between them.

“Shit—” Rafe grabbed the flowers, handing them to her. Y/n took them, swallowing harshly as she looked at the arrangement of flowers. The soft scent of the flowers wafted over for a moment before she sat them down gently.

“I would’ve got here sooner but the flower shop closed at 7 and I had to beg the kid closing to check me out.” Rafe said. Despite the events prior, y/n felt herself smiling at the thought of Rafe harassing some teenager to let him buy her flowers.

“Rafe… you didn’t have to do this.” Y/n said quietly, looking up at Rafe. His cheeks were still flushed from the rush here, adding a gentleness to his usually stoic and even stern demeanor that made her stomach flutter. His lips turned into a smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he slid his hand across the table, grasping her hand in his own. She took it gratefully, feeling the coolness of his rings pressing into her palms.

“What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?” Rafe whispered, squeezing her hand softly. Y/n felt her cheeks flush, her eyes unable to leave the stormy blue gaze of the boy sitting across from her. Was it possible that she was dreaming? That all of this had been one elaborate joke and that the boy sitting across from her couldn’t possibly be real because how could he be? How could a boy who made her head spin with a single look, make her laugh like it was as easy as breathing, and treat her like she was the most important thing in the universe be real? Yet, here he was, sitting in front of her in all his navy suit, expensive cologne, blushed cheeks, and flower-bouquet wielding glory. Rafe.

“Thank you, Rafe.” Y/n said, her thumb tracing softly against the callouses of Rafe’s palm. Rafe said nothing, simply nodding, a smirk dancing across his lips as he looked back down at the menu in front of him.

“What are you thinking?” Y/n asked, taking a sip of wine slowly.

“Well I’m thinking that asshole is lucky I love you and decided not to beat the shit out of him.” Rafe said with a shrug, peering up from his menu for a second to catch the giggle Y/n tried her best to conceal. He felt his heart skip at the sparkle in her eyes and the way the candlelight danced across her skin and the details of her dress.

What a fucking idiot. Rafe thought. How could anybody stand up such a girl? I mean, not only was she the most gorgeous girl he had ever met, she was the smartest, the funniest, the kindest… she was perfect. Perfect. Any dumbass that didn’t see that had to be out of their mind.

“To eat, dork.” Y/n rolled her eyes playfully.

“Shit, I don’t know… lobster?” Rafe furrowed his brows as he scanned over the menu.

“Do you not remember what happened the last time we had lobster?” Y/n said, a slight smirk on her lips at the memory of the time Topper had attempted to make lobster and nearly burnt down Tanneyhill.

“Well Top’s not here so it should be fine, right?” Rafe teased, closing the menu and returning his attention to y/n.

“I’m sure these chefs are much more knowledgeable about cooking than Topper.” Y/n chuckled. Rafe’s eyes scanned over her face, the smeared makeup under her eyes the only remaining evidence of the events that had transpired earlier that night. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair back from her cheekbone, the brief contact sending tendrils of electricity up his arm.

“There we go,” Rafe whispered, his hand resting along the curve of Y/n’s jaw. “Now I can see that beautiful face.”

Y/n felt her cheeks heat up at his words, an unavoidable smile creeping its way across her lips. Maybe this wasn’t how she thought this night was going to end, and maybe this wasn’t even the boy she had thought she would spend it with, but right then, in the soft glow of the candlelight, she couldn’t have asked for anything different.

[melanieph321]

Ruben Dias x Reader - Summer Fling Part 7/10

Part 8 and Part 9 are out on my Patreon for free!

Summary - Reader has landed a research job at a marine biology lab in Portugal. She is, therefore, staying with her sister and her sister's Portuguese boyfriend for the summer holidays. There she meets Ruben Dias who is on vacation with his friends after the 2024 Euros. However, the two meet under the circumstances in which Ruben believes that Reader is a prostitute.

Enjoy ☀️

Your sister had always been a wild child in her own way. Her view of life was naive but at the sametime she was well aware of what she wanted out of it. By that time the boys in secondary school were no longer up to her standards, Maki did what any girl would do, she went on to explore the likes of older men five, even ten years older than herself. This is where her needs were met, knowing the great lengths many of those men would go to please her, to keep her happy as she kept them happy. When you first heard of the likes of Diogo, this had been your initial thought. Your sister had found another pathetic male to finance her adventures abroad. Someone she could rely on for housing in exchange for partnership. Back then your sister was already drawing a thin line between a mutual relationship and prostitution. But you never thought she'd cross that line. Let alone, drag you across it with her. It was an unforgivable betrayal. One that made you sick to your stomach just thinking about it.

"Y/N?"

You flinched. Surprised by Gavin who approached your desk. However, his smile faltered seeing your tired face. "My God Y/N, have you been here all night?"

You nodded. "I thought I'd run some samples from the corals that were brought in yesterday."

"But all night?" His head shifted around  the empty lab. "Y/N, I know I ask a lot of you as a marine ecology major, but lack of sleep is never recommended, not even by me."

Your lips trembled, tears welling up in your eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey. What's wrong?" Gavin rushed to your side, pulling you in for a hug. Your arms wrapped around his waist, really needing that hug.

"Sorry." You said, after a few minutes of sobbing.

"Sssh." He hushed, pressing your body against his, a hand stroking your hair. "We all have our moments in life. It's okay to let your emotions show."

It was a bit overwhelming, these past seventy-two hours. Trying to do a good job at work was more wishful thinking if anything.

"Come on sweetheart, I'll take you home." Gavin drove you all the way to your apartment building, parking his car outside. "You know my offer still stands." He said, draping an arm around the passenger seat. "I'd love to take you diving off the coast. It might help you take your mind off things."

"Thanks Gavin, really. You wiped the last of your tears. "I just have a lot to deal with right now. Family matters."

"I get it. Family matters can be tricky. I haven't been back to Australia in years, God knows I can't stand my family."

"Really, why?" It's not like you couldn't stand your sister. It could never go that far. However, what she did wasn't easily forgiven.

"You know how it is." He waved dismissively. "It's complicated."

"It always is." You nodded.

Silence fell in the car.

Gavin's eyes searched your face, your lips to be exact. He leaned in to kiss you. But you were quick to pull back.

"Gavin I—"

"What?" He chuckled, his blue eyes sparkling in the sun. "It's not like I'm your professor." He leaned in once more, parting his lips. You pushed him away, your free hand unlocking the car door. "I'm sorry Gavin, I can't do this."

You left his car and rushed back to your apartment, where your sister stood in the kitchen flipping pancakes.

"Y/N, you're back early!"

Her joy disgusted you.

"Here, have some pancakes." She said, making you a plate.

"No thanks, I'm not hungry."

"What do you mean?" She stopped you from walking past her and into your room. "I thought you loved my pancakes?"

"Not any more." You bumped her shoulder, knocking over the plate in her hand.

"Look what you did, you idiot!"

"I guess we're even then."

She looked up from where she had crouched down on the floor, watching you eye her with such distaste. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you even say that?" She stood, now eye level with you. 

"I don't know Maki, perhaps because you haven't had the guts to tell mom and dad that you're a whore."

"Excuse me?"

Your heart pounded in your chest, fueling your anger. "Was it even necessary for you to waste their money on a psychology degree if all you were going to do with it was to shove it up some rich soccer player's ass?"

"Y/N, what the hell are you talking about?"

"You sold me." You emphasized, tears welling up in your eyes again. "You let your boyfriend sell my body for money."

"Y/N, I…" Your sister seemed lost for words, not expecting such an ambush, especially not from you. "I swear I didn't…"

"It doesn't matter." You snorted. "What else could I have expected from you?" You made your way past her, into your bedroom where your suitcase already lay on the floor since last night. There was only one thing stopping you from taking the next flight home. However with Gavin's recent advances you saw no point in staying for the sake of a job.

"I fucked up, okay!"

You stayed hunched over your suitcase, not bothering to give your sister the time of day. However, you could hear it in the thickness of her voice, she was crying. "I made a mistake, okay. But you have to understan—"

"Please get the fuck out of my room"

"W…what?"

You stood, contemplating pushing her out if it came to it. "Get. The fuck. Out." 

Your sister had never looked more pathetic, trembling her lips like some lost school girl. No wonder you mom and dad always held you to a higher standard although you were the youngest of the two of you.

"Do you need me to spell it out for you again?"

"Y/N, why are you doing this?"

"Maki, you literally let a man take advantage of me for money and now Ruben thinks—"

"Ruben?" Your sister frowned. "So all of this is over some guy? Since when have we ever let a guy come between us?"

"I dunno, since when did you start letting guys come in between your legs for money?"

A sigh as she rolled her eyes. "I can't deal with this right now."

"Yes. Run away like the bitch you are!" You followed her back into the kitchen.

"Oh so I'm the bitch?"

"Yes, it's literally what you do for a living."

"Well, sorry that we all can't be perfect little virgins like Y/N the marine biologist."

"Real mature Maki. I see you haven't changed at all since moving out of mom and dads."

She shook her head, regret in her eyes. "I fucked up, alright. I know that. I want to fix this and I can fix this. I just need some time and money so that I can finally get away from him."

"Who, Diogo? We can pack our bags right now and be gone by tomorrow, Maki."

"No, not Diogo. His boss...our boss. He's much worse and doesn't like it when any of the girls come off short. That's why Diogo insisted on bringing you on the boat. We made a lot of money that night, me and you. Money that made sure that my boss wouldn't come after me for quite some time. Believe it or not, but Diogo was just protecting me, he has always protected me. That's why I love him."

"How does this even happen?" You rubbed your temple, a headache coming on. "How did you end up in this world? And if you needed help, why didn't you call mom and dad, or me?"

"You?" She chuckled. "Y/N, all you've ever done is judge me. And I know that you don't believe that I can take care of myself. You've never done so."

"Well, you obviously can't."

She sighed, slumping down on the couch, covering her eyes with her hands. You watched your sister sobb for a minute or two. A sad sight indeed.

"So how much money are we talking about?"

"What?"

You joined her on the couch, draping an arm around her shoulders.

"How much money does it take for you to get out of this…lifestyle?"

She shrugged. "Maybe a hundred thousand euros."

"A hundred thousand— Maki?"

"I know, I know. But you must know, the captain pays for everything. This house, my car, even—"

"The Captain?"

"That's what he wants us to call him. All the girls do it."

There was no way you could recover from extracting such amounts of money from your bank account. Those were money saved up for future research funds. However, there might be another way.

"I think I know where we can get the money."

"You do? From where?"

"From who." You corrected. "But if I do this you have to promise me that we'll hop on the next plane back to Sydney, got it?"

"But Diogo—"

"Promise me Maki." You were not playing around. You'd go great lengths to save your sister, the greatest of lengths. But this time you were forced to go beyond what your heart could take and for that you need her reassurance.

"I promise." She nodded.

"Good, now pack your bags. We're leaving as soon as we've paid your boss that money."

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Part 8 and Part 9 are out on my Patreon for free!

[justletmewritepls]

Memories (Tokyo Revengers Mikey x Reader)

Chapter 1

Age 7

I stared at the blonde-haired boy in front of me with a confused expression. He met my gaze with a nonchalant look, holding a lollipop up to me, silently offering it. I took it and mumbled a quiet "thank you."

"We were wondering if you wanted to play with us..." he said, looking off to the side as if he couldn't care less.

I glanced past him at the door where a blonde-haired girl and a black-haired boy waved at me. Then I turned to look at my brother, who was working on his bike with his friend. He noticed me and gave me a nod.

"You're welcome to play, (Y/n). Just don't wander too far," my brother, Keigo, smiled at me. I grinned and ran off with the blonde boy.

"I'm Manjiro Sano, but you can call me Mikey," he introduced himself. "This is my little sister, Emma, and my friend Keisuke Baji."

"I'm (Y/n) Hori... but just call me (Y/n)."

"Wanna see some moves we learned at the dojo yesterday?" Baji asked excitedly.

I nodded, and we headed to the dojo. They spent the next hour and a half showing me a few moves and even teaching me some. After a while, Emma and I went to her room to play on our own.

Age 11

After school, I was walking home, heading back from choir practice. The sun was setting as I made my way through the park. It was mostly empty, except for three boys a bit older than me, standing near the swings, chatting.

But as soon as they saw me, they called out.

"Hey, cutie!" the brunette called with a cocky grin, clearly showing off for his friends. "Wanna be my girlfriend?"

I blinked, confused and a bit put off by his smugness. "Huh?"

"Come on, he asked you a question!" the shorter boy beside him said, mimicking his expression.

"Oh... um... no thank you. I'm not allowed to da—"

"Oh, shut up! Just say yes! We know you like him!" the third boy added, as the three of them closed in on me, blocking my way.

"I... You don't even know me!" I protested, hoping they'd just mistook me for someone else.

"Nah, you're (Y/n) from class 2," the brunette said, crushing any hope I had.

Before I knew it, the other two boys grabbed my arms, holding me in place while taunting me. That’s when my instincts kicked in.

I kicked the first boy hard in the side of the head, knocking him out cold. In the same motion, I tore myself free from the other two and ducked, then roundhouse kicked their legs out from under them. They stumbled back, clearly scared, and quickly grabbed their fallen friend and ran off.

I stood there, breathing heavily, trembling a little from the shock and adrenaline. I dusted myself off, trying to shake it off.

Then I heard a sharp whistle.

"Guess you didn’t need our help after all..." a silver-haired boy said, smirking as he shoved his hands in his pockets. Beside him were two blonde-haired boys—one with a scar on his jaw and the other with what looked like a fake tattoo on his head.

I let out a nervous chuckle, not sure how to respond.

Age 13

I was on the back of Keigo’s motorbike, gripping tightly as he zoomed down the streets, riding like a madman.

I punched his shoulder lightly. "Go slower!" I warned, but he just laughed it off, clearly enjoying the ride.

I frowned, my eyebrows knitting together in annoyance, before a small smile crept up on my face. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, I was kind of enjoying this.

Soon enough, we arrived at Musashi Shrine.

I jumped off the bike and took off my helmet before handing it back to Keigo.

"Thanks for the lift!" I called, spinning on my heel to run up the stairs.

At the top, I saw the boys standing in a circle, hands outstretched in front of them as if comparing something in the center.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked as I approached.

"(Y/n)!" Mikey and Mitsuya shouted in unison as they spotted me.

"We're trying to see if we can buy charms for our new biker gang, but we don’t have enough money," Draken said, clearly frustrated by the situation.

"Oh, I’ll buy one for you." I offered, pulling my wallet out.

They all lit up with excitement and practically tackled me to the ground in gratitude.

I paid for a purple charm, one for road safety and handed it to Baji.

"You should hold on to it for us, Baji," Mikey said with a grin.

"That’s right. You’re the reason we formed the gang in the first place." Draken added.

"Yeah, you take care of it." Mitsuya said, nodding in agreement.

"Take care of it for us." Pah-chin said, giving him a grin. Kazutora just hummed in agreement.

"I’ll take good care of it. You can count on me." Baji said, looking down at the charm like it was the most precious thing he owned.

I smiled softly, watching the boys being... well, boys.

"I’m sure you guys will achieve all your dreams... I’ll be watching." I said, giving a small grin.

"Thank you for buying it, (Y/n)." Mitsuya said, coming to stand next to me.

"You sure you don’t want to join?" Mikey asked, hopping closer, clearly excited by the idea.

"No, I’m good. I don’t think I’d fit in with a biker gang," I declined, shaking my head.

"Well... we promise that if you ever change your mind, there’ll always be a spot in the Tokyo Manji Gang for you!" Mikey said, raising his hands in excitement.

I raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back a laugh. "Tokyo Manji Gang? What a dumbass name!"

The boys burst out laughing with me.

"Hey! Quit it! It’s a cool name, okay!" Mikey protested, looking flustered.

---

A few weeks later

I was in my room, headphones on, strumming my guitar as the sound of the outside world faded. It was a typical Saturday afternoon, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I could breathe. The music was my escape from everything—school, the pressure, and the silent, empty space Keigo had left behind. He hadn’t been home much lately, but that wasn’t unusual. He was always out, doing something—something I didn’t want to ask about.

The door to my room creaked open, and I instinctively pulled off my headphones, my fingers still lightly pressing the strings. I looked up to see my parents standing in the doorway. My mom had her hands wrung together, and my dad looked... different. His face was pale, his eyes red-rimmed, like he hadn’t slept in days.

A cold chill ran through me. Something felt off, but I couldn’t place it.

“(Y/n),” my dad’s voice was soft, lower than usual, almost like he was holding something back. “We need to talk.”

I sat up, suddenly feeling like the room was too small. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice unsteady.

Mom stepped into the room, her hands pressed together like she was praying, but there was no calmness in her. She looked like someone who had just been through a storm. Her eyes met mine, and I could tell she had been crying.

“Sweetheart...” she began, her voice breaking slightly, “We need to sit down.”

A pit opened in my stomach. I stood slowly, my legs trembling. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. I followed them into the living room, my heart racing with every step.

Once we were all seated, the silence stretched painfully. My mom kept looking at my dad, like she was waiting for him to say something. But he just stared at the floor, his jaw clenched tightly, as if he was trying to hold back tears.

I swallowed, trying to steady my voice. “What happened?”

My dad shifted in his seat, and for a long moment, he didn’t speak. My mom, tears brimming in her eyes, reached over to take my hand. Her touch was cold, and it sent an icy shiver up my spine.

“I don’t know how to say this,” Dad finally muttered, his voice rough. “Keigo... your brother... he’s gone.”

The world tilted. I blinked, trying to understand his words, to make them fit into something that made sense. “What do you mean gone?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Where is he? When is he coming home?”

Mom’s hand tightened around mine, and she let out a soft sob. It was then that I realized what they were saying. What they were telling me. Though I already knew when he had said it, I just didn't want to accept it.

“Keigo...” she whispered, her voice cracking. “He... he was killed.”

I couldn’t breathe. The air seemed to leave the room in an instant, leaving nothing but a suffocating silence. “No,” I gasped, shaking my head. “No, you’re wrong. He’s just... he’s just out with his friends. He’ll be back—he’s not... He’s not dead!”

Dad exhaled sharply, and his shoulders slumped. “(Y/n), listen to me. Keigo... he was involved with a gang called the Black Dragons. They... they got into a fight with another gang. It was supposed to be a small thing, just a clash. But it turned into something much worse. He... didn’t make it.”

The words were like a punch to the gut. I could feel my breath catch in my throat, like there was a weight pressing on my chest. “No... not Keigo,” I whispered, my eyes welling up. “Keigo wouldn’t... He wouldn’t be involved in something like that. He was... my brother. He...wouldn't do anything that could...that could get him killed!”

“I’m so sorry,” my dad said, his voice raw with emotion. “But it’s true. He’s gone, (Y/n). He didn’t stand a chance. It happened so fast, and by the time the police got there, it was already over.”

I couldn’t process it. My mind was spinning, each word he said ringing in my ears, but none of it felt real. Keigo. Dead. He couldn’t be dead. He was always there, always watching out for me. He was my older brother. My protector.

I looked at my mom, desperate for reassurance, for something that made this feel less like a nightmare. But she was crying, her face a mess of anguish.

“This isn’t real,” I whispered again, this time louder. “This can’t be real. He was... he was just here. We were just talking about stuff... and he promised he’d come home.”

My dad finally looked up, his eyes red and swollen from grief. “He was trying to leave that life, (Y/n). He didn’t want you to know. He didn’t want us to know how deep he was in, but... he was always trying to protect you. He was trying to get out before things escalated, but it was too late.”

The tears came then, hot and unrelenting. I felt them pouring down my cheeks as I tried to wrap my mind around the idea that Keigo was gone. My protector, my older brother, the person who was always there... gone in a flash.

I stood up abruptly, my legs unsteady as I tried to escape the suffocating grief in the room. “No. I can’t... I can’t be here right now,” I gasped, stumbling towards the door.

“(Y/n), please...” my mom called after me, but I couldn’t stop.

I ran outside, gasping for air, my body shaking uncontrollably. My chest ached like it was being crushed by an invisible weight.

Keigo... was really gone.

I had lost him.

I had lost him to a world I never even knew he was a part of.

The night seemed darker somehow, colder. And no matter how much I tried to breathe, it wouldn’t fill the hole in my chest.

A month later

I stood at the edge of the parking lot, the setting sun casting long shadows on the cracked asphalt. My hands clenched into fists, the anger and sadness mixing into something unbearable. The warmth of the evening felt suffocating, too hot, too close, like the world itself was pressing down on me.

Mikey, Draken, and Mitsuya were standing a few feet away, their faces serious. They had been waiting for me to show up, but I knew they didn’t expect this. None of them did.

I swallowed, my throat dry as sand. “I don’t want to see you guys anymore,” I said, my voice trembling but firm.

They all looked at me like I had slapped them. Mikey’s eyes widened, and Draken’s face hardened into something unreadable. Mitsuya’s brows furrowed, his usual calm demeanor slipping for just a moment.

“...what?” Draken’s voice was low, unsure, like he couldn’t believe what I was saying. “What are you talking about, (Y/n)?”

I looked down, trying to hold back the tears that burned in the back of my eyes. “I know what you’re planning. I know about the gang. The Tokyo Manji Gang. I know you want to start it.”

Mikey took a step forward, his face scrunched in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about? You knew that already.”

“No,” I shook my head, voice shaking now. “You told me about the gang, I thought it was more of a joke, but now I know you're serious, and I know what it means. I know the kind of people you’ll become... the kind of people I don’t want to be around. And not only that, but I stand a high chance of also losing you, and I dont think I could handle the pain if you were killed too.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Mikey said softly, his tone more gentle now, like he was trying to convince me that everything was fine, like he always had. “We’re just having fun, we just wanna build a new era for delinquents. It’s not that serious.”

“Not that serious?!” My voice cracked, rising with the pain I could barely keep contained. “It’s that serious, Mikey! I lost my brother because of that world—because of the gangs! Keigo is dead because of that world!”

The words hung in the air like a heavy stone, and I saw their faces shift. Mikey's eyes faltered, Draken’s jaw tightened, Mitsuya’s hands balled into fists. They knew. They had known.

“Your brother—” Draken began, but I cut him off.

“I know what happened,” I spat. “I know Keigo was in the Black Dragons. And I know what happened with Baji and Kazutora. I know Mikey’s brother was killed because of them. And now you've lost your brother too but you still wanna continue? Baji and Kazutora are behind bars for murder! Its a matter of time before you're all dead or in jail. New era of delinquents? I don’t give a damn about any of that. I don’t care about the gangs, about the stupid names and the stupid promises you’re making.”

I felt bringing up the incident with Mikey's brother was a bit too harsh, seeing as the incident had only happened a few days ago.

Mikey’s face softened, but his eyes were sharp. “It’s not like that, (Y/n). We’re not the same as the Black Dragons. This is different.”

“It’s the same,” I retorted, my heart aching. “It’s all the same, Baji and Kazutora killed someone! You’re all the same. You’re just dragging more people into it. People like me.”

I took a step back, the pain of everything clawing at my chest. “I can’t be friends with you if you’re going to keep doing this. I can’t stand by and watch you ruin yourselves... and ruin everything we’ve ever had.”

Mitsuya was silent, his face unreadable, but I saw the flicker of emotion in his eyes. The hurt, the confusion, the betrayal—just like mine.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “But I can’t. I can’t do it. I can’t watch you turn into... this.”

Mikey took another step forward, his eyes intense, almost desperate. “(Y/n)... we’re not going to stop. This is who we are. This is what we’re going to do. It’s not just a gang—it’s a family.”

I took a deep breath, my eyes burning with unshed tears. “Then I guess I’m not a part of your family anymore,” I said, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. “If that’s the life you want, then go. But I’m not going with you. I won’t be a part of it.”

Mikey’s expression faltered for a second, the weight of my words hitting him. But it wasn’t enough. He stood tall, his shoulders squared, his eyes hardening again. “I don’t want to lose you, (Y/n). But I can’t stop. This is who I am now.”

“And I’m not going to follow you into it,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “I loved my brother, Mikey. And I know you loved your brother too. But we’re not the same. We’re not the same people anymore. I can’t lose myself just to stay in your world.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Draken looked away, his fists clenched by his sides, his usual calm expression replaced with a painful sorrow. Mitsuya was the same, his eyes distant, but there was a sadness there that matched mine.

“I’m sorry, (Y/n),” Mikey said, his voice strained, almost cracking. “But we’re doing this, with or without you.”

I swallowed hard, the tears finally spilling over. “Then this is goodbye.”

They didn’t say anything else. There was no more arguing, no more promises. They just turned and walked away. I stood there, watching them go, my heart breaking with every step they took.

I had to let them go. But it didn’t make it hurt any less.

[burnwater13]

Concept art by Brian Matyas, depicts Din Djarin holding Grogu in his left arm as they walk across a desert plain, with a single sun shining above them. Image from The Book of Boba Fett, Season 1, Episode 7, In the Name of Honor.

Part 6 of Power!

“Hey, Fennec? Have you seen Grogu anywhere?”

Din Djarin entered the kitchens as soon as he spotted her sitting at the table with a plate of food. He’d been wandering around the palace, looking for his son for over an hour. Then he remembered if anyone knew where everyone was it was Fennec Shand, master assassin. If he found her, he’d be that much closer to finding Grogu.

“Nice timing Mando. I’m just about to eat and now I have to find your kid?”

Djarin tried not to bristle at her comment. That’s what she wanted. She wanted him to be annoyed with her and a little off balance. It was one of her tactics to keep the upper hand in any situation. 

“I do what I can, Fennec. Go ahead. Finish eating. My question can wait.”

Then he just stood there and stared at her. 

“Alright. Knock it off. The last time I saw the kid he was running off to the astronomy tower where the spider monks hang out. Don’t worry though, they like him and have promised to leave his brain alone for the foreseeable future.”

Dank Farrik. 

Djarin didn’t say that out loud. He didn’t want to give Fennec the satisfaction. 

“Good to know. Thank you.”

The Mandalorian left the kitchens knowing exactly where he had to go. The thing he didn’t know was did he want to take a short cut through the throne room or go the longer way around it. Fett had made a big deal about he and Grogu making themselves scarce because the meeting he’d scheduled with the special envoy on region tax and trade policy. Djarin figured the older man just wanted some time to himself and had put up a shield of mind numbing boredom as a means of defending that time. 

He had been happy to let it work for most of the morning, but he really wanted to find Grogu. His apprentice had been acting oddly since they had returned to Tatooine to celebrate Present Day with Fett and the Sand People. It had all started when they reached Peli Motto’s place and found out that she had gone to Mos Espa to spend time with the Major Domo. Her helper had given Grogu his Present Day gift from Peli, with a comment that it was unlikely that they’d see much of her at Fett’s palace, as Motto had planned a ‘romantic’ retreat with her Twi’lek friend. That had been enough information for Djarin and they said thank you and then headed directly to Mos Espa. He’d give Peli the gifts they had for her on their way off planet instead.

Grogu had seemed happy with the present, which he had opened almost as soon as it was handed to him. It was charm that was in the shape of a mudhorn with a twinkling black stone ‘eye’. Grogu had coo’d a thank you to the helper and stuck the charm in his pocket. Djarin had offered to put it on his necklace that held the mythosaur charm but Grogu had refused and Djarin had left it alone. It was just a charm right?

But after that Grogu started getting cranky at the least little thing. The speeder bike they were using was too slow. His coverall was too warm. He was hungry all the time. The Mandalorian wondered if his son was just put out at not seeing Peli or if he was coming down with a cold. Strange things happened when Grogu had a cold. His ability to control the Force became random at best and a menace at worst. You only needed it to rain inside your cabin once to realize the Force when left unchecked could perform all sorts of mischief.

Uff. All sorts of mischief. He needed to take the short cut through the throne room. He didn’t want to disturb Fett, but he also didn’t want to find out that Grogu had sneezed and collapsed part of the palace. The place was old and at times Djarin was certain that the stone floors creaked under his footfalls in a way that just wasn’t right. It was probably due to the damage done by the various critters that had lived in what was not affectionately called the ‘Rancor Habitat and Enrichment Center’. He had laughed the first time he’d heard that and then stopped as soon as he realized that Fett had come up with that name. For a bounty hunter raised as a Mandalorian, Fett was remarkably sentimental. 

He took left turn and entered the throne room to find it empty. What? Why the heck was Fett shoeing them away, if he wasn’t going to be there any way? Uff. It didn’t matter. Now he could go to the astronomy tower and find his son and make sure everything was okay. That’s what he’d set out to do and it was a nice change of pace to have a straight forward plan work out.

Djarin had reached the archway that frame the base of the stairs that lead to the tower when he was hit solidly in the middle of his chest and knocked flat on his back. What the hell?

He looked around and realized the something that hit him was Grogu. Not just Grogu. Grogu and the Force. Where the hell was the kid going in such a hurry?

Grogu peered at his visor and it was clear to the Mandalorian that his son had no idea that his way would be blocked by anyone, let alone his Mandalorian father. 

“Grogu. Buddy. Take a breath and slow down a little. What are you running away from?”

Djarin asked as he slowly and somewhat painfully got to his feet, all while holding the boy close to him. He didn’t want Grogu to go pelting off again.

Grogu sighed at him and then coo’d and then sighed again. Ah. He’d love to tell Djarin all about it but right now he was hungry and couldn’t his dad smell that wonderful smell?  The Mandalorian couldn’t help but smile at how these patterns of coo’s, sighs, grumbles, and a little bit of sign language he’d learned from the Sand People, had helped Grogu communicate with them all more effectively. Over time. 

Hmmm. Could he smell something wonderful? Not really. The helmet filtered out a lot of odors. Fennec had been eating something in the kitchens. Perhaps Grogu thought that smelled good? 

“Okay. We can both go to the kitchen and see what’s available. Then you can tell me all about your adventure and explain why something in your pocket is jabbing me in the armpit.”

Grogu grinned at him and nodded his head and then pulled the ‘something’ out of his pocket. 

If a feather had been handy, Grogu could have used it to knock Djarin over. The ‘something’ was a star finder. Not just any star finder. One he’d seen before. But where? And how the Dank Farrik had it found it’s way to Tatooine? 

Grogu coo’d at him and the Mandalorian shook his head.

“No. I don’t think I can ‘Take it easy’. I lost that thing years ago. How did it show up here and don’t tell me that the Force moves in mysterious ways. I already know that.’ 

He did. 

Dank Farrik!

To be continued...